The LandTrust for Central North Carolina has named Travis Morehead its executive director.  He assumes his position at the Salisbury-based land conservancy Feb. 15.

“Travis brings to the LandTrust some 15 years of land use planning experience and almost eight years of on-the-ground work in the conservation community. He grew up in Stanly County, knows the Uwharrie region and has a deep commitment to the 10-county area our LandTrust serves. He will be adept at the detailed administrative work and development activities that are key to our day-to-day operations, and he will absolutely be at home working with the properties under our stewardship and our various conservation projects,” Darrell Hancock, Salisbury attorney and LandTrust board president, said in a news release.

Morehead attended high school in Albemarle and graduated from Appalachian State University where he earned a degree in political science with a concentration in town, city and county management and a minor in regional planning. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry, where he completed several military leadership schools including the U.S. Army Ranger Course.

After serving in the military, including a combat deployment to Iraq, Morehead pursued a career in planning which included serving as senior and principal planner for the town of Cary. He spent five years as community coordinator for the Catawba Lands Conservancy where he oversaw the development of more than 17 miles of trails on properties owned by the conservancy and raised funds for acquisition and trail construction. Most recently, he was operations director for the Carolina Thread Trail project in North and South Carolina.

“This region is steeped in history and has extraordinary natural resources including the Uwharrie Mountain range,” said Morehead. “It’s in the heart of future growth patterns for North Carolina, so going forward, the work of the LandTrust will have tremendous impact on the quality of life here.  The LandTrust for Central North Carolina has a national reputation, and I consider a chance to be a part of the unique work it is doing here as the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Morehead is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, NOLS Certified Wilderness First Responder, North Carolina Hunter Education Instructor, Certified Natural Surface Trail Builder and an Eagle Scout.

The LandTrust operates in a 10 counties:  Anson, Cabarrus, Davidson, Davie, Iredell, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan and Stanly. Its leadership is comprised of a cross section of citizens from the region, and offers options to landowners who want to save their lands for future generations to enjoy.  Its mission is to work with property owners to preserve lands, vistas, key ecological elements, and the essential nature of the central North Carolina region as a legacy for future generations.