Upcoming Events

Jacquie Berger has been the Executive Director of Lowcountry Local First since May 2021, bringing to the role a passion for community-driven initiatives and economic systems that are local, sustainable, and equitable. Her focus has been on expanding community wealth and wellbeing through innovative projects and by nurturing connections between local business owners. During her time at the helm, Berger has spearheaded the organization’s Good Growth initiative, marking a significant expansion in services to train and support traditionally overlooked, minority and low-income entrepreneurs.

Recognized by Charleston Business Magazine as one for Charleston’s 50 most influential people in 2022, Berger has 25 years of experience leading nonprofit programs and organizations. She completed a BA in Environmental Science at Barnard College, Columbia University in New York, NY and an MBA from the Yale School of Management in New Haven, CT where she focused on nonprofit management.

George H. McDaniel grew up in Summerville and has spent most of his life here in the Lowcountry. He received his B.A. in history from Davidson College and, after a decade playing and performing as a professional musician, he returned to school and earned his M.A. at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi.

His graduate work focused on African American history and public history, particularly interpreting that history at historic sites. While in Oxford, George managed two museums—the L.Q.C. Lamar House, the home of the 19th century Mississippi politician and Supreme Court Justice; and the Burns-Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center, which was housed in the first African American church established in Oxford after the Civil War in 1867.

He also served on the University of Mississippi’s Slavery Working Group which researched and interpreted the history of slavery at the university; and he was a founding member of L.O.C.A.L (Lafayette Oxford Community Archive Library) which worked to bring university resources to bear to preserve the local history of the African American community.

He was the lead historian for Audubon South Carolina’s successful project to have Francis Beidler Forest designated as a site in the National Park Service’s “National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom” program. Following his time at Audubon, he worked as an historian for South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. In that capacity, he was involved in numerous projects dealing with 18th century and Revolutionary Era Charleston.

As director of interpretation at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, George is excited to bring his years of experience working at historic sites and museums to the table in order to interpret the whole history of this storied site along the banks of the Ashley River.

Our annual Oyster Roast is to have fun and raise money for local scholarships.
Join us for this all-you-can-eat and drink event.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 8th, 2025 from 4pm-8pm at Wannamaker County Park.

Service Above Self

Scott Swartzwelter joined Elbit Systems of America in July 2024, where he assumed responsibility as the Senior Director of Operations and Site Lead for the Charleston Ground Combat Vehicle Assembly and Integration Center of Excellence.

Prior to his assignment at Elbit America, Mr. Swartzwelter held a variety of program management and operations positions within the defense industry at Defense Engineering Services, SAIC, UEC Electronics, and GDLS/Force Protection Industries Inc. Prior to joining Force Protection, Mr. Swartzwelter was employed as both a Product Engineer and Program Manager in the automotive industry with Kautex (a Textron company) and then TI Automotive.

In addition to his experience in the private sector, Mr. Swartzwelter retired from the US Army as a Major in the Corps of Engineers, having served 9 years active duty as a combat engineer and 11 years in the Army Reserve as a facility engineer. During his military career he served in a variety of capacities, including as a company commander in the 82d Airborne Division and platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division. He has been deployed to Panama, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri – Rolla (now Missouri University of Science & Technology).