Our Directors and Staff
Our Directors and Staff
Board of Directors
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Michael Cummings
President
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Elizabeth Spencer Berthiaume
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Stephanie Tennyson
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Natalia Dominguez
Michael Cummings
President
Elizabeth Spencer Berthiaume
Stephanie Tennyson
Natalia Dominguez
Operations
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Clifton Crofford
Executive Director, Development Director, Glass Blowing Instructor
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Jean M. Fernandes
Kiln Studio Manager & Instructor, Visiting Artist Coordinator
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Tatara Siegel
Artistic Coordinator/ Youth Outreach Coordinator, Glass Blowing Instructor
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Heidi Childers
Administrative Director
Clifton Crofford
Executive Director, Development Director, Glass Blowing Instructor
I am a partner, father, student, teacher, and glass maker. I am proud to be an important part of the incredible team at SiNaCa Studios and hope that our combined efforts will leave a lasting and important addition to the cultural landscape of Fort Worth, TX. I am a maker at my core, and ultimately love making a difference in the lives close to me and the community I love.
Jean M. Fernandes
Kiln Studio Manager & Instructor, Visiting Artist Coordinator
I’m a full time artist and educator with an
undergraduate degree in the arts from San Jose State University, CA,
and a master’s degree in glass from the University of Texas at
Arlington. I’m the runt of the SiNaCa team (the shortest one) and I’m
also rebellious enough to include only two sentences here instead of
three.
Glass Vocabulary Word: Devitrification
Kevin McGehee
Studios Coordinator, Glass blowing Instructor, Flame Working Instructor
I stumbled in to glass blowing in 1998 needing a 3D art credit for a graphic design degree at UT Arlington. The glass blowing elective turned in to 14 semester journey finishing with a BFA in Glass Art. 20+ years after my 1st gather, I’m still excited by what glass can do and the opportunity to share it with others.
Glass Vocabulary Word: Battuto
Tatara Siegel
Artistic Coordinator/ Youth Outreach Coordinator, Glass Blowing Instructor
I have a B. A. in Glass and Ceramics with a minor in Psychology from The University of Texas at Arlington. I have an M.F.A. in Glass from Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Craft. My body of work consists of two separate approaches to making, one is designed- based and the other narrative- based. I love finding the balance in making both types of art.
Movement, M-o-v-e-m-e-n-t
Heidi Childers
Administrative Director
I am a UTA alumna with two bachelor degrees with primary focuses in English, psychology and business management, over 20 years of service industry management experience and have volunteered at SiNaCa Studios from the beginning. I am the non-glass making, glass groupie that has taken on the challenge of keeping these creatives on track. I love that I get to find new ways every day to use my education, past experiences and imagination to help shape and grow this organization.
Glass Vocabulary Word: Marver, m-a-r, v-e-r
Instructors
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Nick Gomez
Flame Working Instructor
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Madeline Carlson
Glass Blowing Instructor/Kiln Forming Instructor
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Amy Stephens
Glass Blowing Instructor
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Canaan Casteel
Glass Blowing Instructor
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Allyson Frizzell
Intern
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Brandi Simpson
Glass Blowing Instructor
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Christian Greene
Glass Blowing Instructor
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Andrew Fuentes
Glass Blowing Instructor
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Erika Espinoza
Glass Blowing Instructor
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Christa Westbrook
Glass Blowing Instructor
Nick Gomez
Flame Working Instructor
I am a family man with 2 boys and a wife who is my best friend. I always enjoy spending time with my family and I am also very passionate about making glass and music and practice both daily. I’m grateful to be able to make glass and teach people about glass for a living as well as help support my family using my passion for art.
Glass Vocabulary Word: Punty
Blake Boles
Glass Blowing Instructor
In 2017, I obtained my BFA in Glass from the University of Texas at Arlington. I am a former painter with a fascination in street art. Currently, I’m interested in sculpting and etching imagery into repurposed glass.
Glass Vocabulary Word: Compatibility
Madeline Carlson
Glass Blowing Instructor/Kiln Forming Instructor
I am a graphic designer that was brought to the dark side; aka the glass world. My first exposure to glass was in a beginning kiln class at UTA. I absolutely loved working with the material and switched my degree to glass and hoped I loved glassblowing as much as kiln forming and casting. (spoiler alert; I do!) Then in 2019 I graduated with MY BFA in Glass from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Amy Stephens
Glass Blowing Instructor
Glass Vocabulary Word: Moil
Canaan Casteel
Glass Blowing Instructor
Allyson Frizzell
Intern
Brandi Simpson
Glass Blowing Instructor
Pronouns: She/Her
Year Started: 2022
I am a UTA Student and graduate with a BFA in Studio Arts, currently pursuing an MFA in
Glass Studies. I have been an art educator since 2016,and I have taught glassblowing, high
school art/art history, and yoga. My enthusiasm for art and creating is down-right contagious,
and I love getting to see the joy and satisfaction in my students’ faces when they create
something they are proud of.
Glass vocabulary word: Soffietta
Christian Greene
Glass Blowing Instructor
Andrew Fuentes
Glass Blowing Instructor
Program and Curriculum Staff
Started 2022
UTA alumni with a BFA focused in glass. I’ve been working with hot glass for about 3.5 years. It’s something that I truly feel I have a strong passion for. Anytime I’ve ever had to take a break to focus on other things in life I always come crawling back to the hotshop. I consider the hotshop to be a home away from home. It’s my safe space where I can escape and find myself. When I’m not consumed with making glass my second passion in life is writing and performing music.
Glass Vocabulary Word; Murrini
Erika Espinoza
Glass Blowing Instructor
Program and Curriculum Staff
Started 2023
Current Job Title(s): Glass Blowing Instructor
Three Sentences About You: Learning has always been fun for me. So finding glass blowing, a never ending lesson, has been the perfect fit to help me mature into the person I am today. I now get to enjoy my work by spreading the lessons glass teaches us onto others.
Glass Vocabulary Word: Gravity
Christa Westbrook
Glass Blowing Instructor
FRONT OF HOUSE
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Cylla Neuwirth
Front of House
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Rebecca Dell
Front of House
Cylla Neuwirth
Front of House
Year Started: 2023
Current Job Title(s): Front of House
Three Sentences About You: I graduated college in 2023 studying Animation and Programming. Now I’m taking business classes to start my own online business selling my art. I love learning different types of art techniques as it’s my passion and I wanna work hard to stick with it
Glass Vocabulary Word: Didymium
Rebecca Dell
Front of House
Year Started: 2022
I graduated from the London College of Communication with a Photography BA(Hons) and continued onto Oxford Brooks University to complete my teaching degree. I have lived in five countries, giving me the opportunity to learn from multiple cultures; I feel immensely lucky for the connections, friendships, and adventures those experiences have provided. I’m excited to continue learning and growing, during this new chapter, in the glass studio.
Glass Vocabulary Word: cullet