About

Brent Skidmore, President, serves as Associate Professor of Art & Art History, Director of Craft Studies and Public Arts and Humanities Chair and he is co-founder of the STEAM Studio. He received his MFA in Sculpture from Indiana University in 1990 and a BFA in Sculpture from Murray State University in 1987. Along with his commitment to his family and friends, bike riding, hiking, studio work, hot yoga and educational positions he serves as an advocate for craft education, scholarship, and the professional development and mentorship of young artists. He has also served as a board member and now consulting partner to Journeymen Asheville, a mentoring organization for 12 to 17 yr. old boys, to develop Crafting Passages at STEAM Studio. He has recently entered training for Advance Care Directives, Home Funerals, Green Burials and Death Care Doula training at the Center for Conscious Living and Dying.

Jeff Bowman, Board Member, actively consults as a creative branding and marketing strategist, designer, art director and writer with a variety of companies in multiple and varied industries including healthcare, non-profits, life sciences, hospitality, banking, etc. His non-profit experience includes founding Journeyman Triangle, a group mentoring organization that offers group mentoring for boys ages 13-18 to help them as they grow into men of integrity. After establishment of this 501-c3 in 2009, he served as the executive director, in various board positions as well as an active mentor. Jeff is presently renewing one of his first loves of making art through drawing and painting. He also continues his long obsession with exercise in multiple modalities (yoga, lifting, floor-based calisthenics, handstands, and pickle-ball). His favorite pastime, however, is hanging out with his family, including his three intelligent, world-changing, and talented adult children. Their passions to create a better world influenced him to do similarly and have led him to the enthusiastic acceptance of this board position with The Nectar Exchange in hopes of tangibly contributing towards the creation of a more sustainable world.

Danielle Thuot, Board Member, is a native of North Carolina. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Belmont Abbey College and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Danielle spent 15 years managing nonprofit organizations, and she has brought this passion for helping people as a real estate agent. She attended Cumbie and Trull School of Real Estate and is a member of the National Association of REALTORSⓇ, NC REALTORSⓇ, and Land of Sky Association of REALTORSⓇ. She is an outdoor enthusiast and a person who believes in the importance of community engagement, and is committed to protecting natural areas.

Todd Barnett, Board Member, is currently the Head of Product Governance for the Commercial Bank at Wells Fargo. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2019, he served in various senior leadership positions over 13 years at Bank of America. He began his professional career in the Information Technology industry while working for IBM and GE Information Technology Solutions. Todd is a strong advocate for talent development, leadership, and diversity. He has a proven track record of establishing authentic and sustainable relationships and building followership at all levels within an organization. Todd earned his business degree and international certification from the University of Cincinnati. He recently completed the executive education program for Operations from the University of Michigan. Todd lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and four children.

Dr. Doug Bruggeman, Executive Director, received his Ph.D. at Michigan State University specializing in Ecological Economics.  His work has centered on developing market-based strategies for mitigating the effects of habitat loss and adapting to climate change. Dr. Bruggeman designed and taught a course on the Economics of Sustainability for the Graduate Program in Sustainability Studies at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Prior to completing his PhD, he worked as an Ecotoxicologist supporting Superfund/NRDA and Brownfield re-development. His MS focused on studying the impacts of ozone depletion on frogs in Patagonia. Dr. Bruggeman is also a licensed realtor in NC and a license real estate educator in several states.