Dennis C. Hayes is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, whose family has lived in the Upstate region for more than 280 years. He graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1968 - and went on to study Physics and Computer Science at Georgia Tech. That deep-rooted connection to place has shaped his long-term commitment to the Upstate's economic and technological future. Hayes is best known for founding Hayes Microcomputer Products in Norcross, Georgia, where he invented the Hayes Smartmodem and developed the Hayes AT command set - the technical and operational foundation for computer-to-computer communication over telephone networks. These innovations became the global industry standard and played a central role in enabling the early expansion of the internet, giving millions of users their first practical access to digital connectivity. During the rapid growth of the Atlanta technology region in the late 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Hayes was actively engaged in both business and public service. He served on the Governor's Council for Science and Technology in Georgia, contributing to initiatives that supported the state's high-technology economy.

That period gave him firsthand experience with how coordinated investment, infrastructure, education, and private-sector leadership can combine to build a successful innovation ecosystem. After decades of building and leading technology ventures, Hayes returned to Spartanburg in 2014 with a clear purpose: to apply lessons learned from high-growth regions like Atlanta to the Upstate of South Carolina. Recognizing the strategic importance of the I-85 corridor anchored between Clemson and Charlotte, he became deeply involved in regional innovation and entrepreneurial development. Hayes emphasizes system-level thinking in economic development - the conviction that beneficial growth does not happen by accident but requires structured, disciplined planning and continuous improvement. Through his leadership of SPARTANSFIRST and the American Technology Venture Lab (ATVL), he has worked to connect experienced mentors with emerging entrepreneurs, advance practical commercialization of science and technology, and build a more coordinated regional innovation system. His purpose is clear: ensure that the Upstate region and Spartanburg County remain a great place to live, grow a business, and raise a family.