2022-2023 Impact Report

Our Staff

Executive

Faith Rivers James, Executive Director

Renee Elek, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

Development

Nancy Appel, Development Director

Amy Carter, Assistant Director of Development

Kati McArdle, Grants & Donor Communications Manager

Amy Meola, Annual Giving Manager

Conservation Programs

Emily Cedzo, Director of Conservation Programs & Policy

Merrill McGregor, Director of Government Relations

Eddy Moore, Energy Senior Program Director

Ben Garris, Public Utility Analyst

Rachel Hawes, Coastal Stewardship & Engagement Manager

Riley Egger, Land, Water & Wildlife Program Director

Brooke Blosser, Land, Water & Wildlife Project Manager

Robby Maynor, Communities & Transportation Program Director

Emma Berry, Communities & Transportation Project Manager

Jessie White, South Coast Office Director

Grant McClure. South Coast Project Manager

Becky Ryon, North Coast Office Director

Trapper Fowler, North Coast Project Manager

GrowFood Carolina Program

Benton Montgomery, Director of GrowFood Carolina

Becca Watson, Farm Outreach Manager

Rebekah Spaid, Farm Outreach Coordinator

Deirdre Tanner, Supply Chain Manager

Anna Ware, Interim Sales & Marketing Director

Austin Lucas, Sales & Marketing Associate

Alexander Keesler, Sales & Marketing Assistant

Paul Haire, Warehouse Operations Manager

Shawn Parks, Driver & Warehouse Associate

Matt Mays, Driver & Warehouse Associate

Michael Albin, Driver & Warehouse Associate

Ryan Gonsalves, Driver & Warehouse Associate

Communications

Lily Abromeit, Director of Communications & Public Relations

Emmi Palenbaum, Communications Manager

Darienne Jordan, Marketing & Events Coordinator

Leslie Bogstad, CRM Administrator

Administration

Elizabeth Gibson, Human Resources Director

Mike Mistler, Controller

Margaret Stanley, Accountant

Jamie Roschal, Office Administrator

Our Board

Kent Griffin, Board Chair

Steve Zoukis, Board Vice Chair

George W. Gephart, Jr., Secretary

William Brenizer, Treasurer

Dr. Tamara Butler

Andrew Carmines

Ceara Donnelley

Francie Downing

Lee Edwards

Carol Ervin

Shayna Howell

Chris Jaros

Cynthia Kellogg

Timothy P. Maloney

Pierre Manigault

Jeremiah Milbank

Margot T. Rose

Ascanio Serena di Lapigio

Claire Theobald

Our Offices

Headquarters

131 Spring Street

Charleston, SC 29403 843.723.8035

GrowFood Carolina

1814 Harmon Street

Charleston, SC 29405 843.727.0091

Columbia Field Office

1122 Lady Street Suite 705

Columbia, SC 29201

North Coast Field Office

301 Allied Drive

Coastal Science Center #160E

Conway, SC 29526 843.349.4089

South Coast Field Office

1212 King Street Beaufort, SC 29902 843.522.1800

Staff and board as of December 2023

Cover photo by Gately Williams Design by Braxton Crim

Friends,

During my first year as Executive Director, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to meet the incredible Dr. Jane Goodall and facilitate a conversation with her at a soldout Gaillard Center crowd, as she reflected on her awe-inspiring relationship with chimpanzees, the work of the Jane Goodall Institute, and how she continues to hold on to hope.

Dr. Goodall’s messages were clear: our earth is a sanctuary, and we need to treat it that way. Putting policies and procedures in place to take care of our home and prioritize the health of our communities is vital.

But how? It nearly always feels daunting. Coming together to find solutions and acting on them as a community can ease the burden. That night, Dr. Goodall encouraged us all to flip the common sentiment, “think globally, act locally” around. Instead, think locally, which will give us the courage to act globally. In essence: start small, start with your community, and those efforts reverberate globally.

The Conservation League’s work is rooted in advocacy and connecting people to actions that

conserve water, protect land and wildlife, promote clean energy, and help local farmers thrive. Our work has always been local. We work with partner organizations, residents, businesses, local and state governments, and elected officials to protect and promote the health of the natural and built environment; to anticipate threats; and to respond in a manner that maintains the integrity of the coastal region for decades to come.

Last fiscal year, alongside our tremendous partners, we celebrated the launch of the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative’s Conservation Plan, doubled our capacity to support farmers across the state by moving into a larger GrowFood Carolina warehouse, advocated for the Venus Flytrap to be designated as the state’s carnivorous plant, and worked with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission to update the real estate disclosure form.

While these are major accomplishments, we know there is more work to be done. We’ll continue to do more to protect the integrity of St. Helena Island, work with the community on a new vision for the Union Pier redevelopment, advocate

for the protection of Lewis Ocean Bay from multiple threats, continue calling for South Carolina power companies to transition from coal to renewable energy, and much more.

The work we do at the Coastal Conservation League has never been more globally urgent or locally important. As we face the environmental threats associated with climate change, sea level rise, population growth and development, this work is critical. Unmanaged, the threats could lead to wildlife habitat and farmland loss, water and natural resource issues, and a diminished quality of life that would destroy the coast as we know it today.

Every day, thanks to your support, we continue to think and act locally, making a difference for our coast and the world.

In solidarity,

Faith Rivers James

UNION PIER: Community members pack the SC Ports Authority’s passenger terminal during the June 7, 2023 Planning Commission meeting. This process has served as a great example of the difference we can make when we come together to advocate for our communities and our coast.

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23,000+

1,696

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Your Gifts Make a Difference

Redevelopment of Union Pier

After extensive community engagement—co-led by our staff— and tremendous public pressure, the Ports Authority and city leaders announced they would stop the plan for an ill-advised development and form a steering committee to create a new plan for the redevelopment of Charleston’s Union Pier.

Protect St. Helena

Beaufort County Council approved recommended language to the Cultural Protection Overlay, clarifying its original purpose and intent in prohibiting golf courses, gated communities, and resort development on St. Helena Island.

Beaufort County Planning Commission, Beaufort County Council’s Community Services and Land Use Committee, and Beaufort County Council all considered a request to remove the Pine Island property from the Overlay’s boundaries. Ultimately, all voted to deny the rezoning request, keeping Pine Island within the protective boundary.

Salt Marsh Conservation

The South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative’s Conservation Plan launched after three years of work by more than 300 coalition members spanning North Carolina to Florida. It focuses on enhancing the long-term abundance, health and resilience of the 1 million acres of salt marsh within the South Atlantic states. With funding from The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Conservation League served on the coalition.

Protecting Lewis Ocean Bay

Staff continued to advocate for the protection of Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve—one of the state’s last remaining intact Carolina Bays and home to endangered plants, birds, reptiles, and amphibians—from

threats like a nearby sand mine and a proposed hospital adjacent to the preserve, which would cause the preserve to cease to exist as the refuge it is today.

Venus Fly Traps

We advocated for the Venus Flytrap to be designated as the state’s carnivorous plant, and a law officially making it so was signed in May. The Venus Flytrap is native only to the Carolinas and though once found all the way to Charleston, the remaining populations in the state can only be found in Horry County.

Greater Disclosure for Property Owners

After many years of partnership with the Conservation League and the Southern Environmental Law Center, the South Carolina Real Estate Commission updated the real estate disclosure form with changes that require much more comprehensive information be provided to people looking to purchase property in areas vulnerable to flooding and erosion. These changes will provide much more transparency for consumers, and essential education for property owners.

Enabling Renewable Energy

The Conservation League passed legislation in 2020 to establish a legislative study committee to evaluate the potential benefits for South Carolina’s participation in a regional wholesale electricity market. Last year, staff served on an advisory committee over several months to review the market reform committee’s report and recommendations, which were turned into a final study. The study indicates that South Carolina could save $362 million per year by joining a regional electricity market. It also endorses two of our priorities: coal plant securitization and a procurement process that allows all technologies to bid to meet utility needs.

GrowFood Carolina’s New Home

A successful campaign to raise $6 million for a new GrowFood warehouse led to the opening of a 12,000 sq ft building on 1814 Harmon Street. GrowFood continues to partner with more than 120 farmers and producers who collectively harvest on 7,200 acres.

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