Columbia, S.C. – January 15, 2026 – Governor Henry McMaster and S.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey hosted the third annual Governor’s Economic Summit on Wednesday to celebrate South Carolina’s economic progress and look to the future of the state’s economic development.
Ashely Teasdel, deputy secretary of Commerce, joined the stage alongside Jody Chastain, president and chief executive officer of The Ritedose Corporation, to discuss The Ritedose Story: How purpose, innovation and resilience guide its culture, decision-making and patient-inspired mission.
The conversation highlighted how Ritedose has grown into a global leader in life sciences, while remaining deeply rooted in South Carolina. Chastain shared how a patient-first mindset drives decision-making at every level of the company, emphasizing that purpose is not a slogan on the wall, but a lived culture – one that empowers employees to stop production, speak up and protect patient safety without hesitation.
Chastain discussed how innovation is more than creating new products; it is an ongoing commitment to improving people, processes and technology. Whether modernizing manufacturing systems or investing in employee life-skills training, Ritedose views innovation as essential to staying competitive and building a strong workforce.
Along the Ritedose journey, the company faced one of the greatest tests of resilience – navigating the sudden loss of major contracts. Chastain shared how Ritedose chose to invest in its people rather than lay them off. That decision ultimately led to the successful launch of its generic pharmaceutical business and reinforced the company’s belief that doing the right thing pays off in the long run.
The discussion closed with a forward-looking view of South Carolina’s life sciences ecosystem, highlighting the power of collaboration, the state’s support of existing companies and the importance of continuing to invest in research, manufacturing and talent to sustain the industry’s rapid growth.
“Life sciences in South Carolina work because we don’t operate in silos,” Chastain states. “When companies, state leadership and organizations like SCbio show up for one another, we become far more powerful together than any one company could be on its own.”
Together, Ritedose and South Carolina exemplify how collaboration, innovation and purpose-driven leadership are fueling the continued growth of the state’s life sciences ecosystem.