Columbia Welcomes Kyle Harding as New Executive Director of Oliver Gospel Mission
Good morning, Columbia! Today, we’re excited to share some uplifting news from our community. The Oliver Gospel Mission board of directors has made an exciting announcement: Kyle Harding is stepping in as the new executive director. With a heart full of passion and a deep commitment to helping those in need, Harding is ready to take on the challenges ahead.
Bringing Experience to the Table
Harding isn’t a stranger to leadership. He comes to Columbia from Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, where he served as the chief operations officer for 18 months. In that role, he was responsible for managing the overall operations, and what a critical job that was! He oversaw budgeting for food sourcing, storage, and distribution across a staggering 21 counties—that’s right, more than 200 nonprofit pantry partners worked with him to ensure food was reaching those who needed it most.
Before diving into the nonprofit world, Harding racked up over 35 years in manufacturing and logistics. He spent nearly 30 years at Shaw Industries, where he handled everything from customer service to production planning and distribution. This breadth of experience means he’s coming in with a wealth of knowledge that could really help the Mission expand its impact in our community.
A Passion for Nonprofit Work
What’s particularly inspiring about Harding is his journey into the nonprofit sector. It all began more than 30 years ago when he started donating to United Way while he was with Shaw Industries. With a gentle nudge from his plant manager, Harding found himself filling out pledge forms, and as the years rolled on, his donations grew alongside his desire to understand the good being done in the community. “I loved discovering all the wonderful things happening with our money,” he recalled.
Community Leaders Share Excitement
Andy Davis, the chair of the OGM Board, expressed the board’s enthusiasm in welcoming Harding. He said, “We are thrilled that God has directed us to Kyle to be our next Executive Director.” It seems the feelings of excitement are mutual, as Harding has already shared his admiration for the work being done at Oliver Gospel. “I am stirred in my soul by the passion that this organization has for people,” he mentioned. You can sense his enthusiasm as he spoke about transforming lives and extending the love of God to our community’s most isolated and at-risk folks.
Setting Goals for the Future
As Harding embarks on this new journey, he emphasized the importance of consistent improvement. “As an operational leader, I always seek improvement in every aspect, and that’s what we will do as a team,” he stated confidently. It seems clear that he’s not only invested in the mission of OGM but also in the growth and success of the team that supports these vital services.
Cloudy Skies, Bright Futures
As we look forward to the official handover, it’s worth noting that today’s weather is a bit reflective of new beginnings: cloudy, with a chance of a stray shower or thunderstorm, and highs reaching around 81°F. Winds will be from the northeast, floating gently at 10 to 15 mph, so it’s a perfect day for an inspiring walk, especially knowing that someone like Kyle Harding is taking the helm at the Oliver Gospel Mission.
As always, Columbia, stay tuned for updates on the great work that Kyle and the team at Oliver Gospel will be doing in the coming months. Together, let’s support our community and those who truly need it!
