Board of Directors

Sally Sarratt, Chairman
McMillan Pazdan Smith Group

Rita Barker
Wyche Law Firm

Jim Burns, Past Chairman
Carolina First
Greenville County Council

Lori Center
Bon Secours St. Francis Healthcare

Mark Cothran
Treasurer/Secretary
Greenville Chamber of Commerce

Allen Hamada
Energy and Control Systems

Rebecca Crown
Greenville Hospital System
Travelers Rest City Council

Angela Halfacre
Furman University
Shi Center for Sustainability

Curtis Harkness
Greenville Technical College

Mary Douglas Hirsch
City of Greenville

Josh Lane
Ferebee Lane/LG Alumni Association

Mellone Long
Greenville County Planning Council

Phyllis Martin
United Way of Greenville

Alfred Middleton
Greenville County Human Relations Commision

Liz Seman
Meals on Wheels

Gene Smith
Greenville County Recreation District

Ralph Sweeney
Pleasant Valley Connection

Staff

Russell Stall
Executive Director

Brock Koonce
Program Director

Kate Hofler
Marketing and Communications Director

Damaris Taylor
Research Intern

Russell H. Stall
Executive Director

Russell is a boomerang, one of those people who grew up in Greenville, left, and didn’t come back home until after 16 years because he didn't think Greenville was cool or progressive enough. However, Greenville changed and became a place that Russell enthusiastically wanted to move his family back to.

Russell is Executive Director of Greenville Forward, the organization he created which is responsible for making sure that the bold and aggressive dreams of Vision 2025 are accomplished. Greenville Forward is the organization that "wakes up every morning thinking about where Greenville is going." Russell is an active public speaker and motivator, telling the story of Greenville's transformation from the "Textile Capital of the World" into a diversified economic through collaborative relationships, community engagement, and creative partnerships. In the last few years, Russell has told this story to over 160 groups and 4,000 people.

Prior to founding Greenville Forward, Russell owned ResearchWorks, a strategic marketing research firm which for 16 years focused on community development and customer satisfaction research. He has also worked for as a management consultant with Mercer Management Consulting, in public affairs with Coca-Cola USA, and as an account manager with Polo/Ralph Lauren.

Russell has an MBA from Emory University, and a BA in psychology from Washington and Lee University.

Russell has been extremely active in serving Greenville over the years through his board membership with the Cancer Society of Greenville County, Project Host Soup Kitchen, Greenville University Center, Graduate Greenville, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Greenville Youth Advisory Council, Friends of the Greenville Zoo, Metropolitan Arts Council, and Junior League Advisory Council.

His wife Susan is an active community leader in her own right as Executive Director of the NEXUS Center, a spiritual transformation organization, and their sons Hampton and Harrison attend Southside High School IB and the Sterling School.

Brock Koonce
Program Director

In his role with Greenville Forward, Brock manages most of the task forces under the Vision 2025 umbrella and is especially focused on engaging and retaining Greenville’s future leaders.

Prior to joining Greenville Forward, Brock was an Account Executive at local ad agencies, Erwin-Penland and Henderson Advertising. Brock was recently selected as one of Greenville’s Best and Brightest under 35 by Greenville Magazine and “Who’s Next” by LINK.  He is the immediate past Chairman of PULSE, the Chamber's young professional group, and is also involved in Greenville’s growing theatre scene, performing in a variety of plays throughout the state.

Brock earned his BA in Communications from The University of Tennessee – Knoxville and is also a graduate of Greenville High School and The Fine Arts Center in Greenville.

Kate Hofler
Marketing and Communications Director

Kate Hofler is the Marketing and Communications Director for Greenville Forward. In this position, she is responsible for planning major Greenville Forward events and drafting any and all written materials for marketing and information-sharing purposes. Kate maintains the Greenville Forward Community Calendar and writes free lance articles and guest columns when requested. Kate also works to orchestrate brand recognition in the greater Greenville area through the use of social media and promotional materials. Before joining the staff full time,

Kate served as the Furman research intern at Greenville Forward throughout the summer and school year of her senior year. Kate was the student editor of FUnet, Furman’s online daily news source, where she garnered most of her writing and editing experience. She graduated in May of 2009 with a degree in both English and Political Science.

Kate is originally from Florence, SC where she attended Trinity Collegiate School. She is an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys hiking in the Caesars Head area and exercising at the Caine Halter YMCA.