Buncombe County Beekeepers Club
2025 Officers
Committee Chairs & Board Members
Mary Liske – President
Mary Liske is the Vice President of the Buncombe County Beekeepers Club and a NCSBA Certified Beekeeper, currently working toward her Journeyman certification. She married into a beekeeping family in 2008, when her father-in-law and grandfather-in-law introduced her to the world of bees. Mary fondly recalls her first hive inspection at her family’s apiary in Midland, NC, in 2012. As a hobbyist beekeeper, she maintains her hives in Weaverville, NC.
Originally from California, Mary has spent two decades in North Carolina, bringing her diverse background to her role as Broker-In-Charge at Looking Glass Realty Asheville. Specializing in both residential and commercial real estate, Mary is passionate about helping her clients achieve their real estate goals—especially those looking for the perfect spot for an apiary!
In addition to real estate, Mary has led retreats focused on yoga, dance, communication, meditation, and nature therapy. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, embroidery, reading, gardening, and of course, beekeeping!
Chad Siek – Vice President
Chad has been beekeeping for nearly 8 years now, and is currently a NCSBA Certified Beekeeper working toward qualifying as a Journeyman Beekeeper. Him and his wife together manage their backyard apiary of ~8 colonies, and he also enjoys working with the BCBC Apiary Committee helping to take care of the club apiary located at the Root Cause Farm.
Having lived most of his life in a suburban setting, Chad believes that beekeeping offers a means of connecting to the natural world in a way that he’s not been able to experience otherwise, and enjoys the never-ending learning that comes with this science and art.
Janet Peterson – Membership Director
I started with the club in 1995 and have held every position but treasurer! Honeybees are an essential part of my Cloud 9 Farm for pollinating U-pick blueberries and as an agri-tourism/education element for the vacation renters. I keep between 5-10 hives in Fairview. I retired from school teaching with Buncombe County Schools and love the organization and educational activities of the club. Check out my place: www.cloud9relaxation.com
Contact the Membership Director
Steve Vidal – Treasurer
Greg lives in Swannanoa with his youngest daughter Alissa. He is a third year beekeeper and hopes to have up to 8 hives when he can figure out how to keep bees alive. He plans on becoming a certified beekeeper this year. He’s lived in the East Asheville area for the last 46 years, originally from California.
Scott Davis- Director
Starting his beekeeping journey in 2010, Scott is a NCSBA certified Master Beekeeper and former president of Buncombe County Beekeepers. He runs Garren Creek Apiaries LLC, managing around 24 hives and offering apiary services that installs/manages/designs apiaries for others. He is currently one of 4 western NC regional Directors for the NCSBA, covering the area from black mountain west to Robbinsville and Murphy.
Dr. Cathy Bufflap Peerless – Director
I grew up in Asheville during the 1960’s attending Lee Edwards High School (1968). I graduated from the University of North Carolina (1972) and moved to Connecticut where I taught Ceramics at the University of Hartford (MAED and D.Ed.). I also taught art, world history, and international studies at Suffield High School until I retired in 2010. I returned to Asheville to take care of my father who was a beekeeper for almost 30 years. I began my beekeeping journey with some coaching from him because the bees were so beneficial in his last years. I joined the Buncombe County Beekeepers Club, attended Bee School and now I am a NC journeyman Beekeeper! I currently have an apiary with 4 hives in North Asheville and one in Alexander.
William Phelps- Director
Russ Jefferies- Director
Judy Li- Director
Mark Traub – Director
Mark Traub is the President of the Buncombe County Beekeepers Club and a former Vice President. With an apiary in West Asheville, Mark has been a key contributor to the club’s growth and success. His dedication to beekeeping and community outreach has helped strengthen local beekeeping practices and education.
Apiary Committee- Chad Siek, Steve Vidal, John Wood, Christopher Tomsic, Greg Kriezel
Janet Peterson – Education Committee