May 8 Bluffton Event for All Republicans

The Greater Bluffton Republican Club Requests the Honor of Your Presence at:

Barbeque, Beer, and Blues -
an evening of good ol' GOP fun!

What: A Barbeque...Delicious food by Ted Huffman (GBRC members: remember the first Party for the President and the Victory Party? Yum.) Authentic American blues music provided by J. Howard Duff

When: Sunday May 8th at 6PM

Where: Home of Bill and Nancy Roe, 113 Bridge Street, on Bluffton's beautiful May River

Hosted by: Bill and Nancy Roe, Rep Bill Herbkersman, and former Rep Joanne Gilham

Who: All Members of the Greater Bluffton Republican Club, the Sun City Republican Club, the First Monday Republican Club, the Republican Women of Southern Beaufort County, the Beaufort County Republican Party, the Hilton Head Republican Club, their family, friends, and any other interested persons

Why: to have a party, and to introduce Karen Floyd, who will be kicking off her low country campaign for Superintendent of Education that night in BLUFFTON (Please visit http://www.beaufortrepublicans.com/index.php or http://blufftongop.blogspot.com/ for her resume and her bio.)

Cost: zip, zero, zilch - Just BYO Wine. Beer/soft drinks will be available courtesy of Mr. Bill Roe.

RSVP - Please! This is very important so we can plan the food, etc. Call Suzie Troia at 682-2560 OR e-mail her at stroia@adelphia.net with your name, phone number and the number in your party.

Contacts:
Dawn Duff 757 6156
President, Greater Bluffton Republican Club
Donna Huffman 757 0678
Vice President, Greater Bluffton Republican Club

Karen Floyd's Resume

Karen Kanes Floyd
105 Montgomery Circle
Spartanburg, SC 29302
(864) 583-0520

EMPLOYMENT
2000 to Present The Palladian Group
Chief Executive Officer
Founded The Palladian Group, which serves the marketing, development and technology needs of clients throughout the globe. Serves as business developer and strategic vision for the organization. Oversees four divisions and in excess of thirty employees. Represents a wide variety of national and international clients with respective fields and
industries spanning the medical, hotel, real estate,
property development, educational and technical sectors.

1998 to 2002 Spartanburg County Council
Chairman
Elected to at-large seat by popular vote of 250,000 county residents. Presided over County Council meetings. Developed strategic plans for countywide initiatives. Oversaw policy for 1,400 county employees. Served as Vice Chairman of Spartanburg Area Transportation Study (SPATS - 1999) and served as Chairman (2000 to 2003). Served as Chairman of State Infrastructure Bank Steering Committee for Spartanburg County (1999 to 2003).

1994 to 1998 Flagstar Corporation
(Denny's, Quincy's, Hardees, El Pollo Locco, Coco's, Carrow's, Jojo's, Jeremiah's)
1996 to 1998: Vice President, Employee Relations, Governmental Affairs, Community Affairs and Legal Compliance
1994 to 1996: Director, Employee Relations and Legal Compliance
Governmental Affairs/Regulatory
-Developed strategic long-term process of identifying beneficial legislation for restaurant industry;
-Hired and supervised national and state lobbyists;
-Monitored national and state legislation relative to restaurant industry;
Employee Relations
-Responsible for up to 110,000 employees, the grievance process, telephone hotlines;
-Implemented Company Alternative Dispute Resolution Process;
-Began mediation as a step in grievance process;
Legal Compliance
-Responded to all agency charges

1992 to 1994 Magistrate Court, Spartanburg County Courthouse
January 1993 to 1994: Chief Magistrate
-Presided over civil and criminal court, both jury and non-jury trials. Drafted legal memorandum and orders. Routinely researched legal issues. Presented arguments for and successfully obtained funding from County Council to restructure court system. Researched and prioritized goals to implement restructure. Instituted novel approach to reduce case backlog resulting in reduction of jury trial caseload of approximately two thousand to two hundred pending. Developed approaches to deal more efficiently with general public. Managed personnel, including Magistrates, in excess of forty persons. Prepared and presented budget for FY 1993/94.

June 1992 to January 1993: Magistrate
Presided over traffic court bench trials and civil, criminal, and traffic jury trials. Implemented Spartanburg County's first centralized Traffic Court System. Developed courtroom procedure and shared training with District Magistrates.

1985 to 1992 Legal Practice
1990 to 1992: King, Hray and Kanes, Partner.
1988 to 1990: King & Hray, Associate (Spartanburg, South Carolina) Litigated routinely in Probate Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Circuit Court and South Carolina Court of Appeals. Practiced before administrative boards and commissions, specifically the Workers Compensation Commission and Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. Researched and drafted legal memorandum, pleadings, and appellant briefs. Conducted depositions regularly. Achieved favorable resolutions through meticulous and consistent work. Planned and negotiated settlements. Maintained extensive client contact.

1987 to 1988: Assistant Circuit Solicitor
Represented the state and prosecuted cases in Family Court and General Sessions Court. Litigated matters including child molestation, child abuse and rape.

1985 to 1987: Staff Attorney
South Carolina Senate, Office of Senate Research
Researched and drafted legislation. Participated in Administrative procedures and hearings. Represented Senators in their legislative capacity.

EDUCATION
1986 University of South Carolina School of Law
President, Student Bar Association; Daniel McLeod Scholarship Award

1983 Goucher College; Bachelor of Arts
Chairperson, Academic Honor Board; Elizabeth King Elliott Fellowship Award


AFFILIATIONS
(Present and Past)
American Judiciary Society, 1990 to present
Arts Partnership, Board Member 1998 to present
Department of Natural Resources, Board Member 2004 to 2008
Human Resources Management Association, 1994 to 2000
Lymphoma & Leukemia Society 1st Annual VIP Dinner, Chairperson 2000
Palmetto Conservation Foundation, Board of Directors 2000 to 2oo2
Piedmont Area Girl Scouts, Board Member/Nominating Committee to 2008
Share the Vision, Board Member 1998 to 2002 Co-Chairman 1999 to 2002
Sartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Board Member 1998 to 2002
Spartanburg Area Board of Governors, Board Member 2005 to 2008
Spartanburg County, SC, and American Bar Association, 1986 to present
Spartanburg Development Council, Board of Directors, 1998 to 2002
Susan B. Komen Upstate Race for the Cure, Founding Board Member 1998, Secretary 1999 to 2001
United Way Campaign, Board Member 2001 to 2003
YMCA, Executive Board 1999 to 2002


Board Representative prior to 1998
Spartanburg County Higher Education Commission, Member
National Council Chain Restaurants, Board of Trustees
Governor's Leadership Forum
Spartanburg County Little Theater, Board of Trustees
Spartanburg County Children's Shelter
SAFE Homes Network
Department of Mental Health, Board Advisor
Children's Coalition Against Sexual Abuse, Board Member
DSS Treatment Team, Board Member
International Franchise Association, Board Member

AWARDS
Order of the Palmetto
Business and Professional Women Club, Woman of the Year
Spartanburg Technical College, Woman of the Year/Politics
Career Woman of the Year
Outstanding Young Woman of the Year
Toast of the Town, Salvation Army

Karen Floyd Bio

Karen Floyd is a wife, a mother of two, a private business owner and a
concerned citizen with a passion for education. Growing up, she was
influenced by her mother and sister, both of whom were educators, and
her father, who was a college professor. As a student of law at the
University of South Carolina, Karen balanced successfully the ability
to complete her degree, work 30-plus hours per week and become the
student body president. These are life experiences that would lay the
groundwork for later political aspirations. Her decision to run for
Superintendent of Education stems from these positive influences and
her fundamental belief that the status quo continues to underserve the
majority of our young people.
Karen recognizes that current statistics reflecting poor graduation rates and low SAT scores are an indication that the current education process needs improvement. A fresh, new approach to changing our schools should prevail. She will devote herself fully to improving the quality of education in South Carolina. Karen believes that the office of Superintendent of Education should be a catalyst for reform, an incubator for innovation and new ideas, as well as a sounding board for legislative and gubernatorial agendas.
Her cumulative skills have compelled Karen to run for this important state office. As a former prosecutor, she saw the devastation of child abuse. As a judge, she witnessed the hopelessness of individuals who were ill-prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century. In corporate America, she learned the intricacies of managing large numbers of individuals and as a small business owner, she learned to adapt to changing market forces. As a wife and a mother, Karen realizes the importance of solid family values and a sound educational
foundation for children.
As Chairman of the Spartanburg County Council, Karen learned the art of consensus building and the principle that more can be accomplished also served as a member of the Spartanburg County Higher Education Commission, the Spartanburg County Children’s Shelter, the SAFE Homes Network, the Department of Social Services and the Children’s Coalition Against Sexual Abuse.
As State Superintendent, Karen Floyd will lead the way to a better system of education in South Carolina. Karen loves children and has a proven background serving as a champion for improving the quality of life for students of all ages. She believes, as does Howard Fuller, a noted educator, that “We must love the children more than the system.”

Karen Floyd…Leading Change