More News Coming about our 2026-2027 Board members:
President: Steve Lewis
1st VP/Programs: Melissa McDow
2nd VP/Membership: Jennifer Randle
Secretary: Deborah Hill
Treasurer: Phyllis Stanton
We appreciate the services of our 2025 UMNA Executive Board Members!
Carson Johnson : UMNA President
A lifelong resident of the Carolinas, Carson Johnson moved to Greenville in 1986 with
his wife, Andrea. There he spent 33 years as an anesthesiologist with what became the PRISMA Health System, retiring in 2019.
Although enjoying the outdoors throughout his life, a serious interest in the natural world did not surface until his mid-sixties. After a few years of independent study, he graduated from the MN program in 2022. His interests are in general natural history, environmental preservation, and encouraging a passion for nature in others.
Cindy Hekking : First Vice-President and Programs Chair
Originally from Maryland, Cindy graduated from Clemson with a degree in Wildlife Biology. Became an Upstate Master Naturalist in 2014 and a State Master Naturalist in 2018. Worked as a clinical laboratory scientist until recent retirement. Loves hiking, birding, and kayaking with her many
dogs. She volunteers doing trail maintenance, invasive removal, stream water testing and the UMNA Meadow Restoration Project.
Jennifer Randle: Second Vice-President and Membership Chair
“With the exception of three years in Colorado during grade school and two years in Florida before moving to South Carolina in 2022, I lived in the suburbs of Chicago,” says Jennifer Randle.
I believe my love of nature was sparked camping
in the Rocky Mountains with family when we
lived in Colorado. I’d play in the cold streams and sleep under the stars surrounded by the
beautiful scent of pine trees. My grandfathers were another influence; one a strong
environmental advocate, the other a farmer from
rural Mississippi. The stars aligned my first year in
South Carolina when I was lucky enough to snag a
spot in the Upstate Master Naturalist program.
I love to learn, and nature is my escape from the
stress of working a demanding corporate job. I enjoy hiking, travel, and photography. My main interests are plants, birds, and geology. What I expected joining this organization was to learn more about nature, but I got so much more finding a family of like-minded people. In addition to volunteering for UMNA, I also volunteer with the SCNPS. I have two grown children and one grandbaby living back home in Chicago.
Steve Lewis: Secretary
Steve Lewis is a member of the Upstate Master Naturalist class of 2022. He enjoys hiking, swimming, biking, and just wandering in the woods. A retired educator, he spent many years teaching middle school English and communication classes. Now he teaches on a
boat, leading field trips for the Jocassee Wild Child
program and giving tours with Jocassee Lake Tours. Whenever traveling, he enjoys exploring the natural treasures in different parts of the world. With three adult daughters scattered throughout three different time zones in the US, most of his travel now starts off in the Nevada desert, the big sky of Montana, and the
urban jungle of Chicagoland.
Dave Redden: Treasurer
Dave Redden grew up in the Pee Dee area of SC. He graduated from Clemson University in 1967 and went to work for ExxonMobil in Houston, Texas in engineering research. He retired in 2000 after about 35 years, and returned to SC in 2018. He was a Texas Master Naturalist in Texas from 2006 – 2018, and joined the SC Upstate MN organization in 2019. Has served on the UMNA Board as VP-2 Membership and as a committee chair for the Bald Rock Heritage Preserve project.
Pam Shucker: Immediate Past President
Pam is a native of Greenville, a graduate of UMNA Class of 2015 and have continued actively learning since those wonderful lessons. I am a former teacher and my husband and I have worked at Furman University during our careers. We have two grown children and two grandchildren, who we so fortunately share Greenville with as home. I am a life-long environmentalist and find my greatest joyful experiences being in nature. I expressed this love in my book, Round About Greenville and the Carolina Blue Ridge. Many other connections with the natural community have offered me opportunities to be a board member, to speak, teach, and write about the amazing natural environment of our Upstate.
Danny Howard: Executive Board Advisor and UMNA Historian
Danny Howard has provided 40 years of service to Auburn University, the University of Georgia, & Clemson University as an extension agent in agriculture, natural resources & apiculture. He has worked with beekeepers for over 30 years in honey bee education. Danny co-developed the Upstate Master Naturalist class & association. He is presently serving a fifth term as an elected commissioner for the Greenville Soil and Water Conservation District.
Committees:
Go! – Cindy Hekking, coordinator Betsy Lewis, Cam and Tony McDade (all MN2021) Mike Landau (MN2022)
Dan Whitten (MN2008)
Grants – Polly Powell
Newsletter – Laura Godfrey
Service Outreach – Bill Hollingsworth
Social Media – Manella Calhoun
Volunteer- Cindy Robinson
Click here to contact the association.
upstatemasternaturalists.org 