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.
So far, we’ve built 33 miles of the planned 100 miles.
We’re actively building more.
How F3ST started: The organization was born, fittingly, at a December 2019 reception at Fonta Flora Brewery at Whippoorwill Farm. Nearly 100 people — state and local officials, businesspeople, conservationists, and others — gathered to celebrate the official formation of the Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, Inc. (F3ST).
In the spring of 2021, F3ST was awarded 501c3 status and had a fully formed Board of Directors.
F3ST continues to be run by a volunteer Board of Directors, along with an Executive Director and a Communications Director.
Photo, L to R:
Row 1: President Kenny Greene, Megan Foy
Row 2: Chuck Aldridge, Executive Director Shelley McKechnie, Vice Chair Mark Cobb
Row 3: Steve Pierce, Julia Weatherford, Sarah Chabaane
Row 4: Treasurer Ed Phillips, Shyla Miller, Communications Director Angel Duff
2026 Board of Directors
Executive Committee:
Kenny Greene - President
Mark Cobb - Vice-Chair/Secretary
Ed Phillips - Treasurer
Steve Pierce - At Large, President of the McDowell Trails Association
Julia Weatherford - At Large, Town of Black Mountain
Chuck Aldridge - Town of Old Fort
Sarah Chabaane - Trials Director of Burke County
Megan Foy - Equinox Environmental, Landscape Architect
Wes Shelley - Attorney, Evans & Shelley
Shyla Miller, Landscape Conservation Program Coordinator, Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Beth Heile - Board Member Emeritus
Robert Hunter - Board Member Emeritus
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
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
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
