Our Staff

Bret comes on board the Carolina Thread Trail with a background in public sector land use and transportation planning. Throughout his career, he has specialized in bicycle and pedestrian planning. From 2006 to 2014, Bret served as the Bicycle, Greenways, and Pedestrian Coordinator in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he was responsible for planning, funding and elevating awareness for non-motorized transportation.  In late 2014, he moved to the Charlotte region and held the position of Senior Transportation Planner with the Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln MPO. Bret is a native of western Pennsylvania and a graduate of Penn State University. He is an avid road and mountain cyclist and also enjoys hiking, travel and NASCAR racing.

Alesia brings to the position more than eight years of marketing and public relations experience in the nonprofit and museum sectors. Her background includes media relations, online marketing, strategic communications, branding and social media. She previously worked at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut, and the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, where she managed marketing and public relations for the grand openings of two landmark expansion projects.  A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Media and Journalism, Alesia enjoys traveling, cooking and exploring new trails.

Conroy Green brings over a decade of accounting and financial leadership experience to Catawba Lands Conservancy, with a strong background in nonprofit financial management, grant compliance, and operational strategy. He holds a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Business Management from Stony Brook University. Before joining Catawba Lands Conservancy, Conroy supported a variety of nonprofit organizations, including grassroots community groups and educational institutions. His work has focused on building strong financial systems, managing post-award grant processes, and ensuring regulatory compliance—all while aligning financial practices with mission-driven outcomes. Conroy is passionate about conservation and community-focused work. Outside of the office, he enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, fishing, bushcraft, and a variety of other outdoor sports. He's also an artist at heart and often spends his downtime painting and sketching. His love for nature and creativity perfectly aligns with the Conservancy’s mission to protect and preserve the natural lands of our region.

Sophie comes to CLC with 7 years of experience implementing conservation projects across the United States. Her journey started with the University of Georgia’s Interdisciplinary Field Program, where she explored the relationships between people and land in the American West. Beginning her career as a backcountry trail builder in 2017, Sophie worked in diverse ecosystems from the Adirondak Mountains to the Mojave Desert, honing trade skills like dry stone masonry and rustic carpentry while collaborating with stakeholders to achieve park management goals. A year-long stint surveying aquatic insects throughout Colorado’s Front Range deepened her commitment to understanding the interconnectedness of people, wildlife, plants, fungi and landscape. At CLC, Sophie collaborates with partnering landowners and agencies to improve water quality, wildlife habitat and agricultural sustainability.

Ashton Lamb attended Colorado State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism and a master’s degree in Conservation Leadership. Following graduation Ashton moved to Charleston, SC to work for Lowcountry Land Trust where he worked to steward and protect land for over four years. Aspiring to create more publicly accessible lands for all to enjoy, Ashton accepted his role with the Carolina Thread Trail in 2021.

Bart brings nearly 30 years of fundraising and nonprofit experience to the Conservancy and the Thread Trail. He came from the YMCA of Greater Charlotte where he served for eight years as Vice President of Major and Planned Gifts. Prior to this, Bart worked at the Foundation For The Carolinas in development and planned giving. He is a graduate of Davidson College, where he also worked as Assistant Vice President of Major and Planned Gifts, then General Counsel and the President’s Executive Assistant. Prior to that he practiced law at Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore. Bart received his law degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and has always been a lover of the land. Landess, his wife and his four children all enjoy the outdoors, especially skiing.

Bart is former Chair of the North Carolina Planned Giving Council. He’s also a founding member of the Institute of Philanthropy and Leadership Gift School and a former Board member of Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont (now Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy) and former Deacon and member of the Session of First Presbyterian Church. He was part of the Charlotte Chapter of American Leadership Forum’s Class V.

Lauren McKenzie brings over 15 years of leadership experience to her role, guiding the financial management and stewardship efforts that support the mission-driven success of Catawba Lands Conservancy and the Carolina Thread Trail. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and dedicated nonprofit professional, Lauren is passionate about aligning financial strategy with organizational vision to foster sustainable growth and long-term impact. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, experimenting with new recipes, and traveling—often exploring the greater Charlotte area with her beloved dog, Sandy.

Will joined Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail in 2020 after a past life as a North Carolina State Park Ranger. Originally from Western Maryland, he grew up exploring the Appalachian Mountains and learning about the natural world from his Park Ranger father, Jeff. Will now shares that same love for the outdoors with his wife, Stuart, their two young children, and their dogs, Jasper and Ziggy. In his free time, he enjoys biking, cooking, and catching a good soccer match. Whether it’s grasslands, hiking trails, or prescribed fire, Will’s passion for conservation continues to guide and inspire his work.