Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston
Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston is a visionary, who by example, helps bring about change for the good of others. As Administrator of the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, she has boldly used her position to improve the quality of life for the good people of South Carolina.
Distinguishing herself as a people’s advocate, she successfully implemented innovative consumer programs and championed legislation that protects the interest of consumers, specifically on predatory and mortgage lending. She directed an expansion of the Department’s outreach services by opening consumer locations across the state and advancing ongoing dialogue with businesses. Pinkston also led the Department in establishing the Mortgage Fraud Task Force and partnered with the state Attorney General to launch the Mortgage Fraud Hotline. Her influence extends beyond the state as a featured speaker on consumer issues across the United States, in Mexico and Canada.
Pinkston has been honored by the Direct Selling Education Foundation with the prestigious ‘Circle of Honor Award’ for leadership in the consumer movement; the ‘Florence Kelly Leadership Award’ from the National Consumers League; the SC NAACP ‘Presidential Citation’ for protecting consumer rights, and was inducted into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame. Additionally, in 2005, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators recognized the Department as the National Consumer Agency of the Year.
Her civic engagement includes serving as president, Columbia (SC) Chapter, The Links, Inc.; past board chair, National Consumers League (Washington); past board chair, Center for Cancer Treatment and Research, Palmetto Richland Hospital; and past member, National Executive Board of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A Hartsville native, she is the daughter of Theodore and Lovis Thomas. She and her husband Jerome L. Pinkston, Jr. have two daughters, Joya and Paula Payton (Tony).