Board of Directors

The SCOT Board of Directors is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting, and new board members are welcome. Meet the current board members.

Officers

	Ruth Suehle President Originally from South Carolina, Ruth has lived in the Triangle for more than 20 years with her husband Scott, whom she met at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 1997. They’ve spent the years since then attending and volunteering at various games around the region. She co-organizes the School of Scottish Arts dance camp and teaches Highland dance at the Annandale Center in Cary and is a competitive dancer who welcomes fellow adult students. Clan associations: Campbell, Bruce
	Stephanie England Floyd Vice-President Originally from Oklahoma, Stephanie and her family lived in the northeast for many years before settling down in Chapel Hill in 2015.  She and her husband Scott, are the proud parents of three children, two of whom are Highland dancers with the Annandale Center for Scottish Dance and More in Cary.  She and her family enjoy attending Highland games and can be found volunteering at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville each year.  She has served on the SCOT board since 2018 and is also a Co-Chair of Fundraising and Marketing at the Pat Johnston Memorial Competitions.   Stephanie’s heritage includes Wallace ancestors immigrating to the Carolinas in 1773 and Duffy ancestors immigrating to Rhode Island in the 1830s.
	Brian Proffitt Secretary native Hoosier, Brian enjoys learning new things about Scotland, Scottish athletics, and Highland Dancing. Besides genealogy, Brian is learning the mandolin, and enjoys post-Impressionistic art. He and his wife Cynthia are the parents of three amazing daughters. Clan associations: Rose, Wallace
	Scott Suehle Treasurer Scott began his journey into Scottish culture as a Highland athlete more than 20 years ago. From there it was a journey into the music, arts, and dance. Now a husband and father to three Highland dancers who enjoys traveling to Highland Games up and down the east coast, Scott has recently taken up learning to play bagpipes. Clan associations: Campbell, Morrison

Board members

	Carolyn McDonald Graf Carolyn became interested in Scottish culture when she discovered that the stories her father had told her about the massacre of Glencoe were facts in her English history book. She has played in a pipe band, is a premier Scottish Highland dancer, and enjoys Scottish country dancing. Clan association: MacDonald
	Warren Hinson Warren is a life-long resident of North Carolina. He met his wife Dianne in the beautiful NC mountains so reminiscent of the Scottish highlands. While Warren and Dianne worked in the Boone and Banner Elk area, their family (now including three children) was often exposed to Scottish influences in architecture, music, art, and life-style. At the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 2016, they learned of the SCOT organization, and thus joined to increase their exposure to – and further their enjoyment of – the Scottish history they have since learned is a part of their own. Clan associations: Davidson, Mackay (Sept Morgan)
	Catherine McKinley, MA Catherine is the mother of 2 long time Highland dancers, a preschool teacher, and a support group moderator. Highland dancing was so beneficial to her children that she wanted to support one of the main sponsoring organizations. From it, they learned about teamwork, camaraderie, discipline, good sportsmanship, the value of pride at doing their best, and their Scottish heritage. Clan McKinley derives from “Son of Findlay” and started as a sept of Clan Farquharson which is from the Lennox area. Clan associations: Farquharson, McKinley
	Donald Ross Donald’s a native Scot and has been living in NC for almost 40 years. He joined SCOT in March of 2002, and has served on the Board since then as Membership Chairman. Also, he has been serving as President of SCOT for the past 6 years. He has also been running the Annual Burns Night at The Country Squire for the past 16 years. He also carried out the duties of Master of Ceremonies at the annual Burns Night held at The Landfall Country Club in Wilmington for almost 10 years. Donald (pictured center) is proudly seen in this picture with his Son and Grandson on one of the few occasions when they all wore Kilts at the 2018 Burns Night. Clan association: Ross
	Andrew Topp Andrew grew up in Williamsburg, VA and attended Scottish festivals each year as his parents were a Scottish crafts vendor and active participants in numerous Scottish organizations. He married his wife, Stacie, and moved to the Triangle in 2000. They have three teenage daughters who have been active Highland dancers for most of their lives. Andrew is a life member of Clan Sutherland, recently joined the SCOT Board, and is currently learning tenor and snare drum with a local pipe band. Clan associations: Sutherland, MacGill