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ndependence Day came early this past year at Charleston’s Rigging in South Carolina - at least that was the joke circulating around family get-togethers in the Sawin family last summer. July 1st, 2011, marked the date that new owners and siblings Jessica Sage and Skip Sawin took ownership of Charleston’s Rigging and Carolina’s Rigging from parents Rick and Valerie Sawin after 23 years


in business. Jessica and Skip grew up in and around the business, actively engaged at various times and undoubtedly involved by necessity at other times as all family businesses operate. Most recently, Jessica has served as Chief Financial Offi cer (CFO) and Skip as Chief Operating Offi cer (COO) and both will continue to serve those roles in addition to their new ownership status as well. But how this came to be was never expected, and Skip recalls that, “nothing was ever planned for the ‘family business.’” T eir attention to detail throughout the process, professionalism and vision set the stage to ensure that the transition not only seemed natural but, most importantly, maintained the meanings of both the words ‘family’ and ‘business’ in each of their own respective ways.


Rick and Valerie Sawin had worked tirelessly to build the company to its current heights since it started; and it was clear that the same eff orts that had propelled that success would be expected from future owners as well. Nothing would be given or handed down, and everything would be earned. Both Skip and Jessica had a similar approach – eyeing the business opportunities present in combination with their shared skill sets despite the family connections. “It’s not who we are that brought us here, it’s the business that brought us here” Skip further explains. Rick had seen other transitions between families that hadn’t gone as planned, and everyone wanted to ensure that the process would not interfere with the day-to-day operations of the business. “We all agreed in the beginning we were going to do this the right way. After all, you don’t want to lose your mom and dad in the process of taking over a family business” recalls Jessica. In fact, certain rules were set, one being that “we were going to try not to talk business after fi ve o’clock… because if you get us going we won’t stop.” T is now generational business grew from scratch. In 1988,


‘economics’ was the basic drive for Rick and Valerie Sawin to start Charleston’s Rigging. Rick had started at Seaport Marine in Chesapeake, VA, before he headed to J. Henry Holland to work outside sales. He learned he had a passion for sales and moved to Newell-Davis where he was promoted to general manager. It was at this point that Rick reached the ceiling for growth in his position. He wanted more opportunity and saw the next step to start his own business.


21st Annual Customer Appreciation Oyster Roast.


“It’s not who we are that brought us here, it’s the


business that brought us here.” ~ Skip Sawin


Starting the business was a gamble. As Skip recalled of his


parents, “they put everything into the business. Rick and Valerie worked 100-hour weeks. T ey were ‘going for broke.’” When they moved to Charleston to start the business, they had a rental


View from the Warehouse Offi ce at the 21st Annual Customer Appreciation Oyster Roast.


From the left, John Hyland/CPA, Ted Rust/ Harrington Hoist, Jason Bulan/Harrington Hoist, Jessica Sage/Charleston Rigging.


Rick Sawin at the Retirement Dinner. WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012 19


Photo courtesy, Mike Jeziorski


Photos courtesy of Skip Sawin


Photos courtesy of Skip Sawin


Photos courtesy of Skip Sawin Photos courtesy of Skip Sawin


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