Riley Institutes Diversity leaders initiative selects 21st Class of Fellows
February 2, 2016
GREENVILLE, SC – The Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI) has selected its 21st Class of Fellows. The 45 incoming class members will join more than 1,500 Riley Fellows from across the state to participate in DLI.
Says Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute, “DLI graduates are responding to great challenges facing South Carolina in thoughtful, positive ways that help to drive progress and improve their communities. I look forward to seeing the impact this new group of Fellows makes 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,” says 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, who reflect South Carolina’s demographics and represent the corporate, nonprofit, education, faith-based and government sectors, are chosen by nomination and application. “It is increasingly evident that our state benefits from having a unified body of leaders committed to working to break down barriers that hinder progress as we move toward a thriving economy and brighter future for all South Carolinians,” Gordon says.
The Riley Fellows for Upstate Class 21 are:
Cedric Adderley
President
SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities
Greenville
Nathalie Belk
Section Manager, Paint Shop Planning
BMW Manufacturing
Greer
Kay Biscopink
Shareholder – International Services Practice Leader
Elliott Davis Decosimo
Greenville
Chi Blair
Lieutenant
Greenville Police Department
Greenville
Jim Bryan
Attorney
Laurens
Hoyt Bynum
Lead Pastor
Born Anew Church, Inc.
Spartanburg
Cindy Davies
Dean, Academic Advancement & Support
Greenville Technical College
Greenville
Michael Delaney
Principal
Carolina High School, Greenville County Schools
Greenville
Leo Fackler
Associate Director, Alumni and Parent Engagement
Furman University
Greenville
Joy Grayson
Board Trustee
Greenville County Schools
Taylors
Rick Grooms
Chief Human Resources Officer
AnMed Health
Anderson
Angela Halfacre
Professor of Political Science and Earth and Environmental Sciences; Director of the
David E. Shi Center for Sustainability
Furman University
Greenville
Lisa Hallo
Sustainable Communities Program Director
Upstate Forever
Greenville
DJ Harris
Associate
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Greenville
Catherine Heigel
Director
SC Department of Health and Environmental Control
Columbia
Cal Hurst
Regional Vice President
TD Bank
Greenville
Meliah Bowers Jefferson
Attorney; Co-Owner
Wyche, P.A.; Karidan Logistics Company
Greenville
Catherine Jones
Director of Quality
Michelin North America
Greenville
Keith Kiser
Headmaster
St. Joseph’s Catholic School
Greenville
Gabrielle Komorowski
Anchor/Investigative Reporter
WYFF4-TV
Greenville
Gene Langan
Chair, Department of Surgery/Orthopedics
Greenville Health System
Department of Surgery
Greenville
Lillie Lewis
Associate Professor of Education
Southern Wesleyan University
Simpsonville
Steve Loftis
Sheriff
Greenville County
Greenville
Ron Malone
Trustee
Furman University
Travelers Rest
Joanie Martin
Financial Director, Passenger Tire Division
Michelin North America
Greenville
Kevin McCraw
Department Manager
Facility Management and Energy
BMW
Greer
Keith McDaniel
Pastor
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Spartanburg
Charlotte McDavid
Assistant Superintendent
Anderson School District 4
Pendleton
Tim Metz
Captain (Uniform Patrol Division)
Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office
Spartanburg
Andrew Meuer
Vice President TCAR
Michelin North America
Greenville
Carol Moody
Associate Chief Nursing Officer (GMH)
Greenville Health System
Greenville
Xanthene Norris
Councilmember
Greenville County Council
Greenville
Beth Paul
General Manager
Greenville Arena District
Greenville
Carlos Quintero
President
Sales Effectiveness, Inc.
Greer
Laura Ringo
Executive Director
Partners for Active Living
Spartanburg
Saria Saccocio
Chief Medical Officer
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
Simpsonville
Bill Schafer
Vice President of Sales
Michelin North America
Greenville
Chris Schoen
Law Clerk
United States Courts, Chambers of the Honorable Bruce Howe Hendricks
Greenville
Maria Swearingen
Associate University Chaplain
Furman University
Greenville
Jill Van Pelt
SVP, Human Resources and Chief People Officer
Denny’s, Inc.
Spartanburg
Siegfried Waigand
Department Manager, Production Planning and Distribution
BMW Manufacturing
Greer
Gerald Washington
Engineering Manager
Michelin North America
Michelin PRIME
Greenville
Sheryl Wilkerson
Vice President, Government Affairs
Michelin North America
Greenville
Tom Wilson
Superintendent
Anderson School District 5
Anderson
Ann Wright
Executive Director Upstate SC/COO, SC Region
American Red Cross
Greenville
Learn more about the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative. Or contact Megan Dodgens, Manager of Diversity Leadership Programs at (864) 294-3253, or [email protected].
