Oct. 7, 2016 UBJ

OCTOBER 7, 2016 | VOL. 5 ISSUE 41

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10.07.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK

| THE RUNDOWN | 3

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 41 Featured this issue: Summit Solar brings green technologies to Upstate................................................4 Renovations on the way for historic Haley building..............................................17 How to ask a stranger to coffee.......................................................................................20

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony R. Foxx visited the International Transportation Innovation Center in Greenville recently to observe examples of the latest road safety and road charging technology in development for automated, sustainable and connected vehicles. Headquartered in Greenville, ITIC operates as a neutral, nonprofit provider of innovation, testing and testbed development services for automotive technology R&D. Photo courtesy of ITIC.

WORTH REPEATING “There will be no other indoor stadium like this at any other like institution in the country.”

Page 12

“There is a great need for babysitters, especially since Greenville has become so popular so fast in the last few years.”

Page 14

“We all know that many relationships are made outside the office, but it’s difficult to discern who to invite where and what to expect.”

Page 20

VERBATIM

On doing business in S.C. “The tax environment gets high marks, and no wonder – the corporate income tax rate is 5 percent, and there are no state property taxes, inventory taxes, local income taxes, taxes on manufacturing equipment or materials for finished products, nor wholesale taxes.”

Area Development magazine, ranking South Carolina No. 2 in its “2016 Top States for Doing Business.” Read the full report at bit.ly/SC-area-development.

4 | SUSTAINABILITY |

UBJ

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

|

10.07.2016

Duke Power rebate convinced Summit Solar duo to move to SC ANDREW MOORE | STAFF

amoore@communityjournals.com Summit Solar co-founders Josh Williams and Derek Landino want to make one thing clear – their company has no intention of leaving Greenville. In fact, the duo is here to curate a more sustainable Upstate for future generations.

“We’re not solar gypsies. Too many companies or entrepreneurs come in and reap the benefits of the solar trend and then leave. Greenville is our home, and we’re here for the long haul. We're just wanting to provide a great customer experience so that more people ultimately see the benefits of clean energy,” said co-founder Josh Williams.

The solar energy company offers both residential and commercial solar installations, which are completed in one or two days. A design and engineering team must determine if a house or business is a qualified site. The team then measures the roof to gauge how much sun it receives and creates a custom design for a house or business.

The company offers various solar panel brands, including American-made Solar World as well as foreign brands such as LG and Hyundai. The typical panel ranges from 280 watts to 350 watts, according to Landino. The solar panels are only offered in black, which features an anti-reflective coating and produces more energy.

Summit handles all permitting before an installation.

The company also works with utility companies such as Duke Energy to apply net metering to systems. Net meters measure the amount of electricity produced by a solar system and the amount of electricity used in a home. The excess electricity from the solar system is recorded by the meter and credited to the bill.

Duke Energy started offering net metering earlier this year. Solar energy users receive a credit of 1 kilowatt-hour for every kilowatt-hour they send to the Duke Energy Grid. Customers are also eligible for state and federal tax credits. Summit also partners with energy co-ops throughout the Upstate, according to Williams.

Customers can also qualify for the Duke Energy Solar Rebate Program.

The purchase and installation of a solar panel system cost about $26,000 on average, according to Williams. Summit offers a zero down financing option with fixed loan payments for up to 25 years.

It also offers a 25-year performance guarantee and a 10-year product and workmanship warranty.

Summit Solar co-founders Derek Landino (left) and Josh Williams (right)

However, Summit doesn’t offer leasing options.

“So many people are suckered into solar leases. If you don’t rent your house, you shouldn’t rent your power. That’s our motto sort of. It’s a no-brainer,” said Williams.

After installation, customers are able to download a mobile application that records and measures solar usage. “We pay for that service for our customers so that they can track their daily, monthly and yearly usage,” said Williams. “It also allows us to track the overall solar production happening across the board.”

Summit already has more than 50 systems in the process of being installed. But Williams and Landino expect that number to grow. The duo has a combined 12 years of industry experience and management of more than 10,000 solar installations.

BUILDING A BUSINESS Landino and Williams met in 2013 at Vivint Solar, a Utah-based solar energy company. The duo became friends and left Vivint a year later for Trinity Solar in New Jersey. For about two years, the duo managed about 600 solar installs a month and grew the company until it was the fourth largest solar company in the U.S. In May, Williams and Landino decided to start their own company. “We had always had the aspiration to be entrepreneurs,” said Williams. “We felt we had learned so much from all of our past experiences that it was time to open up shop on our own and deliver a customer experience that the South hasn’t seen yet.”

10.07.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

In July, the duo opened Summit, which has created multiple jobs and is actively hiring locally. Now, the company expects about 100 additional installs this year. The success could be due to the company’s approach to sales, which puts a premium on the savings and environmental benefits of using solar panels.

“We’re both passionate about the environmental benefits. But focusing on that makes it seem like a gimmick, which it definitely isn’t,” said Williams. “I’d say that about 60 percent of our customers aren’t going to make the decision to go solar because of

| SUSTAINABILITY | 5

a bigger plan to curate interest in sustainability.

“We’re more than just a solar company at the end of the day. We’re educators. It’s our responsibility to teach our customers and even potential customers about the benefits of clean energy. Once they install, they become more energy conscious. They start thinking about it more. That’s how we’re going to reduce carbon footprints,” said Landino.

In the U.S., carbon dioxide accounts for 82 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, which can cause multiple health issues. But many

“I’d say that about 60 percent of our customers aren’t going to make the decision to go solar because of what it does to their carbon footprint. People want to save money.”

Josh Williams, co-founder of Summit Solar

what it does to their carbon footprint.

People want to save money.”

“One of the reasons for moving down here was the Duke Energy solar rebate,” he added.

Almost one year after its launch, the Duke Energy Solar Rebate Program has issued about $5 million in rebates to its South Carolina customers. Duke Energy offers $1 per watt of installed generating capacity direct current. The small rebate is open to residents with solar systems producing 20 kilowatts or less. The large rebate program is open to businesses producing more than 20 kilowatts and less than 1,000 kilowatts.

That means a residential customer who installs a 5-kilowatt system could earn rebates of about $5,000 under the small solar rebate program.

Likewise, a business that installs 50 kilowatts could earn a rebate of $50,000. Customers typically receive rebates a month after the solar installation is online and certified by Duke Energy.

The typical Summit customer has an 8,000-kilowatt system, according to Williams. The average South Carolina homeowner saves $432 per year by switching to solar.

But the focus on savings is part of

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

residents and companies are adopting clean energy sources such as solar.

Those sources reduce the use of power plants, which account for 31 percent of U.S. emissions, according to the EPA. Williams and Landino plan to educate residents about the benefits of solar at Artoberfest at Upcountry Provisions in Travelers Rest on Saturday, Oct. 15.

As for the future, the duo plans to offer solar in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina next year with headquarters remaining in Greenville.

Williams and Landino also plan to adopt and sell more sustainable technologies in the near future.

“I don’t think solar is the end game,” said Williams. “We’re always thinking three or four years ahead, because we want to be on the forefront of anything green and exciting.

That could be battery storage and even solar efficiencies. We’re really digging into tech for off-grid living.

Right now, battery tech isn’t there.

But we’ll keep an eye on it.”

He added that Summit plans to work with the city of Greenville to adopt various green technologies.

For more information, visit mysummitsolar.com.

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6 | INDUSTRY |

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10.07.2016

Study: Aerospace industry climbs to $19B in South Carolina ANDREW MOORE | STAFF

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amoore@communityjournals.com South Carolina’s aerospace industry accounts for $19 billion in annual economic impact, according to a recent study released by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness.

That’s an increase of $2 billion since it was last measured in 2014.

“The aerospace industry cluster continues to outpace the state average in terms of employment growth, and it continues to grow at a rate comparable to the automotive industry. This is a clear indication to us that the aerospace cluster will continue to put our state and our citizens at a competitive economic edge,” said Ann Marie Stieritz, president and CEO of the S.C. Council on Competiveness, in a press release.

The study found that 100,000 jobs, both private and military, are now tied to the industry and that for every 10 private sector jobs created, another 13 jobs are created throughout the state.

Aerospace-related employment growth is averaging 11.8 percent annually, which is seven times higher than the state’s 1.6 percent growth rate.

The study also revealed that the average wage of private sector aerospace employees is $70,000 per year – 31.2 percent higher than the annual manufacturing wage of $53,350 and 69.3 percent higher than the state’s average wage of $41,338.

“This year’s research shows a clear indication that industry is diversifying and trending towards sustainable growth,” said Joey Von Nessen, a researcher of economics with the University of South Carolina, who measured the industry’s impact in 2014.

“We see that the majority of firms continue to be small businesses with fewer than five employees. We all see growth – not just in aircraft manufacturing but also in engine manufacturing, instruments manufacturing and other types of firms,” he added.

A second study, the 2016 Southeast Manufacturing Study, was also released, showing that the Southeast has the highest rate of growth for aerospace manufacturing operations in the U.S. The study was conducted by Aviation Week, which analyzed 39 companies throughout South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and North Carolina.

10.07.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

THE STATE OF S.C. AEROSPACE

Home Backup Power…

2010 to 2014

2010 to 2014

Economic impact:

Economic impact:

$17.4B

Jobs created in the private sector:

53,000

$19B

Jobs created in the private sector:

100,000

Annual employment growth average:

Annual employment growth average:

The purpose of the study, which was conducted in May and June, was to gauge the need for manufacturing workers in the Southeast. It predicts steady increases in manufacturing jobs across the board with the most in-demand positions being technicians, aircraft painters, production technicians, machinist and inspectors and operators.

In South Carolina, more than half of the employees from aerospace companies are either operators or assemblers. Most of the surveyed companies plan to hire more engineering technicians and mechanics, which require more education and training.

But “there is a significant shortage of technically skilled workers” in the state, according to the S.C. Aerospace Task Force 2013 Strategic Plan, which is the most recent plan.

South Carolina companies plan to rely on public high schools and technical colleges to prepare students for the jobs that require more advanced skills. Most of the companies surveyed stress post-secondary education for those jobs.

Ninety-one percent said they would hire someone with no experience and 120 hours of “aerospace-specific manufacturing training through a technical institute,” according to the survey. That approach could be vital as the industry continues to boom.

“The state’s aerospace industry is soaring, taking South Carolina and its economy to new heights,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “More than 30 aerospace companies have announced a new location or expansion in South Carolina since 2011.”

South Carolina houses 400 aerospace firms and four U.S. air bases.

The Boeing Co. has anchored the industry’s growth with its North Charleston plant, which has led to 7,500 jobs. But growth has also stemmed from the South Carolina

Technology and Aviation Center, which has an estimated annual $2 billion impact on the state’s economy.

The industry’s economic impact could grow in the near future should Lockheed Martin be chosen to produce the next trainer jet for the Air Force.

The Air Force announced last year that it wants 350 new jets to replace its Northrop T-38 Talon jet trainers, which, according to Northrop Grumman, were produced from 1961 to 1972.

The Air Force uses the T-38 for undergraduate pilot training. Lockheed Martin partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries to produce a modernized version of its T-50, a supersonic advanced trainer jet developed in the 1990s.

In February, Lockheed Martin announced that, if awarded the contract, it would conduct the final assembly and check out for its T-50A jet at its Greenville Operations Center at SCTAC. The company plans to produce four aircraft a month if awarded the contract.

That could create 200 jobs at the Greenville Operations Center. Those employees would come from the company’s current employee pool or the Greenville Technical College’s aviation-training program, according to Don Erickson, site director for Lockheed Martin’s Greenville Operations Center at SCTAC. In December, the Air Force expects to release a request for proposals, and the competing companies will go through a selection process, including a demonstration. The Air Force expects to choose its winner by at least 2018. Initial operational capability is 2024.

The competition is valued up to $11 billion.

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| INDUSTRY | 7

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8 | INTERNATIONAL |

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10.07.2016

Upstate business leaders seek stronger ties with Canada TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com A

direct

flight

between

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and Canada is just one thing Upstate business leaders would like to see as they seek to strengthen ties with the country’s neighbor to the north.

Louise Blais, consul general of Canada, and David Wilkins, former U.S. ambassador to Canada, made a stop in Greer Friday for a luncheon at City Hall hosted by the Greer Development Corp., S.C. Ports Authority and GSP. The leaders shed some light on the $6.5 billion annual trade relationship between Canada and South Carolina, which boasts 70 Canadian companies with about 8,000 employees, Wilkins said.

“The world is becoming more competitive, particularly with Europe and Asia on the rise,” he said. “If we don’t have our own North American story right, we could lose out on some opportunities.”

According to data presented at the meeting, trade and investment with

Canada supports 165,300 jobs in the Palmetto State.

Canada is South Carolina’s third-largest export market, worth $3.7 billion in 2015.

Automobiles were the state’s largest export to the country last year, worth $604 million. South Carolina also exported $468 million in rubber and rubber articles, $256 million in car parts, $168 million in plastics and plastic articles and $126 million in aircraft.

The state imported $2.8 billion in goods from Canada last year. It imported $425 million in rubber and rubber articles, $248 million in organic chemicals, $209 million in aircraft parts, $170 million in car parts and $144 million in fiber and woven goods.

South Carolina’s services exports to Canada were worth $534 million, including $285 million for travel; $82 million for business, professional and technical services; $47 million for royalties and license fees; $37 million for transportation services; and $33 million for equipment installation, maintenance and repair.

“I want Canada to reinvigorate its

“If we don’t have our own North American story right, we could lose out on some opportunities.”

David Wilkins, former U.S. ambassador to Canada relationship with the U.S.,” Blais said.

“We can take each other for granted.

That relationship, as wonderful as it is, still needs to be nurtured.”

Blais said the North American Free Trade Agreement, better known as NAFTA, has had a positive impact on Canada. She said the country’s gross domestic product, or GDP, growth has tripled since the agreement took effect in 1994.

She said after the presidential election in November, it will be important for both the U.S. and Canada to work together to face global economic challenges and to fight climate change. “[The relationship between the U.S. and Canada] is good, but it can still

grow,” said Blais.

During Friday’s event, Dave Edwards, president and CEO of GSP, said the airport plans to meet this week with officials from Air Canada to see about adding direct, nonstop service between GSP and Canada.

“We certainly feel that the strong connection between the Upstate and Canada would make this a viable service,” Edwards said.

Reno Deaton, executive director of the Greer Development Corp., said the Upstate is uniquely positioned to benefit from strong relations between the U.S. and Canada.

“We’re very fortunate,” he said. “There are a number of Canadian companies working here [in the Upstate] and companies in the Upstate doing business in Canada. We have a lot of resources here that can help strengthen those ties.”

Blais is based in Atlanta and represents Canada in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

For more information, visit can-am.gc.ca.

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10 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |

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10.07.2016

3 DAYS OF SAVINGS OCTOBER 6, 7 & 8 Italian chemical company Ritrama will open its North American headquarters and manufacturing facility in Moore, S.C.

Ritrama announces $85 million investment TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

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project in Spartanburg County codenamed “Apollo 17” has officially landed.

Ritrama, the Italian chemical company previously connected to the project, announced its plan Monday to invest $85 million to establish its North American headquarters and manufacturing facility in a 350,000-square-foot facility in Moore.

The company said the investment will create 150 jobs. The facility, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2017, will be its most “modern” and “productive” plant in the world.

“We at Ritrama are excited about expanding our North American manufacturing footprint in Moore,” said Ricardo Rink, CEO of Ritrama Group, in a statement. “Both Spartanburg County and the state of South Carolina have been very supportive to work with during this process and we are looking forward to being part of the community and bringing new jobs to our highly automated, state-of-the-art facility.”

The facility will be located on a more than 37-acre site beside Kobelco Construction Machinery USA’s new $41 million, 156,700-square-foot plant near the intersection of highways 290 and 221.

County property records showed the company purchased the site under its subsidiary Apollo 17 LLC from Greenville-based Pacolet Milliken Enterprises for about $1.46 million this past November.

Construction crews began grading the site in late 2015. The concrete shell of the building’s exterior was visible on Monday.

Ritrama said the facility will utilize the latest coating technologies and

advanced robotics for internal logistics and packaging, as well as a fully automated storage and retrieval system for all of its warehousing requirements.

Hiring for the new positions is expected to begin later this year and continue into early 2017. Ready SC and SC Works will assist with the recruitment process, according to the company.

South Carolina’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits for the project, as well as a $150,000 Set Aside grant for the county to assist with the costs of real property improvements.

Founded in 1962 in Italy by the Rink family, Ritrama is a privately owned manufacturer, seller and distributor of commodity and specialty self-adhesive materials, according to the company’s website.

The company serves more than 50 countries and operates facilities in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia.

“Ritrama’s decision to locate its facility in Spartanburg County is wonderful news, and the product of a team effort involving our County Council and county staff, the Economic Futures Group and the South Carolina Department of Commerce, alongside our valued local economic development allies, Pacolet Milliken and utility providers,” said Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt, in a statement.

Spartanburg-based Montgomery Development Group and Garrett Scott with Colliers International represented Pacolet Milliken in the sale of the land.

Wills Allen with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank’s Atlanta office represented Ritrama in the transaction.

For more information, visit ritrama-us.com.

10.07.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

| RETAIL | 11

Lowes Foods opens new grocery store in Greer TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com Winston-Salem, N.C.-based grocery

Photo by Leland Outz

store chain Lowes Foods celebrated the grand opening of its new store in Greer on Friday, Sept. 23.

The 58,000-square-foot store is at the Riverside Crossing shopping center at the intersection of Suber Road and Hammett Bridge Road across the street from Riverside High School.

“We are thrilled to share our new Greer store with the entire Greenville community,” said Tim Lowe, president of Lowes Foods, in a statement. “It represents the latest addition in our journey to completely reimagine the grocery shopping experience and inspire guests. Our commitment includes offering produce sourced through our partnership with more than 200 local farmers and featuring a wide assortment of unique local products found throughout the store.”

The family-owned company broke ground on the store in July 2015. At the time, the grocery chain said it is the first store it hopes to open across Greenville

County and the Upstate.

Lowe said construction is continuing on Lowes Foods’ second location in the area at the Village Market-East shopping center on the northwest corner of Woodruff Road and Sunnydale Drive in the Five Forks area of Simpsonville.

The Greer store features a plethora of special concepts called Lowes Foods Originals, including its Chicken Kitchen, Sausage Works, Pick & Prep, The Beer Den, The Cakery, Boxcar Coffee & Chocolates, Breadcrumb bakery, Smokehouse and the Community Table.

It also will have a wide assortment of organic foods, premium aged beef, bulk foods, fresh pizza and paninis and prepared foods. Customers can take advantage of Lowes Foods-to-Go, an online personal shopping service, and a loyalty program offering price discounts and fuel rewards.

“As a fellow Carolinas-based business, Elevation is very excited to bring the first Lowes Foods to the Greenville market,” said Christopher La Mack, principal at Elevation Real Estate Group, the owner and developer of Riverside Crossing, in a statement. “We

Lowes first Upstate store, located in Greer across from Riverside High School

know the excitement surrounding this opening has been building for several months, and we believe this store will be very successful and wish Lowes Foods every success.”

Elevation said the store will soon be accompanied at the $12.3 million shopping center by an Elizabeth Todd Hair Salon, Lee Spa Nails and Madi Boutique, a women’s apparel and gift store. All of those stores are expected to open in the next 60 days.

La Mack said the company is in

negotiations with a local Asian restaurant and a national fitness facility that could spur an additional 9,600 square feet of development at the center. He said the shopping center has also received interest from two major medical providers and national, regional and local restaurant operators.

For more information about Lowes Foods, visit lowesfoods.com. For more information about Riverside Crossing, visit elevation-re.com.

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Wofford hosts topping out for new indoor stadium TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

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tanderson@communityjournals.com The smell of permanent marker hung in the air last Tuesday at Wofford College’s new Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.

Students, faculty, staff, contractors and other supporters gathered in the unfinished arena at 601 Cumming St. beside Gibbs Stadium and ceremonially signed their names on a beam that will be on display when the project is completed next fall.

For the second time in two weeks, the college hosted a topping-out ceremony to celebrate a construction milestone for one of two facilities funded by its longtime benefactor and NFL Carolina Panthers owner, Jerry Richardson.

On Sept. 13, Wofford hosted a similar ceremony for the new arts center expected to open in the spring of 2017 that is named in honor of Richardson’s wife, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson.

Richardson, a 1959 Wofford alumnus, gifted undisclosed amounts of funding for both projects in 2014.

The arts center gift was a surprise for his wife.

“There will be no other indoor stadium like this at any other like institution in the country,” said Wofford President Nayef Samhat. “As the Rosalind S. Richardson Center for the Arts will be transformational for the student experience at Wofford, the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium will be equally transformational.”

The 123,000-square-foot arena, designed by Spartanburg's McMillan Pazdan Smith and constructed by Robins & Morton of Alabama, will replace the Benjamin Johnson Arena.

It will serve as the home for the Terriers’ women’s and men’s basketball and volleyball programs.

The facility will include a 3,400seat basketball arena and 500-seat volleyball court, and will be adaptable to seat 4,500 for non-athletic functions, such as commencements and concerts.

The arena will have a media center and server room. Monitors and other technologies placed throughout the building will allow coaches to review game footage and help players refine their techniques and tactics.

A state-of-the-art training room with hydrotherapy, coaches’ offices and team meeting rooms will be included.

Other features include a video board and ribbon boards, as well as designated areas for students, fans and donors. Four open-air suites also are planned.

“This facility will have an undeniable impact on the fabric of the college,” said Richard Johnson, athletic director at Wofford. “It will be a game-changer for Wofford and Spartanburg.”

The college said the Benjamin Johnson Arena will continue to be used for intramural and campus recreation activities.

For more information, visit wofford.edu.

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BANKING

SC Telco launches contest to encourage new savings accounts Greenville-based SC Telco Federal Credit Union is offering a new savings program that allows members to save money and earn interest while also getting the chance to win more money.

Save to Win is a multistate initiative created to encourage savings, particularly among low- and moderate-income families. Savers can open a Save to Win 12-month share certificate for as little as $25 to be entered in the drawing.

For every $25 a member deposits, the member receives an additional entry into the drawing, with up to 10 entries per month. Members also earn interest on their deposits.

Credit union members across participating states can win a $25 monthly prize, and one in 20 across multiple states win a quarterly prize ranging from $500 to $5,000.

SC Telco President and CEO Steve Harkins said the credit union industry strongly supported state legislation passed by lawmakers that allowed financial institutions to offer a prize-linked savings account.

“Save to Win not only makes saving money fun, but we believe helps in reshaping the get-rich-quick mentality associated with lotteries and helps families develop solid, steady long-term approaches to financial security and freedom,” Harkins said.

“I applaud our state’s Credit Union leadership for working with us to develop the Save to Win legislation this past session,” said state Sen. Larry Martin, a Pickens Republican who introduced the legislation signed into law by Gov. Nikki Haley in June. “Increasing our savings rate is important, and this program is another way to encourage putting some money back for a rainy day.”

South Carolina will be the 10th state to join the program. A total of $140 million has been saved nationwide since 2009 with an average balance of $735 per person, Harkins said.

More than $2 million in prizes have been awarded nationwide. In 2015, 86 percent to 90 percent of credit union members surveyed were classified as being financially vulnerable. More than half of the program’s participants reported that they had no regular savings plan prior to opening an account and Save to Win was their first share-certificate or certificate of deposit.

A recent Bankrate Money Pulse Survey revealed that 63 percent of Americans

do not have $500 in savings to cover an emergency.

SC Telco Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1935 as a not-for-profit financial cooperative, and today has more than 50,000 members and more than $300 million in assets. The credit union’s footprint spans the Upstate, Pee Dee and Midlands of South Carolina with branches in Greenville, Taylors, Easley, Spartanburg, Columbia and Florence.

Go to https://sctelco.com/save-to-win/ for more information. - David Dykes

MANUFACTURING

Ultrafab announces expansion of Greenville County facility New York-based manufacturer Ultrafab Inc. announced it will invest $2 million to expand its existing operations in Greenville County and create 34 new jobs.

The company said it will lease an additional 20,000 square feet of the industrial building housing its operation in Greer at 49 Freedom Court.

Ultrafab said the facility is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter. Hiring for the new positions is ongoing, the company said.

“Since 2009, Ultrafab has been steadily growing our business in South Carolina and we are excited to double our footprint in the state to better service our window and door customers’ growth in the southeastern United States,” said Tom Hare, CFO of Ultrafab, in a statement.

Founded in 1970, Ultrafab is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of weather seals.

The company said it makes and sells window and door weatherstripping, as well as weather seal products, for OEM applications. It also supplies engineered solutions for the fenestration, transportation, industrial, office equipment and health care industries.

Ultrafab said it has three manufacturing facilities and four warehouses in the U.S. “Ultrafab chose Greenville in 2008 for its third manufacturing facility in North America and we are proud of their growth,” said Greenville County Council Chairman Bob Taylor in a statement. “The company continues to choose Greenville because of our collaborative spirit and quality workforce and we are honored to have them as industry partners.”

The company said those interested in applying for jobs should visit its career page online.

For more information, visit ultrafab.com.- Trevor Anderson

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

ENERGY

Duke Energy completes acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas Duke Energy said it has completed its acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas, closing the transaction effective Oct. 3.

Piedmont will retain its name and operate as a business unit of Duke Energy.

Both companies are headquartered in Charlotte.

The acquisition will add Piedmont's 1 million natural gas customers to Duke Energy's existing customer base of 525,000 natural gas customers and 7.4 million electric customers.

"Uniting Duke Energy with Piedmont Natural Gas is a powerful combination for our customers and the communities we serve," said Lynn Good, chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy.

There will be no immediate changes in customer service phone numbers, billing options or service request procedures, Duke officials said.

Internally, Duke Energy will be working to integrate Piedmont's corporate functions – such as accounting, human resources and information technology – into Duke Energy's structure.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission approved the acquisition – the final regulatory ruling needed to complete the transaction.

The Tennessee Regulatory Authority and Piedmont's shareholders previously approved the transaction, and the United States Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States, supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 7.4 million customers in the Southeast and Midwest representing a population of approximately 24 million people.

The company also distributes natural gas services to more than 1.5 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Duke Energy is an S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. –David Dykes

PHILANTHROPY

Spartanburg realtor Cindy Barrett earns national award for charity work Spartanburg realtor Cindy Barrett last Wednesday was named a winner of

| NEWS IN BRIEF | 13

Realtor Magazine’s 2016 Good Neighbor Award.

The award honors Realtors who have made an “extraordinary impact on their communities through volunteer work,” according to the magazine. The award includes a $10,000 grant and a feature in the publication’s November/December issue.

Barrett and her husband, John Barrett, are co-founders of Christmas in Action, a faith-based nonprofit that repairs homes of low-income, elderly and disabled residents and veterans.

“Christmas in Action is one of the bestkept secrets in Spartanburg,” Cindy Barrett said. “In April, we will celebrate our 20th anniversary. During that time we have repaired more than 800 homes in the community. The grant will go a long way in furthering our mission and hopefully the award will enable us to encourage more people to love their neighbor.”

Barrett, who is affiliated with Keller Williams Realty in Spartanburg, said she and her husband decided to start the organization after moving to the Upstate from Hartsville.

She said Christmas in Action’s mission is based on the Bible verse Mark 12:31, which commands believers to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Barrett and four other award recipients will be recognized during the Realtors Conference & Expo on Saturday, Nov. 5, in Orlando, Fla. "This year's Good Neighbor Award winners have gone beyond the call of duty to improve communities around the globe," said Tom Salomone, president of the National Association of Realtors and broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Margate, Fla. "They touch the lives of those they serve in many positive ways while also maintaining successful careers in real estate and supporting their clients on a day-to-day basis. I am proud to honor Cindy’s dedication to making home repairs for seniors who can't afford to pay for them.”

Barrett said Christmas in Action will repair 10 homes in the Inman community on Saturday, Oct. 1. Volunteers are welcome.

Participants will meet at 7 a.m. at Inman First Baptist Church at 14 N. Howard St. in Inman.

The organization is always looking for volunteers, particularly from skilled professions, and will accept financial donations.

Its partner agencies have included churches, school groups, businesses and other entities seeking to improve the community.

For more information, visit ciaspartanburg.org. - Trevor Anderson

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SMART SITTERS

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Kids incorporated

A Greenville-based placement agency helps parents find their next sitter Words by Emily Pietras | Photos by Will Crooks

F

inding a dependable babysitter no longer needs to be a hassle for Upstate parents.

Smart Sitters, founded in 2010 by two Furman University graduates, is a Greenville-based babysitting placement agency that offers a variety of child care services — including occasional care (morning, afternoon, evening); overnight care; seasonal care (summer and/or school year); and full-time nannying — for parents in Greenville and nearby areas.

“There is a great need [for babysitters], especially since Greenville has become so popular so fast in the last few years,” said owner Ashley Adams, who purchased the business in 2012. “We have a lot of people who aren’t connected to the community yet. They don’t have church families or connections in schools. We’ve been able to meet that need and give them reliable and trustworthy care.”

But even for those who have lived in Greenville for a while, finding a babysitter can be a challenge, said Kelly Ford. Ford, who has a 6-year-old and an 8-yearold, has been using the agency for three years. She noted that Greenville is a “hard market” to find babysitters. “It’s weird because all of the colleges are here, so it seems like it would be easy, but it was really hard,” Ford said.

Ford uses Smart Sitters because “there’s a system of accountability built into the service,” and everything is run effectively.

“The biggest thing for me is that the babysitters don’t just come here and sit on their phones the whole time and have the kids watch television,” Ford said. “They play with them outside. They do fun things. They draw and have activities. I highly value that for my kids.”

Allison Kitterman, who has a 10-month-old, is not new to Greenville but she is new to parenting. Kitterman has been using Smart Sitters since August, and she heard about the service through a friend. It was the first source she turned to when trying to find a babysitter.

“It’s extremely convenient. You just go on the website and someone contacts you … [The babysitters] are all older, so they’re all very capable of taking care of a baby.

I was very pleased. It was very easy,” Kitterman said.

But Smart Sitters isn’t just beneficial for parents who need reliable child care. For local college students or young professionals who are new to the area, it’s an effective channel to make connections in the community and quickly find babysitting gigs.

“I moved to Greenville not knowing anybody … so this was a good way to get my foot in the door,” said Joan Aubrey Price, who has been with Smart Sitters for almost four years.

Anna Bross, who has been with Smart Sitters since

May, is also not originally from Greenville, so she didn’t have many contacts when she moved to the city. Although she had used Care.com to find babysitting jobs while doing an internship in Florida, she wanted to try a different approach. “I wanted a reputable company to work with,” she said.

Smart Sitters currently has close to 100 sitters in the agency. All babysitters are either in college or college graduates. Potential sitters apply online and then meet for a one-on-one interview. For each potential sitter, the company conducts a background check and calls references.

The key difference between Smart Sitters and other child care finder websites like Care.com is the presence of a middleman. It’s helpful for both sitters and parents to have a third-party point of contact, both for peace of mind and in case any issues arise between sitter and parent.

“Care.com is all computer-generated. We see ourselves as the mediator between sitters and families,” said Adams. And with some websites, babysitters are “walking blindly into a home” and don’t always know what situation they’re getting themselves into, she explained.

“I had done Care.com for a few months, but I didn’t feel confident … with it being a random website and

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going to people’s houses and having no idea who they were,” said Livi Tant, who has been with Smart Sitters for three years. “I didn’t end up doing a lot of jobs for them.”

Bross added that while parents can have a “fear of the unknown" when they leave their children with someone they don’t know very well, babysitters can also be apprehensive about working with unfamiliar families.

However, that concern is alleviated when working through Smart Sitters. The agency does not actively vet families, but they “indirectly try to screen families by marketing strategically” at certain businesses, schools and other institutions, said Emily Kodat, hiring and marketing manager. The agency’s targeted demographic is typically a dual-income household where “both spouses in the household work, so they need help with child care, and they are also more likely to be able to afford our booking fees,” she added. (A dual-income household, however, is not a requirement for clients.)

“I know [through Smart Sitters] that I can work with families I know will be good,” said Bross.

“We want them [our sitters] to feel safe and comfortable,” said Adams. “And for parents, it helps them to have a person to talk to and walk through some of their questions and any fears they may have.”

SMART SITTERS

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“We’re trying to build relationships with our clientele, but we also work on behalf of our sitters.

We want to invest in our sitters and make it worthwhile for them as much as the families.”

Ashley Adams, owner

Another benefit of working through Smart Sitters is that when sitters have issues with families, they can turn to the Smart Sitters staff, said Adams.

“Emily is wonderful and really watches out for the sitters. She makes sure everyone is taken care of, and if there are any problems … you feel really protected,” said Tant. “I know if I have any issues with a family, I can call her. I have the support of them. It’s not just me out there on my own.”

Adams also explained that the staff can actively “coach” their sitters by providing guidance and feedback. “We’re trying to build relationships with our clientele, but we also work on behalf of our sitters,” she said. “We want to invest in our sitters and make it worthwhile for them as much as the families … We really see the business as a platform for them to have this be their first exposure to a job that they can network with and get to know the community. Some of these

girls get jobs with those families at their workplace because they’ve seen their work ethic.”

While Bross, Tant and Price are all either in school or have full-time jobs, Smart Sitters can be a great option for recent college graduates who are in the process of job hunting, or for those who are in between jobs, Adams said.

Price, who is an operating room nurse and also works at a baby and children’s boutique downtown, said that being able to work through Smart Sitters helped her while she looked for a permanent, full-time position.

“I was originally thinking about doing pediatric nursing, so I thought that would be a big help with all different developmental stages of children, and that would be give me a upper hand in it,” she said.

Although her career trajectory changed, she said her experience at Smart Sitters has still been valuable.

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SMART SITTERS

Anna Bross

PAYING THE SITTER

|

10.07.2016

Joan Aubrey Price

Minimum Hourly Rates* 1 child: $11.00/hour 2 children: $12.00/hour 3 children: $13.00/hour 4 children: $14.00/hour 5 children: $15.00/hour * A three-hour minimum is required. If a sitter is booked for less time, she must still be compensated for three hours.

Overnight Rates 1–2 children: $175.00 (24 hours) 3–5 children: $200.00 (24 hours) Booking Fees** $10 per date requested $10 regular $15 late $15 special/overnight **Nonrefundable

Livi Tant

“I enjoy the flexibility of it and just getting to meet all different kinds of people in the Greenville area,” said Price. “It’s helped me a lot with connections …

I love hanging out with the kids.”

Tant, who is in her first year at The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, also said the flexibility of Smart Sitters is one reason why she continues to babysit while juggling the demands of school.

“We get an email every day or multiple times a day from Smart Sitters [with potential jobs]. If it isn’t a test week, then I can sit and make an extra bit of money,” she said. “[Parents] have access to all the sitters, so it isn’t like I have to directly turn a family down. I really enjoy getting to go back to the same families and building relationships with the kids and parents.”

“I love the community and fellowship of Smart

Sitters and working with families,” said Bross. As a sixth-grade teacher, Bross believes that her time in the classroom can have a positive influence on how she approaches babysitting.

“I hope with my experience that I can provide [kids with] activities and lessons they can’t always get with an everyday sitter,” she said. “I feel like, in a small way, I can impact the community [through Smart Sitters].”

“We’re local, and we love the city, so we think this is part of the community that’s being built in Greenville,” said Adams.

For more information on services, client sign-up and sitter application, visit smartsittersgreenville.com.

“They play with them outside. They do fun things.

They draw and have activities.

I highly value that for my kids.”

Kelly Ford, Smart Sitter customer

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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

| SQUARE FEET | 17

tanderson@communityjournals.com

The sale of two prominent vacant buildings in downtown Spartanburg will help usher in further growth to the area.

Former Abby's Grille, Carolina Gallery buildings in downtown Spartanburg change hands Two prominent vacant buildings in downtown Spartanburg have been sold and could soon attract new businesses to the city’s urban center.

Former Spartanburg mayor and chairman of the Spartanburg Northside Development organization Bill Barnet recently acquired the former Abby’s Grille building at 149 W. Main St. and Carolina Gallery at 145 W. Main St. Barnet purchased both buildings, which sit at the gateway to the city’s redesigned Wall Street across from Morgan Square, from Spartanburg neurosurgeon Cavert McCorkle for $1.45 million.

“I have a lot of confidence and hope for downtown Spartanburg and the central business district,” Barnet said.

“These buildings have been vacant for some time … I hope that we can either lease them or sell them quickly and get them actively involved in the city’s growth.”

The 9,244-square-foot building known locally for housing Abby’s Grille was constructed in 1893, according to county property records. It has remained

empty since Cornbread to Caviar, an upscale Southern eatery that followed Abby’s, shuttered in 2011.

The three-story 6,627-square-foot art gallery building was built in 1900, according to property records. It too has sat vacant for many months.

“We think the fact that we have folks that are prepared to or looking to invest is a positive sign,” said City Manager Ed Memmott. “They are prominent buildings and we’re hopeful this purchase will result in the occupancy of these properties.”

Barnet said that he does not have any commitments yet, but the buildings have caught the eye of prospective tenants.

“Several groups have approached us and have had access to the buildings,” he said. “They’ve brought in talent to study them. I’m hopeful they will come back with concrete plans that we can support and that encourage more growth in downtown.”

In early 2015, the city completed a project to transform Wall Street, a small side street that previously ran between both buildings, into a “festival street.”

Morgan Square

149 W. Main Street & 145 W. Main Street

Growler Haus

Wild Wing Cafe

The street was closed off to vehicle traffic and bricked over to create a pedestrian walkway. New street lighting was also added.

Spartanburg developer Royce Camp completed his multiuse Wall Street building in 2014. The building houses several apartments and three eateries — Health in Hand Juice and Smoothie Bar, Hub Diggity and Baguette & Company.

“I want to see the downtown area grow and attract our citizens, our students, and become a very vibrant, healthy place to see people and be seen,” Barnet said. “I hope these spots will contribute to that.”

Barnet said the momentum building in Spartanburg behind construction of the new AC Hotel, Montgomery Building renovation, Hub City Co-op and a spate of new shops and restaurants encourages him.

“I think when the hotel opens we will have reached the tipping point,” he said.

“We’re not chasing anybody. Hopefully, our community is evolving into what it wants to be — a healthy, vibrant place where people feel good about interacting with others … I hope for the next generation of people who want to live in Spartanburg that it will be an exciting place with good jobs and cultural opportunities.”

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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

UBJ

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SHERRY JACKSON | CONTRIBUTOR

Historic Haley building to begin renovation in the West End Next door to the Army & Navy Store in the West End of Greenville, a long-vacant building is about to go through a transformation.

Owners Peggy Thomas and her son Ruark have entered into a 99-year lease with a national investor that is planning to turn the Haley building at 656 S. Main St. into restaurant/retail on the ground floor and office space and/or residential on the second and third floors.

Plans are still preliminary and will need to go before of the Greenville Design Review Board. Sources close to the project say that no tenants have been secured yet. The national investor declined an interview for this story. The investor was represented by Mark E. Masaschi, general broker with KDS. The building was built in 1919 by Julius Caesar (J.C.) Haley, owner of the J.C. Furniture Company, who built it as a spec building in an “up-and-coming area” with apartments on the second and third floors. Haley leased part of the building to Duke's Mayonnaise for its original business offices, and eventually moved the J.C. Furniture Company into the building in the mid-1920s.

The Haley family expanded the business over time to all three floors and much of the property in the rear (now owned by Phil Hughes).

In the 1980s the business and building was sold to an associate of J.C.'s, but that business closed after a few years. The building sold again to an investor in 1988. In 1994, it was sold to Peggy Thomas and her family for $180,000. After the closing of Haley Furniture, the building was never used for anything except an occasional special event or holiday sale.

Peggy and her late husband had many plans for the property over the years, including condos, retail and an antique mall. They also talked about selling the site’s “plasterwork and architectural elements,” said Ruark.

But then his father’s health declined and it became “increasingly expensive to renovate the building and bring it up to code.” Once the building was paid for,

the focus changed to other interests, he said.

Although not officially on the national register, The Haley building was one of 20 properties that served to "define the character of the district" when the West End Historic District was added to the national register of historic places in the early ’90s, said Matt Carter, a broker with Berkshire Hathaway C. Dan Joyner Commercial who represented the Thomas family in the lease transaction.

Approached many times in the past to sell the building, Peggy, now a retired schoolteacher, and longtime Spartanburg resident, had wanted to hold onto the building not only as an investment but as an inheritance for her son Ruark. But in recent years, Peggy has had health issues and financial problems following the death of her husband and just couldn’t keep up with the back taxes and upkeep on the building anymore.

“So we came up with a creative solution in the longterm lease,” said Carter. “The lease allows the property to stay in the family and also generate revenue to provide for Peggy in her retirement.”

“Matt put together a deal that suited all of our needs,” said Ruark, adding that others had approached his mother in the past, some trying to take advantage of her and offer less than market rate and pressure her to sell.

Greenville Mayor Knox White has also kept tabs on the building. “For years Peggy and I would talk about what her building might be,” he said. “She patiently waited for the right people to come along to make something good happen. It's wonderful to see a plan that will respect the building's storied past and her family's legacy.”

The building itself is gorgeous, said Ruark. “Once you get into the building and peek out through the windows, you can’t help but fall in love. It’s steel-frame, so its bones are good. Where it’s located is extraordinary and harkens back to an age that we’re all nostalgic for,

The Haley building, which was built by J.C. Haley, owner of J.C. Furniture Company, in 1919, will soon undergo renovations after years of vacancy.

but contemporary in a future that we’d like to see with a beautiful, historic building.”

According to a source, the new group plans to invest $3-$5 million to renovate the building. Sublease rates will range from $33 to $37 PSF on the ground floor and $25 to $30 PSF on the upper levels for a warm shell.

“We’re happy that we get to keep being part of something that is so fantastic,” said Ruark.

LISTED: Former Beattie House property 8 Bennett St., Greenville

A sealed-bid process will be used to find a buyer for the former Fountain Fox Sealed bids due Dec. 5, 2016 Beattie House on Bennett Street in Total site of 2.43 acres, of which a 0.61 Greenville. acre-residential lot will be sold separately.

The City of Greenville has hired Colliers International to oversee the sales process Information: for the third-oldest structure in the city.

Colliers International, Frank Hammond, It senior principal, Frank.Hammond@ has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974. colliers.com, 864-527-5451, or Nick An offering memorandum will be Reinhardt, brokerage associate, Nick. available Oct. 21 via registration at beatReinhardt@colliers.com, 864-527-5432 tiehousegreenville.com, said Nick Reinhardt, a Colliers brokerage associate in Greenville.

Members of the Beattie family lived in the house, built by Fountain Fox Beattie in 1834, until the mid-1940s, when the City of Greenville acquired the house. It served as meeting place for

the Greenville Woman’s Club from 1949-2014. In order to widen Church Street, the house was moved from its original location to 1 Beattie Place and resided there for many years.

In 1983, the house was again relocated, from 1 Beattie Place to 8 Bennett St. to accommodate construction of the Liberty Towers. The property is located in the East Park Avenue Historic District in downtown Greenville. The total site is 2.43 acres, of which a .61 acre-residential lot will be sold separately.

The City of Greenville will require the purchaser to place a preservation easement on the property in order to preserve and protect the historical integrity of the house and property.

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STRATEGIES FOR HONING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

| PROFESSIONAL | 19

South Carolina

is a great place to

start your own How to ask a stranger to coffee

By HANNAH BARFIELD SPELLMEYER Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing

It’s a business fairy tale, isn’t it? “Struggling entrepreneur sends angel investor witty email and they close $1 billion deal on a napkin over coffee.” If you read headlines like that and feel skeptical while also envious, you aren’t alone. We all know that many relationships are made outside the office, but it’s difficult to discern who to invite where and what to expect.

Don’t worry. You don’t have to worship caffeine to network effectively. They say, “Different strokes for different folks,” but for the sake of this coffee theme, let’s say, “Different blends for different friends.” You may be a cold-pressed juice enthusiast or enjoy business served with a cold brew. Choose whatever venue works best for you and follow these simple guidelines to build a more meaningful network.

The first item of business is your date. There are three types of people you should target.

The Visionary: Writes a blog and speaks at events. You like their ideas.

“That person is so inspiring. I want to know how they do what they do.”

The Rockstar: Cool job and extracurriculars, plus mega success (as defined by you).

“I want to be that person when I grow up.”

The MVP: Adjacent business partner who complements your business.

“Let’s trade referrals.”

After you’ve done a few power stances at your desk and feel confident, you’re ready to send the invitation. In a brief email, introduce yourself, let your invitee know the purpose of the coffee date and just ask if they’d be open to meeting with you. There are infinite ways to say this.

I’d like to learn how you got to where you are. I’m also passionate about XYZ and would love to share some ideas and connections. Your business is really interesting to me and I’d love to learn more about it. Our customers overlap and I’d like to coordinate with you on referrals. I’m hoping to eventually transition to a role like yours and wondered if you could offer some advice. I admire your mission and would like to talk about how I can become more involved.

Your potential date may or may not accept. People are busy. Don’t take it personally. If someone declines, be gracious and find someone else to ask instead.

Listening and learning are the chief goals of your meeting.

You will kill the potential relationship you’re building by talking incessantly for 45 minutes. Instead, bring several questions to discuss and have a three-minute elevator pitch about yourself. When the conversation slows or you’re approaching the 45-minute mark, ask what you can do to help the person across the table from you. If there’s any follow-up you need from them, this is the time to mention it. Afterward, send a quick note saying how much you appreciated their time.

You’ll create significant lasting relationships when you start focusing on the quality and not the quantity of your connections. Now wake up, smell the coffee and invite someone to enjoy it with you.

franchise.

Check out these stores available for franchising in your neighborhood: • 5055 Old Buncombe Rd. Greenville, SC 29609 • Hwys. 290 & 296 Moore, SC 29369 • 1703 Easley Bridge Rd. Greenville, SC 29611 • 2617 Wade Hampton Blvd.

Greenville, SC 29615

To learn more, contact Brian Mulcahy at 864.300.4889 or

Brian.Mulcahy@7-11.com

HOW TO POLITELY DECLINE COFFEE WITH A STRANGER It’s encouraging to hear from people who are passionate about their careers and eager to learn. Unfortunately, time is a finite resource, and not everyone is genuinely interested in networking. There is no guilt in forgoing an invitation to chat if you really don’t have the time and interest or you sense that the invitation is a thinly veiled sales tactic.

In your reply, thank the host for the invitation and give them a short reason for declining. You don’t owe anyone a Dear John letter over coffee. If you’re feeling generous, you can always recommend an alternate contact.

© 2016 7-Eleven Inc. All rights reserved.

This is not an offer to sell a franchise.

An offer can only be made in applicable states with authorized documentation. 7-Eleven Inc., P.O. Box 711, Dallas, TX 75221-0711

20 | DIGITAL MAVEN |

UBJ

THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF BUSINESS

|

10.07.2016

Lights, Camera, Computers How does screen tech measure up to real life?

By LAURA HAIGHT president, portfoliosc.com

Technology has often played a key role in big-budget flicks and scripted TV series. And it’s an artistic challenge. No matter how innovative one is, it is hard to make working at a computer look exciting.

Some succeeded better than others. Here, in chronological order, are my favorite movies/shows with tech in a key role. I’d love to hear yours – #UBJFilmTech.

“WARGAMES” (1983) How about a nice game of thermonuclear war? Three years before Matthew Broderick took a day off as Ferris Bueller, he was an unruly prodigy who just wanted to play computer games. Unwittingly, Broderick sets off a chain of events that illustrates the dangers of computers developing their own intelligence and taking control. This prescient film was released in the same year that IBM put the very first personal computer – the PC XT – on our desks.

The 32-pound monster had no hard drive or stored applications, used two 5 ¼-inch floppy disks for programming and boasted 128K of RAM. (That is not a typo.)

“SNEAKERS” (1992) OK, full disclosure. It’s really Robert Redford and Sidney Poitier that made this movie for me. But there was some cool spy-tech and a peak into our technology future. The central theme of the movie is encryption and the evildoers who find a way to break all encryption codes.

Sounds eerily familiar.

“THE NET” (1995) Greedy, evil criminal types use criminals to steal identities, overturn governments, destroy financial markets and take over the world. Sandra Bullock stars in this one as an introverted programmer who stumbles into a broad hacking conspiracy while debugging a

computer game. Only problem is, she doesn’t realize what she’s found. But the cybercriminals do, resulting in one bad Mexican vacation, a destroyed identity and a string of dead bodies.

“ENEMY OF THE STATE” (1998) Will Smith is a successful Washington, D.C., attorney, who runs afoul of a corrupt NSA official covering up a murder. The NSA uses satellites and operatives, computers and encryption codes in its effort to get back evidence of the murder that has come into Will’s unknowing possession. Corrupt government officials using technology to spy on law-abiding American citizens? Aw, c’mon, that can’t happen!

“SWORDFISH” (2001) The computer geek as virtuoso. Hugh Jackman is a hacker blackmailed by John Travolta to break into government coffers and recover nearly $10 million in confiscated cash.

Jackman typing on a keyboard surrounded by a multiscreen array seems more like a concert pianist interpreting Chopin than a hacker wielding Cobol.

Oh, yeah, if that’s not enough for you, Halle Berry’s in it too.

“24” (TV, 2001-2010) For a decade, Kiefer Sutherland and company did two things with breathtaking precision: Beat the dickens out of bad guys and type. Commanding cutting-edge technology, gadgets and systems – some of which hadn’t really been invented yet (at least not on the scale the show’s plot required) – the 24 team typed, coded and hacked their way to saving the world from certain disaster. Early on in the program’s run, critics thought the level of computer use would get boring for viewers week after week. After all, a two-hour movie is one thing, but computer geeks slicing and dicing databases and deciphering programming code week after week just didn’t seem like a recipe for success. Clearly they underestimated how exciting we would find sitting in front of a tiny computer screen!

“EAGLE EYE” (2008) Technology in the hands of a computer program gone rogue works against a slacker named Jerry, played by Shia LeBeouf.

Jerry, whose much smarter twin has just died in a car accident, has his life turned against him by an anonymous caller who uses technology to destroy Jerry’s reputation and to force him to follow instructions that will culminate with the assassination of the president and most of Congress.

“THE IMITATION GAME” (2014) Benedict Cumberbatch portrays Alan Turing in his quest to break the German Enigma code and change the course of World War II. Turing is a mathematician and cryptographer, a brilliant, socially awkward, closeted homosexual. He builds his Turing Machine, which, against all odds – and without a lot of love from his supervisors and team members – breaks the code. Turing’s genius was largely unheralded during his life, which ended prematurely and by his own hand in 1954 at age 41.

Two years previously he had been arrested for committing a homosexual act and convicted of “indecency.” That cost him his security clearance and his job. Fifty-five years later, the British government publicly apologized for "the appalling way he was treated." And in 2013, Turing, now known as the father of modern computing, was granted a posthumous pardon by Queen Elizabeth.

“MR. ROBOT” (TV, 2015-) Computer security engineer by day; hacktivist by night.

Rami Malek’s Elliot struggles with personal demons, a raging drug habit and the unrestrained greed and materialism of corporate America. This could have been a snooze-fest. For one thing, it is dark – visually and contextually. And for another, technology is the leading actor and primary plot device. But it turns out to be a suspenseful and an addictive character study. The geeks are already watching this, but regular folks can find a good story here too.

10.07.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

MOVERS, SHAKERS AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE

Helping Hands Two of SC’s young innovators explore engineering and body function to help those with cerebral palsy

By BLAINE CHILDRESS Science Fellow, Sealed Air Corp.

Vice President, Innovision

Having recently attended the Finalists Reception for the 2016 InnoVision Technology Awards, I continue to be impressed by the range and quality of inventions being realized in this state.

But what captured my attention and impressed me the most was the inventive spirit demonstrated by two 2016 high school graduates from Columbia.

The girls won the Young Innovator Award, sponsored by Michelin for their research in assistive technology.

Kayla Shine, a graduate of Dutch Fork High School and now a biochemistry freshman at Clemson University, and Alexa Eyring, a graduate of Chapin High School and now a biomedical engineering freshman at Duke University, worked together at USC’s Center for Advanced Technical Studies in Chapin, S.C., under the direction of Krystal DuBose and Julie Krusen. The STEM program is part of Project Lead the Way, an initiative that resembles technical college more than high school.

The program presents high school students with real world challenges and allows them to work with professional tools and mentors to solve compelling technical problems.

Kayla and Alexa decided to focus on the intersection of engineering and human body function. In particular they decided to investigate the challenges faced by persons with cerebral palsy and determine if biomedical science could assist. They gained firsthand experience about motor skill difficulties by visiting an elementary school in the Columbia area and directly observing the effects of this neurological disorder on the children. They decided to focus on designing a spoon that could address the inhibited fine motor skills that make

ENGAGE InnoVision Technology Awards

NOV

3

5 p.m., Greenville Hyatt Tickets: email Angela Halprin at angela@innovisionawards.org innovisionawards.org

it very difficult to grasp and steady a utensil handle.

With their gathered understanding, they set their course on providing independence and confidence to young diners. They began experimenting with spoon handle diameter, weight and angles, but they also recognized the pragmatic goal of making the spoon suitable for a dishwasher. They quickly settled on an

Alexa Eyring and Kayla Shine

angled spoon with an upper arch (a sort of stirrup design) and a spoon bowl with unusually high sidewalls. They even considered placing weights within the larger diameter handle so as to cancel the tendency of some users to experience hand tremors.

They then put their designs to the test by employing Solid Works to provide 3-D printed objects that could be lab tested and adapted. The more advanced prototypes were taken to the school for feedback from children and physical therapists. This provided the information for sequential improvements and the final project’s designs.

(Did I mention these are recent high school graduates?)

The test results instilled real confidence that their designs would provide important improvements to the lives of those who cannot readily tighten their hands around small-diameter implements. The research is hoped to benefit a wide range of consumers of all ages.

The two young innovators are planning to file design patents for their inventions.

I certainly urge all to attend the 2016 InnoVision Technology Awards. You will be inspired by the talented youth of South Carolina every bit as much as any invention from the adults.

| INNOVATE | 21

22 | SOCIAL SNAPSHOT |

INSIDE THE UPSTATE’S NETWORKING AND SOCIAL SCENE

UBJ

|

GREENVILLE’S TOP GUNS The Rotary Club of Greenville hosted Greenville’s Top Guns Sept. 28 at the Poinsett Club in Greenville. The event was aimed at Greenville’s business and community leaders. Carlos Phillips, president and CEO of the Greenville Chamber and a member of the downtown Rotary Club, gave a presentation on his plans and vision for Greenville.

Photos by Leland Outz

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

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

10.07.2016

10.07.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

HIRED

PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

HONORED

HIRED

HIRED

| ON THE MOVE | 23

PROMOTED

ANTHONY HERMANN

FRANK ELMORE

FELICIA PAGE

FRANK ALARID

CAMERON KERIAZAKOS

Named project geologist for HRP Associates Inc., an environmental engineering and hydrogeology firm in Greenville. Hermann is a graduate of Clemson University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in geology and has also completed his Geologist-in Training certification.

Inducted into the Class of 2016 Hall of Fame at the Carolinas Associated General Contractors Annual Divisions Conference and Construction Industry Summit. Elmore is a founding shareholder of Elmore Goldsmith, P.A. To be considered for this award, the nominee must be a past or present CAGC member, be at least 50 years old and have at least 15 years of active involvement in the CAGC and the construction industry.

Joins Coldwell Banker Caine as a residential sales agent in its Spartanburg office. Page holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from USC Upstate and has previous career experience serving clients at Lakeview Automotive and pets at the Westside Veterinary clinic.

Named an event specialist with a commercial driving license in the San Diego office of Jackson Marketing, Motorsports & Events. A professional driver for more than 26 years and an owner-operator for 20 years, Alarid has more than 17 years of experience in event production, video production, staging and event security for motorsports and other activation events. He has logged more than 1 million miles in his career.

Promoted to president of business development for American Services Inc., a provider of security, staffing and janitorial services.

Keriazakos joined the company in 1989 after a career in the staffing industry in Charlotte.

BANKING

MANUFACTURING

BNC Bancorp has been named to Fortune’s Top 100 List of Fastest Growing Companies. Ranked at No. 71, this marks BNC Bancorp’s first appearance on the list. Headquartered in High Point, N.C., BNC Bancorp is the parent company of Bank of North Carolina, which has locations across the Carolinas, including the Upstate.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) announced that David Farr, chairman and CEO of Emerson, and David Seaton, chairman and CEO of Fluor Corporation, have been elected chair and vice chair of the NAM’s board of directors leadership, respectively. They will take office for a two-year term on Jan. 1, 2017. Both leaders come from companies at the forefront of the manufacturing sector and are respected among their peers as executives and as manufacturing advocates.

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Human Technologies Inc. announces the addition of Shelby Privett and Carly Smith as professional recruiters. Privett is a graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Smith is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management.

CONSTRUCTION O’Neal Inc., a Greenville-based integrated design and construction firm, received the platinum-level safety award for their safety program. This award was presented by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of the Carolinas. Established in 1989, ABC’s Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) awards program recognizes construction companies across the country for their achievements in safety training and self-evaluation, including ongoing efforts to develop quality safety programs.

HEALTH CARE Waterstone on Augusta, a new assisted living and memory care community under construction at 1004 Augusta St., has added two key employees. Edward Burton has been named the executive director. Ginger Shiflett has been named the director of community relations. Both are natives of the Upstate and have more than 20 years of experience in serving seniors in all aspects of continuum of care.

ORGANIZATIONS The Greenville Small Business Development Center added four new advisory board members this month: Doris Haley of Professional Healthcare Services, Andy O’Mara of Sidewall Pizza Company, Brad Schneider of Appalachian Development Corporation and Nathan Stouffer of Port City Java. Haley, O’Mara, Schneider and Stouffer are each beginning three-year terms on the board, which will be chaired this year by Beth Veach, owner of Entrepreneur Acumen LLC. Greenville Women Giving, a local women’s collective philanthropic organization, announces the 2016-2017 board of directors: Frances Ellison, co-chair; Maggie Glasgow, co-chair; Sue Priester, co-chair; Janet Sumner, co-chair; Helen Smart, secretary; Kathy McKinney, treasurer; Olga Bowles, communications; Rene Hutchisson, communications; Jamie Prince, communications; Susan Robbins, education; Diane Perlmutter, endowment; M.K. Kester, events; Ingrid Erwin, grants assessment; Diane Gluck, grants review; Karyl Woldrum, grants review; Nancy Stanton, membership; Debbie Stuckey, leadership development; Gina Blohm, community foundation representative; Harriet Goldsmith, chair emerita; Lil Glenn, member-at-large; Patti McAbee, member-at-large; Laura Moore, member-at-large; and Beverly Ward, member-at-large.

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

Send information and photos to onthemove@pstatebusinessjournal.com.

24 | NEW TO THE STREET |

UBJ

THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

|

10.07.2016

Open for business 1

Presented by

Conversations with Upstate Professionals

1. ATH Interiors, a home décor boutique, opened Oct. 1 at 7 W. Stone Ave. in the North Main area in the space formally occupied by Thorn Boutique. ATH Interiors will offer unique décor, new and vintage furniture, artwork and gifts.

650 N. Academy St., Greenville

Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Network,

Photo provided

2

RSVP

Network,

to nvite.com/ businessontap

Network

Drop in and network…

first drink is on us.

2. A. Smith Clothiers, a specialty retail store in Easley, opened Sept. 24. Arthur Smith, owner, cut the ribbon with Tammy Johnson, Honicka Hawkins, the Easley Chamber of Commerce and the Easley Progress paper.

TheUpstateBusinessJournal

Upstate Business Journal

Photo provided

@upstatebiz

@UpstateBiz

#

#businessontap

CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon?

Email information to aturner@communityjournals.com.

10.07.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN’ T MISS

Allen Tate moves Greenville-Midtown office downtown Allen Tate Company has relocated and renamed its Greenville-Midtown sales office.

The new office, Allen Tate Greenville-Downtown, is located at 323 Buncombe St. The 6,200-square-foot office will accommodate up to 60 real estate agents and staff who service Greenville and surrounding counties in the Upstate.

Allen Tate has served the Upstate region since January 2008. The company has five Upstate locations.

Orangetheory Fitness inks lease for first Upstate studio Orangetheory Fitness will open its first studio in the Upstate by the end of the year in the Garlington Station shopping center at 1143 Woodruff Road.

Colliers International’s Scott Burgess represented the owner of Garlington Station in the lease of a 3,500-square-foot studio. Orangetheory has more than 300 locations nationwide, including four in Charlotte, 22 in Atlanta and three in Charleston.

Ink N Ivy opens third-floor VIP lounge Vine Lounge, the third-floor venue of Ink N Ivy, located on East Coffee Street, opens Oct. 7. This venue, designed to be a cross between a lounge and night club, features reserved VIP tables and a variety of musical talent. It will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 p.m. until late.

“We wanted to offer a sophisticated experience to a limited number of guests where they can enjoy a combination of entertainment and nightlife in a private indoor setting,” said Chris Stake, general manager at Vine Lounge.

Ink N Ivy is owned by Bottle Cap Group, which also owns Brazwells Premium Pub on South Main Street. For reservations, contact viptables@vineloungegvl.com.

| THE FINE PRINT | 25

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UBJ

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

OVERHEARD @ THE WATERCOOLER RE: DUKE FOOD PRODUCTIONS TO ESTABLISH CORPORATE HQ AT FALLS PARK PLACE

SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

| VOL. 5 ISSUE 40

> Nancy Roof “So very proud for you and your family!”

Earl of

The Ea Sandwiches s Andrew Smart readie Duke Food CEO downtown Greenville his firm’s move to

of Sales & Marketing Chris Collins, VP

> Hannah Margaret Smith Dickerson “So excited! Can’t wait to visit!” > Jim Gregory “Well played, sir…”

Andrew Smart, Chief

Executive Officer

Ben Leinster, Chief

Financial Officer

DIGITAL FLIPBOOK ARCHIVE >> The layout of print meets the convenience of the Web. Flip through the digital editions of any of our print issues, and see them all in one place. >> upstatebusinessjournal. com/past-issues

>> WEIGH IN @ THE UBJ EXCHANGE Got something to offer?

Get it off your chest.

RE: MICHELIN ANNOUNCES $270M DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY, PLANS TO CREATE 350 JOBS >Greater Greenville Homes: Upstate by Bonita Choice the Realtor “Great to see growth in the upstate!” > Shelly St James-Carton “350 new jobs! We’ll take it!” > Pat Prince “Working swing shifts probably, too.” > Mike Murphy ":( Good for SC though.”

RE: PUTTING DOWN ROOTS: HOW REEDY RIVER FARMS PLANS TO COMPETE AGAINST MAJOR U.S. FOOD SUPPLIERS > Amanda Thompson

>> CONNECT WITH US We’re great at networking.

LINKEDIN.COM/COMPANY/ UPSTATE-BUSINESS-JOURNAL FACEBOOK.COM/ THEUPSTATEBUSINESSJOURNAL

10.07.2016

BIZ BUZZ

Distilled commentary from UBJ readers

> Elizabeth Moore “Awesome!!!”

|

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

“If our farms are doing well, our restaurants are doing well.” > The Anchorage “We’re so excited to see Reedy River Farms expanding into The Village of West Greenville… We’ll never sweat running out of food again!”

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

>> 519 1. Putting down roots: How Reedy River Farms plans to compete against major U.S. food suppliers

>> 366 2. Duke Food Productions to establish corporate HQ at Falls Park Place

>> 337 3. Michelin announces $270M distribution center in Spartanburg County, plans to create 350 jobs

>> 198 4. New restaurant Pokérrito headed for downtown Spartanburg

>> 67 5. Wofford hosts topping out for new Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium

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10.07.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

DATE Thursday

10/13 Thursday

10/20 Friday

10/21

Tuesday

10/25

| PLANNER | 27

EVENT INFO

WHERE DO I GO?

HOW DO I GO?

Endeavor presents Collaborators & Cocktails: Lisa Holladay

1 N. Main St. 5–7:15 p.m.

Cost: Free to members; limited non-member tickets at $25 Register: Endeavor@EndeavorGreenville.com

Piedmont SCORE Basic Small-Business Start-Up

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

Cost: Free Register: piedmontscore.org/workshops

Greenville Furman Business Series Luncheon: Understanding Millennials in the Workplace

The Commerce Club Greenville 55 Beattie Place, Ste. 1700 12–1:45 p.m.

Business attire.

Cost: $20 per person, includes lunch and parking validation Register: alumni.furman.edu or 800-787-7533

EURO Auto Fest

Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Open House at the BMW CCA Foundation, 190 Manatee Court, Greer.

Cost: $10 per day Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: EURO Auto Festival Register: euroautofestival.com 2016, The Preserve at Verdae Golf Club, 650 Verdae Blvd.

Piedmont SCORE Integrated Marketing Strategies

NEXT Innovation Center 411 University Ridge 6–8 p.m.

Friday-Saturday

10/2110/22

EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR

Cost: $19 Register: piedmontscore.org/workshops

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

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & ACCOUNT STRATEGY Kate Madden

PRESIDENT/CEO

ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR

Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com

Will Crooks

UBJ PUBLISHER

Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith

Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com

EDITOR

Chris Haire chaire@communityjournals.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com

STAFF WRITERS

Trevor Anderson, David Dykes, Caroline Hafer, Andrew Moore, Cindy Landrum

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Melinda Young, Ariel Turner, Sherry Jackson

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Danielle Car

MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Nicole Greer, Jenny Hall, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Lindsay Oehmen, Emily Yepes

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

OCTOBER 14 THE BE YOUR OWN BOSS ISSUE When your boss is the person in the mirror.

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 olVe VeMent & boarD positions

OCTOBER 28 QUARTERLY CRE ISSUE The state of commercial real estate in the Upstate.

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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NOVEMBER 18 LEADERSHIP ISSUE How continuing education and local networking groups make us better leaders Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at ideas@ upstatebusinessjournal.com.

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Tax Credits Everyis Business Cherry Bekaert a proud team member to Should Know About throughout South Carolina growing companies Many businesses miss out on available tax credits and incentives related to their existing business operations.

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