Directory

Board and Directors

Gary’s entrepreneurial pursuits have included real estate, marketing, and financial advising.  Gary studied at the University of Louisville... 

 Kelley joined TH in June 2017.  She is the 9th Executive Director of Thorn Hill.  She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a ... 

Currently working As Secretary/Treasurer of Alton Christian Church, as well as offering financial services to assist entrepreneurs... 

President and Founder of the Cyclones Foundation, Coach Malik is a graduate of Sullivan University. 

Michael has a long career in Training, Technical Support and Customer Service in the fields of Animation, Printmaking, Architecture ... 

Allen has a unique background of technical and cultural innovation centered on the creation of collaborative spaces for community-focused ... 

Advisory Board

Sarah Booe

Board Co-ChairMarketing and Social Media Life:
  • Frankfort native
  • Aspiring world traveler
  • Professional coffee drinker

Education:
  • BBA, Marketing & Management, University of Kentucky

Work:
  • Operations Manager at Rebecca Ruth Candy

Roni Robinson

Board Co-ChairCommunity Ties

Avery Young

Music and Writing
Life:
  • Born and Raised in Detroit, MI 
  • DJ, Emcee & Music Producer 
  • A&R for Rise the Mag 
  • Lover of Music, Pop Culture & Aquatic Animals  

Education:
  • KSU: Bachelor of Arts - English, Focus in Creative Writing  
  • KSU: Master of Public Administration; Focus in International Development  

Work: 
  • Academia (Secondary & Post-Secondary) 
  • State Government 
  • Creative Writing Consultant 
  • Music & Entertainment Consultant

Diana Peters

Community Relations
 Life:
  • Current volunteer at the Paul Sawyier Library bookstore
  • Kiwanis member
  • Serve on Friends of the Library Board
  • Art lover

Education:
  • Western Kentucky University  B.A. degree
  • Kentucky State University  Master's Degree in Public Administration   

Work:
  • Taught 8th grade CORE at Waggoner Junior High, Louisville, Kentucky
  • Worked in state government for 34 years
  • Sold advertising for Capital Living

Arlene Crabtree

Education
Life:
  • Married to Greg Crabtree
  • 3 children
  • 2 grandchildren 
  • Current resident of Woodford County, process of moving to Switzer

Education:
  • Undergraduate: Secondary Math Education, University of Kentucky
  • Masters: Master of Arts in Education-Teacher Leader, Georgetown College
  • Rank 1: Master of Arts in Education-School Improvement, Georgetown College

Work:
  • Frankfort Independent Schools, 7 years
    • Currently:
      • District Technology Integration Specialist
      • Career Tech Ed Leader
      • Student Council Sponsor
      • E-Sports Coach
    • Previously:
      • Information Technology Teacher
      • Computer Science Teacher
      • Math Teacher
  • Kentucky State University
    • Adjunct Faculty
      • Math

Kevin Jones

IT and Logistics
Life:
  • Married with 2 daughters 
  • Born and raised in Dayton KY.
  • Blackbelt in Taekwondo and instructor 

Education:
  • Bachelor of Science,  Computer Science, Kentucky State University 

Work:
  • 30yr Army Veteran
  • Currently Lieutenant Colonel Kentucky Army National Guard in Logistics.
  • Deployed to Afghanistan in 2009

Sam Saarinen, Ph.D.

Education andNext Generation Technology
Life:
  • Published author
  • award-winning instructor
  • doting husband
  • semi-professional rapper

Education:
  • Ph.D. from Brown University

Work:
  • Applying AI to education at scale

Tish Shade

President/CEO Frankfort AreaChamber of Commerce Life:
  • Wife, mother of 8, grandmother of 8
  • Love to travel and see new places
  • Love to be on the water
  • Love to help others
 Education:
  • Colorado State University
  • Villanova University
  • IOM, US Chamber of Commerce
  • Leadership Frankfort
  • Leadership Central Kentucky
 Work:
  • President/CEO of the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce

Ex Officio Board Members

Dayna Sanders

Technology
Life:
  • Married with 2 children
  • Born and raised in Saint Paul, MN
  • Avid cyclist, potter, and bee keeper

Education:
  • Master of Arts, Leadership and Management, University of Concordia  
  • Bachelor of Arts,  Political Science and Spanish, University of Notre Dame

Work:
  • 14yr Army Veteran
  • Current Kentucky Army National Guardswoman specializing in Cyber And Logistical Operations

Edward "Eddie" Fowler

Community Garden
Life:
  • Life long resident of Frankfort
  • 12 years volunteering with community garden organization
  • Constant tinker and maker of things from woodcraft to cooking and everything in-between

Education:
  • BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisville
  • MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisville

Work:- Part owner of Singing Whale Farm- Currently developing a commercial mushroom growing operation

Brandi Mabe

Organization
Life:
  • Mother
  • Bag Maker
  • Small Business Owner
  • Trekkie

Education:
  • ASIT, Information Technology & Business, Sullivan University
  • Microsoft Certified
  • Azure Certified
  • Cosmetology, Kenneth Schuler School of Cosmetology

Work:
  • ITPM at Humana Inc.

Swagata Banerjee, Ph.D.

Eduaction
Life:
  • Academician
  • Musician
  • Award-Winning Artist/Songwriter
  • Lover of Film, Art, Food, Fashion, Kids, Animals/Pets, and Nature 
Education:
  • B.S. in Economics (University of Calcutta - Kolkata, India)
  • M.S. in Economics (specialization: International Economics) (University of Calcutta - Kolkata, India)
  • M.S. in Resource and Applied Economics (University of Nevada - Reno, NV)
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics (University of Georgia - Athens, GA)
Work:
  • Academic (Teaching, Research, Service, Outreach, and Policy)

Chuck Fletcher

Board Member - Education 
Life:
  • 1- Son “Gaylen”
  • 4- Grandchildren, Whitley, Ashley, Christian, and Sara Kate
  • Tennis/walking/running
  • Meeting People
  • Speaking to groups

Education:
  • Cumberland University-BA
  • Morehead State University- MA
  • Western Kentucky University- (additional studies)
  • University of Louisville- (additional studies)

Work:
  • August 2012-Present- Kentucky Department of Education, Management Information Consultant
  • 1979-2010- Worked in the Anderson County Schools, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
  • 2004-Appointed as Frankfort City Commissioner
  • 2004-Retired- Anderson County School Administrator-Pupil Transportation Director
  • 2009-Present-Appointed to serve on Frankfort/Franklin County Board of Adjustment

Bill Klier

Community Ties and Funding
Life:
  • My wife and I are five year residents of Frankfort and love it here
  • Currently I volunteer at the Franklin County Humane Society, Together Frankfort, and the Franklin Center for Innovation
  • My passions are the outdoors, gardening, animal welfare, environmental concerns, and all things that benefit children.  

Education:
  • Degree in Organizational Management from Midway University.

Career:
  • I am retired from Community Trust Bank, Inc.
  • I worked as a lender and branch manager in Versailles and am grateful to that community and to Community Trust Bank for a full and wonderful career.
  • As a community banker I held numerous positions in the community including, President of the local Chamber of Commerce, Scoutmaster, treasurer of a local church, and others as time required.

Meredith Allen

Community Ties