USCB Education Foundation

Steve Birdwell is President of The Sea Pines Resort and has been employed by the Resort for more than 25 years. He joined Sea Pines in 1992 as the Controller and became Chief Financial Officer in 1995. He has served as the Resort’s President since 2006. Steve received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. He is a Certified Public Accountant and was an Audit Manager for Ernst & Young in Atlanta. Prior to joining Sea Pines, Steve was Controller for The Landmarks Group, an Atlanta-based real estate development and property management firm. Steve serves on the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Community Services Associates (CSA) and as a Trustee of The Heritage Classic Foundation. Steve is the former Chairman of the Resort Hotel Association. His wife, Beth, is in private banking with Coastal States Bank. The Birdwells currently reside in Sea Pines.

Jack Brinkley retired as General Manger, North American Automotive Operations Export Sales for Ford Motor Company in 1995 after a distinguished 33-year career with the corporation. During his tenure, he served not only in North America but also in Europe as Vice President of Marketing, Director of Southern Europe Sales Operations, and Director of Truck Operations. Jack serves on the board of technology-based outsourced-services provider Syphis Solutions and is chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee. Jack lives with his wife Donna on Hilton Head Island.

As the Assistant Town Manager for the Town of Bluffton. Chris Forster is responsible for Economic Development, Finance, Contracts and Compliance, Human Resources, Municipal Court, and the Town’s business incubator, the Don Ryan Center for Innovation. Chris is also instrumental to maintaining intergovernmental agreements, strategic planning, and policy development.

Prior to his current role, Chris was the Controller for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, responsible for system wide financial policy and financial reporting of the system’s 17 public colleges and universities. Before taking on the role as CSCU Controller Chris was Director of Agency Business Services (ABS) of the State of Oklahoma. He was responsible for the development of Oklahoma’s shared financial services group and the expansion of shared services to agencies, boards and commissions statewide. While working for the state, Chris also served as Fiscal Director to Oklahoma’s Chief Information Officer (CIO). In this role he helped implement a statewide consolidation of IT services and infrastructure. Chris started his career in the City of Tulsa where he worked on budget and capital planning.

Chris received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science, a Master of Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Public Financial Management from the University of Connecticut and has an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School. He holds the Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) designation from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) designation from the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). Chris completed the GFOA’s Advanced Government Finance Institute in 2013 and is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program. He currently serves on the GFOA’s national Executive Board and is an active member of the Bluffton Rotary.

Chris lives in Bluffton, South Carolina. His wife, Dr. Jessica Forster, owns a mobile veterinary practice called Fetch A Vet. They have three children.

Joe Fraser earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1973 and a master’s in business administration from Harvard in 1977. Prior to becoming President of Fraser Construction, Joe was Vice President of Joe Harden Builder, Inc. on Hilton Head Island, President of CTS Construction Company in Boca Raton, and TCR South Florida Homebuilding, Inc. He is responsible for all construction operations of Fraser Construction.

Christina Galbreath-Gonzalez is a dedicated real estate professional and community leader with a strong connection to USCB, where she graduated with a B.A. in 2006. Christina’s commitment the university runs deep; she established an endowment scholarship in memory of her son, JonPaul Gonzalez, who was a Sand Shark. She also maintains close ties through her sister, a faculty member in USCB’s Education department. Christina currently serves as President of the Women's Council of Realtors-Lowcountry, leading a board focused on development and networking among real estate professionals. She is also Treasurer of the Sawmill Creek Homeowners Association, a role she has held for more than 10 years. Her duties include budgeting for the community and enhancing fiscal stability and community trust. She is a former board member of the South Carolina Youth Soccer Alliance for Beaufort and Chatham Counties. Active in community service, Christina volunteers as a youth grief facilitator with Friends of Caroline Hospice and has led volunteer efforts for Pledge the Pink’s cancer fundraising campaigns. Professionally, she is Broker in Charge at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hilton Head Bluffton Realty, directing operations and strategic planning across two offices. Christina lives in Bluffton.

Tray Hunter has been employed by Palmetto Electric Cooperative since 2008. Currently he is Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations overseeing the Cooperative’s government relations, public relations, marketing, and member programs. Prior to working for Palmetto Electric, he served as the Community Relations Manager for Hargray Communications. Tray is very involved in his community, currently serving on the executive board of the Southern Carolina Regional Development Alliance, Coastal Carolina Hospital Governing Board, and Vice-Chairman of the Community Foundation.

Coming Soon.

Kathleen Cullen Jordan retired from corporate and international finance 23 years ago and retired to Beaufort County, where she is active with not-profit board and committee service. She serves on the Curriculum Committee for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and has served on the boards of the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) , the Arts Council of Beaufort County, and Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity. Kathleen was a founding member of the Low Bottom Tutoring Program and co-founder of a Callawassie Island tutoring program for Ridgeland Elementary School. In her prior life in Manhattan, Kathleen was a Managing Director at Financial Security Assurance (FSA) , where she oversaw a team of corporate analysts for the firm, which is a S&P and Moody's triple-A rated corporate and municipal financial bond guarantor with more than $90 billion in structured financing guaranties and holding equity capital in excess of $800 million. In her 11 years with FSA, she traveled extensively throughout the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand where she met with corporations to analyze their operations for potential financial bond guaranties. Before FSA, Kathleen worked at Paine Webber, Irving Trust Company, Citisport, Inc., and the Independent Schools of Manhattan Film Cooperative in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. Kathleen lives on Callawassie Island with her husband, Jim, a published author and historian.

Rob Jordan has more than 30 years of sales, hospitality, and operations experience. He values and understands the dynamics of operating successful businesses, community stewardship, and collaboration with key business partners. Rob began his career with Marriott Vacation Company in 1986 and continued working with Marriott until 1996. During that time, he was awarded numerous top sales awards. After working with Marriott, Rob became a partner with the SERG Restaurant Group and is now a Senior Partner. SERG has 17 restaurants throughout Hilton Head Island and Bluffton and is Hilton Head Island’s largest employer with more than 1,000 employees. As a Senior Partner, Rob manages sales and marketing and sits on the Marketing Committee. He leads the proactive analysis and evaluation of SERG Restaurant Group’s success. Beyond his work with SERG, Rob is active with the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, the Hilton Head Island Business Workforce Coalition, and the Heritage Classic Foundation. Previously, he served on the board of the United Way of Beaufort County and completed Leadership Hilton Head Island-Bluffton. Rob is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and enjoys playing golf and exercising.

Lloyd W. "Fig" Newton is a retired Executive Vice President, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut. As Executive Vice President, he was responsible for all aspects of customer requirements, support, and services. He provided leadership and direction for all business development, aftermarket services and activities associated with integrated logistics support and fleet management. He was also responsible for worldwide customer satisfaction and the continued growth of the Military Engine business which has $1.3 Billion in annual revenue.

A retired four-star General, Newton joined Pratt & Whitney in September 2000 after a successful 34- & 1/2-year career with the US Air Force. He was born in Ridgeland, South Carolina, where he graduated from Jasper High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aviation education and commissioned a Second Lieutenant from Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee in 1966. In 1985, he received a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

The General is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, F-4, F-15, F-16, C-12 and the F-117 stealth fighter. In 1968, he flew 269 combat missions in Vietnam and was selected to join the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, “The Thunderbirds”, in November 1974, making him the first African American pilot to fly with the team. From 1978 to 1982, he was assigned as an Air Force congressional liaison officer with the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. He has commanded three wings, an air division and held numerous senior staff positions. He served as the Director of Operations, J-3, United States Special Operations Command and as Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.

Newton culminated his Air Force career as the Commander, Air Education and Training Command where he was responsible for recruiting, training and education for all Air Force personnel. His command consisted of 13 bases, 43,000 active-duty personnel and 14,000 civilians. In 1998, General Newton was inducted into the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame and in April 2005, he was appointed by President Bush to serve as a commissioner on the Defense 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (The BRAC). General Newton retired from Pratt & Whitney in March 2006 and currently serves on the Board of Directors of L-3 Harris Corporation, National Business Aviation Association, Polaris Tech Charter School and the Smithsonian, National Air & Space Museum, Emeritus. In June 2009, he was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as a commissioner for the White House Fellows Program. General Newton is married to the former Elouise Marine, and they reside in Bluffton, SC.

Dr. Tim Pearce is a distinguished surgeon and medical professional who has served the Lowcountry community for over 40 years. Born in Shelby, North Carolina, Dr. Pearce earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of South Carolina in 1971 and his M.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1974. He completed his surgical training at the Navy Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, and began a notable career with the United States Navy, where he served on active duty and in the reserves from 1972 to 1985, achieving the rank of Commander.

Dr. Pearce joined the staff at Beaufort Naval Hospital in 1980, serving there on active duty and later as a contract surgeon until 2010. He joined Beaufort Memorial Hospital in 1983, where he held numerous leadership roles, including Chair of the Board from 1992 to1996 and Chief of Staff from 2005 to 2008. He has been board-certified by the American Board of Surgery since 1981 and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Pearce has been a dedicated contributor to medical governance in South Carolina. He has served on the Board of the South Carolina Medical Association, including terms as President (2014-2015) and Chair of the Board (2010-2013). He remains active with the organization, serving as an AMA Delegate and on various committees. Dr. Pearce also serves on the Beaufort-Jasper Higher Education Commission, where he has been a member since 1996 and Chair since 2011. Dr. Pearce is actively involved in his community as a member of the Sea Island Rotary Club and the Health Advisory Committee for Beaufort County Schools. He and his wife, Brenda Padgett Pearce, have been married since 1983 and have three children and four grandchildren. They live in Beaufort.

Cole Peterson is President/CEO of Hollis Enterprises, LLC, a human resource consulting firm founded in 2004, following his retirement from Walmart, Inc. He specializes in executive coaching, succession planning, and keynote speaking. Cole served as Executive Vice President of People for Walmart, making him Chief Human Resource Officer for the world's largest private workforce. He was at the helm of human resources during Walmart’s most aggressive global expansion and helped diversify its workforce substantially. Today, Walmart is the country's top employer of African Americans and Latinos. Cole serves on the corporate boards of J.B. Hunt Transport and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. For both, he chairs the compensation and development committees and serves on the nominating and corporate governance committees. Formerly, Cole served on the ServiceMaster and Build-a-Bear Workshop boards. Cole’s numerous recognitions include Award for Professional Excellence from the Society for Human Resource Management and Trail Blazer Award from the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources’ Professionals. Cole is a Fellow of the Academy of Human Resources and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities. He is the author of How To Get There From Here: The Ten Lessons That Have Served Me Well. Cole holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Loyola University Chicago and resides on Hilton Head Island.

Justin Rice is the First Citizens Bank Market Executive for Beaufort and Jasper Counties. In this role, his responsibilities include providing leadership to the three retail offices as well as providing commercial and private banking services throughout the Lowcountry. Justin received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a graduate of the South Carolina Bankers School. He is active in the community, serving as a past director of Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club of Bluffton, and the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. Further, Justin has been a member of the Rotary Club of Bluffton since 2010. Justin and his wife, Tiffany, are the proud parents of three daughters, Adalyn, Sadie, and Presley. He enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his daughters’ sporting teams.

Dick Stewart is a recognized serial entrepreneur with a proven record of strategic planning and execution. Since returning to the Beaufort area in 1998, he has been instrumental in developing the strategic vision and transactions leading to several economic opportunities. Prior to returning to the Beaufort area, Dick had a successful career in wireless communications. After nearly 10 years with Motorola, he joined MCI then formed venture capital-backed start-up companies in the wireless carrier segment, which became part of Nextel. Afterwards, Dick launched Atlanta- based Grid Site, LLC tower company with venture partner American Tower Incorporated, based in Houston. Committed to local engagement, Dick has served as a member of Beaufort County Council and as chair of the Economic Development Committee, the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, and the Beaufort Arts Council. He was treasurer of The Port Royal Sound Foundation and is currently chair of The Higher Education Trust. Dick was recognized by The South Carolina Department of Commerce as an Economic Ambassador then as a Home-Grown Champion. His buildings and projects have received numerous awards for design and community contributions. Dick earned an MBA with honors in MIS and Finance from Mercer University.