SBDC names Johnson as S.C. State region director

COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina Small Business Development Centers has named Orangeburg native and longtime community business leader Jim Johnson as director of the South Carolina State University region, which covers seven counties in the state.

The SBDC is a network of 21 centers across the state that provides no-cost consulting and affordable training to entrepreneurs with small business development issues. The centers focus on economic development by facilitating increased employment and capital investment of new and existing small businesses.

Johnson, a former chairman of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce, is looking forward to using his knowledge of the local community to help entrepreneurs reach their business goals.

“I have always been involved in the community,” he said. “As chairman of the chamber I was given the opportunity to work with other businesses in a helpful capacity. I loved all aspects of the chamber’s role.

“When I discovered the position for the SBDC, I knew it was made for me.  I enjoy working with small business people one on one and helping them succeed. I truly want to help the local economies of our community grow.”

Johnson describes himself as the product of a long line of entrepreneurs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the College of Charleston and an MBA from Claflin University. He owned and operated a medical supply company for 18 years, and he was the owner-operator of the All Star Deli in Orangeburg for seven years. With many years of small business experience, he brings a variety of skills to the SBDC.

Johnson has identified three main goals for the office — providing superior customer service, enhancing communications of the services the SBDC provides and creating innovative programs that address the economic conditions of the region. In particular, he wants to develop programs for the local agriculture market.

“An organization must be innovative to stay relevant, and looking at Orangeburg and surrounding counties, agribusiness is their number one product,” he said. “We will be developing a pilot Agribusiness Consultant Program in our region to help those in the agribusiness industry.

“It really is a huge industry that incorporates much more than farming. We would like to partner with other agencies and businesses related to agribusiness to develop a program that effectively helps people in this industry succeed.”

Along with his business experience, Johnson has kept himself entrenched in the Orangeburg community. He currently serves as the chairman of the Orangeburg County Elections Commission and commissioner of Edisto District for the Boy Scouts of America. He served as chairman of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce, president of the Orangeburg Rotary Club and received an award for Orangeburg Business Person of the Year. He is involved in many boards and organizations working with the community.

SBDC state director Michele Abraham is pleased to add Johnson to her team.

“Having owned several businesses of his own, Jim comes to the SC SBDC with a wealth of experience which will be invaluable in assisting the companies we serve,” she said. “As a native of the Orangeburg area, he also is very knowledgeable of these communities and the needs of entrepreneurs who are trying to grow businesses in that region. He will provide the leadership to expand the good work we are doing and generate fresh ideas on how to further improve the assistance we provide.”

Anyone interested in receiving assistance from the S.C. State center can make an appointment by calling 803.536.8445.

South Carolina Small Business Development Centers

Twenty-one South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC) across the state offer individual, confidential business consulting at no cost. Consultants assist both existing and startup companies through services such as business plans, fiscal and operations management, financing options, marketing strategies, human resources and much more. Centers conduct affordable education workshops and provide referrals to useful business resources. Specialized services include government contracting, exporting, technology commercialization, veterans business assistance and minority outreach. Visit www.SCSBDC.comto find a center and make an appointment. Follow small business news at www.facebook.com/SCSBDC and @SCSBDC.