About Us

Foothills Land Conservancy's mission is to protect and preserve the natural landscape of East Tennessee. From working farms to woodlands, watersheds to community parks, FLC has assisted individuals and families in protecting more than 25,000 acres to date. A private organization, we are dedicated to the preservation of the rich wildlife habitats, and the agriculture, scenic, and cultural resources of our region. Our ultimate goal is to lead the way to an East Tennessee that is a healthy place for both people and wildlife.

Working with landowners, the Conservancy offers creative, free-market alternatives for the conservation of agricultural and forest lands. A community based land trust, the Conservancy is led by a volunteer board of directors experienced in planning, land and wildlife management, education, and real estate. Foothills is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is not affiliated with any local, state, or federal government. Foothills Land Conservancy was founded in 1985 and opened an office with full time staff in 1992.

To view our History, please click here.

Mission Statement of the Foothills Land Conservancy

To work with public agencies, preservation and conservation-oriented organizations, property owners, and the interested public to encourage the preservation of natural and productive lands which contribute to the unique character and heritage of the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The corporation will work to protect, preserve or enhance the land, water, geological, biological, historical, architectural, archeological, cultural or scenic resources of the foothills area and productive values of such lands.

Foothills Land Conservancy - 2011 Board of Directors

Charles F. Barnett M.D. Ernie Blankenship Bettye Carver Jay Clark Ed Clebsch Bill Cobble Dick Conley Homer Fisher Mark Jendrek Lewis Kearney

David Lewis David Long Billy Minser LeAnn Mynatt Matt Smith Bob Rusk Mike Suttles Bob Van Hook, Board President Donna Young

Individual members may serve two staggered, three year terms.  No one may serve more than three consecutive terms.  Board responsibilities include: fundraising, policy making, long range planning, land protection, and a range of specialized volunteer activities.

2011 FLC Special Advisors

Judith Davis Forkner Jeanie Hilten Burke Pinnell

FLC Staff Bios

Bill Clabough, Executive Director

bclabough@foothillsland.org

Bill Clabough has spent his entire life in Blount County. A graduate of the Blount County School system and UT Knoxville, Bill spent 30 plus years in the retail grocery business in Blount County. In 2004 he was elected to the Tennessee General Assembly, serving 4 years in the Tennessee House and 6 years in the Tennessee Senate. He joined Foothills Land Conservancy in the spring of 2006 as the Executive Director with the charge to take the organization to the next level. Bill has put together a strong team that is moving Foothills Land Conservancy to be recognized as a regional land trust. He has been involved in all project areas of Foothills. Through the course of overseeing the completion of many successful programs, Bill is always reminded that land protection is our business and our only business!

Meredith Clebsch, Land Director

mclebsch@foothillsland.org

Meredith Clebsch joined the FLC team in 2007 monitoring conservation easements and preparing baseline documentation reports. She attended the Land Trust Alliance national meeting and training sessions in 2007 and 2008. Meredith's formal education includes a BS degree in Animal Science from Clemson University with minors in Horticulture and Wildlife Biology. She also completed a number of graduate and undergraduate level courses at the University of TN in botany, ecology, horticulture and wildlife biology. For the past 25 years she has owned and operated a successful native plant nursery, which includes consultation and design services involving considerable field work in plant identification and landscapes interpretation. Much of her recreational time is spent outdoors hiking and pursuing nature study.

Elise Eustace, Communications & Development Director

eeustace@foothillsland.org

Elise Eustace is the newest member of the FLC team, hired in January of 2009 as Communications & Development Director. She brings with her a background in marketing, a love of hiking and the East Tennessee region, as well as a bit of an organization streak. Elise has over 10 years experience in marketing in sales, client relations, event management, public speaking, and writing. Current FLC projects include donor, business, and media relations along with event planning, printed campaigns, and web development. She has a B.A. degree in Communications with a minor in Business from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. Elise currently serves on City of Maryville Tree Board. She is an avid hiker who enjoys getting acquainted with all area parks and can often be found hiking with the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club and Tennessee Trails Association.