Issuu

BEST ADVICE Phyllis Martin, Tri-County Cradle to Career

PAGE 4 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 11 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM

Part of the

MAY 18 - 31, 2020 ■ $2.25

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Reopening a calculated decision for businesses By Patrick Hoff

Pivoting port

S.C. Ports Authority mapping new path to continue business growth. Page 13

of what to do and how to do it well,” said Jeff Brower, regional director of operations for NorthPointe Hospitality Management, which operates Hotel Indigo in Mount Pleasant and the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Charleston. Gov. Henry McMaster lifted an executive order earlier this month that had limited traffic on the road only to commuters going

phoff@scbiznews.com

hough business owners are eager to reopen after weeks of coronavirus-induced closures, they’re doing so with caution to ensure the safety of customers and employees. “First in mind is, obviously, the protocols

Upstate automotive manufacturer resumes production after one-two punch of coronavirus, tornado. Page 12

By Patrick Hoff

Online itinerary

Chicken out

Poultry producers keep watch on viral threats that jeopardize U.S. exports. Page 5

INSIDE

Upfront................................. 2 Best Advice........................... 4 SC Biz News Briefs................. 5 In Focus: Ports, Logistics and Distribution.................. 13 List: Motor Freight Lines...... 19 At Work............................... 21 Hot Properties......................27 Viewpoint............................ 31

See IMPACT, Page 6

Is coronavirus a contractual ‘act of God?’

Repaired to reopen

Software allows dockworkers to schedule shifts outside union hall. Page 13

to and from work at essential businesses, as well as people visiting family, obtaining essential goods or services, attending religious services and recreating alone or with family outside. Additionally, restaurants were allowed to begin outdoor dining starting May 4.

CRITICAL

CARGO

Photo/Boeing Co.

Boeing S.C. partnered with government and health officials to land three planes loaded with personal protective equipment in North Charleston from China for Medical University of S.C. health workers statewide. Story, Photos Page 8-9

Produce panic

Farmers worry that shoppers may move away from fresh produce as they hunker down in quarantine. Page 14

phoff@scbiznews.com

ontracts with force majeure clauses have typically standardized a company’s failure to perform in the event of uncertain circumstances, such as a fire, flood, war, accident or natural disaster. But in facing today’s new normal, companies may have may have a new legal gray area to deal with, when contracts are interrupted by a pandemic. “I think that there’s a lot of concern ... about basically having the buck stop with them financially, particularly if they’re unable to perform and their provision in their contracts ... that make them responsible for delay,” said Kyle Dillard, attorney and shareholder at Ogletree Deakins’ Greenville office. Force majeure is a clause in a contract that removes liability from a company if they are unable to uphold their end of the deal because of unforeseen circumstances. Typically the clauses have certain events spelled out, such as fire, flood, government action and labor disputes, but most clauses also excuse a company See FORCE, Page 7

Upfront

BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | BEST ADVICE

Comparing unemployment benefits across state lines

e’re not going to tell you what the unemployment rate is for South Carolina right now. Any number that we’re likely to give you will be vastly out of date the moment you read it and then again a few minutes later. Suffice to say, tens of thousands of people in the Palmetto State are out of work are facing reduced working hours because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

South Carolina also provides the eighth-lowest weekly amount nationally compared to all 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to a data analysis by File Unemployment, a repository of unemployment benefits data using public sources of information. Congress anticipated this with the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill, and even put $600 extra in every state’s weekly benefits package to encourage workers to stay home if they were not part of a so-called essential industry. This temporary measure was meant to bridge the gap in household budgets so people could maintain their health, feed their families, and so that businesses could call workers back without having to rebuild a workforce.

States with Lowest weekly benefits

States with highest weekly benefits

State

Max benefit

Weeks

State

Max benefit

Weeks

Mississippi

$235

Massachusetts

$1,220

Arizona

$240

Ohio

$802

Louisiana

$247

Washington

$790

Alabama

$275

Rhode Island

$730

Florida

$275

Connecticut

$724

Tennessee

$275

Minnesota

$717

Missouri

$320

Iowa

$697

South Carolina

$326

New Jersey

$696

Georgia

$365

Illinois

$649

Wisconsin

$370

Hawaii

$648

14 Source: File Unemployment

ON THE

RECORD

“Today’s delivery is just another example of how the people of South Carolina... stepped up when faced with adversity.” — Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston, on the delivery of personal protective gear to MUSC workers with the help of Boeing Co., which airlifted shipments of PPEs in the cargo hold of the 747 Dreamlifter fleet from China to South Carolina.

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May 18 - 31, 2020

Best Advice

PHYLLIS MARTIN

PRESIDENT AND CEO, TRI-COUNTY CRADLE TO CAREER By Patrick Hoff | Photography provided

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“THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED

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former CEO Michelle Braun. Michelle’s mantra

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was to put people first. I got this advice from my was put people first — no matter what — and the

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rest will take care of itself. I have found this to

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be incredibly solid advice both professionally and personally. As the saying goes, people don’t

MIDLANDS NEWSROOM

care how much you know until they know how

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much you care. When people know how much you

UPSTATE NEWSROOM

actually care — about them, about their future,

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fears— then they become incredibly clear on your

about their circumstance, about their dreams and

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intent. Clarity on intent builds trust. And trust is a

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development and systems change work. When it

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friends know that without a doubt they come first.

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They are my heart, my happiness, and the object

requirement for effective leadership, community comes to my personal relationships, my family and

of my love.”

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MAKING AN IMPACT Phyllis Martin became CEO of Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative in November after spending three years of vice president of community impact for the United Way of Northeastern Florida. Prior to that, Martin service as the vice president of impact strategies for the United Way of

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Greenville County. Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative started in 2012 as a public-private partnership among community stakeholders who wanted to impact education in the Lowcountry. For the past several years, the nonprofit has released annual reports about how much or little progress has been made to make education more equitable.

INTERESTING FACT Martin is a huge Barry Manilow fan, and she has traveled the country to see him perform. “My dream is that one day I will be invited to sing onstage with him,” she said. “I have had that dream since I was 13 years old.”

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SC Biz News Briefs UPSTATE

Barnwell Whaley Welcomes R. Scott Wallinger Member

GSA Business Report

Poultry industry keeps abreast of viral threats that could harm S.C. exports As South Carolina lurched into a pandemic-sparked state of emergency on March 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state’s veterinarians and farmers thwarted yet another emergent virus in Chesterfield County — an outbreak that threatened to axe all U.S. poultry exports to the European Union. More than a month after the H7N3 avian flu outbreak bridged wild birds to several Carolina turkey flocks, marking the first highly pathogenic bird flu case since 2017, nine countries maintain a ban on all poultry products coming from South Carolina, according to Dr. Boyd Parr, South Carolina’s state veterinarian. China — one of 20 countries that initiated a ban on S.C. chicken — had only recently lifted its embargo on chicken from the Palmetto State that it enacted during the 2015 bird flu outbreak, according to a USDA news release. The China market was worth $500 million to S.C. poultry producers in 2013. Parr and his team euthanized and buried the infected turkeys before they entered the food supply and the USDA compensated farmers for the losses, but Parr said the embargoes delivered a sucker punch to a poultry industry already reeling from an inability to send meat to market as a result of COVID-19-related disruptions. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced April 25 that it has established a National Incident Coordination Center to help farmers find alternative markets to sell or, if necessary, depopulate their herds. Poultry is South Carolina’s No. 1 agricultural product, with “broiler” chickens making up 40% of farm receipts, according to a USDA state report. According to Parr, South Carolina is the fifth-largest turkey supplier in the country.

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Educators preparing health care workers amid COVID-19 threat Shirley Bannister received the call at 6 a.m. Bannister, nursing department chair at Midlands Technical College, answered the phone to find a former student on the line and in a panic. “Her plight was, ‘I have no mask,’ ” Bannister said. “ ‘I’m in the trenches, and I have no mask.’ We got together and found some things to give to her to help her through that weekend. But I’ve heard from one or two students about how difficult it really is.” Bannister is one of several area education professionals working to prepare soon-tobe nurses and health care workers in related fields amid the uncertainty of COVID-19. As of May 12, 79,756 people in the U.S. had died of COVID-19, with the country reporting 1,324,488 cases, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. South Carolina had 7,792 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 346 deaths as of May 11, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. DHEC estimates the number of confirmed cases in S.C. to grow to 10,493 by May 30. Adrian Stauffer, director of nursing at ECPI University in Columbia and a nurse for 15 years, has wrestled with her eight-year role as an educator while former students, including her daughter, battle the pandemic closer to the front lines. “For us (educators), it’s kind of like, do we go out into the field? Are we most useful being out there?” she said. “But we have to remind ourselves that we have to be here for the students.” VOLUME 23 NUMBER 9 ■ GSABUSINESS.COM

Online review

DHEC food safety checks go virtual during pandemic. Page 2

Part of the

By Renée Sexton

Managers grapple with surge in need and growth in donations. Page 9

Federal funds

Unemployment benefits begin to arrive in S.C. Page 7

Getting creative Koss Creative T-shirts helping fight COVID-19. Page 9

INSIDE

Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 4 In Focus: Law..................... 13 List: Law Firms .................. 14 At Work .............................. 21 Viewpoint ...........................23

hen Robert Wilcox walks into the University of South Carolina School of Law, he enjoys the view of the Dale Chihuly sculpture and sometimes hears someone playing the lobby’s baby grand piano — most often, very well. “Every day when I walk in this building, my brain pauses and thinks ‘Wow, this is special,’ ” he said. “And that’s what I want law students to think every day — that they have an opportunity that is special and they have the opportunity to really do good things for people.” After nine years as dean of the law school, Wilcox is stepping down next month. Although Wilcox guided the law school through the construction of the new building, which included the installation of the Chihuly sculpture, he said he’s most proud of what’s within the walls. “The building was important,” Wilcox said. “But the building without all these other things in it would not have been enough.” After serving as associate dean for academic affairs from 2006 to 2011, Wilcox became dean in 2011. But his connection to the law school goes back to 1981, when he earned his law degree from USC. In 1986 he joined the faculty after

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With an avian flu scare damaging overseas sales and the restaurant industry on its heels, poultry supplier turns to the public to unload supply

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FA R M TO TA B L E

WHEN THE CHICKEN CROSSED THE ROAD

Double challenge for food pantries

Hotel Trundle co-owner looks forward to reopening. Page 6

Part of the

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Wilcox stepping down after leading transition at USC School of Law

Industry Training from Industry Professionals.

Rising to the COVID-19 challenge Nephron Pharmaceuticals expands production. Page 3

Office space continues growth So far, working from home not affecting office space. Page 20

How to handle returning workers Labor and employment attorney offers insight. Page 23

INSIDE

Leading Off .......................... 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 C-Suite ................................ 4 In Focus: Commercial Real Estate ................................ 15 LIST: Commercial Real Estate Firms ................................. 19 At Work ..............................22 Viewpoint ...........................23

See DEAN, Page 20 Robert Wilcox is retiring as USC law school dean in May. (Photo/Kim Truett/USC)

Nod of approval

Nephron Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval to add production line to ramp up COVID-19 response. Page 11

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SCMEP COLUMBIA 250 Berryhill Road, Suite 512 Columbia, SC 29210 (803) 252-6976

House of Raeford’s discounted chicken sales at Greenville’s State Farmers Market bring traffic to a standstill as the company sells its oversupply to the public. (Photo/Molly Hulsey)

Graham pledges to bring home medical supply chain By Ross Norton

rnorton@scbiznews.com

s pleased as he was to see roughly 1.5 million face masks land at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in late April, Sen. Lindsey Graham said he doesn’t want to see it again. He doesn’t want it to happen again because he does not want America’s national supply of medical equipment and supplies to depend on sources from abroad. The load of masks represented a month’s supply for Prisma Health which — like health care systems across the country — is engaged in an ongoing struggle to keep personal protective equipment coming as its 30,000 employees play various roles in the battle to curb the new coronavirus. Graham said the job of procurement staffers and the frontline See GRAHAM, Page 6

Driving forward

S.C. automotive industry prepares for a future of change

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A Boeing Dreamlifter touches down at Greenville-Spartanburg international Airport, importing about 1.5 million masks for use in Prisma Health facilities from the Upstate to the Midlands. (Photo/Ross Norton)

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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.

Helping South Carolina Companies Grow

Organizations with big plans not losing interest during pendemic. Page 15

County Spotlight: Sumter | Trending: Automotive in S.C. | S.C. Delivers

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IMPACT, from Page 1

Many establishments, however, waited for a few days after they were permitted to begin service before reopening in-person operations, some out of an abundance of caution but others because they needed time get their restaurants and staff ready to serve customers. McMaster eventually allowed limited, inside dining on May 11. Brower said at Hotel Indigo’s restaurant, Eliza’s Bar and Kitchen, he wanted to bring the staff in first and retrain them about how to work in this new environment. Additionally, Eliza’s put in place several safety precautions, such as putting 8 feet of space between tables and requiring customers to make reservations to control numbers. “We’re continuously assessing just what our processes are as this situation evolves and reacting as appropriate,” Brower said. “And we’re very excited to welcome guests back.” A survey conducted by Chernoff Newman at the end of April found that 55% of S.C. consumers miss going out to eat “very much,” with 37% missing it somewhat. South Carolinians also miss going shopping for things other than groceries, with 37% missing it very much and 45% missing it somewhat. The study also found that 70% of Palmetto State residents are either very concerned or somewhat concerned about

May 18 - 31, 2020

coming into contact with the coronavirus. Fenton Overdyke, Chernoff Newman’s director of research, said the goal of the survey was to help business owners make decisions about when to reopen their businesses and how. “Consumers want to return to their old ways, but they’re concerned about getting sick, and to the extent to which businesses can make the necessary precautions and then communicate to consumers that they have created a safe environment, that will go a long way in restoring the economy and getting people back to work,” he said. Craig Wyatt, managing partner of Cantina 76, said he was surprised at how much demand restaurants have seen. Cantina 76, he said, has more people wanting to dine in than it can currently handle. “If we had additional capacity, we could fill it,” Wyatt said. “I think a lot of people are ... very happy to be able to sit down, enjoy a meal.” Cantina 76 is not utilizing all of the outdoor space at any of its restaurants, to make sure customers feel safe and to ensure the restaurants aren’t rushing into things too quickly. Wyatt said if things continue to go well, he could see adding tables in the coming weeks. “We’ve been putting a lot of attention into sanitation and safety,” Wyatt said. “And hopefully if everyone’s patient and we can do our rollout slowly and thoughtful, we’ll be back to business as usual in

“We’re continuously assessing just what our processes are as this situation evolves and reacting as appropriate.” Jeff Brower regional director of operations for NorthPointe Hospitality Management

the near future.” Overdyke said Chernoff Newman plans to periodically update its survey as circumstances change, but it has no set time for when it will resurvey consumers. “It’s hard to state a timeline because the pandemic is going to set the timeline, and ... I think there will be an event or a situation that will cause a change in the environment that would then allow us to go back into the field and see how consumer sentiment has changed as a result,” he said.

Economic impact

Even with businesses beginning to reopen, a Trident United Way economist is predicting that the coronavirus could have a $2 billion impact on the Lowcountry economy by the end of May. Jonathan Rauh, Trident United Way vice president of evaluation and public policy, said the Charleston metro area

could see an economic output this year that’s between 2.71% and 8.3% lower than last year. Accommodations, lumber, real estate development and large manufacturing are likely to be the hardest hit industries. “Of course,” Rauh wrote, “this is simply a snapshot of the peak of social distancing.” During the Great Recession, gross regional product declined by 5.1%. In a video, Rauh said he doesn’t expect the economic shock to last the entire year, but at the end of the year, South Carolina will notice a decline in revenue considering the state economy’s reliance on industry, agriculture and tourism. “To knock out one of the legs of that stool during the busiest tourism time of the year is going to have a major impact, particularly on heavy tourism areas like Charleston, like the Grand Strand area” Rauh said. “And that will have downstream effects on the state budget as well, given our heavy reliance on sales tax in this state.” Rauh said, though, that it’s impossible to know exactly how much the South Carolina economy will be impacted. “The final effect that we see from COVID will not be known with certainty until about a year or so out,” he said. CRBJ

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

May 18 - 31, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 7

FORCE, from Page 1

because of an “act of God.” Dillard said an “act of God” is typically interpreted as a natural disaster, which shuts down the entire economy, and he’s not sure if the coronavirus pandemic has reached that level because the medical community has said businesses can operate under certain guidelines. “Certainly, a pandemic can reach the level of an act of God that would allow an entity ... to claim impossibility,” Dillard said. “But I think given the fact that public guidance isn’t suggesting that we’re at that level of threat, I think it would be very difficult for a commercial entity to avoid a contract on that basis at this time.” He added that it will come down to what the contract says. “In absence of language in their contract that somehow strengthens their ability to say that position, which is highly unlikely, it’s going to be difficult for them to find relief in that circumstance,” Dillard said. Steven Meckler, the Charlotte-based managing partner for Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP, said some contracts, especially with companies that do business overseas, may include language about epidemics or pandemics. Meckler said, though, that unless a pandemic is listed as an exception, he doesn’t expect courts to rule that the COVID-19 is an “act of God.”

“I think a creative lawyer could argue that a pandemic is an act of God, but that really gets down to some really find hairs that you’re trying to split there, and it almost gets down to a religious interpretation of what an act of God is,” he said. “So it’s going to be interesting.” Meckler added, though, that courts typically interpret force majeure clauses very narrowly. “When a company tries to use a force majeure clause in their contract, it’s going to get down to a very specific factual determination by the courts ... as to what the party’s intention was at the time they signed that,” he said. “I think a lot of companies are going to have a hard time going into court saying, ‘Look, we anticipated an act of God would include a pandemic,’ given there hasn’t been one since 1918 in this severity, but you never know.” Meckler said he’s been urging small businesses to meet with a lawyer to review contracts they have with other companies and see what options they have. “There’s going to be a lot of gray area in all of this until we get some cases that work their way through the system,” he said. Jennifer Thiem, partner at the Charleston office of K&L Gates, said it’s important for business owners to look over any commercial contracts they have to see what options they might have. Though pandemics are not often covered in force majeure clauses, the contracts could have

other options, such as provisions that specify to whom risk is allocated. “There may be something to work with, even if it ... doesn’t specifically say pandemic or epidemic,” Thiem said. “So you want to see what the contract says.” Business owners may also be able to look at common law doctrines, such as the doctrine of impossibility, which covers situations where fulfilling a contract becomes impossible because of an event that was unforeseen at the time the contract was made. Thiem added that business owners should look at insurance policies to see what coverage they might have for business interruptions. Though every policy is different, business interruption insurance is usually triggered by an event. The current question, Thiem said, is whether a stay-at-home order from the state government is enough. “The current battle has to do whether the government or the stay-at-home orders and the business closing down or having to alter their operations would sit within a business interruption if they didn’t have COVID on their premises,” she said. Thiem said it’s impossible to make a blanket statement about how force majeure and insurance decisions will play out because every case will be different. “It is certainly going to be a very fact-specific determination,” she said. Meckler said as new contracts are

drawn up, companies should include pandemics in force majeure clauses. “I mean, it takes a second to put an extra word or two in there, in a force majeure clause,” he said. “If it’s not in your current contract, you better make sure it’s in every one after because who knows what else is coming?” For comparison, Meckler pointed to Sept. 11, 2001. When terrorists attacked the United States on 9/11, many small businesses had not included terrorism as an event that would trigger force majeure Now terrorism is almost always listed. “I think a lot of people, particularly smaller companies, probably felt pretty comfortable and didn’t even think about adding that until that happened,” Meckler said. Thiem pointed to how the SARS outbreak in 2003 changed the insurance industry. After the panic over severe acute respiratory syndrome, insurance companies began excluding coverage related to SARS. Meckler said companies may also forgo legal disputes and seek business-to-business solutions because, in the end, the companies still need each other. “Say you’re a supplier to Boeing. You don’t want to get into a tussle with Boeing,” he said. “You want to try to work things out so y’all can get through this and continue a good business relationship.” CRBJ

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

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U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (left) talks to Gov. Henry McMaster as Boeing and Atlas Air deliver more than 150,000 face shields and eye goggles for health care workers in South Carolina. (Photo/Patrick Hoff)

Boeing delivers protective equipment for MUSC workers By Patrick Hoff

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arlon Kimpson believes when the coronavirus has passed, part of the story to be told will be about South Carolina’s resilience and citizens banding together. A prime example of that, the Democratic state senator from Charleston said, is the delivery of over 150,000 face shields and eye goggles from China to the Medical University of South Carolina in midMay, facilitated by Boeing. “Today’s delivery is just another example of how the people of South Carolina ... stepped up when faced with adversity,” Kimpson said. Three Boeing Dreamlifters, which are 747-400 jumbo jets converted to large cargo freighters, were used to transport the medical supplies. The supplies were held in the lower section of the planes while 787 component parts were flown in the main deck cargo hold. The flights were operated by Atlas Air. “Boeing and MUSC have a longstanding partnership, and today’s delivery is yet another example of two great South Carolina institutions coming together in support of our local community,” said Dr. David Cole, president of MUSC. This was the first time three Dreamlifters were lined up in one location, Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun said in his first public appearance as CEO at

“Today’s delivery is just another example of how the people of South Carolina ... stepped up when faced with adversity.” State Sen. Marlon Kimpson D-Charleston

the South Carolina plant. “Today’s delivery puts essential personal protective equipment in the hands of South Carolina’s frontline health care professionals and helps MUSC further support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Calhoun said. “I am incredibly proud of our Boeing team members throughout the world for their work to help stop the spread of COVID19 and thankful for our government and industry partners that have joined us in the pandemic response.” Along with Kimpson, Cole and Calhoun, the Boeing delivery was attended by Gov. Henry McMaster; MUSC Health CEO Dr. Patrick Cawley; U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-Charleston; U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale; Rep. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill; and Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott. Scott said it’s easy to write a check, as Boeing has sometimes done to support

May 18 - 31, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 9

MUSC, but what’s more important is what a company does with the resources it has. Both MUSC and Boeing, he said, have utilized their resources to the fullest extent. “Protecting our frontline health care workers, who put their lives on the line every single day, is absolutely essential, and this will help MUSC do exactly that,” Scott said. Cawley said six weeks ago, MUSC was concerned about having enough personal protective equipment at its own hospitals, but the coronavirus has been contained at most of its hospitals. The only hospital that has seen a major outbreak is Florence Medical Center. Now, Cawley said, MUSC is shifting some of its efforts to a statewide mobile testing initiative in rural, underserved and at-risk areas. The personal protective equipment delivered Monday should last MUSC for the next few months, Cawley said. This is the fourth transport mission that Boeing has undertaken because of COVID-19 and the second in South Carolina. The company delivered 1.5 million masks to Prisma Health late last month, with 100,000 donated to MUSC.

Right: MUSC President Dr. David Cole said the medical university and Boeing have a long-standing relationship and have worked together in the past for community support. (Photo/Patrick Hoff)

CRBJ

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

Boeing employees and contractors unload pallets of personal protective equipment from a Boeing Dreamlifter. (Photo/Patrick Hoff)

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May 18 - 31, 2020

Automotive manufacturer halted by coronavirus, then a tornado By Ross Norton

rnorton@scbiznews.com

transfer case floated over the top of a cart at the BorgWarner plant in Seneca, suspended by a cable as a worker made some final adjustments on May 4. Satisfied, she pushed a button and the automotive unit dropped to the cart. Her coworkers cheered. The transfer case was the first part assembled in Seneca since a one-two punch halted production — first a closure planned to cope with the threat of coronavirus and then a powerful tornado that heavily damaged the plant and surrounding neighborhoods. A security guard was killed when the tornado struck the plant, but workers who would have been on the production line when the overnight storm hit were already at home as a protective measure against the spread of COVID-19. A company representative at the time said their goal was for the tornado damage to be repaired fast enough that it would not add to days lost to the pandemic. “It’s a true testament to the power of collaboration and teamwork of the employees in Seneca and all of BorgWarner,” Plant Manager Joe McCulloch said in a statement a day after production resumed. McCulloch said it took 500 working hours for the BorgWarner team and contractors to bring the machining and assembly portions of the facility back to working order. The plant is still a working construction site as other parts of the facility are repaired. Annie Caggiano, executive director of the Oconee Economic Alliance, said the BorgWarner plant going back into production was a morale booster for the community. “Although we have a long way to go before we are back to ‘normal,’ seeing BorgWarner rebuild and partially reopen

A tornado heavily damanged the BorgWarner manufacturing facility in Seneca in April, killing one security guard and devastating the site. (Photo/Provided)

after such devastation is a true testament to the hard work of so many in our community, she said in an email. “The times may be uncertain, but if we can overcome a global pandemic and an F3 tornado, we can get through anything with collaboration and teamwork.” The plant is in the section of Seneca hit hardest April 13 by one of several tornadoes to cut through the Upstate. “We appreciate the support of the Oconee community and the state of

South Carolina, our neighbors and our customers during this time,” company spokesperson Michelle Collins said. The company, which has 62 facilities in 17 countries, does not say how many employees work at individual sites, but BorgWarner added 160 new jobs after announcing a $72 million investment in 2017, the company’s third expansion in four years, according to the S.C. Commerce Department. BorgWarner makes components for

the automotive industry with customers that include Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda and Kia, according to its website. The Seneca plant is part of the drive train division and produces transfer cases, interactive torque management systems and gearing components for automobile and light truck front- and rear-wheel platforms. CRBJ

Reach Ross Norton at 864-720-1222 or @RossNorton13 on Twitter.

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In Focus

PORTS, LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION LISTS: Motor Freight Lines, Page 19

Port building growth strategy on retail

Freight on Board

The majority of cargo that flows across the Palmetto State travels by rail and truck. A lot of that stuff comes through the Port of Charleston, but once it leaves the boat, roads and rails primarily serve the final destinations.

2,291

Miles of railroad crisscrossing South Carolina reported by the S.C. Department of Transportation.

1,577,500

Number of freight cars carrying cargo across South Carolina in 2017, using data from the Association of American Railroads.

Who owns what

The port is pivoting its focus to continue its growth. (Photo/English Purcell for S.C. Ports Authority)

By Patrick Hoff

phoff@scbiznews.com

s the S.C. Ports Authority nears completion of two years-long infrastructure projects — the deepening of Charleston Harbor and the new Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. Terminal — port leadership is setting its sights on the future and envisioning how the port can continue to grow. “We just have a firm belief that in any business ... companies prosper by growing,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the ports authority. The ports authority has a $63.4 billion economic impact on South Carolina, including $7.83 billion in the Lowcountry. Much of the port’s growth over the past 10 years is attributable to the growth of

advanced manufacturing in the state, but Newsome said he knows that gravy train can’t carry the port for another decade. “Our growth is largely going to be, you know, not so much through a BMW adding onto the facility in Greer or whatever, where we benefited in the last 10 years,” he said. “It’s going to be from expanding our cargo base and new business opportunities.” The port is looking especially at retail to continue its growth, with a focus on bigger omnichannel retailers. Retail has never been a focus for the port, but Newsome said with consumers demanding increasingly fast delivery speeds, companies are seeing a shortage of distribution centers — a shortage the port hopes to fill. “It’s a large market potential-wise ...

and it’s changing,” Newsome said, adding that online retail does not suffer in the same way that brick-and-mortar stores do, which would make it a consistent business for the port. “I think the signs of that are going to be fairly obvious as we work through this recession,” he said. The port’s plans all come together in Ridgeville, where the port purchased a 950-acre industrial property in 2018. One disadvantage that the S.C. Ports Authority faces, Newsome said, is a lack of land next to its terminals, a trade-off for the ports authority having access to the ocean. Ridgeville, however, has plenty of land, with Interstate 26 access and rail See TARGET, Page 16

Software modernizes assignment of mobile workforce By Patrick Hoff

phoff@scbiznews.com

Charleston-based company has developed a software to help the maritime industry schedule its

mobile workforce via an online platform, moving the industry away from in-person union halls and hundreds of phone lines. Jody Newman, founder and president of Dispatch Dynamics, created Harbor

Watch about six years ago and said she sees it as a way to modernize the way the maritime industry assigns work to members of the International Longshoremen’s See HIRING, Page 18

CSX is the primary owner and operator of railroads in South Carolina, with more than 50% of the track under its control. The following rail lines own almost 2% and up. Railroad CSX Transportation Norfolk Southern Lancaster & Chester Carolina Southern S.C. Central Railway

Miles 1,269 679 60 51 42

% 55.5% 29.6% 2.6% 2.2% 1.8%

Source: S.C. Department of Transportation

Southeastern Cargo by rail

In 2017, the following Southeastern states moved more than 1.3 billion tons of cargo using rail. South Carolina was a relatively small mover on that list, with just over 67 million tons. State Tennessee Georgia Alabama Arkansas Virginia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina Florida South Carolina

Tons 207.7 million 180.5 million 159.1 million 158.6 million 127.7 million 121.9 million 111.3 million 93.6 million 85.5 million 67.2 million

Source: Association of American Railroads

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IN FOCUS: PORTS, LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION

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May 18 - 31, 2020

Shopper instinct to hunker may cause glut in produce supply By Molly Hulsey

mhulsey@scbiznews.com

elon 1, a watermelon farm collective and importer that stretches across the Southeast and beyond, sources a number of melons from Jason Still Farms in Denmark, Bamberg County. Shipping 15,000 loads of the fruit in 2019, the company is the largest watermelon supplier in the country, according to co-owner Hamilton Dicks, and supplies Grey Court’s Country Fresh plant along with most chain grocery stores and wholesale retailers like Sam’s Club. Dicks is based in Barnwell, but he follows the melons up and down the East Coast as they ripen into season. Melon 1 had just begun its seasonal transition from South American exports to Florida fruits. He hasn’t seen the piles of squash and zucchini set ablaze by farmers here but is concerned that shoppers’ demands are shifting away from fresh produce as they make fewer grocery trips. “It really scared us quite badly, and as time has gone on, on our side, it is not as bad as it might be. Now I understand that there are some people in other commodities that are dumping produce. They cannot sell it now,” Dicks said. To date, Melon 1 has been able to bring everything grown to market. The demand for melons has not tanked, he said, yet it is early in the season and months ahead of when the Carolina crop is ready for harvest. Dicks has also heard of issues in the industry with getting the labor to ship produce out of the warehouse to market, along with farm workers being able to cross the Mexican border into the United States. He added that domestic farm

Bill Andersen, CEO of Fresh Food Group, said that as retailer sales mushroomed over the past few months, distribution centers with limited workforces struggled to keep up with the demand. (Photo/Kathy Hulsey)

labor is hard to come by today. “Our supply is going to increase about now,” he said. “We’re going to see supply pick up. Whether demand is going to go with it, we’ll just have to see. But so far, it’s been OK.” Later in the summer, watermelons from Denmark’s Jason Still Farm will be shipped to Grey Court’s Country Fresh plant and then on to retailers and restaurants across the Southeast. Bill Andersen, CEO of the Fresh Food Group, a parent company of the Country Fresh brand based out of Texas, said that his processing plants have stepped up cleaning and personal protection equipment practices. He said other plants that didn’t take action have been forced to close their doors. No positive COVID-19 cases had been

reported at South Carolina’s Fresh Food Group plants as of April 23, and Andersen said Fresh Food Group has had no issues with meeting customer demands. But demand has simply changed. “People got into this hunker-down, bunker-down mindset, and what we saw was that the center of the store just got devastated: Spaghettios and Spam just got ripped off the shelves,” Andersen said. Initially, he said, his sales were off by 50%, but over the past two weeks, people appear to be tiring of the frozen and canned goods, and Fresh Food’s retail sales are climbing to normalcy. Anderson said he understands that people who are spacing out grocery trips have a “very different decision matrix” than those who are stopping in every few days for fresh produce and are more like-

ly to favor proteins and nonperishables, thus affecting retailer purchase choices and prompting farmers in some parts of the country to destroy the food they can’t sell. As retailers’ sales skyrocketed up by 200% over the past month, Andersen saw tight labor at retailing distribution centers create a bottleneck in the supply system. He added that produce often takes more time to vet than nonperishables. Furthermore, sales at restaurants supplied by Fresh Food have seen sales drop by 50% since COVID-19 closed dining room doors, but they make up only 20% of the company’s sales. Andersen hopes a reopened economy will release pent-up demand for fresh fruits and vegetables and he sees potential in online sales since more shoppers have hopped online during the pandemic. He also thinks the food supply chain will continue to localize, an ongoing trend bolstered by U.S. Department of Transportation mileage regulations for truckers, as well as a growing “buy local” movement. In the meantime, he lauds USDA’s response to concerns from the United Fresh Produce Association and others to bridge the gap. In a $19 billion Coronavirus Farm Assistance program package announced April 17, $3 billion will be used to purchase fresh produce, dairy and meat products sent to foodbanks and other nonprofits. “Today, you see a number of good stories of how farmers are getting their stuff to the markets, and the government is paying for that to happen,” Andersen said. CRBJ

Reach Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1222 or @mollyhulsey_gsa on Twitter.

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The Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. Terminal in North Charleston will finish its first phase of construction next year. The new terminal along the Cooper River has been planned since 2003, and it will be the country’s first new container terminal in more than a decade. (Photo/Walter Lagarenne for S.C. Ports Authority) As the global leader in commercial real estate services, CBRE delivers world-class consulting and advisory services to all of our clients in Charleston and beyond. Our unparalleled local market insight, integrated services and proven expertise continue to unlock the power and potential of real estate for everyone we proudly serve.

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TARGET, from Page 13

service, making the Dorchester County property a good investment for the port, according to Newsome. “So that’s really our laboratory, if you will, for this concept, and I think it’s going to be really successful,” Newsome said. “I think it’s an area where there’s a good labor shed ... the land is plentiful, the infrastructure is really good, the county is really supportive.” Newsome said the current economic environment isn’t much of a factor in the port’s plans because of the long-term nature of the ports authority’s vision. He does expect, however, that the port will handle less volume in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, than it has this

year. “We are really looking beyond the short term. ... We’re looking at the long term,” he said. “I mean, we permitted a terminal in 2003. We’re going to open it in 2021. We bought Ridgeville in 2018, I hope to get something out there started on later this year. So ... business development is long-term.” Ports COO Barbara Melvin said the ports authority’s investment in infrastructure, such as the Leatherman terminal, have put it in a strong position for the future. “Those are always sound investments regardless of the economic times that you’re in,” Melvin said. “Those types of investments are really going to put us in the strongest position possible to contin-

When the first phase of the Leatherman Terminal is complete, it will have a 1,400-foot berth and five 169-foot tall ship-to-shore cranes, the tallest cranes owned by the S.C. Ports Authority. The new terminal will add 700,000 TEUs of capacity to the port. (Photo/Walter Lagarenne for S.C. Ports Authority)

IN FOCUS: PORTS, LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION

May 18 - 31, 2020

ue to handle the growth that’s coming.” Melvin and Newsome both said that port operations likely won’t change drastically — the port won’t become automated and the workforce is expected to remain strong — but gate hours might get longer and more cargo might be moved by rail to accommodate customer demands. “I mean, we’re going to meet ever-more-demanding requirements from our customers,” Newsome said. “I don’t think our customers are going to get any less demanding; I think they’ll be more demanding. ... Distribution centers are ultimately going to want to run a 24-hour operation. So I think we’re going to have to continue to up our game and performance.” Melvin said the port may develop an inner harbor barge to give customers more choices for moving their cargo, similar to how the port developed its inland ports. She said she also hopes the port can increase its utilization of intermodal cargo from 25% to 30% with the new intermodal facility being built in North Charleston. “So that type of cargo movement around our ... terminals may look a little different, but ultimately the operations will be the same,” Melvin said. Newsome added he’s confident that if the port can meet the demands of automotive manufacturers, it can service

www.charlestonbusiness.com 17

Port President and CEO Jim Newsome said port operations likely won’t change as the ports authority shifts its focus to retail, though gate hours may increase in response to customer demands. (Photo/Walter Lagarenne for S.C. Ports Authority)

retailers, too. “We have a great product,” he said. “All these supply chain managers want to do one thing: manage risk. And ... we offer

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that here. We offer a good product. We have invested in great infrastructure; we can handle multiple big ships at one time. So if they do business here, they’re not

going to get in trouble.”

CRBJ

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

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HIRING, from Page 13

Association. “The virtual hiring hall means that the member signs himself up,” Newman said. “He does not have to go ... into the hiring hall and stand there with 800 other men and hope to be picked.” Newman developed Harbor Watch because of a request from the Charleston-based International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1171, which was looking for a new website and dispatch system. Though Newman had no experience in the maritime industry, the marketing person in her saw the opportunity to do something nobody else was. “I said, you know, this is a really good way to streamline the maritime industry,” she said. “This will be an incredible help to the maritime industry.” Members of the local ILA chapter are able to sign into the online dispatch system and sign up for work, eliminating the need for them to go to the union hall and wait for available shifts. Members can also receive text messages about jobs. Members can also change their availability online instead of having to go into the hall or call a dispatcher. The screens inside the Harbor Watch system are simple — the main page is a

“This virtual hiring hall will save lives. It will save time. And that’s my goal ... is to make sure that people understand that this is available to them right now. Not five years from now. Not a year from now. But we can set up a program in a month.” Jody Newman founder and president, Dispatch Dynamics

series of color-coded tables and text on a gray background — Newman said it’s meant to be simple since the average dispatcher is 58 years old. “Your members who use the webpages have very limited computer abilities,” she said. “So we have to play that skillset. But it is a beautiful program.” Every member also has their own webpage within Harbor Watch that tracks where they’ve worked and what qualifications they have so that supervisors can ensure that they have enough skilled workers to get the job done. What sets her software apart from other attempts to create a similar system, Newman said, is her distance from the maritime industry. Additionally, Newman spent 10 months with the ILA dis-

patcher and documented their workflow, which a programmer most likely wouldn’t have time to do. “And because I looked at it from a different perspective, with a different set of eyes, I was able to cleanly cover their processes and translate them to programmers,” she said. Newman said she’s working to get local chapters across the country to begin using the software. “They’re operating on a system that’s been in effect for 50 years, and ... to get them to change it is really hard,” she said. “But every local is seeing this application.” One of the biggest roadblocks is that the ILA local chapters want the employers, such as the ports authorities, to pay

May 18 - 31, 2020

for the new system, but Newman said she’s convinced that if the employers would pay for it, the local chapters would take it. Newman said she also wants the software to be utilized in other industries that require workers to sign up for shifts. “The beauty of it is ... that it doesn’t have to be for longshoremen,” she said. “It can be for any mobile workforce. They can be employees, they can be 1099 (contracted workers). But it can be any mobile workforce that needs dispatching to single or multiple locations.” For example, Dispatch Dynamics has a version of Harbor Watch called V-Tracker that nonprofits can use to track volunteers. She added that with the coronavirus pandemic still causing concern for many people, she sees the Dispatch Dynamics software as a tool that’s right for the moment. “This virtual hiring hall will save lives. It will save time,” Newman said. “And that’s my goal ... is to make sure that people understand that this is available to them right now. Not five years from now. Not a year from now. But we can set up a program in a month.” CRBJ

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

IN FOCUS: PORTS, LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION

May 18 - 31, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 19

Motor Freight Lines Ranked by No. of Drivers in the Charleston Area

Drivers: Local / Statewide

Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Tractors / Trailers Trucking Type

Bulldog Hiway Express 3390 Buffalo Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-744-1651 www.bulldoghiway.com pbyrd@bulldoghiway.com

Philip L. Byrd 1959

200 250

260 550

Dedicated, flatbed, intermodal, brokerage, heavy haul

Machine parts, freight and containers

XPO Logistics 472 Long Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-856-5733 www.xpo.com intermodal@xpo.com

David W. Hahne 1982

115 750

350 225

Flatbed, frozen/refrigerated, hazardous materials, intermodal, LTL/TL, Denmark

Intermodal drayage and storage; hazmat and fireworks shipments

Phoenix Transit & Logistics 2152 Melbourne Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405

843-308-0222 robin@phxtrans.net

Michael Chimenti, Ginger Miller, Robin Wand 1997

100 100

100 -

Dedicated, frozen/refrigerated, hazardous materials, intermodal

Container drayage for the ports of Charleston, Charlotte, N.C. and Savannah, G.A.

ATS Logistics 4033 W. Montague Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-308-6555 www.atsinc.net jimmieg@atsinc.net

Jason Gianoukos, David Weis, Jimmie Gianoukos 1986

72 86

88 12

Dedicated, frozen/refrigerated, hazardous materials, intermodal

Automotive; nonperishable foods; beer, wine and soda; palletized goods

Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. 1938 Clements Ferry Road Wando, SC 29492

843-856-7224 www.odfl.com csscontops@odfl.com

Denise Lee, Tom McAneney 1939

70 70

58 458

Expedited, frozen/refrigerated, hazardous materials, intermodal, LTL/TL

LTL, intermodal

B.W. Mitchum Trucking Co. 549 Long Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-881-5444 www.bwmitchumtrucking.com rates@bwmitchumtrucking.com

Jarrett A. Cooper, Brooke C. Wood 1950

65 200

230 150

Dedicated, flatbed, frozen/refrigerated, intermodal, LTL/TL

Anything nonhazardous

Cowboy USA LLC 8100 Palmetto Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456

843-767-8693 www.cowboyusallc.com dispatch2@cowboyusallc.com

Gina Derry 2005

60 60

28 45

Bulk, dedicated, expedited, flatbed, frozen/refrigerated, hazardous materials, intermodal, LTL/TL, courier services, overdimensional cargo

Hmfg plants for airplane and vehicle manufacturing, hazardous materials

All Points Transport 1040 Lincoln Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405

843-576-5930 www.allpointscharlestonsc.com asc@allpointstransport.com

Bill Ashley 2003

50 50

53 31

Dedicated, frozen/refrigerated, hazardous materials, intermodal, heavy-hauling

All industries shipping intermodal; both international and domestic

Greatwide Truckload Management 7101 Design St. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-529-9550 www.greatwide-tm.com cindy_barrs@hotmail.com

Cindy Barrs, Rose Bradford 2002

45 45

45 -

Intermodal

Multifreight

Hunter Transportation Co. Inc. 4401 Piggly Wiggly Drive, Suite 200 North Charleston, SC 29405

843-849-9192 cthompson@huntertransport.com

Randall Orvig, Coleman Thompson 1998

45 45

45 20

Intermodal

Distribution centers, manufacturing, warehouses for exporters, importers and retail

Atlantic Intermodal Services 2516 Clements Ferry Road Charleston, SC 29492

843-216-1045 www.atlanticintermodal.com aissales@atlanticintermodal.com

Jeff Banton 2006

40 70

70 -

Intermodal

Freight of all kinds

Container Port Group 2538 Clements Ferry Road Charleston, SC 29492

843-376-1696 www.containerport.com cpgchs@containerport.com

Joe Warren 1970

39 39

Hazardous materials, intermodal

Intermodal, hazmat

G&D Integrated 3550 Business Circle North Charleston, SC 29419

843-637-6178 www.gdintegrated.com -

Sam Gronewold 2004

30 85

450 2,600

Bulk, dedicated, flatbed, intermodal, LTL/TL

Mining, agriculture, paper, dry grocery, machinery, heavy machinery, general commodities, automotive, retail

Averitt Express 7749 Palmetto Commerce Parkway North Charleston, SC 29414

843-745-0902 www.averittexpress.com portside@averittexpress.com

Larry Mason 1971

27 120

115 315

Dedicated, expedited, flatbed, hazardous materials, intermodal, LTL/TL

Automotive, retail, food and beverage, industrial, textiles, import, export, manufacturing

ATS Logistics Services 9016 Palmetto Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456

888-318-8347 www.atsinc.com portservices@atsinc.com

Scott Cromer, Terry Bowling 1955

25 59

80 140

Dedicated, expedited, flatbed, frozen/refrigerated, LTL/TL, Machinery, tank, overdimensional, plant van, specialized, heavy haul, cross-dock, import and export relocations, heavy equipment, electronics, container stripping generators, crate

Barnhart Transportation LLC 6695 Jet Park Drive North Charleston, SC 29406

843-553-0534 www.barnhart-trans.com sales@barnhart-trans.com

Bryan Barnhart 2017

25 25

25 60

Bulk, dedicated, expedited, flatbed, intermodal, LTL/TL, oversized and heavy haul

Manufacturing, oil and gas, automotive, aerospace

Polaris Intermodal Services 6633 Jet Park Road North Charleston, SC 29406

856-423-0700 www.polaris-intermodal.com drayagerates@polarisintermodal.com

Maggie Jackson, Kelly Nikola, Deborah Freeman 2014

25 25

25 -

Intermodal, tri-axle chassis

Reefer, automotive, retail, clothing, manufacturing, pharmaceutical beverages, liquor, raw materials, paper, furniture

Bullet Deliveries 2664A Industrial Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405

843-745-5525 www.bulletdeliveries.com today@bulletdeliveries.com

Clint Weimann 1990

22 24

20 -

Dedicated, expedited, Up to 5000lbs.; same-day; no CDL; light delivery vans

Medical, legal, florists, TSA, auto parts, aerospace parts, banking, payroll, groceries, white glove, urgent

Eagle Systems Inc. 6331 Fain St. North Charleston, SC 29406

843-554-3000 www.eaglesystems.net eaglecharleston@eaglegroup.com

Larry Collier 1980

22 22

22 -

Hazardous materials, intermodal

General goods

Fastrans Intermodal 1940 Hanahan Road, Suite 101 North Charleston, SC 29406

843-718-1245 www.fastransintermodal.com clarke@fastransintermodal.com

Clarke Seaton 2009

20 20

20 30

Intermodal

Intermodal drayage

MCO Transport Inc. 1003 Trident St. Hanahan, SC 29410

843-747-5949 www.mcotransport.com info@mcotransport.com

Daniel F. McComas, Todd Kidd, Bill Lowe 1976

20 20

20 10

Dedicated, hazardous materials, intermodal, LTL/TL, cross- Transportation, imports, exports docking

Pioneer Logistics Solutions LLC - Horizon Mid Atlantic 2637 Clements Ferry Road Charleston, SC 29492

843-284-8860 www.horizonfreightsystem.com adial@pioneerlogisticssolutions.com

Allen Dial 2010

20 20

20 -

Intermodal

Assist with loads in or out of Port; no hazmat

Liquid Box Trucking 3135 Pacific St. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-745-0025 www.liquidbox.us scott.liquidbox@gmail.com

Scott Reid Adams 2008

19 19

25 90

Intermodal

Manufacturing

39 Transport Inc., a division of Evans Delivery Co. 2927 Riverwood Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

843-388-9792 dispatch.39Transport@comcast.net

James Pierantozzi 1999

17 63

72 -

Dedicated, intermodal

Auto parts, textiles, general commodities, international cargo

East Coast Drayage 1011 Trident St. Hanahan, SC 29410

843-670-5732 www.nds.com rkelly@ndsv.com

Rick L. Kelly 2003

15 20

20 -

Intermodal

Transportation

LTL=Less-than-truckload. TL=Truckload. 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.

Industry Focus

Researched by Business Journal staff

IN FOCUS: PORTS, LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION

www.charlestonbusiness.com

May 18 - 31, 2020

Motor Freight Lines Ranked by No. of Drivers in the Charleston Area

Drivers: Local / Statewide

Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Tractors / Trailers Trucking Type

Golden Strip Transfer Inc. 3440 Buffalo Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-554-9284 www.goldenstriptransfer.com info@goldenstriptransfer.com

Bill Hollifield 1940

15 15

20 45

National Drayage Services 454 Shipping Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-375-1212 www.ndsv.com chs-trident@ndsv.com

Bob Brennan, Darrin Aumen, Christine Kellett 2008

15 15

R.O. Harrell Inc. 2022 Herbert St. Charleston, SC 29405

843-388-4500 www.roharrell.com gary.cohen@sotank.com

Jackie Murray-Atkinson, Gary Cohen 1943

15 15

25 42

Bulk, hazardous materials, intermodal, bulk pneumatic and Chemicals, salt, cement, lime and fly ash bulk liquid

ABF Freight 3153 Pacific St. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-554-6071 www.abfs.com charlesosborne@abf.com

C. D. Osborne 1923

12 48

45 50

Bulk, dedicated, expedited, flatbed, hazardous materials, intermodal, LTL/TL, truckload

All industries and markets

Service Transfer Inc. 4361 Headquarters Road North Charleston, SC 29405

843-744-5470 www.servicetransfer.net charleston@servicetransfer.net

Kermit G. Paschall Jr. 1970

12 12

4 -

Intermodal

Sealed ocean containers

Zoom Transport Inc. 2326 Air Park Road Charleston, SC 29406

843-554-9100 www.zoomtransport.com rbarrett@zoomtransport.com

Russell Barrett 1993

12 12

5 10

Dedicated, expedited, intermodal, LTL/TL, warehousing

Automotive, aerospace, retail

Nilson Van & Storage 2017 Pittsburgh Ave. Charleston, SC 29405

843-744-1655 www.nilsonvan.com dnilson@nilsonvan.com

Phyllis Nilson 1938

10 25

15 18

Dedicated, expedited, intermodal, LTL/TL, household goods, trailers

Household goods, warehousing nonhazardous items, container drayage and cross-docking

Regal Logistics 1980 Technology Drive, Suite C Charleston, SC 29492

866-300-5580 www.regallogistics.com sales@regallogistics.com

Rand Neeves 2009

10 10

Dedicated, intermodal, LTL/TL

Retail, seasonal, toys, apparel, electronics, footwear, hardware, housewares, textiles, sporting goods

TXN Intermodal Inc. 911 Commerce Circle Charleston, SC 29410

843-735-5590 www.txnintermodal.com rates@txnintermodal.com

Kathy Evans, Mindy Nobles 2011

10 35

35 35

Intermodal

Intermodal services

Robinâ€™s Messenger Service / Freight 113 Newcastle Loop Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-513-4471 www.robinsmessenger.com rmsfrt@yahoo.com

Robin E. Todd 1981

8 8

Dedicated, expedited, LTL/TL

Customs brokers, warehouses, automotive plants

Maritime Delivery Services 1940 Hanahan Road North Charleston, SC 29406

843-576-0575 www.maritimedeliveryservices.com mdschsdsp@mdstrucking.net

2007

6 30

30 3

Hazardous materials, intermodal

Intermodal shipping

Ability Tri-Modal Transportation Services 3298 Benchmark Drive Ladson, SC 29456

843-797-3944 www.abilitytrimodal.com woodya@trimodal.com

Woodrow M Arsenault, Ron Sauls Jr., Lisa Grillo 1947

5 5

6 33

Intermodal, LTL/TL, warehousing, trans-loading

Retail

Carver Maritime 1400 Pierside St. North Charleston, SC 29405

843-779-0199 www.carvercompanies.com -

George McHugh, Jerry Ward, Nick Martin 2016

5 5

5 15

Bulk, dedicated, expedited, flatbed, intermodal, LTL/TL, container tipper, low boy, step deck, dump trailers, pneumatic tankers

Aggregates, breakbulk vessel products, construction equipment, heavy hauling

QIC / Quality International Cartage 6435 Fain St., Building A, Suite B North Charleston, SC 29406

843-744-5262 charleston@qicllc.net

Tammy Clements, David Jones 2003

5 40

50 125

Frozen/refrigerated, hazardous materials, intermodal, chassis

Multifreight

Republic Premier Transit LLC 2355 Charleston Regional Parkway Charleston, SC 29492

843-647-1477 www.rptnation.com sales@rptnation.com

Joey Waxter 2017

5 20

20 20

Intermodal

Manufacturers, distribution centers

61 Transport 6690 Jet Park Road North Charleston, SC 29418

843-261-1831 tlc@61transport.com

Tammy Clark 2015

4 25

25 -

Expedited, intermodal

Ocean cargo

Pilot Freight Services 9004 Sightline Drive, Suite H Ladson, SC 29456

843-873-4855 www.pilotdelivers.com chs@pilotdelivers.com

Andrew C. Rossell 1970

4 4

2 15

Dedicated, expedited, hazardous materials, LTL/TL

Automotive, aerospace, medical, furniture

Thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services 9004-I Sightline Drive Ladson, SC 29485

864-216-9017 www.tk-supplychain.com logistics@thyssenkrupp.com

1966

3 30

3 15

Dedicated, flatbed

Automotive, renewable energy, commercial construction, heavy industrial

Barnhart Crane & Rigging Co. 1360 Truxtun Ave., Suite 102 North Charleston, SC 29405

843-414-3280 www.barnhartcrane.com wdunning@barnhartcrane.com

Whitt Dunning 1969

1 1

1 3

Dedicated, expedited, flatbed, heavy lift and rigging and heavy haul and transportation

Nuclear power, Department of Energy, fossil power, chemical, heavy industrial, commercial, ports, paper and pulp

I.D.E.A. LLC 4450 Goer Drive North Charleston, SC 29406

843-744-2727 www.ideallc.com tomdemuth@ideallc.com

Tom DeMuth 1999

1 1

1 4

Intermodal

Textiles, chemicals, consumer goods

PB Express 2241 Technical Parkway North Charleston, SC 29406

843-797-1140 www.pbexpress.com dispatch_chr@pbexpress.com

Patrick Crowell 1993

1 15

15 -

Frozen/refrigerated, hazardous materials, intermodal, customs bonded, liquor license

General commodities

LS2C Logistics Inc. 950 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Suite 100 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-856-0018 www.ls2c.com will@ls2c.com

Martin F. Chitty, Will F. Cabanting 2000

Expedited, flatbed, frozen/refrigerated, intermodal, LTL/TL

Flatbed loads, intermodal and container, van and dry goods and produce

Virginia Carolina Logistics 2412 Parsonage Woods Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

843-906-7094 gbowman423@gmail.com

Greg Bowman 2007

Expedited, flatbed, intermodal, LTL/TL

Automotive

Industry Focus

Dedicated, intermodal, LTL/TL

General freight

Intermodal

Ocean containers

Researched by Business Journal staff

At Work

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

Business Digest

People in the News

Summerville Rotary Club sponsors neonatal ICU library at Summerville Medical The Summerville Rotary Club has sponsored a library in the level II neonatal intensive care unit at Summerville Medical Center. As part of its Gift of Literacy program, the Summerville Rotary Club raised funds to purchase more than 100 books to go into the library. The selection of titles was curated by Shirley Schulz, who runs the hospital’s volunteer reading program, and purchased at Main Street Reads, an independent bookstore in Summerville. Each NICU baby will also be given a copy of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? provided by the Summerville Rotary Club.

Lowcountry Senior Network raises money for Meals on Wheels

The Lowcountry Senior Network hosted its fourth annual Holiday Harvest Gala to raise funds to support the Charleston Area Meals on Wheels program. The event raised $13,000 to benefit the organization and to help meet the needs of people on its waiting list. This fundraising event was a response to the number of individuals in the area who are on waitlists to receive Meals on Wheels services as a result of a lack of funds. Over the past four years, the Lowcountry Senior Network has raised and donated more than $56,000 to Meals on Wheels of Charleston.

College of Charleston ranked among top producers of Peace Corps volunteers

The College of Charleston ranked 14th among midsize schools on the Peace Corps’ list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities in 2020. The

school currently has 21 alumni volunteering in countries around the world. Since the Peace Corps was founded in 1961, more than 290 alumni from the college have served abroad as volunteers. This is the fourth consecutive year that the College of Charleston has ranked among the top 20 midsize schools. It is the only school in South Carolina to make the list.

CSU to offer 10-month online MBA, doctorate in physical therapy

Starting in the fall, Charleston Southern University will be offering a 10-month accelerated online program as well as a flex option for its MBA program. The accelerated, 10-month route, which will begin with 22 students, will be taught in seven-week semesters, allowing students to take four courses each semester instead of two. The flex option will be online or on campus and can be

completed in 17 months. Most flex courses are available in the seven-week format as well. Both options are 30hour programs. The university will also begin accepting applications for a new Doctor of Physical Therapy program in July 2021, with the first cohort of 48 students set to begin in May 2022. The full-time program is 120 credit hours, with students completing the degree in 2.5 years. The new physical therapy wing includes a modern health science building expansion. This consists of 15,000 square feet of space for research and teaching labs, classrooms, and seven breakout areas to be used for individual and group studying.

S.C. Federal acquires Health Facilities Federal Credit Union

S.C. Federal Credit Union has acquired Health Facilities Federal Credit Union after members approved the merger in November. Former Health Facilities members now have additional financial center locations, extended contact center service hours and access to more than 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the Allpoint Network. See BUSINESS DIGEST, Page 22

HEALTH CARE Summerville Medical Center has hired Jeff Taylor as CEO. Taylor has been an executive with HCA Healthcare for the past nine years, most recently serving as Taylor the COO at Menorah Medical Center in Kansas. Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at Missouri Southern State University and a master’s degree in health care administration at the University of Missouri. Truesdale Medical Center has hired Sarah Yum to provide counseling services to patients at the North Charleston center. A graduate of Pfeiffer University, Yum has training in family therapy and specializes in relational and marital issues, clients who have experienced trauma or abuse, and members of the LGBTQ community in their families.

HOSPITALITY/TOURISM Edmund’s Oast Restaurant has made Bob Cook a partner in the restaurant and has hired its first general manager, Suzanne Stone. Stone started with the company in August 2017 as a bartender and later became front-of-house manager. Stone is executing the restaurant’s overarching hospitality goals, in addition to overseeing day-to-day operations. Explore Charleston has hired Ami Calhoun as national sales manager. A College of Charleston graduate, Calhoun has more than 20 years of hospitality experience. Previously, she served the Francis Marion Hotel as sales manager for the mid-Atlantic market. In her new role, Calhoun will focus on mid-Atlantic and Northeast association and corporate business, as well as incentive sales.

NONPROFIT Palmetto Goodwill has hired Megan Fink as vice president of marketing and communications. Fink has more than 15 years of communications experience, a bachelor’s degree

Fink

See PEOPLE, Page 24

www.charlestonbusiness.com

May 18 - 31, 2020

Business Digest BUSINESS DIGEST, from Page 21

United Community Banks Inc., Three Shores Bancorp to merge

United Community Banks Inc. will acquire Three Shores Bancorp Inc., including its wholly owned subsidiary, Seaside National Bank & Trust. Seaside serves high-net-worth individuals and middle-market businesses through a network of 14 branches located in Florida metro markets. As of 2019, Seaside reported outstanding loans totaling about $1.4 billion, comprising small-business borrowers operating in multiple industries in Florida. Additionally, Seaside operates a wealth management platform with more than $900 million of client assets under advisement. The transaction value is estimated to total about $180 million, including about $25 million being paid to holders of options and follow-on rights to acquire Three Shores common stock. The stock portion of the merger consideration is based upon 0.33 share of United Community Banks common stock being issued in exchange for each share of Three Shores common stock. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2020.

Spectrum Paint opens 6th Lowcountry location in West Ashley

Spectrum Paint Co. has opened its sixth Lowcountry location in West Ashley, with the other five being on Johns Island, Summerville, North Mount Pleasant, Mount Pleasant and downtown. Spectrum now has 10 stores in South Carolina and 81 stores in eight states.

Cohn Construction Services completes Palmetto Family Dentistry

Cohn Construction Services has completed a new dental facility for Palmetto Family Dentistry at 176 Tyvola Road in Summerville. The 4,600-square-foot, 1 1/2-story medical office includes six dental exam and clinical rooms, a large waiting and reception area, two offices, a staff break room, a lab and a sterilization area. The first-floor offices and break room have below-slab plumbing to accommodate future conversion into additional dental exam rooms. The additional floor has been left open to allow for customization in further expansions.

SeamonWhiteside plays role in new Park Circle site for Firefly Distillery

SeamonWhiteside played a role in Firefly Distillery’s new 25,000-square-foot location in Park Circle. The company provided assistance in site selection, due diligence, master planning, permitting coordination, landscape and hardscape design and civil engineering.

American Heart Association raises more than $1.2 million

The American Heart Association’s Low-

country Heart Walk raised more than $1.24 million, making it the first-ever million-dollar Heart Walk in South Carolina. About 5,000 supporters and survivors from across the state attended the event, which supports cardiovascular research and education.

North Charleston Medical Center adds mental health services

Truesdale Medical Center is adding mental health services to its roster of primary and urgent care services. Sarah Yum will provide counseling services to patients at the North Charleston center.

Entertainment company Atomic Focus Entertainment opens for business

Atomic Focus Entertainment, a woman-owned, full-service entertainment company, has opened, offering multiplatform content creation, acquisition, production and distribution services from offices in Charleston, Los Angeles and New York. The company’s leadership team has more than 75 years of combined experience in theater, film and television.

Life Cycle Engineering introduces certifications to resources portfolio

Life Cycle Institute has added a maintenance planning and scheduling certification to its portfolio of educational resources. This new certification is designed for planners, schedulers, maintenance managers, production supervisors and professionals responsible for building and sustaining a planning and scheduling program. Participants can earn certification through engineering school partners including Clemson University, the University of Kansas, Ohio State University and Washington State University. Candidates must complete four courses and successfully pass a certification exam within three years.

McLeod Information Systems LLC earns HUBZone certification

McLeod Information Systems LLC has been approved for certification by the U.S. Small Business Administration to participate in the Historically Underutilized Business Zone program. With this certification, the company can employ, train and mentor local high school and college students. This will allow qualifying students to gain experience in the information technology and security fields. McLeod Information Systems, a cybersecurity company in North Charleston, has apprentices enrolled at Trident Technical College. The company currently has two dual-enrolled apprentice, one in-housetrained cybersecurity apprentice and two high school interns.

Lowcountry Food Bank Chefs’ Feast to provide more than 2,700,000 meals

The Lowcountry Food Bank’s 21st annual Chefs’ Feast gala and live auction raised

$452,000 to support the fight against childhood hunger. More than 720 community partners and guests attended the annual event. The event was a collaboration between the food bank and 37 local chefs. Proceeds from the benefit go toward the Lowcountry Food Bank’s childhood hunger programs, which alleviate after-school, weekend and summer hunger for children throughout the coastal counties of South Carolina. Programs include Kids Cafe, BackPack Buddies, School Pantry, In-School Market and Summer Meals.

St. George Spine Center introduces LightForce PRO deep tissue therapy

St. George Spine Center is now offering the LightForce PRO deep tissue therapy laser. Laser therapy is a surgery-free, drug-free option for individuals with acute or chronic pain. Most patients see results in three to five treatment sessions. Laser therapy is used to reduce pain and inflammation associated with many common musculoskeletal conditions, such as neck pain, lower back pain, sciatic pain, arthritis, carpal tunnel and plantar fasciitis. The LightForce PRO deep tissue therapy laser has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration.

Remount Road. The $14 million facility includes three indoor gymnasiums for multiple uses, as well as a community space, event space and a mezzanine for viewing and meetings. The two-story building was designed to host competitive and recreational sports, including basketball, pickleball, wrestling, volleyball, cheerleading and soccer.

Stasmayer Inc. recognized on CRN’s 2020 Managed Service Provider 500 list

CRN, a brand of The Channel Co., has named Stasmayer Inc. to its 2020 Managed Service Provider 500 list, in the Pioneer 250 category. This list comprises North American companies that deliver operational efficiencies, IT system improvements and a higher rate of return on investments for their customers. This is the fifth consecutive year that Stasmayer has been recognized by CRN.

Charleston Commercial building flex space warehouse in North Charleston

Real estate investment firm Charleston Commercial is overseeing the construction and leasing of a new warehouse in Stark Industrial Park. The new building at 4212 Domino Ave. in North Charleston, which will be just less than 16,000 square feet, is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2020. The steel frame was built by Strong Build. The general contractor is Ferrara Buist Contractors, architect is Novus Architects and civil engineer is Stantec.

East Cooper Habitat for Humanity celebrates 30th anniversary year

East Cooper Habitat for Humanity celebrated its 30th anniversary year with a party for homeowners, board members, volunteers, donors and staff at Goldbug Island.

Moneypenny partners with VoiceNation and Ninja Number

Moneypenny has acquired VoiceNation and Ninja Number. Moneypenny has more than 750 employees and 20% growth year on year, with offices in the United Kingdom and Charleston.

Bradford Pointe in Summerville to have several outdoor amenities

Centex has begun work at Bradford Pointe in Summerville, which will have a zero-entry pool, mushroom splash fountain, soccer fields, basketball courts and kids playground. The amenities are expected to be ready this summer to accompany the first phase of the community.

Trident Construction completes athletic complex in North Charleston

Trident Construction has completed a new, 51,000-square-foot gymnasium at the City of North Charleston Athletic Center at Casper Padgett Way and

Makeready’s new Emeline hotel planned for May opening

The new Emeline hotel is expected to open this month in Charleston’s historic district and is now taking reservations. Owner and developer Rockbridge designed Emeline with 212 all-king bed guest rooms, including 128 luxury suites and 16 double king bed accommodations. Other amenities include outdoor lounging, a coffee shop, restaurants and bars, retail shops, a fitness center, a courtyard and a greenhouse. Emeline can accommodate up to 350 attendees.

May 18 - 31, 2020

www.charlestonbusiness.com 23

Business Digest Farmers Insurance launches new auto insurance product in South Carolina

Farmers Insurance launched its first auto insurance product in South Carolina through farmersdirect.com. The new product allows consumers throughout the state to purchase a fully digital and customizable auto insurance policy. South Carolina marks the eighth state where Farmers has expanded access to branded products.

The Beach Co. receives multiple American Advertising Awards

The Beach Co. was recognized in the 2020 American Advertising Awards for advertising excellency for its new waterfront community development, Kiawah River. During the Greenville Ad Federation’s American Advertising Awards Gala in February, The Beach Co.’s in-house marketing team and its contributors received seven Gold Awards and two Silver Awards across a variety of digital and print marketing initiatives. The Beach Co. was also recognized in a local ad club phase of the American Advertising Federation, the first of a three-tier national competition. The Beach Co. will go on to compete against local and district award winners for a chance to win a national award.

Kion hosts OpExChange visit with speakers on manufacturing practices

The Summerville headquarters of Kion hosted an OpExChange visit, with speakers Daniel Schlegel, vice president of North American operations, and Jeff Peterson, director of manufacturing. The Kion North America team unveiled a low-cost method to create electronic work instructions using existing tools. The event also included a tour of the factory and a discussion with the visiting companies. Kion announced that automation of their testing process to measure lift, tilt, side-shift, drift and several other variables will be completed this year.

Thomas & Hutton acquires Tenn. firm, wins Engineering Excellence Award

Thomas & Hutton, a consulting and engineering firm with offices in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tenn., has acquired Dempsey, Dilling & Associates, based in Smyrna, Tenn. The combination was effective Feb. 1, and Dempsey, Dilling &

Associates will operate under the Thomas & Hutton brand. Thomas and Hutton also was presented an Engineering Excellence Award from the S.C. chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies. Thomas and Hutton’s Connecting the Creek project took the award in the small projects category. Connecting the Creek encompassed Phase 3 improvements to the Shem Creek area in Mount Pleasant and included the design and construction of an independent pedestrian bridge along Coleman Boulevard, as well as the creation of a public park destination. Thomas and Hutton has worked with the Town of Mount Pleasant on the development of public access to Shem Creek since 2007. The construction of Phase 3 was completed in September.

Choice’s Gourmet Market and Deli opens at 4831 Mixson Ave.

Choice’s Gourmet Market and Deli has leased 3,190 square feet of space at 4831 Mixson Ave. The market and deli offers sandwiches; pizza; Italian products; produce; freshly made sushi; local drinks and kombucha; and local coffee.

Vikor Scientific moves operations to new WestEdge headquarters

The Cassina Group sets real estate record with penthouse sale

Robertson Allen, founding partner and broker in charge at The Cassina Group, represented the seller of unit 801 at 18 Broad St., the penthouse in the Peoples Building. The sale closed for $12 million, setting a record for most expensive residential property ever sold on the Charleston peninsula.

Colliers International brokers 37-property portfolio sale to investor

Weston Inc., a privately held industrial property owner and developer based in Ohio, has closed the purchase of the Carolina Industrial Properties portfolio, previously owned by Reger Holdings LLC. The portfolio consists of 37 properties, 57 tenants and 5.5 million square feet of industrial space across 16 counties in South Carolina. According to CoStar, the transaction volume accounts for the largest single acquisition of properties within South Carolina in at least 10 years. Weston is now one of the largest privately owned real estate investors in the state. Colliers International South Carolina and LCK were hired to handle brokerage, marketing, accounting, property management and project management for the portfolio. The team includes 40 professionals across Colliers’ Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg offices.

Vikor Scientific is moving its Lowcountry operations and workforce to WestEdge. The team of 53 members is set to move into the nearly completed 22 WestEdge building in early spring. The company headquarters will include the company’s C-suite, sales and marketing teams, customer service, supply chain management and payer relations, as well as multiple clinicians, neuropharmacologists, medical specialists, researchers and scientists. Vikor will occupy the building’s eighth floor penthouse and fourth floor. The building will have 150,000 square feet of office and lab space, as well as street-level space for cafes, restaurants and shopping.

Colony Tire enters Charleston market with Piedmont acquisition

Colony Tire & Service has acquired the Summerville location of Piedmont Tire. Colony Tire has 42 retail and wholesale locations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, with annual sales exceeding $500 million.

Fins Car Wash opens second Charleston location

Fins of AAA Carolinas has opened its second Charleston location, making its fourth carwash. Fins is open to the public, with discounts on monthly memberships and other perks for AAA members.

JM Smith Foundation awards $25,000 to Association for the Blind in S.C.

The JM Smith Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired South Carolina to support the growth of its Own Your Life program. The program helps adults who are blind or visually impaired in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties learn new approaches to daily life. Classes include braille, computer skills, group and family therapy, vocational rehabilitation, and orientation and mobility training. The organization has also opened a permanent, second location in Ladson.

Palmetto Brewing, High Wire partner on sanitizer production, donation

Palmetto Brewing Co. and High Wire Distilling Co. have partnered to process beer into hand sanitizer for local distribution. High Wire Distilling donated more than 107 barrels of beer to Palmetto Brewing Co. Under a fully controlled, distillation process, alcohol was evaporated from the beer, cooled and collected. Glycerin and hydrogen peroxide were then mixed in to make a standard hand sanitizer solution. The companies said the finished product will be used by workers at Palmetto Brewing and High Wire Distilling, and most will be donated locally to communities needing hand sanitizer. Charleston Fire Chief Dan Curia helped to coordinate donation drop-offs at several of the fire houses around the city, the companies said in a news release.

www.charlestonbusiness.com

May 18 - 31, 2020

People in the News PEOPLE, from Page 21

in anthropology from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in mass communications from the University of South Carolina.

2020 | SOUTH CAROLINA

MANUFACTURING

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

SAVE THE DATE

Sue Hanshaw, CEO of Tricounty Family Ministries, has retired and transitioned to the board of directors; Kara Joy Stewart has been named executive Hanshaw director. Hanshaw holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Southern Wesleyan University. During her time with the organization, she implemented Healing Hands Ministries, a health advocacy, prescription assistance and health education program; and Families in Transition, which provides transitional and emergency housing, life coaching, mental health and addiction counseling to individuals and families in crisis. Stewart has spent 25 years working in community engagement, health and wellness, and strategic planning. She is a graduate of Furman University and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Ohio. Pat Walker, president and CEO of Lowcountry Food Bank, will retire this year. She will lead the organization until the board of directors finds a replacement. Walker has served as president and CEO of the food bank for eight years. Under her leadership, the food bank has increased the pounds of food distributed by 72.6%, serving more than 200,000 people each year. She previously worked for East Cooper Meals on Wheels for 10 years, serving as its president and CEO after completing a 30-year career in education as a high school teacher and counselor. The S.C Chamber of Commerce has named Sam Konduros to the executive committee of its board of directors. Konduros serves as the president and Konduros CEO of SCBio, which he joined in 2017 to build, advance and grow life sciences in the state, expanding its efforts to address economic development, advocacy, integrated marketing and capital. He has served as a senior project manager for the S.C. Department of Commerce and external vice president with Alfmeier Corp. in North America. He is also a board member for Southeast Life Sciences and the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Clemson University and

earned a juris doctor degree at the University of South Carolina School of Law. East Cooper Habitat for Humanity has named Babak Bryan and Deborah Way to its board. The organization has also hired Gabrielle Yarborough as development director and Maria Davis as volunteer coordinator and assistant construction manager. Bryan owns a private architecture firm on Sullivan’s Island. In addition to volunteering with Habitat, he serves on the Sullivan’s Island Board of Zoning Appeals and is on the executive board of the Charleston chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Way is the operations manager for Structures Building Co. Yarborough will be responsible for the design and implementation of programs that advance the fundraising, communications and public relations goals of the organization. She also works with community relationships and manages event planning. She previously worked at Blackbaud for more than six years, managing corporate social responsibility programs. Davis has experience in home improvement and construction, having worked at Lowe’s for 10 years as a pro sales specialist, as well as an architectural intern with a local construction company. She is responsible for volunteer management, and for providing tools and instruction to volunteers, coordinating deadlines and inspections and managing potential AmeriCorps volunteers.

DEFENSE Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic has selected Greg Hays as senior scientific technology manager for rapid prototyping and exercise lead. Hays Hays will also work closely with his counterparts across the Naval enterprise in leading rapid acquisition initiatives, ensuring a technical advantage for the Navy and Marine Corps. Hays has more than 25 years of combined federal government and industry experience. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Evansville and a Master of Science in engineering from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology.

ACCOUNTING Jarrard, Nowell & Russell LLC has hired Paige Catherine Haines as a bookkeeper in the North Charleston office. Haines will be responsible for recording all finan-

Haines

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People in the News cial cost transactions and income, as well as analyzing and summarizing account information for clients in order to generate reports. Previously, Haines served as finance manager and bookkeeper for Cooper River Boatyard. Chris Hervochon, CPA, CVA LLC has hired Josh Goodman as a staff accountant, providing outsourced accounting and tax preparation for small businesses Goodman and individuals. Previously, Goodman worked in the golf industry for 10 years, spending most of his time as an assistant golf professional. He graduated from the University of South Carolina Beaufort with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a concentration in accounting. Welch, Roberts, Amburn & Hutto LLC has named Andrew Preston a partner; promoted Caroline Helems, Betsy Richardson and Alyssa Sales to Preston managers; and promoted Landon Dickerson to senior. Preston has more than 12 years of experience assisting companies on tax, accounting and business issues. He also specializes in taxation of partnerships, corporations, individuals, trusts and estates. Preston received a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Appalachian State University and an MBA from The Citadel Graduate College.

ARCHITECTURE Red Iron Architects has hired Benjamin Hess as a designer and project manager. Hess earned two degrees from Pennsylvania College of Technology, includHess ing a Bachelor of Science in business management. Hess has worked in the architecture and engineering industries and has experience in design software, custom residential design and client relations. He is an associate member of the American Institute of Architecture and the Custom Residential Architects Network of Charleston.

INSURANCE Tommy Suggs, president and CEO of HUB Carolinas, has been honored by the S.C. Broadcasters Association with

an Honorary Life Membership award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the broadcast industry on a statewide and Suggs national level. Suggs has served as the color analyst for the University of South Carolina’s Gamecock Radio Network for 47 years. He is also tied for second-longest NCAA Division I football broadcaster. Suggs received an honorary doctorate from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. He is also a member of the USC Athletic Hall of Fame and the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame. The David M. Gilston Insurance Agency has hired Andi McDanel to its Lowcountry sales support team. McDanel works directly with agents McDanel and brokers who are exploring group medical and ancillary lines of coverage. She is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in public health. McDaniel has insurance experience as a client service coordinator and is a strategic wellness coordinator. HUB Carolinas has hired Alicia Maxie as a commercial lines adviser on its Charleston team. Previously, Maxie worked with Brown & Brown Insurance Maxie of South Carolina Inc., where she served as the commercial and personal sales executive and department leader.

TECHNOLOGY Immedion LLC has hired Phil Palmer as sales director for its Charleston location. Palmer is responsible for new business development and client relations for the Palmer Charleston area. He has executive-level leadership experience, including more than six years in sales roles. He most recently served as complete account executive at ATI Nursing Education, where he specialized in consultative sales. Prior to that, he also held a sales leadership position at McGraw-Hill Education and served in the Marine Corps. He holds a bachelor’s degree from The Citadel.

The Lobotomists, a robotics team from the S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, became the 20192020 S.C. Championship Tournament Winning Alliance, along with the Ground Shakers of Summerville High School and Ben Lippen’s Falcon Force. The Lobotomists also placed second for the Control Award, which celebrates a team that uses sensors and software to increase their robot’s functionality in the field. Team members from the Lowcountry include Kyle Koon and Katelynn Thorne, both of Berkeley County. TeamLogic IT has hired Leslie Perkins as a senior systems engineer. Perkins is a subject matter expert in cybersecurity, enterprise infrastructure, conPerkins figurations and implementations. He has an extensive background in IT, particularly in the health care industry. His career started at Robert Bosch Corp., where he worked as a quality engineer with a focus on SAP Enterprise Software. He also worked at the Community Health Center as COO, and later as technology and facilities officer.

ENGINEERING Travis Smith has been promoted to CFO of Davis & Floyd Inc. taking the place of John Redfern Jr., who recently retired as CFO and vice president of Redfern accounting after 31 years. Smith started at Davis & Floyd in 2017 and has a bachelor’s degree in business from The Citadel and a Master of Accountancy from Clemson University. He has 18 years of accounting, financial and tax experience.

REAL ESTATE AgentOwned Realty has hired Elizabeth Strott to its West Ashley office, Vicki Viers to its Mount Pleasant office, and Ed Graham to its Goose Creek office. Strott graduated from the College of Charleston and earned a Master’s in Education in school counseling from The Citadel. She worked as a school counselor before

entering real estate five years ago. Viers holds multiple certifications and designations. Prior to entering real estate, she worked in the banking industry, handling mortgage loans and managing title companies. Graham received a bachelor’s degree in business and managerial economics from Golden Gate University and a master’s degree in human resources management and personnel administration from Chapman University. He has 20 years of real estate experience. Previously, he worked for 20 years in finance with the Air Force.

Strott

Viers

Graham

Helen Hudson, founder of SafeShowings, has become a President’s Circle investor in the Realtors Political Action Committee. The organization is a Hudson national, bipartisan, grass-roots political advocacy group for the real estate industry. Hudson’s investment will be applied to supporting homeownership, commercial real estate transactions and the future of real estate.

BANKING & FINANCE Frank Bullard is Charleston’s new market president at First Reliance Bank. Bullard has more than 37 years of experience in the banking industry. He began Bullard his career in BB&T’s Management Development Program in 1981 and has served in retail and commercial banking roles in both Carolinas. He retired as market president for the Charleston and Coastal markets in 2019. Bullard graduated from East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in business, and from Louisiana State University School of Banking of the South. He also received an honorary doctorate of business administration from Charleston Southern University. See PEOPLE, Page 26

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People in the News PEOPLE, from Page 25

United Community Bank has hired Melinda Davis Lux to the company’s executive leadership team as executive vice president, general counsel and Lux corporate secretary. Lux will serve on the leadership team and be responsible for the company’s legal and governance matters. She has more than 20 years of experience advising clients as a corporate and mergers and acquisitions attorney. Lux holds a Master of Laws in taxation from New York University School of Law, a juris doctor degree from Yale Law School, an MBA from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College. First Capital Bank has hired William Melvin Brown III as a director. Brown has received numerous awards for 20 years of service in the Navy and now works as an emergency room physician.

Brown

CresCom Bank has hired Parker Webb as a mortgage loan originator. Webb has been in the industry for more than 15 years. Recently, he worked as a private mortgage banker for Wells Fargo’s Private Bank and Wells Fargo Advisors. Webb has experience with VA, FHA, USDA, conventional, construction and portfolio loans. He has a finance degree from Georgia Southern University. MassMutual South Carolina has hired James Mack Cunningham III and Brian White as financial professionals in its Charleston office. Cunningham holds a Cunningham Bachelor of Science in business, with a concentration in management, from Presbyterian College. He is certified in life, accident and health insurance. White attended Frances Marion University. He previously White worked at Liberty Life Insurance Co. and Prudential Financial. In his new role, White will serve as a specialist in life, disability and retirement planning.

ARCHITECTURE Liollio Architecture’s Joshua Putnam

has earned his architectural licensure, becoming a member of the American Institute of Architects. Aaron Bowman has been received one of the AIA’s National Putnam 2020 Young Architect Awards. Putnam completed his Bachelor of Architecture degree and his Bachelor of Environmental Design in architecture at North Carolina State University. He also studied industriBowman al drafting and design at Appalachian State University.

CONSTRUCTION J. Musselman Construction Inc. has hired Nick Burt as a project manager. He graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in construction systems and management. He previously worked for Schumacher Dugan Construction. Burt has project management experience in the commercial, industrial, health care, financial, retail, hospitality and food service industries. JE Dunn Construction has hired Janet Bates as client solutions manager, responsible for business development in the Lowcountry. Bates heads efforts Bates to build relationships with clients in the commercial office, education, hospitality and health care markets. She serves as president of the Palmetto chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction and is a member of Commercial Real Estate Women Charleston, the Urban Land Institute, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Developers Council and the National Green Building Standard Advisory Group. The Cornerstone Co. has hired John Clary as a construction superintendent for several Mount Pleasant projects. Clary has served as a superintendent on Clary commercial projects across the Southeast and has been in the construction industry for 30 years.

CONSULTING TechCXO has hired Mark Lewis as a finance partner, providing interim, frac-

tional and part-time CFO services to companies of all sizes, particularly those in commercial real estate and land development. Lewis has experience structurLewis ing complex financial transactions, as well as sourcing debt and equity capital. He has also developed and managed finance, accounting, tax and IT teams throughout his 35-year career. Knowledge Capital Group has named Peter Zwerner as a member of its clinical advisory board. Zwerner is a professor of medicine and chief medical officer at the Zwerner Medical University of South Carolina Physician Practice, as well as co-chief medical officer of the Integrated Health System. Zwerner is a member of the executive leadership team at MUSC Health and has held various senior leadership positions, including vice chair for clinic affairs for the department of medicine and interim chief of cardiology. Zwerner graduated from the George Washington University Medical School and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

BUSINESS SERVICES The Harbour Club’s founding board of governors is led by chairman Gene King of Sequence Holdings LLC, and vice chairman Colin Smoak of Coach Colin. The board also includes Dr. Melvin Brown III of Team Health and Trident Medical Center; Carolina Gribble Bryan; Patrick Bryant of Code & Trust and Go To Team; Ben Busse, of Web Well Done; Lisa Buzzelli of the Culinary Institute of Charleston; Jim Coyne, BNG Hospitality; Tim Davis of Firefly Spirits; Bryan Derreberry of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce; Kate M. Dolan of Carolina One Real Estate; Mark C. Fava, corporate counsel for Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Christopher B. Fraser of Avison Young – South Carolina; Kathryn Gould of J. Hilburn; Mark H. Griesbaum of Affinity4U LLC; Charles Hansult of the Air Force; Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie; Jairy Hunter Jr. of Charleston Southern University; Marvin Jenkins of Daniel Island Academy; Iordanis Karagiannidis of The Citadel; Al Katz of The Next Level LLC; Steve Kelleher of Steve Kelleher PGA; Sara Kindsfater-Yerkes of BluSky Strategy; Karen A. Kugblenu; Sean Laney of BNG Hospitality; Peter Lehman of Lehman International; J.C. Long of JC Long Co.; Chappy McKay of

Trident Construction; Malvern M. Middleton of Linkmasters; Ellen O’Neil of Ellen O’Neil Properties with EXP Realty; John Osborne of Charleston Angel Partners; Jeannelle Perkins-Muhammad of TMI Counseling and Coaching LLC; Dr. Jeff Randall of the Medical University of South Carolina; Mack Reese of Gateway Ventures Real Estate; Kitty Reid of Michelle B. Richards, Rodan & Fields; Henry I. Siegling; Douglas A. Snyder of LS3P Associates Ltd.; Mike Spruill of IBM; Thomas F. Taft Sr. of Taft Family Ventures; Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, Mayor of Charleston; Leigh Owen Wilkes, Legis Finance Ltd.; and Amanda Culver Wynns, Summit Landscape Group.

EDUCATION The Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics recognizes John Palms as the recipient of the 2020 Krause Center Award for Distinguished Service, Leadership Palms and Ethics. Palms graduated from The Citadel as a distinguished Air Force ROTC cadet, receiving a commission into the Air Force. After earning a Master of Science in physics, he served as a nuclear weapons officer. He completed his doctorate of physics at the University of New Mexico. Palms served as president of Georgia State University before becoming the president of the University of South Carolina, where he served for almost 12 years. Palms has published more than 60 scientific and technical papers and reports and holds honorary degrees from The Citadel and the University of South Carolina. In 2012, the University of South Carolina named a building, the John M. Palms Center for Graduate Science Research, in his honor. Suzanne Austin has been appointed as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the College of Charleston, effective July 1. Austin has worked in Austin academia for almost three decades and holds a doctorate in history from Duke University. She spent the past nine years as senior vice provost and senior international officer at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she led a series of initiatives focused on student success, faculty development, international programs and online learning. Austin studied English and journalism at North Carolina State University before pursuing a graduate degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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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.

Pete Harper, Cameron Yost and Reid Davis of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, Faber Limited L.P., in the lease of 2,522 square feet of office space at 3955 Faber Place Drive in North Charleston to J.M. Wilson Corp. Eddie Hughes of Beach Commercial represented the seller, Summer Wind Retail LLC, in the sale of 3.42 acres of land at the corner of Dorchester Road and U.S. Highway 17-A in Summerville to Drayton-Parker Cos. LLC for $1.15 million. Sean Litton of Peninsula Commercial, part of The Peninsula Co., represented the buyer.

Benjy Cooke of Oswald Cooke & Associates represented the seller, White Summerville DG LLC, in the sale of 9,026 square feet of retail space at 2916 W. Fifth North St. in Summerville to The Kay H. Krauss Living Trust for $1.55 million. Joyce Beach of CBRE Inc. represented the buyer. Charlie Mogul and Patterson Milbourne of Peninsula Commercial represented the tenant, Leaderstat, in the lease of 3,661 square feet of office space in the newly developed Lumberyard, at 1859 Summerville Ave. in Charleston. Joseph Tecklenburg and Stuart Coleman of Clement Crawford and Thornhill represented the landlord.

Doug Richardson of AgentOwned Realty Co. represented the buyer, ROESLSA LLC Hannah Kamba, in the purchase of 6,000 square feet of retail space at 600 N. Gum St. in Summerville from TD Capital LLC for $1.05 million. David Smoak of Smoak and Associates Real Estate LLC represented the seller.

landlord, King at Market L.P., in the lease of 1,000 square feet of retail space in Suite C at 218 King St. to Transformation Yoga. Kevin Shields of Belk Lucy represented the tenant.

Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the seller, Austin Trust, in the sale of 22 acres of land at 0 Ridgeville Road in Ridgeville to Holseberg Properties LLC for $150,000. Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner, and Daniel McClam of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, BPG SR Adults Trust Agreement, in the lease of 5,600 square feet of flex space at 3450-C Buffalo Ave. in North Charleston to Hesco Bastion Inc. Doug Richardson of AgentOwned Realty Co. represented the seller, New Life Christian Fellowship Church, in the sale of 14,148 square feet of office space on 9.6 acres at 402 Liberty Hall Road in Goose Creek to Improving Lives Church for $1.52 million. Doug Richardson of AgentOwned Realty Co. represented the buyer.

Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner and Daniel McClam of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Cainhoy LLC, in the lease of flex space in Suite 101 at 2300 Clements Ferry Road in Charleston to Arkonik Ltd. Michael Tawes of Valbridge Property Advisors represented the tenant.

Ed Kercher of Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer represented the tenant, Wells Fargo Bank N.A., in the lease of 30,848 square feet of office space at The Jasper, 320 Broad St. in Charleston. Nick Tanana and Brady Dashiell of Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer represented the tenant, Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA Inc., in the lease renewal of 3,071 square feet of office space at 3520 W. Montague Ave. in North Charleston.

Ed Kercher of Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer represented the tenant, Apex Systems LLC, in the lease of 2,750 square feet of office space at 297 Seven Farms Drive in Charleston.

Tradd Varner and Todd Garrett of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Seven Mile Land Holdings LLC, in the lease of 2,500 square feet of industrial space in Suite B at 4540 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston to Rendell Lambert. Daniel McClam, Tradd Varner and Todd Garrett of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the tenant, Cathedral of Praise Inc., in the lease of 6,024 square feet of flex space at 7220 Investment Drive in North Charleston from 7220 Investment Drive LLC. Aubry Alexander of Urban Core Advisors represented the landlord. Alex Waelde of Trinity Partners represented the seller, Jay Nagy, in the sale of 4,875 square feet of office space at 2825 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston to Roetech Enterprises Inc. for $335,000. Austin Boyd of Sadler Group of Charleston LLC represented the buyer. Kisha Lyles, Chris Fraser and Leslie Fellabom of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the tenant, TeamLogic IT, in the lease of 983 square feet of office space at 215 East Bay St. in Charleston from East Bay Co. Ltd. Trey Lucy and Blair Belk of Belk Lucy represented the tenant, Southern Current, in the lease of 195,582 square feet of warehouse space at 830 Drop-Off Drive from TDC Charleston Partners I LLC. Simons Johnson of Bridge Commercial represented the landlord.

Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the

Trey Lucy and Blair Belk of Belk Lucy represented the landlord in the lease of 1,400 square feet of retail space at 1585 Central Ave. in Summerville to Jersey Mike’s. Jeff Yurfest of The Shopping Center Group represented the tenant. Trey Lucy and Blair Belk of Belk Lucy represented the landlord in the lease of 3,055 square feet of retail space at 1132 Bowman Road in Mount Pleasant to Come Back Shack. Trey Lucy and Blair Belk of Belk Lucy represented the landlord in the lease of 2,000 square feet of office space in Suite 101 at 505 Belle Hall Parkway in Mount Pleasant to Advantage Home Therapy. Edward Robinson and Eddie Hughes of Beach Commercial represented the tenant. Kevin Shields of Belk Lucy represented the tenant, VR Business Brokers, in the lease of 1,092 square feet of office space in Suite 101 at 884 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. Jeremy Willits of Avison Young represented the landlord. Trey Lucy and Blair Belk of Belk Lucy represented the tenant, Panasonic Avionics Corp., in the lease of 4,559 square feet of office space in Suite 150 at 4401 Leeds Ave. in North Charleston. Charlie Carmody of CBRE represented the landlord. Mandy Coleman of National Restaurant Properties represented the tenant, Carolina Crab House Summerville LLC, in the lease of 3,753 square feet of retail space at 115 E. Fifth North St. in Summerville from Graze 2 LLC. Jeff Yurfest of The Shopping Center Group represented the landlord. Mandy Coleman of National Restaurant Properties represented the tenant, Bene Hospitality Group LLC, in the lease of 4,858 square feet of retail space at 1324 Theater Drive in Mount Pleasant.

Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the See HOT PROPERTIES, Page 28

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Hot Properties HOT PROPERTIES, from Page 27

landlord, Three Broad Inc., in the lease of 300 square feet of office space in Suite 252 at 3 Broad St. in Charleston to Leah Whatley. Kevin Shields and Chris Dion of Belk Lucy represented the landlord in the lease of 1,121 square feet of retail space at 57 Queen St. in Charleston to Julep. Charles Constant of Robertson Howland Properties represented the tenant. Casey Loyal of Adams Property Group represented the landlord, Gas Lite LLC, in the lease of 570 square feet of retail space at 2129 Boland Ave. in North Charleston to Heart Desire Jewelry LLC. Todd Garrett of Avison Young represented the landlord, 2652 Bonds Ave LLC, in the lease of 1,500 square feet of flex space in Suite 206 at 2652 Bonds Ave. in North Charleston to Keith McLoughlin.

Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner and Daniel McClam of Avison Young – South Carolina represented the landlord, Pepperdam Industrial LLC, in the lease of 2,000 square feet of flex space in Unit 102 at 3260 Industry Drive in North Charleston to Mario Saldana. Robert L. Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, PR Properties of Summerville LLC, in the lease of 1,512 square feet of office space in Suite B at 2881 Tricom St. in North Charleston to MHC Hearing LLC. Craig Massey of Avison Young represented the tenant. Robert L. Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, Tricom Associates LLC, in the lease of 1,600 square feet of medical space in Suite C at 2891 Tricom St. in North Charleston to Whole Heart Family Medicine LLC. Russell Price of Brand Name Real Estate represented the tenant. Bob Caldwell of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, L&M Enterprises LLC, in the lease of office space in Suite 203 at 159 Civitas St. in Mount Pleasant to Hatch Tribe LLC. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant.

Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, Parkway Associates of Summerville LLC, in the lease of medical space in Suite A2 at 1710 Trolley Road in Summerville to Denise Swasty. Edward Robinson and Eddie Hughes of Beach Commercial represented the tenant, Advantage Home Therapy LLC, in the lease of 2,000 square feet of office space at 505 Belle Hall Parkway in Mount Pleasant from Madawi LLC. Trey Lucy of Belk Lucy represented the landlord. Eddie Hughes of Beach Commercial represented the buyer, Rising Tide Beig Property LLC, in the purchase of 0.73 acre of land at 1865 Belgrade Ave. in West Ashley from Jack and Mary Saulisberry for $435,500. Roger Sample of Carolina One Real Estate represented the seller. Eddie Hughes and Edward Robinson of Beach Commercial represented the buyer, Salty Dawg Realty LLC, in the purchase of 16,346 square feet of medical space at 3484 Shelby Ray Court from Basset Direct Stores LLC for $1.53 million. Michael Carmody of CRBE Inc. represented the seller.

Chris Fraser, Leslie Fellabom, Kisha Lyles of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Mazyck Holdings LLC, in the lease of 5,348 square feet of office space in Suite 280 at 4401 Belle Oaks Drive in North Charleston to SHC Services Inc. Dustin McFarland of Savills represented the tenant. Robert L. Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, 173 College Park Road LLC, in the lease of 1 acre of retail land at 173 College Park Road in Ladson to Brightview LLC. Rhett Smith of Carolina One Real Estate represented the tenant.

Keith Mayfield of Twin Rivers Capital LLC represented the landlord, Twin Rivers Capital LLC, in the lease of 165 square feet of office space at 451 Folly Road on James Island to Whitney Windham, Turning Point Counseling.

Jeremy Willits & Gerry Schauer of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, 654 Coleman Blvd. LLC, in the lease of 1,443 square feet of office space in Suite 105 at 652 Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant to Yuppie Puppy Pet Salon LLC. David Seay of Seay Development represented the tenant. Bob Caldwell of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, Charlotte D. Harrell LLC, in the lease of 1,100 square feet of retail space in Suite 122 at 2000 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in West Ashley to Modern Vapor Co. Inc. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant. Bob Caldwell of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, L&M Enterprises LLC, in the lease of office space in Suite 209 at 159 Civitas St. in Mount Pleasant to Moynahan & Associates LLC. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant.

Cameron Yost, Reid Davis and Pete Harper of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, K&K Rentals L.P., in the sale of 3.90 acres of flex space at 2475 Ashley River Road in Charleston to Cantabria LLC for 360,000. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, Greenville Corporate LLC, in the lease of 11,106 square feet of office space in Suite 420 at 5895 Core Road in North Charleston to AbleVets LLC. Ed Kercher of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, North Rhett Executive Center LLC, in the lease of office space in Suites J, K, L and M at 5617 N. Rhett Ave. in North Charleston to Consor Engineers LLC. Chip Shealy of CBRE represented the tenant.

Bob Caldwell of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, L&M Enterprises LLC, in the lease of office space in Suite 208 at 159 Civitas St. in Mount Pleasant to Time2Track Holdings LLC. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant. Chris Fraser, Leslie Fellabom and Kisha Lyles of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Mazyck Holdings LLC, in the lease of 2,775 square feet of office space in Suite 150 at 4401 Belle Oaks Drive in North Charleston to Parrish & Partners LLC. Paul Hartley of Trinity Partners represented the tenant.

Pleasant to I’On Assembly Inc. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant.

Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, First Point Properties LLC, in the lease of 3,106 square feet of office space in Suite 400 at 498 Wando Park Blvd. in Mount Pleasant to Vories Medical Group P.A.

Bob Caldwell and Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, North Rhett Executive Center LLC, in the lease of office space in Suite 111 at 5617 N. Rhett Ave. in North Charleston to SAIC. Peter Fennelly of Bridge Commercial represented the tenant.

Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant, Polyglass Coatings Ltd. LLC, in the lease of 1,500 square feet of warehouse space in Suite A7 at 405 N. Maple St. in Summerville from 405 North Maple LLC. Brett Rashtchian of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord.

Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, Greenville Corporate LLC, in the lease of 4,738 square feet of office space in Suite 419 at 5895 Core Road in North Charleston to Trident Area Agency on Aging Inc. Marlena Franklin of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented the tenant.

Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, Charlotte D. Harrell LLC, in the lease of 1,100 square feet of retail space in Suite 120 at 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in West Ashley to JHJ Wellness LLC. Loren Ziff of EastRock Properties LLC represented the tenant.

Bob Caldwell of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, North Rhett Executive Center LLC, in the lease of office space in Suite 125: F, G, H and Q at 5617 N. Rhett Ave. in North Charleston to Athena Consulting Group LLC. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant.

Bob Caldwell and Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, Greenville Corporate LLC, in the lease of 3,976 square feet of office space in Suite 510 at 5955 Core Road in North Charleston to Mead and Hunt Inc. Chris Tamsberg of CBRE represented the tenant. Bob Caldwell of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, L&M Enterprises LLC, in the lease of office space in Suites 210 and 211 at 159 Civitas St. in Mount

Cameron Yost, Reid Davis and Pete Harper of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, Pinnacle Bank, in the sale of 6,306 square feet of

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Hot Properties office space at 337 E. Main St. in Moncks Corner to Manzi Opportunity Zone LLC for $700,000. Trey Lucy and Blair Belk of Belk Lucy represented the buyer.

at 1483 Tobias Gadson Blvd. in Charleston to New Hope Chiropractic LLC. Mike Ferrer of Ferrer Commercial Real Estate Advisors LLC represented the tenant.

Carlmichael Harrison and Eddie Hughes of Beach Commercial represented the landlord, Crowne Maybank Holdings L.P., in the lease of 2,731 square feet of office space at 1807 Crowne Commons Way to Holy City Orthodontics LLC. Chip Shealy of CBRE Inc. represented the tenant. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, L&M Enterprises LLC, in the lease of office space in Suite 212 at 159 Civitas St. in Mount Pleasant to Highlands Residential Mortgage. Gerry Schauer of Avison Young represented the tenant.

Milton Thomas of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, First Citizens Bank & Trust Co., in the sale of 1.20 acres of retail space at 646 Rembert C. Dennis Blvd. in Moncks Corner to 2418 N. Main LLC for $600,000. Jenna Philipp of Palmetto Commercial Properties represented the tenant, High-Tech Hose and Hydraulics, in the lease of 2,500 square feet of flex space in Suite 2 at 1939 Belgrade Ave. in Charleston from Charleston Palm LLC. John Chiappardi Jr. of Time Properties represented the landlord. 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

Jenna Philipp of Palmetto Commercial Properties represented the landlord, 519 Savannah Hwy LLC, in the lease of office space at 519 Savannah Highway in West Ashley.

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. Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, Central Avenue LLC, in the lease of 1,470 square feet of office space in Suite B at 227 S. Cedar St. in Summerville to Cobb Dill & Hammett LLC. Brent Case of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented the tenant.

Bob Caldwell of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, L&M Enterprises LLC, in the lease of office space in Suite 205 at 159 Civitas St. in Mount Pleasant to ClearPeach LLC. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant. Bob Caldwell of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, Charlotte D. Harrell LLC, in the lease of 1,036 square feet of office space in Suite 2011 at 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in West Ashley to Benchmark Contracting Inc. Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant.

Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, Parkway Associates of Summerville LLC, in the lease of 2,800 square feet of office space in Suites D&E at 330 E. Fifth St. in Summerville to Roper St. Francis Physical Therapy Powered by ATI.

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. 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. Eddie Hughes of Beach Commercial represented the seller, 1776 LLC, in the sale of 19.322 acres of land on Johns Island, between the Stono River and River Road, to Beach Fenwick LLC for $4,794,500.

Edward Robinson of Beach Commercial represented the tenant, Hall Hospitality Group LLC, in the lease of 2,072 square feet of retail space at 430 King St. in Charleston from 430 King Street LLC. Robert L. Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the seller, Clay Pennington, in the sale of 10 acres of land at 200 Community Road in Summerville to Hoke Developers 3 LLC for $710,000. Alan Mullinax of Carolina One Real Estate represented the buyer.

Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner and Daniel McClam of Avison Young – Charleston represented the landlord, Weims Court Associates, in the lease of 2,600 square feet of industrial space in Unit A at 7316 Pepperdam Ave. in North Charleston to The Voice of the Lord International Ministries.

Simons Johnson, Peter Fennelly and Tim Raber of Bridge Commercial represented the landlord, CenterPoint Properties, in the lease of 211,680 square feet of industrial space at 5801 N. Rhett Ave. in North Charleston. Alan Bolduc, Courtney Marous and Kathleen Isola of Avison Young – Charleston represented the tenant. Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner and Daniel McClam of Avison Young – Charleston represented the landlord, Pepperdam Industrial LLC, in the lease of 2,000 square feet of industrial space in Unit 103 at 3260 Industry Drive in North Charleston to PrimeTime Management LLC.

Reid Davis, Pete Harper and Cameron Yost of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, Long Grove Partners LLC, in the lease of 10,562 square feet of retail space at 1475 Long Grove Drive in Mount Pleasant to Ivybrook Academy. David Clark of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic International Inc. represented the tenant. Reid Davis, Pete Harper and Cameron Yost of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, 1014 St. Andrews Office Building LLC, in the lease of 2,766 square feet of office space at 1014 St. Andrews Blvd. in West Ashley to Advanced Dentistry of South Carolina LLC. Cori Nuttall of Lee & Associates represented the tenant. Bob Caldwell and Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord, North Rhett Executive Center LLC, in the lease of 2,121 square feet of office space in Suite 125B at 5617 N. Rhett Ave. in North Charleston to Spry Methods Inc. Will Crowell of Bridge Commercial represented the tenant.

Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner and Daniel McClam of Avison Young – Charleston represented the landlord, Gary Thorpe and Diane Thorpe, in the lease of 2,400 square feet of industrial space at 3281 Associate Drive in North Charleston to Russell Landscaping Partners LLC. Ed Sutton of Simply Commercial represented the tenant.

Mark Mattison and Mike Palmer of Bridge Commercial represented the landlord in the lease of 3,770 square feet of office space at 176 Croghan Spur Road in Charleston to Bass Underwriters Inc. Steve Wray of Carolina One Commercial Real Estate represented the tenant. See HOT PROPERTIES, Page 30

www.charlestonbusiness.com

May 18 - 31, 2020

Hot Properties HOT PROPERTIES, from Page 29

Carlmichael Harrison of Beach Commercial represented the landlord, Lybrand Family LLC and Oristo Downtown LLC, in the lease of 2,821 square feet of retail space at 278 King St. in Charleston to Bluemercury LLC. Chad Yonce of Southeastern Management Group represented the tenant.

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

JUNE 1

HUMAN RESOURCES

List: Office Supply and Equipment Dealers Bonus List: Employee Benefit Brokers

Advertising Deadline: May 18 JUNE 15

ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION (AEC) List: Home Builders Special Section: Growth Report: Manufacturing

Bob Evans of Caldwell Commercial Real Estate Services represented the seller in the sale of warehouse space at 1928 E. Montague Ave. in North Charleston.

tures LLC, in the lease of 7,500 square feet of flex space at 1750 Signal Point Road to Toadfish LLC. Jenna Philipp of Palmetto Commercial Properties represented the tenant. Jenna Philipp of Palmetto Commercial Properties represented the tenant, HoneyBlee Cosmetics LLC, in the lease of 1,226 square feet of retail space at 134 St. James Ave. in Goose Creek from Lowcountry Property Investors LLC. Joseph Tecklenburg of Clement, Crawford & Thornhill represented the landlord.

Drew Showfety of Palmetto Commercial Properties LLC represented the tenant, PanaSystem USA LLC, in the lease of 142,053 square feet of warehouse space at 4280 Pace St. in North Charleston. Alan Bolduc, Courtney Marous and Kathleen Isola of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the tenant, W.W. Williams Co. LLC, in the lease of 109,857 square feet of industrial space at 5801 N. Rhett Ave. in Hanahan from Centerpoint Properties Trust. Simons Johnson, Peter Fennelly and Tim Raber of Bridge Commercial represented the landlord. Brett Rashtchian of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, 405 N Maple Street, Summerville, in the lease of flex space in Suite A2 at 405 N Maple St. in Summerville to David Duffey.

Will Phillips of Ravenel Commercial Properties represented the seller in the sale of 3,213 square feet of office space at 1334 Ashley River Road in Charleston for $850,000. Will Phillips of Ravenel Commercial Properties represented the seller, Santee Cooper, in the sale of 4.12 acres of vacant land at U.S. Highway 52 North and Dock Road in Moncks Corner for $275,000.

Advertising Deadline: June 1 JUNE 29

TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

List: Largest Employers Bonus List: Business Communications Companies

Advertising Deadline: June 15 JULY 13

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

List: Commercial Real Estate Companies Bonus List: Independent Insurance Cos.

w/art Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the seller, Payne Properties LLC, in the sale of 21,200 square feet of office space at 486 Wando Park Blvd, Mount Pleasant to Eware LLC for $2.8 million. Joseph Tecklenburg of Clement, Crawford & Thornhill Inc. represented the buyer. Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner and Daniel McClam of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, 4281 Piggly Wiggly Drive LLC, in the lease of 12,200 square feet of industrial space at 4281 Piggly Wiggly Drive in North Charleston to Nostalgia Garage LLC.

Vitré Ravenel Stephens of Avison Young – South Carolina Inc. represented the landlord, Buck Investments LLC, in the lease of 1,400 square feet of retail space in Suite 401 at 3377 S. Morgans Point Road in Mount Pleasant to Dog Training Now Charleston LLC. David Bizousky of Maven Realty represented the tenant. Jenna Philipp of Palmetto Commercial Properties represented the landlord, Industrial Ventures LLC, in the lease of 3,000 square feet of warehouse space at 578 East Bay St. to Trackipede LLC. Jenna Philipp of Palmetto Commercial Properties represented the tenant.

Advertising Deadline: June 29

For advertising information, call Steve Fields at (843) 849-3110

Jenna Philipp of Palmetto Commercial Properties represented the landlord, Industrial Ven-

Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, Seventeen A Associates LLC, in the lease of retail space in Suite B4 at 1907 Varner St. in Summerville to Eye Protect 2 LLC.

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

Viewpoint

VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

Advocating for women in business during a pandemic

n the midst of uncertainty, the National Women’s Business Council, a federal advisory committee comprised of small business owners and representatives of national women’s business organizations, acknowledges the detrimental effects coronavirus has had on small businesses. Council MemLIZ bers have shared the SARA challenges that the outbreak has presented for their own enterprises or those of their organization’s members. From the disruption in the supply chain to the cancellation of annual industry trade shows, the impact can be felt across industries and state lines. Even Council Members who have businesses deemed essential still struggle to keep operations running seamlessly. They rely on vendors, often small businesses, to deliver or make certain products who may not be considered essential. NWBC has also taken steps to adjust its outreach to the many women business owners who are working remotely or staying home. The Council has indefinitely postponed its in-person #LetsTalkBusiness Roundtable Series, which connects the voices of women entrepreneurs and business owners from across the

For more COVID-19 resources please visit the below Council Member resources: Organization

COVID-19 Resources

Women Business Enterprise Council

www.wbenc.org/covid19

Association for Women in Science The Vinetta Project

vinettaproject.typeform.com/to/OpI6j2

Association of Women’s Business Centers

www.awbc.org/page/Disaster www.womenpresidentsorg.com/news-events/resources-forbusinesses-during-covid-19 www.babson.edu/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus/ additional-resources-and-support/ www.wipp.org/blogpost/1754741/342284/ The-Impact-of-COVID-19-Business-Resources www.nawbo.org/resources/ facts-and-tips-prepare-coronavirus-spread-wbos www.nawbo.org/nawbo-institute/ nawbo-institute-entrepreneurial-development www.nawbo.org/advocacy/coronavirus-update www.nawbo.org/resources

Women President’s Organization Babson College Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Women Impacting Public Policy

National Association of Women Business Owners

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act Please email NWBC at info@nwbc.gov and share your story. Tell us how the Coronavirus is impacting your business. Be sure to stay in touch with us as we work to develop a webinar series on assistance available for small businesses.

country to policymakers and helps serve as a springboard for the Council’s annual policy recommendations to Congress, the President, and the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Nonetheless, NWBC remains focused on carrying out its critical mission and is working to make online roundtables available for future dates. NWBC Staff has been busy intaking calls from women business owners and key stakeholders and proactively monitoring the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Econom-

ic Security Act, which aimed at providing relief to the nation’s small-business owners. NWBC recently held a webinar on the Paycheck Protection Program, which aimed at connecting women entrepreneurs to resources necessary for navigating the nuances of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The experts highlighted available resources, lending options, and how to document your requests. Women-owned businesses represent 42% of all businesses — nearly 13 million

— employing 9.4 million workers and generating revenue of $1.9 trillion. Over the past five years, the annual growth rate in the number of women-owned firms has been more than double that of all businesses. Female founders have solidified their tremendous impact on the economy and cannot lose the gains they have made. NWBC stands behind its strong belief that the successes of women business owners are key to helping local and national economies recover from financial and societal setbacks. As was reinforced at the Council’s first 2020 #LetsTalkBusiness Roundtable in San Juan, Puerto Rico, women business owners drastically impact local and national economies amid disasters. As we adjust to the new realities this crisis brings, NWBC continues to connect women business owners to resources, best practices, and funding opportunities. NWBC is assessing the data and outcomes that are being collected to ensure that women business owners and entrepreneurs are receiving the funding they desperately need. Liz Sara is an entrepreneur, business leader and angel investor in the Washington, D.C., area. In 2018, she was appointed chair to the National Women’s Business Council, a federal advisory committee created to serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the president, Congress and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

DEW getting it right under immense pressure E

xperts say we have yet to reach the peak of the coronavirus pandemic that has most of society sheltering in place and so much of our industries and businesses idle. The effects of this economic turmoil is headlined by the record number of South Carolinians and Americans applying for unemployment insurance, many for the first time in their lives. Just under a year ago, unemployment statistics were swirlPATRICK ing steadily downBRYANT ward into recordlow percentages, and our state’s employer insurance trust fund was in the best position in its history. However, in just

two weeks’ time, nonessential businesses closed, and we saw a massive unemployment surge as applications multiplied. The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is a counter-cyclical agency, meaning when times are good, they operate lean and mean, as good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars. When economic downturns occur, they ramp up resources to provide assistance. Scaling an agency whose primary funding comes from the federal level with the complexity of the unemployment insurance laws, both federal and state, is more like accelerating a semi-truck up a steep hill than a sports car. They paid traditional recipients, added hundreds of thousands more than ever before, will pay them additional funding from the federal government, allow a new multitude of self-employed individuals to get on, rebuild systems to support all these

changes, and protect from fraud. They increased call center agents from 49 to 260, and took 225% more calls within a two-week period. They will have more than 500 people on the phones in the next week. The average number of claims the agency processed prior to COVID-19 was approximately 2,000 per week. In the first four weeks, they processed more than 268,000 new claims. The online portal struggled to support all these claims, and had to be completely rewritten to accept all the new rule changes. Imagine your business serves 1,000 customers a week. One day, 10,000 customers demand services. At the end of that day, you find out 10,000 new customers will come everyday that week. And next week, 100,000 more will come, needing a whole new set of rules. While these numbers aren’t literal, this analogy helps explain the jolt to the sys-

tem that has been an unimaginable challenge. But that challenge is being met with remarkable agility, while learning to work remotely and creating distancing protocols. The week of April 12, they paid approximately $175 million in benefits — both traditional state unemployment benefits as well as the beginning of the weekly $600, now retroactive payments, from the first program of the CARES Act. I am sure that this volume will continue for several more weeks as we move toward the apex of this virus and finally begin to return to some sort of normalcy. As best as you can, I would urge you to please be patient with the staff and the system as they work through incredible challenges under immense pressure. Patrick Bryant is the founder of Go To Team and a member of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Review Committee.

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May 18 - 31, 2020

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