Meet the Staff
Kristin Williams
Executive Director
Kristin Williams assumed the role of Executive Director of the Beaufort County Open Land Trust in January 2018. Kristin brings with her 10 years of experience as the Executive Director of a conservation organization, Friends of the Environment located in Abaco, Bahamas. Kristin has a track record of success in program development, partnership expansion and campaign management. A native of the Bahamas, Kristin attended the College of Charleston where she met her husband, Charleston native Lloyd Williams IV. The couple lives in Beaufort with their 2 children Gray and Ford.
Kate Schaefer
Director of Land Protection
Kate Schaefer joined the Beaufort County Open Land Trust in December 2020. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Conservation Biology from Clemson University and master’s degree from Kenan-Flagler business school at UNC-Chapel Hill. Previously, she worked in environmental advocacy and policy at the state and local level and taught high school science in the public school system.
At OLT, Kate works with landowners, partners, and local and state government programs to identify strategic land protection opportunities in the region. Currently, OLT manages Beaufort County’s Rural and Critical Lands program and Kate serves as the staff liaison.
She lives in Beaufort with her husband Paul and two children.
Haley Romeo
Office Manager
Haley Romeo joined the Open Land Trust in January 2020 as the Office Manager. Prior to assuming this position she worked in an administrative position in the medical field and as an event planner. She grew up in Charleston, and thought she would be there her whole life. Lowcountry living has always been important to her. When her husband, Joseph, was promoted and relocated to Beaufort in 2017 it was a slight adjustment but now, she couldn’t be happier. They live in Beaufort with their daughter, Brooklyn.
Caylor Romines
Director of Stewardship
Caylor Romines joined the Beaufort County Open Land Trust in June 2019 as the Director of Stewardship. Caylor brings with him experience working for the Federal Government as well as the Private Sector in Land, Wildlife and Fisheries Management. He will oversee the OLT’s land stewardship program, including the management of OLT’s fee-owned conservation properties. Caylor is originally from East Tennessee, where he attended the University of Tennessee receiving a Bachelor’s and a Master of Science Degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science where he also met his wife, Brett. Caylor and Brett have been in the Lowcountry of South Carolina since September 2017 and live in Beaufort.
