Who We Are

The Greater Boston Glassworks community is comprised of professional glass artists, teachers, lawyers, hobbyists, doctors, arts admin professionals, and community members that share a passion for glass and the diverse network of individuals that surround the studio.

A close up shot of two people working on hot glass. There are hands coming in from out of frame that are holding various glass blowing tools, blurry figured in the background..
Amanda Gundy wearing pinks and purples from the chest up smiling and looking at the camera, a glowing glass blowing furnace is blurry in the background.

  • Founder, Owner of NOCA Glass School

    Amanda started blowing glass in 2004 straight out of college. After spending several years working and teaching at NOCA Glass School, she took over as Owner/ Director in 2016 and helped to make it the premier glass school in the greater Boston area. As well as teaching at NOCA she has also taught at The Corning Museum of Glass and Snowfarm Craft School. She has assisted artists such as Bill Gudenrath, Tobias Möhl, Nick Mount, and Andy Magdanz. She has done three live stream demonstrations for the Corning Museum of Glass, and was on the Pilchuck PoleTurners Union in 2013. Since taking over NOCA, she doesn't make as much glass but she does make a lot of glassblowers!

Kristin Imre wearing blues, greens, and grays, from the chest up smiling and looking at the camera, a glowing glass blowing furnace is blurry in the background.

  • Founder, Teacher

    Kristin Imre started blowing glass in 2014 while working on a doctorate in literature. By the following year, she began working part time as an assistant to local artists like Jesse Rasid, DJ Benyosef, Andrew Iannazzi, and Bryan Randa. She also began sharing her love of glass as a teacher at NOCA Glass School and Snowfarm Craft School.   In subsequent years, she studied with master glassmakers including Jordana Korsen, Janusz Pozniak, Devin Burgess, and Boyd Sugiki & Lisa Zerkowitz. After years of working as a glass blower and teacher while furthering her academic teaching career in which she helped to run a writing program, mentored new teachers, and taught her own classes, Kristin left academia to focus exclusively on glass and building Greater Boston Glassworks.

Andrew Iannazzi wearing glasses and a grey sweater, from the chest up smiling and looking at the camera, a glowing glass blowing furnace is blurry in the background.

  • Founder, Board Member, and Professional Glass Artist

    Andrew Iannazzi began working in glass 20 years ago during his undergrad program at Hartwick College in upstate NY. While there he majored in Fine Art, minoring in Art History and Anthropology. After graduating in 2007, he began working in the glass industry full time. He worked and studied extensively with internationally recognized artists. In 2015, he founded Vitricca Iannazzi, which is still going strong after a decade. His work is sold internationally and featured in multiple museums, boutiques, and bespoke stores around the world. He recently began to teach regularly at North Cambridge Glass school. He is a cofounder of Greater Boston Glassworks and is deeply committed to the continued success of the glass community here in Cambridge. Learn more about Andrew

Emery Wenger wearing blue plaid is photographed from the chest up smiling and looking at the camera, a glowing glass blowing furnace is blurry in the background.

  • Founder, Professional Glass Artist

    Emery Wenger discovered his passion for glass through a summer class he took with his father in high school, leading him to pursue a BFA with a focus in Glass at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (2006-2010). During his studies, he balanced artistic development with teaching and production work, laying the foundation for his multifaceted career in the glass arts.

    A member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen since 2021 and recipient of the 2024 Sunapee Craft Fair Juror's Choice award, Emery continues his work at Greater Boston Glassworks. He divides his time between advancing his artistic practice and expanding the school's capabilities. His commitment to education extends to mentoring new instructors and glassblowers, while his drive as a lifelong learner has him slated for an upcoming study with Fred Metz at Pilchuck Glass School focuses on gas-to-electric furnace conversion—knowledge he plans to implement at Greater Boston Glassworks. Learn more about Emery

Martha Zackin from the chest up wearing glasses and a black sweater is smiling and looking at the camera. Behind her is some out of focus colorful glass art on some shelves

  • Board President

    Martha J. Zackin is an employment lawyer, working in the Boston office of Womble Bond Dickinson.  Law is a high-stress profession, which is difficult to put aside when the day ends.  Martha finds that when working in the hot shop, she is “in the moment,” and able to place work and personal concerns aside.  This life-centering benefit fuels Martha’s passion for glass and keeps her in the studio.

    This passion dates to Martha’s childhood fascination with a collection of hand-blown bottles belonging to her grandfather, which were eventually passed down to her.  At one point, Martha even intended to make a career in art, studying stained glass while a college undergrad. But after opening a studio and working as a stained-glass artist for a couple of years, Zackin had an epiphany that ultimately set her on a path to law; she decided she was not the starving artist type and decided to go back to school.

    After graduating law school and practicing for about ten years, Martha found herself handling several matters that required her to travel to Corning, New York. On a whim, she took a side trip to the Corning Museum of Glass, where she was captivated by a live glassblowing demonstration.  After the demonstration was over, Martha walked over to The Studio, a newly opened facility offering glassmaking classes.  She signed up for a paperweight class on the spot and flew back to Corning the next weekend for class.  That was it; she was hooked and has been blowing glass ever since.

    Martha is President of the Board of Directors of GBG.  She also sits on the Board of Directors of the international Glass Art Society, Inc.

Kat Kaufman kneels infront of a green bush smiling at the camera. She is positioned behind some pieces of her blue blown glass vessels that sit on a white cloth on the ground outdoors.

  • Board Treasurer

    Currently the COO of Central Rock Gym (CRG), Kat got her start in the restaurant industry helping major international brands such as Shake Shack and Red Mango develop, train, and streamline operational systems.  Ten years later in 2017, she joined the CRG team as a Director of Development to help increase organizational efficiencies and streamline the development process. Since 2017, she has helped the business scale from 7 locations in New England to 31 locations on the East Coast. 

    Kat began blowing glass at NOCA in mid-2022. In a short span of time, she has been fortunate enough to be immersed in glass, studying at notable craft schools such as CMoG, Pilchuck, and Penland, outside of her regular NOCA classes/rental time. The process of creating art out of glass has led to a passion for stained glass as well. Kat also loves being outside in nature– especially at the beach, and is always on the hunt for the best coffee and pastry in any town she’s in. She looks forward to continuing to further her passion for business development in conjunction with her passion for glass art with Greater Boston Glassworks. Learn more about Kat

Katy Love against a background is photographed from the chest up wearing glasses and a black sweater. Katy is smiling and looking at the camera.

  • Board Secretary

    Katy has worked in nonprofit digital communications for more than two decades. As a member and eventual leader of the digital engagement team at the Union of Concerned Scientists, Katy helped the organization grow from 225,000 supporters to half a million. She helped drive the Union of Concerned Scientists’ tactics to counter disinformation and was a founding member of the Climate Action Against Disinformation coalition. Katy has a BS in Marine Science from Long Island University and an MS in Science Journalism from Boston University.

    A longtime crafter, she started exploring glass arts in the early 2000s in Colorado with fused glass. After exploring glassblowing options in the greater Boston area, she found NOCA Glass School in 2017 and was immediately drawn to the sense of community around the studio and school. Starting out as a student, she has become a class TA and studio renter, while still taking some of the more advanced classes offered by the school.

Thomas Liu from the chest up wearing glasses and blue collard shirt is smiling and looking at the camera. Behind him is some out of focus colorful glass art on some shelves.

  • Board Member

    Tom is a gastroenterologist who has previously held academic positions with Cornell University, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.  He moved to Boston’s north shore in 2014 and has been on the North Shore Magazine Top Doctor’s list every year since 2017.  

    Tom discovered furnace glass while searching for an avenue for personal growth in 2009 and immediately fell in love not only with the glassblowing process but with the entirety of glass as a medium.  He joined the community at NOCA glass school in 2015 and has been taking lessons with DJ Benyosef since then.  Tom has also taken intensives at Corning Museum of Glass, Pittsburgh Glass Center and NOCA with Boyd Sugiki and Lisa Zerkowitz, Jason Christian, Devin Burgess, Clare Belfrage, Bill Gudenrath, Davide Fuin, Tobias Möhl, and David Walters.  

    In recent years, Tom began working to become a glass engraver.  His search for learning brought him to Murano to study with Luigi Camozzo and to the Czech Republic to study with Pavlina Cambalova.  His long term ambition is to start an engraving school within Greater Boston Glassworks and spark new interest in the ancient art of glass engraving.  No formal glass engraving program has been started since S.A.L.I.R in Murano which was founded in 1923 and closed in 1993.  Tom’s other interests include Chinese calligraphy, landscape painting, Qing dynasty glass, immigration and the Asian-American experience.

Mary Ann Babula from the chest up wearing glasses and striped shirt is smiling and looking at the camera. Behind her is some out of focus colorful glass art on some shelves.

  • Glass Artist

    Born in 1956 in Aurora, Illinois, Mary Ann Babula (she/her) is a highly accomplished studio artist specializing in glass sculpture and jewelry. She earned an MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1981 and a BFA from Illinois State University in 1979, with additional studies at The Pilchuck School in 1978. With a career spanning over four decades, she has held faculty positions at prestigious institutions such as Massachusetts College of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, and The Pilchuck School. Mary Ann has been a full member of The Cambridge Artists’ Cooperative since 1998. Notable awards include the National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship in 1985, an Apprenticeship Grant in 1981, and being a finalist for the Massachusetts Council for the Arts and Humanities in 1982. Learn more about Mary Ann

Mariel Bass from the chest up wearing a olive green shirt is smiling and looking at the camera. Behind her is some out of focus colorful glass art.

  • Glass Artist

    Mariel Bass studied fine art and glass at Massachusetts College of Art, where she first discovered the art of glass blowing and earned a bachelor of fine art degree in 2005. She has attended workshops at well known craft schools throughout the U.S., such as Pilchuck in Washington, Haystack School of Crafts in Maine, and Corning Glass in New York. She worked for several glass studios in the New England area before relocating to St. John, USVI in 2008 where she ran a recycled hot glass studio for five years. In 2013 Mariel moved to St. Petersburg, FL where she was gaffer and studio manager for the artist Duncan McClellan. In 2020 Mariel  returned to the New England area where she continues to create small and large scale works of art in glass for both public and private commission, as well as her own line of one of a kind glass sculptures. Mariel's work is available for purchase from her representative galleries. Learn more about Mariel Bass.

David J. Benyosef wearing a hat, glasses, and a cardigan over a light green shirt is photographed from the chest up ooking at the camera, a glowing glass blowing furnace is blurry in the background.

  • Glass Artist

    Born in 1986 and raised in the vibrant Lower East Side of New York City, David J. Benyosef is a contemporary glass artist whose work blends traditional techniques with modern innovation. His passion for blown glass began during his studies at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire, where he earned his bachelor's degree. It was there that David discovered his deep connection to the medium.

    Drawing inspiration from the intricate and timeless designs of Venetian glass, David's work reflects the elegance, complexity, and craftsmanship that defines this iconic tradition. His studies at renowned institutions such as The Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, Pilchuck Glass School, and The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts allowed him to further refine his skills under the guidance of world-class glass artists. In addition to his studies, David has taught at The Corning Museum of Glass and UrbanGlass, while also participating in residencies at Pilchuck Glass School and Salem State University.

    Now based in Boston, David continues to create a unique line of glass pieces, blending his influences with his own artistic vision. In addition to his studio work, he serves as an instructor at the NOCA Glass School  and works as a gaffer, collaborating with local glassblowers. Through his artistic practice and teaching, David remains committed to preserving the rich traditions of glass artistry while pushing the boundaries of contemporary design. Learn more about David J. Benyosef

Shannon Floyd from the chest up wearing glasses and purple shirt is smiling and looking at the camera. Behind her is some out of focus colorful glass art on some shelves.

  • Glass Artist

    Shannon graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2015 with a BFA in glass. Since graduating she has traveled throughout the US working with a variety of glass artists.  Currently, she works out of a NOCA Glass School in Cambridge, MA where she creates her own production line of glasswares, teaches classes, and works as the Programs Coordinator for the school. Learn more about Shannon

Artist Carrie Gustafson in profile wearing a yellow jacket and cutting a oval piece of glass on a lathe, a big ochre colored wheen behind her against a black background.

  • Glass Artist

    For over two decades, glass has captivated Carrie Gustafson’s imagination. Breath imprints blown glass forms with a magical radiance, serving as a vital metaphor in her work.

    Trained as a printmaker at Rhode Island School of Design, she found her voice within glass through experimentation. Intuition has been her compass in what she calls “the Carrie laboratory.” Not computer generated, it is her energy and physical interaction with the material that matters most. Learn more about Carrie

Zachary Herrmann from the chest up wearing a dark sweater and blue collar is looking at the camera. Behind him is some out of focus colorful glass art on some shelves.

  • Glass Artist

    Zachary Francis Herrmann (b. 1977, Ohio, US) received a BFA from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2001 with a focus in glass. He taught courses in glass art at the Art Academy of Cincinnati for several years before returning to school to receive an MFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2013. He now lives and works in Boston, MA. Learn more about Zachary

Peter Houk wearing glasses, seen from the neck up. He is against a dark background and looks up and off camera, shadows from his glasses falling on his face.

  • Glass Artist

    Board Member

    Peter Houk came to the world of glass with a background in painting and printmaking. His painted and sandblasted work has been exhibited in many galleries and private collections and is held in the museum collections of the Corning Museum of Glass, and the American Museum of Glass in Millville New Jersey. In recent years, his studio practice has focused on glass designed for architectural settings, in which the dynamic properties of natural light partner with the manifold abilities of glass. Peter has been the artistic director of the MIT Glass Lab since 1997.


Artist and glassbower Sarah Laspada from the chest up wearing a white turtleneck and jean jacket is smiling and looking at the camera. Behind her is some out of focus colorful glass art on some shelves.

  • Glass Artist

    Sarah LaSpada graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 2016 with a BFA in Metal and a BA in Art History. She started working with glass in 2014 at Hudson Beach Glass in Beacon, NY and has been honing her glass blowing skills since. Sarah always works to create pieces that have an electric personality through their bright colors. Color is the main attraction that drew her to this medium, and she has been constantly exploring glass with new color combinations and design techniques. Learn more about Sarah

Greg Wright from the chest up wearing an orange and patterned collard shirt is smiling and looking at the camera. Behind him is some out of focus colorful glass art on some shelves.
Daniel Maher wearing a black shirt is photographed from the chest up smiling and looking at the camera, a glass blowing furnace is blurry in the background.

  • Glass Artist

    Founded in 1989, The Daniel Maher Stained Glass Studio stands as a testament to both Daniel Maher’s diverse aesthetic interests and his firm roots in the traditions of the stained glass craft.
    The seemingly eclectic variety of styles and imagery in his work is grounded in a consistent mission: to explore and reveal the textural movement inherent in glass. For Maher, glass is everywhere — reflecting, bending, splitting, and projecting light and patterns in unexpected ways.
    In earlier years, the studio operated as a full-service practice, offering design, fabrication, restoration, repair, and the creation of limited-edition gift panels and windows. Today, Maher focuses exclusively on individual commissioned works, no longer providing restoration or repair services, dedicating his practice fully to new creative exploration. Learn more about Daniel

  • Glass Artist and Historian

    Anna Riley is a glassblower, artist, and historian. She began blowing glass at the Rhode Island School of Design, and has been teaching glassmaking in New York and Massachusetts since 2014. Combining her hands-on work with archival research, she develops creative and scholarly projects. She is a doctoral student in the History of Science at Harvard University. Learn more about Anna