Transylvania Natural Resources Council

The purposes of the Transylvania Natural Resources Council are:

• Study, review and inventory Transylvania County’s natural resources and recommend to the Board of Commissioners, through the County Manager or other appropriate officials, county policies, procedures, ordinances and/or changes to the general statutes to responsibly manage Transylvania County’s natural resources and promote the environment.
• Promote education and understanding of the County’s natural resources and related issues.
• Other related duties and responsibilities as the Board of Commissioners may assign.

Members of the TNRC Board and their profiles:

Susan Brown

Randy Burgess

Education/Career Background: BS in Forest and Wildlife Management, Virginia Tech

Over 25 years with the US Forest Service, working in a variety of positions including timber management, recreation management, and environmental planning.  Currently serving as District Ranger on the Pisgah District, Pisgah National Forest. 

Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources:  

• Open space
• Air and water quality issues
• Invasive/exotic species

Eric N Caldwell

Education/Career Background:  BS and Masters in Animal Science/ Pre Vet Med. from NC State University

24 years with NCSU/Cooperative Extension with Experience in Animal Agriculture, Urban Pest Management, Consumer Horticulture and Natural Resources Management

Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources:

• Land Use Planning
  
• Stream/Riparian restoration
• Stormwater management and sediment and erosion control

Morris Denton                                                                                                       

 Education/Career Background: College Degree…35 years in community development

 Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources:

• All

Thomas S Dierolf

Education/Career Background:

2004 – present Heifer International; USA Country Progam – Appalachia-Southeastern Program Manager.

1997 – 2004 Heifer International; Indonesia - Co-Country Representative.

1996 – 2004 Jasa KATOM; Indonesia - Director of Operations. Co-founder of company providing agricultural and environmental advice and training in the sustainable use of natural resources.

1995 – 1999 GTZ [German Federal Government Development Agency]; Indonesia – Consultant providing advice and technical skills on upland farming and natural resource management

1994 - Sinar Erabarumas; Indonesia - Plantation Manager.

1993 - United States Agency for International Development; Indonesia-consultant.

1986 – 1992 Univ. of Hawaii; Indonesia/USA - Research Associate.

1983 – 1986 University of Florida; USA - Research Assistant.

1980 – 1982 US Peace Corps; Malaysia - Soil Chemist.

Education

1992     University of Hawaii - Ph.D. Agronomy and Soil Science.

1986     University of Florida - M.S. Soil Science (minor in Farming Systems Research and Extension).

1980     Southern Illinois University- B.S. Plant And Soil Science (Environmental Studies)

Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources:

• Creating local sustainable food systems as it relates to energy conservation (from reduction energy costs of shipping food from other states/countries) and sustainable agricultural practices
• Energy conservation measures-including alternative energy sources and transportation systems
• Anything that supports clean water, air, and land

Kenneth Duke

Bruce MacDonald

BA Warren Wilson College 1989, Environmental Studies with a concentration in Resource Management. Minor in History/Political Science

Certified Environmental Educator (NC DENR, Office of Environmental Education)

1990-1991, Smokechaser, Buncombe County, NC Division of Forest Resources

1991-1993, Environmental Educator/Head Wrangler, Earthshine Mtn. Lodge, Lake Toxaway NC

1993-2000, Educational Ranger, Holmes Educational State Forest, NC Division of Forest Resources

2000-2002, Educational State Forest Supervisor, Holmes Educational State Forest, NC Division of Forest Resources

2002-Present, Assistant Forest Supervisor, Dupont State Forest, NC Division of Forest Resources

Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources: 

• Forest Management
• Water Quality
• Conservation of Open Lands

Mac Morrow 

Education/Career Background: Clemson University, BL ’76; Emphasis area Natural Resources, 1976-77, Transylvania County Water Resources Board, worked on the French Broad River Restoration Project.  1979-1987, responsibilities included land management for Olin and Ecusta Corporation.  Projects included park restoration, land stewardship and urban forestry. Lifelong interest in the south Appalachain region’s natural resources.

 Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources:  

• Water as a resource
  
• Land stewardship issues

Steve Pagano

D. Carroll Parker

Education/Career Background: B. S. Animal Science/M.S. Adult Education NCSU.  Recently retired as Agriculture Teacher from Brevard High School.  Previously worked with Berea College and Save the Children Federation.

• Energy Conservation
  
• Conservation Education
  
• Conversion to Biodiesel fuels

Jeff Parker 

Education/Career Background:  

B.S. in Natural Resource Management, Western Carolina University.                                                  

1.) 6 mo. USFS on the Highlands Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest. 2.) 2 yrs. Transylvania Co. Health Dept., Environmental Health Specialist.  3.) 7 yrs. Buncombe Co. Soil and Water Conservation District, Soil Conservationist.  4.) 5 yrs. Transylvania Co. Soil and Water Conservation
District, Director/Natural Resource Conservationist.                       

Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources:  

• Soil Erosion/Sedimentation and Water Quality
• Conservation of all our Natural Resources

B.A. Emory University - Biology

M.S. The University of Tennessee – Ecology/Botany

Ph.D. The University of Tennessee - Ecology

Emory University, Atlanta Georgia 1967-1995

Tenured Professor of Biology

Chair of Human and Natural Ecology

Professor Emeritus  

Brevard College, Brevard North Carolina 1995-2005

Dalton Professor of Environmental Studies

Chair of Division of Environmental Studies, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences

Dalton Professor of Environmental Studies, Emeritus

Career activities

Undergraduate and graduate teaching

Nationally funded ecological and environmental research through various government agencies

Environmental consulting for governmental agencies, national, and international corporations

Academic administration

Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources:

• Natural Areas
• Air Pollution
• Water Quality
• Education

Bill Thomas

Debi Whitmire

Glynda Wilkins

Education/Career Background: Retired environmental consultant, 25 years in the consulting business with focus on air quality issues and subsurface investigations. Clients included multinational U.S.-based firms and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

B.S. Chemistry,  Texas A&M; MBA, Fuqua School, Duke  University

Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources: 

• Air Quality

John Witherspoon

Specific area(s) of interest in Natural Resources: 

• Land and water conservation
  
• Conservation-based limited development.

By-laws of the Transylvania Natural Resource Council 

TNRC News and Projects