Over two dozen Midlands residents selected for Leadership SC Class of 2023

Over two dozen Midlands residents have been selected for the Class of 2023 of Leadership South Carolina, the state’s oldest and most-respected leadership development organization. Each year some 50 participants demonstrating exceptional commitment to their communities are selected from more than 300 applicants to participate in the nine-month program to learn about critical issues facing the state.

Members of the Class of 2023 from the Midlands include:

• Kelly Barbrey, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Experience Columbia S.C.;
• Shireese Bell, Public Information Director for S.C. Commission for Minority Affairs;
• Caitlin Cothran, Manager for Local Revenue Services at Municipal Association of S.C.;
• Kendra Dove, Richland County’s Deputy Treasurer;
• Mechelle English, Vice President of Advancement at Aiken Technical College;
• Sh’Kur Francis, Public Information Officer for Bamberg County;
• Charlie Genova, Director of Palmetto GBA;
• Brenda Gadson, Senior Custody and Liquidity Officer at the S.C. Retirement Systems Investment Commission;
• Christopher Greggs, Associate Vice President of Human Resources for the South Carolina Technical College System; and
• Caroline Hinson, Product Manager at S.C. Education Lottery.

S.C. Representative Jermaine Johnson is also a member of the class as are Porter Johnson, Director of Area Transmission Operations at BHEGT&S Carolina Gas Transmission and Major General Jeff Jones with the S.C. National Guard. Jessica Jones, Public Assistance Program Manager with SCEMD is also a member of the class as is Major Josh Land with the S.C. National Guard.

Other class participants from the Midlands include Mary Kate Mackie, Associate Lobbyist for the Southern Group of S.C., Josh Morton, Director of Saluda County Emergency Management Division, Austin McVay, Commercial Relations Manager at United Community Bank, John Roberts, a partner with Burr & Forman Law Firm, and Colonel Jim Roth with the S.C. National Guard. Craig Sorensen, President of S.C. Water Utilities, and April Sampson, Circuit Deputy Solicitor, are participating as well.

Major Ben Thornton of the S.C. National Guard, Trey Webster, Computer Operations Manager of BlueCross BlueShield of S.C., Carolee Williams, Commissioner at the S.C. Public Service Commission, and Megan Wood, Mass Care and COOP Program Manager at SCEMD is also participating.

For 40 years, Leadership South Carolina has helped create new generations of leaders as the only leadership program dealing with issues facing all of South Carolina. Its 1,500 graduates include former governors as well as other statewide and local elected officials, business and academic leaders and leaders of non-profits.

In recent years Leadership South Carolina class projects have raised more than a half-million dollars for efforts ranging from drop-out prevention and senior care to fostering literacy and combating hunger. The Class of 2022 partnered with DIG to raise funds for a one-day “Reality Fair,” which was like a career fair. 250 seventh grade students from the area visited the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, where they learned about financial literacy and the value of money.

Find out more about Leadership South Carolina at www.LeadershipSC.com.