PROGRAM

This program brings together higher education leaders to discuss how campuses are evolving with a forward-looking focus on what excites them most about campus development today.

Panelists will share where they see the greatest opportunities across planning, facilities and capital investment, and how institutions are prioritizing projects that support long-term academic and operational goals. The conversation will also explore what higher education leaders value most when selecting design consultants, including the qualities, expertise, and approaches that lead to successful project partnerships.

Attendees will gain practical insight into both the future direction of campus development and the decision-making criteria institutions use when forming design and planning teams.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

Frank Smith, Director of Engineering and Construction | Trident Technical College

Frank Smith is a construction and engineering professional with over 25 years of experience in project management and renovation. A South Carolina native, he holds a Master of Construction Science and Management and a Bachelor of Architectural Design, both from Clemson University. His career spans roles in healthcare, higher education, and private construction, and he currently serves as Director of Engineering & Construction at Trident Technical College. He is LEED AP BD+C certified and holds an OSHA 30-Hour Certification.

Laura Lee Worrell, Senior Project Management in Facilities Management | College of Charleston

Laura Lee Worrell is a Senior Project Manager at the College of Charleston, where she leads the planning and execution of complex capital projects within one of the country’s most historically significant campus environments. In addition to managing major construction initiatives, Laura lee serves as the College’s in-house preservation professional, responsible for coordinating all project work affecting historic buildings and landscapes with the State Historic Preservation Office.

Her work sits at the intersection of design, construction, preservation, and regulatory compliance, requiring close collaboration with architects, engineers, contractors, and public agencies. Laura Lee has extensive experience navigating projects involving historic resources, stakeholder engagement, and phased construction within highly constrained urban settings.

Prior to joining the College, Laura worked in both construction management and historic documentation, including work with the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) and as a project engineer on large-scale projects with LEED compliance and field coordination responsibilities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction and Design from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Clemson/College of Charleston and brings a practical, systems-oriented approach to aligning institutional goals with project delivery in higher education environments.

Shannon Morrison, Vice President for Finance, Chief Financial Officer| Charleston Southern University

Shannon Morrison has served as Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer since June 2024. She brings more than 20 years of financial leadership experience across the banking industry and municipal government sectors in Georgia and South Carolina.

She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Furman University and her Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. Throughout her career, Shannon has been recognized for her strategic insight, fiscal stewardship, and commitment to organizational excellence.

Before relocating to the Charleston area, Shannon and her family lived in Atlanta, where they founded a nonprofit missions organization dedicated to serving low-income and homeless communities. Her husband now serves as a local pastor, and together they remain actively involved in their church and continue leading their nonprofit outreach efforts. Shannon and her husband are proud parents of five children, who keep their family actively engaged in school and sports activities.

ABOUT OUR MODERATOR

Cate Smolinsky, Director of Marketing | DWG

Cate brings over a decade of experience as Director of Marketing at DWG. She uses her organizational and planning skills to implement marketing strategies that boost brand presence and client engagement. Her marketing approach also enhances employee culture. She is currently building DWG’s marketing and business development platform from the ground up. One of Cate’s most interesting accomplishments is writing a children's book for United Way. In 2021, she authored Cody the Colliers Collie, and hundreds of copies were donated to families across South Carolina as part of United Way's annual book drive. Cate is a graduate of George Mason University, earning her Bachelor of Arts in communication. She has been an active member of SMPS Palmetto Chapter since 2019 and serves on the Board of Directors as President. In 2024, she was recognized by the Charleston Regional Business Journal as a Women of Influence honoree.

PROGRAM SPONSORS
Would your firm like to sponsor this program? Through the generous donations of our sponsors, our chapter is able to continue to provide high quality programs in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville. Additional program sponsorship opportunities for this program are available. If you would like to become a program sponsor, please contact our Sponsorship Directors.  Program sponsorships are $500.

REGISTRATION DETAILS & CANCELLATION POLICY FOR ALL SMPS PROGRAMS
The ticket price for members and non-members includes lunch. Online registration is required. Refunds will only be granted if cancellation is made within 48 hours of the start time and will only be provided in the form of a credit to another program. No refunds will be made for no-shows. Email [email protected] for substitution or refund requests. 

SMPS Palmetto reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by SMPS, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video.