Board

Originally from Indiana Penny moved to South Carolina in 1986 to take a position with the Charleston County School District where she worked as a Ph.D. level school psychologist, working with Special Education and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, for 31 years. She continues to consult with the University of South Carolina working to expand social emotional learning curricula and mental health services in public schools for children across 14 states in the Southeast United States. Penny lives in Awendaw, South Carolina with husband Brantley Arnau who is a family practice physician and avid naturalist. When not working Penny and Brantley are camping in the ACE Basin, sailing or hiking.

“I grew up on a farm in Indiana and long ago realized how important connecting with nature is and more so now in this fast paced world we live in”.

W. Andrew (Andy) Gowder, Jr. is a founder and partner in the Charleston, South Carolina law firm, Austen & Gowder, LLC. His 35-year practice has evolved to one focused on land use, property, land conservation and historic preservation, state and local government law and benefit and nonprofit corporate formation, governance and counsel. He is an editor and writer of books and articles on topics relating to sustainable development, the greening of local government, the financing of public infrastructure, the ownership of property, the land use entitlement process, heir’s property, and protection of the environment and historic preservation, and he teaches and lectures frequently on those topics.
His practice and professional work have led him to achieve the professional designation of CRE (Counselor of Real Estate), an AV-Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available rating for lawyers in that system, and he has for many years been named a Best Lawyer in America in Land Use.
Andy serves on several nonprofit boards in the Charleston region and, as a significant part of his practice, is general counsel for many local, regional, and national nonprofits and closely held corporations.
Andy is a Charleston native and attended public schools in Charleston County and graduated from Middleton High School. He earned his J.D., cum laude, in 1986 from Wake Forest University School of Law, and his B.A., summa cum laude, in 1983 from Wofford College, where he was Phi Beta Kappa.
He and his wife, Mendy, live in I’On, in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and their son, Grey, is an independent documentary filmmaker based in Charleston.

Ken and his wife Cindy raised their two daughters in Texas and then moved to the Lowcountry where the Isle of Palms has been their full time home for the last five years. Ken worked as an oil and gas exploration geophysicist for 35 years. His avocations have always been outdoor related, whether fishing, paddling or hiking, he enjoys remote places and being part of nature.
Ken is a certified as a South Carolina Statewide Master Naturalist, and has been an active volunteer environmental educator with Friends of Coastal South Carolina. He has developed programming for the local Boy Scouts, the Charleston Master Naturalist Association and the Bulls Bay Nature Festival. He currently serves as President of the Lowcountry Paddlers Club which was founded by Charleston County Parks and Recreation over 30 years ago and finds paddlng a great way to get an intimate look at nature.
“I have truly been inspired by the cause of environmental education. Conservation starts with awareness”.

David is a native of North Carolina and the son of parents who loved “The Great Indoors.”
Through running and photography, he started developing an appreciation of nature and active, outdoor activities. As a young adult in the 1980’s, environmental disasters – both physical and political – compelled him to join the Sierra Club and follow environmental issues.
Moving to the Lowcountry in 1988 and being exposed to its wildlife and natural beauty made his love of the Earth and all its intricate diversity and patterns complete.
After 30 years of journalism, David left the field to dedicate the rest of his life to conservation endeavors.

Bill Jarrard, CPA, offers a breadth of public accounting and corporate financial experience, including experience with a Big Four accounting firm and working with Fortune 500 level corporations. As Treasurer of the board of Friends of Coastal South Carolina he offers expertise in the areas of nonprofit accounting and tax. He earned his Master of Professional Accountancy from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of South Carolina. He has also served on the finance committee for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and received the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award in recognition of individuals under the age of 40 who have made outstanding accomplishments in, and contributions to, the Charleston business community.

“As an avid boater and camper, I strongly believe in the preservation of our natural resources, and being involved in Friends of Coastal South Carolina affords me the opportunity to assist with this conservation so these resources can be enjoyed by future generations.”

George Geer is a native South Carolinian. He is a graduate of Kingstree High School, Wofford College, and University of South Carolina Law School. He served in the United States Army for two years. George was President of Andrews Bank and Trust Company until its merger with Citizens and Southern National Bank. He then practiced law with Hinds, Cowan, Strange and Geer in Georgetown, SC. George brings with him a wealth of experience in education and the nonprofit world. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the Georgetown School District, Chairman of the Belle W. Baruch Foundation, President of Georgetown County United Way, Chairman of Black River District of Boy Scouts of America, on the executive committee of AMI Kids and on the Georgetown County Development Commission. While serving on the Coastal Community Foundation Board George became impressed by the SEWEE Association and its programs. Later as a board member of the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation he became more informed about the work of Friends of Coastal South Carolina and its expansion to serve Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. George is an avid cyclist and he and his wife Betsey enjoy living on the edge of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in McClellanville SC.

“The greatest risk to humanity today is our exploitation and abuse of earth and its fauna and flora. Exposing young people to the natural world and all its wonders; and developing in them an understanding of the necessity of conservation is essential to the survival of humanity.”