Kiser, Austin elected to Shallow Ford Board of Directors
Published 12:07 am Thursday, January 23, 2025
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The Shallow Ford Foundation recently announced the election of two new officers for the 2024-2025 fiscal year serving a three-year term including Clemmons business owner Valerie Kiser and Yadkin County community advocate Kevin Austin.
Kiser owns Sunrise Yoga Studio, Inc. in Clemmons, which she founded 21 years ago after several years working in the information technology field. Kiser has been an active member of local business organizations such as the Lewisville Business and Professionals Association, Inc. and the Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce. She graduated from the inaugural class of Leadership Lewisville-Clemmons, first started by the Shallow Ford Foundation and now operated by the chamber of commerce. Kiser has served on the foundation’s scholarship application review teams. She and her business have also supported other Clemmons area nonprofit organizations, assisting the Clemmons Food Pantry, Clemmons Branch Library, CLASS, the American Red Cross and many other organizations. Kiser holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology from UNC-Greensboro. She and her husband live in Advance.
Austin is a Yadkin County resident and advocate. He is vice president and manufacturing manager at Austin Electrical Enclosures in Yadkin County, a company with a 60-year history and 150 employees. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering operations from North Carolina State University and has held various roles in manufacturing, including CFO and controller. Elected as a county commissioner in 2008, Austin served until December 2024, including 14 years as chairman. He was also second vice president and president of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, where he launched the Pathways Initiative to address the issue of disconnected youth. Austin has been a strong advocate for education, leading efforts to build new facilities at the Yadkin Center of Surry Community College and bringing programs like Lego Robotics and Dream It, Do It to local schools. A lifelong North Carolinian, he is married with two children and serves on various boards and committees. He recently completed the Hunt Institute State Policy Fellows program.
Current board officers: Board Chair Jennifer W. Johnson, CFP, Three Magnolias Financial Advisors; Vice Chair Robin Paul, Chris Paul Family Foundation; Treasurer Bradley O. Gray, Gray, Callison & Jones CPA, PC; Secretary Stacy Mayhew, CPA, chief financial officer, Hip Chics, Inc.; Immediate Past Chair Robert D. Sipprell, Jr. (Bob);
and other directors on the board including Kim Henson; Bo Houff; Victoria Crissman Johnson, CMS Insurance and Financial; Dan Pugh; and Ronnie Willard (Ron).