Join the BMW Car Club of America, Sandlapper Chapter, and unlock a world of savings, events, and community built for BMW enthusiasts.
Evan Lease is a BMW enthusiast and automotive professional currently serving as a Parts Advisor at Century BMW in Greenville, South Carolina. With more than five years of BMW experience spanning retail, wholesale, and fixed operations, he is passionate about both the brand and the community that surrounds it. Originally from Ohio, Evan relocated to South Carolina in 2024 and enjoys vintage automobiles, hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains, attending baseball games, reading, traveling, and consulting in his longtime interest in music and audio production.
Betsie Blumer is a Greenville native and Marketing student at Anderson University with a passion for social media and digital marketing. She is currently serving as a summer intern for Village Launch at Mill Village Ministries. In her free time, Betsie enjoys cooking, trying new restaurants, and attending concerts.
Sam has been a CCA member on and off since 2003. His obsession started with his dad’s new 1985 325e with the sport package where he learned to drive a stick.
Sam spent time with the National Capital Chapter and helped with their autocross program before moving to Greenville in 2016. Since 2021 he has been campaigning a 318ti in local budget endurance races.
Outside of working on and playing with cars, he likes to mountain bike and build things.
Rodrigo Manuel Barragán Barreal is an accomplished automotive engineering and quality management professional with more than 15 years of experience across global manufacturing, vehicle industrialization, and supplier development. Currently based in South Carolina, he serves at BMW Manufacturing Company LLC, supporting the GEN6 Front EAM Project Industrialization, where he ensures process maturity and capacity, problem resolution, and technical excellence within one of BMW’s most complex Suppliers.
Before joining BMW USA, Rodrigo held key roles at BMW SLP in Mexico, where he supported major series such as the G20, G01, G02, G05, G06, G07, G09 and G4X programs. He led industrialization, supplier readiness, and quality assurance for media-pipe and coolant-system components delivered to BMW’s worldwide network. His work on launch phases, bidder lists, and global supplier alignment positioned him as a core contributor to BMW’s quality and delivery performance.
Rodrigo’s earlier career at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles included responsibilities in Body-in-White Quality, World Class Manufacturing (WCM), and Facilities Engineering, earning distinctions such as record audit scores and industry-leading environmental performance. He holds an Automotive Engineering Master’s from ITESM, a Bachelor’s in Industrial & Systems Engineering, a Technical Degree in Electromechanical Engineering and certifications including VDA 6.3 and ISO 19011.
Rodrigo’s also has experience as Staff in the BMW Car Club Mexico, in his early 20’s; where he served as New Membership and Events Manager.
His diverse background also includes roles as a driving instructor, trader, and university lecturer—reflecting a well-rounded, dynamic professional identity.
*Rodrigo’s first BMW was a 1998 E36 M3 Evo Euro Spec. (This was a picture from that car at the Mexico City current Formula 1 Gran Prix Venue Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez’s Paddock)
Hernan Marquez Jr (“J.R.” for short), is a resident of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. He lives there with his family, and not too far down the road, has his wonderful parents he gets to see daily. He has a professional background in Information Technology as a Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Systems, but when not in front of the keyboard, he enjoys a lifelong passion and enjoyment for cars. The automotive journey began early, influenced by working on cars with his father and having an inventive eye for things like his mother. Over 40 years have been dedicated to automotive enthusiasm, enjoying everything from basic maintenance to complex modifications, yet the true passion comes alive when behind the wheel of his cars. For the past 24 years, BMWs have held a special place, and various models have been owned and enjoyed, but don’t let that confuse his love for ALL vehicles. Whether it’s a spirited drive, admiring cars at a show, or working on projects in the garage, enjoyment is found in the automotive world. Meeting and sharing experiences with other enthusiasts is his priority, as well as helping to make the community grow and last! He looks forward to meeting new people who share the same passion he has had for most of his life, so that he can learn from them in exchange. He has been a BMWCCA member since 2017 and looks forward to meeting the crew.
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I am the current VP and past Secretary, and I have been happy to serve as both. I have owned a BMW since 2007, and I’m the current owner of a 2011 128i who enjoys the occasional Auto-X.
Jesus is a track rat who truly enjoys the many great qualities BMWs possess. Over the years, he has logged many hours perfecting his car handling knowledge. He was previously the Upstate region Vice President and recently moved into the Board Secretary position. He drives a new M2 and an X3 for calmer days.
Brooklyn-born and Jersey-raised, Pedro has called beautiful Greenville, South Carolina, home since 2010.
A passionate BMW enthusiast, his daily driver is a 2002 E46 BMW 325xi Touring, lovingly named “Ruby,” which he proudly calls his forever car. Over the past decade, Ruby has been his trusted companion on 140,000 miles of adventures, bringing her odometer to an impressive 260,000 miles.
Pedro’s BMW journey spans models from the E90s and F30s to the G01, but none have captured his heart quite like Ruby. Since joining the club in 2013, he has deepened his passion for the brand and its community. He now serves as the chapter’s Director of Digital Strategy, where he helps enhance the club’s online presence, member experience, and technical operations, including website performance and system integrations.
With his wife, Pedro has embraced the thrill of Autocross, diving into the sport and savoring every adrenaline-packed moment. Her shared enthusiasm makes every event and adventure even more memorable.
Clarence was born and raised in LA (Lower Alabama) and moved to Charleston in the mid-90s.
His love for BMWs started as a kid with his parents, helping his father replace parts on their family 325i. He eventually took ownership, learning a lot about maintenance as it had well over 300k miles on it.
His lovely wife, Allie, accompanies him to club meets and events and has no problem assisting/supervising me when he’s working in the garage. There’s nothing like spending quality time swapping an N63 engine into an F10 550i. They’ve owned 11 BMWs, ranging from a 1986 E30 325i to a 2017 G30 540i.
Andrew grew up in Long Island, New York, surrounded by all sorts of BMWs, from E30s to E39s to E53s. He collected model cars, posters, and memorabilia to display on my walls proudly. Today, he works at BMW, developing the latest and greatest SAVs as a vehicle validation and quality engineer at the Plant in Spartanburg. He currently owns 3 BMWs – a 2004 E83 X3 (my first car), a 2006 E85 Z4M Roadster (my fun vehicle), and a 2001 E38 740i Sport (my favorite car). Throughout his five years as a CCA member, he continues to meet amazing people and attend numerous fun, adrenaline-filled events.
Wayne has been a member of the BMW CCA for seven years and has had time for leisure activities only since retirement in 2021. In 2021, Wayne began participating in activities with the Charleston Region, not just because of the cars and curvy roads but also because of the fantastic people. Since the Hilton Head Region started over the past year, Wayne has joined both Hilton Head and Charleston Club activities.
Andrew was born in South Africa and moved to the US over 25 years ago with my wife, Debbie. They share a deep passion for automotive, particularly motorsports like F1. His journey with BMW began with a 1996 325i; since then, he has owned 16 ultimate driving machines. Our current collection includes an X7 and M4, with the latter enjoying some track time at Virginia International Raceway, where I’m an active Club member.
Sharon Marcone recently joined the CCA, but her husband has been a member for years. They have an 840i GrandCoupe. When she isn’t running events and marketing strategy, she’s active in Church as a choir leader, enjoys gardening, and spends time with her husband and her dog, Kazaam.
Neil has been a member of the CCA since 2005 and has held various positions in the Club, including Social Events chair, Regional VP, and Chapter President. He enjoys working on his cars and meeting BMW fans and hot cars. He currently drives a 2005 330ci, a 2016 Z4 35is, and a 2021 540i.
Jules has been a member since 2024. Her first BMW was a speedy 325xi wagon. Jules enjoys hitting the apexes on the race track and meeting members at events. She currently drives a VW Golf R, but taps into her love for BMW through the club.
Vincent joined the CCA in 1987 after he purchased his first BMW, a 1986 325e. He kept that BMW for 29 years (over 360K).
He has participated in various CCA events over his 37 years with the club. He has had 12 different BMWs in that period. (The last three have been M cars ) He currently drives a 2020 M5 Competition.
Mark has been a BMW owner since purchasing a used ’86 325e while stationed in the Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The hook was set and he became a BMW CCA member in August 1994 and soon thereafter purchased his first new BMW, a 1995 E36 M3. The M3 was, regrettably, later sold as Mark became a serial sports car owner, sampling a number of mainly German marques.
Mark currently drives a 1989 325is and a 1991 318is, mainly used for mountain road drives and club events. (And Matthew has a C5 Z06 Corvette track car that he recently drove in a HPDE at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval!)
Leah Vaverek is originally from Minnesota and studied entrepreneurship and marketing at Miami University of Ohio, where she was also a member of the Open Collegiate Synchronized Skating Team. After graduation, Leah relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, where she currently works as the Program & Marketing Coordinator at NextGEN. Outside of work, she stays connected to her skating roots as a coach for the Greenville Figure Skating Club.