Our team

Upstate Forever Staff

Brad Wyche

Brad Wyche

Founder and Senior Advisor

After working as an attorney in Greenville for nearly 20 years, Brad left the law practice in 1998 to found Upstate Forever and served as its Executive Director until October, 2015. He now serves as Senior Advisor to the organization. Read a message from Brad about the importance of responsible growth.

As an attorney, he concentrated in the environmental field and was recognized by his peers as one of “The Best Lawyers in America.”

Brad served on Governor Dick Riley’s Council on Natural Resources and the Environment and on Governor Mark Sanford’s Climate Change, Energy and Commerce Advisory Committee. He also served on the South Carolina Coastal Council and as Chair of the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control.

Brad is the co-author of Environmental Law in South Carolina, now in its fourth edition, as well as numerous articles in legal journals on environmental and natural resource protection issues.

Brad is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including The Order of the Palmetto (South Carolina’s highest civilian award); the Environmental Awareness Award from the South Carolina General Assembly; the Southern Environmental Leadership Award from the Southern Environmental Law Center; the Roosevelt-Ashe Society’s Outstanding Conservationist Award; the Conservation Stewardship Achievement Award from the South Carolina Aquarium; the “E-Chievement Award” from the E-Town national radio show; the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Leadership Greenville; the Harriet Keyserling Conservation Advocacy Award from the Conservation Voters of South Carolina; the George B. Hartzog Award from Clemson University; the Extraordinary Achievement Award from Upstate Forever; recognition by The Greenville News as a Community Hero; the Best Friend of the Reedy River Award from Friends of the Reedy River; the naming of a stretch of the Reedy River in his honor; induction into both the Greenville High School Hall of Fame and the Greenville County School District Hall of Fame; the Community Patron Award from the American Institute of Architects (Greenville chapter); the Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Awareness Award from the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution; and a Conservation Commendation from the National Garden Club of America.  In addition, he received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Furman University for his work and accomplishments in the sustainable development and conservation fields.

Brad holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and environmental studies from Princeton University and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia. He also has a master’s degree in natural resources management from Yale University.

Error Message