John Boyer
Director of Advancement
John Boyer joined Porter-Gaud in 2026 as Director of Advancement, bringing 15 years of experience in independent school advancement and development. Prior to Porter-Gaud, he served as Assistant Head of School for Advancement at The Pine School in Hobe Sound, Florida, and Director of Development at Oak Hill School in Nashville. He entered the independent school sector following an early career in Washington, D.C., where he held senior government affairs roles at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.
John earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science, magna cum laude, from Sewanee: The University of the South and a Master of Professional Studies in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University.
John believes meaningful relationships are the foundation of a thriving school community and is passionate about connecting the generosity and passions of families and alumni with the people and programs that make Porter-Gaud exceptional.
Outside of school, John enjoys cooking, following politics and current events, and cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks and Green Bay Packers. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have twins, who are members of the Porter-Gaud Class of 2035.
P: 843.402.4685
EMAIL
Craig Stewart
Director of Advancement
Prior to taking the helm of the Foundation in 2017, Craig Stewart served as Vice President at Bernstein Private Wealth Management in Washington, DC and before that as Associate Development Director at Episcopal High School (EHS) in Alexandria, VA. He is a graduate of EHS and has a B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. He and his wife, Cricket, live in Mt. Pleasant and have three children, Ansley, Craig and Lee and three grandchildren. He served on the boards of an Episcopal retirement community foundation, a military museum and education-focused nonprofit in the Washington area before moving to South Carolina. He loves college sports, fitness training and reading with two book clubs!
P: 843.402.4690
EMAIL
Lisa Ward, J.D.
Director of Individual and Legacy Giving
Lisa Ward is the Director of Capital and Planned Gifts at Porter-Gaud. She grew up in the Lowcountry and has worked in education fundraising for the last several years. She received a B.A. in Political Science and Public Affairs from Columbia College and a Juris Doctor from the Charleston School of Law. Before coming to Porter-Gaud, Lisa worked on Capitol Hill and as a civil litigation attorney in Mount Pleasant, SC. When she is not at Porter-Gaud, she loves spending time with her husband Heath and their sons Grady and Brody, volunteering in the community, and enjoying all our beautiful city has to offer. Lisa is deeply passionate about Porter-Gaud and the transformational experience the school affords every student.
P: 843.402.4754
Email
Brian Beck, CFRE
Director of Annual Giving
Brian Beck is the Director of Annual Giving at Porter-Gaud. He is an alumnus of UNC Greensboro and Boston University, where he earned an M.A. in Arts Administration with a concentration in Fundraising Management.
Prior to joining Porter-Gaud, Brian served as Donor Relations Manager for Habitat for Humanity in Charlotte, NC, where he oversaw the individual giving program. He also served on the board of the local AFP chapter in Charlotte and participated in the chapter’s mentor program for new development professionals.
Brian now resides on John’s Island and enjoys all that Charleston has to offer. In his free time, he loves being outdoors, diving, motorcycling, and traveling.
P: 843.402.4803
Email
Michael Abro
Director of Alumni & Constituent Engagement
Michael Abro is the Director of Alumni & Constituent Engagement. She came from the South Carolina Bar and the Charleston School of Law, where she started and managed their alumni outreach and programming. She is a Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of South Carolina--undergraduate and Masters Degree. She has a Juris Doctor degree from the Charleston School of Law where she is an Adjunct Professor. Michael is also a current Porter-Gaud parent. Her daughter, Elliott, is in the Class of 2032. Michael enjoys bicycling with her family in her spare time.
P: 843.402.4863
Email
Kenton Barham Youngblood '95
Director of Advancement Services
Kenton Barham Youngblood '95 serves as Director of Advancement Services overseeing the day-to-day operations of gift processing, data management and advancement reporting. She has more than 20 years of advancement experience to include: Director of Major Gifts at the College of Charleston; Vice President, Major Gifts and Planned Giving at Trident United Way; Director of Development, the Gibbes Museum of Art; and Executive Director, University of Virginia Club of New York City.
Kenton grew up in Charleston where she graduated from Porter-Gaud School in 1995 before earning a B.A. in American Government from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. She lives on James Island with her husband Jay in a quiet home as their three adult children have flown the coop. When not on campus, Kenton can be found in the kitchen or on the water.
P: 843.402.4686
Email
Kendra Conway
Donor Relations Manager
Kendra Conway serves as the Donor Relations Manager at Porter-Gaud. She has more than 16 years of non-profit experience to include Director of Special Events and Donor Relations at College of Charleston for more than 8 years as well as various roles with Trident United Way, JMC Charleston, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts, and Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Kendra relocated to Charleston in 2012 with her husband Shawn and their two cats. Shawn, a clinical pharmacist, and Kendra met at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. In 2019, they welcomed a daughter, Margot. They live in Mount Pleasant and can be found at the beach on Sullivan's Island in season.
P: 843.402.4852
Email
Mike Olson
Advancement Services Manager
Mike’s diverse experiences include a stint at the Preservation Society of Charleston, school leadership at Trinity Montessori School in West Ashley, and twenty years in the music industry, traveling the globe. He is a graduate of the Blake School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he decided once and for all that winter simply wasn’t his thing. Mike has made a home in Charleston with his wife, his two sons, and a small pack of rescue dogs.
P: 843.402.4734
Email
