Board of Trustees
We are guided by a dedicated Board of Trustees whose leadership ensures our mission and vision thrive. Our Trustees bring together diverse expertise in education, business, community development, and the arts. With a shared commitment to craftsmanship, opportunity, and impact, they provide the strategic direction, governance, and support that keep our institution strong and growing.
Chairperson
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Bob Argus currently works for United Airlines and brings nearly 40 years of management experience to the SBWI Board. Bob has worked half of his career on the planning side of the airline business (Finance, Revenue Management/Resource Management, Continuous Improvement) and half on the operation side (Airport Operations, Cargo, Catering). Bob currently oversees the Safety/Security/Facilities programs for United’s Catering Operations, which has a network of nearly 150 kitchens across the globe.
Bob has more than 20 years in the non-profit sector and currently serves as Vice-President of the Edward and Wanda Jordan Family Foundation. He also serves on the boards of the National Coalition for Home Repair and the Des Plaines Community Foundation. He is a long-time volunteer for Appalachia Service Project and Habitat for Humanity.
Bob was born in Chicago and lives with his wife Dina in the local suburb of Des Plaines, while their three grown children, Sadie, Fin, and Lacey all live out in Los Angeles. Bob has a passion for reading and traveling and makes it a point to read a new book and visit a different state or country at least once a month. He also enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, gardening, and of course, woodworking!
Tresurer
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Frank Bernard Baker, born in 1947, is renowned for engineering and sustainable building practices. Residing in Blissfield, Michigan, with his wife Brenda Gayle, whom he married in 1975, Frank is a family man with two sons and is a proud grandfather to three granddaughters and a grandson.
Frank's academic journey is marked by excellence. He graduated with honors from St. Francis De Sales High School in Toledo, Ohio, in 1965. He furthered his education at Kettering University, earning a mechanical engineering degree with a plant engineering major and graduating with honors in 1970. His quest for knowledge continued with courses at the University of Toledo and the University of Wisconsin.
His professional life began at General Motors Corporation, where he worked from 1965 to 1982. During his 16-year tenure, he held various roles such as Mechanical/Electrical Engineer, Packaging Engineer, Architectural/Mechanical Engineer, and Supervisor in the Industrial Engineering Department.
In 1979, Frank embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by founding Riverbend Timber Framing Inc., becoming the owner of North America's largest custom timber frame/insulated panel building system fabricator. He served as CEO until July 2007. His ventures expanded with the founding of Midwest Panel Systems, also known as Great Lakes Insulspan, in 1990 and the co-founding of Insulspan Inc. in 1994. Frank's strategic vision led to the merger of Riverbend TF and Insulspan with PFB Corporation, Canada, in 2004. He retired from his presidency in 2007 and served on the PFB Corporation Board of Directors until 2018.
Frank's influence extends beyond his business ventures. He is a charter member and past president of the Structural Insulated Panel Association, the Timber Frame Business Council, and the Timber Framers Guild. His commitment to sustainable building practices is evident in his roles within various organizations, including the Net Zero Energy Coalition, the Building Systems Council of the National Association of Homebuilders, and the US Green Building Council.
His community involvement is equally impressive. Frank has contributed to the Blissfield Revitalization Committee, served as the chairman of the Blissfield Planning Commission, and been a board member of the Blissfield Historical Society. His passion for renewable energy is reflected in his membership in the Michigan Solar Energy Association and the Toledo Solar Opportunities League. A believer in giving back, he has been involved in local sports as a coach and supports Habitat for Humanity.
Frank's current community service includes roles in the Blissfield Rotary Club, Lakeside Wooden Boat Society, Lakeside Environmental Stewardship Society, and the Lakeside Heritage Society. His dedication to community and environmental stewardship makes him a respected and inspirational figure in both professional and personal realms.
Secretary
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Dan is a twenty-year retired veteran of the Marine Corps and a commercial airline Captain, having logged over 10,000 flight hours in various military and civilian aircraft. Dan was introduced to the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute when he took the Woodworking Furniture Making & Wood Design Level I Course and began participating in Woodworking for Warriors.
Dan is married to the former Karri Holmes of Adrian, who is also a twenty-year retired Marine veteran and is a native of Adrian. They have lived in Adrian since retiring from the Marines and together have six children.
Dan holds an MBA from Tulane University as well as a Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art and Science. Dan enjoys woodworking in his free time and has completed several home woodworking projects.
Trustee
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Nicki Sharer is co-owner and Chief Marketing Officer of Sharer Design Group, a custom cabinetry and remodeling company based in Plymouth, MI. Nicki also works full time as a Director of Development for the University of Michigan, assisting alumni with making lead gifts to support the University. Nicki and her husband, Justin, live in Chelsea, MI with their son. In her spare time, Nicki enjoys cooking and baking, and spending time with her family in Harbor Springs in Northern Michigan. As a new board member to SBWI, Nicki is excited to assist with recommendations for fundraising and marketing strategies, as well as strategic partnerships.
Trustee
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Steven J Skornicka, 70, married for 50 years to his wife. He has two children Nick age 37 and Anne age 29. Steve has worked mostly in the automotive industry for the majority of his career. He worked heavily in engineering and project/operations management. He has extensive experience with the Lean Manufacturing principle and has brought those processes and ideas to the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute to help us create an orderly, organized, and well-sustained management program for shop functionality. In his free time, Steve loves to do woodworking at home and use the knowledge he’s gained from his career and classes at SBWI to work on his own creations. He also enjoys spending lots of time with his wife, friends, and family. He also is the owner & operator of the woodworking business “What Knots”.
Trustee
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Eric Slosberg brings a rare blend of lifelong exposure to furniture production, decades of professional leadership, and a deep personal love of making to the SBWI Board of Trustees. Raised around his father’s Philadelphia-area furniture factories—where custom design and mass production lived side by side—Eric charted a different course early on, becoming a pediatrician in Kalamazoo and later serving in board leadership roles for community organizations including the Boys & Girls Club, Visiting Nurses, and Hospice of Greater Kalamazoo. After retiring in 2014, he found himself unexpectedly drawn back to woodworking, eventually enrolling at SBWI and discovering a meaningful connection between his family history and the school’s craft traditions through Wharton Esherick’s legacy. Eric approaches trusteeship with seriousness and integrity, believing board service requires full participation and commitment, and he’s excited to help guide SBWI through its next chapter—supporting the new campus project and then expanding the educational programs to fully activate the school’s growth—while continuing to learn in his own shop, where his grandchildren now spend time building alongside him.