Staff & Board Members
Get to know the passionate people working behind the scenes at SEWE.
SEWE Team
John Powell
President and CEO
A native of Greenville, North Carolina, and a graduate of Davidson College, John lives in downtown Charleston and joined the SEWE staff full-time in April 2007. As Executive Director, John oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization. He works with SEWE corporate partners, and oversees the coordination of all SEWE exhibitors and layouts for all SEWE venues. John lives downtown with his wife, Davy, and their dog.Contact John Powell
Meagan Trotta
Marketing and Sales Director
The daughter of an Army Colonel, Meagan spent her childhood between Vicenza, Italy, and various states in the U.S. before moving to Wilmington, North Carolina in 2008. Meagan graduated from The College of Charleston Honors College with a B.S. degree in Marketing. She joined the SEWE team in 2020 to assist with special projects and events, and now serves as the marketing and sales director and brings a wealth of design and technological support to the team.Contact Meagan Trotta
Hannah Shannon
Artist Coordinator and VIP Liason
Hannah is a South Carolina native and College of Charleston graduate with a degree in Early Childhood Education. While attending CofC Hannah served as the Panhellenic Board President; it was in this role that she realized her passion for event coordination and love for creating strong relationships in the Lowcountry community. After graduation, she worked as a corporate planner and wedding coordinator in Charleston for several years. Hannah now serves as the Artist Coordinator and VIP Liaison for SEWE where she also spearheads the Kids for Conservation Competition and SC Junior Duck Stamp Coordination. Hannah, her husband Ryan, and their dog, Jango, live on Johns Island.Contact Hannah Shannon
Julia Baker
Special Events
Julia is a native of South Carolina and spent her childhood on her family farm where she grew her love of the outdoors and all that SC has to offer. She studied at the College of Charleston and majored in Arts Management while interning with SEWE her senior year in 2021. Julia grew up going to SEWE and especially loved attending during her years at COFC. She continues her roll in special events, exhibitors, and day-to-day operations around the office. Julia spends her free time with her Boykin, Indy, or at any local live music venue.Contact Julia Baker
Parker Walters
Special Events
A native to Charleston, Parker has grown up attending SEWE, with her dad as a board member and her mother previously in a marketing position. A graduate of the University of Mississippi, Parker puts her entrepreneurship major to use helping with day to day operations, merchandise and special events. Parker enjoys spending her time on the boat with friends and family.Contact Parker Walters
Neil C. Robinson, Jr., Chairman
Nexsen Pruet, LLC, Attorney
Charleston, South Carolina
Tommy Baker
Owner and President, Baker Motor Company
Charleston, South Carolina
George J. Bullwinkel, Jr.
SCANA Energy, Retired President and COO
Columbia, South Carolina
George J. Bullwinkel, Jr.
Member, Nexsen Pruet, LLC
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Harry J. Butler, Jr.
Butler Properties, Chairman
Atlanta, Georgia
Senator Paul Campbell
Goose Creek, South Carolina
Mark C. Fava
The Boeing Company
Charleston, South Carolina
Ronnie M. Givens
Summerville, South Carolina
Thomas A. Hall
President, Halls Management Group
Charleston, South Carolina
Helen T. Hill
Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Chief Executive Officer
Charleston, South Carolina
Leonard L. Hutchison, III
SVP and SC Region President at First National Bank
Charleston, South Carolina
Richard Jackson
C.R. Jackson Co., CEO
Columbia, South Carolina
David L. Morgan
Litton Entertainment
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Kenneth T. Seeger
Charleston, South Carolina
O.L. Thompson
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
John F. Walters
M.D., FACEP
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Claudius E. Watts, IV
Charleston, South Carolina
Members Emeriti
Bill Hall*
Hall Management Group
Charleston, South Carolina
Jack Hanna
Retired, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, conservationist, author, and television personality
Columbus, Ohio
Dr. S. Lloyd Newberry
Retired, Dean of Faculty with the University System of Georgia, land developer, author and conservationist
Townsend, Georgia
* deceased
