Riley Institute 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.