Biography
The Story: A Summary
I’m a lifelong South Carolinian passionate about serving others! I was born in Charleston and raised in Loris, the Chicken Bog capital. My commitment to service started almost at birth. I was born with a birth defect, which led my family to become involved with the March of Dimes. In 1997, I served as the organization’s national ambassador. At just two and a half years old, I was on Capitol Hill lobbying Congress to support the March of Dimes. Throughout my childhood, I participated in countless initiatives for the organization—walk-a-thons, candy drives, birthday presents turned into donations, and even lemonade stands. The March of Dimes still holds a special place in my heart.
In middle school, I launched Cobi’s Coats for Kids. Through this project, I collected new and gently used coats for families in my community. We gathered coats during the spring and summer and held drives each fall. During my grade school and undergraduate years, we collected and distributed more than 300 coats per year. It’s an endeavor I’m proud of and hope to continue in the future to help families in need.
In high school, I worked for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a minor league baseball club. It was an incredible experience! I had the chance to work with great people, put my outgoing personality to use, and develop an interest in baseball management. I was fortunate to have mentors in the industry who helped me understand the business side of the game. This was truly a formative experience.
I also remained active in student leadership and politics during high school. I was elected as a class senator every year, always working to foster a sense of community within my school. I attended Early College High School, a magnet program that allowed students to work toward an associate degree while completing high school requirements. Because the program was new at the time, I focused on building community and school spirit as a senator.
During my junior year, I was one of two students selected from Horry County to represent Horry Telephone Cooperative on the Foundation for Rural Services Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. This intensive three-day program focused on efforts to expand broadband access in rural communities. Around that same time, I also became more engaged in national politics, paying close attention to the 2012 presidential election, which helped shape my political thoughts and ideals.
When I started college at Coastal Carolina University, the country was preparing for the 2014 midterm elections. Then-Governor Nikki Haley and current Congressman Tom Rice visited campus to campaign for re-election, which gave me the opportunity to meet Congressman Rice and his staff. That meeting led to internships in both his district and Washington, D.C. offices. After graduating, I continued working in Congress for a time before returning home to South Carolina, where I worked for Coastal Carolina University.
Currently, I’m enjoying my work in the hospitality and lodging industry and exploring different parts of the Palmetto State. I love meeting new people, trying new experiences, and visiting new places—all while continuing to grow as a servant leader.
South Carolina has it all: BBQ, Chicken Bog, college football, golf, baseball, beaches, agriculture, timber, turpentine, tobacco, and tourism. Our state is rich with diverse industries, programs, and people. I do what I can to make my community better while having fun along the way.
Thank you for visiting my website and learning more about my journey. From time to time, I’ll post newsletters about exciting initiatives and projects that inspire me. I hope you enjoy!