BEST ADVICE Ben Knight, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions.
PAGE 4 VOLUME 27 NUMBER 6 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM
Part of the
Game of
Hotel opening
Ryder Hotel general manager says time is right to open in downtown Charleston. Page 7
Content
Summerville site
Baker Motor Co. opens dealership dedicated to selling Sprinter Vans, mostly to businesses. Page 15
Woman of the year COO looks forward to the day when awards aren’t needed to note women in certain sectors. Page 7
Serving the servers Volunteers form nonprofit to help struggling food and beverage workers. Page 8
INSIDE
Upfront................................. 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 Best Advice........................... 4 In Focus: Automotive.......... 15 List: Law Firms................... 19 Bonus List: Companies Headquartered in Charleston Region...............23 At Work...............................27 Viewpoint............................ 31
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South Carolina’s film industry can’t capitalize on post-pandemic push for more content without more money for incentives and infrastructure. SPECIAL REPORT: Pages 10, 11, 12
Film and television writer, actor and producer Danny McBride portrays Jesse Gemstone during taping inside the North Charleston Coliseum. (Photo/Fred Norris, HBO)
Engineering tech
College of Charleston engineering program to focus on autonomous vehicles. Page 17
Coalition hopes to build EV infrastructure By Andy Owens
S
aowens@scbiznews.com
ix large-scale utility companies, including two operating in South Carolina, said they are banding together to address the electric vehicle infrastructure problem. When you buy a car that burns gas or compresses diesel, finding a filling station is usually just a matter of tapping on your phone to find the nearest convenience store. But electric vehicles are different. Part of the reluctance to adopt EVs includes a fear of running out of juice on the side of the highway. That infrastructure, where it exists, is somewhat fragmented in the U.S. Tesla built a nationwide charging network to help address some of those concerns. The electric car manufacturer owns more than 20,000 charging stations, including eight Superchargers in South Carolina. But there are so few places to recharge an electric car that it generally makes news when one pops up, especially in less populated areas. The Electric Highway Coalition plans to put a system of electric charging stations across the Atlantic Coast, Midwest, South, Gulf and Central Plains region, the partners said in a joint news release. The coalition includes American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Entergy Corp., Southern Co., and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The news release also included a map that shows where this electric highway would run, including through Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, along with Florence, Rock Hill, Augusta and Savannah. Sorry, Myrtle Beach, Horry County isn’t on the list … yet … but you have a Tesla Supercharger already. See EV, Page 6
Upfront
BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | BEST ADVICE
How student loans stack up in S.C.
S
tudent borrowers in South Carolina carry the sixth-highest average debt load among all 50 states and Washington, D.C., a recent analysis of U.S. Education Department and Census Bureau data shows. Student loan forgiveness has been a hot topic for more than a few years, but the subject received a political push in the latest pandemic stimulus bill. Inside the law passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden is a provision that allows for any student loan forgiveness to be considered tax free. Now, it’s not clear if Congress will forgive any student loan debt. Biden has been pushing lawmakers for $10,000 in forgiveness, but some Democratic House members have been urging Biden to write an executive order wiping away $50,000 for each indebted student. So far he has refused to do that, urging Congress to act instead. The numbers aren’t small. News and information website Vox reported that 45 million students in America currently owe $1.7 trillion in student loans combined. That’s an average of $37,777 per student, which is $523 lower than the average student loan in S.C. State
Average Debt
Total debt
Student borrowers
Georgia Florida Virginia South Carolina North Carolina Alabama Mississippi Tennessee Louisiana Arkansas Kentucky
$41,500 $39,700 $39,000 $38,300 $37,500 $37,100 $36,700 $36,200 $34,400 $33,300 $32,500
$64.6 billion $94.3 billion $40.3 billion $26.3 billion $45.9 billion $22.2 billion $15.4 billion $29.6 billion $21.1 billion $12.3 billion $18.7 billion
1.56 million 2.37 million 1.03 million 686,800 1.22 million 598,500 419,700 818,400 615,000 369,900 574,600
$138,000,000,000
$29,200
Amount of student loan debt carried by students in California, the highest in the U.S.
The lowest average student loan debt in the U.S. carried by students in North Dakota.
$55,400
13.3%
The highest average debt load in the U.S. carried by students in Washington, D.C.
Percentage of South Carolina residents who owe student loan debt in 2021, compared to 11.7% in North Carolina and 14.6% in Georgia.
Source: Education Data LLC, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Census Bureau
ON THE
RECORD
“You can’t be what you don’t see. It is important to lift up the next generation by working hard and contributing however you can in your field.” — S.C. Ports Authority COO Barbara Melvin, who was named 2021 Woman of the Year by the S.C. Manufacturers Alliance
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Lockheed Martin’s Greenville site received its first F-16 from the U.S. Air Force as part of the $900 million contract the company received in 2020 to provide sustainment support and depot-overflow services for F-16 aircraft. (Photo/Provided)
UPSTATE
GSA Business Report
Lockheed Martin receives 1st F-16 Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility has received its first F-16 fighter jet from the U.S. Air Force as part of a $900 million contract secured in December to provide sustainment and depot-overflow services for an undetermined number of F-16s. The first aircraft under the contract arrived from Edwards Air Force Base in California on March 9 and will be inducted today to begin work, Lockheed Martin said. “The arrival of this first jet marks the beginning of fighter sustainment work at the site and positions Greenville as an F-16 Center of Excellence, supporting both F-16 production and sustainment operations,” Mike Fox, Lockheed Martin Greenville site director, said in a statement. The contract also establishes the first U.S.-based F-16 industry depot to support government-owned depot facilities and includes depot-level maintenance activities, predefined programmatic work, aircraft modification and unplanned drop-in maintenance, the release said. The Greenville site also has a $62 billion Department of Defense contract to build F-16s for foreign nations. Before the Greenville site started building F-16s, it was a sustainment center, but the plane that arrived this month is the first time those services have been provided for an F-16 in Greenville, according to Leslie Farmer, spokesperson for Lockheed Martin.
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Columbia Regional Business Report
S.C. Chamber of Commerce names CEO Bob Morgan, former leader of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, has been named the new CEO of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce. Morgan, who led the Charlotte chamber from 2005-2018, was most recently public affairs director at Charlotte law firm Robinson Bradshaw. He will begin his new job April 1. Ted Pitts resigned as the CEO of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce last October to become president and CEO of Columbia-based commercial real estate firm Wilson Kibler. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the chamber Morgan in what will soon be the post-pandemic era of our economy,” Morgan said in a news release. “The ingredients are in place for South Carolina to earn its rightful recognition as one of the most pro-business states in our country.”
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Columbia Fireflies to hold job fair on March 20 for gameday positions. Page 2
COLUMBIA’S CONUNDRUM:
Retaining the talent it produces
Homegrown grub
S.C. Food Hub Network helps distribute $1.3 million in state-grown food. Page 6
Vaccine rollout
State employers preparing for Phase 1b and eligbility of many floor workers. Page 10
University impact
Study: University of South Carolina creates $6.2 billion economic impact. Page 18
INSIDE
Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 In Focus: Education and Workforce .......................... 13 List: Colleges and Universities ....................... 14 At Work .............................. 21 Viewpoint ...........................23
A recent report highlights the challenges the Midlands faces in keeping college graduates at home and in its workforce
Driving toward the future
A recently released competitiveness report found that Columbia and the surrounding metropolitan area continues to struggle to retain the talent produced by the area’s colleges and universities. Midlands leaders say changes in mindset and conversations, some spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, can help reverse that trend. (Photo/File)
By Melinda Waldrop
C
mwaldrop@scbiznews.com
olumbia continues to struggle to keep the talent it produces, according to the findings in an annual competitiveness report, but compilers of report data say a willingness to think differently, an enhanced image and even the COVID-19 pandemic could help change that. The 2020-21 Midlands Regional Competitiveness Report highlighted an ongoing regional issue, finding that the area ranked ninth among 10 comparative markets in attracting, developing and maintaining a skilled workforce. The Midlands represents the Columbia metropolitan statistical area, which includes Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Fairfield, Salu-
da and Calhoun counties. The report, released in a Jan. 25 online presentation, compares the area to nine other peer metropolitan areas in the Southeast: Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, Charleston-North Charleston, Augusta-Richmond County (Ga.), Raleigh (N.C.), Greensboro-High Point (N.C.), Winston-Salem (N.C.), Knoxville (Tenn.), Lexington-Fayette (Ky.), and Tallahassee (Fla.). The report has been compiled for seven years by regional project management nonprofit EngenuitySC as a tool to assess how the Midlands stacks up against those similar areas and to pinpoint areas for improvement. While the region’s struggle to retain talent also is tied to its eighth-place ranking in both STEM degrees and salaries, those metrics could be improved by a factor that seems far from helpful at first glance. The increased
remote working opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic could be a benefit, allowing college graduates to remain in the area and companies recruiting talent to not require relocation, said Joseph Von Nessen, a University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business research economist who compiles the data used in the annual rankings. The challenge, Von Nessen said, is starting the conversations between industries and workers produced in the Midlands. “We create and market Columbia as a talent base for all these companies so they can say, ‘Where do I want to get my talent from? I want to get it from Columbia, South Carolina, and oh by the way, I don’t have to recruit these employees to come work wherever I’m
S.C. automakers push tech advancements, electric power
All hands on deck
McMaster urges private businesses to help in vaccination efforts. Page 11
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March 22 - April 4, 2021
Best Advice
BEN KNIGHT
MANAGING PARTNER, VIKING MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
GRIDIRON TO BOARDROOM A native of Richmond, Va., Knight graduated with a Bachelor
Editor, Custom Publishing Division Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123
of Arts in economics from Hampden-Sydney College. He spent a year as an assistant football coach at Emory &
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Henry College before entering the corporate world. Knight spent 20 years in the consumer products industry, working
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for a Fortune 100 company in sales and marketing. He started in an entry level position, and advanced through the
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organization to become vice president of sales where he was responsible for $750 million in annual revenue.
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Next, Knight became executive vice president of sales
MIDLANDS NEWSROOM
and marketing for a small rigid packaging company in Los
Editor - Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7542
$27 million to $100 million in annual revenue in less than
Angeles. He led a once struggling company to grow from four years. However, the desire to own his own company
UPSTATE NEWSROOM
caused Mr. Knight to research small companies for sale,
Editor - Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1222
particularly those located in the Southeast so he and his family could get back closer to their roots.
Associate Editor, Custom Publishing Division Jim Tatum jtatum@scbiznews.com • 864.720.2269
In 2007, working with Viking Mergers & Acquisitions, he acquired FastSigns South Tryon located in Charlotte. Next
Staff Writer - Molly Hulsey mhulsey@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1223
he acquired two additional locations for this franchise, one
LOWCOUNTRY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
2012. These locations became one of the highest revenue
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generating groups of centers world-wide in the franchise
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Successfully selling these three centers in 2017, Knight
Account Executive Thomas J. Giovanniello, Jr. tomg@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3104
in Rock Hill in 2009 and another location in Charlotte in
system.
THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED There are actually two quotes I try live by:
decided to join with Viking Mergers & Acquisitions by opening a new location for them in Charleston where he helps business owners and investors sell or buy a business in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.
“I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” — Thomas Jefferson
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Ben Knight used to be small college football coach. He met his wife around the same time he was coaching, but he decided to join a more secure occupation so he could better provide for his wife and their family. He said: “After 38+ years, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made!”
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Tesla has eight Supercharger sites in South Carolina and several destination recharging stations, including in the parking lot of the Hilton Garden Inn on Farrow Road in Columbia. (Photo/Andy Owens)
EV, from Page 1
The goal is to offer options to allow drivers to travel without concern of not being able to recharge their electric vehicles. The system of chargers are going to be relatively fast, the coalition says, with an anticipated 20 to 30 minute recharge. That’s still not as fast as a 5-minute fill-up at a gas station, but better than charging your EV using an extension cord overnight. Dominion Energy’s President and CEO Robert M. Blue said in a statement the company is committed to “equitable and reliable charging access” to help customers and reduce carbon emissions into the environment. “We’re excited to collaborate with our utility partners on this important initiative to connect customers to charging resources and encourage electric vehicle travel,” Blue said in the news release. The Electric Highway Coalition also is looking for other utilities who want to become members and extend the reach of the highway. CRBJ
Reach Andy Owens at 843-849-3142.
March 22 - April 4, 2021
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Charleston’s diverse economy stays resilient in 2021 S.C. Ports COO By Teri Errico Griffis
C
tgriffis@scbiznews.com
harleston’s diverse economy has kept the metro region afloat during the pandemic, according to experts at the 30th Annual Economic Outlook Conference, presented by the Charleston Metro Chamber. Jacki Renegar, director of the Center for Business Research, and Alan Shao, dean of the School of College of Charleston reinforced the resilience of Charleston’s economy at the event, presenting data from key economic indicators that drive the region’s economy. They gave their predictions for 2021 and 2022 in the 2021 Economic Forecast. “Before the pandemic, the Charleston region had a healthy, thriving economy,” Renegar said. “It is this foundation that will allow for a quick recovery. There have been many great lessons and innovations that will improve the resiliency of our region and ensure a prosperous future.” Thirty years ago, Charleston was heavily focused on military and tourism, but when the Naval Base closed in North Charleston, thousands of jobs were lost. Since then, the region has been purposeful about diversifying its economy, and the strategy has led to the met-
ro’s successful growth, Renegar said. Between 1990 and 2019, Charleston’s population has increased 58%, the labor force 66% and private sector employers 73%, according to the forecast data. Along with the economy’s resilience, the Charleston region’s labor force has remained stable overall in 2020. Though area unemployment hit a high of 12% last April, it is now back to pre-pandemic levels of 4%. Sectors that have seen increases between January 2020 and December 2020 include financial activities, natural resources and construction, and trade, transportation and utilities. Over the next two years, the labor force is forecast to grow by 1%, as employment is anticipated to increase 2% to 2.5% annually, returning to growth levels of 7,000 to 9,000 jobs per year, the forecast determined. In total, the forecast predicts an increase of 28,000 new jobs in the next five years. While the Charleston Metro Area’s total retail sales were down 12% yearover-year at $27 billion, home sales hit record levels in 2020. Renegar attributes the industry boom to favorable prices, low interest rates and people spending more time at home. Renters looked to buy and many home-
owners upgraded or downgraded based on their new needs. The chamber’s forecast through 2022 is for home sales to increase by 3.5% in 2021 and 1.5% the year after. Charleston’s leisure and hospitality were hit the hardest of all the region’s sectors. Only 60% of rooms were sold in 2020 compared to the year before and employment was still down 26.5% as of December. Charleston International Airport was further affected by the lack of non-essential travel and reported activity was down 59% in 2020 with just about 2 million passengers. The previous year’s 4.8 million neared record highs. With unprecedented disruptions, each sector learned during the pandemic, whether it was how to navigate supply chain disruptions or to pivot business models, Renegar said. But the region’s successful diversification will keep it resilient. “We’ll still be a travel destination for sure. We’ll still make planes and build cars. We’re still going to have our port and it will probably get better from here because of the shift in e-commerce and logistics,” Renegar said. “Foundationally, I’d say our pillars are in place.” CRBJ
Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.
The Ryder Hotel prepares to open in Charleston By Teri Errico Griffis
H
A rendering shows the concept for The Ryder Hotel, planned for an April opening in Charleston. (Rendering/ Provided)
tgriffis@scbiznews.com
otel occupancy may still be down 22.8% from this time last year, according to the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, but development is in full swing. The 175-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Harbor opened early this month in Mount Pleasant. The Zero George Hotel announced it would be expanding this spring with the opening of The Residents at Zero George in Charleston’s Ansonborough neighborhood. Now Downtown Charleston’s Historic District is poised to debut its newest hotel, The Ryder, this May. The boutique hotel, named for the Jack Kerouac character Japhy Ryder, will have 91 rooms and two food and beverage outlets, according to general manager Ryan Rauscher. With a fun-coastal-meets-Bohemian vibe, it’s aiming for an upscale hospitality client at its 237 Meeting St. location. Rauscher expects the hotel will attract locals along with tourists for its emphasis on socialization and community interaction, something he understands people are craving right now. “We’re opening at the perfect time,” Rauscher said. “People are ready.” With COVID-19 inoculations increasing and Gov. Henry McMaster lifting the ban on large gatherings and nightly alcohol restrictions, Rauscher said the timing is right to open. On board with the Ryder team for a year, the general manager wanted to create something that adds to the city’s appeal. He brought on Cortney Bishop Design and Goff D’Antonio Associates, both award-winning Charleston-based firms, to plan and execute the hotel’s light and airy coastal design.
Accommodations have a “playful energy,” Rauscher said, and showcase custom furnishings created by New Breed Furniture out of Wisconsin. Keeping on par with Charleston’s famed dining scene, The Ryder’s main restaurant, Little Palm, will have plenty of culinary experiences. Gin & Luck, the hospitality company behind New York’s hot spot Death & Co., will exclusively provide food and beverages. Guests also will have opportunities to enjoy constantly evolving and one-of-a-kind excursions, such as building their own surfboards, in addition to the city’s traditional tourist attractions. “We’re offering this creative approach to travel,” he said. “Our guests will experience something new every time they come to Charleston and The Ryder.” The development is a collaboration of High Street Real Estate Partners in Georgia, WHI Real Estate Partners in Illinois and Pivot, a branch of Davidson Hospitality Group also in Georgia. CRBJ
Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.
named Woman of the Year By Teri Errico Griffis
I
tgriffis@scbiznews.com
t’s International Women’s Day today, and in Charleston S.C. Ports Authority COO Barbara Melvin is receiving statewide recognition. She was named the 2021 Woman of the Year by the S.C. Manufacturers Alliance. One of the only women in the country serving as COO of a port, Melvin said it is one of the most emotional awards of her 23-year career with the ports. Melvin “You can get a lot of awards in life, but to get one from the people who entrust their goods to you, to move them to the global markets or from global markets to South Carolina for manufacturing purposes is really special,” she said. Melvin was honored at the 3rd annual Palmetto Women’s Manufacturing Forum, hosted by the SCMA. The event recognizes the impact of female leaders in the manufacturing field. As part of her role, Melvin thinks it’s necessary to encourage more women into these fields, whether transportation, engineering or manufacturing, and assure them they can be successful regardless of gender. “You can’t be what you don’t see,” she said. “It is important to lift up the next generation by working hard and contributing however you can in your field.” For 23 years, Melvin has worked to grow the port and develop crucial infrastructure projects, including the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project and the completion of the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal. Sara Hazzard, president and CEO of SCMA said Melvin’s expertise and support of the industry are “invaluable.” “Through her critical work with S.C. Ports, she supports manufacturers across all industry sectors throughout our state,” Hazzard said. “Barbara leads with enthusiasm and is dedicated to ensuring the strength of South Carolina’s world class ports system.” Previous award recipients include Lou Kennedy, owner of Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp. and Sky Foster, communications manager at BMW Manufacturing. “I am looking forward to the day when there are not awards recognizing women in their field because it will no longer be notable, but rather there will be awards that recognize women purely for their work and contributions,” Melvin said. CRBJ
8
www.charlestonbusiness.com
March 22 - April 4, 2021
Volunteers form nonprofit to help struggling F&B workers By Teri Errico Griffis
T
tgriffis@scbiznews.com
here’s now year-round help for local food and beverage workers who’ve fallen on hard times. Pay It Forward Charleston started as an idea between six industry workers at the eatery Butcher & Bee — in particular owner Michael Shemtov and Tara Pate, director of marketing and chief of staff. Shemtov also owns The Daily and is the manager of the Charleston food court, Workshop. The volunteers collaborated with area restaurants over the last year to provide more than 11,250 grocery bags for food and beverage workers struggling during the pandemic. “It was true Michael fashion that COVID is happening and the industry is crumbling, and instead of saying, ‘How can I save my business?’ he thought, ‘If this is happening to me, it’s happening to all of us,” Pate said of Shemtov. Thinking quickly, the group took restaurant provisions that would have spoiled during the shutdown and packed them up for furloughed team members. They scaled it so that nothing went to waste and, just as importantly, so that supplies could last more than a week. In time, the group dubbed Pay It
Forward Charleston collaborated with local restaurants that donated food and resources. Volunteers have included Fig, Mercantile & Mash, Millers All Day, Taco Boy and Butcher & Bee. Some restaurants bagged while others became pick-up locations, meticulously following protocol of how many people can be indoors together, how to touch food and more. Local farmers also came on board in what Pate called a win-win for everyone. “Chickens weren’t going to stop producing eggs simply because there were less people to buy them,” Pate said. “So we bought produce at cost or slightly above from all these purveyors.” Every bag cost $10 to put together, and Pay It Forward Charleston was packing 1,000 a week. Thanks to a $100,000 donation from Butcher & Bee, the group sustained its first year in action. It shows just how many people have been impacted. Countrywide, the National Restaurant Association’s State of the Restaurant Industry Report said that throughout 2020, nearly 2.5 billion jobs were lost. In total, restaurant and food service industry sales fell $240 billion from an expected $899 billion and as of Dec. 1, more than 110,000 dining places were closed either temporarily or for good. See who the movers and shakers of the Lowcountry are and what they are up to.
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Volunteers from Millers All Day help distribute bags of groceries to food and beverage workers who have been impacted by the pandemic. (Photo/Provided)
While many Charleston restaurants have re-opened and brought staff back, Pate’s eyes have been opened to how important emergency help is for industry workers. She said the need extends beyond a pandemic, whether it’s a medical emergency that keeps a worker out of a job for weeks or a hurricane temporarily closes a restaurant. “There are all these national efforts and everybody applies for those grants, but this was something we could do on a local level,” Pate said. “We have to think long term.” Pay It Forward Charleston filed for official 501(c)(3) tax-exemption status and has since hired an executive director and filled its board. In November,
Carrie Lawson was named the executive director, while Shemtov has since been appointed as board Chairman. The nonprofit is now looking to distribute its first grants, Pate said. It will get through the first quarter of 2021 with a $25,000 donation from The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, $10,000 from Home Team BBQ and $2,500 from Halls Management Group. But the nonprofit needs another $75,000 to keep it going throughout 2021. Pate envisions fundraising events that cater more toward the food and beverage workers. Think less galas, and possibly more food-focused, low-key events. The money will be awarded as emergency relief grants for those who’ve worked in the food and beverage industry for a minimum of six months, 30 hours a week. When efforts began, Pate had no idea how many restaurants and volunteers would step up to donate time and money, but it shows how much people believe in the integrity of Pay It Forward Charleston’s mission. “Their willingness to offer a hand up to those in need is truly remarkable,” she said. “I am blown away by how a grieving industry has so generously looked outward and I am excited to see the impact we can make together.” CRBJ
March 22 - April 4, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 9
Work on 1st spec building completed Portside to have 2 large-scale industrial facilities near I-26
F
Staff Report
rampton Construction has finished building a 189,500-square foot industrial building in Summerville. It is the first of two buildings that will make up the 31-acre Portside Distribution Center near the Nexton Parkway interchange. Colliers International is handling leasing for the 189,500-square foot, Class-A speculative facility. Frampton Construction said in a news release the building could be used by a variety of companies, including logistics, aerospace and automotive suppliers, defense contractors, light manufacturers and last-mile distributors. The facility is located at 140 Portside
Construction has been completed on a 189,500-square foot industrial speculative building near Interstate 26 in Summerville. (Photo/Provided)
Park Drive, beside Interstate 26 in the Charleston Distribution Corridor. “Knowing the high demand for industrial real estate in the Charleston Tri-county distribution corridor, this project gives the entire team a great deal of pride as it comes to completion, and all the more with a second building on the
horizon,” said Chad Frampton, president and CEO of Frampton Construction. The first building, helmed by Randolph Development LLC, has a clear height of 32 feet and was constructed with structural steel and load-bearing concrete tilt walls. The company develops apartments and distribution buildings in the
Carolinas. Thomas & Hutton of Mount Pleasant contributed civil engineering for the site and landscape design for development, while Charleston’s McMillan Pazdan Smith provided architectural design. Developers expect to break ground on the second building this spring.
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Special Report
Limited incentives keep state’s film industry from growing beyond its means
By Teri Errico Griffis
S
tgriffis@scbiznews.com
outh Carolina needs a bigger boat. The turning point in Jaws, the 1975 blockbuster about a megashark terrorizing a small island, came with an ad-libbed line of dialogue from one of the actors. Leading up to the moment the main characters hunt the ocean for the great
white, trying to capture or kill the beast, they’ve researched the big fish, tracked it, enticed it close enough to their vessel. Only when the creature’s head pops out of the water does Roy Scheider utter one of the most memorable lines in cinema, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” Without one, the game slips away. South Carolina’s film industry is similarly floating along like the fishing vessel in Jaws. It’s reeling in dozens of produc-
tions annually with its crew, scenery and film commission. It expects even more in 2021 as the film industry explodes out of the pandemic looking to fill a year of backlogged productions. But with two productions filming here already, South Carolina’s boat isn’t big enough to reel in any more. Its ship is more like a two-person kayak that’s already full. Over the last decade, South Carolina
has had to turn away more than $482 million in direct spend because of the size of the state’s movie incentive budget. That’s equivalent to the cost to build Volvo Cars’ Berkeley County plant that produces 100,000 vehicles a year. South Carolina is one of more than 30 states that offers incentives to studios, whether tax credits or cash rebates, to film in their states. Productions earn cash back when they spend a minimum
March 22 - April 4, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 11
Cutline. (Photo/XXXX)
Danny McBride and Scott MacArthur film a scene for the first season of The Righteous Gemstones. McBride relocated his production company, Rough House Pictures, to Mount Pleasant. (Photo/Fred Norris, HBO)
offer, HBO would bring a lot more productions to the state, said Jay Roewe, senior vice president of production and incentives for HBO/Warner Media. “The incentive is a very important component of production that allows us to keep filming somewhere,” he said. “Given the success we have had in South Carolina, more shows would be filming there.” The fact that the budget runs out year after year is a strong deterrent to HBO, and many other studios looking to bring their business to the region. Matt Storm, project manager with the S.C. Film Commission, said he regularly gets calls from studios interested in filming here, but it turns to radio silence if there are no more incentives. “I send the packages to studios, but when we’re out of money, I never hear from them again,” he said. At least 80% to 90% of HBO’s shows have one film incentive or another, the premium channel said. While the studio doesn’t necessarily shoot where it’s cheapest, Roewe said HBO seeks to partner with places that are supportive from a creation and production standpoint and feels strongly about South Carolina’s industry. “If the incentive were to increase, we would look to South Carolina to bring even more productions,” Roewe said.
A time to refill
of $1 million in the Palmetto State — be it through crew, extras, actors or vendors. The system offers a 20% return on outof-state wages, 25% on out-of-state suppliers, 25% on in-state wages and 30% on in-state supplies. Annually, South Carolina’s film incentive budget is around $16 million, the S.C. Film Commission said. In comparison, North Carolina offers $31 million and Louisiana about $181
million per fiscal year. Georgia offers an uncapped tax credit. Once Netflix finishes filming its TV series Outer Banks and HBO wraps up The Righteous Gemstones with Danny McBride, South Carolina’s budget is depleted, state location scout Linda Lee said. In fact, the fund is about $3 million short of the total it owes back to the studios. Had South Carolina more money to
Movie incentives in the U.S. date back to the 1990s. States like Georgia, Louisiana and Pennsylvania lured studios from California and Canada to their states with a financial motivation. South Carolina jumped on board in 2005. The state’s rebate is comprised of a $10 million annual allocation from the state’s general fund plus 26% of the state’s admission taxes, or around $6 million. Combined, the funding is used to rebate studios for their supplier and crew costs. Studios get cash back within 45 days of submitting receipts, a bonus for smaller production companies that can imme-
diately turn around and use the money for post-production expenses. “We have good incentives the way they’re broken down,” Lee said. “A lot of people want to come here, but can’t because we don’t have enough money.” Lee knows firsthand, volunteering as president of the Carolina Film Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building the state’s motion picture, television and creative digital media industries by expanding South Carolina’s film incentives. Without money for anything other than Outer Banks and Righteous Gemstones, the state turned away 29 film projects in 2019 and denied another 15 in 2020, the S.C. Film Commission said. Already industry members fear for next year with admissions tax funds nearly halved by the pandemic. The $24.4 million collected between February 2020 and January 2021 was a 41.9% decrease yearover-year, the S.C. Department of Revenue said. This year is an inopportune time to have less money as studios all over are scrambling to double their production loads. “When the COVID virus hit us, we shut everything down. Now as we come up with testing and protocols, not only did we have to restart those shows, but all those scheduled in 2021,” Roewe said. “If anything we are at production levels that are higher pre-COVID.” Studios are also finding they need even more money to finish out 2020 shows with additional safety measures, like protective equipment and full-time medical staff. The Righteous Gemstones has 16 new staff members, Lee said. All the studios are chasing after the same incentive money. In response, state legislatures and film trade groups around the country are pushing for bills to increase film incentive budgets. That includes South Carolina. The Carolina Film Alliance is advoSee FILM, Page 12
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While many states offer an incentive of some sort, the type, funding cap and qualifications vary. South Carolina, North Carolina and Louisiana offer rebates, while Georgia, like Pennsylvania, offers a tax credit. Georgia has an uncapped transferable tax credit on 20% of a studio’s spend and labor. After a production wraps in the Peach State, studios can sell their tax credits to a state-based company like Georgia Pacific, Gulf Stream or Coca Cola for around 90 cents on the dollar.
FILM, from Page 11
cating for the passage of H.3790. The bill would amend the annual admission tax distribution by adding 4% of the general fund portion to the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism for five years. That extra 20% would be for the exclusive use of the South Carolina Film Commission. “It takes every penny the film commission has to support those two shows throughout the entire time that they’re here,” Lee said. The Carolina Film Alliance also is vying for a one-time earmark of $10 million that would help make up this past year’s lack of admission taxes. Even Pennsylvania, which offers $70 million in tax credits, runs out of incentive money each year, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Film Office Sharon Pinkenson said. The state was the first to get a tax credit program and is divided into two film commissions: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Every year, Pennsylvania film commissions ask the state legislature for more money. This year, they’re asking for $125 million, and Pinkenson said Pennsylvania has the business to warrant the 79% increase in incentives. Last fiscal year, which began July 1, all the film incentive money was spoken for the minute the budget was passed,
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. At right, McBride, Cassidy Freeman, John Goodman and the Gemstones family enter the North Charleston Coliseum as part of a set for the show, which is filming its second season in the Charleston area. (Photos/Fred Norris, HBO)
Pinkenson said, adding, “And it’s going to be that way too this year unless we get an increase.” Annually, the state shoots hundreds of movies, shows, documentaries, commercials and more. “We do everything. We’re there to encourage our filmmakers to work here and stay here,” she said.
Huge Grant
Dan Rogers, project manager for the S.C. Film Commission, explains that the incentive program is a grant that his team manages. The Department of Revenue then performs the progressive audits. “We know every dollar spent here and what we are rebating on,” Rogers said.
In 2016, the state granted a combined $655 million in tax credits to 450 productions, according to a January 2020 report by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts Performance Audit
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Division. While Georgia is a big enough state to handle the amount, the downside is the state never knows when those credits will be turned in, leaving the state in the lurch for millions, S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Duane Parrish said. “Georgia Pacific or Coca Cola can send a voucher in for $10 million this year, and Georgia doesn’t get that money now,” he said. “Really, on an annual basis, they don’t know how many tax credit submissions they’ll receive.” The Peach State had almost $300 million in outstanding tax credits as of 2020, according to state auditors. While South Carolina’s rebate system is much smaller, Parrish said the originators believed it was better for taxpayers. By budgeting a specific amount for the film industry, South Carolina would know each year exactly how much taxpayers are on the hook for. Though Parrish and Lee both said there has been discussions about switching South Carolina to the tax credit system, the conversations always tend to stall.
Follow the Yellow Brick Rebates
Incentives can make or break a studio’s decision on where a production will be filmed. A shaky incentive system is what helped South Carolina score the HBO series Righteous Gemstones and Danny McBride’s production company, Rough House Pictures. In 2008, McBride and his team filmed their HBO series Eastbound & Down in North Carolina, but when the state’s incentives program became “severely compromised,” Roewe said, a number of productions left the state. That included HBO, which pulled out three productions at the time. “South Carolina really got onto our radar at that point and time,” he said. Since then, HBO has filmed two seasons of Vice Principals in the Lowcountry, and the studio is currently shooting the second season of Righteous Gemstones in the old Sears department store at The Citadel Mall. During that time, McBride moved his company to Mount Pleasant, where he and his colleagues settled with their families. Roewe said Righteous Gemstones “unequivocally is one of our favorite shows and one of our most successful comedies,” and he’s incredibly proud to partner with South Carolina — especially given the scope and scale of productions it shoots these days. Brandon James, president of production and development at Rough House Pictures, said the Rough House team has always gravitated toward the Charleston region for its beauty and downtown scene, its proximity to industry hubs in Atlanta and Wilmington, and for a better way of
www.charlestonbusiness.com 13
life for their families who previously lived in Los Angeles. “We always thought, if we could live and work in Charleston, how awesome would that be?” James said. The idea seemed far-fetched, but South Carolina’s incentives made the company’s bi-coastal relocation viable. Now, James wants to see South Carolina invest more in the industry. “We also don’t want to be the only kids in town. We want to be able to do more,” he said. Ideally, he’d like to see the state’s incentive increase to $50 million, or at least match North Carolina’s budget, because
he knows other shows would flock to the state. He also knows Rough House could bring a lot more business to the area if the state had the means to support it. Rough House, which produced a 2018 Halloween remake in South Carolina, had always intended to shoot the next Halloween film here. But with rebates running dry, executives insisted on taking their business to Wilmington. “At the end of the day it’s ultimately not our decision. We always want to do everything around our home, but we’re not the ones actually financing the film,” he said. Rough House has even more movie
projects they want to develop in South Carolina, but James said again, studios control where movies are made and investors follow the rebates. Given HBO’s success in South Carolina, Roewe said there’d be a lot more opportunities if the state stepped up its budget. “I think it’s a unique year for people and a unique opportunity if South Carolina were to increase their incentives. More production will come to South Carolina,” Roewe said. “There’s no question in my mind.” CRBJ
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In Focus
AUTOMOTIVE LISTS: Law Firms, Page 19 | Companies Headquartered in Charleston Region, Page 23
Baker Motor adds Sprinter Van dealership in Nexton Barry Waldman
A
Contributing Writer
t one time, car dealers sold a single brand of car. The Ford dealer didn’t sell Chevrolets or vice versa. Eventually, manufacturers realized that they could affiliate themselves with successful dealerships in a market for economies of scale and expertise, irrespective of their relationships with competing brands. That gave rise to dealership brands selling a variety of makes and models. Today, dealerships around the country sell the entire automotive alphabet from Acura to Volkswagen. Baker Motor Company, which itself sells 14 luxury brands, has opened a dealership that sells one niche product — Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans. Although consumers can purchase new Mercedes vehicles at Baker’s West Ashley location, this new dealership in Summerville’s growing Nexton community caters entirely to companies and individuals in the luxury van market. “It’s the first Sprinter dealership in America,” said Tommy Baker, president of Baker Motor Co. Not coincidentally, the vans sold at Baker’s new retail outlet are assembled 11 miles away at the Sprinter manufacturing plant in Ladson’s Palmetto Commerce Park.
Sprinter vans come in two styles and six models to accommodate passengers, cargo and combinations of both. The dealership offers a wider variety of ready-to-use vans than any dealer selling Sprinters alongside their other Mercedes offerings, said AJ Geffert, Baker Motor Co. dealer group general manager. “You can look at a van that has a partition and shelves and buy that van and go to work the next day,” he said. “Most shops only have a shell that you have to upfit. Ours are already designed for HVAC, a plumber, an expediter.” For those whose needs are more esoteric, five upfitters are located in the Charleston area to customize a newly purchased van quickly for nearly any purpose. “I saw a dentist from Greenville who put a dentist chair in the back,” Geffert said. In its 25th year of van production, Mercedes sold nearly 42,000 Sprinters in the U.S. in 2020, an increase of nearly one-third over the previous year. Analysts attribute strong sales to its flexibility and ease of use. About three-quarters of van sales are for commercial use, Geffert said. Amazon ordered 20,000 Sprinters directly from the Ladson facility last year as part of its domestic delivery system. The plant reached full production in September of 2018.
The U.S. Postal Service and FedEx also employ thousands of Sprinter vans in their delivery fleets. The Baker Sprinter Van facility generally sells one or two vehicles at a time, but Geffert said the size of their inventory and the proximity of the manufacturing plant make it possible to sell five right off the lot, something not possible at any other dealership. Geffert predicts that the standalone Sprinter store might turn into a trend in the industry as Sprinters become more common. Many of them, he predicted, would be located on the same property as passenger car dealerships. That is the formula for Baker Motors’ new Nexton store, a colossus at 30,000 square feet — enough for an eightcar showroom and space for 75-80 vans for sale. It sits adjacent to an 80,000-square-foot service center for all Mercedes models and many other luxury cars. The Sprinter dealership covers 13 acres of land off Sigma Drive with a host of amenities to entertain customers while they wait for sales or service. They include walking and biking trails, a playground area and a fully stocked fishing pond. A separate 1,500-square-foot facility
Insuring autos
South Carolina’s notoriously high automotive insurance rates rose by 19% in 2020, an analysis by Insure.com, a personal insurance information portal, of data from Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm. The Palmetto State along with 14 other states and Washington, D.C., continues to have automobile insurance rates more than $100 above the national average.
Top 10 auto insurance states State
Average rate
Michigan
$2,878
Louisiana
$2,389
Florida
$2,239
Texas
$2,050
California
$1,968
Georgia
$1,936
Wash., D.C.
$1,928
Rhode Island
$1,918
South Carolina
$1,759
Delaware
$1,757
Auto insurance in S.C.
$1,759
Average automobile insurance rate in 2020.
+19%
See BAKER, Page 18
Change in S.C. auto insurance rates from 2019 to 2020.
$242
Auto insurance in S.C. is 16% higher than the national average, meaning drivers pay an average of $242 more in the Palmetto State.
Rates by vehicle type
A lot of different factors go into insurance rates, including how many uninsured drivers are in a specific state and how many lawsuits are filed each year. However, the kinds of vehicles also carry different insurance costs. Vehicle type
Average Rate
Electric cars
$2,575
Convertibles
$2, 475
Cars
$2,209
SUVS
$1,801
Trucks
$1,750
Source: Insure.com, Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm
Baker Motor Co.’s Sprinter Van dealership is highly visible from Interstate 26, just north of Summerville. The dealership moved into Nexton, a master-planned community. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)
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March 22 - April 4, 2021
Golf cart companies can’t keep up with demand during pandemic By Jenny Peterson
T
Contributing Writer
hanks to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s a seller’s market for golf carts. After more than a year of staying in, Charleston residents desperate for stimulation have turned to thrills closer to home: golf carts and low-speed vehicles. While golf carts have long been a leisurely, energy-efficient vehicle for many Charleston families — even those who live nowhere near a golf course — local companies say demand over the past year has outpaced production. “This is the busiest we’ve ever seen,” said Danielle Smith, owner of Charleston Custom Carts, which opened in 2017. “Last spring and summer, we were selling 50-60 carts a month and if I had 100 carts, I could have sold 100,” said Andrea Leary, who co-owns Rad Rydz Golf Carts in Mount Pleasant with her husband Chad Shores. “Our biggest issue is finding golf carts to sell. We can’t keep them in stock.” Historically, the busy season for golf cart purchases is when tax returns are processed and people are flush with cash. Business owners report that 2020 bucked that trend, with a constant demand for carts all year. Yet, COVID-19 related manufacturing shutdowns and shipping delays has made getting new golf carts and replacement parts a challenge. “Just getting seats upgraded is a 20-week lead time, because the wood backing that goes on the seat is being used by toilet paper companies,” Smith said. Rad Rydz gets their inventory from golf courses that upgrade golf cart fleets and sell them retired carts. Leary said golf cart manufacturers are behind on making new carts, which has in turn halted their inventory. “EZ-Go and Club Car are months and months behind because of COVID-19, so golf courses are holding onto their fleets,” she said. Leary and her husband have secured carts from out-of-state golf courses to keep up with demand. They hired an 18-wheeler to transport carts from Florida and have picked up carts themselves. “This past weekend, my husband and I went down to Florida and brought home 10 carts,” Leary said. “We have a trailer that holds six, another trailer that holds three, and we put one in the back of a truck.” Golf cart parts and accessories like tires, rims and lift kits, often shipped from China, are also backordered because of the pandemic, making custom work take longer than usual. “Every time we get an opportunity to order more parts, we order in bulk,” Smith
said. “Pretty much every custom cart around Charleston has a 14-week lead time no matter where you go,” Smith said. High demand, low inventory and higher prices for parts has resulted in the price of golf carts to go up significantly. “People on Facebook are asking why their friend paid $4,500 for a cart a year ago and today it’s $6,500,” Leary said. “But I’m paying $1,500 to $2,000 more per base cart before I do anything custom to it; that’s why the price of carts has gone through the roof.” Both Rad Rydz and Charleston Custom Carts have golf carts starting at $5,000. Golf carts at Charleston Custom Carts can go as high as $8,000. The most expensive low speed vehicle Charleston Custom Carts has sold was $26,000. Business owners say higher prices aren’t deterring customers. “Customers spent money prior to pandemic on family vacations and kid’s camps and when those were canceled, they got their money back and thought, ‘What can we do that’s family-oriented?’ They bought pools and boats and golf carts,” Smith said. “Now, they can ride around the neighborhood, get out and socially distance. The more people have them, the more other people see them on the road, and the more other people want them.” There has been such an uptick in golf carts operating on roadways that the City of Charleston has begun cracking down on regulations for carts, including making sure carts are registered with the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and following guidelines for parking. It costs $5 to register a cart and owners must supply proof of insurance. Smith said the crackdown on regulations has prompted more interest in lowspeed vehicles that can legally be driven at night with headlights, a windshield, seatbelts and turn signals. Leary said more people have been requesting custom carts with higher speeds to drive on busier roadways, to grocery stores and more. “A low-speed vehicle cannot go over 25 miles per hour, but with a golf cart, I can get them up to 40 miles per hour,” she said. As the weather gets warmer, business owners are preparing for another wave of demand. Charleston Custom Carts just got a new fleet of new Yamaha carts and Epic brand low-speed vehicles. Rad Rydz has secured the purchase of 100 additional golf carts. “I’ve had 15 calls about golf carts just this morning,” said Leary. “People used to come and see carts and then go home to think about the purchase, but once COVID hit, I’d have to tell them, ‘I’m not trying to give you a hard sell…but they will be gone by tomorrow.’ Now, I just keep a waiting list.” CRBJ
IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
March 22 - April 4, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 17
CofC engineering major to focus on autonomous vehicles Alexandria Ng
S
ang@scbiznews.com
elf-driving cars are no longer science fiction. The College of Charleston is preparing for the future of this industry by launching an electrical engineering degree with a focus on autonomous electrical vehicles. This will be the school’s second engineering program and will be offered for the first time in fall 2021. Through the program, students will get hands-on experience, learning about what goes into building an autonomous electric vehicle, how to make it move, functions of all the sensors and wiring and everything in between, said Sebastian van Delden, dean of the school of sciences and mathematics. “It’s only a matter of time before self-driving cars are a day-to-day thing,” van Delden said. “Over the next 30 Van Delden years or so, it’s going to explode and be a huge industry, so we’re introducing this program here and now.” According to an Allied Market Research report, the autonomous vehi-
Mercedes-Benz Vans produces Sprinter vans in Ladson. The company is part of an industrial advisory board at the College of Charleston, which is adding an electrical engineering major that will focus on autonomous vehicles. (Photo/File)
cle market is expected to grow from $54.23 billion in 2019 to $556.67 billion by 2026. “This will be very important for supporting economic development in our region, especially with Mercedes now building the vans here; we have Volvo
making their vehicles here in town,” van Delden said. “We’re distinctive from programs across the nation because of our location, because it’s very unique for a university to be surrounded by so many high-tech manufacturing companies.” As part of the program’s offerings,
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the College of Charleston has partnered with companies and manufacturers in the region to assemble an industrial advisory board. Members represent companies such as Boeing Co., Mercedes-Benz Vans, Bosch, Volvo Cars and Google. While board members are expected to attend a meeting twice a year — the next being May 14 — and help develop curriculum according to evolving industry standards, van Delden said the hope is for members to provide mentorship to students as well. During their senior year, students are expected to complete a yearlong capstone course with the supervision and guidance of an industry mentor. Van Delden said he hopes board members will actively engage in these projects and involve students into their companies to experience real-world applications of their coursework. “You can recruit students in your backyard now because they are right here studying close by,” van Delden said. “It makes it easier for them to get an internship with you to learn about your business model, your processes, your technology stacks; and when they graduate, it makes the onboarding process so much easier to have those students join.” See SELF-DRIVING, Page 18
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IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
March 22 - April 4, 2021
BAKER, from Page 15
is designed to serve customers interested in perusing 150 ex-loaner vehicles that are also available for purchase. Eventually, the company plans to build other new-car dealerships on its remaining 17 acres of adjacent property. Although car, truck and van sales, like everything else, have moved from the showroom to the internet, automobile dealers prize “omnichannel” marketing that culminates in the in-person relationship. Industry analysts predict that even while more research and even sales move online, most consumers will still want to visit dealerships, see the vehicle they intend to purchase and sign the papers in person. With its proximity to Interstate 26 and the booming popularity of the Charleston area, the Nexton dealership is already attracting visitors from the Northeast, Geffert said, just as Nexton has become a hotspot for new arrivals to the Charleston area, valued for its central location in the market and amenities. Now home to 6,000 residents on 5,000 acres, the former MeadWestvaco property boasts thousands of homes, dozens of businesses, its own schools and medical facilities and some of the area’s high-end restaurants. The National Association of Home Builders named Nexton the 2021 Master Planned Community of the Year. Founded by Charleston-native Tommy Baker in 1988, Baker Motor Co. today operates new car and truck dealerships for 14 luxury brands including RollsRoyce, BMW, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Land Rover, Jaguar, Smart Car, Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter, Infiniti, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. Its dealerships are located in West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, and now in Nexton. It also owns a dealership for Porsche and BMW in Wilmington, N.C. CRBJ
SELF-DRIVING, from Page 17
In addition to providing students with opportunities to work directly with industry leaders on real-life projects, the program will also prepare students for an international workforce. Students will be required to take four semesters of a foreign language. They will also have the chance to study abroad at the University of Ireland or the Heriot-Watt University in Scotland for a semester in their sophomore year. “Engineers nowadays have to work in diverse teams to solve problems that have societal, global, ethical impacts, so that aspect of the education is very important,” van Delden said. “The BMWs and Mercedes and other global companies
Even though Baker Motor Co. will sell vans straight off the company’s lot in Nexton, upfitters in the region can customize the functionality of the vans. Baker says 75% of the vans sold are for commercial use. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)
are very excited about that aspect because should a student take their foreign language coursework in German, they would be a great fit for an internship or full-time job at one of these companies that have presences in South Carolina.” The first two engineering faculty members are both women of color. Olufunke Oladimeji is teaching engineering graphics for the systems engineering major, and Kebin Xu signed her contract late last month to transition from computer science starting in August. Phoebe Bickford, a development engineer at Bosch and the president of the Lowcountry Society of Women Engineers, also is taking part in the advisory board. “In my experience teaching at the College of Charleston, I noticed that we have
so many women students, so it’s good that we can open the door for more women to join the STEM courses through this program,” Xu said. Of the 10,000 students enrolled at College of Charleston, about 68% are women, van Delden said. Women also make up about one-third of the engineering program. This new electrical engineering program follows on the heels of the systems engineering degree, which launched last fall. In the first semester of the systems engineering major, 21 students enrolled, surpassing the college’s goal of 15 students. Seeing this success, van Delden said he hopes to see 50 students enrolled across both programs by next year, and eventu-
ally expanding to 500 students to match the school’s computer science department. So far, $250,000 has been invested to support engineering scholarships and recruitment efforts from industry partners like BMW and Google, as well as individual donors. The college plans to introduce new engineering programs in the future, with programs that capitalize on its proximity to local institutions, like the Medical University of South Carolina, van Delden said. Eventually, the goal is to also establish a new school of engineering and computer science so that technical programs can have their own facility. CRBJ
Reach Alexandria Ng at 843-849-3124.
IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
March 22 - April 4, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 19
Law Firms
Ranked by No. of Attorneys in the Charleston Area Company
Phone / Website / Email
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Attorneys / Employees
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A. 134 Meeting St., 3rd Floor Charleston, SC 29401
843-722-3366 www.hsblawfirm.com info@hsblawfirm.com
Joseph D. Clark, James H. "Jeddie" Suddeth, Boyd B. "Nick" Nicholson 1887
116 57
Nexsen Pruet LLC 205 King St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401
843-577-9440 www.nexsenpruet.com apace@nexsenpruet.com
Paul A. Dominick, George Bullwinkel 1945
115 44
Motley Rice LLC 28 Bridgeside Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 McAngus Goudelock & Courie LLC 735 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 200 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-216-9000 www.motleyrice.com 843-576-2900 www.mgclaw.com -
Joseph F. Rice 2003
113 303
James R. Courie 1995
91 50
Burr Forman McNair 100 Calhoun St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401
843-723-7831 www.burr.com -
Jennifer Blumenthal 1987
77 22
Womble Bond Dickinson 5 Exchange St. Charleston, SC 29401
843-722-3400 www.womblebonddickinson.com jim.myrick@wbd-us.com
James D. Myrick, Elizabeth O. Temple 1876
68 71
Gallivan, White & Boyd P.A. 40 Calhoun St., Suite 315 Charleston, SC 29401
843-735-7600 www.gwblawfirm.com cpatterson@gwblawfirm.com
Grayson Smith 1948
59 16
Clement Rivers LLP 25 Calhoun St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401
843-577-4000 www.ycrlaw.com krussell@ycrlaw.com
Wilbur E. Johnson 1965
43 99
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP 151 Meeting St., Suite 600 Charleston, SC 29401
843-853-5200 www.nelsonmullins.com info@nelsonmullins.com
John C. McElwaine 1897
42 70
Clawson & Staubes LLC 126 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29492
800-774-8242 www.clawsonandstaubes.com info@clawsonandstaubes.com
Matthew J. Story 1975
36 60
K&L Gates LLP 134 Meeting St., Suite 500 Charleston, SC 29401
843-579-5600 www.klgates.com -
Walker Coleman 2011
35 54
Finkel Law Firm LLC 4000 Faber Place Drive, Suite 450 North Charleston, SC 29405 Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman 1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Copeland, Stair, Kingma & Lovell LLP 40 Calhoun St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401 Hood Law Firm LLC 172 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401
843-577-5460 www.finkellaw.com 843-727-6500 www.rpwb.com marketing@rpwb.com 843-727-0307 www.cskl.law rpetit@cskl.law 843-577-4435 www.hoodlaw.com info@hoodlaw.com
Gerald M. Finkel, Robertson H Wendt, Sean A O'Connor 1970
32 43
Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Tax Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law Administrative Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Consumer Law; Corporate Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Law; Social Security Law; Torts Law
Jerry H. Evans 2002
30 90
Antitrust Law; Civil Law; Construction Law; Consumer Law; Environmental Law; Labor and Employment Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Securities Law; Torts Law
Paul E. Sperry 2002
27 55
Administrative Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Environmental Law; Health Care Law; Intellectual Property Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law
Robert H. Hood 1985
25 52
Civil Law; Construction Law; Labor and Employment Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law
Moore & Van Allen PLLC 78 Wentworth St. Charleston, SC 29401
843-579-7000 www.mvalaw.com info@mvalaw.com
H. Manning Unger 1997
23 41
Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms LLC 288 Meeting St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29401
843-577-7700 www.barnwell-whaley.com bwph@barnwell-whaley.com
Randell C. Stoney 1938
19 45
Weeks & Irvine LLC 8086 Rivers Ave., Suite B North Charleston, SC 29406
843-553-9800 www.weekslawfirm.net rirvine@weekslawfirm.net
Robert L. Irvine, Mark W. Weeks, Joseph W. Kessinger 2011
19 112
Cobb Dill & Hammett LLC 222 W. Coleman Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-327-5777 www.cdhlawfirm.com hcobb@cdhlawfirm.com
Hal Cobb 2013
17 24
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein 200 Meeting St., Suite 301 Charleston, SC 29401
843-727-2650 www.parkerpoe.com parkerpoe@parkerpoe.com
J. Ashley Cooper 1884
16 31
Willson Jones Carter & Baxley P.A. 421 Wando Park Blvd., Suite 100 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early LLC 321 East Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401
864-272-2667 www.wjcblaw.com kmsmith@wjlaw.com 843-722-7733 www.piercesloan.com marygrondines@piercesloan.com
Johnnie W. Baxley 2003
15 32
Litigation Law; Workers' Compensation Law
James G. Kennedy 1999
13 33
Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law
Rosen Hagood 151 Meeting St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401
843-266-2257 www.rosenhagood.com tbolchoz@rosenhagood.com
Brew Hagood, Andrew Gowdown 1947
13 25
Administrative Law; Appellate Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Government Relations Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Torts Law
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.
Practice Areas Administrative Law; Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Consumer Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Government Relations Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Personal Injury Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Tax Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law Administrative Law; Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Government Relations Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Tax Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Bankruptcy Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Consumer Law; Environmental Law; Government Relations Law; International Law; Litigation Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Personal Injury Law; Securities Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Employee Benefits Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Real Estate Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law; Workers' Compensation Law Administrative Law; Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Consumer Law; Corporate Law; Criminal Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Government Relations Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Social Security Law; Tax Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law; Workers' Compensation Law Administrative Law; Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Government Relations Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Tax Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law; Workers' Compensation Law Administrative Law; Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Consumer Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Government Relations Law; Health Care Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Law; Tax Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law; Workers' Compensation Law Administrative Law; Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Consumer Law; Corporate Law; Criminal Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Government Relations Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Mergers/ Acquisitions Law; Personal Injury Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Social Security Law; Tax Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law; Workers' Compensation Law Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Administrative Law; Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Government Relations Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Tax Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law Administrative Law; Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Government Relations Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law; Workers' Compensation Law Estate Planning/Probate Law; Law Firm; Real Estate Law Banking/Finance Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Criminal Law; Economic Development Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Labor and Employment Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Torts Law Administrative Law; Antitrust Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Government Relations Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Tax Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law
Researched by Business Journal staff
20
IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
www.charlestonbusiness.com
March 22 - April 4, 2021
Law Firms
Ranked by No. of Attorneys in the Charleston Area Company
Phone / Website / Email
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Attorneys / Employees
Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes P.A. 15 Middle Atlantic Wharf Charleston, SC 29401
843-937-8000 www.tktlawyers.com lindsey@tktlawyers.com
Paul R. Thurmond, Jesse A. Kirchner, Michael A. Timbes 2005
13 25
Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Criminal Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law
Joye Law Firm 5861 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406
843-888-8888 www.joyelawfirm.com gethelp@joyelawfirm.com
Ken W. Harrell 1968
12 43
Law Firm; Personal Injury Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Buist Byars & Taylor LLC 652 Coleman Blvd., Suite 200 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-856-4488 www.buistbyars.com info@buistbyars.com
Custis M. Byars 1998
10 28
Business Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Litigation Law; Real Estate Law
Graybill Lansche & Vinzani LLC 225 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 207 Charleston, SC 29492
843-628-7732 www.glvlawfirm.com info@glvlawfirm.com
John E. Lansche 2012
10 6
Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Commercial Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Litigation Law; Real Estate Law; Tax Law
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP 176 Croghan Spur Road, Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29407
704-945-2184 www.shumaker.com kgrosso@shumaker.com
Laura J. Evans 2018
10 15
Turner Padget Graham & Laney P.A. 40 Calhoun St., Suite 200 Charleston , SC 29401
843-576-2800 www.turnerpadget.com -
David S. Cobb 2007
10 26
Wall Templeton & Haldrup P.A. 145 King St., Suite 300 Charleston, SC 29401
843-329-9500 www.walltempleton.com -
Neil S. Haldrup 2011
10 20
Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Health Care Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law
Luzuriaga Mims LLP 50 Immigration St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29403
843-302-8505 www.lmlawllp.com eluzuriaga@lmlawllp.com
Kevin W. Mims, Elizabeth B. Luzuriaga 2011
9 16
Civil Law; Construction Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Rogers Townsend LLC 177 Meeting St., Suite 320 Charleston, SC 29401
843-737-8668 www.rogerstownsend.com info@rtt-law.com
R. Bryan Barnes, Stuart M. Lee, J. Geoffrey Osborn 1984
8 10
Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Environmental Law; Health Care Law; Intellectual Property Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Real Estate Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law
Butler & College LLC 501 Belle Hall Parkway, Suite 101 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-284-8676 www.BandCLawFirm.com -
Ryan E. Butler, Andrew W. College 2012
7 25
Estate Planning/Probate Law; Law Firm; Real Estate Law
Lucey Law Firm 415 Mill St. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-849-8400 www.lucey-law.com jzambriczki@lucey-law.com
Justin O. Lucey 1991
7 -
Construction Law; Torts Law
Buxton & Collie LLC 940 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 205 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-606-2397 www.buxtonandcollie.com cbuxton@buxtonandcollie.com
James T.H. Buxton 2010
6 12
Business Law; Commercial Law; Corporate Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; International Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law; Tax Law
Green Law Firm 3511 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405
843-747-2455 www.billgreen.law marketing@billgreen.law
William A. "Bill" Green 1994
6 20
Law Firm; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law; Workers' Compensation Law
PMC Law Firm 504 W. 5th North St. Summerville, SC 29483
843-871-9500 www.pmclawfirm.com inquiry@pmclawfirm.com
Tiffany N. Provence 2008
6 10
Civil Law; Criminal Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law
Wigger Law Firm Inc. 8086 Rivers Ave., Suite A North Charleston, SC 29406
843-553-9800 wiggerlawfirm.com shoffman@wiggerlawfirm.com
Emily Tong, Brice Ricker, Jarrel L. Wigger 2005
6 22
Civil Law; Corporate Law; Employee Benefits Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Labor and Employment Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law; Social Security Law; Torts Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Anderson Reynolds & Stephens LLC 37 1/2 Broad St. Charleston, SC 29401
843-723-0185 www.arslawsc.com inquire@arslawsc.com
Jonathan J. Anderson, Lisa A. Reynolds, Shanna M. Stephens 1990
5 10
Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law
Butler Snow LLP 25 Calhoun St., Suite 250 Charleston, SC 29401
843-277-3700 www.butlersnow.com info@butlersnow.com
Christopher R. Maddux 2019
5 7
Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/ Admiralty Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law
Ford Wallace Thomson LLC 500 Huger St. Charleston, SC 29403
843-277-2011 www.fordwallace.com ian.ford@fordwallace.com
Ian S. Ford 2009
5 7
Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Health Care Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law
Kernodle Coleman 914 Folly Road, Suite 2 Charleston, SC 29412
843-795-7800 www.kernodlelaw.com info@kernodlelaw.com
Trent M. Kernodle 1999
5 12
Administrative Law; Appellate Law; Civil Law; Construction Law; Consumer Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law
Mason Law Firm 465 W. Coleman Blvd., Suite 302 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-884-1444 www.masonlawfirm.com -
Mark A. Mason 1985
5 5
Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Criminal Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Law; Torts Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart 211 King St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29401
843-853-1300 www.ogletree.com clientservices@ogletree.com
Michael Eckard 1977
5 8
Employee Benefits Law; Immigration Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law
Clekis Law Firm P.A. 171 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401
843-720-3737 www.clekis.com Nick@clekis.com
Nicholas J. Clekis 1988
4 10
Criminal Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law; Workers' Compensation Law
David Aylor Law Offices 24 Broad St. Charleston, SC 29401
843-310-4900 www.davidaylor.com -
David Aylor 2007
4 20
Bankruptcy Law; Civil Law; Criminal Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Gibbs & Holmes 171 Church St., Suite 110 Charleston, SC 29401
843-722-0033 www.gibbs-holmes.com aholmes@gibbs-holmes.com
Allan R. Holmes 1983
4 6
Civil Law; Labor and Employment Law
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.
Practice Areas
Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Employee Benefits Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Health Care Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Tax Law Administrative Law; Appellate Law; Banking/Finance Law; Bankruptcy Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Criminal Law; Economic Development Law; Environmental Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Intellectual Property Law; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Law; Tax Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Researched by Business Journal staff
IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
March 22 - April 4, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 21
Law Firms
Ranked by No. of Attorneys in the Charleston Area Company
Phone / Website / Email
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Attorneys / Employees
Grimball & Cabaniss LLC 1180 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Suite 120 Charleston, SC 29407
843-722-0311 www.grimcab.com law@grimcab.com
Mike Ferri 1964
4 8
Civil Law; Consumer Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law
McCullough Khan LLC 359 King St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29401
843-937-0400 www.mklawsc.com jamie@mklawsc.com
Jamie A. Khan, Clayton B. McCullough 2011
4 6
Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Personal Injury Law; Telecom/Technology Law; Torts Law
Pope Flynn 170 Meeting St., Suite 510 Charleston, SC 29401
803-354-4906 www.popeflynn.com bmusser@popeflynn.com
Joe Lucas 2008
4 5
Construction Law; Public Finance Law
Query Sautter & Associates LLC 147 Wappoo Creek Drive, Suite 202 Charleston, SC 29412
843-795-9500 www.querysautterlaw.com tobrien@qlawsc.com
Michael W. Sautter 1998
4 8
Administrative Law; Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Criminal Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Health Care Law; Labor and Employment Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law; Social Security Law; Torts Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Rosen Law Firm LLC 18 Broad St., Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29401
843-377-1700 www.rosen-lawfirm.com receptionist@rosen-lawfirm.com
Susan C. Rosen 2004
4 10
Appellate Law; Civil Law; Family Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law
Weston Craig Anthony LLC 761 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 100 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-881-4995 www.wcalawfirm.com joe@wcalawfirm.com
Joseph R. Weston, Julie A. Craig, Stephanie P. Anthony 1998
4 6
Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Consumer Law; Criminal Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Bybee & Tibbals LLC 735 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 104 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-881-1623 www.bybeetibbals.com -
Richard D. Bybee 2017
3 6
Law Firm; Litigation Law
Cooper & Bilbrey P.C. 1476 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Suite 11 Mount Pleasant, SC 29403
843-883-9099 www.jhcooper.com info@jhcooper.com
Albert Bilbrey, John Townsend Townsend Cooper 1984
3 4
Business Law; Civil Law; Construction Law; Maritime/Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law
Joseph C. Good III PA 409 Coleman Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-412-1401 www.joegoodlaw.com joe@joegoodlaw.com
Joe Good 2007
3 3
Civil Law; Criminal Law; Personal Injury Law
Lofton & Lofton P.C. 225 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 109 Charleston, SC 29492
843-722-6319 www.loftonandlofton.com lofton@loftonandlofton.com
Lionel S. Lofton 1983
3 6
Criminal Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Sahn Law Firm 225 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 105 Charleston, SC 29492
843-856-2222 www.sahnlaw.com -
Michael C. Sahn, Douglas A. Henley 2011
3 3
Criminal Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Steadman Law Firm P.A. 6296 Rivers Ave., Suite 102 North Charleston, SC 29406
843-529-1100 www.steadmanlawfirm.com rsteadman@steadmanlawfirm.com
Richard A. Steadman 1992
3 7
Bankruptcy Law; Consumer Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Real Estate Law
Tecklenburg & Jenkins LLC 1819 Meeting Street Road, Suite A Charleston, SC 29413
843-534-2628 www.tecklaw.net -
Paul Tecklenburg 2001
3 6
Business Law; Civil Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; International Law; Litigation Law; Maritime/ Admiralty Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law
Austen & Gowder LLC 1629 Meeting St., Suite A Charleston, SC 29405
843-727-0060 www.austengowder.com lauren@austengowder.com
Jon L. Austen, William Andrew Gowder Jr. 2016
2 4
Administrative Law; Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Environmental Law; Government Relations Law; Intellectual Property Law; Litigation Law; Real Estate Law; Torts Law
Bloodgood & Sanders LLC 242 Mathis Ferry Road, Suite 201 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-972-0313 www.bloodgoodsanders.com nbloodgood@bloodgoodsanders.com
Nancy Bloodgood, Lucy Sanders 2016
2 3
Civil Law; Labor and Employment Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law
Brinkley Law Firm LLC 1 Carriage Lane, Building F, Suite 100 Charleston, SC 29407
843-277-9009 www.brinkleylawfirmllc.com info@brinkleylawfirmllc.com
Christopher Kays, Stephanie M. Brinkley 2011
2 3
Family Law; Law Firm
Griffin Humphries LLC 2113 Middle St., Suite 305 Sullivans Island, SC 29482
843-883-7424 -
Badge Humphries, James M. Griffin 2020
2 3
Administrative Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Health Care Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law
Occam Immigration 174 E. Bay St., Suite 302 Charleston, SC 29401
843-804-4844 www.occamimmigration.com hello@occamimmigration.com
David Vyborny 2015
2 4
Immigration Law; Law Firm
Riley Pope & Laney LLC 288 Meeting St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29401
843-577-9800 www.rplfirm.com info@rplfirm.com
B.C. Killough 2001
2 3
Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Corporate Law; Government Relations Law; Intellectual Property Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Telecom/Technology Law
Seth W. Whitaker Ltd. Co. 409 King St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29403
843-202-4472 www.whitakerltdco.com info@whitakerltdco.com
Seth W. Whitaker 2016
2 3
Business Law; Corporate Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Mergers/Acquisitions Law; Tax Law
Shelbourne Law 131 E. Richardson Ave. Summerville, SC 29483
843-871-2210 www.shelbournelaw.com info@shelbournelaw.com
P. Brandt Brandt Shelbourne 1997
2 6
Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law
Thrive IP 5401 Netherby Lane, Suite 1201 North Charleston, SC 29420
843-580-9057 www.thrive-ip.com information@thrive-ip.com
Jeremy M. Stipkala, Ben Klosowski, Peter Brewer 2005
2 4
Intellectual Property Law
Torres Law Firm PA 604 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29407
843-720-3732 www.torreslawfirm.net mtorres@torreslawfirm.net
Marco T. Torres, Claire Xidis Torres 2005
2 5
Criminal Law; Immigration Law
Wilkes Law Firm P.A. 200 Meeting St., Suite 205 Charleston, SC 29401
843-737-6229 www.wilkeslaw.com -
Michael B. T. Wilkes 2007
2 3
Administrative Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Construction Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law; Transportation Law
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.
Practice Areas
Researched by Business Journal staff
22
IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
www.charlestonbusiness.com
March 22 - April 4, 2021
Law Firms
Ranked by No. of Attorneys in the Charleston Area Company
Phone / Website / Email
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Attorneys / Employees
Young & Young Attorneys at Law LLC 99 Spring St., Suite C Charleston, SC 29403
843-724-1563 www.adamyounglawfirm.com Kelley@younglawfirmsc.com
Kelley Young, Adam Young 2013
2 3
Business Law; Civil Law; Criminal Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Torts Law
Bernstein & Bernstein 5418 Rivers Ave., Suite B North Charleston, SC 29406-6129
843-529-1111 www.bernsteinpa.com rbernstein@bernsteinpa.com
Robert A. Bernstein 1955
1 1
Administrative Law; Appellate Law; Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law
Brownlee Whitlow & Praet PLLC 3255 Landmark Drive, Suite 301 North Charleston, SC 29418
843-628-7120 www.bwpf-law.com jwilliams@bwpf-law.com
Thomas Howard, F. Todd Whitlow 2015
1 -
Business Law; Commercial Law; Corporate Law; Litigation Law; Real Estate Law
Bruce E. Miller P.A. 147 Wappoo Creek Drive, Suite 603 Charleston, SC 29412
843-579-7373 www.brucemillerlaw.com mdixon@brucemillerlaw.com
Bruce Miller 2008
1 3
Labor and Employment Law; Law Firm
Evan Guthrie Law Firm 164 Market St., Suite 362 Charleston, SC 29401
843-926-3813 www.ekglaw.com contact@ekglaw.com
Evan Guthrie 2010
1 3
Business Law; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Corporate Law; Criminal Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Immigration Law; Intellectual Property Law; Law Firm; Litigation Law; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Law; Social Security Law; Tax Law; Torts Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Gibson Law Firm LLC 5422 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406
843-744-1887 www.dgibsonlaw.com law2@dgibsonlaw.com
Don C. Gibson 1976
1 3
Corporate Law; Criminal Law; Estate Planning/Probate Law; Family Law; Personal Injury Law; Real Estate Law; Workers' Compensation Law
Markham Law Firm LLC 171 Church St., Suite 330 Charleston, SC 29401
843-284-3646 www.markhamlawsc.com info@markhamlawsc.com
Sean Markham 2014
1 1
Bankruptcy Law
Pearce Law Firm LLC 1476 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Suite 1 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-972-0860 www.pearce-law.com dixon@pearce-law.com
Dixon F. Pearce 2007
1 7
Law Firm; Real Estate Law
Sausser Summers PC 2 Rosedale Drive Charleston, SC 29407
843-654-0078 www.onlinetrademarkattorneys.com info@onlinetrademarkattorneys.com
Brent Sausser 2013
1 1
Intellectual Property Law
Stirling & O'Connell 884 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 201 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-577-9890 www.stirlingoconnell.com moconnell@stirlingoconnell.com
Michael P. O'Connell 1996
1 3
Criminal Law; Family Law
Suanne M. Ansari LLC 636 Long Point Road, Suite G-36 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-708-0982 www.smalawfirm.com sansari@smalawfirm.com
Suanne M. Ansari 2004
1 2
Business Law; Corporate Law; Intellectual Property Law
Practice Areas
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.
Researched by Business Journal staff
MAXIMIZE YOUR MARKETING 2021
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DECEMBER 2
IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
March 22 - April 4, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 23
Headquarters Facilities Ranked by No. of Employees in the Charleston Area Company Roper St. Francis Healthcare 1 125 Doughty St. Charleston, SC 29403 Trident Health 2 9330 Medical Plaza Drive Charleston, SC 29406 Blackbaud 65 Fairchild St. Charleston, SC 29492 Carolina One Real Estate Services 4024 Salt Pointe Parkway Charleston, SC 29405 Ingevity 4920 O'Hear Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405 South Carolina Federal Credit Union 2175 Credit Union Lane North Charleston, SC 29406 Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community 1 Bishop Gadsden Way Charleston, SC 29412 Motley Rice LLC 28 Bridgeside Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 The Urban Electric Co. 2120 Noisette Blvd. North Charleston, SC 29405 The GEL Group Inc. 2040 Savage Road Charleston, SC 29407 Gulf Stream Construction Co. Inc. 1983 Technology Drive Charleston, SC 29492 Home Telecom 579 Stoney Landing Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461 360clean 670 Marina Drive, Suite 101 Charleston, SC 29492 Ard Trucking Co. Inc. 4190 Alligator Road Timmonsville, SC 29161 Verizon Wireless 4854 Ohear Ave. Charleston, SC 29406 Sonepar USA 4400 Leeds Ave., Suite 500 Charleston, SC 29405 Atlas Technologies Inc. 5416 Rivers Ave., Suite A-105 Charleston, SC 29406 Cullum Constructors Inc. 3325 Pacific St. North Charleston, SC 29418 ATS Logistics Inc. 4033 W. Montague Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418 AHT Cooling Systems USA Inc. 7058 Weber Blvd. Ladson, SC 29456 Life Cycle Engineering Inc. 4360 Corporate Road North Charleston, SC 29405 Synovus 158 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401 The Beach Co. 320 Broad St., Suite 600 Charleston, SC 29401 The Office People 5601 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406 LS3P Associates Ltd 205 1/2 King St. Charleston, SC 29401 AstenJohnson 4399 Corporate Road Charleston, SC 29405 Cullum Services Inc. 3325 Pacific St. Charleston, SC 29418 All Points Transport 1040 Lincoln Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405 ArborGen Inc. 2011 Broadbank Court Ridgeville, SC 29472 CEMS Engineering Inc. 108 Bentons Lodge Road, Suite B Summerville, SC 29485 Cantey Tech Consulting 2702 Azalea Drive North Charleston, SC 29405 Legend Oaks Golf & Tennis Club 118 Legend Oaks Way Summerville, SC 29485
• •
Phone / Website / Email 843-724-2000 www.rsfh.com
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Employees / Type of HQ
Jeffrey DiLisi 1852
6,026 Nonprofit
Comprehensive healthcare system; over 22 different departments and service lines to cover healthcare
843-797-7000 www.tridenthealthsystem.com trid.questionscomments@hcahealthcare.com 843-216-6200 www.blackbaud.com
Todd Gallati 1975
3,100 Division
Trauma, ER, heart, ortho, womens, childrens, lung
Mike Gianoni 1981
1,400 Global
Cloud software company
843-200-2061 www.carolinaonerealestate.com mcs@carolinaone.com 844-643-8489 www.ingevity.com
Michael C. Scarafile 1964
843-797-8300 www.scfederal.org ngeiger@scfederal.org 843-762-3300 www.bishopgadsden.org contactus@bishopgadsden.org 843-216-9000 www.motleyrice.com
R. Scott Woods 1936
438 Corporate
Range of financial services
Aaron Roop, Sarah E.H. Tipton 1850
405 Corporate
Life plan retirement community
Joseph F. Rice 2003
303 Corporate
Personal injury, aviation, consumer and securities fraud, medical drugs and devices, antitrust, antiterrorism, whistleblower, toxic exposure
843-723-8140 www.urbanelectric.com info@urbanelectric.com 843-556-8171 www.gel.com info@gel.com 843-572-4363 www.gulfstreamconstruction.com mblackwood@gulfstreamconstruction.com 888-746-4482 www.business.homesc.com weborders@homtelco.com 843-552-0116 www.360clean.com info@360clean.com 843-393-5101 www.ardtrucking.com allen@ardtrucking.com 843-693-4786 www.verizonwireless.com tara.kutzli@verizonwireless.com 843-872-3500 www.soneparusa.com lisa.hendricks@sonepar-us.com 843-554-6111 www.atlas-tech.com info@atlas-tech.com 843-554-6645 www.culluminc.com info@culluminc.com 843-308-6555 www.atsinc.net jimmieg@atsinc.net 843-767-6855 www.ahtusa.net info@us.aht.at 843-744-7110 www.lce.com info@lce.com 843-724-7023 www.synovus.com info@synovus.com 843-722-2615 www.thebeachcompany.com jnolan@thebeachcompany.com 843-769-7774 www.theofficepeople.com sales@theofficepeople.com 843-577-4444 www.ls3p.com connect@ls3p.com 843-747-7800 www.astenjohnson.com info@astenjohnson.com 843-747-2900 www.culluminc.com
Dave Dawson 2002
270 Corporate; Global; Headquarters
Catalogued collection of more than 300 interior and exterior fixtures designed and manufactured in-house
250 North American
Analytical testing, environmental consulting, civil engineering, surveying and geophysical engineering services
1,100 Corporate
John Fortson 1948
536 Corporate; Global
James M. Stelling, Joseph M. Hodgson 1981
Description
Residential, commercial real estate sales, rentals Manufactures specialty chemicals, high-performance carbon materials and engineered polymers, largely from renewable raw materials
Matt Arrants, Matt Blackwood, Mark Hylton 1963
229 Corporate
General civil, site and infrastructure general contractor
William Helmly 1904
211 Corporate
High-speed internet, enhanced video, voice, security and home automation
Barry Bodiford, Allison Bodiford, Brent Bodiford 2005
210 Corporate
Janitorial services, commercial cleaning, office cleaning
C. Allen Allen Ard 1945
185 Corporate
Transportation, logistics, warehouse
Tara Kutzli 2000
180 Corporate; Division; Local
VoIP, networking, security, hosting, email, data and IP services; mobile phone equipment
Rob Taylor 1998
155 North American
North American headquarters; business-to-business supplier of electrical and safety products and related services and solutions
Brian M. Miller 1997
148 Corporate
Cyber security, enterprise IT, knowledge management, program management, cloud and virtualization
R. Christopher Cullum 1999
140 Corporate
Mechanical contracting, plumbing, medical gas, process piping, sheet metal and installation for industrial and commercial applications
Jimmie Gianoukos, Jason Gianoukos, David Weis 1986
118 Corporate
Warehousing, intermodal, transportation services
Drew Tombs, Devin Tombs 2005 Bob Fei 1976
97 North American
OEM of low GWP commercial refrigeration solutions and design services for food retail and food manufactures; natural refrigerants
91 Corporate
Solutions and services for private industry, public entities, government organizations and the military
Reid Boehm, C.W. "Chuck" W. Garnett 1905
88 Division
Georgia-chartered, FDIC-insured bank, provides commercial and retail banking, investment and mortgage services through 300 branches
Jenny Dickerson, John Darby, Donna Brashier 1945
85 Corporate
Residential, multifamily and commercial real estate development
Sean P. Mummert 2004
78 Corporate
Business equipment, information technology, document storage, office furniture, digital displays, workplace design, audio visual integrators
Marc Marchant 1963
76 Corporate
LS3P is an architecture, interiors and planning firm providing services nationwide from their offices throughout the Carolinas and Georgia
Kevin Franks 1987
70 Corporate
Global manufacturer for the paper industry, supplying paper machine clothing like press fabrics, forming fabrics, dryer fabrics and other
Rudy Cullum, Roy Driggers 1972
68 Corporate
Commercial and industrial HVAC mechanical company; providing service, repair, installation, preventative maintenance, retrofit services in SC; office locations in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville
843-576-5930 www.allpointscharlestonsc.com asc@allpointstransport.com 843-851-4129 www.arborgen.com info@arborgen.com 843-875-3637 www.cems-ae.com info@cems-ae.com 843-278-1827 www.canteytech.com
Bill Ashley, Marvin Cumbee 2003
60 Corporate
Motor carrier
843-821-4077 www.legendoaksgolf.com info@legendoaksgolf.com
Jim Chickarello 1994
Andrew Baum 2000 Stephen Mahaffey, Scott Perkins 1989 Willis Cantey 2007
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com. 1 Locations include Bon Secours St. Francis Xavier Hospital, Mount Pleasant Hospital, Roper Hospital and Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital. 2 Locations include Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center.
60 Global
R&D and commercialization of tree genetics; nurseries, seed orchards, distribution centers and R&D facilities in US, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil
59 Corporate; Headquarters
Architecture, civil, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, structural, fire protection, interior design, planning and commissioning
55 Headquarters
IT support and consulting, including IT help desk, hosting, data center support, hardware virtualization, disaster recovery, security, networking
51 Local
Semi-private golf and tennis club in Summerville
Researched by Business Journal staff
24
IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
www.charlestonbusiness.com
March 22 - April 4, 2021
Headquarters Facilities Ranked by No. of Employees in the Charleston Area Company Sonitrol Security Systems 4455 Tile Drive North Charleston, SC 29405 Docugraphics LLC 2408 Ashley River Road, Suite A Charleston, SC 29414 ServiceMaster of Charleston 3228 Industry Drive North Charleston, SC 29418 Ceterus 4900 O’Hear Ave., Suite 100, PMB 125 North Charleston, SC 29405 Wulbern-Koval Co. 1111 Morrison Drive Charleston, SC 29403 Fathom 4 LLC 672 Marina Drive, Suite 202 Charleston, SC 29492 Joye Law Firm 5861 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406 Bishop Gadsden at Home 1 1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Suite 260 Charleston, SC 29412 GEL Engineering LLC 2040 Savage Road Charleston, SC 29407 Raymond James & Associates Inc. 2 360 Concord St., Suite 210 Charleston, SC 29401 Contract Construction Inc. 260 Seven Farms Drive, Suite E Charleston, SC 29492 Jeff Cook Real Estate 10040 Dorchester Road, Suite 101 Summerville, SC 29485 MBM Corp. 3134 Industry Drive North Charleston, SC 29418 Motivated Marketing 7091 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406 Republic Premier Transit LLC 201 Sigma Drive, Suite 250 Summerville, SC 29485 Hunter Transportation Co. Inc. 4401 Piggly Wiggly Drive, Suite 200 North Charleston, SC 29405 The Alley 131 Columbus St. Charleston, SC 29403 Executive Image of Charleston 1601 Central Ave., Suite 6-189 Summerville, SC 29483 Rawle Murdy, a Buffalo Groupe Co. 960 Morrison Drive, Suite 300 Charleston, SC 29403 Smoak's Comfort Control 1781 Harmony St. Charleston, SC 29407 Southern Current 1519 King St. Charleston, SC 29405 First Capital Bank 304 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401 Live Oak Consultants 4214 Fellowship Road North Charleston, SC 29418 Crazy Dutchman Catering 1823 Reynolds Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405 Responza LLC 29 Gamecock Ave., Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29407 Stasmayer Inc. 2420 Mall Drive, Suite 201 North Charleston, SC 29406 Bridge Commercial 25 Calhoun St., Suite 220 Charleston, SC 29401 Beach Residential 736 Coleman Blvd., Suite 200 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Multiplastics 476 Long Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Nelson Printing - Direct Marketers of Charleston 100 Columbus St. Charleston, SC 29403 King & Columbus 134 Columbus St., Suite 101 Charleston, SC 29403 Digital-Ignite 1049 Morrison Drive, Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29403
• •
Phone / Website / Email 843-747-0904 www.sonitrolsc.com info@sonitrolsc.com 843-573-0303 www.docu-graphics.com info@docu-graphics.com 843-760-0404 www.servicemasterofcharleston.com bhunter@smcharleston.com 800-571-6119 www.ceterus.com marketing@ceterus.com 843-577-7666 www.wulbern-koval.com wkco@wulbern-koval.com 843-352-2463 www.fathom4.com info@fathom4.com 843-888-8888 www.joyelawfirm.com gethelp@joyelawfirm.com 843-406-6379 www.bishopgadsdenathome.org homecare@bishopgadsden.org 843-769-7378 www.gel.com engineering@gel.com 843-720-3500 www.raymondjames.com dan.parker@raymondjames.com 803-781-7058 www.contractconstruction.net info@contractconstruction.net 843-225-2005 www.jeffcookrealestate.com info@jeffcookrealestate.com 800-223-2508 www.mbmcorp.com sales@mbmcorp.com 843-856-7322 www.motivatedmarketing.com info@motivatedmarketing.com 843-647-1477 www.rptnation.com sales@rptnation.com
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Employees / Type of HQ
John C. Rama, Alan Rama 1978
50 Local
Thomas Fimian 1983
48 Corporate
Justin Beinkampen, Lawton Hayes 1987
48 Local
Description Residential and commercial security systems, access control and video surveillance since 1978 sales and service Xerox copiers, printers, document management software, managed print services, IT support, finishing solutions, MBM, Graphic Whizard, DocuWare, Kofax, specializing in cloud based office technology Commercial and residential fire, water and mold restoration; commercial carpet, vinyl composition tile floor, ceramic tile, furniture cleaning
Levi Morehouse 2008
46 Headquarters
Accounting technology, reporting and services
Mike Epps, Joe Koval, Joseph Koval 1970
45 Headquarters
Furniture showroom, designers, knowledgeable salespeople, free parking
Brian Burger, Glenn R. Chave 2012
44 Headquarters
Tactical vehicle command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; technical documentation; high-performance computing systems analysis; modeling; simulation
Ken W. Harrell 1968
43 Headquarters
Personal injury, product liability, workers' compensation, criminal defense, DUI defense, Social Security
42 Nonprofit
Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community in Charleston has extended its mission and ministry through Bishop Gadsden at Home
39 Headquarters
Waterfront and critical area engineering and permitting, hydrographic surveys, industrial site civil engineering, environmental engineering
Renee Burton, Sarah E.H. Tipton 2014 Keith McCullock 1981 Dan Parker 1962
37 Corporate
Investment solutions, financial and retirement planning, estate, charitable giving and trust services, banking and lending, insurance solutions
John W. Farley, Greg Hughes 1984
35 Corporate
Integrated project delivery, construction management at risk and design-bidbuild of educational, recreational and religious facilities, general
Kris McDonagh 2007
35 Corporate
Real estate
Ned C. Ginsburg, Mike Venittelli 1936
35 Corporate
Paper shredders, paper cutters, trimmers, air purifiers, finishing systems, equipment, folders, creasers, booklet makers, joggers, drills, collators
35 Local
Enhance brand, create new opportunities and achieve goals; push creative limits
Kristin Smith, Thomas Sack 2007 Joey Waxter 2017
35 Corporate
Local and over-the-road intermodal, container storage
843-849-9192 cthompson@huntertransport.com
Randall Orvig, Coleman Thompson 1998
33 Corporate
Container hauling, hazardous certified, chassis equipment available
843-818-4080 www.thealleycharleston.com charleston@bowlthealley.com 843-934-8299 www.executiveimagecharleston.com stevevogt@executiveimageco.com 843-577-7327 www.rawlemurdy.com mdcrull@rawlemurdy.com 843-556-9550 www.smoakscomfort.com info@smoakscomfort.com 843-277-2090 www.southerncurrentllc.com info@southerncurrentllc.com 843-990-7770 www.fcbcarolinas.com customerservice@fcbcarolinas.com 843-529-9428 www.liveoakconsultants.com info@liveoakconsultants.com 843-478-2199 www.crazydutchmancatering.com hans@crazydutchmancatering.com 843-990-9200 www.responza.com info@responza.net 843-724-3440 www.stasmayer.com sales@stasmayer.com 843-535-8600 www.bridge-commercial.com info@bridge-commercial.com 843-971-1312 www.beachresidential.com eburr@thebeachcompany.com 843-881-0323 www.multiplastics.com sales@multiplastics.com 843-723-7233 www.nelsonprint.com info@nelsonprint.com 843-937-5464 www.kingandcolumbus.com info@kingandcolumbus.com 843-800-8889 digital-ignite.com mike@digital-ignite.com
Caroline McCormick, Sean Terry, David Crowley 2012
30 Local
Upstairs mezzanine: 50-100 people, private bar, lounge area, TVs, seating for 40; bowling bar space: 20-50 people, private bar, on the lanes, tv, seat
Steve Vogt 2016
30 Local
Janitorial services, floor cleaning service, carpet cleaning service, window cleaning service
Bruce D. Murdy 1975
30 Local
Brand planning and leadership; digital strategy, interactive, social media, public relations, creative services, media planning; data analysis
William Smoak 1972
30 Corporate
Jon Downey 2008
30 Headquarters
Harvey L. Glick, Joseph Kassim 1999
28 Corporate
Since 1972; heating, A/C and plumbing; maintenance, repairs, replacements and equipment upgrades Solar development Banking and financial
Richard L. Owens 2008
27 Local
Industrial, commercial, educational, institutional, health care, marine terminal, aerospace, automotive, retail, hospitality, restaurants
Hans Van Heek 1989
25 Local
Provide food and drink service for events including weddings, rehearsal dinners, Lowcountry boils, bar service, oyster roasts and more
Lance Becker 2005
25 Corporate
David Stasaitis, Richard Krenmayer 2003 Peter S. Fennelly 2017
25 Corporate; Headquarters 21 Headquarters; North American
Will Freeman 1945
20 Corporate
Enterprise-grade IT support for small and midsize businesses; network and application issues and minimizing outages Managed services, network design and implementation, specializing in medical and law firm networks and software solutions Commercial leasing, sales and property management Real estate
20 North American
Division of Curd Enterprises Inc.; plastics vacuum forming, pressure forming and twin-sheet forming, fabrication and assembly; comprehensive design-lab and engineering services
20 Local
Commercial offset and digital printing, direct mail, data management, binding, graphic design, wide format printing, specialty items
Chris VanDuyne 2017
17 Headquarters
Digital marketing and advertising including website design and management, paid search and display, custom video and photography, social media
Mike Samet, Chris Clark 2013
16 Headquarters
Data informed strategies
Paul D. Spies, Deborah D. Herbert 1952 Alex Nelson 1844
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com. 1 Formerly BG Connections 2 Raymond James consists of three broker-dealers: Raymond James & Associates, Raymond James Financial Services, Raymond James Morgan Keegan. Figures represent all three broker-dealers.
Researched by Business Journal staff
IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
March 22 - April 4, 2021
www.charlestonbusiness.com 25
Headquarters Facilities Ranked by No. of Employees in the Charleston Area Company Landmark Enterprises 311 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Adams Property Group 2298 Mount Pleasant St. Charleston, SC 29403 Alder Energy Systems 495 Jessen Lane Charleston, SC 29492 Duncan's Boats 4350 Bridge View Drive North Charleston, SC 29405 SouthCon Building Group LLC 682 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 101 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Carolina Sound Communications 7630 Southrail Road North Charleston, SC 29420 Goff D'Antonio Associates Ltd. 34 Radcliffe St. Charleston, SC 29403 Rolina Homes 501 Bramson Court, Suite 400 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Dolphin Architects & Builders 3730 Bohicket Road Johns Island, SC 29455 LifeTree Lending LLC 3094 U.S. Highway 17 N. Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 S.C. Historical Society 100 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401 Charles Foster Co. of S.C. Inc. 3436 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405 NetGalaxy Studios 1124 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Suite 4 Charleston, SC 29407 Synchronicity 69 Morris St., Suite 101 Charleston, SC 29403 American Promotional Products 7240 Cross Park Drive North Charleston, SC 29418 Buxton Books 160 King St. Charleston, SC 29401 Karst Professional Services dba KPS Government Contracting 3436 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405 Reco Transportation of S.C. Inc. 201 Jedburg Road Summerville, SC 29483 Benefit Concepts 1180 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Suite 100 Charleston, SC 29407 The Brokerage Real Estate & Business Brokerage LLC 515 Coleman Blvd., 2nd Floor Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Dunhill Staffing Systems 1459 Stuart Engals Blvd., Suite 300 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 I.D.E.A. LLC 4450 Goer Drive North Charleston, SC 29406 Coast Architects Inc. 671 St. Andrews Blvd. Charleston, SC 29407 East Cooper Habitat for Humanity Inc. 447B Jessen Lane Wando, SC 29492 East Islands Real Estate Inc. 29 J.C. Long Blvd. Isle of Palms, SC 29451 F22 Internet Solutions LLC 1996 Davant Circle Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Fisher Recycling LLC 2750 N. Avenue B North Charleston, SC 29405 GlassEco Surfaces 2750 N. Avenue B North Charleston, SC 29405 NetTec NSI LLC 460 King St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29403 Sideline Sports Inc. 295 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 314 Charleston, SC 29492 Swamp Fox CPA LLC 402 Old Trolley Road, Suite 109 Summerville, SC 29485
Phone / Website / Email 843-884-8166 www.landmark-enterprises.com info@landmark-enterprises.com 843-941-4001 www.adamspropgroup.com info@adamspropgroup.com 843-388-5493 www.alder-energy.com info@alder-energy.com 843-744-2628 www.duncansboats.com 843-225-2845 www.southconbuilding.com administrator@southconbuilding.com 843-571-4488 www.carolinasound.com david@carolinasound.com 843-577-2163 www.goffdantonio.com ggoff@goffdantonio.com 843-300-1764 www.rolinahomes.com customerservice@rolinahomes.com 843-768-2404 www.dolphinbuilders.com info@dolphinbuilders.com 843-375-5900 www.lifetreelending.com mark@lifetreelending.com 843-723-3225 www.schistory.org faye.jensen@schsonline.org 843-572-8100 www.charlesfoster.jobs cfs@charlesfoster.jobs 843-480-4476 www.netgalaxystudios.com alan@netgalaxystudios.com 843-203-4766 www.synchronicity.design info@synchronicity.design 843-554-0202 www.app-co.com jstauch@app-co.com 843-723-1670 www.buxtonbooks.com hello@buxtonbooks.com
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Employees / Type of HQ
Description
Jason M. Ward, Gene W. Blanton 1974
16 Corporate
Commercial real estate services
Franklin Adams, Casey Lowery 2008
15 Corporate
Commercial and retail development, management and leasing
Craig Knowlton, Don Zimmerman, Jarrett Branham 2008
15 Headquarters
James Duncan Jr. 1970
15 Corporate; Local
Design and installation of solar energy systems and energy storage systems for commercial, industrial and institutional customers New and used boat sales, brokerage, boat, engine service, parts, accessories; offer Regal, Bayliner and Tidewater boats; certified technicians
Chris R. Spach 2008
13 Corporate
Commercial general contractor and construction manager
David Reis Perry, Charles G. Perry 1984
12 Corporate
Mood Media music, drive thru service, digital signage, scent, messages on hold, intercoms, board rooms, mass notification
12 Corporate; Headquarters
Complete planning, architectural and interior design services for a range of projects
R. Garey Goff, Tony Giuliani, Henry D'Antonio 1991 Jason R. Fabrizio 2011
11 Corporate
Noel Kade, Jonathan Marshall, Christopher Ibsen 1990
10 Headquarters
Single family home builder Luxury residential design-builder providing streamlined process through integrated architectural, interior design and construction expertise
Mark F. Deitsch 2007
10 Corporate
Residential and commercial lending wholesale broker
Faye Jensen 1855
10 Nonprofit
Recently renovated national historic landmark designed by Robert Mills, the architect of the Washington Monument
Dottie Karst 1969
9 Corporate
Temporary, contract and direct-hire placement for administrative, clerical, IT, engineering, accounting and finance and legal positions
Alan Thompson, Kym Swanger 2010
9 Local; North American
Todd Richardson, Luke Jarrett 2016
9 Headquarters
Jeff A. Stauch 1998 Polly Buxton, Julian T. Buxton 2016
Mobile app development, website development, social media marketing Smart density, urban infill and redevel., adaptive reuse, land planning, rezoning, entitlement, feasibility studies, land solutions
8 North American
Branded apparel and promotional products; embroidery and screen printing; uniform programs and company stores; in-house embroidery and contract work
8 Local
Independent bookstore providing community, conversation and books to the Charleston area; also provides book, author events and ghost, history tours
843-572-2004 www.kpsgovcontracting.com dottie@kpsgc.com
Dottie Karst 2004
8 Corporate
843-832-2161 recotrans@aol.com
Todd Reese 1999
8 Local
Warehousing, intermodal transportation
843-763-7718 www.bcicharleston.com info@bcicharleston.com 843-364-6720 www.thebrokerageyouwinhere.com david@seaydevelopment.com 843-375-0031 www.dunhillstaff.com kwh@dunhillstaff.com 843-744-2727 www.ideallc.com tomdemuth@ideallc.com 843-763-7064 www.coastarchitects.net connie@coastarchitects.net 843-881-2600 www.eastcooperhabitat.org bob@eastcooperhabitat.org 843-886-8114 www.eastislandsrealestate.com info@eastislandsrealestate.com 843-475-2938 www.f22designs.com info@f22designs.com 843-554-6099 www.fisherrecycling.com info@fisherrecycling.com 843-554-6099 www.glassecosurfaces.com info@glassecosurfaces.com 841-881-4651 www.nettecnsi.com info@nettecnsi.com 843-408-0003 www.playsidelinesports.com olivia@playsidelinesports.com 843-508-8130 www.swampfoxcpa.com scott@swampfoxcpa.com
Sara N. DeBiasi, Caroline J. Battey, Christie Fulkerson 1989
7 Local
Small business health plans, employee benefit consulting, benefit administration portal, HR support, personal and family health plans, marketplace
L.John Teffeau, David H. Seay 2019 Neil Whitman, Katie Henderson, David Abner 2001
Government contracting, government staffing, IT, financial, adm., skilled labor facility clearance, DCAA, accounting assistance, DBA international
7 Headquarters
Residential and commercial realtors, business brokers, agent coaches, developers, investors
6 Headquarters; North American
Temporary, temp. to perm. and contract staffing, executive recruiting, recruitment process outsourcing
Tom DeMuth 1999
6 Global
Warehousing, distribution, freight brokerage, freight forwarding in the US, Mexico, Central America, pull, lean replenishment and supply chain
Connie Zafiris, Arnie McClure 2003
5 Local
Commercial architecture and interiors including corporate offices, medical, municipal, institutional
Robert S. Hervey 1990
5 Nonprofit
Paul F. Boehm 1992
5 Local
Chris Endres 2002
5 Local; North American
Elizabeth Fisher 1992
5 Corporate
Elizabeth Fisher 2006
5 Local
Joe Rainero 1995
5 Corporate; Division
Steve Ferber 2007
5 Corporate
Scott A. Leister 2015
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.
5 Global
Provide low income housing east of the Cooper Buyer and seller representation, property management, market analysis for sale or rental; tour homes anywhere in Charleston Web design, mobile app development, graphic design, search engine optimization, internet marketing, social media marketing Recycling of glass, plastic, aluminum, tin, office paper, cardboard, electronics Manufacturer of recycled glass surfaces; countertops, fireplaces, tables Cybersecurity, remote desktop services, Microsoft Azure and cloud services, Office 365, managed IT services, remote desktop services, help desk Specialize in digital gamification of live sporting events engaging fans invenue and at home Tax, accounting, assurance and consulting work
Researched by Business Journal staff
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NONPROFIT
New initiative provides free golf to youth First Tee Greater Charleston has launched the Swing it Forward CHS initiative, which offers free rounds of golf at five area courses throughout the year for those under the age of 18. The movement is made possible by donors who wish to make the game more accessible to area youth. Partners that have helped covered the cost for free and unlimited golf play include Berkeley Country Club, Charleston Municipal Golf Course, Patriots Point Links, Wescott Golf Club and Wrenwoods Golf Course.
students at both institutions. The offerings include classroom observation and internship opportunities for Charleston Southern students, as well as professional development activities for Charleston Bilingual Academy teachers and other educational personnel. Cross-curricular internship opportunities with the CSU Spanish department will provide improvement, service learning, curriculum development and other reform efforts. Research and inquiry possibilities will also be available for Charleston Southern faculty, students, teachers and educational personnel.
ulation growth, public safety and affordable housing.
No Kid Hungry campaign supports rural grantee cohort
No Kid Hungry has invested $438,000 across nine organizations to support achieving food security in rural communities. Groups selected from South Carolina include Lowcountry Food Bank and Southeastern Housing and Community Development.
Queen Street Hospitality Group to offer staff vaccination bonus
BrightMa Farms partners with Propel Center
BrightMa Farms has partnered with Propel Center to deliver innovative curriculum focused on agritech solutions in the emerging industrial hemp market.
CSU, bilingual academy partner for student internship program
A new Spanish and Education Student Internship program between Charleston Southern University’s College of Education and Charleston Bilingual Academy/ Clapham Education Group is serving
Queen Street Hospitality Group, including 82 Queen, Florence’s Lowcountry Kitchen and Jalisco Taqueria and Tequila, will be offering $100 to each of its employees who receive both rounds of the COVID-19 vaccine.
TECHNOLOGY ClaimLogiq co-founder and executive vice president Janene Hill has been named to Forbes’ first Next 1000 class. Hill is part of the first 250 notable entrepreneurs from around the country and across industries to make the list. She was selected by Forbes editors and a panel of entrepreneurs and leaders in business.
LAW
S.C. Realtors launch effort to address quality of life
S.C. Realtors launched the S.C. Good Life initiative, focused on promoting standards of living. The initiative will address concerns such as infrastructure, affordable housing and the environment. Efforts are based on survey results from January 2020 and other known factors caused by COVID-19. The top areas of concern from the survey responses included pop-
Water Mission has named Andre’ Kennebrew to its board of directors. Kennebrew has more than 30 years of experience in executive leadership and talent development. Most recently, Kennebrew served as senior principal program lead, leadership development program, guiding Chick-fil-A’s Staff Selection and Leadership Development Program for the last nine years. Kennebrew has also joined Lifeshape International as the new director of relationships. In this role, he will work with Chick-fil-A operators and staff to partner with organizations such as Water Mission. Prior to joining Water Mission’s board, Kennebrew consulted for the organization, helping to facilitate leadership training, mentoring and executive searches. Prior to joining Chick-fil-A in 2006, he served for four years as the administrative pastor at a church in Georgia. Kennebrew’s career also includes 15 years at First Union National Bank, now Wells Fargo, as a vice president in the retail banking division, where he supervised branch banking locations in the Atlanta market. Kennebrew is a 1982 graduate of Davidson College, where he was a threeyear starter and letterman in football. He earned a Master of Ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary in 2004.
LMHT Capital acquires The Offices at Nexton
LMHT Capital has acquired The Offices at Nexton in Summerville. Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer has been selected by LMHT to provide exclusive leasing and commercial management services.
Submit items at our online submission portal: www.CRBJBizWire.com. Publication in print and online is subject to editorial discretion.
K&L Gates has hired Cecilia Ehresman as an associate in the labor, employment and workplace safety practice, Christian Kolic as an associate in the real Ehresman estate practice and Melissa Yates as an associate in the complex commercial litigation and disputes practice. Ehresman previously worked as an associate in New York. She litigated employment disputes in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies, and counseled See PEOPLE, Page 27
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Give credit to politicians for work to end pandemic
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O
n March 16 of last year President Donald Trump ordered a national lockdown which plunged the economy into the deepest recession in its history. One year later the economy is on a roll and in danger of overheating by yearend. How did that happen? Answer? An unprecedented amount of fiscal and monetary stimulus, and conSTEPHEN D. siderable help from SLIFER a public/private sector partnership which condensed a 10-year vaccine development cycle into a single year. Today, the economy is quickly recovering all lost economic output. The labor market should approach full employment by the end of the year. And the stock market is at a record high level. Let’s review how that happened. At the beginning of last year news about a strange virus in China began to spread and by early January the first cases arrived in the U.S. By March 5,000 cases had been discovered and Americans were getting nervous. Nowhere is that fear factor more evident than in the S&P 500, which set a record high level on Feb. 19, but then quickly plunged 32%. While the drop was roughly the same magnitude as in the “Great Recession” of 2008-09, that decline stretched out over 18 months. This one took just four weeks. On March 16 Trump ordered a 15-day national lockdown that was later extended through the end of April. That lockdown stopped the economy dead in its tracks. The economy lost 22 million jobs in the March/April period. In the 2008-09 recession the economy lost 8 million jobs over a rather lengthy 18-month period. The lockdown would ultimately produce a 31.4% GDP drop in the second quarter. That eclipsed by a factor of four the biggest single-quarter drop in the 2008-09 recession which was 8.2%. Given the resulting economic damage, some economists now suggest that the lockdown was a bad idea. We disagree. The stock market and the economy were in freefall. Furthermore, a lockdown had worked well in China and European countries were adopting a similar approach. The American public was demanding a vigorous response. Our leaders in Washington had no choice. Fortunately, they responded quickly and in a big way. Congress passed and Trump signed the CARES package on March 27. That bill combined with two earlier bills totaled $2.5 trillion. The high-
lights were the $1,200 checks sent to most taxpayers, $500 for each additional child, and $600 of supplemental unemployment benefits for up to four months. At the same time the Federal Reserve did its part by purchasing $2 trillion of U.S. government and mortgage-backed securities in March and April. In addition, it established credit facilities for small businesses, medium-sized firms, state and local governments, and money market funds. This means that between the $2.5 trillion fiscal stimulus package and $2 trillion of help from the Fed, the economy received a much-needed lifeline totaling $4.5 trillion. At that time nobody knew exactly how much money was going to be required, but they knew it had to be both impressive in size and enacted quickly. While a bit clumsy, the eventual package was both. It was put together and passed within two weeks. Everybody loves to jump on politicians but, in this case, they sprang into action in a big way. The recession ultimately caused nominal GDP to decline by $2.2 trillion in the first and second quarters of last year. Thus, the $4.5 trillion stimulus package was easily large enough to get the economy back on track. What was missing was a vaccine. Another tip of the hat goes to “Operation Warp Speed,” which condensed what is typically a 10 year period for the development, testing and distribution of a vaccine to a single year. The goal was to produce and deliver 300 million doses of safe and effective vaccines with initial doses available by January 2021. It received $10 billion in funding from the CARES Act. On the government side it included research efforts from the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC, FDA, NIH, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Many epidemiologists now expect the economy to achieve herd immunity by the end of April. The challenge for our economy and our health care system this past year has been extraordinary, but yet the economy is widely expected to expand in 2021 at the fastest rate in almost 40 years and the health crisis is quickly ending. That did not happen by accident. While much maligned, our leaders in Washington quickly produced the biggest stimulus package in our history, and the government and private sector worked together to develop at lightning speed a vaccine that was the critical piece to permanently end the crisis. Let’s give praise where praise is due. CRBJ
Stephen D. Slifer is a Daniel Island economist. Reach him at steve@numbernomics.com.
March 22 - April 4, 2021
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People in the News PEOPLE, from Page 27
clients on employment matters involving a range of industries. Ehresman received a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from The Catholic University of America and a law degree, cum laude, from St. John’s University School of Law. Kolic was previously an associate in the real estate group of a global law firm in New York. He represented real estate investment trusts on acquisitions and dispositions, and lenders on construction loan financings. Kolic received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh and a law degree from Cornell School of Law. Yates was previously an associate at a regional civil litigation law firm, where she worked on cases involving general liability, professional liability, construction litigation and insurance coverage. She received a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from Wake Forest University and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Buist Byars & Taylor LLC has hired Joshua Reeves to its commercial real estate department. Reeves’ practice focuses on land development for residential subdivisions, retail and office mixed-use projects and industrial transactions. He
assists clients with each phase of their projects, including acquisitions, development, financing and dispositions. He has experience with planned comReeves munity governing documents, commercial leases, management contracts, franchise agreements and real estate regulatory compliance. Reeves graduated from Emory University School of Law and earned a bachelor of business administration from the University of Georgia.
GOVERNMENT The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2021 Executive Committee and Board of Directors, led by board Touchberry chair Russ Touchberry, project manager at HDR Inc., and Rita Berry, president and CEO of the Summerville Chamber. Other members include immediate past chair Carrie Bovender, Grand Forest
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Inc.; chair-elect Debbie Clarke, Pinnacle Financial Partners; chair-elect designate and vice chair of education and workforce development, Marshall Connor, Trident Technical College; director of the Leadership Dorchester Alumni Council Kelly Alfreds, Steinberg Law Firm; director David Brown, Kion North America; director of the Downtown Area Council Diane Frankenberger, People, Places & Quilts; director Elena Furnari, Dorchester School District Two; director Will Helmly, Home Telecom; vice chair of public policy Chris Kahler, Summerville C.P.W.; director Stephanie Mangini, Volvo Cars US Operations; director of the Young Professionals Council Jill Nicholas, Four Green Fields; director of the nonprofit council Kay Phillips, Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center; director Robert Pratt, RE/MAX, Pratt & Co.; director Josh Raglin, Norfolk Southern – Brosnan Forest; director Robby Robbins, Thurmond Kirchner and Timbes; director Madelyn Robinson, Town of Summerville; past chair Scott Runyon, Dominion Energy; vice chair of finance Greg Shuler, The Bank of South Carolina; director of the North Summerville Area Council Don Smith, Hendrick Automotive; director Tara Smith, REV Federal Credit Union; vice chair of business and community devel-
opment Gen. Hank Taylor, retired U.S. Air Force; director Jeff Taylor, Summerville Medical Center; director John Truluck, Dorchester County Economic Development; director Anthony Weston, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union; vice chair of member services, Golf Committee Michael Wood, ServisFirst Bank; director Melissa Wright, Dorchester County Career & Technology Center; and ex-officio member Steve Doniger, Summerville Dream.
REAL ESTATE Dunes Properties has hired Nelson Lundberg and Heyward Bonner. Lundberg graduated from the College of Charleston with degrees in Spanish Lundberg and international studies. He has experience in buying and selling commercial and residential properties, as well as the turnover of investment properties. Bonner has seven years of experience in retail banking. He holds a degree in agricultural mechanization and business from Clemson University, with an emphasis in wildlife and fisheries biology.
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VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS
Dominion proposal attacks jobs, penalizes customers
T
he Southern Alliance for Clean Energy would like to set the record straight on a few of the “facts” Keller Kissam published in the Feb. 22 issue of the Charleston Regional Business Journal. Mr. Kissam is president of electric operations for Dominion Energy South Carolina. This monopoly BRYAN utility is regulated JACOB by S.C.’s Public Service Commission, which is currently considering whether or not Dominion’s new proposed solar tariff properly fulfills a state law called the Energy Freedom Act. In a nutshell, Dominion’s new proposed solar program pulls out all the stops to disincentive and penalize customers from utilizing rooftop solar. The new solar tariff Dominion proposes is being called a Frankenstein monster that takes the worst rate-making components from across the country and rolls them together for South Carolina. The proposal would force the average solar customer to pay almost $50 per month in extra, discriminatory fees just for owning solar. Expert testimony indicates that Dominion’s new rooftop solar proposal would slash bill savings for solar customers by about 55% compared to what the utility currently offers, meaning the estimated payback period for new solar customers would double — 20 years compared to 9.4 years. The effect of this new tariff would essentially be an economic prohibition against new rooftop solar on Dominion Energy’s system, leaving customers with fewer options to save on bills and thousands of South Carolinians who work in the solar industry without a rooftop market in Dominion’s territory — about a quarter of the state. Mr. Kissam would have us believe that “the proposed Solar Choice tariff will not discourage South Carolinians from choosing solar,” but how could it not? To claim that the drastic changes proposed won’t discourage customers from choosing solar ignores reality. In order to justify this draconian solar policy, Mr. Kissam offers the tired refrain “it’s only fair that they share the costs,” intended to emphasize that solar customers rely on non-solar generating sources of Dominion’s system part of the time. We must dispel the myth that all time should be considered the same.
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Solar panels won’t generate power when the sun isn’t shining, but that’s not when Dominion Energy experiences its highest demand for power, or “peak loads.” Between 1998-2018, 90% of high-demand peak hours in this service territory occurred during the summer daytime hours when solar can predictably be relied upon for its output. Various studies, including one published just this month by Michigan Technological University, have shown that solar net metering is a net benefit to the entire electric system. In other words, solar customers already pay more than their fair share.
Proposal is an Attack on S.C. Job Market
Not only is this Solar Choice proposal an attack on Dominion customers’ personal freedoms and pocketbooks, it is also an attack on a fast-growing segment of South Carolina’s job market. National Audubon Society commissioned an analysis last year that indicated the solar industry in South Carolina directly and indirectly contributes 7,250 jobs and a $1.5 billion annual impact on the state’s economy. Solar installers have looked at Dominion’s plan and determined it could drive them out of business, at least in Dominion’s territory. At a
time when so many are already suffering economically because of the pandemic, the priority should be on trying to protect and grow good paying jobs rather than losing them. It’s very important to set the record straight about a SACE report that Mr. Kissam references in his op-ed. Each year in our Solar in the Southeast report, we identify SunRisers, which demonstrate the highest solar ambition in our region over the next four years. DESC’s predecessor, SCE&G, earned that SunRiser distinction when we began this reporting process three years ago. Dominion inherited that forecast upon acquisition of SCE&G and has, thus far, maintained a similar outlook when it comes to large, utility-scale solar. However, their proposed Solar Choice tariff applies to smaller, distributed solar and, if approved, will most certainly constrain the growth of that segment. While SCE&G/Dominion had been a solar leader in recent years, drastic policy shifts like Dominion’s current proposal would undermine that leadership. There is a better way forward. A group of parties intervening in the PSC proceeding, including my organization SACE, sponsored testimony from an expert that includes an alternative solar rate design.
The proposal from the Joint Clean Energy Intervenors requires customers with solar to take service under Dominion’s time-of-use rate which provides a price signal to align customer behavior with controlling costs of the utility. This alternative proposal would also impose a minimum bill on solar customers to ensure that they continue to “pay their fair share” of the utility infrastructure cost. Rather than the regressive Dominion proposal, this alternative is both consistent with the obligations of the Energy Freedom Act and passes all of the standard cost-benefit tests. Dominion should embrace this approach to avoid disrupting the growing solar market and continue enabling private investment in distributed energy resources in the Palmetto State. CRBJ
Bryan Jacob is Solar Program Director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
We want to hear from you Write: Andy Owens, Executive Editor Charleston Regional Business Journal 1802 Dayton Street, Suite 101 North Charleston, SC 29405 Email: aowens@scbiznews.com
March 22 - April 4, 2021
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Blueprint exists for expanding broadband across S.C.
A
s the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the migration of public instruction and areas of commerce online, it has also highlighted the digital divide between those who do and don’t have reliable high-speed internet. Currently, about 18.3 million Americans, many in rural areas, lack access to KIMBERLY high-speed internet. ESTEP The Federal Communications Commission estimates that 650,000 South Carolinians don’t have access to broadband internet, including more than 552,000 who live in rural areas. According to BroadbandNow, the Palmetto State ranks 31st in the nation in terms of broadband access. Having high-quality, affordable broadband unlocks access to remote and improved education, commerce, telework, telehealth, community resources and more. Infusions of capital — such as the recent $155 million allocation from the FCC to expand broadband access in South Carolina over the next 10 years — will certainly help. Additionally, free internet hotspots and programs like Western Governors University’s Online Access Scholarships, which covers the cost of installing and accessing the internet, can benefit select families and students. However, a more extensive and coordinated effort is needed. Recognizing the multiple benefits of connectivity, governors across the country are implementing a range of poli-
cies and solutions to expand access and increase affordability. The National Governors Association recently released a white paper titled “Governor Strategies to Expand Affordable Broadband Access” that recommends nine key strategies and best practices. Establish robust, cross-cutting governance structures: Every state governs, creates, or communicates broadband policy through either a dedicated broadband office or designated staff within other agencies. South Carolina’s Office of Regulatory Staff has been tasked with providing internet connections to needy residents during the pandemic. Initiate partnerships with other state agencies, local and county governments, and other entities to kickstart broadband investments: Governors and state broadband leads can use grant programs and partnerships with state agencies, anchor institutions, the private sector, local government, educators, and community organizations to connect their states and leverage relationships, resources, and expertise to overcome obstacles. Leverage anchor institutions to provide rapid community internet service: Historically, community anchor institutions such as schools, libraries, medical facilities and government buildings, have served as critical connection points for last-mile fiber development to communities. South Carolina’s Department of Education has procured additional mobile hotspots, deployed hundreds of internet-equipped school buses to communities, and directed school districts to identify students who lack access, including providing internet access for 100,000
households under the federal poverty line. Leverage existing infrastructure projects with dig-once coordination: States have cut broadband-infrastructure deployment costs by enhancing agency coordination and coordination with stakeholders in the planning, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure assets. This “dig-once” strategy takes advantage of existing construction or repair of roads or water pipes to simultaneously install conduit or run fiber at a lower cost. Leverage electric utilities’ infrastructure and services to facilitate deployments of broadband networks: Governors can work with broadband service providers and utilities, including investor-owned utilities and rural electric cooperatives, through public-private partnerships and grant programs to extend broadband coverage by using existing infrastructure backbones and rights-of-way, leasing capacity to other providers and reaching unserved rural-cooperative customer bases. Last September, South Carolina lawmakers passed legislation allowing electric co-ops to lease out space on existing power poles to broadband providers. Coordinate and expand broadband affordability programs: Beyond monthly service rates, factors contributing to broadband internet affordability can also include contract length, activation or installation fees, and equipment costs. Many internet service providers have enacted new or improved low-cost service options for low-income households, those recently unemployed, or essential workers.
Deploy innovative procurement strategies: States are interested in shortening the purchasing process, building partnerships with suppliers, and keeping costs down. Strategies to streamline the procurement processes can include cooperative purchasing, umbrella contracts, and bulk purchasing agreements. Improve broadband data and coverage maps: The collection of data on current broadband availability and service speeds is critical in prioritizing expansion efforts. This data is currently collected and mapped by the FCC, but the agency acknowledges that the data it collects twice per year is imperfect. To create a more accurate representation of the level of broadband service being provided, states have developed alternative mapping strategies that provide more granular data. Identify funding and financing sources for broadband deployment: Many states have dedicated state funding mechanisms to address middle-mile and last-mile broadband expansion. These are often supplemented by federal programs that offer grants to states, municipalities, and other entities to accelerate broadband deployment. South Carolina has allocated $50 million of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding to broadband expansion. The key strategies and best practices put forth in the NGA’s white paper form a valid blueprint for expanding affordable broadband access. To read the full white paper, visit www.nga.org/center/publications/expand-affordable-broadband. CRBJ
Kimberly Estep is the vice president, Southeast Region, for Western Governors University.
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LEADING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE STATE The University of South Carolina has never been more resolved to transform the lives of the people of South Carolina, the nation and the world. Our eight-institution system is now estimated to deliver $6.2 billion in economic impact to the state’s economy, making the university a major contributor to our growing job market and an essential part of our future economic prosperity.
LOCAL JOB MARKET
The University of South Carolina contributes $2.6 billion towards personal income and supports a total of 63,689 jobs statewide. Upcoming university construction projects like campus village and the public health campus are expected to further boost jobs in the Midlands.
FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH
The university will continue to be a key driver in future economic growth for the state. The university’s focus on producing highly skilled graduates in competitive fields, coupled with its efforts to attract new, private research partners to the state, will continue to boost growth going forward.
STATEWIDE IMPACT
The total impact of UofSC’s eight-institution system is estimated at approximately $6.2 billion annually, which is defined by the annual amount of goods and services associated with the university. What’s more, the system as a whole supports a total of 63,689 jobs and returns more than $202 million in annual tax revenue back to the state.
Based on a new study by the researchers at UofSC’s Darla Moore School of Business, the university has a significant impact on South Carolina and is one of the largest economic drivers in our state. We fuel innovation by aligning research with business, help to create a thriving marketplace and educate and train tomorrow’s workforce. All of these actions and more help to improve the lives of South Carolinians and further support our drive to be the nation’s preeminent flagship university.
GO.SC.EDU/ECONOMICIMPACT