The Fine Arts Center Partners welcomed four new board members

The Fine Arts Center Partners welcomed four new members to its Board of Directors, adding a diverse range of expertise in arts education, nonprofit leadership, architecture, business and community engagement to the organization supporting the Fine Arts Center of Greenville County Schools.

Joining the board are Joshua Powell, Karen Sobocinski, Ryan Hamilton and Brad Smith. Together, the new board members bring deep ties to the Upstate community and a shared commitment to supporting the Fine Arts Center and its students.

“We are excited to welcome Joshua, Karen, Ryan and Brad to the Fine Arts Center Partners board,” said Jessica Hayes, Executive Director of The Fine Arts Center Partners. “Each of them brings a unique perspective, impressive professional experience and a genuine passion for the arts and for our community. Their leadership will help us continue building awareness and support for the Fine Arts Center and the extraordinary opportunities it provides students.”

Joshua Powell (ex-officio)

Powell brings more than two decades of experience in arts education, leadership and student advocacy to the board. He currently serves as Assistant Director of the Fine Arts Center, following more than a decade as Visual & Performing Arts Coordinator for Anderson County School District Five.

Throughout his career, Powell has worked to expand access to high-quality arts opportunities and support student and teacher development. He founded the Anderson Five Arts Consortium and has held numerous leadership roles in arts education, including with the South Carolina Art Education Association and Palmetto State Arts Education. He has also served in a variety of roles at Southwood Academy of the Arts and as a visual arts educator and program leader with the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities and Converse University.

His contributions to arts education have earned numerous honors, including Anderson School District Five Teacher of the Year, the South Carolina Art Education Association’s Art Educator of the Year and the Karen Wheeler Distinguished Service Award.

Karen Sobocinski

A Furman University graduate and longtime member of the Upstate community, Sobocinski brings nonprofit board experience and a strong passion for arts education to the Partners board.

A proud Cuban American, Sobocinski returned to Greenville after nearly a decade in Miami and has remained actively involved in the community. Her commitment to arts education was inspired in part by her daughter Camila’s experiences in theater and choir, as well as the mentoring that the Fine Arts Center faculty offered her.

Sobocinski previously served on the Greenville Symphony Board and brings experience in nonprofit governance, relationship-building, fundraising and advocacy. She is passionate about helping ensure exceptional arts education remains accessible to future generations of students.

Ryan Hamilton

Hamilton is a Greenville native with more than 20 years of experience in the consumer products industry, including roles as a toy designer, retail store owner and executive. He currently serves as CEO of Plus-Plus USA and Head of Product Development for Plus-Plus A/S, an international toy company with its U.S. office in Greenville.

Hamilton has also served on the vestry of Village Anglican Church and currently serves on the board of directors of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, where he is treasurer and incoming chair.

A graduate of Hillcrest High School, Hamilton was deeply involved in visual arts and choral performance as a student. His family also has a strong connection to the Fine Arts Center: his two older children studied architecture at the school, and his youngest child began the Jazz Voice program in Fall 2026.

Brad Smith, AIA, NCARB

Smith is a three-time Clemson University graduate and founding principal of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, one of the Southeast’s leading architecture firms. A Spartanburg native and Greenville resident, he has more than 30 years of experience in architecture, with work spanning higher education, healthcare, civic, commercial and community spaces.

Smith has been particularly involved with Clemson University, serving as principal-in-charge for projects including the restoration and expansion of Lee Hall.

Deeply committed to civic and professional service, Smith has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Clemson Architectural Foundation and Clemson Alumni Association. He is a past chairman of South Carolina’s State Board of Architectural Examiners and received Clemson’s Distinguished Service Award in 2023 in recognition of his professional accomplishments, mentorship, volunteerism and service to the university.

Smith is also a graduate of the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Initiative, through which he helped lead a financial literacy program for children in grades 4–6. His leadership and advocacy for United Way of Greenville County initiatives helped McMillan Pazdan Smith earn the organization’s 2021 “Rising Star Engagement” recognition following firmwide participation in community service initiatives.

In 2026, Smith was named a SCBIZ ICON, recognizing his lasting impact on his profession, organizations and communities.

About Fine Arts Center Partners

The Fine Arts Center Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and increasing the visibility of the Fine Arts Center of Greenville County Schools. The organization works to champion the value of the Fine Arts Center, cultivate community support and help secure the resources necessary for the school and its students to thrive. For more information, visit FACPartners.org