SEPTEMBER 22 , 2017 | VOL. 6 ISSUE 38
Award Winners The Brand Leader’s Geoff Wasserman and the S.C. Chamber throw a bash for the Palmetto State’s best
Photo by Will Crooks
ALSO INSIDE // THE MYTH OF THE BORN LEADER F-16s TAKE FLIGHT DEEPENING THE PORT
THE RUNDOWN |
TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 38 Featured this issue: White House OKs Greenville F-16s..............................................................................6 WYNIT declares bankruptcy.........................................................................................6 Maple Street Biscuit rolls into Simpsonville..........................................................14
BMW Manufacturing Co.’s Plant Spartanburg announced on Sept. 8 that the plant produced its 4 millionth vehicle since opening in 1994. The car is a Phytonic Blue Metallic BMW X3 xDrive M40i with a Vernasca Cognac leather interior, similar to the model pictured above. Photo provided by BMW Group
WORTH REPEATING “My definition of leadership is very simple: Leadership is creating results through people. That is the whole secret.” Page 9
“It won’t be a brandy flask, though people are welcome to celebrate with brandy afterwards if they like.” Page 11
“We have an immaculate kitchen. We have to. There’s nowhere to hide.” Page 14 2
UBJ | 9.22.2017
VERBATIM
On tax reform “It’s like asking what would you like on a pizza for your pizza toppings other than shards of glass. I don’t care what else is going on the pizza, because it has shards of glass. I’m not eating it.” Grover Norquist, an anti-tax activist and president of Americans for Tax Reform, quoted in Business Insider, on if a Republican tax plan included a border-adjustment or valueadded tax, or a carbon tax
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Anchors Away First construction contract awarded for Charleston Harbor deepening TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF
tanderson@communityjournals.com
The S.C. Ports Authority last week welcomed the CMA CGM Theodore Roosevelt, the largest container ship to ever call on the Port of Charleston. Photo courtesy of SCPA.
A $529 million project that could have a major impact on the Upstate’s economic future took a step forward last Thursday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced it had awarded its Charleston District the first construction contract for the Charleston Harbor deepening project to Illinois-based Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. According to the agency, which is the federal partner working alongside the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) on the project, the $47 million contract will initiate work on the Port of Charleston’s entrance channel. It is the first of two contracts that will be required to deepen the harbor’s existing entrance from 47 to 54 feet. The agency said it anticipates awarding the second contract by the end of the calendar year. Work included under the first contract, which is expected to be completed by spring 2020, will encompass the dredging and re-
More than half of SCPA’s total $53 million economic impact is concentrated in the Upstate.
location of about 6 million cubic yards of material to an offshore site, the agency said. “We’re very excited to have awarded the first contract for dredging that will start deepening Charleston Harbor,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, Charleston District commander for the USACE, in a statement. “The Charleston District team has been working on this locally, regionally, and nationally important project with the South Carolina Ports Authority since well before I took command, so I’m proud to
see their hard work come to fruition.” The project is being financed by $300 million in funds already set aside by the state’s General Assembly, with the federal government expected to pay for the remaining costs. Construction of the entire project is expected to take 40 to 76 months, depending on full funding, dredge availability, weather, and a variety of other factors, USACE said. In addition to the entrance work, the project will bring the
harbor’s main channel depth to 52 feet from its current depth of 45 feet. Officials said the deepening is vital to the port’s future, as it will increase its ability to accommodate larger, heavier container ships transiting the recently expanded Panama Canal to call on East Coast ports. SCPA announced last Thursday that it welcomed the largest of those vessels, the CMA CGM Theodore Roosevelt. The ports authority said the Roosevelt, with its capacity to carry 14,414 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), is the largest ship to call on the Port of Charleston. The 13,208-TEU OOCL France was previously the largest ship served by the port, SCPA said. To complement the deepening project, which SCPA would offer “unfettered access” for 13,000- to 14,000-TEU ships, the ports authority has launched several other infrastructure improvements. 9.22.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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Construction of the entire project is expected to take 40 to 76 months, depending on full funding, dredge availability, weather, and a variety of other factors.
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Those projects include a modernization of the Wando Welch Terminal scheduled for completion in spring 2018 and construction of the new Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal opening in June 2020. “The first dredging contract awarded for harbor deepening is outstanding news for SCPA and the State of South Carolina, and the arrival of the biggest ship ever to call our port this morning is a timely and visible example of the importance of the Charleston Harbor deepening project,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of SCPA, in a statement. “Our harbor will ultimately be the deepest on the East Coast, allowing vessels like the Roosevelt to transit without tidal restriction. Today reaffirms our efforts and investments in terminals and infrastructure to prepare for the big ships being deployed to the East Coast following the Panama Canal expansion and completion of the new Bayonne Bridge.” According to a 2015 economic impact study by the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, more than half of SCPA’s total $53 million economic impact is concentrated in the Upstate. The manufacturing industry, which represents the primary user base of the port’s facilities, including SCPA’s inland port in Spartanburg County near Greer, encompasses more than 15 percent of the region’s economy, the study said. UBJ | 9.22.2017
In March, SCPA broke ground on its second inland port in Dillon County. Local leaders said they anticipate container volume growth spurred by the harbor deepening and other improvement projects will be good for businesses in the Upstate. “A significant portion of the Port of Charleston’s activity is generated in the Upstate,” said Carter Smith, executive vice president of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Futures Group. “It stands to reason that any increase in the port’s ability to compete on a global stage will create more opportunities for economic growth in our region. It translates into more activity to and from the inland port, which elevates our position and makes us even more attractive to companies in neighboring states.” SCPA was set to host its State of the Port Address Luncheon and S.C. International Trade Conference last week. Both events had to be rescheduled due to Hurricane Irma. The luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 25, at the Charleston Area Convention Center at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. The trade conference will take place Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 at the Gaillard Center at 95 Calhoun Street in Charleston.
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| NEWS
NETWORKING
Drink Up 1 Million Cups serves its first entrepreneurial session in Spartanburg TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF
tanderson@communityjournals.com The startup culture brewing in Spartanburg picked up more steam last Wednesday. Spartanburg’s first installment of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s 1 Million Cups program was held at Hub City Tap House at 197 E. St. John St. near downtown. More than 60 people showed up to help launch the program, which seeks to engage, educate, and connect local entrepreneurs, as well as to build startup communities at the grass-roots level. “This was truly a team effort and everyone did an amazing job,” said Erin Ouzts, lead organizer for 1 Million Cups – Spartanburg. “I just want to thank them for all of their hard work. It really paid off.” Ouzts, who came up with the vision in 2014 to bring the program to Spartanburg, said event planners hoped to attract 40 participants to the inaugural session. “The fact that we exceeded our [attendance] goal is a testament to the excitement that is building here in Spartanburg,” said Cal Wicker, assistant vice president of BB&T in Spartanburg, who is part of a volunteer team helping to lead the program. “We have a lot going on and people want to get involved.” The session included presentations by Joseph McMillan, founder of Atlas Organics, and Chris Jefferson, founder of B.A.R.S. Academy. Each presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience. McMillan’s company grew out of the recycling company Junk Matters, which he started in 2013 while he was still a student at Wofford College.
“The beauty of a program like 1 Million Cups is that it’s fuel for the grass-roots movement that is Spartanburg.”
Jefferson’s venture, which aims to help young aspiring musicians in the community, grew out of the gospel hip-hop artist’s participation in Spartanburg’s 14-week business accelerator Start:ME. Betsy Neely Sikma, a volunteer leader for 1 Million Cups – Spartanburg and director of small-business and entrepreneurial development for the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, said the program ties in well with the community’s fiveyear economic and community development strategy OneSpartanburg, which officially launched in January. That strategy includes the creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. “The beauty of a program like 1 Million Cups is that it’s fuel for the grass-roots movement that is Spartanburg,” Sikma said. “Through projects like this, we are able to provide fertile soil in which the seeds of innovation can thrive.” Local events will continue to be held at Hub City Tap House on the first Wednesday of each month. The next event is scheduled for Oct. 4. All of the events are free and open to entrepreneurs, investors, and other interested members of the community. Krispy Kreme and Spartanburg-based Little River Roasting will provide free coffee on alternat-
ing months. The Spartanburg Area Small Business Development Center and the GreenHouse Business Incubator at the University of South Carolina Upstate’s George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics will provide audio and visual support, and interns to help out. Founded in 2012 in Kansas City, Mo., 1 Million Cups is in place in more than 130 communities across the country, including Greenville, Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, York County, Atlanta, and Charlotte, N.C. Ouzts said, “I think this program is great because it takes entrepreneurs who are embedded in the community and exposes them to other entrepreneurs and opportunities to share their experiences.”
NEXT TIME Wednesday, Oct. 4 8:30 a.m. Hub City Tap House 197 E. St. John St., Spartanburg 1millioncups.com/ spartanburg
9.22.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Closing up Shop
AEROSPACE
Taking Flight
WYNIT files for Chapter 11 protection
White House approves Greenville production of F-16 fighter jets RUDOLPH BELL | STAFF
rbell@communityjournals.com Peter A. Richichi, WYNYT COO. Photo by Will Crooks RUDOLPH BELL | STAFF
rbell@communityjournals.com WYNIT, the electronics distributor that announced the closure of its downtown Greenville headquarters last month, says it’s bankrupt. Wynit Distribution LLC and related corporate entities filed for Chapter 11 protection on Sept. 8, according to documents on file in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Minnesota. The distributor of consumer electronics announced in late 2015 that it would move a headquarters operation from North Syracuse, N.Y., to the ONE complex in downtown Greenville. In a surprise announcement late last month, WYNIT said it would shut down its Greenville operations, affecting 140 employees. At the time, WYNIT disclosed little about the reasons behind its decision, citing only “a number of unexpected financial issues combined with a disappointing holiday selling season.” Peter A. Richichi, the company’s chief operating officer, provided more details about the financial crunch in a declaration made to the bankruptcy court. Among the factors he cited was a sales shortfall on the part of WYNIT’s largest supplier, a consumer electronics manufacturer. He didn’t name the supplier, but the bankruptcy filing identifies the largest unsecured claim against 6
UBJ | 9.22.2017
WYNIT as $31.5 million from Fitbit Inc., the San Francisco-based maker of smartwatches and wearable fitness trackers. In his statement to the court, Richichi details unsuccessful negotiations to obtain additional product from the supplier and a failed attempt to secure more financing. He also cited having to get a new chief financial officer up to speed and the relocation of the company’s headquarters to Greenville as factors in the crisis. Richichi said WYNIT determined on Aug. 24 that it could no longer operate and decided to terminate more than 200 employees. Going forward, Richichi told the court, WYNIT intends to maintain operations in Eden Prairie, Minn., and sell its software division. It will also liquidate about $90 million of inventory stored in warehouses, he said, and try to collect about $108 million in outstanding accounts receivable. Richichi also said WYNIT’s 10-year lease of 57,330 square feet of office space in the ONE complex runs through January 2026. He said the company believes the monthly rent of $127,565 is “substantially below market.” Richichi told UBJ via email that WYNIT is working with Hughes Development Corp., the Greenville-based owner of the ONE complex, on several options for the office space. He declined additional comment for the time being.
Lockheed Martin Corp. is a step closer to making at least 19 of its F-16 fighter jets in Greenville now that the White House has formally approved the sale of the jets to Bahrain. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Sept. 8 that it had given Congress formal notification of the proposed $2.78 billion deal. Under the federal government’s process for selling arms to foreign governments, the Trump administration will be able to proceed with the sale unless Congress objects within 30 days. While Congress has the power to block a proposed arms sale to a foreign government, it has not successfully done so since the 1980s, according to David McKeeby, a spokesman with the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, an arm of the State Department that is involved in the process. If there’s no objection from Congress, U.S. military officials will hammer out a contract with Bahrain and work with Lockheed to complete it, McKeeby said. Lockheed earlier this year disclosed plans to move F-16 production from Fort Worth, Texas, to the 16-hangar complex in southern Greenville County where the defense contractor has refurbished military aircraft since 1984. It’s not clear, however, who’s going to buy Greenville-made F-16s after the 19 are delivered to Bahrain. Lockheed has said it’s hoping to sell the latest-generation F-16 to India in a deal that could reported-
If there’s no objection from Congress, U.S. military officials will hammer out a contract with Bahrain and work with Lockheed to complete it. ly involve up to 200 aircraft. But it has also said that any F-16s sold to India would be made in India through a partnership with Tata Group, a big Indian industrial conglomerate. F-16 production would transfer from Greenville to India in the mid-2020s if Lockheed wins the Indian work, company executives have said. Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed says it expects other future customers for the F-16. Lockheed may end up making a different supersonic military aircraft at its Greenville complex. The company has said it would perform final assembly of the South Korea-made T50A in Greenville if it wins a contract to supply 350 jets to the U.S. Air Force for training fighter pilots. Lockheed Martin is competing with a Boeing/Saab alliance for that multibillion-dollar contract, as well as an Italian company called Leonardo.
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FINANCE
Greenville-based FinTrust merges with Georgia firm Two mergers have made financial advisory firms in Greenville and Columbia bigger than they were. In the larger deal, Greenville-based FinTrust Investment Advisors combined with Broad Street Capital Advisors of Athens, Ga. The combined company is based in Greenville, employs 39 people, and advises individuals, corporations, and institutions in the management of $1.6 billion in assets. It has offices in Greenville, Anderson, Charleston, Athens, and Macon, Ga., and plans to add offices in Atlanta and Columbia. The merged company is using the FinTrust brand in South Carolina and keeping the Broad Street brand in Georgia for now. The owners are Philip Brice, Patrick Sheridan, and Allen Gillespie. In the smaller deal, Abacus Planning Group of Columbia merged with Beckwith Financial Advisors of Greenville. The combined company is based in Columbia and uses the Abacus name. It employs 28 people, has offices in Columbia and Greenville, and manages more than $1 billion in investments, mostly for families with shared assets such as business, real estate, or oil and gas interests. The owners are Cheryl R. Holland, Alexander Chastain, Charles B. Flowers, and Jon J. Robertson. “Given Greenville’s strong corporate base, we expect to grow by 15 to 20 percent per year in the Greenville market and are hiring proactively in Greenville to serve that growth,” said Holland, Abacus founder and president. Terms were not disclosed for either deal. –Rudolph Bell
EDUCATION
USC Upstate names Flynn provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs The University of South Carolina Upstate last week announced Clif Flynn as its new provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. Flynn, a USC Upstate employee for almost 30 years, has served as interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs since July 2015. In his new role as chief academic officer, Flynn is a member of the chancellor’s cabinet and will be responsible for all academic programs at the university, which has a total enrollment of about 6,000 students. “For nearly three decades, Dr. Flynn has demonstrated servant leadership and gained Clif Flynn respect at USC Upstate, across the state, and throughout the country,” said Brendan Kelly, chancellor of USC Upstate, in a statement. “Dr. Flynn is the chief academic officer of this institution, and he offers precisely the strong leadership skills that academic affairs needs to innovate and move forward.” Flynn has served in a variety of roles at the university, including associate vice chancellor for academic affairs; director of graduate studies; chair of the department of sociology, criminal justice, and women’s studies; and professor of sociology. He also has published several articles related to human-animal studies, family violence, and corporal punishment of children. In 2008, he was selected as a fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. He is the editor of “Social Creatures,” one of the first anthologies in human-animal studies. Flynn is also the author of the book “Understanding Animal Abuse: A Sociological Analysis.” Flynn earned his Ph.D. in family studies and a master’s degree in child development and family relations from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Davidson College. “USC Upstate is on the cusp of great things,” Flynn said in a statement. “Passion, commitment, and vision will take this institution to great heights and allow us to celebrate many victories.” –Trevor Anderson
Left to right: Jon Good, CEO of NAI Earle Furman; Stanhope Johnson, principal with NAI Piedmont Triad; and Robert Perkins, director of NAI Piedmont Triad. Photo provided by NAI Earle Furman
REAL ESTATE
NAI Earle Furman expands to NC’s Triad region NAI Earle Furman, which has brokered commercial real estate deals in Greenville for more than 30 years, is now doing business in North Carolina’s Triad region. It recently merged with NAI Piedmont Triad, its counterpart in the region of North Carolina that includes Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. The combined company will be based in Greenville and continue to use the NAI Earle Furman name in the Upstate and the NAI Piedmont Triad name in the Triad. Jon Good, the combined company’s Greenville-based CEO, said the cashless merger
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gives NAI Earle Furman a new market in North Carolina in which to sell its specialty services. Those include investment services, brokering sales of multifamily properties, and brokering sales of recreational and timber land. “We’re in essence exporting those divisions and those business lines into a new market,” Good said. “And the folks there will make more money by having more tools in their toolbox.” Stanhope Johnson, a principal at NAI Piedmont Triad, said in a news release that the deal gives the Triad brokers “more opportunities and a much larger platform to grow our office and better serve our clients.” Terms of the merger were not disclosed. Good said the combined company has 19 shareholders, 17 of which were owners of NAI Earle Furman before the merger, including that company’s namesake, Earle Furman. Before the merger, NAI Earle Furman had 85 employees, compared to 15 at NAI Piedmont Triad, Good said. He said the dollar value of the sales and leases that NAI Earle Furman handled in 2016 was more than $400 million, compared to more than $90 million for NAI Piedmont Triad. Good said NAI Piedmont Triad resembles the NAI Earle Furman of 17 years ago. “We’re going to do everything to grow there that we’ve done here,” he said. NAI Earle Furman has offices in Anderson and Spartanburg, in addition to its Greenville headquarters. NAI Piedmont Triad has offices in Greensboro and Burlington. –Rudolph Bell
America, Electrical Systems & Instrumentation, H+M Industrial EPC, Mangan Inc., M.C. Dean Inc. National, Nova Group Inc., Texas Instruments Inc., Valvoline, Wastren Advantage Inc., and Yaskawa America Inc. “Making those phone calls to the winning companies for 2017 is a highlight of the year for us,” said EHS Today Content Director Sandy Smith in a statement. “A big focus for us this year has been ownership of safety. Does the executive suite own it? Do supervisors? What about employees — how do they fit in?” she said. “We realized that for the 13 winning applications, despite the diverse industries and sizes of companies, one message resonated loud and clear: Every employee at these companies — from the CEO to the newest hire — plays a role in safety, has ownership of safety.” –Trevor Anderson
MANUFACTURING
RESTAURANTS
Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. among America’s Safest Companies Milliken & Co. has earned national recognition for its commitment to workplace safety. The Spartanburg-based manufacturer was one of 13 companies named to EHS Today magazine’s 2017 list of America’s Safest Companies. Milliken, which has made the list three times, was also named the first inductee into EHS Today’s new America’s Safest Companies Hall of Fame. “The safety and health of all Milliken associates are of primary, foundational importance to our company,” said Harold Chandler, CEO, president, and chairman of Milliken, in a statement. “To be among America’s Safest Companies upholds Milliken’s legacy of safety and honors the ongoing commitment of our associates to create a safe working environment.” Created in 2002, America’s Safest Companies has honored more than 225 companies in the U.S. that have “demonstrated commitment to employee safety and health, environmental management, and risk control.” Milliken said it devotes resources to train its associates to perform their jobs safely, to ensure equipment can be operated in a safe manner, to eliminate workplace hazards, and to comply with applicable safety and health laws and regulations. The company said it is one of the nation’s top three companies for its number of sites that have received the coveted OSHA VPP Star certification. Other companies named on this year’s America’s Safest list include ACCO Brands Corp., Atkins Energy 8
UBJ | 9.22.2017
tomers a certificate for one free pizza per week for a year. Andy Hayes with Spartanburg-based Spencer/Hines Properties represented the building’s owner, while Geoffrey Southard of Trident Commercial represented Stoner’s in the lease agreement. Hayes said the building has only sat vacant for a few months and has attracted a lot of interest. The building is located in a 3.5-acre block of property between Daniel Morgan Avenue, and North Church, Archer, and Magnolia streets. Of the 16 properties that make up the block, nine are currently vacant. A spate of new and existing developments could make the block more attractive to potential investors in the coming months. Those developments include a new office building behind the Marriott, the $29 million redevelopment of the historic Montgomery Building, a potential redevelopment of the Spartanburg County Courthouse at 180 Magnolia St., the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, and development activity in the city’s Northside neighborhood. –Trevor Anderson
TRANSPORTATION
Michelin buys map company
Stoner’s Pizza, opening in Spartanburg, is also currently looking for a space in Greenville.
Stoner’s Pizza Joint will open first Upstate store in downtown Spartanburg Georgia-based Stoner’s Pizza Joint has signed a lease on the 1,400-square-foot former Sake Grill at 256 N. Church St., Spartanburg. Drew Ciccarelli, co-owner and head of franchise development for Stoner’s, said the company plans to renovate the space during the next few months, with the store expected to open in early December. He said the restaurant will create about 20 jobs. “We thought this was a good location,” Ciccarelli said. “It’s right across from the Marriott. There are several colleges around. Traditionally, we’ve done very well in college towns.” Ciccarelli said Stoner’s is currently searching for space for a location in Greenville, with the ideal size being 1,200 to 1,500 square feet. He said the company is also looking for franchisees in the Upstate to help it open up to two restaurants in Spartanburg County and three stores in Greenville County. Founded by Joel and Jenny Harn, the company has thrived on a takeout/delivery model and a menu featuring a variety of pizzas, sandwiches, salads, calzones, Stromboli, wings, lasagna, and desserts. Ciccarelli said the Spartanburg store will deliver to customers within a 5-mile radius, which he said encompasses about 140,000 homes. Ciccarelli said the company will host a grand opening for the restaurant where it will award the first 50 cus-
Greenville-based tire maker Michelin North America and its French parent company have long published maps and atlases, as well as travel and restaurant guides, as a sideline to their main tire business. Michelin’s map business grew recently when it acquired assets formerly owned by a Sarasota, Fla.based map publisher called Streetwise Maps. Streetwise, known for laminated, accordion-style maps geared for tourists, publishes more than 130 titles, including maps for 27 Streetwise Maps’ products are geared for U.S. cities, according to a tourists. Michelin news release. Michelin North America said the acquisition makes it the third-largest U.S. map publisher. Terms of the all-cash deal were not disclosed. Michael Brown, who founded Streetwise 30 years ago, said Michelin was the “clear choice” to uphold his company’s high standard because of the tire maker’s “undisputed legacy helping travelers navigate.” Eileen Osteen, sales director for Michelin Travel Publications, said printed maps remain relevant in the digital age. They are “the perfect planning tool, as you never have to worry about a good signal, roaming charges, or finding a detour for an alternative route,” she said in the news release. Michelin said it would sell Streetwise-branded maps through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers. Lauren Davis, a Michelin North America spokesperson, said the company doesn’t plan any changes to Streetwise for now. –Rudolph Bell
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COVER |
SC BRANDED
It’s Showtime SC Chamber and the Brand Leader’s Geoff Wasserman create an awards ceremony to celebrate the state’s best brands
WORDS BY RUDOLPH BELL | PHOTO BY WILL CROOKS
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SC BRANDED
T
he Emmys were last Sunday night, but the Brand Leader, a Greenville marketing agency, and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce are set to launch their own awards show focused on Palmetto State brands. The first annual South Carolina Branded awards ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 2. in Columbia. SC Branded creators say they hope to go beyond the typical chamber program and celebrate the diverse range of activities that make South Carolina and its economy what it is today. For starters, the chamber and the Brand Leader want to highlight newer aspects of the state economy, such as technology and foodie scenes, as well as the industries that South Carolina has long been known for, such as manufacturing and tourism. And because they’re focusing on brands and not just individual companies, they’re able to create atypical award categories, such as iconic sports moment or a restaurant dish that’s authentic to South Carolina. The two groups also see value in bringing together business leaders from various market segments — even if just for one night — in hopes that connections will be made and new relationships will be formed. The end result: a cross-pollination that could lead to new collaborations — and potentially new SC Branded winners.
They’re focusing on brands, not just individual companies, and are including atypical award categories, such as iconic sports moment or a restaurant dish that’s authentic to South Carolina.
| COVER
THE AWARDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The award goes to the development that is turning heads in South Carolina. Finalists: Taylors Mill Taylors, Nexton - Summerville, Samsung - Newberry
PALMETTO GREEN
The award goes to the corporate project that is most known for its preservation and protection of South Carolina’s beauty. Finalist: Hook & Barrel - Myrtle Beach, G.F. League - Greenville, Town of Summerville - Summerville
HEALTH INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
The award is given to a not-for-profit or private-sector health initiative that improves the health of South Carolinians. Finalists: Harvest Hope - Columbia, First Choice Fit - Charleston, Bon Secours Young Adult Cancer Care - Greenville
ARTS CHAMPION
The award is presented to a key champion of the arts in South Carolina. Finalists: Metropolitan Arts Council - Greenville, Cherington Shucker - Greenville, Palmetto State Arts Education - Columbia
WOVEN & WORN “I think you’ll see some categories out there where some winners aren’t chamber members,” said Geoff Wasserman, CEO of the Brand Leader. Fifteen awards will be handed out in recognition of an economic development project, a corporate project that protects natural beauty, a health initiative, an arts advocate, a textile product or company, an agribusiness brand, a restaurant, a brewery, a sports team or player, a tourist destination or event, an innovative product, a philanthropic initiative, a city or town, a young firm on the rise, and a company, person, or institution that has “continually given to South Carolina and its people.” Ted Pitts, chamber president, said it wants to recognize the “brands that make South Carolina the great place that it is to live, work, and do business.”
The award goes to the top product or company that is changing the face of what textiles mean to South Carolina. Finalists: Kentwool - Greenville, Carolina Creative - Greenville, Homegrown Cotton - Kingstree
FARM, FOREST, & FIELD
The award goes to the brand that is proving to be truly revolutionary in agribusiness. Finalists: District 6 Farms at Walnut Grove Plantation - Spartanburg, Collum’s Lumber - Allendale, Mill Village Farms Greenville
TASTE OF THE STATE
The award goes to the restaurant whose signature dish screams, “South Carolina.” Finalists: Lizard’s Thicket Columbia, Soby’s - Greenville, Hyman’s - Charleston Source: SCBranded.com 9.22.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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COVER |
SC BRANDED
THE AWARDS CONTINUED
BREWERY OF THE YEAR
The award goes to the producer that is making a name for themselves, across the state and beyond. Finalists: Quest Brewing - Greenville, River Rat Brewing - Columbia, 13 Stripes - Taylors
ICONIC SPORTS MOMENT
The award goes to the team or individual that put us on the map in 2017 with the most memorable moment. Finalists: Wesley Bryan’s win at the RBC Heritage, Clemson Football Championship, USC Ladies Basketball Championship
DESTINATION AWARD
The award goes to the South Carolina location or event that is making South Carolina a “must see.” Finalists: Hilton Head Island’s Harbor Town, Myrtle Beach’s Oceanfront Boardwalk, Greenville’s Main Street
PRODUCT INNOVATION
The award goes to the company whose newest development is bringing attention and growth to the state. Finalists: Haile Gold Mine - Kershaw, Growler Chill Myrtle Beach, Hook & Gaff - West Columbia
CHARITABLE IMPACT
The award recognizes corporate giving and philanthropy that makes a true impact for the good of the state and its citizens. Finalists: Colonial Life - Columbia, Cox Industries - Orangeburg, Blue Cross Blue Shield - Columbia
HOMETOWN SC
The award recognizes one city or town that is doing great things for the people that call it home. Finalists: Aiken, Spartanburg, Travelers Rest
BRAND ON THE RISE
The award goes to the company founded in the last six years, that has quickly taken the market to become a player in its space. Finalists: Bandwagon - Greenville, Heybo Outdoors - Chester, Brackish Bowties - Charleston
LEGENDS AWARD
This award goes to the company, person, or institution that has continually and consistently given to South Carolina and its people. Source: SCBranded.com 12
UBJ | 9.22.2017
A special committee of chamber members selected three finalists in 11 categories and will announce winners in the Nov. 2 ceremony.
The contest is a profit-making venture, but neither Pitts nor Wasserman say profit is the driving force. “We’re hopeful it generates a little bit more than it costs, but at the end of the day this is about recognizing companies and individuals that make South Carolina great,” Pitts said, adding that there is no model for SC Branded. “We really didn’t copy anybody,” Pitts said. “This is something that the chamber and the Brand Leader have worked to develop.” Wasserman wants the ceremony to have an “Academy Awards feel,” with a lot of high-energy networking and storytelling and a unique trophy for award winners that he hopes will become iconic. “It’s more of a celebration than a program,” he said. The exact shape of the award, called a “Brandy,” has not yet been revealed. “It won’t be a brandy flask, though people are welcome to celebrate with brandy afterwards if they like,” Wasserman said. The chamber put out a call for nominations earlier this year, then sent applications to the nominees to gather more information. A special committee of chamber members selected three finalists in 11 categories and will announce winners in the Nov. 2 ceremony. Winners in four other categories – recognizing a brewery, restaurant dish, tourist destination, and iconic sports moment – will be chosen by popular vote as gathered on social media. The chamber, which is already part of 11 award or recognition events, is handling logistics as well as selling tickets and sponsorships. The Brand Leader is responsible for creative work, branding, and marketing. Wasserman said the awards ceremony may move to other South Carolina locations in the future. Wasserman, a Montreal native, moved to Greenville in 1990 to be marketing director for the former Greenville Braves minor league baseball team. He founded Showcase Marketing in 1999 and changed the name to the Brand Leader earlier this year. The 15-employee firm specializes in branding and published a local magazine called Business Black Box for a decade before ceasing publication earlier this year. The Brand Leader’s other work includes helping the state chamber with its annual magazine, Ascend, and other publications.
MANFRED GOLLENT
| LEADERSHIP
The Myth of the Born Leader A conversation with Manfred Gollent RYAN JOHNSTON | PUBLISHER
rjohnston@communityjournals.com
M
anfred Gollent wants the Upstate business community to know one thing: No one is born a leader. To hear Gollent explain it, every leader was once a student — a student who had to learn from others, other leaders in particular. Still, no matter how much experience you get, no matter how many people you lead, the learning never stops. According to Gollent, leadership must continue to be developed; it must continue to be honed. Recently, Upstate Business Journal Publisher Ryan Johnston sat down with the ccertified executive business coach and founder of QLI International to learn more about good leadership and the myth of the born leader. These are the excerpts. The Green Years I got tossed into a leadership role very early managing a discotheque in my early 20s together with a partner. These were wild days, and I was quite green at the time. There were some hard lessons for me. When I came to my senses and began to work in my profession as an engineer for a few years, I paid attention to the leaders around me and concluded that I would not want to lead like them. I had, through the 35-plus years of my corporate career, many opportunities to learn and acquire leadership skills, as my employers generously supported leadership development. While I never had the opportunity to work with a professional coach, I had great supervisors and role models supporting my own development. In retrospect, most of them had a knack for coaching and mentoring, which was great for me.
Failing Leaders = Failing Organizations In an organization that is successful, it always requires effective leadership, and the whole organization must be positively engaged to create that success. It requires the combination of leadership and the whole organization to become successful. In a failing organization, you must focus on the leadership only. The responsibility lies with the leadership. I understand this sounds unfair, but who defines strategy? Who hires and develops the workforce? Who manages processes and procedures? Who decides on products and services? The leadership of the organization. If leadership could be successful without the people, they would not hire them in the first place.
Leadership Defined My definition of leadership is very simple: Leadership is creating results through people. That is the whole secret. If we accept that definition, we embark on a fantastic journey of progress, success, and personal development. It leads also to an important conclusion: Leadership is not about the leader but about those that are led. There is this notion of the “born leader.” I am sure you have heard that, too. I do not subscribe to that. The born leader is a myth. Think of someone you admire and respect for being a great leader. What are the three most important leadership traits you can identify, and ask yourself which of
these traits is genetically inherited. You won’t find one, which means these traits have been developed and acquired in some way at some time. It also means one can acquire them at any time one choses to do so. It requires only some humbleness to learn, as well as the investment of the time, effort, and possibly money to make it happen. Effective leadership is not a gift; it is a choice.
Learning the Craft Being serious about becoming a leader results in the recognition that leadership is a specific profession, a craft that needs to be treated like that. It requires its own skill set, traditionally not acquired in a scholastic environment. Yet the impact, good or bad, of leadership is fundamental for any organization. Leaders are multipliers by default, hopefully multipliers of productivity and progress. However, hope is not a strategy. Let me be candid. Watching a good video on leadership or certain leadership tools is better than doing nothing. The challenge with that is simply in the fact that you may not be able to transition what you have just learned from the video into an effective sustainable routine to create results through people. Working with a professional leadership coach one-on-one is likely the most powerful and expedited process toward sustainable leadership effectiveness, creating the most impact on your ability to create results.
Changing the Way We Think In the 1990s, leadership coaching was predominantly used as a remedial tool, to fix what was broken. Back then, if you got a coach as a manager or executive, it was an indication of a significant deficiency that needed to be repaired. It was almost a stigma. Today, most organizations utilize leadership coaching as a developmental process to further enhance leadership effectiveness and accelerate the development process. Leadership coaching has become mostly an opportunity for individuals to maximize their potential and increase the speed of personal development and progress. The coaching process is evolving, too, as research creates knowledge about the way our brain works. Our behavior creates our results, and we act the way we think. Consequently, if we want enhanced results, we need to change the way we think. A professional coach challenges the client’s thinking patterns. 9.22.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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SQUARE FEET |
REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com |
@arielhturner
Capital Investment Greenville’s RealOp Investments acquires Columbia landmark office building RealOp Investments LLC of Greenville has acquired The Tower at 1301 Gervais, a 298,926-square-foot Class A office building across from the South Carolina State House in Columbia. RealOp, whose investment portfolio includes properties across the Upstate and the Southeast, including the Bank of America building in downtown Greenville, purchased the property from Morning Calm Management for $28.125 million. CBRE’s Patrick Gildea, Aaron Dupree, Martin Moore, and Matt Smith represented the seller. Henry W. Roe and Will Choate of Colliers International represented the buyer and will handle leasing inquiries. RealOp’s close working relationship with Colliers International led to the acquisition in the Columbia market. “It’s a great location,” says Paul Sparks, RealOp managing principal and president. “Columbia downtown is revitalizing. It feels like Greenville
four to five years ago.” The 20-story building is anchored by Bank of America, University of South Carolina, S.C. Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Merrill Lynch, VC3, IT-oLogy, and TM Floyd & Company. It is currently 80 percent occupied. The diverse tenant base, which includes information technology, education, government, law, real estate, insurance, and other sectors, was a main draw for RealOp, Sparks says. The possibility of facilitating collaboration between the tenants is the foundation for many of the renovations planned, which include creating common space all of the tenants can use simultaneously. “It works within our thesis of modernizing and creating collaboration,” Sparks says. The idea is to provide a platform for tenants to provide services to each other as business needs arise, such as IT or marketing. “We want a sense of community in
The Tower at 1301 Gervais in Columbia is 80 percent occupied by a diverse tenant base.
the building,” Sparks says. “It’s about connecting tenants, letting them know who’s there, and creating an ecosystem.” Other plans for the property include improvements to the parking lot and
retail façade, plaza upgrades, a lobby refresh, and elevator updates to bring them up to code. Additionally, they plan to increase parking in the nine-story parking deck in 2019.
Roll With It Maple Street Biscuit Company opens first of two Greenville-area stores The Jacksonville, Fla.-based breakfast and lunch eatery Maple Street Biscuit Company was scheduled to open its first South Carolina location at Five Forks in Simpsonville on Sept. 21. The 2,700-square-foot restaurant in the end-unit of the Lowes Foods of Simpsonville at Village Market East development, 2815 Woodruff Road, is the first of two locations planned for the Greenville area. The second is downtown in the former Dixie’s Tavern at 18 E. North St. The menu includes a variety of biscuits — maple syrup is folded into each and every one — and toppings. For instance, The Squawking Goat is a flaky biscuit, with all-natural fried chicken breast, a fried goat cheese medallion, and house-made pepper jelly. The Reinhold, named after the cus14
UBJ | 9.22.2017
tomer who repeatedly ordered the same off-menu combo, is a biscuit with all-natural fried chicken breast, crunchy dill pickles, and housemade honey mustard. “It’s comfort food done uniquely,” says Joseph Duncan, Simpsonville operator. The order counter at the front gives customers a complete view of the open kitchen and biscuit counter, where biscuits are made constantly during the day. “We have an immaculate kitchen,” Duncan says. “We have to. There’s nowhere to hide.” Instead of giving orders numbers or assigning the customers’ names to a ticket, Maple Street asks
each customer a predetermined question, and whatever the answer is becomes the name on the order. For instance, the first question when a store opens is “What is your favorite band?” Chances are, in the mix of The Beatles, Taylor Swift, and Coldplay, some joker will answer something as potentially embarrassing as the Spice Girls, as one 280-pound biker did one day when Duncan was training in a Florida store. He says the entire store full of customers burst into laughter, and it served as conversation fodder for quite a while. “The goal is how can we make you have a great day,” Duncan says.
AS SEEN IN – THE 2017
A.T. LOCKE
BTC
When it’s time for your business to take a bow, enjoy your
BEHIND THE COUNTER
ovation – you can rest assured A.T. LOCKE is behind the scenes making sure all of your accounting needs are handled. Molly Fortune, executive director of the renowned Newberry Opera House performing arts center, relies on A.T. LOCKE for financial expertise and appreciates that the company offers a flexible, team-based approach to outsource accounting management. Molly is shown here on the right, center stage with Anna Locke, owner of A.T. LOCKE. The building, an historic Newberry landmark completed in 1881 and fully restored in 1996, is owned by the City of Newberry and operated by the Newberry Opera House Foundation. The 462-seat theater has more than 100,000 attendees to its full slate of shows each year. Fortune, who was with the Fox Theater in Atlanta for 15 years, relies on A.T. LOCKE to help the Newberry Opera House make sound financial decisions. Anna Locke is happy to crunch the numbers in the wings while her clients take their curtain call. “We can be the accounting
We can be the accounting manager, controller and CFO without the price tag.
manager, controller and CFO – without the price tag,” Locke said. The group can be as hands-on and involved as clients need. “We can participate in monthly management and board meetings, project cash flow, make suggestions for clearing out old inventory,” she said. “We consider ourselves problem solvers and we bring the unexpected to accounting.” A.T. LOCKE is passionate about being closely involved with clients month after month and, because of that close relationship, being able to advise them on how the numbers can help their business. The company works with startups, restaurants, retail, pharmaceutical companies, manufacturing and nonprofits. “As a team, we celebrate the diversity of the topics we get to cover,” she said. Anna, a graduate of Clemson University, had been a bank teller, “part-time accounting department” for many local companies and nonprofits. She knew that approach would allow clients to start small and then pull in more resources from her team as needed, or downsize if circumstances call for it.
68 Pointe Circle, Ste. 2202, Greenville atlocke.com 864.908.3062
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROL B. STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY
auditor and CPA when she recognized the need for an outsourced
SOCIAL SNAPSHOT |
THE NETWORKING SCENE
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH On Sept. 14, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Night, W. Carlos Phillips, president and CEO of the Greenville Chamber, and Fernando Fleites, senior VP of human resources at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, participated in a panel discussion regarding “the central role of Hispanic youth in the global competitiveness of the Upstate.” Clemson University President James P. Clements was the evening’s keynote speaker. The event served as a kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Photos by Justin Nix.
Presented by
Drop in and network… first drink is on us.
Wednesday, September 27 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
RSVP: Eventbrite.com (Search for Business on Tap) 924 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601
UBJ | 9.22.2017
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS / NEWS FACES OF BUSINESS
PROMOTED
HIRED
HONORED
| ON THE MOVE / NEW TO THE STREET
HIRED
NICOLE VISCOME
ERICA DAVIDSON
JAY HATTEN
BASIL O. DOSUNMU
Promoted to the role of account manager at VantagePoint Marketing. Viscome, who most recently served as senior account executive, has been with VantagePoint for four years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Northeastern University and has seven years of marketing communications experience.
Joined The Home Builders Association of Greenville as its new director of the organization’s signature biannual event, the Southern Home & Garden Show. Davidson attended Kennesaw State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing and an MBA in international marketing.
Honored by Northwestern Mutual for obtaining membership into the 2016-17 Forum Group, which recognizes financial advisors who’ve achieved the company’s highest level of productivity and excellence. Hatten, a 2001 graduate of Furman University, is a third-generation Northwestern Mutual advisor.
Hired as senior vice presidentadministration/CFO at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District. He will officially join the organization the week of Sept. 25. Dosunmu has more than 24 years of accounting and auditing experience. Dosunmu rejoined Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) in May 2015 as assistant vice president – finance and is currently serving as the interim CFO. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Rutgers University.
VIP GENE GIBSON
Open for business
CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions, & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@ upstatebusinessjournal. com.
Photo provided
United Community Bank has recently named Gene Gibson vice president of community banking. Gibson has served as regional president for United Community Bank in the Coastal Georgia area since 2010 and has supervised activities in the Savannah, Brunswick, and Macon, Ga., communities. Prior to this role, he served as market president for Regions Bank in Savannah. Earlier in his career, Gibson specialized in commercial banking with Wachovia, Union Planters Bank, and Bank of America. Gibson will be based in Greenville. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas and received his MBA from Mississippi State University. MARKETING Flourish Integrated Communications announces the expansion of its client service team with the hiring of Ashley Bates and Amanda Doran. Ashley Bates serves as an account manager and event producer, and Amanda Doran serves as an account associate. Bates has a deep background in event planning and execution, having worked most recently for Ob Hospitalist Group in Greenville as the marketing events coordinator, a role in which she executed 60-plus events per year around the country. Doran comes to Flourish from Charleston, where she served to help promote projects like Charleston Fashion Week. She is a critical member of Flourish’s support staff in the areas of copywriting, social media management, and public/media relations.
Harper Corporation’s environmental systems division celebrated the opening of their new office at 312 E. Coffee St. in downtown Greenville. Learn more at harpercorp.com.
CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon? Email information to aturner@communityjournals.com. 9.22.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
17
#TRENDING |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE WATERCOOLER Social Chatter
RE: DEVELOPER TO TURN BB&T TOWER INTO APARTMENTS “Just what Greenville needs — more apartments. More cars and congestion in downtown will be perfect. They want advice on our roads, how about you stop with all of the building in the same spots! They allow so much to be built on Woodruff Road, then complain about the traffic! Greenville is a big place; let’s spread it out more!”
LaRae Chassereau McAlister “‘The current parking lot will be used for townhomes and a grocery store.’ ‘NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET?’ I hope not a Wal-Mart.”
Kimberly Diello “So where are the folks cheering for this, the peeps unhappy for a shortage of downtown residences? This sounds great to me. Already has parking in place. No change in traffic load,
TOP 5: 1. Developer to turn BB&T tower into apartments
as you are swapping employees for residents. Traffic might even be a net reduction. And they are targeting lower costs. Sounds like a win-win-win to me.”
“We’ve already had lunch there. Can’t wait to try it for breakfast!”
Scott Lees
RE: WHITE HOUSE APPROVES GREENVILLE PRODUCTION OF 19 F-16 FIGHTER JETS
RE: SOURDOUGH & CO. TO OPEN THREE UPSTATE LOCATIONS “As a San Francisco girl who grew up on this unique sourdough and has really missed it, this is great news.”
Sandy LeRoy
RE: CRÊPE DU JOUR OPENS ON MAIN STREET DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE “Food? Great. Atmosphere? Great. Location? Can’t beat it. Wine list? An innovative French concept in Greenville was sorely needed. Nice cocktails as well.”
Kerry McGill
BMW INSIDE //
E 37
ER 15 , 2017
SEPTEMB
2. White House approves Greenville production of 19 F-16 fighter jets
3. Sourdough & Co. to open three Upstate locations
4. WYNIT seeks Chapter 11 protection
| VOL. 6 ISSU
NG &T BUILDI . BUYS BB BEACH CO A DATE •
g
SK SETS ION • HU AT 4 MILL
*The Top 5 stories from last week’s issue ranked by page views
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UBJ | 9.22.2017
“What consideration has been given to the disapproval of this project on a local level? Just because the current administration is willing to approve a project that will result in a short-term economic gain, is it the right thing for Greenville to support? I get that if we don’t build the F-16s here; they’ll most likely be built elsewhere. But at what point do we draw a line? The Bahraini monarchy has brutally crushed democratic reform movements by killing journalists and activists and keeping 4,000 political prisoners in jail. Isn’t selling them F-16s just green-lighting further repression?”
Brian Albers
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WednesdayFriday
Greenville and Spartanburg Chambers’ Joint Intercommunity Leadership Visit
Hughes Development Corporation and Johnson Development Associates
For more info: Greenville: 864-2393729; Spartanburg: 864-347-6080; mmann@greenvillechamber.org, wrothschild@spartanburgchamber.com
Wednesday
9/27
Upstate Business Journal’s Business on Tap
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Cost: Free
Thursday
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s BBQ Bash/Manufacturers Celebration
Greenville Technical College Center for Manufacturing Innovation 575 Millenium Blvd. 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Cost: $45 investors, $105 general For more info: bit.ly/2xDikVN; 864-239-3714; hhyatt@greenvillechamber.org
Thursday
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Forum and Re-entry Job Fair
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Cost: $45 investors, $60 general For more info: bit.ly/2f0Dzfz; 864-239-3748; kbusbee@greenvillechamber.org
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Kristi Fortner
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
UBJ milestone
UBJ milestone jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS:
NOVEMBER 3 CRE ISSUE
1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport
1988
>>
ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com
EVENTS:
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NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS:
onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties. Guest columns run 700-800 words. Contact editor Chris Haire at chaire@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration. Circulation Audit by
Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff
Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993
1990 Jackson Dawson
acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.
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
>>
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
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-prof 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 lients 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 nit inVolVeMent nitY in olV inV olVe VeMent & 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 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
20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013
AS SEEN IN
NOVEMBER 1, 2013
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9.22.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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