A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Friends,

Every year the Annual Report is our opportunity to share with you Blue Ridge Conservancy’s proudest achievements in land conservation. The successes you see on these pages are yours. Without your support and commitment natural areas such as Paddy, Pond, and Three Top Mountains would not have been protected. Public recreation projects such as the Middle Fork Greenway, Boone Gorge Park, and Northern Peaks State Trail would not be progressing. Critical farmland in Wilkes County would have been lost to development. We thank you for your role in making all these efforts a reality.

Land protection makes good economic sense and helps build healthy, interconnected communities. Publicly accessible land for recreation stimulates the creation of small locally owned businesses. It is an amenity sought out by businesses seeking to relocate or expand. New businesses lead to better paying jobs and a higher quality of life. In addition, the physical and mental health benefits of green spaces, trails, rivers, and strong local food supplies cannot be overstated. Therefore, merely protecting land is not always enough. When conserved lands benefit everyone, our communities thrive.

We continue to be good stewards of your investments in BRC. Once again, we were able to leverage $12.00 for land conservation projects for every $1.00 you invested in our work. Your support enabled us to achieve important conservation victories and fulfill the commitment promised to you as a partner in these efforts.

With this momentum and BRC’s track record of success, grit, and determination, there is so much more we can and must achieve. We are constantly uplifted by your strength and dedication to BRC’s mission. Thank you for working alongside us. Your continued support will ensure the future success of land conservation in North Carolina.

Ann Hayes Browning

Ann is a native North Carolinian, having grown up in High Point. Her first career spanned 23 years with Bank of America where she was involved with corporate banking, investment banking, and private equity investing.

When she chose to pursue a second career, Ann wanted to focus her efforts on preserving the natural resources and character of her native North Carolina. When the Carolina Thread Trail, a 15-county initiative to connect trails, open space, and regional attractions, was being initiated by Foundation For The Carolinas, the Catawba Lands Conservancy, and the Trust for Public Land, she joined as the first full time staff person. As the Carolina Thread Trail Director, she worked on community outreach, branding, public and private fundraising, and the development and oversight of The Thread’s community grants program.

Ann is excited to rejoin the BRC Board, having served as former chair, head of the executive director search committee, and first director of the Middle Fork Greenway. In 2019 she was appointed to the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees.

She, husband Ric, and labrador Cricket love playing on their Ashe County property along Three Top Creek, as well as hiking and paddling throughout the spectacular High Country.

Jennie Derby

Jennie Derby hails from Richmond, VA and attended Western Carolina University. She was a financial advisor (CFP®) in Charlotte, NC for 30 years, selling her firm, Lifeworth Financial, in 2019. Jennie resides in Boone with her husband, Leigh.

Jennie was a founding member of the Women’s Impact Fund of Charlotte and on the board of Conservation Trust for NC in Raleigh, NC, including two terms as Board President. Locally, she co-chaired the associate pastor search committee, and served on the capital campaign and finance committees of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church. She is Treasurer of The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, and volunteers for Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation workdays.

Jennie and Leigh’s daughter, Tiffany Crenshaw, and her family live in Greensboro, NC. Their son, Quinn Derby, and his family live in Charlotte. For fun, Jennie enjoys tennis, hiking, gardening, entertaining friends and family, traveling, reading, and playing word and board games.

Sydney Phillips Administrative Assistant

Sydney wears many hats, both at BRC and in life. Teacher, mentor, volunteer, champion - the list goes on and on.

Sydney lives near Boone with her husband Taylor, two dogs, four chickens, and George the Rooster.

She is most proud of her work with Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, where she works to support local farmers to bring nutritious food to the community. In her free time, Sydney is a fan of European football, and devoted to the Premiere League and Liverpool FC (and of course App FC!). When she isn’t trail running or spending time with her sons, “spectacular humans” Sam and Wyatt, she’s practicing her newest hobby, playing guitar.

Jordan Sellers Northern Peaks State Trail Coordinator

As the inaugural Northern Peaks State Trail coordinator, Jordan comes to BRC with the skills and enthusiasm to get the job done. Always community-minded, Jordan was MountainTrue’s 2021 Volunteer of the Year, and spent three years as a Community Based Mentor for Western Youth Network. Jordan is a graduate of Colorado State University

Global, and comes to BRC after working as a real estate agent in the High Country. In his spare time he enjoys beekeeping with his partner Sammi, and trail running with his dog Junior (or being lazy with his dog Kala).