Lowcountry Leaders Become Riley Fellows

Forty leaders from the Lowcountry and surrounding area have completed the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI).

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 past five months, participants have examined sensitive issues related to diversity and inclusion, explored “blind spots,” and discussed how to suspend assumptions. Each class is expertly facilitated by Juan Johnson, an independent consultant and former Coca-Cola vice president.

As part of the program, participants have worked in small, cross-sector groups to respond to real issues and opportunities in their communities through service projects. The projects from this class focus on topics such as teaching water safety to children; inspiring goals in kindergartners from low income neighborhoods through a college tour; providing a “Porch Party Trailer” full of resources to encourage interaction among Charleston neighborhoods; launching a mentoring program between members of the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra and students from a Title 1 elementary school; and showcasing future career opportunities to middle school students through forums and onsite field trips.

“We are extremely proud of this class, their work to improve their organizations and communities, and the relationships they have formed from their honest conversations this semester,” said Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute.

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, nonprofit heads, chamber of commerce directors, and community leaders.

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.

The full roster of Riley Fellows is available online at riley.furman.edu. The Riley Fellows of the 13th Lowcountry DLI class are:

Nancy AppelDirector of DevelopmentCoastal Conservation LeagueCharleston

Tony BartelmeSenior Projects ReporterThe Post and CourierCharleston

Keith BenjaminDirector, Department of Traffic and TransportationCity of CharlestonCharleston

David BennettExecutive DirectorCharleston County Park and Recreation CommissionCharleston

Walker BrockPrincipalCanongate CapitalCharleston

Stacy BrownDirector of OperationsMetanoia Community Development CorporationNorth Charleston

Chris BryantAssociate AttorneyYarborough ApplegateCharleston

Greg BulanowFire ChiefNorth Charleston Fire DepartmentNorth Charleston

Amy ChaseVice President, Professional ServicesBlackbaudCharleston

Angelica ColwellSpecial CounselNexsen Pruet, LLCCharleston

Bill CraverShareholder- President/ ManagerCraver Law Firm PA/Crystal Enterprises, LLCCharleston

Kate DarbyChair; Director of AdministrationCharleston County School Board; J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Chapels and CrematoryCharleston

Lee DeasGrand ImaginatorObviouslee MarketingCharleston

Sara DeWolfBoard ChairCharleston HopeDaniel Island

Clifford FulmoreBoard Member; House Call Educator/ConsultantEngaging Creative Minds; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterCharleston

Lucinda Dale GardnerAttorneyMount Pleasant

Chase GlennExecutive DirectorAlliance For Full Acceptance (AFFA)Charleston

Kecia GreenhoExecutive DirectorReading Partners South CarolinaNorth Charleston

Adrian GrimesExternal Affairs ManagerMedical University of South CarolinaCharleston

Natalie HamAttorneyCharleston County School DistrictCharleston

Melinda HamiltonPresident, League of Women Voters of the Charleston AreaCharleston

Craig HarrisLieutenant of Internal AffairsMount Pleasant Police DepartmentMt. Pleasant

Angel Johnson-BrebnerExecutive Vice PresidentCoastal Community FoundationCharleston

Hope Lanier FreemanDirector, Communication & External AffairsBP AmericaWando

Ted LegaseyCommunity VolunteerCPN, TCCC, Gaillard Performance CenterKiawah

Glenda LevineChief Diversity OfficerBerkeley County School DistrictMoncks Corner

Ken LottVice President, Human Resource ManagementSantee CooperMoncks Corner

Lorraine LuttonPresident and CEORoper St. Francis (Carolinas Healthcare System)Charleston

Catherine MainExecutive DirectorEast Cooper Land TrustMount Pleasant

Marc MarchantVice President, PrincipalLS3PCharleston

Edward McKeIveySVP CRA OfficerSouth State BankNorth Charleston

Jonathan RauhDirector of Evaluation and Public PolicyTrident United WayNorth Charleston

Jennifer RossDirector of DevelopmentGibbes Museum of ArtCharleston

Gable StubbsPrincipalSGA ArchitectureCharleston

Peter TecklenburgCounty AuditorCharleston CountyCharleston

Mary TinklerCounty TreasurerCharleston County GovernmentCharleston

Sean TraceyVice President of Local Area ProgramsCharleston Metro Chamber of CommerceNorth Charleston

Adrienne Troy-FrazierExecutive DirectorBerkeley County First StepsHanahan

Thornton WhiteLogistics TechnologiesATICharleston

Jordi YarboroughSVP, External AffairsSC Ports AuthorityCharleston