LEADERSHIP

Paul is recently retired as VP of Mergers and Acquisitions with the Stryker Corporation. He is currently serving as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner for the North Meck Region and serves on the County Greenway Advisory Committee. He is passionate about improving safe infrastructure and access to natural areas for cyclists (road and MTB), runners, walkers and hikers. Paul volunteered with Run for Green and oversees the Run for Green events.  He has participated in local volunteer activities, such as a cycling fundraising event for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and serving on an advisory committee for WFAE.

Ed is a long time resident of Davidson, a graduate of N.C. State University College of Engineering, served on the N.C. Advisory Committee for the Trust for Public Land and on the board as President of the Davidson Historical Society. He is now retired from Harris Associates, a real estate management and investment company. Prior to joining the DLC Board Ed served for the past three years on the DLC Land Acquisition Committee. He is a cyclist and hiker who believes passionately in the necessity of preserving land for the benefit of wildlife, climate change and a civil community. He and his wife, Liz established a wholesale tree farm on Kistler Farm Rd. in 1981. They built a home there, planted and grew specimen deciduous trees for local and regional landscaping companies for 25 years. They sold the farm in 2010 and moved into town where they now reside.

Bonnie is a 25 year resident of Davidson, North Carolina and a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design. She currently works as managing partner with Berkley Group LLC and SVP of Real Estate Partnerships with Airwavz Solutions both in the wireless infrastructure industry enabling connectivity for mobile phones and devices to networks. Bonnie and her husband Mike and three sons lived in Runneymede and were part of the committee working with the Conservancy for land conservation. Currently, they live on a small farm in Davidson which is conserved with an easement held by DLC. Bonnie’s passion is in connections and protection of special people and places. Davidson is top of the list of special places, but it goes on because if we protect land here in Davidson, we can influence protecting land elsewhere.

Brent is a financial technologist spending over 25 years working as a business analyst, developer and IT manager in the banking sector. He served on the Town of Davidson Livability Board as Secretary, is a Volunteer Coordinator for TreesDavidson and is involved with the Queens University of Charlotte Parent’s Council. His passion for trees and urban canopies comes from his father, who owned multiple wholesale tree nurseries in Southern California. He and his wife, Kristy have 2 college aged daughters and a yellow lab that loves the Davidson greenways. Brent enjoys traveling, running, hiking and listening to podcasts.

Janet, now retired from 30 years in the manufacturing business, lives in the Runneymede neighborhood in Davidson’s rural area. She has served on the Runneymede HOA Board for the last five years, including as Vice-President and President. Janet has volunteered for DLC’s Run for Green and also volunteers as a caregiver peer mentor for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Janet brings a love for nature and conservation and leads the Conservancy’s stewardship efforts in addition to serving as Secretary. Janet is the proud recipient of DLC’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2020 for her outstanding leadership of the Conservancy’s Stewardship functions and enthusiastic contribution to conservation and DLC’s operation.

Gordon retired after a 25-year career as the owner and innkeeper of the Davidson Village Inn. Also known for his previous pedicab presence around town, he is a long-time volunteer for DLC, WOW, and Run for Green. Gordon founded and co-leads TreesDavidson, which has planted hundreds of trees in Davidson over the past 6+ years. Among many volunteer positions, he has served on the Town’s Livability Board and is deeply involved at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, particularly with the Global Missions Committee and Kenya partnership. He also serves on the Mecklenburg County Greenway / Trails Advisory Council and is a former Board President of DLC.

DLC has been fortunate to have Davidson College students as board members over the years. Sophomore Ty Cryan stepped up in July of 2021 to join the DLC Board. Ty hails from Burlington, NC, where he spent his childhood boating on the conserved Haw River with his father. According to Ty, “I benefited from conserved land growing up and I’m excited to have the opportunity to give back and support Davidson Lands Conservancy.”

Ty brings a host of skills, a strong commitment, and a delightful personality to represent the Davidson College community, a key DLC partner. Ty is knowledgeable of GIS mapping tools and as well as helping with strategic conservation work will be focused on expanding and strengthening the connections among DLC and the Davidson College community, including students, student groups and faculty. He will also be helping drive forward our DEI initiatives. Ty currently plans to major in Environmental Studies.

Pam is a retired Davidson College biology professor who is currently the chair of the DLC Outreach Committee. She has served on the DLC board previously and is keen to come back in a leadership capacity. Pam has a strong interest in native plants and preserving green spaces for future generations. She believes that in addition to supporting a healthy planet, greenspace is necessary to maintain the human spirit and to provide calm in a world of chaos.

John is a retired educator having served as Dean of Admissions at Davidson College followed by 9 years as President at Lyon College and 15 years at Presbyterian College. He received a B.A. from Dickinson College, an M.Div from Harvard Divinity School, and a Ph.D from Syracuse University. In 2012, he began consulting in higher education focusing on strategic planning, executive coaching, and campaign design. He is the cofounder of Ballentine Consulting Partners, LLC. John enjoys watercolor painting, gardening, walking and biking the greenways, swimming, and traveling with his, author wife, Nancy.

Cindy started her career in marketing with IBM, later focusing on office consulting. She developed her passion for the outdoors from growing up in the Pacific Northwest – hiking, biking and skiing with her family. Upon retiring to Davidson in 2007, Cindy found a home for her other passion, gardening. An active member of the Davidson Garden Club, Cindy has served for five years as program chair and co-chaired the Davidson Horticultural Symposium for two years. She is also a member of the UNCC Botanical Garden and enrolled in the University’s Native Plants program. You will find Cindy every day at Fisher Farm Park walking her two golden retrievers with her husband, Gene, a retired physician. She believes that improving and protecting the greenways and green spaces for all to enjoy is an important part of the Davidson community. Cindy and Gene are residents of River Run.

Tom retired from Davidson College in 2017 after spending 23 years as the Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs. He failed retirement and accepted a position as the Dean of Student Affairs for the inaugural undergraduate class at Duke Kunshan University in China.

Tom is an avid outdoorsman having hiked, biked or walked the greenways all over the area. He is excited to play a role in preserving and expanding the public land use options in the area. He has been married to Anne for 40 years and they have 3 grown children (and three grandchildren!) who love in the Charlotte area.

Scott serves as vice-president of sustainability and co-founder of the Center for Energy Efficiency & Sustainability at Trane Technologies (CEES) and is responsible for forward-looking sustainability initiatives aimed at transitioning to more efficient and climate-friendly solutions, and minimizing resource use within company facilities. He serves as a thought leader in linking public policy, economic impacts and a value-stream approach to sustainability. Most recently, the company received the World Environment Center’s Gold Medal for Sustainable Development. Scott holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in environmental science and ecology from Livingston University. He serves on the Advisory Council of the Corporate Eco Forum; as the board chair of the World Environment Center; as the chair of the US Business Council for Sustainable Development (USBCSD); and on the North Carolina Energy Policy Council.

Tom is a retired lawyer, with an extensive volunteer background at Catawba Lands Conservancy. He has also been a Trailmaster for the Carolina Thread Trail. Currently Tom co-owns with his wife of the Cedars Bed & Breakfast in Davidson. Having served for 3 years on the Land Stewardship committee of CLC and on the Mecklenburg PRC’s Greenway / Trails Advisory Council, Tom brings both his legal and land expertise to the DLC Board. Tom serves on DLC’s Land Acquisition Committee.