About Suwanee Clayworks

INSTRUCTOR

Clay has a way of teaching patience, creativity, and joy; and that’s what Betty looks forward to sharing with every student. Betty has been a ceramic artist for 15 years, a studio assistant for 12 years, and a teacher for 8, guiding beginners and experienced makers alike through wheel-throwing and glazing. She believes that pottery is about more than creating objects; it’s about connecting with the process.

INSTRUCTOR

David Gentry is a seasoned Clay Instructor at Suwanee ClayWorks, driven by a lifelong passion for ceramics and by his assistant, Shiner the Dog. His journey began two decades ago when he and Marissa, the Program Director at Suwanee ClayWorks, bonded over their shared love for clay during their schooling. Since then, David’s pursuit of artistic excellence has taken him across the United States, where he has studied under renowned ceramicists, constantly refining his craft. From wheel throwing to handbuilding, sculpture to surface design, and even glaze mixing and gas firing, David’s expertise spans the entire spectrum of ceramic arts. His infectious enthusiasm and positivity infuse the pottery studio, inspiring students and colleagues alike. Beyond ceramics, David indulges in cooking, photography and travel, continually seeking new avenues for creative expression and building lasting connections within the ceramic community nationwide.

MARKETING LEAD / STUDIO TECHNICIAN / INSTRUCTOR

Trinity wears many hats around the studio— you’ll often spot her by the slab roller writing the weekly newsletter, unloading the kilns, or teaching her class. Trinity has been doing pottery for 5 years. After discovering it as a child, she reconnected with it in college and has been hooked ever since! She loves working with clay, and she can’t stop talking about all the lessons it has taught her about life! Through her work, she embraces the beauty in simplicity, crafting simple, sleek, and organic ceramics. She aims to create beautiful objects that are crafted for everyday life. She holds a business management degree from Georgetown University.

Outside the studio, Trinity loves running, cooking, hanging out with her friends, and playing with her cats!

INSTRUCTOR / STUDIO TECHNICIAN

Gabriella has been making ceramics for over 20 years now. She has her BA in Studio Art with an emphasis in Ceramics and Photography. She was very blessed to be able to have a beautiful teacher named Char Felos in college. She was a sublime teacher on so many levels! Gabriella has also done workshops with Paul Soldner and Glen Grishkoff. To be immersed in the California Ceramic community for a while was a once in a lifetime experience that she is so thankful for. Her ceramics have a functional and sculptural aspect to them. She has been exploring different glazes throughout the years and still has so much to learn. She believes there is always more to learn. No matter our age or what our situation is in life, we never stop learning. Her journey with ceramics is continuous!

PART TIME EMPLOYEE / INSTRUCTOR

Kelli started pottery in 2022, when she learned about the studio at the Pinckneyville Community Center. She took a few classes and became hooked. Over the years, she has learned new skills and techniques that she now has the pleasure to teach to new upcoming potters. As the typical Sunday opener, she can usually be found loading and unloading kilns or doing whatever else needs to be done over the weekend. She loves being able to explore more artistic endeavors, as her day job involves teaching math and science to high school students. Her other hobbies include hiking with her spouse, painting, jewellery making, and most recently, dog training.  

STUDIO ADMINISTRATOR / OPERATIONS SUPPORT

A Gwinnett County native, Marisa P. discovered her love for clay a couple of years ago when she took a single county class and never looked back. Since then, she’s continued studying under Marissa H. and honed her skills in both the studio and the glaze lab, where her “breaking bad” approach to glaze chemistry has led to some pretty exciting results. With a background in engineering from Rice University and a knack for project management from her time in telecommunications, she’s all about finding balance between structure and creative chaos. When she's not experimenting with color, texture, and structure, you’ll find her running laps around the studio, problem-solving, and embarking on various ADHD-powered “side quests” to keep things flowing. Whether it’s in the lab, the studio, or with fiber arts, she’s always exploring new ways to bring her creative ideas to life.

PART TIME EMPLOYEE

Jessica began her ceramics journey at Suwanee Clayworks with instructor Gabriella King and immediately fell in love with the challenge and creativity of working with clay. Since August 2025, she has spent much of her free time in the studio, practicing, learning, and finding new ways to grow her skills.

Jessica started as an apprentice and quickly became more involved, eager to learn all she can about the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the studio running. She helps with events and daily studio tasks while continuing to explore her own path in ceramics.

INSTRUCTOR / KILN WIZARD

Stephen holds a BFA in Pottery and Weaving from the University of Evansville—though he likes to say he really studied "making things." Before diving into the world of clay full-time, he spent 20 years in the security industry and 19 years supporting elections. That background brings a unique level of precision and patience to his studio practice. With over 12 years of experience in pottery and more than a year at Suwannee Clay Works, Stephen currently manages the kilns and keeps the fire (quite literally) burning behind the scenes. Whether he's throwing at the wheel or helping others fine-tune their work, Stephen brings both technical knowledge and a love for the process. Outside the studio, Stephen enjoys woodworking, tie-dye, gardening, and—of course—pottery. He’s always creating something, whether it's in clay, fabric, wood, or soil.

PART TIME EMPLOYEE / INSTRUCTOR

Gabbie has been in and out of the clay studio since they were about five years old. Their clay journey began at The Johns Creek Arts Center in the kids clay classes and summer camps with Marissa Hudson as their first ever pottery instructor! For Gabbie, stumbling into Suwanee Clayworks has felt like traveling a full circle in their clay journey as they are thrilled to work with and learn from Marissa again! Gabbie tends to primarily focus on sculpture, but is no stranger to hand building or the wheel. A lot of Gabbie’s inspiration comes from nature and the outdoors! With a high sensitivity to textures and the way things feel, Gabbie is very tactile and is always experimenting with different ways to create texture on their work. Gabbie hopes that their sculptures evoke a desire to feel and touch the different textures they create! When they are not working on their own pieces you may find Gabbie helping around the studio, in the PYOP room, or teaching the kids class.

When outside of the studio Gabbie is probably crafting at home, out rock climbing, hanging out with their pet mice or playing board games, video games, or dungeons and dragons with their friends! Gabbie also loves wildlife especially insects, bugs, and other weird little creatures! 

NEW FRIENDS, NEW FACES…

We’re excited to announce that Team SCW is growing! Stay tuned for more information about our newest staff members.