Meet Our Team
Executive Committee
R. Dean Hamric, President
Dean has been involved with arts-related boards for over 30 years, most recently as a Trustee and Executive Committee member with The Tampa Museum of Art. In the past, he served on the board and as a past President of the Art Society with The North Carolina Museum of Art, Vice Chair of the Trustees at The Nasher Museum at Duke University, and the Board of Directors with The Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh.
Dean retired in 2019 after a career in banking and finance in both North Carolina and Florida. He and his husband Burt are permanent residents of Tampa and seasonal residents in Blowing Rock. In Tampa, Dean has served in leadership roles with The Tampa Rotary Club and with Suncoast United Way. Both are avid collectors of North Carolina pottery, photography as well as other regional art.
Dan McLamb, Vice President
Dan grew up in Benson, North Carolina, and obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has practiced law in Raleigh for over 40 years, primarily defending professional liability cases. He is one of only a handful of lawyers in North Carolina who has been admitted to fellowship in the three leading national societies for litigators: American College of Trial Lawyers, International Association of Barristers, and International Academy of Trial Lawyers. In the past he has served on the Visual Arts Exchange Board of Advisors in Raleigh.
Dan and his wife Bonnie have had a home in Blowing Rock since 2016 and are active in the community. They are members of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church and the Blowing Rock Country Club. Dan is also a Board Member of the Blowing Rock Civic Association. Dan and Bonnie enjoy hiking, travel, Carolina sports, and spending time with their four sons and daughters-in-law and with their five grandchildren.
Eric Overcash, Treasurer
Eric grew up in Kannapolis, NC, and still maintains a residence there. He currently serves as CEO of O Inc., which operates eight Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurants. Prior to O Inc., Eric held many different positions in KFC franchise organizations. Eric and his wife Diane are members of Blowing Rock Country Club and Rumple Presbyterian Church. They plan to ultimately make Blowing Rock their permanent residence. In addition to their two children, Eric and Diane have four grandsons and one granddaughter. Eric has always had a strong appreciation for the arts and enjoys collecting.
Cantey Tanner, Executive Member at Large
Cantey was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, spending summers throughout her life in Blowing Rock. She attended Hollins College and UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with a degree in Psychology. After practicing as a clinical psychologist for 10 years, she retired to pursue her passion of figurative sculpture. Over the last 4 decades she has enjoyed a career of portrait sculpture, creating commissioned bronze portraits for individuals and galleries throughout the Southeast. Cantey has spent many years as a volunteer and/or Board member of community organizations in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Blowing Rock. She has loved her involvement with BRAHM, taking a leadership role with the last three Galas, and looks forward to serving on the Board. She and her husband Jim now enjoy traveling, playing golf, entertaining and collecting art.
Board of Trustees
Andrea Burns
Andrea grew up in Flint, Michigan, and received her PhD in History from the University of Minnesota. She and her husband, Trent (from Marquette, MI) moved to Boone, NC in 2009, and Andrea began teaching public history, museum studies, and American history classes at Appalachian State University. She is now an associate professor and director of the public history program at ASU. One of the highlights of her career has been to collaborate with local cultural institutions, including BRAHM and the Blowing Rock Historical Society. Andrea’s graduate students have gained valuable experience in the field through their creation and installation of several temporary history exhibits at BRAHM, including Truth Beneath These Hills: Uncovering the History and Heritage of Mining in Western North Carolina (2015). She looks forward to strengthening and expanding the partnership between ASU and BRAHM. Andrea has two young daughters and an assortment of cats. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the piano and trying to grow native flowers.
Marion Johnson Church
Marion Church is a retired executive in the non-profit sector and throughout her life she has had a passion for volunteering herself! She has served as President of the NC State Art Society Board, the Raleigh Fine Arts Society, the Junior League of Raleigh, the Raleigh Little Theatre, and Saint Saviour’s Center. She recently completed nine years on the NC Museum of Art Foundation Board where she served as Development Chair and on the Executive and Nominating Committees. Marion has also been very involved with the NC Museum of History as a Board member, statewide Membership Chair, and on the Executive Committee when the new Museum opened in Raleigh. Active in the Episcopal Church, she has been Senior Warden at Christ Church Raleigh and Holy Innocents in Henderson. Marion’s first memories of Blowing Rock were summer trips with her mother which she cherishes. She and her late husband, John, enjoyed their Hound Ears home for many years and now she is thrilled to be in Blowing Rock as a part-time resident. She is a devoted, enthusiastic art collector who loves to decorate, travel, read and enjoy life with her Standard Poodle, Bogue!
Joe Coyne
Professionally, Joe has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and is currently an executive vice president with Wells Fargo. Having held a variety of leadership roles in banking, wealth management, and insurance businesses, Joe’s experience includes strategy development, strategic consulting, sales and marketing, operations, corporate finance and cash management, and marketing. Joe earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and his MBA from Duke University, where he was recognized as a Fuqua Scholar.
Personally, Joe lives in Charlotte, NC, with his partner of 19 years, Chris Albertson. Chris and Joe enjoy spending time during the summer at their home in Blowing Rock, and in the winter at their home in Palm Beach, FL. When in Blowing Rock, they attend St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church and are members of Blowing Rock Country Club. Joe and Chris enjoy travel, supporting the arts, vintage cars, and good food and wine with friends and family. Joe has served on boards for a variety of non-profit organizations, most recently The Arts Empowerment Project in Charlotte. Joe is also a daily yoga practitioner.
Kadie Dean
Kadie has had a life-long passion for the arts. She served as a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum and has led BRAHM’s docent program for the last five years. In that role, she recently led the docent curation of two BRAHM exhibitions. She has been Chair of Artist in Residence at Edgewood Cottage and actively serves on the Blue Ridge Conservancy Board of Trustees and Governance Committee. Prior to retiring, Kadie served as Vice President of Human Resources at a life insurance carrier in Milwaukee, leading it to repeated designations of Top Workplaces in Southeastern Wisconsin. She also founded and led a human resource management consulting firm delivering talent acquisition and professional development services for U.S. and international clients. She has an MS in Leadership Studies from Marquette University where she also taught, and a BA in Business Administration. She and her husband Tom O’Brien live outside Blowing Rock full time and enjoy hiking, collecting art and gathering with their blended family of six children and nine grandchildren.
Sue Glenn
Sue has been involved with BRAHM first as a Founding Board Member and then as a tireless volunteer. She helped organize and produce BRAHM’s first exhibition, helped write and produce the accompanying catalog, and played a similar role in two subsequent fundraising exhibitions and art sales. As a local real estate broker, Sue helped develop and negotiate the collaborative land lease with the Town that provided BRAHM’s present location. Since the Museum’s opening, she has served on numerous committee assignments and is an active docent. Other interests include the Blowing Rock Historical Society and Mayas for Ancient Mayan.
Sandy Huff
A native of Ashe County, Sandy’s love for the High Country runs deep. She has lived in Blowing Rock for 10 years with her husband Randy. They also have a home in Hickory where Sandy started a home care agency, Health & Home Services, 20 years ago and recently sold. Prior to that, she was Director of Sales and Marketing for Alba Waldensian in Valdese, NC. Sandy holds a BS in Business from Gardner Webb University. She enjoys golfing, hiking, reading and spending time with her two grandchildren, Harper and Mason.
Brent Moore
Brent is a native of North Carolina, growing up in Lexington and visiting Blowing Rock as a child with his parents and grandparents. After graduating from college, he worked in the furniture industry as a sales broker, then he started his real estate career in the Triangle in 1993 with Prudential, which later became Berkshire Hathaway. He has been a real estate broker with James B. Collier Real Estate, since moving permanently to Blowing Rock in 2015. Brent has owned a home in Blowing Rock for 22 years, built a new home in Mayview, and moved his permanent residence to Blowing Rock in 2015. He is an amateur artist and collector of art and pottery. Community service includes Triangle United Way, Art Curator for the Raleigh LGBT Center, and recently serving on the membership, recreation and wine club committees at the Blowing Rock Country Club. Brent has become an avid croquet player and enjoys hiking, painting, and travel. Brent and his husband, Tim Gupton, have three children and four grandchildren, all of whom love holidays in Blowing Rock.
Mary Ann Poole
Mary Ann grew up in Kentucky where she attended and graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington and later received a Master’s of Education from UNC Chapel Hill. She has lived in Raleigh for 50 years and has been a summer resident of the Blowing Rock area for 25 years. Mary Ann currently serves on the board of the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy and is a member of various committees. She has been active on several nonprofit boards through the years.
Lee Rocamora
Growing up, Lee’s mother was a supporter of the arts in Asheville. Like many kids, he was a victim of “required culture,” being towed to performing arts events and museums. In the 1980s, Lee’s mother introduced him to Penland School of Crafts, which was a turning point. Seeing how art was created and meeting the people who did it made it real. From that time forward, art became part of his life. When he retired, Lee began volunteering regularly at Penland and The Mint Museum, which kindled another interest: the importance of art education and community outreach. Over the last several years, Lee has had the privilege of working with the amazing BRAHM staff, and looks forward this continued relationship. BRAHM has seen incredible growth in recent years; it is a true asset to its members and the community.
Maria G. Saterbo
The arts and organizations that benefit children and families have always been the focus of Maria Saterbo’s board involvement and volunteering for over 35 years. She was born in Cuba to Spanish parents and grew up in Central Florida where she and her husband Bryan still reside. She is a graduate of Florida Southern College with a BA degree in Education. Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern was her first board involvement and she is still involved as a member and part of the Art Trust Committee. She has been a BRAHM member for many years. Maria and Bryan first visited Blowing Rock in the early 1980s and have been homeowners here since 2000. They are members of Blowing Rock Golf and Country Club. Maria has two children, four, grandchildren and a beloved Irish Terrier, Lucy.
Jess Wehrmann
A native of Wilkes County, Jess is a ‘07 graduate of Wake Forest University. Go Deacs! She and her husband, Kenneth, moved to the Blowing Rock area in 2012 when they acquired Monkee’s. As a business leader, resident, and volunteer, Jess is committed to the town of Blowing Rock. She is a 2013 graduate of the Blowing Rock Leadership Challenge, in her 6th year on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and has served as the head of the Business Support Committee where she developed the downtown Sip and Shop and the Holiday Stroll. She and Kenneth also have the privilege of using Monkee’s as a platform to support many local non-profits including BRAHM. It is Jess’ passion to be an integral participant in Blowing Rock’s continued growth. In her spare time; Jess is an avid reader, traveler, foodie, yogi, and loves hanging with her best friend, Kenneth.
Jean Wilkinson
Jean grew up in Asheboro, NC. She graduated from Peace College and UNC-Chapel Hill. After graduation, she married Walter and taught in elementary and middle schools in Honolulu, Boston, and Charlotte. Jean and Walter have two children and seven grandchildren. She has served on the Board of Trustees of Peace College, Charlotte Latin School, the Junior League, Women of Vision, and the Charlotte Assembly. Jean grew up coming to Blowing Rock. She and Walter spend most of their time in this wonderful community. She has been or is currently involved in leadership roles with the Blowing Rock Historical Society, Blowing Rock Community Foundation, Blowing Rock Country Club, and Blowing Rock Methodist Church.
Administrative Staff
Stephan Dragisic, Teresa & Don Caine Executive Director
He/Him
As a part-time resident of Ashe County for the past twenty years, Stephan admired the collections and mission of BRAHM. Stephan joined BRAHM in July 2023 after serving on the leadership team of Reynolda House Museum of American Art for more than thirteen years. Prior work focused on tourism marketing for Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts with a major in History from High Point University, Dragisic has a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership Essentials from Wake Forest University.
Community service has been and will remain important to Stephan. While at Reynolda, his service to the community included serving as a trustee for the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, President of the Rotary Club of Winston-Salem, and Arts Day Committee Chair for Leadership Winston-Salem. Additionally, he has served on the Diggs Gallery Advisory Board, Delta Arts Center 50th Anniversary Committee, Board member of the Downtown Arts District Association, and the Salem College 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee.
His education, work experience, and community service prepared him for leading BRAHM into the next decade. He looks forward to growing the Permanent Collection and program offerings for the benefit of the residents and many visitors to the
High Country.
828.295.9099 Ext. 3008
Sharon Caldwell, Office Manager
She/Her
Sharon has made the North Carolina High Country her home for the last 34 years. She came to the Boone/Blowing Rock area to visit with friends in 1982 and a chance meeting with local business person, the late Bob Caldwell, led to their marriage in 1983. Sharon loves this area and enjoys traveling the High Country and seeing the seasonal changes. Sharon is an avid gardener and reader. She grew up in coastal Connecticut and graduated from West Haven High School with a focus on business. After high school Sharon was able to travel and live in a number of locations in the US; North and South Dakota and the Blue Ridge Mountain area of Virginia, while working and sharing in volunteer activities until settling in Boone. Sharon’s work career since living in the High Country has been mainly focused on the Office Management and Accounting areas for a number of local businesses.
officemanager@blowingrockmuseum.org
828.295.9099 ext. 3003
Hannah Chaney, Membership & Administrative Specialist
She/Her
Originally from the Charlotte area, Hannah moved to the High Country in 2019 to finish her BA of English in Literary Studies. She continued at Appalachian State and is currently finishing a MA of English.
Hannah is new to the museum world, but has always had a passion for art and generative study. She is excited to be able to facilitate museum operations and memberships, sharing the joy and beauty of our institution with the public.
When she finds free time away from her MA studies, Hannah researches Dress History, with a focus on European fashions of the 17th and 18th Centuries. She loves to work with all forms of fiber and can often be found sewing, crocheting, or spinning.
hannah@blowingrockmuseum.org
828.295.9099 ext. 3011
Zack Hill, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
He/Him
Zack is a lifelong North Carolinian from rural, eastern NC. He double-majored in English and History at East Carolina University before earning a Master’s in English at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Zack put down roots in the High Country in 2016 and enjoys playing guitar, writing and reading, roaming the mountains, and going to see live music. He’s worked in journalism, academia, and marketing, along with two decades of freelance writing and editing.
marketing@blowingrockmuseum.org
828.295.9099 ext. 3005
Program Staff
Ian Gabriel Wilson, Curator of Exhibitions & Collections
He/Him
Gabe returned home to Appalachia after a decade of studying and working in the Midwest, joining BRAHM in 2021. A curator, art historian, and arts administrator, he received a BA in Art History and Cultural History from Vermont’s Marlboro College before completing his graduate study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and holds an MA in Modern & Contemporary Art History, Theory, & Criticism and an MA in Arts Administration & Policy.
Most recently, Gabe served as the Jeanne and Ralph Graham Collections Fellow at Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he curated a number of exhibitions including Ruth Adler Schnee: Modern Designs for Living, the first major museum presentation and publication to study the life and career of the eponymous textile designer and interior architect. Gabe has previously held positions at the academic journal ARTMargins, the Roger Brown Study Collection in Chicago, and the Sullivan Galleries of SAIC where he was awarded a Graduate Curatorial Fellowship by the Institute for Curatorial Research and Practice in 2015. He has also taught courses in the history of craft and the concepts and methods of visual culture at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies.
gabe@blowingrockmuseum.org
828.295.9099 ext. 3007
Reagan Petty, Collections Manager and Exhibitions Coordinator
She/Her
Reagan returned to North Carolina after completing a Henry Luce Foundation funded position as Assistant Curator for Folk Art at the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Through the Luce Grant, Reagan has worked to digitize the more than 750 examples of folk art in the collection of the Kentucky Museum.
Reagan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Philosophy from Wofford College and a Master of Arts in Folklore Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has served as an English teacher in the Wake County Public School System and Educator for the City of Raleigh Museum in Raleigh, NC. Additionally, she served as a Curatorial Intern at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, TN, Gallery Assistant at the Spartanburg Art Museum in Spartanburg, SC, and as Curatorial Assistant at The Johnson Collection in Spartanburg, SC.
Reagan is excited to be returning to the Carolinas. When not working, she enjoys practicing and instructing yoga.
pettyre@blowingrockmuseum.org
828.295.9099 ext. 3009
Willard Watson III, Program & Outreach Director
He/Him
Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Willard moved to Boone in 2008, but his roots run deep in Watauga County. His great-grandfather and namesake, Willard Watson I, was a well-known toy carver, moonshiner, and dancer.
Willard has a Masters in Appalachian Studies with a concentration on Sustainability and a Bachelors of Science in Sustainable Development both from Appalachian State University. Since 2010 Willard has been an active member of the High Country community through volunteerism and event planning. He has worn many hats in the area with a variety of organizations such as the Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest ‘n Sugar Grove, Sustain Appalachian, Center 45 Climbing & Fitness, High Country Local First, the Watauga Food Council, and the High Country Beer Fest. His academic and volunteer passions intersect on the topic of cultural preservation and community development through the creative arts.
He is also a member of the 2020-2022 class of the William C. Fridays Fellowship for Human Relations.
programs@blowingrockmuseum.org
828.295.9099 ext. 3006
Jennifer Garonzik, Education Center Director
She/Her
After graduating from Thomas Johnson High School Magnet Program for the Visual and Performing Arts, Jennifer earned her BFA in Fine Arts from UNCG with additional coursework in Education. She has taught art in both private and public settings as well as illustrated a series of early reader books. After spending 12 years in the fields of deadline-oriented print graphic design and educational publishing, she is grateful to return to the creative classroom. Jennifer has lived in the High Country with her husband, Michael, for 21 years, enjoying the hiking and scenic beauty that brought them here from Frederick, Maryland. She volunteers at Blowing Rock School, where her two children currently attend. Being involved with the Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival has recently rekindled her love of watercolor painting en plein air.
jennifer@blowingrockmuseum.org
828.295.9099 ext. 3004
Kayla Reische, Education Outreach Coordinator
They/Them/She/Her
Growing up in a creative family, Kayla always knew that they wanted to build a career in the arts. They received their Studio Art BFA, Art Management BA, and nonprofit management minor from Appalachian State University in 2021. Kayla first came to BRAHM in 2019 as a program and outreach intern, and was eager to return and pursue their love of arts education. When not at the museum, Reische is likely to be in their studio or garden. Their personal practice explores embodied imagination and transformation through the engagement of the body as both the art making subject and object. They’re a multi-disciplinary artist, working in traditional mediums such as paint and fibers, to more experimental work with video and performance. Reische is passionate about the capacities of art as a social and educational tool, and aims to facilitate play and dialogue both in and out of the classroom.
ed_outreach@blowingrockmuseum.org
828.295.9099 ext. 3014
Support Staff
Grace Quinn, Front Desk Manager
She/They
Born and raised in Raleigh, NC, Grace attended NCSU before transferring to Appalachian State University and moving to the High Country, pursuing a degree in Anthropology with a focus in Archaeology. As a Raleigh native, they were fortunate enough to visit the NCMA frequently and learn to appreciate fine arts along with the incredible craft works their family created. Grace's favorite mediums to work in are fibers, particularly embroidery and crochet, and digital art. When not in the museum, she enjoys reading and spending time with her cat, Arson.
info@blowingrockmuseum.org
828.295.9099 ext. 3001
Mark Brackbill, Facilities Manager
He/Him
Mark and his wife, Linda Hanawalt, purchased a farm in Banner Elk several years ago while living and working in Florida. In 2015, they decided to make the High Country their year-round home. Since 1999, Mark has been a small business owner. He has owned a painting and renovation company and has managed several rental properties. In Florida, Mark and Linda owned retail and foodservice businesses. Through his own business experience, Mark understands the needs of a building like BRAHM and his expertise is highly valuable.
Advisory Members & Founders Emeriti
Welborn E. Alexander, Jr., Founder Emeritus
Welborn served as president of BRAHM's Board of Trustees for 12 years before stepping down in June 2012. A native of Lenoir, NC, he is a graduate of Duke University and a retired senior executive of CSX Corporation, a major railroad and transportation company. Welborn and his wife, Patty, moved to Blowing Rock in 1995, living here until 2015 when they became residents of Winston-Salem. They are supporters of the visual arts and are collectors of American Impressionist Art from the early 1900s. Welborn brings a wealth of experience to this group, having served on the Boards of the Nasher Museum, the North Carolina Museum of Art, and Mint Museum, and is currently on the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.
Herbert Cohen, Founder Emeritus
Herb has connections to Blowing Rock reaching back to 1958, when he began spending time with friend and fellow artist Philip Moose at his home here. Earning a BFA and MFA from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY, Herb has served as an instructor at Alfred University, a designer for Hyalyn Porcelain Company, Hickory, NC, and as Exhibits Director and Acting Director at the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte. As an award-winning potter and sculptor, he has exhibited throughout the United States; served as juror for numerous exhibitions, fairs, and shows; and served appointments to regional committees and boards.
Joseph Daingerfield Dulaney, Sr., Founder Emeritus
Joseph Daingerfield Dulaney is the grandson of artist Elliott Daingerfield, and son of Gwendoline Daingerfield, Elliott’s daughter. The Daingerfield family has been coming to Blowing Rock since 1886, when Elliott made his first visit “and fell in love with this bit of heaven,” says Joe. Joe has two grown children, Dain and Anna, and four grandchildren. He is a graduate of Davidson College and was an insurance agent until his retirement from BB&T Insurance Service in 2000. He is active in many organizations both in Blowing Rock and in Charlotte, including Christ Church in Charlotte, St. Mary of the Hills, Rotary, Urban Ministries of Charlotte, Habitat for Humanity, Little League, and the Boy Scouts. Joe is also a past board member of the Mint Museum in Charlotte.
Teresa Caine, Trustee Emeritus
Teresa Caine has been a homeowner in Blowing Rock since 1991. Her involvement with BRAHM began as a volunteer for several years before joining the Board of Trustees in 2006. She was actively involved in the fundraising and visioning of the museum in those early years. Teresa's field of study is Accounting. In 1966 she and her husband, Don, started Camco Manufacturing Inc. with one product. Today, Camco has more than 1,200 employees, 3,000 products, and multiple manufacturing facilities in the United States and around the world. Teresa has served on the Board of the Blowing Rock Community Club, Blowing Rock Gardening Club, and has served as Treasurer and President of BRAHM. Currently, she sits on the Board of the Blowing Rock Historical Society, and the Board of Trustees at High Point University. She has been married to Donald Caine for 56 years. They have two children, and four grandchildren.