The WONA Board of Directors meets quarterly to establish and track goals relative to our strategic plan. If you are a member and would like to lead or support one of our key educational activities or projects (or have ideas of your own!), we’d love to have you. Please reach out to [email protected] with the subject line “Board” for your inquiries or interest. We are stronger when we work together and utilize our diverse and individual strengths to promote native plants.
President: Charles Pannell
I’m originally from Middle Tennessee, and I first became interested in plants while I was a teenager. I became curious about the plants that grew in my neighborhood and was shocked to discover that most of them were invasive species. That was the first time the sea of green parted to yield specific plants with their own unique Latin names. In college, I studied botany and started a small environmental club to promote campus sustainability; my colleagues and I campaigned for over 2 years with students at Tennessee universities to create sustainable campus committees to conserve the region’s resources more responsibly. I also campaigned (unsuccessfully) as a student senator to have the “Bradford” pear eliminated from our campus (circa 2006). After moving to Huntsville in 2020 (during COVID), and after a decade working as an engineer, I wanted to get back to my plant passion, so I read Doug Tallamy and was inspired to start a local chapter of WildOnes to connect with other native plant enthusiasts.
Vice President: Kelly Cody
I’ve been a gardener since childhood, and like many gardeners, find joy in watching birds and butterflies visit my flowers. What started as a mission to attract more garden visitors quickly grew into a passion for the ecological role our gardens and greenspaces play. We know that by choosing the right plants, we can support wildlife and restore habitats in our own yards, which is why I love working with WildOnes. The opportunity to educate our
community about landscaping choices that protect and restore nature, especially as so much of our remaining wild land is developed, is invaluable.
Secretary: Lauren Linder
While I knew a little bit about some species, I didn’t really understand the difference between native and non-native until about 3 years ago, when my nextdoor neighbor cut down her 3 mature trees. It made me want to create the yard I wanted, not the yard I had. I’ve never considered myself a gardener so I initially became interested in native plants because I figured they would need less help from me since they are meant to be here
anyway. As I learned more about different species, I became frustrated with the dominance of species from other continents in traditional gardening culture. This automatic removal of the plants that are meant to be here, along with the additional habitat destruction that happens with development, is what made me want to do what I could to improve our local ecosystems and teach people about the awesome plants we have here. I became one of the main administrators of the North Alabama Native Plants Society facebook group, then was asked to join the WildOnes North Alabama board, where I became the secretary in 2024. I am constantly learning more, especially as I meet others who are also passionate about native plants!
Membership Chair: Rhonda Zook
I have been involved with the local WildOnes chapter since its inception. My love for native plants began as a child growing up in rural southern West Virginia. The infatuation continued when I moved to Brevard County, Florida, and worked with native landscapers to implement a landscape plan on my scrub habitat property. When I relocated to my current property in Huntsville five years ago, I added many native plants and am striving to become a certified native habitat. Currently, I am a certified Master Gardener and Alabama Master Naturalist. My goals for WildOnes are to continue educating the public about the importance of adding native landscaping and identifying and eradicating invasives.
Treasurer: Lyn W.
As a lifelong resident of Huntsville, with a keen appreciation of trees, I have been dismayed to see the reckless destruction that development causes and the steadfast efforts of residents to squelch all of the wildness from their land. I believe WildOnes is the best-positioned advocate in our community for ecologically responsible landscaping, and I have been honored to serve as treasurer for the past two years.