Adam bring nearly 25 years of hands on experience in the landscape industry, beginning as a college intern and working his way through almost every role in the field. Along the way, he has learned the business from the ground up, serving as Operations Manager, Account Manager, and Branch Manager before stepping into his current role as Regional Manager for Heritage Landcare in the Upstate.

Adam holds degrees in both Horticulture and Business and is a Certified Landscape Technician (CLT), which reflects his commitment to professional standards and industry best practices.

At Heritage, he is focused on building a high performing team and leading with a people first approach. He sees real opportunities to advance sustainability in the way heritage maintains properties, whether that is adopting battery powered equipment, implementing smarter stormwater solutions, or creating pollinator gardens and outdoor spaces that benefit both clients and communities.

What excites him most is helping businesses see how sustainable landscapes make financial sense while also protecting resources for the future.

Outside of work, he enjoys life in the Upstate with his wife and three kids. You will usually find him coaching wrestling, cheering from the sidelines, or spending time outdoors with his family.

Alison Montgomery has been working across the country in the environmental and forestry sectors for over 10 years. Having lived in eight states, she has the utmost respect for the diverse landscapes of our nation. Now having entered the world of mitigation banking as a Conservation Planner with Westervelt Ecological Services, she brings a national perspective to the environmental and sustainability concerns of South Carolina. In addition to her time at Westervelt, she maintains a strong bond and soft spot for the timber industry in the state, due to her time with Enviva, which has a wood pellet mill in Greenwood, South Carolina.

With a background in environmental policy, geospatial analysis, and data visualization, she enjoys working to tell the story of the landscape. She is currently working to tell the stories of the banks that she is helping develop, to provide a better understanding of these projects to all stakeholders—be it agencies, landowners, or the public. When not at work, she can be found powerlifting, hiking, and trying all the restaurants that Charleston has to offer

my Collins is a sustainability and community development professional with more than 15 years of crosssector experience spanning renewable energy, infrastructure resilience, environmental research, and equityfocused program design. She currently serves as Sustainability Manager at Lockhart Power Company, an investor-owned renewable utility serving five counties in Upstate South Carolina. In this role, Amy leads carbon reduction strategies, community sustainability initiatives, and infrastructure funding efforts. Within her first months, she secured over $2.2 million in federal and state grants to strengthen grid resilience and dam safety in historically underserved areas.

Amy’s background blends utility, nonprofit, and academic experience, including field research with The Nature Conservancy and extensive environmental justice, policy, and planning work through University of Utah. Her research and grant work have addressed topics ranging from Superfund analysis to sustainable transit, groundwater modeling, and inclusive planning. She was awarded the Global Change & Sustainability Research Grant and has contributed to academically critiqued science policy research addressing sustainability, ethics, and regulatory frameworks.

A systems thinker rooted in place-based impact, Amy is committed to scaling equitable, community-driven models that connect infrastructure, policy, and environmental stewardship. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Urban Ecology and Environmental Sustainability

Born and raised in South Carolina, Beau graduated from Clemson University and grew up in the Columbia area, where his passion for energy and community first began. After living in South Florida for 15+ years and spending several years in Arkansas, he had the opportunity to come back home to South Carolina with Trane Technologies as a consultative advisor.

In his role, he helps public and private sector clients and industry partners achieve their business objectives through innovative energy, construction, and financial solutions. he is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) with 10+ years of experience leading turnkey projects, maximizing building performance, and driving sustainable outcomes across the Southeast. Beyond my work, he is dedicated to fostering workforce development and STEM initiatives—serving on the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Workforce Development and actively engaging in educational and community partnerships.

Beau is married with three wonderful children, all sharing the same birthday—January 6th!—including a six-year-old and four-year-old twins. His roots in South Carolina and experiences across the region shape his commitment to resilient, healthy communities and my drive to champion sustainability in everything he does.

Mr. Bryan Cordell serves as the Executive Director of The Sustainability Institute (‘SI”), a nonprofit organization based in Charleston, South Carolina with a mission of “advancing resilient, sustainable and equitable communities while building the next generation of conservation leaders.”

Bryan has overseen a broad spectrum of community-based energy efficiency programs funded by federal, state and local governments, utilities, and private foundations that have collectively impacted more than 2,000 homes in the region. He has also facilitated numerous climate action and sustainability plans for both cities and private sector companies. As a fundraising professional, Bryan has raised more than $25million to support conservation programs and projects in the Palmetto state.

Bryan graduated from the College of Charleston with a B.A. in Political Science. He has advanced industry training around urban planning, building performance and nonprofit management. He is a frequent speaker at regional conferences and symposiums on issues of energy efficiency, green building, and environmental sustainability. Bryan was recognized with a "40 under 40" award from the Charleston Regional Business Journal and was also honored with the Individual Leadership Award from USGBCSouth Carolina Chapter

Clay Word is the Freshwater Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina. He holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation from Virginia Tech. His career in ecological restoration has taken him across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Central Appalachians, Interior Highlands of Arkansas, and throughout South Carolina.

Before moving to Greenville, Clay led freshwater conservation efforts for TNC in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, working with federal and state agencies, nonprofits, and private landowners to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems.

In his current role, Clay is advancing freshwater conservation statewide through two key initiatives: developing South Carolina’s In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Program and leading the South Carolina Aquatic Connectivity Team. His work focuses on building partnerships across government, nonprofit, and private sectors to improve the health and resilience of South Carolina’s freshwater systems.

Dana Bauer serves as the Coordinator for the South Carolina Lowcountry Sentinel Landscape. She brings extensive compatible land use and resilience planning experience, including the development of mission sustainability and community partnership strategies for Marine Corps and Air Force installations across the country and overseas. In her role as Coordinator, Dana enjoys working collaboratively across the landscape to advance the partnership's goals of protecting and enhancing the Lowcountry's habitats and ecosystems. She holds a Master of Public Policy degree from The College of William & Mary and a BA in English and rhetoric and communication studies from the University of Richmond. She is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and is a member of the American Planning Association's Federal Planning Division.

Darcy Coughlan is a sustainability leader with over a decade of experience advancing environmental policy, operational efficiency, and community resilience. As Director of Sustain Coastal at Coastal Carolina University (CCU), she oversees daily operations including recycling, composting, and reuse programs, while also leading strategic initiatives that elevate the university’s sustainability profile. She authored CCU’s first Sustainability and Coastal Resilience Action Plan and led the development of its inaugural greenhouse gas inventory covering Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, published in Spring 2023.

Darcy co-chairs the President’s Council for Sustainability and Coastal Resilience and has built systems to track institutional progress, improve data accuracy, and align sustainability goals with operational priorities. Her recent comprehensive sustainability assessment earned CCU recognition as the highest scoring public institution in South Carolina for sustainability performance.

Prior to joining CCU, Darcy worked at Conservation International in Arlington, VA, where she engaged in U.S. government and international conservation policy, coordinated congressional briefings, and helped maintain funding for key environmental programs. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s in Asian Languages and Civilizations from Northwestern University, bringing a global and interdisciplinary perspective to her work in sustainability.

Darrel Pendris is Director of Nature Based Solutions and Certification at Milliken Advisors in Columbia, SC. Darrel and his team work at the critical intersection of conservation and industry. They provide strategic advice and technical solutions to landowners, managers, and industrial clients. Milliken Advisors’ Nature Based Solutions team carefully evaluates forest and agricultural land for pathways to maximize value --- while maintaining and enhancing ecosystems.

His team develops markets and projects that blend forest certification, conservation easements, carbon sequestration, solar development, wetland and stream mitigation, protection of rare, threatened, and endangered species, and biodiversity uplift.

Darrel specializes in natural resource sustainability policy/standards, risk management, environmental auditing, and forest and supply chain certification systems. With Milliken Advisors, Darrel and his team have certified hundreds of thousands of acres of forests to global forest sustainability standards (e.g. FSC, SFI, ATFS, and PEFC) in the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Appalachian ecoregions of the Southeast. These supply units have provided millions of tons of certified fiber used by mills to produce sustainably-sourced consumer goods like lumber, plywood, tissue, packaging, printing papers, and biomass energy.

Prior to Milliken Advisors, Darrel worked as Southeastern Regional Manager for FSC-US, as Executive Director at the National Woodland Owners Association in northern Virginia/DC,as a consulting forester, and as a county forester for the state of Virginia. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters, the Forest Stewards Guild, and is an ISO 9001/14001 certified Lead Auditor.

David Jones is the General Counsel of the SC Forestry Commission, with over nine years of experience in State government and a depth of diverse knowledge gained from an eclectic career path.

David grew up in Blythewood, SC, working with his family in the construction trade. David also spent substantial time in Costa Rica as a child and young adult, where he first developed a love for wilderness hiking. After graduating high school, David studied Spanish at a language school in Costa Rica before returning to South Carolina and earning a B.A. in International Studies from USC in 2006. After two years in corporate operations, David returned to law school and earned his J.D. from USC School of Law in 2013.

David began his legal career in a private practice but soon transitioned to government work at the SC Attorney General’s Office, where spent seven years as an AAG in the Opinions Section. David published over ninety formal opinions of the Office before becoming the first-ever General Counsel of the SC Forestry Commission.

David is a lawyer who loves to be outside. He enjoys camping, hiking, backpacking, hunting, and running his chainsaws.

Esther Adams has a passion and has many years of experience in the nonprofit and local government sector. Esther is currently the Director of Community Engagement for the Center of Heirs’ Property. She is the former Manager of Land Planning and Policy for the Center for Heirs’ Property. Esther Adams was also a Planner with Berkeley County Planning and Zoning Department where she interpreted the zoning ordinance, interacted with the public, conducted site plan reviews and plat reviews. Additionally, Esther has worked with the development community in the City of North Charleston as a site plan reviewer. 

Esther has a broad knowledge of real estate, having been a real estate paralegal and title insurance underwriter.  She has worked for a nonprofit serving the economically challenged population with energy assistance, rental/mortgage assistance, budget consulting, developing the curriculum for the youth summer leadership program, and senior farmer's market vouchers program.

Esther received a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina in Political Science and a Master’s degree from the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina in Public Administration.  While receiving her Master’s degree, Esther also received a Certificate in Urban Planning. Additionally, Esther received a Certificate in Project Management for the University of South Carolina. 

Gregory is currently working as a Sr. Industry Manager for the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA). In this capacity, he supports existing South Carolina companies to promote collaboration with universities and technology start-ups for accelerating technology development and commercialization in the state, and to identify solutions for business and supply chain challenges. His specific industry focus for this position is the energy sector, but he also supports companies in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and information technology sectors.

Before joining SCRA, he spent over 30 years of management and technical support services for energy and environmental programs. This experience covers a broad range of clients and organizations but primarily focused on federal agency research and program support, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and multiple national energy laboratories.

He also has more than two decades of business development experience related to energy research development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) at the federal, state, and local levels. He has served as a Business Unit Manager in multiple organizations, responsible for corporate business growth in specified energy, transportation, and environmental sectors as well as oversight of technical staff.

Griffin Muli is the Manager of Corporate and Legislative Strategy at the South Carolina Aquarium, where he leads efforts to align conservation priorities with strategic funding and public policy. His work spans corporate philanthropy, government relations, and legislative advocacy, with a focus on advancing the Aquarium’s mission through collaborative, nonpartisan engagement.

Griffin oversees the development and execution of the Aquarium’s Conservation Policy Action Plan, manages relationships with elected officials and corporate partners, and guides a team of internal and external stakeholders to support both operational and capital initiatives. He has helped secure major funding milestones, including the Aquarium’s first federal community project funding request and record-breaking corporate contributions.

With experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors, Griffin brings a practical, relationshipdriven approach to sustainability leadership—focused on building coalitions, navigating complex policy environments, and creating long-term impact for South Carolina’s coastal communities and ecosystems

Isreal Hodges is an environmental engineer with more than a decade of experience across industry, government, public utilities, and private consulting. His expertise includes waste management, air compliance, hazardous materials, and pollution prevention. He currently serves as Environmental Compliance Manager for Scout Motors, where he leads enterprise-wide environmental programs, projects, and permitting efforts.

A licensed Professional Engineer and Board-Certified Environmental Engineer, Isreal also serves as a Trustee-At-Large for the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists (AAEES). A graduate of Clemson University, he is an active powerlifting competitor, a Life Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and founder of the Lowcountry LevelUP Organization, which hosts an annual back-to-school event for local students and families.

Jenna is a proactive Chemical Engineer with a strong background in sustainability and a career focus in the chemical industry. She has led strategic initiatives at Milliken, including the development of scalable life cycle assessment (LCA) processes and supplier engagement strategies to support carbon reduction commitments both upstream and downstream on the value chain.

Her experience spans maintenance, engineering, process optimization, quality, safety, product development and compliance, across both production and R&D environments. Her work in manufacturing has driven measurable improvements in waste reduction, energy efficiency, and operator safety.

In her current role in regulatory and sustainability compliance, she leads efforts to quantify environmental impacts and identify actionable insights across Milliken’s Chemical Division.

With her well organized, data-driven, and clear communication style, she leads project teams by example and promote a culture of honesty, integrity and respect. She is passionate about embedding sustainability into roles and empowering teams to make informed, responsible decisions

Jessica Wilson, LEED Green Associate and TRUE Advisor, is a leader in resilient construction, high-performance design, and responsible resource management. As Director of Education and Technical Services for the Carolinas Ready Mixed Concrete Association (CRMCA), she champions resilient infrastructure and industry innovation that strengthens communities while improving bottom lines—positioning reinvestment opportunities for concrete producers to thrive in a changing marketplace.

In 2025, Jessica was named NRMCA Promoter of the Year for her leadership in sustainability and her pivotal role in helping secure a $64 million Transportation Materials Grant for the North and South Carolina Departments of Transportation. She is also the creator of the “Concrete and Conservation” series, which showcases concrete’s critical role in disaster resilience, ecological restoration, water conservation, and the preservation of cultural heritage through the built environment.

Her career spans over a decade of advancing sustainability and market development in the construction industry. She previously served as the Carolinas Community Manager for the U.S. Green Building Council, where she built regional partnerships to accelerate green building adoption, and as East Coast Market Development Manager for CarbonCure Technologies, where she championed cutting-edge carbon-reduction innovations in concrete production.

A native of the coastal Carolinas and a farmer, Jessica holds a B.A. in Environmental Literature from UNC Wilmington and certifications in Sustainability Technologies and Construction Management from Cape Fear Community College. She remains a passionate advocate for forward-thinking innovation, conservation, and legacy-driven leadership—building stronger communities, protecting cultural heritage, and ensuring a more resilient future for the concrete industry and the Carolinas at-large.

Joseph R. Dukes is a community development expert with over a decade of experience in affordable housing, economic development, and historic preservation. A native of Lane, South Carolina, he values history as a foundation for strong communities and is committed to preserving it with integrity.

His background includes small business counseling, HUD fund management, and community lending, with a focus on revitalizing historic neighborhoods. As a former senior loan officer for a CDFI and a staff member at the Governor’s Office, he has supported projects that blend economic growth with historic preservation.

Joseph believes that preserving history is about more than buildings—it’s about telling the full and honest story of communities. He lives on James Island with his lovely wife, Tana, and their two children, Mae and Joseph III.

Kay Self is the Executive Director of VisionGreenwood, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Greenwood’s future through strategic investments in economic vitality, innovation, and quality of life. Under her leadership, VisionGreenwood has advanced initiatives that expand broadband access, build workforce and entrepreneurial capacity, and integrate sustainability and resilience planning across the region.

Kay was recently named to SC Biz News’ 2024 Palmetto Power List, a prestigious recognition honoring South Carolina’s most innovative and influential leaders across a variety of sectors. She earned her Entrepreneurship Center Management (ECM) Certificate from the International Business Innovation Association in 2021, enhancing the organization’s ability to support small business development and innovation.

With a focus on bridging gaps in underserved and rural communities, Kay works closely with public- and private-sector partners to improve access and opportunity throughout Greenwood County and the Lakelands region. She serves as Executive in Residence at Lander University’s College of Business & Technology, helping to nurture the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.

Kay’s statewide impact is reflected in her service as a board member and Chair of the Intellectual and Real Property Committee for the Greenwood Genetic Center Foundation, as a board member of the South Carolina Biotechnology Innovation Organization (SCBIO), and as a participant on the Life Sciences Workforce Development Task Force. She was appointed to the South Carolina Broadband Advisory Council by the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (SCORS), guiding efforts to extend equitable internet access across the state.

Before leading VisionGreenwood, Kay served as Director of Investor Relations and Community Development for its predecessor, Greenwood Partnership Alliance, where she strengthened local economic development efforts. During that time, Kay completed the South Carolina Economic Development Institute training program. Earlier in her career, she directed the South Carolina Festival of Flowers, introducing the festival’s signature topiary display to Uptown Greenwood and helping to raise the event’s profile as a regional attraction.

A resident of Greenwood for more than 25 years, Kay has volunteered with numerous community organizations, including serving as a Commissioner for Cokesbury College, as well as with the United Way, Self Regional Healthcare Foundation, Bowers-Rodgers Children’s Home, the Burton Center, the Humane Society of Greenwood, and the Lander Wind Ensemble.

Born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, Kay earned a Bachelor of Arts in Language and International Trade from Clemson University. During her studies, she was a member of the Clemson Symphonic Band and pursued international coursework at the Sorbonne University in Paris and the International College of Cannes.

Lucas Messick is the Manufacturing Manager at Halton MEI USA, where he leads the strategic development of a brownfield facility producing specialty HVAC equipment for marine, energy, and heavy industry markets. A resident of Upstate South Carolina since age nine, Lucas draws on his chemical engineering degree from Clemson University and early leadership experience in hospitality management.

Currently, he oversees the facility’s startup process, from equipment installation and workflow design to implementing sustainable practices. Lucas is committed to advancing sustainability in manufacturing and believes meaningful environmental change requires both technical innovation and a shift in workplace culture.

Outside of work, he enjoys camping and spending time with his wife, Megan, and their dog, Ollie. He’s grateful for the chance to support the region’s economic and environmental well-being.

Megan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University and a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University. She has worked as an environmental engineer in South Carolina for five years and has been a member of the Environmental Team at BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg since 2023. At BMW, Megan supports air permit compliance and environmental sustainability initiatives for facility operations.

In her free time, Megan enjoys outdoor activities like walking, hiking, biking, and playing pickleball. She also enjoys a good book, trying a new restaurant or recipe, traveling around the country to see friends, and spending time with family in downtown Greenville. Megan is native of Greenville, South Carolina and is thrilled to be back in town supporting environmental sustainability in the communit

Melanie is a dedicated senior leader at Goodwill, where she currently serves as the Director of Sustainability. Through various roles in her 15+ years with Goodwill, Melanie has made significant contributions to the organization’s mission of improving people’s lives through the power of work. In addition to her current tole, Melanie spent 10 years managing mission-related programs, setting strategic vision and implementing standards for up to 25 locations, in which her team helped thousands of people gain employment. She initiated alliances with local partners to implement services to veterans and collaborated with multiple agencies to provide wrap-around services, creating a broader impact for people served.

Melanie transitioned to the Business Services team in 2018, where she was responsible for franchise operations, commercial and government contracts, and donation development. In her current role, she leads financial and environmental sustainability efforts, and implements continuous improvement efforts across all divisions. Melanie’s current role blends her background in program management, operations, and community engagement with her passion to create long-lasting, positive impacts for the environment. She is known for her collaborative approach to problem-solving, her ability to mobilize resources and team members effectively, and her dedication for taking care of people and the planet.

With nearly 20 years of environmental expertise, as Cirba Solutions’ Senior Environmental Manager, Michelle LaRocco is instrumental in ensuring facilities across the United States and Canada are environmentally compliant based on local, state, and federal guidelines. Her understanding of reporting and permit compliance in multiple countries, including Air Permits, Stormwater NPDES, Hazardous Waste Generators/Regulations, sets the company apart when it comes to safety standards, ultimately supporting employees, customers, and partners.

Prior to joining Cirba Solutions, LaRocco was the Manager of the Environmental Services Division for Georgetown County in South Carolina. Over the course of her career, she spent time with the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Georgetown, South Carolina, the Massachusetts Ocean Partnership, The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, and was a Contractor for the Bureau of Land Management in the Lake Havasu Field Office in Arizona.

LaRocco is a graduate of Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment, and Columbia University, Barnard College in New York. She holds numerous trainings and certifications, including advanced RCRA Hazardous Waste training, Class III Landfill Manager, FEMA ICS Certifications, among others.

Pete joined the Endowment for Forestry & Communities in February 2020 as President based in Greenville, SC eventually taking on the role of President and CEO in November of 2020. Pete oversees the daily operations and the management of the $270 million corpus and the $10-12 million annual investments that benefit the Forest Sector. Pete has worked in the forest industry for over 35 years in land management, procurement, business development, finance, acquisitions & divestitures, renewable energy, and supply chain.

Pete is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Drax Biomass Inc. In this role, he oversaw the company’s global supply chain operations that include several manufacturing facilities and an export terminal in the Southeastern United States. Drax Biomass is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Drax Group plc, a major electricity generator in the United Kingdom

Pete graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marlboro College in Vermont. He also earned a Master of Science in Forestry and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of New Hampshire.

Pete began his career as a forest technician in 1988 with the Westvaco Corporation in South Carolina. In 1992, he joined Georgia-Pacific Corporation where he held various positions including operations manager, procurement manager and senior financial analyst.

In 2001, Pete joined Plum Creek Timber Company and held several key positions including director of financial planning, manager of construction materials, senior resource manager, director of regional marketing, vice president of operations support, and most recently as vice president, renewable energy and supply chain.

He formerly served on the board of directors for Keweenah Land Association and is a past member of the Biomass R&D Technical Advisory Committee for the Department of Energy. He currently serves on the Board of the Working Forest Initiative.

Pete has previously served as Chairman of the Advisory Board for the University of Georgia’s Center for Forest Business, Forest History Society, Southeastern Wood Producers Association, Michigan Forest Products Council and the Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission.

Purva Mhatre is Sustainability Manager at Sonoco Products Company, where she leads Life cycle assessments and Product carbon footprint for Sonoco’s global product portfolio. Her work integrates sustainability directly into product systems, enabling data-driven decisions and guiding capital investments to reduce emissions.

Previously, Purva worked on sustainability strategy and circular economy initiatives in the built environment, contributing to research and consulting projects focused on climate-aligned infrastructure and material reuse. She has published multiple peer-reviewed papers in journals such as Journal of Cleaner Production, Sustainable Production and Consumption, and Waste Management & Research, with a focus on circularity, Scope 3 emissions, and sustainability barriers in emerging economies.

Purva holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai, and a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Civil and Structural Engineering. Her interdisciplinary expertise bridges technology, sustainability, and strategy. She is passionate about driving scalable sustainability solutions through innovation and collaboration

Sam Packard is a recent graduate working as an environmental professional for Siemens Industries in Spartanburg, SC. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Clemson University and is a certified environmental EIT. Sam has successfully implemented several waste reduction strategies in support of Siemens’ zero waste to landfill goals, surpassing the benchmark set for 2025.

His expertise lies in regulatory compliance, solid waste management, and hazardous waste management. Sam is known for his ability to use analytical thinking and data tracking to determine opportunities for improvement as well as the appropriate course of action. He is constantly looking for new opportunities to learn sustainable best practices, and green technology implementation.

Outside of work, Sam loves walking and hiking with his dog, watching football, and live music.

Sarah Lyles has been with PalmettoPride since 2002 and serves as the Executive Director. Prior to that, she served as the state leader for Keep South Carolina Beautiful and managed public relations for the organization. She has a Masters in Mass Communications and a BA in English from the University of South Carolina.

Prior to working with PalmettoPride, she was a communications associate with the United Way of Greenville County and an event coordinator with SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. She serves on the SC Department Environmental Services Solid Waste Advisory Council. She loves the 1980s and dogs.