As a 501c3 non-profit organization, The River is governed by a Board of Directors to whom the Academic Director is accountable. The Directors are individuals who are of Christian character and competence with a passion for discipleship. Each Director may serve up to two, 3-year terms.
Paul Clark
InstructorPaul moved to in Greenville from the Northeast while in high school and graduated from Bob Jones University in 1986. He is a business owner and leadership developer, trying to speak the truth in love in his business and personal relationships. Having served as a pastor, elder and teacher in the local church, he wants to see the Body of Christ strengthened, church leaders encouraged, and the Gospel advanced into the community. He loves shooting pictures, cooking breakfast, writing creatively, and traveling to distant places. He also enjoys a quiet drive in the country with Lisa, his best friend of 35 years, or admiring their 2 adult kids offering up an impromptu duet on a single guitar.
Paul has been an active board member of The River since its inception in 2013. He loves the way Jesus uses the members of His Body to minister to each other. Paul takes great delight in watching the the truth of God’s Word being communicated in a classroom setting, and seeing the Spirit bring light into the eyes and into the lives of the hearers. This has been a primary driver for his involvement with The River. An active member of Summit Church (Cherrydale campus), Paul has the opportunity to use his teaching giftedness. Paul also serves in a teaching capacity for The River.
Ben Daniel
Ben hails from Athens, Georgia. Although he grew up in religious home, it wasn’t until he attended an FCA camp as a Wofford College student that the gospel captured his heart. Soon after, Ben felt called to serve as a youth leader at a local church and as a YoungLife leader.
After college, Ben moved to Charleston, SC, to pursue a dental degree. During those years, he was involved in his local church, YoungLife, and medical missions. It was during dental school Ben and Milly were married. Upon completion of dental school, the couple moved to Greenville, SC, where they became involved in youth ministry in their local church. Ben worked as an associate dentist for three years and started his own practice in 2004. They have 3 kids: Will, Drew and Molly Grace.
In 2007, Ben and Brian Onken began to meet regularly to discuss scripture and shared life in Jesus. Since then, they’ve been reading scripture together every week! Ben has been blessed by the The River Upstate since its inception and greatly appreciates the opportunity to serve on the board. The Daniels love the community of faith at Freedom Church in Mauldin, SC, where Ben serves on the teaching team. He also enjoys dating Milly, being present in the lives of his kids, golfing, bird hunting, fly fishing and mentoring young dentists.
Juli Jordan
Juli was raised in the extremes of the United States, from Anchorage, Alaska, to West Palm Beach, Florida, with a few other places scattered in-between. With those moves and changes, she learned to love adventure and to explore many different aspects of God’s creation. She learned about her need for a Savior while a very young girl. That understanding has since grown into a desire to know and love the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in greater and greater ways. Juli graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University in south Florida, married in 1984, and has raised and educated 4 children here in the Upstate. God directed Juli to found and direct H.O.P.E. Homeschool Co-op, which she led for 12 years and through which she enjoyed many logistical, administrative and creative aspects. Today, she is the proud “Gigi” to two beautiful granddaughters.
Juli’s journey with The River started several years ago. As the “I get it” moments kept occurring for her in The River classes she attended, the desire for others to read Scripture well and get to know God deeper for themselves continued to grow. She has served on the board since May, 2018.
Irene Pizzimenti
Irene is a native of Michigan and has lived in south east and south central Michigan for most of her life. It wasn’t until 1984 that the Lord called her and she gave her life away for the sake of the gospel. She met her husband, John, in church choir and they got married in 1986. After their first daughter was born, Irene became a stay at home mom, and shortly there after became a homeschooling mom to their three daughters. Over the years, the Lord has open doors for her to serve as a teacher, choir director, theater director, and even as the manager of a nonprofit restaurant.
Irene and John relocated to Hendersonville, NC, in 2022, where Irene will continue to serve as a Biblical Counselor through Healing Hearts Ministries International. Her time spent in online classes with The River has opened her eyes to the accessibility and importance of reading Biblical texts well, for herself and for others.
Marty Windsor
Born in North Carolina and raised in Tennessee, Marty heard the gracious call of God and set out on his faith journey in a country church beside the river at the base of Holston Mountain.
The quest to live life in Christ took him to Greenville where he attended and graduated Bob Jones University. After graduation, his path forward brought many twists and turns. While playing guitar and singing in a local restaurant, Marty met Beth and they married in 1984. Marty soon began working in the field of engineering and design, which he continues to do presently.
It was through the blessing of children, Phillip and Shelley, that the Lord began to refine Marty and Beth’s understanding of the gospel; through the community of faith at Southside Baptist Church, later known as Fellowship Greenville, they became involved in local church ministry. They began to serve in music and hospitality areas, and later helped to launch Crossroads Community Church in Simpsonville.
Through the ministry of the local church and The River Upsate, the primacy and centrality of the Word of God has become a constant and prominent theme in their lives. It is a great privilege to serve on The River board to help spread love for this Word which reveals to us the living Christ.
Lisa Mallory
Lisa was born and raised in a loving, Christian home in Sharon, Pennsylvania. She was saved as a young girl and began learning to enjoy life with Jesus from her parents and in church youth groups. After graduating from Penn State University, she moved to Orlando, Florida, where she had great joy working with special needs children at United Cerebral Palsy. She later was delighted to work with adults with life altering injuries at Florida Hospital Rehabilitation Center as their community reentry specialist and aquatic therapist.
Lisa met her husband, Duane, on a blind date set up by friends. They have been married for 23 years and enjoy their 3 adult children. The Lord graciously led her family to the Upstate in 2004. Lisa has treasured being a stay at home wife and mom while volunteering for Bible studies, church small groups and caring for neighbors as God leads. She loves movies, hiking and enjoying the lake with friends and family.
Her passion for God’s word continues to grow as she is learning and serving on the board of The River Upstate.