We’re a mix of creative, passionate, quirky, and brilliant hard workers, united in our efforts to grow a stronger Appalachia through agriculture. Email addresses are in each bio; we’re always happy to connect.
Kathlyn joined ASD’s staff in 2006 as its first business operations manager and became Chief Executive Officer in 2011. She has the privilege of overseeing strategic planning, program development, and administration by working with ASD’s amazing staff and board of directors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Texas A&M University. Like many at ASD, she is an avid lover of her pets.
Nadia Birkitt is currently enrolled at ETSU and is ASD's Marketing and Communication's VISTA. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her two cats, rewatching Bob's Burgers, and attempting to hit Mariah Carey's whistle notes. If you see a snazzy social media post with great emoji choices, she is probably behind it.
Debbie joined ASD in March 2020 to launch the new workforce development program. Prior to joining ASD, she spent almost 20 years as a writer and project manager for ad agencies and in corporate communications, including a Fortune 500. Although she loves to travel and see the wonders of the world, she’s always very happy to come home to beautiful Southwest Virginia.
Katie began her agroforestry career in 2012 as an ASD AmeriCorps VISTA. Since then, she has grown the program to include the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub and Agroforestry Trainings for Natural Resource Professionals. She has an M.S. in Forestry from Virginia Tech. When not whipping up foraged ramp biscuits, Katie is traveling, hiking, paddling, and skiing her way through Appalachia and beyond.
Kylea joined Appalachian Sustainable Development in July 2024. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Policy with a minor in Organic Food Systems from Emory & Henry College, where she lettered in women’s basketball. She also has a M.A. in Sustainability from Lenoir-Rhyne University. Passionate about hiking and the outdoors, Kylea is excited to support sustainable growth in Southwest Virginia.
Kayla Dorton is the Food Box Assembly Trainer. She started working in Groundwork at Appalachian Harvest in 2023 and climbed up to mentoring newcomers. Kayla enters the team with a dedication to positively impacting people and her community. She is understanding and compassionate and can make the most of any situation.
Bonnie joined ASD in October of 2023 as an Account Manager in sales. A Virginia native, she has a background in gardening, foraging, and woodland adventures. Her early career was in childhood education, and she later honed her sales and management skills in the telecom industry. Her journey reflects resilience and a genuine appreciation for both her community and the people she serves.
Lindsey Felty is a native of Southwest Virginia and holds a bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University. She is a natural relationship builder and loves connecting folks to ASD and the organization’s valuable resources. When she's not connecting people with ASD, she enjoys exercise, supporting local businesses, and hanging out with her fur babies.
Mr. Gabbert joined ASD in December 2021 as the Groundwork (Tazewell) Garden Supervisor. He utilizes his passion for growing and his knowledge of regenerative agriculture practices to help improve the soil health of the community garden in Tazewell.
Hussung is a recently returned East Tennessee native, excited to be back in the beauty of Appalachia. She's been driving trucks since 2017 and driving for Appalachian Harvest since the fall of 2023. She is working to get a small-scale forest farming operation up and running. In her free time, she loves music, cooking, gardening, and building all kinds of hands-on skills.
Originally from Huntington, WV, and now living in Wise, VA, Tori Jessee is a proud wife and mom to a sweet little boy. She has a household full of love—including three dogs and three cats. Passionate about giving back, she volunteers and supports local initiatives to help those in need. Outside of work, she loves hiking with her family or relaxing with a good movie or TV show.
Michael Klarman joined ASD in November of 2021. He served in the United States Marine Corps and retired in 2015. He has continued serving veterans through various organizations and is excited and eager to watch the veteran program with ASD grow! Originally from Alabama, Michael has now laid his roots in Johnson City, TN. Michael's favorite pastimes include fishing with his labradors.
Charlotte is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving Agriculture Education and supporting the Appalachia Regional Food Business Center. She is passionate about resilience through sustainable, regional food systems. Charlotte earned her Bachelor’s in Sustainability from Chatham University. She is currently based in Pittsburgh, PA where she works to bolster ASD’s network and impact across our region.
Layla started out at ASD in Groundwork in 2023. She's all about teamwork and ready to lend a hand when needed. She is motivated by endless curiosity, always wanting to learn and grow, and making a difference in her community. She is a true Scott County local, where she shares her home with her children, Avery, Paco, and Ayla.
Della discovered ASD in 2017, joining Grow Your Own to garden at her new house. She attended and volunteered for two seasons, then did a year as the Ag Ed VISTA. In 2020, she was hired on as ASD’s first Grant Writer and has since helped raise over $25 million for ASD programs and campus. In that time, she raised her only son into adulthood, sending him into the world with a deep love of gardening.
Mel Morris is the Program Manager of Learning Landscapes at Appalachian Sustainable Development, combining creativity and passion to inspire young minds through gardening. With a design background, Mel brings a fresh perspective to teaching kids about healthy eating, sustainability, and stewardship. Through hands-on activities, they foster curiosity, collaboration, and a love for nature.
Brithany is a proud native of Scott County, where she currently lives. She serves as the dedicated Facility Operations Manager at Appalachian Harvest. Brithany finds joy in extending a helping hand to others in her community. Outside of work, she finds fulfillment in being a supportive parent to her children Gaige and Jalynn.
In 2023, Elizabeth became an integral part of ASD as the Accounting Assistant. She’s dedicated to providing efficient assistance to vendors and customers. Her responsibilities include, but aren’t limited to, invoicing, tracking payments, and processing paperwork. Contributing to the community has always been inspiring to her, and being a part of the positive impact ASD delivers is her passion.
Before joining ASD, Robin was the sole proprietor of MoonBranch Botanicals, a producer of native medicinal plant materials along with other non-timber forest products in the small community of Yellow Creek in far western North Carolina. His company supplied the natural products and botanical medicines industry with high-quality native raw bulk botanicals produced in their natural habitats.
Emilie works in education, outreach, and grant administration for silvopasture, alley cropping, and other Agroforestry practices. She hosts the Ask an Agroforester webinar series, which features deep-dive interviews with industry experts. Outside of ASD, she co-owns ShireFolk Farm and the Shenandoah Permaculture Institute. She is currently writing a book about Perennial Permaculture Nurseries.
Angie joined ASD in 2017 with a background in leadership and finance. Angie holds a Master of Business Administration degree from King College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from East Tennessee State University. She lives in SWVA with her husband, Coy, and daughter, LeeAnn.
