Dr. Linda B. Salane, Chairperson

Dr. Linda B. Salane is the executive director of the Leadership Institute and Special Assistant to the President at Columbia College.  She holds three degrees from the University of South Carolina: a bachelor of arts in sociology, a masters of education in student personnel services, and a doctorate of education in higher education administration with emphasis in business. She has served at Columbia College as the chief academic officer, the chief business officer, and the chief planning officer.

She directs the Leadership Institute designing community leadership programs. As part of her responsibilities, Salane  developed The Alliance for Women, a public-private partnership between the Governor’s Office Commission on Women and Columbia College, to improve the status of women in South Carolina. The 2008-2010 areas of emphasis of The Alliance are women’s economic autonomy and women’s involvement in policy level decision-making. Prior to joining Columbia College, she worked at the University of South Carolina as associate vice president for counseling resources and at Converse College as the Women’s Center director.

Salane has a passion for leadership and is intensely interested in the factors that enhance and those that inhibit leadership development. The co-author of a framework for leadership enhancement, MODEL Leadership, Dr. Salane believes that everyone will be called to leadership in his or her lifetime. The question is whether they will be ready to accept the challenges of leadership.

Dr. Salane is active in the local community and is nationally recognized for expertise in leadership studies, strategic planning, current women’s workplace issues, and assessment of learning outcomes.   A Rotarian, she serves on the Board of the Cooperative Ministry, Women in Philanthropy, Junior Achievement and The Essie Mae Washington Foundation.  Salane provides strategic planning assistance to local non-profit agencies with emphasis on agencies serving women and children and leadership to strategic planning at the state and district level for schools and school districts.

An avid reader and an advocate for a balanced lifestyle, Salane plays competitive tennis, enjoys kickboxing and weight lifting, and travels extensively.  She teaches and consults in the areas of leadership, stress management, humor in the workplace, entrepreneurship, outcomes assessment, women’s studies, critical thinking, and career development. Married to Thomas c. Salane, an attorney with Turner Padget Graham and Laney, Dr. Salane has two children.

Frank Cureton, Vice Chairperson

Frank Cureton is an attorney with Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA.  He is a member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church.  Frank has served on the Ministry Board for three years.

Michael E. Penland, Treasurer

Michael E. Penland is a founding principal of Keenan Development Associates, LLC, a nationally recognized public/private development firm headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, with offices in Atlanta and Denver.  He has been involved in the real estate development industry for twenty-six years.

During Mr. Penland’s association with Keenan Development the firm has extended its reach throughout the United States with a completed portfolio of diverse projects occupying more than four million square feet of mission critical, laboratory, administrative office and other space at a value of more than one billion dollars. Mr. Penland has led the firm’s efforts in developing unique public/private ventures and structuring innovative financial arrangements for its public sector clients. This innovation has led to numerous successful developments for municipalities, states and federal agencies in nearly every region of the country.

Prior to joining Keenan Development, Mr. Penland was the Controller for Southern Development Management Company and a Financial Consultant with Policy Management Systems, a data processing and software development company.

In 1981 Mr. Penland earned Bachelor degrees in Business Finance and Economics from North Carolina State University. His professional and civic associations include active participation in the Association of Defense Communities and the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships. He is the Treasurer of the Board of the Cooperative Ministry, a community-based organization serving the working poor of Columbia. He has held numerous leadership positions at Shandon United Methodist Church, including its Board of Trustees, Administrative Board, Church Council, and as a Sunday school teacher and Lay Leader.

Mr. Penland, and his wife Rebecca, reside in Columbia with their two daughters.

Marcia Lane, Secretary

Marcia Lane, MPH, is Associate Director, for the Office for the Study of Aging. She graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio with a BA in physical education and the University of South Carolina with a MPH in epidemiology.  She has worked in the area of program evaluation since 1985, starting at SC DHEC supervising the BRFSS, an ongoing state wide surveillance survey.  In addition to managing the survey she served on the CDC committee that developed and approved questions included in the nationwide yearly survey.  Since 1995, Ms Lane has been at the University of South Carolina, Office for the Study of Aging, Arnold School of Public Health, providing program coordination and evaluation for activities related to nursing home quality initiatives, home and community based services for the elderly, conference evaluations, Placemat Strength Training Program evaluation and consultation for measuring quality assurance.  In addition, she has been trained by the University of Minnesota, College of Direct Support in Long Term Care Frontline Supervision and Management, May 2007.  Her research interests include older women’s health issues, dementia, consumer directed care, and quality of care for the elderly at home or in facilities.

She is a member of Washington Street United Methodist Church and enjoys traveling and entertaining her three granddaughters.

David Kunz, Executive Director

David Kunz grew up in Dallas, Texas.  After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from the University of Texas and a Master’s degree in Theology from the Dallas Theological Seminary, he completed ABD doctoral studies at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina.
David served as a Senior Pastor for three different congregations for about 15 years and then worked in real estate for several years prior to his appointment in February 2008 as Executive Director of The Cooperative Ministry.
David’s pride and joy is his teenage daughter.  He is married and has two wonderful stepchildren. 

Akili Harris, CPA
Chief Financial Officer

Akili Harris spent most of her life in the Washington, D.C. area.  She joined The Cooperative Ministry in June 2007 after returning to her home in Lugoff, South Carolina.   She has worked in the finance and accounting field for over 23 years in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.  Akili received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science degree in Business from Johns Hopkins University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Bridgette Rumph, Financial Sustainability Director

Bridgette Rumph is currently serving as The Director of Financial Sustainability with The Cooperative Ministry. She was born in Columbia, SC and educated in Richland County Public Schools. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, with a degree in Psychology and minors in Criminal Justice and Spanish. She has three siblings. She enjoys travelling, reading, and assisting those in need. She believes that human possibilities are limitless through faith.