A native Columbian, Katherine serves as the current Board Chair, overseeing the COR Board of Directors as well as administration of the organization. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina College of Mass Communications and Information Studies (CMCIS) with a BA in mass communications. Currently the member services director for the SC Association of Certified Public Accountants, she was previously on staff with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Camp Kudzu, a charitable non-profit providing programs and services for Georgia ’s children living with type I diabetes while she lived in Atlanta. She holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential and is the youngest of 15 CAEs in South Carolina. Katherine earned a certificate in volunteer management from the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and another in membership marketing from the American Society of Association Executives. Katherine is also a previous scholarship recipient from the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, the first in USC’s history.
Gregory Hilton is a project manager with Sagacious Partners, LLC where he manages project and program activities for major initiatives such as EngenuitySC, New Carolina, and the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative.
He is a Liberty Scholars Fellow, and graduate of the nationally ranked International MBA program at the University of South Carolina. Greg has lived and worked in various countries in Latin America, and brings a wealth of knowledge in global commerce and development consulting, and speaks Spanish fluently. A native of North Carolina, Greg pursued undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina, La Universidad San Francisco de Quito, ITESM-Guadalajara, and La Universidad de Buenos Aires. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Latin American studies and a B.S. in Environmental Science. Greg currently serves as Co-Chair of the COR Board of Directors, overseeing initiative and project operations, bringing his hi-energy leadership and action-oriented focus to the board..
M. Neil Jones, CPA, is an audit manager for Bauknight, Pietras and Stormer, PA. Neil provides assurance and business advisory services to clients in a wide range of industries. Neil's primary areas of practice include telecommunications (incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, broadband carriers, CATV, and internet service providers), insurance (with an emphasis on captive insurance clients), and employee benefits. In addition, he provides services to companies in the distribution, manufacturing, construction, and software development industries.
Katie Wilmesherr recently joined the Columbia Regional Sports Council as their newest Sales Manager. She is responsible for sales and marketing as well as the promotion of Columbia to sporting groups, event owners and rights holders. Previously she was the Assistant Vice President, Community Bankers Council at the South Carolina Bankers Association, as the coordinator for South Carolina’s Community Bankers Council and as the South Carolina Banker’s School assistant. She was also responsible for the annual publication, Bank Directory of South Carolina, along with a variety of other duties.
Ms. Wilmesherr is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. While double-majoring in marketing and insurance and risk management, she was a member of Gamma Iota Sigma, the insurance fraternity, an officer for her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi (treasurer and recruitment vice president) while organizing community service events such as a Dance Marathon for the Children’s Miracle Network and Relay for Life She currently serves as Secretary on the Young Alumni Council at the University of South Carolina, Membership Meeting Planner Chair of the Junior League of Columbia, Membership Director for Columbia Opportunity Resource, Secretary for the Laurel Hill Neighborhood Association, and Recruitment Advisor for Alpha Delta Pi.
Mandi Engram is director of marketing for the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism, which represents the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Columbia Regional Sports Council and the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. She is a native of Columbia, with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina. She is a graduate of Leadership Columbia and recipient of the Glenn Jacobus class of 2009 award and was most recently a 2010 recipient of The State newspaper's annual 20 Under 40 award.
Courtney Herring is currently employed by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce and works in the Public Affairs and Community Development department. The Columbia Chamber is a membership organization that works actively to enhance business development in the Riverbanks Region. Courtney’s responsibilities include program management, event planning, lobbying, government relations, and communications. Courtney serves as Chair of the COR Policy & Issues Initiative.
Khush Tata, Leadership Development Initiative Co-Chair
Khush Tata is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the SC Technical College System (which consists of sixteen Technical Colleges, a Center for Accelerated Technology Training and a System Office headquarters). Prior to coming to the System, Mr. Tata was employed with the SC Department of Insurance as CIO and the SC Governor's Office as Director of Information Technology.
Khush is the former Vice-Chair for the SC Enterprise Architecture Oversight Committee, the current Chair for SC Information Technology Directors Association and a Board member for EngenuitySC, The CIO Forum, Columbia Chamber of Commerce – Information Technology Council. He is a graduate of the Governor’s EXCEL Leadership Institute, SC Executive Institute, Leadership SC and the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative. He is involved with and has assisted several civic groups and government organizations with policies, issues and projects.
Khush possesses a BS in both Physics and Computer Science.
Lindsey Spires of New Carolina, SC’s Council on Competitiveness, works to supports clusters and task forces with research and project management. She taps into her experience with the Small Business Ombudsman’s Office at the SC Department of Commerce, where she interned after graduation from Presbyterian College in 2006. She served as a student member of the Presbyterian College Board of Directors and spent a semester in Washington, DC, where she also worked for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. In May 2008, Lindsey earned her Masters of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. As an active player in the local community, Lindsey serves on the board of Columbia's Opportunity Resource and the Presbyterian College Alumni Chapter (Columbia, SC). Lindsey is also is one of a team of young leaders in the Midlands who have created the Columbia Talent Magnet Project. The goal of this initiative is to take the “pulse” of the community by identifying the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that impact the positive images that make Columbia the city that professionals choose to want to live, work, learn, and enjoy. Lindsey serves as chair of COR's Promote Columbia Initiative.
Belinda F. Gergel is a native South Carolinian with a passionate love of the history of her home state. Following her graduation from Columbia College in 1972, she earned an M.Ed and Ph.D. from Duke University, where her graduate work focused on women's higher education in the South in the early twentieth century.
Dr. Gergel is a career educator. She taught early in her career as a social studies teacher at C. A. Johnson High School in Richland District One and spent most of her professional life as a professor and college administrator at Columbia College. At her retirement, Dr. Gergel was Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Columbia College. Dr. Gergel was twice selected as the College's "Outstanding Faculty Member" and in 2006 was awarded the Columbia College Medallion, the highest award presented by Columbia College.
Chuck LaMark was the previous Deputy Director of the Renaissance Foundation of Columbia, SC. Prior to this he was Director of Development for the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties. Before arriving in Columbia two years ago he was the founder of Our Children’s Village International a not-for-profit organization formed to support children’s organizations around the world. Prior to Our Children's Village International, Mr. LaMark was vice president of World Centers of Compassion for Children from 1997 to 1999. This Pensacola based non-profit was founded by 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Betty Williams to facilitate the creation of ‘compassion centers’ within war torn countries providing shelter and food for the most helpless of victims – the children. Chuck serves as a member of COR's Wisdom Council.
Tom Ledbetter is a management professional with thirty-five years experience in the rapidly changing advanced manufacturing/technology development sector. His experience includes line, staff, and executive management responsibilities across a broad spectrum of organizational disciplines. In 2003, Tom joined Midlands Technical College in Columbia, most recently being named Executive Director of the Enterprise Campus.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Mr. Ledbetter is an active proponent of local community development activities, entrepreneurial development, and larger-scale economic development efforts across the State of South Carolina. He is a Certified Economic Developer in South Carolina, and is certified as a Facilitator/Administrator for the FastTrac® series of entrepreneurial training courses. Mr. Ledbetter has been recognized nationally for his work in career development activities within K-12 and higher education.
John Mikula
is the President and founder of Mikor LLC, a management consulting firm located
in Greenville, South Carolina. He is a high energy, seasoned executive with
solid, multi-functional experience in Business, Education and Non-profit
Community Development. John is currently affiliated with National Community
Development Services in Atlanta Georgia and is engaged in a capital campaign
for The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Keely Saye, Immediate Past Chair & Founding Member
As a founding member of COR, Keely Saye remains very involved in the community serving on various boards and committees. She was named one of the "20 Under 40" rising business leaders in The State newspaper in 2004 and featured Business Person of the Month by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce in August of 2006. As a Certified Inbound Marketing Specialist, she currently serves as an Interactive Marketing Consultant to organizations across the Midlands. Her marketing philosophy embraces Web 2.0 and viral marketing strategies that engage consumers in the age of new media communications.
City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine is a founding partner in the law firm of Jabber, Gray & Isaac, PA, where she practices in the areas of real estate, probate and business transactions. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Management from Hampton University and her Juris Doctorate from The University of South Carolina School of Law. Tameika serves on numerous boards, commissions and civic organizations, including the Board of Visitors for Columbia College and the board of Junior Achievement. She is also a 2002 graduate of Leadership Columbia, sponsored by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Tameika has been the recipient our several distinguished awards, including being a 2004 Recipient of the Congaree Area Girls Scouts Woman of Distinction Award and being named as one of the Top 20 under 40 by the State newspaper.
A native Columbian, Katherine serves as the current Board Chair, overseeing the COR Board of Directors as well as administration of the organization. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina College of Mass Communications and Information Studies (CMCIS) with a BA in mass communications. Currently the member services director for the SC Association of Certified Public Accountants, she was previously on staff with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Camp Kudzu, a charitable non-profit providing programs and services for Georgia ’s children living with type I diabetes while she lived in Atlanta. She holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential and is the youngest of 15 CAEs in South Carolina. Katherine earned a certificate in volunteer management from the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and another in membership marketing from the American Society of Association Executives. Katherine is also a previous scholarship recipient from the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, the first in USC’s history. 
M. Neil Jones, CPA, is an audit manager for Bauknight, Pietras and Stormer, PA. Neil provides assurance and business advisory services to clients in a wide range of industries. Neil's primary areas of practice include telecommunications (incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, broadband carriers, CATV, and internet service providers), insurance (with an emphasis on captive insurance clients), and employee benefits. In addition, he provides services to companies in the distribution, manufacturing, construction, and software development industries.
Courtney Herring is currently employed by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce and works in the Public Affairs and Community Development department. The Columbia Chamber is a membership organization that works actively to enhance business development in the Riverbanks Region. Courtney’s responsibilities include program management, event planning, lobbying, government relations, and communications. Courtney serves as Chair of the COR Policy & Issues Initiative. 
Chuck LaMark was the previous Deputy Director of the Renaissance Foundation of Columbia, SC. Prior to this he was Director of Development for the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties. Before arriving in Columbia two years ago he was the founder of Our Children’s Village International a not-for-profit organization formed to support children’s organizations around the world. Prior to Our Children's Village International, Mr. LaMark was vice president of World Centers of Compassion for Children from 1997 to 1999. This Pensacola based non-profit was founded by 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Betty Williams to facilitate the creation of ‘compassion centers’ within war torn countries providing shelter and food for the most helpless of victims – the children. Chuck serves as a member of COR's Wisdom Council. 
Tom Ledbetter is a management professional with thirty-five years experience in the rapidly changing advanced manufacturing/technology development sector. His experience includes line, staff, and executive management responsibilities across a broad spectrum of organizational disciplines. In 2003, Tom joined Midlands Technical College in Columbia, most recently being named Executive Director of the Enterprise Campus.
As a founding member of COR, Keely Saye remains very involved in the community serving on various boards and committees. She was named one of the "20 Under 40" rising business leaders in The State newspaper in 2004 and featured Business Person of the Month by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce in August of 2006. As a Certified Inbound Marketing Specialist, she currently serves as an Interactive Marketing Consultant to organizations across the Midlands. Her marketing philosophy embraces Web 2.0 and viral marketing strategies that engage consumers in the age of new media communications.
City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine is a founding partner in the law firm of Jabber, Gray & Isaac, PA, where she practices in the areas of real estate, probate and business transactions. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Management from Hampton University and her Juris Doctorate from The University of South Carolina School of Law. Tameika serves on numerous boards, commissions and civic organizations, including the Board of Visitors for Columbia College and the board of Junior Achievement. She is also a 2002 graduate of Leadership Columbia, sponsored by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Tameika has been the recipient our several distinguished awards, including being a 2004 Recipient of the Congaree Area Girls Scouts Woman of Distinction Award and being named as one of the Top 20 under 40 by the State newspaper.
