20 Under 40, 2015

D2

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

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WWW.THESTATE.COM

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THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Jill M.
Armbruster
Page 3

Elisabeth
Bischofberger
Page 4

Shannon Furr
Bobertz
Page 9

Murray
Coleman
Page 18

Melissa
Constante
Page 8

Ryal F.
Curtis
Page 5

Steve
Eigenbrot
Page 13

Lisa M.
Hostetler
Page 12

April Glenn
James
Page 6

Emily M.
Johnson
Page 14

Will
Johnson
Page 12

Craig Q.
King
Page 15

Chakisse
Newton
Page 16

Patrick T.
Palmer
Page 4

Heather R.
Price
Page 10

Jamie
Scott
Page 17

{ 20 UNDER 40

Rising to
the challenge
This year’s Class of 20 under 40 is filled with people who suffered setbacks and managed to regroup,
pull themselves together and rebound into rising
stars in the Midlands’ business community.
From overcoming cancer to having their dreams
of playing professional sports dashed, these dynamos know adversity. They also know the keys to
overcoming it: perseverance, hard work, a positive
attitude and, maybe most importantly, leaning on
each other.
Each of these young professionals is making a
mark on the Midlands, choosing to make a home,
raise a family or build a business here. They also all
know the importance of helping the community be a
better place, from mentoring young children to
helping build an emergency shelter for homeless
families to helping athletes in the Special Olympics.
Each year, The State honors 20 rising business
stars under the age of 40 who are making an impact
in their workplaces, their neighborhoods and their
professions.
Meet the latest group of young leaders who are on
the road to a bright future for themselves — and the
Midlands — the 12th annual Class of 20 under 40
honorees.
— Kristy Eppley Rupon
Bios compiled by: Kristy Eppley Rupon

Blake G.
Taylor
Page 7

Lauren
Truslow
Page 19

Ben
Wilson
Page 20

Michael D.
Wright
Page 11

Photographs by: Tim Dominick, Gerry Melendez
and Tracy Glantz

20 UNDER 40 }
Age: 36
Occupation: Director of marketing,
UCI Medical Affiliates
Family: Boyfriend, Walker Daves;
parents, Jim and Gloria Armbruster;
brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and
Ashley

WWW.THESTATE.COM

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Jill Michelle Armbruster

Education: B.A. in mass communications, Clemson University
Community and professional highlights: Board member, Salute From
the Shore; former board member,
American Advertising Federation of
the Midlands, the Contemporaries of
the Columbia Museum of Art, the
Columbia Design League, and the
Cultural Council of Richland and
Lexington Counties
What did you want to be when you
grew up? When I was a kid, I always
said I wanted to be an insurance
salesman (who didn’t?!), because
that’s what my father was. Today, I
still want to be like my father – who
was honest, hard-working and compassionate toward others in his
career. That is what made him successful, and I strive to meet those

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

same standards in my own career.
He also has a great sense of humor,
which I believe crucial to one’s sanity.

You were instrumental in helping save
the Contemporaries of the Columbia
Museum of Art and helped bring the
Chihuly chandelier to the Midlands.
Why is it vital for the area to have a

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

thriving arts community? It’s no
secret that a vibrant arts community
affects a region’s overall ability to
retain and recruit good people and
jobs. Our board really came of age
during a time when Columbia was
just starting to build momentum. As
young professionals who wanted a
future here, we were motivated to
help propel our city in the right
direction by funneling energy into
the arts. At the same time, the
leadership at the museum challenged our group to contribute to the
community and overall mission of
the museum. To us, that challenge
became a goal to exceed even our
own wildest expectations. What
started as a “what if…” comment at
a board meeting became a battle cry
to redefine what young professionals
could do to serve a community. It
was incredible to be a part of that
group – most of whom remain my
closest friends. And, now, I’d love to
see that same sort of enthusiasm
blossom for organizations like our
State Museum as math and sciences become increasingly important to the competitiveness of our

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

D3

state. I challenge the new young
professionals!
You’ve been called a “sparkplug of
marketing ideas,” leading a team to
produce significant work while also
keeping it fun. How do you find that
balance? Productivity and fun are
simply natural byproducts when
energetic people come together for a
common goal. The healthcare industry is fertile ground for innovation, which means the sky’s the limit
for turning ideas into actions to
expand services and improve patients’ experiences. So having quality
products and services to market
certainly makes my job easier, as
well as having smart and motivated
people on my team. But also, the
leadership at my company places a
high value on creativity and encourages all of our teams to think outside the box and in collaborative
ways. Many of our best marketing
projects have come from combined
efforts with our IS/IT teams, because data and technology are vital
to successful healthcare marketing.
If we can dream it, they can build it.

Congratulations!
Jill M. armbruster

Director of Marketing
We are so proud of you and
appreciate all that you do.
DoctorsCare.com

D4

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

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Age: 28
Occupation: Territory recruiter, Colonial Life
Family: Single; fur child, Bernard
(French Bulldog)

WWW.THESTATE.COM

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Elisabeth Bischofberger

Education: B.S., business administration with concentration in marketing, College of Charleston; MBA,
University of South Carolina
Community and professional highlights: Board of directors, American
Red Cross Central Carolina Chapter; Junior League of Columbia and
Charleston; Young Leaders Society,
United Way of the Midlands; Humane Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals; Special
Olympics
What saying do you live by? “Nothing
great has been and nothing great
can be accomplished without passion.” (G.W.F. Hegel) This applies to
all aspects of my life – personal,
professional and spiritual. It is a
testament of what drives me.

TRACY GLANTZ/[email protected]

My life changed when: I moved a lot
growing up, living in six cities before

Patrick Tillman Palmer

TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]

Age: 37
Occupation: Commercial real estate
broker, director of retail services, NAI
Avant
Family: Wife, Amanda; daughters,
Hannah, 11, and Hallie, 9
Education: B.S. in business administration, University of South Carolina

{ 20 UNDER 40

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Community and professional highlights: Member and youth leader,
Capital City Baptist Church; former
Center for Knowledge PTA president;
Decker Boulevard Revitalization
Committee; chairman, Richland
County Planning Commission; Certified Commercial Investment Member; South Carolina State CCIM
executive committee member; In-

going to college. Moving my junior
year of high school was a changing
point in my life as I realized I would

ternational Council of Shopping
Centers member.
In my own words: When I graduated
college, I had dreams of opening my
own restaurant. Instead, I went to
work for my family’s real estate
trust.My father cut me no slack in
those first two years, and I believe
that early training has paid off many
times over. I got experience in development, leasing, landlord/tenant
relationships, property management,
government relations and community involvement. I quickly realized that
this career would allow me to support my family while doing something I enjoyed every day.
My life changed when: In early 2008,
the Great Recession began. Lending
dried up, tenants stop opening new
locations, current tenants began to
struggle and home building became
almost nonexistent. My father started the discussion about getting out
of the business. I could see the
writing on the wall when he told me
“Son, it’s just not fun anymore.”
What did you want to be when you
grew up? My dream was to buy an
antebellum house, move it to Buckhead and operate a great steakhouse. If that failed, there was always the FLW (Fishing League

need to make the best out of any
situation, especially the ones I had
no control over. How I chose to
handle myself was my choice. This
helped me focus more on the present and to always have faith. I also
became more flexible and adaptable to change. Steve Jobs once
said “You can’t connect the dots
looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So
you have to trust that the dots will
somehow connect in your future. ...
This approach has never let me
down and it has made all the difference in my life.”
What do you aspire to be? A business leader with a philanthropic
heart. Candidly, I am not sure what
I want to be when I grow up. I could
see myself as a consultant or lobbyist one day.
What do you consider to be your
most important volunteer work and
what drives you to be so involved? I
am drawn to each organization in
very different ways. Determining

Worldwide)
Columbia is in the midst of revitalization, and the commercial real
estate industry plays a vital role in
that. Where do you see the city headed? Columbia is in the midst of an
estimated $1 billion of commercial
investment in the downtown market.
We are seeing interest from retailers
and restaurants that have previously
dismissed Columbia. The enormous
growth in student housing, continued expansion of the University of
South Carolina and the melding of
the Vista and Main Street markets
has been transformative for our city.
The desire of people to once again
live in the downtown urban setting
has been a tremendous boost to
retailers and restaurateurs, who at
one time could only depend on
daytime office traffic. We see this
growth trend continuing for the
foreseeable future. The citizens of
our city will play a large role in how
this growth plays out. We need
continued participation in events
that occur in the downtown market
such as Soda City, Trustus Theatre,
The Nickelodeon, and Main Street
Ice at Boyd Plaza, as well giving the
new restaurants and retailers a
chance to earn our business while
not forgetting our old favorites.

which is the most important would
be impossible. If it is something I
personally endorse, I will find a way
to be involved in some way – time,
talent or treasure.
Within your company, you work with
young professionals to help them
transition into the working world.
What do you try to instill in them and
why is it important to give time to
helping develop young workers? I
never took a college course preparing me to enter the workforce –
how to interact with colleagues of
different generations, how to seek
mentors to guide future career, etc.
You don’t want someone young and
eager to learn the hard way! It’s
important for young professionals
to know hard work and a positive
attitude pay off. I enjoy helping
them develop and grow their personal network within the company
and find what makes them happy.
Seeing an overall increase in employee retention and job satisfaction is extremely rewarding.

Perhaps the largest factor in this
growth is government. Typically we
get one shot at a new retailer and if
their experience with regulations is
not perceived to be one that is inviting and helpful, they will then
move along to other municipalities.
Our city officials have been very
inviting and very available thus far
with Mayor (Steve) Benjamin leading
the way. My hopes are for this trend
to continue.
You’ve been an involved member of
your church for years. What drives
that involvement and why is it important? When I first started working
with our youth, I did it just because it
was fun. At this point I have been
able to see many of our young folk
grow up and go off to college. One is
our current youth pastor, Brian Hunt.
I remember many times Brian and I
would chat about things going on in
his life while he was a student at
Spring Valley. I understood his struggles because I had been there and
many times perhaps did not make
the right decision. I was able to give
him some advice. This is an outlet
where I think I can make a difference. If I can help a teenager stay
away from just one of those wrong,
life-altering decisions, it will be worth
the time invested.

20 UNDER 40 }

WWW.THESTATE.COM

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Ryal F. Curtis

Age: 33
Occupation: Senior social media
strategist at BlueCross BlueShield of
South Carolina

fessional and a husband and father.
What did you want to be when you
grew up? Some combination of
Marty McFly (“Back to the Future”),
Bruce Springsteen (The Boss) and
Brandon Walsh (“90210”). We grow
older and we experience different
things. But I think, in many ways,
we’re still always that person we
were at 14.

Family: Wife, Nicole; daughter, Hailey,
4
Education: B.A. English, Michigan
State University
Community and professional highlights: Volunteer, Military Mentoring
Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Columbia; board member, American
Marketing Association, Columbia
chapter; board member, Columbia
Opportunity Resource; Leadership
Columbia Class of 2015
In my own words: No one gets to
where they’re going in life without
the help of others. Sometimes it’s
meeting up with a stranger for a cup
of coffee to share ideas. Other times
it’s volunteering with a kid who can’t
seem to catch a break. You don’t
know where you are going to make
an impact or who is going to make
an impact on you. The opportunities
are there if you make yourself available.

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

What saying do you live by? The last
thing my dad told me before I pulled
out of the snowy driveway and left
Michigan back on Dec. 26, 2004,
was, “You can always come home.”

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

That’s been my rock. It’s inspired
and motivated me to push myself
into new and unfamiliar experiences.
It’s those experiences where I’ve
grown the most as a person, a pro-

You took your company from having no
social media presence to having one
of the largest corporate followings in
the state in just a couple of years.
What role does social media play in a
company’s success? A former boss of
mine, Jim Tobin, wrote in his 2013
book, “Earn It. Don’t Buy It,” that
“social media marketing is dead.”
That really spoke to me. I looked
around and saw far too many businesses using social media the wrong
way. They were using social media to
talk about themselves, when really,
social media is intended to be all
about people – real people, with real
emotions, who have real questions
and needs. BlueCross approached
me in 2013 with an extraordinary

Congratulations!

20 Under 40
“Congratulations to Patrick on this
outstanding accomplishment. Patrick is
an exceptional member of our team and
has had an impressive year performing
at the top of his field. We are grateful to
have his talent with our firm.”
-Bruce Harper
NAI Avant’s President
& Broker-in-Charge

Patrick Palmer, CCIM Director of Retail Services
For nearly 50 years, the NAI Avant Team has excelled in delivering superior
service and performance for its commercial real estate clients. Patrick is the
4th NAI Avant associate to be awarded 20 Under 40.
807 Gervais Street, Suite 301 · Columbia, SC 29201 · www.naiavant.com

#CongratsRyal
for Being Named
20 Under 40

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

D5

opportunity to develop a social
media program at a time when the
health care industry was undergoing
major reform. We’ve taken an incredibly popular and well-known
BLUE brand and amplified it using
consistent and creative social media
content. Mostly importantly, I think
we’re providing real value to our
customers. And that’s what social
media is all about.
You chose to come to Columbia from
North Carolina to raise your family
and establish your career. What is
Columbia doing right to attract young
talent to the area? What could it be
doing better? There is a growing
energy in Columbia, especially
among young talent. You can feel it.
It’s spilling over from the Horseshoe
onto the booming downtown area
and now into many of the organizations and businesses that help
define our growing city. It’s infectious
and it’s something we all need to do
a better job at bragging about. No
one is going to turn the light on for
us. That’s our job. We all play a role.
And it’s exciting to be a part of that.

D6

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

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{ 20 UNDER 40

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

April Glenn James

Age: 33
Occupation: Owner and principal
broker of iRealtyInternational and
founder of YogaCheer
Family: Husband, Kevin James;
stepson, Coleman, 9
Education: B.A. in psychology and
Master’s of public health administration, University of South Carolina
Community and professional highlights: Founding member of CREW
Midlands, Assistant Treasurer of
SCNAREB, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Certified International Property Specialist, YogaCheer DVD,
volunteer at Oliver Gospel Mission.
In my own words: I located my business in close proximity to my community in order to provide great
services and help others live a
healthy lifestyle. It warms my heart
to see a young couple move in a new
home or a child learning how to
handle their anger through yoga. As
long I can teach people the skills
and tools to manage their lifestyle,
we will have a healthier and happier
community.

TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]

What saying do you live by? I live by
my own tag line for YogaCheer,
which is “Cheer For Yourself!” You
will always be your own greatest
cheerleader. No matter what obstacles you face, if you have a good

attitude and remain positive, you
can achieve anything.
My life changed when: I traveled to
Jamaica a couple of years ago with
my husband. I had never seen so

Congratulations
APRIL JAMES,

Principal Broker & Founder
of iRealty International
and Owner of Yoga Cheer

2015
20
Under
40
Recipient
2
015 2
0U
nder 4
0R
ecipient
Following in the footsteps of her father

Calvin H. Elam, CLU, ChFC
2000 20 Under 40 Recipient

much poverty and really wanted to
help. The kids had no shoes and
very little food and were out working
in the street as young as 4 years old.
I decided that day to grab hold of
fear and face it head on and change
my perspective. If these kids were
out here without their parents trying
to make a life, I could certainly be
more grateful and be happy for
everything that I had. It inspired me
to work harder to make a difference
and spread love and light.
You teach YogaCheer. Explain the
concept. Training for the Inner Spirit
is a holistic (mind, body, and spirit)
fitness program designed to equip
clients with the tools to get fit and
feel great. The system helps clients
increase self-esteem and improve
their health using yoga, cheerleading, dance, affirmations and nutrition. We offer various yoga training
services to improve health and
fitness, increase stamina, enjoy their
wellness experience and improve
overall sense of well-being. The
program is designed for all fitness
levels and is for all ages.
Why did you decide to open your own

CONGRATULATIONS

APRIL JAMES

P
Principal
rincipal bbroker
roker & founder
founder ooff iiRealty
Realty
aand
nd oowner
wner ooff Y
oga C
heer
Yoga
Cheer
ffor
or bbeing
eing n
nominated
ominated ttoo

THE STATE’S
20 UNDER 40

We’re so proud of you!
Love, Mom & Dad,
Calvin and Mary Elam

real estate firm instead of going with
a larger firm? I opened my own firm
in order to build my own brand. I
always had visions of running a large
scale company so I really had to gain
the experience from the larger companies that I worked for in the past
to understand their business models. I have learned that things don’t
happen as fast as you want them to
happen, but you must persevere,
stay focused and keep moving forward towards the goal. It’s definitely
much easier to work for a large
company but I wanted a legacy for
my children and their children to own
a piece of the American Dream on
their terms. Innovation and creativity
are at the top of the list for what I
wanted in an employer. That’s why I
combined the yoga studio and real
estate office. I’m constantly running
into stressed out real estate agents
or clients who have very busy lives
so I provide solutions in a boutique
setting that feel more personable
and in control. So when making one
of the most important decisions, why
not have clarity of thoughts by enjoying the total lifestyle experience.

Dr. Kevin James

20 UNDER 40 }
Age: 34
Occupation: Banker at Southern First
Bank
Family: Wife, Kieley; three children,
Hadley, 3, Landry, 2, Hayes, 6 weeks

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●

Blake G. Taylor

Education: Chipola Junior College;
University of South Carolina, with a
degree in retail management

always thought if I worked out a little
harder or prepared a little more it
would give me a leg up. (Former USC
baseball) coach (Ray) Tanner always
told me to outwork them and be
resilient.
My life changed: In a five-minute
conversation when I was released
from baseball. The one thing that
had directed me for 23 years was
over. This created an overwhelming
lost feeling. I spent the next two
months trying to figure out some
direction and later was hired for a
banking job that I had no clue what I
was doing in. I spent the next nine
months missing baseball but figured
out I had found a new passion for
banking and haven't looked back.

Community and professional highlights: South Carolina Bankers Association, Young Bankers Board, vice
chairman; Junior Achievement
board; Lexington Fellowship of Christian Athletes board; USC Lettermen's
board; Leadership Columbia; YLS
golf committee; chairman, Young
Bankers golf committee; Cayce
Beautification Board; board of directors, South Carolina Cancer Alliance.
Graduate of LSU Banking School
and Bank Sim winner. Former USC
and minor league baseball player.
In my own words: I am in the banking
profession because I love working
with people. It’s a lot of fun helping
someone purchase their first home
or start a business. Getting the
opportunity to ride around town and

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

look at the businesses you serve or
buildings you help build is really
cool. As a banker, we can really
make a difference in a person’s life
or business with the advice and

service we can provide.
What saying do you live by? Being an
undersized athlete, I always felt the
need to outwork my competition. I

What did you want to be when you
grew up? Certainly always wanted be
a professional baseball player. But I
also wanted to be an architect. I
loved drawing and building things. I
just never really pursued that dream
so my wife and I build houses every
few years now. We have three under
our belt.

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

D7

You were on a College World Series
Gamecock baseball team and spent
two years in the minors. How do the
lessons you learned on the baseball
field translate into career success?
Baseball teaches you how to handle
failure and play as an individual, but
also play as a team, to be successful. Being in business development
especially early on, you swing and
miss more than you get hits. Playing
sports helps you work through the
winning streaks and slumps in business. I play as an individual now in
bringing business to the bank but
knowing without my teammates we
can’t serve our clients and win on a
daily basis.
You help children through Junior
Achievement and your “Pitching
Lessons.” What drives that? My
family and coaches took a huge
ownership in my life, pushing me to
do good in school and baseball.
They gave me great advice and
direction. I would like to pass on my
experiences and knowledge in hopes
it will impact a child in a positive
manner.

D8

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

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WWW.THESTATE.COM

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{ 20 UNDER 40

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Melissa Constante

son University
Community and professional highlights: Leadership Columbia Class of
2015, Rotary Foundational alumna,
board member for the AIDS Benefit
of South Carolina, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women
In my own words: I love the work that
I do because I’m always working
with a team to build something new.
We always find a way to overcome
challenges and deliver new solutions. My favorite part is crossing the
finish line together.
What saying do you live by? Work
hard and play hard.

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

Age: 33

Family: Single; pug, Rooney, 6

Occupation: Assistant vice president
of portfolio management, Colonial
Life

Education: B.S. in economics, West
Virginia University; MBA and M.A. in
professional communication, Clem-

=

Who is your inspiration in life? My
father and my aunt. These two really
raised me. They pushed me, picked
me up and taught me never to settle, and they did it in a way that
wasn’t overbearing and loaded with
pressure. They simply loved me very
much, and constantly told me so.
The difference in my life without
question has been their unconditional love.
My life changed when: A handful of

milestones in my life have shown me
that resilience is the most critical
factor to success. To finish my professional communication masters at
Clemson, I had to complete a rigorous and terrifying 75-minute oral
exam. The thought of this was overwhelming, and I didn’t think I could
hang with my classmates who
seemed to be better prepared. After
months of blood, sweat and a few
tears, I passed with honors and
distinction. I’ll never forget that day,
sitting outside at Tiger Town Tavern
having a beer with my classmates
and knowing that if I could do that, I
could do just about anything. I
learned that hard work trumps circumstance.
You started a group for women at your
company based on the teachings of
“Lean In.” Why is it important to give
women a group like this? For women,
confidence seems like something
others impose upon us, but this is a
myth. Confidence is built from within
and can be strengthened by how we
approach situations. I feel fortunate
that I’ve been able to build confi-

dence in my ability pretty early in my
life. I’ve learned just how boundless
my potential really is, and I want this
to be true for all women. I think
about how much better off women
would be in the workplace if we
could all know and feel that we are,
quite simply, perfectly capable. Many
women are in this place, but what if
we could get there sooner in life?
“Lean In” has provided a forum for
women at Colonial Life to openly
discuss and help one another overcome common issues for women in
the workplace. If we teach one
another subtle, yet actionable ways
to more confidently approach workplace challenges and opportunities, I
truly believe we can move women
forward by leaps and bounds.
You also volunteer with a variety of
groups outside of your workplace –
dealing with issues from Alzheimer’s
to providing livable housing. How has
volunteering changed you? For me,
it’s about investing in people. We
can’t do it all by ourselves, and I
have a profound appreciation for
those who have invested in me.

not your average accounting firm

We continue to support the extraordinary efforts of the 20 Under 40 nominees
and proudly recognize and congratulate the achievements of each of
the Midland’s best and brightest top 20 leaders. Well Done!
1441 Main Street, Suite 800
Columbia, SC 29201
803-256-6021

220 N. Main Street, Suite 500
Greenville, SC 29601
864-660-2045

www.scottandco.com

Scott and Company LLC provides a comprehensive range of tax, assurance, small business and specialized consulting services to clients across the Southeast.
With clients ranging from individuals to multi-state and international organizations, the firm has particularly deep expertise in serving closely-held businesses and
their owners, as well as leaders in the healthcare, hospitality, real estate, government, manufacturing, professional services and non-profit arenas. The firm is an
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independent alliance firm locations across America. Learn more online at www.scottandco.com.

20 UNDER 40 }

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●

Shannon Furr Bobertz

Age: 39
Occupation: Chief legal counsel,
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Family: Husband, Jason; daughter,
Sarah, 7
Education: USC School of Law, J.D.
cum laude; Cornell College, B.A.
Community and professional highlights: American Board of Trial Advocates, associate member; advisory board member, Nelson Mullins Center on Professionalism;
member, South Carolina Bar; adjunct professor, USC School of Law;
Board of Law Examiners; Compleat
Lawyer Award, USC School of Law,
2014.
What saying do you live by? I have a
postcard by my desk that reads,
“Most obstacles melt away when we
make up our minds to walk boldly
through them,” by Orison Swett
Marden. It reminds me that life is all
about perspective, and that I cannot
let fear limit me.
My life changed when: I was an ex-

TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]

change student to Istanbul, Turkey,
when I was 16. I lived with a Turkish
family, who I still keep in touch with

over 20 years later. It was a wonderful experience for me to live in a
completely different place. Istanbul

THE COLUMBIA EXECUTIVE
AND OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Congratulates
our own

BEN WILSON

for being named to
The State Newspaper's 20 under 40.

We are so proud of you!

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

is an enormous city with over 14
million people, so coming from
Columbia it was quite a change. I
went from being an only child to
living with twin brothers. I did not
have the living space that I was used
to at home, so it required some
adaptation. I learned about the
incredibly rich history of the Ottoman
Empire, I learned to speak Turkish,
and I learned about living in a Muslim country. It was fascinating and
gave me tremendous confidence
that I could do anything.
You quit your job in 2013 and joined
the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. What drove that decision?
My decision to transition from private practice to a state agency
attorney has been one of the best
career decisions that I have made. I
went from the private sector where I
primarily represented insurance
companies and litigated cases, to
the public sector where I now work
to protect the environment, help to
acquire lands for the public to use
for recreation, and assist in prosecuting fish and game laws. Practic-

●

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

D9

ing law at DNR is what I imagine a
small town attorney practice would
be. I am asked about, and deal with,
a large variety of subjects on a daily
basis, so it is always intellectually
challenging. I also really enjoy working with the other employees in the
agency with the common goal of
improving the quality of life for the
citizens of the state.
You started a neighborhood wide
Easter egg hunt in your community
that has become a tradition. Why was
it important? I had this idea because
my family attended an Easter egg
hunt in another neighborhood. I
wondered why Shandon did not have
something like it, so I went to the
neighborhood council and requested
funds to have the first event a few
years ago. The first year, my neighbor and I put an invitation on each
door. I did not know how many people would attend, and I feared it may
just be my family and a few friends.
But we had a great turnout and it
has turned into an annual event that
the neighborhood looks forward to
every year.

Congratulations,
Shannon!
Furr & Henshaw
Attorneys at Law
congratulates
Shannon
Shannon Furr
Furr Bobertz
Bobertz
for
for the
the richly
richly deserved
deser ved
award of being
chosen for this
year's 20 Under 40!

D10

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

●

WWW.THESTATE.COM

●

{ 20 UNDER 40

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Heather Robinson Price

for Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for
Kids, the Bow Tie Run, the Hearth
Center for Eating Disorders, the
United Way and the Salvation Army.
Leadership Columbia graduate.
Heart Walk volunteer. Sunday school
teacher. Numerous regional and
national advertising awards.
In my own words: I love what I do —
both at work and at home. I’m afforded the opportunity to learn
something new every day and apply
that knowledge to positively impact
others.

TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]

Age: 40 (turned 40 after deadline)

the dog

Occupation: Senior vice president
and creative director at Chernoff
Newman

Education: B.A. in journalism and
mass communication, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Family: Husband, Tye; children,
Jackson, 11, and Emma, 8; Boomer

Community and professional highlights: Creative work or team leader

What saying do you live by? I will
never forget being in my dad’s office
and seeing a sticky note that read:
“A mind is like a parachute. It only
works when open.” From that day
on, I constantly remind myself to be
open-minded. You never really know
what is going on in other people’s
lives or how something has affected
them.
My life changed: The day I decided to
take the job in Columbia. I knew that
I wanted to work in the Southeast
but I had not stepped foot in Colum-

bia until the day I showed up to
interview at Newman, Saylor &
Gregory. I was 22, I had graduated
from college two days prior and
didn’t know a soul here. But it just
felt like I was supposed to say yes. I
met my husband, made a home and
now feel like Columbia is a part of
me.
What did you want to be when you
grew up? I’m the girl who always
knew that she wanted to grow up to
tell stories. I used to invent fictional
characters in elementary school and
I took my Minolta disc camera with
me everywhere, snapping photos.
Mostly, I harassed my brother. (I
promise you somewhere in my parents house there is a daily documentation of his youth.) In school, I
wrote for the newspaper and was on
the yearbook staff. I hit my stride
when I discovered the copywriting
track in journalism school. This was
what I was meant to do.
Why is it important to create strong
brands and creative strategies? Advertising today is drastically different
than it was even 10 years ago. We

simply have so much more control of
the content that we choose to consume. Brands have the ability to be
so much more relevant today than
they could 10 years ago. Providing
someone that chance to learn how
or why they should connect with a
brand is exhilarating.
What drives your involvement mentoring at-risk youth and serving on
boards? Years ago, I coached girls
soccer. And while I only spent two
days a week with these girls, I know
that I had an impact on their lives.
Today, these girls are growing their
careers, getting married and having
babies, doing awesome things in
their communities. I’ve realized that
they taught me more than I could
have ever taught them. Mentors are
so important. And every child deserves to have someone they can
talk to and learn from. Not everyone
has the luxury of having two parents
at home or a sibling to look out for
them. Our future depends on today’s
adults working to build strong leaders, independent thinkers and a
compassionate group of people.

Congratulations to all
the 20 under 40!

Leadership. Scholarship. Service.
SINCE 1978

LEARN MORE OR APPLY AT

www.leadershipsc.com

20 UNDER 40 }

WWW.THESTATE.COM

●

Michael D. Wright

Age: 31
Occupation: Attorney and partner at
Savage Royall & Sheheen in
Camden

excellence.” When I was a child, my
mother would often take us to my
father’s law firm. This quote has
always been displayed on his desk.
The quote stuck with me at a very
early age and it has always motivated me to strive for perfection in all
of my endeavors because that service — whether in my profession or in
the community — is a reflection upon
my family and me.

Family: Wife, Meghan; and a spoiled
dog named Lilly
Education: B.A. in history and political science, Presbyterian College;
Master of Letters in legal and political philosophy, Stirling University,
Scotland; J.D., University of South
Carolina School of Law
Community and professional highlights: Board member, Camden
Rotary Club; executive committee,
United Way of Kershaw County; vice
president, Camden Jaycees; immediate past president, Kershaw County Bar Association; volunteer judge,
USC Moot Court Bar and Kershaw
County School District
In my own words: I stopped laughing
at lawyer jokes a long time ago.
Because my father is an attorney, I
heard them all the time. The jokes
are not funny or accurate. There is
no greater calling in public service.
Lawyers provide access to justice

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

and are entrusted with solving complex problems. This profession allows lawyers to help those who need
it the most and gives us the opportunity to use the law to make some-

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

one’s life better.
What saying do you live by? “Every job
is a self-portrait of the person who
did it. Autograph your work with

My life changed when: I took a year
off after my first year of law school
to serve as a Rotary International
Ambassadorial Scholar in Scotland
to study, travel and engage in numerous service projects. Prior to that
year, my focus on service was not
necessarily on the individuals impacted, but instead on the big picture and what sort of social progress
was being made. My year in Scotland changed things; it slowed me
down. That year taught me to actually get to know the people we served
in the community. As Henry Nouwen
refers to it, I was able to practice the
simple ministry of presence.
You took on an incredible challenge by

●

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

participating in the Put Foot Rally.
Why did you embark on this journey
and what did you learn from it? I was
fortunate enough to join four other
Americans as the only United States
team to compete in the rally.
Through the generosity of many, we
were able to raise funds to travel
more than 4,000 miles through six
African countries to provide shoes to
school children. We also remodeled
a school house in Zambia, providing
concrete floors, painting walls and
rebuilding desks. Many of these
children walk more than 20 miles a
day, round trip, to school. It serves
as a constant reminder that there
are always individuals in need and
our work is never done.
You serve on a lot of organizations to
help people. Where does that passion
for service come from? My parents.
At a very early age, they impressed
upon my brothers and me the importance of service. They taught us
while we should be thankful for what
we have, there were others who
were less fortunate and need a
helping hand.

Congratulates

Lisa Hostetler
Of

on being one of
the Midlands
20 Under 40!

803.758.4444

ResourceColumbia.com

803.563.5163
LawyerLisa.com

D11

Savage, Royall & Sheheen, LLP salutes
our new partner Michael Wright for his
recognition as one of The State’s 20 under 40.

D12

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

●

WWW.THESTATE.COM

●

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Age: 32

the moment you are in right now.

Occupation: Managing attorney at
LawyerLisa

My life changed when: I realized I was
in control of it. I realized at a pretty
young age that if I wanted anything in
life, I would need to go after it. Good
things don’t get handed down, you
have to be ambitious, hard-working,
and most of all, you have to have a
plan to get what you want. I have
always used difficult times in my life
as motivation.

Family: Two sisters in Greenville; two
dogs, Pearl and Bella
Education: Bethany College (Bethany,
W.Va.) B.A. political science summa
cum laude; USC Law J.D.
Community and professional highlights: Member, S.C. Women Lawyers
Association; member and presidentelect, Palmetto Land Title Association; social media chairwoman,
Rotary Club of Five Points; board,
Cooperative Ministries; Leadership
Columbia 2010; Leadership Lexington in 2012; NAMI Walk supporter;
special assistant attorney general
serving the Criminal Domestic Violence Pro Bono Prosecution Program
to prosecute domestic violence
offenders.
In my own words: So many people
just go through life, checking the box
and moving forward. Try to live with
purpose and intention. If something
isn’t going well, make a change.
Don’t just check the boxes. Find
something you love, go places, see
people, grow your mind and enjoy

What did you want to be when you
grew up? When I was 12 years old, I
decided I wanted to be a lawyer.
Once I knew what I wanted to do, I
pursued it with every choice I made. I
never had another plan. I just knew
what I wanted and did everything I
could to achieve it. When determination and passion come together, it’s
an unstoppable combination. The
best people in any field have a passion for what they do. I also think it
makes me a better lawyer because I
really love my work.
You left the security of a large law firm
to branch out on your own. What drove
that decision? And what kind of firm
have you created? I learned and grew
so much while working at my prior
firm. I give credit to the many men-

Will Johnson

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

Age: 34
Occupation: Shareholder, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd
Family: Single

Lisa M. Hostetler

Education: B.A., Wofford College;
J.D., University of South Carolina
School of Law; LL.M., New York
University School of Law
Community and professional high-

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

tors I had along the way. I learned so
much that I felt confident I could
effectively run a law firm of my own.
Starting my own firm wasn’t always
the plan, but the timing and circumstances were right, so I seized the

opportunity. I am so glad I did. I have
been able to create a firm that is
unlike many of the traditional law
firms in South Carolina. From the
firm name, “LawyerLisa,” to the
atmosphere we create for our clients,

lights: Young Professional of the Year
2014, Greater Columbia Chamber of
Commerce; Compleat Lawyer Silver
Award, USC School of Law Alumni
Association; past president of the
South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers
Division; board member and compliance chairman/secretary for Special
Olympics South Carolina; advisory
board, Honor Flight South Carolina.

found out that I was a tennis player,
she immediately tapped me to help
with Special Olympics. I have never
looked back. The experiences that I
have gained through Special Olympics have taught me a lot about
focusing on commonalities rather
than differences.

In my own words: I have had great
examples of community service to
follow from my earliest memories.
My grandfather was a World War II
veteran who helped capture the
island of Iwo Jima, a public school
teacher, a superintendent and later
mayor of Lake City. My grandmother
was a longtime public school teacher herself, as was my mother. My
father has epitomized public service
through community leadership
positions. Civic-mindedness is also
prevalent at Haynsworth Sinkler
Boyd. I hope that I can live up to the
examples that these mentors set.
My life changed when: I got to know
Sue Maner, the senior vice president
of Special Olympics, through Leadership Columbia in 2007. When she

You helped create a partnership to
bring together the young lawyers and
bankers of the community. Why is it
important to build those relationships? Lawyers and bankers are
inevitably involved in the projects
that have a transformative effect on
communities. My key focus while
leading the Young Lawyers Division
was on professional development.
Successful professional development initiatives have multiple positive benefits. At the individual level,
they allow young professionals to
become more effective at what they
do and to develop relationships with
like-minded people in the community. More broadly, given that young
people today are highly motivated to
be involved and make a difference in
their communities, we have to provide these kinds of opportunities in

{ 20 UNDER 40
this is a firm where clients aren’t
intimidated. When our clients feel
good about the legal experience,
they are more likely to ask questions
that allow us to provide them better
service, they are more likely to deal
with issues that they may be avoiding, and we can be more effective
when helping them.
You volunteer with various organizations, including the Cinderella Project
to provide prom dresses to girls who
need them. Why is it important to help
them have that prom experience where
they can feel special and confident? It
is important for young women to
develop self-confidence. Certain
experiences in life will shape who a
person becomes. Our goal with the
Cinderella Project is to provide high
school girls with prom dresses, shoes
and jewelry so they can participate in
this important milestone in their
lives. I don’t want their family’s economic situation to affect them because they can’t afford to buy a
dress for prom. Last year, we helped
over 400 girls in the Midlands find
dresses and the gratitude they expressed was worth more than they
could have ever paid.

order to avoid a migration of talent.
You work closely with Special Olympics South Carolina. Why is this cause
important to you? A profound moment for me came after setting up a
meeting a few years ago between
Gov. Haley and Travis Luthren, a
Special Olympics South Carolina
staff member and gold-medal winning athlete. Travis wanted to talk to
Gov. Haley about why ending the “R
word” is important to him. Not only
did Gov. Haley agree to meet with
Travis, but I sat in her office as she
listened intently to everything he had
to tell her. I expected that we would
be rushed out to make way for the
next meeting, but Gov. Haley did not
rush him in any way and treated him
with the same dignity and respect
that she would have shown to the
CEO of a big manufacturing company looking at locating a facility in
South Carolina. That meeting made
a lasting impression on me in terms
of what leadership looks like, and it
also epitomizes what Special Olympics is all about in ensuring the
dignity and importance of every
individual.

20 UNDER 40 }

WWW.THESTATE.COM

●

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Steve Eigenbrot

Age: 31
Occupation: Assistant athletics director, University of South Carolina
Family: Parents, Ed and Carol; sisters, Karen and Sara; brother, Joe;
and dog, Riley
Education: B.S. in finance, international business, University of Maryland; MBA and MSA, Ohio University;
Ph.D. in educational leadership,
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Professional and community highlights: Volunteer at the Oliver Gospel
Mission and the American Red
Cross; has raised more than $5
million for scholarships and new
facilities for Gamecock athletics in
the past three years.
What saying do you live by? There’s a
funny line in the movie “The Departed,” which I always find myself quoting. When Jack Nicholson’s character inquires about a patron’s dying
mother, he’s informed that she’s “on
the way out” to which he quips, “We
all are. Act accordingly.” The wisecrack may not be inspirational,

TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]

but I think it’s a good reminder to
stay humble and stay the course. As
a professional fundraiser, I think
that’s valuable advice because
you’re bound to hear a lot more of
“no” than “yes,” and you have to
stay motivated.

My life changed: As a high school
senior, when I lacerated my liver
playing football. It essentially ended
my shot at playing collegiate sports,
but set me out on a career path in
intercollegiate athletics for which I
am very thankful. I was in the hospi-

Fresh for the Season
1333 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
803-252-6714 | grangerowings.com

Whether work or leisure,
we have your personal style.

tal for a while and out of school for a
few months, so maybe it explains
why I like that quote so much, too.
What do you aspire to do? I want to
continue helping young people
achieve the benefits available to
them through higher education. As
the son of two college administrators, I came to see at a young age
that attending college is a transformational opportunity for a young
person. Our student-athletes here at
Carolina are no exception to that. So
to me, the opportunity to have a
career within higher education remains an aspiration of mine.
You work with the homeless in the
Midlands through the Oliver Gospel
Mission. How has working with this
group of men affected you? You can’t
spend much time around the mission without being reminded of the
power of positive thought. A lot of
the guys down there have been dealt
a rough hand, but they’re thankful
for what they have, the Mission and
our friendship. Some of them are
Clemson or Georgia fans, and the
smiles those guys get on their face

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

D13

when they razz me about a Gamecock loss are a great reminder of the
positive things sports can do for our
society.
You have been called one of the most
respected leaders in Gamecock athletics. Why is it important for college
students to have mentors and what do
you try to model to them? I’ve
learned a lot about leadership from
some amazing people in this industry and whatever I’ve learned I have
them to thank for that. On that note,
I think it’s important for any young
person to have strong mentors,
student-athletes or otherwise. Entering the workforce, young folks benefit a lot from strong examples of
work ethic, communication and how
to adapt to a professional work
environment – our team works hard
to establish those values, while also
having a good time so work doesn’t
feel like “work.” Our team also takes
a lot of pride in our undergraduate
interns who play a really important
role in helping Carolina athletics.
Their future successes are something that we all take pride in.

D14

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

Age: 38
Occupation: Veterinarian and partner
at Dutch Fork Animal Hospital
Family: Husband, Christopher; son,
Coleman, 5

●

WWW.THESTATE.COM

●

Emily M. Johnson

Education: B.S., Wofford College;
DVM, N.C. State College of Veterinary Medicine
Community and professional highlights: Member, Greater Columbia
Association of Veterinarians, secretary, 2009; South Carolina Veterinary Medical Association; American
Veterinary Medical Association;
Columbia Chapter of the Young
Survivor Coalition; Lake Murray SUP
Club; Our Lady of the Hills Catholic
Church
In my own words: My parents taught
me that if I could find something
that I loved to do and build my career around it, I would always enjoy
going to work. I have managed to
successfully build a career around a
deep appreciation of the human
animal bond. Also, becoming a
cancer survivor at a young age has
given me a sense of urgency to be

{ 20 UNDER 40

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]

sure everyone is aware that they are
not immune to cancer and to encourage self breast exams and
diligent screening.
What saying do you live by? Shortly
after my cancer treatment began,

my parents were in a consignment
shop where they saw a sign. I immediately smiled and actually relaxed a
bit upon reading the words, “Good
Morning! This is God; I will be handling all of your problems today. I will
not need your help. So, relax and

have a great day!”
My life changed when: At 34 years
old, I was happily married, had just
become a partner at Dutch Fork
Animal Hospital and was the proud
mother of a beautiful 18 month-old
boy when I found a lump in my left
breastand was diagnosed with stage
3A breast cancer. Becoming a survivor was a defining experience and a
period of real self-evaluation. Ultimately, I have emerged a stronger,
more thoughtful, more emotional
woman with an even more intense
desire to make connections with
people and share my experiences to
help ease their burdens.
Why is it so important to educate the
public on animal issues? Working with
Noah’s Arks (pet rescue) has taught
me a lot about how to practice and
advocate for my patients. It is so
important for people to understand
what a commitment taking on a pet
should be and the dedication emotionally and financially that are
involved. Also, through PAALS, Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Service,
we provide medical care for dogs as

inmates train them to provide assistance for people living with disabilities. The inmates are transformed
through training the dogs.
When you were diagnosed with breast
cancer, you continued to work and
also took up stand-up paddle boarding. Why? Continuing to work was
truly a form of therapy to give me an
escape from the reality that I was
living. The moment I walked into
Dutch Fork, I was able to forget the
outside world and enjoy the company of my colleagues. We were able to
find humor in pranks and joking
about my hormonal swings, hot
flashes and how lucky I was to get a
boob job. Also, the moment that I
got onto a paddleboard for the first
time, I was hooked. The motion
needed to paddle was perfect to
help me regain strength and range
of motion after multiple mastectomies. The beauty that I found paddling Lake Murray helped to
strengthen my faith, allowed me to
immerse myself in nature and provided a perfect distraction from the
stresses of being a survivor.

20 UNDER 40 }
Age: 33
Occupation: Director of Governmental Affairs at the Palmetto State
Teachers Association

WWW.THESTATE.COM

●

Craig Quentin King

Family: Son of Thomas and Paulette
King; three brothers, Carlton, Chris
and Curtis
Education: B.S. in elementary education and M.A. in rehabilitation counseling from S.C. State University;
currently pursuing Ed.D in curriculum and instruction from the University of South Carolina
Community and professional highlights: Founder of Craig Q. King’s
Celebration of Life Gala; head counselor, Camp Kemo; patient advocate,
American Cancer Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; assistant director of children’s ministry, The Brook Columbia;
founder of the Saving Our Boys
Seminar; 2007-2008 Orangeburg
Consolidated School District 5 District Teacher of the Year; 2008
Charlie Dickerson Community Service Award; education consultant,
Thurgood Marshall College Fund

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Who is your inspiration? My mother
and father. My sense of humor and
love for education comes directly
from my mother. She is one of the
funniest people I know. Patience,
kindness, and compassion are a few
of the many things I learned from my
father.
My life changed: In the summer of
1999 when I was making up my bed
and hit my leg on the bed post. This
experience led to a diagnosis of
osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer).
My college plans were put on hold
and I spent the next year receiving
chemotherapy, almost dying because of an allergic reaction to it
and learning how to walk again. My
purpose was revealed to me during
my battle and victory over cancer
and it was simple: to serve others!

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

In my own words: The fierce urgency
of now is why I do what I do. I’m
fortunate to serve in a position that
allows me to advocate for public
education. My community involve-

ment stems from my desire to serve
others. In the words of Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr., “Everybody
can be great, because everybody
can serve.”

Congratulations to
Craig King, Director of

Governmental Affairs at
Palmetto State Teachers
Association, on being named
one of The State Newspaper’s
20 under 40!
under

Where does your heart for children
stem from? My village, aka The King
Family. Service to others was engrained into my character early in
life. My parents, grandparents, and
the rest of my village ensured we
understood to humbly serve others
is one of the most important things

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

D15

you can do in life. Being able to
teach children, mentor kids with
cancer and deliver motivational
speeches across our wonderful state
and nation are all blessings I cherish. I have always viewed my innate
ability to connect with people, especially children, as a direct gift from
God. It’s just as important for me to
provide opportunities for others to
serve because it is not about what
Craig can do individually, but what a
group of like minded individuals can
do collectively.
Why is it important for you to give
back to fighting cancer? Craig Q.
King’s Celebration of Life was founded to support finding a cure, celebrate cancer survivors and to remember those who are no longer
here because of cancer. Knowing I
could have lost my life to cancer at
age 17 motivates me daily to continue the fight until we have a cure. I
refuse to sit on the sidelines while
there are kids and adults fighting
this horrible disease. My dedication
to defeat cancer is renewed each
day I am blessed to wake up.

D16

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

●

WWW.THESTATE.COM

●

Chakisse Newton

Community and professional highlights: Board member, Friends of
Richland Library and the United Way
of the Midlands; Liberty Fellow;
Furman University Riley Diversity
Leadership Fellow; Leadership
Columbia graduate; Blueprint for
Leadership graduate; 2014 Palmetto TWIN Award; 2012 Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Young Leader of the Year; 2010
President’s Volunteer Service Award;
finalist, Toastmasters International
World Championship of Public
Speaking (2009 and 2005).

TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]

Age: 39
Occupation: Assistant vice president
of Marketing Communications,
Midlands Technical College

{ 20 UNDER 40

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Family: Married to John Lowry; two
sons, Max, 8, and Luke, 5
Education: B.A. Boston University,
summa cum laude with distinction

Who was your inspiration? My mother. She was an inspiration to me
and many others because she took
some very difficult life circumstances and bore them with such grace
that she made it look easy. All the
while, she was hard working, full of
love and energy, and absolutely
tireless in her giving to others. Her
love and support were unshakable
foundations in my life, and I feel
very lucky to be her daughter and to
have known her.

My life changed when: Almost half of
my time in college was spent studying abroad in Madrid, Spain and
Quito, Ecuador. Learning another
language helped me process ideas
in a new way and forced me to
become a more creative communicator. Living in two other countries
and being exposed to new cultures
and value systems helped me to
see the world from a different perspective and made me a more
critical thinker. Singing happy birthday to a friend with a group of Americans, Spaniards and South Americans was chaos because the Spanish version is different from the
Latin American version. We all
laughed, but it was just one of many
examples that show that just because you speak the same language, you can't assume that people do things the same way.
Public speaking is the No. 1 fear of
many people, yet you’ve been recognized as one of the 10 best speakers
in the world. How did you accomplish
that? My family loves to say that I

could talk before I could walk, but
true communication is a skill that I
had to work at. The first key to success is to remember that people
don’t want perfection; they want
connection. Audiences will always
prefer the speaker who stutters and
stumbles but makes a personal
connection over the perfectly polished presenter who operates on
auto-pilot. The second strategy is to
take the spotlight off yourself and
shine it on your audience. Everyone
wins that way.
You helped establish Table for Six,
which brings together established
leaders with young professionals.
Why is mentoring important for both?
Relationships are what make the
world go round. What makes COR’s
Table for Six so great is that it’s not
a “stuffy” networking event, but
rather a starting place for relationship building between and among
the age groups. It’s important to
have relationships with people you
can call in specific situations to
leverage their experience and it
doesn’t matter how old you are.

EntertainmentGuide.
EveryThursday.

Home Delivery. Popular Store Locations. Racks Around Town.

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Age: 35
Occupation: Owner, Jamie Scott
Fitness
Family: Single

WWW.THESTATE.COM

●

Jamie Scott

Education: B.S. in retail, University of
South Carolina; master’s of counseling education and education specialist in administration, S.C. State
University
Community and professional highlights: Board member at Mental
Illness Recovery Center Inc. (MIRCI);
nutritional counselor and head
strength coach at Hammond School;
partner with local restaurants to
endorse healthy meals; former
Gamecock football player
In my own words: There is no better
gift than to have the ability to
change people’s lives. I really enjoy
motivating people and inspiring
them to live healthier lives. It also
allows me the opportunity to cultivate meaningful and influential
relationships.
What saying do you live by? Daily, I
am fortunate to work with an outstanding staff at Jamie Scott Fitness

TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]

and wear comfortable workout
clothes all day — what’s not to love!
Therefore, I would say, “I am living
the dream!” In addition, my parents
have always inspired me to be great,
almost to a fault. They’ve displayed

love, kindness, and grit. Even though
I fall short in many of those areas, I
strive daily to become more like
them. To this day they challenge me
daily not to find fault in others but to
question how I can become a better

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

person.
My life changed: After a somewhat
successful freshman year at USC,
we had a coaching change. In 1999,
I remember sitting across from
coach (Lou) Holtz, the legendary
football icon, when he told me I
should quit and transfer because I
didn’t have a chance at South Carolina. I fought and found a way to
contribute to the team. That conversation ignited a spark in me that I
never knew I had. Thanks, Coach,
you made me a winner!
What did you want to be when you
grew up? Growing up I thought I
wanted to be a doctor, but I quickly
realized I had a phobia of blood and
needles. At that point I decided that
being a doctor wasn’t a good idea. I
then realized the power of a
spreadsheet.
You have a commitment to fitness and
helping other live a healthy lifestyle.
Why is that so important? There is no
better feeling than knowing you’ve
enhanced the quality of someone’s

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

D17

life. I’m honored to be able to share
this experience with our clients at
Jamie Scott Fitness. When someone
truly commits to fitness, they commit
to cross-training, which is the key
component in health and wellness. I
have traveled to Boston, New York,
Connecticut, Phoenix and Los Angeles, exposing our clients to the
best classes in the United States. I
take pride in helping our clients
reach their fitness goals.
You are a very busy entrepreneur, but
you take time each Sunday to drive to
Mullins to play the organ in your
father’s church service. How long
have you been doing this and why is it
so important to you? Luke 16:10
says, “He that is faithful in which is
least, is also faithful in much.” I
believe this Bible verse is tied to how
successful one can become. I grew
up in Mullins and my family is very
important to me. Being with them in
church on Sundays and playing the
organ for the past seven years is a
blessing. The good Lord and my
family have given me the tools that I
need to be successful in this life.

D18

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

Age: 36
Occupation: Resource development
division director, United Way of the
Midlands

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WWW.THESTATE.COM

●

Murray Coleman

the world.” Author Marianne Williamson. Professional: “Success is never
owned; it’s rented. And the rent is
due every day.” Author Rory Vaden.
My life changed: During my junior
year at UNC-CH, I was asked to run
as a write-in candidate for the thirdhighest elected student position.
What began as me responding to a
simple request quickly became my
entry into servant leadership. As
campaign manager for the the next
senior class president and the election in less than three days, timing
and teamwork were critical. The
opportunity to work with such an
amazing group of people to achieve
something bigger than each of us
left a permanent mark on me on
what leadership is all about!

Family: wife, Samantha; son, Garner,
3
Education: Business management
and society, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
Community and professional highlights: Co-chairwoman, Columbia
Carolina (UNC) Alumni Club; board
member, West Metro Rotary Club
and Columbia Opportunity Resource;
member, United Way of the Midland’s Young Leader Society; Leadership Lexington County 2013 and
alumni association; soon to be
graduate, Non-Profit Leadership
Institute, Francis Marion University
In my own words: As I grew up in the
Midlands, I was able to experience
many wonderful things that our state
and region had to offer. When I
made the decision to attend college
outside of the state, I vowed to come
back to Columbia and help the
community that I called home. I had

{ 20 UNDER 40

THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

never envisioned what working in
the non-profit sector would mean to
me and all the people’s lives that I
would help touch. It’s truly an honor
and privilege to have the opportunity

to serve the community that I was
raised in.
What saying do you live by? Personal:
“Your playing small does not serve

You have the job of persuading people
in the business community to donate
to the United Way. Why is philanthropy
so important to quality of life in the
Midlands? Merriam-Webster defines
philanthropy as “the practice of
giving money and time to help make
life better for other people.” Personally, I feel that “other people” may

encompass any of us at a certain
point in one’s life. The notion of
“giving back” is inherently part of
any flourishing community, one
comprised of citizens who are both
technically competent and civically
minded. The connecting role I play is
to simply educate businesses and
individuals on what options are
available to them and how their
contribution can make the largest
impact in the community we call
home. American education reformer
Horace Mann said it best in that
“doing nothing for others is the
undoing of ourselves.”
You volunteer with several organizations. Is giving of time just as important to the community as giving money? Why? Chilean-American novelist
Isabel Allende once said “We only
have what we give.” Whether it’s
your time or your finances, the fact
that you took the time to engage in
the well-being of your fellow man is
an important first step. Since giving
is a personal decision, I only ask
that people take this into consideration and give what they can.

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WWW.THESTATE.COM

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THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Lauren Truslow

Age: 31
Occupation: Owner of barre3
Columbia
Family: Husband, Neal; daughter,
Peyton, 2
Education: B.S. in marketing and
management, University of South
Carolina
Community and professional highlights: Vice president of community,
Junior League; has served on numerous boards of directors; mentored at children’s homes. Teaches
fitness to children of Epworth Children’s Home, the lawyers at The Bar
Convention and youth and families
in Junior League projects. Hosts
classes that are 100 percent donation based.
In my own words: I go to my job every
day and get to do what I love, and
that is the best feeling in the world. I
get to lift people up, educate them
on nutrition, all while setting an
example for living an active and fit
lifestyle every day. I have also found
through emails, texts and phone
calls that I am bringing such happi-

TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]

ness, joy and change to so many
lives.
What saying do you live by? “Work
hard, play hard!” Bringing barre3 to
Columbia, and running barre3 has
required preparation and hard work

every step of the way, but I always
make a concerted effort to stop and
enjoy life as well. At barre3, we talk
a lot about taking time out for ourselves – often we feel selfish when
we take some time out just for our-

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selves, but this is a misconception.
Though I work long hours (early in
the morning, late at night, seven
days a week), this business recognizes the importance of it taking
time to enjoy your family, friends and
life. I love the simple things in life –
going to the park with my daughter
and husband, cheering on my Gamecocks, and going to dinner with
friends (just to name a few). You
have to work hard, but you also have
to make sure that life doesn't pass
you by.
My life changed: In the fall of 2013
when my husband and I started
chatting about the future and what I
wanted to do when “I grew up.” I was
extremely passionate about fitness
but was unsure how I could make it
into a career. After thoroughly researching ideas and options, we
decided to take a leap of faith and
open a barre3 studio in Columbia.
We never looked back.
You came from the corporate world to
open your own fitness studio. What
was that experience like? I worked as
a pharmaceutical representative

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

D19

immediately after graduation from
Carolina in 2005. Working in a sales
position for Lilly was a great learning
experience on so many fronts. Every
day, I interacted with so many different people and personalities. Lilly
fostered and encouraged us to
essentially run our own business
and marketing plans. I gained the
confidence and the ability to be able
to talk to anyone, anywhere. I believe
that every challenge that you undertake in life prepares you for the next
stage. I credit Lilly with growing me
as a leader and giving me the confidence to follow my dreams.
What drives your spirit of giving? My
parents provided my sisters and me
with every opportunity, and they
taught us about the importance of
giving back to those who need it the
most. I feel fortunate to have had
such a great life, and have sought
out service work in every phase of
my life. Once you see the smiles on
the children’s faces or deliver Christmas dinner to a children’s home, you
get hooked on making a difference
in people’s lives.

D20

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

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WWW.THESTATE.COM

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THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

Ben Wilson

GERRY MELENDEZ/[email protected]

Age: 33

Brooks, 3

Occupation: President, Bobbitt Design Build

Education: B.S. in business, The
Citadel

Family: Wife, Jill; daughter, Mary

Community involvement: Donating

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labor to build a 3,400-square-foot
building for the Family Shelter, an
emergency shelter for homeless
families; chairman, Growing Home
Southeast board of directors; chairman of the Steering Committee for
the Midlands’ branch of the U.S.
Green Building Council; vice president of the Columbia Executive and
Owners Association.

his retirement so that our family
would be planted in one place for my
high school years. This allowed me
to have a place I could finally call
home and build lasting relationships, and one that would help
shape my future. Also, the challenges and hardships that a cadet at The
Citadel goes through prepares them
for any and all future endeavors.
In my own words: It is important that Graduating from a school built
around structure, discipline, charwe all serve our communities. It is
acter and core values is one of the
our civic duty, and I have chosen to
accomplishments that I am most
volunteer my time to local nonprofits that I believe make an impact proud of, and a truly life changing
within our community. It has enabled event. The network available to
Citadel graduates is immense and
me to grow both professionally and
devoted to helping other graduates
personally.
further their careers through mentorWhat saying do you live by? “If everyship and guidance.
one is moving forward together, then
The building industry has undergone
success takes care of itself.” Henry
major changes in the past decade with
Ford. The quote speaks for itself.
a focus on sustainability. Why is this
Businesses don’t succeed without
important and how will it improve the
being a team. Everyone has an
important role on the team that they quality of life in S.C. and beyond? The
construction industry is ever evolvmust execute for success.
ing, and the focus on green/sustainMy life changed when: My father
able building and design is a worthy
retired from the military. He planned one. There have been several stud-

{ 20 UNDER 40
ies on sustainable construction, but
the bottom line is that buildings are
major energy users, water users,
waste producers and contributors to
emissions. Sustainable construction
has been proven to have environmental, economic and social benefits. Some of those benefits include
protecting our fragile ecosystems,
reducing the waste stream, lower
operating costs, improved worker
productivity, increased property
values and more. Whether in S.C.,
the U.S., or globally, we all need to
strive to keep sustainable initiatives
at the forefront to protect both our
natural resources and our people.
You donate time and services to
groups that have a big impact on
struggling families. What drives this
involvement? Having been privileged
to have two wonderful, loving and
supportive parents and understanding the impact that family has on a
child’s development, I have focused
my efforts around helping less fortunate children and families overcome
their hardships and helping them
realize the potential they have.