John-Michael Aurednik (he/him/his) is a native to West Virginia, born in Beckley and raised in Fayetteville. He grew up in the area hiking the Appalachians, swimming in the New and Meadow Rivers, and has deep ties to several communities in the Mountain State. After completing his undergraduate degree in English from West Virginia University he went back to school after a gap year to complete the Master of Public Administration program, graduating in December 2018. During that time, John-Michael also served as a two-term VISTA, helping to support a neighborhood organizing initiative in Fairmont, West Virginia, the creation of a new graduate certificate in community development policy and practice, and supported WVU’s student volunteerism advisory board. When he’s not in the office, John-Michael can be found running along the trails or a zipline tour through a local adventure outfitter.

April (she/her/hers) has been involved in National Service Program Management since 2007 when she became the first staff member hired to lead what was then known as the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team and is now known as Stewards. April holds an M.S. in Strategic Leadership and has a background in nonprofit development. April came to Conservation Legacy following her experience in private education, where she served as Assistant Dean at a college prep high school. There she managed and developed fundraising events, was responsible for student life and parental engagement, and created community service opportunities for the students. In her current role, April provides oversight and management for the delivery of quality programming and meaningful member experiences.

Highlights of April's tenure at Conservation Legacy include design and implementation of bi-annual training events, development of a rural volunteerism toolkit and training series, and leading the expansion of Stewards programs from a regional to a national model. She has presented at numerous national and regional conferences that highlight the work of the OSMRE VISTA program model. April is an active member in her community where she proudly serves as a member of the Beckley Rotary Club, where she serves on the board of directors and incoming Board President (effective 2022). She volunteers with the youth football program by providing positive experiences and opportunities for girls. She most recently was appointed to serve on the Commission for National and Community Service for West Virginia.

Amberly joined Stewards Individual Placements in March of 2021 as the Training and Logistics Coordinator, now Training Specialist. She is a graduate of Appalachian State University and has since worked exclusively in the nonprofit sector with focuses on youth development, housing and homelessness, and conservation. She is also a VISTA alum and served with Habitat for Humanity of Gallatin Valley in Bozeman, MT. Her deep-rooted curiosity for the world encourages a life of travel and adventure with her husband, two dogs and cat. Few things make her morning better than sunshine, a cup of tea and listening to the local birds sing. She enjoys hiking, reading books, cooking, gardening, and much more.

Addie came aboard as a Program Coordinator in the Beckley office in June 2023. Originally from Southern WV, Addie has a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from Concord University (2003) and a master's degree in library Science (MLS) from the University of North Texas (2014). She has done everything from representing youth in court to grooming dogs; from selling insurance to managing a library branch. She considers her favorite job to be the one that still inspires her today—Appalachia Service Project (ASP). The skills she gained in her position there and her love for the mountains where she grew up are what motivated her to come work for Conservation Legacy. When she isn’t at work, Addie can be found enjoying nature with her cats on her back porch or reading books with her young son.

Hello! (Or Howdy!) My name is Autumn Lilly. I am now the Administrative Specialist for Stewards Individual Placement in Beckley WV! I have worked as a Business Admin for about 5 years now. Since 2020 when Covid-19 hit I have been working 100% remote from home. So, I am super excited to be back into an office setting and for the opportunity to bring my skill set to Conservation Legacy. I look forward to where this journey takes me and who I meet along the way!

I have lived in Southern WV all my life in, Mercer, Monroe, Summers, Fayette, AND Raleigh County! Currently I am calling Bluefield WV “home”. I am a Mama of two, Addilyn -5yr and River- 4yr (photo attached). As a mom of two youngins’ I don’t have a lot of time for personal hobbies. But during the summer months you can find the 3 of us outdoors, hiking trails, at the lake, poolside, at Farmers Markets and greenhouses.

My children are obviously my greatest accomplishment in this life and the legacy I’ll leave behind, so my biggest goal is the values I’m instilling in them and shaping who they will become. However, I do have an Ariat boot collection that I’m very proud of, I love poodles, and hope to someday (in the near future) purchase a HOME for the 3 of us and have a little farm of sorts.

Kevin Record (he/him/his) is a Program Coordinator for Stewards Individual Placements, supporting the Historic Preservation and Trades Program. Born and raised in Southern California, Kevin attended the University of California San Diego where he earned a Bachelors in Archaeological Anthropology. After graduating in 2020, he relocated to New York City to serve an AmeriCorps term with City Year, supporting a class of 8^th grade students in The Bronx, and then with NYC Parks, training and equipping volunteers to steward street trees in New York’s urban forest. After spending some time coordinating internships & volunteer programs in both educational and environmental non-profit spaces, Kevin joined Stewards in 2024 with the goal of uplifting the experiences of others interested in national service and supporting environmental & historic preservation efforts. Outside of work, Kevin enjoys film photography, cooking, hiking, reading, writing and (most recently) abysmal attempts at ceramics. He can often be found exploring green spaces in every corner of the city or hunting down yet another coffee shop in which to get hopelessly overcaffeinated.

Gwennan (she/her/hers) is a Program Coordinator for Stewards Individual Placements, supporting the Historic Preservation and Trades Program. Gwennan earned her bachelor’s degree at Ohio University, where she studied International Development and Biological Anthropology. Upon graduation, she completed a term of service with AmeriCorps NCCC, Southern Region. Gwennan then spent a number of years in the non-profit realm as a coordinator, fundraiser, and director of after-school programs. Drawn to West Virginia for the whitewater, Gwennan then spent several years as a River Guide and decided to make this her long-term home. She is currently in the process of restoring a historic home in the New River Gorge.

Meet Robyn L. Saunders, MPA the newest member of our family serving in the capacity of Training and Development Workforce Professional.

Robyn has been a life-long Learning and Development practitioner for over 25 years; dedicated to designing and delivering impactful training programs that empower employees and drive organizational success. She is passionate about equipping today's workforce with the skills needed for tomorrow by advocating for continuous learning, skill development, and creating inclusive educational environments that promote growth and fosters innovation.

She continues to work with thought leaders, government, and community-based organizations to help improve their capacity by addressing skills competency gaps, developing a shared vision, and implementing training programs to identify solutions that align with their mission, vision, goals, and objectives, enabling them to achieve their highest potential.

Education

She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs & Administration from the Metropolitan College of New York and a Bachelor's Degree in Adult Learning Education from the College of New Rochelle. Robyn is currently working towards completing her Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership at Saint Francis University.

Robyn has received numerous accolades for her service to communities, including Proclamations from the NYS Senate. She was also inducted into the esteemed American Library Journal as a "Community Mover and Shaker of the Year."

Fun Facts

• Once turned a boring training session into a Jeopardy game show, which helped employee engagement and productivity skyrocket!
• Married to spouse Nakia for 23 years, with three adult children and five grandchildren.
• Favorite pastime: watching American Greed and documentaries.

Susie Schroer (she/her/hers) grew-up in Missouri and often felt like a character in a Mark Twain novel; Susie’s family built a log house in the country and she spent her childhood walking the woods with her dog, identifying trees with her Dad, fishing with her brother, and riding her bike down dirt roads to her favorite swimming hole. Susie attended Drury University in Springfield, MO where she graduated with her bachelor’s degrees in journalism and psychology. After graduation, Susie was inspired by her Mom to join AmeriCorps and she moved out West to be a VISTA with a non-profit that would provide outdoor recreation programming for individuals with disabilities. After her AmeriCorps service, Susie went on to work for the Utah Office of Tourism where she focused on promoting the state as an accessible recreation destination. She then went on to work with Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation as an Adaptive Recreation Manager and providing Paralympic-style sport opportunities in and around the Salt Lake valley. In 2018 Susie moved to Athens, Ohio with her wife Molly where they live in their dream farmhouse with three dogs, a cat, and chickens. Susie joined Conservation Legacy in October 2021 as the Disability Program Coordinator of the Eastern Region and is now the Program Coordinator of the YES initiative.

Meaghan Scott (she/her/hers) joined Stewards Individual Placements East in May of 2024 as a Program Coordinator. She has extensive customer service experience from her time spent in the restaurant and hospitality industries, retail, banking, and most recently corporate risk management. She was born in Denver, Colorado and has lived in Montana, California, Georgia, Florida, and currently resides in beautiful Eastern Tennessee. Meaghan graduated from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in 2013 and enjoys traveling and trying new foods from all over the world. Always eager to cross off items on her bucket list, she never hesitates to jump at any new adventure. She can normally be found outdoors hiking, kayaking, fishing, riding a motorcycle, or relaxing in a hammock with a good book.

Shelby (he/him) joined Conservation Legacy in May 2024 as a Program Coordinator for Stewards East. Shelby was born and raised in Kentucky but moved to New York to earn his bachelor's in Greek and Latin Classics from Columbia University. Since graduating in 2020, he has worked in many settings, from saloons and supermarkets to publishers and art museums, and served as an NPS volunteer. Drawn to conservation service by the ongoing Earth systems crisis, he is grateful for the opportunity to turn homeward and support the Energy Community program. Shelby loves to hang out with his wife and infant daughter, eat Italian food, and write poetry. He reads in a variety of disciplines and enjoys seeing the ballet, camping and hiking, and crate-digging physical media. Now in the midst of a move back to Kentucky, he looks forward to time with family and space to garden.

Hannah Stone is the VISTA Program Director for Stewards Individual Placements. A graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, WV, Hannah studied Psychology and then received her M.A. in Counseling. After graduation she continued coursework to obtain a Program Evaluation Certificate from Marshall University and is currently enrolled in Marshall University’s MPA program with a focus in Nonprofit Management. Hannah is a native of Charleston, West Virginia and still resides on the West Side with her husband, daughter, two cats and an unruly garden. She is also an AmeriCorps Alum and served three summers with Energy Express supporting reading and literacy initiatives for West Virginian students in grades K-5. Prior to coming to Stewards, Hannah was with the West Virginia State Commission for National Service. During her seven-year tenure she provided strategic development, program management and grant oversight to all West Virginia AmeriCorps State and National AmeriCorps programs. Hannah is firm believer in national service and the transformative experience of a year of service. She is honored to carry on the tradition of the early VISTAs who, in the 1960s, served in Appalachian coal communities across West Virginia.

Patricia is a Program Manager with Stewards Individual Placements. She is a Concord University graduate with a background in research in the Biology field. She went to graduate school in Toronto, Canada where she lived for 8 years. Patricia has traveled extensively around the world but has now settled in Harrisonburg with her husband. She has a passion for anything Science related specifically NASA and had dreams of becoming an astronaut growing up but found herself in the research world. She enjoys hiking trips to exotic islands, walking around in big cities, Science Fiction, and Old Hollywood movies from the 1930s and 1940s. She can cook anything you ask her to but she specially loves cooking holiday feasts all-year-round. Patricia believes that you should stay afraid but do it anyways.

Jessica Zukowski is a Program Manager for Stewards Individual Placements. A graduate of Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, Jessica received her B.A. in Women’s Studies and African and African American Studies. Jessica is a native of Southern West Virginia, after 9 years in Kentucky she returned home to the Mountain State to complete two years of national service as an AmeriCorps VISTA coordinating the Family Friendly Communities Project in Mount Hope, WV. Prior to coming to Stewards, she worked directly with families as an in-home educator. Jessica believes in the power of national service to lift up and empower communities and enjoys the opportunity to support national service projects across the country. Jessica is also the mother to three beautiful children who keep her very busy.

Sage Bates (she/her) was born in Las Vegas, Nevada where she grew up with an appreciation for the beauty and harshness of the Mojave Desert. Not being able to choose just one path, Sage studied Communications and Geology at Northern Arizona University. After graduating, she joined the Nevada Conservation Corps and after one season knew that she wanted to pursue a career in the conservation industry. After completing the leadership development program and leading crews, Sage decided she wanted to learn the processes that work behind the scenes to run programming. She began working with The Great Basin Institute as the Recruitment and Compliance Coordinator and then the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator. Wanting a change of scenery, Sage moved to Oregon to work for the Northwest Youth Corps as a Program Coordinator. Sage brings with her a passion for fostering relations with outdoor ambassadors and creating an inclusive industry for all. Outside of work, you can find Sage hiking, trying a new recipe, thrifting, or reading.

Lea Asman Betty (she/her/hers) is from a small river town in Western Oregon. She graduated in 2001 with a B.S. in Natural Resources, emphasis NR Education from Oregon State University. She has worked as a Park Ranger for NPS, BLM and Oregon State Parks, in wildland fire for USFS, among other interesting professions. She joined Conservation Legacy in the spring of 2022 as an enrollment specialist for Stewards Individual Placement Program. When not at work, you can find her with a book in her hands, making art or birdwatching.

Teiyanknei (she/her) started as an Enrollment Specialist with Conservation Legacy in April 2023 as a full time staff member. She is currently pursuing an Applied Business bachelor’s degree with Brigham Young University – Idaho. She is a former National Park Service Ranger, with a collective experience in Historic Preservation, Interpretation and Resource Protection. In between park seasons, Teiyanknei held administrative positions with the Navajo Nation, her homeland! She has also held management roles with non-profits such as Western National Parks Association and Heritage Square Foundation.

Teiyanknei enjoys the outdoors and exploring historic sites with her little family. Some of her hobbies include Navajo weaving, sewing, and baking.

Roddy Cobb Jr (He/Him/His) joined Conservation Legacy as a Stewards West Program Coordinator in May of 2022. He grew up in Southern California and went to school at the University of La Verne were he earned his B.S. in Psychology. Soon after college, his career interests focused on socio-emotional, experiential education, and community service projects with nonprofit organizations that serve youth from underserved communities.

Morgan Ehmling (she/they) was born in Houston and grew up amongst the beaches and bays of the Texas Gulf Coast. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in Plan II Honors and Sociology, Morgan used her passion for food and the environment to launch her career as a nonprofit professional focused on supporting sustainable farmers in Central Texas. After taking a year to explore North America’s natural wonders, and traveling over 20,000 miles in the process, Morgan became even more passionate about protecting and enhancing our nation’s lands. She joined Stewards Individual Placement in March 2023. Outside of work, Morgan enjoys traveling, SCUBA diving, cooking elaborate meals and collecting new hobbies (stamp carving, spoon whittling, sailing, etc.) because she can never settle on just one.

Geoff (he/him/his) grew up in Connecticut and made his way out west to attend the University of Montana. After graduating, he moved to Estes Park, CO for an education fellowship leading environmental education programs with Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Towards the end of his experience, he shifted his focus to supporting the Conservancy’s youth corps and quickly found his passion for conservation service programs. Geoff spent the last several years leading corps programs, environmental education opportunities, and volunteer experiences for the Conservancy and Colorado Trout Unlimited and completed his M.S. in Conservation Leadership at Colorado State University. He joined Stewards in October 2021 as a Program Director and now Executive Director. Outside of work, he serves as a volunteer firefighter for the Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department and enjoys spending time outdoors rafting, fly fishing, camping, and skiing with his family.

James (he/him) joined the incredible team with Stewards Individual Placements in 2022 as a Program Coordinator. Before that he explored a winding road – teaching Latin at University of Arkansas, writing about film theory, developing an invasives program in Montana, coordinating conservation crews with Southeast Conservation Corps, restoring habitat in Grand Teton National Park, prescribed burning Arkansas’ public lands – all while cooking up a storm! James spends his days with his partner kayaking lakes near Hot Springs Village, hiking the Ouachita Mountains, and relaxing with a cadre of incredible dogs.

Ash (she/her) is based in Nashville, TN and came to conservation in 2021 after realizing that she wanted to pursue it as a career instead of just a hobby. She served two AmeriCorps terms, one with Montana Conservation Corps and another as a VISTA and joined Conservation Legacy in early 2023 as a member of the Enrollment Team. She loves to explore the temperate forests of the Southeast and is especially passionate about cave exploration in the region as well. When she isn't wandering outside, she can be found cuddling with her cats and enjoying cooking meals from her garden with her partner.

Ali (she/her/hers) grew up in the mountains of Nederland, Colorado where she spent most of her time romping in the National Forest surrounding her home. Upon leaving Nederland she moved to Southeast Asia to teach English at the Future of Khmer Children in Siem Reap, Cambodia where she acquired her TEFL certification. She returned to Colorado to focus her love of the environment and people into education, and study Environmental Affairs and Communications at Colorado State University. During the summers, she led crews in trail building, fire mitigation, weed mitigation, and flood relief with Lincoln Hills Flyfishing club. After graduating, she joined the Communications Team at Western Resource Advocates where she was able to assist in their efforts to protect the West’s clean air, water, and land through legislative action and policy development. She joined the Stewards Individual Placement Program team as a Program Coordinator in March 2021. She is elated to give her passion a purpose and to play a role in others’ formative conservation experiences. When she’s not working with the Stewards team she enjoys trail running, camping, traveling internationally, rafting, and dancing to live music.

Rachel Robinson (she/they) joined Conservation Legacy as a Community Volunteer Ambassador with the Blue Ridge Parkway from 2023-2024, and began as an Enrollment Specialist in February 2024. Originally from Southern Illinois, Rachel had a very active childhood, growing up going on family hikes and spending lots of time outside. Rachel took a gap year from college in 2018 to serve a year with AmeriCorps Cape Cod, and found a passion for oysters, native plants, and national service. She moved to Asheville, North Carolina after that, and completed her degree in Environmental Studies at UNC Asheville, graduating in May of 2022. As a student, Rachel led the Student Environmental Center, worked with Campus Recreation, and was a leader for the Divest movement. They are passionate about conservation work, and connecting people with the natural world. In her free time, Rachel enjoys spending time outside, playing music, and trying new activities.

Sam Rush joined Conservation Legacy from Savannah, GA in 2024 as a Stewards Individual Placements West Program Coordinator. Sam began their career as an AmeriCorps member at the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless and in Americorps*NCCC. Their time in national service led them to work in field-based conservation around the country, including stints in Glacier National Park, at the foot of the Hoover Dam, and by a little waterfall somewhere in Vermont that they swear exists, but never found again. They have a bachelor's degree in Youth Development and Peace and Conflict from Goddard College and are trained in crisis intervention. Sam is a hospice volunteer and is passionate about end-of-life care and advocacy, reading, and thinking about birds.

Emma (she/her) joined the Stewards Individual Placements in May 2015. She grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina where she spent most of her time exploring in the woods with her family. This upbringing inspired her to seek out a B.S. in Ecology and Field Biology. Since then, she has traveled down many paths, all with the common theme of helping others become inspired to make a positive difference in the environment. She has had a variety of jobs from being an animal keeper to leading naturalist hikes for kids to being a science museum exhibit educator. Her time with the Stewards Individual Placements has opened her eyes to different avenues of making an environmental impact, where she feels grateful to be part of a passionate team that seeks to create meaningful change.

She is the most content when she is mountain biking, crafting, gardening, beekeeping, doing yoga and spending time with her family and her dogs.

Emma was born and raised in Michigan and quickly grew to love the outdoors through hiking and camping with her family in Canada during the summers. After graduating Lake Superior State University in 2015 with a BS in Conservation Biology, Emma began her career as a Crew Member at ACE in Flagstaff, Arizona. From that point on Emma knew that her passion was in environmental stewardship, and engagement. After bouncing around the US gaining experience in the field of Conservation, Emma joined the Conservation Legacy team in 2017 as a Recruitment and Member Support Coordinator with AZCC and is excited about this new opportunity with Stewards. In her free time, you can catch Emma listening to a podcast while hiking, camping with her husband Dan, or snuggling her cat Opal and reading a good book.

Andre (he/him) joined Conservation Legacy as a Program Coordinator in March 2023. As a first-generation Vietnamese-American, he grew up believing success was measured by money and ‘stuff’. It wasn’t until his opening semester of undergraduate where he failed his first macroeconomics exam that he realized his struggle on identifying and characterizing his authentic identity. That same night he switched his major to Animal Behavior and never looked back. After graduating with his Bachelors in 2015, he had the pleasure of working as an ornithologist for multiple academic institutions across the United States and Panama and completed an AmeriCorps program with the Maryland Conservation Corps before moving across the Pacific Ocean to attend the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo in 2019. Andre is passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented groups that teach valuable career and life skills while instilling a sense of cultural and environmental stewardship. In his free time, he enjoys running, cycling, snorkeling, attending shows and festivals, making art, and drinking all the matcha tea he can put his hands on.

Gillian (she/her) joined the Stewards team as a Program Coordinator in April 2024, and resides in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains of Franklin, NC. She holds a B.A. in Spanish from Ohio University, with a minor in Outdoor Recreation & Education, and a Masters of Conservation Leadership (M.C.L.) from Colorado State University. Gillian has used a love of outdoor recreation and passion for environmental conservation to guide her toward two AmeriCorps state and national terms and one VISTA term. Through her service terms she has gained a variety of skills, from hands-on environmental restoration, to building sustainable partnerships, to building capacity for volunteer and service programs. She is experienced in working collaboratively with underserved communities, including Hispanic/Latinx folks, LGBTQIA2S+ communities, and Tribes, and generally feels most fulfilled when she is using her resources to help a community thrive. In her free time, Gillian can be found kayaking, bird watching, cooking, reading novels, or dipping her toes/her entire self in the river. She is excited to use her experience as a conservation practitioner and three-time AmeriCorps alum to support young professionals on their journey to becoming the conservation leaders of tomorrow!