Lessie Price
Spanning over the course of more than four decades, Lessie Price has more than forty years of experience in the nuclear energy and environment field at SRS and pulls from a wealth of skill sets, having served in multiple managerial capacities.
A brief history of her experiences includes: Manager of the SRS Community Assistance Dept & Math & Science Equipment Gift Program, Manager of the Environmental Justice Program under EO 12898 signed into law (1994) by then-President Bill Clinton and facilitating a contract with the Medical Univ of S.C. addressing Health Disparities with low-income population and educating the public with a focus on environmental justice and human health and the environment, Manager of The Small & Minority Disadvantaged Business Program, Manager of Education Partnerships and Special Projects Manager in the Savannah River Technology Center, Manager of Organizational & Individual Development, 15 years of HR experience that aided in staffing the SRS workforce up to 25K employees.
Lessie previously served as Amentum Manager of Government Affairs and Community Relations, assisting colleges and universities in developing innovative methods of resolving issues for research grants, identifying fundraising strategies to sustain the institutions, assisting in expanding business partnerships and relationships with HBCU’s and majority institutions, advising community stakeholders of student internships and full-time employment opportunities, enhancing relationships with colleges and businesses for institutional advancement. She planned and implemented an International Exchange Program that brought students from the UK to SRS and identified work opportunities for U. S. students traveling to the UK- that included partnership with USC-Aiken, Aiken Technical College, United Kingdom at the Nuclear Sellafield Site, SRR, Hampton Univ and the U. S. Dept of Energy -NNSA.
Ms. Price has served on more than 50 boards and commissions on the local, state, and national levels and is widely recognized in varied arenas. A few of her past affiliations include: DOE-LM National Environmental Justice & Training Board, DOE Environmental Management Advisory Board, National League of Cities Environmental Committee, National School-to-Work Advisory Council, Former Chair of the Aiken Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, President of the Municipal Association of S.C. representing 271 cities in the State of S.C., Vice Chairman of Claflin University Board of Trustees and in 2020 served as Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign-for the 25th anniversary, Regional Chairman of the LSCOG Workforce Development Board -representing 6 counties-many in rural S.C., SC Chamber of Commerce Education Workforce Dev Committee, Judicial Merit Selection Committee for S.C., Moderated forums for Presidential Candidates in S.C. and introduced several U.S. President at special occasions. She has also served as 1st Vice Chr of the State Democratic Party and a member of the Democratic National Committee.
Lessie is currently an elected official in the City of Aiken and the 1st female to run for public office in the City’s history. She has served for 37 years and two terms as Mayor Pro Tem. She is proud of the growth in workforce housing in distressed areas, infrastructure improvement, recreational facilities, economic development, expansion in education and training and the community’s ability to solve problems through conversation and working together. As a result of her decades of commitment and service, in 2019 the City of Aiken unveiled a newly constructed Senior & Youth Center named in her honor.
As a community volunteer and public servant, Lessie has received more than 100 awards from religious, civic, federal, state, and local organizations in the areas of education, environmental justice, criminal justice, community engagement, and health field.
Born in rural Barnwell County on a farm with 9 siblings, Lessie was educated in the public schools of Barnwell and Aiken County, Allen Univ and the USC-A. Lessie & her husband William have raised 5 sons, are proud grandparents of 5 grandchildren, and are members of Friendship Baptist Church.