Conservationists and supporters of TennGreen Land Conservancy gathered on Friday, September 16, 2022, to honor Mary Lynn Dobson, John Noel, and Steve Law, whose long-time service to TennGreen has officially ended. On Friday, Dobson and Noel rolled off TennGreen’s Board of Directors after serving on it for over two decades. Law, who oversaw the conservation of more than 30,000 acres since his appointment as TennGreen’s Executive Director in 2015, begins his retirement after appointing Alice Hudson Pell as the organization’s Interim Executive Director.
The farewell party featured a brief program that included remarks from Hudson Pell and TennGreen’s President, Dr. Mark Peacock. During the program, Dr. Peacock spoke about Dobson, Noel, and Law’s time with the organization and their significant conservation impact on Tennessee and beyond. View photos from the party here.
MARY LYNN DOBSON
Serving on TennGreen’s Board of Directors since 2001, Dobson’s unrelenting passion and championship for land conservation has resulted in the completion of countless projects that will protect our natural world for future generations. She was instrumental in jumpstarting TennGreen’s Revolving Land Fund, which has advanced the organization’s ability to protect and connect large natural areas across the state. In addition to helping TennGreen and other conservation groups acquire and protect private lands, she’s played a pivotal role in the creation or expansion of many much-loved public lands like Rock Island State Park, Virgin Falls State Natural Area, Cummins Falls State Park, Cedars of Lebanon State Park, and so many more.
Dobson’s passion for conservation further extends to her own backyard, having protected her land—located in the Fingers Area of Watts Bar Lake—with a TennGreen conservation easement. The completed easement forever protects the lakeside land, the glade, the trees and flowers, the views, and the wildlife found there.
Dobson has also been nationally recognized for her efforts, named as one of the U.S. Forest Service International Programs and Environment for the Americas’ 2019 awardees for the Wings Across the Americas Habitat Conservation Partnership Award.
JOHN NOEL
Over the years, Noel has been an unstoppable force in land protection and environmental leadership in the Southeast, previously serving as both President of TennGreen and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Noel founded the Tennessee Forest Council and serves, or has served, on numerous Boards and Advisory Councils for groups like the Climate Institute in Washington D.C., Tennessee Conservation Voters, Friends of Radnor Lake, and Harpeth Conservancy. Additionally, he’s been at the helm of many significant or precedent-setting campaigns involving water quality and conservation.
Widely recognized by his peers and conservation organizations throughout the country, Noel has received numerous honors during his acclaimed career, including the Governor’s Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award—Tennessee’s highest environmental accolade, National Society of DAR’s ‘National’ Conservationist Award, Tennessee Ornithological Society’s Conservationist of the Year Award, and the Tennessee Conservation Voters’ Lifetime Achievement Award. For his impressive efforts, Noel has a State Natural Area named in his honor (the John Noel State Natural Area at Bon Aqua) and has been featured in National Geographic Magazine and The New York Times.
While on TennGreen’s Board of Directors, Noel championed countless conservation projects, including many at popular or history-rich destinations like Devilstep Hollow Cave, Black Mountain, and Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area. He played an active role in the conservation of several of our state’s beloved waterfalls like Stillhouse Hollow Falls, Virgin Falls, and Cummins Falls. If not for Noel’s determination, TennGreen would have likely lost the Cummins Falls property auction in 2010, meaning that Cummins Falls State Park wouldn’t exist as it does for all to enjoy today!
STEVE LAW
Law served as TennGreen’s Executive Director since 2015, where he has overseen the conservation of more than 30,000 acres across Tennessee. Since his appointment, TennGreen has more than doubled its average number of acres conserved per year. Three noteworthy successes include expanding popular destinations like Fall Creek Falls State Park and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, as well as assisting in the creation of Big River Park. Under Law’s leadership, TennGreen has achieved many significant milestones, such as fulfilling a visionary five-year Strategic Plan that led to the successful rebranding of the organization; the movement of its Nashville headquarters to a new, highly functional space; and the adoption of its first Strategic Land Conservation Plan.
During Law’s tenure, TennGreen also increased the capacity of its Revolving Land Fund, established a strong endowment, and received many accolades, including the federal Wings Across the Americas Habitat Conservation Partnership Award in 2019 and the Nashville Business Journal Best Places to Work Award in 2021.
TennGreen is grateful for the long-time service and contributions of these dedicated conservationists. View photos from the party here, and watch the event program here.