Stephanie serves as the executive director as HMRA. Originally from Pittsburgh, she moved to Marion in 2012 to pursue her career in teaching. She taught for 9 years, 5 served in Marion County School District. Her passion for Marion brought her to this job, where she can use her creativity and drive to benefit the town.  

The George Agency

A native of Marion, Liz McIntyre Herlong has spent most of her adult life serving as the media specialist, Broadcast Journalism instructor, and FCA adviser at neighboring Lake View High School.  Nearing retirement and having a little more time on her hands due to an almost-empty nest, she has made it her own personal charge to live out the mission of HMRA. She believes in the vision for the revitalization of our Historic Main Street Retail District and dreams of one day owning her own Main Street business. Liz also enjoys reading, exercising, being a baseball mom/wife, participating in Marion Presbyterian Church activities, and spending quality time with her children Taylor, Morgan, and Kason. 

Brittany is a Marion native and after graduation from the College of Charleston she knew she wanted to move back to Marion to start her family. Running a local business only pushes her to help preserve Marion and strive to bring it to its full potential. She wants a town that her son will want to raise a family in one day also! Brittany is excited for all that HMRA has planned for the town the place that she loves so dearly.

Retired Educator 

Marion County School Board Member

2nd Term Expires 2020

Al Blake is a lifelong resident of Marion, SC and graduated from Charleston Southern University with a BS in Business Administration. His career has taken him from serving at Marion National Bank to Blumenthal Mills. Al worked in Marion County School District as Director of Operations before taking on the position as Executive Director of HMRA. Al returned to the school district in 2017 as an Operations Specialist. He serves his community through the United Fund of Marion County, Marion Chamber of Commerce, HMRA, Foxtrot Festival, and Flourish Mentoring Program. 

Rosewood Manor House, owner

Samuel S. Logan, born in Charleston in 1943, received Bachelor of English in 1966 from Cornell University and a Master of Architecture from University of Pennsylvania in 1970.  Practiced architecture  in Charleston from 1971 through 2017, and in Marion from then to the present.  My work is concentrated in renovation, but also in new houses and large campus buildings for the College of Charleston.  At the time of the larger commissions, I was a partner in a large firm in Charleston with offices in Columbia, Wilmington, Charlotte and Greenville.  I joined HMRA in 2017 after moving to Marion in that year, so that I could continue the work I have concentrated on both in my practice as well as my 10 year tenure on Charleston's Board of Architectural Review, chairman for two years.  My hope is that my previous work will be of use to Marion, through HMRA, and refurbishing and renovation of Main Street.

Elizabeth is a life long resident of Marion and loves her community. She works in workforce service and enjoys volunteering in her spare time. She is excited to be back on the HMRA board and revitalizing downtown Marion. 

Brooke is the owner/groomer at The Paw Spaw. She is a huge animal lover, which inspired her to open her own grooming business. When she's not working, she is usually spending time with her fur babies! She loves meeting new people and learning new things. She is thrilled and truly blessed to be a part of HMRA! 

Dr. Fran Coleman, coloratura soprano holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal
Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory. She has performed many roles including
Musetta in “La Boheme,” Second Spirit, the First lady, and the Queen of the Night in “Die
Zauberflüte,” Ida in “Die Fledermaus,” Madame Goldentrill in “The Impresario,” Mrs. Jenks
in “The Tender Land,” Mrs. Fiorentino in “Street Scene,” The Sour Kangaroo in “Seussical,”
Ipsama in “La Rinuncia,” and Ruth’s mother in “Dessa Rose.” Most recently, Fran sang the
role of Fiordiligi in “Cosi fan tutte” with the Florence Symphony Orchestra.
She has sung with the Palmetto Opera, Richmond Symphony, Virginia Chorale, Virginia
Opera, Aurora Opera, Capitol Opera Raleigh, The Washington Chorus, and the National
Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center; the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, and the Basilica of the National Shrine in DC for the AGO
Convention.
In addition to her Classical singing abilities, Fran is also an accomplished composer and
recording artist in both jazz and rock genres. She has toured the East Coast, opening for
such national acts as The Derek Trucks Band, JGB, and The Wailers. She currently tours the
Carolinas with a popular party band, The Emerald Empire Band.
Before leaving Richmond, VA Fran ran a successful voice studio for seven years, Songbird’s
Studio, LLC where she taught 30-40 students weekly. She was also a founding artistic
director with Capitol Opera Richmond, and a deputy director with Classical Revolution
RVA. Most recently, Fran accepted an academic position at Francis Marion University
where she is Assistant Professor of Music Industry and Director of Voice/Choral Program.
She is also the choir director and soprano soloist at Highland Park United Methodist Church
in Florence, SC. Since moving to SC, Fran has joined the board of the Historic Marion
Revitalization Association, and the board of Palmetto Opera.

I have always had a love of history and preserving historic architecture. As a lifelong resident of Marion there has never been a lack of either. I look forward to working with HMRA to promote, preserve and grow for future generations what makes Marion a great place to live.

Lyle has a deep and long interest in heritage and history.  She has had the pleasure of serving previously on a Main Street Board in addition to the Board of Architectural Review, in Virginia.  She has experience in land use, planning and zoning both from service as a certified Virginia Planning Commissioner and as Vice President of Operations for a national commercial developer. She also served on the Board of the Shenandoah University. Lyle founded the Historic District Residents Association (HDRA) in Leesburg, Virginia, thereby establishing it as a stakeholder in the future revitalization of The Old and Historic District of Leesburg. But her interests didn’t end there as she is on the board of a heritage foundation and several historic properties.  She and her husband totally restored their 1860 Victorian home in Virginia. Lyle, her husband and their Aussie are recent residents (2018) to downtown Marion relocating from the Grand Strand. Upon purposefully choosing Marion as their new forever home, they joined HMRA. They are happy in their new 100+ year old home and are enjoying their involvement in their community. Now retired, her graduate degree in Economics carried her to a career that spanned 25+ years as an executive in Corporate America followed by 11+ years as an Executive Director of non profits. In her pleasure time, she enjoys membership in various genealogical societies, historic preservation, porch swinging with her husband and dog, antiquing and gardening. She hopes to make a difference in her community. Her mantra has always been, “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give”.