Shannon is the Founder and Executive Director of Sustain Charlotte. Before moving to Charlotte in 2007, Shannon worked at The Nature Conservancy in Washington, D.C., where he was part of their climate change science and policy team. Shannon served in the Peace Corps in Senegal, in AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps, and helped found a tsunami relief organization in Thailand. He worked as an industrial engineer for Motorola, General Motors and Trane in the for-profit sector. He holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Iowa State University and a Master of Public Administration in environmental science and policy from Columbia University. He has previously served as a supervisor on the Mecklenburg County Soil and Water Conservation Board, an adjunct professor in the Sustainable Technologies program at Central Piedmont Community College and a member of the North Carolina Advisory Board for Environmental Defense Fund. In 2015, he was named one of “Seven to Watch” by The Charlotte Observer and one of the Charlotte Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” In 2018, Charlotte’s NPR affiliate, WFAE, named him one of “The Most Powerful Voices in Charlotte.” Contact Shannon at shannon.binns@sustaincharlotte.org.

Krissia joined the Sustain Charlotte team in April 2023 as the Donor Specialist. She attended CUNY Hunter College in Manhattan, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Minor in Human Rights. A lifelong New York City resident, Krissia was civically engaged from a young age and passionate about uplifting community members through education and empowerment. She eagerly took on opportunities to volunteer on political campaigns, intern at various nonprofits, and work for the NYC Department of Education. She credits her background as an immigrant, coupled with growing up in NYC, for her strong sense of empathy and altruism. A recent arrival to Charlotte, Krissia is excited to embed herself into the Charlotte community and contribute to its sustainable growth. As Sustain Charlotte’s Donor Specialist, she is a firm believer that every contribution, no matter how small or large, can make a huge difference and strives to make every donor recognize how instrumental they are. Contact Krissia at krissia.bonilla@sustaincharlotte.org.

Meg Fencil (she/her) joined Sustain Charlotte in 2014 and serves as the Director of Engagement and Impact. Meg educates, engages, and unites the community through partnerships and programs to increase equitable transportation choices and promote smart growth in the Charlotte area. Prior to her current role, Meg earned a Ph.D. in marine sciences from the University of Texas at Austin, designed and implemented field research projects in Croatia and Japan, and taught project-based mathematics and science to elementary and high school students. She enjoys uniting her lifelong passion for science with the multidisciplinary work of advancing sustainability to support a healthy environment and better quality of life for all. Contact Meg at meg.fencil@sustaincharlotte.org.

Beth Reichert admits that she is NOT a native Charlottean but has been in Charlotte long enough to remember Uptown without Romare Bearden Park and the Thirsty Beaver not surrounded by a massive apartment complex. Since moving to Charlotte in 2013, Beth has only ever lived in Uptown’s Fourth Ward neighborhood and takes full advantage of its walkability. Her formal education, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Coastal Carolina University and a Master of Arts in Public Policy degree from SUNY Stony Brook, complemented her long-time proclivity for mission-driven work. She is now a 3-term AmeriCorps alumnus with over 17 years of experience at nonprofit organizations throughout the country, primarily Habitat for Humanity in both New York and North Carolina and United Way. She is also an avid volunteer and a graduate of the City of Charlotte’s Civic Leadership Academy, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Citizens’ Academy, and Community Building Initiative’s Leaders Under 40. Often referred to as “the green one” throughout her network, she makes a sincere effort to steward resources responsibly and creatively and is thrilled to work alongside peers who share a commitment to sustainability and environmental equity.

Lauren Sawyers joined the Sustain Charlotte team in early 2022, supporting marketing and communications. After nearly 10 years in corporate communications in the financial services industry, she turned her attention to freelance and contract work while raising her three young children. A lifelong Charlottean and outdoor enthusiast, Lauren enjoys discovering new local places to play and explore and takes great joy in helping others do the same. Lauren earned a degree in journalism and mass communication with a focus on public relations from UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s of science, recreation, parks and sport leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Lauren cares deeply about the sustainable growth of Charlotte and is particularly passionate about preserving green space and ensuring access to parks and greenways for all. Contact Lauren for media inquiries at lauren.sawyers@sustaincharlotte.org.

Hope (she/her) joined the Sustain Charlotte team in January 2023 as Advocacy Manager. A native of Virginia, Hope received her bachelor’s degrees in environmental science and anthropology from the College of William & Mary before heading to Scotland for her master’s in environmental sustainability at the University of Edinburgh. Armed with this education and a taste for civic engagement, she completed several advocacy-centered positions starting with an AmeriCorps internship at Theodore Roosevelt’s home on Long Island and most recently as a consultant with National Parks Conservation Association, a nationally recognized nonprofit. Hope’s advocacy work led her to several communities in the Mid-Atlantic, from rural New Jersey to college-town Delaware to bustling Philadelphia. But after several years away from her beloved Southern biscuits, she is delighted to advocate for smart growth and greenway expansion in her new home: Charlotte. Contact hope at hope.wright@sustaincharlotte.org.

Eric is our Urban Design Specialist and has been a strong advocate for walkable, bikeable, and transit-oriented design in Charlotte’s neighborhoods for years. His main area of focus is working with multiple city and county departments and committees, including the Ordinance Advisory Committee on pushing the boundaries of urban design to meet the challenges that face Charlotte. Before his work with Sustain Charlotte, Eric was president of the South End Neighborhood Association. While president, he advocated for more green space in the neighborhood, safe crossings on the Rail Trail, and the creation of the two corridor studies on South Boulevard and South Tryon Street. After leaving the neighborhood association, he attended UNC Charlotte. While there, Eric received his master’s degree in urban design and finished at the top of his class. Eric has studied urban design abroad in Brazil and is a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism. Contact Eric at eric.zaverl@sustaincharlotte.org.