Michael Skinner, Executive Director, Balsam Mountain Trust

Michael is the executive director of the Balsam Mountain Trust, the nonprofit environmental education and research arm of Balsam Mountain Preserve. He is responsible for directing natural and cultural resource management, environmental education programming, and scientific research on the Preserve. Before coming to Balsam Mountain Preserve, Michael was the Emmy nominated host of "Georgia Outdoors" on Georgia Public Television. He is an experienced field ecologist, naturalist, nature photographer, environmental educator, taxidermist, and musician. His career track includes experience working in zoos (Lincoln Park, Central Texas Zoo and Zoo Atlanta); nature centers (Chattahoochee in Atlanta); and museums (Fernbank in Atlanta and Strecker at Baylor University, where he was also an adjunct instructor in the biology program). These positions allowed him to travel extensively in the U. S. and abroad. Michael holds a B.A. degree in Wildlife Management from Southern Illinois University.

Ron Lance, Senior Naturalist, Balsam Mountain Trust

Ron is a senior naturalist and land management specialist with the Balsam Mountain Trust, performing natural history interpretation and application of land practices relating to botany, forestry, horticulture, arboriculture, and wildlife resource management. He holds an Associate Degree in Wildlife Management and has 35 years of experience in the field of natural resource education and management, primarily the areas of botany, forestry, and horticulture. He has authored or co-authored 11 publications on native plants and contributes regular interpretive aid and scientific treatments of regional woody flora to other authors. He has been a board member of the International Oak Society since 1997, serving terms as president, secretary, conference chair, and journal editor. His extensive travel and natural history study in 45 states and western Canada contribute to his substantial expertise in a high percentage of North American flora and fauna.

Blair Ogburn, Senior Naturalist, Balsam Mountain Trust

Blair is a senior naturalist for the Balsam Mountain Trust. She is a certified environmental educator for the state of North Carolina which required n umerous hours of classroom study, field biology, and teaching experience for all age groups. Her previous experience includes environmental educator for inner city Charlotte, NC; resident naturalist for the Ecolodge San Luis in the cloud forest region of Costa Rica; and songbird field biologist for NC State University, Point Reyes Bird Observatory and the Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center. Blair is an experienced birder and ecologist with a specialty in teaching elementary school-aged children. She holds a B. S. degree in Ecology/Field Biology from UNC-Asheville and a B.S. degree from Louisiana State University in Business Administration.