Disabled and special needs person face many career challenges

By Mike Switzer

Published March 29, 2023 at 5:30 AM EDT

Disabled and special needs individuals want careers as much as anyone. But, as you would expect, many challenges stand in the way. Our next guest’s organization is working hard to help. Mike Switzer interviews Dee DiCarlo, director of business & employment development for Thrive Upstate, formerly known as the Greenville County Disability and Special Needs Board.

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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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