Behind the Counter 2014

A photo essay of local entrepreneurs

Behind the Counter 201 4 Upstate, South Carolina | A Community Journals Publication

COOL NEW NAME. SAME GREAT COMPANY.

When the world’s most respected company puts its name on a real estate sign, that’s a sign buyers and sellers want to see. We’re proud to be among the elite entrusted to call ourselves Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

We’re the same great company that has been serving the Upstate’s real estate needs for 50 years.

We have a cool new name that will leverage our experience and bring great value to our clients and the Upstate community.

It’s a good sign for you.

Contact your local office for more information: Anderson Office 864.226.8100

Augusta Road Office 864.241.2880

Greer Office 864.879.4239 100

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Commercial Office 864.233.7724

Pelham Road Office 864.244.9111

Easley Office 864.220.5100

Pleasantburg Office 864.242.6650

www.cdanjoyner.com

Garlington Road Office 864.288.4048

Simpsonville Office 864.963.0900

DELTA APPAREL, INC.

“The assurance of a strong future relies on our company identifying, employing and developing dedicated new future leaders.”

Photography by carol boone stewart

Delta Apparel, Inc. became a publicly traded company in 2000, focused on manufacturing basic, unembellished t-shirts. Thanks to seven acquisitions since its inception, the company has expanded annual sales to nearly $500 million and is a leader in designing, marketing, selling and manufacturing recognized activewear brands such as Soffe, Salt Life, Junk Food and Intensity.

This accomplishment has been under the leadership of Bob Humphreys, chairman and CEO, a 25-plus-year veteran of the apparel and textile industry, who believes that it takes more than the ability to grow through acquiring companies to ensure future success. The assurance of a strong future relies on our company identifying, employing and developing dedicated new future leaders. With this in mind, Delta Apparel is introducing some new talent in our Greenville office who share some insights about their careers, success and the Upstate.

Tim Cook, internal auditor, and Tyler Canty, corporate accountant, shared the best advice they have received to achieve success in their Delta careers and in life. Tyler’s fraternity brothers used the motto “See It Through,” and he continues to recite those words to motivate him to push past obstacles. “Be on time, be pleasant and pick your battles” are Tim’s three keys to business success as they are good foundations for building trust and cooperation.

Joey Lester was recently promoted to internal audit manager. Joey appreciates that Delta provides “endless opportunities” for employees

seeking larger responsibilities. On his promotion he commented, “Being given the opportunity to take the reins of the department is a rewarding experience. I realize my goal is now a reality.”

Financial analyst Andrew Daniel got his start as a college intern at Delta.

He considered other possibilities but found “Delta offered the broadest range of experiences and the most opportunity to apply the knowledge I was gaining from my financial management studies at Clemson.” Andrew was pleased to accept a full-time position shortly after graduation.

Delta is delighted to maintain its principal executive office on South Main Street in Greenville, and the staff loves taking advantage of all Greenville has to offer. After growing up on the Jersey shore, Lauren Willey, internal auditor, appreciates the scenic beauty of the nearby mountains.

“The Upstate is a very satisfying place to live,” she said. “It offers a little bit of everything, from an energetic city life to the tranquil abundance of nature.”

www.DeltaApparelInc.com | 864.232.5200 SaltLife.com | Soffe.com | JunkFoodClothing.com | 2theGame.com

Behind The Counter | 2014

1

A Celebration of LOCAL BUSINESS

BTC BEHIND THE COUNTER

mark b. johnston President & Publisher

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Advertising Sales Manager . . . . . . . . . . . donna johnston Account Executives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kristi jennings

2003

2004

annie langston lindsay oehman pam putman

2005

Sponsorship & Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kate banner

CREATIVE SERVICES

Creative Design Director . . . . . . . . . . . . .kristy m. adair Creative Design Assistant . . . . . . . . . .whitney fincannon

2006

2007

2008

PRODUCTION

Operation Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . holly hardin Client Services Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . anita harley

jane rogers

Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . michael allen Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . diane jackson Contributing Photographers . . . . . .parkkonen photography

2009

2010

myimagesbymonica.com

2011

carol boone stewart carolbstewartphotography.com related images photography relatedimagesphoto.com

A photo essay of local entrepreneurs

Behind the Counter

Copy Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . diane jackson

leigh savage jan scalisi allison walsh

201 4 Upstate, South Carolina | A Community Journals Publication

2012

2013

2014

As you can see from the past covers above, we have been at this a long time. It has been exciting to watch the growth of the Upstate over these past 12 years. I hope you enjoy reading their stories as much we have enjoyed bringing them to you. Our team looks forward to publishing this product every year.

So after you have read through these pages go out and meet some of these people you’ll see here in person. They will be happy to see you.

I think you will agree that the view here in the Upstate is pretty good, no matter what side of the counter you’re on.

Always remember...Shop Local! mark b. johnston, president &publisher 2014 |

Behind The Counter

Accounting Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . shannon rochester Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kim mason

designed and produced by

Any company, of any size is fueled by the energy, creativity, wisdom and often the fortitude of the people Behind the Counter. They are the engines driving this business community and in these pages we want to give you a taste of their passion and entrepreneurial sprit.

2

FINANCE

COMMUNITY JOURNALS PUBLISHING GROUP publishers of greenville journal, upstate business journal, town magazine, & at home magazine. po box 2266, greenville, sc 29602 phone: 864-679-1200 communityjournals.com © 2014 published by community journals llc. all rights reserved. all property rights for the entire contents of this publication shall be the property of community journals. no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored, distributed or transmitted by any means – whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic – without written permission from the publisher.

VILLAGE HOSPITAL VILLAGE AT PELHAM

“We are proud to be a part of this community, and we are here to serve.”

Photography by carol boone stewart

He leads a hospital that’s all heart.

As president of Village Hospital, Tony Kouskolekas is committed to compassionate care. His philosophy is all about connecting with the community by providing expert medical services close to home while also emphasizing health and wellness.

“Health care here is local – people don’t have to travel far and wide for treatment because we provide virtually everything they need in one close, convenient place,” Tony says, explaining that Village at Pelham comprises Village Hospital, complete with a 24-hour emergency room, as well as physician practices, lab and diagnostic services, an outpatient surgical center and a cancer center. There’s also a health resource center filled with educational materials and a community center for support group meetings, social events and educational activities. “Patients do have a choice of where to receive care, so we focus on individual needs to ensure everyone receives a first-rate experience.”

Village Hospital, a division of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, opened in 2008 – and it has increased in popularity and patient count ever since. “We are a growing organization because we have all the right things: the right services, the right medical and surgical specialists, the right equipment … and the right attitude,” Tony says. The emergency room, for example, has seen exponential growth in admissions for medical crises big and small, thanks to a combination of high customer satisfaction scores and low wait times.

As Village at Pelham becomes THE hospital and medical complex of

choice for those in need of expert care, Tony is committed to establishing healthy relationships with the wider community. “We believe in connecting with schools, churches, nonprofits and other organizations,” he says, citing examples such as providing supplies for school health rooms. “We can meet their needs in many different ways.”

That’s why Village at Pelham sponsors events such as Greer Family Fest and encourages employees to volunteer for worthy causes. Tony is chairman of the American Heart Association’s 2014 Upstate Heart Walk, for example, and he is on the boards of the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, Greater Greer Education Foundation and Greer Middle College Charter School. He is also involved in several South Carolina Hospital Association committees.

Village at Pelham further connects by offering a calendar of events chock full of health-oriented programs ranging from mind-body skills to better nutrition to medical lunch-and-learns.

“We are proud to be a part of this community,” Tony says, “and we are here to serve.”

250 Westmoreland Road, Greer www.villageatpelham.com | 864.530.6000

Behind The Counter | 2014

3

MASSAGE ENVY SPA “We are committed to providing an accessible path to wellness for our community.”

Don and Caroline Taylor believe in a hands-on approach – literally – to business.

That’s why they were so intrigued when they first read about the Massage Envy franchise. Don was flipping through Entrepreneur magazine back in early 2007 when he came across an article outlining the then-new concept that therapeutic massage and spa services could be convenient AND affordable. The Taylors were living in Silicon Valley at the time – he a former Marine, she an elementary school teacher turned stay-at-home mom – and they knew immediately they were holding the answer to Caroline’s dream of re-establishing roots in her hometown and Don’s dream of becoming his own boss.

So they opened Greenville’s first Massage Envy in December 2007, following up with a second location just six months later. “This is a wonderful idea,” Caroline says. “Our membership program makes it easy to reap the many health benefits of regular massage and skincare.”

Massage Envy focuses on wellness rather than extravagance, catering to a clientele with busy lifestyles by providing reasonable prices along with convenient times and locations.

“We’ve taken what used to be considered a ‘luxury’ and turned it into part of a normal health and wellness plan,” Don says. “Massage need not be a special-occasion indulgence – we make it accessible to everyone who wants a better quality of life.”

Caroline is quick to note that while prices are low, satisfaction is extremely high – in fact, based on customer surveys, Greenville’s Massage Envy Spas rank at the top of more than 1,000 Massage Envy locations across the country.

“Our satisfaction rates place us in the top 1% of a very successful franchise,” she says, attributing this to the time and energy they put into hiring – and retaining – the most skilled therapists and aestheticians in town. “We invest in our staff. We emphasize a positive work environment. When employees are happy, it shows in their work.”

With a staff more than 60 employees strong, Massage Envy Spa offers a variety of therapeutic massage – Swedish, Trigger Point, Deep Tissue, Sports, Prenatal and Geriatric – with add-ons ranging from aromatherapy to deep heat to sugar foot scrubs.

The spas also provide affordable healthy skin care via dermatologist-designed products and procedures for men, women and teens. Clients can choose from four Murad Healthy Skin facials: Environmental Shield Vitamin C, Clarifying Enzyme Acne, Anti-Aging and Sensitive Skin.

“We are committed to providing an accessible path to wellness for our community,” Caroline says. “We get many first-time clients based on price – but almost all of our repeat business is because of exceptional value.”

Don and Caroline are also committed to community service. They are members of the Advisory Board of the Greenville Tech School of Massage and host their externship program to provide students with real-life experience and feedback. Caroline is a sustainer with the Junior League of Greenville and Don is an active member of the Greenville Track Club.

The Taylors are also strong advocates of the Arthritis Foundation. As part of a concerted effort amongst Massage Envy Spa locations across the nation, they participate in Healing Hands for Arthritis to benefit the 50 million adults and 300,000 children affected by the disease. On a designated day every fall, franchisees donate $10 from every massage and facial to the Arthritis Foundation; they’ve raised more than $2 million over the past three years.

101 Verdae Boulevard, Suite 900, Greenville | 864.675.1155 3714 Pelham Road, Greenville | 864.288.1150 www.massageenvy.com 4

2014 |

Behind The Counter

boone stewart Behind The Photography Counterby carol | 2014 5

Photography by carol boone stewart

TNJ TRAILERS

“Selling the best and servicing the rest.”

She’s been selling trailers for 25 years, but Wanda Alexander never owned one of her own – until Diamond C Trailers built her a hot pink utility trailer as a joke.

“It was all in good fun,” the owner of TNJ Trailers recalls, “but we got so many serious inquiries from folks who wanted to buy it. I’d just laugh, and tell everyone that my hot pink trailer wasn’t for sale.”

Then one day she got an offer she couldn’t refuse: Domestic Violence Assistance (www.dvasc.org), a nonprofit that provides household furnishings to those moving out of abusive homes, needed a new trailer.

Wanda STILL refused to sell her pink trailer – she simply gave it to the organization instead.

“DVA picks up donations and helps move victims of domestic violence out of terrible situations,” Wanda says, “so they really do need a good trailer, and I felt like they were destined to have this one. I can’t think of a better use for my hot pink trailer.”

Everything else at TNJ is absolutely for sale – indeed, this is the largest in-stock dealership for commercial, residential and recreational trailers as well as parts and accessories.

“We have a wide inventory, typically 150-200 trailers on site at any given time, with the ability to fit any need or budget, so there is something for everyone,” says Wanda. “We cater to roofers, landscapers, contractors, motorcyclists – really, anyone who has anything to haul.”

Dedicated to “selling the best and servicing the rest,” TNJ Trailers has 6

2014 |

Behind The Counter

a full-service shop specializing in maintenance, brake controllers, hitches and customizations.

TNJ – which stands for “Trailers, Not Junk” – has always been a family affair. Wanda founded the company back in 1989 with her late father, “Big Jim” Bagwell, and continues to run it with her husband Mark who, by the way, she met in 2006 when he stopped by TNJ to shop for a new trailer.

“That was a great day,” she smiles. “I sold Mark a trailer and gained the greatest husband – and trailer mechanic – in the world!”

Three of the Alexanders’ five children work there, too.

The youngest daughter, Jennifer, just recently joined TNJ in January.

Wanda hopes to pass her “Trailer Queen Crown” on to the next generation.

“We are proud to be a successful, family-run business,” Wanda says, “God has blessed us and we are happy to give back to the community.”

8825 Augusta Road, Pelzer www.tnjtrailers.com | 864.243.4214

EMEDIA GROUP

They splash ink on all kinds of surfaces – everything from brochures to banners to t-shirts, even cars and trucks.

Photo provided

The theatrical performers of the Blue Man Group can show you how to be a megastar, but if you want your brand to be a smashing success, emediagroup is who you want to go see.

It’s not complex – the colorful cast at emediagroup simply has the talent for producing vibrant print media that makes clients shine. They splash ink on all kinds of surfaces – everything from brochures to banners to t-shirts, even cars and trucks – to best position a brand to its target audience.

Let’s face it: the stage is crowded with competition. Getting your message top billing requires strong support with the imagination – and ability – to bring ideas to life. So emediagroup offers creative consultation services – advice, tips, thoughts and tactics – to develop effective media solutions for every client’s unique challenges. And as South Carolina’s only printer with conventional, digital, wide format and screen printing all under one roof, emediagroup can take your job from concept to completion.

This dynamic one-stop shop produces print products, collateral materials, signage, t-shirts and race numbers for road races, marathons, triathlons and cycling events across the country. But they don’t rest on their reputation: emediagroup keeps improving the show. Recently, they pulled the curtain back to reveal new equipment – a high-end digital press and a “print-onalmost-anything” flatbed printer – and an awesome new website. emediagroup’s main duo is Bill Bishop and Joel Hogg. With complementary roles of creative energy (that’s Bill) and business acumen (that’s Joel), they employ a jamming cast of characters who are making

waves by consistently increasing clients’ market share via quality printing and media products.

Always in tune with community needs, emediagroup supports local nonprofits in a variety of ways, from in-kind and monetary donations to hands-on efforts. Bill has been delivering a Meals On Wheels route for 15 years, for example, and employees take turns running emediagroup’s corporate route every week. Support also goes to Meyer Center for Special Children, Ronald McDonald House, South Carolina Children’s Theatre, Coaches for Character, Wounded Warriors and One Fund Boston. In recognition of this consistent and caring community outreach, Community Foundation recently presented emediagroup with the 2013 Creative Spirit Award.

For an act that delivers a dependable performance every time, go see the show at emediagroup – you’re sure to return for an encore.

Printing & Media Products 615 Worley Road, Greenville www.emediagrp.com | 864.232.4604

Behind The Counter | 2014

7

Photography by carol boone stewart

MARCH TO SOLD TEAM: ANNE MARCHANT, BRIAN MARCHANT AND JOLENE WIMBERLY The Marchant Company Experience Counts...Jump on board with the March to SOLD team When you jump on board with the March to SOLD team with 62 years

prestigious law firm for 34 years – making her uniquely qualified to

buying or selling your home.

family business in 2008.

of combined real estate experience, you are assured a smooth ride in

This team’s ability to work well together has been forged through more than 35 years of friendship. Anne and Jolene met and became

assist clients through the negotiation process – and then joined the Jump on board with the March to SOLD team and let their 62 years of experience carry you to a successful real estate closing.

friends when Brian was just 5 years old, and over the years the three of them have formed a strong and lasting bond. Because of their remarkable bond, they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and are able to truly complement one another to deliver the best service to their clients. The diversity of their team allows them to relate extremely well to clients at all stages of life, whether selling, buying a first home, or downsizing as empty nesters.

Working together as a team, Brian, Anne, and Jolene are in constant communication with each other regarding ongoing transactions, resulting in quick responses to all of their clients’ needs.

Jolene has been a top producer in the Greenville real estate market for 38 years. Brian joined the family real estate business in 1996 after graduating from college. Anne worked as litigation coordinator for a 8

2014 |

Behind The Counter

100 West Stone Avenue, Greenville www.marchantco.com | 864.467.0085

MUNCASTER FINANCIAL SERVICES “Being passive is not an option. Be active and move strategically to attain financial fitness.”

The path to prosperity is a process—more marathon than sprint—and Richard Muncaster is there every step of the way. As today’s financial world changes at record pace, he coaches clients to move quickly on the path towards success…a path that could lead to a secure, comfortable future.

“Today, being passive is not an option,” says Richard, who founded Muncaster Financial Services in 2005 after putting in his miles for 10 years as an advisor with a regional firm. “You must be active and move strategically to attain financial fitness.”

With Richard as president, the Muncaster team leads the way in comprehensive financial planning, utilizing 50-plus years of combined industry experience that’s both broad and deep. Avoiding trends, fads and “hot products,” they adhere to time-tested principles to help personal and corporate clients build and protect wealth.

Analytical from a young age, Richard figured out his future during a high school business course that sparked an interest in all areas of finance and what’s more—showed a way to combine mathmatical savvy with an innate desire to help others. “I had a clear vision of an independent, client-focused financial firm,” the Clemson grad says, “a vision that has now become a carefully implemented reality.”

As an independent firm, Muncaster Financial Services is 100 percent client-centric. Richard and his team design, implement and manage carefully-tailored investment and financial planning options for individuals as well as investment and insurance services for businesses.

“We have no corporate mandates,” Richard explains, “and that gives us the freedom to create solutions best suited to each client’s unique objectives.”

Away from the office, Richard remains focused on others. Outreach includes Meals on Wheels, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation SC and Meyer Center for Special Children; he’s a member of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber’s Small Business Council and serves as a director for the Greenville Clemson Alumni Club.

Hobbies include playing golf, skiing, hunting and—best of all—spending time with his fiancé, family and friends. He enjoys his work so much, it’s considered a hobby, too.

“Here at Muncaster Financial Services, we have a passion for helping people – we are focused on helping them meet, and exceed, their financial goals,” Richard says. “There is no greater reward than hearing a client say ‘I couldn’t have gotten to this point without you.’”

Photography by carol boone stewart

Richard Muncaster is an Investment Advisor Representative with Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA) member FINRA, SIPC and a Registered Investment Advisor. Non-Securities products and services are not offered through TFA. Muncaster Financial and TFA are not affiliated. LD047137-03/14

411 University Ridge, Suite 100, Greenville www.muncasterfinancial.com | 864.527.0434 Behind The Counter | 2014

9

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

“We are growing, but that’s not our main priority. We’re growing because our number one focus is – and always has been – customer service.”

10

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Now the Feldmans are moving their entrepreneurial expertise to the next level: first, they launched a satellite office in Spartanburg – an enterprise that grew 30% last year – then, they purchased Two Men and a Truck franchises in Tallahassee, Florida; Richmond, Virginia; and Chesterfield, Virginia.

Each has a “homegrown” manager who was promoted from within the Greenville group.

“We are growing, but that’s not our main priority,” Rebecca notes. “We’re growing because our number one focus is – and always has been – customer service.”

Growing along with the business are the Feldmans’ two very on-themove children, so Bryan and Rebecca spend most of their after-hours with sports and school activities. Rebecca is PTA president at Augusta Circle Elementary and is very involved in the Junior League of Greenville.

208 Transit Drive, Greenville www.twomenandatruck.com | 864.329.1228

Photography by carol boone stewart

This is a family – and a family business – on the move.

“Oh, we never stop,” laughs Rebecca Feldman, mother of two and co-owner of four Two Men and a Truck franchises. “It’s a balancing act – sometimes it’s more like a juggling act – and between our kids and our company, we stay in perpetual motion.”

Moving is, of course, all in a day’s work for Bryan and Rebecca Feldman, who came to Greenville a dozen years ago to take over the local Two Men and a Truck franchise. They’ve grown the business into a fleet of 17 trucks and more than 50 employees who do everything from rearranging furniture to relocating entire households; they also make business moves, everything from one office to entire buildings. This thriving venture logs upwards of 3,000 clients per year.

“We are ‘Movers Who Care,’ and that’s more than just a tagline,” Rebecca says, noting the Greenville staff makes some 20 to 30 moves a day during the busy season. “Customer service really is at the heart of our business.

People want a good move experience – and we make sure they get it.”

Two Men and a Truck hires the best movers in town – the kind of guys who pack a little extra care and concern into every job – and these employees appreciate working for a boss who’s done what they do: Bryan worked his way through USC by doing other people’s heavy lifting with the Two Men and a Truck franchise in Columbia. After graduating, he worked in one of the company’s Atlanta offices before buying the Greenville franchise in 2002.

Photography by carol boone stewart

DESIGN ON TAP

Jay Kimbel & Chasidee Norris: We offer a wide selection of faucets, sinks, vanities, shower systems, tubs, toilets, steam, accessories and more.

Most women head to the ladies room to check their lipstick – but Chasidee Norris admits she goes there to check the faucets and plumbing fixtures.

“I can’t help it,” laughs Chasidee, a showroom consultant at Design on Tap. “Whenever I’m in a new restaurant, I go straight to the restroom to see what their sinks look like, what kind of fixtures they have.”

Her long-time love for all things plumbing comes in handy whilst showing off the wares at Design on Tap. This kitchen and bath showroom – which opened in 2009 – is a division of Cregger Company Inc., a leading plumbing supply distributor. Products include faucets, tubs, sinks, vanities, toilets, medicine cabinets, water filtration, disposals and water heaters along with hardware and accessories.

Cregger has four other showrooms in South Carolina as well as locations in North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Illinois.

Greenville’s Design on Tap is a Level 3 American Standard Showroom, according to manager Jay Kimbel, and boasts the Upstate’s most extensive display of other popular brands such as Toto, Bain Ultra, Hansgrohe, Rubinet and Rohl, just to name a few. And while other retailers showcase inventory so that customers can merely see it, Jay and Chasidee take pride in displays that are all about usability.

“Design on Tap offers a hands-on experience, with running water, functioning full-steam showers, working lavatory faucets and flushing toilets,” Jay explains. “You want to know what something looks like – but you also need to know how it’s going to work.”

What’s more, Design on Tap showcases product lines in displays accessorized by local interior decorators.

“This inspires customers, helping them visualize how these products could look in a home, an office, a restaurant,” Chasidee says. “We are committed to combining an exceptional product with exceptional customer service.”

Design on Tap, a member of the Home Builders Association of Greenville, believes in giving back to the community. For example, they recently provided materials for a new training facility at The Turning Point, an organization that offers transitional housing, employment assistance and job training to men in recovery.

Jay worked in outside sales for Cregger before taking over the company’s wholesale facility. Chasidee previously worked in sales for another kitchen and bath distributor. Together, they combine their breadth and depth of experience to ensure that Design on Tap is a place where every customer who walks in the door – consumers, builders, contractors, architects, interior designers – can “expect the exceptional.”

400 E. McBee Avenue, Suite 109, Greenville www.designontap.net | 864.527.3841 Behind The Counter | 2014

11

MELISSA MORRELL Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, REALTORS®

www.greenvilleagent247.com 864.918.1734 12

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by carol boone stewart

She’s happy to define “Realtor hours” as “all day, every day” because, Melissa Morrell says, time flies when you’re having fun.

“This doesn’t feel like work to me – I love what I do,” says Melissa, Greenville’s Agent 24/7. “When you’re in real estate, there’s something exciting going on all the time.”

Her round-the-clock philosophy guarantees she’s the most responsive Realtor in town.

“People sometimes ask, ‘Do you ever turn it off?’ and honestly, the answer is ‘No, I don’t,’” says Melissa, an agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, REALTORS®. “The real estate market is shifting dramatically. Homes here are moving quickly so being responsive is more important than ever. Buyers AND sellers need someone who’s easily-accessible. I work hard to anticipate my clients’ needs and address them quickly.”

Abundant energy and enthusiasm are backed by 11 exceptional years of real estate experience, a combination that’s made Melissa the #1 individual agent within the Upstate’s #1 company for the past three years.

She’s a consistent Multi-Million Dollar Producer, a Luxury Collection Specialist, and is designated as a Certified Relocation Specialist as well.

Melissa comes by her real estate savvy honestly – “I get it by blood and marriage,” she laughs, noting her mother, her mother-in-law, even her sister are all Realtors – and she credits her success to a supportive spouse. Melissa and her husband of 18 years, Tony, have three children – Ashley, 15; Hannah, 11; and Ty, 7 – so almost all of her away-from-work hours are spent on their activities.

She does make time to give back to the community. This is Melissa’s third year as co-chair of Greenville’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a role she performs in honor of her mom, Sammie Ferrigan, a five-year stage 4 breast cancer survivor. In 2009 Melissa was the event’s top overall individual fundraiser and she consistently serves as captain of the Race for the Cure team for C. Dan Joyner’s N. Pleasantburg office. Additional community service comes via active participation at Brookwood Church.

Melissa is a journalism school grad who utilizes a solid marketing and public relations background to creatively position clients’ homes.

And while C. Dan Joyner’s new affiliation with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices gives her even more technology, more marketing tools and enhanced lead generation capabilities, she knows nothing replaces the one thing buyers and sellers are sold on most: an agent who’s there for them 24/7.

COMMONWEALTH WOMEN’S CARE “We just want to meet people’s needs a bit more.”

Photography by carol boone stewart

Dr. Chyrel Stoner, Dr. Everett Fuller and Dr. David Godwin worked together for 25 years in a large obstetrics and gynecology practice, and two years ago decided that they wanted to create a smaller office that allowed closer relationships between doctor and patient. “We wanted to open a practice where we could have more direct contact with our patients and more control of our office to make sure our patients are getting the care they expect,” Dr. Stoner said.

According to Dr. Godwin, the doctors wanted patients to experience shorter wait times, a person answering phones instead of an automated message, and a relaxed, friendly environment with small but always appreciated touches like cloth gowns. “We just want to meet people’s needs a bit more,” he said.

While larger offices may take three months to fit you in, Commonwealth makes sure they see patients sooner, and acute problems can get a same-day appointment. When patients can’t come in, the staff tries to respond to all phone call requests and questions within one day.

The Commonwealth team does not work with pregnant women, and is therefore able to focus on a variety of gynecology issues facing women of all ages.

While the doctors are bringing back the one-on-one patient relationships of the past, they are thoroughly modern when it comes to treatment, using the latest advances including single-incision hysterectomy and advanced laparoscopy.

Dr. Godwin was the first gynecologist in Greenville to offer robotic surgery for fibroids, hysterectomy and endometriosis, which is less invasive and therefore offers quicker, easier recovery.

Dr. Fuller is currently the only GYN surgeon in Greenville to offer the

advantages of single-site hysterectomy to his patients. These patients experience less discomfort and less activity restriction during an overall shorter recovery.

He also has over 25 years experience with surgery correcting the problems associated with pelvic prolapse and urinary incontinence.

Dr. Godwin and Dr. Fuller have been accredited by the respected Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (COEMIG) for their consistent use of techniques that result in reduced pain and faster recovery.

Dr. Stoner treats all gynecological problems but her area of interest in which she has extensive expertise is hormone problems. She uses bio-identical hormones including hormone pellets. “One reason I chose OB-GYN is because I felt, who better to understand women’s problems but another woman?” she said.

Medical careers mean long hours, complicated work and time spent staying on top of the latest developments, but the Commonwealth team says the fulfillment they receive from their work far outweighs any hardships. “I always hope that at some time, I have made a positive difference in someone’s life,” Stoner said.

“There are certainly patients who have made a positive difference in mine.”

135 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 230, Greenville www.commonwealthwomenscare.com | 864.365.0250

Behind The Counter | 2014

13

FIVE OAKS ACADEMY INC. When you step onto the campus of Five Oaks there is an undeniable feeling that this is a special and unique place.

Educators have touted the benefits of Montessori education since Maria Montessori first developed her research based-educational method more than a century ago. At Five Oaks Academy, a Montessori School for Toddler through 8th Grade, the mission is to bring this time-tested Montessori education to the 21st century.

Five Oaks Academy opened its doors in 2003 because the school’s owner and founder, Laura Baur, was searching for an elementary option for her two young sons. In her quest to find the best academic fit for them, she discovered Montessori. Several key tenets stood out to her: child centered academics, the focus on individual needs, the lack of restrictions regarding grade-level curriculum, the hands-on learning style and the creation of a happy, peaceful and safe environment.

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the small school that began with 37 students on a former farm on tree-lined Jonesville Road has grown to more than 200 students and 30 staff. While her sons have moved on to high school and college, Baur still spends many days at the school that is her labor of love.

When starting the school 10 years ago, Baur recruited her dream team of leaders and teachers.

Executive Director Kathleen Trewhella-Grant, who had 17 years of experience as a teacher and director, helped Baur shape her dream into reality. They knew there was a need for a new direction in education and shared the vision of creating a place where students could learn to problem solve and to be independent thinkers.

“If we could provide a nurturing and stimulating environment, students would be able to develop executive function skills, embody empathy for others and be challenged academically,” TrewhellaGrant said. “It has been exciting to watch over the past 10 years as our students explore their interests, commit to independence and learn to fail as a route to success. I have been watching 21st century learners unfold before my eyes. I could not be more pleased to see our confident and selfaware graduates go on to be extremely successful in their endeavors.”

The nurturing environment these two like-minded women dreamed of took shape and flourished quickly. With the knowledge that each child has his or her own learning style, the students at Five Oaks Academy are treated as individuals, with tailored lesson plans. A 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio (5:1 ratio for toddler classroom) allows the teachers to constantly observe and assess their students’ learning.

Five Oaks is known for its challenging academic curriculum, where students explore the realm of mathematics, language, history, science, geography and the arts in a creative and research-based manner. The program is designed to develop students’ skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and time management with a focus on creativity and entrepreneurship. These valuable skills, paired with a strong academic background, help create students who are prepared for the 21st century workforce.

Students are given opportunities to engage in real life activities by running classroom businesses, completing internships in the Greenville community, and even planning, cooking and serving full meals. This learning environment fosters the discovery and development of each student’s individual talents and strengths.

When you step onto the campus of Five Oaks there is an undeniable feeling that this is a special and unique place. The students are in charge of their learning and that builds confidence and independence. Five Oaks’ students have a different outlook when they graduate, because they have been empowered by the opportunity to make choices about their own educational process.

Students graduate with an incredible confidence in who they are, in their unique abilities, and in the contributions they can make to the world.

1101 Jonesville Road, Simpsonville www.fiveoaksacademy.com 864.228.1881 14

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by parkkonen photography Behind The Counter | 2014 15

EXTREME COLORS The service isn’t just quick, but is done with an eye for high quality, and includes a five-year warranty with all repairs.

If you need your car repaired quickly and done right, Doug Payne and his team are ready to roll out the red carpet for you, and your car, at Extreme Colors.

Helping his father restore old Corvettes gave Payne a lifelong interest in restoration work, and thanks to Extreme Colors, he’s managed to turn his hobby into a career.

Working mainly with paint, his company focuses on enhancement, repair and protection using a process called Smart Repair. “We keep everything as minimal as possible,” Payne said. “Small blends, airbrush paint corrections – we don’t do all-overs, but we do the more cosmetic paint repairs. We also apply 3M paint protection film to vulnerable areas such as hoods, fenders, front bumpers, and mirrors. This is a durable, high-grade, colorless urethane film that protects high-impact areas from damaging road debris. We also offer a paint enhancement service. This service includes polishing, waxing, and sealing; it makes a vehicle’s paint finish look as good, if not better than new.”

Payne found that many customers were looking for quick paint corrections due to parking lot bumps, shopping cart dings and – for a surprisingly large number of clients - bumpers damaged when people put the garage door down on the back of their car.

Payne started out in 1995 working for car dealerships, traveling to their lots to make repairs. He quickly found that body shops don’t like to focus on smaller repairs, and when they do them, they charge more. Extreme Colors continues to service franchise auto dealerships from Forest City to Columbia and, of course, the Motor Mile.

“Over time, people found out we were doing this type of work, and customers would seek us out,” he said. He opened for retail last spring and has seen a steady stream of customers, many thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations. Customers love that Extreme Colors can typically fix the problem and have the car returned THE SAME DAY. No struggling to get around without a car or paying for a rental – Extreme Colors will take your car, shuttle you to where you need to be, and then bring you back to head home in your perfected vehicle.

Because this type of service is rare, Extreme Colors gets many customers from as far as Asheville, Columbia and Charlotte, and the team simply shuttles them to the mall while completing the work.

The service isn’t just quick, but is done with an eye for high quality, and includes a five-year warranty with all repairs.

Because of the success of the retail business, Payne hopes to expand to larger markets, and is perfecting his business model in Greenville so he can duplicate it elsewhere.

Payne, an Upstate native, has seen his share of fender benders, not just at his shop but during his seven years as a S.C. State Trooper. “The majority of the types of collisions I saw in that job - those are the same repairs we make here,” he said. “That piqued my interest in the retail business.” His dad, who guided him into his car hobby, also guided him into becoming a state trooper after being a member of the Highway Patrol.

Just like Payne helped his father, he often gets an assist from his son Blake, a fellow car enthusiast and a senior at Mauldin High School. Daughter Kayleigh, 12, keeps Doug and wife Laura busy with activities including acting. “She just found out she’s going to be Pinkalicious” in a South Carolina Children’s Theatre production, Payne said with pride.

Pictured left to right are Scott Kocourek, Josh Black, Cody Moyher, Zack Clark, and Doug Payne.

700 Woodruff Road #6, Greenville www.ecolorsautopaint.com | 864.283.0633 | 800.985.1778 16

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Behind The Photography Counter by parkkonen | 2014 photography 17

Photography by carol boone stewart

ROLLING GREEN VILLAGE “We love to tell people: ‘The answer is YES! Now, what is your question?’”

Wondering where to find the happiest retirees in town? All signs point to Rolling Green Village.

This vibrant continuing care community is built on the belief that hospitality makes a home. So employees go well beyond ordinary customer service with extraordinary expressions, in both word and deed, to ensure every resident feels warm and welcome.

“We love to tell people: ‘The answer is YES! Now, what is your question?’” says Ryan Hill, lead cook in Rolling Green’s full-service dining room. “It makes me feel good to cook healthy food that residents enjoy – and employees in other areas feel the same way about their jobs, too.”

Positive energy is all around. “This is a great place to work, and it’s an even better place to live,” says Ryan, noting that he and his co-workers are passionately committed to 10 Hospitality Promises: 1. We greet you warmly by name, with a smile.

2. We treat everyone with courteous respect.

3. We strive to anticipate your needs, and act accordingly.

4. We listen and respond enthusiastically in a timely manner.

5. We hold ourselves and one another accountable.

6. We make you feel important.

7. We embrace and value our differences.

8. We ask, “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

9. We maintain high levels of professionalism at all times.

10. We pay attention to details.

18

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Because when it comes to hospitality, there’s no such thing as too much.

“We are here for our residents,” Ryan says, “and we do whatever it takes to make them happy.”

Nestled on 175 beautiful acres, Rolling Green Village provides seniors with a safe, secure and carefree lifestyle. There are a variety of independent living options: apartments (ranging from studios and efficiencies to two- and three-bedroom layouts) and six neighborhoods of individual patio homes with one to three bedrooms. Housing is also available for those in need of assisted living and memory care.

A bustling Wellness Center features an indoor pool, aerobics activity room, cardio/strength training room, wellness clinic and massage therapy suite. Other amenities include a beauty salon, library and craft/hobby room. The campus enjoys a natural setting complete with fishing lakes, woodlands, wildflower patches and walking trails. Residents participate in a full roster of events, activities and field trips, everything from book clubs to holiday parties to tai chi classes.

Hospitality ensures this is THE place seniors love to call home.

1 Hoke Smith Blvd., Greenville www.rollinggreenvillage.com 864.987.4612

Evaluation, Pre-Prep, and Color Testing

Dry Soil / Dander Removal Produces a Deeper, More Thorough Washing

When Quality and Care are your Highest Concerns As a local family-owned company, we are dedicated to giving our customers prompt, reliable professional service. We use only the best cleaning products available as well as state-of-the-art in-plant rug cleaning equipment to assure your complete and total satisfaction.

We promise to give you the best cleaning possible at a fair price.

“I have to be the best.

My name depends on it.”

IKE’S

20

2014 |

Behind The Counter

In-Home Carpet, Upholstery And Rug Cleaning In-Plant Rug Washing And Decontamination Licensed and Insured Residential And Commercial

In business for over 40 years

CARPET, RUG & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING, INC.

Decontamination Soak, Wash & Rinse

Final Rinse / Centrifugal Spin Dry Extraction

Hang/Forced Air Dry/ No Heat

IKE MADDOX

Company President I.I.C.R.C. Certified Master Cleaning Technologist Master Restoration Technician

If you want it done right, call Ike’s Carpet, Rug and Upholstery Cleaning!

Call today for a free estimate or to request service!

128 Poinsett Highway | Greenville | www.ikescarpet.com

864.232.9015 Behind The Counter | 2014

21

Photography by related images photography

BANK OF TRAVELERS REST Banking in the Places We Call Home.

Jason Graydon has been with Bank of Travelers Rest since 1999 and has experienced a time of great growth for the oldest bank to be chartered and still headquartered in Greenville County. But through steady growth, Jason has seen the bank retain its core commitment established by founder John White in 1946. That commitment was and still is to make banking more accessible to the people living in communities around Northern Greenville County.

Under the leadership of its President, Bruce White, Bank of Travelers Rest serves customers through locations in Travelers Rest, Marietta, Berea, Greenville, and Greer/Taylors. The community bank with nine branches is a full-service financial institution, offering traditional banking products as well as technology-based banking services. And while growth has led the bank to open offices outside Northern Greenville County, it remains committed to the communities it serves and the places its bankers call home.

Jason, Vice President and Mortgage Manager, concentrates his efforts on educating customers about their mortgage options and the process they will encounter as they purchase or refinance their home.

Bank of Travelers Rest offers Conventional, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Veterans Administration (VA), USDA Rural Housing and New Construction loan products.

With the competitive mortgage industry, Jason notes, “What sets us apart is our commitment to customer service. We want to ensure 22

2014 |

Behind The Counter

our customers are informed and satisfied with their experience during the process. The philosophy throughout the bank is to put a personal touch on any interaction and develop a life-long relationship with our customers.”

Jason started his mortgage lending career 18 years ago as a loan officer. His focus on hometown values and his commitment to customer relationships are what make his role at the community bank so fulfilling.

Jason’s team at Bank of Travelers Rest includes mortgage loan officer Stan Boroff and processor Tricia Williams.

When not meeting with his customers, Jason can be found spending time with his wife and three children, traveling or hiking. He is a resident of downtown Greenville.

www.bankoftravelersrest.com

Reach for Your Goals.

Enjoy the Journey.

G

Gateway W e a lt h S t r at e g i e s

An Independent Firm

Gateway Wealth Strategies is the wealth management division of Bank of Travelers Rest. The things that keep you up at night are the things that drive our business. We focus our skill and energy on striking a balance between the practice of planning wisely for the future, and the art of living well.

For more than 45 years, we’ve offered wealth management services designed to help people enjoy their success even as they endeavor to achieve more. After all the hard work you’ve put into getting this far, you deserve to enjoy the journey into your future.

JESSE HANSFORD Financial Advisor

CHRIS BEARD, CFP® Vice President, GWS

C33R

GARY POUCH, Registered Principal Vice President, GWS

42 Plaza Drive | Travelers Rest | 864.834.9031

www.gatewaywealthstrategies.com

201 Pelham Road | Greenville | 864.660.7647

Securities are: offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC; not insured by FDIC or any government agency; not a deposit, not bank guaranteed; Behind The Counter | 2014 23 subject to risk, and may lose value. Gateway Wealth Strategies and Bank of Travelers Rest are independent of RJFS.

SIGNATURE POOLS AND PATIOS, LLC

Signature Pools and Patios takes pride in being the builder people come to when they want to dream the impossible dream.

Craig Sikkelee has built his legacy in the local pool business from the ground up … and down.

He got his start installing above-ground pools after relocating from his hometown of Detroit in 1979. Thirty-five years later Craig leads the team at Signature Pools and Patios in designing and building beautiful custom pools and patios, and making backyard dreams come true across the Upstate.

Son Zach, who joined the team in 2008 and today serves as VP of Operations, says Signature Pools approaches each project in much the same way premium homebuilders would, which is a far cry from the prefab pools prevalent throughout much of the industry.

They accomplish this through a team of landscape architects, licensed engineers, and other highly trained professionals.

Signature Pools and Patios takes pride in being the builder people come to when they want to dream the impossible dream. From massive natural stone waterfalls and vanishing edges to downtown Greenville’s first – and so far, only – rooftop swimming pool, no challenge is too great. In fact, the Signature team relishes the opportunity to flex their design and engineering muscle and bring seemingly wild ideas to fruition.

Rather than plopping a pool into an existing landscape, Signature Pools and Patios works closely with the client to develop a whole yard concept – tying all the elements together to create an outdoor living masterpiece. And this doesn’t just include water features. Signature incorporates everything from fencing and arbors to lighting and outdoor furniture in their design work. Whether you’re looking for your own personal waterpark to keep the kids entertained or an outdoor kitchen of epic proportion, Signature Pools and Patios will be with you through every detail.

Throughout his career Craig’s guiding principle has been to treat clients with honesty and fairness, and that culture has remained alive and well as the one-man operation has evolved into a true family business with a reputation for excellence and quality craftsmanship.

1525 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville www.signature-llc.com | 864.991.8020 24

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by carol boone stewart

Behind The Photography Counter by related|images 2014 photography 25

4ROOMS

“Our goal is to offer the latest looks at attractive prices.”

As it turns out, a location with three times the square footage opened in the same shopping center, so Wesley and his crew simply carried 4Room’s inventory across the Augusta Commons parking lot.

26

He’s always had a green thumb – and turns out Wesley Turner is

“We are so excited about expanding into this larger place,”

gifted at growing a business, too.

Wesley says. “4Rooms can now showcase even more transitional

The young entrepreneur planted his first venture – Roots-

home accessories, decor, lighting, occasional pieces, rugs and

An Urban Gardener’s Oasis – on Augusta Road in 2009. The

pillows. Our goal is to offer the latest looks at attractive prices.”

blossoming success of this creative garden boutique inspired

Roots and 4Rooms are ideal complements to each other, with

Wesley’s idea for a sister store and, last Spring, he opened

eclectic inventories so customers can beautify their homes both

4Rooms-Home Trends by Roots. A lifestyle shop featuring

inside and out.

“home décor you adore,” it’s fast become THE place to find

“Roots is the perfect outlet for my love of plants and

finishing touches for any room. In fact, this stylish enterprise has

design,” says Wesley, who earned a degree in horticulture from

enjoyed such popularity amongst designers – both professional

Mississippi State University. “We specialize in living, growing

and DIYers – that it outpaced its space in less than a year.

arrangements – these are not your typical floral designs,

“I knew it was time to transplant 4Rooms so the business

because ours have roots. This allows them to last much longer

could continue to grow,” Wesley says, noting the public was

than the cut flowers you’d find at a florist.”

clamoring for a larger selection of home trends and unique

Roots’ designs may be trendy or traditional, but all are

designer finds, “but we didn’t want to go too far. Augusta Road

beautifully affordable, Wesley says. In addition to the potted

is such a vibrant retail environment.”

plant creations – which are lovely AND long-lasting – Roots

2014 |

Behind The Counter

carries outdoor shrubs, trees, perennials and annuals, organic

“This is one of my favorite ways to connect with the public,”

herbs, vegetables and hanging baskets as well as garden accents

says Wesley. “We have so much fun sharing what we do.”

and gifts.

Indeed, being an entrepreneur is more of a passion than a

Wesley and his staff enjoy sharing their design expertise

profession. “When you get to do what you love, it’s really not

– whether via plants or accent pieces – and they believe in nurturing customers’ own creativity, too. That’s the idea behind the popular Wine & Design Workshops, a grown-up version

work,” Wesley explains. “Which is good, because when you’re the owner you have to be willing to live and breathe your business. I am here 24/7 … and I LOVE it!”

of the make-and-takes we all adored as children. These fun evenings kick off with wine and other light refreshments, followed by a demo of the evening’s topic; then it’s all about imagination as attendees design an item of their own. Topics range from holiday wreaths to seasonal door baskets to container arrangements and terrariums.

“We like to keep these groups small, so we can give participants lots of one-on-one attention,” Wesley says, noting these classes fill up fast. What’s more, he fills many a request for private Wine & Designs, as the evenings make an ideal outing for Girls Night Out, garden clubs, Sunday school groups, birthdays, office gatherings and more.

2222 Augusta Street, Greenville www.4roomsgreenville.com | 864.241.0100 Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-5pm

Photography by|carol boone stewart Behind The Counter 2014 27

MEGAN DIEZ SALON “Having my own business has been my goal ever since I was a young girl.”

410 River Street, Greenville www.MeganDiez.com | 864.271.4503 28

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by parkkonen photography

Megan Diez knows all about fairy tales – indeed, she was a stylist at Disney World once upon a time – and opening her own salon is a dream come true.

“Having my own business has been my goal ever since I was a young girl,” says Megan who, at 24, may be young by entrepreneurial standards but nevertheless has experience aplenty. She began working in her early teens as a salon assistant and attended cosmetology school while in high school. Jobs in a variety of salons helped Megan define her creative flair, all the while sketching what she wanted – and didn’t want – in a place of her own.

“I opened Megan Diez Salon in March 2013,” she says, and while the “magic” that made it happen was of the roll-up-your-sleeves variety, the result is nothing short of charmed.

Hers is a cozy, one-stop-shop for everyone’s beauty needs – that’s gals AND guys – in a calm, comfortable atmosphere. “One of things I love about my shop is that we are very intimate,” Megan says. “There’s not that loud bustle you find in some of the bigger shops. You can come here, relax and be pampered.”

Inspired by international styles, Megan brings the latest fashions to town, including keratin smoothing treatments, all types of hair extensions and, of course, gorgeous cuts and color. A nail stylist ensures your ‘tips and toes look as lovely as your tresses. The salon offers early and late hours for extra convenience.

An ideal downtown location makes for plenty of foot traffic from nearby hotels. “We see lots of out-of-towners as well as performers from the Peace Center,” Megan says, and she thrives on serving as an ambassador for her adopted hometown. The self-described foodie makes a hobby of patronizing downtown eateries, so she relishes the opportunity to help visitors pick that just-right restaurant.

A native of New York City, Megan moved south to study Cosmetology Management and is currently working toward a second degree in Business Administration from Furman University. “You need creativity and skill to do hair – but you have to understand how to run a business, too,” she says.

Away from the salon, Megan is a flutist and performs with the Greenville Concert Band. The rest of her hobby time these days is spent planning her upcoming wedding … a happily ever after for a girl who believes in her dreams.

DESIGNS FROM BETH’S HOUSE “I found myself with too much fabric and not enough spaces in my own house to cover with it, so I had to do something.”

Photography by carol boone stewart

Beth Satterfield has a passion for fabric that borders on the obsessive, but she found a way to fashion her love for damask and brocade into a successful full-service interior design company.

“I got into this business because I love fabric,” she admits. “I found myself with too much fabric and not enough spaces in my own house to cover with it, so I had to do something.”

Beth traces her interest in design to her time spent living in Saudi Arabia – something she’s been lucky enough to do twice, thanks to her husband’s 45-year career with Fluor. The first stint included the couple’s two young daughters, with whom Beth spent most of her time traveling and exploring their new corner of the world. When the opportunity arose a second time in the late 90s, the couple’s then grown daughters stayed behind, and Beth spent her spare time playing bridge and catching up on design shows. She returned to the States in 2001 brimming with inspiration and a desire to put her lifelong love of sewing to work.

While completing her interior design coursework at Tri-County Tech (she also holds a certificate from Greenville Tech), Beth started making draperies for her professor, using a portable worktable set atop the pool table in her rec room. Through this process she learned the professional method for making soft home goods – window treatments, bedding, pillows, and the like – and eventually began taking custom orders from other local designers.

The workload soon increased beyond her personal capacity, and she hired her first employee eight years ago. This allowed her the time to branch out into taking on her own design projects, while still serving as a professional workroom for other designers. Today she has two employees who do the sewing while she tackles the design and engineering end of things. Her husband handles her accounting in an office down the hall.

Beth’s services are available by appointment, and samples of her work – and her favorite fabrics – can be seen in her space at Palmetto Home & Garden. Palmetto is also the place to preview the new line of lampshades Beth is excited to be bringing to town. She describes the line as more casual than your standard silk shades, with a little retro thrown in for fun.

www.designsfrombethshouse.com | 864.346.2537 bethsatnsc4@charter.net

Behind The Counter | 2014

29

Photography by carol boone stewart

SPERO’S PETE’S TOO

“It’s the toughest job you’ll ever have, but it’s also one of the most gratifying jobs you can do.”

Spero’s Pete’s Original opened on Pendleton Street in 1950, owned and run

by John Conits. Now age 99, John still heads into Spero’s Pete’s Too on Stone Avenue most days, visiting the owner – his son, Spero-chatting with customers, and offering plenty of hard-won wisdom.

“He gets out and travels and always brings some new idea back,” Spero said of his father. “He comes in just to hang out every day.”

That’s the multi-generational, family-friendly atmosphere you find at Spero’s Petes Too, which Spero opened in 2007, offering the same highquality Greek and American food that made the original such a hit. (The Conits family sold Spero’s Pete’s Original in 2013). “You get the price of fast food, but it’s real, high-quality food,” Spero said. Spero’s Pete’s is known for being the first to introduce the gyro in the Upstate in 1978.

Back then, people were hesitant, Spero said, but were quickly won over.

Spero helped out in his dad’s restaurant as a teenager, but after graduating from Wofford went in a different direction, taking a job at Milliken’s Research Center. After a few years, he decided to help run the restaurant instead, and he has never looked back.

“It’s the toughest job you’ll ever have, but it’s also one of the most gratifying jobs you can do,” he said. “You see the whole process, and you can see how much customers enjoy it. They tell you how much they appreciate you.”

Spero’s children – sons John and Alex and daughter Athena, all working or off at college – grew up pitching in just like he did.

30

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Four-year-old daughter Heather, who keeps Spero and wife Rochelle on their toes, isn’t quite ready to take orders yet, but loves to visit. “It’s her favorite restaurant,” Spero said with a laugh.

General Manager Nacho Gonzalez has been with Spero for four years, and has become an integral part of the team. The Stone Avenue building was completely gutted and remodeled before opening, with all new seating and amenities, creating an appealing backdrop for enjoying a menu that includes something for everyone.

The staff has become close with many regulars and Spero hopes new customers will come in to try the award-winning hot dogs (topped with chili made using John’s original recipe), fresh salads, gourmet burgers, homemade onion rings, or the ever-popular breakfast that includes two eggs, grits, toast or biscuits, sausage or bacon for $3.99.

819 East Stone Avenue, Greenville 864.232.3132 Mon.-Sat. 7am-9pm

BENNETTS’ FRAME & ART GALLERY Besides offering quality, affordable custom framing, our Greenville, South Carolina-based art gallery also showcases artists you won’t find anywhere else in the Upstate.

Photo provided

Bennetts’ Frame & Art Gallery has been a staple of the Greenville business community on Laurens Road for more than 38 years. But the secret to its success lies on the inside: a staff with more than 139 years of collective experience in art and framing.

For owner Amanda Bennett, the staff members’ deep experience and their easy camaraderie is a source of great pride. The shop owner since 1994, Amanda knows her staff will give a long list of repeat customers the individual attention they have come to expect, including a knowledge of their preferences and the ability to help them pick the right picture or the best frame to perfectly complement their home décor.

“A frequent visitor to the shop once told me that watching this group of women work together put him in mind of watching an extended group of cousins preparing the table at a family reunion,” Amanda recounts.

In fact, Amanda’s trust of her staff is reminiscent of the trust you might have for family members. After more than 30 years in her family business, Amanda decided to take a break. She and her daughter, Pierce, spent a year in Italy, visiting museums and soaking up the European art culture from their base at an apartment in Bologna.

“After all, at its foundation, the appreciation for art is founded in the human delight at the new and the different,” Amanda says, who returned to Greenville with new ideas and a refreshed outlook.

Amazingly, the staff operated completely independently during her absence. Still, Amanda is glad to be back in Greenville, and delighted to welcome customers, new and repeat, to experience the fine service and fine staff for which Bennetts’ Frame & Art Gallery is known.

2100 Laurens Road, Greenville www.bennettsartgallery.com | 864.288.6430 Mon.-Fri. 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat. 9:30am-5:00pm Behind The Counter | 2014

31

DAPPER INK “After five years of doing this, I can’t imagine doing anything else and enjoying it so much.”

If your children have attended a summer camp in the Upstate in the last seven years, chances are they’ve worn a t-shirt printed by Dapper Ink. The custom printing company, now located on Wade Hampton Boulevard, started small— very small—in 2007 when Matt Moreau took up screen printing as a graduate student to make some extra money. Later, when Matt married Jen, the printing business filled the second story of their home, and the dark room was in the upstairs bathroom.

Seven years and two moves later, Jen is just now reclaiming the second floor of her house.

Happy to be in their current location since 2010, Matt and Jen have grown the home-based business to include three additional full-time employees.

“We’ve probably grown our business volume by 30-50 percent, but it’s more than just volume.

I feel like we’re fitting our customers better and better,” says Jen. Dapper Ink offers its customers a variety of products that set it apart, marking it as a unique custom printer that specializes in old-fashioned, individualized customer service.

For example, Dapper Ink is the proud owner of a rare 100-year-old letter press used in its day for newspaper and print advertising; the old technology, run by hand and utilizing individual color plates, has experienced a revival in the past 10 years. Dapper Ink uses its letter press for wedding invitations, business cards, and other specialty paper printing. A bride who comes to Dapper Ink can sit down with a graphic artist, design a completely original invitation, and order them hand-printed on the high-quality letter press, a process that produces very sharp print that she can feel by hand.

Dapper Ink also offers graphic design services for traditional printing work, as well as turnkey work for businesses that have their own logos and designs ready. The shop prints banners and top-quality digital printing for artists.

But back to summer camp and the apparel printing that Dapper Ink is known for. Summer is a busy time for the shop, with custom t-shirts and other apparel for camps to produce. School groups such as fraternities and sororities, and local entities such as Euphoria and the Greenville Humane Society, utilize Dapper Ink. “We really care about the apparel market here in Greenville,” Jen says. Not a typical t-shirt warehouse, Jen and Matt have worked hard to make the shop a well-designed and friendly place for customers to do business and shop. On display are custom t-shirts that feature graphic representations of local landmarks — such as Jones Gap, Table Rock, Pisgah, and Blue Ridge Parkway — and specific designs promoting Greenville’s recreational opportunities for biking and camping.

Biking and hiking are activities that Matt and Jen are committed to. Outdoor enthusiasts, they often spend their free time taking advantage of the beautiful natural sites for local recreation, as well as enjoying urban restaurants and coffee bars.

Matt’s background is in illustration, but Jen, who studied history, is a little surprised to have found a love for printing. “There was a long time when I thought there were a lot of other jobs I’d like to do. But after five years of doing this, I can’t imagine doing anything else and enjoying it so much,” Jen says. The couple enjoys working together and playing together, activities they’ve been able to combine in their one-of-a-kind printing business. In addition to the customized service they offer their customers, they’re looking forward to expanding their custom-designed apparel to additional retail outlets.

207 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Greenville www.dapperink.com | 864.551.3115 Mon.-Fr.i 9-5 32

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by related|images photography Behind The Counter 2014 33

MAST GENERAL STORE “We’ve been here over ten years and it is still so much fun.

This is really a wonderful place to work.”

Managing Mast General Store isn’t ALL fun and games – it takes hard work aplenty to run downtown’s most popular retail destination. But this is a place employees enjoy just as much as the customers.

“We’ve been here over ten years and it is still so much fun,” says General Manager Mary Nase, noting there’s never a dull moment in this old-fashioned store – located on Main Street in the old Meyers-Arnold – where inventory ranges from whimsical to rugged to downright delicious. “This really is a wonderful place to work.”

In an industry notorious for turnover, Mast General Store enjoys immense employee loyalty. Mary and her management team – Tim Dorsey, Bryan Howell and Eddie Poore – and several staffers have been with the Greenville store since the doors opened in Spring ’03. Mary attributes this longevity to a warm-hearted work atmosphere and old-fashioned corporate ethics. What’s more, Mast General Store (headquartered in Valle Crucis, NC, where the Original Store opened in 1883) is employeeowned so everyone on staff is vested in the company’s success.

“This is such a strong group of managers – I’ve been incredibly lucky to have these guys with me from the start,” says Mary, who has thirty-plus years of retail experience. “We also have outstanding employees who love working here, and that translates into great customer service.”

Indeed, Mast General Store is famed for its friendly atmosphere – whether buying or simply browsing, everyone enjoys a warm welcome. Locals and tourists alike agree Mast is a must-stop shop for its little-bit-of-everything inventory: old-time mercantile goods, toys, casual clothing, comfortable footwear, travel accessories, outdoor gear and, of course, candy.

“I love listening to customers talk about where they’re going hiking or camping,” says Tim Dorsey, who manages Outdoors and Footwear. “My goal is helping people maximize their outdoor experience by providing the correct equipment, the right clothing – nothing ruins a hike faster than ill-fitting hiking boots!”

A University of Memphis grad with a degree in parks and recreation, Tim spends his spare time hiking the same beautiful trails his customers enjoy. He also stays busy volunteering at his daughter’s school, Stone Academy.

Bryan Howell began working retail while in college – he majored in communications at Winthrop University – and fell in love with the industry then.

“It’s the people who make it great,” says Bryan, who manages Sportswear. “We have the most interesting customers. Visitors come from all over the country – all over the world – and we love getting to know them.”

When he’s not busy stocking Mast with a wonderful array of clothing for men and women, Bryan enjoys USC sports as well as family time with his teenage and college-age sons. He also is active on the School Improvement Councils at Stone Academy and Lakeview Middle.

Eddie Poore manages Toys and Mercantile as well as everyone’s favorite, Candy. “We’re famous for our barrels of candy,” he says, noting they carry more than 500 varieties of classic confections. The Greenville native has always worked retail and especially enjoys being tasked with the fun and fancies that make Mast famous.

Eddie is passionate about Tennessee Walking Horses – he’s had a two-time world champion – and he helps organize a twice-yearly horse show that benefits the Ronald McDonald House and Greenville Cancer Society.

Mast General Store is committed to community service. The store collects shoes and warm outerwear all year long for Upstate charities, for example, and provides display space where local nonprofits can publicize upcoming events. On designated days per year, Mast donates a portion of sales to organizations such as Upstate Forever and Loaves & Fishes.

111 N. Main Street, Greenville www.maststoregreenville.com 864.235.1883 34

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Behind The Counter Photography by|carol 2014 boone stewart 35

A.T. LOCKE She’ll keep your numbers on track…

She’ll keep your numbers on track, and Anna Locke doesn’t stop there – she makes sure you understand how, where and why those stats are moving. Because taking a business in the right direction requires relevant accounting that yields valuable insight into how your operations are running.

Anna and her crew at A.T. LOCKE are expert at helping clients make the most of their financial reporting. Beyond fulfilling typical outsourced accounting functions – from record keeping to reporting to analysis – these highly-trained professionals provide what for many a business owner is too often missing: the in-depth analysis that’s critical for decision making.

“We specialize in helping clients understand how to use their

36

2014 |

Behind The Counter

numbers in a whole new way,” explains Anna, a Clemson grad who worked as a CPA for Top 40 and independent firms before starting up A.T. LOCKE in 2008. A total solutions provider, her company offers specifically tailored services – data entry, budget prep, audit coordination, review and analysis, financial reporting and strategy – all engineered to yield viable financial information to each individual business. Clients benefit from first-class accounting expertise while realizing the cost-savings of outsourcing.

“We’re thorough. We’re timely. And we’re a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee,” Anna says. “We can put together the perfect team for any client – a scalable group that grows along with your business.”

Anna handpicked the A.T. LOCKE crew for their collective experience ranging from financial analysts to veteran business

Photography by carol boone stewart

owners. This breadth of knowledge enables the firm to partner with more than 100 companies across the region in a diverse range of industries including automotive, manufacturing, construction, healthcare and professional services as well as government agencies and non-profits.

As A.T. LOCKE moves full-steam ahead, Anna works just as hard to ensure positive momentum within the community. The company has sponsored the YMCA Open Doors Campaign, for example, as well as events such as the Miracle Hill Cycling Challenge and South Carolina Children’s Theater’s production of “Annie.” Employees join together to participate in fundraisers ranging from Walk for the Homeless to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Anna serves on the boards of NEXT High School and Center for Developmental Services. She and her husband, Sidney, share

a passion for travel and adventure. They moved to Greenville just after completing a one-week honeymoon train ride from Denver to San Francisco.

68 Pointe Circle, Suite 2202, Greenville www.atlocke.com | 864.908.3062

Photography by carol boone Behind stewart The | Photo Counter credit to| Heritage 2014

Park 37

Photography by lauren miller photography

ELLIS CRIGLER, BETH JOYNER CRIGLER AND CARMEN CRIGLER FEEMSTER

“Live, laugh, love...and leave a legacy” Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, REALTORS® Her father ended many a speech by encouraging listeners to “live, laugh, love…and leave a legacy,” and nobody who knew him ever doubted C. Dan Joyner walked that talk.

“I’m so proud to follow in my dad’s footsteps,” says Beth Crigler, a Realtor in the Augusta Road office of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, REALTORS®, the company founded by the late Joyner back in 1964. “He was such a good man. He had so much integrity. He genuinely practiced the Golden Rule – that’s his legacy, and I carry it on in all of my own business dealings.”

Being a trusted Realtor is indeed a family tradition amongst Joyners and Criglers. Her brother, Danny Joyner, follows their father as company President; Beth’s husband, David, is Executive Vice President/COO; and her sister, Lynn, coordinates print advertising for the company. Her son, Alex, heads up the property management division and both her daughter and daughter-in-law – Carmen Crigler Feemster and Ellis Crigler – work alongside Beth in the company’s Augusta Road office.

“This family is all in real estate – and real estate is in all of us,” says Beth, who answered phones and worked odd jobs around the office as a teenager before heading off to the University of South Carolina. She got her real estate license some 27 years ago and holds the Graduate, Realtor Institute and Certified Residential Specialist designations. “We live this business, and we love it.”

Beth is also committed to carrying on C. Dan’s legacy of community service. She is a sustainer with the Junior League of Greenville, for 38

2014 |

Behind The Counter

example, and a board member of the Gower Estates Neighborhood Association. She is a member of First Baptist Church Greenville, where she has served on the Diaconate as well as other committees. She has volunteered for United Way in various capacities and is especially passionate about the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk.

Beth’s favorite away-from-work activities are playing with her grandkids – “Oh, they’re the apple of my eye,” she says – and hosting extended family cookouts where, she admits, everyone ends up talking real estate.

After “opening doors in your neighborhood” for more than a quartercentury, Beth says her job never gets old or stale. “This career is so rewarding. I get to help people find their dream come true,” she says.

“There’s stress involved in buying or selling a home, but I work to be sure it’s a positive experience. I definitely get to live, love and laugh – I get to make people happy.”

www.bethcrigler.net | www.cdanjoyner.com 864.420.4718 (Beth) | 864.616.1348 (Ellis) | 864.616.5177 (Carmen)

GREYSTONE ANTIQUES AND RESTORATION A Tradition of Excellence – Dedicated to Service

Photography by related images photography

Trey Sherman is one of the lucky ones.

Now a 20-year veteran at his shop, Greystone Antiques and Restoration in Greenville, Trey works every day at his beloved craft—a lifelong passion that he first discovered when he entered his dad’s workshop at the age of 5.

A master restorer of antiques of all kinds, Trey believes that his and his staff ’s years of knowledge and experience are their greatest strengths. The professionals at Greystone Antiques know every angle of the restoration process—knowledge they’re delighted to share every day with their clients, whether they’re advising on a restoration of an antique, or delivering their own finely crafted reproduction. “We offer quality craftsmanship that will satisfy the most discerning customers at a price they can afford,” Trey says.

“I’ve seen many come and go in this business, and I believe the difference is to ‘be what you do,’” says Trey. “My name and reputation are as sacred to me as the desires of my customers.”

In addition to the restoration work done at Greystone’s workshop location on Piney Mountain Road, the store sells a high-quality mix of American and European antiques at its showroom on Augusta Road, including items from estate sales and individuals that range from furniture to fine art and collectibles. Designs offered by the store feature their handmade collapsible farm tables, custom-made range hoods, kitchen islands, and poster beds made from antique lumber.

As a second-generation successful business owner, Trey cautions that loving what you do is just the start. “Do your homework,” he says. “I have had to work hard to learn all I could to get where I am today. Success requires hard work and dedication.”

Although Trey ultimately decided to join his family’s business, he admits to considering veterinary medicine for his life’s work as a young man.

Luckily for antique lovers, he chose antique restoration after his graduation from Furman University. Trey maintains his love for animals through an unusual hobby: raising, riding and training saddle mules.

Trey and his family—wife, Natalie, and 9-year-old twins Greyson and Olivia—love to travel in their leisure time. They take off regularly in their Airstream to camp in the mountains or at the beach. For Trey, home is anywhere his family is.

1500 Augusta Road and 101 Piney Mountain Road, Greenville www.greystoneantiques.net | 864.233.3424 Behind The Counter | 2014

39

HENNESSEE HAVEN “The nicest compliment is when people say the shop feels like home.”

40

2014 |

Behind The Counter

move both unexpected and brilliant – shoes. “It brings people into the store,” she said. “As women, we tend to love our shoes.”

The boutique’s interior offers a glimpse of the style she brings to her projects, with pickled wood ceilings, a rustic brick wall and a custom barn door on a metal track. Shoppers can get cozy on the sofa and try on shoes while chatting with Terry and petting 10-month-old Tebow, the shop’s official canine greeter.

“I wanted to create a warm and inviting place to relax,” Gillespie said.

“The nicest compliment is when people say the shop feels like home.”

820 S. Main Street, Unit 101, Greenville www.hennesseehaven.com 864.558.0300

Photography by parkkonen photography

Terry Gillespie spent more than 20 years in IT sales, including 14 years as vice president of an IT consulting group. But after a brief period in semi-retirement, she realized it was time to get back to a previous passion – interior design. “I realized a need to do things that I have a passion for,” she said.

Gillespie, who had earned a degree in interior design at Converse College before her IT career, quickly found her niche with high-end custom homes. Since opening Hennessee Haven Design Group in 2003, she’s worked in area golf course communities, designed vacation homes on Kiawah Island, and created interiors at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta.

“I like to look for unique solutions, and use materials or products you wouldn’t expect to see,” she said, citing the recent use of Italian leather tiles, faceted chains, a custom chandelier and a tree trunk to hold a vessel on a vanity.

To showcase her one-of-a-kind style and to assist customers at various price points, she opened Hennessee Haven, a boutique, in 2013. For design clients, “they can see the products, and not just look in catalogs,” she said. From urban loft to traditional home to vacation sanctuary, Gillespie has a flair for stocking items that elevate every setting. Each visit brings surprises that are both sophisticated and casual. Wedding and birthday gifts abound, with everything from chandeliers and lamps to decorative pillows to accessories and – in a

Photography by related images photography

ACUTECH AUTOMOTIVE INC. We have been in business serving Greenville and the surrounding areas for 25 years.

Jimmy Williams started out as a factory-trained technician for Acura/ Honda, working at a dealership in Houston, Texas. But when he had the opportunity to move to Greenville to work for Rick Hendrix Acura, he jumped at the chance, which brought him closer to family. In 1990, he opened Acutech, starting with only two bays, but has since expanded to an 8,000-square-foot workspace that also offers tire and alignment services, creating a one-stop shop.

The reason for the success, in addition to automotive expertise, is integrity. “Everyone wants to be remembered, but we want to be remembered for our honesty, loyalty and tireless work ethic,” Williams said. “We want people to look back and say, ‘Wow, those guys at Acutech aren’t only great at what they do, but they do it with an incredible amount of integrity and passion.’”

Acutech offers a full line of automotive services which include diagnostics and scheduled maintenance, oil changes, transfusion, power steering and brake service, tires and alignments. Their staff has certified technical training for all Honda and Acura brands and back up their work with an 18-month/18,000-mile warranty.

Over 25 years in business, Acutech’s staff has formed relationships with a diverse group of customers, and the company now services the cars of children who grew up coming to Acutech with their parents. “They are raising families of their own now, and we offer them the same great service, reliability and honesty that we gave their parents,” Williams said.

To give back to the community he loves, Williams and his team have supported a variety of causes and groups, including the Crossroads Adolescent Group Home, which named Williams Volunteer of the Year.

Acutech also supports Generations Group Home in Fountain Inn. “Being a volunteer is a rewarding, eye-opening experience,” Williams said. “I have realized the many hardships that exist in our community. I wake up every day with the mission to ‘make someone’s day,’ and I hope I am able to accomplish that.”

Customers can expect the staff to take care of each vehicle as if it were their own, remembering that safety on the road is of the utmost importance for everyone. “Family first, that’s exactly what matters, and that means yours or ours,” Williams said.

118 Carrie Court, Greenville www.acutechonline.com | 864.676.9126 Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm Behind The Counter | 2014

41

ST. CLAIR SIGNS

Since 1992 St. Clair has been creating professional signage for the Carolinas and surrounding areas with a staff that has over 103 years of combined experience.

Hugh St. Clair hand-painted billboards while a student at Shannon Forest Christian School, thanks to his father’s business, Metro Displays. “They used to all be hand-painted, though now they are vinyl and digital,” he said.

Working with large clients like McDonald’s and Comfort Inn, he noticed that as these companies approved billboard designs, they would also express a need for different types of banners and signage. He quickly realized that he could be the one to supply them.

After high school, he went on to play basketball at North Greenville University and decided to create and maintain signage for clients as a part-time job. But he soon found that the one-man business he was operating out of his apartment left him little time to do anything else.

42

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Oshman’s, a sports retailer, came to town and gave him a huge sign contract while he was still a college freshman. “I had no idea how to do everything they needed, but I went to work.

I learned on-the-job and by hiring people who knew more than I did,” he said.

More than 20 years later, St. Clair Signs works with large companies like Bojangles, Burger King and Starbucks, and recently completed the company’s largest project ever for the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. “If we can do that job, we can do anything,” he said of a project that involved three signs over 100 feet in length, with a 14-foot logo. A digital band and the hightech scoreboard were built in conjunction with CBS Sports.

Digital signage is a growing segment of the business, and his team has stayed ahead of the curve, with the ability to install full-color digital displays, channel letters, back-lit cabinets, sand-blasted signs and more. A fleet of 65-foot Elliott Crane trucks ensures the company can install and service signs from 5 feet to 125 feet.

St. Clair attributes his company’s success to finding a need in the marketplace, offering turn-key service from design and production through fabrication, installation and maintenance,

Photography by carol boone stewart

and most importantly, a focus on customer service. “Everyone

There are three crane operators/technicians that run the road

who works here is customer service oriented,” he said of his staff

crew (Wayne, Jeff and Robin) that are as top notch as any in the

of 11. “If you call us, we are usually there that day.”

industry. They take pride in their work and it shows. These guys

The staff consists of long-time employees like sales manager

put in the muscle after the design and production is complete.

Bryan Hooper, who has been with the company for over 12

“St. Clair Signs can bring your ideas to life! Please contact

years. “Bryan is an asset to our business and is a major reason

one of our team members and let us provide you with a free

for our continued growth and success,” St. Clair said. Bryan

estimate today,” St. Clair said. “Thank you Greenville for over

takes pride in his job and it shows – he is very thorough and has

21 years of business!”

the ability to create relationships with customers and employees alike while providing 100% satisfaction with every job.

Pieter VanSchaick is another long-term employee and has been with the company for almost a decade. Pieter is the production manager and is responsible for quality control and overseeing every job before it leaves the shop. Pieter and new hire, Brian Wofford, work as a great team together and ensure that you are happy with your final product.

In the graphics department, there are two excellent designers on staff with over a decade of experience each. They create, design and draw your ideas and they bring your ideas to life.

Dusty and Jeremy are some of the best in the business!

3184 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Taylors www.stclairsigns.com | 864.244.0040

by parkkonen photography Behind ThePhotography Counter | 2014 43

Photography by related images photography

Front Row, L to R: Greg Huff, Hope Tz Schmalzl, Danny Joyner, Matt Carter, Nelson Garrison · Top Row: Chris Scott & Steve Hoover (Property Management), Michael Joseph, Reba Childers, Wayne Smith, Steve Greer, Ted Arnold, Joe Teague, Barney Atkinson, Ann Love, Hays Reynolds, David Dempsey

When Joyner Commercial looks over Greenville’s business landscape, they see a

huge window of opportunity.

“As the Upstate grows, so do we,” says Matt Carter, Broker-in-Charge of the Commercial Division of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, REALTORS®. “It’s exciting to work on projects that move this region forward. In this business, we shape our community and, in turn, our community shapes us.”

Danny Joyner, President of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, REALTORS®, is big on relationships. “Our community connections are important,” Joyner says. “The Commercial Division looks at each property as a potential project – adding options, bringing something more to the table.”

And now that Joyner Commercial’s parent company has aligned with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, “they will be able to reach out in a whole new way,” Joyner explains. "Our Commercial team has the support of the largest real estate brokerage company in the Upstate, and carries the world’s most respected brand name: Berkshire Hathaway. These are exciting times for us and the Upstate real estate market.”

44

201424 | Vardry Behind The Street, Counter

Suite 401, Greenville | 864.233.7724 | joynercommercial.com

C. DAN JOYNER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT “My grandfather was a firm believer in the Golden Rule and we are committed to carrying on his tradition.”

Photography by carol boone stewart

He’s right at home at C. Dan Joyner Property Management – and Alex Crigler strives to ensure tenants feel the same way, too.

As property manager-in-charge of this division of Prudential C. Dan Joyner Co., Alex oversees day-to-day operations of Greenville’s most trusted property management company. His team – nine property managers, two accountants and an admin assistant – manages 500-plus rental homes and 50 homeowners associations across the Upstate … and yet, no landlord, tenant or homeowner is ever just a number.

“We want everyone to feel welcome,” says Alex, who was born into Greenville’s first family of real estate. His grandfather, C. Dan Joyner, founded the company, his uncle is CEO and his parents, siblings and wife are involved in the business as well. “There’s definitely a family atmosphere around here, and that’s a big part of why clients are so comfortable here.”

The other parts are trust and competence. “We do everything possible to take care of our clients’ needs,” Alex says. “My grandfather was a firm believer in the Golden Rule and we are committed to carrying on his tradition.”

The property management group is well-versed in the Landlord-Tenant Act, making the living easier for renters and property owners alike. They advertise properties, screen potential residents, collect rent, handle repairs, provide a 24-hour emergency call line – they even prepare the landlord’s end-of-year financial statements.

“We maintain such an appealing inventory, with rentals available in just about every price point,” Alex says, and he’s made it his business to be sure every person finds a perfect place.

C. Dan Joyner Property Management also services homeowners associations, offering assistance ranging from board meetings to financials to covenant enforcements. “Having an ‘outsider’ manage the HOA is the easiest way to avoid creating tension between neighbors,” Alex explains.

“Our staff does this so well – and I know they love it, because many of them go home and serve on the boards of their own HOAs.” A 2006 graduate of USC, Alex worked in Prudential C. Dan Joyner Co.’s commercial division for a year right out of school. He then pursued other opportunities in sales and management before returning to the C. Dan Joyner Co. fold in 2013.

Away from the office, Alex has put his previous pastimes on hold for a new, all-consuming passion: chasing his two-year-old son, Bo, and playing with his six-month-old daughter, Mary Ellis.

735 N. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville www.cdjpropertymanagement.com | 864.242.4466

Behind The Counter | 2014

45

GBS BUILDING SUPPLY “We have a vested interest in the success of our customer/partners and in the success of the community as a whole.”

GBS Lumber was founded by local builders in 1972. Forty-two years later, now known as GBS Building Supply, the employeeowned company is still at the forefront of the industry, still independent, and still very connected to its core principals of “Products, Service and Solutions.”

“I think what makes us different as an employee-owned company is the level of commitment from each and every team member to the success of our customers and to the success

46

2014 |

Behind The Counter

of our company,” reflects Bob Barreto, CEO. “Our company personality and culture is similar to that of our customers. We are independent and part of our local economy. We have a vested interest in the success of our customer/partners and in the success of the community as a whole.”

GBS demonstrates its commitment to the community by supporting many local charities, organizations, and events such as the American Heart Association, the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and the Alzheimer’s Association. The company is also a major sponsor of the local Home Builders Associations, and employees are encouraged to donate their time and resources to various causes throughout the Upstate.

With products ranging from lumber and windows to doors, trim, cabinets and decking, GBS works with a broad range of custom homebuilders, remodelers, and homeowners. States Barreto, “We have a very high level of expertise throughout the company, with a specialist on staff in each department to help folks get their projects done.” Though the selection and prices are more than competitive, it’s the friendly, knowledgeable people and the exceptional service that bring customers back again and again.

In addition to the store and complete showroom in Mauldin, GBS has locations in Six Mile, Anderson, and Hendersonville, as well as a Commercial Division that specializes in drywall and associated products.

The team of 100 employee-owners at GBS invites you to stop by and let them show you around. They are proud of their company and their ability to provide the best “Products, Service and Solutions” in North and South Carolina.

B

BUILDING

SUPPLY

PRODUCTS SERVICE SOLUTIONS

Corporate Office: 11 Geneva Court, Greenville www.gbsbuilding.com | 864.288.3627

by parkkonen photography Behind ThePhotography Counter | 2014 47

Photography by parkkonen photography

MOBIUS CONSTRUCTION From a simple deck addition to a complete home, we are there to assist you in building your dream.

Dave Smith and Matt Ruth strive to change the perception of the construction and renovation process by being responsive, flexible and fair – all while producing a stellar product.

Mobius Construction has worked extensively in the more established neighborhoods of downtown Greenville, including Augusta Road and North Main, and specializes in creating traditional, timeless homes that look like they have always been a part of the neighborhood. “We deliver a finished project that has like-new construction while still preserving the character of the home and the area,” Smith said.

The partners agree that their experience with a variety of more challenging renovation projects – while remaining socially and environmentally respectful – sets them apart from the pack. “We expect to continue to be a part of the renovation work going on in the Augusta Road area and expand that into other established, traditional areas of Greenville, which we believe will see similar transformations in the next few years,” Ruth said.

Smith grew up in Virginia and attended Virginia Tech before moving to Greenville. “I tell a lot of people I wound up here by accident and have stayed on purpose,” he said. He built his first home in 1992 and now lives on Lake Hartwell with his wife Jamie in the first home built by Mobius Construction.

Ruth grew up in Greenville before also attending Virginia Tech, where he majored in civil engineering and between classes did everything from 48

2014 |

Behind The Counter

laying brick to driving nails. When he isn’t working, he spends time with his wife, Wendi, and sons Harrison (5) and William (2), playing sports and enjoying the lake.

And the name Mobius? In addition to being the name of Smith’s dog, it refers to the Mobius strip, devised by German mathematician August Ferdinand Mobius, and expresses Matt and Dave’s math and engineering backgrounds. It’s also the name of a difficult kneeboarding trick (which Smith became the first person to land in an American Kneeboard Association tournament) – appropriate since Smith and Ruth met on Lake Hartwell while indulging their love of water sports and yet another clue that the team at Mobius Construction is ready to take on any challenge from a unique perspective.

www.mocollc.com | mobiusconstructionsc.com 864.517.6000

SAFFRON’S

“The catering business is really growing and it’s nice to be able to focus on that.”

Photography by parkkonen photography

They say when one door closes, another opens, and that’s certainly been the case for Glenn Sawicki, who closed the doors of Saffron’s West End Cafe at the end of 2013 but has kicked off 2014 with a surge in his catering business, steady clientele at the Children’s Museum of the Upstate, a busy delivery service for downtown businesses and a new partnership with Midtown Artery on Pendleton Street.

“I thought I might relax a little, but things keep popping up,” Sawicki said. “The catering business is really growing and it’s nice to be able to focus on that.”

The relationship with Midtown Artery, a gallery representing fine art and sculpture, is a natural fit for Sawicki, an avid art collector. “I have a massive collection of sculpture, glass, and paintings,” he said. “Whatever speaks to me – I like it all.”

The gallery has become a popular venue for events, and Sawicki uses his extensive catering experience to provide the food, from elegant appetizers to buffet dinners to family-style meals. Whether at the gallery or in venues around town, Sawicki gets rave reviews for dishes like his fresh salads; gorgonzola-crusted filet mignon; cheese ravioli with fresh spinach, tomato and pesto; and decadent lobster mashed potatoes. See the menu at saffronscafe.com for an unbelievable array of items to suit any event and taste - including amazing desserts.

Sawicki always knew food was in his future, from his time cooking for the family as a kid. “At Boy Scouts, I was always the one cooking

around the campfire,” he said. He went on to graduate from the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park, New York. A restaurant job brought him to Greenville more than 20 years ago, and he quickly felt at home - in large part due to the warm weather, a nice change of pace from his upbringing in Pittsburgh.

Sawicki said fans of the cafe appreciate being able to order his popular lunches, with free downtown delivery Monday through Friday. He also caters many business meetings, and has seen a lot of interest in familystyle dinners, with large platters of food passed around the table. “It’s more fun than a buffet, and better than a plated dinner with only one entree,” he said. “It’s like going to dinner at Grandma’s.”

www.saffronscafe.com 864.241.0401

Behind The Counter | 2014

49

LIQUID CATERING “I fell in love with the town. The people are wonderful and everyone has been very supportive of my business.”

When the restaurant where Tammy Johnson was working quit offering bar services along with their catering, Johnson was in a bind. Customers still wanted the service and she couldn’t find any bartending companies. So what’s an enterprising catering sales manager to do? Start her own business, of course.

She established Liquid Catering in 2011, and because it filled a need, it took off immediately.

“Sometimes catering companies don’t like to provide alcohol – maybe they don’t understand the licensing, or for religious reasons. A lot of people don’t want to mess with it,” Johnson said. “So they provide the food and we provide the alcohol.”

Three years later, Liquid Catering is still the Upstate’s only special event bartending company, serving more than 300 events per year, from 25-person gatherings to 2,500-guest galas. With a staff of 60 and eight dedicated event managers, Liquid Catering can handle any event with creativity, professionalism and safety.

Focusing on the drinks means she employs bartenders who are experienced and educated when it comes to cocktails, wines and other bar needs. In her three years in business, she has noticed a trend toward hosts offering custom cocktails at events, as well as Bloody Mary and mimosa bars at brunches and brunch weddings. “The trends change every year,” Johnson said.

“We have a whole list they can choose from, and we can find out the theme of the event and match up drinks for them based on that.”

Menus include premium wines, top shelf beers, champagne and spirits, which can be ordered in a variety of combinations. Liquid Catering can even do a “mocktail” bar or a bar made up of all-local beers and wines.

Right after opening, Liquid Catering booked an event for Greenville Health System and the Southwest Airlines welcome reception. “People immediately latched on to the fact that we do the licensing and permitting and they don’t have to worry about that,” she said.

In addition to bartenders and event managers, the company can provide greeters, coat check, security guards, promotional models and day-of-wedding coordinators.

Johnson grew up in Houston and lived in Charleston before moving to Greenville five years ago for the catering job. “I fell in love with the town,” she said. “The people are wonderful and everyone has been very supportive of my business.”

The size of Houston made it difficult to stand out in the community, she said, but Greenville has been the perfect place to start a business – large enough to offer a steady clientele but small enough to build relationships and create a name for herself.

To build on her success, Johnson opened The Old Cigar Warehouse in the West End near Fluor Field to host weddings, corporate events and private parties. “It’s a rustic and very Southern-chic space, different from anything Greenville has,” she said. After opening last summer, it’s solidly booked and she is currently reserving weekends into 2016. “We have a huge client base looking for venues, and we work with at least 50 different spaces, but of course we recommend ours,” she said. “We are always listening to our client’s needs.”

Johnson has also immersed herself in the business scene, chairing Pulse, the Greenville Chamber’s young professionals group; serving on the Greenville Chamber’s Board of Advisors; and volunteering as bar manager for Euphoria.

116 East Broad Street, Greenville www.liquid-catering.com | 864.248.4850 50

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by parkkonen photography

Behind The Counter | 2014

51

Photography by related images photography

INDUSTRY EVENT RENTALS

These girls don’t normally wear heels or stand around on ladders for photo shoots. Sweat equity jump-started this garage business into what is now a 5,000 sq. ft. warehouse of event furniture.

Brenda Luginbill and Carrie Turner of CB Events have been creating memorable events for five years, but branched out last year, opening Industry Event Rentals. With more than 5,000 square feet of unique tables, leather chairs, chandeliers, comfortable sofas, candles, and more, Industry Event Rentals can put a personal stamp on any event.

Carrie and Brenda, both with event planning backgrounds and entrepreneurial spirits, knew early on that they wanted to take CB Events to the next level. As CB Events grew, so did their rental inventory, demand for distinctive rental items, and comprehensive customer service to go along with them. And so Industry Event Rentals was born. “We hit the ground running,” Carrie said. “We didn’t know where we were running to, but we knew we would be running side by side.”

Thanks to CB Events’ success and industry connections, Industry Event Rentals had clients before it even had a name. “Clients really like that we can get to the root of what their vision is, and not only make it a reality, but take it to the next level in a creative way,” Brenda said, “It sets them apart from just a sea of basic tables and chairs covered with linens.”

From intimate dinner parties to events for 1,000 professionals, Industry Event Rentals—in addition to rentals—offers layout design, site evaluation and selection, 3D renderings, and event storyboards.

The end result: hosts always know just what to expect. “We do start52

2014 |

Behind The Counter

to-finish planning, but we specialize in decor,” said Carrie, who has a background in interior design. “We have lots of unique items, and we like to transform spaces to create the perfect atmosphere for our clients.”

When they aren’t working, Carrie spends time with Uno, “a dog I love way too much.” She also loves music and travel and recently combined both by heading to Mexico for a concert. Brenda loves to enjoy amazing food and wine and to entertain, so if she isn’t working, you are likely to find her dining out with friends or hosting events at home - preferably by the pool.

6 Bacon Street, Greenville www.industryeventrentals.com | 864.735.7845 Hours by appointment

ROCKY CREEK DENTAL CARE Every interaction is flavored by the Golden Rule to ensure patients “never stop smiling.”

Photography by carol boone stewart

The partners at Rocky Creek Dental Care have cooked up an ideal concept.

Standard ingredients range from fluoride and floss to impression materials and whitening gels – but that’s not all. Their recipe for a truly thriving dental practice includes heaping portions of compassion.

Drs. John Piccione, Margaret Roth and Kathryn Freedman serve up plenty of patients-first care with a commitment to sound, quality treatments and the pursuit of pain-free procedures. And while there’s empathy aplenty within their own office walls, the Rocky Creek staff also works to spread compassion throughout the wider community. So every year, Rocky Creek creates a benefit project, raising funds and/or gathering supplies for organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, St. Judes and GHS Children’s Hospital, just to name a few. Patients are encouraged to participate via incentives such as free whitening services.

Their most recent effort, Dr. Piccione notes, was a little more personal. An employee – a single mother of two – was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, so they wanted to help ease her medical expenses.

“We have so many generous patients and referring specialists,” he says.

“Our fundraiser on her behalf generated more than $15,000.”

Patients who donated $50 or more got into a drawing to have the Rocky Creek dentists prepare an authentic Italian meal for a party of eight in their own home. A couple hundred – encouraged, perhaps, by a name like Piccione – did so.

“I have a little history as a self-proclaimed ‘chef,’” smiles Dr. Piccione,

who cooked his way through dental school and once, while working in a Chicago dinner theater, even made his mom’s secret-recipe lasagne for Frank Sinatra. “I love cooking, and I’ve made a lot of great memories in the kitchen.

But preparing a meal in return for our generous patient’s donation – that probably tops them all.”

Rocky Creek’s 2014 benefit project will support McCall Hospice Center.

Community service blends well with Rocky Creek’s values-oriented commitment to professional integrity, honesty and patient advocacy. Every interaction is flavored by the Golden Rule to ensure patients “never stop smiling.”

Rocky Creek traces its roots to a 1940s-era dental office. Dr. Piccione took over in 1993 after a decade of dentistry in Chicago; Dr. Roth joined him in 2000 after graduating from the Medical University of South Carolina with multiple accolades including the Academy of General Dentistry Award. They welcomed Dr. Freedman aboard in 2010. This growing practice comprises two locations – Eastside and downtown – offering services five days a week.

1322 E. Washington Street, Greenville | 864.235.1200 978 Batesville Road, Greer | 864.675.9399 www.rockycreekdental.com

Behind The Counter | 2014

53

Photography by Parkkonen Photography

GREEN VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB “This club is my passion, something I look forward to every day.”

Green Valley Country Club is back! Once the premier country club in Greenville, Green Valley Country Club opened in 1958 and enjoyed decades of active membership. But it had fallen on hard times and into bankruptcy when the Kaplan family bought it in 2011. The former manufacturing executive has devoted all of his time since then to reinventing the club at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

“It was just a jewel sitting out there,” remembers Mike. “I wanted to create something unique in the golf industry.” His efforts have resulted in a club that the whole family can enjoy, without the expense of initiation and capital assessment fees.

Describing himself as someone who “loves to build things,” Mike has invested three years in bringing the club back to life. He hired wellknown golf designer Jan Bel Jan, who worked for Tom Fazio for 30 years, to remodel four holes on the golf course, and added a new practice area, a unique three-hole short game practice area, and an expansive putting green. Stone bridges and bunker improvements have enhanced the golf course.

Green Valley Country Club has a renovated clubhouse and pool complex, and a new resort-style outside bar. The fitness center is new, complete with state-of-the-art equipment. Club ‘58 offers delicious dining surrounded by all-natural stone and unique pine and walnut woodworking, and the Mixed Grille hosts casual dining.

54

2014 |

Behind The Counter

A full-sized ballroom is available for brides who dream of getting married with Paris Mountain as a backdrop. “Our two chefs are married,” Mike says. “We’ve gotten rave reviews for our wedding catering.”

The big event for the country club is the upcoming Web.com/BMW ProAm May 15-18, with a purse of $650,000 and celebrities on tap. The outreach for the club is ongoing, including 20 golf outings scheduled for 2014, and support of community organizations, including the Greenville Family Partnership’s rehabilitation center for 13-17-year-olds with addiction problems.

“This club is my passion, something I look forward to every day,” Mike says, who points out that the country club in the country is only nine miles from Downtown Greenville. Mike’s wife, Margaret, helps out at the club as well. The couple has two daughters, Amy, 23, and Alison, 21.

225 Green Valley Drive, Greenville www.greenvalley.cc | 864.246.2141 7am-7pm Tuesday-Sunday 5am-10pm every day for fitness center

JACOB MANN Coldwell Banker Caine Jacob is “The Mann” for you

Photography by carol boone stewart

Sometimes a “SNOWMANN” but always “The Mann,” Jacob Mann— one of Coldwell Banker Caine’s top-producing agents—is a Realtor for all seasons!

Jacob is “COOL” with homes of all sizes, everything from simple starters to lavish estates. He grew up riding his bike along many of the same streets where he now sells houses, ensuring deep familiarity with the entire Greenville market, both city and suburbs. Lifelong relationships mean he can sometimes open doors that may be closed to other agents.

Indeed, Jacob is sold on selling it all. His energy and enthusiasm catapulted him from Coldwell Banker Caine’s Rookie of the Year in 2001 to Top Producer just a few short years later. He’s been either the company’s top-producing agent or the company’s #2 top producer for the past decade. Jacob has earned Coldwell Banker’s #1 spot in the state and has even been recognized as the #2 Coldwell Banker agent out of approximately 22,000 agents in the entire Southeast region. His annual closed production consistently ranks in the top 1% of Coldwell Banker sales associates nationwide.

“You don’t become a top-producing agent in this type of company— where there are so many smart, capable and incredible agents—without working incredibly hard,” Jacob says.

Jacob and his wife moved four times before settling into their “forever home,” so he has extra empathy for buyers and sellers alike. “Whether a client’s looking to spend $100,000 or $1 million-plus, their business

is both appreciated and extremely valuable to me,” he says. “I am here for everybody and I’m committed to exceeding every single client’s expectations.”

What really sets Jacob apart is his abiding affinity for all things Greenville. He is active in the community and his church, and also supports a variety of local charities. Jacob and his wife, Elizabeth, have three sons, so many of their away-from-the-office hours are spent at the boys’ schools and athletic fields.

Jacob comes by his passion for real estate honestly: his father—“my hero and mentor”—worked in real estate development and Jacob has many a fond memory learning from one of the best!

So “WEATHER” you’re selling or purchasing any type of home, at any price point AND in any location, Jacob is “The Mann” for you!

Be sure to check out Jacob’s new website: www.325mann.com

111 Williams Street, Greenville www.325MANN.com | 864.325.MANN (6266)

Behind The Counter | 2014

55

Photography by Carole Boone Stewart

REGENCY SALON AND SPA “There’s a different feel here. It’s not your typical salon.”

An appointment at the salon or a day at the spa should feel like leaving your normal life and escaping to a place that’s elegant and special yet friendly and comfortable – an oasis where you can relax and rejuvenate.

Sam Smith, owner of Regency Salon and Spa, understands that, which is why he used his years of experience in construction to rebuild the facility from top to bottom, from the dramatic stone entrance to the relaxing, well-appointed waiting area to the expertly outfitted service rooms.

For those that don’t know about the gem tucked into Haywood Road, the staff encourages you to come and take a look—and try a massage, a pedicure, an all-natural body treatment, or a cut and color. “New customers are surprised when they come in the door,” said Sam. “They might not know we are here, but when they find out, they see that the facility outweighs anything out there, and so do the services. The people who work here are extremely good at what they do.”

Sam did not plan on going into the salon and spa business, but worked in construction and commercial real estate. As owner of the Regency Building, where the salon and spa is located, he saw the potential in the facility, and eventually decided to refurbish it and run it himself. The salon held its grand opening two years ago, with the spa opening last year.

He is proud of the team he has assembled—each one an independent operator who rents space at Regency—and the friendly atmosphere they have created. In a high-turnover industry, very few service personnel 56

2014 |

Behind The Counter

want to leave once they move in. “We’re all helping each other succeed in everything we do,” Sam said.

Manager Devon Anderson has been with the business from the beginning, and said the years of experience gathered under one roof sets Regency apart. “Everybody specializes in something, and they come from different backgrounds—educators, women who owned their own salons.

These are people who are on the top of their game.”

The team has gotten involved with community causes and events as well, participating in food drives and Race for the Cure together and even volunteering to shave the heads of the Mauldin High School baseball team as part of a fund-raiser.

“There’s a different feel here,” Sam said. “It’s not your typical salon.”

477 Haywood Road, Suite C, Greenville www.regencysalonandspa.com | 864.991.8877 Tue.–Fri. 9am–5:30pm | Sat. 9am–2:30pm After hours by appointment

GINGER SHERMAN Outstanding Service…Excellent Results

Photography by carol boone stewart

Know your customers, know your neighborhoods, and do much more than is required—that’s the formula for a successful REALTOR®.

Ginger Sherman has mastered that formula since 2006, honing skills that have consistently ranked her as a top producer for BHHS-C. Dan Joyner. She has also earned recognition in the Leading Edge Society and is a Relocation and Luxury Homes specialist with the company.

Ginger finds that real estate offers her a chance to use her sales and marketing skills and hands-on style to help her residential clients buy, sell, and relocate in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, and Travelers Rest. She treasures the relationships that she builds with clients— many of whom become friends—and the joy of introducing them to the Upstate communities that she serves.

“My service is completely turn-key,” says Ginger, who suggests modifications for the best house presentation or full-scale staging if needed, walks clients step by step through the complicated buying/ selling process, offers tailored information about the community and personal tours, and even invites clients to join charitable organizations or social clubs. “I enjoy helping people integrate into the community,” she says.

Ginger’s responsive style has garnered her hosts of referrals and repeat business clients, from first-time home-owners to those who want to upgrade or downsize. Her knowledge of the community from living and working in the Greenville area has allowed her to help clients with everything from contractors to doctors and dentists, to local shopping and current events.

“Real estate has allowed me to continue to be involved in the community, which I enjoy very much,” says Ginger, who is active in Greenville Women Giving, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and as a Junior League Sustainer and Leadership Greenville alumna. Not one to sit idle, Ginger loves to bike the Swamp Rabbit Trail, snow and water ski, hike, and play tennis. She also enjoys the occasional getaway to the mountains or the coast.

Ginger has no plans to slow down. Returning phone calls promptly and investing research time on the computer exemplify her dedication to her clients and to offering them her particular brand of excellent service.

www.gingersherman.net 864.313.8638 Behind The Counter | 2014

57

GREENHILL PHARMACY “I wanted to help the community, and work closely with physicians to help patients with their medication therapy problems.”

Sometimes, you need a medicine that you can’t take. Perhaps you’re intolerant to gluten or lactose or animal protein, or a medication that you are on is no longer available on the market due to a manufacturer backorder situation or just not made anymore. Take your prescription to Greenhill Pharmacy in Simpsonville. Pharmacist Tommy Martincic can make it any way you need it.

The compounding pharmacy, just opened late last year, is Tommy’s vision for helping customers by transforming and customizing pharmaceuticals. Described as an independent, mom-and-pop business, the pharmacy’s methods hark back to the way that prescriptions were customized 60 or 70 years ago, while functioning as a full-service pharmacy that can fill any prescription and accepts most major insurance companies.

First intrigued by compounding as part of his pharmacy school training at the University of South Carolina, Tommy pursued further training in compounding through the Professional Compounding Centers of America after spending 14 years as a pharmacist in a retail pharmacy. His research told him that the market was ready here for a compounding pharmacy, and he took the leap to open his own store late last year.

“I wanted to help the community, and work closely with physicians to help patients in solving medication therapy problems,” says Tommy, who carefully screens all of his ingredients for purity.

In addition to customizing medications, the pharmacy can transform methods of delivery— Transdermal and Topical Creams, Gelatin Troches, Lollipops, Suppositories, Nasal Sprays, Oral Liquids, Capsules, or into a powder that can be sprinkled on a pet’s food. Doses also can be customized down to the microgram, which gives physicians more flexibility. Tommy offers hormone replacement therapy with bio-identical hormones that can be very closely prescribed and dosed.

Other products sold at the pharmacy also are scrutinized for purity, including the supplements and essential oils. In addition to catering to physicians, Greenhill Pharmacy carries products such as paleo supplements and a whole line of wrist and knee braces and compression socks for athletes.

“You have to look at the ingredients that you’re getting,” Tommy says. “It might cost more on the compounding side, but it’s about the people, not the profit. Costs are not generally passed on to the consumer.”

Although the front of the store is small, other over-the-counter items include products for colds, first aid, advanced wound care, dental care, and baby care. Tommy is considering offering other lines of products in the future, but only after he has carefully researched them.

For Tommy, the choice of the name Greenhill for the pharmacy represented his vision for the store.

“I wanted a name that meant something to me,” Tommy relates. “We came back to our spiritual beliefs, remembering that Jesus died on a hill. And sometimes, life can be an uphill battle. So the name is a reminder for me that I see every day as I come in to work.”

Working hard to open the pharmacy, Tommy promises to pick up his hobbies again—golf and sports—when he’s in his 60s. Right now, he spends all spare time with his children—four girls, ages seven, five, and three, and a newborn baby. His wife, Amanda, a pharmacist as well, home-schools the girls. Tommy and Amanda are committed to their church, CityLights Fellowship Church.

Tommy hopes to continue to grow his business, while still delivering that vital one-on-one consultation with customers, and wants to use the flexibility of his independent status to help the less fortunate in the community. “I can go outside the box, and make my own decisions about how we care for people,” Tommy says.

2531 Woodruff Road, Suite 107, Simpsonville www.greenhillrx.com | 864.520.1550 Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm; Sat. 9am-1pm FREE DELIVERY 58

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by related|images photography Behind The Counter 2014 59

Photography by carol boone stewart

CHRISTOPHILLIS & GALLIVAN PA Our experienced attorneys are here to serve your legal needs and help resolve your legal matter in an effective and efficient manner.

Family litigation is inherently emotional – divorce, always a tragedy – but Christophillis & Gallivan PA sets the stage for drama-free resolutions.

Attorneys Jessica Christophillis and Amanda Gallivan act in their clients’ best interest with a unique combination of legal knowledge and genuine compassion. They founded this boutique firm – focused in family law – to provide professional advocacy enhanced by a personal approach.

Their practice expands into criminal law, probate and civil litigation.

These are lawyers who take personal pride in the quality of their representation. By making themselves accessible to clients, they’re able to provide individualized service tailored to specific legal needs in areas such as marital separation, divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, adoptions and DSS actions. It’s all part of a mission to offer dynamic advocacy without sacrificing efficiency or compassion.

The bottom line: these attorneys are changing the way attorneys do business.

When you talk to Jessica and Amanda, their passion is evident – not only for the legal professional but also for running a successful womenowned business. Both come from entrepreneur families, so the drive to start a business is deep-rooted. What once was just a long-term idea when Jessica and Amanda became friends during law school is now a thriving reality. Both attorneys earned J.D.s from USC School of Law in 2008 – Jessica also holds an L.L.M. in taxation from Northwestern – and they launched Christophillis & Gallivan in 2013.

Jessica began her career in the corporate world at PricewaterhouseCoopers 60

2014 |

Behind The Counter

where she focused on tax compliance. She is a member of the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association as well as the Greenville County Bar Association. In 2013, Jessica was listed amongst Greenville Magazine’s “Best and Brightest, 35 & Under.”

Amanda interned with the House Labor Commerce and Industry Committee, the House Speaker and the U.S. District Court. She then became a judicial law clerk and later an assistant solicitor in the Seventh Circuit, thus gaining significant courtroom experience. Amanda is a member of the Greenville County Bar and the Upstate Inn of Court.

The Christophillis & Gallivan partners share a passion for community work. Amanda is active with the Junior League of Greenville and Jessica’s voluntarism earned the Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award in 2008.

Together, they enthusiastically serve the community in myriad ways including efforts with the SC Bar’s Young Lawyers Division.

Growing a legal practice is a time-consuming process, but Jessica and Amanda are completely satisfied with their roles and the responsibility that comes with being a Greenville business owner.

300 N. Main Street, Suite #200, Greenville www.cglawsc.com | 864.233.4445

VINTAGE NOW MODERN When her customers succeed, she succeeds.

Photography by related images photography

Makeup artist on movie sets. Karate school owner. Real estate agent.

Stay-at-home mom. Jennie Gainey has experienced a variety of careers, but is finding great fulfillment in her latest venture, Vintage Now Modern.

Opening three years ago as Jennie Leigh Designs, Vintage Now Modern is a unique place where customers can buy the beloved, hard-to-find Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan as well as brushes, supplies and books. The store also sells an array of painted furniture, home decor items and gifts.

Gainey points out that Vintage Now Modern is about repurposing furniture, frames, mirrors and more, and that doesn’t always mean making them look modern. Customers also learn how to make their personal decor items look more vintage, or shabby chic, or French... it’s a place where people can create home accents that suit their individual personality.

In 2008, Gainey was taking a break from her entrepreneurial pursuits, spending time caring for her children (Sophia, now 13; Slade, 5; and Cruze, 4). She was updating a piece of furniture when she ran across Chalk Paint®, a unique product created by European artist Annie Sloan.

The paint is renowned for its quality and ease of use. “It’s been around for 25 years but is new to this area,” Gainey said. “You don’t have to strip or prime or do any prep to the furniture beforehand, and you can use it on practically anything—real wood, fake wood, metal, outdoor pieces, even fabric.”

Gainey was so impressed with the product that she contacted the

distributor and found out there were only four stores in the U.S. carrying it. She thought she might sell it online, and knew it would be a huge hit with people interested in the easy way to give their furnishings a fresh look.

The business took off, and she decided to open a store where she could host workshops teaching how to use the products. “It’s been such a fun outlet,” Gainey said. “It’s great meeting so many people, and I’ve enjoyed helping people who end up starting a second career painting furniture.”

Helping others has been one of her favorite parts of the venture, and she often gets requests for paint projects that she passes along to former students. “I like to paint, but I’d rather sell the products and teach the workshops, and then pass the repainting business on to others,” she said.

“When they succeed, I succeed.”

27 Mohawk Drive, Greenville www.vintagenowmodern.com | 864.385.5004 Mon.–Fri. 11am-4pm; Sat. 10am-1pm

Behind The Counter | 2014

61

Photography by carol boone stewart

JP COLLECTION HOME DÉCOR & GIFTS Greenville’s favorite place to find home décor and gifts.

Julie Phillips has a blanket policy when asked to participate in worthy fundraising projects: “I never say no.”

“Schools, sports teams, charities … I am always happy to contribute to a good cause,” says the owner of JP Collection Home Décor & Gifts, a shop that donates many a gift card and/or decorative item for silent auctions and other events hosted by local organizations. “JP Collection gives back to this community in a big way.”

Julie believes everyone should find and support a cause that matters.

Her personal passion – in addition to caretaking for her mother, Lillian Barton – is the Cancer Society of Greenville County, an organization that creates hope and improves the lives of local cancer patients. Julie discovered the nonprofit when her late father was diagnosed with the dreaded disease.

“Once you connect with an organization, you feel a sense of urgency to help foster its mission,” says Julie, who came up with a fundraising idea after giving her dad a soft, warm blanket to keep him comfortable during chemotherapy. That blanket was a constant during his treatment journey and, in many ways, became symbolic of the comfort he received from his many caregivers.

Therefore, JP Collection began stocking these delightful blankets during the holiday season and donating 100 percent of the purchase price to the Cancer Society. “These blankets make wonderful gifts,” Julie says, “because they’re so comfortable and they’re supporting such a good cause.”

62

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Julie organizes the blanket fundraiser in appreciation of the support her family received from the Cancer Society. “This is a local agency helping local people, and it’s a privilege for me to help fund what they do,” she says.

While the blankets are only available October through December, JP Collection is the year-round place to go for décor and gifts – everything from home accessories to personalized stationery to jewelry, baby items, monogrammed pieces, wedding/anniversary gifts and more.

On symbolic display, too, are the many hats a businesswoman wears.

“I love running JP Collection,” says Julie, who opened the shop in 2006 as an extension of her interior design business. “But family takes priority and sometimes goals can change overnight – since moving my widowed mother in with us, my focus has, by necessity, shifted from career back to home.”

Possibilities abound, but one thing won’t change: JP Collection is always Greenville’s favorite place to find home décor and gifts.

27 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville www.facebook.com/jpcollectiongreenville | 864.239.3999

LAFAYETTE SCIENTIFIC CLEANERS It’s party time at Lafayette Cleaners—and not only in celebration of its 60th year in business.

Photography by related images photography

If you want your fine garments to look their best, to keep that new look and feel for as long as you own them, then you are in luck!

That is exactly why Lafayette Scientific Cleaners has been so successful for the past 60 years. Using old-fashioned techniques and the kind of meticulous care that never goes out of style, the cleaners has provided generations of loyal customers with the finest dry cleaning services in the Upstate.

Owner Bill Honeycutt has always strived for the best quality possible for his customers since he started the business in 1954. “If you’re going to do something, do it right,” says Mr. Honeycutt—a call for quality that he instilled in his daughter, Todd, who is now the Honeycutt at the helm of the cleaners. “I want to continue my father’s legacy and keep Lafayette going strong for generations to come,” says Todd.

How do they do it? Each garment receives individual attention from the time it comes in the door to the time it is bagged and ready for pick up.

“First, we inspect garments for tears or unusual stains,” explains Todd.

In the cleaning department, the garment is professionally hand spotted for stain removal, then dry cleaned using clean, non-harmful solvents.

Cleaning white items separate from colors provides a bright white finish, and colors come out fresh and brilliant.

Todd continues, “In the pressing department, the garment is handpressed and sent to the inspection department. If it doesn’t pass

inspection, it’s re-cleaned and/or re-pressed. After inspection, the nice ladies that originally took it in will stuff the sleeves, adjust the collar, and have it looking its best for pick up.”

It’s party time at Lafayette Cleaners—and not only in celebration of its 60th year in business. Todd has taken the cleaners one step beyond its already acclaimed services by adding a laundry department with brand new, state-of-the-art equipment.

“We have always outsourced our laundered shirts business, but I felt the need to bring everything under one roof. We know that the same high quality standards that we have held for 60 years in dry cleaning will now be possible in our laundered shirt business,” says Todd, who believes this expansion will strengthen the business in the ongoing years and, most importantly, further burnish the unsurpassed reputation her father worked so successfully to achieve.

Happy birthday, Lafayette Cleaners!

1707 Augusta Street, Greenville www.lafayettecleaners.com | 864.242.5606

Behind The Counter | 2014

63

Photography by carol boone stewart

PALMETTO OLIVE OIL CO. “Flavored oils can add a lot to your food and you can cook like a great chef even if you aren’t one.”

There’s typical olive oil, and then there is the ultra-premium extra virgin olive oil you’ll find at Palmetto Olive Oil Co., the original Greenville shop selling the best-tasting and most nutritious oils on the planet.

Since opening in 2011, owners Mike and Charlotte Easler and Michael and Sandy Burn have dedicated themselves to bringing in the best inseason oils available. In late spring, they come from Australia, South Africa and South America. Around the late fall, because of changes in growing season, they’ll bring in oils from California, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal. “The fresher it is, the higher the polyphenols and antioxidants in the oils,” said Mike Easler. At Palmetto, the “crush date” and country of origin are on every label, so you know exactly what you are getting.

In addition to health benefits, the owners love to teach customers about flavor profiles, and particularly enjoy watching as customers who are used to bland olive oils taste a top-quality oil for the first time. The staff shows customers great flavor combinations, provides bread and oils for sampling, and even offers ice cream drizzled with dark balsamic - a customer favorite! The array of balsamic vinegars on hand are also great on yogurt and fresh fruit and offer a flavor explosion for only 10 calories per tablespoon.

The two couples were confident in their business but had no indication of just how successful it would be when they opened the shop three years ago. “The first year blew it out, we had no idea,” Easler said. Growth has 64

2014 |

Behind The Counter

continued unabated since, with a loyal clientele with Christmas and other holidays bringing in droves of new customers looking for a unique and useful gift.

The expanding foodie culture in Greenville has been a boon for the shop, and the staff likes to show home cooks that “flavored oils can add a lot to your food and you can cook like a great chef even if you aren’t one,” Easler said.

With so much support from the community, Palmetto Olive Oil Co. likes to give back by donating its products for silent auctions and other events around town. “We’ve also worked with the hospitals, where we teach people about the benefits of olive oil,” he said.

The couples have since expanded the idea into other markets. The Easlers have opened The Crescent Olive in Columbia and Mount Pleasant and the Burns have opened Olive and Then Some in Spartanburg.

2247 Augusta Street, Greenville www.palmettooliveoilco.com | 864.298.0304

GREENVILLE CARPET ONE FLOOR & HOME We’re your family-owned, neighborhood flooring experts.

Photography by carol boone stewart

Michael Wilson is a committed kind of guy.

After all, he has been with the same bird for more than 30 years. So when he tells you that he won’t rest until you have the right carpet in your home, you can believe him.

“My motto is, if it’s not good enough to go in my house it’s not going in yours – and I’m pretty picky,” Michael says.

You can find Michael and his beloved blue-and-gold macaw, Belue, at Greenville Carpet One, just off Pelham Road. Michael will be the one in the orange and purple tiger-striped office, a tribute to his also beloved Clemson Tigers. Michael got Clemson in his blood early in his career. He grew up in Anderson County, and started cleaning carpets in high school.

After graduation he moved to Clemson and together with his brothers opened a small store selling carpet, paint and wallpaper. As this business grew they took on the Clemson athletic facilities as a customer and Michael got to know many of the players and coaches.

After opening a second location in Greenville in the 1980s, Michael moved on from the family business and started his own commercial flooring business – Michael and Company Interiors. Several years ago he saw an opportunity to branch out into the residential market through Carpet One and he continues to run both businesses today.

Another thing Michael is committed to, is working with only reliable, experienced installers. Carpet One prides itself on offering some of the

most comprehensive training in the flooring industry, which is why they are able to offer unparalleled warranties on their products and installation.

And speaking of products, the Greenville Carpet One showroom is something you must see to believe – two full floors of samples and displays to select from. Designers on staff can assist you with everything from floors to backsplashes. Whether you need to choose carpet for a single room or flooring throughout the house, Greenville Carpet One can meet all your needs.

226 Pelham Davis Circle, Greenville www.carpetonegreenville.com | 864.281.0006 Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm; Sat. 10am-2pm

Behind The Counter | 2014

65

Photography by related images photography

PURE BARRE

“It’s nice to see women coming away from this workout with more confidence, and feeling good about themselves.”

Lauren Wilson has been a dancer for as long as she can remember. She started ballet at age three, and the discipline was a major part of her life through high school. Realizing she would not make a career out of dance, she earned her degree in journalism and mass communications with a focus on public relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. From there she moved to Tampa and launched a career in commercial real estate.

As an adult she had been unable to find a fitness routine that inspired her in the way dance always had, until she returned to her hometown of Charlotte and learned that a Pure Barre studio was opening there.

“I went in and tried a class on day one and was blown away by what it had to offer,” Lauren remembers.

The idea behind a Pure Barre workout is to isolate certain muscle groups. It’s 55 minutes of low-impact isometric movements, combining elements of yoga, Pilates, and ballet to work individual muscles to the point of exhaustion. About half of the class is spent using the ballet barre for support while performing thigh, seat, and abdominal exercises.

Following each strength series the muscles are stretched to create that long, lean dancer’s body Lauren was missing.

Lauren continued as a client of Pure Barre for several months, until a second location opened and she was approached about being a teacher.

She continued working in commercial real estate while teaching Pure Barre classes on the side for another year, and then decided to take the 66

2014 |

Behind The Counter

leap into opening her own studio.

After employing her commercial real estate experience to identify Greenville as a prime market for Pure Barre, she opened her first studio on Augusta Road in July of 2012. The following summer she launched the Pelham Road location. Now she stays busy managing and teaching classes at both locations and serving as Master Trainer at Pure Barre’s corporate training facility in Spartanburg.

“It’s nice to see women coming away from this workout with more confidence, and feeling good about themselves,” Lauren says of her new career path. “That’s the biggest joy I get out of this.”

When she’s not helping women achieve their fitness goals, Lauren road trips to Asheville with friends to take in as much live music as she can and spends quality time with her beloved Boykin spaniel, Caden.

1922 Augusta Street, Greenville 3722 Pelham Road, Greenville www.purebarre.com | 864.477.8312

CINDY BOLT BISHOP Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, REALTORS®

Photography by carol boone stewart

With her new married name and her company’s name change from Prudential to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, REALTORS®, Cindy assures her clients and friends that nothing has changed when it comes to the real estate services she has been providing for more than 20 years.

The new affiliation with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a positive one for the company and the community, allowing the company C. Dan Joyner founded in 1964 to keep its core values and local knowledge while bringing in additional technology, training tools and resources from Berkshire Hathaway. “It’s a positive, highly anticipated change,” she said.

Her love for gardening led to a degree in horticulture from Clemson University, but she turned to a career in real estate to fuel her passion for helping families find their dream homes.

Her children have grown now, and she has the expertise on area schools and other local amenities that real estate buyers are looking for. While she works throughout the county, she is especially knowledgeable about the areas she lives and enjoys most, from Augusta Road to North Main, Downtown to Parkins Mill and that ever-changing “Highway 14 Corridor” from Greer to Simpsonville. “I know what each area has to offer, and I can help families make good decisions about what neighborhoods and what homes best match their lifestyles,” she said.

Cindy loves to stay busy – another reason she is well-suited to the real estate field – and when she has a few spare minutes, she still indulges her

lifelong love of horticulture through gardening. Her hobby greenhouse is a favorite winter retreat where blooming tropicals, orchids and forced bulbs portray a perpetual spring. Growing perennials, annuals, and vegetables from seed, propagating ornamental shrubs and plants - this master gardener loves it all.

Her favorite past-time is being with family including husband Barry Bishop, a plastic surgeon in Greenville for over 30 years. Cindy’s adult children and grandchild are back in Greenville, and Barry’s children and grandchildren are all in South Carolina, so there’s always great family time. “I rarely turn down an opportunity to be with or babysit the grandchildren,” she said. “It’s a special relationship.”

Nurturing and caring…people and plants…Cindy takes great pride in helping families make the right decisions when purchasing and selling real estate. “It’s who I am, trying to help friends (old and new) bloom where they are planted!”

www.cindybolt.com | 864.270.1332

Behind The Counter | 2014

67

THE CHANDLER SCHOOL We specialize in assisting children who have difficulties in reading, writing and math, specifically due to dyslexia and/or ADHD. In the historic C. Granville Wyche house on Augusta Street in Greenville, there’s a K5-8 school for bright students with dyslexia or language-processing difficulties including reading, writing, spelling, and/or math. Benefitting from the high ratio of specially trained teachers to students, individualized instruction, and dynamic approaches to learning, the students report their own remarkable progress in an environment that specializes in understanding the learning needs of each student.

Most of the students, who are gathered together and eager for our discussion, have come here from traditional, public-school settings. While their schedule is similar to most schools’ sevenperiod days, including lunch and recess, the similarities seem to end there.

Their topic: What Makes The Chandler School Different?

The students explain the special one-on-one or group tutoring, which they receive daily, is based on the Orton-Gillingham Approach (OG), a multi-sensory approach that uses all learning pathways—seeing, hearing, feeling, and movement—to teach reading, spelling, and writing. The students offer examples including phonetics activities and spelling card games, and they also agree that the school’s use of cursive writing helps prevent them from mixing up letters as they write.

James, 10, explains: “When I came here, my handwriting was so bad that I couldn’t even read it. I didn’t get that much help before, but here my teachers have us take notes, and my writing is better.”

Brandon, 11, describes his reading progress this way: “Words were like monsters coming at me.

Now they’ve turned to knowledge.”

Justin, 9, shares: “At age 6, I couldn’t read. Now I am nine levels above that. OG is the secret.”

The upper-school students share how they teach the lower-school students about another important component of the school: a prototype Multiple Intelligence program developed at The Chandler School based on work by Dr. Howard Gardner of Harvard University. It delineates nine types of intelligence—interpersonal, linguistic, naturalist, musical, mathematical, logical, spatial, intrapersonal, and bodily-kinesthetic—and blasts the notion that there is but a one-dimensional way of being “smart.” Utilizing one’s unique intelligence helps students absorb information, understand concepts, and apply learning in all subject areas. Learning is never a one-size-fits-all process here.

James says: “You see a hand, but a dyslexic sees the whole person.”

Kelly, 14, says with pride: “Dyslexics think in many ways. We think outside the box.”

Connor, 12, remarks: “People who don’t have dyslexia sometimes think that we aren’t trying hard enough, but that would be like telling a great artist to ‘try harder’ to create a masterpiece without giving him a brush.”

The surge in confidence among the group is palpable. Far from the days in their earlier school environments when they thought that they might not be smart enough to learn as their peers seemed to, the students express relief at now being equipped to understand their challenges and to succeed because of that personal empowerment. Now, they look forward to pursuing careers such as mechanical engineer, artist, biochemist, film director, pilot, and plastic surgeon.

Kelly, 14, speaks again: “I was angry. I used to rip my hair out. I didn’t see the purpose of living.

My confidence was in a ditch. Now, I want to learn like this for the rest of my life.”

Matt, 12, captures the group’s consensus: “This is the best school I’ve ever been to. We’ll remember it for the rest of our lives because this is where we got better.”

And finally, Autumn, 12, sums up how the students feel about one another: “They’re all like the brothers I actually want to have.”

(To learn more about how multiple intelligences are implemented, see www.assertiveskills.com.)

2900 Augusta Street, Greenville www.thechandlerschool.org 864.991.8443 | 864.991.8445 68

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photo provided

Behind The Counter | 2014

69

DAVIS AUDIOLOGY “I’m family-oriented, and I think my patients appreciate that about me.”

Good hearing isn’t just vital for everyday interaction—it can help maintain your cognitive abilities and overall health as you age.

Kristin Davis, Au.D. in audiology, educates her patients on this and other important information revealed by the latest research on hearing through her audiology practice. Now in a new location on East North Street in Greenville, Kristin has changed her practice’s name from Greer Audiology to Davis Audiology to mark the move. But the attentive service she has offered patients of all ages for the past 18 years—including six years in her own practice—continues, in line with her vision statement: Hear Your World, Embrace Your Life.

“I started my own practice so that I could spend more time with each patient,” says Kristin, who believes that proper education and counseling are necessary ingredients for effective treatment. Starting with the first hearing test and continuing through the diagnosis, treatment, and regular follow-up care, Kristin makes sure that each patient has the kind of individual treatment that they need. “We take into account their lifestyle, what kinds of listening situation they’re in consistently, to match up their budget and lifestyle needs,” Kristin says.

Because the information can be overwhelming, Kristin asks patients to bring a family member with them to make sure they hear and understand everything, and for emotional support. It’s often the family members who realize first that a patient has a hearing loss, an invisible illness that can affect the whole family.

As a private practitioner focused on hearing health care, Kristin doesn’t limit the hearing aid manufacturers she offers patients, but uses the best one for their needs. After the initial purchase of hearing aids, Davis Audiology provides free check-ups and batteries for the life of the hearing aid. Patients are often surprised at the lifetime service plan, but Kristin says her practice is not about selling the hearing aid, but about professional care.

“I want a long-term relationship with my patients,” says Kristin, who became interested in audiology after a special project while studying business at the University of South Carolina.

The combination of working with people and her love of science led her to a masters degree in Audiology at Memphis State University, considered one of the best audiology programs in the country, and a doctorate from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. In addition to her regular outreach to physicians, assisted living and retirement communities, her new location has meeting space to fulfill her vision of becoming a community partner for hearing health care education.

“We want to have in-house educational seminars for patients, the public, as well as physicians.

We want to be a resource,” Kristin says.

A wife and a mother of three children ages 8, 12, and 14, Kristin finds that owning her own business not only allows her proper time to treat each patient, but the flexibility to be with her children at important events. “I’m family-oriented, and I think my patients appreciate that about me,” says Kristin, who extends the same flexibility to her staff. “I believe it’s a more rewarding work environment with these benefits.”

Also active in her community, Kristin is involved with the Greer Chamber, Greer Community Ministries, was a former president of the SC Academy of Audiology, and volunteers with Red Bird Mission, which provides free audiology services in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains. Kristin enjoys hiking and bike riding in her free time.

4318 East North Street, Greenville www.davisaudiology.com | 864.655.8300 70

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Shirley Mathews age 91, Anna McLean Carter age 8 (patients of Davis Audiology pictured with Kristin Davis Au.D., center) Photography by carol boone stewart

Behind The Counter | 2014

71

Photography by related images photography

TPM

Family owned and operated for 40 years and looking forward to the future!

Embrace change, and never stop learning. This is the core of TPM’s mission statement, and no one lives it better than founder Jerry Cooper. Luckily, he married a woman who wasn’t afraid to embrace change right along with him. The ink was barely dry on the marriage license when Jerry left his $2 an hour job as a draftsman at Fluor Daniel because he saw an opportunity to build his own business running blueprints and selling drafting supplies to architects and engineers. Jerry knew nothing about running a business, but he did know how to ask the right questions of the right people. How to never stop learning.

After celebrating 40 years in business, Brenda is still by his side, and the two of them have grown that humble one-man operation into the market leader in architectural and manufacturing design software, document management solutions, and large-scale color graphics serving the Southeast with locations in Greenville, Columbia, Charlotte, and Raleigh.

TPM’s success is due to Jerry’s remarkable ability to see what’s coming next and become the best provider of it for his clients.

When pens, pencils and drafting tables gave way to computers in the 1980s, Jerry jumped in with both feet. When AutoCAD revolutionized manufacturing in the 1990s TPM was at the forefront, training people to use it. Today they are the largest CAD provider in South Carolina, celebrating 25 years with Autodesk and 15 years with Solidworks as an authorized training center and reseller.

72

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Jerry has been preparing his company for the next big transition since daughter Kasey was four years old and earning a dollar an hour pulling copies off the machines. Today Kasey holds a degree in entrepreneurship from Clemson and manages marketing and business development.

Kasey’s husband, Chris Fay, came on board as general manager in 2011, but not by the route one might expect. Chris was looking to make a change after a successful stint in commercial construction, when a mutual friend suggested he talk to his father-in-law. Another friend had suggested the same idea to Jerry. The two put their heads together over a four-hour lunch and the next chapter of TPM was written. Chris and Kasey’s two young boys, Cooper and Dillon, are already getting comfortable around the conference table and Jerry, ever mindful of the future, looks forward to the day the torch is passed yet again.

1003 Laurens Road, Greenville www.tpm.com | 800.922.1145

AVISON YOUNG

Driving innovation in commercial real estate solutions and services

Photography by related images photography

Reggie Bell was working for a large real estate investment firm and Todd Justice was making his mark in the private equity world when the two met playing golf and realized their skills and experience were a great match. After their first venture together in 2008, they set out to build a full-service commercial real estate organization, employing experienced professionals in their industry to evolve and grow their business. The family of companies includes Avison Young, Southern Real Estate Management and RealOp Investments, a commercial real estate investment fund. Both Avison Young and Southern Real Estate Management are a result of a recent partnership with Charleston-based WRS Realty to merge existing entities and form the Greenville offices of both companies. The organization recently relocated to new offices at 300 E. Coffee Street in downtown Greenville.

Kyle Putnam, CCIM, who joined in 2010, and most recently, Paul Sparks, are partners in the firm. Kyle holds a masters degree in Real Estate Development (MRED) from Clemson University, and was recently named one of Greenville’s Best & Brightest. Paul was previously the Executive Vice President and Senior Credit Executive for CertusBank and has personally underwritten and acquired over $2 billion in commercial and residential assets in his career.

Other recent additions to the team are Chip Hunt, Asset Manager for RealOp, and Amy Wood, Vice President of Southeastern Management.

Chip also holds a Masters Degree in Real Estate Development (MRED)

from Clemson University and most recently worked with Piedmont Office Realty Trust, the fourth largest office real estate investment trust in the United States. Amy Wood, CPM is Vice President for Southern Real Estate Management. Amy joins the team with an impressive portfolio of management experience in excess of 2M square feet.

Avison Young is the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals.

The company comprises 1,500 real estate professionals in 54 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial and multi-family properties. Avison Young recently added team members Summer Johnson, John Odom, Larry Crain, Rob Howell, Charlie Timmons, John Saunders and Cort Nagle (not pictured).

300 East Coffee Street, Greenville www.avisonyoung.com | 864.334.4145

Behind The Counter | 2014

73

Photography by related images photography

KELLER WILLIAMS The #1 real estate company in North America

Keller Williams is a company on the move. Thanks to tremendous growth over the past year, the real estate company is moving to a new headquarters this fall, occupying 20,000 square feet of the former Smith Dray Lines complex on North Markley Street. With 180 real estate agents and 30 additional staff members, the move will provide an interactive work atmosphere in anticipation of continued growth.

Michael Brown, CEO and team leader for Keller Williams Upstate, says sales volume saw an astounding 61 percent growth from 2012 to 2013, which points out the vibrancy of the Greenville market as well as the unique philosophy of Keller Williams.

“We are really a business development and training company disguised as a real estate company,” said Brown, whose experience includes investing, construction and teaching business at the university level. “We teach our employees the process of how to lead with revenue and how to grow their business.”

The philosophy encourages individual development within the company, and the more employees sell, the more they make on each transaction. The company also teaches agents how to maximize business by building teams. A shared profit model means that at the end of each month, half of profits go directly to agents and staff to help build the business. “Everyone is a stakeholder at Keller Williams,” Brown said, which has boosted productivity and teamwork.

74

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Greenville’s real estate market is blessed with a thriving local economy, vibrant downtown, and a supportive local government. “The national recognition Greenville is receiving has helped create a magnet for people around the globe to choose our area as a place to work, play, live and retire,” he said.

Founded in the mid-1980s in Austin, Texas, Keller Williams now has almost 700 offices across the U.S. and has more agents than any other real estate company in North America. “We are a God-first company, and we say it and live it,” Brown said. “That’s how we operate.” He and his wife Shay are active members at Brookwood Church, helping with the music ministry and participating in activities with their four children.

Brown is proud to work for a company with high values, and applauds the mission statement that encourages not just income performance but a well-rounded life. “We at Keller Williams want to help all of our agents, staff and future members to live our mission statement – a career worth having, a business worth owning and a life worth living,” he said.

700 Airport Road, Greenville www.kwupstate.com | 864.234.7500

GREENWISE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION We’re in the business of building a better experience.

Ryan Garrison has a visual arts degree, and loves bringing his artistic vision to building projects, seeing the big picture when it comes to the potential in every home. Andrew Coln is an experienced project manager, seeing every detail when it comes to facilitating contractors, scheduling and purchasing materials.

Bring the two together and you have Greenwise Design and Construction, where the partners’ complementary personalities and skills allow them to take on projects large and small with fantastic results.

“As our tagline says, we want to build a better experience,” says Garrison, who founded the company in 2010. “We of course want to make sure the end result is beautiful, but we want the renovation and construction process to be enjoyable too.”

Coln, who joined the company last year after doing project management for Dillard Jones and Cary Reconstruction Co., has placed his focus on making sure customers are satisfied not just with the outcome, but with the entire process.

Garrison graduated from Clemson in 2007 and headed to Kennebunkport, Maine, to study naval architecture and design at the Landing School. There he honed his skills in design, rendering and structural engineering, and when his initial plan of going into yacht design didn’t pan out (“The economy was tanking and there wasn’t work available in the pleasure boat industry,” he said), he recognized the potential for creating a design and construction company.

It was a natural fit. “My dad put power tools in my hands probably sooner than you are supposed to,” he said. He always loved building things, and in middle school created an arbor for his mother, which led to work for friends and family building arbors, decks and fences.

At Greenwise, he does everything from small bathroom renovations and decks to completely gutting and renovating homes.

The Greenwise partners agree that while the work can be challenging, “watching everything come to shape, and come to life, is pretty awesome,” Garrison said. “When people see their home, it’s a great feeling.”

Coln agrees. “We want to do great work and be proud of what we do, because it’s not just a building. We are leaving an imprint on Greenville,” he said.

When he isn’t working, Garrison loves sailing, golfing, and spending time with wife Tolly and daughter Eliza, 2. Coln spends time with wife Meredith and their two dogs, and enjoys running, cycling and competing in marathons and triathlons.

greenwise DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

www.greenwisedesignandconstruction.com | 864.551.2952

greenwise

Photography by related images photography

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Behind The Counter | 2014

75

DEBI GARRISON Whether buying or selling, she takes pride in providing excellent real estate service with honesty and integrity.

Debi Garrison www.debigarrisonrealtor.com garrison.debi@yahoo.com | 864.630.8334 76

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by related images photography

Greenville is on fire. Debi Garrison, who has worked in local real estate for 25 years, knows firsthand that Greenville has all of the things people love in a city – sophisticated restaurants, shopping, the arts, a vibrant nightlife, all in a gorgeous setting with Southern charm and hospitality.

Debi loves to show clients that there is unique culture in Greenville, where exciting things are happening every day.

Every client she shows around town raves about the beauty and the culture, along with all that the Greenville area has to offer. “It has been nothing but a pleasure to have been a part of all the changes in Greenville,” she said.

“Greenville is where I have raised my three children, so I’m very familiar with schools, activities and the things parents need to know about.”

Debi goes beyond home knowledge - though she has a wealth of that - and offers those new to the area the latest information about restaurants, shopping spots, churches, doctors and other tips people need when coming to a new town.

Early in her career, Debi found real estate to be a perfect fit for her since she loves meeting new people and she just loves houses. “I enjoy helping buyers make decisions. I love helping buyers figure out ways to renovate and to make it their own home,” she said.

But the key to her success for a quarter of a century is simple: whether buying or selling, she takes pride in providing excellent real estate service with honesty and integrity. It’s that focus on integrity that has led her to becoming an award-winning agent and one of the most trusted real estate advisors in the area.

Give Debi a call and let her put her knowledge, experience and integrity to work for you.

COWART AWARDS We make awards that make winners smile.

Photo provided

Cowart Awards is rolling into 50 years, celebrating the half-century mark in 2015. Though the business has changed in many ways since George Cowart Sr. and his brother Tom founded the company in 1965, some things never change. The Cowart name is now well known, and the company is still family owned and operated, with George’s wife Cheryl, son George Jr., daughter Erin and brother-in-law Raji guiding the company into the future.

Bowling has a special place in the history of the company since George Sr., who passed away in 2005, spent much of his early years with the business traveling around to local bowling alleys promoting tournament trophies. George Jr. fondly remembers bowling parties where his father would set up a soda fountain, offer snacks and give away a TV. “Remember, this was the 80s,” George says with a laugh.

But his father’s commitment to customer service was no laughing matter, and it’s something the business continues to this day. “We rarely touch a bowling trophy now,” George Jr. said. “We ship nationwide and worldwide. But his commitment to quality and service helped cement the foundation for us in the Upstate, and we are rewarded for that year after year.”

Although the company has grown and is proud to serve clients both nationally and internationally, Cowart Awards feels privileged to call Greenville home. “We look forward to continued success and appreciate

the relationships we have made with area businesses, associations and organizations over the years,” he said.

Cheryl and Erin agree that as the company looks forward, it’s important to remember where it came from. That’s why the company is planning a bowling tournament next spring that will raise funds for local charities.

It’s just another way to look to the future while remembering where the company started – and the man behind it.

“This company was his dream, and it’s gone above and beyond any of our expectations,” Erin said. “We want to thank the community for helping us continue to grow.”

912 Laurens Road, Greenville www.awardsthatwork.com | 864.271.9131 Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm

Behind The Counter | 2014

77

TREESGREENVILLE “If we take care of our trees, they’ll take care of us.”

Have you ever thought of your city as an urban forest?

TreesGreenville, a non-profit organization whose mission is to plant, promote, and protect trees in Greenville County, hopes you have.

“If we take care of our trees, they’ll take care of us,” says TreesGreenville Executive Director Joelle Teachey, who points out the economic and environmental benefits of urban trees. Trees improve air quality, reduce the formation of ground level ozone, and reduce stormwater runoff. Reducing stormwater runoff reduces the amount of pollution and litter that stormwater carries into our local streams and rivers.

TreesGreenville partners with local organizations and volunteers to plant more than 400 trees throughout Greenville County each year. They’ve planted more than 3,200 trees in parks, schools, and neighborhoods since 2008.

Planting sites are selected based on partnership requests and the ability to water and maintain the trees. “We plant a wide variety of urban hardy species,” Joelle says. “We always plant the right tree in the right place.”

Any neighborhood in Greenville County can apply to become a TreesGreenville NeighborWood, including communities being revitalized and middle to high-income neighborhoods. Through these community tree plantings, residents plant trees in their own yard with TreesGreenville and learn how to care for them.

Schools and teachers can request educational tree plantings for their students to learn about the benefits of trees during a planting at their school. TreesGreenville’s K-12 Companion Curriculum, written by a Greenville County Curriculum Instructor, is designed for teachers to use in their classrooms. It is aligned to state standards and the Common Core, with at least one tree-related lesson plan for each subject and grade level. There are more than 40 schools throughout Greenville County that have planted with TreesGreenville.

TreesGreenville’s Legacy Tree Project focuses on planting trees that will be around for generations—large shade trees that will live 100 years or more. Through the Urban Tree Care Initiative, they provide workshops and technical support on proper tree planting and care. “For example, mulch should not be piled high up against a tree; it should only be 2-4 inches deep. Crepe Myrtles should not be topped,” Joelle says.

For Joelle, her work at TreesGreenville since 2007 reflects her background in environmental science. An environmental educator since college, Joelle has a master’s degree in natural science from Converse College, and a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from University of North Carolina Wilmington. She worked on commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea as a fisheries biologist and lived and worked around the Chattooga River for a decade. Her love of the outdoors—like spending time in the wilderness with a map, a compass, her husband, and her son—is a fine match for her passion for her job.

“I value a clean environment. It’s good for public health. I don’t want to live in a place where there is a brown layer of smog or a brown sky. I want a blue sky. Trees help us have that,” Joelle says.

“TreesGreenville promotes sustainable economic development. That means we need to plant more trees to replace the ones being lost, and we need to take care of the trees we have.”

Fundraisers such as TreesGreenville’s ReLeaf Party (April 3rd this year) and the Turkey Day 8K on Thanksgiving morning help purchase and plant trees. Those two events, along with volunteers, grants, individual members, and more than 60 corporate partners, help TreesGreenville plant, care and maintain a healthy urban forest.

231 Tanner Drive, Taylors www.treesgreenville.org 864.313.0765 78

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by related|images photography Behind The Counter 2014 79

Photo by patrick cox

COX PHOTOGRAPHY

Patrick’s personal mission is to make images that matter.

Patrick Cox was in the midst of a thriving career when he began picturing something different.

An engineer who always had a camera in hand, Patrick photographed family, friends, colleagues and events as an avocation. People were drawn to his images – trademarked by real-life expressions, captured in unscripted moments – and he fielded ever-increasing requests for portraits and weddings.

“I’m an artist at heart,” says Patrick, who has spent most of his life behind a lens. His grandparents ran an antiques shop, an image-rich venue where he developed a keen sense for the visual. “People kept expressing interest in my photography so it was natural to imagine doing this professionally.”

It might’ve remained a mere dream but for a national nightmare. His job as an engineer meant frequent international travel, and he was returning from a business trip on September 11, 2001, when all planes were grounded due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “I had to scramble to get home,” he recalls, “and by the time I made it, I’d decided my traveling days were over.”

Thus he launched Cox Photography in late 2001, re-framing his career with an emphasis on work-life balance.

“This isn’t about money,” Patrick says. “It’s about doing something I love while also focusing on my family.”

That’s not to say he isn’t busy – indeed, Cox Photography is the most sought-after studio in town for work that’s creative, relevant and, above all, consistent.

80

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Clients seek Patrick out for his breadth – and depth – of experience. His photojournalism is featured in publications both local and international, from At Home in the Upstate to National Geographic. Brides love him – his portfolio features some 600 weddings – and he’s also popular for commercial and fine art images.

Patrick’s personal mission is to make images that matter. A recent photojournalism project, for example, brought awareness to the plight of the homeless. His pro bono portfolio is filled with work on behalf of unfortunate children. He photographs terminally ill patients at the GHS Children’s Hospital to ensure that parents receive a final, cherished keepsake, and he volunteers for the South Carolina Heart Gallery, a project that uses the power of photography to find homes for hard-to-place children lingering in foster care.

“I capture their personalities in images that best present them to potential adoptive parents,” Patrick explains. “I want to show the softer side of kids who are considered tough cases.”

1 Augusta Street, Suite 200, Greenville www.coxphotography.net | 864.233.9992

Behind The Counter | 2014

81

POSH PAWS GROOMING & PET SPA, LLC We are a full-service grooming salon and upscale spa for cats and dogs.

Certain things should be left to the professionals. Bathing cats is high on that list. And there are no more qualified cat-handling hands than those of Seta Chorbadjian, owner of Posh Paws Grooming & Pet Spa in Greenville.

A lifelong love for dogs and cats is what led Seta, who has a background in human resources, to her current profession. A native of Jordan, Seta immigrated to Toronto, Canada, while in her late twenties. There she became involved in pet rescue and discovered her passion for helping animals.

After meeting and marrying her husband, local artist Sarkis Chorbadjian, Seta relocated to Greenville. Here she watched how her husband truly enjoyed his work as an artist, and she wondered how she could find that fulfillment in her own life. She began researching the grooming industry after having trouble finding someone willing to groom her Lhasa Apso, Simon, due to his tendency to bite out of fear. Those inquiries led her to the Professional Pet Grooming program at Greenville Tech, and Seta had found her path.

Seta says people are often surprised to hear Fluffy should be accompanying Fido to the groomer, but during the intensive certification process at the National Cat Groomers Institute of America – where she earned the title of Certified Feline Master Groomer – Seta learned the widely held notion that cats take care of their own tidying up is actually a myth. All that licking really does is leave behind a lot of saliva and dander, and often leads to matted fur and the dreaded hairball. Regular grooming reduces shedding and prevents intestinal problems caused by ingested hair, and can even provide relief to people allergic to cats.

You’re probably thinking this sounds great, for someone else’s cat, because no way would yours go near a showerhead. But Seta loves a challenge. The most gratifying part of her work is the clients who assure her their pet (she does dogs, too!) will be a tough case, and return to find them blissed out after a day at the spa.

And a spa it truly is. Seta has incorporated all the elements you’d expect to find at an establishment catering to two-legged clients – soft music, aromatherapy, one-on-one attention, and massage. Yes, Seta is also a Canine Massage Practitioner. She says that dogs, just like their human best friends, experience muscle fatigue and soreness, poor circulation, and even stress, all of which are relieved by a little time on the table.

Seta is the only groomer on staff at Posh Paws, and dedicates her full attention to only one pet at a time to de-stress the grooming process. Though there are crates on hand for the occasional necessity, Posh Paws is primarily a cage-free environment.

All of these thoughtful details go a long way in explaining why Seta regularly hears from clients that she is the first groomer their dog has run toward instead of away from, or that their pooch eagerly leads the way to the door when they arrive for their appointment.

Not content to rest on her pet professional laurels, Seta is constantly updating her skills through trade shows, classes, webinars, and workshops.

GROOMING & PET SPA LLC 234 Westfield Street, Greenville poshpawsgreenville.com | 864.271.4377 82

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Behind The Counter Photography by|carol 2014 boone stewart 83

GOLDEN STRIP GLASS, INC. “We invite you to visit our showroom and see our full-size displays in person.”

When Dominick Abbate started his glass company in 1991, he was working out of the back of a single truck in his driveway. As business began to build, he moved into a small office space.

The new office was a major improvement but still required Dominick to punch a hole in the back wall of the building to allow him to fabricate the 24’ long extrusions for the commercial storefront windows. After six years of hard work and dedication, Dominick was able to move to the company’s current location, a 9,375 sq. ft. building which includes a showroom, offices, and warehouse space.

Dominick, or Dom as he is known, has a concise recipe for his success: “Be your word.”

And it’s just this ethic of integrity, hard work, and excellence that Dom passes on to his sons, Matthew, 28, and Michael, 30, as they take over the reigns of Golden Strip Glass.

Today, Golden Strip Glass offers a full range of glass services for residential and commercial businesses, from shower enclosures to mirrors, table tops, cabinet glass, curved glass and window glass replacements, as well as aluminum commercial storefronts, doors, and curtain walls. Well-known to the retail and the construction industry, Golden Strip Glass provides residential glass services in the Upstate of South Carolina, and commercial services in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Dom’s first extraordinary act upon his semi-retirement in 2012 was to hike 1600 miles of the Appalachian Trail. His goal? To get out of the way while his sons took over—and take over they did. The two-son team has just finished gutting the showroom, installing new lighting, new displays, stained concrete, and an impressive all-glass sliding door system for their custom picture framing business. They dropped some of their lines of business to concentrate on glass, and are reworking their marketing and logo. The back of the shop has been restructured with new cutting edge equipment to improve efficiency and safety.

“When we took over, the company had a solid foundation,” says Matt. “We only needed to make some minor tweaks to get the company moving into a newer age.”

“I knew I had two qualified sons who could do it,” says Dom, who loved owning his own business, but is ready for an active retirement. His ability to know his own strengths—running operations in the field—and hire qualified employees to handle other required jobs is a talent his sons have inherited.

“Our dad taught us to work smarter, not harder,” Mike says. “You can’t do it all yourself.

We’ve got the right people in place, and experienced management.” Mike and Matt grew up around the store, and used to work on Saturdays cutting weather stripping. Mike started working at the shop right out of high school; Matt earned a degree in computer science.

Although Dom spent a lot of time on jobs out of town, the boys remember camping trips in their motor home and traveling to New York for holidays. “We’ve always appreciated him,” says Mike. “We used to show up at his jobs and bring him dinner.”

Now ready to bring in more volume to a ship-shape operation, the sons look forward to translating their strong partnership into success. Dom looks forward to traveling and hiking— and swooping in from time to time to check on his sons’ progress.

343 Miller Road, Mauldin www.goldenstripglass.com | 864.297.9989 Mon.-Fri. 7am-5pm 84

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by|carol boone stewart Behind The Counter 2014 85

Photography by carol boone stewart

CAROLINA CONSIGNMENT

“We focus on quality furniture and accessories, and our clients often mention that they can’t find that quality in their hometowns.”

When John Dickens found himself with an empty building in Simpsonville, he consigned it to a different function.

Four years later, the former site of his wife Linda’s store, Carolina Furniture & Interiors, is now the site of the 10,000-square-foot Carolina Consignment, an upscale furniture and home accessory consignment business that sells locally and to customers as far away as Manhattan, Miami, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, Birmingham, and Atlanta.

“Our business is unique,” says John. “We focus on quality furniture and accessories, and our clients often mention that they can’t find that quality in their hometowns.”

The discerning eye for quality comes from John’s son, Will, who worked with his mother’s store for many years, learning about quality furniture and accessories. With that experience, Will carefully inspects and researches consignment requests to decide what items are suitable for sale on the consignment floor, and advises pricing the items with the seller. If a prospective seller’s item isn’t a good fit for the store, he suggests other places where the item could be consigned or donated.

The thriving business features furniture, lamps, mirrors, rugs, decorative accent items—thousands of high-quality items that attract buyers, decorators, and REALTORS®. Part of the allure is the excellent customer service, provided by Chris Lloyd and Michael Blanding during the store’s in-house pick up and delivery. Adam Wiant, a military veteran, not only assists in sales but also manages warehouse activity.

86

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Heather Hiles, with John, was very instrumental in creating Carolina Consignment. Heather handles advertising, client inventory and financials, and maintains the website featuring the store inventory.

“We have experienced rapid growth,” John says. “All the people working with me are just as motivated and ambitious as I am. I predicted we’d be successful with the right people, the right attitude, and the right motivation coincided with quality service and product.”

A former banking CEO with years of experience in customer service, John enjoys day-to-day interaction with his customers. “It’s amazing, because a lot of our customers come just to visit and feel like a part of us,” he says. Carolina Consignment is looking to expand to other cities throughout South Carolina and other states.

John and his wife, Linda, who runs the very successful Carolina Furniture & Interiors in Greenville, spend their spare time with their family enjoying the mountains and the beach.

875 Northeast Main Street, Simpsonville www.carolinaconsignmentllc.com | 864.228.1619

PUP-E-CISE, LLC

A well-exercised dog is a well-behaved dog.

Photography by Parkkonen Photography

Maribeth Kraft walked away from a steady job five years ago – and her career has been going to the dogs ever since.

She wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I have the best job in the world,” says the owner of pup-e-cise, a company that steps beyond basic dog walking to focus on pets’ overall health and wellness via consistent – and consistently fun – activity. “It’s all about walking to stay fit. Exercise is so important for our pets. I can enhance your dog or cat’s life with regular, fitness-oriented activities.”

A sedentary dog or cat – like a sedentary person -- has a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer and/or other health related issues.

“Our pets need vigorous exercise to stimulate the immune system and develop strength, endurance, flexibility and agility,” explains Maribeth, who has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition with a minor in exercise science. “Exercise also improves digestion, circulation, respiratory and cardiovascular systems.”

Many pet owners assume access to a big backyard is activity enough, “but it isn’t,” Maribeth says. “Dogs need social interaction to be happy.

They need sustained exercise to be healthy. Just like us, they need to get their heart rate up.”

Pre pup-e-cise, Maribeth worked a dozen years in the fitness industry.

One day in 2008, she was pondering a looming corporate reorganization when she had an aha moment that made her stop, sit and stay. “I was out walking my dogs, thinking about job prospects,” she recalls, “when it

suddenly occurred to me: I love fitness. I love dogs. I had a career getting people fit – I could make a career getting animals fit, too.”

It’s been a total treat. “I get to be outside everyday – plus, I’m surrounded by dog happiness,” says Maribeth, whose services include a variety of fitness routines as well as trips to the vet, pet sitting and more.

“My customers are very expressive about showing their satisfaction!”

Maribeth and her three employees walk dogs in their owners’ neighborhoods for the purpose of exercising and socializing them. They can teach any dog new tricks for staying fit while walking to burn calories and/ or add lean muscle. A well-exercised dog is a well-behaved dog, she notes, because many behavior problems are more about boredom than disposition.

When she isn’t out walking to stay fit with her clients, Maribeth enjoys working out, tending her rose garden and exercising her own pet companions Randy, Chloe and Gus.

706 Miller Road, Greenville www.pup-e-cise.com | 864.275.3896 pup-e-cise@charter.net

Behind The Counter | 2014

87

VILLAGE OF WEST GREENVILLE A funky fusion of art, retail and creative services.

Most often they work alone, these artists – painting, sculpting, crafting, designing – but in simply doing what they do, where they do it, they’ve created something more. The collective energy from workshops, studios, even kitchens along a westward stretch of Pendleton Street has turned an old textile town into a vibrant artistic enclave.

Because sometimes, revitalization takes a village.

The Village of West Greenville (née Pendleton Street Arts District) is in the midst of organic revival, a spontaneous process sparked some ten years ago by high-quality artists in search of low-dollar rents. They were drawn to inexpensive places within a community beset by decades of disrepair, storefronts shuttered upon the closing of the Brandon and Woodside mills. Cheap space became a magnet, attracting one creative venture after another into what’s becoming a southernized SoHo with a growing list of studios, galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

Located just one imaginative mile beyond Main Street, the Village of West Greenville exudes a gritty, urban vibe … and that’s all part of its scrappy charm. Even as renewal wends its way through the district – even as the City of Greenville pledges funds for streetscaping and other public improvements – Village artists and business owners say they didn’t want to be a mini Main Street or Augusta Road.

A funky fusion of art, retail and creative services, the Village is a bit of a diamond in the rough – with absolutely no intention of becoming polished. Instead, shine comes by keeping it real as they weave an artistic thread into the fabric of this former mill hill. A strong sense of camaraderie – a spirited creative synergy – makes for a tight-knit community of 40 or more artists working in a wide array of mediums.

Creative momentum – kick-started by individuals – picked up an institutional powerhouse with Clemson University’s Visual Arts Greenville, a satellite gallery featuring the work of faculty, students and guest artists along with lectures and other arts-related events. More shops, salons and restaurants are finding a place here, too. There’s buzz aplenty, for example, about Plate Full O’Blues – a bar, restaurant and music venue just opened by singing sensation Mac Arnold – which adds to an ever-growing menu of Village eateries.

Village of West Greenville opens all its doors – even the working studios – every First Friday from 6-9pm to showcase the district’s art, boutiques, food and fun. For details on these monthly happenings, visit www.villageofwestgreenville.com or follow the Village on Facebook.

Village artists, owners and restaurateurs, pictured here, include artist Adam C. Schrimmer; Mande Horne, Jillian Holmes, Melissa Key and Christa Inman, Alchemy Salon; Teresa Roche, Art & Light Studios; Terri Lingsch, Artisan Traders; Roberto Cortez & Gina Petti, ASADA; Syprian Harvey, Asylum Art; Angie Carrier, Carrier Collective; Gene Ellenberg, Clemson Visual Arts Greenville (CVAG); Ryan Calloway, Creative Iron Works; Micheal Watts, Consolidated Planning Inc.; Jennifer Bedenbaugh, Crave Studio; Janina Tukarski Ellis, Ellis Gallery and Studio; Genna & Signe Grushovenko, Grushovenko Gallery; Jim Gorman, Jim Gorman Studios; Joseph Bradley, Joseph Bradley Studios; Julie Shabkee, Julie Shabkee Studios; Barb Blair, Knack; Crystal Boyd, The Lashbar; Lee Cormier, Les Beaux Arts Gallery; Lily Wikoff, Lily Pottery; Julie Jenkins & Jac Brooks, Naked Pasta; Matthew Campbell, Matthew Campbell Studio & Gallery; Dr. Mac Arnold, Plate Full O’ Blues Restaurant; Patricia Kilburg, Patricia Kilburg Studio; Denise Neal, Serendipity Skin Spa; Jeska Miller, Skinscape Organic Body Fare; Susan Bodson, Studio 12a; David Gerhard, Studio 12b; Susannah W. Mele, Village Studios; and Grey Thompson, Color of Grey Studio.

www.villageofwestgreenville.com 88

2014 |

Behind The Counter

by parkkonen photography Behind ThePhotography Counter | 2014 89

NATHALIE M. MORGAN Family Law, Divorce, Custody Litigation and Immigration

201 West Stone Avenue, Greenville www.greenville-divorce.com | 864.242.6655 90

2014 |

Behind The Counter

Photography by related images photography

Nathalie Morgan was born in Belgium as a dual citizen, was raised in the U.S. and Europe, and studied in Spain and Vienna, but the place she loves best is Greenville. “I love it here and I never want to leave,” said Morgan, an attorney who has a degree from UNC Chapel Hill and graduated from the Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2001. “It has a great, diverse atmosphere. I love all of the people who are native South Carolinians and the diversity from other countries as well.

I’m here to stay.”

In addition to her impressive academic credentials, certifications and licenses, Morgan brings a unique skill to the table: she’s trilingual (English, French and Spanish). Fluency in Spanish is one of the reasons a friend encouraged her to join as a partner in a Greenville law firm that had a large Hispanic client base. She went on to found Nathalie M. Morgan Law Firm more than five years ago, focusing on family law, divorce cases, custody litigation and immigration issues.

Nathalie knew from an early age that she wanted to go into law. “My father was an attorney, and I could argue with him from an early age,” she said. After out-arguing her dad, her mom told her, “One day, you’ll go to law school.”

She is glad she did, finding fulfillment helping families and individuals with a range of important issues, from step-parent adoption, divorce custody and international child abduction. Her international law certificate and federal law license enable her to take on cases some firms aren’t equipped to handle. She also has extensive experience dealing with family courts in the Upstate and throughout South Carolina, and though her team always seeks amicable divorce settlements when possible, they aggressively represent clients in the courtroom on a regular basis.

As an attorney and single mom to daughter Chloé, Nathalie’s free time is limited, but when she can, she enjoys photography, traveling and cycling. She also volunteers her time by doing pro bono work and serving organizations such as the Hispanic Alliance, Upstate Global Professional Committee, the Greenville Chamber Hispanic Development Committee, the Greenville Tech advisory board and the Greenville County Human Relations Commission.

Q. People ask, “Is Carol Pyfrom Realty a full service real estate company?”

A. “Absolutely we are! We handle all aspects of

the transaction. The difference is that our fee is NOT based on the price of your home.

We can save you thousands of dollars!”

C a rol Py f rom R

E

A

L

T

Y

Flat Fee Pricing!

As the Trendsetter, we have just completed our 14th year as Greenville’s flat fee, full service company!

Voted by Real Trends as America’s Best Real Estate Agents – South Carolina Teams – 2013

EXTENSIVE MARKETING – SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS – AND SEE RESULTS

carolpyfrom.com | (864) 250-2112 | carol@carolpyfrom.com Behind The Counter | 2014

91

Photography by Related Images Photography

THE WHISTLE STOP AT THE AMERICAN CAFÉ Ivan Mathena, General Manager and Vickie Vernon Hawkins, Owner Come dine with us in a truly authentic, small-town, Southern atmosphere.

If you’re trekking the Swamp Rabbit Trail as it winds its way through Travelers Rest, you’ll be well-advised to stop for a bite to eat and enjoy some true Southern hospitality at The Whistle Stop at the American Café.

The oldest café in Travelers Rest—founded in 1945 by Troy Styles Sr. and now owned by his granddaughter, Vickie Vernon Hawkins—won’t be hard to find. In honor of its history as an authentic whistle stop in the 1940s, a vintage steam engine, and with a replica of the Swamp Rabbit Train, greet visitors in the parking lot. The Caboose Express, a unique red caboose, was designed to serve visitors through a walk-up window. In the original cafe, an electric train chugs along near the ceiling, while train and other vintage paraphernalia decorate the walls of this all-American Southern diner.

Amidst vintage signage and bar stools tucked under the original 1932 counter, kids can enjoy food served in train-shaped containers. Everyone can enjoy Southern favorites such as fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits, along with brick-oven pizzas, as old tunes play on a Wurlitzer Jukebox. Stop and shop for pink or blue conductor hats, bandannas, t-shirts, wooden whistles—with The Whistle Stop brand—as well as cast iron or bronzed steam engines, swamp rabbits, covered wagons, and many other keepsakes.

The old American Café, now doubled in size, includes an upscale dining room with a rock fireplace. Rooftop seating welcomes diners to Victoria Station, where they can relax in the warmth of a cozy fireplace, 92

2014 |

Behind The Counter

while enjoying a beautiful view of a quaint church and the Swamp Rabbit Trail below.

“I want to continue to serve our life-long friends and relatives, along with the residents of Travelers Rest who have supported the café for almost 70 years,” says Vickie, who has owned the cafe since 2013. With its unique setting and distinctive characteristics, The Whistle Stop Café is fast becoming the newest destination spot in the Greenville area.

109 South Main Street, Travelers Rest www.whistlestopattheamericancafe.com 864.WHISTLE (944-7853) or 864.834.8822 Mon.-Thurs. 11am-9pm; Fri.-Sat. 11am-Until; Please check our website for the Caboose and Sunday hours, which vary seasonally

BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE GREENVILLE Meeting the needs of non-traditional students on their way to great things.

Photography by related images photography

Brown Mackie College Greenville opened in 2009, but the college’s roots go back 121 years. With 28 campuses throughout the country, Brown Mackie offers certificates, associate’s, and bachelor’s degree programs.

Serving 850 traditional and non-traditional students, the 50,000-squarefoot urban campus at 75 Beattie Place in Greenville offers classes in career-oriented subjects—including business management, information technology, accounting, occupational therapy assisting, medical assisting, surgical technology, criminal justice, paralegal, and healthcare management. Its newest degree program trains registered nurses.

“Many of our students are non-traditional, with families and jobs,” says Karen Burgess, Campus President. To accommodate these students, as well as students of traditional college age, courses are offered with two day schedules and one evening schedules.

But that’s not all that sets Brown Mackie apart. Unlike most colleges, Brown Mackie’s students take one class a month. The class meets for 12 hours a week, but there is only one mid-term, one final, and one instructor at a time. “Managing one course at a time is easier than having four at a time. It’s intense learning, but it works. It has been very helpful with retention,” says Karen.

At the end of four months, students have completed four classes. A certificate generally takes 12–15 months, an associate’s degree requires 24 months, and a bachelor’s degree is earned in 48 months. The course requirements can be stacked, allowing a certificate graduate to use those credits toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

Brown Mackie provides each student with an iPad, pre-loaded with applications, and downloaded with textbooks later.

“The iPads open up learning in a way that a textbook would not. They can be used for research and all online applications,” Karen says. The students keep the iPads after completing their coursework.

Karen, a 22-year education veteran who moved from Pennsylvania to open the local campus, has found Greenville a welcoming place for the college. “I enjoy helping students achieve their goals. I love it when a student moves to a new career,” she says. “Our most recent graduation had 140 graduates, and 1,500 people in the audience. It was inspiring.”

Part of Brown Mackie’s focus is being a part of the community.

The college sponsors a number of events in Greenville, and students have many opportunities to join organizations that participate in the community, as well as externships in partnership with local hospitals and businesses. Career placement services are available for every graduate.

75 Beattie Place, Suite 100, Greenville www.brownmackie.edu | 864.239.5300

Behind The Counter | 2014

93

Here’s a preview of what you’ll soon see behind our counter...

Proudly publishing the pages in Behind the Counter, as well as our other great titles:

www.communityjournals.com

CRAWLEY’S PARTY SERVICES “The most rewarding thing about this profession is the personal friendships I’ve created with customers.”

Photography by lisa carpenter

Roland Crawley has had a variety of jobs in his 65 years, from drug counselor to restaurant manager, but every job has had one thing in common – a focus on his love of people. His latest venture, Crawley’s Party Services, certainly fits the bill, offering a variety of services for parties, from basic bartending to a full turn-key service that includes beverage planning. purchasing, layout and more.

“Anybody can serve drinks, but it takes a certain person to have the personality that people are looking for,” Crawley said. “Ninety percent of my customers over the years have become personal friends, so it’s not just a customer-type relationship, it’s also a friendship.”

Crawley opened the business two years ago, and has built up a steady clientele made up of many repeat customers who keep coming back to him for help. He’s overseen the drinks at small parties of 10 to more than 350 people, and across Greenville to Charlotte, Atlanta, Myrtle Beach and even St. Petersburg, Fla. “We travel, and I’ve stayed as long as five days for a wedding,” he said. Repeat customers know that no matter how large the event, or how many days, they can count on expert service with the personal touch.

Crawley grew up in Greenville and graduated from Beck High School. After his years as a drug counselor, he enjoyed a stint running his parents’ restaurant, Burn’s Place. But when they retired, he wanted to go in a different direction and joined his older brother providing bartending services for events. After his brother passed away, Crawley continued and expanded the business.

When he isn’t working, Crawley can often be found belting out 70s classics by Earth Wind & Fire or Smokey Robinson while singing karaoke. He also loves going dancing – another reason his business has been a perfect fit. “Parties are the perfect place for me to work,” he said. “It blends right in with the things I like.”

Though he is approaching the age many retire, Crawley said he is having so much fun that he sees continuing for at least another decade. “I just appreciate the customers I have had,” Crawley said. “I love the personal aspect of it. When I’m sick, my customers reach out to help me. The most rewarding thing about this profession is the personal friendships I’ve created with customers.”

PA R T Y

S E R V I C E S 864.385.4215 Behind The Counter | 2014

95

index 4 Rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26–27

Jacob Mann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

A.T. Locke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36–37

Joyner Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Acutech Automotive, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

JP Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Avison Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Keller Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Bank of Travelers Rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22–23

LafayetteScientific Cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Bennetts’ Frame & Art Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Liquid Catering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50–51

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

March to Sold Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Beth Joyner Crigler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Massage Envy Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–5

Brown Mackie College Greenville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Mast General Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34–35

C. Dan Joyner Property Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Megan Diez Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Carol Pyfrom Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Carolina Consignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Christophillis & Gallivan PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Cindy Bolt Bishop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Commonwealth Women’s Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Cowart Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Cox Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80–81 Crawley’s Party Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Dapper Ink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32–33 Davis Audiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70–71 Debi Garrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Delta Apparel, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Design on Tap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Designs From Beth’s House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 eMedia Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Extreme Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 Five Oaks Acadmy, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 GBS Building Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46-47 Ginger Sherman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Golden Strip Glass, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84-85

96

Melissa Morrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Mobius Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Muncaster Financial Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Nathalie M. Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Palmetto Olive Oil Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Posh Paws Grooming & Pet Spa, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82–83 pup-e-cise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Pure Barre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Regency Salon & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Rocky Creek Dental Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Rolling Green Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Saffron’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Signature Pools & Patios, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24–25 Spero’s Pete’s Too . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 St Clair Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42–43 The Chandler School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68-69 The Chet & Beth Smith Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The Whistle Stop at the American Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Timothy E. Hughes, DMD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

Green Valley Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

TNJ Trailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Greenhill Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58-59

TPM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Greenville Carpet One Floor & Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

TreesGreenville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78–79

Greenwise Design & Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Two Men & Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Greystone Antiques & Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Venture Aviation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC

Hennessee Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Village Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Ike’s Carpet, Rug & Upholstery Cleaning, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21

Village of West Greenville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88–89

Industry Event Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Vintage Now Modern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

2014 |

Behind The Counter

BRACE YOURSELF FOR A BRAND NEW SMILE Specializing in new smiles for the entire family since 1988

Our dental team is specially trained for orthodontics for all ages, children and adults. It is our goal to help you achieve a smile for a lifetime. We hope that every visit to our office is pleasant and enjoyable, and we will always treat you with respect in providing quality orthodontic treatment.

The prospect of wearing braces at 50 was somewhat scary but thanks to Dr. Hughes and his staff, it was a great experience with satisfying results. The entire staff is so caring and competent and the office is decorated just perfectly. I have recommended Dr. Hughes to several friends and will continue to do so. — Gloria Elrod

Dr. Hughes and his staff have lovingly and professionally taken care of 5 of our 6 children since 1997. I am convinced that there is no better care in the Greenville area or the region beyond. Beyond the care for our orthodontic needs, the staff is engaging and genuine. They are truly concerned about our family and have made us a part of theirs. We will always be grateful for our years of care and friendship. — Heidi O’Daniel

312 MILLS AVE. GREENVILLE | 864-233-3829 | www.BracesInGreenville.com MONDAY- FRIDAY 9AM-5PM

Behind The Counter | 2014

101

We Fly Anywhere, Any Time.

V

Venture Aviation Group is a full-service aircraft management, brokerage and FAA licensed Air Carrier specializing in executive charters and priority air cargo, as well as complete turn-key aircraft management and aircraft sales. Our pilots have thousands of hours of experience and operate under the strictest safety standards with a 100% accident-free record. Our jet, turboprop and piston aircraft are ranked the highest in their class for safety, comfort and efficiency. We have a plane that fits every travel need and budget. Charter flights can fly you to airports that are less congested and closer to your final destination with no security line, no over-sold bookings and no lost luggage. All flights utilize the latest in technology and include a 2-pilot crew as part of our commitment to your safety. Loyalty pricing available.

FAA-APPROVED AND LICENSED

Fly when it’s convenient for you. When you need to be there. Day or night. 365 days a year.

Downtown Greenville Airport | 1 Aviation Lane, Unit 6, Hangar 6 | 864-370-2962 98

2014 |

Behind The Counter

www.Venture-Aviation.com