Stuart L. Hester

ZWJ Investment Counsel, Inc. (ZWJ) is a privately-held, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm was founded in 1974 as Zeliff Wallace Jackson Investment Counsel, Inc. ZWJ provides discretionary asset management services to individual persons, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and corporations or similar business entities.

Weststar Financial Services Corp. is a holding company for the Bank of Asheville. It provides consumer and commercial banking services. It offers checking, savings, credit card, lending, investment and cash management services in Asheville, Buncombe County and Western North Carolina. The company has build a strong relationships with thousands of individuals, families, small businesses and major corporations and many nonprofit organizations. The company was founded on February 8, 2000 and is headquartered in Asheville, NC.

KPMG LLP engages in the provision of audit, tax, and advisory services. It serves the banking and capital markets, building, construction and real estate, consumer and retail, energy, natural resources and chemicals, financial services, government and public sector, healthcare and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, insurance, media and entertainment, private equity, technology, telecommunications, and venture capital industries. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Virtus Fixed Income Advisers LLC (VFIA) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. The firm was founded in 1992 as Seix Investment Advisors LLC. They are a subsidiary of Virtus Partners, Inc., which is owned by Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTS). VFIA provides discretionary investment supervisory services to high-net worth individuals and institutional clients.

Williams Mullen PC provides legal services. It works frequently with clients to develop custom alternative fee arrangements, and are happy to have that discussion with the clients. The company also provides legal services to regional, national, and international clients in practice areas. The firm has offices in North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and London. The company was founded in 1909 by Lewis C. Williams and James Mullen and is headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA.

Elliott Davis LLC provides accounting, tax and consulting services. With a mission of providing clients with smart solutions and their people with rewarding opportunities, they serve as trusted advisors to businesses, organizations and individuals. The company provides tax, assurance & advisory, and accounting resources services. It has offices in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The company was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Aiken, SC.

South Carolina Bankers Association engages in the provision of services for legislative, regulatory, educational, and value-added. It offers bank robbery posters, community investment corporation, thumbprint signature, and services offered by preferred vendors and associate members. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Columbia, SC.

Opportunity Bank of Montana operates as a community bank which provides personal and business banking products and services. Its personal banking products and services include unlimited checking accounts, Free VISA check cards, and free online banking services. The firm's business banking products and services include free business and business checking accounts; commercial construction and term loans, loans for working capital and inventory purchases, equipment loans and business lines of credit. The company was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Helena, MT.

Hire Networks, Inc. provides recruiting, staffing, and search services. It provides finding and screening personnel for the technology, life sciences, and financial services sectors. The company was founded by Craig Stone in April 2001 and is headquartered in Raleigh, NC.

Boone Lumber Co. operates a lumber store. The company is headquartered in Lenoir, NC.

Lindsay Oil Co., Inc. distributes and transports petroleum and petroleum products. The private company is based in Seneca, SC.

John Hamrick Real Estate, Inc. provides real property management. The company was founded on March 12, 1999 and is headquartered in Seneca, SC.

Part of Community First Bancorporation (South Carolina), Community First Bank, Inc. is a bank located in Walhalla, SC. The company offers business loans and home equity services, with a focus on expanding their customers' financial horizons. Richard D. Burleson has been the CEO of the company since 2015.

Part of Primis Financial Corp., SeaTrust Mortgage Co. is a company that offers mortgage products and services. The company is based in Wilmington, NC. The company was founded by John Owens. SeaTrust Mortgage was acquired by Primis Bank from Community First Bancorporation (South Carolina) on May 31, 2022 for $7 million.

South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority issues bonds for healthcare, education and non-profit organizations. The firm serves as a statewide conduit issuer of special obligation revenue bonds and acts on behalf of the borrower to access financial markets and capital. Its programs include State Small Business Credit Initiative, Taxable Variable Rate Bond and New Market Tax Credit programs. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Columbia, SC.