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Thanks to Trevor Gordon’s Sandlapper Companies, the Upstate’s investment community is all shook up
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UBJ TRANSPORTATION
CU-ICAR, Omnisource Aim for Recycling Efficiency JOE TOPPE | STAFF
jtoppe@communityjournals.com With over 100 global partnerships relevant to the automotive industry, the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) will now ally with a metal recycling company to help predict industry changes and design a more environmentally efficient product. OmniSource, a full-service recycling company with a shredding facility in Spartanburg, is expected to provide the Clemson research facility with a unique view into the reprocessing of automotive materials. The state-of-the-art facility will give students firsthand insight into how cars are currently disassembled and recycled, said Fred Cartwright, executive director of CU-ICAR. CU-ICAR’s research into these critical technological areas of change is important to Omnisource’s future as well, he said. As the composition of the automobile changes, it becomes increasingly important to consider environmental and business impacts. John Sucheon, commercial
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Equipment Partners manager for OmniSource’s Southeast region, said CU-ICAR offers an exciting concept to the recycling of automotive materials.
The combined efforts of the two entities will affect the future of recycling as automobiles incorporate more aluminum and carbon fiber materials, he said. “We need to stay in front of this to ensure an automobile can be 100 percent recycled and the process remain environmentally sound.” As part of the synergy between the two companies, Sucheon said Clemson researchers could build cars that are easily recycled by seeing how OmniSource reprocesses the materials. A 6,000-horsepower shredder at the Spartanburg facility will cut an automobile into small pieces and can produce 150 tons of metal an hour, he said. “We are making a very efficient process out of total recycling with automobiles.”
Sucheon said the collaboration between the two companies promotes forward thinking in the automotive industry. The partnership will extend beyond the recycling and reproduction of automotive materials, he said. “We want to be a champion in civic and community areas.” Cartwright said CU-ICAR is itself a partnership between industry, government and academia. “We are collaborating with global OEMs such as GM, Toyota, Ford, Chrysler, Honda and BMW; as well as Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers,” he said. The Clemson incubation environment helps foster ideas and innovation that can more broadly impact the automotive sector in South Carolina and beyond.
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
3
Volume 3, Issue 26
June 27, 2014
WORTH REPEATING “When you try to fly by the seat of your pants in combat, you’re going to get shot, and the same is absolutely true in the investing world.” Trevor Gordon, CEO of the Sandlapper Companies, on his methodical approach to investing.
“People are excited about more affordable and more accessible transportation options.” Taylor Bennet, spokesman for on-demand car service Uber, on the response to suggestions that the company may be moving into Greenville
Jimmy Lindsey, Foothills regional president for South State Bank, on the company meeting where the name change from SCBT was announced.
4
TBA Planning docs have been filed for a new 250,000-square-foot building at Verdae in Greenville. UBJ has confirmed it will NOT be a NewSpring Church as some rumors have suggested. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details…
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
June 27, 2014
Photo Provided
“There were clappers and horns and songs – I felt like I was at a Clemson basketball game.”
MONEY SHOT: At an SCBT branch, workers install a new sign with the bank’s new name, South State Bank. The name change is official on June 30. Read more on page 10.
VERBATIM
On a Sobering Message for N.C. … “Yesterday was a sobering message for those of us on the North Carolina side of the border.” Charlotte Chamber CEO Bob Morgan, reacting to last week’s announcement of 7,100 new jobs created in South Carolina, and bemoaning the lack of incentives across North Carolina.
UBJ INTERNATIONAL
Upstate Ranks High for Overseas Investors Brookings/JPMorgan Chase report shows 10 percent of regional jobs are in foreign-owned enterprises JOE TOPPE | STAFF
jtoppe@communityjournals.com Among the largest 100 metro-
10.6%
Upstate jobs in foreign-owned enterprises (FOEs), double the national average
investment enters regions through mergers and acquisitions, and in the average year, they account for 87 percent of all foreign direct investment inflows into the United States. The report allows U.S. metro areas to better grasp foreign direct investment sources and their impact on local economies, said Brad McDearman, Brookings fellow and director of metro trade and investment. As part of the Global Cities Initiative, the Upstate of South Carolina is at the forefront of U.S. metro areas seeking to position themselves as more globally fluent and competitive regions by developing a regional global trade and investment plan, he said.
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23.6%
11.7%
6.1%
Like us today:
18.0% 7.5%
13.4%
14.5%
Source: Global Cities Initiative
politan areas, Greenville ranks 23rd for share of jobs in foreign-owned enterprises at 6.1 percent, according to a recent report. As part of its Global Cities Initiative, the Brookings Institution allied with JPMorgan Chase for the first-ever metro-level study of foreign direct investment in the Upstate’s regional economy. The report analyzes the types of foreign-owned businesses located in the area, outlines the region’s sources of foreign investment and demonstrates the number of jobs supported locally by foreign direct investment. Supporting millions of jobs across every economic sector throughout the country, foreign-owned businesses are an important component of the U.S. economy, said John Lummus, president and CEO of the Upstate SC Alliance. “This report gives the Upstate region a key resource to demonstrate the impact foreign direct investment has on our regional economy,” he said. Double the national average and supported by the Upstate’s high concentration of foreign direct investment, 10.6 percent of the region’s jobs are in foreign-owned enterprises. Combined, Anderson, Gaffney, Greenville, Greenwood, Seneca, Spartanburg and Union housed 50,600 jobs in foreign-owned enterprises during 2011. According to the Brookings report, the benefits of foreign direct investment extend beyond the millions of jobs supported. While metro areas have traditionally focused on attracting greenfield investment, the new data shows that most foreign direct
➤ BY THE NUMBERS
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AMONG THE COUNTRY’S 366 METROPOLITAN AREAS: SPARTANBURG ranks 3rd for share of jobs in FOEs, at 18.0% (behind Columbus, Ind., and Kokomo, Ind.) ANDERSON ranks seventh at 13.4% GREENVILLE ranks 67th at 6.1%
AMONG THE COUNTRY’S 616 MICROPOLITAN AREAS: GAFFNEY ranks 11th for share of jobs in FOEs at 23.6 percent, GREENWOOD ranks 22nd at 14.5% SENECA ranks 38th at 11.7% UNION ranks 90th at 7.5%
Upstate Business Journal June 27, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
5
UBJ TECHNOLOGY
Scio Suffers Leadership Shakeup, Debt SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com Scio Diamond Technology Corp., a Greenville-based startup company that manufacturers lab-grown diamonds for the gemstone and industrial marketplace, fired its CEO and CFO last Friday and named consultants as interim replacements. On Monday, another shakeup came as four members of its board of directors resigned, including Edward Adams, Scio’s co-chairman and cofounder. Both announcements come at the same time as a $1.5 million debt payment was due, also on Friday. A spokesman for the company said he assumes the new management team is working on a plan for repayment of the debt. Scio’s board of directors dismissed Michael McMahon as CEO, appointing Gerald McGuire, a consultant and member of Scio’s board of directors, as the company’s interim CEO.
The company also dismissed Jonathan Pfohl as chief financial officer and named Douglas Walker, also a consultant to the company, as interim CFO. “The company needed to find a path to begin commercializing the technology in a more aggressive manner and to bring in more expertise,” said a company spokesperson. Additionally, Scio added Michael Laub, a consultant specializing in restructuring, to the management team. In a statement on Monday, the company announced “a transition from the board team that took the company public to a team the board anticipates will take the company to profitability and future growth.” Along with Adams, Theodorus Strous and Robert Linares, principal inventor of Scio’s technology, resigned from the board, according to the statement. New interim CEO McGuire has also resigned from the board. McGuire brings more than 25 years
of semiconductor industry experience to Scio, most recently as senior vice president and general manager of Fairchild Semiconductor. The semiconductor industry is expected to be a strong growth area for Scio in the years ahead. Bernard McPheely, Ben Wolkowitz, Lewis Smoak and Karl Leaverton have been added to Scio’s board of directors, said board co-chairman Bruce Likly in the statement. The board’s current secretary, James Korn, and Likly himself will remain, he said. New board leadership will be decided and announced in the coming weeks, according to the statement. In April, Scio announced its intent to double its production capacity of its synthetic diamonds despite its inability to as yet turn a profit. The company has had its share of growing pains with ongoing battles between the company’s board and a group of investors, led by a former board member, calling itself Save Scio. The group claims the board has manipulated policies for its own gain.
A letter filed with the SEC in April accused the company’s board of “trying to rob stockholders of their ability to elect the management of their corporation by written consent – all the while knowing Scio has not held an annual meeting to elect directors in the last several years.” The group had filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the directors, but a judge dismissed that in December. The letter to the SEC was written by McPheely, who had himself resigned from the board in May 2013. It represents the group’s efforts to publicize through SEC filings a dispute that has been ongoing since at least early 2012. The board also announced that it is implementing other corporate governance changes pursuant to a settlement agreement. The Save Scio group has also agreed to terminate its consent solicitation. The company expects to hold an annual meeting to elect the new directors following the filing of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.
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UBJ MANUFACTURING
Pet Product Manufacturer Expands in Greenville County O’Donnell Industries to invest $1.8 million, create 39 jobs to reach out to European market JOE TOPPE | STAFF
jtoppe@communityjournals.com A Greenville-based manufacturer of pet beds, travel products and accessories is expanding its presence in the county to accommodate its growth in the European market. O’Donnell Industries will invest $1.8 million in the expansion and create approximately 39 new jobs. The company will relocate its manufacturing operations to a 43,000-square-foot renovated facility in Piedmont. According to a statement issued by the company, the expansion will more than double the manufacturer’s existing facility. South Carolina has been home to O’Donnell Industries since its inception in 1985, said Gary O’Don-
nell, vice president of marketing for O’Donnell Industries. The remodeling will integrate the use of lean manufacturing principles to support accelerated volume production and enhanced operational efficiency, enabling the company to grow domestic sales while expanding into the European market for the first time. Construction is underway with a July 2014 move-in date anticipated.
Beginning as a basement start-up in 1985 by Norman O’Donnell, the company remains family-owned and operated and sells products under both the Snoozer Pet and Restless Tails brand names, along with numerous private-label lines for specialty retailers such as PetSmart and Petco. Dr. Bob Taylor, board member of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and chairman of Green-
Proterra Raises $30M to Advance EV Technology JOE TOPPE | STAFF
jtoppe@communityjournals.com Proterra Inc., a battery electric
CARLTON
ville County Council, said he commended O’Donnell Industries for their dogged pursuit of success and their decision to develop a new manufacturing facility in Piedmont. “Whenever a locally established company chooses to expand operations here in Greenville County and to continue to enjoy the talent pool and business climate that we offer, it’s a time for celebration,” he said.
bus manufacturer, has raised over $30 million to fund continued deployment of its zero-emission EV transit technology. Based in Greenville, the company provides the design and production of clean technology and clean energy. With Kleiner Perkins and GM Ventures leading the financing, the round of funding was heightened by the growing demand for electric vehicles and additional deployments by the existing customer base. With transit agency customers in cities across the U.S. and meeting requests coming in from across the globe, Proterra is riding a wave of mounting interest, said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “The performance of our buses in these cities has made a clear case for the benefits of EV,” he said. “The
funding will allow us to continue our aggressive growth trajectory.” An additional $10 million in funding is expected to close within the coming weeks, bringing the total to $40 million. Edison Energy Inc. and Constellation Technology Ventures have reinvested and expressed enthusiasm in the technology’s ability to allow the electrical grid to benefit consumers, Proterra said. With Mitsui & Co. Global Investment Inc., and 88 Green Ventures set to follow by month’s end, Tao Invest, Vision Ridge Partners and Hennessey Capital also joined Kleiner Perkins and GM Ventures. Joby Pritzker of Tao Invest said the electric bus manufacturing company is committed to clean technologies. “Proterra is a natural fit for this investment strategy, and has led the charge with electrifying transit,” he said.
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June 27, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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UBJ TRANSPORTATION
Uber Revs Up for Move Into Greenville On-demand car request service may meet resistance from local regulations JOE TOPPE | STAFF
jtoppe@communityjournals.com
WANT TO DRIVE FOR UBER? Driver partners in the U.S. must be at least 21 years old (with three years of driving experience for drivers under 23), with a personal license and personal auto insurance, and meet Uber’s current background standards.
Its “now hiring” ads have been showing up on the news feeds of local Facebook users for the past several weeks – and now, Uber, the on-demand car request service stirring up Greenville’s social media, may be coming to town. The transportation network company has created mobile apps to connect passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire. The mobile platform enables passengers to access transportation options on their own schedule while helping taxi drivers increase their frequency of fares. An Uber spokesperson said the company is excited about the poten-
The vehicle should be any mid-size or full-size four-door vehicle, in excellent condition. All Uber driver partners must go through a rigorous background check. The three-step screening Uber has developed across the United States includes county, federal and multi-state checks that go back seven years.
tial of coming to Greenville. “We’ve had an overwhelming response from both drivers and passengers in South Carolina,” said spokesman Taylor Bennett. Uber has been testing the viability of the Greenville market through >>
The process includes prospective and regular checks of drivers’ motor vehicle records to ensure ongoing safe driving. All ridesharing transportation partners carry best-in-class commercial insurance coverage in the event of an accident. From the time a driver accepts a trip request via the app until the ride is completed, Uber partners have $1 million of coverage for driver liability. Source: Uber.com
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June 27, 2014
UBJ TRANSPORTATION >>
social media advertisements, he said. “People are excited about more affordable and more accessible transportation options.” Before entering a market, the transportation company will create awareness and gauge reaction through social media, Bennett said. The social media strategy enables the company to determine demand, he said. “We have been very pleased with the response in South Carolina.” The company does not employ drivers nor does it have a fleet of cars. Uber will contract with drivers who use the mobile platform to generate leads. Bennett said while the drivers are independent contractors, they must meet a number of requirements before utilizing the platform. All drivers are subject to background checks as well, he said. Founded in 2009, the transportation network startup has faced continued opposition from taxi regulations and the existing ground transportation services. “As I understand it, Uber cannot operate under its current business model in the state of South Carolina,” said Pinckney Spencer, division manager of Atchison Transportation. A legitimate transportation service has to be approved by the office of regulatory staff, he said. “There appears to be no standard for the vehicles or drivers that may perform services for Uber.” In spite of the obstacles, Uber has secured operations in 130 cities and 37 countries across the globe, Bennett said. The opposition is a reflection of the existing antiquated industry, he said. “We are revolutionizing the transportation industry, and any time change is brought about, it is disruptive.” Currently, the city of Greenville has three certified taxicab companies with proper licensing, said City Attorney Robert Coler. A traditional taxicab company is determined by the state, he said. If Uber were determined to be a taxicab company, it would come to Greenville
to secure a certificate of necessity. Before issuing the certificate, Coler said the city manager would determine if Greenville has a need for an
A
additional ground transportation service. If a need were identified, Uber would then go through the standard
licensing process, he said. “In light of some of Uber’s critics, the city of Greenville’s only concern is that its participating citizens are protected.”
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
9
UBJ BANKING
The Name Game
SCBT, First Federal become South State Bank after yearlong process LEIGH SAVAGE | CONTRIBUTOR
What’s in a name? For South State Bank, the new name – effective officially on June 30 – represents more than a year of research, brainstorming and collaboration focused on finding a label that conveys the bank’s history, longevity and Southern heritage. After South Carolina Bank and Trust (SCBT) and First Federal merged in February 2013, both banks recognized the need for a new name. Both 80-yearold companies had already been researching new names independently, said Donna Pullen, SCBT senior vice president of media relations. After the merger, the company operated multiple brands, including North Carolina Bank and Trust, The Savannah Bank, and Community Bank and Trust. A primary goal was to find a name that united all five brands. “We knew we needed to select a new name and the merger was the catalyst to speed up the process,” said John Windley, SCBT president. “Our two marketing departments worked together to select a new name that accurately reflected the rich histories of both organizations and represented our company’s future.” The process began with a marathon meeting in April 2013, with Kellee McGahey, SCBT director of corporate communications and public relations,
and Missy Power, SCBT senior vice president for marketing, brainstorming names. After getting some guidance from company leaders, “we brainstormed words and word parts for an entire day, and we ended up with 357 names,” McGahey said. Then the narrowing process began, ultimately winnowing the list to five top contenders by midsummer. Next, the company sought the assistance of Addison Whitney, a Charlotte-based branding agency, to finalize the best choice. They began the federal trademark process for all five names, and did extensive research to ensure they found a unique name with no potential conflicts or problems. Surveys allowed the company to get feedback from current and potential clients to see how the community responded to different words. “We also brought in employees from our entire footprint to look at names and offer feedback about how they resonate,” McGahey said. South State Bank was approved for a federal trademark in January 2014, and a huge event was planned for Feb. 17 to announce the name to the company’s 2,200 employees – the first and only time the entire company has gathered together. The new name was a hit with employees. Mike Coggin, Upstate regional
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
June 27, 2014
Photo Provided
president, said he loved working for S.C. Bank and Trust, but he has already grown to love the name South State Bank. “It shows the importance of South Carolina in this equation,” he said. “And though the name is a big deal to us, the overwhelming response from customers has been that they want the same service and the same banker.” The February event and the rollout of the name was handled well and brought the team together, Coggin said. “It was gratifying to see employees get excited and get behind the change. It created camaraderie and team spirit.” Jimmy Lindsey, Foothills regional president, said his team arrived by bus holding signs with question marks, and once the name was announced, they wrote “South State” and held the signs amid the cheering. “There were clappers and horns and songs – I felt like I was at a Clemson basketball game,” he said. As the former signs are removed and the new South State Bank signs go up June 30, Lindsey said his customers are excited about the change and have been pleased with how the company
got the message out. “It’s neat to hear the new name out there in the community,” he said. “But our customers like that nothing else is changing.”
TIMELINE 2012 – SCBT and First Federal consider name changes independently FEBRUARY 2013 – SCBT and First Federal merge APRIL 2013 – Name change meeting; 357 names generated MIDSUMMER 2013 – Names narrowed to top five EARLY FALL 2013 – Research (trademarks, customer and public feedback) with assistance of branding agency Addison Whitney OCTOBER 2013 – Final decision made JANUARY 2014 – Federal trademark approval FEB. 17, 2014 – Event in Columbia to announce name to employees JUNE 30, 2014 – Name officially changes; South State Bank signs unveiled at all locations
UBJ RESTAURANTS The Greenville Chamber Congratulates our June 2014 Small Business of the Month!
Stella’s Hires Devereaux’s Chef, Plans Village Expansion SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com Spencer Thomson, former chef at the now-closed Devereaux’s in downtown Greenville, has been hired as chef de cuisine at Stella’s Bistro by owners Jason and Julia Scholz. Jason Scholz says Thomson had “somewhat of a cult following” at Devereaux’s, and the trio share common interests in buying and sourcing local food. Thomson started last week and will handle menu execution and development. The Scholzes are also planning on opening a new restaurant concept in the Village of West Greenville. They are eyeing a building on Lois Avenue, where the old Tucker’s Soda Shop was located,
but haven’t inked the deal quite yet. “It will be a completely different concept, though, than Stella’s,” Scholz said. Menu details and the new restaurant name have not yet been finalized but should be by mid-July. The Scholzes originally relocated to Greenville to open High Cotton restaurant’s Greenville location. They then struck out on their own, opening Stella’s Bistro in 2008. Scholz said the couple has no intention of moving or closing Stella’s; it has “a great location and a great following,” he said.
“At Scott and Company, we believe that giving back to our communities is a privilege, and one we embrace as a firm collectively and individually. In doing so, we proudly support the Greenville Chamber. As the voice of business, the Chamber helps to create the essential soil conditions that allow our firm and others to prosper. For Scott and Company, every minute of time and every dollar invested in our Chamber is time and money well-spent.” -Phyllis Graydon CPA, Greenville Managing Partner
Small Business of the Month Award Presentation to Talent Management Solutions: Chamber President/CEO Ben Haskew, Chamber Board Chair Tim Reed, Award Committee Representative Debbie Nelson/DNA Creative Communications, Talent Management Solutions founder David C. Mitchell, and Ken Pelanda, Charter Business/Award Sponsor.
Small Business of the Month Award Presentation to Scott and Company: Chamber President/CEO Ben Haskew, Chamber Board Chair Tim Reed, Award Committee Representative Frank Mobley/Immedion, Scott and Company Managing Partners Phyllis Graydon and Don Mobley, and James Stewart/Charter Business, Award Sponsor.
Scott and Company provides clients with the comprehensive accounting, tax and consulting capabilities of an international firm with the personal insight and service that only a local firm can provide. With clients ranging from individuals to multi-state and international organizations, Scott and Company has particularly deep expertise in serving closely-held businesses and their owners, as well as leaders in the hospitality, real estate, government, manufacturing, professional services and non-profit arenas. Learn more at www.ScottandCo.com. Impressed by a local small business lately? Nominate them for the Greenville Chamber’s Small Business of the Month Award at www.GreenvilleChamber.org.
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June 27, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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UBJ EMPLOYMENT
Report: State Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 5.3% JOE TOPPE | STAFF
jtoppe@communityjournals.com For the first time in 2014, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce is not reporting a decrease in the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. Although better than the national rate by a full point, the 5.3 percent recorded in South Carolina for the month of May reflected no change from April’s estimate. While no difference was reported in the unemployment rate, the number of people working state-
GOOD NEWS:
More than
35,000
have found work in S.C. since May 2013
BAD NEWS: In that time, the labor force has declined by
21,000
Job force participation is a mere
57.9%
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED NONFARM EMPLOYMENT AREA MAY 2014 APRIL 2014 MAY 2013
MAY 2013 – MAY 2014 # CHANGE % CHANGE
GREENVILLE MSA
320,900 318,100 310,500 2,800
0.87%
SPARTANBURG MSA
130,900 130,000 127,900 900
0.69% 3,000
2.29%
STATEWIDE
1,929,200 1,926,200 1,891,100 3,000
0.16%
1.97%
wide continued its upward trend, climbing for the tenth consecutive month to a historic high of 2,051,011 during May. The labor force reported a modest boost from April to May with 1,236, reaching a statewide level of 2,166,183. Since May of last year, more than 35,000 South Carolinians have found work, although the labor force has declined by nearly 21,000 people and the latest job force participation rate is a mere 57.9 percent. Total nonfarm employment of seasonally adjusted jobs rose by 3,000 since April and more than 38,000 since May of last year. The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector reported the greatest monthly increase with 3,600 jobs, while the Manufacturing sector registered 1,400 additional jobs since April. Of the ten nonfarm sectors included in the report, five reported
844 -GSP-ESPN 12
Source: SC Department of Employment and Workforce
APR. 2014 – MAY 2014 # CHANGE % CHANGE
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
June 27, 2014
10,400 3.24% 38,100
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED EMPLOYMENT STATEWIDE MAY 2013 APRIL 2014 MAY 2014 LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT LEVEL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
2,187,144 2,164,947 2,116,183 2,015,190 2,050,511
2,051,011
171,954 114,436 151,172 7.9% 5.3% 5.3%
Source: SC Department of Employment and Workforce
monthly decreases in jobs with Other Services leading the way at 600 jobs lost, followed by Education and Health Services at 400 jobs lost, and Government at 200 jobs lost. Since May of 2013, Other Services has lost 1,100 seasonally adjusted jobs, Financial Activities has lost 1,000, and Government has lost 500. With data not seasonally adjusted, every county in the state reported an increase in its
Mike & Mike 6 -10 A
monthly unemployment rate with Greenville County rising from 4.0 percent in April to 4.3 percent in May. Spartanburg County’s unemployment rate increased from 4.7 percent to 4.9 percent, while Anderson County went from 4.3 percent to 4.6 percent during the same time. Greenville MSA also reported a rise in unemployment through data not seasonally adjusted as the unemployment increased from April’s 4.1 percent to May’s 4.4 percent.
The Her d 10A-1 P
P
UBJ BANKING
O’Brien, Gaston Join TD Bank Leadership SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com TD Wealth Private Client Group, a division of TD Bank, announced this week the promotion of Frank O’Brien to Wealth Market Leader for North and South Carolina. TD Bank also named Kale Gaston as head of U.S. Small Business Administration lending. O’Brien will lead the Metro Carolinas team in delivering TD Wealth’s banking, lending, investment and trust offerings to the market. TD Wealth provides clients with customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Bank and its affiliates. “I feel privileged to take on this new role with TD Wealth as it con-
“Kale’s SBA lending knowledge and leadership, coupled with his personal experience as a small business owner, will prove to be great assets to our team as we continue to help small business customers achieve their entrepreneurial goals.” Jay DesMarteau
FRANK O’BRIEN
tinues to increase its visibility in the Metro Carolinas region,” said O’Brien. “As the TD Wealth business continues to expand our presence in these markets, I look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional client service for our customers.” Previously, O’Brien served as senior relationship manager for TD Wealth in Greenville. O’Brien has 27 years of experience in financial services and has served in executive positions with WHM Capital Advisors, SunTrust Banks Inc. and Wachovia Bank. “Since joining TD Wealth, Frank has demonstrated his ability to drive our local wealth business through his leadership, work ethic and knowledge of the private banking industry. He
KALE GASTON
has proven his expertise in building and sustaining customer relationships, and improving the client experience,” said Rob Hoak, regional president, Metro Carolinas, TD Bank. “We are pleased to have Frank join TD’s market leadership team.” O’Brien will be based at TD Bank’s regional headquarters at 104 Main St. in Greenville. Kale Gaston will serve as head of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lending for TD Bank. In his role, Gaston, also working from Greenville, will be responsible for overseeing TD Bank’s expanding SBA team for government-backed financing programs that help small businesses. Gaston has more than 25 years of
experience in the financial services industry, holding senior positions with GE Capital and Wells Fargo. Prior to joining TD Bank, he served as regional sales manager for Wells Fargo’s SBA Lending Group, where he was responsible for growing loan production in and around the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic region. Gaston also held several senior roles with GE Capital, where he managed small business commercial loan and equity production as senior vice president and managing director of the South Territory. “I’m excited to welcome Kale to TD’s growing SBA lending team,” said Jay DesMarteau, head of small business banking distribution for TD Bank. “Kale’s SBA lending knowledge and leadership, coupled with his personal experience as a small business owner, will prove to be great assets to our team as we continue to help small business customers achieve their entrepreneurial goals.”
“Frank has demonstrated his ability to drive our local wealth business through his leadership, work ethic and knowledge of the private banking industry.” Rob Hoak
Greg McKinney 4-7 P Sturg 7-10 P June 27, 2014
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UBJ TRANSPORTATION
Is the Inland Port Delivering on Its Promises?
Freight volumes are growing, while road traffic and CO2 emissions are decreasing, officials say JOE TOPPE | STAFF
jtoppe@communityjournals.com In little more than a half-year of operations, the $45 million South Carolina Inland Port appears to be right on track. Located in Greer, the 212-mile extension of the port in Charleston has seen its volumes grow each month, while continuing to garner attention and field requests from companies interested in using the facility, said Matt Tomsic, external affairs manager of the SC Ports Authority. The port was designed to raise the freight efficiency between the coast and companies located throughout the region while lowering their carbon footprint by utilizing the existing Norfolk Southern Railway. “We estimate the inland port will save 25,000 trips each year along I-26,” Tomsic said. An air model based on data retrieved from the Environmental Protection Agency showed companies could expect a 70 to 85 percent reduction in emissions from fewer truck miles. Although the Inland Port cannot
LOOKING AHEAD SC Ports has adopted its financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year and will incorporate across-the-board increases in cargo volumes, operating revenues and capital investments. The fiscal year will begin July 1, and include 975,000 pier container moves; representing a 3.4 percent increase in pier container volume over estimated FY2014 totals. Operating revenues are expected to reach $172.8 million in FY2015, up $13.2 million from projected FY2014 totals. The South Carolina Ports Authority Board of Directors approved a $1.082 million contract to prepare Inland Port gate facilities infrastructure for the implementation of an upgraded terminal operating system. Construction is scheduled to begin in July and will be completed later this fall.
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reveal its entire list of customers, the facility serves five global clients and is expecting that number to increase as it further establishes its presence in the region, said Erin Pabst, spokeswoman for the SC Inland Port. Customers of South Carolina’s ports are typically the shipping lines, she said. A sales and marketing team will work with those companies to identify their needs and determine which terminal could best accommodate their cargo. BMW, the inland port’s launch customer, moves approximately 25,000 containers annually through the port and estimates a 60 percent reduction in yearly CO2 emissions as a result of using rail instead of trucks, said Sky Foster, department manager for corporate communications at BMW Manufacturing. Adding convenient access to an inland port improves BMW’s just-intime deliveries on imported parts, she said. The inland facility is an accommodating service to BMW’s future expansion plans and new model production. Currently, the luxury carmaker has
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expanded its export operations to a 413,000-square-foot facility next to the Upstate port. The South Carolina Ports Authority has three facilities statewide: the Port of Charleston, the Port of Georgetown and the Inland Port in Greer. Serving as an extension of the coast and offering customers a new method of moving goods, the SC Inland Port provides access to North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, western Virginia, eastern Kentucky and 94 million consumers within 500 miles. Stan Nutt, director of the intermodal division of G&P Trucking, expects the inland port’s use of rail to aid the business of trucking companies within a 500-mile radius of the Upstate. The port’s ability to move rail cargo should enhance existing business, he said. “We want new industry to come through South Carolina and the inland port will help.” Pabst said the construction of the Upstate facility and the efficient use of rail travel delivers quick access to cargo shipped from the coast to the
port in Greer. Today, when the trains leave Charleston or Greer, they run overnight and arrive at the terminals the next day, she said. “Greer provides a great location to springboard goods shipped directly from Charleston to major hubs throughout the Southeast.”
SC PORTS FAST FACTS The public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Greer handle international commerce valued at MORE THAN $63 BILLION annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. SC Port operations facilitate 260,800 JOBS across South Carolina and nearly $45 BILLION in economic activity each year. The Upstate facility sits on 100 ACRES, including 50 acres of pavement It moves 70 TO 90 INBOUND CONTAINERS EACH DAY, while moving 80 TO 100 OUT, said Michael Hoffman, terminal manager of the South Carolina Inland Port. The facility “is OPEN SEVEN DAY A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY, and registers an in-and-out truck time of 15 MINUTES OR LESS,” Hoffman said.
UBJ PROFESSIONAL
By KEN COSTANZO
3 Reasons SC Is Poised to Compete At times, it’s difficult to appreciate that global trends can certainly be applied to local communities. As our understanding of global, cross-cultural and cross-border economies increases, it becomes more and more apparent that things happening in Europe, the Middle East and Asia are relevant to Greenville and the Upstate areas. These issues came to the forefront with the completion of a recent survey conducted by Stanton Chase International, a global retained executive search firm. It raises some interesting issues, and some of the findings are relevant for our region in South Carolina. The Stanton Chase global survey canvassed more than 500 C-level industrial sector executives from 40 countries on a wide range of topics. The survey results pointed out several key trends that are noteworthy when viewed from our perspective in Greenville and the Upstate region. It actually points out things that we are doing well when considered within a global context. Here are some of the findings: • A shift away from growth by acquisition, and toward organic growth driven by investments in core business, new products, new markets.
But one of the most telling results from the survey is a global “leadership shortage.” As executive search consultants, we are finding that executives remain cautious about moving due to a still-shaky domestic economy. Some are wary of leaving a known situation and moving to a different area for a new opportunity, even if it has significant potential. Greenville, however, seems to be in a class by itself and has not experienced difficulty attracting top-notch leadership. This is due to a solid foundation of strong companies, a business vision and a receptive environment for families. Along with our area’s success in recruiting new companies, we have also done well attracting business leadership. It is clear that we can successfully compete with other regions of the country for talent. Success like this does not just happen. It is part of our master plan, combining the efforts of businesses, private organizations and government. With public and private cooperation, economic development in Greenville and
the Upstate region will endure, and exceptional executive leadership will continue to view the area as a strong landing spot. The survey is particularly relevant to Greenville for a variety of reasons: 1. In terms of our organic growth we have several examples. BMW’s expansions have added more than 7,000 jobs in our area since 1994. Among others, we’ve seen this type of growth in aerospace/aviation with the continuing growth of GE Aviation. 2. Greenville has also been on the forefront of investing in technology and infrastructure, another important finding in the survey. The area’s bioscience sector is now ranked fifth among the largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Likewise, the area’s distribution and logistics operations have been instrumental in attracting large manufacturing companies which see how easily they are able to move
• High-priority investments in technology, which appear to be driven by goals in core competency development, customer experience and quality/efficiency.
products to other parts of the U.S. and internationally. This has also been a key factor in Greenville emerging as a manufacturing hub for the automotive, aerospace and aviation sectors. 3. It’s also clear that this area has become a model for re-shoring, another critical element cited by global executives who participated in the Stanton Chase survey. The fact that Greenville is home to 40 Fortune 500 companies is also a reflection of our economic health that bodes well for the future. However, we can’t rest on our laurels. Our ongoing success in attracting leading-edge companies and executives is critical to continuing the emergence from the recession. Attracting executives requires more than just providing a lucrative job. The recruitment process involves excitement and acceptance of a “home” that provides a well-rounded environment for every member of the executives family. Economic growth has a snowball effect and we see that happening in Greenville. Nonetheless, this international survey reminds us that our goals and challenges in Greenville are not too different from progressive communities in other parts of the world. We all thrive by having diverse economies, strong leadership and aggressive plans for organic growth. Ken Costanzo is a director of Stanton Chase Executive Search, a global retained executive search firm with 73 offices in 46 countries. He maintains offices in both Greenville and Miami and consults with real estate and general industry groups on an international basis. For more information, visit stantonchase.com. Costanzo may be reached at k.costanzo@stantonchase.com.
• The beginnings of a trend to re-shoring – moving some manufacturing back to home country locations.
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UBJ INNOVATE
By NAN JOHNSTON
Connect, Collaborate, Innovate Need to get a grasp on a rapidly changing business world? A continuing education program can help You believe that you can actively shape the future of your business, right? Then you most likely know that a wonderful resource for you is continuing education offered by universities, trade associations and private enterprises in specific vertical markets – for example, engineering or communications. Whether it’s called continuing education, professional development or executive education, the programs typically confer CEUs or PDUs to non-degree-seeking members of the workforce. In a university setting, continuing education departments often act much like small businesses. This results in greater agility and shorter response time in developing programs that serve growing trends and innovations in the marketplace. This is the case for Clemson’s Center for Corporate Learning, located in downtown Greenville at Greenville ONE, and it was a deliberate choice. Connections to business allow continuing education units such as ours to develop seminars and certificate programs, easily tweak
Whether it’s called continuing education, professional development or executive education, the programs typically confer CEUs or PDUs to non-degree-seeking members of the workforce. them, market them with less risk than more expensive degree programs, and measure results in real time because our students are typically employed. Here’s an illustration of just how university/business collaboration can work. Did you know that by 2017, marketing technology spending will surpass that of IT, a direct result of cloud computing and the business models it supports? Well, neither did I, but because of our mission to network and be attentive to business trends, I connected with Greenville’s Marketing Advisory Council, a networking umbrella group for professionals involved in any and all things
RENOVATIONS ARE FINALLY UNDERWAY for the former Sara Lee manufacturing facility at 1916 Piedmont Highway in Greenville County. Sweet Street Desserts, a frozen gourmet dessert company based in Reading, Pa., announced in November 2013 plans to upfit the 120,000-square-foot facility with new machinery and equipment as it expands its operations to South Carolina. The company originally hoped to begin manufacturing operations by summer 2014, but a fall 2014 date is more likely. THE CITY OF SPARTANBURG APPROVED funds to have NEO Corporation (the same company that took down the Scott Towers building in Greenville) demolish the Sunshine Inn, a blighted motel across from Wofford College, and a crucial piece of Spartanburg’s Northside Initiative. Once demolition is complete, the city says the site will become a “new gateway into Northside redevelopment area, with plans calling for Evins Street to be extended from Wofford College into the neighborhood.”
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marketing. The founder, Mike Locke, suggested I could keep abreast of innovation by following The Chief Marketing Technologist Blog by Scott Brinker. The gist of a blog published on Feb. 8, 2014, by Brinker is this: The marketing technology landscape is crowded – very crowded. Think of names like Constant Contact, MailChimp, AdProof, vimeo, Citrix, Cvent, Adobe, Google, Jitterbit, Oracle, RackSpace. You get it. There are thousands of technologies in the cloud, and innovation happens every minute. But surely these myriad companies will consolidate and become more manageable? Maybe not, according to Brinker. He argues that marketing technology is the first native business market of cloud computing. This means entrepreneurs have access to infrastructure, software, talent and marketing simply by logging on. And it’s cheap. No need for armies of hard drives and human capital to start your business. What’s he’s saying is that economy of scale may no longer be such an important defining factor of success. In fact, lots of independent technological innovation becomes essential. In the case of our example, one has to ask, how do I get my arms around all of this technology and manage it productively? This is where a continuing education department can shine. Companies are eager to collaborate
with learning centers and help “train the trainer.” This proximity between university and business fosters more collaboration, and universities can help facilitate this in the form of innovative seminars and certificate programs that meet the needs of the workforce. This is why Clemson’s Center for Corporate Learning is developing a marketing technology certificate. Next comes the more difficult work of developing more intensive degree programs to produce experts in the field. How can an employer be sure about the efficacy of the product? For one thing, they can rely on the reputation of the university, and the willingness of the continuing education program to respond to needs. A hiring director or staffing agency can also look closely at the certificate curriculum, as well as check to see if post-seminar testing is offered. The Center for Corporate Learning, for example, will be developing an optional exit exam for the Marketing Tech certificate. Those who pass the exam will receive recognition for completion or completion with honors. Additionally, we’re investing in a badge system allowing students to post verifiable accomplishments on their LinkedIn, Facebook and resume sites. Each student badge has a unique serial number, tied to the student and the university program, portable, and secured by a third-party vendor. What’s happening in your business world? Continuing education departments are always looking for emerging workforce development needs and trends, and like hearing new ideas. Stay in touch, and have a voice in shaping the future of your business. Nan Johnston is the interim director of the Clemson University Center for Corporate Learning.
UBJ DIGITAL MAVEN
By LAURA HAIGHT
Live by the Tweet, Die by the Tweet
Four ways to safeguard your business with – and from – social media So many people who hold them-
Whether or not you choose to participate in social media, the rest of the world is out there. And they’re talking about you.
selves above the fray of social media – who will not succumb to promoted posts, grubbing for likes and shares – just don’t know what shape their business reputation is in online. And they may be blissfully ignorant of the truth. But whether you choose to participate or not, the rest of the world is out there. And chances are… they’re talking about you. So like the Godfather, circumstances are pulling you in and you are helpless to resist. Here are four ways you can help control your online reputation.
sites with your business name. Do this on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest and claim your company page on LinkedIn. This at least prevents others from grabbing a site in your name – whether they intended to or not – where their actions or ratings could become linked with yours. It is very difficult to reclaim a business site once someone else has it.
1. STOP FIGHTING AND START MONITORING.
2. DON’T GET MAD, GET POSTING.
It’s likely that the armies of new reviewers do not even realize the power that they wield. And they are powerful. Michael Fertik, founder of Reputation.com, wrote in Inc. magazine (goo. gl/5gEkYZ) that 89 percent of consumers believe online reviews are trustworthy and 80 percent have been swayed by negative reviews. Another 85 percent said they are more likely to make a purchase if they can find an online review. For restaurants, their influence is even greater. Each additional star in your rating is worth – or conversely is costing you – an incremental 5 to 9 percent. Even if you think you will never use them, you should take steps to claim your social media
“Take these down!” That’s what I often hear first from businesses that don’t understand social media. In most cases, you can’t just make bad go away. You can counteract it with good, you can respond with service-oriented responses, but you can’t just make them disappear. Consider first if you have a lot of
negative posts about an aspect of your business; maybe you’re learning something you need to know. If those same customers took the time to call you and voice their complaint, over time you would realize that you had an issue to address. You can look at bad reviews as “feedback.” But you should also look at them as opportunities. Strong customer-service companies monitor social media constantly and quickly respond to complaints. One owner of a coffee shop would respond so quickly to negative posts on Twitter that he would often have the customer happily compensated with a free drink before he’d had a chance to leave the shop.
3. LET THE GOOD PUSH DOWN THE BAD. The positive side here is that good comments are more useful than bad. Not everyone is social media-savvy and there are metrics to suggest that negative experiences prompt more feedback and posts. You can counteract that by encouraging happy customers to voice their opinions. Make it easy by emailing them with a link to a review site, or a scannable code on a thank-you card with their receipt. Not everyone will do this, clearly. But hope is not a strategy either. Some marketers will try to counteract the bad by paying people to write good reviews for you. I say
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resist this. Authenticity shows.
4. SEARCH FOR YOURSELF. Do you even know what’s out there? Probably not. Search for your name and your company’s name, and dig a little into the results. Search for your store or restaurant on most-used review sites and see what your ranking on those sites is and why. What you don’t know can be hurting you. That’s four things, but here’s a general tip: Be cautious of what you say online. One bad meal in a restaurant doesn’t mean the place is the pits. One snippy sales assistant at a shop doesn’t speak for an entire organization. Your words today go a lot farther than you think. Live by the tweet; die by the tweet.
➤ GO FIGURE
89%
of consumers viewed online sources of product and service reviews as trustworthy
80%
have changed their minds about a purchase based solely on the negative reviews they read
85%
of those surveyed in 2011 said they’d be more likely to purchase if they could find additional recommendations online Source: Inc. magazine
Need help? Laura Haight is the president of Portfolio (portfoliosc.com), which works with small businesses to incorporate and manage emerging media and technology into business operations.
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FOUNDATIONS
COURT STREET CURB MARKET, 1922
Woman’s Work Contributed by the staff of the South Carolina Room at the Greenville County Public Library 18
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Photos Provided
How Mary Putnam Gridley became the first woman textile mill president in the South
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Greenville in the Gilded Age of the late 19th
century was not particularly hospitable to professional women. In spite of being home to one of the oldest women’s colleges in the United States, the attitudes and customs that prevailed in the city at that time prevented most women from ever considering entering the world of business. A notable exception to this unwritten law was an indomitable lady named Mary Putnam Gridley. The eldest of four daughters, she was born in 1850 in Massachusetts. Her father, George Putnam, was a cotton manufacturer who moved south after the Civil War along with his wife and children. They arrived in town in the early 1870s. Putnam started his Southern career as superintendent of the Camperdown Mill near Reedy River Falls. By 1880, however, he had purchased the Batesville Cotton Mill, a few miles out of town on the Enoree River. Mary Putnam met and married Isaac Gridley, a successful local brick mason, soon after moving to Greenville. Unfortunately, Isaac Gridley passed away in the summer of 1878, a mere two years after their marriage. Their only child did not live past infancy. Isaac Gridley did not make much of an impact on Greenville, but the same cannot be said of his
widow. When her father went into the cotton manufacturing business in the early 1880s at the Batesville mill, Mary Gridley acted as his secretary. When Putnam died in 1890, Gridley took over as the mill’s president, becoming the first woman in the South to hold such a position. Gridley was aware of the attitudes towards working women during this time period. She was careful to use the initials M.P. when signing official correspondence, stating that it was not necessary for her business colleagues to know she was a woman. Gridley ran the company for more than 20 years before it was sold in the early part of the 20th century, but her influence on Greenville lay more in her cultural activities than in her business acumen. Gridley was well educated and had been a schoolteacher before moving to Greenville with her family. A tiny woman, under 5 feet tall and weighing about 90 pounds, she nevertheless was able to organize people and get things done. One year prior to becoming president of the Batesville mill she founded a literary club, the Thursday Afternoon Club. This was not a tea-and-cookies sort of club – the members were assigned topics and were expected to present two papers to the group each year. Gridley and her sister, Flora Dill, were founding members of the Ladies Auxiliary Board of the Hospital Association. They raised so much more money than the all-male Greenville City
Mary Putnam Gridley was…
“ever ready in sunshine and rain to work for Greenville.” Hospital Association that they voted to change the name of the Auxiliary to the Women’s Hospital Board, preferring not to be considered “auxiliary” to an inactive organization. After the hospital was built, Gridley turned her talents towards raising funds for a local tuberculosis clinic. Her efforts resulted in the establishment of the Hopewell Tuberculosis Sanitarium on Rutherford Road in the shadow of Piney Mountain in 1930. Her influence in civic affairs was immense. She was one of the original board members of the Greenville Public Library Association, was active in the women’s suffrage movement, and was appointed secretary of the Woman’s Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce in 1921. In her work for the Chamber, Gridley was responsible for the beautification efforts occurring in Greenville at the time and worked on the “hospitality” aspect of attracting tourists. She helped open the Greenville Court Street Curb Market, a type of farmers market plus a tourist camp for motorists on the Bankhead Highway, now Wade Hampton Boulevard. The tourist camps were an early version of “welcome centers” developed for people touring the country on newly paved roads. Mary Putnam Gridley died a few days before Christmas 1939. She had lived most of her life in a mansion on Washington Street where the post office is now. The Greenville Civic & Commercial Journal of 1922 stated that Mary Putnam Gridley was “ever ready in sunshine and rain to work for Greenville.”
HOPEWELL TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL
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UBJ WHO’S WHO – ONES TO WATCH
Trevor Gordon CEO, Sandlapper Companies
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By JENNIFER OLADIPO | senior business writer joladipo@communityjournals.com
The walls in Trevor Gordon’s office are packed with artwork, mostly images of music legends. To him, Sinatra, Elvis, the Beatles and Kiss represent excellent brand managers. It’s a different way of thinking about something familiar, which is one way Gordon has grown his business, Sandlapper Companies, so quickly in recent years. Sandlapper Companies comprises eight businesses, three of which are the core. The first is the brokerage firm Sandlapper Securities, which has 25 offices around the country. Sandlapper Capital Investments creates investment products, including building and managing saltwater disposal wells near oil and gas drilling operations. The third is Sandlapper Wealth, a fee-based advisory business. Gordon’s company has won several recognitions for its fast growth, and he has been a significant player in the success of the national professional organization for alternative investments. In 2010 the company was just two people. Now the recent acquisition of Georgia-based Colony Park Financial Services makes the broker-dealer business alone about 76 strong. “You can only grow organically for so long,” Gordon said. “You’ve got to be out there looking for the mergers
“You’ve got to be out there looking for the mergers and acquisitions activity and building that way.” 20
and acquisitions activity and building that way.” Gordon looks for growth opportunities that others overlook. At the same time, he said the company wants to fill in gaps closer to home. Sandlapper already throws a public concert to support local charities as part of its annual meeting, and Gordon said it’s time to sharpen its focus on local business as well.
Does the risk of using unconventional models always work out? No! Our very first deal in the oil patch, we got hammered. We found an opportunity for a saltwater disposal well from a buyer who actually didn’t have clear title on it and went bankrupt. I followed him all the way to bankruptcy court. We recovered just over half the money we had put up, then we had to dig into our pockets and pay the other $118,000 to make our clients whole. It was a lesson learned.
How do you juggle such a diverse group of businesses? As we get bigger it does become a little bit more difficult. So I have to surround myself with people I can trust and who can complete the mission and understand our vision. Early on my biggest struggle was with senior management. I have never had a problem building a great support staff, but I have to be a little more methodical in terms of who I’m going to allow into that inner circle.
You’re a Gulf War veteran. Do you see any similarities between investing and combat? Absolutely. Tons. Everything has
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Photo Provided
Sandlapper Securities recently sponsored a concert by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band to benefit the Center for Developmental Services. During the concert, Sandlapper CEO Trevor Gordon (right) joined the Beaver Brown Band’s Michael “Tunes” Atunes onstage.
to be methodical. When you try to fly by the seat of your pants in combat, you’re going to get shot, and the same is absolutely true in the investing world. I’m okay missing a deal because at the end of the day I need to understand what I’m buying, how it operates and how it’s going to create shareholder values. Also, the structure that you need. I’m not dictatorial, but at the end of the day I have to be a decisive leader. For that you need the respect of your troops that aren’t going to question the command. [Similarly], if I tell my head of compliance to do something to avoid a regulatory problem, they’re going to execute. They might want to know why, but we can discuss that later. You’ve got to have the respect of your troops.
How do you gain that respect? Listening to them, including them, and most importantly not marginalizing them. So if you came to me with an idea that was completely ridiculous and I just laughed in your face, you will not bring me another idea. And who knows what your next idea is?
What’s your take on the Upstate investment scene? There is a tremendous amount of wealth in the Upstate and we’ve never tapped it. At first, I kept going back to California connections for investment dollars. When we decided to build and grow this business that I started in 2005 we knew that we needed to be part of this community. I’d like to see a Sandlapper office on every Main Street in the Upstate.
CONTRIBUTE: Got high-resolution photos of your networking or social events? Send photos and information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
UBJ SNAPSHOT
COMMERCE CLUB 30TH ANNIVERSARY GALA The Commerce Club in downtown Greenville recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with a black-tie gala. A group of businessmen formed the club in 1984 as a way to meet with colleagues, entertain guests and enjoy fine dining. The club recently completed an $80,000 renovation. Photos by Chelsey Ashford See more photos online at facebook.com/ TheUpstateBusinessJournal.
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UBJ THE FINE PRINT RevUp Indoor Cycling to Open in Greenville In mid-July, RevUp Indoor Cycling will open its only location between Atlanta and Charlotte in a 3,800-square-foot facility at 2441 Laurens Road, Greenville. The facility, in the same shopping center as Sky Zone Greenville, will feature 30 spinning bikes, three dressing rooms, showers, and a large waiting area for people to cool off post-workout.
“The idea is to create a boutique-style spinning class to motivate and encourage people of all fitness levels,” said Jeff Beane, RevUp’s owner and a spinning instructor for more than 10 years, in a news release. “We want people to find a new and fun way to exercise and get results.” RevUp also allows people to book spinning classes in advance online instead of being firstcome, first serve like many fitness centers, said Beane.
CommunityWorks Loans Boost 5 Local Businesses The CommunityWorks MicroBusiness Loan Program helped Travelers Rest’s Swamp Rabbit Smoothies, Greenville Network Care, and Anderson’s A Night Out open their doors, and aided in the expansion of operations of Greenville-based PremierePC and Spartanburg’s The Garden Gate. CW provided $135,000 in business coaching and loans to the five Upstate businesses. “We believe microbusinesses are the backbone of our economy,” said Deborah McKetty, CEO of CommunityWorks, in a news release. “For example, if just one of every three hired a single employee, the entire U.S. would be em-
ployed. A win for them is a win for us. We hope that the community will join us in celebrating June as Microenterprise Development Month.” According to a news release, microbusinesses have five or fewer employees, but the business type employs over 41.3 million people nationally. With CW’s support, these five businesses were able to create seven new jobs. Including this year, CW’s Microbusiness programs have provided loans totaling $255,000 and have created
more than 33 jobs. Additionally, CW works as a SBA and USDA lender and accepts applications for loans up to $50,000 for both startup and existing businesses in the Upstate. The company also works with community partners to aid microbusinesses that are unable to receive financing through traditional sources and helps to grow these businesses through capital and training support. For more information, visit communityworkscarolinaorg.
Canal Appoints New Execs to Leadership Team Greenville-based Canal Insurance Company has appointed Tim Horgan as vice president of transportation and chief marketing officer, and appointed Bob Pace as vice president and chief claims officer. Horgan assumes profit and loss accountability for all Canal’s
trucking and specialty automobile business except the large fleet unit, according to a statement from the company. He will also be responsible for all phases of marketing, agency relations and communication. Previously, he worked in underwriting, marketing and regional management at
Continental, followed by nearly 20 years in AIG’s transportation business.
Pace, as chief claims officer, will provide strategic and operational leadership to all aspects of Canal’s claims organization, the company said. He joins Canal after a career including 11 years as an attorney, followed by another 12 years of increasing responsibility in the Travelers claims department.
JOIN THE 20 COMPANIES SHARING WORK AND EVENT SPACE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE www.JOINOPENWORKS.com 22
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UBJ THE FINE PRINT BMW Awarded J.D. Power Bronze Quality Award BMW Manufacturing recently announced that J.D. Power, a source for evaluating customer satisfaction regarding new vehicle quality, awarded the South Carolina factory the Bronze Plant Quality Award in the North/South America region.
The same award has been given to other BMW Group plants, but this is the first ever for the Spartanburg plant. Additionally, the Greer-built BMW X3 was ranked second in the compact premium SUV
segment of J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study. The 2014 study was conducted between February and March and evaluated the responses of more than 86,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2014 model-year cars, trucks and multi-activity vehicles after 90 days of ownership.
BBB Looking for Business of Integrity Nominations The Better Business Bureau of the Upstate (BBB) is currently receiving nominations for its Business of Integrity Awards. The nominations are open to all Upstate for-profit businesses and the deadline to recommend a company is Aug. 22. Individuals may nominate the
company he or she works for, an affiliate company, a company with whom he or she does business, or any other company meeting the Business of Integrity Award standards. The award standards are: ethical practices in the marketplace; honest marketing and advertising
practices; community industry recognition for sound business practices; and effective training and assistance for their employees in carrying out ethical policies. For more information, visit upstatesc.bbb.org or contact Tammy Dankovich at 864-242-5052 or tammy@upstatesc.bbb.org.
SC CCIM Chapter Earns 2013 President’s Cup Award The South Carolina chapter of the CCIM Institute was recently awarded the 2013 President’s Cup Award. The CCIM Institute is a commercial real estate affiliate of the National Association of Realtors, which confers the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and has more than 50 chapters across the U.S. and is represented in global markets. The President’s Cup award program honors CCIM chapters that have demonstrated skill, ingenuity and innovation in
promoting the membership benefits of the Institute at the local and regional levels. “This is the first time our chapter has received this award,” said Ted Lyerly, 2014 South Carolina CCIM chapter president and broker with NAI Earle Furman, in a news release. “We are truly honored, as this is a testament to the value we are delivering to our members.”
GNMO II Receives $38M New Markets Tax Credit Allocation Greenville New Markets Opportunity II (GNMO II), a Community Development Entity (CDE) managed by taxadvantagegroup and Greenville Local Development Corporation, recently received a $38 million allocation of New Markets Tax Credits by the Community Development Financial
Institution Fund of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. According to a news release, GNMO II will use the funds to finance “select economic developments projects in severely distressed communities” within the 10-county service area in the Upstate. GNMO II will invest the $38 million
in commercial real estate projects that support job creation and economic mobility, and create improved health and wellness services in low-income communities throughout the 10-county Upstate region, said Tammy C. Propst,
GNMOII operating officer and taxadvantagegroup president, in a news release. Organizations interested in applying for funds should contact Propst at tpropst@taxadvantagegroup.com.
PLANNED GIVING FOR PAYING IT FORWARD From the Kroc Center to Greenville Forward, Jean Harris Knight’s legacy gift to the Community Foundation helped establish programs dedicated to improving Greenville’s future. We make it easy to give back to the place we all love to call home.
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www.cfgreenville.org
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UBJ SQUARE FEET
‘Un-Apartment’ Community Planned for Greer SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com An “un-apartment” apartment community may soon be taking shape on 45 acres along Abner Creek Road in Greer if approved by Greer City Council. Ohio-based developer Redwood Acquisition has submitted plans for a new apartment community that will have approximately 173 two-bedroom, two-bath single-story apartment homes, each with their own attached two-car garage. This would be Redwood’s first foray into South Carolina. The company currently has 45 similar apartment
communities in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. “We are very excited about being in Greenville,” said Scott Gillespie, senior vice president of Redwood Acquisition LLC. “Greenville is a fantastic, growing market both in terms of jobs and our customers, who are primarily baby boomers and empty-nesters. There’s a whole group of people who don’t necessarily want to own a home with all of the maintenance that goes along with it.” Unlike traditional apartments, Redwood’s unique communities appeal to young professionals, baby GREENVILLESPARTANBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
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boomers and empty nesters who tend to stay an average of 4.6 years with an average occupancy rate in each community of 98 percent, said Gillespie. Amenities at Abner Creek would include sidewalks, walking paths and two ponds, along with on-site maintenance and management staff. Rents are expected to range from $1,200 to $1,500 per month and units will be 1,100 to 1,800 square feet. Greer Planning Commission held a public meeting June 16 to discuss rezoning the property from Planned Development/Residential to a Design Review District. A DRD would
require the developer to come back before the planning commission if any changes are made to the design. At the meeting, several nearby residents voiced their concerns, mainly about additional traffic on Abner Creek Road. The planning commission voted unanimously June 16 to recommend approving the zoning request. Greer City Council gave the zoning change first reading approval on Tuesday. A second and final reading is scheduled for July 8. If approved, construction is expected to begin this fall with completion in approximately 12 months.
UBJ SQUARE FEET
PHOTOS BY GREG BECKNER / STAFF
Renos Underway at New Community Journals HQ Hammers, drills and saws are going full speed on the renovations at Community Journals’ new offices in Greenville’s emerging Village of West Greenville. Community Journals, which publishes the Upstate Business Journal, Greenville Journal, At Home and TOWN magazines, is anticipating a move-in date of Sept. 2. The 3,500-square-foot building is at the corner of Pendleton Street and Perry Avenue, directly across from Lily Pottery and in the same block as Village residents Naked Pasta and Mac Arnold’s Plate Full O’ Blues restaurant. The office space will blend exposed brick with modern elements creating an open office design, and will include a video production studio with a living room-type setting, similar to Michelin on Main.
PROJECT PARTNERS GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Mavin Construction ARCHITECT: Craig Gaulden Davis FINANCED BY: Southern First Bank BROKER: NAI Earle Furman
June 27, 2014
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UBJ SQUARE FEET / DEALMAKERS COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL– GREENVILLE ANNOUNCED: Will Nelson represented Big Cedar Properties in the leasing of 1,246 SF of retail space at 2038 Laurens Road, Suite C, Greenville. Will Nelson presented Retail Associates II in the leasing of 1,200 SF of retail space located at 1607 Laurens Road, Suite 105-A, Greenville. Will Nelson represented PCC Investors in the leasing of 2,035 SF of retail space at 705 SE Main St., Simpsonville. Bob Shaw represented Sheree LLC in the sale of a 1,498 SF office suite located at 1011 Grove Road, Suite A-1, Greenville. Richard Barrett represented First Citizens Bank & Trust in the sale of a 2.8 acre RV park located at 4503 Hwy. 11, Westminister. Richard Barrett along with Michael Sease represented FlashCo. Manufacturing Co. in an industrial lease of 10,000 SF located at 514 Matrix Parkway, Piedmont.
Bob Shaw represented Jarden Plastic Solutions in their leasing of 6,150 SF of office space at 4241 Pelham Road, Greenville. Lyn Tyner represented the owner, Dickens Holdings LLC in the leasing of 1,800 SF of office space at 117 Caroline St., Laurens. Givens Stewart and Richard Jackson represented the tenant, Eberspaecher North America Inc., in the leasing of a 285,968 SF industrial building at 5675 N. Blackstock Road, Spartanburg. Givens Stewart and Richard Jackson represented the tenant, Mergon Corp., in the leasing of 14,750 SF of industrial space at 311 Alliance Parkway, Williamston. Givens Stewart and Richard Jackson represented the buyer, Exeter 15 Tyger River LLC, in the purchase of a 202,104 SF industrial building at 15 Tyger River Road, Duncan. NAI EARLE FURMAN ANNOUNCED:
Bob Shaw and Frank Hammond represented Family Connection of SC in the sale of a 6,539 SF building at 10703 Old Anderson Road, Powdersville.
Hunter Garrett and John Staunton represented the landlord in leasing a 48,480 SF warehouse and distribution facility at 199 Keowee Business Parkway, Seneca, to Plastic Products Company Inc. (PPC).
Richard Barrett and Mike Sease represented the owner, The Kingman Family Limited Partnership, in the leasing of 1,950 SF of office space at 228 Adley Way, Greenville.
Towers Rice represented the seller in selling a 45,411 SF industrial manufacturing facility at 400 Supreme Industrial Drive, Anderson, to E&I Engineering, Ltd (E&I).
Frank Hammond represented the FDIC in the sale of a 1,736 SF convenience store at 2055 New Cut Road, Spartanburg.
Keith Jones represented the landlord in renewing the lease of a 2,470 SF office space in the Greer Professional Park at 556 Memorial Drive, Greer.
Frank Hammond represented Woodruff Place Development in the sale of a 2,831 SF office pad at 101 Woodruff Place Circle, Simpsonville.
Scott Jones represented State Farm Insurance Company in leasing a 2,150 SF office space in EastPark at Pelham at 3505 Pelham Road, Greenville, from T. Bishop Properties Corp.
Will Nelson represented the owner, Pruitt Corporation of Anderson, in the leasing of 1,200 SF retail location at 2927 N. Main St., Anderson.
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Jimmy Wright, Ted Lyerly and Brendan Gower represented BGGG 290 LLC in leasing
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
June 27, 2014
a 1,800 SF retail space in Hillside Commons at 1580 E. Main St., Duncan, to Chang Mai LLC. John Gray and Drew Stamm represented the landlord in renewing the lease of a 2,396 SF office space at 114 Commons Blvd., Powdersville, to Pediatric Services of America Inc.
Augusta St., Greenville, to 2 Virgins LLC. Dan Dunn represented PEC 360 in leasing a 2,787 SF office space at 390 E. Henry St., Spartanburg.
represented Good Wall Properties LLC in the purchase of a 18,920 SF office space at 617 E. McBee Ave., Greenville. The seller was McBee Plaza Associates.
Ken Anderson represented the seller of 105 Northeast Drive, Spartanburg, in selling a 12,500 SF industrial space to RAMS Real Estate Holding LLC.
Scott Jones represented the landlord of 300 Pelham Road, Building B, Suite 100, Greenville, in completing a lease of a 1,476 SF office space to Carrols Corporation.
John Gray and Drew Stamm represented CFS Partners LLC in the sale of a retail space located at 3310 N. Main St., Anderson, to Moneyline Properties LLC.
John Gray and Drew Stamm represented The Sunshine House Inc. in the purchase of a 8,400 SF retail space in Simpsonville.
LANGSTON-BLACK REAL ESTATE, INC. ANNOUNCED:
Keith Jones and Dan Dunn represented the landlord of 25 Woods Lake Road, Greenville, in leasing a 4,337 SF office space to Limestone College.
Towers Rice represented Truck Masters Inc. in selling a 2,500 SF truck sales facility at 1298 White Road, Piedmont, to Automotive Capital Corporation of Atlanta.
Jake Van Gieson and Bill Sims represented Kalcay Properties LLC in leasing a 1,500 SF retail space at 2932 Reidville Road, Spartanburg, to Cardio Express LLC. Hunter Garrett and John Staunton represented Golden Strip Transfer Inc. in leasing a 42,000 SF warehouse and distribution facility at 106 South Woods Drive, Fountain Inn. Hunter Garrett and John Staunton represented Jersey Mike’s Subs in renewing their lease of a 1,750 SF retail space in the Time Square Plaza at 1507 Woodruff Road, Greenville. Hunter Garrett and John Staunton represented Wilbert Burial Vault Co. Inc. in leasing a 2,000 SF office space in Garlington Pointe at 496 Garlington Road, Suite A, Greenville. Hunter Garrett and John Staunton represented AccuTech in renewing the lease of a 6,000 SF industrial space at 5200 Pelham Road, Greenville. Jimmy Wright and Ted Lyerly represented Sbobotis Holdings LLC in renewing the lease of a 1,877 SF retail space in Augusta Place at 2247
Robert Schmidt and Alexi Papapieris represented Richards Holdings LLC in selling 6,120 SF of retail space in Bradford Plaza at 1209 NE Main St., Simpsonville. John Gray and Drew Stamm represented the buyer, BRP Investments LLC. John Gray and Drew Stamm represented the seller of 104 S. Calhoun St., Greenville, in the sale of a 1,847 SF office space. Keith Jones represented the seller of 9 Toy St., Greenville, in the sale of a 1,760 SF office space. John Powell represented the seller of 760 Hampton Road, Williamston, in the sale of a 6,000 SF industrial space. Andrew Babb represented White Horse Investments LLC in the sale of 4.78 acres at Bryant and Landers Roads, Spartanburg. Dan Dunn represented the buyer, Weisman Associates Limited Partnership. Scott Jones represented Epsilon Delta LLC in the sale of an 8,000 SF office space at 3505 Pelham Road, Greenville. Earle Furman, Jonathan Good, and Alexi Papapieris
Jim Griffin and Chuck Langston recently represented the seller, Chrisliche Blindenmission International, in the sale of an 11,400 SF office building located at 450 East Park Ave., Greenville, while Brad Toy represented the purchaser, 450 Park Avenue LLC and Pointe North LTD. LEE & ASSOCIATES— GREENVILLE ANNOUNCED: Bryon Culbertson represented USIC LLC, the tenant, in the lease of 23 Boland Court, Greenville, a +/-3,000 SF flex facility. Deanna Hudgens represented the landlord in a +/-1,219 SF retail lease at 127 E. Blackstock Road, Suite 500, Spartanburg. Deanna Hudgens represented the tenant, Michael M. Simpson & Associates Inc., in a +/-4,434 SF office transaction at Patewood I, Patewood Drive, Suite 100, Greenville. Deanna Hudgens represented the landlord in a +/-960 SF lease transaction at 3009 Wade Hampton Blvd., Taylors. Randall Bentley facilitated a +/-16,200 SF industrial purchase at 501 Richardson St. Extension, Greenville, to E-Power Trading, LLC. Randall Bentley represented the buyer, Dye Property Holdings LLC, in a +/-20,000 SF industrial purchase at 2824 Old Woodruff Road, Greenville. >>
UBJ SQUARE FEET
Former Memorial Auditorium, Downtown’s ‘Bermuda Triangle,’ Claims Another Victim SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com Developers have cancelled Broadstone Gateway, a four-story, 257-unit apartment complex planned for the former site of the Greenville Memorial Auditorium at 400 N. Church St. Bob Weston of Phoenix-based Alliance Residential Company said Monday his company is not pursuing the project at this time but refused
further comment on why it was cancelled. The proposed apartment complex had undergone several modifications since Alliance submitted design plans to the city in January. City staff recommended approval of the design the company presented in March. However, Alliance Residential withdrew the application from the April meeting agenda. Situated on a triangular piece of land bordered by North Church
Artist’s rendering of the proposed Broadstone Gateway development
Street, East North Street and Beattie Place, the site has long been considered a key entrance into downtown Greenville. The property has been vacant since Memorial Auditorium was demolished in 1997. A federal courthouse was planned for the site and then scrapped after federal judges raised concerns about accessibility, parking and security.
>> Deanna Hudgens represented Buy-Trade-Lease LLC, the tenant, in a +/6,000 SF industrial lease at 1222-D Donaldson Road, Greenville. Deanna Hudgens represented the landlord of 269 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, in a +/6,000 SF flex facility lease to DS Services of America Inc. Laurens Nicholson represented the landlord of 513 Old Griffin Road, Piedmont, in an industrial facility lease to Lockheed Martin Corp. Bryon Culbertson represented Area Wide Protective Inc., the tenant, in a +/-6,000 SF flex facility lease transaction. Bryon Culbertson represented the landlord in a +/-4,999 SF office lease at 67 Creekside
Park Court, Greenville, to Greenville Anesthesiology. Bryon Culbertson and Laurens Nicholson facilitated the +/-10,800 SF industrial purchase at 2913 White Horse Road, Greenville. Randall Bentley and Laurens Nicholson facilitated the +/45,000 SF purchase of 1629 S. Hwy. 14, Greer, to D/C Building LLC. Deanna Hudgens represented the seller of a +/-879 SF retail location at 820 S. Main St., Suite 104, Greenville. Kevin Bentley represented the seller of NPA Pelham Ridge Drive, Greenville, in a +/-1.40 acre purchase by SYNNEX Corporation. Kevin Bentley represented the landlord in the +/-2,100
SF lease of 861 NE Main St., Simpsonville, to Belcan Services Group. Kevin Bentley represented the tenant, Eyes In Motion, in the +/-3,000 SF lease of 1120 W. Butler Road, Suites M and N, Greenville. Kevin Bentley represented the landlord in the +/-6,000 SF lease of 5200 Pelham Road, Suite B, Greenville, to AccuTech Corporation. COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL CAINE ANNOUNCED: Pete Brett and David Sigmon represented the seller, SCBT, in the sale of a +6,878 SF restaurant building on +1.608 acres at 120 Millport Circle, Greenville, to the
In 2008, a group of five investors called Greenville Gateway Developers LLC purchased the site for $1.8 million, vowing to make it a “landmark for the state” with multiple towers that would include a four-star hotel, apartments, condos and restaurants – none of which materialized. Mayor Knox White has referred to the site as the “Bermuda Triangle of downtown development.”
purchaser, Jack E. Shaw. Pete Brett and David Sigmon represented the seller, SCBT, in the sale of a +16,000 SF retail building at 141-145 W. Front St., Liberty, to the purchaser, Brian Petersen. George Zimmerman and Robert Zimmerman represented the seller, Wherry Properties LLC, in the sale of +0.47 acre at 106 and 108 Airport Road, Greenville, to the purchaser, Reedy Rivers LLC. George Zimmerman and Robert Zimmerman represented the seller, The T. C. Threatt Trust, in the sale of a +7,200 SF office building on +0.74 acre at 72 Pointe Circle, Greenville, to the purchaser, ADRD Properties LLC. George Zimmerman and David
June 27, 2014
Sigmon represented the seller, Village Greer Partnership, in the sale of +3.625 acres at Memorial Drive Extension, Greer, to the purchaser, Benson Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Tim Satterfield and Steve Hammett represented the seller, First Palmetto Bank, in the sale of 12 residential lots at Tyger Shoals Subdivision, Moore, to the purchaser, Mungo Homes Inc. SPECTRUM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, INC. ANNOUNCED: Jack Snedigar represented Kentwool Development in the recent renewal of a space with South Carolina Charities Inc. for 3,200 SF of office space in the Historic Chamber of Commerce Building located at 135 S. Main St., Greenville.
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UBJ ON THE MOVE HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
Dr. Brittany Rudy
Judy Outlaw
Jonathan Cote
Tom Theodore
Douglas Fowler
Joined Lowdergroup as a child clinical psychologist specializing in assessment services as well as behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatment of pediatric anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Rudy has specialty training in cognitivebehavioral techniques for treating anxiety and related disorders.
Joined ReWiGo (Ready, Willing, Go) Ministries as its director of development and marketing. Outlaw has worked as a consultant with various nonprofits for 20 years, including the Greenville Humane Society, Chicora Voices Boys and Girls Choir, Ready for Reading, Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg, United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministry.
Joined Wyche as an associate, focusing his practice on transactional matters, including corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and health care. A graduate of Duke University School of Law, Cote was previously an associate at Hunton & Williams in Richmond, Va., and an intern with U.S. Senior District Judge Graham C. Mullen in Charlotte, N.C.
Joined Global View’s Investment Advisory Team as a financial advisor. Theodore was previously a selfemployed CPA and financial planner with 30 years of experience. He is a University of Arkansas graduate with an MBA and B.S. in accounting
Joined Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing as a recruiter in the IT and technology areas. Prior to joining Godshall, Fowler was the head of Bluestone Search and brings more than 20 years of experience with him. Originally from London, Fowler moved to Greenville with his family in 2006.
FINANCIAL SERVICES: CertusBank has named David Hoppenworth as chief credit officer and promoted David Beard to an executive role on the commercial banking team. Prior to this promotion, Hoppenworth served as the credit and operations executive for the bank’s Small Business Finance division. Beard previously served as the bank’s commercial credit executive. Southern First Bank recently an-
nounced the hiring of Chris Austin and Carter Weston as mortgage executives. Austin joins Southern First Bank as mortgage executive and brings over 15 years of mortgage lending experience including Eagle Mortgage Group, Countrywide Home Loans, Nationwide Mortgage Services LLC and CertusBank. Weston previously served as sales manager at Supreme Lending and brings over 16 years of experience from Community Bancshares Inc., Regions Bank and CertusBank.
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MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS: VantagePoint Marketing has hired Teagan Hance as a media/production coordinator. Hance earned a degree in mass communications from the University of South Carolina and has since worked in both agency and media environments. Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) promoted Dave Paxton to art director, Christi Cokeley to senior graphic designer and Nicholas Books to market research analyst. Prior to joining JMG in 2011 as associate art director, Paxton was a freelance graphic designer creating logo designs, promotional materials and website designs. Cokeley has 16 years of experience with graphic design, prepress and mechanical art production. Brooks started at JMG in 2012 as client service intern
and has held the market research coordinator position.
TECHNOLOGY: EDTS recently announced the addition of Josh McGee as a systems engineer and Glenn Pate as a support engineer. McGee has five years of IT experience, which includes network security, vulnerability monitoring and assessment, software deployment and user support at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility in Aiken. Pate has over 30 years of IT networking, security and support experience in multiple industries. Engenius has added Jake Pickett as the newest member of the accounts team. Pickett received his bachelor’s degree in marketing at Oklahoma State University and an MBA from Clemson University.
CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners can be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
UBJ NEW TO THE STREET 1. The Joint, a chiropractic clinic, recently held its ribbon-cutting at 127 E. Blackstock Road in Spartanburg. For more information, call 864-576-9919 or visit thejoint.com. 2. Serenity Rehab & Wellness Center recently
held a ribbon-cutting at 3795 E. North St. in Greenville. For more information, visit serenityrehabwellness.com or call 864-292-0011.
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3. Cahaly’s Custom Clothing recently held a ribbon-cutting at 14 W. McBee Ave. in Greenville. Their hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, visit cahalyscustomclothing.com or call 864-637-9030. 4. First Restoration Services recently held a ribbon-cutting at 201-A Pelham Davis Circle in Greenville. For more information, call 864-603-1218 or visit frs247.com. 5. The Golden Chick restaurant recently held a ribbon-cutting at 211 Pelham Road in Greenville. For more information, visit goldenchick.com or 864-520-1885.
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6. Carolina Alliance Bank recently opened a branch
office at 115 Broadbent Way, Unit 8, in Anderson. For more information, call 864-965-7829 or visit CarolinaAllianceBank.com.
CONTRIBUTE: Opening your doors? Submit photo and information for consideration to ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
Invested in our clients . Invested in the Upstate . Invested in the local economy. | naiearlefurman.com June 27, 2014
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UBJ PLANNER FRIDAY JUNE 27 FRIDAY FORUM Embassy Suites, 670 Verdae Blvd., Greenville; 8-9:30 a.m. SPEAKER: David Wilkins, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada COST: $12 for Greenville Chamber
members, $20 for non-chamber members, includes breakfast
864-228-2122 or sjeffries1@allstate.com
MONDAY JUNE 30
REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org
GCS ROUNDTABLE
NORTH GREENVILLE ROTARY CLUB The Poinsett Club, 807 E. Washington St., Greenville; 12:30-1:30 p.m.
COST: Free to attend but invitation required, lunch $16
The Office Center at the Point, 33 Market Point Drive, Greenville; 8:30-9:30 a.m.
CONTACT: Shanda Jeffries at
SPEAKER: Myles Golden TOPIC: When to Quit Call Golden Career Strategies at 864-527-0425 to request an invitation
THE INBOX
LEGISLATIVE LUNCH SERIES
Stay in the know with UBJ’s free weekly email.
Simpsonville City Hall, 118 NE Main St., Simpsonville; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
CONTACT: 864-232-5600
THURSDAY JULY 3
CONTACT: Jeff Alfonso at jeff@ alfonsointerpreting.com GOLDEN STRIP TOASTMASTERS Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 739 N. Main St., Mauldin; 7-8 p.m.
COST: $15 per person CONTACT: Jennifer Richardson at jrichardson@ simpsonvillechamber. com
BNI CHAPTER, GREATER GREENVILLE
University Center, 225 S. Pleasantburg
June 27, 2014
FOR INFORMATION: tmbilingue. toastmastersclubs.org
WEDNESDAY JULY 2
TOASTMASTERS BILINGUE
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Drive, Auditorium Room 204, Greenville; noon-1 p.m.
COST: Free for guests
TUESDAY JULY 1
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COST: $20 for members, $24 for guests
SPEAKERS: Marion Edmunds, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism; and Greg Carpenter, general manager of Holiday Inn Express
REGISTER AT: simpsonvillechamber.com
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Commerce Club, 55 Beattie Place, Greenville; 6:45-7:45 p.m.
FOR INFORMATION: goldenstriptoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org CONTACT: Prasad Patchipulusu at pprasa1@hotmail.com
City Range, 615 Haywood Rd., Greenville; noon-1:30 p.m. COST: $15 for lunch CONTACT: Hardy Auston at 864-313-9942 or hdaustonmoving@aol.com BREWMASTERS
BNI Southern Fried Green Tomatoes, 1175 Woods Crossing Road, Greenville; 8:15-9:45 a.m. INFORMATION: bniamerica.com CONTACT: Shanda Jeffries at 864-228-2122 or sjeffries1@allstate.com for invitation GCS TOASTMASTERS TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville; noon-1 p.m. INFORMATION: goldencareerstrategies. com/toastmaster.html CONTACT: Ann or Myles Golden at agolden@ goldencareerstrategies. com or myles@ goldencareerstrategies. com
CONTRIBUTE: Got a hot date? Submit event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
UBJ SNAPSHOT
Historic photograph available from the Greenville Historical Society. From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,” by Jeffrey R. Willis
GREG BECKNER / STAFF
Today Kash & Karry Pharmacy operates out of a new building on the old location of the grocery store. What was a 913 Buncombe St. address is now a 101 Pete Hollis Blvd. address.
Before there were the giant discount chains and buying clubs, there was Kash and Karry. This Greenville institution began in 1930 as a small grocery store on Mulberry Street operated by J.S. Myers. As the business prospered and expanded, it occupied part of the Ideal Laundry and then moved to the 50,000-square-foot store that Bill Coxe photographed at what was then 913 Buncombe St.
MARKETING & EVENTS Kate Banner
DIGITAL STRATEGIST PRESIDENT/CEO Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
UBJ PUBLISHER
Emily Price
ART & PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR Kristy M. Adair
Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com
OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Michael Allen, Whitney Fincannon
Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com
MANAGING EDITOR Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com
SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER Jennifer Oladipo
STAFF WRITERS
Sherry Jackson, Cindy Landrum, April A. Morris, Joe Toppe
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jeanne Putnam
PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Beckner MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Kristi Jennings, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Lindsay Oehman, Pam Putman
ADVERTISING DESIGN CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley, Jane Rogers
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LINKEDIN: Upstate Business Journal Copyright @2014 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. P.O. Box 2266, Greenville, South Carolina, 29602. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $50. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, P.O. Box 2266, Greenville, SC 29602. Printed in the USA
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY? 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 1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport
1988
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Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff
NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AWARDS:
Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years
onthemove@ upstatebusinessjournal.com
20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013
UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties. Guest columns run 700-800 words. Contact Executive Editor Susan Clary Simmons at ssimmons@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration.
1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993
1990 Jackson Dawson acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.
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
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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-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 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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NOVEMBER 1, 2013
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June 27, 2014
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