Upcoming Events

Our annual Oyster Roast is to have fun and raise money for local scholarships.
Join us for this all-you-can-eat and drink event.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 8th, 2025 from 4pm-8pm at Wannamaker County Park.

Service Above Self

Scott Swartzwelter joined Elbit Systems of America in July 2024, where he assumed responsibility as the Senior Director of Operations and Site Lead for the Charleston Ground Combat Vehicle Assembly and Integration Center of Excellence.

Prior to his assignment at Elbit America, Mr. Swartzwelter held a variety of program management and operations positions within the defense industry at Defense Engineering Services, SAIC, UEC Electronics, and GDLS/Force Protection Industries Inc. Prior to joining Force Protection, Mr. Swartzwelter was employed as both a Product Engineer and Program Manager in the automotive industry with Kautex (a Textron company) and then TI Automotive.

In addition to his experience in the private sector, Mr. Swartzwelter retired from the US Army as a Major in the Corps of Engineers, having served 9 years active duty as a combat engineer and 11 years in the Army Reserve as a facility engineer. During his military career he served in a variety of capacities, including as a company commander in the 82d Airborne Division and platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division. He has been deployed to Panama, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri – Rolla (now Missouri University of Science & Technology).

Jay Kramer, Project Manager at Charleston County Economic Development, is an accomplished economic development professional with a diverse and impactful career. His background in digital marketing, manufacturing, and business expansion provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors driving economic success.

With over eight years of dedicated service to Charleston County, following a successful five-year tenure in plastics manufacturing, he deeply understands the local business landscape.

Through extensive company visits, industry events, and management of Charleston County’s award-winning Business Concierge program, Kramer supports over 320 businesses annually across key industries, including Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive, Logistics, Life Sciences, Info Tech, and Defense. His expertise in business development, project management, key account management, and stakeholder alignment allows him to facilitate high-impact connections between businesses and local and state resources—driving job creation and capital investment.

A distinguished graduate of The Citadel, holding an MBA and a Master’s in Project Management, Jay Kramer is also an alumnus of Leadership Charleston and a recipient of the Charleston 40 Under 40 Award. He is driven by a resolute commitment to stimulating economic advancement, diligently facilitating business expansion to generate transformative benefits for the workforce and the broader Charleston County community.

Chris moved to Charleston SC in 1998 to attend CofC and graduated in 2002 with a degree in business. He started buying real estate in Charleston in 2001. He opened Recovery Room Tavern on April 15th 2008. Chris used the income to buy residential real estate and open more bars and night clubs. Chris has been married for 10 years to his wife Kelli who is a nurse practitioner. She owns Better Beauty and Wellness Medspa. Chris and Kelli have a 5 year old daughter and an 8 year old son. They live in Mount Pleasant.