Who’s Speaking

The speakers at Woodworking in America 2025 include esteemed artisans who will share their expertise and passion for woodworking. Click here to see more. 

Gary Rogowski
Gary RogowskiThe Northwest Woodworking Studio

Gary Rogowski started woodworking in 1974 with a radial-arm saw and his dad’s old hand planes. He now runs his own woodworking school The Northwest Woodworking Studio in Portland, Oregon and has produced numerous articles and videos for Fine Woodworking, including The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery. Gary’s school opened in 1997 and he holds year-round classes for novice to mastery level students.

Gary Rogowski
Gary RogowskiThe Northwest Woodworking Studio

Gary Rogowski started woodworking in 1974 with a radial-arm saw and his dad’s old hand planes. He now runs his own woodworking school The Northwest Woodworking Studio in Portland, Oregon and has produced numerous articles and videos for Fine Woodworking, including The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery. Gary’s school opened in 1997 and he holds year-round classes for novice to mastery level students.

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Alexis Dolese
Alexis DoleseDolese Woodworks

Alexis grew up in a family of builders and artists. While designing and building her own house and working alongside her dad, a long time woodworker, she embarked on a career of building fine furniture. She apprenticed with many talented and successful woodworkers before starting her business in Bozeman in 2019. Alexis builds custom fine furniture and teaches classes at Montana State University and the Port Townsend School of Woodworking as well as at her own shop. Alexis is a founding member and the president of the Bozeman Woodworking Guild created to help develop the local woodworking community and encourage and support local craftsmen focusing on novice woodworkers.

Alexis Dolese
Alexis DoleseDolese Woodworks

Alexis grew up in a family of builders and artists. While designing and building her own house and working alongside her dad, a long time woodworker, she embarked on a career of building fine furniture. She apprenticed with many talented and successful woodworkers before starting her business in Bozeman in 2019. Alexis builds custom fine furniture and teaches classes at Montana State University and the Port Townsend School of Woodworking as well as at her own shop. Alexis is a founding member and the president of the Bozeman Woodworking Guild created to help develop the local woodworking community and encourage and support local craftsmen focusing on novice woodworkers.

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Shea AlexanderFurniture Maker & Co-Founder at Alexander Brothers

As a maker Shea is passionate about keeping Appalachian heritage alive through the trades and arts.

Shea spends his days helping clients pick out lumber, sanding custom furniture orders, sipping scotch with a book, or watching his daughter play with her cat. His active social media presence and involvement in his local community are ways he welcomes all people to know and experience beauty in their everyday lives.

Shea AlexanderFurniture Maker & Co-Founder at Alexander Brothers

As a maker Shea is passionate about keeping Appalachian heritage alive through the trades and arts.

Shea spends his days helping clients pick out lumber, sanding custom furniture orders, sipping scotch with a book, or watching his daughter play with her cat. His active social media presence and involvement in his local community are ways he welcomes all people to know and experience beauty in their everyday lives.

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Woodworking in America 2025 Schedule

More details coming soon!

  • Thursday, Oct. 9
  • Friday, Oct. 10
  • Saturday, Oct. 11
  • Woodsmith Shop & Studio
03:00 PM - 05:00 PMOpen House – Shop and Studio Tour

From 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 9, you’ll have the chance to attend an open house tour of the shop and studios for Woodsmith, ShopNotes, and the Woodsmith ShopTV show. Meet the staff and get a behind-the-scenes look at upcoming projects and issues.

Location: 2143 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312

  • 4-H Exhibits Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds
  • Classroom A
  • Classroom B
  • Classroom C
  • Classroom D
  • Vendor Education Stage
07:15 AM - 08:15 AMRegistration Open
08:15 AM - 08:30 AMWelcome
08:30 AM - 09:45 AMDetails Coming Soon By Shea AlexanderFurniture Maker & Co-Founder at Alexander Brothers

More details coming soon.

09:00 AM - 10:15 AMFive Steps for Successful Gluing By Bob BehnkeSenior Technical Service Manager – Franklin International – Titebond

The class will cover the five steps for successful gluing. From dry assembly to waiting for the glue to dry. Wood glues can affect the wood as it is being assembled and being prepared in advance will eliminate costly joint failures and frustrating disassembly. The discussion will focus on the steps needed to use wood glues with ease, what to watch out for when the glue hits the wood and why failures occur. We will also cover some frequently asked questions and why there are so many different wood glues. Bring your gluing questions as this is a discussion, not just a presentation.

09:00 AM - 10:15 AMTurning Tricks For Furniture Makers By Beth IrelandBeth Ireland Woodworking

The lathe is a wonderful tool with many uses in a shop. its ability to control motor speed makes it great for, sharpening, honing, sanding and shaping. This demo shows some of the tricks and techniques I have used in my 40-year career as a production woodturner. Stance, technique, sharpening, and strategies for executing are some of the topics that will be covered. I will cover how to easily make cylinders, tapers, reproduce shapes, and creating perfect tenons every time. Join me for a clear concise fast-paced demo on why the lathe is one of the most important tools in your shop.

09:45 AM - 10:15 AMVendor Education
10:15 AM - 11:30 AMAccommodating For and Reducing Wood Movement By Alexis Dolese Dolese Woodworks

Wood movement is one of the most tricky things to navigate when building fine furniture. Join Alexis Dolese, who will talk and demonstrate how to process wood safely and efficiently while accounting for wood movement. She will also demonstrate skills for gluing up slabs, attaching tops with wood movement in mind, and working with curved parts to keep things as stable as possible. So you can build projects with confidence.

Wilbur Pan
10:15 AM - 11:30 AMJapanese and Western Planes: The Common Ground By Wilbur PanGiant Cypress

Japanese planes are often surrounded by an air of mystery, which is unfortunate, because understanding Japanese planes is surprisingly straightforward. This talk will cover how Japanese planes work, an overview of how to set up a Japanese plane, how they are used in real life, and the surprising similarities they have with western planes. And even if you don’t use Japanese planes, there will be good tips on using hand planes in general, including an easy approach to manage tearout, and how to use a chipbreaker.

Phil Huber
10:45 AM - 12:00 PMDetails Coming Soon By Phil HuberEditor-in-Chief, Woodsmith

More details coming soon.

Ben Strano
10:45 AM - 12:00 PMLuthiery for Woodworkers By Ben StranoEditor, FineWoodworking.com

More details coming soon.

11:30 AM - 01:00 PMLunch Break
11:30 AM - 01:00 PMVendor Education
12:30 PM - 01:45 PMSelecting, Using & Maintaining Vintage Handsaws By Mark Harrell Founder of Bad Axe Tool Works and Owner of SawSharp

The purpose of this one-day block of instruction is to introduce students to saw selection, use and maintenance through proven traditional sawyering techniques that have endured throughout the centuries, back when communication moved at the speed of a horse or a sail. Much of the information below has been forgotten when generations of woodworkers following the WWII era gravitated toward power tools. This one-day class will empower the student to know how to select and use handsaws, exercise proper form when sawing, and how to maintain/clean these saws.

Amanda Russell
01:00 PM - 02:15 PMTips for Short Production Runs By Amanda Russell Associate Editor, Fine Woodworking

More details coming soon.

01:45 PM - 02:15 PMVendor Education
Details Coming Soon
02:15 PM - 03:45 PMDetails Coming Soon By Dave RichardsInstructor and Designer
02:15 PM - 03:30 PMDetails Coming Soon By Vic TesolinVic Tesolin Woodworks

More details coming soon.

02:45 PM - 04:00 PMSetting Up Shop, Again By Gary Rogowski The Northwest Woodworking Studio

If there had been a Critter Cam on the front door of my new small shop when I moved in, oh what a tale it would tell. I had moved from a 10,000 sq. ft. shop into a 600 foot one. [I am not good at math.] This shop is my fifth ‘final’ one. Setting up each has been a joy and a job that never seems finished.

The Setting Up Shop lecture is my take on the important things for a furniture-making space. See the caveat right there means I can leave out a table saw, although I have one. This talk will free you up to think about your own space in a new light.

What are the shop monuments that should be set and left in place? What are the things you can tear down and put away? How do you lay out a new shop if you’re not sure what you’ll build? And how do you dig yourself out from the tiny paths all your tools and wood and jigs and forms have created for you now?

I will discuss Shop Flow, Concepts of Woodworking, Hand Tools & Machines, and Strategies for Building. This chat will offer you a template for laying out a new shop or managing one that is impossible now to move through.

03:30 PM - 04:00 PMVendor Education
04:00 PM - 05:15 PMDetails Coming soon By Logan WittmerEditor-in-Chief, Popular Woodworking

More details coming soon.

05:30 PM - 06:30 PMHappy Hour
10:15 AM - 11:30 AMAccommodating For and Reducing Wood Movement By Alexis Dolese Dolese Woodworks

Wood movement is one of the most tricky things to navigate when building fine furniture. Join Alexis Dolese, who will talk and demonstrate how to process wood safely and efficiently while accounting for wood movement. She will also demonstrate skills for gluing up slabs, attaching tops with wood movement in mind, and working with curved parts to keep things as stable as possible. So you can build projects with confidence.

12:30 PM - 01:45 PMSelecting, Using & Maintaining Vintage Handsaws By Mark Harrell Founder of Bad Axe Tool Works and Owner of SawSharp

The purpose of this one-day block of instruction is to introduce students to saw selection, use and maintenance through proven traditional sawyering techniques that have endured throughout the centuries, back when communication moved at the speed of a horse or a sail. Much of the information below has been forgotten when generations of woodworkers following the WWII era gravitated toward power tools. This one-day class will empower the student to know how to select and use handsaws, exercise proper form when sawing, and how to maintain/clean these saws.

Details Coming Soon
02:15 PM - 03:45 PMDetails Coming Soon By Dave RichardsInstructor and Designer
04:00 PM - 05:15 PMDetails Coming soon By Logan WittmerEditor-in-Chief, Popular Woodworking

More details coming soon.

08:30 AM - 09:45 AMDetails Coming Soon By Shea AlexanderFurniture Maker & Co-Founder at Alexander Brothers

More details coming soon.

Wilbur Pan
10:15 AM - 11:30 AMJapanese and Western Planes: The Common Ground By Wilbur PanGiant Cypress

Japanese planes are often surrounded by an air of mystery, which is unfortunate, because understanding Japanese planes is surprisingly straightforward. This talk will cover how Japanese planes work, an overview of how to set up a Japanese plane, how they are used in real life, and the surprising similarities they have with western planes. And even if you don’t use Japanese planes, there will be good tips on using hand planes in general, including an easy approach to manage tearout, and how to use a chipbreaker.

02:15 PM - 03:30 PMDetails Coming Soon By Vic TesolinVic Tesolin Woodworks

More details coming soon.

09:00 AM - 10:15 AMFive Steps for Successful Gluing By Bob BehnkeSenior Technical Service Manager – Franklin International – Titebond

The class will cover the five steps for successful gluing. From dry assembly to waiting for the glue to dry. Wood glues can affect the wood as it is being assembled and being prepared in advance will eliminate costly joint failures and frustrating disassembly. The discussion will focus on the steps needed to use wood glues with ease, what to watch out for when the glue hits the wood and why failures occur. We will also cover some frequently asked questions and why there are so many different wood glues. Bring your gluing questions as this is a discussion, not just a presentation.

Phil Huber
10:45 AM - 12:00 PMDetails Coming Soon By Phil HuberEditor-in-Chief, Woodsmith

More details coming soon.

Amanda Russell
01:00 PM - 02:15 PMTips for Short Production Runs By Amanda Russell Associate Editor, Fine Woodworking

More details coming soon.

09:00 AM - 10:15 AMTurning Tricks For Furniture Makers By Beth IrelandBeth Ireland Woodworking

The lathe is a wonderful tool with many uses in a shop. its ability to control motor speed makes it great for, sharpening, honing, sanding and shaping. This demo shows some of the tricks and techniques I have used in my 40-year career as a production woodturner. Stance, technique, sharpening, and strategies for executing are some of the topics that will be covered. I will cover how to easily make cylinders, tapers, reproduce shapes, and creating perfect tenons every time. Join me for a clear concise fast-paced demo on why the lathe is one of the most important tools in your shop.

Ben Strano
10:45 AM - 12:00 PMLuthiery for Woodworkers By Ben StranoEditor, FineWoodworking.com

More details coming soon.

02:45 PM - 04:00 PMSetting Up Shop, Again By Gary Rogowski The Northwest Woodworking Studio

If there had been a Critter Cam on the front door of my new small shop when I moved in, oh what a tale it would tell. I had moved from a 10,000 sq. ft. shop into a 600 foot one. [I am not good at math.] This shop is my fifth ‘final’ one. Setting up each has been a joy and a job that never seems finished.

The Setting Up Shop lecture is my take on the important things for a furniture-making space. See the caveat right there means I can leave out a table saw, although I have one. This talk will free you up to think about your own space in a new light.

What are the shop monuments that should be set and left in place? What are the things you can tear down and put away? How do you lay out a new shop if you’re not sure what you’ll build? And how do you dig yourself out from the tiny paths all your tools and wood and jigs and forms have created for you now?

I will discuss Shop Flow, Concepts of Woodworking, Hand Tools & Machines, and Strategies for Building. This chat will offer you a template for laying out a new shop or managing one that is impossible now to move through.

09:45 AM - 10:15 AMVendor Education
11:30 AM - 01:00 PMVendor Education
01:45 PM - 02:15 PMVendor Education
03:30 PM - 04:00 PMVendor Education
  • 4-H Exhibits Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds
  • Classroom A
  • Classroom B
  • Classroom C
  • Classroom D
  • Vendor Education Stage
07:15 AM - 08:15 AMRegistration Open
08:15 AM - 08:30 AMWelcome
Phil Huber
08:30 AM - 09:45 AMDetails Coming Soon By Phil HuberEditor-in-Chief, Woodsmith

More details coming soon.

09:00 AM - 10:15 AMDetails Coming Soon By Vic TesolinVic Tesolin Woodworks

More details coming soon.

09:45 AM - 10:45 AMVendor Education
10:15 AM - 11:30 AMSelecting, Using & Maintaining Vintage Handsaws By Mark HarrellFounder of Bad Axe Tool Works and Owner of SawSharp

The purpose of this one-day block of instruction is to introduce students to saw selection, use and maintenance through proven traditional sawyering techniques that have endured throughout the centuries, back when communication moved at the speed of a horse or a sail. Much of the information below has been forgotten when generations of woodworkers following the WWII era gravitated toward power tools. This one-day class will empower the student to know how to select and use handsaws, exercise proper form when sawing, and how to maintain/clean these saws.

10:15 AM - 11:30 AMDetails Coming Soon By Logan WittmerEditor-in-Chief, Popular Woodworking
Amanda Russell
10:45 AM - 12:00 PMTips for Short Production Runs By Amanda RussellAssociate Editor, Fine Woodworking

More details coming soon.

10:45 AM - 12:00 PMSetting Up Shop, Again By Gary RogowskiThe Northwest Woodworking Studio

If there had been a Critter Cam on the front door of my new small shop when I moved in, oh what a tale it would tell. I had moved from a 10,000 sq. ft. shop into a 600 foot one. [I am not good at math.] This shop is my fifth ‘final’ one. Setting up each has been a joy and a job that never seems finished.

The Setting Up Shop lecture is my take on the important things for a furniture-making space. See the caveat right there means I can leave out a table saw, although I have one. This talk will free you up to think about your own space in a new light.

What are the shop monuments that should be set and left in place? What are the things you can tear down and put away? How do you lay out a new shop if you’re not sure what you’ll build? And how do you dig yourself out from the tiny paths all your tools and wood and jigs and forms have created for you now?

I will discuss Shop Flow, Concepts of Woodworking, Hand Tools & Machines, and Strategies for Building. This chat will offer you a template for laying out a new shop or managing one that is impossible now to move through.

11:30 AM - 01:00 PMLunch Break
11:30 AM - 01:00 PMVendor Education
Details Coming Soon
12:30 PM - 01:45 PMDetails Coming Soon By Dave RichardsInstructor and Designer

More details coming soon.

12:30 PM - 01:45 PMDetails Coming Soon By Shea AlexanderFurniture Maker & Co-Founder at Alexander Brothers

More details coming soon.

Ben Strano
01:00 PM - 02:15 PMLuthiery for Woodworkers By Ben Strano Editor, FineWoodworking.com

Details coming soon.

01:00 PM - 02:15 PMAccommodating For and Reducing Wood Movement By Alexis Dolese Dolese Woodworks

Wood movement is one of the most tricky things to navigate when building fine furniture. Join Alexis Dolese, who will talk and demonstrate how to process wood safely and efficiently while accounting for wood movement. She will also demonstrate skills for gluing up slabs, attaching tops with wood movement in mind, and working with curved parts to keep things as stable as possible. So you can build projects with confidence.

01:45 PM - 02:45 PMVendor Education
Wilbur Pan
02:15 PM - 03:30 PMJapanese and Western Planes: The Common Ground By Wilbur PanGiant Cypress

Japanese planes are often surrounded by an air of mystery, which is unfortunate, because understanding Japanese planes is surprisingly straightforward. This talk will cover how Japanese planes work, an overview of how to set up a Japanese plane, how they are used in real life, and the surprising similarities they have with western planes. And even if you don’t use Japanese planes, there will be good tips on using hand planes in general, including an easy approach to manage tear-out, and how to use a chipbreaker.

02:15 PM - 03:30 PMFive Steps for Successful Gluing By Bob BehnkeSenior Technical Service Manager – Franklin International – Titebond

The class will cover the five steps for successful gluing. From dry assembly to waiting for the glue to dry. Wood glues can affect the wood as it is being assembled and being prepared in advance will eliminate costly joint failures and frustrating disassembly. The discussion will focus on the steps needed to use wood glues with ease, what to watch out for when the glue hits the wood and why failures occur. We will also cover some frequently asked questions and why there are so many different wood glues. Bring your gluing questions as this is a discussion, not just a presentation.

02:45 PM - 04:00 PMTurning Tricks For Furniture Makers By Beth IrelandBeth Ireland Woodworking

The lathe is a wonderful tool with many uses in a shop. its ability to control motor speed makes it great for, sharpening, honing, sanding and shaping. This demo shows some of the tricks and techniques I have used in my 40-year career as a production woodturner. Stance, technique, sharpening, and strategies for executing are some of the topics that will be covered. I will cover how to easily make cylinders, tapers, reproduce shapes, and creating perfect tenons every time. Join me for a clear concise fast-paced demo on why the lathe is one of the most important tools in your shop.

04:00 PM - 05:00 PMShop Talk Live …Live

We’ll be hosting a live recording of Fine Woodworking’s podcast, Shop Talk Live, with audience Q&A.

Phil Huber
08:30 AM - 09:45 AMDetails Coming Soon By Phil HuberEditor-in-Chief, Woodsmith

More details coming soon.

10:15 AM - 11:30 AMSelecting, Using & Maintaining Vintage Handsaws By Mark HarrellFounder of Bad Axe Tool Works and Owner of SawSharp

The purpose of this one-day block of instruction is to introduce students to saw selection, use and maintenance through proven traditional sawyering techniques that have endured throughout the centuries, back when communication moved at the speed of a horse or a sail. Much of the information below has been forgotten when generations of woodworkers following the WWII era gravitated toward power tools. This one-day class will empower the student to know how to select and use handsaws, exercise proper form when sawing, and how to maintain/clean these saws.

Details Coming Soon
12:30 PM - 01:45 PMDetails Coming Soon By Dave RichardsInstructor and Designer

More details coming soon.

Wilbur Pan
02:15 PM - 03:30 PMJapanese and Western Planes: The Common Ground By Wilbur PanGiant Cypress

Japanese planes are often surrounded by an air of mystery, which is unfortunate, because understanding Japanese planes is surprisingly straightforward. This talk will cover how Japanese planes work, an overview of how to set up a Japanese plane, how they are used in real life, and the surprising similarities they have with western planes. And even if you don’t use Japanese planes, there will be good tips on using hand planes in general, including an easy approach to manage tear-out, and how to use a chipbreaker.

10:15 AM - 11:30 AMDetails Coming Soon By Logan WittmerEditor-in-Chief, Popular Woodworking
12:30 PM - 01:45 PMDetails Coming Soon By Shea AlexanderFurniture Maker & Co-Founder at Alexander Brothers

More details coming soon.

02:15 PM - 03:30 PMFive Steps for Successful Gluing By Bob BehnkeSenior Technical Service Manager – Franklin International – Titebond

The class will cover the five steps for successful gluing. From dry assembly to waiting for the glue to dry. Wood glues can affect the wood as it is being assembled and being prepared in advance will eliminate costly joint failures and frustrating disassembly. The discussion will focus on the steps needed to use wood glues with ease, what to watch out for when the glue hits the wood and why failures occur. We will also cover some frequently asked questions and why there are so many different wood glues. Bring your gluing questions as this is a discussion, not just a presentation.

09:00 AM - 10:15 AMDetails Coming Soon By Vic TesolinVic Tesolin Woodworks

More details coming soon.

Amanda Russell
10:45 AM - 12:00 PMTips for Short Production Runs By Amanda RussellAssociate Editor, Fine Woodworking

More details coming soon.

Ben Strano
01:00 PM - 02:15 PMLuthiery for Woodworkers By Ben Strano Editor, FineWoodworking.com

Details coming soon.

02:45 PM - 04:00 PMTurning Tricks For Furniture Makers By Beth IrelandBeth Ireland Woodworking

The lathe is a wonderful tool with many uses in a shop. its ability to control motor speed makes it great for, sharpening, honing, sanding and shaping. This demo shows some of the tricks and techniques I have used in my 40-year career as a production woodturner. Stance, technique, sharpening, and strategies for executing are some of the topics that will be covered. I will cover how to easily make cylinders, tapers, reproduce shapes, and creating perfect tenons every time. Join me for a clear concise fast-paced demo on why the lathe is one of the most important tools in your shop.

10:45 AM - 12:00 PMSetting Up Shop, Again By Gary RogowskiThe Northwest Woodworking Studio

If there had been a Critter Cam on the front door of my new small shop when I moved in, oh what a tale it would tell. I had moved from a 10,000 sq. ft. shop into a 600 foot one. [I am not good at math.] This shop is my fifth ‘final’ one. Setting up each has been a joy and a job that never seems finished.

The Setting Up Shop lecture is my take on the important things for a furniture-making space. See the caveat right there means I can leave out a table saw, although I have one. This talk will free you up to think about your own space in a new light.

What are the shop monuments that should be set and left in place? What are the things you can tear down and put away? How do you lay out a new shop if you’re not sure what you’ll build? And how do you dig yourself out from the tiny paths all your tools and wood and jigs and forms have created for you now?

I will discuss Shop Flow, Concepts of Woodworking, Hand Tools & Machines, and Strategies for Building. This chat will offer you a template for laying out a new shop or managing one that is impossible now to move through.

01:00 PM - 02:15 PMAccommodating For and Reducing Wood Movement By Alexis Dolese Dolese Woodworks

Wood movement is one of the most tricky things to navigate when building fine furniture. Join Alexis Dolese, who will talk and demonstrate how to process wood safely and efficiently while accounting for wood movement. She will also demonstrate skills for gluing up slabs, attaching tops with wood movement in mind, and working with curved parts to keep things as stable as possible. So you can build projects with confidence.

09:45 AM - 10:45 AMVendor Education
11:30 AM - 01:00 PMVendor Education
01:45 PM - 02:45 PMVendor Education

Buy a Ticket

Plan ahead and save with our early bird offer.

Don't miss out on early bird pricing! Prices go up July 1!

  • Two days packed with workshops, demonstrations, and camaraderie
  • Thursday: Open House Tour of Woodsmith Shop & Studio
  • Firday: Happy Hour in the Exhibit Hall
  • Shop Talk Live - Join us for a live recording of Fine Woodworking’s podcast, Shop Talk Live, with audience Q&A.
EARLY BIRD PRICING

2-Day VIP Pass

$300/ person
  • General admission to the exhibit floor October 10 and 11
  • Unlimited access to seminars and demonstrations
  • Thursday open house tour of Woodsmith shop and studios
  • Entry to Friday’s happy hour

Marketplace Ticket

$25/ person
  • General admission to the exhibit floor October 10 and 11
  • Thursday open house tour of Woodsmith shop and studios
  • Children 16 and younger are free

Send Message

If you have any questions or just want to get in touch, use the form below. We look forward to hearing from you!