South Carolina Business Review

SC security fence company sees exponential growth

By Mike Switzer

Published January 15, 2026 at 6:30 AM EST

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Mark Wesley, president and CEO of Amarok, in Columbia, SC

If you attended any football games at Williams-Brice Stadium this year, you may have noticed our next guest’s company name flash on the Jumbotron after a great defensive play from the Gamecocks. His company started as a guard dog security business over 50 years ago, but is now a national perimeter security company whose business has grown tenfold over the past several years. Mike Switzer interviews Mark Wesley, president and CEO of Amarok, in Columbia, SC.

Electric guard dog fence by Amarok Perimeter Security

Gate access control by Amarok Perimeter Security

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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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