Hi Friends,

After nine transformative years with Ruffner Mountain and the incredible journey the past few years with Turkey Creek Nature Preserve and Red Mountain Park, which culminated in the creation of the Jefferson County Greenways, it is with a full heart that I share the news of my departure. This has been more than a job— it has been deeply personal and profoundly meaningful. I arrived with no experience in parks management or land conservation, but what I lacked in technical expertise, I made up for with a deep commitment to our community, strategy, mission alignment, and building systems designed to create a lasting impact.

I will never forget those early days. We worked through challenges, celebrated small victories, and learned together how to care for a place that means so much to so many. We knew, however, that Ruffner Mountain’s needs weren’t isolated. There was a larger story unfolding across Jefferson County, one about how our community cares for its parks and preserves.

Over three years ago, that story became our guiding light. With the support of an incredible Board of Directors, Commissioners, and the most creative, dedicated team I’ve ever known, T.C. McLemore, Roald Hazelhof, Charles Yeager and I set out to create the Jefferson County Greenways Commission and Foundation. The work was complex, but I’ll forever be proud of what we accomplished. I leave this role with immense gratitude and a deep sense of fulfillment, confident that the work we’ve accomplished will continue to flourish. The future of Jefferson County’s greenspaces is brighter, and I am so grateful to have played a part.

I am excited to take a step in a new direction as the Executive Director of Community Impact at EBSCO. EBSCO has a longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and preservation of our natural resources, and I am humbled to be apart of this work from another perspective.  I am thrilled that the Jefferson County Greenways Board of Directors has selected Janet Simpson as interim Executive Director.

This isn’t a goodbye—it’s more like a 'see you soon.' Thank you for letting me be a part of something so special.

Carlee