Leadership Greenville
(Chamber members only)
Leadership Greenville is designed to help develop informed,
committed and qualified leaders for Greenville County. By
taking an intensive look into the issues affecting
Greenville County, Leadership Greenville prepares and
motivates participants to provide quality, dynamic
leadership within the area.
Leadership Greenville requires 10-month commitment. The program begins with a two-day retreat each August and continues for nine months with one-day sessions, ending with an overnight retreat and graduation in May. Topics covered during the year include: Managed Growth and the Economy, Quality of Life, Human Services, Local Government, Justice, Education and State Government. Participants are selected through an application process based upon their past involvement in the community and their ability to set and achieve high personal goals.
For more information on Leadership Greenville, contact Sandi Coan, or click on any of the headers listed below:
Application
History
Class Days
Class Projects
Board of Regents
Class 35 Members
Leadership Greenville Alumni
LG Alumni Board Members
Leadership Champions
Since Leadership Greenville began in 1973, there have been approximately 1,500 participants. Many Leadership Greenville alumni have served in key leadership positions, some of which include city council, county council, school board, members of Congress and judges. There are those who also serve in the Greenville community with their individual businesses and community organizations. Numerous graduates have been featured in Greenville's Best & Brightest and Most Influential at the Turn of the Millennium.
Leadership Greenville builds a network of leaders in the community. It also educates and expands knowledge to help make good decisions in the community. Leadership Greenville promotes community involvement and addresses concerns and issues of Greenville County. It aims to develop and enhance individual leadership skills.
Class Days
Class 36 Meeting Dates
Thursday, August 6, 2009 - Orientation
Wednesday, August 12 - Friday, August 14, 2009 - Opening Retreat (attendance is
mandatory)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 - Team Building
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 - History / Economy
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - Human Service
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - Local / State Government
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 - Managed Growth
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - Justice
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - Education
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - Quality of Life
Thursday, April 29 - Friday, April 30, 2010 - Ending Retreat
Thursday, May 20, 2010 - Graduation
Class projects are chosen based on proposals submitted by class members, as well as those from nonprofit Chamber-member organizations. Proposals are presented each year at the opening retreat. Class members are then given one month to choose which project(s) they would like to work on. Selection of the project(s) is made at the September team-buildingmeeting.
A brief summary of the projects for Class 33 is as follows:
Flags International
Class 33 attempted to place flags representing the countries doing business in
the Upstate at the Tower Drive entrance of the Carolina First Center, and they
hoped to culminate their efforts with an International Flag day. The Class was
able to raise approximately $25,000 in donation funds from supporting companies,
but were not able to raise the required capital to move into the construction
phase. Currently, Class 33 is reaching out to another potential site and funding
sources, and will present to Leadership Greenville Class 34 as a potential
project.
GTA
Class 33 explored ways to connect our community through smarter transportation
strategies. With an initial focus on the GTA bus system, the team is developed
architectural, information design and brand standards for several prototype bus
stops made possible through a community-driven, Adopt-a-Stop program. Our
immediate goal was to collaborate with and assist Greenville Transit Authority,
Greenville City and County, and the public transportation task force to
implement the prototype stops as standards for transportation in our community.
While the Class 33's initial efforts were focused on a bus stop, their
objectives, in general, were focused on generating awareness and acceptance of a
range of public transportation solutions.
World Hunger/Construction
Thanks to the hard work of Class 33, the United Ministries received over 30,000
cans of food from the Construction project held in June 2007. Designs were made
entirely out of canned foods and were put on display in McAlister Square to help
raise awareness of hunger in America.
Miracle Hill's Transition House
Class 33 took on the mammoth task of renovating and furnishing a donated home
for Miracle Hill Ministries. LG participants gutted the entire house, replaced
walls, refinished hardwood floors, hung new cabinets and placed new siding on
the building. The team raised $8,000 in cash and in-kind gifts to complete the
project.
Safe Harbor
Class 33 presented SafeHarbor, Greenville's only battered women's Shelter with a
new 20'Box Truck. The truck was purchased with funding raised by Class 33
through public and private donations. The truck will be used by SafeHarbor to
move their clients into safer living arrangements. Class 33 also worked hard in
designing and implementing an improved landscaping and security plan for the
Shelter and providing necessary shelving for its Resource Shed. The Leadership
Greenville Class 33 Project Group also organized the first annual ‘knowmore"
awareness event sponsored by Greenville Hospital System on January 24, 2007 to
benefit SafeHarbor.
The following is a sampling of some of the class projects that have been
completed over the past few years:
Class 32. TreesGreenville
TreesGreenville was founded in 2005 to protect, preserve and promote the upstate's wealth of trees. With the help of other community leaders who share this vision, TreesGreenville recognizes that our forests are an important part of the quality of life that attracts residents and businesses to the upstate. This nonprofit organization is committed to being a resource in maintaining the county's urban forests by planting trees assisted by residents, governments and businesses. TreesGreenville makes available education programs to schools for planning, planting and maintaining tree gardens. Leadership Greenville Class 32 has worked with TreesGreenville over the past six months selecting sites, raising funds and organizing its first planting at I-385 and Woodruff Road. TreesGreenville has selected several other gateway sites into Greenville for future plantings.
Class 32. The Dog Park at Cleveland Park
Dog parks are part of a growing trend to add a quality of life for a large segment of the population. They allow dogs to roam free within a fenced area and have been noted for being great hangouts for dog owners. Leadership Greenville Class 32 is planning a dog park for a 3/4-acre spot of land in Greenville's Cleveland Park, across from the Cleveland Park Animal Hospital. The park has an April 2006 target date.
Class 32. Nicholtown Community Center Computer Lab
Class 32 is assisting the Nicholtown Community Center with renovations to its computer lab. Currently, the facility is a cinder block building with no windows that houses six non-working computers. In co-operation with the City of Greenville, the class will install up-to-date electrical wiring, lighting and desks. In addition, Class 32 hopes to obtain Internet access, new computers and developmental software for the Center.
Class 8. Renovation of Apartments at Shepherd's Gate
Shelter for homeless families.
Class 14. Reedy River Project
Draft concept ideas for the Reedy River Corridor.
Class 25. Shoeless Joe Jackson Community Park
Class 26. Heritage Green Project
Conceptual design for pedestrian-friendly corridor for the Heritage Green Campus and its corresponding link to Main Street; Business Education Partnership - Partnership with three middle schools.
Class 27. Paris Mountain State Park "Discover Greenville's Mountain"
Master Plan for the revitalization of Paris Mountain State Park
Class 29. Serenity Suite
The creation of an addition onto the existing facilities of the Cancer Society for Greenville County to create more room to facilitate support and services to the patients of the Cancer Society.
Class 30. Children's Garden in Linky Stone Park
Nine theme garden areas comprise the interactive Children's Garden which allows
children of all ages to learn plants native to the Upstate Area. Located in
historic downtown Greenville.
-Top of the Page -
The Board of Regents governs Leadership Greenville and consists of approximately
40 Leadership Greenville graduates. Each member of the board serves a three-year
term, is involved in planning one of the monthly sessions, and is required to
attend bi-monthly board meetings. Thank you to those who faithfully serve on
this board and who continue to help Leadership Greenville be all that it is!
Diane Eldridge, Chair
Janet Krupka , Michelin, Vice Chair
Andy Arnold, Arnold & Arnold Law Firm
Cindy Benjamin, Neal Prince & Partners Architects, Inc.
Terence Brooks, Greenville County Sheriff's Office
Steven Bryant, Chick-fil-A at Cherrydale
John Castile, City of Greenville
Brian Clark, Clockwork Financial
Gary Clark, Clockwork Financial
L. Bruce Cannon, Michelin North America
Jim Dailey
Aimee Davis, The Cliffs Communities
Murray Dodd, Greenville Water System
Mary Ellington, The Children’s Museum
Bryan Finch, M.B.Kahn Construction
Chris Fowler, Wachovia
Julie Franklin, City of Spartanburg
Patricia Harrison, International Center of the Upstate
Mary Hipp
B.J. Koonce, Centre Stage
Brock Koonce, Greenville Forward
Donald Koonce, Ferncreek Creative, Inc.
Joshua Lane, Ferebee Lane
Jil Littlejohn, World Acceptance Corporation
Stuart Mauney, Gallivan, White & Boyd
Allison Mertens, Creative Resources/Grant Peacock & Co.
Sandra Miller, Verizon Wireless
Rob Morgan, Greenville Anesthesiology Associates
Bryant Nixon, Triangle Construction
Renata Parker, Renata Parker Public Relations LLC
Cary Perkins, Pazdan-Smith Group Architects
Judy Prince, USC Upstate, Past Chair
Patricia Ravenhorst, Wyche Burgess Freeman & Parham, P.A.
Sam Rhodes, Print Management & Associates, Inc.
Kurt Schumacher, Leatherwood Walker Todd & Mann, PC
Karen Schulz, The Greenville News
Susan Schwartzkopf, The Greenville News
Russell Stall, Greenville Forward
Shane Steffen, Modern Tech Mechanical
Gable Stubbs, McMillan Smith & Partners Architects, PLLC
Travers Tapper, American Red Cross
Mike Teachey, Greenville County Recreation District
Ted Vick, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
Kelly Walker, Upstate Fatherhood Coalition
Rand Wilson, Wachovia
Ann Wright, American Red Cross
Staff
Sandi Coan, Executive Director, Leadership Development
Lib Street, Administrative Assistant
Ben Haskew, President
Courtney Atkinson
Kristen Austin
Helen Barksdale
Elaine Barnhill
Mercedes Bartow
Gloria Bayne
Leigh Berman
Ann Bourey
Wil Brasington
Curtis Brison
Joe Browning
Becky Callaham
Eric Carnell
Kelly Carson
Dianne Clarke-Kudless
Leslie Cox
Vaughn CroweTipton
Steve Curtis
Jeff D'Agostino
Vincent Douglas
Mike East
Stephen Edgerton
Jim Evers
Joel Geer
Beverly Haines
Frank Hammond
Greg Hynds
Matt Kneeland
Adam Landrum
Kacee Lominack
Robin Longino
Craig Lundgren
Adela Mendoza
Pat Michaels
Bob Morris
Heather Pritchard
Jeanie Reed
Phil Robey
Hannah Rogers Metcalfe
Bryan Royal
Burke Royster
Tiffany Santagati
Sally Sarratt
Lashaun Scott
Bill Sorochak
Chris Stone
Tara Trantham
Bill Troup
Lee Turza
Michelle Usher
Caroline Van Hook
Tom Vanderbloemen
Jenn Webb
Nancy Welch
Justin Williams
Jim Yarbrough
STAFF:
Chamber Staff:
Sandi Coan, Executive Director
Lib Street, Administrative Assistant
Ben Haskew, President & CEO