**Venture Carolina Announces Inaugural Class of the Palmetto Venture Fellowship**

Venture Carolina, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the funding gap between investors and entrepreneurs, has partnered with VentureSouth and the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation to launch the Palmetto Venture Fellowship, a program that will create more local accredited investors and expand risk-capital accessibility for early-stage startups in South Carolina.

The Palmetto Venture Fellowship, which recently kicked off in Columbia, will utilize a seven-part workshop series to expose participants to the intricacies associated with early-stage capital formation. The program, with an inaugural class of 38 participants (see list below), will run through October 2022.

“We are thrilled to announce our inaugural class of fellows—a group that is diverse in so many ways,” said Venture Carolina Executive Director Charlie Banks. “The foundation this inaugural class is setting not only sets a precedent for future classes, but it also represents a tangible building block for the sustainability of South Carolina’s innovation economy. I was truly blown away at the combined talent and energy in that room.”

Several members of the inaugural Venture Fellows class echo Banks’ sentiments and are excited for what the future holds for South Carolina.

Michael Nix, President of Verity Investment Partners in Beaufort and Chairman of the South Jobs and Economic Development Authority (JEDA), stated, “I’m in awe at the gathering of such a diverse group of professionals all willing to advance early-stage and venture investment in our state. I’m energized by the potential of this fellowship program and its impact on South Carolina.”

Anthony Herrerra, Chief Innovation Officer at Furman University, added, “The Palmetto Venture Fellowship will be catalytic for South Carolina’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Educating, equipping, and empowering our state’s investor community to commit capital to early-stage ventures is critical in making South Carolina a vibrant hub for entrepreneurship.”

Sam Johnson, Attorney for Nexsen Pruet commented, “In order to retain our diverse talent, grow our diverse businesses, and experience the type of growth South Carolina is poised for, venture capital must be leveraged. The Palmetto Venture Fellowship is a phenomenal tool that engages leaders across the state and provides invaluable insight.”

The inaugural class of the Palmetto Venture Fellowship was selected by a committee of business leaders and investors throughout South Carolina.

Meet the Palmetto Venture Fellowship Class of 2022

Brad Ball
Hospitality Entrepreneur at Poogan's Hospitality Group
Brad, a Charleston, SC native, is a 3rd-generation restaurateur and the majority owner/partner of Poogan’s Hospitality Group (PHG), a restaurant group comprised of four restaurants, an event space, and a catering business. In addition, he is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor who has co-launched a variety of companies including specialized warehousing, retail brands, and wine importing. Additionally, he sits on the Board of Gigpro, a gig worker platform for the hospitality industry. Brad holds a BA in Philosophy from College of Charleston and an MBA from Kedge Business School (Bordeaux). When he is not pursuing his professional endeavors, you can find him playing with his daughter, surfing, running long distances, reading, or watching soccer.

Jimmy Banyas
Founder, Punchlist
Jimmy is a seasoned B2B and B2C sales leader with extensive experience in driving growth for early-stage startups through targeted business development initiatives. A licensed Realtor with a passion for revolutionizing the real estate transaction, Banyas secured strategic partnerships with some of the nation’s top real estate brokerage brands, including Compass and Carolina One Real Estate, spurring PunchListUSA’s growth from one to 12 markets nationwide. Prior to co-founding PunchListUSA, Banyas served as Vice President of B2B Sales at Charleston-based real estate tech startup, Hometrackr. Banyas holds a BA in Anthropology from Georgia Southern University.

John H. Barnes
CEO at Pendleton Street Advisory
John is the Co-founder and CEO of Pendleton Street Business Advisors. He focuses his time on helping clients navigate change, determine drivers of business value, identify goals, and work through “make or break” financial decisions in their businesses. He is also a member of the firm’s investment committee. John’s career began in 1999 at Wachovia Bank where he spent 8 years learning how to work and how to grow into increasing levels of leadership. This experience took him to WHM Capital Advisors in 2007 where he achieved the title of COO. In 2013, he co-founded Pendleton Street Business Advisors. John is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He serves his community as a member of Forest Acres City Council.

Calvin Beamon
Employee Benefits consultant at McGriff
Calvin Beamon III is passionate about helping develop a championship culture within specific groups of people. At the University of Texas, Calvin was a part of the 2005 College World Series Championship team and continued on to play professionally with the Seattle Mariners organization. After Calvin’s playing career, he pursued his passion for athletics by taking an assistant coaching position with The University of South Carolina Softball team. Calvin took the next step in his career by transitioning into the private sector and going to work in the HR/HCM/Payroll industry as a sales rep with Paychex. Calvin resides in Columbia with his wife Loni and their three children; Kai, Cooper and Cash.

Carl Blackstone
President, Columbia Chamber
Carl has a deep knowledge of working with small and large businesses, as well as professional trade associations on local, state and federal levels. Carl has served as the former manager of state government relations for the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and as district field manager for Mark Sanford when he served in the U.S. House of Representatives, in addition to other community roles. Currently, he serves on the boards of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the South Carolina State Chamber of Commerce. As President and CEO of the Columbia Chamber, Carl’s focus is creating a strategy to help make the region more competitive in the next 20 years.

Jay Blankenship
Senior Vice President of Development at Zylo Therapeutics
Jay is a board-certified emergency physician. He trained at the University of Utah completing both a residency in emergency medicine as well as a fellowship in emergency medical services (EMS). He has experience in hospital administration as well as the medical direction of county EMS systems, hospital transport systems, and aeromedical flight systems. Jay currently serves as Senior Vice President of Development at Zylo Therapeutics, a biotechnology company manufacturing a proprietary drug delivery technology. Prior to Zylo he served as the Medical Director of Lucidity Direct, a start-up software platform connecting physicians seeking part-time or temporary work with medical practices looking to fill short-term staffing needs. He was also involved in product development at Bard Access Systems helping develop an innovative vascular access device.

Dr. Luke Bonnett
Founder, Chapin Pediatrics
Dr. Luke Bonnett is a native of Rowesville, SC. Dr. Bonnett graduated from Clemson University with honors receiving a BS in Health Science. He earned his medical doctorate from the Medical University of South Carolina then completed his pediatric training at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital. Dr. Bonnett is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has served as the Chief of Pediatrics at Lexington Medical Center, as well as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital. In addition to his medical education and training, Dr. Bonnett has also served in many other medical capacities in the Midlands giving voice to the children of our communities. Dr. Bonnett started Chapin Pediatrics as a solo practice in August of 2005.

Tom Coffman
Engineer, CRE Developer
Currently the Managing Director of Polaris Packaging Group, Tom has extensive experience in multiple packaging disciplines through roles in manufacturing, business development, sales, service, and executive management. His personal focus is on the development of customer relations through problem-solving, partnership, and open communications. Tom possesses broad and critical experience in equipment and process procurement, from machines for end-use applications (HFFS, VFFS, etc.) to large manufacturing machines for cast film and blown film extrusion, as well as printing, laminating, and converting (pouches, bags, slitting). He is adept at building relationships and partnerships in international opportunities. Tom received his MS in International Relations (Soviet/East European Affairs) from the University of Maryland.

Rogers Coxe
CEO, Dove Print
Rogers is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dove Print Solutions. Having previously served as the Chief Operating Officer, he oversaw the company’s entrance into IT services and workflow software, which have become key growth areas for the company. Before becoming COO, Rogers was the Branch Manager for Dove Print Solutions in Houston,TX where he was responsible for creating a branch to support over $3 million in new revenue. Rogers holds a BS in Business Management from Clemson University.

John Deworken
Lobbyist, Greenville City Council
John is Co-Founder of LobbySC with his wife, Sunnie. LobbySC is a leading pro-business government relations firm in South Carolina. Its clients include international and U.S.-based corporations, national and state trade associations, and manufacturers. John has 25 years of experience working in SC government relations both in and around the SC State House. He served as a legislative director for the SC Senate and held senior positions at the SC Chamber of Commerce, the Upstate Chamber Coalition, and on a statewide political campaign. The *Greenville Magazine* twice named John as one of “The Top 50 Most Influential People in Greenville.” John and Sunnie (Harmon) have three children: Hatch, Townsend and Cotton Sims.

Herbert Drayton
Managing Partner, HI Mark Capital
Herbert is the managing partner of HI Mark Capital. Based in North Charleston, HI Mark Capital invests in Black-owned, women-owned, and other minority-owned businesses in the Southeast, seeking both a financial return as well as social impact. He has enjoyed 20 years of experience establishing, buying, and managing businesses in a variety of industries including healthcare, IT, SaaS, and corporate training. Herbert served honorably in the US Air Force and the US Marine Corps Reserves.

Wesley Donehue
CEO, Push Digital
Wesley is a political consultant, digital marketer, investor, and the host of *Under Fire*, a podcast about crisis, cancel culture, and brand reputation. A trusted advisor, he has helped corporations like SeaWorld, Kmart, Sears, and HSN navigate potentially disastrous situations. Wesley works with PACs and advocacy groups as one of the country’s preeminent digital strategists, having served politicians like Senator Lindsey Graham and Congressman Trey Gowdy. He owns United Federation Holdings and operates Push Digital, Laurens Group, Risa Properties, and Frothy Beard Brewing Company. Wesley lives in South Carolina with his wife, Elizabeth, and their three sons.

Dr. Tracy Dunn
Dean, Benedict College

Dr. Tracy H. Dunn is the first woman named Dean of the Benedict College Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship. She is the fourth dean to head the Benedict business school. Dr. Dunn holds a PhD and MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. In addition, she received a bachelor's degree in German from Wofford College and a MS in Journalism from Boston University. Under her leadership, the school has expanded its program offerings to include finance, entrepreneurship, and a graduate degree. She has also led the school in the significant expansion of its portfolio of experiential learning opportunities - the most recent addition being the Burroughs Enterprise, Startup, and Technology Innovation Lab.

LaTasha Gandy
Senior Relationship Manager, Bank of America
LaTasha is a Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at Bank of America. In this capacity, her responsibilities include leading a team of specialists focused on understanding each client’s unique needs to deliver strategic financial guidance and solutions. To help create a more sustainable future for the companies and communities she serves, LaTasha volunteers with several not-for-profit organizations focused on ending hunger, homelessness, and domestic violence, and promoting financial literacy. She is also the 2020 Business Banking Pinnacle Award recipient for Culture. Originally from Hartsville, SC, LaTasha is a proud mother of a son and daughter.

Brian Gillespie
Attorney, Nelson Mullins
Brian is a senior associate in the Chambers-ranked Emerging Companies practice at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. Brian’s practice focuses primarily on startup companies across a multitude of industries. Brian has represented companies from formation through exit, from seed financings to growth stage financings, from majority-deals to exits. Brian has served as outside general counsel to numerous clients in addition to deal counsel for large SAAS companies. In addition to his startup practice, Brian regularly guides clients through complex M&A transactions, various liquidity events, and secondary transactions. Brian is a seasoned venture lawyer that has represented companies with valuations ranging from $1m to $2bn+.

Dan Handford
Real Estate Investor
Dan and his wife, Dennae, along with their four children (three girls and a boy) and standard poodle, reside and work in Columbia, SC. Dan is one of the managing partners with PassiveInvesting.com, which is a national private equity real estate investment firm based in the Carolinas. He has led the company to acquire 3,782+ units with a portfolio valued over $1B. He is also an active, accredited investor himself in over 60 real estate and angel investments throughout the US. Prior to investing in real estate ventures, Dan started multiple seven-figure and eight-figure businesses from scratch, including a large group of non-surgical orthopedic medical clinics located in South Carolina.

Mike Harper
Asset Manager, Middle Street Partners
Michael currently serves as Asset Manager for Middle Street Partners, a multi-family real estate development and investment firm based in Charleston, SC. He is both a CFA charter holder and a licensed CPA. In addition, Michael is also a co-founder of Elan Venture Partners, a partnership seeking investment opportunities in early-stage growth companies.

Anthony Herrera
Executive Director, The Hill Institute
Anthony joined Furman University in the summer of 2018 as the founding executive director of The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In July 2021, Herrera was appointed to serve as Furman’s inaugural Chief Innovation Officer. Herrera brings close to two decades of experience in talent management and development for global organizations as the former team lead for Toyota Motor North America’s Executive Succession & Leadership Development. Prior to Toyota, Herrera served as the Executive Director for SMUCox Executive Education. Herrera earned his MS in Accounting (2003) and BBA in Accounting (2002) from SMU Cox School of Business.

Greg Hilton
Founder, SOCO

Greg is an entrepreneur, community builder, and co-founder of SOCO, a platform and community for creators, entrepreneurs, and members of the "gig economy." At the center of it all is a philosophy of community, collaboration, and doing work you love. Greg is passionate about big ideas, going against the grain, and telling compelling, meaningful stories. He's also the Chief Opportunity Wrangler for Period Three, an industry-leading design studio based in Columbia, SC and serves as the Founding Co-Organizer for 1 Million Cups Columbia, the region’s largest and strongest gathering of entrepreneurs. Greg was a founding board member for GrowCo, the region’s first support group of, by, and for founders of high growth/high impact companies.

Julie Hussey
CEO, Civic Communications
Julie is a seed sower who invests her time, talents, and assets assisting public, private, and non-profit organizations with their planning, infrastructure building, and engagement communications. Self-employed for more than 25 years, her company, Civic Communications, has organized and executed public information and outreach plans for small start-ups as well as for large-scale regional infrastructure projects, such as the Charleston City Plan and the construction of the Cooper River Bridge. She recently led the development and construction of the Workshops at Howard Heights, a co-working space for crafts people, makers, and messy artists. Julie is also a wife to woodworker Bill Hussey, mother to William (18) and Walker (16), a daughter, and a University of Georgia Terry College of Business alumnus.

Sam Johnson
Advisor, Nexsen Pruet
Prior to joining Nexsen Pruet, Sam helped lead the Office of the Mayor under Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin. In working closely with Columbia’s 36th mayor and 76th president of the US Conference of Mayors, Sam was instrumental in coordinating the Mayor's agenda both locally and nationally. During Sam's tenure, the City of Columbia saw over $1 billion in economic investment. Along with the work he does as a member of the law firm, Sam is a consultant for Nexsen Pruet’s communications subsidiary, NP Strategy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam served as the Chair of the City of Columbia Peace of Mind Safe Haven Initiative, which raised money for first responders and medical professionals in need of an alternative to going home. Along with his wife, Ashley, he enjoys walking and playing with their goldendoodle Bates, working out, going for runs, and watching sports.

Harriet Lampkin
Executive Vice President, INLIVIAN

Harriet is a native of Salters, SC, and licensed to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, and the United States District Court of South Carolina. She works as Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs for INLIVIAN, an organization that holds a portfolio of approximately $500 million in real estate. Harriet also owns The Lampkin Law Firm, LLC. Her firm practices in the areas of church law, civil litigation, personal injury, business formation, family law, and wills and estates, serving clients in South Carolina and North Carolina, with its primary office located in Sumter, SC. Harriet and her husband also own Jeffrey Lampkin’s Country Boy Kitchen, a soul food restaurant with multiple locations in South Carolina.

Curtis Lee
Marine Officer, Entrepreneur, Investor
Curtis is a seasoned executive with multi-functional background and experience in both corporate and defense sectors, as well as being a successful entrepreneur and community builder. He is known for his ability to visualize, mobilize, lead, and deliver programs and projects that create true value. Curtis has a unique combination of broad skills and experiences that lead to innovative approaches/solutions, combined with networking and relationship-building capability to tackle difficult tasks. He is always seeking challenging and interesting projects that are in need of strong consultative leadership. Currently, he is an independent consultant aligned with consulting firms/technology companies in the geopolitical risk and security management, information technology, cyber security, and geospatial market research fields.

Julia Linton
Project Manager, Palmetto Tech Bridge
Julia has 18 years of experience providing program management to internal and external facing customers, investors, clients, co-workers, government offices, academic offices, and board members. Julia is always seeking opportunities to further grow her professional experience within the program management and coordinating fields. For the past 7 years, she has been working with entrepreneurs and small businesses in South Carolina, working towards goals of funding, commercialization, partnerships, etc. The creative side of her brain is for cooking, house design and renovations, and gardening.

Jamie Lynch
Director of ES Integrated
Jamie has more than 25 years of experience building and leading successful business ventures in the chemical manufacturing, cyber security, environmental, construction, logistics, and industrial service areas in both the federal and private sectors. For the past 15 years, Jamie has worked with and consulted on behalf of several minority-owned firms participating in the HUBZone, 8(a), Native Hawaiian Owned (NHO), and Woman-Owned (WOSB) small business programs across the country. He brings tremendous value to these companies serving as a business mentor and leader to help them become profitable and sustainable in various market areas.

Selena Martin
Fintech Executive
Selena’s background in statistical modeling and data analytics led to a career in NYC focused on SaaS product management and fintech product launches. While at American Express, she helped launch Merchant Financing, an innovative lending platform for small businesses, and Plenti, the first US loyalty coalition and marketing platform. Since moving to Charleston, she has focused on working with tech-related startups to help launch and scale their offerings. She currently serves as COO for Denture Care Shop, a MedTech startup that uses 3D printing and telehealth to make oral healthcare more accessible. Her passion for microfinance led to consulting for financial inclusion projects in Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, and India. Her husband, 6-year-old twins, and 4-year-old daughter’s new favorite hobby is fossil hunting.

Larry Mercado
CEO, Bold; Biologix (Cannabis)
Larry is CEO and President of Bold Biologix, LLC. The company he founded in 2019 is now a leading premium sports CBD brand. Larry also manages Mercado Holdings, LLC, an investment real estate firm. He co-founded Mercom Corporation in 2002, a national IT firm earning INC 5000 honors for 10 consecutive years. Larry serves as Director and Advisor for Product Vessel, an international digital marketing firm. He currently serves as a Director of the Coastal Community Foundation, concurrently chairing both the Investment and PlaceBased Impact Investing Committees. In 2009, the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognized Mercado as their Businessman of the Year. In 2013, Nikki Haley appointed Mercado an Ambassador for Economic Development in Georgetown County and greater South Carolina.

Michael Nix
President & Chief Investment Officer, Verity Investment Partners
Michael is the President and Chief Investment Officer at Verity Investment Partners (VIP). Michael joined Verity Investment Partners in 2018 and has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry in multiple investments and leadership roles. Prior to joining VIP, Michael was a co-lead Portfolio Manager for Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Managing Director of Investment Strategy for Dividend Assets Capital. He also served as co-CIO, COO, CFO, and Portfolio Manager during his career with Greenwood Capital Associates. In addition to his role at VIP, Michael serves as a gubernatorial appointee as Chairman of the Jobs-Economic Development Authority, a board member of the Coordinating Council for Economic Development at the SC Commerce Department, executive board member of Palmetto State Growth Fund, and Chairman of InvestSC.

Jay Patel
Director of Clinical Pharmacy, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Jay Patel is the Director of Clinical Pharmacy Management at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina where he serves as the pharmacy content expert for South Carolina’s key clients. He provides consultation to employers in the development, implementation, and maintenance of their pharmacy benefit designs. He provides professional guidance through performing cost and utilization reviews and making client-specific recommendations based on industry trends and client goals. He serves as an integral member of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and assists with drug-specific clinical criteria and guidelines. He also plays a vital role in managing the prescription drug formulary from a clinical and financial perspective based on industry and market demands.

Tom Pietras
Shareholder, Bauknight Pietras & Stormer
Tom has served as an audit engagement partner or as a technical review partner for clients in a broad range of industries, including telecommunications, technology, insurance, manufacturing, dealerships and distribution, construction, and healthcare. Tom is a mentor to start-up companies at the USC/Columbia Incubator and is active in VentureSouth. Tom was an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina from 1996 through 2011, where he taught a graduate-level accounting course for Master of Accountancy Students. Tom also teaches accounting and auditing seminars to CPAs around the country.

Kyle Putnam
Managing Director, Insignis Partners
Kyle Putnam currently serves as Managing Director and Co-Founder of Insignis Partners, a private equity and real estate investment firm located in Greenville, SC. Over the last decade and prior to forming Insignis this year, Kyle was President and Co-Founder of RealOp Investments, a real estate private equity firm with over $650 million in assets under management and offices in Greenville, Charlotte, Nashville, Atlanta, and Orlando. Over the course of his career, Kyle has sourced and acquired over $1 billion in commercial real estate assets. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina with a double major in Real Estate and Finance and also received a masters in Real Estate Development from Clemson University.

Austin Rhodes
President and Co-Founder, Rhodes Branding

Austin Rhodes is a serial entrepreneur, a jack of all trades, and a master of none. His passion for bringing together smart people to solve unique problems is what led him to found two companies and to become a partner in half a dozen. Many know him as an education entrepreneur, but he has partnerships and ventures in other sectors such as real estate, technology, and a few "boring" businesses that are often overlooked. When he is not noodling on his next venture, you will find Austin traveling to places far and wide, where he loves meeting people who push the limits. A native of South Carolina, Austin is involved in several non-profits and venture groups that fund and support growth in the Southeast. He resides in Columbia with his wife and two daughters.