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Jeffrey Barrie | Chief Executive Officer
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, Communications & Zero Waste Initiatives
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 for all programs, improves our communications & program performance, and ensures sustainability of our operations. |
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Cynthia Hernandez | Tennessee Tree Program Manager
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
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
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 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
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 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 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 | TEC Videographer
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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Lauren Mobley | Environmental Ambassadors Leader | AmeriCorps Member
Raised in North Carolina, Lauren grew her love for the environment through hiking in the mountains, kayaking in the piedmont, and trips to the Outer Banks, instilling an appreciation for nature that led her to Boone, N.C. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Social Practice and Sustainability, along with a minor in Sustainable Development. While finding her place in the world, Lauren also strives to raise awareness of the intersections between environmental and social injustices. As an AmeriCorps member serving with the Tennessee Environmental Council, she aims to build statewide relationships between environmentalists while deepening her understanding of non-profit organizations and infrastructure. |
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Maria Maring | Eco-Challenge Leader | AmeriCorps Member
Maria lives and breathes sustainability & community engagement. She recently graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor's degree with High Distinction in Earth, Society, & Environmental Sustainability and a second Bachelor's degree in Spanish. She also studied Natural Resources Conservation and Environmental Writing. Now, in a program facilitated by AmeriCorps and Hands On Nashville, Maria is beginning a new chapter as TEC's Eco Challenge Leader! She is planning, implementing, and evaluating programming to get all Tennesseans engaged in environmental & community efforts. Maria is dedicated to making sustainability more equitable and accessible for everyone! |
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Rose Grimson | Research & Policy Intern
Having lived in Nashville all her life, Rose has a passion for learning about and protecting the landscapes that sparked her interest in the outdoors when she was young. Rose is passionate about understanding intersectionality in the environmental world and in using her skills in the arts to illuminate environmental issues in TN. Rose will be working part time with TEC as a Policy and Research Intern over her gap year. After her time with TEC, she plans on studying Environmental Policy and Human Geography continuing her education in the Pacific Northwest. |
Tennessee Environmental Council does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its hiring, programs, or activities. To file a discrimination complaint, contact Gwendolyn Blanton at gwen@tectn.org or call 615-248-6500.