BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JOE CHILDERS

Joe Childers, former Chair of the Board of Directors for KRC, graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law and has over 30 years of legal experience with specialties in environmental, mineral, and civil rights litigation. He has been successful in winning some of Kentucky's most notable cases, including unmined mineral taxation, the notorious "broad form" mineral deed, and surface owner's rights against natural gas companies. He currently lives in Lexington with his wife and two children.

BETSY BENNETT

Betsy has practiced environmental law in Kentucky since 1994. Betsy brings her extensive experience to the KRC Board. She serves as the conservation chair for the Kentucky Chapter of the Sierra Club and is a board member on the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence. Betsy has also served on the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission, the Olmsted Conservancy, and RiverFields. Betsy is a proud mother of two and a grandmother of six.

ALISON BROTZGE-ELDER

Born in Louisville, Alison Brotzge-Elder is happy to found herself back in her hometown and on the Board of KRC. She currently is a Social Media Lead at Humana and has extensive experience in both public relations and journalism. She spent six yeas as a producer for The Weather Channel where she witnessed first-hand the power of Mother Nature on countless occassions. Alison is a graduate of Boston University. She and her husband are avid gardeners. They have won multiple Kentucky State Fair ribbons for their produce. They live in Louisville their two children, dog and cat.

"I am passionate about protecting and enhancing the environment of my home state. After spending years covering climate change for The Weather Channel, I returned to Kentucky and decided to get involved in broader work to bring economic justice to my fellow Kentuckians. For too long, the people of our Commonwealth have born the brunt of environmental and economic exploitation. KRC is on the frontline, fighting for the people directly impacted by that exploitation and standing up to protect our natural resources. I am proud to be a part of the Board and get involved in their work."

SARAH LYNN CUNNINGHAM

Sarah Lynn has been an environmental activist for a half-century. (She's older than she looks and got started young!) Sarah Lynn Cunningham is a professional environmental engineer and environmental educator who graduated from the University of Louisville with degrees in environmental engineering, environmental history, and environmental education. She has worked with the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District, Jefferson County Board of Health, and Kentucky Division of Water. She is the co-founder of the Louisvillle Climate Action Network in 2007, where she seves as its Executive Director. Sarah Lynn is also a Board member of the Kentucky Conservation Committee.

ROY CRAWFORD

Roy Crawford grew up and lives in Whitesburg where he spent much of his youth hiking, camping, caving, and climbing on nearby Pine Mountain. He has served on the boards of the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, the Pine Mountain Settlement School, the Pine Mountain Trail Conference, and Headwaters, Incorporated, among others. With a degree from Georgia Tech, he spent his last few working decades before retirement practicing forensic engineering. In normal times he is in five music groups and his additional interests include reading, swimming, cycling, kayaking, and traveling. His personal crusade is coal truck safety.

"I believe everyone should live in health, safety, and a clean environment. Without those it’s impossible to enjoy anything else."

ABBY TUDOR FLETCHER

Raised on her family farm in Madison County, Abigail Tudor Fletcher is a proud Kentucky native and intimately aware of the need to protect and preserve the environment. Abigail graduated from Centre College in 2016 with a sociology & anthropology major and studio art minor. At Centre, Abigail was a Bonner Scholar and developed a deep passion for social justice and community service. After graduating from Centre, Abigail went to the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Abby is currently the Director of Economic Development at Greater Louisville, Inc., providing ongoing research on potential sources of new business and assisting in generating business attraction and expansion efforts.

"Environmentalism is intersectional. I was drawn to join the KRC Board because I deeply resonated with the organization’s belief that environmental and energy decisions and policies should be informed by humility, justice, and prudence."

ARNITA GADSON

Arnita is a steward for those with environmental concerns. Formerly serving as the Executive Direcor of the Environmental Quality Commission in Louisville, she has managed Louisville's air pollution by securing funding that established a state-of-the-art laboratory at the University of Louisville to measure air toxins. Her achievement prevented human suffering and contributed to the Louisville economy by protecting the health of each citizen. Arnita is currently the Executive Director of the West Jefferson Community Task Force.

Arnita serves on the Kentucky Environmental Leadership Institute Sub-Committee.

JIM HAYS

London-native, Jim is an alumni of Sue Bennett College and Cumberland College, with a degree in aquatic biology. Jim has an extensive career in environmental biology research. Now Jim is the Horse Lick Creek Bioreserve Director. Jim continues to be dedicated to serving the Commonwealth and appreciates the importance of environmental stewardship.

TIM HEINE

After graduating from medical school at the University of Louisville, KRC Board Chair Tim Heine completed a residency in Anesthesiology at Duke University. Eventually returning home, Tim has continued the full-time practice of anesthesiology in both private practice and an academic setting. Developing a deeper understanding of biological and cultural anthropology [as well as the science of regional and global climate change] over decades of reading and listening to others, Tim returned to the classroom several years ago to add more structure to his educational journey. In 2019, he received an MA-Anthropology from the University of Louisville. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the ACLU-KY, Tim resides in Louisville with his wife, Caroline. They have two children, Sarah and Kiernan – he needs them to know that his generation must engage in the great environmental justice challenges that lie ahead.

"When asked about why he wanted to join the KRC Board, Tim shared a quote from Amanda Gorman: 'We relish the view; We witness its round green and brilliant blue, Which inspires us to ask deeply, wholly: What can we do?'"

BRIANA LATHON BLUFORD

Briana Lathon Bluford is an attorney and Louisville native. She graduated from Centre College in 2015 and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law in 2018. During law school, Briana was president of the Black Law Student Association and a Brandeis Human Rights Fellow where she focused on highlighting gaps in social policies that led social and economic disparities in Kentucky’s communities of color. Briana also worked as the lead researcher for the U of L Law Resilience Justice Project which explored the inequitable vulnerabilities of communities of color. The Project critiqued systems of injustice, structural inequality, marginalization, and oppression that have undermined the capacities of low-income communities of color to resist and adapt to shocks and changes such as, climate change, economic shocks, political change, disasters (e.g., flooding, heat, drought, wildfires), pollution, health crises and many other disruptions. Briana is Senior Counsel for the Kentucky Lottery Corporation where she supports the legal needs of the KLC’s online and retail product lines.

JEANNE MARIE HIBBERD

Jeanne Marie is Director of Corporate & Community Support for WEKU public radio. She has worked in nonprofit management, fundraising and communications for more than 35 years. She's has served as a fundraising coach for Leaping Minnow Consulting and Network for Good. Her career includes 10 years as Development & Communications Director at Hindman Settlement School, as well as positions with Berea College, the Mountain Association and Eastern Kentucky University. She has a BA in Philosophy from Berea College and earned a Certificate in Fundraising Management from The Fund Raising School at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.

She is certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance Professional. Jeanne Marie has also served on numerous nonprofit boards including the League of Women Voters of Kentucky, Kentucky Environmental Foundation and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky.

HANNAH WEINSTEIN

Hannah Weinstein is a market researcher and aspiring environmental educator. After graduating from Centre College in 2018, Hannah started her career in the financial sector. Now, Hannah is corporate strategy analyst at Humana. She hopes to apply her experience and knowledge with KRC.

"I wanted to join KRC so that I would have the outlet to inspire generations to come to deeply care and protect the environment, just as those who have came before have done for me."

PRASANTHI PERSAD

Prasanthi is the Executive Director of Wilderness Louisville, the non-profit supporting the Natural Areas Division of Louisville Parks & Recreation. She has worked at the intersection of policy, social justice, environment, and health, previously serving as Development & Finance Director at a local Louisville nonprofit and as a health policy analyst at the Louisville health department. Prasanthi has a great appreciation for Kentucky’s abundant, beautiful natural areas and is happy to serve with KRC and support the efforts to preserve these resources for generations to come.

BOARD EMERITUS

Roger Shott

After growing up in Washington D.C., Roger Shott attended the University of Virginia Medical School and graduated in 1964. He completed his residency in pediatrics and neonatology, then continued on to serve in the US Military Medical Corp where cared for dependent children of Vietnam soldiers from 1967-1969. While continuing his practice of neontaology, Roger became a professor of nurseries as the University of Louisville Hospitals and Director of pediatric education for University of Louisville medical students for 20 years. After retiring, Roger became a board member of KRC and the Nature Conservancy. He currently lives in Louisville with his wife and has two sons, Brian and Eric.

JOINING THE BOARD

If you are interested in learning more about the KRC Board of Directors or one of its sub-committes, please contact info@kyrc.org.

New Board Members

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The Kentucky Resources Council is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the conservation and prudent use of Kentucky’s natural resources. Since 1984, we have dedicated ourselves to protecting Kentucky’s land, air, water, and communities.