State and Community Leaders Graduate from South Carolina Economic Development Training Program
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 16, 2018
State and community leaders graduate from South Carolina economic development training program
More than 45 graduate from S.C. Economic Development Institute
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The S.C. Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) and S.C. Economic Developers’ Association (SCEDA) today announced that 49 state and community leaders have graduated from a statewide economic development training program, the S.C. Economic Development Institute (Institute).
“The Institute has long been a powerful tool in South Carolina’s economic development arsenal,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “The success South Carolina has enjoyed in recent years can, in large part, be attributed to the remarkable amount of collaboration and teamwork that has taken place across this state. Programs like the Institute help us ensure that our team is knowledgeable, innovative and unified.”
A collaborative effort between S.C. Commerce and SCEDA, the program is designed to arm participants with innovative development approaches for implementation in local communities. The program features a highly-interactive curriculum, allowing participants to obtain greater hands-on economic development learning experience.
Now in its 28th year, the Institute consists of quarterly, two-day sessions for which participants travel to various locations throughout the state. In addition to the final session, which took place in Sumter, sessions were also held in Newberry, Lake City and Seneca. During the sessions, attendees gained insight into issues relating to: leadership and communication skills; community development; business and industrial development; and product development. On November 9, as the final session concluded in Sumter, 49 local leaders received certificates of completion.
Institute is open to individuals from a wide variety of organizations and entities, including city, town and county councils; local economic development practitioners; county economic development boards; county school boards; regional economic development boards; utility companies; and local and state government employees. Next year’s program includes sessions in Bluffton, Clinton, North Augusta and Spartanburg.
More information on this training program can be obtained by visiting www.sceda.org or contacting SCEDA at (803) 929-0305.
2018 South Carolina Economic Development Institute graduates, listed alphabetically by last name:
Gregory Alexander, Greater Lake City Community Development Office
Yanet Alvarez, Sumter Economic Development / TheLINK
Kelci Avery, S.C. Department of Commerce
Janet Bedenbaugh, S.C. Technical College System
Rita Berry, Greater Summerville / Dorchester County Chamber
Lewis Brown, Darlington County Economic Development Partnership
Murray Coleman, United Way of the Midlands
Laura Cox, Anderson County Economic Development
Sonja Craig, City of Union
Paul Cuenin, Greenwood Partnership Alliance
Ray Davidson, S.C. Department of Commerce
Daja Dial, Oconee Economic Alliance
Charlie Eadie, Claris Construction Company
Hope Lanier Freeman, BP America
David Garner, Abbeville County
Lee Given, Orangeburg County Development Commission
Sharon Hammond, Bamberg County
Elyssa Haven, City of Newberry
Emily Hodge, Oconee Economic Alliance
Kevin Howard, City of Greenville
Lara Hudson, Uptown Greenwood Development Commission
Ashley Jaillette, S.C. Association of Technical College Commissioners
Matt Kneece, S.C. Department of Commerce
Perry MacLennan, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A.
Kim Mann, Richland County Economic Development
Andrew Merriman, York County
Rachelle Moody, City of Cayce
Vicki Morgan, City of Union
Jaime Wells Nash, Roebuck Buildings Co. Inc.
Anita Patel, S.C. Department of Commerce
Douglas Polen, Town of Moncks Corner
Kirsten Pratt, S.C. Technical College System
Josh Rabon, CEC
Susan Ramey, City of Westminster
William Roach, Jr., Union County Development Board
Whitney Robertson, Laurens County Development Corporation
Michael Sell, City of Greer
David Sides, Lynches River Electric Cooperative
Demetrius Smith, Apprenticeship Carolina
Kimberly Spears, City of Anderson
Ray Switzer, Union County Development Board
Bryan Thomas, W.K. Dickson & Co., Inc.
William J. Unthank, City of West Columbia
Holly West, Colite Technologies
Matt Wiggins, S.C. Department of Commerce
Brandon Wilkerson, S.C. Department of Commerce
Dolton Williams, Union County Development Board
Carroll Williamson, City of Cayce
About S.C. Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing business grow. S.C. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as BMW, Boeing, Continental, Giti Tire, LPL Financial Holdings, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Samsung, Toray and Volvo Cars and also supports startups, small and existing business, innovation and rural development initiatives. S.C. Commerce partners with the S.C. Technical College System via readySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. With a strong international footprint, the Palmetto State ranked No. 1 in the nation for attracting jobs through foreign investment on a per capita basis in 2018 — extending its streak of top three finishes since 2011. Additionally, in five of seven years, the state has won the Gold Shovel Award from Area Development magazine; and, in 2017, the state was recognized as Business Facilities’ State of the Year. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.
Media Contact:
Alex Clark
Deputy Director of Marketing & Communications
South Carolina Department of Commerce
(803) 737-0685
aclark@sccommerce.com
www.SCcommerce.com
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S.C. Department of Commerce
SCcommerce.com
(803) 737-0400
marketing@sccommerce.com
1201 Main Street, Suite 1600
Columbia SC 29201