A Clemson University graduate, Joe began his career in Greenville but soon moved to New York to join DMB&B, one of the largest marketing agencies of that time. He and his wife Gretchen – also a marketing professional – returned to Greenville in 1986 to open Erwin Penland with one account and two employees, and over the next 30 years grew it to more than 400 people, with offices in Greenville and New York and a client roster that included Verizon Wireless, L.L. Bean, Denny’s and DisneyXD. Joe has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the South Carolina Special Olympics, the Governor’s Commission on Teacher Quality, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the 4A’s Foundation.
Through Erwin Creates, Joe is actively involved with day-to-day activities at Endeavor, manages a variety of development projects, provides business consulting services to agency and other business leaders, Chairs the Board of Advisors for Clemson’s Erwin Center for Brand Communications, and is a member of the Board at UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
In 2018, Joe became the lead owner of the Greenville Triumph professional soccer team – with a mission to Inspire Unity and Create Joy by Bringing Together and Serving the Diverse, International Upstate Community. Under Head Coach and Sporting Director John Harkes, the Triumph played in the USL League One championship match in three of its seasons, winning the title in 2020. The team plays temporarily in their temporary home at Furman University’s Paladin Stadium. Plans are under way to develop a new stadium, which would be home to the Triumph, the team’s new USL W League women’s pre-professional team The Greenville Liberty, and other sports and entertainment activations benefitting both Greenville County citizens and visitors to the Upstate.
THE ERWIN CREATES TEAM
Shannon Wilbanks
Managing Partner, Erwin CreatesSHANNON WILBANKS
Shannon’s role with Erwin Creates encompasses all current initiatives – including working closely with Endeavor’s core team and members, managing business coaching relationships and speaking requests, and serving as part of the Greenville Triumph ownership group. She began her career with U.S. Senator Ernest F. Hollings, and moved from Capitol Hill to work with the Greenville Chamber’s President and Board before becoming a member of Joe’s team at Erwin Penland. There, she spent 15 years as SVP Business Development, leading the new business “courtship” process and managing the internal teams whose work would grow the agency’s headcount from 65 to nearly 400.
Doug Erwin
Managing Director, EndeavorPartner, Erwin CreatesDOUG ERWIN
After overseeing Endeavor’s build out of our unique space from the ground up, Doug “runs the shop” day-to-day, managing Office Member moves, technology, operations, logistics – and a range of support services to deliver a great experience for everyone at Greenville’s creative coworking community. He is also a key member of the Erwin Creates venture creation and development team. Doug started his career with Vornado Realty Trust in Washington, DC, a preeminent developer with more than 30 million square feet of LEED certified office and retail space. He returned to Greenville to join Erwin Penland before becoming part of the Erwin Creates/Endeavor team in 2016.
Sally Williamson
Member Services Specialist, EndeavorSALLY WILLIAMSON
Sally is the heart and soul of Endeavor, keeping track of all the coming and going, what everyone’s up to, and how the Endeavor team can help. Early in her career she was one of the initial eight people who launched the fledgling HGTV/Food Network empire, and later worked for Palmetto Legal Copy Group before joining Erwin Penland as Customer Relations Specialist. At Endeavor, Sally handles all membership information and billing, manages Event Venue requests, and provides ongoing assistance and support to everyone within the Endeavor family.
Dr. Lori Pindar
Assistant Director, The Erwin Center for Brand CommunicationsDr. Lori Pindar
Dr. Lori M. Pindar is a member of the faculty at Clemson, and serves as Assistant Director of The Erwin Center for Brand Communications. With a B.A. from Clemson University in Communications, an M.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Clemson, her scholarly interests include university branding and prestige, tokenism, tempered radicals, gifted students in higher education and health communication.
As a member of the Erwin Creates team, Lori supports all Erwin Center students, faculty, Board members and academic initiatives. Her research has encompassed a range of topics addressing issues related to authentic messages in institutional branding in relational, institutional, and societal contexts, the college experience of gifted and minority student groups, including student-athletes, and the treatment of health and disease in higher education. She is actively involved in university life as an instructor and advisor, and within the private sector, serves as a communications consultant for non-profit organizations.
