I began my professional career in 1979 after graduating from Francis Marion University in Florence, SC where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. I was the 7th person hired by ACS Technologies (formerly Computer Dimensions, Inc., or CDI), a  startup software company.  My first job with the company was as a programmer, writing software applications for various market segments including convenience stores, insurance companies and mobile home dealerships. As the company began focusing more on the church market, I began spending more of my time working on church management software. In the early 80's the nation entered a recession and the staff was reduced to the founder Harris Rogers and me. I became Vice President of the company and in typical small-business fashion, did whatever needed doing. That included making sales calls, visiting clients to help install the programs, training clients on how to use the software, answering calls from clients needing help – and continuing to developing software for the church market. Gradually, the company began making progress and hiring a few people. 

In the fall of 1983, founder Harris Rogers left the company to start another business and I was given the responsibility of day-to-day operations of the company, then Computer Dimensions.  I was named President/CEO the following year, 1984, when the company had ten employees and about one hundred clients. ACS Technologies made it's first profit in 1986 and has been profitable every year since and acquired six competitors. Today ACS Technologies is the undisputed leader in the Church Management Software market with more than 300 employees and nearly 50,000 church, organizational and non-profit faith-based clients throughout the United States, Canada and several foreign countries.

 Professional Recognitions

• In 2002, I, along with my 3 partners, was named the South Carolina Small Business Persons of the Year. This award recognizes small businesses who exhibit a substantiated history (market-wise and financially) as an established business, growth in number of employees as a contribution to impact of the business on the job market, sales growth, innovativeness of product or service offered, response to adversity and involvement in community-oriented projects.
• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program for the years of 2002, 2003 & 2004. 
• 2004 Business Person of the Year by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. 

Francis Marion University Recognitions

• Outstanding Alumnus in the School of Business in 1994. 
• One of 25 Outstanding Graduates during the University’s 25th Anniversary in 1995. 
• 2003-2004 Outstanding Alumnus of Francis Marion University. 

Past & Present Service to Francis Marion University

• President of the FMU Alumni Association.
• Past President’s Advisory Board.
• Secretary of the FMU Foundation Board. 
• Appointed by Governor Mark Sanford to the governor’s seat on the FMU Board of Trustees.
• Advisory Board for the FMU Center for Entrepreneurship. 

Photography Career

I began my career in photography in 1972 after graduating from High School in Florence. With a camera purchased from a friend I began taking pictures as a hobby. As my love for photography grew so did my expenses. I began doing work for others soon to earn money to pay for my hobby. That grew into a business that included weddings, portraits, commercial and anything else that would allow me to continue my hobby. At the same time my interest in photography was growing I was attending college. I worked full-time for WBTW as Film Production Manager for a few years and part-time for Francis Marion University in various positions as I worked on my degree. At the same time I continued running my photography business and eventually received a degree in Business Administration from Francis Marion University. 

After graduating from College in 1979, beginning a career in the Computer Software business and starting a family, photography was put on the back burner in 1985. "I packed up my darkroom and studio equipment and sold most of my cameras. I kept one camera, an Olympus OM-1, for family pictures." 

In 2000, digital cameras were beginning to challenge the traditional film cameras. "I bought my first digital camera in 2000 and was hooked. Using the computer I could now do everything I did in my darkroom." Today I  use a Nikon D3, Nikon D700  digital camera, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop and prints on an Epson Stylus Pro 3800 printer. 

My wife Melaine and I have two daughters, Maggie (25) and Abby (21).