Boon Manakitivipart began bonsai in 1989, studying under as many teachers as he could find in California. In 1993, the Golden State Bonsai Federation awarded Boon a Teacher Development Scholarship; two years later, he received the Ben Oki International Design Award for styling a Sierra Juniper. In 1995 Boon traveled to Japan where he studied bonsai for one year as an apprentice with Yasuo Mitsuya. Following his apprenticeship, Boon returned to Japan twice a year to continue his study with Kihachiro Kamiya, until his passing in 2004. In April 2000, Boon won the Grand prize in the Kindai Bonsai Styling Contest in Japan. He was the only non-Japanese contestant. He has also been recognized among the world's top 100 winners of the World Bonsai Contest in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In 1998 Boon founded and became the teacher of Bay Island Bonsai, and started his business, Bonsai Boon.

Martin Schmalenberg has been involved with bonsai (penjing) and stone appreciation for over thirty-five years and has traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe. He has authored numerous articles on bonsai and Chinese Scholar Stones in various horticultural journals and has been a frequent teacher of bonsai classes and workshops throughout the United States. Over the past few years, Marty has been studying the ancient world of the "literati" (scholar-gentlemen) in China and Japan and their sophisticated taste in acquiring objects for contemplation. He has a personal collection of over 150 bonsai and is a passionate collector of stones from around the world. In addition, Marty is an avid collector of native material from the United States for use in bonsai culture and specializes in pines. Not Surprisingly, Marty has been a featured artist/lecturer at conventions through the United States and has won numerous awards for bonsai design.

Takashi Shimazu was born in Kumamoto, on the southernmost island of Japan. In 1968 Tak immigrated to Orange County, California where he worked as a gardener. He later moved to Riverside, California and joined the Inland Empire Bonsai Society. In the 1980s he studied under Bonsai Masters John Naka and Harry Hirao. Tak continued to improve his skills through bonsai books, magazines and occasional trips to Japan to study at the Bonsai nurseries there. He loves to share the techniques he has learned through classes and demonstrations. Tak is a member of Kofu Kai, Nampu Kai, and the California Bonsai Society.