Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Anne Harris, President
J.D., University of Kansas
M.S. Botany, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
M.S. Biology, Emory University
B.A. Biology and Chemistry, Florida State University
Anne has held biological and ecological research positions at the North Carolina and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and most recently served as VP of Environmental Services in Black & Veatch Engineering’s Energy Division. She has a lifelong interest in environmental regulation, analysis & education and has co-authored two life science text books and a biology lab manual.
Sims Preston, Vice President
J.D., Duke University
B.A. Philosophy, Columbia University
Sims was the Chairman and President of Polyglot Systems, Inc. from November 2010 to March 2017. Prior to joining Polyglot, he spent 14 years as a lawyer, both in private practice and as in-house counsel. The Garden has been a special part of his family for three generation, stoking his interest in the natural world and sustainability. Sims currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Emerson Waldorf School in Chapel Hill.
Jenny Routh, Secretary
B.A. Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jenny joined the NCBGF to support NCBG’s vital conservation work. In addition to the NCBGF, Jenny has served on the Board of Visitors for Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Executive Committee of the UNC Parent’s Council, and the Greensboro Symphony Guild.
Nathan Byrd, Treasurer
M.B.A., UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
B.S. Mathematics Economics, Wake Forest University
Nathan is an advisor at Hamilton Point Investment Advisors. He was drawn to the NCBGF by his passion for North Carolina’s wildlife and natural wonders. Nathan is also involved in the Rotary Club and the Eagles Nest Foundation.
Terry M. Ball, Assistant Treasurer
B.S. Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Terry M. Ball is the owner of T M Ball, Inc, a firm specializing in financial management solutions for real estate property management and other small businesses in Greensboro, North Carolina. She‘s previously served on the NCACPA board, the New Friends Refugee Chairperson at Westover Church/Summit Rotary Club and the treasurer of the NCNPS among other positions. She looks forward to spending time with her grandchildren at their annual camping trip.
DIRECTORS
Brie Arthur
B.A. Landscape Design, Purdue University
Brie has more than a decade of experience as a grower and propagator and now shares her knowledge and passion by communicating the value of gardening across the U.S. She is the author of the best selling book The Foodscape Revolution and is the Vice President of Gardenuity, a direct to consumer online gardening company.
Patrick Barratt
B.B.A. Marketing, Georgia State University
Patrick is an avid outdoorsman and environmentalist. He lived and worked in Colorado for 10 years and enjoys hiking, camping, and mountain biking. He has over 10 years of experience in marketing and sales and is passionate about the local environment, conservation, and sustainability.
Catharine Burns
J.D., Washington & Lee University
B.A. Architectural History, University of Virginia
Catharine is an attorney who has worked for the National Parks Conservation Association and McGuire Woods National Trust for Historic Preservation. She directed a national coalition of diverse organizations, including many conservation groups. Catharine supports NCBG as a place of education and delight for all ages. She serves on the NCBGF development committee.
Melanie Christian
B.A. French, Hollins University
Melanie has a long history of volunteerism having served on the boards of Kalmia Gardens, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Corporation for Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, CENTRA Foundation, and the Decorative Arts Trust among many others. She has a strong interest in horticulture, gardening and public gardens, and preservation, and is a relative of William Chambers Coker. Her single most rewarding gardening project has been a daffodil river she planted in an interlocking paisley pattern with 15 varieties in bloom February through April.
Carey Durham
B.S.B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carey is the retired CFO/Director of Corporate Services at Hospice of Randolph County, Inc. He plays piano, organ, and trombone and has performed in several community theater musical productions. Botany was his favorite elective at UNC-Chapel Hill. Carey also serves as chair of the NCBGF audit committee.
Bo Howes
J.D., North Carolina Central University
B.A., Denison University
Bo is the Director of Conservation and Stewardship at Triangle Land Conservancy. He loves birding and is past president of the New Hope Audubon Society. Bo serves as chair of the NCBGF conservation committee.
James Joslin
M.A. Demography, Georgetown University
B.A., Geography, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
James has decades of experience in rental property management as well as experience in federal government and the non-profit sector. He was drawn to the NCBGF by his interest in preserving biodiversity in the southeastern United States and the desire to increase NCBG’s visibility in Chapel Hill. James is the chair of the NCBGF development committee.
Max Leach
M.F.A. Poetry, University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop
B.A. Anthropology, UNC
Max Leach is a Google consultant and assists them with manage their digital agency relationships. He has almost 30 years of experience in digital marketing, production and development with stints as head of e-commerce for MTV Networks and Tommy Hilfiger. He enjoys running and poetry, and in 2018 he won the North Carolina Poetry Society’s Carol Bessent Hayman Poetry of Love Award.
Alice May
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Alice has worked as an advertising copywriter at textbook publisher Allyn & Bacon in Boston and as a freelance photographer for major New England magazines, newspapers, and the Associated Press. She loves gardening and while living in Champaign-Urbana her garden was chosen best garden in a Master Gardener’s sponsored contest. Alice serves on the NCBGF development committee.
Janis McFarland
Ph.D. Plant Physiology, Purdue University
M.S. Plant Pathology, Purdue University
B.S. Biology, Virginia Tech
Janis has more than 30 years of experience in science, agriculture, conservation initiatives, and environmental and agricultural policy. She recently retired from Syngenta as the Head of North America Regulatory and Stewardship for Crop Protection. Janis and her teams have been leaders and collaborators on a wide range of research, education, stewardship, and conservation initiatives with universities, grower, conservation and government groups, and other partners to improve regulatory science, agricultural practices, water quality, pollinator habitats, invasive species management, and endangered species protection. She loves to hike, kayak, fish, and to study plants, invasive species, and ecosystems.
Susan Moeser
D.M.A., University of Kansas
Susan Moeser is the University Organist and instructor of Organ at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has performed throughout the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, and South Korea. Her hobbies include beekeeping, tennis, and running.
Florence Peacock
M.A. Music, Yale College
B.A., Hollins College
Florence is a professional singer and voice teacher who is dedicated to supporting the arts through her work with Playmakers, the North Carolina Symphony, the North Carolina Opera, and Carolina Performing Arts. She is passionate about the Garden’s work with children by providing a great environment for them to explore and run. Florence serves on the NCBGF finance committee.
Gail Perry
M.B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A.A., Saint Mary’s College
Gail has worked in fundraising for both Duke University and Kenan Flagler Business School. In 1993 she founded a philanthropy consulting company and has advised board leaders and organizations both in the U.S. and internationally. She recently completed an in-depth project designing a new fundraising program for the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville. Gail loves gardening and gardens and her favorite motto is, “When in doubt, throw a party!”
Jim Pick
D.V.M., University of Georgia
Jim is retired from a career working for the National Academy of Sciences and the UNC School of Medicine. He was on the board of directors for the Conservation Trust for North Carolina for many years and chaired their land protection committee. Always interested in the natural world and land protection, Jim is a member of the NCBGF conservation committee.
Rani Ray
M.B.A., Marketing and Finance, Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India
Rani has experience in both finance and the arts. She has worked as a wealth manager for HSBC Bank India and is currently a full time watercolor artist and instructor. Rani is a member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and the CAM Raleigh Urban Sketchers. She loves nature and is looking forward to advancing the NCBGF mission by collaborating with the Triangle artist community.
Judith Rizzo
B.A., Emmanuel College
M.A., Middlebury College
Ph.D. Education, Leadership in Schooling, University of Massachusetts
Judith is retired from a career in education, most recently as Executive Director and CEO of the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University. Prior to that, she was Deputy Chancellor for Instruction of the New York City Board of Education, and Deputy Superintendent of Tacoma Public Schools. Judith is a longtime supporter and advocate for the Garden and its mission and serves as co-chair of the NCBGF governance committee.
Ladell Robbins
M.B.A., Harvard University
B.A. Economics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ladell has worked in the finance industry across the globe and is currently the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer at Invest Newark. He serves on the board of Daraju Industries Limited and as the treasurer of the Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association. Ladell loves North Carolina and UNC and is excited to join the NCBGF board to learn more about environmental activism and encourage others to do the same. In his free time, Ladell enjoys running and has competed in seven marathons and one ultra-marathon.
Sandy Thompson
B.S.B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Sandy works in insurance industry, currently at USI in Charlotte and at Wells Fargo Insurance Services for decades before that. Sandy serves on the NCBGF finance committee.
Carol Tresolini
Ph.D. Adult and Higher Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
M.Ed. Special Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.A. Sociology, Duke University
Carol spent decades in the education field, first working as a reading teacher for Granville County Schools, eventually becoming associate dean of the UNC School of Medicine, and then Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives at UNC. She currently serves on the board of the Triangle Community Foundation and is a member of their equity and marketing/communications committees. She is also the treasurer of the Center for Child and Family Health board. Carol came to know and love the Garden as Vice Provost and is now co-chair of the NCBGF governance committee.
EX OFFICIO
The Vice Provost for Academic and Community Engagement and the Director of the Garden are ex officio members with the power to vote. The President of the Garden Club of North Carolina and the past presidents of the Foundation are ex officio members without voting power.
Joseph Jordan, Vice Provost for Academic and Community Engagement, UNC-Chapel Hill
Damon Waitt, Director, North Carolina Botanical Garden, UNC-Chapel Hill
Heidi Sawyer-Clark, Garden Clubs of North Carolina
HONORARY DIRECTORS
In recognition of significant service to the Foundation or contributions of other nature, the Board of Directors has appointed the following individuals as honorary or emeritus directors.
Bob Broad*
Claire Christopher
Arthur S. DeBerry*
Muriel Easterling
Marcella Grendler
Harriet Martin
Sandra Brooks-Mathers
Ken Moore
Anne Lindsey
Nancy Preston
Missy Rankin
Stephen Rich
Tom Scott
Sally Couch Vilas
Barbara Wendell
PAST PRESIDENTS (1967-Present)
1967-1969 William Lanier Hunt*
1970-1975 Hugh Morton*
1976-1979 Harry Billica*
1980-1983 E. Reid Bahnson*
1984-1985 R.B. Fitch
1986-1987 Mae Woods Bell
1988-1991 Charles L. Wheeler*
1992-1993 Bill Joslin*
1994-1997 Sally Vilas
1998-2001 Jonathan Howes*
2002-2005 Arthur S. DeBerry*
2006-2009 Bill Bracey
2010-2013 Anne Lindsey
2014-2015 Tom Earnhardt
2016-2019 Greg Fitch
*Indicates deceased.
