J. Frank Bragg Jr.
Chairman, Bragg Financial Advisors, Inc.
Frank fills many leadership roles with Catawba Lands Conservancy from a landowner who has conserved his land, to a corporate partner, board member and past board president. He is the chairman of Bragg Financial Advisors, Inc., a family firm he founded in 1964. Frank grew up in Oxford, N. C., and graduated from Wake Forest University in 1961. Upon graduating from college, Frank immediately began his 40-year career in financial services.
Debra Campbell
Planning Director, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission
Debra Campbell is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1988 to assume a position as a Senior Community Planner with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission. In her eighteen years with the Planning Commission she has held the positions of Planning Coordinator, Planning Manager and Assistant Planning Director. She currently serves as the Planning Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission.
David Clark, Jr.
President, Clark Properties, Inc.
David Clark is president of Clark Properties, Inc., a family owned real estate company in Lincoln County. David is a former Lincoln County Commissioner, a past president and board member of East Lincoln Betterment Association. He is currently co-chair of Sallys Y.
Peggy B. Culbertson
Retired Psychotherapist
Peggy has been prominently recognized for leadership in civic, education, arts and philanthropy endeavors in the Charlotte region and beyond. In 1983, Peggy was founder and chair of the North Carolina Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Peggy is also a current or former board member of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission, Mint Museum of Art, Mint Museum of Craft & Design, Airport Advisory Committee, Children’s Theater, Summit House, Lineberger Cancer Research Center, Historic Rosedale, Community School of the Arts, Historic District Commission, Fourth Ward, NC Humanities Council, NC Dance Theater, and Leave A Legacy Advisory Committee.
Bobby Drakeford
Founder/Development Director, The Drakeford Company
Bobby is a Charlotte native who returned home to join the Internal Revenue Service as an Estate Tax Attorney after receiving his law degree from UNC Chapel Hill in 1991. Bobby founded The Drakeford Company in 2001. He has developed an office building, multiple town homes, and single family and apartment communities. His brokerage experience includes the Bank of America Gateway project that encompasses five blocks in Center City Charlotte. Bobby holds an MBA from Wake Forest University and a BS from Elon University. He is a member of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and the North Carolina Bar Association. He holds a North Carolina Real Estate Brokers License.
Walter D. Fisher, Jr.
Partner, K&L Gates
Walter’s real estate practice is focused on the acquisition, sale, development, and leasing of commercial real estate. Walter is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED-AP), a distinction he earned through the Green Building Certification Institute. As a LEED-AP, he has demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles, as well as the LEED Rating System.
Phil Kuttner- First Vice President; Co-Chair, Advancement Committee
CEO, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
As CEO of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Phil is responsible for developing and advancing the mission and strategies that continually strengthen Little for the benefit of their clients and communities. Since joining Little in 1983 after earning his Bachelor of Architecture and Masters of Architecture from Clemson University, Phil has been instrumental in helping numerous clients realize extraordinary success-companies like Bank of America, Crescent Resources, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Trammell Crow Company and the State of North Carolina. An active supporter of his profession and his community, Phil is leading the AIA Charlotte AIA 150 Legacy Project in support of the 150th anniversary of the AIA. He has spoken at the AIA National Convention and is an actively engaged in the AIA CEO Large Firm Round Table.
Thomas Day Lee- President; Co-Chair, Advancement Committee
President, Appian Group, LLC
From 1996-2006, Tommy was employed with Duke Energy Corporation in various leadership positions, both in the US and abroad. Since leaving Duke, Tommy has concentrated his efforts on entrepreneurial activities, starting companies focused in real estate and small to mid-cap business investment. In addition to his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Tommy holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Babcock School at Wake Forest University. Tommy volunteered for Catawba Lands Conservancy for many years before joining the board of directors.
Thomas H. McCoy, MD
Physician, OrthoCarolina
Tom McCoy and his family have partnered with the Conservancy by placing a conservation easement their land. Tom received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and specializes in hip and knee care.
Linda McFarland Farthing
Retired President and CEO, Stein Mart
Linda McFarland Farthing, a resident of Charlotte, NC, recently retired as President and CEO of Stein Mart. She has spent over 30 years as a successful retail executive, serving as Sr. Vice President at Iveys Department Stores, President and COO of Cato Corporation, and President and COO of Friedman’s Jewelers before assuming her position at Stein Mart. Linda has served on the Corporate Boards of Cato, Friedman’s, and CT Communications, and currently serves on the Board of Stein Mart. She is a member of the United Way Board, the Committee of 200, Women Corporate Directors, an Advisor for Dress for Success, and a graduate of Leadership Charlotte Class XXII. Her previous experiences include: Executive Committee and Board member for Discovery Place; President of Women Executives for Community Service; Chairman of the Board of Trustees for her church; Board of Visitors for Davidson College and a Junior Achievement volunteer.
Jacob M. Meckler- Treasurer; Chair, Stewardship Committee
Retired, Senior Vice President, BB&T
Jack graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and served as officer aboard two nuclear submarines. He received an MBA from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. During his professional career, Jack worked for Wachovia, Centura and BB&T banks and the Phoenix-Hecht consulting firm. Jack authored The Corporate Guide to Payments System Risk. Jack is a former or current board member of the Mecklenburg Audubon Society and the Charlotte Chapter of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.
Reed Perkins
Assoc. Professor of Environmental Science, Queens University
As Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Queens University, Dr. Reed Perkins has visited many conserved properties on field trips with his students studying the value of conservation. Reed earned his PhD in Forest Hydrology and joined Queens University in 1998. Reed works informally with CMS in helping develop science curricula. He also works with Discovery Place and serves as a community member on The Nature Museums advisory group guiding its renovation. Dr. Reed Perkins was awarded the 2007 North Carolina Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement and Support of Education.
Eddie Poe- Secretary; Chair Board Development Committee
Partner, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
Eddie Poe has extensive experience in both state and federal courts and 25 years of experience in representing a major public utility and energy services company in litigation and regulatory matters. Mr. Poe represents and advises clients in a range of issues. A graduate of the Harvard University Advanced Management Program, he is a member of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, Board of Directors for the Charlotte Advocates for Education, and was a member of the Board of Governors for the North Carolina Bar Association, 1996-1998.
Lat W. Purser, III
Chairman of the Board, CEO, Lat Purser & Associates
Lat joined his father at Lat Purser & Associates, Inc. in 1976 and in 1989 became President of LPA. In 2000, Lat advanced to his present position as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors. He is very involved and affiliated with professional and community groups including International Council of Shopping Centers, Urban Land Institute, The Fletcher School (for Learning Disabled), Washington & Lee University, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Managers – Dowd YMCA. Lat received his Bachelor of Administration from Washington & Lee and his MBA from the University of North Carolina.
Haywood F. Rankin
Retired, U. S. State Department
Haywood is retired from a career with the U.S. State Department. He served in diplomatic posts in a number of countries, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. He is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and studied at Oxford University. Haywood is a native of Gaston County and part of a family that has generously conserved more than 600 acres of family property.
Louis C. Stephens, III- Chair, Land Acquisition Committee
Managing Director, Jones Lang LaSalle
Louis Stephens is managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle, a real estate services and investment management firm. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is an active member of both the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) and Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), and has served as President for each of the organizations local chapters.
Jenny Ward
Sustainability Department, Duke Energy
Jenny is the Sustainability Engagement Manager at Duke Energy. She is leading the culture-change initiatives around sustainability – how to create a best-in-class sustainable company that benefits people, the planet and profits. A big part of her job is the design and execution of a new program called the Sustainability Corps, where employees are trained on sustainability and commit to both a work-related project as well as a personal sustainability practice (PSP). Additionally, her role is to integrate sustainability into the messaging and infrastructure of the company, so that sustainability is part of the business.
Debra Warren
Community Leader
Debbie was president and chief executive officer (CEO) of First Union’s Mortgage Corp., a subsidiary of First Union Corp. She has a bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a MBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Debbie is an engaged community volunteer. Debbie and her husband Gorge are generous of the Conservancy with their time, talents and resources.
H. Thomas Webb, III- Second Vice-President
Managing Principal, H.T. Webb, LLC
Tom Webb joins the Board from a career in residential master planned community development, including primary and second home/retirement communities. He has served on the Board of the YMCA Greater Charlotte, and chaired 1999-2000. He is a founding board chair at the Siskey Branch and founding co-chair at Stratford Richardson Y. Tom is an Urban Land Institute (ULI) member and part of the Recreational Development Council. We look forward to Tom adding his expertise in land use and planning to our Board.
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