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 Board of Trustees of the Bridgton Public Library and is the proud mother of two teachers and four 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: Michael Buonaiuto, MS Ed

Michael recently retired from a 35 year career in early childhood education, special education, and early literacy intervention. He was most recently employed as a district-wide literacy coach for the Cambridge, MA Public Schools. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Lesley University, and has presented numerous workshops on early literacy regionally and nationally. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays a variety of ethnic and traditional music, and he is a self-taught artist and sculptor, avid water sports enthusiast, and local volunteer. Michael is a founding board member.

Secretary: John Bowen, JD

John has been an attorney for the last thirty-two 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 a 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 Communications: Greg Marston
Greg has been antique furniture restorer and furniture maker for over thirty years. He restores 18th and early 19th century furniture and specializes in making traditional New England forms from the 18th century with his own unique spin. Greg has also demonstrated and taught woodworking. Greg’s shop is located in South Bridgton, Maine.

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. Eve says that: “Folk is an important medium to me because it crosses barriers, making art available to everyone. It encompasses many of my joys of carving, designing, working with tools, walking in the woods, and talking to friends and neighbors while collecting saplings or exploring new ideas.” Eve’s work tends to be about recycling or re-purposing what would typically be discarded or destroyed. An interesting piece of worn wood or metal becomes an embellishment on a box, a table or bench, or perhaps the antenna for a grasshopper wind vane. 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. Eve is our newest board member, and we are delighted to have her aboard!

Staff:

Executive Director: Henry Banks

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.

Administrative Director: Sarah Banks

Sarah is woodworker, grant writer, website developer, and administrator. She has a BA in English Literature from Warren Wilson College, and has worked a variety of jobs including carpentry, bookkeeping, environmental education, writing, and farming. After working with her dad, Henry, doing carpentry for a number of years after graduating college, Sarah and her partner went on to build their own home in Otisfield. Sarah is a co-founder of Tear Cap Workshops.