Liz Seman: Guiding Greenville's Future from County Council | EP 21

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I really don't ever think of it
as balance.

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It's more about integration.
There's one thing to run for

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office, but then you actually
have to govern.

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It's not for the faint of heart.
And one of the things I would

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love your listeners to think
about is just the importance of

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connecting with your elected
official and really voicing

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opinion.
There are some issues that come

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before us and we don't ever hear
anybody on it.

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If you are a people pleaser,
it's very hard to be in a

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leadership role because it's
impossible to make everybody

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happy.
As the candidate, you have to be

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the one that works the hardest.
The best revenge is just to

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continue doing what you're doing
and be strong and continue to

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work and do the good work that
you know you're doing.

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Go for it, Don't be hesitant.
And I would also say too, if for

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some reason you don't win, run
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Thank you guys for tuning in to
the Carolina Business Leaders

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Podcast.
Today's guest is Liz Seaman.

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She currently serves as the
Chief of Staff at Farming

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University and is a long
standing member of the

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Greenville County Council.
She brings with her a wealth of

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experience in both public
relations and administration,

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and she has also served in
leadership positions on a dozen

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different boards and
organizations.

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Some of these positions include
chair of the Upstate SC

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Alliance, treasurer for Visit
Greenville SC, board of

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directors at the Peace Center,
chair of Meals on Wheels, chairs

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of SC Technology and Aviation
Center, chairs of the

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International Transportation and
Innovation Center, And I got to

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catch a breath after all of that
and many, many more.

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So, Liz, thank you so much for
joining us today.

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Oh my gosh, thank you so much
for having me.

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It's weird to listen to it, you
know?

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I know there's so much more we
could have added to.

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So much, but given your level of
involvement, how do you avoid

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burnout?
Yeah, that's a great question.

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So I think when I first moved
here, I mean, part of it was

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just trying to get involved and
meet people.

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And then I think overtime it's
really, I'm pretty deliberate

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about thinking about, you know,
what am I personally passionate

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about?
And it also has a lot to do with

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the person asking and, you know,
do I feel like it's something I

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can really contribute to?
But I do have a hard time saying

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no.
I will, I will say, but.

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I like to hear that I have the
same problem.

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But I'm also really, I try very
hard to make time for myself to,

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you know, we might talk about
this later, but you know, my, my

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side hustle, being a ballroom
dancer like that is my sort of

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sacred space and way for me to
refresh.

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But you know, a lot of times
it's full on Monday through

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Sunday.
You know, almost about a 20.

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Percent for that specifically
because I'm sure you could just

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like schedule the whole
calendar.

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For sure, no.
Very intentional about

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scheduling time for myself.
I think the other thing that I'm

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just really fortunate that my
job at Furman and even my role

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on County Council really lends
itself to being a part of all of

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the things that I'm a part of.
So I feel like everywhere I go,

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I'm wearing multiple hats all
the time.

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And I also love making the
connections.

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I think that's a big piece of it
too, is that, you know, thinking

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about where am I sitting today
and how can I connect these

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people with the other people
that I'm also connected with?

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So Christina likes to go
1,000,000 miles an hour.

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I can't keep up without coffee.
I'm like becoming indicative at

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this point.
Do you like have a favorite

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coffee brand or are you a coffee
drinker at all with the with all

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the energy that you're.
I am a coffee drinker and well

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let me say I'm a Creamer drinker
with some coffee in it so I

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don't necessarily have a
favorite go to but the ratio is

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definitely more cream than
coffee I would say.

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I'm becoming like a coffee snob,
I should say.

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Nice.
I don't know, she doesn't like

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it, but.
I'm not a coffee drinker, are

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you?
A tea.

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Like, are you a tea?
Drinker, I'm actually a no

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caffeine.
And she's like 1,000,000 miles

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an hour.
Just go, go.

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Go and.
Once she once she wakes up, it's

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like.
It's not out of trying to be

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healthy.
It's not a judgmental thing.

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It's simply the taste.
I don't like the taste of

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coffee, I don't like the taste
of coke or soda.

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So it's just a picky.
Kind of thing.

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So you also do no carbonation.
Correct.

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Other than White Claws, I'll
enjoy it.

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Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Don't go crazy.

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Yeah.
Oh my gosh.

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So anyways, yeah, I'm not a
coffee drinker, but a fun fact

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for Liz and us is I went to
school with Walker and Liz's son

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at Saint Joseph's Catholic.
And so that just tells you a

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little bit of how Greenville is
so small.

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I tell people all the time,
despite the growth, it's a small

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town which we love.
But with that being said, you're

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not originally from here.
So tell us a little bit about

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Chicago where you come, and did
you ever see yourself having

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such an influence in Little
Greenville, SC?

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No, not at all.
I'm a big city girl, so born and

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raised in Chicago.
I went to school at Miami of

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Ohio and lived in Cincinnati for
a number of years and then lived

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in Louisville, KY, for a number
of years.

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And that's where Walker was
born.

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And when my husband, you know,
got an interview in Greenville,

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I sort of did that.
Well, it's just good to

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interview like you should go and
practice your interviewing

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skills.
And and he came back with a job

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offer from Belk when they had
their buying office downtown,

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which is what brought us here.
And I was honestly really

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skeptical about coming here.
I mean, just, I just had this

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perception that, Oh my gosh,
everyone's going to be from

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here.
Everyone's going to know

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everybody.
It's going to be really hard to

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get to know people and, you
know, sort of being a Yankee and

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all those sorts of things.
But we would be really hard

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pressed to leave now.
I mean, it's just been so

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fortunate.
And I think, you know, the luck

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for me of starting at the Red
Cross and just really getting

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engaged in our church and and
then, you know, it's sort of

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just snowballed from there.
But yeah, it's great.

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And I mean, it's it is a it is a
big city.

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I mean, you know, at half a
million people in the county.

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And, you know, you think about
all the great things that have

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happened, not, you know,
downtown Greenville, but also

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all our other municipalities.
You think about Fountain Inn is

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coming up and all the cool
things and Travelers Rest and

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Malden.
And I mean just.

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I.
Mean, I know and then you've got

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Simpsonville coming online.
I mean, just all of the things.

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So, you know, I love it.
Definitely would be hard pressed

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to leave, but never really saw
my, I mean, not in a million

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years.
Yeah, yeah.

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Although I will say, you know,
I'm fortunate because probably

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had I stayed in Chicago, I mean,
after graduating from college, I

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mean, all my friends, they all
wanted to move to Chicago.

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And I was sort of like, well,
I've been there and so don't

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really want to move home.
But, you know, I doubt I would

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have been that as connected and
have been able to do all the

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things that I have been able to
do here.

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So it's been a blessing for
sure.

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So one of the big things that
you're obviously doing is

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Greenville County Council, so
I'm sure that's the first time

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you ran.
Running for an office is

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probably intimidating.
At what point did that pop up on

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your radar?
Yeah, so I did leadership

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Greenville shout out class 27,
the best class ever.

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I applied for it, so let's see
how that goes.

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It's the best and also shout out
to all my greens out there.

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And at the end there, they do a
closing retreat and you know,

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you've gone through this whole,
you know, almost year long

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experience of learning about the
community and you know, they

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sort of ask you to make a
commitment.

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So what are you going to do
next?

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And so, you know, in front of 50
of my new closest friends, I

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said, well, I think I'm going to
run for office.

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And it was really about thinking
like, where are my gifts and

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talents and what are the needs
of the community and where do I

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think I could excel?
And I also got lucky when I ran

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the first time, it was an open
seat.

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The gentleman that had had been
positioned before me was

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retiring.
So I didn't have to be, I didn't

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have to be an incumbent and kind
of all those things, But it was

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a really great experience And it
was it was super scary.

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I mean, you just, you know, I, I
told people, you know, when I

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was working for the Red Cross or
Hands on Greenville or Meals on

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Wheels or even Furman Now you
know, when you ask people to

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invest, it's in a thing.
It's like I need, you know, I

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need you to help feed seniors.
I need you to help people

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recover from disasters.
I need you to help children.

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You know, students get an
education, but when you run for

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office, it's about I need you to
support me because you think I'm

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the best person.
I mean, they're really investing

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in you.
And it it does take money to run

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campaigns and it takes time.
And, you know, my family was

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great and we knocked on doors
and Walker was young at the

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time, which sort of made it fun.
And, you know, people aren't

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mean when there's a little kid
around.

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So there there is part of that.
But, you know, I think it was

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just, you know, really a great
opportunity and the right timing

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for me.
And you know, fortunately, the

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voters have been really kind to
continue to elect me and allow

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me to serve.
Yeah.

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So what is the the time
commitment like serving on,

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because like we said earlier,
you're serving on the Greenville

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County Council, but you're also
doing Suffolk Furman, you're

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also a board member of a ton of
different organizations.

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Yeah.
So I guess compared to the

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others, how does the Council on
how's the time commitment with

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that?
Well, you know, it's so

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interesting.
So first what I'll say, one of

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the things about my particular
District 24 is that it covers a

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lot of the city of Greenville
and a lot of city of Malden.

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So a lot of times my constituent
issues are city issues.

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So partly it's also really about
connecting with my colleagues on

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those, on those, you know, city
council's as well.

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I don't have a ton of
unincorporated land in District

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24, so I don't have a ton of zip
rezoning requests or some of the

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things that like my colleagues
in the northern and southern

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part of the county do.
So the constituent level

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engagement isn't probably as
much as some of my colleagues,

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but you know, we meet the 1st
and 3rd Tuesdays of every month.

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We have a public hearing the
first Monday of every month.

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We are all on 2 committees that,
you know, meet monthly as well.

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And then just other external
things.

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I was at the well yesterday with
for their big announcement

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about, you know, their new
master plan.

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So, you know, it kind of ebbs
and flows, but you know, and the

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meetings, it's interesting, you
know, you can have a really long

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agenda that you think is going
to take a really long time and

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you know, there's maybe not a
lot of speakers or not a lot of

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controversy and you kind of go
through it fast.

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And then you can have a short
agenda and it's a 3 hour meeting

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because, you know, items can be
either controversial or, you

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know, we have a lot of
engagement around, you know,

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talking through the issues.
But I've, I've gotten better at,

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00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,360
at managing it all out.
But it definitely is a lot.

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It's not for the faint of heart.
And I think that's the other

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00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,240
thing too.
I mean, you know, we also, we

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don't have any staff, you know,
not like our colleagues down in

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Columbia or certainly in DC.
You know, we answer our own

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00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,960
phones and we answer our own
emails and, you know, all those

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sorts of things.
So it can, it can get a little

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overwhelming at times, Yeah.
Which that's a lot to balance,

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especially like you said, when
it's just you doing all the

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operations.
But like you mentioned, there's

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great and exciting things that
are going on.

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But as you can imagine, there's
probably obstacles and

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00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,880
challenges.
So as you look back over your

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00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,080
career, your history with County
Council, what were some of the

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00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,040
biggest obstacles or challenges
that you had to overcome?

243
00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:14,200
Yeah, I would say one of them is
getting used to having a room

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00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,400
full of people who maybe want
you to vote one way, but you

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00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:19,880
know that the right vote is the
other way.

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00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,000
I mean, you really, you have to
get thick skin pretty quickly.

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00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,760
And, you know, interestingly
over time when I first ran and,

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you know, there was really no
social media, it wasn't really a

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thing.
It was very traditional knocking

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00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:34,640
on doors and having events and
you know that and, you know,

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e-mail correspondence for sure.
But in the age of social media,

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00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:43,320
I mean, it's very, I mean almost
real time reaction to what

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00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,320
people are saying or it's just
so easy for people to take

254
00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:50,200
things out of context or even
just the believability of

255
00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,280
reading one thing online and
taking it as a gospel truth.

256
00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,120
And so that part has also
become, I think, harder.

257
00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,480
And it also is really more
incumbent upon us to better

258
00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:03,640
educate the public about like
this is really how reassessment

259
00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,920
works or this is how mileage
works or this is, you know,

260
00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:11,120
whatever the case may be.
But I think that is probably one

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00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,280
of the biggest things that's
changed over time with just such

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00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,160
instant access to information
and and not always correct

263
00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,240
information has made it has made
it hard.

264
00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,200
So one of my favorite things or
I guess one of the things I was

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00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,320
really looking forward to
speaking to you about was the

266
00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,960
energy during election season.
Obviously so much energy there,

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00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:30,280
so much media coverage.
What is that like when you're

268
00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,960
running for a seat during that
kind of that season?

269
00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:37,600
Yeah, well, I'll tell you, it's,
I think the hardest thing for, I

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00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:42,200
think any elected official to
balance is there's one thing to

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00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,600
run for office, but then you
actually have to govern.

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00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:46,240
And I think that's the
challenge.

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It's very easy to put out a
talking point or, you know, a

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00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:54,240
flash something to garner some
applause or to get on TV or

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whatever it is.
But really at the end of the

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day, there's twelve of us and we
have to work together to

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actually do the work.
And so I think, you know, the

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00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,320
rhetoric gets kind of built up
and, you know, I just, I've just

279
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never been one to be in the
negative space for that.

280
00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,680
If I've worked really hard to
always run very positive

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00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:15,600
campaigns, I don't ever feel
like I'm running against anybody

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00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,000
when I've had opposition.
It's more about running to

283
00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,320
continue to serve or because I
want to serve.

284
00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,200
And that's the other thing too.
Once you're in office, then you

285
00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,160
have a record and you you can't
be shy about saying no.

286
00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:30,040
Absolutely.
I voted for this and this is the

287
00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:32,960
reason why, or I voted against
this and this is the reason why.

288
00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,560
But really, that that difference
between campaigning and

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00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:39,960
governing is real.
And, you know, we've, we've got

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00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:41,160
to govern.
I mean, that's what we've got

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00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:41,960
elected to do.
Yeah.

292
00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,760
I imagine on election night
you're waiting by the TV,

293
00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,000
waiting, waiting to hear the
results.

294
00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,000
I'm sure it's really exciting
whenever you hear your name.

295
00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,960
It is, although I'm a very early
to bed person.

296
00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,560
It's, it's very, it's, it's
really, I mean like 93010

297
00:13:55,560 --> 00:13:58,000
o'clock tops.
So election night is definitely

298
00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,840
hard because it takes a very
long time sometimes for results,

299
00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:05,680
for results to come.
And so, but it's also fun too.

300
00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:08,320
I mean, and it just again, I, I
feel so blessed.

301
00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,960
I've had so many friends helping
me on campaigns and things like

302
00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:13,560
that.
So, you know, we have a little

303
00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:16,800
pattern of driving around to the
precincts and looking to see,

304
00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,200
you know, if the numbers are
posted.

305
00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,480
And so you try to get a sense
before you know, it becomes

306
00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,920
real.
But it is it's exciting, but

307
00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:28,000
it's also, you know, I mean,
it's a real privilege and an

308
00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,880
honor and a real sense of
responsibility.

309
00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,000
So I mean, you have the high and
the excitement of, of being

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00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:34,760
elected.
But then I mean, it just, it's a

311
00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:38,600
very sobering, like it's a big
responsibility and people are

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00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,880
expecting a lot.
And I don't ever take that for

313
00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:41,480
granted.
That's.

314
00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:43,880
Right.
I had a unique opportunity when

315
00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:49,240
I was at Clemson to work on
Governor Mcmaster's campaign and

316
00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:53,680
that was very eye opening.
I work in financial services for

317
00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:57,280
a living, say to go on the
campaign government side of

318
00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:01,120
things was very great and that I
learned a lot of things I'm not

319
00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,440
used to.
But with that being said, the

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00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,800
campaign we ran was successful
in that the governor won that

321
00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,920
year.
And I feel like I got to see a

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00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,600
lot of cool things like we still
did door knocking, we did

323
00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,480
signage, we did some of those
traditional methods, but also

324
00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,880
social media, like you said,
played a huge part in our

325
00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,520
campaign process.
And but what do you feel like

326
00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,200
are some of the main traits that
are needed for a successful

327
00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:32,000
campaign?
Thank you for spending your

328
00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,600
valuable time with us.
We know you're likely incredibly

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00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,160
busy and we truly appreciate you
tuning in.

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00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:40,160
We hope you're finding these
insights just as valuable as we

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00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:41,880
are.
Throughout this journey, we've

332
00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,280
been fortunate to receive
incredible support with many

333
00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,640
people asking how can we help or
how can we support you?

334
00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,760
If you haven't already, one of
the best ways you can support us

335
00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:53,360
is by giving us a follower
rating on Spotify, Apple podcast

336
00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:55,360
or whatever platform it is
you're listening on.

337
00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:57,880
It just takes a second.
You don't even have to pause the

338
00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,760
episode.
And it makes a huge difference

339
00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,560
in helping us bring to you even
more of a top tier, high

340
00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:03,960
achieving leaders in our
community.

341
00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:06,240
Thank you again for being part
of this journey.

342
00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:13,720
Now let's get back to our guest.
Well, I mean, first of all, I

343
00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,320
mean, it has to be a good
candidate.

344
00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,200
I mean that, you know, it's
because it all comes down to the

345
00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:19,400
person.
I mean, you can have the

346
00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,080
slickest materials and all these
other things, but at the end of

347
00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:24,760
the day, it's still, people are
still electing a person.

348
00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:27,960
So I think that's part of it.
And I think the other piece is

349
00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:32,480
just really understanding the
role, you know, I think, and

350
00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,760
that's one of the hardest things
to, I mean, you know, we'll have

351
00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,920
people ask us about, you know,
school board issues or, you

352
00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,160
know, things that happen that
are really on the purview of the

353
00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,880
state or something like that.
And, you know, just really

354
00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,200
totally understanding the
position that you're running for

355
00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,960
and, and what you actually can
do from that piece.

356
00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,040
And I think the other thing too,
is just the importance of having

357
00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:57,800
a variety of experiences.
I mean that for me, I think my

358
00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,000
nonprofit background has really,
it gives me a different lens

359
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,720
when I'm sitting on the dais,
which is also why it's important

360
00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:05,400
to have people who are coming
from business.

361
00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,920
I mean it just all twelve of us
definitely don't always agree.

362
00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,079
But you know, I always try to
remember that we all want what's

363
00:17:12,079 --> 00:17:14,960
best for Greenville County.
And so we're coming at it maybe

364
00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,280
from different angles, but when
things get tougher, maybe a

365
00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,839
little dicey, I try to go back
to that place if we're all doing

366
00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:23,319
it for the right reasons.
Do you think we get dicey

367
00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:24,800
occasionally?
They do.

368
00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:28,040
And you know, I mean, people get
passionate about things and you

369
00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,680
know, especially when you have
people showing up either in

370
00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,080
favor of opposition of things
and you've got a number of

371
00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,680
speakers that come through.
And I think that's, I mean, one

372
00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,160
of the things I would love your
listeners to think about is the

373
00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,440
just the importance of
connecting with your elected

374
00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,400
official and really voicing
opinion.

375
00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:45,920
Because there are some issues
that come before us and we don't

376
00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:49,560
ever hear anybody on it.
And I'm sure not everything

377
00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:53,280
everybody would give a thumbs up
to you per se, but I always

378
00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:55,480
encourage people try to get to
know who your elected official

379
00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:58,280
is and really even know them.
It definitely surprises me when

380
00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,720
I speak places.
And you know, one of the first

381
00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,720
things I must always ask is
like, raise your hand if you

382
00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:04,040
know who your local elected
official.

383
00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,320
And like, it's never, it's like
30%.

384
00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,840
Maybe the people raise their
hands and they know who their

385
00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,920
federal folks are and maybe they
know who represents them in

386
00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,840
Columbia.
But politics are very local.

387
00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,600
And so, you know, when you have
a need, it's important to know

388
00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,000
who your actual local person is.
That's who you're going to run

389
00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:25,800
into publics or a church or
yeah, at the gym, wherever.

390
00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,200
And like you said, you answer
again, phone calls, you respond

391
00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:29,960
to the emails like people can
reach out to you.

392
00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,800
Yeah, if they want that to get
something, I don't know, get

393
00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:34,320
their voice heard.
Exactly.

394
00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:36,040
Exactly.
Exactly.

395
00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,040
But you're obviously you're not
only on Greenville County

396
00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,720
Council, you also work as the
chief of staff at Furman.

397
00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,520
Yeah.
So I could be wrong here.

398
00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,680
My understanding of chief of
staff is you get stuff done

399
00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,160
because they you get it done.
We'll avoid the expletive of the

400
00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:50,840
other.
Words, yeah.

401
00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:54,600
Avoid the Beside the podcast,
but can you tell us a little bit

402
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,640
about what that's been like
serving as chief of staff at

403
00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:57,080
Furman?
Yeah.

404
00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,080
Well, first of all, let me just
say it's been great.

405
00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:01,080
And you're really, you're spot
on.

406
00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,040
I really consider myself a
generalist.

407
00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:06,640
So, you know, one day it might
be government affairs work, it

408
00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:08,840
could be public relations, it
could be fundraising, it could

409
00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:13,360
be strategy, or it really could
just be helping President Davis

410
00:19:13,360 --> 00:19:15,240
manage her calendar.
I mean, it's just really a

411
00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,440
little bit of everything.
I get to work with students

412
00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,160
every now and then, which makes
it really fun.

413
00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,880
But again, I feel like it's for
me, it's been probably, it's the

414
00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,040
position I've been in the
longest out of all the positions

415
00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,320
I've had.
And it really allows me to use

416
00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,080
all of the skills that I've
learned over time.

417
00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,200
But also, you know, I hadn't
done any higher education before

418
00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:34,840
coming to Furman.
And so really kind of

419
00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,200
understanding that industry,
which is also different than

420
00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,280
anything I've done, but it's,
it's been a great job.

421
00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,720
I highly recommend if anybody
has any interest.

422
00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,720
I mean, it's like it's
leadership, but it's

423
00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:50,200
organization and it's, you know,
sometimes having to be the bad

424
00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,560
person, you know, helping people
make sure they're following up.

425
00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,240
But I don't know, it's, it's
just great.

426
00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:57,640
And it's great.
It's fun being on a college

427
00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,440
campus.
Yeah, we have a friend that was

428
00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,560
also on the podcast who has a
similar role with Clemson

429
00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,160
University.
Julio Hernandez.

430
00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:06,960
I feel like he's a man of many
hats.

431
00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:08,800
Yeah, every day.
He could be an if.

432
00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:10,640
There's somebody busier than I
am.

433
00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:11,880
It's him.
I agreed.

434
00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,320
I agreed.
Julio beats all of us, but he's

435
00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,240
shared as well how much fun it
is to work in education with

436
00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,360
such a great group, people to be
around the students, and y'all

437
00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:23,160
have the great opportunity to
give back to those students.

438
00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:24,760
That's right.
Julio meets with students all

439
00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:26,280
the time.
I know you do as well.

440
00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,720
So with all that being said, how
do you feel like you've been

441
00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:33,200
able to help Furman engage with
the community in Greenville

442
00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:34,760
given your different roles?
Yeah.

443
00:20:35,120 --> 00:20:37,520
Now that's a great question.
And really it was the exact

444
00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:39,400
reason that I was even brought
to Furman.

445
00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,320
So when I first started out, my
title was Director of corporate

446
00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:47,360
engagement and it was this idea
that, you know, Furman is

447
00:20:47,360 --> 00:20:50,720
Greenville University and we've
done a lot and we continued to

448
00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,200
do a lot.
But it wasn't really, I don't

449
00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,600
think it was very well known
what our students were capable

450
00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:57,400
of, what our faculty is capable
of.

451
00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:01,160
And I think, you know, being a
liberal arts institution is very

452
00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:02,560
different than at Clemson, North
Carolina.

453
00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,160
When you have a School of
Business or School of

454
00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,520
Engineering, you know, there's
pretty easy and direct lines

455
00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,160
between industry and university.
And so I was really brought on

456
00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,960
to, you know, sort of bridge
that gap and try to educate the

457
00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,280
community more about ways they
could get engaged.

458
00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,720
And about a year or so into that
role is when President Davis

459
00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,040
came on board.
And then for about a year, you

460
00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:26,720
know, I told her, like, I just
courted her to be like, you need

461
00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:28,480
me as your chief of staff.
You need me as your chief of

462
00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:30,280
staff.
Furman had never had that

463
00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:34,360
position before, so it was new.
But so, yeah, so she was really.

464
00:21:34,360 --> 00:21:36,840
But it was all about, I'm like
you, you need somebody to help

465
00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:38,680
you be more strategic with your
time.

466
00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,560
And as you might imagine, she
gets asked to speak, you know,

467
00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,600
at a million different places.
You know, we get asked to fund

468
00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,200
and support a million different
things.

469
00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:51,680
And, you know, you know, our
primary responsibilities are

470
00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,600
undergraduate students.
And so everything that we do has

471
00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,680
to really align with our
priorities and our mission,

472
00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,080
vision, values.
And again, what is it?

473
00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,720
Where is the student engagement?
And I think that's an

474
00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:04,600
interesting way that we've sort
of approached things.

475
00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:08,480
Everything we do in the
community always has a student

476
00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,200
angle to it.
Can there be internships?

477
00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,720
Can there be opportunities for
shadowing?

478
00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:14,800
You know, can you come hire our
students?

479
00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,160
And also for our faculty, I
mean, our faculty are really

480
00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,680
committed to undergraduate
research and attention to our

481
00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:22,600
students, but they also have so
much to give.

482
00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,960
And a lot of them do research
and have done projects for the

483
00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:26,520
community.
And I don't know, it's been

484
00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:28,560
really fun helping to make that
connection.

485
00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,120
Are there any local businesses
that Furman tries to work with?

486
00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:34,920
You know, it's the the great
thing about Furman, even though

487
00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,200
we don't have schools per SE,
you know, all of our institutes

488
00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:41,240
have really been the best
gateway for us to connect.

489
00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,400
Think about the Hill Institute
and Brian Davis and all the work

490
00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,480
that he's doing.
Kind of, I know he's also

491
00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:49,640
another one.
I put he and Julio kind of in

492
00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,680
that bucket of Oh my gosh, I
don't know how he sleeps in

493
00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:54,960
addition to all the children
that he has in addition to all

494
00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,480
that too.
So, but it's, you know, that's a

495
00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,120
really easy front door for us.
For US, athletics has been a

496
00:23:00,120 --> 00:23:02,400
really easy front door.
I mean, a way for companies to

497
00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:04,800
get engaged either through
sponsorship or bringing, you

498
00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:08,280
know, their employees for a day.
But then Riley, our shy

499
00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,520
institute and our Institute for
the Advancement of Community

500
00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:13,560
Health is really, so we sort of
have these buckets of ways that

501
00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,320
we can engage with the community
in those various industry

502
00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,720
sectors.
Given the wide tool belt needed

503
00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,800
to be a chief of staff, how does
someone prepare for a job like

504
00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,440
that?
Gosh, that's a great question.

505
00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:29,960
And I, I think I just sort of
draw on thinking about, you

506
00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,800
know, for example, when I was at
Meals and Wheels as the

507
00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,720
executive director, you really
have to be a generalist in that

508
00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:37,080
role as well.
I mean, you've got to learn a

509
00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:38,960
little bit of HR.
You have to know budgeting, you

510
00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,160
have to know fundraising, you
have to know operations.

511
00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:45,440
And I think just drawing on all
of those various aspects of

512
00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,360
experience that I had leading
into it.

513
00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,760
But also there was, I mean, I
also have tried to learn a lot.

514
00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:55,160
I've, I've joined a couple of
chief staff associations to, you

515
00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,440
know, kind of continue educating
myself and also connecting with

516
00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,520
other people in my role to see
what they're doing.

517
00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:01,560
They're.
Still learning?

518
00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:02,880
Always.
That's incredible.

519
00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:04,920
Yeah, always.
That's a trade of a good leader.

520
00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,000
Yeah, always need to learn every
day.

521
00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:09,640
And you mentioned Meals on
Wheels and I know there's tons

522
00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,600
of organizations you're involved
with, but what would you say are

523
00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:17,160
some of the key organizations in
Greenville that our listeners

524
00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:20,320
could either get engaged with or
volunteer with that you think

525
00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:21,080
would?
Be beneficial.

526
00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:22,560
Sure.
Well, let me just say, generally

527
00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:24,920
speaking, one of the things that
we're so fortunate in our

528
00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:29,000
community is that we have such a
strong nonprofit sector here.

529
00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:32,720
And I think one of the things
that contributes to quality of

530
00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:36,600
life, I mean, it just there's so
many solid organizations that

531
00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:37,920
are doing really, really good
work.

532
00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,000
And you know, obviously I'm very
biased towards my family at

533
00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:45,080
Meals on Wheels, But one of the
reasons I love it also from a

534
00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:49,200
volunteer OP perspective is it
can be a one time commitment, it

535
00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:52,240
can be an ongoing commitment.
You know, there's so many ways

536
00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:56,320
to get involved, but you know,
there's so many other ways.

537
00:24:56,360 --> 00:24:58,480
And again, I kind of go back to
kind of what I said in the

538
00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,160
beginning is about like really
thinking about what is it that,

539
00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:03,840
you know, drives you?
What are you passionate about?

540
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,200
You know, and that looks
different for everybody, which I

541
00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,480
think is such a lovely thing
about having a calling.

542
00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,400
And so it could be seniors, it
could be animals, it could be

543
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,240
education, it could be the
environment.

544
00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,200
And just, I think I would just
always encourage people to kind

545
00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,120
of dig deep and see what it is
that really kind of excites

546
00:25:20,120 --> 00:25:22,560
them.
And you know, and, or like, how

547
00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:24,480
do you, what do you do for a
living?

548
00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:26,480
And do you want to volunteer in
that same sort of space?

549
00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:28,360
Or do you want to branch out and
do something different?

550
00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:31,280
You know, not all accountants
have to be the treasurer on the

551
00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,480
board, for instance, you know,
so, but I think there are a

552
00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,520
variety of ways to go at it, but
ultimately it has to bring you

553
00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:39,080
joy.
And if it doesn't, and whether

554
00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:42,600
that's volunteering or your job
or whatever, you should move on.

555
00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:43,720
Yeah.
Make an adjustment.

556
00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,160
Yeah, exactly.
Of things that bring you joy.

557
00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:49,000
Before we started recording, you
mentioned one of your hobbies,

558
00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:50,320
ballroom dancing.
Yes.

559
00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,360
How do you incorporate that into
your schedule and also could

560
00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:55,480
that potentially be like an
elective at firm and that you

561
00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:57,640
could teach, have you thought?
No, I have definitely, I have

562
00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,760
definitely thought about it
well.

563
00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:03,200
And so interestingly enough, so
I did not grow up as a dancer.

564
00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:04,680
I did.
I was a cheerleader.

565
00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:08,360
So I mean, kind of, sort of, but
I got asked to do Dancing with

566
00:26:08,360 --> 00:26:11,800
the Carolina Stars for Senior
action and right when I first

567
00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:13,960
started at Furman.
And I think in the back of my

568
00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,440
mind like, I'm going to do it.
I'll do the one thing and raise

569
00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,800
the money and it it'll be a one
and done.

570
00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,040
And throughout that process, I
really, really loved it.

571
00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:23,800
And just there was something
about it.

572
00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,760
There's a competitive piece to
it, there's a learning piece to

573
00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:28,520
it, there's a challenge piece to
it.

574
00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,320
And so, you know, I was really
mad because I was not good at

575
00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:34,480
the beginning.
And you know, I'm, I've been,

576
00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:36,880
I've been an athlete.
It's like, how am I not good at

577
00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:38,720
this?
I should be good at this my

578
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,360
first try, but it really just
then it became something that

579
00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:44,080
really drove my competitive
spirit.

580
00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:48,000
And, you know, now it's been.
This will be my 12th year of

581
00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:49,120
dancing, really.
Yeah.

582
00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,760
So.
And I compete, you know, I go,

583
00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:55,920
yeah, yeah, I do some stuff here
locally, but you know, I've been

584
00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,200
in some pretty big national
competitions and.

585
00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,480
Is that a daily commitment or
how often?

586
00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,040
I'm there a couple times a week,
but then you got to do stuff on

587
00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:05,760
your own too.
And whether that's, you know,

588
00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:09,600
even watching videos and picking
up on technique or practicing

589
00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:13,320
the routines, you know, in, in
my room and all that sort of

590
00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:15,160
thing.
So as you might imagine, like

591
00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:18,080
Covad, when that all got shut
down, it was a big withdrawal.

592
00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,400
It was really, really hard not
to have that part of my life but

593
00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,560
but I highly recommend it.
I'm hearing you're still

594
00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,000
competitive athlete.
Definitely, which is incredible.

595
00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,560
Giving your schedule.
Yeah, but I think that's, you

596
00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:32,520
know, it kind of goes back to
you got to find something.

597
00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:35,520
I mean, everybody's just got to
have that own carved out space.

598
00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:38,360
And again, it'll look different
for everybody, but for me, the

599
00:27:38,360 --> 00:27:40,960
dance piece.
And then I dabble in golf a

600
00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:43,080
little bit.
I'm definitely not good there,

601
00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:45,800
but it's fun and it's.
We like it too, but we don't

602
00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:47,840
practice enough.
Golf is definitely a sport you

603
00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:49,880
have to put, I know.
But it's another one.

604
00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:51,200
I'm like, I should be good at
this.

605
00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:55,400
Like, I don't understand if I
only play once every six months,

606
00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:57,000
why I'm not, you know, why am I
not?

607
00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:58,880
Why am I not good?
Yeah, why am I?

608
00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:02,240
Not talking about your joys and
I know that we have discussed a

609
00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:06,040
lot around your commitments, but
a lot of our listeners are

610
00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:09,160
younger in their careers or
maybe mid career where they're

611
00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,240
working, married, maybe starting
to have kids.

612
00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:16,400
How do you recommend balancing
the career life but also the

613
00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:19,400
family life of being home, being
a wife in your case, being a

614
00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,040
mother and excelling in your
career?

615
00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,440
And your joyful hobbies on the
side as well.

616
00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:26,280
Right.
Well, I'll start by saying I

617
00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:27,920
really don't ever think of it as
balance.

618
00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,920
It's more about integration.
I mean, because you know, you

619
00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,080
just you're never going to be
able to compartmentalize.

620
00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:36,800
I mean, so I think it's more
about so how do all those things

621
00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:38,800
fit together?
And, you know, going back to

622
00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:40,760
when we were talking about when
I first ran for office and

623
00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:44,880
Walker was younger, you know,
that wasn't, I mean, we as a

624
00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,280
family had to talk about, I
mean, it means that I'm probably

625
00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,200
going to miss some stuff and I
probably can't drive carpool a

626
00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:55,680
good bit and those things.
But, you know, I also think it

627
00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,640
set an example for him about the
importance of giving back and

628
00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:02,160
being engaged in your community.
And and, you know, I'm, I'm so

629
00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,600
proud that he and Allison have
both found a way to do that, you

630
00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:07,400
know, in Decatur.
And even when they were at

631
00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,600
Furman, they were both very
engaged on campus and various

632
00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:13,120
things.
And so I see that as, you know,

633
00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:16,880
that's part of our jobs as
parents and as friends and as

634
00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,160
community members is to be the
example.

635
00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:21,800
And you know, that's, I don't
know.

636
00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:23,720
So far so good.
I I guess for me.

637
00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,480
There been able to integrate
well and we have a couple things

638
00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:29,800
we can learn.
So being on the the leadership

639
00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,560
team at Furman, what are some of
the challenges involved with

640
00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:34,960
that that the public might not
be aware of just some of the

641
00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:37,280
difficulties and maybe
day-to-day or?

642
00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:39,360
Yeah.
Well, I mean, you know,

643
00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,520
thinking, you know, could use
COVID as a great example.

644
00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:45,240
I mean, when that happened, you
know, our students were on

645
00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:48,520
spring break and then they.
Yeah.

646
00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:51,520
And so then you all, like, you
bet you basically never came

647
00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:54,600
back to campus.
And I'll tell you, I remember

648
00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:56,800
because, you know, Walker was a
senior then as well.

649
00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:00,280
And, you know, really having to
sit in those meetings and decide

650
00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:03,400
what we were going to do.
And it my mom had, you know, I'm

651
00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,920
just, you know, tears running
down my face like this is not

652
00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:08,880
how his, you know, college
experience is supposed to end.

653
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:13,320
But also, you know, heating, you
know, we had to be careful.

654
00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:16,800
We had to keep people safe.
You know, I sort of liken it to

655
00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,920
when Walker was younger and
there'd be a little bit of snow

656
00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,520
and school would get cancelled
and I'd get all about like, it's

657
00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,840
blazing sunshine.
Like, why is there not school?

658
00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:29,280
But then you realize, I mean,
the nuance around, well, buses

659
00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,400
can't drive on icy roads and a
lot of kids use the bus to get

660
00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:34,480
to school.
And so right.

661
00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:37,960
And so just, I have such an
appreciation for, you know,

662
00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,480
leaders and, and like that who,
you know, you have to make hard

663
00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:43,320
decisions.
And, you know, the hard part for

664
00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:45,480
any leader is, you know, you're
never going to make everybody

665
00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:48,040
happy.
And so that's, you know, kind of

666
00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:50,240
part of the piece.
You've got to, you have to be OK

667
00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:53,360
with that.
You know, if you are a people

668
00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:56,480
pleaser, it's very hard to be in
a leadership role because it's,

669
00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:58,280
it's impossible to make
everybody happy.

670
00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:01,200
But so I think things like that,
I mean, anything around

671
00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:04,080
Emergency Management, you know,
obviously there's a lot going on

672
00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:07,080
right now at the federal level
focused on higher education.

673
00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:09,960
And so I think for us as a
leadership team, I mean, we're

674
00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,680
just doubling down on what are
our mission, vision values.

675
00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:15,480
We are here to care for the
students.

676
00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:18,800
And you know, we're going to do
that because that's, you know,

677
00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:20,320
who we are and what we believe
in.

678
00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:24,280
And, you know, as long as we can
make sure that they're

679
00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:26,520
successful and they have the
things they need and we support

680
00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:29,080
them in the ways they need, you
know, that's all we can do.

681
00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:32,240
Speaking of the students, the
Furman students are very engaged

682
00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:33,960
in the community.
We see them at the church, we'll

683
00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:36,520
see them downtown, and they all
love it.

684
00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:37,840
They all have a great experience
at Furman.

685
00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:39,640
How does Furman do such a good
job?

686
00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:42,960
Champion student success.
Well, I think it's all about our

687
00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:45,040
model.
I mean, we are very hands on,

688
00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:47,680
very individualized.
And so, and you can do that with

689
00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:49,520
a, you know, a smaller student
body.

690
00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:52,360
And I also think too, our
faculty are so committed to

691
00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:55,000
undergraduate research and
undergraduate support.

692
00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:58,080
They don't have, it's not like
being in an R1 where there's,

693
00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:00,680
you know, different sort of
responsibilities and things that

694
00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:02,640
you have to do from that
perspective.

695
00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:04,880
And I also think we have amazing
staff.

696
00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:07,720
We have amazing student life
staff that are very well trained

697
00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:09,320
and versed in student
development.

698
00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:13,160
And so everything is very, it's
all very so things we deliver to

699
00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:14,760
them when the.
Landscaping is deliberate.

700
00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:17,480
The landscaping is very
deliberate, but but I also think

701
00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:19,640
the other really unique thing
about Furman that is great is

702
00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:23,040
it's four year residential.
So you really, you know, you get

703
00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:26,200
to, you know, find your people
and be with your people.

704
00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:27,920
And so for.
Your residential You can't live

705
00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:29,240
off campus.
Not live off campus.

706
00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:30,280
Talk about that.
Yeah, I'm.

707
00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:31,440
Sure.
Yeah, yeah.

708
00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:34,360
But it's, you know, it's great
because you know, our first year

709
00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:37,320
students live all kind of in one
area, our second year students

710
00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,560
and then for juniors and
seniors, they live in North

711
00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:42,840
Village, which are apartments.
So I mean, it is, it is like you

712
00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:44,720
are off campus, but way less
expensive.

713
00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:49,640
And again, it's very deliberate
activities that we do with the

714
00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:53,040
residence halls and the way that
they engaged with campus things.

715
00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:56,200
And I would say to our students,
I mean, between things like

716
00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:00,160
Heller Service Corps or Greek
life, you know, our singers, our

717
00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:03,400
athletes, I mean, there's just,
it's a, it's a very

718
00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:06,560
overachieving group of students
and it's very fun to see them

719
00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,160
than blossom, which I didn't.
Realize Furman had Greenglife.

720
00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:11,160
We do.
That's cool, We do.

721
00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:14,000
So when, yeah, you have
obviously a ton of different

722
00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:15,680
challenges.
That's chief of staff at Furman.

723
00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:17,920
What have been some of the
biggest challenges serving on

724
00:33:17,920 --> 00:33:19,960
the Greenville County Council?
Yeah.

725
00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:22,400
Well, I mean, I think the number
one thing has been growth.

726
00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,880
You know, we've really exploded
over time, but most recently in

727
00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:30,280
these last couple years.
And so, you know, how do we

728
00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:32,160
handle that?
What does that mean for housing?

729
00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:33,840
What does that mean for
infrastructure?

730
00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,360
And the number two thing right
behind that is definitely

731
00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:40,840
infrastructure.
I mean, our roads, you know,

732
00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:43,840
have not really kept up with the
number of miles that we're

733
00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:47,800
putting on them.
And so, you know, every, I think

734
00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:51,200
every budget season and every,
you know, council every couple

735
00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:53,480
years when we kind of reassess
where we are and what our

736
00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:56,240
priorities are, public safety
always makes the top of the

737
00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:57,880
list.
Infrastructure makes the top of

738
00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:00,080
the list.
You know, economic development.

739
00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:02,560
I mean, we need to continue to
make sure that we have good

740
00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:05,280
companies that are coming here
or companies already here who

741
00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:07,120
are growing.
You can continue to hire our

742
00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:09,639
folks with good wages and good
benefits.

743
00:34:09,639 --> 00:34:13,000
And so it's again, you know, I
kind of go back to it's not a

744
00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:14,520
balance, it's all about
integration.

745
00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:17,040
And so you can't really pull one
lever without, you know, if our

746
00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:18,840
community is not safe, it
doesn't matter how many

747
00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:20,760
companies you think you're going
to recruit here, people aren't

748
00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:24,520
going to want to be here.
But I think that will that will

749
00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:26,719
continue to be the theme for
this council too.

750
00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:28,520
So you said growth was the
number one.

751
00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:31,600
Why is Greenville growing so
much, which I'm not saying is a

752
00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:35,120
bad thing, I love it, but like
what is what is the the cause of

753
00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:35,360
that?
I.

754
00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:37,320
Guess, yeah.
I mean, I think it's I think

755
00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:39,719
it's a variety of things.
I mean, one, we are just

756
00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:43,719
situated in a pretty cool spot.
You think you're, you know, two

757
00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:46,320
hours from Atlanta, an hour 15
from Charlotte, 3 1/2 from

758
00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,679
Charleston.
You know, we're right at the

759
00:34:48,679 --> 00:34:50,239
foothills.
It's easy to get to the

760
00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:52,400
mountain.
So you sort of have this great

761
00:34:52,679 --> 00:34:58,000
seasonality and also access to
big city, bigger city if you

762
00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:01,080
need it.
I also think just, you know,

763
00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,800
even here, the number of
restaurants or arts and

764
00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:07,520
entertainment, I mean, we've
just again, kind of going back

765
00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:09,160
to what we talked about in the
beginning when I was really

766
00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:12,280
nervous about coming here and
just, you know, really not

767
00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:15,440
knowing like, gosh, the Peace
Center really has amazing stuff.

768
00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:19,240
And we have, you know, probably
now almost 300 restaurants

769
00:35:19,240 --> 00:35:22,520
within a 2 mile radius of
downtown and you can hear good

770
00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:25,880
music and you've got Artisphere
and Euphoria and, you know, just

771
00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:29,600
all these sorts of things that I
also think we've seen a lot of

772
00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:32,520
tourists who have come here who
have then decided like, man,

773
00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:34,480
this is really good.
And even kind of going back to

774
00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:37,440
COVID when people could really,
you know, work from wherever.

775
00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:40,160
We saw a lot of influx.
And even at Furman, we have a

776
00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:42,680
lot of parents.
You know, we're only about 30%

777
00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:44,520
in states.
Everybody else comes from

778
00:35:44,520 --> 00:35:46,720
outside of South Carolina.
We've had a lot of parents

779
00:35:46,720 --> 00:35:49,640
who've moved companies here
who've, you know, bought condos

780
00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:52,400
downtown because they've just
fallen in love with with the

781
00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,480
place.
Yeah, tourism is a real thing

782
00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:55,920
here, I know.
Especially if like fall for

783
00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:57,520
Greenville.
I've talked to people.

784
00:35:57,520 --> 00:35:59,240
I'm like, where are you from?
And they're like Augusta?

785
00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:00,760
But we come up here every year,
right?

786
00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:01,840
Because we love.
This thing.

787
00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:05,200
So it is pretty cool that we do
so many events downtown.

788
00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:07,760
Like you said, the artists fear
we have the farmers market.

789
00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:11,120
Yeah, fall for Greenville.
Like I said, I'm sure there's a

790
00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:12,560
ton of planning involved with
that.

791
00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:15,160
How does that work into County
Council?

792
00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:17,360
Yeah, it's so interesting.
And you're right.

793
00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:19,680
I mean, it definitely takes a
lot of planning and I think, you

794
00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:23,160
know, the city's planning staff
and their events team and

795
00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:25,560
things.
But again, it also goes back to

796
00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:29,000
even coordinating, you know,
again, public safety and you

797
00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,200
know, what roads are going to be
closed and how are we going to

798
00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:33,720
get people around?
And so there's always sort of

799
00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:36,160
the behind the scenes nuance to
some of those things.

800
00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,720
But I also really think the
success also comes because there

801
00:36:39,720 --> 00:36:41,320
have been people in the
community who've really

802
00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:43,560
championed them.
I think of a Carl Sibasinski,

803
00:36:43,560 --> 00:36:47,040
for instance, who, you know, has
just, I think made it his life's

804
00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:50,280
mission to give back to our
community in so many ways.

805
00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:53,600
But that's, I think that's also
what part, what draws people

806
00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:56,720
here.
I probably know more people not

807
00:36:56,720 --> 00:36:59,800
from here than from here now.
And I think it's just there it

808
00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:01,280
is.
There is something about the

809
00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:05,760
people and their openness and
they're, you know, willing to

810
00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:08,840
also dig in and get involved.
So I don't know.

811
00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:12,040
I'm sure there are other places
that have that, but we have

812
00:37:12,040 --> 00:37:13,280
pretty special sauce here I
think.

813
00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:15,400
Greenville's unique, I would
say, because I've grown up in

814
00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:18,320
the States, been here for all my
life except for like 2 1/2 years

815
00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:21,000
when I was in Tennessee, and
Greenville's like really unique

816
00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:23,400
city as compared to their parts
of the state.

817
00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:25,360
So it's pretty cool.
Would you agree with that?

818
00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:27,320
Yeah, I mean, I'm born and
raised Greenville, so there's

819
00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:29,480
not many of us left.
To your point, lots of new

820
00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:33,800
people here actually met with an
attorney last week and it's one

821
00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:36,080
of the cases we just talked
about where she came to

822
00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:39,280
Greenville one time for a
wedding and fell in love with it

823
00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:41,240
and decided I'm going to pick up
my life and move to Greenville.

824
00:37:41,240 --> 00:37:43,800
So there are all kinds of
reasons people are moving here.

825
00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:47,080
But whether you're born and
raised like me and from here, or

826
00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:51,280
you're new to the city like you
were and interested in maybe

827
00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:54,520
being involved in government or
politics or running for a seat,

828
00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:58,360
and what's the best way to get
involved in plug in if someone

829
00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:01,240
of our listeners is interested?
Well, I mean, first of all, I

830
00:38:01,240 --> 00:38:03,960
would say do it.
Like don't wait to be asked, you

831
00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:06,240
know, if you really have an
interest in something to do it

832
00:38:06,240 --> 00:38:09,520
and especially if you have any
interest in running for office.

833
00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:12,600
A couple things.
I mean, 1, you know, work on

834
00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:14,960
another campaign.
I really think that, you know,

835
00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:17,960
it's a great experience to kind
of get up again, sort of behind

836
00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:19,360
the scenes, like what does it
take?

837
00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:22,120
And, you know, and learning and
also learning the issues I think

838
00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:26,360
is important.
But you know, again, I can't

839
00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:28,800
emphasize enough, like, please
don't wait to be asked because I

840
00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:32,680
do think people are hesitant or
think they can't do it or, you

841
00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,640
know, now is not the right time.
There's never a good time.

842
00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:37,880
Like there's always going to be
something.

843
00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,560
So, you know, just knock that
off the excuse list.

844
00:38:41,240 --> 00:38:45,000
But that being said, the other
important thing is you have to

845
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:48,320
have the support of your family.
And if you especially if you're

846
00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:50,920
going to run for office and your
employer, if you're working

847
00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:52,520
somewhere.
I mean, I'm, I've been blessed

848
00:38:52,520 --> 00:38:56,160
that all the places I've been,
I've been very supportive of my

849
00:38:56,320 --> 00:38:59,720
public service, but you have to
have your family behind you

850
00:38:59,720 --> 00:39:03,120
because it is a big commitment.
And so you know, there is that

851
00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:05,760
certainly that consideration,
but just go for it.

852
00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:07,680
What does it take to run a
campaign I.

853
00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:10,920
Mean it takes, well, first of
all, you really have to, I think

854
00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:13,120
you really have to want to do it
and you have to know why you're

855
00:39:13,120 --> 00:39:16,600
doing it.
And then you know, you have to

856
00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:18,880
have, I mean, it takes
resources, it definitely takes

857
00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:20,680
money.
And then it just takes the

858
00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:22,920
commitment.
I mean, it's, you know, you can

859
00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:26,920
have volunteers helping you do
things, but as the candidate,

860
00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:28,720
you have to be the one that
works the hardest.

861
00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:32,520
So whatever the signs are coming
now around election season, is

862
00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:35,480
there like a team that simply
helps with that or is?

863
00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:38,600
When I Yeah, yes, yeah.
When I work for the governor,

864
00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:41,480
it's a lot of different people.
Actually, yes, I recruited my

865
00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:43,240
sister.
I mean, it's anyone and

866
00:39:43,240 --> 00:39:43,720
everyone.
I.

867
00:39:43,720 --> 00:39:46,760
Felt I will say I highly
recommend being on sign duty.

868
00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:50,880
It's super fun, you get to learn
go a lot of places it was.

869
00:39:51,360 --> 00:39:52,440
Fun.
Find a route.

870
00:39:52,720 --> 00:39:56,040
Yeah, but you know, my my friend
Addie and I, the night before

871
00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:59,800
for the election, we were out
doing one last sweep and making

872
00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:02,840
sure that we had signs out.
And, you know, I mean, so again,

873
00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:05,440
as the candidate, you know, it's
great to have people helping you

874
00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:06,880
do it.
But you know, again, you got to

875
00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:08,480
set the example and.
Yep.

876
00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:11,480
Like I remember even with the
governor, it was all of our

877
00:40:11,480 --> 00:40:15,080
campaign stuff, plus families.
I'm treating my parents, my

878
00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:17,080
friends.
I'm like, yo, I have all these

879
00:40:17,080 --> 00:40:19,040
signs I need to put out.
I need help.

880
00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:24,120
So I feel like that's anyone and
everyone who can help, and the

881
00:40:24,120 --> 00:40:25,280
more the better.
There's a lot of.

882
00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:28,320
Well, and, and I will say also
just interestingly on the sign

883
00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:31,480
thing too, like don't be afraid
to put a candidate sign in your

884
00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:36,120
yard because you can have a
gazillion in the right away, but

885
00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:39,440
at the end of the day, a sign in
the yard is 1 if not 2 votes.

886
00:40:39,440 --> 00:40:42,720
But also, I mean, if you really
do believe in somebody, I mean,

887
00:40:42,720 --> 00:40:45,080
the easiest way that you can
help a candidate is to put a

888
00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:47,560
sign in your yard and to talk to
your friends and neighbors about

889
00:40:47,560 --> 00:40:49,600
that person and why you think
that they're the best.

890
00:40:49,600 --> 00:40:51,200
I.
Think there's rules on that

891
00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:52,880
right?
Like a a certain period you're

892
00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:55,520
allowed to have the sign
depending on the county or.

893
00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:57,920
Town, yeah, there are and it,
you know depends on who

894
00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:00,320
complaints and whether or not
they get picked up but they're

895
00:41:00,320 --> 00:41:03,240
also super expensive so we try
very hard we always tell people

896
00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:05,840
if they're in your yard, like
please save it for the next time

897
00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:08,480
and we drive around and we go
pick them all up because you

898
00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:11,440
know we we recycle our signs so.
I was talking to someone at

899
00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:14,000
First Monday who had a sign in
his yard and that wasn't

900
00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:15,440
allowed.
I think it was in Simpsonville.

901
00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:17,920
Well if you have an HOA you
always have to check your HOA

902
00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:21,000
rules because they are
definitely stingy about that if

903
00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:22,480
you're if you have no signs
allowed.

904
00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:25,920
That's a good point.
Get dirty at a such a local

905
00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:28,600
level when you obviously at a
higher level definitely.

906
00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:32,920
But yeah, yeah, I wish, I wish I
could say that wasn't the case,

907
00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:38,200
but it definitely does.
And it's unfortunate, but it is.

908
00:41:38,200 --> 00:41:40,000
It is.
It is part of the job.

909
00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:41,360
It is part.
Of the job.

910
00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:43,280
You really have to have thick
skin.

911
00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:46,840
Yeah, when I first started and
we still had a home phone and an

912
00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:51,000
answering machine.
So very, very long time ago, you

913
00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:54,000
know, I would have people and
leave messages on our home phone

914
00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:55,800
that were not nice.
But, you know, Walker would come

915
00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:58,080
home from school and he would
hit the button 1st and there

916
00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:01,160
were things that he heard.
You know, I took him to some

917
00:42:01,160 --> 00:42:03,120
meetings when I was first
running that were pretty

918
00:42:03,120 --> 00:42:04,800
contentious.
And he's like, is it always

919
00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:06,160
going to be like this?
I'm like it.

920
00:42:06,560 --> 00:42:09,040
I hope not.
But I mean, it is part of it.

921
00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:12,520
People are, are, are passionate
and you know, but yes,

922
00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:16,560
unfortunately not everybody is
nice, but.

923
00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:20,400
Which unfortunately in Indy
industry, I feel like you hear

924
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:23,440
about challenges and dirty
things going on.

925
00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:25,800
So obviously it's more prominent
when you're the center of

926
00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:28,800
attention probably.
But anywhere you go,

927
00:42:28,840 --> 00:42:31,880
unfortunately there's always
going to be ruffles and people

928
00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:33,440
get their feelings.
Well, that's the hard part.

929
00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:35,760
Also, when you think about
social media, I mean, really how

930
00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:40,480
easy it is to say 1 bad thing
about somebody anonymously or

931
00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:43,840
even if it, it has a name to it,
but you know, it's just one

932
00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:49,240
tweet, one post, 1 whatever.
And you know, it's just not how

933
00:42:49,240 --> 00:42:51,240
I operate.
But unfortunately that's not

934
00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:52,600
that's not the case for
everyone.

935
00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:55,120
Have you developed like thicker
skin just getting used to that

936
00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:58,160
over time or?
I will have I mean, honestly,

937
00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:00,120
it's sometimes waivers.
I mean, there's some days that I

938
00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:02,520
think I can it just rolls off my
back.

939
00:43:02,520 --> 00:43:04,840
But I mean, there have been
there have been definitely times

940
00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:07,360
that it's hurt.
And, you know, I've got, I mean,

941
00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:09,560
I've gotten choked up on the
dice before over things that

942
00:43:09,560 --> 00:43:12,760
have happened to me.
Just, you know, and I think it's

943
00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:18,360
one because I care a lot and
just, you know, I try to not do

944
00:43:18,360 --> 00:43:20,960
that to other folks.
And so it's hard when it, when

945
00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:24,080
it happens to you, but you know,
you just got to pick up and move

946
00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:26,200
on.
And, you know, the best revenge

947
00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:28,880
is just to continue doing what
you're doing and, you know, be

948
00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:31,800
strong and continue to work and
do the good work that you know

949
00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:33,520
you're doing.
What motivates you to keep

950
00:43:33,560 --> 00:43:36,360
running I?
Think a couple of things.

951
00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:39,400
I mean, one kind of going back
to that continuous learning, I

952
00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:42,000
feel like I've learned a lot
over time, but there's still

953
00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:46,040
things I'm learning about
government work to I'm just, I

954
00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:50,320
mean, I love Greenville and just
feel like this is the place

955
00:43:50,320 --> 00:43:52,920
where I can contribute and
there's definitely still things

956
00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:54,880
to do.
I mean, we're, you know, kind of

957
00:43:54,880 --> 00:43:56,440
going back to roads
infrastructure.

958
00:43:56,440 --> 00:43:58,400
I mean, we really haven't solved
those problems yet.

959
00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:01,640
And you know, I just, I want to
be a part of that solution

960
00:44:01,640 --> 00:44:04,520
that's.
Good, so we can go into action

961
00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:06,800
items for listeners before we we
close it out.

962
00:44:07,120 --> 00:44:08,680
I was like, Oh my gosh, you've
given me homework.

963
00:44:10,600 --> 00:44:12,240
I don't remember that being part
of the deal.

964
00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:15,880
Yeah, yeah.
But what is a piece of advice

965
00:44:15,880 --> 00:44:17,080
that you would give to a
listener?

966
00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:18,440
Oh, I guess you talked about
that.

967
00:44:18,440 --> 00:44:20,280
Well, what is a piece of advice
you would give to someone that's

968
00:44:20,280 --> 00:44:25,320
hoping to run for a seat?
Don't, I mean like go for it.

969
00:44:25,320 --> 00:44:27,000
Like don't be, don't be
hesitant.

970
00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:30,240
Don't.
And I would also say to you, if

971
00:44:30,240 --> 00:44:33,560
for some reason you don't win,
like run again.

972
00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:37,040
You know, I think about what,
before I got on County Council,

973
00:44:37,040 --> 00:44:40,640
I actually applied to be on one
of our boards and commissions

974
00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:42,920
and I didn't get appointed my
first time.

975
00:44:43,160 --> 00:44:46,120
I was like, wait, what?
Again, Like, why am I not good

976
00:44:46,120 --> 00:44:49,280
at golf?
I mean, so you just, you know,

977
00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:52,600
just continue to try.
And I would add just a plug for

978
00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:55,840
boards and commissions to both.
All the municipalities in the

979
00:44:55,840 --> 00:44:58,440
county have a wide variety of
boards and commissions that

980
00:44:58,440 --> 00:45:01,000
people can serve on.
And I highly recommend it.

981
00:45:01,000 --> 00:45:02,640
I mean, it's a great way.
What are some of these?

982
00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:06,440
So it could be anything from
parks rec and tourism to the

983
00:45:06,680 --> 00:45:09,480
Greenville Area Development
Corporation, human relations,

984
00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:13,000
historic preservation.
I mean, you can just there and

985
00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:15,120
then even some of our smaller
neighborhoods have special

986
00:45:15,120 --> 00:45:17,080
purpose districts that you can
apply for.

987
00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:19,120
But it's a great way to learn a
little bit more.

988
00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:22,360
It's a little taste of sort of
running for something.

989
00:45:22,360 --> 00:45:24,360
Because you get elected for this
position.

990
00:45:24,360 --> 00:45:25,920
Well, you fill out an
application and then you

991
00:45:25,920 --> 00:45:28,120
interview in front of the
council and then we appoint

992
00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:30,600
people.
So it's yes, you're appointed.

993
00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:33,800
So a, it helps you get to know
your elected officials, but it

994
00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:36,920
also kind of gets you in the
arena a little bit.

995
00:45:36,920 --> 00:45:38,480
But yeah.
That's cool.

996
00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:39,480
Yeah.
I wasn't aware of that kind of

997
00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:40,600
stuff.
It's interesting.

998
00:45:41,080 --> 00:45:44,440
But so yeah, what was, what
would you say overall with your

999
00:45:44,440 --> 00:45:46,320
career?
Obviously done a ton of

1000
00:45:46,320 --> 00:45:48,280
different things.
What is the best piece of advice

1001
00:45:48,280 --> 00:45:50,920
that you've ever received?
Oh my gosh.

1002
00:45:51,480 --> 00:45:55,360
Well, and I've been fortunate to
have a lot of folks who have

1003
00:45:55,440 --> 00:45:57,080
helped me along the way and said
things.

1004
00:45:57,080 --> 00:46:00,640
But I think at the end of the
day, it's it's been about, you

1005
00:46:00,640 --> 00:46:05,440
know, really finding that
intersection between your joys,

1006
00:46:05,440 --> 00:46:07,800
your gifts, your strengths and
the needs of the community.

1007
00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:12,000
I mean, if you can just stay
focused on that, it helps you,

1008
00:46:12,720 --> 00:46:15,760
you know, really channel
everything that you have into

1009
00:46:15,760 --> 00:46:18,360
the things that are meaningful
to you and meaningful for the

1010
00:46:18,360 --> 00:46:21,200
community.
And then last but not least, any

1011
00:46:21,200 --> 00:46:24,040
big announcements for Greenville
coming up that we could be aware

1012
00:46:24,080 --> 00:46:26,240
of?
Well, I mean, you know, we saw

1013
00:46:26,240 --> 00:46:29,720
the great announcement for the
well, which is huge.

1014
00:46:30,240 --> 00:46:32,640
You know, we continue to work
on, there's hopefully another

1015
00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:35,520
spur of the swamp rabbit trail
coming online.

1016
00:46:37,080 --> 00:46:40,640
So fingers crossed that that
continues to, you know, move

1017
00:46:40,640 --> 00:46:42,800
forward.
And then you know our what we're

1018
00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:46,280
doing over at County Square, I
mean our new county building and

1019
00:46:46,280 --> 00:46:48,920
then, you know, it's a lot of
dirt right now, but but soon to

1020
00:46:48,920 --> 00:46:52,040
have some things coming up from
the ground, which will be

1021
00:46:52,040 --> 00:46:53,200
exciting too.
So I.

1022
00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:56,000
Think we're most excited about
Fleming's Steakhouse, so we're

1023
00:46:56,000 --> 00:46:57,960
counting down today.
Not the whole, Not the Whole

1024
00:46:57,960 --> 00:47:00,720
Foods.
And yeah, Fleming is number one

1025
00:47:00,720 --> 00:47:02,720
for us.
Anyways, we're excited.

1026
00:47:02,720 --> 00:47:05,400
Greenville's been amazing,
especially having been here my

1027
00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:07,360
whole life.
And thanks to you and many

1028
00:47:07,360 --> 00:47:08,760
others for making it a great
place.

1029
00:47:08,800 --> 00:47:12,040
So we appreciate you being here.
Oh my gosh, thanks Great for

1030
00:47:12,160 --> 00:47:14,280
great conversation.
Thank you so much for having me.