Heather Holmquest is Clear Impact’s Director of Transformation – helping organizations impact greater community change. She joined Clear Impact following her role as President of The Maritime Association of South Carolina. With extensive experience managing non-profit organizations and trade groups, her roles have largely centered around community improvement, developing value added services, generating new revenue streams,  growing organizational presence throughout the community, and serving as a communication conduit to various stakeholders and the public. In 2019, she gave a TED Talk, was selected as one of South Carolina’s Top 11 Women with Vision by SC ETV, and was voted National Transportation Week Leader of the Year.

Prior to joining the Maritime Association, Heather served multiple associations simultaneously, under SmithBucklin Corporation. SmithBucklin is the world’s largest association management company. Sectors served include trades, technology, healthcare and general business.

Over the course of her career, Heather has been an entrepreneur, writer and teacher. Having spent her childhood in a remote part of Japan, she returned to Sapporo mid-career to experience work abroad. Her passion for international business led her to serve in university administration, managing projects for business groups representing a broad range of countries worldwide through various grant programs.

Heather greatly enjoys volunteer work via various non-profit Boards, as well as putting herself up to challenges outside of her comfort zone. Mostly, she loves working with people of various backgrounds and cultures and enjoys community-centric work.