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We have a strong team of dedicated individuals who help protect and preserve our natural land, water, and air resources through education and public participation in policy decisions at all levels of business and government.

Meet Our Team

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Leslie Beninato
Leslie
Beninato
River Cleanup Logistics Manager
Anna
Alsobrook
French Broad Riverkeeper
Susan
Bean
Housing & Transportation Director
Adam
Bowers
Development Director
David
Caldwell
Broad Riverkeeper
Hartwell
Carson
Clean Waters Director
Emma
Crider
High Country Outreach Coordinator
Amy
Finkler
Development & Engagement Manager
Jack
Henderson
French Broad Paddle Trail Manager
Andy
Hill
High Country Regional Director & Watauga Riverkeeper
Megan
Huske
River Clean-up Program Assistant
Gray
Jernigan
Deputy Director & General Counsel
Chris
Joyell
Healthy Communities Director
Josh
Kelly
Resilient Forests Director
Julie
Lehman
Creation Care Alliance Engagement Manager
Savannah
Lytle
Southwestern Region Watershed Outreach Coordinator
Julie
Mayfield
Senior Policy Advisor
Liz McGuirl
Liz
McGuirl
River Cleanup Story Collector
Callie
Moore
Southwestern Regional Director
Karim
Olaechea
Deputy Director of Strategy & Communications
Greg
Parlier
Marketing & Debris Clean-up Communications Manager
Erica
Shanks
Green Riverkeeper & Watershed Outreach Coordinator
Jon
Stamper
River Clean-up Operations Manager
Sydney
Swafford
Development & Operations Coordinator
Linda
Tatsapaugh
Organizing Manager
Bob
Wagner
Executive Director
Mandy Wallace
Mandy
Wallace
Artifact Recovery Technician
Tony
Ward
Southwestern Regional Habitat Restoration Coordinator
Maddy
Watson
Communications Manager
Hannah
Woodburn
Upper New Riverkeeper

Board of Directors

board-of-directors-mountaintrue
Harli Palme
Chair
Chief Operating Officer, Modera Wealth | Buncombe County
Nicholas Holshouser
Vice-Chair
Owner, Wandering Nature Photography | Transylvania County
Miller Williams
Treasurer
Retired | Avery County
Jane Margaret Bell
Secretary
Environmental Designer/Planner | Buncombe County
Kareen Boncales
At-Large Executive Committee Member
Director of Entrepreneurship, Mountain BizWorks | Buncombe County
Stevie Brooks
Administrator, Shelby Women For Progress | Cleveland County
Lucia Ibarra
Conservation Director, Dogwood Alliance | Buncombe County
Katherine Taaffe
Owner, All Creatures Short and Tall | Cherokee County
Sarah Cooper
Veterinarian, Appalachian Veterinary Ultrasound | Watauga County
Jenny Dissen
Corporate Relations and Partnerships Lead, North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies | Buncombe County
Trevor McKenzie
Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies, Appalachian State University | Watauga County
Enrique Sanchez
Retired | Henderson County
Stephen Tillotson
NC Park Ranger, Chimney Rock State Park | Henderson County
Duncan McPherson
Principal & President, Altura Architects | Buncombe County

Interested in Joining our Board of Directors?

MountainTrue seeks a diverse board representing its service areas, including different areas of expertise and life experiences.

If interested, please review the job description below and complete the board member application. The Governance and Equity Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, and the full board considers new members at its August meeting.​

We look forward to hearing from you!

As a MountainTrue board member, I will:

  • Help establish the strategic direction of the organization
  • Help ensure the organization has the resources it needs — leadership, finances, board, and a solid reputation
  • Help provide oversight and accountability for the organization’s programs, finances, and legal matters

And I pledge to do the following:

  • Understand and be passionate about the organization’s mission, values, vision, and goals
  • Stay informed about issues and trends in the community that may affect the organization
  • Help recruit, retain, and evaluate board members and an executive director
  • Contribute financially and help seek resources from others
  • Be an advocate for the organization
  • Understand the organization’s programs, expected outcomes, finances, and policies
  • Work in partnership with board and staff members
  • Participate regularly and actively at board meetings, committee meetings, and other events
  • Provide leadership to and support MountainTrue’s anti-racist work

Personal Commitment:

  • Participate in all meetings (annual retreat in January, quarterly board meetings, two all-day Saturday field trips, and the Annual Gathering)
  • Serve on a board subcommittee and attend meetings
  • Participate in at least two MountainTrue public events (hike, snorkel, river cleanup, concert, etc.; 2–4 hours each)
  • Meet with donors and community leaders as needed
  • Recruit new board members
  • Make MountainTrue one of my top three charities for personal financial support

Interested in joining the MountainTrue Board of Directors? Please click here to complete our Google Form.

Or, email our Executive Director Bob Wagner directly.