RIVERBANKS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- President, Riverbanks Society Board of Directors
Deans Fawcett was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, and graduated from Hammond School and The University of South Carolina. After college, Fawcett moved to Washington, DC, and worked for Congressman Floyd Spence, Senator Strom Thurmond, and the 1988 George Bush Presidential Campaign before returning to Columbia to become an event planner.
Fawcett is an active community volunteer. She is involved in local elections, serves on the board of Hammond School, Riverbanks Zoo Society, Wofford Terrier Club, as well as Camp Cole, an accessible camp and retreat center for children, teens and adults with disabilities, illness and life challenges. Fawcett is also a member of the Junior League of Columbia, a volunteer for Trinity Cathedral, and Magnolia Way Venue.
Fawcett is married to Peter Fawcett, President of Republic National Distributing, mother of six children, and grandmother of three granddaughters. She has always had a love for Riverbanks Zoo and Garden and makes many visits each year.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Riverbanks Park Commission
Jan H. Stamps, a long-time supporter of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, has served as a member of the Riverbanks Park Commission since 2006. Prior to joining the Commission, she served two terms as a board member for Riverbanks Society. Over her tenure, Stamps has been involved several times in the rigorous accreditation process by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the 2014 Destination Riverbanks bond referendum, and the development of Riverbanks' vision for the future, Bridge to the Wild. In 2017, Stamps aided in the national search for Riverbanks' new Chief Executive Officer.
Stamps spent years dedicated to the family business, Southern Anesthesia and Surgical, Inc. Stamps is a life-long resident of Cayce-West Columbia and holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of South Carolina.
Job Titles:
- President of Republic National Distributing
With nearly 30 years of experience in the zoo and attractions industries, Thomas K. Stringfellow is only the third executive to oversee the Zoo in its 43-year-history. He began his career at Riverbanks in 2002 as director of marketing and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2011. Stringfellow was named president and CEO in August of 2017.
Prior to his tenure at Riverbanks, Stringfellow directed sales and marketing for various theme parks across the United States including Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Whitewater Water Park and American Adventures Family Entertainment Center and Six Flags Great Escape and Water Park.
For nearly two decades Stringfellow has been dedicated to ensuring Riverbanks' continued growth, financial success and leadership in the field of conservation. During his inaugural year as president, Riverbanks was named Best South Carolina Attraction by readers of USA Today. The Zoo also welcomed nearly 1.3 million guests and celebrated numerous births including a giraffe calf, two western lowland gorillas, and five African lion cubs.
An active member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, he has served terms on the Marketing Advisory Committee for AZA and both the Columbia Metropolitan of Conventions and Visitors Bureau and Atlanta Convention and Tourism Board. He is an active member of the community and served on the Board of Directors for Palmetto Health's Camp Kemo.
Stringfellow is a native South Carolinian and is married with two sons and one daughter.