SCTEA

Pamela Evette, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina

Pamela S. Evette of Travelers Rest was elected as the 93rd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina on November 6, 2018.

Prior to her election as the first female Republican lieutenant governor of South Carolina, Evette founded Quality Business Solutions, Inc. (QBS), a payroll, human resources, and benefits services firm headquartered in Travelers Rest. Under her leadership as President and CEO, QBS grew exponentially, going from start-up to one of the nation’s fastest growing small businesses. QBS has been repeatedly honored among the fastest growing and best places to work in South Carolina. 

Evette has received numerous business and professional accolades, including the ATHENA Leadership Award®, the Enterprising Woman of the Year Award, and the Women Presidents’ Organization 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Award.

A trained accountant and former CFO, Evette has demonstrated a deep understanding of the regulatory issues and challenges facing small and medium sized businesses, and served as a member of South Carolina’s Small Business Regulatory Review Committee prior to taking office. This committee is charged with reviewing and supporting or challenging proposed regulations that might impact small businesses’ ability to start-up, operate effectively, or grow.

In her role as Lt. Governor, Evette has been laser-focused on utilizing her professional background to serve the people and businesses of South Carolina. She has dedicated her time to highlighting S.C.’s thriving small business ecosystem and attracting new business to the Palmetto state. Evette has been a staunch promoter of innovative public-private partnerships and has worked to bring greater awareness to S.C. non-profits and the impact they have in our local communities.

Beyond business, Evette has a passion for serving others, especially the most vulnerable in our society, which has guided her focus on early childhood education and reading. In 2019, she was asked the join the sixth cohort of Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Program which focuses on state education policy including early childhood education, school funding, school choice and state K-12 education systems. Realizing that every student and individual has unique needs and goals, Evette is committed to advocating for school choice and promoting S.C.’s world-class technical college system as pathways to educational and career success.

In partnership with PalmettoPride, Evette created the annual #GrabABagSC Statewide Cleanup initiative in 2019 and participated in SC7 Expedition to raise awareness for floodwater prevention and the importance of protecting South Carolina’s natural resources.

She serves on the boards of directors of the St Francis Foundation (affiliated with Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital) and the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) where she is also an emeritus member of the state legislative committee.

A native of Ohio, Evette is the granddaughter of Polish immigrants. Her parents, Jennie and Emil Gajoch, were first generation Americans who taught her the value of hard work and the importance of getting involved and giving back.

Evette holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in accounting from Cleveland State University. She and her husband David, President of QBS, attend Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Taylors and have three children, Amanda, Joseph, and Jackson.