Lowcountry leaders become Riley Diversity Fellows

December 13, 2019

The Riley Institute at Furman has announced that 41 leaders from the Lowcountry and surrounding area have completed the Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI) class.

DLI class members are identified through a rigorous process including nomination, application and interview.  Individuals are selected to join the class based on their capacity to impact their organizations and communities.

Over the past five months, participants have examined sensitive issues related to diversity and inclusion, explored “blind spots,” and discussed how to suspend assumptions. Program designer and facilitator Juan Johnson, a former Coca-Cola vice president with a deep and varied background in issues of diversity and inclusion, has led each of the DLI classes since the program’s inception in 2003.

As part of the program, participants worked in small, cross-sector groups to respond to real issues and opportunities in their communities through service projects.

The projects from this class focus on connecting at-risk students to local businesses and access to shadowing and internship opportunities; establishing a personal mentoring program for vulnerable children; addressing transportation challenges for community members who need to access medical care; supporting people in need with food and personal care products through an easily accessible outdoor public pantry; and raising awareness of the widespread lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, and encouraging the South Carolina legislature to make hygiene products more affordable by exempting them from sales tax.

“I watched in admiration as these leaders raised thoughtful questions and encouraged courageous vulnerability,” said Don Gordon, executive director of The Riley Institute. “I am excited to see how their committed leadership will help drive progress in their communities and organizations.”

DLI graduates become Riley Fellows, members of a powerful, cross-sector, statewide leadership network that includes CEOs of corporations, mayors, city and county council members, legislators, school superintendents, pastors and rabbis, non-profit heads, chamber of commerce directors and community leaders.

In addition to the Lowcountry, DLI classes are selected annually in the Upstate and Midlands.

Each class is crafted to reflect the diverse demographics in South Carolina.

The full roster of Riley Fellows is available online at riley.furman.edu. These are the leaders selected for the 14th Lowcountry DLI class:

 

Todd Abedon

Principal

Chartwell Holdings

Sullivan’s Island

 

Tui Allen

Senior Director of Product Management

Blackbaud

Charleston

 

Rick Baumann

Founder

Murrells Inlet Seafood

Murrells Inlet

 

Beth Bernstein

Representative & Attorney

SC House of Representatives &

Bernstein & Bernstein

Columbia

 

Nadia Bornfleth

Director of Training & Professional Development

Advanced Technology International (ATI)

Summerville

 

Catherine Brack

Director of Development

Charleston Gaillard Center

Charleston

 

Ron Brinson

Member of City Council

City of North Charleston

North Charleston

 

Kate Buckholz

Senior Program Manager

Blackbaud

Charleston

 

Andrew Connor

Partner

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Charleston

 

Johnny Davis

Director, Jasper County Parks & Recreation

Jasper County Government

Hardeeville

 

Patrice Davis

VP for Student Services

Trident Technical College

North Charleston

 

Tom Davis

Senator

South Carolina Senate

Beaufort

 

Jeffrey Fleming

Chief Operating Officer

Palmetto Project

North Charleston

 

Timothy Goodwin

Mayor

City of Folly Beach

Folly Beach

 

Audrey Hopkins Williams

Maven, Hampton County

SC Arts Commission

Estill

 

Shayna Howell

VP of Communications

League of Women Voters Charleston Area

Folly Beach

 

Deon Jackson

Senior Associate Superintendent

Berkeley County School District

Moncks Corner

 

Amber Johnson

Diversity, Racial Reconciliation, &

Tolerance Manager

City of Charleston

Charleston

 

Anna B. Johnson

County Council Member

Charleston County

Charleston

 

Stephanie Kelley

Executive Director

East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO)

Mount Pleasant

 

Lana Kleiman

Executive Director

Charleston Legal Access

Charleston

 

Anna Lewin

CEO

SC Community Loan Fund

Charleston

 

Glenn Marcus

Director of Global Sourcing

Ingevity

North Charleston

 

Matt Mardell

Director

Colleton County Museum

Walterboro

 

Reggie McNeil

Executive Director Capital Programs

Charleston County School District

North Charleston

 

Nichole Myles

Executive Director

Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

Charleston

 

Al Panu

Chancellor

USC Beaufort

Bluffton

 

Rikki Parker

South Coast Office Director

South Carolina Coastal Conservation League

Beaufort

 

Darrick Paul

Chief People Officer

MUSC Health

Charleston

 

Amy Prock

Chief of Police

Myrtle Beach Police Department

Myrtle Beach

 

Ashley Redmond

Executive Director/Chief Development Officer

Roper St. Francis Healthcare

Charleston

 

Luther Reynolds

Chief of Police

Charleston City Police Department

Charleston

 

Sharon Richardson

Land Protection and Community Engagement Consultant

Charleston

 

Jeremy Rutledge

Senior Minister

Circular Congregational Church

Charleston

 

Ian Scott

SVP – Government Relations

Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

North Charleston

 

Scott Sharp

Regional Vice President

TD Bank

Charleston

 

Victoria Smalls

Director of History & Culture,

Program Development Director, & Assistant to the Executive Director

Penn Center

Helena Island

 

Angie Stone

Human Resources Director

Town of Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island

 

Hank Taylor

Chairman

Dorchester Economic Development Corporation

Summerville

 

Carolee Williams

Strategic Planning and Project Management Principal

Columbia

 

Melvin Williams

VP/Senior Business Developer

S&ME, Inc.

Mt. Pleasant

 

For more information, contact Riley Institute Deputy Director Jacki Martin at 864-294-3578, and jacki.martin@furman.edu.