July 24, 2015 UBJ by Community Journals

JULY 24, 2015 | VOL. 4 ISSUE 30

adventures in travelers rest Photo by William Crooks

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“THE PALMETTO BANK IS A TRUE PARTNER.” “The Palmetto Bank has been our partner for over 20 years. Having a local contact in the Upstate that we can call anytime makes a real difference. Through our partnership with The Palmetto Bank, we’ve grown to be a full-service veterinary clinic. Their tailored solutions have allowed us to finance new buildings and equipment – so we can treat more patients within our clinic rather than referring them elsewhere for specialized treatment. Our experience with The Palmetto Bank has been great and allows us to focus on using our skills to the fullest.”

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

| ENERGY | 3

Pipeline company, AG differ in law’s interpretation Court will likely have to decide whether proposed Palmetto Pipeline could use eminent domain CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF

clandrum@communityjournals.com A court will likely have to decide whether the company that wants to build an oil pipeline from Belton to Jacksonville, Fla., has the right to use Existing Plantation eminent domain to acquire rights-ofPiping System way for the project. Palmetto Lease of South Carolina Solicitor General Plantation New Capacity Robert Cook wrote in an opinion that Proposed Palmetto lawmakers did not intend to include Pipeline private companies operating pipelines for private customers when it extended eminent domain rights to “pipeline companies.” Houston-based Kinder Morgan wants to build a 360-mile Palmetto Pipeline to carry up to 7 million gallons of gasoline, diesel and ethanol a day. through South Carolina and Georgia and cross five major rivers and private property owned by hundreds “In this instance, we have substantial doubt that of people. the right of condemnation to ‘pipeline companies’ conveys such power to an oil pipeline company,” “We assume one or more landowners in this inCook wrote in the opinion, which is advisory and stance will contest in court the right of the oil not legally binding. pipeline company to condemn property in South The proposed route for the pipeline would run Carolina,” the opinion said. “We believe there are

good legal arguments to challenge the oil pipeline company’s right of condemnation.” Kinder Morgan spokeswoman Melissa Ruiz said the company disagrees with the opinion. “As the Attorney General’s opinion notes, there is another reading of the statute that supports our view,” she said in an email. She said Kinder Morgan is committed to negotiating route access with South Carolina landowners for “full and fair compensation whenever possible.” “Kinder Morgan is hopeful that the issue addressed in the Attorney General’s opinion never has to be determined in court,” she said. Ruiz said the company believes the project will serve a necessary public purpose that will benefit South Carolina and its residents through high-paying jobs, increased state and local tax revenue, and safe and efficient transportation of petroleum products that will result in lower prices at the pump and decrease the burden on motor transportation systems.

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4 | THE RUNDOWN |

TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK

UBJ

07.24. 2015

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 30 Featured this issue: Travelers Rest aims to expand downtown boom TR mayor describes town’s “perfect storm” Medical office park coming to Verdae

MONEY SHOT: Construction on the Savannah River Plant in Aiken, S.C., began in 1952. Today known as the Savannah River Site (SRS), the facility leverages regional partnerships to solve national environmental cleanup, nuclear security, and clean energy challenges. Read more on page 12. Photo provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.

WORTH REPEATING “Internet content lives forever. Think about that for a second every time you’re about to hit POST.” Page 9

“Things in my lab are briefed to the president every day – that’s how you know when you’re doing something that matters.” Page 12

“I love everyone who’s ever worked here for all they’ve contributed to the place, ’cause they were all underpaid.” Page 20

TBA Word is that two downtown Greenville area restaurants are up for sale. Rare Steakhouse on the Piazza and The Bohemian Restaurant are both listed on a popular businessfor-sale website.

VERBATIM

On phone shopping “Probably getting a new phone. iPhone or Android?” U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Twitter, shortly after fellow presidential candidate Donald Trump gave out Graham’s personal cellphone number during a campaign stop in Beaufort County.

16 22 25

upstatebusinessjournal.com

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

| RETAIL | 5

Lowes Foods aims to ‘bring local to life’ Grocery chain eyeing up to five Upstate locations SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com As Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Lowes Foods prepares its entry into the competitive Upstate grocery market, UBJ sat down with Michael Moore, senior vice president and chief marketing officer with the company. Earlier this week, Lowes Foods held a groundbreaking ceremony for its first Greenville-area store at the intersection of Suber and Hammett Bridge roads in Greer. The grocery store chain currently has 90 locations in North Carolina, six in South Carolina and one in Virginia. Moore shared his insights on the company’s new concept and strategy and what sets it apart from its competition.

What differentiates Lowes Foods from other grocery stores?

Why the expansion into the Upstate?

There are a number of things that are really interesting and exciting in this area. First and foremost, it’s the growth. There’s a lot of dynamic growth moving forward and that’s exciting to us. Also, this market is vibrant and really interesting. We believe we have a concept that is really unique and we can come to a market that is as cool and growing as Greenville is and that people will rally around it and enjoy.

What makes Lowes Foods different?

We’ve built our model going forward with deep insights from our guests. We spent some time doing over 120 ethnographies where we spent time in the

Wealth Management • Estate Planning Alternative Investments and More

Securities are offered through SANDLAPPER Securities, LLC (“SLS”), a registered brokerdealer with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Investing in securities whether public or private involve risks including but not limited to the potential loss of some or all of your investment dollars. You should review any planned financial transactions that may have tax or legal implications with your personal tax or legal advisor. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and investments are not FDIC insured.

>>– making the product better and then taking

the time to bring that together like the rituals and celebrations. When hot chicken comes out of the rotisserie oven, we do our own version of the Chicken Dance and invite guests to join in. It sounds kind of hokey but when you experience it, it’s really engaging and fun. It’s a celebration of food and part of what we want to bring back to the grocery experience.

What are some of the “a-ha” moments that came out of the ethnographies that you conducted?

People want to be inspired, and that is a very key insight. Escapism is another one. Being con-

“It’s about, how do you fundamentally engage a guest that goes way beyond just being friendly? It’s telling stories and showing a passion for food.” homes of our guests getting deeper into what they truly care about. That started us down the journey of building our original concepts. Those are built around a couple of key things. Most important is our connection to local. We want to make sure that we bring local to life; that you can see that local connection coming through. For example, take our Chicken Kitchen. First, making sure we use local chickens. Then, the breading that we use on the chickens, making sure that’s locally sourced. We take all of that and make sure we are bringing that to life

We have a ton of respect for our competitors. We’re Carolinas born and raised and all of our stores with the exception of one in Virginia. That’s fundamentally different than, say, Harris Teeter, which is now

owned by a mega conglomerate of Kroger. When you get into the stores and really experience them, you’ll see the work we do with our people really stands out. Our training isn’t just about being able to manage a produce section or a deli; it’s about, how do you fundamentally engage a guest that goes way beyond just being friendly? It’s telling stories and showing a passion for food.

For 20 years, she’s seen you invest in her life. Today, she sees you invest in her dreams.

stantly connected to technology, people want an escape when they can take one. People also love storytelling and they not only love to see the product but want to hear the story behind it. “Where did you get the fish?” “Tell me about the farmer you partnered with.” “Why are those peaches important?”

What is the most popular experience in the new-concept Lowes Foods?

It depends on who you ask, but one that stands out is our Pick and Prep concept. Everyone gets it instantly. The idea of picking your own fresh produce and dropping it off to one of our Pick and Prep Chefs and having them slice it and dice it exactly how you

want while you shop and then picking it back up – it doesn’t get much better than that.

What are your expansion plans for the Upstate?

I can’t give detailed locations yet as we’re still working through those, but we’re planning on three to five Upstate locations in the next few years. We think this is an amazing new market and has the potential to be a great new home to us as we move forward. We’re also searching for two to three new markets within the Carolinas. With the new concept and new strategic plan, we are fundamentally rebranding and repositioning our company.

6 | REAL ESTATE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |

UBJ

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

RealPage to move to Office Park Patewood

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office park in Greenville has gotten a recent makeover and several new tenants, thanks to new owner Garrison Investment Group. Garrison, which now owns 450,000 square feet at Office Park Patewood, 120,000 square feet at Brookfield Plaza and 120,000 square feet at 651 Brookfield, has completed more than $2 million in recent capital improvements and amenity upgrades, including a state-of-theart tenant fitness center and a new park-wide signage program at Office Park Patewood, and lobby upgrades to all buildings. The leasing team of Charles Gouch, Blaine Hart and Shelby Dodson at CBRE attribute the nearly 100,000 square feet in recent leases signed, including several sizable leases at Office Park Patewood, to those upgrades. “Tenants and the market have taken notice,” Gouch said. “Ownership’s meaningful improvements and upgrades have only enhanced the already desirable portfolio.” RealPage, a Texas-based company which provides services, screening and Web-based property management software for the multifamily industry, will be relocating from its existing space at 1511 S. Batesville Road in Greer. “RealPage’s lease was a significant win for the portfolio,” Hart said. “The space’s previous tenant, Fluor, left a sizable vacancy. We were successful in backfilling the space with RealPage thanks to the Park’s modern enhancements and overall appeal.” The Gordian Group relocated to Patewood because of its centralized location and the planned updates and amenities, said Roy Kemper, chief financial officer. “We needed larger offices so we could better serve a growing list of clients. Our employees love the easy access to local business, the workout facility and other amenities.”

07.24. 2015

e Verda

$2M makeover attracts 100,000 SF in new leases in three Greenville office parks

The six-building Patewood

CH2M plans relocation to Greenville Fortune 500 engineering firm will move 350 jobs from Spartanburg ASHLEY BONCIMINO | STAFF

NEW OFFICE PARK TENANTS OFFICE PARK PATEWOOD (PATEWOOD DRIVE AND COMMONWEALTH DRIVE)

21,000 SF 46,400 SF 8,000 SF 5,000 SF 5,000 SF

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aboncimino@communityjournals.com Denver-based global engineering firm CH2M will relocate its Upstate operations from Spartanburg to Greenville County, shifting 350 jobs and adding “dozens” by moving to a 70,000-square-foot built-to-suit facility on Bonaventure Circle off of Verdae Boulevard. A Fortune 500 company, CH2M employs 25,000 worldwide for projects related to transportation, water, environment, nuclear, industry, oil & gas, industry and urban environments. The new facility is nearly half the size of CH2M’s existing operations in Spartanburg, where it leases over 127,000 square feet at 1500 International Drive. The relocation will allow CH2M to “significantly grow its operations in the Upstate, allowing the company to better meet increasing customer demand,” according to a news release. “We look forward to establishing a state-of-the-art, next-generation workplace within the Verdae Community with its many recreational amenities and nearby commercial districts,” said CH2M Regional Vice President Kent E. Smith in a statement. “CH2M is often ranked as one of the best companies to work for in

the U.S., and our goal is to be the engineering employer of choice in the Upstate community.” CH2M considered technology, building infrastructure and location for the project, which has been approved for job development credits by the Coordinating Council for Economic Development. The City of Greenville has approved business license tax abatements and the County of Greenville has approved real and personal property abatements, according to a release. Developed by Atlanta-based real estate developer Holder Properties, the new facility will be one of several interconnected professional and corporate office sites at Verdae. CH2M aims to begin hiring for new positions during the second quarter of 2016. “Following an extensive space search, it was determined that the build-to-suit in Verdae with Holder Properties would provide CH2M the opportunity to create an open, collaborative, highly-efficient workplace that caters to their business needs,” said Monty Harris, corporate managing director of commercial real estate firm Savills Studley, who advised CH2M. “Additionally, the suburban live-workplay environment is a great fit for CH2M’s growing, dynamic workforce and provides Verdae a desirable professional services tenant.”

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07.24. 2015

Everyone has the potential to be financially independent The keys to creating prosperity: Spend less and invest – starting right now By JEFF HERMAN Wagner Wealth Management If there is one question I get asked frequently, it’s “Do you have a hot stock tip?” Unfortunately, most people are looking for a silver bullet or a single stock that will make them wealthy. A few lucky individuals will buy the next Apple or Amazon stock and strike it rich – but for the majority of other investors, there is a different road to travel. The sad fact is that most people will never reach financial prosperity, although everyone is capable of reaching this target. That’s right: Everyone has the potential to be financially independent if they are willing to put in the time and effort. So what do you need to do to reach financial independence? SPEND LESS You can’t achieve financial independence without making some sacrifices in your life. The No. 1 requirement is you must spend less than you earn. That’s it. My suggestion is to target a savings rate of 25 percent of your income every year. I realize this number is shocking to most people, but you just can’t get there without saving a significant portion of your income. Most people will think this is impossible and will not even look for ways to cut spending, but here are places we can start. To cut spending, you must acknowledge the war being waged for your

budget. Think of all the marketing ideas that are thrown at us on any given day. You need and deserve an elaborate vacation, house, car or clothes; no wonder most people have very little saved for retirement. We all make daily choices when it comes to our budgets, but areas to cut spending are there if we choose. For example, how many people immediately want to buy the latest smartphone when the new version is released? How many of us choose to eat out rather than cook at home? Perhaps one of the biggest culprits is buying a new car while the older one is still working just fine. These are just a few examples of ways to jumpstart your savings or retirement nest egg. START NOW Dieting and s a v i n g money a r e closely related. We have all had that feeling that “my clothes are just a bit too tight; I need to lose a few pounds.” It’s the No. 1 New Year’s resolution, the most frequently broken resolution because we can always put dieting off until tomorrow. I’ve said it myself, “I’ll start Monday.” “I’ll start after my birthday celebration.” “I’ll start after the holidays.” Putting it off never gets you the reward, while starting now puts you on the right path.

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LOCAL COMPANIES

GOOD FIELD POSITION Greenville Sports Leagues scores major points in the Upstate market and beyond

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You can’t achieve financial independence without making some sacrifices in your life. The No. 1 requirement is you must spend less than you earn. The same can be said for saving. You can get a real feeling of pride from watching your brokerage account grow. Just remember the first $1,000 or the first $10,000 is the hardest. Once you take that first step and feel the rewards, it becomes easier to stay the course. INVEST The old saying goes: “Do you work for your money or does your money work for you?” To reach any level of financial prosperity, you must have some money working for you. You must be an owner. Now, I’m not saying to go out and buy a company – I’m saying over a longer period of time, you will grow your wealth faster by purchasing stocks and thus becoming an owner of that company. One of the reasons people don’t buy stocks is the fear of making a mistake such as buying the wrong stock or buying at the wrong time. There is really a fairly easy way to overcome this. Purchase the stock of some very well known companies whose products you use every day. This is not a new approach, but some people are still afraid of making a mistake. If you really don’t like the idea of buying an individual stock, purchase a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF). These investments hold many different stocks and lessen the potential of buying a stock at the wrong time. If you don’t know how to get started, please talk with a local investment professional. There are many financial professionals who will be happy to help you start and monitor your progress on the road to financial prosperity.

upstatebusinessjournal.com

THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF BUSINESS

| DIGITAL MAVEN | 9

Is there a blogger inside of you? By LAURA HAIGHT, president, portfoliosc.com In the last 60 seconds while you’ve been deciding whether or not to read this article, here’s what’s been going on. • 347 new blog posts were published on Wordpress sites. • 571 new websites were created. • 684,478 pieces of content were posted on Facebook. • 100,000 tweets were sent. • 48 hours of new video were uploaded to YouTube. • 3,600 new photos were posted on Instagram. In that same 60 seconds, Google handled 2,000,000 search queries, according to DOMO (goo.gl/pQ1lA), a business analysis enterprise. Whew, that’s a lot of activity for a minute. What’s driving this explosion? “Content Marketing” is the buzzword describing the business of creating and publishing relevant content to attract and engage a specific audience for your business. Although you have lots of ways to get your information into the hands of an apparently insatiable Internet audience, one of the most accessible and potentially successful is to add a blog to your business website. There are some good reasons to start a blog – and some considerations that might make you think twice.

THE GOOD: Improve search rankings: A blog is one of the best ways to boost search rankings. Static websites don’t get much love from Google. Blogs give you regularly changing content and, if you do it right, links and referrals from other websites. These elevate you in Google’s eyes, boosting your ranking in searches and getting you noticed.

You have something to say: Blogs have finally given experts a direct communication channel to an audience. No longer do you have to pitch your ideas to legacy media, sit around waiting for a reporter or local blogger to call for an interview, or send out your own press releases through a distribution service. Own your content: Three types of people populate the Internet. Consumers who read content posted by others. Curators who gather content on specific topics and aggregate it for readers with similar interests, sometimes creating fairly robust digital magazines, websites and newsletters. And finally, creators who develop unique content for a specific audience or on a particular topic. Owning your own content, rather than just promoting or curating others, is a great reason to blog.

THE CONSIDERATIONS: Can you make it good? Do you care if it’s good? Unlike legacy organizations that vetted and published content such as newspapers, magazines, professional journals and trade publications, the Internet has no quality or accuracy “badge.” Your content is served up right along with your competitors and, worse, noisemakers who may have no idea what they’re talking about. It’s up to the reader to decide what’s accurate. And their opinions are often based on nothing more than how high up the content was in the search

“Good” and “popular” are not the same thing. Internet content lives forever. Think about that for a second every time you’re about to hit POST. results. Few of us ever get to the second or third page of a search, right? “Good” and “popular” are not the same thing. Internet content lives forever. Think about that for a second every time you’re about to hit POST. Can you keep it up? Writing isn’t easy. Writing regularly while also trying to run a business? Well, that can be onerous. Nothing is sadder than a blog where the most recent post is months (or years) old. Blogging.org reports that 60 percent of business websites include a blog, but of those 65 percent haven’t been updated in a year or more (goo.gl/SMEqq). Writing is a disciplined task, so pick a frequency and stick to it. If you’ve got something to say but not the time to say it, consider working with a freelancer. Many excellent writers are available. And yes, a lot of online sites are available where you can hire work done for as

little as $5. When you make a decision about who to work with, remember it’s your name and reputation you put out in the world with each post. Can you sell it? It’s not “Field of Dreams.” If you write it, you’ve got to promote it. Find websites with commenting and blogs on similar topics as yours and write comments with links to your posts. Publicize your posts on social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter – or others where your specific audience congregates. And keep it up. A blog post can have a long shelf life, but you have to keep promoting it and yourself. A loyal audience takes time to develop. Laura Haight is the president of Portfolio, a communications company that helps small business make the most of the fusion of emerging technology and communication.

Become A Mentor For Young Adults Ages 18-26 Connections Count helps prepare young adults in need to cross an important bridge in self-sufficiency and independence. Through connections count, caring staff and volunteers make sure these young adults have every opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge to transition successfully in to adulthood. Mentors must be 21 and older with a desire to guide young adults in making wise life decisions.

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10 | INNOVATE |

MOVERS, SHAKERS AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE

UBJ

07.24. 2015

The state needs your leadership An open letter to Gov. Nikki Haley, S.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman and S.C. House Speaker Jay Lucas By JOHN WARNER publilsher, SwampFox

Dear Gov. Haley, President Pro Tempore Leatherman and Speaker Lucas: This summer, many South Carolinians have seen through fresh eyes the opportunities and challenges of building a shared future together. Many of us are grateful for your leadership in the wake of the tragedy in Charleston. I’m writing to ask you to build on this momentum by empowering South Carolinians in two areas critical to our future together: public education and economic development. PUBLIC EDUCATION The key to outstanding 21st-century public education is empowering teachers as professionals. South Carolina can become a global leader in

universal, publicly funded education where teachers are respected as professionals who are creating a diversity of education options that match the diversity of children served, and where parents can choose the best educational options for their children. At the state level, public education is controlled by three independent entities: the State Department of Education led by the state superintendent of education, an elected constitutional officer; the state Board of Education; and the Education Oversight Committee, neither of whom the superintendent reports to. South Carolina has 89 different school districts, some of which are whole counties and some of which are parts of counties, with at least three different models of governance and widely differing types and levels of funding. Layered on top is the U.S. Department of Education bureaucracy and funding. If we set out to create a more dysfunctional, inefficient and

ADD A LITTLE BRICK AND MORTAR TO YOUR STOCKS AND BONDS You know that investment opportunity you heard about from your friends? By the time you’d heard about it, it was too late. You’re committed to striking while the iron is hot when the next opportunity arises. The only problem: beyond stocks and bonds, you’re not sure where to look. Not anymore. Meet RealOp Investments, a team of talented commercial real estate investment professionals who have the know how to recognize and create opportunity—at just the right time. If you haven’t made commercial real estate an integral part of your investment portfolio, it’s time to take action. Call 864.416.7265 for details or ask your fi nancial advisor about RealOp today.

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unaccountable public education system, we would be hard-pressed to improve on the system we have. We should restructure public education by eliminating the stifling bureaucracy and empowering educators in all schools with the responsibility and flexibility of those in charter schools.

our technical colleges have developed a skilled workforce as a magnet to recruit branch manufacturing. South Carolina should enhance our economic strategy by using our research universities to attract and develop top faculty, graduate students and undergraduates as magnets to draw high-

If we set out to create a more dysfunctional, inefficient and unaccountable public education system, we would be hard-pressed to improve on the system we have. At the highest levels of state government and the education establishment, we don’t trust teachers to perform as professionals. Rather than dealing with the real issue that we don’t believe our teachers are good enough, we have a high-stakes testing regime that warps education to teach to the test and drives out creative thinking. Education expert Sir Ken Robinson most eloquently states that public education globally takes innately curious first-graders and over 12 years systematically beats that out of them. We have some good schools serving affluent communities, but they do not to perform as well as peers across the country serving similar affluent communities. We have a few excellent schools serving poor students. The K-12 Legacy Charter School in Greenville serves the poorest neighborhoods in the county with a holistic approach, understanding that sick and hungry children have difficulty learning. The Pee Dee is proud that the Darlington County School District is a high-poverty district maintaining excellence across all its schools. Because we have a top-down, industrial factory model of education, it is very difficult for an inspired entrepreneurial educator to copy these successes. We can build world-class universal, publicly funded education by addressing the fundamental structural and governance problems to empower professional teachers to drive transformational innovation. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The key to outstanding 21st-century economic development is focusing on attracting, developing and retaining world-class talent. For decades,

er-value-added industrial R&D facilities and corporate headquarters. Michelin is a successful case study: We first recruited Michelin Manufacturing, then the Michelin Americas Research Corporation, and then the Michelin North America headquarters. About a decade ago, the Legislature made investments that have helped improve our research universities, such as the Centers for Economic Excellence Act, the University Infrastructure Act, the Life Sciences Act and the Venture Capital Act. Investments like these led to world-class university research centers like CUICAR, the McNair Center, and the Hollings Cancer Institute, as well as technical college facilities like the Hugh K. Leatherman Advanced Manufacturing Center at Florence-Darlington Technical College. We lost momentum during the financial crisis, and we need a new burst of investments to drive high value economic development for the next decade. An enhanced economic strategy should build on our deep international relationships by engaging corporations, economic developers, entrepreneurs, university researchers and the Legislature. I’ve met with leaders, from university presidents to industry R&D directors, economic development agency heads and entrepreneurial champions, and each agrees we can and must step up our game. There has been a sea change in South Carolina’s culture this summer. The state needs your leadership to develop and execute a comprehensive education and economic strategy to make the state a global powerhouse. Thank you for your service to South Carolina.

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12 | THE TAKEAWAY |

NOTES FROM THE BEST TALKS YOU MISSED

‘It’s a regional thing’ The director of the Savannah River site says local partnerships can lead to national solutions By MEGAN SHERARD,

communications Coordinator, Greenville Chamber

Dr. Terry A. Michalske recently spoke on the Savannah River Site’s (SRS) purpose, mission, and the many ways in which a national laboratory has a meaningful impact on the regional economy. The Savannah River Site is a key industrial complex in Aiken, S.C., responsible for environmental stewardship and cleanup, waste management and disposition of nuclear materials. The multi-program national laboratory located there supports SRS operations with necessary science and technology while providing practical, cost-effective solutions for the nation’s environ-

EVENT: The Greenville Chamber’s Friday Forum Series WHEN: June 26, 2015 WHERE: Embassy Suites Golf Resort & Conference Center FEATURE PRESENTATION: Dr. Terry A. Michalske, executive vice president and director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site TOPIC: Savannah River Site: Science and Technology for National Challenges and Regional Economies WHO WAS THERE: 100+ members of Greenville’s business community

Dr. Terry Michalske, second from left, joined Greenville Chamber members at their last Friday Forum.

mental cleanup, nuclear security, and clean energy challenges. SEEKING REGIONAL PARTNERS TO SOLVE NATIONAL ISSUES “Every company has to measure itself,” said Michalske. “We measure ourselves by how well we solve these big national problems.” The laboratory works extensively with industry, academia and government agencies to apply their unique expertise to challenges of mutual interest. “I’m proud to say that innovations from our lab have cut $5 billion in spending in the last five years,” Michalske said. Organizations nationwide are benefitting from the cutting-edge technology developed at the SRS. For example, a company in Texas responsible for the inspection of the anchors of cellphone towers has saved billions using the SRS’s imaging technology, enabling them to inspect the anchor without having to unearth it. This method of working individually with regions has led the SRS to become so successful at solving the big national problems. “My view of energy is it’s a

UBJ

07.24.2015

regional thing,” said Michalske. “As a national lab, the best thing we can do is work with regional partners.” This philosophy of taking complex challenges and solving them at a regional level has not only had an impact on our overall national economic competitiveness but also on our local economy. The SRS has had a $2.6 billion annual impact on South Carolina and Georgia. Currently, the site is working with companies in 24 states, yet there are only 10 agreements in South Carolina. There should be more, Michalske conceded, and he looks forward to the prospect of further forging partnerships at home. Michalske is also looking forward to furthering collaborations with federal programs, universities and industry. Partnerships with local universities have been quite successful with 400 projects involving regional university staff and hundreds of internship opportunities. The three-pronged approach of collaborating with universities, partnering with >>

upstatebusinessjournal.com

NOTES FROM THE BEST TALKS YOU MISSED

| THE TAKEAWAY | 13

With over 300 miles of shoreline, and only 45 minutes from Greenville, Lake Keowee is the ideal location for a weekend getaway or family estate. At Crescent Communities, we currently have several lakefront tracts for sale on Lake Keowee – ranging from 20 to 1000 acres in size. Below you’ll find just a few of our available tracts.

TRACT: 7077.01 Oconee County, SC Acres: 194.6 Price: $2,043,300

>> industry to commercialize technology, and continuing to ensure the success of the DOE helps the site to pursue a vision of fully integrating state and national partners in these key sectors. CONNECTING BIG LABS TO SMALL BUSINESS Though federal partners include the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon, industry partners include internationally recognized global brands like DuPont and Bridgestone, and the list of universities includes top-ranked Clemson University and Georgia Institute of Technology, the SRS isn’t just seeking the big, high-profile names. “In some ways, the big companies match up with the big national labs. We’re excited to cut through this red tape to reach small business,” Michalske said. In other states, voucher systems are used to give smaller companies access to facility experts, serving as a

high-powered consultant. “I’d love to see something like that in South Carolina to build the connectivity,” Michalske said. DOING SOMETHING THAT MATTERS The Savannah River Site strives to make sure the decision-makers – big or small, local or international – have solid solutions from which to pick. “Things in my lab are briefed to the president every day – that’s how you know when you’re doing something that matters,” Michalske said.

ENGAGE JULY

Greenville Chamber Friday Forum

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To view all of our listings visit

CRESCENTLAND.COM/KW

14 | MANUFACTURING

UBJ

Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance is One of Our Top 100 Sales Stars

07.24.2015

Small-town metal T&S Brass and Bronze Works chose Travelers Rest in 1978, and hasn’t regretted a day

“We applaud the Herlong Bates Burnett agency for its superior sales efforts and excellent representation of the State Auto companies to the community,” said Chairman/CEO Mike LaRocco. “We’re proud to have an agency like Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance representing our companies in South Carolina.” An independent insurance agency, Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance represents several companies and provides multiple lines of insurance to its customers. The State Auto Group markets its insurance products in 43 states and the District of Columbia through independent insurance agencies and brokers. The State Auto Group is rated A- (Excellent) by the A.M. Best Company.

Patrick Rawlins Producer/Sales

Tom Bates

Vice President, COO

Michael Herlong President, CIC

The opening ceremony of T&S Brass and Bronze Works' Travelers Rest facility

ASHLEY BONCIMINO | STAFF

aboncimino@communityjournals.com

Southwest of Travelers Rest’s rejuvenated Main Street, past the Swamp Rabbit Trail and wedged between rows of tidy houses and an industrial building or two, sits a global company that – admittedly by chance – chose to call the small Upstate town home before TR was cool. “It was strictly the toss of the coin,” said Claude Theisen, CEO of 68-year-old T&S Brass and Bronze Works, which relocated to Travelers Rest from New York in 1978. “It literally could have been anywhere.” Back in the 1970s, the family-operated company manufactured plumbing and food service parts primarily for the

domestic market, said Eva-Marie Fox, vice president of marketing. Today, the company employs about 350 people around the world – including manufacturing facilities in Travelers Rest and Shanghai – and serves customers on nearly every continent. At headquarters, a 15-foot ceiling-high case holds dozens of accolades for honors like “Best Plant in North America 2015,” and company employees have an average tenure of around 14 years. All of this while sticking to an “all for one” mentality that kept its entire trained staff on the payroll and working during the economic downturn, said Vice President of Human Resources Mary Alice Bowers. “We made the decision to cut pay across the board. Executive down, >>

Curtis Taylor

Vice President of Sales, CLCS

{BUSINESS} {PERSONAL} {LIFE/HEALTH}

864-527-0424 • insurancegreenvillesc.com

Photos provided

COLUMBUS (June 10, 2015) – The Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance agency of Greenville, S. C., is one of the State Auto Insurance Companies’ Top 100 Sales Stars of 2014. Our Top 100 agencies are those who qualify because of their customer service and sales successes within their communities.

The first employees of T&S Brass and Bronze Works in Travelers Rest

MANUFACTURING | 15

upstatebusinessjournal.com

Photo by Randy Hadaway

Real World Teaching for Real World Applications Upcoming courses Available in the Greenville Area Lean/Six Sigma Kaizen Leader Starts August 31

Photo by Ashley Boncimino

Up to 50% Funding May Be Available for Training

we took a percentage pay cut and retained our people,” said Bowers, who has been with the company for 24 years. “And I think because we were able to keep our trained workers, we were poised to get right back in … I didn’t have to retrain our work staff. We were able to go right back to business as usual.” Keeping workers on not only gave the company a good track record that boosted loyalty among employees, but gave them an edge when recruiting more talent, especially when paired with the city’s recent rejuvenation, she said. “Years ago we made sure we’d bring them somewhere in Greenville to showcase what a beautiful area it is, but now Travelers Rest has come into its own,”

said Bowers, who noted many T&S employees would actually prefer avoiding Greenville due to the longer commute. “It definitely helps with recruiting.” Even when manufacturing began shifting overseas, Fox said the company never once considered relocating from the Upstate, choosing instead to cut down on inefficiencies with lean manufacturing methods. T&S expanded with them via global sourcing, lightning-fast shipping methods and a facility in Shanghai. “If the Marriots and the McDonalds and the Burger Kings go global, then we go global with them,” said Fox. “ It’s being proactive and understanding what our customers need. … As their needs change, we try to get ahead of that.”

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A3 Problem Solving Aug 27 or Dec 3 5S Workshop Aug 25 PMP Certification Exam Training Oct 5-9

*These courses are available on-site at your facility. Contact us to learn more. For more information about any of our courses or to register, contact SCMEP at (864) 288-5687 or by email at events@scmep.org. You can also visit our website for more information: www.scmep.org.

16 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

UBJ

07.24.2015

The two TRs Main Street and the west side of Travelers Rest are booming—now the east side gets its turn ASHLEY BONCIMINO | STAFF

aboncimino@communityjournals.com Nearly 18 years after citizens spearheaded revitalization efforts in the Greenville County foothills, plans are brewing to bring together two very different sides of Travelers Rest. In the west, the much-acclaimed Main Street has transformed from a spartan five-lane highway to a

vibrant, walkable retail stretch with full occupancy for existing structures, according to City Administrator Dianna Turner. Now the city is shifting some attention to its east side – and everything in between – with still-pending plans for street improvements, residential, mixed use, national retailers and corporations along the fast-moving U.S. Highway 25 thoroughfare. “We’re fielding interest almost daily from national retailers interested in the area,” said Turner, who

launched a similar downtown revitalization effort in Landrum, S.C., before joining the city of Travelers Rest in 2005. “It’s been an ongoing process. People are now starting to recognize how things have changed.” The north-pointing U.S. Highway 25 – which also provides a direct route to Asheville, N.C. – has always been good for the city’s tax base, but there’s huge potential for more, according to longtime City Councilwoman Rebecca Cooper. The corridor re-

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | 17

upstatebusinessjournal.com cently brought in attractive retailers such as WalMart and Tractor Supply Co., and could nail down a $25 million investment (codename Project Wilbur, according to Greenville County Council documents) for a manufacturing facility on its north end. Part of the original plan was to take advantage of the two highways that bifurcate Travelers Rest, and the city has benefitted from both, Cooper said. “Generally, you don’t want a manufacturing business right on your Main Street,” she said. Plan comes together Cooper led one of the first Travelers Rest revitalization efforts back in 1997 when the S.C. Downtown Development Association chose the city as one of three to participate in its community development pilot, the Home Town Program. As executive director for the Home Town Vision Association, Cooper conducted community surveys and provided research that fed into the city’s comprehensive 10-year plan. “We’re dissected by two main highways, and at that time we were not flourishing. The dream was to be a walkable community,” Cooper said. The plan hinged on developing northern Greenville County as a whole, she said. “It was really evident that decisions we made affected people outside the city limits, and that we depended economically on the people outside our city limits.”

That sentiment rings true today, as a mere 16 percent of recorded customer visits came from customers within Travelers Rest city limits, according to a market analysis by Arnett Muldrow & Associates. More than half – 59 percent – of recorded visits came from the region surrounding the city, compared with 19 percent from outside the Greenville/Taylors region and 6 percent from outside South Carolina. Back in 1997, “We wrote a story about what Travelers Rest would look like if you came back 10, 15 years later,” Cooper said. “Within 15 years it really started to take shape, and what we have today is a direct result of the community planning that happened in 1997.” Demographic changes Part of revitalizing downtown has brought demographic changes to the region that – in tandem with the growth across the Upstate – are effecting significant shifts in demand and availability for the area, particularly with demographics and housing, Cooper said. “In the past few years we’ve met so many young couples who just decided to move here for the quality of life,” she said, noting that Furman University was another source of potential new residents. Take Justin (32) and Candin (29) Phillips, for example, a Mississippi couple that relocated to Travelers Rest three years ago. In their search for a

“It was hard to believe that we were passing through a very rapidly growing industrial area, since the entrances to company sites and industrial/professional parks were so well buffered by trees and landscaping. These high-technology and professional companies provide good jobs and a high standard of living.” The original Vision Statement for Northern Greenville County, as imagined in the 1997 Comprehensive Plan

2012 customer visits by area

new home base, they evaluated Charlotte, Chattanooga, Winston-Salem, Hickory and Raleigh before deciding on Greenville. “It kind of fit as far as we were looking for in size,” Justin Phillips said. The pair had planned on Simpsonville before falling in love with north Greenville County’s mountain-studded landscape, he said. Though both commute to work – 20 minutes for Justin to a downtown Greenville accounting firm and half an hour for Candin to a counseling center in Pickens – they say Travelers Rest is the perfect middle ground. “There are still big-city options without having to live in the big city,” said Candin Phillips, who also works Friday nights at Sidewall Pizza in Travelers Rest. Through her work there – as well as through neighbors and church networks – the couple is well acquainted with the vast majority of business owners downtown, which makes for a close community. Even in the last three years, demand for housing has increased, and while a few shops have disappeared – a dog-friendly pub called Barker Bar, for example – more open all the time to cater to growing tastes, the Phillips say. “I meet handfuls of people who come up here who can’t find houses,” said Candin. “We bought a house a lot of people wouldn’t want to buy because it’s small, but … for families moving here, there’s really not a lot of options unless you’re in the low range or the high range.”

Out of state

19%

16% Within TR city limits

Outside Greenville/ Taylors (rest of S.C.)

Greenville, Easley

8% and Cleveland

Greenville, Slater-Marietta and Taylors

20%

Outside TR city limits in 29690

21%

Greater TR area

10%

Photo by Rod Fincannon

18 | ON THE MAP

UBJ

07.24.2015

NM St

M WA SS GH

ai n

Putting TR on the map

ABB PR IT T IL RA

SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com

d WR

When the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail opened St in May 2010, Travelers Rest city leaders percould only hope that the o o C development and investment would bring new economic businesses to the sleepy downtown Travelers Rest area. Five years later, business is bustling. Trail users see downtown Travelers Rest as not only a bicycle and pedestrian thoroughfare but a start/end point to the trail and frequent businesses as a stopping-off point or reward to a successful ride. Here’s a look at a few. V

Sunrift Adventures 1980

Kayla Wiles contributed to this feature.

son

Ben

Mc E

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Tandem Creperie and Coffeehouse August 2014

Swamp Rabbit Brewery March 2014 Photos by Rod Fincannon

e an

Elh

Shortfields October 2013

Cool Mama’s Ice Cream March 2015

The Café at Wil

ON THE MAP | 19

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Gateway Park

t Hw

SP oin

set

The Forest Coffeehouse 2009 (under the name Leopard Forest Coffee Café)

Sidewall Pizza January 2015

RAI

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ABB

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Broo

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5&6

State Pa

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BBIT

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TRAIL

Spring Park Driving Range lliams Hardware December 2008

Upcountry Provisions May 2012

Whistle Stop at the American Café Family-owned diner since 1945, but was re-opened by third-generation owner Vickie Hawkins in January 2014

20 | MILESTONE

UBJ

07.24. 2014

Sunrift Adventures owner Bo Terry (left) with store manager Andy Hendrix

AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES OUTFITTING TRAVELERS REST FOR THE OUTDOORS, NOTHING SURPRISES SUNRIFT ADVENTURES OWNER BO TERRY THESE DAYS JENNIFER REYNOLDS | CONTRIBUTOR

It started with a catalog, a ski trip and a passion to climb mountains. That’s how Bo Terry, cofounder of Sunrift Adventures, recalls the beginning of his retail store 35 years ago. Terry and cofounder Jim Kelly both worked for Wilderness Outfitters in Greenville. When Terry picked up a free copy of the Chouinard catalog from Mountaineering South in Asheville, N.C., he knew he’d found his life’s calling. While on a skiing trip, the two came up with the idea to create Sunrift Adventures. They launched it as a tour guide service for people who wanted to go backpacking, climbing or paddling. They soon ran the business from Kelly’s living room, which they used as a showroom. Clients began

asking the two if they could buy products directly from them, and Sunrift’s retail business was born. Soon ready for a larger space, they sought out a location and opened a storefront on Hawkins Road in 1982. It was small, with just 1,500 square feet of retail space and a scant 600 square feet of office space in the back. Yet it served their needs until 1995. In 1991, after several life changes, Kelly approached Terry and asked if Terry would buy Kelly’s share. After careful thought, Terry agreed and became the sole owner of Sunrift. In 1995, Terry moved Sunrift to its current location on Center Street in Travelers Rest – a location rich with its own history.

The property once belonged to David Brown of Brown’s Feed and Seed. The large building that stands behind the retail store, now known as the Boat Barn, dates to 1904 as part of the cotton gin that stood on the premises. The old scales where cotton was weighed still stand at the back of the Boat Barn. When a colony of bats moved into the roof of the building, the outdoor-loving staff installed bat houses on the outside and plugged holes to keep the bats outside – mostly. BUMPS ON THE TRAIL Sunrift has weathered the shifting terrain of the retail business over the years. Terry recalls several challenges to the success of Sunrift. The first happened the day of their move to their current location on Center Street. It was early September and time for Sunrift’s big annual sale. They moved the day before the sale, and ran the business from two locations during the sale. During

upstatebusinessjournal.com

A TRIBUTE TO OUR LONG-LASTING ENTERPRISES

The staff was equally complimentary of their workplace. Bike shop manager Tad Nielsen, who has worked at Sunrift for eight years, says his favorite part of the job is the customers. “We have a lot of really positive energy,” he said. “We don’t have unhappy customers.” Heather Davis has worked at Sunrift for 10 years, and said she enjoys helping customers buy equipment to use on vacation. She especially loves it when they come back and tell her about their trip. “It’s very rewarding,” she said. “I get to hear their stories.” New manager Andy Hendrix, who joined the team earlier this year, said that working at Sunrift is his dream job. He first visited Sunrift with his wife during his first trip to the Upstate. Jessie Burns, a local girl and a graduate of Blue Ridge High School in Greer, was adamant that Hendrix visit the store. It was on this trip that Hendrix first decided that he wanted to work for Sunrift. But there was a problem. They lived out of state. After several years away from home, his wife was ready to return to her Upstate roots. “About six months before moving back to Greenville, I started trying to get a job [at Sunrift],” Hendrix said. Hendrix has a background in the industry. He has worked for Orvis and spent summers “I love everyone who’s guiding whitewater rafting ever worked [at Sunrift] and fly-fishing in North for all they’ve contributed to Carolina. He and Terry the place, ’cause they agree that his background were all underpaid.” made him a good fit for Sunrift. Sunrift Adventures

the stress of the combined sale and move, the computer died. All of the store’s records were lost. In late 1995 and early ’96, Terry faced what he described as his biggest challenge. In spite of good sales, Sunrift was on the brink of bankruptcy, and Terry said he had to decide whether to fight for survival or close down. He decided to fight. “I did it for employees, customers, the community. It’s a good business and we need more businesses like that,” Terry said. He read books on how to turn a business around and implemented the strategies recommended. He weathered the storm, but said it was not without consequences. “I swore at the time that I could never go through anything like it again,” he said. Then in 2014, he faced the bankruptcy demon again, and once again emerged triumphant. May and June of 2015 were record months for the business. Another challenge to the success of Sunrift was the opening of REI on Woodruff Road in Greenville. “REI took us down a couple notches,” Terry said. “Our business was 15, 20 percent down for 3 ½ years.” In spite of the challenges, Terry is positive about Sunrift’s future. “Business is good,” he said. ‘POSITIVE ENERGY’ Terry said his staff has been pivotal to Sunrift’s success. “I love everyone who’s ever worked [at Sunrift] for all they’ve contributed to the place, ’cause they were all underpaid,” he said.

| MILESTONE | 21

“When I walked in on my first day, it felt like I’d already been here 10 years,” Hendrix said, “like I already had relationships.” NEW PATHS The Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail has made an impact on Sunrift. Though the bike shop in the store originally sold primarily mountain biking gear, the advent of the Swamp Rabbit has seen a slow but steady shift in customers who want road biking gear as well. “It’s always been a mountain bike shop,” said Nielsen. “We’re getting more and more into [road biking]. We’re right here by the path, so we get a lot of path customers.” The location of the store along the trail allows them opportunities to service bikes as well. “Being right here on the path, we get overloaded with repairs,” said Nielsen. “We’ve got a lot of loyal customers that want to come here.” Terry said that he hopes to continue to cater to Swamp Rabbit users in new ways. “We want to provide a place where people want to hang out.” Terry promotes shopping local, and cites numerous examples of local vendors that Sunrift buys from, such as Confluence Watersports in Greenville, Invert SUP in Greenville, and Watersports Warehouse in Anderson. “If someone wants to buy local, we are the place,” he said. In the future, Terry said, “I think my role is gonna become more visionary” at Sunrift. “We’ll see where [Hendrix] fits in. I’m open. Nothing would surprise me – what the future holds.”

owner Bo Terry

2009

Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail paved in Travelers Rest, bringing new cycling business to Sunrift

2015

1980

Current store manager Andy Hendrix joins staff

Opened, business run from the home of cofounder Jim Kelly

1991 1982

Bo Terry buys out cofounder Jim Kelly and is sole owner of business

Moved to first retail location on Hawkins Road

1998

1995

Moved to current location on Center Street in Travelers Rest

Expanded current location to include bike shop

Ph o

to s b y Jim

Pit t

H ar r

UBJ

07.24. 2015

We are the place to be Wayne McCall has seen a renaissance—and growing pains—during his six years as Travelers Rest’s mayor LEIGH SAVAGE | CONTRIBUTOR

Mayor Wayne McCall says Travelers Rest is

Photo by Jim Pitt Harris

22 | PROFILE

in the midst of a “perfect storm.” The formerly sleepy town in northern Greenville County, perched at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has undergone a renaissance in the past few years, and McCall has been there through it all. As the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail exceeded all expectations for usage, Travelers Rest took advantage of its place at the start of the trail, adding restaurants, shops, parks and more. In his final two years as mayor, McCall plans to continue with the steady yet careful growth to create a town that both longtime residents and visitors can enjoy. “Natural beauty, great universities, great people – it’s a great mix,” he said. “We’ve got it.” >>

PROFILE | 23

upstatebusinessjournal.com

What prompted you to run for mayor? I had been on City Council for a number of years, and I had some different ideas about how to do things. I’m a native, and grew up here, and I wanted to put my stamp on things. In your sixth year as mayor, what do you think of Travelers Rest’s growth? We are really the place to be now. People have found out about us – the secret we kept for so long. So it’s definitely changed, and all for the better. Of course there are growing pains here and there, but it’s been good. Do you attribute most of the changes to capitalizing on the Swamp Rabbit Trail? I like to say we’re the front porch to the Swamp Rabbit Trail. We were fortunate enough to be in on the ground floor when the trail went through and we’ve captured a lot of the momentum from the trail. Real estate is more valuable, more homes have been built, brand-new subdivisions are within walking distance to the trail. Have there been significant developments unrelated to the trail? Annexing Furman University was a big one. It took away that persona of a sleepy town and gave us instant credibility with a major university inside our city. It gives Furman a sense of home, and they help us by putting their footprint on the city. We have a great partnership. With so many people interested in Travelers Rest, do you look for certain types of businesses? What I desire is for businesses to come that want to be here. We don’t want some big corporation to stick a store there. We want them to invest in the community and be part of the community. The environment we have created is young and vibrant. It seems like many of the business owners are from the area. The owners of Shortfields live here. Cafe at Williams Hardware – they grew up here. Cool Mama’s – she’s my niece. Martha from Martha’s Hardware lives right over there. The people who have chosen to invest in the city, a lot of them are local people. You are doing business with friends and neighbors. Are you modeling your growth after any other cities? We have been referred to as “the small Asheville.” We have our own

identity – we are not Asheville. But we like the way they do business. We want to grow in the right way. Have there been any negative ramifications of the trail and resulting growth? Regardless of what we do, some people are not going to like it, just because they don’t want to change. It’s like when Wal-Mart first came to town – it was the first major development. We got hate mail saying it would forever change how the town is. Those very people, if you go to Wal-Mart, they shop there now. So I just try to work as hard for people who have been here, who don’t want things to change, and listen. But without the growth, we basically would have dried up. So I’m glad we were able to change and bring the town back to be the town we are today.

MAYOR WAYNE MCCALL Hometown: Travelers Rest Mayor: For six years; two years left in his second term Before becoming mayor: On Travelers Rest City Council for nine years His other job: Engineering and maintenance for the U.S. Postal Service Wife: Bess McCall Staying involved: After completing his term, he plans to work with his wife’s organization Let’s Keep TR Beautiful.

What about the parts of town away from the trail? Have they benefited from growth as well? It benefits the schools, with more of a tax base for them to draw from. Residents are getting a new fire station, the first one in 58 years. Trailblazer Park is fantastic for the city. We’re in the process of becoming a bicycle-friendly town. We want to be somewhere people want to bring their children and a great place to raise kids. What are your goals for the future? I want to continue to bring jobs into town, like we are now. I want to continue to fill up empty buildings, though most of that has been taken care of. I want to bring more retail into town to add to the tax base.

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

| SQUARE FEET | 25

100,000 SF medical office park planned for Verdae

Rendering Provided.

PointCentral designed ‘to meet future needs of health care’

Old Sulphur Sprin

ers Rd

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SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

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2. CH2M Facility

1. PointCentral at Verdae

sjackson@communityjournals.com @SJackson_CJ

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Because of KDS’ close working relationship with Verdae, Webb said he already knew the master plan called for major medical development. “So when practices approached us about building, we chose this site because of the proximity to Woodruff Road and Laurens Road. Salters Road is going to be one of the main traffic roadways going into Verdae and connecting to CU-ICAR and the Millennium Campus,” he said. Six or seven practices are expected to be located in the new building with some “very large established practices in town,” said Webb, who declined to reveal any tenants already signed. Space is still available ranging from 5,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. Why not build a taller building? Webb said the key is to build more efficiently, and there’s always a

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continues to grow, so does the need for additional community and medical services. PointCentral at Verdae will be a new 100,000-square-foot medical office park at the corner of Verdae Boulevard and Salters Road. Located on 7.3 acres, phase one will be a two-story building totaling approximately 55,000 square feet. Subsequent phases include two pad sites available as build-to-suits, which could add an additional 45,000 square feet to the project. After being approached by medical practices wanting to locate in the Verdae area because of the high exposure, accessibility, residential growth and access to freeways, Larry Webb, principal with KDS Commercial Properties, said he and his team decided to build a “design to meet the future needs of health care.” PointCentral at Verdae will allow medical practices to work together and in synergy with each other, sharing as many services as they can, Webb said. The new medical building will have a 1,200-squarefoot private pharmacy, private diagnostics group and after-hours and ambulatory services. No competitive practices will be allowed; only those that complement each other.

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PROJECT PARTNERS CONTRACTOR: Harper Corp. MARKETING AND LEASING: KDS Commercial DEVELOPER: Webb Development ARCHITECT: MPS “fine line between being too big and not big enough. We are building a building that meets the needs of the current market with room to expand.” Groundbreaking is expected to be in August, with building occupancy for the first tenants in the second quarter of 2016. The facility is less than a mile from the site of engineering firm CH2M’s future Greenville County operations center, also announced this week [see story on page 6].

26 | SQUARE FEET |

UBJ

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

07.24. 2015

Mauldin after-school complex nears completion Street in Mauldin, saw the huge, 27,000-square-foot, 5 sjackson@communityjournals.com 1/2-acre, former building @SJackson_CJ materials warehouse located at 255 Service Bay Road as a great After years of planning and “shell of a building” that just needed longer-than-anticipated construction a little upgrade. timelines, the repurposing of a former Britt partnered with Dance Arts 84 Lumber building in Mauldin is Ballet Center and Greenville Gymnasalmost complete. tics, creating an after-school activities Pat Britt had a vision when he destination for kids. The new space purchased the building more than not only allows all three businesses to seven years ago. Britt, who owns After expand operations, but allows room School Plus, a daycare and after-school for recitals, shows and event rental care center on Main space that the businesses did not

have prior to the new space. There is a second-story area where parents can watch their kids do gymnastics or dance recitals, and classroom space for one-on-one tutoring. At times, Britt said he had his doubts that it would all come together. He was overcome with emotion when parents pitched in to lay grass and sod for the on-site soccer field. He said his “hair is now gray,” but he is satisfied with how the whole project turned out.

SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

Dance Arts Ballet Center and Greenville Gymnastics have already moved in, and Britt plans to move After School Plus after the elevator is completed, which should be in early August. Britt expects to be in this location quite a while, as there is plenty of room for additional expansion if it’s needed, he said. An extra 3,000 square feet has been roughed in for future expansion. Photos provided

West End Walk stays out of Main Street’s ‘hustle and bustle’ Not all of the construction projects

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in the West End of downtown Greenville are huge, multifamily projects. Smaller parcels of land are being snatched up and developed just as quickly, but tend to stay out of the spotlight. West End Walk is a four-unit upscale townhouse community near the corner of Arlington Avenue and Mallard Street. The construction has been underway for a while and plans call for the project to be completed next month. “We feel like there is so much positive pressure in the West End,” said Thomas Cheves, an agent with Coldwell Banker Caine, which is handling the marketing. “In a few years, when there are thousands of renters in the area, it will be advantageous to be three or four blocks outside of the Main Street hustle and bustle.” Each unit will be approximately 1,800 square feet with three bedrooms and 2 ½ baths. The townhomes will be two stories with a two-car garage and feature big balconies above the garage. Prices will begin around $450,000. Inside, each home will have a “higher level of finishes” such as higher-end granite countertops, Jenn-Air appliances, 9- to 10-foot ceilings and wiring for surround sound, said Cheves. “We are appealing to those that are downsizing and sacrificing square footage for high-end finishes and amenities,” he said.

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28 | ON THE MOVE |

UBJ

PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

HIRED

ELECTED

SELECTED

07.24.2015

HIRED

Stephen Hampton

Jenny Bonner

Camilla G. Pitman

H. Sam Mabry III

Jamie Willetts

Named middle school principal at Legacy Charter School. Hampton previously served as principal at Johnston-EdgefieldTrenton Middle School for six years. He has an education specialist degree in administration from Converse College, a master of education degree from Southern Wesleyan University and a B.A. in applied music from Newberry College.

Named as program director for NOURISH. Bonner will create revolving monthly exhibitions highlighting artists whose work reflects the mission of nonprofit Mental Fitness and its focus on building resiliency in youth. She first came to Spartanburg as one of four artists-inresidence at Hub-Bub.

Named president of Legal Staff Professionals of South Carolina. Pitman is a member of the local chapter of Legal Staff Professionals of Greenville and was the recipient of the LSPG Award of Excellence in April. She serves as clerk for the city of Greenville.

Named a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Mabry is a litigator at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd’s Greenville office. He is a fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates’ (ABOTA) National Board of Directors.

Named a superintendent at Creative Builders Inc. Willetts has 23 years of diversified construction experience, including 19 spent as a superintendent. He will oversee on-site operations and work closely with project managers and subcontractors to ensure timely and highquality completion of projects.

COMMUNITY The Susan G. Komen SC Mountains to Midlands Affiliate named Leslie Crews, Monica Kendrick and Deb Osborne chairwomen for the 2015 Race for the Cure.

The Children’s Museum of the Upstate recently named seven new interns. Elaine Hanna, a senior marketing and communications major at Clemson University, will help with digital marketing through social media.

Cathy Boggs Financial Recruiter 15 years experience

Whitney Becker, a Furman University graduate with an elementary education degree, will oversee the middle school youth program. Maddy Gentry, a junior at Furman, will serve as a programming intern. Daniel Hou, a visual communi-

cations student at University of South Carolina, will help with photography and videography. Colton Smith, a senior accounting and Spanish student at Wofford College, will translate for the museum to help reach the Hispanic

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Clifford P. Hodge III Named portfolio manager for FinTrust Investment Advisors. Hodge previously served as global asset analyst at Vanguard, where he worked with investment research and providing financial analysis. He will formulate investment recommendations and oversee the implementation. community, and he will assist the finance and accounting department. Melanie Tremonti, a senior early childhood education major at Clemson, will assist with early childhood camp programming. Sarah Jordon Holcomb, a graduate of Furman with degrees in anthropology and music, will serve as a development intern.

DEVELOPMENT O’Neal Inc. hired Wayne Wilson as senior civil engineer and Chris Stout as process engineer. Wilson has more than 30 years of civil engineering experience, having worked with civil firms and government contractors throughout his career. Stout previously worked at BASF.

EDUCATION The University of South Carolina Upstate Mary Black school of nursing named Sonya Blevins associate dean for the Greenville campus and Deborah Charnley associate dean for the Spartanburg campus. USC Upstate School of Education named Marilyn Izzard as associate dean, Jim Charles as director of the Teacher Education Program at the Greenville campus, Nancy Gallenstein as director of the Teacher Education Program at USC Sumter and Jakie Hodge as coordinator of Field Experiences. Blevins was previously an assistant professor and replaces Angie Davis, who is returning to her nine-month

PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

faculty position on the Spartanburg campus. Charnley was previously an assistant professor and replaces Kathy Fitzsimmons, who is returning to her nine-month faculty position on the Greenville campus. Izzard previously served as the director of the USC Upstate Teacher Education Program at USC Sumter. Charles previously served as associate dean for the School of Education. Gallenstein previously served as an associate professor of early childhood education. Hodge previously served as an instructor of middle level/ secondary education.

MARKETING/PR Crawford Strategy named six interns. Blakely Francis, a rising senior at Anderson University, is a marketing intern. Nina Conits is assisting the marketing team. She will be a senior at Clemson. Madison Turrentine is focusing on special event planning. She is a rising senior at Clemson. Meaghan Carrigan is assisting the public relations team. She is a rising junior at the University of Richmond. Caroline Davis, a rising sophomore at the University of South Carolina, is a business operations intern. Anna Ferrell, a rising sophomore at the University of Virginia, is a business operations intern. Flourish hired Katie Sanders as an account coordinator. Sanders previously served as an intern at the firm in 2013. She will assist with daily account management and client projects. Infinity Marketing promoted Courtney Amos to endorsement supervisor, Erin Ehrhardt to senior multimedia designer and Caroline Castellaw to social media coordinator. Amos previously served as a media specialist and senior media specialist. Ehrhardt previously served as a multimedia designer. Castellaw previously served as a media assistant and a media specialist.

REAL ESTATE Colliers International named Brockton Hall to its Greenville industrial brokerage team. He joined the company in 2014, serving as a brokerage intern and then a brokerage assistant. David M. Snyder with Allen Tate Realtors was awarded the Accredited Buyer’s Representation (ABR) designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council. Snyder successfully complete a comprehensive course in buyer representation and an elective course focusing on a buyer representation specialty.

CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

Spencer/Hines Properties promoted Zach Hines to partner and hired Evan Hines as a business manger/agent and Hayes Faulkenberry as a commercial agent. Zach Hines has over 10 years of experience in commercial real estate in the Greenville area. Evan Hines previously worked as a marketing specialist at SYNNEX Corporation. Faulkenberry previously started his own packaging and logistics companies.

| ON THE MOVE | 29

SPORTS The Greenville Road Warriors named Troy Schwab as assistant coach. Schwab is a former Johnstown Chiefs and Toledo Walleye forward. As a professional, he spent time in the Central Hockey League (CHL), DEL2 German league and ECHL.

Leadership Greenville Class 42 The Greenville Chamber’s Leadership Greenville program has named 60 participants for its 42nd class: Julie Accetta, Meals on Wheels of Greenville James Akers Jr., The Marchant Company Joey Altom, ScanSource Fabian Benavente, Geosyntec Consultants Joy Blue, Center for Developmental Services Ashley Boncimino, Community Journals Santora Bowling, Michelin North America Inc. Annie Broughton, A Shepherd’s Heart Ministries Kippie Brown, Springfield Baptist Church Catie Buckingham, Engenius Caroline Caldwell-Richmond, New Mind Health and Care Calvin Calhoun, SunTrust Bank, Commercial Banking Division Evan Cramer, UCW Logistics Cheryl Cromartie, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Tommy Davis, Wells Fargo Robin Day, AcumenIT Dawn Dowden, Homes of Hope Natalie Dunham, Wyche P.A. Michael Dunlap, M.B. Kahn Construction Co. Inc. Kim Eades, Table 301 Restaurant Group Karen Eller, Triune Mercy Center Jessica Fuller, iHeartMedia Aimee Griffin, Fluor Corporation Shannon Hansen, Bon Secours Wellness Arena Mary Douglas Hirsch, City of Greenville, Economic Development Department Lisa Hollingsworth, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina Greg Hudson, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System Cal Hurst, PNC Bank Jason Johnson, The Warehouse Theatre

Matteel Jones, Greenville Technical College Anne Kelsey-Zibert, Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School Nancy Kennedy, Furman University, Continuing Education Leslie Latimer, Greenville First Steps Peter Luciano, US&S Lucas Marchant, Office of the 13th Circuit Solicitor Louise Mariani, GE Power & Water Ivory Mathews, Greenville Housing Authority Amanda Osborne, Friends of the Greenville Zoo Eric O’Toole, TD Bank Alexi Papapieris, NAI Earle Furman Angel Pendergrass, Greenville County Parks, Recreation & Tourism Holly Pruitt, Integrated Media Publishing Todd Reichard, LS3P Rob Rhodes, Greenville County Schools Angela Self, Vital Spaces Jessica Sharp, Greenville Health System Kyle Snipes, Harper Corporation Jennifer Snow, Greenville Health System Lindsey Stemann, Intero Advisory Jimmy ten Pas, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP Meg Terry, DP3 Architects Ltd. Dustin Thompson, Sunbelt Rentals Howie Thompson, Greenville Police Department Jason Vaughn, S&ME Inc. Zach Weaver, Gallivan, White & Boyd P.A. Robert White, Bank of Travelers Rest Jay Wilson IV, Rush Wilson Limited Janet Wolf, JL Wolf Associates LLC Seph Wunder Jr., Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA Jason Zacher, Greenville Chamber of Commerce

30 | THE FINE PRINT |

UBJ

BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN’ T MISS

German recycler establishing operations in Spartanburg MAIREC, a metals recycler based in Germany, is investing $4.6 million in Spartanburg to establish operations. The investment is expected to create 35 new jobs in the area over the next five years. MAIREC specializes in the recovery of high-valued rare metals from recycled goods. This is a first overseas operation for MAIREC, which has a customer base across a number of industries, including automotive, chemical, electronics, petrochemical, pharmaceuticals, porcelain, solar, surface technology and telecommunications. To house its new South Carolina operations, MAIREC is leasing a 50,800-squarefoot building at 230 Converse Road in Spartanburg. “Congratulations to MAIREC for deciding to establish operations in South Carolina, joining a roster of more than 500 recycling companies that call our state home,” Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said in a release. Company officials expect the facility to be fully operational by September 2015, and hiring is expected to begin in August. Interested applicants should contact Phillips Staffing in Greenville.

07.24. 2015

to restore the 1891 residence hall’s authenticity and recreate lost design elements, while also updating the building’s systems to better serve the needs of 21st-century students. The design team used photographs of Pell to recreate the previous interior and exterior elements, including the window muntin patterns and the original tower entrance stained glass door and transom. Removing sheetrock panels exposed original brick archways and original beaded wainscoting, and throughout the building the original wide-plank, heart pine flooring was repaired and refinished.

SCRA invests in Greenville disaster recovery company SCRA Technology Ventures’ SC Launch Board finalized investment in Greenville based Servosity. The company delivers mission-critical disaster recovery as a service to managed service providers and IT resellers. During a disaster recovery situation, the technology allows for streaming of operating systems rather than waiting for information to download. SCRA also invested in Charleston company Good Done Great, which uses technology to aid corporations and individuals with their workplace giving. Both companies will use the investment to expand operations.

Tacmed gets purchasing agreement with Homeland Security

Restoration by McMillan Pazdan Smith wins award A restoration by McMillan Pazdan Smith at Converse College’s Pell Hall won a 2015 Honor Award by the Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation. McMillan Pazdan Smith completed work to the National Register building

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security chose Anderson-based Tactical Medical Solutions Inc. (Tacmed) as a prime vendor of individual first aid kits (IFAK).

www.gos1.com | (864) 233-5346

office supplies // office furniture // breakroom coffee services // cleaning supplies professional printing // promotional products // managed print services

upstatebusinessjournal.com

The department also approved Tactical Medical Solutions’ patented SOF Tactical Tourniquet Wide for use across the entire agency. Participating entities under the blanket purchase agreement include Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Secret Service, DHS Office of Health Affairs and Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers. “DHS choosing Tacmed as a Individual First Aid Kit supplier, and approving our flagship product, the SOF Tactical Tourniquet, for agency use is a testament of the dedication of all the men and women in law enforcement who are progressing safety and protecting lives of others, while protecting our country,” Tacmed CEO Ross Johnson said in a release. Tacmed is a global developer and manufacturer of medical supplies for combat and tactical medicine.

BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN'T MISS

M&A and Accessing Capital Markets Over the past 18 months, M&A activity has accelerated meaningfully in the U.S., and that trend is poised to continue according to the 2014 Deloitte M&A trends report With a total value of $4.3 billion – number of M&A transactions handled by Nelson Mullins in 2014.

80+

93%

The number of Nelson Mullins attorneys with a focus on M&A, public company or corporate finance.

Percentage of M&A deals valued at over $100 million announced in 2014 in which shareholder lawsuits were filed, according to Cornerstone Research.

4,500

The number of reporting companies whose filings are reviewed by the SEC in a typical year.

Furman, med school announce agreement Up to five Furman University pre-med students will be able to gain early admission to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville under a new agreement announced Monday. The arrangement is designed to help the Furman students avoid the expense, travel and stress of the regular medical school admission process. Eli Hestermann, a Furman biology professor and executive director of health education/undergraduate studies, said the agreement benefits both Furman students and the medical school, which can lock Furman students early in the admission process. USCSOMG will enroll its fourth class this year. Of the 280 students enrolled in the program, 33 are Furman graduates. Furman faculty will identify and recommend up to five students during the first semester of their junior year for admission to medical school. Students will be notified of their admission status during the second semester of their junior year following a screening process and interview. Students typically apply to med school after their junior year.

| THE FINE PRINT | 31

The number of Nelson Mullins attorneys who previously worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission

11%

The number of public company mergers in 2013 that included a “go-shop” provision.

The percentage of CFOs who reported that the cost of taking their company public exceeded their expectations.

The number of states with exceptions to broker/dealer registration for M&A broker transactions.

The backbone of our securities laws is disclosure. The SEC requires public companies and key participants in the securities world to disclose meaningful, accurate, and timely information to the public. SEC Commissioner Michael S. Piwowar in a speech given on February 20, 2015.

Why pay extra for the inconvenience of out-of-state attorneys, when we have brought so much large market experience home to the Upstate? JOHN CAMPBELL (864) 250-2234 john.campbell@ nelsonmullins.com

JOHN JENNINGS (864) 250-2207 john.jennings@ nelsonmullins.com

NEIL GRAYSON (864) 250-2235 neil.grayson@ nelsonmullins.com

www.NelsonMullins.com

32 | NEW TO THE STREET |

UBJ

THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

07.24.2015

Open for business 1

“THE STRENGTH OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ACTIVITIES OF OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.” - BATES KENNEDY Owner, Batteries Plus Bulbs

BATTERIES PLUS BULBS IS THE GREENVILLE CHAMBER’S JULY 2015 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH VISIT THEM AT 1791 WOODRUFF ROAD www.batteriesplus.com

Photos provided

1. Conservus Realty recently opened its Downtown Showroom and Discovery Center at 16 N. Main St., Greenville. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. For more information, visit conservusrealty. com or call 864-608-4608.

2. Musical Innovations recently opened on 150-G Tanner Road, Greenville. Hours are MondayFriday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, visit musicalinnovations.biz or call 864-286-8742.

The Greenville Chamber salutes our Small Business of the Month. We honor and appreciate all the things that small businesses bring to our community and we are proud to be there for them as well. If you’re in business, you have a partner in us. www.greenvillechamber.org

CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon? Email information to bjeffers@communityjournals.com.

upstatebusinessjournal.com

INSIDE THE UPSTATEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NETWORKING AND SOCIAL SCENE

TECH AFTER FIVE The Greenville startup community met for networking and beverages at The Pour House last week. The next monthly Tech After Five meeting is Aug. 19. Learn more at techafterfive.com. Photos provided.

| SOCIAL SNAPSHOT | 33

NOSE DIVE $10 WEEKDAY LUNCH

CONTRIBUTE: Got high-resolution photos of your networking or social events? Send photos and information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

116 South Main Street, Greenville SC 29601 | 864.373.7300 TheNoseDive.com Lunch and Dinner, Monday - Saturday | Sunday Brunch

34 | #TRENDING |

UBJ

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

OVERHEARD @ THE WATERCOOLER

07.24. 2015

BIZ BUZZ

Distilled commentary from UBJ readers

The top 5 stories from last week’s issue ranked by shareability score

RE: PARK PLACE ON HUDSON MOVES FORWARD

1. ‘Adult playground’ planned along GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail – 1,079

2. Wired for growth - 599

3. Park Place on Hudson moves forward – 114

4. Church Street shopping strip to be redeveloped - 96

“We are so fortunate to be representing this fantastic set of townhomes in the West End! Take a sneak peek at the renderings to see how these homes blend modern accents with traditional elegance.”

>> The Marchant Company

5. CoderDojo will open kids to STEM possibilities - 89

RE: ‘ADULT PLAYGROUND’ PLANNED ALONG GHS SWAMP RABBIT TRAIL “I was part of a survey about that!!! I VOTED FOR THAT!” >> Reilly Mahan “I literally asked someone the other day: ‘Why are there playgrounds that allow unruly kids, but prohibit adults?’” >> Curtis Eugene McLaughlin Jr. “How cool will this be!” >> Charlie Jones “But, will it be bulletproof?” >> Bill Fell “Feeling so lucky that I’m able to work with such an awesome studio like Soul Yoga! What an exciting time to live in the Upstate!” >> Maggie Bedrosian “What an awesome area we live in. #wellness #fitness” >> @keeleyryland

RE: WIRED FOR GROWTH

WATCH & SEE DIGITAL FLIPBOOK ARCHIVE >> The layout of print meets the convenience of the Web: flip through the digital edition of any of our print issues at upstatebusinessjournal. com/past-issues.

JULY 17, 2015 | VOL. 4 ISSUE 29

‘I LIKE TO BUILD’ GHS’ Sam Konduros has a long history culti vating relat ionships, making conn ections, and getting thing s done Page 12

Photo by William Crooks

“when will this be a thing?!” >> Jason Kolleda

RE: MOONCLERK’S RISING TIDE

“The Konduroses are nice folks. “Nice press for @MoonClerk. Best of luck! (And let’s talk.) bit.ly/1fRdQBt >> @thinkhammer Also tolerant neighbors when others “Thanks to @ashleyboncimino for a great article about @moonclerk in @UpstateBiz” >> @DoddCaldwell place Detroit Tigers swag over Yankees “@DoddCaldwell @ashleyboncimino @moonclerk @UpstateBiz glad to see your success. Hope it continues” flags : -) Good read UBJ…” >> Ed >> @TenaciousSteven Creighton (FB)

RE: CHURCH STREET SHOPPING STRIP TO BE REDEVELOPED

WEIGH IN @ THE UBJ EXCHANGE

“This is great news!” >> Keith Boling, C. Dan Joyner Realtors

Got something to offer? We’re looking for expert guest bloggers from all industries to contribute to the UBJ Exchange. Send posts or blog ideas to eprice@communityjournals.com.

“This will look MUCH nicer once it’s redeveloped.” >> Sherry Jackson

Check out the new Final Edit, a weekly blog post from our editors that reviews our week’s work in both UBJ and the Greenville Journal.

@jasonwrichards>> “I’ve been waiting 10+ years to see this strip center redone – great opportunity! bit. ly/1OhxbpW @upstatebiz #CRE #Greenville”

UPSTATEBUSINESSJOURNAL.COM @UPSTATEBIZ

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

DATE

INSIDE THE UPSTATE’S NETWORKING AND SOCIAL SCENE

| PLANNER | 35

EVENT INFO

WHERE DO I GO?

HOW DO I GO?

Commerce Club Investment Club Participate in a “Fantasy Stock Market”

Commerce Club 55 Beattie Place, 17th Floor, Greenville, 5:30 p.m.

MauldinEdge Community based idea session moving the Mauldin Crossroads forward

All Occasions Celebrations 108 N. Main St., 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Cost: $15 Register: bit.ly/mauldin-july2015

Women at Work Breakfast Training Series Topic: The power of negotiation

Hilton Greenville 45 W Orchard Park Drive, Greenvile, 8-10 a.m.

Cost: Chamber member $25, nonmember $35 Register: bit.ly/women-july2015

Women Mean Business Monthly Meeting Networking for businesswomen

Charleston Cooks 200 N. Main St., Greenville, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free Register: Lauren@riverfallsspa.com

Networking with a Twist Monthly speed networking event

Commerce Club 55 Beattie Place, 17th Floor, Greenville, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Cost: Members Free, Nonmembers $10 Register: bit.ly/twist-july2015

7/31

FYI Friday Speaker: Danny Morrison, president of the Carolina Panthers

Country Club of Spartanburg 2500 Country Club Road, Spartanburg, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cost: Chamber members $15, nonmembers $25 Register: bit.ly/fyi-july2015

Thursday

Iron Yard Ventures 2015 Demo Day Presentations from nine digital health and wellness tech startups

Indigo Hall 190 Ezell St., Spartanburg, 5-7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free Register: bit.ly/iron-aug2015

Greenville Chamber Golf Tournament

Chanticleer Golf Course and Greenville Country Club

More info: bit.ly/golf-aug2015

Tuesday

7/21 Wednesday

7/22 Thursday

7/23 Friday

8/13 Monday

8/24

CONTRIBUTE: Got a hot date? Submit event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

ART & PRODUCTION

IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?

ART DIRECTOR

JULY 24: TRAVELERS REST The small town making big waves.

Whitney Fincannon

OPERATIONS PRESIDENT/CEO

Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com

UBJ PUBLISHER

Michael Allen

CLIENT SERVICES

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Kristi Fortner

Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

STAFF WRITERS

Ashley Boncimino, Sherry Jackson, Benjamin Jeffers, Cindy Landrum, April A. Morris

EDITORIAL INTERNS Andrew Ream, Kayla Wyles

MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Nicole Greer, Kristi Jennings, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Lindsay Oehman, Emily Yepes

DIGITAL TEAM Emily Price, Danielle Car

1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport

1988

1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993

1990 Jackson Dawson acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.

with a majority of them utilizing the general aviation airport as a “corporate gateway to the city.” In 1997, Jackson and his son, Darrell, launched Jackson Motorsports Group. The new division was designed to sell race tires and go to racetracks to sell and mount the tires. Darrell Jackson now serves as president of the motorsports group and Larry Jackson has two other children and a son-in-law who work there. Jackson said all his children started at the bottom and “earned their way up.” Jackson kept the Jackson-Dawson branches in Detroit and others in Los Angeles and New York until he sold his portion of that partnership in 2009 as part of his estate planning. The company now operates a small office in Charlotte, but its main headquarters are in Greenville in a large office space off Woodruff Road, complete with a vision gallery that displays local artwork and an auditorium Jackson makes available for non-profit use. The Motorsports Group is housed in an additional 26,000 square feet building just down the street, and the agency is currently looking for another 20,000 square feet. Jackson said JMG has expanded into other verticals such as financial, healthcare, manufacturing and pro-bono work, but still has a strong focus on the auto industry and transportation. It’s

Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff

Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com

Solve. Serve. Grow. Those three words summarize Jackson Marketing Group’s guiding principles, and according to owner Larry Jackson, form the motivation that has kept the firm thriving for the past 25 years.

Jackson graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in video and film production and started his 41-year career in the communications industry with the U.S. Army’s Public Information Office. He served during

Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood. He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980. In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he

learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage. In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar. “Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said. Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders

2003 motorsports Division acquires an additional 26,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space

1998 1998 Jackson Dawson moves to task industrial Court

also one of the few marketing companies in South Carolina to handle all aspects of a project in-house, with four suites handling video production, copywriting, media and research and web design. Clients include heavyweights such as BMW, Bob Jones University, the Peace Center, Michelin and Sage Automotive. Recent projects have included an interactive mobile application for Milliken’s arboretum and 600-acre Spartanburg campus and a marketing campaign for the 2013 Big League World Series. “In my opinion, our greatest single achievement is the longevity of our client relationships,” said Darrell Jackson. “Our first client from back in 1988 is still a client today. I can count on one hand the number of clients who have gone elsewhere in the past decade.” Larry Jackson says his Christian faith and belief in service to others, coupled with business values rooted in solving clients’ problems, have kept

2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003

2009-2012 Jackson marketing Group named a top BtoB agency by BtoB magazine 4 years running

him going and growing his business over the years. He is passionate about giving back and outreach to non-profits. The company was recently awarded the Community Foundation Spirit Award. The company reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community last week by celebrating its 25th anniversary with a birthday party and a 25-hour Serve-A-Thon partnership with Hands on Greenville and Habitat for Humanity. JMG’s 103 full-time employees worked in shifts around the clock on October 22 and 23 to help construct a house for a deserving family. As Jackson inches towards retirement, he says he hasn’t quite figured out his succession plan yet, but sees the companies staying under the same umbrella. He wants to continue to strategically grow the business. “From the beginning, my father has taught me that this business is all about our people – both our clients and our associates,” said his son, Darrell. “We have created a focus and a culture that strives to solve problems, serve people and grow careers.” Darrell Jackson said he wants to “continue helping lead a culture where we solve, serve and grow. If we are successful, we will continue to grow towards our ultimate goal of becoming the leading integrated marketing communications brand in the Southeast.”

2011 Jackson marketing Group/Jackson motorsports Group employee base reaches 100 people

2008 2012 Jackson marketing Group recognized by Community Foundation with Creative spirit Award

pro-bono/non-proFit Clients American Red Cross of Western Carolinas Metropolitan Arts Council Artisphere Big League World Series The Wilds Advance SC South Carolina Charities, Inc. Aloft Hidden Treasure Christian School

CoMMUnitY inVolVeMent & boarD positions lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member

JULY 31: QUARTERLY CRE ISSUE The state of commercial real estate in the Upstate.

David Jones (Vice President Client services, Chief marketing officer): Hands on Greenville board chairman mike Zeller (Vice President, Brand marketing): Artisphere Board, Metropolitan Arts Council Board, American Red Cross Board, Greenville Tech Foundation Board, South Carolina Chamber Board eric Jackson (Jackson motorsports Group sales specialist): Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board

November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21

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