From the C-Suite

 

Across Spartanburg, new executives are bringing new ideas for the future. From college and nonprofit organizations to locally-owned small business and corporations with international reach, business is more invested in the future of Spartanburg as a community than ever.

Krista Newkirk became the 10^th president of Converse College in 2016. During her time at Converse, the college has added their first doctorate degree program offerings. She has worked to increase Converse’s stake in talent retention in Spartanburg by connecting students with existing companies here, like Milliken and Company, to create a college to career pipeline.

Newkirk brought fresh perspective to Converse’s leadership team, having been chief of staff at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, where she oversaw university strategic initiatives, managed large-scale projects and worked on annual budget allocations. Before her time in higher-education, she was an attorney for both a private practice and a Fortune 300 company.

Shaunte Evans was named CEO of the Spartanburg Housing Authority in September 2019. She came to Spartanburg with two decades of housing and management experience, having come from the Charlotte Housing Authority where she oversaw Housing Choice Voucher federal program operations, governmental affairs and policy, and compliance.

Evans’ will focus on the upward economic mobility of the residents the Spartanburg Housing Authority serves, as well as creating strategic partnerships across the county.

Halsey Cook took the reigns at Milliken in 2018, aiming to keep the partnership between Milliken’s global associates and the Upstate strong. During his first year, strategic planning led to $200 million in revenue from new acquisitions, and an uptick in its charitable giving, with Milliken giving $321,000 to the United Way of the Piedmont.

Cook plans acquisitions across Milliken’s portfolio in the future with an eye toward sustainability, diversity and recruiting new talent. And to celebrate the company’s 60^th anniversary earlier in 2019, Cook helped plant a new grove of oak trees in the Milliken Arboretum, continuing the legacy of Roger Milliken, well-known for his affection for green spaces and arboretums.

Each of these three executives shared their vision for the future of their organization, the future of Spartanburg, and how Spartanburg’s growth has taken shape during their time here. 

Newkirk: Converse is a student-focused and innovative university that provides a challenging, engaging, and empowering educational experience. We focus on the quality and value of our students' educational and personal experience. Converse will continue to provide this environment while adding to its diversity of programs, expanding upon our progressive learning experience which also includes technology enhancements (such as virtual reality) in some courses, and its accessibility and availability of courses through online degree completion courses, additional graduate and doctoral programs, and courses at its instruction site at the University Center of Greenville. Converse will expand upon the opportunities our students have to connect with the businesses and community members in the Upstate as we collaboratively work to develop the critical and creative leaders of tomorrow. There is so much need in industry and otherwise for committed people with the academic and other skills that Converse helps them acquire. I want to continue to play whatever role I can in supporting Converse and its students in meeting that need.

Evans: My vision is for the Spartanburg Housing Authority to operate effectively and efficiently to best serve the families that reside in our communities. We want to increase our offering of services and programs to help families move towards self-sufficiency. In addition, I want to ensure that we are providing additional affordable housing opportunities within the greater Spartanburg area.

It is my hope that Spartanburg at large will work collaboratively to strengthen all communities. 

Cook: At Milliken, we strive to find innovative solutions that positively impact the world. Our work is guided by our five core values of integrity, excellence, innovation, sustainability, and people. My vision for the future is growth. Specifically, we want to grow profitably while staying true to those values and to be a great company for our customers, employees, shareholders, partners, and community. We all know that to achieve that vision, that growth, we need a plan. Our 2025 strategy, which we just finalized, is our roadmap to get there. We see this as an opportunity to build a better world, not only for ourselves, but for future generations.

Newkirk: I see Spartanburg continuing to grow and flourish through the economic development that is possible with its great businesses and wonderful higher education institutions. My hope is that Spartanburg will maintain its commitment to the special characteristics that make this such a desirable place to live: education, the arts, a focus on social equity and vibrancy, outdoor experiences, short commute times … this city is a unique combination of those factors, with a truly unparalleled commitment to civic engagement by its citizens.

Converse has been at the center of Spartanburg for 130 years. It has grown up and evolved with this city and region, while never forgetting that it was founded by, and has been supported by, the generosity and love of the citizens of Spartanburg. Converse was developed to meet the needs of Spartanburg, the Upstate, and beyond. It has contributed to the academic and artistic education and vibrant ecology of this incredible city, with empowered and vocal citizens ready to make their mark. Converse students volunteered more than 6,000 community hours last year for Spartanburg through various non-profits and service projects, and Converse faculty and staff participate in many ways to enrich the community.

Evans: The Spartanburg Housing Authority will play a part in that future by developing mutually beneficial partnerships that share the same vision.  We have been serving this community for 80 years and want to play our role in ensuring that viable communities are available for families that may be economically disadvantaged for years to come.

Cook: In my year here at Milliken, I’ve learned a lot about the richness of Spartanburg’s story. Milliken has been solving everyday problems with innovative solutions for more than 150 years, 60 years at our global headquarters here in Spartanburg. We see it as our job to be a good partner for the community that has supported our success for decades. 

As such, we are committed to amplifying the incredible growth Spartanburg is currently experiencing. When we support our community, we grow the tax base, we attract great talent, and we develop local talent. With a thriving community as our home, we’re also able to retain the exceptional people who already work at Milliken. When I say that it is our purpose to positively impact the world around us, that all starts right here in Spartanburg—because Spartanburg’s success is our success.