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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 2026. The 64 individuals will be the 53rd graduating class since the program was founded in 1972.
“We’re thrilled to welcome this dynamic new class to the Leadership Columbia program,” said Columbia Chamber President and CEO, Carl Blackstone. “With more than 2,200 alumni, they’re joining a powerful network of leaders committed to making a lasting impact in our community.”
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.
Leadership Columbia Class of 2026 Class Roster:
Allison Smith, Richland County Sheriff's Department
Alyssa Granados, Tutelage School Solutions
Amy Fraley, University of South Carolina
Andrea Fripp, First Palmetto Bank
Andrew Stone, SouthState Bank
Bency Beals, Ignite Leadership Solutions
Carey Grady, Reid Chapel Church / V.V. Reid School
Caroline Fawcett, Magnus Development Partners
Caryn Pumphrey, The Free Medical Clinic
Chris Whitehead, Edward Jones
Christy Jeter, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Colishia Dunbar, SICAME Group
Crystal Salley, SC Department of Public Safety
Darain Ginyard, NP Strategy
Eric Goff, Midlands Technical College
Graham Davidson, Brabham Griffin Insurance LLC
Greer McKeown, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Hanna Matthews, AppleOne Employment
Hannah Connor, McEntire Joint National Guard Base
Heather Cannon, Furniture Services, Inc.
Jasmine Caton, Palmetto Citizens FCU
Jaquila LaShaye Green, Impact Justice
Jessica Reece, Unum/Colonial Life
Jillyn Maffett, Systemtec
Karin Haile, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Kimberly Beasley, Prisma Health
Kimberly Blaiss, Modern Exterminating Co, Inc.
Kinley McDougald, YMCA of Columbia
Lacey Barfels, South Carolina Federal Credit Union
Larry McWilliams, MSS Solutions
La'Sasha Breland, Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO)
Leah Wicevic, Sistercare, Inc.
LeQuanta Lawson, Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union
Louis Williams, Crave Artisan Market
Mallory Sparks, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
Maren Harris, Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI)
Marketta Wright, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Maurice Pearl, CMRTA
Melissa Brice, Mauldin & Jenkins
Michelle Raven, Resilient Roots Development LLC/Capacity Builders International
Moryah Jackson, Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity
Nell Warthen, Chernoff Newman
Nick Luffman, Landmark Builders
Noah Moore, NAI Columbia
Peter Gula, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
PJ Krouse, Colonial Life
Rachel Snipes, Big Red Barn Retreat
Ray Ingram, Stingray 803 Entertainment LLC
Richard Miller, BACE Financial LLC
Shannon Collins, Palmetto GBA/BCBSSC
Sheldon Paschal, United Way of the Midlands
Stephen Lynch, Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A.
Stormy Spivey, Prisma Health
Tate White, Post and Courier| Free Times
Taylor Wray, Re-Bath
Timothy Vitollo, Bank of America (Private Bank)
Tyler McKenzie, LS3P Associates Ltd.
Tyra Little, Richland County
Valerie Byrd Fort, University of South Carolina
Veronica Deas, Prisma Health
Wesley Mitchell, Southern Visions Real Estate
Yogini Intwala, Medical Services of America
Zach Lundberg, Colliers International SC
Zachary Ohanesian, South Carolina Bar
“We’re thrilled to welcome this talented group to the Leadership Columbia program. Over the coming year, the new class will develop their skills, deepen their community connections, and carry forward the tradition of impactful leadership in the Midlands,” said Megan Newbold, Leadership Columbia Advisory Board Chair.
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.
The Columbia Chamber announces ReToisha Dallas (Logan Elementary) and Cody Jones (Jackson Creek Elementary) as the Educator Excellence Teacher of the Quarter award winners. Read More »
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