Our 2027 session SPEAKERS

aaron bowman, AIA

Senior Associate | Senior Project Manager at Moseley

He is a Senior Associate at Moseley with over 20 years of experience in residential and commercial design, working with public and private clients across the Southeast. Passionate about creating sustainable and resilient communities, he leads Moseley’s Design Excellence program and manages projects throughout South Carolina. Previously, Aaron worked and taught at Clemson University’s Community Research + Design Center, where his research focused on using community assets to support growth and development. He has also served as a guest lecturer and critic on resilience and sustainable design. A recipient of the American Institute of Architects’ 2020 Young Architect Award, Aaron has earned recognition for his design excellence, leadership, and commitment to community service. He currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina

Anna Fitch Courie

Chief Well-being Officer at Clemson University

Becca Schusler

Director of Wellness for Atlantic Packaging

She is the Director of Wellness for Atlantic Packaging, the largest privately held packaging company in the U.S., known for its commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable future in part by supporting initiatives that foster well-being both inside and outside the workplace. With over 20 years of experience in health promotion, Becca has spent much of her career as a population health consultant, guiding organizations in the strategic design and implementation of comprehensive well-being programs. Becca is passionate about empowering individuals to lead healthier lives, fostering positive workplace cultures, and inspiring a generation of wellness. Becca is dedicated to helping Atlantic Packaging in its commitment to cultivate environments that support health and well-being by designing thoughtful initiatives, a positive organizational culture, and healthier physical spaces.

brian thill

Chief Experience Officer / Senior Vice President of Education at SC Aquarium

He has been connecting people to water, wildlife, and wild places for the last 30 years. In his tenure at the South Carolina Aquarium, he worked with the late Dr. Wallace J. Nichols to implement “Blue Mind” into the guest experience, staff culture, and strategic plans at the South Carolina Aquarium. Brian has collaborated with local practitioners, universities, the SC7 expedition, and healthcare facilities to facilitate “Blue Mind” experiences and awareness and is an active and founding member of The Nature at Work movement, working closely with Dr. Susan Johnson. Brian attended the University of Alaska-Anchorage and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he earned a degree in Natural Resource Management with an emphasis on Environmental Education & Interpretation. Brian is a native of Winona, Minnesota.

Charity muhammad

Founder & Special Project Manager for the Gumbo For The Soul Foundation

Charity Muhammad is an educator, Special Project Manager, curriculum developer, and founder of Gumbo For The Soul Foundation. Her work brings together education, history, culture, storytelling, and community engagement to create meaningful learning experiences and strengthen connections across generations. Muhammad has experience coordinating grant-funded projects, public-facing cultural and historical initiatives, training programs, curriculum development, educational programming, and community partnerships. She also serves as Director of Education &Training at Planting Pure Seeds Academy, where she leads educational programming, curriculum development, training, program operations, and evaluation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Southern Arkansas University and an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is also a U.S. Army veteran. Born in Louisiana and rooted in her Creole heritage, Muhammad’s discovery of her paternal Gullah Geechee heritage after finding her father at age 41 deepened her commitment to preserving family histories, cultural knowledge, and intergenerational stories. Her work asks communities not only what they have survived, but what they are responsible for carrying forward.

Cigdem Ozkan

Infrastructure Resilience Lead, APTIM

She is APTIM’s Infrastructure Resilience Lead with 11 years of experience helping communities understand climate risks and translate them into actionable infrastructure investments. Her work encompasses vulnerability assessments, adaptation planning, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and stakeholder engagement. She specializes in integrating engineered and nature-based solutions to strengthen critical infrastructure, reduce risk, and support long-term community resilience.

Diandre Sunner

Senior Landscape Architect Project Manager, SeamonWhiteside

She is a landscape architect and project manager with more than a decade of experience in urban planning, parks, mixed-use developments, and residential design. As a Senior Landscape Architect Project Manager with SeamonWhiteside, she brings expertise in horticulture, landscape design, and project implementation, guiding projects from conceptual planning through construction and completion. Her work emphasizes creating functional, sustainable outdoor environments that connect people with nature. With experience in multidisciplinary design and community planning, Diandre combines thoughtful design with practical implementation to create enduring landscapes that support how people live, work, and interact with their surroundings.

Esther wagner

Awareness & Education Coordinator at Palmetto Pride

She is the Education and Awareness Program Manager for PalmettoPride and a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Trainer. Her work challenges communities to look beyond litter as an aesthetic concern and examine its connections to human behavior, public spending, safety, and community resilience. She developed PalmettoPride’s free statewide CPTED training program and is leading the development of the Economics of Litter curriculum, which uses litter as a real-world laboratory for economic thinking and decision-making. She also gives voice to Curby the Trash-Talking Robot. Having picked up litter in every South Carolina county and seven states, Esther combines firsthand experience, humor, and systems-level thinking to question familiar responses to persistent problems. Her engaging presentations encourage audiences to reconsider what success looks like and leave with practical ideas they can apply in their own communities. Outside of work, Esther enjoys reading, writing, hiking, thrifting, and being the fun aunt.

Catherine Min

Santee Watershed Coordinator with SCOR

She is the Santee Watershed Coordinator for the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR). In this role, she leads SCOR’s outreach and communication with local governments and non-governmental organizations within the Santee River Basin of South Carolina to identify risks and vulnerabilities related to natural hazards and to support the implementation of place-based mitigation and resilience strategies. Catherine is a Certified D60 Floodplain Manager and holds a B.S. in Sustainability Science from Furman University and a Master of Earth and Environmental Management from the University of South Carolina. 

Dennis Fassuliotis

President, South Carolina Emerging Tech Association

He is president of the South Carolina Emerging Tech Association (SCETA) and founder of South Carolina Blockchain Inc., a public-benefit corporation focused on digital rights and technology policy. A 48-year real estate veteran and licensed residential builder, he works at the intersection of infrastructure, economic development, and emerging technology. Since 2017, his work has focused on blockchain, digital assets, artificial intelligence, and policies that protect individual rights while supporting responsible innovation. He helped develop South Carolina’s Blockchain Empowerment Act and leads SCETA’s work on trusted digital infrastructure, digital identity, and the Citizens Digital Bill of Rights.

Jessica Trotman

Town of Columbus, Town Manager & The Capax Group, Owner & Principal

She is a local government executive, practitioner, researcher, and consultant whose work focuses on organizational capacity, implementation, and community resilience. She currently serves as Town Manager for the Town of Columbus, North Carolina, where she leads work spanning organizational development, infrastructure, emergency management, and long-term community resilience. Previously, she served as Assistant Town Manager and Planning Director for the Town of Black Mountain, North Carolina, and was deeply involved in the community’s response to and recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. Through Capax Group, Trotman works with local governments and public organizations to strengthen the capacity needed to translate plans, funding, and resources into sustained results. She is also pursuing doctoral work in Leadership Studies focused on organizational learning, adaptation, and resilience in local government.

Joseph ura

Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Clemson University

He is Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Clemson University. His research explores how Americans understand and engage with their political institutions. Ura’s recent work asks how courts earn and lose public support, how partisan polarization affects national elections, and how changes in public opinion feed back into government and policymaking processes. His scholarship has appeared in leading academic journals and law reviews, including the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, and the George Mason Law Review.

Katie rush

Nursing Faculty at Spartanburg Community College

She is a board-certified Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and nursing faculty member at Spartanburg Community College. Her clinical and academic interests center on holistic, community-based health, mental health, health equity, and improving outcomes for underserved populations.

lamont Christian

Chief Mission Officer of The Big Red Barn Retreat

He is a 33-year combat infantry veteran and the 14th Commandant of the Army Drill Sergeant Academy, as well as the 24th Post Command Sergeant Major of Fort Jackson. Recognized as “America’s Drill Sergeant” in a 2013 Gatorade commercial, he has a distinguished military career marked by combat deployments, leadership positions, and numerous accolades, including inductions into the US Army Drill Sergeant Association and Fort Jackson Halls of Fame. Currently, he continues his service as a public servant, leading PTG Teams at The Big Red Barn Retreat and serving as a Reserve Deputy.

Mayor Sloan Griffin III

Mayor, Town of Blythewood, Interagency Recovery Coordination Reservist, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

He has a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Management (Magna Cum Laude) from Kaplan University and has over 50 professional certifications in emergency management. He is currently employed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Over the past 19 years, Mr. Griffin has responded to thousands of emergency calls, trained hundreds, and deployed over eight times with FEMA. His most notable deployment was to Hurricane Harvey, where he led strategic operational planning for Houston, TX. In September 2016, he was awarded the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control's highest operations award for "Excellence in Leadership and Service" and was honored by Governor Nikki Haley. As a resident of the Town of Blythewood, he has served on the Town Council and the Planning Commission, advocating for intelligent growth and protecting residents' values. Now, as Mayor of Blythewood, he focuses on ensuring the safety and confidence of the community.

Mike Winiski

Director of Applied Research at the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University

He leads the Shi Institute’s Applied Sustainability Research team, bringing a passion for bridging science, community, and environmental action. Under his leadership, the institute supports interdisciplinary research on sustainability, collaborating with campus, local, and regional partners to advance resilience, climate adaptation, and regenerative solutions. Before joining the Shi Institute, Mike built a strong foundation as the Executive Director of Community-Engaged Learning at Furman University, honing skills in project development, stakeholder engagement, and systems-based sustainability education. A dedicated educator and facilitator, he works to empower students and communities in co-creating equitable, evidence-based paths toward a healthier planet.

MARY ROE

Executive Director, Palmetto Trail

adelaide bates

Climate Resilience Manager, The Shi Institute of Sustainable Communities at Furman University

She is the Climate Resilience Manager at Furman University's Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities. In this role, she collaborates with communities in South Carolina's Lowcountry region to build resilience to worsening natural hazards and changing conditions. Bates leads the institute's involvement in the Climate Ready America Southeast Navigator Network, focusing on under-resourced areas designated as Community Disaster Resilience Zones by FEMA. Before joining Furman, she founded and directed the McClellanville Land and Sea Market and worked with the South Carolina Environmental Law Project and the College of Charleston.

Ashby Worley

Coastal Climate Adaptation Director, The Nature Conservancy

She joined The Nature Conservancy as their Coastal Climate Adaptation Director in November 2016, where she works with coastal partners and communities to bring nature-based solutions to help address coastal hazards in order to build a more resilient Georgia Coast. Ashby has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from Mercer University and a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science, specializing in Wetland studies, from Louisiana State University. Ashby has worked as a coastal scientist in the coastal Georgia region for over 15 years, working for both the Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division and the University of Georgia, and serving as the Satilla Riverkeeper. Ashby has been a Certified Floodplain Manager since November 2017.

Chevalo wilsondebriano

9/11 First Responder | Retired FDNY EMS Paramedic | North Tower Collapse Survivor | Resilience & Reinvention Speaker | Author, What You Couldn't See

He is a retired FDNY EMS paramedic, 9/11 first responder, North Tower collapse survivor, entrepreneur, and author of What You Couldn't See. After 9/11, he rebuilt his life in South Carolina and now shares his journey of resilience and reinvention to inspire others. reinvention to encourage others to move beyond fear, embrace second chances, and make the most of the life they have been given.

David thedinga

Founder & Ceo of Tikvah Health & Wellness

He is the Founder and CEO of Tikvah Health and Wellness, a healthcare technology company working to make functional, preventive, and root-cause care more accessible through employer-sponsored healthcare. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and his MBA from Colorado State University. With nearly 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, David brings a unique perspective on how healthcare is financed, how benefits are designed, and where the system often falls short. In 2022, he founded Tikvah to bridge the gap between conventional healthcare and functional and integrative medicine. Today, Tikvah is building infrastructure that connects employers, individuals, practitioners, diagnostics, education, reimbursement pathways, and financing—helping more healthcare dollars flow toward prevention and health transformation. David’s passion for transforming healthcare is deeply personal, shaped by his family’s health experiences and his commitment to living the principles he advocates. He lives in Charleston with his wife, Lauren, and is the father of three children. Faith and family are central to his life and work

Elizabeth Bowers

Advancement & Communications Director, Anne Springs Close Greenway

She brings more than 15 years of experience in public relations, strategic marketing, and fundraising, working with small businesses, corporations, and nonprofit organizations across the Carolinas. Since joining the nonprofit Leroy Springs & Company in 2013, Elizabeth has helped guide marketing communications and fundraising efforts for the Anne Springs Close Greenway during a period of significant growth in visitation, membership, and community engagement. She oversees the Advancement team and its annual fundraising efforts, working with individual donors, corporate partners and community supporters to advance the Greenway’s mission and long-term sustainability. Elizabeth also leads marketing communications for Leroy Springs & Company’s other lines of business, including Leroy Springs Golf, Springmaid Mountain and FLYERS Afterschool. A 2007 graduate of the College of Charleston, Elizabeth lives in Fort Mill with her husband, Chase, and their young sons. She is the immediate past chair of Fort Mill Economic Partners and serves on the Visit York County Board of Commissioners.

hannah Hunter

Associate Consultant, Davey Resource Group, Inc.

She is an Associate Consultant and Project Manager with Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG), bringing nine years of experience in arboriculture, vegetation management, and environmental consulting. As an ISA Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified professional, she specializes in tree preservation, site assessments, environmental compliance, and responsible land development. Hannah works closely with engineers, contractors, municipalities, and property owners to guide projects through planning, permitting, and construction. Her expertise includes tree inventories, arborist reports, Tree Protection Plans, and regulatory compliance, helping balance development needs with environmental stewardship.

Elizabeth Fly

Director of Resilience & Ocean Conservation, The Nature Conservancy

Dr. Liz Fly is the Director of Resilience and Ocean Conservation with The Nature Conservancy South Carolina. Since 2017, Liz has worked to expand TNC’s work on coastal and ocean opportunities for ecosystems and communities. She has helped elevate TNC’s status as a leader in nature-based resilience work across the state, as well as growing TNC’s presence in offshore fisheries and other ocean-related work. She is a member of the Liberty Fellowship class of 2025, a leadership initiative founded to create a network of dynamic and diverse leaders committed to making South Carolina a better place, and an adjunct professor at Clemson University.

Jack Bruce

Director of Wellness for IMA Financial Group

Jack Bruce is the Director of Wellness for IMA Financial Group’s Atlanta office and a member of the company’s national Whole Health Team, where he developed a nature-based wellness toolkit for employers. With over 20 years of experience in human resources, he specializes in workplace wellness, mental health, and the connection between nature and overall well-being. A certified Mental Health First Aid instructor, Jack has trained hundreds of individuals in mental health awareness and support. He is also the founder of WellBirds, an initiative highlighting the physical and mental health benefits of birding and spending time outdoors. Jack actively contributes to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s Nature as Medicine subcommittee and the Nature and Health Alliance. An avid birder and frequent speaker, he leads nature outings and shares how connecting with the outdoors can improve individual well-being, strengthen workplace wellness, and support healthier communities.

Jennifer Bradham

Associate Professor at Wofford College, Environmental Studies

She is an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Co-Coordinator of the Data Science Program at Wofford College. Most broadly, her research seeks to quantify the complex relationships between people and nature. While much of her international work centers on Neotropical plant-animal interactions, she has also developed a local research program grounded in data science and focused on equity. For the past six years, this work has included interdisciplinary assessments of greenspace equity, quantifying the impacts of condemned and abandoned properties, modeling the urban heat island effect, and documenting spatial and temporal variations in air quality.

Joseph Mcgill

Founder, Slave Dwelling Project

Since 2010, McGill has conducted more than 250 overnight stays at approximately 150 historic sites in 26 states and the District of Columbia. What began as an effort to bring attention to extant slave dwellings has grown into a national movement incorporating overnight stays, campfire conversations, living history, storytelling, descendant engagement, and public education. This session introduces the PLACE Framework: Preserve the Place, Listen to Descendants, Acknowledge the Full History, Convene the Community, and Empower Stewardship. Through case studies and lessons learned from the Slave Dwelling Project's work, participants will explore how overlooked historic resources can become catalysts for education, dialogue, preservation, and community connection. The session challenges participants to broaden the meaning of resilience. A resilient community protects not only the places it depends upon, but also the places that preserve its memory-even when that memory is difficult.

Julie Somarriba

Founder, Origin of Well

Origin of Well, based in Chapel Hill, NC, advises on how to plan, build, and reinvent places so they support human health, the natural environment, and long-term investment value. Julie founded it after 22+ years in healthcare design, construction, and development, including leading a roughly $1B medical campus. Origin of Well measures value in three ways: financial performance, human well-being, and the long-term health of a place.

Kaylan Koszela

Director of Resilience, City of Charleston, SC

She serves as the Director of Resilience in the City of Charleston’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability. She’s been working for the City of Charleston since 2021, beginning as Special Projects Manager in the Mayor’s Office, with a primary focus on projects across the city related to resilience and flood adaptation and mitigation. As the Director of Resilience, she works across city Departments to help the city plan, manage, and communicate future impacts of sea level rise. Additionally, she assists the City of Charleston with navigating federal funding and programs for priority projects city-wide to enhance the city’s resilience. She also manages the city’s partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to her time at the city, she spent nearly 14 years working in the United States Congress both in Washington, D.C., as a Legislative Director and, more recently, as the Outreach Director in Charleston for South Carolina’s First Congressional District. She has a background in policy issues related to infrastructure, environmental resources, health care, and foreign affairs.

Margaret Boshek

Senior Coastal Engineer and Practice Builder with Kimley-Horn

She is a Senior Coastal Engineer and Practice Builder with Kimley-Horn focused on resilient shorelines, waterfront infrastructure, and coastal communities. Over more than 20 years, she has supported public and private waterfront projects involving shoreline stabilization, living shorelines, flood resilience, marinas, public access, and historic waterfronts. Her work emphasizes practical, phased solutions that communities can permit, fund, and build while balancing infrastructure performance, environmental considerations, operations, and long-term adaptability

Megan Clark

Interim Planning Director, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments

She has several decades of experience working with various jurisdictions in three states in planning, zoning, and government administration. She currently serves as Interim Planning Director for the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, a regional planning agency, overseeing various projects for housing, transportation, climate, and land use planning. She also leads a team that facilitates the development of comprehensive plans that focus on fostering sustainable communities through revitalization, economic development, and smart land use planning that minimizes demand on and impacts to infrastructure, while protecting the natural environment. She holds a BS in Urban and Regional Planning from Frostburg State University and has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) since 2023.

Mimi draft

Communications Manager at Change Matrix

She specializes in strategy and engagement for the nonprofit and public sectors. With a passion for mission-driven work, she brings over a decade of experience in programming centered on improving public health and community-impact initiatives. Mimi believes that collaboration is the key to driving innovative systems change. From developing targeted outreach campaigns to leading cross-sector partnerships, Mimi prioritizes a people-centered approach to cultivate community and build authentic connections. A proud Gamecock, Mimi holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of South Carolina and an M.S. in Communications from Purdue University. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and playing with her dogs, Sasha and Elliot.

morgan hughey

Associate Professor of Health Sciences & Faculty Fellow at the CofC

Morgan Hughey is an Associate Professor of Health Sciences and Faculty Fellow at the College of Charleston’s Riley Center for Livable Communities. Her research focuses on how built environments—such as parks, green spaces, and active transportation infrastructure—impact physical activity, health, and wellbeing. Dr. Hughey holds a PhD from the University of South Carolina and has published in journals including Health & Place, Preventive Medicine, and Landscape and Urban Planning.

Patrick Lovegrove

D.O. Owner at Lovegrove Health Solutions

He is a board-certified family physician with more than 25 years of experience spanning family medicine, holistic and functional medicine, anti-aging medicine, pain management, aerospace medicine, and emergency medicine. He earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine after receiving a U.S. Air Force medical scholarship and completed his Family Practice Residency through St. Louis University and Scott Air Force Base. His military career included serving as a family physician, emergency room physician, and Flight Surgeon, with assignments across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In 2008, Dr. Lovegrove founded Merge Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, to bring conventional medicine and evidence-based holistic care together. His approach focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of illness through advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, nutrition, hormone optimization, and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Lovegrove continues to care for patients in the Charleston area, where he lives with his wife and three children.

Susan johnson

President & CEO, Nature at Work; President & CEO, South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition

She is President and CEO of Nature at Work and the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition. A recognized leader in workplace wellbeing and nature-based health promotion, she brings together employers, healthcare organizations, universities, conservation partners, and community leaders to advance healthier people, workplaces, and communities. Her work focuses on translating research into practical strategies that connect nature, health, organizational culture, and performance. With decades of experience in health promotion, higher education, and cross-sector collaboration, Dr. Johnson has held leadership and faculty roles in healthcare and academia. She serves in leadership and advisory capacities with organizations advancing conservation, education, sustainability, and community wellbeing across South Carolina, including the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, Lowcountry Land Trust, and SC7.

Tom O'Rourke

SeamonWhiteside, Parks, recreation, and planning perspective

He joined SW+ in 2026, bringing more than 35 years of public-sector leadership experience in parks, recreation, and community development. A nationally recognized parks and recreation consultant, educator, nonprofit executive director, coach, and speaker, Tom served for 18 years as a Park District Executive Director and 9 years as a municipal recreation director. He also served on the Town of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina City Council, where he chaired the finance committee and helped guide policy and investment decisions for a rapidly growing community of more than 100,000 residents. In addition, Tom is also a Professor of Practice in Clemson University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses and collaborates with agencies and communities across the country. Prior to joining SW+, he served as Executive Director of the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission from 2001 to 2019, leading the agency through its largest capital improvement program and significant attendance growth while helping establish one of the nation’s most respected park systems. His combination of executive leadership, public service, and academic experience provides clients with a unique perspective on planning, funding, developing, and managing impactful parks and recreation facilities.

Andrew Predmore

Executive Director at the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University

Dr. Andrew Predmore brings extensive expertise in sustainability and resilience to Furman, with experience spanning private industry and higher education. He most recently served as sustainability manager at Milliken & Company, advancing ESG reporting, integrating life cycle assessment, and developing greenhouse gas reduction strategies. Previously, he served as University Director of Sustainability at Indiana University, overseeing sustainability initiatives across seven campuses and leading efforts in waste reduction, emissions accounting, and climate-focused internships that support communities statewide. Earlier in his career, Andrew was a tenure-track professor of environmental studies at the University of Illinois-Springfield. A Spartanburg native, he is committed to advancing practical, research-based climate solutions.

Brent Kossick

Director of Partnerships, Sustain SC

He is the Director of Partnerships at Sustain SC, where he strengthens collaboration among industry, government, higher education, and nonprofit partners to advance sustainability and resilience across South Carolina. He brings nearly twenty years of experience in environmental conservation, disaster resiliency, sustainability, and workforce development, including leadership roles with Service Year Alliance, the South Carolina Service Commission, SBP Inc., and Texas Conservation Corps.

blake scott

Chair and Associate Professor of International Studies & Co-Founder of The M.A.R.S.H. Project

He is the Chair and Associate Professor of International Studies at the College of Charleston. A historian and writer, his research explores cultural and ecological connections linking the Caribbean and Latin America with the U.S. South. He is the author of Unpacked: A History of Caribbean Tourism (Cornell University Press) and co-editor of Port Cities of the Atlantic World (University of South Carolina Press). Beyond the classroom, Dr. Scott studies the ecology of the Carolina Lowcountry’s salt marshes. He co-founded the M.A.R.S.H. Project, a grassroots initiative dedicated to restoring and protecting coastal ecosystems, connecting local conservation efforts to the Atlantic Flyway’s hemispheric bird migrations.

Bryna Dunn

Vice President & Director of Sustainable Design at Moseley

She is a Vice President and Director of Sustainability Planning at Moseley, where she leads firmwide strategies to advance high-performance and environmentally responsible design. With an academic background in biology and environmental science, she works with multidisciplinary project teams from early planning through construction to integrate energy efficiency, human health, and resilience priorities into project outcomes. A recognized leader in the green building industry, Bryna has helped shape sustainable design standards nationally through leadership roles with the U.S. Green Building Council, including Chair of the Sustainable Sites Technical Advisory Group and Chair of the LEED Steering Committee. She has also led efforts to establish resilient design standards across Moseley’s practice and is the founder and longtime chair of Resilient Outcomes, a national working group focused on advancing resilience in the built environment.

Christine Dinkins

Kenan Professor of Philosophy at Wofford College

She is the Kenan Professor of Philosophy at Wofford College. Her work focuses on qualitative research, climate communication, and community-engaged inquiry. She co-founded The Place Collaborative and has spent the past three years working with an interdisciplinary faculty-student team to understand how Spartanburg County residents experience disruptions to long-standing weather patterns. Her current work brings residents’ experiences into conversation with environmental data to support locally grounded approaches to climate resilience.

Kay self

Executive Director at VisionGreenwood

Kay Self is the Executive Director of VisionGreenwood, a nonprofit focused on economic development, innovation, and community resilience in Greenwood County. Under her leadership, the organization has advanced initiatives supporting broadband access, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community partnerships. Kay also established the Greenwood Resilience & Sustainability Council, uniting leaders across industries to strengthen preparedness and support long-term growth. She serves as Executive in Residence at Lander University and holds advisory roles with several statewide organizations, including Clemson University, SCBIO, and South Carolina’s Broadband Advisory Council. Recognized on SC Biz News’ 2024 Palmetto Power List, Kay brings extensive experience in economic development, sustainability, and community leadership.

Laura Barbas-Rhoden

Professor at Wofford College, Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures; Co-Founder, Place Collaborative

She is an environmental humanist; professor of modern languages, literatures, and cultures; and co-founder of the Place Collaborative at Wofford College. For more than fifteen years, she has conducted bilingual, community-engaged research in Spartanburg on healthcare access for Latino residents, inclusive place-making, publicly accessible green spaces, and resident experiences of disruptions tolong-standing weather patterns, among other topics. Her current work brings residents’ experiences into conversation with environmental data to support locally grounded approaches to well-being and climate resilience. She serves on local steering teams and boards, including Alianza Spartanburg, the Mary Black Foundation, and United Way of the Piedmont.

Mitch ray

Executive Director of The Big Red Barn Retreat

He serves as Executive Director of The Big Red Barn Retreat, a SC nonprofit dedicated to helping military service members, veterans, first responders, and their families transform struggle into strength through Posttraumatic Growth. With more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning business development, strategic partnerships, and nonprofit service, Mitch brings a unique perspective on the relationship between personal well-being, community connection, and organizational resilience. Located on 83 acres in Blythewood, South Carolina, The Big Red Barn Retreat combines nationally recognized Posttraumatic Growth training through its Warrior PATHH and Struggle Well programs with nature-based wellness services, including equine-assisted activities, yoga, meditation, gardening, and healing arts. Mitch is passionate about the role natural environments can play in helping individuals reconnect with themselves, build meaningful relationships, and discover renewed purpose. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Mitch has served in leadership and volunteer roles with organizations including Serve & Connect, the Association of the United States Army, and Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, reflecting his longstanding commitment to strengthening families and communities.

olivia mcAnirlin

Co-Director of Clemson University’s Virtual Reality and Nature Lab and Research Assistant Professor in the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Department

Kevin swain

Wildlife Biologist, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Kevin Swain is a wildlife biologist with the SCDNR South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement (SCORE) Program. Kevin is a Lowcountry native and has also lived in Louisiana, Florida, and the Upstate of SC. After graduating from The Citadel in 2019 with a B.S. in Biology, he started working with the SCDNR Marine Gamefish Tagging Program, where he tagged and recorded data for target gamefish species, primarily redfish and cobia. After finishing a joint MA master’s program through The Citadel and College of Charleston’s Grice Marine Lab, Kevin joined the SCORE Program in January 2021. When he isn’t knee-deep in pluff mud building oyster reefs, Kevin can be found wading flats for tailing redfish, hunting turkeys in the Francis Marion National Forest, or spending time in SC’s natural resources with his Fiancé Josephine.

Susan lunt

Carolina Clear Coordinator with Clemson University Cooperative Extension

She received her ME in Civil Engineering from The University of Virginia and her BA in Geology from Case Western Reserve University. Susan has worked as an educator and an Environmental Engineer. Since 2020, Susan has been a member of the Water Resources Team with Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, currently serving as the Carolina Clear Coordinator

Mayor will Haynie

Mayor of the Town of Mt. Pleasant

He was elected Mayor of Mount Pleasant in November 2017 and re-elected in 2021 and 2025. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Mayor Haynie moved with his family to Mount Pleasant in 1966. Mayor Haynie graduated from The Citadel in 1983 with a degree in Business Administration. He rose to the highest cadet rank, regimental commander, was elected by his classmates as Commander of the Summerall Guards, and received the Palmetto Medal Award. In his professional life, Mayor Haynie has been CEO of several non-profits, including the Lowcountry Open Land Trust and the South Carolina Maritime Foundation. He has strong media experience, including his first book being published in 2001. Mayor Haynie currently owns his own media/marketing/PR advisory firm located in Mount Pleasant.

jared mummert

Senior Data Center Reform Campaign Coordinator, Piedmont Environmental Council, VA

John burton jr

Clinical Therapist, TEDx Speaker and Community & Youth Advocate

He is a resilience strategist, by virtue of being a clinical therapist and TEDx speaker, who studies what happens to human beings, organizations, and communities when the stories, identities, systems, and beliefs they have relied upon are disrupted. A multidisciplinary communicator, storyteller, community advocate, and practitioner, Burton works at the intersection of human behavior, narrative, leadership, meaning, and collective resilience. His work asks a consequential question: When disruption changes the world around us, who helps us make meaning of what comes next? He brings an uncommon ability to translate complex human dynamics into ideas that move people from surviving disruption to imagining, and building, what comes after it.

Josh Patterson

Natural Resource Director, Anne Springs Close Greenway

Mike Haubert

VP Mosaic Color

Mike Haubert has 35 years of experience in color systems and polymer development. Sustainable/Resilient technology has been a passion for most of his career. Mike has been an entrepreneur for 29 years and has a long history of innovation in the plastics and coatings industry. Mike has a passion for youth education, boating, and gardening with his wife, Colleen, of 25 years and their 3 children. Mike lives in Seneca, SC, and Kayaks and fishes when not engaged in product development!

Molly caggiano

Resilience Officer, Charleston County, SC

She serves as the Resilience Officer for Charleston County, directing climate adaptation, hazard mitigation, and inter-agency planning initiatives across the Lowcountry. Over a 12-year career in urban planning and emergency management, she has specialized in building regional resilience networks and translating complex risk data into actionable local policy. Her frontline experience managing natural hazard response and recovery drives her commitment to whole-systems planning and practitioner-led solutions for South Carolina communities. Molly earned her Master’s in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and her B.A. in Public Policy from DePaul University.

Patricia Whitener

Extension Associate, 4-H Natural Resources Program Leader at Clemson University

Rob Baldwin

Executive Director, Clemson University Forest

Tom liebel

Principal and Multifamily Housing Studio Leader at Moseley

He has been involved in integrating sustainable and resilient design principles into a variety of groundbreaking adaptive use and historic preservation projects over the past twenty-five years, with these projects recognized with multiple awards for design, smart growth, sustainable design, and historic preservation. Elevated to Fellowship in both the AIA and USGBC in 2011, Tom is involved in ongoing research exploring the relationship between sustainability and resilience planning, preservation and urban design, with a particular emphasis on the use of urban adaptive use projects to promote neighborhood revitalization and civic engagement.

Introducing our 2026 Speakers