ABOUT LESLIE RODGERS

Hello, I'm Leslie Rodgers

I'm running because I believe Spartanburg can grow in a way that protects the quality of life and natural beauty we all value. With thoughtful planning, our community can thrive for generations to come.

As your councilmember, I will:

Guide smart growth that strengthens neighborhoods without losing what makes Spartanburg special.
Leverage my background in business development and sustainability to make responsible, forward-looking decisions.
Ensure efficient, fiscally responsible, and transparent city government.
Protect Spartanburg's affordability and quality of life.
Listen to neighbors and bring people to together to solve challenges.

I would be honored to earn your vote on November 4th.

Empowerment through Representation

Spartanburg is experiencing tremendous growth, but are we building a city that can last?

As a sustainability business development professional and mom of three who has called District 2 home for years, Leslie brings a unique perspective on how to manage growth responsibly while preserving what makes our community special.

Rooted in the Community

Leslie Rodgers is running for Spartanburg City Council District 2, bringing her background in sustainability, business development, and community advocacy to the table.

Leslie is committed to being a voice for the citizens of District 2 and building a resilient, welcoming Spartanburg for all.

About Me.

Leslie has led business development, marketing strategies, and policy initiatives nationwide, including as Director of Sales & Marketing at Spartanburg-founded Atlas Organics. Her work has focused on building sustainable communities, launching new markets, and connecting businesses and municipalities with practical environmental solutions.

As a mother of three and active community volunteer, Leslie is passionate about ensuring Spartanburg’s growth is supported by thoughtful infrastructure planning, long-term preservation of natural resources, and policies that prioritize all neighborhoods—not just downtown. She envisions a city that thrives beyond the short term, with sustainable growth that benefits families, businesses, and future generations.

Professional Background

2025- Current

Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
Marketing & Communications Director

BPI is North America’s leading authority on compostable products, advancing a circular bioeconomy by promoting trust in compostability through certification, education, and policy.

As Marketing & Communications Director, I lead content strategy, media relations, partnerships, and event communications to elevate BPI’s mission and support policy advocacy. I oversee member engagement, manage communications for BPI’s annual industry summit, and collaborate across teams to amplify the organization’s impact and reach.

2024-2025

Forest Carbon Works

VP of Sales

Leslie led a 10-person, cross-functional team that more than doubled annual forestland acreage under conservation by adding 100,000+ acres in 2024 for high-integrity carbon credits, valued at $6.6 million in annual revenue. This required supporting a go-to-market strategy development of an evolving product in an emerging industry while maintaining the highest integrity of the value chain, optimizing sales processes, and driving adoption in untested customer segments. Invested heavily in cross-team collaboration to build effectiveness, improve the value proposition of the product while building market share to ultimately support the company’s conservation-for-profit mission.

2023- Current

Leslie Rodgers Consulting, LLC

Owner & Founder

Leslie supports clients develop and implement sustainability strategies that drive environmental, social, and economic impact by assessing operations, recommending sustainable solutions, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

2016-2023

Atlas Organics

Director of Sales & Marketing
VP of Sales
Director of Education & Business Development
Education Director & Compost House Coordinator

Over seven years with Atlas Organics, I helped grow a Spartanburg-based composting startup into a national organics recycling company later acquired by Generate Capital. I led strategic initiatives across education, business development, sales, marketing, and policy to expand composting access, drive revenue, and strengthen brand leadership in the circular economy.

As Director of Sales & Marketing, I managed a 13-person team across 14 commercial facilities, overseeing brand strategy, policy engagement, and communications during major acquisitions and facility launches.

As Vice President of Sales, I guided rapid multi-state expansion—from five to twelve facilities handling over 400,000 tons of organics annually—while launching retail and direct-to-consumer strategies.

Earlier, as Director of Education & Business Development, I built Atlas’s educational outreach and partnership portfolio, doubling commercial collection and tripling residential participation through innovative community programs and institutional collaborations.

Throughout my tenure, I played a key role in scaling Atlas’s operational footprint, developing new markets, and integrating the company into Generate Capital’s broader waste-to-value platform.

Atlas Organics was the 2018 James B. Thompson Small Business of the Year for Spartanburg

2012-2016

Viridian International Management

Viridian Associate

Viridian Energy was a socially responsible renewable energy company that offered solar, electric and natural gas products in markets across the United States. The goal was to make renewable energy accessible and affordable to everyone - "Power with Purpose".

Leslie acquired customers for renewable energy services to increase the collective impact of the mission and drive market growth for renewable energy.

2009-2010

Marquee Merchandise

Online Sales Manager

Leslie managed the online sales of theater merchandise for Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. She handled the processing and completion of online orders, customer service needs and maintained the proper inventory of merchandise.

Family

Our community, our families, and our homes reflect what we invest in them.

As a family, we value travel and shared experiences that broaden our perspective and strengthen our sense of home, helping us nurture our roots with greater understanding.

In this moment, I feel strongly called to serve at the local level — in a non-partisan, solutions-focused role that fosters connection, community, and respect for natural resources that make our home beautiful.

I’m motivated to show my children and their peers the importance of investing in each other and shaping the place we call home.

- Leslie