Her job: Executive director, S.C. Bar Foundation
Age: 33
Family: husband, Thomas; children, Megan, 11; Drew, 9; Michael, 5; Kendall, 2
Education: Bachelor’s degree, business economics and Spanish, Wofford College; master’s degree, business administration, USC
Community involvement: advisory board, City Year; board of managers, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral; acted and directed in Town Theatre productions; awards for public-service programming, National Conference of Bar Foundations; Silver Wing Awards, S.C. Public Relations Society of America; Rising Star Award, Leadership Columbia; Volunteer of the Year, United Way of the Midlands; former Miss Columbia Northeast and Miss Greater Irmo
From her nomination: “Shannon is a dynamic, intelligent and creative leader. (She) is the youngest person to hold (her) position and enjoys a great reputation in the national arena among her peers in other states.” — J. Calhoun Watson, lawyer and past president of the S.C. Bar Foundation
You have a longtime affiliation with Town Theater. Does that work help you in your professional life? “Absolutely. Absolutely it does. … A lot of times at the Bar Foundation, I’m in front of lawyers, asking for things. … You get a little bit of stage fright in your day job, too.”
What do you like about working with the charitable arm of the bar? “With every day there’s a new avenue to explore, there’s a new person I haven’t talked with. That’s what makes it exciting for me and keeps it very fresh.”
Do you live by a particular mantra? “I don’t know what play it is, but ‘To thine own self be true.’” And Scruggs’ mother always said to, “Be your best self. Be the very best you can be in whatever place you’re in.”
Times are tough. What’s your outlook? “I’m cautiously optimistic. This certainly is a challenging time, but I firmly believe this, too, shall pass. One thing you can do (during tough times) is grab on, hold on to others. … I do think some things will get better, but you do have to make some prudent decisions to get through it.”
Do you see yourself as a success? “Yes, I do, but I don’t think that comes without a lot of help. I’m part of a successful network.”
What’s next for you? Scruggs says she loves her job and intends to stay there. “ Definitely (what’s next) is watching my children grow, and helping them do the very best they can.”