Staff bios

Eastern pondhawk ~ photo by Ellis Laudermilk

Greg AbernathyExecutive Director | gabernathy@knlt.org
Greg provides strategic leadership and management of KNLT’s efforts to protect, connect and restore wildlands. He serves a variety of key roles with responsibilities ranging from land acquisition efforts to partnerships and outreach to wildlands philanthropy. Greg joined KNLT in 2012 after many years of assisting on special projects. He served as the Assistant Director from 2012-2017 and became the Executive Director in 2018. He has previous experience working for private, government and nonprofit conservation organizations both in Kentucky and throughout the Appalachian Region. Greg’s background is in forest ecology, geographic information systems (GIS) and design.

Boards & Committees: Land Trust Alliance’s Land & Climate Program (Former Advisor) & Floracliff Board (Board)
Professional Memberships: Society for Conservation GIS & Society for Conservation Biology
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Donna AlexanderProgram Manager | donna@knlt.org
Donna provides overall program management. Her responsibilities include managing KNLT’s general operations and providing support for development activities, outreach, events and board functions. She also manages the Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund as part of a partnership between KNLT and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kentucky Ecological Services Field Office. Donna joined KNLT in 2001. Previously, she taught at Knott County Central High School and worked for Appalachian Communities for Children, Madison County Children’s Network, Forward in the Fifth, and Mountain Maternal Health League. She is a graduate of Berea College.
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Angie AllmanDevelopment Coordinator | angie@knlt.org
Angie provides development coordination, as well as program and operation support for KNLT. Her responsibilities include assisting in and supporting fundraising operations, receiving, recording and responding to donations and maintaining specialized databases. She also helps manage the Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Angie joined KNLT in the fall of 2015. Before joining KNLT, she worked at the Berea-based Mountain Association. Angie holds a B.S. in Agriculture & Natural Resources (minor in Sustainability & Environmental Studies) from Berea College.

Professional Memberships: Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP); AFP KY, Bluegrass Chapter
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Nicole BreyetteDevelopment Director | nicole@knlt.org
Nicole leads the fund development efforts of KNLT to sustain and grow the support of individual donors, foundations, and community partners who make the mission possible. Nicole joined KNLT in early 2020 just in time to celebrate KNLT’s 25th anniversary. Her previous experience includes more than a decade of nonprofit service in the health and human services sector in Louisville. She holds a M.A. in Communication from the University of Louisville and a B.A. in French from Wittenberg University.

Professional Memberships: Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP); Fundraising Executives of Metro Louisville (FREML) & Grant Professionals Association (GPA)  
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Preston LacyConservation Director | placy@knlt.org
Preston assists with conservation planning and land acquisition as well as managing the stewardship program. Preston joined KNLT in 2013 after working at other land trusts in Illinois and the Ozark Mountains (Missouri & Arkansas). He holds a dual masters degree in Urban Planning (concentrations in Land Use & Environmental Planning) & Public Administration (concentrations in Nonprofit Management) from the University of Louisville and a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation & Management (minor in Geography) from the University of Kentucky.

Boards: Pine Mountain Trail Conference, Kentucky Woodland Owners Association & Pine Mountain Settlement School
Professional Memberships: American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association (APA) & APA Kentucky Chapter
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Derrick LindsayStewardship Coordinator | derrick@knlt.org
Derrick provides stewardship coordination as well as land acquisition and program support. Derrick joined KNLT in the fall of 2016. He previously worked for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Service. Derrick holds a M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management (concentration in Fish and Wildlife Management) from American Public University and B.S. in Biology from Lincoln Memorial University.

Professional Memberships: The Wildlife Society
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Brittany MurphyWildlands Steward | brittany@knlt.org
Brittany assists with stewardship of KNLT preserves and provides program support. Brittany joined KNLT in the fall of 2022. She previously worked as an environmental biologist throughout the southeast for state, federal and private organizations. Brittany holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Eastern Kentucky University.
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Megan NasemanAdministrative Specialist | megan@knlt.org
Megan provides administrative support for KNLT. She joined KNLT in 2024 after nearly a decade of working in Human Resources and operations at the Mountain Association. She graduated from Berea College with an independent major in Outdoor Education through the Sustainability & Environmental Studies Program.
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