Rural Growth InitiativeSustainable Rural Futures

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Our team

The people behind the initiative.

A dynamic network of Southeast professionals united by a passion for rural renewal — bringing diverse backgrounds and innovative approaches to communities too often overlooked.

Leadership

Our founders and project leadership.

Paul Daniele

Paul Daniele

Executive Director & Co-Founder

Paul Daniele is a seasoned professional with a passion for rural economic development. With over 20 years of experience in international development organizations, he has been working to address systemic issues in rural communities in South Carolina since 2021.

Jonathan Bennett

Jonathan Bennett

Assistant Director – Economic Development & Co-Founder

Jonathan Bennett is the Co-Founder and Assistant Director of the Rural Growth Initiative, dedicated to fostering sustainable growth and innovation through comprehensive development plans and historical preservation initiatives.

Luke D. Giddings

Luke D. Giddings

Project Manager – Project Hometown SC

Luke Giddings serves as Project Manager for the Rural Growth Initiative (RGI) and is actively leading work on Project Hometown SC, coordinating day-to-day efforts to help rural South Carolina communities attract, retain, and grow the residents they need to thrive. He brings a unique blend of public-sector leadership and hands-on community development experience to the RGI team.

Advisory Board

Specialists lending decades of expertise across the forces that shape rural communities.

Nathan H. Nevels II

Appalachian Region

Nathan H. Nevels II

Advisory Board

A native of McCreary County, Kentucky, Nathan has dedicated 32 years to education, serving as a secondary educator, principal, and grant writer across three Southeastern Kentucky school districts and the federal Pine Knot Job Corps facility.

Austin Saggus

Special Projects

Austin Saggus

Advisory Board

Austin Saggus is a dynamic professional with a strong academic background, having earned his MBA from Clemson University and a Bachelor’s from Furman University.

Curtis Lee

Economic Development

Curtis Lee

Advisory Board

Curtis Lee is an experienced executive, retired Marine Corps colonel, successful entrepreneur, and community builder. He holds 26 years of corporate experience with Rubbermaid, General Electric, and Sonoco Products Company, with expertise in manufacturing, process improvement, supply chain, sales & marketing, and business development.

Tiffany Bradbury

Rural Community Communications

Tiffany Bradbury

Advisory Board

Tiffany is an experienced communicator and problem solver with a focus on community engagement and rural economic development. A native of Roanoke, VA, she began her career in public relations at WSLS-TV before transitioning to roles with Advance Auto Parts and the City of Roanoke.

Billy Parrish

Downtown Development & Housing

Billy Parrish

Advisory Board

Since 1981, Billy has been a pioneer in downtown revitalization in the U.S., beginning as one of the first thirty Main Street Managers. His 40-plus-year career spans roles such as Director of the National Main Street Center, executive in various preservation and housing development organizations, and leading Georgia’s downtown development.

Dr. Adam L. Cheeseman

Rural Education Renewal

Dr. Adam L. Cheeseman

Advisory Board

Dr. Adam L. Cheeseman is the Superintendent of Doddridge County Schools. He oversees the 1,200-student district in North Central West Virginia, where he has implemented many innovative changes including a unique college and career readiness program, a holistic child department, and partnerships with JASON Learning to develop localized curriculums.

Brett

Rural Public Utilities

Brett

Advisory Board

Brett is a distinguished expert in rural utilities, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Infrastructure Advising, LLC in Charleston, South Carolina. He applies over ten years of specialized experience in the water, wastewater, and stormwater sectors to enhance rural infrastructure systems.

Dr. Edward Johnson

Rural Education Renewal

Dr. Edward Johnson

Advisory Board

Dr. Edward Johnson is an accomplished educator and administrator with a proven track record of turning around numerous struggling schools in rural South Carolina. He is also an Army veteran.

Dr. Charlotte Toole Galloway

Rural Public Health

Dr. Charlotte Toole Galloway

Advisory Board

Charlotte Toole Galloway, MSPH, PhD, is a seasoned public health expert and evaluator with an extensive career in community health, policy, and advocacy. Her work spans areas such as teen pregnancy prevention, HIV/AIDS strategy, community health mobilization, and educational program assessment.

Steve Eames

Community Safety

Steve Eames

Advisory Board

Steve Eames is a highly accomplished individual with a diverse background spanning military, journalism, and economic development. He started his career in the Australian Army, including operational tours with a Tier One special operations unit, then transitioned to combat reporting.

Harry J. Polis, Jr.

Community Safety

Harry J. Polis, Jr.

Advisory Board

Harry J. Polis, Jr. is a dedicated law enforcement professional with over 22 years of experience with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Since 2021, he has served as Deputy Chief of the Operations Division, managing fiscal operations for an annual budget exceeding $48 million.

David Warner

Startups & Entrepreneurship

David Warner

Advisory Board

David Warner’s profound knowledge of the economic and technological landscape is instrumental to RGI’s success. His recent tenure as Director of the Technology Incubator in Rock Hill and previously as an Economic Development Manager for the City equipped him with deep institutional knowledge.

Aaron Bolzle

Tech Ecosystems & Remote Work

Aaron Bolzle

Advisory Board

Aaron Bolzle’s transformative work in Tulsa Remote illustrates his exceptional ability to create vibrant tech communities. As the architect behind one of the most successful remote work initiatives in the US, Aaron has demonstrated how strategic support and community building can attract and retain top tech talent.

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We’re always growing our network of professionals, partners, and advocates for rural America.

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