Meet The Team

The Blue Ridge Rising Staff Team

Blue Ridge Rising is a program of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, implemented in partnership with Friends of Southwest Virginia.

Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Staff

Photo of Carolyn Widner

Carolyn Widner

Chief Executive Officer

Photo of George Ivey

George Ivey

Director, Blue Ridge Rising

Photo of Jason Urroz

Jason Urroz

Vice President of Education

Photo of Rita Larkin

Rita Larkin

Chief Communications Officer

Photo of Richard Emmett

Richard Emmett

Vice President of Operations

Photo of Kelly Fain

Kelly Fain

Director of Administration

Photo of Kellie Monacell

Kellie Monacell

Chief Financial Officer

Kristina Ramsey

Director of Engagement and External Affairs

Kimberly Petersen

Project Coordinator, Blue Ridge Rising

Friends of Southwest Virginia Staff

Photo of Kim Davis

Kim Davis

Executive Director

Photo of Paula Hurt

Paula Hurt

Director of Finance and Administration

Photo of Jen Otey

Jen Otey

Outdoor Recreation Development Manager

Photo of Jessica Lawrence

Jessica Lawrence

Outdoor Recreation Development Manager

Photo of Catherine Fox

Catherine Fox

Director of Regional Destination Development

Photo of Erin Simons

Erin Simons

Artisan Engagement Specialist

Photo of Ryan Vaughan

Ryan Vaughan

Marketing Manager

"This is bigger than any one agency, program, or person could possibly accomplish, and I don’t see how we can do it without you."

- Heather Murphy, CFRE
Executive Director
The Health Foundation (Wilkes County, North Carolina)

Current Needs

Local stakeholders play a leading role in designing and implementing the Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan. We continually seek out ideas, advice, contacts, connections, guidance, and other assistance. See how you can help right now.

Find and Fill a Need
Three women in blue shirts, hard hats, work gloves, and boots stand on a forest trail holding yellow rakes and smiling, surrounded by trees and greenery.

Carolyn Widner

Chief Executive Officer

Provides executive leadership for the overall Blue Ridge Rising program

George Ivey

Director, Blue Ridge Rising

Leads development, coordination, and implementation of the Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan; supports fundraising to implement the action plan; serves as staff lead for the voluntary viewshed protection strategy.

Jason Urroz

Vice President of Education

Leads workforce education initiatives and multiple visitor experience strategies, including several Parkway-based projects, trails and greenways, and dark skies.

Rita Larkin

Chief Communications Officer

Oversees communications strategy for the Foundation, and plays a leading role in several marketing strategies, including curated travel itineraries and the regional travel website.

Richard Emmett

Vice President of Operations

Plays a leading role in strategies to highlight our region’s artisans, musicians, and storytellers.

Kelly Fain

Director of Administration

Coordinates the annual Blue Ridge Rising Two-State Summit and a variety of other program needs.

Kellie Monacell

Chief Financial Officer

Plays a crucial role in organizing project budgets, spending, and reporting, while also orchestrating subawards and subcontracts.

Kristina Ramsey

Director of Engagement and External Affairs

Kimberly Petersen

Project Coordinator, Blue Ridge Rising

Serves as Project Coordinator for Blue Ridge Rising.

Kim Davis

Executive Director

Provides executive leadership and guidance for project implementation, especially for the counties in Southwest Virginia.

Paula Hurt

Director of Finance and Administration

Provides leadership and guidance for project financial management and grant-related policies and procedures.

Jen Otey

Outdoor Recreation Development Manager

Leads the trails and greenways strategy, while also assisting with other strategies focused on artisans and recreation.

Jessica Lawrence

Outdoor Recreation Development Manager

Leads the bicycling strategy, and assists with other recreation-focused initiatives.

Catherine Fox

Director of Regional Destination Development

Plays a key role in multiple destination marketing strategies, including wayfinding and the regional travel website.

Erin Simons

Artisan Engagement Specialist

Leads the community milepost markers initiative, as well as the efforts to highlight the region’s artists and musicians.

Ryan Vaughan

Marketing Manager

Leads the storytelling initiative, and supports design and content development for the Blue Ridge Rising regional travel website.