Jeffrey Barrie | Chief Executive Officer | jeff@tectn.org
​Jeff has advocated for environmental solutions throughout his entire professional career, which he launched in 1993 after graduating from UCLA with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. Ever since, Jeff has applied his loves of filmmaking and grassroots organizing towards the cause, and derives great fulfillment in making a difference in this field. Jeff has produced award-winning feature documentaries on the value of Environmental Education (Generation Earth — 1995), the importance of preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Arctic Quest — 1999), and the benefits of energy efficiency, conservation and renewable power (Kilowatt Ours — 2008).  Jeff has defined his career by leveraging the power of documentary storytelling combined with public strategies to lead to positive changes in the world.

Shelby Ward | Director, Sustainable Tennessee, and Staff Attorney (Knoxville-based) | shelby@tectn.org
Shelby is dedicated to serving communities in Tennessee through environmental education and advocacy. She collaborates with stakeholders who share a vision for a sustainable Tennessee and directs the Council’s law and policy program. Prior to joining the Council, Shelby practiced at the Tennessee Clean Water Network and as a sole practitioner. She also worked as an aquatic ecologist identifying macroinvertebrate from East Tennessee sites subject to biomonitoring.
Shelby graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2011 and earned a Master of Science in Ecology from the University of Tennessee in 2015. She additionally holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Howard University.
She enjoys modern quilting and genealogy.

Cynthia Hernandez | Tennessee Tree Program Coordinator|
cynthia@tectn.org
Cynthia has a passion for sustainability and is dedicated to improving Tennessee’s environment. She works closely with the team to organize programs especially the Tennessee Tree Project. Cynthia graduated from Volunteer State Community College in 2015 with a focus in Environmental Science. Her biggest achievement is the Level 2 certification of the Paris Powers Memorial Arboretum located at Vol. State Community College with over 60 species of trees identified and labeled. She currently serves on the Metro Tree Advisory Committee and enjoys educating the public on sustainable solutions and engaging partners to improve communities and quality of life in Tennessee.  

Brandi Prewitt | Manager 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 the Council, she hopes to encourage small businesses in TN to become more sustainable through improving business practices.

Julia Weber | Program Manager, Compost and Recycling Lead | Staff Photographer | julia@tectn.org
As a Nashville native, Julia has always admired and respected Tennessee’s natural beauty. This connection led her to pursue a degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Communications and Environmental Science. During her college career, she edited a scholarly online journal, Applied Environmental Education & Communication Journal, helping develop her love for environmental research and writing. She also interned at the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association in the Communications Dept. where she learned the intricacies of the power industry and the need for more renewable energy use. Julia hopes to one day use her background in photojournalism to produce effective visual storytelling in the fight for the health of Tennessee’s environment and beyond. She looks forward to what she can achieve in her role at the Council.

Sam West | Chief Operations Officer | sam@tectn.org
Sam drives and implements field operations for the Council. Current projects include: Lytle Creek Restoration Project, Nashville Greenfield Restoration Project, and various Watershed Support contract services. Sam organizes activities and events in reforestation, pollinator habitat establishment, river restoration, and environmental advocacy that support the Council's mission and vision. He works as a volunteer coordinator, environmental educator, and project manager. West has a B.S. from MTSU, where he studied international intellectual property transactions and business administration before rediscovering his long time passion for participating in positive environmental change. He is an avid gardener, beekeeper, hiker, and upright bass player.  ​

John McFadden, PhD | Senior Fellow | john@tectn.org
John F. McFadden (PhD) is the former CEO of the Tennessee Environmental Council with over 25 years’ experience in environmental and nonprofit management. Under his leadership, the Tennessee Tree Project planted over 500,000 trees and the Council received four "Governors' Environmental Stewardship Awards" and  the TN Division of Forestry’s “Friend of Forestry Award" in 2014.

John has been recognized by the federal and state court systems as an expert on water quality and has worked up and down the Mississippi River as a technical advisor to the Mississippi River Collaborative.  He currently serves as steering committee co-chair for the Mississippi River Network.  
John received his B.S. in Education (1985) and his M.S. in Biology (1988) from Tennessee Technological University.  He completed his PhD in Health and Human Performance (2009) from Middle Tennessee State University while researching recreational riparian greenway ecology. McFadden has taught collegiate biology, environmental science, natural resource management, earth sciences and currently teaches strategic sustainability in the University of Fredericton’s MBA program. McFadden has spoken to literally 100s of groups from first graders to garden clubs to Tennessee’s Senate Natural Resources Committee.  

He lives in Wilson County, TN on 16 acres and enjoys hiking, biking and sailing.   ​​

Gwendolyn Blanton | Administrative Support | gwen@tectn.org
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!).

Jordan Young | Field Operations | 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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Monica Kain | Intern
Monica is passionate about environmental justice and is devoted to being a good steward of the environment. She is working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sociology from Vanderbilt University. Monica has worked as a STEM coordinator at a YMCA summer camp, and more recently she has researched energy and equity in sustainability plans of major U.S. cities through the Vanderbilt Department of Sociology. Monica loves the Tennessee Environmental Council’s commitment to engaging and educating communities and looks forward to contributing to this work in her role with the Council this summer.