By Andy Owens
aowens@scbiznews.com
Published Oct. 27, 2011

Hundreds of Charleston-area leaders and community members came out to congratulate and honor a dozen business leaders during the 2011 Influential Women in Business awards luncheon.

Carolyn Hunter, an entrepreneur and president of C&A Unlimited Inc., told the audience how she began working as a crew member at McDonald’s and now has one of the most successful chains of restaurants in South Carolina.

She saved for the $50,000 franchise fee by drafting money from her salary and putting away every raise and incentive. She also put in time learning the business. The owner of the restaurant where she worked in New York required her to work 40 to 50 hours a week, but she insisted on doing much more, she said, because it benefited her in the end.

“Many weeks I worked 70 to 80 hours, not because he demanded it, but because I loved it,” she said.

It was good practice for operating under the McDonald’s model, which now requires that potential owner-operators have $500,000 in non-borrowed funds to begin the franchise process and doesn’t accept investment partners or credit. When Hunter began with her first Moncks Corner McDonald’s location, she said she was the owner, manager and did whatever else needed to be done.

“You must donate 100% of your time to building and maintaining your business,” she said.

Earlier this year, Hunter gave Trident Technical College its single largest donation ever, with a $1 million pledge. She said that she decided several years ago to help 100 people accomplish great things personally and in business, which led her to the donation.

“While I did make some progress, it wasn’t happening fast enough,” she said. “I see the gift to the school as a greater gift to me.”

She said it was not the size of her gift that mattered but the fact that she did something. She said that’s how she got into business and how she grows her business every day: just by doing things that move her toward her ultimate goals.

“But remember — just get started,” she said.

The top honorees for the 2011 Influential Women in Business

• Volunteer: Clara Mae Neuman — Charleston Friends of the Library.
• Rising Star: Amy Riley — Thomas & Hutton
• Executive: Bonnie Bella — Trident United Way
• CEO: Rita Scott — WCSC-TV

Full profiles of all the nominees will be published in the Nov. 7 special edition of the Charleston Regional Business Journal. The awards are presented through a partnership between the Charleston Regional Business Journal and the Center for Women.