Mr. Tony Joyner, Chairman

North Charleston, South Carolina.  Tony is the Executive Director of Housing Development for Metanoia, a faith-based CDC.  He oversees comprehensive community development activities in the Chicora and Cherokee neighborhoods.  He is a graduate of Governor’s Housing and Economic Development Institute.  Previously, he was a Research Assistant with the Medical University of South Carolina Family Services Research Center.  He did applied research in neighborhood preventative health models and targeted health services to special needs clients.  He is Low Income Community Representative for the Chicora neighborhood. 

Mr. Harvey Ramseur

Aiken, South Carolina.  Harvey is the Executive Director of Second Baptist CDC.   He is also a professional artist specializing in relief sculpturing with bronze and copper.  Before retiring from the U.S. Diplomatic Corps, he served as Senior General Services Officer for U. S. Department of State in Haiti and Cote de Ivoire.  He is a former Director of Social Services for Alexandria, Va.  and served as Executive Assistant to Miami Dade Housing and Urban Development Division in Miami, Fla. among many others exciting professional experiences.

Mr. Charles Gardner

Greenville, South Carolina.  Charles is a Community Development Consultant.  He is the former Community Service Division Director for the City of Greenville.  He is a Board member and former Chairman of the Affordable Housing Coalition of South Carolina and a former Board member of National Low Income Housing Coalition.  He serves on the Wells Fargo Advisory Board.  He served on the first Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta and as a member of the Southeast Regional Advisory Council of Wachovia Bank.  He is Low Income Community Representative for the Nicholtown neighborhood.

Dr. Robert C. Benedict

Robert is currently a professor in the Clemson MRED program and a CRED research associate. He recently completed his PhD in Environmental Design and Planning, Clemson University. Prior to his PhD Robert acquired an M.B.A. from the University of Georgia, an M.A.H.P. from Goucher College and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He currently teaches Real Estate Development Process, Preservation Economics, and Commercial Practicum. Prior to academia, Robert’s career spanned 26-years in real estate finance and development in Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington and Greenville including 13 years as vice-president and partner with Carolina Holdings.

Ms. Sylvia Vandross

Greenville County, South Carolina.  Sylvia is the Director of Sterling Recreational Center.  She serves as Neighborhood Liaison for churches and other organizations that are working with the residents in Sterling.  She is a Charter Board member of Sterling Land Trust, the first community land trust organized in the State of South Carolina.  She is Low Income Community Representative for the Sterling neighborhood.