SWATurners' Executive Committee
President, Steven Gottlieb (Austin, TX - Central Texas Woodturners)
I was born and raised in New York City. I attended college in New Jersey (bachelor) and California (PhD). I started my career at NSA in Maryland in 1961 and retired as a Senior Partner from Booz Allen & Hamilton in 1997. My wife Carolyn and I moved to Austin, TX in 1995 and a few years after that joined the Central Texas Woodturning Association. I turned my first piece when I was about 11 years old, and my second piece when I was about 58 –clearly too much work not enough play. I am actually more of a woodworker than a turner, but don’t do enough of either. I became heavily involved with SWATurners when I Chaired the Host City Committee from Austin and shortly after became Secretary/ Treasurer in 2004/2005, and have served as Vice-President for 2006 and 2007.
Vice President, Charlie Kay (Austin, TX - Central Texas Woodturners)
I am a fifth generation Texan, who grew up in Galveston County. I have Biology and Chemistry degrees from Texas State University. I spent 32 years with Texaco, with many varied technical and managerial assignments in a number of locations throughout the United States. I retired early, in 1996, to do the things I had always wanted to do but never had time for. That included photography, reading and woodworking. We bought five acres and built a house and I built a shop. I had done woodworking and woodcarving in what little spare time I had for years, but always in a corner of the garage. I finally got a lathe in 1999 and began trying to learn to turn. Turning has turned into my primary woodworking passion. I have served as the Secretary and Newsletter Editor for the Central Texas Woodturners since 2000 and also edited the SWAT newsletter from 2005 to 2007.
Secretary/Treasurer, Bob Matern (Dallas Area Woodturners)
Like Steve, I grew up in New York but got out of there ASAP to attend the University of Michigan, earn a Bachelor's in Economics and an MBA and get married. After moving to Texas in 1969, I spent about a decade in public accounting earning my CPA certification in the process, then spent the rest of my career in the financial area of the insurance industry. In 1999 we bought a place that had room for a shop (and my wife's horses) and I started tinkering in "flat stuff" but got attracted to turning after seeing some demos at a woodworking show. After taking some lessons, I joined Dallas Area Woodturners in 2003 and served as the SWAT rep from 2004 to 2007 and am currently its secretary.
Past President, Walter Tate (Tyler, TX -- East Texas Woodturners)
I was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and grew up in Tyler, Texas. I attended the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University. I have a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and a Masters in Business Administration. I worked as a computer Engineer, manager and executive for 35 years and retired in 2000. I married Bertha Smith in 1958. We have two children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. I received my first wood lathe as a Christmas gift in 1995. I had no prior woodworking experience of any kind before receiving the lathe. I joined the East Texas Woodturners in 1996 and have been turning for fun since I retired in 2000. I have been associated with the SouthWest Association of Turners since 2003. I served as Secretary/Treasurer in 2003 and 2004, Vice-President in 2005, President in 2006 and I am currently serving my second term as president of the association.
