BIOGRAPHY
May 1, 2000
Dianne Chinnes, Columbia, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of
Central South Carolina, Inc. has been recognized as one of the top five
Junior Achievement professionals in the world. Ms. Chinnes is currently
responsible for executing 810 economic education programs involving thousands
of business volunteers and educators and 18,200 young people in K-12 classroom
in 18 South Carolina counties. The operating budget has increased
more than 1,000 percent since she was named CEO in 1983. She has
been active in Columbia Rotary, South Carolina Business Hall
of Fame, Certified Development Corporation board, Benedict College's
President's Advisory Board, South Carolina ETV Columbia Advisory Board,
Kittie Farey Scholarship Committee, National JA Marketing Committee, National
JA Diversity Committee, SC Department of Education's Social Studies Frameworks
writing team and Juvenile Justice Youth Industries Advisory Committee.
Chinnes is a founder of the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame, serves
as president and has been the coordinator since its inception in 1985.
She also currently serves on Columbia Rotary Board of Directors, Chairman of Commission on Higher Education's Academic Affairs committee, South Carolina Department of Education's African American Student Achievement Committee, and the Business Advisory Council.
Chinnes is a graduate of Leadership Columbia and Leadership South Carolina. She received the YMCA's Diamond TWIN Award, a Tribute to Women in Business, Outstanding Young Women of America, the national JA "Above and Beyond" award, "Exceptional Growth" award, "Program Excellence" award, and "4-Star Program Award," "Financial Stability Award" and the national "Peak Performer" award. She is a past board member of the Columbia Forum, the Hartsville and the Darlington County Development boards, Sixth District Tourism Advisory Council, Community Relations Council, District Coordinator Explorer Scouts. In 1981, she received the "Community Service Award" from the Town of Hemingway. She wrote the history of the Hemingway First Baptist Church and also wrote the preface for LEGACY OF LEADERHIP.
She was previously the executive director of the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce and broadcast a television news commentary program. In 1983, Hartsville proclaimed DIANNE CHINNES WEEK. She has a two-year degree from USC and graduated from the University of Georgia's Institute for Organizational Management.
Chinnes is married to Robert A. Pierce, a writer-author and retired senior editorial editor of THE STATE. They enjoy quiet times at their beach home, listening to jazz, reading, and spending quality time with friends and family. She is proud of her South Carolina roots. Her vocation is her avocation and she is active in community service in her state. Her hobby is public speaking.
