Pictured above – Ferran Kefauver is the new executive director of CityScape in Cookeville.
Nonprofit also kicks off membership drive, and preps for Taste of the Town on May. 13
Cookeville – In Nov. last year, Lorie Krauss was announced as executive Director of Cookeville CityScape. Recently, Krauss announced she will move on from that position and take a job she “simply could not refuse” at DianeHealth/Cookeville OBGYN, according to a statement by CityScape.
“It has been an honor to jump in and learn about CityScape and the wonderful organization that our town has. It is a true diamond,” said Krauss of her time with the nonprofit. “I was not looking for a different career change, as I hit the ground running in my role as CityScape’s Executive Director. However, this opportunity was presented and was one I could not refuse for my family. I am not going anywhere as I believe in the mission of CityScape wholeheartedly. Ferran is an energetic go-getter this community will love to work with. She will represent CityScape very well.”
Livingston native Ferran Kefauver will take take up the post of Executive Director on Feb. 16. According to CityScape, Kefauver enters the role with nonprofit experience. She was the executive director of the Monroe County Health Council (MCHC) and holds a bachelor’s degree from Carson Newman College in Communication: Public Relations and Advertising with a minor in Business Administration.
“It is an honor and privilege to lead CityScape as the next Executive Director,” said Kefauver. “Lorie and past directors have laid an amazing foundation for this organization, and I am excited to expand upon that foundation and care for our members and the Mainstreet businesses. There are great things ahead for CityScape, and I am happy to be a part.”
While in role at the MCHC, one of Kefauver’s most significant accomplishments was bringing the Remote Area Medical Clinic to Monroe County, according to CityScape.
“Her (Kefauver) family moved to Cookeville in Jan. 2017 to be closer to family,” said CityScape in the statement. “For the last several years, Kefauver has served as the Upper Cumberland Young Life Area Administrator. She led donor relations and put on one of the top three largest nonprofit banquets in the Upper Cumberland.”
The chair of the CityScape board said Kraus will continue to have a position the board of CityScape.
“This is a first for our organization as we hired Lorie, and she shined so bright she was offered another great opportunity,” said the CityScape Board Chair. “We wish her the absolute best and appreciate all her hard work for the 2023 CityScape membership drive and starting the planning of Taste of the Town. Our CityScape board voted at the Jan. board meeting to keep Lorie on as a board member because of her passion for the organization, so we are happy she is staying with us in a different capacity. Our board is very excited to welcome Ferran Kefauver as our new Executive Director. Ferran will bring renewed energy to our organization and ideas to continue to preserve and enhance the downtown areas in Cookeville.”
CityScape is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to preserve and enhance the historic downtown areas of Cookeville, Tennessee. For over 30 years, CityScape has worked closely with city and county governments, individual business owners and merchants on renovation and expansion projects, as well as special events and campaigns that attract business to the area. CityScape places special emphasis on community livability, economic restructuring and historic preservation. Cookeville is proud to be an accredited Tennessee Main Street community, which follows the proven downtown revitalization model developed by the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit cookevillecityscape.com.
