Introducing Steve Mays, MBACC 2020 Board Chair

Introducing Steve Mays, MBACC 2020 Board Chair

The start of each new year brings with it a new Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce board chair. As of Jan. 1, 2020, Matt Klugman stepped into his role as immediate past chair, passing the gavel to Steve Mays.

Mays, a native of Haymarket, Virginia, moved to Myrtle Beach in the early 90s when he attended Coastal Carolina University, where he obtained a bachelor’s in marketing. Today he is the president of Founders Group International and Tee Time Central. He also is co-owner of Rockin’ Jump with his wife Chrissy.

Recently we sat down with Steve to learn more about him. Here’s what we learned:

Q: You’re the co-owner of Rockin’ Jump, president of Founder’s Group International and Tee Time Central, and with so many competing priorities, what does a day in the life of Steve Mays look like?
A. Founder’s Group International and Tee Time Central are complementary businesses, sharing leadership teams and staff, and my focus is to help them be successful. My wife, Chrissy, and I co-own Rockin’Jump with Karen and Mike Shank and we have a great management team we’ve put in place there. My primary role is to ensure our teams have what they need to be successful.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of your career?
A. It sounds like a cliché, but honestly, the people I work with give me the most joy and satisfaction.

Q: Why did you decide to join the MBACC board?
A. When I was asked to join the board I thought it would be a great opportunity to educate myself on how I could be a better contributor to our community.

Q: What goals do you have as the board chair for the MBACC?
A. First, is to provide support to the CEO Karen [Riordan] as she enters her second year. She’s done a great job, and as a board, we have to do our best to ensure her success for the community. Next, with my marketing background, I’m looking forward to rolling out the new brand position from MMGY later this year. Our job as a board will be to obtain community support and buy-in for this initiative. And, finally, we have many positive things on the cusp from downtown redevelopment to the start of I-73. Our business community and board must continue to support and accomplish these much-needed projects.

Q: Why do you recommend businesses invest with the MBACC and/or CVB?
A. To be a participant in our community, to be active in our community and to make our community better. Participating in chamber and CVB membership gives you a conduit to participate in the community, to be a catalyst for change in our area.

Q: What is your favorite beach on the Grand Strand and why?
A. The Ocean Forest area just south of the Island Vista Hotel is one of the few areas in Myrtle Beach where you can drive down Ocean Boulevard and see the beach and the dunes. I can get lost in the beauty of that drive. Anytime I need to take a break, I can drive that stretch of road and feel like I’m on vacation.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
A. I used to DJ in college at clubs and bars. If anybody needs to know anything about early 90s hip-hop, I’m the one to ask.