Staff & Board - Greenville First StepsGreenville First Steps

Our Team

Derek Lewis

Executive Director

Derek joined Greenville First Steps in 2008 as executive director after serving as director of youth and teen services with the YMCA of Greenville. Derek served as a Trustee of the Greenville County School Board from 2014-2022. He also sits on a variety of community boards including Greater Good Greenville, Communities in Schools SC, and the SC Children's Theatre. He also serves as a gubernatorial appointee to the South Carolina Joint Citizens and Legislature Committee on Children. He was part of Leadership Greenville Class 36 as well as a member of Leadership South Carolina. He is also a member of the South Carolina Education Policy Fellowship program (2011) and was named one of Greenville’s Best and Brightest 35 and Under (2009). Derek is married to Hedrick Lewis, a 4k teacher with Greenville County Schools, and they live in Greenville with their son, William.

Beth Jamieson

Strategic Operations Director

Beth is responsible for moving Greenville First Steps forward, supporting the program staff, and communicating our mission to the public, including promoting School Readiness, Parenting Services, and Early Literacy Strategies. She serves on the Development and Endowment board at Greenville Tech Charter High School and has previously served on the Little Steps board of directors, Livewell Early Childhood Workgroup, and the United Way Request for Proposal evaluation panel. A graduate of Clemson University, Beth worked for YMCA Camp Greenville prior to joining Greenville First Steps. She and her son, David, live in Greenville.

Nicole Sheppard

Program Director

Nicole is responsible for coordinating the parenting programs at Greenville First Steps, including the Triple P, Nurturing Parenting, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Family Connects Greenville. Prior to joining the team, Nicole worked 18+ years providing direct clinical and psycho-educational services at a local non-profit organization. Her focus was strengthening the health of families who had experienced trauma and adversity and educating and advocating for domestic violence survivors. Nicole graduated from the University of South Carolina- Columbia with a degree in Sociology and Social Work. She serves as Board Chair for the Parenting Place. Nicole also volunteers each summer as camp counselor at the Greenville Police Department’s Officer Allen Jacobs G.R.E.A.T. camp, and she is a volunteer for Mentor Upstate. Nicole is a Greenville native, and lives with her beloved husband Tom and cat Lily.