By Tracy Sanders, Publisher
tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — OneSpartanburg, Inc. recognized local business owners, community leaders, organizations and educators during its 2026 Annual Celebration.
Katherine O’Neill received the Neville Holcombe Distinguished Citizenship Award. O’Neill serves as chief economic development officer for OneSpartanburg and previously served as Spartanburg County administrator. According to the organization, she has led efforts that recruited $10.45 billion in investment and created 9,177 jobs since joining OneSpartanburg in November 2019.
O’Neill also chairs the Apella Board of Trustees and serves on the Spartanburg Community College Board of Commissioners.
Toll Solutions was named the James B. Thompson Small Business of the Year. The company began more than 15 years ago in the Middle Tyger community.
Warren Snead, human resources manager at Cooper Standard, received the H. David Britt Economic Champion Award. He was recognized for his work involving employee culture and economic and workforce development.
The Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District received the Talent Champion Award. The district welcomed 22 interns during the summer of 2026. The interns worked in airport security, human resources, accounting and other departments.
The Hub City Spartanburgers received the Elaine Harris Tourism Champion Award. The minor league baseball team began playing at Fifth Third Park in downtown Spartanburg in 2025.
Former Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnet received the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award. Barnet, a co-founder of the Northside Development Group, was recognized for his years of public service and work involving economic mobility.
Alex Evins, a partner at Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, received the Chairman’s Award. He was recognized for his service on the OneSpartanburg Executive Board.
Brian and Felicia Murrill, franchisees of Nothing Bundt Cakes, received the Charles E. Atchison Sr. Minority-Owned Business of the Year Award. The couple was recognized for the business’s partnerships with Spartanburg County schools and nonprofit organizations.
Livingston Hawkins of Wofford College was named Young Professional of the Year. Hawkins, known as “The Walking Spartan,” was recognized for his involvement in social, civic and professional development activities.
OneSpartanburg also recognized teachers representing the county’s seven public school districts and several other schools.
The 2026 Teachers of the Year were:
- Ben Coates, Chapman High School, Spartanburg District One
- Megan Coffey, Chesnee High School, Spartanburg District Two
- Megan Fox, Broome High School, Spartanburg District Three
- Kinzie Sellars, Woodruff High School, Spartanburg District Four
- Lea Elizabeth Harrison, Byrnes High School, Spartanburg District Five
- Rhiannon Wyatt, Pauline-Glenn Springs Elementary School, Spartanburg District Six
- Marissa Drake, Jesse Boyd Elementary School, Spartanburg District Seven
- Tony Lee, South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind
- Kim Ballenger, Spartanburg Day School
- Casey Plyler, High Point Academy
OneSpartanburg, Inc. works in business, economic, workforce and tourism development across Spartanburg County.
