Jim Hodges

Jim Hodges is a very successful attorney and businessman who also has a distinguished record of public service. Hodges is the founder and CEO of Hodges Consulting Group, a business-to-government solutions firm located in Columbia, South Carolina. He is also is a partner in the prestigious Charlotte-based law firm of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman L.L.P.

Previously, Jim served as General Counsel and Secretary of the Springs Company, one of South Carolina’s largest, private companies. While there, Hodges served on the Springs Company Board of Directors working with a variety of affiliates including Kanawha Insurance Company, Lancaster and Chester Railway Company, Charter Properties, various Springs real estate development companies, and the Springs and Close Foundations.

Throughout his professional career, Hodges has been deeply involved with public service at both the local and state basis. Jim served for eleven years in the S.C. House of Representatives where he chaired the chamber’s lead law making body, the House Judiciary Committee. He also served as Minority Leader. During his legislative service he was instrumental in the creation of full-day kindergarten, landmark government restructuring and significant judicial reform initiatives.

Jim Hodges’ long commitment to public service culminated in his serving as the 114th governor of South Carolina. During Hodges’ time as governor he fulfilled his campaign pledge to “focus like a laser beam on education.” As a result, South Carolina:

Led the nation in SAT score improvements during his time in office
Established an education lottery in 2001 that today provides college scholarships for more than 100,000 students
Created First Steps, a “public-private” pre-school readiness program impacting tens of thousands of preschoolers
Provided one billion dollars in bonded school construction resources – without a tax increase – resulting in new school building improvements all across the state

Hodges leadership as Governor also led to:

Record economic development growth in capital investment and job creation in every region of the state
A creative and competitive marketplace for the insurance industry – South Carolina is now considered a center for creative insurance solutions
The creation of Silver Card – an affordable prescription drug price relief program for seniors

Governor Hodges was very active with the National Governor’s Association during his tenure. Hodges served as Chairman of the Economic Development and Commerce, Human Resources and Legal Affairs Committees. As Chair of these committees in 2000-2002, Hodges worked one-on-one with governors from across America developing detailed policy recommendations for Congress, federal agencies and the state and territorial legislatures.

Jim Hodges is a graduate of the University of South Carolina (USC) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also graduated from the USC School of Law. He has received Honorary Degrees for public service to the State of South Carolina from the University of South Carolina, Winthrop University, the South Carolina State University, and The Citadel. He also received the Silver Medallion, Complete Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of South Carolina School of Business.

Listen to Jim Hodges’ interview from
Dave Carpenter’s Peak Performance show.

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