Leadership Grand Strand Unveils 2025 Ann DeBock Leadership Award Nominees

Leadership Grand Strand Unveils 2025 Ann DeBock Leadership Award Nominees

Four Grand Strand Residents Celebrated for Exceptional Service to Community

MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Leadership Grand Strand (LGS) Class 45 is proud to announce the nominees for the 2025 Ann DeBock Leadership Award, an honor that recognizes outstanding LGS alumni who have demonstrated exceptional service, leadership and commitment to the community. The award, named in memory of former LGS Executive Director Ann DeBock, will be presented in March 2025.

The four nominees are:

Vicki Blair: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Public Health Manager, specializing in Rabies Control & Prevention. A graduate of LGS Class 24, Blair holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. With a long career as a Public Health Manager, she has balanced professional excellence with an enduring commitment to her community. Her volunteerism spans decades and includes serving as President of the South Strand Kiwanis, Chair of the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach, and a mentor for the LGS Youth Leadership Academy. She has held key civic roles such as volunteering for the Surfside Beach Town Council, at her church, and with the Horry County Higher Education Commission, which has allowed her to champion scholarships and institutional support for local students.

Mark Kiskunas, Owner & President, Grand Strand Bojangles: A graduate of LGS Class 21, Kiskunas earned his B.S. in Finance from Coastal Carolina University and has since made it his mission to serve his Grand Strand community. As the owner of the Bojangles franchise group serving Horry and Georgetown Counties, he’s an advocate for community-focused initiatives such as the “Our Heart is in It” Community Challenge, launched in 2024 in partnership with the Conway Medical Center Foundation to honor American Heart Month. These contributions have earned him accolades such as the 2024 Myrtle Beach Area Chamber Citizen of the Year award, the 2024 Bojangles Community Brand Ambassador and Star Performer Award, the 2023 Community Ambassador of the Year Award, and the 2022 Franchise of the Year Award. He also serves on the National Bojangles Foundation Board reflecting his dedication to building strong community relationships, which is always at the heart of his volunteer activities and professional success.

Bevelyn Mitchell, retired, Sexual Assault Services Coordinator/Outreach and Awareness Coordinator for Horry County Rape Crisis Center, and former Assistant Director for Interpersonal Violence & Prevention Services at Coastal Carolina University: A graduate of LGS Class 28, Mitchell holds a bachelor's degree in social work from South Carolina State University and a master’s degree in human services from Springfield College. She’s dedicated her life, both professionally and personally, to the mission of preventing violence and supporting victims throughout Horry and Georgetown counties. This includes significant endeavors such as the development of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to act as the “first responders” for survivors, starting a local RED Zone Initiative Campaign to prevent assaults on college campuses, developing a Clothesline Project to heighten assault awareness, and coordinating the first ever Relationship Violence Awareness Month 5K Run. She’s also one of the first members of the Horry Human Trafficking Task Force and has served on the boards and committees of The Shepherd’s Table and Tara Hall Home for Boys, among others.

Pam Wright, Business Development Sales Manager, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce: A graduate of LGS Class 36, Wright has earned countless national chamber of commerce sales awards over the past three decades all while she’s dedicated her life to serving the community. Through her own story of resilience, she showcases exceptional compassion for others and is often the first to volunteer for charitable events through the Chamber, area churches, Rotary Clubs and nonprofits such as the United Way, New Directions, American Cancer Society and Alzheimer’s Association. Among her fundraising efforts, she’s a member of Circle 555 where she donates monthly to give grants to local nonprofits. Wright is also one of a handful of church volunteers to welcome international exchange workers to our area by bringing these J-1 Visa students together for weekly meals, fun activities and cultural interactions. 

“Each of these nominees has made significant impacts throughout the Grand Strand through their leadership and unwavering dedication to service,” said Shannon Furtick, LGS Executive Director. “Their work inspires others to step up, get involved and make a difference.”

LGS Class 45 members were divided into four teams and each carefully selecting a nominee for the award. In February, the groups will deliver a compelling, 10-minute presentation to the LGS Board of Regents, who will evaluate the nominees using a comprehensive set of predetermined criteria to determine the honoree.

For more information about Leadership Grand Strand or the Ann DeBock Leadership Award, visit www.LeadershipGrandStrand.com.