At the heart of NBSS are a diverse and dedicated team of staff, faculty, and strategic advisors. Together they provide a supportive environment for students to learn at the highest level, and they engage with a broad-based community of alumni and friends. In addition to the Staff and Faculty below, our community also includes dedicated Boards of Directors and Advisors.
Nathan earned a BA in architecture from the Pratt Institute, where he took a keen interest in the study of mathematical surfaces and digital fabrication. His studies developed hands-on experience with the use of 3D computer design software and laser cutter technologies. After graduating, he worked as a sculpture fabricator, specializing in prototyping, silicone mold-making, plaster and resin casting, and installation design and production. He then switched directions to become a luthier, graduating from the Violin Making & Repair program in 2020. While in the program, he received the merit-based Gladys Brooks Foundation Scholarship, and one of his violins received a Certificate of Merit in the 2019 Kaminski Violin Making Competition in Poland.
Jeff is the head of the Bookbinding Department, a 2003 graduate of the American Academy of Bookbinding, and a graduate of the program. After graduating, Jeff worked at Harcourt Bindery and Harvard University’s Tozzer Library. He is a past Chair of the New England Chapter of the Guild Book Workers and has mentored many NBSS graduates as they serve in GBW leadership positions. Jeff operates a bindery in Somerville, MA, and he specializes in traditional leather bindings, metalworking for bookbinding, and bookbinding exhibits.
Roman is originally from Zakopane, Poland, and began making his first violins at age 14, when he attended the Secondary School of Fine Arts. He studied music and violin making for five years at the Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznan, Poland, eventually receiving his Master of Fine Arts.
Roman came to the U.S. in 1996, where he worked for more than nine years specializing in violin restoration at Psarianos Violins in Troy, Michigan. He has studied with Hans Nebel and Boyd Paulsen, and is a regular participant in the Oberlin Violin Making Workshop. Among Roman’s past commissions was a replacement Gaspar da Salo viola for the late Nathan Gordon, a former Concertmaster of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, one of Roman’s violins earned him a Certificate of Merit for tone for at the 2010 Violin Society of America violin-making competition.
Michael is the second-year instructor for the Preservation Carpentry Program. He specializes in timber-frame joinery and has researched and re-created 17th century methods of roof thatching, interior walls, and paint finishes. After studying Early American and Colonial Life as an undergraduate, he worked as an Interpretive Artisan at Plimoth Plantation researching and interpreting colonial building techniques. In 1999, Michael established MLB Restorations in order to work on the restoration and preservation of historic buildings and to encourage the design of new structures in harmony with traditional and sustainable building methods. His carpentry skill has been recognized by his selection in 2014 by the Historic Royal Palaces to carry out the hewing and squaring of new timbers to be used in the repair of the Tower of London.
Ann has a BFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry and Ceramics from the Maine College of Art and is a graduate of NBSS and the Department Head. She was a finalist in the gold and platinum category of the 2010 Saul Bell Awards. She works on one-of-a-kind and limited production jewelry as a principal goldsmith and designer at Flying Marquis Studio in Leominster, MA. Ann also writes, lectures, and judges for the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) and Jewelry Artist. She is the technical co-editor of the MJSA book Secret Shop Weapons, and is featured in an instructional DVD produced by Lapidary Journal.
Since graduating from the Cabinet & Furniture Making program in 2009, Eli has been working as a custom furniture maker in the Greater Boston Area. For five years, he also worked on the PBS series Rough Cut Woodworking with Tommy Mac. Eli teaches the summer Three-Month Furniture Making Intensive, Introduction to SketchUp, and also spends his time creating custom furniture for clients.
Debbie Cyr, RPT learned tuning in 1990 as an apprentice, and in 1992 attended the rebuilding program at the North Bennet Street School in Boston. A Registered Piano Technician since 1994, she has worked as a rebuilder, has been an instructor at the North Bennet Street School since 1995, and has an extensive private tuning clientele. Debbie is also the piano technician at Brandeis University, as well as a past president and active member of the Boston Chapter Piano Technician Guild. She teaches and does tuning and technical exams at seminars and conventions on the local, regional and national levels.
Fun Fact
Before becoming a piano tech, Debbie had an independent piano teaching studio up in northernmost Maine, on the New Brunswick border. Her bi-lingual studio had 40 students, at least half of them French speaking. Debbie is also a life-long Girl Scout and avid jigsaw puzzle-maker.
Locksmithing & Security Technology Department Head
Eddy Dacius LK ’13 the Department Head and Instructor. Since graduating from NBSS in 2013, Eddy has been doing contract work in locksmithing and founded his own company, Dacius Facilities Management, serving clients including Jewish Family and Children Service and the Mother Caroline Academy & Education Center. He’s also a member of the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) Security Professionals Association and an ALOA Fire Door Inspector, and has a degree in Project Management.
After graduating from both NBSS Piano Technology programs, Louis worked in a number of piano rebuilding shops, and eventually launched his own business, Brevet Piano Service, in Santa Rosa, CA. He is a Registered Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild, serving as President & Vice President in the Central North Carolina chapter and later, as Vice President for the San Francisco chapter.
Since graduating from the Jewelry Making and Repair program in 2018, Marei has been working as a goldsmith for Chris Ploof Designs in Central Massachusetts, specializing in fine jewelery fabrication from interesting materials including meteorite, damascus steel, and mokumegane. Marei also volunteers on the board of the Boston Chapter of the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA). She enjoys teaching and encouraging others along their own paths in jewelry making, through Continuing Education classes and in her role as Teaching Assistant.
Dan is a graduate of the program and the Department Head. He teaches in both our Full-Time program and Continuing Education courses, in addition to designing and building custom furniture. Dan also specializes in traditional woodcarving. Before he joined our faculty, Dan worked with Phil Lowe CF ’74 and Ron Trapasso CF ’69, both master craftsmen. Dan has published numerous articles in Fine Woodworking Magazine.
Martha joined the faculty in 2009. A part-time teacher at the School, Martha is a Portland, Maine bookbinder with extensive experience in conservation. She worked as a conservator for Harvard University’s Weissman Preservation Center, the Houghton and Baker Libraries, and the library of Northwestern University.
Brock graduated from the School’s Preservation Carpentry program, and has worked on a variety of preservation and building projects throughout New England. He previously taught Continuing Education courses and served as an assistant in both the Carpentry and Preservation Carpentry programs.
Before attending the Cabinet & Furniture Making program in 2011, Ryan spent ten years in the tool business, building and selling various tools all over the country. Since graduating, he has owned and operated his own cabinet, furniture, and millwork shop on Cape Cod, Ryan Messier Woodworking. His clients include interior designers, custom home builders, local museums, historic societies, and many others—with work spanning from historic repair and reproductions, to entire custom kitchens, and everything in between. Ryan has also taught for many years as an NBSS Continuing Education instructor, plus serving as a substitute instructor in Cabinet & Furniture Making.
Steven is a graduate of our Preservation Carpentry program, teaches first-year students, and is head of the department. He worked for Historic New England for six years as a carpenter. During this time, he supervised NBSS students as summer interns. He earned a Historic New England President’s Award through his work with second-year NBSS students on the preservation of the Pierce House in Dorchester. He has also served as an instructor for Boston YouthBuild’s preservation carpentry component.
Steven has guided first-year students through restoration work on many historic properties in the Boston area, including the 1713 Old State House. In 2010, his class saved an 18th-century two-bay English barn from demolition in Hanover, MA.
Lance is a graduate of the program and a founding member of Boston’s Fort Point Cabinetmakers cooperative. He has designed and built custom furniture for over 40 years. He is also a large format photographer and a contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine. Lance was named a 2016 Mentor in Design by Design New England Magazine.
Jamey is a 2006 graduate of the Cabinet & Furniture Making program and an interim instructor. Before becoming a custom furniture maker, Jamey was a general contractor. He currently manages a multi-tenant shop in West Concord, MA where he builds custom projects and musical instruments.
