Joe Erwin
Encyclopedia
Joe Arnold Erwin is an entrepreneur and politician from South Carolina
. He co-founded and is President of Erwin-Penland Advertising, is a former Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party
, and co-founded the thought leadership conference Food for Thought in 2008.
to Isabel Erwin Kelly and Henry Erwin. Henry died following a brief illness when Joe was 12, and his mother raised Joe and his younger brother Tony. After living in North Carolina
and Florida
, the Erwins moved to Greenville, South Carolina
in 1968 to be closer to family.
Erwin attended public schools and graduated from Eastside High School
in Greenville in 1975. At Eastside, he served as student body president, the editorial page editor of the school’s newspaper, and captained the undefeated varsity soccer team. Following graduation, Erwin enrolled at Clemson University
. He was an Intramural Debate champion, an International Debate representative, a varsity cheerleader, and in his senior year, the head cheerleader (also known as the “Mic Man”). He was named an NCA All-American in 1978. Erwin graduated from Clemson in 1979 with a B.A. in Political Science.
Joe married Gretchen Getchell Erwin in 1984, and they have two children: Douglas (b. 1988) and Valerie (b. 1990). They live in Greenville, South Carolina and are members of Christ Church Episcopal.
to join national agency Benton & Bowles (later DMB&B) to work on the Corning Glass and Quincy’s Family Steakhouse accounts. In addition to account executive duties, Erwin began to write copy–ultimately serving as copywriter for John Madden
’s broadcast campaign for Quincy’s. After their marriage in 1984, Gretchen moved to New York and joined the Media Department at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample (later Saatchi & Saatchi).
While in New York, Joe, Gretchen and their friend Allen Bosworth began to talk of returning south to open an agency of their own. Joe and Gretchen purchased Penland Advertising in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1986, renaming the new agency Erwin-Penland. Allen Bosworth remained in New York for two years before joining EP as Director of Client Service in 1988. Joe served as President and Creative Director, while Gretchen led the Media Department.
Since opening in 1986 with one account and one employee, Erwin-Penland has seen expansion. Now with more than 200 employees working across all marketing disciplines, clients include Verizon Wireless, Denny's, Confluence Watersports, Fatz Cafe, ScanSource, Lockheed Martin and BI-LO Supermarkets. Erwin-Penland is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies
(AAAA’s), and the Intermarket Agency Network.
Erwin-Penland is known for "integrated marketing solutions"–primarily for retail accounts.
, and volunteered for a number of campaigns, including future South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn's
campaign for Secretary of State, Richard W. Riley’s campaign for governor, and Jimmy Carter
’s presidential race. During the 1980s and 1990s, he campaigned for South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges
, U.S. Senator Ernest Hollings
, South Carolina Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, and statewide candidates Steve Benjamin and Rick Wade.
Erwin was elected Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party
in 2003, and completed his second two-year term in May 2007. During that time, he negotiated and produced two Democratic presidential debates–one in Greenville in 2003 and one in Orangeburg
in 2007–that were broadcast live nationally on NBC
. The Greenville debate was the last debate moderated by Tom Brokaw
before he left the anchor chair at NBC News
. Erwin chose to hold the 2007 debate on the campus of South Carolina State University
in Orangeburg, marking the first time a presidential primary debate had been held at an historically black college or university.
Erwin’s four-year chairmanship focused on reorganization at the grassroots level; holding a successful, volunteer-run statewide Democratic presidential primary in 2004; producing the two Democratic presidential debates; and seeking the right for South Carolina to hold its 2008 Democratic presidential primary in the “pre-window” period–as the only primary between the New Hampshire primary
and Super Tuesday
.
South Carolina competed against 10 other states and the District of Columbia for the early primary designation, and ultimately was chosen by the DNC to join New Hampshire as the only other state with a pre-window primary. The January 2008 Democratic presidential primary, in which South Carolina Democrats turned out in record numbers and outpolled Republicans
by more than 88,000 votes, was a watershed event in the 2008 Democratic presidential nominating process. Senator Barack Obama
won the primary with 55% of the vote.
When Erwin’s term as chair expired in May 2007, he chose not to seek re-election, but remained involved in politics. During his chairmanship he remained neutral in the primary battle, seeking to engage all voters and help all candidates grow their South Carolina campaigns. In fall 2007, however, he endorsed Senator Barack Obama for president, and campaigned with and for the senator in the months leading up to the January 2008 primary.
In September 2008 Erwin was elected to the national board of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America
. He also serves on the Boards of the Upstate Alliance and the BI-LO Charity Classic, and served as 2008 upstate campaign co-chair for the United Negro College Fund
. He is a graduate of the Diversity Leadership Academy at Furman University
.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He co-founded and is President of Erwin-Penland Advertising, is a former Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, and co-founded the thought leadership conference Food for Thought in 2008.
Early years
Erwin was born October 23, 1956 in Florence, South CarolinaFlorence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
to Isabel Erwin Kelly and Henry Erwin. Henry died following a brief illness when Joe was 12, and his mother raised Joe and his younger brother Tony. After living in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, the Erwins moved to Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
in 1968 to be closer to family.
Erwin attended public schools and graduated from Eastside High School
Eastside High School (Taylors, South Carolina)
Eastside High School is a public high school located in Taylors, a suburb of Greenville, South Carolina. It is a public school under jurisdiction of the Greenville County School District. It maintains a diverse and successful student body.-Principals:...
in Greenville in 1975. At Eastside, he served as student body president, the editorial page editor of the school’s newspaper, and captained the undefeated varsity soccer team. Following graduation, Erwin enrolled at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
. He was an Intramural Debate champion, an International Debate representative, a varsity cheerleader, and in his senior year, the head cheerleader (also known as the “Mic Man”). He was named an NCA All-American in 1978. Erwin graduated from Clemson in 1979 with a B.A. in Political Science.
Joe married Gretchen Getchell Erwin in 1984, and they have two children: Douglas (b. 1988) and Valerie (b. 1990). They live in Greenville, South Carolina and are members of Christ Church Episcopal.
Marketing executive
Following graduation, Erwin worked at Leslie Advertising in Greenville, initially in the media department and later as an account executive. In 1982 he was recruited to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to join national agency Benton & Bowles (later DMB&B) to work on the Corning Glass and Quincy’s Family Steakhouse accounts. In addition to account executive duties, Erwin began to write copy–ultimately serving as copywriter for John Madden
John Madden (American football)
John Earl Madden is a former American professional football player in the National Football League, a former Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League and later the NFL, and a former color commentator for NFL telecasts. In 2006, he was inducted into...
’s broadcast campaign for Quincy’s. After their marriage in 1984, Gretchen moved to New York and joined the Media Department at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample (later Saatchi & Saatchi).
While in New York, Joe, Gretchen and their friend Allen Bosworth began to talk of returning south to open an agency of their own. Joe and Gretchen purchased Penland Advertising in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1986, renaming the new agency Erwin-Penland. Allen Bosworth remained in New York for two years before joining EP as Director of Client Service in 1988. Joe served as President and Creative Director, while Gretchen led the Media Department.
Since opening in 1986 with one account and one employee, Erwin-Penland has seen expansion. Now with more than 200 employees working across all marketing disciplines, clients include Verizon Wireless, Denny's, Confluence Watersports, Fatz Cafe, ScanSource, Lockheed Martin and BI-LO Supermarkets. Erwin-Penland is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies
American Association of Advertising Agencies
The 4A's is an American advertising agency trade association.Founded in 1917, their website states that 4A's membership "produces approximately 80 percent of the total advertising volume placed by agencies nationwide." The association issues annual awards for the best agencies, in different...
(AAAA’s), and the Intermarket Agency Network.
Erwin-Penland is known for "integrated marketing solutions"–primarily for retail accounts.
Political activity
While at Clemson, Erwin was a member of College DemocratsCollege Democrats
The College Democrats of America is the official youth outreach arm of the Democratic Party. It consists of over 100,000 college and university students from across the United States. The organization has served as a way for college students to connect with the Democratic Party and Democratic...
, and volunteered for a number of campaigns, including future South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn's
Jim Clyburn
James Enos "Jim" Clyburn is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993, and the Assistant Democratic Leader since 2011. He was previously House Majority Whip, serving in that post from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
campaign for Secretary of State, Richard W. Riley’s campaign for governor, and Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
’s presidential race. During the 1980s and 1990s, he campaigned for South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges
Jim Hodges
James Hovis "Jim" Hodges is a Democrat who served one term as the 114th Governor of South Carolina from 1999 until 2003.-Early career:...
, U.S. Senator Ernest Hollings
Ernest Hollings
Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings served as a Democratic United States Senator from South Carolina from 1966 to 2005, as well as the 106th Governor of South Carolina and Lt. Governor . He served 38 years and 55 days in the Senate, which makes him the 8th-longest-serving Senator in history...
, South Carolina Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, and statewide candidates Steve Benjamin and Rick Wade.
Erwin was elected Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party
South Carolina Democratic Party
The South Carolina Democratic Party is the South Carolina affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. The Democratic party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 and the mid-1850s and was one of the causes of the collapse of the Whig Party....
in 2003, and completed his second two-year term in May 2007. During that time, he negotiated and produced two Democratic presidential debates–one in Greenville in 2003 and one in Orangeburg
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Orangeburg, also known as "The Garden City," is the principal city in and the county seat of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city is also the fifth oldest city in the state of South Carolina. The city population was 12,765 at the 2000 census, within a Greater Orangeburg...
in 2007–that were broadcast live nationally on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The Greenville debate was the last debate moderated by Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw
Thomas John "Tom" Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors...
before he left the anchor chair at NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
. Erwin chose to hold the 2007 debate on the campus of South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University is a historically black university located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. It is the only state funded, historically black land-grant institution in South Carolina and is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- Colleges, departments,...
in Orangeburg, marking the first time a presidential primary debate had been held at an historically black college or university.
Erwin’s four-year chairmanship focused on reorganization at the grassroots level; holding a successful, volunteer-run statewide Democratic presidential primary in 2004; producing the two Democratic presidential debates; and seeking the right for South Carolina to hold its 2008 Democratic presidential primary in the “pre-window” period–as the only primary between the New Hampshire primary
New Hampshire primary
The New Hampshire primary is the first in a series of nationwide political party primary elections held in the United States every four years , as part of the process of choosing the Democratic and Republican nominees for the presidential elections to be held the subsequent November.Although only a...
and Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday
In the United States, Super Tuesday, in general, refers to the Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party's presidential candidates are officially nominated...
.
South Carolina competed against 10 other states and the District of Columbia for the early primary designation, and ultimately was chosen by the DNC to join New Hampshire as the only other state with a pre-window primary. The January 2008 Democratic presidential primary, in which South Carolina Democrats turned out in record numbers and outpolled Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
by more than 88,000 votes, was a watershed event in the 2008 Democratic presidential nominating process. Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
won the primary with 55% of the vote.
When Erwin’s term as chair expired in May 2007, he chose not to seek re-election, but remained involved in politics. During his chairmanship he remained neutral in the primary battle, seeking to engage all voters and help all candidates grow their South Carolina campaigns. In fall 2007, however, he endorsed Senator Barack Obama for president, and campaigned with and for the senator in the months leading up to the January 2008 primary.
Community service
Erwin is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner, was inducted into Greenville Tech's Entrepreneurs Forum in 2000 and is a member of the Clemson University Entrepreneurs’ Roundtable. He served on the Executive Committee of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges’ Commission on Teacher Quality.In September 2008 Erwin was elected to the national board of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a non-profit organization that helps parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children...
. He also serves on the Boards of the Upstate Alliance and the BI-LO Charity Classic, and served as 2008 upstate campaign co-chair for the United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
. He is a graduate of the Diversity Leadership Academy at Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
.