One Region Announces New Leadership and Strategic Partnerships

One Region, a Joint Venture Partnership of the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG), Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Charleston Regional Development Alliance, is excited to announce several key leadership and partnership updates.

New appointments and partnerships announced at One Region’s most recent Advisory Committee meeting include:

• (retired) Marc Greene, the former Commander of Joint Base Charleston has been confirmed as the new One Region Board Chair by the One Region Advisory Committee.
• Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston (Riley Center) was confirmed as the Lead Agent for Quality of Place by the One Region Advisory Committee.
• Ryan Wilcox, BCDCOG’s Regional Economic Development Specialist, has been appointed Managing Director of One Region by the Joint Venture Partner leadership.
• Chernoff Newman, an integrated communications agency with a longstanding partnership with One Region, is now recognized as a “Strategic Partner,” reflecting their ongoing service and commitment to driving One Region initiatives forward.

“The opportunity to lead the One Region team is an honor.  We are committed to accelerating the excellent work already underway and determined to build a prosperous future for the entire Charleston community,” said Col. (retired) Marc Greene, New Board Chair.

One Region is focused on the implementation of the One Region Roadmap: Opportunities for All – Economic Recovery and Resilience Plan, developed as the region emerged from COVID-19. This plan is organized around eight Regional Dynamics, split into two categories: Themes & Action Areas. Equity and Economic Momentum are overarching themes interwoven throughout the analyses and strategies related to each action area in the plan.

The community organizations and entities selected as Lead Agents for Regional Dynamics are as follows:

• Affordability: Charleston Metro Chamber – Regional Housing Coalition
• Economic Momentum: Increasing H.O.P.E.
• Equity: PFW Coaching and Consulting
• Global Fluency: Charleston Southern University – Global Charleston
• Infrastructure – Digital Divide: Tricounty Cradle to Career, Lowcountry Digital Equity Coalition
• Infrastructure – Transportation & Transit: BCDCOG
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Harbor Entrepreneur Center
• Quality of Place: Riley Center at the College of Charleston

Dr. Kendra Stewart, Director of the Riley Center, expressed enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “The Riley Center is very excited to serve as Lead Agent for Quality of Place. Maintaining and enhancing our region’s livability requires a concerted effort that transcends individual jurisdictions and sectors, and we look forward to partnering with local governments and nonprofits in our region to ensure the Charleston area remains a great place to work, visit, and live.”

For more information, please visit oneregionstrategy.com or contact Ryan Wilcox at [email protected] or 843-529-2709.

One Region is a partnership formed to strengthen the economy and produce opportunities for all residents in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Since its launch in 2016, One Region has worked to create actionable change that moves the community forward. The One Region Roadmap, an economic recovery and resiliency plan, provides a strategy to address the most significant foundations of a healthy community.

One Region is a joint venture partnership between the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, the Charleston Metro Chamber and the Charleston Regional Development Alliance. To view the One Region Roadmap, visit oneregionstrategy.com/roadmap/.