Heike Biller - Administrative Director


Heike Biller joined Catawba Lands Conservancy early in 2007 as Program and Office Coordinator. She brings many years of office experience to the job as well as a love and enthusiasm for environmental issues. Her hobbies and interests include hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, crafts and sewing. Heike earned her bachelor's degree in geography at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. She is excited to be working for an organization that promotes such a great cause. Being a mother of two small children, Heike encourages parents to teach their own children about the importance of protecting and conserving our environment.

Scott Bodien - Technology Director


A native of Washington state, Scott joined the Conservancy in 2003. He grew up hiking, biking, mountaineering and cross-country skiing in the Puget Sound Region. He graduated from the University of Washington with double degrees in forest management and history. After working for the Seattle Boy Scout Council, Scott came to Duke University to pursue a master's degree in forestry where he became interested in GIS and broader environmental issues. Scott, a triathlete, recently completed his first Ironman distance event, but really enjoys marathons and nice bike rides in the countryside. He enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and running with his mixed Basenji dog Winston, whom he rescued in 2001 while completing an internship in Charleston.

Kenni Brooks - Finance Director


Kenni earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1988. She worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Washington DC and the State of Virginia's Department of Accounts. She and her husband then lived in Maryland, New York and Florida before moving to Charlotte in 1995. Kenni joined the Conservancy part-time in 1999, while remaining a full-time mom for her two daughters. She also plays violin in the Queens College Community Orchestra.

Ann Hayes Browning - Carolina Thread Trail Project Director


Ann comes to Catawba Lands Conservancy as Carolina Thread Trail Project Director from a 23 year career at Bank of America. She was a founding partner of the bank’s private equity investment arm, Banc of America Capital Investors, and spent the last half of her career making and managing private equity investments. She served on a number of corporate boards on behalf of the bank. Ann is a Davidson College graduate and currently serves on Davidson’s Board of Trustees. She received an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler School at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Davis J. Cable - Executive Director


Dave has served as Executive Director of Catawba Lands Conservancy since June 2004. Prior to joining the Conservancy, he was with Wachovia Securities, where he was director of real estate research and corporate and investment banking. He was president of Allen & Cable, a real estate appraisal and consulting company in Vermont before moving to Charlotte in 1998. Accomplishments at the Conservancy under his leadership include the establishment of The Catawba Society, the strategic re-tooling of staff and volunteer leadership and the continued preservation of local land in the face of dynamic development. Dave provides leadership to the Carolina Thread Trail, 15-county collaboration with The Foundation For The Carolinas and Duke Energy. Dave has been instrumental in bringing regional leaders to the table to collaborate on the framework for the project before its early November, 2007 launch to the community. He received a master's degree in natural resource planning from the University of Vermont and a bachelor's degree in geology and environmental studies from Bowdoin College. He holds both the Members of the Appraisal Institute (MAI) and Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) designations.

Colleen Frenzel - Carolina Thread Trail Project Coordinator


Colleen brings strong communications and organizational skills developed from a career in health care benefits to her role as Carolina Thread Trail Project Coordinator. She has served in various roles including sales, account management and human resources. Having been fortunate enough to grow up in the foothills of Morganton, NC, many of her days were spent hiking mountain trails and canoeing parts of the Catawba River and Lake James with her father. These early experiences, her formal education in Biology from UNC-Chapel Hill and her volunteer work at the Catawba Lands Conservancy have developed and nurtured her passion for the environment and land conservation.

Chloe Higgins - Program Assistant


Chloe Higgins joined the Conservancy in the spring of 2008 as an administrative assistant. She is a native of Maryland, and earned her bachelor's degree in Geography from the University of Maryland. After graduating she worked for the Academy for Educational Development where she led a 'Save the Bay' marketing campaign to educate Maryland residents about ways to prevent pollution from entering the Chesapeake Bay. Chloe spends her free time exploring the outdoors, and learning about different cultures through traveling. She is excited to be working with an organization with such positive goals for the environment.

Rhea Kelley - Outreach and Education Director


Rhea comes to the Conservancy from Carolina Raptor Center where she worked in the environmental education department planning events, educating the public, and training raptors. She graduated from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill with a degree in Biology. Rhea took this knowledge and joined the Peace Corps as a Natural Resources Management Volunteer in a small community in rural Bolivia. It was there, working with local farmers, that she developed a passion for environmental education and land conservation. Rhea likes to spend her free time outdoors enjoying the sun and nature, reading and traveling.

Jennifer LeBlanc - Conservation Program Director


Jenni comes to the Conservancy from the Foundation For The Carolinas, where she served as assistant vice president of client services for two years administering family foundations. Prior to that, Jenni was the Great Lakes field representative for The Conservation Fund in Ann Arbor, M.I., and was a real estate associate for The Conservation Fund in Arlington, V.A. where she directed numerous land acquisition projects. She received a bachelor's degree in political science from Hobart and William Smith College and a master's degree in environmental policy and management from the University of Denver. Jenni completed the Kinship Conservation Institute Fellowship in 2002 and enjoys traveling cross country, horseback riding and other outdoor activities.

Jennifer Martin - Development Director


Jennifer comes to us from Bank of America, where she worked in the eCommerce and Card Services groups developing acquisition and product management strategies. Prior to that, she worked for Conseco Finance in St. Paul, MN, marketing private label credit cards. Jennifer spent several years living in Jackson, WY, where she developed a broader appreciation for localized conservation efforts. A native of North Carolina, Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree in Communications from Wake Forest University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Curry, new daughter, and their two dogs, as well as fly fishing, traveling and snowboarding.

RoxAnne Miller - Associate Director


RoxAnne Miller joins the Conservancy as the Associate Director from the Kansas Land Trust where she served as the Executive Director from Aug. 2001-Mar. 2008. RoxAnne earned a joint degree from the University of Kansas, a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and a J.D. She practiced real estate and land use law at the firm of Lathrop & Gage L.C. in Kansas City, Missouri before joining KLT in 2001. In her work with KLT, she participated in statewide and regional collaborative land conservation efforts, including the preservation of Flint Hills native tallgrass prairie in Kansas through USDA/NRCS Farm & Ranch Lands Protection Program; Agricultural buffer lands through the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program; Open-space preservation in Douglas County through the ECO² Commission; and watershed preservation in the Blue River Watershed of Johnson County, Kansas. RoxAnne loves spending time outdoors and is looking forward to the more moderate climate and beautiful landscape of North Carolina. She enjoys reading, crocheting, hiking and playing racquet ball.

Sharon Wilson - Land Stewardship Director


A native of Charlotte, Sharon holds a bachelor's degree from Western Carolina University in Park and Recreation Management. Sharon has more than 15 years experience in natural resource management. She began her career as a park ranger for Mecklenburg County's Division of Ranger Services and focused on environmental education and resource management/protection. Sharon accepted a position with the U.S. Forest Service in 1992 and turned her attention to the Chattooga River Ecosystem Management Project. During her career, Sharon has gained experience in timber management, wildlife and fisheries protection and enhancement, and wildland fire suppression. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys mountain biking and camping with her family.