Sustainability Leadership Initiative

Sustainability Leadership Initiative Hero Image

Program Overview

In partnership with Sustain SC and the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities, the Sustainability Leadership Initiative (SLI) is an inventive program fostering leadership skills in forward-thinking individuals.

Hosted statewide, SLI develops leaders who can navigate unprecedented changes in South Carolina’s human and natural communities, while supporting economic prosperity and resilience.

The eight-month program accepts 24 participants or fellows annually. Through cross-boundary dialogue, active learning, and community projects, SLI Fellows gain skills for positive change. Fellows are selected from a diverse pool, supporting a balance among private, public and NGO representatives.

Sessions cover sustainability aspects such as conservation, human well-being, ethics, manufacturing, and agribusiness. SLI also forms a robust interdisciplinary network of South Carolina leaders collaborating for a sustainable future.

Fellows will emerge with enhanced skills to be drivers of positive change within their organizations and communities.

2025 Fellows (shown above):

  • Erica Call, Siemens
  • Jennifer Druce, SC Department of Commerce
  • Christiane Farrell, Town of Mt. Pleasant
  • Marilyn Hemingway, Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce
  • Hanes Hilliard, TD Synnex
  • Kirsten Lacktstrom, SC Office of Resilience
  • Yuse Lajiminmuhip, AGRU America, Inc.
  • Cassandra LaValley, Sustain Coastal at Coastal Carolina University
  • Samantha Maich, Milliken & Co.
  • Katie McKain, City of Charleston
  • Cindy McMahan, Heritage Landcare
  • Brandon Money, AFL Global
  • Samuel Monn, Halton MIE USA, Inc.
  • Benjamin Moore, Bubble Paper
  • Frank Murray, Columbia Metropolitan Airport
  • Benjamen Newhouse, Bon Secours Mercy Health
  • Justin Park, Open Space Institute
  • Aaron Polkey, Palmetto Project
  • Joseph Razum, Trane Technologies
  • Alexis Scipio, The Thrive Point
  • Jessica Siron, Scout Motors
  • Tracy Smoak, BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC
  • Travis Spainhour, Milliken Advisors
  • Leigh Tondini, Duke Energy
  • Tameria Warren, Samsung Electronics Home Appliances America

Read the press release here!

Questions?

For more info about SLI, please complete this form and we’ll be in touch soon!

Meet SLI Graduate Caroline James

“Fifteen or even 10 years ago, being a ‘sustainability professional’ was uncommon, but today, as more companies and governments realize they need to take sustainability seriously, more of us hold these positions. Since the field is so rapidly evolving and there is so much uncharted territory, perhaps one of the most impactful things a sustainability professional can have is a community of people who spend their days thinking about sustainability issues. SLI gives me exactly this. With the other SLI Fellows, I’ve been able to think about both the global systemic challenges as well as the on-the-ground hurdles we face and brainstorm tangible ways we can address them.”

Caroline DeLoach, Director of Sustainability at Atlantic Packaging & SLI Class of 2023