Ryan Simmons,MHA, CSA

Ryan holds an MHA in Health Services Policy & Management and Certificate of Graduate Study in Gerontology from the University of South Carolina. Ryan developed an understanding and passion for personalized care when he was in integral member of his Grandmother's aging in place, care team after she developed vascular dementia following a stroke. He founded CL Seven, Inc. after working for a number of years in patient safety to improve the quality of care in nursing homes, as a Care Improvement Specialist. He is a geriatric care manager that is passionate about Quality of Life for persons with dementia and all seniors, empowering them and their families to Have the Best Day Possible.

He is currently serving as a volunteer for the South Carolina Vulnerable Adult Guardian ad Litem program and adjunct instructor at Midlands Technical College. In his spare time he enjoys swimming, fishing, tennis and family time.

Swinton W. “Sonny” Hudson, Jr.

MA – Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia

BS – Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia

AB – Midlands Technical College

Swinton Hudson was born in South Carolina and currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina. After a career with the Federal Government and Army National Guard (Reserves), he chose to retire and pursue other interests. His assignments with the Federal Government included Information Technology Supervisor, Operations manager, Training Manager and Human Resources Manager and the Director of Human Resources Governor’s Office of Executive Policy and Programs.

Swinton earned a Masters of Arts degree with a specialization in Business Management from Liberty University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Liberty University and an Associate of Business degree from Midlands Technical College. He received specialized training and certification at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute and Dale Carnegie Corporation, as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

He has been an adjunct instructor with Grand Canyon University since 2010 in the Ken Blanchard College of Business, University of Phoenix since 2009 and Walden University since April 2013.

Howard Simmons is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. He attended Columbia city public schools and graduated from C. A. Johnson High School in 1969. He graduated form Benedict College in 1972 and started a career as a recreation therapist in that same year. He worked for 12 years in recreation and physical education with mentally challenged individuals before returning to school to pursue a computer science degree. Howard earned his Computer Science degree from Midlands Technical College in 1985. He transitioned into the computer programming field and worked 12 years as a computer programmer/analyst. He worked as a supervisor for 3 additional years, directing a team of computer programmers. He entered into the Real Estate profession in 2002 where he is currently employed. Howard is an avid swimmer and loves fishing.

Pierre Hanna Barakat, Ph.D. MBA 

Program Director – College of Business / Healthcare Management 

South University, Columbia