Our Staff

Will has over 25 years of experience leading science and conservation efforts around the world. He is passionate about environmental conservation and creating opportunities where all people benefit from conservation action. Previously, he was the Deputy Director at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute leading science, education, and conservation programs, as well as administration and operations. He developed creative solutions to reduce the impact of invasive species across the Pacific Basin for the USDA’s National Wildlife Research Center in Hawaii. As a researcher, he focused on restoration of ecosystems, reducing the impact of invasive species, and training the next generation throughout his career. He has published more than 90 peer-reviewed articles and books.  He earned both a Ph.D. in Ecology and a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology from Utah State University. He received his B.S. in Fish and Wildlife biology from the University of Minnesota.  He enjoys spending time with his family, exploring natural areas, handicraft, and fishing.

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1109

Email: will.pitt@tacf.org

Hal joined TACF in 2023 after completing a Conservation Biology MSc at the University of Cape Town in South Africa where he studied black-footed cats. In his younger years, Hal owned several extreme sports clothing brands before transitioning to wildlife photography and freelance web design. His conservation writing, photography, illustrations, graphic design, and video work have since appeared in magazines, newspapers, books, websites, and television shows around the world. He and his wife have lived in Asheville since 2010 and when not traveling they love to restore native plants in their yard to support wildlife.

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1113

Email: hal.brindley@tacf.org

John is originally from Tampa, Florida. He graduated from Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, NC, in the spring of 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. After college, he moved back to Tampa and spent his career working in the medical device industry as a sales consultant. In 2014, the mountains were calling. John relocated to Western North Carolina and was fortunate enough to return to his alma mater as a development and fundraising professional. While working at Mars Hill University, he obtained his Master of Management degree. John also spent eighteen months working for the YMCA of WNC. Community-based fundraising was a rewarding experience, but environmental preservation is his driving force, and TACF is a perfect fit for his passions and interests.

During his free time, John enjoys mountain biking, whitewater kayaking, snow skiing, and hiking with friends and his dog Scout.

Phone: (828) 259-2034

Email: john.chastain@tacf.org

Lesley has a strong and versatile background of more than 20 years in grants and fundraising. She started her career as a writer at Johns Hopkins University. Previously, she led development and communications at Cultivating Community of Maine, an organization working to improve the food system. In Maine, Lesley was a member of the Network Leadership Institute of Food Solutions New England and taught logic modeling/theories of change to USDA grantees. In 2018, Lesley and her husband Bob purchased their forever home in the Five Points neighborhood of Asheville, where they now live with their dog, Dudley.

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1103

Email: lesley.heiser@tacf.org

Shaomin moved to the United States in 1998, after spending her childhood in Guangzhou, China. She graduated from UNC-Asheville with a B.S. in Accounting, then achieved her goal to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) nine years after moving to the U.S. — one full year earlier than her targeted timeline. During the subsequent 18 years of her career, she has worked in governmental and nonprofit organizations in Asheville and Washington D.C.

Shaomin enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and meeting up with friends on Saturdays. She is especially excited to work on behalf of the American chestnut because the chestnut is her favorite nut. Her family competes with squirrels to collect chestnuts from the 50-year old tree in their yard each Fall. Sometimes, they even win! 

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1112

Email: shaomin.li@tacf.org

Angus joined TACF with experience in environmental consulting, horticulture, forestry, and data management. He has a B.S. in Geology from the College of Charleston and studied the impact of prescribed burning on forest carbon distribution through his work with the US Forest Service along the Atlantic coastal plain. Originally from upstate South Carolina, Angus grew up with a deep connection to Southern Appalachian ecology, instilling a passion for the American chestnut in him from a very young age. When not at work he is most often harvesting wild food from the woods, listening to music, or coming up with creative new meals to cook. 

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1115

Email: angus.mccord@tacf.org

Christine joined the TACF team in the Spring of 2024. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Temple University in 2013. Christine worked as a music therapist for several years and later developed an interest in specialty coffee after being called to the mountains of Asheville in 2016. She went on to learn about coffee plants and processes and get hands-on experience with the art and science of roasting as a roasting assistant at Pennycup Coffee. Christine also worked as a rock-climbing coach and adventure therapy guide, which deepened her connection to these woods. She brings her love of the natural world, passion for connecting with her community, and creative organization to her role at TACF. When not at work, Christine can be found climbing rocks, riding bikes, looking at birds, or hanging out with her orange polydactyl cat, Bug the Cat.  

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1101

Email: christine.oglesby@tacf.org

Jen joined TACF in 2023 after spending several years freelance writing, building her art business, and raising her daughter. She grew up in New England but has lived in the Asheville area since 2004; she loves the mountains and the terrific weather in WNC. She completed her undergraduate degree in Graphic Design at Eastern Connecticut State University and her Master’s in Health Science at Western Carolina University. Her writing has been published on a variety of websites and print magazines, and her artwork has been sold to collectors around the world, including England and New Zealand. She and her family love to hike, garden, and travel.

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1110

Email: jen.picicci@tacf.org

Carrie comes to TACF with 15 years of experience working with data in higher education. She has a B.S. in Environmental Studies, and has completed coursework for a Masters in Conservation Biology. She is a self-proclaimed bird nerd, and has worked on research projects with Least Terns and Black Skimmers in both Florida and Brazil. In her free time she is an avid mountain biker and leads several group rides throughout Western North Carolina.

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1104

Email: carrie.plaxco@tacf.org

Susan brings to TACF a variety of career experiences but all with the common denominator of valuable customer service. Everything from promoting her art work, theatre productions, cultivating real estate clients, to owning a rental/retail costume store, has involved relating to customers and clients in timely and welcoming ways.

She moved to Asheville in 1996, from Murphy NC, to complete her degree in Communication, and stayed because these mountain forests feel like home.

Her passion for textile art and redesigns runs parallel to that of saving, preserving and celebrating mature trees and all that they bring to our survival and sanity. Susan has worked as a volunteer with Asheville GreenWorks since 2018, reviving and developing the Treasured Tree program.

If you can’t find her in Asheville, she is probably with her family on their land back up in a cove in Murphy, called Lichenwood.

Phone: (828) 281-0047

Though originally from eastern Tennessee, Jules moved to Asheville in 2010 from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she was the Communications Associate at Episcopal Divinity School. Prior to accepting the job at TACF, she was the Webmaster and Communications Specialist at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. Before switching career paths, Jules worked as a videographer and editor in the television news industry. She loves living in Asheville because of its mountains, progressive values, farm-to-table eateries, and support of local businesses and nonprofits. Jules has a B.A. in Communication Arts with an emphasis in Television Broadcasting.

Phone:  (828) 281-0047 x1102

Email: jules.smith@tacf.org

Mark retired from the U.S. Army after 21 years in 2014. After retiring he followed his wife and children to Asheville, NC. In the years since his retirement, he has worked in retail management and as a District and Operations Manager in the security industry. Mark has 25+ years in leading, managing, and empowering people to form creative, collaborative, and successful teams. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife of 28 years exploring Asheville and the surrounding outdoor areas, going to concerts and reconnecting with his hobbies that an extremely busy life has not always provided the time for.

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1105

Email: mark.weaver@tacf.org

Jared joined TACF in January 2015 as the organization’s new quantitative geneticist. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jared earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan, an M.S. in Botany, and a PhD in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Florida. His dissertation research studied the genetic enhancement of resin production in loblolly pine stems for use in liquid biofuels. Jared works extensively with the Meadowview Research Farms Laboratory and commutes from Asheville to take TACF’s breeding program to the next level.

Phone:  (828) 281-0047 x1106

Email: jared.westbrook@tacf.org

A passion for nature and conservation drew Barbara to western North Carolina, after living in Atlanta for many years. Barb brings 15 years of nonprofit experience in donor cultivation, fundraising, and database management to her TACF role as Membership Coordinator. When she is not advocating for forest conservation and restoration, Barb enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, kayaking, and gardening.

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1108

Email: barbara.wood@tacf.org

Hannah joined TACF in 2023 shortly after moving to Asheville, NC. Her professional experience includes 10+ years working in outdoor education, event production, and operations in various locations such as Hawaii, Colorado, and Australia. She moved to Western North Carolina at the beginning of the pandemic and stayed for the unparalleled natural beauty and biodiversity. She has fostered her personal passion for conservation through volunteer work with tree plantings and invasive species eradication initiatives, including an on-site restoration in New Zealand, native eucalyptus data collection in Queensland, organic farming in Western North Carolina, and multiple events through her former participation in the Highlands Plateau chapter of the RotarACT Rotary sub-group. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Spanish and has personal interests in learning languages, playing music, and reading as many books as she can.

The Southern ROC serves Mid-Atlantic and Southern Regions minus West Virginia.

Phone: (828) 281-0047 x1118

Cell: (828) 220-1170

Email: hannah.leeper@tacf.org

Catherine joined TACF in March 2023 as the Northern Regional Outreach Coordinator, covering chapters from Maine to West Virginia. She brings over 10 years of experience in horticulture, outreach and education, with experiences ranging from cooperative extension work to public gardens. Her main passion in each of these positions has been growing and restoring native areas – with a guilty pleasure for growing giant pumpkins and cut flowers, too. She is consistently energized by the enthusiasm of the amazing volunteers she’s worked with in conservation and horticulture.

Originally from the Shawangunk mountains in Ulster County, NY, Catherine received her B.A. in Theatre from SUNY Geneseo and then her A.A. in Horticulture from Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY. She spends most of her free time hiking with her partner and their dogs, gardening, or reading sci fi/fantasy novels.

The Northern ROC serves the New England and North Central Regions plus West Virginia.

Phone: (828) 220-1411

Email: catherine.martini@tacf.org

Kendra has spent her career working to improve ecosystem health and engaging with passionate citizen scientist teammates. She received a BS degree in Environmental Conservation Science from the University of New Hampshire and an MS in Natural Resources: Forestry from the University of Vermont. Her Masters research focused on American chestnut restoration, which led her to become involved with TACF and the formation of the VT/NH chapter. She joined TACF’s staff in 2008 as Regional Science Coordinator for the New England region. In this role she partners with TACF’s volunteers to manage their chapter science programs, and provide training, guidance, and the most current advances in chestnut restoration science to those doing the work on the ground. In 2023 Kendra stepped into the additional role of Director of Regional Programs, overseeing TACF’s regional team and developing a stronger support structure for our active members and volunteers.

Phone: (802) 999-8706

Email: kendra.collins@tacf.org

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons has worked with The American Chestnut Foundation at Penn State University since 2003, assisting chestnut growers and researchers throughout the Appalachian Mountains. Born and raised in southern West Virginia (Hinton), Sara studied Biology at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. She then received an M.S. in Forest Ecology and Resource Management from Duke University’s Nicholas School. After a short stint as an editorial assistant at All About Beer Magazine, Sara returned to the forestry field where she has been ever since. Sara hopes her research and professional work will facilitate long-term conservation and restoration of native tree species at risk from exotic pests and diseases.

Phone: (814) 404-6013

Email: sara.fitzsimmons@tacf.org

Before joining TACF staff in 2024, Lake worked nine years as a volunteer for the organization establishing new chestnut orchards, collecting data, performing outreach, serving two years on the PA-NJ chapter board, and conserving wild-type American chestnuts. Lake completed an M.S. in Ecology in 2019 focused on forest ecology. Prior to joining TACF, Lake was an environmental scientist for Mountain Research, LLC in Altoona, PA. He is also a former PA DCNR state park ranger.

Phone: (814) 863-7192

Email: lake.graboski@tacf.org

Cassie joined TACF in 2022 as the Laboratory Manager at Meadowview Research Farms and is now the Mid-Atlantic Regional Science Coordinator for the Kentucky, Maryland, Virgina, and West Virgina state chapters of TACF.

She is originally from Virginia and previously attended James Madison University (JMU). At JMU, Cassie studied the American chestnut tree; specifically, her research pertained to forest management strategies for increasing the success of hybrid chestnuts in the Appalachian cove. Following JMU, she attended Pennsylvania State University where she received an M.S. in Forest Resources and studied ramp/wild leek habitat to better understand the conservation and cultivation of ramps. She is passionate about both forest ecology and botany and is curently based in Charlotttesville, Virgina.

Phone: (540) 217-6915

Email: cassie.stark@tacf.org

Jamie joined TACF full-time in 2021 as the Regional Science Coordinator for the Southern region that covers North Carolina/South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, and is based out of the national office in Asheville.

Jamie began her journey with TACF when she interned for the New England Science Coordinator for two seasons while completing her B.S. in both Forestry and Environmental Science from the University of Vermont. She then spent the next two years as an agriculture volunteer with Peace Corps Panama, where she supported a remote community’s cacao and coffee farmers. After the successful completion of her service, she spent the next two years at the USDA as an International Program Specialist managing and coordinating large natural resource projects.

Phone: (828) 281 – 0047 x1107

Email: jamie.vanclief@tacf.org

Lauren grew up in northern New Jersey (right where the Appalachian Mountains cross through the state) and attended the University of Vermont (UVM) to study Plant Biology, focusing on plant-microbe interactions.  After graduation, she worked as a project manager at the University’s herbarium, helping to image the collection, and then as a laboratory manager at UVM and the University of Pittsburgh, studying plant-microbe interactions in agricultural and wild field settings.  In 2020, Lauren moved to Blacksburg, Virginia to start her MSLFS at Virginia Tech focusing on plant physiology before joining TACF in 2023 as the Laboratory Manager at Meadowview Research Farms.  Lauren is excited to use her botany, plant physiology, and microbiology skills to support American chestnut restoration.

Email: lauren.kerwien@tacf.org

Vasiliy joined TACF in June 2021 as Director of Research at Meadowview Research Farms. He works with science staff across TACF, the Science and Technology Committee, and external academic collaborators to design and implement breeding studies, orchard and forestry trials, and other basic and applied research.

His past work includes forest restoration at the Arboretum at Penn State and science policy with the Weed Science Society of America. Vasiliy holds a PhD in Plant Ecology from Virginia Tech, where he studied invasive species’ interactions with land use and climate change. He serves on the Board of Directors of the North American Invasive Species Management Association and on the Town of Abingdon Tree Commission.

Phone: (276) 696-9142

Email: vasiliy.lakoba@tacf.org

Dan joined TACF in 2014 as Seed Orchard Supervisor at Meadowview Research Farms. He has a long history of agriculture and Appalachian forest work, ranging from trail conservation to forest management. As a local native from Marion, Virginia, much of his experience was acquired working in the mountains in the surrounding areas. His expertise covers farm and facilities maintenance, field crew training and supervision, with an emphasis on workplace safety, and coordinating volunteer groups.

Dan holds a degree from the Virginia Highlands Community College in Horticulture Technology and Landscape Management. He has held positions with the U.S. Forest Service, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the U.S. Marine Corps.

Phone: (276) 525-2489

Email: dan.mckinnon@tacf.org

Jim joined TACF in April 2017 after retiring from Ball Corporation where he was employed for more than 30 years as a line technician. Prior to Ball, Jim was employed at Cape Hatteras National Seashore for 4 years as a lifeguard/park technician. After that, he served as a recreational forester for the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado. Jim has a B..S in Recreation from Radford University. Jim has a B..S in Recreation from Radford University.

Being an avid outdoorsman and having an enduring love for nature and its sustainability, Jim joined TACF in Meadowview, Virginia where he assists staff at Meadowview Research Farms in developing blight-tolerant American chestnut trees. Jim aids in maintaining the farm through equipment operation and maintenance, seed and pollen collection, and processing. He enjoys his role as an advocate for American chestnut restoration and believes in the ecological benefits it will bring to an entire ecosystem.

Phone: (276) 791-8180

Email: jim.tolton@tacf.org

Lucinda joined The American Chestnut Foundation as Orchard Manager in the Spring of 2024. After earning her BS in Biology from Old Dominion University, she joined AmeriCorps and served Rangeley Lakes (Maine) Heritage Trust as their Headwaters Coordinator. In that role, Lucinda coordinated volunteers and helped protect the area’s pristine lakes from invasive aquatic species. Returning to her hometown near the Chesapeake Bay, she joined Northern Neck Land Conservancy as a Program Associate. There, she helped develop public access opportunities at the organization’s 220-acre waterfront property, Bay View. Lucinda spent the summer and fall of 2023 in Wyoming working with KC Harvey, LLC, an environmental consulting team working to reclaim oil field lands. Lucinda is passionate about doing her part to protect the planet and is excited to utilize her diverse skills to help save the iconic American Chestnut tree.

Email: lucinda.wigfield@tacf.org

Ciera grew up in California where they gained love and respect for the natural world. Growing up in the California foothills, a story about American chestnut breeding inspired them to pursue their passion for the environment as a career. A graduate of Cal Poly Humboldt, Ciera has been following this passion ever since, including working to restore endangered species habitat, natural interpretation, and recycling/compost diversion in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Virginia in 2020.

Since arriving in the Commonwealth, Ciera has worked with landowners to implement agroforestry techniques, specifically forest farming with a focus on Appalachian forest botanical species, and experienced the new industry of commercial cannabis production. She now draws from her past experience and passion for growing and for native plants as the Nursery Manager at Meadowview Research Farms, eager to continue the mission of eastern hardwood forest restoration with the great American chestnut.

Email: ciera.wilbur@tacf.org