Bio Details

Mr. Wilkins has extensive legal, regulatory, and governance experience, having served in a senior position in a national law firm and as a U.S. Ambassador and member of the South Carolina State House of Representatives. With this comprehensive legal and governance experience, Mr. Wilkins provides a valuable perspective to United Community's Board.

Career Highlights

Ambassador Wilkins is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in Greenville, South Carolina serving on the government relations strategies group with a special focus on U.S. — Canada interests. He proudly served as U.S. Ambassador to Canada from June 2005 to January 2009, appointed by President George W. Bush.

After returning to South Carolina from Canada, Ambassador Wilkins spent six years chairing the Clemson University Board of Trustees and now serves as a Trustee Emeritus. Additionally, he served on several corporate boards over the past ten years. He is a member of both the South Carolina Bar Association and the American Bar Association. In 2010, South Carolina's then Governor-elect Nikki Haley tapped Mr. Wilkins to chair her government transition team. First elected in 1980, Ambassador Wilkins served 25 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was elected Speaker of the House in 1994, a position he held for 11 years until he resigned in order to assume his ambassadorship post. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including South Carolina's highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto.

Education

Mr. Wilkins earned a bachelor's degree from Clemson University and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from University of South Carolina School of Law.