EngenuitySC

Neil McLean - Executive Director

Neil McLean is the executive director for EngenuitySC. Having worked for Fortune 100 companies, economic development agencies and technology startups, Neil brings over 20 years of experience providing top tier strategies, technology, economic development and implementation to clients. His expertise includes next generation economic development strategy, program management, assessment of partnerships and alliances, economic networks and technology-based economic development.

Neil is creator of The Prosperity Navigator (TM), a collaborative process to help leaders grow innovative, entrepreneurial and wealthy communities. Previous groups who have implemented The Prosperity Navigator (TM) include municipalities, universities, and regional and statewide economic development organizations.

Neil received his BS-Engineering and MBA from the University of South Carolina. He is a graduate of The CIO Academy and several Wharton School of Business executive education programs. He served for 21 years as an officer in the SC Air National Guard and was recognized in 2011 as one of Columbia's Top 50 Most Influential People by the Greater Columbia Business Monthly.

Email: nmclean@engenuitysc.com
Phone: 803.354.5720

Franklin Buchanan - Director of Business Development

Franklin Buchanan is the Director of Business Development and comes with six years experience in development and sales in both the private and public sectors. He will foster current EngenuitySC relationships while cultivating new investment opportunities for the organization and its projects.

Before joining Sagacious Partners, Buchanan spent four years with Aerotek, a provider of technical, professional, and industrial staffing services, where he quickly rose from Recruiter to Senior Recruiter to Account Manager. Prior to his time at Aerotek, Buchanan worked as a director and manager on a number of local and national political campaigns in South Carolina. 

Buchanan graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Political Science. In addition to his professional service, he currently serves on the board of directors for the the American Lung Association and is a member of the Rotary Club of the Vista Nights.

Email: fbuchanan@engenuitysc.com
Phone: 803.354.5716

Tiffany Davis - Senior Project Manager

Tiffany Davis is a senior project manager focused on cluster development strategy for EngenuitySC. She brings eight years of experience in senior project management, executive-level resource development, and corporate relations to EngenuitySC. 

Prior to joining the team, Davis worked with a national non-profit where she secured a number of high level sponsorships in her region, and raised nearly $500,000 within three years. Before entering the non-profit sector, she spent five years as a senior project manager with a private real estate firm in Greenville where she oversaw all day-to-day operations of vendors and contractors, developed and executed marketing for the firm, and created and implemented customer-driven systems to improve the firm’s client experience. As a product manager with a Savannah-based healthcare technologies firm, Davis led the training of a sales force of over one hundred employees, managed product launches, marketing, materials and sales tools, and managed the supply chain for one of the firm’s major product lines.

Davis, a Greenville native, is a former Leadership Board member for Smoke Free Horry County, former gsScene Professional Society member, and Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters. She graduated from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Marketing.

Email: tdavis@engenuitysc.com
Phone: 803.354.5711

Katherine Hutton - Senior Project Manager

Katherine Hutton is a Senior Project Manager with EngenuitySC and works on knowledge economy, entrepreneurship, talent, and industry cluster projects.

Katherine graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. A Columbia native, she has experience in laboratory science, event management, and program development. Katherine's background in science and non-profit management brings a unique approach to knowledge economy-based economic development. She has worked as a lab technician and assistant in USC's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and has participated in USC's Citizens Schools for Nanotechnology and Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology. Before joining the Sagacious team, she worked for Junior Achievement of Central SC.

Katherine enjoys learning new things, coaching youth soccer for the YMCA, watching Duke basketball, and volunteering in the local community. She currently serves on the board of Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) and is an active member of Junior League of Columbia. Katherine is also a 2011 MBA candidate of the Duke University Cross Continent MBA program.

Email: khutton@engenuitysc.com
Phone: 803.354.5714

Meghan Hughes - Project Manager

Meghan Hughes is a Project Manager with Sagacious Partners focused on cluster development, management, and strategic communications support for local and regional industry groups.  She has over seven years of experience with community relations and public affairs management in both South Carolina and Washington, DC.

Prior to joining Sagacious Partners, Meghan spent nearly six years working for a United States Senator.  During that time she sharpened her skills in campaign finance, event management, and served two years as a press secretary on Capitol Hill.  Following that, she entered the private sector with Stratacomm, a Fleishman-Hillard Company, and managed full-service, national public relations campaigns for clients ranging from federal government agencies to large coalitions and associations.

Meghan, a self-proclaimed news junkie, is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College (a proud Gamecock!), and she enjoys visiting her five nephews and niece in Charleston every chance she gets.  

Email: mhughes@engenuitysc.com

Phone: 803.354.5717

Frank Avery - Project Manager

Frank Avery is a Project Manager for EngenuitySC. He handles strategic marketing and communications, event management, and expertise in technology-based collaboration tools for the organization's projects. His major projects are focused in the promotion and development of the knowledge economy, regional cluster industries, and entrepreneurship endeavors.

Frank's work experience focuses heavily on non-profit management, economic and community development, and talent retention. As such, he has refined skills and specialized interest in the areas of writing, marketing and communications, event planning, project management, and strategic planning. A transplant from Atlanta, Avery has risen quickly in the Columbia community after working with a number of prominent development organizations in the region and state. Most recently, he worked under the leadership of Katherine Swartz at Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) where he led over 1500 volunteers as part of the staffing for Columbia’s most prominent public events, including the annual World Beer Festival, the USMC Mud Run, and the annual St. Patty’s Day celebration in Five Points. Prior to his time with COR, Avery worked with the statewide SC Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Alliance (SCHFCA) where he participated in the development and execution of the annual Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition. He also served as a Program Assistant at the Green Quad Learning Center for Sustainable Futures at the University of South Carolina in 2009.

Frank graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Political Science & Religious Studies and studied at the University of Valladolid in northern Spain where he received his certificate in Spanish Proficiency. Recognized as a McKissick and Capstone Scholar, he was a scholarship recipient for both academic achievement and music performance and was recognized by a number of honor societies for his contributions to his community and university including Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Iota Rho, and the Carolina Judicial Council.

Email: fjavery@engenuitysc.com
Phone: 803.354.5714

Tory Sojourner - Financial Manager

Tory Sojourner is the Financial Manager for EngenuitySC. She has extensive experience in accounting, scheduling, database management, and office management. Tory worked as an office manager, accounting manager, and a controller in the Columbia area before joining Sagacious Partners. Tory has been with Sagacious Partners since its inception. She is a team player who focuses on solutions, bringing a sense of cohesiveness to the Sagacious team and their clients.

Tory received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems Management from Francis Marion University. 

Email: tsojourner@engenuitysc.com
Phone: 803.354.5713

Robin Brown - Strategic Assistant to Neil McLean

Email: rbrown@engenuitysc.com
Phone: 803.354.5715