Meet the Sustainability Leadership Initiative Fellows

 

We are visionaries and collaborators who find and implement transformative strategies at the intersection of commerce and conservation to facilitate systems change. We build trust through sharing ideas, solutions, and best practices while challenging each other and celebrating sustainability successes.

 

An exclusive network of South Carolina leaders

SLI 2027

Andy Marquart
Edventure Children’s Museum

Anna Huckabee Smith
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Austin O’Connor
AFL Global

Brian Weaver
Siemens

Clark Mickel
Neoteric Capital

Delia Mears
Sunoco Products Company

Gabriela Alba
Hubbell Incorporated

Hixon Copp
Williamsburg County

James Douglas
SC Forestry Commission

The Honorable Jeffrey E. Zell II
South Carolina State Senate

Jennifer Simmons
Renewable Water Resources

Joseph Augustine
BMW Manufacturing

Joseph Dukes
Palmetto Community Developers

Kyle Sox
OneSpartanburg

Lavani Hindocha
Milliken Advisors

Linda Rowe
South Carolina Aquarium

Meg Thompson
City of North Charleston

Melissa Higgs
Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS)

Michael Parkens
GreenGuard Commercial Cleaning

Nicky Waters
Carolina Outdoor Services

Randal Armstrong
Trane Technologies

Shane Behler
The Nature Conservancy

Trevor Cutsinger
U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

Trey McDonald
Medical University of South Carolina

William Coates
Donated Goods Acquisition Manager

Andy Marquart

CEO
Edventure Children’s Museum

Andy began his career at the Discovery Center of Springfield Missouri in 2004. In 2008 he took the reigns as executive director of the Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs Arkansas. He spent five years leading the museum’s efforts to become financially solvent and led a $9 million renovation.

After a brief time at The Golisano Children’s Museum in Florida, Andy spent 9 years as the CEO position of the Hands On Discovery Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. There he led the merger of the Hands On Museum and Gray Fossil Site Museum. He was also heavily involved in the tourism industry in northeast Tennessee and chaired the Johnson City Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association. He won tourism leader of the year in 2019 and the Tri Cities Business Journal’s forty under forty in 2016.

Andy began the role as CEO of EdVenture in June of 2022. Since arriving at EdVenture Andy he has prioritized the museum’s operational solvency and revenue streams. He’s worked with the EdVenture staff and board to enact almost $5 million in capital improvements that include facility improvements, visitor safety enhancements, and exhibit gallery renovations

Anna Huckabee-Smith

Director of Conservation Grants and Strategic Outreach
SC Department of Natural Resources

Anna Huckabee Smith is a Certified Wildlife Biologist® with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) where she is the Director of Conservation Grants and Strategic Outreach. She oversees the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) and the associated State Wildlife Grants Program, the Forest Legacy Program, and writes all land acquisition grants for SCDNR. She is also the program manager for the new Urban Outreach Program. Anna has been with SCDNR for 14 consecutive years but before that worked for North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission as their first Urban Wildlife Biologist where she helped create the program in place today. Prior to that, she was the SCDNR Forest Stewardship Coordinator and authored over 135 management plans for private and corporate landowners. Anna is the immediate past President of the SC Chapter of The Wildlife Society and past Chair of the SEAFWA Wildlife Diversity Committee. She received a BS in Biological Sciences with a Minor in Anthropology from Clemson University and her MS in Zoology, also from Clemson. Anna has published over 36 articles on various wildlife topics as a free-lance writer and currently serves on several steering committees and working groups covering a variety of natural resource topics. 

Austin O’Connor

Supply Chain & Sourcing Sustainability Specialist
AFL Global

Austin O'Connor is a Supply Chain & Sourcing Sustainability Specialist at AFL Global, a fiber optic manufacturer headquartered in Duncan, SC and a subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. 

He leads AFL's Scope 3 greenhouse gas inventory, Science Based Targets preparation, and supplier sustainability assessments under the Responsible Business Alliance Code of Conduct. He also manages materials compliance programs covering REACH, RoHS, PFAS, and conflict minerals, and coordinates lifecycle assessment work with external partners. 

Before AFL, Austin spent nearly a decade in procurement and commodity management across automotive and industrial manufacturing. He is a Florida State University graduate and serves as Secretary and Social Media Chair of the Seminole Club of Upstate South Carolina. 

He lives in Greer, SC with his wife Amanda and their son Luka. 

Brian Weaver

Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Technician
Siemens

Brian Weaver is an Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Technician at Siemens’ electrical products manufacturing facility in Roebuck, South Carolina, where he supports environmental compliance and sustainability efforts. His work focuses primarily on hazardous waste management, regulatory compliance, stormwater and wastewater systems, and waste minimization and recovery. 

Prior to joining Siemens, Brian worked as an EHS Specialist for Amazon in Troutdale, Oregon, where he specialized in stormwater pollution prevention. Earlier in his life, he spent several years as a volunteer and later an employee at the Anne Springs Close Greenway nature preserve in his hometown of Fort Mill, South Carolina. These experiences helped develop his passion for land conservation and his interest in connecting corporate operations with environmental stewardship. 

In his free time, Brian enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends and volunteers with SPACE, a local conservation nonprofit in Spartanburg. He hopes to eventually become an environmental engineer specializing in the restoration and remediation of natural lands and water system. 

Clark Mickel

President
Neoteric Capital

Clark Mickel is a design strategist, problem solver, relationship builder and investor who employs an analytical, yet artistic skill set to identify and act upon unique value creation opportunities that emphasize relatability, scalability, and sustainable development. He is a detail-oriented generalist who excels at addressing complex problems and forging both meaningful and lasting business relationships. Clark is the President of Neoteric Capital LLC, which specializes in alternative investments with a focus on early-stage venture capital. Prior to founding Neoteric Capital, Clark spent ten years in the technology sector engaged primarily in strategy development, product, and investor relations roles. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, and earned a MPS in Design Management from the Pratt Institute in New York City.

Delia Mears

Environmental and Sustainability Analyst

Sonoco Products Company

Delia Mears is the Environmental and Sustainability Analyst at Sonoco Products Company, where she manages global Scopes 1, 2, and 3 accounting, including adherence to SBTi-verified GHG reduction targets and reduction strategy. This data allows Sonoco to promote transparency by participating in voluntary reporting through the annual Corporate Sustainability Report, CDP, and EcoVadis, and will soon help Sonoco maintain compliance with mandatory reporting in California and Europe. 

Since starting in her current role, she has enhanced the completeness, accuracy, and transparency of GHG accounting in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. She started with Sonoco in 2021 in the Recycling division when she worked on multiple continuous improvement projects such as implementing 5S and SOPs, leading the safety onboarding program, and collaborating with Sonoco’s robotics partner on improving the functionality of their automatic sorting equipment. Before her time with Sonoco, she worked a dual role in Product Quality and Environmental Compliance. 

Delia graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of South Carolina, where she graduated with Leadership Distinction in Professional and Civic Engagement. Her background in environment and sustainability along with her operational and operational-support background makes her a strong advocate for sustainable innovation within manufacturing. 

Gabriela Alba

Senior Sustainability Specialist
Hubbell Incorporated

A North Carolina native, Gabriela Alba moved to South Carolina four years ago to join Hubbell Incorporated, a global manufacturer of electrical and utility solutions that helps customers operate critical infrastructure safely, reliably, and efficiently. As a Senior Sustainability Specialist, Gabriela works across the organization to engage stakeholders and advance initiatives that create long-term value for the business, communities, and environment. 

With experience spanning government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, Gabriela has developed a broad perspective on the unique strengths different organizations bring to addressing sustainability challenges. While her early professional experiences focused on sustainability education and community engagement, she was drawn to corporate sustainability by the opportunity to scale impact across an entire organization. At Hubbell, she partners with colleagues across the business to advance sustainability initiatives. What motivates her most is partnering with colleagues across the business to embed sustainability into everyday decisions and drive meaningful progress together. 

Gabriela currently serves as an ex-officio board member for Sustaining Way, a nonprofit dedicated to building sustainable and equitable communities through education, collaboration, and advocacy. When she is not working, you can often find her tending to her garden, painting, playing guitar, or searching for the next musical to watch downtown. 

Hixon Copp

Director of Economic Development
Williamsburg County

Hixon Copp serves as the Director of Economic Development for Williamsburg County, South Carolina, where he leads strategic initiatives to attract investment, support local businesses, bolster workforce, and foster sustainable growth throughout the County. A native of Florence, SC, Mr. Copp graduated from the International Baccalaureate Program at Wilson High School in 2015. He went on to attend Wofford College in Spartanburg as a Bonner Scholarship recipient, earning a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a minor in History in 2019. 

Since he was appointed, Williamsburg County has announced at least 46 new full-time jobs and $90M in new capital investment. Mr. Copp is also proud to have supported the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic Violence in opening the Durant Children’s Center in downtown Kingstree. Mr. Copp has the distinguishment of completing multiple courses from the International Economic Development Council, and the Council of Development Finance Agencies as well as being named a Santee Cooper Envoy. 

James Douglas

State Lands Program Manager
SC Forestry Commission

James Douglas is the State Lands Program Manager for the SC Forestry Commission with over 20 years of land management experience. He joined the SC Forestry Commission in 2006 after graduating from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Resource Management and a minor in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Life Science. In 2022, James was promoted to his current role where he oversees state forest operations, manages the state forest certification program, assists other state agencies with forest management, leads the Good Neighbor Authority Agreement with the US Forest Service, manages land acquisitions, and oversees operation of nursery and tree improvement program.  

James is a SC registered forest, a certified prescribe burner, and a licensed pesticide applicator. James is a member of the Forestry Association of SC and a 2021 graduate of the SC Certified Public Manager Program. 

James lives in Columbia, SC with his wife and daughter. He enjoys watching Clemson sporting events, watching and playing golf, and is an active member in his church. 

Senator Jeffrey E. Zell

South Carolina State Senator, District 36
South Carolina General Assembly

Jeffrey E. Zell II is a South Carolina State Senator representing District 36, a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, and a public servant committed to leadership, accountability, and service to community and country. His path from military service after September 11 to education leadership and elected office shaped a practical, mission-focused approach to public policy and civic engagement. 

Senator Zell served 20 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Master Sergeant after a career in Munitions Systems Technology. His assignments included service across the United States and deployments to Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates. That experience strengthened his commitment to disciplined leadership, operational excellence, and service before self. 

Since moving to Sumter in 2017, Senator Zell has served through education governance, veterans advocacy, community leadership, and public office. As a former Sumter School Board Trustee, he worked to improve accountability, strengthen operations, and support student success. In the South Carolina Senate, he represents Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Sumter Counties and serves on committees addressing agriculture and natural resources, family and veterans' services, fish, game and forestry, judiciary, and medical affairs. 

His policy interests include veterans' services, education, healthcare, public safety, economic development, natural resources, and responsible government. Across these areas, Senator Zell emphasizes practical solutions, cross-sector collaboration, and policies that expand opportunity and improve the lives of families and communities. 

Senator Zell holds an Associate Degree in Munitions Systems Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from American Public University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He is also a Fellow of the South Carolina Institute of Medicine & Public Health Policy Fellows Program. He and his wife, Christina, a nurse at Sumter Prisma Health, live in Sumter with their daughter, Eva. 

Jennifer Simmons

Interim Maintenance Manager and Resiliency Program Manager
Renewable Water Resources

Jennifer Simmons is a lifelong resident of Upstate South Carolina with deep roots in the region and strong ties to the agricultural community. She currently lives on a farm in Anderson, South Carolina, with her two children. Her daughter is a veterinary student at Texas Tech University, and her son, Pierce, attends Greenville Technical College, where he is studying construction science. 

Professionally, Jennifer has built her career at Renewable Water Resources (ReWa), where she has served in a variety of roles spanning regulatory compliance, environmental programs, asset and infrastructure planning, resiliency, and maintenance leadership. Her work has given her a unique perspective on the connection between environmental stewardship, reliable infrastructure, operational resilience, and the communities ReWa serves. 

Jennifer's agricultural background and professional experience have shaped her belief that sustainability must be both practical and forward-thinking. She is passionate about protecting the natural resources that make the Upstate a special place to live while ensuring that infrastructure and essential services are prepared to support the region's continued growth. She values collaboration, continuous improvement, and finding practical solutions that balance environmental, economic, and community needs. 

Joseph Augustin

Manager, Energy Strategy, Sustainability & Infrastructure
BMW Manufacturing

After years of living and working around the world, Joe and his family proudly call Greenville home. Together with his wife, they are raising two incredible children and sharing life's adventures with their two energetic dogs. As a family, they enjoy traveling, exploring the outdoors, and making the most of every season through both summer and winter sports. 

Professionally, Joe is passionate about advancing sustainability and transforming ambitious ideas into meaningful results. At BMW, he leads and supports initiatives that reduce environmental impact, improve energy performance, and help shape a more sustainable future. Drawing on a wealth of global experience and a collaborative mindset, he connects strategy, innovation, and practical execution to deliver lasting value for the business, the community, and future generations. His work is driven by the belief that sustainability and operational excellence go hand in hand, creating positive impacts that extend well beyond the workplace. 

Joseph Dukes

Chief Strategy Officer
Palmetto Community Developers

Joseph R. Dukes is the Owner and Chief Strategy Officer of Palmetto Community Developers (PCD), a minority-owned real estate development and consulting firm based in Charleston, South Carolina. PCD focuses on attainable and affordable housing and other high-impact community development projects, serving as a consultant or master developer to evaluate feasibility, structure financing, and execute public-private partnerships.

With more than a decade of experience in community development finance, Joseph has served as a Senior Loan Officer with the South Carolina Community Loan Fund, where he supported projects utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC). He has also managed millions of dollars in federal funds for the City of Columbia, developing deep expertise in HUD programs, municipal finance, and compliance-driven development.

Earlier in his career, Joseph worked under Governor Nikki Haley, helping streamline South Carolina’s certification process for minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs). In his current role, he leads PCD’s capital strategy, feasibility analysis, and partnership alignment to deliver financially sound and community-centered developments.

Kyle Sox

VP of Industrial Development
OneSpartanburg

Kyle was born in  Lexington, SC. After graduating from Lexington High, he attended the South Carolina Honors College and University College Cork, Ireland, earning a multidisciplinary degree in Literature, Philosophy, and Writing. After various experiences in retail sales, traveling sales management, Kyle spent five years as a behavioral healthcare provider for youth in wilderness and boarding school settings. He was a leader and mentor for staff in various programs within CRC Healthcare. Kyle attended graduate school at the Darla Moore School of Business, studying international business finance and accounting management. He studied German in Tuebingen, Germany. After graduation, Kyle worked for the SC Dept of Commerce for 4 years recruiting global companies. The past 10 years, Kyle has recruited manufacturers, logistic companies, and headquarters to Spartanburg County. 

Married to Lucy Willms (14 years), they have a 7-year-old son, Ben. Together they are an avid outdoors family. Kyle has rock climbed for over 25 years and has climbed all over the world. Most recently he has worked with climbing access organizations to support access for climbing; as well as volunteering with conservation and community wellness groups as a community advisor and advocate for conservation and access to trails and greenspace. 

Lavani Hindocha

Sr. Data Analyst & Analytical Tool Developer
Milliken Advisors

Lavani Hindocha is a Senior Data Analyst and Analytical Tool Developer at Milliken Advisors, a land management consulting firm in Columbia, South Carolina, where she builds the data and GIS-based tools that connect forestry, carbon, and land-use decisions to their full ecological and economic value.

Lavani brings a uniquely interdisciplinary background to her work. She holds an Integrated MSc in Chemistry from SVNIT, India, alongside a Master of International Business with a focus on Global Strategy and Business Analytics from the University of South Carolina — a combination that sharpens both her analytical rigor and her strategic perspective. Her career has taken her across three countries, with professional and academic experience spanning India, Germany, and the United States, giving her a genuinely global lens on sustainability, business, and problem-solving.

At Milliken, Lavani focuses on translating land, timber, carbon, and water data into decision-ready insights for landowners, institutional investors, and corporations working to meet sustainability commitments. She is especially drawn to the gap between a property's financial value and its full ecological value, and to building the tools and business lines that help close it.

Outside of work, Lavani is an avid traveler, always planning her next adventure. She has a deep appreciation for the arts, world cuisines, and the cultures she encounters along the way — passions that fuel her curiosity and complement her analytical mindset.

Linda Rowe

Lead Coordinator of Conservation
South Carolina Aquarium

Linda Rowe is Lead Coordinator of Conservation at the South Carolina Aquarium. In this role, she is helping to advance conservation initiatives both within the building and beyond the Aquarium’s walls.  Through internal collaboration, she co-leads the South Carolina Aquarium’s Green Team, which engages staff in climate-friendly activities and supports successful waste reduction strategies at internal events; and she leads the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment process. External initiatives include working to address plastic pollution issues throughout the state using community-based conservation and citizen science. Specifically, this includes organizing and leading litter cleanups with data collection in various habitats, data analysis and reporting to local communities, and public education to support sustainable solutions. 

Linda received her B.A. in Biology from Boston University and her Master of Science in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston.  She was a scientist with NOAA for 6 years working on projects involving habitat characterizations and mapping, quantitative and spatial data analysis, and project coordination.  

Before joining the South Carolina Aquarium team, Linda took a professional hiatus to start a family and spent several years overseas. These experiences enhanced her passion for environmental conservation and shaped the perspective she brings to her current work.  

Meg Thompson

Community Development & Innovation Coordinator
City of North Charleston

Meg Thompson is the Community Development & Innovation Coordinator for the City of North Charleston, where she leads cross-departmental initiatives focused on resilience, sustainability, and innovation in local government practice. Her work includes coordinating the City’s Unified Development Ordinance community engagement process, advancing resiliency and sustainability initiatives, and aligning grant-funded projects across City priorities. 

Before her current role, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member focused on community capacity-building and public service programs. She then worked for the City of Charleston in Business & Neighborhood Services, supporting local business engagement and neighborhood-level initiatives, before serving as a Project Manager in the Mayor’s Office for the City of North Charleston, where she managed initiatives focused on infrastructure planning, interdepartmental coordination, and community engagement. 

Outside of work, she is actively engaged in her community through volunteering, attending local events, and participating in multiple book clubs. She also practices barre regularly, reflecting her commitment to balance, wellness, and staying connected to the Charleston community she serves. 

Her work focuses on translating complex planning and policy into accessible, community-driven strategies and advancing more integrated, equitable approaches to sustainable community development in a rapidly growing coastal city. 

Melissa Higgs

Community Engagement Director
Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS)

Melissa Higgs serves as Community Engagement Director and Senior Editor for the Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS), a nonprofit organization based in Oconee County, South Carolina, with a mission of advocating for the conservation of the Lake Keowee watershed and educating others about the ecology and operations of the lake. 

Melissa has organized a wide variety of community programs, which have built partnerships with local businesses in support of resilience. She is responsible for the FOLKS speaker series, which addresses topics such as habitat preservation, emergency preparedness, fire prevention, and boating safety, and works with the Chambers of Commerce, the art community, and lake-related businesses to host programs that promote lake health.  

As the curator for the FOLKS magazine, KEOWEE, Melissa strives to bring various experts and writers together to share their stories and their knowledge about conservation. The magazine has become a vehicle for collaboration and shared initiatives in the watershed. She understands how critical clear information is to communicate a nonprofit’s objectives and to share a vision across all media platforms she supervises.  

Melissa also interacts with entities for which FOLKS is a stakeholder. She comes to the table with local governments and state agencies, college extension services, water companies, storm water managers, the power company that manages Lake Keowee, Duke Energy, and other nonprofits. This includes projects ranging from evaluating lake overlay land use planning proposals and reviewing grant projects for septic repairs to installing wayfinding signs on docks for emergency services. 

Monitoring water quality is essential to the FOLKS mission. Melissa works with a committee to coordinate the FOLKS scholarship program, which requires students to monitor a stream and report their findings. She also ensures that grants from FOLKS for Green Steps, 4-H, and other educational programs are administered properly. Overall, Melissa assists with membership and fund development, which allows FOLKS to provide funding for other groups promoting watershed health. 

Melissa appreciates the unique aspects of nonprofit and public policy work. Previously, she worked for 11 years in waste management and Planning. During this time, she led numerous programs, such as developing comprehensive plans and a capital improvement plan, serving as President of the Carolina Recycling Association, expanding recycling and composting programs, and partnering with Clemson Extension to offer the Master Waste Educator program. In addition, she successfully obtained and administered grants and managed waste management facilities.  

Melissa holds a B.A. in English and Government from Wofford College, and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University. She is also a retired, certified teacher and still enjoys designing cross-curricular lessons to help students make connections with science and social studies in English class. 

Michael Parkens

President
GreenGuard Commercial Cleaning

Michael Parkens, President of GreenGuard Commercial Cleaning, LLC, founded this South Carolina-based company in 2023 with a mission to elevate environmental responsibility in the janitorial industry. As a regular attendee of ISSA, BSCAI and 
USGBC events, Mr. Parkens recognizes the powerful impact commercial cleaning has on building health and sustainability. Inspired to lead differently, Michael has built GreenGuard Commercial Cleaning around environmentally compliant, LEED-aligned practices that support resilient facility operations. 
Mr. Parkens holds CBSE, LEED Green Associate, and CIMS certifications, reinforcing his commitment to operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and sustainable 
standards. Under his leadership, GreenGuard integrates green cleaning protocols with reliable, responsible service – helping clients protect indoor environments while strengthening long-term building performance. As a growing company, GreenGuard 
believes even small businesses can make a meaningful, lasting difference for the facilities and communities they serve. 

Nicky Waters

Principal

Carolina Outdoor Services

Nicky Waters is founder and owner of Carolina Outdoor Services LLC. Carolina Outdoor Services focuses on stormwater management and inspections throughout South Carolina and North Carolina, as well as forestry mulching services. Nicky started this company in 2004 as a landscaping business and transitioned services and focus to reflect a passion and purpose into a net benefit to our environment. His company currently employees 6 individuals who are committed to the field and several of which have certifications in the industry as well.  Carolina Outdoor Services serves many large retail, industrial, commercial, and utility companies as well as individual property owners.  Growing awareness and providing solutions for stormwater related issues is what Carolina Outdoor Services does.   

Randal Armstrong

Senior Product Engineer, Supply
Trane Technologies - Trane Supply

Randy Armstrong is a diligent, reliable, and data-driven Quality and Integrated Supply Chain leader with deep roots in the manufacturing sector. Over the course of his career, he has built a reputation as a structured problem solver who believes that information is most valuable when it is shared, and he works deliberately to keep knowledge flowing across the organization. Today, Randy is focused on helping companies build greater resiliency into their global supply chains.

Randy's experience spans the full breadth of quality and supply chain disciplines, from supplier development, sourcing, and supplier selection to design engineering, continuous improvement, and global integrated supply chain management. He is well versed in the tools that drive operational excellence, including LEAN Kaizen, Zero Defects, PPAP/APQP, 8D problem solving, and KPI-driven scorecards. He has led teams of more than 30 people and managed project budgets exceeding $10 million.

What sets Randy apart is his ability to see past the symptoms of a problem to its true root cause, and his talent for making complex, technical issues understandable to people without a technical background. Senior leaders trust him because he works comfortably across silos, operates with transparency, and is willing to offer a thoughtful counterpoint when others may be converging too quickly on a single view.

A natural mentor and teacher, Randy takes genuine interest in the growth of the people around him, particularly those who have more potential than they yet realize. Colleagues value him for empowering them to make sound decisions rather than simply making decisions for them. His approach to leadership is best summed up by a favorite quote from Bill Nye: "Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't."

Shane Behler

Government Relations and Policy Manager
The Nature Conservancy

Shane Behler is a policy and government relations professional with experience in a wide variety of conservation, agricultural, and economic issues. He currently works for the Nature Conservancy in South Carolina in support of the Conservancy’s policy initiatives at the local, state, and federal levels. He holds a BS in Environmental & Natural Resources and an MS in Applied Economics from Clemson University. His passion for the outdoors and conservation have fueled his career and educational goals. When out of the office, Shane spends as much time outside as possible, enjoying fly fishing, hunting, hiking, and skiing. He also likes to read, write, cook, travel, and above all, spend time with family and friends. 

Trevor Cutsinger

Vice President, Natural Capital Solutions
U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

Trevor currently serves as Vice President, Natural Capital Solutions at the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and is a timberland owner based in Aiken, South Carolina. His current work focuses on raising and deploying “impact first” capital to innovative forestry businesses in the U.S. He has worked in the forestry, conservation, and climate sectors for 20 years including roles in business development, forest management, forest acquisitions, carbon project development, and nature-based decarbonization investments. 

Prior to the Endowment, Trevor worked at Pilot Travel Centers, where he led origination for the carbon team at the largest travel center company in North America. He previously held positions at Finite Carbon, The Conservation Fund, and the U.S. Army Environmental Command. He received a Master of Environmental Management degree from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. 

Trey McDonald

Sustainability and Energy Manager
Medical University of South Carolina

Trey McDonald is the Sustainability & Energy Manager for the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He has held several roles within sustainability, including as a whale biologist, environmental scientist, and sustainability officer. While an environmental scientist in Florida, he recognized the need to rethink our relationship with the Earth. He shifted his career focus to sustainability strategy, earning LEED Accreditation and his M.S. in Environmental Science & Policy from the University of South Florida. His thesis focused on sustainability at university campuses and examined USF as a case study. Earlier he earned his B.S. in Marine Biology from Auburn University, and also studied at the University of British Columbia and University of Oregon. 

Prior to his role at MUSC, Trey worked at the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute and as the first Sustainability Manager for Conrex. However, most of his career has been in higher education, building sustainability programs for the University of San Diego, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the University of Richmond. He has also been an adjunct faculty member at UNCG and the College of Charleston. 

Trey is an avid distance runner, an all-around sports fan, and a self-avowed science fiction geek. 

William Coates

Donated Goods Acquisition Manager
Goodwill Industries Upstate / Midlands South Carolina

William Coates is a Greenville, South Carolina native with more than 18 years of nonprofit leadership experience focused on community engagement, strategic partnerships, fundraising, and mission-driven growth. As the Donated Goods Acquisition Manager for Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina, he leads efforts to expand donation networks, strengthen corporate and community partnerships, and advance initiatives that connect sustainability, workforce development, and community impact.

Throughout his career, William has been passionate about building meaningful relationships that create opportunities for individuals and families to thrive. His work is driven by the belief that strong communities are built through collaboration, stewardship, and empowering people to reach their full potential. At Goodwill, he works to develop innovative partnerships that not only increase resource recovery and support a more circular economy, but also generate funding for job training, career services, and employment programs that transform lives across South Carolina.

Outside of work, William's greatest joy is his family. He and his wife, Ginny, have been married for five years and are the proud parents of their two children, Will, who is two years old, and their newborn daughter, Ellie. Their family also includes Watson, a spirited dog who keeps life entertaining and full of energy.