Page 20 - Classically Carolina 2018

HOSPITALITY

The phrase is one which Davis, a
Lexington, S.C., native and Anderson
University graduate, has heard
time and time again from Cushman
since being promoted to her present
position in 2017. On a day which
some used to recuperate, Davis and
Cushman were pressing forward.

“We started, truly, planning for next
year the day after the 2018 races,”
Davis says. “We have started putting
orange flags on things want to do.
We’ve started ordering materials
for next year’s races. It’s already
underway. It truly hasn’t stopped.”
This is the exact scenario Davis
envisioned when she took an intern’s
position at the Carolina Cup office. LEGACY:
After graduating from college, she
started her John and Laura Cushman, father and daughter
first job, in
the banking Siblings following in the footsteps and his wife, Sandy Cushman.
field. Then, of their parents and choosing to
from out of enter
n o w h e r e , Sthe same line of work is a In what amounted to a pinch-
tale nearly as old as civilization hitter role, Laura became her
she received itself. Here’s a new twist. father’s ace in the hole with her
an offer to
work at the knowledge and experience in event
C a r o l i n a When John Cushman returned planning. After graduating from
Cup Racing for a second go-round as executive the College of Charleston, Laura
Association director of the Carolina Cup Races, made a bee line for London. She
f u l l t i m e . he immediately went about giving worked in Barclays’ event and
She wasted little time in accepting. the 88-year-old event a head-to-toe sponsorship division and oversaw
makeover. the hospitality area for the Scottish
“I quit my job the next day and Open and other events. On a visit
moved to Camden in the middle of A successful Camden businessman to see his daughter, John saw first-
the night,” she says of leaving her and retired four-time National hand how Barclays treated its
office job for the chance to work at Steeplechase Association champion employees and guests.
the race office or out on the grounds rider, Cushman knows the ins and
along the racecourse. outs of the equine industry and “He loved it. I think that was one of
the inner workings of the Carolina the reasons that Dad wanted me to
“I absolutely love this job. There Cup, in particular. He left the ticket come back and help him when he
is something different every day. operation in the capable hands got this opportunity.”
Sometimes, it’s complete paperwork. of assistant executive director
Other times, I’m out on the 5/8ths Maggie Davis, but there was still Laura says it was rewarding to
track watching horses breeze. I get something missing from the team come back and contribute to the
to connect with so many different, when it came to making corporate Carolina Cup and her hometown
interesting people. This sport has sponsors and their guests feel at after being away for so long.
such a rich history. There is such a home.
tight-knit community here where “There’s something personal about
everybody knows everybody ... it Enter Laura Cushman, the second it to me and my family. It’s what
makes this job so much fun.” and youngest daughter of John we grew up doing.”

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