Announcing the Formation of Jefferson County Greenways Foundation
Building on a Strong Foundation
As part of this journey, we have been fortunate to have Carlee Sanford at the helm. Sanford is a transformative leader, guiding both staff and boards through a period of tremendous growth and unification. Because of her innovative vision, the Jefferson County Greenways Foundation emerges as a leader in our region’s efforts to protect and steward our natural resources, providing compelling programmatic experiences for our community.
After nine remarkable years of leadership, Carlee has accepted an exciting new role as the Executive Director of Community Impact at EBSCO. While we will deeply miss her vision and passion, we are grateful for the lasting impact she has made on our parks and community. Her legacy will continue to shape the work we do moving forward.
Carlee shared, “This has been more than a job—it has been deeply personal and profoundly meaningful. I arrived with no experience in parks management or land conservation, but what I lacked in technical expertise, I made up for with a deep commitment to our community, strategy, mission alignment, and building systems designed to create a lasting impact.
”We are also pleased to announce that Janet Simpson, our current Chief Operating Officer, will serve as Interim Executive Director. Janet’s experience and leadership will ensure a smooth transition as we continue our work to protect Jefferson County’s greenspaces.
Our Board of Directors looks forward to building on the strong foundation established under Carlee’s direction. We will continue to work closely with her in the coming weeks to ensure a seamless transition. While this is not a farewell, it is an opportunity for us to express our deepest thanks to Carlee for her remarkable tenure. The journey continues, and we look forward to the future with excitement and optimism. Here's to a greener future where we can all breathe, explore, and connect.
Melva Tate
Board Chair
Jefferson County Greenways Foundation