Staff & Board

Meet our team!

Staff

Eliot Berz

Executive Director

Eliot, a Chattanooga native, received his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Sewanee: The University of the South and a master’s degree at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in environmental science. Before returning to Chattanooga, Eliot worked with the Piedmont Environmental Council in Northern Virginia as a research fellow. He has worked in various roles in the Chattanooga conservation and outdoor recreation fields with Thrive 2055, Outdoor Chattanooga, and TRGT. Eliot has conducted public access development projects, created conservation land management plans, and led avian research programs in his 7 years with TRGT. When not working, you will likely find Eliot in the river kayaking or fishing.

Alishea Hixson

Associate Director

Alishea Hixson joined TRGT in February 2018 as the Associate Director. Originally from Decatur, TN, she grew up on a farm and understands the value of protecting our local open spaces. Alishea moved to Chattanooga to attend UTC and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Ecology.

Alishea's professional work includes serving as the Director of Special Events at First Things First for 8 years, and the Associate Director of Annual Giving for the UC Foundation for 2 years. She is also a 2014 graduate of Chattanooga’s Chamber of Commerce Protégé Leadership Program. Alishea is part of the Leadership Chattanooga Class of 2023.

She and her husband, David, love to travel. In recent years they have been to Alaska, Colorado, New York, South Dakota, Devils Tower, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons. Alishea and David welcomed their daughter, Abigail, in February 2019.

Allison Oliver

Finance and Business Director

Allison grew up in southeast Tennessee and is proud to call it her home. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and received her Master of Public Administration, Nonprofit Management from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. She has over ten years of experience working and volunteering in the nonprofit sector. When she is not keeping the books for TRGT, you can find her loving on animals, wildcrafting, sewing, learning to take advantage of all mother nature provides, and laughing with her sweet little boy, Will.

Austin Young

Research and Stewardship Coordinator

Austin received his B.S. in biology with an ecology and conservation biology emphasis at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. He is currently nearing the completion of his M.S. degree in biology at Idaho State with a thesis emphasis on the stopover ecology of migrating songbirds in southeastern Idaho. He is an avid birder and outdoorsman, with his favorite birds being Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) and Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra). His intense passion for birds and other wildlife since toddlerhood has appropriately unified his hobbies with his career interests. He never leaves the office without his binoculars! On any given day you can find him doing something with birds or other wildlife. On occasion he can be found going on long walks in the neighborhood or enjoying live jazz music with his dear wife Grace.

Robert Windham

Land Management and Access Coordinator

Robert is originally from Wartrace, TN. After completing his bachelor’s degree in the biology department at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Robert continued his journey through the field of conservation. Through his studies and hobbies, Robert has developed a particular interest in wildlife sciences. He has worked as a biology technician for an environmental consulting firm, Land Management Logistics, and has volunteered on many initiatives such as invasive plant removal at Rock Island State Park. Currently, Robert is obtaining his master's degree in biology at Austin Peay State University, focusing on wildlife conservation and land management. His hobbies are closely aligned with his professional interest, and you will likely find Robert hiking, camping, or exploring wild lands throughout our region on the weekends.

2024 Summer Interns

Julia Prins

Julia is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She received her bachelor's in environmental science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is currently working towards a master's degree at UTC with a focus on botany. Her thesis project is on establishing subnational conservation status ranks for all of Tennessee's flora under the NatureServe ranking system. Additionally, she is working to complete a vascular flora inventory of Booker T. Washington State Park. Julia loves sharing her passion for plants with the public and does so by working as a hiking guide at Lula Lake Land Trust on the weekends and assisting with the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains. In the future, Julia hopes to work on the protection and recovery of at-risk plant species.

Gracie Dodson

Gracie is originally from Pikeville, Tennessee. She recently graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a bachelors in environmental science. Prior to the TRGT internship, she conducted visitor use planning and management studies in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park with GAIA Environmental Consulting. She strives to continue working in conservation in her future. During her free time, she likes to read, hike, kayak, and play pickle ball.

Patrick Higgins

Patrick is originally from Hendersonville, Tennessee, and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in environmental science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Though interested in all things outdoors, Patrick is particularly fond of birding, and aspires to steward the natural world appropriately according to its shifting demands. Over the years, Patrick has worked with multiple bird research teams across the country, both formally and informally, and most recently, he held a forestry position with the Tennessee Aquarium. Patrick's other hobbies and interests include herping, photographing birds, playing electric guitar, and co-hosting his podcast, Back to Birding.