Mia Butler, McLeod Butler Communications

Vitals: 39. Born and raised in Bennettsville. Lives in Columbia. Bachelor’s degree in professional English and law degree, both from USC. Single with two sons

Works: Principal, McLeod Butler Communications

Her story: She headed criminal victims programs for then-S.C. Attorney General Charlie Condon and former Gov. Jim Hodges and ran government affairs for the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. She started her own lobbying, public relations firm, where she has worked on passing laws to curb gangs, fund homeless shelters and require that seat belts are worn.

From her nomination: “Her humility, kindness, compassion and love for her fellow man have produced the qualities of a strong business woman.” Amelia McKie, chief operations officer for McLeod Butler Communications.

Outside work: Serves on boards of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce and Rice Creek Elementary School Improvement Council. Served on boards for the Communities in Schools of the Midlands and East Central City Consortium

Her life changed when: She went into business for herself. “I worked for the state and didn’t like having other people to set my limitations and opportunities. My faith had me set bigger goals than what I could achieve with the state.” She took this leap away from the “one thing that was stable in my life.”

She can make a difference because: “Like me, there are young women and young men who are talking about starting their own business. My life experience might be of help to them.”

The Midlands has going for it: “All of this energy. There is so much going on with the Vista, Village at Sandhill, Innovista, all the industry coming in.”

But needs to fix: How it nurtures small businesses. “I’d like to see a major business initiative like a mentoring program. (Starting out) I couldn’t find anyone who looked like me who was doing what I wanted to do.”

If she were president, she would: Put more emphasis on social issues, “in terms of health care, in terms of people in economic disparity and in terms of people living in poverty.”