Photos By: Provided by candidate
This month, we were able to sit down with SC Lieutenant Governor and Gubernatorial candidate, Pamela Evette as we continue our Meet the Candidates series. Read on to learn more about how the Lieutenant Governor took her small business from start-up to an over $1 billion enterprise, what a typical day in her life looks like, and why she loves the people of South Carolina.
Anderson Magazine: Thank you for taking the time to share a little about yourself with us. Tell us about your early life.
Pamela Evette: I was born outside of Cleveland, Ohio, and had a typical middle-class childhood. My dad was a tool and die maker, and my mom was a stay-at-home mom. My parents rooted us in the value of hard work and keeping God first. My grandmother, who was an immigrant from Poland, lived with us, and she made me realize how blessed I am to live in this country. She instilled in me the importance of service, which is where I got the urge to serve as I do now. It’s the idea of making things better than they were when you found them.
AM: Is your family supportive of the work you do?
PE: Yes, when the Governor asked me to be his Lieutenant Governor, I told him I needed to discuss it with my family first because this kind of service impacts your family. My husband and I have been married for 20 years, and we have 3 children. They have all been very supportive, and my children understand how service and involvement impact their future.
AM: You hold a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Cleveland State University. What sparked your interest in this field?
PE: Like many kids, I sought guidance from the people I looked up to. I have a lot of cousins, and the cousins I was closest to were Accountants. I took an accounting class in my senior year of high school, taught by a retired partner from an accounting firm, and he had such a passion for it that it inspired me to become an Accountant. I started in public Accounting, then moved to industry, and from there I started Quality Business Solutions (QBS).
AM: QBS was named one of the nation’s fastest growing small businesses. How did you accomplish this?
PE: At QBS, we helped businesses run their systems efficiently and accurately, and we put a major focus on providing great customer service. Our team used a cafeteria-style approach to offering our services, so we weren’t trying to make a square peg fit into a round hole. People really responded to getting the personalized type of service they wanted and needed. My dad always said, “You have to work hard, and you have to work hard every day.” So, I did that, and the business grew. I had two other jobs while building Quality Business Solutions, until I eventually had the opportunity to pitch our services to a large national company with about 30,000 employees, and we won the account. It was taking that risk that set us on a trajectory where our client base increased, our processes and systems improved, and before we knew it our revenues were over one billion dollars.
AM: Did your career influence your entry into politics?
PE: Yes. When QBS began growing rapidly, my kids were little and I worked from 8:00 am-5:00 pm, and often late at night after my kids were in bed. We made it a priority to keep our evenings for our kids, attending their sporting events and other activities, so we weren’t really at the after-hours business events and out in the community. When a big push came for me to be more of the company’s face, I began getting out more into the community, which led to the phase I’m in now. I started meeting more people, having more conversations, and got to know Governor McMaster.
AM: In your role as Lieutenant Governor, you are on the move all over the state every day. What does a typical day in your life look like?
PE: The only thing I can say is that I don’t have a typical day. I can be anywhere in the state on any given day. I love meeting with businesses to learn what they are facing and how we can make things better for them. I always keep relationships active this way. I love stopping by elementary schools and reading to students. I always make sure to bring a book that my own children loved. I think it’s important to go read to students because if you can read, you can learn, and if you can learn, you can become anything you want to be if you’re willing to work hard for it. Our students need to know that.
AM: In your daily travels around the state, you get the see all the amazing things SC has to offer. What are some of your favorite things about SC?
PE: Our people. I traveled to the areas hit the hardest by Helene, and I saw the generosity of South Carolinians. In South Carolina, we go all in to help our neighbors. I was at the fires in Horry County and Table Rock and it was amazing how so many people came with goods, water, nasal spray, eye drops, and all the things they thought first responders needed. It was incredibly heartwarming and it really gave a boost to your faith in humanity. Also, our surroundings are really wonderful. We have beautiful beaches, walking trails, and mountains. You can have breakfast in the mountains and dinner at the coast. When you look at the environment you want to live in and the amazing resources we have, how could you want to be anywhere else?