MEET OUR STAFF & BOARD
The Blue Ridge RC&D Council is governed by voluntary board members from our seven-county service area. Our board works closely with county residents, local government officials, businesses, educators, and state and federal agencies to secure funding and implement projects. Our success would not be possible without the tireless efforts of our board and partners.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Zac O'Donnell has been Executive Director since 2026, and began with Blue Ridge RC&D as the SBR-PBA Coordinator. Zac graduated from Appalachian State University with a BS in Building Science, is an EMT, volunteer firefighter, and passionate outdoorsman. Zac grew up and lives in the South Toe valley with his family, and spends most of his free time mountain biking, hiking, and responding to emergencies.
TOE-CANE WATERSHED PROGRAM DIRECTOR
David Zietlow is the watershed coordinator for the upper Nolichucky watershed comprised of the North Toe, South Toe, Toe and Cane rivers. David moved to this watershed when he was a small boy and the damage from the flood of 1977 was still apparent. Before joining BRRC&D, he worked for the US Forest Service as a hydrologist at the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study in New Hampshire, a research technician at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in Otto, North Carolina, and a naturalist at Mt. Mitchell State Park. David earned a BA in Physics from Bard College and a MS from NCSU with a co-major in Forestry and Environmental Resources and, Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. His free time is best spent exploring woods, wildlife and waterways with his family.
SOUTHERN BLUE RIDGE PRESCRIBED BURN ASSOCIATION COORDINATOR
Jake Silver is the Coordinator for the Southern Blue Ridge Prescribed Burn Association. He works in eight counties to assist landowners with prescribed fire on private land. Prior to the PBA Coordinator role, Jake worked with middle schoolers for over 12 years in the South Toe Valley of Yancey County teaching experiential outdoor and small scale agricultural education, and has worked with Black Mountain Field & Forest, PLLC on numerous forestry and ecological restoration projects.
