Lowcountry Local First Announces New Executive Director

Press Release

Lowcountry Local First (LLF), a nonprofit organization that cultivates an economy anchored in local ownership, welcomes Jacquie Berger as its new Executive Director, effective May 17, 2021. After founding Executive Director, Jamee Haley, departed the organization at the end of 2020, a 4-month long nationwide search was led by outside search firm Aspen Leadership Group and a Search Committee composed of members of the Board of Directors and community members.

“When starting this process, it was important to find a leader who would continue the progress and adhere to the same innovative standards our trailblazing founder, Jamee Haley, has for the past 15 years,” said Jeff Plotner, owner of Brackish and a current board member and chair of the search committee. “This nationwide search led us to someone in our own backyard: Jacquie Berger. Jacquie’s commitment to the mission, passion for local business and experience as a leader set her apart from the other candidates. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have her lead LLF into our next exciting phase of growth.”

Jacquie brings more than 20 years of nonprofit management, fundraising, planning and inclusive practices to the organization. For the last four years, she served as Director of Development for the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. Prior to her time at the Museum, Jacquie served eight years as Executive Director for Just Food, a nonprofit in New York City that shifts power, health, and wealth of historically and economically marginalized communities through advocacy and work in food and environmental justice, and sustainable agriculture. Her previous work displays her ability to balance dedication to mission, the need for bold entrepreneurial initiatives, and the application of sound nonprofit management practices. Jacquie received her Master of Business Administration from Yale’s School of Management in New Haven, Connecticut.

“I’m so honored to have been selected to follow in Jamee’s footsteps and thrilled to be joining LLF as their new Executive Director,” said Jacquie. “I’m especially inspired and excited about LLF’s expanding emphasis on economic equity and look forward to working together with their outstanding staff and board of directors to nurture emerging entrepreneurs, increase access to resources, and generally lift up the creative, innovative, and conscientious local business leaders who are shaping our community.”

Terri Herubin of Greystar and current Board Chair for the organization shared, “The board and staff look forward to working with Jacquie to further the mission of LLF to support an equitable, sustainable and resilient operating environment for emerging and existing local businesses. Jacquie’s deep experience leading nonprofit groups will be immediately impactful in how our organization delivers the resources, programming, networking, mentorship and more to local businesses of all shapes and sizes across the Lowcountry.”

More information about the staff and board of directors for Lowcountry Local First can be found at lowcountrylocalfirst.org/about-us/.

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