Board of Directors

Current Board Members:

Renna Redd (Chair)

Jerry Clark (Vice Chair)

Jerry Clark returned to the Upstate and Pickens County after a 22 year career in the Air Force. Around 2019 he was introduced to Holly Springs Center by a friend, who encouraged him to take a bowl turning class. He completely enjoyed the class and was drawn to take other classes offered at the center. After a few years of taking classes (some of them multiple times) Jerry was approached by the then-Executive Director about joining the Board of Directors. Once on board he soon learned of the broader scope of the Center, including the Pre-K and kids camps and realized how much of a resource they were to those in the community. He has since enjoyed several years of serving on the board and continues to participate in the events and classes offered at the Center. His continuing interest in the Center is a desire to see it grow and continue to be successful.

 

  Rita Tennihill (Secretary)

  After growing up and living in Anderson, my husband, Gerry, and I chose Pickens as our place to retire. After a three year restoration, we moved into the 200 year old Barton house in 2018. I retired from the SC   Department of Mental Health working in human resources. I found a friendly and creative community at Holly Springs Center. After taking classes at the School of Mountain Arts, pottery became a passion. The Pre-K and children's camps are an important resource for our community. I'm happy to give my time to this creative and welcoming place.

 

Caron St. John (Treasurer)

Caron St. John is a retired university professor and administrator who lives in Pickens County. She was introduced to the Holly Springs Center when taking a hand-build pottery class from Lou Peden in 2019. She joined the Board of Directors in late 2021, served as Chair in 2023, and as Treasurer in 2024 and 2025. She coordinated the Board's strategic planning efforts in 2022 and 2025. 

 

  Lauren Willis (Executive Director)

  Lauren Willis has been working and volunteering with the Holly Springs Center since it founded in 2017. She helped develop and open Preschool at Holly Springs, where she served as director for 5 years before becoming a board member, and then rejoined the staff as Executive Director in 2023. Lauren holds a BA in Architecture from Clemson University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Kentucky.  When she is not at Holly Springs Center, she works as a full-time mental health therapist. Lauren is passionate about Appalachian heritage, traditional arts, and quality and equitable care and programming for children. Lauren lives nearby with her husband and three school-aged children, who have all benefitted greatly from the time they get to spend at the Holly Springs Center.

 

Betty McDaniel

Betty McDaniel began her academic training with a BA from UNC and on to a Ph.D. in Elementary Education from USC-Columbia. Her early adult years were spent teaching kindergarten until 1979 when she began working as a 4 th grade teacher at Holly Springs Elementary, then among other jobs, assistant principal and media specialist. She also was adjunct professor at Southern Wesleyan University. In 2008 she founded and became a volunteer Exec. Director of the non-profit, Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music, Inc. which supports the Young Appalachian Musicians, 500, 3 rd -8 th graders learning to play traditional music. After retiring from her job as an educator, she helped found, has been Vice- Chairman and Chairman and is currently on the Board and a volunteer at the Holly Springs Center. The Center includes a vibrant PreSchool for 40+, 2’s, 3’s, and 4 year olds, a School of Mountain Arts, and wonderful Community House. Most recently she’s served as Chairman and now Co-Chair of the Board and regular volunteer of the Hagood Mill Foundation which manages the historic site and SC Petroglyph Center. She is also actively involved in the Pickens Rotary Club. Betty is married to Ed and they have 3 adult children, 6 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Betty and Ed have lived together in their 19 th century farmhouse in upper Pickens County for 46 years.

Olga Mitchell

Donna Harden

Donna Harden is a retired educator from the School District of Pickens County with a distinguished career spanning thirty years. During her tenure, she served as a classroom teacher, Coordinator of Parent Education, and elementary principal. Donna was honored to serve as principal of Holly Springs Elementary School for twelve years, where the school earned the prestigious designation of a National Blue Ribbon School.

Her commitment to community service extends beyond education. Donna has served as chairman of the board of First Steps of Pickens County, as a board member of Young Appalachian Musicians, and as a member of the Hospital Auxiliary of Cannon Memorial Hospital. She is a former member of Delta Kappa Gamma and currently serves as the Events Promoter for the Hagood Mill Heritage Pavilion. Donna has been a member of the board of directors for The Holly Springs Center since 2017.

Donna is the proud mother of two grown sons, Drew and Dawson, both of whom attended Holly Springs Elementary School. Drew and his wife, Devin, live in the Pickens area, and Donna treasures her granddaughter, Addie, who is the joy of her life. Her son Dawson serves the country in the United States Navy. Donna is deeply proud of her family and remains honored to serve her community.

Susan DuPlessis

Bob Reader

Dave Scheer

Dave Scheer has lived in Pickens County since 1974. His children went to Holly Springs School when it was a grade school. Having retired after forty years in support of computer and data systems for engineering and construction firms, Dave volunteered at Holly Springs Center, constructing various projects for the center, and joined the board in 2023.