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The Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the selection of Brian Swords as its new President and CEO. Swords will begin work on June 17, succeeding Cindy Hopkins who is retiring after 12 years as head of the organization. Swords is a native of Pickens County and no stranger to the Easley area. He served on the Easley Chamber board for over 12 years and was chairman of the board in 2012. Swords’ background includes both the private and public sectors, as well as extensive experience in economic development and public policy. He spent the last five years as Vice President of Southern Wesleyan University. Before his appointment at Southern Wesleyan, he served over 28 years in a variety of leadership roles at TriCounty Technical College. Before his retirement from the Technical College System in 2019, he spent the last 12 years of his time there building and operating Tri-County’s Easley Campus, in addition to overseeing the college’s extension campuses and workforce development centers in Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties. While at Tri-County he spent over 10 years working as a part of the college’s Corporate and Continuing Education Division, where he worked closely with area economic development projects, as well as coordinating training and development for area business and industry. In addition to his experience in education, Swords has also run a successful consulting business for many years. From a public policy perspective, Swords was elected to serve three terms on the Pickens County School Board where he spent much of his time in board leadership. During that time, he was appointed to several state and national-level boards and committees. Swords is a graduate and past board member of both Leadership Pickens County and Leadership South Carolina. He is also one of the founding board members of the Junior Leadership Pickens County Program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Wesleyan University, as well as a master’s degree in technology and human resource development, and a doctorate degree in career and technical education leadership from Clemson University. “I am both excited and humbled to step into this new role. It’s like I’m coming back home. I worked my way through college here in Easley at Alice Manufacturing Company, returned years later to build and operate the Easley Campus of Tri-County Tech where I spent almost a decade, and now I’m stepping into what I’d call a dream job with the Chamber. Cindy has left some huge shoes to fill, as she has done a tremendous job. I can’t wait to get out and meet our members,” said Swords. Jeff Kittle, Chairman of the Easley Chamber Board of Directors, said, “Brian Swords has been a part of the Easley Chamber for decades and a part of the community all his life. I think most people in the chamber and in Pickens County know him. He has been an unbelievable leader in our community, a dedicated chamber member, a chamber board member, and a chamber board chairman. And he is going to be an incredible chamber president. We are all going to miss Cindy more than words can say, but are so fortunate to have such a wonderful and tremendously qualified person to fill her position. I, along with our full board of directors are extremely excited to welcome Brian and we look forward to being part of the Greater Easley Chamber’s next chapter.” Cindy Hopkins shared, “I’m excited Brian has been named as our next Easley Chamber president. I’ve had the privilege of working with Brian for over 20 years with community programs in both Pickens and Anderson counties, so I know the high caliber of leadership and passion he will bring to this position. And due to his long-standing service on our chamber board of directors, he is very knowledgeable about our organizational mission, successes, and challenges. His experience, combined with his 30-year track record of building and nurturing relationships and collaborations, makes Brian the perfect person to lead our Easley Chamber and business community.” Established in 1935, the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce represents approximately 350 business investors with a mission to serve as an advocate for business growth and sustainability in the greater Easley-Powdersville area. For more information, visit www.easleychamber.org.