Today we’d like to introduce you to Rusty Gaskins.
Hi Rusty, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I actually got started my role as the Business & Economic Services Manager for the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments in a pretty unexpected way. I began my career in event management with the Florence Center (a 10,000 seat arena with hockey and concerts), then spent several years working in finance before being laid off during the housing market crash. Like a lot of people at that time, I suddenly found myself figuring out what came next. Through a connection, I landed a short-term opportunity with a workforce program. It wasn’t something I had ever considered before, and it came with a pay cut and a big learning curve, but I took the chance. What surprised me most was how much I connected with the work. Having gone through unemployment myself, I could really relate to the people we were serving. As I got more comfortable, I started looking for ways to make things run more smoothly and became more involved in the program. That led to an opportunity to move into a business services role, where I worked directly with employers—and that’s where I really found my stride. Over time, those experiences opened the door to my current position, where I now support the broader region of 3 counties and get to work with both job seekers and businesses every day. In addition, I now get to work with our economic development team to help support funding opportunities which help our local municipalites. The area is growing and is full of both economic opportunity and employment opportunities.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was not a smooth road. I started working in events for a small arena that hosted an East Coast Hockey League team, concerts, wrestling events, monster truck events, rodeos, and my personal least favorite events – weddings and trade shows. The job was really fun, but the hours could be long as events and after show settlements with event organizers could sometimes go as late as midnight. The pay was not the best either. Later on, the struggle became about how I could grow with an organization, and finding a passion that drove me to work harder. And of course, losing my job during a big recession was very frustrating and scary.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I serve as the Business & Economic Services Manager for the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments. Most people aren’t very familiar with Councils of Governments, or “COGs,” but it’s actually a really interesting and impactful place to work. In South Carolina, COGs are regional organizations created by state law that partner with local governments to support community development, economic growth, and overall quality of life. There are 10 COGs across the state, and they provide services like regional planning, workforce development, and helping secure federal and state funding.
In my role, I have the opportunity to work with a wide range of people—from job seekers and employers to government officials and community partners. It gives me a unique perspective because I get to see how all of our departments connect and work together to support the region. As our area continues to grow, so do the demands in areas like workforce, planning, aging services, and transportation—and our organization plays a role in all of it.
A big part of what I’m known for is helping job seekers in our workforce programs find internships and on-the-job training opportunities. I also serve as a connector across the region, which includes Horry, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties. Horry County alone is larger than the state of Rhode Island, so there’s a lot of ground to cover. Whether it’s linking businesses to talent, connecting individuals to training or grant opportunities, or partnering with schools and economic development agencies, I help bring the right people and resources together.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I once had a colleague who refused to believe in luck. He felt like individuals created their own opportunities through hard-work, however I would like to believe I’ve seen both bad and good luck over the years. I was surrounded by family and friends who picked me up and dusted me off when needed, and supported me through all of my years.
