Meet the Team
Dean Hybl
Executive Director
Since becoming the first full-time Executive Director of the organization in 2010, Dean Hybl has helped Ten at the Top establish a strong track-record for developing connections, fostering collaboration, and building regional capacity across communities and stakeholder groups.
Dean is a past recipient of the Welling Award for Regional Collaboration and Upstate Forever’s Land Planning & Policy Champion Award. Ten at the Top has been recognized for excellence by the Alliance for Regional Stewardship, SCDHEC Bureau of Air Quality, South Carolina Chapter of the American Planner’s Association, and the Urban League of the Upstate.
A member of multiple organizations and boards across the Upstate, Dean was a founding co-chair of Greenville CAN (Collaborative Action Network) and has been on the board of directors for Community Works Carolina and the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce.
Originally from Keysville, Virginia, Dean is a graduate of James Madison University. He and his wife, Suzy, have two children—Bethany and Nate—and currently reside in Greer. Prior to joining TATT, Dean spent several years promoting regional collaboration in the Central Florida area after working in college athletics for over a decade.
Justine Allen
Assistant Director
Having held the role of Program & Event Manager since joining TATT in March 2020, Justine now serves as the Assistant Director of Ten at the Top.
She continues to coordinate the capacity-building efforts of TATT’s current initiative-focused committees and task forces, while overseeing TATT’s three large annual regional events: Pique Young Professionals Summit, Blues, Brews & BBQ, and Celebrating Successes as well as TATT’s Upstate Regional Summit, which will next be held in September 2024.
In addition, during the first half of 2023, Allen and TATT Vice Chair for Initiatives Mark McKinney will meet with TATT partners and regional stakeholders to identify the next big regional-focused capacity-building initiatives that TATT will concentrate on between 2023-2025.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Justine’s background has been in event planning and management, having originally come to the Upstate to work as an event planner, charity liaison, and volunteer coordinator on the BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament. She lives in Greenville with her husband, Steve, and daughter Gabby.
Erica Huffman
Administrative Associate
As the Administrative Associate, Erica works closely with the Executive Director on tasks related to fundraising and the Board of Directors, including events.
Erica grew up in Oregon but has traveled and lived in many places, including New Zealand and Greece. She attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA where she earned a BA in History.
Erica moved to Upstate South Carolina in 2016 with her husband and two kids. She is fluent in Greek and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.
Lena Dunham
Administrative Associate
As the Administrative Associate, Lena’s role at Ten at the Top is to assist with regular office tasks, help coordinate and manage events, assist with TATT Initiatives, and help coordinate health data walks with South Carolina DHEC.
Lena is a native of Greenville, SC and she graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Spanish. She has previously worked in marketing and with other non-profits. She is also a local REALTOR®.
Lena enjoys spending time with her husband working on house projects or planning their next road trip. She loves reading and spending time at local breweries with her friends.
GP Mcleer
Upstate Mobility Alliance - Director
GP McLeer became the Director of the Upstate Mobility Alliance in 2022. At UMA, he works to advance transportation solutions across ten counties in the Upstate of South Carolina including public transit, vehicular innovations, walkability, trails, and other methods of connectivity.
In addition to the Upstate Mobility Alliance, GP serves as Mayor of Fountain Inn, where he was elected in 2019. In 2021 he co-founded Pecan Public Relations, LLC which focuses on advocacy, communications, and governance for nonprofits across the state. Prior to the Upstate Mobility Alliance, GP was the Executive Director of the SC Arts Alliance – a 40+ year-old statewide advocacy organization.
GP was raised in Anderson and attended the College of Charleston, where he has been recognized with the university’s 250th Anniversary Young Alumnus Award in 2020, the 2016 School of the Arts Young Alumnus Award, the Julie Jett Arts Management Citizenship Award, and placed in the School of the Arts Hall of Fame.
He and his wife Taylor have one daughter, Albee James.
Anna-Elyse Lewis Abrams
Communications Coordinator
As Communications Coordinator, Anna-Elyse works to elevate and amplify TATT’s messaging through dynamic marketing campaigns, social media presence, various written platforms, and media outreach.
Having formerly worked as the Communications Specialist for the City of Spartanburg, she is proud to take her knowledge of local community storytelling and expand it to encompass the 10 counties of the Upstate.
She graduated from USC Upstate with a degree in Communications and Marketing, and is a proud resident of Spartanburg where she lives with her husband and their two dogs. In her free time, you can find her supporting small businesses, catching up with friends, and performing with her favorite local theatres!