New Lotus Board Members

Sheridan Arnold:

I firmly believe in the mission that the LOTUS foundation is working towards promoting diversity and expanding everyone’s global outlook by giving them opportunities to experience different cultures.

I have served as an executive board member for my alma mater’s Dance Marathon which is an organization whose proceeds go to Riley’s Hospital for Children in order to better the lives of the patients they are serving. Including my efforts, the organization raised over one million dollars to give.

I grew up in Evansville, Indiana and attended college at the University of Southern Indiana. While there, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Economics and went on to serve various non profits throughout the United States in Americorps. I have worked for Old National for a year generating reports and handling data for our Wealth Management team. I am looking forward to getting more involved in the Bloomington community.

Amanda Franklin:

Amanda Franklin is the primary owner-manager of Bloomington Brewing Company. Amanda and her husband Jarrod took over the BBC operation in January of 2022. As the full-time brewery manager; she is in charge of processing orders, sales, logistics, events, design, marketing, projections, business growth and develepment. She enjoys the opportunity to infuse her work with creativity. Beautiful can labels and fun graphics for marketing are her forte.

Amanda has an artistic personality with an entrepreneurial spirit. She obtained an undergraduate degree in Studio Art and Psychology, a Master’s of Art Education and a Graduate Teaching Certificate from Indiana University Bloomington.

Amanda has traveled extensively, having livied in Germany and Miami and has visited roughly 30 countries. She has
a passion for cultural experiences and loves connecting with people.

Amanda has been a resident of Bloomington since the year 2000. She is a mother to three children aged 8,10, and 12, an animal lover with 12 chickens, 2 cats, and 2 dogs, a basketball fan and an outdoor enthusiast.

Kathleen Hugo:

To the Lotus Board, I bring extensive administrative experience from stints as special education director at three local school districts: MCCSC, RBB and Spencer/Owen. In that role, I gained experience and skill in managing a large organization, maintaining strong relationships with both staff and outside stakeholders, managing budgets and grants, and overseeing innovative projects and strategies  through from conception to implementation.

While at MCCSC, I was on the Central Office team responsible for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Since retirement I’ve volunteered at Global Gifts in Bloomington and work part-time at Oliver Winery. I was a founding member of the local chapter of Friendship Bridge, an international organization based in Lakewood, Colorado that raises funds to provide micro-loans for women starting businesses in Guatemala.

As a child in a military family, I lived and traveled extensively in India, Australia and Europe and developed a strong respect for and knowledge of other cultures. I love hiking and travel. With my husband and daughter, I’ve traveled through Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia and Europe, and have hiked in numerous U.S. and Canadian national parks. I have always been a fan of the cultural diversity and innovative, high-quality programming of the Lotus Festival, and look forward to bringing my experience to bear for the Lotus Board.

Daniel Mounlio:

As a person from Southern Indiana (Boonville, specifically), I can’t downplay how much of a mind-expanding experience my first Lotus festival was and how important it continues to be. I was introduced to languages, sounds, instruments, costume, and visuals that I had never witnessed before and it sent me on a path of further exploration and appreciation into the present day.

I have a long history of volunteer service in Bloomington. Most notably, I have served in various capacities with Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.

Professionally, I work as an Outreach Associate at the Monroe County Public Library. My departments’ goal is to remove the barriers that separate members of our community from accessing library resources. So, I regularly work with a small team of individuals to meet community members’ needs inside the framework of a larger organization.The job has provided me with an unbelievable connection to the community.

Music  plays a huge role in my life. I play the clawhammer banjo and have played many house jams with members of the old-time music scene in Bloomington. Outside of playing, I attend a number of local concerts weekly and have a regular presence in the local music scene.