Executive Director Dan Ellzey Receives Governmental Partner of the Year Award

Columbia, S.C. – S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey was awarded the Governmental Partner of the Year by the South Carolina Council of Governments (SC COGs).

Since being appointed director in 2019, Ellzey has initiated and managed innovative workforce development programs while leading the agency through the unemployment insurance demand of the pandemic. The Governmental Partner of the Year is awarded to the federal or state agency partner who has an exemplary professional relationship with the association.

“Director Ellzey has been a steady and active partner to the statewide association. Mr. Ellzey has always been willing to meet with councils as a group or come to present to our boards. He has been forthright in financial discussions and is always working to find solutions. For these attributes and more, the South Carolina State Association bestowed the Governmental Partner of the Year Award to Director Ellzey at our statewide conference in November 2022,” said SC COG President and Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler.

“Being a partner means being transparent and accountable. When I am asked to speak at different events and meetings around the state, I focus on numbers, data, and programs that can be implemented to connect jobseekers with employers,” said Ellzey. “We are at a critical stage in our state where we have growing industries, several opportunities for affordable or free education and training, rising wages, and more than 100,000 available jobs. Groups like the state’s COGs guide workforce and economic development, and I am proud to be their Governmental Partner of the Year.”

The award was presented at the 2022 SC COGs Annual Conference at the end of November in Myrtle Beach. This annual meeting is the time when board members from all COGs in the state assemble with approximately 300 delegates, representing all 46 counties. Most of the delegates are local elected officials, serving on city and county councils. Many are also members of the South Carolina General Assembly. Ellzey attended the conference to moderate a panel on South Carolina Labor Market Changes. Each year, the association bestows four awards: Legislator of the Year, Governmental Partner of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Project of the Year.

Mr. Ellzey thanked the SC COGS for the award and commented on the positive working relationship he has enjoyed during his tenure. He mentioned how they have shared concerns and areas of opportunity with him and how he has worked to respond to those concerns.

The network of 10 SC COGs work to positively influence the quality of life and economic development in the state. The SC COGs provide resources to local counties, cities, and towns in their regions. In addition to local and regional partnerships, COGs partner with numerous federal and state agencies, obtaining and administering grants for a variety of community-based programs and economic development initiatives.