Staff of The Alliance

Executive Director: Amy Milne
Office Manager: Debby Josephs

Amy E. Milne, Executive Director, has worked as a nonprofit administrator, an educator and an artist for the past 17 years. She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from North Carolina State University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan. Amy joined The Alliance after serving 5 years as Executive Director of SeeSaw Studio in Durham, N.C.

Commenting on her appointment "Quilts have always brought people together," says Amy. "The Alliance for American Quilts has built on that tradition, uniting people interested in quilts from inside and outside the quilt world around a shared vision and bringing their talents together in collaborative ventures. I was thrilled to join this organization. And as a native of western North Carolina, I'm proud to see a national organization of The Alliance's caliber move its headquarters to Asheville in 2006."

The Executive Director works closely with its Board of Directors, Board Committees, members, partners and supporters to carry out the planning and implementation of the organization's projects. Amy travels to national quilt shows and meetings that allow her the opportunity to network and meet with members of The Alliance's virtual community and to share our mission with new audiences. If your guild or group has an opportunity for our Executive Director or a member of our national board to address your organization, we'd love to talk with you about it! Contact us.

Debby Josephs, Office Manager, has worked in the nonprofit field for almost 10 years.  Before moving to Asheville in 2006, Debby worked as office manager for Partnership in Philanthropy in Chatham, New Jersey, a nonprofit offering consulting and educational services to small nonprofits in the state.  After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, she worked in the research department of Pershing and Co., a Wall Street firm in New York City.

“It’s very exciting to have the Alliance for American Quilts headquartered in Asheville,” says Debby.  “It’s a town filled with people who understand and appreciate the nature of nonprofits and all the hard work that goes into sustaining them.  Challenging economic times represent great opportunities for us all to become even more creative in cost cutting and fundraising!”

Debby works in the Asheville office with Amy on the day-to-day operations and long-term planning such as special events.