Michael A. Butler, Chief Executive Officer
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Michael Butler has served as executive director for Tennessee Wildlife Federation since June 2002. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Tennessee’s largest and oldest conservation organization and ensuring Tennessee’s citizens are educated about sound natural resources management. Mr. Butler also works with elected officials, state and federal agencies and civic leaders to implement sound natural resources policy and create solutions to natural resource user conflicts. He joined TWF as Director of Conservation in April 1996, working with the organization’s Conservation Policy Advisory Council and Board of Directors to develop natural resource policy.

Prior to his role at TWF, Mr. Butler obtained his master’s degree in fish and wildlife management from Montana State University. He previously worked as a research assistant at Delta Waterfowl’s headquarters in Portage la Prairie, Canada, and as a wildlife policy intern for the Wildlife Society in Washington, D.C.  A Jackson, Tenn.-native, Mr. Butler obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, with a major in wildlife and fisheries science and a minor in forestry.

Mr. Butler is an Eagle Scout, a member of various sportsmen and conservation groups, serves on various industry-related committees and boards and has earned several honors. He currently is serving his second term on the TVA Regional Resource Stewardship Council federal advisory committee. In 2006, Michael was appointed by the President to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Morris K. Udall Foundation for Scholarship and Excellence in Environmental Policy.

Kendall McCarter, Chief Development Officer
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Kendall McCarter currently serves as Chief Development Officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.  Prior to joining the TWF staff, McCarter served as Vice President of Development and University Relations at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee. McCarter’s development experience includes seven years as Associate Director of Philanthropy for The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Chapter and four years as Director of Development for Lifeline Blood Services in Jackson.  In addition, he has served as Vice President and Trust Officer with Regions/Morgan Keegan Trust where he worked with high net worth clients in financial and estate matters. 

McCarter began his career in development work as a regional representative for LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis.  Prior to his work in development, he led the public relations department at Davidson & Chandler Advertising Agency in Jackson.

In his spare time, McCarter enjoys hunting, fishing, birding and other outdoor activities.  He is an active member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Jackson.  He also is the co-founder and former chairman of the Skyfest Tennessee Airshow. 

McCarter holds a B.A. in Communication from Mississippi State University along with an M.B.A. from Union University.  He and his wife Sherri live in Jackson, Tennessee and they have one daughter, Julia who is nine years old.

Karen Vaughn, Director of Communications & Membership
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Karen Vaughn joined the Tennessee Wildlife Federation in May 2005.  She is responsible for directing communications for TWF, as well as directing the membership program and fundraising events. 

Prior to joining TWF, Karen received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  Upon graduation, she moved to Washington, DC to work for several members of Congress before joining the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation 2000 as Manager of Events and Membership.  She returned to Tennessee in 2004 to serve as Director of Fundraising and Events for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation. 

A Chattanooga, TN native, Karen grew up hunting and fishing and continues to enjoy the outdoors with her husband and daughter. 

Chadrick E. Whittenburg, Outreach Director
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Chad Whittenburg joined the Tennessee Wildlife Federation as the Hunters for the Hungry and Scholastic Clay Target Program Coordinator in May 2005. Since then Chad has increased his role with the Federation to included managing the two recently acquired Outdoor trade shows, working with affiliate clubs and organizations, assisting with the Camouflage Coalition and acting as the direct supervisor to the Outreach Coordinator.

Chad is a 2005 graduate from Tennessee Technological University where he earned two Bachelors degrees in Wildlife & Fisheries Science and in Geology. Chad is Certified Associate Wildlife Biologist though The Wildlife Society and served as the President of the student chapter of The Wildlife Society 04’-05’ where he was named Most Outstanding Senior in April 2005. He is also a member of the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society, in addition to many other sportsman and conservation organizations.

Prior to attending TTU, Chad spent 4 years as an infantryman in the Marine Corps. He spent time on the Marine Corps North Pacific Rifle and Pistol Team, and was a certified Close Quarters Battle Instructor. Chad was awarded The Bronze Star and The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for Valor in Combat while serving in Kosovo 99’.  He is married to wife Becky, has a daughter named Katelyn, 2 step-sons, Grant and Ethan, and a Black Lab "Abby".

Martha Lyle Ford, Director, Great Outdoors University
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Martha Lyle Ford has served as the Director of Great Outdoors University since its beginning in Fall 2005.

A native of Brownsville, Tennessee, Martha Lyle is a graduate of The Lausanne School, of Memphis, Tennessee, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University.

In 2006, Martha Lyle was named Environmental Administrator of the Year for West Tennessee by Tennessee Environmental Education Association.

She currently lives in Brownsville, Tennessee with husband Bob Ford, wildlife biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and their two daughters Eliza and Mattie.  She is an avid outdoorswoman – and loves to hike, fish, and hunt, and just sit outdoors.

Outside of her work, Martha Lyle currently serves as the Chair of Church and Society Ministries for the Memphis Conference of the United Methodist Church, and is the president of Habitat for Humanity of Haywood County.

Lori Rohling, Office Manager
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Lori Rohling joined TWF as Office Manager in November 2007.   She is responsible for directing the office's finances, as well as running the day to day administrative operations of the organization.  
 
Prior to joining the Federation, Lori worked for a printing company in Dickson County, where she was a contract employee in Human Resources.  Lori has more than ten years experience working in the Human Resources field.  She is also currently enrolled in Nashville State Community College where she is pursuing a certificate in Photography. 

At home, Lori has two daughters and two grand-daughters.  She is an avid paddler and loves photographing nature and her grandchildren. 

Matt Simcox, Outreach Coordinator
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Matt Simcox was hired at Outreach Coordinator in April of 2008. He spends his time coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program and Hunters for the Hungry Program. 

Matt is a 2007 graduate from Tennessee Technological University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications. While attending school, Matt spent two semesters interning with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, working in the Information and Education department. He has volunteered his time to work numerous events for TWRA and TWF including the SCTP State Championship and the Sand Hill Crane Day at the Hiwassee Refugee.

Matt is an avid hunter and angler and enjoys writing and photography in his spare time.

Matt is from and resides in Cookeville, TN, and is married to Alice and has a daughter named Addison.

Daniel Carter, Contract Project Manager

Daniel Carter is a local government and conservation consultant working on a special project through the Tennessee Wildlife Federation entitled “The Long-Term Impacts of Development on Forestry, Agriculture, Wildlife, and Outdoor Recreation in the South Cumberland Plateau.”  The pilot research project seeks to demonstrate how state wildlife action plan data can be integrated into the local planning process.  In addition, this project utilizes updated GIS base maps provided by the State of Tennessee base-mapping program with overlays of county parcel data.  This data has allowed local officials to visually understand the broad scale of rural residential development on the Cumberland Plateau, resulting in local support for land conservation efforts. 

The primary goals of this project are two-fold.  First, project coordinators seek to demonstrate how state, university, and non-profit resources can be utilized to assist both state and local officials in understanding not only the importance of planning, but the limited technical and financial resources available in rural counties and municipalities.  Second, this project hopes to demonstrate that with good data, rural local officials will support and embrace conservation as a tool in the community development process. 

Daniel’s expertise is in rural local government finance, planning, and politics with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University, a Master of Public Administration from American University, and is currently completing his doctorate at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.  He worked nine years as a county government consultant with the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Assistance Service in southwest Tennessee.

Daniel serves as a voting member on the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Council on Greenways and Trails, board member of the Jasper Regional History Museum, and spearheads an effort through the Marion County Chamber of Commerce to develop an outdoor recreation plan.  He is a business owner, sportsman, beef farmer, father of two boys, and has a passion for ensuring that future generations have an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.