George Greene III, PE, PhD
Co-Founder and Executive Chair, Global Water Center & Water Mission
Dr. Greene is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Water Mission. He was founder and CEO of General Engineering Laboratories, a full-service environmental company that combined analytical, engineering, and hydrogeological consulting services to become one of the largest privately-held environmental labs in the U.S.
He received his degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida (BS), Columbia University (MS), and Tulane University (Ph.D.). He has also been awarded a Doctorate of Public Service from Charleston Southern University. Dr. Greene is a licensed Professional Engineer in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. He and his late wife Molly were honored by Rotary District 7770 with the “Service Above Self” award and by Gov. Mark Sanford with the “Order of the Palmetto,” South Carolina’s highest civilian award.
As the Executive Chair of the Global Water Center, Dr. Greene oversees the strategic direction of the Global Water Center based on its founding vision – to see 2.2 billion go to zero. Dr. Greene is actively involved in strategic planning and the day-to-day development of Global Water Center initiatives.
TJ Johnston
Director of Resource Center, Global Water Center
TJ serves as the Director of Global Water Center’s Resource Center and concentrates his efforts on growing the organization’s training, equipping, and supporting services. TJ draws on the relational expertise and leadership development skills he acquired as a lawyer, overseas missionary, pastor, church planter, and bishop.
TJ is an entrepreneur at heart. He has started churches, Young Life clubs, businesses, and social outreach non-profits, all for the advancement of God’s kingdom. “The thing that motivates me to take on this work is Jesus’ words about giving a cup of water in his name,” TJ shared with his recent parishioners at St. Peter’s Church. “When you do it for the least of these, you do it for me. There is no more essential need in life than safe water for drinking and sanitation.”
Jeff Winkler
Director of Operations & Legal Affairs
Jeff serves as the Director of Operations and Legal Affairs for the Global Water Center, focusing his efforts on Discovery Center initiatives, the organization’s business practices, and legal matters. For the last 30 years, Jeff has practiced business, real estate, contracts, and intellectual property law (both privately and for a large corporation).
He has also shepherded joint corporate/university research projects at both MUSC and the University of South Carolina. He has accumulated a variety of business experiences as a property manager, landlord, contractor, startup entrepreneur of a 3D printing company, land developer, and laundromat owner after starting his career as a research botanist studying water quality in North Carolina.
Jeff received a botany degree from Duke University and spends his free time equipping and encouraging the youth of today through his church’s men’s and backpacking ministry. Jeff’s aspiration is that this varied skillset will continue to be exercised to help end the global water crisis.
Bernie Drackwicz
Chief Financial Officer
As chief financial officer, Bernie oversees all fiscal functions of The Global Water Center, including planning and implementing strategies to improve the overall operations and effectiveness of the organization.
Bernie worked for McGraw-Hill for 35 years, serving the majority of his career in key executive leadership roles. Upon moving to Charleston, South Carolina, Bernie taught accounting and business courses at Trident Technical College before becoming vice president of finance turned chief financial officer at Water Mission, a non-profit engineering ministry and Global Water Center’s founding organization.
Bernie earned a master’s degree in business administration and management from Southern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the College of New Jersey.
Board Members
George Greene IV, PE
CEO and President, Water Mission
Board Member
Mr. Greene is CEO and President of Water Mission in Charleston, South Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of South Carolina.
Mr. Greene’s responsibilities include strategic leadership of Water Mission’s global activities. His experience over the years includes time spent working on projects in Afghanistan, Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Uganda.
Charlie Young
Rear Admiral (Ret), United States Navy
Board Member
A native of South Carolina, Admiral Young graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering). After receiving a Master of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Delaware, he completed the Navy’s nuclear power training program. He served in the U.S. Navy for 36 years as a Submariner and an Acquisitional Professional.
Following his Navy retirement in 2006, Admiral Young worked for Oceaneering’s Advanced Technologies Divisions as the VP for Strategic Business Planning. Additionally, he has served as a Director on several Boards, including the Water Mission Board.
Charlie Young has been involved with Water Mission since 2014 – first as a volunteer in the ministry’s production facility, then as a member of the ministry’s Board of Directors, providing valuable strategic insights for Water Mission’s growth and direction.
Steve Vanderboom
Executive Chairman, Pace Analytical Services, LLC
Board Member
Steve Vanderboom is the Executive Chairman of Pace Analytical Services, LLC. Mr. Vanderboom founded Pace in 1978 and has served as CEO and President of Pace for 41 years before moving to the position of Executive Chairman in October 2019.
Mr. Vanderboom possesses over 44 years of experience in the analytical services industry, providing leadership in the areas of environmental testing, pharmaceutical, and medical device testing, product testing, field services, and environmental consulting.
Mr. Vanderboom received a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. In 2019, Mr. Vanderboom became the seventh person to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Environmental Business Journal and the first to receive it from the laboratory community.
Brett Hildebrand
Board Member
Brett Hildebrand is a Founding Member of One Community at A Time Initiative. Mr. Hildebrand works for IAG Capital Partners, a boutique investment firm based in Charleston. He is an active Water Mission Board member, serving on the ministry’s Finance and Audit as well as the Partnerships and Communication committees.
Mr. Hildebrand and his family have traveled extensively to visit Water Mission safe water projects in Central America and Africa.