Volume 33

David Huff

David is an avid hiker, mountain biker, and award-winning photographer based in Asheville, North Carolina. He is the founding chair of the George Masa Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to provide young people with the tools and resources necessary to engage in creative and impactful strategies for conservation and climate action. He plays an active role on the Council for the Carolina Mountain Club and maintains a section of the Appalachian Trail. David has lived in and out of Asheville since 1980 and he loves these mountains.

Susan Bean

As the Housing & Transportation Director for MountainTrue and the program director for Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC, Susan informs organizational policy priorities for housing and transportation projects across Western North Carolina. Susan earned her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she led wilderness expeditions as a graduate assistant for the university’s outdoor program. She is actively involved in the community serving as a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission for the City of Asheville and a facilitator for Building Bridges.

Matt Silva

Matt Silva, a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was raised in South Florida, and lived his early adulthood years in New York City, before finding home in the Asheville mountains with his wife, Natalie. With a background in finance & economics, as well as a thirst for knowledge and diverse experiences, today he works as an executive in the Media Technology industry. Matt is passionate about nature; animals; intellectual curiosity; and traveling the world exploring various cultures, traditions, and most near to his heart, cuisines.

Ron Schon

Ron is a retired business executive who lives in Asheville with his wife and nearby grandkids. He is a volunteer instructor at OLLI, the College for Seniors, on the UNCA campus where he serves as chair of the history curriculum committee. In addition to "Stories of Western North Carolina's Past", he and wife Ellen co-teach courses such as "Great Storytellers", "Rod Serling", "Mysteries of History" and "The Golden Age of Television".

Melanie Ida Chopko

With her songs described as "little jewels," singer-songwriter Melanie Ida Chopko pours her heart out over jazz chords and bold, inquisitive melodies. A rising presence in the chamber folk scene, she performs on voice and piano, and uses storytelling to help her audience experience, above all else, a sense of togetherness. Her forthcoming album was internationally recognized as a Kickstarter “Project We Love.” If Joni Mitchell, Sufjan Stevens, and Tori Amos were neighbors and made music on Sundays, it might sound like this. Originally from New York, Melanie currently lives in Asheville.

Roger Helm

Roger Helm, PhD (UC Davis, 1990) worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for  25 years assessing the impact of oil and other contaminants on wildlife and pursuing restoration claims against polluters.  Presently, he teaches on the effects of global climate change and works with various organizations on solutions to this potentially catastrophic problem.

Paul Gisondo moved to Asheville from New York in 2015 with his wife Merrill. Retiring from a career in cartography and regional planning, he was drawn to the mountains and natural beauty of Western North Carolina and the vibrant arts, cultural and food scene of Asheville. An unapologetic and sometimes boisterous “Yankee”, he is endlessly fascinated at what makes a place tick, and enjoys observing Ashevillean trends and vibes, often asking friends “Is this an only in Asheville thing”? When not pondering these questions, he enjoys hiking, biking, pickleball and softball, making pottery and teaching Raku at Odyssey Clayworks, taking his coonhound Tallulah on long walks, playing his beloved accordion at home and around town, and volunteering at Manna Foodbank.