LEARN MORE ABOUT LIV TO GRO
Championship Results
About
Don’t Ask Me Why…Ask Me How…
Simpkins is a Teacher of the Year recipient innovative leader with 16 years developing the youth of America as a mastered level of education Professional School Counselor with Rock Hill Schools & 12 years of coaching high school football at Independence (NC) & South Pointe (SC). After 12 years of coaching and being a part of 8 State Championships, Simpkins constantly explore various opportunities to speak life into young adults. Over the course of his career, he has developed a passion to help develop student-athletes on and off the football field. His goal now is to help young adults determine their purpose in this world of uncertainty while retooling the mindset for personal growth to maximize all phases of life.
Simpkins is a native of Edgefield, SC, and is married to the former Kesha Bibbs and they have two sons, Braylen & Braxton, and he is the youngest son to the late Deacon Willie & Rev. Carmilla Simpkins. Simpkins is a 1996 graduate of Strom Thurmond High, a 1999 initiate into the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a 2001 graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor Degree in Marketing, and a 2014 graduate of Liberty University with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling. Simpkins is currently working on his state licensure to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Frederick Douglass said it best… “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
Lĭv To Grō, Inc. Partners:
Love. Teach. Serve. offers consulting services that is the personal growth entity of the parent company, Lĭv To Grō. This initiative is a plan of action that are formatted as workshops that cover up to 20 topics on how to Lĭv To Grō that will be offered as group sessions for athletic teams, youth group organizations, and/or at-risk middle or high school male students. If the efforts of developing young men at the middle and high school level is implemented thoroughly, it can change the trajectory of what these young men can accomplished.
Love. Teach. Serve. provided consulting services to these Schools/Organizations:
EVENTS & GALLERY
Recent Events
Derion Kendrick Youth Leadership Camp
Lĭv To Grō, Inc. in conjunction with NFL standout Derion Kendrick will host the 2nd Annual Derion Kendrick Youth Leadership Camp on June 20-21, 2025, at South Pointe High School. This event is a 2 day camp & FREE to the campers. The camp will provide a guest panelist conversation with DK & friends, speakers, food, vendors, jersey retirement, football skill challenges (led by NFL players), and swag bag giveaways. Thanks to all the sponsors who have supported this event!
Derion Kendrick Scholarship
Lĭv To Grō, Inc., in conjunction with NFL standout Derion Kendrick, proudly presented the Derion Kendrick Scholarship. This initiative provided deserving students with educational opportunities while promoting leadership, academic excellence, and personal growth. Through this partnership, Lĭv To Grō continued its commitment to investing in the next generation and supporting young people in reaching their goals. The scholarship served as another opportunity for Lĭv To Grō to make a meaningful impact in the community. Special thanks to all the sponsors and supporters who helped make this initiative possible!
Elrod Pope Law Firm Interview
Lĭv To Grō, Inc. was featured in an interview with Elrod Pope Law Firm, highlighting the organization’s dedication to community service, youth empowerment, and leadership development. The conversation provided an opportunity to share the mission behind Lĭv To Grō and its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation. Through community partnerships and conversations like these, Lĭv To Grō continues to expand its reach, inspire positive change, and strengthen its impact throughout the community.
Outstanding Community Partner Award
Lĭv To Grō, Inc. proudly received the Outstanding Community Award in recognition of its dedication to community service, youth empowerment, and creating meaningful opportunities for others. This recognition highlighted the organization’s continued commitment to making a positive impact through leadership, mentorship, and community engagement. The award served as a reflection of Lĭv To Grō’s mission to uplift individuals, strengthen communities, and inspire the next generation. Special thanks to everyone who has supported and contributed to the organization’s continued growth and impact!
Get Fresh To Go Back
Lĭv To Grō, Inc. partnered with NFL standout Derion Kendrick (South Pointe Alumni) for the 3rd Annual “Get Fresh To Go Back” movement where we gave away 100 free pair of socks & shoes, 100 free haircut coupons (serviced by Good Hair & Barber Lounge), and 300 toiletry bags. Thanks to all sponsors who supported this event!
Meet the team
Board of Directors
Trina Ricks
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
Mrs. Ricks once held an Executive Director position for a Non-Profit organization called The Youth Source from 2013-2019. The goal was to invest in the youth and their families by giving them V.O.I.C.E.S to make positive decisions through Volunteerism, Outreach, Information, Character development, Education, and Support.
Currently, Ricks is a Board Director at Family Trust Federal Credit Union and Heart2Heart Foundation.
A fun fact about Mrs. Ricks is she served as a historic interpreter for over 13 years and showcased her talents at the MLK Prayer Breakfast for 8 Years in Rock Hill, SC.
James N. Sweeney, Jr.
Executive Board Member
James and his wife Jennifer are the proud parents of two girls and currently reside in Greensboro, NC
He has been involved in several civic & professional organizations for over 20 years and is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
James has built his career by residing professionally in 3 countries and working in countless others. His travels have strengthened his understanding of global people and cultures, but more importantly they have made him keenly aware of the enormous opportunities which exist in his home country.
Dr. Dwella Moton Nelson
Executive Board Member
She obtained a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Analytical Chemistry in 2006, then completed two fellowships at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2012). She became an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 2012.
Dr. Moton Nelson has authored and coauthored 15 peer reviewed journal articles on topics in the physical sciences and cancer therapeutics. She has presented her research at numerous national and international scientific conferences.
Dr. Moton Nelson creates K-12 S.T.E.A.M. curriculum for S.TE.M. educators and S.T.E.M. programs.
Dr. Moton Nelson owns a nonprofit organization, Kids Can Help 2, that focuses on teaching financial literacy to K-12 youth while offering opportunities for kid-driven philanthropy.
Dr. Moton Nelson enjoys writing, real estate investments, and traveling.
Dr. Charles Randle
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Dr. Randle’s research interests include stakeholder responses to auditor communication and exploration of demographic differences among institutions in higher ed. His research has been published in the Journal of Accounting and Finance, Research in Higher Education, with works in progress that will be submitted to accounting, education, and auditing journals.
Dr. Randle has taught both undergraduate and graduate accounting courses for a number of years. He is a CPA licensed in the state of Mississippi. He is a member of the American Accounting Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and a host of other organizations. He currently serves as the Treasurer for the South Carolina Association of Accounting Educators. He also serves on the Academic Relations Committee of the National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants.
Dr. Randle is a native of Meridian, Mississippi. He and his wife have two sons, Edward Jr. and Benjamin. In his free time, he enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with family.
Board of Advisors
Jimmy Leach
Board Advisor
In 1995 he earned the title of Mr. South Carolina. Over the years he has competed in numerous other body building shows and has obtained many other titles. Having competed in bodybuilding competitions local and nationally, Jimmy gathered an enormous amount of knowledge and certifications. He has Master Level Certification through Precision Nutrition, and currently studying for a Bachelors of Nutrition from Huntington University of Health Sciences. He has been a speaker for the diabetes program at Prisma Health of Columbia and McCloud Health in Florence SC. As a body transformation enthusiast for nearly thirty plus years, Jimmy lives his passion every day by training and educating his clients on healthy sustainable living.
Jimmy Leach is the owner and founder of New Body Fat loss & Fitness in both Columbia and Florence, SC. He is nationally certified and well respected in the fitness industry. He received the Registered Trademark name “The Fat Burning Coach” because that is precisely who he is for his clients. Jimmy would say: achieving personal fitness goals is certainly more attainable when we know exactly what our body is doing and how it is going to respond. You don’t want to lose just weight. You want to lose FAT! He is extremely knowledgeable about the process of fat loss and how eating healthy combined with the correct strength training exercises can reshape a body.
Dr. Russell McElveen
Board Advisor
He currently practices with Southern Illinois Health. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his
family and friends, staying active and mentoring future physicians.
Thai Randolph
Board Advisor
Laugh Out Loud now reaches 100 million consumers through LOL Network, with a streaming ecosystem that includes NBCUniversal’s Peacock, PlutoTV, Roku Channel, Bell Media, Snap, YouTube, Facebook, and more – creating an opportunity for diverse, emerging comedians to bring their comedy to a massive, global audience. The company also hit a major milestone of 2.2 billion content views across its portfolio from 81 countries, which includes 22 original series, over 300 original stand-up specials and more.
Continuing her mission to carve out spaces for overlooked – yet influential – voices in the industry, Randolph and co-founder/actress Tika Sumpter launched Sugaberry in March 2020 – as the pandemic caused the world to shut down. Sugaberry is a multiplatform media company created for and by Black and Brown moms. The company gives spotlights to Black Moms and Women across the industry – entertainment figures like Kelly Roland, Dr. Jackie Walters, Kandi Burrus have all joined in on the conversation. Thai also co-hosts podcast ‘The Suga’ alongside Sumpter.
In addition to her roles with Laugh Out Loud and Sugaberry, Thai serves as COO for Hartbeat Productions, where she leads strategy, operations, and corporate development for the company. This past year, she also joined the board of LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells. Thai has been named to AdAge’s 40 Under 40 list, Variety’s Silicon Valleywood Impact Report, Cynopsis’ It List, Cynopsis’ Top Women in Media, and Multichannel News’ Wonder Women in Streaming “Women to Watch.”
Past Events
