Columbia Chamber announces 2024 Leadership Columbia Class
September 7, 2023
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 2024. The 63 individuals will be the 51st graduating class since the program was founded in 1972.
“The Chamber is excited to welcome a new class of professionals to our Leadership Columbia program,” says Columbia Chamber President and CEO, Carl Blackstone. “With over 2,200 members in the alumni network, our next class joins an elite group of leaders,” 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.
Leadership Columbia Class of 2023-2024 Class Roster:
- Aaron Simmons, First Heritage Mortgage
- Adrienne Turner, Colonial Life
- Alexis Terry-Mouzon, Johnson & Wilson Real Estate
- Alexis Wood, Central Carolina Community Foundation
- Amanda Myers, Richland Library
- Andrea Peterman, AgFirst Farm Credit Bank
- Andreas Mosby, Fisher & Phillips
- Aneesah Deen-Carlos, Lexington Medical Center
- Angel Payne, South Carolina Federal Credit Union
- Angela Yong Sellers, FIT Columbia
- Anna Peterson, Columbia Chamber
- Ashley Olayinka, The Hive Community Circle
- Ashley Nielsen, Colonial Life
- Ashley Gee, SAFE Federal Credit Union
- Audra Hawisher, Evening Post Industries
- Bobby Thompson, First Citizens Bank
- Courtney Buzan, University of South Carolina
- Darius Smith, Westinghouse Electric Company
- Deja Vaughn, United Way of the Midlands
- Dexter Price, Complete Software Solutions
- Ed Simmons, Central Midlands Council of Governments
- Eli Long, Mark Anthony Brewing
- Emily James, Find Great People
- Erica Staley, Serve and Connect
- Erin McBride, Chernoff Newman
- Erin Watkins, Bank of America
- Essie Sellers, Benedict College
- Haley Saxby, Robinson Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC
- Harrison Vance, Unum
- Hunter Sox, First Tuesday Strategies
- Jay Little, Forward Counseling
- Jenna Shrader, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Jennifer Dowell, Palmetto GBA/BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Jennifer Webb, SAFE Federal Credit Union
- Jessica Burton, Friendly Atmosphere Mentoring
- John Patrick Connell, First Citizens Bank
- John Strong, Pulliam Restoration
- Jordan Goetzman, Queensborough National Bank & Trust
- Kathryn Ross, Blanchard Machinery
- Katie Glanton, Georgia-Pacific
- Katie Welborn Hagan, Conservation Voters of South Carolina
- Kelly Brown, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Dr. Kim Moore, Richland School District Two
- Kourtney Moody, PepsiCo-Pepsi Beverages of N. America
- Michelle Chapman, Mauldin & Jenkins
- Monica McCoy, Monica Motivates
- Natalie Webb, Wells Fargo
- Nicole Hendricks Woods, Encompass Rehab Hospital Columbia
- Patrice Jenkins, KRJ Consulting
- Rachel Bashor, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
- Rachel Hair, First Community Bank
- Rahkeem Jenkins, South Carolina Air National Guard
- Raymond Prince, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
- Brooks Wright, Rogers Townsend, LLC
- Ryan Patane, D’Alberto, Graham & Grimsley, LLC
- Sara Grace Bailey, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Stig Rasmussen, Fact Forward
- Sydney Byrd, South Carolina Air National Guard
- Tanika Epps, City Year Columbia
- T. Todd Simon, Simon Wray Group
- Travis Basnett, Hussey Gay Bell
- Tyra Burch, Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union
- Wade Sellers, Coal Powered Film Works
“We are excited to introduce the Class of 2024, the Chamber’s 51st Leadership Columbia class,” said Maggie Dittmar, M. B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc. and Leadership Columbia Advisory Board (LCAB) chair. “The individuals in this class have demonstrated their commitment to creating positive change by being bold community leaders and we are honored to have them join our Leadership Columbia network.”
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 50 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 Mary Beth Sanderson at 803.733.1124.
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.
