Miller family continues lifetime commitment to Anderson University’s success The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South
Unique in the state, The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise
Carolina is the natural outgrowth of an Upstate family’s
Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) is a membership
commitment to philanthropy locally and globally.
organization whose mission is to provide education, networking, support resources and research to help family
Kip and Kim Miller, 1977 Anderson University alumni, own
enterprises and those involved in or helping them maximize
and operate The Eastern Companies, whose focus is exceeding
their overall health and sustainability. The FEISC fosters
customer expectations through God-honoring values of
learning, sharing and creative solutions regarding the many
honesty, integrity, caring, self-responsibility and being positive.
critical issues and problems faced by family enterprises. “As Christian business owners, Kip and I are called to
The Millers are husband and wife partners in Eastern
steward the business God has placed in our hands,” Kim
Industrial Supplies and other family enterprises that are
said. “Family businesses have unique opportunities and
renowned as one of the most successful family-owned
challenges and we can all learn from each other.”
enterprises in the South, serving markets in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. Kip is president of Eastern Industrial Supplies, a full line supplier of industrial pipe, valves, fittings and commercial plumbing products. Kim is the president of Eastern Power Technologies, a division started in 2014 as a specialty products
a company based on Christian “ Leading principles is more about what you do instead of what you don’t do.” — Kip Miller
distributor devoted to serving the power generation field.
President of Eastern Industrial Supplies
More Precious than Jewels Kip said that for many years he has searched for ways to honor his wife, whom he describes as a “modern Proverbs 31 woman.” “She is respected and trusted by all that know her, she knows how to operate a business successfully, she is uplift ing and encouraging, she has a ‘serve fi rst’ mindset, she is unselfish, she puts herself at the bottom of the organization chart, and she cares about our associates like she does our own family,” he said. To Kip and their three children, Kim is known as a godly wife and loving mother. Their children, Anderson University graduates Meagan Miller Owen (’07, master’s ’12), Derrick Miller (’09) and Tricia Miller Daniel (’15), joined other family members in supporting a University initiative
Taking the Helm After graduating from AU in 1977 with an associate’s degree, Kip earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of South Carolina. After leaving UofSC, he began working in Eastern’s warehouse and greatly benefited from the mentoring of owner George Bagwell as he learned the business “from the ground up.” As they worked together, Bagwell expressed a desire that Kip become his successor someday if anything were to happen to him. On New Year’s Eve in 1986, Kip was praying about an attractive offer he received to work for a competitor when he received a call that Bagwell had suddenly passed away. In July of 1987, Kip became president and majority owner of Eastern Industrial Supplies. (Continued on page 13)
that was established recently and named in Kim’s honor. 10 | I T ’S TIM E TO C ELE BRAT E !
Center: Kim & Kip Miller
