Born and raised in Nebraska, Meighan moved to Colorado, where she earned her Masters in Forensic Psychology and worked in that field for 15 years.  She retired and moved to St Petersburg, Florida in 2015. Since arriving in Florida, she and her husband have been farming hay in Dade City, as well as undergoing an extensive conservation effort to reestablish and maintain wildlife habitat.  

A relative newcomer to the field of woodworking, Meighan started by repairing and repurposing family heirlooms made of wood in her garage.  She found the Florida School of Woodwork almost by accident, and since then has participated in multiple classes, developing her skills with both functional and creative pieces.  Based on her own experience, Meighan recognizes the transformative power of woodworking, and is looking forward to helping others experience it as well.

At the intersection of Chemistry and Craft is where Kansas City-based Kelly Parker feels most at home. She is a designer and maker of contemporary studio furniture and sculpture. After graduating with a degree in Biochemistry she worked in the corporate world for 18 years before taking a rather circuitous route into art. Her chemistry background informs her pragmatic approach to problem-solving the building of the sculptural designs that are the hallmark of her work. She has a curvy, contemporary aesthetic and often uses steam bending, bent laminations or vacuum forming as part of her process. Kelly finds design inspiration wherever she sees a beautiful form, whether it is a flower or the engine cowling on a Boeing Dreamliner.

By day, James serves as a Deputy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, contributing over 20 years of honorable service to date.  

James’ love of woodworking was born several years ago from an initial simple focus of creating memorable & sentimental pieces for those he loves- from a stable rocking chair for his elderly father to an inspired closet system for his son as he grows into adolescence, to a dining room table for the family to gather around. James’ passion remains centered on creating beautiful original pieces, both functional and aesthetic, in a variety of mediums and uses.  James enjoys creating new and challenging pieces and accepts commissions in his free time.

He is honored to serve on the board of Friends of the Florida School of Woodwork and looks forward to playing his part in making this medium accessible to new hearts and minds who are interested in the beauty and versatility of woodworking.

Jessica Todd is a curator, writer, and arts administrator from Northern Virginia now living in Tampa, Florida. She is passionate about building the creative infrastructures that support artists and communities. She currently serves as the Curator for Tampa Arts Alliance, an arts advocacy nonprofit. From 2022 to 2024, she owned and operated Parachute Gallery, first serving as an exhibition space for national artists and later a retail gallery representing local artists. Prior to moving to Tampa in 2020, she spent six years as the Residency Manager for the Rauschenberg Residency in Captiva, Florida, an artists' community serving over 70 artists annually at the former home and studio of Robert Rauschenberg.

She holds an MFA in Jewelry/Metals/Enameling from Kent State University, a BA in Art from Penn State University, and a Diploma of Hispanic Studies from the University of Barcelona.

Rand’s passion for woodworking began in his grandfather’s workshop, where he was introduced at an early age to a Shopsmith and encouraged to experiment and be creative. He earned a B.A. in English and built a successful career in graphic design at Apple, where he worked for 20 years leading Global Digital Production. Finding that hands-on creative outlet again, Rand returned to woodworking and now focuses on creating elegant, small-scale objects—particularly boxes—that celebrate the natural beauty of each wood species he selects. He is honored to serve on the board and looks forward to helping others discover their creativity, design, and craftsmanship.