Board of Directors

A scientist by training, I moved to Lake James from NY State following my retirement as a pharmaceutical facilities & real estate executive. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying boating, kayaking, swimming, and fishing in the Lake, and as we all know, the hiking in this area is amazing.

Lake James and the beauty surrounding us are truly a treasure—a treasure that needs protection and care. This will require input and involvement from property owners, the community-at-large, regulatory agencies & government, and businesses & utilities within the watershed. I hope to bring my leadership and strategic experience to LJEA to assist with government and public/private advocacy and LJEA strategy development.

“I grew up on Lake James and learned a great deal about what it means to protect the lake from my father Dr. William L. Bell, who was one of the founding members of the Lake James Environmental Association. I have moved back to the area after a 27 year career in Technology and Finance, retiring from Verizon in 2016. Our family enjoys the lake, hiking, biking and horseback riding the surrounding areas and we want to preserve the natural beauty of the area as much as possible for future generations to enjoy. I served as President of the Lake James Environmental Association from 2018 through 2022 and served on the Board of Directors of the McDowell Trails Association and the McDowell Economic Development Association as well.”

Marshall is a water resources engineer with over 45 years experience who doesn't know how to retire. He moved to Burke County in 2009 but has family history in the region that reaches back to pre-Revolutionary war.   His interest in LJEA stems from its support of the Kids-in-the-Creek program that integrates science, an appreciation of environmental stewardship, and hands-on learning.  Marshall currently serves as chair of the Citizen Science Committee. 

Bob Brendle was a resident at Lake James for over 20 years with lake history for 40 years. He has always loved the lake, working around it and spending time on it.  He helped lead the water quality monitoring program for years, and even though he now resides in the Charlotte area, he still participates on the board.

Mike is a North Carolina native. He has more than 45 years of military experience in many capacities for the USAF, including 27 years active duty and 24 years at the 14th Weather Squadron in Asheville, NC—part of a team of national scientists archiving and managing the world’s largest collection of weather and environmental data. “I've been on the lake since 2003 and want everyone to have the same enjoyment it has brought me and my family.”

"I see my role with LJEA as assisting educators and our board members with educating others about the goals of our organization of protecting and preserving our waterways and environment. To help accomplish this, I help recruit volunteers, acquire needed equipment, and help organize Kids in the Creek type activities for educators in McDowell and Burke Counties. I help LJEA organize and staff our booth at public events like McDowell STEAM Expo and the Catawba Riverfest. I captain a boat with student and adult volunteers during the annual lake cleanup."

Rachel Pedler is a native of Richmond, Virginia, who relocated to western North Carolina to attend UNC Asheville. She has been a secondary science educator since 2013, serving as a participating member of her school’s Improvement Team, facilitating the Environmental Club and Chemistry Club, and coaching the Science Olympiad team. Prior to her career in education, Rachel spent 13 years working in industry as a chemist and supplier quality auditor.

Rachel has volunteered with the Lake James Environmental Association’s Kids-in-the-Creek program for the past five years and currently serves as the LJEA Education Subcommittee Chair. During college, she studied under Dr. Richard Maas, a close friend of Dr. William L. Bell, co-founder of LJEA. Dr. Bell generously supported student research and environmental stewardship by allowing Dr. Maas’s students to launch their canoes from his houseboat on Lake James. Rachel is honored to continue the legacy of environmental stewardship Dr. Bell began, as her journey has come full circle in supporting the preservation of Lake James and its watershed.

I grew up in Wisconsin and spent most of my childhood outside playing in forests and creeks. Consequently, I knew I wanted to be a biologist for as long as I can remember. After receiving my undergraduate degree in Biology, I chose to specialize in water pollution ecology at the University of Washington where I received my Masters and Ph.D. Today, I actually consider myself a generalist. I have been in the Biology and Environmental Studies departments at WWC for the past 27 years teaching courses such as Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, Field Natural History, Introduction to Environmental Studies, Mycology (Fungi), and a field-based natural history course in Alaska. Outside of academics, I am the leader of the Warren Wilson Archery Club. I love all things wild and have a strong interest in obtaining my own food from gardening, fishing, hunting, and collecting wild mushrooms and berries.

A native of Burke County, I've had a lifelong love for the outdoors and a deep connection to the area. I grew up exploring the Linville Gorge and Lake James and have witnessed firsthand the many changes these special places have undergone over the years.That history fuels my strong desire to preserve and protect the area.

I've been selling real estate on Lake James since 2005, helping others discover the beauty of the region and find a place called home.When I'm not working you can find me on the river bank or trail with my lab Flora.

Christiane is an Atlanta native who relocated to Burke County in 2024. She has been an educator for the past 14 years. Prior to that, she was in industry serving in various director roles in HR, Marketing and Communications.

Growing up, she spent summers on Georgia lakes and enjoying the outdoors. Her family loves spending time on Lake James, hiking and mountain biking. She is committed to protecting the lake, its watershed and the environmental health of all the incredible outdoor opportunities available in WNC. And she is passionate about giving back to the community that has been so welcoming to her and her family.

Judith M. Francis, AICP, has been involved in land management activities in Florida, Colorado, and North Carolina as a landscape designer, planning director, and project manager. She currently serves as the Western Programs Coordinator for the North Carolina Department of the Environment and Natural Resources Office of Land & Water Stewardship. In that capacity, she leads statewide conservation planning efforts, assists local governments and private sector partners in achieving their conservation objectives through ecological and economic analysis, establishes new partnerships, and identifies funding opportunities.

"After retiring here, I joined LJEA in 2003 to help preserve the cleanliness and beauty of Lake James – the organization’s mission since 1973.  Subsequently, I’ve participated in the long-standing water sampling program, annual lake cleanups, fighting an interbasin transfer (IBT) to keep water from leaving our Catawba River basin (possibly causing lower lake levels in drought), relicensing of Duke Energy, drought rule development, environmentally responsible rezoning of Crescent lake property and relocating a proposed shooting range. I was president of Lake James Environmental Association from 2009 through 2016 and have been fortunate to work with many professional, dedicated volunteers.  Newer programs and projects include: 1) supporting science education in McDowell and Burke county schools to help prepare next generation water stewards, 2) PCB testing of fish tissue from Lake James, and 3) seeking silt sources and mapping silt movement as it fills in the lake. This may be the most important program for the lake’s preservation."

Nora Coffey is the Superintendent of Lake James State Park. She acts as an interface between LJEA and the Park, helping coordinate collaborative activities such as RiverFest, Lake Cleanups, and educational outreach activities like Kids in the Creek.