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Commerce News

Commerce honors 46 Ambassadors for Economic Development

Individuals awarded during 23rd annual Industry Appreciation Week

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Individuals and companies from every county in South Carolina were recognized Thursday for the many contributions they provide to their communities and to economic development as part of the 23rd annual Industry Appreciation Week.

Through an official proclamation, Governor Nikki Haley declared March 31-April 4 as Industry Appreciation Week. The South Carolina Department of Commerce observed Industry Appreciation Week by honoring individuals from each of the state's 46 counties as Ambassadors for Economic Development. These individuals included local leaders from the private sector representing a variety of businesses and economic development organizations committed to securing new jobs and investment in their communities.

The following Ambassadors for Economic Development, listed alphabetically by county, were honored on Thursday, April 3:  

  • Abbeville County: Donnie Grant, Georg Fischer Pipe Company
  • Aiken County: Charles Hilton, Breezy Hill Water & Sewer Company, Inc.
  • Allendale County: Kimberli Scott, Collum's Lumber Products, LLC
  • Anderson County: Carol E. Burdette, United Way of Anderson County
  • Bamberg County: David Felkel, Edisto Electric Cooperative
  • Barnwell County: John Sanders, (Retired) First Citizens Bank
  • Beaufort County: Kevin Meany, BFG Communications
  • Berkeley County: Shawn Jenkins, BenefitFocus (no picture available)
  • Calhoun County: Moir P. Donelson, Devro, Inc.
  • Charleston County: Jack Jones, Boeing
  • Cherokee County: Satoru Kuninaka, Suminoe Textile of America
  • Chester County: Mark Buchner, JN Fibers
  • Chesterfield County: Sam Hancock, American Stainless
  • Clarendon County: Robert Edwards, Meritor Automotives
  • Colleton County: W. D. "Bill" Workman, Colleton County Resource and Development Board, Chairman and Colleton County Economic Alliance, Co-Chair
  • Darlington County: Roger Buckley, Sonoco
  • Dillon County: Robby Roberson, Harbor Freight Tools
  • Dorchester County: Tommy Hancock and Dale Martin, Sportsman Boats
  • Edgefield County: George Thornton, National Wild Turkey Federation
  • Fairfield County: Mike O'Shaughnessy, Element Electronics
  • Florence County: Jay L. Lavrinc, ABB Medium Voltage Services
  • Georgetown County: Robert Johnson, Agru America, Inc.
  • Greenville County: Dr. Larry Brotherton, Ortec, Inc.
  • Greenwood County: Dr. Roger E. Stevenson, Greenwood Genetic
  • Hampton County: Jerry Tuten, Precision Machined Components, Inc.
  • Horry County: Roger Grigg, Leonard Grigg & Associates
  • Jasper County: W. Warner Peacock, New River Auto Mall
  • Kershaw County: Jack Brantley, Aberdeen Catery
  • Lancaster County: Steve Gedney, L & C Railroad
  • Laurens County: Marco Prosperini, Flame Spray North America
  • Lee County: Bruce Snipes, First Citizen's Bank
  • Lexington County: Bill and Lou Kennedy, Nephron Pharmaceuticals
  • Marion County: Jennifer Reinman, Beneteau
  • Marlboro County: Mike Reardon, Flakeboard, Inc.
  • McCormick County: Robert Haskell, Haskell's Heating and Refrigeration
  • Newberry County: G. Keith Avery, Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
  • Oconee County: Chris Walsh, BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems
  • Orangeburg County: Joseph Rich, Sunshine Recycling
  • Pickens County: John Cutchin, Palmetto Plating Company, Inc.
  • Richland County: David Pankau, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
  • Saluda County: Brian Derrick, Derrick Equipment, Inc.
  • Spartanburg County: Russ Weber, Integral Solutions Group
  • Sumter County: Craig Baartman, Continental Tire the Americas Sumter Plant
  • Union County: Joe F. Nichols, Union County Development Board
  • Williamsburg County: Scott Liberman, Valley Forge Flags
  • York County: Dwayne Black, Shutterfly, Inc.
     

To view photos taken of each Ambassador accepting his or her award, visit this link. All photos are in alphabetical order. To download, right click on the picture you wish to download, click the size and click the download option when the window opens. For additional information about each award recipient, please contact Quenton McClure, communications coordinator with the South Carolina Department of Commerce.