Top 2019-2020
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under 40 SUMTER • LEE • CLARENDON
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Chris DuRant
411 North Brooks Street I Manning, SC 29102 www.jdnlawfirm.com I 803-435-0909 2 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019
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Table of Contents Charlie Thompson........................................................4 Jenna Brown................................................................4 Ryan Garbalosa.............................................................5 Heather Tickel...............................................................5 Holly Garst....................................................................6 Colin Davis....................................................................6 Heather Bass................................................................7 Lavonda Wells..............................................................7 Chad Jolly.....................................................................8 Kia Smith......................................................................8 Sarah Jane Gibson........................................................9 Chris DuRant................................................................9 Richard Cook............................................................. 10 Elayne Brunson......................................................... 10 Sean Gill.................................................................... 11 Lauren Daylami......................................................... 11 Trevor Ivey.................................................................. 14 Shasta Smith............................................................. 14 Cody Dyson................................................................ 15 Dolores Morales........................................................ 15 Scenes from 2018..................................................... 16 Noteables and Quotables.......................................... 18 A young professionals guide to Sumter, Lee & Clarendon....................................... 20
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ON THE COVER: The winners from the 2019-2020 Top 20 Professionals Under 40 you will find inside this magazine. Photos by Micah Green
The Staff PUBLISHER Vince Johnson EDITOR Kayla Robins PHOTOGRAPHY Micah Green
LAYOUT & DESIGN Cary Howard Ryan Galloway AD SALES Karen Cave Mark Pekuri Xavier Platt
36 W. Liberty St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-1238
32 E. Calhoun Street Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 775-1231 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019 3
Charlie Thompson, 35
Commercial loan officer for Bank of Clarendon Charlie wants to see his hometown thrive, and he knows a community can’t do that without a solid financial foundation. He began his career as an educator in Sumter School District and has a master’s degree in administration from the University of South Carolina. Making the transition to banking in 2014, he spends his days helping businesses grow. Charlie is involved in the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, serves on the board for Young Professionals of Sumter, is a member of the Sumter BNI Bang Chapter and of the S.C. Bankers Association and is a graduate of Leadership Sumter. He recently completed South Carolina Bankers School through Lander University in Greenwood and Risk Management Associations Commercial Lending School through East Carolina University. He loves going downtown. Compared to what it was like when he grew up here, he likes that there are things to do downtown, unlike before. He enjoys going to J. O’Gradys, Sidebar, Swan Lake, Skate Station and Gamecock Lanes with his wife and two boys, ages 5 and 7. They also enjoy going out to Shaw Air Force Base for their flight demonstrations.
Jenna Brown, 34
Sexual assault prevention educator at Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands/therapist at Counseling Sumter People questioned Jenna when she decided to move home from Charleston, but it was easy for her. It’s about family, a supportive community and, as always for her, giving back. The Sumter native spends her days talking with groups and teens about sexual violence prevention. After college, where she got her bachelor’s in political science from the College of Charleston and a master’s in social work from the University of South Carolina, she thought she wanted to do policy-level social work before realizing her passion was in working with people one-on-one. But, it’s about more than a career for her. She is a member of the Sumter Artists Guild and serves on the board of the Sumter County Gallery of Art. She served as resource coordinator for the Global Leadership Summit after volunteering the two previous years. She revived the Sumter Social Work Conference, serving as chair of the planning team in 2018 to provide continuing education to more than 80 regional social workers. She was on the planning team for Startup Weekend Sumter and Startup Saturday. She is a member of the Sumter Junior Welfare League and volunteers at the Sumter Little Theatre and Sumter County Gallery of Art. She is a membership chair for Main Street Society and has been instrumental in a butterfly art installation to be unveiled downtown in 2020. In July 2019, she won the Sumter Artists Guild art show. Jenna and her husband, Matthew Morse, have a daughter, Addie. 4 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019
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Ryan Garbalosa, 37
Cardiologist at McLeod Cardiology Associates Ryan never met his grandfather, but he hears stories of how the physician was a pillar of his community in Cuba and has always wanted to follow those footsteps. After living in both Ft. Lauderdale – he studied at Nova Southeastern University – and New Jersey, he wanted somewhere smaller where he could form real relationships. He takes pride in breaking down the barriers of medical terminology in a way people can understand. Once they do, he notices how they feel better about the process of going to the doctor. Just because Sumter is smaller than other places he’s lived doesn’t mean the medical community is. He says the society here is, “bigger, more active and involved than the ones three times this size.” Ryan is the immediate past president of the SumterClarendon-Lee Medical Society and the Young Physician Section of the S.C. Medical Association. He sits as the youngest member of the medical executive committee for Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. Outside of work, he is taking pilot lessons and loves playing the piano and guitar as well as working on cars.
Heather Tickel, 33
Office manager/team leader/marketing and sales administrator for Coldwell Banker Commercial Cornerstone Heather doesn’t just work in the heart of downtown Sumter – she’s a critical part of a team working to make it thrive. The way she found her way to Coldwell Banker Commercial Cornerstone was part of the story of downtown, too. Working as a manager in the bar and restaurant industry through college, she led the opening of J. O’Gradys at the corner of Main and Liberty when Jay Davis asked her to come work at Coldwell. “He was gearing me up for a goal-driven career.” That was in April 2014. After six months, she got her real estate license. Now, Jay was recently recognized for being among the “Top Two” percent of producers from 3,000 affiliates in the Coldwell Banker Commercial Cornerstone organization worldwide, and he says, “Any success I have had has been a team effort and wouldn’t have been possible without Heather’s contributions.” Heather graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s in business administration. She lived around and traveled the world before moving to Sumter, where she is married to Matthew, a Sumter native. She is on the board of directors for the Inspire! Festival supporting the Ackerman Legacy Foundation, which promotes the arts community in Sumter. She is also on the executive leadership team for the Sumter American Heart Association and is involved in United Way, the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce and Cross Bridge Christian Church. #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Holly Garst, 39
Supply chain manager for Caterpillar Inc. Sumter has been just the right place for Holly to advance her career and find unique pockets in a growing community. Having moved here from the Midwest, where Caterpillar Inc.’s corporate headquarters are, in June 2018, she wanted the opportunity to relocate within a global company. What she has found here that she didn’t in Illinois was the family-oriented mindset, “even at the facility level.” Holly is responsible for the end to end supply chain activities of the Precision Pin Products facility. She stared her career with the company in 1997 as a high school co-op at the Mapleton foundry in Illinois. She is a certified 6 Sigma Blackbelt, obtained her bachelor’s in business administration from the University of St. Francis with a 4.0 GPA and is a graduate of the Management for the 21st Century program. Her innovative approach and process improvement efforts in the form of data visualization has been submitted for the 2019 Chairman’s Award at Caterpillar. She volunteers at Junior Achievement, the Young Professionals of Caterpillar, United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Adopt-A-Highway. She especially enjoys being a part of Leadership Sumter because that opportunity to share ideas and network with other current and future community leaders was not available to her previously. Holly lives at the Links of Lakewood with her children and pet parrot. In her spare time, she enjoys flying at the Sumter County Airport to obtain her private pilot’s license.
Colin Davis, 39
Vice president of Barnette’s Auto Parts/serves on Sumter City Council Colin has taken the lessons instilled in him from his grandfather and family business through positions of service, all leading so far to Sumter City Council. The lifelong resident of Sumter grew up working with his family business and now serves as vice president. Being mentored by his grandfather, Carroll Barnette, he has always known the importance of small businesses in a community. He likes taking on the day-to-day challenges there and has translated the idea of no day being the same to his motivation to lead via public office. He has previously served on the Sumter County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Sumter County Tax Board of Appeals and was president of the South Carolina Recyclers and Dismantlers Association. He was elected to Ward 5 of city council in November 2018, becoming its youngest member. Since taking office, he has enjoyed working with individual constituents to solve problems, from broken street lights to economic development. Colin, his wife, Tiffany, and their two daughters attend First Presbyterian Church. 6 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019
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Heather Bass, 37
Quality assurance/materials testing manager for EMS Chemie-North America They pushed her toward teaching science because she is a girl, but she wanted to be in the lab. Heather, a Sumter native, has not just proved females should be in science and STEM fields – they should be in managerial roles, and hers has an international impact. Her college career took her from USC Sumter to the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where she played soccer and interned as a lab tech assistant at EMS-Chemie – all while being an honor student. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s in Chemistry, she was offered a full-time position as a chemist with the company. Her path there has taken her up the ranks to quality engineer before again being promoted to her current role where she leads a team of seven Q.A. professionals and leads special projects within the community, including the company’s hands-on presentations at eSTEAM, a festival centered around STEM and the arts for children. Heather and her husband, Terry, also from Sumter, have three boys, ages 5, 7 and 13. The family loves going to Disney World.
I was here when Main Street was closed. I wanted to be a part of the economic development in the city. The growth of business, I think, will improve the quality of life for everyone in the community. – Colin Davis
Lavonda Wells, 35
Entrepreneur/owner of Wells Tax Service and Serenity Keepers Home Care Failure is not an option for Lavonda. After working through school and taking on a full-time job in the industrial field, the single mother of three and Lee County native wanted something more. She had always wanted to work in home care, so she became a certified nursing assistant and started searching for a job. But, no one would hire her because she didn’t have enough experience, leading her to take another path to support her family. She earned a certificate to work as a seasonal tax preparer while still working full-time with Unifirst Corp. After nine years of that, she opened her own tax office in 2015. The next year, she was able to open an office on Pike Road, but she still felt like she was missing something. Her love of being a caregiver had not wavered. She opened her second business in June 2016 with the money earned from her first. Serenity Keepers Home Care now serves Sumter, Lee, Clarendon, Kershaw, Florence and Darlington. Knowing the path she had to pave for herself, Lavonda now employs up to 40 caregivers, giving those with certification but no experience a chance because that’s what she never got. She also is a substitute at Crosswell Early HeadStart and continues to run her tax business, having moved to a bigger space on Broad Street. #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Chad Jolly, 32
Critical care and infectious disease clinical pharmacist at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital If you hear people talking about Sumter’s affinity for forming relationships to promote success, Tuomey’s ICU is experiencing the same thing. Chad worked in two other hospitals before coming to Sumter, and “this is by far the best team I’ve ever seen.” After completing undergraduate work at the University of South Carolina, he received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the South Carolina College of Pharmacy in 2011. At Tuomey since 2012, he has helped reestablish decentralized pharmacy services in the ICU. He is double certified in both critical care and infectious disease, the only South Carolinian to become so. His role at Tuomey is split between responsibilities in ICU and those associated with antimicrobial stewardship, for which he has completed training through the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists. He also serves as a general drug reference for the ICU nursing staff and is on multiple committees at the hospital. Chad and his wife, Jessica, who is from Sumter, welcomed their first child, Anna, on Aug. 31, 2019.
Kia Smith, 29
Culinary arts teacher at the Sumter Career and Technology Center Kia’s rule is that she’ll try anything twice. She is a prime example of the positive effects a family bond and a couple strong teachers can have. Being one of the only girls in a group of mostly male cousins, the Sumter native grew up cooking with her grandma. She fell in love with the art of culinary and the joy of feeding family and friends, but her dad always predicted she’d become a teacher. One teacher in elementary school and two in high school “put something in me to want to give back to a younger generation,” fulfilling her father’s prophecy. This year’s teacher of the year at the Sumter Career and Technology Center, she was also named the High School Teacher of the Year by the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce. She helps in school marketing, March of Dimes and Relay for Life. Kia graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an associate’s and bachelor’s before obtaining her master’s in education from Grand Canyon University, where she is beginning courses for another master’s in English. She serves on Sumter’s Teacher Forum, on Family, Career and Community Leaders of American’s board and is a South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association member, an FCCLA Alumni and Associates member and an AAFCS member. She knows not every one of her students will become a chef. She pushes them to realize their own skills and dreams. She loves working at the career and technology center because she gets her high school students for two-three hours a day and feels she can really tap into their potential and their individuality. Kia and her husband have two children and have been married for five years. 8 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019
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Sarah Jane Gibson, 29
Owner/real estate broker at Gaymon Gibson Group If Sumter ever needed a cheerleader, Sarah Jane is the woman for the job. That’s why she moved back home after years that took her to Columbia International University, where she double-majored in business and Bible, then through restaurant management then to Washington D.C. “I always wanted to do well for myself. When I graduated college, I thought that meant I couldn’t be home. But, you need a solid support system.” Her real estate career has been both successful and a sign of Sumter’s trajectory. In the three years since carving her new path, she has consistently been among the top 10 realtors in Sumter County. In January 2019, she opened her own real estate brokerage with her business partner. Where else to locate other than in the heart of downtown Sumter so they could continue championing its economic growth? Gaymon Gibson Group is now in the top 10 real estate brokerages in Sumter, and Sarah Jane individually ranks fourth. Her goal is for people to feel connected and feel heard. Tapping into the fact that millennials are 53% of her buying population and that they’re still connected to their phones but leaving big cities “in droves” for “that small-town community feel,” she has taken to social media to promote her business. At the end of the day, she works on the idea that your housing situation either encourages or inhibits any other success. “You can’t feed someone’s heart unless they literally have food and somewhere to stay. If you make a bad decision with your real estate, you can be dealing with that for five or 10 years.”
Chris DuRant, 37
Lawyer at Johnson, DuRant & Nester LLC Chris’s career field has taken him across the state, but what he likes is being able to help his hometown of Clarendon County. He grew up on his family farm in Gable, where he learned the value of a strong work ethic, a mindset that took him to Clemson University and law school then to clerk for Circuit Court Judge R. Ferrell Cothran Jr. He then joined the Eighth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office in Greenwood before returning home to join the Third Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office under Solicitor Ernest “Chip” Finney III, where he served as senior prosecutor and office manager for Clarendon County. Bringing his experience even more local, Chris transitioned in 2019 to full-time private practice – he had been splitting time between a private firm and the solicitor’s office since 2011 – where he now offers services in criminal defense, family law, real estate, estate planning and probate and personal injury law. He enjoys being able to have a range of services instead of specializing in one field of law. It’s hard to specialize in a small town, but the relationships he has formed are what keeps him in the business. In his spare time, he likes to hunt, and he goes to church with his wife and three daughters, ages 2, 4 and 6, in Alcolu. #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Richard Cook, 34
Co-owner/service manager of Air Solutions Heating & Cooling It’s easy to say Richard and his best friend started their business because they saw a need, but the success is what’s amazing. From a garage to an 8,500-square-foot facility and 35 employees, Air Solutions Heating & Cooling has taken off since launching six years ago. They not only have grown exponentially, but they try to remain in the mindset of giving back. Their company is involved in charity events and reaching out to Sumterites across the county, from downtown to Shaw Air Force Base. Richard attends Christ Community Church and is passionate in supporting local and international missions. He is a recent graduate of the Tuomey Fellows program. He finds himself downtown every week, whether for a business lunch or date night with his high school sweetheart, Ashley, with whom he has three children.
I like the small town feel and being able to meet different people. You can form relationships in a small town. I interact with people from all walks of life. –Chris DuRant
Elayne Brunson, 35
Entrepreneur/real estate investor/owner of Angel Maid Just as she sees the opportunities in Sumter, Elayne’s entrepreneurial mindset is set on growth. She followed a general path similar to other Sumter natives in this magazine in moving away for college before returning to the foundation of her support and development, tapping into Sumter’s recent revitalization. The graduate of Palm Beach State College found she had a hard time getting a job in South Florida and wanted to find a way to help those around her. Her first venture, Angel Maid, tapped into the retirement community of Palm Beach, a company she brought back with her to Sumter. Elayne serves on the City of Sumter Community Development Housing Board and the Sumter County Cultural Commission and is studying to receive her project management certification to help further her efforts in real estate within Sumter’s inner city. “Sumter is growing up. The development is exciting, but there’s still a small hometown feel. I like growth and new things. The city is expanding culturally with other demographics. Combined with the people we’ve always had here, arts is important because it can bring us all together.” In her spare time, the wife and mother plays her violin to keep her creative juices flowing and to de-stress. 10 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019
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Sean Gill, 35
Owner/operator of TintMan Gill LLC Sean grew up with other careers, but window tinting was always on the side. He learned it from his father when he was 13 and kept getting better and better. When he moved to Sumter eight years ago, he realized he had to either make it a full-time job or focus on his work at the Sumter Police Department. He hit the ground running when he opened his own full-time business, and he’s been growing it ever since. He says his success has been found through his faith and trust in God. Sean prides himself on being able to provide high-quality services through his business at an affordable price, and his volume of customers speaks for itself. If he’s home, he’s working, so he and his wife take their 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son on a couple trips a year to have family time. He says they like Sumter because “you can get to know the majority of the community” and that there’s enough to do without being too big or small. When he was a police officer, serving as a violent crime detective, he learned to talk to people like “they were me.” He says he tries to be kind to everyone and that he tries to “put in the work” to be successful. Sean is active in his church and loves to bring his grill to parks and feed his community.
Lauren Daylami, 28
Event and business development manager at Quixote Hospitality Attend any number of restaurants or events in downtown Sumter and you’ll likely be experiencing Lauren’s impact. Her path from Wilson Hall led her to Clemson University, where she obtained a bachelor’s in marketing, before getting a job with the S.C. Department of Commerce. While working there in roles that included industry coordinator, existing industry manager and project manager, she earned her master’s in business administration from the University of South Carolina. Bringing that knowledge and experience back to her hometown, Lauren is now the project manager at Hampton’s Foods, working with her restauranteur mother to build Sumter up and give life to the downtown district. Her parents, Greg and Danielle Thompson, had a vision more than a decade ago to revitalize Sumter so a younger generation would want to move and live here. Lauren is proof that something’s working. She has spread her own roots, volunteering for downtown events such as Derby Day, which benefits United Way, and Teachers Night Out, the Tuomey gala and Oktoberfest. She wants Sumter to be a destination, and she finds hope in attaining that goal based on the “mindset of the people here. When I was in high school, people got down about Sumter. Now, we’ve seen the growth here. You can see the mindset changing into something positive.” When she is not visiting her husband, Taylor, in Virginia, she takes their dog, Cooper, on hikes and roots for Clemson football. #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Since 1986, Thompson has provided construction and industrial services with the highest standards in safety, quality and integrity for a variety of industries. We now serve the United States with over 20 locations, plus mobile operations across the globe. Our growing family of companies has come a long way, but Sumter will always be our home.
SAFETY AND SERVICE Thompson’s commitment to safety radiates throughout the entire organization’s culture through a top-to-bottom, all-in approach. We’ve redirected our primary focus to Serious Injury and Fatality prevention. By identifying precursors to the most serious risks and implementing additional controls and layers of protection, we have created a safer working environment that holds everyone accountable for taking safety personally. Just as we are committed to our people and their safety, we are also committed to serving our community. We continue to foster a culture of civic engagement as we participate actively in economic development and numerous non-profit organizations in Sumter.
WORKING AT THOMPSON - PEOPLE FIRST, SAFETY FIRST Thompson started in Sumter as a family business and no matter how we grow, we always want our employees to feel like family. Throughout all the Thompson companies, our core values are safety, quality and integrity, with safety always being our number one priority. We take care of our people through forward-thinking safety programs, leadership development, exceptional benefits, training and career advancement. Thompson really is an exceptional place to work, and as part of our team, you will experience the core values that make us who we are. Interested in a career with Thompson? Visit the careers page at www.thompsonsoutheast.com.
SAFETY QUALITY INTEGRITY Thompson Industrial Services provides safe, comprehensive industrial cleaning services to major industrial facilities. Our work is safer, faster and more precise with our growing line of advanced automation technologies. Thompson Construction Group focuses on industrial construction and on-site maintenance. Specializing in large industrial projects, we build and maintain facilities for a range of industries like Power, Paper, Steel and beyond. Thompson Turner, general contractors, builds commercial, government and educational facilities. We offer single-source, deadlines and budget-oriented delivery, including Design/Build and CM at Risk. Thompson Power Services provides construction services related to boiler and major gas-path equipment installation and repair for electric utilities and industrial facilities. Thompson Maintenance Services provides equipment maintenance, facility maintenance, operations support, elevated cleaning and small capital project improvements. Thompson Disaster Recovery Services provides recovery solutions to State and Federal agencies including the repair, replacement, and reconstruction of residential areas impacted by natural disasters. Thompson Custom Fabrication provides sheet metal fabrication, structural steel fabrication, CNC Plasma cutting, and on-site installation services to a wide range of industries.
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www.thompsonsoutheast.com
Trevor Ivey, 35
Education administrator for what will be, if approved, Sumter’s first public charter school Trevor left Sumter three times to fill a gap in his skill set, returning home to give back to the community that made him who he is. Now in his 13th year in education, Trevor has climbed his way to ranks among the top of the state’s public school teachers and is now carving a brand new path for Sumter. Having recently left Sumter School District with the role of director of teacher recruitment, he had previously graduated from Lakewood High School, obtained education degrees from the University of South Carolina, South Carolina State University and Harvard University, taught science for six years at the elementary and middle school level and served as assistant principal at Alice Drive Middle School and principal at Willow Drive Elementary School. A National Board Certified Teacher, he was named Sumter’s Teacher of the Year in 2012 and elevated to the top five finalists for the statewide teacher of the year. He is a member of the USC Association Council, Optimist Club, Sumter County Election Commission and S.C. School Improvement Council Board of Trustees and completed the S.C. Education Policy Fellowship in 2016. He says education is in his DNA. He is now working as founding administrator and chief of staff for what will be Sumter’s first charter school, spearheaded by Greg Thompson.
Shasta Smith, 30
5th grade teacher at Shaw Heights Elementary School Not everyone finds passion in their career, but Shasta is not among them. Last year, after six years at High Hills, she was named Sumter School District’s Teacher of the Year and the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce’s Educator of the Year in the elementary division. She knows the importance of making connections, whether in the classroom or in the community. She learns secret handshakes with her students and knows them as individuals. Last year, when school closed for a day as teachers rallied at the State House for higher teacher pay and education reform, Shasta brought meals to her students because she knows many of them live in food-insecure homes and rely on getting lunch at school. “You can be the one person to root for them.” The Texas native married an airman and values the role of Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter’s growth and diversity. Knowing what it is like to be in a new place, she often holds dinners for those who recently moved to Sumter. Shasta further works with Sumter’s youth by serving in her church, coaching young women in Girls on the Run, partnering with Special Olympics and serving as co-chair of the Sumter Teacher Forum. Shasta and her husband spend their time with their golden retriever, Stella. 14 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019
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Cody Dyson, 24
Paramedic (corporal) with Sumter County EMS Cody is there during people’s darkest times. His drive to help people has led the Sumter native through multiple first responder agencies in his hometown after starting his career at the age of 16 by joining the Sumter Fire Department’s Explorer program. In high school, he obtained rank to be a volunteer firefighter where he now serves as a lieutenant at Dubose Station 12. He went to night class to earn his national certification to be an EMT while still in high school and graduated from the Sumter Career and Technology Center at the top of his class with the Directors Choice award. Cody holds multiple certifications and obtained his national and state certification as a paramedic. He is certified through NASCAR and works at the Darlington Raceway with fire and EMS. He works in the Sumter County Emergency Operations Center as a liaison for Sumter County EMS during emergency situations. He has also been certified through the S.C. Law Enforcement Division in multiple areas, becoming a reserve deputy with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office this year. He is also a volunteer deputy coroner. He was named EMT of the Year in his first year with Sumter County EMS and this year was named Paramedic of the Year as well as the fire department’s Officer of the Year for his station. Not stopping yet, he is currently working on his emergency management degree. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends outdoors, hunting and fishing.
It’s safe to come downtown now. I love seeing the development and how many places there are to go. – Charlie Thompson
Dolores Morales, 32
Treatment coordinator/PR and marketing representative for Epps Orthodontics If you or your child has been to Epps Orthodontics for braces, chances are your treatment was organized by Dolores. The Sumter native has worked there for more than 14 years, starting two days after graduating high school. Dolores, who was born on Shaw Air Force Base, was treated by Dr. Timothy Bridges in middle school and shadowed there. When he passed away about 10 years ago, his best friend, Dr. Thomas Epps, took over the business. Dolores has always found passion in working in the office and “making people excited about their smiles,” from young children to older patients who couldn’t get braces when they were young. Dolores finds time to give back outside of the office, too. She was instrumental in starting and continues to run the Epps Orthodontics K9-5K, a race that benefits the Sumter SPCA. Now in its fourth year, she’s hoping it continues to grow after doubling in participation from the second to third year. She is also in class to become a Tuomey Fellow and is on the board for The Tuomey Foundation’s Festival of Trees. At home, she spends time with her three dogs, Marilyn, Pepe and Milly.
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2018
Scenes from photos by Kayla Robins and Janel Strieter
Our awards banquet for our inaugural 20 Under 40 contest was held at the Main Room in downtown Sumter. Here's a look back at our 2018-2019 winners and their supporters.
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Noteable and
Quotable Sumter is at an important crossroads, and bold, dynamic innovation is a must if our community is to move forward and increase its global competitiveness. – Trevor Ivey Communication from doctor to doctor is very important, and sometimes in big cities you don’t know who these people are seeing. You can’t just call them up on the phone. – Ryan Garbalosa
Everyone says they love their hometown, but I really feel Sumter is better than most. Watching downtown transform has really be an awesome thing to be a part of. – Richard Cook
Health care is time sensitive. You don’t need to be driving to Columbia or Florence for every little thing. I’ve loved to see how we’ve grown our ICU services.” – Chad Jolly When I was growing up, there was nothing here. There’s just so many more people from so many other places now. It’s still a small town. You’re not going to live anywhere else that’s like it. – Dolores Morales
I have two young kids, and I want them to understand the significance of giving back to your community. I see a lot of people complain, but how can you complain from your house? You have to work for what you want. – Kia Smith 18 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019
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Volunteer your time. That’s a good way to get to know everyone. – Lauren Daylami I like the small town feel and being able to meet different people. You can form relationships in a small town. I interact with people from all walks of life. –Chris DuRant I love being able to help people. It gets me to different parts of the county and gets me into a different spectrum of people. You’ll see them in a grocery store, but I meet other people and families. – Cody Dyson Community service is important because life is not all about yourself. That’s boring. – Elayne Brunson
Never discount a person because of what they look like or what they have or don’t have. You can learn something from anybody in life no matter how prosperous they are. – Sean Gill Any place is what you make it, and Sumter is full of people who will welcome you with open arms. You’re going to get that Southern hospitality. Even if you’re not originally from Sumter, you can be a Sumterite. –Shasta Smith Just dig in and get involved. We’re on the map now. There’s more to do and more confidence here in the momand-pop. And for downtown to have both big and small businesses. – Heather Tickel
I don’t say what I can’t do. I got turned down for not having experience, but now I’m hiring people. – Lavonda Wells
It’s about going above and beyond what’s required to volunteer and give back to the community that has given so much to me. I am who I am because of growing up here and the leaders here who shaped me and helped me learn and grow. And now I’m in a position to be able to give back. – Jenna Brown You can do anything where you are, it just depends on how hard you’re going to go after it. – Sarah Jane Gibson Don’t let gender hold you back to whatever avenue you want to pursue. Especially in science. There are science jobs in Sumter. People think you have to leave the city, and you don’t. – Heather Bass
People here are able to share ideas about how to move forward. We may be very different in what we’re doing, but we have the same common interests. – Holly Garst #SUMTER20UNDER40
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favorites Professional
We asked our young professionals what their favorite things in Sumter are. Here is your quick guide to the area.
Holly Garst Favorite place to get outside: Exercising at Swan Lake Jenna Brown Favorite restaurant: Thai House Cody Dyson Favorite annual event: The Christmas lights at Swan Lake Sean Gill Favorite restaurant to take the family to: Chili's Lavonda Wells Favorite date spot: Lunch at Hampton's Sarah Jane Gibson Favorite part of downtown: The people at Rafters Elayne Brunson Favorite thing to do with the kids: eSTEAM Festival
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Heather Bass Favorite place for the family: The picnic and playground area at Swan Lake Shasta Smith Favorite annual event: The July 4th Freedom Bash at Shaw Air Force Base Dolores Morales Favorite food: Chicken pesto pizza from Rafters Charlie Thompson Favorite tradition: Charlie has been going to Guignard Diner with his dad and grandfather every morning for 20 years. Lauren Daylami Favorite thing to look forward to: Sumter's first brewery, which is scheduled to open downtown by 2020.
Chris DuRant Favorite Restaurant: Sidebar Ryan Garbalosa: Favorite place to visit outdoors: Swan Lake when everything is in bloom Richard Cook Favorite reason to go downtown: Annual events and festivals Trevor Ivey Favorite place in Sumter: Swan Lake during Christmas and Baker’s Sweets Chad Jolly Favorite workday lunch: Chicken salad at Sumter Cut Rate Kia Smith Favorite annual event: Cooking for Babies, a March of Dimes fundraiser held at Swan Lake
#SUMTER20UNDER40
2019 Best of Clarendo
2019 Best of Clarendon.qxp_Layout 1 6/5/19 11:19 AM Page 1
lores o D s n o i t la 40! r e d Congratu n U op 20 T a g n i e On B
McLeod Health Thanks You For Voting Dr. Garbalosa Top 20 Under 40 Winner.
2019
“I’m so honored to be recognized as one of the Top 20 Under 40. Our practice is committed BEST OF to continuing to meet the growing need for cardiovascular care in our community. I look forward to building long lasting relationships with my patients while providing the highest quality care.”
CLARENDON Orthodontics for Children and Adults Braces Invisalign Teeth Bleaching Dermal Fillers Botox for Therapeutic and Esthetic Purposes
Dr. Ryan Garbalosa
Yo You Named Us The Best McLeod Cardiology Associates 540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 883-5171
Th Thanks to our BOC customers and friends
Thanks to you, all our customers and McLeodHealth.org friends in Clarendon and Th Sumt Sumter counties. You’ve made us proud to serve you. Here’s how you voted to show your confidence in Bank of Clarendon:He • Best Bank or Credit Union in Clarendon County • Best Source for a Mortgage Loan would like to say congratulations to in ClarendonWe County • Best LoanCommercial Officers: MaryLoan AnnOfficer, Morris Charlie Thompson on Chris beingLeeselected in Clarendon and in Sumteras one of the Top 20 Professionals under 40 of 2019. Chris L. Lee Co Come see us. Let us keep showing you Mary Ann Morris Senior Vice Presid Banking Officer our sp our special hometown service. Consumer Mortgage Lender
669A Wesmark Blvd 803-775-5500
Congratulations!
MANNING • SANTEE • SUMMERTON • SUMTER • WYBOO
803 433-4541 bankofclarendon.bank
#SUMTER20UNDER40
TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019 21
Hallourof2018Fame winners... Chelsea Gillis
Jimmy Davis
Zach Lowe
Erricka Jones
Jake Cline
Travis McIntosh
Ta Haynsworth
Howie Owens
Curtis Hutto
Carrie Anna Strange
Chris Moore Sandra Metzdorf
Anand Vora Chavis Lesane
Carrie Trebil
Congratulations Heather Tickel
Rachel Gainey
Brandon Oliver Nicole Bailey
Bronwyn McElveen
Jerome Robinson
for being honored as a Top 20 under 40, from the team at
CBC CORNERSTONE Congratulations Mrs. Heather Bass for being honored as a Top 20 under 40 Professional. We are proud of your success and your commitment to the Sumter community and being part of our Team.
2 North Main Street, Sumter SC 29150
803.778.1139
www.cbccornerstone.com 22 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019
EMS-Chemie (North America) Inc. 2060 Corporate Way • PO Box 1717 Sumter, SC 29151 • 803-481-9173 www.ems-group.com #SUMTER20UNDER40
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TOP 20 UNDER 40 2019 23
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE WWW.GAYMONGIBSONGROUP.COM
Sarah Jane Gibson At Gaymon Gibson we know buying and selling a house is more than a business deal. It’s helping a neighbor find their home. We know that one decision affects all the other choices in your life, from whether you can afford eating out tonight to where your kids go to school. That’s why we work to help you make not just a choice about buying or selling your next home but also about the kind of life you want to live.
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201 N. Main St. • Sumter,SC • 803.972.3618 #SUMTER20UNDER40