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Photo Credit: Chuck Sutherland

MEET OUR BOARD

Get to know the visionary leaders who guide our conservation strategies! TennGreen Land Conservancy is proud to have a Board of Directors with diverse, passionate members who hail from across Tennessee.

MARK PEACOCK

President

MARK PEACOCK

President

Growing up in north Alabama instilled in Mark Peacock a deep appreciation for unspoiled woodlands; this was magnified by his passion for hiking. He is now dedicated to protecting our state’s natural treasures before irreversible development. He is a critical care physician who spent ten years active duty in the US Army, has served as chief of staff for Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital, and somehow ended up Chair of the Board for the Nashville Symphony twice! He is married to the best oncologist in Nashville (Nancy) and has two adult children who give him joy every day (Sarah and Matthew).

BOB SARRATT

President-Elect

BOB SARRATT

President-Elect

Bob Sarratt is president of The Parent Company, a general contracting firm focused in the Middle Tennessee area. Bob has been entrusted to construct and manage projects of the great community impact, including the Cumberland Heights ARCH Academy, Harpeth Hall Athletic Wellness Center, and the Adventure Science Center’s Sudekum Planetarium. Alongside his profession, Bob has served his community as a member of the St. George’s Episcopal Church Vestry, a volunteer organizer of The Boulevard Bolt, a volunteer whitewater kayaking instructor at the Vanderbilt Outdoor Recreation Center, and a leader of STGEYCOLA—a youth Outdoor Leadership venture to the Tetons and Yellowstone.

CHARLES ASKEW

West Tennessee Vice President

CHARLES ASKEW

West Tennessee Vice President

A native of Memphis with a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis’ School of Law, Charles Askew has 50 years of experience as a real estate broker/adviser working with commercial and undeveloped properties in the West Tennessee area, with expertise in recognition of various real property transactional and developmental concerns. In 2002, the National Association of Realtors honored him with its Distinguished Service Award.

Charles is best known in the environmental awareness community for his leadership roles in founding the Wolf River Conservancy (WRC), where he served for 17 years as an officer and a director. He is recognized by many Memphians for having served as their trip guide on many of WRC’s canoeing outings through the Wolf River’s meandering “Ghost River” section’s flooded forest and nature hikes through the hardwood forests in the headwaters of the Wolf River.

As a teenager, Charles worked for two summers on Glacier National Park’s trail crews, maintaining back-country hiking trails while carrying needed hand tools, thus introducing him to accessing wildlife habitat the hard way. More recently, he served eight years as a member of the Natural Areas Advisory Committee of Tennessee’s Department of Environment and Conservation. As a 30-year member of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, he offers an awareness of avian habitat diversity needs.

Charles has acquired a reputation for his understanding and application of parliamentary procedural rules as they apply to orderly organizational deliberation. Additionally, his talent for capturing interesting photographic images dates to his childhood outdoor adventuring with a 35 mm camera.

ANNE DAVIS

Middle Tennessee Vice President

ANNE DAVIS

Middle Tennessee Vice President

Anne Davis is a prominent Nashville-based attorney. She’s practiced civil and criminal litigation with Bass Berry & Sims and Neal & Harwell and previously served as Managing Attorney in the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Nashville office. A long-time champion of the environment, Anne chaired the Metro Nashville task force on environmental sustainability and served on the Green Ribbon Committee. She’s received degrees from Denison University and Vanderbilt School of Law. Anne and her husband, Karl Dean, live in Nashville.

Matt McClanahan

MATTHEW J. MCCLANAHAN

East Tennessee Vice President

MATTHEW J. MCCLANAHAN

East Tennessee Vice President

Matthew J. McClanahan, of Crossville, Tennessee, is a practicing attorney in Knoxville and is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts (“TACD”). While attending the University of Tennessee College of Law, Matthew concentrated his studies on advocacy and dispute resolution. Prior to law school, he worked as an agent with Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee. In addition to serving on TennGreen’s Board of Directors, Matthew serves as the President of the Agricultural Foundation for Tennessee Tech University, and serves as a member of the Order of Barristers, the state executive committee for Young Farmers and Ranchers, the Knoxville Estate Planning Council, and the leadership team for Vols for Veterans. Matthew is a proud native-born Tennessean, and the third generation to live on his family’s farm. His roots trace back to his ancestor and the first governor of the state of Tennessee, John Sevier.

Ryan Bailey

RYAN BAILEY

Secretary

RYAN BAILEY

Secretary

Ryan Bailey is the Vice President of Finance and Operations at Bailey Equipment & Intralogistics, one of the nation’s largest forklift truck dealerships. Under his direction, Bailey Equipment & Intralogistics has invested in energy efficiency and solar energy and leads the industry in zero waste. Additionally, Ryan owns Cumberland Kayak & Adventure Company, a Nashville kayak outfitter that hosts frequent river cleanups. From 2007-2009, Ryan served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica, where he launched a “village bank” and supported biological corridor and eco-tourism projects. Ryan has been named a 40 under 40 by the Nashville Business Journal in 2020.

MARCYA A CARTER-SHEATS

Treasurer

MARCYA A CARTER-SHEATS

Treasurer

Marcya A Carter-Sheats is the Director of Customer Experience for Cummins Inc, a global manufacturing leader. She has lived and worked overseas, has 2 MBAs, and has worked in a variety of roles within Cummins. Marcya has enjoyed her experience at Cummins because of the opportunity to experience a range of positions from Finance, Quality, New Plant start-up, Risk Management to Customer Service and Sales. She has held leadership positions as a certified six sigma black belt or line leader for the last 10 of her almost 19 years with the company. She’s also had the privilege of serving the communities that she’s lived and worked in as a volunteer or board member for various nonprofits that primarily serve children, women, and the arts. She’s a nature enthusiast and is excited to contribute to keeping Tennessee beautiful by partnering with and continuing the strategy execution of TennGreen. Marcya says that the most important and most fulfilling job that she has is being a wife to Jamaal and a mother to their 5-year-old daughter, Juliana (aka. GiGi).

SCOTT BOWMAN

SCOTT BOWMAN

Scott Bowman is an experienced finance and operations executive who currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer for LBMC, a premier professional services firm in Brentwood, TN. Scott grew up in East Tennessee, where he developed a love of the outdoors, which continues to this day. He currently lives in Franklin, TN, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.

GREEN FAIRCLOTH

GREEN FAIRCLOTH

Green Faircloth is a Senior Industrial Account Manager with Atmos Energy Corporation. He has been with Atmos Energy since 1989, helping large industrial and commercial accounts manage their energy uses and costs. Green also works with economic development organizations with industrial growth projects in communities from Maryville, TN, to Blacksburg, VA. He received a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University. Green is an Elder in the Erwin Presbyterian Church and, in his free time, enjoys outdoor activities like grouse hunting, water skiing, snow skiing, and golf.

John Fenderson

JOHN FENDERSON

JOHN FENDERSON

John Fenderson currently serves as managing partner with Hatchie River Co., LLC, based in Tennessee. Previously, he was a Specialty Asset Manager for the Timberland Investment Group at U.S. Trust, following his prior service as a financial adviser at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He brings to TennGreen Land Conservancy over 25 years of experience in forest stewardship and the environmental arena working in such places as the Sierra Mountains in California, as well as in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. John has a keen interest in market-based behavior change, especially as it relates to social impact and environmental sustainability, and has worked with landowners in the southeast U.S. to help them create wealth through responsible stewardship of their natural assets – principally forestland.

John was previously the Senior Manager of Forestry at the National Wildlife Federation, and prior to that, he was the Southeastern Regional Director for the National Network of Forest Practitioners. As the Environmental Affairs/Public Outreach Coordinator for the Tennessee Division of Forestry, he co-authored papers on Carbon Sequestration Principles for the Southeast and Valuing a Forested Viewshed. In the late Eighties, he worked for Greenpeace, while in the mid-Nineties, he worked with the Nature Conservancy and the US Forest Service in California and Alaska.

John graduated from Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Natural Sciences. From the University of Tennessee, he obtained his Masters of Science in Forest Economics and Policy. He also attended Northwestern University and currently has primary interests in Environmental and Natural Resource Policy, Conservation/Impact Finance, and market-based payments for Ecosystem Services.

JIM GARGES

JIM GARGES

Jim Garges is a powerful advocate for land protection and public access to outdoor spaces. He’s the former Park and Recreation Director for Mecklenburg County, where he oversaw parks, recreation, nature preserves, senior learning centers, and greenways in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also served as Director of the Parks departments in Kettering, Ohio, and Delaware, Ohio, and as Deputy Director in Topeka, Kansas. Jim’s efforts have been widely celebrated; under his leadership, the National Recreation and Park Association awarded its National Gold Medal to both Kettering and Mecklenburg County. Jim lives with his wife, Marty, in Franklin.

LAUREL GRAEFE

LAUREL GRAEFE

Laurel Graefe is a Regional Executive & Senior Officer at the Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. As the senior officer leading the Federal Reserve’s team in Nashville, she manages her Branch’s Board of Directors and economic research activities, oversees its economic and financial education programs, and advises on monetary policy. Laurel earned an MBA with honors from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management, where she was selected as one of the business school’s “World Shapers”—alumni highlighted for their work in business and their communities. Laurel holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, summa cum laude, from Agnes Scott College. She is an avid rock climber and enjoys exploring the wonderful rock formations of Tennessee, particularly along the Cumberland Plateau.

CHRISTOPHER C. HAIGLER

CHRISTOPHER C. HAIGLER

Christopher C. Haigler is a Trust Officer with Southeastern Trust Company, a boutique wealth management company. In his role, he manages and administers trust and fiduciary relationships in a multi-family office setting. Having grown up in the mountains of North Carolina, Christopher deeply appreciates the natural beauty of woodlands and water features. As an avid outdoorsman, he’s always seeking opportunities to explore new places. Christopher enjoys hiking, overland travel, and backcountry adventuring, and he’s currently completing the Trans America Trail connecting Nags Head, North Carolina, to the Oregon coast by overland travel—one tract at a time. One of his goals is to contribute to enabling future generations to enjoy the natural scenery Tennessee has to offer. Christopher currently resides in Nashville with his wife. Christoper joined the TennGreen Board after year of serving as a Young Leaders Council program intern.

JACQUELINE HARP

JACQUELINE HARP

As a Human Resources Business Partner at outdoor equipment cooperative REI, Jacqueline Harp supports the retail division in the East on people practices, talent development, and the employee learning journey around REI’s racial equity, diversity and inclusion priorities. Prior to joining REI, Jacqueline studied History at Queens University of Charlotte and Public History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, focusing on American memorials and social storytelling. Jacqueline is a nature and outdoor enthusiast with a particular passion for the natural history of Southern Appalachia, and also serves as Vice President of the board for the Chattanooga conservation nonprofit Lookout Mountain Conservancy. Jacqueline currently resides in Chattanooga, TN with her husband and two children.

ALICE HUDSON PELL

Executive Director

ALICE HUDSON PELL

Executive Director

alice@tenngreen.org

Alice Hudson Pell is the Executive Director of TennGreen Land Conservancy. In this role, she oversees and directs the organization’s day-to-day operations and provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure TennGreen’s continued sustainability and success. Prior to her appointment as Interim Executive Director, Alice served as TennGreen’s Associate Director for nearly four years, and its Director of Development for five years before that. She has a Master’s in Higher Education Administration, Institutional Advancement from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, and a Bachelor of Arts from Agnes Scott College. She is an active member of the Junior League of Nashville, Class President for Agnes Scott College, and serves on the Planning & Zoning Committee for her neighborhood association.

LES MCDONALD

LES MCDONALD

Les McDonald is the Bond Manager for Liberty Mutual Surety, responsible for Tennessee and Arkansas. Alongside his team, Les provides innovative solutions for commercial contractors for complex construction projects, including alternative delivery methods, ownership transfers/transitions, joint ventures, and securing surety credit for projects exceeding $1B.

Les enjoys off-road and road cycling, snow skiing, hiking, and traveling. He and his family support local and international organizations that seek to provide opportunities for individuals to grow spiritually, provide emergency relief, and lift individuals’ economic standing generationally. Les is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a BBA in economics and has served as a deacon at Hope Presbyterian Church. He lives in Memphis with his wife, Kathleen, and has one daughter.

CHRISTY MOBERLY

CHRISTY MOBERLY

Christy Moberly is a retired Senior Vice President of Agency & Marketing for State Farm Insurance Companies. She was responsible for leading 7,000 associates in sales, marketing, customer care center, creative services, and convention and travel functions. Christy is a graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, IN. She participated in the Hellenic American Union’s College Year in Athens program in Greece, completed Harvard Business School’s General Manager Program, and graduated from the International Women’s Forum Fellows Program. Christy currently serves as President of the Assistance League® of Nashville, is on the Board of Directors of Music City Pickleball and The Nashville Food Project, and is Chair of the 1966 Society of Reading is Fundamental (RIF), where she formerly served as Vice-Chair.

Nick Nunn

NICK NUNN

NICK NUNN

Nick Nunn, of Memphis, serves as the Chief Investment Officer at Security Bancorp of Tennessee. He is an avid outdoorsman and a champion of conservation throughout the state. Nick serves on all six banks of Security Bancorp as a member of the Board of Directors, where he manages investment portfolios and management duties. Nick and his wife, Kara, live in Memphis with their three children.

He and his family partnered with TennGreen Land Conservancy in 2020 to place a conservation easement on the family’s 702-acre farm just outside of Dyersburg, Tennessee.

TERRELL PICKETT

TERRELL PICKETT

Terrell Pickett is the General Manager of AT&T’s East Region Connected Communities Team, responsible for customer acquisition and retention. A native of Jasper, Tennessee, Terrell is an avid hiker and mountain and road biker. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) and an MBA from Indiana University (Bloomington). Terrell lives in Nashville with his German Shepherd, Kat, and is passionate about exploring the urban oases. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Maple Built, a nonprofit that targets mentorship of young men in North Nashville by teaching them woodworking.

ANDREW RUEFF

ANDREW RUEFF

Andrew Rueff is the Executive Chairman of SphereCommerce, LLC, a fully integrated payment and software experience platform, and TeamSnap, an all-encompassing group sports management platform. He has more than 25 years of experience in the legal, banking, and financial technology sectors and has substantial experience identifying, structuring, and negotiating strategic acquisitions, investments, and partner alliances. Andrew earned both a Bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Tennessee and a JD degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He and his wife, Betsy, live in Knoxville with their two young children.  

ALAN WEBB

ALAN WEBB

Alan Webb is a nature enthusiast who brings a wealth of fundraising and technology knowledge to the TennGreen Land Conservancy team. He currently serves as an Enterprise Architect for Data/Business Intelligence at ALSAC – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. In 2018, Alan joined TennGreen’s Board through the Young Leaders Council program in Williamson County. Alan, his wife, and their two daughters are avid explorers of Tennessee’s natural wonders, both above and below ground.

Melinda Welton

MELINDA WELTON

MELINDA WELTON

Melinda Welton graduated from the University of Connecticut in zoology as an ornithologist. She is a well-known bird biologist whose work provided the science for the preservation of 70,000 acres of biodiverse lands in the Cumberland Mountains. Her work with the Cerulean Warbler, a species of high conservation concern, has taken her across Tennessee and to many remote areas in Central America.

Her passion is to enhance our understanding of birds and their biology and to inspire new birdwatchers to appreciate birds and actively conserve their habitats.

Fish, Beau Headshot TennGreen

BEAU FISH

Board Intern

BEAU FISH

Board Intern

Beau is a Nashville native, born and raised in West Nashville. He graduated from Father Ryan High School, then went on to receive an undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee, and then furthered education with a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Finance from Tennessee State University. Beau currently works in Wealth Management at Roussel & Associates. His love for the outdoors started on Monteagle Mountain, spending every summer there since early childhood, and his favorite outdoor activities include hiking, camping, and floating down any river.

Beau also holds a deep passion for helping others. His volunteer work includes being a Young Leaders Council Cohort, a young professional board & finance committee member at Saddle Up, and most recently as a board intern with TennGreen. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, seeing live music, and cheering on the Vols!

MARK PEACOCK

President

Bio

Growing up in north Alabama instilled in Mark Peacock a deep appreciation for unspoiled woodlands; this was magnified by his passion for hiking. He is now dedicated to protecting our state’s natural treasures before irreversible development. He is a critical care physician who spent ten years active duty in the US Army, has served as chief of staff for Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital, and somehow ended up Chair of the Board for the Nashville Symphony twice! He is married to the best oncologist in Nashville (Nancy) and has two adult children who give him joy every day (Sarah and Matthew).

BOB SARRATT

President-Elect

Bio

Bob Sarratt is president of The Parent Company, a general contracting firm focused in the Middle Tennessee area. Bob has been entrusted to construct and manage projects of the great community impact, including the Cumberland Heights ARCH Academy, Harpeth Hall Athletic Wellness Center, and the Adventure Science Center’s Sudekum Planetarium. Alongside his profession, Bob has served his community as a member of the St. George’s Episcopal Church Vestry, a volunteer organizer of The Boulevard Bolt, a volunteer whitewater kayaking instructor at the Vanderbilt Outdoor Recreation Center, and a leader of STGEYCOLA—a youth Outdoor Leadership venture to the Tetons and Yellowstone.

CHARLES ASKEW

West Tennessee Vice President

Bio

A native of Memphis with a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis’ School of Law, Charles Askew has 50 years of experience as a real estate broker/adviser working with commercial and undeveloped properties in the West Tennessee area, with expertise in recognition of various real property transactional and developmental concerns. In 2002, the National Association of Realtors honored him with its Distinguished Service Award.

Charles is best known in the environmental awareness community for his leadership roles in founding the Wolf River Conservancy (WRC), where he served for 17 years as an officer and a director. He is recognized by many Memphians for having served as their trip guide on many of WRC’s canoeing outings through the Wolf River’s meandering “Ghost River” section’s flooded forest and nature hikes through the hardwood forests in the headwaters of the Wolf River.

As a teenager, Charles worked for two summers on Glacier National Park’s trail crews, maintaining back-country hiking trails while carrying needed hand tools, thus introducing him to accessing wildlife habitat the hard way. More recently, he served eight years as a member of the Natural Areas Advisory Committee of Tennessee’s Department of Environment and Conservation. As a 30-year member of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, he offers an awareness of avian habitat diversity needs.

Charles has acquired a reputation for his understanding and application of parliamentary procedural rules as they apply to orderly organizational deliberation. Additionally, his talent for capturing interesting photographic images dates to his childhood outdoor adventuring with a 35 mm camera.

ANNE DAVIS

Middle Tennessee Vice President

Bio

Anne Davis is a prominent Nashville-based attorney. She’s practiced civil and criminal litigation with Bass Berry & Sims and Neal & Harwell and previously served as Managing Attorney in the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Nashville office. A long-time champion of the environment, Anne chaired the Metro Nashville task force on environmental sustainability and served on the Green Ribbon Committee. She’s received degrees from Denison University and Vanderbilt School of Law. Anne and her husband, Karl Dean, live in Nashville.

Matt McClanahan

MATTHEW J. MCCLANAHAN

East Tennessee Vice President

Bio

Matthew J. McClanahan, of Crossville, Tennessee, is a practicing attorney in Knoxville and is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts (“TACD”). While attending the University of Tennessee College of Law, Matthew concentrated his studies on advocacy and dispute resolution. Prior to law school, he worked as an agent with Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee. In addition to serving on TennGreen’s Board of Directors, Matthew serves as the President of the Agricultural Foundation for Tennessee Tech University, and serves as a member of the Order of Barristers, the state executive committee for Young Farmers and Ranchers, the Knoxville Estate Planning Council, and the leadership team for Vols for Veterans. Matthew is a proud native-born Tennessean, and the third generation to live on his family’s farm. His roots trace back to his ancestor and the first governor of the state of Tennessee, John Sevier.

Ryan Bailey

RYAN BAILEY

Secretary

Bio

Ryan Bailey is the Vice President of Finance and Operations at Bailey Equipment & Intralogistics, one of the nation’s largest forklift truck dealerships. Under his direction, Bailey Equipment & Intralogistics has invested in energy efficiency and solar energy and leads the industry in zero waste. Additionally, Ryan owns Cumberland Kayak & Adventure Company, a Nashville kayak outfitter that hosts frequent river cleanups. From 2007-2009, Ryan served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica, where he launched a “village bank” and supported biological corridor and eco-tourism projects. Ryan has been named a 40 under 40 by the Nashville Business Journal in 2020.

MARCYA A CARTER-SHEATS

Treasurer

Bio

Marcya A Carter-Sheats is the Director of Customer Experience for Cummins Inc, a global manufacturing leader. She has lived and worked overseas, has 2 MBAs, and has worked in a variety of roles within Cummins. Marcya has enjoyed her experience at Cummins because of the opportunity to experience a range of positions from Finance, Quality, New Plant start-up, Risk Management to Customer Service and Sales. She has held leadership positions as a certified six sigma black belt or line leader for the last 10 of her almost 19 years with the company. She’s also had the privilege of serving the communities that she’s lived and worked in as a volunteer or board member for various nonprofits that primarily serve children, women, and the arts. She’s a nature enthusiast and is excited to contribute to keeping Tennessee beautiful by partnering with and continuing the strategy execution of TennGreen. Marcya says that the most important and most fulfilling job that she has is being a wife to Jamaal and a mother to their 5-year-old daughter, Juliana (aka. GiGi).

SCOTT BOWMAN

Bio

Scott Bowman is an experienced finance and operations executive who currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer for LBMC, a premier professional services firm in Brentwood, TN. Scott grew up in East Tennessee, where he developed a love of the outdoors, which continues to this day. He currently lives in Franklin, TN, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.

GREEN FAIRCLOTH

Bio

Green Faircloth is a Senior Industrial Account Manager with Atmos Energy Corporation. He has been with Atmos Energy since 1989, helping large industrial and commercial accounts manage their energy uses and costs. Green also works with economic development organizations with industrial growth projects in communities from Maryville, TN, to Blacksburg, VA. He received a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University. Green is an Elder in the Erwin Presbyterian Church and, in his free time, enjoys outdoor activities like grouse hunting, water skiing, snow skiing, and golf.

John Fenderson

JOHN FENDERSON

Bio

John Fenderson currently serves as managing partner with Hatchie River Co., LLC, based in Tennessee. Previously, he was a Specialty Asset Manager for the Timberland Investment Group at U.S. Trust, following his prior service as a financial adviser at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He brings to TennGreen Land Conservancy over 25 years of experience in forest stewardship and the environmental arena working in such places as the Sierra Mountains in California, as well as in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. John has a keen interest in market-based behavior change, especially as it relates to social impact and environmental sustainability, and has worked with landowners in the southeast U.S. to help them create wealth through responsible stewardship of their natural assets – principally forestland.

John was previously the Senior Manager of Forestry at the National Wildlife Federation, and prior to that, he was the Southeastern Regional Director for the National Network of Forest Practitioners. As the Environmental Affairs/Public Outreach Coordinator for the Tennessee Division of Forestry, he co-authored papers on Carbon Sequestration Principles for the Southeast and Valuing a Forested Viewshed. In the late Eighties, he worked for Greenpeace, while in the mid-Nineties, he worked with the Nature Conservancy and the US Forest Service in California and Alaska.

John graduated from Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Natural Sciences. From the University of Tennessee, he obtained his Masters of Science in Forest Economics and Policy. He also attended Northwestern University and currently has primary interests in Environmental and Natural Resource Policy, Conservation/Impact Finance, and market-based payments for Ecosystem Services.

JIM GARGES

Bio

Jim Garges is a powerful advocate for land protection and public access to outdoor spaces. He’s the former Park and Recreation Director for Mecklenburg County, where he oversaw parks, recreation, nature preserves, senior learning centers, and greenways in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also served as Director of the Parks departments in Kettering, Ohio, and Delaware, Ohio, and as Deputy Director in Topeka, Kansas. Jim’s efforts have been widely celebrated; under his leadership, the National Recreation and Park Association awarded its National Gold Medal to both Kettering and Mecklenburg County. Jim lives with his wife, Marty, in Franklin.

LAUREL GRAEFE

Bio

Laurel Graefe is a Regional Executive & Senior Officer at the Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. As the senior officer leading the Federal Reserve’s team in Nashville, she manages her Branch’s Board of Directors and economic research activities, oversees its economic and financial education programs, and advises on monetary policy. Laurel earned an MBA with honors from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management, where she was selected as one of the business school’s “World Shapers”—alumni highlighted for their work in business and their communities. Laurel holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, summa cum laude, from Agnes Scott College. She is an avid rock climber and enjoys exploring the wonderful rock formations of Tennessee, particularly along the Cumberland Plateau.

CHRISTOPHER C. HAIGLER

Bio

Christopher C. Haigler is a Trust Officer with Southeastern Trust Company, a boutique wealth management company. In his role, he manages and administers trust and fiduciary relationships in a multi-family office setting. Having grown up in the mountains of North Carolina, Christopher deeply appreciates the natural beauty of woodlands and water features. As an avid outdoorsman, he’s always seeking opportunities to explore new places. Christopher enjoys hiking, overland travel, and backcountry adventuring, and he’s currently completing the Trans America Trail connecting Nags Head, North Carolina, to the Oregon coast by overland travel—one tract at a time. One of his goals is to contribute to enabling future generations to enjoy the natural scenery Tennessee has to offer. Christopher currently resides in Nashville with his wife. Christoper joined the TennGreen Board after year of serving as a Young Leaders Council program intern.

JACQUELINE HARP

Bio

As a Human Resources Business Partner at outdoor equipment cooperative REI, Jacqueline Harp supports the retail division in the East on people practices, talent development, and the employee learning journey around REI’s racial equity, diversity and inclusion priorities. Prior to joining REI, Jacqueline studied History at Queens University of Charlotte and Public History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, focusing on American memorials and social storytelling. Jacqueline is a nature and outdoor enthusiast with a particular passion for the natural history of Southern Appalachia, and also serves as Vice President of the board for the Chattanooga conservation nonprofit Lookout Mountain Conservancy. Jacqueline currently resides in Chattanooga, TN with her husband and two children.

ALICE HUDSON PELL

Executive Director

Bio

alice@tenngreen.org

Alice Hudson Pell is the Executive Director of TennGreen Land Conservancy. In this role, she oversees and directs the organization’s day-to-day operations and provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure TennGreen’s continued sustainability and success. Prior to her appointment as Interim Executive Director, Alice served as TennGreen’s Associate Director for nearly four years, and its Director of Development for five years before that. She has a Master’s in Higher Education Administration, Institutional Advancement from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, and a Bachelor of Arts from Agnes Scott College. She is an active member of the Junior League of Nashville, Class President for Agnes Scott College, and serves on the Planning & Zoning Committee for her neighborhood association.

LES MCDONALD

Bio

Les McDonald is the Bond Manager for Liberty Mutual Surety, responsible for Tennessee and Arkansas. Alongside his team, Les provides innovative solutions for commercial contractors for complex construction projects, including alternative delivery methods, ownership transfers/transitions, joint ventures, and securing surety credit for projects exceeding $1B.

Les enjoys off-road and road cycling, snow skiing, hiking, and traveling. He and his family support local and international organizations that seek to provide opportunities for individuals to grow spiritually, provide emergency relief, and lift individuals’ economic standing generationally. Les is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a BBA in economics and has served as a deacon at Hope Presbyterian Church. He lives in Memphis with his wife, Kathleen, and has one daughter.

CHRISTY MOBERLY

Bio

Christy Moberly is a retired Senior Vice President of Agency & Marketing for State Farm Insurance Companies. She was responsible for leading 7,000 associates in sales, marketing, customer care center, creative services, and convention and travel functions. Christy is a graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, IN. She participated in the Hellenic American Union’s College Year in Athens program in Greece, completed Harvard Business School’s General Manager Program, and graduated from the International Women’s Forum Fellows Program. Christy currently serves as President of the Assistance League® of Nashville, is on the Board of Directors of Music City Pickleball and The Nashville Food Project, and is Chair of the 1966 Society of Reading is Fundamental (RIF), where she formerly served as Vice-Chair.

Nick Nunn

NICK NUNN

Bio

Nick Nunn, of Memphis, serves as the Chief Investment Officer at Security Bancorp of Tennessee. He is an avid outdoorsman and a champion of conservation throughout the state. Nick serves on all six banks of Security Bancorp as a member of the Board of Directors, where he manages investment portfolios and management duties. Nick and his wife, Kara, live in Memphis with their three children.

He and his family partnered with TennGreen Land Conservancy in 2020 to place a conservation easement on the family’s 702-acre farm just outside of Dyersburg, Tennessee.

TERRELL PICKETT

Bio

Terrell Pickett is the General Manager of AT&T’s East Region Connected Communities Team, responsible for customer acquisition and retention. A native of Jasper, Tennessee, Terrell is an avid hiker and mountain and road biker. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) and an MBA from Indiana University (Bloomington). Terrell lives in Nashville with his German Shepherd, Kat, and is passionate about exploring the urban oases. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Maple Built, a nonprofit that targets mentorship of young men in North Nashville by teaching them woodworking.

ANDREW RUEFF

Bio

Andrew Rueff is the Executive Chairman of SphereCommerce, LLC, a fully integrated payment and software experience platform, and TeamSnap, an all-encompassing group sports management platform. He has more than 25 years of experience in the legal, banking, and financial technology sectors and has substantial experience identifying, structuring, and negotiating strategic acquisitions, investments, and partner alliances. Andrew earned both a Bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Tennessee and a JD degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He and his wife, Betsy, live in Knoxville with their two young children.  

ALAN WEBB

Bio

Alan Webb is a nature enthusiast who brings a wealth of fundraising and technology knowledge to the TennGreen Land Conservancy team. He currently serves as an Enterprise Architect for Data/Business Intelligence at ALSAC – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. In 2018, Alan joined TennGreen’s Board through the Young Leaders Council program in Williamson County. Alan, his wife, and their two daughters are avid explorers of Tennessee’s natural wonders, both above and below ground.

Melinda Welton

MELINDA WELTON

Bio

Melinda Welton graduated from the University of Connecticut in zoology as an ornithologist. She is a well-known bird biologist whose work provided the science for the preservation of 70,000 acres of biodiverse lands in the Cumberland Mountains. Her work with the Cerulean Warbler, a species of high conservation concern, has taken her across Tennessee and to many remote areas in Central America.

Her passion is to enhance our understanding of birds and their biology and to inspire new birdwatchers to appreciate birds and actively conserve their habitats.

Fish, Beau Headshot TennGreen

BEAU FISH

Board Intern

Bio

Beau is a Nashville native, born and raised in West Nashville. He graduated from Father Ryan High School, then went on to receive an undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee, and then furthered education with a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Finance from Tennessee State University. Beau currently works in Wealth Management at Roussel & Associates. His love for the outdoors started on Monteagle Mountain, spending every summer there since early childhood, and his favorite outdoor activities include hiking, camping, and floating down any river.

Beau also holds a deep passion for helping others. His volunteer work includes being a Young Leaders Council Cohort, a young professional board & finance committee member at Saddle Up, and most recently as a board intern with TennGreen. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, seeing live music, and cheering on the Vols!