HEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE LAUDED AS ‘RIGHT CHOICE’

The Palmetto Scoop reported last week that South Carolina State Ports Authority Vice Chairman Bill Stern would be leading the effort to find the SCSPA’s next president & CEO following the resignation of Bernie Groseclose.

Stern was tasked to form a search committee and Thursday announced a 13-member panel that includes some of the state’s most successful leaders in business, industry and government. Said House Speaker Bobby Harrell (R-Charleston), “My confidence in Stern was confirmed today when I saw the quality of the people he has named to serve on the search committee.”

Some of the committee members include former Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins, State Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor, president of AT&T’s South Carolina operations Pamela Lackey, and former bank executive Bob Royall, who also served as ambassador to Tanzania, state commerce secretary and SPA chairman.

With the state facing desperate financial despair, many believe that forward-thinking changes at the SCSPA could result significant assistance to South Carolina’s failing economy. And state leaders believe Stern is the right person to lead the search for someone who will hopefully offer just that.

“If our state is to rebound from these difficult times, we must become serious about tapping the full potential of our ports system to generate new jobs and economic development for the future,” said House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham (R-Lexington). “I was pleased to hear that Columbia businessman Bill Stern has been selected to head the search committee to find the next president and CEO of the State Ports Authority.

“Stern’s background as a businessman and his experience in handling port-related issues makes him the ideal person to lead this effort.”

South Carolina Senate President-Pro Tem Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) and State Rep. Jim Merrill (R-Charleston) also told The Palmetto Scoop that they were excited about Sterns appointment to head the committee.