About F3ST

Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization.

Mission

The mission of F3ST is to connect mountain communities in western North Carolina through the Fonta Flora State Trail to promote physical health, mental wellness, economic development, and outdoor recreation with trail partners for the enjoyment and education of all people.

How F3ST Started

How F3ST started: It became evident at the end of 2019 that a more coordinated effort between the 9 jurisdictions was needed to manage all the moving parts involved with completing a trail project of this scale. As a major advocate for the trail, the Friends of Lake James State Park (FLJSP) stepped up to the plate by initiating the formation of a Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail. With his prolific work in the NC Legislature on State Parks and State Trails, it was a natural fit to ask FLJSP Vice President and Emeritus Member Judge Robert C. Hunter to take a leadership role in the new organization – to which he graciously agreed to spearhead this important undertaking.

On December 18, 2019, the FLJSP hosted a reception at Fonta Flora Brewery at Whippoorwill Farm to celebrate and to announce the official formation of the Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, Inc. (F3ST). The event was a great success with close to 100 people in attendance, including state and local officials, businesses, conservation groups and enthusiastic public supporters of the trail.

Since that event, F3ST hit the ground running. McDowell County generously “loaned” staff member Blair Melton to help get the new organization off the ground. With the help of Shane Prisby from Burke County, Heather Cotton with the City of Marion, McDowell County Economic Development Director Charles Abernathy and Josh Harrold, Town Manager for the town of Black Mountain, the team developed bylaws and put together the foundational strategy for an effective 501c3 organization.

In the spring of 2021, F3ST had its 501c3 status and a fully formed Board of Directors with equal representation of the 9 jurisdictions. The Board of Directors is composed of five representatives from each of the three counties (3 local government representative, a trails representative, and an economic development representative) plus designated seats for the Friends of Lake James State Park, Inc. the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Inc. the YMCA of Western North Carolina, NC State Parks and a member from the WNC Bridge Foundation.’

F3ST is grateful for past and present funding support from: McDowell County, City of Marion, Town of Black Mountain,  Town of Old Fort, Town of Glen Alpine, Burke County, City of Morganton.

Fonta Flora Flash E-Newsletter

Board of Directors

Executive Committee:

Meg White - Board Chair, Consultant for WNC Bridge Foundation

Steve Bush - Vice Chair, Owner of Marion Hot Wheelz

Jennifer Billstrom - Treasurer, Fractional CFO for DMJPS

Shane Prisby - Secretary, Trails Planner for Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina

Steve Pierce - At Large, President of the McDowell Trails Association

Beth Heile - Immediate Past President, President and Founder of Valdese Lakeside Park

Advisory Council

The F3ST Board is supported by an Advisory Council. Members are employees and volunteers from the various stakeholder groups and local governments working to get the trail on the ground.

  • Town of Black Mountain Josh Harrold Town Manager

  • Connect Buncombe Linda Giltz President

  • City of Asheville Lucy Crown Greenway Planner

  • Buncombe County Recreation Services Director

  • City of Morganton Phillip Lookadoo Director of Development and Design

  • Burke County Community Development Shane Prisby Operations Manager

  • Foothills Conservancy Tom Kenny Land Protection Director

Lucy Crown - City of Asheville - Transportation Division Planning Manager

Smith Raynor - N.C. State Trails Planner (Ex-Officio)

Billy Martin - Council Member of the City of Marion

Butch McSwain - Council Member of the City of Morganton

Bob Benfield - Mayor of the Town of Glen Alpine

Ed Phillips - Director of Burke County Tourism

Tim Johnson - Director of Outdoor Recreation Planning - Destination By Design

  • Marion Chamber of Commerce Kim Effler Executive Director

  • Overmountain Victory Trail Association Bryant Lindsey Member

  • McDowell Economic Development Association Inc Charles Abernathy Executive Director

  • City of Marion Heather Cotton, AICP Planning and Development Director

  • Camp Grier Jason McDougald Executive Director

  • People on the Move Old Fort Lavita Logan Old Fort People on the Move

Renee’ Taylor - Clerk to the Town of Old Fort

Heather Cotton - Planning and Development Director - City of Marion

Sandra Aguirre - Co-Founder of Latinos Aventureros en las Carolinas

Mike Sobol - Mayor of the Town of Black Mountain

Doug Hay (Alternate for Mayor Sobol) - Town Council Member of the Town of Black Mountain

Robert Hunter - Board Member Emeritus

  • McDowell Technical Community College Stacy Buff Dean

  • McDowell County Tourism Authority Carol Price Executive Director

  • Friends of Lake James State Park Jim Williams Friends of Lake James State Park

  • Friends of Lake James State Park Jeff Stark Friends of Lake James State Park

  • USFS Lisa Jennings Grandfather Restoration Project Coordinator

  • Lake James State Park Nora Coffey Park Superintendent

Staff

Executive Director

We are currently searching for our next Executive Director.  This is an opportunity for someone who wants to work at a growing and innovative organization benefitting Western North Carolina.  It is currently a remote position.  Candidates who live in Western North Carolina specifically in Burke, McDowell or Buncombe counties will be given the highest priority. Please see job description for more information and how to apply.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Jessica Whitesides
Outreach and Development Coordinator

Jessica joined F3ST in 2023. She is a marketing professional with over a decade of community outreach, event planning, and nonprofit experience. Her love for all things outdoors and community engagement made coming to F3ST a natural fit. Jessica values time with her son (Kip), partner (Lauren), and fur babies (Buzz and Racks), in addition to volunteering in the community and recruiting others to do the same.