His job: Vice president, general counsel, Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

Age: 33

Family: wife, Tanya Gee; children, William, 4; and Sabin, 1

Education: bachelor’s degrees, English, history and political science, Clemson; law degree, USC

Community involvement: board member, Appleseed Legal Justice Center; board member, Greater Chapin Endowment; House of Delegates, S.C. Bar Association; S.C. representative, national Electric Cooperative Bar Association

From his nomination: “He is known for having a keen intellect and the ability to consider problems from all sides’ points of view. Perhaps even more importantly, he has a gift for mediating problems in such a way that all parties are satisfied … He makes me proud to be an attorney.” — Judge Kaye Hearn, S.C. Court of Appeals

You were Clemson University’s first known triple major. What led you to attempt that? Has it paid off? “The undertaking was somewhat accidental, and those subjects have actually most benefited me in the reverse order that I studied them. I began as a political science major but eventually realized that I could double-major in English with a heavier course load. Those majors both required certain history courses, and by the time I was finished with them, I wasn’t far from an additional history degree. It probably helped my resume stand out, but the obvious value was the education itself.”

You clerked for U.S. District Judge Matthew Perry. What characteristics did you learn from him? “More so than any other person I have ever encountered, Judge Perry is absolutely committed to the ideal that all men are entitled to basic human dignity, justice and equality under the law.”

You work to provide legal services to low-income clients. What do you draw from such work? “I am convinced that our state’s collective fortunes are tied to the success or failure of our low-income residents. I was attracted to Appleseed because it focuses on a pivotal segment of South Carolina’s population that receives very little advocacy.”

Do you consider yourself successful? “My father once told me that a wise marriage makes all the difference in life, and in that, I feel that I have probably succeeded beyond my abilities. My next measure of success is to raise our children to be happy, public service-minded adults.”

What can each individual do to turn things around with the economy? “We all need to live within our means, but I also believe that hard work and education can solve almost any problem. In South Carolina, we have plenty of people willing to work hard, but educational opportunities aren’t always sought or offered like they should be.”

His job: Senior vice president, Midlands market executive, First Citizens Bank

Age: 35

Family: wife, Ashley; children, Orie, 4; Bradley 3; and Anna Louise, 2.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, business administration, Presbyterian College

Community involvement: Young Leaders Society steering committee, United Way of the Midlands; past member, Muscular Dystrophy Association Gala Committee; Boys & Girls Club campaign; associate deacon, First Baptist Church

From his nomination: “The team he manages ranges from (recent) college graduates to veteran bankers. Each member of the team has applauded his ability to add value to their markets and personal development.” — Sharon Bryant, First Citizens

From his nomination: “The team he manages ranges from (recent) college graduates to veteran bankers. Each member of the team has applauded his ability to add value to their markets and personal development.” — Sharon Bryant, First Citizens

Your nomination cited your “keen ability to take strategy from the written word to reality in the workplace.” What does that mean? “(It’s) taking a written plan and giving it breath, bringing that plan to life in the organization. The key is understanding the big picture, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of my team, and leading them through the details. Listening is paramount … as well as helping my team to understand the ‘why’ behind all that we do.”

How do you define success? “True success is authentic, based on how someone achieves rather than what someone achieves. If character is built with honesty, trust, faith and hard work, the end result will always be the desired result.”

Are professional and personal success different things? “The only difference between the two is how they are prioritized. I learned a long time ago that family comes before profession.”

You began your career as a teller. What lessons did you learn in that position that you have carried into all of your work? “I will always remember, appreciate and respect what it is like to work on the front lines of the bank. Our teller family is the face of First Citizens, and our customer experience depends on them more than on anyone else in the organization. I have found that I relate to our tellers very well because they know I understand what they experience every day.”

Is there a particular mantra by which you live? “My late father told me often that if you treat people the right way all of the time, they will always respect you no matter what the circumstances. I remember him and his advice every day.”

You’re been declared a success at 35. Is the pressure off, or do you intend to keep pushing ahead? “I am always thinking of the future and sometimes struggle to stop and enjoy the moment. Those who know me well hear often how I despise complacency.”

His job: District sales manager, Yankee Candle Co.

Family: Single

Age: 39

Education: Bachelor’s degree, theater and speech, USC

Community involvement: AIDS Benefit Foundation of South Carolina, The Animal Mission of South Carolina, S.C. Firefighters Fund Calendar, S.C. Pride Movement, Project Pet, Darkness to Light charity fashion show, Trustus and Workshop Theatre fundraising, Richland School District One and Two

From his nomination: “It will never be said that Clay will do anything in a conventional manner. (He thinks) big and bold — looking for the most exciting and grand way to get the word out on whatever.” — Elaine Gillespie, Gillespie Advertising Agency

How does your major in theater and speech help you in your profession? “Entering theater at USC was the proverbial ‘light bulb moment’: … I learned about how to balance creativity with profitability, and how to work with large and diverse groups. My role was in the management side of theater. If you can organize a group of 100 ballerinas, plan an entire repertory company’s schedule or design and execute a show, you can do almost anything in the business world.”

With your wide range of involvement, do you have trouble saying “no” when people ask for help? “Honestly, I do. I went through my collegiate years with not much income and once I got into the ‘real world,’ I realized that not only my money but my time and experience were invaluable to many groups. Just being able to go out and purchase supplies or being able to organize a fund-raiser can mean the difference to so many people in South Carolina — why would I ever say no? I keep hoping that every time I work on something, at least one volunteer comes back and helps again.”

What sort of rewards do you glean from such an active community life? “I meet really amazing people. It’s almost like a really exclusive club. … I work with a very diverse group and a mostly fun group. We all know that whatever the project, we are all there for the same goal. Also — in full disclosure — many of the things I work on are based around show premieres, parties or really cool fundraisers. These are the things I would want to go to, but, in this case, I get to make them up from scratch.”

Do you live by a personal mantra or philosophy? “Give of your time, talent or money.”

What’s your favorite-smelling candle? “Jasmine Green Tea. Unique, complex, and just slightly left of center for the typical consumer. I think sums up a great deal of me as well.”

What’s next for you? “I will be producing and costuming ‘Les Liasions Dangereuses/Dangerous Liasions’ at Workshop Theatre early in 2009 and then planning Dining With Friends 2009 for the AIDS Benefit Foundation and Party Animals 2009 for the Animal Mission.”

Her job: Member/attorney, Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham; fighter pilot, S.C. Air National Guard

Age: 38

Family: husband, Dr. Robert Kosciusko; son, Wyatt, 1

Education: Bachelor’s degree, classics, Princeton University; law degree, University of Virginia

Community involvement: S.C. Young Lawyer of the Year, 2004; Forest Hills Neighborhood Association Community Character Protection; Animal Mission; ASPCA

From her nomination: “Tally has excelled in an incredible variety of endeavors. She … was the first female fighter pilot in the history of South Carolina and has flown active combat missions. She has also excelled as an attorney. … What a tremendous role model.” — John Moylan, Wyche Law Firm

You’re a fighter pilot and a trial lawyer. What do those two things have in common? “Practically speaking, not a whole lot, (but) they both involved reliance on team members and quick thinking on your feet.” And both “competitive . . . and high stress.”

What made you want to be a fighter pilot? “I had wanted to be a fighter pilot since I was teeny. I had actually applied to the Air Force Academy when I was in high school.” But when Parham told a recruiter the job she wanted, he said, “Oh, that’s very cute, honey, but women can’t do that.” So Parham withdrew her application and attended Princeton. She was working in New York City when she saw that the military had lifted the ban on females in combat. She called McIntyre Air Force Base. “They were extremely encouraging.”

Where did the idea of flying come from? “When I was little, my father had been a pilot.” He had an acrobatics airplane. “I loved going up and doing loops and rolls.”

What is it like, being considered a role model? “During the early years, I was frequently asked to speak to schools or public groups. . . . I certainly felt that any misstep that I made was going to be well publicized. It was hard to hide, but I certainly am glad that when there are young women out there who want to be (fighter pilots), they have someone they can ask.”

What’s it like to work in the same firm as your father? “I used to always ask him why he was a lawyer, and he told me that he got to learn something new every day and he enjoyed his job.”

What are you reading now? “A lot of parenting books. I feel like I need some on-the-job training. I did learn that the most physically and mentally challenging thing I’ve ever done is not being a fighter pilot, it’s raising a child.”

Do you live by any mantra? Parham says that her mother, Peggy, “really did make me believe that if there was something that I wanted to do and something I was committed to, I could make it happen.”

Her job: Tax partner and leader of the South Carolina tax practice of Grant Thornton LLP

Age: 39

Family: children, Hugh, 7; and Kristin, 4

Education: Bachelor’s degree, accounting, Furman University; master’s degree, accountancy, USC

Community involvement: board member, Riverbanks Society; S.C. Family Business Forum; United Way of the Midlands; board member, Women’s S.C. Golf Association

From her nomination: “In an industry that recruits about 50 percent females with typically 10 percent promoted to partner, some may have considered that a woman with a flexible work schedule would have a difficult time of getting promoted to partner. This statistic did not deter Barbara.” — Kathy Habluetzel, partner, Grant Thornton LLP

You’re a tax partner in a nationwide public accounting firm, and the first female partner in South Carolina. Do you consider yourself a role model? “I really like what I do, and so may be a role model — I’m kind of big on setting goals and working to achieve them … even if it takes a long time. I have people who look at me and say, ‘I don’t know how you do it’ and I don’t know how I do it either. … I’ve been pretty lucky (to balance work and family) on my flexible schedule.”

In high school, you played on the boys’ golf team because your school, Irmo, had no girls’ team. What skills did you need to perform well despite being the “odd man out”? Do you still use those skills professionally? “It allowed me to get ready for my summer tournaments, (and) I ended up playing real well” on the high school team, too. (The Irmo team became state champions.) “It’s not like I had any chance of winning individually, but I kind of hung in there in the middle of the pack. … I’m really competitive. Golf allowed me to kind of think through things and think, ‘How am I going to get better?’ ”

Do you actively look for “glass ceilings” to break, or do you just seem to be in the right place at the right time? “More of it is certainly your own personal drive and what you want to do” that makes a person successful. “Some of it is luck.” She mentions choosing what firm to work for. “I’m lucky … my life has taken this path.”

Do you live by a personal mantra? “I’m pretty good about not putting all my eggs in one basket.”

What do you do to wind down? “I played golf like a job for a good 12 years of my life. I really enjoy it, but not to goof off.” When she wants to do that, Ryan throws a ball with “my little athlete,” Hugh. Or, she looks for “some sort of enjoyable fiction that doesn’t tax my brain too much.”

Her job: Executive director, S.C. Bar Foundation

Age: 33

Family: husband, Thomas; children, Megan, 11; Drew, 9; Michael, 5; Kendall, 2

Education: Bachelor’s degree, business economics and Spanish, Wofford College; master’s degree, business administration, USC

Community involvement: advisory board, City Year; board of managers, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral; acted and directed in Town Theatre productions; awards for public-service programming, National Conference of Bar Foundations; Silver Wing Awards, S.C. Public Relations Society of America; Rising Star Award, Leadership Columbia; Volunteer of the Year, United Way of the Midlands; former Miss Columbia Northeast and Miss Greater Irmo

From her nomination: “Shannon is a dynamic, intelligent and creative leader. (She) is the youngest person to hold (her) position and enjoys a great reputation in the national arena among her peers in other states.” — J. Calhoun Watson, lawyer and past president of the S.C. Bar Foundation

You have a longtime affiliation with Town Theater. Does that work help you in your professional life? “Absolutely. Absolutely it does. … A lot of times at the Bar Foundation, I’m in front of lawyers, asking for things. … You get a little bit of stage fright in your day job, too.”

What do you like about working with the charitable arm of the bar? “With every day there’s a new avenue to explore, there’s a new person I haven’t talked with. That’s what makes it exciting for me and keeps it very fresh.”

Do you live by a particular mantra? “I don’t know what play it is, but ‘To thine own self be true.’” And Scruggs’ mother always said to, “Be your best self. Be the very best you can be in whatever place you’re in.”

Times are tough. What’s your outlook? “I’m cautiously optimistic. This certainly is a challenging time, but I firmly believe this, too, shall pass. One thing you can do (during tough times) is grab on, hold on to others. … I do think some things will get better, but you do have to make some prudent decisions to get through it.”

Do you see yourself as a success? “Yes, I do, but I don’t think that comes without a lot of help. I’m part of a successful network.”

What’s next for you? Scruggs says she loves her job and intends to stay there. “ Definitely (what’s next) is watching my children grow, and helping them do the very best they can.”

His job: Shareholder, McNair Law Firm

Age: 35

Family: wife, Rebecca Goodrich Seezen; children, James, 7; Marshall, 5; and Jack, 1

Education: Bachelor’s degree, politics and economics, Wake Forest University; law degree, University of Tennessee

Community involvement: United Way of the Midlands; Leadership Columbia; Columbia Opportunity Rescue; church choir

From his nomination: “Michael is an outstanding lawyer and person. (He) has a tremendous work ethic, is very intelligent and practical, and interacts well with clients — a rare combination in a lawyer.” — Michael Beal, business department manager, McNair Law Firm

What makes a successful lawyer? “Communication with clients is vital. Some of the best lawyers in my field are folks who are continually accessible to their clients. They aren’t just technically proficient; they add value to a transaction by making difficult concepts easier to understand for their clients. Also, I think successful lawyers can’t just ‘work’ on legal matters anymore — they must be, visible and active in the business community and … serve in management functions or in non-billable capacities for their law firms. I helped found the (United Way of the Midlands’) Young Leaders Society. In my firm, I have helped our municipal finance practice group to organize” and improve communication.

When do you think the economy will turn around? “A good portion of my practice is dependent upon a vital and diverse financial market. I have witnessed firsthand that the markets are frozen — deals that could get done three months ago are now treading water. Folks that I talk with keep saying, ‘Wait until January; wait until first quarter 2009’ for market conditions to loosen and deals to start getting done. I think people are hunkering down for a bad 2009.”

Think of something at which you failed. How did you overcome it? “When I was a young associate, I remember a time that I was working with multiple shareholders in the firm who all had big deals going on. It was hard to keep straight all of the different types of deals. I thought that if I just worked longer hours or harder, I could satisfy all of the demands on my time. I felt swamped. At some point, one of the shareholders for whom I was working the longest and the hardest, called me into his office, scolded me for not being responsive and ‘fired’ me from his deal. I learned several good lessons: 1. Speak up and learn to say ‘no’; 2. Be cognizant of what your associates are doing — sloppy, bad or unresponsive work can easily become actionable malpractice if unchecked; and 3. It’s good to be busy; it’s bad to be out of control.”

Do you have a mantra or saying you live by? “Don’t be the reason the deal fails.”

His jobs: CEO, Epiphany International/William W. Smith and Associates; S.C. managing officer, Optimum Financial Services

Age: 31

Family: wife, Kimberly Wardlaw Smith; children William Wallace Smith II, 2, and a baby girl due in March.

Education:attended Tuskegee University

Community involvement: Richland County Board of Zoning Appeals; Columbia Family Self-Sufficiency Board; past board member, 100 Black Men of America; board member, Carolina Scholarship Inc.; stewardship committee chair, Francis Burns United Methodist Church

From his nomination: “Most people go the traditional route of college and so forth, but people don’t realize there’s a more successful path for the risk takers who opt to teach themselves. He’s an example of that.” — State District Judge Michelle Childs

You own Epiphany International, which helps with mortgage loans and real estate development. Why did you choose the name “Epiphany”? “I had an epiphany about an array of business ideas that, with my experience and networks, would allow me to accomplish a lifelong goal. Not only did I love the word but its spiritual meaning as well, and I knew I had to incorporate it into my business movement.”

What aspirations do you hold for your children? Have those changed as a result of the presidential election? “I aspire for my children to accomplish more than the generations before them — to be confident individuals, respectful of others at all times and to always ‘do the right thing for the right reasons,’ as my mother instilled in me. … With Barrack Obama as our nation’s new president, they have another prominent role model to surpass.”

What does your future hold? “My goal is to build more partnerships with national and local groups that have similar intellectually motivating ideals with emphasis on giving back to the community. I plan to write a series of business books, start a foundation for cancer victims and, with God’s help, be a better resource and strength to others.”

Her job: Director, Apprenticeship Carolina, a division of the S.C. Technical College System

Age: 39

Family: husband, John B. Carran

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Xavier University; Diplome d’Etudes, University of Paris, Sorbonne; Master of Arts, New York University; Master of Philosophy, New York University

Community involvement: chair, United Way of the Midlands Education, Job and Life Skills Steering Committee; member, New Carolina Education and Workforce Task Force; member, Columbia Rotary Club; member, Women in Philanthropy; member, Columbia World Affairs Council; member, S.C. Technical College System Leadership Academy; lector, St. Peter’s Church

From her nomination: “Ann Marie is a motivated, results-oriented, high-energy, compassionate overachiever who appreciates and respects the community in which she lives.” — Robbie Barnett, S.C. Chamber of Commerce; and Jim Reynolds, Total Comfort

How much has your division has increased the number of registered apprenticeship programs? In July 2007, “there were 90 registered apprenticeship programs in the state and 777 individuals. Our most recent numbers show that we’ve increased the number of programs in the state by 51 percent — to 136 — and the number of apprentices by 53 percent — 1,190.”

How do you plan to overcome the challenges presented by a depressed job market? “These are the times when we see an increased demand for further education and career retraining. Many of our colleges are seeing record enrollment. Employers will continue to need to ensure that the employees they have are highly skilled and contributing to the bottom line.”

You have worked in West Africa. What did you do there? “My husband and I were volunteer trainees with the Peace Corps in Mauritania. I was an education volunteer and he was assigned as an environmental-education volunteer. We spent three months with Peace Corps and then accepted an independent opportunity to spend two years in the Pacific Region. I was the vice president/assistant director of the Ponape Agriculture and Trade School located in Micronesia.”

What skills have you transferred from there to your work here? “Traveling and working in diverse cultures has trained me to try to gain an understanding of where other people are coming from. I think this is crucial to providing excellent customer service as well as to building partnerships that benefit a larger goal.”

What is your personal mantra? “ ‘Get out of your own way.’ I think we can often be a barrier to our own success. It’s important to be self-reflective. I wouldn’t say I’m always successful at this, but it’s something I try to remember.”

His job: Commercial real estate broker, Colliers Keenan Inc.

Age: 39

Family: wife, Janet; children, Thomas, 8, and Mary Jane, 5

Education: Bachelor’s degree, political science, Clemson; master’s degree, public administration, USC

Community involvement: chairman, Richland County Democratic Party; former volunteer youth coach at YMCA and North Trenholm Baptist Church; Crime Watch captain, Hampton Trace neighborhood; Family Matters Sunday School Class, Shandon Presbyterian Church

From his nomination: “He is widely respected among his peers and those he meets professionally and politically. He is recognized as an individual with the integrity and ability to inspire others and influence business.” — Henry Roe, Colliers Keenan Inc.

Your nomination calls you a “man to watch” in S.C. politics. What does that mean? Summers became chairman of the Richland County Democratic Party in March. His term will end in 2010, when, he says, he’ll decide whether to try again for the chairmanship or to run for political office. In 2006, Summers lost a race against longtime S.C. Rep. Jim Harrison. “I think if the opportunity presents itself, I would run for office again (rather than work in the background). I didn’t seek the chairmanship of the Democratic party, (but) it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”

Do you have any good skeletons in your closet? No. “I ran a SLED check on myself before I ran” and didn’t find any.

Your education was in politics, yet you work full time in real estate. What’s the draw? “The business really suits me. It’s a business built on relationships, networking and marketing.”

What’s your passion? “Politics and good government.”

Do you live by a particular mantra or philosophy? “(My parents) taught me from an early age that to whom much is given, much is expected . . . to give to charities, to work to make our community stronger and to be a force for good.”

What’s ahead for the country? “2009 (is) going to be a tough year and as businessmen, we each are going to have to focus on our niches and do what we do best . . . to focus on what you know is important. … This industry will have to adapt and do the best we can.”