FULL BIO

Growing up in southern New Jersey, I took advantage of the Scientific Glass Technology program, the only one of it’s kind in the Western Hemisphere. I studied under Joe Luis and learned the basics of scientific glassblowing at Salem Community College in 1985-86. Afterwards, I gained experience assembling Cathode Ray Tubes out of lead crystal for the French company, Thomson CSF. 

I then went to work for Crown Glass Company, Inc. in Somerville, New Jersey and learned new skills and techniques, making complex scientific apparatus for the pharmaceutical industry.

In 1989, I moved to Salt Lake City and went to work for Varian/Eimac making high vacuum, high voltage glass enclosures for X-ray and broadcast tubes. Here I learned glass-to-metal sealing and how to precision-seal premium electronic components in a glass envelope. Cleanliness and flawless execution are paramount when a metal disk weighing several pounds is suspended by the glass and spun at several thousand RPM while being bombarded by 150,000 volts of electricity! 

In 1996, Varian sold the Eimac division and moved it to San Carlos, California. I took the opportunity to become a supervisor and oversee all the glass fabrication at that facility. 

I had set-up and maintained my own glass shop since 1993, primarily to work on glass art and neon fabrication, constantly dabbling in plasma sculpture. In 1999, I left the corporate world and started my own glassblowing facility, Maximum Glassblowing Service, in the small town of Cobb Mountain. I made glassware for science and industry, as well as artistic pieces. 

Unfortunately, not long after opening my business, I contracted Guillain Barre Syndrome, resulting in full paralysis and a lengthy hospital stay. After a long and difficult recovery period and partial disability, I started getting back into glassblowing, pursuing only part-time artistic projects while taking care of my two small daughters. 

In 2011, (despite the economy!) I rented and remodeled a building in downtown Kelseyville and started the Blue Flame Glass studio and gallery. 2012 will see the completion of my plasma filling/processing system and my long-term goal of making state of the art plasma sculpture.