Charleston Regional Business Journal - February 20, 2023

On location in South Carolina

What was filmed where?

The S.C. Film Commission lists many of the feature films and television shows produced in South Carolina. Here is a small sampling of movies, television and streaming productions filmed in South Carolina.

Charleston region

The Notebook

Die Hard: With a Vengeance

Outer Banks

The Righteous Gemstones

Columbia region

Chattahoochee

Accidental Love

Even without the robust film incentives of a state like Georgia, South Carolina’s inherit natural beauty and historical legacy lends itself to some desired filming locations for popular movies, television and independent productions.

Recently, Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant was listed as the No. 1 filming location in the state, and that’s not surprising, given the architecture and pristine beauty of the 738-acre plantation and gardens in Charleston County.

The S.C. Film Commission helps production teams and site selectors find perfect on location spots in the Palmetto State for whatever look and feel they want to capture on film and video. The agency maintains a database with images and details about different locations across the state to help filmmakers decide if they might want to film in the state, and they offer hands-on matchmaking services to help locate any special production needs.

With more than 9,700 pre-registered locations, the Film Commission has created a treasure trove full of interesting places to see and explore even if you aren’t filming your next blockbuster. A breakdown of locations from that database shows some of the signature locations, including the numbers in each county.

The Program

The Last Confederate

Greenville region

Leatherheads

Coupe de Ville

Deliverance

Haunted Trail

Florence/Myrtle Beach

The Bay

The Strangers

Shag

Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken

Rock Hill

The Patriot

Gospel Hill Asylum

The Rage: Carrie II

Beaufort/Hilton Head

Forrest Gump

G.I. Jane

The Big Chill

On location in the Palmetto State

With a database of more than 9,700 locations across South Carolina, the S.C. Film Commission helps match film productions with scene-setting locations, architecture and script demands. An analysis of the database show how locations compare across Upstate, Midlands and Lowcountry and the rest of the state

Lowcountry: 46.7%*

Midlands: 10%

Upstate: 7.1%

Other Locations: 36.2%

South Carolina.

Source: Analysis of S.C. Film Commission location database | *Percentage of 9,735 sites across

HBO film crews set up a shot for The Righteous Gemstones with actors Danny McBride (left) and Adam Devine in the At Home parking lot in North Charleston. (Photo/Fred Norris, HBO)

“We want to amplify and nurture that creative community while introducing new opportunities for local entrepreneurs, businesses, artists and residents.”

— Jay Weaver, founder and president of Weaver Capital Partners

SC Biz News Briefs

USC unveils $1B ‘game changer’ project to develop area around football stadium

Big changes could be coming to Williams-Brice Stadium and other locations around Columbia as part of an elaborate $1 billion development project announced Tuesday, Feb. 8 by the University of South Carolina.

University officials announced they will begin to seek proposals from developers for a massive project that could eventually include improvements to the stadium as well as new developments on property the university owns elsewhere in the city.

Officials estimate the total cost of the development project could reach $1 billion and hope to raise funds through private donations.

The university has started a process to “determine the feasibility of a major modernization of Williams-Brice Stadium” and said the project could also include development of more than 800 acres of undeveloped property owned by USC and its foundation located near the Congaree River and west of the existing Long Family Football Operations Facility, according to a news release.

The university has opened what is known as a “Request for Information” process to identify potential developers for the project, and officials said the results of the RFI are due back to them by the beginning of March. CRBJ

Brewery, entertainment attraction joins tenants at former Greenville textile mill

Two new tenants will be joining the Judson Mill District in Greenville — a historic textile mill-turned mixed-use community.

Stumpy’s Hatchet House, a national axe-throwing and entertainment spot, and Magnetic South Brewery, one of the Upstate’s highest-growth breweries, will be opening their newest locations in the Judson Mill District, according to a Hughes Agency news release.

Magnetic South Brewery expects to open in the Judson Mill District in early March. The Anderson-based brewery founded by Paul Cain, Tanner Coombs, and Adam “Cuzzin” Willier, focuses on creating a high-energy, family-friendly brewery and taproom space that embodies the true spirit of Southern hospitality, according to the news release.

“At its core, we believe in creating an experience where people can connect and enjoy good beer and food,” said Willier. “We are excited to debut what Magnetic South has to offer to Greenville and look forward to being part of this vibrant community.” CRBJ

publications in Charleston, Columbia and the Upstate, as well as a statewide magazine, SC Biz News covers the pulse of business across South Carolina.

The proposal would see development of 800 acres of previously unutilized land around the University of South Carolina’s football stadium. (Photo/Provided)

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Boeing added 950 to its SC workforce in 2022

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By Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com

Boeing in North Charleston grew by 950 in 2022

Boeing’s South Carolina workforce grew by about 950 in 2022, part of a companywide surge of 15,000 employees around the world.

Boeing shared its year-end employment numbers in conjunction with filing its 10-K financial performance forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The growth of the Lowcountry workforce brings the total headcount to about 6,500 at Boeing South Carolina’s two campuses, according to figures released by the company. The company said in a news release that it plans to hire another 10,000 workers worldwide in 2023.

Part of the Palmetto State hiring took place because delivery resumed for the Dreamliners produced at the Ladson plant. Production of the 787s had continued at a slower pace while the company and Federal Aviation Administration worked to address safety concerns.

The company acknowledged that a

return to deliveries accounted for some of the hiring, but not all of it.

Although the Dreamliner program is based at the North Charleston plant, other Boeing operations include:

• Boeing’s engine nacelle design and manufacturing center of excellence, supporting the 777X and 737 MAX programs, among others.

• Boeing Research and Technology South Carolina, the center of the company’s composite manufacturing development activities.

• One of Boeing’s four Information Technology Centers, which provides support to the entire Boeing enterprise across the globe.

• One of the primary U.S. Air Force base locations (Joint Base Charleston) supporting the C-17 fleet with technical and logistics solutions.

• One of three domestic BCA Engineering Design Centers, performing engineering work statement for BCA, BDS and BGS programs and projects.

• Senior Boeing executives leading enterprise roles such as 787 Engineering; 787 Quality; Ethics, Law and Global Compliance; and others.

“Our diverse Boeing South Carolina team demonstrates a commitment to safety, quality and integrity every day on the 787 program and across the many other Boeing programs and projects BSC supports,” Lane Ballard, vice president and general manager of the 787 program and Boeing South Carolina site leader, said in the news release. “I am proud of our growing team in South Carolina, and we will continue to invest in our teammates and the development of meaningful and fulfilling careers for generations to come.”

Boeing South Carolina is one of only three aerospace production sites in the world where twin-aisle commercial airplanes are assembled and delivered. It is the only site in the world that encompasses the full cycle of Dreamliner production, starting with fabrication using carbon composite materials and ending with final assembly and delivery to the customer.

The company has invested more than $83 million with charitable organizations in South Carolina, with an emphasis on education, arts and culture, health and human services, civic engagement and the environment. CRBJ

Boeing added about 950 workers in 2022, part of a companywide surge of 15,000 employees around the world. (Photo/Provided)

By Jason Thomas jthomas@scbiznews.com

The next College of Health Professions building at the Medical University of South Carolina will be a new, modern medical education facility in the heart of downtown Charleston.

Providing classrooms, laboratories, common spaces, and support spaces for faculty, staff and students, the building will accommodate the university’s substantial growth in the professions of physical therapy, and occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology, according to a release from Clark Nexsen, which designed the building in collaboration with SMHa.

The approximately 90,000-square-foot building will encompass six floors, according to the release. Housing the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology) and the Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions, the building features a variety of multipurpose classrooms. On the second, third and fourth floors, large multipurpose educational spaces accommodate the physical/ occupational therapy programs, allowing students to learn in a lab and classroom setting without having to go back and forth between the two spaces. The third floor also includes a human abilities lab, which simulates a patient’s living space to help students

prepare for working with patients in real-life conditions, the release stated.

The building, which is expected to open in 2025, has a cost of $50 million, according to the release.

walkways were also incorporated into the design, connecting the CHP building to the Bioengineering Building to the south and the future College of Medicine building to the north.

The design of the building is driven by the idea of movement, conveying through its aesthetic the work of the programs within to support people and restore physical movement, the release stated.

due to flooding in the area, the CHP building is built three feet above the floodplain, the release stated. For resiliency and to avoid possible flood damage, a penthouse will be located on the roof to house the mechanical and electrical equipment. Hurricane resistance will also be applied throughout the building to protect from high-velocity debris.

With physical therapy and occupa-

Pedestrian

Office spaces for faculty and staff, classrooms, and conference rooms are on the first through fourth floors. Natural light was incorporated heavily into the design as many employees don’t have windows in their current offices, the release stated. While the fifth and sixth floors are designed as shell spaces, Clark Nexsen is supporting MUSC with a grant proposal to upfit those floors, according to the release.

Pedestrian walkways were also incorporated into the design, connecting the CHP building to the Bioengineering Building to the south and the future College of Medicine building to the north. (Rendering/Clark Nexsen)

CoC establishes Martin Center for Mentorship in Communication

this center an enduring resource at the Col-

A longtime mentor at CofC, Tom Martin first became involved with the college when he joined the Department of Communication National Advisory Council in 2004, the news release said. He has served as the communication department’s executive-in-residence since 2007, when he retired from his post as senior vice president of corporate relations at ITT Corp., a global engineering company. In 2016, the Martins launched the Martin Scholars Program, an experiential learning and mentoring program for graduating seniors majoring in communication.

“During my 15 years at the college, I have seen the dramatic and positive impact that mentors have had with our students,” Tom

Martin said in the release. “My career and life have been shaped in large part by mentors I had along the way, and I believe this is an area that can be further researched and taught, so that future mentoring efforts here and elsewhere can be even more effective. I’m excited that Wanda and I can help facilitate this important work.”

The Martin Scholars Program has 70 graduates now working in a variety of fields, including communications, marketing and education. It will be one of the signature programs of the new Martin Center. The center also will manage the Department of Communications Mentor-Protégé Program, which matches members of the department’s National Advisory Council and alumni of the college with communi-

The new center was made possible by a pledge from Thomas and Wanda Martin. (Photo/Provided)

Restaurant couple continues to invest in Mount Pleasant

By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger Correspondent

The couple who brought you SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar, recently opened another location, this time focused on the flavors of coastal Spain and the shores of the Mediterranean.

Ty and Karen Raju experienced so much success with their first restaurant, which they describe as “upscale Italian,” that they felt it was time to bring another concept forward with small plates, craft cocktails and an extensive wine list. Sommba Cocina & Cellar opened at the end of January at Indigo Square at 1710 Shoremeade Road, off S.C. 17.

The couple, who hail from Florida, saw an opportunity and seized it.

“Mount Pleasant is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States; people from larger cities are relocating here,” Ty said, adding that the couple was well aware of what they were getting into when they started their first restaurant. Not only did they survive COVID, but they did well enough to feel confident enough to open a second establishment. “The margins are thin, you have to be good at analytics and understand what people are interested in spending their hard-earned money on,” said Ty.

Enter Sommba, which, according to Ty, fills a niche. “We love the Lowcountry lifestyle where there’s plenty of fried chick-

en and barbecue, but few are offering fare that can be found in the big cities,” he said, adding that the area contains a lot of “white space,” meaning that competitors are few and far between.

The restaurant serves 100 inside and 40 on an outside patio and most dishes are locally sourced and made from scratch, including the desserts, according to Ty. “We come from the school of thought that sometimes you have to go out a little further when

sourcing ingredients, but the closer, the better,” he said. Dishes include Mediterranean favorites like garlic shrimp, steamed clams, lamb meatballs and their most popular dish, Octopus a la plancha, served with harissa romesco, hazelnut, pickled peppers and crushed fingerling potatoes.

And for those who’ve visited Spain and loved the Paella, Sommba’s chef is going to be cooking up three versions: vegetarian, Valencia made with chicken thighs and

rabbit sausage, and De Marsico, made with shrimp, calamari, squid and clams.

To say the wine list is extensive would be an understatement. As a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, Ty takes his wine seriously and it’s no wonder. According to the organization’s website it bestows the distinction on those who are “among the most qualified in the industry with outstanding tasting and evaluation skills, wine knowledge and abilities in service and beverage department management.”

To earn the designation, Ty said that it took approximately three years of study, but the rigor paid off with three consecutive Wine Spectator awards at SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar. “I’m hoping that Sommba gets one next,” said Ty, although he is quick to point out that there’s no one on staff surveying the landscape with a Tastevin around his neck. “That’s just a little much; we want people to feel comfortable here whether they choose to wear shorts, or a suit,” he said.

Sommba also offers margaritas, daiquiris and old fashioned cocktails, as well as a selection of craft beers and ciders and as a nod to the sober movement, there are two non-alcoholic choices on the menu as well.

Ty said that the restaurant is off to a good start, judging by the number of customers that are flocking to the place.

“We’re quickly becoming Mount Pleasant’s favorite bar,” he said. CRBJ

Sommba Cocina & Cellar focuses on the flavors of coastal Spain and the shores of the Mediterranean. (Photo/Provided)

Work begins on Navy Yard Charleston

By Jason Thomas jthomas@scbiznews.com

Work has begun on Navy Yard Charleston with the redevelopment of two historic storehouses in a project that looks to transform a portion of the former Charleston Naval Base into a mixed-use neighborhood.

Projected to open in 2024, Storehouses 8 and 9 will be reactivated as a series of restaurants, shops, offices apartments and live/work units, according to a news release from Jamestown, a real estate investment and management firm.

The project is part of the broader redevelopment of the former Naval base led by Jamestown and local Charleston real estate developers Weaver Capital Partners and WECCO Development, according to the release. The multi-phase redevelopment will transform a 79-acre portion of the campus into a mixeduse neighborhood. This next phase of the redevelopment, which is focused on Storehouse Row, also includes the partnership of Piedmont Private Equity.

“Great places are made over time, in collaboration with the communities they serve,” said Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, in the release. “We are advancing this redevelopment in stages and with careful attention to ensure we achieve preservation and innovation in equal measure. The reactivation of Storehouses 8 and 9 as a layered, mixed-used environment is emblematic of that mission and our broader vision for the property.”

The 40,000-square-foot, two-story

building known as Storehouse 8 will be restored and repurposed as a restaurant, event space and offices, the release stated. In an effort to preserve the history and character of the building, which was con-

structed in 1906 as naval administrative offices, the renovation will salvage architectural details, including the building’s original hallways, trim, railings, flooring, slate roof and copper soffits.

“The restoration and reactivation of these Storehouses will bolster the area’s existing business community, which

See NAVY YARD, Page 9

Charleston company investing $3M, hiring 100

By Jason Thomas jthomas@scbiznews.com

ACharleston company specializing in outsourcing call center services for the e-commerce industry has plans to hire 100 new employees over next two years, with a $3 million investment into the business.

Aventus is known for its tech-forward and innovative approach to the outsourcing industry, bringing a new way of thinking to the market, a news release from the company stated.

It has been providing customer service for e-commerce clients for several years, working with some of the internet’s top retail brands, and is now expanding to meet the growing demand for their services, according to the release. The new hires will play a vital role in helping the company continue to provide excellent service to their clients and grow their business with the added investment, the release stated.

agers, partnership team members, marketing, additional operation managers, and customer service representatives.

“We understand that a positive and supportive work culture is essential for our employees’ well-being and overall success of the company,” said Josh Royal, chief visionary of Aventus. “That’s why we are not only investing in our business but also in our people. Our company is known for its innovative approach to the outsourcing industry and our use of cutting-edge technology. This will help us to expand our services and reach more clients, providing them with the best customer service possible.

“We take pride in our ability to provide top-notch customer service, and these new hires will help us continue to do so for our valued clients. We are excited to see what the future holds for our company CRBJ

The new hiring is for various positions, including client support man-

The former Charleston Naval Base is being transformed into a mixed-use development that includes restaurant, office and residential space. (Rendering/Provided)

includes a wide range of designers and makers,” said Jay Weaver, founder and president of Weaver Capital Partners, in the release. “We want to amplify and nurture that creative community while introducing new opportunities for local entrepreneurs, businesses, artists, and residents.”

The adjacent Storehouse 9, a 67,000-square-foot, four-story building constructed in 1918 as naval administration offices and storage facility, will also be redeveloped as part of the next phase, according to the release. The restoration and renovation of the building includes creating restaurants and shops on the ground floor, a rooftop bar and restaurant with views of the Cooper River and 86 units with the flexibility to serve as live/work, including eight on the ground floor with a retail component, geared to makers and artisans.

n addition to restoring Storehouse 8 and 9, the next phase of the redevelopment also includes the construction of a new restaurant space to be known as Storehouse 8.5 within the plaza between the buildings, the release stated. The plaza will feature a community gathering place and include outdoor dining space, an event lawn and game area.

Since announcing the Navy Yard Charleston redevelopment, the development team has been focused on planning and design, as well as remediation and preservation projects throughout the property, according to the release. The team also has partnered with a number of neighborhood organizations and community groups, including Charleston Promise Neighborhood and Historic Charleston Foundation. A neighborhood employment program reserving project-specific positions for local residents will be launched as part of the redevelopment of the Navy Hospital, expected to commence this year.

Beginning its operation as a working dry dock in 1901, the Navy Yard maintained a naval presence on the North Charleston waterfront for nearly a century, according to the release. Since it was decommissioned in 1996, some of its historic buildings have remained in use for various purposes, while others have declined. Today, the site includes the former Navy Hospital, a neoclassical power plant, naval infirmary, and series of storehouses.

Nearly two dozen companies on the grounds employ thousands of people, including custom lighting designers, blacksmiths, underwater welders, brewer, and bakers, according to the release. Navy Yard Charleston joins a number of historic naval yards across the nation that have recently been reimagined and repurposed for modern use including the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Navy Yard, Philadelphia. CRBJ

Reach Jason Thomas at 864-568-7570.

NAVY YARD, from Page 8

Storehouses 8 and 9 at the former Charleston Naval Base will feature restaurant and office space and is expected to open in 2024. (Rendering/Provided)

Johns Island inventor looks to boost sales through Walmart

By Jenny Peterson

Contributing Writer

AJohns Island-based company that makes a foldable, portable pocket dog bowl and matching carrying pouch will soon land on one of the nation’s largest e-commerce websites.

Lowcountry Pet Specialties was among the companies chosen through Walmart’s  “Open Call” initiative to promote locally made products on the retailer’s marketplace website. The goal is to get it on Walmart’s  physical shelves.

According to a press release from Walmart, more than 1,100 businesses from across the country pitched their products at the annual “Open Call” last year and just more than 330 were chosen to be sold in stores and online.

Lowcountry Pet Specialties was one of four suppliers in South Carolina chosen for products made, grown or assembled in the state.

The Mobowl (named for “mobile bowl”) is a $12.99 patented BPA-free foldable travel pet bowl that fits two cups of food or two cups of water and measures just four inches in diameter when open.

Launched nearly four years ago, the Mobowl is now sold at 120 pet special-

ty retailers worldwide and available on the Lowcountry Pet Specialties website.

“We have sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 80,000-100,000 units. We have shipped 30,000 units to Europe,” said Lowcountry Pet Specialties founder John Hagerman , a retired engineer. “Europeans love this product; they are very active with their pets. (This WalMart partnership) is the project that really puts us on the map. By being in Walmart, it opens new doors for us to other retailers.”

Hagerman started Lowcountry Pet Specialties specifically to manufacture and sell the Mobowl. He came up with the idea after outings with his border collie at the beach and the park where he would forget to bring a water bowl.

“I would either cobble something up out of aluminum foil or I’d even pour water into my hand,” Hagerman said. “I looked online for a portable pet bowl, but nothing impressed me. I said,’ You know what? I’m going to make my own.’”

Hagerman’s friend had a 3-D printer and the first prototype of the Mobowl was created. Hagerman spent years testing different materials that was both safe for dogs and fold-

FTC proposes nationwide ban on non-competes

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule that would ban noncompetes for almost all workers in the U.S. Our expert panel will discuss what the rule says, what the impact will be on employers, what the timeline might be for implementation, the implications for non-disclosure agreements and other restrictive covenants, and what alternatives the FTC is considering.

Join us for an in-depth discussion on this potential ruling and learn from a panel of experts on how this potential change may impact your business. March 2, 2023 | 3:00 PM EST

Lowcountry Pet Specialties’ portable pet bowl will appear on Walmart’s e-commerce site. (Photo/Provided)

See DOG BOWL, Page 11

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In Focus

HOSPITALITY/TOURISM

LISTS: Hotels/Event Space, Page 17-19

FOCUS: Architecture/Engineering/ Construction

Hotel conglomerate grows from deep family roots

By Krys Merryman kmerryman@scbiznews.com

When DJ Rama’s father and uncles came to Greenville in 1976 — always looking for opportunities — they had no idea they would be creating a legacy.

Fast forward 47 years, and Auro Hotels, which is headquartered in Greenville, is an international company with offices in Atlanta and Surat, India, and develops, owns and operates nearly 40 hotels across the Southeast.

There is no doubt that Auro Hotels has transformed downtown Greenville — playing a key role in the city’s revitalization — and has given the hospitality and tourism scene a boost.

Rama, president and CEO of Auro

Hotels, shared a Sanskrit saying Atithi Devo Bhava, which translates to “guests are to be revered and treated as family,” and embodies the Rama’s hospitality philosophy.

“Why we are so passionate about the hospitality and tourism industry takes me back to our roots,” said Rama. “The values my father and grandfather taught me is to take care of guests and give them shelter.”

After being raised in the Camelot motel on Augusta Road starting in 1976, he said a passion for the industry is in his DNA.

“It’s not about having a manual but having a heart and creating a soul and culture of a company as owners and developers,” he said. “And that is reflected in the way we treat our associates at

the corporate office down to how we take care of our guests in each of our hotels.”

Through hard work and perseverance, the company’s first hotel was acquired in 1973, while the first hotel they built — one of the first Hampton Inns — was in 1986 in Augusta.

After the success of building their first hotel, Auro later acquired land in Greenville to build the Fairfield Inn on Pelham Road in Greenville in 1994, said Rama. This was the start of a long-term partnership with the Marriott brand of hotels.

Rama said the company began a special relationship with Marriott around the time he took his first job after college with Marriott Corporate.

“To become a franchisee, they wanted us to start at the bottom, as with anything, but later, the Fairfield Inn franchise

led us to our first full-service Marriott hotel on the Parkway,” said Rama. “This acquisition was an important step in our growth. We of course love other brands like Hilton and Hyatt but have a special bond with Marriott due to the history, and we want to grow that moving forward.”

Now, 72% of Auro’s hotel portfolio is made up of Marriott-branded hotels. When it comes to Greenville, what Auro discovered was the quality of life and nature that is unique here, said Rama.

Within a 50-mile radius, Auro has acquired many hotels in the Upstate, but over time, downtown Greenville became their bullseye — so they sold some prop-

How this hotel conglomerate transformed downtown Greenville’s hospitality, tourism scene with the meaning of ‘family’

Auro has more Charleston hotel rooms than anyone else

The Residence Inn/SpringHill Suites is in downtown Greenville. (Photo/Auro Hotels)

erties in neighboring cities and focused on Greenville growth.

“Greenville has been at the heart of our expansion in the hospitality industry,” said Rama.

In downtown Greenville alone, Auro has built the AC Hotel on Main Street in Camperdown, and the Residence Inn/ SpringHill Suites by Marriott on Spring Street, as well as a total renovation of the Hyatt Regency.

“The hospitality scene here calls for a high design profile, and that’s what I’m most passionate about,” said Rama. “The design of our downtown hotels really brings the scene up a notch.”

Sid Wall, executive vice president for Select Service Operations, who oversees the Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites, and AC Hotel in downtown, said when you look at the reimaging of these hotels, it goes back to everything Auro does in the industry.

“It’s about welcoming people into our homes, which is our hotels,” Wall added. “You can see it in every hotel detail. DJ has executed flawlessly to make people feel what Greenville is about when walking into one of our hotels. We welcome them in a way they have not been welcomed before. It’s special, but it’s a process that has been developed over the last 47 years. It’s a lot of work, but we are all very proud of it.”

Auro has invested close to $300 million in downtown Greenville, with more than 1,000 rooms in the city and 740 employees.

“We love Greenville, because we have found that the city has diversified industries that have allowed us to survive all the headwinds such as recessions,” said Rama. “Being a business owner in Greenville has given us a deep foundation and love for this community.”

So much so, Auro donated more than $1.25 million to local charity in the last decade, and contributed $500,000 for the construction of the Unity Park Auro Bridge.

“This symbolizes that we welcome everyone here,” Rama said. “Unity Park itself represents that.”

He said when the bank lent them money in the 1970s, they gave his family a chance, even when there was open discrimination at that time.

“Unity Park is a full circle moment for us as a minority owned business,” he added. “We had a small hand in it, but we are really proud of how far we have come.”

History in the making

When former Greenville Mayor Max Heller started his term in 1971, he brought his vision of European and Austrian flair. He did a lot of the legwork to get a hotel in Greenville that is said to be the start of its revitalization. That’s when the Hyatt Regency was born in 1982 through private-public partnerships. Creating a downtown that was walkable with treelined streets was a part of Heller’s vision.

Rama said his father used to bring him to the Hyatt to learn how to eat with a fork and knife when its restaurant first opened. So it was another full circle moment for the family when they purchased it from the Hyatt family in 2009, said Rama. That purchase included an office building, the 330-room hotel, and a park.

“People used to take a U-turn at Bertolo’s, so we made that area an approachable public square with plentiful seating, a stage, restaurant and patio, so people would embrace this block instead of turn away from it,” said Rama. “We revitalized the north end of Main Street, bringing it back to life.”

They activated NOMA Square with community events to bring people together, furthering the positive impact on Greenville’s economy, Rama said.

“It was a regeneration of growth in Greenville,” he added. “There was a lot of pressure to make sure they preserved its original vision and the re-grand opening in 2012 was a very touching moment for our family.”

As a 100% privately held company, Wall said you cannot overstate the family feel of Auro.

“From past to present and in the future, that’s an important part of who we are,” he added.

Rama said Auro believes in Greenville city leaders and will continue to invest in the community.

“We clearly saw people flock here during COVID, and we believe that’s due to finding a sense of place here,” he added.

Although they are still working on the details, Auro also plans to create a 9,000-square-foot event space on Main Street below the AC Hotel, where they

See AURO HOTELS, Page 15

The AC Hotel at Camperdown on Main and Broad streets in downtown Greenville. (Photo/Auro Hotels)

The main entrance of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville. (Photo/Auro Hotels)

The Hyatt Regency atrium in downtown Greenville. (Photo/Auro Hotels)

will host live music and other entertainment.

“By creating this music corridor, we will add to the energy of Main Street,” Rama said.

Auro also intends to develop two more 200-room hotels, which will be positioned as upscale lifestyle hotels. These concepts are still in the early development stages.

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry

With Greenville as their home, Auro always wanted to enter the Charleston market, but it felt unapproachable because of how expensive it is, Rama said.

Eventually they had had an opportunity to acquire the Charleston Riverview Hotel on Lockwood Boulevard which led to the purchase of the Courtyard on the Ashley River. Later, in that same area, they acquired the Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites on Ripley Point, and now own the North Charleston Marriott and TownePlace Suites North Charleston.

“It was a domino effect,” said Rama. “Once we enter a market we want to keep growing there.”

The Ashley River is a special place for Auro, too, he added. The Marriott Courtyard design reflects the water and scenery of Charleston.

They were inspired by the river as they have a dock there, and all the watercolors in the lobby are unique with touches of mosaic art pieces, which are also reminiscent of the river.

“We reinvent properties based on the surrounding public spaces of each hotel, and that is also reflected in the guest rooms,” Rama said.

In both the Charleston and Greenville markets, Auro is the largest hotel owner in terms of number of rooms, said Rama. There are close to 1,200 rooms in Charleston among all their hotels — with more to come — and approximately 1,100 in Greenville, with close to 400 more in the works.

When Auro acquired the dilapidated Lockwood Boulevard hotel, they renovated it to become the Charleston Marriott. They then worked in partnership with the city, which was redeveloping the

area, to build an addition creating one of the largest ballrooms/convention spaces in downtown. It is named after former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley — who served 40 years in office.

“He took us in with an open heart and said, ‘Let’s revitalize,’” said Rama. “He was the pillar of Charleston, so we displayed photographs of him and commemorated him in our ballroom. Offering the city a large space to gather, which is similar to the Hyatt Regency in Greenville.”

Rama said by taking ownership of the hospitality and tourism industry in each market, it allows them to attract great staff and leaders while bringing the best service to their guests.

Whenever they develop a project, they study the marketplace of each city and incorporate local stories into a design story board for their hotels. Case and point: the Residence Inn/SpringHill Suites, a dual-branded hotel, is nature-inspired, just like Greenville itself. The AC Hotel in Greenville pays homage to the textile industry, local arts and culture, and the Greenville News that was formerly located on the site of the hotel. This philosophy holds true with the Courtyard at Ashley River as well.

“Our mission is to create a story when guests visit, so they can connect to each place they are visiting,” said Rama.

Down to the signature scents of each hotel, all the senses are meant to be engaged for the ultimate experience, Rama said.

Notable partners in Auro projects are BE&K Building Group, which has built many hotels with them, and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, as well as several other local partners.

“We appreciate South Carolina being a user-friendly state for business, and for the work that is done here attracting tourism,” said Rama. “Having a vision for the future ensures the state stays strong for a great future for our children.”

Auro wouldn’t be what it is today without having treated their associates like family. Rama said the next generation will continue to lead the company, hopefully well into the future.

“We will stay true to our roots and original values,” he said. CRBJ

AURO HOTELS, from Page 13

The Courtyard Charleston Waterfront is located on the Ashley River. (Photo/Auro Hotels)

Rucker, music festival plan return to North Charleston

Staff Report

Three-time Grammy Award-winner Darius Rucker and SRE Entertainment are bringing back the Riverfront Revival music festival to North Charleston’s Riverfront Park.

The event will be held Oct. 7-8.

The 2023 lineup will be announced at a later date, and will include country and rock acts, and a performance from Rucker himself, as well as food, drinks, art and culture, according to a news release from SRE Entertainment.

“Charleston’s hometown spirit was on full display last year and showed us what a local music festival meant to this community,” Rucker said in the release. “We know 2023 is going to be an even greater experience for fans and we can’t wait to see you there.”

Proceeds from each ticket sold will once again benefit the Arts in Healing program at the Medical University of South Carolina, according to the release. Rucker is passionate about giving back to the Charleston community and has raised millions of dollars throughout his career for the hospital where his late mother was a nurse, the release stated.

Early access presale tickets are available now with prices starting at $140 for general admission and $475 for VIP.

“We were overwhelmed with the sup-

port and attendance of our first Riverfront Revival and are thrilled to bring the festival back for more fans to enjoy,”

SRE Entertainment partner Rob Lamble said in the release. “This is a festival built by Charlestonians who want noth-

ing more than to showcase the best our city has to offer with great music, culture and food.” CRBJ

SOUTH CAROLINA PORTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Darius Rucker will perform at the Riverfront Revival music festival in North Charleston in October. (Photo/Bain Stewart)

Funding falling into place for $144M airport project

By Jim Tatum Correspondent

Aproject to build a new access road for Charleston International Airport appears to be finally cleared for take-off.

The S.C. Joint Bond Review Committee recently voted to approve an additional $22 million for Charleston International’s Airport Connector Road project. The committee had previously approved $14 million for the project in 2014.

The total cost of the project is $144 million.

The project, in planning for more than a decade, is being funded through several sources, with the South Carolina Department of Transportation putting $69 million toward the project, Charleston County putting in another $18.1 million and the federal government chipping in $16.1 million. Along with the $22 million Strategic Economic Development Fund grant approved Jan. 25, the S.C. Dept. of Commerce is putting in $17 million.

About $1.7 million remains to be funded.

The purpose of the project is to relocate the current entrance road to Charleston International Airport from

International Boulevard to the perimeter of Boeing’s expansion property by providing direct access to the airport from Interstate 526. Plans call for the proposed 5-lane road to run along Montague Avenue and tie into the existing airport loop road.

According to airport, county, and Dept. of Commerce officials, the new road should significantly relieve conges-

tion currently caused by the sheer traffic volume currently traveling International Boulevard and the surrounding areas. Once the project is completed, the entry way to the airport, located on International Boulevard, will disappear; however, access to South Aviation Avenue from International Boulevard will still be available.

“The project will alleviate existing and increasing traffic congestion in the vicinity of the airport by providing direct access to the airport from I-526, and separating airport and commuter traffic from traffic to and from Boeing’s campus,” South Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey wrote in a letter of support to the Joint Bond Review Board in Dec. 2022.

The ACR is not only part of a longterm plan to alleviate traffic congestion in the area — especially on International Boulevard, which is heavily traveled in both directions — but is also part of a commitment by the state to further enable Boeing’s consolidation of manufacturing operations for the 787 Dreamliner in Charleston.

“In discussing the need for the funding, we identified the contribution to the ACR project because of the State’s long-standing commitment in connection with the relocation of International

Boulevard off of the Boeing expansion property,” Lightsey wrote in his letter to the Joint Bond Commission. “Boeing’s decision in 2020 that it would consolidate assembly of the 787 Dreamliner to its North Charleston facility include the company’s reliance on this commitment that will enable expansion of Boeing’s operations in North Charleston.”

The Joint Bond Committee acknowledged that “fulfillment of the State’s commitment is underscored by Boeing’s announcement on Dec. 13, 2022, of a firm order by United Airlines for one hundred 787 Dreamliners to be delivered by 2032, with an option for an additional 100 Dreamliners in the future.”

The ACR is also expected to aid in the projected future growth of Charleston International Airport. According to Charleston International Airport statistics, the airport served more than 2.6 million passengers in 2022; that number is expected to increase to around 6 million by the end of 2024. Long-term expansion plans currently call for 11 new gates, two new wings, and another parking deck, according to airport officials.

If all goes as planned, bids for the ACR project will go out in second quarter 2024 with construction getting under way in third quarter 2024. CRBJ

“The project will alleviate existing and increasing traffic congestion in the vicinity of the airport by providing direct access to the airport from I-526, and separating airport and commuter traffic from traffic to and from Boeing’s campus.”

Harry M. Lightsey Secretary of Commerce

A $144 million infrastructure project near Charleston International Airport is closer to a reality now that the majority of the funding has been secured. (Rendering/Provided)

Former Eataly executive chef to open Charleston restaurant

By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger Correspondent

Charleston will soon be home to a new sandwich shop thanks to Chef Michael Toscano who is, once again, investing in Charleston with a new eatery. Da Toscano Porchetta Shop is slated to open in the spring at 109 President St.

The acclaimed chef started his career in New York City as executive chef at Eataly in the Flatiron District, before moving on to open Perla Ristorante, a contemporary Italian eatery in Greenwich Village where he worked as Executive Chef.

While in New York, Toscano earned a number of accolades and was recognized not once, but three times, as a James Beard Rising Star Chef Semifinalist.

A trip to Charleston for an event inspired Toscano and his wife Caitlin to move south approximately seven years ago. “I was invited to cook at the Charleston Wine+ Food Festival and we fell in love with the town, the chefs and the restaurants. By this time, we had our second child and knew we wanted to get out of New York City,” said Toscano.

When the couple arrived in Charleston, they continued their restaurant careers by opening Le Farfalle Osteria, at the former Leaf space at 15 Beaufain St. in Harleston Village. Those familiar with Le Farfalle

know that it’s known for serving elevated Italian fare like Agnolotti with duck confit, funghi misti and Parmigiano Reggiano, coriander crusted duck breast, and lamb chop “scottadito,” which, according to Toscano, means “burned fingers,” because

that’s what tends to happen when he serves chops so delicious that customers can’t resist eating them piping hot. Toscano made the decision to open his newest restaurant after a successful popup held at his Beaufain Street restaurant.

“We decided to do the pop-up because my wife and I had been on a few trips, more recently to Tuscany and Florence, and we were inspired by little kiosks doing small sandwiches as street food,” he said. The couple gave it a try at Le Farfalle and people happily lined up to order porchetta sandwiches served on focaccia with aged provolone and Salsa Verde.

Toscano said that da Toscano Porchetta will be open for breakfast and lunch and will serve a signature sandwich he describes as a roasted whole pig, deboned and rubbed with rosemary, fennel, garlic, chili, black pepper and salt and rolled into a big log where the skin is exposed to make it crispy when cooked.

“Everything will be based on our warm and crusty focaccia made from scratch daily,” Toscano said. Additional offerings will include a prime rib sandwich, a vegetarian option made with marinated eggplant, ricotta and sun-dried tomatoes, a rotisserie chicken sandwich, along with a selection of salads and vegetables. “Most of the meats will also be sold by the pound,” said Toscano, who expects a brisk business. “It’s right by the hospital where there is a lot of foot traffic,” he said, adding that he’ll also be filling a niche by offering frozen take-and-bake dinners.

“We’re looking forward to cooking and serving the quality food that we are known for at our new location,” Toscano said. CRBJ

Chef Michael Toscano holds his signature sandwich to be served at da Toscano Porchetta Shop. (Photo/ Provided)

EcoSteris provide

‘First-of-its-kind’ recycling facility open EcoSteris focuses on sustainability with medical waste recycling

By Jason Thomas jthomas@scbiznews.com

A“first-of-its-kind” health care waste treatment and disposal company is set to open in Summerville.

EcoSteris confirmed that March 1 will be the start date of its “state-of-the art” operations at 112 Fabricators St., according to an EcoSteris news release.

The company claims to be the first facility of its kind nationwide to provide environmental and health care integrated waste treatment and disposal solutions using sustainable technology that meets strict national and international safety standards and regulations, according to the release.

EcoSteris understands that regulated medical waste management is not only an issue of cost and convenience, but it is also a subject of liability, public relations, social responsibility and environmental sustainability, the release stated.

That is why EcoSteris is committed to

providing advanced, comprehensive and integrated medical waste solutions that are designed to help health care providers, medical waste generators, and service partners establish safe, sustainable, reliable and affordable waste management and disposal operations that protect our public, preserve the planet and reconcile economic and social needs, the release stated.

The company’s focus on sustainable practices and automation is what sets it apart from others, according to Youmna Squalli, president and owner of EcoSteris. The project represents a $6 million investment and will employ between 12 to 16 people.

“The operation is going to be the first of its kind in the industry, fully automated from start to finish,” Squalli said via email. “We wanted to carry the sustainable approach not only in the treatment process, but also in the way we operate on a day-today basis, hence a lean operation with minimum employees. This will allow us to be

aggressive and competitive when it comes to our pricing considering a lower overhead.”

EcoSteris offers reliable and affordable off-site medical waste management services for small and large waste quantity generators throughout the state of South Carolina, the release stated. Its service plans include:

• Medical waste removal and disposal services;

• Sharps disposal management and services;

• OSHA and HIPAA compliance training;

• Medical supplies and packaging;

• Consulting services;

• Professional and financial services: investment assessments and cost analysis; and

• Permitting and compliance.

“Apart from jobs creation that the business is expected to bring to the community, EcoSteris is committed to deliver essential sustainable services that protect the pub-

lic from harmful waste,” Squalli said in the release. “Our operation does not involve the use of chemicals or burning of the waste; we follow a clean and environmentally friendly approach. Our tagline line is: ‘Sustainability is our passion,’ which we take to heart, hence why we increased our investment and went an extra step further with our double shredding process post steam sterilization. While the regulations in the state of South Carolina does not require the waste to be shredded, at EcoSteris, our treated waste will go through a double shredding process.

“This will not only reduce the volume of the waste by more than 85% but it will also allow us to have unrecognizable waste that is safe to be recycled or disposed of. This process is going to have a huge positive impact on the landfills of our community from a safety and environmentally perspective and for all our taxpayers.”

Reach Jason at 864-568-7570.

EcoSteris provide environmental and health care integrated waste treatment and disposal solutions using clean sustainable technology. (Photo/EcoSteris)

People in the News Business Digest At Work

Executive Session Men’s Grooming opens West Ashley location

Executive Session Men’s Grooming Studio has opened in West Ashley. Clients can choose from several premium services, including haircuts, hot shaves, beard trims, eyebrow shaping, scalp treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures, and massages. To maximize savings, annual memberships are available; gift cards also can be purchased. Clients can book special group services for wedding parties and other occasions.

The studio also serves as a place for men to gather and socialize, have a beverage, shoot pool, and stock up on men’s grooming products.

Meals on Wheels of Charleston receives Dabo All in Team Foundation Grant

Charleston Area Seniors–Meals on Wheels of Charleston has received $4,900 from the Dabo All in Team Foundation to help feed the area’s needy. This grant is sponsoring a day of meal deliveries to seniors in Charleston County.

Charleston Area Senior Citizens has been distributing meals on wheels to local seniors since 1967. The number of meals delivered has grown from 500 meals a day in 2018 to its current daily number of 720 in 2022. For fiscal year 2022-23, the group is on track to serve more than 210,000 meals.

The objective of Dabo’s All in Team Foundation grant program, named after Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney, is to give local South Carolina organizations an opportunity to receive funding to execute projects that fit within Dabo’s mission statement: to raise awareness of critical education and health issues and change the lives of people across the state. Many organizations want to be a part of the solution but lack the opportunity and funding to do so. The grant program was set up to give these organizations an opportunity to continue to positively impact the community.

Island Brands USA Wins 12th annual Best in Biz Award

Island Brands USA has been named a silver winner in the Consumer Product of the Year category of the 2022 Best in Biz Awards, an independent business awards program judged each year by prominent editors and reporters from top-tier publications in North America.

The fast-growing company uses only all-natural ingredients to produce super-premium beer, flavored malt beverages, and, coming in 2023, craft spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails. Its products are available in 12 southeastern states, with expanding domestic and international distribution along with fleet-wide service on Carnival Cruise

Lines. Part of the American-owned company’s mission is to give back in meaningful ways, including pledging a portion of its annual sales to environmental charities through 1% for the planet as well as donating to hurricane recovery initiatives in Florida.

The 12th annual Best in Biz Awards program drew more than 700 entries from public and private companies of all sizes, representing all industries and regions in the U.S. and Canada: entrants ranged from some of the most iconic global brands to the most innovative startups and local companies. This year’s judges highlighted the winning companies’ visionary leadership, innovative strides in the use of new technologies, employee diversity and inclusion programs, and workplace best practices.

Since the program’s inception in 2011, winners in Best in Biz Awards have been determined based on scoring from independent judging panels assembled each year from some of the most respected national and local newspapers, TV and radio outlets, and business, consumer, technology, and trade publications in North America. The 2022 judging panel included, among others, writers from AdWeek, Computerworld, Forbes, The Globe & Mail Inc., The Oregonian, and

CONSTRUCTION

Jeannie Constantine is the new senior project manager in the environmental practice in Weston & Sampson’s North Charleston office. She leads Weston & Sampson’s local environmental practice, including assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites and working with their coastal permitting team.

With more than 30 years of experience in maritime and coastal issues, Constantine has managed and completed more than $6 million in grant-funded projects and has extensive construction management experience with dredging, stormwater treatment and aquifer storage and recovery system projects.

Constantine earned her Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Miami and her Master of Science in Environmental Science, with an emphasis in coastal zone management, from Texas A&M University.

scale strategic initiatives guiding sizable cross-functional teams in areas of workflow redesign, transition planning and program development.

During her career, Fraiya has served as clinical project director for numerous health care construction projects, including freestanding birthing centers, adult inpatient facilities, and, most recently, the Shawn Jenkins Children’s and Women’s Hospital. A Charleston resident, Fraiya is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University.

SouthCon Building Group has promoted Richard Perez from accounting/human resources manager to controller.

Perez is a 2011 graduate of The Citadel, where he earned a degree in business administration and accounting. Before joining SouthCon, he held controller positions with Indigo Road Management Group and Take Flight Restaurant Group as well as senior accountant positions with Greystar Development and Construction, Kratos Defense and Moss & Yantiss.

the Portland Tribune. Automation and robotics capabilities on tour at Campbells Snacks Bakery

The last OpExChange plant visit of 2022 took place at Campbell’s Snacks, in Charlotte. The OpExChange, sponsored by the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, is a peer-to-peer network of manufacturers and distribu-

DIGEST, Page 22

Beth Crutchfield and Don Zimmerman are now division managers in RMF’s Charleston office. Crutchfield joined RMF’s electrical engineering team in 1992 and has since worked on projects from health care and education to research laboratories. Since transferring to the Charleston office at its inception in 2003, she has remained the lead electrical engineer.

Zimmerman is leading the operations of the division. He also came to RMF in 1992, designing large utility infrastructure projects before joining the Charleston office in 2003. In recent years, he has provided design, engineering and construction management services for a wide variety of mechanical engineering projects for government, commercial, educational and industrial clients.

Stantec’s new buildings practice project director is Regina Fraiya. She brings more than 25 years of health care experience leading clinical and business operations, quality and regulatory improvements, and large-

SouthCon Building Group has also brought in Robert Schneider as project superintendent. Schneider has more than 35 years of commercial construction experience and holds OSHA 8, OSHA 30, Red Cross first aid/CPR/AED and defibrillator certifications. He is also highly experienced with historic renovations, having supervised numerous projects on the Charleston peninsula. Before joining SouthCon, Schneider was project superintendent at NBM Construction, owner/project manager of Custom Interior Trim, and carpenter/foreman at Runnerson Custom Home Builders.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Dan Butts has moved to Fifth Third Bank. He brings more than 25 years of experience originating loans in the mortgage industry, with more than $2 billion in closed loans. His product offerings include construction to permanent financing, lot loans, and 100% physician loans.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

Melvin C. Williams, vice president with Terracon, has been elected to serve on the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

Constantine

Crutchfield Zimmer

Fraiya

Perez

Butts

People in the News

PEOPLE, from Page 20

Board, one of the longest continually operating chambers of commerce in the nation.

Williams is serving with other local volunteer leaders to ensure a healthy business environment for member firms and their staff. The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce was named the 2018 Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

LAW

Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm has added Robert Merting as an attorney in its Greenville office. Merting’s primary focus is intellectual property, corporate law, and regulatory compliance. He also provides legal services directed to patent application preparation, contract and licenses, trademarks, nondisclosure agreements, and litigation.

A native of South Carolina, Merting worked in the research lab at Milliken and Co. while attending Wofford College. It was at Milliken and Co. that he gained his understanding of the creation process while working in research and development, following strict corporate guidelines for developing and documenting intellectual property.

In addition to his intellectual property practice, Merting brings more than 10 years of experience in the areas of corporate law, wills and trusts, estate planning, and firearms law.

Merting earned a bachelor’s in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in business economics from Wofford and a juris doctor from Washington and Lee University. He is admitted to practice before all South Carolina Courts, the South Carolina Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Attorney Todd Rigler is joining the

Hot Properties

law firm of Clawson & Staubes to open a Myrtle Beach office to serve Horry County and surrounding areas.

Rigler is president of the Horry County Bar Association and former president of the Myrtle Beach Sunrise Rotary Club. At Clawson & Staubes he is handling civil litigation cases.

Rigler has a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a degree in business management from Clemson University. Previously, he was with the Derrick Law Firm and practiced with the Pearce Law Group. He was a law clerk to former circuit court judge Steven John.

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Baumbick, also a media coordinator, is a recent graduate of Ohio State University. She has several years of experience in marketing and sales in the health and wellness industry.

As media coordinators, Elbadawy and Baumbick are responsible for executing insertion orders and assembling weekly and monthly reporting for various media platforms as well as for assisting the rest of the media team with research help.

NONPROFIT

James A. Dingle has joined the East Cooper Habitat for Humanity board of directors. Dingle, a Sullivan’s Island native, is a Coldwell Banker Commercial real estate broker with expertise in land and investment properties.

As a local, he brings industry knowledge to the organization that can further East Cooper Habitat’s understanding of the local real estate market and aid in the search for buildable land. Dingle is also working on his digital startup, CityGab.

designed to increase the organization’s visibility and impact.

Redmond joins Florence Crittenton from the Roper St. Francis Healthcare Foundation, where she served as executive director and chief development officer. Under her leadership, that foundation raised more than $60 million. In addition, she was founding director of the Ryan White Wellness Center, a holistic center that provides clinical, emotional and wraparound services for HIV+ patients in the Lowcountry.

REAL ESTATE

Brandon has added Talia Patterson, Rawan Elbadawy and Alyssa Baumbick to its media team.

Patterson joins Brandon after two years as an account manager at another agency. In her previous role, she oversaw digital marketing campaigns for clients in events, consumer goods, outdoors, real estate and nonprofit organizations. At Brandon she negotiates with media outlets to acquire advertising space for print, radio, television, billboard and online campaigns.

Elbadawy, a media coordinator, joins the agency as a recent graduate of Coastal Carolina University. During her time in Myrtle Beach, Elbadawy was a marketing intern for Brandon client Horry Telephone Cooperative, where she learned the inner workings of Brandon’s strategy from a client perspective.

Leases signed at West Edge in Charleston

Lee & Associates Charleston has signed three new office leases at 22 WestEdge on

Novotech Clinical Research USA LLC will take 4,206 square feet, Punchlist USA Inc. is moving into 4,494 square feet within the building and Patten Seed has leased 6,899 square feet on the fifth floor, according to a news release.

Novotech provides clinical devel-

opment services across all clinical trial phases and therapeutic areas. They chose this office location due in large part to the proximity to MUSC and location within the West side’s growing life sciences corridor, the release said.

The Greenwood Genetic Center Foundation has appointed Helen Campbell, Florence; Ted Pitts, Lexington; Arthur Radcliffe, Greenwood; and Kay Self, Greenwood, to its board of trustees.

Campbell, owner of Organization Solutions, volunteers for her church and other organizations throughout the Florence community, including Junior League of Florence and Miracle League. Her son has benefited from a genetic diagnosis through the Greenwood Genetic Center.

Florence Crittenton Programs of South Carolina has named Ashley Wieters Redmond as vice president of development and communications. In the newly created position, Redmond is responsible for providing leadership and strategy for comprehensive fundraising and communications efforts

Patty Scarafile, the retired CEO of Carolina One Real Estate Services, was honored by the South Carolina Realtors Association with the C. Dan Joyner Community Service Award. She is the founder of Bridge North Charleston, the goal of which is to create a nonprofit partnership of residents, community leaders, business, government, and existing nonprofit organizations to revitalize the Hub Village and Accabee neighborhoods in lower North Charleston. The primary focuses of Bridge North Charleston are to provide affordable housing opportunities and scholarships to Trident Technical College to residents.

Scarafile purchased a parcel of land and donated it to Bridge North Charleston. Her concept was to use a hub-and-spoke model centered on the construction of 20 two- and three-bedroom condominiums. Her vision is for the new construction to serve as the genesis of revitalization for the neighborhood, not only in housing but in all basic needs essential to a healthy vibrant community, a concept that could be replicated in other underserved neighborhoods.

A graduate of the College of Charleston with a degree in English, Scarafile taught at St. Andrews High School before entering a career in real estate. CRBJ

form founded in Charleston. The firm is planning to use this office space as their national headquarters.

Patten Seed is a family-owned southeast lawn care company and has leased part of the fifth floor for their corporate headquarters.

22 WestEdge is a glass structure overlooking the Ashley River. With street front restaurants, a private social club featuring a rooftop terrace, a co-working hub with conference rooms, executive suites, incubator space and traditional office space, 22 WestEdge is a place to work, meet, collaborate and create.

Other tenants at WestEdge include Publix, AT&T, Saveurs du Monde, Rush Bowls, MUSC, Vikor Scientific, the South Carolina Research Authority, the Harbour Club, Hair Artistry, Sweet Bowl, Woodhouse Day Spa and Rev Federal Credit Union. The area is also home to 10 WestEdge, a luxury apartment building overlooking the Ashley River. Lee & Associates Charleston’s Reid Davis, Pete Harper and Cameron Yost represented the landlord in these lease transactions.

Punchlist is digital home repair plat- See HOT PROPERTIES, Page 22

Williams

Merting

Rigler

Patterson

Elbadawy

Baumbick

Redmond

Campbell

Dingle

Scarafile

the Charleston peninsula.

Target your market in an upcoming issue of the Charleston Regional Business Journal

MARCH 13

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/ CONSTRUCTION

Lists: General Contractors/ Engineering Firms

Special Section: Under Construction

Advertising Deadline: February 27

APRIL 3

MANUFACTURING

Lists: Manufacturing Companies/ Industrial Staffing Firms

Advertising Deadline: March 20

APRIL 17

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Lists: IT Services/ Security Firms

Special Section: Electric Vehicles

Advertising Deadline: April 3

tors in South Carolina whose members host events and share practical examples of industrial automation, lean manufacturing improvements, and leadership development.

This Campbell’s facility has utilized robotics in snack production for decades, with various generations of robotics in use at the campus’s three plants: the 700,000-square-foot bakery, the 125,000-square-foot salty plant, and the 75,000-square-foot emerald plant. Approximately 1,500 employees on the site will produce about 230 million pounds of product this year. This site has been a member of the OpExChange for 14 years.

The tour showcased several vintages of high-speed robots used to pick and place packs of crackers into cartons as well as robots used to palletize cartons of crackers. Both ABB and Syntegon robots are in use.

The ABB pick-and-place pattern robots used in the first section of the plant are approximately nine years old. The FlexPicker model was designed for food handling.

For line 2 packaging, 22 high-speed spider robots pick and place packages while synchronizing with the queued carton packaging. Finished packs enter the line and are imaged by a camera system. Empty cartons are introduced in a counter-flow direction.

The system is a “hungry man” system, where the package is imaged or inspected by the first camera. If it is not picked, the second camera images it. This proceeds down the line until the package is picked. The sequential robots incorporate redundancy into the system for picking efficiency.

Line 5 utilizes the newest generation of robotic automation: the Syntegon TTM. Not only does this system pick and place the packages but it also forms and closes the carton, combining both a previous and secondary operation. Because it greatly reduces the amount of queuing, it also consumes significantly less floor space than previous generation robots.

A downside, however, is susceptibility to minor downstream stoppages: less queueing means the entire system stops

from a minor stoppage. The Charlotte team has implemented an in-house accumulator that allows up to two minutes of queuing in the event of an upstream stoppage.

The priority of automation on the warehouse palletizing line is not speed but flexibility: the ability to palletize a multitude of stock keeping units, or SKUs, simultaneously. Cases of snack cartons flow through this line at a rapid pace. They pass through a scanner that captures the SKU, which routes it to the appropriate robot for palletizing. The majority of the robots used in this area are second-generation ABB robots, which are approximately nine years old.

In the bakery, approximately 6,700 pounds of dough per hour get fed into an elaborate process that creates large, continuous sheets of dough that are precisely rolled, scored, and baked in a 250-foot oven. Approximately 16,700 crackers per minute are transported via conveyor into rows of top and bottom crackers. A dollop of peanut butter is applied to the bottom and matched up with the top cracker to produce the ToastChee cracker.

SC Ports awards $252,500 to community organizations

South Carolina Ports awarded $252,500 in grants to 90 South Carolina community organizations and nonprofits through its fiscal year 2023 Community Giving Program.

SC Ports dedicates a portion of its revenues each year to support charitable organizations around the state. This year it increased grant levels to $7,500, $5,000, and $2,500 to help further organizations’ missions. Programs must fit within one of four focus areas: maritime commerce, economic development, environmental awareness, or community outreach. Programs with measurable, sustained impacts receive priority during the selection process.

Many of this year’s grant recipients, such as the Eastside Community Development Corp. and Increasing HOPE, are dedicated to community outreach and entrepreneurial development. These organizations provide support, education, and training to help spark opportunities for people within their communities. CRBJ

sale of five acres on Mallard Road in Summerville. The property sold for $565,000.

For advertising information, contact Ryan Downing at rdowning@scbiznews.com

Other commercial real estate transactions include:

Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the seller, Tricom Associates LLC, in the sale of 4,800 square feet of office space at 2891 Tricom St. in North Charleston to 2891 Tricom LLC for $1.5 million. Eddie Buxton of Palmetto Commercial Properties represented the buyer.

John Kincaid of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller in the

Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the seller, RLP LLC, in the sale of 3,845 square feet of medical space at 9133 Timber St. in North Charleston to 9133 Timber LLC for $1,087,500. Eddie Buxton of Palmetto Commercial Properties represented the buyer.

Hot Properties highlights recently sold or leased commercial properties in the Charleston region. Send in your transactions using our online form. CRBJ

HOT PROPERTIES, from Page 21

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VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

Economy finally sees reluctant workers returning

One of the many economic mysteries since the economy dipped into recession in March 2020 is, where did all the workers go? The labor force at the beginning of the recession was 164.5 million workers.

These people were either employed or actively seeking employment. Like all economic indicators the labor force plunged during the recession. It finally re-attained its pre-recession level in November. But the labor force is supposed to grow roughly in line with the population. If it had done so in the past three years the labor force would be about 2.5 million bigger today than it is.

It appears that perhaps 1.0 million of those workers retired and 0.5 million died from COVID. The other 1.0 million workers left the labor force for reasons that are unclear. But suddenly in December and January the labor force rose by 1.3 million workers. Could it be that some of those folks who left the labor force are now actually looking for jobs? If that is the case it changes the entire economic outlook for 2023. More jobs mean more people are earning a steady income and consumers have more spending power.

Given that these additional labor force participants are finding employment, more jobs means that the unemployment rate may not rise much between now and yearend. GDP growth for the year may not be the 1.0% that had been generally expected, but something faster. A continuing tight labor market will maintain upward pressure on wages which will, in turn, make it more difficult for inflation to return to the Fed’s 2.0% target.

The soft landing scenario of slow growth combined with lower inflation that most economists had envisioned for 2023 may be totally off the mark, replaced by faster growth, little decline in the inflation rate, and higher interest rates.

If the labor force is 2.5 million workers short of where it ought to be, what happened to them? About 1.0 million or so retired and another 0.5 million died from COVID. The reasons for the remaining 1.0 million workers not returning to work are less clear.

But in December and January the labor force jumped by 1.3 million workers and all of them found jobs as the unemployment rate fell 0.2% to 3.4%. Our sense is that the expectation of a deteriorating economic environment may have changed some of those missing workers’ opinion

about employment. Of the estimated 1.0 million workers who retired, at the time of their retirement the stock market was soaring. But in the past year the stock market has fallen 15%.

At the same time, home prices had been rising 1.0-1.5% per month for two years which resulted in 20% gains in a year. But now, the value of their home has begun to fall and is likely to continue declining by 0.5-1.0% per month. As a result, those

year-over-year increases will be replaced by year-over-declines within a couple of months.

Meanwhile, most economists are expecting a recession at some point in 2023. If that happens, monthly job gains will turn into declines and finding a job will be more challenging. Better to seek employment now than wait.

Against that background, it is possible that some of those early retirees may ques-

tion whether they have enough money to last through the end of their lifetime. If the answer to that question is “no” the allure of a steady job could entice them back into the labor market.

When economic times were booming a year ago some labor force participants may have given up their day job and begun to trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. When they stop looking for a job they fall out of the labor force. But the demise of FTX, Genesis, and others has undoubtedly bankrupted some of these day traders who now need steady employment.

If more workers re-enter the labor force the monthly employment gains between now and yearend will be substantial. We are expecting payroll employment to rise by 205 thousand per month compared to monthly gains of 356,000 in the most recent three-month period — substantially slower, but still positive. With employment gains of that magnitude going forward the current 3.4% unemployment rate may only rise slightly between now and yearend to perhaps 3.8%.

The Fed believes it needs to create some slack in the labor market (i.e., push the unemployment rate higher to perhaps 4.5%) to alleviate the wage pressures that are preventing the inflation rate from falling more quickly. If that is the path for the labor market going forward, the Fed is not going to have the ability to lower rates between now and yearend.

With more sizable employment gains GDP growth is likely to be faster than expected. Prior to the employment report most economists expected first quarter GDP growth of 0.5%. Now it is about 2.0%. The widely expected growth slowdown keeps getting pushed farther and farther down the road. The expected slowdown later in the year may, or may not, materialize. CRBJ

From 1980 until 2003, when he retired, Stephen Slifer served as chief U.S. economist for Lehman Brothers in New York City, directing the firm’s U.S. economics group along with being responsible for forecasts and analysis of the U.S. economy. He has written two books on using economic indicators to forecast financial moves and previously served as a senior economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. Slifer can be reached at www.numbernomics.com.

SLIFER