Kentucky
From home economist to VP, University of Kentucky alum leads GE Appliances kitchen cleanup enterprise
University of Kentucky alum Cynthia “Cinthy” Fanning, is the current vice president of kitchen clean up products at GE Appliances. At the company’s Appliance Park global headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, the $450 million installation of two new dishwasher manufacturing lines has created approximately 1,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.
Fanning recalls what this moment meant for the company.
“Becoming the number one dishwasher manufacturer in the country was a huge achievement,” Fanning said. “When you work at a company like GE Appliances, there are so many different and exciting opportunities.”
Fanning has spent more than three decades managing products, leading teams and building strategic growth plans at GE Appliances. Some of her responsibilities include new product development, manufacturing, merchandising, sales and more, working with suppliers like Lowe’s and Home Depot.
For Fanning, pursuing a graduate degree in the Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles (MAT) program at the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment was one of the best decisions she made.
“The University of Kentucky has a great reputation, and I love textile science, apparel and merchandising,” Fanning said. “I knew there was a good opportunity to get real– world experience, which was really important to me and valuable for my career. I got to do meaningful projects that led me to GE Appliances.”
UK Textiles Testing Lab and home economics co-op
As a graduate student in 1991, Fanning was a teaching assistant in the Textiles Testing Lab, housed in the Department of Retailing and Tourism Management at Martin-Gatton CAFE.
Under the direction of Elizabeth Easter, UK professor and consultant for textiles and textile care, the lab is a hub for the textile and apparel industry on campus — providing assistance in the development, evaluation and performance of new or existing products.
GE Appliances has utilized the services of the Textile Testing Lab to evaluate detergents, laundry equipment and clothes care since 1993. Recently, GE Appliances donated four washers, two dryers and one water softener to upgrade all consumer laundry equipment in the Textile Testing Lab.
“Over the years, Cinthy and GE Appliances has supported our research and acquiring appliances and kitchen, dishwasher and laundry equipment for the Textile Lab,” Easter said. We remain grateful for Cinthy and GE Appliances for their on-going support of the lab.”
While working with Easter in the lab, Fanning was also able to get a home economics in technology cooperative position with GE Appliances, developing and testing GE branded cooking products. In this co-op experience, Fanning’s work led to an awarded patent for developing algorithms in GE Appliances’ “CleanSensor” dishwasher launch in 1995.
These first-and experiential learning opportunities at UK helped Fanning learn important skills that still shape her personally and professionally as a leader at GE Appliances.
“I came from the lab,” Fanning said. “I loved my experience with Dr. Easter while working on real-life projects that were valuable for GE Appliances, and it was a great way to learn about the industry. I learned determination, having a strong work ethic and the value of mentorship. Mentoring people is something that is very important to me as a leader at GE Appliances.”
UK’s presence at GE Appliances
Today, there are over 220 UK alums that work at Appliance Park, representing a consistent workforce development pipeline. Furthermore, GE Appliances’ commitment to developing their early-career professionals from the ground up is something that Fanning believes is a talent feeder.
“We definitely seek out UK students and know they are going to be great employees at GE Appliances,” said Fanning. “We know that they have great educational backgrounds and experiences, which are certainly valuable to an employer. We believe that lifelong learning is important, and we are committed to that as a company.”
Fanning has hired some of these alums to join her team at GE Appliances, including Rachel O’Bryan, recruiting liaison and Edison Engineering Development Program graduate, and Justin Bovard, executive director, kitchen cleanup product manager and member of the UK MBA Advisory Council at the Gatton College of Business and Economics. O’Bryan and Bovard are both graduates from the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering.
While attending career fairs as a UK undergraduate student, O’Bryan took advantage of three co-op opportunities with GE Appliances. O’Bryan said that her educational and experiential experiences at UK really helped her be successful as an early-career professional at GE Appliances.
“UK has a rigorous program, and my education experience taught me self-discipline,” O’Bryan said. “When I’m working on a project that has really tight deadlines, being organized, getting creative, being resourceful and knowing how to chip away at the problem are all critical to being successful, and are skills I learned while at UK.”
O’Bryan is one of the lead recruiters for GE Appliances and UK, and she offers some recommendations for future graduates to stand out.
“I love going to the career fairs to meet and recruit students,” O’Bryan said. “Beyond being strong academically, I’m looking for well-roundedness, and a curiosity and willingness to learn new things. Being open to investigating a new problem is super critical. I’m inspired when I see passion from students.”
Having worked in various mid-career roles at GE Appliances since 2015, Bovard believes that UK greatly contributed to his success.
“The University of Kentucky challenged me and pulls, pushes you to learn new things,” Bovard said. “UK taught me problem-solving skills and that’s something I use every single day here at GE Appliances.”
For Bovard, working in the “global hub” for GE Appliances offers unique growth and professional opportunities to be exposed to many functions of the business.
“To have manufacturing, sourcing, product and quality management, finance, marketing and sales – everything in one place – it’s enabled me to expand my breath of experience,” Bovard said.
For students seeking long-term professional success, Bovard offers some guidance.
“Find a company that aligns with your personal goals and is committed to supporting your growth,” said Bovard. “Then understand how your specific role fits into the larger company. Once you understand your role, expand and take on additional responsibilities. Doing so will grow your network, expand your expertise and open the door to new opportunities.”
Fanning offers advice for students that want to be future leaders.
“Get your hands dirty and don’t be afraid to fail early,” Fanning said. “Take risks and grow from them. Get a trusted mentor and take advantage of their experiences. And finally, be bold.”
Kentucky’s “bright future”
As a proud alum, Fanning believes that UK students are the key to the future and are important in advancing GE Appliances’ economic impact and investment in Kentucky.
“I know the value of the education that UK provides,” Fanning said. “UK graduates give back to the community. We all take seriously the development of our community and our state. It’s very exciting to see all the investments we are making in Kentucky in workforce development, new jobs and amazing new manufacturing sites that are being built. I see a bright future in front of us in Kentucky.”
To learn more about the Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles program at Martin-Gatton CAFE, visit https://www.mgcafe.uky.edu/academics/programs/bachelors/merchandising-apparel-and-textiles.
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Writer: Christopher Carney, Christopher.Carney@uky.edu
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Kentucky quickly made its move on Syracuse star transfer Donnie Freeman in the portal, making immediate contact and hopping on a Zoom call before getting a visit scheduled for the following week. The Wildcats emerged as the likely landing spot, fighting off Alabama and UConn for his services — only for St. John’s and Tennessee to throw their hats into the ring and make their own late pushes going into the weekend.
There was serious optimism in Lexington that Mark Pope had batted down those Hail Mary throws by the Red Storm and Volunteers with a potential public commitment coming Sunday, only for the afternoon to turn into evening without a peep. Then came the late-night chatter that Rick Pitino had tossed another deep ball toward the end zone, an offer Freeman couldn’t refuse to ultimately land his services as the No. 19 overall player and No. 5 power forward in the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings. Kentucky had its chance to keep the bidding war alive and potentially flip the momentum back, but the fat lady has officially sung.
That’s a tricky predicament for Pope and the Wildcats, who already passed on Colorado transfer and Florida State pledge Sebastian Rancik to continue their pursuit of Freeman. That came after Magoon Gwath (DePaul) and DeSean Goode (Miami (FL)), two other confirmed targets, committed elsewhere, along with the departures of Mo Dioubate (LSU) and Andrija Jelavic (Ohio State) from Pope’s second roster in Lexington.
So, uh, who is left for the Wildcats? Let’s separate the potential candidates into four categories.
“Gotta make Brad Stevens say no”
Two absolute gems remain at the position and could make all of the Pope Whiff doomers stop in their tracks: Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic and Santa Clara’s Allen Graves. You know both names because Kentucky played each of them in the NCAA Tournament, the former knocking the Wildcats out in the Round of 32 and the latter nearly doing so with a dagger in the final seconds of regulation — only to be topped by Otega Oweh’s half-court miracle at the buzzer.
They’re ranked No. 1 and No. 3 at the position, respectively, and are obvious home-run hits if UK can make contact. The issue? Despite entering the portal, they prefer to keep their names in the draft and will likely do so with first-round guarantees. A return to college isn’t impossible for either — Graves sits at No. 32 in ESPN’s latest draft rankings while Momcilovic comes in at No. 43 — but you won’t even get a meeting without $5M as a starting point, with the bidding likely finishing at or near the $6M mark. Are you ready to back up the Brinks truck? That’s the only option if you want the prized forwards.
Trending the wrong way — quickly
Now, if you’re looking for better value, Saint Mary’s Paulius Murauskas and Iowa’s Alvaro Folgueiras are both technically available, sitting at No. 2 and 11 at the position, respectively. Kentucky has had exploratory conversations with both players — the latter was seen as a serious target this time last offseason, as well — and the talent is there. Murauskas averaged 18.4 PPG and 7.6 RPG on 48/33/84 splits with the Gaels this season and earned All-WCC honors in each of the last two years. That would do the trick. Folgueiras averaged 8.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 2.2 APG for the Hawkeyes, but is most famous for hitting the game-winning three to beat Florida in the NCAA Tournament. Maybe not a can’t-miss superstar, but pretty darn solid for a pivot.
But, heavy emphasis on technically available — because they both have On3 RPM picks in favor of other schools. Murauskas is projected to follow his former St. Mary’s coach, Randy Bennett, to Arizona State, while Folgueiras is expected to land at *sigh* Louisville. They haven’t made public commitments, but the clock is ticking and Pope would have to make up a lot of ground in a hurry.
Both are highly unlikely to wear the blue and white.
Realistic, but not a needle-mover
If you’re looking for somebody solid to join the fold, James Madison’s Justin McBride is the perfect candidate. Standing 6-7, 240 pounds following previous stops at Oklahoma State and Nevada, the versatile forward earned Third Team All-Sun Belt honors, averaging 15.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG and 1.5 APG on 49/40/78 splits as a junior in Harrisonburg. Before that, he averaged 7.8 PPG and 4.2 RPG as a sophomore with the Wolfpack and 2.5 PPG and 1.5 RPG as a freshman with the Cowboys.
Finding his fourth home in four years, McBride is scheduled to visit Lexington this week, he tells Jacob Polacheck of KSR+. That comes after a Zoom meeting with the staff last week.
He’s productive with experience as a journeyman, finally tapping into his potential as a former top-125 recruit out of high school after seeing his role increase as a junior. There is a lot to like there, but the idea was for the Plano, TX native to serve as a complementary plug-and-play backup, staggering minutes with the go-to starter. You absolutely take him, but with the idea that you still need much more.
Potential wildcards
No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes is trending heavily toward Kansas — and he’s also more of a jumbo wing capable of playing 1-4 more than a true power forward — but the conversation starts there in terms of obvious names to upgrade talent on a roster desperate for upgrades. Whatever it takes if you’re Pope, no matter how unlikely.
The Wildcats have also been involved with No. 15 overall prospect Miikka Muurinen, who is undeniably talented, but there are maturity questions. North Carolina and Arkansas are among those to poke around, but there is a risk factor to keep in mind before automatically connecting those dots.
Pope went overseas to find Jelavic, so maybe that’s the path? It’s possible, but easier said than done when looking for obvious star talent. That was supposed to be the 6-11 forward, coming in with multiple years of eligibility and committing to Kentucky after a single conversation — exactly what you’d want when going down that road. The Wildcats weren’t able to see that process through and there is no guarantee the next international find won’t have similar year-one hiccups.
You also can’t rule out that another wave of portal announcements won’t come over the next 24 hours before things close tomorrow at midnight. Auburn’s Sebastian Williams-Adams is an intriguing option that popped up Monday, making himself available following a successful rookie season on the Plains. He started in 21 of 36 games for the Tigers, averaging 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.2 minutes per contest as a former four-star prospect out of high school.
You’re hoping and praying at that point that something presents itself that fits and elevates Kentucky’s ceiling in 2026-27. Odds are good — and someone will want to take the big pile of cash in Lexington — but no guarantees beyond the options already in front of us.
One thing we know for sure? Kentucky’s starting power forward will not be Donnie Freeman, and the search continues for Mark Pope.
Over the weekend, it was reported that the Kentucky Wildcats and coach Mark Pope had interest in former James Madison forward Justin McBride. Now, per Jacob Polacheck of Kentucky Sports Radio, McBride will take a visit to Lexington.
The report states that McBride will visit with Kentucky on Wednesday, Apr. 22. He had previously stated that he wanted to visit, but had to clear up some transcript issues first. It appears that things are worked out there now.
McBride is a 6’8″, 230 lb forward who has versatility. He averaged 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds last season, but also made 40% of his three-point attempts, making him the kind of stretch big Pope likes to use. He could start, or be a valuable player off the bench.
Pope needs some recruiting wins, and he needs some depth for next year’s team. Right now, there are still more questions than answers, and Big Blue Nation is getting restless. We will update this story after his visit and more news becomes available.
Entering the weekend, Vanderbilt baseball had gotten swept in its only SEC series in which it hadn’t won the first game.
So the Commodores had a tough task in a series they badly needed after dropping the opener 5-2 on a walk-off grand slam after Vanderbilt’s best healthy starter, Connor Fennell, pitched well.
But the Commodores (24-17, 9-9 SEC) rebounded to take the series with an 8-7 win in the second game and a 13-6 win in the finale April 19. They did that despite not having any pitcher go more than three innings in either game. Though the pitching was still shaky at times — they issued more free passes than strikeouts in both of the wins — they worked out of enough jams to let the offense go to work.
Here’s what we learned from the series.
Will Hampton proves an unlikely hero for the offense
Vanderbilt got strong performances from a few of its typical top performers, including Braden Holcomb (6-for-13, four doubles) and Brodie Johnston (4-for-12, two home runs, three walks). But one of the biggest hits of the series came from the unlikeliest of sources.
Logan Johnstone was held out of the finale after colliding with Mike Mancini in Game 2, and in his place coach Tim Corbin opted to go with redshirt freshman Will Hampton in left field. Hampton had recorded just six college plate appearances, all of which were in nonconference games.
But Hampton reached in all three of his plate appearances against Kentucky, first on a single, then a walk. In the sixth inning, with the score tied, he came up with the bases loaded and two outs and blasted a grand slam, giving Vanderbilt its first lead.
Tyler Baird learns the ups and downs of being a closer
Freshman Tyler Baird has been Vanderbilt’s closer for the past three weeks, recording his first save April 2 against Texas A&M. But he learned the pitfalls that can come with that role in Game 1 against Kentucky. Summoned for an eight-out save with the Commodores leading 2-1, he retired the first five batters, but loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth. He struck out the next two batters but then gave up the walk-off grand slam.
Baird returned for Game 3, this time attempting a five-out save and coming in with runners on first and second and one out with a three-run lead in the eighth inning. He allowed both inherited runners to score, but kept the lead and then had a scoreless ninth inning after Vanderbilt scored three runs in the top of the inning.
Baird’s emergence has been key for the Commodores, and the Game 3 bounce-back was especially important.
Vanderbilt’s RPI shows improvement
On April 15, Vanderbilt was 95th in RPI, a mark that wasn’t going to cut it for NCAA Tournament selection. But with a road series win against a Kentucky team that started the week in the top 20 of RPI, the Commodores moved all the way up to 75th, according to Warren Nolan.
While Vanderbilt will need to keep moving up — a top-50 mark would be ideal — the series win did a lot. In the next two weeks, it will face two top-five RPI teams in Alabama and Texas, giving more opportunity to improve its standing.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
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