Leadership

David Dionne

Executive Director

David’s long and successful experience with parks and trails makes him the ideal person to lead the startup of Red Mountain Park. A native of Maryland, his career as a park director began in 1987, when he became the first superintendent of the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail Park, where he spearheaded innovations in various aspects of park procedures and operations. As chief of trails and natural areas for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, David led development of a trail system recognized nationally and internationally as a model for operation and safety.  From 2001 to 2005, he chaired the East Coast Greenway Alliance, a nonprofit organization with the mission of linking local trails from Maine to Florida in a continuous 2,900-mile route.

David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wild Lands Administration from West Virginia University. He also attended the Maryland Park Service Warden School and Maryland Forest, Park, and Wildlife Ranger School. He has hiked, mountain-climbed, and kayaked wilderness throughout the United States and has completed four professional development courses at Outward Bound schools in North Carolina and Maine. 

A national leader in his field, David has long been a popular speaker at park and trail conferences throughout the country. Throughout his career, he has received national and international recognition for his ongoing work in developing trail operation policies and procedures, community-building programs and volunteer initiatives—all of which are critical components in the development plan for Red Mountain Park.

Eric McFerrin

Park Ranger

Eric’s involvement with Red Mountain Park was sparked by his interest in the rich history of Birmingham and Red Mountain.  A proponent of historic preservation and a confirmed “urban adventurer,” Eric was familiar with much of the park site long before becoming its first Park Ranger, and his knowledge of both the site and the history of the iron and steel industry in Birmingham has been invaluable to the process of identifying and documenting historic places and structures within the park’s confines.

Prior to joining Red Mountain Park, Eric was Director of Aircraft for Birmingham-based BE&K.   He also is an active member of the Society of Industrial Archeology, a nonprofit, international organization dedicated to preserving industrial and technological heritage.  Eric is a native of Florida.

Katie Sullivan

Projects Coordinator

Katie's focus at Red Mountain Park includes the areas of public relations and community outreach.  She also manages park projects; one of her major projects is the Oral History Project, which also happens to be one of her favorite.  Katie also directs the park's service projects with scouting and youth organizations.
 
Katie received her bachelor and masters degrees in Communication from the University of South Alabama.  Prior to joining Red Mountain Park, she worked for two non-profit organizations in the areas of public relations and marketing.  She volunteers often with youth programs, and currently serves as a Junior Board Member for Camp Smile-A-Mile.

Mary Lynn Hanily

Director of Development

Mary Lynn is a graduate of the University of Alabama where she earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Public Communications. Mary Lynn continued her graduate work in Athens, Georgia while she worked for the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and the National Cancer Foundation. After completing the work for her Doctorate in Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, Mary Lynn became the Director of Development and Marketing at Vulcan Park.  Mary Lynn also worked in the area of development at John Carroll Catholic High School.  In November 2009 Mary Lynn joined the Red Mountain Park team as the Director of Development.

Mary Lynn is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is the proud owner of three dogs and two cats.
 

Jeff Newman

Maintenance

Jeff's involvement with Red Mountain Park has existed since his childhood- he grew up on the side of Red Mountain and explored it every Saturday.  In addition, the old Birmingham Mineral Railroad, the Valley View mine, and the Greensprings mine were all just feet from his back door.  His love for industrial history developed through the years and though he selected a career with Bellsouth, he spent his extra time hiking the mountain and reading about its history.

Jeff stayed with Bellsouth for 30 years before retiring in 2006.  After he retired, he began to spend more time on Red Mountain revisiting his favorite locations.  One day he was hiking the ridge between Songo and the No. 13 mine when he ran into a bulldozer operator.  He was clearing a road, and Jeff jokingly told him how great it would be if he could clear some other routes for hiking.  The operator told him that his wish would come true in the form of Red Mountain Park and Jeff immediately knew he had to be involved with the project.  He began to research the park project and was soon one of the Friends of Red Mountain Park.  He continued with his interests in clearing trails, and soon became Director of Land Stewardship on the Friends of Red Mountain Park Board.  When it came time for the park to begin looking for candidates to handle trail and park maintainance, Jeff was a natural fit.  He is thrilled at the amount of time he now gets to spend at the park each and every day.