The Folk Behind the north carolina folk Fest

The team behind the North Carolina Folk Festival includes dedicated staff, volunteers, and organizers working year-round to bring free live music, cultural experiences, and community celebration to downtown Greensboro.

Woman with wavy hair wearing sunglasses, a peach T-shirt with 'NC Folk Festival' printed on it, and denim shorts, making a peace sign gesture in an outdoor park with trees and a stage in the background.

JODEE RUPPEL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

part visionary, part vibe curator, all heart.

a photo of a woman with a guitar

SAVANNAH THORNE

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

part tastemaker, part vibe curator, all soul.

nikita johnson

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

part organizer, part problem-solver,
all groove.

Behind-the-Scenes crew

JOHN FIELDS, Musician Maestro

ZIZI BARHOUMA, Curator of Special Projects

MANDY BRADSHAW + Z, Masters of our Feeds

STACY CALFO, Message Maker

SARAH ROFFMAN, Director of Operations

LYNN WITHERSPOON, Director of Operations

Christopher Brown, Merchandise Coordinator

Daniel Emmerson, Bar Logistics

Sommer Fanney, Access Coordinator

Josh Fowler, Transportation Coordinator

Sandra Funk, Volunteer Coordinator

Kathryn Gauldin, Marketplace Coordinator

Gordon Languell, Stage Production Manager

Lucy Newsom, Bar Logistics

Shiela Perez, Transportation Coordinator

Dave Pluke, Access Coordinator

Erin Ringrose, Artist Buddy Coordinator

Dan Samuels, Backline Coordinator

Ling Sue Withers, Food Vendor Coordinator

Setting the Tempo… our board

RAY COVINGTON, chair

MARIA GONZALEZ, past chair

TINA FIRESHEETS, secretary

KEVIN H. GRAY, vice chair

JACQUELINE SHELTON, treasurer

Rebecca Buffington
Dawn S. Chaney
Spencer Conover
Hampton Howerton
Jordan Lee
Jill McAllister
Rick Ramsey
Edward Robinson Jr
José A. Sandoval
Jeff SanGeorge
Thomas White
Chris Wilson
Wright Varn