Ideas To Action Fall 2021 Cohort
Adriana Chavela
Executive Director, Hola Carolina
Adriana Chavela is the Founder/Executive Director of Hola Carolina, an immigrant led nonprofit organization based in Asheville, NC that operates by and for the Latinx community. Its mission is to build bridges between cultures, embrace diversity, and create more economically vibrant communities. Her vision is for immigrant communities and people of color to live in a just, multiracial society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which they can thrive with power and purpose.
Alison Ormsby
Lecturer at UNCA, Environmental Studies
Dr. Ormsby teaches human ecology and policy courses that relate to the interaction of people and nature, including wildlife policy, citizen science, ecotourism, and ethnobotany. Her research interests include environmental education, ecovillages, park management, sacred forests, and sustainability.
Babs Philip
Owner, Babs Philip Realty
Babs Philip is passionate about helping the Black community and other historically marginalized groups close the home ownership gap and build generational wealth through home ownership. She assists African Americans and other underserved groups in the Asheville region seeking to achieve home ownership goals by providing real estate advice, advocacy, and support.
Dawn Chavez
Executive Director, Asheville Greenworks
Dawn Chávez brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in nonprofit management in the environmental field to her role as the Executive Director of Asheville GreenWorks. Before moving to Asheville, Dawn spent twelve years as director of the Boston Youth Environmental Network and education director of the Urban Ecology Institute. Dawn serves on the board of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and the NC Center for Nonprofits.
Derek Allen
Partner, Allen Stahl + Kilbourne
Derek Allen is a leader in Alcoholic Beverage Law, Real Estate Development, and Zoning and Land Use. He has extensive experience with craft breweries ranging in size from small startups to those with national distribution. His practice includes representation of craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries in a wide range of permitting, regulatory, and trade issues.
Dexter Hazel
General Manager, Aloft Asheville Downtown
Dexter Hazel has over 13 years of experience as a leader in hospitality. Working with McKibbon Hospitality for over 8 years, Dexter has held multiple leadership roles at the Aloft Asheville Downtown as well as previously serving as the Assistant General Manager for Kimpton Hotel Arras here in Asheville.
Evan Richardson
Director of Community Health Integration, MAHEC
Evan Richardson has worked in health care for 20 years. She currently works as a Quality Improvement consultant for MAHEC, bringing her experience as a nurse, mid-level provider, and practice manage together as she assists practices in preparing for and meeting the challenges of health care and payment reform.
Himanshu Karvir
President and CEO, Virtelle Hospitality
Himanshu Karvir chairs the Executive Committee at Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, and serves as Treasurer for the The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, an organization that inspires philanthropy and mobilizes resources to enrich lives and communities in Western North Carolina.
J Hackett
Owner, Grind AVL Coffee
Pastor, New Mt Olive
J Hackett is the owner of Asheville’s first Black-owned coffee shop and co-working space. He is also the Executive Director at Jordan Peer Recovery, a peer-led educational and training institution created to help systems and organizations provide culturally responsive peer recovery training and create environments for wellness and recovery.
Jess Reiser
Co-Founder and CEO, Burial Beer
Jess Reiser, along with partners Doug Reiser and Tim Gormley, discovered her passion for craft beer in Seattle, Washington. She directs operations at Burial Beer and used her background in arts administration and nonprofit development to input the name, brand identity, complex brew names and packaging, drawing inspiration from the New Orleans mind-set, which, she said, “celebrates life, not death.”
Jessica Tomasin
Founder, Connect Beyond
Festival Manager, Echo Mountain Recording
Jessica Tomasin became the studio manager of Echo Mountain Recording in 2006. In 2013, she was chosen as Entrepreneur of the Year by the City of Asheville/Chamber of Commerce for her work in music. In 2015, she co-founded the Asheville Music Professionals, a non-profit organization committed to providing education, advocacy, connection, and collaboration in the music community.
John Fleer
Chef and Owner, Rhubarb, The Rhu, and Benne on Eagle
Chef John Fleer was named one of the “Rising Stars of the 21st Century” by the James Beard Foundation and is a five-time finalist for the James Beard “Best Chef in the Southeast.” He has served on the Board of Directors for the Southern Foodways Alliance, currently serves on the Advisory Board for Chefs at Downtown Welcome Table, and works with the City of Asheville on downtown development initiatives.
Joseph Minicozzi
Principal, Urban3
Joe Minicozzi is an urban planner imagining new ways to think about and visualize land use, urban design and economics. He founded Urban3 - an Asheville-based consulting company specializing in land value economics, property tax analysis and community design - to explain and visualize market dynamics created by tax and land use policies. Joe has lived in Asheville since 2003, and has been active in the community with the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods, the Asheville Design Center, and the Asheville Downtown Association.
Justice Rogers
Co-Executive Director and Board Chair, LEAF Global Arts
Justice Rogers got his degree in Criminal Justice at Rutgers, and went on to work for Federal Protective Services, ICE, and Homeland Security before retiring. These days he helps African-American people create businesses in entrepreneurial setting, serves as Board Chair and Co-Executive Director of LEAF Global Arts, volunteers with the YMI, Umoja Health, Wellness and Justice Collective and anywhere else he is needed in the community.
Kathleen Mosher
Vice President of Communications, The Biltmore Company
Kathleen Mosher has over 25 years of communications strategy experience, including international, national and regional media relations, and has extensive experience in brand strategy, marketing strategy, storytelling, government relations, employee communications, speech writing and crisis response. Kathleen is the Biltmore Chamber Appointed Board Chair of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority.
Katie Button
CEO and Co-Founder, Katie Button Restaurants
Katie Button created Katie Button Restaurants with her husband and parents in 2011. She is dedicated to causes beyond solely culinary pursuits, working with local companies and organizations to recycle, compost, and reduce food waste and environmental impact. She also works with the Downtown Welcome Table, Asheville Strong, UNC-A Leadership, Food Connections, Southside Kitchen and Homeward Bound.
Katie Cornell
Executive Director, Asheville Area Arts Council
Katie has more than 20 years of experience working in the Asheville arts sector and holds a Master’s degree in Arts Leadership & Cultural Management from Colorado State University. She is the President of the Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina, and the Chair of the City of Asheville’s Public Art & Cultural Commission. Katie also serves on the board of statewide advocacy organization Arts North Carolina.
Kevin Westmoreland
Co-Owner, Corner Kitchen & Chestnut
Kevin Westmoreland is an Asheville native. He grew up less than ½ mile from the site of the Corner Kitchen and spent much of his childhood exploring what is now Historic Biltmore Village. Outside of the restaurants, Kevin serves on several local non-profit boards and spends time with his family.
Kim McGuire
Board Chair, Thrive Asheville
Kim McGuire is a former journalist and experienced leader in nonprofit management, civic organizations and philanthropy. She is focused on building capacity and measurable impact. After designing and leading grantmaking at the Community Foundation of WNC, Kim launched WNC Nonprofit Pathways, which helps strengthen organizations so they can fulfill their mission.
Larry Crosby
General Manager, Foundry Hotel
Larry Crosby has over 14 years experience in the hospitality industry. He currently works as General Manager for the Foundry Hotel, located in downtown Asheville.
Noah Wilson
Director of Sector Development, Mountain BizWorks
Noah Wilson is an entrepreneurial, collaborative young leader and bridge-builder, comfortable with both the technical and social/political sides of issues. He currently leads Mountain BizWorks' Sector Development department, helping ensure that the ecosystems that help our small businesses in Western NC start, grow, and thrive are, themselves, healthy and thriving.
Robert Foster
COO, Virtelle Hospitality
Robert Foster has 31 years of hotel experience including openings, conversions, renovations and multi property management. His GM experience includes two years opening a new Marriott, 10 years with Doubletree in Charlottesville Virginia and 12 years in Asheville North Carolina with Biltmore Farms Hotels.
Sarah Benoit
Co-founder and Lead Instructor, JB Media Institute
As Co-founder and Lead instructor of JB Media Institute and President of Creative Original, Inc.., Sarah speaks, trains, and presents on digital marketing topics at conferences and events throughout the year in the Southeast and beyond. She has received the 2017 Woman Executive of the Year award from WomanUp at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, was inducted into Asheville’s 40 Under Forty, and is a graduate of Leadership Asheville.
Sheneika Smith
Vice Mayor, City of Asheville
Asheville Vice Mayor Sheneika Smith serves as Chair on the Boards and Commissions Committee, as well as being a member of the Housing & Community Development Council Committee and Public Safety Council Committees. She is also a liaison/member of the Public Art & Cultural Commission. Her mission in life is to be a conduit for progress and advancement, and her work to date has been a testament to this commitment to social justice.
Terri Wells
County Commissioner, Buncombe Co. District 1
Terri Wells is a ninth generation Buncombe resident and farmer who grew up in Sandy Mush on the farm that has been in her family for generations. She works as Director of Community and Agricultural Programs for WNC Communities, and serves on the Buncombe County Agricultural Advisory Board.
Tina Madison White
Executive Director, Blue Ridge Pride Center
Tina White is also an adjunct to the Human Rights Campaign board and a co-host of the Asheville View. She speaks and writes on issues of social justice, organization development, and personal identity. She is the author of Between Shadow and Sun: A Husband’s Journey Through Gender, A Wife’s Labor of Love.
Todd Okolichany
Director of Planning and Design, City of Asheville
As Asheville’s Planning Director, Todd is responsible for leading sustainable growth, promoting equitable development and shaping the built environment. While at the city he has led the implementation of visionary projects, such as the Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan, and has advocated for inclusive prosperity for the city's diverse community.
Tracey Greene-Washington
President, Indigo Innovations Group
Founder, CoThinkk
Tracey Greene-Washington is the President of Indigo Innovations Group and founder of CoThinkk. Throughout her 20+ year career she's gained a reputation as an innovative leader committed to partnering with organizations and communities to be more impactful by targeting systemic change, taking risk and accelerating efforts at the intersection of community economic development, health, education and leadership development.
Vic Isley
President and CEO, Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Victoria Isley is a highly sought-after public speaker, recognized for her knowledge, expertise and evolving perspective of destination marketing. She was named one of the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds” in the travel industry by Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI).
W. Ken Stamps
CEO, Forest and Park, LLC
As CEO of Forest & Park, LLC, a recreation management company, Ken oversees the operations of two of the largest US Forest Service recreation complexes in the nation: Pisgah National Forest, which includes Sliding Rock, Davidson River and Lake Powhatan campgrounds; and Florida's Ocala National Forest. He is also a co-founder and an owner of Navitat Canopy Adventures, one of the nation's leading outdoor adventure companies.
Facilitators
Aisha Adams
Director of Special Projects & Community Engagement, Thrive Asheville
Aisha Adams is an influencer with a heart for community economic development who champions social change advocates, thought leaders, and courageous disruptors. She is founder and CEO of the Aisha Adams Media Group and partner organization Equity Over Everything, which advances equity by closing gaps in entrepreneurship and homeownership in low-resource communities.
Kate Pett
Executive Director, Thrive Asheville
Kate Pett is passionate about finding ways to work across lines of difference to get the big work done. Kate worked in education reform and was the executive director of the Asheville City Schools Foundation before coming together with a group of local leaders to found Thrive Asheville as a way to bring together people from diverse perspectives to build relationships, study local challenges, and then identify and enact promising solutions.
Leslie Winner
Co-Chair, NC Leadership Forum
Leslie J. Winner is a lawyer with a 43-year career of public service in North Carolina. She currently works with non-profit organizations on strategic planning and on issues related to justice, public education and bridging divides. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, as Vice President and General Counsel of the University of North Carolina, and as a member of the NC Senate.
Jim Fox
Senior Resilience Associate, FernLeaf Interactive
Jim Fox is the former director of the National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC), and is passionate about applying leading edge computer and web technologies to assist in complex decision making dealing with the new realities facing our society. These include escalating energy costs, water resource shortages, climate change, land use conversion and others.