Who We Are

Tyson Blanton

Chairman of the Board

Tyson Blanton is a sixth generation Lancaster native. She graduated from Lancaster High School in 2013 before attending the University of South Carolina in Columbia. During her time at USC, she was the president of the student chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the Public Relations Director for the student magazine on campus, and the 2016-17 PRSA Student of the Year. She maintained a 4.0 GPA on her way to graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Master’s degree in Business Administration from the USC Darla Moore School of Business. Tyson is the District Manager of Government and Community Relations for Duke Energy.

Mika Sinclair

Vice Chair

Mika Sinclair is a native of Kershaw and a 1996 graduate from Andrew Jackson High School. She went on to attend Katherine Gibbs School in NYC and then graduated from York Technical College. Mika has been employed at Founders Federal Credit Union for 11 years where she has served in many roles. She currently serves as the Financial Services Representative Specialist where she is responsible for the training and mentoring of other Financial Services Representatives. Mika has been recognized for her exceptional service and outstanding dedication to her membership with the “Think Member” award. She was also awarded for her perfect attendance several times throughout her tenure with FFCU. In 2018, she participated and graduated from the Leadership of York County program. In her personal time, she volunteers with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and is active in her church. Mika and her husband, Jeremy, reside in Van Wyck and have been married for 16 years.

Mary Faile

Treasurer

Mary is currently the Director of Finance for the Lancaster County School District. Prior to this position, she was the Foundation Liaison for the Educational Foundation of USC Lancaster, the non-profit organization responsible for student scholarships, faculty development and the building and maintenance of the physical facilities on the USC Lancaster campus. She has more than 30 years of accounting experience including a senior accounting position at OceanaGold/Haile Gold Mine in Kershaw, SC as well as various accounting positions in private, public, non-profit firms that have provided her a comprehensive understanding of financial duties and responsibilities. Mary has served as the treasurer of the Lancaster County Council of the Arts Board of Directors for six years and served as treasurer of the Lindsay Pettus Greenway Board of Directors for four years. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, a National Honor Society, and graduated Cum Laude from Winthrop University receiving her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. Mary and her husband Dean have two sons: Nicholas and Derek.

Elizabeth Hyatt

Secretary

Elizabeth Hyatt is a native of Lancaster, growing up in the Buford community. She is an attorney and the owner of Hyatt Law, LLC, and The Family Center at Judiciary Square, a supervised visitation and mediation center. Elizabeth obtained her undergraduate degree in Special Education from Converse College and went on to earn her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Her background in education has given her a unique perspective on legal issues, especially those surrounding children. An active member of the community, she is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Lancaster County and is a member of Tabernacle United Methodist Church, where she has served on numerous committees as well as in the Chancel Choir. She is the immediate past President of the Lancaster County Bar Association, and serves on the Board of Governors of the South Carolina Association for Justice. A current board member of the Lancaster Rotary Club, Elizabeth has served as President of the Carolinas Literacy Network Board of Directors, and on the boards for the Learning Institute for Tomorrow, Habitat for Humanity, Family Connections, Safe Passage, and the Safe Kids Bright Futures Committee. Elizabeth is married to Wes Peninger and they have a blended family of five adult children.

Chris Clouden

Board Member

Chris has an extensive background in recreation and event management. He spent 10 years working in Parks and Recreation for the City of New York before relocating to Charlotte, North Carolina. He was responsible for upgrading eight fitness facilities and played a key role in the capital design of seven centers, totaling more than $33 million. After moving to Charlotte, he managed major events owned and operated by the Charlotte Regional Sports Commission and the Charlotte Sports Foundation, including the annual ACC Football Championship and the Belk Bowl. Prior to joining Lancaster County, he was the Executive Director of The Market at 7th Street, a food hall created to be an incubator for local small businesses in Center City Charlotte. He also serves on the Lindsay Pettus Greenway Board and in the past has served on the boards of Right Moves for Youth and Alzheimer’s Association of Western Carolina. Chris lives in Fort Mill with his wife and two children.

Walt Collins

Board Member

Dr. Walter Collins began his career at USC Lancaster in August 2002 as an Instructor of French and English. Rising quickly through the ranks to Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, then served as the Regional Campus Dean of USC Lancaster for ten years. In January 2024, he became the USC Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs and Associate Provost. He earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2009 and promotion to Full Professor in 2015. A native of Clinton, North Carolina, Collins earned his BA in French Literature from Wake Forest University, his Master of Arts in French Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of South Carolina Columbia in 2004. In the local community, Dr. Collins has been a member of the Board of Directors for MUSC Health: Lancaster Medical Center, Communities in Schools of Lancaster County and the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce where he currently chairs the Public Policy Committee. He also serves on a variety of community advisory groups: Gregory Family YMCA, Lancaster County Economic Development, and Promise Neighborhood. Dr. Collins is passionate about seeing productive collaborations between USC Lancaster and community partners. He is a member of the Columbia Rotary Club. Dr. Collins and his wife, Ashley, have four children.

Gregg Gause

Board Member

Gregg Gause is the co-owner of H & H Storage in Kershaw, SC. A graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Gregg serves as treasurer of the Lancaster Chapter of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association. Additionally, he serves as a high school and American Legion baseball umpire. He is married to former Partners for Youth board member Annette Gause and has three children – Christina, Madden and Marsh. Gregg is an active member of Second Baptist Church in Lancaster and is an assistant basketball coach at Andrew Jackson High School.

Gail Gillis

Board Member

Gail Gillis, a native of Lancaster, is the Buyer for Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. She has been an active member and volunteer of the community by serving on a multitude of boards and committees of local nonprofit organizations. Gail is a member of Pleasant Dale Baptist Church and very active in the Clothes Closet. She is very excited about the opportunity to serve on the Partners for Youth board and to help the youth of Lancaster County. Gail is married to Carlton Gillis and has a daughter Chrissy, son-in-law Lowen, and grandchildren Bransen and Madi.

Seth Graves

Board Member

Seth Graves, a native of Kershaw and current resident of the City of Lancaster, graduated from Andrew Jackson High School before attaining a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University. In 2013, he received a Lancaster County Clemson Club Scholarship through Partners for Youth, an organization that greatly benefited him, and now takes pleasure in giving back to it. Currently employed as a professional engineer at Keck & Wood, Inc., Seth is involved in various infrastructure projects across Lancaster and neighboring counties, driven by his passion for ensuring communities have the necessary infrastructure to thrive. Active within the community, Seth is a member of the Lancaster Breakfast Rotary, Second Baptist Church, and Big Thursday. He and his wife, Amanda, are proud parents of two children, Wyatt and Blythe.

Stephanie King

Board Member

Stephanie King is the Associate Director of Training & Development at Nutramax Laboratories. Throughout her career, she has held multiple learning & development (L&D) positions, accumulating over 24 years of leadership and training experience. Stephanie graduated from The Ohio State University with a BS in Food Business Management and went on to earn her MBA from Ohio Dominican University. She became a certified professional in Talent Development (CPTD) in 2018 and graduate of Leadership Lancaster in 2022. Stephanie began her advocacy for youth as a mentor in the Leaders of Tomorrow program through the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) for 13 years. Her community involvement includes service to her church, the Dress for Success program, and Meals on Wheels. She currently volunteers with HOPE of Lancaster County as a facilitator for their Getting Ahead program. In 2009, she joined Franklin University as an adjunct professor where she taught for 12 years alongside her corporate L&D career. Currently, she sits on the advisory board for their Ross College of Business. Stephanie is a native of Columbus, Ohio and moved to the Carolinas in 2019 with her husband of 23 years and their two children. She is passionate about education and the empowerment of our next generation of leaders. “I’m excited about this opportunity to support our young people through Partners for Youth and hope to leave a positive impact on all that I serve.”

Charlene McGriff

Board Member

Charlene McGriff is the proud mother of two and grandmother of seven. She is a leader in the non-profit community of Lancaster, South Carolina. Ms. McGriff is a graduate of Brookstone College and attended the University of South Carolina – Lancaster. She is also a graduate of the Carolina Leadership Program. Ms. McGriff is the past Executive Director of Palmetto Citizens Against Sexual Assault, an organization which serves Lancaster, Chester, and Fairfield Counties. Her community involvement includes: Lancaster County Council representing District 2, past chairperson of Lancaster County School Board from 2006-2009 and member for 16 years; co-founder and member of Adopt-A-Leader Mentor Program; past chair of the SC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; past president of the SC Network of Children Advocacy Centers; past member of Board of Directors of CareNet; member of the Lancaster County Partners for Youth Board of Directors; member of Lancaster County First Steps; past vice president of the Board of Directors for The Lancaster Children’s Home; member of Lancaster Rotary; chair of USC-Lancaster Educational Foundation; and, member of the Coalition for Healthy Youth. Ms. McGriff is an active member of Mount Moriah AME Zion Church and serves as the chairperson of the Finance Committee. She received the 2011 Lancaster County School District Hall of Fame Award, the 2011 NAACP Pioneer Award, and the Order of the Palmetto Award in 2024 from Governor Henry McMaster. This award is given to South Carolinians who demonstrate extraordinary lifetime achievement, service, and contributions of national or statewide significance.

Porsha Mungo-Brown

Board Member

Porsha Mungo-Brown is the Clinical Director of Test Easy Laboratory LLC and co-owner of Mungo Services Tax in Lancaster SC. Porsha is a native of Lancaster and graduated from Lancaster High School, then went on to obtain her associate degree in criminal justice and business. Porsha is an active member of Lancaster Rotary Club and enjoys community services projects and all things sports. She is married to Malcolm Brown and together they have five children – Kendijah, Anaiya, Darius, Jaquel and Taylor. Porsha is an active member of Mt. Carmel AME Zion Church in Heath Springs.

Nick Ochoa

Board Member

Nick Ochoa is a Branch Manager with Founders Federal Credit Union, where he has been employed for 5 years. He is a 2018 graduate from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. He is also a 2024 graduate of Leadership Lancaster. Growing up in Lancaster, Nick has always wanted to give back to the community and feels that it is an honor to serve on the Partners for Youth Board. During his free time, Nick partners with STEM camps and Founders FCU to teach students financial literacy and personal finance.

Steve Sherrill

Board Member

Steve Sherrill is the First Citizens Bank Market Executive. A graduate of Lancaster High School, he has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of South Carolina, and is a graduate of East Carolina University’s RMA Commercial Lending School. Steve has been involved throughout the community as past United Way of Lancaster County Board Chair, past Chamber of Commerce Chair, past CareHealth Board Chair, and past Junior Achievement Volunteer. Currently, he is a Lancaster Breakfast Rotary Club member, serves as Vice Chair of Lancaster County Natural Gas Authority, and serves as a board member on Lancaster County Career Center’s School Improvement Council, Lancaster County Partners for Youth, Educational Foundation of USC-L, and Catawba Regional Development Corporation. Steve is married to Kelly and has a daughter McKenzie. He is dedicated to serving on Partners for Youth for as he states, “Children are our future and I am excited about serving on PFY board to help all Lancaster County youth and children excel.”

Anicia Stevenson

Board Member

Anicia Stevenson, a graduate of Winthrop University, is the Director of Workforce Planning & Development for Comporium, Inc. She has over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition, succession planning, career development and training. Anicia served on the Carolinas Chapter of Society for Human Resource Management Board for eight years and is a current member of the National Society for Human Resource Management. She is a long-time resident of Lancaster County and passionate about educating students on how to take advantage of every opportunity to establish a rewarding and successful career path. The mission of Partners for Youth directly coincides with this passion and Anicia is honored to serve the community in this capacity.

Raashad Fitzpatrick

Ex Officio

As Lancaster County School District superintendent, Dr. Raashad Fitzpatrick serves on the Lancaster County Partners for Youth board in an ex-officio capacity. He previously served as Assistant Superintendent and District Ombudsman in the Greenville County School District and has an educational career that spans 25 years, 22 as an administrator. After coaching at West Virginia State University, he returned home and began his educational career at Chesnee High School as a teacher and coach. Dr. Fitzpatrick began his administrative career as an assistant principal at Whitlock Junior High School prior to becoming an assistant principal at his alma mater Spartanburg High School. He then served as the principal of Carver Middle School for six years followed by a six-year tenure as principal at Gaffney High School.

Dr. Fitzpatrick received his B.S. from WV State University in secondary education. After receiving his M.A. in Leadership Studies from Marshall University, he earned his doctorate degree in Educational Administration from South Carolina State University. The focus of his dissertation was the impact of early literacy and behavior sanctions on the graduation rate of black males. Dr. Fitzpatrick has presented at numerous conferences including the National Blue Ribbon Conference, the National Dropout Prevention Conference, the National High Schools That Work Conference, the Annual Center for Excellence Conference, the College Board Dream Deferred Conference, and at the South Carolina Association of School Administrator’s Conference. He is certified as a Dropout Prevention Specialist by the National Dropout Prevention Center and trained in the Trauma-Skilled School Model. Dr. Fitzpatrick served on the NASSP Board of Directors. He has also served on three AdvancEd/Cognia teams for school district accreditation. Under his leadership, he has helped schools and students in Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Greenville Counties be successful. Dr. Fitzpatrick has not lost his passion for the classroom and is also an adjunct professor at Converse University. His faith and his family ground, motivate, and inspire him daily. He is married to his soulmate Crystal and has four children: Shaira, John, Raashad Jr. and Caris.

Sharon Novinger

Executive Director

Sharon Frain Novinger has been the Executive Director of PFY since March 2007. During her leadership she has successfully implemented and administered $6 million in federal grants that have impacted all 4K classes in Lancaster County and Clinton Elementary School; overseen the distribution of $1.3 million in scholarships for the Gear Up programs and PFY’s annual scholarships; led PFY’s involvement with a multitude of community collaborations positively impacting our county’s parents and youth; and, awarded teacher classroom grants, professional development grants, and community grants to dozens of recipients. Her dedication to education has been a constant throughout her life starting with her father as a career military training specialist and her mother an early elementary teacher. Before PFY, she was a communications director at Savannah College of Art and Design as well as led the United Way of Lancaster County. She grew up in Martinez, Georgia, is an American Leadership Fellow, Lancaster Breakfast Rotary member, and is an alumnus of St. Andrews Presbyterian University.

• Jodie Plyler
• Cheri Plyler
• Benjamin Riggins
• Derrick Smith
• Brad Small, Chair
• Stefanie Stacks, Chair
• Marvin Starks
• Kevin Stilwell
• Dr. John Taylor
• Pamela Trimnal, Chair
• Dr. Bert Welch
• Keeonn Wilson
• Adrienna Witherspoon
• Jerry Witherspoon, Chair
• Ben Dunlap