Meet Our Team
Foothills Conservancy is staffed by a dedicated team of professionals who love Western North Carolina and believe its natural resources are precious and worth protecting.
Andrew Kota
Executive Director
Andrew joined Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina in 2005 and became executive director in 2017. His stewardship of FCNC has taken many forms, from land and conservation easement transactions, philanthropy and fundraising, land management and stewardship, governance, finance and accounting. Andrew holds a BS Biology from Guilford College, MS Forestry from Utah State University, MBA from Appalachian State University, a Nonprofit Management Certificate from Duke Universitye is a commissioner with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. He and his wife, Shannon, have two sons, Jake and Luke.
akota@foothillsconservancy.org
Tom Kenney
Land Protection Director
Tom has been on staff with Foothills Conservancy since 2000. He holds a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Analysis and Geographic Information Systems from Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from N.C. State University. Tom brings a background in conservation planning and 20+ years of experience securing agreements for the purchase or donation of lands and conservation easements. He works with landowners and partners to save significant land, waters and farmland of the Blue Ridge Mountains and foothills. Tom serves on the South Mountains State Park Advisory Committee and Catawba River Wildlife Coalition. He enjoys canoeing, hiking and experiencing nature often in Pisgah National Forest and the South Mountains, as well as gardening and travel. Tom and his wife Wendy live in Morganton.
Ryan Sparks
Stewardship Director
Ryan has been on staff with Foothills Conservancy since 2016. His love for the Blue Ridge Mountains, coupled with a passion to protect their one-of-a-kind forests and natural features, inspired him to pursue a career in forestry. Ryan earned a Master of Forest Resources and a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Organizations from the University of Georgia. He was born in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and, despite many moves throughout the state and the south, always felt a strong calling back to his childhood mountain home. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, collecting vinyl records, music and backyard birding. He currently lives in Burke County.
Shane Prisby
Trails Program Director
Shane Prisby joined Foothills Conservancy in October of 2022. Originally from New England, Prisby has been involved with trails since 2010. He has built and managed trails for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers and, most recently, for Burke County government. Before joining Foothills Conservancy, he was the project manager for the Fonta Flora State Trail in Burke County, and has previously served as the chair of the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council, as well as a founding steering committee member of the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative. He currently lives in Burke County.
Brittany Watkins
Community Engagement Manager
Brittany began with Foothills Conservancy in September 2018 as an AmeriCorps Project Conserve member, serving as the Volunteer Coordinator. Brittany joined the conservancy as a full time staff member in 2019 as Special Projects Coordinator. In her position, Brittany maintains the volunteer program and assists with outreach and stewardship. Brittany graduated from the University of North Carolina, Asheville with a Bachelor of Science in Literature and Environmental Science. She has been involved in environmental efforts such as trail restoration, educating children about healthy food options with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, and the Asheville River Arts District Farmers Market. Brittany is passionate about community engagement and loves encouraging others to explore the outdoors. She currently lives in Burke County.
Katherine Ehrlichman
Marketing & Development Director
Katherine joined Foothills Conservancy in June 2023. She is a digital marketing professional with over 10 years of online marketing experience, and has been working in the Outdoor Industry since she was a teenager. Katherine graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Business Administration from UNC Asheville. As a Native of Asheville, NC, she values the time that she spends outdoors in the Mountains of Western North Carolina. She enjoys riding bikes, venturing out on multi-day bikepacking trips, and whitewater rafting with friends. She currently lives in Buncombe County.
Annette Henson
Office & Finance Manager
Annette returned to Foothills Conservancy in March of 2023, after a stint with the organization early in its history. A graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in accounting, Annette brings over twenty years of experience in a successful accounting, administrative and financial recordkeeping career that has spanned across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. As a proud Burke county native who lives on her family farm in the Oak Hill community, Annette is passionate about conserving the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains and surrounding foothills that she grew up in.
Katelyn Nelsen
Land & Stewardship Manager
Katelyn joined FCNC in March of 2024 and is very excited to work with an organization that is so passionate about protecting the land and community. She comes to Foothills Conservancy with diverse agricultural and environmental experiences, from volunteering on farms along the east coast of the US and Europe, to working on small-scale vegetable, flower, and pastured livestock farms. Katelyn graduated from college with a degree in Conservation and Environmental Planning and a minor in Sustainable Agriculture, while also holding internships with the Conservation Corps of Iowa and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. In her free time, Katelyn loves spending her time outdoors, including hiking, camping, kayaking, and more.
Michael Gaffney
Conservation & GIS Specialist
Michael joined Foothills Conservancy in May 2022. As the Conservation & GIS Specialist, he develops land acquisition and restoration projects, manages FCNC’s geospatial data, and assists with stewardship and monitoring. He holds a dual MEM/PhD from Duke University. He earned his master’s degree at the Nicholas School of the Environment in landscape ecology and geospatial analysis, and he conducted his PhD research in environmental humanities with the Program in Literature. Previously, Michael worked with North Carolina Coastal Land Trust on prioritizing land acquisitions that benefit both biodiversity and climate resiliency in the coastal plain. In his free time, Michael writes environmental nonfiction and enjoys camping and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Ian Spinelli
Marketing & Development Manager
Ian Spinelli joined Foothills Conservancy of NC in March of 2024. Having recently moved to Burke County from southwest Florida, Ian brings 15+ years of experience in marketing and building relationships with customers, clients, and now donors. They previously worked in marketing and sales at Gartner for 9 years, and worked at several tech startups prior to that. Ian and their partner Sarah have a Greyhound, three cats, and recently brought seven Australorp chickens into the household. During their free time, Ian enjoys photography, traveling, mountain biking, working on cars, video games, and technology.