NCLCV Announces Appointment of New Board Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 7, 2011

CONTACT: Debra Davis Rezeli, Director of Marketing & Development, debra@nclcv.org or 919-839-0978

North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV) is pleased to announce the appointment of eight new board members to its Board of Directors: Ron McFarlane, Dan Bruer, Joel Olsen, Gerry Dudzik, Jim Overton, Guenevere Abernathy, Everett Bowman, and Robert Hodgman. Each of these outstanding community leaders brings an impressive background and unique skill set.

Ron McFarlane is the Chief Operating Officer for MedPro Rx, Inc., a Raleigh based specialty pharmacy. He has served as Vice Chair and currently Secretary on the board of WakeUP Wake County, a citizen’s group focused on the Water, Transit, Schools, and Growth Issues in the area. Mr. McFarlane and his wife Nancy live in Raleigh, where Nancy was just elected Mayor.

Dan Bruer is on the national LCV staff in the role of fundraising and strategic partnerships officer. Mr. Bruer has over fifteen years experience in fundraising and nonprofit management. He lives in Raleigh with his wife and two children

Joel Olsen is the Managing Director and Founder of O2Energies. Mr. Olsen serves on the board of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, the Charlotte Chapter of the Clean Economy Network, and was a member of the Business Committee on Energy for the Institute of Emerging issues. Mr. Olsen lives in Cornelius with his wife and children.

Gerry Dudzik functions as the Chief Operating Office of Carolina Solar Energy. He has over 25 years of experience in new business development, strategic marketing, operations management and new product introductions. Mr. Dudzik lives in Durham.

Jim Overton serves on the Executive Staff of Self Help, a community development lender, credit union, and real estate developer working with the underserved. Mr. Overton was historically associated with NCLCV during its founding years as the Conservation Council of NC. He and his wife, Mary Mountcastle, live in Durham.

Guenevere Abernathy is a social entrepreneur with her latest venture, LoMoMarket, to be launched spring 2012. Ms. Abernathy founded Unique Places, a conservation real estate company, in 2004 and was Managing Partner through 2011. She and her husband, Michael Lemanski, live in downtown Durham.

Everett Bowman practices antitrust law and commercial litigation with Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. Mr. Bowman recently received the Antitrust Section’s Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Bar Association. He resides in Charlotte.

Robert Hodgman is an attorney and owner of The Hodgman Law Firm in Greensboro specializing in workers’ compensation law. He is a strong supporter and contributor to environmental causes. His significant interests include toxic chemical exposures and hazards in employment as it affects injured workers.

These new members join an already impressive list of existing board members including: Nina Szlosberg-Landis, Raleigh; John Runkle, Chapel Hill; Maria Kingery, Morrisville; Bill Padgett, Raleigh; Valerie Ann Johnson, Oxford; Chandra Taylor, Durham; and Al Swanstrom, Cary.

QUOTE: NCLCV Board President Nina Szlosberg-Landis says, “With the addition of these influential state-wide community and environmental leaders, NCLCV is establishing itself as a major powerbroker in achieving political results in ensuring a healthy environment.”

North Carolina League of Conservation Voters is a pragmatic, nonpartisan, advocacy organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and enhancing North Carolina’s natural environment. For over 40 years, NCLCV has been turning environmental values into North Carolina priorities by helping to elect pro-conservation candidates and holding them accountable for their decisions that affect the environment.