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SC Healthcare Firm Recognized for Entrepreneurship

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Each year, the global accounting firm of Ernst and Young recognizes innovators and leaders around the world in their Entrepreneur of the Year program.  Our next guest, along with his business partner, recently received that honor for the Southeast region of the United States.

Mike Switzer interviews Gary Cooper, founder and executive chairman of Palmetto Infusion in Pawleys Island, SC.

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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.