OneSpartanburg, Inc. Recognizes 2025 Annual Celebration Awardees

At its 2025 Annual Celebration: A Season of Impact, OneSpartanburg, Inc. celebrated Spartanburg County’s continued momentum, along with the dedicated community leaders, exemplary local businesses, and shining stars that showcase the countywide impact of the organization’s mission.

“Every year, our Annual Celebration is more than just a progress report, it’s a chance to recognize the significant impact our organization and our partners have on Spartanburg County. Our community has a lot to be proud of, and it’s thanks to committed public and private partners coming together with a collaborative spirit like nowhere else,” said OneSpartanburg, Inc. President & CEO Allen Smith.

OneSpartanburg, Inc.’s 2025 award-winners were:

Neville Holcombe Distinguished Citizenship Award:

• David Britt, former Spartanburg County Council Vice Chair
  • David Britt served on Spartanburg County Council for more than 30 years, recently leaving Council to take a position with the S.C. Public Service Commission. During his historic tenure, Britt led economic development initiatives countywide, helping cement Spartanburg as a regional powerhouse. Over the past five years alone, Britt’s leadership led to dozens of companies investing more than $10 billion countywide creating almost 9,000 new job opportunities for the people of Spartanburg County.

James B. Thompson Small Business of the Year:

• Morgan Square Hospitality Group
  • Founded by business partners Brian Greene and Kevin Moore, Morgan Square Hospitality prides itself on great food and great service at Delaney’s Irish Pub, Gerhard’s Café, and Isla’s on the Square.

Economic Champion Award:

• AFL
  • AFL, an industry leader in fiber optic products and associated equipment, is a one-stop-shop for all things digital infrastructure. A long-time economic development partner in Spartanburg County, AFL in 2024 announced an expansion of operations to meet global demand. The investment totals $155 million, creating 155 new job opportunities.

Elaine Harris Tourism Champion Award:

• Chad Greene
  • Led by Spartanburg native Chad Greene, Diamond Classic Fastpitch hosts softball and baseball events in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. The company has become a key partner for Spartanburg as the county’s growth in sports tourism, particularly in hosting softball events, has grown in recent years.

Talent Champion Award:

• Kathy Sinclair, Chief Human Resources Officer at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
  • The inaugural Talent Champion Award was presented to Kathy Sinclair, who worked with OneSpartanburg, Inc. to increase work-based learning opportunities for students countywide. Sinclair led a push that resulted in 85 local high-schoolers earning internships at Spartanburg Regional.

Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award:

• Brenda Lee Pryce, Southside community representative
  • Brenda Lee Pryce, the first Black woman from Spartanburg County elected to the S.C. Legislature, was recognized for decades of dedication and leadership in Spartanburg.

Chairman’s Award:

• Roger Nutt, S.C. State Senator
  • Roger Nutt was recognized for his service to the people of Spartanburg County, first on County Council before tenures in the S.C. House and S.C. Senate. Nutt recently announced his resignation due to an Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Charles E. Atchison, Sr. Minority-Owned Business of the Year:

• Pudd’N
  • Pudd’N was inspired by the banana pudding recipe of owner Sedrick Posey’s grandmother. Now offering two dozen flavors, Pudd’N was the first business to open a brick-and-mortar location after participating in Power Up Spartanburg’s Access to Space program.

Young Professional of the Year:

• Midas Hampton, Ph.D., Founding Director of Strategic Spartanburg
  • As Executive Director of Strategic Spartanburg, Hampton works to improve quality of life measures countywide while working to meaningfully engage the Spartanburg community through service, stakeholder engagement, and more.

 2025-26 Teachers of the Year:

Spartanburg District 1:  Stephanie McSwain, Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary

Spartanburg District 2:  Amanda Clark, Oakland Elementary

Spartanburg District 3:  Ashlyn Taylor, Pacolet Elementary

Spartanburg District 4:  Nikki Clutter, Woodruff Middle

Spartanburg District 5:  Brandon Haskins, D.R. Hill Middle

Spartanburg District 6:  Donna Lowe, Anderson Mill Elementary

Spartanburg District 7:  Alicia Fulmer, Pine Street Elementary

S.C. School for the Deaf and the Blind:  Jennifer Jeffcoat

Spartanburg Day School:  Chris Duncan

High Point Academy:  Mary Kimbrell

Spartanburg Preparatory School:  Christina Fowler

Early-Education Teacher of the Year:  Shanelle Thompson 

Along with recognizing awardees, OneSpartanburg, Inc. recognized outgoing Executive Board Chair Avi Lawrence, President of Contec, Inc. New Executive Board Chair William Gray, Spartanburg Office Manager for McMillan Pazdan Smith, was welcomed for the event’s finale.