Best and Brightest: Jordan King

Jordan King

Co-Owner

Stella's Homemade Ice Cream and Cakes

Grand Strand

Age 33

My name is Jordan King, a proud Surfside Beach local, graduate of Coastal Carolina University, and an adviser for the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Theta Beta Chapter. Building a business from the ground up has been one of my greatest accomplishments, but what I am most proud of is creating a place where my young employees can grow, learn strong work ethics, and discover their potential. My long-term goal is to build a business that lasts, rooted in faith, quality, and community. Giving back means using what we've built to help support local schools, churches, and nonprofits, and hopefully leaving a legacy of service and genuine impact.

 Favorite Quote and Why: My favorite quote is by Oscar Wilde, "If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it; that is your punishment. If you never know what you want to be, if you live what some might call the dynamic life but what I will call the artistic life, if each day you are unsure of who you are and what you know, you will never become anything, and that is your reward.” I strongly resonate with this quote – even having this wonderful ice cream business, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up; keeping the mindset of "the world is your oyster." I firmly believe staying open and unsure leaves room for curiosity and growth.

Definition of a Successful Leader: I define a successful leader as someone who builds loyalty and growth in their team, not just hitting targets and profit margins. When you create an environment where employees feel genuinely invested in, you're building something meaningful and lasting. Great leadership, to me, is about trust, consistency, and leaving a positive impact on both people and the community. 

Advice to 18-Year-Old Self: There's a verse from a Billy Joel song, "Vienna" that says, "slow down, you're doing fine. You can't be everything you want to be before your time." This verse ties closely with my faith, in the reminder to trust God's timing. Reflecting on that verse, I would advise my teenage self that oftentimes, becoming is more important than arriving. Those lyrics have become a reminder that life isn't meant to be rushed, and meaningful growth takes patience.