Last Thursday, as our staff returned from trips to client communities, held project meetings, and put the final touches on research deliverables and strategies for our Steering Committees, Mac Holladay, our CEO, was on the road, like he is much of the time. However, this trip was a little different in that Mac did not bring any reports or make any presentations about the state of the economy or the challenges that face today’s economic developers. The event was hosted by Leadership South Carolina (LSC), which has invited Mac to speak as the featured presenter during LSC’s Economy session for nearly 20 years.
On Friday, instead of speaking to LSC participants as he does every February, Mac received the Dick and Tunky Riley Legacy of Leadership award and was named the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. The Legacy of Leadership Awards were established to recognize exemplary leadership to the state and local communities as demonstrated by LSC graduates and others.
The Honorable Dick Riley presents Mac with Legacy of Leadership award.
The Honorable Dick Riley, former South Carolina governor and award namesake (and first recipient), presented the award to Mac, prompting Mac to observe that of all the countless Mayors and Governors he has worked for and with, "the very best are both named Riley and live in South Carolina." The former governor, with business leaders from across the state, helped create Leadership South Carolina in 1979. He was U.S. Secretary of Education under President Bill Clinton and the 111th governor of South Carolina. He also was in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
LSC, now in its 32nd year, is one of the oldest statewide leadership programs and highly respected nationally. The goal of LSC is to provide its participants with the opportunity to advance their leadership abilities while broadening their understanding of issues facing the state and its regional communities. To date, the program has graduated more than 1,300 individuals.
In addition to graduating from the LSC program in 1981, Mac was the President of the Charleston Trident Chamber of Commerce in Charleston, South Carolina from 1979 to 1985 and the State Director of the South Carolina Development Board from 1985 to 1988. He served as President of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Executives and was Chairman of the Board of Regents of Leadership South Carolina from 1984 to 1988. Mac was South Carolina's representative on the 1986 Commission on the Future of the South - that position and the LSC chairmanship were appointments made by Governor Riley.
Mac’s service to South Carolina is distinguished, and not unlike his service in each of the communities and states he has worked in since entering the field of community and economic development. His experience, unparalleled perspective, and passion have made Market Street the company that it is today, and the honor bestowed by Leadership South Carolina is a fitting reminder of that. Congratulations, Mac!
