Conover Workshops: Instructors

Meet Our Instructors

Ernie Conover

Ernie Conover

Ernie Conover is a highly published author in the woodworking field with seven books, four videos and hundreds of articles to his credit. His work has received numerous awards and been the subject of several one-man shows. He lectures widely for clubs, trade show groups and woodworking stores and is frequently called upon as a consultant and expert witness in the woodworking field. When not writing, lecturing or consulting he is active in providing academic oversight and teaching at Conover Workshops—a craft school founded by the Conover family.

Susan Conover

Susan Conover Susan is a talented fiber artist who connects her spinning, weaving and dye classes to fiber’s historical roots. This has also led her to explore the use of the great wheel and barn frame and countermarch looms. History directly connects to her real passion, reproduction of historical weavings. Having raised sheep she is well versed in the entire fiber process from animal to finished cloth.

Scott Butler

Scott Butler Scott resides in nearby Chagrin Falls, Ohio where he is renovating a classic house and building fine furniture to fill it. Scott also serves on the Conover Scholarship Fund where he is the webmaster. When not devoting his time to woodworking, Scott runs two usability consulting companies, Ovo Studios and The Usability Team.

John E. DeGirolamo

John E. DeGirolamo John resides in Prescott, Arizona where he operates his own furniture design business—JOVANNI Furniture + Design. His work has been recognized through multiple awards at the Design in Wood Exhibit in Del Mar, articles in San Diego Home and Garden magazine, and has appeared in several woodworking publications. John’s work appears in the book “Wood Art Now” and he has been a featured craftsman on HGTV’s “Modern Masters”. He has been recognized in the television industry with Emmy awards and national print and design honors. John honed his woodworking skills in an apprenticeship with Ernie Conover in 95/96 and regards him as his mentor, collaborating, sharing ideas and teaching.

King Heiple

King Heiple King is a retired orthopedic surgeon who has written text books on the subject. In preparing for retirement, King took one of Ernie's woodturning classes. In Ernie's words: "King commandeered the lathe closest to mine, watched everything I did like a hawk and then returned to his lathe and did what I did--only better!" Since retirement King has published a dozen woodturning articles inAmerican Woodturner, More Woodturningand Woodturning Design and demonstrates at local clubs. When not turning like a pro; King shoots (and wins) national skeet competitions.