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 serves as Stewardship Director for the St. Simons Land Trust, overseeing the stewardship of more than 1,400 acres of protected land. Her work includes guiding scientific research, managing natural and cultural resources, supporting conservation-based education, and building partnerships that advance the Land Trust’s mission. Stephanie joined the St. Simons Land Trust in 2014 as Cannon’s Point Preserve Manager, where she helped establish the Preserve as a model for conservation and education through collaboration with public and private partners, researchers, and volunteers. Prior to that, she worked at Little St. Simons Island as an Ecological Management Technician, gaining hands-on experience in coastal habitat management and wildlife monitoring. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Biotechnology and Conservation from Delaware Valley University and is a member of the Georgia Living Shoreline Working Group. Stephanie also volunteers with the St. Simons Island Sea Turtle Project as part of the Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative.
Communications Director, Raleigh Kitchen
For Raleigh Kitchen, protecting St. Simons Island isn’t just a career—it’s a lifelong calling. Having grown up exploring the island’s maritime forests and beaches, Raleigh returned to her roots after earning a degree in Ecology from the University of Georgia. Her journey with the Land Trust began as a volunteer on the Stewardship Committee while she was serving as the Lead Naturalist at Sea Island. Now, as Communications Director, Raleigh serves as the primary voice for the Land Trust. She translates the complexities of land conservation into stories that resonate with members and visitors alike, managing everything from the organization’s digital presence to the impactful Pennies for Preservation program. An active member of the Georgia Sea Turtle Cooperative, she can often be found patrolling the beach for nests during the summer months. Raleigh and her husband, Jacob, are dedicated to instilling that same love for the Georgia coast in their two children, ensuring the “special corner of the world” they grew up in is protected for years to come.
Development & Marketing Director, Sara Baker
Originally from Michigan, Sara Baker has called the southern coast home for nearly two decades. She first became involved with the St. Simons Land Trust in 2014 through the Ambassador Program, bringing with her over 15 years of marketing, sales, and project management experience, including work with Fortune 500 companies. As she and her husband, Kevin, raised their twins on St. Simons, Sara developed a deep commitment to preserving the island’s natural beauty for future generations. In 2016, she officially joined the Land Trust team to create, launch, and manage the award-winning Pennies for Preservation program, which she led for five years. She also developed the annual sponsorship program and contributed to communications and outreach, and capital campaign initiatives. After pursuing a startup opportunity in 2022, Sara returned “home” to the Land Trust in 2025 as Development and Marketing Director. Demonstrating her strong commitment to the community, she serves on the board of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in advertising, graduating cum laude from Oakland University.
Membership Manager, Alicia M. Shell
For Alicia, conservation and community have always gone hand-in-hand. Originally from Long Island, she followed the coast south, earning an Environmental Science degree from Allegheny College and a Master of Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University before making St. Simons Island her home in 2007. Whether she was building the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s education department from the ground up or leading First Baptist Preschool to a 5-star rating, Alicia has spent her career fostering deep connections within the Golden Isles community. As Membership Manager, she draws on her decades of experience in outreach and leadership to inspire others to invest in our local landscapes. Alicia is proud to raise her two daughters in the community she works to protect, ensuring an undeniable passion for the outdoors is passed on to the next generation of stewards.
Land Steward Technician, Ethan Frye
Ethan Frye was born and raised in McLean, Virginia, and graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. During his undergraduate education, Ethan conducted research on oak and squirrel interactions and assisted with many other research projects at the College. Ethan then moved to the Golden Isles, where he grew up visiting every summer, and worked as a park ranger on Jekyll Island. Ethan enjoys hiking, reading, kayaking, and learning more about plants and animals. Ethan joined the Land Trust in March of 2025 and is thrilled to contribute to the conservation of vital land on the island.
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.
