Our Staff

Since 2022, Karriem Edwards has served as President of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. Under his leadership, the work of fatherhood throughout the state has increased and impacted more fathers, accentuating his banner, “Serve More Dads Better.” Seeing double-digit growth in the impact of key programs and services offered to dads, Karriem has established leadership training programs, financial accountability and management policies, and innovative fundraising initiatives that provide a foundation to equip the Center’s five regional fatherhood partners and, ultimately, transform the lives of thousands of fathers and children every year.

Previously, Karriem held the position of Vice President of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County in Florida. He is a philanthropic leader with more than 25 years of proven success in program development, training, management, and fundraising. Karriem has an enthusiasm and drive to carry his nonprofit experiences to the realm of fatherhood programs and engagement. He is a graduate of Florida A&M University and the Social Enterprise Institute at Harvard Business School.

Scott joined the Center in 2019, initially as Director of Finance. Currently, he oversees the data, finance, and fundraising operations for the Center and our affiliate fatherhood organizations, providing financial oversight, implementation, and compliance. A graduate of Wofford College, Scott previously served as Assistant Controller at The Greyson Group.

Judy has consulted with the Center staff since January 2011. She researches, prepares and submits local, state, and federal government and foundation grants, state and national corporate grants, and United Way grants. As grants manager she ensures that program activities are implemented in accordance with successful grant proposals, facilitates grant implementation meetings, and prepares extensive funders' reports.

Marc supports our network of fatherhood organizations across the state and manages several projects for those organizations and the Center. He supports program growth and training for local programs, with local fatherhood programs, identifies programming and personnel issues, assists in educating external audiences, and helps coordinate and plan special Center events. Marc came to the Center at the start of 2016 after serving as student services manager at USC's Darla Moore School of Business since 2011.

Dawn directs the Access to Men's Healthcare component in three program sites. She also provides health education, direct care and treatment for fatherhood participants and forms partnerships with local healthcare providers for continuation of services and treatment for program participants. She designed the Men's Health curriculum and is often called upon to provide insight on the challenges of reaching out to low-income men and addressing their unique health needs.

Andrew Coston joined the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families in March 2026 as Director of Quality Assurance & Evaluations. In this role, he oversees data analytics, project reporting, evaluation processes, and quality systems that support the Center and its statewide network of fatherhood programs, helping ensure consistent, measurable outcomes for fathers and families.

Before joining the Center, Andrew served for eight years (2018–2026) as Director of Data & Technology at Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, one of the Center’s regional affiliates. There he led data management, quality assurance, technology solutions, and related support for program delivery, career counseling, and performance tracking across multiple sites.

He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Midlands Gaming Coalition (since 2019), a nonprofit he founded to create safe community spaces for youth and young adults through esports and gaming while promoting teamwork, leadership, sportsmanship, and positive development. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts from Lees-McRae College.

Shana joined the Center in 2024 as a Data and Quality Manager. She is responsible for monitoring multiple data management systems and data collection processes for the Center and statewide fatherhood organizations. She also provides statewide technical assistance and works closely with the Center’s programming team on process improvements of programmatic operations, procedures, and outcomes. Shana is a recent retiree from the State of South Carolina after 31 years of service. During her tenure, she served as an Information Systems and Business Analyst, Director of Quality Assurance, Data Coordinator, and executive level administrative support. She has a wealth of experience in data management, data analysis, quality assurance, process improvement, and IT help desk support. Shana holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina as well as a master’s degree from South Carolina State University.

Tana joined the Center in March 2020 after having retired as General Counsel of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. Her background has been in the field of child welfare and has worked previously with the Children’s Law Center and the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Tana will provide oversight and technical assistance for Jobs not Jail and provide ongoing technical assistance and training to local program staff on legal issues.

Dr. Lawrence Ford joined the senior leadership team at SCCFF in 2023 as Director of Marketing and Communications. He brings four decades of nonprofit leadership to the Center, with global experience in book and magazine publishing, radio/film/television media, national/regional/local events, public relations, and higher education. He has lived and worked on three continents, conducting training programs, establishing mission centers, and managing aid distribution.

Additionally, Dr. Ford is an Adjunct Professor in the graduate school at Columbia International University (CIU), mentoring nonprofit leaders and pastors in their doctoral studies focused on ministry leadership.

His education includes Computer Science and Applied Mathematics studies at Palomar College and the University of California San Diego (UCSD), ministry studies at Columbia International University (CIU) and Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), and his doctorate at Liberty University. He is the author of the devotional Legacy of the Fathers: 30 Days of Biblical Wisdom for Dads, and General Editor of the devotional Days of Praise for Women.

Jerell currently serves as Senior Program Manager. He joined the Center in November of 2022 as Program Manager for the fatherhood programs. Jerell came to the center from Midlands Fatherhood Coalition where he served as an Intervention Specialist. Wesley has served in the non-profit community for more than 10 years in human services and case management. Wesley is also a Chaplain in SC Army National Guard. Wesley invests his time serving the homeless population in Kershaw and Sumter counties. He received his MDIV and MA in counseling from Columbia International University. Wesley has worked for various organizations promoting and advocating for self-sufficiency, family reunification, bringing resources to poverty communities, and advocating mental health awareness.

Lamar joined the SCCFF in March 2026 and serves as Regional Program Manager for the Midlands region, collaborating with Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, our regional affiliate. With more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit, human services, and mental health fields—including eight years in leadership—he brings a strong background in program management and community engagement. Lamar holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Adler University in Chicago. His current work centers on workforce development and connecting fathers to essential community resources.

Joel joined SCCFF in March 2026 and serves as Regional Program Manager for the Upstate region, collaborating with Upstate Fatherhood Coalition, our regional affiliate. Joel is a dedicated father of six and husband of one. He is an accomplished workforce development strategist, nonprofit leader, and financial literacy educator with more than a decade of experience designing community-based solutions to address the social determinants of health. Joel is Founder and CEO of The Storehouse Firm, a U.S. Army combat veteran, and a leading regional workforce and fatherhood practitioner in South Carolina, operating at the intersection of economic mobility, family well-being, and community systems transformation.

His work at SCCFF centers on building innovative partnerships among nonprofits, workforce agencies, employers, and technology platforms to advance outcomes for children, families, and underserved communities. Joel is recognized for making complex concepts—such as artificial intelligence, smart technologies, and data-driven decision-making—accessible and actionable for nonprofits, empowering them to enhance impact, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

A sought-after speaker and facilitator, Joel brings a grounded, mission-driven approach that inspires organizations to respond to evolving challenges with clarity, innovation, and measurable action.

Frankie joined the SCCFF in March 2026 and serves as Regional Program Manager for the Lowcountry region, collaborating with A Father’s Place, our regional affiliate. Frankie holds an associate’s degree in Human Services from Horry-Georgetown Technical College. His current work centers on workforce development and connecting fathers to essential community resources.

Wendy Williams, MSHRM, SHRM-CP, joined SCCFF in September 2026 as Training & Organizational Development Manager. She holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and brings more than 15 years of experience in learning and development, leadership development, employee engagement, organizational development, and human resources.

Prior to joining the Center, Wendy served as a Learning Specialist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she designed and facilitated leadership and professional development programs, coached managers and employees, developed employee learning initiatives, launched a cross-functional mentoring program, and partnered with leaders to translate organizational priorities into meaningful development opportunities.

In her role at the Center, Wendy leads training and organizational development efforts that strengthen employee capability, leadership capacity, and organizational effectiveness. She believes learning should inspire action and is passionate about creating opportunities that help people grow, connect, and contribute to something greater than themselves.