Issuu

ON THE MOVE New Meals on Wheels role for Dean

PAGE 22 VOLUME 28 NUMBER 20 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM

Part of the

NOVEMBER 7-NOVEMBER 20, 2022 ■ $2.25

network

Work begins on $550 million SC Ports project

Room to grow

Charleston-based group acquires three hotels. Page 4

By Jason Thomas

Developing story Superfund status change opens Magnolia site. Page 8

On the defensive Manufacturing division supporting warfighters. Page 10

Storage solution

Company investing $70M in Dorchester operations. Page 12

INSIDE

Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 In Focus: Electric Vehicles ................ 13 List: Defense Contractors ... 19 At Work .............................. 21 Hot Properties ..................... 21 Viewpoint ...........................23

POWER MOVE

Dorchester County Council Chairman Bill Hearn congratulates Bosch for securing the electric motor business for the company to replace the diesel production line that was phased out starting in 2020. (Photo/Ross Norton)

Bosch investing $260M in North Charleston expansion By Ross Norton

rnorton@scbiznews.com

osch Charleston started producing electric motors this month. But the company needs more space and more people. So Bosch announced Oct. 25 that it will invest more than $260 million to further expand production of electrification products at the North Charleston facility, which the company calls Bosch Charleston, an investment that will add 75,000 square feet and 350 new jobs to the site by 2025. “We have grown our electri-

fication business globally and here in the North American region,” said Mike Mansuetti, president of Bosch in North America. “We’ve invested more than $6 billion in electromobility development and in 2021 our global orders for electromobility surpassed $10 billion for the first time. Local production helps to advance our customers’ regional electrification strategies, and further supports the market demand for electrification.” The company already dedicated about 200,000 square feet of an existing building on the Bosch Charleston campus

to electromobility. The new assembly area includes the production of rotors and stators, and the final assembly of the electric motor. The company also said it has secured additional electromobility business that makes the expansion necessary. The expansion is expected to be operational by the end of 2023. The Bosch site in North Charleston supports multiple products from the Bosch Mobility Solutions portfolio, according to the news release. The site produces high-pres-

Full speed ahead

BMW celebrating milestones, planning for the future. Page 13

See BOSCH, Page 18

jthomas@scbiznews.com

outh Carolina Ports will soon have near-dock rail and an inner-harbor barge operation to ensure fluidity and capacity for the Southeast supply chain. SC Ports officials and elected officials gathered last month in North Charleston to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Navy Base Intermodal Facility, according to an SC Ports news release. SC Ports is developing the rail-served intermodal yard to provide near-dock rail to the Port of Charleston. “This resolves the last remaining competitive disadvantage we have as a major East Coast container port,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said in the release. “This critical infrastructure project will greatly enhance SC Ports’ capacity, allowing imports and exports to swiftly move between the hinterland and the Port of Charleston.” The Navy Base Intermodal Facility sits about one mile from Leatherman Terminal, according to the release. Containers will be moved to and from the Leatherman Terminal on a dedicated road. Inside the intermodal yard, rail-mounted gantry cranes will lead containers on and off trains. In partnership with Palmetto Railways, Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern will utilize SC Ports’ state-ofthe-art rail yard to further enhance rail competitiveness, the release stated. Nearly 80,000 feet of rail track will create a capacity of 1 million rail lifts in Phase 1. The Navy Base Intermodal Facility will also further enhance SC Ports’ railserved Inland Ports in Greer and Dillon, the release stated. SC Ports’ inner-harbor barge operation will support the Navy Base Intermodal Facility by moving containers between Wando Welch Terminal and Leatherman See PORTS, Page 9

Upfront

BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | BEST ADVICE

South Carolina’s active duty military legacy

side from military history, which dots every part of the state, including battlefields, vessels and historic sites, the military legacy of South Carolina continues to be in the people, active duty and retirees, who come here and frequently stay here. The latest data from the Defense Manpower Data Center shows that South Carolina has the 11th-highest number of active duty personnel among all states in the U.S. Across America, more than 1.17 million active duty military service members serve stateside in the Army, Navy, Air Force/Space Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. South Carolina is one of a dozen states with more than 30,000 active duty service members. Most of the state’s active duty members are in the Air Force at 26.3% and Navy at 24.3%. South Carolina also provides a vital entry point for many military service members who go on to other states and overseas after they enter the armed services. Each year, Fort Jackson in Columbia trains about 50% of all soldiers entering the U.S. Army. For more than 100 years the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island has served as the legendary Boot Camp in Beaufort County where where men and women become Marines. The state’s military bases and service members support a residual economy that provides a number of goods and services to places with nearby military installations, including a strong industry of defense contractors, incluing small and large companies, that help support warfighters with technology, hardware, weapons, engineering, aerospace, and other objectives of critical interest to the protection of America’s interests.

Source: Defense Manpower Data Center, June 2022 States with most active duty personnel The following states have more than 30,000 active duty service members. While this doesn’t include overseas personnel, there are more than 1.17 million active duty in the U.S. State Number Largest branch California 163,465 Navy Virginia 129,646 Navy Texas 115,505 Army North Carolina 97,818 Army Florida 67,242 Navy Washington 63,443 Army Georgia 62,642 Army Hawaii 40,966 Army Colorado 38,861 Army Kentucky 35,930 Army South Carolina 33,608 Air Force Maryland 30,267 Navy

ON THE

RECORD

“That vision that was announced here today will only become reality if we earn it, if we embrace the future, if we realize that we can’t get there by ourselves.” — Sen. Lindsey Graham

WEBSITE: www.CharlestonBusiness.com

@CRBJ

@CRBJnews

facebook.com/CharlestonBusiness

November 7-November 20, 2022

www.charlestonbusiness.com 3

SC Biz News Briefs

Mixed-use development Colite City is planned for West Columbia. (Rendering/Provided)

COLUMBIA

Columbia Regional Business Report

New mixed-used development planned for West Columbia

olite City, a new mixed-use development focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, is coming to West Columbia. The project by West Columbia real estate development company Jams and Stark LLC was announced last month at the Growth Summit event held in downtown Columbia. Colite City will be located at 228 North Parsons St. on the former site of Colonial-Hites sign company and will incorporate the original brick company building. The site is about a mile from the Congaree River. The project’s 150,000-square-foot first phase will include an event space, brew hall, food hall, maker and designer spaces, studio spaces for artists and designers, and flex-spaces for offices, according to Wade Caughman, director of development for Jams and Stark. “The overall vision of the project can be summed up as a creative, innovative and entrepreneur campus,” Caughman told SC Biz News. “We want to bring everybody to one campus, whether you’re a candlemaker, a taco vendor or a hot new tech hub. This is a place where you can come to start, grow and work around other like-minded people and companies.” Cleanup on the property has started with a goal of beginning construction in early 2023, Caughman said. Jams and Stark is working on finalizing contractors and expects to have them on board in about 90 days. Caughman said the goal is to have the first phase complete by the spring or summer of 2024. An estimated cost for the project has not yet been determined, Caughman said. Jams and Stark LLC specializes in renovating historic and unoccupied into new and innovative spaces for residences and businesses. The company’s past projects include the Flow Townhomes on Gervais Street in Columbia, Noma Flats apartments off North Main Street, Park Street Lofts in Elmwood Park, and the Meeting Street Office Lofts in the former location of the West Columbia bus station.

#1 Amazon New Release!

CRBJ

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

VOLUME 25 NUMBER 18 ■ GSABUSINESS.COM

VOLUME 15 NUMBER 15 ■ COLUMBIABUSINESSREPORT.COM

Part of the

network

Eatery infusion

New development to add bakery, sandwich shop to Devine Street. Page 4

By Christina Lee Knauss

Major milestones BMW hitting the gas, reaching landmarks at Plant Spartanburg. Page 11

Maker spotlight

Event, month highlight manufacturing’s impact on South Carolina. Page 6

Big deal

Columbia apartment complex part of $500 million deal. Page 8

Building for future SpiralWeld upgrades position manufacturer for growth. Page 19

INSIDE

Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 In Focus: Architecure, Engineering and Construction .......................................... 15 List: General Contractors....23 At Work ..............................25 Viewpoint ...........................27

BREATH OF FRESH AIR The WestLawn Building adds new element to BullStreet Page 16 (Photo/Brian Knox at B. Knox Photography)

Part of the

OCTOBER 17-NOVEMBER 20, 2022 ■ $2.25

network

OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 13, 2022 ■ $2.25

Vista’s newest hotel officially open for business cknauss@scbiznews.com

ne of the Midlands’ newest hotels is now officially open for business. Cambria Hotel Columbia Downtown The Vista held its grand opening event Oct. 12, offering attendees a view of the new 144-room, four-story upscale hotel at 1000 Lady St. Cambria Hotels is a brand franchised by Choice Hotels International Inc. There are six other Cambrias in South Carolina — in Greenville, Fort Mill, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville and Rock Hill — and 60 nationwide. The Cambria in the Vista opened to guests in June, but the grand opening offered a chance for Choice Hotels officials as well as city and state representatives to celebrate the new addition to the city’s hospitality offerings. “Cambria is our newest brand, and we’re trying to offer an upscale space for the modern traveler,” said Janice Cannon, Choice Hotels’ senior vice president for upscale brands. “We’re trying to cater to that traveler who is also design-literate and looking for something unique and different in a hotel.” Also in attendance was Mark O’Neil, executive vice president of operations for Pyramid Hotel Group, the hotel’s management company. Each Cambria property’s design centers around a concept rooted in the history, lifestyle or culture of the hotel’s location, Cannon said. For the Columbia site, designers focused on Columbia’s history as a textile mill hub, with mills formerly clustered around the Gervais and Assembly street areas that border the Vista district, among other areas. See CAMBRIA, Page 10

Columbia Under Construction

Find out the latest about projects under construction in the Midlands. Page 20

ColumbiaBusinessReport.com

Lewis Barbecue Greenville’s outdoor dining space. (Photo/Savannah Bockus)

BMW’s big week Automaker opens two buildings and hits production milestone. Page 8

SCBIZNEWS.COM NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022

BridgeWay gains a food hall

Dine Development has eyes on project in Mauldin. Page 9

Rick Erwin’s takes on casual concept Restaurant know for white tablecloths opening neighborhood eatery. Page 11

The ‘art’ of shipping

Charleston duo starts business to help businesses with logistics. Page 3

INSIDE

Leading Off .......................... 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 C-Suite ................................ 4 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering, Construction .. 12 LIST: General Contractors ... 17 At Work ..............................22

COMING INTO ITS OWN

Greenville’s Poinsett District becoming destination By Krys Merryman

kmerryman@scbiznews.com

mproving the Poinsett Highway corridor, also known as the Poinsett District, has been a focal point for Greenville County since initiatives to revitalize the area began a decade ago. Ten years and nearly $4 million later, new

and improved Greenville staples are popping up on the highway in addition to successful existing businesses. That means new streetscape, sidewalks, lighting, paving, parking and marketing for the district. Bob Mihalic, Greenville County communications and governmental affairs coordinator, said the Poinsett District is an area that has received much attention and resources from

the county. “We also have a Façade Improvement Program to make business signage and frontage more attractive,” said Mihalic. “We worked with the federal government to make areas of the Poinsett District an opportunity zone, and thus eligible for investment incentives.

By Ross Norton

rnorton@scbiznews.com

risma Health powered a groundbreaking ceremony at Greenville Technical College Oct. 5 with a $1.5 million gift to support construction of a new building where students will pursue the education that leads them to careers in health care. The building, which will be known as the Prisma Health Center for Health & Life Scienc-

es, will be the hub of general education instruction as well as the center point for students in the health sciences. The $70 million three-story structure will encompass 125,000 square feet at the heart of the Barton Campus on Pleasantburg Drive. Greenville Tech President Keith Miller said the building will impact 90% of the college’s students and welcome 150,000 visitors annually as it serves 500-600 health science graduates that enter the workforce each year.

Prisma Health, one of the state’s largest employers, hires more Greenville Tech graduates than any other organization. Dr. Jonathan Gleason, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Prisma Health, said the new building will have a positive effect on health care throughout the state. “The opportunity to build on this strategic partnership, to improve the health and wellness

How technology is reshaping agribusiness in SC

See GTC, Page 7 A supplement to Charleston Regional Business Journal, Columbia Regional Business Report and GSA Business Report

Conference preview

All you need to know to navigate the 2022 Manufacturing Conference. Inside

FUTURE FARMS

See POINSETT Page 10

GTC building $70M hub for health science studies

ACRE program gives ag entrepreneurs a leg up

Teenagers learn about agriculture careers

2022 | SOUTH CAROLINA

MANUFACTURING

CONFERENCE AND EXPO

GSABusiness.com

SCBIZmag.com

If you’re a mission-driven owner who wants practical tools, order now through your favorite retailers.

Visit: www.bigheartedbusinessowner.com

www.charlestonbusiness.com

November 7-November 20, 2022

Jason Thomas, executive editor jthomas@scbiznews.com • 864.568.7570 Ross Norton, managing editor-content rnorton@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1222 Melinda Waldrop, managing editor-production mwaldrop@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7542 Christina Lee Knauss, staff writer cknauss@scbiznews.com • 803.753.4327 Krys Merryman, staff writer kmerryman@scbiznews.com • 864.640.4418 Paige Wills, research specialist pwills@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3125 Steve McDaniel, editor, Custom Publishing Division smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3121

South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth

Rick Jenkins, group publisher rjenkins@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1224 Karl Krull, business development director

TMGOC Ventures, a partnership which includes Charleston-based The Montford Group, has acquired three hotels totaling 430 rooms in Myrtle Beach, Charlotte and Roanoke Rapids, N.C. (Photo/Provided)

Charleston-based group acquires 3 hotels By Jason Thomas

kkrull@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3143 Account Executives Ryan Downing, senior account executive rdowning@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1221 Amanda Alford, multimedia account executive aalford@bridgetowermedia.com • 864.720.1223 Shannon Pollard, multimedia account executive spollard@scbiznews.com • 843.804.6094 Tony Rossi, multimedia account executive trossi@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1974 Jim Wheeler, multimedia account executive jwheeler@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3104 Events

jthomas@scbiznews.com

MGOC Ventures, a partnership between Charleston-based The Montford Group and Opterra Capital, has closed on the acquisition of three select-service Marriott- and Hilton-branded hotels totaling 430 rooms in Myrtle Beach, Charlotte and Roanoke Rapids, N.C. TMGOC acquired a portfolio comprised of the fee simple interests in the 135-room Courtyard Myrtle Beach Broadway, the 147-room Hilton Garden Inn Roanoke Rapids, and the 148-room Courtyard Charlotte Airport, the release stated. TMGOC will invest in substantial physical enhancements across the portfolio while optimizing operations to drive market share and increase profitability, the release stated. The company hired Aimbridge Hospitality, the nation’s largest

third-party hotel management company, to operate the North Carolina hotels; Marriott manages the Courtyard Myrtle Beach, according to the release. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We will continue to take advantage of the market dislocation for hospitality acquisitions through the remainder of 2022 and 2023 as we continue to seek off-market acquisitions and compelling development opportunities in premier, high-growth locations with healthy business and leisure demand.” said Sunju Patel, founder and CEO of The Montford Group, in the release. The Carolinas portfolio caps an acquisition streak of six hotels and hotel developments this fall for TMGOC, which includes the recently acquired Hilton Garden Inn Miami Beach and Aloft Charleston Airport, the release stated. In the last 18 months, the partnership has raised over $120 million in equity and

expanded its asset base to over $400 million, primarily focused on hospitality. “We are buoyed by the confidence of our investors and lender partners as we continue to grow TMGOC in a thoughtful manner to deliver strong risk-adjusted returns,” said Glenn Alba, founder and CEO of Opterra Capital, in the release. TMGOC’s portfolio comprises 22 real estate assets, including two Moxy by Marriott hotels under construction (Charleston and Charlotte), the release stated. The partnership’s future development pipeline is over $360 million with two luxury lifestyle hotels in Charleston, an extended stay hotel at Jacksonville Airport and a mixed-use multifamily, retail and hotel project in downtown Macon, Ga. Combined, the firm’s portfolio and pipeline include 2,526 hotel keys, 335 residential units, and 40,000 square feet of office and retail in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, the release stated. CRBJ

Kim McManus, events manager

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

kmcmanus@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3116 Lauren Medders, event manager/manufacturing conference lmedders@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1220 Accounting ar@bridgetowermedia.com Subscription Services service@bridgetowermedia.com • 877.615.9536

Charleston Regional Business Journal (USPS 18822) is published twice a month except January which has one issue and February, which has one additional annual issue, 24 times per year by SC Biz News, 3265 North Carolina Ave., Suite 101, North Charleston, SC 29405. Periodicals postage paid at Charleston, SC. Mailing address: 3265 North Carolina Ave., Suite 101 North Charleston, SC 29405 Postmaster: Send address changes to: Subscription Services PO Box 1051 Williamsport, PA 17703-9940

Annual subscribers receive the Business Journal including the Book of Lists and Newsmakers, plus four special supplements: Profiles in Business, Event Planning Guide, Market Facts and Giving. One year for $67.00 Two years for $97.00 Subscribe, renew and change your address online at www.charlestonbusiness.com or call 877-615-9536.

NWS Company LLC A portfolio company of BridgeTower Media

The entire contents of this newspaper are copyright by NWS Company LLC with all rights reserved. Any reproduction or use of the content within this publication without permission is prohibited. SCBIZ and South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

r 20, 2022

pyright by reproduction hout permisedia Engine Patent and

Business A business with so much bandwidth it transfers enormous files for fun. AT&T Business Fiber now with Hyper-Gig speeds. Fast internet with the security and reliability you need to make large file transfers a breeze. Learn more at att.com/businessfast or call 1.844.740.FAST

Limited availability in select areas. Reliability based on network availability.

www.charlestonbusiness.com

November 7-November 20, 2022

Health care system commits to $200M Summerville project By Krys Merryman

kmerryman@scbiznews.com

new mixed-use development underway in the heart of Summerville will be home to a new two-story medical office building by Roper St. Francis Healthcare. The Sawmill development in Summerville will be a live, work, shop and play concept with a walkable community designed to connect residents with entertainment and services while being anchored by the major health care system, according to a news release. This is the first tenant to be announced in the development with an estimated project cost of more than $200 million, according to Guy Martino, Lee & Associates Charleston director of marketing. The project has already taken off, with 57 acres of land cleared at the corner of Berlin Myers Parkway and U.S. Highway 78. Roper St. Francis Healthcare plans to construct the two-story medical office building at the prominent corner location and will offer a variety of outpatient services by 2025, according to the news release. Construction will begin on the 40,000-square-foot office building in 2023. Contractor for the Roper Medical Office Building is Trident Construction, Live Oak Contracting for the Sawmill multifamily development, and Land-

mark Construction is the general sitework contractor. Stubbs Muldrow Herin will be the architect for the medical office building, and Poole & Poole Architecture will design Sawmill. The full Sawmill project buildout is anticipated to be completed after 2030, the release said. “Roper St. Francis Healthcare is determined to provide residents in and around Summerville with a wide variety of services to keep them healthy and thriving while being convenient to their homes and workplaces,” Dr. Jeffrey DiLisi, president and CEO of Roper St. Francis Healthcare, said in the release. “Three years ago, we opened a new hospital down the road and have steadily added health care services because the residents of Summerville want our high quality, compassionate care that’s easy to access.” Providing medical services to residents in Dorchester and Berkeley counties is a crucial part of Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s strategic plan focused on better serving its patients, the release said. The Sawmill medical office building with outpatient services will be one mile from Roper St. Francis Express Care on Main Street in Summerville and about six miles from Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital in the Carnes Crossroads community, the release said. The development will offer 474 multi-family units with ample green

Local business news updates... as they happen!

A rendering shows the Roper medical office building as the Sawmill’s anchor tenant. (Image/SMHa)

space in close proximity to the Sawmill Branch Trail and downtown Summerville. In addition, the development will feature offices, retail, restaurants, banks, service amenities and transit solutions. “Sawmill will help the local government better respond to the growing demand for walkable, vibrant communities with convenient transit linkages, proximity to jobs and access to nearby public services,” said Milton Thomas, managing principal at Lee & Associates Charleston, and the lead developer for the project. “We want this property to

T Follow us on Twitter for the inside scoop on local business news.

Follow @SCBIZNEWS on twitter to get breaking news and information on businesses in the Midlands. For advertising information, contact Rick Jenkins at (864) 720-1224 or rjenkins@scbiznews.com

CRBJ

College of Charleston extends president’s contract By Ross Norton

@SCBIZNEWS

provide a connected, community-oriented environment where people can live, convene and enjoy.” Summerville Mayor Ricky Waring expressed enthusiasm for the possibilities in the new development. “The Sawmill development responds to the growing demand for walkable, vibrant communities with proximity to jobs, and access to nearby public services and destinations,” Waring said in the release. “I’m proud of the work that’s been done to preserve what we can while adding to our town.”

rnorton@scbiznews.com

he College of Charleston’s board of trustees and the College of Charleston Foundation board approved an extension of college president Andrew Hsu’s contract through June 30, 2027. Hsu began his tenure as the 23rd president of the college on May 16, 2019, and his original contract had been set to expire in May 2024, according to a news release. “I am both humbled and very proud to have this opportunity to continue the great work we have started here together,” Hsu said in the news release. “The College of Charleston, a community of top talent, continues its tremendous momentum toward improving student success, academic distinction and employee success. We — the faculty, staff, students, volunteer leaders and alumni — have already accomplished much in our 10-year strategic plan, and I am excited to see how we can build upon those early achievements. This is a remarkable university because of its remarkable people.” Before joining the college, Hsu was

the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Toledo. Prior to that, he served as the dean of engineering at San Jose State University and as the associate vice president for research and the dean of the graduate school at Wright State University. Under Hsu’s leadership, the College of Charleston has launched a 10-year strategic plan, Tradition & Transformation, with a stated vision to elevate the college to national university status by focusing on its academic profile. Since 2019, the college has introduced several new undergraduate programs, such as systems engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, environmental geosciences and statistics. The college also launched a new School of Health Sciences in early 2022, in partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina. “I know we all look forward to President Hsu’s continued extraordinary service and his leadership in guiding the college toward even greater academic excellence and institutional distinction,” David M. Hay, chair of the board of trustees, said in the news release. CRBJ

r 20, 2022 November 7-November 20, 2022

www.charlestonbusiness.com 7

Cummins invests $27M in North Charleston site By Ross Norton

rnorton@scbiznews.com

ummins Turbo Technologies opened its expanded turbo remanufacturing operations in North Charleston on Oct. 14, a $27 million investment expected to create 250 new jobs. The new facility will remanufacture used turbochargers that the company says will meet the same specifications as new turbos. Each remanufactured turbo will go through a validation process to ensure they meet dependability and performance expectations of Cummins’ customers. “Our employees in Charleston are critical to making Cummins Turbo Technologies the world-leader in air handling for commercial vehicles by exhibiting the teamwork and excellence necessary to deliver innovative, reliable turbocharger solutions,” Shon Wright, vice president of Cummins Turbo Technologies, said in a news release. “Our investment in the Charleston area will help us optimize our footprint and continue to be the top choice of our global customers.” Adding turbo remanufacturing to North Charleston, where Cummins Turbo Technologies already had a manufacturing presence, allows Cummins the flexibility to optimize its network between remanufactured and new turbocharger products

Cummins celebrated the opening of a North Charleston facility which will create 250 jobs. (Photo/Provided)

and improve the cost competitiveness of both remanufactured and new turbos. Remanufacturing is an important part of Cummins’ environmental sustainability strategy, Destination Zero, the news release said. Remanufacturing will allow the company to use less, use better and use again, while presenting an environmentally friendly option to replace a turbo. Additionally, by salvaging roughly 70% of the turbo’s metal by weight, remanufacturing greatly reduces the global impact from mining and refining those metals. Cummins has been in the Charleston area since the 1990s and opened its existing facility, the Charleston Turbo Plant, in 2006 with a focus on manufacturing firstfit turbochargers for original equipment manufacturers. More than 725 employees

work there. In addition to the sustainability and business benefits of locating the new facility close to the existing Charleston Turbo Plant, Cummins is expanding in North Charleston because of its competitive manufacturing industry, robust labor pool and to continue strengthening its ties to the community and workforce, the company said in the release. While in Charleston to open the new remanufacturing facility, Wright presented local community groups with grants as part of the company’s journey to dismantle institutional racism through the Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity initiative. Metanoia, a local community organization that invests in neighborhood assets to build leaders, was presented a $1 million

Community Development grant to establish quality housing and generate economic development. CommunityWorks and Lowcountry Street Grocery also received grants to support small Black-owned businesses in the Charleston community. See related story. “In Charleston, we have a history of supporting community organizations in the areas of education, environment and equality of opportunity,” Wright said in the release. “Cummins’ goal is to improve communities where our employees are located, and we are committed to bringing together all of Cummins’ capabilities — its people, its balance sheet and the company’s philanthropy — to drive racial equity and combat the impact of racism on our employees, communities and economy.” Cummins Inc. is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions and components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ind. CRBJ

Protecting your most valuable resources. 54 Locations in South Carolina for Occ Med Services

Call today to inquire about on-site wellness solutions.

| On-site rapid COVID-19 testing | On-site biometrics and flu shots

Doctors Care Employer Health Services | DOT Physicals | Drug Screens | Injury Care

Employers.DoctorsCare.com

| Workers’ Compensation | Occupational Medicine | On-site Medical Centers

Kitty Howell Director of Business Development

(843) 238-4520

(888) 845-6887 | Sales@DoctorsCare.com

www.charlestonbusiness.com

November 7-November 20, 2022

Change of Superfund status opens Charleston site for development By Krys Merryman

kmerryman@scbiznews.com

site that could go on to represent the largest redevelopment of formerly contaminated land in the state was recently removed from the federal Superfund list by the Environmental Protection Agency. The move clears the way for development of the Magnolia project. Thousands of Superfund sites exist all over the country because of hazardous waste being dumped there, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed, according to the EPA’s website. Those sites include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mines. Like much of the Upper Peninsula, the Magnolia development site was once home to heavy industry, which polluted the land for decades with lead, creosote, arsenic and other contaminants from the manufacture of fertilizer and wood-treatment products. The Koppers tract, named for the wood treatment plant that operated there from 1940 to 1977, was placed in the Superfund Trust in 1994, according to the Magnolia developer, Highland Resources Inc. Environmental cleanup of the site began after a Raleigh-based real estate investor assembled the land in 2002 from about two dozen individual tracts and began to reimage the industrial wasteland as a “new urbanist” community of homes, shops, hotels, entertainment venues and parks, Highland Resources added. When the Environmental Protection Agency removed the site from the National Priorities List, it effectively gave Magnolia a green light to begin development on the former brownfield site. Two other federal environmental remediation sites at Magnolia, formerly owned by Columbia Nitrogen and Ashepoo Phosphate, previously had been remediated to EPA standards, according to the developer. Clark Davis, CEO and president of Highland Resources Inc. said with evidence today and word from federal authorities who cleared the site, he doesn’t see recontamination as a concern. Fresh soil has been put down over the span of the property, he said. “This site has been cleaned up twice, so we have absolutely no concerns about recontamination at all,” said Craig Zeller, EPA Atlanta office project manager. “If we felt differently, we wouldn’t have cleared it for mixed-use development, so it is good to go.” Overall environmental remediation costs have totaled $75 million to date, which included removing contaminated soil and covering an area the size of 34 football fields with a protective barrier and clean soil, said Highland Resources.

The next phase of the project

It has been a decades-long undertaking to bring the 189-acre Magnolia project

Developers want to create a town center with a mix of housing, office, retail and hospitality on a former Superfund site. (Rendering/Provided)

to life. The land is a total of nine parcels combined into one large parcel to build a one-of-a-kind mixed-use town center in Charleston proper. Magnolia is zoned for more than 4,000 residential units, 1 million square feet of office space, up to 200,000 square feet of retail space, more than 1,000 hotels rooms, multiple entertainment venues, a marina and a waterfront park along the marshy banks of the Ashley River. The first phase will focus on the waterfront area of the property and include 150,000 square feet of retail space, 850 residential units, 300,000 square feet of office space and a luxury hotel. The Magnolia site has been completely cleared for development, but infrastructure design and permits are in the process with the city of Charleston before construction can be started, which is expected to begin in early 2024. “There has never been a development of this size in Charleston to this date that can be redeveloped to this magnitude, so it makes sense to use it for a mixed-use development here once the environmental issues were remedied, as close to the city core as possible to make for a sustainable green development,” said Davis “We look forward to moving into the next phase of the project, which will create a strong sense of place through engaging the waterfront with public access to the Ashley River.” Highland is partnering with Portman Holdings to develop the Magnolia project. The Atlanta-based, private real estate firm has developed projects such as The Line in Charlotte’s South End and other projects out West. “We are going to joint venture with Portman, because we feel we can bring more to the Charleston area in an efficient and economical fashion working together,” Davis said. Ambrish Baisiwala, Portman chairman and CEO, said the first phase of construc-

tion will activate the waterfront, creating a public amenity for the entire community to enjoy. “The first phase will focus on creating at least two public access points along the waterfront,” he said. “In total, Magnolia will include 24 acres of public parks, with neighborhood greens, plazas and public squares, and we will preserve all 48 acres of marshland.” Magnolia will be a live, work, play community with more than a half-mile of waterfront and the largest open park area in Charleston, “so we want to make sure we are building sustainable designs throughout the project,” Davis said. This site is a special opportunity to have almost 190 contiguous acres directly on the Ashley River with proximity to downtown Charleston and the historic district, said Baisiwala. “The (Superfund) delisting is a significant milestone that allows us to move forward with the design and programming of a one-of-a-kind, mixed-use development entirely focused on activating the currently inaccessible waterfront for the community,” he added. “We’re working to transform the site with a master plan focused on walkability, green spaces, local restaurants and residential community to deliver a sustainable waterfront destination that benefits from and contributes to the essential appeal of Charleston.”

What Magnolia means for Charleston

Charleston Planning Manager Christopher Morgan said working with the developers of the site to get it cleaned up has been nearly 20 years in the making. “This redevelopment will be really instrumental for the city, as it has the potential to be a dynamic part of the city in an area of Charleston that hasn’t contributed much for a while,” said Morgan. “Seeing the site now cleaned up is phenomenal

for our city, and we are excited to see the project move along. It’s an amazing piece of property.” Morgan also said the Magnolia site is an ideal location to create more activity along the landing with the view of the Ashley River, where Charleston was first settled. It’ll have a transit stop as well, allowing for more connectedness for the region and downtown Charleston. Market conditions will dictate the completion of phases, said Davis, but the first phase will be the most significant, as it is set to be 20-25% of the entire site. The first phase will include multifamily units, hotels, retail, shopping, dining and the completion of the waterfront park, so residents can start taking full advantage of these amenities early in the development, Davis added. Portman and Highland estimate the total cost of the project to be about $2 billion when the project is completed, likely in the next 12-15 years. Once completed, Davis said they expect the development to create many jobs and have a positive impact on the Charleston community. “We have been working with the city and neighborhood groups to make sure this is a project everyone is proud of,” he said. “The size of the project alone sets it apart, and there is nothing else like it. It’ll have a town center feel. It’ll be a place people will want to stay, live, visit.” Highland Resources was founded by brothers George and Herman Brown, owners of Brown & Root and Texas Eastern Corp. Houston-based Highland Resources Inc. has a track record of developing residential, industrial, hospitality and office projects. Highland has accumulated and owns, or is developing, more than 32,000 acres of land and 6.2 million square feet of commercial space throughout the Southeastern United States and in Scotland. CRBJ

r 20, 2022 November 7-November 20, 2022

www.charlestonbusiness.com 9

PORTS, from Page 1

Terminal via a designated marine highway. This creative solution addresses trucking capacity as more cargo continues to flow through SC Ports, according to the release. “The inner-harbor barge operation and innovative rail yard will add critical capacity to our port market,” Melvin said in the release. “These investments will further support our customers’ supply chains and attract additional cargo to our port, supporting job creation throughout South Carolina.” The South Carolina Legislature and Governor Henry McMaster have allocated a total of $550 million to fully fund these projects — $400 million for the rail yard and $150 million for the barge operation,

The Navy Base Intermodal Facility is set to open in July 2025. (Rendering/S.C. Ports Authority)

the release stated. “We are so grateful to our state leaders for their bold vision and for understand-

ing what South Carolina’s businesses need to be successful,” Melvin said. “Because of their support, our strategic investments in

critical port infrastructure will yield dividends to South Carolina for decades to come.” These projects, which are slated to open in July 2025, will complement the more than $2 billion SC Ports has already invested in its infrastructure and operations to remain competitive as a top 10 U.S. container port, according to the release. “South Carolina Ports is widely known as a top driver of our state’s booming economy, but that success doesn’t come overnight or by accident — it takes timely, strategic investment and innovative leadership,” McMaster said. “The latest investment in the Navy Base Intermodal Facility is the next step towards growing not only the Port of Charleston, but our state’s economy as a whole.” CRBJ

Charleston colleges awarded $2.4M to establish entrepreneur program By Jason Thomas

jthomas@scbizews.com

he Medical University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston have been awarded an Innovative Program to Enhance Research Training grant totaling $2.4 million from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The grant will be used to establish the STEM-Coaching and Resources for Entrepreneurial Women program and increase the number of women entrepreneurs, according to an MUSC news release.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. The initiative will be led by Carol Feghali-Bostwick, Ph.D., the Kitty Trask Holt Endowed Chair for Scleroderma Research and director of the Advancement, Recruitment and Retention of Women program at MUSC. Angela Passarelli, associate professor of management in the College of Charleston School of Business and director of Research at the Institute of Coaching at McLean/ Harvard Medical School, will be director of coaching, the release stated. MUSC’s Tammy Loucks, science development officer for the South Carolina Clinical &

Translational Research Institute, will serve as communications director. Jesse Goodwin, chief innovation officer at MUSC, will support the invention disclosure and entrepreneurship processes. Jillian Harvey will lead program evaluation efforts, and Rachel Simmons will be the program coordinator. “Studies have shown that women start companies with 50% less money and raise 66% less capital than their male counterparts,” said Goodwin in the release. “There are a lot of hypotheses as to why this divide exists, and it includes things like implicit bias as well as the willingness of women

to seek funds within their own network of contacts. These are barriers to success for women who have already decided to pursue entrepreneurship. The CREW program hopes to address both through coaching, mentorship and other programmatic support.” For a period of one year, CREW participants will be partnered with both an accomplished biomedical entrepreneur for mentorship and a professional coach and will engage in individual and group mentorship and coaching sessions monthly. Applications are being accepted through Nov. 30. CRBJ

South Carolina Federal’s Scott Woods receives Order of the Palmetto

ov. Henry McMaster awarded Scott Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest job Woods, president and CEO of South and recruiting websites, named Woods a Carolina Federal Credit Union, with Top CEO in 2019 and 2021, and SC Biz the Order of the Palmetto. News named him a 2021 Power Player, The Order of the Palmetto is South recognizing him as a leader in banking who is Carolina’s highest civilian shaping the future of honor and is presented South Carolina’s financial Through his long list of in recognition of a services industry. charitable and volunteer work, lifetime of extraordinary “A proud South achievement, service, and Carolinian, Scott Woods Mr. Woods exemplifies what contributions to the state. has continuously put Woods has served it means to be an Order of the South Carolina and as president and CEO the Lowcountry first,” Palmetto Recipient of South Carolina said Governor Henry Federal since 2004. Under McMaster. “Through his — Governor Henry McMaster his leadership, the credit long list of charitable union has grown by $1.5 billion in assets, and volunteer work, Mr. Woods expanded into four new markets, and earned exemplifies what it means to be an Order numerous Best Place to Work and Best of the Palmetto Recipient, making it a Credit Union awards from national, privilege to recognize him for his local, and industry media. In 2013, contributions to South Carolina.” Woods helped create and launch the South Carolina Federal Foundation, which has donated more than $1.6 million to nonprofit organizations statewide.

“

”

Scott Woods is awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Gov. Henry McMaster.

www.charlestonbusiness.com

November 7-November 20, 2022

New technology supports defense-related projects By Jenny Peterson

Contributing Writer

unique on-demand manufacturing division of North Charleston-based Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic — formerly SPAWAR — has expanded its capabilities to rapidly create complicated prototypes for defense-related projects that support warfighters. The department has created oddly shaped brackets and rack mounts for military vehicles, reverse-engineered outdated equipment and handled thousands of other requests. The 3,000-square-foot on-demand manufacturing lab has 15 3-D printers — including one that 3-D prints in stainless streel — and an advanced manufacturing-water jet that can cut titanium up to four inches thick in just minutes. The department hosted media on Oct. 12 to showcase its capabilities. Created five years ago, NIWC’s on-demand manufacturing division has six fulltime employees providing solutions for NIWC’s approximately 5,000 employees who provide support to naval, joint and national warfighters. “There are hundreds of projects going on (internally), and if (employees) need to prototype, they can come to us internally in what we call our service center and in just hours we can support the project. It might

Max Dessington demonstrates how the on-demand manufacturing division of North Charleston-based Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic makes custom parts for aging war machines. (Photo/Jenny Peterson)

be something simple, it might be something that takes a lot longer,” said Max Dissington, an electrical engineer in the department. “We might have a picture of something (they need), a design for something. They share information with us and our engineers are often doing (conceptual) drawing and design.” Before acquiring the water jet a year and

IT’S TIME TO BINGE BUSINESS What’s New and What’s Hot!

Check out our new content as well as our trending videos on this ever-changing playlist.

Recognition Events

With events like Women of Inﬂuence in the Upstate, Icons and Phenoms in the Midlands and Health Care Heroes in the Lowcountry, SC Biz News honors the movers and shakers across the state.

a half ago, the department handled requests for 1,000 parts or prototypes a year, Dissington said. After adding the water jet, the department had 3,000 parts and prototype requests. Over the past five years, the department has created tens of thousands of parts, prototypes and conceptual designs. “The water jet double or tripled orders with the faster turnaround time and (piec-

es) are made exactly to spec and we can produce a lot more,” he said. “Requests have definitely been increasing with wordof-mouth people realizing we have this in-house.” Requests span from creating custom parts, laser label engraving, circuit enclosures, metal bracket outfitting, retrofitting, reverse-engineering, metal cutting and more. The department has even gotten patents for items it created. Aaron Ross, deputy senior competency manager for the 4.7 Production Quality and Manufacturing Competency, said the best part is that the technology allows for precise measuring and testing in the lab, often the same day it’s created. If a part or protype doesn’t fit exactly, it can be sent back to the department for tweaks and additional testing with no time lost. “Our biggest role is trying to prototype and get technology to our warfighters faster. This cuts down a significant amount of time,” Ross said. The department doesn’t fulfill large-scale orders; rather it creates prototypes or several dozen parts. For larger orders, it shares its prototype design with larger-scale manufacturers. “Our bread and butter is low rate production prototype application,” Ross said. “If someone needs 40-60 of something, at See DOD, Page 11

With nearly 150 videos (and counting), our YouTube channel features a wide variety of businessrelated content. Our playlists have something for everyone.

Coﬀee With

This ongoing video series features business executives sharing insight about their business, the industry in which they work and the community in which they live.

Coping with COVID

Explore the impact the coronavirus is having on our daily lives, both at home and at the oﬃce.

Subscribe to SCBIZtv and stay in tune with what’s happening across South Carolina. https://www.youtube.com/scbiztv

r 20, 2022 November 7-November 20, 2022

Page 11

www.charlestonbusiness.com 11

Some of the original parts makers are either no longer in business or no longer making certain parts. That’s where the on-demand office comes in. (Photo/Jenny Peterson)

DOD, from Page 10

a point it doesn’t make sense for our printers to make that much, so if it needs mass produced, we do a little batch and test it and then it can go to a contractor (to produce).” The department often can find solutions for a fraction of the cost of ordering new products and often bypasses potential supply chain issues for ordering new products. “Obsolescence is a big issue,” Ross said. “Ships, submarines that are 30-40 years old, the original equipment manufacturer goes out of business, or they don’t make something anymore … for example, an original submarine depth gauge that they don’t make anymore, we were able to (reverse engineer) and simply reproduce.” Dissington said other warfare centers around the country have similar capabilities. As an in-house service center, the department can get parts and prototypes created without the need for an additional government contract. “We’re not dealing with procurement specialists; employees can send us an email,” Dissington said. “It’s a really fast turnaround for the warfighter to make the prototype, put it in a vehicle and get it out to production.” Successful projects included: Creating accurate cutouts in 40 sheets of foam for ruggedized military cases. Machine laser cutting significantly reduced time and increased quality compared to cutting foam by hand. Outfitting existing military audio headsets to add a push-to-talk function. The center designed and printed unique housing for the push-to-talk switch along with appropriate cables, then assembled and tested it at the center. A 3-D CAD model was developed to encase the audio components and an onyx filament used to ensure durability. Using the center for the project eliminated the need to purchase equipment and prevented waste, and saved $8,000 by eliminating the need to purchase new audio headsets. Quickly addressing a need for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department printed and assembled 1,444 face masks

and 110 face shields in six weeks for NIWC employees. Supporting projects in military vehicle integration, vehicle battery tactical vehicles and handling IT network installations in vehicles. Employees in the on-demand department are mechanical, manufacturing, chemical and electrical engineers. “Most of the people on the team are recent college graduates and 3-D printing is in the curriculum now so most come out of school knowing how to use these machines,” Dissington said, although he added that specialized electronic technician positions are harder to fill. In addition to the advanced technology, there is also a master machinist in its machine shop, which includes traditional manufacturing machines, like drill presses, belt sanders and bandsaws for part finishing and modifications.

Expanding services

Ross said the department is looking into adding coatings and plating capabilities in the future. The division now has the capacity and technology to expand its requests for unique and custom parts beyond the NIWC community to support other companies actively working on government projects. “We want to work closer with industry,” Ross said. The department gets the word out through companywide internal spotlights, and every Friday, NIWC employees can dial in on a zoom call to see the department’s capabilities and example parts. “One of the biggest concerns when you develop new things is how far do you want to push the edge,” said Capt. Nicole Nigro, commander of NIWC. “Having this capability in-house and working on it internally allows us to be innovative, to make sure we stay on the cutting edge and allow us to take a few more risks. We decided five years ago to look at on-demand manufacturing and now we are at the point where we can do it and we are ready to provide this service across the command and continue to grow.” CRBJ

We needed to increase demand for our products THE SOLUTION

Cablecraft Motion Controls was looking for an overview assessment of current operations as demand was declining. Following SCMEP’s Competitiveness Review, robust processes for product launch and creation of a pipeline for new products was implemented. Direct results included: • $100,000 in increased sales • $10,000 new investment in workforce practices • Avoided $25,000 in unnecessary investments

Elevate your company and workforce with our free one-day Competitiveness Review: Visit SCMEP.org/help-my-business Call 864.288.5687 Email info@scmep.org

SCMEP is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization affiliated with The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a network of 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

SCMEP-Charleston Regional Business Journal Ads-v2.indd 2

8/16/22 3:29 PM

www.charlestonbusiness.com

November 7-November 20, 2022

Logistics company to open $70M Dorchester County facility By Jason Thomas

jthomas@scbiznews.com

specialist in cold storage solutions will establish operations in Dorchester County with a $70 million investment. The project from Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics is expected to create 69 new jobs. Located at Ridgeville Industrial Campus, Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics’ new operation will support high-volume throughput handling services including a variety of value-added services, full pallet handling, case picking and transportation management, according to a news release from the South Carolina governor’s office.

“We are very bullish on the Charleston market — the advantages of the Port of Charleston as a Southeast gateway out of and into the U.S. — and on our ability to provide the specialized and unique handling and storage services that will be required for retailers, frozen and refrigerated food manufacturers, and fruit and produce importers to grow their market share in the region,” Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics CEO Chris Hughes said in the release. “Most importantly, we are proud to bring new jobs to Dorchester County and the surrounding communities.” The company will use the Port of Charleston to support both import and export trade. Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics is a

third-party cold chain services provider that focuses on handling, storage, distribution and value-added services for the food industry. The company works to bridge supply gaps within the cold chain industry through modern cold storage warehouse development and services. The facility is expected to be operational by early 2024. Individuals interested in joining the Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics team can visit the company’s careers page. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also approved a $250,000 Set-Aside grant to assist with the costs of building improvements. “South Carolina Ports is thrilled to

support Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics’ impressive new cold storage facility at SC Ports’ Ridgeville Industrial Campus,” SC Ports President and Chief Executive Officer Barbara Melvin said in the release. “Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics’ investment will bring substantial new cold storage capacity to the Charleston market. SC Ports has expanded on-terminal refrigerated cargo capacity and capabilities to efficiently handle fresh, refrigerated and frozen imports and exports. “The booming Southeast market and growing population requires more cold storage capacity, and Arcadia Cold Storage & Logistics’ new operation will further support retailers’ and grocers’ supply chains.” CRBJ

International African American Museum to host pre-opening service By Jason Thomas

jthomas@scbiznews.com

head of its anticipated January opening date, the International African American Museum in downtown Charleston is hosting a pre-opening worship service in November. The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, presiding bishop and primate of The

Episcopal Church, will join museum officials and the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina for a pre-opening worship service, called “The Journey: A Call to Action for Historical, Spiritual and Social Justice.” The service is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 7396 Rivers Ave., North Charleston. A private “Blessing of the Water

and Sacred Ground” will be held prior to the worship service at the museum site “overlooking the Atlantic passages through which thousands of enslaved Africans entered the Harbor,” a news release from the museum stated. During the evening worship service, Curry “will offer a message of hope and words of inspiration and empowerment to people of all backgrounds and belief systems in the Lowcountry community

and beyond,” the release stated. The International African American Museum, which is expected to open Jan. 21, is located at the site of Gadsden’s Wharf in downtown Charleston, where many slaves disembarked from Africa. Its focus will be the cultural, social and economic impact of slavery in the Americas and the diverse journeys and achievements of slaves and their descendants. CRBJ

Make an impact of your own. This important component of the annual business library provides the analysis and context to give you a year’s worth of insight into the stories that have shaped the Lowcountry economy. Make an impact of your own with an advertisement in Newsmakers.

NEWSMAKERS December 27,

2021 | ww w.Charles

tonBusiness.c

om | Vol. 27, No.

LOOKING OVER 2021

PUBLICATION DATE: DECEMBER 26, 2022 ADVERTISING DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 30, 2022

CONTACT TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE. Rick Jenkins at 864-720-1224 or rjenkins@scbiznews.com

Sponsored by:

For sponsorship information, contact Rick Jenkins: rjenkins@scbiznews.com

IN FOCUS: ELECTRIC VEHICLES

r 20, 2022 November 7-November 20, 2022

www.charlestonbusiness.com 17

BMW opens $120 million worth of new facilities, hits milestone By Ross Norton

rnorton@scbiznews.com

s September gave way to October, BMW opened $120 million in new facilities and hit a milestone on the production line. BMW Manufacturing opened a $100 million logistics center Sept. 29, assembled the 6 millionth vehicle made at Plant Spartanburg the next day and opened a $20 million training center Oct. 7. In the middle of it, the company recognized the 30th anniversary of breaking ground for the plant. The logistics center, called LCX, is on Freeman Farm Road in Greer, billed by BMW as a “more efficient, sustainable and digital operation” in keeping with company efforts to stay ahead of changing technology. BMW Manufacturing President and CEO Robert Engelhorn said LCX combines two warehouses into one facility, “making our processes faster, leaner and more efficient.” He said the center incorporates elements of the BMW iFactory strategy, which defines the future of automotive manufacturing for all of BMW production worldwide. The $20 million training center was built with a goal of promoting creative learning, fostering innovation and advancing technical skills in a chang-

The training center will be a destination for employees throughout North America. (Photo/Fred Rollison)

ing automotive industry. It will have an additional economic impact on the Upstate economy by attracting people from BMW operations across North America for training. The 68,000-square-foot training center includes classrooms for professional development and technical training, an amphitheater and an outdoor meeting and workspace that includes wireless capabilities. The center is near the manufacturing plant off S.C. Highway 101 in Greer. It will be the North American training hub for all future technologies for BMW associates tasked with mastering state-

THE RUNWAY COMING SOON

of-the-art skills to stay ahead of industry standards, according to a news release. “Our associates are rising to the challenge to make the BMW Group electric, digital and circular,” Ilka Horstmeier, a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said in the news release. She also is director for people and real estate, labor relations. “This new training center will give the entire Plant Spartanburg team the environment to learn and grow their careers and meet the demands of our customers worldwide Through training in digitalization and future technologies, we will ensure that the BMW Group remains the lead-

er in mobility and is an attractive workplace for future generations.” With 40 functional learning spaces, the center’s inside areas include space for hands-on vocational training such as welding, metal fabrication and machine tools, as well as advanced technical training for robotics and controls, mechatronics and automotive technology. The robotics area is designed for flexibility with robot cells on self-contained pallets that can be moved and plugged in to overhead electrical outlets. “The contributions our associates make to BMW are invaluable,” Engelhorn said in the news release. “We want to build a culture of empowerment and provide our associates with the right tools and training so they can continue to be successful. When they succeed, BMW succeeds.” Along with professional development and leadership training areas, the flexibility includes defined workspace for augmented and virtual reality training and for advanced manufacturing in emerging technologies such as 3D printing and laser welding, the release said. The java green metallic BMW X6 M that rolled off the production line on the 30th anniversary of the plant will stay there as part of the company’s museum, joining the first ever made on U.S. soil and other milestone vehicles.

FULL-SERVICE CONSTRUCTION • • • •

Pre-Construction Reasonable Pricing On-Time Delivery Highest Quality Results

We provide full-service construction for large single and multi-story projects in the southeast region.

Located at 3300 W Montague Avenue in North Charleston, SC. This Co-Working Office Space will be the destination for your next office experience.

We deliver services that provide reasonable pricing, on-time delivery, and the highest quality results from start to completion. We excel in new construction, renovations, and additions for self storage, retail, office, and industrial, always delivering a superior finished product.

To learn more visit RUNWAY3300.COM

843.744.9877 INFO@RUNWAY3300.COM

aladamsconstruction.com 3300 W Montague Ave, 2nd Floor North Charleston, SC 29418

CRBJ

864-854-8725

Greenwood, SC | Charleston, SC

IN FOCUS: ELECTRIC VEHICLES

www.charlestonbusiness.com

EV SUMMIT, from Page 16

“This has been consistent growth over time, over the last decade,” said Von Nessen. “More and more companies are drawn to South Carolina than anywhere else in the United States for manufacturing.” The e-mobility industry is rapidly evolving with the rise in global demand for electric vehicles, he said. According to Von Nessen, even with the extraordinary growth the automotive industry has seen in the previous decade, South Carolina’s automotive industry currently contributes just 26% of the total value to the vehicles it produces. That is due to the state historically not producing vehicle engines. “Now we are in a position where we can start thinking about the production of vehicle engines in the state,” he said. “This is a real opportunity for the state, not only to adapt to the new electric vehicle landscape but to create an increase of value of the state.” Keynote speaker J.B. Straubel said the landscape has changed incredibly fast over the last decade. He is co-founder and former chief technology officer of Tesla and founder and CEO of Redwood Materials, a domestic supply chain for lithium-ion BOSCH, from Page 1

sure fuel injectors and pumps for internal combustion engines. It also manufactures safety-related products. The Bosch Charleston facility, which opened in 1974, is the largest manufacturing site in the United States for Bosch from an employment perspective with around 1,500 associates. It covers more than 900,000 square feet of floor space on 118 acres. The electric motor production space is in a building formerly occupied by diesel components production. Bosch announced in January 2020 that production of diesel powertrain components would be slowly ramped down. The com-

November 7-November 20, 2022

batteries across collection, refurbishment, recycling, refining and remanufacturing of sustainable battery materials. Redwood Materials partners with Ford, Volvo, Toyota, Volkswagen and other companies, focusing on a clean energy future. Straubel left Tesla and started Redwood in 2017. “We are only 1% of the way of electrifying cars in the U.S.,” Straubel said. “It’ll be a challenging time, but we are already experiencing unprecedented growth in this industry.” However, he added, globally the Southeast is going to be one of the largest battery manufacturing centers. Also at the summit, several government agencies and state organizations took the stage in Q&A-style interviews including representatives from the S.C. Department of Commerce, S.C. Department of Transportation, S.C. Technical College System and the S.C. Manufacturers Alliance. Key takeaways from the summit: • More electric vehicle production from S.C. manufacturing plants could lead to a greater reliance on out-of-state suppliers, which could, in turn, result in lower rates of job creation, unless the state grows its e-Mobility supply chain. • Global projection of electric

vehicles is increasing dramatically and is forecast to continue in the coming decade. • A focus on growing electric vehicle supply chains, freight transportation, maintenance and workforce initiatives are all critical to help maintain the competitive advantages that the state has experienced throughout the last decade. Greenville Mayor Knox White said, “We are a manufacturing state, an intersection between innovation and new technology, and electric vehicles are the future.” McMaster said manufacturing is booming in the state. The industry has created billions of dollars in capital and thousands of jobs in South Carolina. For example, BMW has invested more than $12 billion into the state since breaking ground on its Spartanburg County plant in 1992. Volvo has also projected the company will make all its vehicles electric by 2030, according to McMaster. “Times are changing, and we are right in the middle of it,” he said. “It’s a great future.” S.C. Parks Recreation and Tourism Director Duane Parrish said the agency plans to have electric vehicle charging stations in all 47 state parks. “This is an opportunity to be a leader in the industry across

the nation,” he said. If everyone in the country decided they wanted an electric vehicle, said S.C. Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey, it would still take decades to get the United States to where it needs to be for the future. “It’s a process,” said Lightsey. As part of the S.C. DOT’S National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure plan, more electric vehicle charging stations will be added across the state, said Transportation Secretary Christy Hall. “It’s a real issue with battery limitations,” she added. “But we are looking at interstates and more rural areas, and we anticipate leveraging public and private sectors at maximum capacity, especially federal funding to help implement the NEVI plan.” The state is seeing an increase in electric car production. An electric car company, Dash EV, which produces vehicles to expand the carsharing business, announced on Oct. 12 it will expand its operations and move headquarters to Greenville. “It is time to embrace the future for more sustainability to continue to be competitive as a state,” said Commerce Deputy Secretary Ashely Teasdel. “In the automotive force, we have here some of the best in the world, so we have a responsibility to help support our companies and businesses.”

pany indicated then it would pursue electrification business. “This launch delivers on a commitment to our associates and to the local community in Charleston,” said Mansuetti, who started his Bosch career as a manufacturing engineer at the Charleston facility. “We are in the midst of major shifts in mobility, and the story of reinvention in Charleston is a model for how electrification production can evolve from within an existing facility. We are building on the long-standing expertise and commitment of the Charleston team with this new production.” In August Mansuetti also delivered future-leaning news to the Anderson plant he once managed, where the com-

pany will invest more than $200 million and hire 350 workers to produce fuel cell stacks to be used in hydrogen-powered trucks. As part of the Charleston site transformation, called Bosch Charleston, the company has provided reskilling and upskilling opportunities to employees to prepare for the production of electric motors. Those opportunities include travelling to other sites within the global Bosch production network for training and best practice sharing, according to a news release. Bosch is also collaborating with local schools to begin implementing fundamentals related to electrification into curriculum. The Bosch Community

Fund, the corporate foundation for Bosch in North America, has invested more than $2.5 million in grants related to STEM education efforts in the Charleston area since 2013, the release said. As its orders in electromobility continue to increase, the Bosch global production network has been ramping up to support the expanding demand for electrification. Local-for-local production supports a robust supply chain approach for local customer needs. “We have long been believers in the potential of electromobility and we have been investing heavily to bring this technology to market at scale for our customers,” Mansuetti said in the release.

Licensed Professional Surveyors 17 Survey Crews 76Licensed Professional Surveyors • 17• Survey Crews LatestTrimble Trimble Robotics and GPS • LEED Professional Latest Robotics and GPS • LEED AP AP Professional StaffStaff CharlestonCounty County “SBE” Certified • 3D Laser Scanning Charleston “SBE” Certified • 3D Laser Scanning

• Power Generation

Charleston | Georgetown

Container & Onsite Service

• Commercial

• •Commercial Aviation • •Aviation Topographical • •Topographical Landfills • Landfills

8 43.554.7777 | www.plssc.com

CRBJ

South Carolina’s leader in Metal Recycling

1 2 9 Y E A RS STR ON G

•• Power Generation ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey •• ALTA/NSPS Boundary Land Title Survey •• Boundary Construction Staking • Construction Staking • Dock Permits • Dock Permits • Residential • Residential

CRBJ

Since 1893

Usable Steel Sales Dismantling & Removal

843-722-7278 | charlestonsteelandmetal.com | 843-722-1340

IN FOCUS: ELECTRIC VEHICLES

r 20, 2022 November 7-November 20, 2022

Defense Contractors

www.charlestonbusiness.com 19

Ranked by Value of Contracts Awarded in FY2020

tion for invested ts related in the e release

lity conobal promping up mand for producly chain eds. rs in the we have his techour cuselease. CRBJ

•

Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Official(s) / Year Founded

Technica LLC 1 Cool Blow St., Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29403

843-513-9444 www.technicanow.com info@technicanow.com

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

Value of Contracts

Contracts

2003

$123,399,382

Facilities support services

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

1962

$99,330,593

Shipbuilding and repairing

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

843-744-7110 www.lce.com info@lce.com

Bob Fei 1976

$76,181,726

Life cycle engineering services and consulting for commercial and government entities

Marinex Construction Inc. 1903 Pittsburgh Ave. Charleston, SC 29405

843-722-9083 www.marinexconstruction.com info@marinexconstruction.com

F. Hammond Johnson 1991

$73,372,384

Heavy and civil engineering construction

Atlas Technologies Inc. 5416 Rivers Ave., Suite A105 Charleston, SC 29406

843-554-6111 www.atlas-tech.com info@atlas-tech.com

Brian M. Miller 1997

$44,190,214

Engineering services

Nexgen Data Systems Inc. 205 St. James Ave., Suite L, PMB 310 Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-408-4363 www.ngds.com hr@ngds.com

Lindsey Rash 2005

$37,147,360

Engineering services

Orbis Sibro Inc. 238 Albemarle Road Charleston, SC 29407

843-971-9390 www.orbisinc.net -

John Bacak 2000

$34,419,777

Engineering, technical and construction services

Southern Dredging Co. Inc. 925 Wappoo Road, Suite C Charleston, SC 29407

843-559-7500 www.southerndredging.net info@southerndredging.net

Kimberly Richmond, David Dent 1982

$25,482,234

Heavy and civil engineering construction

Eos Inc. 170 Meeting St., Suite 110 Charleston, SC 29401

843-261-3420 www.eosinc.us info@eosinc.us

2018

$22,467,650

358

Engine equipment manufacturing

Atlas Executive Consulting LLC 4221 Rivers Ave., Suite 200 North Charleston, SC 29405

843-491-4950 www.atlasexecutive.com info@atlasexecutive.com

Jason Sawyer 2006

$21,002,881

Business support services

Cameron Bell Corp. dba Government Solutions Group 115 Central Island St., Suite 250 Daniel Island, SC 29492

843-849-1969 www.govsg.com info@govsg.com

James Cribb, William Grech 1994

$18,053,680

Engineering services

Critical Solutions International Inc. 2284 Clements Ferry Road Charleston, SC 29492

843-800-0033 www.c-s-i.com -

Patrick Callahan 1991

$15,947,495

302

Hardware manufacturing

Seres-Arcadis SB JV LLC 498 Wando Park Blvd., Suite 175 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-216-8531 -

2016

$15,832,602

Engineering services

Seres Engineering & Services LLC 669 Marina Drive, Suite B7 Charleston, SC 29492

843-216-8531 www.seres-es.com -

Alex Lo 2007

$14,949,235

Remediation services

Brantley Construction Services LLC 8300 Dorchester Road Charleston, SC 29418

843-552-0150 www.brantleyconstruction.com -

Gary D. Brantley 2005

$14,673,571

Commercial and institutional building construction

Hesco Bastion Inc. 3450 Buffalo Ave., Suite C North Charleston, SC 29418

985-345-7332 www.hesco.com -

Jeremy Gray 1989

$11,896,648

Prefabricated metal building and component manufacturing

Palmetto Goodwill Services 2150 Eagle Drive, Building 100 North Charleston, SC 29406

843-566-0072 www.palmettogoodwill.org marketing@palmettogoodwill.org

Brendan Ryan 1979

$11,392,642

Nonprofit supportive services and career services for people with disadvantages, welfare, barriers

Infotec Systems Corp. 701 Travelers Blvd., Suite 545 Summerville, SC 29485

843-821-1600 www.infotecsc.com -

Blane Cowart 1996

$7,878,420

Security systems services, information technology

C2G Ltd. Co. 110 Mallock Court Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-879-0942 www.c2gltd.com -

Richard Gilmore, Thomas J. Copeland 2005

$7,425,876

178

Repair and maintenance of commercial and industrial machinery and equipment, logistics, scrap tires

Liberty Business Associates LLC 3509 Iron Horse Road Ladson, SC 29456

843-329-1991 www.libertyba.com info@libertyba.com

Beth Robertson 2002

$6,945,372

Liberty provides business operations, IT and training services for the Army and Navy

CEMS Engineering Inc. 108 Bentons Lodge Road, Suite B Summerville, SC 29485

843-875-3637 www.cems-ae.com info@cems-ae.com

Stephen Mahaffey, Scott Perkins 1989

$5,807,164

Engineering services

Ishpi Information Technologies Inc. 401 Seacoast Parkway Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-329-4100 www.ishpi.net info@ishpi.net

Earl D. Bowers 2006

$5,032,329

Computer facilities management services

Webco SC LLC 216 Seven Farms Drive Charleston, SC 29492

703-501-3396 -

2018

$4,882,881

Commercial and institutional building construction

George Consulting Ltd. 225 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 300 Daniel Island, SC 29492

843-471-1320 www.georgeconsulting.com info@georgeconsulting.com

Richard George, Steve Corey 2003

$4,258,989

DoD and federal contractor specializing in DevSecOps, cyber security and cloud computing

3R of Charleston Inc. 238 Eagle Drive Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-824-0711 www.3rofcharleston.com walt@3rofcharleston.com

Tom Rhodes 1990

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. 1 Source: www.governmentcontractswon.com (latest available at time of publication)

Industry

Researched by Paige Wills

www.charlestonbusiness.com

IN FOCUS: ELECTRIC VEHICLES

November 7-November 20, 2022

Graham: Electrification too big for 1 company By Ross Norton

rnorton@scbiznews.com

mid the exuberance during BMW’s recent announcement of $1.7 billion investment in two Upstate projects, it was Sen. Lindsey Graham who, though full of praise for the automaker, said BMW can’t do it alone. Electrification of the U.S. automobile fleet is an undertaking too big for one company and too big even for the business sector alone, he said. “That vision that was announced here today will only become reality if we earn it, if we embrace the future, if we realize that we can’t get there by ourselves,” Graham said as one of the speakers at BMW’s announcement last month, which was hosted by BMW Group Chairman Oliver Zipse from Munich. “That government and business must be partners. You can’t do this, Mr. Chairman, without the help of state and local and federal officials so here’s the one thing I want to pledge to you and all your associates: South Carolina will be there for BMW as you transform your company. What you’ve got (in government support) over the last 30 years, you will get for the next 300 years.” Graham called BMW’s plans to invest $1 billion in an expansion of the Greer plant and another $700 million in a new battery plant in Woodruff one of the “most consequential announcements in the history of South Carolina, not just because of the money but because when they write the (book) on the electrification of the vehicle in the United States, South Carolina will be in the first chapter.” He said the plans put the political leaders on the local, state and federal level on the ground floor of the biggest change in industrial policy in modern times, comparing it to the shift from the horse and buggy to the car. The Republican pointed out that it is business, not the government, that has made the move to electric vehicles real even as it saves a place for gas and diesel-powered engines. “BMW is going to lead the world, not just South Carolina, in the electrification of the vehicles with the understanding that choice will still be important,” Graham said. Because of what it takes to make electricity and an electric battery, the senator said the role of government has to be large. “I don’t know who is going to be budget chairman, but if I’m the budget chairman we’re going to have a hearing about what does it mean for America for a car company like BMW to go down the electric vehicle road,” Graham said. “Where do the battery parts come from? Where do the raw materials come from. Here’s the truth; we’ll never be able to make the battery in America without having materials from outside the country. So with

CONSTR

Fow

BMW’s investment at the Greer plant will create a battery production line, but the automaker already has a facility, pictured here, where a growing staff produces batteries for electric BMWs. (Photo/Provided)

Sen. Lindsey Graham pledged support for BMW’s transition to electric car production. (Photo/Ross Norton)

these partnerships, batteries become the new oil. How do you charge the car? In the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which I voted for, there’s a lot of money to accelerate charging stations. How do you build

a battery that goes longer and farther? Where do you get the materials? How do you turn raw material into an actual battery that goes into the car? What happens to the oil industry 40 years from now?”

office. Fowler Carolina received engineeri Technolo administr Throu various le fessional ing sales sulting w with som economic trial com as South HDR.

Chase The role of power companies and fuel-ing app ing stations will change, Graham said. structors “The change that’s about to come fromrecognize an electrified fleet means the power com-plumber. panies are going to have to change their wayjourney a of doing business. What do you plug the carenrolled into? How do you double generation andwork full make it lower carbon? One thing leads to Durin the next thing,” Graham said. “We’re look-job train ing at small modular reactors to be devel-several fu oped in South Carolina to provide cleanRobert L energy, a non-emitting source of energy inAttwood the nuclear arena. If we don’t have an all-hours com of-the-above approach when it comes toeducation power production, you cannot get thereCPR cert from here. Fossil fuels will be with us for many decades to come and we need to find as much as we can so we don’t depend on people over there who don’t really like us. So we’ve got to do many things at the same time. We need a plan to make it work.” Graham promised Zipse that he and state elected leaders would be BMW’s partners in the journey to an electric vehicle fleet of American cars. He said the state would become the Detroit of vehicle batteries. “The vision you laid out today is bold, it’s exciting, it’s transformative. And all those adjectives — none of them apply to Congress,” he said. “So we’re going to have to be bold, we’re going to have to be transformative, we’re going to have to be nimble. This is the one thing that Republicans and Democrats should agree on: When it comes to the electrification of the vehicle, we should be the leader of the world; we should not follow.” CRBJ

r 20, 2022

At Work

BUSINESS DIGEST | PEOPLE IN THE NEWS | HOT PROPERTIES

Business Digest

People in the News CONSTRUCTION

Fowler

At Davis & Floyd, Stephen Davis, who had been president and chief executive officer, is now CEO, while Joshua “Josh” Fowler, PE, has come onboard as president, based in the Greenville

office. Fowler, a professional engineer in South Carolina North Carolina, and Georgia, received his bachelor of science in civil engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and his master of business administration from Clemson University. Throughout his career, he has served in various leadership roles, primarily in professional services but also in manufacturing sales and marketing. Most of his consulting work has been in water/wastewater with some experience in industrial and economic development as well as in industrial compliance. Previously, he worked as South Carolina water program lead at HDR. Chase Evans has completed a plumbing apprenticeship at Cullum Constructors and achieved his nationally recognized credential as a journeyman plumber. Evans began his apprenticeship journey at 16 years of age while he was enrolled in virtual high school and could work full time. During his 8,000 hours of on-thejob training, Evans was partnered with several fully skilled plumbers, including Robert L. Smith, Mike Madden, and Tim Attwood. In addition, he spent almost 600 hours completing the required job-related education. Evans has OSHA 10 and CPR certifications and is trained in the

safe operation of aerial work platforms, forklifts, lulls, excavators, and skid steers. New at Stantec are project engineer Heidi Moeser and civil engineer Brendon Wilson. Moeser has joined Stantec’s water practice in Charleston. She brings two years of experience performing technical reviews for stormwater compliance of commercial, residential, and utility land-development plans and hydraulic/hydrologic reports. Her experience includes project coordination and close-out, stormwater permitting, and environmental low-impact development practices. She graduated from the University of Michigan. Wilson, a licensed professional engineer in South Carolina and a graduate of the University of South Carolina, has joined the Charleston community development practice. During his 19-year career, he has completed designs for single-family and multifamily developments, higher education, and federal facilities. Aaron Schmitt, PE, civil engineering project manager at SeamonWhiteside, is the lead for the Leadership Dorchester Class of 2022 project: a pavilion for the Dorchester Heritage Center. Each year, Leadership Dorchester, an 11-month comprehensive study of the political, civic, economic, and social dynamics in action within Dorchester, nominates one class member to lead the initiative on a project that gives back to the community. The pavilion is a way for the class to bring attention to and create a safe outdoor space for the new Dorchester Heritage Center Museum, scheduled to open in 2024. See PEOPLE, Page 22

Hot Properties

Kiawah River received the Grand Award in Urban and Community Planning during Builder Magazine’s 2022 Builder’s Choice Design Awards. The master-planned waterfront community is the Charleston region’s first agri-hood. Spanning approximately 20 miles of shoreline and 2,000 acres of property, Kiawah River includes a working farm, a goat dairy, a community-supported agriculture program, and future retail and hospitality offerings. Its custom and semi-custom homes feature coastal architecture. The Builder’s Choice Design competition, which is open to builders, architects, remodelers, and other professionals, accepts entries at various project scales— from single rooms to entire communities. For more than three decades, the program has recognized innovation in residential design through its grand and merit awards, which are based on such criteria as design excellence, innovation, sustainability, floor-plan efficiency, and use of materials.

Downtown Nexton office/commercial development to break ground soon

Sharbell Nexton plans to break ground later this year for Atelier Downtown Nexton, an office/commercial condominium project in Downtown Nexton. The urban-inspired mixed-use community serves the growing number of residents in Nexton and its rapidly growing region. Atelier will be the newest addition within Downtown Nexton’s live/work environment. Located on 7.41 acres along Brighton Park Boulevard, Atelier Downtown Nexton will include multiple two-story buildings of 9,000 or 18,000 square feet with office, serGregg Legerton of Avison Young represented the landlord, Nicolette Living Trust, doing business as Hellcat Investments LLC, in the lease of 2,078 square feet of medical space at 6 Carriage Lane, Charleston, to Skyline Exhibits & Deign Inc.

Gregg Legerton of Avison Young represented the landlord, Tobias LLC, in the lease of 2,441 square feet of medical space in Suite 101 at 1483 Tobias Gandson Blvd., Charleston, Charleston Medical Associates LLC. Gerry Schauer and Jeremy Willits of Avison Young represented the landlord, Three Broad Inc., in the lease of retail space at 3 Broad St. in Charleston Chloe Esposito.

Grand Award in Urban and Community Planning goes to Kiawah River

Kip Bowman and Sara Bodell of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the buyer in the purchase of three acres of land at 3517 Maybank Highway in Charleston for $1,295,000. Eddie Hughes of the Beach Co. represented the seller.

Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young represented the landlord, Seven Farms Road LLC, in the lease of 1,225 square feet of office space at 295 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island, to Chloe Esposito.

Kevin Shields of Belk Lucy represented the seller in the sale of 2,373 square feet of office space at 180 Spring St. in Charleston to $745,000. Hunter Hartley of Lee and Associates represented the buyer. Julia Donovan of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the seller L&X Investment LLC in the sale of 16 acres of land at 3511 Bohicket

vice, and commercial space for sale or lease in a campus-like setting with ample parking. Upon completion of its first phase in 2024, Atelier Downtown Nexton will offer office space for sale or lease from 2,500 square feet up to 18,000 square feet. Trails will connect the two-story buildings. Bridge Commercial is handling the project’s exclusive leasing and sale services.

Summerville to get Lowcountry’s second Eyemart Express

Eyemart Express is opening its second store in the Lowcountry, this one in Summerville at 210 Azalea Square Blvd. See BUSINESS DIGEST, Page 22

Road in Johns Island. Haven Estate LLC represented the buyer. Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the buyer, Beezer Molten Properties LLC, in the sale of .4 acre with five residential income properties at 108 E. 6th North St. in Summerville from Marlena Franklin for $500,000. Marlena Franklin of CBRE represented the seller. Caine Halter of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the tenant, Steam Logistics, in the lease of 2,252 square feet of office space at 146 Fairchild St. in Charleston. Mike White of Charleston Industrial LLC represented the owner. Mike Rose and Trey Davis of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the landlord in the lease of 2,288 square feet of flexible warehouse space at 1347 Old Highway 52 in Moncks Corner. CRBJ

www.charlestonbusiness.com

November 7-November 20, 2022

PEOPLE, from Page 21

FINANCIAL SERVICES

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

NOVEMBER 21

BANKING & FINANCE

List: Financial Brokerage Firms Advertising Deadline: November 7

DECEMBER 12

ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION (AEC)

List: Commercial Property Management Cos. Special Section: Health Care Heroes Advertising Deadline: November 28

Eric Blake, a senior risk management operations analyst with TD Bank, has joined the Wallick Investments’ Fidelis multi-cap multi-factor index investBlake ment committee. His responsibilities include policy controls and procedures oversight for the index. TD Bank has named Jacob Yost as senior relationship manager. He is responsible for enhancing existing commercial client relationships by providing financial solutions, expertise, and proactive advice as well as developing new relationships focused on client service. The position covers South Carolina’s south coast market, which includes Charleston, Summerville, and Hilton Head. Yost’s experience includes commercial banking, commercial real estate lending, and global payments and foreign exchange. Prior to joining TD Bank, he was a middle-market relationship manager for JPMorgan Chase & Co., covering the South Carolina market. He has also served as a relationship manager for both Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

HEALTH CARE The College of Charleston has named Courtney Howard, PhD, its new chief diversity officer and vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the College of Charleston. She also oversees the office of institutional diversity. Most recently, she was the associate dean of the College’s School of Education and also served as the interim dean for the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance for a year. Howard came to the College of Charleston in 2011 to lead the School of Education’s Center for Partnerships to Improve Education, after serving as an interim dean BUSINESS DIGEST, from Page 21

Eyemart Express made its Lowcountry debut in January with the opening of a store in North Charleston; the Summerville location marks the optical retailer’s tenth storefront in South Carolina. The company employs nearly 50 people in the Charleston area.

For advertising information, call Rick Jenkins at 864-720-1224

New chemical purification facility opens in Sumter

Nova Molecular Technologies, a manufacturer of high-purity solvents,

and tenured professor at Claflin University. Howard will begin transitioning into this new role this month, splitting her time between the School of Education and the Office of Institutional Diversity in the short term.

NONPROFIT Christine Dean, RN, CHPN, has taken on the newly created role of community health liaison at East Cooper Meals on Wheels. She is working to increase awareDean ness of the nonprofit’s Feeding Friends program for those who are temporarily homebound. Feeding Friends offers options such as fully prepared lunch and dinner meals, breakfast items for the pantry, and a monthly supply of Ensure or Glucerna for patients recovering from surgery, severe illness, or injury. The program’s goal is to reduce hospital readmissions due to inadequate nutrition and to relieve patients of the burden of preparing meals. Dean is focused on developing relationships with medical professionals that serve residents of Mount Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, Daniel Island, Cainhoy, and Wando.

REAL ESTATE The Beach Company’s president and chief executive officer, John Darby, was recognized by GlobeSt. with an Influencers in Multifamily Real Estate Darby Award, given to developers, investors, and brokers working to advance the industry in innovative and progressive ways. Under Darby’s lead, The Beach Company has grown from 18 to 300 employees over the last 20-plus years and diversified its investments, transforming the company into a full-service real estate business. CRBJ

held a grand opening for a new plant in the Pocatalico East Industrial Site in Sumter. The chemical-purification facility is located on 15 acres off Highway 521 South on Racetrack Road. The RTR facility was designed with a focus on sustainable processes and systems.

Baker Donelson again earns Mansfield Certification Plus status

For the third consecutive year, Diversity Lab awarded Mansfield Certification Plus status to Baker Donelson. The firm collaborated with Diversity Lab over a 12-month certification period with built-in measurement, transparency, and accountability mechanisms. Mansfield aims to increase and sustain diversity in leadership within law firms. CRBJ

r 20, 2022

Viewpoint

VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

Photo/File

Minority women key to solving SC cybersecurity workforce shortage

yberattacks continue to target our major employers, government offices, healthcare systems, and utility infrastructure. In 2021 alone, cybercrime damage cost businesses in the U.S. more than $6.9 billion, according to noted cybersecurity expert Chuck Brooks, president of Brooks Consulting International. The threat of a devastating cybersecurity attack remains present across South Carolina. In spring of 2020, cybercriminals infiltrated the computer networks of BlackCOULTER baud, a South ew plant Carolina-based al Site in cloud-computing n facility provider. Ten years hway 521 after a massive TR facility data breach of the ustainable S.C. Department of Revenue that exposed the tax returns of 6.4 miltus lion residents and Diversity businesses, the fedtion Plus eral investigation DAVIS m collabremains open. 12-month Our problem in measurecombating cyberuntabilitycrime is that organizations cannot proincreasetect themselves without a talented workip withinforce trained in cybersecurity. Despite the critical need for more talent, a

workforce shortage persists at an alarming rate: there are more than 700,000 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S. — including 7,340 in South Carolina. If solving this problem was as easy as offering competitive salaries, there wouldn’t be a shortage. There is a lot to be done to fill these vacancies, but one solution is to support and encourage populations who might not otherwise think to enter the IT field to do so. For example, Black, Latina, and Native American (BLNA) women represent approximately 16% of the total U.S. population, yet they make up only 4% of students obtaining bachelor’s degrees in computing. By training and preparing BLNA women to pursue a career in cybersecurity, we are not only alleviating this shortage, but introducing fresh, qualified talent into our workforce. Nationwide, only 25% of tech graduates are women, with a dropout rate of 37% for tech classes compared to 30% for other programs. If this trend continues, the number of underrepresented women of color receiving computing degrees will not double until 2052 — by which time they will represent an increasingly smaller proportion of all graduates. To increase the number of BLNA women pursuing cybersecurity, we need to show them that we want them in this field and will provide the support they need to get here. South Carolina is home to multiple community colleges and organizations focused on entry-level training and career pathways for those

considering a career in cybersecurity. For example, Trident Technical College in Charleston offers certificates and associate degrees in cybersecurity. Western Governors University (WGU) is providing support to BLNA women pursuing cybersecurity even earlier in the pipeline: Reboot Representation Tech Coalition, a group of 21 leading tech companies that are committed to doubling the number of BLNA women receiving computing degrees by 2025, recently awarded the university a Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers for Women in Tech grant of nearly $1 million dollars to significantly increase the number of BLNA women receiving undergraduate IT degrees at WGU by 2025. While 61% of WGU students are women, the university’s BLNA enrollment in its College of Information Technology closely resembles the national average. Through the Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers for Women in Tech grant, BLNA women at WGU will have expanded access to peer and coaching support, admissions-process support, leadership development training, and financial aid grants in their pursuit of baccalaureate IT degrees. To find out more about becoming a student via the grant support, visit www.wgu. edu/b4women. Every day, hackers and cybercriminals launch new, sophisticated computer viruses, malware, and scams that threaten the data our society relies upon. We have seen firsthand the devastating effect

cybercrimes have in South Carolina, which serve a key role in national security efforts with offices for the FBI and IRS, among other federal and state agencies. We must rise to the challenge of better protecting invaluable data at top organizations and by creating talent pipelines that connect those organizations with homegrown candidates in South Carolina. WGU recognizes the urgent need to provide more women of color access to industry-relevant technology education to prepare them for thriving-wage, in-demand careers in the technology sector. Doing so not only helps them to support their families but also will be a positive step to protecting South Carolina businesses and residents from cybersecurity attacks. Dwana Franklin-Davis is the CEO of Reboot Representation. She is a collaborative and compelling visionary leading the Tech Coalition’s pooled philanthropic investments that enable Black, Latina, and Native American women to graduate with computing degrees by 2025 and lessen the diversity gap in tech. Ben Coulter, Ed.D. is Regional Director for Western Governors University’s Southeast Region. CRBJ

We want to hear from you Write: Ross Norton, Editor SC Biz News 35B Cessna Court Greenville, S.C. 29607 Email: rnorton@scbiznews.com

www.charlestonbusiness.com

CONFERENCE CENTER Featuring the world-class services & amenities you have come to expect from Hilton

•

Over 22,000 sq ft. of flexible meeting & event space

•

Largest hotel ballroom in Columbia with 10,400 sq ft. 800 sit down dinner capability

•

237 well appointed guest rooms

•

Complimentary parking

•

Complimentary WiFi in guest rooms and public space

•

Columbo’s Restaurant - open breakfast, lunch & dinner Happy hour M-F 4pm - 7pm

•

Complimentary airport shuttle

•

Fitness center & outdoor pool

2100 Bush River Road Columbia, SC 29210 803-731-0300 columbiasouthcarolina.doubletree.com

November 7-November 20, 2022