COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today introduced the South Carolina Regional Workforce Advisors, a group of education and business leaders across the state who will make up the workforce division of the Department of Commerce. 

Each representing one of 12 regions, the Regional Workforce Advisors will serve as Commerce’s resource for workforce development throughout the state. By building bridges between educators, students and industries, the Regional Workforce Advisors will help identify workforce needs that will be critical to building a labor pipeline that industries need. At the same time, the Advisors will help students and adults who want a job identify areas of training to pursue for available jobs in their communities.

"As part of our economic development efforts, Commerce is committed to supporting a workforce of the future," said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. "While business recruitment and support remain our focus, we know that a strong workforce is critical both in attracting business investment as well as in facilitating an environment for existing business to grow.

"World-class companies continue to attract to our borders and that is not by mistake. South Carolina already has one of the finest workforces in the nation – our people are our greatest asset. We are pleased to announce this group as a Commerce resource that will be critical to continuing this tradition that has led to our state’s unprecedented economic development progress."

Regional Workforce Advisors

Santee-Lynches: Brenda Goldman bgoldman@sccommerce.com

Upstate: Cherie Pressley cpressley@sccommerce.com

Pee Dee: Cheryl Lewis clewis@sccommerce.com             

Upper Savannah: Dr. Cynthia Pitts cpitts@sccommerce.com

Waccamaw: Eileen Patonay epatonay@sccommerce.com

Greenville: Jay Blankenship jblankenship@sccommerce.com

Lower Savannah: Joni McDaniel jmcdaniel@sccommerce.com

Midlands: Kaye Shaw kshaw@sccommerce.com

Lowcountry: Kim Statler kstatler@sccommerce.com

Catawba: Lisa Robbins lrobbins@sccommerce.com

Trident: Patricia Ferguson pferguson@sccommerce.com

Pendleton: Rick Murphy rmurphy@sccommerce.com

To learn more about the Regional Workforce Advisors, and to view a map of the regions, please visit www.sccommerce.com/regionalworkforceadvisors