Overview
The USCA Innovation, Economic and Workforce Development Council serves as an advisory body, helping the university align its research, innovation, and strategic initiatives with broader economic and regional development goals. The council strengthens collaboration between the university, industry, and government to drive innovation and regional prosperity.
Purpose
- Foster innovation ecosystems:
Connect the university with local industries, entrepreneurs, Department of Energy, Department of War, and government partners to promote innovation, commercialization, and institutional growth. - Drive regional economic growth:
Support strategies that translate academic strengths and university initiatives into measurable regional economic impact. - Advise on policy and strategy:
Provide guidance to university leadership on enhancing connectivity, innovation, technology transfer, and workforce development.
Responsibilities
- Strategic guidance:
Shape the university’s innovation strategy, research priorities, and partnership development. - Economic development Initiatives:
Support programs that attract investment, create startups, and strengthen the region’s competitiveness. - Industry collaboration:
Build partnerships with businesses to expand internships, applied research, and technology commercialization opportunities. - Entrepreneurship support:
Oversee or advise on incubators, accelerators, and venture creation programs. - Policy and advocacy:
Advise on state or regional innovation policy and advocate for university-led economic and workforce initiatives.
Prospective Initiatives
- Launch technology parks or innovation districts
- Expand workforce development programs
- Strengthen public–private research collaborations
- Support student entrepreneurship and startup ventures
- Facilitate alignment and synergy among the Cyber Integration Center, Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, and USCA missions and activities
Members of the USCA Innovation, Economic and Workforce Development Council, an advisory group that connects the university with industry and government partners to advance research, innovation, and regional economic growth.
Council Membership
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Sen. Tom Young (R-SC District 24) has served in the South Carolina State Senate since 2012 after serving four years in the S.C. House of Representatives before that. A graduate of Aiken High School and the University of South Carolina, he practices law in his hometown with Young & Thurmond, LLC. He is also the chairman of the Senate’s Family & Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Aiken County Legislative Delegation.
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Dr. Daniel J. Heimmermann became the fifth Chancellor of the University of South Carolina Aiken on July 1, 2021.
Originally from Wisconsin, Chancellor Heimmermann received undergraduate degrees in history and Spanish before earning Master of Arts and Ph.D. in early-modern French history from Marquette University.
Before coming to USCA, Dr. Heimmermann served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas Permian Basin (2014-2021), where he ranked as the most senior chief academic officer in the University of Texas System. He also held the same role at Mississippi University for Women from 2012-2014 and, from 2008-2012, was Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Brownsville (presently The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley).
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Rep. Bill Taylor (R–District 86) is serving his eighth term in the South Carolina General Assembly. He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and serves on the Artificial Intelligence Committee. Before entering public service, Taylor spent 42 years in media as a television reporter, producer, anchor, and news director. He later co-founded a media consulting firm that grew into a family of companies with operations in Dallas, Los Angeles and London.
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Rep. Charlie Hartz (R-SC District 81) has served in the State House since 2025 and owns several local businesses in Aiken. He is a graduate of Alfred University. In the State House, he serves on the Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs and Regulations, Admin. Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Committees. He also serves on the boards of The Aiken Corporation, The Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce and The United Way.
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As Aiken’s city manager, Stuart Bedenbaugh serves as the chief executive officer for the City of Aiken, informing and advising city council about services provided to city residents, overseeing the administration of all city departments and appointing department directors. Originally from Clearwater, the University of South Carolina graduate previously served as he executive director of Aiken County Registration and Elections Commission and as an auditor at the South Carolina Legislative Audit Council. He also worked with the Lower Savannah Council of Governments.
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Robbie Bennett is the president & CEO of the SRS Community Reuse Organization, where he leads regional efforts in housing strategy, workforce development and nuclear policy, including the advancement of a long-term nuclear economy strategy supporting the Savannah River Site. His work focuses on aligning public and private partners to support sustainable growth and meet evolving workforce demands. Throughout his career, he has partnered with global employers and community stakeholders to deliver complex economic development projects, with expertise in strategic planning, cross-sector partnership building and industrial site development. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Lander University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina.
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Dave Brendza, division vice president and general manager, OneADP Augusta Division, has been with ADP for 41 years. He has driven 40 percent workforce growth and a $22 million expansion in Augusta. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in accounting and management information systems from Robert Morris University. Dave was inducted into the Augusta Business Hall of Fame in 2024 and was recognized as one of Georgia’s 500 Most Influential Leaders by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2025.
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Gary Bunker has served as the Aiken County Council chair since 2017. The former councilman served two terms, from 2005 through 2012, and works at Savannah River Site in project controls and business management. He was elected vice chairman three times and was chairman of the Administrative Committee for four years. He previously served on the Board of the Economic Development Partnership Board. He's a Certified Cost Consultant (AACE International) and a Project Management Professional (Project Management Institute).
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Jim Clifford has served as the city administrator for the City of North Augusta since August 2020. In this role, he supervises and coordinates the activities of the city staff and advises the city council. He is a retired Army colonel with 26 years of service. His final assignment was commander, U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Gordon, Georgia. His education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Rutgers University, a Master of Arts in Information Technology Management from Webster University and a Master of Science in defense strategy resourcing from The Eisenhower School, National Defense University.
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Lucy Duncan is the founder, president, and CEO of Safe Ports, an innovative leader in sustainable solutions, logistics, inland port development, port security, disaster relief training and preparedness, and geospatial/environmental solutions serving federal and commercial organizations. As founder of Diplomatic Resolutions, Lucy represented Silicon Valley firms, including Cisco Systems, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Iridium, and Microsoft, regarding international business development and advocacy advisory matters. DRI advised the winning technology companies on the modernization of the central banks of China and Russia, and successfully initiated telecommunications privatizations in the Middle East and South America.
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Maj. Gen. Les Eisner (USA Retired) is the senior advisor to the chancellor of USCA and the vice president of The Ulysses Group. He served in the Army and National Guard for 38 years before becoming deputy director of the University of South Carolina’s Office of Economic Engagement. A visionary senior leader with a diverse background, he has a stellar track record of turning opportunity into reality. He currently works in the areas of aerospace, unmanned aerial systems, artificial intelligence, cyber, data analytics in support of the U.S. Government and private sector. He also holds key positions on several important boards for the U.S. Army, South Carolina and the region. His substantial and diverse experience, along with his professional network and influence continues to have significant impact from the local to national levels.
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Teresa Haas has more than 40 years of experience in public relations management and executive positions in corporate offices, civic organizations, and U.S. Congressional Representatives. She retired from Savannah River Nuclear Solutions after 28 years. At SRNS, she served as the director of government and community relations. The Clemson University graduate has held the position of chair of the Aiken County Commission for Higher Education since 2017.
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Gov. Henry McMaster appointed William “Bill” Kirkland chair of the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) Board of Trustees in February 2025. He now serves as interim president and CEO of SCRA. The graduate of the University of South Carolina and Coast Guard veteran previously served as the managing partner at 1818 Consulting Group, a global consulting firm that provides investor relations, government relations, business strategy, channels development, and leadership services. Before founding 1818 Consulting Group, he served as the executive director of the Office of Economic Engagement at the University of South Carolina, where he was responsible for fostering statewide economic growth through the increased commercialization of innovative research, connecting new and existing businesses with university resources and creating a thriving entrepreneurial environment for students, faculty, and staff. Prior to his executive leadership role at USC, he co-founded and served as president and chief executive officer of Collexis Holdings, Inc. Additionally, Mr. Kirkland spent two decades in global senior leadership positions at both IBM and Pfizer.
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G. Jeremy Leong leads the AMC's scientific vision, developing strategic research programs, and building partnerships across academia, industry, and the Department of Energy complex, including other DOE national labs. Prior to SRNL, he served in program oversight roles at both DOE and Department of War where he led the design and execution of several major public-private partnership programs and multi-laboratory consortia. He holds a Ph.D. in applied chemistry from the Colorado School of Mines and has worked with the DOE, Department of War and their laboratories, including the Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Laboratory of the Rockies.
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Vice Adm. Charles L. Munns, Ret., serves on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is a board member for several organizations. He came to Aiken to serve as Savannah River Nuclear Solutions' first president and CEO. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in physics. He received a Master of Science in computer science from the University of Colorado and attended MIT's Seminar XXI on Foreign Politics and International Relations.
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Cristina Long Paredes is the executive director of SC Nexus, South Carolina’s TechHub for Advanced Resilient Energy. SC NEXUS leads technology-driven economic development, advancing energy innovation to build a resilient energy value chain that enhances national security and global competitiveness. With 20 years of experience spanning economic development, community development, and strategic leadership, she is a nationally recognized leader in advancing innovation and resilience. She has built a strong record of forging partnerships, securing funding, and shaping policies that accelerate technology deployment and economic growth and has successfully guided major initiatives, from regional innovation labs to advanced manufacturing facilities. She earned both her bachelor's and master’s degrees from Florida State University.
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Ernest M. Pringle, the vice chancellor for information technology and CIO at USCA, provides strategic leadership and direction for all IT services. That responsibility includes the planning, delivery and management of all academic, administrative and research IT services, as well as campus-wide telephony and multimedia services for the university. He previously served in several IT leadership roles at USC Columbia, including the assistant dean for information technology at the USC School of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Administration, both from USC Columbia and is a graduate of the EDUCAUSE Leading Change Institute.
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Megan Pruitt is the executive director of Aiken Corporation, where she leads economic development initiatives, strategic investment, property redevelopment and public-private partnerships. She played a key leadership role in the development and opening of the Tom Young Center for Research and Innovation. Pruitt has a background in entrepreneurship and has managed social media, internet marketing, and brand strategy for numerous nationally recognized brands. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications and a Master of Science in Internet Marketing from Stetson University.
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Al Ridilla is the president and CEO of AGY and a proven strategic, hands-on change agent and business leader. He has 25 years’ CEO experience with large, multi-site and highly complex organizations, including Parkway Products. He previously held sales roles for Victrex plc and GE Plastics in North America and Europe; operations management, product development and engineering positions for GE Aviation; was a start-up contributor to 5150 Snowboards & Micro Mobio RFIC; and founded of BMI-Parkway. He has a well-established rapid turnaround history, strong growth and innovation record, extensive M&A experience and demonstrated success at private equity, private credit, public and family-owned companies. He earned a Bachelor of Science in materials engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science from the University of Dayton.
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Brig. Gen. Linda J. Riedel serves as the South Carolina National Guard’s assistant adjutant general for Army and as the first commander of the 125th Cyber Protection Battalion. Originally from Barnwell, South Carolina, she received her commission through South Carolina’s Officer Candidate School, Palmetto Military Academy. She is a graduate of the Cyber War College at the National Defense University, College of Information and Cyberspace at Fort McNair, Washington, DC.
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Mitch Smith is a senior investment manager for the South Carolina Research Authority. He is a graduate of the Citadel and a SC Army National Guard veteran. In the last 30 years, he has launched four tech firms in the state, successfully exiting three. He has extensive business and investment experience within the state. As part of SCRA, his team guides tech startups in scaling with non-dilutive grants and equity-based investments. The returns on this funding provide the resources for additional investments in next-generation technology startups.
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Dr. Liz Stewart is the president of Stewart and Associates, Inc., a team of consultants and trainers who combine specific skills and years of practical, realistic experience in a variety of industries. She had a successful career with XEROX Corporation and founded Stewart and Associates, Inc. in 1984. With a diverse educational background ranging from undergraduate work in French, Spanish and Education to a master’s degree in psychology and a doctorate in economics and law school, she has advised companies from entrepreneurial start-ups to Fortune 100 companies to non-profits.
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Jim Tunison is the president and chief executive officer of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Misericordia University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration. Prior to arriving in Aiken, Tunison served as director of business development for Eight Seven Media, New York, New York and as corporate sales manager and corporate partnership executive for the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Moosic, Pennsylvania.
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Will Williams serves as the president and CEO of The Western SC Economic Development Partnership, a regional organization dedicated to advancing economic opportunities in Aiken, Edgefield, Saluda, and McCormick Counties in South Carolina. A graduate of the Citadel, he has facilitated more than $4.5 billion in new capital investment, leading to the creation of more than 6,000 new jobs in the Western SC region. He specializes in community development, industrial development, industrial park development, retention and expansion and speculative building development.