Mark Kent, President of S.C. Manufacturers
Alliance, to Speak at Tri-County's Annual Textile Banquet

CONTACT: JIM WILSON, EXT. 1332

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9/12/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON - Mark Kent, president of the S.C. Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA), will be the keynote speaker at Tri-County Technical College's Annual Textile Management Technology Scholarship Awards Banquet set for Tuesday, October 8.

Mr. Kent, who also is president and CEO of the Kent Manufacturing Company in Greenville, will address the audience of textile executives and students during the College's 30th annual banquet.

Approximately 27 Textile Management Technology freshmen will receive scholarships to cover books and tuition. These scholarships are sponsored by the J. E. Sirrine Textile Foundation, as well as many local textile firms in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties. These textile firms include Alice Manufacturing Company, Avondale Mills, Blair Mills, Glen Raven, Hexcel Schwebel, JPS Glass, Kent Manufacturing, LaFrance Industries, Orian Rugs and Safety Components Fabric Technologies. Currently, these companies are sponsoring a total of 62 students in the program.

For the first time, the Textile Council of the SCMA will sponsor two scholarships, in addition to cash awards for the department's Outstanding Graduate and Student of the Year.

Mr. Kent holds a bachelor of arts degree from Wake Forest University and is a 1986 graduate of Clemson University's School of Textiles.

After he graduated from college, he worked with the Australian Wool Corporation in Melbourne, Australia, and then was hired by the Kent Manufacturing Company. He started in raw materials purchasing and moved into sales and marketing. He was named president in 1992. He is the fifth generation Kent family member to run the 157-year-old company.

Since 1987 he has been a member of the company's board of directors and serves as its chairman.

He also serves as director and president of the J. E. Sirrine Textile Foundation and was its treasurer from 1995 – 2000.

He also served as a member of the board of directors for the American Textile Export Company from 1988 – 93. He has been a member of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute since 1985 and serves on its board of directors. He also is a member of the American Yarn Spinners Association and served two terms as its president

He has been active with the SCMA since 1986 and has served on its board of directors since 1994.

His civic involvement includes serving on the board of directors of the Historic Greenville Foundation, the S.C. Board of Health and Environmental Control and Textile Hall Corporation.

He is a board member and chair of the American Red Cross (Upstate chapter) and vice chairman and trustee member of the Christ Church Episcopal School Board.

He and his wife, Martha, are members of Christ Church Episcopal, and they live in Greenville.
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