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Podcasts
An Interview With Alex Wyss, Executive Director, The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, David Crockett Birthplace Campaign, The “Go Ahead Fund”
December 12, 2025Today we interview Alex Wyss the Executive Director of the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy. Alex comes to this position after many years of dedicated work with the Nature Conservancy.
We discuss the Conservancy’s ongoing efforts to make Tennessee State Parks more accessible to underserved populations.
The Conservancy is presently involved in a major effort to assist in the restoration of David Crockett Birthplace State Park. This park was destroyed in the East Tennessee flooding of September 2024. The have established the “Go Ahead” Fund, adopting Davy Crocket’s famous motto ” Be always sure you are right, then go ahead!” This effort is focused on the interpretive exhibits to be installed at the new park visitors center when complete ( see images below).
Here is a link to their Go Ahead Fund: https://tnstateparksconservancy.org/david-crockett-birthplace-state-park/
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Threats to the Social Security System, Interview with Attorney William Benjamin ( Eposode 118)
April 29, 2025
Celebrating 50 years of Parks and Recreation in Gatlinburg, Interview with Marty Nicely and Laurence Evans (Episode 119)
April 28, 2025
Interview with April Johnson, Assistant Director, Recreation Services, TN Dept Environment and Conservation (Episode 116)
February 28, 2025
Interview With Michael Robertson, 2024 TRPA Fellow, Director of Field Operations, TN State Parks (retired) Episode 115
December 20, 2024
Interview With Author and Naturalist Joanna Brichetto, This Is How A Robin Drinks. Essays on Urban Nature (Episode 114)
December 6, 2024About Mark
Mark Thomas Fraley is a lawyer (now retired) in Nashville, Tennessee (USA). Prior to starting law practice in 1987, Mark was active in the field of Parks and Recreation. He was the first Parks and Recreation Director for the cities of Gatlinburg and Sevierville Tennessee. He was the founding program administrator for the Parks and Recreation Technical Advisory Service (PARTAS) and served as Assistant Commissioner of Conservation and Director or Parks and Recreation for the State of Tennessee. In 1987 Mark was designated a “Fellow” of the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association.
Mark practiced law in Nashville Tennessee from 1987 until retirement in 2017. He had a general practice with an emphasis on Social Security Disability claims. He was a faculty member of the Nashville School of Law ( 1997-2009) teaching the course on Social Security Law.
Education
University of Cincinnati, 1974, Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy)
Nashville School of Law, 1983, Doctor of Jurisprudence
Licensure
License to Practice Law, Tennessee Supreme Court (1983) BPR# 10448
Admitted to Practice, U.S. Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (1987)
Admitted to Practice, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, (1994)
Pictured with his wife Helen E. (Beth) Tanner.
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