HCLT Staff

Dr. Gary Wein, Executive Director: hitrust@earthlink.net

Gary was HCLT's first full-time employee, coming on board in 2006.  He manages the staff and oversees all operations of the Trust.  Gary is responsible for all of our conservation efforts, acquiring new properties and refining details for each project to maximize the conservation benefits and meet the needs of the land donors as well. He earned his PhD in Botany at Rutgers University and did his under graduate studies in Biology at Niagara University.  Gary has been a professor at Memphis State, University of Mississippi and is currently adjunct at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as on the graduate faculty at Western Carolina University.   He has vast experience in wetlands restoration, landscape ecology, and natural history. He worked as a Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico which might be why he is so great with kids.  He has earned his black belt in Tai Kwan Do and holds belts in Brazilian Jujitsu and Han mu Do.   Gary is a wealth of knowledge about all things botanical and...well...all things.  He is affectionately known by certain board members as "Wiki" (short for Wikipedia) and the staff is considering entering him onto Jeopardy to further our fundraising efforts.

Julie Schott, Development Director: julie.hitrust@earthlink.net

Julie joined the team in 2007.  She oversees membership development, outreach & events and our adult education programs.  She earned her B.S. in International Business from W.C.U. and her B.Ec. in International Business and Management Studies from the Hogeschool Brabant in the Netherlands.  She earned her certification in Non-profit Management from Duke University.  Julie has lived from coast to coast but made the Mountains of WNC her home several years ago.  Her love of the outdoors was born during family camping trips as a child on the coast of Northern California and later in the Florida Keys.  In her spare time, Julie loves to create re-purposed "masterpieces," explore new places and perfect the art of capoeira dance (not really).  She is particularly fond of fireflies, campfire and the smell of fresh ground coffee (really).


Sarah Pursel, Education and Outreach Coordinator: hclt_ed@earthlink.net

Sarah started working with us in 2011. Sarah runs our "Kids in Nature" programs - environmental education programs for children - and also coordinates various community and member education and outreach efforts. She earned her B.S. in Biology from U.N.C.A. and her M.S. in Biology from W.C.U. She is also a North Carolina certified Environmental Educator. Sarah is particularly interested in arthropods. In her spare time, Sarah is an avid horseback rider.


Andrew Renfro, Stewardship Coordinator: andrew.hitrust@earthlink.net

Andrew is our newest team member, joining us in 2022. Andrew grew up in Cashiers and attended Summit Charter School and Highlands High School. He has a degree from Appalachian State University with a BSBA in Marketing and Risk Management & Insurance. Andrew’s previous work and volunteer experience led him to pursue his interest in environmental stewardship, trail work, and bettering his community. In his spare time, he enjoys fly fishing, photography, hiking, and hunting.