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A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Tennessee Wildlife Federation is governed by a volunteer board of directors.
Chairman — Ric Wolbrecht (Germantown)
Vice Chairman — Bruce Fox (Knoxville)
Secretary — Anker Browder (Knoxville)
Treasurer — Tommy Bernard (Kingston Springs)
Allen Carter (Athens)
Allen Corey (Chattanooga)
Bobby Goode (Dresden)
Katherine R. Griffin (Dayton)
Dan Hammond (Franklin)
Terry Lewis (Powell)
Rob Lineberger (Brentwood)
Chris Nischan (Nashville)
Billy Oehmig (Chattanooga)
Richard Speer (Nashville)
Tennessee Wildlife Federation maintains an advisory board to expand and increase our impact for wildlife and conservation across Tennessee.
Members of the advisory board are located across the state and share a passion for Tennessee's great outdoors.
Albert Buckley, Jr. (Franklin)
Chuck Chitty (Chattanooga)
Craig Connors (Williston)
Bill Cox (Collierville)
Bill Dance (Collierville)
Phillip Fulmer, Sr. (Knoxville)
Mike Kelly (Nashville)
Jim Maddox (Nashville)
Colin Reed (Nashville)
Tom Rice (Nashville)
Dr. David Sloas (Cordova)
Brian Sparks (Germantown)
Ben West (Jackson)
Terry Whitson (Rogersville)
Michael A. Butler, Chief Executive Officer
Michael Butler has served as Tennessee Wildlife Federation's chief executive officer since June 2002. Michael works with elected officials, state and federal agencies, and civic leaders to implement sound natural resources policy. He joined the Federation as technical advisor to the executive director in 1996, working with the organization's Conservation Policy Advisory Council and board of directors to develop natural resource policy. Prior to his role at the Federation, Michael earned his master's degree in fish and wildlife management from Montana State University.
Kendall McCarter, Chief Development Officer
Kendall McCarter serves as chief development officer. Prior to joining the the Federation in 2008, Kendall served as vice president of development and university relations at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee. Kendall's development experience includes seven years as associate director of philanthropy for The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Chapter and four years as director of development for Lifeline Blood Services in Jackson. In addition, he has served as vice president and trust officer with Regions/Morgan Keegan Trust, where he worked with high net worth clients in financial and estate matters. Kendall began his career in development work as a regional representative for LeBonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis.
Chris Roberts, Director of Conservation
Chris Roberts joined the Federation in January 2015 as the Director of Conservation, overseeing the Federation's wildlife habitat conservation projects. Chris has a master's degree in biology and more than 20 years of professional experience in conservation planning, land and water protection, government relations, rare species surveys, and wildlife habitat restoration.
John "J.W." Worthen, Director of Programs
John "J.W." Worthen joined the Federation in January 2015 as Director of Programs. Prior to joining the Federation, J.W. served as store manager at Gander Mountain, one of the nation's largest outdoor products retailers. He holds a degree in business with a focus in marketing from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.
Nate West, Director of Communications
Nate West joined the Federation in January 2017 as director of communications. Prior to joining the Federation, Nate worked for nine years with a diverse range of clients at DVL Seigenthaler, most recently as a director of client services. In that role, he designed and guided full-spectrum communication programs on local, state, and national levels. Nate is active in the community and currently serves on the board of Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms. He holds a degree in public relations from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.
Candy Sakarapanee, Director of Finance
A Middle Tennessee native, Candy holds a bachelor's degree from Lipscomb University with concentrations in finance and economics, management, and marketing. During her career, she has accumulated more than 20 years of diverse accounting experience, including 15 years in the nonprofit sector. In her spare time, you'll find Candy kayaking the beautiful rivers and lakes of Tennessee.
Matt Simcox, Hunters for the Hungry Manager
Matt Simcox joined the Federation as outreach coordinator in April 2008, where he coordinated the day-to-day operations of the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program and Hunters for the Hungry. In 2011, Simcox was named Manager of Tennessee Wildlife Federation's Hunters for the Hungry program. Simcox is a 2007 graduate of Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in communications.
Andrew Peercy, Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program Manager
Andrew Peercy was brought on as manager of the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program in January of 2011, and has led the continued advancement of the nationally celebrated scholastic shooting program in Tennessee. Formerly, Andrew was director of information technology services at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin. He earned a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University and a master's from Texas A&M.
Tony Lance, Administration Manager
Previously a naturalist for the Nashville Park system, Tony Lance joined the Federation in 2011. A longtime birder and beekeeper, Tony is most at home being outdoors hiking and backpacking. In 1999, he checked a major goal off his bucket list by completing a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Tony has a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Lindsay Gardner, Conservation Policy Manager
Lindsay joined the Federation in June 2017. She conducts intensive research and manages stakeholder outreach to deepen the Tennessee Wildlife Federation's knowledge base and influence on public policy. Prior to joining the Federation, Lindsay worked as communications and habitat restoration program manager for the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership. She also was the executive director of Red River Watershed Association. Lindsay holds a bachelor's degree from George Mason University and a master's degree from the University of London.
Kate Hill, Multimedia Manager
Kate Hill joined the Federation in August 2014. She handles the creation of print and web graphics. Kate is a graduate of Mississippi State University where she earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design. A native of Jackson, Tenn, Kate enjoys spending time in the outdoors, specifically hiking, camping, and biking.
Taylor Martin, Hunting and Fishing Academy Manager
Previously a Tennessee SCTP athlete, Taylor Martin joined the Federation staff in January 2018 as the program coordinator. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin in business management. Prior to returning to Tennessee, Taylor served as a logistics coordinator in the transportation industry in Michigan. Taylor is a West Tennessee native who enjoys duck hunting and lake life.
Rebeca Bell, Grants Manager
Rebeca Bell joined the Federation in August 2019 as Grants Manager. With a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in writing and rhetoric, Rebeca is passionate about using words to advocate for wildlife and conservation. Before making Tennessee her home, she worked in Chicago and Washington, DC, for conservation organizations and in the public sector for 14 years.
Meagan Hall, Development Manager
Meagan Hall joined the Federation team in September 2019. Previously, Meagan worked extensively in nonprofit fundraising serving the arts and sciences. In these roles, she directed largescale fundraising campaigns and cultivated grassroots support. Meagan holds a degree from Tennessee Tech University and a certification in nonprofit fundraising from the University of Washington. A Middle Tennessee native, Meagan loves all things outdoors, especially backpacking and biking.
Chris Hearn, West Tennessee Field Representative
Chris Hearn joined Tennessee Wildlife Federation's team in August 2019 as the Hunting and Fishing Academy's West Tennessee Field Representative. He holds a bachelor's degree from University of Tennessee at Martin in natural resource management with a concentration in wildlife biology. Chris has a huge passion for all things outdoors. He has more than ten years guiding experience, as well as a background in habitat and forestry management.
Jeb Beasley, East Tennessee Field Representative
Jeb Beasley joined Tennessee Wildlife Federation in August of 2019 and now serves as the East Tennessee Field Representative. He works with the Federation's Hunting and Fishing Academy to recruit and engage the next generation of outdoorsmen and women. Jeb holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in agricultural and resource economics. A Middle Tennessee native, Jeb is an avid deer and duck hunter but enjoys all aspects of the great outdoors.
Kristine Fedorenko, Content Coordinator
Kristine Fedorenko joined the Federation in March 2019 and serves as Content Coordinator. She holds a bachelor's degree in Public Relations with a minor in Marketing from Auburn University. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kristine worked in creative branding before joining the Federation.
Dylan Owens, Program Coordinator
A previous Tennessee SCTP athlete, Dylan Owens joined the Federation in October 2019 as program coordinator. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Bethel University where he also competed on the national stage for their shooting team. Prior to moving to Nashville, Dylan ran and operated the shooting sports complex, Holly Fork, in Paris, Tennessee.