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 joined the SEWE staff full-time in April 2007. As President & CEO, John manages and supervises the day-to-day operations of the organization. He spends his free time in the outdoors and lives in downtown Charleston with his wife, Davy, young daughter, Caroline, and border collie, Bonnie.Contact John Powell
Meagan Trotta
Marketing and Sales Director
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.Contact Meagan Trotta
Hannah Shannon
Artist & VIP Coordinator
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 works with all Artists, executes Special Events and facilities Donations for SEWE. Hannah also works on our education programs and spearheads the Kids for Conservation Competition and SC Junior Duck Stamp Coordination. Hannah, her husband Ryan, and their dog, Jango, live on Johns Island with a baby girl on the way.Contact Hannah Shannon
Julia Baker
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. Julia grew up attending SEWE. She studied at the College of Charleston and majored in Arts Management. Julia manages and oversees SEWE's year-round gallery space, Gallery by SEWE. Julia spends her free time with her Boykin, Indy, or at any local live music venue.Contact Julia Baker
Parker Walters
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
Gabby Herrera
Gabby is a proud Texas native that graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor degree in Communications. She spent her time at Texas A&M serving as marketing director of Chi Omega and gaining a minor in event planning. After graduating she moved back home to Dallas to pursue her passion of Interior Design. Gabby's overwhelming love for the outdoors brought her out to Charleston and ultimately led her to pursue a career in the outdoor industry. She now serves as the Exhibition Coordinator and assists in the organization of all exhibitors at SEWE. Gabby lives in downtown Charleston and can be found spending her weekends watching college football or fly fishing.Contact Gabby Herrera
Mary Frances Page
Mary Frances is a Summerville native, living in downtown Charleston. After studying Fashion Merchandising at University of South Carolina she worked various retail roles including buying and logistics; concentrating her interest in fashion, art, and building strong relationships. As a low-country native she cares deeply about rural preservation and finds most of her free time spent volunteering at a local organic farm; practicing horticulture and her horsemanship skills. Her creative experience combined with her love for conservation and SC wildlife led her to pursue non-profits with a supported mission; SEWE was the obvious choice. She now represents the organizations VIP communications and strives to uphold SEWE’s mission; making conservation possible and accessible while celebrating a collective love for the outdoors.Contact Mary Frances Page
Neil C. Robinson, Jr., Chairman
Maynard Nexsen, Senior Counsel
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, III
Shareholder, Board of Directors, Maynard Nexsen
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
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
James A. Huggins
Retired, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, President and CEO
Summerville, South Carolina
Dr. S. Lloyd Newberry
Retired, Dean of Faculty with the University System of Georgia, land developer, author and conservationist
Townsend, Georgia
* deceased