Sam joined SCBIO in Spring 2017 as its President/CEO, focused on aggressively scaling-up and leading the innovative statewide economic development organization and industry association in its mission to build, advance, innovate and grow South Carolina’s $11.4 billion life sciences industry which is comprised of over 600 companies.
Prior to his role with SCBIO, Sam served as Executive Director of the Greenville Health Research Development Corporation as part of a 12-year affiliation with the Greenville Health System in various strategic roles, and was the founding President/CEO of Upstate SC Alliance along with other leadership positions with the SC Department of Commerce and Germany-based Alfmeier Corporation. He is also the founder and principal of SK Strategies, LLC - a consulting firm specializing in economic development, innovation, public-private partnerships, integrated marketing and business development strategies.
A licensed attorney since 1989, he is a member of numerous business and industry boards, including current roles serving on the SC Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee & Board, Southeast Life Sciences Association Board of Directors, SCRA Business & Science Advisory Board, SCBIO Board of Directors, South State Bank Greenville Advisory Board, and Palmetto Conservation Foundation Board. He is the past board chair of the Cancer Society of Greenville County, past board vice chair of the Upstate SC Red Cross, has been designated as a Knowledge Economist by SCRA, and was awarded The Order of the Palmetto in 2018 – SC’s highest civilian award.
