35 Midlands leaders graduate from the Riley Institute’s award-winning Diversity program as it reaches new milestone

Class participants join a network of more than 2,500 Riley Fellows across South Carolina.

Thirty-five leaders from across the Midlands have new tools and perspectives to leverage diversity to improve organizational outcomes and drive social and economic progress in South Carolina, gained through their participation in the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI).

These leaders, who graduated from DLI’s fourteenth Midlands class on June 7, took part in intensive discussions and scenario analyses that allowed them to openly examine sensitive issues related to diversity and inclusion with fellow leaders, explore “blind spots,” and gain tools to develop diversity strategies within their own organizations.

Since its inception 19 years ago, DLI has become a cornerstone of Furman University’s Riley Institute. With the graduation of Midlands and Upstate classes this spring, the program has reached a notable milestone with more than 2,500 leaders from across the state having graduated from the program.

“In a time of significant strife both nationally and internationally, it gives me great hope to see so many South Carolina leaders remain committed to driving positive change in their workplaces and communities with the tools they’ve gained in DLI,” said Dr. Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute.

Graduates of DLI become Riley Fellows, members of a powerful cross-sector network of South Carolinians that includes corporate CEOs, legislators, superintendents, religious and nonprofit heads, and business and community leaders.

DLI is facilitated by expert Juan Johnson, who was The Coca-Cola Company’s first-ever vice president for diversity strategy.

Participants are selected through a rigorous application and interview process after being nominated by existing Riley Fellows. They are accepted based on their capacity to create impact within their organizations and communities. Each class is crafted to reflect the diverse demographics in South Carolina.

Class members worked together to develop capstone projects, partnering with nonprofit organizations to respond to real challenges and opportunities in their communities. These nonprofits included Richland County Public Education Partners, Christian Assistance Bridge, Homeless No More, Black Economic Leadership League, and SC Foster Parent Association.

The full roster of Riley Fellows is available online at furman.edu/riley. These are the graduates of the spring 2022 Midlands DLI class: 

Richard Band

• Trustee
• Arras Foundation
• Lancaster

Mark Barnes

• Director of Administration
• SC First Steps
• Columbia

Janet Bell

• Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer
• SC Department of Mental Health
• Columbia

Derek Black

• Professor of Law
• University of South Carolina School of Law
• Columbia

Jake Broom

• Chief Operating Officer
• Municipal Association of South Carolina
• Columbia

Lisa Brown

• Director of Strategy Management
• City of Rock Hill
• Rock Hill

John Bruton

• Attorney
• Nexsen Pruet, LLC
• Columbia

Neal Burkhead

• Vice President
• Palmetto GBA (BlueCross BlueShield)
• Columbia

Quinetta Buterbaugh

• District Manager – Government and Community Relations
• Duke Energy
• Florence

Anita Case

• Chief Executive Officer
• Affinity Health Center
• Rock Hill

Sally Caver

• Attorney
• Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
• Columbia

Jamie Devine

• President and CEO
• Community Assistance Provider
• Columbia

Stephanie Frazier

• Assistant General Manager
• SCETV
• Columbia

Doward Harvin

• Attorney
• Sabb Law Group, LLC
• Kingstree

Hannah Honeycutt

• Executive Director
• SC Access to Justice Commission
• Columbia

Todd Jaeck

• Executive Director
• South Carolina Education Association
• Columbia

Steven Johnson

• Assistant Vice President, Deputy General Counsel
• BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
• Columbia

Matt Kennell

• President and CEO
• City Center Partnership
• Columbia

Dan Koon

• Deputy Commissioner for Consultative Services
• SC Human Affairs Commission
• Columbia

Ashley Lamb

• Manager of HR Programs
• Robinson Gray Stepp & Lafitte, LLC
• Columbia

Lasenta Lewis-Ellis

• President and CEO
• LLE Construction Group, LLC
• Columbia

Sarah Martin

• Vice President, Partner Solutions
• BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
• Columbia

Jack McKenzie

• Attorney
• McDonald, McKenzie, Rubin, Miller & Lybrand, LLP
• Columbia

Alvin Pressley

• Superintendent
• Newberry County School District
• Newberry

Sidney Rex

• CFO
• W. B. Guimarin & Co., Inc.
• Columbia

Monty Robertson

• Director, Alliance for a Healthier SC
• South Carolina Hospital Association
• Columbia

Ron Scott

• Attorney
• Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
• Columbia

Chrysti Shain

• Director of Communications
• SC Department of Corrections
• Columbia

Kimberly Snipes

• YLD & Diversity Coordinator
• South Carolina Bar
• Columbia

Roy Still

• Trustee
• Arras Foundation
• Lancaster

Michael Strange

• Executive Vice President
• Security Federal Bank
• West Columbia

John Thomas

• Chief Diversity Officer
• Self Regional Healthcare
• Greenwood

Meghan Walker

• Executive Director
• South Carolina State Ethics Commission
• Columbia

Megan Weis

• Director of Community Engagement
• SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare
• Columbia

Ericka Wooten

• Director of Diverity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Sisters of Charity Foundation of SC
• Columbia

 

About the Riley Institute at Furman University

Furman University’s Richard W. Riley Institute advances social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond by building leadership for a diverse society, hosting expert speakers to broaden perspectives on critical issues, supporting public education, and creating knowledge through community solutions-focused research. It is committed to nonpartisanship in all it does and to a rhetoric-free, facts-based approach to change. Learn more at furman.edu/riley.