Governing Board

Aiken Technical College Commission

The Aiken County Commission for Technical and Comprehensive Education is the governing board for Aiken Technical College. Members are appointed through the State of South Carolina’s Office of the Governor and serve in four-year terms.


Commission Members 2023-2024

Joe Lewis, Chairman

Joe Lewis is a Financial Services Officer with Security Federal Bank. He is involved in the community as a member of the Rotary Club of Aiken and also serves as a board member of the Aiken Corporation and on the endowment committee of St. John’s United Methodist Church. Mr. Lewis has a bachelor’s degree in administrative management from Clemson University in Clemson, SC.

William Windley, Vice-Chairman

William (Bill) Windley is retired from Kimberly-Clark Co., where he had worked for about 30 years. During his time with the company, he was responsible for coordination of the mill’s capital budget, management various capital projects, and training other engineers on the company’s capital project procedures. He is a member of Grace United Methodist Church where he serves as head usher. Mr. Windley received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Keyatta Priester, Secretary

Keyatta Priester is the Community Development Manager for Aiken Electric Cooperative. She actively volunteers with area United Way agencies and serves on boards and councils including the United Way of Aiken, Aiken Family YMCA, the Aiken County Public School District Early Learning Advisory Board, Aiken Community Service Networking Group, Rotary Club of Aiken, Tim Scott's John Moniz Champion of Hope Advisory Council, and the Midland Valley, Aiken and North Augusta Chambers of Commerce. 

Jennifer Curtis

Jennifer Curtis is retired from Savannah River Nuclear Solutions as its senior vice president and general counsel, a role she held for 12 years. In that position, she oversaw legal activities for SRNS in the execution of its Savannah River Site management and operations contract. Her 40-year includes working as counsel for organizations such as Fluor Corporation, New York Power Authority, and the Metro North Commuter Railroad. Curtis has also served a decade on the board of the Center for African American History, Art, and Culture. She is chair of the board, where for she has led renovation and construction efforts, management, and operations for the center.

Paul Hanna

Paul Hanna is the Director of Human Resources and Volunteer Services at Aiken Regional Medical Centers and has over 20 years of human resources experience in the acute healthcare and luxury hospitality fields. Mr. Hanna also serves on advisory boards for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and the Aiken County Career and Technology Center and is the Troop Committee Chair for Scout Troop 115. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from West Virginia University.

Charlie Hartz

Charlie Hartz is a local business owner of four Dunkin Donuts locations in Aiken and North Augusta and The Village Café in Aiken. Before opening the local businesses, Mr. Hartz held a 30-year career in managing country clubs throughout the U.S. and abroad, including the Woodside Plantation Country Club in Aiken. He has served on the following boards: Aiken Chamber of Commerce, Aiken Technical College Foundation, Coastal Carolina National Bank Advisory Board, and the United Way board. Mr. Hartz has a bachelor’s degree in management from Alfred University.

Dr. Dorian Newton

Dr. Dorian Newton is the Deputy Director of Site Training with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. In this role, he is responsible for strategic and tactical direction for multiple Savannah River Site training programs. He is a naval veteran who has nearly 30 years of military service and civilian experience in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and at sites throughout the U.S. Department of Energy complex. Dr. Newton also serves as a board member on the Lower Savannah Council of Governments Local Workforce Development Board. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering and Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Management from The George Washington University.

Alvin Padgett

Alvin Padgett is retired and is the former owner of Palmetto Tire & Brake Center, which he opened after retiring from the Savannah River Site. At the Site, he worked for E.I. DuPont where he held several positions in the maintenance organization and worked for the Department of Energy on the back-up power committee. Mr. Padgett serves as the Scoutmaster for a local boy scout troop and is the minister of music at his church. He graduated from the Nashville Auto Diesel College.

Mike Uhle

Mike Uhle Mike is the Human Resources Manager at the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, Aiken Off Road Radial tire plant. He has served on the Human Resources Board for the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance where he also served as Board Chair, he was the Corporate Gifts Chair for the United Way of Aiken County Campaign for several years, he served on the Board of Directors for Public Education Partners, and the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Mr. Uhle also coached youth baseball and basketball in Aiken for many years.

Teresa Haas, Ex-Officio

Teresa Haas is retired from Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), where she served as the Director of Government and Community Relations. Prior to SRS, she managed political campaigns and worked as chief of staff and legislative director for members of the U.S. Congress. She is a member of the Aiken County Commission on Higher Education, Past President of the Aiken Women’s Heart Board; Past Chair of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Ms. Haas is a member of Aiken’s First Baptist Church and a graduate of Clemson University.

King Laurence, Ex-Officio

King Laurence currently serves as Superintendent for the Aiken County Public School District. Previous positions at the district level have included associate superintendent for instruction and chief officer of administration and human resources. He served as principal for Cyril B. Busbee Elementary School in Wagener and as a teacher and assistant principal in Edgefield County. Mr. Laurence is currently the president of the Aiken Sunrise Rotary Club and actively participates in leadership roles with his church, Shaws Fork Baptist Church. He has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from USC Aiken and a master’s degree plus thirty hours in educational administration from the University of South Carolina.

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Room
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Commission Meetings

The Aiken County Commission for Technical and Comprehensive Education regularly meets on the second Monday of each month (except in July and December) at 5:15 p.m. in the Ashley J. Little Administration Building (100/200 Building), Conference Room 102, unless otherwise noted in meeting notifications.

Commission Minutes