Dec. 9, 2016 UBJ

DECEMBER 9, 2016 | VOL. 5 ISSUE 50

JUST FIX THE

DAMN ROADS AND TWO OTHER PRO-BUSINESS PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION

UBJ

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12.9.2016

GREAT STRIDES IN JOINT REPLACEMENT. RIGHT HERE IN THE UPSTATE.

If you’ve been considering joint replacement surgery, you should know about the latest surgical breakthrough at Greenville Health System. Here, a GHS orthopaedic team has championed a new technique to greatly reduce post-surgical pain, enabling many patients to get back on their feet, and on their way to a full recovery, the same day. That’s a giant step forward in joint replacement—and it happened here first. Learn more at ghs.org/Forward.

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TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK

| THE RUNDOWN | 3

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 49 Featured this issue: Textile production will continue at Slater Mill ......................................................8 B of A building sold for $22.5 million ...........................................................................12 Bank of Travelers Rest celebrates 70 years ...............................................................18

Renderings of the interior of the AC Hotel under construction in downtown Spartanburg were unveiled Monday at a topping-out ceremony on the 10th floor. Photo by Jack Lukow.

WORTH REPEATING “We’re trying to come up with a list that everyone can agree on. You can’t just say ‘nonviolent’ and boom, that’s it. It’s a very complicated issue.”

Page 14

“We can only be as good as our customers, and a customer is anyone who walks in the door.”

Page 18

“The millennial generation will soon take charge of molding the future of society. I happen to believe that it will be a very cool future.”

Page 20

VERBATIM

On S.C.’s rising gas prices “If I had a nickel for every time OPEC said it was going to cut oil production, I could probably buy everyone free gas on Christmas.”

Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, quoted in the Post and Courier. The price of gasoline across the state rose nearly a nickel a gallon after OPEC agreed last week to cut production.

4 | DEVELOPMENT |

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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

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12.9.2016

New apartments, retail planned for Bishop Furniture building in downtown Spartanburg

The former Bishop Furniture building has sat vacant for three years. Rendering by McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture.

TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com Another important piece of downtown Spartanburg’s urban landscape could get a new lease on life.

City Council last Monday approved an agreement with Greenville-based developer Blue Wall Real Estate, which plans to invest $10.5 million to transform the former Bishop Furniture building at into a mixed-use facility with 46 luxury apartments and ground-level retail.

“This isn’t finished yet,” said Bogue Wallin, principal of Blue Wall. “This is just the first step.”

Under the agreement, Blue Wall will purchase the building and renovate it in a “historically sensitive manner,” meeting all of the typical city permit-

ting requirements — zoning, building inspections and business license.

The city will confirm the property qualifies for the state’s Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act, making it eligible for tax credits. In addition, the city will “take necessary steps” to ensure the project benefits from a Special Assessment for Rehabilitated Historic Property for five years.

Tenants of the building will be able to purchase monthly parking passes in the Dunbar Street Parking Garage at the “prevailing public rate.” The city will make sure that at least 60 passes are available to tenants for at least 10 years. And the first year of monthly parking passes will be offered free of charge.

The city will alter the parking duration limits of two spaces adjacent to

the property from two hours to 30 minutes in order to facilitate unloading and other short visits. It will also relocate a tree on the Dunbar Street side of the building to another nearby location and make necessary repairs to the streetscape.

Upon approval of the project by the city’s Design Review Board and Historic Architecture Review Board on Dec. 8, the property will be released from an existing Mall Facade Agreement of June 29, 1984, which will enable Blue Wall to restore the building’s original facade.

“We’re very excited about this project,” said Assistant City Manager Chris Story. “We think it’s going to have a tremendous impact on downtown.”

Wallin said the apartments could range from about 650 to 1,700 square

feet and cost $1,100 to $1,800 per month.

He declined to provide specific details about the plans for the building.

Property records show the building has more than 40,000 square feet of space, including a basement, main floor, upper floor and mezzanine.

The building has sat vacant for about three years. It was last used as an indoor marketplace for local art, crafts and other items produced by local vendors.

City staff touted the building’s size and strategic location at the corner of East Main and Liberty streets and its proximity to Denny’s Plaza. They said the project will bring additional life and activity to a long-vacant corner, adding new residents, businesses and jobs.

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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

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In other Council action: • Council approved an ordinance extending a purchase agreement with local businessmen Jimmy Gibbs and Andy Cajka for two tracts behind the Spartanburg Marriott until Dec. 31, 2017.

• Council approved a property exchange with Piedmont Interstate Fair that could pave the way for the Northside Development Group to build a child development center on the northwest corner of Howard Street and Franklin Avenue.

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• Council approved a development agreement with local realtor Tudi Holmes, who is seeking to renovate a long vacant building at 318 Wofford St. into professional offices. Holmes will be granted $20,000 to offset a portion of the project’s cost.

• Council approved a collaborative partnership agreement between the city, Spartanburg Housing Authority and Northside Development Group for revitalization of the Northside and Highland communities.

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6 | RESTAURANTS |

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12.9.2016

Rick Erwin's first foray into Spartanburg will be The Standard: A Refined Kitchen, planned to open in the Drayton Mills Marketplace development in spring 2017. Right: Artist's renderings of plans for The Standard.

Rick Erwin reveals new Spartanburg eatery TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com When Rick Erwin first stepped inside Drayton Mill’s former company store, the Greenville restaurateur knew he’d found a home for his first Spartanburg eatery.

On Monday, Erwin revealed the identity and provided a preview of the menu of that new dining concept, The Standard: A Refined Kitchen, expected to open in the spring of 2017.

The 185-seat, 7,000-square-foot restaurant will be a relaxed addition to his family of fine-dining establishments in the Upstate, offering customers quality food, service and atmosphere at an affordable price.

“The excitement surrounding this entire development is something we wanted to surround ourselves with,” said Erwin. “This is a first-rate, top-notch development, and we’re just glad to soon be a part of it.”

Erwin said he anticipates hiring about 100 employees for The Standard, although he hopes to hire more to operate the restaurant. The eatery will be open for lunch and dinner.

“I would not be a bit surprised if that were the case,” he said.

The menu is about 80 percent complete, Erwin said. He and his team are still “researching” a steak dish.

Diners will be able to enjoy starters, such as crispy Reuben spring rolls, fried shrimp, French onion soup and deviled eggs. Salads, sandwiches, burgers, sides

and desserts will be served.

Entrees will include market-fresh fish, penne a la vodka, a grilled filet of beef, roasted chicken Alfredo, Southern fried chicken, eggplant and grilled vegetable lasagna, shrimp angel hair, lump crab cakes, grilled Atlantic salmon, prime sirloin meatloaf and St. Louis ribs.

Erwin said prices for sandwiches would range from about $9 to $10. Entrees will cost $12 to $14, but there could be items that are priced in the $20 range.

“We couldn’t be happier,” said Michael Ivey, CFO and partner of the Rick Erwin Dining Group. “We love the space. We love the town. There are a lot of exciting things happening in Spartanburg and Drayton Mills is one of them. We’re grateful to be a part of it.”

In 2013, Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, a private investment firm founded in Spartanburg by shareholders of textile giant Milliken & Co., unveiled its plan to redevelop Drayton Mill into a vibrant mixeduse community and bring new energy to the surrounding community.

The first phase of the development was a renovation of the mill’s spinning and weaving plants into a 289unit luxury apartment community Drayton Mills Lofts. That part of the project was led by Charlotte, N.C.-based TMS Development.

In 2015, John Montgomery, principal of Montgomery Development Group, teamed up with Tara Sherbert, managing partner of TMS Development, to purchase the mill’s old cotton warehouses and Romanesque Revival company store for commercial

opportunities, including restaurants, retail and offices.

That portion of the project is called Drayton Mills Marketplace.

Erwin’s restaurant and three other tenants, including Zen Studios, a Spartanburg-based yoga studio, industrial developer Agracel and Melotte Enterprises and its new coffee business Mozza Roasters, were announced for the Marketplace in June.

“We are very excited and feel fortunate to have the Rick Erwin Restaurant Group’s new concept as an anchor tenant,” said Montgomery. “We are very confident that The Standard will exceed the expectations of its customers … It’s a great fit.”

Montgomery said he has received strong interest from prospective tenants for the Marketplace, which has a large parking lot and easy access off Drayton Road. With the renovation of the commercial space nearing completion, he hopes to announce more tenants soon.

“We view this as a community centered on excellence,” Sherbert said. “From the luxury lofts to events, to our dining and retail options, Drayton Mills is creating a lifestyle, a place where people can live, work and play.”

For more information, visit draytonmarketplace.com.

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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

| INVESTING | 7

VentureSouth breaks the mold for early-stage investing RUDOLPH BELL | CONTRIBUTOR

rbell@communityjournals.com

A serial entrepreneur from Charlotte says a Greenville-based platform for helping affluent individuals invest in startup companies takes a different approach than anything else of its kind he’s seen around the country.

Mac Lackey founded and sold five companies before becoming a managing director of VentureSouth, a regional network of angel investors with headquarters in Greenville.

Lackey said most angel investors put money into early-stage companies based on emotion and their relationships with entrepreneurs. VentureSouth’s method of vetting startups, by contrast, is based on analytical rigor, he said.

“I really came to appreciate the model of VentureSouth as something a lot better than what I had seen, not only in Charlotte but in other markets, because I’ve raised a fair amount of capital around the country,” Lackey said. “I just thought it was a better model in terms of angel investment.”

VentureSouth, launched by the South Carolina Angel Network, is an umbrella organization of 11 angel investor groups around the Carolinas. It emerged out of a Greenville-based angel investor group, the Upstate Carolina Angel Network, and is managed from offices at the NEXT Innovation Center in downtown Greenville.

Lackey spoke to UBJ while at the downtown

Greenville Hyatt for VentureSouth’s first-annual summit on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

He said he came to know VentureSouth’s three other managing directors — Matt Dunbar, Charlie Banks and Paul Clark — while searching for startup capital.

According to his website, Lackey raised $75 million in capital during his time as an entrepreneur. One company he helped found, Mountain Khakis, sold outdoor apparel in about 1,000 retail outlets before it was bought by Remington, the firearms company.

Lackey said VentureSouth uses a full-time team to help angel investors scrutinize early-stage companies as potential investments.

“They have a very methodical process they repeat each time a company is considered,” he said. “So not only do you have a full due diligence look at a company, you also have a history of every other investment they've made and not made to compare it to. So that sort of process is, I think, where a lot of the value is.”

Lackey said he thinks the VentureSouth model makes it easier and less risky for angel investors to put money into early-stage companies. It also helps communities retain entrepreneurs who otherwise might be forced to leave town in search of seed capital, he said.

Lackey, a former professional soccer player, said he never found much use for angel investor groups during his time as an entrepreneur.

“But this is sort of a different one,” he said.

Angel investor An individual who provides early-stage capital for a business startup, often in exchange for ownership equity in the company.

• Upstate Carolina Angel Network (Greenville) • Spartanburg Angels (Spartanburg) • Electric City Angels (Anderson) • Capital Angels (Columbia) • VentureSouth Charlotte (Charlotte) • Lowcountry Angels (Charleston) • Carolina Tech Angels (Rock Hill) • Grand Strand Angels (Myrtle Beach) • Asheville Angels (Asheville) • Salt Marsh Angels (Hilton Head) • Central Savannah River Angels (Aiken)

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8 | MANUFACTURING |

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

UBJ

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12.9.2016

New owners will continue textile production at Slater Mill RUDOLPH BELL | CONTRIBUTOR

rbell@communityjournals.com

The manufacture of textiles will continue at the 89-year-old Slater Mill in northern Greenville County.

B&W Fiber Glass Inc. of Shelby, N.C., has taken over a fiberglass manufacturing operation at the mill that was formerly operated by JPS Composite Materials. The new operation will be called Poseidon Advanced Materials, according to new signage on the building.

B&W plans to employ 46 people at the plant and spend at least $5.25 million making improvements to it, according to paperwork related to a property tax break the company is seeking from Greenville County.

JPS had supported 103 jobs at the site — 57 more than B&W will support.

Still, the survival of the textile-making operation — even in smaller form — is good news for the Slater community, which came into being with the creation of the mill and housing for its workers in 1927.

Mark Farris, president of the

Poseidon Advanced Materials, a fiberglass manufacturing branch of B&W Fiber Glass Inc. of Shelby, N.C., will operate at the 89-year-old Slater Mill.

Greenville Area Development Corp., Greenville County’s economic development arm, said he found it partic-

ularly rewarding to help B&W keep a fiber that B&W uses to make spethe operation going by arranging tax cialty hybrid yarn that both companies sell, according to Elizabeth Cates, incentives.

Innegra’s vice president of research “Rarely are we able to maintain an aging facility, especially in a comand development. munity the size of Slater,” In the summer of 2015, said Farris, whose late B&W bought a spefather worked as a cialty textile textile plant shift company in SLATERsupervisor in Manchester, MARIETTA POSEIDON Rock Hill.

England, ADVANCED MATERIALS JPS said c a l l e d earlier this Multiple year that it Winding HIGHWAY HIGHWAY would close Co., ac276 25 the Slater cording to a press plant if it release on wasn’t able to find a buyer the B&W TRAVELERS REST for it. website.

Records kept JPS continues by the S.C. Secretary to operate other of State show a limited plants in Anderson liability corporation using the and Statesville, N.C. It name Poseidon Advanced Materials makes fiberglass and synthetic fabrics was created in mid-October. used in a variety of applications, including bulletproof vests and surfB&W’s owners didn’t immediately return a telephone call seeking boards. comment.

JPS, which used to be a publicly traded company based in Greenville, Founded in 1991, B&W is privately was acquired in the summer of 2015 owned by the Beason family of North

by Handy & Harman, an industrial Carolina, according to its website.

The company’s business partners conglomerate based in White Plains, include a small G reenville firm called N.Y. Innegra Technologies, which supplies

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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

| MANUFACTURING | 9

Hubbell Lighting will shutter Cowpens distribution facility TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com

JOBS AFFECTED BY HUBBELL’S MOVE

Greenville-based Hubbell Lighting confirmed last week it would shutter its nearly 337,000-square-foot distribution facility in Cowpens by the end of this month. The closure is expected to impact 55 full-time employees.

“As part of Hubbell’s ongoing efficiency initiatives, we are consolidating certain operations across the company,” a spokesman for Hubbell Lighting said. “We will not comment on specific details of this consolidation other than to say we are committed to support our employees during this transition.”

Property records showed the building, which sits on 40 acres at 5950 N. Main St. near the headquarters of Mermet USA, was acquired in 2001

by Progress Lighting. In 2002, Progress was acquired by Hubbell Lighting.

In the company’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN notice, Hubbell Lighting told the S.C. Department of Employment

Hubbell Lighting is closing its Cowpens facility and will relocate Southeastern distribution operations to a larger facility in Jefferson, Ga. and Workforce it informed employees of the closure on June 21. The company said in the notice the move is a result of its decision to relocate its Southeastern distribution activities to a larger facility in Jefferson, Ga. Johnnie-Lynn Crosby, regional director of business solutions for SC Works Greenville and Upstate, said the agency would host a job fair for employees at the Cowpens facility on

Dec. 8. She has plans for 10 “vendors” to be at the event. Six have already committed.

Crosby said some of the employees would relocate to other Hubbell Lighting facilities.

“While any loss of job due to a facility’s closure is devastating, the silver lining is we have numerous opportunities available to those who are seeking employment,” Crosby said.

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10 | RESTAURANTS |

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12.9.2016

Growler Haus plans to add a fifth location in downtown Greer TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com Craig Kinley’s craft beer “tribe” will expand into downtown Greer early next year.

The Upstate entrepreneur said he has signed a lease on the 2,000-square-foot space at 213 Trade St., formerly home to Rhythm and Brews, for the fifth installment of his Anderson-based Growler Haus concept.

It is the second new Growler Haus planned to open during the early part of 2017. The other will be a 2,400-square-foot location with an 800-square-foot beer garden at 12 Lois Ave. in the Village of West Greenville.

“We have been looking at downtown Greer for about a year now,” said Kinley, who founded Growler Haus in 2012 after spending two decades in the telecom industry. “A good friend of mine, John Lummus with Upstate Alliance, told me to look at Greer because it’s hot … Everything just fell into place. We are very excited about it … We look forward to integrating ourselves into the community.”

Kinley said the store would have the traditional “coffee house” feel of his existing locations in Anderson, Spartanburg and Fountain Inn. It will create four to six new jobs, he said.

It will have a range of local and regional craft beers and a menu of tapas foods.

“We’re really excited to be part of a tight-knit downtown,” said Ashley Hileski, who will manage the store. “We feel like we’re a little bit different, a little unique. And we think we’ll be a complement to other outstanding restaurants and shops that are in downtown Greer.”

Kinley said he plans to brighten the space up with fresh paint. He wants to accentuate some of the historic character of the building, such as exposed brick and wooden beams.

He thanked Greer officials for supporting his move to the city.

“We’re very excited to have them,” said Kyle Mensing, commercial development director for the Greer Development Corp.

“It was a pleasure working with Craig and his team … There are a lot of great things happening in Greer.”

Kinley mentioned the S.C. Ports Authority’s Inland Port, BMW, Michelin North America and other industrial developments as reasons why he’s optimistic about the future of the Greer store.

Mensing said the city’s gross retail sales during the 2016 fiscal year were more than $1.15 billion. He said there were 475 housing starts through the end of November, and the amount invested in residential construction in Greer was more than $118 million.

In terms of economic development, Greer landed 13 projects in 2016 worth more than $68 million in capital investment that created 344 new jobs.

BMW's US sales fall 15.8 percent in November TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com

GREER STATS  2016

BMW’s U.S. business declined 15.8 percent in November, but sales of models assembled in Spartanburg County — the X3, X4, X5 and X6 — increased a half-percent during the month.

BMW of North America reported last Thursday it sold 30,696 vehicles during the past month, compared with 36,447 during the previous November.

For the year, the company’s sales are down 10.2

Gross retail sales: $1,154,134,956

BMW NOVEMBER SALES

Total housing starts thru end of November: 475 Total residential construction: $118,027,959 Projects landed: 13 New capital investment: $68,211,035 New job creation: 344 Courtesy of Greer Development Corp.

percent to 327,711 cars, compared with 364,903 during the same period of 2015.

“Only a month remains in this year, and we are beginning to bid farewell to the current generation 5 Series and getting ready to welcome the all-new BMW 5 Series, which will make its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January,” said Ludwig Willisch, president and CEO of BMW of North America, in a statement. “The dynamic driving character of the new 5 Series will be a complement to our 7 Series and make for a stronger model lineup heading into 2017.”

Model

11/16

11/15

+/-

YTD 2016 YTD 2015

+/-

X3

4,535

4,987

-9.1%

39,218

28,798

+36.2%

X4

405

572

-29.2%

4,590

5,545

-17.2%

X5

4,693

3,695

+18.4%

41,396

48,747

-15.1%

X6

609

672

-9.4%

6,323

6,359

-0.6%

For the year, sales of the company’s X model fleet produced in Spartanburg have increased 2.3 percent.

Brand vehicle sales decreased 26.9 percent in November and are down 14.9 percent for the year.

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12 | SQUARE FEET |

UBJ

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

DAVID DYKES | STAFF

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12.9.2016

ddykes@communityjournals.com

Greenville's Bank of America building sold for $22.5M An ownership group, including Greenville-based RealOp Investments, has bought the 15-story Bank of America building in downtown Greenville for about $22.5 million.

Seph Wunder, general counsel for RealOp, a commercial real estate investment group, said his firm is the operating partner. RealOp officials declined to identify the other partners.

The seller was Greenville-based Hughes Development Corp.

Spruced up from a $4 million renovation, the Bank of America building, built in 1973, was on the market last year.

The building has 196,152 square feet of Class A office space with 14,283 square feet of ground-floor retail.

Tenants include Bank of America, CBRE, IBM, Southern Management, NEXT on Main, The Iron Yard and others. It is about 77 percent leased, RealOp officials said.

The largest block of available space in the building is on the top floor, officials said. The 12,488 square feet of available space has “sweeping views of downtown Greenville,” and the space is “extremely conducive to tech companies, who often require open, collaborative work environments,” according to marketing materials for the building.

“We all can see long-term that Greenville is a growth market,” said Kyle Putnam, RealOp’s chief investment officer. “There is a lot of opportunity.”

Importantly, “We’re investing in our local market,” he said.

Chip Hunt, RealOp’s vice president of investment management, said the ownership group is considering certain renovations and exploring upgrades and additional amenities for the building.

The Bank of America building recently underwent a $4 million renovation and has been on the market since 2015. Photo by Will Crooks

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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

DAVID DYKES | STAFF

| SQUARE FEET | 13

ddykes@communityjournals.com

THE DETAILS TYPE: Office Park NUMBER OF BUILDINGS: 12 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 560,000 TOTAL ACREAGE: 44 PRICE: $38.5 million OLD NAME: Park East, Park Central NEW NAME: Park 37, Harbinger

The remodeled Park Central office complex will be renamed Harbinger. Image courtesy of CBRE.

TWO Capital Partners purchases office portfolio in Greenville’s suburban market TWO Capital Partners LLC,

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a privately held Atlanta-based real estate investment company, said it has acquired a 560,000-square-foot suburban office portfolio known as Park East and Park Central in Greenville.

TWO said it acquired the portfolio from Terra Capital Partners LLC for $38.5 million.

The portfolio includes 12 buildings spread over the two office parks.

Park East, on Executive Center Drive and east of downtown Greenville, consists of nine buildings totaling 400,000 square feet on approximately 34 acres.

Park Central is an approximately 160,000-square-foot park on 10 acres, consisting of three buildings at the intersection of North Pleasantburg Drive and Interstate 385.

“We strongly believe that Greenville is quickly becoming an epicenter for the modern workforce that will demand fresh, inviting workspace,” said Sean O’Brien, partner at TWO Capital Partners. “These properties allow us the opportunity to deliver small and large blocks of space rarely

MAGNOLIA PARK

found in such a vibrant suburban market.”

“Our approach will be proactive, flexible and forward-thinking as we reintroduce the assets to the market,” O’Brien said. “We plan to rebrand both parks, invest much-needed capital and infuse modern technologies and new amenities to improve the overall work environment experience for tenants and employees.”

Shelby Dodson and Tripp Sellers of CBRE arranged the sale and represented the buyer, TWO, in the transaction. Charles Gouch, Blaine Hart

I-85

and Shelby Dodson, all of CBRE, will continue leasing the assets.

“The portfolio’s assets are well-located with good fundamentals,” said Dodson. “The offering presented a buyer with an opportunity to capitalize on Greenville’s leasing activity, lack of new product and forecasted growth.”

TWO plans to rebrand both parks, add amenities and install upgrades.

TWO will reintroduce Park East and Park Central to the market as Park 37 and Harbinger, respectively.

The office space was built from 1974–1998. TWO has immediate plans

to modernize elevators, replace roofs and HVAC units and return occupancy to market levels. It also anticipates generating significant returns for investors.

“These assets were well-positioned for long-term investment returns,” Sellers said. “TWO enters the Greenville market at an opportune time, and we are seeing a marked increase in demand for high-quality value-add real estate in strong tertiary markets like Greenville.”

TWO has engaged ASD | SKY, a multidisciplinary design firm, to provide interior, architectural and graphic design solutions during the rebranding efforts.

The Greenwich Group International of Greenwich, Conn., and Patterson Real Estate Advisory Group of Atlanta are assisting CBRE in facilitating and financing the transaction.

TWO’s partners have completed more than $2 billion of real estate development and entitlements, spanning all asset classes and including an additional 900 transactions serving in an advisory capacity.

14 | COVER |

UBJ

UPSTATE CHAMBER LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

CHAMBERS TO LEGISLATURE:

time to fix the roads INFRASTRUCTURE, WORKFORCE AND PENSIONS TOP

THE UPSTATE CHAMBER COALITION’S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. WILL THEIR WISHES BE GRANTED THIS TIME? DAVID DYKES | STAFF

ddykes@communityjournals.com

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12.9.2016

pstate business leaders say it’s time to raise South Carolina’s gas tax to fund improvements for the state’s deteriorating roads and move new public employees to a 401(k)-style retirement plan to ease mounting pressure on the state’s retirement system.

Those views surfaced in the Upstate Chamber Coalition’s 2017 Legislative Agenda Survey, whose results will be discussed at a Greenville Chamber breakfast Friday.

Just what will be accomplished in the next legislative session, which begins in January, remains to be seen.

But area lawmakers and business leaders are optimistic, even as Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster prepares to succeed Gov. Nikki Haley, who’s moving to Washington to take a job as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

The domino effect may affect legislative leadership both in committees and at the top, although it’s doubtful Sen. Hugh Leatherman will vacate his position as Senate president to become lieutenant governor.

In addition, several new lawmakers will be joining the House and Senate — including local Republicans Jason Elliott, William Timmons and Scott Talley — to complete a political makeover in Columbia.

12.2.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

UPSTATE CHAMBER LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

| COVER | 15

issue 1:

roads Priorities for the next legislative session won’t come as much of a surprise to many residents.

Transportation and infrastructure, particularly related to roads, rank Chamber Coalihighly among business leaders, according to the tion’s survey.

The state’s roads have long been a hot-button issue for business leaders.

“The roads in this state are a disgrace,” Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Greenville-based Michelin North America, told an audience at USC’s Darla Moore School of Business in 2014. “If that does not get solved, then Michelin is going to have to look about further expansion in this state.”

To help fund road improvements, 44.8 percent of the Chamber Coalition’s survey respondents support raising the gasoline user fee, or gas tax, by 10 to 12 cents. Nearly 20 percent support raising the gas tax up to 12 cents, with a corresponding “revenue neutral” income tax cut — meaning that the cut in tax revenue would be offset by an increase in tax revenue elsewhere.

The Upstate Chamber Coalition is calling for the gas tax to be indexed for inflation to ensure the buying power of the tax revenue keeps up with road-building costs.

“There’s broad support for more revenue, and the Greenville Chamber board has long supported a 10- to 12-cent gas tax increase,” said Jason Zacher, the Greenville Chamber’s vice president of business advocacy and executive director of the Upstate Chamber Coalition. “We want a substantial, sustainable and recurring revenue source.”

The answer could rest with the gas tax or a hybrid-vehicle fee, he said.

“We’re willing to come to the table with legislators on those issues to figure out what is politically palatable and what they think is the best option,” Zacher said. “There are hundreds of ways that they could come up with the $400, $500, $600 million that we would think is needed to help put a dent in our crumbling road system.”

But Zacher conceded the state lawmakers haven’t shown a penchant for raising the gas tax, which hasn’t increased since 1987 and ranks among the lowest in the nation. In the 2016 session, the S.C. House passed a bill that included raising the gas tax, but in the face of a promised veto by Gov. Nikki Haley, the bill did not pass the Senate. And in 2014, Greenville County voters rejected a penny sales tax to fund road projects.

“Politically, there clearly are headwinds on that,” he said. “However, politically to a person, everyone in the General Assembly agrees that something has to be done.”

Another option being discussed is getting rid of the sales tax exemption on gasoline, which would be the equivalent of about 12 cents, Zacher said.

The money should not come out of the general fund, Zacher said. “I don’t think the general fund is the proper way because then we’re taking money out of education, we’re taking money out of public safety, we’re taking money out of other issues,” he said.

Poor roads cost each driver in the Greenville-Spartanburg metro area an additional $1,248 each year, according to data released by the Greenville Chamber, but it’ll cost South Carolina a lot more than that if companies like Michelin decide to leave the state.

Since October 2015, the number of employed people in S.C. has increased by 59,347.

The labor force has increased by 43,460.

issue 2:

workforce Concerns about the state’s workforce — finding enough workers amid a 4.7 percent unemployment rate in October — also drew attention.

“When we are talking to our members, infrastructure and workforce are the two top items that small business, large business, all sectors, everything, tell us are a problem and need to be fixed. So that’s where we are focusing our efforts next year,” Zacher said.

One idea explored by other states to expand workforces is to expunge the records of certain, nonviolent, one-time, low-level felons. Among survey respondents, 82 percent agree the Upstate Chamber Coalition should explore legislation addressing that issue.

With state unemployment below 5 percent, Chamber officials estimate tens of thousands jobs are going unfilled, and half of those don’t require college degrees.

Business leaders need to challenge the status quo and look at innovative ways to expand the workforce, the officials say.

“Expungement is part of workforce development in our eyes,” Zacher said.

State Rep. Eddie Tallon, R-Spartanburg, said the House and Senate are working with SLED and other agencies to determine what crimes can be expunged.

“We’re trying to come up with a list that every one can agree on,” Tallon said.

“You can’t just say ‘nonviolent’ and boom, that’s it. It’s a very complicated issue.

We’re moving forward, but not with the shotgun approach that was done last year.”

“When we are talking to our members, infrastructure and workforce are the two top items that small business, large business, all sectors, everything, tell us are a problem and need to be fixed. So that’s where we are focusing our efforts next year.”

Jason Zacher, the Greenville Chamber’s vice president of business advocacy and executive director of the Upstate Chamber Coalition

16 | COVER |

UBJ

UPSTATE CHAMBER LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

|

12.9.2016

WHO’S NEW IN 2017?

HOW TO CLOSE THE PENSION FUNDING GAP

18.7% 20.3% 20.9% 63.8%

said the General Assembly should raise employee contributions 2 to 3 percent.

said the General Assembly should use General Fund revenues. said the General Assembly should raise employer contributions 2 to 3 percent.

said the General Assembly should move all new public employees to a 401(k)-style retirement plan.

The Upstate’s legislative delegation will have new members after longtime senators Mike Fair and Larry Martin were defeated in bids for re-election. Fair had been chairman of the Senate Corrections and Penology Committee, while Martin was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“In the seniority-dominated Senate, we do lose a little bit of prestige and a little bit of power,” Zacher said.

But he said Rex Rice, who defeated Martin, and Scott Talley, who beat incumbent Sen. Lee Bright, are former state representatives and experienced Upstate legislators.

“They understand how the process works. They know the people in the Senate. They already know those folks.

They understand how that works.”

“A lot of Upstate lawmakers are very respected with their colleagues behind closed doors,” Zacher said. “We do have a lot of these guys who in their caucus meetings, in their committee hearings, in their private conversations in the hallway do carry a lot of weight down there.”

William Timmons, a former prosecutor from Greenville who defeated Fair, said he is eager to get started.

Road funding, state pensions and education will be among his top issues, Timmons said. He isn’t opposed to expungement but said he expects lawmakers to take “a very limited approach.”

WHAT HAPPENED LAST SESSION?

Issue 3:

pensions To deal with the gap in pension funding, nearly two of every three Chamber survey respondents said new public employees should be part of a 401(k)-style retirement plan.

Another 18.7 percent said employee contributions should be raised 2 to 3 percent, although contributions already are 8.66 percent and higher than the national median.

Nearly 21 percent of respondents said employer contributions should be raised 2 to 3 percent, although contributions already are 11.56 percent and in line with the national median.

More than 20 percent of respondents favor using the state’s general fund revenues to cover the pension gap. The unfunded liability has been estimated at $20 billion, but The State newspaper reported in October the figure could be nearly twice as large — $40 billion.

The shortfall is the “state’s biggest problem of the decade,” Sen. Kevin Bryant, R-Anderson, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Pension Systems Review, told the Charleston Post and Courier.

The state’s unfunded public pension liability is “a fiscal crisis that could dramatically increase costs” for the business community, according to Greenville Chamber officials.

“The General Assembly needs to tackle the issue in 2017 with realistic assumptions that will minimize the impact on the private sector,” the officials said in their advocacy agenda.

“Failure to address this crisis will mean fewer resources to apply to education, infrastructure and public safety.”

Chamber officials said legislative victories in lawmakers’ last session included removal of the Confederate flag and a roads bond bill that redirects revenue from the Department of Motor Vehicles and the sales tax on automobiles to fund $2.3 billion in bonds. The bonding will pay for extensive work on interstates 85 and 26, both of which help Upstate manufacturers get goods to the Port of Charleston, and repair nearly 400 deficient and load-restricted bridges on the state’s primary roads.

Missed opportunities included tort and business license reform and legislation to close a loophole in a bill passed several years ago that disallows individuals and environmental groups to sue businesses for emissions, even if no permit was required, Chamber officials said.

WHAT WILL GET DONE NEXT YEAR? Asked if he is optimistic lawmakers will get more accomplished in the next legislative session, Zacher said, “There’s a lot of momentum behind some transportation issues, behind some of the workforce development issues.”

The potential for a lieutenant governor’s successor could slow that momentum, he said.

“The legislators we have spoken to around the state in the last couple months have a mood that they want to start getting some things done,” Zacher said. “We are going to work for whatever we are supporting. But is everything going to happen according to what we want? Perhaps not.

We are here to compromise on some of these issues and work on what we can do to get things done and try to get some solutions to move South Carolina forward.”

18 | MILESTONE |

UBJ

A TRIBUTE TO OUR LONG-LASTING ENTERPRISES

|

12.9.2016

A ‘Hometown Bank’ Celebrates 70 Years Innovation has driven the growth of the Bank of Travelers Rest since its founding in 1946 SCOTT PFEIFFER | CONTRIBUTOR • CHELSEY ASHFORD | PHOTOS

O

n March 18, 1946, a

13-year-old named Carl Smith walked across the street from his post office job into the just-opened Bank of Travelers Rest and made his, and the bank’s, first customer deposit.

That year, as the GIs were returning to the Upstate from Europe and Asia, textile factories were booming and both the local and national economies were growing rapidly, the Bank of Travelers Rest opened its doors and welcomed

the residents of the thriving commubank prided itself on its hometown feel nity. Northern Greenville County and on taking the time to get to know needed access to modern financial the customers. The new bank offered products and services, and the bank new services — like Saturday banking intended to provide them. Rising wages — and was open six days a week. As the throughout the decade saw more and bank grew, it continued to innovate, more workers opening savings acintroducing drive-up teller windows in counts, which earned good interest. the mid-1950s and a computerized Employment was growing, too, from account system in 1968. Starting with 55 million employed workers in the just $36,000 in assets, the bank relied U.S. in 1946 to more than 60 million on small deposits from local workers Opened its first branch location, just Today, after its less than a decade later. The postwar north to of grow.

Travelers Rest70inyears Marietta. founding, the bank has 10 branches era was booming. and more than $600 million in assets, Founded by local businessmen, the

70 YEARS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE

1946

Bank of Travelers Rest opened for business in a small building on the corner of McElhaney Road and Highway 276.

1955

Moved its facility to Poinsett Highway. The new office had drive-up teller windows and air conditioning.

1962

Opened its first branch location, just north of Travelers Rest in Marietta.

1968

Converted all customer accounts to a new computerized system.

but still prides itself on treating all customers, and employees, like family.

The first step to maintaining that hometown bank feel, says Tom Britt, the bank president, starts with your employees. “We have many employees who have worked here a long time,” Britt says.

The bank’s CEO, Bruce White, has worked at the Bank of Travelers Rest since he graduated from Clemson in 1971. “I’m a one-trick pony,” White jests.

Of course, White really is family. His

1970 1972 Opened in its current Main Office location at 42 Plaza Drive in Travelers Rest, giving the bank three locations.

Bruce White started his career at Bank of Travelers Rest.

12.9.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

A TRIBUTE TO OUR LONG-LASTING ENTERPRISES

| MILESTONE | 19

Bank of Travelers Rest By the Numbers

$36,000

in assets at the bank’s founding

$600 million

in assets today

"We can only be as good as our customers, and a customer is anyone who walks in the door."

10 branches 3 generations of the White family serving

Bruce White, CEO, Bank of Travelers Rest

father, John White, was one of the bank’s founders. Three of Bruce’s children work at the bank now — the third generation of Whites serving, in many cases, the third or fourth generations of many of the bank’s first customers. But it isn’t only the White family that has made a career out of working at the bank. Britt has been with the bank for 25 years. Chief Credit Officer and Executive Vice President Eddie Fewell has worked there for 35.

The second step is to get to know your customers, Britt says. Employees are encouraged to spend time with customers. Talk with them. Listen to them. Ask about their kids and grand-

kids. Taking the time to learn about the customers makes for better banking decisions, he says: “We understand what they need and why.”

White believes that helping customers succeed is the best part of his career at the Bank of Travelers Rest. “The nice part of this life has been the opportunity to contribute to people’s success.

It is most gratifying,” White said.

While the Bank of Travelers Rest is a full-service bank, White said, “Our bread and butter is families and small businesses. We have a lot of customers that are a husband-and-wife-owned business with just three or four employees.”

Apparently, the bank’s focus on creating and maintaining long-term customer relationships is working. At the grand opening of the bank’s 10th branch, on March 18, 2016 — 70 years to the day after the grand opening of the bank — Carl Smith, the former teenage post office employee and first depositor, cut the ceremonial ribbon.

He is still a bank customer today, and so is his daughter.

The Bank of Travelers Rest is the oldest bank to be chartered and remain headquartered in Greenville County.

Having expanded out from northern Greenville County to 10 locations around the county, it has become not

just a Travelers Rest bank but also a real partner in the greater Greenville community. “Greenville has been a great place to be,” White said.

The bank continues to offer all the cutting-edge services one expects of a modern bank, from online banking to mobile banking and continuing the Saturday hours it has maintained since its founding. The true secret of their 70 years of success, though, is their focus on the customer. “We can only be as good as our customers,” White said, “and a customer is anyone who walks in the door.”

1977 1978 1986 1992 2013 2015 2016 Bruce White succeeded his father as Bank of Travelers Rest president and chairman of the board.

Bank opened branch at Old Buncombe Road. The event included giveaways of a color television, two C.B. radios and 20 dinners.

Introduced customers to “24-Hour Banking” through an automated teller machine

Hired Tom Britt as manager for its branch on Old Buncombe Road in Greenville.

Entered a new platform in banking with the release of their banking app, myBTRmoney.

Promoted Tom Britt from executive vice president to president, and Bruce White became CEO and remains chairman of the board.

Bank of Travelers Rest celebrated its 70th anniversary with the grand opening of its 10th branch in Greenville County.

20 | PROFESSIONAL |

STRATEGIES FOR HONING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

UBJ

|

12.9.2016

The day of the millennial entrepreneur has already arrived

By MANFRED GOLLENT CEO, QLI International

During a recent networking

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event here in Greenville, I happened to stand close to a group of young people, members of the millennial generation, and overheard some of the conversation. Most of them were young entrepreneurs, worked in a family business or had some managerial function. The conversation revolved around different issues from employee performance to market challenges. So I joined in, raised a few questions along the way and listened. And I did learn a few things from our millennials, which was good.

The fact is that here in the Upstate, and likely everywhere else around the country, we have hundreds of family-owned businesses, some small, some midsize. They are generally either led by the first- or second-generation founders, with millennials starting to

enter the key leadership rank. And then there are all these new startups created during the last 10 years, predominantly by the millennial generation.

Millennials tend to have a different view of business When I say “different,” I mean just that: different. I suggest that we all need to take a sabbatical from being immediately judgmental when something is different and ask good questions, reflect, evaluate and attempt to understand.

Many professionals of my generation (aka baby boomers) are fretting about “what is the world coming to” with respect to millennials, which in many ways sounds like what I heard from my parents. I must admit, I’m quite excited, because it is my conviction that the millennial generation will soon take charge of molding the future of society.

I happen to believe that it will be a very cool future. While some may be saying,

While some may be saying, “These kids have a lot to learn,” I’m finding out that these innovators actually have a lot to teach, too.

And believe me, an old dog can learn new tricks — when there is a will.

“These kids have a lot to learn,” I’m finding out that these innovators actually have a lot to teach, too. And believe me, an old dog can learn new tricks — when there is a will.

The millennial generation, born as early as 1980 and up to 2004 (depending on which defining source one chooses), exhibits a more positive outlook, when it comes to the economy and growing their business. While having less experience than most of their older business peers, they introduce fresh concepts, ideas and skills into the mix. A recent Spark Business Barometer survey indicates that nearly two-thirds (more than 60 percent) of businesses owned by millennials report increased sales over the past six months versus some 40 percent of small-business owners overall. They also state that they will “most likely” grow their workforce soon.

Millennials enter into the business environment, like other generations before them, with a unique perspective and experience. What can business owners from previous generations learn from millennials? How can other businesses benefit from the input of millennials in today’s ever-changing and challenging economic environment? More importantly, we have to ask ourselves: How can we support

millennial leaders to merge our hardearned knowledge and experience with the new and creative thought capital they have already acquired?

There are certainly very effective ways to do that after the formal educational path. Aside from traditional internal and external mentor relationships, the market offers peer groups and CEO boards of different flavors as very useful tools to help leaders enhance their skills in leading their businesses.

In addition, another form of leadership development has evolved over the last 25 years and really grown exponentially: executive coaching. While 15 years ago this form of personal development was predominantly utilized to “fix problems” as a measure of last resort, in today’s business and professional environment, it has become the most effective and efficient way of developing talent quickly, yet sustainably.

I shall elaborate further on leadership coaching and provide some insight into the concept and its value in my next column. Meanwhile, good luck, appreciate the other view and lead well.

Manfred Gollent is a Certified Business Coach (CBC), supporting clients to expand their potential and reach their goals more consistently. His clients range from individual entrepreneurs and professionals to Fortune 500 executives.

UBJ and QLI International have joined forces for a special leadership development project for leaders from the millennial generation: one year of executive coaching.

Visit leaders4tomorrow.com for more information.

12.9.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

MOVERS, SHAKERS AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE

| INNOVATE | 21

Crowdsourcing 101 Assigning your project to the hive mind has its own rewards and frustrations one person may not be the right solution for another. So it’s worth taking a look at the pros and cons of crowdsourcing, who might benefit and who might not.

By BRENT WARWICK CEO, ipsoCreative

Crowdsourcing online is a thing now. If you need a brand name, you can simply submit your request through a website and you can have responses and options in no time. If you need a logo or design or video or copywriting or whatever, just submit your request and hundreds, sometimes thousands, of folks will fulfill your request, and you pay for the one you choose.

Although not quite as ubiquitous as cat memes, crowdsourcing websites are keeping pace with some of the internet’s hottest trends right now. If you haven’t already heard of sites like 99designs.com, freelancer. com or designcrowd.com, you probably will sometime soon, especially if you are a business owner, marketer or a creative agency that might be feeling the pinch.

Like most trends on the web, a novelty that scratches an itch can gain rapid adoption. Eventually, once the initial adoption cools down, products and services that have actual value will survive, while those that do not will fail by the wayside.

In the case of crowdsourcing, it’s still on the climbing side of the bell curve, which means it’s still novel enough to draw attention simply because it’s new. However, it has been around just long enough for its weaknesses to become evident. And like most things in life, the right solution for

Crowdsourced solutions are useful … sometimes Crowdsourced solutions of any kind are useful in proportion to the degree to which you know what you want. Much like when we seek advice from anyone not already familiar with the circumstances, they are limited in the advice they give based on the information we have provided. If the information that we provide is skewed, the advisor’s recommendation is skewed.

We generally present information based on the prism of our perspective, which has already been filtered by what we deem to be important.

The difficulty with this is that there may be something important that we don’t communicate because of this. And given that crowdsourced solutions are not inherently collaborative, important factors can be missed. If you know what you are looking for and can put definitive parameters around that request, you can receive useful solutions via crowdsourcing. If not, you will most likely be disappointed by what’s returned.

It comes down to economics When you take a moment to really think about it, crowdsourced creative

Crowdsourcing is novel enough to draw attention simply because it’s new. However, it has been around just long enough for its weaknesses to become evident.

Beware of the risks

solutions are commoditized. Given the fact that only one submission is chosen, that leaves a substantial amount of submissions that are not chosen. The person that created that name or logo just performed work for free, and simple economics will point to the fact that free work is not sustainable in the long term. Therefore, those who contribute to crowdsourcing generally repurpose their previous submissions that were not selected by a previous requestor.

It’s not as if crowdsourcing contributors spend much (if any) dedicated time to their submission for your request. The margins are so slim, it is an economic necessity for them to create generic submissions or repurpose previously created ones.

And any time a market has such slim margins (especially when coupled with low dollar value), it will become commoditized. As the crowdsourcing industry approaches the top of the bell curve of user adoption, that commoditization will become more and more evident.

On a related note, most of the time, repurposed solutions aren’t a major issue. When an organization is unknown, it won’t be on anyone’s radar if there’s potential (even unintentional) copyright or trademark infringement. Receiving a cease-anddesist isn’t fun, but it’s not the end of the world. If you desist, there’s no further issue. And even if that does become an issue in the future, it can usually be remedied once it becomes known. It’s just something to be mindful of. If you are a small momand-pop business, the risk is low and this sort of consideration is not as weighty as it would be for other organizations that might have a larger brand presence.

Generally speaking, the cost of crowdsourced solutions is low. So, if it doesn’t meet your expectations, then you haven’t lost much money.

But that age old adage “you get what you pay for” still rings true — even on the web.

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22 | SOCIAL SNAPSHOT |

INSIDE THE UPSTATE’S NETWORKING AND SOCIAL SCENE

UBJ

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12.9.2016

BUSINESS ON TAP Last week, UBJ hosted its networking event, Business on Tap, at Up on the Roof, the bar and grill atop the new Embassy Suites at RiverPlace.

Photos by Sarah Touchet Photography

CONTRIBUTE: Got high-resolution photos of your networking or social events?

Send photos and information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal. com.

Thank you to Jean Carter, ASID Design Community Chair for Upcountry, SC for hosting their annual holiday event with us!

Featuring the photography of Monica Stevenson

Happy Holidays!

Grow your business in 2017 with Commerce Club.

Membership opportunities available.

Stephanie Page, Membership Director 17th Floor One Liberty Square, 55 Beattie Place • commerce-club.com

12.9.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

Greenville Chamber honors law firm for supporting women’s leadership

The Greenville Chamber presented Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C. with the 2016 ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award for its commitment to increasing the positive impact of women’s leadership in the community. The third annual award was presented at the Chamber’s fifth annual ATHENA Leadership Symposium sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina in November.

Managing shareholder Mike Shetterly said, “Ogletree Deakins is honored to receive the ATHENA award. We have worked hard to create an environment where women have the latitude and opportunities to make their career their own, and we are proud of the success of our female shareholders who are paving the way through professional, civic and internal leadership. Winning this award does not mean we have reached our goals, but it strengthens our resolve, propels us to continue to make advancements and compels us to lead in this important initiative.”

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. is the third-largest labor and employment law firm in the United States. They currently employ more than 340 female attorneys in 49 offices around the world. Since women make up nearly 43 percent of the firm’s attorney population (nearly 8 percent more than the national average in large law firms), programs and initiatives that specifically expand knowledge and refine skills necessary for the advancement of women attorneys are seen as mission-critical endeavors. In 2016 alone, 75 percent of the firm’s newly elected shareholders are women.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. hiring in Greenville to support expansion Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., a worldwide provider of technical, professional and construction services, is recruiting in Greenville. An expanding client base and recent project awards in the consumer goods and manufacturing markets are creating opportunities for the company to add project managers, engineers, designers, schedulers, estimators and procurement professionals to its Greenville operations.

Jacobs employs 50,000 people and operates in more than 30 countries around the world.

Visit jacobs.com/Greenville for more information.

BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN’ T MISS

| THE FINE PRINT | 23

24 | ON THE MOVE |

UBJ

PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

RETIRED

HIRED

HIRED

HONORED

|

12.9.2016

HONORED

NATE LIPSCOMB

FREDRICK MILLER

KARLA MENDIOLA

EMILY I. BRIDGES

STEVE SUMNER

Retired as the Greenville Drive’s executive vice president and will assume the role of special advisor to the president beginning in 2017. Lipscomb led the team’s transition into the Greenville market in 2005 and has been instrumental in building the organization’s brand, corporate partnerships and community engagement initiatives since that time.

Named chief information officer and associate vice president for information services for Wofford College. Miller most recently was CIO at Furman University, a post he has held since September 2008. Previously, Miller was associate vice president for information technology at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill., and assistant vice president for information technology at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Joined Meals on Wheels of Greenville as the corporate engagement and special events coordinator. She previously worked with the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority. She has volunteered with Meals on Wheels since 2012 and is also involved with the United Way of Greenville County YP20s.

Received the 2016 American Bar Association Forum on Franchising’s Edward (Jack) Wood Dunham Rising Scholars Award. Bridges is an attorney with Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP. Her winning article is titled “Keep Off My (Virtual) Lawn: Encroachment in the Age of the Internet.”

Received the 2016 Clients’ Choice Award from Avvo, an online legal services marketplace that provides Avvo-rated profiles, client reviews and peer endorsements for 97 percent of all lawyers in the United States. A DUI attorney representing clients in more than 25 courts in the Upstate, Sumner has held a “Superb” (10 on a scale of one to 10) rating with Avvo since 2011.

VIP Pamela Evette, president and CEO of Quality Business Solutions, was recently named as South Carolina’s 2016 Female Entrepreneur of the Year and Most Influential Business Woman 2016 in S.C. The awards are part of Corporate America Magazine’s 2016 American Businesswoman Elite Awards, which are designed to place strong women in the spotlight. Evette has also been honored as one of Inc. Magazine’s Impact 50 – a list of the nation’s top female business leaders based on growth – and as one of Enterprising Women magazine’s 2016 Enterprising Woman of the Year recipients.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING EnviroSouth Inc., an Upstate environmental consulting firm, announces Anne Lovell as a new senior environmental engineer. Lovell has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Colorado School of Mines and is a registered professional engineer. She joins EnviroSouth with 30 years of professional experience supporting projects in all 50 states and Canada. Her background includes facility siting, environmental permitting, hazardous waste management, risk-based environmental assessments and corrective actions for commercial, industrial and government clients.

MARKETING Three members of the Infinity Marketing team have earned new titles and

responsibilities. Media assistants Chelsea Lawdahl, Emily Rash and Raquel Kozlowski have been promoted to media coordinators. Lawdahl has been with Infinity for a year. She previously was the development coordinator for the Greenville Humane Society. Lawdahl received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Furman University. Rash started at Infinity earlier this year. She received her master’s in advertising and public relations from the University of Alabama. Kozlowski previously worked as a marketing administrator at Anna-Vija McClain Marketing in Tennessee. Kozlowski earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing at Kent State University.

MANUFACTURING Bosch Rexroth’s Fountain Inn facility has been named the 2016 Assembly Plant of the Year by ASSEMBLY Magazine. The Fountain Inn facility received the 13th annual Assembly Plant of the Year award for its combination of lean manufacturing initiatives, technological advances, environmental stewardship, employee training programs and community involvement. The Assembly Plant of the Year award was initiated in 2004 to showcase world-class production facilities in the U.S. and the people, products and processes that make them successful. The goal of the award is to identify a state-of-the-art facility that has applied world-class processes to reduce production costs, increase productivity, shorten time to market or improve product quality.

LAW Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A. announces the addition of three associates to its Greenville office: Cameo Joseph, Suyash Raiborde and Andrew M. (Drew) Rawl.

Joseph is a member of the public finance and real estate practices. A native of Greenville, she earned a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of

CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners may be featured in On the Move.

Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

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THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

| NEW TO THE STREET | 25

Open for business 1

Think Outside of the Echo Chamber An echo chamber is described as a situation in which information and beliefs are reinforced and repeated through an enclosed system and competing views are underrepresented. Like in an enclosed structure, our own ideas “echo” back to us.

1. Greenville Place celebrated its grand reopening following extensive renovations. The assisted living and memory care community is located at 2006 Pelham Road in Greenville. Learn more at capitalsenior.com/greenvilleplace.

Photo provided

2

Our experience on the internet shows us how an echo chamber works.

Through complex equations and algorithms, our internet searches produce results that are individualized and reflect how we already think and feel. If I buy a book from Amazon, I will see a list of other items that are similar to the book and they will be pitched to me every time I browse Amazon. My feed on Facebook reflects what I place value on - whether a funny cat video or a political commentary - when I “like” something than more of the same will appear on my screen.

The World Wide Web can expand our knowledge base and expose us to new and different ideas and concepts. However, echo chambers keep this outside exposure from occurring. When we surf the web, we are routed to sites that reflect our historical searches, shopping patterns, and current belief systems. The algorithms have forced us into our own personal echo chambers. This may be helpful when shopping for a new dress, but when trying to understand another culture we are left viewing that group through a familiar lens rather than seeing it from a different perspective.

Echo chambers are not new in the age of the internet; they have always been prevalent. It is human nature to surround yourself with people who are like-minded. We choose churches, book clubs, and sports teams based on our likes and beliefs. Even in a workplace, echo chambers exist.

The sales team socializes with the sales team while the production staff sticks together. And everyone knows the annoying employee who echoes back the manager’s ideas in hopes of gaining brownie points. While it is more comfortable to exist in these bubbles of similarity, as leaders we need to make sure that we do not allow our businesses to exist in a vacuum.

2. Flynn Wealth Management Group is now open at 125 The Parkway, Ste. 500, in Greenville. Learn more at flynnwealth.com.

Photo provided

CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon?

Email information to aturner@communityjournals.com.

Law in 2016, where she served in numerous associations. She earned her bachelor’s degree in language and international health (Spanish) from Clemson University in 2013. Suyash Raiborde practices in the areas of corporate and business immigration law. Originally from Mumbai, India, he received a J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 2016, where he served in numerous leadership roles. He received a bachelor’s degree in international business from North Greenville University in 2012. Drew Rawl joins as a litigator focusing on commercial litigation. He received a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2016, where he was a member of Order of the Coif and Order of the Wig and Robe and served as editor-in-chief of the South Carolina Law Review and as a South Carolina School of Law Ambassador. Rawl received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Clemson University in 2013, where he graduated magna cum laude.

So, break down the walls of your chamber. Build diverse teams. Persuade a sales person to shadow the production line. Play the devil’s advocate.

Encourage that brown-nosing employee to give his real opinion for once.

Ask people outside of your business for advice. Never say “But we have always done it this way.” Be willing to listen to dissenting opinions. Be aware that echo chambers exist all around you and be the force that can break down those walls.

Lee Yarborough President

669 N. Academy St. Greenville, SC 29601 propelHR.com Info@propelHR.com 800–446–6567

26 | #TRENDING |

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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

OVERHEARD @ THE WATERCOOLER

> John Hopkins “If they wanted it to be part of the park, then they should have bought it. It’s really quite simple. It’s not fair that the city is picking and choosing which projects to approve (or that they have the power to do so, actually). Instead they are wasting this developer’s time and money. Let’s hope this doesn’t become a trend in our city.”

RE: TWO CAPITAL PARTNERS PURCHASES OFFICE PORTFOLIO IN GREENVILLE’S SUBURBAN MARKET > @CBRE_SC TWO Capital: “Our approach will be proactive, flexible and forward-thinking as we rebrand the parks.”

RE: LOCAL RESTAURATEURS HOPE TO REVIVE RESTAURANT SITE IN DOWNTOWN SPARTANBURG > John Boyanoski “Another reason to #visitspartanburg.” > Eggs up Grill “That sounds exciting! Best of luck to them on their new endeavor!”

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BIZ BUZZ

Distilled commentary from UBJ readers

RE: CITY, OTHERS INVOLVED IN EFFORT TO RELOCATE THE CONTROVERSIAL 55 CAMPERDOWN PROJECT

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DECEMBER 2, 2016

HAYWOOD ROAD THE RETURN OF

STRIPS URE COMMERCIAL VILLE’S SIGNAT T ONE OF GREEN A MUCH-NEEDED REBOO GETS

| VOL. 5 ISSUE 49

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The Top 5 stories from the past week ranked by shareability score

>> 263 1. Greenville’s Bank of America building sold for $22.5M

>> 134 2. New co-work space opens in West End

>> 80 3. New apartments, retail planned for Bishop Furniture building in downtown Spartanburg

>> 70 4. TWO Capital Partners purchases office portfolio in Greenville’s suburban market

RE: THE REGION CLAIMS ITS SPACE AS A BEER TOURISM DESTINATION

>> 40

> @benalier “@Brewery85 Brought a visiting co-worker from Toronto!”

5. Colonial Trust recognized as one of South Carolina’s Centennial Businesses

RE: A LOOK AT THE RESURGENCE OF HAYWOOD ROAD AS ONE OF GREENVILLE’S SIGNATURE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS > @jasonwrichards “Great article from @UpstateBiz on the resurgence of #Greenville’s Haywood Road. Still so much more upside! #CRE”

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DATE

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EVENT INFO

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Basic Small-Business Startup

Greenville Technical College Barton Campus (Bldg. 103 - Room 142) 506 S. Pleasantburg Drive 6–8 p.m.

Cost: Free For more information: 271-3638; piedmontscore.org/workshopsm

Live Webinar: 10 Ways to Humanize Your Tweets to Grow Your Business in 2017

Online 1–2 p.m.

Cost: Free, registration required For more information: bit.ly/2fPfOSk

Basic Small-Business Startup

Tri-County Technical College Pendleton 7900 US-76, Pendleton 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Cost: Free For more information: 271-3638; piedmontscore.org/workshops

Live Webinar: SCORE ExpertAnswers How to Write a Business Plan

Online 1–2:15 p.m.

Cost: Free, registration required For more information: bit.ly/2gK9uA5

Gadgetfest 13

Embassy Suites 670 Verdae Blvd.

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Cost: $30 at the door or online For more information: ta5.us/gadgetfest13

Tuesday

12/13 Tuesday

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| PLANNER | 27

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Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

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

UBJ milestone jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years 1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport

1988

Holly Hardin

ADVERTISING DESIGN

1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993

1990 Jackson Dawson

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

LAYOUT OPERATIONS

DECEMBER 16 THE BUSINESS OF DOGS The care, training and feeding of our best friends.

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

>>

with a majority of them utilizing the general aviation airport as a “corporate gateway to the city.”

In 1997, Jackson and his son, Darrell, launched Jackson Motorsports Group. The new division was designed to sell race tires and go to racetracks to sell and mount the tires. Darrell Jackson now serves as president of the motorsports group and Larry Jackson has two other children and a son-in-law who work there. Jackson said all his children started at the bottom and “earned their way up.”

Jackson kept the Jackson-Dawson branches in Detroit and others in Los Angeles and New York until he sold his portion of that partnership in 2009 as part of his estate planning.

The company now operates a small office in Charlotte, but its main headquarters are in Greenville in a large office space off Woodruff Road, complete with a vision gallery that displays local artwork and an auditorium Jackson makes available for non-profit use. The Motorsports Group is housed in an additional 26,000 square feet building just down the street, and the agency is currently looking for another 20,000 square feet.

Jackson said JMG has expanded into other verticals such as financial, healthcare, manufacturing and pro-bono work, but still has a strong focus on the auto industry and transportation. It’s

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

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

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

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

Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood.

He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit.

After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980.

In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he

learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage.

In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar.

“Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said.

Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders

>>

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

1998 1998 Jackson Dawson moves to task industrial Court

also one of the few marketing companies in South Carolina to handle all aspects of a project in-house, with four suites handling video production, copywriting, media and research and web design.

Clients include heavyweights such as BMW, Bob Jones University, the Peace Center, Michelin and Sage Automotive. Recent projects have included an interactive mobile application for Milliken’s arboretum and 600-acre Spartanburg campus and a marketing campaign for the 2013 Big League World Series.

“In my opinion, our greatest single achievement is the longevity of our client relationships,” said Darrell Jackson. “Our first client from back in 1988 is still a client today. I can count on one hand the number of clients who have gone elsewhere in the past decade.”

Larry Jackson says his Christian faith and belief in service to others, coupled with business values rooted in solving clients’ problems, have kept

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

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

him going and growing his business over the years. He is passionate about giving back and outreach to non-prof non-profits. The company was recently awarded the Community Foundation Spirit Award.

The company reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community last week by celebrating its 25th anniversary with a birthday party and a 25-hour Serve-A-Thon partnership with Hands on Greenville and Habitat for Humanity. JMG’s 103 full-time employees worked in shifts around the clock on October 22 and 23 to help construct a house for a deserving family.

As Jackson inches towards retirement, he says he hasn’t quite figured out his succession plan yet, but sees the companies staying under the same umbrella. He wants to continue to strategically grow the business.

“From the beginning, my father has taught me that this business is all about our people – both our clients and our associates,” said his son, Darrell. “We have created a focus and a culture that strives to solve problems, serve people and grow careers.”

Darrell Jackson said he wants to “continue helping lead a culture where we solve, serve and grow. If we are successful, we will continue to grow towards our ultimate goal of becoming the leading integrated marketing communications brand in the Southeast.”

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

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

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

CoMMUnitY nit inVolVeMent nitY in olV inV olV Ve eMent & boarD positions

JANUARY 13 THE MARKETING ISSUE Getting the word out in Greenville, Spartanburg and beyond.

lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member David Jones (Vice President Client services, Chief marketing officer): Hands on Greenville board chairman mike Zeller (Vice President, Brand marketing): Artisphere Board, Metropolitan Arts Council Board, American Red Cross Board, Greenville Tech Foundation Board, South Carolina Chamber Board eric Jackson (Jackson motorsports Group sales specialist): Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board

November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21

20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013

AS SEEN IN

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Kristy Adair | Michael Allen

CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley | Jane Rogers

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristi Fortner

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