Team Member Group: Board of Directors

Julius is the Executive Director of The Climate Trust, a non-profit organization using the carbon markets to implement natural and working lands climate solutions and to support forest and grassland stewardship. A certified forester, Julius’ prior experience includes serving as the Forest Manager for the Yale Forests and investigating climate-smart agroforestry techniques as a U.S. Fulbright scholar in France . Julius holds a Master of Forestry from the Yale School of Forestry and a Bachelor of Environmental Science from Wesleyan University. Julius enjoys fly fishing in the southern Appalachian Mountains and singing early American shape note music. 

John Schuler is an environmental steward and circular economist dedicated to advancing sustainability through both professional leadership and hands-on conservation. As Managing Trustee of his family forest in North Carolina, he has spent decades restoring ecosystems, improving forest health, and promoting climate resilience. His initiatives range from carbon sequestration projects and sustainable timber harvesting to soil restoration, water management, and habitat creation for pollinators, amphibians, and endangered bird species. These efforts reflect his commitment to biodiversity and long-term ecological balance.

Complementing his on-the-ground conservation, John is pursuing a Master of Environmental Management in Environmental Leadership at Duke University, building on prior academic achievements including an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, an MS in Organizational Development from Avila University, and a BSBA in Economics from Western Carolina University, where he graduated summa cum laude.

John’s blend of rigorous education, practical stewardship, and systems thinking positions him as a leader who bridges environmental responsibility with forward-looking strategies for resilience and regeneration.

Tracy Eames is the CEO of TEAMES & CO, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations reach their most ambitious growth goals. With a passion for transformative projects, Tracy is committed to leveraging her experience amplifying brands, developing innovative products and leading organizations through game-changing growth to help nonprofit organizations achieve their missions. Tracy is a member of the Asheville Rotary Club, the past President of the Research Triangle Rotary Club, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Rotarian Action Group for Community & Economic Development as well as Camp Susan Curtis. While Tracy grew up on the ocean as the daughter of a commercial fisherman, she is now an avid hiker, and one of her favorite parts of living in Asheville is enjoying the beautiful forest trails. She holds a MBA from ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon.

Desirae is an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and of Omaha descent. She has a BS in Plant and Environmental Science from Clemson University and a MS in Plant Sciences from The University of Arizona. Desirae is the Conservation Outreach Coordinator for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Natural Resources Department and serves as a liaison between EBCI and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) providing outreach, conservation planning, and technical assistance to the tribe and tribal members.  Desirae also manages the Sochan Gathering Program,  issuing permits to enrolled EBCI tribal members to harvest sochan for Traditional Purposes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Pat is the managing broker of National Land Realty’s Western North Carolina office, a retired military officer, and a Rotarian. He specializes in the sale of large acreage land tracts for homestead, conservation, investment, recreation, agricultural, and family estate uses. Most of the clients he supports have conservation and sustainability goals. By connecting them with EcoForesters and local Land Trusts, these owners are empowered to be better stewards of the land and can understand how to best protect our unique ecosystems in the mountains. Pat has lived in many parts of the world and experienced many diverse environments and cultures but chose to move to the Asheville area because of the mountains, community, and access to nature. Pat is also a REALTOR Land Institute Member, and on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Asheville, and Blue Ridge Honor Flight.

Linda has specialized for over 25 years in serving young people on the autism spectrum or other special needs and their families.  In her tenure in residential programming, Linda has created and run summer camps, schools, and a young adult program, providing services for ages 8 to 24 with executive functioning and social communication disorders.  A 1990 A.T. Thru-hiker, her other true love is the mountains, woodlands – pretty much everything outdoors – and she is passionate about conserving our wild places.  Having served on the board of MountainTrue, she is excited now to help EcoForesters lead the way in private land conservation.