Fibershed Board

Our all-volunteer board is currently serving an undetermined term as we move towards our non-profit certification.

Hannah Thiessen Howard — President

Hannah is serving as our first President and is one of the co-founders of the Greater Cumberland Fibershed. Her role in the organization is to move forward tasks and initiatives, connect with existing opportunities and organizations within our region, and coordinate upcoming events, website needs and more.

Hannah is located in Spring Hill, TN, where she lives in a suburb but dreams of the farm. Her only livestock are three very demanding cats, and a husband who occasionally needs wrangling, too.

Robin Verson — Vice President

Robin is the other co-founder of the Greater Cumberland Fibershed and is serving her first “term” as our Vice President. Her role in the organization varies, but includes many of the same duties as the President. Robin’s connections within the previous Fibershed and current fiber industry across Kentucky and Middle TN make her an invaluable member of the team.

Robin is located in Edmonton, KY, where she raises Jacob sheep, runs an organic farm CSA and hosts fantastically fun barn dances on-property.

Debbie Brann — Secretary

Debbie is one of our earliest GC Fibershed members and brings her experience navigating grant writing, raising money for agriculture and working with county and state resources to meet the needs of farmers across the state. She is part of a local but powerful fiber group that meets on the border of Kentucky and Tennessee and is passionate about combining efforts to reach extraordinary goals for our network.

Debbie is located in Adolphus, KY, where she raises a variety of wool sheep including Romney, Coopworth, Border Leicester and Rambouillet.

Debbie is not a sheep taking notes; we’ll get a photo of her up soon.

Jennifer Folsom — Board Member (Bast Fibers)

Jennifer Folsom brings her experience as a fiber farmer, independent textile designer and artist to our board. She is currently working to pursue and research flax production in Kentucky and Tennessee, and we look forward to hearing more about bast fiber production within our Fibershed network.

Jennifer currently lives in Nashville, TN, where she knits, spins, weaves and works with flax for her brand, Folsom Flax.

Jenn Lampen — Board Member (Knitwear Design)

Jenn is an independent knitting pattern designer with a specialization in complex brioche. She looks forward to designing with and using local yarns within our Fibershed in her future designs.

Jenn currently lives in Utica, KY.

Cynthia Rice — Board Member (Yarn Shop Owner)

Cynthia helps us tap into the local yarn shop community and crafter community through her yarn shop, Sunshine Weaving & Fiber Arts. A weaver, Cynthia loves creating space for fiber fellowship in her store, which is located in Lebanon, TN, almost on the border of our two states.

Fibershed Board

Kathy Brown

Patrick Angel

Dee Wolters

Contact