National Upholstery Association

Officers
Members at Large

President

Keaven Willa Hartt, based in Portland, Maine, started her upholstery business, Willa Hartt, in 2019 with a passion for restoring and designing furniture. She earned a BFA in Woodworking & Furniture Design from the Maine College of Art (MECA) in 2014, completing a self-directed thesis in upholstery by restoring an 1800s loveseat.

After apprenticing in Portland and becoming a Chief Upholsteress, Keaven deepened her skills with a week-long intensive on traditional techniques. Dedicated to inclusivity in the trade, she teaches upholstery basics to MECA and Center for Furniture Craftsmanship students and mentors aspiring upholsterers in her shop.

Keaven joined the NUA in 2021 to connect with like-minded peers and share her expertise. Passionate about the craft, she is committed to fostering education and inclusivity in the upholstery community.

 

VICe PRESIDENT

Samantha Kuczynski is the owner of Stuffed & Tufted, an upholstery business in Baltimore, MD. Before pursuing upholstery full-time, Sam worked as a Props Artisan for a professional theatre, where she developed a love for furniture restoration. She taught herself the craft through books, online resources, and hands-on practice, transforming her passion into a thriving business.

Over the past six years, Sam has built a reputation for quality residential work while also collaborating with museums, local shops, furniture makers, and designers. A member of the NUA Board since 2023, Sam served as Secretary in 2024 and is now stepping into the role of Vice President.

As a board member, Sam has been a vocal advocate for raising awareness of upholstery and growing NUA membership. She believes the trade is alive and thriving, and she is dedicated to making industry knowledge more accessible while supporting its continued growth and innovation.

  

Treasurer

Amy Petersen is the owner of Gray Duck Upholstery, LLC, a one-person workroom (with heavy-lifting help from her husband, Jim) located in Parker, Colorado. Her passion for upholstery started in 2011 after taking classes at a trade school in Denver.

Upholstery started as a hobby, became a side business, and turned into her full-time profession after selling her CPA practice in 2019. Amy is thankful that creating beautiful furniture and soft furnishings for the home is a much happier pursuit than preparing tax returns! Luckily, Amy loves a good road trip and has been able to travel to Kim’s Upholstery in Massachusetts, the Funky Little Chair in Minnesota, and Workroom Tech in North Carolina to continue learning. With her husband, Amy has five (nearly) grown kids and they enjoy traveling, playing cribbage, poker, trivia, and mahjong, and babysitting our grand-dogs.

Harmony Maraldo is the owner of Tack & Tuft Upholstery and serves as the Head of Pricing & Packaging for a tech company in Seattle. With a BBA in Finance, she has extensive experience in operations, management, finance, sales, and marketing, specializing in process improvement and B2B pricing strategy.

Seeking a creative outlet, Harmony discovered her passion for textiles and needle-craft, becoming an accomplished knitter whose work has been sold in juried art shows. She began her upholstery journey in 2018, attending workshops at the Furniture Institute of Massachusetts and supplementing her learning through books, blogs, and videos. Focused on traditional upholstery, she is also exploring modern methods.

Originally from California, Harmony now lives in New Hampshire with her husband, a period furniture maker and educator. She is dedicated to preserving the art of upholstery and fostering learning within the community.

Grace Reff is the Development Director at Peters Valley School of Craft, a center for craft education in New Jersey. She has over a decade of experience in fundraising for arts and cultural organizations. Grace holds an MA in Material Culture from the Bard Graduate Center, where her thesis explored the design and cultural significance of the butaque chair. She owns Grace Ann Upholstery, and is passionate about the history of upholstery, advancing upholstery education, and fostering a sense of community within the trade.

Ella Hall is the Co-Founder of Stitchroom, a Brooklyn-based upholstery shop specializing in custom pillows, banquette seating, curtains, and more. With a degree in Fashion Design from Parsons and a background in interior design, Ella modernized the upholstery industry by integrating technology, creating streamlined services for designers and customers.

Leading an all-female executive team, Ella has implemented progressive initiatives like a four-day work week and developed a platform to simplify upholstery ordering and tracking. Under her leadership, Stitchroom has become a leader in efficiency, creativity, and sustainability.

As Chair of Events for the National Upholstery Association, Ella has organized regional events and nationwide gatherings to build community within the industry. In 2024, she spoke at the Custom Workroom Conference and participated in webinars, highlighting her dedication to education and collaboration. Ella remains committed to fostering connection and innovation within the upholstery industry.

Andrew Grider, hailing from a military family, experienced a nomadic childhood, bouncing between California, Alaska, and Maryland. His fascination with furniture began early, crafting a nightstand with his father's guidance and honing his skills as an upholsterer apprentice in high school. College pursuits in furniture design and cross-country travels led to the establishment of Grider Upholstery, LLC.

Following family footsteps, Andrew served in the US Navy. After an injury forced early retirement, he married, settled in Port Norfolk, VA, and enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University to major in Interior Design with a minor in Craft and Material Studies. Despite life's challenges, Andrew is rekindling his passion for upholstery. Currently, he intertwines decorative arts with historic interiors, researching grants for a project spotlighting textiles' role in historic interpretation.

Monica Mingo is the owner of That Gumbo Life, a thriving business specializing in the sale and restoration of Mid-Century Modern furniture. For seven years, Monica has built her reputation by blending non-traditional fabrics with classic pieces, creating unique, funky designs. Her expertise spans furniture repair, restoration, refinishing, and reupholstery, making her a trusted local expert.

Starting her business in a garage, Monica has grown it into a respected brand, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit and hands-on leadership. A member of the National Upholstery Association since 2021, she values giving back to the industry and aspires to open a learning center to teach others upholstery skills.

With a background in writing, filmmaking, and online marketing, Monica brings creativity and a fresh perspective to the NUA. She is excited to support its mission and help grow the upholstery community.

Ragne has been a professional upholsterer for nearly 15 years, running her own business creating custom furnishings and one-of-a-kind "functional art" that blends beauty and utility. Using innovative techniques like 3D printing, rug tufting, and custom fabrics, her vibrant "color explosions" are shipped worldwide.

An experienced instructor, Ragne teaches traditional upholstery techniques with an emphasis on safety and creativity. As an admin for the Professional Upholsterer’s Network (PUN) for 7 years, she fosters a positive, supportive community for its 5,000 members.

Involved with the NUA since its founding, Ragne envisions expanding member benefits to include healthcare options, industry partnerships, and consumer education on reupholstery sustainability. Her skills in social media management, member engagement, planning, and budgeting make her an asset to the NUA. Passionate about the industry, she is dedicated to fostering growth, innovation, and support for peers and emerging talent.

Scott Coley is a seasoned furniture designer with over 30 years of experience and 64 U.S. design patents. A North Carolina native, Scott holds a BFA in furniture design from Kendall College of Art and Design. His career spans collaborations with major U.S. furniture makers, historical associations, and celebrities, showcasing his expertise and passion for furniture history.

A former president of the International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD), Scott has also served on boards like the Historic Burke Foundation and Burke County Arts Council. His 2024 book, Elements of Furniture Design, reflects his commitment to education and innovation.

Since joining the NUA last year, Scott has embraced upholstery as a focus for his next career phase, including a patent-pending concept. His leadership experience, design knowledge, and enthusiasm for blending tradition with innovation make him a valuable asset to the NUA Board.

Tammy Dickens Packard brings extensive corporate leadership experience, business development expertise, and a passion for furniture design to the NUA Board of Directors. Her interest in design began with her grandparents, inspiring her to study Interior Design at Michigan State University. Tammy spent 20 years in the corporate sector, achieving remarkable success in new product development for hybrid commercial trucks, growing customer reach from 3% to 56% within a year.

In 2019, Tammy founded Unique Short Tree (UST) with her son, creating custom, sustainable furniture for residential and commercial clients. Her leadership roles include serving as President of the Human Resource Association of Greater Detroit and contributing to the Oakland County Conservation District.

A new NUA member, Tammy is eager to leverage her skills in business management, sustainability, and member engagement to strengthen the NUA’s mission and support the upholstery industry.