Issuu

AT WORK W. Ford Graham, K&L Gates LLP partner.

PAGE 21 VOLUME 27 NUMBER 11 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM

Lowcountry leader Local business advocacy organization names new executive director. Page 6

Part of the

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TEEING OFF Phil Mickelson won big on Kiawah Island recently, but the PGA Championship signified more for South Carolina’s post-pandemic recovery. Page 8

MAY 31 - APRIL 13, 2021 ■ $2.25

Rapid bus passes major mile marker By Jenny Peterson

rapid bus service that will shuttle passengers on mainly dedicated transit-only lanes between 20 station-stops from the Exchange Park/Fairgrounds in Ladson to downtown Charleston hit a significant planning milestone recently. Project leaders expect the system will spark business development along the 21 miles of stops once the project is operational. When expected to be operational in late 2026, the $360 million Lowcountry Rapid Transit rapid bus transit system — the state’s first “rail on rubber” transit system — will not only have the physical benefit taking cars off straining infrastructure, but have far-reaching business development benefits, said Bryan Derreberry, president and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. In other cities that have implemented a rapid bus transit system, like Richmond, Va.; Nashville, Tenn.; Salt Lake City and Cleveland, development around the “nodes,” or stops, spur development. “On our last trip to Salt Lake City, we saw that 40-60% of all new growth is occurring within a 2.5-mile radius of new bus stops, getting people closer to where they can live, shop and eat,” Derreberry said. “You can have little communities that grow up around each of those density nodes that will be specific to where they are on the line, plus ancillary businesses.” Officials from North Charleston, Summerville and Charleston are working with the LRT to create zoning that would complement the 21.5-mile-long bus line, such a allowing for high-density housing, restaurants and retail near the stops, according to project leaders.

Flexing fitness

Fitness association hopes to give business sector a voice with state regulators. Page 4

Made safe

Johns Island biotech company develops product to fight substance abuse. Page 11

Settled

Nephron to receive multimillion dollar payout over trade secrets case. Page 3

INSIDE

Upfront................................. 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 Vantage Point............... 12-13 In Focus: Life Sciences........ 15 List: Life Science Companies.......................... 19 Bonus List: Home Health Care Companies ..... 20 At Work............................... 21 Viewpoint............................23

Contributing Writer

Phil Mickelson celebrates after making a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship in May on Kiawah Island. (Photo/Darren Carroll/PGA of America)

See BUS, Page 11

Chemical reaction

Life sciences sector brings entrepreneurship, high-paying jobs from lab to boardroom. Page 15

Upfront

BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | BEST ADVICE

How builders handle building costs

f you’ve tried to buy or build a home or commercial space with new construction, you’ve realized how the price of lumber has spiked costs up and down the construction supply chain. One of the places where the cost of wood has taken a toll the most is in new home construction. The regional, state and national housing market is exceptionally hot right now, partly because of historic-low interest rates and because people have gotten used to being at home over the past year and want something better. The National Association of Home Builders, the national trade group, surveyed its members recently to find out how they’re dealing with the increasing cost of this basic building material.

Mitigating lumber prices

Timber in the South Q1 year over year

Action

Percentage*

Wood

2020-2021

Price*

Price escalation clauses

47%

Plywood random

+215%

$903

Pre-ordering lumber

29%

Softwood

+162%

$931

Supplier price-guarantees

22%

Plywood exterior

+159%

$726

Delaying building

19%

Hardwood

+34%

$1,414

Building foundation only

15%

Shared-price clauses

10%

Using lumber options

Other

13%

Source: TimberMart-South quarterly report *Per 1,000 board feet, a standard unit of measurement in timber

Source: National Association of Home Builders, April 2021 *Percentage of respondents; some builders use more than one action to hedge prices

ON THE

RECORD

“If we had that voice on a state level or even national level, that could have made a huge difference in saving a lot of our businesses.” — Ashley Reese, founder of S.C. Health and Fitness Association, on the impact of the pandemic on the fitness sector

WEBSITE: www.CharlestonBusiness.com

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SC Biz News Briefs

Nephron Pharmaceutical Corp. will receive $7.9 million in the settlement of a lawsuit alleging theft of the West Columbia company’s trade secrets. (Photo/File)

MIDLANDS

Columbia Regional Business Report

Nephron Pharmaceuticals to receive $7.9 million in trade secrets case A three-year legal battle centered around allegations of trade secrets theft from Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp. in West Columbia has been resolved in a $7.9 million settlement that the case’s lead attorney said sends a strong message. Arkansas-based U.S. Compounding Inc. and parent company Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp. agreed to pay the West Columbia-headquartered company that sum and are also permanently enjoined from using any of the confidential customer and pricing information two former Nephron employees were found to have provided its competitor. “I think the rulings we obtained and then the fact that the settlement was so big is going to benefit not only Nephron and the protection of the sanctity of its trade secrets going forward but also any company who is trying to protect its trade secrets,” said Nikole Setzler Mergo, Nexsen Pruet’s Columbia office managing partner and lead trial lawyer in the Nephron litigation. The settlement, reached last month as the case was about to go to trial, involves final judgments and permanent injunctions in Florida, New Jersey and South Carolina.

UPSTATE

GSA Business Report

N.C. logistics company to open headquarters in Cherokee County

A Modern way to Collaborate

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Kerns Trucking Inc., a regional transportation and logistics company based in Grover, N.C., will establish its corporate headquarters in Cherokee County. The more than $7.9 million investment will create 136 new jobs in the county, according to an announcement today. The project is expected to reach completion late in 2022. “We welcome Kerns Trucking Inc. to South Carolina and celebrate their 88 years of business success and the 136 new jobs the company will create in Cherokee County,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in the news release. “I look forward to watching this great company grow its dynamic footprint within our borders.”

VOLUME 14 NUMBER 8 ■ COLUMBIABUSINESSREPORT.COM

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Special Focus: Cayce/West Columbia Growth Report, pages 16-21 People mingle on State Street in West Columbia during Art on State, an event showcasing local businesses, earlier this month. (Photo/City of West Columbia)

Best of the best

Chapin High English teacher named S.C’s top educator. Page 2

Spring 2021

A big boost

Midlands Gives sees record $3.34 million in donations. Page 4

Moving right along Brewery, medical school back on track at BullStreet. Page 8

Capturing history

Columbia artist’s mural pays homage to Black Wall Street. Page 10

INSIDE

Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 4 In Focus: Cayce/West Columbia growth report ..... 16 List: Urgent Care Centers ... 15 At Work ..............................22 Viewpoint ...........................23

GROWTH SPURT Melinda Waldrop

mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

wo bridges span the Congaree River, connecting Richland and Lexington counties while separating downtown Columbia from a pair of rapidly growing cities forging identities beyond state capital suburbs. Cayce and West Columbia each take advantage of that river, ringing it with business and art districts. Each strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for residents and workers alike,

Driving toward the future

Cayce, West Columbia drawing attention across river

with an emphasis on helping people and providing easy access to government services. Each city is also home to two powerful female leaders. Elise Partin’s ability to form alliances has led to a downtown revitalization during her 13 years as Cayce mayor, while Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy’s energetic focus has made the pharmaceutical company an industry leader and top job creator. The women share a love for their communities and a dedication to improving daily life for those who call those places home. “Lou is a plow-ahead, charge-forward,

S.C. automakers push tech advancements, electric power

do-what-needs-to-be-done, impatient-in-allthe-right-ways leader,” said Meghan Hickman, executive director of nonprofit economic development organization EngenuitySC who has worked extensively with both women on initiatives to improve the Midlands’ competitiveness and livability. “Mayor Partin is a diplomat, and she is all about investing in the relationships and spending time in building the foundation.” In this issue, the Columbia Regional Business Report takes a closer look at what makes each woman and each city successful.

ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED

Hometown impact

Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy takes pride in bringing jobs, development to Lexington County. Page 17

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S.C. Health & Fitness Association launches to support industry By Alexandria Ng

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fter running 13 gym locations across the state and launching his own fitness boutique, which has grown to 92% clientele capacity over the past three years, Ashley Reese wasn’t sure what his next career move would be. He sought mentorship but was told he was too qualified. They told him they didn’t know how to help because he was too advanced. Frustrated at a lack of guidance and resources that could meet him at where he was, the idea for a statewide association began forming in Reese’s mind. The state’s health and fitness community needed support, he thought. It needed a way to connect professionals, to regulate industry standards and to provide a voice to lawmakers on the state and national level. Thus, the S.C. Health and Fitness Association came to fruition and officially launched at the end of April, with around 30 memberships within its first five days. “It was just filling a void that I had found over the last three years of being a studio owner,” Reese said. “We need to change the standard, and I knew the only way to do that was us as trainers and professionals coming together and learning from one another, supporting one another, advancing in our education together.” The organization brings together professionals from all backgrounds of health and fitness, including gym owners and personal trainers, dieticians and physical therapists. The goal is to connect and equip members and provide representation for the industry. Because South Carolina does not legally require personal trainers to be certified, Reese hopes the association will also help regulate health and fitness standards. “If trainers or clubs are part of S.C. Health and Fitness Association, there’s a certain standard that comes along with being a part of that,” Reese said. “Me and my fellow six studio owners all require that our people are certified or have a degree in exercise science, so having a member of the association will give you a higher qual-

CUSTOM MEDIA DIVISION Director of Business Development Mark Wright mwright@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3143

ity of service because they have a different level of education and resources that someone else may not have.” Part of that goal includes an emphasis on education, carried out through weekly, quarterly and annual meetings of association members. At weekly meetings, board members, each with a different professional background, will lead sessions on topics such as personal development, business consulting, clinical strategy and nutritional advice. These meetings will mostly be virtual, Reese said, so that members can access the content whenever they want. Ideally, quarterly and annual events will be in-person and will last a full day or weekend, Reese said. “I believe education is a weekly thing, not an every two-year thing,” Reese said. “Education needs to be on the forefront of our mind and an ever-growing process because the business is always developing, clientele is always developing, how you market and how you sell your services — they’re always changing.” With an organized association, Reese also hopes to represent small business owners on the lawmaking level. When the pandemic started, Reese saw a lack of support and funding for fitness facilities across the nation. “We were one of the first things to shut down and one of the last things that opened up,” Reese said. “Bars and restaurants are opening up before some fitness places, and for something that can benefit communities, we were held back because we didn’t have the support in lawmaking that other industries might have had.” According to the Global Health and

Fitness Association, the U.S. fitness industry dropped 58% in revenue, losing $20.4 billion in 2020. More than one million employees lost their jobs, and 17% of fitness facilities permanently closed. “There wasn’t any support, any backing to make us a priority,” Reese said. “If we had that voice on a state level or even national level, that could have made a huge difference in saving a lot of our businesses.” As we come out of the pandemic, patrons will return to a fitness industry that has taken a toll in the number of brick-and-mortar facilities still open with qualified personnel, Reese said. The association will help ensure a community of trained professionals who have the knowledge and resources to run a successful business without giving a worse perspective in the eyes of the customer. Association membership fees start at $25 a month for individuals. Club fees are also available at $250 a month, where studios can pay one rate for everyone under their brand to be qualified as a member and to be eligible for resources and discounts. 02 Fitness, a chain across the Carolinas, have committed to being a partner. Future plans include working with a nationally accredited company to provide educational resources, such as videos, content, quizzes and tests for certification at a free or discounted rate. “You’re going to see a rise of standard across the industry and more qualified professionals hitting the market,” Reese said. “There’s going to be a rise in community trust in the fitness world and people going into gyms and actually getting the services that they want and not just being sold on the membership.” CRBJ

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Ashley Reese, founder of S.C. Health and Fitness Association, speaks to the crowd at the group’s April 30 launch event. Forty people showed up for the group fitness class, which Reese said he hopes to host once a month. (Photo/Ethan Schneider)

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Lowcountry Local First names executive director

Staff Report

fter a four-month nationwide search for a new executive director, Lowcountry Local First has found a new director, the organization said in a news release. As of May 17, Jacquie Berger has replaced founding Executive Director Jamee Haley, who stepped down from her role at the small business advocacy organization in December. Berger most recently served as director of development of the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry for the last four years. “I’m so honored to have been selected to follow in Jamee’s footsteps and thrilled to be joining LLF as their new executive director,” Berger said. “I’m especially inspired and excited about LLF’s expanding emphasis on economic equity and look forward to working together with their outstanding staff and board of directors to nurture emerging entrepreneurs, increase access to resources, and generally lift up the creative, innovative, and conscientious local business leaders who are shaping our community.” Berger brings more than 20 years of nonprofit management, fundraising,

“I’m especially inspired and excited about LLF’s expanding emphasis on economic equity and look forward to working together with their outstanding staff and board of directors to nurture emerging entrepreneurs...” Jacquie Berger Executive Director, Lowcountry Local First

planning and inclusive practices to Lowcountry Local First. She has an MBA from Yale’s School of Management in New Haven, Conn. Prior to her role at the Charleston Museum, she spent eight years in New York City, serving as executive director for the nonprofit Just Food, assisting historically and economically marginalized communities. Lowcountry Local First, a nonprofit that cultivates an economy anchored in local ownership, has been helmed since by Haley since its launch. In February, the organization opened Local Works, a more than 5,000 square foot coworking space and new headquarters for Lowcountry Local First. The project was developed under Haley’s leadership as the organization

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sought to expand services and physical space for early stage companies and entrepreneurs. “When starting this process, it was important to find a leader who would continue the progress and adhere to the same innovative standards our trailblazing founder, Jamee Haley, has for the past 15 years,” said Jeff Plotner, owner of Brackish and a current board member and chair of the executive director search committee. He added that Berger stood out for her commitment to Lowcountry Local First’s mission, her leadership experience and her passion for local businesses. Terri Herubin, a managing director at Greystar and current board chair for Lowcountry Local First, said the board

VOLUME 26 NUM BER 14

■ CHAR LEST ONB

USINESS.COM

Jacquie Berger has been named executive director of Lowcountry Local First (Photo/Provided)

was looking forward to working with Berger as she begins the next phase of the organization. “Jacquie’s deep experience leading nonprofit groups will be immediately impactful in how our organization delivers the resources, programming, networking, mentorship and more to local businesses of all shapes and sizes across the Lowcountry,” she said. CRBJ

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Pro golf, tennis add millions in revenue to economy By Teri Errico Griffis

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hil Mickelson’s performance at The Ocean Course in late May won the 50-year-old pro his sixth major and the PGA Championship trophy. But the big winner might have been South Carolina’s economy. The largest event to take place in-person in South Carolina since the global pandemic ground the world’s economy to a halt, the PGA Championship is expected to bring millions directly into the Charleston region and signify that things are getting back to normal. Over time, professional sports events have become critically important to local and statewide finances as hundreds of millions of dollars pour into towns and cities through job creation, tourism and global exposure. Even with pandemic restrictions in place, the PGA showed millions of people that South Carolina was moving forward. Kiawah Island Golf Resort President Roger Warren called the publicity “priceless.” The state has grown beyond its historically minor league and college sports persona, beyond its status as only a recreational golf destination with its more than 350 courses and hundreds of year-round events. In a time where fewer fans were attending events and people aren’t traveling as much, South Carolina will be showcased to more than half a billion households worldwide. “I think that we as an industry here in South Carolina, specifically in Charleston and Kiawah, on our own, we couldn’t pay for the amount of quality exposure we get through the TV,” Warren said. Without a global pandemic causing chaos, the state typically plays host each year to three events by NASCAR, PGA Tour and Women’s Tennis Association. The attractions provide nearly $200 million in combined annual economic activity. So far in 2021, the state has doubled its event tally with the PGA Championship, PGA Tour and WTA calling on South Carolina to host three additional tournaments. In April, the Tennis Channel and WTA Media broadcasted the Volvo Car Open and MUSC Women’s Health Open tennis tournaments on Daniel Island to more than 170 countries. In late May, CBS, ESPN, the Golf Channel and other broadcast, cable and digital media platforms aired coverage of the 2021 PGA Championship to more than 175 countries. On average, the PGA Championship media value generates more than $100 million for the host site and region, according to the PGA. “This allows us to play with some of

the larger states that we haven’t been able to before because we are a small state still,” said Duane Parrish, director of S.C. Parks, Recreation and Tourism. “But we have a lot to offer from the mountains to the sea, and golf is a big part of that.” While the limited fan attendance has likely lowered the what-could-have-been 2021 impact — the originally estimated $200 million by the PGA Championship, for example, has since been halved — the exposure is still desperately needed for a state that relies on tourism. “What we’re still going to see is people coming in and going to restaurants, using accommodations, heads in beds, so to speak,” said PGA Championship Director Ryan Ogle. “So there’ll still be a direct impact to the region.” WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said both the staff and players’ cherish their time each spring in Charleston because of the city’s “A+” hospitality and professionalism. “The hospitality that’s provided and the warmth and everything else that comes with it just makes it a very special experience,” he said. “And we know that a lot of our players think Charleston’s one of their favorite stops of the year.”

Playing through the pandemic

In the last two years, South Carolina has announced more than $23.5 billion in new investments that have created almost 46,000 jobs through various industries statewide. Gov. Henry McMaster believes that the state’s growing professional sports industry further develops economic opportunities that will benefit South Carolina for years to come. He said at a press conference in April that “by seizing this once-in-a lifetime opportunity” and sponsoring a third professional golf tournament in a single year, the state is helping to lift up small businesses in the hospitality industry that have been devastated by the pandemic. “This is great progress, and I expect that we will be seeing ourselves on television and in advertisements in sports channels wall-to-wall during the entire time of those three months,” the governor said. At the tail end of that period will be the Palmetto Championship at Congaree, beginning June 10, which Parrish anticipates will bring in a further $50 million for the state. The revenue was unexpected as the tournament was a last-minute replacement for a canceled PGA Tour event in Canada. Even with limited tickets available, the total impact from the Palmetto Championship is still double that from 2019 when the Country Club of Charleston hosted the U.S. Women’s Open and welcomed nearly 100,000 spectators. Charleston was selected as the official site of the 74th

annual tournament, held May 30-June 2, 2019. Like the Congaree golf tournament, the MUSC Health Women’s Open similarly came about after a pandemic-related cancellation. The Billie Jean King Cup tennis tournament held in Hungary was postponed until February, and the WTA needed to fill the calendar void. Simon said the Charleston team’s efficiency and dedication — not to mention the fact that Daniel Island already had infrastructure and protocols in place — made the decision on where to relocate a no-brainer. “We love being in Charleston… I think it reflects the strength of the partnership we have with everyone in Charleston that we all sat down and talked and agreed it would be best to run two events there back-to-back,” Simon said. Charleston’s partnership with WTA dates back nearly 50 years to when South Carolina first hosted the formerly named Family Circle Cup on Hilton Head Island in 1973. The tournament has been held on Daniel Island since 2001, and Simon said the event is here for the long-haul. “This is an investment, a long-term venture,” he said. “There are no plans to move it, and you don’t want to. If you want people to invest into an asset, and you want them to build the infrastructure to make this special, then you have to make a long-term commitment.” Since both WTA tournaments took place without fans, the WTA pivoted this year by creating a global made-for-TV event. Full coverage from South Carolina was served over a two-week span. “We’ll have great footage from Charleston and Daniel Island that’s seen by more than 20 million additional fans across the world. That impact is enormous,” Volvo Car Open Tournament Director Bob Moran said. And those impacts go beyond the weeklong hotel stays and live action. Warren said that in 2012, after the PGA Championship wrapped up, the Lowcountry experienced a trickle-down effect for months. “Our businesses jumped from August 2012 to 2013, and we had a very significant exposure in our business,” he said. “Everyone felt it. So I feel there is some anticipation. That’s what I’m excited about.” Defending PGA Champion Collin Morikawa was equally excited talking about the tournament during an April visit to The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. He said the May event was a “big star” on his calendar. “We’re peaking at a good time, and we’re really looking forward to this kind of next few months of golf because there’s a lot of good golf to be played,” he said. CRBJ

Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.

May 31 - April 13, 2021

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Our “Coffee With…” page features an Upstate business executive sharing insights about their business, the industry in which they work and the community in which they live. Where’s the coffee, you ask? Well, that occurs in an accompanying video. We sit down with the executive – over coffee – to see what else is on their mind.

FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT TO RECONSIDER THEIR RISK TOLERANCE OR RISK EXPOSURE IN 2021, WHAT STEPS SHOULD THEY TAKE?

THERE IS A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION IN POWER. WHAT MIGHT THEIR PROPOSED POLICIES MEAN FOR CLIENT PORTFOLIOS AND INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?

HOW CAN AN INVESTOR’S LONG-TERM GOALS IMPACT THE STRUCTURE OF THEIR PORTFOLIO?

SHOULD INVESTORS REVISIT THEIR GOALS IN 2021 BASED ON THE 2020 VOLATILITY? THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT MARKETS TO A HALT IN MARCH 2020, BUT THE RECOVERY PERIOD HAS BROUGHT MANY SECTORS TO NEW HEIGHTS BY THE END OF THE YEAR. ARE THERE LESSONS THERE FOR INVESTORS ABOUT “STAYING THE COURSE?”

WHAT CONCERNS SHOULD INVESTORS WHO ARE NEARING RETIREMENT CONSIDER IN 2021?

DUE TO ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES, THE STOCK MARKET CONTINUES TO REMAIN VOLATILE. WHAT ARE YOU TELLING YOUR CLIENTS ABOUT THESE MIXED MESSAGES?

WHEN SHOULD ONE CONSIDER A PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR, AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET STARTED?

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S T C A F T E MARK August 202

The story of the Charleston business market continues to be a story best told in numbers. Market Facts provides the context for the data and statistics critical to commerce in our region.

com tonBusiness.

ISE COMET NEOW hin 64 million

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ULTRIE ., covering 60,400 LAKE MOges t lake in S.C

• Third lar shoreline. 210 miles of in 1941. acres with s completed lis Dam wa the • The Pinopo t lock at the dam was e. The single-lif tim world at the largest in the of the e sag Pas Moultrie es long. • The Lake il is 26.7 mil Palmetto Tra Recreation

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BUS, from Page 1

The LCRT is expected to have a direct impact of creating 4.1 million square feet of new retail space, 6.9 million square feet of new office space and 5,400 new hotel rooms near these nodes. Sharon Hollis, the LCRT project lead and principal planner at the Berkley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, states ridership estimates are 6,800 trips per day by the year 2040. The LCRT is expected to take 60 minutes to travel from two end points: the Exchange Park in Ladson and the intersection of Hagood and Line Streets in the Westedge area of downtown Charleston. Currently, a bus covering that distance can take two hours, and is dependent upon traffic. Nineteen LCRT buses are expected to run the route 20 hours a day, and will arrive every 10 minutes, serving the needs of commuters, hospitality workers, students and passengers heading to shopping and dining destinations, Hollis said. Project leaders expect the buses to be electric or low-emission vehicles. The rapid bus will be more reliable than traveling by car since the bus will travel down a transit-only lane, taking over the median on Rivers Avenue and bypassing traffic before traveling on a dedicated lane on University Boulevard on its way downtown. Traffic signals would even be adjusted to prioritize the rapid buses over traffic, according to Hollis. Significant construction will take place along the route to make all of this work smoothly. In the works for the past 12 years and paid for with Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax and federal transit grants, the LCRT is comparable to a light rail option, but less expensive. The bus mimics a light rail option in that buses will arrive frequently and travel a route not wholly dependent upon traffic. Rather than a traditional bus stop sign along the side of the busy road, LCRT bus stops are expected to be more like a platform found in metropolitan areas, with kiosks to purchase tickets, real-time tracking and shaded areas to sit. Some stops will be a “park and ride” lot. The bus rides will include Wi-Fi and are expected to cost $2 per ride, the same as the current CARTA bus system, which is expected to be the operator for the LCRT. The LCRT project hit a major milestone this month with 30% completion on the conceptual design and environmental documents, Hollis said. A virtual public meeting has been held for the entire month to get feedback address questions from the community. “This is the first point in time where people can see the visualization on Rivers Avenue and what stations will look like,” Hollis said. Derreberry said businesses are already showing interest in locations near the stops.

This proposed design shows a stop along the Lowcountry Rapid Transit bus line. Once completed, buses are expected to stop every 10 minutes at the stations for 21.5 miles along a nearly dedicated lane. (Rendering/Provided)

“Absolutely, (businesses) are saying, ‘I want to be on the line,’” he said. “You will definitely see businesses make location choices to be on one of the nodes on the line, whether small, medium or large

employers. Knowing their workforce can get to and from work readily is always of high interest and it will make us more globally competitive with employers here who are expanding, and employers look-

ing to locate here.” A successful mass transit system could spur expansion to Summerville, West Ashley and Mount Pleasant. It could even create the foundation for a light rail, if the area gets enough demand for ridership, although building costs and Charleston’s topography makes that option a challenge. “The Lowcountry Rapid Transit is more than just a bus line; it’s about providing our region an opportunity to envision our area for the next 20 years,” Derreberry said. “It allows us to be intentional and smart about where we put our density and it’s critical for people to see it from that perspective.” CRBJ

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May 31 - April 13, 2021

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VANTAGE POINT

Astronaut Shane Kimbrough took this photo of the Charleston peninsula, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley and North Charleston from 250 miles above the Earth during a recent fly over by the International Space Station. He took this photo moving at a steady 5 miles per house and posted it on Twitter @astro_kimbrough. We did feel special that he picked us out for his post on May 13, but Kimbrough does this a lot for areas around the world. Instead of just publishing the photo, we decided to pinpoint some of the landmarks visible during that fly over by the ISS and make an office game out of it. Here’s how you can play: We’ve selected and listed 15 landmarks on Shane’s photo in alphabetical order. Figure out which ones correspond to which number. We’ll post this online as well if you need to get more copies for your office. We’ll post answers in The Daily Journal on Friday. Seen from above the Earth ____ Aircraft carrier Yorktown ____ Castle Pinckney ____ Charlestowne Landing ____ Colonial Lake ____ Don N. Holt Bridge ____ Drum Island ____ Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal ____ Memorial Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant ____ Mount Pleasant Town Hall ____ Riverfront Park, North Charleston ____ Round Holiday Inn ____ S.C. Aquarium ____ The Citadel ____ Volvo Car Stadium ____ White Point Garden - The Battery

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May 31 - April 13, 2021

www.charlestonbusiness.com 13

VANTAGE POINT

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May 31 - April 13, 2021

¡ ¡

In Focus

LIFE SCIENCES LISTS: Life Sciences Companies, Page 19 | Bonus List: Home Health Care Companies, Page 20

Life sciences sector Gov. Henry McMaster brought a new focus to the life sciences sector this year by pushing an initiative to bring more of these businesses to the state. Thousands of jobs already depend on life sciences in South Carolina.

Top 5 life sciences jobs

The Charleston Regional Development Alliance provides annual reports on job sectors throughout the region, including life sciences. Job sector

Annual wages

Pharmacist

$117,645

Chemical engineer

$98,612

Bio scientist

$88,088

Material engineer

$87,942

Chemist

$74,131

Source: Charleston Regional Development Alliance wage survey

By the numbers Dr. RIchard Drake and his colleagues Dr. Anand Mehta and Dr. Peggi Angel are developing technology that could detect early stage liver cancer. (Photo/Provided)

MUSC develops technology to detect deadly disease By Teri Errico Griffis tgriffis@scbiznews.com

ore than 700,000 people worldwide will die from liver cancer this year since the disease is only detected early in about 20-30% of people. Most don’t know they are sick until long after the disease has progressed. But technology developed by scientists at MUSC’s Hollings Cancer Center could forever change the survival rates. Together, a group of researchers are working to patent the GlycoTyper, a tool that would use a routine blood test to detect early stage liver cancer at twice the rate of current diagnostic tools. This kind of development is historic as liver cancer is the 6th leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, according to the American Cancer Society. In the U.S. alone, the ACS predicts 29,890 men and 12,340 women nationwide will be diagnosed with the disease this year. The organization further estimates 30,000 deaths in 2021. “In liver cancer there are no chemotherapy options,” said Dr. Anand Mehta, an MUSC professor and researcher at

Hollings Cancer Center. “You have to detect the tumor early and cut it out. So this opportunity is quite large.” Mehta is the chief financial officer of GlycoPath Inc., which has licensed the technology. He leads the company with CEO Dr. Richard Drake and CSO Peggi Angel, both Hollings colleagues and fellow MUSC professors. Mehta and Drake had been working together on serum-based assays since 2003 and the revelation for the GlycoTyper, which is still in the research phase, came through simple collaboration, Mehta said. “I had been working with another colleague who had developed antibody arrays, which were simply just antibodies on a slide that can be used to capture thousands of proteins at once,” Mehta said. At the time, Drake was studying a method he developed called MALDI-glycan imaging. Through the process, Drake could image sugars over tissue and look at what sugars were changing in cancer, specifically in liver disease and liver cancer. The GlycoTyper, which merges the two methods, can then further classify

those sugars and detect liver fibrosis in its earliest stages, all through a routine blood test. Blood from a typical draw would be spun down into serum, which would then be used in a very diluted manner. Generally, a blood sample provides 10 milliliters of serum, but Mehta explained the GlycoTyper needs only a few microliters of serum, or less than 1/1,000 of a typical blood draw. The sample is then used in an assay — an investigative lab procedure that measures the amount of active substance in a sample. Based on the combinations of sugars seen, the sample would indicate the likelihood of the individual having cancer. The GlycoTyper can also detect significant liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, as well as the degree of liver cancer in advanced patients. “We didn’t have to invent antibody arrays. We didn’t have to invent the instrument we’re using. We didn’t have to change the way serum is collected,” Drake said. “But we did essentially invent a way of looking at sugars on these diagnostic proteins in a fast, reproducible way.” See MUSC, Page 18

$11,000,000,000

Economic impact of life sciences on South Carolina’s economy.

670

Hundreds of life sciences companies already operating in the Palmetto State.

43,000

Number of jobs in South Carolina related to the life sciences sector.

6,000

Number of new life sciences jobs announced in the past eight years in South Carolina.

$812,000,000

Value of export sales of medical devices and pharmaceutical products from S.C. in 2019. Source: S.C. Commerce Department

NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS:

Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC)

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IN FOCUS: LIFE SCIENCES

May 31 - April 13, 2021

Johns Island company renders controlled substances inert By Alexandria Ng

Okra Medical’s product targets commonly abused drugs and controlled substances. The company’s SafeMedWaste product comes in large containers to help law enforcement and medical facilities dispose of pills and liquids on-site and in larger quantities. (Photo/Provided)

ang@scbiznews.com

fter four-and-a-half years of testing, Okra Medical has perfected its formula for destroying addictive controlled substances, rendering them 100% non-retrievable and irreversible. This product, called SafeMedWaste, is the only solution in the nation with verified Drug Enforcement Administration licensed lab results. Besides incineration, the solution is the only tested way to completely break down controlled pharmaceutical substances so that they cannot be reused by humans or animals. SafeMedWaste’s formula covers more than 30 types of Schedule I-IV liquid, pill and patch controlled substances, including opioids, cannabis, narcotics and benzodiazepines. It has been patented in the U.S. and is now waiting on approval in other parts of the world. “We’ve hired an independent lab out of Michigan that has done all of our testing,” said Marshall Hartmann, CEO of the company founded in 2018 on Johns Island. “They have verified that our product in nature covers a wide range of controlled substances, where no other product has that proof of efficacy.” With onsite denaturation, SafeMedWaste works with Drug Enforcement Administration registrants, such as opioid manufacturers, hospitals, surgery centers and law enforcement agencies, to dispose of substances quickly and effectively at a low-cost. Rather than having to safely transport discarded substances to incinerators and landfills in an expensive process, sites with a SafeMedWaste container simply dispose of products inside, where molecules will be broken down and chemically denatured to its basic elements. Destroyed products can then be thrown away as nonhazardous waste, also reducing the environmental impact of incineration. Denatured controlled substances do not leach into landfills either. This process also prevents the chance

of diversion, in which an individual’s prescribed controlled substance is transferred to someone else for illicit use, Hartmann said. “Our current compatible drug list encompasses every drug that you’ll find in a hospital or prescribed to a patient that’s commonly abused in society,” said Justin Stas, the company’s chief technology officer. “We focused on what the DEA was seeing people abuse, what people were dying from and what was being diverted by health care workers and people in health care settings.” The product comes in different sizes, including a 55-gallon drum for places like law enforcement agencies or pharmaceutical companies, where substances accumulate quickly. Substances of different kinds can be disposed of in these containers simultaneously. “A lot of facilities store active drugs, so our product gives them the ability to destroy stuff onsite without harboring those drugs in a container, waiting for pickup,” Stas said. “So it completely renders them inert at the facility, stopping

that ability for diversion until incineration.” Okra Medical is also awaiting a grant to conduct a home-use product clinical study. This product would allow individual consumers to disable drugs right in their own home through the use of a smaller-sized SafeMedWaste container. “Most people get addicted to opioids from taking them from a friend or family’s medicine cabinet, so we’re trying to help solve that problem with this product,” Hartmann said. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 76% of people who use prescription drugs non-medically gain access to them from someone they know. While the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended method of at-home disposal includes flushing drugs down the toilet or covering them with undesirable substances like coffee grounds or kitty litter to discourage retrieval, these methods are not 100% effective, Stas said. “Flushing puts the drugs back into our water supply, and we’ve had conversations

with the wastewater treatment facility in Greenville, and like most facilities nationwide, they cannot remove pharmaceuticals from water supplies,” Stas said. “They don’t have the technology or the funding to be able to do that.” “Our product destroys them, making them inert so they’re not going into the water supply; they can’t be used in the landfill,” Stas said. “With coffee grounds, they go into the landfill, but they’re not rendered, not destroyed at all. They’re just covered in coffee grounds or kitty litter.” Although Okra Medical originally planned to launch the product during second quarter 2020, the pandemic delayed the process. As the primary focus of hospitals became battling COVID-19 rather than changing procedures on disposing controlled substances, the company has shifted sights to ambulatory surgical centers in its future launch. They also plan to continue testing to expand the list to include chemotherapeutics and steroids, Hartmann said. CRBJ

Reach Alexandria Ng at 843-849-3124.

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IN FOCUS: LIFE SCIENCES

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IN FOCUS: LIFE SCIENCES

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May 31 - April 13, 2021

MUSC, from Page 15

With the application, the MUSC scientists’ goal is to a point where the GlycoTyper detects 90% to 100% of early liver fibrosis. The early detection would allow for intervention before the disease progressed to permanent liver damage or liver cancer. GlycoPath was founded in 2019 in Charleston by professors Drake, Mehta and Angel, and currently employs 8 scientists working on the GlycoTyper technology. Research for the GlycoTyper was made possible by a seed investment from Bruker Corporation, a company that manufactures scientific instruments and diagnostic solutions. The funding will help GlycoPath further develop, validate and commercialize the technology, licensed from the MUSC Foundation for Research Development. The Bruker collaboration made sense since the researchers’ existing technology was already achieved using Bruker instruments. Further funding came through a $6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute in 2020 that allowed Mehta to investigate biomarkers of liver disease. A year earlier, he received four other NCI grants to aid his liver cancer research. Prior to this technology, to understand the glycosylation of a specific protein, scientists had to purify the protein to a high

Dr. Peggi Angel serves as CSO of GlycoPath Inc.

Patients with liver cancer cannot depend on chemotherapy, so Dr. Anand Mehta and his colleagues designed the GlycoTyper technology that can provide early detection through a routine blood test. (Photos/Provided)

level and release the sugar. The process took weeks to months. Now for the first time, researchers can perform this process in a few hours. Already, 30 to 40 proteins that have changed in cancers have been identified as targets of the assay. “This is the invention that said, ‘Hey we can now do this. We can analyze glycosylation of 10, 20, 30, 40 proteins like this at once,’ and then use that diagnostically,” Mehta said. “We are targeting liver disease and cancer. It’s also a meth-

od that’s completely suitable to be used in prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, any cancer, as long as you know the proteins you want to look at.” While the technology is still in research phases, Dr. Drake believes the GlycoTyper brings added value to the Hollings Cancer Center because it can be implemented locally — especially because it doesn’t change the workflow of a routine blood test. “That’s what a cancer center is supposed to do: provide cutting edge resourc-

es and therapies,” he said. “And we think the assay can be adapted for clinical trial use and other diagnostics but we have to start somewhere.” Dr. Drake hopes the technology can be expanded quickly and thinks there will be many more assays the company can develop for blood-based cancers in time. “We’ve been doing glycan analysis on individual purified protein for 30 years the way it’s being done,” Mehta said. “This in my mind, I think, is a fundamental shift in how you do sugar analysis.” CRBJ

Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.

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IN FOCUS: LIFE SCIENCES

May 31 - April 13, 2021

www.charlestonbusiness.com 19

Life Sciences Companies Ranked by No. of Employees in the Charleston Area Company

Phone / Website / Email

Executive(s) / Year Founded

South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) 315 Sigma Drive Summerville, SC 29486

843-760-3200 www.scra.org info@scra.org

Bob Quinn 1983

Phi Life Sciences 645 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403

888-576-5445 www.philifesciences.com info@philifesciences.com

Blinkcns 635 Rutledge Ave., Suite 106 Charleston, SC 29403

Employees

Life Sciences Specialties

Description

Biomedical, bioscience, manufacturing, research

Chartered in 1983 by the state of South Carolina as a public, nonprofit corporation; accelerates technology-enabled growth in research, academia, entrepreneurship and industry

2016

Biomedical, bioscience, biotechnology

Partner in precision medicine

843-804-7828 www.blinkcns.com info@blinkcns.com

2017

Biotechnology

EyeStat's application in the diagnosis, differentiation and management of neurological diseases and conditions such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and migraine

NanoScreen LLC 4401 Piggly Wiggly Drive, Suite 1000 North Charleston, SC 29405

800-684-2191 www.nanoscreen.com

Dean I. Sproles 2003

Bioscience, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research

Designs and manufactures instruments and consumables that are used by pharmaceutical and biotech companies

SCBIO 22 Westedge St., Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29403

864-397-5101 www.scbio.org info@scbio.org

Erin Ford 2010

Biomedical, bioscience, biotechnology, development, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, research

S.C. life sciences public-private economic development organization representing over 700 organizations across the state in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, digital health, research and testing, bio-ag, bio-science distribution and support

Avancen MOD Corp. 1156 Bowman Road, Suite 200 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

800-607-1230 www.avancen.com info@avancen.com

Ned Buffington, Bill Westin 2008

Biomedical, bioscience, biotechnology, research

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

FORTY

Researched by Business Journal staff

Let’s Get The Party Started: Nominations Now Open! Presented by:

Show appreciation to the rising stars who have made contributions to our community and businesses by nominating them for this prestigious award! Nominate here: bit.ly/crbj21fortynoms Nominees must be under the age of 40 by January 1, 2021 and reside in the tri-county area. Nominations will be accepted until June 25, 2021. For event sponsorship information, contact Robert Reilly at (843) 849-3107 or rreilly@scbiznews.com.

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May 31 - April 13, 2021

Home Health Care Companies Ranked by No. of Patients Served in the Charleston Area

•

Patients Served

Employees / Locations

Physical Therapy

Occu. Therapy

Speech-Language

Med. Social Svcs.

Home Health Aide

Nursing Care

Services Offered

Bonnie Mello 1985

6,027

145 1

843-763-2080 www.intramedplus.com

Ansley Lee 1991

1,500

20 1

PHC Home Health 1923 Maybank Highway, Suite D Charleston, SC 29412

843-762-3601 www.phchealth.com

Sarah Gassman Wilbanks 1992

900

44 1

Bishop Gadsden at Home 1 1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Suite 260 Charleston, SC 29412

843-406-6379 www.bishopgadsdenathome.org homecare@bishopgadsden.org

Renee Burton, Sarah E.H. Tipton 2014

528

42 1

AllCare Living Services 107 W. 6th North St., Suite 208 Summerville, SC 29483

843-832-9888 www.allcarelivingservices.com info@allcarelivingservices.com

Kelly Williams 1998

250

120 1

Interim HealthCare 3820 Faber Place Drive, Suite 200 North Charleston, SC 29405

843-569-5510 www.interimhealthcare.com/charleston rbakerjr@interimhealthcare.com

2006

230

40 1

Comfort Keepers 505 Belle Hall Parkway, Suite 102 Mount Pleastant, SC 29464

843-574-7474 www.charleston-sc.comfortkeepers.com aturner@comfortkeeperssc.com

Ashley Turner, David Coker, Craig Goss 1998

100

50 2

Home Care Plus 2040 eWall St. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-628-3642 www.home-care-plus.com info@home-care-plus.com

Tom Nicholas Kuppens 2010

100

100 1

Palmetto Family Home Care 5900 Core Road, Suite 104 North Charleston, SC 29406

843-225-5420 www.palmettofamilyhomecare.com info@palmettofamilyhomecare.com

Sylvia Stewart, Dorian Nixon 2014

62 2

Care For Life 1064 Gardner Road, Suite 316 Charleston, SC 29407

843-852-9090 www.careforlifecharleston.com sjanse@careforlifecharleston.com

Mary E. Peters 1995

50 2

Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Offical(s) / Year Founded

Roper St. Francis Home Health Care 1483 Tobias Gadson Blvd., Suite 208 Charleston, SC 29407

843-402-7000 www.rsfh.com

Intramed Plus Infusion Services 4995 LaCross Road, Suite 1200 North Charleston, SC 29406

Researched by Business Journal staff

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ENGINEERING

LifeTagger selected for Google For Startups Founders Academy LifeTagger has been selected to join the second cohort of the Google for Startups Founders Academy, a nationwide six-month, equity-free program designed to help promising founders and their startups grow revenues and obtain access to capital. LifeTagger is one of 50 high-potential startups that the Google for Startups team has selected for the first nationwide cohort.

to free parking and a 10% discount on purchases in the gift shop. Admission to Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum includes access to the historic World War II aircraft carrier Yorktown, destroyer Laffey, Medal of Honor Museum and the three-acre Vietnam Experience Exhibit.

Springbok Coffee launches Charleston Battery Blend

Springbok Coffee Roasters has teamed up with the Charleston Battery to create the Charleston Battery Blend, a roast that includes dark chocolate and sweet molasses with a hazelnut finish. Customers can purchase a 12-ounce bag for $14.95 or a three-bag bundle for $40 at the Charleston Battery’s online Team Store, or at the new Battery Pop-Up Shop located within The Vault Retro Sports Apparel at 322 King Street.

Coastal Fertility Specialists opens office in Nexton

Coastal Fertility Specialists has opened a clinic at Nexton. The 3,860-squarefoot facility has a full staff, including physicians, nurses, medical assistants, a financial counselor and a full-service andrology lab. Dr. Jessica McLaughlin is the primary physician at the new location.

Patriots Point launches annual pass program

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum launched a new annual visitor pass program called Friends of the Fleet. The pass can be purchased online or in-person at the museum’s ticket window for $69. Pass-holders receive unlimited free admission for themselves and a guest for a year. Additional guests may be added for a $39 fee. Members are also entitled

Monster Self Storage facility opens at in Charleston

Adams Property Group has announced the opening of a new Monster Self Storage facility at 45 Grand Oaks Blvd. in

Charleston. The facility is comprised of three levels of climate-controlled storage, drive-up ground-level storage and large easy-access boat and RV compartments available for lease.

Starling Chevrolet commits to raising $55,000 for MUSC children’s hospital

Starling Chevrolet has announced that $55,000 in donations through the Drive to 55 fundraising initiative will go toward the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. This initiative is being facilitated through the Starling Chevrolet sales and service teams. Starling Chevrolet is part of the Starling Automotive Group and is led by Joe Sarro.

Firefly Distillery introduces Bend and Steal whiskey

Firefly Distillery has released a new artisanal spirit, Bend and Steal American Whiskey. This product is only available at Firefly Distillery’s Park Circle location. As the first American whiskey brand to enlist this technique at scale, Bend and Steal gets its name from the process of stealing bits from the best barrels in the country and bending them with Firefly barrels to create a balanced whiskey. The Bend and Steal American Whiskey has hints of burnt oak, butter and wheat with a lingering fig finish. It will be added to the tasting experience as part of the distillery tour.

Constantine Engineering Associates LLC has hired Michael Vranich as a mechanical engineering associate. He has experience in a variety of pubVranich lic and private sector project types, with an emphasis on health care. Vranich is a U.S. Army veteran out of Fort Bragg. He received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and a Master of Science in engineering management from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Larry L. Melton Jr. has been named vice chair of the Dewberry board of directors. Melton was appointed to the board in 2019 and has been serving as an indeMelton pendent member. Melton will work with Barry K. Dewberry, the executive chairman, in the administration of the board’s responsibilities to the firm’s stakeholders, including the owners, employees, clients and the communities the company serves. Melton will also be a member of the board’s executive committee. Melton has spent more than 20 years with Bechtel, where he was a principal vice president and served as design-build project director for the Edmonton Valley Line Light Rail Transit project in Alberta, Canada. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he led Marine units in extended deployments throughout Asia, the Middle East and South America. He holds an MBA in global management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from The Citadel. Melton is a member of the Project Management Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, and The Moles, a fraternal organization of the heavy civil construction industry.

LAW The partners of global law firm K&L Gates LLP have voted to elect W. Ford Graham as a partner of the firm. Graham See PEOPLE, Page 22

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May 31 - April 13, 2021

People in the News He is CMCA certified and has previously worked in property management. In his new role, DeSilva will be responsible for managing leads, setting and forecasting sales targets, and driving marketing and networking efforts in the Charleston area.

PEOPLE, from Page 21

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advises companies that are opening or expanding operations in the U.S. on economic incentives and other matters related to entering a new market.

EDUCATION

ACCOUNTING Graham

Pinewood Preparatory School has hired Abigail Parks as director of development. Parks recently served as the associate director of development at Parks MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. She has experience with event-based fundraising, annual giving campaigns and major gift work. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism, public relations degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Charleston Southern University. The S.C. Association of Technical College Commissioners announced the selection of its 2021 award winners, including Art Brown of Technical College of the Lowcountry and LaQuinta Yates of Trident Technical College.

REAL ESTATE Handsome Properties has hired Bridget Byrne to its sales team. She attended the College of Charleston, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Byrne in political science. Byrne has more than a decade of leadership experience in the luxury segment of Charleston’s hospitality industry. She also holds a law degree from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. Community Association Management Services has hired Mike DeSilva as business development manager for the Charleston region. DeSilva is a graduDeSilva ate of Sam Houston State University and has worked in business law and finance, credit and finance, and sales operations.

Jarrard, Nowell & Russell LLC has hired Phillips Marshall as a staff accountant. Marshall will focus on preparing 990, 1040, 1065, 1120 and 1120s tax Marshall returns, along with preparing annual and quarterly payroll reports for clients. He recently graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and financial management.

ARCHITECTURE SeamonWhiteside has hired Demetria Weaver as human resources director. Weaver has 19 years of experience in talent acquisition, employee relations, Weaver affirmative action, payroll, benefits and administrative support. Previously, Weaver has worked in the health care, maritime shipping and software engineering industries. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business management.

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES The Brandon Agency has hired Christie DeAntonio as director of client services. DeAntonio has more than seven years of experience with the agency, having been promoted through the client services team from senior account manager to account director, before earning her latest position. DeAntonio will ensure client’s needs are met by managing and guiding account and project manager’s activities, as well as being an active presence in client relations. She will also be responsible for client growth and retention, the profitability of the client services department and the development of its members. DeAntonio has worked on accounts such as Santee Cooper, Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, stayAPT Suites, CresCom Bank and Hook and Gaff Watch Company. She has a Bachelor of Science in retailing and consumer science from the University of Arizona.

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VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

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Lean into resiliency to maintain and grow your business

he strong women in our lives deserve to be celebrated. They are our moms, our sisters, our wives, best friends and mentors. They challenge and empower us to acknowledge women from every walk of life for their achievements, more than just one month a year. As a female entrepreneur, this HART has always been HAGERTY part of my mission. My business, Hart Jewelry, is dedicated to brightening the lives of women around the world by creating jewelry designed to empower. That’s why I thought I would share my story through a few lessons I’ve learned (and am still learning) and offer advice to fellow business owners after a challenging year.

Prepare for the pivot

Be willing to adapt. While our tassel earring was and will be our staple piece, COVID decreased the need for women to dress up. We pivoted and created motivational statement pieces — mantra bracelets and personalized charm necklaces designed here in Charleston. From letters, numbers, lucky symbols and talismanic charms, my customers

can design their own necklaces to reflect their values, goals, families, and identities. The beaded bracelets encourage the wearer to “Let go of anything that isn’t serving you” or that “If isn’t a ‘Hell yes!’ then it’s a no.” With the uncertainty 2020 brought, my earring sales plummeted. But the appetite for the bracelets and necklaces skyrocketed. Customers confronted change, and they looked to joyful jewelry for some grounding, positivity and affirmations.

Be lean through social

Beginning in our earliest days, we relied entirely on the incredible — and cost effective — power of Instagram. With a small, appointment only studio in downtown Charleston, Instagram is our store front. The pandemic limited in-person shopping options, but our digital storefront never closed its doors. Instagram, like other social media platforms, casts a very wide net, far beyond the city in which we live. Today, we have nearly 30,000 followers around the world. We started as a hometown business and have grown bigger than we could have ever imagined thanks to the power of this outlet. Cost-effective tools like Reels and Highlights were integral in building our customer base. Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms are the new normal. Use them to your benefit, reach

people you never imagined, and watch your business grow. Instagram has also supported our connectivity. Whether it be through wholesale initiatives with buyers and shops across the country, or feedback from our followers allowing us to be more strategic with our product development and design.

Create a professional support network

As visibility and sales grew, the growth of the brand was further supported by a local community of women in Charleston. For the female business owner community in Charleston, the shared mentality is “A rising tide raises all ships.” Before Covid, I regularly met with my fellow female business-owner friends over wine to share business advice like Instagram strategics, social media tips and resources. During Covid, those moved to virtual. Ask yourself if the people around you are the people with whom you can achieve great things. If the answer is no, do not hesitate to look elsewhere for work and support — and don’t forget to lean on the strong women in your life.

Know your strengths and weaknesses

The decision to bring on Curry Uflacker, my sister, as my marketing director/partner has been one of my best yet. One person cannot do it all. Our skill

sets complement each other seamlessly, and with her help, the brand is on a fast, upward trajectory. Our growth is up more than 200% since the fall. We are excited to grow our team, creatively, professionally and philanthropically. There is no better trust or honesty between two people than sisters. I feel lucky that we both moved back to our fast-growing hometown to help shape its future for the better. With strong roots and community support in Charleston — along with the unparalleled global access provided by social media — we are able to grow a multi-million dollar brand with positive impact. The most important value at Hart is empowerment and I hope this advice inspires other female entrepreneurs to get creative, take risks, and persevere through these challenging times. Together, we will come out of this pandemic stronger than before. Hart Hargerty is a native Charlestonian and owner of Hart Jewelry. Reach her at harthagerty. com or @hart_studio on Instagram.

We want to hear from you Write: Andy Owens, Executive Editor Charleston Regional Business Journal 1802 Dayton Street, Suite 101 North Charleston, SC 29405 Email: aowens@scbiznews.com

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May 31 - April 13, 2021

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