Staff & Board

Leadership

Lizzie Bebber

Executive Director

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Fortenberry Bebber brings both nonprofit and leadership experience to United Ministries, encompassing fundraising, communications, board engagement, partnership development, and organizational planning.

Between 2008 and 2020, she worked for Christ House in Washington, DC (most recently as executive director), a medical respite organization that provides dignifying healthcare to sick and homeless persons. Lizzie delights in working for a more loving, just, and equitable world, and finds this work realized through communities and partnerships who are committed to hope, healing, and radical hospitality.

Over the last decade, Lizzie and her family have had the privilege of living in an intentional community alongside a group of formerly homeless men. Life there has truly shaped her call to work diligently for racial equality and reconciliation. Additionally, it has illuminated for her the guiding truth that no one is ever beyond the reach of healing and transformation.

Born and raised in Clinton, Mississippi, Lizzie is an ordained Baptist minister. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University and was ordained by Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas.

A lover of people, making connections, and preparing and enjoying beautiful meals around the table, Lizzie is most alive when people come together to find common purpose, share together around life’s joys and sorrows, and find spaces of connection which remind us that we’re never meant to live this life alone.

She is the proud mother to Eli (8) and Annette (4), and lucky partner on life’s journey with her husband, Eric.

Robin Longino

Director of Mission Advancement

864.335.2615

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Robin Longino has 20 years of non-profit experience. For nearly 10 years, Robin had the
honor of serving as the Development Director for the Julie Valentine Center,
the rape crisis and child abuse recovery center serving Greenville and Pickens
Counties. Prior to working in the non-profit sector, Robin worked in social work
and victim advocacy. Through her work and volunteering, serving the
community has been an integral part of her life since high school. Robin earned
her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from The University of South Carolina
at Spartanburg. Robin is a proud graduate of Leadership Greenville Class 35.

Gary Leatherwood

Director of Finance and Administration

864.335.2602

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Gary Leatherwood joined the staff of United Ministries in July 2022. He has over 15 years of corporate accounting experience both in the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Most recently, Gary was the Controller for the YMCA of Greenville, where he handled system updates and streamlined financial processes for the entire association. Gary has also served as Treasurer for the Upstate Pride SC Board of Directors since 2018.

Gary grew up in Travelers Rest, SC, and has resided in Greenville County all his life. He has a passion for people, and believes everyone deserves to be seen and heard.

Jamika Nedwards

Director of Mission Impact

864.605.7697

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Jamika Nedwards joined United Ministries’ staff in July 2022. Jamika worked at the non-profit Julie Valentine Center for 10 years, where she most recently served as the Crisis and Education Program Director. Jamika is also an Adjunct Professor at Greenville Tech and Southern Wesleyan University, where she teaches Race & Ethnic Relations, Intro to Human Services, and Diversity Issues. She is Vice-Chair of the Greenville County Human Relations Committee, and serves as Chair of their Strategic Planning Committee.

Amanda Warren

Associate Director of Economic Mobility

864.233.6602

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Amanda Warren joined the staff of United Ministries in 2007. Since that time, she has worked directly with agency participants, as well as in a leadership role with staff in all program areas of the Learning Center.

After graduating from Furman University with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education, Amanda taught chorus at a low-income middle school for four years. This experience led Amanda to refocus her professional efforts on adults. Amanda hoped that by improving the self-sufficiency and hope of adults in the Upstate, she could improve the chances of children succeeding in school and then thriving as members of our community.

Amanda served as the manager of Employment Readiness for 12 years (now known as Strive to Thrive), during which time she led efforts to restructure the program, taking into account the longer-term nature of helping participants work towards self-sufficiency. During her tenure in that role, Employment Readiness gained numerous community partners, increased professional training for staff, and also added financial coaching and mental health counseling as key components of its model. Amanda transitioned into her work as Associate Director of Economic Mobility in 2019. She enjoys helping all of the programs and services in the Learning Center work together to best tackle challenges in participants’ lives, as well as in the greater Greenville community.

As a former college soccer player, Amanda now coaches at the academy level for the United FC Soccer Club. She is a graduate of Leadership Greenville Class 44, and she currently serves as the Treasurer of the Greenville Transit Authority Board of Directors.

Amanda’s husband Rob also is a Furman graduate. They are the proud parents of son Zach (14) and daughter Cam (11).