Nikki Randhawa Haley was inaugurated as the 116th Governor of South Carolina in 2011.

One of the strongest fiscal conservatives in state government, Governor Haley was first elected to represent the 87th District in Lexington County in 2004, when, as a virtual unknown, she beat the longest serving state legislator in a Republican primary. In 2008, Representative Haley was sent back to the Statehouse with 83 percent of the vote – the highest percentage earned by any lawmaker facing a contested South Carolina election that year. She won the Republican Party nomination for governor on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

For her efforts to cut taxes and slow the growth of government spending, Governor Haley has been named “Friend of the Taxpayer” (2009) by the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers and a “Taxpayer Hero” (2005) by then-Governor Mark Sanford. She has lifetime “A” ratings from the South Carolina Club for Growth, the Palmetto Family Council, and the National Rifle Association. Governor Haley has also received the Palmetto Leadership Award from the South Carolina Policy Council for her expertise on policy matters and the Strom Thurmond Excellence in Public Service and Government Award from the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women for the outstanding constituent service she provided to her district.

Born in Bamberg, South Carolina, the daughter of Indian immigrants, Governor Haley’s first job was keeping the books for her family’s clothing store – at the age of 13. She went on to graduate from Clemson University with a B.S. degree in accounting and, following her graduation, worked as Accounting Supervisor for the Charlotte, North Carolina based corporation FCR, Inc. and five of its subsidiaries. Governor Haley then went back to the family business where she helped oversee its growth into a multi-million dollar operation.

Governor Haley and her husband, Michael, have two children, Rena, 13, and Nalin, 10.

Kevin Shwedo was appointed to the Governor’s Cabinet by Governor Nikki Haley on January 14, 2011 and confirmed to lead the Department of Motor Vehicles by the South Carolina Senate on February 10, 2011.

Prior to his appointment as the SCDMV Executive Director, Colonel Shwedo was the Deputy Commanding Officer of the United States Army Training Center at Fort Jackson. He retired from the United States Army in January with 32 years of service. During his career, he served in various leadership and developmental positions within the Army.

In previous assignments, he served as a project officer at the U.S. Army Infantry School and later as a platoon leader in the 197th Infantry Brigade. He moved to Germany where he commanded two infantry companies. Colonel Shwedo then taught leadership at the U.S. Army Engineer School for two years and later served as the Senior Combat Arms Analyst to the Director of Officer Personnel Management at the Total Army Personnel Command in Alexandria, Virginia. At Fort Carson, Colorado, he served as a Battalion S-3 for 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment. Following graduation from the Command and General Staff College in 1991, Colonel Shwedo was assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana and served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Battalion S-3 and Executive Officer for the 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment and the S-3 for the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division.

In El Paso, Texas, Colonel Shwedo served as the Director of Personnel and Deputy Chief of Staff for Joint Task Force Six. In July 1995, he moved to South Carolina where he took command of the 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment at Fort Jackson. He then served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 for the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) during the Division Advanced Warfighting Experiment. After graduating from the Army War College in 1999, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Forces Command in Atlanta where he served as the Special Assistant and Speechwriter to the Commanding General of United States Army Forces Command in Atlanta, Georgia. Colonel Shwedo then successfully commanded the largest Basic Combat Training Brigade on the Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Following command, Colonel Shwedo was reassigned to Fort Monroe, Virginia for duty as both the Chief of the TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command) Commanding General's Planning Group, followed by selection to become the G-3 (Director of Operations, Plans and Training) for United States Army Accessions Command.

His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with seven Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters) and Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service).

Colonel Shwedo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1978) and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. He was designated a Distinguished Military Graduate from Valley Forge Military Junior College in 1976. His military schooling includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advance Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, Joint Military Professional Education and the United States Army War College.

Colonel Shwedo and his wife Beth reside in Columbia. They have two children, Cameron and Ryan.

Mikee Johnson is CEO and President of Cox Industries, a family-owned business specializing in the manufacturing and global distribution of the pressure-treated wood business. With 16 plants and over 400 employees, Cox Industries provides pressure-treated wood products to the pro-build residential construction markets and the electric utility industry. In an industry where environmental conscientiousness is constantly assailed, the fifty-five year-old Cox Industries has led the global treated-wood market with a reputation that bespeaks quality and integrity and is one the top three producers in the United States and the World.

As CEO, Mr. Johnson is responsible for the development and implementation of the business’ strategy. In such capacity, Mr. Johnson has led a large traditional organization to understand and begin to adapt sustainability as part of its business practices and culture. The organization has active processes designed to not just promote but incorporate sustainable concepts into its manufacturing, product design-development and supply chain configuration. Mr. Johnson has led this initiative not only at the Board level but through the daily operating environment. The company has realized significant economic and social value from their initiatives to date.

Mr. Johnson serves on the Executive Committees of the American Wood Protection Association, the Treated Wood Council and the Southern Pressure Treaters’ Association. Mr. Johnson also serves on the Executive Committee of the Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts of American and the State Membership Chair for Young Presidents’ Organization. Mr. Johnson Chairs the State Workforce Investment Board at the request of Governor Haley and is currently the Scoutmaster of Troop 45 in Orangeburg.

Mr. Johnson previously served as the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce in Orangeburg, the Chair of the Orangeburg March of Dimes, the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Committee, and many other civic groups. He currently serves as a Board member of the Original Six Foundation.

Mr. Johnson graduated from Furman University in 1994 earned an MBA from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School Business and a Masters in the field of family business from Kennesaw State. He enjoys the outdoors and is an avid reader. He resides in Orangeburg, SC with his wife Cyndi and son, Brady.

Pamela P. Lackey is president of AT&T in South Carolina, responsible for the company’s regulatory, economic development, legislative and community affairs activities in the stat

e. She has been with AT&T, or its predecessor BellSouth, for 14 years. Prior to becoming President in 2007, she was Director-Government Relations, working directly with members of the S.C. General Assembly on public policy matters.

From 1997 to 2001, Lackey was sales manager for education and government markets for AT&T and was instrumental in helping to establish the state’s K-12 Technology Network that provides high speed broadband circuits to all schools and libraries. Prior to the communications industry, Lackey was a professional educator. She was a school library media specialist in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Greenville, SC, before joining the SC Department of Education, where she was a senior assistant to the State Superintendent of Education.

In November 2011, she was named the 2011 Business Leader of the year by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the highest award bestowed by the state’s largest business and industry trade association.

Lackey has been involved in leadership roles in many community and civic organizations, including the Junior League of Greenville and Columbia, the ETV Endowment of South Carolina, and the Palmetto Center for Women’s Business Advisory Committee. She serves on numerous boards, including the boards of the Central S.C. Alliance, Governor’s School for the Arts, and the Hollings Cancer Center Advisory Board. Appointed to the Research Centers of Excellence Review Board by Senator Glenn F. McConnell, president pro tempore of the State Senate, she chaired and served from 2007-2011. She was appointed to the S.C. Ports Authority Board by Governor Haley this year and confirmed by the Senate.

A native of Meridian, MS, she attended the University of Alabama, where she was awarded a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master of Library Science and an Ed.S in school media supervision.

Lackey is a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral where she serves on the Altar Guild. She is married with two children and five grandchildren, all of whom she claims as her own.

Bob Paulling is president and CEO of Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative (MCEC) in Lexington. He came to MCEC from Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) where he served as CEO for almost nine years. From 1993-2000, he was an operations engineer at MCEC.

Paulling is a board member for the following organizations: Central Electric Power Cooperative; Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina; South Carolina Power Team; Cooperative Electric Energy Utility Supply, Line Equipment Sales; Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Area Commission (Chairman); Lower Savannah Education and Business Alliance; Lower Savannah Regional Education Commission.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Calhoun County recognized Paulling as a South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development in 2012. He holds an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Clemson University.

Patrick Wilson McKinney was appointed by Governor Haley in June of 2011 to the Board of Directors for the State Ports Authority. His career has involved South Carolina coastal real estate sales and development.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, McKinney graduated from Georgia State University with a B.B.A. in marketing before moving to the South Carolina. In 1988, McKinney successfully organized a group of investors and wrote the financial plan that allowed the purchase of Kiawah Island for $105 million from the Kuwait Investment Company. Since then, McKinney has been a partner in Kiawah’s master developer, Kiawah Partners, and now is semi-retired as Managing Partner of its real estate affiliate, Kiawah Island Real Estate. Since becoming a partner in Kiawah Island in 1988, total residential sales have exceeded $1.5 billion.

In addition to real estate, McKinney is actively involved in the development of coastal golf courses in South Carolina and abroad. McKinney served on the Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association, the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Golf Association, and as Advisory General Chairman of the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island.

McKinney’s extensive involvement in the community has him currently serving on the boards of directors for First Tee of Greater Charleston, The Horizon Project, and Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah of San Diego, California. His past leadership experiences include sitting on the boards of Water Missions International, Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy, the South Carolina State Board of Education, Charleston Trident Chamber of Commerce, and Furman University.

McKinney resides in Charleston with his wife. Their three grown daughters also live in South Carolina.

E. Smyth McKissick, III is the Chairman & CEO of Alice Manufacturing Company in Easley, SC. Mr. McKissick currently serves as a trustee of Clemson University, Co-Chair of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, and an independent Director of the Peoples Bancorp Inc. He is a past Chairman of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance and a past Chairman of the National Council of Textile Organizations. He is a graduate of Clemson University and has an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina.

Mike Sisk has spent his 12-year career in the beverage alcohol industry with The Charmer Sunbelt Group, joining Ben Arnold in 1999 as the company’s vice president of finance. He was promoted to executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer, the position he holds today.

Prior to joining Ben Arnold, Sisk worked with such companies as Arthur Andersen, Elliot Davis, and Standard Corporation. He is a South Carolina Certified Public Accountant.

In addition, Sisk is a member of the Wells Fargo Bank Midlands Advisory Board and a member of the Midlands Technical College Foundation Board in addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of Leadership South Carolina. He formerly served as chairman of the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Pro-AM Golf Tournament and as chairman of the Midlands Regional Education Center Advisory Board.

Sisk, his wife, and two sons live in Lexington.

Hal William Stevenson was born in Rock Hill and graduated from Wofford College in 1981. After a short stint in banking in Columbia, he entered the outdoor advertising business and worked in multiple markets across the country before returning to South Carolina in 1987.

Stevenson is the CEO of Grace Outdoor, which operates over 350 billboards in the southeast. He was an early adopter of digital billboards and serves on the Digital Outdoor Committee of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America.

Currently, Stevenson also serves on the boards of the South Carolina Scenic Highway Committee, the Palmetto Family Council, the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council, and the Rotary Club of Columbia. He is also the Vice-Chairman of the Small Business Committee of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and is a charter member of the South Carolina Christian Chamber of Commerce. Actively involved at his church, Columbia Crossroads Downtown Church, he works with Mission Carolina, an inter-church cooperative ministry focusing on church planting around the state.

Stevenson and his wife have five children.

Mr. McLawhorn has been president and chief executive officer of the Columbia Urban League since 1979. Under Mr. McLawhorn’s leadership, the Columbia Urban League has been recognized locally and nationally as a pacesetter for its advocacy and programmatic expertise in promoting youth leadership development for disadvantaged and foster care youths, along with its advocacy and leadership efforts in the area of equal opportunity and social justice. Known as the largest non-profit provider of youth career work experience in South Carolina, the League and its leader have received several awards for its youth leadership development programs.

Mr. McLawhorn is a leading public policy advocate for promoting social justice and equal opportunity. He initiated the acclaimed Columbia Urban League’s publication The State of Black South Carolina: An Action Agenda for the Future. During the 2010 National Urban League Centennial Conference, the Columbia Urban League along with Mr. McLawhorn received the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Leadership Award for Advancing Racial Relations and the National Urban League’s President’s Award for public policy advocacy. Additionally, he is a 2012 recipient of the Columbia Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. Achievement Award.

Mr. McLawhorn serves on several boards, including past chair of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee for Minority Veterans, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina Medicaid Advisory Board, Absolute Total Care, Fort Jackson Equal Opportunity Committee, Keenan School Improvement Council, and others. Also, he was a charter member of the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Order of the Palmetto, the highest award given to a citizen in the state of South Carolina. Additionally, Mr. McLawhorn is an eagle scout and an inductee in the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame. Mr. McLawhorn received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from North Carolina A&T University, Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami at Coral Gables. In April 2012, Mr. McLawhorn received a professional Director Certification by the Corporate Directors Group and the American College of Corporate Directors.

He and his wife Barbara Campbell McLawhorn are the proud parents of Karla (Eric) Hawkins, James III, and Mark and grandparents of Eric Hawkins, Jr., Bryson James Hawkins, and Khabir and Judah McLawhorn. They are members of Saint John Baptist Church in Columbia, SC.

Anita Zucker is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She received a Master of Education degree from the University of North Florida in Educational Administration and Supervision.

Anita taught elementary school for over ten years and now serves as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer for The InterTech Group, Inc. She also owns the Carolina Ice Palace, the Original Ms. Rose’s Fine Food and Cocktails, Tristan restaurant on Market Street, and the South Carolina Stingrays.

Anita is a past President of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, and of The Education Foundation of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (Anita is one of the founders of The Education Foundation). She also chaired the Drug-Free Workplace Program and participated in the School to Work Task Force. Anita is a past vice-president of Education and Leadership and formerly chaired the Business Education Council, and the Business Education Partnership Committee.

Ms. Zucker serves on The Coastal Community Foundation Board and is a past President. She also serves as a trustee (the first woman) of the Saul Alexander Foundation and The Jewish Endowment Fund, which are supporting organizations of The Coastal Community Foundation.

In addition, Anita is a past board & executive board member of the Trident United Way. She is also past board chair, past chair of the Strategic planning committee, past campaign chair and past chair of the Community Building Committee. She has recently rejoined the Trident United Way Board and served as chairperson for the 2008 Day of Caring. Anita also served as the Tocqueville Society chair for the 2009 campaign.

Anita is a past chairperson with ten years of service on the Advisory Board of the Charleston Area HUB for Math, Science, and Technology which was located at The College of Charleston. This organization worked with teachers, pre and post graduation, to enhance their science, math, and technology skills in the classroom.

Ms. Zucker was appointed to the Trident Technical College Area Commission by the legislative delegation in October 2007, where she continues to serve as a trustee. She is a former member of the Trident Technical College Foundation Board and Executive Board and is a past chairperson. She was a ten-year member of the Advisory Board of the College of Charleston’s School of Languages and World Culture. She has been on the College of Charleston’s Board of Governors of the School of Business for over ten years and is the immediate past chairperson.

Ms. Zucker served on the board of Jewish Studies, Inc. which built the Jewish Studies Building at the College of Charleston. She has also served for many years on the Jewish Studies Advisory Board (where she is now a life member), almost since its inception. She has served on the boards of the Addlestone Hebrew Academy, Porter Gaud School and Ashley Hall School. Ms. Zucker is also past president of the Charleston Jewish Federation. She is also a member of the Committee for the Holocaust Memorial at Marion Square and past fundraising chair. She served as the Adult board chair of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, as president of Synagogue Emanu-El Sisterhood, and as president of Women’s American ORT. She also served as a member of the Trident Public Education Foundation, as a past member of the South Carolina Business Education Partnership Committee for Excellence in Education, and as a past member and former chair of the South Carolina Network of Business Partners for Education.

Ms. Zucker is the immediate past chair of the Medical University of South Carolina Foundation and is a past chairperson of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee of the Hollings Cancer Center. Ms. Zucker is a Director Emeritus for both of these organizations and she currently chairs a new advisory board for the Neuroscience Department. She also served as a past member of the first “Race For the Cure” Committee. Anita also was co-chair and honorary chair of the YWCA Steering Committee for TWIN (Tribute to Women in Business and Industry). She is a founder of and past co-chair of Tiffany Circle in Charleston, a national women’s society established by the Red Cross. She has served on numerous other boards throughout the state and community.

Ms. Zucker is also a member of the Rotary Club of Charleston and is a past president of her club. She has received the Rotarian of the Year Award from Rotary District 7770 and has received the Service Above Self Award from the Rotary Club of Charleston and from the North Charleston Rotary Club.

Ms. Zucker currently serves on the board of Teammates For Kids Foundation.

Ms. Zucker is also the recipient of The Book of Golden Deeds award presented by The Exchange Club of Charleston.

As of October of 2005, Ms. Zucker was appointed by Governor Mark Sanford and served as a member of the Education and Economic Development Coordinating Council of the State. The EEDACC is charged with implementing the legislation for this bill which was passed in May of 2005. This legislation will impact K-16 Education in the State of South Carolina. In May of 2012 Secretary of Commerce, Bobby Hitt, appointed Ms. Zucker to the SC Aerospace Task Force to work on a strategic plan for the State, dealing with workforce development and infrastructure.

Ms. Zucker is also Vice Chair of The Charleston Promise Neighborhood Board which was formed in 2010 to work with four high poverty schools in Charleston County. Ms. Zucker is also chair of a new education endeavor to create a cradle to career entity for improving education in our region.

Ms. Zucker is a recipient of the following awards, just to name a few: the “Order of the Palmetto” presented by Governor David Beasley for her dedication to education, an honorary Doctorate of Education degree, presented by the Citadel in May 1998 for her dedication to the field of education, and a Doctor of Humane letters presented in 1999 by Johnson and Wales University.

Ms. Zucker is a recipient of the Malcolm D. Haven award from The Community Foundation presented in October of 2000 for her contributions and accomplishments for the betterment of the Tri-county community. She is also a recipient of the Joseph P. Riley Leadership Award presented by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce in June of 2001. Ms. Zucker is the recipient of numerous other awards including the Charleston Jewish Federation’s inaugural “Light Unto the Nations” award honoring both Mr. and Ms. Zucker and the South Carolina Ambassadors for Economic Development for Charleston County presented by Governor Sanford in September of 2008 and most recently, the Champions for Education Award (which has been renamed, The Zucker Champions for Education Award).

Further, Ms. Zucker is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the President’s Award from the University of Florida. Ms. Zucker also holds honorary doctoral degrees from the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina.

In January of 2013, Ms. Zucker received the Wilkins Award for Excellence in Civic Leadership.

Anita is the widow of Jerry Zucker. She has three children, Jonathan and his wife, Laura, Andrea and her husband, Nicolas Muzin, and Jeffrey and his wife, Jessica. Anita now has five grandchildren, Stella, Daisy and Jerry M. Muzin and Jeremy and Gabriella Zucker.

Brigadier General Abraham Turner was appointed by Governor Nikki Haley to serve as the Executive Director of the SC Department of Employment and Workforce in 2011.

Prior to his current assignment, General Turner was Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia. Other previous assignments include serving as Commanding General, U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson, Ft. Jackson, S.C.; assistant Chief of Staff, C-3, Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Camp Doha, Kuwait; assistant Division Commander (Operations), 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; and Chief, House Legislative Liaison Division, Office of the Chief, Legislative Liaison, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

General Turner's combat experiences include a combat jump into Panama during Operation Just Cause; a deployment during Operations Desert Shield ; and most recently, deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

General Turner was born and raised in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina to Reverend Joseph Turner, Sr. and Maggie Turner. After graduating from South Carolina State University, he accepted a commission into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1976. Later, while attending the U.S. Army War College, he earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University, Pennsylvania.

General Turner is married with three children.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!