Moving Forward
By Rhonda Hewson, Publisher / Editor in Chief

One of the first things I want to do as publisher and editor in chief of Greater Columbia Business Monthly and the Greater Pee Dee Business Journal is thank our advertisers, readers and friends for their loyalty and support throughout the years. Our strong foundation is a direct reflection of the partnerships developed with our business communities.

Columbia has been my home for 25 years and I love what the area has to offer. You can find me at the University of South Carolina’s Williams-Brice stadium on football Saturdays enjoying the game with family and friends. A brisk morning walk by the river on weekends followed by lunch at one of Columbia’s many wonderful restaurants also is a favorite. Vacationing in Myrtle Beach is a summer ritual for my family and we take in as much sun, fun, food and shopping as humanly possible. My mom (alias Nanny and Granny) and two brothers, Tom and Jeff, also live in Columbia. My strength and perseverance comes from the support and encouragement of my family. I have two amazing daughters that bring tremendous joy into my life. Jamie is in her third year of law school at OCU in Oklahoma City (USC undergraduate) and Kirstie is a junior at White Knoll high school and they both play a mean game of tennis, kind of like their mom. They are by far my greatest accomplishments!

As we move forward we plan to bring fresh faces and new ideas to our readers. Our core will remain the same with an editorial format focused on local business people and the community. We will cover young entrepreneurs, local businesses, industry and government leaders, colleges, the arts, and everything in-between that makes our communities great places to live, work, and play. We have a very talented, creative, and experienced staff that will continue to build on an already great product and invigorate new ideas and diversity. Many thanks to Glen and Pam Dwinnells for their confidence in our staff and the knowledge and experience gained throughout my eight years working alongside them.

Building relationships is the most satisfying part of my job. I have had the opportunity and pleasure of meeting many of you over the years and all of us at Greater Columbia Business Monthly and the Greater Pee Dee Business Journal are eagerly looking forward to building many more new relationships. We are open to ideas for topics you would like to see covered in the magazines. We want everyone to be a part of our exciting future!