Board Members

Chuck Bennett (Mecklenburg Co.) - Chairman

Chuck is a veteran, having served in the Air Force. He attended UNC-Asheville for a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Cum Laude, attended N.C. State University for graduate work and then UNC Chapel Hill for his law degree.   Prior to his retirement Chuck was Vice President and Counsel for First Union Bank and was a Partner of Weaver, Bennett & Bland, P.A., a Matthews law firm. 

Chuck also served as a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Commissioner for over eleven years, serving as Commission Vice Chairman, Chairman of Cold-Water Fisheries, Chairman of Non-Game and Endangered Species, and Commission representative to Clean Water Management Trust Fund and National Heritage Trust Fund.   Chuck served as a Board member and President of the Matthews Chamber of Commerce, a Board member of the Matthews Rotary Club, a Board member of the Levine Senior Center, Chairman of the Matthews Mayoral Task Force on Education, on the Boards of United Carolina Bank and Branch Banking and Trust Company and a Director of the Matthews Historical Foundation.

Chuck now serves as Vice Chairman of the Wildlife, Outdoors and Recreation Foundation, a non-profit organization working with the NCWRC to develop funding for outdoor recreation and wildlife habitat preservation.

Alvin BraswelL (Wake Co.) - Co-Vice Chair

I enjoy the outdoors, conservation of amphibians and reptiles, and educating youth of the benefits of these species.

wes seegars (Wayne Co.) - Member

Supports the conservation of North Carolina’s resources and encouraging wildlife-associated outdoor recreation.

Fred Harris (wake Co.) - Co-Vice Chair

After graduating from Concord College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Fred furthered his passion for education by continuing to the University of Georgie and Mastering in Fisheries biology.  He began his career with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission in 1972 and moved up in the agency retiring in 2008 as the Chief Deputy Director.  His interest and love for the resources of North Carolina encouraged him to continue his passion and in 2010 joined the N.C. Wildlife Federation as their Natural Resource Specialist. He has continued to support various groups such as Fisheries Conservation Foundation as a board member from 2003 to 2020, as a member of Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council from 2012 to 2016 as well as being a fellow and past president of the American Fisheries Society.

Wilson Laney (Wake Co.) - Secretary

Having attended Mars Hill College to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor, he continued his educational career obtaining his Master's degree and PhD in Zoology at N.C. State University. He began his professional career in 1981 as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist - Fishery Biologist retiring in 2019 from U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. His passion for the resources of N.C. drove his desire to continue to provide support through his participation on various boards and committees.  Wilson currently serves on the Board of Directors of the N.C. Wildlife Federation. He is also on the Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Leadership Council and the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Steering Committee as a representative of the NC Coastal Federation.  He additionally serves on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Habitat Protection and Ecosystem Based Advisory Panel and the Science and Statistical Committee.  

Jared Gray (Wake Co.) - Member

After graduating Morehead State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Biology and Psychology, he began his professional career as an Environmental Engineer at Enviro-pro. In 1998 he joined NC Department of transportation as an Environmental Technician. Since being at NC DOT Jared has moved up and is currently the Environmental Program Supervisor. Since working for NCDOT, Jared has worked with threatened and endangered species plant studies, natural resource inventories, wetland delineation and the required mapping of each for over 20 years. Additionally, he has worked on mussel surveys and permitting on projects such as road widening, mitigation sites, mussel relocation including acquiring mussels to be used for propagation. Jared also has 14 years of experience working on fish surveys involved in bridge work, road widening, new locations and mitigation sites.Jared continues to support the resources by being a member of Nongame & Wildlife Advisory Committee since 2017 as well as encouraging healthy activities by sitting on the board of the Elite Express Track & Field.