Regional Partnership Committees

There are four regional partnership committees (RPCs) corresponding to the ATC’s four geographical regions. Generally, the RPC includes one primary and one alternate representative from each of the Appalachian Trail-maintaining clubs in the region.

The RPCs serve as communication links between the Trail-maintaining clubs and ATC and agency partners on policy issues, and as advisors to the ATC regional directors and the stewardship council on Trail management issues. RPCs do not create ATC policy, but provide forums for discussion and review and make recommendations on proposed policies.

The Trail clubs select their RPC representatives, and the chair of each RPC is selected by its members. At least one member from each RPC is appointed by the ATC board of directors to serve on the Stewardship Council.

Each regional partnership committee is self-governing within parameters set by the board. The current makeup of the committees and the club affiliation of RPC members are listed below. 

New England Regional Partnership Committee

  • RPC Chair: Bruce Grant, Maine Appalachian Trail Club
  • Don Stack, Maine Appalachian Trail Club  (Primary) 
  • TBD, Maine Appalachian Trail Club (Alternate)
  • John Scarinza, Randolph Mountain Club (Primary)
  • Mike Micucci, Randolph Mountain Club (Alternate)
  • Sally Manikian, Appalachian Mountain Club (Primary)
  • Andrew Norkin, Appalachian Mountain Club (Alternate)
  • Nichole Hastings, Dartmouth Outing Club (Primary)
  • Rory Gawler, Dartmouth Outing Club (Alternate)
  • Dave Hardy, Green Mountain Club (Primary)
  • Kathryn Wrigley, Green Mountain Club (Alternate)
  • Steve Smith, AMC-Berkshire Chapter (Primary)
  • John Sullivan, AMC-Berkshire Chapter (Alternate)
  • Dave Boone, AMC-Connecticut Chapter, (Primary)
  • Henry Edmonds, AMC-Connecticut Chapter (Alternate)
  • Gene Grayson, AMC-Connecticut Chapter, RPC representative to Stewardship Council

Mid-Atlantic Regional Partnership Committee

  • RPC Chair: Phil Day, Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club (Primary) 
  • Ron Rosen, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Primary) 
  • Walt Daniels, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Alternate) 
  • Gene Giordano, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Alternate) 
  • Dan Hoberman, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Alternate) 
  • Gail Neffinger, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Alternate) 
  • Debra Palermo, Wilmington Trail Club (Primary) 
  • Mike Briscoe, Wilmington Trail Club (Alternate) 
  • Susan Charkes, Batona Hiking Club (Primary) 
  • Mike Hughes, Batona Hiking Club (Alternate) 
  • Dan Schwartz, AMC-Delaware Valley Chapter (Primary) 
  • Bill Steinmetz, AMC-Delaware Valley Chapter (Alternate) 
  • Paul Schubert, Philadelphia Trail Club (Primary) 
  • David Scheid, Philadelphia Trail Club (Alternate) 
  • David Reitz, Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (Primary)
  • Scott Birchman, Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (Alternate)
  • Anne Griffin, Allentown Hiking Club (Primary) 
  • Barb Wiemann, Allentown Hiking Club (Alternate), RPC representative to Stewardship Council
  • Karen Balaban, Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club (Alternate) 
  • Gwen Loose, York Hiking Club (Primary) 
  • Tim Schmidt, York Hiking Club (Alternate)
  • Michael O'Conner, Mountain Club of Maryland (Primary) 
  • Rosalind Suit, Mountain Club of Maryland (Alternate) 
  • Frank Bohn, Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club (Primary) 
  • Dallas Owens, Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club (Alternate) 
  • Pete Brown, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (Primary) 
  • Kerry Snow, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (Alternate) 

Central and Southwest Virginia Regional Partnership Committee

  • RPC Chair Theresa Duffey, Old Dominion A.T. Club (Primary) 
  • RPC Secretary Trudy Phillips, Natural Bridge A.T. Club (Nonvoting)
  • Phyllis Neumann, Tidewater A.T. Club (Primary) 
  • Lori Ando, Old Dominion A.T. Club (Alternate) 
  • Ned Kuhns, Tidewater A.T. Club (Alternate), RPC representative to Stewardship Council 
  • Gary Nero, Natural Bridge A.T. Club (Primary) 
  • Sharon Ripley, Natural Bridge A.T. Club (Alternate) 
  • John Miller, Roanoke A.T. Club (Primary) 
  • Roger Holnback, Roanoke A.T. Club (Alternate) 
  • Doug Atwater, Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech (Primary) 
  • Dr. James Tanko, Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech (Alternate) 
  • Jim Houck, Piedmont A.T. Hikers (Primary) 
  • Steve Yonts, Piedmont A.T. Hikers (Alternate) 
  • Bill Hurlebaus, Mount Rogers A.T. Club (Primary) 
  • Daryel Anderson, Mount Rogers A.T. Club (Alternate) 

Deep South Regional Partnership Committee

  • RPC Chair: Phillip Royer, Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, RPC representative to Stewardship Council
  • RPC Vice Chair Bill Van Horn, Nantahala Hiking Club
  • Gary Monk, Georgia Appalachian Trail Club
  • Roy Stallings, Georgia Appalachian Trail Club
  • Chris Shaw, Nantahala Hiking Club  
  • George Ritter, Smoky Mountains Hiking Club
  • Lenny Bernstein, Carolina Mountain Club
  • Tim Carrigan, Carolina Mountain Club
  • Joe DeLoach, Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club
  • Steve Perri, Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club