Meet Our VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Craft Council of Newfoundland & Labrador
To contact the Board of Directors, click here to send an email. We will reply as soon as possible.
Shannon Reid has worked in the retail industry for over 35 years, with the majority of that time spent within the craft and gift sector. Originally from Nova Scotia, Shannon joined the staff of the Craft Council in 2006 as Shop Manager, and has successfully directed this key membership benefit for the past 17 years, identifying and delivering premier services for members leading to artistic and business success. Shannon draws from her education in Fashion Merchandising to provide merchandising assistance to craft shops throughout the province, both through on-site visits and in group seminar sessions. She provides guidance with retail pricing, packaging, promotion and career planning, supporting members as they develop their confidence and find their voice as professional craftspeople. Shannon coaches students in College of the North Atlantic's Textile and Apparel Design Program, meets regularly with emerging makers at the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios / Craft Business Incubator and offers advice to makers at all stages of their careers. In 2022, her role temporarily expanded to Retail & Special Events Manager, which included the direction of special events and programming around Come Home Year 2023 and the Craft Council of NL 50th Anniversary. Currently holding the position of Director of Sales, Shannon focuses on our Retail Shop Management, Retail Events & Opportunities, and the Craft Council of NL Standards of Quality
Kaitlyn has been working in non-profit administration since 2017 and has had the privilege of collaborating with many local organizations, including the Mummers Festival and Lawnya Vawnya Arts Festival. In 2024, Kaitlyn joined the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador as part of the events team, contributing to the successful hosting of the 2024 Sustainable Fibre Arts Conference and the 50th annual CCNL Christmas Craft Fair. In her role as Program Administrator, Kaitlyn supports ongoing CCNL programming primarily in the gallery and clay studio. She is excited about supporting the arts community and contributing to the growth of craft and culture in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Erica is a life-long craft enthusiast and arts administrator based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. She has been involved with the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador intermittently since 2019 and is now back in the role of Program Administrator of Communications and Member and Community Engagement. Raised in a family of entrepreneurs, while surrounded by hand made items, the value of craft and locality feels like second nature to her. When she is not working, Erica can often be found exploring Newfoundland and Labrador through hiking, camping, and "twacking". In her current role, Erica is looking forward to contributing to the growth and vibrancy of the Craft Council, keeping the community informed, building and maintaining relationships with members, and fostering a strong sense of community within the organization. She is excited to support communications both internally and externally, while helping to strengthen the connection between the community, members, and organization as a whole.
Ann Breen has been a member of the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2000. She has attending many Christmas craft fairs with her work and was a valued employee of the Craft Council Shop for 10 years. She views the Craft Council as playing a vital role in the development and promotion of craft persons in our province. She feels it is a privilege to serve the craft industry as a member of the CCNL Board of Directors.
Earl has an extensive background in finance coming from a career with the Provincial Government and their finance department. Earl provides stable and sound financial management with the help of the executive director and accounts payable / receivable support staff.
Renee Holloway is an artist from the Burin Peninsula, now based in St. John’s. She has been working at the Craft Council since 2018, starting as the gallery assistant and moving to the shop the next year. Trained in visual, theatre and textile arts; she enjoys working with natural, discarded and sustainable elements to create artworks in varying colors, materials and textures.
Originally from Ireland, Sara received her Fine Arts Degree at IADT Dublin in 2015. Sara moved to St Johns in 2017, and started working at the Craft Council in 2018. She is continuously inspired by the many talented craftspeople of the province, and is honored to be part of an organization that supports and showcases the creativity of our community. Since moving to Newfoundland Sara's main interest has been working in sculpture, with her focus now being on Paper Mache and mixed media.
Brad is a wealth of knowledge and is our studio technician with a responsibility for firing and maintaining our kilns, inventory of clay, studio layout, upkeep, cleanliness and safety, coordinating volunteer studio hosts, and keeping all studio users up to date on new additions to the studio. Brad also conducts the one-on-one coaching sessions, whether it be wheel throwing or hand-building. Brad is also a member of the Clay Studio Advisory Committee.
Christina is a volunteer studio host, a community events volunteer, an instructor, a birthday party host, and a member of the Clay Studio Advisory Committee.
Joanne is a volunteer studio host, a community events volunteer, an instructor a member of the Clay Studio Advisory Committee, and a regular member of the Clay Studio.
Anita is an instructor, community events volunteer, and a regular member of the clay studio.
Jane is a community events volunteer, an instructor, and a regular member of the clay studio.
Roxanne is a Clay Studio volunteer host, community events volunteer, an instructor, and a regular member of the Clay Studio.
Evelyn an instructor and a regular member of the Clay Studio.
Vicky is an instructor with the Clay Studio and is our resident expert on anything involving glaze and creating glazes from raw materials.
Katie Parnham has been a long time member of the Craft Council, and has been on the Craft Council board and committees helping the association to grow the industry. She has a keen interest in developing emerging craft makers to become viable businesses and is part of the management committee for the Quidi Vidi Plantation, an incubator for emerging craft makers.
Deborah Newhook has a long history of working with not-for-profit community-based organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, she is Chair of the Anna Templeton Centre and the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios, as well as the Treasurer of the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Christine LeGrow has been an active marketing member of the CCNL since the 1980's. During a few years of the past twenty, Christine has served on a number of committees and filled the role of treasurer and past treasurer on the executive of the board. In addition, she spent several years on the Board of the Anna Templeton Centre including serving as Chair during the planning and the expansion renovation of that historic building.
Liz Combdon, N.D., has a deep passion for living close to the earth, walking the paths of her ancestors and those left unmarked and wild. With soulfully connection to the trees and earth around her, Liz's respect for the lands she came from has fostered an environment of growth through creative expansion and bridging tradition with new pathways. As the Founder and Creator behind Sea Salt & Twig, the call of our wild island and the depth of the ancient wisdom this lands holds, became irresistible. Using her educational background in Naturopathic healing and Business Administration, Liz holds a deep desire to highlight the incredibly unique aspects that our province offers. Each piece of nature has a memory and a story. Through gentle respect, she forages and extracts our nature and infuses it into every item that leaves her Studio. Liz has served on the Craft Council of NL Executive Board for the last two terms.
Joan Kane lives in Trinity where she operates her home-based knitting business Ewe Design. Has served on the Craft Council Board in various positions for a number of years as well as other local and provincial organizations. Joan is a proud Lion and when not volunteering can be found doing what she is most passionate about - knitting!
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Beth Howley is a textile artisan from Portugal Cove, Newfoundland. Her business Angora Borealis is a visionary brand dedicated to the art of crafting luxury apparel, accessories, and wall art using rare natural fibers . Beth operates her business out of the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios where she can be found creating beautiful one of kind pieces while surrounded by a wall of colourful fibres.
Marty Byrne is a multifaceted artist whose work in ceramic art and poetry intertwines to create a unique and profound artistic expression. Self taught as a ceramic artist each piece is a process of trial and error that pushes the boundaries of his skill and traditional pottery. Being a proud Labrador West artist the work he creates is a testament to his deep connection with the earth and its natural elements, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the world around us.
