April 14, 2026
SCBIZ Announces 2026 Top 100 Women
SCBIZ has selected Lauren McAlexander, a partner at ADCO, as one of its 2026 Top 100 Women.
Lauren has been with ADCO since 2018, when she joined the firm as its first digital marketing strategist. A certified social media marketer, she’s a leader in professional organizations as well as at ADCO. She currently serves as president of the American Advertising Federation Midlands chapter, and she’s twice been named its Board Member of the Year. She also assists student organizations at her alma mater, the University of South Carolina.
SCBIZ’s Top 100 Women honors South Carolina’s high-achieving women who are making an impact through their professional experience, leadership, community service and mentoring. Previously, the news organization hosted Women of Influence events in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville. When its three leading brands (Charleston Regional Business Journal, Columbia Regional Business Report and GSA Business Report) merged to form SCBIZ last fall, Top 100 Women replaced the three Women of Influence awards programs with one that honors 100 women statewide.
Nine women were selected for the Circle of Excellence, which recognizes those who have received the Women of Influence award previously. They are honored for their sustained achievements professionally, in the community and through mentoring.
The preliminary judging for Top 100 Women was completed by previous honorees and the final judging by the leadership of SCBIZ.
“The 2026 Top 100 Women are trailblazers who demonstrate extraordinary leadership. These women elevate, educate, mentor, support and empower other women and work to make South Carolina a wonderful place to live and work,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/SCBIZ. “This year’s honorees have had an incredible impact on the community and beyond. We are particularly pleased to honor those being inducted into the Circle of Excellence for their incredible impact on the community and beyond. These women have shattered glass ceilings, redefined possibilities and selflessly mentor the next generation. SCBIZ is pleased to celebrate these stellar leaders.”
SCBIZ’s Top 100 Women will be honored at an awards celebration on June 4 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street. A VIP reception for all Top 100 Women honorees and high-level sponsors begins at 5 p.m. The networking reception for all guests begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards celebration at 6:30 p.m. The event hashtag is #SCBIZevents.
About SCBIZ
SCBIZ is South Carolina’s leading source of business news and intelligence, connecting executives and decision-makers across the state through its integrated media platform spanning digital, print, email and events. SCBIZ is part of BridgeTower Media, a network of 40+ brands connecting business executives and igniting business growth across markets and industries. For more information, visit SCBIZ.com.
2026 SCBIZ’s Top 100 Women
Circle of Excellence
Sara Barber, South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
Jamie DeMent, Charleston Regional Development Alliance
Sara Fawcett, United Way of the Midlands
Robyn Grable, Talents ASCEND and Veterans ASCEND
Brittany Matthews, The Promotion Lady Marketing and Consulting Firm
Rita Patel, Hotel Trundle
Barbara Rackes, The Rackes Group
Jennifer Sutton, Bright and Co. and Orange WIP
Elyse Welch, Carolina Retail Experts
Top 100 Women
Jennifer Baez, BEHKO Construction
Vanessa Barnes, WorkSmart Staffing
Meghan Barp, United Way of Greenville County
Keisha R. Bell, Richland County Government
Dawn A. Boren, The Boeing Company
Kamber Parker Bowden, Generational Performance Solutions
Joanne Brady, First Reliance Bank
Sharon Bramlett, Turner Padget Graham and Laney
Hilary Dyer Brannon, University of South Carolina
Dita Brown, Beacon Community Bank
Kimberley D. Brown, South Carolina Community Loan Fund
Susan Burke, Trident Construction LLC
Frann Carlton, HDR, Inc.
Tally Parham Casey, Wyche, P.A.
Elizabeth Coble, Evans Management Group
Susan Kennedy Cotter, University of South Carolina Business Partnership Foundation
Avonlea Denney, Rodgers Builders
Maggie Dittmar, Thompson Turner Construction
Shelby Dodson, CBRE
Dolly Garfield, South Carolina Education Lottery
Chantel Graham, Studio Pilates Spears Creek
Liz Griffith, International Transportation Innovation Center
Amanda Hamet, Coldwell Banker Caine
Linda Hannon, Duke Energy
Sara Hazzard, South Carolina Manufacturers Commerce
Wendy Henry, JDPR
Kathleen Herrmann, Mount Pleasant Towne Centre
Kelly Hosack, Greenberg Farrow (GF)
Rebecca Hudson, Charleston Parks Conservancy
Dr. Cerrissa Hugie, MyNDSpace® Mental Health Education and Consulting, LLC
Rebecca Imholz, Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce
Taylor Jackson, Maritime Association of South Carolina
Cathy Jansen, First Horizon Bank
Susan L. Johnson, Ph.D., South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition | South Carolina Nature, Health & Business Group
Babette Jones, Six Nineteen of 1865 Spirits, Inc.
Heather Simmons Jones, MRB Group
Lou Kennedy, Nephron Pharmaceuticals
Silvia Travis King, Southern First Bank
Robyn Knox, The HR Business Connect
Mary Kate Korpita, Flock and Rally
Gretchen Lambert, Studio 2LR, Inc.
Julianne Lang, Lowcountry Leadership Charter School
Kristen Lanier, Terracon
Nadine K. Lavigne, Be REAL Partners
Anna Locke, A.T. Locke
Paige Lux, Weston & Sampson
Sarah Lyles, PalmettoPride
Meredith Manz, Scout Motors
Melanie Matthews, Modern Exterminating Company, Inc.
Jennifer Maxwell, Raines
Sonia T. McAbee, MTC Federal Credit Union
Lauren McAlexander, ADCO
Caroline McDavid, Caroline McDavid
Laura Menscher, Kreps PR & Marketing
Chunsta Miller, Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC
Mary Robin Miller, West Carolina
Ashley Moore, AM-PM Farms & AM-PM Farms Butchery & Market
Kristen Morrell, Kristen Morrell
Lisa Muzekari, PE, Thomas & Hutton
Adelyn Nottingham, American Heart Association – Upstate South Carolina
Verna Orr, Benedict College
Jennifer Osgood, Wagner Wealth Management
Tiffany Payne, Moore & Van Allen PLLC
MaryEllis Petrosian, YMCA of Greenville
Rhiannon Poore, Forge Search
Christie Rainwater, City of Hanahan/Carolina One Real Estate – Charleston Central
Keonta’ Ramsey, CLIMB Fund
Dr. Chelsea Richard, Central Carolina Community Foundation
Dawn Robinson, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Caroline Roche, CR Studio Management
Erinn Rowe, Harvest Hope Food Bank
Ashley Sage, ANC Group
Amanda Sapp, We Are Sharing Hope SC
Michelle Seaver, United Community
Julie A. Selof, Truliant Federal Credit Union
Liz Seman, Furman University
Erika Senneseth, M.Ed., Sandhills School
Erica Simonavice, The Robby Brady Team – Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate
Leslie Skarden, Sustain SC
Charlene D. Slaughter, Experience Columbia SC
Kathryn Taylor, InvesiNet LLC
Reyna Thompson, TD Synnex
Heather Valeri, CBI, CEPA, Meridian Business Advisors, LLC
Erin Vassallo, AppleOne, Inc. and Alls Well Healthcare Services
Johanna Ward, RID, NCIDQ, IIDA, Goodwyn Mills Cawood
Emily Watson, This Whole House
Whitney Whitlock, WeThrive HR Solutions LLC
Chelsey Williams, Brasfield & Gorrie
Sharon Wilson, Wilson Associates Real Estate
Rebekah Wright, Springbrook Behavioral Health
Anne Young, Flare Media Agency