Corporate Scene

James Hance, Graham Chapman, Jarrod Maldonado, Trace Hart, Hagood Hemphill

Famously HOME – Having grown up in the Midlands, these young engineers at REI Automation have chosen to make Columbia, South Carolina their home. Graham Chapman and Hagood Hemphill attended A.C. Flora High School together. James Hance graduated from Ben Lippen. Trace Hart went to Lexington and Jarrod Maldonado, Spring Valley.

At REI, Graham and Jarrod are sales engineers, and Trace is a controls engineer. James is a mechanical engineer, and Hagood is project manager for the company that specializes in designing and building assembly lines and robotic cells for factory automation.

“It is thrilling to watch these young men develop from top students into key leaders at REI and also enhance the Columbia community. I have known several of them for many years as they have grown up with my own children. Now I consider them friends,” explains Grant Phillips, President and CEO of REI.

REI Automation became part of the HAHN Group based in Rheinböllen, Germany in 2019.