MACED Staff

Nancy Arnold, Senior Accountant, narnold@maced.org
Nancy Arnold joined MACED in July 2007 as Senior Accountant. Her primary responsibilities as a member of the finance team include cash management, general ledger, financial statements and grant reporting. She has over twenty-five years of experience in accounting, which includes sixteen years of nonprofit experience and eight years of grant accounting. She graduated from Mountain State College, majoring in Accounting and Business Administration. Nancy and her husband relocated to Central Kentucky from Southeast Ohio in December 2000. She enjoys church, family and friends. She recently became a grandma which added a wonderful new dimension to her life.

Jason Bailey, Research and Policy Director, jbailey@maced.org
Jason joined MACED’s staff in September 2007 after working as a research consultant to the organization for several years. From 1998-2005, he was a staff person and then co-director of the Democracy Resource Center, a former MACED affiliate. Jason’s work there included policy analysis and public education on Kentucky’s budget, tax system and economic development policies, as well as research on a variety of state and local issues. Jason has a master’s in public administration with a specialization in public finance from New York University.

Regina Becknell, Business Development Associate, rbecknell@maced.org
Regina Becknell started working with MACED in July 2004. She staffs MACED's eastern Kentucky office. She most recently served as the president of the Floyd County Chamber of Commerce in Prestonsburg, KY. In addition to her position with the Chamber, Regina worked part-time for the Morehead State University Small Business Development Center. Her duties at these positions included fundraising, marketing, finance, design, leadership initiatives, economic development and technical assistance to businesses. Regina is a graduate of Berea College. She returned to eastern Kentucky to be closer to her parents and to raise her two children. Prior to her return to Floyd County, she was the marketing director/accountant for Buell*Fryer*McReynolds, a structural engineering firm, and accounting manager for Frontier Nursing Service. Regina has served as board member for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives, and has been a member of the Kentucky Industrial Development Council and Prestonsburg Rotarian.

Joshua Bills, Energy Specialist, jbills@maced.org

Josh joined MACED in March 2008 to develop and coordinate energy assessments and pursue emerging energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities for client entrepreneurs. Josh assists the Business Development team in developing financing opportunities for energy reduction and renewable energy projects. A former renewable energy installation entrepreneur himself, Josh brings a distinctive perspective to the position, with firsthand knowledge of the needs of, and the demands on energy efficiency and renewable energy installers today. He brings a wealth of knowledge to his role, with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and experience with over 100 renewable energy installations throughout Kentucky, Haiti, and as far off as West Africa.

Sue Peterson Blyth, Program Associate, Common Cents Financial Initiative, speterson@maced.org

A recent transplant to Kentucky, Sue Peterson Blyth joined MACED in May 2008 from Seattle, WA. Sue brings forty years of financial services experience and community activism to her new position as Program Associate for the Common Cents Financial Initiative. The majority of her career has been spent in financial services, most recently as branch manager for the Bank of Washington. Previously, Sue delivered numerous public lectures on budgeting as Education Specialist for Consumer Credit Counseling — Solutions. Many first-time homebuyers achieved home ownership with Sue’s help as Affordable Housing Officer for Seattle-based nonprofit, HomeSight. In the early 1990s, Sue was nominated by the governor of Washington to serve on the Issaquah Youth and Family Network, which focused on revolutionizing social services. Sue and her husband Andy Blyth are members of the Fellowship of Reconciliation and are active at many peace and justice fundraising events. Spare time interests include developing their new Kentucky home, Zephyr Crossing, into a sustainable farm, as well as clowning and puppetry with their children’s band Banjo Andy and His Tickled Toons.

Yvonne Burchett, Business Development Assistant, yburchett@maced.org

Yvonne Burchett has worked with MACED since August 2006 and serves as the Business Development Assistant for MACED’s Paintsville office. Among other things, Yvonne helps manage the Paintsville office, works individually with client entrepreneurs to solve problems, and facilitates group training. Yvonne has been certified to administer FastTrac entrepreneur classes and is experienced with providing technical assistance in QuickBooks. Prior to joining MACED Yvonne worked as business manager for a trucking business and a grocery business, both in Paintsville. Yvonne is a lifelong Johnson County resident.

Greg Doyle, Loan Fund Manager, gdoyle@maced.org

Greg directs MACED’s loan fund which invests money in small and new businesses in Appalachian Kentucky. His primary responsibilities include managing the loan fund, deal development, chief underwriting and due diligence analysis, strategy development and implementation, marketing and staff supervision. Prior to joining MACED in October 2006 Greg worked in the banking industry for 25 years, primarily as a small business and commercial lender. A native Kentuckian, Greg earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from the Virginia Military Institute and an MBA from the University of Kentucky.

Melissa Fry Konty, Program Associate, Research and Policy, mfrykonty@maced.org
Melissa came to MACED in August 2007. Before coming to MACED, Melissa was an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Melissa’s work with nonprofit organizations includes working with a community collaborative to support childcare for low-income families, serving as President of a family cooperative preschool, working as a case manager for the seriously mentally ill and coordinating a national conference on campus racism for the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice in Washington, DC. Melissa is excited to bring her academic background and passion for social justice to research and policy work at MACED. Melissa holds a BA from Grinnell College, an MA from The University of Memphis and a PhD from the University of Arizona. Her degrees are all in Sociology with expertise in Public Policy, Organizations and Social Inequality. Melissa and her family enjoy their home in the woods at the edge of the Appalachian foothills.

Danny Isaacs, Business Development Associate, disaacs@maced.org
Danny Isaacs started working with MACED in April 2006. He is from Marietta, Georgia. He graduated from Berea College in 2005 with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. He started working with the business development program as a business development analyst. Prior to his work with MACED he worked with the Letcher County Water and Sewer District. Danny’s responsibilities include monthly, quarterly and annual reporting on lending and portfolio activities. His responsibilities also include working with loan officers and borrowers to fulfill the loan process and provide technical assistance to small businesses.

Tina Johnson, Forestry Associate, tjohnson@maced.org
Tina joined MACED’s staff in 2002. She is a member of the forestry team and coordinates MACED's information technology. She studied art history at Berea College, focusing on photography, weaving and ceramics. She also attended Eastern Kentucky University studying nursing. Her professional background includes work with the Brushy Fork Institute and Planned Parenthood. Tina serves on the council for Kentucky Heartwood, a nonprofit volunteer group committed to restoring and protecting Kentucky's native forests. She was recently awarded the Heartwood Hellbender award for her commitment to forest advocacy and service as a volunteer. She is a member of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and supports local food production efforts. Tina’s alter-ego is a member of Berea’s Hip Gypsies, an American tribal style belly dance performance group. Tina is the mother of two children and describes motherhood as the driving force behind her commitment to building a world worth living in.

Carol Lamm, Operations & Finance Director, clamm@maced.org
Carol Lamm has served MACED in many capacities beginning in 1978. Her responsibilities have included technical assistance to community organizations, research, new program development, fundraising and internal organizational development. From 1988 to 1994, she served as the first coordinator and then the director of the Brushy Fork Institute, an Appalachian leadership and development program of Berea College. From 1999 to mid-2002, she worked as an independent consultant and studied accounting, passing the CPA exam in November 2001. She re-joined MACED in the summer of 2002 and is now operations and finance director. As a volunteer, Carol has served as president of the Kentucky Conservation Committee, as an elected member of the Berea Community School-Based Decision Making Council, as president of the Kentucky Association of School Councils and in numerous officer positions with local and regional Quaker bodies. She has a master's in English from Cornell University.

Angie Lewallen, Accounting and Payroll Clerk, alewallen@maced.org
Angie Lewallen joined the MACED staff in July 2005 and aids the finance and operations teams by providing clerical accounting support to MACED programs and staff. Before coming to MACED Angie worked as a legal assistant with a local environmental law firm supporting cases involving the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act. For many years, she has also provided community and residential support to individuals in Madison County who have developmental disabilities. Angie graduated from Berea College in May 2002 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources. She has a strong interest and background in organic gardening and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Justin Maxson, President, jmaxson@maced.org
Justin Maxson first came to MACED in 1995 as director of community development for the Letcher County Action Team, a grassroots sustainable development organization in eastern Kentucky. Justin's work focused on leadership development, program development and community-based problem solving. From 1998 to early 2002, Justin was executive director of the Progressive Technology Project, a national grant making and technical assistance organization working to strengthen grassroots social change efforts through the strategic use of technology. Justin returned to MACED in February of 2002 as vice-president and was named president in November 2002. Justin brings 10 years of nonprofit experience focused on capacity building, program development, organizational development and social change. He has a master's in anthropology from Boston University.

Debbie Reardon, Loan Fund Administrator, dreardon@maced.org
Debbie Reardon has been at MACED since June 1999. She joined MACED as a staff accountant with a full range of accounting duties. In May 2002 she moved to the business development team as senior business development associate. Her responsibilities include all aspects of non-profit business lending, from initial contact through closings. Debbie attended Northern Virginia Community College and the University of South Florida. She worked as a staff accountant for a Northern Virginia local government from 1982 to 1995. In addition to her full-time work she was a mortgage loan officer of CAMCO Mortgage Bankers in Northern Virginia. With the transfer of her spouse to Tallahassee, Florida, she worked full-time as budget assistant for the Florida Bar, serving 70,000 attorneys. To complement her mortgage lending background, she attended classes and passed the state test for her real estate license. Currently, she teaches a monthly personal financial class for the State of Kentucky District Court System for Theft by Deception offenders. As a volunteer, she has worked with the Girl Scouts, the Madison County Humane Society and Habitat for Humanity. In addition she is an administrative board member of First United Methodist Church in Richmond, KY and a member of the Supervisory Committee of the Central Appalachian Peoples Federal Credit Union in Berea, KY.

Barbara Reed, Office Manager, breed@maced.org
Barbara Reed has served MACED since January, 1990. Her responsibilities have included receptionist, office manager, benefits coordinator and human resources director. Barbara has worked as secretary for Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center, as secretary with Charter Ridge Behavioral Center and at Goodyear (now Hayes-Lemmerz) as human resources assistant. As a volunteer, Barbara has served as vice president of the Single Parents' Network and has served on the boards of Central Appalachian Peoples Federal Credit Union Board, Mountain Maternal Planned Parenthood and the Human Economic Appalachian Development Corporation. She also served as a board peer trainer with Southern Rural Development Initiative, Raleigh, North Carolina. Barbara attended the University of Cincinnati and was certified in human resources by the Special Programs Division of Eastern Kentucky University.

Larrey Riddle, Program Manager, Common Cents Financial Initiative, lriddle@maced.org

Larrey Riddle joined MACED in December 2006 as program manager for the Common Cents Financial Initiative. His responsibilities include supervising the launch, operation and evaluation of this new pilot program. Although he has worked and traveled around the world, eastern Kentucky has been home for most of his life. Prior to joining MACED, Larrey was economic development director in Wolfe County, Kentucky. In that position he directed the county’s economic strategies toward entrepreneurial development. Larrey is a graduate of Berea College and a fellow in the University of Kentucky’s Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute. He applies the marketing and organizational development skills learned working for an international marketing company to further social and economic justice in Appalachia.

Tamara Sandberg, Development Associate, tsandberg@maced.org

Tamara Sandberg joined MACED’s staff in October 2007 to fill the newly-created role of Development Associate. Her primary responsibility is raising funds to support MACED’s strategies for sustainable development. Tamara brings 15 years of nonprofit experience focused on fund development, public relations and policy change in economically distressed communities. She holds an MS in Child and Family Studies with a specialization in family policy from the University of Wyoming. Tamara has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Girl Scouts and PTA. She and her family particularly treasure the opportunity to spend weekends hiking through Kentucky’s magnificent forests.

Bill Schutters, Vice President, bschutters@maced.org

Bill was hired in January 2007 to coordinate the management and implementation of MACED’s programmatic efforts. His 30-year career brings a history as an entrepreneur and a variety of nonprofit experiences to the position. He has operated five successful businesses including apparel manufacturing, retail interior decorating and furnishings, a national music camp organization, stretch limousine manufacturing and ad specialty and embroidery services. Bill has a BSBA degree with a concentration in accounting from Western Carolina University. He was a founding board member of HandMade In America, a craft industry association. He’s also served as chairman of the Friends of Mountain History and was vice-chairman of the Small Business Administration North Carolina Advisory Council. Bill’s most recent nonprofit staff position was as executive director for the Partnership for the Future of Bryson City and Swain County.

Joseph Sheehan, Technology and Maintenance Coordinator, jsheehan@maced.org

Joe joined MACED in May 2008 as the Technology and Maintenance Coordinator. He has lived most of his life in Kentucky and graduated from Morehead State University in 2004 with a degree in Industrial Technology. Prior to coming to MACED Joe performed computer desktop support and technology planning for the University of Kentucky Department of Anesthesiology. While not at work he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and daughter.

Scott Shouse, Forester, bsshouse@maced.org
Scott Shouse joined MACED's staff in January 2008 after several months of consulting work with the Forest Opportunities Initiative. Scott's responsibilities are focused on the carbon credits program but also include other sustainable forestry work. He has diverse forestry experience including tropical agro-forestry, urban forestry, forestry research and social/environmental certification. He is also experienced in database design and implementation as well as Geographic Information Systems. Scott holds a Masters of Science degree in forestry from the University of Kentucky.

Kristin Stratton, Senior Program Associate, kstratton@maced.org
Kristin Stratton graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1997 with a bachelor of arts degree in public relations. Within a matter of weeks, she was working at MACED as a intern and has been with the organization ever since. Over the course of the past eleven years, her position has evolved and she has served in many roles including communications, fundraising, programmatic work, grant administration and technology coordinator. As senior program associate, Kristin works to support MACED programs and affiliate organizations through internal and external communications as well as with strategic planning and development. This position requires working in all communications mediums—web-based, print and multimedia—as well as assisting with fundraising and programmatic duties. Kristin is highly involved in community development in her personal life as well. She is board president and active volunteer for the Friends of Paint Lick, a community service and literacy organization. She is also one of the founders and board president of the Paint Lick Family Clinic, a free nonprofit community health organization. Kristin lives on Bell Spring Farm with her husband, Shawn, and their son, Mason. Mason is the fifth generation of the family to live on this farm.

Sarah Watling, Central Appalachian Network Coordinator, swatling@maced.org

Sarah joined the MACED staff in May 2008 as the Central Appalachian Network (CAN) coordinator. She has served as coordinator of the network of eight nonprofits in five Central Appalachian states since 2006. Her work with CAN includes coordinating communications, fundraising, and the development and implementation of CAN's efforts in environmentally sustainable development. Before working with CAN Sarah pursued graduate studies in Environmental Policy and Planning at Ohio University in Athens where she currently resides. In Athens, Sarah is active with the Athens County League of Women Voters. She is also a member and community gardener with Community Food Initiatives. Prior to graduate study, she spent four years working on rural economic development and environmental initiatives in Central and South America. Sarah spent ten important years in Kentucky including beginning her undergraduate career at Midway College. Her professional interests include organizational and environmental communication in rural areas and local resource stewardship.

Consultants

Elizabeth Graves, Energy Efficient Enterprises project

Shari Hawley, Designer

Student Workers

Paul Adkins, Common Cents Financial Initiative and Forest Opportunities Initiative

Christian Gonzales, Business Development

Tatyana Hodykina, Business Development

Jacquelyn Lowe, Operations

Jenna Lowe, Communications and Student Labor Supervisor