KCC Board Elections 2025
The KCC board may consist of between 8 to 13 directors. KCC elects half of their board every year. We currently have five continuing Directors and we have six candidates on this year’s ballot (three incumbents and two new candidates). Directors may serve no more than three consecutive 2-year terms. The five continuing Directors include Joyce Bender, Colin McAllister, Sherry Jones, Emmanuel Fields and Anna Marie Pavlik Rosen. (KCC’s current board page here).
This means that the KCC membership can elect 3 to 8 additional candidates (which can include write-ins) this year for the 2025 board, to serve for a 2-year term..
We are presenting you with the slate of five qualified candidates. Please read their bios below. We may also consider up to three 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 bios 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.
Nick Hart
Nick Hart currently serves as the Water Policy Director with Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA). Prior to KWA, Nick built a career serving vulnerable communities while protecting public health and the environment. He has worked with the Louisville Legal Aid Society’s HIV/AIDS Legal Project, served as the Environmental Enforcement Coordinator and Community Compliance Supervisor for Louisville Metro’s Air Pollution Control District, and most recently, was the Director of Environmental Health for Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness.
Nick is a native of Kentucky, completed his undergraduate studies at Eastern Kentucky University, followed by the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law where he was a founding member of the Environmental Law and Land Use Society. In addition to volunteering with multiple conservation organizations, Nick Hart also serves on the all-volunteer board of Kentucky Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and is a lifetime member of the League of Kentucky Sportsmen.
As a former professional whitewater rafting guide for 10 years, Nick still spends as much time on the water as possible, and is an avid hunter, fisher, and outdoorsman. He resides in Louisville with his wife and beagle hounds.
Becca Trueman
Becca Trueman is an environmental professional, community organizer, and nature enthusiast with a broad range of conservation experience. As a consultant with Quantified Ventures, she works with communities to access funding for Nature-based Solutions, flood mitigation, outdoor recreation, and water infrastructure. Previously, she served as a Watershed Coordinator for Oldham County and Soil Conservationist for USDA-NRCS. A KY Master Naturalist and certified Environmental Educator, Becca is passionate about science-based education, equitable access to nature, and grassroots-led efforts. She volunteers with the Louisville Wild Ones Chapter and Kentucky Watershed Watch and is a former Supervisor for the Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District. She is drawn to KCC’s commitment to transparency and public engagement and would be honored to contribute her knowledge, empathy, and ability to evaluate diverse perspectives to the Steering Committee. Becca lives in Louisville with her partner and their cats, and in her spare time enjoys camping, yoga, and growing native plants.
Andrew Berry
Andrew Berry is Director of Conservation at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. A central Kentucky native that has worked for over 25 years on conservation issues, he is a graduate of University of Kentucky with a BS in Natural Resource Conservation and Management and an MS in Biology. His overarching duties for the past 16 years have included stewarding and protecting Bernheim Forest, with projects ranging from implementation of large scale habitat restorations, land acquisitions for wildlife corridors, biodiversity protection, outreach, and research. As a Kentucky Conservation Committee Board Member, he hopes to help Kentuckians better understand how conservation and environmental issues are increasingly relevant to our families and communities.
Rachel Norton
(Incumbent) Rachel Norton is a Commissioning Engineer at Paladin in Lexington, KY, focusing on new and existing commercial and industrial buildings. Most of Paladin’s buildings are LEED certified, and many of their renovations are seeking LEED standard of efficiency. Rachel also spent 7 years with Mountain Association (formerly the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development) and worked on issues related to commercial energy efficiency as 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.
Emma Coakley
(Incumbent) Emma is an avid outdoorsperson who spends most free time on the local trails she helps 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. 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 works at ECTC and when time permits, she champions anti-racism and LGBTQ+ success in off-road sports.
Gerry Seavo James
(Incumbent) Gerry Seavo James is Deputy Campaign Director, Outdoors For All for the Sierra Club's Outdoors For All Campaign where he works apart of a team focused on securing federal legislative and administrative opportunities that accelerate outdoor access and equity across the U.S. In his previous role, he served as the inaugural He is also the founder of Outdoor Recreation Design Lab, a creative think tank home rooted in incubation of inclusive outdoor environments, helping all people be active, preservation of biodiversity, and just transition for rural communities. ORDL past projects include the Explore Kentucky brand and RERC EPA consultancy. Gerry is a certified ACA instructor in various disciplines and winner of their 2018 Joe Pina Volunteer of the Year. In 2020 he co-founded the ACA's DEI working group that kickstarted the organization inclusion efforts including the establishment of the Equity and Inclusion Fund, Community Paddlesports Leader Certification, creation of an inclusion focused staff role, Community Paddlesports Leadership Academy, and Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) Initiative. 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.