Thomas Ravenel

Thomas Ravenel was born in Charleston, the youngest of six children, and educated in Charleston public schools. Among his early accomplishments, he served as captain of his football and wrestling teams in high school.

In 1981, he was accepted to enter the Corps of Cadets at The Citadel, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1985. After graduation, he sold real estate for four years. In 1991, he earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, emphasizing Finance and Real Estate.

In 1992, Thomas founded Ravenel Development Corporation, a commercial real estate development company, and moved it the next year to Atlanta where he began to concentrate on retail projects including freestanding, single-tenant stores and strip-mall developments. He returned to Charleston in 1995. As an owner/ developer, he has completed 65 successful retail projects in ten states.

Forty-two years old and single, Thomas is active in national and state organizations that promote pro-growth economic policies such as The Club for Growth and the Free Enterprise Fund. He is a member of the French Huguenot Church of Charleston. In his free time, he enjoys tennis, boating and traveling.