Sam Litchfield, III, Chairman
Samuel Warren Litchfield, III (Sam) retired from Nestle USA as an Account Executive after 31 years of service. Mr. Litchfield during his tenure with Nestle dealt with several aspects of the food industry. Pet Care, Confections, Nutritional, Frozen Foods, and Beverage to name a few. Mr. Litchfield in his time with Nestle was a part of the introduction to many new concepts and products in the grocery industry. He was also honored with several achievement awards. His responsibilities during his years of service included merchandising, advertising, forecasting, budgeting, transportation and customer relations. Mr. Litchfield is a Charleston native, married and has two daughters and two grandchildren. His time now after retirement is working with several organizations that are giving back to the community in many different ways and also doing some travel with his family and friends.
Dr. Edward Keith, Vice Chairman
Dr. Keith is a native of Manning, S.C. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Physics from S.C. State College and earned his Medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Louisiana State University. Throughout his education, Dr. Keith was awarded countless awards and honors.
Professionally, Dr. Keith is the owner of Keith Medical/Historical Consulting LLC in Duncan, S.C. Dr. Keith works as an Emergency Medicine Physician in Chapin, S.C. and Winnsboro, S.C. Dr. Keith is active in numerous civic and professional organizations. During his career, Dr. Keith has participated in research and given presentations in the medical field. He has academic as well as hospital affiliations. Dr. Keith continues to stay involved in the medical and civic communities. Dr. Keith is married to Robin M. Keith and has six children.
Keith D. Munson, Secretary / Treasurer
Keith Munson is a Partner in the Greenville office of the international law firm of Rimôn, PC. He is a trial lawyer with over 25 years experience representing major corporations and governmental entities in complex litigation in the areas of product liability defense, mass tort defense, class action litigation, director and officer liability, and civil/securities fraud. He is admitted to practice law in South Carolina, Florida and Pennsylvania, and before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh and Fourth Circuits, the U.S. District Courts in South Carolina and Florida. Prior to moving into private practice, Mr. Munson was an Operational Law Officer during the Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm) for the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), and recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. He also served as a Senior Military Prosecutor in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (1988-1991) and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.
Mr. Munson’s civic involvement has included being a member/spokesperson for the Governor’s Transition Team (2002-2003); board member for the SC Research Universities Centers of Economic Excellence (SmartState); board member of the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper Power); board member representative for the Upstate SC Alliance; and a Diversity Leadership Academy Graduate from Furman University's Riley Institute.
Prior to graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1987, Mr. Munson attended Clemson University. At Clemson, Mr. Munson received the Norris Medal and the Latin Language Award. He also served as President of the Student Senate and is a member of Tiger Brotherhood. Mr. Munson lives in Greenville with his wife, Suzanne, and they have three daughters.
William G. “Billy” Newsome III
Billy Newsome is a tax attorney with over 25 years experience practicing in the areas of trust and estate administration, wealth transfer planning, taxation and exempt organizations. He is a Certified Specialist in the Areas of Estate Planning and Probate Law by the South Carolina Supreme Court. After 25 years as a partner in the local law firm of Nexsen Pruet, Billy opened Newsome Law, P.A. in Columbia, SC where he represents individual and corporate fiduciaries in complex estate and trust administration. He also assists high net worth individuals and business owners with structuring their estate plans and business succession plans.
Billy is a native of Hartsville, SC. Prior to graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1991, he attended Francis Marion College. He earned an LL.M. (Taxation) in 1992 from the University of Florida School of Law.
In 2005, The State Newspaper named Billy as one of the 20 under 40 Business Leaders in the Midlands. He has served on several local boards - Providence Hospitals Foundation, Oliver Gospel Mission and Family Connection of South Carolina - and is a graduate of Leadership Columbia, Class of 1999. Billy also serves his profession as an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Billy and his wife, Kim, live in Columbia and they have two daughters, Ann and Emily.
W. Patrick Earle
Pat Earle is a retired educator with over 38 years in the classroom. Before retiring, he spent the last year working as the Associate Director of Agriculture Education with Clemson University. Mr. Earle is a nationally recognized educator that has received the South Carolina Career and Technical Educator of the Year (2009), National Association of Agriculture Educators Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), Clemson University’s College of Agriculture Alumni Professional Achievement Award (2015), SC Career and Technical Education Lifetime Achievement Award (2017), and is only the second teacher in South Carolina to be inducted into the National Teacher’s Hall of Fame (2011). Among other awards he has received, one of the most cherished is receiving the South Carolina Order of the Palmetto (2018). Mr. Earle’s was included in “American Teachers: Heroes in the Classroom” as one of fifty teachers nationwide.
Pat is a native of McBee, SC, where his father was an Agriculture teacher. He later replaced his father in that same classroom upon his dad’s retirement (total of over 75 years). His students received numerous awards during his career along with serving in multiple statewide student leadership positions. Mr. Earle still serves in volunteer positions serving the South Carolina FFA Association on their Board of Directors and the South Carolina Association of Agriculture Educators.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education graduating cum laude along with his Master’s in Animal Science from Clemson University. He’s been married for the past 41 years to Vicky (Tyner) Earle and they now reside in Hartsville, SC. They have a son and daughter that are twins along with four grandchildren.
Dr. Vareva Evans Harris
Dr. Harris is a native of Woodruff, S.C. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Teaching of English from Benedict College, a Master’s of Arts degree in Conflict Resolution from Columbia College, and a Doctorate in Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Harris has spent the last two decades as an administrator in higher education at Benedict College. She is an adjunct professor at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and a research associate in Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility (C2M2) at Clemson University. Dr. Harris co-owns The Woodruff Times Newspaper and founded the Institute for Emerging Leaders, Inc. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also a member of the Benedict College National Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame, The Woodruff High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and a board member with the National Alliance of African-American Athletes. Dr. Harris is married to Windell Harris, and they have six children and seven grandchildren.
Jay Young
Jay Young is a graduate of Clover High School and Campbell University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He is a Financial Professional with Prudential in Lake Wylie. Mr. Young has previously served on the Clover School District Board of Trustees, and remains active in volunteering in the school district. He is married to Courtney and they have three daughters.