Six Who Stayed

Jodie W. McLean, '90

Finance and management, Honors College, ODK, Mortar Board), Presidential Scholar, from St. Charles, Ill.

McLean is president and chief investment officer of Edens & Avant in Columbia. The commercial real estate company owns and develops neighborhood shopping centers on the east coast. McLean executes the firm's strategic plan, which since 1997, has led to the development, redevelopment, and acquisition of more than $2.2 billion in retail assets. She never planned to stay in South Carolina, but after two years at Edens & Avant, Columbia became home as a result of her University contacts, friends in the business world, “and a great work environment. Columbia is a very livable city with a great airport and is an excellent place to raise a family,” she said. She also likes the “layer of intellect” provided by the University and sees a lot of entrepreneurial activity. That, coupled with South Carolina's appealing lifestyle, transportation system, and proximity to both Atlanta and Charlotte, make it attractive as a regional hub of business, she said. “The thing that spurs the economy and really helps to generate wealth in the state and all the improvements that come with it is retaining intellect,” she added. “Smart, aggressive people are always going to find ways to create business or philanthropic activity.”

Steven Burritt, '96

Journalism and mass communications, Carolina Scholar, Truman Scholar, from Greer, S.C.

Burritt is senior program manager for Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), a research and evaluation company that focuses primarily on substance abuse and other youth risk behaviors. Though PIRE is headquartered in Calverton, Md., Burritt's primary client is the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services where he maintains his office. “I can't see any shortage of opportunities in the state,” Burritt said. “It seems like there are all kinds of things on the horizon in terms of new business, industry, and of course, the government sector, which has an array of things for people to do. The cultural aspects also just keep getting better with the Colonial Center and the Vista and things like that. It's a fantastic place to live; I'd have a hard time leaving.”

Sameano Porchea, '04 master's

Educational research and measurement, Doctoral Student of the Year in 2002 and 2004, James A. Stoddard Fellowship recipient, from Kingstree, S.C.

Porchea is a former Florence middle and elementary school teacher and now founder, CEO, and owner of REAP Associates LLC, a Columbia firm she operates with Dawn Mazzie, '03 master's, the director of research and measurement, to provide custom research, professional development, and evaluation for educational entities and private businesses. Porchea formed the company after realizing the importance of evaluating the outcomes of school programs. South Carolina offers a good business climate, favorable quality of life, a low cost of living, and plenty of help for entrepreneurs, she said. But her main reason for staying was her dedication to education and the state's children and public schools. “Once I got involved with the schools, the children, principals, and teachers, I just couldn't walk away from them,” she said.

Ben Rex, '03

Economics, Honors College, cum laude, Life Scholarship, Moore School George Brizzolara Scholarship, from Greenville, S.C.

Rex is co-owner of Cyberwoven with Tom Lacas, which the two started in 2001 as USC students. The firm develops Web sites and custom software applications for more than 200 clients across more than a dozen states. In 2006, the company opened a new office in Greenville, which Rex describes as “a booming area. In the brief time we've been in the Upstate we've had great success.” Cyberwoven also acquired another Columbia Web site development and advertising firm, i4 design, this past April. As for Columbia, “We found it to be a very hospitable environment for starting and growing a new business. Columbia is developing as a strong cultural and business center. Living and working in the Vista is wonderful.”

Leslie Johnson Shearer, '03, and Justin Shearer, '02

Leslie—Marketing and management, cum laude, from Florence, S.C.; Justin—Sociology, elementary education, from Walterboro, S.C.

Leslie is vice president of operations and Justin is creative director of GraySail LLC, a Web application development firm that provides services to optimize educational institutions' business and Web communications processes. The firm administers Web sites for the Moore School of Business at USC and other higher education entities. The husband-wife team joined GraySail after they dissolved Justinsane Design, a Web graphics design company they created as USC students. Starting Justinsane Design when they were in school helped plant the two in Columbia, Leslie said. “The technology industry is growing in Columbia and the Southeast, and statewide, work is being done to make this a great place for technology businesses to grow,” she said. “Having the opportunity to work with GraySail, along with our experience, made this the perfect place to settle down.”