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Schedule of Events
| Wednesday, May 6 | |||
| 11:00 AM | Check-In for Golf (box lunch included) | ||
| 12:00 PM | Shotgun Start Golf Tournament | Port Royal Golf Club | |
| sponsored by Evans Construction Group | |||
| drink cart sponsored by SAMET | |||
| 2:00 – 3:30 PM | Boat Excursion | ||
| sponsored by Alliance Consulting Engineers | |||
| 4:00 – 6:00 PM | Registration | Advantage Foyer | |
| 6:15 – 7:00 PM | First Timers/New Member Reception | Mitchelville | |
| sponsored by Alliance Consulting Engineers | |||
| 7:00 – 8:30 PM | Welcome Reception | Ocean Front Deck | |
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Join us for a breezy ocean‑side Welcome Reception to kick off the conference. Enjoy the sound of steel drums, a refreshing cocktail in hand and an assortment of hearty hors d’oeuvres as you mingle with colleagues while the sun sets over the water. Relax, reconnect, and make new contacts — then continue the conversation at the hospitality suite immediately following the reception. Thank you to JE Dunn for sponsoring the reception. |
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| 8:30 – 10:30 pm | Hospitality Suite | Grand Ocean Terrace | |
| Continue your conversations with a cocktail in the Hospitality Suite. Thank you to Alliance Consulting Engineers, Edifice Construction, and Synovus Bank. | |||
| Thursday, May 7 | |||
| 6:00 AM | SCEDA Fun Run | Meet in the lobby | |
| 7:30 AM – Noon | Registration | Advantage Foyer | |
| 8:00 – 8:45 AM | Breakfast | Archer/Barnwell | |
| sponsored by Santee Cooper, Parker Poe, ECS and Miller Valentine | |||
| SCEDA Women Breakfast with Mimosa’s | Mitchelville | ||
| Raise a glass with SCEDA women at a lively networking breakfast where mimosas take center stage. Enjoy a bubbly welcome, delicious breakfast fare, and meaningful conversation as you connect, exchange ideas, and build professional relationships in a bright, friendly setting. Thank you to our sponsor, Greenville Area Development Corporation. | |||
| 8:45 – 9:00 AM | Welcome & Opening Session | John Truluck, SCEDA Vice President | Archer/Barnwell |
| Join industry leaders and subject‑matter experts for a robust program of sessions and panels designed to advance knowledge, spark discussion, and support professional growth. Thank you to Davis & Floyd as presenting sponsor as we celebrate six decades of learning and leadership. | Josh Fowler, Davis and Floyd | ||
| 9:00 – 9:20 AM | SC Dept of Commerce Update | Secretary Harry Lightsey | Archer/Barnwell |
| Always a favorite. SCDOC Secretary Harry Lightsey will kick us off with an update. Hear the latest SCDOC initiatives, economic programs, employer partnerships, and resources available to support growth across the state. | |||
| 9:25 – 9:40 AM | Legislative Update | John DeWorken, SCEDA Lobbyist | Archer/Barnwell |
| 9:45 – 10:35 AM | The Ferrara Project in Orangeburg: I Want Candy | Mark Farris, Sustainable Consulting Solutions, LLC | Archer/Barnwell |
| Daniel Beaty, SCDOC | |||
| Merle Johnson, Charleston County Economic Development | |||
| Ty Davenport, Orangeburg County Economic Development | |||
| 10:35 – 10:50 AM | Tracking on Thursday Break | ||
| sponsored by Palmetto Railways and Contour | |||
| 10:50 – 11:35 PM | Update on SC Port Authority | Micah Mallace, SC Port Authority | Archer/Barnwell |
| Hear an update on the Port’s role as an economic engine for the state. Learn the latest annual economic impact findings, how port operations support jobs across industries, and review trends in exported cargo and supply‑chain activity. Sponsored by SEGRA. | |||
| 11:40 – 12:20 PM | State of Energy in SC | Heather Smith, Duke Energy | Archer/Barnwell |
| Thank you to SC Power Team for sponsoring this panel discussion on the state of energy in South Carolina. | Danny Kassis, Dominion Energy | ||
| Marty Watson, Santee Cooper | |||
| Cole Price, Central Electric Power Cooperative | |||
| moderated by James Chavez, SC PowerTeam | |||
| 12:20 – 12:35 PM | Business Meeting | Archer/Barnwell | |
| 12:35 PM | Lunch | Calibogue/Danner | |
| sponsored by Thomas & Hutton and Alliance Consulting Engineers | |||
| 1:15 – 2:15 PM | Economic Developer Solution Station | Mitchelville | |
| Specific to local economic developers. Come with your challenges for open discussion with other developers on possible solutions. Learn from others on how they have responded to similar issues. | moderated by: John O’Toole, SCCED, Beaufort County Economic Development | ||
| 2:30 – 4:00 pm | Mentoring Meet Up Lounge | Mitchelville | |
| Schedule a time to meet up with your mentor during the afternoon break to catch up, discuss session takeaways, and plan next steps. Use this time for quick feedback, networking, or scheduling a longer follow‑up. Sponsored by WesternSC | |||
| 1:30 – 4:00 PM | Afternoon Networking | Beachfront | |
| Afternoon Networking is a SCEDA Conference highlight — your time to connect in a relaxed, casual setting. Head to the beach where attendees will gather with beverages, or meet a group by the pool for conversation and new connections. Thank you to ADC Engineering for sponsoring this event. | |||
| 5:30 – 6:30 PM | SCEDA Past President’s Reception | Mitchelville | |
| Thank you to Pacolet Miliken for sponsoring this event. | |||
| 6:30 PM | Dinner (food will be served at 7pm) | ||
| 8:00 – 10 PM | Entertainment – Dueling Piano’s | ||
| Let’s celebrate SCEDA’s 60th anniversary. Enjoy a plated dinner followed by lively dueling pianos entertainment as we honor six decades of community and achievement. Thank you to Dorchester County Economic Development for sponsoring this special event. | |||
| Friday, May 8 | |||
| 8:00 – 8:55 AM | Breakfast | Grand Ocean Terrace | |
| sponsored by Vannoy Construction, ECS, Duke Energy and Nelson Mullins | |||
| 9:00 – 9:45 AM | Data Center Panel Discussion | Cathy Vick, Google | Archer/Barnwell |
| Join this lively discussion on the success of Data Centers in South Carolina and how SCEDA members can share the story around the state. Thank you to our sponsor, Parker Poe. | Mike Stokes, DartPoints Data Centers | ||
| Moderated by Sam Moses, Parker Poe, | |||
| 9:50 – 10:30 AM | SCEDA Past, Present and Future Trivia Session | Tushar Chikhliker, Maynard Nexsen | Archer/Barnwell |
| Join this interactive trivia session. SCEDA has spent 60 years sharing solutions in the economic development community. Come test your knowledge on SCEDA’s Past, Present and Future. | Ford Graham, McGuire Woods Consulting | ||
| 10:35 – 11:20 AM | A Global Perception of FDI into SC in 2026 | Sergio Domingues | Archer/Barnwell |
| Hear from Department of Commerce Global Office Representatives on their perspective on opportunities of growth and the current market. | Roxana Gonzalez | ||
| David Royer | |||
| Sam Leng | |||
| Hyunjin Park | |||
| Moderated by Jonathan Cleave, Intralink Group | |||
| 11:20 – 11:35 AM | Closing and Giveaways | Archer/Barnwell |