Unlocking South Carolina's tech potential

Lelia King is the founding CEO and Executive Director of Build Carolina, where she leads the strategy, vision and growth of our organization. She has over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, education, and economic mobility, and has built a career focused on scaling impact-driven programs and advising organizations on strategy and communication. She supports the team and aligns our vision with actionable plans for growth.

Lelia holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Georgia and an MA in Communication from Queens University. She lives in Greenville, South Carolina, with her husband and two children.

Kaity Miller is Build Carolina’s Chief Operating Officer. She oversees all programs’ development, implementation and day-to-day operations in addition to managing all things HR and budget. She has spent the last decade advocating & providing pathways for early-career tech talent & engaging with the tech community throughout the state. Her passion for lowering barriers to technology careers carries over into her volunteer work as a board member for Charleston Women in Tech. 

Kaity holds a B.S. in Psychology from the College of Charleston and lives in North Charleston with her husband and three cats.

Alex Martin has been building cool things with (and for!) cool people for nearly 30 years. He's a South Carolina native who started early with technology as a hobby & side hustle. After an early career in the medical field, he took a detour into software & education and hasn't looked back. Alex has crafted unique digital experiences for solopreneurships, taught programming courses for Fortune 500 organizations, and a little of everything in between.

Alex is rarely away from a keyboard. When he is, he's likely crafting less-technical experiences like fresh meals, new music, and offbeat travel. He's currently based out of breezy Melbourne, Florida, where he spends time with his artsy engineer wife & their ragtag furry family (2 cats & 1 dog, for now).

Cara Davis Anderson is the Director of Programs at Build Carolina, where for the past two years, she’s led our apprenticeship program and has recently begun leading our academy program. In this role, Cara plays a crucial part in guiding individuals through the education and training necessary to launch successful careers in the tech industry. Cara's approach is deeply personalized; she creates an open and supportive environment for learners and community partners, encouraging feedback and dialogue. Her work involves developing and implementing thoughtful strategies and tracking key metrics to ensure program effectiveness.

Cara earned her Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and her undergraduate degree in Biology from Claflin University. She resides in Columbia, SC, with her husband and son.

Chris began programming at age 12. After graduating from Clemson in 2007 with a degree in Computer Science, he started his career in the university's IT department developing web apps and data analysis code for research, administering Unix systems, and managing the Palmetto cluster. In 2013, he shifted to private sector web app development, quickly rising to lead and direct multiple engineering teams. He then became CTO of a crypto investment startup, gaining extensive experience across the software development ecosystem, including managing services, database administration, architecture design, security, DevSecOps, hiring, and project management.

After a market downturn, Chris took a break from the industry and taught Spanish. Discovering a love for teaching led him to Build Carolina, where he now guides early-career technology talent as instructor for the Apprenticeship program, helping new engineers build their portfolios and navigate their first jobs in the industry.

Lauren McGlamery is the Engagement Director at Build Carolina, where she leads the organization’s strategy for outreach, storytelling, and community engagement. She helps learners, partners, and supporters navigate a clear path through Build Carolina’s programs, ensuring that every connection—whether through a course, campaign, or conversation—supports meaningful access to tech opportunities. Known as the team’s Wonder Woman, she brings energy, creativity, and clarity to the work of building and sustaining South Carolina’s tech talent ecosystem.

Lauren holds a BA in Psychology and a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. She lives in Greenville, SC, with her husband and son, and they are huge Gamecock and Cubs fans!