S.C. Arts Network
The South Carolina Arts Commission is hosting a series of capacity building workshops for arts organization leaders.
SCAN is designed for arts professionals to engage in dynamic discussion with peers and experienced leaders in the field about the issues that affect arts organizations. The program invites arts professionals of any age and any demographic throughout the state to participate.
The initiative provides networking and resource sharing opportunities to enhance leadership capacity and develop innovative, effective, and sustainable arts management practices and opportunities. SCAN will convene virtually with a guest speaker to discuss industry issues. Attendance has no bearing on grant status or eligibility.
Arts Industry Director La Ruchala Murphy will host each workshop and is looking forward to the opportunity to learn more about what South Carolina’s incredible arts organizations are doing in and for their communities and how the SCAC can better support and work in partnership with them as they build capacity.
Upcoming workshops
This program is paused for the rest of FY25.
Past workshops
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From Sept. 12, 2024
With Ginny Waller
Ginny Waller is the former executive director of the largest, free-standing sexual assault services agency in South Carolina. She is also a skilled facilitator (virtual and in-person) and lawyer (licensed in South Carolina) with more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit leadership development, strategic planning, and operational efficiency, with specializations in change management and relationship building.
She has received numerous accolades for excellence in the profession:
- Award for Non-Profit Leadership (2013), South Carolina Association of Non-Profit Organizations
- President’s Award (2012) and Young Lawyer of the Year (2008), South Carolina Bar
- Fundraising Professional of the Year (2015), Association of Fundraising Professionals – Midlands Chapter
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From Aug. 8, 2024
With Katie Weeks
Senior Advisor, Armstrong McGuireKatie Weeks brings 20 years of non-profit fund development experience focused primarily in the arts. Katie served as the director of development for First Stage, one of the nation’s largest professional theater companies for young audiences, and as the vice president of development for the United Performing Arts Fund in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she managed a $10MM annual campaign.
Katie focuses on executive search, executive coaching, intentionally engaging board members, staff and volunteers, and facilitating staff and board retreats. She completed Authentic Leadership Coaching coursework through Raleigh Coaching Academy, Positive Intelligence coursework, and is TTI certified in DISC and Driving Forces.
Katie is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she double majored in theatre and communication. In October 2015, her family relocated from Wisconsin to Raleigh and in 2020 they relocated to Charlotte. Katie served as the president of the Wake County Affiliate Board through the North Carolina Community Foundation and as a volunteer and board member with a variety of arts, education, and social service organizations.
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From June 13, 2024
With Scott Artley
Scott Artley is a nationally recognized expert in arts and culture accessibility. Scott has over 15 years of leadership experience in the arts, with a special focus on community-driven initiatives and social justice, emerging from his own experience as a queer disabled artist. Learn more at ScottArtley.com.
Photo by Trista Marie Photography
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From May 9, 2024
With Melissa DeClue
Melissa DeClue is the founder and CEO of Amplify Missions. Amplify Missions is a nonprofit consulting firm, dedicated to providing new and existing nonprofits with to the tools and resources to amplify their mission through donor engagement strategies. For more than 10 years, Melissa has served in roles with a major focus in building relationships through donor relations and major gift fundraising. Known for her innovative approach to donor relations, stewardship, and engagement, Melissa’s donor engagement strategies have facilitated gifts beyond six-figures.
Melissa is an accomplished donor relations professional, her holistic perspective and approach on how donor relations can and should be valuable partners—intertwined through all parts of the fundraising cycle—has proven successful to larger and smaller operating nonprofit organizations.
When not creating great opportunities for the community, she is spending time with her wonderful husband and five children in Lexington, South Carolina.
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From April 11, 2024
With Sharon L. McGhee
Sharon Middleton McGhee, a certified Professional in Human Resources, is the president of HR Cares Rx, LLC and SLMM Enterprises, LLC where she helps organizations with business development, coaching, diversity and inclusion consultation, human resource consulting, leadership development, and training. She is also an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston. McGhee holds a master’s in management and leadership from Liberty University, a bachelor’s in business administration-management from Coastal Carolina University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology at Northcentral University. She is a graduate of Furman University’s Diversity Leadership Initiative, a graduate of The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Leadership Charleston program, and a graduate of Leadership South Carolina. A member of the Society of Human Resources Management. McGhee’s other professional affiliations include the advisory council for Trident Technical College Business Department Advisory Committee, TogetherSC Consultant Collaborative, The Net Economic Community Development Corporation board of directors, and she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. McGhee is a member of The Net International Church, Inc., is married to Dana, and has two sons: Conrad and Jonas. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, and genealogy.
- LinkedIn: @sharonlmcghee
- https://www.hrcaresrx.com/
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From March 14, 2024
With Bates Childress
Bates Childress has decades of experience in the field of fundraising, including 15 years as a full-time in-house development professional and almost 40 years serving as a board member and volunteer for numerous nonprofit organizations. He has worked for healthcare, educational, arts and social service organizations. During that time, he has developed an expertise in the areas of strategic fundraising planning and the implementation of major gift, planned giving, grant writing, events and direct response (mail, telephone, email & social media) programs. Utilizing his broad range of development knowledge, in 2022 Bates launched Donorcentric Development, a fundraising consulting firm focused on helping small and midsized nonprofit organizations build diversified and sustainable fundraising revenue streams.
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From Feb. 8, 2024
With Djuanna Brockington,
Adjunct faculty, University of South Carolina-Beaufort, Nonprofit Management and Funding
CEO of Brockington Consulting, LLCDjuanna is a Lowcountry native, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, and has more than 25 years of service in social services and nonprofit organizations. Djuanna believes that diverse teams are more creative and enhance problem solving, and that failing to plan is planning to fail. When not working, she’s writing fiction, reading, running (or feeling guilty for not running), or pampering her inner foodie at some great local restaurant. She is a passionate alumna of her alma mater, the University of South Carolina, and is on the constant lookout for cute Gamecock gear. Headshot by Skirt magazine.
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From Jan. 11, 2024
With Ivan Segura
Currently director of multicultural affairs at the S.C. Commission for Minority Affairs, Ivan Segura has over 20 years of experience in community activism, arts advocacy and grassroots leadership development for Latinos in South Carolina. His volunteer advocacy work includes serving as the executive director of Palmetto Luna Arts, an organization dedicated to making a positive impact in society by fostering Latino arts and culture in SC.
In 2021, Segura received the Othli Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Mexican government upon an individual. The award is administered by the secretariat of foreign affairs and recognizes individuals who have aided, empowered or positively affected the lives of Mexican nationals in the United States and other countries. His advocacy, arts and leadership activities place emphasis on the development of Latino youth and children as the future leaders of our community and nation.
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From Dec. 14, 2023
With Charles Weathers
As founder of The Weathers Group, a management consulting firm specializing in organizational performance and leadership development, Charles is a nationally recognized speaker, writer and consultant. He is known for his ability to help groups navigate difficult conversations while captivating audiences with his contagious energy, insight, and humor.
Charles is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow, a Riley Diversity Fellow (Furman University), a member of the Institute of Management Consultants and a member of the National Speakers Association.
In his mission to positively impact lives, Charles has made headlines by lending his voice to disruptive companies in the nonprofit, government and private sectors. Since 2003, The Weathers Group, under Charles’ leadership, has developed customized solutions for clients ranging from grassroots community organizations to billion-dollar business enterprises. His work has touched the lives of leading executives at TD Bank, BASF Corporation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Society for Human Resource Management, and countless public/private entities across the globe.
Charles enjoys volunteering with numerous organizations and is a proud board member of Goodwill Industries of the Upstate/Midlands of SC. A trusted advisor and coach, he and his family reside in Columbia.
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From Nov. 9, 2023
With Shiv Desai
Shivkumar (Shiv) Desai is the grants officer at the Columbia Museum of Art, located in the heart of downtown Columbia. As grants officer, he manages grant applications from start to submission, conducts grants prospecting, stewards’ foundations and grantors, and supports museum-wide initiatives that serve the CMA’s mission. His experience in the museum field outside of grants includes managing members and individual donors, soliciting funds for a capital campaign, hosting and planning special events and member programs, and supporting other fundraising initiatives and events.
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From Oct. 12, 2023
With Dr. Lauren Hopkins
Dr. Lauren Hopkins is a social worker who is very passionate about helping individuals and organizations strengthen knowledge, gain skills, and reach goals. Over the years, she has worked in the non-profit, for-profit, and government sectors evaluating programs, writing grants, developing training curriculum, and teaching adult learners.
Dr. Hopkins works full-time as the grants and data manager at Oliver Gospel Mission. She is also the owner and principal consultant of Prepared to Impact, LLC, a social impact consulting firm that provides organizations with training design, needs assessment, grant writing, program evaluation, and professional development services. She holds a bachelor’s in nonprofit leadership and management, a master’s degree in social work, and a doctorate in education in curriculum and instruction. Dr. Hopkins lives in Columbia with her family. -
From Sept. 14, 2023
With Trimease Carter
In 2022, Trimease Carter became a Program Officer at Central Carolina Community Foundation, where she manages grantmaking with a portfolio of over $1 million in grants for nonprofits. Prior to working at CCCF, Trimease was the youth relations and organizational equity manager at Wholespire for 10 years. She oversaw the development and implementation of the Healthy Young People Empowerment (HYPE) Project, as well as led the organization’s race equity and inclusion efforts. Trimease has always had a desire to work towards improving communities, and other roles include community education assistant at Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands and project coordinator for the Building Dreams Mentoring program. Trimease holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Claflin University. In Trimease’s free time she enjoys road trips, reading, community events, and spending time with her two children, Lyric and Jeffrey.
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From Aug. 10, 2023
With Heather Singleton
Born and raised in Charleston, Heather graduated with a political science degree from USC in 2010. Since graduating, Heather has worked in public service and corporate sectors, with focuses on training, brand strategy, project management, and fundraising. She is now the principal consultant of Strategic Public Relations Consulting, a consultancy that supports businesses, nonprofits, and political organizations with internal and external communications needs. She is a board member of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council, mentors with Perfect Pearlz, Inc., and volunteers with her church. Heather finds purpose in helping others improve their professional skills to become the success stories that they were born to be.
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From July 20, 2023
With Mary Dell Hayes
Mary Dell Hayes is a dot connector and energizer. With more than 15 years of experience working in nonprofit organizations, Mary Dell excels at volunteer and community engagement and fundraising. She has been recognized as the Outstanding Fundraising Executive by Association of Fundraising Professionals Central South Carolina Chapter, Woman of Influence by Columbia Regional Business Report, and the S.C. Governor’s Robin Burns Award for Volunteer Management. Mary Dell completed both an undergraduate degree and a Master of Business Administration at the University of South Carolina. Mary Dell also completed the Interim Executive Academy with Third Sector, a Nonprofit Management Certificate with Winthrop University, and the National Advocacy Learning Center with Praxis International.
Mary Dell specializes in project management and interim leadership for nonprofit organizations in transition. Mary Dell frequently supports executive directors, development directors, and boards of directors in adopting sustainable fundraising strategies and plans focused on reducing turnover in fundraising and increasing donor retention. From conception to evaluation, Mary Dell believes that nonprofits will never thrive without the support and investment of the communities they serve. Her projects reflect that by creating pathways to engagement and investment for diverse populations.
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From June 8, 2023
With S. O. Jeffcoat
S. O. Jeffcoat is an artist turned information scientist, passionate about making the complex plain. Experiences as a grassroots community-builder and an academic have enabled Jeffcoat to analyze organizational issues from a 30,000-foot perspective and anticipate the end user’s needs. Jeffcoat has more than a decade of experience as an art and culture professional, including working with SCAD, the SCAC, South Arts, Knight Foundation, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Currently, A.B.D. in an informatics doctoral program, Jeffcoat’s research centers around the question, “how do arts nonprofits engage online audiences?” Simultaneously, S. O. Jeffcoat provides consultation to arts and culture nonprofits throughout the U.S.
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From May 11, 2023
With Dr. Tamara Holmes Brothers,
Deputy Director of the North Carolina Arts CouncilDr. Tamara Holmes Brothers is the deputy director of the North Carolina Arts Council. In her role, Dr. Brothers designs, develops, and implements agency programs, agency DEAI efforts, policies, and the strategic plan, as well as provides executive-level support to the agency’s director.
In addition to her experience at as the director of development & major gifts at the Nasher Museum of Art, Dr. Brothers worked as director of corporate and foundation relations where she led development efforts and played a central role in achieving the university’s capital campaign goals. Dr. Brothers is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina and has a bachelor’s degree in art and a Ph.D. from Hampton University. Her dissertation at Hampton focused on the potential of arts integration to help students learn more effectively. She also has a master’s degree in sport management from West Virginia University, a certificate in historic preservation from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a certificate in art as an alternate investment from Sotheby’s Art Institute, and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University.
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From April 13, 2023
With Beth Ruffin,
CEO of The Everyday InclusionistLeader, educator, author, TEDx speaker, and cultural disruptor, Beth Ruffin is the CEO of The Everyday Inclusionist, a boutique consulting firm focused on teaching leaders how to include themselves and others. She spent 20 years in corporate america before realizing her dream of entrepreneurship. Committed to making our world more inclusive, Beth is host of the “You Belong Here with Beth Ruffin” podcast, focused on helping women realize their true potential.
Beth is also a published author. Her first book, Get Up, details her journey to self-acceptance. Her second book, You Belong Here, explores the topic of self inclusion. She is the chair of the Women’s Rights & Empowerment Network board of directors and co-chair of the economic impact committee of the Richland County alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated. Beth lives in South Carolina with her daughter and cat.
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From March 9, 2023
With Lakisha McNair, MPA, CNP;
Chief Knowledge Officer of McNair Consulting, LLCLakisha McNair is a nonprofit professional with over 15 years of experience. She has a Masters of Public Administration and bachelor of arts with focuses in Nonprofit Administration and Business Administration from the University of South Carolina-Upstate. She has been a Certified Nonprofit Professional through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance in Washington since 2007 and in 2020 became certified in planned giving by the University of California-Davis. She has served on boards and consulted various nonprofit organizations across the U.S.