How the boat business contributes to SC economy

By Mike Switzer

Published November 12, 2025 at 6:30 AM EST

Mike Switzer, host of the South Carolina Business Review

The recreation industry is a big player in the economy of our state, as you would expect since tourism is an even bigger part. And our next guest’s company has been contributing to that effect since 1979. Mike Switzer interviews Mike Youngblood with Stingray Boats in Hartsville, 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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