Paul Brazeau earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Quality and Packaging from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He now serves as Vice President of Business Unit Operations at Oshkosh Corporation, a manufacturing company with 18,000 employees worldwide that was recently recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the tenth consecutive year.

Brazeau began his professional career as a production supervisor in an automotive assembly facility, where he learned not to fear making decisions or mistakes as long as he learned from each experience. This philosophy shapes his leadership approach today.

“The ability to inspire and empower all team members in a genuine and transparent way creating a culture where doing the right thing, cultivating continuous improvement, and lifting each other up results in daily success that every team member feels like they had a hand in creating,” Brazeau said when defining success.

Before relocating to South Carolina, Brazeau served as a board member and Community Engagement Chair for Habitat for Humanity – Wisconsin. Outside of work, he enjoys scuba diving among sea turtles, sting rays and sharks.

Brown leads Milliken’s Global Operations function, overseeing corporate logistics, transportation, sourcing, environmental health and safety, corporate engineering, security, the Milliken Performance Solutions office and Performance Solutions by Milliken consulting arm.

He joined Milliken in April 2022 after 25 years with Albemarle Corporation, a global specialty chemicals producer. In his most recent role at Albemarle, Brown served as chief operating officer for the Bromine Specialties Global Business Unit, leading manufacturing, sales and operations planning, customer service and strategic procurement functions.

He previously led Albemarle’s global environmental health and safety and manufacturing excellence efforts, reporting to the CEO. Throughout his career, Brown managed union and non-union facilities across the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America, supporting operations with more than $1 billion in annual revenue and 1,800-plus employees.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and a chemical engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, where he completed a summer internship with Milliken.

Tobias Brugger’s professional journey in manufacturing began as an apprentice industrial mechanic, where he learned the fundamentals of production operations. He pursued his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Applied Science Ravensburg-Weingarten in Germany, followed by a Master of Business Engineering in Logistics Management at the University of Stuttgart in Germany.

Today, Brugger serves as Senior Vice President Operations and Head of Global Operations at ZF Group, overseeing operations for the global automotive supplier with approximately 160,000 employees worldwide.

Brugger’s leadership philosophy centers on balancing empathy with objectivity. The best advice he received — “Soft to People, Hard to the facts” — shaped his approach to treating others with respect while remaining firm on data and performance. He defines success as combining well-defined strategy with consistent execution, supported by flexibility, accountability and strong collaborative team.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Brugger finds joy doing homework with his children, viewing it as opportunity to connect and support their learning.

Matthew Cabe leads Michelin North America Inc., overseeing operations across 36 manufacturing sites and more than 23,000 employees in the United States and Canada. Cabe holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Clemson University and a Master of Business Administration from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

Beginning his career with Michelin more than 20 years ago as an engineer, Cabe brought a foundation focused on putting people at the center of innovation. Upon becoming North American CEO, he prioritized visiting manufacturing sites across the U.S. and Canada, returning to facilities where he once installed equipment.

Under his leadership, Michelin continues advancing sustainable mobility solutions, including the MICHELIN Pilot Sport Endurance range made with 50% renewable and recycled materials. The company supports its ambition to deliver an all-sustainable tire by 2050, made with 100 percent renewable and recycled materials.

Cabe serves on the board of directors for the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association.

“Success means leaning into these teams and building a workplace where every employee can bring their best self forward and thrive,” Cabe said.

Wes Carter leads Atlantic Packaging and founded A New Earth Project, driving innovation in sustainable packaging solutions. Carter earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Under Carter’s leadership, Atlantic became the first packaging company in North America with an approved net-zero Science-Based Target for climate action, aiming to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire value chain by 2046. The company employs 2,000 people worldwide.

In 2025, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Carter to the South Carolina Conservation Bank Board. Carter partnered with the Lowcountry Land Trust and Dorchester County Greenbelt Program to permanently protect the Barry Tract—67 acres along the Ashley River Road Historic Byway.

Carter serves on multiple boards including the Conservation Alliance, Lowcountry Land Trust, UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, Keep America Beautiful, WildAid and California SB-54 Packaging Producer Responsibility Advisory Board. He received the Individual of the Year Award by Lowcountry Chapter National Philanthropy Day in November 2025.

Jody Chastain leads The Ritedose Corporation, a pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization with more than 600 employees. Under his leadership, the company has undergone significant expansion through strategic investments in infrastructure and technology.

Since 2024, Ritedose has achieved several milestones, including acquiring 105 acres for expansion, adding 180-million-unit dose capacity for sterile medications, and opening a distribution facility capable of handling logistics for more than two billion doses annually. The company announced a $17 million expansion of its microbiology and analytical chemistry laboratories in September to support growth capacity of 2.6 billion doses per year.

Before Ritedose, Chastain spent nine years at Fuji Photo Film in Greenwood, where he gained expertise in lean manufacturing, packaging design and operations optimization. He holds a business administration degree from Limestone University and completed Northwestern University’s Kellogg Executive Development Program.

“I believe that blessed organizations have the responsibility to give back and bless others,” Chastain said.

He serves on the SCRA Board of Trustees and boards of SCbio and SC Thrive.

Howard Coker joined Sonoco in 1985 and has built a distinguished career through sales, manufacturing and management positions across various businesses. He advanced to Vice President of Rigid Paper and Closures, overseeing 21 rigid paper container operations and seven metal and peelable membrane closure operations in North America.

Coker then served as Senior Vice President of Global Rigid Papers and Closures and Paper and Industrial Converted Products, leading the company’s Rigid Paper Container operations globally and Industrial Paper and Tubes & Cores operations. He also held the position of Senior Vice President of Paper and Industrial Converted Products before assuming his current role as President and CEO in 2020.

Coker earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wofford College and a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University. He demonstrates continued leadership through service on multiple boards, including the Board of Directors of Wofford College, the American Forest & Paper Association and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

Halsey Cook leads Milliken & Company, a global manufacturing innovator with 7,000 employees worldwide. Under his leadership, the company has achieved milestones including recognition as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 19th consecutive year and a 2024 EcoVadis Gold Rating, placing it among the top 5% of companies for sustainability. In September 2025, Milliken acquired South Carolina-based Highland Industries to expand its technical textiles capabilities.

Cook serves as 2025 deputy board chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and sits on the boards of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, National Association of Manufacturers, Palmetto Business Forum and Belle W. Baruch Foundation. He also serves as an independent director of Southwire Company.

“Don’t just lead the business — lead the people who make the business possible,” Cook said, reflecting on advice that shaped his leadership philosophy.

Cook earned degrees in economics and English from the University of The South and an MBA from University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

Tony Deering leads R2P Innovations as CEO, guiding the manufacturing company’s team of 26 employees. Deering holds a business management diploma from Damelin and has built his career through hands-on experience, having left school at age 16 without attending college.

In his leadership role, Deering currently serves as regional leader South for the Submarine Industrial Base Council since January 2023. He also holds board positions with KEEL and actively contributes his time to Friends of Morning Light through philanthropic work.

Beyond his business pursuits, Deering maintains an adventurous lifestyle. He is a certified shark diver, fixed-wing pilot and helicopter pilot who has completed some of the world’s toughest ultra-endurance events. Despite being a qualified military parachutist and sky diver, he admits to being scared of heights.

Deering’s business philosophy reflects practical wisdom. “Sales revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, and cash flow is reality,” he noted. He defines success as making a meaningful impact on many lives while giving 110% to every pursuit.

Pixie Paula Dezzutti began her career as director of gifted education at Sacred Heart in Connecticut and corporate consultant at American Express before transitioning to entrepreneurship. She founded The Coaching Advantage and built three luxury spas and The Gourmet Café restaurant before establishing Local Choice Inc. in 2010.

Dezzutti founded Local Choice Spirits and owns Striped Pig Distillery, launching more than 50 brands. She has expanded into multi-state manufacturing operations including Ghost Monkey Brewery, Alabama Brewing Co., Alabama Distilling Co. and Mad Rabbit Distillery, becoming the first female owner of a brewery-distillery hybrid. She co-founded BarrelFi, pioneering blockchain integration in the alcohol sector, and developed Boozebucks, a blockchain-based loyalty program.

As CEO, publisher and editor-in-chief of Skirt Magazine since 2018, Dezzutti founded Pixie Records & Studios and the MINISKIRT nonprofit for youth financial literacy. She serves on the boards of Charleston Interreligious Council and Threshold Repertory Theatre. “I have learned to focus on God’s will first — letting that guide my business decisions, my leadership style and the way I navigate both opportunities and obstacles,” Dezzutti said.