Board of Directors
A nine-member Board of Directors governs South Carolina Ports Authority, each appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the SC Senate, along with two non-voting, ex-officio members – SC Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Transportation.
The Board of Directors meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at SC Ports Headquarters at 200 Ports Authority Drive in Mount Pleasant, unless otherwise noted on the meeting agenda. In addition to posting meeting notices, SC Ports announces all public meetings and provides an agenda to any interested person, organization or journalist by email. To receive email notifications, or if you would like to attend a meeting (either in-person or by calling in), please contact Liz Crumley at lcrumley@staging-scspa.flywheelstaging.com.
Public Meeting Notices:
Next Board Meeting: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
SC Ports Board Chairman Bill Stern is President and CEO of Stern & Stern, a commercial real estate and investment company which owns and manages real estate throughout the southeastern United States. Mr. Stern has been with the firm for over thirty-five years, and during that time he has also dedicated a great deal of time to public and community service. Mr. Stern was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the State’s highest civilian honor, in 1999. [complete bio]
Pamela P. Lackey was appointed to the SC Ports Board of Directors by Governor Haley in 2010. Ms. Lackey served as president of AT&T South from 2007 through July 2018. In that role, she was responsible for public policy, economic development and community affairs, working closely with state and community leaders to help bring new technology and jobs to the state and improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians. [complete bio]
Mr. Buyck joined the SC Ports Board of Directors in February 2020. Mr. Buyck is a member of the Florence County, South Carolina and American Bar Associations, and is a past president of the SC Defense Trial Attorneys Association. He is a permanent member of the US Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, former United States Attorney for South Carolina, and past chairman of the University of South Carolina (USC) Law School Association. [complete bio]
William A. Coates, who joined the SC Ports Board of Directors in February 2022, is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is a permanent member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. He is a former board member of the Defense Research Institute, and he is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the American Board of Trial Advocates. [complete bio]
Ms. Howard joined the SC Ports Board of Directors in February 2022. As vice president of Dominion Energy’s Economic Development Strategy, Ms. Howard works to bolster the company’s local, regional and state economic development efforts to include data centers, advanced manufacturing and the clean energy supply chain. Ms. Howard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of South Carolina. [complete bio]
Mr. Burns was appointed to the SC Ports Board of Directors by Governor Henry McMaster in May 2025. He is a Partner at the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. Mr. Burns has a long history of public service, including serving as chairman of the State Ethics Commission and as for Chief of Staff for Governor Nikki Haley. [complete bio]
Governor McMaster appointed Mr. Fishburne to the SC Ports Board of Directors in May 2025. Mr. Fishburne is the owner of Fishburne and Company Development Corporation, and served as a South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) commissioner from 2018-2025. [complete bio]
Mr. Ellzey was appointed to the SC Ports Board of Directors by Governor Henry McMaster in May 2025. For 42 years, Mr. Ellzey was a management labor lawyer in several national labor law firms. Following his retirement from the active practice of law, he was appointed to the position of executive director of the SC Department of Employment and Workforce. [complete bio]
Mr. Rain was appointed to the SC Ports Board of Directors by Governor Henry McMaster in May 2025. He is the Chief Executive Officer at OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, where he oversees strategic initiatives designed to drive growth across OTO’s portfolio, with an emphasis on increasing efficiency and maximizing profitability while continuing to elevate the guest experience. Mr. Rain is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and previously sat on Spartanburg City Council. [complete bio]