Leadership
Thomas J. O'Rourke, Executive Director Email
| 2009-2010 Commissioners |
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Lisa S. King
Chair
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Lisa S. King is the daughter of Mrs. Richardine Alston and Mr. Charles and Thelma Shine. Upon graduating from Wando High School, Lisa pursued higher education at the University of South Carolina. She furthered her studies with a Masters Degree in Computer Resources and Information Management. Lisa is currently employed a Senior Systems Analyst for Charleston Water Systems.
Lisa was first appointed to the Commission in 2004, served as Vice Chair from 2005 to 2006, and has served as Chair since January 2008. During her time, she also chaired the Finance Committee and the Planning and Development Committee. Lisa has seen unprecedented growth during her time on the Commission.
She is actively involved with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she serves as the local Chapter President. She also Chairs a Regional position, and serves on a national committee of this 200,000 plus international membership organization. Lisa also sits on the Board of Ladies Enriching the Community, (LETC, INC.) a non-profit foundation.
Lisa and her husband, John, have two children. Daughter Ashley is pursuing a Business Degree at Charleston Southern University and son Ryan is currently at Furman University where he is also a member of the Paladin football team. |
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Ravi Sanyal
Vice-Chair
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Ravi Sanyal was born in New York City and grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY. His mother’s family is originally from Charleston, so the Lowcountry became Ravi’s second home. Growing up, Ravi spent most summers in Charleston visiting James Island and Palmetto Islands county parks. Ravi’s family’s favorite beach destination was Kiawah Beachwalker Park, where crabbing was a favorite family activity. Eventually, Ravi’s family moved back to the Charleston area, and Ravi settled here permanently.
Ravi began his legal career as an Assistant Solicitor for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in 2000 and remained there until 2006. Since then, he has been with Clawson & Staubes where he practices civil litigation.
Ravi remains active in the Charleston County Bar Association and was on the Executive Committee for The Charleston County Bar in 2005. Ravi lives in Charleston with his wife Kathryn and 2 children. |
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Matthew Yelverton
Secretary-Treasurer
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Matthew E. Yelverton was born in Gainesville, Florida to Richard and Martha Yelverton. Matthew grew up in Flat Rock, North Carolina, where he attended Hendersonville High School. Matthew graduated from North Carolina State University, with a degree in Political Science and Philosophy. He was a four-year Varsity letterman. He then went on to receive his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Matthew is licensed to practice law by the South Carolina Bar and by the North Carolina State Bar. He has been admitted to practice in State and Federal courts as well as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the South Carolina and North Carolina Bar Associations, the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, the North Carolina Association of Trial Lawyers, and the South Carolina Nursing Home Litigators Group. Matthew was co-founder of the Spartanburg Wills for Heroes Program. |
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Benjy Cooke
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Benjy Cooke is a native South Carolinian, raised in Greenville. After graduating from The University of South Carolina in 1995 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, he lived seasonally in Nantucket, MA; Steamboat Springs, CO; Clyde Park, MT; and Wickenburg, AZ. He returned to the state and settled in Charleston, his permanent home since 1998.
After a number of years in the meeting and incentive business, he sold his interest in First Coast Arrangements of Charleston, a destination management company. In 2002, he received his license from the State Association of Realtors. After co-founding Four Corners Land & Investment, he and his partners merged with Lat Purser & Associates in the spring of 2009.
He has been active in the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department for many years and works to promote and participate in local charities, including Habitat for Humanity, Share Our Suzy, and Hands of Charleston.
He and his wife Brandi live in Mount Pleasant with their beloved Springer Spaniel, Lady. He enjoys playing golf and writing, and has been published locally in both The Charleston Review and Oblique Magazine. |
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Rosemarie Gregory-West
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Rosemarie Gregory-West was born and raised in Charleston. During her childhood, her parents owned a mom and pop store downtown called Hanover Groceries.
Rosemarie has a Masters Degree in Education and is certified as an Early Childhood and Elementary teacher. She is also certified as a school administer and supervisor. She taught school in New York for over nine years and for half a year in South Carolina. She also owned a private daycare center and was contracted with the state to provide community residential services for persons with disabilities.
She and her husband, James West, have two daughters, both married, and 3 grandchildren. Both daughters are products of Charleston County Schools. One is a medical doctor and the other is a historian and special education teacher.
Rosemarie enjoys traveling and writing. She is committed to advocating for her community and helping provide a better quality of life for seniors. |
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J. Michael Surles
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Michael Surles received his Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Newberry University in 1996. He served on the Charleston Trident Board of Realtors from 1982 to 1984 and as President in 1987, the year he was awarded their Realtor of the Year.
Michael served on the Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Mount Pleasant during 1989-1998 and as the Chairman of the Planning Commission for Mount Pleasant from 1999-2003. He then sat as a Board Member for the Charleston County Election and Voter Registration from 2003 to2006.
Michael has been a resident of Charleston County for the past 51 years and currently resides on the Isle of Palms. He has two children, Mark and David, and four grandchildren, Reid, Katie, Lilly, and David. |
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Mickey Whatley
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Michael Stewart “Mickey" Whatley is a lifelong resident of Charleston County. Mickey attended the Southern Police Institute and Charleston Southern University, formerly the Baptist College of Charleston.
He served two different terms in the South Carolina General Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives representing District 113, Charleston County. Mickey served as the Chief of Police for the City of North Charleston from 1992 to 1994 and was a Lieutenant for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, (SLED) from 1984 to 1992. He also served in the United States Military from 1958 to 1960.
Mickey’s past affiliations include: Past President of the South Carolina Chapter of the FBI National Academy, a member of the National Law Enforcement Explorer Commission, the International Association of Police Chiefs, the Environmental Crimes Commission, and National Boy Scouts Council of America.
He is the father of four children: Tim, Todd, Leah, and John Michael. |
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