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Video: Myrtle Beach-area mayors spend an evening at CCU

October 23, 2018
Area mayors met with students on Oct. 17 at CCU.From left: Brenda Bethune, Barbara Blain-Bellamy, Marilyn Hatley listen to associate dean Holley Tankersley.From left: Brenda Bethune, Barbara Blain-Bellamy, Marilyn Hatley.

Mayors Brenda Bethune of Myrtle Beach, Barbara Jo Blain-Bellamy of Conway and Marilyn Hatley of North Myrtle Beach participated in a panel discussion titled "Leading Women in Local Government" on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 5:30 p.m. in the Johnson Auditorium at Coastal Carolina University. The trio discussed women in governmental roles and their personal pathways to leadership and public service.

The event washosted by Women in Philanthropy and Leadership (WIPL) at CCU.

Bethune, a Myrtle Beach native, serves as the CEO and majority owner of Better Brands Inc. She also owns BJ Investments, a property investment, development and rental company, as well as two bridal boutiques: The Little White Dress in Myrtle Beach and Maddison Row in Charleston. Bethune earned a degree in business and completed the Anheuser-Busch Management Development Program.

Blain-Bellamy, a native of Conway, was sworn in as mayor of Conway on Jan. 4, 2016, having previously served on city council from 1993-1998 and 2012-2016, and as mayor pro tem in 1996 and 2015. Blain-Bellamy served four years as Conway's assistant city administrator. In January 2011, she founded Community Legal Services, a private law office providing legal services to low- and moderate-income families.

Marilyn Hatley is in her third term as mayor of North Myrtle Beach. A graduate of the Beaux Art College of Cosmetology, she is a certified cosmetology teacher. She owned Visible Designs Inc. for 40 years.

WIPL was founded in 2007 under the leadership of CCU first lady Terri DeCenzo. It is committed to inspiring, connecting and empowering women to strengthen their individual and collective voices in leadership at CCU and in the community, state, region and beyond. Members include faculty, staff and community leaders who are committed to creating and supporting opportunities for women in all areas of leadership and across all disciplines, while continuing to invest in scholarships for CCU students. Since its inception, WIPL has awarded 210 students more than $260,000 in financial support through a fully endowed scholarship and annual awards.