Vice President & Volunteers - Ellen Timmerman Luce
Ellen Luce is no stranger to the river. She grew up going camping at the river. "My fondest memories are of camping along the Locust Fork River with my grandparents, parents, and brothers. We kids slept under rock ledges! Grandmother brought all the camping supplies and she'd cook the fresh fish for the whole gang. Now, with grown daughters of my own, I want to give back to the river that has given me so much. The river is my natural medication to manage stress."
​Contact: Mobile: 205.353.8142, [email protected]

Treasurer - Nancy Pile-Laney
I was born and have lived in various states! Pertinent to FLFR: Childhood in Cincinnati Ohio, we paddled as a family in a homemade fiberglass canoe on the Little Miami River. Junior High and High school years in upstate NY, paddled lakes in the Adirondacks, upper Hudson River, Schroon River and the Battenkill in Vermont. College in Tennessee, paddled the Ocoee in TN and the Hiawasee in GA. Medical school in NY, no paddling. I studied! Lived in Birmingham for 14 years then KY for 20. I didn't get back to water until we moved to Blount county last year. Now I love, LOVE, LOVING spending time on the Locust Fork. 
​Contact: [email protected]

Secretary - Eleanor Wright
Eleanor Wright is a board member, virtual conservationist, newsletter editor, and world traveler. Eleanor Wright is FLFR's board secretary, and media specialist presenting the outdoors through technology. She also serves as permit application watchdog and researcher and newsletter editor. A fluent Spanish speaker, she loves travel and visiting international destinations.
​Contact: [email protected]

VP Conservation - Sam Howell ​
Retired Vice President Purchasing Birmingham Restaurant Supply Company, Past president of Friends of the Locust Fork River and current board member, Alabama Scenic River Trail President, Blount-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce Board president,  Volunteer at Alabama State Games, a multi sport amateur competition, Hobbies include music, kayaking, fishing, hiking, healthy gardening, and visiting places of historical and cultural significance.
Contact: (M) 205.706.4376, [email protected]

Community Liaison - Chris “Cleve” Cleveland
Chris Cleveland, board member, loves the river, paddles his kayak often and widely, and married his wife on its banks. Chris Cleveland joined FLFR in 2010 because of his love for the river that he developed from fishing and recreational kayaking with friends. He attended Kids’ Day on the River as a volunteer, and decided to be more active in preserving and protecting what he’d grown to love. When time came around for the kayak and canoe races, he volunteered as a gate judge. The next year he became race starter, and completed his first year of whitewater kayaking. While on a scheduled river hike he met his future wife, and they were married two years later on the banks of the River. Now he’s volunteer coordinator, member of the River Tales committee, and serves on the Board of Directors.
Contact: Text only: 205.956.8394, [email protected]

Outreach - Susie Mixon Wilkerson – Semi-retired.
An original co-founder of FLFR, past treasurer, president, executive director and now a board member again, Susie Wilkerson grew up swimming and fishing the lower Locust Fork and has enjoyed living on the bluffs of this beautiful river in Blount County for the past 37 years listening to her free-flowing music. Her hobbies include jewelry making, arts & crafts, vegetable and flower gardening; and she loves walking in her woods being one with nature. It is fun meeting new folks and promoting the beauty of the river and FLFR.
Contact: [email protected]

Advisory Council coordinator - April Benefield
I was born and raised in South Georgia and was always around what I called "brown water" (rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes).  When I started coming up to Blount County to see my now husband, Bryan, the first places he took me were parts of the river.  I fell in love with Mardis Mill, Swann Bridge and House Rock.  Nothing is more soothing to my soul than sitting on a rock with my feet in the water.  I want to encourage the adults and children in Blount County to care for this river and to fall in love with it as well.  
I have served on the Board of Cullman Brewers Guild as well as served as their Treasurer.  I am also an Ambassador with The American Kidney Fund.  My hobbies are learning new things, brewing beer,  my fledgling garden, off-roading, and crocheting. 
contact: [email protected]