Meet the Team
We are an experienced team of scientists and conservationists united by a shared commitment and love for nature.
Media Inquiries: To schedule an interview with a member of our staff, please contact Margaret Southern, Director of Communications, at margaret.southern@tnc.org.
North Carolina State Director
Chuck Peoples
Chuck Peoples leads a passionate team of scientists, conservation experts and operations staff in protecting and restoring critical landscapes across the state of North Carolina. As Executive Director, he spearheads chapter strategy, fosters strong partnerships and provides policy leadership.
Chuck assumed the role of Executive Director in April 2026, after nearly two decades with the North Carolina chapter. Peoples joined TNC’s North Carolina chapter in 2007 as Director of Northeast Programs, then as Director of Conservation Programs from 2015-2023, before becoming Deputy State Director. Prior to TNC, Chuck served as Executive Director of the Tar River Land Conservancy.
Among People's many accomplishments are leading the expansion of peatland restoration work in the state to more than 100,000 acres, improving river flows, benefiting 137 miles of the Roanoke River and leading a focused land protection program conserving over 50,500 acres in North Carolina.
TNC's North Carolina chapter has protected more than 735,000 acres across the state, most of which have been transferred into public ownership for all to enjoy, including iconic places such as Grandfather Mountain, Chimney Rock and Jockey’s Ridge state parks. TNC is currently working in three North Carolina landscapes: the Southern Appalachians; longleaf pine territory stretching from the Sandhills to Jacksonville; and Northeast North Carolina.
The chapter owns and manages 100,000 acres with controlled burning, invasive species removal and other stewardship activities. The chapter also holds and monitors conservation easements on other privately owned lands and works with several state agencies to steward publicly owned tracts.
Chuck earned a master’s degree in wildlife biology from Auburn University and a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife science from North Carolina State University. A native of North Carolina, Chuck now lives in Durham and enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, paddling, and swimming.
Will Robinson, Director of Government Relations
“I head up our work at the General Assembly and with NC's members of Congress. My goal is always the same—taxpayer funding and government policies that promote stewardship of my home state's beautiful outdoor places.”
Nelda Siemion, Director of Philanthropy
“I am privileged to work for The Nature Conservancy, one of the most trusted and respected nonprofits in the world, alongside dedicated professionals committed to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Ours is the most profoundly important global mission of our time. As director of North Carolina’s philanthropy team, I lead knowledgeable fundraisers who are experts in all facets of charitable giving to support conservation here in North Carolina and around the world.
From annual funding of ongoing operations to grants that expand foundational programs to gifts that seed new initiatives, we work closely with donors to help them realize their charitable goals. There are many ways to give: by phone, by mail or online. You can make a gift by check, by credit card or through a donor-advised fund; you can give gifts of stock or mutual funds, even cryptocurrency, and we encourage you to consider including TNC in your estate plans.
TNC is also fortunate to receive many gifts of real estate—for conservation and as trade lands that are sold with the proceeds directed to our conservation mission. Please reach out; we are here to help!”
Trevor Osterhaus, Director of Operations
“As the Director of Operations, my work centers on supporting all the amazing people and programs across the North Carolina Chapter. This includes leading the human resources and people management operations, along with providing leadership for the strategic priorities and central operational/administrative processes within the Chapter. Our Chapter consists of over 45 full and part-time staff, as well as seasonal burn crews and interns.”
Margaret Southern, Director of Communications
"My job is to share the great work that TNC is doing in North Carolina. I write the content for Afield, our Chapter's quarterly newsletter, share stories with the media, support our programs with materials, and look for ways to reach new people about TNC."
Program Directors
Julie DeMeester
Director of Freshwater
“I lead a talented team of people, from source to sea, to protect and restore the amazing waters in North Carolina. Our big themes include environmental flows, aquatic connectivity, healthy wetlands and floodplains, holistic watershed management and nature-based solutions for resiliency and risk reduction.”
Deborah Maurer
Director of Southeast NC Program
“I lead a diverse team of skilled professionals to protect, manage and restore natural communities, including longleaf pine savannas, pocosin, Carolina bays and bottomland hardwoods across southeast North Carolina; we have a significant focus on conserving a resilient and connected landscape to preserve the unique biodiversity of coastal North Carolina, focusing on work with partners, both public and private, to increase controlled burning as a primary action to maintain this biodiversity while also providing opportunities to connect people to these places through collaborative projects and community outreach.”
Megan Sutton
Director of Southern Blue Ridge
“I lead a team of freshwater and forest restoration specialists who work with federal and state agencies to restore fire-adapted forests and biodiverse streams across the mountains of the Southern Blue Ridge. We work across state lines spanning the Southern Appalachians and leverage our on-the-ground work to meaningful scales through both policy and practice.”
Kemen Austin
Portfolio Director, CPRG Program
"I'm the Portfolio Director for a large fund aimed at conserving, sustainably managing, and restoring forests and wetlands across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. Every day, I get to work at the intersection of science, policy, and finance—channeling resources into landscapes that are vital for biodiversity, climate resilience, and community well-being."
- Adam Warwick, Southern Blue Ridge Stewardship Manager
- Aaron J. McCall, Northeast Regional Steward
- Aaron Bunch, NC Coastal Applied Scientist
- Anthony Ricely, Sandhills NFWF Burn Crew Manager
- Annamarie Pas, NC Sandhills WRC Burn Crew Manager
- Alan Teed, Sandhills Stewardship Manager and Burn Boss
- Brian Parr, Land Steward
- Cat Chamberlain, Lead Climate and Resilience Scientist
- Denise Bates, Philanthropy Program Manager
- Dana Carpenter, Assistant Land Steward
- Emma Hughes, Government Relations Policy Manager
- Eric Soderholm, Coastal Wetlands Restoration Lead
- Genevieve Joseph, Sr. Associate Director of Philanthropy
- Grayson Mendenhall, Philanthropy Communications Manager
- Hope Woodhouse, Associate Director, Donor Engagement
- Jamie LeTellier, Conservation Coordinator
- Jennifer Lamb, Conservation Coordinator
- Jodie LaPoint, Director of Conservation Planning and Operations
- Jolene Schira, Director of Finance
- Jeff Marcus, Longleaf Pine Restoration Director
- Justin Boner, Land Protection Manager
- Jordan Luff, Southern Blue Ridge Forest Ecologist
- Karen Miller, Finance Specialist
- Kevin Zorc, Nags Head Woods Preserve Assistant
- Kemen Austin, Portfolio Director, CPRG Program
- Mike Horak, Sr. Associate Director of Philanthropy
- Margaret Fields, GIS & Invasives Coordinator
- Michelle Ly, Conservation Coordinator
- Nathan Burmester, SECP Stewardship Manager
- Nancy Lewis, Grant Specialist
- Nancy Sears, Sr. Associate Director of Philanthropy
- LaDonna Lindgren, Philanthropy Program Specialist
- Lauren Goodman, Science Engagement Specialist
- Lora Eddy, Conservation Coordinator
- Lydie Costes, Sandhills Conservation Planner (ORISE fellow)
- Lucie Law, NC Mountains Freshwater Restoration Specialist
- Luke Pangle, NC Applied Watershed Scientist
- Rhonda Sturgill, Conservation Coordinator
- Sophia Torres, Communication Coordinator of NC,VA,TN,KY
- Shawna Alkon, Executive Assistant and Trustee Liaison
- Tasha Bassett, Office Coordinator
- Zach West, SECP Land Steward
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Our Conservation Work
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Restoring the Land of the Longleaf Pine
Fire is essential to healthy longleaf pine forests, and prescribed burns are an important tool in the management and restoration of these ecosystems.
Identifying Fish Species at the Roanoke River
Hydrologic restoration is all about returning the water flow to its most natural state, so we are focusing on replacing culverts with fish-friendly bridges so fish can move freely.
Climate Action
Addressing air and water pollution, rising temperatures and extreme flooding events across North Carolina.