The Charleston Metro Chamber expands Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team
February 7, 2022The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce is committed to leading our region’s businesses in creating an equitable community where everyone has the opportunity to live, learn and earn. With overwhelming support from several businesses, philanthropic and municipal partners, the Chamber has invested in its capacity to serve the entire region with its first Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The Chamber is pleased to announce that Richard V. Waring has joined the Chamber team in this role. He will work to further enhance the Chamber’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, including overseeing the newly launched Minority Business Accelerator program.
“This is a pivotal time for our region, and we have an opportunity to tackle economic and community development differently,” says Adrian Cain, Senior Vice President of Leadership and Community Development. “Richard will allow our Chamber to partner across the region to create meaningful opportunities for our members to lean into their diversity, equity and inclusion journey.”
Prior to joining the Chamber, Richard served as the Student Services Chief of Staff for Trident Technical College. His responsibilities included adjudicating student appeals, addressing student concerns and complaints and contributing to the overall student service experience. Richard also chaired committees on student retention, minority male mentoring, and served as the ombudsman for the student services division and as a certified Title IX investigator for the college. He sought equitable outcomes for all students and assisted with providing holistic services for students with non-traditional challenges.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my community and assist in bringing equitable outcomes to minority business owners,” said Richard Waring. “The Chamber has shown its belief and dedication to this population by allocating specific resources to this worthy and necessary cause.”
Richard is a native to Johns Island, SC and has earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in English from Charleston Southern University, a Master of Business Administration from The New York Institute of Technology and Juris Doctor from the Charleston School of Law. He currently serves as a volunteer business mentor for SCORE by providing guidance and consultation services to entrepreneurs as they develop their businesses.
Richard joins team members, Grecia Hamilton and Kenya Dunn. Grecia, who has been integral to the growth and development of the Chamber’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, has recently been promoted to Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and is responsible for program development and delivery. Kenya Dunn will continue to serve as an Executive Fellow for a third year and is responsible for completing a Minority Business Ecosystem report and planning the third annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion conference.
The growth of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team will fuel the Chamber’s ability to serve as a catalyst for our community’s advancement in ensuring everyone has equitable opportunities.
About the Charleston Metro Chamber
With approximately 1,600 member organizations representing 160,000 professionals, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce serves as the collective voice of the business community, and a catalyst for regional economic advancement and member success through Talent, Advocacy, Leadership and Business Development. Visit charlestonchamber.org.