Rhett Kelly can describe the South Carolina Midlands intimately to newcomers. That’s because Columbia is his hometown, and he’s an alumnus of Spring Valley High and the University of South Carolina.

“I love the midlands!” he enthuses. “We are centrally located to the beaches and the mountains. I grew up here, so I know the whole state and I know we offer so many different things to folks of all ages, backgrounds and interests.”

Kelly treasures his own experiences living here. He loves the outdoors, especially taking his girls hunting and fishing. Not surprisingly, he enjoys country and soul music (Conway Twitty, Lou Rawls, Charlie Pride) and rural/western films (Where the Red Fern Grows; The Good, the Bad and the Ugly). Reading favorites include the legal thrillers of Scott Turow.

Rhett lives in Lexington with his daughters and his wife Dana.