PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Greg Tedder joins Hussey Gay Bell.
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CURTAINS UP!
VOLUME 27 NUMBER 19 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM
Traffic jams
Part of the
SEPTEMBER 20 - OCTOBER 3, 2021 ■ $2.25
network
After nearly 18 months of lost revenue and stalled shows, Charleston’s theaters are ready to return to the stage with health and safety protocols in place. Page 6
South Carolina invests $360 million to widen congested sections of I-26. Page 8
Leadership changes Robert Engelhorn replaces Knudt Flor as BMW CEO and president in South Carolina. Page 10
Tech savvy
Small businesses embrace digital tools to help them survive the pandemic. Page 13
In the kitchen
Culinary expert Jenni Ridall helps revive local kitchens. Small Business Spotlight, Page 4
INSIDE
Upfront................................. 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 Small Business Spotlight........ 4 In Focus: Information Technology.......11 List: IT Services and Networking Companies....... 14 At Work...............................29 Viewpoint............................ 31
Musicians Christian Zamora, Justin Parrish, John Holenko and Thomas Norris warm up at rehearsals for Charleston Stage’s production of “Bright Star.” (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)
Soft skills a key indicator for employee retention By Teri Errico Griffis
D
tgriffis@scbiznews.com
illon Lesniewski majored in history at Clemson University. He never expected his education to transfer to a successful career at a tech company, but after nearly five years of promotions, he is now a product owner at BoomTown, a software company in Charleston. Lesniewski said people often judged his course of study, assuming he’d work at a museum or something artistic and unstable. But history is an underrated major, he said. During his four undergraduate years, he researched, wrote, debated and questioned in ways that translated well into the professional world.
So what if he didn’t know the technology? Lesniewski knew he had the skillset to learn it, and that is what set him above the rest of the candidate pool — even those with relevant occupational skills. “People try to make a big deal that I didn’t study software, that I can’t code a website or build an API, but I don’t need to know everything,” Lesniewski said. “I just need to know what brings me to the table and recognize my own strengths, like interpersonal skills, patience and empathy. Those are what earned my seat there.” More and more, workforce experts are finding that soft skills have become critical indicators of individuals who can not only attain employment, but retain it.
Power List: Banking pros
The first Power List explores some of the most influential people in S.C. banking. Special Section begins Page 17
Technology companies like BoomTown and Blackbaud on Daniel Island know occupational skills can be taught, but flexibility, problem solving and whether an employee brings kindness and passion to their daily role cannot, said Stephanie Walker, Blackbaud’s vice president of talent acquisition “Organizations have grown to recognize that soft skills and higher emotional intelligence lead to greater success,” Walker said. “It’s not just about completing the task.” Blackbaud Senior Director, Leadership and Culture Monica Mutter said the focus starts in the interview and whether the candidate can tell a story. See SKILLS, Page 5