Columbia Chamber announces 2017-2018 Leadership Columbia Class
August 30, 2017
62 Local Individuals in 45th Class of Chamber’s Leadership Program
Leadership Columbia, a Columbia Chamber program for emerging and existing leaders in the Midlands, is pleased to announce the Leadership Columbia Class of 2018. The 62 individuals will be the 45th graduating class since the program was founded in 1972.
“Each year the applicants of the Chamber’s Leadership Columbia program raise the bar,” says Columbia Chamber President and CEO, Carl Blackstone, “These diverse individuals will go on to make tremendous contributions in our region and for our community.”
This group will engage in a 10-month curriculum including monthly class day sessions, a retreat, a class project and a variety of enrichment activities around the area. Since its inception, Leadership Columbia has celebrated more than 1,900 graduates.
Leadership Columbia Class of 2017-2018 Class Roster:
- Lakia Bass | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- William B. Beaman | Colliers International
- Elizabeth Black | Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
- Caleb Bryant | Central Electric Power Cooperative
- Laura Burns | Seed Architecture, LLC
- James Byars | Nexsen Pruet
- Janet Carlson | Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge
- Demetria Carswell | SCDHHS
- Alexandra Cebry | Columbia City Ballet
- Jeff Colfer | Chernoff Newman
- Russell Comeaux | Aflac Incorporated
- Bethany Dadisman | Colonial Life
- Chad Dial | Bell Carrington and Price, LLC
- Melissa Dunn | United Way of the Midlands
- Margaret Deans Fawcett | Transitions Homeless Center
- Robin Free | Palmetto GBA
- Nicholas Galante | The Animal Mission of the Midlands
- Susan Gilfillan | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Hall Gladden | Colite International, LTD
- Michael Glenn | TD Bank
- Hunter Gordy | Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation
- Brennon D. Graham | Growing Home Southeast, Inc.
- Heyward Harvin | The City of Columbia
- Mary Dell Hayes | Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands
- Chase Heatherly | Free Times/Evening Post Industries
- Jon Hethcox | Aflac
- Elizabeth Hutton | SCANA Corporation
- Ashley Jaillette | South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners
- Erika Johnson | EDENS
- Merrell D. Johnson | South Carolina Judicial Department
- Kelli Salters Kelly | Growing Home Southeast
- Janie Kerzan | University of South Carolina
- Lee Ann Kornegay | 701 Whaley & LA Kornegay, Media Productions
- Adam Lee | The CFO Project
- Jesica Mackey | HDR
- Lisa Mathew | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Shayla Merrit | Stevens & Wilkinson
- Sam Monroe | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Chip Murrell | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
- Matthew Nichols | Founders Federal Credit Union
- Patrick Olson | Colonial Life
- Connelly-Anne Ragley | MasterCard
- Mal Reeder | Midlands Technical College
- Rachel Robinson | SCANA Corporation
- Aubrey Lynne Sejuit | Lenoir-Rhyne University – Center for Graduate Studies
- Sue Ann (Susie) Shannon | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Bradley Shell | Peach Properties
- Betsy Sippel | LTC Health Solutions
- Samantha Skeeter | South Carolina Department of Revenue
- Shawn Skillman | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Lauren Smith | Holder Properties
- Robert C. Squirewell | Rescare / SC Works
- Selia Straus | Sagacious Partners
- Daniella Surginer | Army Reserve
- Angel E. Sweeting | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Justine Tate | Adams and Reese LLP
- Samantha Vasknetz | Wolfe Solutions
- Emily Washburn | Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
- La Shonda R. Wilson | Salient CRGT
- Kimberly Wilson | Estates Management Company
- Lara Winburn | WREN
- Becky Wych | United Way of the Midlands
“We are thrilled to introduce the Class of 2018. This year’s class is an outstanding group of dynamic individuals,” says Marshall Minton, 2017-2018 Chair of the Leadership Columbia Advisory Board (LCAB), “This Class has a growing desire to lead and become change-agents for our community.”
The class was chosen from combined application and interview scores, each marked by separate groups of Leadership Columbia Alumni. The selection criteria included civic involvement, leadership potential, diversity of perspective and commitment to the leadership program and the community.
