Bobby Hitt Explained

Bobby Hitt
Office:South Carolina Secretary of Commerce
Term Start:January 2011
Term End:June 2021
Predecessor:Joe E. Taylor, Jr.
Successor:Harry M. Lightsey III
Birth Name:Robert M. Hitt III
Birth Date:27 December 1949
Birth Place:Charleston, South Carolina
Alma Mater:University of South Carolina
Relatives:Jack Hitt (brother)

Robert "Bobby" M. Hitt III is a government and business leader in the State of South Carolina. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, he was appointed the state's Secretary of Commerce in January 2011.[1] Hitt began his career as a journalist, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather. Over nearly two decades, he built a reputation as a dogged journalist for two of South Carolina's most respected newspapers.[2] Prior to leading the state's economic development agency, Hitt served as an executive at the BMW plant in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.[3]

Personal life

Family

Hitt was born on December 27, 1949, to Ann Leonard Hitt and Robert M. "Red" Hitt, Jr. of Charleston.[4] His youngest brother is the author and journalist Jack Hitt. A third-generation newspaper man, Hitt's father served as the editor of The Charleston Evening Post, which later merged with the Charleston News and Courier to form The Post and Courier.[5] And, his grandfather, Robert Hitt, Sr. was editor of The Bamberg Herald.[6] Today, Hitt is married to Gwen, and they have two sons, Lucas and Robert Paul.[7]

Education

Hitt graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Journalism in 1973. In 1987, as a recipient of the Neiman Fellowship for Journalists, Hitt studied for a year at Harvard University, focusing on the impact of social, political and economic change on the South.[8]

Career

Journalism

Hitt worked for 17 years at The State and the Columbia Record. He served as managing editor of the Columbia Record from 1980 to 1987 and served in the same role for The State from 1988 to 1991.[5]

Industry

In 1991, Hitt left journalism to join Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as the director of planning and development. In that role, he assisted in the effort to recruit BMW to the State of South Carolina.[5] On June 22, 1992, BMW announced that it had selected Spartanburg County, S.C. for the site of its first North American manufacturing plant.[9] Subsequently, the German automaker hired Hitt to manage public affairs for the plant.[3] He served as manager of corporate affairs for BMW until 2010.[10]

Secretary of Commerce

In January 2011, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley appointed Hitt state Secretary of Commerce.[1] Throughout his tenure, the S.C. Department of Commerce has recruited approximately $30 billion in capital investment and 105,000 new jobs. Additionally, the state has secured significant investments from international brands, including BMW, Boeing, Bridgestone, Continental AG, Giti Tire, LPL Financial Holdings, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Michelin, Samsung, Toray and Volvo Cars.[11]

Additionally, the state of South Carolina has achieved an export sales record in each year of Hitt's tenure. In 2016, the state exported more than $31 billion in products for the first time, leading the nation in the export sales of completed passenger vehicles and tires.[11]

Honors

Throughout his career, Hitt has received several awards and accolades, including:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hitt to continue as SC Commerce Secretary.
  2. Web site: Lockaby . Marla . 2013-12-27 . ‘A Calling, Not Just a Job’ . 2023-08-15 . UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL . en-US.
  3. Web site: Bobby Hitt - BMW Manager of Media and Public Relations - Automobile Magazine . 2018-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180108235144/http://www.automobilemag.com/news/bobby-hitt-bmw-manager-of-media-public-relations/ . 2018-01-08 . live .
  4. Web site: Ann Leonard Hitt's Obituary on The Greenville News. The Greenville News. 2017-12-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20171205143605/http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greenvilleonline/obituary.aspx?n=ann-leonard-hitt&pid=175414847&fhid=6051. 2017-12-05. live.
  5. Web site: 'A Calling, Not Just a Job' - Upstate Business Journal. 26 December 2013. 20 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20150419003459/http://upstatebusinessjournal.com/profile/calling-just-job/. 19 April 2015. live.
  6. Web site: Archived copy . 2018-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180108233512/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt13/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt13-4-2.pdf . 2018-01-08 . live .
  7. Web site: SJMC: Bobby Hitt. www.jour.sc.edu.
  8. Web site: Twelve American journalists will study for a year at.... 2017-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194548/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/05/Twelve-American-journalists-will-study-for-a-year-at/8056547185600/. 2017-12-05. live.
  9. Web site: BMW celebrates 25 years in Spartanburg County. Bob. Montgomery. 2017-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20171208232942/http://www.goupstate.com/news/20170622/bmw-celebrates-25-years-in-spartanburg-county. 2017-12-08. live.
  10. Web site: Information and Communications - College of Information and Communications - University of South Carolina. www.jour.sc.edu.
  11. Web site: Robert M. Hitt III - South Carolina Department of Commerce. www.sccommerce.com. 2017-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930095944/https://www.sccommerce.com/about/leadership-and-directors/robert-m-hitt. 2017-09-30. dead.
  12. Web site: Gov. Haley hands out Order of the Palmetto to her staff, agency heads | Palmetto Politics | postandcourier.com . 2017-12-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190104072854/https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/gov-haley-hands-out-order-of-the-palmetto-to-her/article_4ca650de-df2f-11e6-ba8d-8f41fd10dbcb.html . 2019-01-04 . live .
  13. Web site: Becky Campbell and Carol Burdette Receive Regional Awards at Celebrating Successes Brunch - Ten at the TopTen at the Top . 21 November 2017 . 2018-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180108233351/https://tenatthetop.org/becky-campbell-carol-burdette-receive-regional-awards-celebrating-successes-brunch/ . 2018-01-08 . live .
  14. Web site: Alliance to honor Commerce secretary Hitt's work boosted S.C. manufacturing. David. Wren. 2017-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20180705220158/https://www.postandcourier.com/business/alliance-to-honor-commerce-secretary-hitt-s-work-boosted-s/article_fdca6616-007b-59a6-8678-7f25ec7545fe.html. 2018-07-05. live.
  15. Web site: Upstate Alliance - Spirit of the Upstate, Local Economic Developer of the Year Recognized. www.upstatealliance.com. 2017-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20180208073845/http://www.upstatealliance.com/Upstate-SC-Blog/August-2017/Spirit-of-the-Upstate,-Local-Economic-Developer-of.aspx. 2018-02-08. dead.
  16. Web site: Columbia Chamber Honors Local Leaders at Annual Gala - Columbia Chamber of Commerce. 30 August 2017.
  17. Web site: 31st Annual Award and Fundraising Gala » German-American Heritage Foundation. gahmusa.org. 2017-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20170914162102/http://gahmusa.org/31st-gala/. 2017-09-14. dead.

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