Issuu

BEST ADVICE Dixon Woodward, United Community Bank

PAGE 4 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 7 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM

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MARCH 23 - APRIL 5, 2020 ■ $2.25

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COVID-19 puts strain on supply chain By Patrick Hoff and Shamira McCray

Automotive shift Automation changing industry dynamics and workforce development. Page 17

phoff@scbiznews.com smccray@scbiznews.com

s the new coronavirus has spread from Wuhan, China, around the world over the past three months, manufacturers and businesses in the Lowcountry are feeling the pressure of a strained supply chain.

“It’s difficult when we have something that’s so unknown like this,” said Mark Witte, associate professor of economics at the College of Charleston. “We don’t know how widespread it’s going to be. We don’t know how long it’s going to last. And that means that there’s just a lot of uncertainty.” The coronavirus has several strains, and a few typical strains that have circulated in the

See COVID-19, Page 12

Region expected to keep up growth as nation slows

New HQ

Home repair business PunchList moves headquarters to Charleston. Page 11

By Patrick Hoff

Automated help

Charleston to add Citibot for residents, businesses to report problems in the city. Page 5

Packaging deal

Coastal Corrugated in North Charleston acquired by Wilmington, N.C., owner. Page 13

INSIDE

Upfront................................. 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 Best Advice........................... 4 In Focus: Automotive......................... 17 List: Law Firms................... 21 Bonus List: Headquarters Facilities.......24 At Work...............................25 Hot Properties......................29 Viewpoint........................... 30

United States for years have been the cause of about 25% of all colds in the country. COVID19 is a new strain of the coronavirus that first appeared late last year in Wuhan, China. Witte said because “money does not like uncertainty,” he wouldn’t be surprised to see businesses delay expansion plans or shift

ROLLING TOWARD THE

GREEN

Kiawah Island, PGA and regional partners gear up for the 2021 PGA Championship with significant changes to The Ocean Course. Page 6

Digital car lot

Technology moves more vehicles for used lot owners who leverage buying tools and who understand how buyers approach sales. Page 17

phoff@scbiznews.com

conomists expect growth in the region to continue through 2021, according to a report from the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, even as the U.S. economy shows signs of slowing. Jacki Renegar, director of the chamber’s Center for Business Research, said accolades from around the world and a healthy business community have made it so the Lowcountry can outperform other parts of the country, “and that’s historically kind of what we’ve done.” “We’re a little bit buffered sometimes from recessions, so even if the nation goes into recession doesn’t mean the Charleston region will,” Renegar said. The chamber has been producing annual economic forecasts for nearly 30 years. Chamber President and CEO Bryan Derreberry said what makes this forecast different from other economic outlooks is the business expertise that is woven in. “The chamber’s immersion in the business community allows us to provide a distinctive forecast in a way that would be See OUTLOOK, Page 8

Upfront

BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | BEST ADVICE

Panoramic view on seasonal influenza

A LA CARTE Photo/Provided

inding data to put some context alongside the concern and health

measures related to the coronavirus is quite difficult, mostly because there’s not a lot of data available and there likely won’t be until the

pandemic is well past us. Lacking that, we looked at historic influenza data from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What does this tell us? Not much about the current outbreak. But it does give some defining data about the ebb and flow of seasonal viruses that cross our state and country each year. One thing is for certain: The last year of records was the most deadly in a long time in South Carolina.

Influenza: 5 years across S.C. Over five years, more than 378,000 people have tested positive for flu in South Carolina, with the last reported year being the most deadly and most infectious over half a decade.

- Infections

0.21%

- Mortality Rate

135,145

0.19% 0.19%

0.11%

87,256

82,275 0.14%

40,794 2013-2014

32,823 2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Influenza: Regional impact The Midlands reported more deaths in the 2017-2018 influenza season than any other region. Fewer than 300 people died from the flu during the season.

Midlands Population: 1.46 million Positive test: 35,683 Hospitalizations: 1,196 Deaths: 92 Mortality: 0.26%

Upstate

Lowcountry

Population: 1.47 million Positive test: 48,639 Hospitalizations: 1,285 Deaths: 81 Mortality: 0.17%

Pee Dee

Population: 1.17 million Positive test: 24,963 Hospitalizations: 1,032 Deaths: 60 Mortality: 0.24%

Population: 925,000 Positive test: 25,860 Hospitalizations: 976 Deaths: 56 Mortality: 0.22%

Source: S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

ON THE

RECORD

“Fast forward to 2021, I think that South Carolina and the PGA — we are both going after the same thing, which is how do you create a family environment where you can do business on the golf course and make sure you have great memories to match that — and you put that together, and we are fantastic partners.” — Former U.N. Ambassador and Gov. Nikki Haley, co-chair of the PGA Championship Council

WEBSITE: www.CharlestonBusiness.com

@CRBJ

@CRBJnews

Kiawah Island Golf Resort has opened its new conference center, one of several projects in the resort’s expansion launched in 2018. The West Beach Conference Center contains 23,000 square feet of pre-event and meeting space, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom and 11 breakout rooms. The center can accommodate up to 1,000 for a reception or theater configuration, or up to 600 for a classroom or banquet setup. Heidi Nowak, director of sales and marketing at the resort, said many of the features included in the new conference center came from input that Kiawah Island Golf Resort sought from meeting planners. “West Beach Conference Center reflects the invaluable insight those planners provided regarding the elements today’s groups demand,” Nowak said in a news release. The conference center is part of a two-year expansion plan that Kiawah Island Golf Resort unveiled ahead of the 2021 PGA Championship, coming to Kiawah Island in May 2021. Roger Warren, president of the resort, said in 2018 that the conference center will help Kiawah Island Golf Resort to attract larger groups that had previously been unable to stay at the resort because it didn’t have enough space. Other projects in the expansion include a 150-seat chapel, an expanded Roy Barth Tennis Center, a renovated Cougar Point Clubhouse and four four-bedroom cottages overlooking The Ocean Course. Bryan Hunter, spokesman for the resort, said the clubhouse, the chapel, the tennis court expansion and a new Villa Registration center have been completed so far.

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March 23 - April 5, 2020

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SC Biz News Briefs COLUMBIA

Columbia Regional Business Report

Prisma Health to acquire health systems Prisma Health-Midlands will acquire two Midlands health systems through an agreement announced March 5. The 1.2 million-patient health care provider, headquartered in Greenville, has purchased LifePoint Health’s Camden-based KershawHealth and Columbia’s Providence Health systems, with plans to extend its Midlands network. “We are delighted at the prospect of welcoming the Providence and KershawHealth teams to the Prisma Health family,” Mark O’Halla, president and chief executive officer of Prisma Health, said in a news release. “Providence and KershawHealth are known to share our commitment to improving patient experiences, clinical quality and access to care. We look forward to continuing our mutual goal of enhancing the health of our communities.” Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Through integration of KershawHealth and Providence Health, Prisma Health plans to target clinical expansion in areas including pediatric, orthopedic, women’s health and cardiovascular care, according to the release. Providence Health will bring two hospitals, a freestanding emergency room, sleep centers, cardiac rehab facilities, outpatient therapy centers and a number of network practices into Prisma’s fold, the release said. Kershaw Health serves four cities through its Camden medical center, Elgin outpatient and urgent care center, West Wateree Medical Complex, sleep diagnostics center and therapy facility, now operated by Prisma Health.

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Alliance marks 20 years of new idea Business leaders who knocked down invisible barriers separating counties and communities in the Upstate two decades ago celebrated 20 years of the Upstate SC Alliance at a luncheon that drew more than 500 on Feb. 26. Regional cooperation among government, private enterprise and economic developers has become common across the state, now supported with state funds, but in 2000 it was a new idea for the area, where counties competed against one another for economic investment. S.C. Commerce Deputy Secretary Jennifer N. Fletcher spoke at the celebration, saying things were changing as the new century got started. Universities were getting involved in economic development, the idea of public-private partnerships started making sense to more players and government and business leaders on the local level started believing earnestly that a win for one community was a win for neighboring communities too. All 10 counties of the Upstate didn’t officially sign on for two years, but growth since then is easy to document. The population has grown from about 1.2 million in 2000 to an estimated 1.5 million today, according to the alliance, and per capita income from $25,586 to $42,809. In the last five years, companies have announced $7.8 billion in capital investment and 26,853 new jobs. Working together as a region “proved what we really knew for years but did not always admit: we can do so much more when we do it together,” said Max Metcalf, the outgoing immediate past chairman of the Upstate SC Alliance executive committee. “It was time to let go of artificial barriers and antiquated ideologies that divided us.”

With publications in Charleston, Columbia and the Upstate, as well as a statewide magazine, SC Biz News covers the pulse of business across South Carolina. Above are excerpts from our other publications.

VOLUME 23 NUMBER 5 ■ GSABUSINESS.COM

VOLUME 13 NUMBER 5 ■ COLUMBIABUSINESSREPORT.COM

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MARCH 16-APRIL 12, 2020 ■ $2.25 Participants in a pilot program of new initiative Crash Course Columbia weather the rain for a tour of Segra Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies. The quarterly program aims to attract and retain workforce talent by showing off Columbia’s growing cultural scene and emphasizing area development. (Photo/Forrest Clonts)

Beer on tap

Delaware brewery plans to open location in BullStreet District in 2021. Page 9

Two decades of working together The Upstate SC Alliance celebrates 20 years of regional cooperation. Page 6

Health merger

CEOs reach for hammer and saw

Prisma Health acquires two health systems operating in the Midlands. Page 12

BEHIND THE CITY SCENES Solar powered

Worksforce surges by 10% in solar energy for the Palmetto State. Page 14

INSIDE Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 4 In Focus: Education and Workforce .......................... 15 List: Colleges and Universities ....................... 17 At Work .............................. 21 Viewpoint ...........................23

By Molly Hulsey

Company finds market in preparing for active shooter. Page 10

Since 1927

Fans have chance to say goodbye to Capital City Stadium in documentary. Page 4

Program aims to lure talent while accenting Columbia’s charms By Melinda Waldrop

mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

riana Bateman knows all too well the less-than-glowing reputation Columbia has traditionally had to battle. Bateman, an Upstate native who moved to Columbia five years ago, is chair of Columbia Opportunity Resource, a nonprofit that connects area professionals and promotes leadership development. Before taking that position, her time in the capital city was limited. “It was joke when I was kid,” Bateman said. “When you would come through here to go to

the beach, you didn’t stay long, because it was too hot. There was nothing to do. I remember my dad taking us to the state museum. That was kind of what we did on the way to the beach, and that was it.” While the sweltering Columbia summers remain a constant, the city has been undergoing a decades-long, under-the-radar renaissance that COR is partnering with city tourism and promotional arm Experience Columbia SC to amplify. Crash Course Columbia, a new quarterly program targeting area companies and their employees, aims to deliver an up-close look at Columbia’s charms

while helping the city recruit and retain professional talent. From behind-the-scenes looks at how Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens cares for its giraffes to chats with chefs at the area’s hottest new restaurants, the day-and-a-half initiative hopes to drive home all that the city has to offer — even to long-time residents who think they’ve been there, done that. ‘Studies have shown a historically negative sentiment about Columbia,” said Ashley Cady, senior integrated communications manager See CRASH COURSE, Page 19

Rural recruiting

USC implements program recruiting nontraditional teachers to rural school districts. Page 15

ColumbiaBusinessReport.com

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MARCH 9 - MARCH 26, 2020 ■ $2.25

Speculative projects trend large in Spartanburg County Thinking about the unthinkable

Habitat for Humanity launches CEO Build 2020. Page 8

Driving through tense times

BMW puts up record numbers in spite of tariff tiff. Page 12

INSIDE

Leading Off .......................... 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 C-Suite ................................ 4 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering & Construction 17 LIST: Architecture Firms .....27 At Work ..............................28 Viewpoint ........................... 31

mhulsey@scbiznews.com

speculative project expandable to 1.3 million square feet will open cross-dock doors in less than 60 days in Duncan. The 504,060-square-foot warehouse, now courting e-commerce and industrial tenants, could soon mirror its 1.3-million-square-foot neighbor, a Lowe’s distribution center that ushered 150 jobs into the Upstate in January. CRG, Clayco’s development arm, expects the Cubes at Inland 85 site to attract 200-400 jobs to the area once completed and leased.

In Focus

When selecting a site for CRG’s sixth Cubes project, a large-scale industrial brand linked to Atlanta’s newest million-square-foot Amazon distribution center, the developers liked Spartanburg County’s breathing room and accessibility. “I liked the industrial base of Greenville-Spartanburg where we could capitalize off the strengths of that industrial market,” Mike Demperio, senior vice president and Southeast regional manager of CRG, said when explaining his rationale for the investment. “The Cubes

at Inland 85 has immediate access to I-85, it’s between BMW and the Inland Port and it’s in the town of Duncan, which has low taxes.” Speculative building projects, particularly of such large dimensions, welcome a host of risks, but more than one industrial developer was willing to place a bet on the region last year. The Greenville-Spartanburg area had a record high in spec projects delivered to the market, according to Colliers data. “I am pretty sure in 2018 and 2019, it would be accurate to call it unprecedented just in See PROJECTS, Page 17

Automotive Summit garners record-breaking crowd to discuss new technology and trade mhulsey@scbiznews.com

he S.C. Automotive Council’s ninth S.C. Automotive Summit attracted more than 450 industry leaders this week to Greenville’s Hyatt Regency for what Amy Tinsley, the council’s executive director, called a record-breaking event. With South Carolina’s status as the largest tire and value-based vehicle exporter in the country, the conference acknowledged uncertainty on the global market while highlighting new opportunities in technology and industry educational programs. More than 60 booths ringed the conference area throughout the three-day event, linking suppliers, educational programs, economic developers and a variety of other professionals based in the state with companies farther afield. “This is the premiere automotive event for the state of South Carolina,” said John Lummus, president and CEO of Upstate SC Alliance, noting that the event’s link to the S.C. Department of Commerce is also a draw, as well as the event speakers. “A lot of companies come in for this event. It really is just the place to be in the automotive industry. Because automotive is one of our top targets that we recruit and market for, it is very important for us to be here and interact with these companies.” Upstate SC Alliance, CU-ICAR, Draxlmaier, IBM, KPMG, Charleston County Economic Development, Freudenberg Performance Materials and Apprenticeship Carolina were a few event exhibitors. See SUMMIT, Page 13

UPSTATE UNDER CONSTRUCTION Read about the latest building projects in the region. Page 19

GSABusiness.com

2020 | SOUTH CAROLINA

MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE AND EXPO The Most Significant Manufacturing Event of the Year

Presented by:

SAVE THE DATE

October 28th - 30th, 2020 Greenville Convention Center Greenville, SC Join manufacturing suppliers and innovators across all industry verticals at South Carolina’s Most Significant Manufacturing Event of the Year. The 2019 Conference included: • 2,800+ registered attendees • 280+ Exhibitors • 16 courses taught by instructors from SCMEP • Manufacturing 4.0 Breakfast: The Rise of Technology • Aero/Auto Symposium and Industry Forecasts • Executive Women in Manufacturing and Apprenticeships in Advanced Manufacturing panel discussions For questions about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Melissa Tomberg at (864) 720-1220 or mtomberg@scbiznews.com

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March 23 - April 5, 2020

Best Advice

DIXON WOODWARD

STATE PRESIDENT, UNITED COMMUNITY BANK By Shamira McCray | Photography provided

Editor, Custom Publishing Division Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123 Staff Writer - Patrick Hoff phoff@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3144 Staff Writer - Shamira McCray smccray@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3119 Research Specialist - Paige Hardy phardy@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3125

MR. PRESIDENT

Research Assistant - Anne Puckett apuckett@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3145

of banking experience, much of it spent

Dixon Woodward has nearly two decades

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in the coastal South Carolina market. He

Graphic Designer - Andrew Sprague asprague@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3128

state president for South Carolina and the

is currently United Community Bank’s Coastal Georgia region. In 2013, Woodward

MIDLANDS NEWSROOM

was named one of the Business Journal’s

Editor - Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7542

Forty Under 40 honorees. A Charleston

UPSTATE NEWSROOM

resident and University of South Carolina

Editor - Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1222

graduate, Woodward is heavily involved

Associate Editor, Custom Publishing Division Jim Tatum jtatum@scbiznews.com • 864.720.2269

on the board of directors for the South

in the Charleston community and serves Carolina Arts Commission Foundation and the Board of Visitors at MUSC.

Staff Writer - Molly Hulsey mhulsey@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1223 LOWCOUNTRY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Senior Account Executive - Robert Reilly rreilly@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3107 Account Executive - Sara Cox scox@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3109 Account Executive - Melissa Verzaal mverzaal@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3104

“THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED

is that if you’re unsure if the responsibility of making a decision rests with you, assume that it does. Then, make an informed, thoughtful decision. As long as you communicate effectively and keep everyone’s best interests in mind,

South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth President and Group Publisher - Grady Johnson gjohnson@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3103 Vice President of Sales - Steve Fields sfields@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3110

you will find that no one ever suggest you stop making the decisions.”

INTERESTING FACT

Woodward said he is a second-generation banker after his father. He joined the banking industry after graduating from college and has never held a job outside of banking.

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March 23 - April 5, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 5

Charleston to launch Citibot software citywide By Patrick Hoff

phoff@scbiznews.com

he city of Charleston plans to implement a new software tool intended to give citizens another way to report issues to municipal officials. Citibot was developed and co-founded by Bratton Riley, the son of former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley. It allows citizens to use text messaging to ask questions and make service requests of local governments. “We want to break down the barriers of inclusion that exist between residents and their governments, and a great way to do that is begin with the communication channel that people are more likely to use,” Bratton Riley said. “And we’ve got data ... showing that not only are we all texting now, but that’s actually the channel that residents would like to use to interact with local government. Charleston is the third local government in the Lowcountry to begin using the software. North Charleston was the U.S. launch customer in July 2017, and Charleston County began using the software in June 2018. Susan Poteat, director of process and service improvement for the city of

Charleston, said Citibot was chosen over other vendors because of the way it integrated with the city’s existing customer relationship management system. “Some of the systems that we’d looked at in the past, you’d have to go in and manually enter the request information, so it would be a duplication of entry,” she said. Poteat said that the city is still testing Citibot internally and that it hopes to go live with the software by the end of the month. “Basically our hope is that it just gives another option for citizens to research information regarding city services or report requests for service,” she said.

A growing bot

Riley said Citibot has evolved since its launch with North Charleston, expanding its artificial intelligence to allow for 65 different types of service requests and using data analytics to better process citizen requests. For example, Riley said in Arlington, Texas, the city didn’t realize how many questions people had about how and where to adopt a pet. “We’ve gone back to the city of Arlington to be like, ‘Well, let’s create some targeted communications back to the residents about how they can use Citibot to

help them be able to adopt a pet,” Riley said. “So those are pretty cool outcomes of what we’ve done.” North Charleston spokesman Ryan Johnson said the company has been responsive in listening to feedback that the city has given to try to improve Citibot. “It’s been mutually beneficial to kind of give them feedback and see that feedback be put into practice,” he said. When the app first launched, Johnson said it was more form-based, requiring certain responses, but it has gotten more intuitive over the years it’s been in use. “It used to be more bot-y,” Johnson said. “Now it’s more conversational, which has been nice because the goal is ... a user is talking to a system which feels more human.” He said it’s also been useful to see the software tie more into existing systems to provide more fluidity for citizens and the government. Riley said Citibot is developing a web chat product for municipalities to help citizens navigate them better. “Local government websites do not suffer from a lack of content ... because local governments provide so many important services and resources to the public — they’re a public agency,” he said. “So they’re trapped in the reality of

needing to make that content public, and it becomes a real challenge for them to manage the content on their website. And it becomes a real challenge from a resident standpoint to be able to navigate it in an efficient manner.” Riley said he hopes to launch the chatbot on April 1. “We just want to make the user experience, the residents’ experience, better and easier and smoother and friendlier when they show up to the local government website,” he said. Riley said he hopes Citibot can continue to grow into other communities and fold in new technology as it evolves. Riley said the next frontier he’s looking at is machine learning, which would allow Citibot to anticipate questions and deploy voice technology. “So that notion of a hands-free communication through your mobile phone or other smart speakers is the direction we’re going,” he said. “And back to ... talking about accessibility to those who are blind and deaf and have other potential incapacities, just making it easier for those folks to be able to participate in interactions with government.” CRBJ

Reach staff writer Patrick Hoff at 843-849-3144 or @PatHoffCRBJ on Twitter.

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March 23 - April 5, 2020

PGA, Kiawah Island resort prepare for 2021 championship By Shamira McCray

smccray@scbiznews.com

he Ocean Course on Kiawah Island is deemed one of the hardest golf courses in the country, based on its slope and course ratings. But Kiawah Island Golf Resort President Roger Warren says that if golfers use the tee boxes that match their skill level, they can enjoy a round of golf on the course. Next year, the PGA Championship will return to Kiawah Island for the first time since 2012. The resort also hosted the Ryder Cup in 1991. Next year’s championship is scheduled for May 17-23. Warren said maintenance work and changes have been done on the course since the last championship was held in the Lowcountry, including transplanting trees along the course and extending and building new tees on certain holes. “Other than that, golf course is still hard, and it’s more mature,” Warren said. “I think probably the best decision we made for that golf course in the last 17 years was the introduction of the paspalum grass to the greens, tees and fairways.” Paspalum is soft, and Warren said Kiawah has been able to produce superior conditions with the grass because of the

Charleston and 2021 PGA Championship leaders stand with the championship trophy at a media event earlier this month. (Photo/Provided)

Roger Warren, Kiawah Island Golf Resort president, speaks during the 2021 PGA Championship Media Day event earlier this month. (Photo/Provided)

proximity to the ocean’s salt water, salt in the air and wells that contain salt water. The resort also overseeds its golf courses for the winter, and there will likely be overseed on The Ocean Course for the PGA Championship next year, meaning the rough will potentially be a lot higher. “I think the players will enjoy the

challenge of the golf course, and we are looking forward to see them take on that challenge,” Warren said. A PGA Championship Council has been established for the 2021 event. Warren is co-chair of the council along with former U.N. Ambassador and S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley. Haley said when the cham-

pionship was held on Kiawah Island in 2012, South Carolina was still a bit of a secret. “And so, 2012 was not only a way to showcase great golf, but 5 million people had eyes on a state that was named the friendliest state in the country, the Charleston area that was named No. 1 vacation spot multiple years in a row,” Haley said. “You can’t meet a mean person here. You can’t get a bad meal here.” She said the 2012 championship See PGA, Page 7

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March 23 - April 5, 2020

PGA, from Page 6

featured great golf with great people, and many found out the magic of South Carolina. “Fast forward to 2021, I think that South Carolina and the PGA — we are both going after the same thing, which is how do you create a family environment where you can do business on the golf course and make sure you have great memories to match that — and you put that together, and we are fantastic partners,” Haley said. The impact the PGA Championship has on the state is priceless, Haley said. She said the economic impact of the 2012 tournament was $193 million, with some 50,000 visitors in the area for the championship. Haley expects more than $200 million worth of economic impact in 2021. “And we know, just the visitors, once you come to this area, you never say, ‘I’m not going back,’” Haley said. “You usually come buy a second home. You usually come on a family vacation, and you usually move your business here.” Scott Reid, championship director of the 2021 PGA Championship, said he is anticipating roughly 150,000 spectators over the course of the week. Warren said his team learned from traffic issues that occurred during the 2012 championship. “I think that one of the things that we need to do a better job is create better expectations for what people can expect; how long is it going to take to get to the course, where are you coming from,” Warren said. “We know right now that if you’re in downtown Charleston and you’re going to drive to The Ocean Course, it’s going to take you an hour.” He said expectations need to be set for what it will take to get to the island, so that people can plan for it. Parking will be easier in 2021, Warren said, because there will be no charge, which should create fewer traffic backups. Reid said, “At the end of the day, we are on an island, and there’s only one way on and one way off, so we are just going to do our best to alleviate and limit the amount of non-bus traffic that is on Kiawah Parkway.” The PGA has always had the strongest field of players among the four major golf championships, according to Reid. Heading into the 2019 PGA Championship, each of the world’s top 100 players had committed to playing. And Reis says said he sees that continuing for the 2021 tournament. Tickets for the 2021 championship will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis though pgachampionship.com/ attend/2021. Reid said 3,100 volunteers are needed for the championship. Information about volunteering can also be found on the PGA Championship website. Warren said he believe the PGA Cham-

www.charlestonbusiness.com 7

pionship deserves to continue to come to The Ocean Course because the primary characteristic of a major championship is its venue. “And I think the golf course itself deserves to be here and will always be the kind of test that a major championship like the PGA Championship will benefit from being here,” Warren said. The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island has no commitment beyond 2021, but Warren said he will continue to talk about it because he thinks it is a worthy site. CRBJ

Reach staff writer Shamira McCray at 843-849-3119 or @ShamiraTweets on Twitter.

CHS - ADP - CRBJ - Obviouslee.indd 2

The PGA will host the 2021 championship at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island. The course last held the PGA Championship in 2012. (Photo/Provided)

6/25/18 9:48 AM

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OUTLOOK, from Page 1

otherwise very demanding and a number of steps removed from what is going on at the ground level in our metro area,” Derreberry said. Renegar said the forecasts are typically between 80% and 85% accurate. This year’s predictions include a 1.9% increase in retail sales across the region, a 2% increase in the labor force and an 8% increase in passengers at Charleston International Airport, which would bring CHS above 5 million passengers for the year. Renegar said the Lowcountry has seen a 3-percentage-point increase in labor participation for 16- to 19-yearolds since 2016, which is three times the national level for the age group. “What’s making the difference is local employers ... engaging proactively with the high schools and bringing the students not only into the workforce pipeline but into the workforce today through youth apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities while they’re still in high school,” Renegar said. The national scene Lindsey Piegza, chief economist for Stifel Financial Corp., said that though the regional economy is projected to continue doing well, the national economy appears to be slowing. Piegza said she saw signs of decreasing momentum heading into 2020, even before uncertainties about the impact of COVID-19, the new coronavirus that first appeared in Wuhan, China, late last year. “We were already seeing (GDP) growth slow to a pace of 2%,” she said. “Now, nothing to sneeze at, per se, but a noticeable loss of momentum from a more robust pace of 3% at the beginning of last year. And keep in mind, 2% is really the bare minimum that we should expect for a developed economy.” Piegza said 1 percentage point of normal growth typically comes from productivity gains and 1 percentage point comes from population growth. “And somehow we’re supposed to be celebrating that minimum 2% level,” she said. Piegza added that although the cur-

March 23 - April 5, 2020

Charleston’s economic outlook Industry

2019 actual

2020 prediction

Labor force

2.3% increase

2% increase

Employment

2.8% increase

2% increase

Residential units sold

2.1% increase

1% increase

Retail sales

4.0% decrease

1.9% increase

Single-family residential permits

0.4% decrease

0.5% increase

5.2% increase

4.3% increase

9% increase

8% increase

Revenue per available hotel room

1.9% decrease

1% decrease

Attractions attendance

1.3% increase

0.3% increase

Twenty-foot equivalent units handled by S.C. Ports Authority Passengers at Charleston International Airport

Source: Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

rent period of economic expansion is the longest in history, “it’s also the weakest, at an average pace of just 2.3%” annual GDP growth. “This 2-ish percent is coming against the backdrop of massive government balance sheets and extremely low interest rates,” Piegza said. “So with that type of stimulative environment, we would have expected a sustained 3, 4% GDP level.” The most recent period of economic expansion prior to this, between 2002 and 2007, saw 2.9% annual GDP growth; the economic expansion between 1991 and 2001, the second-longest period of expansion in U.S. history, saw 3.6% growth. Renegar said to her, slower growth doesn’t mean economic despair. “To me, that’s not necessarily a bad thing,” she said. “It’s just not as great as what ... the academics would say it should be.”

The unemployment picture

Piegza said the unemployment rate, which hit 3.6% nationally and 2.4% in South Carolina in January, also does not paint the whole picture. The unemployment rate, she said, “doesn’t include the millions of Americans that have dropped out of the labor

markets and are no longer ... actively participating in the labor market.” If all of the workers on the sidelines were added back to the labor market, Piegza said the unemployment rate about be about 8%. “Now, still not terrible,” she said. “But it paints a very different picture than this minimal 3.6% joblessness.” Additionally, hiring has begun to slow nationally, from about 225,000 per month in 2018 to 175,000 per month last year. “Now, it doesn’t seem like such a big difference ... at least on a one-month or two-month basis, but when we extrapolate this out over an entire year, you’re talking about nearly 500,000 fewer jobs created in 2019 relative to 2018,” Piegza said. The types of jobs being created are also not what economists would expect to see 11 years into an economic expansion, she said. Instead of high-wage full employment, businesses continue to rely on temporary, low-wage, part-time employees. “Now, to be fair, in part this reflects a structural change in the business environment and an increased reliance on the gig economy,” Piegza said. “But it’s also a reflection of businesses and their lack of

confidence in perpetuating the recovery going forward.”

The housing market

Piegza said she’s seeing two trends in the national housing market: Lower interest rates have provided incentives for homebuyers, but a significant portion of the population has been left behind. “We sometimes take for granted that Americans can just afford a home,” Piegza said. “But if we assume an average income, average savings rate and median-priced home ... it would take the typical American 30, in some cases 40, years to save just for the 20% down payment for a median-priced home in many of the country’s key states.” Piegza did not provide statistics for home affordability in South Carolina, and Renegar said she did not have the data available. Renegar said, though, that a 20% down payment may not be applicable to every homebuyer. “There’s so many programs out there now, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer, where you don’t have to have a 20% down payment,” she said. “So theoretically, that (data) is true, but you don’t have to spend 10 or 30 years saving for a 20% down payment.” Renegar said that median home prices and incomes in the region have begun to level out, with incomes increasing faster than home prices between 2016 and 2018. Median household income grew at 14%, while median home price and average rent grew between 11% and 12%. “So that’s a trend that has just turned on the last two years,” Renegar said. “Let’s just hope it continues.” Piegza said even if the slowdown turns into a recession, the U.S. economy is resilient. “We’ve been here before,” she said. “We’ve faced tough times before, but the U.S. economy does have one of the most entrepreneurial labor forces. We’re the largest, most liquid market. And even if we do see a downturn, we will eventually revert and we’ll be talking about recovery, likely in 2021.” CRBJ

Reach staff writer Patrick Hoff at 843-849-3144 or @PatHoffCRBJ on Twitter.

March 23 - April 5, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 9

Charleston budget includes $1 million for Emanuel Nine Memorial By Shamira McCray

smccray@scbiznews.com

he city of Charleston’s 2020 budget includes $1 million to go toward a memorial to honor the nine people who were killed at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston when a gunman opened fire during a Bible study there in 2015. The Emanuel Nine Memorial will be built on the church’s grounds. In September, the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation received its first major donation for the memorial from the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation which pledged $1 million. And in October, Wells Fargo gave $500,000 for the memorial, becoming the first corporate donor. The foundation announced earlier this month a $250,000 donation from Bank of America to help construct the memorial. “We are honored to support this important memorial dedicated to remembering and honoring the lives and sacrifices of the clergy, church members and of the survivors,” said Mark Munn, Charleston market president

“Our support aligns with the intention of the memorial itself to be a reflective space to join together in community, as well as to promote unity and resiliency.” Mark Munn Charleston market president, Bank of America

The Emanuel Nine Memorial will include a courtyard with two benches, an altar and a marble fountain where the names of the nine victims will be carved. (Rendering/Handel Architects)

for Bank of America. “Our support aligns with the intention of the memorial itself to be a reflective space to join together in community, as well as to promote unity and resiliency.” The Rev. Eric S.C. Manning, pastor of Mother Emanuel, said the church is grateful for Bank of America’s commit-

ment to the creation of the Emanuel Nine Memorial and for the business community uniting in support of the memorial foundation. Plans for the construction of the memorial were announced in July 2018 by the foundation. It is designed by architect Michael

Arad, who also created the Sept. 11 memorial in New York, and includes a courtyard, marble fountain etched with the names of the Emanuel Nine and a survivors garden. Six stone benches and five trees will surround the garden to symbolize the five survivors, with the sixth bench signifying that the church is a survivor. CRBJ

Reach staff writer Shamira McCray at 843-8493119 or @ShamiraTweets on Twitter.

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www.charlestonbusiness.com 11

PunchList opens new headquarters in downtown Charleston By Shamira McCray

smccray@scbiznews.com

ome repair service provider PunchList has moved its headquarters to downtown Charleston. The company, formerly based in Mount Pleasant, hosted a grand opening celebration earlier this month at its new location on Meeting Street. PunchList works with real estate agents and their clients to repair issues that arise during the home inspection process. The company provides fast repair estimates by analyzing inspection reports, and a managed network of contractors completes the repairs. CEO and co-founder Rich Estes said PunchList is a tech-enabled company, meaning employees do a lot of manual labor but use technology to figure it out. Charleston, he said, is a central location for the operation. “You know, we’re out to help real estate agents and their clients make the repair process easier,” Estes said. “It’s a pretty difficult thing to get done in a real estate closing. We’re a professional organization, that’s all we do. And we’re specialized for that one simple thing.” Estes said there are many real estate transactions across the country, which means PunchList has a lot of room for

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg speaks to supporters at a grand opening celebration for PunchList on March 11. (Photo/Shamira McCray)

growth and a lot of cities for the company to expand to. But he said they are happy to be in Charleston. PunchList did not have enough space at its location in Mount Pleasant, and Estes said it was tough to find the amount of space needed for the company to continue to grow there. “There’s more office space being built (in downtown Charleston), so we feel like we can stick close to this area as we grow,” Estes said. In one year, PunchList went from

a 700-square-foot building to 1,700 square feet. The new location on Meeting Street is 7,000 square feet. Estes said they leased more space than they needed. The headquarters is in Suite 101 at 804 Meeting St., beside the Tattooed Moose and behind Goat. Sheep. Cow. “We’re so pleased to have your headquarters home right here in the city of Charleston in this really fast-paced area, vibrant area, lots of things coming,” Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg

Protecting your most valuable resources

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said at a grand opening celebration on March 11. Tecklenburg said PunchList’s work is practical and he wishes it had been around when he was a Realtor. Tecklenburg said the company has been on a remarkable journey. Since opening in 2017, PunchList has expanded from the Charleston market to provide services in 12 cities including Washington, D.C., Tampa, Fla., and Denver. In February, PunchList announced a partnership with real estate brokerage company Carolina One to provide clients and agents with repair estimates within 24 hours and access to licensed contractors and support personnel if they choose to complete the repairs in the estimate. PunchList also works with companies such as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Estes said PunchList will utilize its raised capital to continue expanding into new markets and to expand technology initiatives to enhance its services. “Raised capital will help accelerate our transformation while better positioning us to execute on our strategy and mission to alleviate a significant pain point in real estate transactions,” Estes said.

Lisa Morelli

Business Developer 843-737-8971

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March 23 - April 5, 2020

COVID-19, from Page 1

2020 | SOUTH CAROLINA

MANUFACTURING

CONFERENCE AND EXPO The Most Significant Manufacturing Event of the Year Presented by:

SAVE THE DATE

their supply chain to mitigate the impact of the virus. “The unknown here is how widespread this disease gets, how many quarantines are put into place,” Witte said. “We just don’t know the answer to that. I think South Carolina is going to have perhaps an overly large impact relative to the country as a whole, in part because we still have manufacturing as a major sector of our economy relative to a lot of other states in the union.” Mercedes-Benz Vans, which manufactures automobiles in Ladson, said in an email that it is monitoring the spread of the new coronavirus in order to react as the situation changes, but production at all plants outside of China was running normally as of March 12. Production facilities in China have been gradually coming back online since Feb. 10. “It’s too early yet to make a sound assessment of possible impacts on our business related to the ... virus,” said Silke Walters, manager of global business communications for Mercedes-Benz Vans. A spokeswoman for Volvo Car USA said that COVID-19 has not impacted normal operations at the company’s Ridgeville plant but that Volvo is monitoring the situation daily. Boeing has begun taking some steps to mitigate losses. In a memo sent March 10, President and CEO Dave Calhoun and CFO Greg Smith said Boeing is limiting travel and discretionary spending to business-critical activities only and placing a hold on hiring, pending a review of the company’s critical needs. “It’s critical for any company to preserve cash in challenging periods,” the leadership wrote. “That’s why we’re implementing steps similar to what many companies are doing right now.” Locally headquartered businesses are feeling the strain of the broken supply chain, including Stacey Pierce and Julie Weldon, who are in the process of building out their company, OME Gear, and launching its first product, a five-in-one outdoor product called the Wanderr. The Wanderr is being manufactured by a company in China, and Pierce and Weldon were supposed to receive the first 250 products prior to the Chinese New Year in late January. The Chinese company was able to deliver only 100, however, before production was shut down. Weldon said she and Pierce had expected to go into full production in February, “so we’ve been delayed over a month.” “And that delay is just going to grow, I believe, because it will take them awhile to get back up and running,” Weldon said. “And then, even then, because there’s been such a delay in production for every one of their customers over at the factory ... who knows who gets to be quote-unquote first in line.” Pierce said OME Gear has been com-

municating with customers on a regular basis to let them know where things stand. “Unfortunately, this is completely out of our hands,” she said. “It’s just like being a server at a restaurant; you can’t control what the chef does. And unfortunately, sometimes the backlash comes onto the server.” Pierce and Weldon said, though, that the delay is not idle time for them. “It actually is forcing us in a great way to look at our company and make sure that all of our ducks are in a row before we go into full production,” Weldon said.

Infection prevention

MUSC Health, like any large industry, is also looking at COVID-19 from a supply chain standpoint, according to Chief Quality Officer Dr. David Bundy. The institution is looking at the origin of its tools and whether the supply chains for those items could be disrupted. The team is also looking at alternative ways to keep its supply chain running smoothly so operations won’t be interrupted. Bundy said MUSC Health is preparing on a daily basis for how to best care for patients and working out how to best care for its team members to ensure they stay safe and healthy. Bundy said the most important thing businesses can do during the pandemic is strongly encourage and remind employees to stay home when they are sick, said. “And similar to the typical coronaviruses that are here, about 80% or more people just have a cold or no symptoms at all, potentially,” Bundy said. “So many people who may get it in the future may not even know they even had it.” It can be life-threatening, however, for people who have a more severe episode of COVID-19. “And the people that are most at risk for having a more severe episode are the elderly, in particular, and then people with chronic conditions, whether that be heart disease, diabetes, asthma, things like that,” Bundy said. Sometimes in workplaces, Bundy said, there is a sense of duty or obligation which might tempt employees to go in to work while sick. But, particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak, medical professionals are telling the business community to encourage sick employees not to come to work. Bundy said companies should also determine what travel is essential and nonessential for employees. Witte said when the pandemic ends, he expects the economy will bounce back. Typically, he said, recoveries after an event like this are V-shaped instead of after a recession, when they’re L-shaped. “I think we’re well-situated as a society to deal with it,” Witte said. CRBJ

Reach staff writer Patrick Hoff at 843-849-3144 or @PatHoffCRBJ on Twitter. Reach staff writer Shamira McCray at 843-849-3119 or @shamiratweets on Twitter.

March 23 - April 5, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 13

Lowe breaks ground on new hotel, announces regional office By Shamira McCray

smccray@scbiznews.com

ational real estate firm Lowe recently broke ground on The Cooper, its new waterfront hotel in downtown Charleston. The 225-key hotel will be built at 176 Concord St., adjacent to the Joe Riley Waterfront Park. Lowe acquired the property from the S.C. Ports Authority in 2017. The Cooper will include 12,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space on Concord Street, plus views of the harbor and downtown skyline. The hotel is expected to include a waterfront cafe, a rooftop lounge and a restaurant. Fleet Landing restaurant is located on the property and will remain open during construction. Lowe has worked with the city of Charleston to extend the Joe Riley Waterfront Park by more than 400 feet, starting at the park’s north entrance on Concord Street and ending at Cumberland Street, a release said. Lowe will build a new dock and marina facility to allow for public day

The Cooper is anticipated to open in 2022. (Rendering/Provided)

boat dockage and water taxi service. A groundbreaking ceremony for the hotel last month was attended by elected officials, community representatives and city leaders, including Gov. Henry McMaster, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, Explore Charleston CEO Helen Hill and Lowe co-CEO Robert J. Lowe Jr. Tecklenburg said, “The Cooper and the expansion of Joe Riley Waterfront Park

exemplify the positive impacts that take place when investors appreciate and work to improve our community’s landmarks.” Hill said the Lowe team’s design will be distinctively Charleston. “Highly regarded accommodations like The Cooper complement our strategy to identify and attract discerning travelers who want to experience the region’s unique attributes, from authentic history to thriving cultural arts to soul-stir-

ring landscapes,” Hill said. “For the local community, a full-service property like The Cooper becomes a civic benefit.” Lowe also announced at the groundbreaking ceremony the formation of the company’s Southeast regional office in Charleston. The office will be led by Senior Vice President Dan Battista. The company has owned and managed Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms for nearly 25 years, which Battista said makes Charleston an ideal home for its new regional office. “With this expansion, we anticipate diversifying and pursuing additional investment and development opportunities beyond the hospitality industry,” Battista said. “We are proud to help contribute to Charleston’s renaissance and make the city even more special while preserving its unique charm.” Lowe expects The Cooper to open in 2022. CRBJ

Reach staff writer Shamira McCray at 843-8493119 or @ShamiraTweets on Twitter.

New Coastal Corrugated owner sees acquisition as strategic fit By Patrick Hoff

phoff@scbiznews.com

orth Charleston-based Coastal Corrugated Inc. has been acquired by Atlantic Packaging, based in Wilmington, N.C. Coastal Corrugated, located on Coosaw Creek Boulevard, was founded in 1987 by Jim Bozard. The company manufactures large corrugated boxes for various manufacturing sectors, as well as custom protective packaging components for the automotive industry and automotive suppliers. Atlantic was founded in 1946 by journalist W. Horace Carter. The company has 25 regional locations, including Summer-

ville, Greenville, Charlotte and Atlanta, and employs approximately 1,200 people. Wes Carter, president of Atlantic Packaging and grandson of W. Horace Carter, said his company has had a relationship with Coastal Corrugated since Atlantic acquired a company in Summerville 15 years ago. “Coastal Corrugated had been a primary supplier ... to what then became Atlantic for our operations,” Carter said. “So we had an existing supplier-customer relationship that existed until just several months ago.” Coastal Corrugated specialized in custom corrugated products, which Atlantic Packaging did not do, and the two companies shared many customers.

When Cathy and Jim Bozard, the couple who previously owned Coastal Corrugated, approached Atlantic and told Carter that they were ready to retire, Carter said he knew Coastal fit with Atlantic’s strategic plans. The company “had always sort of envisioned having a corrugated sheet plant as part of our network, as part of our value proposition,” Carter said. “And it was kind of a perfect fit. We already knew a lot of the people over there, we knew the organization ... and it wasn’t far from our existing facility in Summerville.” Carter declined to disclose the price of the acquisition. He added that the North Charleston location is a logical connection point

between Atlantic’s new packaging solution center in Charlotte and 10 other facilities across the Carolinas and Georgia, and it allows the former Coastal Corrugated facility to use Atlantic’s 200,000-squarefoot warehouse in Summerville. Carter said he has no plans to merge the Summerville and North Charleston locations because of outstanding leases and the difficulties of moving a manufacturing facility. “What the two facilities do is so different that the synergies of having them under one roof, there would be some but not huge synergies,” he said. CRBJ

Reach staff writer Patrick Hoff at 843-849-3144 or @PatHoffCRBJ on Twitter.

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VANTAGE POINT

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In Focus

AUTOMOTIVE LISTS: Law Firms, Pages 21-23 | Bonus List: Companies Headquartered in Charleston Region, Page 24

Internet makes used vehicle sales easier for dealers, buyers

Driving the Economy The automotive sector has become one of the strongest drivers of manufacturing and service across the Palmetto State and the Southeast; but the industry also has sparked a surge in suppliers and provided a pipeline for high-quality workers.

Regional auto jobs State

Jobs

Florida

453,609

Tennessee

212,639

Georgia

220,310

North Carolina

198,151

Virginia

146,434

Alabama

133,337

South Carolina

113,265

Mississippi

68,687

S.C. autos by the numbers

$7.50 billion Value of total car sales in South Carolina in 2018

$5.88 billion

Above: Carvana customers buy cars online and have them delivered to their homes. (Photo/Carvana) Right: Randy Kennedy of Southern Motor Co. says the internet allows the dealership to reach more customers. (Photo/Southern Motor Co.)

By Patrick Hoff

phoff@scbiznews.com

im Gerow was running a Subaru dealership in 2007, working seven days a week, when he decided that he

needed to see his family more. “I called the owner ... and I just told him I wasn’t going to work for him every day of my life,” Gerow said. Shortly after that, he set up his own dealership, Charleston Auto Sales,

Labor income resulting from the automotive sector in S.C.

which he has run ever since. Though Gerow had enough clients at See ONLINE, Page 20

Manufacturing leaders: Automation won’t hurt S.C. jobs By Shamira McCray

smccray@scbiznews.com

outh Carolina recently was ranked as the seventh-most-likely state to lose jobs to automation, in a study commissioned by Kempler Industries. The study, performed by Digital Third Coast, showed that 30.5% of positions in

the state are considered most at risk for automation. Collin Czarnecki, a researcher and content strategist with Digital Third Coast, said Illinois-based Kempler is a facilitator for the purchase and sale of machinery, and it regularly conducts educational research related to manufacturing, to serve as education

insights for customers. The study showed that food preparation and serving workers, retail sales representatives, cashiers, industrial truck and tractor operators, and welders were among the positions in the state with the greatest potential See AUTOMATION, Page 18

$820 million

Vehicle use taxes in South Carolina, including gas taxes, licenses and fees.

$96 million

Value of total sales of parts and service for automotive work. Source: Auto Alliance

NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS:

Education and Workforce Development

IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE

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March 23 - April 5, 2020

AUTOMATION, from Page 17

of being replaced by automation. But even with automation, some S.C. industry leaders say there is still a need for skilled manufacturing workers. A statement from Boeing Co. said automation is implemented within the company in targeted areas where it reduces injuries for its people, improves safety and quality, and enhances productivity. The company’s approach combines new technologies with the most talented people to manage, design and build its products, the company said. “Automation can’t replace the innovative and flexible decision-making that employees bring to their jobs,” the statement said. “We will always need a highly trained and skilled workforce to design and build our products.” Technology brings a new set of skills to Boeing employees, the statement said, and gives them experience using advanced equipment. It also reduces physical demands and repetitive injuries. According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, some of the top emerging factory jobs for robots include drilling and fastening, inspection, welding and collaborative assembly. Dorchester County Economic Development Director John Truluck said automation of jobs doesn’t scare him, because that is the nature of how U.S. manufacturing survives. With automation comes increased investment, he said. “While it (automation) may reduce the numbers of jobs somewhat, the pay and the skillset for those jobs are steadily increasing,” Truluck said. There still need to be people who “keep the automation running,” Truluck said, and people who set up and run the technology. The Robert Bosch plant in the Low-

Computer numerical control machines, such as the ones at the S.C. Aeronautical Training Center in North Charleston, are used by many manufacturing companies. (Photo/Shamira McCray)

country, for example, is vastly different from when it started operating about 40 years ago, according to Truluck. And the Sundaram-Clayton USA manufacturing facility in Dorchester County is more automated than the facilities in India, he said, but they still have plans to hire 200 people. Sundaram-Clayton is part of the TVS Group, an automotive component manufacturing and distributing company in India. Catherine Hayes, manufacturing industry manager at SCRA, said she does not think the results from the Kempler study are a reflection of anything that is changing in South Carolina. Automotive manufacturing in the state largely grew from the establishment of the BMW site in Spartanburg, Hayes said, although Bosch and Michelin have been in the state much longer. “You know, the foreign-direct investment in the state from many countries,

they established plants from the ’90s forward that were highly automated,” Hayes said. “They didn’t bring over 50-year-old equipment. They brought over new equipment or bought new equipment here.” South Carolina is a highly automated manufacturing state, with state-of-the art facilities across the state that hire and train technical workers. So automation is not a bad thing, according to Hayes. There is still a need for “high-tech people” to run, troubleshoot and repair equipment, as well as people to find new ways of doing things. “I think one of the expressions I’ve heard — and this is more specific to robotics — it replaces the dull, dirty and dangerous jobs. So things that humans may not even want to be doing or shouldn’t be doing can be automated,” Hayes said. “So I don’t look at this, personally and more from an industry side, as being a negative

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that things are automated.” She said automation helps companies reduce costs and standardize procedures. Manufacturing work could change as a result of automation; but work is not being eliminated, she said. “You may increase the type of work or the type of education that’s required, you know, from automation,” Hayes said. “And in that way, I think we really rely on our technical college system and our four-year university systems to provide the right kind of people for that.” SCRA’s mission is to fuel the state’s innovation economy, and it supports industries with academic research. Through SC Launch, the authority funds and fosters entrepreneurship. Hayes said SCRA funds pilot projects with small technology companies through Demonstration Grants to solve manufacturing challenges, which create higher-paying technology jobs. The criteria for the pilot projects require that there be matching funds from an industry partner to solve an industry challenge. “So, by us helping an industry partner pilot a new technology, they actually create new t echnology jobs,” Hayes said. “And another condition of the grant is that it be scalable, so they’re going to apply it to more than one line or more than one plant, sometimes even out of state. “So that helps the technology firm grow. It increases the number of technology jobs. And these are all much higher paying jobs than, say, you know, an operator level.” Positive results from the Demonstration Grants have a direct impact not just on manufacturers, but also on entrepreneurial firms and creating new tech jobs, Hayes said.

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The S.C. Automotive Summit discussed the uncertainty of the global trade market while highlighting new opportunities in technology and industry educational programs. (Photo/Molly Hulsey)

Automotive Summit draws record crowd to discuss new technology and trade By Molly Hulsey

mhulsey@scbiznews.com

he S.C. Automotive Council’s ninth S.C. Automotive Summit attracted more than 450 industry leaders late last month to Greenville’s Hyatt Regency for what Amy Tinsley, the council’s executive director, called a record-breaking event. With South Carolina’s status as the largest tire and value-based vehicle exporter in the country, the conference acknowledged uncertainty on the global market while highlighting new opportunities in technology and industry educational programs. More than 60 booths ringed the conference area throughout the three-day event, linking suppliers, educational programs, economic developers and a variety of other professionals based in the state with companies farther afield. “This is the premiere automotive event for the state of South Carolina,” said John Lummus, president and CEO of Upstate SC Alliance, noting that the event’s link to the S.C. Department of Commerce is also a draw, as well as the event speakers. “A lot of companies come in for this event. It really is just the place to be in the automotive industry. Because automotive is one of our top targets that we recruit and market for, it is very important for us to be here and interact with these companies.” Upstate SC Alliance, CU-ICAR, Draexlmaier, IBM, KPMG, Charleston County Economic Development, Freudenberg Performance Materials and Apprenticeship Carolina were a few event exhibitors. A business-to-business matchmaker event coordinated by the Commerce Department jump-started the summit on Feb. 26 by introducing 200 to 250 suppliers to tier one suppliers and original equipment manufacturers based in the state. Continental Tire, Michelin, Volvo, Cableco, Honda, Van Hool, JTEKT and Mergon were several of the tier one suppliers and OEMs with procurement representatives at the matchmaker event.

According to Chuck Bundy, key accounts and special projects deputy director at the Commerce Department, by the next day a handful of companies already credited the event for linking them to the “who” behind a project, often a challenge when dealing with large companies like BMW or Michelin. This is the sixth year Commerce has hosted the matchmaker event. Addresses from Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and an overview of the industry’s history in the state by S.C. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt bookended industry experts and panel discussions on trends in international trade, workforce development and economic development site selection. “We always try to touch on a lot of topics that are the most current issues and trends in the automotive industry and the changing landscape of mobility with autonomous, electrified, shared and connected technologies,” Tinsley said. “We like to look at all aspects of the industry and have a little something for everybody.” KPMG partner Gary Silberg discussed opportunities brought by semiconductor technology and quantum computing through his presentation “Automotive semiconductors: The new ICE age.” “Today, the computer chip market for the auto industry is around $40 billion,” he said. “We’re projecting it to grow by 2040 to over $200 billion.” Lisa Errion Saums, vice president of BMW’s government affairs department in the United States, stressed BMW’s commitment to sustainability and free trade during her keynote. She said the company is also offering customers choices in new technology. “We have 100-plus years of making internal combustion engines, the ultimate driving machine, and we won’t change that as our company brand and our company value, but we also are shifting toward ever more electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles and every other component of technology,” Saums said. CRBJ

Reach staff writer Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1223.

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the time to start the business, he said he wouldn’t have made the decision to set off on his own if he didn’t have the internet as a resource. “I wouldn’t have made it,” he said. “There’s no way, not with one person, because ... I don’t do any billboard advertising, or any television or radio, or any electronic media as far as the normal advertising. It’s all internet for me.” Car dealerships across the Charleston region say the internet has given customers better access to information, which makes selling cars easier. “It gives us prospective buyers that we’ve not ever had a chance to see before,” said Randy Kennedy, sales manager at Southern Motor Co. in North Charleston. “People that we may not have ever gotten to talk to because they’re in a different state, sometimes even a different country.” Gerow said his customers sometimes know more about the vehicle than he does because of the amount of research they’ve done — also on the internet. “The internet allows them to do research in a way more convenient and timely fashion and not just go into the car lot blindfolded and hope for the best or try to negotiate a deal,” he said. All that information can sometimes make it harder to sell a vehicle, Gerow said, but it also allows him to run his dealership in a more hands-off way. “The customers do all the work here,” he said. “Like I might give them a set of keys and put a temp tag on their template. But they walk around the lot with the website pulled up on their phones ... and most of the time I don’t even go out there.” Sometimes Gerow will lose a client because of this approach, he said, but most customers enjoy it because they can spend time looking at the cars without a salesperson breathing down their neck or twisting their arm. “It’s the opposite of what I was trained to do my entire adult life,” Gerow said. Another change in the business of selling cars is the amount of knowledge that younger car-buyers now have, years before they can legally get their license. “I mean, they have their smartphones out, they know as much about my inventory, if not more, than I do,” Gerow said. “And I’ll just point to them. If the parents ask me a question, I’ll just point to the 13-year-old and he or she will know the answer. If they don’t, they can have it in 10 seconds.” Kennedy said the internet has also forced dealerships to focus on customer service instead of how much money they’re making on each automobile. “It makes good service more prevalent,” he said. “You can’t do the things that dealerships in the olden days used to do and just try to just beat on people and

March 23 - April 5, 2020

abuse them into buying a car, make them feel bad about buying a car, or in some dealerships that I’ve even dealt with ... that you should feel privileged to buy a car from them because of how big they are.” Online reviews have also influenced the way dealerships operate. “If you have all bad reviews or mostly bad reviews, that’s another speed bump that’s probably going to make them try another dealership,” he said. Gerow set up his system so that when he posts vehicles on his website, it populates marketplaces, such as AutoTrader, Kelly Blue Book and CarGurus. He said that is the only way he’s able to be successful. “That’s the only way I can do this by myself,” he said. “I have ... a title clerk and she helps me buy the cars. That’s probably the most time-consuming.” Kennedy said some might believe buying vehicles online and having them delivered is the way of the future, similar to the way national company Carvana operates, but he doesn’t think it’ll work for used vehicles. “I think that the internet is a great way to do your research and get ideas of what you’re looking for,” Kennedy said. “But to purchase a pre-owned vehicle without driving it, without looking at it, I don’t think that that’s going to end up being the final way that everybody ends up handling everything.” Amy O’Hara, associate director of communications for Carvana, said the automotive market is fragmented, and Carvana is trying to fill a specific niche. “There are a lot of players doing a lot of different things,” O’Hara said. “We’d like to feel like we are the present — not necessarily just the future — but the present of the opportunity that customers have for car buying.” Carvana allows customers to inspect used vehicles in a 360-degree view online before purchasing it and having it delivered to their home. The company also allows a customer to return an automobile within seven days for any reason. “You don’t get that with a test drive, kind of the four right turns around the dealership block,” O’Hara said. “So a seven-day return policy gives customers the peace of mind but also the opportunity to confirm this is the car for them.” Kennedy says he sees the internet as just another platform to provide good service to people. “The car business is going to constantly change, but in the end, even with the internet, you still have to provide a service and provide a customer experience that is above everybody else’s and make sure that you take care of your clients,” Kennedy said. CRBJ

Reach staff writer Patrick Hoff at 843-849-3144 or @PatHoffCRBJ on Twitter.

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March 23 - April 5, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 21

Law Firms

Ranked by No. of Attorneys in the Charleston Area Firm

Phone / Website / Email

Managing Partner(s) / Year Founded

Attorneys / Total Employees Practice Areas

Motley Rice LLC 28 Bridgeside Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-216-9000 www.motleyrice.com -

Joseph F. Rice 2003

113 326

Antitrust, appellate, bankruptcy, civil, commercial, consumer, environmental, government relations, international, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, personal injury, securities, torts, transportation, anti-terrorism, human rights, asbestos, mesothelioma, aviation, catastrophic injury, medical, occupational disease, toxic tort, consumer fraud, whistleblowers

Young Clement Rivers LLP 25 Calhoun St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-4000 www.ycrlaw.com krussell@ycrlaw.com

Wilbur E. Johnson 1965

44 100

Administrative, appellate, business, civil, commercial, construction, consumer, corporate, economic development, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, estate planning and probate, family, government relations, health care, litigation, maritime and admiralty, personal injury, real estate, tax, torts, transportation, workers' compensation

Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP 5 Exchange St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-576-5545 www.womblebonddickinson.com -

Elizabeth O. Temple, James D. Myrick 1876

43 71

Administrative, antitrust, appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, commercial, construction, corporate, economic development, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, estate planning and probate, government relations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, international, litigation, maritime and admiralty, mergers and acquisitions, public finance, real estate, securities, tax, telecom and technology, torts, transportation, fintech

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

41 73

K&L Gates LLP 134 Meeting St., Suite 500 Charleston, SC 29401

843-579-5600 www.klgates.com -

Walker Coleman IV 2011

31 51

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A. 134 Meeting St., 3rd Floor Charleston, SC 29401

843-722-3366 www.hsblawfirm.com info@hsblawfirm.com

James H. "Jeddie" Suddeth III, Joseph D. Clark, Boyd B. "Nick" Nicholson Jr. 1887

27 57

Administrative, antitrust, appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, commercial, construction, consumer, corporate, economic development, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, estate planning and probate, family, government relations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, international, litigation, maritime and admiralty, mergers and acquisitions, personal injury, public finance, real estate, securities, tax, telecom and technology, torts, transportation

Copeland, Stair, Kingma & Lovell LLP 40 Calhoun St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401

843-727-0307 www.cskl.law rpetit@cskl.law

Paul E. Sperry 2002

26 55

Administrative, appellate, banking and finance, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, environmental, health care, intellectual property, litigation, personal injury

Hood Law Firm LLC 172 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-4435 www.hoodlaw.com info@hoodlaw.com

Robert H. Hood Jr. 1985

25 52

Civil, construction, employment and labor, maritime and admiralty, personal injury, torts

Moore & Van Allen PLLC 78 Wentworth St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-579-7000 www.mvalaw.com -

H. Manning Unger 1997

25 46

Administrative, antitrust, appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, economic development, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, estate planning and probate, government relations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, litigation, maritime and admiralty, mergers and acquisitions, public finance, real estate, securities, tax, telecom and technology, torts, transportation

McAngus Goudelock & Courie LLC 735 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 200 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-576-2900 www.mgclaw.com -

James R. Courie 1995

23 50

Appellate, business, civil, commercial, construction, employee benefits, employment and labor, estate planning and probate, litigation, maritime and admiralty, real estate, torts, transportation, workers' compensation, trucking, slander, defamation, SIU, arson and fraud, professional liability, products liability, premises liability, nursing home liability, government liability, director and officer liability, coverage, commercial litigation, bad faith, adulterated food

Nexsen Pruet LLC 205 King St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-9440 www.nexsenpruet.com cwarner@nexsenpruet.com

George Bullwinkel, Paul A. Dominick 1945

22 44

Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman 1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-727-6500 www.rpwb.com marketing@rpwb.com

Jerry H. Evans 2002

21 90

Antitrust, civil, construction, consumer, employment and labor, environmental, litigation, personal injury, securities, torts, product liability, asbestos, mesothelioma, class actions, vehicle defect

Willson Jones Carter & Baxley P.A. 421 Wando Park Blvd., Suite 100 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-284-1080 www.wjcblaw.com kmsmith@wjlaw.net

Johnnie W. Baxley 2003

20 41

Litigation, workers' compensation

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 Jr. 1938

19 45

Administrative, antitrust, appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, economic development, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, estate planning and probate, government relations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, litigation, maritime and admiralty, personal injury, real estate, telecom and technology, torts, transportation, workers' compensation, alternative dispute resolutions, mediations

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

Banking and finance, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, criminal, economic development, employment and labor, estate planning and probate, family, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, personal injury, real estate, securities, torts

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein 200 Meeting St., Suite 301 Charleston, SC 29401

843-727-2650 www.parkerpoe.com parkerpoe@parkerpoe.com

Robert C. Byrd, J. Ashley Cooper 1884

17 35

Administrative, antitrust, appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, economic development, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, estate planning and probate, government relations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, international, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, public finance, real estate, securities, tax, telecom and technology, torts

Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early LLC 321 East Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-722-7733 www.piercesloan.com marygrondines@piercesloan.com

James G. Kennedy 1999

13 33

Business, civil, commercial, construction, litigation, personal injury, asbestos defense

Rosen Hagood 151 Meeting St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-6726 www.rrhlawfirm.com bhill@rrhlawfirm.com

Brew Hagood, Andrew Gowdown 1947

13 28

Administrative, appellate, bankruptcy, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, employment and labor, estate planning and probate, family, government relations, litigation, personal injury, real estate, securities, torts, education

Weeks & Irvine LLC 8086 Rivers Ave., Suite B North Charleston, SC 29406

843-553-9800 www.weekslawfirm.net rirvine@weekslawfirm.net

Mark W. Weeks, Robert L. Irvine III, Joseph W. Kessinger 2011

13 93

Estate planning and probate, real estate

Joye Law Firm 5861 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406

www.joyelawfirm.com gethelp@joyelawfirm.com

Ken W. Harrell 1968

12 30

Personal injury, workers' compensation

Burr Forman McNair 100 Calhoun St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29401

843-723-7831 www.burr.com -

Jennifer Blumenthal 1987

11 22

Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes P.A. 15 Middle Atlantic Wharf Charleston, SC 29401

843-937-8000 www.tktlawyers.com lindsey@tktlawyers.com

Paul R. Thurmond 2005

11 24

Appellate, business, civil, commercial, construction, criminal, litigation, personal injury, DUI and driving offenses, construction law, HOA, medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability

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, estate planning and probate, litigation, real estate

Administrative, antitrust, appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, civil, commercial, construction, consumer, corporate, criminal, economic development, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, estate planning and probate, family, government relations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, international, litigation, maritime and admiralty, mergers and acquisitions, personal injury, public finance, real estate, securities, Social Security, tax, telecom and technology, torts, transportation, workers' compensation Antitrust, appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, economic development, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, health care, immigration, intellectual property, international, litigation, maritime and admiralty, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, securities, tax, telecom and technology, torts, transportation, resort, hospitality and leisure, energy, automotive, aerospace, aviation, agribusiness, manufacturing, foreign direct investment, FDA investigations, enforcement, white collar, false claims act litigation

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. View the full list online at www.scbiznews.com/buybusiness-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

Researched by Business Journal staff

IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE

www.charlestonbusiness.com

March 23 - April 5, 2020

Law Firms

Ranked by No. of Attorneys in the Charleston Area Firm

Phone / Website / Email

Managing Partner(s) / Year Founded

Attorneys / Total Employees Practice Areas

Finkel Law Firm LLC 4000 Faber Place Drive, Suite 450 North Charleston, SC 29405

843-577-5460 www.finkellaw.com -

Robertson H Wendt, Sean A O'Connor, Gerald M. Finkel 1970

10 43

Administrative, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, civil, commercial, consumer, corporate, estate planning and probate, litigation, personal injury, real estate, Social Security, torts, disability

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

Appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, commercial, construction, corporate, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, estate planning and probate, health care, immigration, intellectual property, international, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, public finance, real estate, tax, community associations, cannabis law policy, sports and entertainment

Turner Padget Graham & Laney P.A. 40 Calhoun St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29401

843-576-2800 www.turnerpadget.com tmani@turnerpadget.com

David S. Cobb 1929

10 26

Administrative, antitrust, appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, criminal, economic development, employee benefits, employment and labor, environmental, estate planning and probate, health care, immigration, litigation, maritime and admiralty, mergers and acquisitions, personal injury, real estate, securities, tax, torts, transportation, workers' compensation

Luzuriaga Mims LLP 50 Immigration St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29403

843-410-4713 www.lmlawllp.com eluzuriaga@lmlawllp.com

Kevin W. Mims, Elizabeth B. Luzuriaga 2011

9 16

Civil, construction, litigation, maritime and admiralty, torts, transportation, workers' compensation, eminent domain

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

8 16

Antitrust, appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, commercial, construction, corporate, employment and labor, litigation, torts, transportation, workers' compensation

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

6 25

Estate planning and probate, real estate

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 42

Personal injury, torts, workers' compensation, nursing home abuse

PMC Law Firm 504 W. 5th North St. Summerville, SC 29483

843-871-9500 www.provencemesservy.com inquiry@pmclawfirm.com

Tiffany N. Provence, James H. Messervy Sr. 2008

6 10

Civil, criminal, estate planning and probate, family, litigation, personal injury, fiduciary litigation

Rogers Townsend LLC 177 Meeting St., Suite 320 Charleston, SC 29401

843-737-8668 J. Geoffrey Osborn Jr. www.rogerstownsend.com tina.emerson@rogerstownsend.com 1984

6 10

Appellate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, economic development, environmental, health care, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, torts, transportation

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, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, litigation, personal injury, torts, probate and wills

Butler Snow LLP 25 Calhoun St., Suite 250 Charleston, SC 29401

843-277-3700 www.butlersnow.com -

Christopher R. Maddux 2019

5 7

Appellate, banking and finance, commercial, construction, litigation, maritime and admiralty, torts, transportation, insurance

Buxton and 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

5 12

Business, commercial, corporate, estate planning and probate, international, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, securities, tax

Ford Wallace Thomson LLC 500 Huger St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-277-2011 Ian.Ford@FordWallace.com

Ian S. Ford 2009

5 7

Appellate, business, civil, construction, corporate, health care, litigation, personal injury, torts

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, appellate, civil, construction, consumer, litigation, maritime and admiralty, torts, transportation

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, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, criminal, estate planning and probate, family, litigation, personal injury, real estate, torts, workers' compensation

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, personal injury, torts, workers' compensation

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, consumer, litigation

McCullough Khan LLC 359 King St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29401

843-937-0400 www.mklawsc.com jamie@mklawsc.com

Clayton B. McCullough, Jamie A. Khan 2011

4 6

Appellate, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, personal injury, telecom and technology, torts, privacy and data 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, appellate, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, criminal, employment and labor, estate planning and probate, family, health care, litigation, maritime and admiralty, personal injury, Social Security, torts, workers' compensation

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, civil, family, litigation, personal injury, torts, wrongful death

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, civil, commercial, construction, consumer, criminal, estate planning and probate, litigation, maritime and admiralty, personal injury, torts, workers' compensation

Bybee & Tibbals LLC 735 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-881-1623 www.bybeetibbals.com -

Richard D. Bybee 2017

3 6

Litigation, condemnation, eminent domain

Cooper & Bilbrey P.C. 1476 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Suite 11 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-883-9099 www.jhcooper.com info@jhcooper.com

John Townsend Cooper 1984

3 5

Business, civil, construction, litigation, maritime and admiralty, personal injury, torts, transportation

Researched by Business Journal staff

IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE

March 23 - April 5, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 23

Law Firms

Ranked by No. of Attorneys in the Charleston Area Firm

Phone / Website / Email

Managing Partner(s) / Year Founded

Attorneys / Total Employees Practice Areas

Joseph C. Good III PA 409 Coleman Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-412-1401 www.joegoodlaw.com joe@joegoodlaw.com

Joe Good III 2007

3 3

Civil, criminal, personal injury

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

Civil, criminal, personal injury, torts, workers' compensation, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, white collar crime

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 Jr. 1992

3 7

Bankruptcy, consumer, estate planning and probate, real estate

Tecklenburg & Jenkins LLC 1819 Meeting Street Road, Suite 150 Charleston, SC 29413

843-534-2628 www.tecklaw.net -

Paul Tecklenburg 2001

3 6

Business, civil, construction, corporate, international, litigation, maritime and admiralty, personal injury, torts, transportation

Bloodgood & Sanders LLC 242 Mathis Ferry Road, Suite 201 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-972-0313 Nancy Bloodgood, Lucy www.bloodgoodsanders.com Sanders nbloodgood@bloodgoodsanders.com 2016

2 3

Civil, employment and labor, litigation

Griffin Humphries LLC 2113 Middle St., Suite 305 Sullivans Island, SC 29482

843-883-7424 -

Badge Humphries, James M. Griffin 2020

2 3

Administrative, business, civil, commercial, health care, litigation, personal injury, torts

Occam Immigration 174 East Bay St., Suite 302 Charleston, SC 29401

843-804-4844 www.occamimmigration.com hello@occamimmigration.com

David Vyborny 2015

2 4

Immigration

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

2 3

Criminal, estate planning and probate, family, litigation, personal injury, workers' compensation

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, corporate, estate planning and probate, mergers and acquisitions, tax

Shelbourne Law 131 E. Richardson Ave. Summerville, SC 29483

843-871-2210 www.shelbournelaw.com info@shelbournelaw.com

P. Brandt Shelbourne 1997

2 6

Appellate, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, estate planning and probate, litigation, personal injury, torts, certified mediator

Torres Law Firm PA 604 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29407

843-720-3732 www.torreslawfirm.net mtorres@torreslawfirm.net

Claire Xidis Torres, Marco T. Torres 2005

2 5

Criminal, immigration

Wilkes Law Firm P.A. 200 Meeting St., Suite 205 Charleston, SC 29401

843-237-6229 www.wilkeslaw.com -

Michael B. T. Wilkes 2007

2 3

Administrative, business, civil, construction, litigation, personal injury, torts, transportation, insurance law, aviation law

Young & Young, Attorneys at Law LLC 455.5 King St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-724-1563 www.adamyounglawfirm.com Kelley@younglawfirmsc.com

Kelley Young, Adam Young 2013

2 3

Business, civil, criminal, litigation, personal injury, torts

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, appellate, business, civil, commercial, construction, corporate, estate planning and probate, litigation

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

Employment and labor

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, civil, commercial, corporate, criminal, estate planning and probate, family, immigration, intellectual property, litigation, personal injury, real estate, Social Security, tax, torts, workers' compensation

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, criminal, estate planning and probate, family, personal injury, real estate, workers' compensation, business real estate closings

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

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 II 2007

1 6

Real estate

Sausser Summers PC 2 Rosedale Drive Charleston, SC 29407

843-654-0078 Sausser www.onlinetrademarkattorneys.com Brent info@onlinetrademarkattorneys.com 2013

1 1

Intellectual property

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, family

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, corporate, intellectual property, trademark law, copyright law, internet 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 Jr. 2005

1 4

Intellectual property, trade secret law, freedom-to-operate analysis

Researched by Business Journal staff

IN FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE

www.charlestonbusiness.com

March 23 - April 5, 2020

Headquarters Facilities

Companies with Headquarters in the Charleston Region, Ranked by No. of Employees Company

Phone / Website

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Roper St. Francis Healthcare 125 Doughty St., Charleston, SC 29403

843-724-2000 www.rsfh.com

Jim Berg 1852

Trident Health 9330 Medical Plaza Drive, Charleston, SC 29406

843-797-7000 www.tridenthealthsystem.com

Blackbaud 65 Fairchild St., Charleston, SC 29492

Employees / Type of HQ

Product / Service

5,900 US

671-bed health system includes four hospitals and more than 110 facilities, not-for-profit organization focused on community outreach

Todd Gallati 1975

1,700 Division

A 445-bed acute care hospital specializing in trauma, emergency, cardiovascular, thoracic, oncology, neuro, orthopedic, general surgery and psychiatric services

843-216-6200 www.blackbaud.com

Mike Gianoni 1981

1,400 World

Cloud software company powering social good

Carolina One Real Estate Services 4024 Salt Pointe Parkway, Charleston, SC 29405

843-200-2000 www.carolinaonerealestate.com

Michael C. Scarafile, Steve Wray 1964

1,100 -

Full service real estate, residential and commercial listings and sales, new homes sales, mortgage, insurance, relocation, property management and vacation rental services

Ingevity 5255 Virginia Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406

844-643-8489 www.ingevity.com

D. Michael Wilson 1948

546 World

Provides specialty chemicals, high-performance carbon materials and engineered polymers

Gildan USA Inc. 1980 Clements Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29492

843-743-4798 www.gildan.com

Michael Schroeder, Steven Moore, Rodney Tesh 2010

S.C. Federal Credit Union 2175 Credit Union Lane, North Charleston, SC 29406

843-797-8300 www.scfederal.org

R. Scott Woods 1936

Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community 1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412

843-762-3300 www.bishopgadsden.org

Sarah E.H. Tipton 1850

The GEL Group Inc. 2040 Savage Road, Charleston, SC 29407

843-556-8171 www.gel.com

James M. Stelling, Joseph M. Hodgson Jr. 1981

350 US

Analytical testing, environmental consulting, civil engineering and geophysical engineering services

Mediterranean Shipping Co. (USA) Inc. 700 Watermark Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-971-4100 www.msc.com/usa

Sergio Fedelini, Christopher Parvin 1993

350 U.S.

South Atlantic corporate headquarters; shipping line

Landmark Construction Co. Inc. 3255 Industry Drive, North Charleston, SC 29418

843-552-6186 www.landmark-sc.com

Cynthia Mixson, Rick Mixson 1965

284 Corporate

Heavy civil construction; site work construction and cast-in-place concrete construction services in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia; key aspects of site work self-performed are earthwork grading, storm drainage

The Urban Electric Co. 2120 Noisette Blvd., North Charleston, SC 29405

843-723-8140 www.urbanelectric.com

Dave Dawson 2002

278 Corporate

Designer and manufacturer of high-end, handcrafted light fixtures; traditional craftsmanship with modern manufacturing techniques; each fixture is benchmade; 160,000 sq. ft headquarters in the Old Naval Yard

Motley Rice LLC 28 Bridgeside Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-216-9000 www.motleyrice.com

Joseph F. Rice 2003

259 Corporate

Attorneys at law

Call Experts 1591 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407

843-724-0000 www.callexperts.com

Abby Leibowitz 1982

250 Corporate

Customized call center services

Gulf Stream Construction Co. Inc. 1983 Technology Drive, Charleston, SC 29492

843-572-4363 www.gulfstreamconstruction.com

Mark Hylton, Matt Arrants, Matt Blackwood 1963

239 Corporate

General site contractor

TranSouth Logistics 4210 Azalea Drive, Charleston, SC 29405

706-658-3050 www.tran-south.com

Winston White 1865

Kion North America Corp. 2450 W. Fifth North St., Summerville, SC 29483

843-875-8000 www.kion-na.com

Vincent Halma, Max Heller, Daniel Schlegel 1985

360clean 670 Marina Drive, Suite 101, Charleston, SC 29492

843-552-0116 www.360clean.com

Barry Bodiford, Allison Bodiford, Brent Bodiford 2005

200 Corporate

Quality Touch Janitorial Service Inc. 7252 Investment Drive, North Charleston, SC 29418

843-552-7303 www.qualitytouchjanitorial.com

John H. Brown, Gina M. Stone, Denise MacPherson 1989

200 -

Home Telecom 579 Stoney Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461

888-746-4482 www.HomeSC.com

William Helmly 1904

180 Corporate

High speed internet (up to 1 gbps), HD cable TV, 24/7 security, home automation and telephone services

Middleton Place 4300 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414

843-556-6020 www.middletonplace.org

M. Tracey Todd 1741

175 Nonprofit

18th-century plantation, America's oldest landscaped gardens, house museum and plantation stableyards with indoor and outdoor reception sites

Sonepar USA 4400 Leeds Ave., Suite 500, Charleston, SC 29405

843-872-3500 www.soneparusa.com

Rob Taylor 1998

ArborGen Inc. 2011 Broadbank Court, Ridgeville, SC 29472

843-851-4129 www.arborgen.com

Andrew Baum 2000

Jeff Cook Real Estate 10040 Dorchester Road, Suite 101, Summerville, SC 29485

843-225-2005 www.jeffcookrealestate.com

Jeff Cook, Kris McDonagh, Ricky Thomas 2007

146 -

Pegasus Steel LLC 1 Alliance Drive, Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-737-9900 www.pegasussteel.com

Tony Deering, Portia Sisk, Sonya Mitchum Joyner 2007

140 North American

Cullum Constructors Inc. 3325 Pacific St., North Charleston, SC 29418

843-554-6645 www.culluminc.com

R. Christopher Cullum, F. Joseph Fisher 1999

Ceterus 804 Meeting St., Suite 201, Charleston, SC 29403

800-571-6119 www.ceterus.com

Levi Morehouse 2008

105 -

Automated accounting and bookkeeping, financial and non-financial industry and brand benchmarking, automated financial insights, franchisor reporting, tax return prep and filing

Synovus 158 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29401

843-724-7023 www.synovus.com

Charles W. Garnett, Tyre Moore 1905

93 -

Georgia-chartered, FDIC-insured bank, provides commercial and retail banking, investment and mortgage services through 300 branches in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee

Life Cycle Engineering Inc. 4360 Corporate Road, North Charleston, SC 29405

843-744-7110 www.lce.com

Bob Fei 1976

91 Corporate

Engineering and applied technology solutions

AstenJohnson 4399 Corporate Road, Charleston, SC 29405

843-747-7800 www.astenjohnson.com

Kevin Franks 1987

70 Corporate

Global manufacturer for the paper industry, supplying paper machine clothing like press fabrics, forming fabrics, dryer fabrics and other advanced filtration fabrics to paper mills and pulp mills

487 Corporate

Manufacturer of basic apparel, markets its products in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, portfolio of company-owned brands

428 -

Full range of financial services including savings and investments, checking, credit cards and loans; notfor-profit and exist only for the financial benefit of our membership

400 Corporate

Life plan retirement community on 120 acres of marshland and oaks on James Island, 10 minutes from downtown; nationally recognized for architectural design and programs

238 223 North American

170 North American 160 World

138 Corporate

Sources: Business Journal research and Charleston Regional Development Alliance. Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. View the full list online at www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

Logistics Assembly of forklifts and pallet jacks; distributor of parts for material handling equipment Janitorial services, commercial cleaning Janitorial service

North American headquarters; business-to-business supplier of electrical and safety products R&D and commercialization of tree genetics; nurseries, seed orchards, distribution centers & R&D facilities in US, Australia, New Zealand & Brazil Real estate Cutting and forming of carbon steel and stainless and aluminum plates and sheets; North American headquarters; designs, develops and manufactures blast- and ballistic-protected wheeled vehicles; blast technology and counter-IED research Mechanical construction including plumbing, pipe-fitting, duct-work installation and HVAC installation

Researched by Business Journal staff

At Work

BUSINESS DIGEST | PEOPLE IN THE NEWS | HOT PROPERTIES | PEER TO PEER

People in the News

Business Digest

STAFFING

Spinx opens store in Summerville The Spinx Co. has opened Spinx No. 378 at 930 W. Fifth North St. in Summerville. The new store will include a full-service kitchen and a tunnel wash. This location will also serve made-to-order milkshakes, smoothies and soft-serve ice cream in addition to its existing offerings of fountain drinks, slushies and “chewy ice.”

ECCO receives $8,000 grant from Sisters of Charity Foundation of S.C.

East Cooper Community Outreach has been awarded an $8,000 grant from the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. The funds will support the organization’s mission to provide safety net services to low-income residents while empowering them.

makerspace, which is the first certified early childhood “Fab Lab” in the Southeast. Experiences include open-ended tinkering and pre-defined projects using a range of tools and workspaces. The exhibit will be in one of nine new spaces planned as part of the Make & Believe fundraising campaign to remodel the museum.

Mortgage company offers down payment aid via Freddie Mac

S.C. Ports wins international awards for port performance

United Community Mortgage Services is now participating in the Freddie Mac BorrowSmart Program. The program gives qualifying homebuyers up to $2,500 to help cover down payment or closing costs. The assistance amount is determined by the median income in the borrower’s area; it may fund up to 100% of the required cash to close.

Children’s Museum receives $100,000 donation from Dominion Energy

Dominion Energy has donated $100,000 to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry for the new Circuits exhibit, which allows children to explore, build and discover how circuits power everyday objects. It is located in the museum’s new

The Journal of Commerce ranked the Port of Charleston first for overall productivity in the midsize ports category for North American ports. The Wando Welch Terminal was rated first for overall productivity — defined by the average number of container moves per crane per hour while a ship is at berth — in the midsize terminals category. The Wando Welch Terminal recently underwent a three-year refurbishment; by the end of the year, it will have 15 ship-to-shore cranes with 155 feet of lift height and 65 rubber-tired gantry cranes. A 52-foot depth in Charleston Harbor is expected to be achieved in 2021. The deepening project will also benefit S.C. Ports’ new container terminal, the Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. Terminal, which will open in 2021 and will double port capacity at full buildout. In addition, the Smith-Columbia plant in Hopkins has signed with Fluor-Lane South Carolina to build a noise wall and posts for the Leatherman terminal project. As part of the $220 million access road portion of the $762 million port project, Smith-Columbia will pro-

duce 30,000 square feet of reflective precast concrete noise wall panels and 1,600 linear feet of precast concrete posts.

Park West Veterinary Associates expands hours, offers urgent care

Park West Veterinary Associates has extended its hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Urgent care will also be available at the Mount Pleasant veterinarian’s office.

Coldwell Banker raises over $100,000 for American Cancer Society

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in the Carolinas raised more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in 2019. The company served as the sponsor of walks in Charlotte and Charleston, as well as the Makin’ Strokes in the Oaks golf tournament in Summerville.

Charleston Area Senior Citizens receives gifts from Boeing, Subway

Charleston Area Senior Citizens has received a donation of 250 boxed meals See BUSINESS DIGEST, Page 26

Dunhill Staffing Systems has promoted Katie Henderson to president and David Abner to vice president. Henderson, a Clemson graduate, is an owner in Henderson the company. In her new role, she will direct the company’s operations and play an active role in client development and retention. Abner joined Dunhill in 2017 and has worked primarily to identify Abner candidates for Dunhill’s large aircraft manufacturing client. In his new role, Abner will actively recruit and direct Dunhill’s recruitment activities, including staff hiring, development and management.

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM Mixson Club has hired Jen Heathfield as general manager. Heathfield previously served as assistant manager of the I’On Club in Mount Pleasant. She graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in health with a minor in psychology. Chef Jamie Lynch, a partner of Charleston’s 5Church, is competing on Top Chef’s season 17. He previously competed in season 14. Lynch

The International African American Museum has appointed Vernita Brown, James Hairston, the Rev. Isaac Holt Jr. and Heather Williams to threeHairston year terms on its board of directors. Brown is a founding team member, as well as director of human resources and operations, at Charleston-based Natalist. She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from See PEOPLE, Page 27

www.charlestonbusiness.com

BUSINESS DIGEST, from Page 25

from Subway and a grant of $4,900 from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing. Both donations will provide home-delivered meals to seniors through Meals on Wheels of Charleston. The current waiting list for the program ranges from 100 to 150 seniors who are not receiving meal delivery until funding becomes available.

Painting with a Twist wine and art location opens in Summerville

A new Painting with a Twist studio has opened in Suite B at 2551 N. Main St. in Summerville. Owned and operated by Aubrie and Nathan Smith, this studio offers wine and a painting session with guidance from a local artist. The store offers a variety of events and can accommodate up to 60 people.

South Side Bait and Tackle closes

South Side Bait and Tackle on Johns Island has closed after six years of business. Owner Kyle Comen said he is pursuing other opportunities and spending more time with family.

TeamLogic IT opens on East Bay Street in Charleston

TeamLogic IT, a national provider of managed IT services and support for businesses, has opened an office at 215 East Bay St. in Charleston. The branch is owned by Denise Kaufman and will provide comprehensive IT services to businesses of all sizes in the Lowcountry. The location is hiring technicians and administrative support staff.

The Ark nonprofit given $200,000 by Dorchester County lawmakers

The Ark has received a donation of $200,000 from the Dorchester County Legislative Delegation. With these new funds, The Ark is more than halfway toward its goal of raising $600,000 for ownership of The Ark House.

March 23 - April 5, 2020

are indoors, and the location incorporates an interactive 3D touchscreen design studio where customers can build custom golf carts.

Settlement at Ashley Hall selected as Southern Living Inspired Community

The Settlement at Ashley Hall has been selected as a Southern Living Inspired Community. Southern Living Inspired Communities is a collection of neighborhoods “marked by charm, taste and Southern spirit.” The Settlement at Ashley Hall is a new riverfront neighborhood of Lowcountry-style homes near Historic Downtown Charleston. It consists of 47 homesites, including nine large riverfront lots on a bluff along the Ashley River, as well as a dog park, deepwater dock, riverfront pool, covered pavilion and fire pit.

Miller-Valentine Group, Coastal Storage Group sell 3 facilities

Miller-Valentine Group and Coastal Storage Group have sold three climate-controlled self-storage facilities in the Lowcountry to Public Storage. The purchase includes about 300,000 square feet and more than 2,000 self-storage units. All three Class A assets were developed on sites selected for their visibility in densely populated, high-growth areas. The facilities have been in operation since 2018. Miller-Valentine and Coastal Storage own additional facilities in Myrtle Beach and Tennessee and are partnering on six additional facilities in Florida, Kentucky and Ohio.

Carolina One Real Estate and PunchList have launched an enhanced service partnership, through which Carolina One clients and agents will be able to obtain PunchList repair estimates within 24 hours and get priority access to licensed contractors and dedicated support personnel. The agreement also provides the brokerage with priority access to PunchList’s pre-listing evaluation and repair service, which identifies and corrects issues before a property is listed.

Trident United Way has given $25,000 in grants to seven groups for special events that aim to help strengthen families, encourage mentoring and promote health and well-being across the Lowcountry. This is the second round in a $50,000 grant cycle, which provides an immediate benefit for special, one-time events focused on education, financial stability, health, basic needs and volunteerism. The grant recipients include Kids on Point for its Squash Sports Bash; Be A Mentor Inc. for its Mentor Appreciation Celebration; Lowcountry Youth Services for its 2020 Boys to Mentors Fellowship Banquet; Carolina Youth Development Center for its strengthening families, celebrating communities and services; Communities in Schools of the Charleston Area for its Smack Dab Book Club and writing workshop; College of Charleston Foundation for its Be Well Expo; and Roper St. Francis Foundation for its 2020 Tri-County Drug Take Backs.

Rogue Motion is now authorized to sell the Cape Horn line of fishing and family boats. Steven and Celeste Lefebvre, the new owners of Rogue Motion, have plans

New TemperaturePro franchise opens in Moncks Corner

Tauvao and Melissa Tuala have opened a TemperaturePro franchise in Moncks Corner. The location, the first TemperaturePro in the tri-county area, currently has eight employees and three service vehicles, in addition to a box truck for larger jobs. TemperaturePro Charleston-Summerville is located in Unit D at 3516 S. Live Oak Drive.

Freshfields Village leasing Class A office space

Freshfields Village and Northwood Retail are leasing Class A office space. The location offers access to a shopping and dining center and free parking. Available space varies from 555 square feet to 6,276 square feet.

ABVI clients complete vision loss self-management seminar

Thrivent works with Berkeley County Habitat to help Hanahan family

Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County and Thrivent have partnered with local churches and Thrivent members in Hanahan to construct a home for a Hanahan family. Thrivent has awarded $50,829 to Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County as part of a long-standing national partnership between the organizations.

Locally developed app participates in Startup Alley at New York event Rogue Motion becomes Cape Horn authorized dealer

tech entrepreneurs and marketing executives taking part in presentations, discussions and networking.

Trident United Way awards $25,000 in community engagement grants

Carolina One, PunchList announce home repair service partnership

Charleston Custom Golf Carts opens 2nd dealership in Mount Pleasant

Charleston-based golf cart dealership Charleston Custom Golf Carts has opened a new location in Mount Pleasant. The new dealership and service center will be the company’s second location, after the first opened on Clements Ferry Road in February 2019. The new facility includes a 9,000-square-foot building that has gone through extensive renovation. The retail showroom and service department

to add staff and technicians over the next year. Cape Horn boats will arrive at Rogue Motion’s West Ashley facility throughout 2020 and will be available for view in the showroom. Additionally, Rogue Motion will have access to the entire Cape Horn catalog and offers the boats with either Suzuki or Yamaha engines.

SafeShowings, an app created to deter crimes committed against real estate professionals and homeowners, participated in Startup Alley at Inman Connect New York in January. This three-day event includes more than 4,000 real estate franchisees, independent brokers, multiple listing service and association leaders,

Clients from the S.C. Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired recently participated in a six-week vision loss self-management seminar. This education and health awareness course, funded by a Community Engagement Grant from Trident United Way, was meant to help blind and visually impaired adults develop self-efficacy, increase independence and learn to advocate for themselves to improve their overall health. By working in groups, the participants were able to collaborate and to make use of peer-to-peer support networks. Some of the benefits included reduced emotional stress, improved self-efficacy and mood, as well as an increased sense of social support and enhanced daily participation.

Play — Custom Home Technology earns home tech certification

Play — Custom Home Technology, a custom electronics and home technology integrator, has passed the requirements necessary to earn certification by the Home Technology Association. Play has become the first in the Lowcountry area to achieve this designation. The association evaluates dealers, and the top 10% to 15% nationwide achieve this certification.

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March 23 - April 5, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 27

People in the News PEOPLE, from Page 25

Clemson University, as well as certificates in nonprofit leadership, management and youth leadership. Hairston is a graduate of Harvard and Stanford Law School Holt and currently serves as Facebook’s head of policy for augmented and virtual reality. Previously, he was a policy advisor to the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, an analyst on the Hurricane Sandy Williams Rebuilding Task Force and an economic policy researcher at the Center for American Progress. Holt is a Navy veteran and honors graduate of Morris College, where he also received an honorary doctorate. He has served as senior pastor of Royal Missionary Baptist Church for 26 years. Williams is the Geraldine R. Segal professor of American social thought and professor of Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She received Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Harvard University and a doctorate in American studies from Yale University.

LAW Turner Padget Graham & Laney P.A. has elected Kristen N. Nichols as a shareholder in the firm. Nichols practices financial services litigation. She is a certified mediator and practices in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial law and litigation, debtor and creditor law and creditor’s rights. She earned a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and an undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina, and she was recently elected as an officer on the board of directors for the S.C. Women Lawyers Association. K&L Gates has hired Claire Flowers as an associate in the firm’s labor, employment and workplace safety practice group. Previously, Flowers served as a judicial extern to Flowers Rebecca B. Connelly in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia. Flowers graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with an undergraduate degree and graduated cum laude from Washington and Lee University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree.

Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers LLP has made veteran bankruptcy and creditors’ rights attorney Ron Jones a partner. Jones will concenJones trate his practice in commercial law and bankruptcy litigation, including all areas of creditors’ rights. Jones is a certified specialist in bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law by the S.C. Supreme Court and is licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina. His client representations include both secured and unsecured creditors, lenders, lessors, investors, asset purchasers, creditors’ committees and debtors. He also has experience in real estate law, including contracts to sell, conveyances and related title issues. Jones earned an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Arts from George Washington University and a law degree from Campbell University School of Law. Young Clement Rivers LLP has named Victoria Anderson, Nicholas Rivera and William Sweeny IV as partners in the Charleston office. Anderson received Anderson her Juris Doctor and undergraduate degrees from Brigham Young University. She practices primarily in the firm’s trucking and transportation and commercial litigation groups and holds Rivera memberships in the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, the Charleston County Bar Association and the S.C. Bar Association. Rivera received his Juris Doctor from the Charleston School of Sweeny Law and his undergraduate degree from Clemson University. He practices primarily with the firm’s construction law group and holds memberships in the Charleston County Bar Association and the S.C. Bar Association. Sweeny received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, an International MBA from the University of South Carolina and his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University. Sweeny’s experience involves tax litigation with the S.C.

Department of Revenue. He practices primarily with the firm’s trucking and transportation group and administrative and regulatory law group.

HEALTH CARE Lowcountry Women’s Specialists has hired Dr. Martha Cohen to its OB/ GYN practice. Cohen serves patients in the Carnes Crossroads, Summerville Cohen and North Charleston offices, where she provides services including routine wellness visits and high-risk pregnancy management. Cohen earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in religion from the University of Georgia. She earned a medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine and completed a four-year residency at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, Navicent Health. Dr. Kerry Solomon is offering a new cataract technology. The RxSight Light Adjustable Lens allows a patient’s vision to be customized after cataract surgery.

MARKETING The S.C. Public Relations Society of America has appointed its 2020 board of directors, including Tiffany Norton, vice president of communications, of Dorchester County; Brooks Hearn, vice president of membership, of Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville; immediate past president Kim Keelor of The Citadel; and Lowcountry regional director Kristine Neal of We are Sharing Hope in Charleston. Digital-Ignite Advertising has hired Steve Cook as chief marketing officer. Cook has more than 25 years’ experience, including as Samsung’s senior vice Cook president and chief marketing officer and in global Fortune 500 and startup companies in a variety of industries. He also serves as an advisory board member for the global SXSW Pitch competition. E. Boineau & Co. has hired Haley Marie Metcalfe as senior account manager. She will manage public relations account activities using her background in social media and email marketing. Metcalfe graduated from Radford University in 2014 with a major in public relations and

a minor in management. She has experience in marketing, media relations, public relations and branding. Metcalfe

TECHNOLOGY Kotori Technologies LLC has acquired Outsourced CIO LLC, under the leadership of Neadom Tucker and Derek Iannelli-Smith. Iannelli-Smith, founder Tucker of Outsourced, has more than 20 years of experience in IT consulting and strategy. He will fulfill the integrator role and will support the company operationally and technically. Tucker, founder and Iannelli-Smith solutions architect of Kotori Technologies, will continue to be a company visionary and will focus on sales. Benefitfocus Inc. has promoted Annmarie Fini to executive vice president of customer success. Fini is responsible for extending the customer service Fini model beyond the open enrollment process, to include customer and consumer engagement through the entire year. Fini has more than 25 years of experience in benefits administration, human resources management and payroll. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in public policy from Trinity College in Connecticut and is a certified group benefits associate. Immedion LLC has hired Michael Byrd to its Charleston sales team. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Byrd has 15 years of professional sales expeByrd rience. Previously, he was a senior account manager for a software engineering and security service provider. He has also been a regional sales manager, where he gained additional experience representing IT service providers.

www.charlestonbusiness.com

March 23 - April 5, 2020

Washington fumbles the ball, but help is on the way

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APRIL 6

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ur policymakers in Washington are unable to stem the tide. But corporations as well as state and local governments are making changes that are sure to bring this virus under control in a relatively short period of time. We continue to believe that the new coronavirus will have a sharp but relatively short-lived impact STEPHEN D. SLIFER on the economy. The president’s response has been inept. Different people in the administration say different things. President Donald Trump has contradicted his medical advisers. While he has suggested things that could provide some economic stimulus, he has had little to say about ways to contain the virus other than his 30-day ban on travel by Europeans to the United States. His action has not restored confidence. The Dow fell 2,300 points the day after his speech. The Fed did not fare much better. In a surprise move it cut rates by 0.5% point between meetings, then cut them nearly to zero in an emergency move on March 15, at which time it also announced $700 billion in renewed quantitative easing. It was trying to send a message that it stood ready to do whatever it takes to ensure that the economy would not go into a prolonged tailspin. But the markets quickly concluded that lower interest rates would not halt a rapidly spreading virus, and the Dow fell 800 points the day of the first announcement and dropped by nearly 3,000 points the morning after the second cut. This is all very disquieting. People are fearful about the virus, but they are even more concerned that our leaders in Washington are not up to the task of devising a coherent strategy to solve the problem. Republicans and Democrats should suspend their differences and, for the good of the country, find ways to restore confidence. That is not happening. Compare what is happening in Washington with how China handled the problem. COVID-19 got started in that country in late December, and China will almost certainly be hit harder than any other country in the world. President Xi Jinping sealed off Wuhan and other cities in the region. Nobody got in; nobody got out. It seemed to be a draconian response — but it worked. In mid-February, the number of active cases of the virus in China peaked at 58,000. It had fallen to less than 9,000 as of press time. While the Chinese economy will take a big hit in the

short term, the reality is that it was able to bring the virus under control in two months. U.S. health officials say they do not know how long this virus might last and that it might not necessarily stop at the end of the flu season. They are being disingenuous. In two months, China got the virus under control by adopting aggressive containment measures. Is the rest of the world incapable of learning from that experience? Are other countries willing to do what is required to make that happen? We think they are — whether they want to or not. The markets are demanding a vigorous response. The good news is that while Washington bumbles, corporate America and state and local governments are acting quickly to contain the virus. Where possible, companies are encouraging their employees to work from home. The NBA, the NHL and Major League Baseball have postponed their seasons. The Indian Wells Tennis Tournament has been canceled. Ditto for the Volvo Car Open here in Charleston. Every upcoming sporting event in America is likely to be postponed or canceled. Many of these companies, organizations, and state and local governments are doing so because they are genuinely concerned about the health of their employees and their customers. We applaud them. But there is another, unsaid reason for action: the threat of lawsuits. For any event organizer, there is a significant risk that if they hold the event and somebody contracts the virus, they are going to get sued, which is exactly what happened to Princess Cruises over its alleged “lackadaisical” response to the coronavirus aboard its Grand Princess cruise ship. The threat of litigation must send shudders through every business in America. The travel, hotel and restaurant industries are particularly exposed, as are shop owners. Every school district and organization is equally vulnerable. Washington has fumbled its opportunity to lead a coordinated response. But the business community and state and local governments are doing things that are going to help. They may have been forced to act, but by doing so they are going to short-circuit the spread of this virus. While the markets are still in disarray, do not despair: The end is not too far distant. We remain convinced that this will be a sharp, but relatively short-lived event, with a vigorous recovery in the cards once the virus has run its course. We know that because the Chinese have shown us how to do it. CRBJ

Reach economist Stephen D. Slifer at steve@numbernomics.com.

March 23 - April 5, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 29

Hot Properties The following commercial real estate transactions were recently completed in the Charleston area. For weekly updates on commercial deals, see the Hot Properties feature every Monday in the Daily Journal email or online at www.charlestonbusiness.com. To submit items for the feature, send email to dailyjournal@scbiznews.com.

Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, First Point Properties LLC, in the lease of 1,485 square feet of office space in Suite 175 at 498 Wando Park Blvd. in Mount Pleasant to Tidewater Medical Inc. Edward Robinson of The Beach Co. represented the tenant.

Gregg Legerton of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Tobias LLC, in the lease of 2,986 square feet of medical space at 1483 Tobias Gadson Blvd. in Charleston to New Hope Chiropractic LLC. Mike Ferrer of Ferrer Commercial Real Estate Advisors LLC represented the tenant.

Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner and Daniel McClam of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Palms Preferred Properties LLC, in the lease of 2,400 square feet of flex space in Suite 104 at 4663 Franchise St. in North Charleston to Rainbow International of Charleston.

Chris Fraser, Leslie Fellabom and Kisha Lyles of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the tenant, Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers LLP, in the lease of 2,063 square feet of office space in Suite 120-C at 171 Church St. in Charleston from BSP II LLC. Charles Carmody of CBRE Inc. represented the landlord. Chad Yonce of Southeastern Management Group represented the landlord, Michel Holdings Co. LLC, in the lease of 1,804 square feet of office space at 990 Lake Hunter Circle in Mount Pleasant to Dr. Scott Smith. Jim Coman of Anston Group LLC represented the tenant.

Vitré Ravenel Stephens and Jeremy Willits of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Lems Bluff Partners LLC, in the lease of 3,192 square feet of office space in Unit 204 at 2265 Clements Ferry Road in Charleston to Aventus LLC.

Vitré Ravenel Stephens of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc represented the landlord, Indigo Village LLC, in the lease of 1,100 square feet of retail space in Suite 250 at 1662 Savannah Highway in Charleston to Palmetto Pies LLC. Toula DiGiovanni of NV Realty Group represented the tenant.

Mandy Coleman of National Restaurant Properties represented the landlord, Siete Farms LLC, in the lease of 2,050 square feet of retail space at 323 E. Main St. in Moncks Corner to Nostalgic Enterprises LLC. Jay Rodgers of Trident Commercial Inc. represented the tenant.

Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Three Broad Inc., in the lease of 150 square feet of office space at 3 Broad St. in Charleston to Calli Larson and Molly Crouch. Kevin Shields of Belk Lucy represented the tenant.

Physician Partners. Bob Nuttall of Lee and Associates – Charleston represented the tenant. Todd Garrett and Tradd Varner of Avison Young represented the seller, Kirkpatrick Group LLC, in the sale o f 2.59 acres of land at 0 Cross County Road, Tract 2, in North Charleston to Brock Holdings LLC for $500,000. Jon Chalfie and Hailey Clifton of Lee & Associates – Charleston represented the buyer. Eddie Hughes of Beach Commercial represented the buyer, Center Park Homes LLC, in the purchase of 1.589 acres of land at 3326 River Road on Johns Island from MGTS LLC for $159,000.

Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Maple View Properties LLC, in the lease of 1,092 square feet of office space at 884 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant to VR Business Brokers. Kevin Shields of Belk Lucy represented the tenant. Edward Robinson of Beach Commercial represented the landlord, Majestic Square LLC, in the lease of office space at 211 King St. in Charleston to The Guarantee Co. of North America USA.

John Orr, Elyse Welch and Lindsey Halter of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, Gateway Ventures Real Estate, in the lease of 3,229 square feet of retail space at 22 WestEdge in Charleston to Saveurs Du Monde. Brand Name Real Estate represented the tenant.

Gregg Legerton of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Saima Ismali DPM LLC, in the lease of 1,593 square feet of medical space at 1012 Physicians Drive in Charleston to Anesthesia Associates of Charleston P.A.

Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner and Daniel McClam of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Palms Preferred Properties LLC, in the lease of 2,400 square feet of flex space in Suite 102 at 4663 Franchise St. in North Charleston to Professional Drywall & Paint Co. LLC.

Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Three Broad Inc., in the lease of 2,864 square feet of office space at 3 Broad St. in Charleston to 3 Broad Street Partners LLC.

Jenna S. Philipp of Palmetto Commercial Properties LLC represented the tenant in the lease of 923 square feet of retail space at 471 King St. in Charleston from Andry Properties LLC. Chase Limehouse of Palmetto Commercial Properties LLC represented the landlord. John Orr, Elyse Welch and Lindsey Halter of Lee & Associates – Charleston represented the landlord, Beatty Management Co. Inc., in the lease of 5,000 square feet of medical space at 1525 Old Trolley Road in Summerville to Roper St. Francis

Carlmichael Harrison of Beach Commercial represented the landlord, The Beach Co., in the lease of 1,336 square feet of retail space at 1956 Long Grove Drive in Mount Pleasant to Aubrey Guiney. Legend Realty represented the tenant. Eddie Hughes of Beach Commercial represented the seller, Maybank Highway Partners LLC, in the sale of 1.15 acres of land at 2886 Maybank Highway on Johns Island to ECRC II LLC for $325,000. Russ Whited of Agent Owned Realty Co. represented the buyer.

Submit items at our online submission portal: www.CRBJBizWire.com. Publication in print and online is subject to editorial discretion.

www.charlestonbusiness.com

March 23 - April 5, 2020

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