The Greenville Chamber and United Way of Greenville County recently held a graduation event for its first PROPEL GVL class, a five-week board training and executive leadership program designed to expose participants to the integral elements of board membership and effective board and committee service.

The first graduating class of the PROPEL GVL program are:

• Megan Campbell, Greenville Chamber, Marketing and Communications Director
• Mark Colby, Michelin North America, Purchasing Manager of Industrial Supplies
• Emily Dymski, Greenville Theatre, Marketing and Development Director
• Rebecca Edwards, City of Greenville, Community Development Financial Coordinator
• Fatima Ghzala, Full Potential Development, Founder
• Maria Johnson, Prisma Health Upstate, Certified Medical Spanish Interpreter
• Thomas Kuckhoff, ABB Motors, Research and Development Engineer
• Holly Manuel, United Way of Greenville County, Senior Relationship Manager
• Marilyn Neves, Foothills Family Resources, Director of Community Outreach
• Virginia Rickett, Senior Helpers Anderson, Owner
• Jonathan Roth, Jackson Lewis P.C., Attorney
• Ame Sanders, State of Inclusion, Founder and President
• Josh Tew, Flagship Properties, Vice President, Commercial Division
• Jason Thomas, Total Human Resources, Inc., Director of Operations
• Rob Vereen, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Financial Specialist
• Alex Vitou, ABB Motors, Customer Order Engineering Manager
• Janna Walkiewicz, Sustaining Way, Board Member
• Sarah West, ITW Hartness, Human Resources Director
• Vickie Zambrano, Human Technologies, Professional Division Marketing Coordinator

Upon completion of the program, participants will be guided to placements on local nonprofit boards and committees, such as organizations like Junior Achievement, Center for Developmental Services, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate, to name a few.

“These leaders are committed to helping others, and making a positive difference in our community,” said Meghan Barp, president and CEO of United Way of Greenville County. “We know as PROPEL GVL graduates, they will lead by example as they move forward to serve as effective board members for worthy organizations across the Upstate.”

“We are proud of the foresight displayed by this group of community advocates as they take this step towards board leadership,” said Carlos Philips, President and CEO of the Greenville Chamber. “We are confident that they leave the program better equipped to be transformative leaders for our community.”

The PROPEL GVL program will offer another five-week session in 2020. Interested participants and benefitting nonprofit organizations can learn more at www.greenvillechamber.org/propelgvl.