Business: David Wilkins
As a Partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough of Greenville, chair of their Public Policy and International Law practice, and former S.C. Speaker of the House and U.S. Ambassador to Canada, David Wilkins has spent 2011 heavily involved in the political arena and championing the cause of international trade with Canada. Serving as the head of Governor Nikki Haley’s transition team, Wilkins was a critical component in assisting with the review process for 2,000+ applications for available cabinet positions and board appointments in the formation of Haley’s new administration. Wilkins has also been a strong proponent of Canadian oil and the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would transport crude from Alberta’s oil sands to the Gulf of Mexico and could potentially bring more than 2,000 jobs and add $128 million to the S.C. economy over a four-year period.