Masahiro Arai earned a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering, Robotics from Tokyo Denki University before beginning his career as a technical support engineer for software development tools. In that role, serving programmers and advising on project challenges, he learned a crucial lesson about understanding customers. He later progressed through marketing, product management, sales and engineering departments at the same multinational company, gaining experience that would shape his leadership approach.

As Chief Operating Officer of SIOS Technology, Arai oversees operations for the company, which provides high-availability and disaster recovery solutions that protect critical services including healthcare systems, airport operations, emergency response and cybersecurity infrastructures. He also serves as CEO of BayPOS, a retail restaurant management software company.

Despite his senior management position, Arai maintains a hands-on approach to technology. After brainstorming sessions with his management team, he has created proof-of-concept code to illustrate solutions addressing customer and partner feedback. SIOS Technology, which employs approximately 50 people, has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina for six consecutive years.

Michael L. Baur has led ScanSource, a global provider of technology products and solutions, as CEO since January 2000 and previously served as president from the company’s founding in December 1992. With more than 40 years of experience in the IT industry, Baur brings deep institutional knowledge and entrepreneurial vision to his leadership role.

Under his guidance, ScanSource has achieved significant growth through strategic acquisitions, partnerships and organic expansion, strengthening its global footprint and market position in technology distribution. Baur has been instrumental in expanding the company’s product portfolio while maintaining a focus on customer satisfaction and operational excellence.

He has served on ScanSource’s board of directors since December 1995 and was named chair of the board in February 2019. Before founding ScanSource, Baur held senior management positions including president at Argent Technologies and director of merchandising at Gates/FA Distributing. He remains committed to fostering innovation and creating an inclusive workplace culture that supports employee growth and development.

Chad Capece leads Computer Applied Products, a technology company helping small restaurant and retail businesses compete with large enterprise brands through innovative point-of-sale solutions. Under his leadership, the company recently launched Square’s first dealer partnership in North America, bringing Square Point of Sale through a reseller channel.

A College of Charleston graduate with a degree in marine biology, Capece has built his business philosophy around a simple principle. “Take care of your employees and your customers, and the profits will follow,” Capece said.

His approach to leadership focuses on addressing the biggest challenge facing his industry: bringing rapidly changing technology to small businesses to help them compete for customer satisfaction and repeat business. Capece defines success as building a brand that customers are proud to do business with.

Before entering the technology sector, Capece worked making pizzas in high school, where he learned attention to detail. In an unexpected career twist, he once worked as a skiing coach in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, bringing diverse life experiences to his current role leading a 25-person team.

Larry Collett leads Larry Collett Consulting Group, where he specializes in artificial intelligence strategy and implementation. He earned credentials in AI Business Strategy from Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering.

Collett’s career began at Kinney Shoe Corp., where he developed his team-first leadership approach. Today, he addresses one of the technology sector’s most pressing challenges: helping organizations adopt AI responsibly and ethically.

His commitment to community service spans numerous leadership roles. Collett serves as vice chair on the board of REV Federal Credit Union and holds board positions with the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce, Summerville YMCA, Summerville DREAM and Dorchester 2 Education Foundation. He is a member of the town of Summerville/Dorchester County Vision Plan 2040 Steering Committee and is a Rotarian with Summerville Rotary Club.

Among his recognitions, Collett received the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Richard Heinson Memorial Award for Outstanding First Year Rotarian. “Surround yourself with the right people and you’ll achieve great things,” Collett said, reflecting his collaborative leadership philosophy.

Brian Daughhetee leads ANC Group Inc., a technology services firm specializing in managed IT and cybersecurity solutions for K-12 schools, legal practices, manufacturing companies and educational institutions across South Carolina. Under his leadership, the company has earned recognition as the state’s No.2 Best Place to Work and top-ranked IT employer, while also being named to the SC 50 Fastest Growing Companies list.

Daughhetee’s technology career began unexpectedly at Washington’s Cispus Learning Center, where he served as Ropes Course Director before teaching himself computer network management. “The best advice I ever received was to ‘play to your strengths and hire for your weaknesses,’” Daughhetee said.

His civic involvement includes serving as a Mauldin city councilman from 2001 to 2005 and chairing the Mauldin Cultural Center Board. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Towson State University and a master’s degree in managerial sciences from Indian Wesleyan University.

Mike Gianoni’s five-decade technology career began in high school in Bristol, Conn., where the first-generation American’s passion for engineering sparked. His journey through IT, financial services, cloud services and business transformation led him to Blackbaud in 2014, where he serves as president, chief executive officer and board member.

Under Gianoni’s leadership, the Charleston-based SaaS company has gained recognition as a Fortune Change the World Company and Forbes Most Innovative Growth Company. Blackbaud serves nonprofits, education sectors and organizations committed to social responsibility worldwide. Millions in over 100 countries use its software, with over $100 billion raised, granted or managed annually.

Gianoni led Blackbaud’s transition to a remote-first workplace and serves as chairman of Teradata’s board of directors. Previously, he held leadership roles at Fiserv, CheckFree Investment Services and DST.

A University of New Haven graduate with degrees in engineering, business and an MBA, Gianoni serves on the International African American Museum’s board and supports Charleston Animal Society and Warrior Sailing.

Rachel Hayden brings nearly 30 years of IT leadership experience to her role as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at ScanSource in Greenville. Her career has focused on transforming IT organizations from cost centers into proactive enablers of business growth across manufacturing, consumer goods, telecommunications and financial services sectors.

Hayden has held executive technology positions with multiple Fortune 500 companies including PepsiCo, Wachovia, Coca-Cola, Perdue Farms and Berry Plastics. Her global leadership experience spans cross-border projects and multi-site operations across North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and EMEA regions.

Before joining ScanSource in 2021, Hayden served as VP and Chief Information Officer at Just Born Inc., the ninth-largest U.S. confectionery company. She previously led global business systems for Berry Plastics, a $7 billion global manufacturer, overseeing IT strategy and implementation for 31 plant facilities across 17 countries. Hayden is a member of Chief, a private network.

Nick Hook has built a career in environmental services and vegetation management spanning more than two decades. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Mechanization and Business from Clemson University in 2003, Hook began as an NPDES Compliance Coordinator at CR Jackson Inc., managing compliance programs under Clean Water Act regulations.

Hook joined what is now Opterra Solutions, Inc. in 2008 as Stormwater Manager. He advanced through progressively senior roles, including Director of ECO Group, where he oversaw vegetation maintenance and stormwater facilities services across the Southeast. Hook later served as VP of Equipment and Strategy, VP of Operations and Chief Operating Officer before being named Chief Executive Officer in September 2021.

Throughout his tenure at the Lexington-based company, Hook has guided operations in vegetation management, right-of-way maintenance, clearing and mechanical mulching services. His leadership reflects expertise in both operational strategy and environmental compliance gained through varied roles in the industry.

Andrew Kurtz leads Kopis LLC, a technology company with 65 employees. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Furman University.

Kurtz’s path to technology began during an internship feeding documents into a microfiche machine. Discovering he disliked mundane work, he volunteered to learn DBase on a new PC, which led to deeper investments in technology and eventually to founding his company.

His leadership philosophy emphasizes empowering his team. “If your team has an idea and you can make it 10% better, keep your mouth shut,” Kurtz said. “Your 10% will take away their ownership and you’ll lose much more.”

Kurtz serves on the board of The Innovate Fund and is involved with the Greenville Local Development Corporation. He received the Greenville Chamber of Commerce Buck Mickel Leadership recognition in 2016 and Communicate Works Excellence on Entrepreneurship in 2019.

Kurtz views the AI revolution as presenting both opportunities and challenges, requiring quick evolution to remain competitive while developing skills to help clients leverage artificial intelligence. Outside work, he enjoys Grateful Dead music.

Brad Lucas has led Lucas Systems, Inc. as president since April 2016, guiding the Greenville-based point-of-sale technology solutions and managed services provider through nearly a decade of growth. Lucas began with the company in July 2004, initially handling field network wiring, installation and training before advancing through various sales, marketing and operations roles from 2007 to 2016.

Under his leadership, Lucas Systems serves quick-service, fast-casual and fine-dining restaurants along with specialty retail establishments throughout the United States. The company, founded in 1992 as a point-of-sale repair and on-site service provider, has evolved into a full-service technology solutions firm with many clients maintaining relationships exceeding 20 years.

Lucas earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing and international business with a minor in hotel, restaurant and tourism management from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, graduating cum laude. He currently serves as a board member for C12 South Carolina’s CEO IV group, a position he has held since December 2018.

Austin McCombs earned a Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management and a Master of Science in Management Information Systems from Auburn University. He co-founded Gnosis Freight, a technology company that developed the Container Lifecycle Management platform to deliver global supply chain visibility and execution solutions.

In September 2024, Gnosis Freight secured a strategic growth investment from Vista Equity Partners to expand its platform and advance innovation in logistics. Mergers & Acquisitions recognized the transaction as Software Deal of the Year, describing Gnosis as a “bootstrapped, founder-driven, and rapidly scaling software company that has grown primarily through organic customer acquisition.”

McCombs led the company through a partnership with PayCargo and Hapag-Lloyd to launch a container payment portal, streamlining import demurrage payments and container release at U.S. ports. FreightWaves named Gnosis to its 2026 FreightTech 100 for innovation in global logistics.

The 68-employee company continues to address industry challenges including data fragmentation and global supply chain disruptions. McCombs volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, Charleston Parks Conservancy, Charleston Hope and Ronald McDonald House.

Jessica McDowell serves as senior vice president of North America marketing and digital customer success for TD SYNNEX, a 23,000-employee technology company, a position she assumed in December 2024.

A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communication, McDowell leads marketing strategy during rapid technological advancement, identifying the industry’s biggest challenge as keeping pace with innovation rather than a lack of it.

“Don’t wait for someone to create a path for you, make the path yourself,” she says, advice that transformed how she approaches opportunities and leadership.

Her first job as a high school lifeguard taught her responsibility, quick decision-making, and leadership through service — lessons that continue to guide her work.

McDowell serves on the BMW Charity Pro-Am board and participates in TD SYNNEX Share the Magic. She has earned the CRN Channel Chief Award three consecutive years and received the CRN Women of the Channel Award annually from 2020 to 2025.

She defines success through meaningful work that earns family pride while creating space for others to shine, demonstrating to her children that courage matters more than comfort.

Tommy Pickens leads Sharp Electronics Corp’s South Carolina division as president, guiding the 87-employee technology company through tariff volatility challenges impacting pricing strategies.

A Clemson University graduate, Pickens began his career in a sales territory where Steve Bailey and Clark King hired and trained him, establishing foundations for his customer-focused leadership approach.

“Do the right thing ALWAYS,” he says.

Under his leadership, the division earned the Samurai award eight times, recognizing it as the top U.S. Sharp branch, and received Best Places to Work recognition in both 2024 and 2025.

Pickens defines success through exceeding customer expectations and creating raving fans, emphasizing relationship-building over transactional interactions.

His early sales experience taught him the importance of customer service excellence and strategic territory management, lessons he applies in leading operations across South Carolina’s technology sector.

Colleagues might be surprised to learn he enjoys cooking, finding creativity and satisfaction in the kitchen beyond his professional responsibilities.

His leadership philosophy centers on ethical decision-making and maintaining integrity while navigating the complex challenges of the technology industry.

Frederique Pirenne leads OhmIQ as CEO, guiding the company’s mission to license patented Ohmic Array Technology that makes tankless water heaters, steam showers, coffee machines and other heating devices more energy-efficient.

As CEO, Pirenne oversees team building, culture development, business development and financial management while connecting with potential licensees globally. His international expertise proves invaluable in positioning OhmIQ’s technology, which features permanent heating elements designed to never need maintenance or replacement due to scaling.

Pirenne’s background managing the $1.2 billion AEG brand at Electrolux Group provides crucial insights into appliance development and the competitive advantages OhmIQ customers seek. His experience co-founding MyTelescope.io, a Swedish martech startup, equipped him with practical knowledge of emerging technological challenges.

A Belgian native fluent in six languages, Pirenne previously consulted for global companies including Volvo, Scandinavian Airlines and Aritco. He describes himself as a “passionate international tech-turned marketeer with an interest for technology, building international business and AI,” bringing relationship-building skills and proven leadership experience to OhmIQ’s growth.

Dan Rundle leads Worthwhile, a technology company that has earned recognition as the Best Place to Work in South Carolina in 2024 in the small business category. With a Bachelor of Science in Business and an MBA from Bob Jones University, Rundle has built a company that has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies three times.

Under his leadership, Worthwhile recently expanded its artificial intelligence services with the launch of AI Pathfinder. Rundle also co-founded Launchpad GVL, an early-stage tech accelerator, workspace and community designed to support emerging technology ventures.

Beyond his work with Worthwhile’s team of 20 employees, Rundle serves as a board member for the Greenville Area Development Corporation and Launchpad GVL. He is also an elder at Heritage Bible Church.

His leadership philosophy centers on people development. “I define success as cultivating people,” Rundle said. “When those around me grow in capability, confidence and character, the results take care of themselves.”

An avid traveler, Rundle has visited all 50 states, bringing diverse perspectives to his work in South Carolina’s technology sector.

Reyna Thompson leads North America operations for TD Synnex, a global technology distributor with 23,000 employees worldwide. Appointed to the role in September 2024, Thompson brings extensive experience navigating the technology sector’s rapid evolution, particularly around digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

A Clemson University graduate who later earned her master’s in public policy from Regent University, Thompson’s leadership has earned recognition as a CRN Channel Chief and inclusion in CRN’s Woman of the Channel and Power 100 lists.

Thompson’s career philosophy stems from lessons learned early on, working as a hostess through high school and college. “You can learn a great deal being in the service industry about customer engagement and customer care,” she reflects. Those formative experiences taught her the importance of delivering value, responsiveness and meaningful interaction.

Beyond her professional achievements, Thompson is a passionate reader of classic literature and pursues language learning. She believes success requires the right mindset and sometimes means making strategic sacrifices to achieve greater goals.

Chris Townson leads West Carolina as chief executive officer, guiding the telecommunications cooperative’s mission to expand high-quality broadband across rural and underserved communities in the Upstate.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Covenant College, an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Organizational Leadership & Growth from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also completed ministerial studies. Townson received specialized training in business excellence from the Disney Institute.

Under his leadership since September 2024, West Carolina has reached a network scale milestone of passing 100,000 homes while continuing its aggressive fiber infrastructure build-out through the Upcountry Fiber initiative in partnership with Blue Ridge Electric. The cooperative employs 125 people.

Townson serves as chairman of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association’s Government Affairs Committee and holds board positions with the Freshwater Coast Community Foundation, Upcountry Fiber Foundation and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Foundation. West Carolina recently received the NTCA SRC Showcase Award for its Hurricane Helene response.

Matt Vaadi leads guHRoo, a South Carolina-based professional employer organization providing small businesses with BlueCross BlueShield access and full-service HR solutions. The company employs 50 people worldwide.

Vaadi earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina. He began his career as a high school janitor, learning attention to detail and the importance of excellence in every role.

In 2021, Vaadi authored “Ping-Pong Is Not a Strategy: How to Create an Awesome Organizational Culture,” which became an Amazon bestseller in multiple categories. He also founded Underdog Digital, a marketing and automation agency, and launched The Cage Project, a community-driven baseball training facility in Chapin opening in December 2025.

In March 2025, Vaadi’s team launched Outsourced Scale, providing offshore sales and marketing support to small businesses. The company grew to more than 20 global team members within six months.

“Pick a path and run,” Vaadi said, reflecting on advice from a mentor that shaped his leadership philosophy.

He serves as board chairman for Build Carolina and mentors entrepreneurs through GrowCo, which he founded in 2019.

Abe Varughese leads Merit Technologies, a Greenville-based managed service provider specializing in comprehensive IT solutions for small and medium businesses. Since founding the company in April 2009, Varughese has built a firm that delivers enterprise-level technology services typically reserved for large corporations.

Merit Technologies operates as both an MSP and MSSP, offering remote monitoring and management, disaster recovery planning, data security implementation and network support. The company provides virtual CIO and CISSP services, managing everything from virtual machines and firewalls to vendor relationships and cloud migrations. Merit holds both Microsoft and Google Apps certifications.

Under Varughese’s leadership, the company expanded into custom software development, creating solutions in PHP, MySQL and Microsoft .NET, along with iOS and Android mobile applications. Merit also delivers Software as a Service offerings for internal and public subscription models.

Varughese previously served as vice president at PSA Consulting from October 1998 through April 2005. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Bowling Green State University.

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Tina Zwolinski founded Skillionaire Games, a technology company that addresses workforce development challenges through educational gaming. The platform helps students explore career pathways while preparing them with foundational workplace skills.

After completing an internship with Liberty Life Insurance, Zwolinski worked in marketing at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, where she developed her focus on workforce and economic development. That experience revealed how skilled workforces attract companies and support regional growth, ultimately inspiring Skillionaire Games’ mission.

Under Zwolinski’s leadership, the company received a National Science Foundation SBIR Grant in fall 2024 and deployed its full platform in spring 2025. The six-person company has earned recognition including Palmetto Power 20, SC Manufacturing Maven and multiple EdTech Digest honors.

“Don’t get nervous,” Zwolinski said, recalling advice from mentor Ted Rollins.

Zwolinski serves on multiple boards including The N50 Project’s AI Education and Learning Committee, The Innovate Fund Advisory Board and TransformSC Steering Committee. She learned Spanish after adopting three siblings from Peru and continues using it when engaging with students.