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Charleston, SC, Now Ranks Among Tech Elite

We’ve been hearing for some time now about the hot economy and popularity of Charleston, SC.  But how many of you knew that, according to a study released by the Milken Institute, Charleston now ranks fourth in the nation for high tech GDP growth.  In other words, Charleston’s digital economy can now be mentioned alongside Austin, Raleigh, and San Francisco.

Mike Switzer interviews Nina Magnesson, who works with Charleston tech start-up BoomTown and is co-chair of Charleston Open Source, a local initiative marketing Charleston to engineering and technology talent across the country.  She also serves as a member of the leadership committee of Charleston Women in Tech.

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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.