Lowcountry Local First

Jamee Haley

Executive Director

Recklessly optimistic that the world can be a better place. She leads the organization with fierce determination to show the value our homegrown businesses bring to our community and quality of life. People connector, big idea thinker and new idea junkie.

Favorite quote (not just because of the name) Buckminster Fuller; "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." Jamee also currently serves City of Charleston’s Health and Wellness Advisory Committee, College of Charleston’s Sustainability Literacy Institute’s Advisory Board and Together SC's Lowcountry Membership Chair.

jamee@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

@JameeHaley

Lauren Gellatly

Director of Operations

Lauren loves to say "every dollar we spend shapes our community," and brings her background in city planning and non-profit management to lead LLF's advocacy and operations. After earning a B.A. from the College of Charleston for Preservation & Community Planning, and a M.S. from Pratt Institute in City & Regional Planning, she completed a fellowship in Urban Planning at the Pratt Center for Community Development. In 2013, Lauren found a use for her 20+ year boycott of Walmart and joined the team at Lowcountry Local First as the Community Development Director, transitioning in 2018 to become the Director of Operations. Lauren has served on the Charleston Regional Development Alliance Economic Scorecard Task Force, and currently serves on the ReThink Folly Road Steering Committee, as well as the James Island Neighborhood Council.

lauren@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

@CityReimagined

Jordan Amaker

Director of Marketing and Communications

Jordan came to be the lead story-wrangler and cheerleader for the organization after 7 years in the full-service marketing agency world. When not touting the local scene, you may find her on her bike, with her hands in the dirt, or listening to her husband perform spoken word. Jordan served on the board of directors for Charleston Moves from 2011 - 2017, previously served on the board of the Charleston American Marketing Association and chaired the 2013 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

jordan@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

Raquel Padgett

Good Enterprises Program Director

Raquel is a graduate of SC State University, with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, PR and business consulting. She has worked with large entities such as Charleston County Government, Charleston County Parks & Recreation, the USC and MUSC cementing her skills in fundraising, marketing, budgeting, and event management. In her role as Good Enterprises Program Director, Raquel combines her love for community with her extensive experience in business development to help existing and future entrepreneurs achieve economic sustainability through business ownership. As the owner of a business consulting firm, The Peacock Company, Raquel knows first-hand the amount of perseverance and grit it takes to run a successful business. She is a passionate advocate for the minority business community.

Raquel@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

C.T. Burton

Membership & Partnership Manager

C.T. is a firecracker visionary with a people-loving personality that lights up any room. She focused on hospitality and event management while studying at the College of Charleston, and was the recipient of the School of Business’ Outstanding Student of the Year Excel Award in 2011.
She has found great success in the event planning and management world in Charleston, through events like the Jewish Community Center’s KidsFair and the City of Charleston’s First Day Fest. C.T. also served as Market Manager for the Charleston Black Expo and as an event organizer for the 2017 Taste of Black Charleston Chef event that exceeded 1,300 attendees.
C.T. continues to connect local businesses here at Lowcountry Local First. As a small business owner, she understands the importance of relationships and having access to resources in this community.

ct@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

Steve Fletcher

Community Manager

Steve's personal and professional adventures have brought him to destinations as far-flung as Florence, Italy and to places a little closer to home like Florence, South Carolina. A New Jerseyan by birth, Steve received his BA at the College of William and Mary. He's worked in the private sector as a PR account executive and content strategist, but he's also been a brewery tour guide, a door-to-door fundraiser, a bartender, and a traveling musician. In 2019, Steve graduated from the College of Charleston's Master of Public Administration Program, where he cultivated a deep appreciation for the power and purpose of social entrepreneurship and nonprofit management. When he's not thinking about ways to better steward and support local businesses, you'll find Steve and his wife McKayla walking their dog, Dell, or grabbing some sushi from Aji, one of their favorite James Island eateries.

steve@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

Eileen Peters

Communications Coordinator

Originally from Chicago, IL and a recent graduate of the College of Charleston, Eileen has a great love for cities of all shapes and sizes. Eileen's work as an intern for Lowcountry Local First in 2018 helped foster her deep appreciation for the Lowcountry community and all things local. With a B.A. in anthropology and communication as well as a background in various nonprofit groups throughout Chicago and New York City, Eileen brings with her a passion for storytelling and marketing. Aside from spending her time appreciating all the beaches and local spots that Charleston has to offer, Eileen is never one to say no to a Riverdogs game or concert.

eileen@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

Maud Bentley

Brand Manager

Never one to shy away from bright colors or bold patterns, Maud is the creative crusader at Lowcountry Local First where she brings visual awareness to the local movement in Charleston. Some might call her attention to detail and design fanatical —we call it brilliant. Maud has been conquering the design world since 2013 when she launched her own freelance graphic design business after earning a degree in Art History from the University of Virginia and mastering a multitude of various design courses.

maud@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

Kaylee Schuh

Accountant

Kaylee brings her love of numbers and organization to Lowcountry Local First with a background in nonprofit and small business bookkeeping. When not working hard to further the Local cause, she is completing her bachelors degree in accounting and finding time to enjoy Charleston’s beaches and booming food scene. Her life motto? “If you aren’t happy with your life, change things until you are. If you can’t change something, change your attitude about it.” Kaylee is the Joint Base Charleston nominee for the 2018 Air Force Association Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year Award, recognizing her extensive work as a Key Spouse during two major emergency evacuations, her insistence upon helping to care for the squadron's fur children, and the work that she does for the entire community.

kaylee@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

Carrie Larson

Good Farming Coordinator

Carrie comes to Lowcountry Local First with experience in farming, hospitality, marketing, and nonprofit management. A long-time admirer of the Growing New Farmers Program, Carrie saw the opportunity to support new farmers and emerging food system leaders as the perfect recipe of passion and experience. Having served as the Chair of Slow Food Charleston since 2015, working with and for the farming and food communities of the Lowcountry is central to Carrie’s beliefs and thought processes. Both on the farm and in the office, Carrie brings practical experience and a passion for good food to the table. If not at work, she can be found chasing adventure with her son, tending to her garden, or entertaining friends and family with too much food and cheesy dance moves.

gnf@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

@slowfoodchas