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 

Sophie grew up in Winchester, Virginia, where she fell in love with the nature of the Shenandoah Valley. She recently received her Bachelor's from James Madison University with a double major in Technical Writing and Anthropology. During her time at school, she volunteered with state parks, which fueled her passion to pursue a career in conservation and sustainability.

Sophie completed an AmeriCorps position with the Virginia Service and Conservation Corps at Sky Meadows State Park. With the park service, she developed educational programming and projects that helped conserve the park's natural resources. Sophie is now taking her journey to Western North Carolina, where she will learn about and 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

Jeff Miller | Member​

City of Hendersonville

Mark Williams | Member

Henderson County Agricultural Advisory Board

Christine Wittmeier| Member

Henderson County Board of Commissioners

Greg Hoyt | Member

Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District

​Gray Jernigan | Member

Southern Regional Director of MountainTrue

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

Stan Cooper | Member

​​Member at large

​Jeff Chandler | Secretary 

​Member at large