South Carolina Business Review

Late last year, our state’s most recent InnoVision awards were announced and our next guest’s company finished first in the small business category.  Mike Switzer interviews Ben Dillard, CEO of SkilRedi in Greenville, SC.

As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, our state, which played a significant role in the revolution, is doing the same.  Which should mean a sizable bump in tourism business.  Mike Switzer interviews Rick Wise, executive director of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust in Camden, SC.  Resources: Liberty Trail and SC 250th Commiss...

While it’s getting to be quite well known that our state is a leader in the number of people moving here, creating record numbers of new homeowners, we are also leading the nation in evictions and foreclosures.  Which is why our next guest’s state agency is working hard to increase the number of affordable homes.  Mike Switzer interviews Clayton Ingram, external relations and policy manager with t...

Tax season is upon us again. The time of the year when we get the complete picture of our tax contributions to our state and federal governments and whether we paid too much or not enough.  And that’s when we start thinking about tax planning for the next year.  But our guest today says that truly impactful tax savings come from year-round and long-term, even multi-generational tax planning.  Mike...

Mike Switzer interviews Jessica Holdman, a reporter with the South Carolina Daily Gazette in Columbia, SC.  Mike and Jessica talk about their recent tour of the Scout Motors plant being built in Blythewood, SC and Jessica gives an update on data centers in SC.

Education has been a hot button issue in our state for quite some time.  Including during the time our next guest was governor of this state.  Which is why 15 years ago she founded an organization focused on improving education outcomes in our neediest communities.  Mike Switzer interviews Nikki Haley, founder and board member of the Original Six Foundation, which this year is celebrating the 10th...

When Hurricane Helene struck the Upstate last year, it inflicted major structural damage. But what about the heirlooms, artwork, and sentimental keepsakes?  Our next guest’s franchise is part of a fast-growing, specialized sector known as “contents restoration” that is involved in bringing back what most catastrophe victims assumed was lost forever. Mike Switzer interviews William Finn, owner of B...

According to our commerce department, Germany is South Carolina’s largest export partner. We don’t have the final numbers for last year yet but in 2024, the trade volume between our state and Germany was $13 billion. And we are currently home to 270 German companies that employ over 44,000 South Carolinians.  Which is why our next guest’s college set up an event to help support and grow that relat...

Financial planning, retirement planning, and portfolio management are all things you can do by yourself.  After all, there is a wealth of information and tools out there these days, thanks to the Internet and AI.  But should you DIY your money?  Mike Switzer interviews Joy Watkins, a certified financial planner with Anchor Investment Management in Columbia, SC.

It’s Monday and that’s when we check in with one of our business journalist friends to get their take on the latest news across our state’s business community.  Mike Switzer interviews Ross Norton, managing editor of SCBiz, which publishes a monthly statewide business magazine

As of the first of this year, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance are now one entity.  What was the impetus for this merger?  Mike Switzer interviews Sara Hazzard, the new president of South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce.

While the certificate of need requirement for new hospitals to be built in our state was mostly repealed a couple of years ago, our healthcare system still faces significant challenges.  One uncertainty may be the impact of the new tax law and other new federal regulations.  Mike Switzer interviews Thornton Kirby, CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association in Columbia, SC.

The US is facing a massive, historic level of debt and employment is sluggish, yet GDP continues to grow.  What’s in store for the 2026 economy with these conditions?  Mike Switzer interviews Bruce Yandle, Dean Emeritus at the College of Business & Behavioral Science and Alumni Professor of Economics Emeritus, both at Clemson University.  He is also the Distinguished Professor of Economics at...

It’s Monday, and that’s when we like to take a look at current business issues that are trending across our state and discuss them with one of our fellow news media friends.  This week, Mike Switzer interviews John McDermott, business editor of the Post and Courier in Charleston, SC.  John brings us news about Scout Motors, shipping, energy rate hikes, and travel issues.

One of the most popular film festivals in the country is set to begin soon in the Lowcountry, signaling the beginning of film festival season across our state.  Mike Switzer interviews Ron Tucker, director of the Beaufort International Film Festival, coming Feb. 17-22.

Each year, our next guest’s three-day wildlife and nature conservation event generates an estimated $33 million in economic impact for the Lowcountry.  And the next one is coming soon.  Mike Switzer interviews John Powell, president and CEO of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition coming to Charleston Feb. 13-15.

Last fall, our next guest became the new leader of a Midlands-based entrepreneurial assistance organization and so since he’s had some time to get settled in, we thought it was time to introduce him to our listeners and see what he’s been up to.  Mike Switzer interviews Sam Herskovitz, executive director of the Boyd Innovation Center in Columbia, SC.

The last time we interviewed our next guest, they had just started bottling and selling their pre-made cocktail mixes and they still owned a popular bar in town.  Now, several years later, they have sold the bar and their cocktail mix business has skyrocketed, selling all over the country.  Mike Switzer interviews Joe Raya, cofounder of Bittermilk in Charleston, SC. 

With all of the current geopolitical uncertainties out there right now, you would think it might be time to shy away from investing in international stocks.  However, our next guest says that a recent research report shows otherwise.  Mike Switzer interviews William Jeter, a chartered financial analyst with Abacus Planning Group in Columbia, SC.

Mike Switzer interviews Alan Cooper, founder and editor of three online business news websites in South Carolina: MidlandsBiz, UpstateBizSC, and LowCountryBizSC.  Alan tells us about cool new venues, restaurants, and hotels that have opened up recently across our state.

Our next guest’s business began in 1917 as a small shop selling Navy uniforms and various hunting and outdoor apparel. Since then, the store has evolved into a successful upscale menswear establishment on Charleston’s fashion row, also known as King Street.  How have they survived as a brick and mortar store in today’s world of e-commerce?  Gary Flynn is CEO of M. Dumas and Sons in Charleston, SC.

SC Launch, the investment affiliate of the South Carolina Research Authority, recently invested $300,000 in our next guest’s company to help them grow their health plan administration business.  Mike Switzer interviews Chad McMahon, founder and CEO of Members HQ in Charleston, SC.

After being named our state’s fastest growing company in 2024 and breaking into the top 100 of the Inc 5000 in 2025, our next guest’s Midlands-based national security company recently received an investment from a major venture capital firm.  Mike Switzer interviews Duke Hartman, CEO of Integer Technologies in Columbia, SC.

2026 is just rolling right along and we’re hearing that investors are once again beset by uncertainties such as inflation, interest rates, AI, and let’s not forget geopolitics.  So we’ve invited one of our regular market prognosticators back on the show to give us his thoughts.  Mike Switzer interviews Doug English, a certified financial planner with ACT Advisors in Charleston, SC.

Mike Switzer interviews Jessica Holdman, a reporter with the South Carolina Daily Gazette in Columbia, SC.  Jessica tells us about the state commerce department releasing the numbers for 2025 and about some energy issues facing consumers early this year.