Event

Virtual Open House: Protecting Park Resources

Blue Ridge Parkway

Fee:

Free.

Dates & Times

Date:

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Time:

5:00 PM

Duration:

1 hour

Type of Event

Talk
Virtual/Digital

Description

The Blue Ridge Parkway highlights a range of landscapes, rising to capture the most spectacular views in the mountainous sections, and dipping and peeking into gently rolling farmland, high meadows, and low stream valleys. In addition to being among the most bio-diverse areas in the country, the park also features a wide variety of cultural landscapes that reveal our relationship with place and strengthen our understanding of historic events, significant people, and patterns in American history. Panelists for this session will present information about current natural and cultural resource projects in several areas of the park.  

 

Hosts:

Matt Micale - Special Park Use Permits Coordinator, Blue Ridge Parkway

  • Matt Micale is the Special Use Permits Coordinator for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Matt has worked for the Parkway for 15 years after beginning his career at Glen Canyon NRA and Bryce Canyon NP. His nearly 25 years of government service include 5 years in the US Navy. He is happily married and has a daughter attending Appalachian State University and two senior rescue dogs. Matt enjoys the outdoors (obviously), art, travel, and is a self-professed food and drink afficionado.

Panelists:

Caitlin Worth - Volunteer Coordinator, Blue Ridge Parkway

  • Caitlin Worth has been a lover of parks for as long as she can remember, visiting National Parks instead of amusement parks every summer of her childhood. I guess you could say that it is in her blood as she grew up the child of two National Park Rangers. Although she respected the work of her parents as a child, it was her annual vacations to Gulf Island National Seashore that propelled her towards a career with the National Park Service.  She spent her first 10 years with the NPS at Great Smoky Mountains National Park working as an education and interpretation ranger, helping visitors to connect to the Smokies in their own special ways. Today she works as the Volunteer Coordinator in the Office of External Affairs at the Blue Ridge Parkway where she has served since September of 2015.

Jim Mullins – Chief of Maintenance and Engineering, Blue Ridge Parkway

  • As the Chief of Maintenance & Engineering, Jim manages the day-to-day field maintenance operations, asset management, and design & construction activities for the entire Blue Ridge Parkway.  Jim has previously served in management positions at Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City and New Jersey and at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. 

Jeff Childers - Civil Engineer, Blue Ridge Parkway

  • Jeff Childers is a Civil Engineer on the Blue Ridge Parkway. His 20-year career with the federal government has provided him with experience in project management, various types of construction, and contract administration. In his current position on the Blue Ridge Parkway, he provides design, project development, and oversight for parkway projects. 

Chris Ulrey - Plant Ecologist, Blue Ridge Parkway

  • Dr. Chris Ulrey was exposed to plants at an early age growing up in a family run landscaping and nursery business. His botanical training and academic experience are extensive and focused on the southern Appalachian region. Since 1999, Chris has worked as the plant ecologist for the Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park Service. His duties include conserving rare plants, hazard tree management, controlling invasive plants, management of forest pests and diseases, plant community restoration, and vista restoration. 

Reservation or Registration: Yes

Produced in partnership with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Virtual Open House sessions will be presented as Zoom webinars, with a dedicated question and answer session during each event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Make Reservation or Register

Contact Information

Blue Ridge Parkway Public Affairs

Contact Us