Tara Littlefield, Kentucky’s Native Plant Communities: An Overview

 Tara has been working as a rare plant botanist for Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC) since 2006. At the commission, she focuses on rare plant conservation, federally listed plants, and floristic inventory across the state. In addition, she works as a contract botanist surveying National Forests for rare plants, mainly in Tennessee. She has a B.S. in Chemistry from University of Louisville and an M.S. in Forest Ecology from University of Kentucky and is currently the Treasurer if the Kentucky Native Plant Society.

Brian Yahn, Kentucky’s Native Plant Communities: An Overview

Brian received his Bachelor of Science in environmental resources from Eastern Kentucky University in1998. He has since done ecology/botany work at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and in the southeastern United States, and as a land steward in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brian joined the KSNPC in 2005 as a vegetation ecologist, where he conducts inventories of natural areas across the state and works with other staff ecologists to update KSNPC’s natural community classification, including developing KSNPC’s anthropogenic community classification.

Joyce Bender, Threats to Ecological Communites and Biodiversity of Kentucky

Joyce joined the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission in 1986 as manager of the state nature preserve system.  She is the current president of the Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council and the Chair of the Kentucky Prescribed Fire Council. She has a MS in biology from the University of Akron.  Joyce worked for The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota and Ohio and for the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves prior to her arrival in Kentucky.

Mary Carol Cooper, Enhancing Biodiversity in your own Backyard

Mary Carol has recently retired from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources where she served as the Coordinator of the Salato Native Plant Program for 14 years. There she maintained 2 greenhouses full of native plants which are used to landscape Salato exhibits and are donated to any public lands and schools who are installing outdoor classrooms. Over the past 14 years she has served on the Board of the Kentucky Native Plant Society, the KY-Exotic Pest Plant Council, the WildOnes Natural Landscapers, Raven Run, and the Bluegrass Rain Garden Alliance.

Beverly James, Management and control of Invasive Bush Honeysuckle

Beverly has been the Preserve Manager of Floracliff Nature Sanctuary since 2006, working predominately on invasive plant control and educational programs.  Before coming to Floracliff, she had three years of experience working in land management, environmental education, and horticulture.  She has a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation and Management from the University of Kentucky and is currently the vice president of the Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council.   Beverly enjoys incorporating native plants in her home garden and is currently leading a grant funded stream restoration project in her neighborhood.  

Zeb Weese, Rare Plant Management and Invasive Species Control

Zeb has worked in land management in the Commonwealth since 1995; currently the staff biologist for the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund, he has also worked for the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission and Natural Bridge State Park, among other organizations. Currently the vice-president of the KNPS, he is also a board member of the Kentucky Prescribed Fire Council and past-president of the Kentucky Society of Natural History. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a BS in Zoology, BA in American history, MA in Environmental history, and additional graduate work in Forestry with an emphasis on invasive species management. As a 6th generation Kentuckian, Weese appreciates any opportunity to help protect some of Kentucky's vanishing habitats.