Southworth Development, which focuses on sustainable community and golf development, appointed Eleanor Brown as director of sustainability. An experienced force in the sustainability industry, Brown brings her passion for environmental stewardship to the new role, where she will oversee Southworth Development’s ongoing sustainability efforts and the implementation of new initiatives across the brand’s collection of private club communities.
“We are excited to have Eleanor join our growing Southworth family and we look forward to seeing the impact she will make on our communities,” Southworth Development president Tommy Southworth said. “Her presence ensures our strategic vision maintains an innovative ‘sustainability-first mindset’ from the onset of any new project, development, or initiative.”
Brown joins the Southworth Development leadership team with a focus on renewable energy and water preservation, having practiced as an attorney in both Louisiana and California. Combined with an LL.M. from the University of California, Berkeley with a focus on energy storage for water conservation, a J.D. from Louisiana State University and a B.A. in marine science and environmental studies from the University of San Diego, Brown’s experience bridges the gap between environmental concerns and its application in business and policy, paving the way for private developers to leverage more sustainable practices as competitive business advantages.
As director of sustainability, Brown will spearhead Southworth Development’s advancement as a leader in the sustainable golf course industry and among private communities — ensuring all new acquisitions are meeting the brand’s sustainability standards from the start. With a wealth of environmental knowledge and expertise, she will strengthen and expand the brand’s already noteworthy sustainability initiatives, ultimately setting an ambitious standard among residential community developers.
Brown joins a company that is already well ahead of the curve in terms of sustainable practices, including Audubon Society status at Creighton Farms and the UK equivalent at their Machrihanish Dunes course in Western Scotland — one of the most sustainable golf courses in the world. The acclaimed property was the first 18-hole golf course to earn a GEO certification in the United Kingdom. The pesticide-free true links course relies on rainwater instead of traditional water irrigation systems and uses a uniquely charming method of maintaining the course: employing local sheep to graze on the grass.
Another Southworth residence club, The Abaco Club in The Bahamas, promotes sustainable water practices by utilizing reverse osmosis throughout the entire property, providing fresh water to neighboring communities, and growing its solar energy use year over year.
Southworth communities already work with local foundations on philanthropic initiatives, promote regenerative irrigation, support native plants and wildlife, compost golf course clippings, and repurpose elements from the surrounding environment in building and design.
