14 Facts About Joe Erwin

Joe Arnold Erwin was born on October 23,1956 and is an entrepreneur and politician from South Carolina.

Joe Erwin co-founded and former 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.

Henry died following a brief illness when Joe Erwin was 12, and his mother raised Joe Erwin and his younger brother Tony.

Joe Erwin attended public schools and graduated from Eastside High School in Greenville in 1975.

Joe Erwin was an Intramural Debate champion, an International Debate representative, a varsity cheerleader, and in his senior year, the head cheerleader.

Joe Erwin served as President and Creative Director, while Gretchen led the Media Department.

Since opening in 1986 with one account and one employee, Joe Erwin-Penland has seen expansion.

Joe Erwin-Penland is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, and the Intermarket Agency Network.

Joe Erwin was elected chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party in 2003, and completed his second two-year term in May 2007.

Joe 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.

Joe Erwin 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 Joe Erwin was elected to the national board of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

Joe Erwin 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.

Joe Erwin is a graduate of the Diversity Leadership Academy at Furman University.