Steve Latta – Director of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary

Steve Latta crafts both contemporary and traditional furniture, teaching cabinetmaking and woodworking at Thaddeus Stevens College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

He is a contributing editor at Fine Woodworking magazine, has produced several videos with Lie-Nielsen Toolworks videos, and regularly lectures at museums such as Colonial Williamsburg. Additionally, he conducts field research in the Caribbean region as an experienced ornithologist.

Early Life and Education

Latta hails from Bluffton, Ohio and graduated with his degree from Bowling Green State University. As a bicycle mechanic in high school and college, his repair business helped to fund tuition fees; but after receiving an offer to make furniture from one of their clients – Latta decided that woodworking would be his future rather than fixing bikes.

He serves as a contributing editor to Fine Woodworking magazine and teaches cabinetmaking at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Additionally, he designs period reproduction and contemporary furniture pieces; lectures regularly; and conducts workshops across the United States.

He is the author of multiple books and has conducted extensive research on birds from Latin America and the Caribbean Islands, specifically their evolution, ecology, conservation and behavior. Currently his focus lies with studying Louisiana Waterthrushes which depend on riparian habitats to survive.

Professional Career

Steve Latta serves as Director of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. His current focus includes studying winter ecology of migrating birds in Latin America and Caribbean islands as well as training local biologists from developing nations on standardised bird monitoring techniques.

He has taught woodworking at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and Millersville University in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania as well as many other schools throughout the US. Additionally, he serves as a contributing editor to Fine Woodworking magazine and has produced multiple instructional videos on inlay and furniture construction techniques.

National Journal rates each member of Congress annually according to how liberal or conservative their votes were in the House. Click the link above for Steve Latta’s rating based on House votes cast during that year.

Achievement and Honors

Steve Latta is the Director of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, leading an experienced team of researchers and ornithologists that collaborates with organizations worldwide. His research interests focus on winter ecology in Caribbean islands and Latin America as well as endangered endemic species conservation.

Erich designs contemporary and period reproduction furniture on commission, teaches full time in the furniture-making program at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster County, PA, lectures across the country and published multiple books on traditional inlay techniques. Additionally, he contributes as an editor for Fine Woodworking magazine as well as publishing several videos related to furniture construction.

Awards given for outstanding academic achievements and promise of excellence in Constitutional Law during a student’s third year of study.

Personal Life

Steven Latta is a proud father and grandfather who loves helping others. He has spent much time volunteering his services to local and international missions as a result of his passion. Steven also enjoys riding motorcycles, Alabama football and fishing.

After working for years as a cabinet shop worker, Steve decided he wanted to teach furniture making and wood technology at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There, they hired him as professor of furniture-making and wood technology as well as contributor editor for Fine Woodworking Magazine; additionally Lie-Nielsen Toolworks released inlay and marquetry tools under his name for sale, while Colonial Williamsburg and Winterthur both hosted presentations about period furniture during his lectures on period pieces.

He takes great delight in seeing his students’ work as much as his own and often refers to them as though they were his children. He is passionate about woodworking as a craft and wants it to thrive and flourish further into the future.

Net Worth

Latta creates both contemporary and traditional furniture pieces. He teaches woodworking at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania as well as Millersville University. Latta also contributes to Fine Woodworking magazine and has released videos about inlay techniques and furniture construction techniques. Latta has lectured at Colonial Williamsburg, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts Winterthur Museum as well as many schools and guilds.

He currently serves as Senior Of Counsel for Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, an international law firm which specializes in representing technology and growth companies, since 2020.

He holds membership with both the National Rifle Association and John Birch Society; in the last 18 months, no insider trading activity was detected by him.