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Elder Dushku graduated summa cum laude from Brigham Young University in 1990 and magna cum laude from the J. Reuben Clark law school at BYU in 1993. After law school, he clerked on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the Honorable Judge Daniel A. Manion. In 1996, he joined Kirton McConkie, Utah’s largest law firm, where for many years he was head of the firm’s constitutional and appellate law section, specializing in appellate brief writing and critical law and motion practice. He has authored numerous briefs in important religious liberty cases before appellate courts across the United States, including the United States Supreme Court, and has consulted with legislators and advocates across the country on religious liberty issues. He was a primary negotiator of the 2015 “Utah Compromise” legislation that received national attention for reconciling religious and LGBT rights. Prior to his call to full-time Church service, Elder Dushku served in various ecclesiastical capacities, including full-time missionary in the Portugal Lisbon Mission, elders quorum president, bishopric counselor, high councilor, bishop, and stake president. He and his wife Jennifer live in Centerville, Utah and have eight children and thirteen grandchildren. *Elder Dushku will also be a panelist for the Religious Leader discussion
Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette serves as the 93rd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. Prior to her election, she founded Quality Business Solutions, Inc., a payroll and HR services firm that grew from a small start-up into one of the state’s most recognized businesses. As President and CEO, she led the company through sustained growth and earned multiple awards for leadership and entrepreneurship, including the ATHENA Leadership Award, the Enterprising Woman of the Year Award, and recognition from the Women Presidents’ Organization for fast-growing women-owned companies. Before entering public office, she worked as an accountant and CFO and served on South Carolina’s Small Business Regulatory Review Committee, where she became closely familiar with regulatory issues impacting employers across the state. Since taking office, she has focused on strengthening South Carolina’s business environment, supporting community organizations, and promoting public-private partnerships that enhance local services and opportunities. She has also been active in initiatives supporting families, education, and youth development, including programs encouraging early literacy and workforce readiness. In 2024, she launched an effort to expand employment opportunities and life-skills training for young people. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Cleveland State University. She and her husband, David, live in the Upstate and are the parents of three children.
Ryan Oberly is a partner at Wagenmaker & Oberly, a law firm dedicated to meeting the legal needs of nonprofit organizations. For more than twenty years, Ryan has served as legal counsel to diverse religious organizations operating across the US and around the world, and his practice primarily focuses on federal tax and international issues. He regularly works with clients to navigate the complex legal and practical challenges in advancing a nonprofits’ religious and missions work domestically and overseas, all while safeguarding ministries’ ability to freely operate consistent with their religious convictions amid evolving legal landscapes. Ryan is a passionate advocate for religious liberty and related legal protections for advancing a pluralistic nonprofit sector. He has taught courses on the law of nonprofit organizations as an adjunct law professor at DePaul University's College of Law (Chicago) and Charleston School of Law. He currently co-chairs the Religious Organizations subcommittee of the American Bar Association's Exempt Organizations Committee and regularly speaks and writes on legal developments affecting nonprofit organizations. He serves on the boards of religious and international humanitarian organizations.
Steve Trakas is the Executive Vice President of Gibbs International, Inc., a Spartanburg-based family office that manages assets in the energy, real estate, and advanced technology sectors. He is a prominent leader within the Greek Orthodox Church, serving as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the title of Hartoularios. In this capacity, Mr. Trakas serves as the Archon Regional Commander for North and South Carolina, advocating for religious freedom and supporting the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His commitment to community service is reflected in his extensive board memberships, including the American Red Cross Upstate SC, Palmetto InnovaSphere, and the Advisory Board of VCOM Carolinas. Mr. Trakas also serves on the Advisory Board for the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation and acts as an Ambassador for the Metropolis Council of the Metropolis of Atlanta. An active member of Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Mr. Trakas resides in Greenville, South Carolina, with his wife, Elaine. They remain dedicated to their community and their church.
Father Jay Scott Newman was born in Elkin, North Carolina, in 1962. He pursued his academic formation at Princeton University, Belmont Abbey College, The Catholic University of America, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, earning degrees in philosophy, sacred theology, and canon law. After identifying as an atheist from early adolescence, Father Newman became a Christian during his college years and was received into the Catholic Church in 1982. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Charleston in July 1993, serving a diocese that encompasses the entire state of South Carolina. Father Newman has served as Catholic Chaplain to The Citadel, as pastor of five parishes across South Carolina, and as professor of canon law at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2001, he has been pastor of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenville, and in 2023 he was appointed Chancellor and Canonical Counsel for the Diocese of Charleston. *Father Newman will also be a panelist for the Religious Leader discussion
Senator Stephen L. Goldfinch is a South Carolina attorney, entrepreneur, and public servant currently representing District 34 in the State Senate. A native of Conway, he earned degrees from The Citadel and a law degree from the Charleston School of Law. Before his election to the Senate in 2016, he served two terms in the State House. In the Senate, he serves on key committees including Finance, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Fish, Game and Forestry, and Rules. Alongside his legislative work, he is a practicing attorney, small-business owner, and a JAG officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard. Goldfinch lives in Murrells Inlet with his wife, Renee, and their two children. He is currently a Republican candidate for South Carolina Attorney General.
Senator Russell L. Ott is a South Carolina businessman and public servant currently representing District 26 in the State Senate. A lifelong resident, Russell was raised on the family farm, where he continues to work alongside his father, uncle, and brother. He earned a B.A. from Clemson University in 2000 and a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina in 2003. Before his election to the Senate, he served for 11 years in the State House of Representatives, where he earned a reputation as a hard-working, problem solver for the state. Alongside his legislative work, he has an extensive background in public administration, having previously served as a Town Administrator for several communities. In the Senate, he serves on key committees including Judiciary, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Fish, Game and Forestry, Family and Veterans' Services, and Rules. Russell is the proud dad to two sons, Lawson Legare and Bryce Jameson, and is a member of Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church.
Representative Todd Rutherford is an attorney, businessman, and current South Carolina House Minority Leader, representing District 74 in Richland County. A native of Columbia, he earned a B.A. from Howard University in 1992 and a law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1996. First elected to the House in 1999, he has dedicated decades to public service. In his role as Minority Leader, he is a prominent voice for his party's priorities. He serves on the Ethics and Ways and Means committees. Alongside his legislative work, he is a practicing attorney who runs The Rutherford Law Firm, LLC, and is an owner of several businesses, including 803 Trucking, LLC and WasteSouth, LLC. Representative Rutherford is a proud father to two children. He is active in his community, serving as a board member for the NAACP Special Contributions Fund and the Brookland Baptist Church Community Credit Union.
Representative Taylor is a veteran legislator and retired media executive representing District 86 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. First elected in 2011, he serves on the powerful Ways and Means Committee and the Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Committee. Representative Taylor has earned a reputation for leadership in the General Assembly, having previously served as a Majority Caucus Whip and as Chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee. Before his transition to public service, Representative Taylor had a distinguished four-decade career in television news and media consulting. He served as a News Director, Anchor, and Reporter before co-founding and serving as CEO of global media research firms with offices in Dallas, Los Angeles, and London. Notably, he served as a consultant to President George H.W. Bush’s "Points of Light" initiative in the early 1990s and was recognized as a "Fifth Estater" by Broadcasting & Cable magazine. Representative Taylor is deeply engaged in his community, serving on the boards of the Aiken Symphony Orchestra and the Aiken Salvation Army. He is a 32nd Degree Mason, a Shriner, and a former Chairman of the Aiken County American Red Cross. Representative Taylor resides in Aiken with his wife, Donna, and they are the parents of two children.
Rabbi Epstein is the founding Executive Director of Chabad Lubavitch of South Carolina, where he has transformed the Jewish landscape of the Midlands over the last forty years. Arriving in Columbia with limited resources, he worked tirelessly to build a vibrant community that now includes the Chabad-Aleph House Synagogue and the Columbia Jewish Day School. Rabbi Epstein’s life is an example of the Shamash, or the "helper candle," aiming to light the spark in others' souls. Under his leadership, Chabad has expanded its services to include specialized outreach for the military at Fort Jackson and various educational programs through the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute. Rabbi Epstein remains the spiritual leader of the Chabad-Aleph House, where he continues to teach and mentor individuals from all walks of life. He and his wife, Chavi, who serves as a director at Chabad of South Carolina, are the parents of several children who have followed in their footsteps of communal service.
Imam Shaheed is the Resident Imam of Masjid As-Salaam in Columbia, a position he has held since 1980. A native of Trenton, South Carolina, he served in the United States Navy as a Vietnam Veteran before pursuing his education in the arts. He utilized the GI Bill to study at the San Francisco Art Academy and Memphis Art College, eventually becoming an accomplished sculptor whose works have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the country. His career in public service includes twenty-seven years as a Clinical Chaplain II for the South Carolina Department of Corrections. A respected figure in the global Muslim community, Imam Shaheed made the Hajj pilgrimage in 1987 and represented American Muslims in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during Desert Storm. In 1999, he was part of a historic delegation of American Imams who traveled to the Vatican to participate in an interfaith conference for world peace with Pope John Paul II and other world religious leaders. Imam Shaheed is deeply involved in interfaith and social justice initiatives, including MORE Justice of Columbia and Interfaith Partners of South Carolina. He lives in South Carolina with his wife, and they are the proud parents of three children and seven grandchildren.
Amarjit is a South Carolina entrepreneur, former educator, and dedicated community leader with a profound commitment to interfaith and diplomatic representation. Originally from Punjab, India, he has lived in the United States since 1995 and has been a resident of South Carolina with his family since 2009. He currently focuses on the tech and gas industries as a self-employed entrepreneur, following a distinguished tenure as an educator from 2009 to 2023, teaching Political Science and Theatre and TV. His commitment to global dialogue is demonstrated through his roles as the Midlands Indian Diaspora Representative to the Indian Consulate in Atlanta and as an International Interfaith Representative for the Sikh Faith to HWPL South Korea since 2018. His continuous community leadership includes extensive service to the Sikh Temple Chapin, SC, where he has been Secretary, Spokesperson, and is currently a Board member. He also serves as a Board Member for Interfaith Partners of SC. Amarjit lives in South Carolina with his wife, who is a Professor of History/World Civilizations, and their two daughters.
Sister Pamela Smith, SSCM, Ph.D., has served the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston since 2004 in a variety of educational and administrative roles. She is currently the Director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, where she works to advance dialogue and cooperation among Christian denominations and other faith communities across South Carolina. She also serves as the Diocese’s Delegate for Consecrated Life, representing women religious and other consecrated persons throughout the state. In addition to her diocesan responsibilities, Sister Pamela is an adjunct faculty member in theology for Saint Leo University, teaching in its extended certificate and graduate programs for candidates preparing for ordination to the diaconate. Her service further includes membership on the boards of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina, the South Carolina Christian Action Council, Maria Joseph Manor Continuing Care Retirement Community in Pennsylvania, and the governing council of the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Prior to her work in South Carolina, Sister Pamela taught and held administrative positions in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Michigan. She earned a doctorate in systematic theology from Duquesne University and is the author of nineteen books. She also writes regularly as a columnist for The Catholic Miscellany. *Sister Pamela Smith also offering the Invocation
*Elder Dushku and Father Newman will also be panelists (Bios found in "Speakers" section above)
Holli S. Emore, MDiv, is the Executive Director for Cherry Hill Seminary and the current Chair of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina, bringing decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, education, and community advocacy. She holds a Master of Divinity from Cherry Hill Seminary (2018) and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History cum laude from the University of South Carolina (1993). She previously held the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation from 2003 to 2012. As a former nonprofit consultant (Principal of Emore Development Resources, 1995-2020), she is the author of Constellated Ministry: A Guide for Those Serving Today’s Pagans (Equinox, 2021). She is a frequent guest speaker on Pagan religions, and since 2004, has served as a regional resource to law enforcement, criminal justice students, and victim services. Her leadership in interfaith dialogue includes serving as the Pagan Faith Representative to the Board of Directors and now as Chair of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina. A dedicated first responder, she was the first Regional Lead for Disaster Spiritual Care for the American Red Cross in South Carolina (2017-2018). She currently serves as a Religious Advisor to the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) and has volunteered as a faith leader at Manning Correctional Facility.
Kristen Anderson has nearly ten years of experience in faith-based communication and currently serves as the United States Southeast Area Communication Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this volunteer role, she supports a network of regional communication directors across ten states, helping them build meaningful relationships with interfaith, government, and community leaders, support local volunteer service efforts, and share stories of faith and service through a variety of communication channels, including local news outlets and social media. Personally, she has written more than 30 published articles about community service, interfaith efforts, humanitarian work, and local Church news. Kristen serves on the board of the Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network (MeckMIN), where she works to foster understanding and cooperation among Charlotte’s diverse faith communities. She is also known for bringing people together around large-scale community projects, including interfaith “Open Tables” dinner discussions, “Give as He Gave” blood drives, and the Light the World Giving Machine initiative. A pianist by training, Kristen remains active in the arts as an accompanist for Charlotte-area school choirs. She and her husband, Paul, have lived in Charlotte for 21 years and are the parents of six children and proud grandparents of two.
Invocation provided by Sister Pamela Smith (Bio found in "Faith Leader Panelists" above)
Chaplain St. John is the Chaplain of the South Carolina Senate, a role in which he provides spiritual guidance to the members and staff. A devoted clergyman and public servant, he began his long commitment to the Senate upon his election in 2007. After a first tenure spanning 2007 to 2016, he returned to the State House as Acting Chaplain in 2021 and was re-elected as the permanent Senate Chaplain in 2023. He holds a distinguished educational background, earning a B.A. from Wofford College in 1961, an M.A. from the University of South Carolina in 1969, and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in 1978. Ordained by the Presbyterian Church (USA), he had a successful career as a pastor and was named Pastor Emeritus of Forest Lake Presbyterian Church in Columbia in 2005. Chaplain St. John’s decades of service to the General Assembly are a testament to his dedication to the state of South Carolina. He was married to his late wife, Ann Beatrice, and has one child, Melissa.
Tammie Lecque is a contemporary Christian singer, songwriter, and worship leader from Charleston, South Carolina. Her recordings include the album Real Love and the EP You Must Be Saved, featuring original compositions rooted in her faith. She leads worship in diverse settings, guiding congregational song and sharing her testimony through performance. Lecque’s interpretations of classic hymns, such as “Silent Night,” bring a soulful, contemporary approach to traditional music. In addition to recording and performance, she serves her local faith community through ministry and the worship arts. Lecque continues to write, record, and lead worship in the Charleston area.
Melissa Thatcher has performed across North America and Europe, making her debut at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall with the New York Symphony Ensemble. She is the recipient of the Copland Chamber Music Live Award, the Graduating Master’s Award, and the Discimus ut Serviamus Award from the Copland School of Music. Her students have won scholarships at such Festivals and Schools as Domaine Forget, Eastern Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Heifetz International Music Institute, Foulger International Festival, Sounding Point Academy, the Aspen Music Festival and School, and gone on to study privately with renowned artists such as Yehonatan Berick (Los Angeles Piano Quartet), Noah Bendix-Balgley (Concertmaster, Berlin Philharmonic) Herbert Greenberg (Concertmaster, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra), and Robert Lipsett (Colburn). In 2013 Melissa founded Thatcher Theory, a technical regimen outlining the building blocks of left-hand technique on the violin. She regularly lectures and gives pedagogy classes to teachers and students across the United States. Her passion is raising her four kids with her husband, Brent.
Annabelle is 10 years old and has studied the violin with her mother since she was two. A recipient of the 1st prize for the South Carolina Opus Music Competition, performing is one of Annabelle’s favorite things to do. When she isn’t practicing, she enjoys playing golf with her dad and bike riding with siblings.
Judge Alan D. Clemmons, J.D. is an actively serving judge of the South Carolina Circuit Court, Equity Division. Prior to his service on the bench, Judge Clemmons served for eighteen years as an American legislator in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he represented Horry County and his hometown of Myrtle Beach. At the time of his retirement from the South Carolina General Assembly in 2020, he chaired the House Rules Committee and the Tax Policy Sub-Committee of the Ways and Means Committee. His influence extended nationally as he was nominated to represent fellow legislators in the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), where he was elevated to National Chairman in 2019. Judge Clemmons has been instrumental in leading national policy and legislative achievements, including religious freedom initiatives. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina (1982) and the University of Minnesota's Hamline University School of Law (1989). Judge Clemmons cherishes his faith and heritage as a fifth-generation South Carolina member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has served as a lay missionary to the Maya of Southern Mexico and in the Guatemala border region. He remains active as an Ordinance Worker in the Columbia, South Carolina Temple and as his church's Communication Council's South Carolina Government liaison. Judge Clemmons and his wife, Laura, have two daughters.
Elder David A. Winters serves as an Area Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Carolina, providing leadership and support to 15–18 stakes in the region. In this role, he works closely with local church leaders to oversee ecclesiastical and administrative matters. Elder Winters earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Brigham Young University and spent the majority of his professional career with The Coca-Cola Company, holding a variety of managerial and leadership positions. He and his family lived in Ecuador for three years while he served as president of the Church’s mission in Quito. He and his wife, Pamela Rust Winters, are the parents of six children and grandparents of seven.
