March 08, 2011
The board of directors of the Economic Development Partnership of South Carolina (EDPSC) has named Associate Director Will Williams as the next director beginning April 1.Williams replaces Fred Humes, who has been director for 20 years. Humes will become director emeritus of the EDPSC and continue as director of the Applied Research Center, the technology outreach arm of the partnership.”My heart over the past two decades has been in manufacturing, and that love continues,” said Humes. “I am not going away; I will just not be quite as involved as I have been. I appreciate all that the Aiken and Edgefield County communities have done over the past 20 years. The support I have received will be treasured for a lifetime.”Williams has been involved in economic development for more than 16 years and also worked in private industry for eight years. His experience includes serving as area director of the ReadySC program with the South Carolina Technical College System, project manager with the S.C. Department of Commerce and director of business development for a construction firm.Williams is a member of the Rotary Club of Aiken, the S.C. Economic Developers Association and the Lower Savannah Council of Government Workforce Investment Board. The Georgetown native is a graduate of The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He and his wife, Ellen, have two sons, Jacob and Luke.”I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the organization. The partnership is well respected throughout the state and national economic development community,” said Williams.The mission of the Economic Development Partnership of South Carolina, a nonprofit organization, is to promote economic development within Aiken and Edgefield counties, both for existing businesses and for new members of the business community. The partnership seeks to improve the climate for manufacturers and entrepreneurs through community and legislative action and looks to cement Aiken’s and Edgefield’s reputations as a home for industry of all sectors.