Conservation News

Hannah Swain-Menzel has joined The Nature Conservancy as the new South Zone Watershed Restoration Specialist. In this role, she will collaborate closely with the U.S. Forest Service and other partners to plan, implement and monitor watershed restoration projects on the Cherokee National Forest.

Originally from Mesa, Arizona, Hannah grew up exploring the Salt River and camping in the White Mountains, early experiences that sparked her love for aquatic ecosystems. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Fish, Range and Wildlife Management with an emphasis in fisheries from the University of Idaho, spending four summers working on the Salmon–Challis National Forest.

Inspired by the documentary Hidden Rivers, Hannah set her sights on the Southeast and moved to Tennessee to pursue her master’s degree in Dr. Rosenberger’s lab at Tennessee Technological University. Her research uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to study two rare Appalachian fish species, contributing valuable insights to conservation efforts in the region.

Hannah brings a strong passion for freshwater ecology and a deep appreciation for the biodiversity of the Southern Appalachians. She’s excited to apply her scientific background and field experience to support TNC’s mission and help restore watersheds in one of the most ecologically rich regions in the country.

Casey brings 15 years of experience in both private and public fundraising, along with a diverse background in archives management, project development, and nonprofit and public works leadership.

Before joining TNC, Casey founded and co-led the Autistic Voices Oral History Project and served as the Adult Program Director and grants lead at the nonprofit Autism Tennessee. She spent 10 years as Project Manager for the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, a collaboration between the Library of Congress and Boston public broadcaster GBH, and she was Project Manager for the Rising from the Ashes: Chimney Tops 2 Wildfires Oral History Project at the University of Tennessee. 

Casey enjoys hiking in the Smoky Mountains, mountain biking, cycling on Nashville greenways and collecting embroidered patches from local, state and national parks, and everywhere she goes. While TN's landscapes are her most beloved, Casey's most memorable recent hike was Mount Vogel in the Julian Alps of Slovenia.

She holds degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Southern Mississippi.

The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee is proud to welcome David Long to its board of trustees. David co-founded Long, Ragsdale & Waters, P.C. in 1986, establishing a boutique law firm focused on real estate, entrepreneurial and finance law. With decades of experience, David has represented land trusts, real estate developers, financial institutions and closely held companies across Tennessee and the Southeast. He remains deeply engaged in conservation easement and resort real estate law and serves as counsel to several land trusts and local park organizations.

David earned his bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in finance and banking from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and graduated Order of the Coif from the Tennessee College of Law in 1981. He is a Fellow of both the Knoxville Bar Foundation and the Tennessee Bar Foundation. David and his wife, Susan, have been married for more than 46 years and are proud parents to two children and have one grandchild.

The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee is excited to welcome Brian Scales as its new Director of Philanthropy. Brian brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and fundraising, with a strong background in major gift campaigns and strategic planning.

A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Brian has held leadership roles at organizations such as Cannon School, The Lovett School, Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center, and Stand Together. He has also served on the boards of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District III and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Atlanta Chapter.

Brian is a graduate of Elon University and holds an MFA from Emerson College. He and his wife recently served on the Sewanee Parents' Council at The University of the South and are proud parents of five boys. In his free time, Brian enjoys photography, travel, and spending time outdoors—making Tennessee a natural fit.

We’re thrilled to have Brian on board as we continue to grow support for conservation across the state.

The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee is thrilled to introduce Tyler Congleton as its newest board member. Tyler's dedication to conservation began in the early 2000s, focusing on conservation easements to protect land from extensive development. As managing partner of Blackberry Development Company and Blackberry Farm Real Estate, Tyler oversees residential development at Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain. His leadership has helped ensure that thousands of acres are preserved in permanent conservation.

Tyler is actively involved in the community, serving on various boards including the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia and UNC-Chapel Hill.

An outdoor enthusiast, Tyler enjoys spending time with his wife, Vee, and their sons, Fulton and Riggs. We are excited to have him join our board and contribute to our mission of preserving Tennessee's natural beauty.

The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee was honored to host staff, trustees and partners from several states at TNC's Mississippi River Basin Program's annual meeting in Memphis February 10-13. After a warm welcome from TNC's Tennessee state director, Laurel Creech, more than 100 participants gathered over several days to discuss challenges and impactful work taking place across the basin, which encompasses 31 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. During the event, key conversations centered on floodplains, agrulture, government relations and communications, highlighting collaborative efforts to protect and sustain the vital ecosystems of the Mississippi River Basin.