Heather Barrar, Regional Trails Program Director, Plan RVA and Friends of the Lower Appomattox River
Heather is a forester by training, a planner by practice, and a connector at heart. With nearly 30 years in land conservation and community engagement, she’s known for building lasting partnerships rooted in respect and shared stewardship. As Regional Trails Program Director, she leads the development of the Appomattox River Trail and Park System—an effort linking active transportation, land protection, economic vitality, and climate resilience. Heather also serves on the boards of the Capital Region Land Conservancy and Virginia’s United Land Trusts, advancing collaborative strategies for conservation across Virginia. She holds a B.S. in Forestry and Recreation Management from Stephen F. Austin State University and an M.S. in Environmental Planning and Policy from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Jack Henderson, French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, MountainTrue
As French Broad Paddle Trail Manager with the Western North Carolina non-profit MountainTrue, Jack works with a variety of partners to create, maintain, and improve public river access points, campsites, signage, and information; remove garbage; clear blockages; and host events focused on celebrating and learning about the river. Jack has lived in Western North Carolina since 2010. After graduating from Appalachian State University, he worked for several regional and national nonprofits, focusing on outdoor recreation, public land and river management, private land conservation, community-oriented stewardship, volunteer coordination, water quality monitoring, stream restoration, and mapping. Jack loves human-powered recreation, with a special affinity for remote rivers and rocky trails. In his free time, he can often be found where there is greenery and gradient.