Capital Rotary Club

Our speaker on Wednesday morning was Mr. Carl Blackstone, President and CEO of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.  Prior to joining the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Blackstone worked as the government relations advisor for the clients of Copper Dome Strategies, LCC, a subsidiary of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.  In that capacity, Mr. Blackstone assisted clients with legislative and other governmental actions before the South Carolina General Assembly, South Carolina Governor’s Office, and executive branch of the state of South Carolina.  Prior to joining Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, Blackstone served as senior legislative advisor to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford where he was the governor’s liaison to the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives.

As an active member in the community, Blackstone currently serves as a member of the Riverbanks Society, the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association, Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital board of directors and a member of First Presbyterian Church. He is also a graduate of Leadership South Carolina. Blackstone received his degree in business administration from College of Charleston.

Capital Rotary Club member Scott Wallinger has earned Circuit Court Mediator certification by the S.C. Supreme Court’s Board of Arbitration and Mediator Certification.  This designation allows him to assist parties and attorneys in resolving and mediating disputes as an alternative to civil jury trials.

His recent certification means more than 25 percent of Collins & Lacy attorneys are now certified mediators and are able to provide statewide mediation services.

A shareholder in Collins & Lacy, P.C., Wallinger is chair of the firm’s professional liability practice group. His law career has focused on complex litigation, representing healthcare providers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, financial and investment advisors, attorneys, insurance brokers and agents.  He has been recognized by Greater Columbia Business Monthly as one of the Midlands’ Legal Elite.

Wallinger has served as Capital Rotary president for 2013-14 and rejoined the club in 2010 after relocating from Charleston.

Our speaker on Wednesday morning will be District 7770 Governor, Dr. Jimmie Williamson.   Dr. Jimmie Williamson has been a Rotarian since 1996 having served as President of the Cheraw club, President-Elect of the Kingstree club (where Jimmie and I first became friends), Assistant District Governor for 3 years, and member of the nominating committee and the finance committee.

Jimmie is a Paul Harris Society member, a Benefactor and a Bequest Society member. He resides in Cheraw with his wife Kim and son, Jake.  Another son, Jordan, lives and works in North Charleston.  He has an undergraduate and master’s degree from Winthrop University, a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina and is an author of Roadways To Success, a text book for underprepared college students, now in its 5^th edition.

He is a former member of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees and of the Chesterfield County School Board.  Professionally, Jimmie spent 28 years in higher education as President of 2 technical colleges, left for a 6 year period in the business/healthcare world working at Agape Senior and currently works as the System President/CEO of the South Carolina Technical College System.