From left to right: Kimbrough Haverstock, Rebecca Cushing, Lori Lewis, Dalia Charles, Stephanie Knox, Marty Moody, Raleigh Kitchen, Sue Tuttle, Emily Ellison
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMILY ELLISON
Emily Ellison, a sixth-generation Georgian, grew up hiking and camping with her parents and siblings, and nearly all her favorite activities still include being outside, surrounded by nature – gardening, hiking, biking, kayaking, and occasionally playing a round of golf. Although she had planned to retire upon moving to St. Simons fulltime in 2015, one trip to Cannon’s Point Preserve won her heart, and she is honored to be a member of the Land Trust team. A former journalist, book editor, and writer, Emily is the author of several published books, including the award-winning novel, The Picture Makers. Emily has also been a non-profit executive for more than 25 years. She was the visionary and co-founder of the Atlanta Girls’ School, a nonsectarian college-preparatory school for girls; served for five years as the President and Executive Director of Literacy Action, Inc., a community organization working with undereducated adults; and, immediately before moving to the Georgia coast, was the CEO of the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, a nearly 120-year-old Atlanta nonprofit serving women, children, and families. She is Trustee Emerita of the Atlanta Girls’ School and serves on the Board of Directors of Friends of Fort Frederica. She is married to Chuck Perry, a retired journalist, editor, and book publisher, and they are the proud parents of one adult daughter who lives with her husband in a historic area of Brunswick, Georgia. Emily’s favorite Land Trust property is seen from the lookout tower at the north-end of Cannon’s Point Preserve.
FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, SUE TUTTLE
Before moving to the Golden Isles from Connecticut in 2005, Sue ran her own full-service bookkeeping company and has maintained long-standing relationships with her original clients along with new ones she developed in the St. Simons area. She started as a part-time contractor for the Land Trust in 2008 and was hired full-time in 2011. In addition to accounting, Sue has worked in the construction, real estate, property management, civil engineering, and manufacturing industries as well as in the non-profit sector providing the perfect professional background for her positions overseeing land stewardship and finance at the Land Trust. Since a young girl, she has always loved gardening, hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, and being close to the beach. These passions are also in keeping with the important roles she holds on the Land Trust team. For Sue, the only thing better than being outdoors is spending time with her children and grandchildren in Las Vegas, NV, and Charleston, SC.
STEWARDSHIP DIRECTOR, STEPHANIE KNOX
Stephanie was born and raised in Narberth, Pennsylvania. Her love of the outdoors began at a young age when she enjoyed camping, fishing and hiking with her family. She attended the Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, PA, where she studied wildlife Conservation and Management and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Biotechnology and Conservation. In May 2010, she began an internship with Little St. Simons Island conducting breeding monitoring of the American Oystercatcher. This position evolved into the Ecological Management Technician at LSSI, and she fell in love with coastal Georgia. In January 2014, Stephanie began her current position as Stewardship Director with the St. Simons Land Trust. Her responsibilities include overseeing a wide array of scientific research projects, natural and cultural resource management, and community education. Stephanie works alongside numerous private and public partners who assist with making Cannon’s Point Preserve a model for conservation and a platform for education through the ecological management plan and the practices that take place on site. Stephanie sits on the board of another local nonprofit, Coastal WildScapes, and volunteers with the SSI Sea Turtle Project as part of the Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative.
Communications Director, Raleigh Kitchen
Raleigh is a native of St. Simons Island. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2013 where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Ecology. From 2012-2018, Raleigh worked as a Naturalist for the Sea Island Company, where she led thousands of nature tours for guests and members. She also managed the sea turtle conservation program on the island. Raleigh began working with the Land Trust in October of 2018 as its Membership and Outreach Manager. Since then, Raleigh’s role has expanded to Communications Director which includes the management of all marketing and communications for the Land Trust as well as the Pennies for Preservation and Ambassador programs. Raleigh served on the board of Coastal WildScapes from 2014-2020 and is an active volunteer with the Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative where she patrols St. Simons’ beach for sea turtle nests from May-September. Whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood, a stroll down the beach, or a hike at a Land Trust property, Raleigh and her family love spending time outdoors. Since welcoming her daughter in 2021, Raleigh’s favorite Land Trust property is the John Gilbert Nature Trail where her daughter can easily experience nature along the stunning coastal Georgia saltmarsh.
Land Steward Technician, Rebecca Cushing
Originally from Plymouth, Massachusetts, Rebecca moved to Georgia in 2014 and has made a home here in St. Simons Island. From an early age, Rebecca has always loved the outdoors and learning about nature. With a background in art, education, and ecology, she has taken many opportunities to express this passion. Rebecca graduated from the College of Coastal Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Coastal Ecology and Environmental Science in May of 2022. She is the newest member of our staff and works to maintain and care for the beautiful properties protected by the Land Trust. As part of the Stewardship team, Rebecca works closely with staff members, volunteers, and Land Trust partners to coordinate and carry out land management and community outreach. In her free time, Rebecca works as an artist and draws inspiration from the native flora and fauna of coastal Georgia. Her favorite Land Trust property is Cannon’s Point Preserve, where she can feel completely immersed in the peaceful maritime forest that is protected there.
MEMBERSHIP MANAGER, DALIA PATTERSON-CHARLES
Dalia, a mother of two daughters and a University of Florida graduate, is a Florida native who relocated to the Golden Isles in 2015. Originally from Juno Beach, she lived for 31 years in Deland, FL. In her previous life, she taught middle and high school social sciences and was a reader for the College Board. Putting her history background to good use, she spent two years as a museum and historic district tour guide on Jekyll Island. The organizational and communication skills she developed as a teacher are invaluable in the multiple roles she plays at the Land Trust, including never forgetting a supporter’s name. Ironically, during the 1970’s, her grandfather lived on St. Simons, and she used to visit the island as a teen. Life has come full circle, and Dalia is happy to be living in beautiful Southeast Georgia with her husband, Fred. She is a gardener extraordinaire and a fabulous cook who often treats the SSLT staff to delicious pots of homemade soup. Dalia’s favorite Land Trust property is 1810 Frederica Road, our office, with its beautiful backyard.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, MARTY MOODY
Marty’s concern for land conservation and community planning brought her to the Land Trust in 2011. Since then, she has worked in a variety of roles, including volunteer, administrative assistant, and coordinator of the annual Oyster Roast. Under her direction, the Oyster Roast increased from 400 attendees to more than 1,400. Today she serves as the Land Trust’s Volunteer Program Coordinator. Having grown up in California, exploring state and national parks with her family, Marty has always had a love for the outdoors. She is committed to fitness and enjoys daily gym classes, hiking, biking, and kayaking. She attended Modesto Junior College and Western Kentucky University. Marty has been a member of P.E.O. International for 21 years. She and her husband Berry and their three sons are true citizens of the world, having lived in Australia, South Africa, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia as Berry worked on various construction projects on nearly every continent. They continue to enjoy traveling and cherish time with family. The Old Stables Corner is Marty’s favorite Land Trust property and she is grateful to see its beauty every time she drives past it.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, KIMBROUGH HAVERSTOCK
Kimbrough Haverstock joined the St. Simons Land Trust team as their Administrative Assistant in September of 2023. Kimbrough grew up in Savannah, GA, and attended Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. After college in 2003 she moved to St. Simons Island where she worked in real estate and fell in love with exploring the island. It was then that she began to learn about all the important things the St. Simons Land Trust does for this area. After working in real estate, she began her career working in schools at Frederica Academy as an administrator. Kimbrough moved away to Atlanta in 2010 where she continued her work in school administration at The Lovett School. She missed St. Simons often and happened upon the fortunate opportunity to move back here with her family in 2020. Kimbrough and her husband Lee have 2 children, and she is thrilled to be back here raising her family and working for this incredible organization. Kimbrough’s favorite Land Trust property is the Old Stables Corner since she has fond memories of visiting there as a child.
