Board of Directors

Erik B. Whaley

President

Erik is a 1989 graduate from Winthrop College and received his BA in Mass Communications. He has 30 years of development experience. He is a CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) and active in community activities where he serves on boards for YMCA Metro and Rose Ball. He attends Grace Church. Erik is married to Ann, a Labor Delivery nurse at BSSF, and they have three children; William (20), Virginia Grace (18) and McCoy (14).

Gary L. Daniels, Jr.

Chair

Gary is a native Greenvillian and 1991 graduate of the University of South Carolina. He and his wife Catherine have three boys. Gary loves serving his community through various organizations including Buncombe Street United Methodist Church, The South Carolina Children’s Theatre, The Phoenix Center, and the City of Greenville 2040 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The opportunity to support the Mission of Bon Secours Health System to “Bring compassion to health care and to be Good Help to Those in Need®, especially those who are poor and dying” inspires me.

Fred Gilmer III

Vice Chair

Fred Gilmer has served as an Executive Vice President and the senior lending officer of Southern First Bank since 1999. He has over 28 years of banking experience. Fred is a 1986 graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in management and continues to be actively involved with Clemson University as a current officer with the All In Foundation. He currently serves on the Bon Secours St. Francis Foundation, is the current chair of the finance committee at Buncombe Street Methodist Church, and serves with the American Heart Association.

Patricia Calder

Secretary

Patricia is the Managing Director of the Carolinas Chapter CMAA (Club Management Association of America) and has managed private clubs for over 30 years. She is honored to serve on the Foundation Board because she has experienced firsthand the compassionate and expert care that Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital provides. As a breast cancer survivor under St. Francis care, she is passionate about helping others who require the faith, love, and hope that Bon Secours St. Francis professionals offer.

Robert T. Victor

Treasurer

Rob went to Furman University and has called Greenville home ever since. He is a Principal at Foster Victor Wealth Advisors and is committed to developing enduring relationships with his firm’s clients. He is married to his wife Carley and has one son, Cole. Rob feels that the direction and leadership of Bon Secours St. Francis is one that has Christ’s hands all over it. He feels blessed to be able to play a small role in helping out in any way that he can.

David L. Beard

David recently retired from commercial banking following a career that spanned over 40 years. He earned both a B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina. David has been active in the Greenville community holding leadership and fundraising positions with the Charity Ball Board (Rose Ball), the Museum Association. Greenville Symphony, Artisphere and the American Heart Association. His wife, Ginnie, is a St. Francis Forum graduate. David is honored to serve on the St. Francis Foundation Board.

Dr. Marcus Blackstone

Marcus Blackstone, MD is the System Chief Medical Officer for Acute Care Services. Dr. Blackstone has been with Bon Secours Medical Group since 2014, serving initially as senior group lead physician for primary care and then advancing to the role of physician lead for clinical quality, managed care contracts and care model innovation. In this position, he combined his clinical expertise, strategic vision, entrepreneurial skills and relationship building to address complex issues across multiple disciplines and service lines. He assumed the position of chief clinical officer in April 2019 and oversees clinical functions for the hospitals and Bon Secours Medical Group. Dr. Blackstone holds a Bachelor of Science in physical science from Auburn University and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, as well as a Master of Arts in Health Care Law and Policy from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in New York. His internal medicine residency and chief residency were at the Greenville Hospital System. He has practiced internal medicine in Simpsonville, SC since 1998.

Dr. Ahmad Boota

Dr. Ahmad Boota has been a Pulmonologist/Intensivist with Palmetto Pulmonary since December 1996. He is the Medical Director of St. Francis Sleep Disorder Center and has served on several committees at Bon Secours Health System including the BSMG Board of Directors and Ethics Committee. He feels very blessed to be working with very dynamic and dedicated leaders which help him to pursue his passion in helping others. Dr. Boota is truly honored to be a part of the St. Francis Foundation Board and will do his best to help our healing ministry serving our community and all people in need.

Julie Godshall Brown

Julie owns Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing. She has been with her second-generation family business since 1995. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Clemson University and a Master of Personnel and Employee Relations from the University of South Carolina. Julie is a St. Francis Forum graduate and a strong believer in the ministry of Bon Secours St. Francis. Julie currently serves as a Commissioner for the SC Commission on Higher Education, the Board of Governors for the Poinsett Club, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Bank of Travelers Rest.

Kimberly Cooley

Kimberly is a community volunteer who has worked for three decades with non- profits who serve our community’s most vulnerable population. She firmly believes that faith and healing are inseparable. Jeremiah 33:6 “But then I will bring health and healing to the people there. I will heal them and let them enjoy great peace and safety. “

Pamela Evette

Pamela Evette is the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. She is honored to join the St. Francis organization as they faithfully minister and serve those in our community.

Dr. Alex Garvey, Ph.D.

Dr. Garvey joined Bon Secours St. Francis in March of 2016 as Senior Vice President of Mission. He received his Ph.D. in Healthcare Ethics. His motto, “We are God’s people, Helping God’s work” is lived daily within the halls of St. Francis and the community. Alex was born in Cork, Ireland (one of our sister Bon Secours hospitals) and still speaks Gaelic as a second language.

Doris Haley

Doris is passionate about serving others and is committed to participating in whole-person wellness and maintaining healthy communities . She is honored to be a member of the Bon Secours St. Francis family. Doris is an accomplished entrepreneur and career corporate health nurse. She recently decided to shift her business focus to Health Management Consulting. Doris' mission is to help companies strategically plan and implement health/wellness initiatives and compliancy. She firmly believes proactive wellness programs are the key to a healthy, productive workforce. In her spare time and in her never-ending spirit of entrepreneurship, she recently opened MIX Salon Studios with family members.

Beau Harling

Beau was born and raised in Greenville and has worked in the insurance business his entire adult life. He is currently the VP of BSI Companies, a locally owned TPA. He has been married to his wife, Laura, for 14 years, and they have two children, Perry and Danvers, ages 7 and 10. He is a part of the foundation board because he believes that to truly heal we must encompass the body and the soul.

Edward P. Heidtman, MD

Dr. Heidtman is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Carolina Women’s Health. He is the immediate past Chief of Staff for Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, and is honored to continue serving the healing ministry by joining the Foundation Board. He and his wife, Leigh, have been strongly associated with Bon Secours St. Francis for many years, and she serves on the Women of St. Francis and is a St. Francis Forum graduate. They have two children.

Kathy B. Higgins

Kathy is involved in her family's real estate business and also works with many Greenville area non-profits. As a board member of the St. Francis Foundation, she has seen how compassionate, excellent health care impacts our community. In her words, "Bon Secours St. Francis helps make Greenville a great place to live."

Barry J. Lynch

Martha McKissick

Martha is a Greenville native and community volunteer. A graduate of Furman University, she and her husband Smyth have three children who also live and work in Greenville. Martha loves the faith-based ministry at St. Francis and looks forward to being a part of the Foundation and the mission it supports.

Sidney Mitchell, Jr.

Sidney is an attorney with Mitchell Ramseur, LLC. As a native of Greenville, he has observed the people of Bon Secours St. Francis truly carry out the mission of serving the needs of our community. He is married to Katie and they have (3) active daughters. He is honored to participate and support the Foundation.

Steve M. Newman, MD

Dr. Newman is a practicing family physician with Poinsett Family Practice. He supports the St. Francis Foundation as a means to tangibly support the values and mission of the Bon Secours Health System to care for the poor, dying, and less fortunate in our community.

Beth Nuckolls

Beth is a housewife and mother of three children. She is a community volunteer and enjoys supporting the St. Francis Foundation because the health system is inspired by Christian philosophy and values. It is also a caring institution that provides top quality healthcare for everyone it serves.

Lee Palms

Lee and his family have lived in and supported the Greenville community since 1997. He is married to Nelle Swearingen Palms and they have three children, Cannon, Moseley, and Hallie. They are long-time members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where Nelle works as the Director of Admissions for St. Mary’s Catholic School. Lee is the Market Leader for HUB International. He previously served on the Foundation Board from 2008-2017 and was Board Chair from 2014-2017

Sally Russell

Sally previously served on the Foundation Board from 2010-2015, in which she was Board Chair in 2011. She chaired the St. Francis Cancer Center Campaign in 2013-2014. Sally is also a community volunteer and Emeritus Board Member of The Meyer Center. Sally has found it a privilege to have been associated with the St. Francis Foundation for the past ten years, observing the many accomplishments through the work of the foundation. Bon Secours St. Francis ministers both physically and spiritually to its patients, as well as reaching out to the community at large to form partnerships that result in the improvement of circumstances for so many.

Carl H. Sharperson, Jr.

Carl is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, former USMC Aviator, and former executive for several fortune 500 companies. He is currently the CEO of Sharperson’s Executive Leader and is a Leadership Innovation Strategist who helps leaders go from being mediocre to maximizing their potential. He is an author, speaker, leadership coach, business consultant and professional recruiter. He is married to Jacqueline and they are the parents of a son and a daughter.

Robert D. Siegel, MD

Bob is the Director of the Cancer Program at Bon Secours St. Francis. The Mission of the institution has been the guiding star in his efforts to operationalize the most patient-centric care possible. Participation on the Board represents an opportunity to further contribute to this important work.

Wendy Walden

Wendy Walden is associate vice president for executive affairs at Greenville Technical College and a member of the college’s executive leadership team. She is responsible for setting strategic priorities while working to build partnerships with local, state, and national business and community leaders to ensure that all areas of the college have the resources needed to fulfill GTC’s mission. In her role, she serves as an extension of and special advisor to the office of the president. Her other areas of responsibility include diversity and inclusion and executive communications. She’s a servant leader and is committed to the mission of Bon Secours to be of “good help” to the poor and marginalized.

Jessica Weingartner

Jessica Weingartner is the Director of Mission for Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville, SC. Before joining Bon Secours St. Francis in 2018, she was Mission Fellow for Bon Secours Health System, Inc. and Ethics Intern for Ascension Health. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology from The Aquinas Institute of Theology and a Master’s in Health Care Ethics from Saint Louis University.