Courtney Carter Plaster
Executive Director
Courtney is a native Virginian whose experience in the non-profit world has spanned over 35 years working in four different non-profit museums. She has worked at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, Imagination Station Science Museum, the Science Museum of Western Virginia, and the Virginia Museum of Transportation in research, collections, publications, and education.
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia. In 2020, Courtney brought her non-profit leadership experience to Clean Valley Council as Director of Education where she quickly moved into the role of Executive Director in October 2020.
She serves on several environmental stewardship committees including the Horton’s Branch Watershed Improvement Committee with the Roanoke Kiwanis Club, Resilient Roanoke Roundtable, Carilion’s Morningside Urban Farm Advisory Committee, Recycle Right! Committee, Roanoke STEAM Day Planning Committee and Earth Day Roanoke Planning Committee.
Courtney lives in Smith Mountain Lake with her husband, two daughters, two dogs and a 22-year-old salamander. When she is not working, you will find her hiking, dancing, practicing yoga, gardening, or attending music concerts and festivals.
Marc Lucht
Director of Programs
With an academic background in biology and philosophy, Dr. Marc Lucht worked as a professor and university administrator for 18 years. Before joining Clean Valley Council, he co-directed North Cross School’s first campus in China and led the development of additional high school campuses in Asia. Holding a PhD from Emory University, he has published widely on environmental philosophy, animal rights, and intercultural dialogue, and is strongly committed to the idea that it is incumbent upon humanity to find more responsible ways of acknowledging and living together with the creatures with whom we share the planet.
At CVC, Marc organizes events such as our Earth Summit and Green Film Festival, organizes our Star City Sustainability Series, offers a number of workshops (including on composting and making rain barrels), and partners with our environmental educator to ensure excellence in our delivery of educational programs. His favorite days are those during which he works with students.
Dana Glenn
Director of Operations and Environmental Educator
Dana is originally from Gaston County, North Carolina. She is a retired middle school math and science teacher from the NC Public Schools. She also worked for several years in solid waste reduction programs, specifically in composting and residential/event recycling, for Mecklenburg County, NC, Government.
Dana received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology and secondary education from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. She received her Master of Arts in middle grade education with a concentration in science from Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC. She was a member of the first cohort to complete the NC Environmental Education Certificate in 2005. Dana is currently working to complete the same certification in Virginia.
Dana lives in Southwest Roanoke City with her Great Danedoodle, Gracie, and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jewel. Her passion is lifelong learning and the preservation of the Eastern Bluebird and other native secondary cavity nesters. When she is not working, you will find her on one of her many Bluebird trails around Roanoke. She also enjoys fishing (catch and release, of course), reading, and volunteering with NC & VA Bluebird Societies and with VA Master Naturalists.
Heidi Ketler
Director of Communications and Environmental Educator
Heidi is a veteran marketing-communications professional, writer, and editor. During the past four years, she gained public education experience as a teacher and instructional aide in all grades: pre-K-12th and in the autism classroom. She also earned her Virginia Master Naturalist certification.
Some in Roanoke’s outdoor community knew Heidi during her five-year stint as chair of the Roanoke Valley Chapter of Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway (FBRP). She also is a long-time member of the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club.
Under her leadership, the FBRP chapter grew an active volunteer force, expanded its ability to support the National Park Service-Blue Ridge Parkway, and conducted well-attended work crews and community outreach events. In 2015, Heidi was voted Virginia's Cox Conserves Hero, winning $10,000 to support the park service mission.
Heidi has a bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. She graduated with an emphasis in journalism and public relations and a minor in geology.
Heidi leads the Mt. Chestnut Neighbors Adopt-a-Highway program and Friends of Happy Hollow Gardens volunteer activities. In the summer, she enjoys raising monarch butterflies. She and husband, Steve, share their 18 acres of woodland with guests of their Airbnb, which they call "Mountain Monarch."
