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THE STATE | thestate.com | January 24, 2011 3

{20 under 40}

Tushar V.

Chikhliker33

Attorney, Nexsen Pruet

Wife, Blakely

Bachelors degree in political science andhistory from USCs Honors College; law degree fromWake Forest University

A mem-ber of the Midlands Diversity Leaders Initiative class

and the LeadershipNextSC advisory committee at theRiley Institute of Government, Politics and PublicLeadership, Chikhliker also is active is his neighbor-hood. He serves on a variety of legal and economicdevelopment boards and was a past board member ofWorkshop Theatre.

I decided to become a lawyerupon realizing that this profession provided me with aunique opportunity to assist others, while influencingpositive changes in my community. I have representedcompanies and governmental entities in economicdevelopment projects that have resulted in significantjob investments in South Carolina. Last year, I was

honored to have been elected as a member (partner) atNexsen Pruet. However, I will always measure profes-sional success by the positive impact my efforts haveon my community.

Few will have thegreatness to bend history itself; but each of us canwork to change a small portion of events, and in thetotal of all those acts will be written the history of thisgeneration. Robert F. Kennedy

My senior year at USC I

was honored to receive the Algernon Sydney SullivanAward. It was the meaningful activities and interac-tions which led to my receiving the award that havetruly shaped me. To this day, I view the award as a fondreminder of lessons learned through collaboration,dedication and service.

Almost 40 years ago,in search of better opportunities for the family theyhoped to have, my parents came to the U.S. from Indiawith very little money. Through hard work, integrityand perseverance, my parents have personified theAmerican Dream, while providing me with uncondi-tional love, support and guidance. My successes are thedirect result of the values my parents have instilled inme and the example they have set. I aspire to lead a lifethat is both worthy of and a testament to my parentssacrifice.

Therest of the world is finally realizing what many of us inSouth Carolina have long known: The states busi-ness friendly climate includes a skilled work force,continued development of infrastructure and utilities,a pro-business environment and a good quality of life.South Carolinas development has taken shape throughthe efforts of a phenomenal network of governmentand economic development professionals and is well-positioned in spite of an increasingly competitiveglobal economy.

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THE STATE | thestate.com | January 24, 2011 7

{20 under 40}

CandaceC. Jackson 29

Attorney, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scar-borough

Single

Bachelor of arts degree in English andphilosophy from Spelman College; juris doctor degreefrom Duke University School of Law

ThisWomen in Philanthropy member is co-founder andchairwoman of the Candace Girls Educational Foun-dation and a board member of Oliver Gospel Missionand the James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Founda-tion. She is a member of a variety of groups, includingthe Phi Beta Kappa Society and Brookland BaptistChurch.

Upon graduating from lawschool, I returned home to begin my legal career. Aftera one-year clerkship, I joined the law firm of Nelson

Mullins Riley & Scarborough as an associate, where Iprimarily practice business litigation, in areas includingemployment law, consumer finance and toxic tort law.

No dream is too bigto conceive; no goal is too big to achieve; no challengeis too big to overcome. In all things, trust God, followHis teachings, and success is sure to come.

While growing up andserving in my familys church, I saw how leadership inthe community, grounded in faith, family and the ide-als of personal responsibility and perseverance, could

help improve the quality of life for people and raise thetrajectories of entire communities. My drive, desire tohelp others, and leadership abilities grew exponentiallyover the years and through my time as student bodypresident at A.C. Flora High School. A subsequenteducation at Spelman College reaffirmed many of theprinciples on which I was raised, and challenged me

to carry on its tradition of local, national and globalservice.

At the age of 9, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer whenI grew up. I was initially inspired by my role modelsand soon developed a passion for the law that hasnever left.

Dur-ing a 2007 trip to Monrovia, Liberia, I witnessed thebrilliance and ambition of many young people who hadsuffered from disparities in education due to post-war

conditions. Girls were distinctively and dispropor-tionately affected. It was obvious that talent or desirewas not the barrier to their progression; it was simplya lack of opportunity, good guidance and resources. Ipartnered with a friend and resident of West Africa toform the foundation, which provides vocational train-ing and the financial means for underprivileged andparentless girls to go to school. We are committed toensuring that our students advance each year, graduatefrom high school and college, and go on to fulfill mean-ingful careers, understanding they can be anything theywant to be and that they have much to offer the world.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough offers thestrength and resources of a national law firm

with diverse attorneys and professional staffexperienced in a broad range of services. Withdiversified practice areas, Nelson Mullinsprovides creative solutions to complex legaland business problems while offering value-

added service to clients.

Congratulations to Candace Jackson and Dan D'Alberto

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{20 under 40}

Stuart M. LeeAge: 37

Occupation:Attorney at Rogers Townsend &Thomas and department head of business, banking andprofessional practices

Family: Wife, Jennie; daughter, Ann Murphy, 8; sons,Collins, 4, Campbell, 3 months

Education: BA in English from the University ofSouth Carolina; JD from the USC School of Law

Community/professional involvement: ThisLeadership Columbia and Leadership Lexingtongraduate is a board member of the Columbia GreenFoundation and chairman of the Corporate, Banking& Securities Section of the S.C. Bar. He has been ina variety of professional and community groups andteaches Sunday school classes and special programs atEastminster Presbyterian Church.

In his own words: I was very fortunate to haveparents who valued education and were willing to sup-port me both emotionally and nancially. My parentsalways planned and provided for their children beforethemselves. They also taught us that the sky is thelimit if you are willing to put in the hard work and thatyour attitude and performance at work is a window

into your character especially when the boss is not

watching. Ultimately, I am where I am today because anumber of people had faith me, often when I did not,which I believe is a result of Gods love and grace atwork.

What saying do you live by? Do justice, love

kindness and walk humbly with your God.

Your life changed when: February 18, 1994: Thenight I met my wife. She has been a calming, steadyinuence and a wonderful example of honesty, unques-tionable character and grace (all of which I was lackingbefore we met). I want to live up to the example shesets in her daily life.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Iwanted to be the basketball coach at N.C. State after asuccessful college basketball career with the Wolfpackand an All Star run with Boston Celtics, but geneticsconspired against me. I love what I do. However, oneday I would like to coach high school basketball andteacher. I think Ill know the right time and Ill simplywalk in one day and call it quits. I dont want to be thatold lawyer who dies at his desk while cleaning it out atretirement.

How has the Great Recession changed resi-dential and commercial development in SouthCarolina? I like to see the result of the Great Reces-sion is in a glass half-full light. We have a lot to offer:a beautiful location, warm and welcoming personalitiesand a relatively low cost of living. Obviously, develop-ment has slowed tremendously. Lack of infrastructureand inexperienced speculators coupled with a lenientlending environment was a recipe for disaster. How-ever, the best lessons are learned from past mistakes.So, I believe the slowdown will enable us to be better

prepared for a very exciting future.

Passing the BatonRogers and Brown Custom Brokers, IncEvery successful transition of an organization's management structure requires a great deal of planning, mentoring, and at times very detailed soul searching in choosing an individual or team of successors to not only maintain business but to advance it to the nextlevel. Historically, the individual who starts and builds a privately owned company has a desire for a son or daughter to take the "reigns" and continue to grow and develop the company into something better than it was. Rogers & Brown Custom Brokers, Inc. is in themidst of this type of transition,

Effective January 1, 2011, Don (Bo) H. Brown, Jr. will assume the position of President of Rogers & Brown Custom Brokers Inc, a business started by his father Don, Sr. exactly 43 years ago this month. Needless to say, Don senior was very excited to have his son want to beinvolved in the family business, with the desire to one day run it. Bo has always had an interest in the "family" business. He worked in various areas of the company during the summers and off hours, while attending high school and college, which helped to strengthenhis passion toward a career in the business. He graduated from The College of Charleston in 2004 with a BS in Corporate Communications. After graduation, he decided to take a job with one of the largest steamship lines in the world in Charleston, SC so that hecould see the logistics industry from a different angle. Bo said, "It provided me with a strong platform to move into the freight forwarding and custom brokerage business as well as helped me better understand how various service elements have an impact on thisbusiness. I will be forever grateful to all those individuals who trained me, shared their knowledge with me, and especially for the management that knew my time there was somewhat limited. They worked with me and developed my skills like one of their own."After his tenure in the steamship industry, Bo came to work with Rogers & Brown and began to work through an extensive internal management training program that would introduce him to every aspect of the business. During this training program, he relocated toGreenville, SC for a period of time where he was involved in air freight operations, domestic logistics operations and sales (dealing directly with current and potential customers). Additionally, he has been directly involved with overseas agents, and has made manyinternational trips abroad including: Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, etc... Most recently, Bo has taken the role of Vice President of Administration. According to Bo, "I did not know what I didn't know until recently, and I continue to learn more and moreeveryday. I now have an even deeper appreciation for our employees. They are the glue that holds this company together. I have been extremely fortunate to have had a number of excellent mentors at all levels of the company, and I cannot tell you howinvaluable their help and knowledge has been. Through all of this I have learned that it is a team effort all the way!" He also goes onto explain, " I recall my dad, Pete Smith, Mike Fowler, Raymond Kelley, and others talking about the earlier days and the challengesand opportunities that this business has presented. I have learned so much from them and will continue to lean on them in making decisions down the road. Their diligence, commitment, and hard work are the reason that I am in this position today. I am committed inthe same way, and I am excited about having the opportunity to grow the company into the future. Recently we went through a rebranding of our company, which focuses on our outstanding personnel, and I think that it does a pretty good job of summing up whatwe are all about 'Heroes. Everyday.' This concept is one that recognizes our staff as those normal everyday heroes who in turn make our customers heroes as a result of us providing superior service - as long as we do that, I am convinced that we will continue to growand be a successful global logistics company."

Pete Smith, formerly President of Rogers & Brown Custom Brokers Inc., will continue his tenure as Executive Vice President with direct responsibilities of Brown Distribution Centers and Rogers & Brown North American Logistics. Formerly with Hoechst Celanese Corporationand Spartan Express, Mr. Smith has held various positions with Rogers & Brown during the past thirteen years. As one of Boys mentors, Pete says, "Bo is a very talented professional. He has earned the respect of both internal and external associates, and has gained

tremendous hands-on knowledge. When you combine all of these attributes he is positioned extremely well to take Rogers & Brown to the next level. I am excited about him taking the lead role and allowing me to spend a little more time with my family. I intend to bearound for a few more years and will continue to lend support in every possible way."

Sandra Horan, previously Director of Sales, has been appointed to the position of "Vice President of Administration" and will assume oversight responsibility for Accounting, Drawback and Compliance, Information Systems, and continue to oversee Sales & Marketing.Originally from the Western New York area, Sandra has been a key player at Rogers & Brown. She has held various responsibilities in Sales & Marketing, Operations, and Special Services. Her knowledge of Customs rules and regulations along with her sales andoperations background provide a unique and valuable asset to our company.

Don H. Brown, Sr. started the business in 1968 on a shoestring budget with a desire to provide superior service in an industry that was not overly attributed with the service asset. With an unstoppable desire and the help of both family and friends, he set up shop onQueen Street in Charleston and spent a tremendous amount of energy fulfilling that dream. The business grew from the small one-room office to a company employing well over 200 employees with offices at times ranging coast-to-coast, including the Midwest.Through the advancement of technology, customs regulations began to change, which eliminated the need for an office in "every or most" ports of entry. According to Mr. Brown, consolidation of offices without any negative impacts on our customers has allowed usto eliminate and contain costs, while still providing impeccable service to our customers. In addition to superior customer service, Mr. Brown explains that we invested early in technology and have continued to do so throughout the years. We now have an informationservices group that is second to none in our industry. Due to the recessionary downturn, our industry, along with many others, has seen adverse challenges from a business perspective; however, we have managed to take the necessary steps to remain financiallystrong and continued to set ourselves up for future growth.

Don Brown, Sr., who turned seventy-two this year, remains reasonably active in the business, but several years ago he turned over the day-to-day running of the business to his long-time. and trusted executives. He recognizes that the company's success has been aproduct of the dedication and hard work from the individuals he has continually surrounded himself with. He says "I really am fortunate to have had such a long and successful career and look forward to continuing to participate on the periphery as the businesscontinues to develop and grow. I am a very proud father. I feel very comfortable passing the baton on to my son, and the excellent staff that he has working along side him. I have provided my son with what I think are key lessons to remember when running abusiness. Probably the most important lesson for him to remember is that he will make mistakes as I did, but the key is to learn from them and continue to push forward." S

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THE STATE | thestate.com | January 24, 2011 13

{20 under 40}

Sherry S. Norris39

Owner of Alala, a post-surgical medi-cal retail business

Husband, Ron; son, Michael, 16, anddaughter, Emily, 13

Thisnationally certified fitter, specializing in mastecto-my, is co-chairwoman for the American Cancer So-cietys Relay for Life in Columbia and a fundraiserfor Chemo with Style. She is involved in a varietyof cancer support organizations and communitygroups. She also is a Dutch Fork High School icehockey and softball mom.

Ive always enjoyed beinginvolved and giving back. For 11 years I was lucky

enough to be a stay-at-home mom and volunteer.After hearing the words, I have cancer, frommy mother, aunt and cousin, I was never the sameagain. I have always wondered what I can do tohelp. The answer came at Girl Scout Day Campwhen fellow leader, Kim Neel, talked about herpoor experience with simple things like trying tobuy a bra after her partial mastectomy. It remindedme of the experience my Aunt Kay talked aboutafter her diagnosis with stage 4 breast cancer. Shewas a very private person and I could not imagine

her going to look for a breast prosthesis, mastec-tomy bra, and wig at a place where you would go toget a hospital bed, wheelchair, or bedside com-mode.

My business partner,Kim Neel, and I started Alala in 2005. We both

agreed there has to be a better way for post-surgi-cal patients to get the products and services theyneed in a warm and inviting environment. I knewwe would have a successful business when one ofour customers took the time to stop by and tell ushow much we have helped them get their life back.Alala LLC incorporated in February 2006 andwas admitted into the USC/Columbia TechnologyIncubator program soon after. We have now gradu-ated and are expanding into a 5,000-square-footstandalone facility at 3400 Harden St. Extensionacross from Palmetto Health Richland hospital.The name "Alala" comes from Greek mythologyand is the female personification of the war cry.

Make the Worlda Better Place.

To be a great rolemodel for my children and for them to always giveback to the things they hold dear to their hearts.

Our biggest successstory is what our business means to people whohave been through a very traumatic experience likecancer. Our mission is to help our customers getback to a normal life no matter their ability to pay.We take the time to get to know our customersand help with insurance, grants or donations. If acustomer is willing to work with us, we make surethey get the products and services they need.

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THE STATE | thestate.com | January 24, 2011 15

{20 under 40}

Asheley C. Scott 30

Architect, Studio 2LR Architect +Interiors

Single

Bachelor of arts in design from ClemsonUniversity, master of architecture from Georgia Insti-tute of Technology

ThisColumbia Development Corp. board member alsoserves as president of the American Institute of Ar-chitects in Greater Columbia and on the board of theColumbia Museum of Art Contemporaries. The 2009Leadership Columbia graduate is a member of theHistoric Columbia Foundations Preservation Com-

mittee and on the board of the Columbia Museum ofArt.

I was raised in Columbiaand graduated from Heathwood Hall Episco-pal School. I attended Clemson University andinterned with The Boudreaux Group. I attendedGeorgia Tech to work on my masters degreeand took a job there after graduation. I returnedhome in 2006 and became a registered architectin 2008.

I remember cuttinga quote by Abraham Lincoln out of the newspaperwhen I was in elementary school and pinning it to mywall: Things may come to those who wait ... but onlythe things left by those who hustle.

When I was 4, my favor-ite thing to do after preschool was sit on the couch and

watch Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.My mom enrolled me in gymnastics. I fell in loveand didnt stop until I graduated from high school.Although I never made my goal at age 4 of becomingthe next Mary Lou Retton, the commitment to thesport at a high level for 14 years taught me lessons ineverything from setting goals to time management toresponding to success and failures. As an adult, I stud-ied abroad. Being able to live in foreign places madethe time about much more than just buildings. As ayoung adult, the experiences gave me another way tothink about just about everything I thought I knew.

Iwanted to be just about everything: a coach, a teacher,a doctor and the list goes on. Although I became anarchitect, in many ways this profession allows me tosee into all types of professions by learning about anddesigning the spaces in which these people work.

In many ways, especially in SouthCarolina, we are still figuring this out. Many aspectsof green building are not radical in nature; they haveexisted in design and construction for centuries. Wesimply got away from some of the things that madesense from an environmental standpoint and lookedonly at cost and immediate need. In 10 years, it willjust be how we build and we will be amazed that weever did it differently.

81%The State Media Company reaches and

unmatched 81% of Richland andLexington County adults

When it comes to promoting your business,place your ad in the only local source thatreaches 4 out of 5 Columbia-area adults.*

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Call us today! (803) 771-8437or visit us online at

www.thestate.com

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1201 Main Street 25th Floor Capitol Center Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 256-2000 www.capitalcolumbia.com

Congratulations to the honorees fortheir selection as the brightest young

professionals in the Midlands

Announcing major renovations to our Governors Ballroom coming this February, 2011

A great new look for a new year!

The Capital City Club Purpose Statement:Having a Profound Effect on Our Community and Our Lives through the Power

and Diversity of a United and Interactive Membership.

If you are interested in membership,please contact Kathryn Frazier, Director of Membership

(803) 256-2000

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A Member of the ClubCorp Family