Laurel Creech

As The Nature Conservancy's Tennessee state director, Creech leads a talented staff focused on long-lasting land, water, and biodiversity conservation in the Volunteer State. In this role, Creech cultivates relationships with donors, trustees, and partners representing the government, business, academic, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors. She also provides leadership for fundraising and advocacy initiatives that support TNC’s local, regional, and global priorities. 

Prior to assuming this role, Creech worked for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, where she helped create and served in the role of assistant director for Metro Nashville’s Division of Sustainability. While there, she oversaw environmental initiatives related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, green infrastructure, waste reduction, and education. Under her leadership, the division received two Governor’s Environmental Stewardship awards and four U.S. Green Building Council Impact Tennessee awards. 

Creech's love for nature was seeded at a young age, growing up in the beautiful mountains of Chattanooga as a long-distance runner, cyclist, and triathlete. She took that love to Nashville, where she created and directed an outdoor adventure program for 13 years called Team Green Adventures. Team Green connected thousands of Middle Tennessee residents with the beauty of the outdoors across the state and beyond. 

Growing up in a family dedicated to improving the health of others, Creech applies that same passion and determination toward conserving nature's greatest assets so others can get as much pleasure from the outdoors as she does.