Annual Conference Vote

Notice of the Annual Business Meeting American Glass Guild, Inc.

To be held at the American Glass Guild's Annual Conference – August 9th, 2026

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the Members of the American Glass Guild, Inc., (AGG), held in each fiscal year, in conjunction with our Annual Conference, for the purpose of electing our Board of Directors for the next fiscal year. The Nominating Committee has recommended six (6) candidates to serve on the Board of Directors; Don Burt, Adam Frazee, Elizabeth Kolenda, Janet Lipstreu, Roberto Rosa, and Tony Serviente. A Director’s term begins at the Board meeting held just after the Annual Meeting of the AGG Membership. The vote will take place during the conference on August 9th, 2026

Nomination Statements

Greetings fellow glass professionals, scholars, and dedicated enthusiasts,

I would first like to express my sincere thanks for allowing me to serve on the Board in the past. I have enjoyed being a member of the American Glass Guild. The first conference I attended was in Albany in 2006. Since its beginnings, I have found the American Glass Guild to be a community of welcoming individuals where everyone has an equal space at the table; where learning and fellowship are encouraged and fostered.

Serving on the Board has been interesting. Co-chairing the first conference after the pandemic, Corning, was a challenge at times, but very much worth the effort. Being elected as Secretary, and then Vice President, to the Executive Committee was an honor. I would like to see the American Glass Guild continue to grow and build upon its successes; to welcome new people with a desire to learn; to foster conferences and learning opportunities that are high quality and accessible to everyone who has a desire to further themselves in the world of glass, whether you are a novice just starting your journey or a studio owner with a lifetime in the trenches.

The American Glass Guild has played heavily into my professional journey that began 28 years ago. Through learning and working on large scale projects with some of its founding members and advisors, attending conferences and co-chairing its largest conference, in 2022, in Corning, New York. I am currently serving on the Long Range Planning and Conference committees. We have been working diligently to reassess the values and mission of the AGG and chart new paths that will continue to build on the successes of the AGG and ensure an even brighter future ahead for the organization and the art of decorative glass.

I would like to serve a new term on the American Glass Guild Board, to continue to give back and help grow this great organization. Thank you for your consideration.

I am honored to be considered for a position on the American Glass Guild Board of Directors. I have been an AGG member since 2024 and have quickly come to appreciate the Guild's commitment to education, collaboration, and the preservation of glass.

Through my work as an artist and community builder, leading collaborative glass projects that connect artists across the world, I have seen firsthand the power of creating opportunities for learning, mentorship, and meaningful connection. I believe these values closely align with AGG's mission.

If elected, I would be excited to contribute my experience in community engagement, communication, and collaboration to help strengthen member connections, support educational programming, and encourage greater participation across all levels of our organization.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve the Guild and help continue building an inclusive, inspiring future for our glass community.

When my uncle introduced me to his stained glass business 25 years ago, I was immediately drawn to glass as an art medium and began my journey as a stained glass artist. I have immersed myself in glass education ever since and have additionally invested into other “glassy” avenues including fusing and mosaics.

Since I attended my first conference in 2018, I have been continually impressed with the AGG and its commitment to education. I have benefited greatly from countless presentations, workshops, webinars, and fellowship with fellow glass artists I have met at these events. To say the least, the AGG has had a lasting impact on my glass art journey. I would be honored to serve on the AGG Board because I believe so deeply in the mission of the organization and the dedication to our trade through education and support for fellow glass artists, from beginners to experts. I believe the AGG plays a vital role in preserving the art and craft of stained glass, supporting artists at every stage of their careers, and fostering meaningful connections within our community.

As the AGG continues to grow, I would consider it a great privilege to serve on the Board and contribute to the continued growth and success of our organization.

I am grateful to be nominated for a seat on the AGG Board of Directors. My first AGG event was in Bryn Athyn, my first full conference was in Corning, and hosting the 20th anniversary conference has been, thus far, quite remarkable… It has marked a new chapter, one of broader community and commitment.

Over the past couple of years as a board member, I have come to appreciate even more fully how important AGG’s work is to our field and how much the community benefits from shared knowledge and thoughtful leadership. As my network has grown, so has my commitment to learning from others and contributing to the broadening of our craft for the next generation.

This has been a lifelong journey, and one that has grown immeasurably in recent years. My interest in stained glass began in childhood and led to an apprenticeship, formal study at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, and a lifelong career in the field. I founded Princeton Stained Glass Co. in 2002, worked as a teaching artist, and later joined The Gil Studio, Inc. to deepen my experience in restoration and conservation. When Tom Garcia retired in 2019, I transferred the business to myself and merged it with my own practice.

I would be honored to continue serving our amazing organization.

I am honored to be considered for a position on the American Glass Guild Board of Directors.

The AGG has had a profound impact on my own journey as a glass artist and educator. Since becoming involved with the Guild, I have found an extraordinary community of artists, conservators, craftspeople, and historians who generously share their knowledge and are united by a commitment to excellence in stained glass. That spirit of education and collaboration is what makes the AGG such an important organization.

My own work focuses on pictorial glass painting and combining traditional techniques with contemporary artistic expression. Alongside my studio practice, I teach workshops throughout the United States and internationally, helping artists develop confidence in painted glass and encouraging the continued growth of this remarkable craft. Through teaching, I have seen firsthand how meaningful it is to connect artists at every stage of their careers and to create opportunities for learning and mentorship.

If elected to the Board, I hope to contribute to expanding educational opportunities, strengthening connections within our community, and helping the AGG reach a broader audience of emerging artists while continuing to honor the traditions that make our field unique. I believe the future of stained glass depends on preserving our heritage while encouraging innovation, curiosity, and the generous exchange of knowledge.

It would be a privilege to serve the American Glass Guild and to help support its mission for years to come.

I am honored to be nominated for a position on the American Glass Guild’s board of directors. I have been actively involved with the AGG since 2010, serving on the Auction Committee as Chair, as Webmaster, 2023 Conference Chair, and am the Guild's current Vice President. During my time on the board, I've helped to collaboratively lead our organization forward into technologically driven age, while championing a historic and manual craft. I've helped to advise and update our resources, redesign and work on the backend of our website, and am the often unseen force at work just making sure things work as they should.

I have been lucky when it comes to glass; my stepfather Wayne Cain owns his own studio, Cain Architectural Art Glass, and has been working in the field since 1972. I‘ve worked with him since the age of 12, beginning with puttying windows, soldering joints, cutting lead, and beveling glass. I worked for Cain Art Glass for almost ten years as an adult, and now I am the Director of Art and Deisign with Willet Stained Glass Studios, leading a team of artisans specializing in new contemporary and traditional work, conservation and restoration, with my own passion being glass painting and aciding.

I will dedicate my time and talents to the AGG because I want to see the organization continue on for my generation of artists and peers, and for those generations before and after. This is why I’ve agreed to be nominated to the board once again, because I see the mission and purpose of the Guild as more important than when I first began to volunteer; to encourage and support education, foster a culture of quality, and build a community around the art we all love. I believe technology and the internet will continue to play a pivotal role, and I look forward to continuing to assist the AGG in that space (and others) once again as a member of the board of directors.

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Submitted by the Nominating Committee:

Maria Serpentino, Chair

Pete Billington

Judith Schaechter

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