This piece is part of our GVLtoday Q+A series. Do you know someone we should interview? Nominate them here.
Tami Miller is the Leadership Development Director at the Greenville Chamber where she oversees the Leadership Greenville program. We asked her 10 questions about LG + her impact in the community.
Give us a little background on how you got here.
I am a former teacher in public education. About 14 years ago, I had the opportunity to take part in a Greenville Chamber program as a teacher. It was transformational in my classroom, and about a year or two later, I was offered the opportunity to manage that program for the Chamber. I did that until 2011, when I moved over to the Leadership Development department.
Why do you think the LG program is so important to our community?
The reason it’s so special to me is because it uncovers the wonders and the opportunities [in our community]. It’s all about growing [students’] understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, including how to handle conversations that build ground instead of bring things down.
I also think that LG empowers and creates a fire in individuals to pursue [their] passions. It might happen during the class year, it might years later — but the connections + the fires are built in that class.
What advice would you give for someone applying to the program or about to start it?
Before you submit the application, make sure it is the right time for you to make the commitment. Once you’ve gone through LG, you should no longer sit on the sidelines of our community. Also, keep your heart and mind open to every perspective, every conversation, and every experience so that you can process + understand what’s going on in our community. Anyone interested in applying to be a part of Leadership Greenville class 49 can do so here — applications are due Fri., April 1.
Is there anything you’re looking forward to seeing in the future classes?
With each class, there are the questions of what will this class tackle? and what will this class do for the community? I think what I want to see for the program in general is that our legacy of being bold and making impactful, meaningful contributions to our community continues and builds for 50 more years — at least.
What does your ideal day in Greenville look like?
I think a perfect day for me in Greenville is starting off the day by either riding the Swamp Rabbit Trail or taking a hike + enjoying the green spaces of Greenville with my family. Then, coming back, walking downtown, feeling the energy, and grabbing a coffee or one of my favorite meals.
Who are two or three other local leaders you’re inspired by? Why?
Two that immediately come to mind are Minor Shaw of LG class eight and Merl Code of LG class 24. They are two community leaders that have been instrumental in a lot of what we enjoy today — both with economic development + quality of life. They don’t seek recognition, they seek community change.
If you had to pick one moment, one class day, just one instance from your time in LG — what would you say is the most special or notable moment?
That’s like trying to pick a favorite child. I think I’ll answer you like this: There are special moments all throughout the LG experience. You see emotions come to the surface + lightbulbs flipping on in people’s heads as they’re taking in and processing information. My favorite moment is probably the last time that the class and I are together in a class year — that goes for every class I’ve had the honor of being a part of. You see all of the dots connecting individually and collectively with the group, and it is a powerful moment for me and for the entire class.
Every year the class gets split up into project teams to do community projects. Tell us a little bit about class 48’s projects.
A really impactful part of the LG experience is the community projects. Organizations in the community submit proposals to which the class reviews and each project team selects a project to work on. At any given time in LG history, we’ve done two or three projects per year. This year, we are honored to work with Pendleton Place and Homes of Hope who are partnering with Upstate Warrior Solution.
There’s an interactive map on the Chamber’s website that allows you to see where past class projects are in the community. You can also read more about each individual project — see details about Homes of Hope here and Pendleton Place here. Interested in donating to the projects? You can do that here — use the drop down menu to select the project you’d like to donate to.
Name some notable LG graduates and what they’re doing now.
Well the obvious answer seems to be Ryan Heafy and Ryan Johnston — the founders of GVLtoday and now 6AM City. They hatched the idea for GVLtoday while in LG. They were both in class 40. Another that comes to mind is the alum who moved to Cashiers, NC and was instrumental in the creation of Leadership Cashiers. Those are just three of the 2,000+ people who have graduated from LG. You can see a list of LG alumni here.
What do you think Greenville will be known for in 10 years?
I think it’s going to be a community that is known for its innovativeness and inclusivity, as well as a place that’s continually evolving to be welcoming of the voices and experiences that help build it into the best version of Greenville.
