Who we are
Our Mission
Piedmont Land Conservancy protects our region’s natural lands, family farms, and waters for the benefit of all living things through land protection, stewardship of conserved spaces, and connecting people with nature.
How We Accomplish Our Mission
We protect important land resources through conservation easements, acquisition and stewardship of previously protected lands through our four primary themes: farmland preservation, water quality protection, natural areas and urban green space. We connect people to nature through education, outings, access to protected properties and nature preserves.
Our Vision
Piedmont Land Conservancy envisions a healthy, thriving region with abundant clean waters, productive farmland, and sustainable wildlife habitat, enabled by a network of permanently protected lands.
Our Core Values
- Passion to protect land in perpetuity
- Land protection and stewardship based on science
- Urgency to conserve the Piedmont’s special places
- Engage & connect people with nature
- Consistency, transparency, & integrity in all our practices
- Fiscal responsibility for the resources we’ve been entrusted with
- Gratitude for our supporters
- Collaboration with partners to expand impact
- Encourage inclusion and diversity within the communities we work
- Appreciation of the natural world
Our Staff
Kevin Redding
Kevin Redding was born and raised in Faith, NC, just outside of Salisbury. He received his Eagle Scout award just before graduating high school. He then went to Western Carolina University and earned a B.S. in Natural Resource Management with a minor in Business Management. Kevin then crossed the state to East Carolina University where he earned a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Environmental Policy. He worked for the LandTrust for Central North Carolina in Salisbury for 7 years as their Associate Director. In 2007 he was named the Executive Director of Piedmont Land Conservancy. Kevin’s hobbies include growing tomatoes and hot peppers, fly fishing, duck hunting, Duke basketball and spending time outdoors with his wife, Lori, and their two children, Boone and Molly Ruth.
Kalen Kingsbury
Kalen joined PLC in 2000 after 15 years as a corporate attorney in Los Angeles and Greensboro. She grew up in the “be home by dark” generation exploring the fields and forests around her home and her love of nature began in her grandmother’s garden and grew steadily on a diet of fishing trips with her father, family camping trips and college backpacking trips. Kalen got her B.A. at Duke University and her J.D. at University of Maryland. Her passion for conservation is fueled by a desire to make sure that special natural areas are easily available for future generations to explore and enjoy. Kalen currently serves on the Conservation Defense Advisory Council, a national group providing guidance to the Land Trust Alliance to ensure conservation permanence. So much of what land trusts do will depend on their ability to make good on their promise of permanence.
Dr. Kenneth Bridle
Ken Bridle has been a professional scientist for over 40 years. Trained as a botanist with emphasis on plant physiology and natural product chemistry (Ph.D.), these interests have been applied to a variety of projects. He has worked as a natural heritage and watershed inventory biologist, field ecologist, science museum exhibits director and environmental consultant. He has been active with PLC for over 30 years as a member, volunteer, consultant, board member and staff member.
He is the author of several county Natural Heritage Inventories (1998-2002) as well as watershed assessments, wetland delineations and rare plant and animal surveys. He has conducted other local and regional conservation research and restoration projects in North Carolina and around the southeast for a variety of groups. He is a founding member of the Dan River Basin Association and the Carolina Butterfly Society and has served on the board and been a volunteer for many conservation groups in North Carolina and Stokes County where he lives. He is a past Chair of the Wildlife Resources Commission, Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee which helps to facilitate work and listing of rare animal species in this state, a board on which he served for two decades. He is also a past president of the North Carolina Native Plant Society and Past President of the North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council and a founding member of the Triad Mushroom Club. He is a frequent leader of hikes and nature walks and a speaker on local conservation issues.
Abby Draut
Abby is an avid outdoorswoman that enjoys climbing, sailing, running, and exploring all the beautiful landscapes that North Carolina has to offer. After completing her bachelor’s degree in PR & Advertising from Sam Houston State University, Abby moved her life to North Carolina to attend UNCG to obtain her master’s degree in Parks and Recreation Management from while working for the University’s Outdoor Adventures Program as the Piney Lake Graduate Assistant. Her lifelong love and respect for the outdoors was deepened while in the program and built a sense of responsibility to support and protect outdoor spaces.
Abby looks forward to engaging and connecting communities with the trails in effort to make the spaces an even larger part of the piedmont community identity.
Brian Graham
Brian is a native of Hickory, NC and enjoyed growing up around the foothills of the mountains. He earned a B.S in Accounting from NC A&T State Uniersity and went on to receive a Masters in Accounting from the University of Virginia. He began his accounting journey as an auditor at Ernst & Young, and since then has devoted his career to serving and leading mission-driven organizations. He had the opportunity to audit the Coca-Cola Company, work in full-time ministry, manage charter schools, direct Community Foundation activities, and serve as CFO of our local United Way of Greater Greensboro. The common thread for Brian over the past 20+ years has been prioritizing family, leading change, and impacting community initiatives. He enjoys spending time outdoors and appreciates its natural beauty often by way of the golf course. Brian is married to his college sweetheart and enjoys spending quality time with their three children.
Brianna Haferman
Motivated by her passion to empower people to protect and connect to the natural world, Brianna works hard to share about the indispensability of land conservation and the work of PLC. She is a multi-media content creator, writer, website manager, graphic designer, photographer, licensed drone pilot, and artist. She started at PLC as the Piedmont Legacy Trails Coordinator and followed her love of design and story-telling to become PLC’s Communication and Engagement Director. Brianna holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to being a trail and conservation advocate, Brianna loves backpacking, gardening, art, and photography.
Josh Horton
Josh joined PLC in 2017 after spending several years as a residential land development attorney at a law firm in Raleigh, a move that aligns his career more closely with his values, and brings to PLC the benefit of his real estate experience. Growing up on a small farm in Pennsylvania, he saw the prime farmland surrounding him be converted into large subdivisions and the cultural shift of his hometown from historic rural farm and horse country into a busy commuter suburb of Philadelphia. He received his B.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Religious Studies from University of Pittsburgh, and his J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law with a focus in public interest.
Tesla Jefferson
Tesla has worked in every region of North Carolina, her home state. She has a Master’s in Environmental Science with a focus in Conservation Management from UNCW and has worked many jobs related to conservation ranging from environmental education, invasive species removal, and songbird habitat restoration.
Judy Jones
Judy loves her home state of North Carolina. After growing up in Rockingham County where she enjoyed time on her grandparents’ farm riding horses, exploring in the woods, and helping in the garden, she moved to Raleigh and then Brevard where she learned to appreciate more of her home state. After living away in Maryland and Pennsylvania for 14 years with her husband and having three daughters, she was pleased to have the opportunity to move back to the Piedmont where her girls grew into adults who love nature as she does. Judy is thrilled to be working with PLC where she can help protect her homeland for future generations, including her new granddaughter, to enjoy as she does.
Mehari Kassa
Mehari joined Piedmont Land Conservancy with over 15 years of nonprofit work experience. He began his career in the for-profit sector as a chemical engineer focusing on process improvement and project management. Mehari unexpectedly made the leap into the nonprofit world soon after relocating to Atlanta, where he was invited to help launch The Ron Clark Academy (RCA), a highly acclaimed demonstration middle school. After serving in various roles during the school’s start-up period, He volunteered to be RCA’s first Development Director. Since moving into fundraising he has gained experience in both front-line fundraising and leveraging his engineering experiences in support of the operational side of advancement teams. Mehari looks forward to helping PLC increasingly connect with members of the community who will engage their compassion philanthropically to connect people with nature.
Excited to be in Greensboro, Mehari and his family enjoy exploring all that North Carolina provides in its wonderful cities, mountains, and beaches.
Janice Lancaster
Karrie Jo Manson
Karrie Jo was born and raised in Greensboro with family roots in Pleasant Garden where she spent lots of time hiking along Polecat Creek. She is a Guilford College graduate following a long line of family members, and has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from The College of New Jersey. After a career as a family therapist in Bucks County, PA, Karrie Jo returned to the Piedmont and spent 16 years in development work, primarily as Senior Director of Alumni Relations and Engagement at Guilford College. There, she strengthened relationships and expanded the community of donors. Her love of the outdoors and appreciation for how we are all connected by the physical and natural spaces we live in led her to join the PLC development committee several years ago. In addition to meeting people and hearing their stories, Karrie Jo loves hiking and exploring, hanging out with dogs and horses, playing tennis and spending time with her adult children, Julia and Joseph when she can get on their calendars! Karrie Jo welcomes the privilege of nurturing relationships with loyal PLC donors and sharing even more widely the opportunities to support the ongoing work of preserving our natural resources in this special spot on the planet.
Palmer McIntyre
Growing up spending summers on the family farm in Ashe County, North Carolina fostered Palmer’s love for nature. She first joined the Piedmont Land Conservancy in 1996 as the Program Manager, and has held various positions since then, including Executive Director, Board Member, and now, as a part-time Conservation Planner. Palmer has a B.A. in Comparative Politics from Wesleyan University (CT) and a Masters of Regional Planning from UNC Chapel Hill. Palmer and her husband have three children and she enjoys hiking, gardening, volunteering in schools, serving as a Girl Scout leader, and spending time on their Ashe County farm, which is forever protected by a conservation easement.
Mindy Mock
Growing up, Mindy spent every possible moment outside, whether it was gardening and birding with her grandmother and great-grandmother, riding bikes, or exploring the outdoors with her friends. A Guilford College graduate with a B.A. in both Life Sciences and Environmental Studies, and additional previous degrees in horticulture and marketing, Mindy’s varied background has lent itself nicely to the various roles she has filled with PLC, beginning as Land Protection and Outreach Specialist, GIS Data and Maps Coordinator, and serving as the Garden Manager of the Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve. She currently is the Director of Stewardship and will be visiting PLC protected properties and the landowners. Outside of work, Mindy enjoys spending time with family and friends, kayaking, hiking, camping, cycling (both bicycles and motorcycles), gardening, and various art projects.
Interested in making a difference?
Piedmont Land Conservancy is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.
Our board
R. Scott McNeely
President
Mary Magrinat
Vice President
William W. Truslow
Treasurer
Members
Linda Beerman
Managing Director at CIBC Private Wealth Management
Steve Berlin
Attorney, Kilpatrick Stockton
James (Jim) W. Bryan
Maynard Nexsen
Duane K. Bryant
Attorney, Law Office of Duane K. Bryant
Keith Bobbitt
BSA Old Hickory Council | Retired Camp Director
Robin Davis
Owner of Maxie B’s
William Hinman
William Hinman Consulting
Parker Huitt
President & CEO, Richardson Properties
Frankie T. Jones
Sr. President and CEO, Phoenix One Enterprises
Lynn J. Moseley, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology Emerita, Guilford College
Alan Overbey
CEO Banyan Consulting Group, Retired
Bern Schumak
NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund, Retired
Andrea THomas
Spanish Teacher, Forsyth Country Day School
Steve Wright
Co-owner and operator of Wright Dairy Farm
More about Piedmont Land Conservancy
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