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Riley names Upstate DLI Fellows


Last updated January 20, 2016

By Tina Underwood

Rily DLI brochure imageThe Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI) has selected its 21st Class of Fellows. The 45 incoming class members will join more than 1,500 Riley Fellows from across the state to participate in DLI.

Says Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute, “DLI graduates are responding to great challenges facing South Carolina in thoughtful, positive ways that help to drive progress and improve their communities. I look forward to seeing the impact this new group of Fellows makes 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 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 increasingly diverse workers, clients and constituents,” says Johnson.

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.

Participants, who reflect South Carolina’s demographics and represent the corporate, nonprofit, education, faith-based and government sectors, are chosen by nomination and application. “It is increasingly evident that our state benefits from having a unified body of leaders committed to working to break down barriers that hinder progress as we move toward a thriving economy and brighter future for all South Carolinians,” Gordon says.

The Riley Fellows for Upstate Class 21 are:

Cedric Adderley
President
SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities
Greenville

Nathalie Belk
Section Manager, Paint Shop Planning
BMW Manufacturing
Greer

Kay Biscopink
Shareholder – International Services Practice Leader
Elliott Davis Decosimo
Greenville

Chi Blair
Lieutenant
Greenville Police Department
Greenville

Jim Bryan
Attorney
Laurens

Hoyt Bynum
Lead Pastor
Born Anew Church, Inc.
Spartanburg

Cindy Davies
Dean, Academic Advancement & Support
Greenville Technical College
Greenville

Michael Delaney
Principal
Carolina High School, Greenville County Schools
Greenville

Leo Fackler
Associate Director, Alumni and Parent Engagement
Furman University
Greenville

Joy Grayson
Board Trustee
Greenville County Schools
Taylors

Rick Grooms
Chief Human Resources Officer
AnMed Health
Anderson

Angela Halfacre
Professor of Political Science and Earth and Environmental Sciences; Director of the
David E. Shi Center for Sustainability
Furman University
Greenville

Lisa Hallo
Sustainable Communities Program Director
Upstate Forever
Greenville

DJ Harris
Associate
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Greenville

Catherine Heigel
Director
SC Department of Health and Environmental Control
Columbia

Cal Hurst
Regional Vice President
TD Bank
Greenville

Meliah Bowers Jefferson
Attorney; Co-Owner
Wyche, P.A.; Karidan Logistics Company
Greenville

Catherine Jones
Director of Quality
Michelin North America
Greenville

Keith Kiser
Headmaster
St. Joseph’s Catholic School
Greenville

Gabrielle Komorowski
Anchor/Investigative Reporter
WYFF4-TV
Greenville

Gene Langan
Chair, Department of Surgery/Orthopedics
Greenville Health System
Department of Surgery
Greenville

Lillie Lewis
Associate Professor of Education
Southern Wesleyan University
Simpsonville

Steve Loftis
Sheriff
Greenville County
Greenville

Ron Malone
Trustee
Furman University
Travelers Rest

Joanie Martin
Financial Director, Passenger Tire Division
Michelin North America
Greenville

Kevin McCraw
Department Manager
Facility Management and Energy
BMW
Greer

Keith McDaniel
Pastor
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Spartanburg

Charlotte McDavid
Assistant Superintendent
Anderson School District 4
Pendleton

Tim Metz
Captain (Uniform Patrol Division)
Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office
Spartanburg

Andrew Meuer
Vice President TCAR
Michelin North America
Greenville

Carol Moody
Associate Chief Nursing Officer (GMH)
Greenville Health System
Greenville

Xanthene Norris
Councilmember
Greenville County Council
Greenville

Beth Paul
General Manager
Greenville Arena District
Greenville

Carlos Quintero
President
Sales Effectiveness, Inc.
Greer

Laura Ringo
Executive Director
Partners for Active Living
Spartanburg

Saria Saccocio
Chief Medical Officer
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
Simpsonville

Bill Schafer
Vice President of Sales
Michelin North America
Greenville

Chris Schoen
Law Clerk
United States Courts, Chambers of the Honorable Bruce Howe Hendricks
Greenville

Maria Swearingen
Associate University Chaplain
Furman University
Greenville

Jill Van Pelt
SVP, Human Resources and Chief People Officer
Denny’s, Inc.
Spartanburg

Siegfried Waigand
Department Manager, Production Planning and Distribution
BMW Manufacturing
Greer

Gerald Washington
Engineering Manager
Michelin North America
Michelin PRIME
Greenville

Sheryl Wilkerson
Vice President, Government Affairs
Michelin North America
Greenville

Tom Wilson
Superintendent
Anderson School District 5
Anderson

Ann Wright
Executive Director Upstate SC/COO, SC Region
American Red Cross
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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