Meet Our Staff

From L to R: Leah, Nia, and Aria

Leah Van Tassel -  Director of Finance and Operations

Leah has a background in business management and a dedication to cultivating community and woodcraft. She brings supportive leadership and administration experience to her role. Leah was a spoon-carving student of Jess Hirsch and served as one of the founding board members of Fireweed in 2019.


Aria Kampfer - Shop Technician and Instructor

Aria has a background in cabinet-making with an education in construction technology. She brings her love of precision and intuitive organization into stewarding the woodshop. Aria started at Fireweed as a shop volunteer in 2023.

Meet Our Board

Heidi Wallis (she/her)

Heidi Wallis is a novice woodworker and an avid crafter, cook, and baker; she loves to try new things! She brings her skills of project planning, event organization and a bit of fundraising experience to the organization. She currently works at a Fortune 500 company as a regulatory affairs specialist and previously worked in microbiology. Heidi is eager to support the continued success of this inclusive community.

Molly Green (she/her)

Molly Green is an educator with a passion for crafting, DIYing, and community-centered making. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and has spent her career thus far in international education. Outside of work you can find Molly hosting crafty gatherings with Twin Cities Craft Club—usually knitting or crocheting—or tackling house projects in her backyard. Her first class at Fireweed gave her the confidence to step into a traditionally male-dominated space, sparking a love for hands-on learning that she’s now passionate about sharing with others.

Matte Segal (they/them)

Bio coming soon


Erika Janik (she/her)

Erika Janik is a writer, editor, and audio maker with more than 15 years experience working with and for mission-driven organizations. Currently, she is the managing editor of the Peabody award-winning environmental podcast Threshold. Erika has never met a craft she won't try. She loves knowing how things work and trying something new.


Amanda Ressler

Amanda is a lifelong believer in the power of making—whether it’s building a table or building community. With a background in finance and a love for hands-on problem-solving, she’s excited to support Fireweed’s mission of creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for learning and creativity. She brings a thoughtful, collaborative spirit and a deep appreciation for spaces where people grow through making.

Frances Tsukano (she/her)

Bio Coming soon

Tiff Tran (they/them)

Bio coming soon

Katie Rehani (she/her)

Katie Rehaniis a lifelong youth worker whose career has focused on education, enrichment and therapeutic programs in school and wilderness-based settings. Currently working as the Vice President of Girls and Youth at YWCA Minneapolis, she brings a wealth of knowledge in program design and implementation, organizational sustainability and curriculum development.



Charlie Zieke (they/them)

Bio Coming Soon


Adrienne Baker (she/her)

Adrienne is a lawyer, facilitator, and educator committed to public interest work.  She currently works for the Minnesota Justice Foundation as a Staff Attorney.  Adrienne believes in the power of creative play-- and that experiential education is the best (and most fun!) way to learn.  She admires Fireweed's collective vision as an inclusive place for building, making, and creating.  She's delighted to be part of the Fireweed community.


Jeanette Torkelson (she/her)

Jeanette has been carving and weaving for 5 years now, after taking her first spoon class with Jess Hirsch. She teaches sharpening, bowl carving and shaker boxes at Fireweed woodshop. She and her wife have 6 chickens, one dog, one cat, and not enough house plants and they all live together in the Corcoran neighborhood of Minneapolis. Her favorite tool is the Kalthoff axe and she loves seeing the relationships that form through craft.


Margaret Grefig (she/her)

Margaret has over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance in the non-profit sector from Finance Manager at the YWCA of Minneapolis, to Financial Analyst at Metropolitan Council to Controller at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. She has worked extensively with grant writing, audit, budgeting, forecasting and financial modeling and seeks ways to share those skills with organizations rooted in social justice. Margaret loves 10-keys, spreadsheets, getting in over her head on home renovation projects, traveling, exploring nature and dancing in the kitchen.


Our Founder

Jess Hirsch (she/they) 

Jess started Women's Woodshop in 2017 in South Minneapolis and championed the transition of the woodshop into a 501c3 Non Profit now known as Fireweed Community Woodshop. We thank Jess for their vision, leadership, instruction, and tenacity! Jess steeped down to pursue new career aspirations in 2024.



Fireweed Community Woodshop

14 SE 27th Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55414


hello@ fireweedwoodshop.org


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