Patty Kennedy, Executive Director
Mrs. Kennedy joins the Open Land Trust from the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, where she served as their Executive Director for the past nine years. While at the Conservancy, she led the Environmental Team working to develop, implement and manage programs relating to the environment, land stewardship and protection. Patty began her career working in the environmental field in 1991. She spent the last ten years consulting with regulatory agencies, corporations and policy makers on environmental issues. Prior to joining Palmetto Bluff, Mrs. Kennedy was the South Coast Director of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, a non-profit organization working to secure the natural and cultural resources of the Lowcountry. Mrs. Kennedy has also served on the Board of Trustees for the Beaufort County Open Land Trust for the last seven years.

contact: patty@openlandtrust.com | w. 842-521-2175  |  c. 843-247-7152

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Garrett Budds, Conservation Director
Garrett’s passion for the environment took him from the Lowcountry to the Northern Rockies, where he spent over a decade living and working in Montana. He earned a MS in Environmental Studies and a JD, both from the University of Montana. He worked for the National Wildlife Federation and the Clark Fork Coalition before returning to South Carolina and joining the Coastal Conservation League. Garrett served as Director of the League’s South Coast Office, where he worked to protect water quality, advance sustainable land use policies, and promote local agriculture. In 2010, Garrett accepted the Director of Land Protection position at the Open Land Trust. From hiking and trail running to sailing and snowboarding, Garrett enjoys activities that keep him closely tied to the natural world. Garrett’s wife Katie manages a sea island horse farm, where the couple spends time with animals both large and small. As avid cooks, they spend countless hours in the kitchen after harvesting this season’s fruits and vegetables from their garden.

contact: garrett@openlandtrust.com

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Debbie Quirin, Program Director
Debbie Quirin was raised in Beaufort and has lived here for over 40 years. Before coming to the Trust, she took an early retirement from Wachovia Bank as a Business Customer Representative. Married for over 30 years, she has two children, boys, ages 21 and 13. Her husband, Dennis, is self-employed in the Residential/Commercial Heating/Air & Electrical Service industry. “I love my community and the Trust and have been with them since May 2003.”

contact: info@openlandtrust.com

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Katherine Royal, Director of Development
Katherine Royal is responsible for all the marketing, fundraising and community relations aspects for the organization. Katherine was born in Indiana but spent most of her childhood growing up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, IL.  She received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Drake University in Des Moines, IA. She also participated in a work/study educational program in London, England. Katherine has held a career in the marketing field for over twelve years concentrating on public awareness and design assignments for a variety of businesses in Illinois, Texas and North Carolina. Katherine has led numerous marketing campaigns throughout her career and specializes in graphic design projects.  She is married to Dr. Randy Royal who is an OB/GYN practicing in Beaufort and they have a beautiful little girl Addison Grace. Katherine and her family relocated to the Lowcountry from North Carolina.

contact: katherine@openlandtrust.com