NEIL GODDEN

Executive Director

Neil Godden has been Executive Director and Operations Manager of the Heartwood School since 2021, and served as Program Director before that. Neil received his Civil Engineering degree from the University at Buffalo in 1996. Soon after, he completed an apprenticeship under master builder Jack Sobon and he has been in love with the craft ever since. He has been a timber frame contractor in Western Massachusetts since 2000, and he has been teaching Timber Framing at Heartwood since 2005. 

He enjoys sharing his knowledge and techniques for this time-tested craft, specializing in building traditional timber frames using primarily hand tools. He has taught at many Timber Framer’s Guild Community Building Projects including the Bayles Boat Shed Long Island Seaport and Eco-Center (LI, NY), Sunrise Mill hand tool workshop (Schwenksville, PA) and was the Project Manager for Champlain Canal Visitor’s Center (Schuylerville, NY). Neil has also taught timber framing at Pingree Campus of Colorado State University, the Hancock Shaker Village (Handcock, MA) and a workshop on the Island of Gotland in Sweden.

DANIELLE GODDEN

Administrative Assistant

While Danielle is not actually a timber framer, she has been in and around timber framing for the past 25+ years.  She lives in a timber frame house that she and her husband designed and built using timber from their own land.  Danielle really enjoys being a part of the timber framing community, whether visiting a Community Building Project like the Bayles Boat Shed on Long Island in 2006 or helping out with the contracts and organization for the Gateway Visitors Center in Schuylerville, NY.   Her role at Heartwood is varied, which includes: program development, outreach and media, special projects and various support for the Heartwood team, instructors, students, apprentices, and classes.  Danielle's true passion is working with children, pre-k to 6th grade, as a certified speech-language pathologist in a local elementary school in western Massachusetts. She enjoys traveling, knitting and hanging out with her family and cats.

EMILY TOLZDORF

Student Support and Outreach Coordinator

Emily Tolzdorf has worked in experiential education for almost a decade in a number of roles:  teaching and facilitation, coordinating program logistics, and developing strategic partnerships. She also spent four years as the owner operator of a residential tree care company where she specialized in arborist rigging. She has a Masters degree in Resilient and Sustainable Communities from Green Mountain College, and is excited to help Heartwood students on their journey to learn traditional trades and sustainable building techniques.

KATIE KURLAK

Media and Marketing Support

Katie Kurlak studied mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech and then pursued a Master's degree from University of Southern California. She worked at Honeywell Aerospace in Phoenix, AZ for several years before taking time away from the office to raise her young family. When she's not chasing after her two boys, she enjoys reading, solving puzzles, and baking. She is learning about timber framing through this position, and is often posting for Heartwood on social media.

BEN KAUFHOLD
Schoolhouse Coordinator

Ben Kaufhold joins the Heartwood School after a diverse and accomplished career in forestry and natural resource management. His path began with a passion for timber framing, taking numerous courses—including several at Heartwood—and building timber frames of his own before returning to school to study Forest Management.

Ben’s work has centered on natural resource extraction and sustainable forestry. He has worked as a New Hampshire licensed forester, log scaler, forest researcher, educator, and currently operates a small logging business. His hands-on experience in the woods, combined with his background in teaching and traditional craft, brings a practical and grounded perspective to his work.

Ben lives in Acworth, New Hampshire, on the world-famous Beryl Mountain. When he’s not working with wood, managing forests, or walking with his dog and daughter, he can often be found exploring one of the area’s long-abandoned mines with his pick and shovel.