Meet the Mayor of Simpsonville, South Carolina

 

After 33 years living in Flower Mound, Texas, my wife Annette, and I moved to South Carolina to be closer to family. For many years, while living in the Lone Star State, we filmed video interviews of prominent people in all walks of life, including elected officials, entrepreneurs, CEOs of charitable organizations, and others who were part of the community landscape.

Now that we’ve settled in our new home, in the Parklynn Hills development of Fountain Inn, we look forward to continuing to contribute to our new community, including cities and towns contiguous with F.I. Annette is the videographer for the interviews, which will be posted online at the Simpsonville Sentinel newspaper and widely distributed on local social media platforms. On Monday, we interviewed Fountain Inn Mayor George Patrick Mcleer. Our guest today is Simpsonville Mayor Paul Shewmaker.

Mr. Shewmaker sent the following short bio:

“Mayor Paul Shewmaker, elected in 2019, currently serves with distinction in his inaugural term as mayor, demonstrating his commitment to Simpsonville’s progress. Alongside his mayoral responsibilities, he holds a significant role on the Board of Directors for the Association of South Carolina Mayors, showcasing his dedication to fostering collaborative leadership.

“Before assuming his civic role, Mr. Shewmaker enjoyed a long professional career in safety, production management and human resources. He retired in 2019 from his role as Director of Human Resources for National Carbon/Morgan Advanced Materials. His professional journey encompassed diverse roles in industrial management, including a nine-year tenure as a production manager. His expertise extended to pivotal areas such as environmental health and safety, benefits, and HRIS.

“Paul has a Bachelor of Science degree in Safety Management from Indiana State University. Commencing his career as a safety manager at Union Carbide and AT&T, he later joined KEMET before culminating his journey with 15 years of service in Human Resources for the Electrical Americas Division of Morgan Advanced Materials. Beyond his professional endeavors, he speaks a bit of Italian, loves to travel, enjoys yard work, and one time he decontaminated nerve gas bombs for the Navy.

“Shewmaker is a proficient wild bird expert, reflecting his passion for and connection to the outdoors. His enthusiasm extends to pursuits such as hiking and golf. Shewmaker served as a long time Scout leader for the Boy Scouts of America, where he guided and mentored young minds. His most cherished accomplishment was serving as Scoutmaster and helping his two sons achieve the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. His Scouting career stands as a testament to his exceptional values and leadership.

“In summary, Mayor Paul Shewmaker's trajectory from a distinguished industrial career to his present role as mayor illuminates his unwavering dedication to community service.”