The Board of Governors of Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts met last weekend for the first time since their historic decision to remain on the Gatlinburg campus.  
The focus of the three-day meeting was to plan the steps needed to ensure a successful transition into the future, including fundraising strategies, staffing needs, partnerships with area schools and community organizations, and Board structure.
The Board elected longtime member Geoffrey Wolpert, owner of The Peddler and Park Grill Steakhouses, as its President. Wolpert will lead the Board’s efforts to expand community engagement and fundraising to secure the long-term success of the nationally respected arts center.  
“I have been serving on Arrowmont’s Board of Governors for the past several years, and am now more enthusiastic than ever to be a part of Arrowmont’s future as Board President,” Wolpert said.  “In recent months it has become even more evident that, like the National Park, Arrowmont is important to this area in both history and in forging a positive future for this region.
“Now, the local community, myself included, has the opportunity to celebrate the School and make it successful together. It is a positive time for Arrowmont and Gatlinburg, and I look forward to the collaboration which will bring new energy, engage our children, and celebrate our national reputation as a world-class arts and crafts school.”
Four new members were elected to the Board of Governors: Jim Ogle, Logan Coykendall, Clay Foster and Carlyle Johnson.  Ogle is a Sevier County businessman who has been a driving force in Friends of the Smokies and other area fundraising efforts.  
Coykendall operates the Hilton Garden Inn and the Hampton Inn in Gatlinburg, and is the current President of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce.  Artist Clay Foster is a founding member and past president of the American Association of Woodturners and has served  as an Arrowmont instructor for several years.  Johnson heads the Department of Art at Tennessee State University in Nashville.
Additionally, Arrowmont Executive Director David Willard announced Monday, October 18, that he has decided to resign his position. He plans to pursue his broader, national interest as an advocate for the art of the handmade and its impact on society.
“It has been said that there is a good time to know when to start, and a good time in which to leave. I have enjoyed my work at Arrowmont immensely and it is hard to say goodbye, but I know that the time has come for me to allow a new leader to work on writing the next chapter of this great institution,” Willard said. “My focus has always been and will continue to be Arrowmont’s success. I will continue to support the School in any way that I can.”
Willard has served as Executive Director since 2001.  During his tenure, the School worked with the University of Tennessee to capture and make an online archive of the history of the School. He initiated the archival listing and photography of the School’s Permanent Collection, which includes artwork by many renowned artists.  
Willard also worked with staff to bring more technology to the School to enable students and staff to work in today’s environment and set the stage for the use of more technology in the studio. He will work in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition to new leadership.  
“We owe David a tremendous amount of appreciation for his commitment to and accomplishments at Arrowmont,” said Wolpert. “We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
“We are extremely excited about Arrowmont’s future.  The overwhelming support shown by our community has energized us, and the Board is looking forward to collaborating with community officials to build upon this positive momentum.”

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