/*Post Slider Meta*/

Board of Directors

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Debra Rice

Debra Rice, Chair

HR Growth and Solutions Manager, Bon Secours Mercy Health

Debra currently works in the M&A space where she is responsible for mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

Debra has held various management positions throughout her career, with increased responsibility in each role. She recently served as the Board President for the Greenville Literacy Association, where she led the organization during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read More

Debra previously served as a Human Resources Business Partner for ADUSA Distribution, LLC, where she led a team of dynamic HR professionals that oversee the center’s employee life cycle. She played an intricate part in substantially increasing the wages for new and existing associates to attract and retain talent. She was also a vital part of “standing up the business” for ADUSA’s location in Mauldin, SC, by staffing the center and creating guidelines that align with company policy and organizational objectives.

Debra grew up in Greenville and spent her summers and after school at Phillis Wheatley. She took part in many of the community center’s enrichment programs. She experienced firsthand the joy and life-changing opportunities the community center provided. It drives her passion for leading the organization into the next century.

When Debra’s not working or volunteering, she enjoys making memories with her nieces and nephews and introducing them to new experiences through travel. She also enjoys e-bike riding and spending long weekends in New York City.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/debranrice

Ted Kelly Phillis Wheatley Community Center Board Member

Ted Kelly, Vice Chair

President & CEO, Interserv Maintenance Management Solutions, Inc. and Interserv Hospitality Solutions

With more than 26 years progressive experience in senior executive management and business advisory services, Ted Kelly has supervised solutions-oriented business plans, developed quality assurance measures, and managed client satisfaction programs for small companies to international manufacturing giants. As President and CEO of Interserv, Ted leads growth and strategic direction for the company as it targets the Hospitality, Government, Restaurant, and Retail sectors by providing oversight in all key business areas while positioning Interserv for steady sales growth.

Read More

Previously, Ted has held a variety of position in engineering, sales, management, and business development. Ted’s experience also includes a variety of corporate quality assurance engineering positions involving QA standards, QA Training, and Six Sigma activities. In addition to this, he has provided project management duties for two international manufacturers, KEMET Electronics and Rockwell International.

Ted’s broad range of experience allows him to provide clients strong decisive leadership, effective articulation of vision and dynamic guidance and motivation in a hands-on, team-oriented atmosphere.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Sheria Clark

Sheria Akins Clarke, Secretary

Attorney

Sheria Clarke is a prosecutor with experience in complex whistleblower cases. An experienced investigative and government policy attorney, she has served as the Staff Director for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the United States House of Representatives, one of the largest and most powerful House Committees. She also served as Majority Counsel for the House Committee on Ethics, Counsel for the Select Committee on Events in Benghazi, Libya, and was an investigator on the House Ethics Committee. She worked closely with House Leadership, the Chairpersons of both Ethics and Oversight and Government Reform, and her work on House Ethics was bipartisan. She provided both legal and investigative work on scores of congressional hearings, interviewing witnesses, developing investigative strategies.

Read More

Sheria’s previous experience also includes clerking on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and serving as an adjunct professor at Wofford University where she lectures on the U.S. Congress and the Criminal Justice System. Sheria is active in her community serving as President of a non-profit leadership program for underprivileged girls, and a member of the board of a local community center. Sheria is a graduate of Liberty University and The University of North Carolina School of Law.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Steve Nail headshot

Steven Nail, J.D., Treasurer

Dean, College of Business, Anderson University

Steve Nail is currently the Dean, College of Business, at Anderson University. He is a labor and employment attorney who began his career with the National Labor Relations Board. Thereafter, he served as Assistant General Counsel for Michelin, including two stints in France, where he worked on the structuring of the European Economic Community and served in the HR and Legal Departments. Later he served as the Vice President of Labor and Employee Relations before moving on to Hubbell where he served as the Vice President of Human Resources.

Read More

In 2020, and again in 2021, Steve was named as one of the 50 most influential people in the Upstate. He was appointed by Governor Nikki Haley to serve on the SC Healthcare Planning Committee and was reappointed by Governor McMaster in 2018. Steve was named the 2012 South Carolina HR Professional of the Year and awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, by the Greenville SHRM chapter. He is a frequent speaker, a published author, co-host of the Survive HR podcast, and mentor to many in the HR profession. He often coaches individuals and consults organizations on strategic matters. He is a Registered Corporate Coach, certified by the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches and holds SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Paul Austin

Alex Austin

Certified Financial Planner & Lead Advisor, Insight Wealth Strategies

I have always enjoyed personal finance. Personal finance knits together financial planning with investment implementation. When done skillfully and with clients’ interests foremost, it highlights strategy alternatives and delivers insights and peace of mind. It’s also a joyful process to deliver and the platform for rewarding relationships.

Read More

As a Lead Advisor at Insight Wealth, I provide practical financial planning advice, guidance, and investment management. I have the privilege to advise and empower individuals and families to overcome obstacles, navigate changes, consider all options and optimize their financial decisions for a better future.

My knowledge and experience give me a unique understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and choices facing clients. The greatest value I provide my clients is helping them navigate roadblocks and recognize how to capitalize on opportunities to reach their short and long-term goals.

Outside of the office I am professionally and personally dedicated to the advancement of financial planning. I consult with CFP® candidates in helping them prepare and pass the national CFP® exam. I volunteer my time with the CASH Campaign of Maryland, an organization that promotes economic advancement for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families. CASH Campaign accomplishes its mission through operating a portfolio of direct service programs, building organizational and field capacity, and leading policy and advocacy initiatives to strengthen family economic stability.

I also serve as a board member of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, an organization whose mission is that every child will discover their unique talents and abilities in order to realize their full potential in a thriving community.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Dennis Braasch

Dennis Braasch

Owner, Industrial Project Innovation

As one of the Owners of IPI, Dennis provides leadership and operating experience to IPI. Dennis’ experience, built over four decades of project work in many industries and countries, adds credibility to the services IPI delivers.

Read More

Dennis has more than 40 years’ experience in the global engineering and construction industry working on a variety of US and global projects in both the private and public sectors.

While at Fluor, Dennis held positions as President of the Heavy Industrial Group, Vice President/General Manager of the Fluor Greenville office, Vice President Global Construction, Vice President of Global Project Controls; Automotive Division Manager, and others. After leaving Fluor in 1999, Dennis continued his career as President of Global Performance (acquired by WOOD) and most recently, as Owner Director of Industrial Project Innovation (IPI).

In addition to the Phillis Wheatley Board, Dennis serves on the United Way of Greenville Board and is a member of the Construction User’s Round Table (CURT).

Outside of the office, Dennis enjoys doing anything outdoors and spending time with family.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Russ Braasch

Russ Braasch

Owner, People and Culture, Industrial Project Innovation

Russ has a 15+ year career in the engineering and construction industry, beginning with Global Performance and continuing with Industrial Project Innovation, a company that Russ and his business partners founded in 2016 to perform project/program management services in the industrial sector. Industrial Project Innovation is a company focused on working with industrial clients to plan and deliver their capital programs and projects, and Russ serves as the Operations Manager for the company, as well as supporting and overseeing key client accounts.

Read More

Russ is a graduate of the Clemson University Construction Science & Management program and enjoys spending time away from the office with his children, friends and family. Hobbies include listening to live music, cooking/grilling, and following the Clemson Tigers and Atlanta Braves.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Courtney Clark image

Courtney K. Clark

Business Systems Consultant, Wells Fargo

A native of Greenville, SC, Courtney grew up in the Nicholtown community where her family has lived since the early 1950s. The Phillis Wheatley Community Center (PWCC) was an integral part of the households in the area. Often, many generations walked the halls of the PWCC. Her mother, aunts and uncles often still tell stories of their childhood and the good times they spent there. Not to mention, it is where they all first learned to swim. PWCC holds a special place in their hearts as it was a place of solace and family. Everyone was welcome! Today, Phillis Wheatley is equipped to continue impacting Greenville considerably so many years later.

Read More

Courtney relocated to North Carolina shortly after graduating college. She is a vice president and Strategic Execution Leader within Wholesale Lending Operations at Wells Fargo Bank, NA. Based in Charlotte, Courtney is responsible for leading complex initiatives designed to mitigate current and emerging risks with broad impact tied to Enterprise strategic objectives. Courtney has worked in financial services for over 17 years joining Wells Fargo as a legacy Wachovia team member in 2005. She is an avid supporter of sharing financial literacy to high school and college age young adults, specifically in minority communities.

Courtney holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Clemson University. Throughout her career, she has made a conscious effort to enhance her personal and professional development by obtaining a master’s degree from Strayer University and recently earned a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certification from the University of South Florida.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Board George Davis scaled

George Davis, III

Director of Community Engagement, Peace Center

George Davis III is the Director of Community Engagement for the Peace Center. His work is centered in amplifying voices, stories and inspiring through the arts. He endeavors to be the catalyst for a more inclusive Peace Center by increasing accessibility of programming to marginalized populations and forming strategic partnerships with Upstate organizations and community leaders.  

Read More

George moved to Greenville June 2021, from Grand Rapids, MI where he served on several boards, committees and was recognized for his philanthropy and advocacy by Grand Rapids Young Professionals with the Community Advocate Award. George has a diverse professional background having held positions in higher-education (Associate Director of Admissions) and public media NPR/PBS (Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator).  

 Since relocating to Greenville, George has joined the board of Homes of Hope and advisory committee for the Upstate LGBT+ Chamber. He’s completed Opportunity Greenville through the Greenville Chamber and is a Spring ‘22 Riley Institute Fellow.  

 George holds a B.A. in Journalism and Musical Theatre from Oakland University, and a Master of Science in Communications from Grand Valley State University.  

 Alongside his spouse, Elicia, George is co-owner of Truth&Gold a lifestyle brand where parenthood meets social activism. The online store consists of a range of products to empower BIPOC identity, assist families with courageous conversations and encourage people along their journey toward creating a more just and equitable world.  

 When not chasing around and playing with his sons Rocco (7) and Rexton (4), George enjoys roller-skating, binge-watching NPR Tiny Desk webisodes, traveling, posing as a foodie and of course catching a great concert. 

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Board James Haltiwanger 1

James N. Haltiwanger Jr., AAMS, CRPC, AIF, CEPA

Financial Advisor, Falls Park Capital of Raymond James

Prior to becoming a Financial Advisor, James was an entrepreneur and business owner. This background led him to join Raymond James as a Financial Advisor due to the firm’s core values of client-first, conservatism, independence, and integrity, making it the premier alternative to Wall Street.

Read More

He has earned the designations Accredited Asset Management Specialist, AAMS®, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, CRPC®, Accredited Investment Fiduciary, AIF® and Certified Exit Planning Advisor, CEPA®.

 Active in the community, James has been involved with the Greenville Rotary, Metropolitan Arts Council, United Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, United Way Young Philanthropists, and his church. A graduate of North Greenville University in Marketing, he received Clemson University’s Arthur M. Spiro Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship when he attended Clemson. He also received the South Carolina Collegiate Entrepreneur Award, was a national runner-up for the North American Collegiate Entrepreneur, and was an award finalist for the InnoVision Technology Awards.

The South Carolina native lives in Greenville with his wife, Christine, Department Chair, Health Science & Associate Dean, School of Health and Wellness at North Greenville University, and their two children, Laura and Davis. They are members of Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville, SC.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors April headshot

April D. Jones

General Reviewer, Michelin

April D. Jones is an experienced Accountant with a solid background in the Financial Services industry with 25 years of in-depth experience in Budgeting, Financial Reporting, General Ledger Management, Corporate Accounting, Forecasting & Projections, Cash Management, Tax Preparation, Fixed Assets and Payroll. April currently works as a General Reviewer – Acquisitions for Michelin North America, where she’s been employed for 11 years. She is also co-partner of Cousins Financial Services, LLC that offers full Bookkeeping, Consulting, Tax preparations and Payroll services.

Read More

Her strong passion for community service began when she became involved with Meals on Wheels in Spartanburg and evolved even more while volunteering for United Way of the Piedmont, and now United Way of Greenville County. She currently serves on the counsel of the African American Leadership Group – United Way, and as Finance Chair of Phillis Wheatley Board.

She holds a Master’s degree in Public Accounting from Strayer University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business with an emphasis in Accounting from Lander University.

April enjoys traveling and camping with her husband, Barry Jones and spending time with her adult daughters, Amber and Alexis Duckett and pet dog, Angel.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Tims Justice Photo

Tim Justice

Owner, Justice Consulting

Timothy R. (Tim) Justice is the former Chief Executive Officer of Rescom Construction, Greenville’s leading specialty contractor for commercial renovations and tenant upfits. In this capacity, he employed a staff of 25 people and was responsible for the company’s business development, asset management, financial analyses, and strategic planning. Tim and co-owner Joe McLaughlin established the company in 1989.

Read More

Prior to that, Tim was Manager of Property Management Accounting for U.S. Shelter Corporation, as well as Corporate Controller for T. Walter Brashier & Associates, both of Greenville. He is a native of North Carolina, where he graduated from Whiteville High School and is a 1982 Graduate of Garner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, from which he received a B.S. in Accounting.

Since the mid 90’s Tim has been heavily involved in the community and civic activities, locally, regionally, and nationally. After years of service to the Greenville Chamber of Commerce as a Director he served as the 2009 Chairman of the Board. In addition, Tim has served on the National Board of the Homebuilders Association, on its State Board as District Vice President, and locally in all major posts, including President in 1997. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Greenville Association of Realtors, The United Way, Greenville Area Development Corp., Junior Achievement, University of South Carolina Upstate Foundation, Clemson University’s Small Business Development Center’s Advisory Committee, and the Board of the Better Business Bureau culminating with Chairman in 1998. By gubernatorial appointment he served on the Board of the Greenville Memorial Auditorium (Bi-Lo Center). Similarly, by Presidential appointment, Mr. Justice served on the Board of the Selective Service System.

Tim currently sits on the Board of Directors for CommunityWorks as their Board Chair, Homes of Hope as their Board Chair, VisitGreenville as their Vice Chair, Phillis Wheatley Center, Advisory Board for Marketplace Staffing and has served as a mentor to young professionals through the Chamber’s Young Professional’s Pacesetter program since 2007.

His company, Rescom, was named “2011 Small Business of the Year” by the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and was cited in 2007 as #6 in South Carolina’s “25 Fastest-Growing Companies.” “Greenville Magazine” has three times chosen Tim as one of the community’s “50 Most Influential Citizens.”

Tim is married to the former Kathy Lotz and has two sons.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors LattimoreRay Formal Color HiRes

Ray A. Lattimore, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

President / CEO of Marketplace Professional Staffing

Ray Lattimore is the founder and president of Marketplace Professional Staffing, Inc., a staffing and employment company headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. He was born and raised in Greenville, and he is an alumni of Phillis Wheatley Community Center.

Read More

After securing basketball scholarships to attend college, he received an A.A. in liberal arts from Spartanburg Methodist College and a B.A. in business administration from Southern Wesleyan University. Ray won additional scholarships from Greenville Technical College and earned two additional associate degrees in marketing and computer technology while there.

Ray worked as a business systems analyst for the Information Technology department of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Greenville. In addition to managing several wide-reaching projects for MetLife, Ray taught computer science as an adjunct professor of Information Technology at Greenville Technical College.

During his time at Greenville Tech as a professor, Ray mentored many underprivileged college students to prepare them for the professional workforce. In 1993, Ray started “Marketplace Services,” a small business that prepared citizens of his community for successful entry into the corporate workforce.

In March of 1996, he became Founder, President and CEO of a new venture – Marketplace Professional Staffing – the business he still heads today. Marketplace services enterprises such as Procter & Gamble, Michelin Tires North America, Verizon Wireless, MCI, Hilton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Embassy Suites and Perrigo, the Greenville City Zoo, the Southern Connector, the Greenville Hospital System, and the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Addy Matney Headshot

Addy Matney

Principal / Senior Executive Consultant / Vice President; Community Relations, TM Public Relations and Governmental Affairs

Addy Matney is a consultant with 20 years of experience in community relations, nonprofit board governance, collective impact, facilitation, and project planning. Addy is currently the Senior Executive Consultant/Vice President of Community Relations for TM Public Relations and Governmental Affairs (TMPR). She is also currently serving as the Interim Executive Director of the Piedmont Health Foundation.

Read More

Addy graduated with honors from Clemson University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and English.
Active in numerous nonprofit organizations, Addy was the 2014-2015 board chair of The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. She served as the board chair of Piedmont Health Foundation in 2015. In January of 2016, the Greenville County Legislative Delegation appointed her to serve on the board of the Greenville Transit Authority — the governing body that oversees the county’s public transit system, Greenlink. She currently serves as vice chair and has served as its chair and as its treasurer. In 2019, Addy was recognized by the Transportation Association of South Carolina as Urban Board Member of the Year.
In the past, she served the community with Pendleton Place for Children and Families, the Circle of The Children’s Museum, and the Junior League of Greenville.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Brad Pochard scaled

Brad Pochard

Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission, Furman University

Brad Pochard has served as Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission at Furman University since 2008.  Prior to arriving in South Carolina, he served as Director of Admission at his alma mater, Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH, for seven years. 

Read More

He earned a degree in Political Science in 2001 and a master’s degree in Business Administration in 2005.

Brad is active in many professional and community organizations including the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the Southern Association of College Admission Counseling (SACAC), advisory board member of Echo Delta and is in his third serving as President of the Travelers Rest Youth Association (TRYA).

His wife, Brianne, serves Furman as Associate Director of Grants and is a long-term member of the Travelers Rest YMCA board.   Together they have two sons, JT (13) and Evan (8) who attend Northwest Middle School and Gateway Elementary in Travelers Rest.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Art Seaver

Art Seaver

CEO, Southern First Bank

R. Arthur “Art” Seaver, Jr., is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Southern First Bank and its holding company Southern First Bancshares. Southern First opened in 1999 and now operates in 12 locations in the Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston markets of South Carolina as well as the Charlotte, Triangle and Triad regions of North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia with approximately $3.3 billion in total assets. Mr. Seaver is a 1986 graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in financial management and a 1999 graduate of the BAI Graduate School of Community Bank Management.

Read More

Mr. Seaver is passionate about making a difference in the Greenville community. He has been involved with a number of non-profits throughout the years, giving of his time and resources to impact the lives of those around him. Mr. Seaver is past Chairman of the Board for the United Way of Greenville County and past Chair of the Palmetto Society. Past organizations that he has worked with include the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council — Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Board of Directors — Thornblade Club, Board of Directors — South Carolina Bankers Association, Leadership Greenville, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina Network of Business and Education Partnership, Junior Achievement, Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Junior League, and First Presbyterian Church.

Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Wendy Walden

Wendy Walden

Associate Vice President of Executive Affairs, Greenville Technical College

Wendy Walden is the Associate Vice President for Executive Affairs at Greenville Technical College. In her role, she is a member of the president’s cabinet, serves as the chief diversity officer, and oversees executive communications for the college. Her work has resulted in strategic partnerships with leaders across business sectors to create initiatives to meet changes in academic programs and workforce needs in business and industry. Under her leadership, the college has been nationally recognized in consecutive years for its impact on diversity and helped position Greenville Technical College as a premier two-year technical college statewide, regionally and nationally.
Phillis Wheatley Community Center Serving Greenville SC Board of Directors Nancy Callahan

Nancy Callahan

Ex-Officio Board Member
Recreation Division Director, Greenville County Parks and Recreation

Nancy Callahan is the Recreation Division Director for Greenville County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. She oversees a variety of county programming efforts including after-school programs, summer day camps, special events, therapeutic recreation, athletic programs, sports tourism, and Pleasant Ridge Camp and Retreat Center. A graduate of Clemson University’s Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department, she has been in the business of helping people make the most of their leisure time for over 38 years.

Read More

She is also on the Board of Directors for the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy and has served on various committees with the United Way of Greenville, LiveWell Greenville, Greenville CAN, and the South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association.