Executive Committee
Nancy Edgerton – President
Nancy previously served on SAHC’s board, including a term as President, and has continued to volunteer on our Governance Committee. She and her husband Ron are dedicated participants in our hikes, outings and special events. Nancy is a talented photographer and cellist, and she serves on the Asheville Symphony board.
Sheryl Aikman – Vice President
Sheryl provides philanthropic consulting to individuals and charities through her firm, Alenda Consulting. She also works nationally as a consultant to community foundations. Sheryl has extensive experience with gift planning, charitable investments and endowments, and nonprofit organization management.
Tom Williams – Secretary
Tom recently retired from Duke Energy as its Director of Corporate Media and Executive Support. He and his wife Laurie especially appreciate the conservation easements SAHC holds on land in Fairview. Tom is enthusiastic about helping SAHC with communications, development and engagement
Pam Kelley – Treasurer
Pam retired from Eastman, where she served as Director of Global Credit. Her background is in the Accounting and Credit Management division. She enjoys the outdoors, hiking and biking. After learning of SAHC’s work, she looks forward to being involved and supporting its mission.
Allison Williams – At-Large Executive Committee member
Allison is an information staffer with USDA national forests in SC. She previously worked with Cherokee National Forest and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Allison is a leader in increasing outdoor recreation access for people of color and career opportunities in public lands.
Sarah Davis
Sarah is a landscape designer with expertise in southern Appalachian plants. She is especially interested in assisting SAHC with their Stewardship and Land Management activities.
Mary Fanslow
Mary works with Eastman and served on SAHC’s board from 2001 to 2007. She is passionate about the Highlands of Roan and has been a continued leader of conservation. Mary is also closely involved in Girl Scouts.
Janet Garrett
Janet retired from Asheville Radiology Associates after practicing for 27 years. She and her family moved to Asheville in 1990. Janet enjoys her grandchildren, traveling, and gardening. She loves being outdoors in nature and feels privileged to live in this community where she can play outside every day.
Miranda (Randy) Hunter
Randy is a long-time, active member of the French Broad River Garden Club, and enjoys studying horticulture and applying the science to her garden. On behalf of the French Broad River Garden Club, Randy helped assemble and coordinate the nomination of SAHC for the 2020 Garden Club of America’s national Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal, a rewarding process that secured the award on SAHC’s behalf.
John McLendon
John is a retired business and real estate attorney from Greensboro, NC. He has served on the Board of Directors, Land Protection Committee, and Land Management Committee of Piedmont Land Conservancy, and on the planning committee for the Greensboro Downtown Greenway. Before practicing law in Greensboro, John worked for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. John and his wife, Connie, became involved with SAHC through a hike in the Roan Highlands about ten years ago, and since then they have been supporters of SAHC’s Roan Stewardship program. John is looking forward to serving on SAHC’s Land Protection Committee.
Larry (Pender) Pender
Pender retired from NYU, where he served as an administrator. He and his wife, Tanya Marie founded Pathways to Parks a couple of years ago to encourage and support inclusivity and access for all people, especially people of color; to enjoy hiking and outdoor recreation. He enjoys many outdoor activities including cycling, hiking and tennis. Pender has been a dedicated member and looks forward to supporting SAHC’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiative
Rich Preyer
Rich served two years as SAHC’s Americorps Member for Public Education and Outreach. He earned a Masters in Environmental Education from Antioch University in New Hampshire and is currently a Youth Education Associate with the NC Arboretum. Rich is enthusiastic about our Connecting People with Land program and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiative.
Chris Soto
Chris retired as senior editor and content manager with the Land Trust Alliance after 17 years, where she managed the award-winning quarterly magazine, Saving Land. Before the Alliance, Chris managed publications at the Wildlife Habitat Council and American Farmland Trust. She and her husband are dedicated participants in SAHC events and outings and are active with the East Tennessee birding community.
