South Carolina Business Review

Children’s museum ready for growth

By Mike Switzer

Published July 9, 2025 at 6:30 AM EDT

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Mike Switzer, host of the South Carolina Business Review

Three years ago, our next guest began his role as CEO at the largest children’s museum in our state. Since then, he has prioritized the museum’s operational solvency and revenue streams, which includes the installation of a new $3.5 million exhibit set to open next year. Mike Switzer interviews Andy Marquart, CEO of EdVenture in Columbia, SC.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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