Dana Todd At EdVenture Monday morning Congressman Clyburn was announcing the largest competitive grant ever awarded to a South Carolina museum, $1.3 million. Dana Todd was moving among the crowd making sure all introductions came to pass. In her hands were copies of the press kit, to include detailed descriptions of just where the $1.3 million was going. About to turn 40, Todd looked like she had been doing this for half her life, which she had.

Dana Todd was born in Simpsonville, S.C., not far from Greenville. Her father was a precious metals agent for Union Carbide. Todd is the oldest of three children. Her brother Mark is a master electrician in Simpsonville, and her sister Brandy runs a public relations office in Fountain Inn.

While at Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville, Todd made her walkaround money and even some college savings at The Snack Bar, a mom and pop restaurant on the freeway in Fountain Inn. Todd began as a dishwasher, age 14, and worked her way up over four years through the deep fat fryer to the cash register. Close by was Dispoz– o, a large manufacturing concern that made plastic dining utensils. The Dispoz–o employees gave The Snack Bar stability to go with the walk–ins from the freeway.

A student newspaper staff writer, Todd was selected her high school’s homecoming queen, and her classmates elected her Most Intellectual.

Todd came to USC’s Columbia campus and enrolled in the Honors College with the intent to major in journalism. She spread her interest in the field somewhat by also taking public relations as a cognate.

The dean of students was Dennis Pruitt, who holds that job today besides being vice provost for academic support and vice president for student affairs. Pruitt hired Todd in her freshman year, and she stayed on the job part–time in his office through graduation.

With two weeks to go before graduation, Todd was in the depths of the ’91 recession, the one that threw out President Bush (#41) and elected Bill Clinton. Down to the wire, just before graduation, Todd scored a job in her chosen field with the office of public information at the S.C. Dept. of Labor. Todd stayed in her first job four years.

Next Todd went with the National Wild Turkey Federation, the largest employer in Edgefield, S.C. Todd met and married her husband Bruce before she took the job in Edgefield, so she never actually moved to Edgefield, taking the 1:10 commute each day from Earlewood Park to Edgefield and back.

After about a year with the National Wild Turkey Federation, and after she bagged her own turkey with a 20 gauge shotgun, Todd spent another year with Shoor & Co., a high– tech communications firm on Two Notch Road. The Shoor slot had Todd flying all over the country due to the firm’s narrow niche in technology.

After Shoor and after a short period of free–lance work, Todd joined forces with Lorri–Ann Carter to form Carter Todd & Associates, opening the office in Todd’s Elmwood Park house. Through Ronnie Cannon and his father Pete, Carter Todd moved into 1233 Washington Street’s second floor.

Todd had her son Jacob while she was building a business at Carter Todd, she decided to trim her work obligations in favor of more time with Jacob. She let Carter buy her half of the firm, and she staked out again as a free–lance consultant, which is how she connected with EdVenture.

In less than two years working with EdVenture, so far, Todd has managed more than 600 broadcast and news stories.

She takes on an occasional pro bono client. Her favorite for now is Charleston’s Palmetto Palace, where she helps family members of the critically ill locate affordable housing.

When she turns 40 in two months, Todd plans to vacation in Puerto Rico with her husband and her son.