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Economy-Energy-Environment Working For SC Manufacturers

Mike Switzer
Mike Switzer

  Even though oil prices have dropped significantly, most companies are still interested in cutting and controlling their energy costs.  In case you didn't know, there is a federal program known as E3 that helps small and medium-sized manufacturers become more productive with an emphasis on sustainability,  and it is gaining ground in South Carolina.  The latest is a project involving Clemson University and Duke Energy known as SC E3.

Mike Switzer interviews Perry Stephens, manufacturing segment manager with Duke Energy, in Spartanburg.  

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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.