20 Under 40 2014

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E2 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014 WWW.THESTATE.COM THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
What is a leader?
It is someone who sees the Twin Towers fall and feels
a call to action that leads him to a life and career built
around protecting our country.
It is a little girl who is told she cant make a difference
but grows up to do it anyway as a dogged environmen-
tal steward.
It is a college student who stops to question what
really makes a fulfilling life and, then, sets out on a new
course, using his gift to give back to the community that
helped him realize his dream.
The Midlands is lucky that these folks and many
just like them found their calling right here in the
CapitalCity.
Each year, The State honors 20 rising business stars
under the age of 40 who are making a difference in the
community. They use their talents and gifts to make the
Midlands a better place whether they are building
character in young people, building houses for those in
need or building a closer neighborhood network.
Meet the young leaders who are piecing together a
bright future for the Midlands the 11th annual class
of 20 under 40 honorees.
Kristy Eppley Rupon
Bios compiled by: Kristy Eppley Rupon
Photographs by: Gerry Melendez
Jody A.
Bedenbaugh
Page 15
Agata
Chydzinski
Page 7
Lucas C.
Clamp
Page 3
Kiosha
Gregg
Page 14
Kaela
Harmon
Page 17
Amy Clayton
Page 4
David
Clayton
Page 5
Joseph A.
Cosci Jr.
Page 8
Angela P.
English
Page 9
Luke E.
McCary
Page 16
Thomas
McElveen
Page 19
R. Andrew
Folks
Page 10
Aaron
Gilchrist
Page 13
Jill
Hammond
Menhart
Page 12
Tommy
Preston Jr.
Page 18
Bob Ruff
Page 11
Ryan
Whittaker
Page 18
Rebecca
Haynes
Page 14
John
Johnston
Page 16
Jennifer
Stone
Ashburn
Page 6
User: garyward Time: 02-17-2014 06:59 Product: COL TheStateTab PubDate: 02-17-2014 Zone: State Edition: 1st Page: Special 02 Color: CMYK
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WWW.THESTATE.COM THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014 E3
Age: 34
Occupation: Principal,
River Bluff High School in
Lexington 1
Family: Wife, Alecia; sons,
Ian, 5, and Alex, 3
Education: B.S. science
teaching, Clemson Univer-
sity; M.Ed. Educational
Administration, Ed.S. Edu-
cational Administration
Ed.D. Curriculum and In-
struction University of
South Carolina
Community/professional
highlights: Rotary Club of
Lexington, Fellowship of
Christian Athletes, Eagle
Scout Board of Review
In my own words: As a ju-
nior in high school, I knew
that I wanted to work with
students and be a part of in-
fluencing their lives. It was
always my passion to teach
and lead and now as princi-
pal, I have the opportunity
to do both. The opportunity
to see a student grow from
an adolescent to a young
adult, making choices and
experiencing learning, is a
treasure.
What saying do you live
by? As a man of faith, Mat-
thew 5:14-16 is a verse I
hold on to: You are the
light of the world. A town
built on a hill cannot be hid-
den. Neither do people put
light on a lamp and put it
under a bowl. Instead they
put it on its stand and it
gives light to everyone in
the house. In the same way,
let your light shine for
others.
My life changed when: My
father passed away from
his battle with kidney can-
cer four years ago. A man
of solid integrity, strong
faith, hard work and grit,
his calling was to be a
butcher and grocery store
owner. However at age 33,
an eye disease took his cen-
tral vision and he retired
early to then become a
stay-at-home father to my
twin brother and myself
and our older three broth-
ers. Once a driven busi-
nessman and entrepre-
neur, his lifes path was al-
tered and he never looked
back. Devoting his life
from then on to leading his
family and raising my
brothers and I, teaching us
every step of the way what
it meant to give generously,
love one another, show re-
spect to our mother and
family, and to work hard.
During his final months, I
had the privilege to sit with
him one day a week, and it
was in those private daily
visits that I committed to be
just like him.
Why was the challenge of
leading a highly innova-
tive school appealing? In-
novation often is more
about creating something
new than it is changing an
existing system. Through
the leadership and vision of
our superintendent and
school board; a system of
learning with multiple
pathways was designed to
include a vision for a
21st-century graduate who
is caring, creative, collabo-
rative and multilingual.
What kind of hope do you
see for the future? Our fu-
ture in Lexington County
and South Carolina is truly
optimistic. Some of the
most amazing minds I have
seen are right here in our
county and state. They are
eager to learn, ready to
serve and anxious for new
opportunities. I fondly re-
fer to our students as the
next greatest generation.
Lucas C. Clamp
Age: 35
Occupation: Attorney at
Nexsen Pruet (member),
with a focus on commercial
real estate transactions,
commercial leasing, fi-
nance, business forma-
tions and general corpo-
rate law
Family: Husband, David;
daughter, Caroline, 6
Education: BS in biochem-
istry, Clemson University;
JD, University of South
Carolina School of Law
involvement: Urban Land
Institute Midlands Reali-
ty Check, steering commit-
tee, co-chairwoman of im-
plementation committee;
CREW Midlands, board of
directors, marketing and
communications commit-
tee; Columbia Museum of
Art Contemporaries Soci-
ety; Girls on the Run of Co-
lumbia, board of directors,
fundraising committee;
Leadership Columbia,
2012, and alumni
association.
In my own words: One of
my most vivid childhood
memories is of the words
my father whispered in my
ear as he sent me off to my
first day of kindergarten:
Always try your best. We
will be proud of you if you
always try your best. His
words of comfort tran-
scended the anxiety of that
first day of school to be-
come a source of motiva-
tion throughout my life,
driving me to find my
best through academic
achievement and pursuit of
a challenging career, in-
spiring my love of running
and fitness, as well as
channeling my energy and
determination toward
community involvement as
a way to encourage others
to also find their best. I
sent my daughter off to
kindergarten with the
same words!
husband and spent the first
six months of our marriage
living in Munich, Germany.
Having lived in South Car-
olina my entire life, this
provided an eye-opening
experience, as we adapted
our day-to-day lives to the
challenges and opportuni-
ties presented by the cus-
toms of different countries.
We appreciated and ab-
sorbed the sense of com-
munity spirit based in
healthy, walkable, dynam-
ic urban cores coincident
with the preserved natural
beauty of the countryside. I
returned from this experi-
ence with a desire to incor-
porate these broader per-
spectives in my daily life
and future.
You recently played a role
in the Reality Check
event. How important is it
to plan for future growth?
Failure to plan is planning
to fail. The real estate
boom (and ultimately bust)
of the end of the last centu-
ry and 2000s validates this
adage. I believe one of the
keys to economic success
in a community is to create
(thoughtfully and inten-
tionally) a sense of place, a
vibrancy of culture that at-
tracts both the best em-
ployers and the brightest
employees, with exponen-
tial benefits as these com-
panies and individuals give
back to the community.
However, this goal cannot
be achieved without re-
gional cooperating and
planning at all levels.
Amy Clayton
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Age: 34
Occupation: Research di-
rector, S.C. Department of
Commerce
Family: Wife, Amy; daugh-
ter, Caroline
Education: B.S. in me-
chanical engineering,
Clemson; International
MBA, Moore School of
Business, University of
South Carolina
highlights: Member of
Carolinas Nuclear Cluster,
Science and Technology
Plan Committee, Accelera-
teSC Board, SmartState
Endowed Chairs Technical
Review Committee, TDL
Council, S.C. Engineering
Cluster Board, and various
transportation planning
groups; youth sports coach
In my own words: My fam-
ily has benefited immense-
ly from the presence of the
largest corporations in our
state. My dad recently re-
tired after a 30-plus-year
career at Michelin in
Greenville. I worked as an
engineer at General Elec-
tric in Greenville and Wes-
tinghouse Nuclear Fuels in
Columbia. Ive received
scholarships from Sonoco
and BMW. Part of our mis-
sion at Commerce is to at-
tract more companies like
these and help them grow,
so others can have the
same opportunities that
my family and I have had.
by? I was a Boy Scout and
this sentiment from Robert
Baden-Powell really stuck
with me: The real way to
get happiness is by giving
out happiness to other peo-
ple. Try and leave this
world a little better than
you found it. Its a simple
message, but planting the
idea in the head of a 10
year-old that he can make
positive change or leave a
legacy is pretty powerful.
What did you want to be
when you grew up? I want-
ed design robots or air-
planes. I think that desire
pushed me into engineer-
ing. Even as my career has
progressed to finance and
government, I still enjoy
finding ways to be creative
and innovative.
You have worked to help
land some major employ-
ers. But how important is
entrepreneurship to the
states future? There has
been a lot of study on the
topic, but its easier to ask
where the state would be
without companies like So-
noco, Daniel Construction,
Milliken, Benefitfocus and
Datastream. These compa-
nies all started as small, en-
trepreneurial endeavors,
but have since created
thousands of jobs. Plus,
successful founders rein-
vest in their communities.
How important is it to di-
versify S.C.s job base? To
create employment oppor-
tunities for our citizens, its
an imperative. Productivi-
ty gains have made diversi-
fication the only option.
The automotive industry in
the state has quadrupled
during the last 20 years and
the aerospace industry was
all but nonexistent 10 years
ago. Initiatives like the
SmartState programand
business incubatorswork
to strengthen our economy
in growing sectors such as
biotechnology and infor-
mation technology. Im-
provements in education,
tax policy and basic infra-
structure also will help.
David Clayton
Age: 37
Occupation: Attorney and
owner, Ashburn Law Firm;
general counsel and com-
pliance officer, Sandhills
Bank
Family: Husband, Patrick;
dog, Little Bit; cats, Asia,
Viper, Briscoe, Tuna
Education: B.A., psycholo-
gy, University of Massa-
chusetts, Amherst; M.A.,
industrial/organizational
psychology, New York Uni-
versity; J.D., Brooklyn Law
School
Community involvement/
professional highlights:
S.C. Young Lawyer of the
Year 2012; board member,
Central South Carolina
Habitat for Humanity; has
been active on several
United Way committees;
one of Columbias Top
Women of Influence, 2013
In my own words: The
practice of law is an intel-
lectually stimulating and
rewarding profession. As
an attorney, not only do I
research the law and pro-
vide legal advice, I have the
honor of helping clients
find solutions to difficult
problems. Sometimes I
have the opportunity to be
part of improving the law,
either by establishing new
precedent or suggesting
statutory changes.
Through my work as a law-
yer, I have met people from
all walks of life who have
influenced me. I have ma-
ny opportunities to give
back to my community
through my profession,
whether I am supporting
young lawyers or provid-
ing wills free-of-charge to
Habitat for Humanity
homeowners.
by? Chief Justice Jean
Toals motto of "leaving the
ladder down." We support
each other by leaving the
ladder down to pull others
up. Others have pulled me
up the ladder, and I hope to
do the same.
legal career was flourish-
ing, but I realized some-
thing was missing, and that
was giving back to the
community. Although I had
volunteered and partici-
pated in community activi-
ties during my youth, once
I graduated from law
school I focused solely on
my career. I knew that I had
to start giving back.
You launched a program
to provide free wills, liv-
ing wills and health care
powers of attorney to Hab-
itat homeowners? How
does it impact their lives?
When homeowners die
without a will, it can be un-
clear who will assume re-
sponsibility for the home
and mortgage. Because the
Young Lawyers Division
of the South Carolina Bar
provided wills and other
end-of-life documents to
first responders, I asked if
this service could be ex-
panded to include Habitat
for Humanity homeown-
ers. The response, through
the Habitat for Humanity
Wills Clinics, provided
end-of-life documents to
334 Habitat homeowners
during the first two years of
operation.
Jennifer Stone
Ashburn
Leadership. Schclarship. Service.
SN0E 1978
Cougratulatious to all
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LEARN M0RE 0R APPLY AT
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Age: 31
Occupation: General Manager, Cro-
mers Pnuts
Family: Single
Education: BS Marketing/Finance,
American Business School in Paris,
and BS Marketing/Management,
Moore School of Business at USC
Community and professional in-
volvement: Judge and adviser for
FIRST, a science and technology pro-
gram for students, and the regional
FIRST robotics competition. Found-
er of Keenan Terrace Nextdoor pri-
vate neighborhood social network.
Former operations director at the
University of South Carolinas Tech-
nology Incubator, providing consult-
ing to more than 100 businesses.
In my own words: I have a passion
for Columbia and South Carolina. I
have lived on three continents and
visited five. Most of my life was spent
in cities with a population of 1 mil-
lion-plus. Being a part of a smaller
community means that my actions
can affect other people. I can be
heard, and I can make change hap-
pen. I am not just a drop of water in a
vast ocean.
My inspiration is: My parents, who
have inspired me to live my life to the
fullest, without any regrets because
they have taught me that mistakes
are OK; its what I learn from them
that matters. My parents escaped a
dictatorship to live their dream in
Western Europe, and both my sister
and I left Europe to live ours in the
United States.
My life changed when: I moved to
the US, because I made a decision to
live my life fully, without regrets.
France was holding me back on ma-
ny levels. Moving here gave me the
freedom I needed to be who I wanted
to be.
What did you want to be when
you grew up? Until my first market-
ing class, an attorney. The class
helped me develop a passion for cus-
tomers and the way they relate to
products. It tapped into my creativity
and challenged my thinking process.
How have you helped elevate Cro-
mers during a recession? Creativity,
heart and a VERY low PR budget. I
believe that the biggest investment
we can make in anything we under-
take is our time and talent. I see the
potential that a family business like
Cromers has. Sharing that vision
with my team and executing our plan
is one step further than what I used to
do on a daily basis with the tech com-
panies I worked with at the incuba-
tor. At Cromers, I need to practice
my own advice. I get to see what
works, what fails and I get to physi-
cally make it happen vs. being a
spectator.
Why is community cohesiveness so
important? A friend of mine is one of
the developers of Nextdoor.com, a
network that allows locals to find
anything they need: from babysitters
to bridge groups all neighborhood
approved and recommended. I creat-
ed the Keenan Terrace page 12
months ago and weve grown our
neighborly functions a great deal.
Agata Chydzinski
Age: 36
Occupation: U.S. Army
Force Manager, U.S. Army
Central at Shaw Air Force
Base, Sumter
Family: Single
Education: B.S. manage-
ment/professional military
education
highlights: Comman-
dants List at Basic and Ca-
reer Officers Courses; Ar-
my Ranger School gradu-
ate; honor graduate of Ar-
my Force Management
School; commanded twice
at the company-level; two
deployments to Operation
Iraqi Freedom; volunteer,
Sumters National Anthem
Project; joined U.S. Army
Centrals Mentor/Adopt a
School Program; former
youth coach sports orga-
nizer in New York
In my own words: I must
earn my keep as an Amer-
ican citizen. Im the benefi-
ciary of the incalculable
sacrifice and ingenuity of
Americans who came be-
fore me. In his 1961 Inau-
gural Address, President
John F. Kennedy put forth
the ultimate question: Ask
not what your country can
do for you, ask what you
can do for your country.
After the 9/11 terrorist at-
tacks, it was my turn to ask.
Who is your inspiration?
Jackie Robinson. His cour-
age and determination are
incomparable. Hes one of
the best ever and a leader
for all times.
My life changed: Three
days after 9/11, when the
commander-in-chief told
America through a bull-
horn that our enemies
would be hearing from all
of us soon. It left an indel-
ible mark. I internalized
deeply the spirit to serve.
Im a Long Island native; I
knew families from my old
neighborhood who lost
brothers who served the
people of New York. I grad-
uated from college and en-
listed in the Army the fol-
lowing spring.
How did enlisting change
your life? I was working
part-time as a K-12 substi-
tute teacher when I enlist-
ed in 02. Everythings
changed. Ive got more
than a decade of exposure
to relentless, capable and
interesting people who are
driven by accomplishment.
Ive experienced many
beautiful parts of the coun-
try I love. A dynamic and
rewarding professional ca-
reer awaits those who draw
on their strength and
adapt. Most importantly,
American soldiers live the
idea that no obstacle or
challenge is insurmount-
able if you operate as a
team with unified purpose.
How will you use what
youve learned going for-
ward? The only constant is
change. I must be mindful
of institutional lessons-
learned as they pertain to
Army force management.
My role for the foreseeable
future is to help Army deci-
sion-makers allocate finite
resources across compet-
ing requirements to pro-
duce the most capable, rea-
dy and cost-effective force
for the nation.
Maj. Joseph A.
Cosci Jr.
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FirstCitizens
6eoao|a.eos
Angela English
Ior being named one oI Columbia's
Corporate Communications Director

the New South program, Columbia
College.
In my own words: I love what I do for
First Citizens because, in my line of
work, no two days are ever alike.
Most of what I do in the community
promotes education, affordable
housing, and the health and well-be-
ing of children. First Citizens and the
community organizations with
which I am most involved do so many
wonderful things in the Midlands
and across their geographical foot-
prints. In addition to working with
and learning from many talented
people, I enjoy being able to tell the
story of these organizations and ad-
vocate on their behalf to better serve
their constituencies.
What is your inspiration? My par-
ents. At an early age, they instilled
positive values, demonstrated a
strong work ethic and taught me the
importance of paying it forward. As a
result, two sayings tend to guide my
Age: 33
Occupation: Director of Corporate
Communications, Senior Vice Presi-
dent at First Citizens Bank
Family: Husband, Christian English
Education: Double major, Journal-
ism and Mass Communication, and
Spanish, University of North Caroli-
na - Chapel Hill
Community/professional high-
lights: Active member and Missions
Core Team member, Trenholm Road
United Methodist Church; board
president, Communities In Schools
of the Midlands; board member, Co-
lumbia Housing Development Corp.;
member, Junior League of Columbia,
United Ways Young Leaders Society
and Public Relations Society of
America; participated in First Citi-
zens Leadership Development Pro-
gram, CLIMB; completed the United
Way Blueprint for Leadership pro-
gram; completed the Leadership for
actions and thoughts on a daily basis:
Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you; and, true humility
is not thinking less of yourself; it is
thinking of yourself less (C.S. Lewis).
Why are childrens issues close to
your heart? As clich as it may
sound, children are our future, and
every child deserves the opportunity
and the resources to realize their full
potential. These organizations help
children in need by providing sup-
port and resources that may not oth-
erwise be available.
First Citizens put a cutting edge
bank caf in a renovated historic
building in downtown Columbia.
How does the bank stay relevant
through generations? The First Citi-
zens Caf has been a way for us to en-
hance our brand and presence on
Main Street. The caf is a first-of-its
kind concept in Columbia that allows
us to build relationships with caf pa-
trons and introduce them to First Cit-
izens in a casual, relaxed and engag-
ing setting. First Citizens stays rele-
vant to consumers of all ages by pro-
viding products and services through
multiple delivery channels.
Angela P. English
Andrew Folks
ExIsLIng BusInessJndusLry Munuger
1zo1 MuIn SL., SuILe 1;1o
CoIumbIu, SC USA zqzo1
The South CaroIina Power
Team congratuIates our
own Andrew FoIks for being
named to 20 under 40.
ReresenLIng Lhe
EIecLrIc CooeruLIves und
SunLee Cooer
Ashburn Law Firm and
Sandhills Bank
congratulate
}+++]+ A;I!:++
on being named to
The State`s Top 20 Under 40!
shburn Law Firm, LLC
1612 Marion Street, Suite 306
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 708-7445
www.ashburnfrm.com
Sandhills Bank
Your Big Bank A!!++o!+\
Bethune - Longs - Myrtle Beach - N. Myrtle Beach
(800) 609-6724
www.SandhillsBank.com
Age: 36
Occupation: Existing Business/
Industry Manager, South Caroli-
na Power Team
Family: Engaged to Julia
Ramirez
Education: BS, Presbyterian Col-
lege; Masters, Mass Communica-
tion, University of South Carolina
lights: member, South Carolina
Economic Developers Associa-
tion; member, Shandon Presby-
terian Church, formerly serving
as elder; president, Rotary Club
of Five Points, twice name Rotari-
an of the Year; Leadership South
Carolina, Class of 2011; Eagle
Scout, Boy Scouts of America
What saying do you live by? I live
by my own saying which is No
one has been more richly blessed
than me. Live in a manner that is
reciprocal.
My life changed when: Among
the many lessons I learned in col-
lege, two from my sophomore
year are as impactful today as
they were then. One: Every life
experience is valuable. Two: Bal-
ance is the key. Once I took those
lessons to heart, college took off
for me. I continue to apply those
same basic principles.
you grew up? When I was a kid, it
changed a lot. I wanted to be pres-
ident. I think I wanted to be a doc-
tor for a while. It has been a long
time since Ive really thought on
it. But what I aspire to today is ve-
ry clear: Wherever possible, I
want to do something of worth
for someone else.
New big-name companies get a
lot of attention when they an-
nounce they will bring jobs and
investment to the state. You
work with existing companies.
How important is it to work with
existing industry to keep them
and their jobs -- in South Caroli-
na? There is no greater compli-
ment in economic development
than a company deciding to in-
vest in an existing facility and cre-
ate new jobs. It means that the
community is doing it right. It
means that the state is doing it
right. It means more opportunity
for our citizens. It doesnt get any
better.
You became the youngest presi-
dent of the Five Points Rotary
Club last year. Why is it impor-
tant for you not only to be in-
volved in the service organiza-
tion, but also to take the helm
and help guide it? Rotary is a
happy marriage between individ-
uals who desire to serve others
and a tremendous network of
programs in which to fulfill that
desire. My role as club president
is to help connect the two togeth-
er and, in the process, help as ma-
ny people as possible.
R. Andrew Folks
/
0oing above and beyond
Bob Ruff
vice President o Broker Market 3ervices
Bob Ru works hard everyday to provide
proessional, personal service and build
relationships that stand the test o time.
Both in business and in the community,
his standards are higher.
2014 Colonlal Llfe & Accldent lnsurance Comany
0olonial Lie insurance products are underwritten by 0olonial Lie & /ccident
lnsurance 0ompany, or which 0olonial Lie is the marketing brand.
Congratulatlons to
Bob Ruff, one of
20 Under 40.
Age: 31
Occupation: Vice President, Broker
Market Services, Colonial Life
Family: Wife, Chelsey Ruff
Education: Family Financial Man-
agement, Virginia Tech; Masters in
Business Administration, Clemson
University
lights: Palmetto Place Childrens
Emergency Shelter Board of Direc-
tors; Youth Corps volunteer; United
Way Palmetto Society; United Way
Young Leaders Society; former Spe-
cial Olympics volunteer; member,
Virginia Tech Football ACC Champi-
onship Team, 2004
In my own words: I enjoy helping
others. Professionally, I get to help
ensure that people have the financial
security needed to help in difficult
times. In the community, Im a big be-
liever in giving back. Sometimes we
can get so caught up in work or life
that we fail to realize there are people
out there that could use a little help.
What saying do you live by? Every
day before grade school, I would
leave for the bus and my mom would
say Dont forget to be smart. Grow-
ing up, I never gave it much thought;
but now, I think about all the deci-
sions someone is faced with in a day,
and it doesnt hurt to remind yourself
to make smart decisions.
What did you want to be when you
grew up?I always aspired to be a pro-
fessional athlete. Though I was not
able to make it to that level, I have
taken the drive and passion I had for
sports and applied it to my profes-
sional career. Its about the team. I
work hard for Colonial Life to win
and that in turns provides working
Americans with financial protection.
You are heavily involved in helping
children. What drives that? I consid-
er myself blessed to have grown up in
a large family. I want to do my part to
help children grow up in an atmo-
sphere where they can create great
memories, as well. It may not be the
same opportunity I had, but Palmetto
Place Childrens Emergency Shelter
can provide a safe and nurturing en-
vironment to give kids that chance.
You achieved a high level of success
at a young age. To what do you attri-
bute your work ethic?I was taught at
avery young age that if you wanted to
excel in whatever youre doing then
you had to put in the time and effort. I
approach every opportunity with
that thought. I was also fortunate
enough to have two very loving par-
ents, which included a father who I
looked up to as a mentor. For as long
as I can remember, my father was up
every day at 4 a.m. to go to work and
would return around dinner time. He
worked his way up from a front line
electrical engineer to a senior vice
president and eventually president
for a Fortune 500 company. However,
I dont recall a time when he missed
mine or my sisters events. He would
take a red eye home from the west
coast or drive through the night if
needed. If I can accomplish half of
what hes done in the way hes done
it, I would consider my career a suc-
cess. Of course, my competitive side
reminds me that I need to do it better!
Bob Ruff
Age: 39
Occupation: Director of
Organizational Develop-
ment for VC3
Family: Husband, David;
yellow Lab, Riley; cat,
Maggie
Education: University of
South Carolina, Moore
School of Business, BS in
Marketing and Manage-
ment, with a concentration
in human resources. Cur-
rently pursuing MA degree
in Organizational Change
and Leadership at Colum-
bia College.
highlights: Certified Se-
nior Professional in Hu-
man Resources, Columbia
Society for Human Re-
source Management board
member, IT-oLogy Pro-
mote IT Council member,
USC Career Center Em-
ployer Advisory Board,
Midlands Technical Col-
lege Telecommunications
Systems Management Ad-
visory Committee, Mid-
lands Education Business
Alliance IT Alliance
In my own words: Being a
human resources profes-
sional allows me to tie what
I love to do so easily with
being involved in the com-
munity. One of the high
points of my professional
life is watching people
grow in their careers, from
hiring someone right out of
college, and then seeing
them progress into manag-
ing their own teams.I also
enjoy helping people figure
out what they are passion-
ate about. Life is too short
to spend your days in a job
that doesnt fulfill you.
What is your favorite lead-
ership quote? Before you
are a leader, success is all
about growing yourself.
When you become a leader,
success is all about grow-
ing others. Jack Welch
when you grew up? A vet-
erinarian. I changed my
mind when I volunteered
with our familys veterinar-
ian! When I was a junior in
college, I took my first hu-
man resources manage-
ment class and something
just clicked. Human re-
sources offers the ability to
be involved across all orga-
nizational levels and is cen-
tered on building
relationships.
You started at VC3 just be-
fore the recession started.
What were your challeng-
es? Fortunately, the reces-
sion was advantageous for
VC3 in that it increased the
pool of talented systems
engineers and software en-
gineers seeking employ-
ment at the time we needed
them most. The constant
challenge is finding the
right fit for our positions
and for the culture of our
company.
Why is being a mentor im-
portant to you? I think
most of us can look back
and remember the people
we considered mentors in
our lives and the influence
they had on our successes.
I believe that we need men-
tors throughout our lives to
help us continue to grow.
We all have gifts and tal-
ents that are meant to be
shared with others!
Jill Hammond
Menhart
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Driven by a fanaticism
for design, quaIity and
individuaIism.
Age: 34
Occupation: Global busi-
ness director, Bridge to Life
Family: Wife, Shani; sons,
Jack, 7, and Bryant, 3
Education: B.S. in finance
and in management, with a
specialization in interna-
tional business with cogni-
tive in German, University
of South Carolina
Community involvement/
professional highlights:
board member, Gabriel
House of Care; preliminary
judge, CETi/USC Proving
Grounds; volunteer bas-
ketball coach, Trinity Ca-
thedral; sponsorship chair,
Contemporaries of the Co-
lumbia Museum of Art
In your own words: Grow-
ing up in South Carolina, I
did not have a great deal of
daily exposure to the rest of
the world. It was only after
I was enrolled at USC that I
became exposed to the
world of global potential, if
I was willing to respect oth-
er cultures, learn language
and work really hard. Ive
maintained that philoso-
phy in both my career and
personal life, and have al-
ways kept in mind that I
wanted others from South
Carolina to have the same
opportunity I did. This is
why I chose to seek inter-
national work from here.
Who is your inspiration?
My grandfather, Bishop
Maurice Aaron Frye, be-
cause he exuded such qual-
ities of fairness, equality
and international diploma-
cy in his life and through
his work in the church.
My life changed when:
Ive never told him this, but
the well-known retired lo-
cal sports reporter Joe
Daggett came and spoke to
a class of us German stu-
dents while I was at Caroli-
na. Among other things, he
said something to the effect
of, if you want to see the
world, go now. Otherwise
youll get married, have
kids, start a career, and
youll be old like me before
you get to do it. Thank you
for the strong nudge!
You helped recruit Bridge
to Life to the Midlands
and then later joined the
company. What appealed
to you about the work? It
was a very fortunate step to
have been given the oppor-
tunity to recruit business to
SC. Bridge to Life supplies
life-saving organ preserva-
tion solutions and other
medical products globally
now, right here in Colum-
bia. Two things I was
drawn by: First, I was keen
to see a small company
succeed, through pro-
grams that the state offers.
We need to continue to
grow and create fertile
ground for such compa-
nies to thrive and succeed.
Second, organ transplant
is a tremendously impor-
tant medical and culturally
underserved field. With a
shortage of organs, and ov-
er 120,000 people in Amer-
ica alone on the wait list, it
is so important to make
certain we have enough or-
gans to transplant.
Why do
you serve as a volunteer
basketball coach? Being
around young people is so
special, first, selfishly, be-
cause it keeps me young as
well! Secondly it is great to
work with kids at forma-
tive years. Coaching allows
you the chance to instill im-
portant values in life
through preparation, hard
work and competition.
Aaron Gilchrist
Age: 31
Occupation: Director of government
relations for Conservation Voters of
South Carolina
Family: Engaged to Robert Davis
with a small house full of rescue dogs
Education: B.A. in political science,
environmental ethics undergraduate
certificate, and M.S. in conservation
ecology and sustainable develop-
ment, University of Georgia
lights: President of the Earlewood
Community Citizens Organization,
founder/past chair of the NoMa Bark
Park, Bull St. Advisory Commission
In my own words: Ive been a tree-
hugger since the beginning, and Im
not afraid to claim it. Growing up
with a zookeeper mom, I was intro-
duced to nature in unusual ways. I
held my first snake when I was four. I
received a national environmental
award from Firestone Tires when I
was eight. I was the first (and only)
child to receive the TBS Supercitizen
of the Week at age nine. Those early
experiences taught me how to advo-
cate (and win) with a pragmatic, rea-
sonable and passionate approach.
My life changed when: Growing
up, I aimed for stability and a solid
plan. I did everything right out of
grad school. I got a job, bought a
house and got married. Four years
later, I was relieved to be divorced,
starting over and switching to a ca-
reer in the non-profit sector. It was
terrifying. It tested me. It made me
stronger. I learned that I could make
mistakes. I could divert from the
plan it would be OK.
grew up? When I was in sixth grade, I
wanted to be a game warden in Afri-
ca to save elephants from poachers.
While interviewing me for a school
award, the principal told me that was
a silly dream. I did eventually choose
a career with a lower mortality rate,
but Ill never forget how little support
I got.
What is the most critical environ-
mental issue facing the Midlands?
The Midlands should be defined by
the Three Rivers, yet we often forget
they are there. We blithely water our
lawns, wash our cars and run the
spigot just a little too long because
the rivers are full. One day soon,
however, we will regret these actions.
We will fight over water. Our years of
neglect will haunt us as we realize
what a great resource we had.
You serve on the Bull Street adviso-
ry committee. What needs to hap-
pen there? The Bull Street develop-
ment offers us an opportunity to start
fresh. We have a canvas of historic
buildings, majestic trees, and a ne-
glected watershed to make into what
an urban center should be. I cant
wait to see Columbia Common with
its bustling mixed use area and wal-
kability. I cant wait to see Smith
Branch restored to a free-flowing,
daylighted creek with a park along
its banks. I cant wait for the enter-
tainment possibilities. I cant wait to
increase our tax base and utilize such
an interesting historic village.
Rebecca Haynes
Age: 25
Occupation: Owner of
Digitize Marketing
Family: Single
Education: B.A. in English,
specialty in journalism,
Communication minor,
Columbia College; Master
of Mass Communication,
University of South Caroli-
na. Certified Inbound Mar-
keting Specialist.
highlights: Named Influ-
ential Woman in Business
and Rising Star, Columbia
Regional Business Report;
Small Business Advisory
Board, Greater Columbia
Chamber of Commerce;
Membership Committee
Chair, Capital City Club;
Leadership Columbia,
2014; Marketing Advisory
Board, City Center Part-
nership; Marketing Com-
mittee, SC Mission Mid-
lands; Gala Committee,
Columbia Museum of Art.
by? Do not go where the
path may lead, go instead
where there is no path and
leave a trail. Ralph Wal-
do Emerson
Days after Christmas, dur-
ing my freshman year at
Columbia College, my fam-
ily experienced a house
fire. In minutes, we
watched all of our material
possessions vanish before
our eyes. For over a month,
we were without perma-
nent residence and lived in
a hotel. Through the over-
whelming support from
family, friends and the
community at large, we
were able to move into a
new fully furnished home
with our down payment
funded by donations. For
me, this experience reaf-
firmed the generosity still
present in humanity. This
experience keeps me
grounded in what is most
significant and valuable.
What do you aspire to? In
life, I aspire to live in peace,
walk in my purpose and
operate at my maximum
potential. This is how I
measure happiness and
success.
You became an entrepre-
neur at a very young age.
Why did you decide to
open your own business? I
always wanted to own a
business, but I never imag-
ined I would have started
my first company at 23. Af-
ter receiving my masters, I
was presented with two in-
triguing job offers. After
reviewing both options, I
was not content with either
opportunity. Both positions
offered competitive sala-
ries, however, neither pro-
vided the adventure, chal-
lenge and personal fulfill-
ment I needed to obtain in
the next chapter of my life.
Through a multitude of
counsel and prayer, I real-
ized the best option for me
was to pursue my passion
in new media. From there, I
self-financed and founded
an online marketing agen-
cy. I would absolutely, posi-
tively, without question
make the same decision to
pursue entrepreneurship.
You have a commitment to
mentoring young people
and getting them involved
in the business communi-
ty. Why? I am 100 percent
certain that without my
mentors, I would not be
where I am today. My men-
tors opened my eyes to op-
portunities available to me
and provided me with the
wisdom and encourage-
ment to accomplish them.
It is my responsibility to
pass this forward to others.
Kiosha Gregg
CongraLulauons Lo our parLner
Iody 8edenbaugh
on hls selecuon as a
Mldlands young leader
ln 1he SLaLe's '20 under 40'
Ne|son Mu|||ns k||ey & Scarborough LL
Auorneys & Counselors aL Law
Merldlan | 17Lh lloor
1320 Maln SLreeL | Columbla, SC 29201
www.nelsonmulllns.com | 803.799.2000
Age: 36
Occupation: Attorney with Nelson
Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Family: Wife, Emily Brady
Education: B.S. business adminis-
tration, University of South Carolina
Honors College; J.D., USC School of
Law
Community involvement/profes-
sional highlights: United Way of the
Midlands, served on the initial Steer-
ing Committee of the Young Leaders
Society; graduate of Leadership Co-
lumbia and Leadership South Caroli-
na; executive committee, Richland
County Bar Association
Who is your inspiration? I am fortu-
nate to have several mentors at Nel-
son Mullins, but my parents are the
foundation for any success that Ive
had. Two things stand out. First, the
primary rule in our house was that if
we did something, we were to give
maximum effort. Certainly, academ-
ics were stressed, but sports were the
main outlet for my brother and me
growing up in Prosperity. I learned
the relationship between hard work
and success and developed a work
ethic. Second, I remember my mom
frequently taking me to the old New-
berry County public library during
the summers, where they had this
great kids section in the basement. I
was often the only one there and
spent a lot of time researching
whatever was on my mind and still
remember the empowering feeling
of having access to all of those books.
My life changed when: I can think
of a couple of turning points. First,
May 24, 2002, the day I met my future
wife, Emily. We had no friends in
common, she was in college at Duke
and I was in law school here, but we
happened to be at the same restau-
rant on that day and struck up a con-
versation.Meeting her changed the
trajectory of my life. Professionally,
with my areas of practice represent-
ing banks and other creditors in state
court and bankruptcy court the
Great Recession was certainly a chal-
lenging time. I remember being in
New York for a conference in 2008 as
Lehman Brothers was collapsing,
reading the coverage and seeing the
fear of economic collapse become a
reality. Having the privilege to help a
number of clients through this time
was certainly an irreplaceable learn-
ing experience for me as a young
lawyer.
grew up? I always wanted to be a law-
yer, though my only notion as a kid of
what a lawyer actually did came from
books, TV shows and movies. My
work now is nothing like those TV
shows, but I made a good choice.
Why is your volunteer work impor-
tant to you? I served as a co-chair last
year for the Richlands County Bars
Buildable Hours project, where we
raised money and built a Habitat
house for a very deserving young
family. It is incredibly rewarding to
help someone in need, and it is a part
of the culture of Nelson Mullins.
Jody A. Bedenbaugh
Age: 34
Occupation: Architect at
Lambert Architecture +
Construction Services
Family: Wife, Liz McCary
Education: Bachelor of ar-
chitecture, Virginia Tech
Community /professional
highlights: AIA Columbia
board member, former
president; AIA S.C. Chap-
ter, president; partnered
with Columbia Museum of
Art on several programs;
developed Legacy Cha-
rette to give back to com-
munity; organized Colum-
bia Gingerbread Competi-
tion; Saluda River Trout
Unlimited Chapter, former
president
In my own words: The pro-
cess of architecture, devel-
oping an idea from a vision
into reality, is an engaging
practice that is ever chang-
ing and evolving. As an ar-
chitect, I have the opportu-
nity to improve the lives of
others through creative
and thoughtful design. I
volunteer my time in hopes
that I can have the same
positive impact on my
community.
Professionally and person-
ally Id have to say my life-
changing moment was the
semester I spent travelling
Europe and studying archi-
tecture through the Virgin-
ia Tech Study Abroad pro-
gram. Experiencing such
powerful architecture real-
ly made me see the profes-
sion in a different way and
realize what an impact
good design can have on
you both physically and
emotionally.
when you grew up? For the
longest time, I thought I
would follow in my grand-
fathers footsteps and be-
come a doctor. I excelled in
science and math, but the
combination of an infor-
mative anatomy class and a
creative drafting teacher in
high school altered my
path towards architecture.
As the youngest president
to lead the S.C. AIA chap-
ter, you developed the Di-
saster Response Commit-
tee. Why was that impor-
tant? I was fortunate to be
in a position to help devel-
op the committee after sev-
eral of our members, in-
cluding me, were trained
as certified safety asses-
sors for emergency man-
agement services. Archi-
tects would be part of the
second wave of responders
after a disaster. Our goal
would be to inspect facili-
ties and determine quickly
if it is safe for residents to
return. When a disaster
strikes an area, it is the vol-
unteers from the other
parts of the state that will
be called upon. Thats why
it is so important that we
train our members all over
South Carolina and devel-
op an organized network
of volunteers. We have the
ability to help people get
back to their homes faster
and start rebuilding their
communities. I cant think
of a more important use of
our resources.
You developed the first
Trout in the Classroom
program in Columbia.
Why is it important for
kids to learn in such a
hands-on way? Unfortu-
nately many kids today
dont get to experience the
outdoors like past genera-
tions. If we dont expose
them to the importance of
nature now, there wont be
anything left to conserve in
the future. Trout in the
Classroom teaches kids
about ecosystems, life cy-
cles and how all parts of life
are interconnected. A child
may not remember every
lesson in school, but they
will remember raising
trout from tiny eggs and re-
leasing them into the river.
Luke E. McCary
Age: 34
Occupation: Chief Operating Of-
ficer, Ed Robinson Laundry and
Dry Cleaners and affiliated
Companies
Family: Wife, Ainsley Johnston;
sons, John Johnston, 4, and Oli-
ver Johnston, 2
Education: Wofford College
lights: Deacon, Shandon Baptist
Church; president-elect, Colum-
bia Rotary Club; F3 (Fitness, Fel-
lowship and Faith) Leader; and
graduate, Leadership Legacy
Why do you do what you do pro-
fessionally and for the commu-
nity? Lead others to reach their
full potential
What saying do you live by? Du-
ty is the sublimest word in the En-
glish language. You should do
your duty in all things. You can
never do more, you should never
wish to do less. Robert E. Lee
My life changed when: The
major turning point in my life
came in November 2003 when I
dedicated my life to serve the
Lord. I was 23 years old, serving
as an Infantry Platoon Leader in
the Army and was six weeks from
deploying to Iraq. There was a lot
about the situation that felt over-
whelming, but on that particular
night, I felt the presence of the
Lord and felt a calming and pur-
pose to the life I was called to live.
you grew up? A Leader of any
type. As boys, we all dream of be-
ing the sports star or the war hero
but those callings are reserved
for a few. Bottom line: When a
boy grows into a man, he wants to
be the one that can be counted on
when the stakes are high in any
situation and in any environ-
ment. Presently, that means be-
ing the best father I can be and
leading a business or organiza-
tion through uncertain economic
times.
You have headed up a company
during one of the worst reces-
sions in a lifetime and increased
sales. How did you accomplish
that? What were the challenges?
Teamwork. Ed Robinson Compa-
nies has a talented group of lead-
ers and dedicated employees. We
are goal-focused and team-ori-
ented. In the thick of the reces-
sion, as a leadership group we de-
cided to focus on our employees.
Recruiting, trusting and empow-
ering them became our focus,
and the employees exceeded all
expectations.
What lessons did you learn dur-
ing your service in Iraq? How
have they helped you succeed?
Always have a plan and include
contingencies. Prepare for the
worst and hope for the best.
John Johnston
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Age: 30
Occupation: Public rela-
tions/government affairs
manager for Columbia
Metropolitan Airport
Family: Parents, Odist and
Charita Harmon; brother,
Odist Harmon III
Education: Ridge View
High School; Washington
& Lee University, B.A.
Journalism & Mass
Communications
highlights: Formerly, ad-
vancement coordinator for
S.C. Confederate Relic
Room; volunteer, United
Ways Midlands Reading
Consortium; Leadership
Columbia 2013; board
member, AMIkids, a non-
profit working with DJJ to
provide a jail alternative
In my own words: I chose
the communications field
in order to equip people
with information that
would allow them to make
the best decisions. My job
allows me to do just that by
sharing how CAE supports
the economy, connects
businesses, brings families
together and allows people
to explore the world.
by? This simple phrase
summarizes how I try to
live my life: Say some-
thing that matters, be
someone who inspires, do
something that lasts.
Im at a real turning point
right now. You hear a lot of
talk these days about the
Third Metric of Success
and Leaning In and all of
that really resonates with
me. I am blessed enough to
be in a career that affords
me the intrinsic satisfac-
tion of doing what I love
and Im excited about be-
ing able to grow in my pro-
fession and as a leader.
You lead a program to rec-
ognize military families
during USC football
games. Why? Our Military
Family of the Game pro-
gram recognizes the sacri-
fice of the families who are
at home while their loved
ones are away serving our
country and once we real-
ized we could reunite fami-
lies, it was a no-brainer. Its
a lot of work, but it is so re-
warding. I cant begin to
describe the feeling of
standing on the sideline
right before the reunion
knowing that I and thou-
sands of others are getting
ready to witness some-
thing special. As the video
rolls and the crowd begins
to realize whats happen-
ing, you can feel the excite-
ment grow. And then the
family sees their soldier
and their reactions are
priceless; itll bring tears to
your eyes every time.
You work with a variety of
organizations helping
kids. Why is it important
to touch young lives? I
have been volunteering
with the Midlands Reading
Consortium for several
years. One of the things
they taught us in training is
that children learn to read
until third grade; after that,
they read to learn. Unfortu-
nately, there are too many
children in our community
who are not getting the
foundation they need to
grow into their full poten-
tial. The little bit of time we
spend with these kids as
volunteers helps prepare
them for their future edu-
cation and helps build their
self-esteem.
Kaela Harmon
Age: 28
Occupation: Attorney with Nexsen
Pruet and public policy adviser with
Nexsen Pruet Strategies
Family: Wife, Felicia
Education: University of South Car-
olina, BA in political science and his-
tory; University of South Carolina
School of Law, juris doctor
lights: Midtown Fellowship, mem-
ber; chair, USC Board of Visitors; My
Carolina Alumni Association, Board
of Governors member and Executive
Committee; USC Presidents Com-
munity Advisory Committee; Na-
tional Center for State Courts, young
lawyer committee member; founder,
Cockys Reading Express; Sister-
care, board member; Bill and Melin-
da Gates Millennium Scholars Alum-
ni Association, national president;
National Conference of Chief Justic-
es Civil Justice Improvements Com-
mittee, member
What saying do you live by? Mat-
thew 5:16: In the same way, let your
light shine before others, so that they
may see your good works and give
glory to your Father who is in heav-
en. My faith is most important to me
and defines who I am. I hope that
people see what I do in my life as a
reflection of my love for God.
grew up? I cant believe Im admit-
ting this, but I used to think I was go-
ing to grow up to become the first
black president of the United States.
However, 2008 ended that aspiration.
With all honesty though, as I have
gotten older and wiser, I realize that a
political office is not the only way or
even the best way to serve.
You created Cockys Reading Ex-
press eight years ago. Did you
dream it would be so successful? IN-
ever in a million years did I think
Cockys Reading Express would be
the success it is today. When I con-
ceived the idea, I simply thought the
program would be a nice way to ex-
pose Cocky to the community and
more importantly get college stu-
dents in the public talking about the
significant problems with illiteracy
in our state. Now the program is one
of the most popular literacy pro-
grams in South Carolina. We have
visited every county in the state and
given over 70,000 books to children.
You are president of the Gates
Scholars Alumni Association. Why
do you serve? The Gates Scholarship
was a game changer for me. It pro-
vided me with the opportunity to go
to any college in the country for free.
Instead of having to get a job, I spent
my time in college studying, getting
involved in student government,
serving as a page for Senator Larry
Martin at the State House and intern-
ing on Capitol Hill. So, when the op-
portunity presented itself for me to
take on the role as president , it was a
no-brainer. This experience gives me
the chance to give back to a program
that has given so much to me.
Tommy Preston Jr.
Age: 36
Occupation: Chef and
owner of 116 Espresso and
Wine Bar
Family: Wife, Cheryl; par-
ents, Barbara and Mark
Education: Irmo High
School, two years Honors
College at University of
South Carolina; American
Culinary Federation Ap-
prenticeship Program
highlights: Three-year
winner of ACFMidlands
Junior Chef of the Year;
support, SC Philharmonic,
YLS, SlowFood Columbia,
Sustainable Midlands,
March of Dimes, Palmetto
Place Childrens Shelter
In my own words: Im of-
ten asked why I got into the
restaurant business. There
are not many professions
where you can receive the
instant gratification a chef
does from creating a dish,
presenting it to a customer
and seeing a completely
clean plate come back.
That sort of feedback or a
simple thank you from a
customer in the dining
room can instantly make
all the hard work worth-
while.
Who is your inspiration? I
can remember my grand-
father telling me quite of-
ten that anything worth
doing is worth doing well.
Its a simple idea, but one I
try to latch on to every day.
My life changed: During
my second year at USC. I
was in some fairly intense
classes in the Honors Col-
lege and Science Depart-
ment that year and some of
them were those make or
break ones where they
really try to separate out
who was going to survive. I
didnt want to or wasnt
able to succeed at my
friends expense. Its just
not how Im built. That was
when I decided to take a se-
mester off and think about
what I really enjoyed.
Lucky for me, executive
chef Richard Snidar at the
Embassy Suites here in
town gave me a shot to
cook and learn when I had
zero experience outside
my home kitchen.
Why is it important to you
to use locally sourced
products? There are so ma-
ny benefits to local food.
First is a sense of terrior
which is technically a wine
term but I think it works. It
refers to a sense of place
being part of the taste of
something. For example,
sitting on the coast watch-
ing a shrimp boat come in,
smelling the salt air, feeling
the warmth of the sun, then
tasting all of that or trying
to reflect all of those as-
pects later in a dish. Tied in
with all of this is also the
ability to get to know your
farmer, to know where
your food comes from and
be connected to it.
Why is it important for
you to be involved in ev-
ery aspect of food service
from cooking to greeting
guests to cleaning up? Im
amicro manager and really
bad at delegating! In all
honesty, when we started I
didnt have a choice. To sur-
vive I had to cook, wash
dishes, put away groceries,
make drinks, screw up my
accounting, clean toilets...
whatever needed to get
done. My wife and I put ev-
ery dollar we had into a big
risk and we were lucky
enough to have an incred-
ible staff that saw our vi-
sion and ran with it, great
neighbors who believed in
us and came in week after
week, and family that were
scared to death we were
making a huge mistake but
supported us. Thats why I
give back.
Ryan Whittaker
of 11 Espresso ond Wine Bor,
For BeinQ Nominofed fo !he Sfofe's 20 0nder 40
qs=,-a:xta:.s=: :s
Pyon Wh|Ioker, ExecuI|ve Chef
For more |nformoI|on on 116 Espresso ond W|ne 8or ond Ihe|r coIer|ng serv|ces, p|eose v|s|I
www.11stote.com or coII [803] 791-53
From he Mike KeIIy Low Group ond the 8toff of
11 spresso ond Wine 8or
$pecol honks fo fhe $C Phlhormonc
for fher supporfl
17 E. Calhoun Street, Sumter, SC 29151
Phone (803) 775-1263
www.bryanlaw.com
+ Arthur S. Bahnmuller
+ David W. Goldman
+ Joseph T. McElveen, Jr.
+ John P. Ford
+ Thomas M. Bultman
+ J. Thomas McElveen, III
+ John R. Moorman
qs=,-a:xta:.s=: :s 80 x=xe- 40"
/s=s-ee. "/sa: %:tee=/
Age: 36
Occupation: Lawyer and partner at
the Bryan Law Firm of SC, Sumter;
state senator, District 35
Family: Wife, Bronwyn; daughter,
Adelaide, 4 months; two dogs, Way-
lon and Wilson
Education: Davidson College, B.A.;
University of South Carolina School
of Law, J.D.
lights: Leadership Sumter; Leader-
ship South Carolina 2014; Sumter
Sertoma Club; deacon, youth council
adviser and lifelong member at First
Presbyterian Church, Sumter;
Shaw-Sumter Community Council;
Greater Sumter Chamber of Com-
merce board of directors; SC Cham-
ber of Commerce Business Advo-
cate award recipient for 2013; cho-
sen as one of approximately 60 state
legislators from across America to at-
tend the 2013 State Legislative Lead-
ers Foundations Emerging Leaders
Program at the University of Virgin-
ias Darden School of Business
Who is your inspiration? My dad,
Joe McElveen, has been a positive
role model in my life for as long as I
can remember, and I am proud to
have followed a path similar to his.
He is a selfless and dedicated public
servant who loves his hometown,
and I am blessed to have a father who
continues to inspire me by setting a
good example.
My life changed when: I began cam-
paigning across four counties in a re-
drawn Senate district starting in Feb-
ruary 2012. I had so much help from
so many good people, which con-
stantly fueled me to work as hard as I
could when we were campaigning. It
seemed like it was
24
7 for the better
part of a year, but it was worth every
second. I always said that win or lose,
my life was enriched by all of the
friendships I made along the way.
grew up? I began college on the pre-
med track, but that only lasted until
right about the time I took cellular
and molecular biology during my
first semester!
You are the youngest S.C. senator
currently serving. What drives your
interest in public service? I live and
practice law in my hometown of
Sumter, and my interest in public
service stems from my desire to
make this area as great as it can be.
Id like to see more people my age
and younger begin to more actively
engage in public service.
Whats the biggest challenge or
challenges facing our state and
what are our legislators doing to
overcome them? Our Legislature
needs to get better at setting our pri-
orities in order so that they reflect the
needs and desires of the people we
represent. Regardless of our party af-
filiations or the different areas from
which we hail, we need to be better at
looking for ways we can work togeth-
er rather than focusing singularly on
the red herring political issues that
will continue to polarize us.
Thomas McElveen
l5l5 Maln Street ln the heart of downtown Columbla, SC | 803.799.28l0 | columblamuseum.org
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l|tetoty 5on, 7he 7toucle w|th 8t|ht lyes (detall), l929, Color llthograph, l0 3/8 x 7 7/l6 ln. Courtesy of The Levenson Collectlon.

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