Speakers - WORKBENCHcon

2025 SPEAKERS & Guests COMING SOON, Like VERY soon!!

We just wrapped up our board meeting, finalizing the speakers for WORKBENCHcon 2025 – we will start listing them here within the next few days…
Meanwhile, here are the 2024 Speakers. They set a benchmark that we feel is being RAISED!! Let’s GO for 2025!

Click our speaker photos to learn more about each person.

Xyla is a leading STEM / Tech Creator, engineer, and expert in the space. Xyla completely builds each of her creations from scratch and by hand (often in record time), and takes her audience along for the journey, demonstrating a mastery in carpentry, electronics, and DIY.

Xyla’s style and voice in the space makes engineering accessible to all education levels, and works to reshape the conversation around engineering and getting women involved in STEM and the maker space.

Tom is a writer, humorist, storyteller and lifelong carpenter and furniture maker. His love of woodworking and the 40 year pursuit of ever-elusive perfection have produced his most fulfilling

Jon Cesaro is the personality behind Lincoln Street Woodworks. A small YouTube channel built on fast paced, dry humored practical tips and tricks. What he lacks in skill, he makes up for with good jokes and pop culture references. Resulting in a fun, fresh take on all things woodworking.

Izzy Swan, a true innovator, and educator at heart. Raised in a rustic cabin deep in the woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, he knows the value of simplicity and hard work firsthand. “We lived without the luxuries of running water, electricity, and indoor plumbing. Each day presented new adventures and challenges, instilling in me an enduring spirit of discovery and the profound belief that hard work enriches not only oneself but also those in our community.” His passion for innovation is profound, and it forms the bedrock of his success as an innovator, tool designer, and influential figure in woodworking and other industries.

Jimmy DiResta is a designer and master maker known for his ability to fabricate in an impressive array of materials. He’s starred on a number of cable shows, including Hammered with John & Jimmy DiResta (HGTV), Trash to Cash (FX Network), and Dirty Money (Discovery). Jimmy’s currently a well-known maker star on YouTube where he creates regular videos for his DiResta channel and other well-known brands.

With a successful music career to his name, Jared Foster (AKA JPaulTheCarpenter) has also built a name for himself as a seasoned carpenter and builder. After years on the road as a Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, he is using his creativity to produce eye-catching projects.
J Paul’s talent for craftsmanship began as a child working with his stepfather on small home projects and cars. His hands-on skills created job opportunities with Vought Aircraft building Military Airplanes, Black Hawk Helicopters and Boeing Airplanes. This position taught J Paul proper assembly and drilling precision which is showcased in his beautiful woodwork. This later translated into carpentry and woodworking which is “much easier to fix than titanium!”, according to J Paul!

J Paul is the owner of Porch 959 a carpentry, woodworking and design firm in Atlanta. Not only is he talented, J Paul is starting a non-profit to teach underserved kids how to be successful in carpentry. He will also be launching a networking group for black builders and makers in Atlanta called Black Makers of Atlanta.

J Paul’s work through his carpentry business is displayed in the homes of several well-known celebrities, such as T.I., T-Pain, Lecrae, Lil Duval and basketball star Lou Williams just to name a few. You can find him featured in numerous publications including, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Home Magazine and Voyage ATL… and counting!

His presence and ability to capture imaginations is unmatched, having performed on stages for thousands. He shines in front of large crowds capturing audiences through his dynamic hosting, networking and teaching abilities. He enjoys attending builder conferences, hosting events and learning and growing in his craft. You can always count on J Paul to produce handcrafted wood furnishings with the creativity and attention to detail of a soulful ballad.
J Paul lives in Atlanta with his wife and two self-proclaimed “carpenter” sons who want to be just like their daddy! J Paul is grateful to do what he loves and work with some amazing people!

We BUILD IT - Together: Our 20024 Line-Up

Hadeel and Firas are Chicagoland based woodworkers and creatives behind Four Rivers Studio. Their aim is to make unique and timeless pieces that transcend borders and create unique experiences. Hadeel is a nurse and Firas is a historian, and they’ve been able to create another stream of revenue to supplement their income through this side business.

A devoted husband and father, Michael is known for his unique concrete escapades on the Michael Builds YouTube channel, which he started on a whim back in 2018 and has since evolved into a full time business.

In his spare time, he studies all things videography and DIY, and is excited to bring what he’s learned about filming for the average homeowner to WBC 2024!

In his spare time, he studies all things videography and DIY, and is excited to bring what he’s learned about filming for the average homeowner to WBC 2024!

Shawn Kirsch, a woodworker and content creator, weaves together cutting-edge technology and age-old techniques in his woodworking and video production pursuits. Whether he’s immersed in the world of digital gadgets and computer marvels or enjoying the tactile nature of working with traditional tools, his philosophy remains – what truly matters is not just the process, but the final creation. Shawn also serves as a Product Lead at Shaper Tools, bringing digital precision to your workshop with next-generation power tools.

Mary Tsai is a contemporary furniture designer and woodworker. Using her background in architecture and design, she creates pieces that blend sculpture and artistry with functionality. When not woodworking, Mary is a full-time Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning designer at Adobe, creating award-winning software and technologies for their video and audio products

Hi, my name is Scott Sidler and I love old houses! Old houses are not just a passion for me they are my career. I started as a DIYer years ago and loved fixing up these historical beauties so much I eventually jumped in with both feet.

In 2010 I started my own historic restoration company Austin Historical. Eventually, I went from fixing a couple broken windows and floorboards to being really serious. In 2012 I became a State Licensed Residential Contractor in Florida and as of 2018 my company restores over $2,000,000 a year of historic buildings nationwide! We aren’t fooling around here.

The Blog was born in 2011 as I began posting answers to common questions my clients had. The depth of knowledge accumulated here has grown considerably as my experience and knowledge has grown. The blog is my laboratory, classroom, playground, and favorite place to be other than with my family because I get to help people like you understand and learn to fix your own old house.

Michael Alm with a background in sculpture and design started AlmFab as a design/build company in 2014. In the early days he worked with clients to buils bespoke furniture for their homes. In 2017 he produced his first YouTube video to market the business, but quickly found out how much he enjoyed video production. In the years since, his channel has grown to over half a million subscribers, and he has become a full time content creator. Michael now publishes two woodworking videos a month on his YouTube channel, creates DIY plans for his projects, and has developed his own line of products. His experiments with patterned plywood have become a signature addition to the woodworking community. Michael’s goal is to share his knowledge and experiences with others and help them up their game in the workshop

Founder Chris Zeppieri has an extensive background in fabricating, with an vast knowledge of materials and processes. He has built public works, private art collections, and a number of one off designed products. If your interested in have anything made, contact us. No project is too big or too small, and we are always looking forward to the next challenge. Check out our gallery below showing some of the custom building done at Make Everything in the past.

Becca is the owner, designer, and woodworker behind Southern Pine Design Company – a multifaceted business that offers custom furniture, home accessories, and furniture restoration. She creates handcrafted pieces from different mediums and loves teaching others about her successes and her failures. You can find her sharing projects, tips & tricks, and her favorite brands on her social channels. Becca is also a member of the Maker’s Challenge Central build team, where they lead community building challenges on Instagram.

Hi everyone, I’m Char I’ve been a hobbyist woodworker for over 15 years and I am a mom of four. In 2015, I left my job in corporate America to be a full-time maker. Over the last few years, I have taken on client’s furniture Pinterest boards and brought them to life. I also teach woodshop classes to those who are new to power tools. On the weekend you can catch me teaching kids as young as seven to make simple projects using the miter saw and drill press. My main goal is to give back and nurture new makers, I volunteer with the Girls Makers Club at my local maker space and serve on the Board of Directors at Decatur Makers. To bring more female woodworkers to the forefront, I write for the Women in Woodworking news column for Highland Woodworking here in Atlanta. While you’re here you might see me on PBA’s Making It show or hear a podcast I run with fellow makers at Decatur Makers. I live by the motto: “Be Great. Live Passionately”. Welcome to Atlanta, you’re going to have a blast at WorkenchCon.

Brad Rodriguez runs Fix This Build That where their goal is to help people Build Something Awesome. He started off sharing his woodworking hobby to a small group on Instagram back in 2013. And after 4 years of grinding out his side hustle he quit his corporate engineering job to become a full-time content creator in 2017. He’s since grown a small team including his wife Susan who works full time with FTBT. He loves studying social media platforms and figuring out how to grow and optimize content for each one and monetize them to their fullest extent.

Pink Soul translates from Spanish to Alma Rosa – her brand is literally her name and her heritage, and both like her creativity have been with her since she was born.

Like many woodworkers, Alma’s first influences came from her family. Her grandfather was an original DIYer, and her mother provided a super creative effect on her as well. Alma bought her first house in Detroit when she was 24, and because she couldn’t afford much at the time, she started building things as she needed them.

Soon after, Alma started making things for her family and friends and slightly further afield. She moved away from woodworking for several years as her interest in engines grew, especially those for smaller motorcycles and vintage scooters. However, after her son was born and they moved to Chicago, she wanted to make his toys and furniture, and the woodworking passion reignited.

In the last few years Alma has added an Avid CNC to her shop. And that’s enabled her to create products for her web store as well as her etsy store. Along with being able to switch into production mode with her CNC she’s been able to collaborate and assist other makers with templates, jigs and custom woodwork.

Erik Curtis is an American woodworker, sculptor, and television personality. He attended the Nine-month Comprehensive at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in 2012 and has taught at schools around the country. His creative practice combines the sculptural with the functional in an attempt to blur the line between furniture and art. He also stars as the carpenter on Netflix’s Instant Dream Home.

Sophie works at Ziggurat XYZ where she coordinates a roster of YouTube Creators, overseeing and facilitating their brand relationships, helping them to diversify their revenue streams and aiding them through the variety of challenges that Creators face. Sophie entered the industry with an understanding of TikTok based content and sponsorships but has since gone on to develop a deeper understanding of YouTube and the wider opportunities found with long form content through her work with Creators like Bourbon Moth Woodworking

I’m Cam, the owner of Blacktail Studio. I started as a part-time woodworker with zero experience and little skill about seven years ago. Today I am a full-time woodworker with little experience and passable skills. But I am good at social media, apparently. Over the last four years, I have taken my Youtube channel from zero to 2.53 million subscribers, averaging over three million views per video. And every day, I try to get a little better at everything I do. Whether that is woodworking, filming, sound design, SEO, blogging, creating products, or something new altogether. I am also an open book with any skills I pick up along the way, which I do my best to share on the various social media platforms.

Hi y’all, my name is Philip Miller. Most of my childhood was filled with building treehouses and exploring the outdoors. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a builder and maker. Many years later my wife and I built a home and in order to save money, I told my contractor to leave most of the carpentry out of the home and I planned to do the work myself. This is when my YouTube channel ‘How You Can Make It’ began. I used my home as a blank canvas and started making content to show people how they can build and make furniture and things for their home at a fraction of the cost. I’m here to provide easy tools, woodworking projects, and plans to help you on your woodworking and home improvement journey.

Learning the difference between projects that sell versus designing products that earn a living and can build a brand to launch a new career.

Inspiration for design is all around us. Most of my designs are inspired by Victorian architecture that is prevalent here in the south.

Try every idea. You never know what spaghetti is going to stick to the wall when you throw it.

For over 35 years, Alex has developed a well-established background in the bandsaw world. Throughout his journey, he has helped the woodworking industry nationwide by teaching his abilities to others with his unique bandsaw skillset through The Bandsaw Life. Today, Alex continues to offer his expertise across the country by teaching bandsaw seminars and cutting board classes at each Woodcraft Store called The Bandsaw Method by way of Woodcraft, Jet, Powermatic, Titebond, and Carter Products.

Coming Soon.

Jess Crow is America’s foremost epoxy resin artist and teacher. She is the author of “Epoxy Resin: The Complete Guide for Artists, Builders, and Makers’”

Her work has appeared in Business Insider, Forbes, Popular Woodworking, and elsewhere. Her epoxy resin, MakerPoxy, is TotalBoat’s top-selling epoxy for use in art and home projects in addition to her signature line of epoxy resin molds manufactured by Ahonui Artisans. You can find more information about Jess and her upcoming classes at www.jesscrow.com

Derek Forestier, better known as “Derek from Malden” was born in raised in the suburbs of Boston. He has spent his life fixing and inventing things. His father was a strong role model in inspiring him to work with his hands. He was raised learning how to fix things out of necessity, but the tools he acquired over the years have turned into a passion. Derek works a full time job as a lineman, but is able to escape to his basement workshop to create things. His relationships in the Maker Community have allowed him to learn a variety of skills and different mediums. You can find Derek working with his CNC, welding, woodworking,epoxy, and trying anything he can watch a YouTube tutorial for. He loves talking with other Makers and learning from this community. A career highlight was his time on Making Fun, a Netflix original. On top of all that he does, he is a dedicated husband, father, and mentor in the Maker Community.

Championing the mission ‘Helping businesses GET FOUND,’ Maria Elena has empowered over 12,400 small businesses to grow with Google. Recognized by the Texas Governor’s office and commissioned by the Grow with Google Program, she’s not just an expert; she’s a transformative force in the digital realm. With a passion for sharing knowledge that’s both powerful and practical, Maria Elena is here to ensure your business doesn’t just navigate the digital landscape, but thrives in it.

Maria is an expert trainer who delivers engaging and enthusiastic presentations. Her seminars and webinars are full of practical and useful information, and attendees appreciate her ability to explain complex concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. You will learn how to become more visible, valid, and valuable at key moments for your customers. Maria’s training will help you connect with your audience and achieve greater success. With her follow-up support and willingness to share her knowledge, you’ll be equipped to take your business to the next level.

I am Anthony Rose, former Cinematographer and Editor for the YouTube channel I Like To Make Stuff. Raised in Kentucky, educated in Florida
and then moved back to Kentucky, During that time I studied film production, worked in various marketing and creative roles and also did
freelance filmmaking for a time. By far my best time was at I Like To Make Stuff getting to help on some crazy projects such as a fully functioning R2-D2, multiple major renovation projects and even attempting to win $10,000 from Mark Rober himself. Looking forward to bringing my skills and knowledge to WBC 2024!