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Golf Industry Strives for Diversity

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As we move further into the 21st century, there are still some industries that struggle to attract a diverse population of employees.  One that may not surprise you is the golf business.  And that’s why our next guest’s organization was established and whose work is making an impact in the Carolinas.

Mike Switzer interviews Rachel Melendez-Mabee is responsible for the Professional Golf Association of America’s diversity and inclusion program known as PGA WORKS, which is itself part of their outreach foundation, PGA REACH.

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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.