As CEO, Dr. McFadden manages all aspects of the organization including administration/operations, development and programs. Dr. McFadden, in 3 short years has led the organization in planting approximately 40,000 trees, many on interstate interchanges and has raised the budget from zero to 2024's $250,000 budget. John brings over three and a half decades in conservation, sustainability, environmentalism, education and non-profit management to Green Interchange. From ideation to execution McFadden has led municipalities, organizations and individuals in environmental restoration, and environmental education projects. Connecting with everyone from governors to garden clubs, he has raised over 4 1/2 million dollars towards conservation efforts, in addition to leading thousands of volunteers in stream restoration, and reforestation, planting over 1 million trees with staff and volunteers. His work has earned four Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards, a Friend of Forestry Award, and the Tennessee River Basin Network’s Science and Management Award.

Cedar City Consulting and Sustainable Forest Products is a multidisciplinary environmental consulting firm promoting policy and practice for a sustainable tomorrow. John McFadden received his B. S. in Secondary Education and M. S. in Biology from Tennessee Technological University and Ph.D. from Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. McFadden currently serves as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Environmental Council where he continues to pursue the Tennessee Sustainability Agenda’s implementation, the Duck Rivers Opportunity Project and the Tennessee Tree Project. As Science Director (2000-2006) for the Harpeth River Watershed Association (HRWA) and Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association (TSRA) he directed aquatic restoration and education programs, including water quality assessment, watershed planning and site level restoration planning, implementation and evaluation. Dr. McFadden has planted over 40,000 trees and stabilized in excess of 2500 linear feet of creek bank utilizing volunteers as a part of his watershed restoration work. In addition, he's raised over $1 million through grant writing and major donor work. As a consultant Dr. McFadden has over 35 years experience including environmental and water quality assessment, watershed and river restoration planning and implementation, modeling, recycling and solid waste management, energy efficiency and project management. He has been recognized by the federal and state court systems as an expert on water quality related matters and before Tennessee’s Water Quality Control Board, most recently as the only water quality expert working to provide science based solutions to his clients in a successful effort to keep the case out of court. Finally, he has over ten years of experience teaching college biology, environmental science and natural resource management.

MBA 6000 Strategic Sustainability