Staff
Executive Director
STEPHANIE SPIRES(she/her)
Stephanie Spires has over 15 years organizational and nonprofit experience. Spires has previously served as the Executive Director of the Bluegrass Tennis Association, the Makenna Foundation, and Arbor Youth Services. Currently Spires volunteers for the PTA, the Explorium Board of Directors, and Kentucky's Juvenile Justice Advisory Board. Spires has previously served on many boards including Fayette County Public Schools, the Lexington Public Library, the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, Uspiritus, and the Junior League of Lexington.
Spires is also the founder and CEO of Spires Strategies, a business that started in the Plantory more than 10 years ago. Through her work with Spires Strategies, Spires helps nonprofits and small businesses with strategic planning, project management, and business development.
Spires is the mother of five. When she is not chauffeuring children around or working, she enjoys traveling and reading.
ALEX MORGAN (they/them)
VISTA Leader
Alex Morgan is the VISTA Leader working at the Plantory. They are a recent graduate of the University of Kentucky's Linguistics Department with a Minor from the Russian department. They are from Berea Kentucky where they grew up around the local nonprofits. Alex is excited for the opportunity to serve their community.
When not working Alex can be found knitting, reading, or sewing. As well as spending time with their cat Bennett.
Shannon Wampler-Collins (they/them)
Outreach VISTA
After a career as a Chef in some of Lexington's Fine dining restaurants, Shannon made the move to train as an Americorps Vista. They are working with The Plantory to build back valuable trainings for local non profits. Shannon is originally from Massachusetts, they have now settled in Lexington with their wife Carmen, their 2 sons Evan and Jesse, as well as 3 cats: Wendy, SWAT, and Phoenix.