Emerge Speaker Bios Jonathan Beatty Jonathan Beatty is a corporate analyst turned Social Entrepreneur from Hazard, Kentucky. He graduated with honors from the Gatton College of Business and Economics with a double major in Marketing and Management. Over his college career, Jonathan was very active in Lexington, serving in a multitude of leadership positions within Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the National Association of Black Accountants, and Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. In addition, he regularly volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity. After graduation, Jonathan went on to earn a M.B.A. as a Lyman T. Johnson Fellow, and later began his career as a Senior Analyst at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio. After almost seven years with P&G, Jonathan left the company to pursue his dream of working in San Francisco, California where he served as a Finance Manager for McKesson Corporation and Big Heart Pet Brands. During his time in San Francisco, Jonathan was responsible for providing financial leadership for McKesson’s $3 Billion Technology segment, and developing key strategies while at Big Heart Pet Brands. Jonathan left the corporate realm and founded Servonta Strategic Philanthropy to create positive, measurable, and sustainable social change. Shawn Burns Shawn Burns is a community-engaged businessman in Lexington. Prior to his current business consulting work, he spent several years in mega event venues with Aramark, Levy and Keeneland. His roles included Director of Purchasing, Operations and Assistant GM at Paul Brown Stadium, Keeneland and various PGA and ATP venues. Shawn currently serves on the board of Seedleaf and works to support and market the work of other food access concerned groups like GleanKY and FoodChain. He leverages his experience and contacts in food and beverage to broaden the network and knowledge of producers, purveyors, non-profits and those who work tirelessly to create a healthier, stronger and more equitable food system in the Bluegrass. Colleen Chaney (District Director, Congressman Andy Barr) Colleen Chaney has spent her entire career in public service. Chaney brings a swath of management experience paired with political accruement to assist elected officials during their terms in office. She currently serves as the Madison County Deputy Judge/Executive where she oversees operations for one of Kentucky's largest counties. Prior to serving as Deputy Judge, Chaney served as District Director for 6th District Congressman Andy Barr during his first term in office. She has also served as an appointee for Madison County Clerk Kenny Barger, Secretary of State Trey Grayson, and Governor Ernie Fletcher. She started in career in association management with the Kentucky League of Cities. A graduate of Indiana University, Chaney has worked in Executive Management, Human Resources, Media Relations, Event Planning, Public Relations, Community Development, Campaign Management and more. She resides in Richmond, KY with her husband and two daughters, Adaleen (8) and Evaleen (5 weeks). Jessica Crockett Jessica M. Crockett currently serves as a Staff Attorney for the Hon. Debra H. Lambert on the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Prior to she worked for three years as a Prosecutor in the office of the Pulaski County Attorney and for a year and a half as a Staff Attorney for the Chief Regional Circuit Judge of the Cumberland Region, Hon. Jeffrey. T. Burdette. She is a proud graduate of Chase College of Law and Murray State University. Jessica vividly recalls attending the first Master Musicians Festival over 21 years ago and it helped shape her already existing love of music; serving on the board has been a childhood dream of hers, and she is proud to be part of the Master Musicians’ Festival’s growth over the past three years. Allison Davis Ms. Davis graduated from the Culinary Arts program at Sullivan University’s Lexington campus in 2007 and opened Wild Thyme Cooking School & Catering in 2011. In addition to owning and operating Wild Thyme, Chef Allison is a featured correspondent, columnist and commentator on regional media outlets including television, print and radio. She has been featured in "Cooking with Paula Deen" 1 Magazine as one of the Top 5 Cooking Schools in the South. Chef Allison continues to be heavily involved with local non-profit organizations and maintains her ties to the culinary program at Sullivan University. Recently, she received the Sullivan University Distinguished Alumnus Award as recognition for University alumni who have gained unique distinction through success in their professions, service to the University and contribution to their communities. Colene Elridge Colene Elridge is an internationally known Life & Success Coach who helps ordinary individuals live extraordinary lives. During her HR career, Colene decided to pursue her dream of “Being the next Oprah”. She began coaching after recognizing empowering individuals was truly her calling. She opened Be More Consulting, an agency that works with organizations on employee development and leadership, and CoachColene.com, a company that focuses on personal development, empowerment and motivation. Colene believes that we all have the potential to “Be More”. Colene has been featured in local and national print, digital and television media, highlighting her passion for success. Colene has a Bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University where she studied Cultural Anthropology, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Sullivan University. In her spare time, Colene enjoys Bikram (hot) yoga, serving various roles with the Junior League of Lexington, sweet tea with lemon, laughing and spending time with her family as much as possible. Mary Ellen Harden Mary Ellen Harden is a native of Lexington and graduate of the University of Kentucky with degrees in Marketing and Public Relations. She left her student internship in Corporate Communications at Lexmark International to pursue a career in the greeting card industry after discovering a small business in Versailles, KY, Wall Street Greetings, LLC. Currently, she serves as President managing accounts with Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, U.S. Bank and other Fortune 500 firms. Five years ago she founded Mellen Designs, a line of social stationery, gifts and invitations. Her Magnet Card line was recognized at the 2011 National Stationery Show in New York City as a top three Trendy Award finalist. Jeff Fugate Jeff Fugate is the President of the Lexington Downtown Development Authority (LDDA). Fugate began his career leading teams of construction volunteers with Habitat for Humanity in the neighborhoods of Washington DC. After hanging up the hammer, Fugate continued his career in community planning and development. A graduate of the University of Kentucky Honors Program and a Gaines Fellow in the Humanities, Fugate later returned to school in Urban Planning and Design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon graduation, Fugate provided consulting services to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on their regional economic development framework and in 2008, Fugate joined a community development corporation in Lowell, Massachusetts where he initiated the organization’s first LEED-certifiable project and oversaw the renovation of a historic school building into apartments. Upon returning to Lexington in the autumn of 2010, Fugate ran a $2M energy efficiency fund for MACED in Berea, Kentucky. Fugate joined the LDDA in January of 2012 where he has provided key analysis to Lexington on a myriad of issues including the Old Courthouse, 21c Museum Hotel, and the Town Branch Commons park system and bikeway. The LDDA promotes physical and economic development that maintains Downtown Lexington as the lively, thriving, and diverse heart of Central Kentucky. Toa Green Toa received her B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She Specializes in Thai & Asian cuisine. She is the founder of Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream and Thai & Mighty Noodle Bowls. Crank & Boom placed 3rd in Lexington Herald-Leader’s Readers’ Choice Award- “Favorite Place to get Ice Cream”. Toa was featured in Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs (2014), as well as Awarded Lexington CRAVE Civic Ag Award (2014). Crank & Boom was voted runner-up for Best Sweet at Lexington CRAVE Festival (2014). Toa was Culinary Instructor at the Wholesome Chef from 2011-2012 and has had multiple appearances on local news talk shows. Commissioner Heather French Henry (Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs) In 2014, Governor Steve Beshear appointed Heather French Henry, former Miss America and nationally recognized veterans advocate, to serve as Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of 2 Veterans Affairs. Raised in Maysville, Kentucky, Heather French Henry graduated from the University Of Cincinnati with her BA of science and MA. As the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran Heather has been an outspoken advocate for our military veterans nationwide. During her year of service as Miss America Heather chose to highlight the needs of our nation’s homeless veterans. As her year progressed Heather developed a platform that included not only homelessness among veterans but healthcare, housing, disability and benefits. During the last 14 years Heather has continued her efforts nationwide by establishing the Heather French Foundation for Veterans, Inc. focusing on community outreach to help better educate young and old alike about programs available to assist veterans and to help increase patriotism in younger generations. She is married to Dr. Stephen Henry, and has two children. Andrea James Andrea was born and raised in Lexington, KY and has the distinct privilege of being Lexington’s first black woman to be elected to the LFUCG city council. She served two terms before retiring and while in her seat as 1st District council, developed an interest in a variety of topics including rural conservation, urban forestry, the arts and local food and urban farming. She has continued her engagement in community by working as a consultant at Bluegrass Community Foundation with a focus on environment and healthy food acces.