Mark Vanderhoff has been a dedicated RiverLink volunteer since 2005 where he began as an education volunteer going to local schools to teach students about watersheds and leading Kids in the Creek programs.  He has joined Hartwell Carson, RiverLink's French Broad Riverkeeper, on several of the annual river paddle trips including the Paddlin' the Pigeon in spring of 2008 and Paddlin' the Nolichucky River in spring of 2009 as pictured above during a rafting trip.  When asked why he started volunteering with RiverLink, Mark says, "I love spending time outside, and RiverLink speaks to that interest with its work creating parks, protecting the region's streams and rivers, and cleaning up litter."
 
Mark and his wife Sheila moved to Asheville in 2005 from Reno, Nevada to be closer to their families who live in Kentucky and to enjoy a great mountain town like Reno.  Mark worked as a newspaper reporter in his 20's and has recently returned to the newspaper industry as a reporter at the Black Mountain News.  He also sells real estate and is a freelance writer.  When not volunteering with RiverLink, Mark enjoys reading and anything outside from hiking, biking and canoeing, to strolling around the neighborhood or taking his daughter to local parks. 

Thank you Mark!