Celebrating Upstate Unsung Heroes Virtual Event
The Purpose of Celebrating Unsung Heroes
The Celebrating Unsung Heroes Virtual Event recognizes and honors Unsung Heroes from across the 10-county Upstate region. Traditionally known as the annual Celebrating Successes Luncheon, this event typically recognizes businesses, organizations and individuals who help make the Upstate a leading place to live, learn, do business and raise a family. Given the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the TATT Board of Directors felt that it was not only necessary to host this event virtually, but to take the opportunity to honor those who have remained committed to serving others throughout this pandemic.
Watch the Celebrating Upstate Unsung Heroes Virtual Event
Presented by BlueCross BlueShield, the Celebrating Upstate Unsung Heroes Virtual Event was a one-of-a-kind special event! Traditionally known as the annual Celebrating Successes Luncheon, this event typically recognizes businesses, organizations and individuals who help make the Upstate a leading place to live, learn, do business and raise a family.
As an organization that focuses on bringing the Upstate together, TATT felt this event was important to honor the individuals, organizations and businesses who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic to keep our community healthy, safe, and strong. We were honored to have Amy Wood, Anchor for 7 News – WSPA, as our event emcee and had safe ways for attendees to participate in this virtual celebration.
Upstate Unsung Heroes Nominee List
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND VIEW THE FULL LIST!
Abbeville:
Ethan Cornick, Dreams with Open Arms – Ambassador
Mary Ann Nickles, Bags of Blessings – Creator
Robert Gustafson, Erkine College and Theological Seminary – President
Anderson:
David Baker, Anderson County Emergency Services – Emergency Services Director
John Boone & Hollie Harrell, Anderson Career & Technology Center – My Pulse Radio
Bill Campbell, Purple Heart Homes (Golden Corner Chapter) – Volunteer Chairperson
Jack Ellenburg, Anderson County Government – Volunteer Historian, Photographer, Social Media Ambassador
Patrick Elswick, WLS Foundation – President
Zoe Hale & Dave Phillips– Community Volunteers
Tom Haren, New Spring Church – Discipleship Coordinator
Caitlin Herrington, Seneca Journal – Governmental & Investigative Reporter
Holt Hopkins, Anderson County Government – Public Works Director/Deputy Administrator
Brad Maness, Belton Fire Department – Fire Chief
Chunsta Miller, Anderson Mall – General Manager
Cherokee:
Yolanda Adams-Kennedy, Academic Technology & Wellness Academy – Director
Libbie Cheek, United Way of the Piedmont – Community Resource Coordinator (Spartanburg & Union Counties)
Christina Cody, Cherokee School District – Teacher & Healthy Living Advocate
Nikki Dula, Blacksburg High School – Custodian
Minerva Horn, SRHS-Gibbs Cancer Center Gaffney – Nurse
Wendy Kincaid, Spartanburg Regional EMS – First Responder
Dr. Carol McFadden, Know(2) Neighborhood Ambassadors – Volunteer Director
Summer Parker, Cherokee County Family YMCA – Senior Program Director
Christie Rogers-Lake, Outside of the Box Therapy – Clinical Director
Chris Steed, Fullerton Foundation & Hamrick Mill Foundation – Executive Director
Greenville:
Josh Albin, Bryson Elementary School – Assistant Principal
Russell Alexander, City of Fountain Inn – Assistant Fire Chief
Rachelle Andino, Monaview Elementary School – Innovation Lab Instructor
Michael Black, Brushy Creek Elementary School – Custodian
Bright Horizons Children’s Center/Greenville Memorial Childcare Center Faculty & Staff
Teri Brinkman, Greenville Country Schools – Director of Community Engagement
Terence Brister, Greenville Police Department – City Policeman, Unified Self Defense – Founder
Jamie Cato, McLane – Truck Driver
Kay Clifton, Edward Jones – Financial Advisor
Todd Cook, Sterling School – Plant Engineer
Dr. Deanna Cotter, New Horizon Family Health Services – Chief Medical Officer
Timbre Cruz, BI-LO Grocery – Store Worker
Leasa Dacus, Greenville County Schools – Instructional Coach
Sean Dogan, Urban League of the Upstate – Interim CEO
Judy Dyer, Phoenix Center – RN
Dina Estrada, Hispanic Alliance – Programs & Outreach Coordinator
Ushamani (Kitty) Fleetwood, Skylyn Pacifica – Director of Rehab
Kate Franch, Greenville County Democratic Party – Secretary; Camperdown Academy – Outreach & Grants Coordinator
Ann Finch, Brushy Creek Elementary School – Custodian
Jessica Gallman, United Community Bank – Director of Project & Change Management
Christina Gartner, Prisma Health – Clinical Nurse Educator
Keri Geary, Grace Church – Outreach Director
Shannon Hudson, 9Round Fitness
Patricia Idarraga-Quiros, Simpsonville Elementary – K4 Aide
Kourtney Jones, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System – ICU Registered Nurse
Laura King, New Horizon Family Health Services – Nurse Educator
Erika Klimkowski, Eastside High School – Front Office Clerk
Rev. Bridget Kokolis, Augusta Road Baptist Church – Minister to Families
Marina Lewis, Mauldin High School – Social Worker
Joey Loman, Synergy Mill
Charmain Madison, Simpsonville Elementary School – Special Education Teacher
John McCall, Fusion Audio & Video – Lead Technician
Meals on Wheels of Greenville County Staff
Shannon Miller, Simpsonville Elementary School – Special Education Teacher
Kitty Morgan, Greenlink – Paratransit Coordinator
Bob Morris, Community Foundation of Greenville – President
Alan Max Myers, Berea Fire Department – Assistant Fire Chief
Jessica Owens, The Phoenix Center – Director of Adult Services
Katy Pugh Smith, Piedmont Health Foundation & Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy – Executive Director
Amanda Sopko, Greenville County Schools – 4th Grade Virtual Teacher
Mende Taylor, Hollis Academy – Food Services Director
Paula Valencia, Greenville County Schools – Assistant
Samantha Wallace, Think Up Consulting – Director of Business Development
Laura Wedell-Jenkins, Fountain Inn Community Police Fund – Volunteer
Kristen Wellbaum, Sterling School – Food & Nutrition Services Manager
Susan Whitmire, Stone Academy – 1st Grade Teacher
Greenwood:
Lara Hudson, City of Greenwood – Uptown Manager
George McKinney, Greenwood County – Emergency Management Coordinator
Steve Riley, Emerald Ink & Stitching – Owner
Amy Stabler, Greenwood School District 50 – Director of Child Nutrition
Laurens:
Joey Avery, Laurens County – Emergency Management Director
Connie Daniels, Laurens County Museum Association – Volunteer
Lynn Finley, Laurens County Development Corporation – Vice President
Walter Hughes, Jr., Sadler Hughes Apothecary – Owner
Cindy Jacobs, Laurens County School District 56 – Director of Child Nutrition
Tim Kansky, Kountry Fresh Meats – Owner
Allen Lawson, South Carolina Empowerment Center – Executive Director
Michael Morris, ZF Transmissions Gray Court – Director of Human Resources
Patricia Sadler, Hospice of Laurens County – Medical Director
Bob Staton, Presbyterian College – President
Oconee:
Dreama Clay, Ripple of One – Program Director
Vanessa Earle, Prisma Health – Client Manager
Jessica Fry & Janine Hartley, Wild Hearts Equine Therapy Center – Managers
Sati Glenn, Rows & Roses – Owner
Jane Harlin, Community Volunteer
LaShauna Harrison, United Way of Oconee County – CEO
Libby Imbody, Main Street Walhalla – Director
Carolyn Maddox, Community Volunteer
Lynn McClain, McClains Custom Silks – Owner
Kevin McCracken, Keowee Key Property Owners Association – Community General Manager
Sherry McLaughlin, School District of Oconee County – Lead Nurse
Christie Ross, Foothills YMCA – Director
Julia-ann Shannon, Graces Closet – Director
Michael Teramano, Seneca Police Department – Investigator
Hal Welch, The Journal Newspaper – General Manager
Pickens:
Dan Bracken, Stephanie King, & Charlie Crumpton – Community Volunteers
Chad Carson, Green Crescent Trail – Board Member
Neal Collins, SC House of Representatives
David Harrison, Greenville County – Master Deputy
Lesa Howard, Five Points Church Food Pantry – Director
Adraine Jackson-Garner, Littlejohn Community Center – Executive Director
Felicia Leese, Prisma Health – COVID Unit Nurse
Kelly Norton, Fresenius – Pendleton Clinic
Carlos Salinas, Pickens County Airport – Administrator
Ben Smith, Clemson Small Business Development Center
Angela Watson, School District of Pickens County – Coordinator of Health Services
Spartanburg:
Charlene Cheeks, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate – CEO
Dr. David Church, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System – VP of Oncology & Support Services
Nora Curiel-Munoz, PASOs – Spartanburg Office Coordinator
Mary Deku, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority – Volunteer
Nancy Kenney, Hub City Bookstore – Volunteer
Janae O’Shields, Lawson Academy – Director
Carroll Owings, Spartanburg American Legion Post 28 – Commander
Douglas Stephenson, SC Works Greater Upstate – Project Director
Paige Stephenson, United Way of the Piedmont – CEO (Cherokee & Union Counties)
Robbie Swofford, Spartanburg County – Emergency Management Assistant Director
Hope Waters – Substitute Teacher & Community Volunteer
Union:
DeAnn Barnett, Belmont Farm Bake Shoppe – Founder
Shanna “Nikki” Burgess, SC Works Greater Upstate – Talent Development Specialist Supervisor
Grady Evans, Union County Disabilities & Special Needs Board – Director
Tina Fowler, Primary Care of Union – Nurse Practitioner
Eric Harold, Union County – EMS Director
Katie Henderson, Union Medical Center – Chief Nursing Officer
Rhonda Hollingsworth, Union County School District – Elementary Education Coordinator
Elizabeth Ireton, Union County School District – Instructional Coach & Transition Coordinator
Drake Jackson, Dollar General Distribution Center – HR Manager
Brook Valentine, Secret Santa of Grace United Methodist Church – Chairperson
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for Celebrating Unsung Heroes, please contact sponsor@tenatthetop.org or 864-672-8600.
Presenting Sponsor
Welcome Sponsor
Technology Sponsor
Regional Connector Sponsors
Benefactor Sponsors
Advocate Sponsors
Anderson Joint Water District
Barnet Development Corporation
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative
Bonitz
Broad River Electric Cooperative
Cintas
City of Anderson
City of Easley City of Greer
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
Greenwood County Irv Welling
JTEKT
Lockheed Martin
Supporting Sponsors
Lockheed Martin Ogletree-Deakins Parker Poe
Sherman College of Chiropractic Spartanburg Community College Tri-County Technical College
Upstate Home Care Solutions
Upstate Better Business Bureau
Anderson Chamber of Commerce
Cherokee Chamber of Commerce
Clayton Construction
Colliers International
Easley Chamber of Commerce
ECPI
First National Bank
Greenville Technical College
Greer Chamber of Commerce
GSP International Airport
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Nate Lipscomb
Marsh McLennan Agency
Hank McCullough
Seamon Whiteside
Hal & Minor Shaw South State Bank
Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce
Standard Capital Partners
Synterra
Tri-County Entrepreneurial Development Corporation
WCTEL
Western Upstate Association of Realtors