Board of Directors

Arlene (Blythewood) is a distinguished professor emerita in the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina with extensive experience as a community psychologist, nonprofit leader and board member. While at USC, she served as the director of the Institute for Families in Society. Currently on the board of trustees for the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, Arlene has previously served in a variety of key roles as the founding executive director of Sistercare; founding executive director of Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina; and as a board member of multiple community and regional organizations, including the Southern Regional Council. She also served for eight years on the South Carolina Joint Legislative Committee on Children and Families when the Children’s Trust Fund was established. Arlene brings vast leadership skills to Children’s Trust in the areas of strategic planning, public policy, and fundraising. From her perspective, she says, most importantly, she is a mother and grandmother.

Her selection is pending approval by the governor’s office.

Jason (Blythewood) is a senior commercial banker at TD Bank in Columbia, where he develops relationship strategies to retain and expand existing relationships, fosters and develops new banking relationship, and participates in several community events. Jason is vice chairman of Leadership South Carolina and past chairman of United Way of the Midlands Financial Stability Council. He envisions using his banking and relationship-building skills to help Children’s Trust further develop a successful model designed at creating long-term sustainability.

His selection is pending approval by the governor’s office.

Brian (Columbia) is serving as an at-large member of the board of directors, pending approval by the governor. Most recently the assistant vice president and senior counsel for Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company, he has worked with a number of other nonprofits in South Carolina focusing on children and family issues. With nearly 20 years of experience in the life and health insurance industry, Brian has provided counsel for operations, compliance, marketing, litigation, training and administration/management in his professional capacity. He also volunteers as a major with the S.C. Military Department and serves as an adjunct professor for Webster University.

Robin (Hartsville) is the Hartsville district superintendent with the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. With a lifetime of service, she currently serves as a board member for General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, Claflin University board of trustees, and South Carolina Methodist Foundation. She felt the call to ministry and earned a master of divinity and doctorate of ministry in stewardship from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington. D.C. Her work and mission involves helping people facing difficult societal issues find a path to living productive and successful lives, and she strongly believes those experiences and skills can be applied to Children’s Trust.

Her selection is pending approval by the governor’s office.

Abbie (Easley) has served as a member of the South Carolina Medical Association Alliance for 11 years, including as its immediate past president. She championed the Pinwheels for Prevention during her tenure as president of the SCMAA. Abbie also was involved for 11 years with the Pickens County Medical Association, which included one term as president. A board member for eight years with Prevent Child Abuse Pickens County, she has a strong interest and experience in fund development as well as some experience and interest in public policy/advocacy.

Abbie represents the 3rd Congressional District on the Board of Directors.

After working as a teacher for a number of years, Elizabeth Gressette (Cayce) received her PhD in education and became executive director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association. A member of various civic organizations, including Women in Philanthropy and Rotary Club of Cayce-West Columbia, Elizabeth has received numerous honors and awards throughout her career. She was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 2005.

Elizabeth serves as an at-large member.

Rick Hewitt (Columbia) is with Transaction Advisory Services at Dixon Hughes Goodman. His focus is on transaction advisory services, including merger and acquisition due diligence, as well as financial and accounting management advisory service. Rick is a Certified Public Accountant with a Master of International Business Studies degree and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina.

Rick serves as the secretary/treasurer of the board of directors and fills an at-large seat.

Stephen (Lexington) is a founder and managing director of UberResearch, which has a mission of helping organizations, nonprofits, and governmental institutions make more informed decisions about science funding. He is an investor, board member, and advisor for software companies and industry groups after a career with IBM and multiple entrepreneurial companies in software and communications. The father of two children with his wife Mandy, he has a long-standing passion for children’s issues and safety.

Stephen is serving as chair of the board of directors and represents the 2nd Congressional District.

Susan Luberoff, M.D., (West Columbia) is a long-time pediatrician who has served as a medical director of the Metropolitan Children’s Advocacy Center, a primary care physician with Palmetto Health’s Medically Fragile Children’s Program, and a co-director of the Abuse Recovery Center in her career. She currently works as a medical consultant to the S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation-Disability Determination Services, Palmetto Health-University of South Carolina Medical Group, and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program. A clinical associate professor of pediatrics with the USC School of Medicine, she holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from USC and a medical degree from the USC School of Medicine.

Her at-large position on the board of directors is pending.

Steven Moon (Columbia) is an attorney and shareholder at Rogers Townsend & Thomas working as counsel for a number of health care entities. Holder of a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, he has represented many health care institutions, including hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and assisted living facilities.

Steven represents the 6th Congressional District on the board.

Erin Pate (Georgetown) is the North Coast Office Director for the Coastal Conservation League. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she has had a career in nonprofit leadership and management to include serving as the CEO of SC Association of CPAs and prior to that was the founding executive director of the S.C. Association of Nonprofit Organizations. She also currently serves on the board of the Black River United Way.

Erin represents the 7th Congressional District on the Board of Directors.

Kenneth Phelps, PhD, (Columbia) is a licensed relational therapist with a specialization in the treatment of individuals, couples and families navigating chronic illness. Dr. Phelps is an assistant professor in the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of South Carolina’s School of Medicine, where he also serves as the outpatient clinic director. Phelps is an active clinician, teacher and researcher. He has written numerous articles focused on childhood health and has been involved as a volunteer and committee member with several nonprofits.

Kenny is an at-large board member and serves as the chair of the Program Advisory Committee.

Dr. Jane Pulling (Pinopolis) is president of Learning Resource Associates and a retired educator who has done much volunteer work in advancing education initiatives, most recently a successful school bond referendum for Berkeley County. Jane also serves on the state board for the League of Women Voters. Jane has an Ed. D from the University of Georgia.

Jane serves as an at-large board member.

Tiffany Santagati (Taylors) works as a senior vice president at PULSE Center Executive at Southern First Bank. She has spent the majority of her career in the banking industry while also volunteering to serve as an active board member for both statewide and Upstate organizations. She is a graduate of USC Upstate with a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.

Tiffany represents the 4th Congressional District on our board.

Heather Woolwine (Charleston) is the director of media relations at the Medical University of South Carolina. She was also actively involved in the South Carolina All-terrain Vehicle Collaborative awareness campaign. Heather has a M.A. in Communications from the College of Charleston – The Graduate School.

Heather represents the 1st Congressional District.