Staff

Heather was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She earned a B.A. in Business Administration at Meredith College and an M.A. in Environmental Policy at Tufts University. Heather worked with the Neuse River Foundation to establish the first Upper Neuse River Foundation program. She came to EarthShare North Carolina in 2001 and has served as Executive Director since 2006. Outside of work, Heather spends her time backpacking in the NC and VA mountains, cooking, and silversmithing.

Born and raised outside of D.C., Melissa headed south in 2009 to attend NC State University and earned a B.S. in Environmental Technology & Management. She discovered her deep passion for environmental sustainability during her undergraduate years and has since served as an AmeriCorps member and worked with various Triangle area environmental organizations helping to strengthen and grow programs that cultivate healthy, sustainable, and resilient communities. Outside of work, she enjoys writing and playing music, growing and foraging for food, and exploring the beautiful landscapes in and around NC.

Raised in a small town in rural Iowa, Laura’s early passions included animals, music, time on her grandparents’ farm, and reading. After high school, Laura joined the US Marine Corps to serve our country, while getting her college education. After the Marines, she found her way to the nonprofit world where she discovered her passion for helping others. Eventually, she landed in North Carolina where she began to work for the State Employees Combined Campaign in 2005, connecting charities to state employees. Laura & her son Marcus have called Raleigh home for 15 years now. She still enjoys playing the piano, reading, and working in her small garden, but when the opportunity strikes, she loves to travel, exploring historical sites near and far.