Leadership

A serious team, built to execute: library science, retail, law, nonprofit operations, education, and needle arts.

Executive Team.

Founder & Executive Director

Terri Michele King, MSAccy, PhD

Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery, Royal School of Needlework · MS Accounting, University of Houston · PhD, Johns Hopkins University

Terri Michele King founded Fiber Arts Houston so that a lifetime of fiber arts knowledge would outlive any single collection, starting with her own, which seeded the library. She learned needlework as a child and went on to earn a Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery from the Royal School of Needlework. She also holds a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Houston and brings ten years of nonprofit accounting experience to FAH's financial operations. Before returning full-time to the craft, she worked as a research scientist — experience that gave her a command of data and analysis, and a commitment to rigorous scholarship, that she now brings to building FAH's programs. Her studio work spans embroidered boxes (cartonnage), goldwork, silk shading, blackwork, and lace.

Vice President & General Counsel

Jeff King, J.D.

35+ years in corporate governance and finance

Jeff King serves as Vice President and General Counsel of Fiber Arts Houston. He brings more than 35 years of experience in corporate governance and finance, and earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1988. He advises Fiber Arts Houston on legal, governance, and financial matters, helping a young nonprofit put in place the policies and structures a lasting public institution needs.

Board of Trustees.

Our trustees are independent of management and serve because of their expertise. Together they bring the skill set it takes to turn a collection into an institution.

Nonprofit & Needle Arts

Lucy Barter, BA (Hons)

Nonprofit operations, educator, founder of Lucy Barter Needle Arts, RSN apprentice

Lucy Barter is an embroidery teacher and designer, originally from Suffolk, England. After a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design from Northumbria University, she graduated with distinction, top of her class, from the Royal School of Needlework's Apprenticeship Programme in 2006. She ran Forever Embroidery Studio, coordinated and taught the RSN's U.S. courses for eight years, and co-founded the San Francisco School of Needlework & Design, serving as program director and head teacher. She is the founder of Lucy Barter Needle Arts.

Retail & Sourcing

Jim Davis, MS

45 years in fashion retail with Federated/Macy's, Limited Corp., and Ann Taylor; SCORE business mentor

Jim Davis spent 45 years in fashion retail with Federated/Macy's, Limited Corp., and Ann Taylor, working across marketing, retail, product development, and sourcing. Today he volunteers as a SCORE business mentor, helping entrepreneurs and small businesses build sound plans. On the board he brings a deep understanding of how businesses think about partnership, and of what it takes to turn a good idea into a sustainable operation. He holds an MS in Statistics.

Library Science

Debbie Fierros, MLIS

Librarian with 35+ years in data management

Debbie Fierros holds a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin. A librarian with more than 35 years in data management, she has worked as a librarian and data manager in corporate settings and as the librarian and manager of a nonprofit library. Her expertise is a big part of why the Fiber Arts Houston catalog is built to real library standards, from full catalog records to a call number system designed for this collection. Libraries are her happy space.

Legal & Governance

Louie Fierros, JD

35+ years of litigation; city and municipal operations and governance

Louie received his law degree and license to practice in 1988. He practiced at the City of Fort Worth for 24 years, concentrating in litigation at the trial and appellate levels, while also providing risk management and general legal governance assistance. He then moved to a private law firm, working in risk management and litigation management roles. Since retirement, he serves as in-house staff to several cats, and babysits granddaughters. He looks forward to providing legal assistance to our joint endeavors.

Nonprofit & the Arts

Christina Giannelli, MFA

Nonprofit operations, educator, founder of Dance Source Houston

Christina Giannelli is a lighting designer, educator, and arts leader whose work has lit ballet and opera stages across the country and around the globe, including Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Texas Ballet Theater, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, and the Metropolitan Opera. She founded Dance Source Houston, a service organization that supports and promotes dance in Houston. She holds a BA in History of Art and Theatre Studies from Yale University and an MFA from the University of Houston, and brings years of nonprofit operations experience to the board.

Nonprofit & Retail

Katie Hoffman, MA

Nonprofit operations, educator, owner of Scout & Skein

Katie Hoffman has been crafting her whole life. After a career as a nonprofit arts and education manager, she stepped away to raise her three children, reconnected with her creative side through mixed media art, and landed happily back in knitting and crochet. She is the proprietor of Scout & Skein. Katie holds an MA in Media Studies from The New School and a BA in Anthropology and Government from Smith College, and she believes deeply in how materials communicate who we are and leave lasting legacies.

Learn how we govern and report in Accountability.