Who We Are
We partner with communities, boards, academic institutions, health systems, nonprofits, and others to tackle what matters most locally—especially the factors that shape health like public health, behavioral health, workforce, and more.
At the core, we bring the right people to the same table, help everyone get on the same page, and turn ideas into real, lasting change. It’s about building genuine collaboration so the solutions don’t just work for now—they stick.
Laura Bogardus
Co-PresidentLaura S. Bogardus, Ph.D., SHRM, SCP, is Co-president of Side by Side Strategies, LLC, specializing in organizational and community strategy consulting. Previously, she was Associate Director at Clemson University’s Addiction and Mental Health Research Center, focusing on opioid use disorder abatement in South Carolina.
Laura is an expert in community planning and program implementation, with extensive experience in organizational strategy and change facilitation across nonprofit, private, and public sectors. She is active in the nonprofit community, teaching at Converse College and serving on several boards. In 2022, she received the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Unsung Hero Award.
Laura is a Marano Fellow of the Aspen Institute, a Certified Senior Human Resource Professional, a Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner, and trained in civil mediation. She holds a Ph.D. in International Family and Community Studies, an M.A. in Human Behavior and Conflict Management, and a B.A. in Political Science. Her academic achievements include several prestigious awards.
Jessica Seel
Co-PresidentJessica Seel, MPH, is the Co-president of Side by Side Strategies, LLC, where she leads efforts to enhance mental health and substance use outcomes in rural communities through collaboration and data-driven planning.
Recognized for her networking skills, she has built a statewide network across public health and rural development sectors. Jessica has facilitated the creation of behavioral health coalitions in South Carolina, helping communities address local needs and implement community-based solutions.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Columbia College and a Master of Public Health from the University of South Carolina. Jessica serves as Executive Director of the South Carolina Public Health Association, President of 3RNET, and is on several boards, including Westview Behavioral Health and the South Carolina Suicide Prevention Coalition. She also co-directs the MUSC Community Opioid Response Initiative ECHO program.