Carol Wheeler Doss

About Carol Wheeler Doss

I manage a 501(c)(3) regional nonprofit that improves the water quality of three rivers in Southwest Virginia through on-the-ground projects and education/outreach. Environmental education is a key priority. I enjoy teaching unusual hands-on lessons that inspire students to care for the environment now and in the future. I lead teacher workshops to share lessons from a K-12 curriculum guide I co-authored for the Clinch River Valley Initiative. I also coordinate teacher workshops on other curriculum guides. I am currently coordinating a series of emergency responder workshops to demonstrate the effects of toxic spills on water quality and aquatic life. As this nonprofit’s only employee, I am responsible for raising project money and my salary. I specialize in writing grants and cultivating partnerships. I accomplish strategic plan goals by partnering with agencies, nonprofits, and citizen groups. I coordinate multiple grants and projects while continually searching for new funding. Reducing pollution entering our rivers is the best way to improve water quality. Stream restoration and stream bank stabilization projects prevent erosion and sedimentation, improve water quality and habitat for aquatic life, and help landowners retain their land. Storm drain projects capture sediment, litter, organic matter, and oils, preventing these materials from entering the rivers. Conservation is an important part of my work. I organize rain barrel workshops to teach homeowners how to capture roof runoff to water their plants. I secure used food-grade barrels to emphasize reuse. I share creative ways to reuse other materials in “trash treasures” workshops. I assist with American Recycles Day events to help citizens dispose of sensitive documents, household hazardous waste, and recyclable materials. To address a loss of recycling markets in 2018, I began a regional initiative that resulted in the creation of the Southwest Virginia Regional Recycling and Solid Waste Working Group. This group identifies new markets and meets monthly. In 2007, I helped create Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful, which began as the nation\'s largest regional Keep America Beautiful affiliate. We received many awards for our innovative programs. I love to write and started out as a newspaper reporter which sparked my interest in the environment. That job led me to work as coordinator for a county litter prevention and recycling program that received many awards. In recent years, I self-published two children’s books, with my favorite focusing on recycling. I am working on a sequel.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Upper Tennessee River Roundtable

   Oct 2003 — Present · Abingdon, VA, US

   Coordinate work of Upper Tennessee River Roundtable. Find grant opportunities; write grant applications; manage grant programs and funds; complete documentation and reports. Prepare publicity through news releases, photography, video footage, newspaper column, social media, radio and TV. Give talks to groups; present lessons to classrooms and provide activities for special events; coordinate festival booth activities; organize workshops and conferences.Cultivate partnerships with agencies, nonprofits and citizen groups.Collaborate with board of directors, executive council, and fundraising committee for Roundtable. Supervise volunteers. Previously supervised staff and Office of Surface Mining/Volunteers In Service To America members. Initiated creation of largest regional Keep America Beautiful affiliate, Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful, that was certified April 21, 2007. Affiliate later formed its own nonprofit.

Education

• Radford University

  B.A., Journalism

• Emory & Henry University

  Master of Arts in Community and Organizational Leadership

• University of the Cumberlands

  Doctor of Education - EdD, Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Environmental Education