Smalls Institute for Music and Youth Leadership

  • Home
  • Our Mission
  • Founders
  • Executive Board
  • Board of Advisors
  • Meet Our Students
    • Photos
  • Meet Our Instructors
  • Mobile Classroom
    • Music Mobile Schedule
  • Contacts
    • Facebook
    • Registration Form
  • Testimonials
  • Media
  • Birthday Party Packs

                     EXECUTIVE BOARD

In loving memory of our chairman, James Barry Wright and all of his great work

Picture
James Barry Wright
Chair

James Barry Wright is a Computer Specialist at The North Charleston Sewer District in North Charleston, SC.In 2006 he founded Four JW, LLC a logistics company located in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.  He served as Technology Director/Tutor for REACH-Y.E.S. Family Resource Center, North   Charleston, South Carolina from 2006-2008.   REACH is an innovative character building program designed to redirect the behavior of students who are hard to reach and are unable to succeed in the traditional classroom setting.  As Technology Director he provided direct support for all technical aspects of the  non-profit, not limited to data and voice communications. 

His past employment include:  Supervisor of Information Management -  Fairfield County School District, Winnsboro, South Carolina (8) years;  System Programmer -Palmetto  Richland Memorial Hospital, Columbia, South Carolina (2 years) overseeing  network data connectivity between all facilities associated with Palmetto Health  Alliance; Adjunct Professor - Denmark Technical College, Denmark, South  Carolina.  
 
He is a graduate of THE CIO ACADEMY at  Emory University and the Goizueta Business School in Atlanta,  Georgia.   He received a Master of Arts Degree in Computer Information Resource  Management from Webster University, Fort Jackson, South Carolina and a Bachelor  of Science Degree in Business Administration from The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina.
 jwright46@att.net


Picture
Kendra B. Stewart, Ph.D.
 Vice-Chair

Kendra B. Stewart is an Associate Professor and Director of the  Joseph P. Riley,Jr. Center for  Livable Communities at the College of Charleston.   Her research interests include South Carolina government, non-profit  management, homeland security, state and local government, and women and  politics.  She is co-editor of a book entitled The Practice of Government Public Relations.  The articles she has authored have appeared in The Practice of Strategic Collaboration: From Silos to Actions, Urban Affairs Review, Public Finance and Management, Perspective in Politics, and various scholarly books.   Dr. Stewart has conducted political analysis for a variety of  print, radio and television media, including Good Morning America, Fox  News Channel, the Associated Press and National Public Radio.  
 
Prior to her current position, Professor Stewart was a faculty member at Eastern Kentucky University and worked for the state of South Carolina Budget and Control Board.  In addition, she has conducted program evaluations and strategic planning assistance to a variety of public and nonprofit organizations. Kendra is very involved in the community as well, serving on the boards of several professional and non-profit organizations. 
stewartk@cofc.edu


Picture
Stephen (Steve) Kugelman
Treasurer

Steve is the Director of the West Region Expanded Learning Community for Charleston County School District (James Island, Johns Island, Wadmalaw Island, and West Ashley).  During the last thirteen (13) years Steve has been responsible for all Kaleidoscope Programs, 21st Century Programs, Community Events and Community Education Classes.  He is involved in State and National After-School and Community Education Associations.



Picture
J. Travis Benintendo
Secretary


J. Travis Benintendo was born and raised in New York City. He lives on James Island with his wife and two children. He graduated from the State University of New York with a degree in Secondary Education English Language Arts. He went on to receive his Masters Degree in Educational Administration from National University in California. Mr. Benintendo started his teaching career in Costa Rica and taught 1st through 6th grade.  He taught High School English at two different high schools in California. He went on to become an assistant principal at two middle schools and at a high school.  When Mr. Benintendo moved to South Carolina, he taught 8th grade English at Haut Gap Middle School.  Afterwards, he became the assistant principal at Haut Gap Middle School and he is currently the principal.