Business: Ben Haskew
Under the leadership of Ben Haskew, the Greenville Chamber charged ahead in 2011 with its vision to build one of the premier business communities in the world. The fourth edition of the Economic Scorecard was developed and distributed in June, keeping track and drawing critical attention to the need for increasing per capita income in the area. NEXT strategic planning was developed with a focus on creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that will be recognized not only nationally but internationally. And by collaborating with economic development partners and being the voice for Upstate business, the Chamber supported several high-impact efforts over the year, including the passage of tort reform legislation, unemployment insurance tax relief without added costs for small businesses, secured funding for Charleston’s harbor-deepening port study, and the approval of a new medical school with an estimated economic impact of $400 million over the next 10 years.