Columbia Chamber’s 2020 Leadership Columbia Class
August 13, 2019
63 Local Individuals in 47th Class of Chamber’s Leadership Program
Leadership Columbia, a Columbia Chamber program, presented by BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina, for emerging and existing leaders in the Midlands, is pleased to announce the Leadership Columbia Class of 2020. The 63 individuals will be the 47th graduating class since the program was founded in 1972.
“The Chamber’s Leadership Columbia program attracts a more diverse pool of applicants each year,” says Columbia Chamber President and CEO, Carl Blackstone. “The synergy of this year’s class will have a lasting impact on our region,” continued Blackstone.
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 2,000 graduates.
Leadership Columbia Class of 2019-2020 Class Roster:
| Kassy | Alia Ray | Serve and Connect | |
| Heather | Allison | Colonial Life | |
| John | Andoh | Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority | |
| Nick | Annan | Elliott Davis | |
| Suzanne | Apgar | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | |
| Luciana | Areheart | TD BANK | |
| Chad | Bacote | Gilbane Building Company | |
| Davis | Baxley | Rogers Townsend & Thomas, PC | |
| Gary A. | Bethea | Bethea Family Dentistry | |
| Jennifer | Bowen | Columbia Skin Clinic | |
| Eleanor | Boyd | MIdlands Fatherhood Coalition | |
| Sara | Brown | South Carolina Association of Realtors | |
| John | Bruton | Nexsen Pruet, LLC | |
| Lisa | Burgess | Wells Fargo | |
| Marian | Burgess | South Carolina Air National Guard | |
| Kyle | Caldwell | SC Department of Corrections | |
| Chase | Campolong | Landmark Builders | |
| Tony | Carimi | Synovus Bank | |
| Kelsey | Carter | The Camp Cole Foundation, Inc. | |
| Trey | Cauthen | Founders Federal Credit Union | |
| Margaret | Clarkson | LS3P | |
| Rikki | Craven | Heathwood Hall Episcopal School | |
| Bryant | Davis | Richland County Government | |
| Lisa | Davis | State of SC/ DHEC | |
| Brad | Davis | McCrory Construction Company | |
| Jarrett | Dowling | Experience Columbia SC Sports | |
| Melony | Drye | Colonial Life/Unum | |
| Kenneth | Givens | Miller-Valentine Construction | |
| Megan | Graham | Find Great People | |
| Pamela | Griffin | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | |
| Amanda | Grover | Aflac | |
| Marlena | Harris | Palmetto GBA | |
| Tabitha | Heck | United Way of the Midlands | |
| Ambra | Hiott | University of South Carolina, Student Life | |
| Kurt | Kuchenbrod | Schmoyer and Company, LLC | |
| Anne | Langley | SC Education Lottery | |
| Vivian | Martinez | Agape Hospice | |
| John | Metts | Wilson Kibler | |
| Sara | Middleton | LTC Health Solutions | |
| Kathleen | Muthig | Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA | |
| Clarke | Newton | Bluestein Attorneys | |
| Zachary | Ogle | South Carolina Air National Guard | |
| Brittney | Oliver | Webster University | |
| Punam | Patel | LTC Health Solutions | |
| Brooks | Patterson | Beam and Hinge | |
| Stephanie | Pfeiffer | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | |
| Derrek | Pugh | South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy | |
| Stephanie | Reely | American Cancer Society | |
| Jonilynn | Reyes | South Carolina Air National Guard | |
| Andrew | Rogerson | Garvin Design Group | |
| Rebecca | Roodhouse | McEntire Joint National Guard Base, SC | |
| Donna | Salais | Palmetto GBA | |
| Will | Schenk | Engenuity | |
| Rhonda T | Sherman | Webster University | |
| Braden | Shockley | Trinity Partners | |
| Marc H. | Shook | University of South Carolina | |
| J. Caroline | Smith | South Carolina State Library | |
| Hunter E. | Suggs | Colliers International SC, Inc. | |
| Megan | Thomas | Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of SC | |
| Ann | Thomason | ERA Wilder Realty | |
| Lizzie | Tinker | Elliott Davis | |
| Lisle | Traywick, III | Robinson Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC | |
| Karen | Wilson | Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation | |
“We are thrilled to introduce the Class of 2020. This year’s class dynamic represents a broad cross section of talent.” says Rachel Popkowski, Chair of the Leadership Columbia Advisory Board (LCAB), “The class exhibits a desire to lead and highlight the positive changes in 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.
About Leadership Columbia
Leadership Columbia is an educational program offered through the Columbia Chamber. The 10-month program provides emerging and existing leaders in the Midlands area with an opportunity to enhance their civic knowledge and network. For over 45 years, Leadership Columbia has helped participants better understand the local community, while building relationships with the region’s current and future leaders.
For more information on Leadership Columbia, visit www.ColumbiaChamber.com or contact Charlotte Bian-Lingle at 803.733.1146.
About the Columbia Chamber
The Columbia Chamber is a private, non-profit, partner-driven organization comprised of 1,200 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry and Richland counties. The Columbia Chamber serves as the voice of its partners and the business community at large on matters of economic, educational, social, cultural and political concern, as well as supports and promotes the success of its partners through networking, professional development, advocacy and leadership. The organization has represented the interests of the local business community since 1902.
To become a partner or to learn more about the Columbia Chamber, as well as its events, programs and initiatives, visit www.ColumbiaChamber.com.
