Who We Are:
Our Staff
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Gwynne Rukenbrod
Executive Director
grukenbrod@handmadeinamerica.org
(828) 252-0121 ext. 308
Gwynne was a Curator of Fine Craft at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, a nonprofit organization founded to advance education about the process, product, and history of craft. She is an accomplished glass artist as well as an arts executive, she previously was Executive Director of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers, Art Curator of The Works (the Ohio Center for History, Art and Technology), and the Director of Columbus’ Days of Creation Arts for Kids. She has worked with both rural and urban communities and built strong stakeholder coalitions in both.
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Judi Jetson
Director of Economic Development
jjetson@handmadeinamerica.org
(828) 252-0121 ext. 304
As Small Towns Program Coordinator, Judi manages the operations of the 13 towns participating in the program.
Judi joined HandMade in America in 2010 to manage the Small Towns program and develop new regional economic development initiatives. She previously worked in community economic development for the University of South Florida, the US Small Business Administration, the Council of State Governments, and ran a small town revitalization consulting business for 12 years. A fiber artist and teacher, Judi received her BA from the University of Connecticut and an MA from the University of Kansas in Speech Communication and Human Relations. She specializes in small town and rural economic development, university-community partnerships, group and organizational dynamics and community engagement.
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Janelle Wienke
Communications Coordinator
jwienke@handmadeinamerica.org
(828) 252-0121 ext. 307
bio to come
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Rachel Berry
Development Coordinator
rberry@handmadeinamerica.org
(828) 252-0121