We are thrilled to welcome these new members:
- Laura Hunt: Cleveland SC
- Haley Denison: Clemson SC
- Charles Smith: Greenville SC
- Aaron Hamilton: Mauldin SC
We would also like to extend our thanks to Diane and Joe Maniscalco, the co-chairs of our new Hospitality Subcommittee. Thank you, thank you, for your willingness to serve!
We are also welcoming a new Board Member this month, Daren Jakeman, our new Update Grants Committee Chair. A little about Daren:
As a native of Salt Lake City, I spent a great deal of my youth hiking, camping, fishing and skiing in the mountains. I attended University of California, Berkeley, and since then, I’ve lived and worked in California, Washington and most recently, Illinois. My wife (of 18 years) and I moved to Greenville in May of 2021, and we feel like we’ve been on vacation ever since.
My professional career has largely been in banking and financial services; my most recent work focused on banking compliance and regulation. Over the years, I’ve held roles at the Fed, Washing Mutual Bank, GE Capital and Wells Fargo. I’m presently between jobs, which is a new experience for me.
I can earnestly say that at heart, I’m a naturalist and conservationist. It saddens me every time I see a tree cut down or a patch of land razed for some type of development. While I donate money as I can to organizations dedicated to protecting nature, animals and the environment, I’ve not yet actively participated in such an organization from the inside.
I believe the SCNPS, its mission and values, align with my own views and beliefs regarding preserving and restoring our native habitats and protecting our environment. As a member of the board, and in the role of overseeing the grants and fundraising program, I am excited to contribute to those efforts.
From all of us in the Upstate Chapter: We’re so happy you are here. Let’s continue to spread the news about the SCNPS!