AMY WILLIAMS

Profession: 

Project Specialist at Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED)

Five Words About Me:

Sincere, passionate, friendly, focused, independent

One Surprising Skill:

Speaks Russian

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Amy grew up with a love for the performing arts, attending schools that offered curricula in theater arts and performing musicals with her church youth choir.  In college her passion shifted from theater to foreign language and culture, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies and enjoyed classes in Technical Theater.  She pursued various careers before indulging her passion to empower entrepreneurs.  Now she enjoys helping artists find ways to sustainably support themselves and their communities.  Amy enjoys hiking, gardening, painting, dancing and exploring new creative pursuits.

LESLIE FERGUSON-OLES

Profession: 

Research and Strategic Project Coordinator

Five Words About Me:

Thoughtful, Funny, Imaginative, Synthesizer, Strong

One Surprising Skill:

Haircutting, bread making and tractor driving

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With MACED since 2016, Leslie oversees research to develop MACED’s understanding of trends, issues and opportunities related to creating a Just Transition to a new economy in eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia. She also coordinates the development and implementation of projects that support MACED’s strategic initiatives. Leslie holds an M. A. in English Composition and Rhetoric from Western Carolina University and a B.A. in English-Writing from Berea College with a minor in Sustainability and Environmental Studies. A proud Western North Carolina native, Leslie is happy to call Berea home.

TERI THOMPSEON

Profession: 

Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Berea College

Five Words About Me:

Strategic; thoughtful; creative; intuitive; adaptable

One Surprising Skill:

I am a classically trained singer. 

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Teri Thompson serves as Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Berea College where she oversees the College’s significant relationship with a private foundation, providing leadership related to the identification of and strategic planning for institutional priorities as well as the collaborative development of grant-funded programming to support Berea’s students throughout their matriculation.  In addition, she oversees programs of the College that provide meaningful and effective outreach to the Appalachian region through private, state, and federal grant funding, including the AIR Institute, Brushy Fork Institute, Grow Appalachia, and Partners for Education.  Born and raised in Colorado, Thompson received a Bachelor of Music Education degree (K-12) from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Kentucky.  As her schedule permits, she teaches voice lessons to a small studio of Berea College students as an adjunct professor.

KITTY DOUGOUD

Profession: 

Kentucky Main Street Coordinator & Site Identification Program Manager for the Kentucky Heritage Council

Five Words About Me:

Compassionate, Outgoing, Feisty, Learner, Facilitator

One Surprising Skill:

I can talk to anyone!

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Kitty Dougoud serves as both Coordinator of the Kentucky Main Street Program and Site Identification Program Manager for the Kentucky Heritage Council, the state preservation office. She joined KHC in 2013 after serving as the Main Street director in Georgetown since 2007. Kitty also serves on the Leadership Council of Main Street America.

Prior to her career with Main Street, Kitty taught 27 years with Scott County public schools and was an adjunct professor of art education at Georgetown College. She is a native of Ashland, KY and received her bachelor’s from the University of Kentucky. She has two sons, Jamey & Jackson and lives on Main Street in downtown Georgetown with her husband, Vince.

On the week-ends Kitty can be found in a few places: on her porch, in her flower garden, at the Farmer’s Market, exploring a community, looking for antique/art treasures, or taking a country ride with her husband, Vince.

Mindy Woods-Click

Profession: 

Treasurer, Grayson Gallery & Art Center, Inc.

Five Words About Me:

Volunteer, organizer, advocate, leader, hard-worker

One Surprising Skill:

I know how to build a farm pond.

Mindy and her husband, Dan, operate the non-profit Grayson Gallery & Art Center, Inc., to provide a venue for the arts and a creative place for the community to flourish. She graduated with a degree in plant and animal sciences from the University of Kentucky and worked for the Department of Agriculture. She has been a volunteer in her community for the last 25 years, serving on the founding board of the Carter County Public Library; one of the last two counties in the state without a public library system, and went on to serve on the State Board of Library Trustees. Mindy also serves on the Carter County Community Fund Board, Grayson Tourism Commission, Grayson Planning & Zoning Commission, and Park Board.

Dan Click

Profession: 

Director, Grayson Gallery & Art Center, Inc. (GGAC)

Five Words About Me:

Creative, witty, dedicated, open-minded, caring

One Surprising Skill:

Drywall Finisher

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Dan was Born in Ashland, KY and attended Morehead State University on an Art Scholarship. He lived in Columbus, OH and worked for Federal Glass Company. Returning to Kentucky, I worked in residential/commercial construction. I began a career in insurance for a Kentucky-based company and later established the Dan Click Agency for Nationwide Insurance. I retired from Nationwide in 2002, worked as Agency Manager for another company and retired fully in 2011.

Volunteering for a community art gallery, I served on its Board of Directors, became board President and then Executive Director of the Ashland Area Art Gallery until it closed in 2006.

I married Mindy Woods in 2010 and moved to Grayson, KY. We created a “pop-up” art gallery in May, 2011, the Grayson Gallery & Art Center, which is supported by Grayson Tourism/City of Grayson.

As a member of the “What’s Next EKY” Steering Committee; we also plan to establish a “culture hub” in Grayson/Carter County, KY.

Cyndi Hall

Profession: 

Business Coach and Speaker

Five Words About Me:

Learner, connector, realistic optimist, harmony, passionate

One Surprising Skill:

Intuitive

Cyndi Hall formed Positive Impact, LLC in 2007  and is a member of the John Maxwell Team.  She works with businesses and entrepreneurs to cultivate an environment of leadership, success, harmony and well being.   This is accomplished through an ongoing, professional accountability relationship to develop and achieve professional career goals by helping to motivate and actively change daily practices and thoughts to reach those goals. Cyndi also owns and operates two other businesses, Ohh, Chai!, a family-recipe Kentucky Proud product as well as Chai Chats, which are small-group coaching sessions held in communities that focuses on goal setting, deepening awareness around key topics and taking action.

Mary Reed

Profession: 

Artist/Consultant

Five Words About Me:

Positive, enthusiastic, creative, vivacious, experienced

One Surprising Skill:

Organized

A self-employed craft artist since 1973 working in natural fibers. Participated in hundreds of shows both retail and wholesale and marketed throughout the U.S. and Europe.  An arts consultant working with groups and individuals on Board Development, Strategic Planning, Festival Planning, Booth Design, Wholesale vs. Retail, Pricing, and Marketing. An instructor of crafts to children K-8 and adults in schools and pulbic settings.  A Folklife Community Scholar who conducts oral interviews for local and state projects.  A community organizer and volunteer bringing people and groups together to make things happen.

Shannon Scott

Profession: 

Consultant

Five Words About Me:

Connector, learner, thinker, innovator, facilitator

One Surprising Skill:

Location scouting for movies

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Shannon Scott currently lives in Danville, Kentucky. She moved “home” to Kentucky after living in Atlanta for over 30 years. She has also lived in West Virginia and Michigan.Shannon loves to bring people, resources and ideas together to make things better. Whether as an active member of the community, helping small businesses with socialmedia and marketing, making photographs or writing, she looks for ways to be of service, engage her creativity, learn new things, and meet new people all whileusingher knowledge and skills.She is a learning and development professional,marketing and social mediaconsultant, writer and photographer.She has an MBA from Georgia State University and a B.S. in Management from Georgia Tech.

Max Hammond

Profession: 

Business and Community Development consultant

Five Words About Me:

Trailblazing, bona fide, Appalachian provocateur

One Surprising Skill:

Logging with mules

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Max Hammond is blessed and proud to be an Appalachian. A life-long horseman, he loves and lives on a six generation, Eastern Kentucky, hillside farm and cares for 24 head of Paso Fino horses and 2 mules.

Max developed the concept of “The Appalachian Horse Revival” which was presented to and adopted by Morehead State University. He is currently working as a community partner with Eastern Kentucky University on the Appalachian Horse Project. As President of the Olive Hill Council for Planning and Restoration, he founded, helped produce and hosted the first “ Trail Town Stage”, a live show, soon to be radio broadcast, that celebrates the range, depth and influence of mountain music and promotes the rich songwriting and storytelling heritage of our region. He also successfully promoted his hometown as a location for the filming of a motion picture. Max is currently spear heading the effort to establish a trail system centered in Eastern Kentucky that will honor the first Appalachians, the Native Americans.

Jake East

Profession: 

Executive Director, Appalachian Arts Alliance

Five Words About Me:

Calm, collected, frank, creative, playful

One Surprising Skill:

Small batch pickling and fermentation

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Jake East is an arts administrator and euphonium performing artist based in his hometown of Hazard, KY. He studied Music (Euphonium) and a Minor in Arts Entrepreneurship at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY. As a euphoniumist, he has performed internationally with the Morehead State University Symphony Band and the Kentucky Ambassadors of Music on tours of England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and China. where he was Principal Euphonium of the MSU Symphony Band and Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. He then served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Redbud Financial Alternatives, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a mission of providing financial education and equitable consumer lending. He is currently the Executive Director of Appalachian Arts Alliance, an organization with a mission of building access points for high quality arts education, arts entrepreneurial tools, and community centered programming in Eastern Kentucky.

Andrew Castle

Profession: 

Kentucky Valley Education Cooperative Student Agency Lead

Five Words About Me:

Dependable, hardworking, empathetic, open-minded, curious

One Surprising Skill:

Jack of all trades

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My name is Andrew Castle and I am the Student Agency lead at Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC). I have worked for KVEC for 5 years both in my current role and as an instructional technology lead. Prior to that I taught Physical Science in Johnson County, Kentucky. I am a lifelong resident of Eastern Kentucky; minus a few bouts of travel, college, and a few years in the Navy. My work for the past 5 years has required me to travel and work with community members, teachers, and students from all over East Kentucky. I’ve seen first hand what amazing schools, people, and youth we have in our region.

Vallorie Henderson

Profession: 

Textile artist and business development consultant

Five Words About Me:

Curious, intuitive, intentional, relaxed, and an extrovert

One Surprising Skill:

Ambidextrous

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A Kentucky native, Vallorie Henderson has created a blended career that includes the production and marketing of her own line of contemporary textile work as well as a variety of arts administration and business development positions over the past 30 years. Her work is represented in multiple private and corporate collections within the region. Previous employers include the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, The Speed Museum in Louisville and the Kentucky Arts Council. Vallorie has worked closely with fair trade organizations around the globe to assist artisans in developing market-ready products and to assure they are paid a living wage.

Currently, Vallorie is employed by the Louisville Small Business Development Center where she focuses on assisting creative entrepreneurs in developing and growing their businesses to new levels of success. In 2019, Louisville’s mayor, Greg Fischer, appointed Vallorie to serve on Louisville’s Commission for Public Art. Recently, Vallorie also began a three-year term on the board of directors for Louisville Visual Arts.

Constance Alexander

Profession: 

Poet/playwright/columnist/business consultant

Five Words About Me:

Facilitator, fixer, passion for the arts/humanities, community organizer, poet

One Surprising Skill:

Classically trained pianist

Website

KY Forward

With a range of creative writing skills, a substantial publication record, and list of clients who have benefited from her consulting skills, Constance Alexander is a tireless promoter of the arts as an engine for change. Through grants and fellowships, she has directed complex community arts projects, focusing on issues affecting under-served populations; e.g., adults with disabilities, LGBTQ college students, caregivers and the elderly. Her spoken opera, The Way Home, is performed around the country, with proceeds donated to causes like women’s health and the uninsured. A civic journalist, she has written an award-winning column for thirty years.

Laura Poulette

Profession: 

Artist

Five Words About Me:

Curious, adventurous, determined, authentic, enterprising, kind

One Surprising Skill:

I love designing buildings and interior spaces

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Laura Poulette paints contemporary botanical watercolors inspired by the native plants of Kentucky’s woods and meadows. Laura graduated from Berea College where she studied studio art. She has adjudicated into the Kentucky Crafted Program of the Kentucky Arts Council. Laura exhibits her art work throughout Kentucky, and her line of original art, greeting cards and prints is carried by 16 galleries and boutiques in the Southeast. She lives with her family in the hills outside of Berea, Kentucky.

Greta Slone

Profession: 

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Five Words About Me:

Lorem, Ipsum, Dolor, Sit, Amet.

One Surprising Skill:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

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Danny Isaacs

Profession: 

Regional Specialist, Central Kentucky
Tennessee Valley Authority

Five Words About Me:

Genuine, Practical, Thoughtful, Hopeful, Life Long Learner

One Surprising Skill:

I’m fairly analytical and will often ask lots of questions to develop a deeper understanding of things. In doing so I often help with individual perfect their ability to sell themselves and their ideas. 

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For over a decade my passion and work has been helping individuals make their business dreams become a reality. I’ve worked for community economic development nonprofits and local governments implementing programs designed to grow entrepreneurs and businesses. I currently work with communities helping get them ready for opportunities to grow their employment opportunities, and improve their quality of life. 

Robert Donnan

Profession: 

Community Development Consultant and singersongwriter.

Five Words About Me:

Intuitive, irreverent, creative, holistic, and chronosynclastic

One Surprising Skill:

To predict the future.

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Robert Donnan is an independent community and economic development consultant who focuses upon entrepreneurship, creative placemaking, and community/economic development initiatives in both metropolitan and rural locations. He is the Kentucky Coordinator for a three-state ARC POWER initiative called Energizing Entrepreneurial Communities, a collaboration among the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, the Brushy Fork Institute at Berea College, the national Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, and, in Kentucky, five coal-impacted communities which are developing community-based networks of support for local entrepreneurs. Robert also coaches individual entrepreneurs, conducts creative economy assessments, researches comparative case studies, facilitates community meetings, advises community-based initiatives, and facilitates strategic planning efforts for community-based and regional organizations.

Donna Daniels

Profession:

Director, Brushy Fork Institute and Aspiring Artist

Five Words About Me:

Pondering, learner, empathetic, intuitive, supportive

One Surprising Skill:

Tai Chi Sword Form and Fan Form—but I’m rusty now!

Brushy Fork
INstitute

Donna Daniels
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Donna Daniels serves as director of Brushy Fork Institute, a Strategic Initiative of Berea College. For the last three decades, she has worked in a variety of leadership and community development roles, including providing training and facilitation for communities and groups through Central Appalachia and spending a couple of years a principal planner for community infrastructure, affordable housing and homelessness programs in Clark County (Las Vegas), Nevada. Her experience and skills include workshop design, facilitation, communications, fundraising and reporting, research, planning, and program administration. Donna also paints in acrylic, watercolor, and oil, having been a member of juried groups and selling works in galleries and through an online platform. A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, Donna is a first generation graduate from Berea College. She lives in Berea, Kentucky, with her husband Gene.

Beth Flowers

Profession:

Executive Director of the AIR Institute

Five Words About Me:

Imaginative, big-picture-thinker, pragmatic-optimist, connector, planner

One Surprising Skill:

Squirrel whisperer and labyrinth designer 

Beth has more than twenty-five years of executive level experience with non-profits, governmental agencies, broadcast media, and the arts. She is a visionary thinker and a talented communicator. Beth has created messaging and strategies for victorious political candidates and issues, inspired citizen participation in government, managed public planning efforts, repositioned struggling organizations, and developed innovative programming that connects people. Beth is a national leader in the fields of arts professional development, community development, and entrepreneurship. As the creator and Director of the AIR Institute of Berea College, she is at the forefront of connecting artists and creatives to their communities in new ways that truly raise the value of art and creativity.

Beth is a voracious reader, cook, gardener, and singer. She had ten years of classical piano training and played in the 1983 Montreaux Jazz Festival with the University City High School Jazz Band. Beth is still working on a multi-generational novel about Midwestern women musicians and strives to understand string theory.