

Suzanne Elston

Director, Newberry Firehouse Conference Center,

Downtown Newberry

My Favorite Quote: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love”.   Mother Teresa

Mine and my husband, Joe’s, journey from Louisville, Kentucky to South Carolina began with a call from him while I was working as the Community Relations Director at the historical and iconic Churchill Downs.  He asked me if I could live anywhere else in the US, where would it be?  Well without hesitation, I said either North Carolina, or South Carolina, but make it South Carolina because the warmer the better.  Kentucky winters were more than we wanted to endure anymore.  Ironically enough, Joe informed me there was a possible job opening for a Softball Coach at Newberry College and although he had retired from coaching, the rest is history.  Fate would have it that an old historic building would become a conference center and be in need of a manager.  It turned out having nearly 15 years of group sales and community relations experience at Churchill Downs fit the bill.  ​

My vision for Newberry is to maintain the path toward economic growth and prosperity while maintaining its unique and friendly town charm.

The advice I would give my 20-year old self is “Do Not Sweat the small stuff."  There will be plenty of big stuff ahead of you to sweat over.  And if you put God first in your life, the big stuff will be easier to handle.

You would be surprised to know that I come from a thoroughbred horse racing family.  Three brothers were jockeys and then thoroughbred trainers.  My father was a thoroughbred trainer and several nieces and nephews, like myself worked as grooms at various race tracks.  It was only fitting that one day I would work in a different capacity for Churchill Downs.