Columbia Chamber elects first Black female board chair, names new members

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The Columbia Chamber has announced its 2023-24 board of directors with the addition of 12 new members, along with a historic first.

Karen Jenkins, KRJ Consulting, LLC, has been elected to serve as chairwoman of the board for the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, according to a news release. She succeeds John Griggs, market executive at Synovus. Brian Boyer, Boyer Construction, will serve as chair-elect. Jenkins is the first Black female board chair in Columbia Chamber history.

“The Columbia Chamber Board of Directors is poised for another great year where we will focus on collaboration,” Jenkins said in the release. “We have done great work at the Chamber, but we can create even more synergy by working together with our community. I am humbled and honored to lead this visionary organization and getting to know the biggest asset of our community, it’s people.  We want to ensure that Columbia remains the best place to work, live and play."

New members joining the Chamber’s Board this year include: Roslyn Artis, Benedict College; Robby Aull, SSOE; William Cason, The Cason Group; Kristin Davis, Wells Fargo; Maggie Dittmar, Thompson Turner Construction; Jason Giulietti, Central SC Alliance; Matthew Littlejohn, MUSC; Kourtney Moody, PepsiCo; Kathleen Muthig, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd; Jodi Salter, USC Walker Institute of International and Area Studies, College of Arts and Science; Mark Scriven, Elliott Davis and Stacy Williams, AgFirst Farm Credit Bank.

“The Chamber’s Board of Directors are a diverse group of business leaders who share a passion for our region,” Carl Blackstone, President and CEO of the Columbia Chamber, said in the release. “Together, their collective voices help to grow and sustain the Chamber for generations to come.”

The Columbia Chamber is a private, nonprofit, partner-driven organization comprised of 1,200 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, and Richland counties.

The 2023-2024 Columbia Chamber board of directors are:

• Michael Amiridis, University of South Carolina
• Roslyn Artis, Benedict College (also an executive committee member)
• Robby Aull, SSOE
• James Bennett, First Citizens Bank (also an executive committee member)
• Brian Boyer, Boyer Construction (also an executive committee member)
• Peyton Bryant, Trinity Partners (also an executive committee member)
• Caleb Buchanan, Prisma Health
• John Cadena, Dominion Energy (also an executive committee member)
• William Cason, The Cason Group
• Holt Chetwood, First Citizens Bank (also an executive committee member)
• Susan Cohen, South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association
• Kristin Davis, Wells Fargo
• Maggie Dittmar, Thompson Turner Construction
• Bill Duda, Ogletree Deakins
• Bill Ellen, Experience Columbia SC
• Mike Farmer, TD Bank (also an executive committee member)
• Terrance Ford, AT&T (also an executive committee member)
• Jean Cecil Frick, NP Strategy (also an executive committee member)
• Jason Giulietti, Central SC Alliance
• Lindsey Spires Griffin, Bank of America
• John Griggs, Synovus(also an executive committee member)
• Michael Gula, Columbia Metropolitan Airport
• Ron Harvey, Global Core Strategies & Consulting (also an executive committee member)
• Karen Jenkins, KRJ Consulting LLC (also an executive committee member)
• Adam Jones, Jones, McAden & Associates LLC (also an executive committee member)
• Matt Kennell, City Center Partnership Inc. (also an executive committee member)
• Bill Kirkland, University of South Carolina – Office of Economic Engagement (also an executive committee member)
• Montague Laffitte, SouthState Bank (also an executive committee member)
• Matthew Littlejohn, MUSC (also an executive committee member)
• David Looper, Furniture Services Inc. (also an executive committee member)
• Laura McKinney, First Community Bank (also an executive committee member)
• JT McLawhorn, Columbia Urban League Inc.
• Heather Mitchell, Boudreaux (also an executive committee member)
• Kourtney Moody, PepsiCo
• Lara Lott Moore, Lexington Medical Center
• Frank Mundy, Stewart
• Anita Murphy, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union (also an executive committee member)
• Kathleen Muthig, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd
• Ronald Rhames, Midlands Technical College
• Robert Rhodes, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (also an executive committee member)
• Larry Salley, Greater Columbia Community Relations Council
• Jodi Salter, University of South Carolina Walker Institute of International and Area Studies, College of Arts and Science
• Mark Scriven, Elliott Davis
• Brad Shank, Columbia Fireflies
• Rick Shippey, Mark Anthony Brewing
• Sanders Tate, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture
• Brian Taylor, Miller Valentine Construction
• Stacy Williams, AgFirst Farm Credit Bank
• Nicole Hendricks Woods, Encompass Health
• Chris Zimmer, Truist (also an executive committee member)
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