39 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com an honorary doctorate in education from The Citadel. But Zucker is also a businesswoman. She’s the CEO of the InterTech Group and owns the Carolina Ice Palace and the South Carolina Stingrays. Dozens of boards and committees that focus on economic development have benefited from Zucker’s involvement. She has been recognized for her business acumen, receiving numerous awards including the Joseph P. Riley Leadership Award. Zucker was named by the governor as one of South Carolina’s Economic Development Ambassadors for Charleston County and Charlestonian of the Year by Charleston Magazine. BARBARA MELVIN If there is one industry that springs to mind when talking about jobs, it’s shipping commerce, managed by the South Carolina Ports. Our thriving seaport is what makes the local economy tick, and it’s up to Barbara Melvin to keep it ticking. The SC Ports Authority has more than 800 employees but supports around 250,000 jobs statewide. That’s 1 in 9 jobs! In an industry that’s traditionally been dominated by men, Melvin is the first woman ever to lead a Top 10 container port in the U.S. She became the president of SC Ports after having been its chief operating officer for four years and has been in the business for more than two decades. Melvin has never considered her gender an obstacle, and to that end, she even mentors female supply chain students. She has always held — and met — high expectations for herself as well as for SC Ports, and the proof is in the numbers. Last year, the port handled more containers than the previous year, just as it did in the previous two years. Melvin has received the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance Woman of the Year award and is the recipient of the College of Charleston’s Woman of Courage Award. KENYA DUNN But many women in business do experience gender or racial barriers. Kenya Dunn is here to help. With more than two decades of executive leadership experience at a Fortune 100 company, Dunn knows firsthand the challenges women of color face in corporate spaces. Rather than simply teaching women how to navigate these challenges, she emboldens them to break barriers, driving change and making their leadership undeniable. At the heart of her mission is the POWER Tribe, a community designed to provide the tools, strategies and support necessary for them to excel in leadership and business. And through her executive development firm PFW LLC, Dunn empowers high-visibility, high-impact leaders across industries with the strategies, vision and communication skills necessary to lead effectively. She’s also the managing partner of Equity Impact Partners, where she partners with businesses and organizations to develop and execute corporate social responsibility strategies that drive equitable outcomes and sustainable impact. Dunn has worked with leaders across multiple sectors, including government and municipalities, public education, business and community organizations, to foster environments where all leaders can succeed. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including the YWCA’s What Women Bring award and SC Biz News’ Lowcountry Diversity Leadership Award. Charleston-area women have myriad role models to look to for inspiration, including these 10 ladies who lead. During Women’s History Month, we have an opportunity to acknowledge and thank them not just for that inspiration but for their devotion and service to our community. our town
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