Issuu

BEST ADVICE Keegan Bird and Dan Rimer, Beech Restaurants.

PAGE 4 VOLUME 27 NUMBER 18 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM

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SEPTEMBER 6 - 19, 2021 ■ $2.25

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Lawyers help employers navigate vaccine mandates in SC By Teri Errico Griffis

Staffing struggles Retaining talent and safety protocols threaten manufacturing operations. Page 31

Van sales soar

Pent-up travelers lead to record Sprinter Van sales in Summerville. Page 34

$180M project

Kiawah Island welcomes Seafields, its first-ever 62+ community. Page 12

tgriffis@scbiznews.com

he Food and Drug Administration’s approval for the Pfizer vaccine has removed a major legal hurdle for companies looking to mandate COVID-19 immunizations as a condition of employment. Until Aug. 23, the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines were only approved for emergency use authorization,

giving further reason for people to stronghold their opposition, said David Dubberly, an employment and labor law group leader at Nexsen Pruet. In the near future, Dubberly expects more businesses to create mandate policies, especially as Moderna is on its way to approval as well. Dubberly, along with S.C. Chamber of Commerce President Bob Morgan and other top labor lawyers in the state came together on Aug. 26 to advise employers on what to expect

‘NOT A DONE DEAL’ For decades the Mark Clark Expressway project has been stuck in traffic. Now highway planners want help testing the viability of the latest effort. Page 6

should they mandate COVID-19 inoculations and how to respond — or not respond. Mike Carrouth, a lawyer at Fisher Phillips LLP in Columbia, said employers should prepare for medical and religious exemption requests, protests and, most severely, people withholding labor. Employers could potentially lose between 10% and 20% of their workforce, with See FDA, Page 9

Camp Hall plans mixed-use park near Volvo plant By Alexandria Ng

ang@scbiznews.com

here are currently about 1,500 employees working at the Volvo manufacturing plant in Ridgeville. If they want to step away for a quick lunch or run errands after work, most have to travel at least 20 minutes out for basic conveniences. Especially during a timed break, that commute adds up. But soon, workers’ will have food and retail options just down their street with the new Camp Hall Village Center, a master-planned community located in the heart of the industrial commerce park and adjacent to the Volvo plant in Berkeley County. In early August, developer Santee Cooper selected commercial real estate firm Lee & Associates to lead the sale of retail parcels at the village center. Lee & Associates will facilitate the request for proposal process to secure developers and tenants. While nothing is set in stone yet as they enter the final round of approvals, Lee & Associates have confirmed that multiple businesses have already

C is for cookie co.

Grey Ghost Bakery offers a behind-the-scenes look at its West Ashley factory. Page 47

INSIDE

Upfront................................. 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 Best Advice........................... 4 In Focus: Manufacturing.................... 31 List: Manufacturers............. 41 Bonus List: Industrial Staffing Agencies................43 At Work...............................44 Viewpoint........................... 46 Day in the Life......................47 Signs indicate the end point of Interstate 526 West.

Forty Under 40

Meet some of the best and brightest in Charleston businesses. Page 13

See CAMP HALL, Page 10

Upfront

BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | BEST ADVICE cutline

Yes, we’re ready for some football

t’s still hot, and we’re still in the middle of a pandemic unwilling to let us go back to living our normal lives, but that doesn’t mean we’re not ready for college football. Like a lot of college fans, the ebb and flow of football signals the actual change of the seasons. When the Tigers, Bucs, Gamecocks, Bulldogs, Paladins and the mighty Terriers take to the field, we’re fully expecting the temperature to instantly drop 10 degrees as our hearts skip a beat. When we read that Coach Lane Kiffin was crowing about getting his team at Ole Miss 100% vaccinated against the coronavirus, we knew one thing: That dude was using the vaccine as a strategy. Regardless of your thoughts on the vaccines, apparently this is one coach who understands that you can’t really play football if you’re not on the field. Like many things, we just want to forget about 2020, so we grabbed data from the NCAA’s attendance to see what we might be in for in terms of attendance at South Carolina home games. We don’t expect the numbers this year to be the same as two years ago, but you have to start somewhere, and first and 10 on the 50 yard line isn’t a bad place when you’re playing at home.

S.C. college football attendance 2019 College

Home attendance

Average

Clemson University

566,074

80,868

University of S.C.

545,737

77,962

Coastal Carolina

90,112

15,019

South Carolina State

62,035

10,339

The Citadel

56,066

9,344

Furman University

35,883

5,981

Wofford College

25,867

4,311

Charleston Southern

17,762

3,552

Presbyterian College

11,810

1,687

Source: NCAA, Division I programs

Top 5 conferences by attendance Conference

Attendance

Average

Southeastern Conference

7.4 million

72,723

Big Ten

6.3 million

65,065

Atlantic Coast Conference

4.5 million

48,243

Big 12

3.8 million

57,467

Pac-12

3.6 million

46,080

Source: NCAA, 2019

ON THE

RECORD

“If they’re not going to continue working in those conditions, that’s their choice, that’s what the law allows them to do. However the law does not allow them … to come to work and disregard your mandatory vaccination policy.” — Mike Carrouth, lawyer at Fisher Phillips LLP in Columbia

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SC Biz News Briefs

FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY FRANCHISE

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• Quality Childcare Learning Center franchise Investment: $250K and Net • $60 billion plus industry details contact: Eddie D • Great earningsFor potential • No Experience Necessary CreekStone Acade • Charleston, SC Area

Greenville Tech staff members and officials cut the ribbon on the new student center. (Photo/Provided)

UPSTATE

57 Forsyth St SE, Suite 10

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Investment: Liquidity $400k and Office: (404) 418-5377 | Net Worth Greater than $1.5M

Greenville Technical College opens student center with $2 million gift

For details contact: www.creekston Eddie Drake, Chief Operating Officer

Greenville Technical College opened a new student center made possible by a $2 million donation from the late Dodie Anderson, a graduate of the school. The 2018 gift helped transform an existing building into today’s Dreisbach/Anderson Student Success Center, located on the college’s Barton Campus. The center contains the offices and resources charged with making sure students enroll and succeed. After earning an associate degree at Greenville Tech in 1979, Anderson moved on to then USC Spartanburg where she received a bachelor’s degree. She credits the knowledge she gained for allowing her and husband Bob to grow their plywood manufacturing company into Anderson Hardwood Flooring. “Dodie Anderson’s exceptional generosity will allow many people in our community to do what she did: make progress toward their goals, excel with the support of caring faculty and staff, and find successful futures,” Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College, said in the news release.

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CreekStone Academy Incorporated 57 Forsyth St SE, Suite 10F, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Office: (404) 418-5377 | Mobile: (404) 805-6773

www.creekstoneacademy.com The Daily Journal provides the inside scoop on the Lowcountry business community!

Columbia Regional Business Report

Project to add landscaping in Vista A beautification project in the Congaree Vista will add lighting, landscaping, sidewalks and outdoor seating areas on Park Street between Gervais and Senate streets. The project, now underway, is scheduled to be completed by fall, according to Kristen Puckett, construction coordinator for the city of Columbia. “This will be a delightful improvement for pedestrians in the area,” Rosie Craig, board member and founding member of The Congaree Vista Guild, said in a news release. “It’s a long-awaited project that has been in development for many years and is now going to happen. The city of Columbia staff have been incredibly helpful.” Several businesses left the Vista since 2019, including Casual Pint, Newk’s, Nonnah’s, World of Beer and Carolina Strip Club steak restaurant. Area marketing and commercial real estate experts viewed the closings as part of normal ebb and flow and said increased residential density would support new business openings. Popular Rosewood wing spot Peebles opened a Vista location this spring and was joined on Gervais Street last weekend by a new sneaker store, Harlem’s Closet. VOLUME 24 NUMBER 15 ■ GSABUSINESS.COM Part of the

network

A staff ‘Fueled’ by collaboration takes the model into the future. Page 6

Learning some manners

A Clemson researcher says teaching robots to be ‘polite’ can help eliminate errors. Page 13

Penny resolution

Settlement reached in longrunning Penny Tax dispute. Page 4

Opportunity awaits

New Standard

New student housing tower coming to downtown Page 5

North Main venue to bring entertainment, development to underserved community

A different look

Companies team up on Main Street renonvation. Page 8

By Molly Hulsey

Infectious conditions take place atop priority list. Page 8

Man in green By Melinda Waldrop

INSIDE

mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

he 64,000-square-foot, $34 million entertainment venue and brewing production facility set to open on North Main Street next year is about more than beer. It’s about opportunity. Peak Drift Brewing Co., the latest Middleton family project, is located in an Opportunity Zone, one of nearly 9,000 areas throughout the country designated for incentivized economic development through 2017 federal legislation sponsored by Sen. Tim Scott. Investors

receive tax benefits to invest in low-income communities certified as Opportunity Zones by the U.S. Treasury Department. “People say why not Charleston? Why not Charlotte? Why not Greenville? Why not Miami?” Greg Middelton, who will own Peak Drift along with sister Sara Middleton, said during July 13’s official announcement of the brewery’s name and head brewmaster. “ ‘You can take the money and the capital you’re doing here and go anywhere.’ I’m not from Miami, and neither is Sara. I’m from Columbia, I’m from South Carolina, and I want this to be something that Columbia can truly be

proud of.” In March 2018, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster nominated 135 areas in the state as Opportunity Zones, with 128 eventually certified as low-income community tracts and seven as contiguous to such tracts. So far, the 8,764 certified zones in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have attracted $75 billion in private investment, said Alyssa Richardson, Scott’s deputy chief of staff. “Generally, when you’re talking about a place for investment or opportunity, you want See VENUE, Page 7

Icons & Phenoms

The Columbia Regional Business Report honors leaders across the Midlands. Page 12-21

ColumbiaBusinessReport.com

Montgomery Building spurs on Spartanburg revitalization

New frontiers

TD Bank names region president for Mid-South. Page 9

INSIDE

Leading Off .......................... 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 C-Suite ................................ 4 In Focus: Banking and Finance ............................. 15 LIST: Accounting Firms....... 16 At Work ............................. 20 Viewpoint ...........................23

mhulsey@scbiznews.com

ome remembered Elvis playing on its stage. Others had parking tokens, light fixtures and elevator signs from its heyday. Some stopped on site to swap stories about an uncle who was a janitor, usher or patron. One woman brought bonds issued to construct the building during the 1920s.

Everywhere Tom Finnegan and his development team turned, Spartanburg residents came out of the woodwork to share how the city’s once-highest skyscraper had shaped their childhoods, their family’s livelihood. But if the building inspired the art deco imaginations of long-time Spartanburg residents, it was also an albatross that drummed up liability and development nightmares for city leaders. And in many ways, the building served as a barometer of Hub City’s revival

By Ross Norton

rnorton@scbiznews.com

henandoah Growers Inc., a company specializing in commercially advanced indoor agriculture, broke ground Aug. 3 on its next indoor biofarm — this one in Anderson County.

The company, based in Rockingham County, Va., says it is the only large-scale USDA certified organic soil-based indoor growing system. Shenandoah Growers says it wants to change the reputation of organic food from something expensive to something affordable by making affordability a reality.

Get your message in front of Charleston’s top CEOs, executives, business owners and decision-makers every afternoon.

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from the time most of its seven railway lines came to a halt. “It was such a blight on the city and really a barrier from downtown proper, out Church Street toward Wofford,” K.J. Jacobs, principal of McMillan Pazdan Smith, told GSA Business Report. “It really was a kind of psychological barrier for folks coming out of the Northside and Wofford into downtown and vice versa.” Pedestrians would have to evade falling See BUILDING, Page 7

High-tech farm touts paradigm shift for organics

Summer 2021

S.C.’s life sciences sector poised for growth, success

The Montgomery Building in disrepair had become a barrier from one part of downtown Spartanburg to another. Now it’s a sign of how the Hub City’s central business district is recovering from a pandemic economy. (Photo/Molly Hulsey)

OSHA standards adjusted

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Hybrid office, now by choice

St. Pat’s festival returning to Five Points in 2022. Page 2

Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 In Focus: Financial Services ..........................................23 List: Accounting Firms .......24 Bonus list: Credit Unions ....26 At Work ..............................29 Viewpoint ........................... 31

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Greg Middleton, co-owner of Peak Drift Brewing Co., talks about the North Main entertainment venue during a news conference. (Photo/Melinda Waldrop)

By establishing the company’s 13th “biofarm” in Anderson County, on U.S. Highway 29 about halfway between Anderson and Williamston, the company takes another step in a second objective to make organic produce widely available. Shenandoah Growers’ other 12 growing sites range See ORGANICS, Page 11

In Focus Foreclosure Cliff?

Banks and other lenders face tough decisions as federal moratorium comes to an end. Page 15

SC Biz News 1802 Dayton St., Suite 101 North Charleston, SC 29405

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Going green again

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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.

County Spotlight: Oconee | Trending: Life Sciences in S.C. | S.C. Delivers

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Owner and CEO Keegan Bird and Vice President Dan Rimer started Beech Restaurants to offer healthy, fast food. (Photo/Provided)

Best Advice

KEEGAN BIRD AND DAN RIMER BEECH RESTAURANTS

THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED

“Fail to plan, plan to fail. Try to surround yourself with people smarter than you are, spread the load, and learn to trust your team. Complete control

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about creating an easy lifestyle for our community. As their trademarked slogan says, “Beech is taking the guesswork out of eating healthy and

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The Beech Team started as two brothers chasing a dream of serving their community through healthy, yet fast foods. Now, we are all passionate eating right.” Keegan says the company is focused on delivering a fresh, fast and healthy menu at three locations in Charleston based on the four pillars of a balanced diet: fruit, fish, rice and vegetables.

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Florida condo tragedy spurs action and search for legal counsel By Heath Hamacher

hhamacher@sclawyersweekly.com

hile the cause of June’s Champlain Towers South condominiums collapse in Surfside, Fla., is still under investigation, many experts believe that it could have been avoided had its homeowners’ association not ignored or downplayed repeated warnings that the building was structurally damaged and deteriorating. Incidents of this magnitude are extremely rare in the United States, and South Carolina has fortunately never experienced a tragedy of this sort. But construction defect litigation is commonplace, and often aimed at owners’ boards and associations that are similarly accused of grossly underestimating the severity of building defects or intentionally delaying repairs.

Everything falls apart

Over the years, the state has seen its share of deck and bridge failures and weakened structures that have led more typically to property damage than to loss of life. Electrical problems and shoddy building materials are commonly listed in lawsuits, and water intrusion — a suspected culprit in the Florida collapse — is an especially pernicious enemy. The formation, management, powers, and operation of condominiums in South Carolina are governed by the state’s Horizontal Property Act, passed in 1962. Myrtle Beach construction attorney Bobby Wylie noted that many of the buildings governed by the act are more than half a century old. As brutal and corrosive as the beach environment can be, structures across the state are at risk of the elements. “Over time, everything deteriorates,” Wylie said. “Eventually, nails are going to

rust and snap off, and a balcony is going to collapse. Water gets into concrete, seeps down to the reinforcing bar and it rusts and expands … and pops the concrete loose.” In parts of Florida, buildings must be inspected and recertified when they turn 40 years old, and every 10 years thereafter. South Carolina has no such mandate. While homeowners are responsible for issues within the walls of their dwelling, associations are required to maintain and repair common elements — generally, exterior areas from below ground to the roof. In South Carolina, homeowner associations are corporations. The state’s business judgment rule affords boards of directors great latitude in running their businesses. The rule is not an absolute shield from liability, but courts generally won’t intervene unless an association operates with corruption, bad faith, incompetence, or outside of its authority. Directors are presumed to have acted in good faith and in the best interest of the shareholders, the rule holds, and are required to make reasonably well-informed business decisions. The standard requires prudence, not perfection. “HOA boards are not construction professionals … but directors are protected if they rely on professionals,” Wylie said.

Some accountability

The rule not only protects directors, but exposes them to liability if they violate their duties of care or loyalty. In 2016, the state’s Supreme Court ruled in Fisher v. Shipyard Village Council that the rule applies even where a board’s conduct is governed by a master deed, bylaws, and the Horizontal Property Act. In Fisher, the council allegedly failed

ly dues down,” Gibson said. “Sometimes they will put a Band-Aid on the problem, but it doesn’t address the fundamental issue.”

“So, there’s this incentive to do as little as possible to keep their annual or monthly dues down. Sometimes they will put a Band-Aid on the problem, but it doesn’t address the fundamental issue.”

Plan and prepare

Allen Gibson Womble Bond Dickinson

to maintain its building and repair issues dating back to 1983 — the year after the building was completed. According to the high court, evidence shows that the board received “many calls” about the issue and knew about leaks for years. Apparently, outside agencies hired to investigate the defects in 2002 and 2003 reported water intrusion, rotten wood framing, and numerous issues with windows, glass doors, and stucco. Owners filed suit after the board tried to levy a multimillion-dollar assessment to Shipyard’s residents and the trial court found that the board breached its duty to investigate. This is not an outlier, attorneys say. One of the reasons potential issues are allowed to fester is because owners fail to assess enough over time for major repairs. Allen Gibson of Womble Bond Dickinson in Charleston said that some boards are reluctant to increase dues or create special assessments on their neighbors. “So, there’s this incentive to do as little as possible to keep their annual or month-

The consensus among those in the know is that going beyond the legal requirements can be the key to reducing danger and liability. Associations are encouraged to undertake studies on assessments and maintenance, and have in place formal, written plans that lay out years in advance what might go wrong and the cost of making it right. Gibson said high-rise associations, particularly, should plan for regular inspections to identify issues and address maintenance problems as they arise. “They should not allow deferred maintenance to accumulate and get to a point where it can cause catastrophic problems,” Gibson said. Since the Florida collapse, Wylie said that associations have sought his advice. That advice is simple: Be proactive. Hire consultants to determine the lifespan of building materials and what it will cost to maintain them. Get comfortable with spending money. Create reserves. “I tell my boards to get their buildings inspected every three five years ... that way the liability is minimized because they’ve done what they’re supposed to do — they’ve acted in good faith they’ve relied upon professionals, and you don’t have some collapse or a giant expense that pops up and surprises everybody.” Wylie believes the tragedy in Florida can at least serve as a life-saving lesson for others. “I think now that unit owners — those who would complain about dues going up — will understand now why they’re doing it,” Wylie said.

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Traffic merges on and off of Interstate 526 on Paul Cantrell Boulevard in West Ashley. Westbound drivers take roughly 2 miles to Savannah Highway, the end of the 526 system. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)

Leaders seek public input for Mark Clark Extension plans By Teri Errico Griffis

tgriffis@scbiznews.com

he daily commute from Johns Island to North Charleston had become so overwhelming that Bradley Taggart quit his job in 2020 to become a stay-at-home dad. Taggart is co-founder of Charlestonians for I-526, a group of now 11,000 island residents who formed in 2012 out of mutual commuter struggles. Together they advocate for the proposed Mark Clark Extension by commenting at meetings, researching and disseminating information to residents, primarily via Facebook. “What we were seeing in the media as far as people opposing new roads, and what we were hearing amongst our neighbors, it didn’t match,” Taggart said. “The people wanted the roads, but some of the people and special interest groups did not.” In the next 30 years, traffic on the Mark Clark and surrounding roadways is expected to get worse. By 2050, Johns Island’s population could grow by 206%, and a trip from the intersection of River and Main roads to Charleston International Airport could take 134 minutes, according to a 2019

Better Image Group, a screenprinter on Johns Island, regulary receives requests for these custom bumper stickers they designed. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)

Cultural Historical Activity Theory model. Charleston County Deputy Director of Public Works Richard Turner and Jae Mattox, a S.C. Department of Transportation program manager for the project, addressed the traffic — and a solution — on Aug. 19. After decades in the making, plans for Alternative G, a proposed version of the Mark Clark Extension, are

moving forward and the public feedback period is open through Oct. 15. Mattox and Turner said they are eager to hear specifically from the people living in the region. “This project’s been around for so long and my fear is that people are immune to it,” Mattox said. “When that happens, it’s hard for us to accomplish what we need to accomplish during this period.”

The proposed Alternative G is a 9.5 mile, four-lane parkway with speed limits between 35 and 45 miles per hour. Of the extension, 6.1 miles will be a bridge structure over the Stono River, reducing the project’s footprint and wetland impacts. While the goal is to have as little interruption as possible, Alternative G still would require seven business relocations and 13 residential relocations, Mattox said. There is no projected cost yet for Alternative G as leaders await final plans, but the estimated total in 2019 was between $725 million and $772 million. The 9.5-mile route will have two connection points extending Interstate 526. Connector A will be the western link between the Mark Clark Extension and River Road, while Connector B will link the eastern side. Extension plans also include a 12-footwide multi-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists that will connect the West Ashley Greenway and James Island County Park. On average, the extension could save more than 6,946 commuter hours a day or 98,000 driving miles, according to a 2010 environmental impact study. That’s roughly 36 million miles driven annually by commuters and more than $20 million in savings each year for gas and vehicle

September 6 - 19, 2021

wear and tear, per IRS mileage calculations. “The road would pay for itself in 16 years, just based on the time value that it would save,” Taggart said.

Many alternatives

Alternative G is one of 39 plans that were originally proposed 10 years ago. The 2021 version combines two previous ideas together using comments from residents, elected officials, planning agencies and more over the years, Mattox said. “Public involvement is so important and has impacts on the project,” Mattox said. Public feedback also played a part in relocating plans for the intersection of Connection B, shifting the multi-path to the county park entrance, and upgrading the original intersection of Maybank Highway and River Road. If completed, the extension could cut the commute from River and Main roads to the airport by 94 minutes, or from the same location to Medical University of South Carolina from 114 minutes to 19, per CHAT calculations. “It’s a lot of commuter traffic that’s going in and out of those areas each day,” Turner said. “When I look at traffic needs, that’s really the thing that sinks in to me.”

Getting to work

Between 2015 and 2050, employment growth in Charleston County is expected to increase 57% to 415,637 jobs, according to CHATS. Taggart agreed the extension would be valuable for Johns Island, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Wadmalaw commuters. “All of our neighbors are in support of (the extension) because most of them work and have small children and mobility is high on their list, whereas some of the older residents of the island, mobility is not a priority,” Taggart said. “They lead a different lifestyle than most of the newer residents. And they’re kind of clinging to the past.” Taggart understands the concerns. He too grew up in a rural area and saw it suburbanized, but the growth is a real issue, he said. “Johns Island as the crow flies is five miles from downtown Charleston,” he said. “So to think any city five miles away from the fastest growing city is going to stay country is not realistic. It’s filling in on Johns Island, and we have to just accept that reality.” Not all residents wanted to be on the record about their opinions about plans for the Mark Clark Expressway. One James Island resident, like Taggart is for the extension, but he doesn’t believe Alternative G is the finite solution. He suggests the project be broken up into two parts, focusing first on Johns Island. Leaders can then determine costs and see if the extension works. “They’re trying to give us something that they’re not even sure is going to

www.charlestonbusiness.com 7

alleviate all these troubles,” he said. Some are concerned Alternative G will create more of a chokehold at Maybank Highway and Main Road because enough hasn’t been done to keep up with growth and infrastructure needs. “You’re going to cruise over the bridge and still sit in traffic when you get off,” one person said. “If you bring a bunch of cars over to a road that’s not properly built to handle it, it’s going to be another traffic jam.”

Speaking up

Following Alternative G’s public comment period, an environmental-impact

statement will be drafted, hopefully by spring 2022, Mattox said. If the project receives federal and state approval on schedule summer 2022 and winter 2023, the final design would come 2023 and construction could kick off in 2024. For those interested, there is a virtual public hearing room on the website at www.scdotmarkclark.com to attend meetings. Public can also comment online, email or write to Turner and Mattox at P.O. Box 191, Columbia, S.C. 29202. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get comments, we’ll be able to get concerns addressed. … If we don’t get the feedback,

we don’t know what we don’t know,” Mattox said. On Sept. 14, a public hearing will be held at Essex Village Church in West Ashley with an informal session from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. A formal presentation and verbal comment session will begin at 6 p.m. “This is totally not a done deal,” Mattox said. “That’s part of the reason we’re going to the public because we’ll take everything that we get from the public, all the comments, all the concerns, ns and we’ll address those as best we can.” CRBJ

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September 6 - 19, 2021

Logistics companies to deploy all-electric cargo haulers By Andy Owens

A&R Logistics will use one of the electric trucks to move cargo between the company’s new 615,000-squarefoot export facility, recently completed by Frampton Construction Co. LLC, in Moncks Corner and the Port of Charleston. (Photo/Frampton Construction)

aowens@scbiznews.com

he Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $1.3 million grant to the S.C. Ports Authority to help support efforts to use electricy and energy-efficient trucks to replace diesel-powered vehicles. The EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act will support partners A&R Logistics and Benore Logistic Systems Inc. In moving cargo to “more sustainably to significantly reduce emissions over time,” the SCPA said in a news release. Specifically, A&R Logistics and Benore Logistic Systems plan to use the money to help replace eight diesel freight trucks with battery powered Peterbilt tractor trucks, the authority said. “S.C. Ports is consistently looking for ways to make our operations more sustainable and efficient,” Ports COO Barbara Melvin said in a statement. “The support from the EPA through the $1.3 million DERA grant, and the bold initiative taken by A&R Logistics’ and Benore to deploy the electric trucks, serve as a great model for companies looking to create a more sustainable supply chain.” One A&R Logistics electric truck will move cargo between the company’s

new 615,000-square-foot export facility recently completed by Frampton Construction Co. LLC in Moncks Corner and the Port of Charleston. The S.C. Ports Authority said the other vehicles will be used in Savannah. Benore Logistics plans to put six trucks into service in the Upstate to move cargo from from BMW Manufacturing Co.’s plant to Inland Port Greer. S.C. Ports Permitting Manager Mark Messersmith said using all-electric trucks will help reduce emissions impacting surrounding communities. He also said

this could spark similar efforts for other logistics companies involved in port and cargo-hauling operations. “S.C. Ports anticipates that the efforts of A&R and Benore will showcase the benefits of these electric vehicle trucks and provide a catalyst for other trucking companies,” Messersmith said in a statement. S.C. Ports said the project also was supported by the S.C. Energy Office, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, Charleston Community Research to Action Board, Dominion Energy, Mount Pleasant, the

city of Charleston, and Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments. “Freight operations continue to play an integral and expanding role in our region and along its transportation network,” said Ron Mitchum, executive director of BCDCOG. “The ability to drive economic growth while minimally impacting our environment is a win for South Carolina Ports, the agency’s project partners and the community — one that should be applauded.” CRBJ

Reach Andy Owens at 843-849-3142.

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FDA, from Page 1

people who feel strongly about the vaccine leaving a company or going to work for a competitor. Carrouth counseled that employers should be careful, remain calm and not discharge someone for their actions given potential issues under the National Labor Relations Act and the Protected Concerted Activity. “You can’t consider the employees’ actions to be inappropriate or insubordinate or in violation of a policy simply because you question the reasonableness of their opposition,” Carrouth said. If an employee opposes a vaccine mandate, they have the right to leave. “If they’re not going to continue working in those conditions, that’s their choice. That’s what the law allows them to do,” Carrouth said. “However, the law does not allow them with this PCA to come to work and disregard your mandatory vaccination policy.” Kathy Dudley Helms, lawyer at Ogletree Deakins in Columbia, said the reason employers are able to mandate the vaccine, mask wearing, testing policies and other protocols are because the nation is in a pandemic and therefore under a direct threat, per the Americans with Disabilities Act. This could change when we come out of the pandemic, she added. For now, companies like Nephron Pharmaceuticals LLC and S.C. hospital systems like Medical University of South Carolina, Tidelands Health, Roper St. Francis and East Cooper Health have all mandated that employees get vaccinated. More than 150 other health care systems around the U.S., as well as AT&T, Google, Bank of America, Disney and more, also have similar directives. Since June, cases in the U.S. have increased from 12,000 a day to 130,000 as of Aug. 23, which Dubberly said is alarming and about half as bad as at the peak in January when cases reached 250,000 cases daily. In late August, 62% of U.S. adults were fully vaccinated, putting the country in a

Companies across South Carolina have already begun mandating safety protocols to protect employees against COVID-19. Lowcountry Food Bank Director of Equitable Access and Produce Alicia Duffany wears a mask while at work. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)

“pandemic of the unvaccinated,” the Center for Disease Control said. That number is 47.5% in South Carolina, data from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control show. The three main vaccines, with two others in the pipeline, work against the four discovered variants of COVID-19. The rush to get as many vaccinated as possible comes amid the fear that a new variant could be stronger. Should employers want to move forward with a mandate, which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission gave the green light to do in May, Helms advised having a policy in place and communicating clearly with employees why you’re enforcing a mandate and why you think it’s important, in case employees push back, particularly with exemptions. Employers have a legal obligation to provide an exemption for workers who have disability-related reasons for not getting the vaccine or a sincerely held religious belief against wanting to be vaccinated. Unlike the flu shot that is egg-based and could see exemptions because of food allergies, Helms said medical exemptions

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for COVID-19 should only be applicable to the smallest number of people. “I’ve looked and looked and looked at this, and there really are no conditions where a person is prevented,” she said. “A lot of people said they couldn’t wear masks because of asthma, but if you pay attention, a lot of what you’re hearing is because of medical conditions. Physicians are saying go, go now and get a vaccination.” Helms recently worked with an employer with had a 1,000-plus team members and saw zero medical exemptions and 20 religious exemptions, which she said speaks volumes. “The religious exemptions are where everyone’s gonna go,” she said. Religious exemptions come from Title VII, and state laws that can have further impacts. For religious exemption, a “strongly held” belief doesn’t have to be an exact tenant of a church or even something an employer recognizes as a charge, Helms said. Employers are required to give religious exemption unless it causes direct threat, meaning it could cause harm to someone or undue hardship, such as having to relocate all staff members.

“Just because you don’t agree with someone and think their reality isn’t something to hang your hat on, you still go through the process,” she said. Once an employee identifies they need an accommodation, they can start the interactive process of getting forms from their physician and discussing if they can be reasonably accommodated without causing an undue burden. Accommodations include substitutions such as facemasks, social distancing, frequent testing or remote work. But Helms stresses that the employee does not get to choose their substitution and can’t take it upon themselves to work from home indefinitely to avoid the mandate. Though it’s really hard to question a sincerely held belief, Helms added that it’s logical to look into questionable exemptions given situations like the preacher in California who has been writing religious exemption letters for anyone who asked. “As you consider whether or not do to a mandate or some other kind of approach, you want to think through the messaging, you want to think through if you’re requiring a vaccination, who’s going to keep track of proof of the vaccine, how confidentiality is maintained,” Dubberly said. For now, Dubberly imagines most companies will institute a hybrid model with vaccination requirements or incentives combined with mask wearing and other protocols. The downside of a mandatory approach is the risk of losing employees, while the downside of the hybrid model is extra paperwork, he said. “Employers have the ability to mandate vaccination. They have the right to require proof of vaccination in almost every state,” he said. Montana is the only exception. Helms suggests employers visit www. eeoc.gov and read section K of the article, “What You Should Know About COVID19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws.” CRBJ

Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.

www.charlestonbusiness.com

September 6 - 19, 2021

CAMP HALL, from Page 1

expressed their interest. “This is going to become a small industrial town, so we’ve approached this as, what do small industrial towns have, and what do they need from the standpoint of services?” Lee & Associates President Wade Allen said. Those services will be made up of a collection of small businesses and conveniences meant to help connect the workforce to the needs of everyday life. Future plans for this complex include access to Wi-Fi, food options, a convenience store, health care, dry cleaning, gas and electric-vehicle charging, banking, a fitness center and fire station. “We’ve done a lot of research, and we actually did a labor study with MAU (Workforce Solutions), and what came out of that were employees telling us that they want better work-life balance and amenities nearby,” said Nicole Aiello, a spokesperson for Santee Cooper. “We’re building all these things where employees can get together and have that time to recharge, and that can actually increase the retention for employment.” Lee & Associates also sees this as an way to help retain and attract talent to the region. “It’s an opportunity for us to actually provide something that will attract major users to Berkeley County and the state,

Camp Hall Village Center will span 100 acres. Amenities will include shaded pavilions (left) in public spaces. (Renderings/Provided)

and that’s why we were hired to do this because we fully understand that this is going to be an amenity for not just Volvo and their employees, but their suppliers and for a few other large users,” said Justin Ross, a broker with Lee & Associates. “The village center is going to be a gathering place – everything that you would want in a town or a city, you got it all in one spot.”

Of the total 6,800 acres of Camp Hall commerce park, about 100 acres will be allocated for the village center specifically. Construction is currently taking place, with plans to near completion in fourth quarter 2021.

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September 6 - 19, 2021

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van sales go through the roof By Teri Errico Griffis tgriffis@scbiznews.com

ercedes-Benz Van sales are up 18.8% with 10,053 units sold through the second quarter, and 21,712 overall for the year, the company said. Prior to the pandemic, Sprinter vans were a commodity for transportation companies driving tourists around the Lowcountry or to Savannah, moving wedding guests from point A to B, said George Stavros, sales manager for Baker Motor’s Mercedes-Benz Van Center in Summerville. With pandemic shutdowns, those businesses came to a grinding halt in 2020. Companies that normally ran 20 vans in their fleet a day struggled for two or three jobs a month, Stavros said. He added that like most companies when the pandemic first crept up in March 2020, Mercedes-Benz panicked. “They did something they never do, which is they offered crazy incentives,” he said. “They offered zero percent on Mercedes-Benz vans, which immediately meant we sold out of everything we had, we just emptied the shelves.” Companies who were on the fence about purchasing a Sprinter in the future were suddenly coming in droves in March and April 2020 to take advantage

Baker Motor Co.’s Summerville sales center is the first standalone Mercedes-Benz van dealership in the country. (Photos/Teri Errico Griffis)

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Sprinter vans can be customized with bathrooms, kitchenettes and beds. (Photos/Teri Errico Griffis)

of the financing deals. “I think (Mercedes-Benz) thought the van business was going to die, and they needed to do something to support dealers,” he said. “But when they did zero percent, it just created a frenzy.” By May 2020, with no inventory left, Mercedes-Benz pulled back on the incentives. But while one sector of clients tapered off, Sprinter sales ramped up for personal use as well as traveling businesses like electricians, plumbers and pet groomers. And it’s not just South Carolinians that run to Baker. For the month of May, 60% of the dealership’s sales came from out of state, Stavros said. Year to date, those sales equate to about 50% of Baker’s van sales. The chip shortage has only heightened the demand for what inventory the Summerville dealer has these days. While Baker hadn’t significantly been impacted by the shortage, Stavros anticipates feeling the effects this month, and into September and October — especially as some of higher end van options are no longer

available because of the chips. Microchips make much of the world’s machines tick, whether cell phones, computers, video game consoles or cars. Chips power your steering wheel, your cruise control, windshield wipers and more. “We’ve, we’ve had quite a few of our orders be a $78,000 van, and then all of a sudden I look and they’re a $65,000 van because they’ve stripped all the equipment off of them,” Stavros said. “So that’s, that’s caused a little bit of angst with my clients because they want to order a van, and I can’t get them what they want.” Though Mercedes-Benz anticipates a resolution to the shortage this year, Stavros realistically thinks it will be closer to January 2022. “There are thousands and thousands of possible vans we could stock, so we have to try to figure out what customers want… We’re trying to be everything we can to as many people as we can,” Stavros said. CRBJ

Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.

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Billet, produced at Century Aluminum in Mt. Holly, can be shaped into a number of products for aerospace, automotive, construction and more. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)

Mt. Holly aluminum plant considers electrical cars By Teri Errico Griffis

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outh Carolina auto manufacturers like Volvo, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are all ramping up for an electric future, and Century Aluminum CEO Jesse Gary said the Mount Holly plant can get them there. For decades, the Mt. Holly smelter in Moncks Corner has been casting molten aluminum into billet, which then gets extruded into a variety of shapes for automotive, aerospace, construction and other uses. Picture Play-Doh, pushed through the press, and out comes the aluminum can or wheel, Gary explained. Most of Mt. Holly’s billet goes into the automotive and construction industry, and looking forward, a key field for the plant is electric vehicles, said Gary, who replaced Mike Bless as CEO in July. Electrical vehicles, in fact, require more aluminum than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. “That’s because the aluminum in electrical vehicles tends to be lighter, so they need more aluminum, so they can go a longer distance,” Gary said. “Also, aluminum is used to cool the batteries, therefore housing around all the battery packs is made of aluminum extrusions.” Future firing of Mt. Holly’s second pot line, and hiring another 100-plus employees, will bring the smelter back to 75% of its 229,000 metric tons of annual aluminum production capacity. The rebuild is key for not just Mt. Holly and its more than $60 million investment, but to the U.S. aluminum industry, which is down to six working aluminum smelters compared to 33 in 1990. Aluminum is necessary national security, Gary said, as the product is used in military applications, as well as the electrical grid. While the country has seen a mas-

sive turnaround of smelters coming back online since the 2018 import measures imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the pandemic has also caused aluminum prices to surge, gaining almost 30% this year, Gary said. “As we saw the unanticipated consumer spending, the aluminum price started to recover and get even stronger... stronger than pre-pandemic, stronger than we’ve seen in a long time,” he said. In July, aluminum traded at almost $2,600 per metric ton, the highest price since June 2011, according to Trading Economics — a heftier feat considering today’s higher demand and tighter supply. The price is a steady increase from July 2019, when aluminum was valued at $1,797 per metric ton. The effects of ascending aluminum prices have been felt worldwide. Reynolds Wrap, the nation’s leading producer of aluminum foil, said it’s facing upwards of $400 million in costs from aluminum and resin, while Dutch brewing company Heineken warned of a “material effect” taking shape in 2022 during its first-half earnings report. In perspective, with only six smelters in the country running, the U.S. will produce a little more than one million tons of aluminum this year, but consumers will use between 5.5 million and 6 million tons, Gary said. The difference will come from imports, including about 3 million tons from Canada. “We’re way short of what we need, just to meet our own demand,” Gary said. “That’s why programming like 232 are so key, because it’s enabling the industry to expand and to supply more to meet our own internal requirements. It’s a good future for Mt. Holly, it’s a good future per century, and we’re excited.” CRBJ

Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.

IN FOCUS: MANUFACTURING

September 6 - 19, 2021

www.charlestonbusiness.com 37

Gov. McMaster to speak during SC Manufacturing Conference By Andy Owens

aowens@scbiznews.com

ov. Henry McMaster will be one of the featured speakers at the 2021 S.C. Manufacturing Conference and Expo set for Nov. 10-12 at the Greenville Convention Center. The three-day event will include a slate of speakers, demonstrations, hundreds of exhibitors and the presentation of the 2021 Manufacturing Excellence Awards during the Salute to Manufacturing Awards luncheon. The awards recognize South Carolina companies who have demonstrated excellence in manufacturing throughout the year, including honors for Emerging Manufacturer of the Year, Transformational Operational Excellence, Outstanding Manufacturing Lifetime Service, Innovator of the Year and the Outreach award. Judging for these honorees will be coordinated by the S.C. Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The conference runs concurrently with an exposition that has a show floor the equivalent size of three football fields, along with other events and training courses throughout the three days.

The S.C. Manufacturing Conference and Expo kicks off on Nov. 10 with a leadership event that explores different facets of strategic challenges facing companies. Topics include managing processes, procedures and human resources. Panel discussions during the conference will include implementation of technology, a discussion surrounding manufacturing of electric vehicles in South Carolina and an exploration of the various high-growth sectors of automotive, aerospace and biotech. The final day will include a panel discussion about women who are leaders and influencers in the manufacturing sector. The event will conclude with the Salute to Manufacturing luncheon, which will include the 2021 Manufacturing Excellence Awards. Other events, panel discussions and training sessions will be announced as event details are finalized. The S.C. Manufacturing Conference and Expo also is registering booth space for exhibitors, vendors and sponsors. For more information about the conference, expo or about sponsorships, booths and tickets, go online to scmanufacturingconference.com. CRBJ

The S.C. Manufacturing Conference and Expo will be held at the Greenville Convention Center in November. (Photo/File)

Gov. Henry McMaster speaks at the S.C. Manufacturing Conference and Expo in 2019. The event, which was virtual last year, will be in-person from Nov. 10-12. (Photo/File)

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www.charlestonbusiness.com

September 6 - 19, 2021

BMW expands high school apprenticeship program By Molly Hulsey

mhulsey@scbiznews.com

ifteen rising high school seniors signed on as the inaugural BMW Rising Scholars, one of two workforce development programs the company launched Aug. 9, in the halls of Spartanburg’s Zentrum. “Our local career centers do a great job in educating students,” Paul Sinanian, manager for talent programs and training at BMW, said in a news release. “These high school seniors were chosen because of their strong potential and their good problem-solving and math skills. Rising Scholars is a wonderful opportunity for them to acquire technical skills in an advanced manufacturing setting and get paid to learn.” BMW Rising Scholars offers apprentices an opportunity to work 15 hours a week at BMW Manufacturing’s Training and Development Center alongside classes at their high school and a participating Career and Technical Education Center starting later this month. An apprenticeship program registered with the U.S. Labor Department, BMW Rising Scholars will pay students $12 per hour. The second initiative, BMW Fast Track,

BMW’s inaugural Rising Scholars signed on to the job on Aug. 9 and are expected to start working on the campus sometime this month. (Photo/Molly Hulsey)

is a 40-hour-per-week “BMW Bootcamp” for recent graduates or experienced individuals with a related associate degree hired on to the manufacturing team. “The Rising Scholars and Fast Track programs are additional tools that expand our workforce development strategy,” Knudt Flor, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing, said in the release. “This

new pipeline of talent will help us fulfill our long-term goals. With the digitalization of manufacturing technology, it makes sense for us to grow and recruit additional talent as we prepare for our future.” Both initiatives follow in the footsteps of the BMW Scholars high school graduate apprenticeship program for manufacturing technology students, started

in 2010. Rising Scholars graduates will automatically become candidates for the BMW Scholars program, which pays $1,500 toward tuition and books at four participating schools while students attend class full-time and work at BMW 20 to 24 hours a week. Out of 331 graduates, almost every BMW Scholar has been offered a job with the company, according to the release. Participating schools include Spartanburg Community College, Greenville Technical College, Tri-County Technical College and Piedmont Technical College. The first class of BMW Rising Scholars include Edward Falcon-Lugo from the J. Harley Bonds Career Center; Eric Escobar-Baltazar and Amaya Hines from the Donaldson Career Center; Richard Koppen, Caden Louk and Christian Shenton from the Enoree Career Center; Mitch Gray and Jorge Hernandez Jaco from the Golden Strip Career and Technology Center; Evan Morgan and Darius Thompson from the Daniel Morgan Technology Center; Kristopher Melton, Ethan Capizzo and Jaqueline Ocampo from the R.D. Anderson Applied Technology Center; and Chayanne Osorio and Javier Rodriguez from the Swofford Career Center. CRBJ

Reach Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1223.

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www.charlestonbusiness.com 39

Fair Play company establishes Anderson truss plant By Molly Hulsey

mhulsey@scbiznews.com

he building boom has reached Fair Play, and a mainstay of the town’s construction industry is expanding its presence with an Anderson County truss plant. Yoder’s new subsidiary, Top Edge Components LLC., will invest $2.9 million in a 22,500-square-foot facility at 7027 S.C. Highway 24 in Townville. The expansion is slated to create 25 jobs, according to a news release. “I am excited to welcome Top Edge Components LLC to Anderson County and Anderson County Council District Four,” council member Brett Sanders said in the release. “It is always great to see businesses come to our rural areas, and I really cannot overstate how important these businesses are to the viability of these small communities. We look forward to them being in our community for many years to come.” The facility, expected to be operational by January, will make floor and roof wooden trusses, along with other engineered materials for the commercial, residential and agricultural sectors. “Yoder’s has become synonymous with quality building materials and

The new facility will make floor and roof trusses among other engineered materials for the construction and agricultural sectors. (Photo/Canva)

home supplies throughout northwestern South Carolina, and Top Edge Components LLC will follow that same family tradition,” Harley Yoder, owner and president of Yoder’s, said in the release. “Top Edge Components LLC is driven

by a commitment not only to provide quality products and exceptional service, but to do so within an environment of trust, ensuring a lasting relationship with customers. Top Edge Components LLC is grateful for the opportunity to

impact our local community. Our companies are built on Christian values and we hope to make a difference for God’s kingdom.” CRBJ

Reach Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1223.

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September 6 - 19, 2021

MANUFACTURERS, from Page 31

Some companies also have created specific teams or committees that solely focus on the virus and its impact on the business, while others have stretched roles to make them remote when feasible. “Many employers now take a new approach to how work is getting done. It is more about meeting the goal or deadline than it is about how many hours an employee works,” she said. “Basically, it is about efficiency, which is most often the discussion in a manufacturing environment.” The pandemic has forced manufacturers across all industries to re-evaluate what work can be set aside, what could be brought back to production later and what needs to get done now, Fuller said. The approach is defined as lean; however, it isn’t sustainable for a state that creates more than $40 billion in manufactured goods and employs upwards of 260,000 people, per the National Association of Manufacturers. The country will always need craftspeople, metal workers and more, Boroff said, but the pandemic accelerated the desire to want white collar jobs where people can work from home or make more money. Preferably both. Schools like Cooper River Center for Advanced and its affiliate in Mount Pleasant are working to help develop early tal-

The pandemic has made a tough job even harder, with mask and personal protective equipment required in an already hot facility. Century Aluminum cannot allow a pot line to shut down for more than three hours or the entire plant will be out of commission for months. (Photo/File)

ent and offer students trade skills while still in high school. Trident Technical College and apprenticeship programs continue developing talent later on. But if roles can’t be filled, they will be

replaced with automation because the manufacturing can’t stop, Boroff said. “Here’s the thing about the American innovation system, when there’s a problem like this, someone’s going to come along

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and create a technology to replace it,” he said. “Things are starting to move where they won’t need these jobs anymore.” CRBJ

Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.

IN FOCUS: MANUFACTURING

September 6 - 19, 2021

www.charlestonbusiness.com 41

Manufacturers

Ranked by No. of Employees in the Charleston Area Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Purchasing Manager

Boeing South Carolina 5400 International Blvd. North Charleston, SC 29418

312-544-2000 www.weareboeingsc.com

Lane Ballard 1916

5,706

Fabrication, assembly and integration of major 787 Dreamliner components and interiors; final assembly and delivery of 787 Dreamliner airplanes; engineering design and production support; information technology

Mercedes-Benz Vans LLC 8501 Palmetto Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456

843-695-5000 www.mbvcharleston.com

Arnhelm Mittelbach 2006

1,600

Assembly of Sprinter vans for the U.S. market

Robert Bosch LLC 8101 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29418

843-760-7000 www.bosch.us

Gitta Unger, Kai Woerner 1974

Gitta Unger

1,500

Manufacture fuel injectors, pumps and anti-lock braking systems

Volvo Car USA 1801 Volvo Car Drive Ridgeville, SC 29472

844-827-5268 www.volvocars.com/us

Todd Brower, David Stenstrom, Stephanie Mangini 2015

1,500

Manufacturing plant in Ridgeville; builds S60 midsize sedan for global distribution; plant has 2.3 million square feet of manufacturing space

Nucor Steel Berkeley 1455 Hagan Ave. Huger, SC 29450

843-336-6000 www.nucor.com

Mike Lee 1996

Peggy McKnight

1,000

Sheet and beam steel from recycled scrap metal

Santee Cooper 1 Riverwood Drive Moncks Corner, SC 29461

843-761-8000 www.santeecooper.com customercare@santeecooper.com

Charlie Duckworth, Mark Bonsall, Pamela Williams 1934

Byron Rodgers

862

State-owned electric and water utility

IFA Rotorion N.A. LLC 479 Trade Center Parkway Summerville, SC 29483

843-486-5400 www.ifa-group.com

Ludger Reckmann, Andreas Heft 2002

Dallas Newhouse

650

Tier 1 manufacturer of drive shafts

Ingevity 4920 O'Hear Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405

844-643-8489 www.ingevity.com

John Fortson 1948

Glenn Marcus

563

Manufactures specialty chemicals, high-performance carbon materials and engineered polymers, largely from renewable raw materials

WestRock Co. 5600 Virginia Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406

843-745-3000 www.westrock.com

Jon Miller 1937

Alicia Gayler

487

Corrugated packaging solutions; merchandising

JW Aluminum 435 Old Mount Holly Road Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-572-1100 www.jwaluminum.com info@jwaluminum.com

Stan Brant, Philip Cavatoni, Ryan Roush 1979

Keith Hester, Karl Hebert

350

American manufacturing for over 40 years, produces infinitely recyclable flat-rolled aluminum used to make products, like building products, HVAC and transportation component parts

W International 2040 Bushy Park Road Goose Creek, SC 29445

854-429-1535 www.winternational.net scinfo@winternational.net

Michelle Fowler 2019

Zachary Landry

322

Supplier to the shipyards in support of building the new fleet of submarines and aircraft carriers for national defense

Detyens Shipyards Inc. 1670 Drydock Ave., Building 236, Suite 200 North Charleston, SC 29405

843-308-8000 www.detyens.com drydock@detyens.com

1962

Roy Caraway

305

Ship repair, conversions and dry docking services

AGRU America Charleston LLC 1401 Greenleaf Road Charleston, SC 29405

843-577-8926 www.agruamerica.com info@agruamerica.com

Robert L. Johnson 1988

300

Manufacture of polyethylene piping for high-volume flow applications

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

843-723-8140 www.urbanelectric.com info@urbanelectric.com

Dave Dawson 2002

283

Catalogued collection of more than 300 interior and exterior fixtures designed and manufactured in-house

Kion North America Corp. 2450 W. 5th North St. Summerville, SC 29483

843-875-8000 www.kion-na.com marketing.na@kiongroup.com

Daniel Schlegel, Max Heller, Jonathan Dawley 1985

Kam Patel

221

Products, services and solutions to help businesses; provide performance-based, purposebuilt solutions

Pegasus Steel LLC 1 Alliance Drive Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-737-9900 www.pegasussteel.com sales@pegasussteel.com

Portia Sisk, Tony Deering 2007

205

Specializes in complex heavy steel plate fabrications for construction, industrial, mining and earth-moving, power generation, oil and gas, transportation, shipbuilding, defense and government industries; cutting, forming, rolling and welding

American Tactical Inc. 231 Deming Way Summerville, SC 29483

800-290-0065 www.americantactical.us

Robert DePalma, Robert Bartl, Anthony DiChario 2006

Dallas Verble

145

Distribution and light assembly of firearms, ammunition and tactical equipment

Amalie Oil Co. dba AOCUSA 4950 Virginia Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405

877-433-5346 www.amalie.com info@amalie.com

Billy Ackerman 1903

Matt Helms

135

Automotive, fleet, industrial and specialty lubricants

Eaton Aerospace Group, Fuel & Motion Control Systems Division 7230 Cross County Road North Charleston, SC 29418

843-207-3232 www.eaton.com

Charles P. Roark 1911

Chris Fortner

132

Manufactures aerospace component products

AHT Cooling Systems USA Inc. 7058 Weber Blvd. Ladson, SC 29456

843-767-6855 www.us.aht.at info@us.aht.at

Drew Tombs, Devin Tombs 2005

100

OEM of low GWP commercial refrigeration solutions and design services for food retail and food manufactures; natural refrigerants

Metal Trades Inc. 4194 S.C. Highway 165 Hollywood, SC 29449

843-889-6441 www.metaltrades.com busdev@metaltrades.com

Shaun Flynn, Rusty B. Corbin 1962

Kristi Rowe

100

Heavy steel fabrication; heavy steel components as an OEM supplier; barge construction; power transformer tanks; ship repair; large pressure vessels and tanks built to Section VIII

Briteline Extrusions Inc. 575 Beech Hill Road Summerville, SC 29485

843-873-4410 www.briteline.net dbagwell@briteline.net

Diane K. Bagwell, Kenneth H. Kabine, Edward L. Kabine 1953

Tommy Kay

Small aluminum extrusions; heat treat; buff and brush, brite dip and etch anodize; powder coat; manual and CNC fabrication; serves the shower door, decorative trim, lighting and transportation markets

Charleston Steel & Metal Co. 2700 Spruill Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405

843-722-7278 www.charlestonsteelandmetal.com jsteinberg@charlestonsteelandmetal.com

Bernard Steinberg, Jonathan Steinberg, Barry Wolff 1893

Barry Wolff

Processed scrap steel and metals

Belimed Infection Control 1535 Hobby St., Suite 103 North Charleston, SC 29405

843-216-7424 www.belimed.com info.us@belimed.com

Bill Yaeger, Susan Harley, Ross Brewer 1990

Susan Boles

Washers, ultrasonic washers, sterilizers, cleaning solutions and workflow products for sterile processing departments

AstenJohnson 4399 Corporate Road Charleston, SC 29405

843-747-7800 www.astenjohnson.com info@astenjohnson.com

Kevin Franks 1987

Mike Cuggy

Global manufacturer for the paper industry, supplying paper machine clothing like press fabrics, forming fabrics, dryer fabrics and other

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.

Employees

Products Manufactured

Researched by Business Journal staff

IN FOCUS: MANUFACTURING

www.charlestonbusiness.com

September 6 - 19, 2021

Manufacturers

Ranked by No. of Employees in the Charleston Area Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Purchasing Manager

Venture Aerobearings LLC 8701 Palmetto Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456

843-695-2800 www.ventureaerobearings.com

2007

Kit Palmer

Manufacturer of jet engine bearings

Sonoco 1 N. Second St. Hartsville, SC 29550

843-383-7000 www.sonoco.com

Howard Coker 1899

Industrial and consumer packaging products and packaging services

Kemira Chemicals Inc. 1514 Bushy Park Road Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-820-6000 www.kemira.com

Howard Joyner 2006

Production site for colorants

Leatherwood Manufacturing Inc. 4355 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29405

843-744-4500 www.leatherwoodmfg.com sales@leatherwoodmfg.com

Michael G. Leatherwood 1986

Cindy Eustace

Contract manufacturing, aerospace, military, commercial and transportation equipment and components; precision metal fabrication, five-axis CNC machining, turning and milling; coordinate-measuring machine systems

Low Country Case & Millwork Inc. 4144 Carolina Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456

843-797-0881 www.lccm.com david@lccm.com

David M. Stasiukaitis, Robert J. Stasiukaitis 1990

Manufacture and install high-end commercial casework and architectural millwork including plastic laminate, painted and stained finishes; manufacture and install solid surface countertops

Metalworx Inc. 340 Deming Way, Suite A Summerville, SC 29483

843-402-0999 www.metalworxinc.com bredmond@metalworxinc.com

Brandon Redmond 1997

Ronald Roan

Machining, fabrication, finishing, assembly and engineering services specializing in medical, aerospace and military and sawmill

Bintelli LLC 2137 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29414

843-531-6833 www.bintelli.com Sales@Bintelli.com

2005

Bintelli manufactures and distributes a line of street legal golf carts and electric vehicles

Coastal Hydraulics Inc. 2251 Technical Parkway Charleston, SC 29406

843-572-5714 www.coastalhydraulics.net brett.bennett@costalhydraulics.net

Brett Bennett 1982

Brett Bennett

Fabrication, assembly, repair, remanufacturing, preventive maintenance, design and replacement services for hydraulic and pneumatic systems and components for industrial and mobile equipment applications

Alpha Sheet Metal Works Inc. 9525 Hamburg Road Ladson, SC 29456

843-821-6665 www.alphamachine.com jschady@alphamachine.com

Joseph W. Schady 1956

Joseph SchadyW.

Custom metal fabrication

Charleston's Rigging & Marine Hardware Inc. 1210 Truxtun Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405

843-723-7145 www.charlestonsrigging.com sales@charlestonsrigging.com

Jessica Sage, Skip Sawin 1988

Scott Salisbury

Custom wire rope, chain, nylon slings and assemblies used in rigging, lifting and securing; standard wire rope slings, braided slings, tire lifters, tire straps, chain bridles, custom weight lifting straps and accessories, boat straps, tow straps

Floyd Brace Co. Inc. 9231 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite F North Charleston, SC 29406

843-824-0625 www.floydbrace.com

Maurice A. Johnson, Larry L. Wiley 1949

Orthotic and prosthetic medical devices

Southeast Industrial Equipment Inc. 9861 U.S. Highway 78 Ladson, SC 29456

843-444-8403 www.sielift.com contacts@sielift.com

Freddie B. Sims 1993

Freddie SimsB.

Toyota forklifts; new, used and rental equipment, service, parts, warehouse products, automation solutions and dock and door products and services throughout S.C., G.A., N.C. and V.A.

Carolina Waterworks Inc. 211 Eagle Road Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-614-5130 www.carolinawaterworks.com info@carolinawaterworks.com

Neal Black 1982

Neal Black

Marine, dock and flotation systems manufacturing and distribution

Protego (USA) Inc. 9561 Palmetto Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456

843-284-0300 www.protego.com us-office@protego.com

Lore Samyn-Klein, Chris Mason 2002

Joseph Jones

Safety devices and tank equipment; flame arresters and vents

Firefly Distillery 4201 Spruill Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405

843-577-1405 www.fireflydistillery.com info@fireflyvodka.com

Scott Newitt, Jay Macmurphy 2008

Fran Collins

Tours, tastings, cocktails and bottles, Monday - Saturday 12-6pm; book online or walk in; $10 per person including shot glass; gift shop

Zeltwanger CNC Manufacturing LP 4947 Fargo St. Charleston, SC 29418

843-552-2246 www.zeltwanger.com request@zeltwanger.com

Juergen Goehner 2002

Specialists in producing high-precision components and for assembling modules and complete systems for automotive, machine building, automation and medical industry; stock of machinery, offer support from feasibility analyses to delivery

Multiplastics 476 Long Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-881-0323 www.multiplastics.com sales@multiplastics.com

Paul D. Spies, Deborah D. Herbert 1952

Venessa Manigault

Multiplastics produces custom vacuum forming, fabrication and assembly of plastic materials; comprehensive design-lab and engineering services for most industries; sister firm Curdbuoys makes buoys and sells accessorial product to marine industry

ATS World Packaging 7370 E. Spartan Blvd. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-266-0010 www.atsworldpackaging.com troth@atsworldpackaging.com

Tom Roth 1997

Sean Patrum

Custom crating and packaging products and services, including warehousing and distribution, and export and import compliance

R2P Innovations - Protective Doors 1 Alliance Drive Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-737-9900 www.r2pdoors.com info@r2pdoors.com

Kirk Ferguson, Blanche Sullivan, Tony Deering 2016

Blanche Sullivan, Kirk Ferguson

Lightweight forced entry and bullet-resistant doors; military-grade materials, tested and customizable to accommodate any commercial and residential security needs and architectural preferences; first to meet DoS Rev H certification

Wheeler Industries Inc. 7261 Investment Drive North Charleston, SC 29418

843-552-1251 www.wheeler-ind.com sales@wheeler-ind.com

Bill McTighe, Diana Abercrombie 1919

Diana Abercrombie

Journal bearings, oil rings, motor replacement bearings, labyrinth seals, insulated bearing seats, hydrodynamic bearing design, EDM services

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

800-684-2191 www.nanoscreen.com

Dean I. Sproles 2003

Dean SprolesI.

Designs and manufactures instruments and consumables used by major pharmaceuticals for drug development and other various precision medicine applications

Custom Equipment Co. Inc. 2700 S.C. Highway 41 Charleston, SC 29492

800-922-6120 www.cecmhs.com sales@cecmhs.com

Bobby Riggs, Robbie Lewis 1978

Robbie Lewis

Storage (racks, cabinets, lockers and shelving); logistics (carts, conveyors, tuggers and dollies); facilities (modular offices, mezzanines, wire partitions and physical barriers); packaging (custom-returnable, expendable films, bags and caps)

Vencor Inc. 455 Fleming Road, Suite B Charleston, SC 29412

843-795-6680 www.vencorinc.com sales@vencorinc.com

Samy Cuzmar, Esthela Cuzmar 1994

Jackie McGhee

Laser engraving, laser etching, laser marking

Latin Collection 455 Fleming Road, Suite A Charleston, SC 29412

843-873-7855 www.mycomfy.net scuzmar@latincollection.com

Ruth Mogrovejo 1998

Ruth Mogrovejo

Manufacturer and importer of Alpaca socks and scarves

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

Bill Westin

FDA-approved, wi-fi-enabled, patient-controlled oral medication system for opioid medication delivered at the bedside; full integration with electronic medical records; meets 2018 Joint Commission on pain assessment

Employees

Products Manufactured

Researched by Business Journal staff

IN FOCUS: MANUFACTURING

September 6 - 19, 2021

www.charlestonbusiness.com 43

Industrial Staffing Agencies

Ranked by % of Placements Made in the Industrial/Manufacturing Sectors in the Charleston Area Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Staff Zone 1653 Remount Road North Charleston, SC 29406

843-308-9663 www.staffzone.com cdeluca@staffzone.com

Costa DeLuca 2004

Alternative Staffing Inc. 1505 Remount Road North Charleston, SC 29406

843-744-6040 www.alternativestaffing.com recruiting@alternativestaffing.com

M&M Staffing 705 Old Trolley Road, Suites F-G Summerville, SC 29485

% Industrial / Recruiters / Employees

Placement Services

Specialization

100% 5 8

Contract to hire, industrial staffing, temporary

Additional Lowcountry office located at 3750 Rivers Ave.; general and skilled labor, specializing in construction, industrial staffing, American Traffic Safety Services Association-certified highway flaggers

Jan Cappellini 1993

90% 5 12

Contract to hire, executive recruiting, industrial staffing, permanent placement, professional employer organization, temporary

Manufacturing, light industrial, logistics, warehousing, distribution, clerical

843-873-9727 www.mandmstaff.com info@mandmstaff.com

Lana Musti, Zoya Makarchenko 2007

80% 4 8

Industrial staffing, temporary

Logistics, production, skilled labor, temporary to permanent

Hammes Staffing Services 7685 Northwoods Blvd., Suite 8H North Charleston, SC 29406

843-554-4720 www.hammeshr.com info@hammeshr.com

Brett Hammes, Mike Powers 1965

75% 7 8

Contract to hire, executive recruiting, industrial staffing, permanent placement, temporary

Manufacturing, import and export representatives, warehouse and distribution, accounting, administrative, customer service, IT

HTI 3691 Ladson Road, Suite 102 Ladson, SC 29456

843-970-7860 www.htijobs.com sales@htijobs.com

David Sewell, Herbert W. Dew, John Knight 1999

75% 3 5

Contract to hire, executive recruiting, industrial staffing, permanent placement, professional employer organization, temporary

Engineering, automotive, supply chain management, accounting, administrative, maintenance, human resources, sales; on-site management; business planning; customer service

Spherion Staffing 4995 Lacross Road, Suite 1050 Charleston, SC 29406

843-554-4933 www.spherion.com

Mary Barrineau, Pam Thompson 1994

75% 5 7

Contract to hire, executive recruiting, industrial staffing, permanent placement, temporary

Engineering, finance and distribution

Randstad USA 4952 Centre Pointe Drive Charleston, SC 29418

843-745-2289 www.randstadusa.com

Amber Haas, Laura Boggs 1960

65% 10 10

Industrial staffing, permanent placement, professional employer organization, temporary

Office, executive office, industrial, call center, creative, technical, finance and accounting

Express Employment Professionals 6541 Rivers Ave., Suite C North Charleston, SC 29406

843-744-2266 www.expresspros.com john.byrnes@expresspros.com

John Byrnes 2004

60% 4 12

Industrial staffing, permanent placement, temporary

Warehouse, forklift, assembly, mechanics, CNC machine operators, administration, accountants, management

Management Recruiters of the Lowcountry LLC 5014 Holdsworth Drive Summerville, SC 29485

843-628-5021 www.mrlowcountry.com tom@mrlowcountry.com

Tom Sykes 2011

60% 1 1

Contract to hire, executive recruiting, industrial staffing, permanent placement

C-level, vice presidents, engineers, plant managers, directors and other high level positions

Aerotek Inc. 4401 Belle Oaks Drive, Suite 400 North Charleston, SC 29405

843-746-5800 www.aerotek.com bstefani@aerotek.com

Bryan Stefani 1983

50% 65 35

Contract to hire, executive recruiting, industrial staffing, permanent placement, temporary

Health care, call center, administrative, accounting, purchasing, manufacturing, general labor, assembly, skilled trades, engineering, design, architecture, software engineering, defense, avionics, aviation mechanics

Dunhill Staffing Systems 1459 Stuart Engals Blvd., Suite 300 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-375-0031 www.dunhillstaff.com kwh@dunhillstaff.com

Neil Whitman, Katie Henderson, David Abner 2001

50% 6 6

Contract to hire, executive recruiting, industrial staffing, permanent placement, temporary

Permanent placement in technical, finance and accounting, sales, office administration, IT temporary placement in finance, office, accounting

Condustrial Inc. 3125 Ashley Phosphate Road, Suite 128 North Charleston, SC 29418

864-235-3619 www.condustrial.com info@condustrial.com

Art Welling 2002

30% 4 14

Contract to hire, industrial staffing, permanent placement, temporary

Construction, marine services, industrial

Roper Staffing 201 Sigma Drive, Suite 300 Summerville, SC 29483

843-790-4499 www.roperstaffing.com information@roperstaffing.com

Kinya Curry 1982

30% 3 4

Executive recruiting

Temporary direct hire permanent placement

McNaughton Staffing LLC 1637 Savannah Highway, Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29407

843-556-1505 www.mcnaughtonstaffing.com jobs@mcnaughtonstaffing.com

Amy McNaughton 2008

25% 4 4

Contract to hire, executive recruiting, industrial staffing, permanent placement, professional employer organization, temporary

Administrative, clerical; hospitality; warehouse; manufacturing; medical office

Researched by Paige Wills

At Work

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

People in the News

Business Digest

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre adds Little Palmetto Pearl

Little Palmetto Pearl is the latest addition to the Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. It is the fourth signature store from children’s apparel retailer The Beaufort Bonnet Co. and its first in South Carolina. Charleston residents Neil and Nicole O’Hara are the proprietors.

Stasmayer Inc. ranked on Channel Futures MSP 501

Stasmayer Inc. has been named as one of the world’s top-performing managed service providers in the 2021 Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings. The MSP 501 list recognizes top managed service providers based on metrics including recurring revenue, profit margin and other factors.

Charleston Promise Neighborhood awarded Facebook grant

Charleston Promise Neighborhood has been awarded a Facebook grant from the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina in support of the organization’s ongoing community and family engagement initiatives. The foundation awarded $685,000 to 37 nonprofit organizations in the Tri-

County region that are Black-led and/ or Black-serving in an effort funded by Facebook to support innovation, creativity and resiliency in Black communities.

Water Mission mobilizes disaster response to Haiti

Water Mission is responding to a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that caused extensive damage in southern Haiti. The earthquake caused destruction to buildings and homes, as well as loss of life in Les Cayes, Jeremie and the surrounding communities. Water Mission has had a permanent presence in Haiti for more than a decade and is actively working alongside partners on the ground to assess the situation and mobilize safe water solutions as quickly as possible.

Engaging Creative Minds and YEScarolina form alliance

With 24 years of combined experience in youth development, the nonprofit groups have officially merged under the Engaging Creative Minds umbrella. The new alliance aims to facilitate the expansion of ECM and YEScarolina’s in-school and after-school programming.

ABVI receives grant from The Patrick Family Foundation

The Patrick Family Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to support the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired South Carolina’s new Low Vision Occupational Therapy program. The program aims to provide rehabilitation and educational training to adults with visual disabilities to help them maximize their independence.

ACCOUNTING Moore Beauston & Woodham LLP has hired Bradford Tyson as a partner in its Charleston office. Tyson has more than 13 years of accounting expeTyson rience, previously working as manager in the private company services practice of a Big Four accounting firm. He graduated magna cum laude from Union College with a bachelor in economics and obtained a Master of Science in accountancy from Wake Forest University. Tyson focuses on providing audit, review and accounting advisory services to his clients and leads the firm’s assurance practice. Jarrard, Nowell & Russell has hired Kevin Jacques as a staff accountant. Jacques started out as an intern at the firm. Previously, he was an assistant manager at Jacques Johnston & Murphy. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Charleston Southern University in the spring of 2021 and is currently a graduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

BANKING Blake Dressler, senior vice president and senior commercial lender for First Reliance Bank at its Charleston office, has graduated from Louisiana State University’s Graduate School of Banking.

BUSINESS SERVICES Digital-First Uncommon Giving Corp. has promoted Earl Bridges to president and COO. Bridges has led the company’s Workplace Generosity Bridges line of business since October 2020. He has more than 20 years of experiences in nonprofit-focused technology. In 2009, he co-founded the grant management company Good Done Great in Charleston, which served more than 60 companies and 2 million employees before

September 6 - 19, 2021

www.charlestonbusiness.com 45

People in the News being sold to YourCause in 2017. He then went on to host the Emmy-nominated PBS travel-documentary series, The Good Road. Bridges also serves as president and CEO of Uncommon Workplace LLC. Knowledge Capital Group has hired Jessie R. Murphy as a senior consultant and Kelsey Hess as a project coordinator. Murphy previously spent eight years working Murphy as a network innovation analyst with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. She is currently finishing the last year of her doctorate of health sciences at A.T. Still University. Hess preHess viously worked as a marketing and communications specialist for a private government contractor. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and marketing from Towson University. Stantec has hired Chris Mack as principal, regional director and coastal engineering leader in its Charleston office. Mack has more than 30 years of engineerMack ing and leadership experience, including 13 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He earned an MBA from The Citadel and a Master of Science in computer science from the College of Charleston and The Citadel. He also has a Master of Science in civil engineering with an emphasis in coastal engineering and modeling and a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering with an emphasis in water resources from North Carolina State University. The Office People has hired Jessica Fair as an account manager. Fair has more than 12 years of experience in sales, marketing, hospitality and advertising. She Fair earned a Bachelor of Arts in intercultural communication from Florida Atlantic University.

CONSTRUCTION Cullum has promoted Tripp Till to project manager, Dannielle Minetti to workforce development manager and Tony Mejia to assistant superintendent. Tripp

began his construction career working part-time in high school and joined Cullum Constructor’s Columbia crew in 2009. He earned a bachelor’s degree Till from the University of South Carolina in 2011. Minetti began her career in the HVAC industry and joined Cullum in 2018 as an office manager. She is a chartering member of the Palmetto Chapter of Minetti the National Association of Women in Construction and served as president-elect for two consecutive terms. Mejia began his career with a demolition crew and quickly realized that he wanted to build, not destroy. He joined Cullum in 2006 and began learning the sheet metal trade. He is OSHA and Med Gas certified and enjoys mentoring young craft professionals.

EDUCATION Three teachers at Pinewood Preparatory School have been recognized by the S.C. Independent School Association as Master Teachers. Nuria Barroso, Barroso Amanda Ehrlich and Kristi Latham received the honor, bringing Pinewood’s total number of Master Teachers to 38.

REAL ESTATE CB Richard Ellis’s Brendan Redeyoff recently achieved the SIOR international designation awarded by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. To achieve Redeyoff the designation, Redeyoff completed at least five years of creditable experience in the field of industrial real estate, met education requirements and demonstrated professional ability, competency, ethical conduct and personal integrity. Kiawah River has hired Amy Everett as manager of The Spring House, Brittany Bestich as a sales assistant and Dean Haeusser as a sales executive for residential offerings.

Everett

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

SEPTEMBER 20

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

List: IT Services and Networking Companies Special Section: 2021 Power Players, Banking

Advertising Deadline: September 6 OCTOBER 4

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT List: Post Graduate Degree Programs Bonus List: Private Schools

Advertising Deadline: September 20 OCTOBER 18

ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION (AEC) List: General Contractors Bonus List: Commercial Moving and Storage Companies

Advertising Deadline: October 4 NOVEMBER 1

BANKING AND FINANCE

List: Banks Bonus List: Financial Brokerage Firms

Advertising Deadline: October 18

For advertising information, call Robert Reilly at 843.849.3107

Viewpoint Substantial legal hurdles remain in sexual harassment cases VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

exual harassment allegations against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, including at least three from current or former aides, are a reminder of just how commonplace unwanted touching, propositioning and other inappropriate behavior is in the workplace. My recent research explores the prevalence of toxic work environJOSEPH A. ments – like the one SEINER described in Albany, New York – and just how startlingly common sexual harassment at work is. I discovered that even when women try to find justice by suing their alleged abusers, their cases rarely see a courtroom.

An all-too-common experience

My own extensive review of numerous studies, surveys and reports shows that sexual harassment at work is a very common occurrence for women, regardless of age or income level. The numerous studies and surveys reveal that the share of women who experience sexual harassment at work could be as low as 25% or as high as 75%. The actual numbers varied considerably, depending on industry, location and how the question was worded, but they were generally quite high. This kind of unlawful conduct occurs across all sectors of the economy, but recent studies show a high prevalence of sexually hostile conduct associated with workers in the gig economy and the fastfood industry.

Winning claims gets harder

Perhaps most troubling is the perception – and unfortunate reality – that engaging in this conduct will result in no real consequences. Indeed, among women who have experienced unwanted sexual advances in the workplace, almost all reported that male harassers usually go unpunished. My review of case law and data bears this out. The vast majority of sexual harassment claims are pursued through the civil courts and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Unlike prosecution under criminal law, civil plaintiffs may sue for damages, and the burden of proof is lower in these cases. Additionally, criminal cases typically require more egregious conduct, such as

Photo/file

a sexual assault, though some claims may proceed in both courts. Under Title VII, harassment victims may sue their employer for sexual conduct that is deemed unwelcome, severe or pervasive, and when the employer has failed to properly act.

Supreme Court raises the bar

But, as the Supreme Court has become increasingly conservative under Chief Justice John Roberts, it has added additional procedural hurdles for all employment discrimination victims, including those pursuing sexual harassment claims. Most notably, in cases brought in 2007 and 2009, the Supreme Court articulated a rigid new standard for bringing civil claims – that the plaintiffs must allege a “plausible” claim for relief, which makes it far harder for workplace victims to bring them. The plausibility standard is particularly difficult for employment discrimination plaintiffs to satisfy. These claims often require a showing of discriminatory intent, which can be difficult to establish early in a case. The court also made it harder for women to aggregate their discrimination claims after it raised the threshold for all class-action lawsuits in a 2011 case involving Walmart. This raised the bar for women who sue their employers alleging pay and promotion discrimination. The same higher standard now applies to class-action sexual harassment claims as well. It’s often easier for a victim to prevail when a supervisor is involved in the unlawful conduct because, where a hostile work environment is established, the burden of proof shifts to the employer

to show that it acted responsibly. But in 2013, the court changed who counts as a supervisor in the workplace, limiting it to someone with the power to hire, fire, promote or otherwise tangibly affect the accuser’s employment. An analysis found that this quickly resulted in 43 case dismissals. Claims of sexual harassment with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency established to administer and enforce civil rights laws against workplace discrimination, have remained quite consistent over the past decade. Of the 6,500 to 8,000 or so cases each year, only about 3% to 6% ever make it to a jury trial. What happens to the thousands of other cases is less clear because of the many variables and mixed reporting standards. Cases may be dismissed early in the case, during discovery or even right before trial. Compiling this data in any meaningful way can be difficult, if not impossible. To add to this problem, many other cases are settled, often pursuant to a nondisclosure agreement, which means the parties can’t talk about what’s in it, so the exact outcome in these cases may never be publicly known. Indeed, many potential claims may even be settled before a case is ever filed, further skewing any case data in this area.

Rejected claims

My analysis of some individual harassment claims is still quite revealing and shows that the courts are – in many instances – failing to give these claims the attention they deserve. These courts seem to be requiring an almost impossible level of detail by the plaintiffs early in the case.

For example, in one recent case, a federal court dismissed a claim in which the alleged victim, a customer service agent and administrative assistant, asserted in part that her co-worker touched her inappropriately. In rejecting the claim, the court found the allegations insufficient, concluding that the victim “fails [to] offer sufficient factual detail that would allow the court to reasonably infer the frequency in which [the co-worker’s] actions occurred over the course of her employment with [the employer].” Another court dismissed a claim in which the alleged victim, who worked as a janitor at a manufacturing facility, maintained that she was instructed by a manager not to speak with other workers without permission “because she was a married woman” along with other sexualized language. The court held that the worker did not allege enough detail in the complaint to provide sufficient “facts to raise her right to relief above the speculative level.” And in a case in which a prison worker alleged that she was required to observe while an intimate moment between a female visitor and an inmate and overheard lewd language, the court found that there was not “a plausible hostile environment claim,” at least partially as a result of the court’s belief that the worker could not establish that any of the conduct occurred “because of Plaintiff ’s sex.” In reaching this decision, the court specifically relied on the newly rigid plausibility standard adopted by the Supreme Court. Given the difficulty women have prevailing on these claims, it may not seem surprising that Cuomo mounted a defense and resisted calls to resign from not only his Republican rivals but members of his own Democratic Party as well. He has since resigned from the governorship. Until employers and others are held to account in court for this type of unlawful harassing conduct, I believe that there will not be any relief for thousands of victims of sexual harassment. CRBJ

Joseph A. Seiner is an Oliver Ellsworth Professor of Federal Practice & Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina. This column originally appeared in The Conversation and is used with permission. Read more at theconversation.com.

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September 6 - 19, 2021

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DAY IN THE LIFE GREY GHOST BAKERY Grey Ghost Bakery, located in West Ashley, was founded in 2011 by Katherine Frankstone. Her made-from-scratch cookie recipes have been passed down within her family through generations and now include flavors like chocolate bourbon, lemon sugar and almond toffee. In July, the company announced an expansion of operations, with a $395,000 investment and the creation of 25 jobs.

By Alexandria Ng | ang@scbiznews.com

Cookie dough is mixed the day before and stored in a cooling room set at about -10 degrees overnight. They generally chill for between 18 and 24 hours in this cooler.

Staff members show up as early as 6 a.m. to roll dough into balls before sugaring them and lining them 28 to a pan. They fill an average of 350 trays a day, for a total of about 9,800 cookies.

Simultaneously, the bakery’s chocolate rolled cakes are assembled. Sheet cakes are coated in sugar so they don’t stick to the tray. Large mixers with an 80-quart capacity whip together the topping that will be rolled inside the cakes.

Cookie trays are placed onto carts, then brought into the industrial-sized ovens starting around 10 a.m. Ovens can hold about 40 pans per load.

Products are prepared for shipping in the packaging room. Cookies are sold in a two-pack bag, six-pack canister or 12-pack box. Trucks will deliver cookies all over town, including to boutique shops, breweries and grocery stores that carry Grey Ghost goods.

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www.charlestonbusiness.com

September 6 - 19, 2021

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