MIKE SLOGGATT

Mike Sloggatt has more than 40 years’ experience in the trade starting  right out of high school in 1972, taking a short break to get his college degree before opening his own contracting business in 1979.  Mike is now semi-retired and is a consultant to builders, manufacturers & homeowners for challenging remodels near his home on Long Island. He is a contributor to the Journal of Light Construction and writes for Fine Homebuilding and Tools of the Trade. Mike has been the Frame-to-Finish (Rough) Carpentry presenter for the Katz Roadshow. He teaches seminars and clinics in all aspects of carpentry and remodeling all over the United States and is a regular presenter at JLC LIVE for the past 22 years, Remodeling Show and International Builders’ Show. When not on the road or enjoying his time with his grandchildren, you might find Mike & his wife Laura fishing the beaches of Long Island in their custom-built truck camper. 

RYAN SMITH

Ryan Smith is a full-time framing carpenter who specializes in custom roof framing and cutting. Owner operator of Roof Cutters Inc. www.roofcutters.com. Ryan spends his days figuring and cutting complex custom roofs on some of the finest homes in his area Buffalo/Niagara Falls region of NY. (Western NY). Ryan has developed a system to figure and cut entire roof systems before all of the walls are built and stood! When he isn't cutting roofs systems and framing custom homes, he enjoys spending time with his 3 children and his wife. He enjoys hunting and fishing and also model aviation. "Always do the right thing even if no one will ever see it again " .

TOM BREWER

Without our stage manager Tom Brewer, the JLC LIVE building specialists would have a difficult time getting anything built. Brewer handles, maintains, and tracks all the materials the JLC LIVE presenters require for their demonstrations on the show floor.  Skilled with wood, fasteners and well-maintained tools, Tom is stage manager for the Katz Roadshow, traveling non-stop across the country. Not always behind the scenes, you can find Tom on stage at the Builders Workshop lending a very skillful hand to Mike Sloggatt.

MIKE GUERTIN

The only thing Mike Guertin likes better than building new homes is remodeling old ones. After 35 years tackling every facet of residential construction from excavation and foundations to interior finish work and tile setting, he’s still challenged every day to find more-efficient ways to build things better. Mike has led hands-on building clinics and classroom presentations at JLC LIVE, Remodeling Show and DeckExpo, International Builders Show, International Roofing Expo and other construction trade shows and events across North America for the past 23 years on topics from roofing, siding, framing and deck construction, to kitchen remodeling, and high performance building.  He's written 3 books, over 180 magazine articles for the Journal of Light Construction, Fine Homebuilding, Professional Deck Builder and Tools of the Trade, and appears in dozens of videos.  Mike works hard and plays hard so don't be surprised if you bump into him above 10,000 ft. hiking through a mountain meadow; kayaking coastal bays or swift water rivers; or backcountry skiing in a remote forest.

MIKE KENNEDY

Mike Kennedy of Mike Kennedy Carving.com specializes in hand-carved tangent handrailing and custom stairs. His work can be found in some of the finest homes in New England. When not building fine stairs or carving handrail Mike enjoys building guitars, creating art and music, gardening, horseback riding, hunting, and just running around in the forest. Mike lives in Foster, Rhode Island with his wife and various animal friends.

BENJAMIN BOGIE

Ben Bogie is a second-generation high-performance builder working as a project manager in CT and New York. He has a passion for the work he does that leads him to study his craft in an effort to push his skills forward in all areas of home building. His work has taken him from historical preservation of 18th century buildings to cutting edge high performance new construction.

RICK ARNOLD

Rick Arnold has been a hands-on builder for over 40 years. He has experience in both residential and light commercial construction.

Rick has been a contributing editor to Fine Homebuilding magazine as well as The Journal of Light Construction, Tools of The Trade and other publications. He is the author of books, articles, and videos of various construction topics.

For the last 25 years Rick has presented and taught at industry trade shows such as; The International Builders Show, The Remodelers Show, The Deck Expo, and JLC LIVE. He has also given seminars across the US for manufacturers as well as for organizations such as NAHAB, NELMA and the Western Red Cedar Association.