Seven Upstate residents graduate from 2025 Sustainability Leadership Initiative Fellows program
Sustain SC, in partnership with the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University, announced June 5 that seven Upstate residents graduated as part of the fourth class of Sustainability Leadership Initiative Fellows.
The Upstate graduates include:
- Ben Moore, Bubble Paper
- Brandon Money, AFL
- Hanes Hilliard, TD SYNNEX
- Kristen Austin Gunter, Sustain SC
- Sam Monn, Halton
- Samantha Maich, Milliken & Co.
- Tracy Smoak, BMW Manufacturing
The other graduates are:
- Aaron Polkey, Palmetto Project
- Alexis Scipio, The Thrive Point
- Cassie LaValley, Coastal Carolina University
- Christianne Farrell, Town of Mount Pleasant
- Cindy McMahan, Heritage Landcare
- Frank Murray, Columbia Metropolitan Airport
- Jennifer Druce, SC Department of Commerce
- Jessica Siron, Scout Motors
- Joe Razum, Trane Technologies
- Justin Park, Open Space Institute
- Kirsten Lackstrom, SC Office of Resilience
- Leigh Tondini, Duke Energy
- Marilyn Hemingway, Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce
- Tameria Warren
- Travis Spainhour, Milliken Advisors
- Yuse Lajiminmuhip, ARGU America
During the program, the group engaged in experiences across the state that explored the intersection of business, policy and natural resources. They also built a network of leaders committed to sustainability.
“It has been a joy working with this group of Fellows,” said Andrew Predmore, executive director of the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University. “Their passion for collaboration and systems thinking reflects exactly why SLI was created — to empower leaders who are ready to tackle South Carolina’s sustainability challenges with both insight and integrity.”
Applications for the 2025-2026 class open July 9. For more information, visit sustainsouthcarolina.org/sli.
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