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Top 2018-2019
professionals
under 40
SUMTER • LEE • CLARENDON #SUMTER20UNDER40
TRUST MCLEOD
NEWER
Change is underway at McLeod Health Clarendon and it shows. From investmentsin state-of-the-art equipment and access to new technology to renovations to the lobby and patient care areas, McLeod Health is transforming healthcare in Clarendon.
BETTER
Better healthcare is about providing the best care possible to our patients. New specialists in Cardiology, Nephrology and other specialty areas, the addition of hospice care, and improvements to patient flow demonstrate our commitment to providing efficient and comprehensive care. Based on positive patient feedback, we’re on the right track.
FASTER
There are times when healthcare needs to be fast - especially when it comes to emergency care. At McLeod Health Clarendon, we have made substantial changes to our Emergency Department including a new intake and assessment processthat has resulted in significantly shorter wait times for our patients.
TRANSFORMING CLARENDON’S HEALTHCARE McLeod Health Clarendon McLeodHealthClarendon.org
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Table of Contents Chelsea Gillis........................................ 4 Zachariah Lowe.................................... 4 Jake Cline.............................................. 5 Ta Haynesworth.................................... 5 Curtis Hutto.......................................... 6 Chris Moore.......................................... 6 Sandra Metzdorf .................................. 7 Carrie Trebil......................................... 7 Brandon Oliver..................................... 8 Nicole Bailey......................................... 8 Jerome Robinson Jr............................... 9 Jimmy Davis.......................................... 9 Erricka Jones......................................... 10 Travis McIntosh.................................... 10 Howie Owens........................................ 11 Carrie Anna Strange............................. 11 Anand Vora........................................... 12 Chavis Lesane....................................... 12 Rachel Gainey....................................... 13 Bronwyn McElveen............................... 13
Young Professionals Share Their Favorite Things To Do In The Region 14 #SUMTER20UNDER40
On the Cover
The winners from the 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 Rose Jarrett Mark Pekuri
36 W. Liberty St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-1238
32 E. Calhoun Street Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 775-1231
See more at theitem.com/20under40 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2018 3
Chelsea Gillis, 31
Profession: Branch Manager for South State Bank Chelsea obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of Michigan with a minor in accounting and started her career in 2007 in Michigan before moving to Sumter in 2012 when her husband was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base. When she was in high school, a business teacher led her toward banking instead of accounting with the thought that banking touches more people on
a daily basis. Being “more of a social person” and wanting to “interact with more people,” Chelsea has excelled not only in her position but in her role to help South State Bank give back to the community. Chelsea is now the one working with high school students and trying to guide them toward their next step in life. She has been a part of South State Bank’s sponsorship of Sumter eSTEAM.
“It’s fun to get in front of kids who just don’t know what their path is. They’re not sitting in school thinking, I think I want to work in banking.”
Zachariah Lowe, 26
Profession: 8th grade Social Studies Teacher at R.E. Davis Now in his fifth year of teaching, all of which has been in the Sumter School District, Zachariah has raked in accolades, awards and professional development opportunities. Zachariah was named the 2017-18 District Teacher of the Year as a sixth- and eighth-grade social studies teacher at Mayewood Middle School and went on to become a top-five finalist for the State Teacher of the Year and is a 2018-19 South Carolina Honor Roll Teacher. Garnering his passion for teaching from his high school band director in Ohio, his drive is to make a mark on the future generation of leaders. Zachariah has a Masters’ Degree in Education Administration. He has attended
the C-SPAN Summer Educator Conference, the Ford’s Theatre Summer Teacher’s Program, the United States Supreme Court Summer Teacher Institute in Washington D.C. and the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. He has authored a chapter for a National Council for the Social Studies publication and has presented at national, regional and local conferences. He tutors at Croswell Home for Children, is a member of the Young Professionals of Sumter and has led his students – now as an eighth-grade teacher at the R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy and AVID Site coordinator – to numerous local and national awards for educational projects.
“In not many jobs do you get to go in and really put your mark on something much greater than yourself and your community." 4 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2018
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Jake Cline, 30
Profession: Small Capital Projects Manager for Thompson Construction Group Jake has always been interested in the construction industry, and one of his greatest passions is the growth of the city and community where he was born and raised. Knowing the recruitment and retention of young professionals in Sumter is a priority for the growth of any community, Jake joined Young
Professionals of Sumter in 2013 and served as its president from 2014-17. Aside from his full-time job with Thompson, Jake speaks with stakeholders in the Sumter community to brainstorm action plans to make Sumter “grow and exceed potential.”
“For the older generation, we’re the ones who will eventually replace who’s there today, so they should want to see what’s out there.”
Ta Haynesworth, 28
Profession: Regional career specialist for Santee Lynches, Lee, Clarendon, Kershaw and Sumter counties, and for Central Carolina Technical College
serving
Having pursued a career in higher education since graduating from Francis Marion University, the Sumter native and Sumter High School graduate helps prepare students for college and careers. She recently played a part in graduating one of Lee Central High School’s largest college-bound senior classes.
Ta was recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 in 2017 by the South Carolina American Association of Women in Community Colleges and was elected to the FMU Alumni Advisory Board in May 2018. To help students, she researches economic and employment trends and connects students, counselors, business and industry leaders.
“I’m trying to make sure they know what they need to make their life so much better.” #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Curtis Hutto, 38
Profession: Chief Financial Officer for Thompson Construction Group The Harleyville native has lived in Sumter since moving here to work for Thompson in 2008, where he also serves on the Board of Directors. Curtis attended Dorchester Academy and went on to attend the University of South Carolina, where he majored in accounting and obtained his Master of Accountancy. Curtis is a Certified Public Accountant in South Carolina. In 2016, Curtis served as the chairman for the American Heart Association Heart Walk and is a past Tuomey Fel-
low. He is a member of the Executive Committee for the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance and is a board member at Sunset Country Club. He currently serves as the honorary commander for the Shaw Air Force Base Comptroller Squadron (2017-2018). Curtis and his wife Chrissy have one son, Curtis, who is a first-grader at Wilson Hall. When he is not spending time with his family, he can be found playing golf or following Gamecock athletics.
“It has been professionally rewarding to contribute to the growth of the company and personally satisfying to see how Sumter has evolved over the past 10 years.”
Chris Moore, 35
Profession: Photographer and media coordinator for Palmetto Health Tuomey A lifelong resident of Sumter and a product of the county’s public schools, Chris finds more than one way to give back to his community through work. He has been in the communications industry for nearly 20 years, beginning with a stringer job for The Sumter Item when he was in high school. After being offered a full-time job as photographer, he worked for the paper for seven and a half years, earning a handful of awards in the meantime. During that time, he also was charged with building the paper’s social media platform. Chris felt his calling to preach and received his Bachelor of Ministry from Covington Theological Seminary in 2014, having since served as guest pastor in several area church-
es. He and his family – his wife, Kyndal, and three boys – started Cornerstone Baptist Church in October 2014 before transitioning to Pocalla Church, a campus of Alice Drive Baptist Church. Chris became the intern pastor of Bible Fellowship Church on Broad Street this summer. Chris has been with Tuomey since August. 2009, where he uses his creative skills to tell the stories within those walls. He says he wants to use social media for good and to be the “light in the darkness.” Being a photographer, to him, means capturing moments that may be the world to someone else, to tell stories through multiple photos and to “find that one thing that connects with someone else.”
“People always told me I’m enthusiastic. I kind of owned that. There’s power in telling your story, in telling stories.”
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Sandra Metzdorf, 38
Profession: Social entrepreneur, founder/owner/operator of With These Hands Natural Gourmet Foods food truck How much more can one person do? Sandra is the founder of Sumter County’s first food truck and one of the first food companies to focus on healthy, clean eating and living. She is a mother of three. A U.S. Army veteran and a military spouse. She is an immigrant who was raised in the mountains of Colombia and moved to the U.S. to pursue her education and the American Dream. After college, she felt compelled to give back to her country by serving in the Army and later joined the corporate world to work for General Electric. Her food truck launched almost a year ago, and that was just her first step in her entrepreneurial
goal to “nourish the Sumter community, one bite at a time.” Starting with just a borrowed tent and a table from Walmart, she has set out to provide Sumter with “real food,” to promote South Carolina’s agriculture industry, to provide a nutritious option via a farm-fresh model with SOUL: seasonal, organic, unprocessed, local. She sees her company eventually becoming a brick-and-mortar café/farmers market where she employs community members who may not otherwise have a jumpstart and who may need a mentor. She recently interviewed her first intern from Crosswell Home for Children.
“I feel like I’m trailblazing but that I’m just getting started."
Carrie Trebil, 33 Profession: Director of Main Street Manning and Tourism for the City of Manning
Growing up in Clarendon County, Carrie doesn’t remember where people went shopping in Manning but is now finding herself in the lead position to get people to want to do just that. As director of Main Street Manning, Carrie is in charge of bringing business and life into the downtown area and making Manning a place people strive to be.
She is the local executive director for Miss Clarendon Scholarship Pageant and serves on the Striped Bass Festival Committee. She is a founding member of Clarendon County Junior Ambassadors and is a fundraising champion for the Children Miracle Network Hospitals. She says volunteering fulfills her and is her “third place.”
Carrie joined the city full-time in 2012 after graduating from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture in 2008.
Her love of going to and exploring Disney World led her to start her own business, Ears of Experience, a vacation planner for Disney destinations.
“You have to give back. You have to put something into it if you want anything out of it.” #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Brandon Oliver, 32
Profession: Assistant vice president of branch administration for SAFE Credit Union Brandon began his career with SAFE in 2009 as a teller, thinking he would only stay for five years. He decided to stay with the bank when he realized his potential for growth and how much he agreed with its motto and business model. The Summerton native graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Management and turned down a job in Atlanta to prioritize fami-
ly needs at the time. He has since served a handful of roles at SAFE, including multiple branch manager positions. His work ethic and desire to serve others led him to have served on the board of Young Professionals of Sumter, Kiwanis Club of Lake Marion and Kiwanis Club of Camden and to be a member of the 2013 Class of Leadership Orangeburg County.
“Without the community, it’s very hard to be successful.”
Nicole Bailey, 38
Profession: Vice president of operations for the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce Nicole is responsible for the management of all programs and events for the Chamber of Commerce, including serving as the staff liaison for the Chamber’s Industrial Association and Military Affairs Committee and the Sumter Litter Alliance. She is also a member of the Sumter Kiwanis Club.
Having been in Sumter for almost 30 years, one of her biggest passions is animal rescue. In addition to volunteering at a number of organizations, she operated her own nonprofit that worked with pit bull rescues. She still volunteers to transport animals from shelters to rescues and donates to help veterinary costs for rescued animals.
“Hearing their stories and seeing their passion for their businesses and the community is always a treat.” 8 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2018
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Jerome Robinson Jr., 37
Profession: Mixed martial arts instructor and owner of Team Robinson MMA
Jerome started his MMA business out of his garage in 2004 with just a couple clients. Today, he trains throngs of people from Sumter and the surrounding area, with his youngest client being 3 years old and his oldest being 65. In addition to training at his gym six days a week, he also trains women at Miss Libby’s School of Dance in strength and conditioning and offers a self-defense class several times a month for women and children.
Part of his mindset is to mentor young at-risk youth in the community, offering his gym as a safe place for boys to learn how to become men. He also worked private security for the State of South Carolina for 12 years. He started his business at 21 years old with a 200-square-foot garage. Today, the 37-year-old has 7,000 square feet and a new gym on Liberty Street.
“I love getting to see people make a transition from lacking self-confidence and not having too much strength, balance and coordination to improving in all those areas.”
Jimmy Davis, 32 Profession: Co-owner and COO of Air Solutions Heating and Cooling Jimmy and some friends saw a need in their community and decided to take action. Born out of that idea and starting with a solution developed in a garage Air Solutions Heating and Cooling has become one of the largest and fastest-growing HVAC companies in South
Carolina. He is actively involved at Christ Community Church, having served on a variety of crews and campaigns. He is also a board member at the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce.
“I love seeing the change every day. There’s no limit to how far we can grow and how far we can take it.” #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Erricka Jones, 24 Profession: Licensed real estate broker for Coldwell Banker Commercial Cornerstone After graduating Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in both finance and real estate, Erricka joined Coldwell Banker in May 2017. While at USC, she worked as a page for the Sergeant at Arms for the South Carolina House of Representatives and interned with the South Carolina Republican Party, including for the 2016 presidential pri-
mary for Ben Carson. Erricka is involved with the Sumter American Heart Association and serves on the Sumter, Lee and Clarendon United Way Board of Directors, the Derby Day Committee, the Tuomey Foundation’s Festival of Trees Committee and a Youth Leadership project for high school students in Sumter.
“Sumter has always been home to me, but it was not until I graduated college, moved back and started a career that I realized how much of a gem our town is.”
Travis McIntosh, 39
Profession: Senior vice president and financial advisor for BB&T Scott and Stringfellow
The lifelong resident of Pinewood has been a full-time broker since 2000 upon his graduation from the College of Charleston with a bachelor’s degree in accounting with an emphasis in finance and management. He holds his FINRA series 7, 9, 10 and 66 licenses and his South Carolina insurance license in Health, Accident & Life and is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist. He received his MBA in 2009 and taught
accounting at CCTC for six semesters. Travis is a past president of the Sumter Rotary Club, is president of the Clarendon Hall School Board and Clarendon Hall Alumni Association and is a past charter board member and chairman of the McLeod Health Clarendon Foundation and Cypress Foundation of Clarendon Health System.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers, but the daily interaction with people is what I enjoy the most, whether it’s face-to-face or by phone.” 10 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2018
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Howie Owens, 36
Profession: Downtown manager for the City of Sumter Howie has been called, and he is responding in two different ways that both have a tunnel vision on making the world around him better for everyone. He has been working for the City of Sumter for nearly eight years, having been in banking for five years before that. The Sumter native graduated with a
Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of South Carolina and with an MBA in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University. Another huge aspect of Howie’s life is his work with Bethesda Church of God as an ordained minister and his time spent with his wife, Julia, and their two children, Sims and Anna-Jane.
“I have always been taught that no matter your circumstance, be a part of making everything you encounter better than it was when you found it.”
Carrie Anna Strange, 32 Profession: Director of The McLeod Foundation, director of public information for McLeod Health Clarendon
Being a lifelong resident of Manning, Carrie knows the value of volunteerism and strives to give back to improve her community. On top of her work with McLeod, she also serves on the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and has been the director of the Striped Bass Festival in Man-
ning for the past three years. Carrie is a member of the Clarendon County Junior Young Ambassadors and Manning Rotary Club and participates in Main Street Manning and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 68.
“If you want something to change and to be better, then you have to volunteer and do your part.” #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Anand Vora, 33 Profession: Co-founder of Porchd Life, to Anand, is a “never-ending laboratory of consequences from personal actions,” and he loves to experiment. Those life experiments include learning four languages, learning the world of real estate by renting and flipping houses, the world of pharmacy by earning a doctorate and the world of literature by writing a book called “The Strange Case of Mr. Beets,” which takes kids on the
journey of a boy-pharmacist. Through his work at hospitals like Palmetto Health Tuomey, he realized many patients were underserved, which led him to write children’s books. He currently runs Porchd with his wife, an app designed to help real estate agents and homeowners see their properties through the eyes of potential buyers.
“My nature is to be the change I want to see in the worlds I encounter, regardless of the reasons of how I end up in these worlds.”
Chavis Lesane, 34
Profession: Branch manager for SAFE Federal Credit Union Shaw
Chavis began his career with SAFE in 2012 as a part-time teller and has quickly climbed the ranks, becoming branch manager for the Santee branch in 2014. Born and raised in Sumter, graduating from Crestwood High School and the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, his dedication to his community led him to join the Young Professionals of Sumter. There, he was named Young Professional of
the Year in 2015 and is currently the group’s president. During his time at YPS, the group has seen growth in events like the Chili Cookoff, Back to School Bash, Lunch with Leaders and their volunteerism at Crosswell Children’s Home during Christmas. Under his leadership, YPS now volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.
“When I was growing up, some of my friends would complain about Sumter, and when I was introduced to YPS … I found ways to change some of that, to be proactive and try to do something about that.” 12 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2018
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Rachel Gainey, 39 Profession: Vice president for McLeod Health, administrator for McLeod Health Clarendon Rachel’s service to McLeod Health dates back to her time as a teen volunteer. She officially joined the team in 2003 and has worked in strategic and clinical operations, strategic planning and growth and development. She previously served as a member of the administrative leadership team at McLeod Health Dillon. Rachel, a Florence native who now lives in Manning, is an advocate for health care improvements in regions that McLeod Health Clarendon serves, is a
member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a past member of the Francis Marion University Alumni Association Board of Directors and a a fundraising champion for the American Heart Association, Heart of Dimes, United Way and the McLeod Health Foundation. In 2017, she was recognized by She Magazine as 1 of 3 Extraordinary Women in Healthcare. Rachel is also a member of the Leadership South Carolina Class of 2019.
“When you have a heart to serve others, a career in health care is very much a mission.”
Bronwyn McElveen, 37
Profession: Third Circuit Assistant Solicitor
Bronwyn moved to Sumter after working as a law clerk for the Honorable Georgia C. ‘Buck’ James Jr., and graduating from Davidson College then the University of South Carolina School of Law. Clerking was supposed to be just for a year, she said, but she fell in love with the criminal court and the process. Since calling Sumter home, she worked for a decade as a part-time instructor at the Sumter YMCA. She has volunteered at the Crosswell Home for Children, has served as a board member of Sumter Senior Services and as director of Sumter Series. Part of her service to that racing series includes her founding of the Recovery Road Race. She has served as past chair of the Sumter March of Dimes, the American Heart Association Sumter Heartwalk and the Sexual
Assault Response Team of Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands. Bronwyn previously served as vice chairwoman of Young Professionals of Sumter. Bronwyn is currently a member of the Sumter Junior Welfare League, the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Committee and the FORUM, and she serves on the boards of the Sumter County Museum, the Sumter Education Foundation, the USC Sumter Partnership and the Alston Wilkes Society. Bronwyn is fluent in French and can also speak Spanish and Italian. She is a Tuomey Fellow and past recipient of the Hugh L. Wilcox Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year at the USC School of Law and the John R. Justice Community Leadership Award from the South Carolina Solicitors' Association.
“I love Sumter … [in the way that it is] thriving and growing and has seen tremendous change, but it’s still small enough where one person can make a huge difference.” #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Young Professionals Share Their Favorite Things To Do Paul Tomlinson, 34 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? Caffeine & Gasoline at Sumter Cut Rate because I'm a car guy and have always liked fast cars. What is your favorite opportunity to volunteer or give back in our region? I love my church (Christ Community Church) and enjoy volunteering both there and at Crosswell Children's Home.
Samantha Boykin, 33 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? The Iris Festival is my favorite since it brings art, entertainment, food and people together in a beautiful place. What's your ideal dinner or night out in the Sumter region? I enjoy a casual night out to Brewers to enjoy some hot wings and cold drinks. The food is good and the staff always takes great care of us.
Saluting Outstanding Achievement Congratulations to L. Travis McIntosh for being honored as a Top 20 under 40 professional. We salute your success and the commitment to excellence it reflects. Thank you for your contributions that strengthen the Sumter community and enrich its future. Your example inspires us all.
atulations to all of ou r g n r Co
g n Winner i n n a s ! M
L. Travis McIntosh, AAMS® Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor
216 North Main Street, Suite 200 Sumter, SC 29150-4959 803-774-2700 888-901-6688 BBTScottStringfellow.com BB&T Scott & Stringfellow is a division of BB&T Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. BB&T Securities, LLC is a wholly owned nonbank subsidiary of BB&T Corporation. Securities and insurance products or annuities sold, offered or recommended by BB&T Scott & Stringfellow are not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not guaranteed by a bank, not insured by any federal government agency and may lose value.
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Young Professionals Share Their Favorite Things To Do Dotte Watts, 34 If you're looking for adventure or outdoor activities in our region, where do you go? This summer my daughter and I did an escape room with some friends in Myrtle Beach and another one in Columbia. It was intense and a lot of fun and team work! I also love attending the concerts the Sumter Opera House has to offer as well as the 4th Friday concert series downtown on Main Street!
Boudre R. Thomas, 35 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? Fantasy of Lights at Swan Lake has to be my absolute favorite annual event! I love Christmas lights. It reminds me of when I was younger and we would all pile in a few cars and look at the great light displays. What's your ideal dinner or night out in the Sumter region? You can never go wrong with dinner at Willie Sue's! I also like to showcase my painting skills (or lack of) at Sip & Gogh when I can.
Congratulations to our young professionals from SAFE SAFE Federal Credit Union is proud to be part of the Sumter community for more than 60 years, developing top talent and mentoring the leaders of tomorrow. Visit SAFEfed.org/careers to get your career started with SAFE.
Brandon Oliver AVP Branch Administration
#SUMTER20UNDER40
Chavis Lesane Shaw Branch Manager
TOP 20 UNDER 40 2018 15
Jake Cline, Small Capital Projects
C. Curtis Hutto, CFO
Congratulations to two of our employees for being honored as a Top 20 under 40. We applaud your success and commitment to the Sumter community.
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Since 1986, Thompson has grown from a modest industrial service business into one of South Carolina’s largest construction and service related companies. After 31 years in business, we now serve the entire southeastern and central United States with more than 2,000 employees and four companies, covering nearly every facet of the construction and industrial service sectors. We have come a long way, but Sumter will always be our home, and we are committed to taking care of Sumter as much as we are committed to taking care of our customers.
www.thompsonsoutheast.com 100 North Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150 #SUMTER20UNDER40
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Young Professionals Share Their Favorite Things To Do Dennis Davis, 25 If you're looking for adventure or outdoor activities in our region, where do you go? Poinsett State Park is always my go to place when I want to get away from it all. Great fishing and biking location. What is your favorite opportunity to volunteer or give back in our region? I just recently took part in a summer camp hosted by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office and it was great spending time with the kids.
Len Lawson, 38 What's your ideal dinner or night out in the Sumter region? I love going to the Beacon Theater for a good movie. Also, Sumter has great restaurants to choose from. My favorites include Palmetto Oyster House, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and the new Ginza Japanese Steakhouse. I'm a bowler, too, so Gamecock Lanes has a great family feel to it that I enjoy returning to.
Congratulations Nicole on your Top 20 Under 40 selection! The entire Board & Staff are extremely proud of you.
Congratulations to our own
Chelsea Gillis
on being named to Sumter’s Top 20 Professionals Under 40.
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Young Professionals Share Their Favorite Things To Do Matthew Wilke Jr., 30 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? I really enjoy supporting the local farmer's market each Friday and Saturday. I look forward to purchasing fresh local produce and other items supporting our local economy. But as far as an annual event, I'm a sucker for the food at the Sumter County Fair. I love those Potato House Fries!
Jennica Greco, 33 What is your favorite opportunity to volunteer or give back in our region? I’ve been volunteering with the Samaritan House since February of 2018. We cook and serve meals to the homeless, and this has been one of the most fulfilling volunteer opportunities I have experienced. I love meeting and talking to new people, and I hope I can have a positive impact on their lives.
Congratulations Erricka from our team at
CBC CORNERSTONE
2 North Main Street, Sumter SC 29150
COR N E R S TON E #SUMTER20UNDER40
803.778.1139
www.cbccornerstone.com TOP 20 UNDER 40 2018 19
Young Professionals Share Their Favorite Things To Do Geoffrey Sanders, 36 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? I absolutely love the Fantasy of Lights at Swan Lake. Swan Lake already holds special memory because that's where my wife and I got married. Being able to go to Swan Lake and see all the families and the lights and the activities and see the smiles on my kids faces ,as well, just does the heart good.
John "Jay" Christmas, 37 If you're looking for adventure or outdoor activities in our region, where do you go? A fishing trip at the lake has to be every local boy's childhood memory. Pack's, Sparklberry, Elliot's or second water fish or no fish an adventure. Time never wasted. What's your ideal dinner or night out in the Sumter region? Willie Sue's has to be the best meal out in Sumter! It's local. It's great food. It's good atmosphere!
Joy Obidike, 36 Where is your favorite place to day-trip from the Sumter region and why? My favorite day trip is to James Island. It's full of history, only moments away from downtown Charleston and touches Folly Beach. Plus, the drive is easy. What's your ideal dinner or night out in the Sumter region? I love going to Logan's Roadhouse. It's inexpensive, has a menu item for everyone and is always covered in peanuts. That's just funny to me.
Kia Smith, 28 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? I loved "Cooking For Babies" Annual Event. I was asked to be a vendor my very first year of teaching, and I look forward to it each year. I love the fact that so many different areas in Sumter can come together to serve the sole purpose of fundraising for March of Dimes. Another event that I look forward to is Relay For Life. Being able to participate along with all of the Sumter schools really shows what is possible when we can all work together. 20 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2018
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Young Professionals Share Their Favorite Things To Do Lee Anna Harding, 35 Where is your favorite place to day-trip from the Sumter region and why? Folly Beach. We love going to Folly Beach just for the day. We always find something interesting when we go or see something or experience something we never have before. The beach itself is so diverse from one end to the other end. It's easy to find something delicious to eat and laid back enough to feel like you can relax, even if it's just for the day.
Matthew Alan Floyd, 36 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? Derby Day is very exciting as it showcases the beauty of downtown Sumter and allows for a great evening with friends. Where is your favorite place to shop around Sumter, Lee or Clarendon? Simpson’s. Where else can you buy a deer stand, camouflage, a hunting rifle and a Weber grill? Heaven on Earth.
Trevor T. Ivey, 34 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? My favorite annual event in our region is the Optimist Christmas Parade and Fantasy of Lights Christmas display at Swan Lake because it brings about a special time of year that conjures up many great memories with my mom and family.
Will Jenkinson, 25 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? Porches of Sumter is one of my favorites. It's in the fall, and the air is crisp and you get to meet new people and taste heavenly food! I have also had the pleasure of performing an acoustic show at this event, and that was a blast! Where is your favorite place to day-trip from the Sumter region and why? Lake Marion is so peaceful! I love a good morning on the lake with a fishing pole in hand.
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Young Professionals Share Their Favorite Things To Do Zachary Tyler Buckner, 26 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? I would have to say the State Fair in Columbia. I throughly enjoy the time of year when the fair comes. The crisp, cool air coupled with fair food and rides, that's priceless! If you're looking for adventure or outdoor activities in our region, where do you go? I jump in the car and head to Charleston or Myrtle Beach! Charleston is one of my favorite spots due to it's vast amount of history, which makes it the great city it is!
Candis Montgomery Lee, 36 What is your favorite opportunity to volunteer or give back in our region? Opportunities to give back to the community in Sumter County are limitless. From volunteering or donating to the Sumter United Ministries to assisting in annual events associated with the Young Professionals (including their annual chili cook off, which is one of my personal favorites). I also enjoy giving to the community by sharing a smile, opening a door for a stranger or lending a helping hand to a neighbor in need. I feel that a strong community is not built by brick and mortar alone but by each individual being open to the gift of kindness and genuine humility when walking through each day together, even if we may be strangers.
Igor Iovanovich, 31 Where is your favorite place to day-trip from the Sumter region and why? My family and I spend most sunny weekends on the water at Lake Marion. We enjoy water skiing, tubing and wakeboarding. Our 6-year-old daughter is an expert at tubing! She has a blast out there. It is also a great opportunity to reiterate the importance of water and boating safety to her. Where is your favorite place to shop around Sumter, Lee or Clarendon? The Sumter Farmers Market is my favorite place to shop. I really enjoy eating fresh, local foods.
Jamie Mathis, 37 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? Taste of Clarendon. I normally sponsor the event and cook at the event. I have also been the chair of the entire event two years in the past. 22 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2018
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Young Professionals Share Their Favorite Things To Do Curtis Johnson, 32 If you're looking for adventure or outdoor activities in our region, where do you go? I enjoy Dillon Park. It provides a place to walk, and it also provides opportunities for softball and kickball. There are plenty of fields, and I can usually find a spot to practice with my son.
Kayla Robins, 28 If you're looking for adventure or outdoor activities in our region, where do you go? I’ve been loving spending a few hours or a picnic-day on the weekend at Poinsett State Park. There’s a lot of shade, so you can go when it’s hot, and there’s easy and hard trails. I go with my fiancé and take family and friends when they come to visit. And we always take our dog, who loves playing in the streams.
Wendy McDonald Mellerson, 38 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? The Iris Festival is my favorite annual event mostly because of the food vendors. Where is your favorite place to day-trip from the Sumter region and why? My favorite place to day trip is Charleston because of Folley Beach and the outlets.
Stephanie Faith Roupe, 29 What is your favorite annual event in our region and why? I love going to Oktoberfest downtown. It's great to see all the young people in town getting out and doing things. Where is your favorite place to shop around Sumter, Lee or Clarendon? I love to shop at Simpson's Hardware and TJ Maxx. They have everything there.
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