A closer look some of D.C.'s Board and Committee members:
with President Pastides at the South Carolina Presidential Inaugural Ball, January 2009
President
Melissa Green received a degree in English from USC in 1994. Originally from Sterling, Va., Melissa chose Carolina mostly because of her father's ties to the state and the reputations of USC’s journalism and English programs.
Following graduation, Melissa returned to Virginia to take a job as associate editor of the official publication of the National Automobile Dealers Association. In 1998, she began work as a senior producer for News in Motion, the TV animation component of the media company Knight Ridder/Tribune. After a stint as associate director of communications for The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (USC even has a chapter!), Melissa is now marketing manager for a large law firm in Washington, D.C.
“Some of my favorite memories as an undergrad at USC stem from being a Carolina Coquette and performing at the football games, pep rallies and other events,” she says. “It is the most amazing feeling being down on the field for
Cocky’s 2001 during the pre-game festivities. The energy at Williams-Brice is just electric.” Melissa was a student orientation leader, which allowed her, she says, “to see Carolina through hundreds of different eyes.”
Vice President
Neil Baumgardner is a 1998 Carolina graduate originally from Goose Creek near Charleston, S.C. Neil chose USC for its international studies program, with an eye towards eventually moving to the Washington area to pursue a career in the area of national security issues. In fact, Neil moved to Northern Virginia just one week after graduation in order to take up an internship with the Business Executives for National Security organization. After the brief internship, Neil joined the trade publication Defense Daily, where he worked for the next five years. Initially a general assignment reporter and production assistant, Neil soon rose to become Defense Daily’s Army reporter and international editor. In these two roles, he was responsible for coverage of the U.S. Army’s equipment acquisition programs and transformation efforts, as well as international projects. Neil has traveled to various military bases and defense industry sites across the United States and Canada, as well as in Europe to cover exhibitions like the Farnborough and Paris airshows in the U.K. and France . In August 2003, Neil made the move into industry, joining Boeing to work on international business development for the Army’s Future Combat Systems program. Neil now analyses the requirements and acquisition projects of U.S. allies and attends such exhibitions as the Eurosatory land systems show in Paris. In January 2005, Neil started on his Master's degree in Georgetown University's Security Studies Program.
Neil says he enjoys working in his chosen career and traveling the world, “but my heart is still in South Carolina . My family is there, many friends are still there, and of course there is USC and Gamecock athletics. Even when I’m overseas, I stay on top of how the Gamecocks are doing. I also enjoy being able to return to South Carolina every few months to ‘rehabilitate’ from the hustle and bustle of beltway life. The alumni club is another great way for me to reconnect with my roots.”
Neil first became active with the alumni club in 2000, and became vice president in 2001. Neil is also the president of the National Capital Regional Gamecock Club, which was established in 2004.
Treasurer
Kevin Youmans is the Senior Director of Growth and Business Development at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA. He is responsible for all campus growth activities including MD satisfaction, physician sales/recruitment, marketing, public relations, and new business development.
In December of 2008, Kevin assumed leadership for the Inova Executive Health Center. In this role, he is responsible for operations, strategy, and business development for the program. In his spare time, he coaches youth basketball for Fairfax County Recreation League. Kevin’s wife Lolita is an assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia.
A native of Hampton, SC, Kevin now lives with his wife Lolita, a Carolina graduate, and three of their four children in Fairfax, VA. Kevin earned a BS in Physical Education from USC in 1987. Following graduation, he worked for Toyota Motor Corporation as a sales representative. After a 16 year career with Toyota, Kevin earned a Master's in Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Social Committe member and former Social Director Crista Gaffney graduated from the Darla Moore School of Business in 1998. A native Washingtonian, Crista lives in Arlington, Va. and works in technology sales.
“I enjoy living in D.C.,” Crista says. “This is my hometown. Besides the numerous events and opportunities there are here, there are always new people coming to our city, which is what makes it such a unique place to live. Being involved with the alumni club has been a great experience for me to meet new people and get more involved in Carolina events, but it’s also given me an opportunity to enjoy new D.C. experiences, as well.”
Crista first became involved in the alumni club through the co-ed flag football team 5 years ago. Since then, she has also participated in community volunteer activities, social and sporting events with the DC alumni Club.
Sports Committee Co-chair Greg Hindsley is originally from southern New Jersey. He received hisBA in Education from Providence College in 1999, and did grad work at USC, getting a Masters in European History in 2002.
Greg moved to the DC area in January 2003, and joined the USC alumni softball team that summer. He currently work at the National Park Service, doing historic and heritage preservation and joined the local alumni board in August 2009.
Sports Committe Co-Chair Stephanie Vineyard graduated from the Darla Moore School of Business May 2006. After moving to Washington, DC in 2008, she joined the softball and flag football teams.
She currently lives in the U Street neighborhood of Washington, DC and works in international visitor exchange programs.
Stephanie served as coach for the team flag football team and softball team in 2009. Following a successful season, she is looking forward to building our sports program.
Membership Director Gretchen Tusing Hendricks is a 1992 graduate of USC with a B.A. in Psychology and a 1997 graduate of Marymount University with an M.A. in Psychological Services. She is currently an adjunct psychology professor with an extensive background in human resources and career services programming for higher education, government and the private sector. She lives just outside Washington, DC with her husband, six-year-old daughter and the cat she acquired in South Carolina her junior year named Bubba.
Membership committee member
Gordon Speed is a vice president of business development with Cassidy & Associates, a DC-based lobbying firm. Gordon came to Cassidy & Associates in 2004 from his former post as Manager of Corporate Affairs at American Community Schools, Ltd., where he was responsible for developing, maintaining, and expanding business leads in the United States and Canada.
Prior to his work at ACS, Gordon was Client Relationship Manager at Power Television News, Grassroots Campaign Manager with Citizens for a Sound Economy, and Deputy for Communications in the office of Mayor John A. Delaney from Jacksonville, Florida. In addition, he served on Capitol Hill as Project Coordinator for a Florida Republican Member of Congress.
Gordon received his B.A. in History from the University of South Carolina and attended the Washington Program at Boston University.