Alex Shuford
President
Alex loves the Lowcountry and has long had an interest in conservation. He is a retired Executive Vice-President with South State Bank and brings experience in financial management, marketing and non-profit organization to the Trust. He is a former Board member of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and is currently on the Board of Nemours Wildlife Foundation where he serves as Treasurer. He is also a past president of the University of South Carolina Alumni Association and a past member of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees. Alex has two grown sons whose families all enjoy the beautiful Lowcountry and coastal South Carolina.
Evy Trask
Vice Chair
Evy is deeply committed to giving back to the Beaufort community. With extensive experience in marketing and communications, she excels at connecting people and building relationships. As an advisor for GenPals, Evy fosters meaningful connections between students and elderly adults through social engagements and at-home service projects. She has also served on the Board of Directors at Riverview Charter School. Evy holds a B.A. in Communications from Wake Forest University.
Edward Dukes
Treasurer
Edward is a lifelong resident of Beaufort and the owner and Broker-In-Charge of Lowcountry Real Estate. Edward stays active in the community and has served on a variety of civic and nonprofit boards including the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, Historic Review Board, The YMCA, Beaufort Academy, the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation, The Historic Beaufort Foundation, The Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail board and as served as President of the Beaufort County Board of Realtors twice. When not working, he does his best to get outside for boating, golf, biking, kayaking, paddle boarding or anything on the water.
Bridget Norton
Secretary
Bridget is a dedicated attorney and partner at the local law firm, Brown and Norton, LLC where she focuses on Family and Divorce law. Alongside her professional pursuits, Bridget is actively involved in her community, participating in various local initiatives including Riverview Charter School and Women’s United. Bridget, together with her husband Julian, resides on Lady’s Island with their two sons, Grant and Dylan.
Colden R. Battey, Jr.
Colden has been a partner in the law firm of Harvey & Battey since 1963. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Battey served as chairman of Beaufort County Council for 8 years; he is a past president of the Beaufort County Bar Association, past director of the South Carolina Bar Association and of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Battey is a director of the Nemours Wildlife Foundation and served as Chairman of the Foundation from 2008 to 2020.
Paula Crowley
Paula has been a homeowner in Beaufort for nearly 20 years. Throughout this time, she has deeply immersed herself in the community, embracing the natural beauty and resources of the Lowcountry. Her interest in the environment led her to earn her South Carolina Master Naturalist certification, during which she learned about the Open Land Trust. With over 40 years of real estate experience, Paula co-founded Anchor Health Properties, where she continues to serve as Chair Emeritus. She has also served on various private, public company and not for profit boards. Paula holds a BA from Middlebury College, a Master of City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Vernita F. Dore
A native of Beaufort, Vernita has dedicated her life to serving others and her professional career to improving the quality of life in rural communities. Vernita is a retired Deputy Under Secretary of Rural Development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she was responsible for overseeing Operations and Management, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Civil Rights, and forty-seven State directors across the nation. Ms. Dore earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. She has received additional professional development from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, the Federal Executive Institute, and USDA Graduate School. Ms. Dore is a fellow of the Diversity Leadership Institute at Furman University.
Connie Horton
Connie was born and raised in the Lowcountry, she grew up in Ridgeland and spent all her summers on the Chechessee River – swimming, crabbing, fishing and boating. After graduating from the College of Charleston she returned home and worked as an advocate for children and families at both private non-profits and public schools in Beaufort and Jasper counties. She currently co-owns a seasonal greenery business, Blossoms. She severs on the steering committee for Keep Chelsea Rural and is the former co-chair and founding member of Keep Chechessee Rural Alliance. She also serves on the Jasper County Grahamville Cemetery Wreaths Across America Committee.
Matt Phifer
Matt Phifer, a Beaufort native, grew up on St. Helena Island. His childhood was spent with adventures along the creeks, rivers, and woods of the ACE Basin and Port Royal Sound, fostering a profound appreciation for the outdoors that continues to shape his life today. A passionate outdoorsman, Matt is dedicated to protecting the sprawling landscapes of the Lowcountry.
After earning his degree from Presbyterian College, Matt returned to his roots in Beaufort and eventually founded Phifer Contracting Services. Matt and his wife Katie reside on Lady’s Island with their two children, Riley and George.
Micky Scott
Micky, a native of Batesburg and currently living in Allendale, is the president of Collum’s Lumber Products, a fourth-generation family business. He has held leadership roles in the forest industry, including serving as chair of the Forestry Association of South Carolina, where he earned a distinguished service award in 2019. Micky served 16 years on the S.C. Forestry Commission and has been involved with the S.C. Wildlife Federation and Palmetto AgriBusiness Council. Micky holds a B.S. in Forest Management from Clemson University.
In 2022, Micky worked with the Open Land Trust to protect his 1,018-acre property, which conserves important wildlife habitat and safeguards the water quality of the Combahee River. Known as River Swamp, the land connects to over 12,000 acres of protected areas, creating 15 miles of protected river frontage along the upper Combahee River. Micky and his family’s commitment to conservation is rooted in their love for the outdoors and their passion for protecting the natural landscapes that have shaped their lives.
Al Stokes
Al retired from the SCDNR as Manager of the Waddell Maricultural Research and Development Center, where he spent more than 40 years developing spawning and production techniques for several commercial and recreationally important finfish and marine shrimp species. He is currently employed as a shrimp production consultant for Zeigler Bros Inc., an international aquaculture feeds company. Al is a member of the May River Watershed Action Plan Advisory Committee and a Deputy State Law Enforcement Officer. He is a volunteer for the Port Royal Sound Maritime Center and the SCDNR Victoria Bluff Heritage Trust Preserve and the Victoria Bluff Marine Reserve.
Charley Webb
Charley is a lifelong resident of Beaufort and is passionate about his family, giving back to his community, and sharing the benefits of spending time outdoors. Following a successful career as a partner at Kinghorn Insurance, Charley has served on the boards of Lowcountry Land Trust, the Center for Birds of Prey, and as a advisory committee member of The Beaufort Fund of Coastal Community Foundation.