Meet the Team
We are united
in our love of this special place.
Everyone on the CNP board and staff brings a unique set of skills and talents to the common goal of making this place the best it can be, sharing it with the community, and fostering a love and appreciation for nature in visitors of all ages!
Staff
Erin Knight
Interim Executive Director
It was during her 13+ years working in land conservation with Upstate Forever, ultimately serving as Land Trust Director, that Erin first visited the land that would become Conestee Nature Preserve. It wasn’t yet protected, or open to the public. There were no trails. Just unmatched beauty, incredible wildlife, and potential. It always called to her, and one day, she answered! Erin is passionate about connecting people and nature, and improving the organization she loves.
Taylor Earley
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR
An upstate native, Taylor spent her childhood exploring the woods near her home, enjoying wild honeysuckle and collecting snail shells. Her love and appreciation for wildlife inspired her to earn a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of South Carolina. After graduation, Taylor joined the Palmetto Conservation Corps and helped build the Palmetto Trail. Now an environmental educator, Taylor works to instill in others the same passion she’s always had for the natural world.
Amanda Foster
TRAILS DIRECTOR
Amanda’s passion for the great outdoors has been a lifelong journey. With a degree in Outdoor Leadership from North Greenville University, she has spent nearly a decade professionally crafting trails in parks and private lands throughout the Carolinas. Her personal mission at CNP is to sustainably create and preserve trails that serve as gateways for people to explore and connect with the natural world. Amanda loves yoga, music, cats, and rock climbing.
Jim Groener
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR
Jim discovered his love of nature at the Jersey Shore, but migrated to SC to attend Clemson University for Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. He spent the next 20 years in Florida, honing his skills as an educational tour guide, narrator of animal exhibits, and animal handler. He returned to the Upstate in 2018 and worked at the Greenville Zoo before discovering the most amazing classroom of all, Conestee Nature Preserve.
Samantha Hart
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR
Samantha grew up exploring the woods behind her house, and has always loved being outdoors. She has a degree from Clemson University in Environmental and Natural Resources with a concentration in Conservation Biology and a minor in Biological Sciences. Samantha worked on the coast as a Naturalist at Kiawah Island, then returned to the Upstate in 2021 and worked as a Life Science Instructor at Roper Mountain Science Center before joining the Conestee team.
Meghan Salm
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
Raised in a small town in the Virginia mountains, Meghan’s desire to protect the environment was ignited early on. Her pursuit of that passion led her to earn a degree in Sustainability from Furman University. Meghan spent a year with AmeriCorps before assuming the role of Sustainability Education Coordinator at Sustaining Way, a local nonprofit. As CNP’s Program Administrator, Meghan cultivates community around nature. A true bookworm, Meghan is always reading a good story.
Ben Stansell
HABITAT AND ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Ben’s first few visits to CNP were filled with wonder. How could a place like this – where herons perch and trails wind through forest for miles – exist just a few minutes from the urban center of Greenville? Even though he’s helped maintain trails at CNP for over a year, that sense of wonder hasn’t worn off. A former journalist, Ben has enjoyed leaning into his passion for conservation while learning about trail infrastructure and access.
Sarah Whitmire
EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Sarah holds a bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Biology and a master’s in Secondary Science Education from the University of Georgia. Prior to CNP, Sarah taught at J.L. Mann High School, was Program Director for a residential environmental education program in Georgia, and had several wildlife field technician jobs tracking everything from rodents to black bears. Teaching outside is her happy place, and CNP is the best classroom she could have asked for!
Josh Zalabak
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Josh grew up camping, fishing and hunting throughout Central Florida. These experiences fostered a passion for nature and an interest in wildlife that led him to a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Florida . After 10 years in Animal Care at a zoo in Orlando and the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, he transitioned into marketing, becoming PR coordinator at the Aquarium for just over a year before coming to Conestee in 2021.
Board
Bill Bridges
CHAIRMAN
After almost 30 years with Bank of America, Bridges retired as a Senior VP to join The Graham Foundation as Managing Trustee. He remains a Trustee with Graham Foundation but retired from active management. Bridges has been involved with Conestee Nature Preserve for a number of years and as Board Chair for the last several years he led the successful effort to obtain funding for a replacement of the Conestee Dam. Bridges is involved with our community in several other ways, perhaps most notably as a member of the Board of the Community Foundation where he serves as Treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee.
Henry Sullivan
VICE CHAIRMAN
A long time Greenville resident with family ties throughout the Upstate, Henry Sullivan began practicing law in Greenville in 1987. He currently practices with his firm, McKinney Sullivan, LLC, Attorneys at Law, and focuses on real estate transactions. Henry utilizes his professional experience to aid the Preserve in land conservation efforts. He has been married to Ann Douglas Sullivan, a Greenville native and public elementary school teacher, since 1990, and they have two adult children.
Valerie Hollinger
SECRETARY
Having served eight years on the Greenville County School Board, Valerie Hollinger brings an in-depth understanding of efficient governance to the Preserve’s Board of Directors. Valerie understands the needs of the community’s youth and how Conestee can help meet them. She enjoys experiencing the Preserve through the eyes of her grandchildren. Bird watching is Hollinger’s favorite hobby, and she loves capturing pictures of various species found around Conestee’s wetlands and forests.
Lester Lippincott
TREASURER
An experienced auditor, Lester Lippincott brings a wealth of accounting knowledge to his role as treasurer on the Preserve’s Board. He’s currently the Senior Director of Internal Audit for Global Lending Services in Greenville. A graduate of Bob Jones, Lester is proud to call the Upstate home. He’s committed to giving back to the community through mentorship and his work with the Preserve.
Nicole Cendrowski
As co-founder and CMO of Fireforge Crafted Beer in downtown Greenville, Nicole Cendrowski is a dynamic force in the Upstate’s small business and nonprofit communities. Nicole utilizes her extensive background in marketing communications and business development to expand the Preserve’s visibility. Her goal is to ensure Conestee Nature Preserve continues to be an accessible, sustainable destination for outdoor enthusiasts to foster a meaningful connection with nature.
Andy Finley
After falling in love with Greenville as a student at Furman University, Finley returned to the Upstate after earning his master’s in accounting from the University of South Carolina. He is currently a senior manager in KPMG’s Greenville office, bringing to the CNP board an invaluable understanding of non-profit accounting. He’s long been involved in conservation efforts at the Preserve and through his engagement with Trees Upstate.
Buddy Mills
John “Buddy” Mills is known professionally for his work as a financial professional, but he’s spent much of his time advocating for causes close to his heart – both in the Upstate and abroad. Buddy worked with his alma mater, Wake Forest University, to protect the Lighthouse Atoll Coral Reef in Belize. Locally, he has been a friend of numerous conservation efforts. He’s also the co-founder of Spectrum-Villages, a startup focused on supporting neurodiverse adults.
Chasity Ramos
If you’ve spent much time in the Preserve, you’ve likely seen Chasity Ramos in action – leading a group hike or guiding a crowd of bird watchers. An outgoing advocate for the outdoors, Chasity facilitated deeper connections with Conestee Nature Preserve as the immediate past Network leader. She has been a pivotal figure in the upstate chapter of Outdoor Afro, a national network that encourages and inspires Black people to engage with land, water, and wildlife through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation.
Ann Marie Ravindran
Dr. Ann Marie Ravindran specializes in hospital pediatrics at Prisma Health A regular visitor to the Preserve, Ann Marie came to appreciate CNP anew after visiting with her family and watching her children engage with nature. As a board member, Ann Marie works to ensure Conestee is equipped with resources to remain an accessible oasis of natural wonder. Ann Marie supports a number of local nonprofits, including Trees Upstate, Project Host, and Roper Mountain Science Center.
Scott Trenor
Both as a professional in the recycling industry and an avid mountain biker, Scott Trenor understands and appreciates Conestee Nature Preserve on multiple levels. This unique perspective has informed his continued efforts to better the Preserve since he joined the board in 2022. Scott, a board member of the Upstate Southern Off-Road Biking Association, played a hands-on role in developing the Preserve’s mountain bike trail and continues to support its expansion.
Colin Young
In his role as Parks Maintenance & Development Manager for Greenville County, Colin Young is passionate about enabling broad access to recreation opportunities. He’s particularly interested in connecting people with the outdoors, which is what he’s done during his time on the Preserve’s Board. Colin is a bridge between Greenville County and CNP, making sure that both entities are working together to offer Greenville County residents opportunities to connect with nature in a safe setting.
Will Young
Will Young is Deputy Director for Parks, Recreation and Tourism for the City of Greenville. Will previously served as Special Event Manager, Downtown Project Manager and most recently the Tourism Administrator. In these roles, Will has overseen the growth of Bank of America Fall for Greenville and the addition of events like Fireworks on the Fourth and Greenville Jazz Fest. Will is married to Ellen Young of Easley, SC. They have three children, Arlo, Paul, and Mills.
Mary Allison Zimmerman
Mary Allison Zimmerman is deeply rooted in the Greenville community Tracing her family’s lineage in the area back seven generations, she’s the third consecutive member of her family to sell real estate in Greenville. As a member of the Preserve’s board, Mary Allison uses her fundamental understanding of Greenville to build on the legacy left by her father, George Zimmerman, who helped guide the Preserve as a board member from the nonprofit’s inception.
