Duke Energy Names New State President for South Carolina

(Photos courtesy of Duke Energy)

Duke Energy announced Oct. 16, 2024, that Tim Pearson will become South Carolina state president, effective Nov. 1.

He will succeed Mike Callahan, who has been promoted to senior vice president and treasurer of the company following the retirement of Karl Newlin.

Pearson, 42, will manage state and local regulatory and government relations in South Carolina. He will work closely with the corporate and regulatory strategy team to advance legislative, rate and regulatory initiatives in the state.

His team also leads community relations and infrastructure engagement for Duke Energy across the Palmetto State.

"Tim has a unique set of skills that are critical to how we address challenges facing the utility industry in new ways in South Carolina," said Lynn Good, chair and CEO of Duke Energy.

Good added, "He is well-positioned to lead the conversation and collaboration with our stakeholders and policy makers to deliver on the state's needs as we work to build a smarter energy future for the Palmetto State."

Pearson, who was part of the Duke Energy team first as an advisor and consultant, joined the company full time as vice president of government affairs in 2023.

In that expanded role, Pearson has been integral in advancing the conversation around energy policy that is taking place in South Carolina, company officials said.

A Columbia resident, he has more than a decade of experience in government and policy in South Carolina.

Before joining Duke Energy, Pearson served as an advisor to multiple governors in the state, most recently as general consultant for Henry McMaster's successful campaigns in 2018 and 2022.

He served as chief of staff for Nikki Haley during her tenure as governor, and as executive director of her transition team. He also served as Mark Sanford's senior communications advisor.

Callahan, 49, will return to the financial side of the corporation after leading the company's efforts in South Carolina for the past five years as state president.

Prior to that, he was vice president of investor relations, overseeing Duke Energy's investor relations and shareholder services organizations.

He also served as director of regulated utilities forecasting for Duke Energy, where he was responsible for preparing and consolidating regulated utility forecasts to support financial planning and strategic decision-making activities.

Callahan joined Duke Energy in 2002.

"I am proud of the many accomplishments Mike and his team have achieved in South Carolina," said Julie Janson, executive vice president and CEO for Duke Energy Carolinas.

Janson added, "Over the past five years, he spearheaded Duke Energy's efforts to support communities and customers during the pandemic. He also guided critical grassroots community relations initiatives and helped lead company engagement with numerous state and local organizations during storm restoration efforts, including most recently when Helene battered the state."

Tigerron "Tiger" Wells, 45, currently state government affairs director, will succeed Pearson as vice president of government affairs and will manage the company's legislative strategy in South Carolina.

A South Carolina lawyer and former partner with the law firm of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, Wells was a litigator for a decade before branching out to the Municipal Association of South Carolina government affairs team.

For the past five years, Wells has played a critical role in the company's lobbying efforts at the State House and has advanced the legislative and regulatory interests of Duke Energy before various South Carolina governmental bodies.

Also reporting to Pearson will be Heather Shirley Smith, vice president of regulatory and policy who will continue to focus on regulatory matters and policy enactment and Rick Jiran, vice president of government and community relations and infrastructure engagement, who will continue his role focused on local government relations, community relations and new infrastructure stakeholder engagement.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies.

The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity.

Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Maxwood Furniture Expands Marion County Operations

Maxwood Furniture, a manufacturer and distributor of solid wood furniture, said it is expanding its operations in Marion County.

The company’s $6 million investment will create 43 jobs, according to Gov. Henry McMaster’s office.

Headquartered in Charleston County, Maxwood Furniture is a family-owned and operated company that designs, manufactures and distributes solid wood furniture products.

The company offers distinct product lines and custom furniture design for customers globally.

Maxwood Furniture will expand its existing distribution center at 720 West Liberty St. in Marion.

“This announcement is a testament to the men and women on the Maxwood Furniture team, as their hard work and dedication have given us confidence that we can grow and flourish in this community,” said Maxwood Furniture President Stephen Jensen.

Operations are expected to be online in the third quarter of 2028. Those interested in joining the Maxwood Furniture team should email resumes to [email protected].  

The state’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.

The council also awarded a $200,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to Marion County to assist with the costs of building improvements.

Pat Parelli Announces Launch of Horsemanship Campus in South Carolina

Pat Parelli, a pioneer of natural horsemanship, is launching a new consolidated year-round campus, Parelli Landing: The Horseman's Academy, in Johnsonville, South Carolina, in January 2025.

The campus will serve as a global center for equine education, offering vocational training for aspiring horsemen, horse developers, grooms, veterinarians, farriers, and other industry professionals.

For more than four decades, Parelli's Natural Horsemanship Program has revolutionized horse training by emphasizing partnership, trust, and respect between horse and rider.

Program officials said the new venture aims to secure his legacy by training future leaders in the equine industry through a structured, faculty-led program.

The Horseman's Academy, known as the "Harvard of Horsemanship," will offer a comprehensive curriculum focused on horse psychology, applied training, and equine management.

It will also include business skills courses to help students succeed professionally.

"This campus is about more than just teaching horsemanship," Parelli said. "It's about preparing the next generation to excel in their careers while promoting humane treatment of horses."

The South Carolina campus will be the consolidated headquarters for his program. 

The academy will offer both short- and long-term programs, catering to students with various career aspirations, from horsemanship to advanced equine care.

The curriculum centers on Parelli's "Love, Language, and Leadership" philosophy, where students learn to understand horses' natural behaviors.

Students will also gain skills in business management.

Additionally, Parelli plans to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to support students worldwide in pursuing the Parelli Program.

Since founding Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Parelli's programs have been adopted in more than 76 countries.

Those interested in learning more about the new campus and its programs can go to Parelli Natural Horsemanship.

Applications are now open, with classes beginning in January 2025. For those unable to attend in person, virtual learning options are available through The Parelli Network.

Essential Resources to Rebuild Records After Natural Disaster

It can be important for victims of a disaster to reconstruct their tax and financial records to help prove and document their losses so they can get federal assistance or insurance reimbursement.

Below are some tips from the Internal Revenue Service to help people reconstruct important records they may need as they begin to recover and rebuild.

Tax records

Taxpayers can get free tax return transcripts immediately using Get Transcript on IRS.gov.

If they don’t have internet access, taxpayers can order transcripts by calling 800-908-9946 and following the prompts.

Financial statements

People can gather past statements from their credit card company or bank. These records may be available online. If not, people can also contact their bank to get paper copies.

Property records

Property documents: Homeowners can get documents related to their property by contacting the title company, escrow company or bank that handled the purchase of their home or other property.

Home improvements: Taxpayers who made home improvements can get in touch with the contractors who did the work and ask for statements to verify the work and cost. They can also get written descriptions from friends and relatives who saw the house before and after any improvements.

Inherited property: Those who inherited property can check court records for probate values. If a trust or estate existed, taxpayers can contact the attorney who handled the trust.

No records: People with no records available should check the county assessor's office for old records that might address the value of the property.

Vehicles: Vehicle owners can research the current fair-market value for most vehicles. Resources are available online and at most libraries.

Taxpayers can find news about disaster tax relief specific to their area on the Around the Nation page of IRS.gov.

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