Jay Z. Little, MA, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, mental health advocate, and father of an autistic child who bridges clinical expertise with lived experience. As founder of Ausome Fathers and owner of Forward Counseling & Consulting, he partners with community and business organizations to advance research supporting fathers of autistic children. A 2024 Leadership Columbia graduate, and public speaker, Jay creates inclusive safe spaces for diverse communities and businesses while working to transform healthcare accessibility through competency and advocacy.

FOUNDER

Chris Helrigel is a seasoned business professional with nearly 25 years of experience at Sam's Club, where he has honed his leadership, operations, and customer service expertise. As a dedicated and results-driven team member, he has played a key role in fostering efficiency and excellence within the company.

A graduate of Midlands Technical College, Chris earned his Associate of Science degree in 2016, equipping him with a strong analytical foundation and problem-solving skills that contribute to his professional success.

Beyond his career, Chris is a devoted husband of over 15 years and a proud father of four daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and embarking on exciting adventures with his family, creating lasting memories and embracing new experiences. His commitment to both his professional and personal life reflects his drive, integrity, and passion for continuous growth.

Budget and Finance

Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to implement Workday, ensuring seamless integration and strengthening institutional connections

Partnered with academic and administrative departments to optimize resource allocation for community-serving programs

Fostered relationships between financial operations and program staff to enhance grant-funded community initiatives

Developed collaborative systems that improved cross-departmental communication and efficiency by 25%.

Built strategic partnerships between admissions and financial aid, resulting in 85% of students receiving timely financial support.

Engaged with federal grant agencies to maintain compliance while maximizing community impact.

Facilitated team collaboration that identified and resolved an $8 million revenue impact issue.

Partnership and Community Engagement

Chris was born and raised in Lugoff, South Carolina before attending
the University of South Carolina for his undergraduate studies in
Criminal Justice and Criminology. He then moved to Jacksonville
Florida for his Juris Doctorate. After returning to South Carolina
Chris worked with various firms handling a wide variety of cases, and
now works as an Attorney with Curtis and Croft, LLC handling real
estate and estate planning matters.
Chris now resides in Lexington, South Carolina with his wife Alyssia
and his Cats Boba and Remy.

Taurean Marshall is a logistics and operations expert with over a decade of experience optimizing supply chains, managing large-scale projects, and improving warehouse efficiency. As a Project and Operations Manager, they have led multi-site logistics, enhanced inventory accuracy, and streamlined operations across million-square-foot facilities. A former U.S. Army Reserve Platoon Sergeant, Taurean brings strong leadership and technical skills. Holding advanced degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Transportation Planning, along with Six Sigma and Google Data Analytics certifications, they are dedicated to operational excellence and mentorship.