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MEET THE STAFF


 

ASHLEY WILMES
executive director 

Ashley graduated from Centre College and the University of Oregon School of Law, where she earned a specialty certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. Before joining the Council, she practiced environmental law as a solo practitioner, served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and worked as in-house counsel for environmental advocacy organization WildEarth Guardians. Ashley has represented organizations across the country on environmental matters and has argued cases before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits. She is a former Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Kentucky Bar Association and currently serves as a member of the Kentucky Environmental Education Council. 
 
Email Ashley at ashley@kyrc.org

AMY CARPENTER
special projects coordinator & communications associate

Amy is KRC's Special Projects Coordinator and Communications Associate. As such, she supports a number of projects to help share KRC's mission of protecting Kentucky's natural and built environments. Before coming to KRC, Amy worked as the Director of Communications at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Administrator at St. Joseph Montessori Children's Center, and the Executive Director of Burnamwood Camp and Conference Center. For the past 10 years, she has been heavily involved in the work of non-profits with a specific focus on strategic organization and external communications. Amy is graduate of the University of Kentucky, having studied secondary education and political science. Additionally, Amy also studied education at the graduate school at Georgetown College.

Email Amy at @kyrc.org



 

ELIZABETH GRAVES
director of development

Elizabeth serves as KRC's first Director of Development. As such, she focuses on expanding KRC's donor base and generating gifts that support KRC's critical initiatives. Prior to KRC, Elizabeth worked at Centre College for ten years as director of corporate and foundation relations. She raises significant sums for scholarship programs and campus initiatives. Prior to Centre, Elizabeth worked at MACED (Mountain Association for Community Economic Development). She has lived and worked overseas for international companies such as Alltech, Inc. and Dow Jones, Inc. Elizabeth currently serves on the board of Floracliff Nature Sanctuary in Fayette County. She enjoys being outdoors, spending time with family and friends, gardening, reading, and writing.
 
Email Elizabeth at elizabeth@kyrc.org

DONNA COUNTS 
development associate

Before coming to KRC, Donna worked as the Assistant Treasurer at the University of Kentucky where one of her roles was administration of gifts and endowments. Before UK, she worked as the Commissioner of Finance for the City of Lexington and as an economist for the Legislative Research Commission. While her professional background is in public finance and economics, she has a long personal history of environmental action, advocacy, and support. Donna received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Kentucky in Agricultural Economics, specializing in Environmental and Public Policy Economics. Donna will assist the Director with the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift fundraising from individuals and family foundations.

Email Donna at donna@kyrc.org

SARAH MITCHUM
bookkeeper  &  office administrator

Sarah is KRC’s Office Administrator/Bookkeeper. Her past administrative experience is as a business owner in the for-profit job market. After taking a few years off to take care of her family, she was ready to join the work force again. Sarah is excited to bring her administrative skills to the non-profit job market, where she can feel good about the work being done.
 

Email Sarah at sarah@kyrc.org

TOM "FITZ" FITZGERALD
of counsel

Tom FitzGerald (Fitz) was Director of the Kentucky Resources Council from 1984 until October 1, 2021. Fitz received his Juris Doctor from the UK College of Law in 1980 (Order of the Coif ) and was a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky from 1980-1982. He is an alumni of Roger Williams College (now University), Bristol, Rhode Island with a B.A. in American Studies with distinction. Fitz has been a lowly Adjunct Professor of Energy and Environmental Law at the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville since 1986, and has published a number of articles. He received the Environmental Quality Commission Lifetime Achievement Award; the Henry R. Heyburn Public Service Award from the UK College of Law, the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission Biological Diversity Award, the inaugural Professional Achievement Award from the University of Kentucky College of Law Alumni Association, the 14th Heinz Award in the Environment Category, and the Brennan-Haly Award from the University of Louisville Department of Political Science. He has been a fixture in the halls of the Kentucky General Assembly since 1978.

VOLUNTEERS

If you are interested in volunteering with Kentucky Resources Council, please email amy@kyrc.org.
 
New Volunteers
Are you a new KRC volunteer? Complete the brief bio form so that we can introduce you in KRC publications!
 
Current Volunteers
All current volunteers, please submit your volunteer hours at the end of the month through this form. 
 

The Kentucky Resources Council is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the conservation and prudent use of Kentucky’s natural resources. Since 1984, we have dedicated ourselves to protecting Kentucky’s land, air, water, and communities.

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