R2P Innovations CEO to keynote SC Manufacturing Expo

The founder of the fastest-growing manufacturing company in the country by revenue will deliver a keynote at the annual South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo.

Tony Deering, founder and CEO of Ladson-based R2P Innovations, which manufactures bulletproof steel doors for classrooms, will deliver a keynote address at the conference’s Palmetto Proud awards luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Greenville Convention Center.

Click here to purchase tickets to the South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo.

R2P Innovations was recently named the top-pacing manufacturing company in the country on Inc. 5000’s latest list, and it is ranked No. 5 overall. The company experienced nearly 20,000% revenue growth from 2021-24.

In addition to founding R2P Innovations, Deering, a native of South Africa, launched Pegasus Steel, which he grew from a small fabrication business into a 260-person operation with three facilities in the Lowcountry.

Deering began his career in a South African steel yard before serving as an officer in the elite Airborne Forces. He studied business management at Damelin School of Business and is an experienced pilot, parachutist and endurance athlete.

“Tony Deering has a proven track record of launching businesses and building them into successful enterprises right here in South Carolina, emphasizing The Palmetto State’s growing reputation for innovation and scalability on the nation’s manufacturing landscape,” said Jason Thomas, executive editor of SC Biz News, which hosts the annual South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo. “Those attending our manufacturing conference will gain valuable insight from Tony about how to grow their business and build a culture of innovation and strength.”

Deering’s keynote will be followed by the second-annual Palmetto Proud awards, which recognizes unique South Carolina-manufactured products and the companies behind them.

In addition to Deering, Joe Klecha, chief nuclear officer at Columbia-based The Nuclear Co., will deliver a keynote addressing his company’s aim to combat a looming energy crisis in the U.S., specifically how it relates to South Carolina’s manufacturing industry.

The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion about how manufacturers can strategize around the increasing demand on South Carolina’s power grid, with insight from industry and government leaders on the future of manufacturing and energy.

Click here to view the agenda for the 2025 South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo.

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