Our People

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 was born in Zakopane, Poland, a town renowned for tourism, art, and woodworking. Though his father, a skilled woodworker, taught Roman the art of precise woodworking and tool-sharpening techniques, Roman dreamed of becoming a musician as a child. He began music lessons at age nine and, a year later, was accepted into the music school in Zakopane, where he excelled in his studies.

At twelve, he discovered violin making, which gradually redirected his career from aspiring musician to violin maker and restorer. He was accepted into the violin making school in Zakopane, where he gained a solid foundation in traditional violin making and expanded his knowledge by frequently visiting the ateliers of local violin makers.

After graduating with honors, Roman continued his studies at the Ignacy Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań, Poland, where he honed his skills in violin making and restoration while also playing the upright bass. Upon graduating, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree with honors.

Roman first arrived in the U.S. in 1994, where he met the owners of Psarianos Violins in Troy, Michigan. He later worked at the firm for over nine years, specializing in violin restoration and the making and designing of violins and violas. He studied under Hans J. Nebel and Boyd Paulsen and regularly participates in the Oberlin Violin Making Workshop. Roman has collaborated with acclaimed European makers and restorers at prestigious ateliers, such as Maison Bernard in Brussels and Eric Blot in Cremona. Among his notable commissions was a replacement Gaspar da Salò viola for the late Nathan Gordon, former Concertmaster of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, one of Roman’s violins earned a Certificate of Merit for tone at the 2010 Violin Society of America competition.

Since 2006, Roman has been a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers. He has also served as a judge at the International Violin Making Competition in Poland. Roman teaches at the North Bennet Street School, serving as violin making department head and sharing his expertise in violin making and restoration. Concurrently, he collaborates with a team of MIT scientists on violin acoustics research, which led to the publication of a peer-reviewed paper, “The Evolution of Air Resonance Power Efficiency in the Violin and Its Ancestors,” in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.

Among Roman’s students and graduates are highly successful violin makers and restorers who now work for top violin shops worldwide and have received prestigious awards for their instruments.

Besides violin making, Roman enjoys music, hiking, and skiing.

Michael Burrey is a timber-frame joinery specialist renowned for his expertise in 17th-century building techniques, including roof thatching, interior wall construction, and historic paint finishes. After earning a degree in Early American and Colonial Life, he served as an Interpretive Artisan at Plimoth Plantation, blending research with hands-on interpretation of colonial craftsmanship.

In 1999, Michael founded MLB Restorations, focusing on restoring historic buildings and designing sustainable structures rooted in traditional craftsmanship. His work on significant historic preservation projects has established him as a leader in the field. Michael was selected in 2014 to restore the Tower of London and, more recently, contributed to the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral after its 2019 fire. Collaborating with Handshouse Studio and French carpentry firm Asselin, he helped reconstruct the Cathedral’s iconic timber spire, which debuted during its December 2024 reopening.

Michael’s work has been featured by CNN, Elle Decor, and The Boston Globe, celebrating his role in preserving and restoring some of the world’s most treasured landmarks.

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.

Thomas is an instructor for the second year of the Preservation Carpentry program. He also operates his own preservation business, with a particular focus on historic windows and doors and is interested in mid- to late Victorian era houses. He comes from an education background in the sciences, most recently as a teacher of 15 years in the Quincy Public Schools. Thomas also teaches in our Community Education department.

Haley is an instructor in the Jewelry Making & Repair department. She came to NBSS as a student after working in the jewelry making field for several years, wanting to pursue mastery of her skills. After graduating she went to work as a bench jeweler and stone setter for a local jewelry manufacturer. She is currently pursuing her Graduate of Gemology degree from GIA, and works as a sole proprietor of her own business, taking custom jobs and repairs from her home studio in Somerville.

Rick graduated from the Locksmithing & Security Technology program in 2018 and has been working at Boston Lock & Safe since 2017. Before attending NBSS, he was in the US Air Force as Ground Radio Maintenance Technician. He was then a Mental Health Technician in the US Air Force Reserves, while serving the civilian sector as a Personal Care Attendant.

Tracey is the Department Head of the Jewelry Making & Repair program and an Instructor. She is a 2005 graduate of the program and also graduated from Bridgewater State University with a BFA in 2001. Additionally, Tracey has studied various areas of design at the Art Institute of Florence and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

After graduating from NBSS, Tracey worked a variety of jewelry industry jobs from stone setting to casting. She also started her own business right out of school, specializing in custom engagement and wedding jewelry. In recent years she has been working on mastering various techniques of enameling to include in her work.

Ellen is a custom furniture maker and graduate of the Cabinet & Furniture Making program. She owns Ellen Kaspern Design and is a member of the cooperative Charlestown Furniture Makers in Boston, MA. In addition to designing and building custom furniture, she has been teaching woodworking and furniture making for 20 years. Her workshop teaching experience includes NBSS, Massachusetts College of Art & Design,  Yestermorrow Design Build School and Florida School of Woodwork. Ellen demonstrates woodworking techniques throughout New England. She has given talks and demonstrations at the National Museum of Industrial Industry, Boston Design Week, Boston Athenaeum, Peabody Essex Museum, Old Sturbridge Village and Society of Arts & Crafts. She has written articles for Fine Woodworking Magazine and Woodcraft Magazine. Many of her lessons are featured in instructional videos for Fine Woodworking Magazine.

Alex is a Registered Piano Technician and has worked in piano technology since 2016 when they started as a work-study assistant in the Piano Technology department at Berklee College of Music. Since then Alex has spent time as a technician in the home, in piano showrooms, and on the concert stage. Now, as an instructor of Basic Piano Technology, Alex is excited to bring their experience to the classroom.

After graduating from the Cabinet and Furniture Making program in 2007, Nicholas built high end cabinetry and architectural millwork in the Boston Metro area. Later, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving active duty for eight years. Following military discharge, he enrolled at the Furniture Institute of Massachusetts, where he studied for three more years under the late Phil Lowe, an NBSS graduate and former Department Head. During his second year as a student, Nicholas began teaching various workshops at the Furniture Institute. Since then, he has taught woodworking classes across New England, for educators such as the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Lexington Arts Society, and Woodcraft of Woburn.

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.