Pat Conroy literary event happening soon in SC Lowcountry

By Mike Switzer

Published February 25, 2026 at 6:30 AM EST

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Sean Scapelatto, board chair for the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort, SC

March Forth, as in “go forth,” is an annual celebration of the legacy of one of our state’s most popular authors, Pat Conroy, who died 10 years ago on March 4, 2016. It’s a week-long event hosted by the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort, SC. Mike Switzer interviews Sean Scapelatto, board chair for the center.

An exhibition room at the Pat Conroy Literary Center in downtown Beaufort, SC, featuring Pat's desk and chair.

The Pat Conroy Literary Center in downtown Beaufort, 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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