Trustees
Steven Skeim
Central Region
President
I was destined to be a collector of early American pattern glass. At home, I saw my mother’s collection of Beaded Loop. My aunt collected Barley, and my grandmother had toothpick holders, green/gold Croesus, and other miscellaneous pieces. What really sealed my fate was when my grandmother divided up her toothpick collection. My dad remodeled some built-in cabinets and Mom and I would unwrap each one and look it up in books before arranging them. I was hooked.
I started buying while still in high school, and before I was done with college, I started reselling. I have seen our hobby change over the years, but I am still learning and still passionate about it. I treasure some pieces that belonged to my grandmother, as well as her copy of Ruth Webb Lee’s foundational book.
I have been a member of the Society for years. I have attended national and regional meetings, written articles for the NewsJournal. and regularly participate in the Facebook group. In addition, I serve on the pattern profile committee. It is an honor for me to be considered as a candidate for the Board. If elected, I will do my best to uphold the mission of the Society and the dignity of its members.
Term expires in April of 2027.
Brad Gougeon
Eastern Region
Vice-President
I have been a member of the Society since 1996. I am a former member of the Board, and I have been asked to run again. During my first sojourn as a Trustee, I was limited in my participation due to my wife’s business (I was an employee). Since she (and I) retired in 2018, I have been able to spend much more time with EAPGS activities
From the beginning, I have been involved with the EAPGS Facebook page as an Administrator. Since those beginnings, with the help of our volunteers, that Facebook group has grown to over 31,000 members. My glass collecting interests are varied but center mainly around colored EAPG from the 1880s. Much of my collection is on display at the Glass Shed in Bliss, Michigan, and is available for anyone to view from mid-April to early November.
I have a passionate interest in EAPG history and love to research about companies, patterns, and the people responsible…..and write about them in articles, books, and in presentations.
In addition to the EAPGS, I am also a member of several other glass clubs, as well as the Museum of American Glass in Weston, WV.
My goal as a Trustee will be to help the Society grow in membership numbers and in the number of members who attend the Annual Meeting.
Term expires in April of 2027
Andrew Eckroth
Central Region
Secretary
Although exposed to some pattern glass that my mother inherited from my grandmother plus glassware in my sister’s collection, my fascination really began in the fall of 2016 with the purchase of an Adonis and a Fulton compote found at a local thrift store. I joined the EAPG Facebook group, sharing photos of these purchases. I felt welcomed to the group, the key to expanding my interest, and I soon became a Society member.
Since beginning my EAPG journey, I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet so many other glass friends on line via the Facebook group and in person at the Central States meeting in Clear Lake, Iowa, in 2017, and at the National Meeting in Kansas City in June, 2022.
I took early retirement in July, 2021, leaving me more time to look for glassware, volunteer at the local animal shelter, and bowl in two leagues. I am a lifelong bachelor, living in Riverside, Iowa, with my cat Nadine, in a small house where we are surrounded by EAPG.
Term expires in April of 2026.
Carol Williams
Pacific Region
Treasurer
My glass collecting saga started when I was given some Depression Glass as a wedding present. One day I picked up a gorgeous blue bowl at a garage sale. The pattern was one I had never seen before, better color than any Depression, and with wonderful mold work. I was driven to find out more about it.
Once I found the EAPG Facebook page, my obsession only grew! I realized many of the beautiful pieces I had collected over the years were actually EAPG! That blue bowl turned out to be Three Panel by Richards & Hartley, my garlic compote in the kitchen is by Bryce, Higbee, and my favorite candlestick is Portland by US Glass!
I find it hard not to adopt every piece of EAPG I see! My work experience includes over 50 years in accounting, the last fourteen for a nonprofit. Now retired, I enjoy learning more about EAPG, and have a space at a local Antique Mall to share my finds with others. I am currently a moderator on the EAPG Facebook page, helping with ID’s and adding images to the Pattern Index.
I am so honored to be asked to represent the Pacific Region on the Board. I will do my best to promote the Society’s mission and the love and history of EAPG.
Term expires in April of 2028.
Rick Ciralli
Eastern Region
I am from Connecticut, and I love early bottles and glass of many types. I started collecting back in the mid 1970s. As an advanced collector and dealer I started a business named RCGLASS, and I admin several pages on Facebook.
In the Fall of 2020, I joined the EAPG page on Facebook and soon became a very active contributor. I then joined the Society. One of the first patterns I chose to collect is the popular No.140 Wildflower by Adams that eventually led to other compotes, pitchers, creamers, bowls, and various stemware all made by some of the iconic makers of EAPG and of course some of the unknowns.
The Pattern Glass Index is the most important useful source of information available, and I can’t stress enough how important it is to all. I went to my first glass shows held in Carlisle this year and met many of the fine folks associated with the Society. I studied and handled so much glass. That is what I enjoy most, besides making new friends and colleagues.
I am truly honored to be asked to represent the Eastern region and join the Board of Trustees.I will do my best to uphold the core values of the Early American Pattern Glass Society and to further expand the database.
Term expires in April of 2028.
Diane Hanson
Central Region
Until the winter of 2011 I had no interest in antique stores as I was not interested in anything specific. Then I discovered EAPG. Linda Eppelheimer introduced me to EAGP with a purchase she made in Duluth, MN. I purchased a couple of books and studied glass on the internet so I could recognize EAPG when I went shopping. The fun began for collections of the state patterns, pedestal creamers, goblets, wines, handled triangular nappies and square plates. Hopefully part of my collection will be preserved by my two children and five grandchildren.
In June of 2016 my husband, Roger and I, decided to attend the Central States meeting in Springfield, IL. Now it was not just the glass that was intriguing, but we met all these nice people who liked it too. At this time, I got my first iPhone and I was able to start participating and enjoying all the glass on the EAPGS Facebook site. I was thrilled when EAPGS changed the format of the database to its present form as it really was cumbersome before the switch. I really appreciated the Trustees at that time that had made that move possible.
Term expires in April of 2026.
Sam Kissée
Pacific Region
My name is Sam Kissée (key-say). I’ve been a collector of EAPG for over 60 years. My interests have changed over the years. I am currently looking to collect colored Flint Glass, 1835-1850s.
I joined the Society shortly after it was formed. Over the past I’ve been President and several times a Trustee. I spend time promoting glass collecting. I feel that it is important that this area of America’s past not be forgotten. Collecting EAPG gives us an insight into what our ancestor’s daily lives were like.
I would encourage our members to make an effort to contact other collectors and share their knowledge. Long time collectors should mentor younger collectors. I encourage members to try and attend Regional Meetings. The Annual Meeting is a great way to meet fellow collectors and swap collecting stories.
I will do my best to support the Society and see that it continues to promote our goals.
Term expires in April of 2027.
Anica Landreneau
Eastern Region
I live in Washington, DC & Southern Maryland. I started a couple of new hobbies during the pandemic, including kayaking and scouring the local auction houses! My first couple of lots included a Garfield Drape celery vase, Paris cake plate and Anona (Twin Teardrops) cake/fruit basket. I didn’t know anything about EAPG but started searching online to find out more about my pieces and stumbled upon the database, then the Facebook group - what a lovely and helpful group of people!
At first I felt lucky whenever I found and was able to identify EAPG, but I am trying to refine my collecting to things that work well at our Bay House, including fish or marine themes, opalescent, things in beachy colors like blues and canaries, or things that just catch my eye. I am an avid gardener so I’m partial to celeries, swung vases and rose bowls, but I also love goblets and tumblers to enjoy wine or cocktails by the water.
I’m an architect by day, and I know that older buildings are higher quality than a lot of new construction. I love saving old buildings for new purposes, and I think that my love for well made things, beauty and character has absolutely been a key part of my fascination with EAPG.
Term expires in April of 2026.
Eric Nelson
Mountain Region
I am a relative newcomer to the EAPG scene, My EAPG journey started about eight years ago.
I have a deep interest in genealogy; an uncle contacted me and asked if I would be interested in inheriting something old that belonged to my grandmother. The large, emerald green glass bowl was unlike any piece of glass I had laid eyes on. Intrigued, I began a quest to find out what it was. After much searching and consulting I discovered it was a master berry bowl in the Columbia pattern, aka Herringbone Buttress, by IT&G.
That quest, and the subsequent reward of knowledge, opened my eyes to the world of EAPG, and since then it has become a passion. I have an extensive collection of Jefferson's Optic Pattern. The variety of colors and enamel decorations of that pat-tern drew me in. I also love table sets in general, and have been blessed to complete several in a variety of patterns.
I relish the opportunity to continue my EAPG education while serving the collecting community as a Trustee for the Society.
Term expires in April of 2026.
Jim Thielen
Eastern Region
Hello my fellow "glassies", many of you know me from the Facebook group and also from Jeffrey S. Evan's September auctions. I have been dealing in all types of glass for over twenty years and I collect a few specific patterns. My late wife and I started our business to enjoy our retirement years. We both enjoyed the "hunt" for beautiful and unique pieces of early glass.
I feel it is imperative that we support the various glass societies and clubs. In this belief I support many of them especially the EAPGS since I use the Society database extensively and feel its only fair I make a contributions that exceeds the minimum required. Our members are aging and there are not many younger members joining, this is true for other glass groups and non-profits across the nation. If we don't educate the younger generation our hobby of collecting glass and dealing in glass will begin to dwindle. We must continue the efforts of documenting glass and educate how glass was made and used during the various time periods.
I will help continue the growth of the database and the Society's continued education of the public on early american pattern glass.
Term expires in April of 2027.
Karen Welch
Eastern Region
I started collecting glass in the late 1980s. Then one day, at an outdoor show, there was a book dealer. I was hooked. My little library would grow to over 3,000 items including catalogs, trade journals, and ephemera in addition to books.
The late 1990s found me on the eBay Glass Board, using those books and learn-ing a whole lot in the process. In 1997, I got to visit the enormous glass show in Harrisburg, join the EAPGS, and visit the Rakow Library at Corning, which was amazing.
Fast-forward a number of years. Now retired, my husband and I decided to move to West Virginia. We currently spend significant time volunteering at MAGWV, where I am privileged to serve on the Board.
I am passionate about preserving the his-tory of this wonderful glass and would love to do whatever I can to help our collecting and research community grow.
Fun fact: My 10th great grandfather, Obadiah Holmes, immigrated to North America from England in the 1630s and founded a glass factory, reportedly the first one on the continent. It produced window glass but didn’t last long, but wow!
Term expires in April of 2028.
Jeannie Symington-Zouck
Eastern Region
What an honor it is to be even considered for a position on the Board. While I have been treasure hunting my entire life, it was only a few years ago that I got the “glass bug.” One morning I stumbled upon an Estate Sale; every room was filled with glass I had never seen before (stretch, carnival, EAPG, etc). I was hooked. But when I tried to research the pieces, I was dismayed by the limited resources online. Finding the EAPGS database was like finding an oasis in an information desert.
I live in Baltimore, Maryland, and I work for a data technology company that specializes in creating digital resource platforms. I believe this professional experience could be applicable to the EAPGS database in some capacity. While my quest for knowledge continues, I will do my best to help others as much as you all have helped me so far. I have a lot of ideas about the database and increasing membership, and if elected I think one thing I could contribute right off the bat is a different perspective. I am excited for the future of the EAPGS and appreciative for the opportunity to be a part of it!
Term expires in April of 2028.