As Carolina Youth Development Center (CYDC) continues to grow its community partnerships the organization is pleased to announce the appointment of several community leaders to the CYDC Board of Directors.

Joining the CYDC Board are, Matt Austin, Attorney, Nelson Mullins; State Representative Marvin Pendarvis, Associate Attorney, Peper Law Firm; Andrea Clements, Director of Human Resources, Talent and Culture, Roper St. Francis Healthcare and Christine Grillo, Vice President, Merrill Lynch.

“We are so excited to welcome this diverse and skilled group of members to our Board of Directors,” said CYDC Board Chair Rita Daily. “They join the board as we begin development of our 2023-2028 strategic plan which will guide the direction of the organization into its next five year cycle. We value the expertise these members share and the perspective they bring to the strategic planning process and to our organization as a whole.”

CYDC’s mission is to protect children, empower families and prepare youth for adulthood by providing a safe environment, educational support, and career readiness in collaboration with families and community partners. The organization provides services to more than 800 children and families and housing for up to 48 residents across two campuses in Charleston and Berkeley counties.

“Our Board of Directors are integral to our mission as a community-based treatment facility,” said CEO Beverly Hardin. “They provide valuable input, knowledge, skill and a connection to our community. The work we do is complex and I applaud these members of our community who are willing to step up, learn and engage in the work of supporting and healing families.

New CYDC Board of Directors:

Matt Austin, an attorney at Nelson Mullins, focuses his practice on healthcare and white-collar litigation. He has experience as both an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office, where he was cross-designated to handle both criminal and civil matters, and as an Assistant Solicitor in South Carolina’s First Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Austin is also well-versed in human trafficking litigation.

State Representative Marvin Pendarvis, is a two-time graduate of the University of South Carolina, receiving a BA in Political Science in 2011 and a J.D. in 2014. Immediately upon graduation, Marvin moved back to his hometown of North Charleston to begin practicing law. His commitment to advocacy led him to run and win a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2017, where he has had the opportunity to represent his hometown of North Charleston. Marvin joined The Peper Law Firm in January 2018, and since then has focused his practice on personal injury and criminal defense, while also being well versed in other areas of the law.

Andrea Clements, Director of Human Resources, Talent & Culture for Roper St. Francis Healthcare. In her role, Andrea is responsible for creating and implementing effective human capital strategies as well as policies and programs that are aligned with the organization’s mission and drive performance. Through her director-level tenure, she has managed the operations for all areas of human resources and in her current role, Andrea oversees talent acquisition, teammate safety, employee relations, organizational effectiveness, and diversity and inclusion for 6,000 teammates. She has particular expertise in employment law and as such, she manages employment litigation matters. She also serves as the compliance officer for human resources. Andrea is personally connected to our mission as she and her husband are foster parents to a youth formerly in CYDC’s care.

Christine Grillo, is a Vice President at Merrill Lynch and has been the client relationship manager (CRM) for the Southeast Coastal Market in Charleston for the past two years. In her role as CRM she manages all aspects of Client Service for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management clients. She manages a staff of over 50 associates and her responsibilities include coaching and career development, leading operational excellence through execution, ownership and accountability while delivering a seamless client experience. She works directly with financial advisors as a coach and partner supporting business growth.

About Carolina Youth Development Center

Founded in 1790 as the Charleston Orphan House, Carolina Youth Development Center’s mission is to empower and equip our community’s children by providing a safe environment, educational support, and career readiness, in collaboration with families and community partners. Our vision is that all children have loving and stable families and a nurturing community that empowers them to lead successful lives. For more information visit CYDC.org.