board of directors
Emily Boynton, Treasurer
Emily Boynton is the former Associate Director of SEEDS, a non-profit community garden in Durham, NC. While working with the youth participating in the DIG and SEEDlings programs Emily developed a passion for educating kids (and anyone who will listen) about healthy eating, where our food comes from and the importance of sustainable food production. Now she spends her days trying to get her 4 year old and 1 year old to eat anything, all while taking care of 4 donkeys, 7 chickens, 2 dogs, and a big market garden. Emily and her husband David are big proponents of renewable energy, supporting it both at home (in many ways including solar hot water and PV) and through David’s work with Southern Energy Management.
Naomi Fernando, Secretary
A recent graduate of UNC, Naomi got her BA in International Studies focusing in Global Health and Environment. During her sophomore year, Naomi was introduced to the world of sustainability education and the philosophies of community and living locally. She found a passion in environmental justice and grassroots advocacy for change in energy policy. She has worked in different areas of both fields including being an intern at Piedmont Biofuels!
Currently, Naomi is spending her time taking some post-grad classes at UNC & NCSU. She can also be found volunteering at the Rogers-Eubanks neighborhood community garden, training interns/hanging out at Piedmont Biofuels, or running around the trails in Carolina North Forest with her puppy.
McCayne Miller, President
McCayne comes to Abundance with a copious amount of energy and expertise in development, renewable energy and farming. Her background includes traveling in Central America and across the US learning about organic and biodyamic farming techniques. She has trained with the USDA on grants for farmers who want to begin making value added products and farmers that want to install renewable energy systems. She is a policy wonk and spends her time as a volunteer researching permits and tax rebates for renewable energy implementation. McCayne was the Director of Business and Community Relations for the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association and she is currently the controller of Piedmont Biofuels.
Gary Phillips, Vice President
Gary Phillips is a writer, naturalist and entrepreneur in Silk Hope, North Carolina. He has a special interest in conservation easements and other land-protective strategies. Gary co-founded Weaver Street Realty and Auction Company in Carrboro over a quarter of a century ago and still has an office there. He lives in a rammed earth house with his wife Ilana Dubester. Gary avidly reads anthropological science fiction and many other things, studies amphibian activities on full moon nights and was once chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners.
For a very cool article on Gary’s green, rammed earth home:
http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/green-tours/green-tour-green-with-an-abundance-of-artistic-style-057539
Gerardo Serrano
Gerardo Serrano is the Founder and Director of Sixth Sun, a non-profit who’s mission is to empower communities to secure their own food and energy sources. Gerardo is working towards creating a local food shed that will systemically combat malnutrition and access issues in areas of low socioeconomic status, as well as developing community based renewable energy programs. In addition to his work at Sixth Sun, Gerardo is a partner at Hometown Her0, a locally based apparel design company, where he heads Business Development.
Kristy Yule
Kristy is the VP of Marketing for Newland Communities with 15+ years of progressive marketing experience in the real estate industry, with a demonstrated ability to shape products and messaging to match consumer needs and preferences. Kristy’s passion in life is helping to create incredible places for people to live and doing it with the environment in mind. Kristy is a past Marketing Director of the Year at the Professionalism Awards for the Atlanta Sales & Marketing Council. In addition to the Abundance Foundation, Kristy also serves on the Board of the Woods Charter Foundation and Briar Chapel community. Kristy believes that sustainability includes a healthy, local economy and in her capacity as VP Marketing of Newland’s NC operations has worked to promote and bring awareness to many local business. Kristy has a BA in International Business from the University of Georgia. She and Sean are the parents of Hannah and Olivia and reside in Briar Chapel.
advisory board of directors
Allen Baddour, Advisory
Allen is a Superior Court Judge for the Chatham Orange District. Allen and has shown a dedication to both service and justice throughout his career. He is a past President of the District 15B Bar Association, and serves as a liaison for the Superior Court Judges to committees with the N.C. Administrative Office of the Court and the N.C. Bar Association. He serves on Boards with the Chatham YMCA and the Elliott Road branch of the State Employees Credit Union, and coaches basketball. He and his wife Holly are often seen chasing their two sons, Henry and Jack, all over.
Lyle Estill, Advisory
Lyle is the author of Small is Possible, Biodiesel Power, and the publisher of Energy Blog. He has been with us from the beginning, and is well known for his fanatical interest in renewable energy, conservation and our local foodshed. Lyle is loved for his new ideas, his vision and for getting things done. He helps run Piedmont Biofuels and has a passion for incubating new farms. He also just harvested his first 10 lbs. of local bananas.
Rachel Burton, Advisory
Rachel Burton is a founding board member and has a long term commitment and passion for sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. Her activism is powered by solar power and biodiesel. Rachel is a Real Hot 100 Woman of 2006. As a founder of Piedmont Biofuels, Rachel has experience with many different facets of education, community and local food and renewable energy.
Rebekah Hren, Advisory
Rebekah Hren is a licensed electrician, designing and installing solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar hot water systems and is also a North Carolina solar installer. A talented organic gardener, she specializes in native plants and flowers as well as uncommon fruit trees. Rebekah has taught solar electric design and installation classes for organizations including Solar Energy International, Appalachian State University, and the NC Solar Center, and will be a speaker on zero energy buildings at the upcoming Solar Power International conference in Anaheim CA. She and her husband, Stephen are coauthors of a book on renewable energy titled “The Carbon-Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil-Fuel Habit.”
Maria Kingery, Advisory
Maria is founder and owner of Southern Energy Management, North Carolina’s largest sustainable energy services company. She is dedicated to building a top-notch team of sustainable energy professionals who are passionate about creating solutions to meet the global climate change challenge.
Maria’s professional background is in sales and marketing, primarily in the commercial printing industry. Like her husband, Bob Kingery, she worked with Burt’s Bees in 1995 as retail operations manager and opened their first store in Carrboro, NC.
Maria has a BA in English Literature from NC State. She and Bob are the devoted parents of 5-year-old Zachary. The Abundance Foundation was thrilled to have her join the board with her enthusiasm, great ideas and her boundless energy.
Sami Grover, Advisory
Sami Grover is Co-Creative Director of The Change, a worker owned agency offering brand strategy and design for good-for-the-world businesses and non-profits. He is also a daily contributor to TreeHugger.com. Originally from the UK, he once vowed never to fly again. Then he fell in love with someone on the other side of the Atlantic. He believes flexibility is a central tennet of sustainability.
