Board of Directors and Staff | Southern Conservation Trust

Katie Pace
Executive Director
O: 770.486.7774

In 2016, Katie assumed the role after most recently serving as the Marketing & Communications Officer with MAP International, a top-ranked global Christian health and relief organization www.map.org.

“Katie was chosen from a strong field of exceptional candidates because of her extensive marketing and fundraising background, as well as a passion for land preservation in our communities. We are confident that she will lead the Southern Conservation Trust in protecting new land and developing environmentally sound programs and initiatives in the many communities we serve,” said Tami Morris, Board Chairman.

While at MAP, Pace managed programs and processes internationally and saw firsthand how local conditions affected the quality of life for individuals and communities. Her global-local perspective and strong desire to make a difference at home are a good fit for SCT as it begins an anticipated rise in land protection for individual and organizational landowners, said Morris.

“I’m honored to be selected by the SCT Board as the new Executive Director,” said Pace. ” I’m excited for the opportunity to work with the amazing communities where we protect land, wildlife and vital water sources to ensure they are around for many years to come. I look forward to building upon the strong foundation already established in Fayette County and the surrounding areas. My goal is to increase the protection and education of land, wildlife, and water conservation in the Southern Crescent that the Southern Conservation Trust is able to protect in the great state of Georgia,” said Pace.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Pace has 12 years of experience in the nonprofit world focused on marketing, branding, digital engagement, fundraising, writing, and humanitarian photography. Pace also holds a certificate in Leadership from the Thunderbird School of Global Management’s American Express Leadership Program.

Katie lives in Sharpsburg, Georgia with her husband Tom, son Cooper, and lots of animals.

Nick Kilburg
Director of Conservation and Outdoor Education
O: 770.486.7774

E: nick@sctlandtrust.org

After completing his Bachelor’s Degree at Wartburg College and Master’s Degree at the University of Northern Iowa, Nick moved to Georgia and worked at Clayton State University. Anxious to use his 10+ years of experience in outdoor recreation, parks, and environmental education, Nick began working with the Southern Conservation Trust.

Nick is excited to further the Southern Conservation Trust’s mission by expanding outdoor opportunities for Fayette County residents and conserving water and land resources throughout the Southeast.

Elizabeth Hall-Dukin
Assistant Director of Development
O: 770.486.7774

E: elizabeth@sctlandtrust.org

Elizabeth recently moved to Georgia from the Catskills region of Upstate New York, where she worked closely with the public and non-profit organizations to create community programming for the Mountaintop.

A graduate of the City College of New York and Rutgers University, Elizabeth holds degrees in both Museum Studies and Non Profit Management. She lives in Senoia with her husband, beagle, and possibly some zombies.

Matthew Ivey
Field Biologist & Land Steward

O: 770.486.7774

E: matthew@sctlandtrust.org

Matthew was born in Marietta, Georgia and raised in central Mississippi. His passion for wildlife began at a very young age and has continued throughout his education and professional career. During his undergraduate years he pursued a career in wildlife biology, including two summer stays as an intern and full-time zookeeper in Birmingham, Alabama. However, he decided ecology and wildlife conservation research better suited his interests. He answered the call to further his education and took on a graduate research assistantship at Mississippi State University in 2016. For the last two years he has researched feral swine and their effects on native wildlife in Mississippi. During his thesis research he honed his skills in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and wildlife management. His projects include: GPS collar deployment on feral swine, remote camera trapping to monitor species richness, and assessing crop damage caused by feral swine. Upon the completion of his thesis, Matthew moved back to Georgia with his wife, Victoria and their boxer Sully.

Emma Presberg
Stewardship and Development Assistant
O: 770.486.7774
E: emma@sctlandtrust.org

Emma was born in Richmond, Virginia but grew up in Fayette County and has lived here her entire life. She has always had a passions for the outdoors and animals, spending much of her childhood at her grandparent’s farm surrounded by woods, horses, chickens, and wildlife. Emma graduated from Centre College with a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience and Environmental Studies.

During her time at school, Emma interned with AWARE, a wildlife rehabilitation center, and the Louisville Zoo. She also volunteered at the Danville Boyle County Humane Society where she planned and held a 5K fundraiser. Throughout all this, Emma developed a passion for animal behavior and enrichment. She hopes to combine these in the future to better conservation efforts using behavioral research. Emma is excited about working with the Southern Conservation Trust and is looking forward to furthering conservation efforts in the Southeast. She also looks forward to expanding her knowledge on native wildlife and sharing this information through SCT events and education programs.