Joel Gill - Executive Director

Jordan Lawson - Director of Hospitality

Jordan is responsible for booking all conference and retreat groups at Ferncliff.  She is an Arkansan born and raised. She has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Arkansas State University. She brings 10 years of sales experience and customer service expertise to her role at Ferncliff as Director of Group Sales. Jordan has seen firsthand the impact that Ferncliff can have after sending her eldest son for summer camp. She is excited to help others witness the natural beauty, community, love, and Christian hospitality that Ferncliff offers. In her free time Jordan enjoys DIY projects, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband and three children.  If you interested in having a family reunion, church retreat, day event or corporate retreat at Ferncliff, she's the one to contact!  

Solita Johnson - Director of Development

Annabel Hodges - Director of Group Experience

As Director of Group Experience, Annabel helps create meaningful, welcoming experiences for groups of all kinds, ensuring each guest feels connected and cared for. Annabel started working at Ferncliff by serving as the Support Coordinator for Summer Camp and she just didn’t want to leave! She is now the point person for setting up meeting spaces, coordinating menus, hosting retreat groups, and more. Beyond Ferncliff, Annabel is a worship leader who loves providing music for various worship gatherings around Central Arkansas. With a heart rooted in service, encouragement, and love, she is passionate about building community and uplifting others through both her leadership and her faith.

Bradley Doherty - Chief Operations Officer

Bradley joined the staff of Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in 2023.  As COO Bradley oversees day to day operations of camp.  He is originally from Wichita, Kansas, but has also lived in Colorado, Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma.  Bradley has his bachelors and master’s in architecture from Texas Tech University.  He has worked full-time at YMCA, Methodist and other Presbyterian camps in various capacities, giving him a unique perspective and diverse skill set.  Bradley feels called to work in camp and retreat ministry because of the amazing impact a positive experience can have on a person’s development and faith journey.  He is energized every morning knowing he has the opportunity to work at a place that can make a life-changing impact on participants.  Bradley believes that people and relationships are the most important part of camp and what makes Ferncliff so special.  When not at Ferncliff Bradley can be found cycling, running, golfing, enjoying the outdoors or spending time with his family.

Emily Hooker - Director of Mission and Outreach

Emily oversees all things related to mission and outreach for Ferncliff, which includes the Disaster Assistance Center, Sharing the Goods program, farmstead, volunteer groups, and mission teams. Emily is originally from York, Pennsylvania, but has called Arkansas home since 2008. She has a BA in anthropology from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School in Little Rock. Emily began working full time at Ferncliff in 2014 after four summers on summer staff. She is passionate about providing opportunities for folks of all ages to connect with themselves, others, and the Divine through nature and service. Emily is a certified Arkansas Master Naturalist, an avid bird watcher, and a big fan of hiking and camping. When she's not enjoying the great outdoors, you can find her knitting, reading, and spending time with her husband Joseph and her baby daughter Beatrice.

Karle Johnson - Director of Food and Beverage

Karle joined Ferncliff as the Food and Beverage Director in the Fall of 2023. He lives in Little Rock with his wife and two-year-old son.  Originally from Arkansas but growing up in Texas, he has an eclectic food experience and flavor palette. He's worked at many local restaurants and trained under Chefs Paul Bash and Todd Gold. Most recently, he was the executive chef at National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs. When he isn't cooking or running the daily food services at Ferncliff, you can find him kayaking or fishing, hanging out with his family or playing music with his band. He's also a published author, and loves writing and reading fiction. Karle's credo for food has always been simple food prepared well that nourishes the mind, body and spirit. He looks forward to bringing that to Ferncliff!

Amara Yancey - Administrative and HR Coordinator

Ruth Arnold - Assistant Program Director

Kimberly Graves - Communications Director

Kimberly joined the staff in 2024 as the Communications Director, overseeing communication for all areas of Ferncliff. A native Arkansan, Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's in Instructional Design from the University of Central Arkansas. She has worked in higher education communication and marketing for the last 15 years. Kimberly is passionate about the power of storytelling, believing it to be a vital tool for connecting people and building stronger communities. She sees storytelling as a way to convey values, inspire action, and foster understanding among diverse groups. By sharing the stories of Ferncliff's mission and impact, she aims to highlight the importance of caring for creation, others, and oneself. Kimberly believes that shared experiences can create a sense of belonging and purpose, encouraging individuals to make positive changes in their own lives and communities. When she is not at work, you can find Kimberly traipsing through the forest, gardening, hanging out with her family and dogs, sitting on her porch with a good cup of coffee, and working on her family’s farm.

Dylan Ashcraft - Director of Maintenance

As Director of Maintenance, Dylan is responsible for the upkeep of all buildings and outdoor spaces at Ferncliff. He has nearly a decade of diverse experience as a facilities professional. Dylan believes that taking care of natural and built environments fosters a sense of belonging for the people who spend time in them. He is honored to steward the Ferncliff grounds so that visitors can find sanctuary here for generations to come.

Kenny Zajac - Groundskeeper

Kim Holleman - Director of Housekeeping

Darra May - Housekeeping Assistant

Sharon Sheldon - Housekeeping Assistant

Rachel Parker - Nature Preschool Director

Rachel is originally from The Natural State. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in Early Childhood Special Education and worked with preschoolers with severe developmental delays for 8 years before becoming a Forest Kindergarten teacher.  She is passionate about getting young children connected with nature, which is what lead her to Ferncliff.  She started the nature preschool 7 years ago and has been the Director ever since. She lives in Ferndale with her husband and their two children. She loves spending her time camping with friends and family, keeping an ear out for great music, and refining her kite flying skills.

Dorothy Thomas - Teacher

Dorothy calls Arkansas home, though she grew up in the Midwest and Texas.  She landed at Ferncliff in 2015 as an intern and then accepted a teaching assistant position with the preschool in 2016.  She finds joy in working with children and being in the outdoors, has 17 years experience working with children, and has completed course work in child development from the University of Central Missouri, which makes her a natural fit for our program.  She is an Arkansas Master Naturalist and has just recently completed a Nature-Based Teacher Certification course with the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools.  When not at the school she likes to explore the State Parks of Arkansas, support the local art and music communities statewide, and is learning to play the Dulcimer.

John Hooker - Teacher

Hi everyone, my name is John Wilson Hooker! I’ve lived in Central Arkansas for all my life and have been working at summer camps and in early childhood education since I was fourteen years old. I’m a big hiker, a big consumer of animation and new music, and an even bigger goof ball when given the slightest opportunity. I love a good cup of tea, any dish with copious amounts of mushrooms, and spending time with ornery cats. I graduated from Hendrix College in 2018, and I’ve been working in the outdoor education field with 3, 4, and 5 years olds since January of 2019. I’m so excited about continuing that journey at Ferncliff!

Hollie Whiteseven - Teacher

Camping around the world with my military family, exploring woods with my cousins, fishing with my grandfather, and a memorable trip to the Grand Canyon at 14 sparked my lifelong love for the outdoors. This passion led to a career in outdoor education, where I've served for nearly 30 years with the Corps of Engineers, Arkansas State Parks, and now as Assistant Chief of Education for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. I love to fish, bird, hunt, hike, paddle, and Dutch oven cook with my family and friends in many of the natural spaces that Arkansas offers.  Connecting people to conservation is vital to the future health and well-being of society and it starts at the beginning, as children learn to love, engage in discovery, and feel safe and confident outdoors. Through nature, children will retain their sense of wonder, learn naturally about science and life cycles, problem-solve and create, and socially connect with their peers, wildlife, and the world around them.

Anna Derting - Teacher

Anna Derting is from Washington State. She has worked with both the Summer Camp programs and the Nature Preschool here at Ferncliff for the past year. She is currently working towards her early childhood education credentials. She loves cooking and baking and enjoys a good afternoon nap. A fun fact about Anna is that she was born in Madagascar! Anna is most excited for making new friends and welcoming kids into a loving environment.

Rachel Talmadge - Teacher

Rachel was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She loves reading, being in nature, and hanging out with her family. She is a graduate from Mississippi State University, where she studied Elementary Education. She has worked at Camp Hanover for the last 4 years and is excited to join the Ferncliff team! Rachel will be a floating Teaching Assistant at the Nature Preschool this school year.

Madison Smith - Teacher

I am a native Arkansan and became connected to Ferncliff through family and as a camper.  While working on my history degree at Hendrix College, I was a Ferncliff Camp Counselor.  After completing my degree, I worked in various positions at Ferncliff as a preschool floater, the after school coordinator, and a leader at Learncliff.  My love of diving deeply into the natural spaces of this campus and finding solace there, combined with my experience working with children, led me to the Nature Preschool.

Ella Hedges

Ella is from Dayton, Ohio, and is thrilled to be serving as a residential volunteer in Ferncliff’s Nature Preschool this year. She grew up with a deep love for the environment and has pursued a lifestyle that allows her to learn more about what makes the outdoors so special.

Some of her favorite activities include going on critter hunts, building fairy houses, and exploring all kinds of creative crafts. At Nature Preschool, Ella supports the teachers in each of the classes and assists with the after-school program. She looks forward to sharing her curiosity and enthusiasm for nature with the children and helping them discover the wonder of the natural world.