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GSA Daily Staff Report
Published July 30, 2010
Significant community involvement, success in their chosen field and a commitment to improving South Carolina characterize the newest class of Liberty Fellows. Chosen from a pool of 400 candidates spread across the state, the class of 2010 represent business, government and nonprofit sectors of South Carolina.
“The class of 2012 is extremely capable of meeting the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities in the lifetime fellowship program,” said Hayne Hipp, founder of Liberty Fellowship. “More important to our state, not one of them is satisfied with the status quo. Each has a deep desire to take action to improve South Carolina.”
The integrity of each Liberty Fellowship class depends largely on the blend of differences and diversity of perspectives of the individual leaders. Finding the right mix is a key focus of the Liberty Fellowship.
“The members of this class span a broad and interesting spectrum. They are established leaders who represent a mosaic of backgrounds, skills and experiences,” said Jennie Johnson, executive director of Liberty Fellowship.
In addition to attending four seminars over the two-year period, including one Aspen Institute global seminar with leaders from around the world, each class member commits to completing a personal project that will have a positive impact on the state.
“The fellow projects and collaborative leadership approach truly have an impact at the state level,” Hipp said. “The vision of Liberty Fellowship is to identify leaders who are respectful of other points of view so they can work together to move the state forward.”
Following are the members of the Liberty Fellowship Class of 2012:
• Pam Baker, shareholder with the McNair Law Firm PA in
• Dan Ballou, founding member of Hamilton Martens Ballou & Sipe LLC in Rock Hill.
• Russell Booker, Superintendent of Spartanburg County School District Seven.
• John Castile, City Manager of Greenville
• Jamie Fulmer Jr., vice president of public affairs for Advance America Cash Advance Centers Inc. in Spartanburg
• Rich Gaton, co-founder and president of BDI Pharma Inc. in Columbia
• Tanya Gee, Clerk of Court for the South Carolina Court of Appeals
• Mary Hipp, community activist
• Blan Holman IV, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center and co-founder of SELC's in Charleston
• Mikee Johnson, CEO and president of Cox Industries
• Amy Love, deputy executive director of New
• Nick Muzin, senior vice president of legal and government affairs for The InterTech Group in Charleston
• Susan Newman, assistant professor in the College of Nursing and College of Graduate Studies at the Medical University of South Carolina
• Scott Porter, section chief of the division of Orthopaedic Oncology at Greenville Hospital System
• Tricia Ravenhorst, director and immigration attorney of the South Carolina Immigrant Victim Network
• Vaidehi Shah, founder of Velocitas Partners Inc
• James Smith Jr., principle of James E. Smith Jr. PA
• Robin Stilwell, Circuit Court Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
• Gus Suárez, associate attorney with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC
• Laura Varn, vice president of corporate communications and media relations for Santee Cooper
• Peter Waldschmidt, founder and CEO of Gnoso Inc.
• Thad Westbrook, partner with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Liberty Fellowship is a statewide leadership initiative founded by Hayne Hipp, Wofford College and The Aspen Institute. The program seeks to inspire outstanding leadership in South Carolina, empowering the state’s leaders to realize their full potential.
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