JIM AKERHIELM
Jim Akerhielm has spent much of his career leading and growing technology businesses. More recently, he performs board and advisory work in the technology sector working with both companies and investors. Jim is active in the community serving as the Chair of United Ministries, on the Executive Committee of the Peace Center and leader of an admissions council for Lafayette College. Jim and his wife, Karen, have two children both of whom are currently in college.

KAREN BAYNES-DUNNING
A former juvenile court judge, Karen Baynes-Dunning has dedicated her career to improving the quality of life for children, youth and families. For nearly 30 years, she has served in numerous leadership positions in the public and nonprofit sectors developing policies and services that positively affect communities.

A graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of California Berkeley School of Law, Baynes-Dunning currently serves as the federal court-appointed monitor, overseeing reform efforts within the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. She lives in Greenville with her husband, Dr. Arthur Dunning, and their son, Ellison.

DR. ELIZABETH DAVIS
Elizabeth Davis, Furman University’s 12th president, is a member of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Council of Presidents as well as the Council of Independent Colleges Board of Directors. She also serves as a member of the Greenville County Racial Equity and Economic Mobility (REEM) Commission, where she is co-chair of the education sub-committee. In 2018, she received the William M. Burke Presidential Award for Excellence in Experiential Education for implementing The Furman Advantage, a distinctive vision for higher education that has received national attention. 

Before coming to Furman, Dr. Davis served as Executive Vice President and Provost at Baylor University in Texas. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baylor and earned her Ph.D. from Duke University.

TIM HUDSON
Tim Hudson is the Vice President & General Manager for ITW Hartness and holds strategic and full profit & loss responsibility for the division globally. Prior to joining ITW Hartness in 2018; Tim held general management, director, sales, and operations roles at General Electric and Rockwell Automation.

Currently, Tim serves on Boards for the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute’s (PMMI), the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Peace Center, and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors.

Tim holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University.

CAL HURST
Cal Hurst is the Chief Banking Officer at Southern First. He is passionate about creating long-term relationships and positively impacting everyone he connects with. In addition to his work, Cal is an engaged member of the Upstate community and serves as a member of various boards, including Greenville Chamber of Commerce, United Way Campaign Cabinet, and Greenville First Steps. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he serves as a Deacon and in the Ignite Worship Band. Most importantly, Cal is a proud husband to his wife, Casey, and father to Chandler (6) and Mary Ellen (5).

DAVID LOMINACK
David Lominack is market president of South Carolina for TD Bank, where he is responsible for commercial banking throughout the state. A stalwart community supporter, David serves on numerous community boards.  He currently serves on the executive committee for the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the Peace Center for the Performing Arts and a board member of Prisma Health – Upstate Affiliate.  He previously served as chair for United Way of Greenville County, past chair of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, and past chair of the South Carolina Bankers Association.

David and his wife, Courtney, reside in Greenville with their three children: Henry, James and Lynne.

STACEY MILLS
Stacey Mills is assistant vice chancellor and executive director of the Greenville campus for the University of South Carolina Upstate. He has also served as senior pastor at Mountain View Baptist Church in downtown Greenville for the past 23 years. 

Mills’ community roles include the GVL2040 Steering Committee, Boy Scouts of America Blue Ridge Council Board of Directors and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He currently serves as the chairman of the Urban League of the Upstate Board of Directors and is the Southern Region Trustee for the National Board of Trustees for the Urban League. He is also Vice Chairman of the Greenville Health Authority Board of Trustees and the Piedmont Health Foundation Board of Directors. Mills is an alumnus of Leadership Greenville Class 40, the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative and Leadership Spartanburg.

A 1997 USC Upstate graduate, Mills served as president of the Student Government Association, Secretary General of Model United Nations, and was a member of the internationally renowned gospel choir. He and his wife, Jacqueline, have three children.

SUE PRIESTER
Sue Priester is a native of St. Louis, Mo., holds a Master’s Degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, and has lived in Greenville since 1976. She is a co-founder and past co-chair of Greenville Women Giving, and has chaired the Community Foundation of Greenville, the Greer Chamber of Commerce, and the Greenville Symphony. Her board service has also included the Metropolitan Arts Council, Alliance for Quality Education, the Furman University Advisory Council, and Upstate Forever Advisory Council. In 2005 she was inducted into the Entrepreneurs Forum of Greenville Technical College.

DIANE SMOCK
Diane Smock is a lawyer and mediator who served as Greenville County Probate Judge from 1991 through 1999. After leaving the bench, she spent two terms on Greenville City Council and as the executive director of a non-profit. She now focuses her time on efforts to improve the lives of women and girls both in South Carolina and around the world and leading local initiatives on vibrant and sustainable neighborhoods. She currently serves on the boards of the Greenville Housing Fund, the Women’s Rights & Empowerment Network, and the Triune Mercy Center Endowment Fund.

DAN WEIDENBENNER
Dan Weidenbenner came to Greenville in 2007 via Furman University where he studied psychology. After growing up in South Florida, he is proud to call Greenville home. Dan serves as the executive director of Mill Community Ministries, a collection of social entrepreneurs working together for holistic development in under-served communities. They currently operate Village Launch, a grass-roots entrepreneur and small-business incubator, Village Wrench, a community-based bike shop, Mill Village Farms, an urban farm, youth employment and healthy food enterprise, and Village Engage, a faith-based community education & organizing platform.