Staff

Amy Edge, Associate Director/General Counsel, aedge@tarriver.org

Amy Edge serves as Associate Director and General Counsel of Tar River Land Conservancy.  Prior to joining TRLC in October 2005, she practiced law in Oxford, North Carolina for ten years.  She is a graduate of Duke University and the University of North Carolina School of Law.  She also earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management through Duke University Continuing Education.  She is a champion of the Carolina madtom, a small, rare catfish found in the Tar River Basin.

Derek Halberg, Executive Director, dhalberg@tarriver.org

Derek Halberg joined the staff of Tar River Land Conservancy in August 2004 as its Director of Land Protection overseeing conservation planning activities, acquisition of easements and fee-owned tracts, and stewardship of protected lands.  Derek has served as TRLC’s Executive Director since March 2007.  He works closely with the TRLC Board, staff, volunteers, and partners to implement the day-to-day mission of the organization.  Derek received his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from North Carolina State University and a Master of Forestry from Yale University.  Prior to joining TRLC, he managed the natural resources program at the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia, supporting Army National Guard installations across the country.

Luke Headings, Land Stewardship Specialist, lheadings@tarriver.org

Luke Headings has served at TRLC’s Land Stewardship Specialist since February 2025. Luke oversees the monitoring of conservation easements and monitoring and management of TRLC-owned properties, including TRLC’s public nature preserves. Luke received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Manchester University, located in Manchester, Indiana. Luke earned a Master of Science degree in biology from Pittsburg State University, located in Pittsburg, Kansas. Prior to joining the team at TRLC, Luke worked with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Michelle Mound, Land Conservation Specialist, mmound@tarriver.org

Michelle Mound currently serves as the Land Conservation Specialist for Tar River Land Conservancy, having held the position since May 2022. She previously served as Land Stewardship Intern during the summer of 2021 and the spring of 2022. Michelle received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a focus in Land Management from North Carolina State University in May 2022.