Staff

Harrison Marks
Executive Director

Wilmington Office
(910) 790-4524 x2060

A longtime resident of Winston-Salem and New Bern, Marks has a strong connection to the North Carolina coast going back to his youth.

Marks attended Dartmouth College, earning a degree in Biogeography and served as co-chair of the newly formed Environmental Studies Division of the Dartmouth Outing Club. He had a long and successful career as a senior executive for Wachovia Bank, leading multiple departments in several divisions of the company. He went on to serve as Executive Director of Sound Rivers, overseeing the merger of the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation and Neuse River Foundation into a new organization.

Marks was an active member of the Coastal Land Trust’s Finance Committee for many years before joining the board of directors in 2021. He stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director in September 2022, taking a leave of absence from the board. During that time, Marks led the organization through the completion of a new Strategic Plan and built strong relationships with the staff, board, partners, and key supporters of the organization.

An active out-of-doors person, Marks has been a volunteer with numerous environmental organizations. After stepping down as Executive Director at Sound Rivers, Marks and his wife, Suzie, spent almost two years on their sailboat, sailing along the east coast of the US and the Bahamas.

He is excited and grateful to have the opportunity and privilege to help conserve important lands and varied landscapes of the coastal plain.

Jesica Blake
Associate Director
Director of Stewardship and Community Conservation

Wilmington Office
(910) 790-4524 x2030

Jesica joined the Coastal Land Trust in 2002 as the first stewardship staff member. She earned a BS in Environmental Science/Natural Resources from Johnson State College as well as a Certificate in Forestry and Wildlife Conservation. Recently, she earned the Executive Leadership and Change Management certificates from Cornell. Jesica oversees monitoring and enforcement of all conservation properties (both preserves and private lands) as well as preserve management for the Coastal Land Trust.

She currently serves on the Masonboro Island and Bird Island Local Advisory Committees. She co-chairs the Cape Fear Arch Collaborative Partnership, and served on the boards of the Cedar Hill/West Bank Cultural History Foundation, and the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees. In fall 2020, Jesica was appointed to the national Land Trust Alliance Conservation Defense Advisory Council. Part of the charge for the 16-member council is to be ambassadors “to the larger conservation community and to assist with promoting all aspects of conservation defense.”

Jesica works on community conservation partnerships and projects including cultural heritage and public access in the National Parks Service’s Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, and her favorite project is Reaves Chapel. She spends her free time outdoors on the beaches of NC Coast and on Lake Champlain in upstate NY.

Mellissa Dionesotes
Land and Stewardship Manager

Wilmington Office
(910) 790-4524 x2300

Mellissa moved from the Chicagoland area to Wilmington, NC in 2003 to follow her lifelong dream of living near the beach and studying marine biology. She earned her BS in Marine Biology from UNC Wilmington (UNCW) in 2006 and began working for the university’s Center for Marine Science. In 2015, Mellissa found she had a passion for coastal conservation and went back to school. She earned her MS in Environmental Science and Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from UNCW. She joined the Coastal Land Trust in 2018 and is excited to serve as the Stewardship Assistant; a role in which she can help preserve the ecosystems unique to the North Carolina coast. In her free time, Mellissa paddles the local waterways or works in her garden. She is a long time sea turtle volunteer and loves anything that has to do with the coast!

Kenneth Lingerfelt
Director of Land Protection

(910) 790-4524 x2070

Born in Asheville, NC, Kenneth grew up exploring the high elevation creeks of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. On family vacations, he enjoyed exploring the tide pools of the NC coast. He earned a B.S. in Ecology and Field Biology from UNC Asheville in 2014 where he also competed for the university’s D1 soccer program. He built a baseline of academic experience in aquatic ecology, wildlife conservation, and GIS before working field research positions with the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and then the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). During his time with the NCWRC, he led backcountry field research teams dedicated to studying and mapping the distribution of native fish species in WNC and was selected for the Technician of the Year award in 2018.  He joined the Coastal Land Trust team in January of 2022 as GIS Specialist and Stewardship Associate and assumed the role of Director of Land Protection in April 2024.

Kenneth always felt drawn to the coastal landscape and is excited for the opportunity to bring his skills and experience to the Coastal Land Trust team and to the conservation of wild places in the region. In his free time he enjoys canoeing, hiking, and camping with his girlfriend and their dog, as well as the occasional soccer game just for fun.

Bryce Tholen
Environmental Education Coordinator and Stewardship Assistant

Wilmington Office
(910) 790-4524 x2020

Bryce graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in May of 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences. In the spring of 2021 he was an intern for the City of Wilmington teaching a wildlife explorers program downtown. After completing two years as an AmeriCorps service member with the Coastal Land Trust, Bryce Tholen has officially joined the staff as the new Environmental Education Coordinator and Stewardship Assistant. Bryce will support the stewardship team with fieldwork and continue to grow our environmental education programs.

We are excited that he will continue to be a part of The Coastal Land Trust team! Bryce grew up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and his hobbies include surfing, fishing, hiking, and sports.

Eric Vreeland
Director of Strategic Advancement

Wilmington Office
(910) 790-4524 x2100

Eric grew up in Miami, FL exploring the mangrove forests of the Everglades, snorkeling in Biscayne Bay, and camping in forests across the state. He moved in North Carolina in 2010 and quickly fell in love with all the state had to offer, from the mountains to the sea.

Prior to joining Coastal Land Trust, Eric worked for organizations large and small focusing on basic needs, STEM education, and wildlife conservation. He earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Miami (FL) and a master’s in public affairs from the University of Missouri.

Eric and his family moved to Wilmington in 2021. They enjoy spending time at the beach and exploring the wonderful trails and diverse ecosystems of eastern North Carolina.

Laura Wilson
Development Officer

Wilmington Office
(910) 790-4524 x2010

Laura Wilson has a deep connection to coastal lands and life. Having spent her childhood along the beaches of Delaware, she grew up appreciating and admiring the ocean. She then moved to South Carolina where she earned a BS in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University.  Her love for marine mammals and coastal exploring took Laura to the central coast of California where she lived for nine years before returning to the east coast in 2019.

Before joining the Coastal Land Trust in 2019, Laura worked in development for the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County in California. She is excited to continue the great work of land conservation. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, hiking with their dog, adventures with her husband and their two young boys, and swimming in the ocean.

Mary Ann Daniel
Development Associate

(910) 790-4524 x2000

Mary Ann Daniel is excited to join the Coastal Land Trust team as the Development Associate. Having spent her summers between the mountains and the coast, she has a deep rooted appreciation for the natural beauty of North Carolina.

Mary Ann grew up in Winston-Salem and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has spent the past three years in fundraising and enjoys hearing why people give to the mission. Prior to joining Coastal Land Trust, Mary Ann was the Assistant Director of Advancement at Cape Fear Academy and the Donor Relations Manager at StepUp Wilmington. She is excited to work for an organization that has saved so many of her favorite lands along the coast.

In her spare time, she enjoys boat adventures with her husband and basset hound, exercising before the sun rises and searching for shells.

Lizzie Barkley
Office and Event Coordinator

Wilmington Office
(910) 790-4524 x2080

Lizzie Barkley is a North Carolina native who was born and raised in Raleigh. She grew up exploring all that North Carolina has to offer, including the mountains, the city, and the coast. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Recreation Management and a Concentration in Outdoor Experiential Education. Lizzie recently moved to Wilmington and is enthusiastic about all the city has to offer.

Prior to joining the Coastal Land Trust, Lizzie worked as the Operations Manager for High Gravity Adventures in Boone, NC. After many years in the outdoor recreation industry, she is excited to focus her passion for the outdoors towards saving the lands we love along the coast! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading fiction books, and kayaking in the marsh.

Janice Allen
Senior Advisor for Land Protection

(910) 790-4524 x2040

Janice joined the Coastal Land Trust in 1997 and advances the land trust’s efforts to protect priority natural, scenic, and/or historic areas in the coastal plain of North Carolina. Her interest in the work of the Coastal Land Trust stems from her vast background in wildlife biology and natural resources conservation. Before joining the Coastal Land Trust, Janice spent more than ten years working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina, at the Asheville, NC Field Office, and at the Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta, GA. Janice earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Science degree from Auburn University in Wildlife Biology. Outside of work, Janice enjoys hiking and working at the family farm with her husband, Dave, and riding horses with their daughter Cora. In April 2024, as part of her plans for retirement, Janice stepped down from Director of Land Protection and assumed a part-time role as Senior Advisor for Land Protection.

Lee Leidy
Attorney and Northeast Region Director

Elizabeth City Office
(252) 335-9495

Lee joined the Coastal Land Trust in 2002, after having represented the Coastal Land Trust in conservation acquisitions while in private practice. She loved the work, professionalism, mission, and people of Coastal Land Trust – so much so that she eventually left private practice to join the Coastal Land Trust as a staff attorney and the northeast region director in the Elizabeth City office.  In private practice, she focused on residential and commercial real property transactions.  This practice engendered a special appreciation for the fragile balance which exists between economic, and, in turn, political demands and environmental concerns – particularly in the state’s coastal plain. Lee earned her B.A. degree in Biology from Wake Forest University and her J. D. degree from the UNC Chapel Hill. She lives in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with her husband.  They have two grown children. Lee loves running, hiking and playing at the beach. Her favorite Coastal Land Trust projects are Springer’s Point Preserve, Bray Hollow, Sample, Rayburn Farm, and Jubilee Farms.

Lauren Waibel
Stewardship and Volunteer Coordinator
AmeriCorps Service Member

Lauren grew up in Baltimore and spent her childhood exploring the Gunpowder River, Assateague Island, and the Outer Banks. She graduated from University of Vermont in May of 2022 with a BA in Sociology and minors in Environmental Studies and Studio Art. Shortly after, she moved to the Wilmington area. In this position, she looks forward to becoming more closely acquainted with the ecosystems of Eastern North Carolina. She loves being in the woods, swimming in all bodies of water, biking, and the fiber arts.

Jordan Pilcher
Environmental Education Coordinator
AmeriCorps Service Member

Jordan graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in May of 2023 with a BS in Marine Biology, a BS in Oceanography, and a minor in Spanish. Throughout her four years at UNCW, she was a Sustainability Peer Educator at UNCW’s Office of Sustainability, where she headed environmental education programs at local schools and coordinated sustainability programs and initiatives for UNCW students. She grew up in Beaufort, North Carolina, exploring the Rachel Carson Reserve and Cape Lookout National Seashore, where she fell in love with coastal North Carolina and marine life. She loves cycling and any excuse to spend time outdoors. In this role, she hopes to share her love and knowledge of coastal North Carolina with kids in the local school systems.