| Amanda Anderson – Carolina Thread Trail Outreach Coordinator Email Amanda  Amanda joined the Carolina Thread Trail in 2010 as the Grants and Volunteer Coordinator, and has recently taken on the position of Outreach Coordinator. She will continue to organize volunteer efforts to engage community members in the development of local trail segments, and will be spearheading an outreach campaign to spread the word about The Thread to our 15 county footprint. Amanda graduated with a Biology degree from Davidson College, and developed a passion for the outdoors and conservation while leading summer backpacking trips and traveling abroad to Kenya, Mexico and Dominica. Most recently, she was an exhibition project manager at Discovery Place in conjunction with the museum’s renovation. A native North Carolinian, Amanda enjoys hiking, traveling, triathlons and spending time with her husband, son, and pup. |
| Heike Biller – Administrative Director Email Heike  Heike joined Catawba Lands Conservancy early in 2007 as Program and Office Coordinator and now serves as Administrative Director. She earned her bachelor’s degree in geography at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Her hobbies and interests include hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, crafts and sewing. Being a mother of two young children, Heike encourages parents to teach their own children about the importance of protecting and conserving our environment. |
| Sean Bloom – GIS Director Email Sean  Sean joined the Conservancy in 2011 as GIS Director. His role includes mapping and geographic analysis for both Catawba Lands Conservancy and the Carolina Thread Trail. Sean also assists the Stewardship Director with baseline reporting, monitoring and management of conserved lands.Sean graduated from Catawba College with an environmental science degree and biology minor. During college, he interned with the Center for the Environment, Arizona Game and Fish, and the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. Upon graduation he took the lead Park Ranger position at Boone’s Cave Park in Lexington, NC. Most recently, Sean was a staff scientist with environmental consulting firm Hart & Hickman. In his free time Sean enjoys hiking, camping and kayaking with his wife and son. |
| Margaret McGee Brantley – Development Director Email Margaret  Margaret returns to Charlotte after living and working in Columbia, SC for the past 12 years. While in Columbia she established herself as a leader in the non-profit community. Possessing 12 years of experience in marketing and development, she brings to the table an excellent understanding of fundraising techniques and growing organizations in high growth and rapid paced environments. Five years ago she created her own company M. Brantley and Associates where she successfully helped clients create and implement fundraising and marketing strategies for their organizations. She earned her bachelor’s degree from NC State University; which she then followed up with a Master’s in Public Administration from UNC Charlotte. |
| Carmen Bray – Communications Director Email Carmen  Carmen brings 16 years of public relations, and internal and external communications experience to the Conservancy. Her background includes media relations, community relations, partnership development, marketing, branding and social media planning. She has 10 years of nonprofit public relations experience, including as a member of the Board of Directors and Young Leadership Board for Girls Hope Pittsburgh. Carmen’s background also includes creating and executing communications plans, strategies and programs for the transportation, education and small business industries in Pittsburgh and Charlotte. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from Point Park University, a master’s degree in professional writing from Chatham University, and a certificate in leadership development from Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc. In her spare time she enjoys mentoring youth, volunteering, playing basketball and hiking. |
| Kenni Brooks – Finance Director Email Kenni  Kenni earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1988. She has worked for the CIA and the State of Virginia’s Department of Accounts. She and her husband moved to Charlotte in 1995. Kenni joined the Conservancy in 1999. She also plays violin in the Queens University Community Orchestra. |
| Ann Hayes Browning – Carolina Thread Trail Project Director Email Ann  Ann comes to Catawba Lands Conservancy as Carolina Thread Trail Project Director from a 23 year career at Bank of America. She was a founding partner of the banks private equity investment arm, Banc of America Capital Investors, and spent the last half of her career making and managing private equity investments. She served on a number of corporate boards on behalf of the bank. Ann is a Davidson College graduate and currently serves on Davidson’s Board of Trustees. She received an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler School at UNC-Chapel Hill. |
| Randi Gates – Carolina Thread Trail Grants and Community Coordinator Email Randi  Randi joined Catawba Lands Conservancy as one of two Community Coordinators responsible for the daily activities surrounding the success of the Carolina Thread Trail. She has recently taken on the role of Grants Coordinator in addition to her Community Coordinator responsibilities. Randi graduated Summa Cum Laude from Appalachian State University where she concentrated her studies in Geography and Community and Regional Planning. Upon graduation, she returned to her hometown of Gastonia to work as a Transportation Planner for the City of Gastonia and served as staff to the Gaston Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. During this time, she participated on the Steering Committee for Gaston Countys planning grant for the Carolina Thread Trail. In her last position, Randi gained much experience in preparing grant proposals and applications to secure funding on the local, state, and federal levels for the City of Gastonias greenway system, and hopes to pass along that knowledge to local communities participating in The Thread. |
| Tonya Harris – Land Protection Paralegal Email Tonya  Tonya joined the organization in 2010 as a Land Protection Paralegal. She assists with processing land protection projects and supports the land protection process through funding coordination and grant submissions. Tonya graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in Business Administration. Upon graduation, she joined the City of Concord as a planner. Since then, Tonya has developed a broad range of experience in planning and land development working for a private consulting firm and both commercial and residential builders and developers. She enjoys spending her free time with her family. |
| Andy Kane – Land Stewardship Associate Email Andy  Andy has recently finished a long tenure with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte at Camp Thunderbird. In this capacity, he helped start the Environmental Education Center, Camp Harrison at Herring Ridge and he served for 12 years as the Executive Director of Camp Thunderbird. Prior to coming to Charlotte he served with the Auburn Extension Service as a Forestry/Horticulture Agent. He and his wife Florence have two sons Charles and Ryan. |
| Travis Morehead, AICP – Carolina Thread Trail Community Coordinator Email Travis  Travis joins Catawba Lands Conservancy as one of two Community Coordinators responsible for the daily activities surrounding the success of the Carolina Thread Trail. Travis is a graduate of Appalachian State University where he concentrated his studies in Town, City, and County Management. Upon graduation from Appalachian, Travis was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in United States Army, where he served as an Infantry Officer with the 82nd Airborne Division. Upon leaving active duty, he has been employed by both local governments and a private planning firm in the Triangle region, of North Carolina. In his last position, Travis served as the Assistant Director of Planning and Entitlements and was responsible for representing citizens, property owners, developers, and local governments in land use related matters across the state. Travis enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer and two sons Matthew and Connor, as well archery and bowhunting. |
| Tom Okel – Executive Director Email Tom  Tom joins the Conservancy as Executive Director after a successful twenty year career with Bank of America, where he most recently served as the Global Head of Bank of America’s Syndicated Capital Markets division. Tom has served in many leadership positions in the community, having chaired the board of Kindermourn, served as Assistant Treasurer of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, and as Co-Chair of Critical Home Repair with Cross-roads Corporation for Affordable Housing. A graduate of Davidson College with a BA in Economics, Tom serves on the Davidson Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors. He also holds a master’s degree in management from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. |
| RoxAnne Smith – Associate Director Email RoxAnne  RoxAnne has served the Conservancy as the Associate Director since 2008. Prior to joining the Conservancy, RoxAnne was with the Kansas Land Trust where she served as the Executive Director for seven years. RoxAnne earned a joint degree from the University of Kansas, a Masters degree in Urban Planning and a J.D. She practiced real estate and land use law at the firm of Lathrop & Gage L.C. in Kansas City, Missouri before joining KLT in 2001. She leads the land protection efforts of the Conservancy and serves as General Counsel. Her conservation experience includes participation in statewide and regional collaborative land conservation efforts such as the Piedmont Farmland Protection Partnership and the Carolina Thread Trail. RoxAnne loves spending time outdoors, especially hiking in the moderate climate and beautiful landscape of North Carolina. |
| Sharon Wilson – Land Stewardship Director Email Sharon  A native of Charlotte, Sharon holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University in Park and Recreation Management. Sharon has more than 15 years experience in natural resource management. She began her career as a park ranger for Mecklenburg County’s Division of Ranger Services and focused on environmental education and resource management/protection. Sharon accepted a position with the U.S. Forest Service in 1992 and turned her attention to the Chattooga River Ecosystem Management Project. During her career, Sharon has gained experience in timber management, wildlife and fisheries protection and enhancement, and wildland fire suppression. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys mountain biking and camping with her family. |
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