The 42nd Class of Leadership Grand Strand Graduates on May 6

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.—Leadership Grand Strand (LGS) will hold a graduation ceremony on Friday, May 6, 2022, for its 42nd program class and bestow 22 Grand Strand residents with a coveted LGS diploma.

Each graduate has completed a curriculum of broad-based leadership perspectives to familiarize them with the Grand Strand’s needs, opportunities and resources. The ten-month course began in August 2021 and explored topics such as regional history, tourism and economic development, education, law enforcement, human services, government and politics, and the arts.

In addition, each graduate completed 75 community project hours with local organizations such as Habitat for Humanity of the Grand Strand, New Directions of Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance. Currently, the graduates are completing a downtown revitalization project by painting a mural at Nance Plaza.

The graduates of LGS Class 42 are:

Andrew Altman, Santee Cooper
Lauren Balogh, Lauren B LLC (Court Reporter)
Brent Barker, HTC
Terrance Butler, ESA Fitness
Sophia Calhoun, Coastal Carolina University
Aaron Clay, Myrtle Beach Fire Department
Kaitlin Cook, Horry County Solicitor's Office
Michelle Dzurenda, Arbonne International
Edsol Edge, HTC
Alfreda Funnye, City of Myrtle Beach
Nicole Hyman, Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Brandy Johnson, Coastal Carolina National Bank
Stacey Lyon, Beach Nest Interiors
Siiri Makela, Dayton House Resort
August Mize, Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union
Joe Scaturro, Sold by Joe Scaturro
Betsey Smithdeal, Truist
Kathy Strauss, ImageWerks
Tony Troiani, Carolina Cool Inc.
Denielle Van Dyke, Monarch Roofing
Cedric White, Ocean Lakes Campground
Caroline Yahnis, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber

“It’s a true honor to graduate this year’s class of Leadership Grand Strand as each participant excelled at the program and now possess enhanced skills to be more effective leaders in our community,” said LGS Executive Director Diana Greene.

Area residents interested in learning more about LGS can visit LeadershipGrandStrand.com. The deadline to submit an application to participate in the 43rd LGS class is June 30, 2022.

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Editor’s Note: Media are invited to attend the graduation ceremony, which will take place at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club at 9000 N Ocean Blvd. in Myrtle Beach. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception, dinner and presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. LGS Executive Director Diana Greene is the on-site contact.

About Leadership Grand Strand:

The goal of Leadership Grand Strand, a program of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, is to develop a corps of informed, committed and qualified individuals capable of providing dynamic leadership for the Grand Strand. Over the years, Leadership Grand Strand has created a cadre of leaders who guide the direction of change throughout the Grand Strand. For more information about the program, visit LeadershipGrandStrand.com.

About Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau:

Since 1938, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) has stood as the unified voice of the Grand Strand's business community — serving Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Loris, Atlantic Beach, Carolina Forest, Conway, Aynor, Socastee, Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded MBACC its five-star accreditation — one of only a few chambers in South Carolina to earn this distinction. The Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and its destination marketing arm Visit Myrtle Beach promote tourism through various partnerships and initiatives to advance the economic success of the Grand Strand. For more information, visit MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com, MyrtleBeachAreaCVB.com and VisitMyrtleBeach.com.