Dr. Gary Mahoney (# B.S., Berea College, 1982
# M.S., Murray State University, 1983
# Ed.D., Oklahoma State University, 1993) is the chair of the Department of Technology and Industrial Arts at Berea College. Gary has been building musical instruments for over 20 years teaching others how to build them for most of that time. In recent years Gary has begun to develop an organized system for efficiently building guitars in a class setting. How to consistently build high quality instruments in a large group is an issue that Gary has spent much time on and it was ultimately the inspiration behind our summer research.

Timothy Holman is a Technology and Industrial Arts major from South Carolina. Tim developed an interest in lutherie during a guitar design and construction course he took with Dr. Mahoney during January term 2006. Tim has enjoyed playing guitar since childhood.

Billy(Marty) Edwards is a Music major from Cherokee, North Carolina. Marty is an accomplished guitarist who also developed an interest in the building side of things during Dr. Mahoney's January term class. Marty plays with the Berea College Band and sings with the Berea College Concert Choir.
 

Jayme Spaugh is a Technology and Industrial Arts Major from Guatemala City, Guatemala. Jayme has been involved in woodworking before and this was her first experience with instrument building.

William Haizlett is a Technology and Industrial Arts major from Wheeling, West Virginia. Will has operated a small woodworking business for a number of years and was first exposed to lutherie along with Tim and Marty in Dr. Mahoney's class. Will enjoys playing mandolin in the Berea College Bluegrass Band.