Our Staff & Offices

PARK MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Encompasses activities related to park-wide administrative, managerial, and support functions, as well as safety and planning. In addition, this area is responsible for working with external constituencies in order to develop valuable park partnerships. Altogether, the Management and Administration area provides a host of essential services to enable park employees to focus on their functional duties.

Superintendent	Niki Stephanie Nicholas
Secretary	Effie Houston
Administrative Officer	Dru James
Budget Analyst	Angie Graham
Purchasing Agent	Mariesa Jeffers
Personnel	Henrietta Upchurch
GIS/IT Specialist	Chad Harrold
IT Specialist	Teresa Ledford
Office Automation Clerk	Melanie Autry
Office Automation Clerk	Daniel Duncan
Office Automation Clerk	Connie Fields

 

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Resource Protection at Big South Fork encompasses activities related to the management, preservation, and protection of a variety of natural communities and processes, historic structures, cultural landscapes, museum artifacts, and archaeological sites.

Activities within Natural Resource Management include ecosystem monitoring, research, restoration efforts, species-specific management initiatives, wildland fire management, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) management, and general resource protection.

The Cultural Resource Management program protects a legacy of American Indian and European-American heritage spanning over 12,000 years. In terms of total sites, Big South Fork is the most important archaeological location in the Southeast Region of the National Park Service. The 1,335 documented archaeological sites at Big South Fork represent only 20% of the estimated total for the park.

Chief Resource Management	Tom Blount
Biological Science Technician	Vacant
Archaeologist	Tom DesJean
Biological Science Technician	Etta Spradlin
Wildlife Biologist	Steve Bakalatez
Botanist	Marie Kerr
Geologist	Todd Knoedler
Biological Science Tech	vacant
Hydrologist	Jim Hughes

 

INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION DIVISION

The Interpretion and Education staff conducts a variety of activities that allow people from elementary age through adulthood to experience and learn about the park's resources and threats to those resources. Big South Fork's interpreters manage and staff the park's two primary visitor centers at Bandy Creek and the Stearns Depot.

Interpretive events and media publications serve to encourage the development of a personal stewardship ethic and to broaden public support for preserving park resources. Interpretive rangers present Big South Fork to visitors through formal interpretation at the park includes campfire and evening programs, talks, demonstrations, special events and with informal interpretation.

Big South Fork's interpretive media infrastructure encompasses outdoor exhibits, visitor center displays, site bulletins and booklets, an annual park newspaper, an informational rack card, and maintenance of the park website.

Chief of Interpretation and Education	VACANT
Education Specialist	Howard Duncan
Park Ranger (Interpretation)	Sherry Fritschi
Park Ranger (Interpretation)	Bill Herman
Park Ranger (Interpretation)	Brenda Deaver
Park Guide (Seasonal Interpretation)	Dustin Beaty
Park Guide (Seasonal Interpretation)	Debby Zimmerman
Park Guide (Seasonal Interpretation)	VACANT
Park Guide (Seasonal Interpretation)	VACANT
Eastern National Association Employee	Peggy Stephens
Fee Program Manager	Letitia Neal
Lead Visitor Use Assistant	G. Dan Smith
Visitor Use Assistant	Deannia Murphy
Visitor Use Assistant	VACANT

VISITOR AND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Big South Fork's law enforcement rangers are primarily responsible for providing safety and security for the park's visitors and infrastructure. Specific visitor safety programs include emergency medical services, search and rescue, and law enforcement. In addition law enforcement personnel closely work with Resource Management to provide archeological site patrols, resource damage detection, and criminal investigation and prosecution as necessssary.

Big South Fork is an area of concurrent jurisdiction, meaning that within the boundaries of the park, the park's law enforcement personnel and the State jointly exercise law enforcement authority.

Chief of Visitor and Resource Protection	Randy Scoggins
Deputy Chief	Noel Mays
Park Ranger (Visitor Protection)	Curtis Stone
Park Ranger (Visitor Protection)	Barry Melloan
Park Ranger (Visitor Protection)	Kristy Slaven
Park Ranger (Visitor Protection)	Tommy Barnes
Park Ranger (Visitor Protection)	Raymond Little
Park Ranger (Visitor Protection)	VACANT

 

FACILITY MANAGEMENT

The Maintenance functional area encompasses all activities designed to improve or prolong the life of the park's assets. The preservation of these resources allows for visitors to safely enjoy their activities at Big South Fork. Park personnel confront distinct challenges created by the large geographic separations between park facilities, often traveling long distances to service roads, trails, or buildings.

The Roads Maintenance program includes services that ensure the safe and effective use of all roadways for park visitors and staff. It is responsible for maintaining all paved and unpaved surfaces, road shoulders, and bridges throughout Big South Fork.

Buildings Maintenance is dedicated to prolonging the life and improving the interior and exterior condition of the more than 80 buildings at Big South Fork.

Big South Fork has an extensive trail system with close to 400 miles of trails for many different recreational opportunities, including hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Trails Maintenance activities include repair and rehabilitation of trails in order to prolong the life of these precious assets.

Supv. Facility Operations Specialist	Johanna Wheeler
Facility Services Assistant FMSS	Scott Wittmer
Facility Services Assistant	Connie Field
Automotive Mechanic	Zane Roberts
Kentucky Work Leader	Kenny Gilreath
Maintenance Mechanic Supervisor (B&U)	vacant
Electrician	vacant
Carpenter	Dale Beagle
Utility Systems Repairer Operator	David York
Utility Systems Repairer Operator	Jo Etta Taylor
Maintenance Worker (KY)	Walt Singleton
Maintenance Worker (KY)	Randy Sauls
Roads and Trails Supervisor (R&T)	Wallace Linder
Tractor Operator	Dennis Stephens
Maintenance Worker	Phillip Tinch
Maintenance Worker	Donnie Williams
Maintenance Worker	Vacant
Engineering Equipment Operator	Darrell Trammel

 

Angel Falls is one of the rapids located on the river between Leatherwood Ford and Blue Heron.