SOUTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF RC&D COUNCILS
Annual Conference August 25-28, 2019
Hosted by the
North Carolina RC&D Association

AGENDA REGISTRATION EXHIBITORS/SPONSORS LODGING PRESENTERS

Conference Presenters

Charles Anderson
Project Developer
Pilot View RC&D
Resurce Institute
Winston-Salem, NC

Charles Anderson holds a Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Science, Minor in Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Charles served 32 years with USDA, NRCS.  He started as a Soil Conservationist and culminated as the director/government liaison at Pilot View, RC&D in Winston-Salem, NC.  In 2011, Charles started a new career as the Project Liaison at Resource Institute.  Resource Institute has restored over 1 million feet of stream and over 200 acres of wetlands.  Additionally, Charles is a licensed real estate agent and broker. He serves on the board of directors of three real estate and economic development companies.

Shawn Anderson
Program Manager
USDA NRCS - Emergency Watershed Protection Program
Washington, DC

Shawn Anderson has been a member of the USDA-NRCS family for 26 years. He has held the position of National Emergency Watershed Protection Program Manager.  In this position Shawn serves as national program expert and provide leadership and management in the preparation of policy updates, budget needs, standards, procedures, priorities, and accountability. Shawn has served as Acting Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, Assistant State Conservationist for Special Project, and Action State Administrative Officer for the state of Georgia in 2015-2016. In these capacities, he provided leadership for the management and direction of professionals, administrative and specialized technical functions involved in conservation planning, and the implementation of comprehensive resource management plans.  Shawn has also work in the states of Ohio and MO in various roles. These roles included State Outreach Coordinator (Missouri/Ohio), State Nutrient Management Specialist (Ohio), 1890 USDA Liaison (Lincoln University-MO), and District Conservationist (Missouri).

Shawn was reared in the state of Mississippi where he attended Alcorn State University and received his Bachelor Degree in Agriculture Education. Currently, he is a doctoral student at Grand Canyon University pursuing a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Organizational Development.

Timothy Beard
North Carolina State Conservationist
USDA, NRCS
Raleigh, NC

Tim Beard has more than 25 years of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) experience in various positions and has gained extensive experience at the State and field levels and National Headquarters. Mr. Beard’s extensive experience has provided him with a well-rounded background and excellent knowledge of natural resources, programs, policies and procedures. He has served in many capacities within NRCS, starting with the Soil Conservation Service in 1988 as a Soil Conservation Technician in Fulton County, New York. In 1990, he transferred to New Jersey, where he served as a Soil Conservation Technician, Soil Conservationist and Resource Conservationist in several counties.  In 1999, he transferred to Lawrenceville, Virginia as a Resource Conservationist.  Later, he was selected as District Conservationist in Prince George’s County, Maryland. After servicing as District Conservationist in Prince George’s County, he returned to New Jersey as a Supervisory District Conservationist for a five county area. In 2004, he was promoted to Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations in Jonesboro, Arkansas where he also served as Conservation Security Program (CSP) Manager and later became the Assistant for Operation in Little Rock, AR.  In 2008, Tim was selected as Branch Chief for the Environmental Improvement Programs in Washington D.C. As Branch Chief he was responsible for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program, Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) and several Program Initiatives.  He later served as Director for Management Services Division where he provided guidance and leadership for the Customer Service Division (CSD), National Centers Servicing Unit (NCSU), Personnel Security, Administrative Services Team (AST), Directives and Record Management, Event Planning, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and Facilities.  As part of the Financial Assistance Programs Division (FAPD) staff, Tim served as Team Leader for the Incentives Team.

 Tim Beard is a native of Harlem, Georgia.  He received his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Engineering Technology from Fort Valley State College (currently Fort Valley State University). He has and his wife, Zebetta has one daughter, Courtney.  Tim enjoys golfing and spending time with family and friends.

Blake Butler
Executive Director
North Carolina Industrial Hemp Association
Asheville, NC

Blake Butler is the co-founder of HempX and has been involved in the political, business, and activist side of industrial hemp industry in since 2014. Blake has organized hemp focused educational events in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Virginia and planted hemp for fiber and CBD with farming partners Franny and Jeff Tacy in 2017-18. Blake is also a partner in Adapt Public Relations in Asheville, NC.

William Francis “Noopie” Cosby
Cosby Co
Selma, AL

Noopie Cosby was born in Selma, Alabama, and graduated from Albert G. Parish High School. After graduation, Noopie attended Marion Military Institute Junior College where he played football and acquired his associate’s degree. He then went on to further his education at Livingston University where he earned his B.S. in Education. Noopie applied his degree at Thomasville High School where he was a Social Studies Teacher and Football coach from 1974-1976. In 1978, at the age of 29, Mr. Cosby was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives and served there until 1994. During some of his time serving in the Alabama House of Representatives, he also owned and operated Cosby Ice Company from 1989-2014. Currently, Mr. Cosby serves as president of the Cosby Company dealing with Government Affairs and Public Relations, a position he has held since 1994.

Noopie is married to his lovely wife, Susan, and is a proud father of 5 children and 7 grandchildren. During his free time, he enjoys Quail hunting, going to the University of Alabama football games, and spending quality time with his grandchildren.

Terry D’Addio
USDA NRCS
Washington, DC

Ms. D’Addio currently is a Natural Resource Specialist in the Outreach & Partnerships Division with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  She is a member of the USDA Urban & Community Agriculture Working Group and is Co-Chair of the Partnership & Leveraging Team of the National Conservation Planning Partnership Initiative. 

From 1996 to 2011, Terry was the National Program Manager for the NRCS Resource Conservation and Development Program and in October 2007, she accepted the additional management responsibilities of Team Leader.  As the Team Leader and National Program Manager, Terry was responsible for RC&D policy direction, program accountability, and all budget-related activities. 

 Prior to joining NRCS, Terry was a Special Assistant for Conservation Policy in the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Office of the Secretary at USDA from April 1993 to February 1996.

 Terry was a consultant to the Department of State working with the U.S. Delegation to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Terry’s been working in the arena of conservation & development for over 30 years.  She has extensive experience in policy development and program management in federal government and with several non-profits.  Terry also spent time teaching in Cameroon, West Africa.  Her undergraduate and graduate studies are in agriculture and resource economics at the University of Maryland- College Park.    

Jeanine Davis, PhD
Associate Professor & Extension Specialist
NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program
Department of Horticultural Science
NC State University
Mills River, NC

Dr. Jeanine Davis is an associate professor and extension specialist in the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University. She is located at a research and extension center in western NC near Asheville.  For over 30 years, she has researched new crops, vegetables, and organic agriculture and shared her knowledge on these topics with farmers and home gardeners across the country. Her current efforts are focused on woodland botanicals, hops, truffles, organic vegetables, and hemp. She is the lead author of the book “Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal and Other Woodland Medicinals”. Jeanine and her family operate Our Tiny Farm where they raise popcorn, honey, and herbs, and board donkeys and horses.

Tony Finch
Industrial Hemp Producer
Finch Farms
Spring Hope, NC

Tony is a 4th generation farmer in Spring Hope NC.

Ashley Hawkins
Resource Institute
Winston-Salem, NC

Asley is a biological entrepreneur with a background in molecular biology and environmental microbiology. She has been with Resource Institute as a project specialist since 2012.

William A. Hodge, PhD
President
National Assocation of RC&D Councils
Washington, DC

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”

Quoted by the late Dr. Booker T. Washington, embraced by William Hodge as a true passion for RC&D after attending his first RC&D meeting over 26 years ago.

William A. Hodge serves as President of the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils as well as the President of the National Association of RC&D Councils. William has been a faithful contributor to RC&D having served locally for the Mid-South RC&D Council as vice chair and chairman.

A native of Union Springs, Alabama, William is the youngest of 11 children that grew up on the family farm in Bullock County.

Educated in the public school system where he graduated with high honors, William gained valuable life experiences by participation in 4-H and FFA. He earned the FFA State Farmer Degree and was FFA Chapter President.

William studied agronomy, chemistry, and plant physiology at Tuskegee University, Auburn University, and Purdue University, and holds various degrees and certifications. He is currently employed as the Director of County Operations for Tuskegee University Extension in the College of Agriculture. His duties include program supervision for extension offices in Alabama’s Black Belt Regions and is responsible for developing external relations for the Extension Program.

He is currently a Member of the National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP) Leadership Team, Alabama Food and Agriculture Council, and the Southern Region Leadership Team for Middle Managers in Cooperative Extension. He serves his local community on several boards and committees. He is a Past master and is active in his local Masonic Lodge.

William and his family attend the St. John AME Church of Union Springs, Alabama. He and his wife Audrey M. Hodge, are raising two daughters, Alani and Alicia. Committed to the land, the family spends quality time developing their cattle and timber farm in Bullock County. Outdoor recreation and vacations are a staple for this family when time permits.

Bryan Holloway
President & Senior Lobbyist
Holloway Group, Inc.
Raleigh, NC

Bryan Holloway grew up on a family-owned farm in Wilkes County, which is still in operation today. He graduated from Appalachian State University and taught history for nearly five years before being elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives at age 27. Bryan was elected to six terms, serving eleven years in the North Carolina House of Representatives. During this time, Holloway achieved success as a member of both the minority party and majority party and passed numerous pieces of legislation during both junctures. He chaired numerous committees throughout his tenure, eventually becoming a Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, making him a chief budget writer for the state. This experience gave Bryan knowledge of every aspect of state government from education to health and human services and beyond. Bryan is continuing his legislative work in a different capacity by helping clients navigate the waters of government relations. ​

Jack Jerome
Pilot View RC&D
Cooleemee, NC

Jack Served in US Navy during WWII. He graduated from N.C. State in 1949 in Textile Chemistry and Dyeing. Jack then worked for Burlington Industries developing processing procedures for dyeing and finishing of all types of woven fabrics. Jack later moved to Proctor Chemical / National Starch where he developed new chemical products for use in the textile industry. Following his retirement, Jack spent 10 years volunteering with International Executives Service Corps helping foreign textile companies overcome their processing problems. Presently, Jack is volunteering at Baptist Hospital and Davie Medical Center and delivering Meals on Wheels. Jac has served on Pilot View RC&D board since early 1990s.

Rudy Langley
NC Association of
RC&D Councils
Piedmont Conservation RC&D
Durham, NC

Sarah Murphy
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Plant Industries
Marshall, NC

Sarah Murphy is a Agriculture Program Specialist for the NC Department of Agriculture.   While Sarah resides in Madison Co, her territory covers the 21 most western counties in the state of North Carolina.   For the last year Sarah has been working  with growers participating in the Industrial Hemp (IH) Pilot Program throughout WNC.   Sarah performs compliance testing for Hemp growers in addition to inspecting seed and fertilizer dealers in her territory.  Sarah has a B.S. in Horticulture from Virginia Tech ('05) and has been working in the Horticulture Industry for close to 20 years. 

Melissa Patton
Carolina Land and Lakes RC&D
Lenoir, NC

Carolina Land and Lakes RC&D (CL&L) executive director is Melissa Patton who has a diverse background from small business ownership to federal government service. She actively manages CL&L’s projects which include water and land conservation, renewable energy, energy efficiency and community development.  Melissa received her B.S. in Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University and completed her Master’s in Public Administration from Appalachian State University.  

Frank Riley
Chestatee-Chattahoochee RC&D
Hiawassee, Georgia

Frank M. Riley, Jr. is a Georgia native and received his BS in Forest Resources in 1971 and an MBA in 1973 from the University of Georgia.  He has worked for 48 years as a Professional Forester in all areas of the forestry industry including the position of Interim, Executive Director of the Georgia Forestry Association in 2003. Frank has owned and operated Log N Business Systems LLC, a Forestry/Business consulting company for the past 28 years and is presently the Executive Director of the Chestatee/Chattahoochee RC&D Council, a Non-Profit organization that administers projects and grants intended to improve the environment and economic development in Northeast Georgia.  Chest-Chatt is the Georgia Firewise liaison, administers the Appalachian RC&D FAC Coalition, and administers USDA NRCS agricultural and natural resource programs and events statewide.  Frank is a 21-year veteran volunteer Firefighter and First Responder with Towns County Fire Rescue and has led the highly successful Towns County Firewise USA Communities program that is leading Georgia in number of certified Firewise communities with 22 out of 108 in all of Georgia.   Frank also leads the Towns County Fire Adapted Communities Network which was one of the first 8 national pilot FAC projects.  Frank’s passion is to help keep citizens that he serves informed, educated, and safe from the risks of wildfire in the communities where they live, and FAC is working; Towns County fires are down 75% since FAC started in 2013.  Frank’s grandfather was born here “down on the river” in 1890 and he presently lives on the old family farm so protecting these mountains is his number one goal.

Mike Roden
Alabama Association of RC&D Councils
Montgomery, AL

Since graduating from Auburn University Mike Roden has acquired 32 years’ experience of natural resource conservation and development with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He has been affiliated with Alabama’s Mountains, Rivers and Valleys RC&D Council since 1989, first serving 22 years as the Coordinator under NRCS and then as the Executive Director for 8 years. Since 2011 Mike has also been serving as the Executive Director of the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils. He also serves on the Board of the North Alabama Agriplex, and is a member of the Alabama Scenic Byways Commission.

During this time Mike has introduced many innovative concepts that have spread across Alabama and surrounding states, such as: animal waste nutrient recycling, poultry litter relocation, on-site sewage wetlands for rural businesses, and small farmer rainwater collection. He also assisted the AMRV RC&D Council’s Board in establishing the WaterWorks Center for Environmental Education and is the author of three children’s environmental education coloring books.

Mike, through his work, has received numerous awards, two of which are the National USDA-NRCS Civil Rights Award for delivering environmental education programs and materials to minorities, and the National Association of RC&D Councils Coordinator of the Year Award.

Mike is an avid outdoorsman and hunter.

Craig Sizemore
Southeastern Association of RC&D Councils
Sulligent, AL

Craig Sizemore serves as President of the Southeastern Association of RC&D Councils, Secretary/Treasurer of the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils, and Vice Chairman of the Tombigbee RC&D Council. He has been very influential and plays a major role in leading RC&D.

Craig has been a steadfast volunteer in his home community, county and the state of Alabama for over twenty years. He attends all RC&D meetings and trainings and readily shares his knowledge of the RC&D program.  He is a proven leader and works tirelessly to promote the benefits of RC&D and in cultivating partnerships with legislators and other organizations that are an integral part of what RC&D programs are all about. Through his works he has earned the Hall of Fame award for both Southeastern NACD and the Southeastern Association of RC&D Councils.

Craig owns and operates Fairview Farms, a successful registered Angus farm.  He is the managing partner of Sizemore and Sizemore Farms, a 720-acre timber operation that has been owned and operated by his family since the early 1800’s. The farm has been the site of several forestry events over the years, including Forestry Field Day. The partnership has been a TREASURE Forest Landowner since 1987, and has been awarded the Helene Mosley Memorial Treasure Forest Award in District 1 in 1993. Craig also owns and operates Sizemore Insurance Agency, located in Sulligent, Alabama, which was begun in 1913 by his grandfather.

Craig and his wife, Beverly, have two daughters, April, 29, and Autumn, 24.  

Lynn Turner
Stars Creative
Tryon, NC

Lynn Turner, along with her husband Eric, own and operate Stars Creative. Working with a Team of talented specialists, the Turners produce high quality, compelling video and audio work for all types of entities including businesses, government agencies, non-profits and educational institutions.

 Lynn grew up in the radio business, the daughter of 2 lifetime broadcasters. She and Eric both worked for several decades in radio - leaving the industry in 1998 and moving to Cincinnati, where they established their own audio and video production business. In 2006, the Turners relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2007, they decided to make the move to the lovely small town of Tryon, where they still reside.

Lynn has always had a love for photography and videography as well as the latest in audio recording technology. As she handles those aspects of the business, Eric utilizeshisamazingeditingskillsasExecutiveProducer/Editor.TheTurnersareinlove with the natural beauty of the Carolinas and thoroughly enjoy the people they encounter through their work here. Their company website is StarsCreative.com

Darin Young
Pilot View RC&D
Winston-Salem, NC

Stewardship was instilled early as Darin was raised on a family beef cattle farm located along the banks of the New River in Virginia.  After earning a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics from Virginia Tech, Darin has worked in agricultural lending for Carolina Farm Credit for 12 years.  Darin joined the board of Pilot View RC&D in 2010 and has served as the Chairmen of the Board since 2018.  Darin has also returned to the family farm to insure continued stewardship of the land along the banks of the New River. 

Bill Yarborough
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Plant Industries
Raleigh, NC

Alan Walker
Resource Institute
Waynesville, NC

Alan Walker holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  Alan served 34 years with USDA, NRCS.  He started as a Soil Conservationist and culminated with 6 years as the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations in Waynesville, NC. His major duties included:  providing supervision, guidance, and assistance to the 33 western counties in North Carolina as well as supervising the district conservationists at the field office level, serving as a coach and advisor to the area support staff, coordinating a well-balanced resource conservation program.  He was instrumental in forming a pilot project with federal, state and a nonprofit partner to accelerate EQIP assistance in western North Carolina.  Alan is continuing to restore stream and wetlands as project manager for Resources Institute, a nonprofit based in Winston-Salem, NC.  He is instrumental in managing the Western NC Stream Initiative.

The mission of the Plant Industry Division is to ensure seed and fertilizer and other soil additives offered for sale in North Carolina meet prescribed standards and are truthfully labeled, to protect the state's agriculture and natural environment from introduced plant pests, including insects, diseases, and noxious weeds, and to enhance and protect our state's endangered and threatened plants.

 Additionally, the Plant Industry Division facilitates the movement of NC agricultural products to other states and countries. Plant Industry Division is a regulatory Division divided into two sections, Seed and Fertilizer and Plant Protection. The Division is comprised of approximately 84 employees.

Elizabeth Zander
Piedmont Conservation RC&D
Durham, NC

Elizabeth Zander, PCC’s Executive Director, has a Masters in Environmental Management from Duke University and seven years of experience in project management related to sustainability and farming systems. In her four years with the Piedmont Conservation Council, Inc. (PCC), she has helped grow the organization from one employee to three and managed a variety of projects, including stream restorations, implementation of stormwater BMP's, farmer workshops, agritourism trails, a farmland preservation plan and dam removals. Ms. Zander is responsible for the overall operations of all projects in PCC’s ten county area in Piedmont North Carolina.