The SC Chamber Board has voted to approve the following business leaders to its executive committee:

Mack Whittle, Chairman – Whittle has served as president and chief executive officer of the South Financial Group since its inception in 1986. He is director of the South Financial Group and CEO for Carolina First Bank. Whittle began his banking career in 1969 at Bankers Trust of SC. He is a past president of the SC Bankers Association and was named “Outstanding Young Banker” in 1988. Whittle is chairman of the Board of Trustees for the USC.

Emerson Gower, Jr. Chairman Elect – Working in a variety of capacities throughout the Carolinas and Washington, D.C., Gower joined Progress Energy in 1970. He is now vice president in the Southern region, responsible for delivering electric service to 310,000 customers in northeastern SC and south–central North Carolina. Gower also serves as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Coker College and as vice chairman for the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Math.

John H. Tiencken, Treasurer – The Chamber’s returning treasurer, Tiencken is an 11–year Santee Cooper executive and an eight-year Berkeley County attorney. Tiencken now spends his energy as a shareholder at the Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd law firm. He is a graduate of the College of Charleston, a graduate of the USC Law School, and has a Master of Laws in taxation from Emory Law School.

Lee Bussell Past Chairman – A 26–year veteran of the advertising/communications business, Bussell joined the firm now known as Chernoff Newman in 1986. He was named president and CEO in 1998. With a degree in advertising and public relations from USC’s College of Journalism, Bussell is recognized nationally for his expertise in integrated marketing communications.