Gardner joined the Park staff in February 2022 as Executive Director.

Michelle now serves as Park Operations Manager. Michelle holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration/ Nonprofit Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, both earned at Appalachian State University. She brings a wealth of nonprofit experience and community engagement to this role. Michelle also manages the Watauga County Farmers’ Market in Boone and works with her partner, Larson, to run their Valle Crucis-based farm, Sunshine Cove. She is passionate about community building, place-making, and environmental stewardship and is eager to put her skills to work here at the Valle Crucis Park!

Amanda is a native North Carolinian, born in Raleigh. She spent most of her childhood in Apex and Cary before moving to the Grand Strand area of Coastal South Carolina. Amanda attended Coastal Carolina University where she earned a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Business Administration. While earning her MBA, Amanda became passionate about entrepreneurship and worked in a communications position at a technology incubator where she guided entrepreneurs in building their startup companies from an idea to a working product. Amanda’s work with the startup incubator inspired her and her husband to start their own small business, Epic Nature Tours. Amanda loves exploring in nature, and she is an avid birder and photographer. Amanda and her husband offer birding and nature tours through their business both locally and to exotic places around the world like Costa Rica! To learn more about their tours please visit www.EpicNatureTours.com. She also considers herself to be a ‘foodie’ and has a passion for cooking delicious meals. Amanda is inspired by food from the places she travels, and she always tries to recreate those delicious meals at home to share with family and friends. She thanks her parents, who are both former gourmet chefs, for introducing her to the world of culinary arts.