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SC CoEE Review Board Welcomes New Members
6/29/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Five appointed to group that oversees program to advance in-state research  

COLUMBIA, SC--Since October 2006, five new members have been appointed to the South Carolina Centers of Economic Excellence (CoEE) Review Board.

The CoEE Program, also known as the Endowed Chairs Program, was created to fuel research in areas that will advance South Carolina's economy. The CoEE Review Board oversees the operation of the program, including approving new Centers of Economic Excellence and distributing funds, as well as reporting progress and results to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

Gregg Morton and Melvin Williams were appointed by Glenn McConnell, President Pro Temore of the South Carolina Senate.

Morton is president of AT&T's South Carolina operations. AT&T recently merged with BellSouth; Morton's previous position was vice president for legislation and chief of staff for BellSouth's Governmental Affairs Office in Washington, DC. He has been with BellSouth since 1978 and has held various positions with the company in Charleston, Columbia and Atlanta.  

Williams is construction services department manager at the Charleston office of engineering firm S&ME, Inc. Williams is director at-large of the South Carolina section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is also on the board of the American Subcontractors Association of the Carolinas, and is a member of the Charleston Civil Engineers Club, the Charleston Contractors' Association and the Society of American Military Engineers.

J. Lyles Glenn and Keith Munson were appointed by Governor Mark Sanford.

Glenn is a principal with Keenan Development Associates. During his 25-year career, he has led or participated in the development and award of approximately $400 million in federal and state contracts. He has also played a pivotal role in business development opportunities for a variety of clients. His previous positions include serving as vice president, chief operating officer and chief executive assistant to the president of the University of South Carolina; and serving as executive assistant to a former governor of South Carolina.

Munson is an attorney with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC in Greenville. He has more than 20 years of experience representing major corporations and government entities. He currently serves on the board of the Upstate Alliance and has also served on the board of the South Carolina Public Service Authority.

Patricia Wilson was appointed by Speaker of the S.C. House of Representatives Bobby Harrell.

Wilson has served on the boards of many state and local cultural organizations, including the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina State Museum and the South Carolina Arts Commission.

The S.C. Centers of Economic Excellence Program was established by the South Carolina General Assembly in 2002, with $200 million appropriated from the South Carolina Education Lottery Account to fund the program through 2010. The legislation authorizes the state's three public research institutions, MUSC, Clemson and USC, to use state funds to create Centers of Economic Excellence in research areas that will advance South Carolina's economy. Each Center of Economic Excellence is awarded between $2 million to $5 million in state funds, which must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis with federal, private or municipal funds. The program also supports CoEE endowed chairs, world-renowned scientists who lead the Centers of Economic Excellence. By investing in talent and technology, the CoEE Program is designed to help fuel the state's knowledge economy, resulting in higher paying jobs and an improved standard of living in South Carolina.