IC Imagine is governed by the non-profit organization Invest Collegiate Imagine, Inc.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
- Establishing and monitoring the school’s academic outcomes
- Establishing and monitoring management compliance with policies
- Overseeing and approving the use of operational finances
19-20 Board Meeting Calendar
All meetings are open to the public and unless stated otherwise take place at 110 Champion Way, Asheville, NC 28806, Room 1224 @ 5:30pm
- Annual Board Meeting – July 14th, 2020
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8613735862?pwd=eUpKY0svVFIwbURGV0VDaExFdWtQZz09
Meeting ID: 861 373 5862
Password: 758076
If you have any questions or concerns you can email: board@icimagine.org.
Board Members
Lorraine Carver – Chair
Lorraine grew up in Western North Carolina and attended public school in Sylva, NC throughout her elementary, middle and high school years. She attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and majored in Public Relations and Political Science. Lorraine’s career started in Washington DC with a public relations firm focused on the technology sector. After a move to Raleigh, she joined a software company, RegEd, that has allowed her to grow professionally into an executive role. Lorraine has held many roles during her sixteen years of tenure, including Chief Operating Officer, EVP of Sales and her current role as EVP, Sales Operations. Lorraine has served on the board of a number of local nonprofits, including the PTO for IC Imagine (Imagine Community Partners). Lorraine and her husband have three children who attend IC Imagine. Lorraine is honored and and excited to help IC Imagine grow as she believes in the mission and vision of the school.
Valerie Phillips – Secretary
Valerie Phillips is originally from the Philadelphia area and graduated from Arcadia University in 2007 with a B.A. in Theater and English. While enrolled in college, she had the opportunity to teach English in China and study abroad in France. She continued to reside in Philadelphia for two more years after college, working and staying active in theater and fashion. After arriving in Asheville in 2009, Valerie quickly found a place in the arts scene by performing music, attending a school for Aerial Arts and creating clothing designs. In 2011, Valerie was featured in Verve magazine, on the cover and with an interview about her designs. Valerie enjoys being part of the Asheville community as an Aerial Arts Instructor, employee of HomeTrust Bank and an Animal Haven of Asheville volunteer. As a former public school student, private school student, and homeschooler, Valerie appreciates the value of an innovative approach to education. She believes strongly in the value of the education Invest Collegiate schools provide for their communities and is honored to be a board member.
Drew Power – Treasurer
Drew grew up outside of Atlanta Georgia before attending The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). While at Ole Miss, Drew earned both his undergraduate and graduate degree in accounting. He relocated to Memphis, Tennessee where he took a position with Dixon Hughes Goodman. During this time Drew, obtained his CPA license, and worked as a consultant assisting pharmaceutical companies with business combinations and spin offs. In 2014, Drew transferred to DHG’s Asheville office. While in Asheville Drew has worked closely with local and tribal governments and school boards. In his free time Drew enjoys everything Western North Carolina has to offer.
Mia Strauss – Vice Chair
Mia Strauss is originally from Pennsylvania. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park and following undergraduate school she attended the University of Alaska at Fairbanks and spent some summers living and conducting research in a remote field camp setting. Also while in Alaska she and her husband lived and worked as teaching parents in a home with at-risk teens. She and her husband relocated to Asheville in 2006 and couldn’t think of a better place to live. After moving here and trying to find a job to fit with her family she began bookkeeping, which led to general business management and marketing. Currently, Mia is self employed assisting business owners with bookkeeping, finance and marketing needs.
Mia has 2 children at IC Imagine and has been a parent since the doors were opened in 2014. She finds it really refreshing to have her children in an environment that is always striving to do what’s best for the students and willing to change and make adjustments as needed. In her free time Mia enjoys hiking, cooking and traveling. She is excited to be an ICI board member to help build a solid foundation for the school for years to come.
Sarah Sharpe
Sarah is originally from Louisville, Kentucky. She moved to North Carolina to attend Wake Forest University where she obtained a B.A. in Psychology. She has lived in the Asheville area since 2008. She earned a Master’s in Public Affairs from Western Carolina University. Sarah currently works for NTCA and administers benefit programs to members. Through her work, she is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist. She is married to her husband Matt and they have a daughter. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, visiting local restaurants and hiking. She is strong believer in a well-rounded education and admires the values that IC Imagine promotes.
Caleb Coaplen
Caleb is originally from Louisville Kentucky. He started college at Montana State University in Bozeman Montana and graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Photography. Caleb frequented the Western North Carolina area as a child and young adult to kayak and explore the outdoors. During college he was a kayak instructor and camp counselor at Camp Mondamin in Tuxedo, NC. After the summer of 2001 he moved to Asheville, and except for a 2 year job in Pennsylvania, has been here ever since. He has worked in the outdoor sports industry and furniture/antique industry but eventually got his real estate license in 2009. He currently works for Beverly Hanks & Associates as a Residential Real Estate Agent. He and his wife Megan have 2 boys and their oldest is a champion at IC Imagine. They can often be found on the numerous trails and rivers in the area. Caleb is honored to be part of the school as both a board member and parent and strives to make the educational experience and environment the best possible for all champions and their families.
Adam Kissel
Adam Kissel is an Atlanta-area native who relocated to Asheville in 2013. He completed a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Georgia in 2009 and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership in 2013 from Central Michigan University, with a focus in Charter School Administration. He taught music and choir at the secondary level for several years, and has sung and toured with numerous world-class ensembles including the Atlanta Opera Chorus and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus. He also has extensive professional experience managing customer-facing teams and contact centers. He is passionate about 21st-century curriculum, arts education, animal welfare, business ethics, and modern workplace design and policy. In his spare time, he enjoys running in Asheville’s beautiful greenways, hiking throughout western North Carolina, baking, writing buggy apps with ugly code, and spending as much time as possible with his wife, Stephanie, and their two pets, Diego and Pasha.
ICI Board Documents
ICI Approved Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 21, 2020, General Meeting
Wednesday, May 6, 2020, Special Meeting
Sunday, April 19, 2020, Special Meeting
Thursday, April 16, 2020, General Meeting
Monday, April 6, 2020, Special Meeting
Thursday, March 19, 2020, General Meeting
Thursday, February 20, 2020, General Meeting
Thursday, January 16, 2020, General Meeting
Thursday, November 21, 2019, General Meeting
Thursday, October 17, 2019, General Meeting
Tuesday, September 24, 2019, Special Meeting
Thursday, September 19, 2019 General Meeting
Thursday, August 22, 2019, Annual Meeting
Tuesday, July 16, 2019, General Meeting
Thursday, June 20, 2019, General Meeting
Thursday, May 16, 2019, General Meeting
Friday, May 3, 2019, Special Meeting
Thursday, April 18th, 2019, General Meeting
Thursday, March 21st, 2019, General Meeting
Thursday, February 21st, 2019, General Meeting
Thursday, January 17th, 2019, General Meeting
Tuesday, December 4th, 2018, Special Meeting
Thursday, November 15th, 2018, General Meeting
Thursday, October 18th, 2018, General Meeting
Thursday, September 20th, 2018, General Meeting
Thursday, August 23rd, 2018, General Meeting
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018, Special Meeting
Thursday, July 26th, 2018, Special Meeting Board Retreat
Thursday, July 19th, 2018, Special Meeting
Friday, June 29th, 2018, Special Meeting
Monday, June 12, 2018, Annual Meeting
Friday June 8, 2018, Special Meeting
Tuesday, May 29, 2018, Special Meeting
Thursday, May 17, 2018, General Meeting
Monday, May 7, 2018, Special Meeting
Thursday, April 19, 2018, General Meeting
Thursday, March 15, 2018, General Meeting
Thursday, February 15, 2018, General Meeting
January 29, 2018, Special Meeting
January 18, 2018, General Meeting
January 2, 2018, Special Meeting
November 20, 2017, Special Meeting
November 15, 2017, General Meeting
October 12, 2017, General Meeting
September 15, 2017, Organizational Meeting