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Riley announces 19th class of Upstate DLI fellows

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com


Last updated January 27, 2015

By Tina Underwood

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

The Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative has selected its 19th class of fellows from the Upstate.

Forty-five leaders from the Upstate have been selected to participate in the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI). They will join more than 1,400 Riley Fellows from across the state.

Says Don Gordon, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Riley Institute, “DLI and the Riley Fellows have matured into a potent force to help move South Carolina forward. The members of this class will add considerably to the conversations and lasting partnerships that form among Riley Fellows, and it is the strength of these bonds that truly produces progress 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 facilitated by Juan Johnson, an independent consultant and former Coca-Cola Vice President. He says, “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.”

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.

Chosen by nomination and application, participants reflect South Carolina’s demographics and represent corporate, nonprofit, education, faith-based and government sectors. “The frames of reference and skills that DLI graduates share provide a remarkable platform for working together to help South Carolina compete in the 21st century,” says Dr. Gordon.

The Riley Fellows for Upstate Class 19 are:

Jenny Adamson
General Counsel
Johnson Development Associates, Inc.
Spartanburg

Carl Anderson
Deputy Chief – Investigations
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office
Anderson

Pam Barkett
Assistant Vice President for Human Resources
Furman University
Greenville

Mary Capers Bledsoe
Executive Director, Youth in Government and Teen Services Branch
YMCA of Greenville
Simpsonville

Ann Bryan
Financial Advisor (ret.)
Trustee
Furman University
Greenville

Lisa Colby
Director of Operations & Initiatives
United Way of Greenville County
Greenville

Charles Davis
Professor and First Gentleman
Furman University
Greenville

John Eldridge
Assistant Sheriff
Greenville County Sheriff’s Office
Greenville

Teri Ficicchy
EVP/Chief Nursing Officer
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
Greenville

Jessica Fisher
Senior Corporate Counsel
Michelin North America
Greenville

Leslie Gonzales
Assistant Professor of Higher Education/Educational Leadership
Clemson University
Clemson

Jennifer Gutierrez
Director of Diversity & Inclusion
Wofford College
Spartanburg

Jane Hall
Member
Spartanburg County Council
Spartanburg

Cauiss Holmes
Activity Manager
Michelin North America
Sandy Springs

Roy Janse
Managing Partner
Dehollander & Janse Financial Group
Greenville

Taylor Jones
Deputy Chief – Emergency Services
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office
Anderson

John Kimbrell
Executive Vice President
Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Greenville

Blair Knobel
Editor in Chief
TOWN Magazine/Community Journals
Greenville

Sonny Ledda
Chief of Police
City of Laurens
Laurens

George Lesmes
Chief Administrative Officer
GHS Medical Group
Greenville

Angie Littlejohn
Legal Advisor
Furman University
Greenville

Brad Love
Attorney
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
Greenville

Heather Love
State Director
Jefferson Awards Foundation
Greenville

Heather Lyndon
Department Manager
BMW Manufacturing
Spartanburg

Carmen Mays
Minority Business Development Coordinator
City of Spartanburg
Spartanburg

James McAdams
Disaster Preparedness Specialist
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office
Anderson

Dana McConnell
Executive Director
Center for Developmental Services
Greenville

Deidre McEntyre
Program Manager
Urban League of the Upstate
Greenville

Scott Mercer
Superintendent
Spartanburg School District Two
Chesnee

Stacey Mills
Director of Student Services
USC Upstate Greenville Campus
Greenville

Kenya Mingo
Director of Marketing & Development
Urban League of the Upstate
Greenville

Chanell Moore
Deputy Director
Greenville County Parks, Recreation & Tourism
Taylors

Tom O’Hanlan
CEO
Sealevel Systems Inc.
Liberty

Jennifer Oladipo
Senior Business Writer
Community Journals
Greenville

Ric Ransom
Senior Administrator
Greenville Memorial Hospital
Greenville

Monty Rigsby
VP Manufacturing – Industrial Director
Michelin Tire Co.
Greenville

Chuck Saylors
Vice President; School Board Trustee
M.B. Kahn Construction; Greenville County Schools
Greenville

John Skipper
Sheriff
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office
Anderson

James Speed
Pastor
Allen Temple AMEC
Greenville

Jim Stewart
Chief of Police
City of Anderson
Anderson

David Sudduth
Executive Director, Community & Government Affairs
Greenville Health System
Greenville

Linda Tassie
Executive Director
YouthBASE
Greenville

Leslie Trant
Dean of Corporate & Career Development Division
Greenville Technical College
Greenville

Johannes Trauth
Vice President, Human Resources
BMW Manufacturing
Greer

Alecia Watt
Director of Student Support Services
Greenville Technical College
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 megan.dodgens@furman.edu.

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