A Season of Gratitude and Purpose: A Thanksgiving Message from Jody Chastain, CEO of Ritedose

November 18, 2025

Ritedose has been built on the generosity, mentorship, and support of countless individuals and organizations across South Carolina. And with that good fortune comes a responsibility to give back to our patients, our people, and our community.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on what’s been a truly momentous year and the many blessings that have shaped both my personal journey and the growth of our organization. Although I typically don’t put much stock in anniversaries, 2025 does mark 30 years since the company’s founding, so it is a natural moment to look in the rearview mirror to see how far we have come and reflect on what brought us here.

Over the past 3 decades, the company has transformed from a showroom for Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) manufacturing machinery, to a contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in sterile, unit-dose medications, and additionally added capabilities to produce our own generic respiratory and ophthalmic medications for patients in need of affordable options.

To support this transformation, our facilities have grown tenfold: from 50,000 to more than 500,000 square feet, culminating in this year’s grand opening of Ritedose Performance Park and our new distribution and logistics center. But growth isn’t just measured in square footage; it’s measured in lives touched and jobs created. Over that same period, our staff has grown from 11 employees to more than 600—a gain of over 500 jobs that support families across our region and strengthen the local economy.

As I look at the factors that have driven this exponential growth, one thing stands out. Ritedose has been built on the generosity, mentorship, and support of countless individuals and organizations across South Carolina. And with that good fortune comes a responsibility to give back to our patients, our people, and our community.

I was born and raised in South Carolina, and I owe much of my success to the people and institutions across the Palmetto State who invested in me. From my formative high school years in Liberty, SC, to my early days at Fuji, to my first role at Ritedose in 2005 as Materials Manager, mentors like Mrs. Kathy Duncan Grant and Ms. Carolyn Brice (leading student council), and other colleagues and leaders, such as Mr. Harry Watanable, helped me translate experience into impact.

Inspired by my own journey and by Booker T. Washington’s words, “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else,” as CEO, I have sought to infuse that same spirit of generosity into our organizational mission. It is a mindset that serves us well.

At Ritedose, giving back is central to our growth strategy and corporate culture. We believe that blessed organizations should bless others, which is why this year, we launched “1000 Hours of Purpose,” a bold new volunteer initiative that goes beyond traditional corporate philanthropy. Instead of simply encouraging staff to volunteer on their own time, Ritedose is donating 1,000 hours of employee paid volunteer time to support local organizations addressing urgent needs like hunger, housing, and youth support.

In partnership with United Way of the Midlands, our teams have supported:

Homeless No More, a transitional shelter for families

Home Works of America, which provides critical home repairs for low-income residents

Palmetto Place, a safe haven for homeless youth

Transitions, which helps individuals move from homelessness to stable housing

Recent volunteer activities include:

Sorting donations at Harvest Hope Food Bank

Delivering meals through Senior Resources’ Meals on Wheels

Organizing inventory for The Cooperative Ministry

These contributions bring our mission to life in tangible ways and are quickly becoming one of the most meaningful ways we live our values.

But investments in programs like 1000 Hours of Purpose are more than charitable gestures; they’re strategic investments in our people. Helping others fosters connection, deepens engagement, and builds a shared sense of purpose. The result is a culture that retains talent and drives performance.

As a manufacturer of sterile medications, quality is non-negotiable. Our mantra is “Right First Time,” and we are driven to exceed industry standards. Yes, our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities matter—but they depend on skilled, knowledgeable people.

It’s our culture that helps us retain talent and consistently achieve 90–93% RFT metric, compared to the industry average of often below 85%. When we invest in our people, we improve operations and strengthen the foundation for our future.

This season reminds us that gratitude isn’t just a feeling, it’s a practice. So, as we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I invite you to reflect on the blessings in your life and to consider how you might share them. Whether through volunteering, mentoring, or simply lending a hand, each of us has the power to lift others, and in doing so, lift ourselves.

Warmly,
Jody Chastain
CEO, Ritedose Corporation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the central message of Jody Chastain’s Thanksgiving reflection?

Summary: The message emphasizes gratitude, purposeful growth, community support, and the responsibility to give back.

Full answer: Jody Chastain reflects on the people, organizations, and communities that have contributed to the growth of Ritedose and his own professional journey. He explains that success brings a responsibility to support patients, employees, and the surrounding community. The message presents gratitude as something that should be expressed through service, mentorship, and meaningful action.

What milestone did Ritedose celebrate in 2025?

Summary: Ritedose marked 30 years since the company’s founding.

Full answer: The anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on how the organization has evolved over three decades. Ritedose began as a showroom for Blow-Fill-Seal manufacturing machinery and developed into a pharmaceutical company specializing in sterile unit-dose medications. Its capabilities now include CDMO services and the production of generic respiratory and ophthalmic medications.

How has Ritedose grown during its first three decades?

Summary: Ritedose has expanded its facilities, workforce, manufacturing capabilities, and role within the pharmaceutical industry.

Full answer: Ritedose’s facilities grew from approximately 50,000 square feet to more than 500,000 square feet. Its workforce expanded from 11 employees to more than 600, creating over 500 jobs that support families and the regional economy. The opening of Ritedose Performance Park and a new distribution and logistics center represented additional milestones in that growth.

What role has South Carolina played in the Ritedose story?

Summary: South Carolina’s people, institutions, and organizations have provided mentorship, opportunity, and support throughout the company’s development.

Full answer: Jody Chastain describes Ritedose as an organization shaped by the generosity and support of people across South Carolina. He also credits mentors, educators, colleagues, and community institutions with contributing to his personal and professional development. This support has influenced Ritedose’s commitment to creating jobs, strengthening the local economy, and giving back throughout the state.

What is the 1000 Hours of Purpose initiative?

Summary: The initiative provides 1,000 hours of paid employee volunteer time to support community organizations.

Full answer: Through 1000 Hours of Purpose, Ritedose enables employees to volunteer during compensated work time rather than requiring all service activities to occur outside working hours. The program supports organizations addressing challenges such as hunger, homelessness, housing instability, and youth support. It reflects Ritedose’s goal of making community involvement an active part of its corporate culture.

Which community needs are supported through Ritedose’s volunteer efforts?

Summary: Ritedose employees support programs focused on food insecurity, housing, homelessness, vulnerable families, young people, and older adults.

Full answer: Working with United Way of the Midlands and other local organizations, Ritedose teams have contributed to shelters, home-repair programs, youth services, food assistance, and housing-stability initiatives. Activities have included sorting food donations, delivering meals to older adults, and organizing supplies for community programs. These efforts turn the company’s values into practical assistance for people throughout the region.

Why does Ritedose view giving back as more than corporate philanthropy?

Summary: Ritedose considers community service an investment in its employees, organizational culture, and long-term performance.

Full answer: Volunteer service allows employees to work together outside their usual responsibilities while contributing to meaningful community outcomes. These experiences can strengthen personal connections, deepen engagement, and create a shared sense of purpose. Ritedose believes that investing in people and communities also helps build a culture capable of retaining talent and supporting operational excellence.

How are employee engagement and pharmaceutical quality connected at Ritedose?

Summary: Engaged and knowledgeable employees help Ritedose maintain disciplined processes and demanding quality standards.

Full answer: Advanced facilities and manufacturing technologies depend on skilled people who understand their responsibilities and take ownership of quality. By investing in employees and building a strong organizational culture, Ritedose supports collaboration, retention, and consistent performance. This connection is especially important in sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing, where attention to detail is essential.

What does the Right First Time principle mean at Ritedose?

Summary: Right First Time reflects a commitment to completing pharmaceutical manufacturing activities correctly, consistently, and according to established requirements.

Full answer: Right First Time is a quality mindset that emphasizes preparation, process discipline, and accountability. It encourages employees to prevent errors rather than depend on corrections later in the manufacturing process. According to the message, Ritedose consistently achieves a Right First Time performance level of approximately 90 to 93 percent.

How does Jody Chastain describe gratitude as a practice?

Summary: Gratitude becomes meaningful when people use their time, experience, and resources to help others.

Full answer: The Thanksgiving message encourages people to move beyond feeling thankful and express gratitude through action. Volunteering, mentoring, sharing knowledge, and offering practical assistance are presented as ways individuals and organizations can support others. This approach connects personal gratitude with Ritedose’s broader commitment to patients, employees, and communities.