The South Carolina Department of Transportation is announcing the swearing in of Thomas Rhodes III to its Commission. Rhodes, of Columbia, was appointed by Governor McMaster and was recently unanimously confirmed by the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives.
Thomas Rhodes is a fourth-generation South Carolina business owner, entrepreneur, and Partner at Rhodes Companies, a diversified holding company with operations across the United States. A graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Management and Entrepreneurship, Thomas has dedicated his career to building sustainable businesses that reflect his passion for education policy, economic development, and leadership.
He currently serves as Chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and has held leadership roles on a wide range of boards, including the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA), the Midlands Business Leadership Group (MBLG), Rexanna’s Foundation for Curing Lung Cancer, the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital Board, the South Carolina Department of Education Innovation Grants Committee, the Clemson University Board of Visitors, and the Salvation Army of the Midlands, where he previously served as Chairman.
A graduate of the South Carolina Education Policy Fellowship Program and a member of the Society for International Business Fellows (SIBF), Rhodes is also a member and former Deacon at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. He is an avid fisherman, hunter, sailor, and private pilot. He lives in Columbia with his wife, Caroline, and their three children.
Rhodes is an at-large Commissioner, meaning he represents all areas of the state.
