USC Aiken School of Business Administration Honors Rains, Rahe
April 18, 2007
The School of Business Administration at the University of South Carolina Aiken presented awards to alumnus Darrel Rains and Pres Rahe at the first-ever School of Business Awards Dinner on April 17.
Darrell R. Rains was presented the “School of Business Administration Alumnus of Distinction Award.” Rains graduated from USC Aiken in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He has been Group Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation, Georgia Bank & Trust Company since October 2005 and of the Southern Bank & Trust since its organization in August of 2006. He served as Executive Vice President/Regional Financial Officer for Regions Bank from 1998-2005. From 1989-1998, Rains served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Palfed, Inc. and subsidiaries, including Palmetto Federal Savings Bank of South Carolina, FSB. In that capacity, he was responsible for accounting, data processing, operations, treasury, and investor relations for the $700 million organization.
Rains is a South Carolina licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the South Carolina Association of CPAs, the Financial Managers Society and the SC Bankers Association. Prior community activities include service on the United Way Board and Executive Committee, Habitat for Humanity Board and ACTS of Caring Clinic Board. He currently assists the Aiken Chapter of the American Heart Association in its fundraising efforts.
Criteria for the Alumnus of Distinction Award require that the individual must: be an alumnus of USC Aiken’s School of Business Administration; hold a position of distinction in business, government, or academe; demonstrate outstanding success in his or her field; demonstrate loyalty to, support of, and leadership on behalf of the School of Business Administration; and be a recognized civic leader.
E. Preston “Pres” Rahe, Jr . was honored with the “ School of Business Administration Distinguished Partner Award.” Rahe serves as President of Washington Group International’s Energy & Environment business unit, based in Aiken, S.C. Washington Group Energy & Environment is a leading supplier of management and operating services, project management, consulting services and products in the national defense, non-proliferation, environmental restoration and hazardous material management markets. Additionally, Rahe serves as President of Westinghouse Government Environmental Services Co., consisting of five subsidiaries that offer services in the management of plutonium, radioactive and chemical waste.
During his 39-year career, he founded Washington Safety Management Solutions in Aiken, S.C., serving as its first president. Formed in 1997, WSMS provides a full range of safety management services to federal facilities, agencies and commercial customers. Rahe also serves as Chairman of the WSMS Board of Directors. His career with Washington Group included a number of positions in nuclear safety, operations, and project management. He oversaw safety analysis, research and development, and licensing for over 100 nuclear plants and served as designated nuclear safety officer with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In 1989, he was appointed technical and regulatory director for the successful restart of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site K-Reactor. He also served as vice president and general manager of Engineering and Construction for the Westinghouse Savannah River Co., the management and operating contractor at SRS. Rahe has worked as a consultant to nuclear utilities, industrial risk management groups, and other defense complex facilities, and has held memberships on several industry organizations.
Criteria for the Distinguished Partner Award require that the individual must: be a recognized civic leader; be a recognized significant supporter of USC Aiken’s School of Business Administration; demonstrate outstanding success in his/her field; and hold a position of distinction in business, government, or academe.
Darrell Rains, 2007 School of Business Administration Alumnus of Distinction Award Recipient
Pres Rahe, 2007 School of Business Administration Distinguished Partner Award Recipient
