Lowcountry Land Trust is excited to announce updates to its Board of Trustees. These dedicated community members oversee the strategic direction of Lowcountry Land Trust, ensuring that our mission of protecting beloved Lowcountry landscapes and waterways is upheld and furthered. Trustees’ guidance has contributed to the over 163,000 acres protected by the organization.
As we entered Fiscal Year 2026 on July 1, Lowcountry Land Trust welcomed six new board members and said a fond farewell to two trustees who reached the end of their tenure. We sincerely thank Dr. Walter D. “Bo” Blessing, Jr., and Dr. W. Mac Baughman, both now retired from the Board of Trustees. We are so grateful for their many contributions and dedication to conservation in the Lowcountry.
We are honored to announce the following new Trustees: Jarrett Branham, Suzette L. Bussey, Dr. Travis Hayes Folk, David Hay, Henry “Dickie” Schweers, and Johnson Stevens. These community members have a wide range of experience, expertise, and passion for leading Lowcountry Land Trust to continued success and growth. Read more about each new Trustee below.
Jarrett Branham, President & CEO – Branham Group, Inc.
Jarrett Branham is the President and CEO of Branham Group, Inc., an engineering and construction (EPC) firm specializing in clean and sustainable energy projects in the commercial and industrial sectors. His strategic vision prioritizes energy efficiency and on-site clean energy solutions for industrial clients.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Jarrett is actively involved in the community. He serves on the advisory board for Global Charleston and is a board member for Share Our Suzy Lowcountry, a nonprofit organization that supports breast cancer patients in Charleston County. He is also a 2023 Fellow graduate of the Sustainability Leadership Institute (SLI) through Furman University and Sustain SC, highlighting his commitment to sustainability.
A lifelong resident of South Carolina, Jarrett resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Tara, and their two daughters. In his leisure time, he enjoys activities such as fishing, hunting, and spending time outdoors.
Suzette L. Bussey, Founder & Lead Designer – Norton + Hodges
Suzette L. Bussey is an entrepreneur and businesswoman who has owned, operated, and sold several diverse businesses. She represented South Carolina commerce at the Trade Winds Conference in South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria. She is a published author and an alumna of the study abroad program in Trujillo at the College of Charleston, which she credits with her passion for international business.
As founder and lead designer for Norton and Hodges, she started the business as a passion project, which turned into her full-time work, after a magical trip to Africa. Conservation values form the foundation of her business as well as her volunteer and fundraising efforts. She donates time and products to help raise money annually for many different nonprofits that promote the conservation of land, animals, and craftsmanship, both locally and internationally.
She is a survivor of Triple Negative Breast Cancer and fundraises for The Hollings Cancer Center Mobile Health Unit and many organizations focused on women’s health. Suzette successfully advocated for and received a new surgery to improve quality of life post-masectomies, and was instrumental in advocating for insurance companies to cover the surgery. She is an active member of Namibia’s Rhino Momma Project Board and has a special passion for supporting Lowcountry Land Trust’s annual Sporting Clays Shoot. She resides in Charleston with her husband, Ben.
Dr. Travis Hayes Folk, Wildlife Biologist & Co-Owner – Folk Land Management, Inc.
Travis was born in Beaufort, SC and raised in Green Pond. He grew up in the ACE Basin hunting, fishing, and participating in land management activities on family property. He earned a BS from the Warnell School of Forest Resources and his MS and PhD from the School of Forestry and Wildlife Science at Auburn University. His research addressed population responses to habitat changes for wood ducks and northern bobwhites, respectively.
After graduate school, Travis returned to the Lowcountry and joined Folk Land Management, which focuses on upland and wetland habitat management, wetland permitting for historic rice fields, prescribed fire, timber management, and other topics of management consideration. He has an impressive history of working with Lowcountry landowners, and is passionate about protecting habitat at a landscape scale.
Travis has served on the board of The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina and is currently on the board of the Charleston Museum and the Coastal Community Foundation’s Lowcountry Conservation Loan Fund, and he participates in the ACE Basin Task Force. Travis splits his time between Mt. Pleasant and Green Pond with his wife, Sarah, and two daughters.
David Hay, Retired President & Co-Founder – Hay Tire Company
David M. Hay is a resident of Charleston, SC, and the retired president and co-founder of Hay Tire Company, Inc. He graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1981 and is a member of Kappa Alpha. He served on the College of Charleston’s Alumni Association as President, as well as the College’s Foundation Board.
David served as Governor Mark Sandford’s appointee to the Board of Trustees from July 2010 to March 2011 and was then elected to the Board of Trustees in 2013, where he continues to serve as a trustee. David served as Chairman of the Board of
Trustees from 2017-2024. David is also a former Charleston Metro Chambers’ Executive Committee member and a past chairman for the Commission of Pilotage for the State of South Carolina.
David enjoys fishing, boating, and hunting. He is married to Mariana Ramsay Hay, owner of Croghan’s Jewel Box, and they have three children, Kathleen, Mariana, and Mikell.
Henry “Dickie” Schweers, Retired – Santee Cooper and Charleston County Council
Dickie was born in Charleston and has lived his wholelife in Charleston County, currently residing near McClellanville. He is married to Mary Askins Schweers, and they have two children, Diedrich and Morgan. Dickie has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BS in Agricultural Engineering, both from Clemson University, as well as an MBA from The Citadel.
Dickie spent his entire professional engineering career with Santee Cooper and retired in 2020 with 35 years of service. He was elected to the Charleston County Council in 2007 and retired in 2022 after serving four terms. Prior to his election to County Council, Dickie served as an appointee on the initial Charleston County Greenbelt Advisory Board and helped develop the original program. As an avid outdoorsman, Dickie believes that the protection of rural landscapes is critical for maintaining our Lowcountry quality of life.
Johnson Stevens, President – Stevens Towing Company
Johnson Stevens is the President and Chairman of the Board of Stevens Towing, a fourth-generation, family-owned marine transportation and ship repair company based in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Founded in 1913, Stevens Towing now operates globally. Under Johnson’s leadership, Stevens Towing has doubled its fleet size, tripled its sales, created over 125 new jobs, and significantly reduced debt—all while remaining privately owned and operated.
A native of Yonges Island, Johnson grew up at Lems Bluff Plantation, a 500-acre family property on the Toogoodoo River, owned by the Stevens family since 1915. His deep connection to the landscapes and waterways of the Lowcountry shaped his lifelong passion for conservation and preservation. He has worked to instill the same values in his children, ensuring they grow up with an appreciation for the region’s natural beauty and historic significance. That dedication to preservation also led to the restoration of Stevens Towing’s historic office building, which was honored with a Carolopolis Award for excellence in preservation.
Johnson is active in several business and maritime organizations, including serving on the Maritime Association Board (2017–2020), as a member of the Trident CEO Council (2022–present), and as a longtime member of the Propeller Club. He is also involved in various local civic organizations and clubs. Johnson and his wife, Dillard Salmons, were married in 2015 and are the proud parents of two children, Hamer and Johnsie.
