Our Team

Read further to find out how you can join our team.

More Than a Passion Project

To bring a project like the Black River Cypress Preserve to life, it takes a group of people who truly believe in the value of our natural spaces, committed to preserving their beauty and increasing their accessibility for generations to come. Guided by the generosity of the Butler Conservation and its operating division Park Builders International (PBI), our team is made up of passionate conservationists, educators, and wildlife experts, each contributing a vital role to the evolution of the Preserve.

Butler Conservation/Park Builders International (BC/PBI)

The Butler Conservation/Park Builders International (BC/PBI) is a private foundation dedicated to the conservation and protection of the natural environment, advancing environmental education, and offering outdoor recreation especially to young people. Established in 1988, the BC/PBI’s work is centered on the concept of “legacy conservation,” targeting its support to six “legacy geographies” in North America, South America, and Africa. Each offers unique natural beauty, ecological significance, and opportunities for recreation.

One of these designated geographies, the South Carolina Scenic Black River is a classic Southeastern blackwater river, flowing through hardwood forests to a coastal landscape of salt-marsh estuaries and barrier islands. BC/PBI’s dedication to conservation in South Carolina stems from Gilbert Butler’s long-standing love for the state’s rivers and coastal waters.

Our Team


Jonathan Keyser

Jonathan Keyser

Executive Director

Some of Jonathan’s earliest memories are of wandering around in the woods of the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia with his three dogs. He enjoyed exploring the outdoors and climbing as many trees as possible.

Over the past twenty years, Jonathan has merged his two passions and college majors (History and Horticulture) into his work as a landscape designer and consultant while working on many historic properties. Since 2016, he has been intimately involved with the creation of the Black River Cypress Preserve as project manager and now serves as its executive director.  Email Jonathan at [email protected].

Dylon Tilton

Grounds Supervisor And Property Caretaker

Raised near the Black River Cypress Preserve, Dylon is a self-taught student of botany. Growing up, his grandmother was always in the garden, and his grandfather, “Pappy,” a forester, would bring saplings home for young Dylon to plant, nurture, and grow. One of these saplings, a Red Cedar, is now 30′ tall. These vivid experiences fueled the passion Dylon now brings to his work at the Preserve. As Grounds Supervisor and Property Caretaker, he is hands-on with the care and maintenance of the property while getting great joy from working outdoors in a peaceful, natural environment.  Email Dylon at [email protected].

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson

Outdoor Education and Recreation Manager

Retired educator Sarah Wilson has loved the outdoors her whole life. Growing up along the beaches of South Carolina, Sarah discovered the joy and healing properties of spending time outdoors.

Her career began at Hobcaw Barony in Georgetown, where she taught adults and children about Carolina ecosystems. For most of her career, Sarah taught elementary-aged students at two Montessori schools in Georgetown County. Even within the walls of a classroom, Sarah’s teaching centered around the natural world and moving her students outdoors as often as possible. Today, she spends much of her spare time outdoors, sharing her love of nature whenever possible. Sarah is excited to be the Outdoor Education and Recreation Manager for the Black River Cypress Preserve helping educate future outdoor enthusiasts.  Email Sarah at [email protected].

Shana Barrineau

Visitation Coordinator and Public Outreach

Andrews native, Shana Barrineau, has always referred to Black River as her happy place.  As a little girl, it is where she was taught how to swim, was up on water skis by age eight, and, by the time she was a teenager, she was diving from the tall Cypress trees into the deep blackwater. Shana shares her enthusiasm as the Visitation Coordinator by welcoming her friends, neighbors, and surrounding community members to the Black River Cypress Preserve, so they can also enjoy its natural beauty and recreational opportunities available in our own backyard.  Serving as a teacher in the Andrews schools for twenty years, Shana now spends her free time educating both children and adults as an outdoor education guide at the Preserve.  Email Shana at [email protected].

Dana Beach

Dana Beach

Board Member, Butler Conservation/Park Builders International

Dana Beach founded the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League in 1989. Under his direction, the organization has evolved into one of the most successful state-level conservation groups in the country, growing from two staff members and an annual budget of $90,000 to 35 staff members, an annual budget of $3.5 million, and offices in Beaufort, Charleston, Georgetown, and Columbia.

Beach stepped down as director in 2018. He is currently working with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to promote climate-friendly farming practices, as well as a consultant and board member of Butler Conservation. A published writer and author, the Columbia native lives in Charleston with his wife, Virginia.

Isabelle Harvey

Office Manager and Senior Accountant

Born and raised in the Republic of Congo, Isabelle Harvey grew up with many opportunities to enjoy nature. She attributes the foundation of her love of the outdoors to memories of climbing guava trees, crafting toys from clay, and caring for a wide variety of pets/rescue animals.  After receiving a bachelor’s degree in accounting in Ohio, she worked in government & nonprofit financial auditing before moving to Georgetown County, SC, to care for family. Isabelle loved the Black River Cypress Preserve (BRCP) property on her first visit and soon began working as a guide.  She loves seeing students become curious and find joy when exploring the outdoors. In 2024, she joined the BRCP staff as a bookkeeper and assists with administrative tasks.  She feels blessed to be able to combine her expertise with her love for wildlife and the outdoors. Email Isabelle at [email protected].

Career Opportunities

BRCP is looking to expand our team with the following available full-time and part-time positions: