Authority Board & Meetings

Helen Turner Hill is the Chief Executive Officer of Explore Charleston. The nonprofit organization represents 850 member businesses and 10 municipal governments in the tri-county region with the mission to create overnight visitation and support responsible development through travel and tourism strategies. Growing up in Charleston provided Ms. Hill with unique insights she has put to use throughout her 30+ years of serving the community and promoting the region as a destination. Explore Charleston is celebrated for its innovative and authentic marketing programs that have assisted the Charleston area in becoming one of the most acclaimed destinations in the country.

Ms. Hill’s efforts on air service development over the last decade were instrumental in expanding Charleston International Airport’s route map, including the recruitment of Southwest, jetBlue, Alaska, Allegiant, Frontier, and British Airways. She was appointed to the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority (CRAA) board in 2014. In 2019, she was elected as the board’s first female Chair.

In addition to her work with CRAA, Ms. Hill serves on numerous regional and national boards, including US Travel Association, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, the Gaillard Management Corporation, and multiple statewide tourism organizations. She is a faithful alumna of Ashley Hall and Clemson University.

Charles E. Salmonsen was appointed to the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority (CRAA) board in 2018 by the Charleston County Legislative Senate Delegation.

As owner of Salmonsen Realty and Appraisal, Inc., he has provided land use sales, management, and leasing to his clients for 40 years. A lifelong resident of Charleston County, he has a strong record of local government and community service.

Salmonsen has served on the Charleston County Greenbelt & Advisory Board and Council of Governments Board. He is a member of the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Ravi Sanyal was appointed to the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority (CRAA) Board in 2019 by the Charleston County Legislative House Delegation. He has been a practicing attorney and owner of the Sanyal Law Firm, a personal injury and criminal defense law practice, since 2012. Prior to that, Sanyal worked as a civil litigation attorney at the law firm Clawson and Staubes, a part-time assistant corporation counsel for the City of Charleston and an assistant solicitor with the 9th Circuit Solicitors.

Community Service and Involvement have always been important to Sanyal. He was appointed by the Charleston County Council and served as a Charleston County Park and Recreation Commissioner for seven years and served two years as the Chairman for Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission. In 2016, Sanyal was appointed by Charleston City Council to serve on the City of Charleston Planning Commission, where he served as City of Charleston Planning Commissioner for three years.

Paul R. Thurmond was appointed to the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority (CRAA) Board in November 2018 by the Charleston County Legislative House Delegation. He is co-founder and managing partner of Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes, P.A. law firm, and has led the firm’s criminal defense practice for over 15 years.

Thurmond moved to Charleston nearly 20 years ago and began serving the community as a prosecutor. He continued to be active in the Charleston community, serving in elected office on Charleston County Council and the South Carolina State Senate. He brings a vast amount of experience to the CRAA, not only from his past elected experience, but also by formerly serving on the Charleston Area Rapid Transit Authority (CARTA), the Magistrate Oversight Committee, Charleston Area Transportation Study (CHATS) Policy Committee, and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (CJCC).

Thurmond is currently a board member of the Roper St. Francis Innovation Board and Turning Leaf Project, along with serving as a part-time municipal court judge for the Town of Mount Pleasant. He is married to Katie and they are actively and often exhaustively raising five children. The Thurmond family are members of East Cooper Baptist Church.

Joan Robinson-Berry was appointed to the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority (CRAA) Board in 2022 jointly by the Charleston County and Charleston City Councils.

Robinson-Berry has more than 35 years of progressive global and domestic experience, possessing a unique blend of hands-on engineering, operations, supplier management, program management, and executive leadership. She has been recognized as a top leader in corporate America and an innovative thinker with an exceptional ability to apply business and analytical skills to exceed financial and technical results.

Robinson-Berry retired as Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer for Boeing Global Services (BGS), responsible for product and services safety, technical integrity, analytics and engineering for a $22 billion business unit.

Previously, she led a $6-billion-dollar global engineering and maintenance/modifications team for all Boeing government and commercial product lines worldwide. Prior to this assignment, she was VP & GM for commercial airplanes in South Carolina, responsible for leading the development of a comprehensive site strategy for 787 Airplane Production Operations, Engineering Design Center, IT Centers, Interiors Responsibility, Propulsion Center, and Technology Center. Before this assignment, she was Chief Procurement Officer-VP leading the overall strategy, contracting, daily management and development of the $8-billion-dollar spend.

Robinson-Berry has received extensive recognition for her work in STEM and has been recognized as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America. She is a Technical Fellow and serves on the Board of Directors for The Cradle to Career, Proterra and Unaka Company Inc., and Valmont Industries. She also serves on multiple advisory boards to improve the educational outcome of under-served children.

Robinson-Berry holds a MS degree in Engineering Management & Business Administration and a BS degree in Engineering Technology. She also received honorary doctorate degrees from Charleston Southern University, Allen University, and California Polytechnic – Pomona.

David Bennett retired as Executive Director of Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) in June 2024 after more than 37 years of service. Beginning his career as a part-time recreation specialist in 1987, he advanced through several roles before becoming Executive Director.

Bennett earned a B.S. in Park and Recreation Management from Mars Hill University and has held multiple leadership positions, including President of the South Carolina Park & Recreation Association (SCRPA) and member of the National Recreation and Park Association’s Innovative Programming Committee.

His numerous honors include SCRPA’s Young Professional of the Year (1993), Professional of the Year (2017), and the Robert L. Reid Lifetime Achievement Award (2022). He has also actively served on community boards, including as Chair of the Cooper River Bridge Run and Lowcountry Local First.

Bennett and his wife Cheryl have three adult children.

Daniel Blumenstock was appointed to the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority (CRAA) Board in May 2024 by the Charleston County Legislative Senate Delegation. He has served as the Director of Hotels and Partner in Lowcountry Hotels, a division of Fennell Holdings Inc., since 2005. Their portfolio of hotels expands across the Lowcountry with locations in Berkeley County, Charleston County, City of Charleston, Town of Mt. Pleasant, and the City of North Charleston.

Outside the walls of his business, Blumenstock continues to serve and support many civic, community and hospitality boards locally and throughout the state and country. He takes pride in the balance of his faith, family, and career, while instilling the same culture in all areas of service as he does his business.

The Honorable Will Haynie, Mayor, Town of Mount Pleasant

Will Haynie was elected to Mount Pleasant Town Council in November 2015. He was elected Mayor in November 2017 and re-elected in 2021.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Mayor Haynie moved with his family to Mount Pleasant in 1966. He attended kindergarten at First Presbyterian Church and spent days playing in the Old Village and walking to Pitt Street Pharmacy for their legendary cherry cokes. After his father finished a stint at MUSC, Will’s family moved to Sumter, SC, in 1969, where he completed high school.

Mayor Haynie graduated from The Citadel in 1983 with a degree in Business Administration. While a cadet, he rose to the highest cadet rank, regimental commander, and was elected by his classmates as Commander of the Summerall Guards. He went on to receive the highest award for leadership and principle that can be conferred by the college on a cadet, the Palmetto Medal Award.

In his professional life, Mayor Haynie has been CEO of several nonprofits, including the Lowcountry Open Land Trust and the South Carolina Maritime Foundation. His media experience includes op-ed newspaper columnist for three newspapers, including the Moultrie News, sailing columnist for the Post & Courier, talk radio show host, and congressional press secretary. His first book was published in 2001. Mayor Haynie currently owns his own media/marketing/PR advisory firm located in Mount Pleasant.

Mayor Haynie is married to Suzette Byrd Haynie, a teacher at Jennie Moore Elementary School in Mount Pleasant. He and his wife have four children.

A North Charleston native from Union Heights and Liberty Hill, Reggie Burgess has dedicated his life to service and leadership. A standout athlete, his talent in football earned him a full scholarship to Morgan State University, where he received numerous accolades, including Sporting News Division 1-AA All-American honors.

Mayor Burgess began his law enforcement career with the North Charleston Police Department in 1989, advancing through roles like Patrol Officer, DARE and GREAT Officer, and Chief of Police, a position he achieved in 2018. On January 2, 2024, he was inaugurated as Mayor of North Charleston.

He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Claflin University and has completed advanced training at the Southern Police Institute and the US Secret Service Academy. A lifelong member of Royal Missionary Baptist Church and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, Mayor Burgess values faith, family, and community, sharing his life with his wife, Tracy, and their two children, Reggie II and Kristen.

Mayor William Cogswell, a dedicated lifelong resident of Charleston, assumed office on January 8, 2024, with an unwavering commitment to prioritizing the needs of the city’s residents. Grounded in the principles of smart growth, safe communities, and sound governance, his leadership ethos is geared towards shaping a vibrant and sustainable future for Charleston.

With a rich background in real estate spanning over two decades, Mayor Cogswell has played a pivotal role in revitalizing historic properties, transforming them into thriving urban centers such as the Cigar Factory, GARCo Mill, and the Navy Yard. Drawing upon his extensive experience, he brings a keen understanding of the nuances of development, distinguishing between what constitutes responsible and sustainable progress. His vision is to leverage these lessons to guide Charleston forward into a future marked by responsible growth.

Prior to assuming mayoral duties, Cogswell served in the state legislature, representing District 110 for six years. During this period, his impact was felt across the state, contributing to statewide teacher pay raises and spearheading the largest income tax cut in the history of South Carolina. Notably, he championed a crucial bill that delivered free prescription eyeglasses to thousands of Title I students in the tri-county area, showcasing his dedication to fostering positive change at both the local and state levels.