Over the past twenty years, Ernest has served the City of Charleston in several capacities. As Annexation Coordinator, he was responsible for an annexation strategy that resulted in the City's growth from thirty-eight square miles to almost one hundred square miles, a strategy that increased Charleston's tax base by over $2.5 billion and 17,000 residents.

By 1998, Mr. Andrade directed the Office of Industrial Development and Annexation, which executed a strategic plan to recruit competitive economic development projects such as the Family Circle Cup, SunCom and Blackbaud Software and NanoScreen.

Under his leadership, the Charleston Digital Corridor has grown from 18 companies to over 70 companies today. The Digital Corridor has also been recognized as a model for knowledge based economic development and has been emulated by several cities across the country.

Ernest was born and raised in Kuwait and lived in India prior to migrating to the United States in 1981. He became a naturalized citizen in 1996. In 1985, Mr. Andrade received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Charleston and subsequently obtained a Master of Public Administration in 1988 from a joint program between the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston.

Ernest Andrade is also the principal of Andrade Economics, an economic development consulting firm.

Prior to moving to Charleston, Lawrence served as a policy analyst for the South Carolina Energy Office, a division of the SC Budget and Control Board.  There, Amy was responsible for creating and maintaining the database for state energy data, as well as tracking and analyzing both state and federal legislation relating to the energy field.  Other duties included operating the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition, as well as logistical support for the SC Biomass Council and the SC Solar Council.

Amy Lawrence received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia.  She graduated with a BA Magna Cum Laude from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC for studies in Economics, Spanish and Latin American and Caribbean Studies.