Navigating Charleston, South Carolina’s Silicon Harbor with Steve Warner and Nate DaPore
Steve Warner is a senior strategist for the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA), a non-profit economic development organization focused on building a sustainable, globally competitive economy for the three-county Charleston region.
Steve leads the CRDA’s global marketing team, using his experience in corporate brand management to integrate the organization’s competitive research, business development and marketing communications programs. He also works with stakeholders from throughout the Charleston region to help align and strengthen efforts related to key economic development issues.
Steve’s career includes more than 25 years in the marketing communications field, where he provided brand planning services for such global giants as Ritz-Carlton, Dow Corning, CNN and Coca-Cola. Immediately prior to joining the CRDA team, he was partner in the Atlanta marketing firm Sawyer Riley Compton.
Steve serves on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association, as well as CRDA’s staff advisor to Charleston’s Creative Parliament, an all-volunteer adhocracy of creative professionals dedicated to helping Charleston realize its full potential as a creative community.
A native of Ninety Six, South Carolina, Steve is a College of Charleston graduate with a degree in business administration. He and his wife Jan returned to the area in 2005, and enjoy bicycling, travel, and music festivals.
Nate DaPore is an entrepreneur, start-up investor, occasional blogger, and SaaS disciple. He is the founder, President and CEO of PeopleMatter, a purpose driven company focused on creating change in the hourly workforce of America’s best companies. His focus centers on providing the teammates at PeopleMatter with a rewarding experience that values culture, creativity, and passion which in turn brings industry leading technology to the marketplace.
Prior to PeopleMatter, Nate was a Principal at Battery Park Ventures, focusing on healthcare and technology companies. Prior to BPV, Nate served as VP of Enterprise Sales at Benefitfocus from the early days as a startup to its rise as the largest employer benefits software (SaaS) provider in the US with consistent triple-digit, year-over-year growth.
Nate sits on the Board of Directors of the Charleston Digital Corridor helping advance entrepreneurs in the Silicon Harbor build awesome technology companies and was named Economic Ambassador in 2013 by the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
Received in 2011 TiE Atlanta’s “Top Up-and-Coming Entrepreneur” of the Year award from the world’s largest non-profit organization for entrepreneurs.
Active member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). YPO Food & Beverage Network Communications Chair and Supporter of 500 Startups.
