Todd Faircloth, Executive Director

Todd Faircloth grew up in Warner Robins, Georgia, and attended Georgia College and State University where he received his degree in marketing. Over the next two decades, he worked for Georgia Farm Bureau Federation in Statesboro as a District Federation Manager.  In this role, Todd worked with local farmers, agribusiness partners and office staff in the 17 counties that he served.  Additionally, he acted as the liaison between county and state leadership.

After relocating to Rabun County in 2020, he worked as a Partner Relationship Manager for Four Seasons Hospice in Western North Carolina. He brings administrative experience and community engagement to our team.  As Executive Director, Todd works with the organization’s staff, governing board, community board, and regional partners to develop and expand the reach of Foxfire’s programs.  Todd’s love of Foxfire values and history was instilled at an early age by his grandparents who routinely brought him to visit this area when he was a child.  He enjoys relaxing by a river, music, and cool mountain air!   

Barry Stiles, Museum Director

Barry has been a part of the museum since 2008. He oversees all aspects of the museum and archive, including projects such as the Beck Barn relocation and digitization of the archive’s analog audio collection, and oversees public history and education development. Prior to Foxfire, Barry worked at Sautee Nacoochee Community Association as its Heritage Site Manager. He also worked as an exhibit construction specialist for the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia, constructing the environmental exhibits at the museum.

He is a carpenter and craftsman, specializing in preservation of historic structures. Barry is also an interpreter and demonstrator of traditional skills, including blacksmithing and woodworking. Foxfire is near to his heart as three of his Grandparents and two of his Uncles are featured in Foxfire publications.

Kami Ahrens, Curator & Director of Education

Kami is responsible for curating artifacts, developing exhibits, and managing educational programming at the Foxfire Museum. She hosts and produces the organization’s podcast, “It Still Lives.” Kami also serves as executive editor for the Foxfire Magazine and oversees the organization’s hallmark leadership program for local high school students. Originally from the St. Louis area, Kami attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for graduate school, completing a master’s in historical archaeology, before relocating to Georgia.

On the weekends, you can find Kami rock climbing or hiking in the mountains with her husband and two golden retrievers.

Jessica Parker, Foxfire Services Coordinator

Jessica joined the museum in 2013 and but originally came to the area from Forest Park, GA. In her role at Foxfire, Jessica networks with local artisans, including past Foxfire contacts, for products to sell in the museum store, maintains effective relationships with donors and members, and manages the Foxfire Magazine subscriptions. Additionally, Jessica assists with marketing and promotions for the organization.

In her spare time, Jessica enjoys camping, riding motorcycles with her husband, and spending time with her three children and five beautiful grandbabies.

Cathy Stiles, Fiscal Operations Manager

Cathy joined her husband, Barry Stiles, to be a part of the Foxfire family in 2008. Originally they moved onto the Foxfire property into staff housing when Barry joined the staff team. They have since relocated to their family homestead nearby. Cathy has over twenty years of experience in non-profit administration, accounting, fundraising and grant writing. Cathy has served as a volunteer for many years at Foxfire, and has also worked at Foxfire in several staff positions over the years. Cathy currently performs the accounting functions, including payroll, accounts payable, and financial reporting; as well as writing grants and working with the development of donors.

Cathy also enjoys demonstrating heritage skills during Foxfire events, including churning butter and washing laundry in an outdoor tub over a (simulated) fire. She always encourages children (and adults) to participate by helping churn the butter or pounding the laundry with the paddle. This is one of her favorite activities at Foxfire because it gets her out of the office and out with the visitors to have fun with them.