Emily Cedzo

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Emily joined the Coastal Conservation League in 2016. She is a proud North Carolina native who enjoys finding solutions to complex challenges at the intersection of communities and the environment. She obtained her Master of Environmental Management and certificate in Community-Based Environmental Management from Duke University’s Nicholas School. Prior to that, Emily received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Emily began her career with the Conservation League by…

Riley Egger

Friday, December 8, 2017

A native Texan, Riley came to the Conservation League in 2020 and has a focus on water quality and wildlife issues. She previously worked at the Southern Environmental Law Center where she focused on regional clean water campaigns. Before relocating to the Lowcountry, she earned a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Animal Behavior at the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work you can find her falling down on rollerblades, brewing kombucha, or…

Renee Elek

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Renee was born and raised in Southern California and recently moved to South Carolina with her husband and two young sons. Renee’s background evolved with the ever-changing economy as she went from obtaining her Associate’s Degree in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design, and working in architectural firms, to working in law firms, to a quality control manufacturing company, to a local municipality.  Renee and her husband wanted to move closer to family and have a…

Trapper Fowler

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Trapper is a Horry County native. He holds a B.S. in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from Colorado State University as well as an M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Clemson University. Working as a field biologist instilled a great appreciation for the less charismatic species such as reptiles, amphibians, and carnivorous plants, as well as the management tools used to maintain their habitat like prescribed fire. Trapper hopes to use his field-based…

Elizabeth Gibson

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Elizabeth comes to the league with a tenured career in human resources in the restaurant and healthcare fields. She has lived in many places (including other countries) but has always loved the beach and is excited to call Charleston her home. She holds 2 bachelor’s degrees from Duquesne University in International Business and Spanish and earned her Master’s in Business Administration from Kansas State University. In her free time, she loves spending time with…

Paul Haire

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Paul is originally from upstate South Carolina but has called Charleston home since 2001. His deep passion for connecting people and food led him to work in the food and beverage industry and grocery retail for over 20 years before joining the team at GrowFood Carolina. In his spare time, Paul enjoys listening to and playing music, exploring new recipes and restaurants, and spending time with his family.

Rachel Hawes

Friday, December 1, 2017

Rachel is a Charleston native with her B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from the University of Georgia and her M.S. in Environmental Studies from the College of Charleston. After spending some time overseas, Rachel came home and put to work her passion for conserving South Carolina’s marine resources. Prior to joining the Conservation League, Rachel worked for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as well as for The Nature Conservancy in South…

Darienne Jordan

Friday, December 1, 2017

A recent Charleston area transplant, Darienne has lived in a variety of places, including the West and in the United Kingdom. She received her BFA in Media Production from the University of Cincinnati, her M. Ed in Curriculum & Instruction from University of Nevada – Las Vegas, and her M.A. in Film & Television from Falmouth University. She has been a marketing professional for 7 years and enjoys bringing multimedia into brand awareness…

Alexander Keesler

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Alex joined the GrowFood Carolina team in 2023 as the Sales and Marketing Assistant after graduating college with goals to work in conservation. He quickly resonated with GrowFood’s ambition to sustain communities by bringing in local produce and donating to food banks and school programs. Alex has familial roots in Italy, where he has visited often and been inspired firsthand by values of cultivating local, healthy, and holistic food. His role at GrowFood shares…

Austin Lucas

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Austin is originally from Hagerstown, Maryland. He attended Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina. After a decade in the Outer Banks and working with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms in Hawaii, he moved to Charleston to further his culinary aspirations. Austin is excited to continue learning more about Lowcountry produce and striving to get more local food on local menus. When he’s not working, Austin…

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