LEADERSHIP

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.

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.

Brent is a financial technologist who spent over 25 years working as a business analyst, developer, and IT manager in the banking sector focused on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications. He served on the Town of Davidson Livability Board as Secretary, is a Volunteer Coordinator for TreesDavidson, and was 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 specializing in palms, flowering trees, and bamboo. He and his wife, Kristy have 2 daughters and a yellow lab that loves exploring the Davidson greenways. They live in the Bailey Springs neighborhood. In his free time, Brent enjoys traveling, running, hiking, and listening to podcasts.

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.

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.

Matt joined the DLC Board in early 2024 in response to his love of Davidson and its lands and natural features. Matt is a graduate of Davidson College, where he was baseball captain. He earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina, where he served as an editor of the Southeastern Environmental Law Journal. Following law school, Matt worked as a litigation attorney in boutique law offices handling complex civil litigation and later in a large multi-state defense litigation firm. He now practices law in Davidson. Matt is a dedicated and highly competent contributor to the community. He served as a member and chair of the Davidson Planning Board and Board of Adjustment, as well as on Davidson’s Board of Commissioners where he was respected for his preparation diligence, his commitment to deeply understand issues, and his highly respectful leadership. Matt serves as an Elder at Davidson College Presbyterian Church and has helped chair its Endowment Committee. Matt lives with his wife and their two sons in Davidson.

Paul 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 chairs the Greenway Advisory Commission. He is passionate about improving safe infrastructure and access to natural areas for cyclists (road and MTB), runners, walkers, and hikers. Paul led the Conservancy’s recent Run for Green programs and has participated in local volunteer activities, such as a cycling fundraising event for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and serving on an advisory committee for WFAE. Paul is a former board President, from 2021 – 2023.

John is a retired educator having served at Davidson College as Dean of Admissions for 5 years and VP of Development for 5 years. Afterwards, he spent 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.

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.

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 live 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.

Charlotte is from Chapel Hill and is a student at Davidson College. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, walking her dogs, and reading outside. On campus, she is president of The Sustainability Collective, Women’s Club Soccer captain, and a manager at Summit Coffee. Her passion for sustainability and conservation was sparked in AP Environmental Science in high school and has deepened ever since. DLC inspires her to invest in local environmental initiatives while remaining involved with a larger nationwide mission. I am excited to serve on the board and give back to an organization that has given me much room to learn and grow.