BOard & Staff |
Staff
Bailey Slice Parker is a Midlands Master Naturalist, an active member of the Columbia Audubon Society, and serves on the boards of Friends of Congaree Swamp and Canoeing for Kids. Her interest in the natural world led her to leave a 17-year career as a church music director to become the Executive Director of the Gills Creek Watershed Association (Jan., 2023). Whether working or volunteering, she spends as much time as possible outdoors, birding, biking, botanizing, studying water quality, and engaging others to do the same. She is passionate about conservation and making the world a better place for wildlife and humans. 
Rebecca Milford has worked in administration since college and has a passion for non-profit work. She enjoys helping organizations grow by helping them with their advertising, social media, and addressing details that allow them run more efficiently and smoothly. Rebecca completed the Midlands Master Naturalist program and loves being outdoors, whether hiking, paddling, or biking, also playing “tour guide” to those who visit and live in South Carolina.
Frannie Melia is an Undergraduate student studying Geological Sciences and Environmental Sciences at the University of South Carolina. Her love for nature and aquatic environments drew her to the Water Quality Intern position at the Gills Creek Watershed Association. She adores the outdoors and is an active member of Sustainable Carolina, the Carolina Water Club, and the Mountaineering and White-Water club at USC. She hopes to work in natural resource management and help make the world a better place.
Board of Directors Gwen Geidel, Ph.D., JD - President Gwen Geidel is a Research Professor in the School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment at the University of South Carolina and is the former Associate Dean of the School of the Environment and a former Director of the Environment and Sustainability Program at USC. She has lived in the watershed for many years and has served as president and secretary of the Quinine Hill Lake Association in the Gills Creek headwaters and currently serves on the GCWA Technical Committee. She has also served for many years as the CMCoG Environmental Planning Advisory Committee related to water and waste water issues. She has studied water quality issues during her entire career from both the scientific and legal perspective. Second Term Expires: 2025 Sally Huguley, Ph.D. - Secretary A retired Richland District Two teacher, Sally Huguley is a National Board certified educator, who has served on Richland Two’s strategic planning committee and on several statewide committees developing school testing and academic standards. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked as a Statehouse reporter, a research assistant for the S.C. House of Representatives, and as speechwriter for former Gov. Dick Riley. Sally has lived in the Gills Creek Watershed since 1980. Second Term Expires: 2024 Mark Robertson - Treasurer Mark recently retired as Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy, and is widely regarded as both a conservationist and expert in non-profit management. Background that will be particularly relevant to the Gills Creek Watershed Association includes experience in fundraising and non-profit finances, as well as in the use of an array of land protection devices. Mark lives on Carey Lake. Second Term Expires: 2026 Frank Fusco Frank Fusco is retired from the State of South Carolina, having served as the Executive Director of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board, Director of Research for the SC House Ways and Means Committee, Director of Research for the SC Joint Bond Review Committee, and various other positions including Principal Auditor with the SC Legislative Audit Council, and Federal Grant Auditor with the SC Governor’s Office. Prior to serving with the State of South Carolina he was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant from the US Army Signal Corps serving in 1971 and 1972. Frank presently serves as Treasurer of the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. He also serves on the State Board overseeing South Carolina’s Baldrige program, the SC Quality Forum, and has enjoyed serving as a state examiner for many years. His hobby is playing guitar and writing songs with his band “The Thunder Pigs.” First Term Expires: 2024 Gray Ladd - Education Committee Co-Chair Gray Ladd is a manager at Conquer Cancer, the philanthropic affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. His experience has included key operations, finance, and legal/regulatory compliance functions, with more than 15 years of project and program management in the health care and education sectors. He received a BS in Finance and Management from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, while also completing a Master of Public Administration and graduate course work in international relations. A Columbia native, Gray lives in the watershed with his wife, son, and daughter. He believes that Gills Creek is a valuable and unique resource for all in the Midlands. First Term Expires: 2024 Scott Elliott, Esq. - Past President Scott Elliott has more than 40 years of experience practicing law in the state of South Carolina, where he has been licensed since 1977. He began his legal career as a prosecutor for the South Carolina Attorney General's Office before going into private practice in 1982. In 1996, he founded Elliott & Elliott, P.A. with his wife who has since retired. Second Term Expires: 2024 Guillermo Espinosa Guillermo Espinosa is a Principal Environmental Planner for Central Midlands Council of Governments (CMCOG) and Development Director for Alianza Latina of the Midlands. Guillermo is a certified planner that utilizes his academic background in environmental science, spatial analysis, and cartography to support CMCOG's various planning activities and programs. Guillermo serves in various other boards promoting programs that address food insecurity and access to healthy food, particularly within the Hispanic community. First Term Expires: 2024 Sam Agee Sam Agee has lived in the Gills Creek Watershed area for almost 40 years and is currently serving on the Board of the Lake Katharine Homeowners Association. He is a semi-retired hotel operator and developer and is currently the Treasurer of the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association. Sam has served two terms on the GCWA Board and has been a member of the Executive Committee as Secretary and chaired the Membership and Wine for Water subcommittees. First Term Expires: 2024 Tom Kohlsaat - Technical Committee Chair Tom Kohlsaat is retired from the SC Department of Natural Resources, where he established and managed the SC Heritage Trust land protection program and the Nongame and Endangered Species management program. He was instrumental in establishing the Congaree Land Trust and remains active in a number of local organizations. Second Term Expires: 2025 Andrew Melanson Andrew Melanson is an energy analyst with Siemens Industries, and is an Accredited Commercial Energy Manager (SC designation) and a Certified Energy Manager (national designation.) He has lived and worked in Columbia for the past 20 years, and three years ago moved to a home above the Gill’s Creek flood plain near the Timberlane properties. He served on the steering committee for the Timberlane project and also is a member of the technical committee. First Term Expires: 2025 Rob Robertson Rob Robertson has served on the Board in the past, and created the Wine for Water fundraiser. He has continued to provide inspiration, energy—and wine!—for the event ever since. He has lived in the Gills Creek Watershed most of his life. Currently, Rob and his family live very close to the Creek in King's Grant. He is the SC State Manager for Brittany Sales Company, a beverage brokerage based in Miami, FL. He especially enjoys time in the watershed while kayaking and fishing First Term Expires: 2025 Lauren Megill Milton Lauren Megill Milton began working as a staff attorney for the South Carolina Environmental Law Project in 2019. She is one of three SCELP employees based in the Columbia area. Lauren graduated from Anderson University and earned her J.D. (Juris Doctor) from Charleston School of Law. She represented plaintiffs in construction litigation at Lucey Law Firm before joining the SCELP team. She loves the outdoors, which inspired her to work for SCELP, and is happiest hiking, kayaking, or climbing - and watching Gamecock football! First Term Expires: 2026 Emily Jones Emily Jones is a 20-year resident of the Watershed with a long-standing interest in landscape restoration and community design. She served on the GCWA Board from 2008-2014, including a term as President from 2010-2014. She is a registered landscape architect with 30 years experience in various roles of public and private practice. Since 2012 she has been employed with the University of South Carolina overseeing a wide range of construction projects. First Term Expires: 2026 E. Wrenn Barrett, PE Wrenn Barrett, PE, is a Vice President at JMT Consulting Engineers and is the Area Manager for the Midlands and Upstate regions of South Carolina, offering engineering services in project management, transportation roadway and bridge design, subsurface utility engineering, utility coordination, and construction management. Wrenn has 35 plus years’ experience in civil engineering and has worked in both the public and private sectors. Wrenn has lived in the Gills Creek Watershed (on the pond in Kaminer Station) since 1994 and has a vested interest in the current and future health of the watershed. First Term Expires: 2026 Frank E. Robinson, III Frank E. Robinson, III is a Senior Vice President Investments,Senior Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors. Previously, he was with BB&T and has been a financial advisor since 1995. Frank enjoys the outdoors whether he’s fly fishing in a river or salt water, hunting with his dogs for upland game and spending time with his family. He is married to Katherine Robinson, and they have 2 grown children, Kate and Frank, IV. First Term Expires: 2026 |
Bailey Slice Parker, Executive Director
Rebecca Milford, Membership and Outreach Coordinator
Frannie Melia, Water Quality Intern