Riley Institute Selects 10th Class of Midlands Diversity Leaders

Forty-three participants from the Midlands and surrounding areas will begin the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI) this spring.

Selected for their leadership and community engagement, the participants join more than 1,700 Riley Fellows statewide. Each new class further extends and enriches the body of DLI alumni equipped to work together to make South Carolina a better place to live and work for all its residents.

“We are encouraged for the future of this state with the addition of each new class of Fellows because of their commitment to positive change and dedicated efforts to see it through,” said Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute.

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 diverse workers, clients and constituents,” said Johnson.

As part of the program, leaders 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 who represent the corporate, nonprofit, education, faith-based and government sectors, are chosen by nomination and application.

“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,” Gordon said.

The Riley Fellows for Midlands Class 10 are:

Angela Bain
Superintendent
Chester County School District
Chester

Robin Berlinsky
Executive Director
Engaging Creative Minds
Charleston

Marti Bluestein
Attorney
Bluestein, Nichols, Thompson & Delgado, LLC
Columbia

Laura Bordeaux
Manufacturing Department Manager
Michelin North America
Lexington

Steve Brook
Managing Editor
The State Newspaper
Columbia

Dean Byrd
Director of Education
SCETV
Columbia

Wilbur Cave
Director of Special Projects
Allendale County ALIVE Inc.
Columbia

Karen Coltrane
President and CEO
EdVenture
Columbia

Reggie Corley
Managing Attorney
Scott & Corley, P.A.
Columbia

Mike Couick
President and CEO
Electric Cooperatives of SC
Cayce

Terrence Culbreath
Mayor
Town of Johnston
Johnston

Baron Davis
Superintendent Elect
Richland County School District Two
Columbia

Greg Davis
Director of Minority and Small Business Affairs
SC Department of Transportation
Columbia

Luc Debaty
Plant Manager LXT
Michelin North America
Lexington

John Gettys
Attorney
Morton & Gettys, Attorneys at Law
Rock Hill

Gwen Hampton
Director of Leadership Development
South Carolina School Boards Association
Columbia

Karla Hawkins
Deputy Superintendent
SC Department of Education
Columbia

Marcy Hayden
Native American Affairs Coordinator
SC Commission for Minority Affairs
Columbia

Sarah Lynn Hayes
Director of Pre-K Programs at Central and Applied Technology Center
Rock Hill Schools
Rock Hill

Susan Heath
Coordinator of Bishops’ Public Education Initiative
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina (for The Fellowship of South Carolina Bishops)
Columbia

Andrea Heyward
Pregnancy Assistance Fund Project Coordinator
SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Columbia

April Heyward
Program Manager, SC EPSCoR/IDeA Program
SCRA
Columbia

Lenza Hoose
Public Policy Services Manager
United Way Association of South Carolina
Columbia

Rusty Infinger
Deputy Director of Operations/General Counsel
South Carolina Legal Services
Greenville

Joe Johnson
President and COO
Palmetto GBA, LLC
Columbia

Joel Lourie
President/CEO
Lourie Consulting
Columbia

Amanda Loveday
Senior Project Manager
NP Strategy
Columbia

Cory Manning
Attorney
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Columbia

Greg McGlohorn
General Manager – Construction, Operations, & Maintenance
SCE&G, Gas Operations
Cayce

Mandy Medlock
Executive Director
Justice 360
Columbia

Steve Mitchell
Regional Manager
Fisher Phillips LLP
Columbia

Leah Moody
Attorney
Law Office of Leah B. Moody, LLC
Rock Hill

Ron Rhames
President
Midlands Technical College
Columbia

Matthew Roberts
Member
Nexsen Pruet, LLC
Columbia

Debbie Robertson
Chief Partnership Officer
SC First Steps
Columbia

Jeff Schilz
Consultant/Attorney
JS Management Group
Columbia

Michael Seezen
Shareholder/Attorney
McNair Law Firm, P.A.
Columbia

Debbie Shurr
Director, HR Strategy
SCANA
Cayce

Rebecca Vance
City Manager
City of Cayce
Cayce

Tim Vaughn
President/COO
Bluechoice HealthPlan of SC
Columbia

Bunnie Ward
Director, Policy Development and Evaluation
SC Education Oversight Committee
Columbia

Craig Witherspoon
Superintendent
Richland County School District One
Columbia

Desé Zuberi
School Development Coach
NewTech Network
Napa

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 megan.dodgens@furman.edu.