Board of Directors

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.