Columbia City Ballet has announced its newest members of their board of directors for the 2017-2018 season.

The board of directors is responsible for governing the Columbia City Ballet, our state’s longest performing arts company. All members have been vetted by the ballet’s existing executive board, the company’s nomination committee, and the board’s president, Christopher Ray.

Shannon Eichelberger is currently a Systems and Analysis supervisor at SCANA. She is a huge supporter of Columbia City Ballet’s performances and education outreach performances, and will be the board’s treasurer.

Charles Bruce Johnson, a longtime arts supporter, is president and CEO of Johnson’s Garbage Service Inc, one of the oldest African American-owned businesses in South Carolina. As a previous music performer in R&B group, Mother’s Finest, Johnson supports the arts and various philanthropies in Columbia.

Greg Middleton is the founding president of the Main Street Rotary. Since his graduation in 2012 from Winthrop University, Middleton has found his passion developing downtown Columbia. He grew up watching the Columbia City Ballet Nutcracker all his life, and is grateful for the opportunity to help out with the ballet.

Adair Bledsoe is the associate general counsel of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. Prior to joining Nelson Mullins, he was a deputy counsel for nearly 18 years with the publically-traded IT company Computer Sciences Corporation, where he was the practice group lead for the Labor Employment and Immigration functions.

Emily Welsh is currently the owner of The Flex, a studio workout experience in Lexington. She has been a three-year volunteer with the CCB Director's Circle, and has two daughters who have danced with the Conservatory since 2007. As an ex-officio, non-voting board member, she will be co-president of the Director’s Circle with Katie Watson.

Katie Watson is a CRNA in Lexington. She has been a three-year volunteer with the CCB Director’s Circle, most notably managing the Nutcracker teas food donations. Her twelve-year-old daughter has danced with the Conservatory since 2007. Also an ex-officio, non-voting board member, she will be co-president of the Director’s Circle with Emily Welsh.

About Columbia City Ballet:

Columbia City Ballet’s mission is to offer South Carolina and Southeastern audiences the highest quality ballet. The company claims one of the strongest and most versatile ballet companies in the Southeast. Since the Columbia City Ballet's founding in 1961, it has integrated the world of dance within the community as the largest performing arts organization in the state.