Board Members

Kent Gilbert has served as pastor of Union Church in Berea for 12 years. He is a graduate of Whittier College in Los Angeles, and did his seminary degree at the University of Chicago Divinity School and Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. Nationally, Kent serves as an advisor to the United Church of Christ’s Science and Technology Work Group, and in 2005 chaired the committee that recommended key resolutions concerning faith, justice, and climate change. Locally, he sits on the board of the Kentucky Council of Churches where he has been a part of the Council’s emphasis on locally produced food and consistent church action to oppose mountaintop removal.

Mark Jeantheau is a program analyst, web developer, and writer, with an educational background in chemistry and computer science. In 2003, Mark started GrinningPlanet.com, a web site designed to use humor to promote awareness of environment, energy, and sustainability issues. In 2005, Peak Oil and other factors prompted Mark (and his partner, Donna) to move from the D.C. area to Berea. In 2006, they completed construction on an EnergyStar-certified home. Mark began contributing his technical expertise to the Sustainable Berea board in 2007.

George Schloemer is a Berea physician and a dedicated bicycle commuter.

Cheyenne Olson is a native of Kansas. She is a former journalist, has a Ph.D. in communications, lived in Australia for 9 years and moved back to America in 1997. She works at Berea College as a fund-raiser. She and Richard married on April 1, 2006 and in lieu of wedding gifts, requested donations that were used to found Sustainable Berea.

Richard Olson was raised in upstate New York. He has a Masters degree in ecology, and a Ph.D. in Agronomy. Since 1999 he has been on the faculty of Berea College as Director of the Sustainability and Environmental Studies (SENS) Program. Under his direction, SENS has developed a curriculum centered around ecological design – the purposeful integration of human actions with the structures and functions of the natural world.

Becky McCane is a native of Kentucky. She has a Master’s degree in Biology and has been teaching Biological Sciences for over 24 years. She has taught Environmental Science courses for over 17 years. She teaches full-time for Bluegrass Community & Technical College in Lexington, KY and is the coordinator for Human Ecology courses there. She is on the Board of the Okela Village Schools Project and is the U.S. Coordinator for Save China’s Tigers. She also helps maintain the website for Sustainable Berea.

Peter Hackbert As a teacher, scholar, public speaker, social and civic entrepreneur and consultant, Dr. Hackbert is a nationally recognized expert in entrepreneurship education. He currently holds the William and Kay Moore Chair in Entrepreneurship and Management, and is the co-Director of the Entrepreneurship for the Public Good Program at Berea College. Building upon his research and teaching interests in emerging growth companies in high-technology and new product/service development he and his student contributes to the infusion of the entrepreneurial mindset in those may have little or no business or management education background. His energy with Sustainable Berea focuses upon farmers markets and locally growth products, energy reduction and conversation, and develop localized economies.

Bruce Gregg was born in Sioux Falls, SD and graduated from Sioux Falls College with an education degree. Along with four other people, he started the East Dakota Food Coop back in 1973. He has been dabbling in gardening, energy conservation and learning about the earth’s resources ever since. He was President of the Coulee Region Sierra Club in La Crosse,WI. Bruce was also involved in local Earth day events and served on a local Household Hazardous Waste Citizens task force. Bruce and his wife, Aggie Hoeger, moved to Berea in 2008.

Laurel McIvor Laurel McIvor recently moved to Berea from Nova Scotia with her husband, Tyler Smith. They were specifically drawn here by the Transition Town Berea initiative. With degrees in Outdoor Recreation and Biology from Lakehead University in Ontario, Laurel has over twenty years professional experience in environmental education. Laurel’s intense environmental values, fascination with nature, and passion for people have always been the foundation of her work and community service. Laurel strongly believes in a sustainable future through education, informed planning and hands-on community projects.

Eddie Shupe, a native Berean, has a BS degree in Industrial Technology from Berea College and a MS degree in Industrial Technology/Design/Drafting from Eastern Kentucky University. He has served on the City of Berea’s Planning and Zoning Board. He operated The Cardinal Deli for almost thirty years, and now works at Middletown Industrial . Eddie served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He is the owner of Fast Eddie’s Woodworking and Sawmill in Madison County, Kentucky.