August 16 - September 12, 2021
ERIN FORD City of birth: Harrisburg, Pa. Education: B.A., Communications, La Salle University, Philadelphia My job: Interim CEO, SCBIO My career: Current Interim CEO of SCBIO, recently transitioning from executive vice president and COO. I work on corporate strategies emanating from the organization’s three statewide offices, its board, and hundreds of supporting members and investors. My responsibilities include serving as primary lead for SCBIO’s business operations and finances, championing investor relations and existing industry strategies, and spearheading integrated marketing initiatives. I previously served as sales and marketing executive at Poly-Med. Community involvement: I volunteer at Mauldin United Methodist Church. What has meant the most to me in my career: Building and growing an organization and industry with incredibly talented people on the SCBIO team, board of directors, and life science leaders in South Carolina. Here’s some advice I’d give to people just starting out in business: Learn to appreciate your talents and have confidence in who you are. Here’s something most people don’t know about me: I enjoy painting to relax. (Often paint-by-numbers) A recent book or podcast I recommend: Podcast: Dr. Death. Book: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Favorite quote: “Rarely are opportunities presented to you in a perfect way, in a nice little box with a yellow bow on top: ‘Here, open it, it’s perfect. You’ll love it.’ Opportunities — the good ones — are messy, confusing and hard to recognize. They’re risky. They challenge you.” — Susan Wojcicki, CEO, YouTube
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DOMINIK MJARTAN
City of birth: Bratislava (formerly Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia) Education: MBA at the University of Ulster in United Kingdom, graduating with distinction. Graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in management from University of Arkansas Little Rock. My job: President and CEO of Optus Bank My career: President and CEO of Optus Bank, a U.S. Treasury certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) and an MDI (FDIC-designated Optus Bank’s origins date back to 1921 when a group of visionary and Minority Depository Institution). I spent more than courageous African American leaders founded a bank on the principle that all people should have access to the American Dream, regardless of a decade as a senior executive officer at Southern their inherited circumstances. Optus Bank isOptus a federally designated Bank’s origins date back to Bancorp, most recently as the executive vice president Minority Depository Institution, a U.S. Treasury Certified Community courageous African American lea Development Financial Institution and an FDIC insured depository. If you of Southern Bancorp Inc. thattoallwealth peoplebuilding should have acces believe that all people should have access TRANSFORMING OPPORTUNITIES INTO WEALTH Community involvement: I recently served as chair of the CDFI Coalition and currently opportunities, visit us at www.optus.bank. their inherited circumstances. O Minority Depository Institution, serve as a director of the Community Development Bankers Association and the National Development Financial Institution Bankers Association. I serve on the board of directors of the S.C. Association for Community believe that all people shoul TRANSFORMING OPPORTUNITIES INTO WEALTH Economic Development, the Economic Opportunity Center and the S.C. Bankers Association opportunities, visit us at www.opt and as finance chair of Midlands Arts Conservatory. What has meant the most to me in my career: The unwavering support I’ve received from my wife, Georgia, in pursuing my dreams. Optus Bank’s origins date back to 1921 when a group of visionary and Here’s some advice I’d give to people just starting out in business: Seek out courageous African American leaders founded a bank on the principle opportunities that align with your interests and skills. Work hard to perfect your knowledge that all people should have access to the American Dream, regardless of and experience in your industry and field and become an expert of your craft. their inherited circumstances. Optus Bank is a federally designated Minority Depository Institution, a U.S. Treasury Certified Community Here’s something most people don’t know about me: I was born in the former Development Financial Institution and an FDIC insured depository. If you Czechoslovakia and came to America at the age of 16 to pursue the American Dream. believe that all people should have access to wealth building TRANSFORMING OPPORTUNITIES INTO WEALTH A book or podcast I recommend: The Color of Money by Mehrsa Baradaran opportunities, visit us at www.optus.bank. Favorite quote: “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” — Thomas Jefferson