Staff
(Back row from left to right):
Christopher Gianino, Mindy Hiteshue, Jessilyn Kemp, Veronica Butcher, Peter Walz.
(Front row from left to right):
Heather Yandow, Nicole Stewart, Brian Buzby, Grady McCallie.
Not pictured:
Dan Conrad, Greg Lytle.
brian[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 100
Brian Buzby is Executive Director of the North Carolina Conservation Network. Since joining the NC Conservation Network as the initial staff person in 1999, he has directed the organization’s growth to include ten full-time staff working to bring together a network of over 120 North Carolina environmental, community, and environmental justice organizations as well as over 13,000 citizens to protect North Carolina’s air, water, and quality of life. He sits on the Board of Directors of the State Environmental Leadership Program and Environment NC. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits and numerous nonprofits. Brian received his BA in Environmental Policy from Ithaca College and a certificate degree in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. He was also a 2006 American Marshall Memorial Fellow with the German Marshall Fund. In his free time, Brian enjoys playing with his daughter Ainsley and playing music.
grady[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 101
Grady
McCallie started as the NC Conservation Network's Policy Analyst in
December 2000. Mr. McCallie holds a law degree from the University of
California at Berkeley (1993), and a BA in History and Economics from
Yale University (1990). Before joining the NC Conservation Network, he
worked for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (1994) in Annapolis and the
National Wildlife Federation in Washington, D.C. (1994-2000), as a
wetlands policy analyst and lobbyist. He has also worked and written on
agricultural conservation, water quality, and water quantity issues.
heather[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 103
Ms.
Yandow graduated from the University of North Carolina (UNC) in May
2001 with a degree in mathematics. While at UNC, she worked with
several student activist groups including co-chairing the Student
Environmental Action Coalition. After graduation Ms. Yandow worked
briefly with the Stormwater Management Engineer at the Town of Chapel
Hill before joining the North Carolina Conservation Network in August
2001. Ms. Yandow has earned her certificate degree in Nonprofit
Management from Duke University and currently serves on the Board of Democracy North Carolina.
mindy[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 102
Ms.
Hiteshue joined the NC Conservation Network full time in January of
2002 but has been working with the NC Conservation Network since May of
2000. Ms. Hiteshue graduated from NC State University (NCSU) in
December of 2001 with a BA in Spanish Language and Literature and a
certification in Business Spanish. She is currently working on her
certificate degree in Nonprofit Management from Duke University, serves on the Board of Toxic Free North Carolina, and has done volunteer work with other organizations including the Neuse River Foundation and El Pueblo.
nicole[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 105
Ms. Stewart began working with the NC Conservation Network in September of 2003.
Ms. Stewart graduated from the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) in May of 2003 with a
BA in Environmental Studies. While at UNCW, Ms. Stewart held a leadership role
in the Environmental Concerns Organization and the Student Government
Association. She is currently working on her certificate degree in Nonprofit
Management from Duke University. Ms. Stewart serves on the Board of the North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections.
veronica[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 104
Veronica Butcher began working with the NC Conservation Network as an Organizer in September of 2004. She was recently elected President of NC Women United, a coalition of progressive organizations and individuals working to achieve the full political, social, and economic equality of all women in our state. Prior to her current position, Ms. Butcher worked as the Education Coordinator for the NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault where she was responsible for researching policy initiatives and training advocates to lobby. She is a graduate of Elon College with a degree in Public Administration and Political Science. Ms. Butcher was nominated in 2003 for the Business and Professional Women of North Carolina’s Virginia Allan Young Careerist Award and has recently been honored as a Leadership Triangle Goodmon Fellow.
peter[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 106
Peter
Walz joined the NC Conservation Network’s staff in December 2005. He
received his degree in International Studies from Miami (OH) University
in 1996. Prior to coming to the NC Conservation Network he spent
almost seven years as a community organizer with Democracy North
Carolina, organizing for campaign finance and voting rights issues in
the state. He also spent two years working with at-risk youth as a
counselor-teacher in an Eckerd Youth Alternatives wilderness camp in
Surry County, North Carolina.
jessilyn[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 108
Jessilyn Kemp recently joined the NC Conservation Network Team in July of 2008. She graduated in May of 2008 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) with a B.A. degree in Sociology, and minors in Spanish and Sustainability. Jessilyn graduated with highest honors for her senior thesis entitled "Environmental Beliefs, Attitudes and Actions in North Carolina." While at UNC-CH, she chaired the Student Government Environmental Affairs Committee and coordinated the Focus the Nation effort at UNC-CH as a part of the national movement for a day of global warming awareness and call to change.
christopher[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 109
Christopher Gianino joined the team at NC Conservation Network in early 2009. He graduated from the Honors Program at Villanova University in 2001 where he studied philosophy and literature. After graduating, he pursued a Master’s in English Literature at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. Prior to joining the Conservation Network, Chris spent 3 years directing citizen outreach campaigns with the Fund for the Public Interest in Los Angeles County, San Diego County and Orange County as well as a year coordinating statewide outreach campaigns on a range of issues in Seattle, WA.
dan[at]ncconservationnetwork.org, 919.857.4699 x 107
Dan Conrad joined the NC Conservation Network as Policy Analyst in May 2009. Mr. Conrad holds a law degree with honors (2009) and a BA with highest honors in Economics (2001), both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before joining the NC Conservation Network, he worked full time in the summer and part time while in law school for the NC General Assembly Research Division (2007-2009) working primarily on environmental legislation. He also worked as a legal intern at the Natural Resources Defense Council (2008) and the US Department of Justice (2008.) Prior to law school he worked as an economic analyst for a consulting firm in Washington, D.C. and thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Greg Lytle, News Digest Editor
newsdigest[at]ncconservationnetwork.org
