Spoleto Festival USA proudly announces the appointment of eight exceptional leaders to its Board of Directors: Sarah Beardsley, Anthony Grant, Lou Hammond, Anil Matai, Wenda Harris Millard, Denis O’Hare, Renee Romberger, and Loren Ziff. Together, they bring decades of expertise spanning business, finance, real estate, healthcare, the arts, media, and civic leadership.
The board of directors of Spoleto Festival USA is a group of dedicated international individuals, united by a shared passion for the performing arts. Their collective insight and passion for cultural vitality will strengthen Spoleto Festival USA’s mission to celebrate the performing arts and advance Charleston’s place on the world stage.
“The appointment of these distinguished individuals further strengthens the governance and vision of Spoleto Festival USA,” said Phil Smith, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Their collective expertise and commitment to artistic excellence will be instrumental as we advance the Festival’s mission and ensure its continued prominence on both the national and international stage.”
“We are honored to welcome such an accomplished and diverse group of individuals to our Board,” Mena Mark Hanna, General Director and CEO of Spoleto Festival USA. “Their leadership, creativity, and dedication to the arts will be invaluable as we continue to expand our impact locally and nationally.”
Mrs. Sarah Beardsley, board member, is a former Chicago-based consultant who now leads a real estate practice at Carriage Properties in Charleston. A graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with executive education in finance from Harvard Business School, Sarah brings deep experience in both business and cultural stewardship. She has served on the boards of Charleston Stage, the Joffrey Ballet, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Redmoon Theater, and is active in numerous civic organizations including the Charleston Literary Festival, the Charleston Rotary Club, and the Lincoln Park Zoo Women’s Board. Sarah lives in Charleston with her husband, Chris Randolph.
Mr. Anthony Grant, board member, is a respected business and community leader with deep roots across South Carolina. He is the founder of Grant Business Advisors and has held senior leadership roles at NationsBank Corporation and Bank of America. A graduate of South Carolina State University with executive training from the University of Virginia, Tony has served on several boards including AgCarolina Farm Credit Bank and the Columbia Urban League. He received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, in 1994. Tony and his wife Helen live in Columbia, SC.
Mrs. Lou Hammond, emerita board member, is the Founding Chairman of Lou Hammond Group, an award-winning marketing and public relations firm recognized nationally for its work across travel, lifestyle, real estate, and the arts. Since launching the company in 1984, Lou has guided its growth to six offices nationwide and a reputation for excellence and integrity. Her distinguished career began with Pan American World Airways, where she led global publicity and promotion efforts. She served on the Spoleto Festival USA Board for 18 years and continues to lend her expertise to numerous other boards, including the Gibbes Museum of Art, the Hollings Cancer Center Advisory Board, and the Medical University of South Carolina Foundation. A fifth-generation Texan, she resides in New York and Charleston.
Mr. Anil Matai, board member, brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience from Bank of America, where he held key roles in banking and management. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from Bentley University. Anil is deeply engaged in community service, having served on the boards of Freedom School Partners and United Way. He resides in Charlotte, N.C. with his wife, Anita, and their daughter, Sia.
Mrs. Wenda Harris Millard, board member, is an acclaimed advertising and media executive whose career includes leadership roles at some of the most influential companies in the industry. A 2022 inductee into the Advertising Hall of Fame, she has served as Vice Chairman of MediaLink, was a founding executive at DoubleClick, and Chief Sales Officer at Yahoo! Her earlier leadership roles included CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, President of Ziff Davis Internet, and Publisher of Family Circle. She currently serves as an investor, advisor and board member to a number of emerging technology companies and is a Director of Caleres, a $1.5B publicly held footwear company. Beyond business, Wenda is deeply engaged in civic and cultural life, serving as vice-chair of Charleston Literary Festival, board director emerita of the James Beard Foundation, and a past board member of Wings for Kids. A graduate of Trinity College (Hartford) with a master’s degree from Harvard Business School, she now lives full-time in Charleston with her husband, Jay.
Mr. Denis O’Hare, honorary board member, is a Tony-award-winning American actor, singer, and author celebrated for his versatility across stage, film, and television. He received critical acclaim for his award-winning performances in the plays Take Me Out and Sweet Charity and is widely recognized for his portrayal of vampire king Russell Edgington in HBO’s True Blood. His film credits include Charlie Wilson’s War, Milk, Changeling, and Dallas Buyers Club. On television, he earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work in American Horror Story. Beyond acting, Denis co-wrote the plays An Iliad and The Song of Rome, and produced a screenplay, The Parting Glass. Denis resides in Paris with his husband, Hugo, and their son.
Mrs. Renee Romberger, board member, is a former healthcare executive recognized nationally for her leadership in community health. During her 25-year tenure with Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, she developed innovative models that became benchmarks for other organizations. Renee, a recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, currently serves as Chair of the College of Charleston’s Board of Trustees. She holds degrees from the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She lives on St. Helena Island with her husband, Kevin.
Mr. Loren Ziff, emeritus board member, is a Charleston-based real estate investor and entrepreneur with more than 40 years of experience in commercial real estate. He is the principal owner of EastRock Properties, LLC, a diversified investment, brokerage, and consulting firm focused on long-term value creation. A graduate of Northeastern University and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Loren is deeply engaged in the Charleston community, serving on the boards of Operation Sight, Jewish Studies Center, Inc. and the Advisory Boards at the College of Charleston for the Jewish Studies Program and School of Languages, Cultures & World Affairs. He and his wife, Mindelle, have three children and live on Sullivan’s Island.
To see a full list of our 2026-27 Board of Directors, click here.