Appalachian Leadership Institute (Class of 2023-2024)

Alabama

Kenny Anderson

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Kenny Anderson is a nationally certified counselor with over forty years of experience in the mental health profession. In 2013, Kenny was appointed Multicultural Affairs Officer for the City of Huntsville by Mayor Battle which has since transitioned to the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in August 2021 to respond to the needs of an increasingly diverse community. In 2018, Kenny launched Leadership Empowerment Enterprise, a 501©(3). As Executive Director, he provides strategic initiatives to ensure that effective legacies are established for future generations through personal development seminars, mentor training and philanthropy. In 2023, he launched the “Mother Earnestine Fletcher Tibbs Memorial Scholarship” for social work students attending Alabama A&M University. He currently serves on the boards of Partnership for a Drug Free Community, First Stop, Inc., the Community Free Dental Clinic, Better Business Bureau of North Alabama, The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship and Phoenix.

New York

Joshua Bacigalupi

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Joshua Bacigalupi is the Superintendent of Schools for the Dryden Central School District. Prior to accepting this position in 2018, he served as an Assistant Principal and Principal in the Cortland Enlarged City School District and the Dryden Central School District as well as a Kindergarten, Second, and Third Grade Teacher in Virginia, New York, and South America. Bacigalupi also a combat veteran having served in the US Army National Guard as an Infantry soldier in New York’s 27th INF Brigade and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 to support combat operations, earning the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Bacigalupi has a BA in Elementary Education and American Studies and an M.Ed from the University of Mary Washington as well as a C.A.S in Educational Leadership from SUNY Cortland. Bacigalupi lives with his partner and their three children Miles, Cate, and Jack in Upstate New York. Bacigalup is proud to be a part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute Class of 2024.

Maryland

Kathy Beachler

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As executive director of the Garrett County Arts Council, Kathy Beachler, works to support the arts (visual arts, music, dance, theatre, literary arts and culinary arts), artists, artisans and rural entrepreneurs in her community. A College of Wooster graduate, Kathy has enjoyed working in arts administration at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Smithsonian Institution, Arts Education Partnership, Arts Every Day, and Kirkland Performance Center. Kathy, her husband, and two boys moved to Garrett County in 2015, so they could open a local eatery and enjoy small town life by the lake while nestled in the mountains.

Mississippi

Suzy Bowman

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Suzy Bowman is the Ecosystem Coordinator for Accelerate Mississippi, the State Office of Workforce Development. Prior to Accelerate, Suzy served as a career coach in North Mississippi, guiding youth on a mission to Expose, Prepare, and Connect students to high demand career pathways, a model that now has expanded state-wide. Suzy loves tennis and is an 8-time State Champion high school tennis coach and Southern Section Coach of the Year. She serves on the Commission for the Future of Northeast MS and is Education Chair for Junior Auxiliary. She is married to her husband Bo. They have two sons, Bradyn, and Brace.

Pennsylvania

Amy Camp

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Amy Camp, owner of Cycle Forward, is a trails and tourism consultant who helped launch the nationally recognized Trail Town Program® in 2007. She went on to establish Cycle Forward and is now celebrating 10 years in business. She supports local leaders and communities in trail town development, strengthening heritage tourism, and bolstering the outdoor recreation economy. Amy has consulted and led workshops throughout Appalachia, the Rust Belt, and other locations in the U.S. and Canada. Her book, Deciding on Trails, details the history of the Trail Town movement and recommends best practices for trail communities. Amy served on the Board of American Trails from 2012-17, and now serves on the Board of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. She is an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation. Amy earned her Master of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she first grew to love communities and began her work to help improve them.

Kentucky

Jordan Campbell

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Jordan Campbell is an award-winning actor, educator, and an emerging leader in the global arts & culture sector. Originally from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, he is proud to be back in his hometown leading the Gateway Regional Arts Center, leveraging artistic and cultural programming to strengthen communities in rural Appalachia. Jordan has performed in U.S. & international Broadway tours, at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, and the Grand Ole Opry. Jordan also worked on Arts & Cultural issues at the White House during the Obama Administration. Jordan holds an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BFA in Musical Theatre & BA in Political Science from Western Kentucky University.

Tennessee

Brad Collett

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Brad Collett is Director of the Tennessee RiverLine, an initiative of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. Under his leadership, regional partners collaborate to realize the vision for North America’s next great regional trail system and the benefits it promises future generations. Brad is a professor in the UT Department of Plant Sciences, and a licensed landscape architect. He has a BS from the University of Tennessee and a MLA from The Ohio State University. He and his wife and two children live in Knoxville, TN. They love traveling, playing golf and volleyball, and paddling the Tennessee RiverLine!

Ohio

Amanda Crabtree

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Amanda Crabtree is VP, Marketing Director for Vinton County National Bank headquartered in McArthur, Ohio. A graduate of Ohio Northern University, she holds a BA in Public Relations. Her 25-year career includes various positions in human resources, public relations, marketing and media. Although her professional roles have changed throughout the years, the thing that hasn’t changed is her love of community. An avid volunteer, she and her husband raised their four boys in Jackson, Ohio. When not working or volunteering, she enjoys outdoor activities that allow her to appreciate the beauty her Appalachian environment provides.

New York

Vincent DeJoy III

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Vincent DeJoy III is the Director of Planning and Development for the City of Dunkirk, and served in the same position in the City of Jamestown for seven years. A major achievement during his tenure is having been awarded two NY Downtown Revitalization Initiative to his respective city’s. DeJoy served five years on Jamestown City Council where he developed many relationships with members of Congress and governors of New York. Prior to public service, he represented pharmaceutical and imaging medical practices in marketing and relations. Vince’s interests include culinary creations as a former restauranteur and boating on Chautauqua Lake

Kentucky

Eric Dixon

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Eric Dixon is a senior researcher at Ohio River Valley Institute, where he works on economic and environmental policy in Appalachia and beyond. His recent research concentrates on labor issues in the reclamation industry and disaster recovery in Kentucky. Previously, Eric was an organizer and policy advocate at Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, where he focused on black lung and testified before Congress on policy related to fossil fuel cleanup. He previously served on the board of the Highlander Center, where he began his career as an Appalachian Transition Fellow.

North Carolina

Amanda Hall

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Dr. Amanda Hall is the Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at Western Carolina University. Dr. Hall is a first-generation college graduate and proud Appalachian from the coal fields of Eastern KY.  She holds a BS degree in Environmental Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MS degree in Environmental Education from NOVA Southeastern University, and a PhD in Education-Curriculum, Culture, and Change from Virginia Commonwealth University.  She has spent the past 18+ years in Richmond, VA – 10 years as a middle school Earth Science teacher and 8+ years at Virginia Commonwealth University within the Division of Community Engagement and School of Education. Prior to her tenure in Richmond, VA, Dr. Hall worked for the US Forest Service and Virginia State Parks in Southwest VA.  She has recently relocated to the mountains of Western NC, returning to her Appalachian roots and proudly serving Western Carolina University and the surrounding communities. 

West Virginia

Summer Hartley

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Dr. Summer Hartley is a leader in population health, recognized for her instrumental role in developing West Virginia’s first nationally recognized public health institute, the WVU Health Affairs Institute. Under her guidance, the institute has become a vital support system for West Virginia’s Departments of Health and Human Services, driving innovative health initiatives and fostering stronger state-university collaborations. Dr. Hartley’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University, a Master in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, and a PhD from the University of Miami. Her career is distinguished by her dedication to improving health services for vulnerable populations both domestically and internationally, along with her significant contributions as a health scientist and Public Health Prevention Service Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Currently, Dr. Hartley serves as the president of Hartley Health Solutions, a West Virginia-based consulting organization that addresses population health at the intersection of systems and communities. In this role, she continues to innovate by piloting a novel rural health service delivery model in collaboration with WVU Medicine and local public health departments throughout West Virginia. Her extensive experience includes building state-university partnerships at multiple universities, holding faculty appointments in nursing and public health, and providing strategic direction in health policy and prevention. Dr. Hartley’s work remains focused on enhancing health outcomes and accessibility for underserved populations.

Maryland

Stephanie Hutter-Thomas

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Dr. Stephanie Hutter-Thomas is the Director for the BIRCH Project at WVU School of Medicine; Founder & CEO of Appalachian Recovery Concepts, LLC; and Co-Investigator for the recovery workforce initiative Mountain Maryland Forward, in partnership with University of Maryland Center for Substance Use, Addiction and Health Research (UMD CESAR). She is a member of the UMD IRIS Leadership Committee, the Opioid Research Consortium of Central Appalachia (ORCCA), the Studies To Advance Recovery Support (STARS) network; and serving her second commissioner-appointed term with the Allegany County Mental Health Advisory Council (MD).

West Virginia

Jennifer Justice

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Jennifer Justice is the Executive Director of the McDowell County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Secretary of the McDowell County Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of the Friends of the Tug Fork River. Jennifer’s job is to promote tourism for McDowell County, assist in advertising local businesses and events, and showcasing all that McDowell County has to offer. Jennifer has lived in McDowell County most of her life. Jennifer has a Regents bachelor’s degree from Bluefield State College. Jennifer is married to Doug, has two daughters, Andrea, and Emilea and three grandchildren, Cambree, Eli and Addisyn.

North Carolina

Justin Kearley

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Justin Kearley is a native of Western North Carolina. Born in Asheville and living in Boone, he has a deep connection to the mountains he calls home. His professional experience includes health education, research, community health work, and teaching. In his current role, Justin works for the NC Office of Rural Health as a Rural Health Operations Specialist. Justin holds a B.S. of Public Health degree from Appalachian State University and a Master of Public Health degree from East Tennessee State University. In his free time, Justin enjoys teaching spin classes, working in the garden, and adventuring outdoors.

Alabama

Paul Kennedy

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Paul Kennedy is the President of the Walker Area Community Foundation in Jasper, AL. The Foundation strives to foster philanthropy and to nurture and advance nonprofits addressing critical needs in the Walker County Area. As President, Kennedy also works closely with regional and state philanthropy organizations and nonprofit associations to learn and to return better business models to the nonprofits at work in Walker. He acquired a BS in Forestry and Natural Resource Management from N.C. State University, worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Proctor and Gamble, and private practice forestry before joining the Natural Resources Conservation Service and investing the last 14 of his 23 years of federal service starting and operating a multi-county nonprofit in the Birmingham Metro Area. In 2007 Kennedy joined the Walker Area Community Foundation as its Executive Director, and became President in 2009. Since joining, the foundation has grown from $10MM and one Advised Fund to more than $120MM and more than 40 Advised Funds. Annually the foundation grants more than $3MM to over 100 – 501.c.3 nonprofits. The foundation works with those nonprofits along with local, state, and federal representatives year-round to create a more vibrant and healthy community.

Mississippi

Case Knight

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Case Knight is the North Mississippi Field Representative for U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. Previously, Case was the Campaign Director for the United Way of Northeast Mississippi and helped raise over $2.4 million for non-profits. Before moving back to his home state, Case worked in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Department of Energy on the staff of Secretary Rick Perry and as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Energy Steve Winberg. Case received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and is a current graduate student at Mississippi State University. Case, and his wife Ashley, reside in Saltillo, MS.

Kentucky

Jacqueline Kohl-Hamilton

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Dr. Jacqueline Hamilton teaches English at Eastern Kentucky University and serves as executive director of Why We Write Inc., a non-profit emphasizing writing, listening, and theatre skills to Central Kentucky students. She travels across the Commonwealth with the Kentucky Humanities Council portraying two different Chautauqua characters—mountain educator Alice Lloyd and alphabet mystery novelist Sue Grafton. Her doctorate project from Morehead State University focused on effective listening practices. As a Rotary Foundation Journalism Fellow, she studied abroad in London, England. A resident of Winchester, Kentucky, Jacqueline enjoys spending free time in the outdoors with her beloved husband George.

West Virginia

Jennifer Light

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Dr. Jennifer Light serves as the Program Director of Industrial Technologies at Allegany College of Maryland’s Western Maryland Works Training Center and Makerspace. Her career has covered a variety of fields including strategic planning, Main Street America initiatives, grant writing, and now academic programming where she connects industry employers with educational programs at her college. She received her Ph.D. in Human and Community Development from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech. An avid traveler and planner, Jennifer is a lifelong resident of Appalachia where she resides with her husband, Nathan, and daughters, Caroline and Annie.

Pennsylvania

Betsy Lockwood

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Betsy received a bachelor’s degree in 1994 from Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA.  For 3 years she was employed in private industry in technical support and project management.  Since 1997 she has been a member of the SEDA-COG staff where her duties center on project development and project management. She is a graduate of Leadership Susquehanna Valley and completed the Economic Development Course sponsored by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).  Betsy has her Professional Economic Development Certification from the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) for FY 2022-2023. She resides in Selinsgrove with her husband John, and son Ethan.

Tennessee

Jeff Mason

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Jeff Mason is the County Mayor of Smith County Tennessee. Jeff is starting his sixth year as mayor. Prior to moving into public service Jeff was in the manufacturing sector for over 20 years. He worked as a tool and die maker before transitioning into manufacturing sales. Jeff and his wife are lifelong residents and raise their three children in Smith County. Amanda, his wife of 23 years, is a former public educator and now works in the Ed tech industry. Maggie, his oldest daughter achieved an accounting degree from Tennessee Tech and is currently pursuing her masters in accounting. McKenzie is a Jr at Tennessee Tech majoring in Agriculture Business. His son Jax is currently in the 4th grade. Aside from spending time with his family Jeff is an Avid golfer and rabid fan of the University of Tennessee sports teams.

Tennessee

Susan McKinney

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Susan McKinney is the Executive Director at Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council, where she oversees the daily operations of the organization. Her work includes development of agricultural programs, sustainability of local food systems, economic development, youth environmental education, as well as conservation of farmlands and natural resources. Susan has a Master of Public Administration degree from East Tennessee State University in Nonprofit Management, is a graduate of Leadership Johnson City, and is a graduate of Appalachian Regional Commission’s Ready Nonprofit in Fundraising and in Financial Management. Susan is also an artist, enjoys cycling, triathlon, and other outdoor activities.

Georgia

Jason Mock

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Jason Mock is a dedicated leader who has spent the past 18 years building meaningful relationships between businesses and communities. As President & CEO of the Greater Dalton Chamber, he tirelessly works to create a better future for his local community and region. Jason’s impressive work as a chamber leader has extended beyond Georgia. He has served as President & CEO of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce in Texas and as the Director of Small Business Services for the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce in Cumming, Georgia. Jason Mock studied Political Science at the University of West Georgia.

West Virginia

Mary Newlyn

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Mary Francisco Newlyn is the Executive Director of the WV Hope in Action Alliance, a statewide coalition addressing mental health and substance use disorder. Newlyn’s career has focused on advocacy, community coalitions, interpersonal violence prevention education, and substance use intervention/prevention. She has worked in VA and WV in government, higher education, and non-profit organizations. Newlyn holds a MA in human rights practice from the University of Arizona and a BS in political science from Shenandoah University. Newlyn resides in Winchester, VA and enjoys attending comedy and music shows, spending quality time with family and friends, and travelling.

West Virginia

Kalyn Obiozor-Dorey

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Kalyn Obiozor-Dorey joined the West Virginia Community Development Hub full-time in 2022 after serving as The Hubs Racial Equity Fellow through Generation West Virginia’s Impact Fellowship program in August 2021. during her fellowship, Kalyn worked alongside The Hub’s community coaching team to better serve systemically underserved people and communities in West Virginia and support integrated diversity, equity, inclusion & accessibility planning, and implementation across all Hub programs. In her new role as a Community Coaching Associate and racial equity program lead, Kalyn leads the racial equity strategic planning, moves forward with The Hub’s diversity, equity, and inclusion organizational goals, and coaches’ communities. Her prior professional experience includes ten years supporting secondary public schools’ at-risk youth in career engagement, workforce development, and building resiliency through trauma-informed skill development. She graduated from Marshall University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Master in non-profit management. Kalyn enjoys serving on several community boards and traveling with her husband and two sons.

Virginia

Annette Patterson

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Annette Patterson serves as President of the Advancement Foundation, a nonprofit she founded in 2007 to advance her passion for business and community development. Prior to the Foundation, Annette served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Salem Academy and College in Winston Salem North Carolina and Chief Development Officer at Stetson University in DeLand Florida. Under her leadership, TAF developed Virginia’s Largest Business Program and Competition, The Gauntlet, which has served nearly 1000 entrepreneurs, leveraged the expertise of over 300 industry experts as mentors, and has captured over $8 million in resources to support business and community development. TAF has served as an ecosystem leader in the discovering of early stage, high growth potential innovators across Virginia, nearly 100 innovators have been identified and received significant supported services to explore growth and commercialization. The Foundation provides training, resources development and placemaking support to foster more high growth company development. TAF is leveraging key community designations such as Opportunity Zone, to attract investors, and enhance companies position in winning contracts through HUB and Tech Zone designations. The Advancement Foundation engineers’ opportunities for business development by leveraging support programs, resource development with a focus on engaging partners in collaborations that increase capacity and sustainability of the ecosystem of support. As a trusted strategic partner, TAF is recognized as Ecosystem leader for initiating strong collaborations with 75+ communities, resources agencies, governmental leaders and private and public funding agencies including DHCD, VHDA, USDA and others.

North Carolina

Michael Pesant

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Michael Pesant joined the Dogwood Health Trust’s Community Investment team in 2021, after 15 years spent in the direct provision and management of behavioral health and substance use treatment programs. Michael’s introduction to behavioral health work began as a field guide in a local wilderness therapy program, an experience that hooked him on the power of relationship-based change. He’s since delivered services to children and adults in a variety of settings, including community, educational, hospital and criminal justice-based treatment. Michael is licensed as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) in the state of North Carolina.

Georgia

Pam Powers-Smith

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Pam Powers-Smith is the President of the Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce after serving as Director of Business and Industry when moving to Georgia in 2020. She has served several years in Alabama in a variety of roles including Chamber work, Downtown Development and Tourism. She has a BA in Public Relations and Political Science as well as an MBA – all from Auburn University. She is a dessert enthusiast, house plant executioner and is also one of ‘those’ dog owners that will gladly tell you about her Great Pyrenees, Bull, if only you will ask.

Pennsylvania

Jamelle Price

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Jamelle Price is the External Relations Manager in the Office of Strategy and Business Development at the University of Pittsburgh McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. He is charged with overseeing all aspects of the institute’s marketing, communications, external relations, and government relations efforts. He focuses on strategy development and execution of a comprehensive marketing communications plan to highlight the institute’s research, faculty, students, staff, and programs to key constituencies. Jamelle holds a BA in Social Sciences and an MBA from Waynesburg University and MS in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University.

New York

Ray Pucci

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Ray Pucci is optimistic about the future of the Catskill Mountains. Throughout his over thirty-year career working with regional nonprofit, education, government, and business groups, Ray has demonstrated a straight-forward approach coupled with strategic thinking that has contributed to his reputation as an honest partner and advocate. During his two tenures as president of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce–in the late-1990s and today–Ray has initiated successful efforts to re-brand the Catskill Mountains to new audiences of visitors. Understanding that environmental stewardship, agriculture, natural resources, and main street retail development contribute to regional promotion, Ray continues to facilitate connections among business owners, government, advocacy groups, and residents to create a shared future for the Catskills.

Tennessee

Nicole Riggs Broesch

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Nicole Riggs Broesch, Claiborne County Tennessee native, is the driving force behind fern+daisy—a sustainable US-made women’s apparel brand. With a B.S. in Apparel, Textiles, and Design, coupled with a minor in Communications from Bob Jones University, Nicole spent seven years refining her expertise in the apparel industry in the Upstate of South Carolina and Western North Carolina as a designer. Now calling Knoxville, TN home, she combines her passion for creativity with a dedication to rural community upliftment, employing her brand to empower marginalized women in Central Appalachia. As the founder of fern+daisy, Nicole’s mission is to invigorate her community through innovative industry approaches and cultivate new avenues of economic diversity. In her free time she loves to craft, bake, travel, and serve within the Knox County Correctional Center, her local church, and East Tennessee 4-H.

West Virginia

Jona Rinard

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Jona Rinard has worked in education for over 23 years. She has served in the capacity of district administration, elementary principal, middle school assistant principal, and middle school teacher. In 2016, Jona earned her doctorate in Comparative and International Educational Leadership from Ohio University. Currently she serves as the Dean of Transfer and Public Services at Washington State Community College in Marietta, OH. In that role, she oversees the general education transfer courses as well as Education Transfer, Criminal Justice, the Peace Officer Basic Academy and Social Services. She was recently certified as a Gallup Strengths Coach and uses that knowledge to facilitate professional development for coworkers on campus as well as individuals within the community. Jona has a passion for education and helping individuals unlock their own potential whether they are kindergarten students entering a building for the first time or an adult learner taking that step to return to education. Being a support for those who want to learn and grow is something which she believes is her role and responsibility as the Dean of Transfer and Public Service. When not on campus, you can find Jona at home with her husband, two bonus children and pets. She enjoys time in the garden or Cricut room.

Pennsylvania

Daniel Rossi-Keen

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Daniel Rossi-Keen is the Executive Director of RiverWise. RiverWise exists to organize community power and voice so that all people, organizations, and communities in Beaver County, Pennsylvania can thrive. Daniel is also the owner of eQuip Books, a social enterprise which is the only remaining brick and mortar bookstore in Beaver County. He has served on the boards of over thirty nonprofit and civic organizations, teaches regularly at colleges and universities around the region, and writes a bi-weekly column for the Beaver County Times entitled “Community Matters.” Daniel holds a PhD in Rhetoric and Philosophy of Communication from Ohio University.

New York

Joseph Sellepack

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Joseph Sellepack is the executive director of the Broome County Council of Churches, a position he has held since 2007. He has also served congregations in Iowa and New York and as a resident director of a homeless shelter in Michigan. He and his wife Shelly have two children: Audrey who is engaged to be married and living in Buffalo and Daniel who is married and living in Albany. Joe placed Fifth in a CASI chili competition and qualified for nationals by winning the Showmanship Award. He is an avid hiker, Rotarian, and bird watcher.

Ohio

Chris Shaffer

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Chris Shaffer is the director of government relations and public policy at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio. He was also a director of research, grants, and operations. Chris served in the administration of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, first as the operations manager in the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, then as the ARC program manager, and finally as the interim state alternate. Chris is a 2002 West Point grad, an OIF combat veteran, and active in veteran projects. Two governors appointed him to the state board for service, ServeOhio. He is married to Amy and has two children.

South Carolina

Brandy Singleton

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Brandy Singleton is the Executive Director/CEO of PlaySafe USA. Her passion for the community helps to further the PlaySafe USA mission and growth throughout South Carolina and Georgia. She serves on local and state boards for multiple organizations and is committed to the betterment of our region. Mrs. Singleton was recently awarded an Executive Certification in The Nonprofit Financial Stewardship Program, JFK School of Government at Harvard University. Mrs. Singleton has been recognized as a 2023 Woman of Influence by GSA Business Report and is an Alumni of the American Express Leadership Academy. Mrs. Singleton is married with 4 boys.

Kentucky

Candace Tingen

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Candace Tingen believes in the transformational power of storytelling and the importance of sharing stories to build connections, community, and a stronger future for all; including those who haven’t historically had the opportunity to share their own stories. She is a copywriter and digital marketing expert with extensive experience helping small businesses and non-profits tell their stories and connect to their target audience. An East Coast transplant with strong family roots in Appalachia, Candace is enamored with the community she’s found in Southeast Kentucky and looks forward to continuing to contribute to the area’s continued growth and development.

Ohio

Bailey Venzin

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Bailey Venzin is the Executive Director of Hocking Hills Chamber of Commerce, fostering business growth in southeastern Ohio. She owns Hocking Hills Property Group, excelling in real estate investment and management. As a Venture In Real Estate agent, she guides property transactions. A Hocking College Board Trustee and active community member, Bailey supports Hocking Hills Tourism, Community Revitalization, and more. Her dedication extends to volunteering with After School Summer Feeding, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, and various events like Hocking Hills Trail Run. Bailey’s multifaceted contributions showcase her commitment to community betterment and entrepreneurial mentorship.

South Carolina

Will Westmoreland

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Will Westmoreland serves in the South Carolina Army National Guard as the future requirements planner for the 263d Army Air and Missile Defense Command. He joined the South Carolina Army National Guard in 2004 and has been with the 263d Army Air and Missile Defense Command’s full-time staff since 2012. Before joining the full-time staff, he worked as a staff accountant with Bradshaw, Gordon, and Clinkscales Accounting firm in Greenville, SC. He holds an MBA from Charleston Southern University, and a BS in business administration from The Citadel. He resides in Landrum, SC with his wonderful wife and seven kids.

Alabama

Jesslan Wilson

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Jesslan Wilson is the Director of Economic Development at the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, a Local Development District serving Central Alabama. In this role, she works directly with communities in her service area to develop projects, create grant proposals, and build local capacity. Jesslan is a lifelong Appalachian, and she grew up in Northeast Alabama. She is a graduate of Jacksonville State University, where she received a BA in Political Science, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she completed her MPA. Jesslan is also a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) through the National Development Council.

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Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni

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