Regional Maintenance Supervisor Brandon Bowers

For Brandon Bowers, a career with South Carolina State Parks started with a summer job he thought would be temporary. Brandon grew up in Lancaster County and developed an interest in hands-on work early. During high school and college, he worked in residential construction, gaining experience in framing, siding and other aspects of homebuilding. He also pursued technical education at York Technical College, earning associate degrees in engineering graphics and mechanical engineering, as well as an engineering science degree with a focus in welding.

He originally planned to continue to Clemson University to study engineering. While attending York Technical College, Brandon took a part-time position at Andrew Jackson State Park. “I wanted a fun job before I got a real job,” he said. That temporary job lasted about two and a half years. Brandon quickly discovered that working in a state park combined many of the things he enjoyed: working with his hands, solving problems, being outdoors and working with people. When a full-time position opened at Kings Mountain State Park, he decided to stay with the Park Service.

From there, Brandon built a career by working at parks throughout the state. After Andrew Jackson and Kings Mountain, he served at Chester State Park before becoming a senior ranger at Hunting Island State Park, then assistant manager at Huntington Beach State Park. Each position brought new responsibilities and challenges, but Brandon especially enjoyed the hands-on side of park operations.

“I've always been a heavy maintenance-minded individual,” he said. “I grew up with it. I did residential construction before, and my heart's always been there.”

Today, Bowers serves as the Upper Coast Regional Maintenance Supervisor, where his work reaches far beyond a single park. Rather than overseeing the day-to-day maintenance of one location, he helps parks throughout the region tackle projects, troubleshoot problems, procure equipment and develop solutions. In his words, his job is to “connect dots.”

That might mean helping a park figure out how to approach a construction project, assisting with funding or procurement questions, coordinating equipment or providing hands-on training. He also assists with training, helping staff safely operate equipment and navigate everything from electrical work to large machinery.

For Brandon, effective training isn't about knowing every answer. It's about knowing where to find the right answer. “You don't have to know everything,” he said. “You just have to know where the resources are.”

That philosophy also reflects his approach to learning. Brandon considers himself a problem solver who enjoys finding creative solutions to unusual challenges. Even after completing a project, he tends to look back and consider how he could have done it better the next time. “I will never leave a project that I'm not satisfied with,” he said.

His current work includes projects such as the remodel of the Woods Bay State Park office and planning for a new maintenance shop at Myrtle Beach State Park. He also plays a role in the development of new state parks, working with engineers and staff to help design facilities, campgrounds and signage that incorporate lessons learned from years of experience in the field.

While his job now involves more office work, phone calls and planning than hands-on maintenance, Brandon still enjoys the opportunities to step in and help a park with a project. “It's always fun when a park asks me to come help for a day,” he said. “It's awesome being able to take your past experience and help change the design and make things better.”

After nearly two decades in the Park Service, Brandon still encourages people who are interested in a career with South Carolina State Parks to get involved. His advice? Build connections. Volunteering, developing relationships and establishing a reputation as someone who works hard can make a lasting difference, he said. Once you're in the park service, those same relationships can help open doors to new opportunities.

“Creating connections and friendships is the way to do it,” Brandon said. “Creating a name for yourself, and in a good way, and having a lot of people speak highly of you will get you a long way.”

When he's not traveling between parks or working on maintenance projects, Bowers is still drawn to the outdoors. He enjoys off-roading, riding motorcycles, hiking and whitewater rafting, along with traveling and exploring new places.

He's also working toward another personal goal: becoming an Ultimate Outsider. Brandon is just four parks away from visiting all of South Carolina's state parks. He doesn't have a favorite state park; instead, he appreciates what each one offers.“There is no one park that does it all,” he said. “You get so many different experiences at each park.”

What began as an unexpected detour from his original plans has become nearly two decades of learning, leading and problem-solving. Today, Brandon gets to draw on everything he's learned, from construction and maintenance to park operations and leadership, to help build what comes next.

Interested in finding your own path with South Carolina State Parks? Click here to see our current full-time job openings, or reach out to a park near you for part-time opportunities. 

 

 

 

 

September 2026