Board and Staff :
Staff Bios
Mary Walter, Executive Director
A resident of Spartanburg for 30 years, Mary was born in Greenville and graduated from Presbyterian College with a degree in Sociology. In her 16th year as Executive Director for SPACE, Mary is responsible for fundraising, non-profit management, and public relations. Mary is married to Bill Walter and they have three children, ages 27, 25, and 21. She enjoys kayaking, reading, spending time with her children, and being outdoors.
Julie Lonon, Land Protection Coordinator
Originally from Spartanburg, Julie graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a BA in Political Science and from the University of South Carolina with a MA in International Relations. Prior to working for SPACE, Julie worked for The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina in advocacy and fundraising. Julie is responsible for working with local landowners to protect their lands. Julie and her husband Josh have two boys, ages 9 and 4, and a dog. She enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and serving on the Spartanburg District 7 school board.
Amanda Kilbourne, Development Director
Originally from Rock Hill, Amanda arrived in Spartanburg 6 years ago to attend Wofford where she graduated with a degree in Business Economics. She began work in fundraising her freshman year of college, eventually becoming the Assistant Director of Annual Giving for Wofford’s Alumni and Development office. Her plans for SPACE include increasing the organization’s visibility in the communtiy and building a larger and stronger donor base. Amanda enjoys living downtown where she can walk most places, be outside, and take in the local music scene.