COLUMBIA–The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina announces its 2016 board of trustees’ officers on Jan. 14: Rick Mendoza, Chair; Gerald Smalls, Vice-Chair; Karen Smith, Secretary, and Andy Folsom, Treasurer.
Rick Mendoza (Chair)
Mendoza earned a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from the University Of South Carolina School Of Business and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School Of Law, where he later served as an adjunct professor. He is a member of Nexsen Pruet, LLC and practices in the areas of creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law. He is a certified bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law specialist in the State of South Carolina, and serves as Chair of the Bankruptcy and Debtor-Creditor Law Specialization Advisory Board for the State of South Carolina.
Gerald Smalls (Vice-Chair)
Smalls received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from South Carolina State University, a Master of Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University, a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law, a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center and completed post doctorate work at Harvard University’s Institute for Management. He currently serves as dean and professor of law and accounting at the Benedict College School of Business in Columbia.
Prior to his current position, he served as General Counsel/Chief of Staff to the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services and as an associate with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, L.L.P.
Karen Smith (Secretary)
Smith is the Midlands and Piedmont Regional Vice President for TD Bank. As Regional Vice President, she is responsible for the successful operational management of commercial banking while providing leadership and guidance for the region’s overall strategic and market performance. Her territory includes Richland, Lexington, Aiken, Newberry, Kershaw, Fairfield, and York counties.
Smith is a career banker with over 29 years in the industry, primarily in commercial banking. She has been with TD Bank for nine years in Florence and Columbia. During her career, she has had the opportunity to spend several years in Operations, Personnel, Wealth Management, Retail and Credit; allowing her to gain a broader view and insight into Banking.
A community advocate and volunteer, Karen serves on the Board of Trustees for EdVenture Children’s Museum and The Midlands Leaders Business Group. She was recently named as one of Columbia’s 50 Most Influential People 2012 and was a PalmettoCenter for Women 2012 TWIN Nominee.
Karen is a graduate of Clemson University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Administrative Management.
John “Andy” Folsom (Treasurer)
Folsom is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and the University Of South Carolina School of Law. He is an Assistant General Counsel at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina in Columbia. Prior to joining the Law Department at BlueCross BlueShield, he worked as a corporate attorney for Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta.
Folsom participates in numerous community and civic activities. Currently, he is the President and a Board Member of Salute from the Shore which was organized to pay tribute to the men and women of the military on the 4th of July. He also serves on the Advisory Board of HomeWorks, chairs the Attorney Campaign for the United Way of the Midlands and will join the Board of the United Way in July of 2013. He is also very involved with Washington and Lee, serving as the Co-Chair of the Alumni Admissions Program for the Midlands and as a Class Agent.
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, established in 1996, is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. The Foundation is committed to addressing the needs of the poor and underserved in all 46 South Carolina counties, and strategically uses resources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership.
