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:
Leadership Greenville Application
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 projects are chosen based on proposals submitted by class members, as well as those from non-profit 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-building meeting.
The following is a sampling of some of the class projects that have been completed over the past few years:
Class 33:
GTA: Collaborate and assist Greenville Transit Authority (GTA), Greenville City, Greenville County, and the Public Transportation Task Force to implement the prototype stops as standards for transportation in our community.
Canstruction and Hunger Summit: Designs were made entirely out of canned foods and were put on display in McAlister Square to help raise awareness of hunger in America.
Renovating and furnishing a donated Miracle Hill Transition House: Purchased a 20-foot Box Truck for Safe Harbor and designed and implemented improved landscaping.
Class 32:
Trees: Working with TreesGreenville, this team selected sites, raised funds and organized the first planting at I-385 and Woodruff Road.
Dog Park: Planned and built a dog park for a 3/4-acre spot of land in Greenville's Cleveland Park, across from the Cleveland Park Animal Hospital.
Technology: Assisted the Nicholtown Community Center with renovations to its computer lab, including internet access and new computers
Class 8:
Renovation of Apartments at Shepherd's Gate: Provided shelter for homeless families.
Class 14:
Reedy River Project: Drafted concept ideas for the Reedy River Corridor.
Class 25:
Shoeless Joe Jackson Community Park
Class 26:
Heritage Green Project: Included conceptual design for a pedestrian friendly corridor for the Heritage Green Campus and its corresponding link to Main Street; Business Education Partnership – a partnership with three middle schools.
Class 27:
Master Plan for the revitalization of Paris Mountain State Park
Class 29:
The addition of a Serenity Suite 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, which is made up of nine theme garden areas to 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.)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-building meeting.
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/Canstruction
Thanks to the hard work of Class 33, the United Ministries received over
30,000 cans of food from the Canstruction 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
Frank Bain, Neal Prince Architects
Anne Quick Barr, Greenville County Museum of Art
Stewart Bloodworth Jr., Laser Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Robert Brown, Greenville Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates
Jody Bryson, Donaldson Development Commission
Christina Clark, BMW Manufacturing, Inc.
Melinda Davis Lux, Wyche Burgess Freeman & Parham
Michael deMaine, Greenville Drive
Dennis John Doherty III, SYS Constructors, Inc.
Jacqueline Fernandes, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
Suzanne Foley, Greenville Free Medical Clinic
Barbara Fountain, Hands On Greenville
Patricia Fox, Greenville County Schools
Christine Gantt-Sorenson, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA
Lillian Garcia, 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office
Evan Gauntner, Greenville News
Danielle Gibbs, Office of US Senator Jim DeMint
Anderson Horne, Love, Thornton, Arnold & Thomason, P.A.
Michael Hudson, Greenville Police Department
Jeffery Jackson, Furman University
Keith Jacobs, III, McMillan Smith & Partners Architects, PLLC
Herbert Johnson, Jr., Michelin North America
Mathew Johnson, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Naiden Kremenliev, Wellstone Mills, LLC
Brenda Laakso, Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Dennis Joseph Lanahan III, Greenville County Recreation District
Lavette Lane, Ferebee/Lane Brand Communications
Kayla C. Lee-Kelly, Michelin North America
Bryan Lewis, NuVox Communications
Anthony Liller, Goodwill Foundation
Denise Livingston, Wachovia Bank
Jackie Lucas, Branch Banking & Trust Company
Courtney Madden, Safe Harbor, Inc.
John Robert Markel, Hadrian Construction Company, Inc.
Robert Markway, Coquina Consulting, LLC
Henry McCullough, Piedmont Natural Gas Co.
Clarence William McGee, Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A.
Alexander McNair, Marsh, USA, Inc.
Denna Mensch, SYNNEX Corporation
Athena Miller, City of Greenville
Christopher Moore, CarolinaPower
Don Oglesby, Homes Of Hope, Inc.
John Otten, Elliott Davis, LLC
Darrell Parker, USC Upstate
Charles Patrick, Rodgers Builders, Inc.
Vicki Peek, FGP International, Inc.
Benita Pope, St. Francis Homecare of Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital
David Ramseur, The Palmetto Bank
Deb Richardson-Moore, Triune Mercy Center
Bradley Robinson, Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, Inc (SHARE)
Louis Sagedy, Carolina First Bank
Amy Schwan-Burdick, Baldor/Dodge/Reliance
Randy Shamburger, Carolina Mortgage
Thomas Sinn II, The Service Company
Lauren Skelton, River Falls Spa
Ralpheaire D. Sweeney Sr., Pleasant Valley Connection, Inc.
Tod Tappert, Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center
Leslie Trant, Greenville Technical College
Christopher Todd Usher, Addison Homes, LLC
Larry Scot Wendelken, Greenville County Office of Emergency Management
Rosylin Weston, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Bruce Wise, Restaurant 0
