Executive Director

Maria Wise is a native of Western North Carolina and a graduate of North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Biological Science. She has a Master’s degree in Sustainability Studies from Lenoir Rhyne University. Maria worked in biotech in Chicago and in water quality protection in Florida where she also worked to protect manatees and mangrove habitats.
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In recent years Maria helped protect farmland in Buncombe County with the Soil and Water Conservation District. There were over 1000 acres of farm and forest land protected with conservation easements under Maria’s guidance. She is passionate about working with farmers and landowners to enhance their properties while also protecting streams and rivers from erosion and runoff. In her spare time, she likes hiking and camping with her family and enjoying the local food scene of Western North Carolina.

Outreach and Education associate 

Juliana grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, where she loved exploring the Chesapeake Bay watershed. She recently received her Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and Sustainability from Elon University. She was a student farm manager on her university’s vegetable farm, which fueled her passion to pursue a career related to sustainable agriculture and conservation.
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Juliana has worked on a small dairy farm, with an educational non-profit that connects urban school-aged children to green spaces and farming knowledge, and a refugee farming collective which works to minimize its impact on the land. Juliana is now excited to connect her farming experience with water conservation work to help protect the Mills River Watershed.

Mills River Partnership Board of Directors 

Jimmy Cowan | Vice Chair

Farm Bureau Federation of Henderson County

Kieran Roe | Past-chair

​Conserving Carolina Executive Director

Marc Hunt |Member

City of Asheville

adam wallace | Member​

Member at Large

Mark Williams | Member

Henderson County Agricultural Advisory Board

Erica shanks | Member

MountainTrue

Greg Hoyt | Member

Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District

Amy schmitte | Member

Henderson County

Wayne Carland | Member

​Town of Mills River

​James Cantrell | Treasurer

​Town of Mills River Agriculture Committee

​Jay Hawthorne | Member

​Trout Unlimited

Bert Lemkes | Board Chair

Member at large

Lyndsay simpson | Member

City of Hendersonville

​Jeff Chandler | Secretary 

​Member at large