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Terrance Garrick, The Motivator

Retired U.S. Army Colonel, Terrance Garrick originally founded The Motivator, a full-time motivational leadership agency, but has now transformed his efforts to develop Forward Reflections, LLC a business to provide motivational speakers, spiritual coaching, and personal/wellness training to meet people where they are, reflecting on their past and planning forward their future.

Hailing from Columbia, SC, Garrick was the youngest of nine children raised as an inner-city youth in the Saxon Homes Projects. He is now a uniquely articulate and highly respected citizen and role model recognized by the National Urban League SC, Richland Co. Sheriff’s READY PROGRAM/ GET MADD Programs, SC Department of Juveniles Justice, SC’s GANGOUT Program, NAACP Youth Programs, and The Boys and Girls Clubs of America. It is from these experiences that he can pour fully into others to know their value and to live up to their full potential, by being the best person they can be.

Garrick graduated as a distinguished military graduate (ranked #2 of 250) and Magna Cum Laude from Voorhees University with associate degrees in Criminal Justice/Theology and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He participated in the ROTC program at South Carolina State University where he earned a degree in Military Science and after graduation, was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant. Garrick later attained an MBA in Business Management.

Garrick attended the following military institutions: Command General Staff College, US Army Airborne School, US Army Air Assault School, US Army Pathfinder School, US Army Ranger School, US Army Special Forces Joint Psychological Operations School.  Garrick’s education includes specialized studies in culture and ethnicity in African, South American, Middle Eastern, European, and Asian cultures, French Language, Leadership, Team Building, Conflict Resolution, Public Speaking, Self-Motivation, American History, Military Professional Development, Strategic Marketing Communications, and Private & Personal Security.

Garrick tours throughout the country and overseas, entertaining, motivating, inspiring, and educating youth, adults, educators, businesses, and entrepreneurs.  He has served as a motivational speaker for marketing professionals, local housing authorities, “A Better Way” Gang-Out Program, Department of Juvenile Justice Staff as a mentor to students in South Carolina, the USO, and Armed Forces Entertainment annually where he most recently performed for United States troops serving in Italy, Greece, and Jordan. Garrick is currently a Federal Engineer Lead Program Manager serving in the Intelligence Community where he continues to support our armed forces and other government agencies Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity programs. He is still called upon conduct quarterly motivational, wellness seminars for civilian, and active-duty personnel and their families.

Concurrent Sessions Presenters

Jason Colson

A native of Walterboro, SC, Jason Colson began his career with SCVRD in 2008, as an Application Developer. Through feedback from his father, a former VR counselor, he gained valuable insight over the years on ways agency applications could be improved to help staff operate efficiently. Jason has a passion for IT innovation and desire to enhance users IT experience.

Jason currently serves as IT manager and oversees the Agency’s in-house systems development staff in addition to the implementation of many IT projects. Jason is a proud graduate from the University of South Carolina – Go Gamecocks! - where he received a bachelor’s degree in integrated information technology.  A self-proclaimed “foodie,” Jason loves cooking and exploring different cuisines. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, traveling, hiking, and camping with his wife and two sons.

Dr. Gladys Loney

Dr. Gladys Loney is a Training Coordinator at South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation. With numerous years of training experience, she provides training in a variety of topics, such as Stress Management, Emotional Intelligence, and Team Building to the agency’s employees.

Dr. Loney graduated from Trident International University with a Doctorate in Business Administration. In conjunction, she graduated from Breyer State University with a Doctorate in Adult Education.

In her spare time, Dr. Loney indulges in drag racing, gardening, and crafting. Her enjoyment of the sport of drag racing led to the patent of a Motorcycle Oil Retention Device in 2022. She currently resides in Dalzell, SC with her forever love, John Loney.

Steve Ostrovsky

Steve Ostrovsky is the head of the Managed Services Division at Softdocs, Inc., a process automation and document management company based in Columbia, SC. During the pandemic, Softdocs made the shift to being a fully remote company. Steve has managed multiple fully remote teams since then, along with the growing pains and learning curves that go along with making the shift from in-office to hybrid or remote. Today, he manages a team with members spread throughout the country that service customers spread throughout the world.

Coaching teams was not new for Steve, as he holds an Advanced National License and Advanced National Goalkeeping License from United Soccer Coaches, formerly NSCAA (equivalent of USSF B). He has years of experience playing and coaching soccer at many levels and abilities. He has found that what he learned on the pitch overlaps into being a leader and helping team members be their best, no matter whether it’s in a sports or office environment.

Kayaking, photography, running and guitar round out Steve’s free time. He is married to his high school sweetheart, and they live on a farm in Aiken County with their dogs, cat and horses.

Aileen Pagán-Welch

Aileen Pagán-Welch was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City and has roots in Utuado, Puerto Rico.  She was raised bilingual, speaking Spanish and English, before being diagnosed as Deaf as a child. It was during this transition that Aileen was introduced to American Sign Language… her preferred choice of communication.  Aileen graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, having earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree while enrolled there. Currently, Aileen is a student at the University of South Carolina working on a second Master’s degree in the Rehabilitation and Counseling program.  Aileen also serves on the board for Beginnings, SC and The South Carolina Association of the Deaf.  Aileen is also a member of the American Counseling Association, South Carolina Counseling Association, The National Deaf Center, The Deaf Professionals Network and the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association.  Aileen also serves as the Regional Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf at the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and works with Deaf adults and Deaf transition students in the Midlands area of SC.  Married to her college sweetheart since 1997… Aileen is also the loving parent of three amazing kiddos.