Board of Directors
Barry Clinton - Chairman
Barry served in the United States Navy and is a Vietnam war era veteran. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Georgia and retired from the USFS Coweeta Hydrologic Lab where he served as a Research Ecologist. Upon retirement he joined the Cowee School Board of Directors and is currently serving as board chair, as well as coordinating the Summer Concert Series for Cowee School. He is a managing member of Lazy Hiker Brewing Company, where he facilitates brewing operations and assists with general operations. Barry and his wife, Pasty, enjoy hiking and camping. They live in the Burningtown community where they grow a large, vegetable garden - canning and preserving what they produce. They have three children and four grandsons scattered along the Atlantic seaboard.
Kelly Penland - Secretary
Kelly is a Realtor ® in Macon County and loves the relationships and connections that are made through that work. A proud Gator fan and University of Florida Alumni, Kelly was raised in sunny Florida but she got to the mountains "as soon as she found out about them!" She directs a non-profit dance school, The Dance Arts Co-Op, which operates out of the Cowee School. She also enjoys gardening, sewing, bible study, traveling, reading, cooking and wine tasting. Kelly currently serves as secretary of the board of directors.
Teresa Falzone - Treasurer
Teresa is from North Easton, Massachusetts. She has worked as a non-profit finance administrator for forty years. Her experience includes serving as VP of Finance at St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children, Boston’s largest shelter for homeless women and children; VP of Finance for Girls on the Run International in Charlotte NC; CFO for Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy; Finance Manager for The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center; and Finance Director for Mainspring Conservation Trust in Franklin, North Carolina. Teresa serves as Cowee School Art and Heritage Center’s finance and accounting expert. Her affiliation with Cowee School began with a pottery class at the Cowee Pottery School, and she loves poetry, multi-media art, books, baking, and living in Franklin with her two dogs.
Bob Kuppers
Bob was born in Frankfurt, Germany while his father was serving the US Navy. After graduating from Franklin High School, Bob attended the US Naval Academy and spent 25 years serving the US Submarine Force, retiring as commanding officer of the USS Key West. After his retirement from the Navy, Bob completed another career as a teacher and football/basketball coach at Franklin High School. He says, “Coaching football at FHS was one of the best times of my life.”. Bob served as a county commissioner in Macon County and lobbied for the county to buy and repurpose the Cowee Elementary School building when it was abandoned in 2012. He has served on the board of directors since its inception and utilizes his leadership skills to help build the nonprofit. Bob and his wife, Peggy, have three daughters and two grandchildren. He loves sports and does radio broadcast for Franklin High School for football and basketball games.
Claire Suminski
Claire hails from Hudson Falls, New York. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Lewis Clark State College in Idaho. Claire and her husband, Joe, moved to Franklin in 1991 to take over a business that her father founded, Dometrics, Inc. Dometrics’ roots are in an Adirondack based foundry, The Sandy Hill Corporation. Claire’s grandfather was vice-president of sales of the company which was very involved in the community of Hudson Falls, so Claire has deep roots in business and community service. Claire organizes the hugely popular Cowee Christmas event at Cowee School. Her close-knit, faith based family includes three daughters, one son, one foster son and two grandchildren. Claire’s hobbies include mentoring students and writing children’s book. She also enjoys music, art and heritage related activities.
Lisa Browning
Lisa is a Cowee Elementary School alumni! She attended the school for fourth, fifth and sixth grades and says it was a “fantastic school.” Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University and has worked for Macon County Health Department as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist for twenty-three years. Lisa advised on Cowee School’s food vendors and on its commercial kitchen. Lisa and her husband, Brian, live in the Rainbow Springs area of Macon County. They have three children, Wyatt, Branch and Clancy, and two much loved dogs, Maple and Deuce. Lisa is an avid runner and exerciser. She loves to see people happy and loves encouraging other to be their best.
Susan Ervin
Susan has lived in Franklin for 40 years and is married to aquatic biologist, Dr. Bill McLarney. She served on the Macon County Planning Board and was co-coordinator of the League of Women Voters for many years. She has served on the board of Cowee School almost since the beginning and organizes the popular speaker series, Where We Live: History, Nature, and Culture. Susan spends an inordinate amount of time gardening on Coggins Bend, just a couple of miles from the school. Daughter Rose, a professor at Auburn University and poet, attended Cowee Elementary School. Strengthening community and appreciating our heritage are important to Susan and she feels that Cowee School does an excellent job on these missions.
Anne Hyder
Anne joined the Cowee School board in 2016. She holds a BSN degree from the University of South Carolina and was employed by Macon County Health Department for 31 years including serving as the Assistant Health Director for several years prior to her retirement. In addition to serving on the Cowee School board, Anne is the chair of the board of both the Macon County Department of Social Services and Folk Heritage Association of Macon County (FHAMC) and serves on the leadership team of the Women’s History Trail, a project of FHAMC. Anne has lived in Macon County since 1975. She has two children and four grandchildren living in Macon County. Anne’s hobbies include volunteering and giving back to the community through her involvement in many organizations and spending time with her granddaughter and grandsons.
Bob McCollum
Bob’s family was one of the founding families of Macon County. After graduating from Western Carolina University, Bob enjoyed a 32-year career in research at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory. Bob joined the board in 2013 and has served in many capacities, including as board chair. He has a passion for the mission of preserving Appalachian culture. When Bob isn’t volunteering at Cowee School, he sings with the V8s, “a Rock ‘N Soul explosion from the golden age of rock n roll.’. Bob and his wife, Elaine, enjoy traveling and trying new foods. A favorite quote from Bob: “Food. It’s one of the roses of life.”
George James
Bio coming soon!
Staff
Laura Brooks - Executive Director
Bio coming soon!
Kathie Parris - Programs Administrator
Bio coming soon!