Top 20 Under 40

Top 2020-2021

0 professionals

under 40

SUMTER • LEE • CLARENDON #SUMTER20UNDER40

The Best & Brightest of Prisma Health Here’s to you, Drake.

Congratulations to Financial Advisor Drake McCormick for being named a Sumter Item 20 Under 40 honoree.

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Shakeeya Sorrells Patient Experience Consultant

Maggie Weatherly, RN Pathway to Excellence Coordinator Thank you for your ongoing commitment to providing exceptional care and helping our patients be their healthiest.

Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Investment products and services provided by Synovus are offered through Synovus Securities, Inc. (“SSI�), Synovus Trust Company, N.A. (“STC�), GLOBALT, a separately identifiable division of STC and Creative Financial Group, a division of SSI. Trust services are provided by Synovus Trust Company, N.A. The registered broker-dealer offering brokerage products for Synovus is Synovus Securities, Inc, member FINRA/SIPC and an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. SSI is a subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp. and an affiliate of Synovus Bank and STC, and STC is a subsidiary of Synovus Bank.

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Sumter, South Carolina | www.SumterEdge.com 2 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020

#SUMTER20UNDER40

Meet the winners

04

Austin Floyd

04

JT Duke

05

Adrienne Singletary

05

Sharease McDowell-Dwyer

City of Sumter

Crestwood High School

Janel Strieter

06

Shanice King

07

Maggie Weatherly

07

Bank of Clarendon

06

08

Laurence Manning Academy

Thomas Langford

14

Andrew McCord

14

Jillian Huckeba

R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy

24Hr Martin Bail Bonding LLC

Carolina Filters

Sumter County Recreation & Parks

Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce

09

Dashin Simmons

15

Annie Rivers

10

Drake McCormick

15

Shane Evenich

10

Karen Gaines

Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital Prisma Health-Midlands

Nicholas Martin

11

Ryan Dontaye Graham

HFS Candle Co.

Sumter Economic Development and TheLINK Economic Development Alliance

09

The Sumter Item

Meagan Kuhlman

08

Yanet Lopez

11

Susie’s Chicken and Fries

Synovus Securities Inc.

First Citizens Bank

Shakeeya Sorrells Prisma Health–Midlands

16 18 20

Thompson

Sumter County Museum

Air Solutions Heating and Cooling

Scenes from 2019 Winning sound bites A young professional's guide to Sumter

#Sumter20under40 The Staff

ON THE COVER: The winners from the 2020-2021 Top 20 Professionals Under 40 you will find inside this magazine. Photos by Micah Green. #SUMTER20UNDER40

PUBLISHER Vince Johnson

LAYOUT Janel Strieter

EDITOR Kayla Green

AD SALES Karen Cave Devin McDonald Mark Pekuri

PHOTOGRAPHY Micah Green AD DESIGN Ryan Galloway Janel Strieter

COPY EDITING Rhonda Barrick Melanie Smith

36 W. Liberty St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-1238

32 E. Calhoun St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 775-1231 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020 3

Austin Floyd, 26 Head football coach at Laurence Manning Academy He always knew he wanted to coach football, but what he didn’t know was how soon he would be given the opportunity to do so in the team’s top role.

The Olanta native graduated from East Clarendon High School and earned his Bachelor’s in Social Studies Education from North Greenville University, where he got his start in coaching as an undergrad assistant. He worked as an offensive line coach for Lower Richland High School before serving in the same role plus as offensive coordinator at Lamar High School during its 2017 state championship. After those two jobs, Austin accepted the head coaching job at Laurence Manning Academy.

In his first year at LMA in 2019, the Swampcats went 11-2 and finished as the SCISA state runner-up. He credits his love of coaching to his coaches who inspired him and served as mentors for him and his teammates. His role as a coach goes beyond the field. He can now be a mentor for an entire team of boys as they navigate high school.

Austin was certainly younger than most head coaches when he took the job, and his advice to other young professionals looking to make strides in their career is to not let age be a negative factor. “I thought I was prepared to take the job. The truth is you’re never going to be fully prepared. If you wait for that, you won’t ever reach what you want. You have to just take a chance, and it’s about learning to sink or swim.

You won’t make every right decision, but it’s how you turn those wrong decisions into positives and grow as an individual. You won’t always make everyone happy, but in a leadership role, it’s what’s best for the team.”

Austin and his wife, Whitney, are high school sweethearts and have been married for four years. They attend Turbeville First Baptist, where he serves on the deacon board. They live in Manning.

JT Duke, 27

Banking and loan officer for Bank of Clarendon A Manning native and 2012 graduate of Laurence Manning Academy, JT is now giving back to his hometown by serving its residents through the Bank of Clarendon. That’s where he got an internship after his junior year of college while attending Coker College. There, he received his business degree and graduated at the top of his class while at the same time representing the university on the golf team. He went on to get his master’s from the University of South Carolina, again graduating with the highest honors.

He had an idea he wanted to get into the financial industry, and when he talked to the CEO of BOC about an opportunity in Manning, he saw a path to returning to his hometown. JT likes working in Manning because “everyone knows everybody. I like building good relationships with customers.”

Seeking better ways to serve his friends and neighbors, JT enrolled in the South Carolina Bankers School, one of the premier state banking programs in the country conducted through Lander University, where he, as of fall 2020, was in his third year of study.

JT is a member of Clarendon Baptist Church and volunteers as vice president of the

Clarendon County Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Everyone knows everybody. I like building good relationships with customers.”

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Adrienne Singletary, 31 Recreation complex coordinator for the City of Sumter The member of USC Upstate’s inaugural track and field team hasn’t stopped running down her career development path, and her work is making an impact on recreation for the youth of her hometown.

Adrienne always wanted to be around sports.

At first, she thought she’d have to move out of South Carolina for a viable career because the Palmetto State doesn’t have a professional team. The Crestwood High School alumna got her Bachelor's in Business Administration in Spartanburg before earning her Master's in Sports Management from Liberty University.

Between those degrees, she worked at the American Cancer Society and Department of Social Services.

Her path back to Sumter opened up when she needed to complete an internship for her master’s degree. She joined the Palmetto Tennis Center in 2016 as a tennis attendant. Six months in, the center’s complex coordinator left, and

she was promoted to the position. In July 2020, she was again promoted to her current role, in which she oversees administrative, financial and customer service operations for the tennis center and Sumter Aquatics Center.

Having played sports since she was 5, she now gets to help Sumter’s next generations fall in love with it. “I wanted to give back to sports what it gave me growing up … As a kid, people hated it here. I’m glad I’ve stuck around to see what we’ve done. Before I worked here, I had no idea how much economic development we have here.” The tennis center hosts the Palmetto Pro Open each year, bringing in world-ranked players and tourism dollars.

“A lot of people are aware of the pool, but for a lot of people, they don’t know the tennis center exists. It’s a hidden gem in Sumter.” And it’s free to play.

They made a difference in my life, and they believed in me, so I wanted to give that same feeling. It’s a rewarding experience. I still have students who reach out to me.”

Sharease McDowell-Dwyer, 36

Special education teacher at Crestwood High School If children are the future, teachers are the guides who get them there. Sharease has been guiding children for 14 years in Sumter. Teaching now in her fourth year at Crestwood High School in the town where she grew up, Sharease comes from a family of educators.

Combine that with teachers who inspired her through school, and you have the makings of a teacher who aims to build relationships with her students as well as their parents.

“They made a difference in my life, and they believed in me, so I wanted to give that same feeling. It’s a rewarding experience. I still have students who reach out to me.”

She has worked at the elementary level, too, gaining experience as she moved through different settings. She said her favorite part of being a teacher is “being able to help a child struggling to master a skill and seeing them master that skill that they weren’t able to before.”

Sharease has served as a professional development and parent facilitator for the FFA, junior class and prom adviser and is the 2020-2021 Campus Teacher of the Year. She is working to complete her doctoral studies in education and has been married for eight years. She and her husband live with their Chihuahua, Noelle.

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Janel Strieter, 27

Community coordinator & graphic designer for The Sumter Item While it’s commendable to move back to your hometown as a young professional to do your part to support its growth, it’s a whole other thing to fall in love with a place during a visit with family, move there and then do your part to support its growth. That’s what Janel did, and she has spent her professional and volunteer time since working in that mindset.

The Chicago native earned her Bachelor's in Communications from Truman State University before spending several years in Sumter as the communications director for the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce.

Her knack for graphic design was always a passion but never an educational priority through college. She self-taught, and, as of December 2019, she has worked at The Sumter Item on a two-person advertising design team. She also designs the paper’s special sections and magazines.

(Yes, including this one. No, she didn’t write this.)

Janel makes it a point to meet new people and take on each task or day with an intentionally positive attitude. “Negativity won’t accomplish much. It’s better to laugh about something rather than get aggravated.”

She is a member of the Young Professionals of Sumter, supports the cultural arts and has a passion for photography. She attends Alice Drive Baptist Church.

Shanice King, 34

Owner/founder of HFS Candle Co. She saw a problem that didn’t have a solution, so she jumped in to develop it herself.

Shanice used to love bath and spa stores, especially their aromatherapy products she used to calm her anxiety. But when she realized she kept getting headaches after burning her store-bought candles, she started researching their products. She wanted to recreate the candles that gave her relief but without what she said were toxin-induced headaches.

She found a good soy wax and started making her own candles for friends.

Now, four years later, she is shipping Heart Filled Candle Company products to Scotland, Germany, the Virgin Islands and 17 U.S. states.

She went through a lot of temporary jobs to make ends meet and figure out what she wanted to do until she became an entrepreneur. “I couldn’t see myself starting anywhere else (but Sumter) because it’s small but still a big area. Word of mouth goes so fast here.”

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Shanice said as her company continues to grow, she hopes to move into a larger office space than her current production office on Oxford Street. In the midst of that growth, she also founded Heart Filled Charities, a nonprofit that caters to schools and students. She provides uniforms, free workshops and financial management. “The hardest part of being a entrepreneur is being seen. I’m not from here, so there’s not a lot of local reception. But once they find me, they fall in love with us. The connections are the most rewarding part.”

Shanice is president and head of PR for the Lilies of the Now, a women’s empowerment group in Sumter. She received her Bachelor's in Business from the University of Phoenix. She and her husband, a Sumter native, have been married for seven years. She has five children between the ages of 8 and 16.

"That’s that heart of Sumter.”

#SUMTER20UNDER40

Maggie Weatherly, 36

Nursing Administration Pathway to Excellence coordinator at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital/Prisma Health-Midlands Maggie’s role at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital already involved promoting best practices, so when COVID-19 hit and the hospital needed a nurse manager to oversee the COVID-19 unit, it was clear she was the right person for the job. Everyone was pulled from their home units to form a team that cared for COVID-19 patients, and the makeshift unit that was working every day to help patients needed someone to be able to look at the big picture and advocate for patients and nurses. “It was something no one had encountered before. We had no precedent.”

With a background in women’s health, Maggie moved to Sumter in 2007 from Pennsylvania to work at Tuomey’s women’s center that had just opened. She was pulled to the industry from a love of making a positive difference in someone’s life. Of being there in the moment with someone who is vulnerable, whether the situation is good or bad. “You want someone to get better, but you really also want to be able to provide evidence-based care and practice. You can make a connection with a patient.”

During the height of the pandemic, she was able to support both patients and their families who weren’t allowed to visit by being their bridge by providing technology. “Never underestimate the power of human kindness.”

Maggie earned her bachelor’s from Penn State University, is a Certified Nurse and is certified in patient obstetrics in South Carolina. She and her husband have been married for nine years, and they have two children, ages 2 and 7.

Meagan Kuhlman, 35 Corporate controller for Thompson After working in public accounting for 12 years and the crazy hours that come with the job, Meagan was ready for something more stable. The Myrtle Beach native’s husband had been working for Thompson Industrial for many years, so she knew the value they place in employees. They moved to Sumter two years ago so she could help grow the Sumter office of WebsterRogers, and Meagan joined the Thompson Family of Companies after shifting her career path.

When she’s not working, Meagan can probably be found at F45, a gym downtown, or rooting for the Gamecocks. She loves living in Sumter and being a part of the downtown scene, whether that’s attending events such as Derby Day or dancing to '80s music at La Piazza. “I love the fact that wherever we go, people know us and our children.

People are watching out for us. We live in a town with no family, which is difficult at times, yet we feel surrounded by family.”

Her advice to someone just moving to a new city is to find at least one person to answer questions #SUMTER20UNDER40

and introduce you to people. She said they were able to meet people and other parents at work and just by going out to restaurants and events. “A city is not going to welcome you if you’re just at your house. There’s a large base of young professionals in Sumter, and it’s growing steadily as the community grows.”

Meagan and her husband have two kids, ages 5 and 7. She is on the Sumter County Museum Advisory Council, Derby Day Committee and Coastal Carolina University Accounting Advisory Board. She is also a provisional member of the Sumter Junior Welfare League. She received her bachelor’s from Coastal Carolina University and her Master's in Accounting from the University of South Carolina.

Meagan is a CPA.

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Yanet Lopez, 26

Research and multimedia manager for Sumter Economic Development and TheLINK Economic Development Alliance If you’re doubtful about whether the American Dream is still attainable, look no further than Yanet.

Her family moved to the U.S. from Cuba in 2007 in search of better opportunities. After a time in Nebraska, she ended up in Sumter and attended USC Sumter, staying there to finish her Associate and Bachelor's degrees in Business Administration through USC Sumter and USC Aiken.

She got an internship at Sumter Economic Development in her last year of college and was hired after a year. Starting out in more of an administrative role, she has excelled through promotions and additional responsibilities. She now leads the organization’s digital and social media platforms and designs marketing materials that are distributed locally and globally to highlight the region as an ideal place to live, work and play. Her graphic design and digital marketing products are now often the first impression prospective companies get of Sumter.

And it’s all been either self-taught or with the support of the mentors with whom she has surrounded herself. “There’s opportunities out there. You just have to take advantage of those. For someone not knowing the culture, the language, I had to navigate through the whole system. You usually look to your parents for advice, but I didn’t have that. I’m always looking to community advisers.”

Yanet’s work touches every facet of the industrial recruitment process. Her favorite project has been developing and growing the eSTEAM Sumter Festival, a youth-focused, hands-on educational event that brought 6,500 people downtown last year.

Yanet is a newlywed. She and her husband, Daicolt, who works at Shaw Air Force Base and at McEntire Joint National Guard Base as a civilian in IT, are building a house in Sumter and live with their two dogs, Jenna and Balto.

Nicholas Martin, 37

Owner of 24Hr Martin Bail Bonding LLC Often, the best way to become a successful entrepreneur is to use your life experience and passion and turn it into a business. That’s what Nicholas did.

Growing up, the Sumter native got into the wrong crowd and started getting in trouble. He ended up serving a one-year prison sentence for two felonies. After he served his time and got his record expunged, he was eventually let go from the manufacturing job he had worked for 13 years. With his back against the wall, he realized he could support his family and help the next generation of young men in his community. He took the course to become a bail bondsman and opened his own company in June 2020. His focus is on mentoring young men who have been arrested. He works with them to get them off the path they’re on and supports them by telling his own story.

For the past 18 years, Nicholas has had his wife by his side. They married after dating for four months, and he was sentenced when she was seven months pregnant. She never missed a weekend visit. She worked at Zaxby’s while he was in prison to support their family. Now, she recently also started her own company, 24Hr Home Care Services, that mainly serves older adults.

Nicholas credits his mother, Theresa's, work ethic and support for instilling a drive in him. He credits his wife, Tammy, for being the other half of their dream team. Now, he’s trying to build generational worth for their five children, who are between the ages of 3 and 17. “The hardest challenge was believing in myself.

Mom always said giving up is not an The only thing that stopped me is option.

Even if you’re scared, you me. I’m trying to pave the way for better never show it.” them.”

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Ryan Dontaye Graham, 29 Athletic director for Sumter County Recreation and Parks Plenty of people love sports. Not as many use that love for the game to make a career that gives back to children. Ryan does. Ryan has risen to a leadership role in the county’s recreation department early in his career. After graduating from Crestwood High School in 2009, he earned his Bachelor's in Mass Communications with a Minor in Recreation Administration in 2014 from Morris College and his Master's in College Athletic Administration in 2018 from Coker College.

Before landing his current role, he worked as an assistant high school baseball coach at his alma mater and for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier associate. He’s been serving in his current position since 2016 but also finds time to serve as district director for Dixie Youth Baseball for S.C. District 9. As an athletic director, he supervises the administration of three sports that have county recreation programs: baseball, basketball and football.

His inspiration: His father refereed a lot of local leagues, including volleyball, softball and basketball. Ryan learned to officiate, too, and he stayed on to serve as Morris College’s announcer until 2018 and continues to be its statistician. “I like giving kids the chance to get out and play and have fun, meet other kids. My world pretty much revolves around sports. When I was young, it was the only thing I wanted to do. I enjoy that everything I learned, now I can give back.”

Ryan is a member of First Baptist Missionary Church and is an inaugural life member of the Morris College National Alumni Association. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Dashin Simmons, 26

Co-owner of Susie’s Chicken and Fries The food truck trend has picked up steam in Sumter, but none are more recognizable than the bright pink of Susie’s. The Sumter native started Susie’s Chicken and Fries in September 2019 with his mother and cousin.

His mother was a proprietor at Outback and wanted to start something for herself. Dashin had transitioned from doing online marketing and web design for restaurants to running his own marketing agency. In their first year, they’ve grown from one food truck to opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Manning Avenue, then one on Peach Orchard Road, then a second truck. Now, they have more trucks in the plans. “We thought we would do good, but not like this.”

The origin story of Susie’s came together very organically. Dashin is a lifelong entrepreneur. His mom helped him sell marshmallow guns as a child. He was selling items on eBay at 12 years old, holding car washes. One grandfather owned a construction company, the other a barbecue restaurant. His mother and cousin both worked in kitchens, and Dashin worked at Outback for six years. “I always thought I don’t want to work for other people. I didn’t see my mom as much as a kid because she was working. I have two kids, and I #SUMTER20UNDER40

didn’t want the same. I wanted to be able to do things with them.”

He and his cousin were talking about how Chick-fil-A does so well, but they knew they could put a homemade spin on it. They created sauces from replicating and improving on flavors they enjoy and got recommendations from other restaurateurs. They put their first restaurant on Manning Avenue to bring more food options to their neighborhood. Tapping into his graphic design expertise, Dashin created the logo and bright pink truck and restaurant building to make it stand out. “I wanted it to be bold and colorful, to make it a fun feeling. We didn’t want it to be just one of those trucks with no branding.” And of course, the name. The family run business pays homage to Dashin’s grandmother, Susie. “My wife and kids are with us on the truck a lot.

It’s rewarding because a lot of people get to benefit from it. We’re giving people jobs.”

Dashin and Valeria have been married for four years.

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Drake McCormick, 24

Financial advisor for Synovus Securities Inc. After participating in a dental mission trip to Honduras in high school, Drake knew he wanted to use his profession to help others. While studying at Wofford, he first focused on science studies with a pre-med track, but he realized his economics courses made more sense. As a student, he managed investment portfolios on a student-led team and served as student body president before being offered a job at Synovus his senior year.

The Thomas Sumter Academy alumnus graduated college in 2018 and now works for Synovus’ S.C. Coastal Team, which serves everything east of Columbia. His team oversees a $1.2 billion portfolio and helps individuals, families, corporations and municipalities with financial planning and wealth management. He received his financial planning certificate from the University of Georgia and is sitting for his CFP exam in March 2021.

Drake is glad to call Sumter home, and he has enjoyed seeing how it has developed in the last 15-20 years. He grew up with a unique window into the community through his father, Deron McCormick's, work as

city manager. “It was an incredible opportunity to move back here because of the trajectory Sumter is on. It’s everyone supporting every aspect of the town. And with my job, I’m able to see what’s happening in Charleston, and there are elements that are nice there. But I appreciate more and more what Sumter is and what it’s doing.

For someone young looking to get into a business of any sorts, there’s opportunity to place roots here. We didn’t come downtown growing up. There just wasn’t much going on unless we were going to Dad’s office. There’s more and more things happening all over.”

Drake sits on the Santee-Lynches Regional Development Corporation Board and is an honorary commander for the 79th Fighter Wing as part of the Shaw-Sumter Community Council. Drake is engaged to Blakely Graham.

Karen Gaines, 39

Operations services supervisor at First Citizens Bank Karen loves helping people, and she hasn’t settled for finding a way to do that through only one avenue. Whether it’s professionally in her role in banking, as a volunteer to organize the Iris Festival’s kickoff event or as a mentor to adolescent girls through career events in Sumter’s schools, the Sumter native is making an impact.

The wife of a retired veteran and mother of two thought she wanted to teach but realized she could better impact more lives with how she interacts with adults.

She has gone through the gamut of roles in the banking profession in more than 18 years, from teller to accounts to loans to mortgage loans to audits and everything in between. “I could run a bank with the lights off. I like where I’m at because they do a lot with commercial banking, especially with what’s happening recently (with COVID-19). A lot of businesses didn’t think they could make it, and it’s fulfilling to see the people I work with do what they can do to help.”

When she’s not at the bank, Karen can be found in schools working with young women about the importance of education and work ethic. She feels the pull to mentor them because “my daughter says, ‘I see my mom in the mirror.’ She’s watching me, so it’s my job to be an advocate for children.”

Karen also serves on the Iris Festival planning committee, where she is chair of Taste of Sumter, the event that kicks off the festival on Thursday night. She received her Master of Business Administration from Webster University and her bachelor’s from the University of South Carolina.

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Shakeeya Sorrells, 39 Patient experience consultant for Prisma Health–Midlands

Shakeeya has been through a lot of change in her career and personal life, but she is a testament to hard work and believing in yourself paying off. The Marion native moved to Sumter as a child and graduated from Sumter High School before obtaining her cosmetology certificate at the Sumter County Career Center. Her deep-seated interest in health care led her to become a phlebotomist at the age of 19 at Baptist Hospital in Columbia.

Upon completing her bachelor’s degree at Limestone College and her Master of Healthcare Administration from Walden University, she began evolving her career. In her almost 20 years with Prisma, she has worked in roles spanning business analyst for the Quality department, IT ancillary systems analyst, accreditation readiness professional and now, as of this fall, patient experience consultant.

Becoming a young divorcee and single parent of four while in college, she learned to believe in herself and in God to rise above her own expectations and be a role model for her children, Dashaun, Devin, Danielle and Destani. “My faith is what I relied on and knowing my children were watching me to be an example. I wanted not just to tell them how to be successful. I wanted to show them.”

Shakeeya has been around for a health care system merger at what is now Prisma Health and for long commutes to Columbia when she worked out of town, and she is happy to still be with Prisma and in Sumter. “The culture there, I felt that it was a place I wanted to retire from. I like the feeling of being home. I never really wanted to move far, far away. Even in Columbia, I still felt a disconnect because I didn’t know anyone outside of work.”

Shakeeya volunteers for the annual Feed My Starving Children and is a member of Grace Cathedral Ministries, Eta Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the National Association of Healthcare Quality.

Thomas has always loved music, and he has found a way to help foster creativity in others in and out of the classroom. This is his 10th year teaching in Sumter after spending two in Charlotte. “The community just loves us and having kids perform. Learning to play is not the fun part. Performing is the fun part. I tell my kids all the time we have to do the hard work in the classroom to be able to go out and perform and have fun.”

The son of two Air Force veterans who retired in Sumter also serves as a teacher leader to support other teachers, from technology support to mentoring first-year educators.

One of his favorite parts about his career is helping the orchestra program at First Baptist Church grow. “Almost every student will tell you they enjoy music. But they can’t express it. They want to play something, and a lot of time that comes out in church.” The scholarship orchestra program includes 10-12 students in middle and high school who play at the church for a semester. Upon completion, a college scholarship is set aside for them. “I started playing at church in sixth grade, and I never stopped doing that.”

Thomas was named Middle School Teacher of the Year in spring 2019 by the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce and the 2019-2020 Middle School Teacher of the Year. He teaches Pro Team, a course that teaches students about the profession to encourage them into the Teacher Cadet program. Thomas and his wife, Lori, who teaches at Westside Christian Academy, have two daughters, Cadence, 6, and Carlee, 4. #SUMTER20UNDER40

Thomas Langford, 34 Band teacher at R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy

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Congratulations to Meagan Kuhlman

for being honored as one of Sumter’s Top 20 under 40. We applaud your success and commitment to our community.

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Andrew McCord, 34

Chief operating officer for Carolina Filters

Andrew has worked for larger manufacturing companies in larger cities, but the work-life balance he has found in Sumter beats them all. The Manning native went to Wilson Hall before heading out of town to Clemson and down a manufacturing leadership career path. His chemical engineering degree afforded him the opportunity to work with different companies across the Southeast, from Georgia to Texas and South Carolina. He was most recently a plant manager for Georgia-Pacific when Carolina Filters presented him the opportunity to move to Sumter in 2018.

He knew the owners from interning with them in college, and it ended up being the right choice for him and his family.

He said if Sumter was still what it was like when he grew up, he would have considered commuting from Camden or Columbia. “It’s come such a long way. You get that large town feel in a small package. It was just a no-brainer.”

In general, almost everyone Moving anywhere new means putting the I’ve met here is very welcoming. work in, and Andrew and his wife have taken advantage of social events to network There’s no clique. There’s a good young and make friends. crowd and a diverse base between Andrew and Beth have two children, Shaw and people who are from here.” ages 6 and 4. They attend First Presbyterian Church, where he serves as a deacon. In his free time, he likes to play golf in Sumter, travel with his family or enjoy the downtown restaurants.

Jillian Huckeba, 35

Vice president of programs and events for the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce If you were to give a presentation telling the story of a young professional from Sumter, Jillian could be on the poster. Military family. Sumter High School graduate. Mom works for the city. Went to college at the University of South Carolina and came back to work at Tuomey Hospital for 11 years as a physician recruiter before joining the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce almost two years ago.

She thought about going to law school but was driven by her want to work and build relationships with the public. At the Chamber, she’s often one of the first people a business connects with when it moves into the community. “I thought I was never coming back, but I have a greater appreciation for home because I’ve been to the big cities, and there’s truly no place like home. It’s the people.”

She loves seeing people come back “pleasantly surprised” after the Chamber's community tour. She said Sumter has changed dramatically in the last five years, transforming and growing, especially downtown. “But it still has that smalltown charm.” Jillian likes working for the Chamber because of the role it plays in promoting networking and partnerships.

Jillian served nearly five years on the Young Professionals of Sumter board; served five years as an executive officer and treasurer for the Carolinas Association of Provider Services, a regional nonprofit for in-house recruiters; and volunteered with the American Heart Association on multiple occasions to include serving on the 2019-2020 Executive Leadership Team.

14 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020

#SUMTER20UNDER40

Annie Rivers, 32 Executive director of the Sumter County Museum

Coming from a family of teachers but knowing she didn’t want to teach, Annie’s path began on weekend family trips across the Carolinas. She did know she loved history, and that passion formed when she’d learn about different places, resonating so much she found a way to instill that yearning for knowledge in others.

The Myrtle Beach native has been in Sumter since 2013 to lead the Sumter County Museum. In that time, the staff has grown from Annie being the only full-time employee with two part-time staffers to its current two full-time, five part-time team. “We can do a whole lot more and reach out into the community in different ways.” She has led efforts to grow programming from three Backcountry days, where visitors explore an outdoor 19th-century homestead, to additional exhibits and events. In 2018, Temple Sinai opened its Jewish History Center under the auspice of the museum, adding yet another outlet for diversity in exhibits and educational programming. “We want to reach as many people as possible and as diverse an audience as possible. A lot of people didn’t know before we had a museum.”

Annie lives in the historic district and loves being able to walk downtown for festivals and, sans COVID-19, the city’s Fourth Fridays outdoor concert series. “Growing up, I don’t think people realized what Sumter is. It’s welcoming, and there is a lot to do here. Sometimes you have to look, but I enjoy living here. The people are more connected here.”

Annie graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina. She is a member of the Sumter County Historical Commission, Pilot Club of Sumter and Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies Board, which represents Sumter, Clarendon, Kershaw and Lee counties. Annie and her husband, Thomas, who works at Black River Electric Cooperative, have a 3-yearold daughter, Addison, Annie’s step-daughter, Hailey, and their dog, Kazoo.

Shane Evenich, 34

Residential construction manager for Air Solutions Heating and Cooling Shane’s story is that of many young professionals from Sumter returning home, but what makes him stand out is his intentionality in representing his hometown and the locally owned business that brought him home. Shane went into construction out of high school and went to school to become a pipe welder, gaining experience in solar energy and electrical work. But when his daughter was born, he wanted better hours and a job that allowed him to be home at night. After moving to Columbia and Tampa, Florida, Jimmy Davis and Richard Cook with Air Solutions asked him to join their started-in-thegarage team. Shane went to high school with the two, and the company was growing at a fast pace, so Shane joined to manage new construction. “I’m in charge of working with the builder,

#SUMTER20UNDER40

managing the work to get the air conditioner in a home. We work a lot with Great Southern Homes. We’re busier than ever.”

Growing at such a fast pace requires trust in your partners. Shane’s 10-plus years of experience in construction and his managerial experience at previous jobs gave him the needed qualifications to help Air Solutions grow.

Outside of work, Shane tries to promote Sumter whenever he can.

Whether that’s attending events or bringing in new customers, he’s glad he moved back two years ago to be a part of Sumter’s growth. “I like being from here.” Shane and Lauren have a 5-year-old daughter, Darby.

You’ve got to trust all the pieces. You can’t micromanage. It’s hard as owners to take your hands out of things sometimes, but they’ve done really well.

We’ve got a good team. We enjoy what we do. We meet every day because we’re friends.”

TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020 15

2019 Scenes from

Photos by Cary Howard and Janel Strieter

16 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020

Our 2020 awards banquet for the annual 20 Under 40 contest was held at the Sumter County Museum near downtown Sumter.

For photos, go to www.TheItem.com.

Here's a look back at our 2019 winners and their supporters.

#SUMTER20UNDER40

E X PA N D YO U R R E AC H

Named one of America’s ‘10 Newspapers That Do It Right’

by Editor and Publisher magazine www.theitem.com/subscribe

75 cents

| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894

A7

CLASSIFIEDS

LAKESIDE LAKE SIDE Portable units, piping materials big sellers at hardware stores

BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com With unseasonably low temperatures at night in the tri-county region since Monday, residents have been buying up portable space heaters and pipe fittings and related parts for burst pipes, according to local hardware stores.

Staff at Lowe’s, Tractor Supply and Simpson Hardware & Sports said Thursday that space heaters have been big sellers all week.

Simpson was the only one that reported Thursday afternoon to still have an assortment of heaters on hand.

After Wednesday’s snowstorm dropped 4 to 6 inches of snow throughout Sumter County and about 3 inches in Clarendon and Lee counties, utility providers only reported a limited number of home power outages in the tri-county region.

Duke Energy spokesman Ryan Mosier said the provider only had a handful of reported outages associated with the cold and snowstorm on Wednesday night in the three counties. Black River Electric Coop. representative James Moye said the co-op had about 95 home outages in the area, but everyone had their power back on by 5 a.m. Thursday.

The stretch of cold nights seem to be causing more problems than Wednesday’s snowfall.

According to National Weather Service

Dining during COVID-19

Restaurants have had to

PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM

THE SUMMER ISSUE

he fire truck red of the boys’ sleds was still bright and shiny, un-

scathed by having not experi-

Celebrate July 4 with festive food

Manning loves Lucy

The wood wasn’t worn. Their riders, cold, bright-eyed.

Sumter may not have the rolling hills found in cities farther north, but one neighborhood road between Alice Drive Elementary School and Second Mill Pond was slanted enough for those barely broken-out speedsters to provide hours of entertainment the morning after a handful of inches of snow powdered, then iced, the area.

The Associated Press reported the largest snowfall — 8 inches — was found in Williamsburg County near Andrews but claimed areas around Sumter picked up 7 inches.

There were about 4 inches on the lawns lining the street where a group of kids were playing Thursday morning.

“I think it caught us all off guard,” said Robert Jones, whose two sons, Wyatt, 8, and Jeremiah, 12, were taking turns racing on

A decade after starting a home-based cupcake business, Lucy Casselman is exactly where she wants to be — surrounded by family, good food and the town she loves.

Grayson Sanders, 8, sleds past some friends down an icy road in Sumter. sleds with their friends.

The children playing all attend Wilson Hall, which was closed Thursday because of Winter Storm Grayson.

Paige Sanders, 10, stood among the Jones brothers and their friends, laying out the rules for the race. You go there, and you go there.

“Yesterday, we tried to go out here, but it was too powdery,” Sarah Smith said. Her sons, 9-yearold Banks and 7-year-old Eli, were also taking turns racing. “Now that there’s a layer of ice, it’s perfect.”

The storm may have passed by Thursday, leaving sled-friendly roads and a winter wonderland across the Midlands, but the height of it Wednesday evening was not so fun for Smith’s husband.

Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and South Carolina Department of Transportation reported traffic was backed up on U.S. 378 because of cars sliding off the road, getting stuck and being unable to make it up an icy hill. Smith said her husband was in traffic for two hours.

Mickey's Home improvements & Repairs. Electrical, wooden fence, decks & handyman work.

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Legal Service Attorney Timothy L. Griffith 803-607-9087, 360 W. Wesmark.

Criminal, Family, Accident, Injury

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Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

Office Rentals

Requirements: 2+ years' experience installing new HVAC systems, preventative and general maintenance servicing systems, installing duct work, extensive troubleshooting, and HVAC knowledge. Please call (803)968-4718 if interested.

690 Bultman Dr 1612 Sq. Ft. Reception area w/ hdwd floors, 4 Private offices, Conference rm, Secretarial work area, Copier/Equip.

Rm, Shower rm, 2 1/2 baths, file storage rm, $2050 mo+$57.76 CAM Call 803 773-1477

Help Wanted from Manning, SC. Live in care giver needed for elderly woman. For more info please contact 267-442-8603 or 267-608-7952

Need a truckload of firewood? $60 delivered to Sumter or Manning.

Call State Tree Service at

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Wanted laborer with CDL license, welding experience is a plus. Salary negotiable.

For more info.

Experienced Cashiers, Servers & Grill cook needed. Must be available to work all shifts. Please call Cindy at 803-481-6495 for more info.

Contractors Wanted!

The Sumter Item has a newspaper route for the Bishopville area.

Contractor will service home delivery, newspaper racks & newspaper dealers.

Also need contractor for the Mayesville, Elliott & Lynchburg route.

Must have good dependable transportation & a phone in your home. Come by & apply at 36 W. Liberty St. or call Reda at 803-774-1257

Lewis

Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette.

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO Huntington Place Apartments Rents from $625 per month 1 Month free* *13 Month lease required Leasing office located at Ashton Mill Apartment Homes 595 Ashton Mill Drive 803-773-3600 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5

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BERKELEY • CLARENDON • KERSHAW • ORANGEBURG • SUMTER 11 N. Blanding Street Sumter, SC 29150

BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter resident Freddie Mobley, left, listens Thursday as Simpson Hardware’s Mike Brown explains which pipes would be best to purchase at the store, 32 W. Liberty St.

Questions concerning this Proposal will be accepted in writing via mail or email to the office through January 19, 2018 at 4:00pm. Deadline for proposals is 2/01/2018 at 2:00pm.

Summons & Notice SUMMONS AND NOTICES (Non-Jury) IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A NO.: 2017-CP-43-01794 FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC, Plaintiff, v.

Any heirs-at-law or devisees of Robert A. England a/k/a Robert England, deceased, their heirs, Personal Representatives, Administrators, Successors and Assigns, and all other persons or entities entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons or entities with any right, title, estate, interest in or lien upon the real estate described in the complaint herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as Richard Roe; and any unknown minors, incompetent or imprisoned person, or persons under a disability being a class designated as John Doe; Sonja G. England a/k/a Sonja England; Brittany England, Defendant(s).

TO THE DEFENDANT(S) ABOVE NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend by answering the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is hereby served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices at 3800 Fernandina Road, Suite 110, Columbia, SC 29210, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to do so, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the

LO C A L N E W S • S P O R T S • V I D E O • B U S I N E S S • L E G A L S • C O N T E ST S

SEE SNOW DAY, PAGE A5

775-9611

Cold temps and ice remain across state after storm #SUMTER20UNDER40 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Finley Bork, 7, uses a boogie board, typically used on the beach, for sledding down a hill on a golf course at the Isle of Palms on Wednesday.

COLUMBIA (AP) — The sun came back out Thursday in South Carolina, and temperatures rose above freezing, but many major highways in the eastern part of the state remained an icy mess.

Gov. Henry McMaster authorized 20 National Guard members to use their equipment to help rescue stranded motorists on Interstate 95 and to the east and push vehicles out of the way so the roads could be reopened.

South Carolina Department of Transportation crews worked 24 hours a day in shifts to try to clear the ice and snow off roads that had not dealt with a major winter storm in

Summons & Notice

PLAT BOOK 86 AT PAGE 320, AND HAVING SUCH METES AND BOUNDS AS ARE SHOWN ON SAID PLAT, THIS DESCRIPTION BEING IN LIEU OF METES AND BOUNDS AS PERMITTED UNDER SECTION 30-5-250 OF THE 1976 CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

787-9678, be and hereby is appointed Attorney for any unknown Defendants who are, or may be, in the Military Service of the United States of America and as such are entitled to the benefits of the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act aka Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, and any amendments thereto, to represent and protect the interest of said Defendants, AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED That a copy of this Order shall be forth with served upon said Defendants by publication in The Item, a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, together with the Summons and Notice of Filing of Complaint in the above entitled action.

Brock & Scott, PLLC 3800 Fernandina Road, Suite 110 Columbia, SC 29210 Phone 844-856-6646 Fax 803-454-3451 Attorneys for Plaintiff

Estate Notice Sumter County

Property Address: 609 N Magnolia Street, Sumter, SC 29150

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

NOTICE OF FILING COMPLAINT

Mortgage is perfected and Attorney for Plaintiff hereby gives notice that all rents shall be payable directly to it by delivery to its undersigned attorneys from the date of default. In the alternative, Plaintiff will move before a judge of this Circuit on the 10th day after service hereof, or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard, for an Order enforcing the assignment of rents, if any, and compelling payment of all rents covered by such assignment directly to the Plaintiff, which motion is to be based upon the original Note and Mortgage herein and the Complaint attached hereto.

Persons having claim against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these estates, and to file their claims on Form #371PC with the Probate Court of Sumter County Courthouse, N. Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, on or before the date that is eight months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors, (unless previously barred by operation of Section 62-3-803), or such persons shall be forever barred as to heir claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements, indicating the name and the address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the amount claimed and the date when due, and a description of any security as to the claim.

TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED: YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the original Complaint, Cover Sheet for Civil Actions and Certificate of Exemption from ADR in the above entitled action was filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on October 3, 2017. A Notice of Foreclosure Intervention was also filed in the Clerk of Court's Office.

ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD LITEM AND APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY

LIS PENDENS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT an action has been or will be commenced in this Court upon complaint of the above-named Plaintiff against the above-named Defendant(s) for the foreclosure of a certain mortgage of real estate given

by Robert A. England and Sonja G. England to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Amerigroup Mortgage Corporation dated March 21, 2002 and recorded on April 5, 2002 in Book 837 at Page 1842, in the Sumter County Registry (hereinafter, "Mortgage").

Thereafter, the Mortgage was transferred to the Plaintiff herein by assignment and/or corporate merger.

It appearing to the satisfaction of the Court, upon reading the filed Petition for Appointment of Kelley Woody, Esquire as Guardian ad Litem for unknown minors, and persons who may be under a disability, and it appearing that Kelley Woody, Esquire has consented to said appointment.

Estate:/Rollie K. Jackson #2017ES4300722

Personal Representative Ellen B. Jackson 4760 Olivia Lane Pinewood, SC 29125

Estate:/Waddell Williams #2017ES4300725

FURTHER upon reading the filed Petition for Appointment of Kelley Woody, Esquire as Attorney for any unknown Defendants who may be in the Military Service of the United States of America, and may be, as such, entitled to the benefits of the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act, and any amendments thereto, and it appearing that Kelley Woody, Esquire has consented to act for and represent said Defendants, it is

The premises covered and affected by the said Mortgage and by the foreclosure thereof were, at the time of the making thereof and at the time of the filing of this notice, more particularly described in the said Mortgage and are more commonly described as:

Personal Representative Colette W. Terrell 1057 Crown Landing Pkwy McDonongh, GA 30252

Estate:/David L. Lee, Jr. #2017ES4300720

Personal Representative James T. Lee C/O A. Paul Weissenstein, Jr. Attorney at Law PO Box 2446 Sumter, SC 29151

ORDERED that Kelley Woody, Esquire, P.O. Box 6432, Columbia, SC 29260 phone (803) 787-9678, be and hereby is appointed Guardian ad Litem on behalf of all unknown minors and all unknown persons who may be under a disability, all of whom may have or claim to have some interest or claim to the real property commonly known as 609 N Magnolia Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150; that she is empowered and directed to appear on behalf of and represent said Defendants, unless said Defendants, or someone on their behalf, shall within thirty (30) days after service of a copy hereof as directed, procure the appointment of Guardian or Guardians ad Litem for said Defendants.

THE LAND REFERRED TO IN THIS POLICY IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF SUMTER, AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: ALL THAT CERTAIN PIECE, PARCEL, OR LOT OF LAND, TOGETHER WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, IF ANY, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SUMTER, STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BEING SHOWN AND DESIGNATED AS LOT # 14, AS SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT PREPARED BY JOSEPH R. EDWARDS, RLS, DATED MARCH 14, 1986, AND RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS FOR SUMTER COUNTY IN

Estate:/Vinia Gamble Williams #2017ES4300726

Personal Representative Colette Terrell 1057 Crown Landing Pkwy

Personal Representative

Personal Representative

AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Kelley Woody, Esquire, P.O. Box 6432, Columbia, SC 29260 phone (803)

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eight years.

But there were so many roads covered with ice. Parts of Interstate 95 from mile marker 77 around St. George south to the Georgia state line remained closed Thursday afternoon because of icy patches. Dozens of other roads remained treacherous, according to the DOT. Major roads less traveled were even worse.

And troopers warned any water from melted ice left behind after dark would refreeze as temperatures across the state again fell below freezing.

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Friday in The Sumter Item

SEE STATE, PAGE A5 A2

VISIT US ONLINE AT

We will be happy to change your ad if an error is made; however we are not responsible for errors after the first run day. We shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the printing or omission of an advertisement. We reserve the right to edit, refuse or cancel any ad at any time.

Summons & Notice

This being the same property conveyed to Robert A. England by deed of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of Washington, D.C. dated November 12, 1984 and reocrded November 12, 1984 in book 385 at page 443 in the records for Sumter County, South Carolina.

Thereafter, Robert A. England conveyed his interest to Robert A. England and Sonja G. England, as joint tenants, with right of survivorship, and not as tenants in common, be deed dated October 27, 1998 and recorded November 2, 1998 in book 722 at page 149 in the records for Sumter County, South Carolina.

YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that under the provisions of S.C. Code Ann. § 29-3-100, effective June 16, 1993, any collateral assignment of rents contained in the referenced

Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority (SWRTA) is soliciting proposals from certified light installers to replace outside lighting at the maintenance facility and fueling station located at 21 Holmes Gardner Road, Sumter, SC 29153 to LED lighting upgrade / retrofits.

More detailed information and specifications are found in the solicitation which can be obtained by contacting, Patricia Drakeford, Compliance officer at 803-934-0396 ext. 103, or via email at pdrakeford@swrta.com or via website at www.swrta.com. All Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are encouraged to submit proposals for this procurement.

or

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES, AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL

11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition.

11:30 a.m. Friday for Sunday’s edition.

TMS No. 2490102024

Tru by Hilton, Please apply in person at Spring Hill Suites 2645 Broad St. Seeking front desk clerk, house keeping and maintenance

Ramsey 803-458-8333 Ramsey 803-983-3401

relief demanded in the Complaint.

YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that Plaintiff will move for an Order of Reference or the Court may issue a general Order of Reference of this action to a Master-in-Equity/Special Referee, pursuant to Rule 53 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil

FOR: Replacement of outside security lights and fuel pump lights SWRTA 17/18-06

or 843-992-2364

Summons & Notice

YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by Attorney for

Needed: HVAC Technician. Minimum 5 years experience. $15-$20 an hour depending on exp. Must be EPA certified. Call 803-825-9075

Prepare for hurricane season

SEE STORES, PAGE A5

enced day after day, winter after winter of snow day races.

803-774-12

Take a hike, rent a boat at nearby state parks

Clarendon County is ready to serve.

T

H.L. Boone, Contractor: Remodel paint roofs gutters drywall blown ceilings ect. 773-9904

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adapt to the pandemic.

Residents take advantage of canceled class, work to enjoy winter weather

BY KAYLA ROBINS kayla@theitem.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2018

OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD Help Wanted Full-Time

L I F E O U T D O O R S F R O M WAT E R E E T O S A N T E E

Banks Smith, 9, hauls a sled down an icy street on Thursday morning in Sumter after the snowfall Wednesday.

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

CLASSIFIED DEADLINES

Weather makes heaters hot item

A (snow) day to play

Call today 803-774-1200 B6

CLARENDON SUN

Firefighters recognized for their service FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

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Quotable Notable

and

"Mom always said giving up is not an option. Even if you’re scared, you better never show it. The hardest challenge was believing in myself. The only thing that stopped me is me. I’m trying to pave the way for (my kids). – Nicholas Martin

In general, almost everyone I’ve met here is very welcoming. There’s no clique. There’s a good young crowd and a diverse base between Shaw and people who are from here.”

– Andrew McCord “My faith is what I relied on and knowing my children were watching me to be an example. I wanted not just to tell them how to be successful. I wanted to show them.

— Shakeeya Sorrells

I like giving kids the chance to get out and play and have fun, meet other kids.

My world pretty much revolves around sports.

When I was young, it was the only thing I wanted to do. I enjoy that everything I learned now, I can give back.”

– ­Ryan Dontaye Graham

“There're opportunities out there. You just have to take advantage of those. For someone not knowing the culture, the language, I had to navigate through the whole system. You usually look to your parents for advice, but I didn’t have that.

I’m always looking to community advisors.- Yanet Lopez 18 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020

"I could run a bank with the lights off. I like where I’m at because they do a lot with commercial banking, especially with what’s happening recently (with COVID-19). A lot of businesses didn’t think they could make it, and it’s fulfilling to see the people I work with do what they can do to help.­­­­— Karen Gaines

I always thought I don’t want to work for other people. I didn’t see my mom as much as a kid because she was working. I have two kids, and I didn’t want the same. I wanted to be able to do things with them.” — Dashin Simmons Negativity won’t accomplish much. It’s better to laugh about something rather than get aggravated.”

— Janel Strieter #SUMTER20UNDER40

"Never underestimate the power of human kindness.

— Maggie Weatherly

Being able to help a child struggling to master a skill and seeing them master that skill that they weren’t able to before.”

— Sharease McDowell-Dwyer “You’ve got to trust all the pieces. You can’t micromanage.

It’s hard as owners to take your hands out of things sometimes, but they’ve done really well. We’ve got a good team.

– Shane Evenich A lot of people are aware of the pool, but for a lot of people, they don’t know the tennis center exists. It’s a hidden gem in Sumter."

— Adrienne Singletary

I thought I was never coming back, but I have a greater appreciation for home because I’ve been to the big cities, and there’s truly no place like home. It’s the people.”- Jillian Huckeba

“I couldn’t see myself starting anywhere else (but Sumter) because it’s small but still a big area.

Word of mouth goes so fast here.

– Shanice King Growing up, I don’t think people realized what Sumter is. It’s welcoming, and there is a lot to do here."

— Annie Rivers "A city is not going to welcome you if you’re just at your house. There’s a large base of young professionals in Sumter, and it’s growing steadily as the community grows.

– Meagan Kuhlman

The community just loves us and having kids perform. Learning to play is not the fun part.

Performing is the fun part. I tell my kids all the time we have to do the hard work in the classroom to be able to go out and perform and have fun.”

— Thomas Langford Everyone knows everybody. I like building good relationships with customers.”

– JT Duke “It was an incredible opportunity to move back here because of the trajectory Sumter is on.

It’s everyone supporting every aspect of the town.

— Drake McCormick

You have to just take a chance, and it’s about learning to sink or swim.

You won’t make every right decision, but it’s how you turn those wrong decisions into positives and grow as an individual. ”– Austin Floyd #SUMTER20UNDER40

TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020 19

favorites Professional

We asked our young professionals about some of their favorite things.

Here is your quick guide to the area.

JT Duke

Spending time with friends, family and my girlfriend

Shane Evenich

Going downtown to sit outside at La Piazza and Sumter Original Brewery’s rooftop

Austin Floyd Shannon Greens Golf Club in Manning Karen Gaines Cooking out with the family Ryan Dontaye Graham Going to sporting and youth events Jillian Huckeba Going to the movies and spending time with family and friends Shanice King Taking the family to Dillon Park to play football

20 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020

Meagan Kuhlman Sumter Original Brewery and '80s night at La Piazza Thomas Langford Walking around Swan Lake-Iris Gardens with the family and taking them to shows at the Sumter Opera House Yanet Lopez Work lunches at Baker’s Sweets Nicholas Martin Spending time with family Andrew McCord Playing golf, looking forward to the opening of Quixote Club Drake McCormick The Recovery Wing at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens

Annie Rivers Hiking at Poinsett State Park Dashin Simmons Wings with Susie’s sauce Adrienne Singletary Eating at Carolina Grove Shakeeya Sorrells Sushi from Ginza Grill and Sumter’s fall festivals Janel Strieter Downtown Sumter’s restaurants, bars and shops Maggie Weatherly Eating on the patio at Mariachi’s in Dalzell

Sharease McDowellDwyer Retail and clothing shopping in Sumter and eating at Willie Sue’s #SUMTER20UNDER40

PRESENTED BY

C. Simmons

Pipers Pottery Studio

Tiller Ridge

The Well Counseling

XDOS

LAKESIDE Life outdoors from Wateree to Santee Lakeside is an award-winning lifestyle magazine that features people, events and trends that are near or appeal to those who live at or around the lakes of the Midlands.

Karen Cave karen@theitem.com

ADVERTISE OR SHARE YOUR STORY IDEAS AND PHOTOS TODAY!

Devin McDonald devin@theitem.com

Mark Pekuri mark@theitem.com

selected on being the Top as one of sionals 20 Profes in 2020.

Under 40 roud to We are p leading have you . our team

109 E. NEWBERRY AVE., SUMTER, SC 29150 (803) 773-6842 #SUMTER20UNDER40

TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020 21

Our Plans Post

COVID-19

We asked our young professionals what they are looking forward to getting back to after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shane Evenich

Going to concerts and live music

Austin Floyd

Holding a normal summer workout session with the team and playing a competitive 7-on-7

Karen Gaines Being able to travel again to see her husband’s side of the family

Shanice King “I’m ready to get back to events and festivals, like the eSTEAM Festival. That’s that heart of Sumter.”

Nicholas Martin Being able to travel for inperson college visits with his daughter, a high school senior

Meagan Kuhlman Dancing downtown

Sharease McDowellDwyer Being able to visit family again

Thomas Langford Having students come back into the classroom to create Annie Rivers music together Next year’s events that were canceled this year, Yanet Lopez such as the Inspire! Festival Getting back to sharing and Fourth Fridays time together with others

Adrienne Singletary Being able to travel again Janel Strieter Attending events in town like Porches of Sumter and Fourth Fridays Maggie Weatherly Taking care of patients without a mask so they can see our faces

Hall of Fame

our 2019 winners...

Heather Bass Jenna Brown Elayne Brunson Richard Cook Colin Davis Lauren Daylami Chris DuRant 22 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020

Cody Dyson Ryan Garbalosa Holly Garst Sarah Jane Gibson Sean Gill Trevor Ivey Chad Jolly

Dolores Morales Kia Smith Shasta Smith Charlie Thompson Heather Tickel Lavonda Wells #SUMTER20UNDER40

Congratulations

TO THE 20 UNDER 40 WINNERS!

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A fully functional heating & air conditioning contractor providing services for residential and commercial customers in Sumter, Florence, Lee, Clarendon and surrounding counties.

803-469-6950

airsolutionssc.com Congratulations Coach Floyd

is proud to have

KAREN GAINES

as part of our banking family.

Congratulations Karen ! #SUMTER20UNDER40

Congratulations

400 Theatre Drive, Sumter, SC

803-774-3969 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020 23

Janel Strieter on being named one of the Top 20 Young Professionals Under 40 in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties!

You live in Sumter. Your news should, too.

24 TOP 20 UNDER 40 2020

36 W. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150

803-774-1200

#SUMTER20UNDER40 TheItem.com