Columbia Opportunity Resource

COR TF6 Networking Event
Wednesday, February 24 at Terra from 7-9 p.m.

The only cost to participate is the cost of your meal. The restaurant will be providing a fixed menu with several options to suit different tastes. Registration fees are $25 for COR members (you MUST log into your account on this Web site to receive this special rate); non-members $35 or $50, which includes a trial membership in COR. Register today!

Featured executive leaders for the February event are:

Ginger Crocker, Judicial Director
South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission
Virginia Crocker currently serves as judicial director of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission, a position she has held since 2007. Her involvement with the Commission did not begin in 2007, as from 1984 through 1992 she served on the Workers Compensation Commission as vice chair under the appointment of Governor Richard W. Riley.

Her past leadership roles include serving as member of the South Carolina House of Representatives representing Laurens County from 1978 through 1984, assistant director of admissions and director of special projects at Presbyterian College, executive director of the House Democratic Caucus, director of intergovernmental and community relations for Representative Jim Hodges and she coordinated disaster relief for the Gulf Coast evacuees of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the state of South Carolina through the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

Virginia was awarded the Legislator of the Year Award from both the South Carolina Education Association and the South Carolina School Boards Association for her contribution to the Education Improvement Act of 1984. In 1999 she received the South Carolina Rural Health Association’s Presidential Award of Merit for her work in improving health care in rural South Carolina. Virginia is also an honorary alumna of Presbyterian College.

She is very involved in the community. She is currently serving as a board member of Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital at the appointment of Richland County Council and she serves on the boards of the South Carolina Independent College and Universities Foundation and the Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina.
Virginia Crocker is a native of Clinton, South Carolina, and a graduate of Columbia College with a degree in speech and drama and a minor in political science.

Lonnie Emard, Executive Director
Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management
Lonnie Emard, with over 25 years experience as an information technology professional, was instrumental in the formation the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management and was named the executive director in January 2009. He is responsible for the strategic planning and tactical operations of the Consortium, including financial management and facility planning. He has been passionately working to bring academic, business, economic development and public relations entities together to address the need for more workers in the IT talent pipeline.

Emard joined BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina in 2002 as the director of staff resource management for the information systems division. Under his direction, the BlueCross BlueShield information systems organization grew from 1,200 employees and contractors to more than 2,300 in seven years. His management techniques helped the IS division maintain a 93 percent retention rate at a time when other information technology companies were struggling to keep their best people.
Emard serves on several boards, including the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Information Technology Council, Midlands Education and Business Alliance, New Carolina's Insurance Technology and Services cluster and the Innovation in Insurance organization.

He graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a bachelor's of science in computer science in 1981.

Ric Luber, President and Chief Executive Officer
Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism

Ric Luber took on the role as president and chief executive officer of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism on July 2, 2007, following former positions as president and chief executive officer of convention and visitors bureaus in Austin, Texas and Rochester, New York.

A past Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Board Member, he currently serves on numerous hospitality, travel and tourism industry boards and committees including the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce Board and Executive Committee, The River Alliance, Congaree Vista Guild, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia Hotel and Motel Association, the Cultural Council Board of Richland and Lexington Counties and the University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail and Sports Management Partnership.

Ric is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School.

John Mikula, President and Founder
Mikor LLC
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 nonprofit community development. John is currently consulting with The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce as senior vice president for business retention and expansion.

His experience also includes positions with Benedictine University in Naperville Illinois, where he functioned as associate dean of the business school and as a professor in the MBA and EMBA programs, Northern Illinois University, Cinergy, the Department of Defense, Continental Can, Continental Group, PepsiCo and Sonoco Products Company. His experience includes holding the position of vice president for three Fortune 500 companies.

John is the holder of four United States and international patents, the US Air Force Commendation Medal, a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management/Electrical Engineering, a master’s in business administration and has served on the Board of Directors of the Plastic Drum Institute and Western Polydrum.

Barry Russell, System President
South Carolina Technical College System
Dr. Barry W. Russell is president of the South Carolina Technical College System. Prior to assuming this position in January 2006, Barry served as president of Midlands Technical College in Columbia. He has also served in positions in the North Carolina Community College System including president of Southwestern Community College and executive vice president and chief operating officer for the System.

At the state and local level, Barry serves on the boards of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, AdvanceSC, South Carolina Economic Developers Association and the South Carolina Workforce Investment Board. He also serves on the South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act Coordinating Council. Barry recently served nationally on the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors where he chaired the Committee on Public Policy/Government Relations.

Doreen Sullivan, President/CEO
Post No Bills
Doreen Sullivan has been leading Post No Bills for 20 years and continues to bring a powerhouse of energy and enthusiasm to the office every day. She is the founder, owner and constant visionary.

Her clients include BBC America, Charlestowne Landing, Dream Works, MGM, Restaurante Divino, Universal Home Entertainment and the University of South Carolina.

A true entrepreneur, Doreen sees opportunity at every corner and brings a unique perception to every piece of the business. This has resulted in award-winning campaigns, packaging and promotions for her clients as well as the opportunity for constant creative engagement for her team.