Jim Westerhold, General Manager of Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens and Farms, as our featured speaker. Since taking the helm in May 2020, Jim has combined a lifelong passion for agriculture with decades of specialized conservation and management expertise to lead one of our region's most iconic landmarks.

Jim holds a Master’s degree in Wildlife from Clemson University and brings over 15 years of experience as a Wildlife Biologist with the SC Department of Natural Resources and manager of several Lowcountry plantations. Prior to his current role, he spent 13 years working part-time at Boone Hall while serving as the Chair and Professor of the Forestry and Wildlife Department at Horry Georgetown Technical College.

Beyond his impressive professional background, Jim brings a wealth of unique life experiences to the podium—from working a grueling winter stint as a commercial fisherman in the Bering Sea, to his inspiring decision to donate a kidney in 2025. Jim, his wife Missy, and their daughter Lily proudly call Mount Pleasant home and are honored to be a part of the vibrant Boone Hall family.