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Franklin Center For Innovation

Franklin Center For InnovationFranklin Center For InnovationFranklin Center For Innovation

Franklin Center For Innovation

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    • Home
    • Join
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      • Book Facilities
      • Makerspace
      • Classes
      • Camps
      • Virtual Camp
    • Garden
      • FCGTeam
      • Thorn Hill Garden
      • Garden Website
    • Market
    • Donate
    • Community
    • Blog
    • More
      • Events
      • Contact
      • About
      • Press
      • Directory
      • Feedback
      • Interest Survey
  • Home
  • Join
  • Makerspace
    • Book Facilities
    • Makerspace
    • Classes
    • Camps
    • Virtual Camp
  • Garden
    • FCGTeam
    • Thorn Hill Garden
    • Garden Website
  • Market
  • Donate
  • Community
  • Blog
  • More
    • Events
    • Contact
    • About
    • Press
    • Directory
    • Feedback
    • Interest Survey

Directory - Board and Directors

President - Gary Stratton, Ph.D.

President - Gary Stratton, Ph.D.

President - Gary Stratton, Ph.D.

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

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Secretary - Kelley Anderson

President - Gary Stratton, Ph.D.

President - Gary Stratton, Ph.D.

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

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Treasurer - Jamie Rue

President - Gary Stratton, Ph.D.

Grants and Funding - Kristel Smith

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

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Grants and Funding - Kristel Smith

Grants and Funding - Kristel Smith

Grants and Funding - Kristel Smith

Smith has worked in and with corporations along with many sectors including manufacturing, research & development, technology ...

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Education Director - Michael Culp

Grants and Funding - Kristel Smith

Education Director - Michael Culp

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

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Executive Director - Jason Allen

Grants and Funding - Kristel Smith

Education Director - Michael Culp

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

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Directory - Advisory Board

Brandi Mabe

Diana Peters

Brandi Mabe

Board Co-Chair - 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.

Sarah Booe

Diana Peters

Brandi Mabe

Board Co-Chair - Marketing 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

Diana Peters

Diana Peters

Chuck Fletcher

Board Member - 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

Chuck Fletcher

Arlene Crabtree

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

Arlene Crabtree

Arlene Crabtree

 Board Member - 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.

Arlene Crabtree

Arlene Crabtree

Arlene Crabtree

 Board Member - 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

Dayna Sanders

Swagata Banerjee, Ph.D.

Swagata Banerjee, Ph.D.

 Board Member - 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 

Swagata Banerjee, Ph.D.

Swagata Banerjee, Ph.D.

Swagata Banerjee, Ph.D.

 Board Member - Education


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)

Avery Young

Swagata Banerjee, Ph.D.

Avery Young

Board Member - 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

Kevin Jones

Sam Saarinen, Ph.D.

Avery Young

 Board Member - 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

Eddie Fowler

Sam Saarinen, Ph.D.

Sam Saarinen, Ph.D.

Board Member - 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/operator of Singing Whale Farm

- Slinger of beer and hot dogs at Sig Luscher

- Currently developing a commercial mushroom growing operation

Sam Saarinen, Ph.D.

Sam Saarinen, Ph.D.

Sam Saarinen, Ph.D.

 Board Member - Education and

Next 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


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Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students 

The Franklin Center For Innovation admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the bases of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs 

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