Tell us a little about yourself.

I love being outside and immersing myself in nature. I enjoy sharing that love with my friends and family. We go camping, kayaking, and hiking mostly. I am most happiest when I am outside, whether it is yard work or just sipping a cold drink in the shade. I have a wonderful 25-year-old son who has inherited my love of animals and is such a big help when I go out of town.

 

Where do you work, and what’s your role? What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I am the director and teacher at the Joe Adair Center. I love teaching the students of Laurens County. Sharing my animals and taking them on nature walks is so rewarding for me. When I see these kids out in the community, they instantly know who I am and tell me that coming to the center was the best field trip ever! I get to teach them about science, our environment, and hopefully plant the seed for a future eco-warrior, or at the least a nature enthusiast.

 

How long have you been an Ambassador, and what’s a personal or professional “win” you’ve experienced through your Chamber involvement?

I am in my second year as an Ambassador. I think this experience is wonderful and has helped me to make great connections in the community. I would say one of the professional wins I have experienced through my involvement with the chamber would be gaining new partners and volunteers for events at the center. A personal win would be making new friends.

 

What’s one local business or hidden gem in Laurens County you think more people should discover?

I think the Joe Adair Center is one, but that’s not fair to self-promote. I think the trails that we have in Laurens County total is a hidden gem that I would like to see more people discover and support.

 

If you could instantly learn a new skill or hobby, what would it be and why?

This may sound a little odd, but I would love to instantly learn how to be a mason. I love the creations I have seen people do with rocks, bricks, and mortar. I think that it would be really cool to have the ability to build something lasting out of rocks. I also think it would be a meditative or therapeutic activity.