GUEST INSTRUCTORS
Community Rebuilds hosts workshops each semester in the areas of permaculture, solar photovoltaics, and Tadelakt plastering. We utilize experts in these fields to teach workshops and enhance our interns' experience. Thank you to all of the wonderful teachers who have taught with CR over the years! Here are a few…
Alex Burbidge
Plaster Instructor
Alex has been a natural builder in Moab for the past two decades. He came onto the CR team in the Fall of 2017 when it just so happened that CR was building next door to his home. He is an incredible artist, builder, teacher, and human.
Dan Chiras
Plaster Instructor
Dan Chiras, Ph. D, is the author of numerous books on renewable energy, including Power from the Sun, Power from the Wind and The Homeowners Guide to Renewable Energy.
Find out more: https://danchiras.net
Gerald Johnson
Solar Instructor
During the last 5 years living in Utah, Gerald has been involved with Community Rebuilds as an instructor and installer hosting numerous demonstrations and installations. His experience is drawn from 10+ years of education and field work. This includes residential & commercial solar, pico-wind, micro-hydro and grid tied & off-grid systems/ services. Beginning in 2022, Gerald created a solar contractor company Deseret Renewable Energy.
Gerald holds a Utah Solar & General contractor license, NABCEP professional installer certification, and have fielded up to 1MW/yr of renewable energy projects. Educationally, Gerald completed a University of Queensland Australia Sustainable Energy Graduate Certificate addressing policy and project development; B.A. from Prescott College in Sustainable Community Development focused on policy, economics, and ecology; and Solar Energy International’s Professional Certificate program.
Doug Nichols
Plaster and Straw Insulation Instructor
Doug, or as we call him, the CobFather, has been a natural builder for 30 years. He has been our qualifying contractor and instructor for many semesters. Doug now serves as a Natural Building Expert and consultant for Community Rebuilds
Roslynn Brain McCann
Permaculture Instructor
Dr. Ros is a Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist in the Department of Environment and Society, College of Natural Resources at Utah State University. She uses conservation theory, communication techniques, and social marketing tools to foster environmental behaviors in the areas of land, air, food, water.
Joel Glanzberg
Permaculture Instructor
One of the highlights of the semester, Joel has been leading the Permaculture workshop since the 2011. Joel is based out of New Mexico, where he operates his business, Pattern Mind.
Jeff Adams
Permaculture Instructor
Jeff has lead interns in the hands on portion of the permaculture workshop since the Fall of 2016. Jeff owns an ecological design firm, Terrsophia, and is part of the Canyonlands Watershed Council.
Jeff Tobe
Solar Instructor
Jeff is a PV project coordinator and IREC Certified PV Instructor with Solar Energy International. Based out of Paonia, CO, Jeff has been facilitating the solar workshop for interns since the 2010.
Ken Gardner
Solar Instructor
Ken has been working with the solar workshop since 2015, assisting in the installation of the panels themselves. Ken’s company, Gardner Energy, is based in Salt Lake City, UT.
Frank Wetenkamp
Tadelakt Instructor
Frank has been facilitating the Tadelakt workshop for interns since the Spring of 2016. Frank currently owns his own natural building company in Longmont, CO – Living Craft.
Brad Lancaster
Past Permaculture Instructor
Brad worked with CR as a guest instructor for the Permaculture workshop in 2012, conducting a special session on rainwater harvesting. Learn more from his book, Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond.
Ryan Chivers
Past Tadelakt Instructor
Ryan lead CR’s Tadelakt workshop from 2011-2015. His company, Limestrong Artisan, works on specialty plaster projects throughout the western half of the US.