WhosOnTheMove SC

Colmbia, SC-based Qwerky.ai is a cutting-edge technology firm that's pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and changing the way we interact with machines. Founded by Chris Thibeault and Evan Owen, Qwerky.ai is the culmination of their passion for innovation and their desire to make a meaningful impact on the world. With a strong foundation in research and development, Qwerky.ai is committed to delivering exceptional AI-powered solutions that are not only effective but also intuitive and user-friendly. From natural language processing to machine learning, the company's expertise spans a wide range of disciplines, making it an ideal partner for businesses and organizations looking to harness the power of AI.

Legacy Digital Media, founded in 2023 by Q Moldrik, is a boutique full-service digital marketing agency based in Mount Pleasant (Greater Charleston), South Carolina with national reach . Rooted in community-driven storytelling and creative strategy, Legacy Digital specializes in holistic brand-building—from captivating content creation and social media management to paid advertising, email campaigns, SEO, website development, and reputation management.

Serving the Greenville, South Carolina area, Grass Nerds offers a professional, passionate approach to lawn care. The team understands that maintaining a healthy, vibrant lawn requires more than just effort—it takes expertise, consistency, and a true love for the craft. Grass Nerds is committed to delivering top-tier service and an exceptional customer experience, helping clients enjoy outdoor spaces that are both functional and beautiful. As their name suggests, lawn care isn't just what they do—it's who they are.

EdVenture children's museum in Columbia, SC is now embracing a multi-generational audience, as children who visited in the early 2000s return with kids of their own for tactile, interactive, and fun experiences. In 2025, this hands-on approach to learning is more valuable than ever. Discover what's ahead for Columbia's EdVenture Museum in the coming years.

This fall there will be new private school opening in Greenville, SC, King's Classical School. King's was founded by members of St. Paul's Anglican Church to serve the families of Greenville seeking a classical, biblically faithful education. Their mission is to provide excellence and virtue in one united learning experience.

Recognized as the Talent Retention Expert of the year by the International Association of Top Professionals, named as one of the Top 20 Business Leaders by Valiant CEO Magazine, Dr. Troy Hall is an award-winning talent retention consultant, international speaker, author of multiple bestselling books and an International Development Educator. As the founder of Cohesion Culture™, Dr. Troy has dedicated his career to establishing a cycle of culture wellness in the corporate and professional sphere. His consulting and executive coaching engagements are built on the strategic framework of Cohesion Culture™, making the concepts of belonging, value, and shared commitment easy for organizations to adopt and implement.

Kim Smith is a sought-after speaker, author, with 18 years of executive leadership experience in top healthcare systems—including Duke Medicine, Tenet Healthcare, and MUSC Health. In 2023, she founded Health Evolve Technologies with a vision to help birthing women manage their heart health, diabetes, and stress with the support of a digital care team.

Cathy Rigg, founder of the Columbia-based brand marketing firm Riggs Partners, has published her debut novel, THAT WHICH BINDS US (Keylight Books, June 2025). Set in the mountains of Southwest Virginia where Rigg's family roots run deep, the historical fiction follows five lives intertwined during the Civil War. This first novel marks a return to Rigg's creative roots and a powerful new voice in Southern storytelling.

Founded in 2008 and based in Greenville, South Carolina, this award-winning PR firm has built a reputation for delivering impactful, earned media coverage across television, print, and digital platforms. Known for blending Southern hospitality with a sharp media strategy, the firm consistently secures national attention for its clients. With a focus on storytelling and journalist outreach, it continues to stand out in the competitive world of public relations.

Entrepreneur Minute - Sharon Tchonev, Varna International by Alan Cooper

GCM is an award-winning agency that helps businesses and organizations leverage off-the-shelf AI to save time, boost efficiency and grow revenue. Co-founded by Emma and Zach Giglio, GCM delivers hands-on training and AI integration that makes cutting-edge technology accessible and actionable. Named Summerville's 2023 Small Business of the Year, GCM has trained and presented to thousands nationwide, turning AI into a game-changer for small businesses and associations. Learn more at www.whoisgcm.com.

Katie Harrison, Founder & President, KVH by Alan Cooper

Shaw Circle is a promising new fintech startup that is located at Charleston Digital's Flagship @ Charleston Tech Center. Shaw Circle, a private institutional fund management company, was officially formed in 2021 by four recent graduates of the University of South Carolina's prestigious Finance Scholars Program and is already turning heads.

Jonathan Yantis, the co-founder and CEO of QuicksortRx, is a Charleston, SC native who turned his early passion for technology into a transformative career in healthcare. QuicksortRx Inc. was founded with a vision to enhance efficiency in hospital pharmacy supply chains.

In February, Coldwell Banker Caine announced Amanda Hamet as President. Hamet, a stalwart of one of the Upstate's largest residential real estate firms, joined Coldwell Banker Caine in 2014 and has served as Broker in Charge for both the Greenville and Anderson offices, as well as VP and Sales leader, and as SVP of Sales. A long-standing leader in the Upstate, Coldwell Banker Caine is a division and the legacy brand of The Caine Company. Since 1933, The Caine Company has been locally-owned and operated, delivering exceptional service and building lasting relationships. Now, represented by three divisions, The Caine Company includes Coldwell Banker Caine, as well as KDS Caine, a leader in commercial real estate, and Caine Hayes Insurance, the company's insurance division.

After successfully founding and exiting his web and app design company, netGALAXY Studios, Larry Collett started looking for his next ventures. His new company is Automation Captain with a mission to help companies automate their internal marketing, sales and operations through the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI).He is also the owner of the AI consulting firm, Larry.Collett.com and he and his wife have also started The Larry & Rebecca Collett Foundation, a nonprofit creating leadership, education, and faith-based synergy around the world.

Seven Victory Fitness Collective has opened in the heart of downtown Greenville. Located in a beautifully appointed space on the lower level of the Daniel Building at 301 North Main Street, Seven Victory Fitness Collective is uniquely tailored to provide a holistic approach to health and wellness, helping members achieve fitness goals in a supportive, personalized environment.

The Charleston-based company has developed client engagement software with a simple-to-use mobile app that helps attorneys better engage with their clients. The mission of Case Status is to mission to radically transform the way law firms engage with their clients. In August 2024, South Carolina Research Authority's investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc., invested $250,000 in Case Status. Case Status became an SCRA Member Company in 2023 and an SC Launch Inc. Portfolio Company with this investment. Case Status was recently named in the top 10% of fastest-growing companies on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list. Companies on the 2024 list are ranked according to the percentage of revenue growth from 2020-2023.

Voterheads is a South Carolina-based technology company that provides monitoring of local government public meetings nationwide. Recently, Voterheads announced, with help from a recent grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation, the expansion of its free newsletter service throughout Richland County in the Midlands of South Carolina. Covering public meetings in the entire Columbia metro area, this initiative helps ensure residents have access to what is being voted on and discussed at local public meetings, such as councils, and planning commissions.

Chris Davis and Jon Sears, longtime business partners with over 30 years of combined hospitality experience, have built a reputation for creating some of the city's most beloved dining spots. Owners of Hendrix, Jake's, and multiple commercial properties, they saw a unique opportunity in 2021 to carry on the legacy of No Name Deli. Now, with the grand opening of a second location in Forest Acres in November 2024, they're bringing this iconic eatery to even more fans.

Located at 912 Lady Street in Columbia, South Carolina, Farmers Market Xchange by Toms Creek Farms opened its doors on September 1, 2023. The market operates Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering coffee, bread, meats, cheese, and more. Hot lunches are served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring dishes made with the freshest, natural, and organic ingredients sourced from Toms Creek Family Farm and trusted suppliers cultivated over decades of partnerships.

We love stories about entrepreneur founders of non profits. Chamber Music Charleston (CMC) was founded in 2006 an organization dedicated to developing the audience for classical music through chamber music concerts and educational performances of high artistic quality by musicians of the Lowcountry. In February, they will be introducing their 20th anniversary season.

In October, Revelry Brewing Company celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a Block Party at its Conroy Street location. Revelry also toasted a decade of impacting the local community through its partnership with farm to school non-profit, The Green Heart Project. Since 2014, the partnership has generated more than $210,000 benefiting the organization's garden-based experiential learning projects and school garden program.

After 15 years of transformative leadership, Melanie Huggins reflects on her journey as the Executive Director of Richland Library system in Columbia, SC, where she redefined what a library can be. From making the system fine-free and securing millions in funding to spearheading groundbreaking programs like "Let's Talk Race," Melanie has left an indelible mark on the community. She also talks about what she sees as the future role that libraries can play in the community.

United Way of the Midlands is excited to introduce the Campaign for Good, a significant initiative inspired by an extraordinary $10 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This campaign aims to match the generous contribution by rallying community support to reach our goal of matching Scott's $10 million gift with local contributions, funding programs that address key challenges in education, employment, healthcare, and housing. United Way sees this as an opportunity to strengthen its long-term mission to create generational change in the Midlands. To date, the community has raised over $9 million dollars.

Discover the latest initiatives at Charleston Parks Conservancy, where exciting projects like the Charleston Trees program and South Carolina's first-ever food forest are transforming local parks. These new efforts are bringing sustainable landscaping and fresh, local produce to the community, creating greener spaces for everyone to enjoy. It's all about deepening the mission of the organization - safeguarding, nurturing, and enhancing the parks, and, connecting people with their parks.

You have your local barber, your local pediatrician, but what about your local farmer? This reality is possible for Carnes Crossroads, a vibrant and growing residential community nestled in Goose Creek, South Carolina. In this interview, Carnes Crossroads' first-ever Farm Director Christopher Burtt gives an inside look into the community's unique Agrihood concept plans, which will include 12+ acres of farm, a farm store, and an event barn, creating a farm-to-doorstep experience for current and future residents.

Matt Foster, CEO of NOAH Property Management, brings a wealth of experience from both the real estate sector and community leadership, having served on multiple influential boards throughout South Carolina. NOAH Property Management was founded to offer tech-forward, affordable housing solutions that empower residents earning 60-80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Managing 23 apartment communities with over 3,550 residents across the Greenville-Spartanburg region, NOAH goes beyond conventional property management with initiatives like flexible payments, deposit alternatives, and credit-building opportunities.

Stephanie A. Rainey, Esquire, is an experienced attorney specializing in federal government contracts, procurement, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consulting. With a background in public service and a clerkship under South Carolina's Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty, she brings unique insight to complex contracting challenges. As the managing attorney of Stephanie A. Rainey, LLC, she helps clients navigate legal obstacles, secure business certifications, and achieve their corporate goals.

Lowcountry Land Trust--a 50l(c)(3) nonprofit organization--permanently protects land throughout coastal South Carolina that is foundational to the area's ecosystem and residents' quality of life. Having conserved over 162,000 acres of land since its founding in 1986, Lowcountry Land Trust is one of the largest local land trusts in the United States. More information about Lowcountry Land Trust is available at www.LowcountryLandTrust.org.

Founded in Charleston in 2016, Lowcountry Kettle is the first potato chip company in South Carolina and specializes in crafting all-natural, Southern-inspired kettle chips. Their unique product line currently consists of the following delicious flavors in 2oz. single serve bags: Spicy Pimento Cheese, State Fair Fried Pickle, Holy City Red Wine Vinegar & Sea Salt, Bloody Mary, Mustard BBQ Sauce, Carolina Reaper, Sea Salt. The brand's newly unveiled Carolina and Clemson Sea Salt bags are the first officially licensed collegiate chips in the state of South Carolina. Lowcountry Kettle can be found in many retailers, including Whole Foods, Publix, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, The Fresh Market, Enmarket, and Parkers Kitchen. For more information, visit https://www.lowcountrykettle.com.

For 38 years, Hood Construction has been a trusted name in the South Carolina construction industry, delivering projects with a focus on integrity, client satisfaction and "Building It The Right Way." Founded by Mark Hood in 1986, the company has grown into a team of over 100 professionals, each with specialized training and experience. From healthcare to historic renovations, Hood Construction's commitment to quality and timely delivery has earned them a loyal base of repeat customers.

After working for a large law firm in elder law, Lisa Hostetler Brown decided to set out on her own in order to create a law firm that offered a more personalized approach addressing customer's needs. She started with a small team, and has now grown to serve the entire state of South Carolina, from locations in Irmo (Midlands), Simpsonville (Upstate), Bluffton and Charleston (Lowcountry), LawyerLisa, LLC (LawyerLisa) focuses on elder law, long-term care planning, asset protection, probate avoidance, trust and estate planning, and life care planning; delivering comprehensive planning with a personalized approach.

Kitchen Sync is a soulful neighborhood restaurant offering farm-fresh, scratch-made fare served with extraordinary hospitality. Owned by the brother/sister team of Kevin Feeny and Karin Farrell and her husband John, Kitchen Sync is the culmination of a shared dream of owning and operating a restaurant that embodies their passion for food, friends and community. Kitchen Sync operates under an ecologically-minded blended value business model that focuses on people, planet and profit. When Kitchen Sync first opened in 2016, it placed significant emphasis on the “planet” part of the ecology equation, obtaining the nation's #1 ranking as an independently owned Green-certified restaurant (and still retains that title today).

Yachtail embodies an escape to the sunny, carefree days you crave with the refreshing flavors of real pineapple juice, grapefruit, and cranberry flavors. A sparkling vodka cocktail in a can, Yachtail makes no compromise on premium ingredients. The official company name is Boat Drink Beverage LLC and was founded by Kelly and his wife, Emily.

Kristin Cobb, the Executive Director at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, talks about the 2024-2025 season. The season officially kicked off on September 6 with a performance by Cody Webb, a country music star who has over 14 million streams. This season, you can see shows by America's Got Talent comedians and illusionists, the South Carolina Ballet, the SC Jazz Masterworks, Columbia Children's' Theatre, Grammy-nominated singers and bands, nationally recognized dancers and more!

Kevin Feeny is the co-founder of Kitchen Sync, a neighborhood restaurant in Greenville South Carolina that was opened in 2016. The restaurant is owned by Kevin and his sister, Karin, and her husband, John Farrell. Kitchen Sync is the culmination of a shared dream of owning and operating a restaurant that embodies their passion for food, friends and community. In 2024, the team at Kitchen Sync announced that they are opening a second location in Greenville.

The SC JAZZ MASTERWORKS ENSEMBLE is composed of eighteen of the finest jazz musicians, soloists, and bandleaders from across the Carolinas. The Ensemble's 2024-25 concert series kicks off on October 26 at Harbison Theatre featuring Jazz organist Mike LeDonne. Learn more about the incredible 5 nights of jazz on their website - scjazz.org.

Brittany Grabski is the director of marketing for SeamonWhiteside, a leading site design firm throughout the Carolinas. Founded in 1985, the company places a strong focus on professional development, mentorship, and resources, including its Women's Initiative. The firm maintains a strong philanthropic commitment through volunteering and giving back to communities and causes in the markets that it serves.

In May, Angel Holmes, an experienced PR and events professional, established a new organization called “Like Minded CHS,” specifically for female founders in Charleston, SC. This organization is a beta chapter for the Like Minded Collective and Like Minded OC based in Orange County, CA. The aim is to provide a platform where like minded female founders can come together to amplify their voices, build personal relationships, and thrive in business.

SCACED is the state's trade association and funding intermediary for Community Development Corporations, Community Development Financial Institutions, and grassroots economic development organizations. Since his time with SCACED, Bernie helped shepherd the growth of the community economic development movement in South Carolina from 4 organizations to over 100, growing SCACED's membership to over 200 nonprofits and organizations.

After almost 16 years helping to transform affordable homeownership in our community, Monroe Free will be retiring as President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County this December. Under his leadership, Habitat Greenville has been honored for its service to the community earning awards from the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and the SC Association of Nonprofit Organizations; expanded into Laurens County; started a Black Home Ownership program in 2023; added a second ReStore; began a robust home repair program; and celebrated its 300th and 400th homes built.

Mario Brown, a Greenville, SC native and co-founder of Affordable Upstate, has been pivotal in reimagining affordable housing. Through N.O.A.H. Property Management, an Affordable Upstate initiative, Brown has launched economic mobility-focused programs that ease economic burdens and enhance accessibility. His innovative approach not only uplifts the Greenville community, but also sets a new benchmark for dignified and accessible housing solutions.

NP Strategy is a strategic communications firm composed of former journalists, communications professionals, political insiders, and public relations executives. NP Strategy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Maynard Nexsen, a 550-attorney national law firm with 24 offices from coast to coast, providing NPS access to deep relationships across the United States.

The Columbia Museum of Art announced in April that it had been selected as a recipient of a $75,000 grant that will support the revitalization of Boyd Plaza to create a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere through placemaking programming and interactive art. And, on Memorial Day, they are launching 'Free Summer at the CMA', a new endeavor that offers all residents of South Carolina free general admission to the museum through Labor Day.

Lily Pad began in 2022, thanks to a dream by Greer, SC residents Benjamin and Jennifer Tice. As active foster parents in the Upstate, the Tices wanted to give vulnerable foster youth a soft place to land. Lily Pad creates stunning before-and-after transformations within DSS offices across the state, creating living room-like settings for children and youth awaiting foster placement and giving them a place to comfortably rest, play games, do homework, and distract themselves from the difficulties of their everyday life. Lily Pad has transformed 19 spaces in South Carolina and hopes to create a Lily Pad in all 46 counties in South Carolina over the next few years.

Sarah Frick has been in the yoga and fitness industry for 16 years. After opening and operating two successful power yoga studios for 10 years in Charleston, South Carolina, Sarah sold both at the peak of their success to rebrand not only her fitness concept but herself. The Works a Sweat Studio by Sarah Frick are soulful fitness studios located in Charleston, SC and Mount Pleasant, SC with sister studios The Works Cycle and The Works Renew. The Works believes that in sharing our stories we heal each other and ourselves.

Charleston-based designer, Cassidy Caulk, is the creative force behind Kindred Label, a brand for women by women. With a passion for fashion and a business degree from the College of Charleston, Caulk's entrepreneurial mindset and determination set the stage for the birth of Kindred Label. A self-taught cobbler at the age of 24, Caulk meticulously designed and engineered the first prototype by hand, setting the foundation for the brand's ethos of innovation and quality. The patented technology is now displayed in each Kindred Label sandal design to blend fashion and functionality.

Tim Gardner is the owner of Lula Drake Wine Parlour on Main Street in Columbia, SC. The story behind the discovery of the location, coming up with the name Lula Drake, and the journey to becoming nationally recognized by the James Beard Foundation is nothing short of magical. Lula Drake is a 2024 James Beard for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program and a 2023 nominee for Outstanding Hospitality.

The City of Columbia, SC has had the 'Eor' syndrome for too long, according to Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. In office as the Mayor since January 2002, Daniel Rickenmann is on a mission to get the City to stop defining itself in terms of what it is close to (the mountains and the sea) and to start building on what we are. We couldn't agree more! How can we help?

More than 24 million people in the United States live with chronic lung diseases such as COPD or asthma. Amanda Clark is a registered respiratory therapist passionate about bringing innovative solutions to this problem. She has founded several companies in the health care space. Her most recent company, PulManage, is a digital health company that has developed a platform for chronic lung disease which pairs with FDA-approved lung-function devices.