Our Team » Wild South

our team.

Volunteers

Communities are the cornerstone of conservation success. Connecting communities to their land and to each other is what Wild South is all about. Every year we'll find opportunities for hundreds of volunteers to give back to the land they love. Everyone is welcome. Honestly, Wild South's reputation for overcoming conservation challenges has more to do with the courage and contributions of the communities we serve. Get connected! Contact Wild South today to find out how you can volunteer and make a difference!

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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.

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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

MARIANO BALLON
Nebo, NC

President

About Mariano

Mariano's day job in cybersecurity sales gives him experience in partnerships and business development that he brings to Wild South's work protecting natural spaces and getting people outdoors.

Mariano has been exploring the Linville Gorge Wilderness since 2008, completing the challenging 40-mile Grand Loop multiple times and regularly volunteering on trail restoration.

Originally from Peru and based in Raleigh, he enjoys backpacking, overlanding, and catching live music when not bringing people together for trail work.

TIM KEARNS
Spruce Pine, NC

Vice-President

About Tim

Tim is a retired general contractor, estimator and sales manager. He always enjoyed being outdoors, and paid his tuition at Southern Polytechnic University in Marietta, Ga. by working on several heavy construction projects. When he wasn't working he spent his time mountain biking, hiking, fishing and golfing. Over the years Tim has become involved in helping to build, maintain and preserve forests for our future generations.

CATHY LACIENSKI
Jonas Ridge, NC

Secretary

About Cathy

Cathy is a frequent recreational user of NC public lands, especially in the Wild South operational area, and has a deep commitment to conserving wild places. She has section hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, and has traveled extensively, hiking in national parks and on classic trails around the world. Cathy has many years of volunteer experience including with Heart Math Tutoring, Wheel Serve NC, Waterfall Keepers of NC, Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail, and Wild South.

FORREST FRAZIER
Bakersville, NC

Treasurer

About Forrest

Partner in Grant Thornton’s Audit practice, with more than 30 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.

AARON CHRISTENSEN
Jonas Ridge, NC

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.

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.

VIVIAN REINHART
Table Rock, NC

About Vivan

Vivian has hiked countless trails around the world, but no place has captured her heart like the Linville Gorge. Since she started coming to the area in the early 2000s, she’s returned again and again, eventually making the area her home in 2016 after years working abroad in Singapore.

With a background in finance, Vivian is an avid runner and passionate hiker, often exploring both well-worn and hidden trails with her husband Brian. She’s always eager to share her love for the outdoors with anyone willing to listen, and enjoys meeting new people volunteering on the trails with Wild South.

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.