News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville’s Cityscape Board Chair Eric Walker said he is not concerned about the recent turnover with the downtown revitalization’s Executive Director position.
The non-profit has had three different directors since 2019. Walker said he sees the turnover as a natural part of the profession.
“In the non-profit world, I think you do see some transition and some change,” Walker said. “People leave the organizations, other opportunities come along and we want to support our directors and our people growing.”
Ferran Kefauver was named as the new director Monday. She replaces Lorie Krauss who left for another job after being hired in November of last year. Holly Freeman served as the executive director for about three years starting in 2019.
Over time, Walker said the board has looked at the position’s compensation and working relationships with executive directors. Walker said changes have been made each year, but COVID caused an impact to the non-profit.
“I think in the past few years COVID had a huge impact on a lot of non-profits in the area, and so, it was difficult to make a lot of those changes on the fly,” Walker said. “Even since COVID, Cityscape has proven to be a strong non-profit. It’s came back in full force and has been very successful in the past year. It has been in a good position to reevaluate its relationship with executive directors.”
Moving forward, Walker said he is excited for Kefauver as the new director. Events such as Wine on the Westside look to return as well as another year for Fall Funfest.
“This year we expect to have our events and expect to bring a full slate back to Cookeville,” Walker said. “I think people are ready for that. We have long put COVID behind us.”
Walker said a combination of board contacts and interviews led to Kefauver’s hire. Kefauver comes to CityScape with non-profit experience as the past executive director of Monroe County Health Council.
