About Us
Board of Commissioners
Board of Commissioners
Board of Commissioners
Beaufort Soil & Water Conservation District is made up of a volunteer board of five commissioners, two appointed by the state and three elected in the general election. Three associate commissioners volunteer their experience and expertise to the board of commissioners.
The Commissioners
Board of Commissioners
Board of Commissioners
Alan A. Ulmer, Jr. Chairperson (A)
Claude E. McLeod, Jr. Vice-Chairperson (A)
Denise M. Parsick, Secretary/Treasurer (E)
Luke Inabinett, Commissioner (E)
Danni Lesesne, Commissioner (E)
Art Holland, Associate
Carol Murphy, Associate
Howard Heckrotte, Associate
District Employees
Board of Commissioners
District Employees
Leslie Meola, District Manager
Hilary Gallop, Education Coordinator
Debby Way, Education Specialist
John O'Connell, Volunteer Education Specialist
Meet the District Employees
Leslie Meola
Born and raised in central New York. Lived in New Hampshire for 28 years where she and her husband raised their family. Relocated to Beaufort in 2016. She loves the beach (especially finding shark teeth) and entertaining house guests. Through the Conservation District she values sharing the importance of conservation.
Hilary Gallop
I’m a St. Helena native who grew up on the back of my dad’s shrimp boat. I graduated from Winthrop University with a degree in Environmental Studies, and then went to work at the Nature Center on Fripp Island and volunteer with their turtle patrol. The next several years were spent snorkeling, hiking, sailing, and exploring Hawai’i, the Keys, and parts of the east coast before settling back into Beaufort. Conservation education is so important because if we want to maintain the amazing lifestyle we have here, and preserve it for future generations, we have to help educate each other and our community on how to do that.
Debby Way
Bachelor of Arts, University of Texas in San Antonio
Master Naturalist
CE Courses from the University of Georgia
Member of:
Master Naturalist Association
Audubon
Native Plant Society
Camellia Garden Club
Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina
John O'Connell
A Beaufort Native
Beaufort High School Class of 1973
Founding Member of Burton Fire District (1973)
25 yrs US Army (retired) 1973 - 1998
Science Teacher, Port Royal Elementary School, 15 yrs, 2006 DHEC Champions of the Environment Award
Teacher, 3rd grade, Bridges Preparatory School, 5yrs
Certified State-Wide Master Naturalist