BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate Program Director, Kids in Parks / Asheville, N.C.
Adam came to the Foundation team with an eclectic resume. Graduating from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, with a degree in Digital Media he has worked with mobile games companies, public libraries, and even the Department of Homeland Security. He's lived out of his car, travelling the country for half a year. The culmination of experience and skills gained through his varied history brought him to the Blue Ridge to help create wonderful adventures for the Kids in Parks program. His favorite things in life are clouds rolling over mountains, good coffee, and a good dog (though he is currently learning to enjoy the quirks of living with felis silvestris -- the domestic cat). E-mail Adam or call him at (866) 308-2773.
Job Titles:
- Retired Attorney and Community Volunteer / Winston - Salem, NC
Alfred recently retired as a partner with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP. He has a background in education, and is a former high school teacher and coach and adjunct professor at Wake Forest University School of Law. He holds a bachelor of arts and a Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University. Alfred's legal career has focused on all aspects of real estate transactions, and he practiced law in Asheville from 1973 until 1994, when he returned to Winston-Salem. He has been active in the revitalization of downtown Winston-Salem and serves on the advisory board of Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and the board of the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem. He is the immediate past chair of Winston-Salem Business, Inc., the economic development entity for Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, a member of the executive committee of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, and chair of the Downtown Winston-Salem Foundation. In 2004, Alfred was named the Leading Real Estate Attorney in North Carolina by North Carolina Business magazine. The North Carolina Bar Association named a Citizen Lawyer in 2011 in recognition of his years of community service. He is also a member of the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame.
"When I first started skiing, as a high school student, we would head to Boone from Winston-Salem," Alfred says. "I first fell in love with the Parkway, when we would ski down sections of the Parkway (probably not a good idea today. When I lived in Asheville, we used the Parkway as our gateway to some wonderful hikes."
Job Titles:
- Becky Anderson Consulting, Founder - Handmade in America / Asheville, NC
Becky Anderson of Becky Anderson Consulting, Inc. serves as a consultant for cultural and economic development projects related to The Creative Economy. Most recently she served as Founding Director of HandMade in America, a community development organization located in Western North Carolina. HandMade in America works to implement environmentally sustainable economic solutions that emphasize the craft industry, enhance opportunities in the marketplace, and develop entrepreneurial strategies for the region's artisans. HandMade was the recipient of The Economic Development Planning Award of The American Planning Association, The Award of Merit for Sustainable Development from Renew America, Inc. The Best Community Outreach Award from Niche Magazine and in 2003 Worth Magazine ranked HandMade as one of the top 24 arts non-profits in The United States.
Prior to HandMade she served as Director of Economic Development for the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, Director of Community Development for Land of Sky Regional Council, and Director of Economic Development for the City of Asheville. In 2000, U.S. News and World Report named Anderson as one of the United States top 20 visionaries for her work in community and civic development.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator at the Blue Ridge Music Center
A native of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bernadette is passionate about Appalachian arts and music. She holds a BFA in painting and printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University and has an extensive background in the arts as a curator, creative place maker, graphic designer and marketer. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and going to concerts with her husband, Eric. Email Bernadette or call (866) 308-2773.
Job Titles:
- President of Deer Valley Development Corporation / Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Billie is the President of Deer Valley Development Corporation, a family owned business that has provided recreational opportunities for families of Watauga County and seasonal residents for more than 30 years.
Billie is the President of Deer Valley Development Corporation, a family owned business that has provided recreational opportunities for families and seasonal residents of Watauga County for more than 30 years. She has been a community volunteer for numerous organizations and serves or has served on the boards of The Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge, Western Youth Network, Appalachian Women's Fund, and the Watauga County Humane Society. She is currently serving on the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Steering Committee and is a member of the Denim Ball Planning Committee.
Job Titles:
- Retired Finance Manager, HanesBrands / Haeco Americas / Winston - Salem, NC
A North Carolina native, Bob graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and then pursued an MBA. He spent a 38-year career in various corporate finance positions, first in the consumer apparel industry and then in the vastly different aviation industry.
Bob has always enjoyed being outdoors and seeing many beautiful spots in the North Carolina mountains while holding a flyrod or hiking in the woods with his wife (a beach convert) and two children. He always knew that the Blue Ridge Parkway was there and special, but really came to know and appreciate the Parkway on father-son visits. Bob says, "What was accomplished in 1936 by a visionary group of leaders, engineers and workers was an incredible gift to our generation. It is now up to us to ensure that this is preserved and passed on to our children and grandchildren."
Job Titles:
- Retired, Land of Sky Council / Asheville, NC
Bob Shepherd was born and reared in Ashe County, N.C. He graduated from NCSU and received a masters degree (Economics) from Kansas State University. He served as a Lieutenant in the Army Reserve. Following five years with the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., he began a career in regional planning and development, retiring in 2002. Since retiring, he has served as Interim Manager of Blowing Rock, Maggie Valley, Columbus and Tryon. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the HomeTrust Bank since 1987, where he chairs the Compensation Committee. He is also a member of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. His public service has been recognized by the following awards: Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the Governor's Office, Circle of Excellence by the Leadership Asheville Forum, Outstanding Rural Leader by the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, the Federal Co-Chairman's Award by the Appalachian Regional Commission and being a Life Member of the NC City/County Management Association.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past Chair / Retired Region President of US Foods / Blowing Rock, NC
Bob Stout is a 1974 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in economics. He retired from US Foods, a food company and national foodservice distributor in 2016. He was a Region President and served the company for nearly 40 years. While working in Charlotte, he served on The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club Advisory Council and the Board of Community Food Rescue (now part of Second Harvest). He is spending retirement enjoying the High Country and serving on the Board of the Blowing Rock Historical Society and volunteering with various organizations. He and his wife, Janet, are proud parents of three children and four grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Retired President and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of NC / Raleigh, N.C.
Brad Wilson has a 40-year career in the practice of law, governmental service, and health care. Prior to becoming General Counsel to Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., in 1992, he practiced law in Lenoir, N.C., for 14 years. Wilson retired as President and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of NC after 22 years, where he held a variety of senior executive roles prior to becoming CEO in February 2010.
Wilson is a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian honor, and was recently inducted into the N.C. Business Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, Wilson has served on numerous public, private, and charitable boards and commissions, including the N.C. Board of Transportation and the UNC Board of Governors, which he chaired for four years. Wilson is very involved in the community, giving his time to a number of organizations over the years including the March of Dimes and Habitat for Humanity.
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Patla, Straus, Robinson & Moore, P.a. Asheville, NC
Brian Gulden first moved to Asheville in 1990 to attend UNC Asheville. After graduating from UNCA, he attended Southern Illinois University School of Law. Subsequent to law school, he and his family returned to North Carolina. After working in Shelby, North Carolina, for five years, Gulden began his legal career in Asheville with Patla, Straus, Robinson & Moore, P.A. in 2006. His community involvement includes past membership on the Board of Directors for Pisgah Legal Services as well as participation as an advisory member of the Kids in Parks board. Brian and his wife, Chrissie, have been married for more than 20 years and have two children, Cole and Emily. He is an avid rock climber, mountain biker and runner, having completed four marathons.
Brian lives close enough to the Blue Ridge Parkway that he often accesses it from his neighborhood. His favorite location is near the east Asheville overlook where the rhododendrons have grown over the trail and give off a sense of being in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. He has enjoyed many hikes through those thickets with his family and friends. Brian's current involvement with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation furthers his commitment to see that all individuals, but especially younger kids, have a place to enjoy the peace and serenity of the world around them. It is Brian's hope that the Blue Ridge Parkway will continue to offer respite from the constant activity that occurs in each of our daily lives.
Job Titles:
- Attorney, Conservationist, Community Volunteer / Roanoke, VA
A retired litigating and estate planning attorney, Fitzpatrick works on land conservation, resource management initiatives and community service projects. An active Elder of Second Presbyterian Church, Roanoke, he has also served as a disaster relief volunteer and coordinator throughout the Southeast.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff to Congressman Chuck Edwards / Leicester, N.C. & Washington, D.C.
A native of Buncombe County, N.C., Bronwyn Lance is a seasoned Capitol Hill veteran and political strategist with 18 years of service at the highest levels of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. She presently serves as chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11), where she oversees the intersection of policy, press and politics for North Carolina's 11 th congressional district. For 15 years, Bronwyn was a senior staff member in the United States Senate, serving as communications director and advisor for five U.S. senators and two major committees: the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. She also served as a Senate Republican leadership staff member for U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.
She began her career on Capitol Hill working on the staff of U.S. Congressman Charles Taylor, who also represented North Carolina's 11 th district. She served as an editorial writer and member of the editorial board of Virginia's largest newspaper, The Virginian-Pilot, and for six years, wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column for Knight-Ridder/Tribune and McClatchy-Tribune. She also served as a consultant for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium and Norfolk, Va. Bronwyn holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, and an MPA from Old Dominion University. She and her husband, Russell, divide their time between Leicester, N.C. and Washington, D.C.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer / Asheville, N.C.
Carolyn Ward, Ph.D., serves as the CEO of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the primary philanthropic partner to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Carolyn was born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwest Virginia. After graduating from Emory and Henry College, she found her passion as a seasonal park interpreter at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia. Following that love for the outdoors and her passion for teaching and learning, she completed her Master's and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in Forestry. From there, she traveled to northern California, where she worked as a professor for 12 years. E-mail Carolyn or call her at (866) 308-2773.
Job Titles:
- CEO PSC, PLLC / Winston - Salem, N.C.
A native North Carolinian, Charles grew up in Winston-Salem where he currently resides with his wife Susan. He is a UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Greensboro graduate. He has worked with physicians, physician groups, hospitals, and other health care related companies for more than 50 years. In addition, he has served on numerous business, not-for-profit, governmental, and religious governing bodies.
He has two daughters and is the proud grandfather of four. He and his family enjoy their second home in Linville, N.C.
Job Titles:
- Retired Director of the U.S. Office of Public Health / Hernando, Florida
Charles Higgins retired in November 2014 after serving in the U.S. Public Health Service for 24 years and working in public health for 37 years. Prior to retirement, Higgins was assigned to the National Park Service where he was the director of the Office of Public Health. His previous federal assignments included the Food and Drug Administration, CDC, and assisting the State of Wyoming in modernizing its state food safety system. Chuck began his career as the Converse County Wyoming sanitarian, worked as a quality assurance supervisor for Safeway Stores, and then as a public health investigator for the Denver Department of Health and Hospitals before joining the U.S. Public Health Service. Higgins earned a Master of Science in Environmental Health from Colorado State University. He enjoys gardening and kayaking.
Job Titles:
- Cofounder and President of White Blaze Marketing / Blowing Rock, NC
Craig earned his MBA from Gardner-Webb University and is Cofounder and President of White Blaze Marketing, a full service marketing and video production agency located in Boone, North Carolina. He spent his youth fly fishing and hiking with his family in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Today, he enjoys hiking and exploring the mountains with his wife, Jessica. He also enjoys running and racing in half marathons and marathons. Some of his fondest memories are of spending part of his honeymoon on the Parkway and the various hikes he gets to enjoy often on the Parkway.
Job Titles:
- Group Faculty Fellow and a Professor
- Professor of Practice, Wake Forest University and Former CEO, Inmar, Inc
Cynthia Evans Tessien is the Reznick Group Faculty Fellow and a Professor of Practice in the School of Business at Wake Forest University. She and her husband, Bill, own and are Executive Directors of A Step Ahead Academic Centers LLC, a Clemmons, NC-based learning community providing one-on-one tutoring, home school classes and multi-sensory reading instruction for pre-kindergarten through high school students.
Four-time Grammy Award winner David Holt is a musician, storyteller, historian, television host and entertainer, dedicated to performing and preserving traditional American music and stories. Holt plays 10 acoustic instruments and has released numerous recordings of traditional mountain music and southern folktales. Holt is well known for his television and radio series. Currently, he is hosting the PBS series David Holt's State of Music, featuring some of the regions finest musicians including Rhiannon Giddens, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Balsam Range.
Job Titles:
- Photographer, Instructor, and Founder of the Peak 1 Group / Asheville, N.C.
A native of Maine, David is an avid hiker, mountain biker, and photographer based in Asheville, North Carolina. He's an active member of the Carolina Mountain Club, responsible for maintaining a 2.5-mile section of the Appalachian Trail, and serves on board for the Asheville Art Museum.
David holds a master's degree in education and human development from The George Washington University as well as a master's in mythology and depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. With a desire to marry observation with experiential learning, he received his training in outdoor leadership from the North Carolina Outward Bound School. He's also an Eagle Scout and former Scoutmaster.
One of David's passions is helping others succeed, which is why he serves as an instructor in Western Carolina University's professional development program and founded The Peak 1 Group, a consulting practice that applies insights gained from the outdoors to personal effectiveness and creativity. David is also a champion collegiate speaker and thoroughly enjoys engaging others through presentations and panel discussions.
When not traveling, David makes the most of his home in Asheville, where he soaks up the region's natural beauty and vibrant culinary and arts scenes.
Job Titles:
- Evergreen Management Consulting / Blowing Rock, NC
A native North Carolinian, Deanna Ballard has dedicated her career to public service. Currently, she owns and operates a private consulting business where she advises senior leadership on matters related to strategic communication and public policy initiatives that impact education, economic development, nonprofit management and local, state, and federal government.
As a member of the North Carolina State Senate (2016 - 2022), Ballard focused her attention on serving and representing constituents across the High Country of North Carolina while directly championing efforts in improving education, budget, health care and conservation issues statewide. Prior to serving in the General Assembly, she held several positions in the executive branch of the federal government, including a commissioned officer post as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady.
Ballard obtained a degree in Business from Belmont University and currently serves on numerous boards committed to advancing causes she believes in. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, running, and loves exploring new places and hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Don works for the boutique real estate firm, Ellis Developments Group. Don has enjoyed a unique career in real estate and business development, including CRO for a machine learning and AI company serving AccuWeather, Rolls Royce, and other global companies.
Job Titles:
- Historian & Director of the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Duke University / Chapel Hill, NC
Dr. Anne Mitchell Whisnant is a professional historian and Director of the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Duke University. With her husband David Whisnant, she also runs the public history consulting firm, Primary Source History Services, based in Chapel Hill, N.C. From 2016-17, she was Whichard Visiting Distinguished Professor of History at East Carolina University, and before that, for 10 years (2006-16), she was Deputy Secretary of the Faculty in UNC-Chapel Hill's Office of Faculty Governance. She continues to hold appointment as Adjunct Associate Professor of History at UNC-Chapel Hill, the department from which she received her Ph.D.
In 2006, UNC Press published her book, Super-Scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History. At UNC-Chapel Hill, she served as scholarly adviser for Driving Through Time: The Digital Blue Ridge Parkway, an online history collection developed collaboratively with the Park Service and the UNC Libraries. Her teaching in public history has always incorporated significant digital components, and her students have developed a number of web exhibits related to Blue Ridge Parkway and university history.
In 2010, she and husband David published a Parkway book for children, titled When the Parkway Came. As a consultant, Dr. Whisnant has been the co-principal historian on National Park Service projects at DeSoto National Memorial, Cape Lookout National Seashore, and the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. From 2008-12, she chaired a task force commissioned by the Organization of American Historians and the National Park Service to study historical practice within the Park Service. The resulting report, Imperiled Promise: The State of History in the National Park Service, won the 2013 Excellence in Consulting Award from the National Council on Public History and is helping set a vision for future National Park Service historical work.
Job Titles:
- Retired, Virginia Tech University / Asheville, NC
Greg received a bachelor of science degree in forestry from Iowa State University. He then received a masters degree in forestry and plant physiology from Yale University, and a PhD in plant physiology from Duke University. His career has been in research and teaching, having been on the faculty of several universities. He most recently retired from Virginia Tech where he served for 12 years as dean of the College of Natural Resources. He currently resides near Hendersonville, North Carolina, and is active in the Rotary Club of Asheville. He also remains active with the National Society of American Foresters. He continues to serve on the steering committee of the Asheville chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway and on the FRIENDS Board, for which he previously served as president. He recently served on the FRIENDS of the Carl Sandburg Home, an NPS National Historic Monument in Flat Rock, NC, and previously served as their president for two years.
Job Titles:
- Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Appalachian State University / Boone, NC
Dr. Durham received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Wake Forest University and Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in mathmatics from the University of Georgia . He was associated with Appalachian State University for 39 years where he worked primarily in the area of administration and held such positions as Chairman of the Department of Mathematics, Associate Dean of the Faculty, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Provost, Executive Vice Chancellor and Interim Chancellor. He retired from ASU in 2004 as Provost, Executive Vice Chancellor Emeritus, and Professor Emeritus of Mathematics.
Job Titles:
- Author, Adventurer and Retired Deputy Director, Forsyth County Public Library / Winston - Salem, N.C.
Elizabeth has had a love affair with the Blue Ridge Parkway for nearly 40 years upon discovering the 469-mile road on a bicycle tour of its length with her husband Charlie in 1985. Since that time, she has gotten to know every mile having bicycled the Parkway from Waynesboro, Va., to Cherokee, N.C., more than 16 times. As the author of Bicycling the Blue Ridge: a Guide to Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway (Menasha Ridge Press, 2020, 6th ed.) she has become intimately familiar with the terrain, natural beauty, landscape architecture, and cultural opportunities and amenities along the roadway.
"When traveling the Parkway by bicycle, one becomes highly aware of where the road is well maintained and where poor road conditions and closures occur," Skinner says. "Ongoing maintenance of the roadway is certainly one of the Blue Ridge Parkway staff's biggest challenges."
Bicycle safety and awareness-and the potential for more trails and greenways-are exciting focus areas that Elizabeth hopes to work toward. Since retiring, she has co-led bicycle tours of the Parkway with Blaze Adventure tours. One admirable tenet that public libraries and the Blue Ridge Parkway share-they are free and open to everyone. "It is an honor to celebrate and share this amazing resource with current and future generations through work on the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Council of Advisors," Skinner said.
Job Titles:
- Finance and Administrative Director / Asheville, N.C.
Elizabeth Hickman is a native of the Piedmont of North Carolina. She relocated to Asheville in the summer of 1999. Elizabeth has more than 20 years of experience in the accounting industry and more than 10 years in the nonprofit sector. She comes from Henderson County Habitat for Humanity where she was the Director of Finance. Elizabeth also partnered with her mother, now deceased, in the family accounting business for almost 20 years. She enjoys spending time in nature, working outdoors and driving on the Parkway. Nonprofit work is her passion and she gives her time and resources to organizations she feels passionate about.
Job Titles:
- Data Manager, Kids in Parks / Asheville, N.C.
Erin, a North Carolina native, graduated from the University of North Carolina-Asheville with a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Management. In 2018, she earned a master's degree in Environmental Politics and Policy Analysis from Appalachian State University, where she worked as a Research Assistant for the Appalachian Carbon Research Group. Erin previously served the public as a Forest Service Resource Assistant in the National Forests in North Carolina office and the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. She loves hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway with her big dog Max (the love of her life), watching soccer, and tending to her houseplants.
Job Titles:
- President, Leading the Way, LLC / Matthews, NC
Gary Stewart retired from Woolpert, Inc., a national consulting engineering and design firm at the end of 2014. He served as the Chairman, and completed 35 years of service. He is now actively with two new and separate career aspirations: President of Leading the Way, LLC, and Commercial Real Estate Broker for RE/MAX Executive Commercial Division. Stewart splits his time providing business and leadership consulting services for other architectural, engineering, surveying, and planning firms with Leading the Way, LLC, while also serving the commercial real estate industry as a land specialist advisor.
Job Titles:
- North Carolina Development Director / Asheville, N.C.
George Ivey has a lifelong appreciation for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Born and raised in Asheville, George grew up less than two miles from the Parkway. As a teenager, he worked as a busboy at the restaurant at the Pisgah Inn. An avid cyclist, he bicycled the entire Blue Ridge Parkway in 2004.
"From childhood trips up to Graveyard Fields to more recent visits for birding and hiking, I love the Parkway and all it does to celebrate and protect our natural and cultural heritage and support local tourism," George says.
George brings robust experience in conservation and fundraising, including previous work for The Nature Conservancy, Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and The North Carolina Arboretum, as well as eight years as a consultant assisting non-profit organizations and public agencies with fundraising and organizational development.
He graduated from Duke University with a degree in political science, and he recently completed his master's degree in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sports Management through N.C. State University. George lives near Hendersonville, North Carolina, with his wife and two young children. E-mail George or call him at (866) 308-2773.
Job Titles:
- Director of Partnerships at the Change Climate Project
- Vice Chair / Director of Partnerships at the Change Climate Project / Saxapahaw, North Carolina
Greg Andeck is Director of Partnerships at The Change Climate Project, a nonprofit that assists companies in reducing their emissions that contribute to climate change.
Job Titles:
- Planning and Development Director, City of Marion / Marion, NC
Heather Cotton's diverse service in the public sector is defined by her dedication to the effective use and preservation of culturally significant lands and structures. Beginning her career as a field archaeologist, she worked on site evaluations and excavations in Fort Drum, New York, and Belfast, Ireland, and parlayed that experience into her work as a post-grad researching climate change and land use in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Job Titles:
- Journalist, Retired Associate Editor, the Charlotte Observer / Meadows of Dan, VA
Jack is a former chair of the board of trustees. He retired in 2011 as associate editor of The Charlotte Observer after nearly 40 years in North Carolina journalism. He served in the Army, was Washington correspondent for the Greensboro Daily News, Roanoke Times and Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, was editor of North Carolina Insight magazine and was a member of the editorial board of the Observer, where he wrote daily editorials and blogposts and a weekly column. Jack was inducted into the N.C. Journalism Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. He and his wife, Martha, live a few miles east of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, Virginia, where he writes the Rocky Knob Blog. He also writes magazine articles and provides editorial services at Rocky Knob Writery LLC.
Job Titles:
- Director of Tourism & Marketing for Patrick County
James Houchins is the Director of Tourism & Marketing for Patrick County, Va. He has worked in a variety of roles throughout his career, including as an Inbound/Outbound Supervisor and a CTM Coordinator at The Results Companies and as a Sales Coordinator/Account Manager at Capewell Aerial System.
James earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Leadership & Management from Averett University. He has received several awards, including Sigma Beta Delta in December 2019. He is also active in board service, including serving on the Social Service Board for Patrick County for four years and as Board Chairman for two years at the Tri-Area Health Clinic in Laural Fork, Va.
James is a lifelong resident Patrick County. He is married (Donita) and has four grown children and grandchildren. He is also an ordained minister with 30 years of service. James' hobbies include reading, watching commercials, and spending time alone. He is also a sports fan.
Job Titles:
- Program Director, Kids in Parks / Asheville, N.C.
Jason came to the Foundation in 2008 to assist in running the Kids In Parks program for which he now serves as Project Director. Jason is a natural resource interpreter and educator who loves providing children with meaningful connections to nature through outdoor education programs. Prior to earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Humboldt State University in natural resource interpretation, Jason spent over 11 years working with children in various fields ranging from outdoor education to standard classroom education and physical education.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Initiatives, World Food Policy Center, Duke University
Jennifer Zuckerman has dedicated her life to improving the health and well-being of North Carolinians through thoughtful food and land policy. Beginning her career at NC State University, where she received her undergraduate and master's degrees in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, she created the Parks and Recreation Partnership for a Healthier Wake, a collaboration between the 12 municipal parks of Wake County to merge park initiatives with public health initiatives and increase physical activity and improve the diets of its communities. She went on to work for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation for more than a decade, developing strategies and partnerships to enhance access to healthy food and safe recreational environments for all North Carolinians. BCBSNC is the primary supporter of Kids in Parks. She continues this work in her current position at the World Food Policy Center at Duke University, an initiative launched in 2017 with the goal of facilitating a connection between researchers and policymakers to improve the growth, consumption, and protection of the world's food supply. Jennifer currently chairs the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders Network Steering Committee and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems Board of Advisors, and is the Vice Chair for the National Academies of Medicine Early Childhood Innovation Collaborative. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Triangle Land Conservancy.
Jennifer spent the first five years of her life in Western North Carolina, and the mountains will always be home to her. She loves the Blue Ridge Parkway because it offers a wide variety of ways to experience the scenic and cultural wonders of Appalachia; even hiking the same trails again and again, she finds something new to appreciate every time. Jennifer is especially interested in Kids in Parks; she loves how simple and yet how important the program's mission is, and would love to see it implemented in every state in the country. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys being outdoors - running, hiking, and skiing - and practices Systema, a Russian martial art. She lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her son Cade, a budding filmmaker, and their beagle, Waddles.
Job Titles:
- Partner & Founder of Blowing Rock Real Estate / Blowing Rock, NC
After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill and Emory University, Jerry spent most of his career in Texas. He has been a steel mill executive, a commercial developer, and a Blowing Rock Realtor. Along with traveling with his wife, Genie, and enjoying two grandchildren, Jerry would prefer to be playing golf and hiking the Parkway trails. The Blue Ridge Parkway and the enjoyment of the park by visitors is a great responsibility for all of us.
Job Titles:
- Retired CFO of the NC State Board of Education / Black Mountain, NC
Jim grew up in the Adirondacks of northern New York where he used to camp and canoe. During his college summers he worked at a state park on Lake George. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Colgate University and served in the US Navy Supply Corps with tours in Vietnam and with the Navy Audit Service. His career began as an environmental studies project manager with a consulting firm in New Jersey. Since then he has worked primarily in financial management with state government, in North Carolina and Georgia. He was the planning coordinator for natural resources, economic development and transportation in Georgia's Office of Planning and Budget. Then for 17 years, he was the chief financial officer for the public schools of North Carolina under the State Board of Education. Afterwards, he directed an e-learning program for teachers at UNC School of Education until he retired in 2006. He has served on the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union Board for 16 years and with the NC Public School Forum for 25 years. Before moving to Black Mountain, he coordinated the Bird Island Coastal Reserve Steward program on Sunset Beach.
His wife is Linda Bertsch Barber, a retired nurse and clinical research scientist. Together they enjoy just being outdoors, hiking, skiing, cycling, and driving on the Parkway!
Job Titles:
- Retired Owner & Operator of the Mountainaire Inn & Log Cabins / Blowing Rock, NC
Jim is retired, and with his wife, Deborah, splits time between Linville, North Carolina, and Pawleys Island, South Carolina. They are the past owners and operators of The Mountainaire Inn and Log Cabins in Blowing Rock. Jim enjoys fishing, golf, learning to play the guitar, and long walks along the Blue Ridge Parkway and beach with their dog, Guinness. Jim and Deborah fell in love with the mountains when their daughter Jennifer attended Appalachian State University. They have lived in the Blowing Rock area for past 15 years and now in the Linville/Newland area.
He serves on the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's Legislative Committee, and with his wife, sponsored the annual Denim Ball fundraiser for Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. He also volunteers his time to maintain the donor stations in the Blowing Rock area.
Job Titles:
- Retired, N.C. General Assembly / Meadows of Dan, Virginia
A native of North Carolina, Jim grew up in Burlington and received degrees from UNC at Chapel Hill. His career was in public service, primarily with the Fiscal Research Division staff of the N.C. General Assembly. He retired in 2003, and made his move to the Virginia mountains. He now lives adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 172. He is a board member of the New River Land Trust and a past member of the Floyd County, Virginia Economic Development Authority. His wife, Silvie Granatelli, is a professional potter.
John Mitchell is a public servant through and through, having dedicated most of his career to public administration starting with an internship for North Carolina State Senators Stan Bingham and Hamilton Horton in 2004 after graduating from UNC Asheville. He went on to earn his master's from Western Carolina University. Since then, he has worked as the Governmental Relations Manager for Asheville's Chamber of Commerce and as a Field Representative to United States Senator Richard Burr, a role in which he represented the senator in the 18 counties of Western North Carolina. He is the Henderson County Manager.
John believes that the economic, ecological, and historic value of the Blue Ridge Parkway is beyond measure, and that it provides not just a gorgeous route through the highest mountains in the eastern United States, but also a link to the rich cultural heritage of North Carolina and Virginia. He is particularly passionate about the Blue Ridge Music Center and its mission to preserve the treasures that are the songs and traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In this vein, he has served as a board member for the North Carolina Arts Council, a founding board member of the French Broad River Valley Music Valley Music Association, and as an executive board member for the Land of Sky Regional Council. John has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail end-to-end, and in his spare time enjoys playing old-time fiddle and banjo, trail running, and fly fishing. He lives with his wife, Meredith Mitchell, and his two daughters, Ava and Cate, in Hendersonville, North Carolina. They are all especially fond of the Devil's Courthouse and Sam Knob trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer / Winston - Salem, N.C.
Jordan has worked for museums and historic sites in North Carolina and Virginia. A graduate of Wake Forest University, she has a Masters in History and a certificate in nonprofit management. She grew up camping on the southern end of the Parkway with her three siblings. Jordan and her husband enjoy biking and exploring the outdoors with their three children. E-mail Jordan or call her at (866) 308-2773.
Julie Moore grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C., and has called the Triad home ever since. After graduating from High Point University with a Human Relations in Business degree she began her career in sales leadership. Moore worked for First Citizens Bank for more than 20 years as a Manager of Retail Banking. "The Parkway needs support from all the communities it borders and all the individuals that get to enjoy its natural beauty," Moore says.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant / Asheville, N.C.
Kelly Fain is a Hendersonville, N.C. native who loves running, rivers and wild places. A graduate of Appalachian State University, her background is in newspaper editing and marketing for cooperatives. She feels most motivated and alive when her skills are benefitting organizations that share her vision for conserving and sharing the beauty of our natural world. She enjoys running long distances and learning about flora, fauna and fungi in her beloved Blue Ridge Mountains. You can find her running the Mountains-to-Sea trail, paddling the French Broad River, or adventuring with her husband and two boys. Email Kelly or call her at (866) 308-2773.
Job Titles:
- Secretary / Director of Economic Development, Botetourt County / Fincastle, VA
The Blue Ridge Parkway holds special importance to Ken McFadyen's understanding of where he lives and what he does. He has been fortunate to serve in Blue Ridge Parkway gateway communities in North Carolina and Virginia throughout his professional career in local government administration and economic development. Currently, he serves as director of economic development for Botetourt County.
As a teenager with his Scout troop, the Parkway is where he learned to rock climb and rappel at Devil's Courthouse. During Ken's college years at Appalachian State University, he usually spent his free time hiking at Rough Ridge, Julian Price Memorial Park, and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. At Doughton Park, Ken proposed to his wife, Melanie. Today, he and his family frequently visit the Peaks of Otter.
With economic development, Ken served on the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) Board of Directors and as president in 2018. He currently serves with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's strategic planning and Virginia Business Ready Sites Program committees.
Ken earned an undergraduate degree in history and a master's degree in public administration from Appalachian State University, where he also taught as an adjunct instructor in political science. And, as an avocation, he earned a master's degree in American history from Emory & Henry College. An Eagle Scout, Ken currently serves as an assistant scoutmaster and Wood Badge (adult leader training) troop guide.
Ken and his wife, Melanie, have two children, Sara and Conor, and they live in Fincastle within sight of the Parkway and Apple Orchard Mountain.
Job Titles:
- Director for the Foundation
- Virginia Development Director / Lynchburg, Va.
Kevin Brandt is the Developement Director for the Foundation in the commonwealth of Virginia.
Brandt joined the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation team after serving as the Superintendent of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. He has spent four decades with the National Park Service, during which he managed the restoration of historic structures in Yellowstone, Hot Springs, and Bryce Canyon national parks, as well as in a number of other parks and recreation areas. Brandt also oversaw the extensive repair of the C&O towpath, where visitors can walk or bike alongside the entire 184.5 miles of the canal.
Brandt was previously the project manager for the Foundation, serving as a liaison between the organization and National Park Service to shepherd projects to completion, including the rehabilitation of Flat Top Manor at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park. Brandt will support community outreach and fundraising in the commonwealth.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Bluffs Restaurant / Laurel Springs, N.C.
Kim Lawson Director of The Bluffs Restaurant Laurel Springs, N.C. Read more
Job Titles:
- Retired Nurse and Clinical Research Scientist
Job Titles:
- Associate Program Director at the Blue Ridge Music Center
Marianne Kovatch has been involved in arts administration and event planning for many years, most recently working at Chestnut Creek School of the Arts as Music and Woodworking Program Manager, Marketing and Development Director, and Galax JAM Program Director. Marianne began playing banjo and dancing in high school, and was first introduced to the Galax area many years ago when she began attending the Galax Old Fiddlers' Convention and Mt. Airy Fiddlers' Convention.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- Founder and CEO of the Phoenix Wellness Retreat / Asheville, N.C.
Founder and CEO Marsha Ralls launched The Phoenix Wellness Retreat in 2018. Her goal was to create a space for personal inspiration, growth, and life transformation. She is a leader in the hospitality, wellness and fine arts spaces, a certified yoga instructor and mindfulness coach. Drawing together her knowledge of fitness, nature, and art, Marsha designed a place for people to reconnect with their bodies, hearts, consciousness, and the natural beauty of the world around them.
Job Titles:
- Graphic Design & Communications Manager / Asheville, N.C.
Meg Puett was born and raised in the coastal town of Wilmington, NC. During college, she moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains and attended Appalachian State University pursuing a degree of Product Design. She learned that our lives are dominated, and even defined, by the manufactured world, and she sees an opportunity to improve the human experience by reconnecting to the natural world. With this goal, she proudly joined the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Foundation in 2023 As the Graphic Designer
- Outreach Coordinator & Graphic Designer, Kids in Parks / Asheville, N.C.
Meghan McDevitt joined the Foundation in 2023 as the Graphic Designer for the Kids in Parks program. Though born and raised outside the city of Philadelphia, she fell in love with the mountains while visiting western North Carolina as a child in the summers. This admiration for the outdoors instilled a love for all things nature-related, and she graduated from Clemson University in 2016 with a B.S. in Environmental & Natural Resources.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications for the School of Education at UNC Chapel Hill
Mike Hobbs developed a love and appreciation for the Blue Ridge Parkway while living in the mountains of North Carolina. Now a resident of Chatham County, Mike works at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he serves as director of communications for the School of Education. He previously worked at Peace College in Raleigh, also as director of communications, where he implemented an integrated marketing and public relations plan and directed media and public relations for the college.
Job Titles:
- Outdoor Director at Chetola Resort / Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Though Morgan Tarbutton has traveled far and wide for job and volunteer opportunities, she has always found herself drawn back to the pristine beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her role as Outdoor Director at Chetola Resort provides the opportunity to encourage locals and tourists alike to appreciate the mountains and safeguard them for future generations. "It is my goal to assist in the preservation of all forms of nature while engaging others to learn, enjoy, and protect all aspects of the great outdoors," Tarbutton says.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, the Light Foundation / Black Mountain, NC
Olson is a semi-retired pediatrician and pediatric medical consultant to Mission Hospital in Asheville. He is a strong advocate for children's health and is active in the war on childhood obesity. He was instrumental in founding the "Kids in Parks" program of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Retired, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco / Winston - Salem, NC
Pat grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and received her college degree from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After graduation, she went to Washington D. C. to work for Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. and worked with him for 18 years - including the Watergate Years when she was Chief of Staff. After the Senator retired, she worked for two years with General Foods Corporation, and then began working with Governor Jim Hunt in a Washington, D. C. Office for the State of North Carolina for 8 years. It was then time to return to North Carolina to work with R. J.
Job Titles:
- Director and Founder of Bonesteel Films
- President, Bonesteel Films / Asheville, NC
Paul Bonesteel is the director and founder of Bonesteel Films, a full-service production company based in Asheville, North Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Retired, National Park Service / Vinton, Virginia
Givens spent 38 years in the U.S. National Park Service. In addition to more than 25 years as Interpretive Specialist on the Blue Ridge Parkway, he worked at Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Mammoth Cave National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Cowpens National Battlefield, and Booker T. Washington National Monument.
Phil Noblitt began his Parkway career in 1987 as a district ranger. He subsequently served for 10 years as the Parkway's specialist for interpretation and education. For several years prior to his retirement in 2007, he worked as a management assistant, coordinating public information and serving as the Parkway's liaison with the travel and tourism community. Phil is also author of Mansion in the Mountains, a history of Moses and Bertha Cone and Flat Top Manor.
Job Titles:
- Director of Wildacres Retreat
- Director of Wildacres Retreat / Charlotte, NC
Philip Blumenthal is the director of Wildacres Retreat, a conference center located one mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. A lifelong philanthropist, he is the chairman and director of the Blumenthal Foundation in Charlotte, North Carolina. Blumenthal is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, Conservationist of the Year by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Volunteer Service Award by Partners for Parks in Charlotte, and Outstanding Philanthropist in Conservation by the Roosevelt-Ashe Society.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Forge Communications / Raleigh, NC
Ray is chairman of Forge Communications, a strategic communication and public relations consulting firm based in Raleigh, NC. He is a founding board member of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Ray is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and is a past president of the society's North Carolina Chapter and national delegate.
Job Titles:
- Data Analyst / Winston - Salem, N.C.
Rebecca joined the Foundation in 2020 after working as a Data Analyst for a Winston-Salem nonprofit. She graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish from Salem College in 2010. She began taking solo traveler trips in 2018, and has set a goal to visit a National Park or National Monument every year. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys performing in local community theater, listening to music, and spending time exploring new places.
Job Titles:
- Retired Director of Evaluation and Learning at the North Carolina Center for Health & Wellness / Asheville, NC
Rebecca Reeve is the former director of evaluation and learning at the North Carolina Center for Health & Wellness (NCCHW) at UNC Asheville. In that role, she was dedicated to helping organizations identify the results of their programs and thus empowering them to tell their stories and obtain needed resources for further development. Reeve conducted ground observations at Kids in Parks trailheads across North Carolina. Before coming to the NCCHW, Reeve served as senior advisor for healthy schools in the North Carolina Division of Public Health.
Job Titles:
- Program Director at the Blue Ridge Music Center
- Program Director, Blue Ridge Music Center
Richard Emmett has been the Program Director at the Blue Ridge Music Center since the 2014 season. From 2008-2014, Emmett was the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Facility Operations for the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, where he oversaw the two-year renovation of the Sawtooth Building and the AC Delco Parts Store into the new Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and Hanesbrands Theatre, which opened to the public in September 2010. Prior to that, Richard was the Executive Director of the Children's Theatre of Winston-Salem.
Job Titles:
- President of Duke Energy Foundation
Williams is the past vice president of corporate community affairs for Duke Energy and president of The Duke Energy Foundation. He leads the company's philanthropy through The Duke Energy Foundation, which focuses on improving the quality of life in the communities it serves. Previously, Williams served as senior vice president of environment, health and safety, leading the group responsible for the company's environmental compliance, and its health and safety programs.
Job Titles:
- Communications Director / Asheville, N.C.
Rita Larkin graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism and went on to serve as a photographer, editor, and designer at community newspapers in Georgia and North Carolina. She joined the staff of the Asheville Citizen-Times in 2000 as a copy editor before becoming news editor and then editor and general manager of the newspaper's magazine division. Most recently, Larkin was the editor-in-chief of WNC magazine. She fell in love with the mountains while working as a raft guide on the Nantahala River during college summer breaks.
Roberts Bass splits his time between Winston-Salem, N.C., and Meadows of Dan, Va. He currently serves as the fractional CFO of two early stage growth companies. He also mentors other start-up businesses and invests in early stage firms through his membership in the VentureSouth angel network. Recently, he served as the CFO of the Forsyth Humane Society, the largest animal rescue organization in Forsyth County, N.C. Roberts had a 28-year career leading corporate and investment banking teams serving multiple industries nationally.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer / Nautilus Strategy Group / Partner - Atlanta Practice / Dahlonega, Georgia
Sam was introduced to the Blue Ridge Parkway during family vacations to escape the heat of south Alabama. During those trips he learned to fly fish its waters and hike its trails. He quickly fell in love with the Parkway, and his affinity for it has only grown over the years. In 2019, he authored a "First in Class" book: Fly Fishing the Blue Ridge Parkway - NC Section - forwarded by Mark H. Woods, Superintendent, Blue Ridge Parkway (retired). He also cohosts a webcast series on the Wild Bearings Zoom and YouTube Channels about traveling, hiking and fly fishing the Parkway.
Job Titles:
- Education Manager With the North Carolina State Parks
- Interpretation and Education Manager, North Carolina State Parks / Raleigh, North Carolina
Sean Higgins is the interpretation and education manager with the North Carolina State Parks system. During his eight years managing interpretive programs, curriculum, and exhibits, the North Carolina State Parks system has been recognized as the N.C. Environmental Education Partner of the Year and received two awards from the National Association for Interpretive Media for the Junior Ranger Program and the Lake James Holly Discovery Trail. Higgins holds a Master of Zoology from Miami University and a Bachelor of Biology from Virginia Tech. He is a N.C.
Job Titles:
- CEO and President of Pathways to Parks
An outdoor enthusiast, Tanya Marie Pender is the CEO and President of Pathways to Parks, an outdoor adventure group focused on encouraging people of color to get outdoors and into local, state and national parks. She is instrumental in developing partnerships and support with major entities such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as land trust organizations, including Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and Conserving Carolina.
Job Titles:
- South Carolina Program Manager, Kids in Parks
Teddi joined the foundation in 2023 as the South Carolina Program Manager for the Kids in Parks program in order to serve the organization through the South Carolina expansion of the program.
Job Titles:
- Planning Development and Inspections Director, Wake County
Tim grew up in New England where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from the University of Massachusetts. Tim then moved to North Carolina and earned a Master of Landscape Architecture from NC State University. He is a registered landscape architect in the State of North Carolina and has worked with Wake County government since 1994. For the past 12 years, Tim has served as the Director of Planning, Development and Inspections for the county.
Tommy is a Tribal member from the Bird Town Community, and is a senior employee to the newly evolved Agricultural & Natural Resource Department. He studied environmental & natural sciences at several higher education institutions before discovering his interest in forestry. During his completion of the forestry program at Haywood Community College in 2000, he was employed by the EBCI Environmental Department as an Air Quality Technician before advancing to the evolving Water Quality Program as the NonPoint Source Coordinator.
Vivianette Ortiz Caraballo, a proud native of Patillas, Puerto Rico, is an impassioned explorer and advocate for outdoor inclusivity. As the cofounder of Latinos Aventureros in the Carolinas, she has been instrumental in forging a path for the Latino community to connect deeply with nature.
Job Titles:
- Partner, McGuire, Wood & Bissette / Asheville, NC
Louis Bissette practices law in the areas of economic development, land use, and zoning. He is highly engaged in his community and has been honored with numerous awards, including the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Public Service Award and Wake Forest's Distinguished Alumni Award. From 1895-1989, he served as the mayor of Asheville.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Board of Trustees
Whitney Brown's diverse experiences range from a drystone walling apprenticeship in Wales to gathering oral histories, photos, and video of tradition bearers for the South Carolina Arts Commission. She is the owner of Whitney Brown Stone, and specializes in stone construction and maintenance including landscape and architectural projects. Brown is also a folklorist and writer who calls the mountains of Virginia home.