Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards 2018
![Seven awards were presented at the Fourteenth Annual Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner held at the TD Convention Center, Greenville](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-5.jpg)
![Gabrielle Komorowski, co-anchor of WYFF News 4, serving as the emcee of tonight's program. Gabrielle is also a Riley Fellow of the Upstate Class XXI.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-178.jpg)
![Gabrielle Komorowski, co-anchor of WYFF News 4, serving as the emcee of tonight's program. Gabrielle is also a Riley Fellow of the Upstate Class XXI.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-178.jpg)
![Carlos Phillips, the Greenville Chamber's President and CEO, and Riley Fellow from Upstate Class XXIII, making remarks](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-198.jpg)
![Carlos Phillips, the Greenville Chamber's President and CEO, and Riley Fellow from Upstate Class XXIII, making remarks](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-198.jpg)
![Robert Verostek, Senior Vice President of Finance with Denny’s Corporation presenting the William “Bill” T. Wylie Valued Lives Award for School Excellence in Diversity to Damon Qualls, principal of Monaview Elementary School](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-251.jpg)
![Robert Verostek, Senior Vice President of Finance with Denny’s Corporation presenting the William “Bill” T. Wylie Valued Lives Award for School Excellence in Diversity to Damon Qualls, principal of Monaview Elementary School](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-251.jpg)
![Wendy Walden, Associate Vice President for Executive Affairs at Greenville Technical College, presenting the Outstanding High School Student award to Charlotte Capers Snoad, a senior at Mauldin High School.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-263.jpg)
![Wendy Walden, Associate Vice President for Executive Affairs at Greenville Technical College, presenting the Outstanding High School Student award to Charlotte Capers Snoad, a senior at Mauldin High School.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-263.jpg)
![Lee Gill, Chief Inclusion Officer at Clemson University, presenting the Outstanding College Student award to Adahlia Nix](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-280.jpg)
![Lee Gill, Chief Inclusion Officer at Clemson University, presenting the Outstanding College Student award to Adahlia Nix](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-280.jpg)
![Louise Connell, Supplier Diversity Manager for BMW Manufacturing Co., presenting the Outstanding Nonprofit Organization award to Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas (VCOM). Accepting the award are Dr. Lindsey Ridgeway, Assistant Vice President for Student Services and Dr. Doralyn Jones, Assistant Professor for Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-294.jpg)
![Louise Connell, Supplier Diversity Manager for BMW Manufacturing Co., presenting the Outstanding Nonprofit Organization award to Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas (VCOM). Accepting the award are Dr. Lindsey Ridgeway, Assistant Vice President for Student Services and Dr. Doralyn Jones, Assistant Professor for Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-294.jpg)
![Rhonda Hunt, Supply Chain Manager for Michelin North America, Inc., presenting the Outstanding Business award to Bert Stuck, Engineering Executive and Global Testing with GE Power.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-307.jpg)
![Rhonda Hunt, Supply Chain Manager for Michelin North America, Inc., presenting the Outstanding Business award to Bert Stuck, Engineering Executive and Global Testing with GE Power.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-307.jpg)
![Bruce Benson, Retail Market Manager for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, will be presenting the Outstanding Contribution to International Diversity Award; the award is sponsored by TD Bank.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-315.jpg)
![Bruce Benson, Retail Market Manager for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, will be presenting the Outstanding Contribution to International Diversity Award; the award is sponsored by TD Bank.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-315.jpg)
![Jacob Ehrmann is presenting the Calder D. Ehrmann Outstanding Individual award to Baxter Wynn on behalf of Dr. Jim Dant, senior minister at First Baptist Greenville.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-334.jpg)
![Jacob Ehrmann is presenting the Calder D. Ehrmann Outstanding Individual award to Baxter Wynn on behalf of Dr. Jim Dant, senior minister at First Baptist Greenville.](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-334.jpg)
![Elizabeth Davis, President, Furman University, introducing tonight's guest speaker, Juan Johnson, president of Diversity Leadership in Action, senior distinguished fellow with Furman University’s Riley Institute, and facilitator of the Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI).](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-341.jpg)
![Elizabeth Davis, President, Furman University, introducing tonight's guest speaker, Juan Johnson, president of Diversity Leadership in Action, senior distinguished fellow with Furman University’s Riley Institute, and facilitator of the Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI).](https://www.furman.edu/riley/diversity-strategies/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2018/06/20180524_UpstateDiversityAwards-341.jpg)
Upstate diversity leaders were honored Wednesday, May 24, 2018, at the 14th Annual Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner. The event, hosted by the Greenville Chamber and the Riley Institute at Furman, in partnership with Upstate Chambers, recognized organizations and individuals for outstanding achievement in promoting diversity and inclusion in Upstate South Carolina.
The 2018 award selection committee received an impressive number of nominations, which confirms that people in the Upstate continue to care about diversity issues and want to recognize those who are role models for promoting inclusivity and equality.
The event featured keynote speaker Juan Johnson, president of Diversity Leadership in Action, a firm he launched in 2006 after concluding an extraordinary 21-year career with Coca-Cola Company, and Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Riley Institute. Johnson is creator and facilitator of the South Carolina Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI). He has led every session of each of the DLI classes to date and worked with more than 1800 DLI participants.
Johnson states that “Diversity Leadership in Action™ believes the most important factors for success with any diversity initiative are one, an all-inclusive definition which gets the entire organization engaged; and two, a link to the organization’s mission, which demonstrates that diversity can be a resource that drives greater organizational success.”
An overview of the evening’s awards dinner
Awards were presented to recognize three individuals, three organizations and one K-12 school for their outstanding achievement in promoting diversity in the Upstate.
2018 Award Winners:
- Calder D. Ehrmann Outstanding Individual Award: Jim Dant, Senior Minister of Greenville First Baptist Church
- K-12 School – William “Bill” T. Wylie Valued Lives Award for School Excellence in Diversity: Monaview Elementary School
- Outstanding High School Student Award: Charlotte Capers Snoad
- Outstanding College Student Award: Adahlia Nix
- Outstanding Nonprofit Organization Award: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas
- Outstanding Business Award: General Electric
- Outstanding Contribution to International Diversity Award: Adela Mendoza