Entrepreneurial Resources on the Rise in SC

By Mike Switzer

Published August 20, 2015 at 4:56 AM EDT

The number of South Carolina's resources for those who wish to start their own businesses just got a little bigger. Columbia College announced recently that a $5 million gift from The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation has allowed the college to establish the McNair Center for Entrepreneurism, which will serve not only students and alumni, but also have as part of its mission to connect with innovation communities in the region.

Mike Switzer interviews Beth Dinndorf, president of Columbia College.

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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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