Erin Long The best way to avoid problems in a start- up business is to engage the services of problem solvers and seasoned problem periscopes, professionals who can see the problems coming and steer clear. Erin Long is both a problem solver and a proven problem periscope.

Erin Long was born in Marietta, Ga., where her father was attending school to become a chiropractor. Long has three older brothers and a younger brother and two younger sisters. The family moved to Chapin when Long was four, leaving plenty of time to enroll Long in Mt. Horeb Kindergarten.

Her first three years of grammar school were with Newberry Academy, while her fourth year was with Chapin Elementary. She returned to Newberry, where her father had an office and commuted regularly, until she enrolled at Chapin High School. Long played varsity basketball for her four years of high school. She was a Chapin point guard her last two years.

Long went to Georgia Tech, thinking she wanted to be a doctor. She found she didn't agree with anatomy class and its dissections — a bit too squeamish, somehow — so she shifted from pre- med to business management. As a business major, Long transferred to USC's Moore School, where she also took courses required to take the CPA exam.

Upon graduating from USC, Long went to work for Henderson & Associates, a CPA firm in downtown Columbia. For Henderson, Long started out as a staff accountant and later worked as a tax manager.

She took a position with a CPA firm in Raleigh, Nelson & Co., where she began to look into MBA programs across the country. When she inquired on July 22, 2006, at Brigham Young University, the BYU admissions office had a slot open for that fall's MBA class, so they urged Long to keep her July 25 appointment to take the GMAT. She did and she accepted the BYU invitation to interview on July 29, and she enrolled on Aug. 18.

Her MBA summer was spent with Bank of America at its Charlotte headquarters. She worked on deposits innovation and strategy while she developed an interest in investment

banking. Long took that interest to Merrill Lynch at #4 World Financial Center for her first job after graduation with an MBA.

Then the financial crisis hit, and Long returned to Chapin.

After poring over greater Columbia and its business community, Long determined her skills marketed as a small business consultant could stand out. She has a house in Little Mountain in her sight, which is strategically placed between Columbia and Newberry, her two major market targets.

Her business card says "Erin Long Accounting and Consulting, LLC — Helping Small Businesses Put the Pieces Together — Serving Chapin, Lexington, Newberry and Surrounding Areas."

For fun Long still plays basketball. While a 17- year- old, she played in a summer league in Bruges, Belgium. At Georgia Tech she was a varsity walk- on, but she never got a jersey with her number. In NYC she was part of pick- up play at Hudson River Park.

Long is also getting competitive as a distance runner. Her goal is to actually win a race, not just enter for a jog. She feels her 6:30 mile could be improved and stretched to soon win a 10K, which is 6.2 miles.

Her recent travels include Sao Paulo, Brazil, where one of her brothers is the comptroller for Sonoco's South American operations. He earned his international MBA on the Portuguese track at USC's Moore School.

Long enjoyed the street- level electricity and the energy of the crowds in Sao Paulo, but the city didn't have that NYC rush to everywhere. Like most Latin cultures, even robust Sao Paulo is more relaxed than NYC. So is central South Carolina.