Keep New Hanover Beautiful
Board Members
Amy Renfranz
Board Member
Amy has a passion for plants and the environment! She has worked at the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, Lees-McRae College, Yellowstone Association Institute, New Hanover Soil & Water Conservation District, and Habitats Landscaping. For nearly ten years, she wrote an award-winning, weekly syndicated newspaper column called “Dear Naturalist.”
Amy is a graduate of Appalachian State University and North Carolina State University, where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management.
She has been on the board of KNHB since 2021.
David Ingram
Board Member
David is the Sustainability Manager for the City of Wilmington and brings over 10 years of experience in recycling/zero waste programs, energy efficiency, green building operations, and project management. He is passionate about integrating sustainability best practices into City operations and actions. David has BS in Wildlife Biology from the University of Georgia, and is a LEED AP through the US Green Building Council. David brings his diverse background toward advancing the City toward becoming more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. David has been with Keep New Hanover Beautiful since April 2017.
Rob Clark
Board Member
Rob Clark graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a B.S. in Environmental Science with a specialization in conservation. He has experience in both the private and public sectors of the environmental field, currently serving as the Water Quality Programs Manager for Cape Fear River Watch (CFRW). He has worked from the mountains to the coast and everywhere in between. He feels strongly about the environment and is looking forward to being able to serve his community as well as its ecosystems. In his free time, he enjoys reading, trail running, biking, and playing disc golf.
Dick Brightman
President & Executive Director
Dick has always felt giving back to the community is a citizen’s responsibility, when he and his wife Margie settled in North Carolina after a lifetime of memories made in New Jersey, he felt Keep New Hanover Beautiful would be a great way for him to continue his philanthropy efforts. Dick has been a part of their impact since 2012 and currently serves as the Executive Director. With a mission to reduce litter, improve recycling and beautify New Hanover County, the nonprofit’s goals align with his ethics. Dick has recently been elected as the Treasurer of the Executive Board for Cape Fear River Watch, an environmental nonprofit with the mission to improve and protect the Cape Fear River through education, advocacy and action.
“At present, I am extremely excited about the composition and diversity of our board as well as our growing list of volunteers.” Dick’s favorite accomplishment thus far is the Cigarette Litter Recycling Campaign, kickstarted in 2017, the momentum has grown from an idea to involving many businesses throughout New Hanover County.
Veda Lewin
Vice President & Manager of Social Media
Veda is a two-time graduate of UNC-Wilmington with a BS and MS in Environmental Sciences specializing in Sustainability and Coastal Management. Currently working for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, she specializes in waste management, sustainability programming, and communications. Her ultimate goal within the environmental field is to create new avenues of environmental stewardship that are accessible and effective for all people. Veda serves as the Board Secretary and is responsible for all record keeping, reporting, and structural organization for Keep New Hanover Beautiful.
Jason Carothers
Secretary & Manager of Seabins
Jason is in his last semester at UNC-Wilmington, working towards his BS in Environmental Science. As a Marine Corps veteran, his passion for the environment was kickstarted from seeing different places and wildlife around the globe. Previously an intern of Keep New Hanover Beautiful, he now sits on the board where he assists with Seabin maintenance and cigarette butt collection
Christa Pun-Chuen
Board Member
Christa grew up in Knoxville, TN, after her family moved there from the Philippines. Her passion for the environment began in early childhood, exploring hiking trails to waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains. She loves backpacking, kayaking, and spending time outdoors. Based out of Camp Lejeune, Christa served as a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy for 8 years, providing medical support to Marines both here and overseas. After completing her service with the Navy, she moved to Wilmington, NC, where she attended UNCW, graduating with a B.S. in Public Health.
For the last 10 years, she has worked to support the community through volunteer work, including participating and hosting cleanup events with CFRW and KNHB. Christa currently serves on the Board of Young Professionals for Communities in Schools (CIS), supporting the Youth Programs and other CIS campaigns. She is an artist, studying graphic design, and an Administrative Manager at Seabird Restaurant, assisting in all environmental and community outreach initiatives. She looks forward to contributing to the mission of Keep New Hanover Beautiful!
Melissa Johnson
Board Member
Melissa was a dedicated volunteer with Keep New Hanover Beautiful and Cape Fear River Watch for 5 years before gratefully joining the KNHB board in 2022. She loves being out in nature, whether hiking, paddling, running, or simply communing with the waves, sea birds and ocean breeze on one of our local beaches. Melissa brings her personal dedication to reducing human impact and improving environmental quality for all life that depends on it, one straw and one plastic bottle at a time. She hopes to further the KNHB mission through this passion, and through her decades of experience in technical writing, knowledge management, and website administration.