TechSC rebrands as SC Tech, names new director

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The S.C. Council on Competitiveness rebranded its TechSC technology and cybersecurity growth initiative to SC Tech and named Kim Christ as its new director on Tuesday.

“Our new branding as SC Tech acknowledges the early successes of the council’s technology initiative bringing together tech industry leaders in addition to building stronger connections between tech company leaders and their peers in logistics and aerospace. It also better matches the branding for our other initiatives,” Susie Shannon, president and CEO of the council, said in a news release, referring to SC Logistics and SC Aerospace.

The initiative’s first year brought with it chain cybersecurity panels, an apprenticeship summit co-hosted with Apprenticeship Carolina and a new job portal to help tech firms recruit talent during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the addition of Christ, SC Tech will launch a cybersecurity and technology-focused economic impact study as well as an asset map spotlighting existing tech companies and educational programs in the state.

“I’ve worked alongside the council and seen firsthand its commitment to accelerating tech growth in South Carolina,” Christ said in the release. “I am excited to officially join the team and leverage that momentum as we continue to bring together partners from across the state, creating a united tech cluster.”

Before joining the S.C. Council on Competitiveness, Christ helped boost tech apprenticeship opportunities across the state as a program director for SC Codes, a collaborative project between the Commerce Department’s Office of Innovation and Build Carolina.

“Thriving industries have one common denominator: They embrace technology,” Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said in the release. “The expansion of SC Tech and our cybersecurity and technology cluster is yet another way that South Carolina remains an attractive and competitive place to do business. We’re creating an environment where innovative tech businesses with talented workforces have the networks and resources needed to grow.”