SC Arts Alliance’s executive director, GP McLeer, has been named one of Greenville’s Best & Brightest Under 35 by Greenville Business Magazine. Now in its 27th year, our annual Best & Brightest 35 and Under issue celebrates the women and men who are rising stars in the business community.
From the publication:
“When I was in the sixth grade, my friends and I started a petition to get recess back — and it worked. That passion to work for positive change has fueled my role as executive director of the South Carolina Arts Alliance where we work to advance the arts through public policy at all levels of government; that has directly impacted my approach to serving as mayor of Fountain Inn.
As mayor, I have the pleasure of rolling up my sleeves and getting to work for our community. This ranges from changing zoning laws to ensure our small-town charm is protected to working with the dozen or so small businesses that have opened in the last year — to celebrating and embracing our new Fountain Inn High School. My greatest joy as mayor comes from connecting with the residents and businesses that make up our wonderful community and cheering them on. For me, giving back to the community is the key to appreciating where you live. Giving back doesn’t always mean doing something big; it’s typically the small ways you give back that add up and equal big change.”
GP McLeer served on the SC Arts Alliance’s board of directors for five years, including as 1st Vice President, before being hired as executive director in 2016. For the last five years, McLeer has successfully led efforts to increase funding for the arts at the state and federal level. Most recently, his work directly led to the largest increase in arts funding in SC history, with over $23 million secured in 2021. In addition to leading all advocacy efforts, GP has also led the rebranding of the SCAA, developed new leadership development programs, and forged new partnerships for the organization across the state.
GP was elected Mayor of Fountain Inn, SC in 2019, one of the state’s fastest growing cities. There, he has led the community through the challenges and opportunities that rapid growth brings, as well as navigating impacts to public services by COVID-19. In the first two years of his term, almost $275 million has been invested in Fountain Inn’s growing industrial community, creating over 1,000 jobs, and over a dozen small businesses have created opened their doors.
Congratulations GP!
