NAMI SC Board of Directors

John E. Balling, ‘Jack’
NAMI SC Board President - NAMI Mid-Carolina

Jack graduated from USC with a BS in Business Management in 1970 and retired from the SC Department of Mental Health as a Budget and Policy Analyst in 2003. He joined the NAMI SC Board in 2003 and has served as treasurer and president. He currently serves as treasurer of NAMI Mid-Carolina and is co-chair of the NAMIWalks committee. He enjoys walking and golf. Jack is married to Stormy Balling and has two adult daughters and a grandson.

Theodore Calvin Cooley, ‘Ted’
NAMI SC Board Vice President - NAMI Beaufort County

Ted graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics. He served two years in the U.S. Army as 1st Lt. and is a retired Major in the Inactive Reserves. Until his retirement in 2000, Ted was employed in the insurance industry with two major companies. His last responsibility was Executive Vice President. He managed an insurance division and was a member of the Board. Currently, Ted is an active partner in Home Helpers in Beaufort County which is a non-medical in-home care business.

Ted became involved in NAMI in 2000 when a family member was diagnosed with a mental illness. After attending the Family-to-Family course, he and wife, Betty, became advocates for the mentally ill. They became support group facilitators and conduct two support groups every month in Beaufort County. Ted has served on the NAMI Beaufort County Board since 2003 as treasurer, president, and secretary. He is also Vice Chairman of the Coastal Empire Community Mental Health Center Board. In 2008 Ted joined the NAMI SC Board and was recognized as NAMI South Carolina’s Volunteer of the Year for 2008. He is a member and elder of Low Country Presbyterian Church and serves on the Local Missions Committee. Ted enjoys golf and likes to play duplicate bridge with Betty. They are Life Masters. Ted has three sons and three grandchildren.

Joan Herbert, MS
NAMI SC Board Treasurer - NAMI Charleston Area

A native South Carolinian, Joan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1975.  After two years of bedside practice in psychiatric facilities in Atlanta, Georgia, she obtained a Master of Science degree with a major in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing in 1979 from the University of Maryland in Baltimore. For two years post-graduate school she served as an instructor in the MUSC College of Nursing and provided family therapy in part-time private practice.  From 1982 until 1991 Joan held various progressive management positions in the private psychiatric hospital sector.  Positions included Program Manager, Director of Nursing and Clinical Services, and Assistant Administrator in facilities in South Carolina, Texas and Florida.  She re-joined the MUSC staff in 1991 and served as Administrator of the Institute of Psychiatry from January 1997 to April 2009.  Joan’s current title is Director and Coach of Organization Performance at MUSC as part of the MUSC Excellence Initiative, with particular focus on performance improvement across the Medical Center.

Fletcher C. Mann, Jr.
NAMI SC Board Secretary - NAMI Greenville

A native of Greenville, Fletcher graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1975 and USC School of Law in 1979. He was in a private law practice, Clerk of Court for Greenville County, a business law instructor, and an executive director of a non-profit.

In 2007 Fletcher began attending a NAMI Connection Support Group. He became a Connection facilitator in 2008, took the Peer-to-Peer Education Course, served on the NAMI Greenville Board of Directors, and was hired as its Program Director. Fletcher was the recipient or co- recipient of two NAMI National Connection Awards in 2009: Program Expansion and Outreach and Data Reporting. He enjoys walking, backpacking, gardening, and, sometimes, golf.

J. David Almeida, ‘Dave’
NAMI Mid-Carolina

Dave received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The Citadel in 1990. He works in public affairs for a major pharmaceutical company. From 2000- 2007 he served as the Executive Director of the South Carolina chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Polly Bekaert
NAMI Charleston Area

Polly and her husband retired to Charleston, SC twelve years ago.  They worked in New York City and later moved to Summit, NJ where they raised their family.  Summers have always been spent in Old Lyme, CT. where Polly hikes in the country, swims and kayaks.

Polly has been involved with the NAMI SC Board and the NAMI Charleston Area Board for approximately ten years.  She served as secretary for the NAMI SC Board and as president of NAMI Charleston Area.  Over the years, Polly has worked very closely with the Charleston/Dorchester Community Mental Health Center and the MUSC Institute of Psychiatry.  Her passion has been in the field of mental health education as evidenced by teaching the NAMI Family-to-Family course as well as the Provider Education course.  Her goal is to promote the very best in services for consumers and their families.

Derek Brown, MSW, MPH
NAMI Mid-Carolina

Derek Brown is Director of Development for the University of South Carolina, College of Social Work. A Wofford alumnus, Derek also holds Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health Administration degrees from USC. He later graduated from the Management Academy for Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Derek has served as a clinician and administrator, in both inpatient and outpatient settings for consumers throughout the entire life cycle. Today, he is a team member of University Development at USC. Within the division of health sciences (Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Pharmacy and Social Work), he leads the College of Social Work’s development program, with an emphasis on major gifts and grant proposals. Derek works with donors to establish scholarships, fellowships, research projects, professorships, endowed chairs, and research centers that will create new leaders and knowledge. He is also a private giving fundraiser who works mostly with individual donors interested in making major gifts. A former board member of the Pee Dee Mental Health Center and All Saints’ Episcopal School, Derek also serves on a review board for a National Institute of Mental Health clinical trial at MUSC. He is concerned about all aspects of mental health issues.

Beverly Cardwell
NAMI Piedmont Tri-County

Beverly and her husband spent twenty-one years as a management team in a multi-national corporation. After numerous moves throughout the country, they settled in Rock Hill, SC. They became involved in NAMI in 1995 when a family member was diagnosed with a mental illness.

Over the years, she has served NAMI Piedmont Tri-County as president, board member, and “help line” responder. Membership in other boards includes the NAMI SC State and Executive Boards, the Catawba Community Mental Health Center Board, and the Catawba Foundation Board. In addition, she is a national speaker, providing hope and education in the area of mental illness, and is a Trustee for her church. Her hobbies include traveling, cooking, home decorating, and wedding planning.

Larry Graham
NAMI Kershaw

Larry graduated from Camden High School and North Carolina State University with a degree in Engineering. He is self-employed at a family owned independent tire store and describes himself as a grease monkey, brake mechanic, and tire changer.

Larry’s involvement with NAMI Kershaw began when a family member was diagnosed with a mental illness. He is the current Chair of Mental Health America of Kershaw County and is on the Santee Wateree Mental Health Center Board. Larry and Linda, his wife of thirty-two years, have three children, Joe, Becky, and, Dan and one grandchild, Gretchen. He is also involved in the Baptist Church, the Kiwanis Club, the Bicycle Club, and the Bee Keeping Club.

William R. Hamilton, ‘Bill’
NAMI Grandstrand

Bill was born and raised in San Mateo, California. Following graduation from the University of California at Berkeley, he enlisted in the California Air National Guard. After returning from active duty, he began his teaching career as a public school music teacher. During this time he began graduate studies at California State University, San Francisco, and his musical interests shifted to theory and composition. He moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he completed his doctorate at the University of Michigan, and began his career as a college professor.

In 1979 he was hired by USC Coastal Carolina College. In addition to teaching, he developed an interest in jazz piano and wrote music for some theater productions. When USC-CCC became Coastal Carolina University, he wrote the music for Coastal’s alma mater. He retired from full time teaching at the end of the 2006- 2007 year, but has been able to do some part time teaching, and continue his performing activities. Bill joined NAMI in 1991 after a family member experienced symptoms of mental illness. Presently, he serves as president of NAMI Grand Strand.

Robert Wesley Hayes, Jr., ‘Wes’
NAMI Piedmont Tri-County

Wes graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1975. While at West Point, he was elected President of the Class of 1975 and served as a Battalion Commander. His military service includes service as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg from 1976-1980, and service as a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard from 1980-2005 where he held the rank of Colonel. He is a master parachutist, a ranger, and recipient of the Legion of Merit Award. In 1983, Wes graduated from the University of South Carolina’s School of Law. While in law school, he was elected President of the Student Bar Association, served on the South Carolina Law Review, and was a member of the Order of the Coif. He is a partner in the law firm of Harrelson, Hayes and Guyton. Wes served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1985-1991. He has served as a member of the South Carolina Senate since 1991 and is a member of the Republican Party.

Wes currently serves on the Boards of the South Carolina Bank and Trust of the Piedmont, Guardian Fidelity Mortgage Corporation, Westminster Towers, and the York County Chapter of the American Red Cross.  He is an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill. He was Chairman of the York District Boy Scouts of America from 1985-1991, and Chairman of the Rock Hill United Way Campaign in 1992. Wes is a member of the American Legion, Kiwanis, Elks, Gideons, Christian Legal Society, National Lawyers Association, and State and County Bar Associations. Wes and his wife Sally have three children.

Glen McCaskey
NAMI Beaufort County

Glen has degrees from William and Mary, the University of Pennsylvania and the Evangelical Institute.  He was one of the early team members who evolved Hilton Head's Sea Pines Plantation into an international resort community icon. Glen directed Caribbean marketing for the Rockefeller family's numerous RockResorts, Mid-Atlantic science education for Philadelphia's Franklin Institute, and community relations for Arizona's Del Webb in South Carolina.  He has advertising agency credits, having managed major resort accounts.  He owns Community Visions of Hilton Head and has consulted throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Africa, and in several recently emerged nations in Eastern Europe. He has authored several books, markets his "islands photography" in several coastal galleries, has created numerous environmental preserves and parks, takes on special "issues management" assignments, writes, teaches the Bible, and has ventured into publishing.

Glen became involved in mental health when a family member was diagnosed with mental illness a decade ago. He was introduced to NAMI and wanted others to benefit from the helpful and compassionate services he experienced and a desire to grow the organization.  He served on the NAMI Beaufort County Board, the Coastal Empire Mental Health Center Board, and helped spearhead the creation of the first professional NAMI staff at Hilton Head.

Leslie McCowan
NAMI Aiken

Leslie has a BS degree in medical dietetics from Penn State University. Previously, she has been employed by SCDHEC as a certified lactation consultant and nutritionist. Since discovering NAMI, she has become a Family-to-Family teacher and is currently serving as NAMI Aiken President. She is married to John and is a mother and a grandmother. She enjoys fitness activities, especially swimming, and is a new piano student.

Walton H. Owens, Jr., PhD
NAMI AOP

A graduate of Emory University and Florida State University, Walt Owens taught courses in political science and in modern management practices before retiring as professor emeritus at Clemson University.   During his academic career he served as president of the Southern Association of Public Opinion Research and President of the Clemson University Faculty Senate.  He was president of the Clemson Chapter of the American Association of University Professors and faculty sponsor of the Clemson University Ski Team.

In academic outreach, he was a member of the SC Educational Television Commission for eleven years, the SC Governor’s Staff, and various SC governmental task forces focusing on accountability in higher education.  He served in the US Army and was a Presidential Elector.  He has been secretary, VP, and president of NAMI SC.  He is an elder and past Clerk of Session in Ft. Hill Presbyterian Church, Clemson.  Formerly an avid skier, he now enjoys woodworking.  He and his wife, Rameth, have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Michelle Ready, RN
NAMI AOP

Michelle graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina’s School of Nursing. In 2002 she took the Family-to-Family course when a family member was diagnosed with a mental illness. The knowledge she gained from the course, as well as the support she received from others in the organization, inspired her to become a volunteer with NAMI. She became a Family-to-Family teacher and state trainer, a Caregivers Support Group facilitator, a Provider Education teacher, the NAMI AOP resource person, and the NAMIWalks co-chair for NAMI AOP for two years. In 2004 she received NAMI SC’s Volunteer of the Year Award. In 2008 she received NAMI SC’s Solid Gold Member Award and was inducted into NAMI National’s Family-to-Family Hall of Fame.

In addition to her work with NAMI, Michelle is on the Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Mental Health Center Board. She has served on the Citizen’s Advisory Board at Patrick B. Harris Psychiatric Hospital. Michelle has a daughter and a son. Her hobbies include cake decorating, scrapbooking, card making, and organizing the homes of friends.

Martha Vaughan
NAMI Laurens County

Martha is a native of North Carolina who attended St. Andrews College and graduated from Erskine Colleger following her marriage to Doug, a Presbyterian minister, now retired. She received a MA in art from University of Texas at Tyler and has spent her working years as an artist-educator in colleges, community colleges and secondary schools in the Carolinas and Texas. An award winning artist, she has curated and exhibited in group and individual shows for several decades and her works are in museums, private and corporate collections in this country and abroad.

When confronted with the challenge of a mentally ill family member, Martha and her husband became members of NAMI in Wilmington, NC and found the group to be a lifeline for them and their son. She became the spark plug for an effort, The Artists’ Garden Party, to raise funds for a club house which continues today as Ocean House. She and her husband served as co-presidents of the NAMI group in Wilmington for several years. “Our family is one of the many who rely on the faithfulness and commitment of other NAMI people! We want to return some of the deep caring we have experienced from our NAMI family.”

Joel A. Wier, III. ‘Buddy’
NAMI Mid-Carolina

Buddy graduated from the United States Naval Academy and flew as a Navy pilot in Vietnam. His career as a businessman for thirty-one years was as a stockbroker and financial consultant. He retired in 2005. Buddy has served on the Board of Directors of the Columbia Area Mental Health Center and was Board Chairman for two years. Currently, he is president of NAMI Mid-Carolina and, also, works with the Mid-Carolina NAMIWalks Committee.

Yancey Wise
NAMI Charleston Area

Yancey is a retired clinical social worker who practiced psychotherapy. She is the Consumer Representative to the NAMI SC State Board and the NAMI Charleston Area Board and has served as the Outreach Chairman. In 2009 she was the NAMI Charleston Area’s Volunteer of the Year.  She is a NAMI Connection facilitator and co-leads four groups a month in Charleston and has taught NAMI’s Provider Education course.  She has served on the Consumer Council at MUSC's Institute of Psychiatry. Yancey, an active member of her church, does volunteer work in cities and schools, and has two sons and four grandchildren, including triplets.