Sharing knowledge does not always come readily in today's competitive marketplace. Crafting the Small Business series is pleased to present a highly dedicated and knowledgeable roster of panelists and workshop leaders. Each brings with them personal histories of weathering storms and traversing the field of making, marketing and business management.

 Amy Farnum: Gallery Shop Director at The Ann Arbor Art Center

Amy curates the collection of over 250 artists with a focus on Michigan artwork. As a jewelry designer with over 20 years experience, Amy utilizes her position at the Art Center to mentor other artists and assist them in expanding their creative business. www.annarborartcenter.org

Anne Hayman: Founder and Director of Crafty University; Editor-in-Chief of The Handmade Companion; Blogger at The Handmade Gift Guide

Anne has been crafting since she was 9 years old and has worked as a Holistic Health Pracitioner and Esthetician. She started her blog The Handmade Gift Guide in 2009, has various Etsy shops as well as serves as a consultant for other crafters. www.craftyuniversity.com

 April McCrumb: Owner of The Yellow Door Art Market

With over 14 years of experience in the art fair, wholesale & retail gift industries, April has developed a unique perspective on what it takes to thrive & grow in this ever changing marketplace. She is owner of A. I. Paper Design, Catching Fireflies and the Yellow Door Art Market, and is a member of the Berkley Chamber of Commerce. www.yellowdoorartmarket.com

 Bethany Nixon: Owner of Reware Vintage

Bethany left her day job six years ago to start her own business, Reware Vintage, selling vintage clothing and handmade crafts made from record albums, through her website, RewareVintage.com and on Etsy. She is a member of Handmade Detroit. www.rewarevintage.com

 Brenda Ratliff: Owner of Pink Castle Fabrics

Brenda started Pink Castle Fabrics on a single bookshelf in her home's basement in 2011. Her modern fabric shop, specializing in quilt and apparel fabrics, has since drastically expanded and now serves clients from all over the world (even Australia!). She is the Founder and President of the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild.  www.pinkcastlefabrics.com

Christina Johnson: Co-owner and Printmaker at Perfect Laughter

Christina and her husband Dennis founded Perfect Laughter in 2008. Together they design and screen print concert posters, art prints and a variety of paper goods. They keep a lively blog and sell to independent clients, Etsy and craft shows. While Christina's marketing degree and advertising career are helpful in running her own business, her favorite part of being an entrepreneur is mixing up the ink. www.perfectlaughter.com

 Crystal Pepperdine: Board President and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

Ms. Pepperdine founded Flint Handmade in 2007 to encourage creative expression and commerce in downtown Flint. Flint Handmade hosts two large indie craft markets every year, operates a small consignment shop housed in a local restaurant, offers free monthly crafting workshops, maintains an active blog and participates in a variety of community arts and cultural events. www.flinthandmade.org

 Jude Walton: Photographer

Originally hailing from London (UK), Jude has been photographing for 8 years. Her clients include University of Michigan, Zingerman's, Performance Network Theater, Rocket Designs and Cantelon Finishers, as well as numerous private clients (weddings, events and portraits). www.judewaltonphotography.com

  Karen LePage: Owner of One Girl Circus clothing line and Founder of Southeast Michigan Crafter's Meetup

Karen is a handmade children’s clothing and sewing pattern designer. She is the owner and creator of the “One Girl Circus” & “One Boy Circus” clothing lines, and co-author of Sewing for Boys: 24 Projects to Create a Handmade Wardrobe, Wiley 2011, and former pattern designer for Pattern by Figgy's. www.onegirlcircus.com

Kate Kehoe: Owner of Chicoloo Photography

Kate started Chicaloo Photography in  2003 and now sells her magnets, coasters and notepads at various artisan markets and craft shows around Southeast Michigan and online. She has recently begun conducting workshops for fledgling artists and crafters who dream of starting their own businesses. http://chicalookate.etsy.com

Lish Dorset: Craft Writer and member of Handmade Detroit

Lish Dorset is a crafter, craft writer and craft lover. She writes for Craft Magazine and also Metro Parent Magazine, and is 1/5 of Handmade Detroit. Lish was recently featured on the Martha Stewart Show!  www.lishdorset.com

 Michelle Baker: Founder of Elevated Press, Designer, Master Printer

With a degree in scientific illustration, a masters in art education, experience managing art galleries and teaching art to children and adults, Michelle has years of creative experience and is the driving force behind Elevated Press. www.elevatedpress.com

Mo Frechette: Co-owner of Zingerman’s Mail Order

Mo founded Zingerman’s Mail Order, the direct shipment business within Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. With annual sales of $10 million, Zingerman’s Mail Order is one of the leaders in the online and catalog specialty food industry. www.zingermans.com

Monet Tiedemann: Photographer

Monet Tiedemann has had a camera in hand for nearly 25 years. She loves photographing people and traveling to places. She is a portrait and events photographer living Ann Arbor, MI. www.missmonetphotography.com

 Nicole Ray: Owner and Illustrator at Sloe Gin Fizz

Nicole’s illustrative work consists mainly of graphite and pen and ink drawings enhanced with digital color. Nicole has a line of prints and paper products offered under the name Sloe Gin Fizz available on Etsy, at select retail locations and at a variety of indie art shows. www.nicoleray.com

 Peter Baker: Co-owner and Designer at Elevated Works

Pete is an accomplished designer, programmer and photographer, and has been running his own design and web studio, Elevated Works, for over 8 years now, serving some of the largest companies in the country. www.elevatedworks.com and www.Peterbaker.net

 Rae Hoekstra: Blogger at Made-by-Rae and Founder of the Southeast Michigan Crafter's Meetup

Rae Hoekstra is a former high school physics teacher turned world-famous blogger and jet-setting sewing pattern designer. She sews frequently for herself and her two small children and blogs her sewing escapades at the wildly popular sewing blog, Made By Rae. www.made-by-rae.com

 Tiffany and Chris Best: Co-owners of the Rust Belt Market

Tiffany and Chris opened the Rust Belt Market in Ferndale, MI in 2011 to provide unique handmade objects to the local community (and economy!) on a consistant basis instead of only at festivals and fairs. The result is a store filled with 60+ creative businesses in a 15,000 sq. ft. space. www.rustbeltmarket.com

Tom Root: Co-founder of Zingermans.com and Managing Partner of Zingerman’s Mail Order and Co-founder and Co-owner of Maker Works

Tom is managing partner of Zingerman’s Mail Order, the direct shipment business within Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. He is also the Founder and Co-owner of Maker Works, organizer of Crafting the Small Business. www.zingermans.com

Toni Morell: Co-founder of Zingermans.com and Managing Partner of Zingerman’s Mail Order

Toni transplanted from Ohio to Ann Arbor in the early 1990’s with marketing degree in hand. She co-founded Zingermans.com in 1999 and for the past ten years has been one of the managing partners of Zingerman’s Mail Order. www.zingermans.com

 Vincent Re, PLLC: registered patent attorney

Vincent is a registered patent attorney and intellectual property counsellor who works with inventors to help them develop and protect their ideas. www.vrelaw.net