OneSpartanburg Inc. appoints new board members

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OneSpartanburg Inc. has appointed three new board members to bring more diversity to its leadership team, in line with the organization’s recent unification of Spartanburg’s chamber of commerce, economic development body and visitor’s bureau.

Pontheolla Abernathy, co-owner of Clevedale Historic Inn & Gardens and OneSpartanburg Inc.’s Minority-Owned Business Person of the Year for 2020; Sky Foster, manager of BMW Manufacturing Co.’s corporate communications department; and Mitch Kennedy, Spartanburg assistant city manager, will serve as at-large members starting immediately, according to a news release.

“This new, incoming class, along with our existing members will make this year’s executive board the most diverse governing body in terms of gender, race and economic sectors represented in the 102-year history of our organization,” Allen Smith, CEO and president of OneSpartanburg Inc., said in the release. “Our executive board is now more representative of Spartanburg’s economic drivers and the diversity of Spartanburg County itself.”

The executive board is composed of 17 business, tourism and economic development leaders from across the county to spearhead OneSpartanburg Inc.’s mission to “build a vibrant Spartanburg through business, economic and tourism development,” the release said.

“This is a step in the right direction as we work to implement the diversity, equity and inclusion plan adopted earlier this year,” Wes Lehrer, executive board chair, said in the release.

OneSpartanburg Inc., a single entity formed from the former Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau and Spartanburg Economic Futures Group, was launched on Sept. 1 at the chamber’s annual celebration.OneSpartanburg Inc. has appointed three new board members to bring more diversity to its leadership team, in line with the organization’s recent unification of Spartanburg’s chamber of commerce, economic development body and visitor’s bureau.

Pontheolla Abernathy, co-owner of Clevedale Historic Inn & Gardens and OneSpartanburg Inc.’s Minority-Owned Business Person of the Year for 2020; Sky Foster, manager of BMW Manufacturing Co.’s corporate communications department; and Mitch Kennedy, Spartanburg assistant city manager, will serve as at-large members starting immediately, according to a news release.

“This new, incoming class, along with our existing members will make this year’s executive board the most diverse governing body in terms of gender, race and economic sectors represented in the 102-year history of our organization,” Allen Smith, CEO and president of OneSpartanburg Inc., said in the release. “Our executive board is now more representative of Spartanburg’s economic drivers and the diversity of Spartanburg County itself.”

The executive board is composed of 17 business, tourism and economic development leaders from across the county to spearhead OneSpartanburg Inc.’s mission to “build a vibrant Spartanburg through business, economic and tourism development,” the release said.

“This is a step in the right direction as we work to implement the diversity, equity and inclusion plan adopted earlier this year,” Wes Lehrer, executive board chair, said in the release.

OneSpartanburg Inc., a single entity formed from the former Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau and Spartanburg Economic Futures Group, was launched on Sept. 1 at the chamber’s annual celebration.