{{Short description|American businessman and politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rick C. Wade | office = Director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services | term_start = 1999 | term_end = 2002 | alongside = | predecessor = | successor = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | profession = Businessman | education = University of South Carolina <br> Harvard University | party = Democratic | website = }} '''Rick Wade''' is a South Carolina businessman and politician.
==Personal life and education== Wade holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of South Carolina, as well as an MPA from Harvard University.<ref name="The State">{{cite news|last=Shain|first=Andrew|title=Former Obama aide sets sights on Scott's US Senate seat|url=http://www.thestate.com/2013/12/13/3158078/former-obama-aide-sets-sights.html|accessdate=16 December 2013|newspaper=The State|date=13 December 2013}}</ref>
==Career== Wade worked as an analyst for the South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee, as well as for the University of South Carolina.<ref name=Locke />
Wade was a self-employed consultant with the Wade Group and a senior vice president with Greentech Automotive. Wade has also been an executive with Hoffmann-La Roche, Fowler Communications, and Palmetto GBA.<ref name="The State" /> He is currently Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach at the United States Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Rick Wade |url=https://www.uschamber.com/bio/rick-wade |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.uschamber.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Political career == Wade served as the chief of staff of Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore.<ref name="The State" /> Wade then served in the administration of Governor Jim Hodges as director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.<ref name="Radio">{{cite news |last=Long |first=Matt |date=13 December 2013 |title=Former Obama advisor announces run against Sen. Tim Scott |url=http://www.southcarolinaradionetwork.com/2013/12/13/former-obama-advisor-will-run-against-sen-tim-scott/ |accessdate=16 December 2013 |newspaper=South Carolina Radio Network}}</ref> In 2002, Wade ran for the office of Secretary of State, losing to Republican Mark Hammond.<ref name="The State" />
Wade served as an adviser to both of Barack Obama's presidential campaigns.<ref name="The State" /><ref name="NYT">{{cite news|last=Zeleny|first=Jeff|title=Obama is seen as Winner in South Carolina|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/world/americas/27iht-26cndcarolina.9519439.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|accessdate=17 December 2013|newspaper=New York Times|date=27 January 2008}}</ref> Wade also served in the Obama administration as a senior adviser to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke.<ref name="Locke">{{cite news|title=Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to Address SC State University's Fall 2010 Graduates|url=http://www.scsu.edu/event_details.aspx?event_id=665|accessdate=17 December 2013|newspaper=SC State University|date=11 December 2010}}</ref> Wade's duties included serving as a liaison to states, businesses, trade associations, minority communities, and other federal agencies. He also represented the Commerce Department at international forums and served on numerous presidential task forces.<ref name="Spotlight">{{cite news|last=Wade|first=Rick|title=Spotlight on Commerce: Rick Wade, Senior Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff|url=http://www.commerce.gov/blog/2011/02/24/spotlight-commerce-rick-wade-senior-adviser-and-deputy-chief-staff|accessdate=17 December 2013|newspaper=Commerce Department|date=24 February 2011}}</ref> Wade's duties also included encouraging US businesses to invest in Haiti following the 2010 Haitian earthquake.<ref name="Haiti">{{cite news|title=Senior Commerce Department Official Visits Haiti for Opening of First School Built Since January Earthquake|url=http://www.commerce.gov/blog/2010/10/22/senior-commerce-department-official-visits-haiti-opening-first-school-built-january-|accessdate=17 December 2013|newspaper=Commerce Department|date=22 October 2010}}</ref>
In December 2013, Wade announced his candidacy for the US Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Tim Scott in the 2014 election.<ref name="The State" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shain |first=Andrew |date=December 15, 2013 |title=Rick Wade to seek Scott seat |work=Greenville News |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2013/12/15/rick-wade-to-seek-scott-seat/1577956/ |access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> Wade announced in March 2014 that he was dropping out of the race.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Bruce |date=March 6, 2014 |title=Rick Wade Drops Out of SC Senate Race |work=WLTX-TV |url=https://www.wltx.com/article/news/rick-wade-drops-out-of-sc-senate-race/101-298832092 |access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> Richland County Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson remained in the race,<ref>{{Cite news |author=Staff Reports |date=March 6, 2014 |title=Rick Wade drops out of SC Senate race |work=WOLO-TV |url=https://www.abccolumbia.com/2014/03/06/rick-wade-drops-out-of-sc-senate-race/ |access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> eventually becoming the Democratic Nominee.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014 |title=In the Running: Black Democrats on the November Ballot. How will these candidates fare in the midterm elections? |work=Black Entertainment Television |url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/rpyc21/in-the-running-black-democrats-on-the-november-ballot/3b4a9f |access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.facebook.com/RickWadeforSenate Facebook page]
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Roy B. Fairchild}} {{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Democratic nominee for Secretary of State of South Carolina}}|years=2002}} {{s-aft|after=Cheryl L. Footman}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wade, Rick}} Category:Living people Category:South Carolina Democrats Category:State cabinet secretaries of South Carolina Category:People from Lancaster, South Carolina Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni Category:University of South Carolina alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people)