Columbia Companies is a privately held United States based group of business that is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. The organization is comprised of two separate subsidiaries, Columbia Development and Columbia Investments. Columbia Development is active in commercial real estate development and acquisition primarily in the southeastern United States. Columbia Investments takes strategic positions in United States based operating businesses in the retail services and manufacturing sectors. Columbia Companies was founded in 1997 and is led by founding partners Edward C Mann III, W. Jenkins Williamson Jr., and Edward C. Mann IV.