THE TEAM
Protecting Our Little Corner of the Southern Blue Ridge
Steadman Harrison, Interim Executive Director
Rachael Hart, Wildlife Coordinator
Rachael is responsible for the daily care, welfare, and training of the Trust’s resident animal ambassadors as well as education. She graduated with a degree in Wildlife Management and has been at the Trust since 2021. Rachael has a deep love and respect for wildlife and cherishes the opportunity to work with wild animal ambassadors. She had an intensive and hands-on education with ample opportunities to work with NCWRC and other similar organizations. She has completed numerous industry recognized trainings and workshops for animal husbandry and training, as well as spending several years at a hospital for birds of prey and education center and has a strong partnership with our local wildlife rehabilitators. Rachael is incredibly passionate about the lives of our animal ambassadors, and being hands-on to help our environment and the creatures in it in any way she can. Contact Rachael at rhart@bmtrust.org.
Amy Duggins, Community Science Coordinator
Amy grew up sloshing through creeks and climbing trees in the Southern Appalachian Mountains and has been head over heels in love with nature for as long as she can remember. She completed her studies at Colorado College and the University of the South and worked as a park ranger and interpretive naturalist with Colorado and North Carolina State Parks, a field biologist in the Gila National Forest, and an environmental educator before joining the team at Balsam Mountain Trust in 2023. Amy facilitates scientific research and conservation projects on the Preserve and loves helping humans get to know their wild neighbors. Contact Amy at aduggins@bmtrust.org.
Megan Castor, AmeriCorps Member, Community Building Coordinator
Megan is a Florida panhandle native, earning her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of West Florida. She went on to work multiple environmental education positions, from working at a camp in Washington, to doing butterfly, roadkill, and skunk research at Nebraska Game and Parks. She has worked, lived, and explored around various different ecosystems and has a love for them all. In her current role, she provides environmental education by bringing our animal ambassadors into schools, as well as heading several public programs that bring a creative and fun learning environment to the community. Contact Megan at americorpsmember@bmtrust.org.
Kim Jacobs, Administrator
Kim Jacobs and her husband, Mike, retired early from Aerospace in 2022. Kim was an Executive Admin for a very large Flight Test organization for over 20 years. She moved from Lancaster, CA to Balsam, NC to be near family. She enjoys having a few acres to watch all the local wildlife in her own backyard – birds, squirrels, turkeys, deer, a bobcat, and even bears. Kim feels so very happy to have moved to this gorgeous state and has even taken up hiking as her new hobby to be able to see even more of its natural beauty! We are fortunate to have Kim with her administrative experience to facilitate all things Trust-related. Contact Kim at kjacobs@bmtrust.org.