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About Backyard Butterflies
Backyard Butterflies was founded in April 2018 by Lior Carlson and John F. Jarvis.
Backyard Butterflies became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2022.
Who We Are
Meet the Backyard Butterflies Founders
Lior S. Carlson
(THEY/HE)
Lior conducts the Education and Community Outreach aspects of Backyard Butterflies. They enjoy both the Light and Dark Side of Lepidoptera. During the day they enjoying photographing butterflies and insects. At night they fire up special lights to photograph moths drawn to a collecting sheet.
Lior holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Arts degree in Applied Behavioral Science.
John F. Jarvis
(HE/HIS)
John manages the Backyard Habitat aspect of our mission. He tends to all habitat maintenance and plant propagation. He records butterfly sightings in the yard while working in the habitat. He has been patiently waiting to have a Zebra Swallowtail lay eggs on the collection of paw paw trees he first planted in 2013.
John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Arts degree in Human Resources Management.
Board of Directors
Meet the Backyard Butterflies Board
Ellen Brown
President
An avid gardener most of her life, Ellen first started with vegetables. Never fond of turf, she has preferred to work mostly with what Nature offers which runs the gamut of emotions from frustrating to challenging to delightful and surprising. In 2004 she became a Master Gardener (SW Florida) and simultaneously a member of the newly formed Peace River Butterfly Society in Charlotte Co. for which she served as president for three years. She still contributes monthly articles to their newsletter and serves as editor/proofreader. She has also been a volunteer at the NC Botanical Gardens since 2015. She has an AB in French, an Associate degree in Electrical Engineering, and is a certified Pilates Instructor.
April Shaw Fort
Secretary
April Shaw Fort, born April Michelle Shaw on March 14, 1974 in Albemarle, North Carolina is a Senior Manager QA at a leading Clinical Research Organization. April is a motivated, customer-focused Senior Manager with more than 20 years of experience in the clinical research and pharmaceutical industry. Her depth of experience includes advancing quality and regulatory compliance standards/trends, identifying, developing, and executing Quality Risk Management (QRM) strategies and initiatives, overseeing governance and compliance management processes, developing and leading quality and compliance guidance/reference materials and tools while providing expertise to advance the vision of the department. Ms. Fort holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Christine Myers
Board Member
Christine Myers, born Christine Marie Bell on June 28, 1962; in Peekskill, NY is currently a Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) residing in Burlington, NC. She has served as Girl Scout Leader, Sunday school teacher, and past President/Board Member of the Triangle Area chapter of Parents Without Partners. Ms. Myers is currently employed by Coronis Health as a Revenue Cycle Specialist. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, puttering in her garden, and voraciously reading fiction novels.
Katherine Ruiz
Vice President
Katherine Ruiz is currently employed as a social worker but has varied life experiences including working in the horticulture industry and serving in the Peace Corps in Honduras, where she got to experience the magic of Blue Morpho butterflies. She remains enthusiastic about gardening and is working to transform her yard into a vibrant and diverse habitat.
Organizational Documents
Board of Directors Application
Board of Director positions are available
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Statement
Coming soon
© 2024 Backyard Butterflies
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