August 16, 2018

COLUMBIA CHAMBER ANNOUNCES 2018-2019 LEADERSHIP COLUMBIA CLASS 
60 Local Individuals in 46th Class of Chamber's Leadership Program.

Leadership Columbia, a Columbia Chamber program for emerging and existing leaders in the Midlands, is pleased to announce the Leadership Columbia Class of 2019. The 60 individuals will be the 46th graduating class since the program was founded in 1972.

"The Chamber's Leadership Columbia program continues to attract a higher caliber of applicants each year," says Columbia Chamber President and CEO, Carl Blackstone, "These bright individuals will go on to have a tremendous impact in our region."

This group will engage in a 10-month curriculum including monthly class day sessions, a retreat, a class project and a variety of enrichment activities around the area. Since its inception, Leadership Columbia has celebrated more than 2,000 graduates.

Leadership Columbia Class of 2018-2019 Class Roster: 
Marcus Backman, United Way of the Midlands 
Henry Batts, Janney 
Mike Bell, Babcock Center 
Jennifer Blackhurst, NBSC 
Laura Brandon, SC DHHS 
Becky Brantley, Garvin Design Group 
Sarah Brewer, Unum/Colonial Life 
Justin Brown, Colonial Life 
Mary Margaret Brown, M.B. Kahn Construction 
Kim Butler, Colliers International 
Kyle Caldwell, S.C. Department of Corrections 
Dayna Cantelmi, Experience Columbia SC 
Jennifer Capell, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina 
Ashley Card, Dayor Media 
Harley Carpenter, Special Olympics South Carolina 
David Collins, Beam & Hinge 
Marissa DeCola, Agape Hospice 
Kevin DeLoach, South Carolina Education Lottery 
Kelsey Desender, South State Bank 
Joshua Duke, Wells Fargo 
Julie Eisenman, WLTX 
Derrick Fickling, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina 
Stephanie Flynn, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina 
Leon Frazier, South Carolina Federal Credit Union 
Bradley Gainey, South State Bank 
Lane Goodwin, SC Commission on Higher Education 
Chandler Goudelock, Delta Dental of SC 
Ashley Graham, SCANA-South Carolina Electric and Gas 
John Griffin, Bobbitt Design Build 
Dylan Gunnels, Lutheran Services Carolinas 
Jarrod Haning, MindSet Performance 
Amelia Hough-Ross, Companion Data Services 
Rachel Hutchens, Sowell Gray Robinson Stepp & Laffitte, LLC 
Dr.Kimberly Johnson, Richland County School District One 
Kelli Kelly, Growing Home Southeast 
Robert Kennemur, Merrill Lynch 
Erum Khan, Bank of America - Corporate 
Drew Kirkpatrick, Southern First Bank 
Andrea Lance, Richland County School District One 
John Langford, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. 
Everette Livingston, First Citizens Bank - Corporate 
Charles Marshall, SCANA 
Bre Maxwell, Office of Congressman Clyburn 
Paul Medilin, Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, PA 
Meredith Rowley, The Ricciardi Group 
Ed Schafer, MPA Strategies 
Samantha Scott, Columbia Museum of Art 
Mark Scriven, Elliott Davis, LLC 
Megan Senn, Free Times 
Susie Shannon, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina 
Drew Stevens, Northwestern Mutual 
Mona Strickland, Southeastern Institute 
Charles Stuart, Hood Construction, Inc. 
Jordan Styles, LTC Health Solutions 
Tori West, Talent Impact Strategies, LLC 
David Wiesendanger, Boudreaux Group 
Crystal Willis, The COMET - Central Midlands Transit 
Hunter Wilson, Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc. 
Fedrick Wilson, Live Oak AME Church 
Dave Yensan, Pond 
Justin Young, SC Retirement System Investment Corporation

"We are thrilled to introduce the Class of 2019, a truly outstanding group of dynamic individuals," says Hilary Dyer Brannon, 2018-2019 Chair of the Leadership Columbia Advisory Board (LCAB). "This class has already shown their commitment to lead and become change-agents for our community, and we are excited to welcome them to the Leadership Columbia network."

The class was chosen from combined application and interview scores, each marked by separate groups of Leadership Columbia Alumni. The selection criteria included civic involvement, leadership potential, diversity of perspective and commitment to the leadership program and the community.