Meet Our Team!

A two-time HBCU graduate of Lane College and Tennessee State University, Damien has dedicated his career to strengthening housing, crisis response, and youth services across the country. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Supportive Housing at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Damien has also held key leadership roles as Executive Director of the Durham Crisis Response Center, Chief Program Officer at Friends of Youth, and Vice President of Domestic Violence Services at YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee.

Outside of work, Damien enjoys life with his wife, Shawntea, raising their two daughters, and their Cavapoo, Sheisty. What excites him the most about joining Palmetto Place is the opportunity to work alongside such a dedicated team to provide safety, stability, and hope for children and youth. Damien looks forward to building with you all as we grow our impact together.

Heather is the master at wearing multiple hats! With 15+ yrs of nonprofit experience and over 10 years in HR and Operations, she is excited to be apart of the team at Palmetto Place! She is a proud Columbia College graduate with a Bachelor’s in Accounting and a Master’s in Organizational Change and Leadership. She is a 2014 Leadership Columbia graduate and serves on the South Carolina Association of Colleges and Employers (SCACE) board and the Midway Elementary School PTO Board.

When Heather isn’t managing her day to day duties, she’s spending time with her husband, Brad, two daughters, Kylie and Adalynn, doing DIY projects, and finding the best thrift deals in town!

Anitra Doctor is a Human Resources and Training executive with over 20 years of progressive experience in organizational leadership, employee relations, compliance, talent acquisition, and workforce development. She brings a strategic, people-centered approach to building strong organizational cultures that drive performance and sustainability.

Anitra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and dual Master’s degrees in Human Resource Management and Training and Development, equipping her with both the strategic and operational expertise to align talent initiatives with business objectives. Her academic foundation, combined with decades of hands-on leadership, allows her to design impactful training programs, strengthen compliance frameworks, and cultivate high-performing teams.

Throughout her career, she has led initiatives in recruitment, onboarding, policy development, performance management, and leadership development. Known for her integrity, discretion, and solutions-oriented mindset, Anitra partners effectively with executive leadership and staff to create inclusive, accountable, and growth-focused workplaces.

She remains passionate about continuous improvement, professional development, and empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential.

Michelle Smith is originally from Ohio and is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Michelle brings extensive experience in program operations, organizational oversight, and service coordination, having served as a Program Manager for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program and as an Executive Administrator supporting multi-project leadership initiatives. Her background also includes oversight of compliance, performance metrics, and process improvement across grant-funded and mission-driven programs.

Throughout her career, Michelle has worked closely with vulnerable populations, including veterans, at-risk youth, individuals and families experiencing homelessness, individuals with mental health challenges, and underserved communities. She demonstrates a strong aptitude for developing and refining processes and systems that enhance efficiency, consistency, and overall program effectiveness. Her professional approach is grounded in structure, accountability, and continuous improvement in service delivery.

Samantha serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator, bringing over 9 years of community outreach experience. She is an honor graduate of Benedict College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health, and also holds a Master’s degree in Health Administration from Webster University. Samantha takes pride in fostering relationships with various community organizations and participates in community-based learning activities. Additionally, she is a member of the Oh So Sweet Ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Her extensive connections and active involvement in the community make her an invaluable asset to the team.

Samantha is a wonderful wife and a fantastic mother to four beautiful girls and one boy (aged 1, 7, 14, 14, and 17). Yes, you read the ages correctly! She has a set of twins. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys listening to the Earn Your Leisure podcast. She is actively involved with youth through her youth empowerment group, Youth Empowerment. Their motto is, "On the road to success, never say never, but I can, and I will!" Samantha diligently embodies this motto as she leads through servanthood, leadership, community-building, and involvement.

Clarissa Johnson is a resident of Irmo, SC, and proud mother of three. A formally trained artist and vocalist, she completed her associate's degree at Spartanburg Methodist College. At USC, she majored in graphic design and photography, then completed her degrees at the Arts Institute of Pittsburgh. Clarissa also earned her certification in wedding and event planning from The Sheffield School of NYC. 

With decades of multifaceted pageantry and event planning experience, Clarissa excelled in her roles as the Executive State Director and National Event Coordinator for Miss Earth USA. She also served as national staff and judges' coordinator for several elite systems, including Miss USA.

Her hobbies include traveling, singing, painting, and giving back to the local community. Clarissa serves as a Board Member for "Read to Achieve," a Children's Literacy non-profit organization whose goal is to ensure children are well prepared to succeed in school."