Wounded Nature-Working Veterans Board and Team

Wounded Nature-Working Veterans is always on the lookout for new board members who can help raise the money necessary to carry out our mission.

If interested, please contact Rudy Socha.

BOARD MEMBERS

Tom Hargett, Board Member

Wounded Nature, Working Veterans, boaters, non-Veterans, Non-Profit, Opportunity, Environment, Environmental Difference, Genesis, Education, Missions, Oil Spill, Marine, Investigate, Fix, Research, Rescue, Birds, Sea Turtles, Sea Mammals, Plastics, Beach, East, Coast, Boat, Carolina, Coastal, Seafood, Decline, America, Critical, Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, Habitat, Pollution, Trash, Debris, Clean, Cleaned, Donations, Memberships, Sponsorships, Donate, Grants, Fund, Funds, Charleston, South CarolinaTom recently relocated to Charleston from the Washington, DC area, where for the last several years he has focused on selling technology solutions to the public sector. He has worked with small companies and startups trying to land accounts in the federal and public sector markets. He has also worked at a larger company or two that have significant DC operations.

Prior to landing in DC, Tom worked for Dish Network in various sales and management roles, where his tenure took him to Denver, Charlotte, and the Washington area.

Some other non-profits Tom has worked with and supported are The Carolina Raptor Center, The Nutter Run, The National Kidney Foundation, and The Red Cross. As a newer resident, he is enjoying investigating the robust restaurant options in Charleston and hopes to re-engage his old fishing habit.

Tom is originally from NJ, a graduate of UNC-Charlotte, and happy to be back in the Carolinas.

You can reach him at:  cthargett@hotmail.com

Walter Lewis, Vice-Chairman – Board of Directors

Walt Lewis is a Project Manager for Turner Construction with over 17 years of experience in the construction industry. Walt and his family relocated to the Low Country in 2011. His past Charleston area projects include Boeing’s Final Assembly Building, Boeing’s Flight Line Expansion Project, and Trident Technical College: SC Aeronautical Training Facility. Walt is currently working on the International African American Museum project.

A proud dad of two, Walt likes spending family time on their boat, Reel Sweet, enjoying the Charleston waterways. Walt is excited to help preserve the beauty of our country’s coastal areas for future generations along with Wounded Nature-Working Veterans.

You can reach Lewis at:  wlewis@tcco.com

Brianne Stasiak, Board Member

Bri Stasiak is a native of Buffalo, NY but recently made Mount Pleasant home in search for warmer weather and new experiences. She is an engineer for Turner Construction Company and will be helping build the International African American Museum in downtown Charleston. Bri earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University at Buffalo in 2016.

Wounded Nature-Working Veterans has become an important non-profit in Bri’s life. She attends marsh cleanups, outreach events, and monthly meetings, and runs the Instagram account. She wants to do her part in keeping her new home clean, healthy, and beautiful.

Aside from work and Wounded Nature-Working Veterans, Bri stays involved by being a board member of the UB Engineering Young Alumni Board, volunteering at the Charleston Animal Society, and being a member of the Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals.

Bri likes to spend her time baking, crafting, reading, beaching at Isle Of Palms, and DIY-renovating her first home.

You can reach Bri at:  briannestasiak@gmail.com.

OPERATIONS – EXECUTIVE TEAM

Jerry Edwards, Jr., Web Site Manager

Wounded Nature, Working Veterans, boaters, non-Veterans, Non-Profit, Opportunity, Environment, Environmental Difference, Genesis, Education, Missions, Oil Spill, Marine, Investigate, Fix, Research, Rescue, Birds, Sea Turtles, Sea Mammals, Plastics, Beach, East, Coast, Boat, Carolina, Coastal, Seafood, Decline, America, Critical, Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, Habitat, Pollution, Trash, Debris, Clean, Cleaned, Donations, Memberships, Sponsorships, Donate, Grants, Fund, Funds, Charleston, South CarolinaJerry is a happily retired, disabled Veteran who has been working with charitable and advocacy organizations since 2012. He was an enlisted soldier in the US Army and worked in the transportation industry as a civilian.  Wounded Nature, Working Veterans, boaters, non-Veterans, Non-Profit, Opportunity, Environment, Environmental Difference, Genesis, Education, Missions, Oil Spill, Marine, Investigate, Fix, Research, Rescue, Birds, Sea Turtles, Sea Mammals, Plastics, Beach, East, Coast, Boat, Carolina, Coastal, Seafood, Decline, America, Critical, Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, Habitat, Pollution, Trash, Debris, Clean, Cleaned, Donations, Memberships, Sponsorships, Donate, Grants, Fund, Funds, Charleston, South Carolina

Born and raised in Washington, DC, Jerry is an artist, woodworking enthusiast, and self-proclaimed beach bum. He shares his life and home with his wife, Grace, in Andrews, South Carolina. 

You can reach Jerry at jerry.edwards@woundednature.org .

Captain Whit Jones, (USCG Licensed Boat Captain) SC Operations Director

 

Whit is the Wounded Nature-Working Veterans, South Carolina Operations Director. He recently retired from active duty with the U.S. Army, serving 28 years. He is a former Wounded Nature-Working Veterans Volunteer and Board Member and has participated in cleanups and disposal of abandoned boats.

Whit has an extensive background in operations, personnel development, and management. He started his Army career as a rotary wing pilot after graduating from The Citadel. ThoughWounded Nature, Working Veterans, boaters, non-Veterans, Non-Profit, Opportunity, Environment, Environmental Difference, Genesis, Education, Missions, Oil Spill, Marine, Investigate, Fix, Research, Rescue, Birds, Sea Turtles, Sea Mammals, Plastics, Beach, East, Coast, Boat, Carolina, Coastal, Seafood, Decline, America, Critical, Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, Habitat, Pollution, Trash, Debris, Clean, Cleaned, Donations, Memberships, Sponsorships, Donate, Grants, Fund, Funds, Charleston, South Carolina serving continuously on active duty since 1994, he was fortunate to spend over a dozen of those years stationed in South Carolina at various duty locations. Whit and his family reside in Mount Pleasant.

You can reach Whit at:  whit.jones@woundednature.org.

Captain Rudy Socha, (USCG Licensed Boat Captain) CEO

Rudy Socha has more than 20 years of management experience in launching successful companies. His launches occur on or ahead of schedule, and under budget. He is an entrepreneur capable of getting the job done.

In 1979 – 1980 Rudy was hired by Nuclear Metals to clean up a massive amount of depleted uranium machine turnings. Byproducts of this cleanup included thorium and similar radioactive materials. At the time a radioactive waste cleanup of this size had never been completed.

While he was responsible for total P&L and management, this project was completed two years ahead of schedule and 2.7 million dollars under budget.

Rudy also has 20-plus years of assisting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland with fundraising, corporate relations, and working with underprivileged children. For 5 years, he served as President of the Boys and Girls Clubs Alumni Association.

In 2003, Rudy Socha and Carolyn Butler Darrow co-authored a book titled Above & Beyond profiling 88 former MarinesWounded Nature, Working Veterans, boaters, non-Veterans, Non-Profit, Opportunity, Environment, Environmental Difference, Genesis, Education, Missions, Oil Spill, Marine, Investigate, Fix, Research, Rescue, Birds, Sea Turtles, Sea Mammals, Plastics, Beach, East, Coast, Boat, Carolina, Coastal, Seafood, Decline, America, Critical, Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, Habitat, Pollution, Trash, Debris, Clean, Cleaned, Donations, Memberships, Sponsorships, Donate, Grants, Fund, Funds, Charleston, South Carolina who are successful in the civilian world. Royalties from the book’s sales were paid directly to seven Marine Corps-related non-profit organizations. Rudy is also a veteran, having served with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Rudy is passionate about cleaning up rural and hard-to-access beaches, tidal marshes, and coastlines in wildlife-critical areas. He works hard to keep Wounded Nature-Working Veterans focused on making a REAL difference in increasing America’s seafood stocks and coastal wildlife populations. He is a USCG Licensed Boat Captain with a Master’s rating.

You reach Rudy at rudy@woundednature.org or on LinkedIn.

USCG Licensed Volunteer Boat Captains:

Wounded Nature-Working Veterans orphan crab trap removal efforts in 2021Wounded Nature-Working Veterans orphan crab trap removal efforts in 2021Wounded Nature-Working Veterans orphan crab trap removal efforts in 2021
Captain Steve BrammerCaptain Eric DirtrichCaptain John Kupsch
Wounded Nature, Working Veterans, boaters, non-Veterans, Opportunity, Environment, Environmental Difference, Genesis, Missions, Oil Spill, Investigate, Fix, Rescue, Birds, Sea Turtles, Sea Mammals, Plastics, Coastal, Seafood, Decline, America, Critical, Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, Habitat, Trash, Debris, Clean, Cleaned, Donations, Memberships, Sponsorships, Grants, Fund, Funds, Charleston, South CarolinaWounded Nature, Working Veterans, boaters, non-Veterans, Opportunity, Environment, Environmental Difference, Genesis, Missions, Oil Spill, Investigate, Fix, Rescue, Birds, Sea Turtles, Sea Mammals, Plastics, Coastal, Seafood, Decline, America, Critical, Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, Habitat, Trash, Debris, Clean, Cleaned, Donations, Memberships, Sponsorships, Grants, Fund, Funds, Charleston, South CarolinaWounded Nature-Working Veterans orphan crab trap removal efforts in 2021
Captain Keith DairympleCaptain Adrian SawczukCaptain Rudy Socha
Wounded Nature, Working Veterans, boaters, non-Veterans, Non-Profit, Opportunity, Environment, Environmental Difference, Genesis, Education, Missions, Oil Spill, Marine, Investigate, Fix, Research, Rescue, Birds, Sea Turtles, Sea Mammals, Plastics, Beach, East, Coast, Boat, Carolina, Coastal, Seafood, Decline, America, Critical, Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, Habitat, Pollution, Trash, Debris, Clean, Cleaned, Donations, Memberships, Sponsorships, Donate, Grants, Fund, Funds, Charleston, South CarolinaWounded Nature, Working Veterans, boaters, non-Veterans, Non-Profit, Opportunity, Environment, Environmental Difference, Genesis, Education, Missions, Oil Spill, Marine, Investigate, Fix, Research, Rescue, Birds, Sea Turtles, Sea Mammals, Plastics, Beach, East, Coast, Boat, Carolina, Coastal, Seafood, Decline, America, Critical, Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, Habitat, Pollution, Trash, Debris, Clean, Cleaned, Donations, Memberships, Sponsorships, Donate, Grants, Fund, Funds, Charleston, South Carolina
Captain Chad TaylorCaptain Whit Jones