Sam Erwin was named to the first 20 Under 40 class in 2004 while he was a senior vice president for Carolina National Bank in Columbia. Erwin is now chief executive officer of Community Bankshares in Orangeburg. He also was named the S.C. Bankers Association’s 2005 Outstanding Young Banker.
Stephen Benjamin, another member of the ‘04 [...]

By C. Grant Jackson, Business Editor
gjackson@thestate.com
They are the kinds of people that Creative Class guru Richard Florida says a city needs if it is going to be successful.
With the Class of 2008, The State newspaper’s annual “20 Under,” a list of rising business stars in the Midlands, now has 100 alumni.
But rising stars might be [...]

Vitals: 30. Born in Abbeville. Raised and lives in Irmo. Pharmacy degree from USC. Married with a daughter
Works: Director of professional affairs, S.C. Pharmacy Association
Her story: A year after graduating, she walked away from a potentially more lucrative career as a pharmacist to join the state agency where she started several programs, including one to [...]

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 [...]

Vitals: 26. Born in Millington, Tenn. Raised in Anderson. Lives in Columbia. Bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from USC. Single
Works: President, Red Carpet Communications
Her story: She was the mortgage originator for an affordable housing program at Carolina First and was named the bank’s Mortgage Loan Originator Rookie of the Year. She became promotions [...]

Vitals: 39. Born and raised in Alcolu. Lives in Sumter. Bachelor’s degree in business administration from USC. Married with three children
Works: President, Coldwell Banker Commercial Cornerstone and Newman Davis Properties; vice president, Newman Davis Construction
His story: After growing up on a farm, Davis started his own landscaping business in college. He was selling and appraising [...]

Vitals: 33. Born in Blair. Raised in Columbia. Lives in Irmo. Bachelor’s degree in English and law degree, both from USC. Married with a daughter
Works: Executive assistant to the city manager/director of governmental affairs, city of Columbia
Her story: She clerked for Judge Casey Manning and then taught middle and high school English. She coordinated government [...]

Vitals: 37. Born in Columbia. Lives in Blythewood. Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Wesleyan University. Recently married
Works: Vice president, First Reliance Bank
His story: Spent more than 15 years in banking in the Midlands and has held various management jobs at First Union, First Citizens and First Reliance, which he joined in July. He [...]

Vitals: 39. Born and raised in North Augusta. Lives in Columbia. Bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degrees in law and public administration, all from USC. Married with three sons
Works: Commercial real estate attorney, Graybill Lansche, LLC
His story: A one-time staff attorney for the S.C. Administrative Law Judge Division, he moved to Aiken to [...]

Vitals: 37. Born in Germany. Raised and lives in Columbia. Bachelor’s degree in construction management from Clemson. Married with newborn son
Works: Vice president and partner, NAI Avant, commercial real estate company
His story: After working as a project manager for Kline Iron & Steel, he began a career in commercial real estate, first with Colliers Keenan. [...]