Stephanie Roark Keener isn’t a stranger to Blowing Rock. Matter of fact she has been calling the North Carolina High Country home for the past eleven years.
“Blowing Rock has always been our favorite place to shop, eat, and attend events like Art in the Park, and I’m very happy to be working with the community to support and promote all the great things we have happening here,” she said from her desk at the Visitor’s Center last week.
Stephanie is one of a six staff members that assist the public, both visitors and locals, at the TDA owned Center on Valley Boulevard. In several ways, she steps into the shoes left by Susan Gragg who recently left the Chamber because of relocating to Linville.
“We have sort of redefined the position,” said the Chamber’s Executive Director Charles Hardin. “As we organize and develop our mission objectives for the future, we are realizing some changes that will allow us to focus on what we do the best. Our future will include partnering with a number of other local agencies to be the energy behind such things as the parades, pet show in the park, and a few other special events.
“That will allow us to focus more on other projects and our basic mission directives,” he said. “Now with Stephanie on board, we’re excited about the plans on the drawing board and the valuable resources she brings to our operations.”
Stephanie is a native of Kentucky, where she attended the University of Kentucky, earning degrees in History and Political Science.
In pursuit of her passion for the heritage and culture of the North Carolina High Country, she earned her Master of Arts in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University in 1999.
Stephanie and husband, John, came to the High Country in 1996. John teaches American Literature at Lees McRae College in nearby Banner Elk, and it was there that Stephanie spent six years, developing and directing the John B. Stephenson Center for Appalachian Studies and the New Opportunity School for Women.
“The Stephenson Center promotes Appalachian events on campus and directs a series of summer courses on Appalachian and other highland areas,” Stephanie says of her former job. “The New Opportunity School for Women is a non-profit program, originally founded in Berea, Ky., that helps mid-life women develop the skills to return to college, get a new job, or both.”
This past summer Stephanie worked at Black Bear Books in Boone, where she “spent way too much money on books.”
“I have a weakness for books for young adults, children’s novels and books about Appalachian Studies,” she admits.
Stephanie says she welcomes input from citizens and friends that would like to join the Chamber of Commerce, or contribute to the enhancement of the community in a meaningful way.
“While my focus is on membership services, I am receptive to any challenge that will make this organization stronger and of more service to the village, its residents and our many visitors.”