Trustee Q&A: Patrick Bryant

Entrepreneur Patrick Bryant joined the TTC Foundation Board of Trustees in 2019. As a partner in several technology firms based in Charleston, Bryant feels strongly about making our area and the state a better place to work.

We talked with him to get his take on the pandemic’s impact on his industry:

How has entrepreneurship changed during COVID-19?

COVID has created challenges every single day as our business has been made to adapt and in some cases shut down.

But it has also created business opportunities such as our pivot for Event.Gives. With the onset of the pandemic, we’ve helped nonprofits have virtual video events to hold live auctions and paddle raise donations. It has been a huge hit and will double the company this year.

What would you recommend for a student's career path now that COVID-19 has changed things?

Certain industries are taking off during the changes and others are seeing a big decline. I would highly recommend students looking at career paths such as coding that allow for remote work. These industries will keep growing even during the pandemic.

What do you love most about Trident Tech?

Trident Tech is the perfect opportunity for students to get the education they need to move directly into a career. There are so many jobs like software coding that with the right education, you can jump right in and have a terrific career. Software coding in Charleston is still in great demand. I love that Trident Tech offers those opportunities! At Code/+/Trust we have hired several Trident Tech students.

Patrick Bryant is a Partner in Code/+/Trust software development firm, Teamphoria (human resource engagement software), Event.Gives (fundraising event software), Go To Team (broadcast video services), ADesk (crew production directory software) & Shine Rolling Papers. He serves as a Trustee for the Trident Technical College Foundation, on the SC Department of Workforce & Employment Workforce Review Committee, chairs the Harbor Entrepreneur Center, and was previously Chairman of Palmetto Goodwill and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. He’s recognized as a Liberty Fellow by Wofford College, a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and as a Riley Fellow granted by Furman University. Bryant resides in Isle of Palms, S.C. with his two sons, Pate and Jack.

Comments

New Laptop is a Game-Changer

When life throws you one challenge after another, you start to appreciate the small wins. For Trident Tech student Kristi Salvo, receiving a new laptop through the Student Urgent Needs (SUN) fund was a game-changer. Like students across the country, Salvo’s in-person classes were abruptly switched to an online format this spring due to COVID-19. But she knew her older computer couldn’t keep up with the online demands and she couldn't afford to buy a new one. “I was already dealing with a lot and it felt like this was going to be the thing that would break me,” she said. Salvo, a veteran of the US Air Force, struggles with health issues, including a back injury and a severe autoimmune disorder. In March, she and her husband separated, leaving her to juggle the responsibility of being a student, while also being a teacher to their two young children. All this, while trying to stay healthy and safe during a global pandemic. After Salvo and her children moved into a smaller, more aff

The Path to Success

As the 11th of 14 children, Kathy Simmons knows what it’s like to be a part of a close-knit family. Which is exactly why she has made her way back to Trident Technical College 33 years after graduating in 1985. Kathy’s path back to TTC began with her desire to fulfill two goals – advance her education and travel – and she figured the best way to accomplish both was through the military. So Kathy joined the Air Force in 1987, and did indeed accomplish both goals. She received her Bachelor of Arts while stationed in Minot, North Dakota, her Master of Arts from Erskine Theological Seminary and she has completed 60 hours toward a Doctor of Education from Walden University. She saw much of the country and spent time overseas in Korea. After the military, Kathy found herself back at TTC in the Admissions and Registrar’s office, and it was there she realized she really wanted to stay in education and help students find success. But a wise mentor once told her that in order to advance

Alumna Living her Best Life

E arning a college degree is challenging enough. But for single parents, it can seem like an insurmountable feat. Costs like living expenses and childcare only add to the stress of paying tuition. Making time to study usually means waiting until after the kids are in bed, leading to added exhaustion and stress. When Joyce Antonetty attended Trident Technical College as a single parent of two young children, she knew it would be difficult. But she was determined to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a Fitness Specialist. “I wanted to help people become a healthier version of themselves,” says Joyce. Joyce had been down this road before. Like many Trident Tech students, she had attended a four-year college immediately after high school. But when she was waitlisted to enter the Physical Therapy program at MUSC, she postponed her dream in order to start a family. Joyce's life took an unexpected turn when she went through a divorce in 2010. She held several resp

Change Starts Here

Search This Blog