Class of 2025-2026
Meet the current Appalachian Leadership Institute Fellows.
The current class of 40 fellows represent a spectrum of sectors and experiences from across Appalachia’s 13 states. Each fellow brings a unique perspective on the region’s varied economic developmental challenges, opportunities and strategies. Together, they will lead Appalachia’s future.
New York
Robin Alpaugh
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Robin Alpaugh is a Certified Business Advisor with the Southern Tier Small Business Development Center hosted by Binghamton University. He previously worked in the New York State Senate, 52nd District as Director of Operations, ran for the NYS Assembly, and was the Executive Director of the United Way of Broome County. He has served as Deputy Regional Director at Empire State Development and Director of Alumni Affairs at SUNY Broome. He is a musician, film producer, car collector and an Eagle Scout.
Alabama
Christy Atkinson
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Christy Leach Atkinson is the Executive Director of Workshops Empowerment, Inc. in Birmingham, a 125-year-old nonprofit providing workforce development and social enterprise opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment. A retired public educator and first-generation college graduate from Walker County, she holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Samford University and advanced degrees in special education and counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has successfully completed advanced training in vocational evaluation at Auburn University. She is passionate about breaking cycles of poverty and expanding opportunity in Appalachia’s communities.
West Virginia
Amy Baker
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Amy Baker is the Vice President of Corporate Communications and Marketing for MVB, a position she has held since 2017. She previously worked in marketing and communications at Fairmont State University for 15 years. A resident of Nicholas County, she has represented the city of Richwood as part of Building Resilient Economies in Coalfield Communities, a program of the National Association of Counties and the WV Community Development Hub, and well as the Opportunity Appalachia initiative. She believes in the power of strategic storytelling to build connections and support community development in Appalachia.
North Carolina
Jazmyne Baylor
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Jazmyne Baylor is a Research & Instruction Librarian at Western Carolina University. Before joining academia, she spent nine years in public libraries across North Carolina and Virginia. She holds a BS in Communication Broadcasting and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education, both from Western Carolina University. She also holds an MLS from North Carolina Central University.
She is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and actively volunteers in her community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, yoga, hiking, attending concerts, and spending time with her two dogs, Sophie and Chester.
Mississippi
Abbie Bell
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Abbie Bell is a Project Manager with Three Rivers Planning & Development District in Pontotoc. She earned her MBA in Project Management from the University of North Alabama, following her bachelor’s degree from UNA and an associate degree from Itawamba Community College.
Deeply rooted in her home state, she takes pride in contributing to its growth and development. A dedicated lifelong learner, she also enjoys reading, traveling, attending concerts and music festivals, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Virginia
Jenny Bolte
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Jenny Bolte is the Executive Director of the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board in southwest Virginia. With nearly 30 years in workforce development, she has built strong partnerships and led award-winning initiatives that expand opportunity across the region. A proud Radford University alum with both a BS and MA in English, Jenny also writes Southern fiction and dreams of publication. Now empty-nesters, she and her husband enjoy a lively household of pets—from dogs and ducks to a potbelly pig and a Russian tortoise named Gaylord—while celebrating life with their four grown children.
Kentucky
Rachel Chambers
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Rachel Chambers is a Supervisory Community Liaison for Rural Partners Network- USDA Rural Development. Prior to her service with USDA-RD, her career focused on non-profit housing in rural east Kentucky serving as a program manager for two community-based housing non-profit entities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Eastern Kentucky University. She is a recipient of a USDA Rural Development Undersecretary’s Honor Award in 2023 and 2024 and the USDA Secretary’s Honor Award in 2023.
Alabama
Jori Chatman
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Jori Chatman is the Program Manager of Government and Community Relations – Alabama at Tennessee Valley Authority. where she has worked for nine years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Alabama, and a Women in Leadership certification from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is an active member of several organizations including Leadership Shoals Class 36, through Shoals Chamber of Commerce and the American Association of Blacks in Energy. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, spending quality time with her nephews, and serving her community.
Maryland
Melissa Clark
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Melissa Clark is the Associate Director of the Maryland Area Health Education Center West (AHEC West). In this role, she collaborates with national, regional, and local organizations as well as government entities to strengthen programs that address the needs of rural Appalachian communities in Maryland and West Virginia. A strong advocate for rural health, she oversees a broad portfolio, including the Western Maryland Health Insurance Connector Entity, Peer-to-Peer Court Judicial Services, and the Healthy Together Program. She has a BS from Frostburg State University and a MPA from Grand Canyon University.
Ohio
Marty Conley
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Marty Conley is the Director of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, where he is dedicated to fostering economic growth, supporting local businesses and promoting the region’s unique attractions. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Management from Ohio University Southern. Beyond his professional work, he enjoys sports and capturing moments through photography. He and his wife are the parents of four children and one granddaughter.
New York
Caitlin Croft
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Caitlin Croft is a real estate professional and Executive Director of the New York State Ski Racing Association. She runs the Ellicottville Farmers’ Market, has coached youth soccer, and champions programs that foster sustainable growth across Southern Western New York.
Kentucky
Gene Detherage, Jr.
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Gene Detherage, Jr. is the Advocacy Chair of National Alliance for Recovery Residences, Treasurer of Kentucky Alliance of Recovery Residences, and a Recovery Support Specialist at Bluegrass Area Development District. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Morehead State University and helped launch Kentucky’s Recovery Ready Communities initiative. He has advanced recovery housing through the HRSA Rural Center of Excellence and served as president of the Kentucky Recovery Housing Network Advisory Board. A lifelong Kentuckian from Knox County, has been in long-term recovery since 2014 and dedicates his career to addressing substance use disorder’s social and economic impacts.
Georgia
Jessica Dudley
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Jessica Dudley is the President and Chief Professional Officer of United Way of Hall County, a role she has held since 2019. Holding a Master of Social Work from Edinboro University, she has devoted her career to supporting families through roles with the Department of Family and Children Services, Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter, and a private mental health and substance abuse agency. She also directed the Two Georgia Initiative, a statewide effort to address rural health equity. She and her husband live in Hall County with their three children.
Pennsylvania
Sherry Dumire
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Sherry Dumire is the ARC/EDA Director at North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, where she partners with local governments and nonprofits to create locally-driven projects that enhance infrastructure, expand opportunity and maximize public resources. With more than a decade of experience, her work emphasizes stewardship, collaboration and local empowerment to help rural communities thrive. Outside of work, she enjoys historical fencing, reading and riding her motorcycle.
Tennessee
Noel Durant
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Noel Durant is the Tennessee State Director at the Trust for Public Land, where he leads a team of parks professionals who endeavor to connect everyone to the outdoors. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Crested Butte Land Trust in Crested Butte, Colorado. He has experience in park development, land management, trail building, and construction management. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four small kids on their small farm.
New York
Kimberly Ecklund
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Kimberly Ecklund is the 26th Mayor of the City of Jamestown. She previously served 20 years as a
City Council Member At-Large and spent 34 years as a Cost Accountant with Bush
Industries/eSolutions Furniture. She also serves as President & Public Relations Director of the Babe Ruth World Series Board. In her free time, she enjoys shopping, driving, and spending time with family and friends.
Tennessee
Katie Ellis
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Katie Ellis is the Appalachian Regional Lead for AgLaunch, where she leads farmer networks, deal flow, and opportunities across seven southern Appalachian states. Raised on her family’s Kentucky farm, her work connects farmers with tools to accelerate innovation, advance data use and drive economic development. During COVID, she managed a multi-million-dollar school nutrition program, improving rural food access. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.
Tennessee
Allen Foster
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Allen Foster is the Mayor of Cumberland County, Tennessee. Before being sworn-in as mayor in 2018, he served on the Cumberland County Board of Education from 2002 to 2006 and on the County Commission from 2010 to 2018. With a background in information technology, he has worked to expand broadband access, strengthen emergency services, and support regional utility partnerships that improve the quality of life for residents. He serves on the executive board of multiple organizations, including the Association of County Mayors. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Leadership, both from Tennessee Tech University.
New York
Kasie Foulk
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Kasie Foulk is the Deputy Director of Housing Policy and Development for the City of
Jamestown. She is dedicated to building and maintaining a strong community through a
collaborative approach and problem-solving mindset. She holds a BA in Sociology and a MA in Social and Public Policy with a certificate in Community Advocacy.
Georgia
Alex Harrison
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Alex Harrison is the Director of Parks and Recreation for Catoosa County, where he has expanded opportunities in tourism, events and sports. He is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional and member of the current cohort of the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Revenue Development and Management School. He served as the On-Field Operations Manager for Chattanooga Football Club and as Athletics and Facilities Administrator for the City of East Ridge, Tennessee. His work blends recreation leadership with economic development to strengthen his community through improved quality of life and economic vitality.
Virginia
Chelsey Hodge
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Chelsey Hodge is an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow with the International Economic Development Council, advancing rural economic development across Southwest and Western Virginia. She partners with communities to strengthen local economies and quality of life through initiatives such as small business development, childcare needs assessments, lodging studies, and tourism projects. She is also the Owner of Ascend with Purpose LLC, a small business dedicated to supporting rural communities through tailored development efforts. Chelsey holds an MS in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University and enjoys hiking, camping, and kayaking with friends and family.
West Virginia
Emily Hopta
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Emily Hopta is the director of digital and social media at the Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials, where she has worked since 2023. She previously led
communications and policy initiatives for the West Virginia Department of Health and
Human Resources across four gubernatorial administrations. Emily holds a BA from West
Virginia Wesleyan College and an MPA from the University of Massachusetts, and is an
alum of Leadership West Virginia. Outside of work, she serves on the board of the West
Virginia Symphony Orchestra and co-leads a middle and high school Girl Scout troop.
South Carolina
Joe Lanahan
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Joe Lanahan is the City Administrator for the city of Inman, where improving the comunity has been at the top of his priority list since 2020. He was raised in a family that led by example, and both of his grandfathers were pioneers in the areas of community engagement and public health. Their dedication and strong competitive nature cemented how Joe approaches his work.
Pennsylvania
Jenn Lasser
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Jenn Lasser is the Director of Workforce & Economic Development at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, a nine-county local development district. She directs a department that provides the region with small business support, comprehensive planning and grant technical assistance. She previously worked for CareerSource Brevard a Workforce Development Board, where she connected regional industries to workforce development services. She has a BA in History and Pre-Law from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a MA in Public Administration from University of Central Florida. She enjoys spending time traveling, fishing and swimming in the ocean.
South Carolina
Marc Metcalf
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Marc Metcalf is a Senior Project Manager at the South Carolina Power Team, the economic development organization representing South Carolina’s 19 electric cooperatives. He previously worked in regional economic development at the Upstate SC Alliance and in workforce development and employer engagement at Greenville Technical College. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from North Greenville University. He loves all things outdoors and enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.
Mississippi
Blake Neely
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Blake Neely is as Field Representative for United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith out of her Northern district office. In this role, he travels extensively throughout North Mississippi managing relationships in Mississippi’s entire ARC footprint. He previously spent three years working for United States Senator Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee covering the upper and lower Cumberland and South Central Tennessee area. He interacts regularly with business leaders, economic developers, local and state officials, and university leaders. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Mississippi.
Maryland
Connor Norman
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Connor Norman is a Business Development Specialist for Garrett County Government’s Department of Community Development. He works to support local businesses through development, expansion, retention, and strategic promotion. He fosters partnerships between county government, local municipalities, and private enterprises to drive sustainable economic growth across the region. He is recognized as the “Voice of Garrett County” for his nearly decade-long presence on local radio.
Virginia
Jen Otey
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Jen Otey is an Outdoor Recreation Development Manager at Friends of Southwest
Virginia. She previously spent ten years in public education, where
she developed and instructed STEM curricula for middle school students. Before
transitioning to teaching, she was an architectural project manager for fifteen years.
Additionally, Jen has been a small business owner for twenty-five years, producing and
selling artwork and offering classes to individuals of all ages. In 2023, she co-founded a
nonprofit organization, Forge Appalachia, dedicated to preserving traditional craft and
providing accessible classes and events led by regional makers, regardless of
participants’ financial means.
North Carolina
Becky Pearson
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Becky Pearson is the Foundation Director at Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson. She previously worked in nonprofit development with organizations including United Way, Salvation Army, Children’s Miracle Network, and the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities. Raised in an Air Force family, she is a graduate of Texas A&M University. She enjoys exploring new places and learning about other cultures.
Pennsylvania
Marwin Reeves
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Marwin Reeves is the pastor of Christ Community Worship Center, Inc and the owner of LIFE Child Care Learning Center. He previously worked as the Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator for Lycoming & Clinton Counties and for the Federal Bureau of Prisons at USP Lewisburg and USP Allenwood. He has a BA in Criminal Justice Administration from Mansfield University and an M.Div from Urshan Graduate School of Theology. He and his wife have two children and seven grandchildren. He enjoys reading, writing, exercising, nature, and working on DIY projects.
West Virginia
Cassidy Riley
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Cassidy Riley is Chief Program Officer at Coalfield Development. She leads programs that create career pathways and hands-on training opportunities, helping people in coal-impacted communities build brighter futures while strengthening local economies. She previously worked with rural governments on infrastructure and economic development, gaining a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Appalachia. She holds a Master of Public
Administration from Marshall University, where she focused on nonprofit management and
rural capacity building.
West Virginia
Gary Roberts
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Gary Roberts is a Nicholas County Commissioner, where he focuses on accountability, infrastructure, and community well-being. He serves on the County Commissioners’ Association of West Virginia, representing his district. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and 1990 graduate of Richwood High School, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and earned his Master of Public Administration from Marshall University. A proud father of three, he remains committed to building stronger communities across West Virginia.
North Carolina
Thomas Salley
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Thomas Salley is the Tourism Director for Wilkes County. He previously worked at Raffaldini Vineyards, where he advanced guest experience and marketing, helping earn national recognition from Wine Business Monthly and Southern Living. Regionally, Thomas serves as networking chair for the Southeast Tourism Society and on boards including NCTIA, Blue Ridge Parkway Association, and Yadkin Valley Heritage Corridor. Locally, he supports community groups from youth development to health initiatives. He enjoys fixing things, the outdoors, and time with his wife, daughters, and cats.
Ohio
Evan Scurti
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Evan Scurti is the Economic Development Director at the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association where he guides the comprehensive economic develoment strategy plannin process and provides grant writing services throughout the 10-county region. He previously led several local development organizations and earned the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation in 2009. He was elected as an Ohio Economic Development Association Board Member in 2025.
Mississippi
Philip Shackelford
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Philip Shackelford is the Executive Director and CEO of the Lee-Itawamba Library System. He previously served as Library Director at South Arkansas College, as well as President of the Arkansas Library Association and Associate Editor of the Arkansas Libraries journal. He is currently President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Tupelo and serves as an Ambassador with the Community Development Foundation-Tupelo Chamber of Commerce. He is a military historian, and his book “Rise of the Mavericks: The U.S. Air Force Security Service and the Cold War”, was released in 2023.
Tennessee
Josh Smith
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Josh Smith is the Director of Consumer Advocacy for Ballad Health, a not-for-profit integrated
health system serving Southern Appalachia in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky. He previously worked for 30 years in broadcast journalism and was the evening news anchor at WJHL-TV in the Tri-Cities. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He and his wife have 3 children.
Kentucky
Tyler Stapp
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Tyler Stapp is the Chief Operating Officer at Pineville Community Health Center, where he leads daily operations and strategic initiatives to improve rural healthcare. He has overseen projects that expanded services, created jobs, and launched specialty units. A former epilepsy patient who underwent a craniotomy at 16 and is now seizure free, Tyler is passionate about expanding access to care in rural areas. He holds degrees from Somerset Community College and the University of the Cumberlands. Outside of work, he enjoys boating, traveling, and time with his mini goldendoodle.
Ohio
Jenna Stewart
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Jenna Stewart is a Career Pathway Specialist with Building Bridges to Careers, where she
helps students align their aptitudes and interests with local career pathways. She previously
served as a Site Director with the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, leading programs
that supported youth development and community connection. Across her roles, Jenna has
focused on building relationships, fostering opportunity and preparing the next generation to
thrive. She is passionate about linking education and workforce development to strengthen both
students and her community.
West Virginia
Jess Stidham
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Jess Stidham serves as Program Director for West Virginia University’s WISER program, where she leads initiatives that connect applied research with regional priorities in economic transition across Central Appalachia. With more than a decade of experience in higher education, she has
launched statewide programs, advanced institutional strategies, and built collaborations
that strengthen communities and institutions alike. At the heart of her work is a
commitment to Appalachian resilience and translating vision into action. She holds an MA from WVU and a BA from NCC, and enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and son.
Alabama
Mary-Marshall VanSant
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Mary-Marshall VanSant is Director of the Center for Learning and Professional Development at the University of North Alabama, where she also oversees the Agile Strategy Lab. Since 2014, she has been engaged with Strategic Doing, serving as a Certified Workshop Leader and Fellow, leading trainings and workshops nationally and internationally. She also serves as Chief Doing Officer for the Shoals Shift Pathfinder Project, advancing digitally driven industries, and is a certified AEM-Cube practitioner. She was previously Vice President at the Shoals Chamber of Commerce.
Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni
Since 2019, nearly 240 Appalachians have gradated from ARC’s Appalachian Leadership Institute. After traveling the region, learning important capacity building skills and getting to know fellow Appalachians, these leaders will continue to take lessons learned back to their communities to strengthen Appalachia.
Contact Us
Contact us by phone at 202.884.7700 or via email at leadership@arc.gov.