Robert Head, Chairperson

Representing the Union County Commissioner

Email: Robert Head

Anne Mitchell, Vice-Chairperson

At-Large, Towns County

Anne Mitchell was appointed to the the HRWC Board of Directors in September 2007. Anne has been a supportive, active member of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition for many years. In fact, she helped prepare and print the first HRWC newsletter in 1997! And, she has been a part of the Lake Chatuge Ani'ama' team (volunteer monitoring) since it began in 2002! Anne has been a Towns County resident for more than 20 years and generations of her family have lived here before her. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and is a retired family counselor. Anne served on the Towns County school board for 11 years. Currently she is an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and the League of Women Voters. Anne says she is happy to serve. "I believe protecting our water resources through education and action is essential." Anne has three children and six grandchildren.

Email: Anne Mitchell

Nancy Troxler, Secretary

At-Large, Cherokee County

A Cherokee County, NC resident for more than 30 years, Nancy Troxler joined the board in September 2009 to “play a more active role in protecting and improving the wondrous natural resources of these mountains.” After retiring from the nursing profession, Nancy has immersed herself in volunteerism, including 11 years on the board of directors at the John C. Campbell Folk School and 17 years as a Girl Scout Troop Leader. Nancy is also involved with the Cherokee County HouseRaising Volunteers, Hinton Rural Life Center’s Samaritan's Promise, and the Murphy Riverwalk. She and her husband, Brian Mitchell, have two children. In 2004, Nancy and Brian participated in an HRWC restoration project along Little Brasstown Creek designed to minimize bank erosion and improve riparian buffer habitat. As for goals associated with her service to the board, Nancy’s interests lie in helping HRWC promote awareness of environmental issues to the next generation. 

Email: Nancy Troxler

Brenda Hull, Treasurer

At-Large, Clay County

Brenda Hull has been a HRWC Board member since 2003.  Brenda lives in Clay County, but works full time as a Biology/Ecology Professor at Young Harris College in Towns County.  Brenda's primary professional interests lie in the field of ecology, ethology and ornithology.  She enjoys traveling, photography and gardening in her spare time.

Email: Brenda Hull

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Silas Allen

Representing the Cherokee County Commission

Silas Allen and his wife Bobbie live in Cherokee County where Silas has lived his whole life. The land he lives on has been owned by his family for more than four generations.  Silas has been serving on the HRWC Board since shortly after HRWC's incorporation.  He is also a member of the NC Homebuilders Association, the NC Codes Enforcement Association and the NC Association of Floodplain Managers.  Silas works full time as a Cherokee County Building Inspector and Watershed & Floodplain Administrator. In his spare time, he likes to golf, fish, play tennis and work with his horses.  When asked what he would like people to know about himself, Silas said, " I care about water quality deeply.  It saddens me... to see the streams and lakes fill up with silt."

Email: Silas Allen

Truman Barrett

Representing the Towns County Commissioner

Truman Barrett is a Towns County native and generations of his family have lived there before him.  Truman has over 40 years of experience in business or public service and has served on more than 25 boards. In addition to HRWC, he currently serves on the NE Georgia Red Cross Board. Soon after graduating from Towns County High School, he served in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman and in the U.S. Air Force as a Security Policeman. During that time he took business classes at Georgia State University. After serving in the military he became the Director and President of SW North Carolina Farms Co. Op. Later he served the community as Probate Judge (1984-1985) and Sole Commissioner for Towns County, GA (1985-1989). He has been the President and CEO of KB Health Tech, Inc., ERTH Group, Inc. and Envirotech Intl., Inc. Currently, Truman is a business consultant working with start up and troubled companies throughout the U.S. and internationally. He agreed to serve on the HRWC Board because of his “concern for the water quality of the Tennessee Valley.”  He desires to help in the areas where his strengths lie. Truman is a life long member of Union Hill United Methodist Church where he serves as Lay speaker and choir member.  Truman and his wife Wanda of 30 years have two daughters, Amber and Rinday.

Email: Truman Barrett

Jim Dobson

Union County representative of Blue Ridge Mountain SWCD

Union County resident for more than twenty-five years, Jim Dobson served as Vice-Chairperson of the HRWC Board from 1995 to 2004 and as as interim vice-chairperson in 2007. Jim is involved with many other community organizations: Kiwanis, Masons, Shiners, Union County Chamber of Commerce serving two terms as Interim Director, Union/Blue Ridge SWCD (of which he serves as Chairperson) and RC&D.  Jim is retired from agriculture research and administration; he served as Superintendent of the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center for much of his career. Jim spends most of his free time being of service to others. He has been given many awards for his participation in various community projects.  Jim desires to "make [his] retired years productive."  He believes that "an organization with a plan and technical service can do much to reduce erosion and pollution and improve water quality."  He feels strongly that "education is the most vital force in protecting the environment."

Deb Edwards

Towns Co. representative of Blue Ridge Mountain SWCD

Deb Edwards was appointed in 2009 by the Blue Ridge Mountain Soil and Water Conservation District to serve as its Towns County, GA representative.  With both a master’s and specialist degrees in Education, Deb is a part-time science lab teacher to third, fourth, and fifth graders at Union County Elementary School.   Expanding on the theme of learning, Deb feels that water quality education is imperative for keeping a balance between community expansion and resource protection. One of her goals is to achieve a closer partnership between HRWC and the City of Young Harris, for which she currently serves on the Planning Commission.

Email: Deb Edwards

Mark Kephart

At-Large, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Mark Kephart joined the HRWC Board of Directors in April 2008 as an At-Large representative from Cherokee County, N.C. Mark is the Cherokee & Graham County Housing Services Manager for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and, as a National Guardsman, is a veteran of the war in Iraq. He and wife, Angela, live on Hanging Dog Creek. Mark is an avid fisherman.

Email: Mark Kephart

Gilbert (Gil) Nicolson

Representing the Clay County Commission

Clay County resident, Gil Nicolson, was the first staff person HRWC ever had! After working for four years, he and his wife, Amy, went abroad with Habitat for Humanity. Upon Gil’s return in 2003 he was appointed to the Board and has served as Chairperson since the beginning of 2004.  Gil and Amy, have five children and one grandchild. Gil enjoys contra dancing and hiking. A retired consulting engineer, Gil now volunteers as a carpenter/house builder. Gil shares that he wants help make "our part of the world" sustainable. "I believe that being a caretaker of our environment is an important legacy to pass on to the next generations."

Email: Gil Nicolson

John Strawn

Representing the Cherokee County SWCD

John Strawn and wife, Pam, own Hanging Dog Valley Nursery in Murphy, a local wholesale nursery specializing in native trees, shrubs and plants. John’s experience as a botanist, naturalist, and former USDA district conservationist make him a strong representative for the Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District.  He and Pam have lived in Cherokee County for more than 30 years and have raised two children in the area.  John joined HRWC, first as an individual, then as a business member, in order to be part of the active protection of our watershed.  He can often be found hiking and enjoying the paths at Murphy Riverwalk.

Email: John Strawn

Barry Varian

At-Large, Union County

Barry joined the HRWC board as an At-Large representative of Union County, Georgia in June 2009. Since retiring from Steris Corporation as Director of Health Care/Europe in 1997, Barry and his wife, Lynn have been active residents of Union County. Barry also volunteers his time with the Lake Nottely Improvement Association, First United Methodist of Union County, and the local Humane Society. As a father of five and grandfather of eleven,  Barry understands the considerable significance of improving water quality  for future generations.

Email: Barry Varian