Riley Institute at Fuman selects 12th class of Lowcountry Diversity Leaders

Forty-two leaders from the Lowcountry and surrounding area have been selected to participate in the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI) this fall.

“In a time of considerable division both nationally and locally, it is increasingly important to work together to find ways to foster a thriving economy and break down barriers that hinder progress,” said Donald Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute.

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

Over the course of five months, participants will learn about diversity and inclusion “blind spots” and how to suspend assumptions. Participants will also work in small, cross-sector groups to respond to real issues and opportunities in their communities through service projects.  The classes are 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 diverse workers, clients and constituents,” said Johnson.

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.

“We now have 1,824 Riley Fellows statewide. Each new class further extends the reach and impact of leaders willing to work together to make South Carolina a better place to live and work for all its residents,” said Gordon.

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.

The full roster of Riley Fellows is available online at riley.furman.edu.  These are the leaders selected for the 12th Lowcountry DLI class:

 

Reece Bertholf

Fire Chief

City of Beaufort

Beaufort

 

Eileen Burkhardt

Executive Director

Be A Mentor

North Charleston

 

Adrian Cain

Chief Development Officer

Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

North Charleston

 

Nicolle Davies

Executive Director

Charleston County Public Library

Charleston

 

Dave Echols

President/General Manager

Charleston RiverDogs

Charleston

 

Franklin Foster

Superintendent

Colleton County School District

Walterboro

 

Sabrena Graham

Executive Director

Lowcountry Council of Governments

Yemassee

 

Jack Higgins

Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer

South Carolina Aquarium

Charleston

 

Bruce Hoffman

Vice President: Operations Services Mill Division

KapStone Paper and Packaging

North Charleston

 

Alice Howard

Council Member, District Four

Beaufort County

Beaufort

 

Mavis Huger

Attorney

Counts & Huger, LLC

Charleston

 

Vanity Jenkins

Senior Managing Director, Leadership Development

Teach for America

North Charleston

 

Fred Jones

Founding Principal

Colleton Consulting Group, LLC

Walterboro

 

KJ Kearney

Community Outreach Consultant

Charleston Sticks Together

North Charleston

 

Betsy Kinsley

Vice President: Development and Stewardship

Coastal Community Foundation

Charleston

 

Roger Kirby

Broker/Appraiser

Kirby Realty & Construction, Inc.

Lake City

 

Christian MacIver

Vice President, Industrial Strategies

Ingevity

North Charleston

 

Angela Mack

Executive Director

Gibbes Museum of Art

Charleston

 

Chris Marsh

Executive Director

Spring Island Trust

Okatie

 

Clay Middleton

Director of Business Services

City of Charleston

Charleston

 

Dominique Milton

SC Director of Corporate Services

CVMSDC

Charlotte

 

Eddy Moore

Energy and Climate Program Director

Coastal Conservation League

Charleston

 

Jennifer Myers

Operations Manager: Charleston

SCE&G

North Charleston

 

Bob Quinn

Executive Director

SCRA

Summerville

 

Victor Rawl

Chairman, Charleston County Council

Charleston County

North Charleston

 

Grant Reeves

Senior Vice President

The InterTech Group

North Charleston

 

Brandon Renaud

Shareholder

Elliott Davis Decosimo

Charleston

 

Robby Robbins

Attorney

Robert D. Robbins, Attorney at Law, LLC

Summerville

 

Marcus Robinson

Chief Human Resource Officer

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Columbia

 

Nick Sanders

Director of Strategic Recruitment

Charleston School of Law

Charleston

 

Shaundra Scott

Executive Director

American Civil Liberties Union

Charleston

 

James Simmons

Physician

All Children’s Pediatrics

Port Royal

 

Bill Stanfield

CEO

Metanoia Community Development Corporation

North Charleston

 

Melissa Stowasser

Dean, School and Community Initiatives

Trident Technical College

Charleston

 

Nan Sutton

Owner

Lulu Burgess

Beaufort

 

Sharon Clemmons Thomas

Principal Consultant

Clemmons Thomas Consulting, LLC

St. Stephen

 

Alan Veach

Director, District and School Development

New Tech Network

Napa

 

Ayesha Washington

Attorney

The Washington Law Firm, LLC

Charleston

 

Patrick Wooten

Lawyer

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Charleston

 

Bea Wray

Chair, Entrepreneurship Practice

ForbesBooks

Charleston

 

Len Young

Executive Director

Charleston School of Law Foundation

Charleston

 

Cathryn Zommer

Executive Director

Enough Pie

Charleston

 

For more information about the Riley Institute and its programs, visit riley.furman.edu.