Victoria Faoro retiring after 15 years
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 25, 2016) — Todd Finley has been named the new executive director of the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Don Parkinson announced today. Finley, of London, replaces Victoria Faoro, who is retiring after 15 years as the first director of the center.
“Victoria Faoro has done an excellent job making the Artisan Center into a well-known location for all things Kentucky,” Parkinson said. “We look forward to working with Todd to continue that growth as we promote more Kentucky-made products to our visitors.”
Finley most recently worked as a retail consultant for Heaven Hill Brands visitor centers in Louisville and Bardstown. He has also worked in retail as a store manager in London and Hyden. Finley was an owner of several convenience stories in Laurel and Knox counties from 1993-2009.
Finley is a graduate of the University of the Cumberlands.
The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea hosts 240,000 visitors a year. Since 2003, it has been marketing Kentucky through special art exhibits, retail sales of Kentucky artisan works, demonstrations by artisans, and promotion of Kentucky travel. The center, located along Interstate 75 at Berea, includes a staffed travel information area, artisan products sales and exhibit areas, a café for casual dining and public rest rooms that accommodate bus and other traffic.
The center opened featuring the work of about 200 artists and now presents work by more than 700 artist entrepreneurs, including crafts and other visual arts, music, books, and Kentucky Proud food products. The center sells only Kentucky products.
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