Susie Shannon
President and CEO
sshannon@sccompetes.org
(803) 760-1400
Adrianne L. Beasley
Director of Strategy & Communications
abeasley@sccompetes.org
(803) 447-9158
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Sue-Ann (“Susie”) Gerald Shannon serves as the President & CEO of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, a nonpartisan, business-led, nonprofit organization that drives South Carolina’s long-term economic growth through managing select industry clusters and providing the research, network, and resources that clusters require to thrive. Industry clusters are concentrations of interdependent firms related through their industrial activities and includes both competitors and collaborators. The resulting inter-cluster business environment fosters innovation. Innovation, in turn, spurs new business ventures.
The initiatives and industry clusters directly managed by the Council include SC Aerospace, SC Logistics, SC Tech, CyberSecureSC, TransformSC, and SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance. The Council also provides resources and support to other clusters and initiatives across the state. The formation of the Council in 2004 marked the first time South Carolina’s business, government, and academic leadership came together to address long-term competitiveness factors.
Since taking on the role of President & CEO of the Council, Susie has been consecutively recognized as being one of Columbia Business Monthly’s 50 Most Influential People in Business (2017-2020). She was also the subject of a feature CEO article in SC Manufacturing Journal.
Susie has an extensive history leading innovative, forward-looking organizations and initiatives throughout South Carolina. For 13 years, she served on a senior strategic team overseeing the work of a network of organizations seeking to transform local areas into economically-vibrant communities. She also worked as Director of Research for Palmetto Institute, an independent research foundation whose issues included Teach For America, The Benefit Bank® of South Carolina, tax reform, commercialization, agribusiness, entrepreneurship training, and workforce quality. Susie practiced for many years in the Columbia office of McNair Law Firm, P.A. (now Burr Forman McNair), in its Admin.-Reg. section. She also served in the US Army Reserves and is a Veteran of the Gulf War.
In 2015, she was appointed by then-Governor Haley to serve on the Board of Commissioners for the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (Vice-Chair). Susie also serves on the EPSCOR State Advisory Committee, i4Series Advisory Board, SC Automotive Council, South Carolina Research Authority Board of Trustees (Chair, Program Committee), NIST/NICE Working Group (cybersecurity), and Strategic Partners Group for SC Dep’t of Commerce Coordinating Council for Workforce Development. She has also served on the SC Apprenticeship Taskforce and Workforce Innovation Network Team, a US Chamber of Commerce-led initiative of select states to foster cutting-edge workforce development.
Susie’s community service activities have included TogetherSC (fka SCANPO), Jefferson Awards Fnd-Midlands (chair), Lake City Housing Foundation, SC Housing Trust Fund, United Way of Midlands’ Public Policy Cmtee and Young Leaders Soc’y, Darla Moore & Richard Rainwater Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse-SC, SC Thrive (Chair Emeritus), and Central Carolina Community Foundation.
Susie is a graduate of Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative and Nonprofit Leadership Institute of Francis Marion University and is a member of Liberty Fellowship (Aspen Global Leadership Network).
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As Director of Strategy and Communications, Adrianne assists in the long term strategic planning for the Council and manages communications and marketing for the Council and each of its statewide clusters, programs and initiatives.
Adrianne joined the SC Council on Competitiveness in March 2017 as Director of Aerospace Initiatives. Prior to coming to the Council, Adrianne was Program Manager for the University of South Carolina McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research. She was an integral part of the strategic design and build out of the McNAIR Center, which focuses on key areas in advanced composite materials and manufacturing to support the aerospace cluster.
Adrianne is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Moore School of Business. She is certified by the University of South Carolina in Research Administration. Adrianne currently serves on the Challenger Learning Center Foundation Advisory Board, the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business Alumni Board, and the South Carolina District Export Council.
Suzanne Dickerson
Director of SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance
sdickerson@sccompetes.org
(803) 760-1400
Director of SC Logistics
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Suzanne joined the SC Council on Competitiveness in 2016 after serving for 8 years as the Director for International Business Development at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). Suzanne’s experience includes 20 years in the automotive industry: 12 years within BMW working in the fields of corporate sustainability, innovation management and long-term strategic and structural planning.
She began her career with BMW in Munich Germany at corporate headquarters upon completion of the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program. Suzanne speaks fluent German and is also a Fellow of the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Forum. Suzanne serves as a Founding Board Member of the multi-state Southern Automotive Women’s Forum and is a Board Member of the South Carolina Automotive Council. In her local community of the Upstate of South Carolina, Suzanne is a Fellow of the Furman University Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Program and co-chairs a Task Force for the Upstate Mobility Alliance. Suzanne serves on the Board of the South Carolina International Trade Conference, the South Carolina Manufacturers Extension Partnership Board and Palmetto Green’s Advisory Board.
In 2013, the South Carolina Research Authority awarded Suzanne with the Knowledge Economist Award and in 2015, Suzanne was the recipient of the Clemson Women in Leadership Award. Most recently, Suzanne was awarded the 2020 Charleston Woman of the Year Award from the Charleston Women in Trade organization.
Dr. Peggy Torrey
Director of TransformSC
ptorrey@sccompetes.org
(803) 397-3655
Kim Christ
Director of SC Tech and CyberSecureSC
kchrist@sccompetes.org
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Dr. Peggy Torrey has served as Director of TransformSC since 2014. Peggy began her career in education as a middle school counselor in Richland School District One before obtaining her Ph.D. in Educational Research and Psychology from the University of South Carolina. She then joined the SC Department of Education where she co-managed the development and implementation of a new statewide teacher evaluation system.
When her family relocated to Georgia, Peggy served as the chief executive and operating officer of the Georgia Standards Commission – the cabinet agency responsible for state accreditation of all GA educator preparation programs and educator licensing. When Dr. Torrey’s family returned to South Carolina, she was tapped by the SC Chamber of Commerce to serve as Associate Vice President of Education Policy.
Most recently, Peggy served as the Executive Director of Carolina Children’s Home. She joined the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness as the Director of TransformSC in March and recently became the Director of Education and Workforce Initiatives in June. Her husband, David, is a Presbyterian minister. They have one daughter, Beth, who is a law professor at the University of Georgia.
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Kim Christ is the Director of SC Tech and CyberSecureSC at the SC Council on Competitiveness. With the mission to build SC’s technology ecosystem, Kim works to connect partners across industry, education, and government to prepare our state for emerging technology trends, and grow opportunities for workforce and industry outreach with the goal of making industry in SC competitive on the world stage.
Prior to SC Tech, she was Program Director for SC Codes, where she helped create and implement the statewide program that provides workforce training and mentorship in computer programming to South Carolina residents free of charge. Kim was also previously Projects Manager at the South Carolina Department of Commerce Office of Innovation. Here, Kim helped manage programs such as the Relentless grant challenge, Scribble, and 3Phase. She also worked to connect the state’s innovators through collaborative networking and ideation sessions that spurred ideas and new program creation.
A technologist by trade and an education ambassador at heart, Kim worked for over a decade as a Networking Manager in SC, and served for many years on the leadership team at East Point Academy, acting as an education ambassador in China on two occasions. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Limestone University and is currently completing her EMBA in Strategic Leadership.
Stephen Astemborski
Director of Aerospace Initiatives
sastemborski@sccompetes.org
Alex Albrecht
Communications Coordinator
aalbrecht@sccompetes.org
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Stephen joins the Council after working as a Manufacturing Projects & Initiatives Specialist for GE Aviation’s Operational Excellence Team. Stephen was one of the original members of the team, working with aviation suppliers to improve delivery of parts to GE Aviation shops. In addition to that role, Stephen spent time working as a Team Coach, Product Quality Engineer, and Operations Leader for GE Aviation and GE Power in both Greenville, South Carolina and Schenectady, New York.
Prior to starting a civilian career, Stephen was an officer in the United States Army. After completing Armor officer training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was assigned to the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment in Fort Carson, Colorado. He served as a scout platoon leader, human resources officer and assistant operations officer, and was deployed to both Afghanistan and Kuwait. Stephen has been awarded the Order of St. George-Black Medallion, Order of the Spur, Combat Action Badge, and Bronze Star Medal. He left active duty in 2014 with the rank of Captain.
Stephen graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering w/ honors. He currently serves as president of the West Point Society of Upstate South Carolina and was Co-chair of the Class of 2009’s 10-year reunion gift campaign. Stephen is a member of the Greenville Transit Authority Board, is a former mentee in the Greenville Chamber’s Pacesetters program and is an active member of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church. Stephen lives in Greenville with his wife Caroline.
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Alex Albrecht is the Communications Coordinator for SC Competes. His role involves social media management, copywriting, web editing, and strategic communication planning for the various initiatives.
Alex has a bachelor of science degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from Winthrop University 2013 and was born and raised in the Midlands. He currently resides in Greenville with his wife, Morgan and cat, Inky and dog, Otter.
Callie Price
Senior Program Manager
cprice@sccompetes.org
Amanda Campbell
Creative Communications Specialist
acampbell@sccompetes.org
(803) 760-1405
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Callie joins the Council as Project Coordinator. She was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina. She graduated with honors from Presbyterian College in 2009, earning a B.A. in Political Science and attended law school at the Charleston School of Law.
After graduating and being admitted to the South Carolina Bar in November 2012, Callie worked as law clerk to The Honorable John C. Hayes, III in York, South Carolina and The Honorable R. Lawton McIntosh in Anderson, South Carolina. She then went into private practice with the Shannon Jones Law Firm in Charleston, South Carolina. She has worked as a Business Development Manager for Allstate for the last four years.
Callie lives in Columbia, South Carolina and in her spare time, enjoys seeing live music, baking, and spending time with friends and her Springer Spaniel George.
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Amanda was born in New Bern, North Carolina and later moved to the Columbia area at a young age. She attended Spring Valley High School and continued her education at the University of South Carolina where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Spanish in 2019.
Amanda Campbell joins the Council as the Creative Communications Specialist after having served as the Communications Intern since November 2017. Specializing in visual communications, she focuses her passion on graphic design, videography, photography, motion design and other forms of creative media.
In her free time, she enjoys taking road trips to new places and connecting with people through food and live music. Amanda also loves exploring new hiking trails in the mountains of North Carolina and finding creative inspiration within nature.
Sam Summers
Executive Coordinator
ssummers@sccompetes.org
Dr. Marcel Schaefer
Senior Program Coordinator, SCFUSA
mschaefer@fraunhofer.org
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Sam grew up in Lexington, South Carolina and graduated from Lexington High School. She then went on to earn her B.A. in Experimental Psychology with a minor in Counseling Education from the University of South Carolina in 2016.
Sam joins SC Competes as the Executive Coordinator after spending time in a variety of roles from sales to teaching. She specializes not only in administrative work, but also has a passion for the wide array of the initiatives that SC Competes is currently spearheading.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé Andrew and their rescue dog Ace. She enjoys all types of music and particularly loves listening to her record player. Sam also loves traveling to any destination, but especially the beaches here in her home state.
Susie Shannon
President and CEO
sshannon@sccompetes.org
(803) 760-1400
-
Sue-Ann (“Susie”) Gerald Shannon serves as the President & CEO of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, a nonpartisan, business-led, nonprofit organization that drives South Carolina’s long-term economic growth through managing select industry clusters and providing the research, network, and resources that clusters require to thrive. Industry clusters are concentrations of interdependent firms related through their industrial activities and includes both competitors and collaborators. The resulting inter-cluster business environment fosters innovation. Innovation, in turn, spurs new business ventures.
The initiatives and industry clusters directly managed by the Council include SC Aerospace, SC Logistics, SC Tech, CyberSecureSC, TransformSC, and SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance. The Council also provides resources and support to other clusters and initiatives across the state. The formation of the Council in 2004 marked the first time South Carolina’s business, government, and academic leadership came together to address long-term competitiveness factors.
Since taking on the role of President & CEO of the Council, Susie has been consecutively recognized as being one of Columbia Business Monthly’s 50 Most Influential People in Business (2017-2020). She was also the subject of a feature CEO article in SC Manufacturing Journal.
Susie has an extensive history leading innovative, forward-looking organizations and initiatives throughout South Carolina. For 13 years, she served on a senior strategic team overseeing the work of a network of organizations seeking to transform local areas into economically-vibrant communities. She also worked as Director of Research for Palmetto Institute, an independent research foundation whose issues included Teach For America, The Benefit Bank® of South Carolina, tax reform, commercialization, agribusiness, entrepreneurship training, and workforce quality. Susie practiced for many years in the Columbia office of McNair Law Firm, P.A. (now Burr Forman McNair), in its Admin.-Reg. section. She also served in the US Army Reserves and is a Veteran of the Gulf War.
In 2015, she was appointed by then-Governor Haley to serve on the Board of Commissioners for the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (Vice-Chair). Susie also serves on the EPSCOR State Advisory Committee, i4Series Advisory Board, SC Automotive Council, South Carolina Research Authority Board of Trustees (Chair, Program Committee), NIST/NICE Working Group (cybersecurity), and Strategic Partners Group for SC Dep’t of Commerce Coordinating Council for Workforce Development. She has also served on the SC Apprenticeship Taskforce and Workforce Innovation Network Team, a US Chamber of Commerce-led initiative of select states to foster cutting-edge workforce development.
Susie’s community service activities have included TogetherSC (fka SCANPO), Jefferson Awards Fnd-Midlands (chair), Lake City Housing Foundation, SC Housing Trust Fund, United Way of Midlands’ Public Policy Cmtee and Young Leaders Soc’y, Darla Moore & Richard Rainwater Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse-SC, SC Thrive (Chair Emeritus), and Central Carolina Community Foundation.
Susie is a graduate of Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative and Nonprofit Leadership Institute of Francis Marion University and is a member of Liberty Fellowship (Aspen Global Leadership Network).
Adrianne L. Beasley
Director of Strategy & Communications
abeasley@sccompetes.org
(803) 447-9158
-
As Director of Strategy and Communications, Adrianne assists in the long term strategic planning for the Council and manages communications and marketing for the Council and each of its statewide clusters, programs and initiatives.
Adrianne joined the SC Council on Competitiveness in March 2017 as Director of Aerospace Initiatives. Prior to coming to the Council, Adrianne was Program Manager for the University of South Carolina McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research. She was an integral part of the strategic design and build out of the McNAIR Center, which focuses on key areas in advanced composite materials and manufacturing to support the aerospace cluster.
Adrianne is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Moore School of Business. She is certified by the University of South Carolina in Research Administration. Adrianne currently serves on the Challenger Learning Center Foundation Advisory Board, the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business Alumni Board, and the South Carolina District Export Council.
Dr. Peggy Torrey
Director of TransformSC
ptorrey@sccompetes.org
(803) 397-3655
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Dr. Peggy Torrey has served as Director of TransformSC since 2014. Peggy began her career in education as a middle school counselor in Richland School District One before obtaining her Ph.D. in Educational Research and Psychology from the University of South Carolina. She then joined the SC Department of Education where she co-managed the development and implementation of a new statewide teacher evaluation system.
When her family relocated to Georgia, Peggy served as the chief executive and operating officer of the Georgia Standards Commission – the cabinet agency responsible for state accreditation of all GA educator preparation programs and educator licensing. When Dr. Torrey’s family returned to South Carolina, she was tapped by the SC Chamber of Commerce to serve as Associate Vice President of Education Policy.
Most recently, Peggy served as the Executive Director of Carolina Children’s Home. She joined the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness as the Director of TransformSC in March and recently became the Director of Education and Workforce Initiatives in June. Her husband, David, is a Presbyterian minister. They have one daughter, Beth, who is a law professor at the University of Georgia.
Suzanne Dickerson
Director of SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance
sdickerson@sccompetes.org
(803) 760-1400
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Suzanne Dickerson joined the SC Council on Competitiveness in 2016 after serving for 8 years as the Director for International Business Development at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). Suzanne’s experience includes 20 years in the automotive industry: 12 years within BMW working in the fields of corporate sustainability, innovation management and long-term strategic and structural planning.
She began her career with BMW in Munich Germany at corporate headquarters upon completion of the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program. Suzanne speaks fluent German and is also a Fellow of the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Forum. Suzanne serves as a Founding Board Member of the multi-state Southern Automotive Women’s Forum and is a Board Member of the South Carolina Automotive Council. In her local community of the Upstate of South Carolina, Suzanne is a Board member on the Roper Mountain Science Center and a Fellow of the Furman University Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Program. The South Carolina Research Authority awarded Suzanne with the Knowledge Economist Award in 2013 and in 2015, Suzanne was the recipient of the Clemson Women in Leadership Award. In 2018, Suzanne joined the SC Manufacturers Extension Partnership Board.
Taylor Jackson
Director of SC Logistics
tjackson@sccompetes.org
(864) 992-4338
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Taylor joins the Council after serving as an Account Manager for Kuehne + Nagel. Taylor began her maritime career in 2014 working at John S. James Company as a Rates Analyst. She then went on to serve as an Export Administrator for John S. James. In 2016, Taylor joined Kuehne + Nagel as an Account Manager where she was responsible for managing global accounts in the Southeast territory.
In her spare time, Taylor serves as Scholarship & Awards Chair for Charleston Women in International Trade. She is also Vice President and Social Chair of the Charleston Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association. Taylor is also Co-Chair of the Waterfront Collective in Charleston, SC. She also won 2019 Young Leader of the Year for the NTW.
Taylor has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a Biology Minor from Clemson University and currently lives in Charleston, SC.
Kim Christ
Director of SC Tech and CyberSecureSC
kchrist@sccompetes.org
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Kim Christ joins the council after serving as Program Director for SC Codes. Kim helped create and implement the statewide program that provides workforce training and mentorship in computer programming to South Carolina residents free of charge. As Program Director, she helped build partnerships, increase funding, and plan for program growth.
Prior to SC Codes, Kim was Projects Manager at the South Carolina Department of Commerce Office of Innovation. Here, Kim helped manage programs such as the StartUp Fuel grant challenge, Scribble, and 3Phase. She also worked to connect the state’s innovators through collaborative networking and ideation sessions that spurred ideas and new program creation.
Kim has a background in education and technology. She served for many years on the leadership team at East Point Academy and served as an education ambassador in China on two occasions. She also worked as a Network Manager for the State of South Carolina after graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Computer Science degree from Limestone College.
In her spare time, Kim volunteers in her community and likes to travel with friends and family. She previously served Richland County CASA as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem, on the City of Cayce Events Committee, and on a local charter school board.
Stephen Astemborski
Director of Aerospace Initiatives
sastemborski@sccompetes.org
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Stephen joins the Council after working as a Manufacturing Projects & Initiatives Specialist for GE Aviation’s Operational Excellence Team. Stephen was one of the original members of the team, working with aviation suppliers to improve delivery of parts to GE Aviation shops. In addition to that role, Stephen spent time working as a Team Coach, Product Quality Engineer, and Operations Leader for GE Aviation and GE Power in both Greenville, South Carolina and Schenectady, New York.
Prior to starting a civilian career, Stephen was an officer in the United States Army. After completing Armor officer training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was assigned to the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment in Fort Carson, Colorado. He served as a scout platoon leader, human resources officer and assistant operations officer, and was deployed to both Afghanistan and Kuwait. Stephen has been awarded the Order of St. George-Black Medallion, Order of the Spur, Combat Action Badge, and Bronze Star Medal. He left active duty in 2014 with the rank of Captain.
Stephen graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering w/ honors. He currently serves as Pesident of the West Point Society of Upstate South Carolina and was Co-chair of the Class of 2009’s 10-year reunion gift campaign. Stephen is a member of the Greenville Transit Authority Board, is a former mentee in the Greenville Chamber’s Pacesetters program and is an active member of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church. Stephen lives in Greenville with his wife Caroline.
Alex Albrecht
Communications Coordinator
aalbrecht@sccompetes.org
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Alex was raised in the Midlands of South Carolina and attended Lexington High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication from Winthrop University.
Alex joins the Council as Communications Coordinator after spending time in roles across marketing agencies and large corporate business alike, helping to grow brand voices both domestically and internationally . He brings a love of words, people, brand development, and hometown pride to the role and is excited to advance the Council’s voice and role across the state and globe.
Currently based in Greenville, South Carolina, Alex enjoys exploring the beautiful Upstate with his camera and spending quality time with his wife and cat.
Callie Price
Senior Program Manager
cprice@sccompetes.org
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Callie joins the Council as Project Coordinator. She was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina. She graduated with honors from Presbyterian College in 2009, earning a B.A. in Political Science and attended law school at the Charleston School of Law.
After graduating and being admitted to the South Carolina Bar in November 2012, Callie worked as law clerk to The Honorable John C. Hayes, III in York, South Carolina and The Honorable R. Lawton McIntosh in Anderson, South Carolina. She then went into private practice with the Shannon Jones Law Firm in Charleston, South Carolina. She has worked as a Business Development Manager for Allstate for the last four years.
Callie lives in Columbia, South Carolina and in her spare time, enjoys seeing live music, baking, and spending time with friends and her Springer Spaniel George.
Amanda Campbell
Creative Communications Specialist
acampbell@sccompetes.org
(803) 760-1405
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Amanda was born in New Bern, North Carolina and later moved to the Columbia area at a young age. She attended Spring Valley High School and continued her education at the University of South Carolina where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Spanish in 2019.
Amanda Campbell joins the Council as the Creative Communications Specialist after having served as the Communications Intern since November 2017. Specializing in visual communications, she focuses her passion on graphic design, videography, photography, motion design and other forms of creative media.
In her free time, she enjoys taking road trips to new places and connecting with people through food and live music. Amanda also loves exploring new hiking trails in the mountains of North Carolina and finding creative inspiration within nature.
Samantha Summers
Executive Coordinator
ssummers@sccompetes.org
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Sam grew up in Lexington, South Carolina and graduated from Lexington High School. She then went on to earn her B.A. in Experimental Psychology with a minor in Counseling Education from the University of South Carolina in 2016.
Sam joins SC Competes as the Executive Coordinator after spending time in a variety of roles from sales to teaching. She specializes not only in administrative work, but also has a passion for the wide array of the initiatives that SC Competes is currently spearheading.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé Andrew and their rescue dog Ace. She enjoys all types of music and particularly loves listening to her record player. Sam also loves traveling to any destination, but especially the beaches here in her home state.
Dr. Marcel Schaefer
Senior Program Coordinator, SCFUSA
mschaefer@fraunhofer.org