Way named CCDSNB director

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The Clarendon County Disability and Special Needs Board serves in the neighborhood of 260 residents through its services each day, utilizing a staff of about 160. The 34-year-old Manning man now managing this enterprise has worked at the board since he was a student at Clemson University. Ryan Way thought he’d be a teacher like his mom, Libby. “But things turned out differently,” said Way, who was named executive director of the board in June. He replaces retiring director Ron Lewis. “The current individuals that we serve in some type of capacity is right at 260, give or take,” Way said. “These are people that receive some type of service through us in the community.” DSNB helps these residents partly through its 11 homes throughout the county, serving 73 individuals 24 hours per day, seven days each week; and its Adult Day Program on 312 Pine St. behind Weldon Auditorium, serving 127 individuals Monday through Friday. “At our day facility, we have several crews that work in the community, though our kitchen crew pretty much stays in-house, cooking for those at our day center,” Way said. “We have a mobile yard crew of individuals that go out and cut yards, and we have a mobile cleaning crew that goes out as well.” Way said he first learned about the services offered at the board – along with a summer position – from his college roommate’s now-wife. “Lauren Bridges Timmons, in college, she worked for the board part-time, and her mother worked for the board,” Way said. “I roomed with her now-husband at college, and I heard about it there. David gave me the opportunity to start, and then he offered me the full-time position when I got out of college. That was just a great opportunity, and I’m grateful to him for that.” “I just found that I really enjoyed the work, and it turned out to be a calling for me,” Way added. The Manning High School graduate – who also has a masters in public administration from Troy University – previously served as director of procurement before taking on his new, larger role with the county agency, which plans, develops and oversees services for residents with severe, lifelong disabilities under the umbrella of the state board. “Our mission is to assist people with disabilities and their families in meeting needs, pursuing possibilities and achieving goals, and to minimize the occurrence and reduce the severity of disabilities through prevention,” says the state Department of Disabilities and Special Needs webpage. “I think the most important part of my job will be making sure that our clients are taken care of,” Way said. “We are responsible to them. Aside from that, overseeing our budget and making sure we are running smoothly will be a large part of my day-to-day duties.” Way is the son of David and Libby Way. He is married to Emily Way, and the couple have a 5-year-old daughter, Mary Madilyn.