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Berea College

For the 2025 Leadership Gathering, you have two ways to customize your experience:

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Whether you prefer a deep dive or a bit of everything, the Leadership Gathering lets you tailor your own learning journey.

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<div id="QR~QID3" class="InputText IndividualResponseSummaryInput">Small teams, tight budgets, big missions &#8211; sound familiar? Leadership Tri-County faced the same constraints until a human-first AI strategy rewired how they craft grant proposals, donor letters, board communication, press releases, curricula, and social media content. In this intensive track, Dr. Jordyne Carmack, Executive Director of Leadership Tri-County, talks you through the exact playbook that took LTC from “we’ll get to it someday” to “done by lunch.” Together, we’ll reverse-engineer use case studies from the past two years &#8211; including grant proposals, outcome reports, social content, media pitches, donor emails, and training modules &#8211; showing the prompts, tool stack (all low- or no-cost), and guardrails that kept the work ethical and mission-centered. Participants will: 1. Identify high-effort communication tasks by time cost and mission impact that could be improved with AI assistance. 2. Assemble a mini “brand toolkit” and use it to train an AI assistant so draft outputs align more closely with their organization and audience. 3. Apply a three-step guardrail checklist to improve AI-generated drafts to maintain audience trust and brand reputation.</div>
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<h5><strong>About Jordyne Carmack</strong></h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-109932 size-medium" src="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/KAP_2492-206x300.jpg" alt="" width="206" height="300" srcset="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/KAP_2492-206x300.jpg 206w, https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/KAP_2492-702x1024.jpg 702w, https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/KAP_2492-768x1120.jpg 768w, https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/KAP_2492-1053x1536.jpg 1053w, https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/KAP_2492-1404x2048.jpg 1404w, https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/KAP_2492-scaled.jpg 1755w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px" /></p>
<div id="QR~QID5" class="InputText IndividualResponseSummaryInput">Dr. Jordyne Carmack, SHRM-SCP is a communication strategist, educator, and Founder/CEO of AuthentiLEAD who equips individuals and teams to thrive through transformative learning experiences. As Executive Director of Leadership Tri-County, she guided the program’s digital transformation &#8211; using generative AI to streamline program design, amplify communication efforts, increase development efforts and expand regional impact. A sought-after speaker and Everything DiSC® Authorized Partner, Dr. Carmack delivered the TEDx talk “Embracing Authenticity in an Artificial World” in 2023 and regularly trains teams on authentic leadership and communication excellence. Previously, she taught undergraduate Communication Arts for seven years and now lectures on Current Trends &amp; Issues in Leadership at the doctoral level. Dr. Carmack holds a Ph.D. in Leadership (University of the Cumberlands) and an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communication (West Virginia University). Recognized as NexStar Media &amp; Fox56 Central Kentucky’s Remarkable Woman 2024 and a Lake Cumberland 40 Under 40 honoree, she also serves on the Strategic Advisory Board of the Women’s Business Center of Kentucky and is active in SEKY SHRM chapter. In London, she enjoys family time and champions values-based leadership that blends technology with timeless human connection.</div>


Future-Ready Nonprofit Communications: Lessons from Leadership Tri-County | Dr. Jordyne Carmack

<div id="QR~QID3" class="InputText IndividualResponseSummaryInput">All across Appalachia communities are coming back to life and in many places downtown storefronts are filling up with new, locally owned businesses. Young people are considering how they can build a future without having to leave, and those who left are being enticed to return as they see how their home community offers new opportunities and the quality of life they want. Decades of work by dozens of organizations and countless dedicated community leaders are bearing fruit as new restaurants, bookstores, coffee shops, and music venues are springing up in long-empty buildings. This track will explore the strategies and resources being utilized by local leaders and entrepreneurs to drive these changes and recreate their communities as places were people want to live. The track is inspired by examples from across the country and around the globe, and draws on insights from a wide range of experiences and mentors, from the earliest days of the Brushy Fork Institute through the current moment.</div>
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<h5><strong>About Peter Hille</strong></h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-109945" src="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Hille_head_shot_2018-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="244" height="244" srcset="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Hille_head_shot_2018-300x300.jpg 300w, https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Hille_head_shot_2018.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px" /></p>
<div id="QR~QID5" class="InputText IndividualResponseSummaryInput">Peter Hille recently retired after 35 years of nonprofit leadership focused on community economic development in Appalachia. He led the Mountain Association as President and CEO from 2015-2025 after joining Mountain Association&#8217;s staff in 2012 as Executive Vice President. During his tenure, Peter helped expand Mountain Association’s work in many ways, doubling the size of the loan portfolio, increasing support for entrepreneurs and expanding programs to make clean energy more accessible to businesses and organizations serving low-income communities. He also served on the Just Transition Fund’s National Economic Transition Working Group, helping to shape JTF’s Seven Pillars policy platform which has informed federal policies and programs in support of energy communities. Previously, Peter was Director of the Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College, working in leadership and community development throughout Central Appalachia for 22 years. He also served as a consultant to regional and national organizations and implemented community development projects internationally in Russia and Slovakia. Peter currently chairs the board of the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation and previously served on the Berea Human Rights Commission. A graduate of Swarthmore College, he lives with his wife in a solar home they designed and built in the midst of fifty acres of forest near Berea, Kentucky.</div>


21st Century Community Economic Development for Appalachian Communities | Peter Hille

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<p>What does it take to turn a bold idea into a community-powered movement? This interactive track is built for leaders who are ready to move from brainstorming to building. Whether you&#8217;re launching a new initiative or strengthening an existing one, you&#8217;ll engage in hands-on activities like asset mapping, inclusive team building, and vision planning to chart a clear course forward. You’ll explore proven project design strategies, discover facilitation techniques, and practice storytelling strategies that shift local narratives and spark momentum. Through peer dialogue and coaching circles, you&#8217;ll ground your learning in lived experience and apply insights directly to your own community context. Participants will walk away with practical tools: editable planning templates, facilitation guides, and a draft action plan tailored to their home communities. Even more importantly, you’ll leave with a renewed sense of confidence and a strengthened regional network—connected to others who share your commitment to a thriving Appalachia. By the end of the session, attendees won’t just understand new models, they’ll be prepared to apply them. This session equips leaders not just to envision a better future, but to build it, together.</p>
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<h5><strong>About Stacy Henderson</strong></h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-109954" src="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Stacy_Henderson_-205x300.jpg" alt="" width="205" height="300" srcset="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Stacy_Henderson_-205x300.jpg 205w, https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Stacy_Henderson_.jpg 571w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px" /></p>
<div id="QR~QID5" class="InputText IndividualResponseSummaryInput">Stacy Henderson is a trusted coach, strategist, and facilitator with a deep commitment to helping rural communities in West Virginia and Appalachia thrive. As the Community Coaching Programs Director at the WV Community Development Hub, she leads efforts that support local leaders in turning bold ideas into practical action. With over 15 years of experience in community development, philanthropy, and education, Stacy brings both heart and strategy to every conversation. Her work is grounded in the belief that small towns hold big potential, and that the people who live there already have the tools they need to shape their future. Stacy’s approach is hands-on, people-centered, and rooted in the messy but meaningful process of building trust and momentum over time. She has helped dozens of towns navigate transitions, find their voice, and launch initiatives that are both visionary and doable. Stacy is known for her direct style and her ability to bring groups together even when the stakes are high. She has spoken at regional and national conferences about grassroots leadership, economic resilience, and the power of local ownership. Originally from Richwood West Virginia, she now lives in Fairmont with her husband and their blended family of four teenagers and young adults and two dogs. She believes deeply in showing up, building things that last, and making the work fun whenever possible.</div>
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<h5><strong>About Jenny Totten</strong></h5>
<div><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-109953" src="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Jenny-totten-193x300.jpg" alt="" width="193" height="300" srcset="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Jenny-totten-193x300.jpg 193w, https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Jenny-totten.jpg 540w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px" /></div>
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<div id="QR~QID9" class="InputText IndividualResponseSummaryInput">Jenny Totten, a native of West Virginia, now calls Franklin home after several attempts to leave her Appalachian roots—only to rediscover her passion within them. Though professionally trained in aerospace and robotics engineering, her journey through Haiti, the 1890 extension system, and the West Virginia nonprofit sector led her to a more fulfilling path: helping communities engineer their own futures. With over 15 years of experience in community development and local food systems, Jenny focuses on grassroots efforts and systems-based approaches to regional change. Her work centers on rural economic models, youth programs, leadership development, entrepreneurship, agroforestry, and applying technology to rural issues. In addition to her university role, Jenny runs a small cut flower business and finds peace in cross stitching. She also enjoys hiking, trail running, kayaking, and traveling in search of culinary and music experiences—usually with her dog, Oliver, by her side. Jenny holds a BS in aerospace engineering and an MS in unmanned systems from Virginia Tech. She is an alumna of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Her honors include the West Virginia Beacon Award and recognition as a finalist for the Rockefeller Food System Fellowship.</div>
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<h5><strong>About Amanda Workman Scott</strong></h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-110017" src="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_5337-copy-768x768-1-206x300.png" alt="" width="206" height="300" srcset="https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_5337-copy-768x768-1-206x300.png 206w, https://bereafaust.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_5337-copy-768x768-1.png 419w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px" /></p>
<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Amanda Workman Scott</span> is the Director of Community Engagement at the West Virginia Community Development Hub, where she leads efforts to inspire and support community-led change across the state. With a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from West Virginia University and an MBA from Averett University, Amanda brings a unique blend of social insight and strategic leadership to her work.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">Over the past 11 years, Amanda has dedicated herself to working alongside rural communities throughout West Virginia, serving as a coach, collaborator, and advocate. Her approach is rooted in deep listening, experimentation, and the belief that sustainable change happens when residents are empowered to shape the future of their own communities. She has supported a wide range of initiatives focused on economic development, leadership training, and civic engagement, always prioritizing authentic relationships and inclusive processes.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Amanda is passionate about the power of local voices and believes that meaningful community engagement is not just a strategy, it is the foundation for all successful development work. She brings this conviction to every project, helping communities turn ideas into action and challenges into opportunities.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Amanda lives in North Central West Virginia with her husband and two children, where she continues to stay actively involved in local initiatives. Whether facilitating a community meeting, mentoring emerging leaders, or championing innovative programs, Amanda is committed to helping West Virginians build vibrant, resilient places to call home.</p>
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Cultivating Community Leadership through Practical Tools and Proven Strategies | Stacy Henderson, Jenny Totten, & Amanda Workman Scott

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Workshops

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Questions? Contact us at <a href="mailto:brushyfork@berea.edu">brushyfork@berea.edu</a>.

Sessions & Presenters

Intensive Tracks