Wednesday,
February 02
Posted by | CDS
A CEO Hike on the Foothills By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director Sitting at the top of an organization chart is lonely. We work our entire careers to get there, then realize there are few people we can truly talk with and relate to. When you add in the events...
Wednesday,
October 21
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director I remember the moment when CDS first realized we needed a plan for the looming pandemic. It was Monday, March 2, 2020 during our monthly partner meeting with all the organization leaders at CDS. We had just evaluated some of our programs and were...
Monday,
September 21
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director I am proud to share that we have created and adopted an important statement on diversity, equity and inclusion. But more importantly, this statement will be adopted into our culture. You can find this statement on our website under the “About” menu heading.
Monday,
August 28
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director Imagine you’re a new parent who has just found out that your precious baby will need extra support in life, whether it’s specialized medical devices, an organ transplant, or fragile care. Or imagine your child is struggling academically in school and has difficulty communicating...
Thursday,
July 13
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director One of my favorite movies of all time is Apollo 13. In this real life portrayal, the spacecraft was to be the third US mission to land on the moon. However, an oxygen tank cracked mid-flight and gave little hope of returning the crew...
Tuesday,
June 13
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director Leadership doesn’t happen with a title. It happens through the passion of an individual. No matter who you are, where you come from, where you work, or what position you hold, you can help lead our Upstate. Throughout my work in the non-profit sector,...
Thursday,
May 11
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director Winston Churchill is often cited as giving the shortest, but most powerful commencement address ever. The way I heard the story, it was 1941 when he visited his alma mater, Harrow School, in London. Churchill stepped up to the podium and simply said “Never...
Tuesday,
April 11
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director One of the greatest gifts in life is a good education. A strong foundation of language, math, science, and history is the basis for getting a job, becoming financially independent, and contributing to the community. A good education opens up a world of opportunities...
Tuesday,
January 10
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director I recently had the opportunity to walk along the boardwalk of the new Cancer Survivors Park in downtown Greenville. Nestled between Falls Park and Cleveland Park, this unique space will be a treasure for our entire community. After soaking up the raw beauty of...
Tuesday,
December 27
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director Seventeen. No, that’s not my age (I have three children – one in college). Nor is it the number of pounds I want to lose next year (but would settle for half that). Seventeen is actually the number of active goals I have right...
Tuesday,
November 08
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director Oprah Winfrey stated beautifully that, “the more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” This is so true, and we have more milestones to celebrate than we realize. Early in life, toddlers have key developments like grasping...
Monday,
October 10
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director Mayor Knox White frequently shares with other cities across the U.S. about what transformed Greenville into the thriving city we enjoy today. “Find your waterfall,” is his phrase. Of course, not all cities have a river that runs through them, or a waterfall that...
Friday,
September 09
Posted by | CDS
By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director In a free market society, competition is healthy. We need competing entities to keep supply and demand in check, protect consumers from price gouging, and offer alternatives in customer service experiences. This is capitalism at its best; it helps our economy to thrive. But...
