While you may meet several members of the SouthWood team during your project, we want you to know there are still many more who participate in the process to make your signs as great as they can possibly be.
A large number of our teammates have been with SouthWood for multiple decades, honing their craft and driving standards higher and higher. Our average tenure is ten years, resulting in a supportive and fun culture, and accepting of only the best for our clients.
These are the people who stand behind your signs and we are proud to stand behind them.
As President of SouthWood, John Petrone oversees all aspects of the business, serving more than 200 loyal clients across the U.S., Caribbean and beyond. John is a decorated Marine Corps veteran and a leader who effectively empowers his team to reach the highest levels of quality in product and in service, instilling a client-first mentality across all aspects of SouthWood operations.
Mary Kathryn serves as the Controller at SouthWood. She brings 20 years of experience in accounting from the fields of manufacturing, fiber optics and logistics. Mary Kathryn is a graduate of Winthrop University with a BS in Business Administration and an MBA in Accounting. She enjoys getting together with friends and spending time at the lake.
Will joined the SW team after nearly 15 years in the real estate and finance industries. He is a native of Greenville, SC and attended Clemson University. Will brings to the table a passion for connecting people, creating culture, and fostering high performing teams. Will and his wife Mary Laird have 3 beautiful daughters that keep them busy. In his free time, he loves to play golf, considers himself a bit of a mixologist and is an avid home chef.
Frank Elliott is on the business development and account management teams at SouthWood. Prior to joining the team, Frank spent five years in DC working at a technology consulting firm. At SouthWood, Frank is responsible for bringing signage projects to life, from conception to completion. He is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, where he earned a BS in Journalism. For fun, he enjoys golf, tennis, waterskiing, traveling, spending time with family & friends, and cheering on the Heels with his wife, Caroline.
Adrian is a SouthWood employee of two years and quickly became an integral part of our team permitting signs to ensure they will conform to the local land development codes and ordinances. An Army Veteran, Adrian served in both Iraq and Afghanistan from 2004-2010. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family and traveling to new places. He is a graduate of York Technical College with an Associates Degree in Human Resources and Paralegal Studies.
Preston oversees strategic process improvements at SouthWood as we work to deliver top quality customer service to our clients around the world. Preston has years of experience in all facets of the signage industry, including the oversight of many complex high-rise projects, and the rebranding of a retail franchise with over 600 locations nationwide. A recent transplant from the Northeast, Preston left his snow shovel behind, and is looking forward to spending the mild winters exploring Charlotte with his wife Ashley.
As Director of Operations, Mike directly oversees our fabrication and installation teams. Mike’s focus is an ever-continuing improvement on SouthWood’s amazing team members and processes. As SouthWood continues to grow, Mike ensures every person and department is evolving to meet new demands, reaching goals, and setting new goals to cultivate growth. Mike has been in the sign and branding industry for 13 years and has degrees in Marketing & Graphic Design. On the weekends, he enjoys golfing, hunting, and grilling out with his family and friends.
Clayton focuses on leading the creative vision and design aesthetic for SouthWood’s brand in his role as Marketing Manager. He oversees all marketing materials, social media platforms, and our website. Clayton also works in conjunction with the design team assisting in design development for projects. You might also know him as CLTDevelopment on Instagram as he writes about the latest development projects in our growing city.
Charles holds a degree in Architecture from UNC Charlotte and has over 30 years of architectural graphics and signage experience in a consultive and design/build capacity. Bottom line, Charles adds value to our clients through 3D branding that connects people to place. Outside of work, Charles enjoys road cycling and debating the nuances of False 9 and 4-4-2 soccer formations. A native Charlottean, Charles is a father of two and currently resides with Shelley and her two cats.
Ellen is an Account Manager at SouthWood. She engages with key clients to manage the organization of their projects from conception to completion, works as a part of a project team to develop designs and full program summaries to successfully reflect key aspects of each individual client’s brand. Ellen hit the ground running and already has an impressive list of clients, including Lincoln Harris, Johnson Development and Asana Partners. She is a newlywed as of September and she and her husband are avid partakers in Taco Tuesday and enjoy coming home each day to their cute chickens and lots of fresh eggs!
Drew serves as a Project Manager for Southwood. Prior to joining the Southwood team, he worked in the Food & Beverage industry as a Category Manager for Anheuser-Busch, Inbev based in Charlotte. Drew enjoys traveling to the beach during the summers to spend time with his family, especially his 6 nieces and nephews, playing golf and cheering on the Carolina Panthers. Drew attended Elon University with a degree in Communications.
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Lynda joined SouthWood as a Payables Specialist in June 2019 after living in the Florida Keys for the last 24 years. Previously she worked as a Patient Practice Representative for Baptist Health of South FL, the main receptionist for Mariner’s Hospital and the executive assistant to the owner of a major resort. Lynda is married to our Quality Control manager, Harp, and she loves to garden, hike and play with her cats.
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Liz currently serves as a project manager, focusing on SouthWood's healthcare and retail clients. She is also an integral team member assisting with installation coordination. Previously she served as a project coordinator at Wray Ward. She enjoys golf, participating in local charity events, and cheering on the Carolina Panthers.
With 37 years of experience at SouthWood, Jeff has worked in almost every department and in every facet of the manufacturing process, including Installation Manager, Manufacturing Supervisor and Drafting Technician. In his current role as Project Manager, Jeff handles key SouthWood accounts supporting the sales/installation process. Jeff and his wife, Renee, have one daughter and they enjoy RV camping with their two dogs.
Drew currently serves as a project manager. Prior to joining SouthWood, he worked at Stanley Black & Decker overseeing product development in the hand tools category. In his spare time, Drew enjoys playing tennis, traveling and hanging with his pups Hootie and Finley. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Marketing.
Mary is a Jill-of-all trades. She is the Executive Assistant to the President, the Fit Trail Guru, a sales and office assistant, and excels in keeping everyone organized. Mary is going on her 30th year in the construction and manufacturing industry. She equally enjoys photography, cycling, paddling, hiking and camping with her husband, David.
