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Promoting STEM Education

Guarav Sangal
Mike Switzer/SC Public Radio

Most people are aware of the many efforts in the education sector over the past several years to increase and improve our children’s exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math: known as STEM so that eventually, maybe more high school graduates might consider one of those career fields where demand remains high.  Our next guest has decided to turn his STEM experience into an entrepreneurial venture to further this educational trend.

Mike Switzer interviews Gaurav Sangal, a franchisee of STEM for Kids in Columbia, SC.

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After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.