As President and CEO of Milliken Advisors, Trip Chavis leads the firm with a focus on long-term stewardship, disciplined strategy, and client-centered decision-making. He works closely with landowners, investors, and institutional clients to align land management strategies with financial performance, sustainability objectives, and generational planning. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Trip brings deep expertise in forest management, natural resource advisory, and organizational leadership. Under his leadership, Milliken Advisors has expanded beyond traditional forestry services to include certification, natural capital strategies, and integrated nature-based solutions, positioning the firm to meet the evolving needs of modern landowners while honoring its long-standing legacy.
Trip began his career with Milliken in 1994 as a forest technician before founding Global Mapping Solutions, LLC, where he provided GPS and GIS services for utility infrastructure across the United States. He returned to Milliken in 2003, leading technological advancements and innovative timber inventory solutions, and was promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2010 before being named Chief Executive Officer in 2014. Trip earned a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resource Management from Clemson University and is actively involved in professional and civic leadership, including service as Chairman of the South Carolina Association of Consulting Foresters, Chairman of the Congaree Land Trust and Vice Chair of Sustain SC. Trip is also a founding board member of the SC Forest Landowners Advocacy Guild and a Fellow of the Shi Institute Sustainability Leadership Initiative. He serves as an active Elder at Unity Church of Lake Murray and resides in Little Mountain, South Carolina with his wife, Melissa, and their son.