Christmas Parade Grand Marshall
Dr. Joe Patton, GLEAMNS CEO, to serve as Grand Marshall for the 2015 Greenwood Christmas Parade
Dr. Joe Patton, Retiring CEO of GLEAMNS Human Resource Commission, will serve as this year’s Grand Marshall for the 2015 Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 6 at 2:30 p.m.
With over 40 years of experience in leadership and executive management, Dr. Patton is currently the Chief Executive Officer of GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission. Under his leadership, GLEAMNS procured the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Birthplace House and a one room school and established a national historical site. Dr. Patton’s vision has also allowed him to partner with Ervin “Magic” Johnson’s Foundation to develop a Community Empowerment Center that contains a state of the arts computer lab.
Dr. Patton received the Administrator of Year and the Executive Director of the Year awards from the South Carolina Community Action Partnership, as well as the 2006 Leadership Award from the Greenwood Section of the National Council of Negro Women. In addition to being recognized by Greenwood County Council and South Carolina AARP for his community support and leadership, he was inducted into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame on June 22, 2007. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and was recognized by Epsilon Phi Zeta Chapter during their 2012 Ladies and Gentlemen of Distinction Awards Program. He is a member of Upper Savannah Workforce Investment Board, State Workforce Investment Board, Barber Scotia College Board of Trustees, and a past member Lander University’s Board of Visitors and United Community Care Center. He is also a recent recipient of the Order of The Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor.
A native of Spartanburg, S.C., he is a graduate of St. Emma Military Academy and Voorhees College. He completed several professional courses and programs at the University of Georgia, University of Miami, Washington College and the College of Charleston.
In addition to the Christmas Parade, Uptown Greenwood will be hosting Carriage Rides, Pictures with Santa as well as the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree this weekend as part of the Santa on Main festivities. For more information on the Christmas Parade as well as Santa on Main, visit www.uptowngreenwoodsc.com or on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/uptowngreenwood/?fref=ts
