Friends of Asheville's WNC Nature Center welcomes new staff members; Who are they?
ASHEVILLE- With 60 different species of wildlife, including black bears, owls and tree frogs, the Western North Carolina Nature Center had other exciting news this summer as they welcomed two new members to its fundraising partner Friends of the WNC Nature Center team.
On July 1 Kate Frost took on the role as the new executive director. She recently served as Resource Development Director for Children First/Communities in Schools of Buncombe County, a nonprofit that helps children and their families reach their full potential through advocacy, according to its website.
Frost spent 13 years working in nonprofits serving young children and their families, college students, and senior adults, a news release from the Friends of the WNC Nature Center said.
She decided to move from human services to helping animals and joining the Friends of the WNC Nature Center in 2019 as the nonprofit’s Development and Marketing Director, working alongside Karen Babcock, who served as the executive director since 2018.
Frost will follow in Babcock's footsteps. While working as the Development and Marketing Director, she doubled the special events revenues and "developed strong marketing partnerships with the community, including WNC Farmers Market, Asheville City Soccer Club, and Highland Brewing, successfully managing and growing the WNC Nature Center’s communications and marketing presence," the release said.
“Kate has been integral to us,” Nature Center Director Chris Gentile said in the release.
“She has worked tirelessly to implement new fundraising opportunities and strategic marketing efforts, raising the profile of the Nature Center throughout the Southeast.”
Frost grew up in Asheville and graduated from Appalachian State University and the Duke University Nonprofit Management program.
Frost visited the WNC Nature Center when she was younger, the release said.
“While I’ve been with the Friends, my love for animals has grown into a deeper understanding of our role in protecting the natural world around us. I’m so grateful to be able to play a part in sharing the WNC Nature Center’s story and leading the Friends as we help them realize their vision,” Frost said in the release.
Cindy Smith was brought on as the new director of development for the nonprofit. Smith brings 12 years of nonprofit fundraising and community engagement experience, the release said.
She is from Southfield, Michigan and before the role she was the Executive Director of Jewish Family Services of Western North Carolina. “Joining the Friends team will allow me to integrate so many of my skills and passions to raise important funds and bring awareness to the wonderful work of the WNC Nature Center,” Smith said in the release.
“I'm thrilled to be in such incredible company – colleagues, animals, and guests alike!”
WNC Nature Center
The Western North Carolina Nature Center is open 361 days out of the year.
The release said that new projects are on the way including the "Gateway to the Southern Appalachians enhancement, new butterfly exhibit, expansion of the Gift Shop, and the creation of a new Animal Health Center and Commissary."
Asheville’s wildlife park is on 42 acres in East Asheville and houses more than 60 species of animals, including red pandas, river otters, black bears, red and gray wolves, and cougars, according to the release.
The WNC Nature Center is located at 75 Gashes Creek Road. It's open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission ranges from $9.95 for ages 3-12 to $13.95 for adults. Asheville city residents get discounted tickets.
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What is the Friends of the WNC Nature Center?
The Friends of the WNC Nature Center is a partner with the WNC Nature Center.
The Friends is a conservation organization, it helps develop and grow the WNC Nature Center through fundraising, membership, outreach education, marketing, and volunteer services, according to the release.
McKenna Leavens is the education reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at mleavens@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @LeavensMcKennna. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Meet the new members of the Friends of WNC Nature Center
