Our Staff

Molly Fortune serves as Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission, the state’s official organization leading the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. She works with Commissioners, legislators, state agencies, nonprofit partners, and leaders across all 46 counties to deliver a meaningful and forward looking statewide initiative.

Since joining SC250 in 2022, she has overseen the establishment of county level committees statewide, implemented a multi year strategic framework, and stewarded more than $7 million in grants supporting education, preservation, tourism, and community driven programming. Her leadership has elevated awareness of South Carolina’s pivotal role in the Revolutionary War while advancing long term preservation and heritage tourism development.

Previously, Molly served as Executive Director of the Newberry Opera House, where she led more than 150 events annually and strengthened the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Newberry. She also held leadership roles at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and with the United States Department of Defense as a Cultural Resource Specialist in historic preservation.

Molly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Converse College and a Master of Fine Arts in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating summa cum laude with distinction. She is married to Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Kemper, U.S. Army Retired, and is the proud mother of two daughters.

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Heather Hawkins serves as Grants Manager for the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission, overseeing grant administration, coordination, and compliance to support projects across the state. A South Carolina native, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from New York University and brings a diverse professional background to her work in historic commemoration.

Prior to joining SC250, Heather served as Ticketing and Guest Experience Manager at the Newberry Opera House, where she supervised box office operations, coordinated events, trained volunteers, and collaborated with marketing and donor relations teams. She previously spent a decade in local radio, hosting a mid day program, managing advertising sales, and covering local government. Her career has also included freelance writing, office management, and classroom instruction.

Heather is proud to contribute her skills and experience to the commemoration of South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution.

Parina Patel serves as Grants Assistant for the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission, supporting the full grant administration lifecycle through compliance tracking, coordination, and communication with grantees and partner organizations. In her role, she helps ensure that funded projects align with the Commission’s strategic priorities and stewardship standards.

Parina holds a Master of Public Health from Benedictine University and has additional training in data analytics and epidemiology. Prior to joining SC250, she worked with Advocate Aurora Health in Chicago as a Transition Support Program Intern, contributing to initiatives designed to improve access to care and reduce hospital readmissions in underserved communities. Her experience includes collaborating with healthcare providers, federally qualified health centers, and community organizations to address barriers such as health literacy, language access, transportation, and housing insecurity.

Ben Rubin serves as Staff Historian for the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission. He was senior editor, alongside Rick Wise, of the Francis Marion Papers and is a peer reviewer for Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution. His scholarship focuses on the Revolutionary War in the South, particularly South Carolina’s backcountry campaigns.

Ben completed graduate work at Western Carolina University and Drew University, concentrating on the American Revolution in South Carolina. He previously taught Early American History with an emphasis in Southern history at Bloomfield College before transitioning to full time public history work. He is a Fellow of both the Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution and the Southern Revolutionary War Institute, and his research has been published in multiple academic journals. He has lectured widely on the Revolution and appeared on several history focused podcasts.

Currently based in New Jersey, Ben lives with his wife and two daughters and remains actively engaged in Revolutionary War interpretation and public scholarship.

Katherine Saunders Pemberton serves as Education and Outreach Manager for the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission. A native of Virginia, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation from Mary Washington College and brings more than 30 years of experience in archaeology, museum leadership, preservation, and public history in Charleston and across South Carolina.

Throughout her career, Katherine has worked as an archaeologist, city tour guide, education specialist, preservation advocate, and museum director. She taught graduate level Historical Research Methods for nearly two decades in Clemson University’s Master of Science program in Historic Preservation. Since 2005, she has chaired the Mayor’s Walled City Task Force, advancing research and archaeological investigation into the history of America’s only English walled city.

Most recently, Katherine served as Director of the Powder Magazine Museum and Director of Programming for the National Society of the Colonial Dames in America in the State of South Carolina. She and her husband, James, live in Summerville and have three daughters.

Vally M. Sharpe serves as Publications Manager for the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission, overseeing editorial development and print production initiatives, including the publication of the Francis Marion Papers. She joined the Commission in 2024, bringing two decades of experience in publishing, editing, and book production.

Since 2005, Vally has been owner and Creative Director of United Writers Press, providing editing, graphic design, and print and digital book management services to independent authors, academic historians, businesses, and regional publishers. Over the course of her career, she has worked with more than 750 clients to prepare manuscripts for publication. Her background also includes experience as a software developer and marketing director, bringing both technical and creative expertise to her work.

A lifelong student of Revolutionary War history, Vally combines her passion for the subject with professional publishing leadership to support the Commission’s scholarly and public facing publications.

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Mike Tyler serves as Site Development Manager for the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission, supporting site acquisition, planning, and development initiatives across the state. Originally from the South Carolina Lowcountry, he now calls the Midlands home.

Mike brings experience overseeing construction and development projects from initial acquisition through design and completion. He has worked closely with local, state, and private partners to advance projects efficiently and collaboratively. He values strong teamwork and coordinated leadership as essential components of successful site development and long term stewardship.
Outside of his professional work, Mike enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and being on the water whenever possible.