Vodka drink wins SC manufacturing award

By Mike Switzer

Published June 18, 2025 at 6:30 AM EDT

FILE - Sara Hazzard — Sara Hazzard, president and CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Association in Columbia, SC

Our next guest’s statewide organization recently announced their annual “Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina” award, which this year is made with vodka. Mike Switzer interviews Sara Hazzard, president and CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Association in Columbia, SC. Winner: High Noon Sun Sips, made by Gallo at its facility in Fort Lawn, SC.

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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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