Theme: Sustainability

Focus is to make high school students (9th - 12th grades) aware of various aspects of sustainability. One speaker will address an overview of sustainability in South Carolina as it relates to a sustainable world, one will address sustainable eating, one will address sustainable water systems, and one will address teaching sustainability.

Pinewood Preparatory School
Pinewood Preparatory School
1114 Orangeburg Road
Summerville, South Carolina, 29483
United States

Chuck Stjern

Teacher specializing in human geography, looking specifically at populations of various cultures.

Kimberly Counts

Kimberly Counts is a Water Resources Extension Agent, working for Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service and the Carolina Clear Program. Kim co-coordinates the Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium (ACSEC), working alongside the Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester County governments, eight municipalities, and a variety of educational partners including non-profit organizations, universities, and state and federal agencies. As co-coordinator, Kim facilitates the efforts of the ACSEC in working towards the goal of implementing a regional, watershed-scale stormwater runoff education strategy in the Tri-County area. Kim has experience in promoting the use of native plants, rainwater harvesting, rain garden design and installation, stormwater pond management strategies and general stewardship practices for protecting water quality. Prior to her time with Clemson, Kim worked for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as the stewardship biologist for the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve. She has earned her Master of Science degree from the College of Charleston's Master of Science in Environmental Studies Program, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Presbyterian College. Kim also serves on the local boards of both the South Carolina Native Plants Society and the Surfrider Foundation.

Renata Dos Santos

The Ultimate Sweet Limer: Chef Renata Dos Santos 
originally hails from the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. She has also lived in Canada, England and Holland, while working in some form or another in either the culinary or hospitality field. As a result, she has brought an international perspective and global experience to the Low Country. Renata is a Culinary Institute of Charleston graduate. She has won several culinary awards, including the 2009 Laura Hewitt Culinary Legend Award and the SC Governor’s Conference Tourism Student Award. Her cakes have been featured in “Offbeat Bride” and “Weddings Unveiled” magazines. Her recent endeavors have been mentioned in "Rachael Ray Magazine," "Charleston Magazine," "Discover Charleston" and "Skirt"...to name a few. She is a member of Women, Chefs and Restaurateurs, American Culinary Federation and Slow Food USA: Charleston Convivia. As a personal chef and artisan baker, Renata focuses on the individual needs of her clients by personalizing nutrition plans using the Farm to Table philosophy. Her Johns Island location has given her clients the opportunity to experience fresh, organic, local produce at affordable prices. As a culinary and hospitality consultant, Renata has assisted several Low Country organizations, such as Deewees Island Association, MUSC’s Medical Research Committee, The Dragon Boat Association of Charleston, Courageous Kidz, Body Architects and Sun Dog Cat Moon. During her spare time, Renata works as a licensed veterinary technician and manager for Sun Dog Cat Moon, Johns Island, incorporating her culinary talents as a food therapist and gourmet pet food chef with a focus on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. After seeing the success of "non-traditional restaurants" located in homes in China, Chef Dos Santos spent the next three years envisioning and creating the groundwork for her latest endeavor. Wanting to create a top class dining experience within a family kitchen table environment, she launched Charleston's newest underground adventure...LIME.

Ed Wilmot

Ed Wilmot founded Sustainable Greenville in 2008, which is an online network designed to connect people to the organizations, businesses and events that focus on improving quality of life through sustainable action in the Upstate of South carolina. The business directories which have been available for the last five years, have just undergone expansion to become the Sustainable Upstate Network (SUN). The network looks to become the central hub for all things sustainable in the Upstate offering networking meetings, classes, workshops and buy local campaigns. For the last 25 years Ed has been actively involved with several environmental organizations across the country including a long standing involvement with the Sierra Club. Recently Ed joined the board of directors for Keep Greenville County Beautiful. For six years Ed served on the board of directors for the Greenville Organic Foods Organization (and served as Board Chair for 4 years). He has also sat on the Agriculture Working Group for the American Sustainable Business Council. Local and sustainable foods are a driving force in his life and mutch of his attention is around developing a stronger, more resilient food shed for the Upstate of South Carolina. Additional volunteer work is centered with the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Slow Food Upstate. Having also served on the Executive Committee of the Life Coaching Institute, he is working on creating models and support systems to help sustainable business owners develop a clear understanding of purpose and vision in their bottom line.