Board of Trustees
Bonnie Weyher McLamb, Chairperson
Bonnie and her husband, Dan McLamb, practiced law together for over 40 years in Raleigh. She has now retired from the practice of law to pursue her work as a mediator and arbitrator. She is an American Arbitration Association Panel Member and a member of the North Carolina Academy of Superior Court Mediators.
Bonnie has had substantial involvement in local, state, and national bar organizations. She is a Past President of the North Carolina State Bar and of the Wake County Bar Association. She served for a number of years as a delegate to the American Bar Association. She is also a Past President of the UNC Law Alumni Association.
Bonnie and Dan reside in Blowing Rock and have 4 sons and 6 grandchildren. Bonnie currently serves on the Grandfather Mountain State Park Advisory Committee and as a Trustee on the North Carolina Museum of History Associates Board. She enjoys hiking, Tar Heel sports, travel, and spending time with her family. She is delighted that her children and grandchildren share her love of the High Country.
Kadie Dean, Vice Chairperson
Kadie Dean grew up hiking, skiing, horseback riding and white-water rafting in the mountains of western Pennsylvania. She is the third generation of her family to share a passion for nature and its conservation. Her father and great uncle were life-time members of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and played an active role in assembling over 11,000 acres for Laurel Ridge State Park and hiking trails.
Six years ago, Kadie and her husband moved permanently to their home outside Blowing Rock, NC in order to hike and enjoy the ever-changing beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She became aware of the need for continuous conservation of open spaces, wildlife habitat and scenic mountain views and found resonance with the mission and capabilities of Blue Ridge Conservancy. She is delighted to be serving on the BRC Land Protection and Stewardship Committee and now the Board of Trustees.
Prior to retiring, she founded and owned Hiring & Development Systems, a human resource management consulting firm where she led a team of consultants and delivered talent acquisition and professional development solutions for U.S. and international clients. She also served as Vice President of Human Resources at a life insurance company in Milwaukee making it a repeated winner of Top Workplaces in Southeastern Wisconsin.
She has a Master of Science in Leadership Studies from Marquette University, a graduate certificate in Dispute Resolution and a B.A. in Business Administration. She also taught at Marquette University in the Leadership and Organizations undergraduate program.
Kadie and her husband Tom O’Brien have a blended family of six children and eight grandchildren and love living in the Blue Ridge mountains.
David Harman, Treasurer
Dave is a combination of businessman and environmental activist. He graduated from NC State University with a degree in Economics, and then attended Appalachian State University to obtain his accounting education, leading to his becoming a North Carolina CPA. He worked in public accounting for ten years and in management for a handful of companies for many years before establishing his own consulting business. He was a founding member of the board of directors of a local community bank and was on the ALCO and Audit Committees of that board for four years before the bank was acquired.
For many years he has been active in movements to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and to reduce carbon emissions. He has been a director of several nonprofit organizations focused on climate change and conservation, has lobbied US senators over the issue, and has traveled to the Arctic regions of the Yukon and Alaska to observe lifestyles of indigenous peoples there being affected by climate change.
Now retired, Dave is a self-styled writer of climate science and has co-authored two books focusing on the science of climate change. He and his wife, Barbara, are natives of Blowing Rock, and they still live nearby. They have always enjoyed hiking and outdoor activities. Dave was a runner for over thirty years, and now enjoys walking on the Greenway in Boone and the many trails of the Cone Estate with Barbara.
Patrick Hollowell, Secretary
Patrick was born and raised in Charlotte, and grew up with a strong appreciation for the North Carolina mountains through summer camps, hiking, biking, and camping trips. He began his career as an IT consultant servicing businesses in the Charlotte area, later building out networks for telecommunications and datacenter providers, and managing engineering services for a regional IT firm, before returning to his freelance roots. Currently, he helps Fortune 500 companies and other large enterprises develop, implement, and maintain their cloud and datacenter platforms. After primarily spending only “the nice months” at their Alleghany County home for several years, Patrick and his partner Laura Paynter became full-time High Country residents in early 2020. They enjoy kayaking on the New River, gardening, live music, and admiring the natural beauty of their farm in all seasons.
Ann Baker
Ann spent the summers of her childhood nurturing a great respect for her roots in the western NC mountains. Overlooking the Globe Valley to Table Rock, Hawk’s Bill and Grandfather Mountain, she was reminded every year of the value of the smell of the moss in the Rhododendron woods, the feel of cool rock enclosures and cold mountain streams.
She managed a Christmas tree farm for 38 years in Avery County, maintained an art studio, taught art at The Crossnore School and managed their Fine Arts Gallery. She taught Art Appreciation at Mayland Community College and drawing at Penland School of Crafts. For 20 years she worked with her community to fund smart growth practices in the small town of Crossnore. She sat on the advisory board for Warren Wilson’s Environmental Leadership Center, Avery Hospice and the Williams YMCA of Avery County.
Dr. Charlie Baker is Ann’s very caring and conscientious other half. On their farm in Crossnore they have raised 3 children, one is now involved in international aid, one a veterinarian in Colorado and the other is a school counselor in Portland, OR. Ann has always enjoyed being outside, observing nature, hiking, swimming, bee keeping and gardening. Ann previously served as a BRC board trustee for six years and returned to the board in 2019.
Ann Hayes Browning
Ann is a native North Carolinian, having grown up in High Point. Her first career spanned 23 years with Bank of America where she was involved with corporate banking, investment banking and private equity investing. When she chose to pursue a second career, Ann wanted to focus her efforts on preserving the natural resources and character of her native North Carolina. When the Carolina Thread Trail, a 15-county initiative to connect trails, open space and regional attractions, was being initiated by Foundation For The Carolinas, the Catawba Lands Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, she joined as the first full time staff person. As the Carolina Thread Trail Director, she worked on community outreach, branding, public and private fundraising, and the development and oversight of The Thread’s community grants program.
Ann is excited to rejoin the BRC Board, having served as former chair, head of the executive director search committee, and first director of the Middle Fork Greenway. In 2019 she was appointed to the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees. She, husband Ric, and labrador Cricket love playing on their Ashe County property along Three Top Creek, as well as hiking and paddling throughout the spectacular High Country.
Lee Carter
Lee Carter was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is a graduate of Woodberry Forest School in Virginia. He was an English Speaking Union Scholar at Wrekin College in England. He received a BSC degree in Industrial Relations at UNC-CH, and an MBA at Wake Forest University. Lee began his career at Southern Life Insurance Company in Greensboro and attained the position of Vice President Investments. Lee joined SLIMS Corporation (later named FiTech systems) where he developed PC based investment management software for US life companies. Lee owned and operated Southern C’s Farm in Summerfield, N.C., a 321 acre cattle, hay, timber, and location photography site.
For the past 30 years, Lee has been a volunteer fundraiser and board member for non-profit organizations including service as a Director of Junior Achievement of Guilford County, Greensboro Jaycees, United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, Guilford Community AIDS Partnership, Guilford Green Foundation, Triad Health Project, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro where he served as Chair of the Development Committee and served on the Investment Committee, University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he served as President of the Foundation, Greensboro College, and Triad Stage. He is a retired Director of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation where he served on the Finance Committee, Audit Committee, and was co-chair of the Major Donor Committee.
In 2012, Lee sold Southern C's Farm and moved to Blowing Rock to enjoy the dessert phase of life, travel, and spend more time with his husband and dogs.
Dale Caveny
Dale Caveny grew up near Kings Mountain, North Carolina. His childhood days were filled with ramblings in the fields and woods near his home. There he developed a love of the natural world and experienced it through hunting, fishing, and camping.
This love and appreciation of the outdoors led him to a career as a wildlife enforcement officer with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). He spent 26 years as a field officer and supervisor in western North Carolina before becoming the chief of the division in 2010. He served four years in that role and was assigned to NCWRC headquarters in Raleigh. He retired in 2014.
Dale is a fellow with the National Conservation Leadership Institute (NCLI) and has served the past four years as a peer coach and instructor with NCLI. He has been involved with the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chief’s (NACLEC) leadership academy since its inception in 2014 as an instructor and peer coach. He is certified as a Case in Point facilitator through the Kansas Leadership Center. Dale also works in economic and community development with an Alleghany County nonprofit organization, serves as a reserve deputy with the local sheriff’s office and is an adjunct instructor at the North Carolina Justice Academy. He enjoys writing, hiking, fishing, kayaking and squirrel hunting with his two Feist dogs. He has a special interest in Appalachian culture, storytelling and leadership development.
Dale and lives in Alleghany County near the Blue Ridge Parkway. He has four children and five grandchildren.
Lisa Cooper
Starting her career early at the Mast General Store as an 11-year-old helping her parents re-open the Original Store, Lisa Cooper now serves as the president of the organization. Her focus is sharing the old-fashioned traditions of a general store with guests and visitors through quality goods, customer service, and making each visit an experience to remember.
Serving the community is also an important part of Lisa’s life. She serves on the Store’s Charitable Contributions Committee, which meets at the end of each year to share the Store’s success with each of its home communities. Lisa also serves on the Board of Directors for the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority, The Valle Crucis Conference center board, Piedmont Federal Boone Board, and the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, and is a Trustee for the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics serving on the Educational Policies and Practices Committee. She has previously served on the Appalachian Summer Festival Board and The Boone Wells Fargo Bank board.
Lisa has three children, and she and her husband Russ enjoy all things sports, cooking, and traveling.
Jennie Derby
Jennie Derby hails from Richmond, VA and attended WCU. She was a financial advisor (CFP®) in Charlotte, N.C. for thirty years, selling her firm, Lifeworth Financial, in 2019. Jennie resides in Boone with her husband, Leigh.
Jennie was a founding member of the Women’s Impact Fund of Charlotte and on the board of Conservation Trust for NC in Raleigh, NC , including two terms as Board President. Locally, she co-chaired the associate pastor search committee, and served on capital campaign and finance committees of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church. She is Treasurer of The women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, and volunteers for Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation workdays.
Jennie and Leigh’s daughter, Tiffany Crenshaw, and her family live in Greensboro, N.C. Their son, Quinn Derby, and his family live in Charlotte. For fun, Jennie enjoys tennis, hiking, gardening, entertaining friends and family, traveling, reading, and playing word and board games.
Holly Levinson
A native of Ohio, Holly is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill (BA in Economics and Political Science 1983. Phi Beta Kappa) and the University of Michigan Law School (1986. Order of the Coif). She worked as a lawyer in Charlotte at Moore and Van Allen, and later at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority (now Atrium Health).
Holly is an active civic leader and community volunteer, with a special interest in the critical need to provide educational and enrichment opportunities to children from all socio economic and racial backgrounds. She served on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation Board and its Children and Youth Committee, and was the board chair of Wayfinders, a local Charlotte non-profit providing residential summer camp experiences and year-round enrichment opportunities and mentoring to underserved children. She remains a volunteer mentor with the organization.
She has served on the board of Temple Beth El, chaired a task force on Baby Boomer engagement for Temple Beth El, served on the board and as board chair for the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, and served on the board of the Foundation of Shalom Park. Holly currently serves on the board of Aldersgate Life Plan Services (a continuing care retirement community in Charlotte) and on the board of the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community.
She is married to Hal Levinson, and has one son, Adam. Hal and Holly live on conserved property on the South Toe River in Yancey County.
Don Mikush
Don is the founder and past owner of M Creative, a design and marketing firm located in Winston-Salem where he began to learn about conservation through his work with the New River Conservancy and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Don and his wife, Sandra, built a small cabin on conserved land in Crumpler in 2006 and recently moved to their permanent home in Sutherland Valley after raising their three children in Winston-Salem. Their property is under a conservation easement managed by the Blue Ridge Conservancy.
Don received his degree in mechanical engineering from Duke and studied visual design at N.C. State University’s School of Visual Design. A native of Maryland, Don was pleased to discover soon after he and Sandra first purchased property in Ashe County that his great-great grandfather, Peter Kelly, immigrated there from Ireland in the 1840s and worked at the Ore Knob copper mine. Don likes to say that his love for the North Carolina Mountains runs in the family.
When Don and Sandra aren’t tending to their 116-acre farm, they’re hiking, kayaking, fly-fishing, biking and learning all they can about our northwest mountains.
Becky Pearson
Currently the Foundation Director at Ashe Memorial Hospital, Becky has been working in the non-profit sector as a development professional since 2008. In her experience, she has raised funds for organizations in the arts, healthcare, education, and human services. She earned her Bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University where she studied Kinesiology, and has lived in 7 states and 2 countries. Living in different places and traveling as much as possible provides her perspective for valuing the natural beauty that surrounds us in the NC High Country and drives her interest in protecting it. Her hobbies include spending time with family, cycling, hiking, and traveling. She relocated to Ashe County in 2021 from Greenville, SC and now lives in Grassy Creek on a 7th generation family-owned cattle farm.
Shawn W. Poole
Shawn W. Poole was the co-founder of Employbridge Holding Company in 2000. He served as executive vice president, President and CFO at Employbridge until January 2018 when he retired from daily management. He remains active with the company, the largest industrial staffing firm in the U.S., by acting as an advisor to the company. Poole was instrumental in growing the company into a nationally recognized firm that earned more than $3 billion in revenue in 2017 and now has more than 95,000 associates working at some 10,000 companies. Prior to Employbridge he started his career at Arthur Andersen, then was CFO of WorldWay (NYSE), CFO and treasurer of American Studios (NASDAQ) and CFO and Managing Director of Randstad North America.
Poole is on the Board of Directors of MDI Group (an IT staffing company now owned by Motion Recruitment), 24Seven (a digital staffing company), Leadpoint (a recycling solutions provider), Olympia (a Netherlands based commercial staffing company) and TalentLaunch (a multi-line staffing company) along with being a board advisor to Protos (a security guard MSP/VMS platform), Outsource (a cabling/wiring staffing company) Employment Solutions (Colorado based commercial staffing company). In addition, he is an advisor/investor with multiple Private Equity firms focusing on the Human Capital sector.
He is also an Executive in Residence at Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business working with the Bowden Investment Group.
About serving on the BRC board: “I have had a passion for nature since my childhood fishing trips with my grandfather, during my numerous camps in scouting and now during our family trips around the world. I am excited to join the Conservancy to help preserve the area where I live!”
Zika Rea
Zika Rea is the President and co-founder of ZAP Endurance and the ZAP Endurance Foundation, which she founded in 2001 with her late husband Andy. ZAP Endurance hosts adult running vacations in Blowing Rock and supports a full team of Olympic-hopeful long distance runners.
As a full time athlete herself, Zika finished second at the 2005 US Marathon Championships and qualified for two US Olympic Trials Marathons, in 2004 and 2008. Zika received her bachelor's degree from Emory University in 1998 and her master’s degree in Exercise Science from Appalachian State in 2002. She and her husband Pete have two children, Elyse and Sean.
Susan Ross
Susan Ross is a native of Greensboro, NC, and graduate of UNC-CH. She has also lived in Winston-Salem, Davidson, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, and Blowing Rock. Currently she divides her time between Blowing Rock and Davidson. She has been a devoted community, church, and school volunteer for many years. She has served on the Boards of the Greensboro Natural Science Center, Greensboro PTA Council, the Junior League of Greensboro, the Eastern Music Festival Auxiliary, Orange Literacy, Kidzu Children’s Museum, the Conservation Trust of North Carolina, President of Sternberger Elementary and Grimsley High School PTAs, Chair of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, and more. Professionally, she has been a public school kindergarten teacher and served as Executive Director of the Greensboro Bar Association. She is married to Thomas W. Ross and the mother of two wonderful children and four grandchildren. Her hobbies include hiking and fly fishing.
