Meet Our VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Craft Council of Newfoundland & Labrador

To contact the Board of Directors, click here to send an email. We will reply as soon as possible.

Melissa Tarrant

Executive Director

Ann Breen

Shannon Reid

Director of Sales

Shannon Reid has worked in the retail industry for over 35 years, with the majority of that time spent within the craft and gift sector. Originally from Nova Scotia, Shannon joined the staff of the Craft Council in 2006 as Shop Manager, and has successfully directed this key membership benefit for the past 17 years, identifying and delivering premier services for members leading to artistic and business success.  Shannon draws from her education in Fashion Merchandising to provide merchandising assistance to craft shops throughout the province, both through on-site visits and in group seminar sessions. She provides guidance with retail pricing, packaging, promotion and career planning, supporting members as they develop their confidence and find their voice as professional craftspeople. Shannon coaches students in College of the North Atlantic's Textile and Apparel Design Program, meets regularly with emerging makers at the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios / Craft Business Incubator and offers advice to makers at all stages of their careers. In 2022, her role temporarily expanded to Retail & Special Events Manager, which included the direction of special events and programming around Come Home Year 2023 and the Craft Council of NL 50th Anniversary. Currently holding the position of Director of Sales, Shannon focuses on our Retail Shop Management, Retail Events & Opportunities, and the Craft Council of NL Standards of Quality

Earl Hoyles

Finance Officer

Earl has an extensive background in finance coming from a career with the Provincial Government and their finance department. Earl provides stable and sound financial management with the help of the executive director and accounts payable / receivable support staff.

Renee Holloway

Shop Lead

Sara Buttler

Shop Assistant

Bradley Whitten

Studio Technician

Brad is a wealth of knowledge and is our studio technician with a responsibility for firing and maintaining our kilns, inventory of clay, studio layout, upkeep, cleanliness and safety, coordinating volunteer studio hosts, and keeping all studio users up to date on new additions to the studio. Brad also conducts the one-on-one coaching sessions, whether it be wheel throwing or hand-building. Brad is also a member of the Clay Studio Advisory Committee.

Christina Pitcher

Christina is a volunteer studio host, a community events volunteer, an instructor, a birthday party host, and a member of the Clay Studio Advisory Committee.

Joanne Moores

Joanne is a volunteer studio host, a community events volunteer, an instructor a member of the Clay Studio Advisory Committee, and a regular member of the Clay Studio.

Anita Singh

Anita is an instructor, community events volunteer, and a regular member of the clay studio.

Jane Ogilvie

Jane is a community events volunteer, an instructor, and a regular member of the clay studio.

Roxanne Pitcher

Roxanne is a Clay Studio volunteer host, community events volunteer, an instructor, and a regular member of the Clay Studio.

Evelyn Roitner

Evelyn an instructor and a regular member of the Clay Studio.

Vicky Northey

Vicky is an instructor with the Clay Studio and is our resident expert on anything involving glaze and creating glazes from raw materials.

Katie Parnham

Chairperson

Katie Parnham has been a long time member of the Craft Council, and has been on the Craft Council board and committees helping the association to grow the industry. She has a keen interest in developing emerging craft makers to become viable businesses and is part of the management committee for the Quidi Vidi Plantation, an incubator for emerging craft makers.

Deborah Newhook

Treasurer

Deborah Newhook has a long history of working with not-for-profit community-based organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, she is Chair of the Anna Templeton Centre and the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios, as well as the Treasurer of the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Christine LeGrow

Secretary

Christine LeGrow has been an active marketing member of the CCNL since the 1980's. During a few years of the past twenty, Christine has served on a number of committees and filled the role of treasurer and past treasurer on the executive of the board. In addition, she spent several years on the Board of the Anna Templeton Centre including serving as Chair during the planning and the expansion renovation of that historic building.

Liz Combden

Vice-Chair

Joan Kane

Past Chair

Joan Kane lives in Trinity where she operates her home-based knitting business Ewe Design. Has served on the Craft Council Board in various positions for a number of years as well as other local and provincial organizations. Joan is a proud Lion and when not volunteering can be found doing what she is most passionate about knitting.

Beth Howley

Director

Beth Howley is a textile Artisan from Portugal Cove, Newfoundland. Her business Angora Borealis is a visionary brand dedicated to the art of crafting luxury apparel, accessories, and wall art using rare natural fibers . Beth operates her business out of the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios where she can be found creating beautiful one of kind pieces while surrounded by a wall of colourful fibres.

Marty Byrne

Director

Marty Byrne is a multifaceted artist whose work in ceramic art and poetry intertwines to create a unique and profound artistic expression. Self taught as a ceramic artist each piece is a process of trial and error that pushes the boundaries of his skill and traditional pottery. Being a proud Labrador West artist the work he creates is a testament to his deep connection with the earth and its natural elements, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

© Craft Council of NL - 2025