Katen Reynolds has served as director of advancement at The Front Porch for nearly five years, and this summer she’ll step into a new leadership role when founder Emily Morrison completes her tenure as executive director. Before joining The Front Porch, Reynolds worked as a gardener, dance teacher, and most recently, an elementary school teacher. Now, she’ll lead the nonprofit as it continues to connect the community through music with classes, weekly jams, intimate concerts, and Roots & Wings, an outreach program that brings music to underserved communities. frontporchcville.org
Age: 39.
Pronouns: She/her.
Weirdest job: When I was in AmeriCorps, part of my job involved working at an aviary, feeding dead lab rats to birds of prey.
Why here: It’s beautiful, not too big, and only an hour drive to see my family.
Best thing about living here: The Rivanna River and the many walking/hiking trails close to town.
Worst thing: Housing costs.
Favorite hangout spot: My friends’ houses.
Favorite restaurant: Monsoon Siam.
Bodo’s order: Poppy seed bagel with olive cream cheese.
Where do you start and end a night out: Start on my porch. End at C&O downstairs.
Who is your hero: My best friend Lilly.
Biggest lie you’ve ever told: Not the “biggest” per se, but self abandonment through silence.
Proudest accomplishment: Learning to play guitar.
Describe a perfect day: A lazy coffee morning, time outside on the river with my dog, good food with friends, and playing music or seeing a live show.
If you could be reincarnated as a person or thing, what would you be: A mermaid.
Most embarrassing moment: Scoring an own goal playing soccer as a kid.
Do you have any pets: Yes, a blue heeler named Jack. I fostered him through Dogs Deserve Better and couldn’t let him go :).
Favorite movie or show: Right now, “Ted Lasso.”
Favorite album: Gillian Welch, Time (The Revelator).
Favorite song: I can’t ever answer this question. Depends on the day and my mood.
Favorite book: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
First concert: First big one was Dave Matthews Band in middle school.
Best concert: I can’t choose just one. Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings pop-up show at The Floyd Country Store and Taj Mahal at Basement East in Nashville.
What are you listening to right now: The Bros. Landreth and Bella White.
What’s a song you pretend you don’t like because it’s embarrassing that you love it: “The Shape of You.”
Favorite curse word: Shit.
Who’d play you in a movie: No idea.
Celebrity crush: Ryan Gosling.
Most used app on your phone: Slack.
Last text you sent: “haha no way”
Most used emoji: 🙂
Subject that causes you to rant: When people don’t want to buy tickets to see their friends’ bands. Buying a ticket is one of THE BEST ways to support your friends, people!!
Hottest take: I had to google “hot take.” I don’t really like the idea of them. (Is that one? hehe.)
Best journey you ever went on: Traveling through New Zealand.
Next journey: Being executive director of The Front Porch.
What have you forgotten today: My water bottle.