State recognizes leaders as part of 2015 Industry Appreciation Week
COLUMBIA, SC – As part of the annual Industry Appreciation Week, the South Carolina Department of Commerce on Thursday announced the 2015 Ambassadors for Economic Development. Recognized for their exceptional efforts to bolster community and economic development activities in South Carolina, the ambassadors were honored in a ceremony held on Thursday, April 2 at the Governor’s Mansion Complex. This year, 48 individuals from 46 counties were selected.
“We’re honored to spotlight these 48 individuals for their contributions to our state. South Carolina’s people are what truly make our state one of the best places in the world to do business, and events like yesterday’s ceremony give us the opportunity to recognize just some of the people that help make South Carolina so special,” said. Gov. Nikki Haley.
Each year the Department of Commerce joins local communities to thank businesses for their vital contributions to South Carolina’s economy during the state’s Industry Appreciation Week. As part of the celebration, the state recognizes individuals throughout South Carolina as Ambassadors for Economic Development. These individuals include local leaders from the private sector, representing a variety of businesses committed to advancing their communities.
In addition to honoring the 2015 Ambassadors for Economic Development at last night’s ceremony, the state also recognized five students as Young Entrepreneurs of the Year. The students, which consisted of one 2nd grader and four 11th and 12th graders, were acknowledged for their unique entrepreneurial ventures. Among their ventures were a graphics design operation, baked goods business, art gallery and museum, hair accessory venture and agribusiness company. ~
2015 Ambassadors for Economic Development:
County
|
Name
|
Title
|
Organization
|
Abbeville |
Mr. Jeremy Scott |
General Manager |
Pro Towels |
Aiken |
Mr. Pete Davis |
Managing Principal |
Peachtree Investment Solutions |
Allendale |
Mr. Robert E. Connelly, Jr. |
Owner |
Connelly Farms/Farmers Grain & Supply, Inc. |
Anderson |
Mr. Richard Gaines |
Retired Educator |
Retired |
Bamberg |
Mr. Robert Chatman |
Retired Educator |
Retired |
Barnwell |
Ms. Kay H. Still |
Sr. Vice President (Retired) |
Regions Bank |
Beaufort |
Mr. Randy Mikals |
President |
Greenline Industries |
Berkeley |
Mr. Giff Daughtridge |
Vice President |
Nucor Steel Berkeley |
Calhoun |
Mr. Jonathan Stier |
President |
Stier Supply Company |
Charleston |
Mr. Dick Gregory |
Owner |
CMMC, LLC |
Charleston |
Mr. Danny Rowland |
Owner |
CMMC, LLC |
Cherokee |
Mr. Rick Jordan |
President |
Associated Hardwoods SC, Inc. |
Chester |
Mr. Sandy Martin |
Manager |
Duke Energy |
Chesterfield |
Mr. Thomas Hogge, Jr. |
President/Owner |
Screwmatics of SC, Inc. |
Clarendon |
Mr. Arnold Kamler |
Chairman & CEO |
Kent Industries |
Colleton |
Mr. Gabriel Pascual |
Senior Advisor |
Crescent Dairy & Beverages |
Darlington |
Mr. Jack Marchette |
Pee Dee Market VP, Business Banking Relationship Manager |
Wells Fargo Bank |
Dillon |
Mr. Marc Czachorski |
Director of Business Development |
Wyman-Gordan |
Dorchester |
Mr. Brian Fehr |
Chairman and Managing Director |
COMACT USA |
Edgefield |
Mr. Rian True |
President |
Carolina Covertech |
Fairfield |
Mr. Robert M. Mueckler |
President and General Manager |
BOMAG Americas |
Florence |
Ms. Joan Billheimer |
Community Development Officer |
First Reliance Bank |
Georgetown |
Mr. Perry Collins |
Owner |
Winyah Properties |
Greenville |
Mr. Don Erickson |
Site Director |
Lockheed Martin |
Greenwood |
Mr. Joseph R. (Ron) Millender |
Owner |
JRM Solutions, LLC |
Hampton |
Mr. Russ Crowe |
Owner/CEO |
Progressive Packaging |
Hampton |
Mrs. Kimberly Crowe |
Owner/CEO |
Progressive Packaging |
Horry |
Mr. Doug Wendel |
|
Coastal Carolina Consultants |
Jasper |
Mr. Brad Talbert |
Chief Executive Officer |
Coastal Carolina Hospital |
Kershaw |
Mr. Robb Junker |
President and CEO |
Hengst of North America, Inc. |
Lancaster |
Ms. Monica Graham |
Branch Manager |
Phillips Staffing |
Laurens |
Mr. Jim Coleman |
Managing Agent |
The United Agency |
Lee |
Mr. Ronnie Williams |
Retired |
Fire Chief of Bishopville/ City of Bishopville Planning |
Lexington |
Mr. Joe Blanchard |
President and CEO |
Blanchard Machinery Company |
Marion |
Mr. Johnson Atkinson |
Relationship Manager |
ArborOne Farm Credit |
Marlboro |
Mr. Victor Winogradow |
CEO |
Bennettsville Printing, LLC |
McCormick |
Mr. Reg Williams |
Operations Manager |
Rivers Edge Forest Products, LLC |
Newberry |
Mr. Wayne McCullough |
Owner/President |
Metal Masters, Inc. |
Oconee |
Mr. Robert B. (Bobby) Dover |
Plant Manager |
US Engine Valve |
Orangeburg |
Mr. Bill Beard |
General Manager |
GKN South Carolina |
Pickens |
Mr. James P. Kaplan |
President |
Cornell Dubilier Electronics, Inc. |
Richland |
Dr. Umesh Dalvi |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
The Ritedose Corporation |
Saluda |
Mr. Jason Rodgers |
Farm Manager |
Titan Farms |
Spartanburg |
Mr. Jody Gallagher |
President & CEO |
AFL Global |
Sumter |
Mr. Guido Hobi |
President |
EMS-Chemie (North America) Inc. |
Union |
Mr. Bryan Stone |
Chief Operating Officer |
Lockhart Power Company |
Wlliamsburg |
Mr. Bob Rickerman |
Site Director |
DSM Nutritional Products |
York |
Mr. Doug Meyer-Cuno |
President |
Carolina Ingredients |
Young Entrepreneurs of the Year:
School District
|
Name, Grade
|
School
|
Business Venture
|
Beaufort County School District |
Trevon Bridges, 11thGrade |
Beaufort High School |
Graphics by Trevon |
Horry County Schools |
Terence Brister, 12thGrade |
Carolina Forest High School |
Brister Baking & Associates |
Private |
Will Cobb, 12th Grade |
Spartanburg Day School |
The Other Side of the River Gallery |
District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties |
Gabrielle Goodwin, 2nd Grade |
Escolares Academy at Harbison West Elementary School |
GaBBY Bows |
Lexington County School District 1 |
Brandon Myers, 12thGrade |
Pelion High School |
Southern Fresh Farm, LLC |
|
About S.C. Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing business grow. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as Boeing, Bridgestone, Continental, Monster.com, ZF Group, BMW and Google Inc. and also supports startups, small and existing business, innovation and rural development initiatives. Commerce partners with the S.C Technical College System viareadySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. Consistently, South Carolina has ranked as one of the top states in the nation for attracting jobs through foreign investment, according to IBM-Plant Location International reports. The state won the Gold Shovel Award and the Project of Year Award from Area Development magazine in 2012. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.
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