Our Team » Wild South

our team.

STaff

HALLEY BURLESON

Business Development & Operations Coordinator,
Volunteer Coordinator for Unaka Mountain & the Nolichucky River

Halley is a marketing professional with an extensive background in Travel and Tourism. As a board member of Blue Ridge Mountain Host ...

... she has worked with several tourism agencies to produce preventative SAR and conservation centered promotions.

An Appalachian Native with a deep rooted love for wilderness and its explorers, she volunteers as a hike leader for at risk youth through, The Jason Project's "Grandfather Mountain Challenge" and is also a member of Mountain Search & Rescue Team 2. Halley joined the Wild South Team in 2019 to provide business development, operational and community engagement support in the sustainable pursuit of our mission.

JEN GRADY

Associate Director,
Volunteer Coordinator for Harper Creek & Lost Cove

Jen has led outdoor operations on the Pisgah National Forest since 2005. From running wilderness crews to managing outdoor youth programs at Outward Bound, Jen has ....

... channeled her passion for getting people outside for the challenge and reward of National Forest experiences.

An Appalachian Trail through-hiker, Jen led hiking trips for Appalachian State University's Outdoor Program, and for Mountain Alliance's Watauga High School program. She instructed at the North Carolina Outward Bound School for decade, rising to become program director at the Table Rock facility at Linville Gorge.

Jen joined the Wild South team in 2021 as Associate Director, and also coordinates volunteer events in the Harper Creek and Lost Cove Wilderness Study Areas.

KEVIN MASSEY

Executive Director,
Volunteer Coordinator for Linville Gorge & Wilson Creek

Kevin has volunteered on National Forest and other public lands since 1999. In 2014 he began coordinating volunteers in trail restoration and maintenance in ...

... Linville Gorge Wilderness. After he joined Wild South in 2016, his work expanded into a variety of stewardship and biodiversity projects as well as into the Harper Creek and Lost Cove Wilderness Study Areas. He also volunteers as a wilderness first responder with Linville Central Rescue Squad, helps develop efficiencies to reduce wilderness management burdens for federal and local agencies, and engages communities to find a sustainable future for forest protection. Kevin has served as Wild South’s executive director since 2017.

Board

AARON CHRISTENSEN
Jonas Ridge, NC

President

About Aaron

Attorney with Smith & Christensen, PLLC, advising on non-profit corporate governance, business, labor and employment, and regulatory matters; licensed in NC, SC and TN.

National consultant on governance reform and business ethics.

Lifetime sportsman with deep commitments to wilderness conservation and personal
interests in flyfishing, hunting, shooting and bird dogs.

Enthusiastic recreational user of all Wild South areas of operation.

FRANK PIETRAS
Jonas Ridge, NC

Vice-President

About Frank

Executive and entrepreneur with deep experience in business development, marketing,
advertising, and team building.

Founder of the Tarheel Trailblazers, with extensive experience collaborating with diverse
interest groups.

Expert in sustainable trail building and maintenance.

Avid outdoor and wilderness enthusiast, with regular engagement in the Linville Gorge
Wilderness area.

Interests include environmental protection, hiking, biking, and rock climbing.

LEXEE ZUTZ
Linville Falls, NC

Secretary

About Lexee

FORREST FRAZIER
Bakersville, NC

Treasurer

About Forrest

Partner in Grant Thornton’s Business Advisory Services practice, with more than 27
years of experience in public accounting and consulting leading a wide variety of
corporate governance, and risk, regulatory and controls compliance projects.

Former Chairman and Treasurer of the Carolina Raptor Center Board of Directors.

Avid outdoorsman with wilderness engagement and stewardship in Pisgah National
Forest, Unaka Mountain Wilderness, Linville Gorge Wilderness, and wild rivers and
lands throughout the state and country.

CLAYTON BELL
Chattanooga, TN

About Clayton

BRAD BLACK
Nebo, NC

About Brad

BERNARD CLARK
Jonas Ridge, NC

About Bernard

REBECCA GRANT
Spruce Pine, NC

About Rebecca

Development Director for Child Care Resources Inc., a non-profit agency supporting
childcare and advancing policy and public support for accessible, affordable, and
improved early learning.

Experienced grant and technical writing professional.

Extensive recreational experience in North Carolina and throughout the United States,
with lifelong knowledge of the NC and TN Wild South areas of operation.

Born and raised in Spruce Pine, NC, with deep family roots, local knowledge, and
community relationships.

MARK JOHNSTON
Navoo, AL

About Mark

BEN PRATER
Asheville, NC

About Ben

Southeast Program Director for Defenders of Wildlife, providing strategic direction for
programs to recover species, address urgent conservation threats, and guide efforts to
protect imperiled wildlife and their Southeast habitats.

Extensive experience and expertise in advocacy and public outreach, while committed to
the application of science, law, and policy for the conservation of biodiversity.

Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Nicholas School of the
Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University and a Bachelor of Science in
Environmental Science from Catawba College.

DAVID SCHWARTZ
Nebo, NC

About Dave

VALERIE TRUE
Asheville, NC

About Valerie

COREY WINSTEAD
Asheville, NC

About Corey

Assistant Chief and Board member of Appalachian Mountain Rescue Team, Buncombe
County Rescue Squad and Burke County Rescue Squad.

Expert rock climber and former board member of the Carolina Climbers Coalition, with
broad experience collaborating on the trail revision planning in the Linville Gorge.

Column editor for the Wilderness Medical Society magazine; contributor to Accidents in
North American Mountaineering; forthcoming article on medical support for
archaeological field teams; academic text author.

13+ years with Outward Bound as a trip leader and program manager, with regular
collaboration and interface with the US Forest Service.

Extensive experience as a recreational and professional user of the Linville Gorge
Wilderness and all surrounding areas.

“Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.”

our team.

STaff

HALLEY BURLESON

JEN GRADY

KEVIN MASSEY

Board

AARON CHRISTENSEN
Jonas Ridge, NC

FRANK PIETRAS
Jonas Ridge, NC

LEXEE ZUTZ
Linville Falls, NC

FORREST FRAZIER
Bakersville, NC

CLAYTON BELL
Chattanooga, TN

BRAD BLACK
Nebo, NC

BERNARD CLARK
Jonas Ridge, NC

REBECCA GRANT
Spruce Pine, NC

MARK JOHNSTON
Navoo, AL

BEN PRATER
Asheville, NC

DAVID SCHWARTZ
Nebo, NC

VALERIE TRUE
Asheville, NC

COREY WINSTEAD
Asheville, NC

“Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.”

— Gifford Pinchot
Breaking New Ground

Get In Touch!

In Action

wildsouthorg

Engage with us

our team.

STaff

HALLEY BURLESON

JEN GRADY

KEVIN MASSEY

Board

AARON CHRISTENSENJonas Ridge, NC

FRANK PIETRASJonas Ridge, NC

LEXEE ZUTZLinville Falls, NC

FORREST FRAZIERBakersville, NC

CLAYTON BELLChattanooga, TN

BRAD BLACKNebo, NC

BERNARD CLARKJonas Ridge, NC

REBECCA GRANTSpruce Pine, NC

MARK JOHNSTONNavoo, AL

BEN PRATERAsheville, NC

DAVID SCHWARTZNebo, NC

VALERIE TRUEAsheville, NC

COREY WINSTEADAsheville, NC

“Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.”

— Gifford PinchotBreaking New Ground

Get In Touch!

In Action

wildsouthorg

Engage with us

AARON CHRISTENSEN
Jonas Ridge, NC

FRANK PIETRAS
Jonas Ridge, NC

LEXEE ZUTZ
Linville Falls, NC

FORREST FRAZIER
Bakersville, NC

CLAYTON BELL
Chattanooga, TN

BRAD BLACK
Nebo, NC

BERNARD CLARK
Jonas Ridge, NC

REBECCA GRANT
Spruce Pine, NC

MARK JOHNSTON
Navoo, AL

BEN PRATER
Asheville, NC

DAVID SCHWARTZ
Nebo, NC

VALERIE TRUE
Asheville, NC

COREY WINSTEAD
Asheville, NC

— Gifford Pinchot
Breaking New Ground