About Us

Lisa is a resident of Reamstown. She is a graduate of Cocalico High School, B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and an M. Ed. from the College of New Jersey in Administration of International and Overseas Schools.  She spent eight years living overseas in Colombia, SA, and Romania.  She traveled extensively within those eight years and visited over 30 different countries.  Her love for folk art began during her travels and it was the beginning of her collection of folk art, mostly fiber art and pottery.  After returning home she began working in the banking industry and then changed to the insurance industry.  She is a retired insurance agent.

She attended classes through the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and the Lancaster Heritage Museum (no longer active) and completed courses for a Certificate in Folk Art Studies.  Lisa’s parents started collecting pottery in the early 80s while she was away at school.  She became interested in Foltz Pottery because of its collection.  Lisa started her own collection in the late 90s and enjoyed coming to the Foltz Pottery and has been hooked ever since.

Lisa currently has an art studio – Just Be You Studio - in her home offering classes in card making, painting, fiber arts, and whatever else someone might be interested in learning.   She has been making woolie trees and other wool items. She also collaborates with Brown’s Country Originals in creating one-of-a-kind pieces of paper mâché.

Lisa continues to enjoy traveling and spends most of her time in her studio. She is always looking for new doors to open to expand her life experiences. It is her hope that in time the Foundation would be able to open a museum to educate those about folk art and folklife in the surrounding communities. She is excited to be part of this unique organization and enjoys meeting fellow collectors and folk artists. 

Justin Hulshizer grew up in Schoeneck Pennsylvania.  He is a graduate of Cocalico High School, Kutztown University, and a master’s level Elementary Education Certification from Albright College.  His love of folk art and Pennsylvania German culture were fostered by his Grandmother Merla Shirk-Hulshizer and his active involvement as a Student Historian at the Ephrata Cloister.  He first started collecting folk art at a young age while attending sales with his grandmother.  Later while working for the state at the Ephrata Cloister, he began actively collecting Foltz pottery.  This is where he met his wife Louise while she was helping Ned Foltz at a special show held in the Museum Store. He and Louise helped Ned and Gwen at shows in their shop and he continues to be actively involved at The Foltz Pottery.  In his free time, he enjoys cooking for friends and family, growing saffron, gardening, and walking his Australian Shepherd Emmett. 

Although not a practicing artist herself, Gina has grown to love and appreciate the folk art she has been exposed to through her father, stepmother, and mother who is also an artist located in West Reading.  Gina is a social worker by day.  She is very involved with her church and is an ordained pastor and enjoys singing and playing the guitar. She loves spin class at the gym and walking her dog, Reese.  

Recently she has sparked a gift of creating her own redware pieces.  She hopes to follow in the footsteps of her mother and father and cultivate the artist inside of her.

Her hope is to continue to invite people into this community of artisans, collectors, and those like herself, who don’t want to see these traditions fade away. She wants the traditions of folk art to live on for many generations to come.

Cindy grew up along with six brothers outside of Schoeneck and attended Cocalico School District. Cindy worked at First Virginia Bank after marrying Kim and moving to Virginia. Kim and Cindy moved back to the Ephrata area after having their first child and after their three children were all in school, Cindy began volunteering at Denver Elementary. Cindy also ran many of the fundraisers for her children’s soccer teams and was Denver PTA vice president and president for several years. Cindy worked as a teacher’s aide for 17 years at Reamstown Elementary before finally returning to her banking roots. She is currently employed as a teller at the Denver branch of the Ephrata National Bank where you will often find her friendly smile at the drive-thru.

Cindy loves spending time with family, supports her husband’s interests, and enjoys collecting pottery too, especially miniatures. Cindy does not cook often but loves to collect cookbooks! Cindy has made new friends while supporting the activities of the Foundation. Cindy is currently the Foundation treasurer and looks forward to expanding the foundation’s goals.

Kim resides in Reinholds with his wife Cindy. Kim and Cindy have 3 children and two grandchildren. Kim grew up on a small farm in Klinefeltersville, Lebanon County, and attended ELCO High School. His family has deep roots in the area. His father’s ancestors began farming in the Hertzog Valley in the early 1700s and his mother’s relation still lives on a 10th generation farm in the Cocalico Valley.

Kim is a licensed civil engineer. After graduating from Penn State Kim worked for a land development consulting firm in Fairfax Virginia called Pacuilli, Simmons and Assoc. They could trace their roots back to George Washington! Kim’s first six months of employment consisted of surveying parts of northern Virginia. He enjoyed cutting boundary lines for farms out in the Virginia countryside. Kim and Cindy loved touring Washington D.C. and the surrounding area while living in Falls Church for two years.  After having their first child in Virginia they decided to move back to the area. Kim began working for Rettew Associates in Lancaster, becoming a project manager and overseeing other engineers. Kim spent 15 years with Rettew before joining Pioneer Management, a smaller land development firm where he continues to work today. Pioneer prepares subdivision and land development plans for individuals, large home builders, developers, and businesses. When you drive on Route 30 or 222, you will pass at least one of Kim’s projects, such as Red Rose Commons. Kim specializes in stormwater management and has over 30 years of experience in the industry.

Kim’s hobbies include hunting, fishing, gardening, and collecting pottery; especially Foltz redware. Kim and Cindy enjoy spending time at their family cabin in Union County. Kim and Cindy enjoy helping on the Foltz Gala committee and the Foltz Stars and Spangles committee.

A John Long painting of the pottery shop that was handed down from his grandparents is an especially cherished keepsake of his. His mother even attended the Pleasant Retreat School as a child, which is now the Foltz Pottery Shop. After becoming an empty nester, Kim thought it was the right time to become involved with a local organization.  After attending his first Foltz auction a few years ago he became really interested in local arts and crafts. Kim knew this organization was the perfect fit for him after spending time with the “Foltz family”. Kim looks forward to growing the foundation, meeting new artists, and promoting the local arts and crafts scene.