South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III will be the keynote speaker Oct. 12 in Columbia at the 20th anniversary luncheon for South Carolina's Fastest Growing Companies.

The luncheon will be held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

South Carolina’s 25 Fastest Growing Companies™ competition is the annual ranking of the Palmetto State’s 25 most dynamic and successful companies and recognizes the achievements of top-performing private and publicly-owned companies.

To be eligible for an award, a company must be headquartered in South Carolina and in business for at least three fiscal years, and show revenues of more than $3 million in the last fiscal year.

The Official SC 25 Fastest Growing Companies® program is presented by The Capital Corporation, and co-sponsored by HUB International, Morgan Stanley|The Pebble Group and Integrated Media Publishing (publisher of Greenville Business Magazine, Columbia Business Monthly and Charleston Business Magazine).

The program has evolved into one of South Carolina’s most sought-after recognition for rapidly growing companies.

Lightsey was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to serve as Secretary of Commerce in June 2021.

"We're thrilled at the opportunity to hear our Secretary of Commerce talk about promoting economic opportunity for individuals and businesses," said Lori Coon, publisher of Greenville Business Magazine, Columbia Business Monthly and Charleston Business Magazine. "As head of a state agency that is here to help grow new and existing businesses, his leadership and direction are critical to South Carolina's future."

A fixture in South Carolina’s business community for decades, Lightsey served in top executive leadership roles for major corporations in South Carolina and across the nation.

Notably, he served as the president of BellSouth Telecommunications for South Carolina prior to the company’s merger with AT&T, afterward becoming president for AT&T’s Southeast region.

Following his 26 years in the telecommunications industry, Lightsey joined the General Motors Corporation where he directed the legacy automaker’s federal government affairs operation, as well as the emerging technologies, OnStar and infotainment divisions.

Lightsey most recently was a principal with Hawksbill Advisors – a subsidiary of Hawksbill Group. He has also served as a member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, Virginia.

Lightsey is a 1978 graduate of Princeton University, and a 1981 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law.

A native of Columbia, S.C., he is married with two adult children.

For luncheon ticket purchases: https://scfastest2021.eventbrite.com or call Lori Coon for more information, 864-335-5080.