New Directors Appointed to Greenville Area Development Corporation Board

Kent, Justice, Wilkerson Join GADC Board for inaugural terms; Wilkins re-appointed

GREENVILLE, SC – May 8, 2012 – The Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC), the county-chartered organization tasked with promoting and enhancing the economic growth of Greenville County, has announced that prominent business leaders Timothy (Tim) Justice, Mark Kent and Richard (Dick) Wilkerson have been appointed by Greenville County Council to three-year terms on the GADC board, effective June 1^st.   Concurrently, Ambassador David H. Wilkins has been reappointed to serve an additional term on the GADC Board by County Council Chairman Butch Kirven.

Each of these individuals brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and achievement in business and related activities to this board. said Butch Kirven, Greenville County Council Chairman and member of the GADC Board of Directors.

Mark Kent is Chairman of KENTWOOL, an international textile and apparelmanufacturer, and a long-time leader in the domestic manufacturingindustry.  He has held senior leadership roles in the American TextileManufacturers Institute, American Yarn Spinners Association, SouthCarolina Manufacturers Alliance and South Carolina Chamber of Commerce,while also previously serving as a director of the South Carolina StatePorts Authority, the South Carolina Board of Health and EnvironmentalControl, and Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce.  A member of theinaugural class of Liberty Fellows, Mr. Kent has long been active incivic circles, including serving as a director of the American Red CrossUpstate Chapter, Christ Church Episcopal School, and HistoricGreenville Foundation.  He holds a B.A. degree from Wake ForestUniversity.

Timothy R. (Tim) Justice is Chief Executive Officer of Rescom Construction, a leading commercial contractor, which he co-founded in 1989.  He previously worked with both U.S. Shelter Corporation and T. Walter Brashier & Associates after graduating with a B.S. in Accounting from Gardner-Webb University. Long active in civic affairs, Mr. Justice has served on numerous boards including those of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, the Greater Greenville Association of Realtors, Junior Achievement, and the Greenville Homebuilders Association.  He also has served on the national boards of the Homebuilders Association and the Selective Service System, and currently chairs the Education Council for the United Way of Greenville.   His company was named 2011 Small Business of the Year by the Greenville Chamber and has been cited as one of South Carolina’s 25 Fastest-Growing Companies.

Richard (Dick) Wilkerson served as Chairman and President of Michelin North America from 2008 to 2011, prior to which he held numerous other leadership positions during his 31 years with Michelin in the United States, France and Scotland. He earned a civil engineering degree from Duke University and enjoyed a 12-year career with Procter & Gamble in manufacturing, engineering and human resources before joining Michelin North America.  He is past chairman and director of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Yellowstone Park Foundation, and has served on the Clemson University President’s Advisory Board and the University of South Carolina National Advisory Council. Very active in the Greenville community, Mr. Wilkerson has served as Chairman of the United Way of Greenville County Board of Trustees and on the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation of Greenville, the Greenville Urban League, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the University Center and the Greenville Symphony.

Ambassador Wilkins, a partner in law firm of Nelson, Mullins, Riley, and Scarborough LLP, served as the U. S. Ambassador to Canada from June 2005 to January 2009.  Prior to that, he served as Speaker of the S. C. House of Representatives from December 1994 until June 2005.  A life trustee of Clemson University, Ambassador Wilkins is currently chairman of the Clemson University Board of Trustees. Mr. Wilkins received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University and his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. After service in the U.S. Army, he returned to Greenville, where he has practiced law for more than 30 years.

The new directors succeed outgoing directors Susan Hoag, Mike Buiter and Jay Rogers, each of whom completed their terms on the Board. Mr. Kirven expressed appreciation to the outgoing directors for their service on the Board and to the community. Ms. Hoag, Mr. Buiter and Mr. Rogers have played a significant role in helping move forward Greenville’s economic development mission, and for that we are immensely grateful, said Kirven.

The Greenville Area Development Corporation is a non-profit organization established by Greenville County Council to promote and enhance the economic growth and development of Greenville County.  Since its founding in 2001, GADC efforts have resulted in the creation of more than 15,000 new jobs and more than $2.6 billion in capital investment in Greenville County, SC.  To learn more, visit www.goGADC.com or call (864) 235-2008.