Columbia Business Monthly
www.columbiabusinessmonthly.com
By: Rhonda Hewson

Columbia Business Monthly was delighted to host a reception to honor its 50 Most Influential People of 2011 on Thursday, February 2, 2012. The intimate, invitation-only event recognizes the hardworking men and women of the Midlands who have significantly impacted their organizations or communities during the past year.

Nominations for the honor were accepted from throughout the Midlands, and submissions were evaluated by an expert panel familiar with the Columbia business community. The choices acknowledge important work that was begun, continued, or completed in 2011 in the fields of business, government, education, and nonprofit service. When several people collaborated on a deal, project, initiative, or event, they were grouped as a single entry.

The reception – held at and catered by the Capital City Club in downtown Columbia – was supported by SCANA (presenting sponsor), Lexington Medical Center (gold sponsor), and Midlands Technical College (silver sponsor).

For more information on Columbia Business Monthly’s 50 Most Influential People, visit http://www.columbiabusinessmonthly.com/People/50-Most-Influential.aspx, call 803-731-7794, or email rhondahewson@columbiabusinessmonthly.com.

Those professionals honored as the Most Influential People of 2011 are as follows:

Nikki Haley – Governor of SC
Bobby Hitt – SC Dept. of Commerce
Duane Parrish – SCPRT
Jenny Martin – Southern Savers
Merritt McHaffie – Five Points Association
Ric Luber – Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism
Otis Rawl – SC Chamber of Commerce
Randy Halfacre – Lexington Chamber of Commerce
Cathy Novinger – Palmetto AgriBusiness Council
Dick Wilkerson – Michelin North America
Miriam Hair – Municipal Association of SC
Paula Harper Bethea – SC Education Lottery
Dr. Belinda Gergel –Columbia City Council
Don Tomlin – Tomlin & Company, Inc.
Matt Kennell, David Lockwood – City Center Partnership
Neil McLean – EngenuitySC
Derrik Huggins – USC
Chief Justice Jean Toal – Supreme Court of SC
Judy Davis – BlueCross BlueShield of SC
Dr. Darrel Staat, Susan Pretulak – SC Technical College System
Dr. Harris Pastides, Patricia Moore-Pastides – USC
Darla Moore, Dr. Hildy Teegen – Moore School of Business
Dr. Sonny White – Midlands Technical College
Don Herriott – Innovista
Steve Benjamin, DeAndrea Benjamin – City of Columbia
Bill Mahoney, Dave McNamara – SCRA and SC Launch
Terry Brown, Joe Edens – EDENS
Mike Briggs, Jim Apple – Central SC Alliance
Dave Clark – Amazon.com
Steve Gantt, Teresa Wilson – City of Columbia
Randy Horn, Kevin Marsh – Colonial Life & SCANA
Harry Ott – SC House of Representatives
Gregg Robinson, Chuck Whipple, Nelson Lindsay, John Truluck – County Economic Developers
Wesley Donehue, Joel Sawyer – Political Consultants
Kenny Bingham – SC House of Representatives
Mick Zais – SC Dept. of Education
Bakari Sellers – SC House of Representatives
Chad Connelly, Dick Harpootlian – Political Party Chairs
Bobby Harrell – SC House of Representatives
Ike McLeese, Mike Brenan – Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Bill Kennedy, Lou Kennedy – Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp.
JoAnn Turnquist, Hagood Tighe – Central Carolina Community Foundation
Jeffrey Graham, Charlene Herring – Camden and Ridgeway
Michael Couick – Electric Cooperatives of SC
George Fletcher – New Carolina
Dr. Karen Woodward – Lexington School District One
Mac Bennett, Jim Lehman, Sarena Burch – United Way of the Midlands
George A. Zara – Providence Hospitals
Charles D. Beaman, Jr. – Palmetto Health
Michael J. Biediger – Lexington Medical Center