Rutherford Outdoor Coalition (ROC) Executive Director, Jess Kerr, has resigned. Until her job is filled, Jess is helping remotely.
Joining the ROC organization in 2020, Jess brought energy, sunshine, fresh ideas, and a quirkiness that added 'pizzaz' to the hikes and meetings she led, said a member of ROC.
Jess served as the sole staff person tasked with leading the growth of the nonprofit, even growing the position for which she was originally hired into that of ROC's first executive director.
'I am grateful for my time spent in Rutherford County and I will dearly miss the volunteers and community partners that shared the journey with me," Jess said. "Being a part of the ROC family and working alongside our Board President Jerry Stensland provided the best job I've ever had. Though it is the end of this chapter, I still plan to be as involved as I am able and can't wait to see my successor build on the momentum that we have enjoyed this year."
Among her accomplishments the two years Jess was in Rutherford County include:
-Launching youth environmental education and other outdoor recreation themed programming;
-Developing an engaged Board of Directors;
-Building relationships with community partners;
-Successfully authoring a number of grants;
-Growing ROC's membership base;
-Formalizing many policies and procedures;
-Serving as the Litter Chair for Keep Rutherford County Beautiful and
-Teaching intro outdoor recreation Continuing Education courses at Isothermal Community College.
-She also installed a Little Free Library on the Purple Martin Greenway.
Jess moved to Tennessee this summer to start her family and begin a homesteading adventure.
"Though a difficult goodbye for both, we are so happy for her next chapter and we are thrilled that she will continue to provide behind the scenes support remotely", said a ROC friend.
Anyone interested in applying for the ROC Executive Director position will find more details at: https://rutherfordoutdoor.org/job-opening