Women In Business Award Luncheon 2021

The 2021 Women In Business Award Luncheon will be held on October 28, 2021.  During the luncheon, the Chamber will present the 2021 Woman in Business Award of Excellence and Shining Example Award. 

Guest Speaker:   Lt. Governor of South Carolina - Pamela S. Evette 

Pamela S. Evette of Travelers Rest was elected as the 93rd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina on November 6, 2018.

Prior to her election as the first female Republican lieutenant governor of South Carolina, Evette founded Quality Business Solutions, Inc. (QBS), a payroll, human resources, and benefits services firm headquartered in Travelers Rest. Under her leadership as President and CEO, QBS grew exponentially, going from start-up to one of the nation’s fastest growing small businesses. QBS has been repeatedly honored among the fastest growing and best places to work in South Carolina.  

Evette has received numerous business and professional accolades, including the ATHENA Leadership Award®; the Enterprising Woman of the Year Award; the Women Presidents’ Organization 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Award; and as a member of the Impact 50, an annual ranking of the most powerful women leaders of Inc. 5000 companies.

A trained accountant and former CFO, with many years serving in a financial capacity at a wide range of organizations, Evette has demonstrated a keen focus on driving customer growth and a deep understanding of the regulatory issues and challenges facing small and medium sized businesses.

Based on her years of experience in handling small business compliance, Evette served as a member of South Carolina’s Small Business Regulatory Review Committee prior to taking office. This committee is charged with reviewing and supporting or challenging proposed regulations that might impact small businesses’ ability to start-up, operate effectively or grow within the state.

Evette is passionate about, and has been focused on, improving educational performance in her community, assisting the elderly and the young, and helping small- and women-owned businesses. She serves on the boards of directors of the St Francis Foundation (affiliated with Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital) and the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) where she is also an emeritus member of the state legislative committee. 

A native of Ohio, Evette is the granddaughter of Polish immigrants. Her parents, Jennie and Emil Gajoch, were first generation Americans who taught her the value of hard work and the importance of getting involved and giving back. Evette holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in accounting from Cleveland State University.

Evette and her husband David, President of QBS, attend Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Taylors. The Evettes have three children, Amanda, 22, Joseph, 20, and Jackson, 11.