Our Team
Staff
Barbara Derrick
Executive Director
Barbara was appointed Executive Director in October 2022. She originally served as our Finance & Operations Director beginning in May 2019 after retiring from 36 years in SC state government. Barbara is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a BS in Business Administration in Accounting. Barbara leads our Point-of-Sale project, and having teenage daughters who are surrounded by vaping daily, she is particularly passionate about the issue and glad to be able to help affect change.
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Terra Bell
Statewide Community Engagement Manager
Terra joined our team in April 2022 following five years as the Program Coordinator for the Citizen Scholars Institute in Spartanburg, SC. Terra received a Bachelor's degree in English from Wofford College and a Master's degree in Youth Development Leadership from Clemson. Having several close family members who suffered from smoking-related illnesses, Terra is especially passionate about the importance of promoting cessation options and local tobacco-free policies in communities throughout the state.
Nancy Cheney
SC CAN Quit Coordinator
After a distinguished career with the American Cancer Society, including being a founding member of the SC Tobacco-Free Collaborative (now Smokefree SC) and the South Carolina Cancer Alliance, Nancy continues to work part-time on cancer prevention initiatives. As the SC CAN Quit Coordinator, she has engaged cancer centers around the state to participate in promoting smoking cessation to cancer patients to help improve treatment outcomes.
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Deborah Dunbar
Community Engagement Coordinator - PeeDee Region
Deborah joined our team in May 2024. She most recently served as the State Manager for The Balm in Gilead where she oversaw the implementation of Diabetes Prevention Programs throughout several counties in the state. She previously served on the Smokefree SC Board of Directors for 5 years and worked on the Smokefree Florence Initiative. She also worked with SC DHEC in a variety of roles after moving to South Carolina where she has now lived for over 25 years.
Vanessa Logan
Community Engagement Coordinator
Vanessa Mills Logan joined our team in December 2024. She is the founder of NESSA in Your Neighborhood LLC and is a visionary leader dedicated to building bridges of support that empower individuals and families to achieve their full potential. Holding a Masters in Theology, she is a tireless advocate, who is committed to identifying and addressing the systemic inequalities that impact marginalized communities. Recently, Vanessa also co-created and facilitated Project: Enhancing Equity and Cross-Sector Alignment through Meaningful Community Engagement, a testament to her unwavering commitment to creating a more just and equitable society.
Shaye Thoroughman
Health Communications Intern
Shaye joined our team in October of 2023. She is a junior at the University of South Carolina studying Information Science and Law with plans to pursue an Accelerated Masters in Business Analytics. Growing up in the American school system, Shaye has witnessed her peers suffer from tobacco addiction and the prevalent marketing of e-cigarettes to youth in our community. She is particularly passionate about aiding young people in their journey to combating addiction.
Board of Directors
Lamar Suber, MA, President
Evidence-Based Associates
Elgin
Addie Gill, Treasurer
Elevance Health, Inc.
Charleston
Sharon Biggers, MPH, CHES (non-voting)
SC Department of Public Health
Columbia
Ranya Chakra, MD
Atrium Health
Fort Mill
Brenda Jones
BlueCross BlueShield of SC
Columbia
Maya Pack, MPA
SC Institute of Medicine and Public Health
Columbia
Taquina "TQ" Davis, PhD, Vice President
Health E Strategies
Columbia
Tammy Timms, RN, BSN, CDCES, TTS, Secretary
Spartanburg Regional Health System
Spartanburg
Irene Pericot-Valverde, PhD
Clemson University
Greenville
Avery Roberson, MPH
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston
Evita Woods
Building Healthy Military Communities
Blythewood
Andrew Wylam, J.D.
American Heart Association
Ridgeway