CHARLESTON, SC — NOV. 19, 2024 — South Carolina Ports welcomed 30 new participants to its 2024-2025 Port Ambassadors class, kicking off the program’s seventh year.
Throughout the year, this group of South Carolina professionals will get a direct look at how Port operations are critical to supporting the state’s economy and keeping the supply chain fluid in the Southeast.
“South Carolina Ports is grateful for the involvement of these 30 dedicated leaders from across our state, and we thank them for their commitment to the program” said SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin. “Port operations are integral to South Carolina’s economic success. Upon completion of the program, these Port Ambassadors will be able to go back into their communities and demonstrate how the Port supports 1 in 9 jobs, in every corner of our state.”
This year’s monthly sessions kicked off with a tour of Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant. Participants will also tour Inland Ports Greer and Dillon and attend site visits with port users throughout the state.
This year’s class includes the largest number of public sector employees and elected officials. More than 200 participants have completed the program since 2017.
2024-2025 Ambassadors:
- Jay Byars, Dorchester County Council
- Clay Chester, Keowee Pools
- Randy Cole, OVP Health
- Brooks Courtney, Bridge Commercial
- Detrice Dawkins, Dillon County Council
- Carla Edwards, SC Dept of Commerce
- Austin Floyd, Sumter Adult Education
- Andy Fulghum, Jasper County
- Chris Gaskins, SC Dept of Transportation
- Michael Glenn, SouthState Bank
- Hayden Grooms, Miller Dawson Sigal & Ward
- Trent Holland, Huntington National Bank
- Jenny Honeycutt, Costa Honeycutt, Charleston County Council
- Elizabeth Jablonski, Dominion Energy
- Ryan Johnson, City of North Charleston
- Jamie Lominack, RealtyLink Development Co.
- Fredy Madrid, Gibbs International
- Charles Marshall, Dominion Energy
- Nick Pye, SC Dept Public Safety
- Jake Reed, Reed Commercial Partners
- Charisse Reichenbach, Reichenbach Automotive
- Faith Rivers James, SC Coastal Conservation League
- Chris Scott, Pearce Land Company
- Fernanda Ceva (Sieverling), European American Chamber of Commerce- Carolinas
- Leslie Skardon, Sustain SC
- Yarley Steedly, SC Commission on Higher Education
- Amy Stern, Berkeley County Council
- Phillip Taylor, Colleton County Council
- John Wienges, SC Association of Counties
- Ryan Young, Cushman & Wakefield
About South Carolina Ports
South Carolina Ports owns and operates marine terminals at the Port of Charleston and two rail-served inland ports in Greer and Dillon. As the 8th largest U.S. container port, SC Ports connects port-dependent businesses throughout the Southeast and beyond to global markets. SC Ports proactively invests in infrastructure ahead of demand to provide reliable service, efficient operations, cargo capacity, an expansive rail network and the deepest harbor on the East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is a vital economic engine for South Carolina, with port operations supporting 1 in 9 jobs statewide. Learn more: scspa.com.