SAHC Board of Trustees
Trustees are elected by the Conservancy’s general membership for a three-year term. After an initial term, a trustee may be re-elected to a second three-year term, but may serve no more than two consecutive terms. Current Board Members are:
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SAHC Staff
Carl Silverstein, Executive Director
Carl Silverstein joined the staff as Executive Director of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in July 2000.
- Previously served as Campaign Coordinator of the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition.
- Received a Bachelor of Art Degree from Stanford University and graduated from the University of Alabama Law School.
- Practiced law in Seattle, Washington, before moving to Asheville, NC, in 1995.
- Carl, his wife, Bonnie, and their son, Will, and their daughters, Oona and Nora, enjoy hiking and camping in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Kristy Urquhart, Associate Director
Kristy Urquhart has been Associate Director for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy since 1997 and has served on the staff since 1991.
- Graduated from King College with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Business/Economics.
- Engaged in orchard management work and had her own apple tree pruning business in Ithaca, New York.
Judy Murray, Stewardship Director
Judy Murray received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Florida State University in 1960 and relocated to Kingsport, Tennessee.
- Worked as an analytical chemist at Tennessee Eastman Company for eight years.
- Received a Masters of Science Degree in Ecology with an emphasis on wildland management.
- Founding Member of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
- Served as volunteer Land Stewardship Coordinator. In 1980, she became a SAHC staff member as the Stewardship Director.
- Life Member of the Appalachian Trail Conference and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
- Member of the National Areas Association, the Trout Unlimited, the Tennessee Ornithological Society and the Friends of Roan Mountain.
Cheryl Fowler, Membership Director
Cheryl Fowler joined our staff in 2001. She is from Waynesville, North Carolina.
- Completed an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Commercial Art and Advertising Design from Southwestern Community College of Sylva, NC.
- Worked in the printing and design industry for five years before deciding to start her own graphic design business.
- Cheryl and her dog, Zuko, enjoy exploring the beautiful North Carolina mountains and she is looking forward to helping preserve and maintain the area.
William Hamilton, Farmland Program Director
William joined our staff in 2005, and is focusing on farmland preservation efforts.
- Previously served as the Natural Resources Crew Field Supervisor at Warren Wilson College.
- Graduate of Warren Wilson College and North Carolina State College of Natural Resources.
- Owns and operates a portable sawmill, based on Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview, NC.
- William enjoys life with his wife Molly, daughters Anne and Evva, and son Hythe. He also enjoys basketball, hiking, and the rural life that our region affords.
Michelle Pugliese, Land Protection Director
Michelle Pugliese joined Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy as its Land Protection Director in November 2007. Previously she:
- Worked as the Director of Land Protection for St. Simons Land Trust on St. Simons Island, Georgia from 2002 until moving to Asheville in 2007.
- Graduated from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences with a Masters of Environmental Management in 2002.
- Worked as an environmental consultant for Clayton Group Services in Massachusetts from 1998 until 2000.
- Received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Lafayette College in 1997.
- Michelle loves to hike in the mountains with her dog, Lucy, and is thrilled to be working to preserve the spectacular landscapes of Western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.
Hanni Muerdter,
Stewardship and Conservation Planning Director
Hanni Muerdter joined SAHC as Stewardship and Conservation Planning Director in September, 2007. She is from Bethel in Haywood County, NC, and currently resides in Yancey County.
- In 2006-2007, Hanni worked in stewardship and land protection for High Country Conservancy in Boone, NC through AmeriCorps Project Conserve . Also through AmeriCorps, she wrote and oversaw the creation of Blue Ridge Forever's Conservation Vision, a regional conservation plan for the Southern Blue Ridge.
- Previously worked and/or interned at: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, and for the Student Conservation Association.
- Received her bachelors in biology & environmental studies from Oberlin College, OH.
- Hanni likes to hike, swim, act in plays, and enjoy mountain life.
Gretchen Parlier, Financial Compliance Specialist
Gretchen joined SAHC in August 2009 as the Financial Compliance Specialist. She is a North Carolina native, grew up attending many Appalachian football games in Boone, NC, and has lived in the Asheville area for about 7 years.
- Received her bachelor's degree in Social Work from North Carolina State University in 1997. She worked as a social worker for Buncombe County Department of Social Services for 6 years before deciding to change careers.
- Completed her Masters in Accounting from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill in May 2009.
- Enjoys hiking, mountain biking, traveling, reading, the beach, and working on her house.
