Mary Dwan has enjoyed creative sewing projects from an early age. In 1996 Mary left her career in hotel management and, after a year’s apprenticeship in a prominent Atlanta workroom, launched her own one woman operation. Mary produces high-end custom window treatments for a select clientele. Her specialties include the creation of beautiful and unique custom hardware, and the ability to treat complex window configurations with window coverings that are beautiful and user-friendly. Mary enjoys a challenge and has developed a particular competence for creating patterns for unique window treatments. Mary teaches Window Treatments 101: "Workroom Shortcuts, Draperies and Shades".

Beth Hodges is the owner of Beth Hodges' Soft Furnishings, a wholesale workroom employing five people and located in Elberton, Georgia. In business for over 20 years, Soft Furnishings fabricates mid to high-end projects all over the country, while remaining a home based business. She has been the instructor for "Installation 101" at the CHF Academy since the inception of the class. Beth holds certifications with The Window Coverings Association of America as a Certified Window Coverings Professional and as a Certified Workroom Professional. Beth has also been certified by Window Fashions Magazine, as a Window Fashions Certified Professional, Master Level. She presently serves as the president of the Window Coverings Association of America.

Margi Kyle, ASID, IDS, WCAA, NSA, Board Member WCAA; Board Member IDS; Professional Member CMG; 35 Years of Design Practice; 30 years of teaching Design; Producer and Host of her own TV Shows: “Dr. Decorator”, “The Designing Doctor”, “Let’s Build A House”, Currently “Desperate Design”, She joins the CHF Instructor staff to teach Knock Your Socks Off Presentations.

Rebecca Mack established Bergman Mack Designs as a one-person workroom and interior design studio based in Newport Coast, CA. Prior to that she worked in various office positions for many years, including a stint as a VP of public relations. She joins the CHF instructor staff to teach Window Treatments for Designers.

Chris Schleier is the owner of The Colonial Chair Company of Georgia - a fine woodworking company that builds custom furniture specializing in reproduction period chairs, as well as furniture restoration and refinishing. Chris teaches chairmaking, introductory woodworking, and project classes at the Dogwood Institute of Fine Woodworking in Alpharetta , Georgia and at Woodcraft stores across the Southeast. He is currently working towards completion of The Masters Program at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Franklin , IN. He is a member of the American Craft Council and the Woodworker’s Guild of Georgia. Chris is a 2007 graduate of the Custom Home Furnishings Installation Career Professional Program.

Susan Schurz has owned a custom drapery workroom since 1988, working primarily for the Interior Design Trade. She specializes in high-end window treatments and accessories, hand crafted with careful attention to design details such as proportion, trimmings and hand sewing. Before opening her drapery workroom Susan attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she studied Textile Arts. Her career was also influenced by her mother, who began working in drapery workrooms when Susan was 5 years old. Susan’s artistic talents can also be seen in her book, Sketches for Home Décor. Susan enjoys teaching Window Treatments 104 because her students’ enthusiasm and desire to learn are such an inspiration.

Jerry Titus has been installing draperies nationally and internationally since 1970. He currently specializes in commercial installations. He also owned a successful drapery workroom for 20 years. Jerry is the Advanced Installation Techniques Class Instructor.

Cathy Tucker has designed, installed, and fabricated all treatments in her business since 1990. Since 2002, Cathy has devoted her energy towards assisting designers, becoming strictly a wholesale business. She is a member of the GDWA and is currently teaching and consulting on an individual basis. She has joined the CHF Academy to teach Corona’s, Bed Canopies, and Awnings.

Craig Wienand was, quite literally, born into the business of interior furnishings due to his father having owned a successful and established business in Pittsburg, PA. He continued in his father’s foot steps and now has over thirty years experience in all aspects of upholstery and interiors. His specialty is traditional British furniture upholstery, as he has just returned to the US after thirteen years in England, but his broad experience covers all furniture upholstery, aircraft and marine interiors.