Staff Report
Published Aug. 22, 2012

Following a national search, Nika White was chosen recently to serve as the Greenville Chamber’s vice president of diversity and inclusion.

White will launch the chamber’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, which aims to integrate diversity and inclusion into all of the chamber’s strategic initiatives.

White will be responsible for creating and collaboratively implementing an overarching diversity strategy for the Greenville Chamber. As a key member of the executive team, White will design and oversee initiatives that develop and promote inclusion of diverse businesses in the Upstate’s economic activities.

Bi-Lo, CertusBank, the city of Greenville, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville County and Michelin North America all made a three-year commitment to the initiative, as did Accelerate, an economic development initiative of the chamber.

One of White’s initial tasks is to conduct research and develop a plan for a Minority Business

Accelerator program, which will enhance the economic success of disadvantaged organizations through business development services, mentoring and access to large corporations for partnership opportunities.

“Building one of the world’s premier business communities means that all segments of our community must grow and develop new business opportunities,” Chamber President and CEO Ben Haskew said in a news release. “We are confident that Nika will help lead the development of programs within this critical initiative that will ultimately increase overall prosperity in our region.”

White previously served as management supervisor and diversity manager at Erwin Penland. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the Riley Institute at Furman University's Diversity Leaders Initiative.