Tear Cap Workshops Board of Directors

President: Sally Dunning, RN, BSN

Sally is recently retired, after working for more than forty years as a nurse, primarily in maternity and then with elders, at a small local hospital. She also serves as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Bridgton Public Library and is the proud mother of two teachers and five grandchildren. Sally was married for 33 years to the award winning historic restoration carpenter, Bob Dunning, until his untimely passing. Sally is Tear Cap Workshops’ founding board president.

Vice President: Lauren Gould

Secretary: John Bowen, JD

John has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed to practice in federal and state courts in Massachusetts and in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. He has worked as both a defense attorney and as a prosecutor in criminal cases, serving as an Assistant Attorney General for 21 years. John is primarily a litigator, having tried dozens of jury trials and argued numerous appeals, in addition to negotiating many settlements – all for a range of public and private clients. He now specializes in land use litigation and is a proud husband and dad. John is also a founding board member.

Treasurer: Scott Finlayson

Scott has degrees from the School of Forest Resources and School of Engineering at University of Maine in Orono. He is currently employed as Product Development Manager for Malone Auto Racks in Westbrook Maine. Scott is also a woodworker, avid outdoorsman, and community activist.

Director of Craft: Eve Abreu

Eve is a wood artisan who is fulfilling her dream of working creatively. Drawn to nature, and wood in all its forms, from twigs to aged wood, Eve also uses found objects to create folk art and country style furniture. By adding a dose of whimsy, Eve’s work creates unusual objects that call out to the viewer, asking us to think differently and appreciate our natural surroundings. Eve has also dabbled in furniture restoration, which involves learning about the history of a piece and the puzzle of taking it apart and putting it back together so it can be enjoyed for future generations.

Karl Gifford

Karl is a stone worker and stone wall building instructor. Karl’s love of stone began on a trail, the Appalachian Trail. Karl started in trailwork working for the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, building stone steps, retaining walls and drainage structures. After 11 years of trailwork, he realized that he wanted to begin working only with stone. Since then, he has taken workshops with the Dry Stone Conservancy and the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA). He is currently a holder of the DSWA Intermediate Certificate (Level II) and he continues to pursue the certification scheme. Karl’s business, Sebago Stonework, started in 2010 with the goal of building high quality stonework that will endure for generations and that effort continues today.

New board members:

Rosemary Wiser

Marguerite Wiser

Staff:

Executive Director: Henry Banks, BA and BS

After graduating from Colby College with a double major in English and Biology, Henry moved to Bridgton, Maine to answer a help-wanted ad for a cabinetmaker position. Ever since, Henry has been a carpenter, cabinet maker and general contractor, based in Denmark, Maine for the last 35 years. He founded the H.B. Wood Company, Inc in 1983 and has been the principle ever since. In addition to building custom homes, cabinetry and furniture, he has also trained, encouraged and mentored a large number of apprentices, many of whom later went on to build their own homes. Although formally a carpenter, Henry has also been a teacher and active community member, involved in the founding of three other non-profit organizations in the area. Henry is a co-founder of Tear Cap Workshops.