Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation announces new board officers, trustees, advisors

Press release from the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation:

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of new officers and the addition of members to its board of trustees and council of advisors. With a diverse range of backgrounds, these individuals bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the leadership of the nonprofit that is focused on preserving and protecting the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The board of trustees reelected Alfred Adams and elected John Mitchell, Jim McDowell, and Jennifer Zuckerman to officer positions.

·         Alfred Adams was reelected to a second term as chair of the board.
·         Mitchell was named vice chair. He is theBusiness and Community Development Director for Henderson County.
·         McDowell of Blowing Rock, N.C., was selected to be treasurer. McDowell is the President of McDowell Hospitality, owner and operator of The Mountainaire Inn & Log Cabins.
·         Zuckerman, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the World Food Policy Center at Duke University, was named board secretary.

The board also welcomed new trustees, Bob Lassiter and Bob Stout.

·         Lassiter, of Winston-Salem, N.C., is a retired Finance Manager for HanesBrands/Haeco Americas.
·         Stout, of Blowing Rock, N.C., is a retired Region President of US Foods.

“The Foundation is experiencing new levels of success to benefit the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Adams said. “The wise counsel of our existing and new members of the board of trustees and council of advisors has provided the momentum for the continued growth and sustainability of the Foundation’s vision and mission.”

The council of advisors welcomed Tanya Marie Cummings, Donald H. Gest, and Julie H. Moore.

·         Cummings is the CEO and President of Pathways to Parks, an outdoor adventure group focused on getting people of color outdoors and into national parks. She lives in Horse Shoe, N.C.
·         Gest leads The Doan Brook Company, a business development and investment company in Charlotte, N.C.
·         Moore, of Winston-Salem, N.C., has worked for First Citizens Bank for the past 20 years as a Manager of Retail Banking.
Founded in 1997, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is the primary fundraising partner, 501(c)(3), for the Blue Ridge Parkway, providing support for initiatives along the 469-mile route, including historical and cultural preservation, environmental protection, visitor amenities, and education and outreach. The Foundation recently launched the Trails & Views Forever Fund to protect trails, overlooks, campgrounds, picnic areas, and more as the National Park Service continues to face shortfalls in federal funding.

The Foundation has offices in Asheville and Winston-Salem, N.C. For more information, visitBRPFoundation.org.