KCC Board Elections 2023
The KCC board may consist of between 8 to 13 directors. KCC elects half of their board every year. Directors may serve no more than three consecutive 2-year terms. We presently have four Directors who are continuing in their second year of their current 2-year term, and those include: Joyce Bender, Nat Colten, Tyler Hill and Anna Marie Pavlik Rosen. (KCC’s current board page here).
This means that the KCC membership must elect at least four additional candidates and no more than nine additional candidates (which can include write-ins) this year for the 2023 board, to serve for a 2-year term.
We are presenting you with a slate of five qualified candidates. Please read their statements below. (This slate includes three current incumbent Directors, and two new candidates). We may also consider up to four write-in nominations if you choose to suggest names (write-ins are not automatically elected, but instead would be considered by the board for an appointment once vetted). KCC Partner Organizations are eligible to recommend candidates for the KCC board. Ballots must be submitted by current members in good standing. (If you have not renewed your membership, you may do so here).
Please read the five candidate statements that follow, and then VOTE using the blue button below.
PLEASE NOTE: if you have any problems in casting a vote for more than one candidate, please submit ballots for each candidate separately. If you continue to have issues in selecting multiple candidates please contact us.
Emma Coakley
Emma is an avid outdoorsperson who spends most free time on the local trails she has maintain in the area. She has degrees in Anthropology, Political Science, and Sustainable Systems from the University of Louisville. She is on the path to attaining an MSc in Sustainability & Ecology from the Centre for Alternative Technology with a focus on rewilding. She has worked on farms, in forests, at bike shops, and on environmental campaigns while growing an ever-increasing love for the wilder & greener side of life. Emma now works at Elizabethtown Community & Technical College (ECTC) as Records Office staff and Inclusivity, Diversity, & Equity Advisory Committee Chair. When time permits, she champions anti-racism and LGBTQ+ success in off-road sports.
Gerry Seavo James
Gerry Seavo James is the Together Outdoors Lead at the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, where he leads a cross-sector coalition of over 100 organizations, individuals, business leaders, federal agencies, activists, manufacturers and service providers who share a commitment to building an inclusive outdoor recreation community. Prior to ORR, Gerry founded Explore Kentucky, an outdoor-oriented social enterprise which works to expand outdoor accessibility, build environmental literacy, and improve quality of life for folks in Kentucky. He also works as a consultant on the EPA's Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program. Gerry earned a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications Area from Campbellsville University. He is also an Air Force veteran, social artist, and photojournalist. Since 2010, Gerry has adopted the Commonwealth of Kentucky as his home.
Rachel Norton
Rachel Norton is a member of the Mountain Association (formerly the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development) and has been with the organization since 2016 and works on issues related to commercial energy efficiency and has recently become a Certified Energy Manager, including expanding her knowledge on solar installations, to support businesses, non-profits and local governments as they work to save money and build resilience. Rachel is a certified Building Performance Analyst and is currently building her own energy auditing business outside of work. Committed to creating a healthier, more sustainable global environment, Rachel serves her local community through elected leadership roles in her professional community, and participating in volunteer work around the state involving energy efficiency and solar. As one example, Rachel is co-facilitator for the Advancing Equity & Opportunity (AEO) Collaborative. Additionally, her most recent project, Solarize Lexington, doubled the amount of solar panels on homes in her hometown of Lexington, Kentucky.
Nia Rivers
Nia holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Gonzaga University and is a part of the Commonwealth’s Division of Water in their Watershed Management Branch. She is the current Chair for the Black Professionals Network an employee resource group for State employees and a member of the DEI Council for the Energy and Environment Cabinet. She is passionate about giving back to the community around her and helps to facilitate community engagement at a multitude of diverse levels. Nia enjoys efforts that allow her to combine her love of science, nature, community, and social justice. She engages in work that helps encourage sustainable, equitable, and inclusive environmental practices. In her free time she enjoys anything that allows her to be outdoors; especially if it is near, on or in the water and participating in urban agricultural efforts in her neighborhood.
Rachel Young
Rachel is 27 years old and from Frankfort, KY but now lives in Lexington where she went to college at the University of Kentucky and received a BS in Animal Science. She worked for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife in the education division, from 2017 until 2021, where she educated children and adults of all ages on the importance of Kentucky's wildlife and resources. She now works as the organization’s Executive Director. She has worked in the pet, horticulture, wildlife, and technology industries. Her outdoor hobbies include kayaking, hiking, exploring Kentucky's natural areas, traveling and visiting other state's State and National Parks, and searching for Kentucky's native birds, amphibians, and reptiles species across the state.