Eva-Marie Fox is vice president of marketing at T&S Brass and Bronze Works, a plumbing equipment manufacturer based in Travelers Rest. She joined the company 25 years ago and has held several positions over the years.

As an executive at the family-owned T&S Brass, she has played an active role with the company as it has grown from a domestically known manufacturer to a global entity in the plumbing and foodservice equipment supply market. Eva is proud to be with the organization as it has been honored with several prestigious awards including the 2016 Silver Crescent Award for Manufacturing Excellence in South Carolina, the 2015 Manufacturer of the Year from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the Workforce Development Award from Greenville Tech Foundation.

Eva is active in the manufacturing industry, including several roles with the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM), and remains a leader in the Greenville community. She previously chaired the Cancer Society of Greenville board in 2005 and the board of Christ Church Episcopal School from 2011-2015 and has served on the boards of several other organizations, including the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and the Peace Center.

Eva and her husband, Tom, have three children.

 Corey Urbina is a certified fashion stylist and owner of Style Matters, an image and wardrobe consulting company in Greenville, SC.  For nine years she has helped individuals to create a genuinely powerful appearance that represents their finest qualities.  Ms. Urbina often speaks to groups about style and coordinates charity fashion events throughout the Upstate. In 2012, she co-authored “The Power of D.R.E.S.: DRES System’s Guide to Building a Professional Image and Working Wardrobe”, and she has also penned numerous fashion articles for publications such as Examiner.com and Palmetto Parent Magazine. 

Prior to her styling career, Ms. Urbina spent fifteen years in the social work field where she designed, developed, and managed programs for women, children, and families. Her positions included Assistant Director of the Prince George’s County, Maryland Sexual Assault Center, Educational Advocate for court referred youth in the District of Columbia, and Parent Education Coordinator for the Arlington County, Virginia Department of Human Services. During her tenure in Arlington County, Ms. Urbina coordinated ongoing parenting classes and domestic violence support groups, published a county-wide parenting newsletter, and helped implement a school-based bullying prevention program. In 2003, she received the Ally in Prevention Award for her outstanding work in preventing and reducing child abuse in Northern Virginia.

Ms. Urbina’s continued involvement in women’s empowerment is demonstrated by her service as a past Board member of Business and Professional Women of Greenville and Femfessionals of Greenville, two organizations dedicated to women’s personal and professional development.     

Ms. Urbina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University and a Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development from George Washington University.

Raised in a small farming community in Southwest Minnesota, Sharon graduated and attended Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota.  She graduated with a degree in Elementary Education, K-6, teaching second grade for one year.

Her husband’s job led them to Minneapolis and she took what was to be a temporary clerical position with a company expanding into the Midwest, 7-Eleven Convenience Stores.   26 years later, she retired from 7-Eleven as the Vice President of US/Canada Field Merchandising based in the corporate headquarters in Dallas.  Working for a fast growing company provided opportunities in merchandising, operations, marketing and ground breaking initiatives.  As one of the leaders of the expansion of daily distributed fresh food, she developed partnerships with third party vendors providing sandwiches and bakery items to over 1000 stores.   Prior to her assignment in Dallas, Sharon was promoted to the Division Vice President of Florida for company operated stores with full responsibility for $760 million dollars in revenue.  With successes in Florida she was promoted to the Vice President of Fresh Foods, US/Canada, responsible for the food and beverage categories for 5,600 stores.

7-Eleven over those 26 years was a living business text book.  Privately owned by a family, becoming a public company, entering and exiting bankruptcy, becoming owned by 7-Eleven Japan all created significant challenge and change.  Her career provided international travel, franchisee and company operations experience, several geographic moves and a deep education as well as appreciation of what one can achieve when open to learning and new assignments.

From the small convenience neighborhood store, Sharon entered the next phase of her career joining SUPERVALU in Minneapolis.  Over the course of 5 years, she managed the operations of all the fresh food departments for Cub Foods in Minnesota and Colorado, a big box grocer.  Challenge and change once again created an opportunity and took her from the Twin Cities to Cub Foods in Chicago.  Making the change from 7-Eleven to Cub Foods built entirely new business acumen but as importantly the confidence to make another career move.

For the past 4+ years Sharon served a team of partners supporting over 500 stores in 7 states as the Southeast Vice President for Starbucks based out of Atlanta.   Prior to the Atlanta assignment she transitioned from Director of Operations in Southern California, Director of International Support Services in Seattle and Director of License Stores in Chicago.   “I love Starbucks and the position in the Southeast was my dream job.  The Starbucks mission allowed me to inspire, motivate and help partners achieve their dreams.  By fostering a culture of excellent customer service, there is a commitment to creating a third place that welcomes and embraces every person, customer or employee, where ever they are, whoever they are.”   As an organization of high growth and innovation, the company provided numerous experience opportunities for personal development and career advancement.   

Today Sharon resides in Seneca, South Carolina with her husband who encouraged and supported her career.   She remains committed to community outreach and service by volunteering and mentoring.     

Blair Knobel is the Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning regional lifestyle publication TOWN Magazine, based in Greenville, SC. After graduating Furman University with a degree in studio art, Blair moved to New York City upon receiving a coveted internship at Aperture Foundation, publisher of fine art photography. She worked in academic book publishing for two more years before moving back to her native South Carolina to pursue creative opportunities. Blair took on an internship at G, The Magazine of Greenville, where she was hired on in 2008 as an assistant editor, then promoted to senior editor in 2010. In 2011, she came on board as part of the founding staff of TOWN Magazine  and was promoted to the lead editorial role in September 2012

After graduation from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Chemical Engineering, I decided to join an engineering consulting company in Atlanta Lockwood Greene as a process engineering.  This decision was made since I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I absolutely loved working on different projects with different design teams.   also had the opportunity to watch our designs get constructed and also helped with the “Start-up” of many projects. I had a very successful career progression at Lockwood Greene and was finally promoted to Project Manager by the time I was 30. This was significant because there were very few women project leaders in the engineering field in the early 1990’s. I really enjoyed the international projects and was very good working with clients which really helped my career a lot. After 13 years at Lockwood Greene (2000), I decided that I needed to make a change or I would miss experiencing the joys of motherhood.  I had missed a lot of my first child’s first 2 years and was about to have another one.  I took a break from 2001 until 2003 and did some project management/planning freelancing. As I was trying to figure out what to do in my second career, I decided that I should join my aging father in his Development and Construction Business – Unique Builders. This is the most fulfilling career so far. By working in a family business, I get to steer the success or failure of the company, make my hours and determine what is really important in life. I am able to use my skillset of sales and project management and still have flexibility.  I have taken over the General Contracting/Construction side of the business a few years ago and have plans to grow our business by 25-30% a year  for the next 3 years. It was a risk to leave the Corporate life but I feel that this is the best career decision for me.

My life has taken more twists and turns than I ever anticipated as a young girl dreaming of what my life would be.  As I look back, I’m struck by the fact that a pattern emerged over the years as the sharpest turn in the road usually occurred just as I reached a point in my life when I thought my “plan” for my future was set in stone.  I knew that I wanted to be a lawyer all my life it seems.  That was my plan.  I was going to go to college, then to law school, then to work in the criminal justice system prosecuting exciting criminal cases.  My Dad had been a corporate CFO for a Manhattan based corporation that operated businesses all over the country, and in my mind, I couldn’t imagine anything more boring than working in a boardroom or an office for the rest of my life.  I also assumed I would marry and have a family and live happily ever after.  I met my husband, Jeff, at Clemson my freshman year and my plan for my life was completely upended as all I could think about was marriage and family.  I told myself I would go to law shcool one day, just not now. Instead, I married and eventually moved to Ft. Lewis Washington. It was here that I was first exposed to the health club business.  I was looking for a job and stumbled into a sales position in a large health club. In time I bacame a manager, then quickly moved into regional management. I had a boss and mentor within the company that was a strong career business woman. She was relentless in her performance goals for her team, but taught me more than I realized.   I had no idea that I would learn so much during this time that would impact my career path from that point on.  I learned the ins and outs of operating a business, managing people, setting goals, establishing budgets, projecting revenues and managing cash flows.  When we were transferred to North Carolina, I stayed in the industry and continued to hone my  business acumen.  I eventually became a partner in several fitness businesses.

Read more about Kimberly Thomason

Erin Rodman Jones is the Executive Director of the Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery in Greenville, South Carolina.  As such, she oversees a cultural institution which houses one of America’s finest collections of European Old Master paintings.  The galleries encompass Italian, Spanish, French, English, Flemish, Dutch, and German masterpieces from the 14^th through the early 19^th  centuries and attract art experts and visitors from around the world.

Erin Jones is well-suited to her role on behalf of the Museum, having earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech and a Master of Arts in Dramatic Production, both from Bob Jones University. She has lectured widely before business, academic, civic and student audiences, both in the U.S. and abroad, and has taught both speech and drama courses at the University level.

Mrs. Jones was selected in 2008 as a Liberty Fellow, a state-wide initiative focused on grooming emerging leaders in South Carolina.  She has participated in community and advisory boards including the Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital Foundation, and the City of Greenville.

Under her leadership, the Museum & Gallery has launched multiple educational outreaches and opened a satellite museum, the Museum & Gallery at Heritage Green, in Downtown Greenville.

A multi-faceted person, Mrs. Jones’ personal life centers on her husband, Dr. Stephen B. Jones, former president of Bob Jones University, and their three children.  In addition, she enjoys acting and directing plays, as well as studying art history.

 Nicole Johnson, is Co Owner and Director of Sales for BOYD Cycling.  She has a spirited personality and sense of adventure. Nicole has a degree in PR and Communications and spent the early years of her career working in the Media and High Tech industries. She quickly realized at a young age that she wanted to be an entrepreneur and have her own business some day. Nicole met her husband, Boyd in 2004 on the cycling circuit. Her and Boyd raced bicycles professionally all around the USA and in other parts of the world. In 2009, they decided to start their business and took a leap of faith designing and manufacturing high performance bicycle wheels. BOYD Cycling celebrated their 7th anniversary in September and the passion and interest continues to this day on providing innovative and aerodynamic wheelsets that cyclists can enjoy for years to come. Nicole’s experience now encompasses how to launch a successful business and how to make it work and grow internationally.

Stacy Shea is the President of Adamantine Alliance, which she founded with her husband, retired Navy SEAL, Thom Shea. Stacy delivers inspirational keynote speeches to groups across the country. She is the promotional force behind Unbreakable: A Navy SEAL’s Way of Life.

Her passion for supporting military families was demonstrated as she served as the Ombudsman for SEAL Team 7 and the President of the FRG for Naval Special Warfare Group One while her husband was on active duty.

Along with her deepest passion for being a devoted mother and wife, she comes from a professional background, having spent 14 years in the investment business. She managed individual client relationships and was responsible for the professional development of her staff at Advest, Inc., Legg Mason Wood Walker and Washington Mutual.

Mary Gentry serves as Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations for ScanSource, Inc., a leading global provider of technology products and solutions. At ScanSource, Mary leads corporate finance functions including treasury, investor relations, and tax, and assists with M&A and global capital allocation strategy. As Treasurer, she is responsible for managing the credit facility and associated banking relationships, cash management, and foreign currency risk. As head of Investor Relations, Mary is responsible for communicating ScanSource’s strategy and financial performance to investment communities, including institutional investors and analysts. 

Mary has more than 25 years of financial and communications experience, including investor relations, corporate communications, and financial management roles. Before joining ScanSource, she served as Executive Vice President, Investor Relations at The South Financial Group, where she built a national award-winning investor relations program. While at The South Financial Group, she also served as Treasurer and Vice President of Financial Planning. Prior to that, Mary worked for Marriott International in corporate finance. She is a certified public accountant and has been an adjunct professor at USC Upstate.

Mary received a B.S. in Accountancy from Wake Forest University and an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.  She currently serves on community boards of directors, including the South Carolina Children’s Theatre and the American Red Cross regional Board.

After graduating from Anderson University with a Bachelors of Science in Business with a concentration in Management and Human Resources, Betsy started her professional career at one of the top school districts in South Carolina. Working in Human Resources, Betsy gained her ground knowledge and experience in federal and state education reporting, employee training and recruiting.

In 2007, Betsy joined FGP International, Inc. as a recruiter and worked her way up to the Senior Recruiter level, contributing just under $1 million in revenue each year. Betsy managed up to 120 field employees each week as well as developed a comprehensive recruitment strategy in the fields of Accounting, Finance, Administration, Marketing, Sales, and Human Resources.

In early 2010, Betsy was promoted to Training and Staffing Operations Coordinator where she restructured FGP’s internal hiring process and developed unique training programs for all FGP business lines. In December of 2010, Betsy was promoted to Professional Staffing Manager and joined the senior leadership team at FGP. In this position, she manages the recruitment and business development teams, producing over $11 million in revenue each year. Betsy focuses on staffing operations and process improvement, provides training and development, oversees customer relations and works with clients to develop customized staffing and direct hire recruiting solutions. In 2013, Betsy was promoted to Vice President Professional Staffing taking on management responsibilities of FGP’s Columbia Office.

Betsy has been recognized as FGP’s “Consultant of the Year” and is also certified in her field. Her additional leadership and community involvement include sitting on an advisory board at Greenville Technical College and member of the United Way YP committee. She is also an active member of the United Way Women’s Leadership, Greenville Professional Women’s Forum, United Way YP and Meals on Wheels. Betsy and her husband, Lucas, stay very active with their three children, Jase (6) and Leighton (4) and Gray (9 months).

As a graduate of Columbia University’s Urban School Leadership Program, Noemi is passionate about empowering other leaders to grow their capacity to provide educational equity for all students. A former Teach For America Corp member and educational leader for the national charter school movement, KIPP, Ms. Pavon is constantly engaged and aligned with closing the achievement gap. She is an educational reform strategist committed to building holistic learning environments for students from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. 

She is currently the Principal of Legacy Early College High School, a school that engages and educates the “whole child” through wellness and early college initiatives.