Our People: Experts in Action
Working to create lasting solutions in Alabama and around the world.
Our Offices: Contact us for information about our office locations in Alabama.
Media Inquiries: Contact Andrew Blejwas at ablejwas@tnc.org to schedule an interview with a member of our science, conservation or policy staff.
Leadership Team
Mitch’s passion for Alabama’s natural systems and people, creativity, proven management skills and inclusive, collaborative leadership style helps The Nature Conservancy deliver on its ambitious strategic plan for conservation in the forests, rivers and coastal systems of one of the most biodiverse states in the country. The son of public school educators, Mitch grew up on a farm in the Wiregrass region of Alabama in the small town of Bellwood along the banks of the Choctawhatchee River. He holds a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law (2009) and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point in European History and Environmental Engineering (1998).
Mitch brings more than 15 years of conservation and policy experience in Alabama to this position. He is a U.S. Army veteran, serving as a Captain in the Military Police Corps with the 82nd Airborne Division. Before stepping up as the TNC's state director, Mitch was the program's Director of External Affairs where he served as the policy lead for the Longleaf Pine Whole System (VA to TX) and engaged as an active member of the core team for the Gulf Program (FL to TX). He also participated on the U.S. Government Relations core teams for Forestry, Agriculture and Federal Appropriations.
Before TNC, Mitch worked as the Program Director for the Alabama River Alliance. He led the effort to develop comprehensive water planning for Alabama and taught water law and diplomacy as an Adjunct Professor at the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Environmental Section of the Alabama State Bar and is a member of the Rotary Club of Birmingham.
Mitch lives in Hoover, Alabama with his wife, Sarah, a practicing environmental law attorney, and their two sons, Walden and Emery George. When they are not working to move conservation forward, they enjoy exploring the natural splendor of Alabama.
Keith Tassin, Deputy State Director
Keith Tassin is The Nature Conservancy's Deputy State Director and Fire Manager in Alabama, overseeing the program's conservation projects and strategies. Keith has been with TNC for 30+ years and has worked for the organization in South Carolina and Georgia.
While pursuing his Bachelor's degree in biology from Lenoir Rhyne University in the early 1990's, Keith worked as an intern for TNC in the ACE Basin of South Carolina doing natural community and botanical inventories. There, he first learned the importance of fire in our Southeastern ecosystems and has, from that point on, worked to increase the use of fire to restore our native habitats. Through his mentorship, TNC in Alabama has one of the country's strongest and most successful fire programs. In recent years he has worked to pass the torch on to others to keep the flames going as he has transitioned to guiding all aspects of our conservation work.
Growing up in the outdoors of South Florida deep sea fishing and hunting in the Everglades and many of Florida's other protected and well-managed landscapes, Keith cultivated his passion and respect for nature at an early age. He enjoys hunting, camping, and watching college football and NASCAR in his free time. Keith lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife, Cindy, the Executive Director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance.
Jason Throneberry, Director of Freshwater Programs
As TNC's director of freshwater programs in Alabama, Jason works within the state and across TNC’s Southern Division to promote a resilient and connected network of freshwater resources to benefit wildlife and local communities. Throughout his career, Jason has accumulated experience in stream restoration, floodplain re-connection, riparian forest restoration and watershed restoration. Jason also has extensive knowledge of stream dynamics and restoration methodology, and of rare and endemic aquatic species ecology,
An Arkansas native and avid outdoorsman, Jason graduated with a master's degree in biology, with an emphasis on rare species ecology, from Tennessee Technological University. He is a Certified Fisheries Biologist by the American Fisheries Society and is trained in stream assessment, morphology and monitoring. In 2025, he served as a TNC CODA Fellow charged with working as part of the North American Freshwater Conservation Working Group to prioritize dam removal and fish passage projects throughout the United States.
Read more about Jason’s work in Alabama in Nature Conservancy magazine’s Restoring Alabama’s Rivers (February 2, 2024), Where the River Goes in the Cahaba Sun (July 2, 2024) and River Doctor in Garden & Gun (October/November 2022).
Judy Haner, Director of Marine Programs
Judy Haner has been TNC's Marine Program Director in Alabama for more than a decade. She oversees marine restoration, coastal ecology, regional conservation efforts and linking communities with resources.
Judy completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Lynchburg College in Virginia with a biology/chemistry dual major. She completed her master’s degree in Marine Science at the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She serves on the Advisory Committees for the MS-AL Sea Grant Consortium, East Gulf Coast Plan Joint Venture and Mobile Bay National Estuary Program’s Executive Committee. She also co-chairs the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program’s Project Implementation Committee.
Judy has worked for 30 years to link watershed activities with estuarine health to promote long-term and targeted coastal restoration. From coordinating Everglades Restoration to managing the largest National Estuarine Research Reserve in the system, Judy has strived to connect partners with common goals. Judy has secured almost $54M in competitive grants to implement coastal planning and restoration projects that link science and management with on-the-ground actions and communities. Her strong focus on partnerships has engaged agencies, organizations, local governments and citizens in collaborative restoration, most recently, the Lightning Point Restoration Project in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.
When not at work, Judy can be found in her garden or on her boat with her husband and two dogs, fishing and enjoying the Gulf coast.
Steve Northcutt, Director of Protection
Steve Northcutt is TNC's Director of Protection in Alabama. TNC has protected more than 200,000 acres in Alabama since the chapter was formed in 1989.
As Director of Protection, Steve works with willing sellers to acquire conservation lands either through fee acquisition or easement. In addition to land acquisition, he works on restoration projects throughout the state.
Before beginning his work with TNC in 2001, Steve gained extensive experience in commercial and residential real estate. In addition to Steve’s real estate experience, he owned a small business for 12 years.
Steve has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Alabama Birmingham. He resides in Homewood, Alabama with his wife, Karen.
Jeff Ware, Director of Philanthropy
Jeff joined The Nature Conservancy as Alabama Director of Philanthropy in 2015. He is responsible for all fundraising in the state and is currently leading the Our Alabama Campaign to raise $30 million for strategic conservation initiatives.
Jeff came to TNC from the American Rose Society where he served as executive director for 8 years. His leadership experience includes development roles for public television and public radio, among others.
Jeff holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive certificate from CFRE International. He recently completed the One Conservancy Leadership Development Program at Judge Business School of the University of Cambridge.
Thanks to your support, we are protecting lands, waters and wildlife in Alabama
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