Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a native of Pennsylvania, but I’ve lived in several southeastern states throughout my career: Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. My wife, Lisa, and I have been married for 35 years. I have a son (Nolan), daughter-in-law (Carly), and grandson (Rhett) who live in Gibsonville, North Carolina. And most importantly, I have a Byrne Appalachian Turkey Dog named Tucker. More about Tucker later.
How did you get your start in the nonprofit sector? What do you enjoy most about working with nonprofits?
For my graduate thesis, I did research on wild turkeys in western Virginia. While I was working for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Florida’s state fish and wildlife agency) as a wildlife scientist, I was made aware of a position available at the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), a large nonprofit headquartered in South Carolina dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage. I applied for the position and got the job, and a year later I was promoted to the executive team and was afforded the opportunity to delve into the nuts and bolts of nonprofit management. I fell in love with it.
After 11 years with the NWTF, I was offered the position of President and CEO of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), a nonprofit headquartered in North Carolina dedicated to developing an American chestnut tree resistant to the chestnut blight. It was while I was with TACF that I became immersed in major gift fundraising.
One of the greatest joys of working in the nonprofit sector is the opportunity to meet and build relationships with so many people, from staff to volunteers to donors. I have built life-long friendships that have lasted over two-and-a-half decades. Anytime you bring together like-minded people around a common cause, the bonds created are strong and long lasting.
Why is philanthropy important to you?
Philanthropy is a human instinct deeply rooted in our DNA. While prehistoric humans did not donate cash, they supported their communities in other philanthropic ways resulting in an increased chance of survival of community members. In other words, being philanthropic increased our survival. We continue this behavior today, usually through donating financially or donating our time. To me, philanthropy is the ultimate expression of a human’s innate need to help others for the benefit of all.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy anything that occurs outdoors. I admit, I do have a turkey hunting addiction. It’s so bad that I own a dog specifically bred for fall turkey hunting (Tucker). Tucker isn’t a very good turkey hunter. I enjoy flyfishing, and I especially love saltwater fishing. I also enjoy backpacking. I have enjoyed my hikes, especially on the Appalachian Trail. I also have my pilot’s license and enjoy flying.
Another activity I enjoy is public speaking. Public speaking has always been part of my career. I enjoy the entire process, from researching a topic, writing the script, practicing the presentation, and finally delivering the talk. To me, public speaking is a form of philanthropy as the speaker is working to deliver a message that is meaningful and helpful to the audience.
What do you want people to understand about Outer Banks Forever and our Outer Banks national parks?
To me, our national parks are far more than a vacation destination. Our national parks serve to inspire and enrich our lives through awareness, education, and provide the opportunity to experience our nation’s history hands-on. All of us can think back to the experiences in our lives that drove us to be who we are today. Our national parks provide that conduit of opportunity. And our national parks are permanent representations of who we are as Americans, preserving and teaching our country’s history in a tangible way.
The work of Outer Banks Forever, as the official philanthropic partner of the national parks on the Outer Banks, benefits more than 3 million people who visit these parks every year. There are not many nonprofit organizations that can impact 3 million people every year! Although our financial support is provided directly to our Outer Banks national parks, our “why” is to benefit the visitors and help ensure the visitors’ experience is meaningful and impactful through our support of the National Park Service.
