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Jeffrey Barrie | Chief Executive Officer | jeff@tectn.org
Jeffrey has devoted his entire 29-year career to advancing sustainability. He began in 1993 after graduating from UCLA with a B.A. Honors degree in Geography and Environmental Studies. Jeffrey steered his love of filmmaking toward the cause of environmental solutions and sustainability, and he produced numerous award-winning shorts and feature documentaries on topics like environmental education (Generation Earth — 1995), the importance of preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Arctic Quest — 1999), and the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable power (Kilowatt Ours — 2008). He has leveraged the power of effective documentary storytelling combined with grassroots organizing and public strategies to lead to positive changes in the world. Jeffrey has worked for TEC since 2014 and has served as CEO since 2019. |
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Brandi Prewitt | Director of Development and Communications | brandi@tectn.org
Brandi has always been passionate about nature and helping the environment. She credits learning about the benefits of recycling in elementary school as her first introduction to understanding how human behavior affects our environment. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from Hunter College in NYC and interned in a small business sustainability consulting program while living there. She also worked for Green Mountain Energy helping small businesses in NYC support clean energy through their electricity bills. Upon arriving in TN she began working at LightWave Solar based in Nashville as a marketing assistant and grant writer helping farmers and small businesses receive grants for solar systems. In her role at TEC, she expands our strategic partnerships, creates educational content, improves our communications & program performance, and oversees our sustainable purchasing practices. |
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Cynthia Hernandez | Tennessee Tree Program Manager|
cynthia@tectn.org Cynthia has a passion for sustainability and is dedicated to improving Tennessee’s environment. Cynthia graduated from Volunteer State Community College in 2015 with a focus on Environmental Science. She created the Paris Powers Memorial Arboretum with over 60 species of trees identified and labeled. Cynthia has been coordinating TEC's Tennessee Tree Day events since 2016. During this time nearly 500,000 native trees have been planted statewide. In 2019, Cynthia spearheaded the Tennessee Chestnut Grove Project, planting 5 demonstration chestnut groves in Tennessee State Parks. She currently serves on the Metro Tree Advisory Committee and enjoys educating the public on the value of trees and engaging partners to improve communities and quality of life in Tennessee. |
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John McFadden, PhD | Senior Fellow | john@tectn.org
With over three and a half decades in conservation, sustainability, environmentalism and non-profit management, John McFadden brings passion and experience to community engagement. From ideation to execution McFadden has led municipalities, organizations and individuals in forest restoration, and environmental education. Connecting with everyone from governors to garden clubs, he has raised over four million dollars towards conservation efforts and lead thousands of volunteers in stream restoration, reforestation, and planting over 700,000 trees. His work has earned four Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards, a Friend of Forestry Award, and the Tennessee River Basin Network’s Science and Management Award. He credits his drive to passion for stewardship of God’s natural resources and his faith in cooperation and collaboration between funders, citizens and professionals across Tennessee. |
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Gwendolyn Blanton | Executive Assistant & Operations Manager | gwen@tectn.org
Note: Gwendolyn serves at TEC's Title VI, and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator Gwendolyn Blanton graduated with a Bachelor's from California State University at Sonoma. Her degree in Environmental Restoration and Planning is a small part of her interest in helping preserve and improve Tennessee at large through legislative action, city planning and public education and involvement. She has worked with the Harpeth River Conservancy, Duck River Opportunities Project, Swan Trust and others. From office management and event planning to on-the-ground river restoration, Gwen is multi-talented, good-natured, and energetic. She loves trees, working with The Council, canoeing on rivers and lakes, and gardening (for the bees of course!). |
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Jordan Young | Field Operations Manager | jordan@tectn.org
Jordan recently graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in geology and environmental sustainability and technology. His lifelong passion for the outdoors and interest in environmental sustainability is what drove him back to school after working in residential construction. His hobbies include mountain biking, fishing, backpacking and kayaking. He was drawn to Tennessee Environmental Council because of our dedication to making a positive impact on the environment. |
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Allyson Davenport | Outreach & Engagement Specialist | allyson@tectn.org
Growing up in the valley of the Smoky Mountains, Allyson has a deeply rooted love for the environment. While actively learning, she is continuously seeking adventure for all that mother nature has to offer. Allyson is an alumni of Carson Newman University and Middle Tennessee State University, receiving a B.S in Geology and a minor in Environmental Sustainability and Technology. She is dedicated to bringing her passion for nature to the community of Tennesseans, and sharing the importance of conservation and continuous care for the environment. |
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Abby Schneider | Recycling Education & Outreach Manager | abby@tectn.org
Abby graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and studied Fashion Design & Merchandising at O’More College of Design. She has spent the last 10 years as a music industry professional, all the while serving her community by honoring her true passion, sustainability and recycling. Abby founded Simplify Nashville in 2017, a social media page specializing in sustainability education and outreach. She has participated in volunteer work with reuse organizations, presented recycling initiatives and recruitment plans to local and state elected representatives, founded and operated a consignment clothing business focusing on reuse and encouraging secondhand shopping, and has been involved with a number of eco-friendly programs for the past decade. She is a member of TWIG (Tennessee Women in Green), and TRC (Tennessee Recycling Coalition). Abby couldn’t be happier to fulfill her calling as Recycling Education & Outreach Coordinator at Tennessee Environmental Council. |
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Monika G. Pretz | Pollinator Garden Field Volunteer Coordinator | monika@tectn.org
Monika graduated with a Master of Science degree in Biology and Teaching in Budapest, Hungary and gained her PhD in Molecular Microbiology at the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands. She worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Hungarian Academy of Science Institute of Enzymology in Budapest, and in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Monika had a passion for biology and conservation from an early age and considers conservationist Gerrald Durrell as her biggest role model and inspiration. Her passion for education and conservation included projects such as teaching Track and Field to blind children, working as an HIV educator for the Hungarian HIV+ Children Foundation and volunteering at Duke University Lemur Center in Durham North Carolina. Monika loves oil painting, hiking, canoeing with family and friends and gardening. |
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Ryan Scott | Intern
Ryan Scott is a videographer and student of Environmental Science at Belmont University. He is passionate about environmentalism and works to use filmmaking and photography to educate others about sustainability, ecology, and environmental conservation - the same role he hopes to fill at TEC. |
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Erica Duke | Intern
Erica is a student at Tennessee Tech University studying environmental biology, geology, and environmental sustainability with a focus on parks and protected areas. She’s a passionate environmentalist who works with Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Center as an animal care technician. Erica is a member of TWIG, and recently completed the Tennessee Naturalist Program with Tennessee State Parks. She is dedicated to her studies of natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Upon graduating, Erica plans to work as an ecologist and help protect and preserve native habitats and natural resources for generations to come. |
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Isabella Wittrig | Intern
Isabella is an Environmental Sustainable Science major at Lipscomb University. She is passionate about preventing planned obsolescence and creating sustainable practices in production. In the summer you can find her raising koi fish with her mother and swimming in the lake with her two dogs, Simba and Tachi. Isabella joined as an intern in order to learn more about the sustainable practices and projects implemented by TEC! |
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Julia Prins | Intern
Julia Prins is an Environmental Science major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a focus in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Natural Resources and a minor in Communication. She is passionate about helping others improve the environment and making a lasting positive change. Upon graduating she will pursue a masters in Wildlife Conservation with a focus on Habitat Restoration. Out of the office you can find her climbing up a boulder or camping throughout the country. |