Smith Elected to SC BIPEC Board of Trustees

The SC BIPEC Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Jim Edwards, Executive Director of the Carolina Independent Automobile Dealer Association, and Keith Smith, President of the Homebuilders Association of South Carolina, have been elected to our Board of Trustees.

Mr. Edwards has been the Executive Director of the Carolina Independent Automobile Dealer Association since 2000. Prior to joining the Carolina Independent Automobile Dealer Association, he was the Director of Governmental Affairs and Development for the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Edwards has also served as Assistant Vice President for Legislative Affairs and Corporate Communications for Unisun Insurance Company.

A graduate of East Carolina University, Mr. Edwards has continued his education through graduate work in law and history at the University of South Carolina and The Citadel. He is also a graduate of Leadership South Carolina, the Institute on Politics and Public Policy, and the Negotiation Program for Senior Executives at Harvard University. Mr. Edwards is a former Army Captain and a Vietnam Veteran.

Mr. Smith serves as President of the Homebuilders Association of South Carolina, where he has served as Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Legislative Chairman. Previously Mr. Smith has served as the President of the Homebuilders Association of Greenville.

Mr. Smith has a wealth of experience in the construction and real estate industries. He has been a homebuilder since 1969 and a REALTOR ® since 1972. His business accomplishments include developing several small subdivisions throughout his career as well as building over 800 homes and multiple commercial buildings.

In 2006, Mr. Smith received the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Mark Sanford.

SC BIPEC is the source of legislative and political research for South Carolina's business community. The Board of Trustees is comprised of members from a variety of leading businesses and industries across South Carolina.