COLUMBIA, S.C. – October 7, 2013 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that Allison Skipper has joined the agency as marketing and communications director, and Amy Love will launch and direct the Department’s new Office of Innovation.
Skipper will lead the Department’s strategic communications initiatives and serve as the agency’s spokeswoman. She previously spent nine years at the South Carolina State Ports Authority in Charleston, where she most recently served as public relations manager handling external communications, media and community relations.
Skipper earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of South Carolina. She has earned the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation and a professional certificate from the College of Charleston’s intermodal transportation and global logistics program. She presently serves on the boards of the Public Relations Society of America’s South Carolina Chapter and the South Carolina International Trade Conference.
Love will lead South Carolina’s state effort to support and further grow an innovative, technology-based and entrepreneurial business environment.
Before taking on this new role, Love served as marketing and communications director at the South Carolina Department of Commerce. She was previously part of the start-up team that launched New Carolina – South Carolina’s Council on Competitiveness, and served as deputy executive director.
Love worked in corporate communications for German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom in Europe. During graduate school, Love developed and ran the public information program for USDA Rural Development in South Carolina.
Love holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Furman University and a master’s degree in public relations from the University of South Carolina. She is a graduate of Leadership South Carolina (LSC) Class of 2007, and served on the LSC Board of Trustees. Love is a Fellow of the seventh class of the Liberty Fellowship.