2014 Officer Nominees | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

2014 Officer Nominees

The KFTC Steering Committee acknowledges the dedicated service of KFTC’s hard-working statewide officers, and recommends a diverse set of community leaders to serve in those positions for the 2014-15 organization year (annual meeting to annual meeting). The proposed slate is Dana Beasley Brown as chairperson, Carl Shoupe as vice-chair, Elizabeth Sanders as secretary-treasurer and Tanya Torp as the at-large representative. Sue Tallichet will automatically become the immediate past chairperson on the Executive Committee.

This slate, based on a recommendation from the Leadership Development Committee and approved by the Steering Committee, will be voted on the membership in attendance at the Annual Business Meeting on Sunday morning. Other nominations may be made from the floor at that time.

Together, KFTC’s five statewide officers make up the organization’s Executive Committee. KFTC’s officers are elected for one-year terms and may serve no more than two consecutive years in the same position. 

Here are the nominees:

Chairperson: Dana Beasley Brown was one of the driving forces behind the formation of the Bowling Green KFTC Chapter. She serves on KFTC’s Steering Committee as vice-chair and the Economic Justice Committee, and is deeply involved in local efforts to improve the quality and affordability of housing in her community. Dana has spoken before several legislative committees and has been a guest on the KET program Kentucky Tonight about the need for fair tax reform.

Carl ShoupeVice-Chairperson: Carl Shoupe is a long-time member from Benham who has served several years on the KFTC Steering Committee. He is a former miner, mine worker organizer and Vietnam veteran. He was a major part of the planning for the Appalachia’s Bright Future conference and is actively involved in organizing projects to follow up on the ideas and momentum from that event. He is a leader in the Harlan County chapter and KFTC's current At-Large Representative on the Executive Committee.

Elizabeth SandersSecretary-Treasurer: Elizabeth Sanders lives in Whitesburg and is active in the Letcher County chapter. She has served on KFTC’s Steering Committee for the past three years. Elizabeth also serves on KFTC’s New Energy and Transition Committee. Elizabeth works at Appalshop’s community run radio station, WMMT-FM. She has been an important part of the Stay Together Appalachian Youth project and the Central Appalachian Prisoner Support Network.

At-Large: Tanya Torp is an active member of the Central Kentucky chapter and the overall community in Lexington. She started her own foundation, Be Bold, which helps young women and girls in the community by empowering them to go beyond their circumstances. Her home in Lexington is open to the community to come together to work on social justice together and is also a safe place for those in need to come for help.