Riggs Partners’ Kevin Smith Selected for Riley Institute at Furman Diversity Leaders Initiative’s 8th Class
February 23, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Kevin Smith of Riggs Partners is one of 38 leaders from across the Midlands and surrounding areas selected to participate in the 8th Midlands class of the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI).
Smith is a native of Spartanburg and a graduate of Hampden-Sydney with a bachelor of arts in history. He is a partner at Riggs Partners, where he has spent the majority of his career, providing account planning and management to clients in a wide variety of industries. Prior to joining Riggs Partners, Smith worked in New York with both Shepardson Stern and Kaminsky and J. Walter Thompson. He serves on the board of directors for the Friends of Epworth Children’s Home and is a member of McKissick Museum’s advisory council.
“DLI and the Riley Fellows have matured into a potent force to help move South Carolina forward,” said Dr. Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute. “The members of this class will add considerably to the conversations and lasting partnerships that form among Riley Fellows and it is the strength of these bonds that truly produces progress across the state.”
Poised to join more than 1400 Riley Fellows from across the state, class members meet over the course of five months in a format driven by timely, relevant case studies and other experiential learning tools designed to maximize interactions and productive relationships among program participants.
DLI is expertly facilitated by Juan Johnson, an independent consultant and former Coca-Cola Vice President. “DLI is unique among South Carolina’s leadership programs. In addition to the opportunity to develop new relationships and take part in positive action in their communities, participants gain deep knowledge of how to effectively manage and lead increasingly diverse workers, clients and constituents,” said Johnson. As part of the program, leaders also work in cross-sector groups to respond to real issues and opportunities in their communities through capstone service projects.
Participants reflecting South Carolina’s demographics and representing the corporate, nonprofit, education, faith-based and government sectors are chosen by nomination and application. “The frames of reference and skills that DLI graduates share provide a remarkable platform for working together to help South Carolina compete in the 21st century,” Gordon said.
