Columbia Chamber Announces 2021 Leadership Columbia Class
Friday, November 6th, 2020
Leadership Columbia, a Columbia Chamber program, presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, for emerging and existing leaders in the Midlands, is pleased to announce the Leadership Columbia Class of 2021. The 39 individuals will be the 48th graduating class since the program was founded in 1972.
“Each year the Chamber’s Leadership Columbia program brings together a diverse group of individuals,” says Columbia Chamber President and CEO, Carl Blackstone. “This year’s class will have the additional opportunity of learning to lead during a pandemic,” continued Blackstone.
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 2020-2021 Class Roster:
November 5, 2020
John Marcia Michael Thomas Kaitlin Jennifer Sam Thomas Branden Kimberlei Mimi Megan Rachel
Rula Christopher Catie Hunter
Andoh Bacon Barker Beard Beck Berryman Bond Bryant Conrad Davis Draft Huebner John Kibler Layton Martin McKenzie
Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority Richland First Steps
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Colliers International
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
South Carolina Education Lottery
South Carolina Air National Guard
First Citizens Bank
WOLO-TV
Columbia Water
Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of SC Boudreaux
Colonial Life
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Goodwyn Mills Cawoo
Andrew Frank Megan Cassandra Rachel Rachel Catherine Brittani Arteya Jamesha Austin Meredith Aditi Taylor Diana Sara Thomas Maya Theresa Robert Rachel
McWilliams Mundy Newbold Paden Phillips Price Ramirez Richards Robinson Shackerford Smallwood Smith Srivastav Stanley Stevenson Svedberg Tafel
Troy Wallace Willm Young
Kimley-Horn
Stewart Engineering, Inc.
Garvin Design Group
South Carolina Federal Credit Union South Carolina Air National Guard Palmetto Conservation Foundation Chernoff Newman
Central SC Habitat for Humanity BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Central Carolina Community Foundation South Carolina Realtors
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Children's Trust of South Carolina Turner Padget Graham & Laney P.A. Grace Outdoor Advertising
Nexsen Pruet, LLC
Lexington Medical Center
Colonial Life
South Carolina Humanities
Nephron Pharmaceuticals
YMCA of Columbia
“We are excited to announce the Leadership Columbia Class of 2021, and thank them and their
employers for participating this year,” says Patrick Cleary, chair of the Leadership Columbia
Advisory Board (LCAB). “This year’s class members welcome the opportunity to learn and
contribute to the growth of the Midlands.”
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. While many of the classes will be virtual this year due to the impact of the coronavirus, the class size was reduced to accommodate in-person sessions at such time as it is deemed appropriate.
Photo Caption: Leadership Columbia Class of 2021- socially distanced and masks were removed briefly for photo purposes only.
About Leadership Columbia
Leadership Columbia is an educational program offered through the Columbia Chamber. The 10-month program provides emerging and existing leaders in the Midlands area with an opportunity to enhance their civic knowledge and network. For over 45 years, Leadership
Columbia has helped participants better understand the local community, while building relationships with the region's current and future leaders.
For more information on Leadership Columbia, visit www.ColumbiaChamber.com or contact Hilary Bell at 803.733.1115.