Charleston Regional Business Journal - November 13, 2023

VOLUME 29 NUMBER 19 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM

Part of the

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PLAYING THE SCENE

Hospitality group behind Husk and several other spots to open new downtown Charleston restaurant.

Page 40

NOVEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 4, 2023 ■ $2.25

(Image/Provided)

2023 Forty under 40 and Women of Influence winners.

Page 9 and 25.

Upfront

BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | BEST ADVICE

F&B serves delicious revenue across South Carolina

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any restaurants and drinking establishments survived the pandemic or were resilient enough to emerge with a new sense of purpose.

Many did not.

But the headlines over the past year indicate that South Carolina’s food and beverage sector continues to bring in new players and is seeing a surge of growth. A lot of South Carolina’s economic depends on hospitality and tourism, and food and beverage provides a year around subset of that business sector, including wages, professional sector service demand, suppliers, farmers and great food.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs are dependent on this sector, which employed 12% of all workers in South Carolina in 2022. In the next seven years, the National

Restaurant Association estimates that South Carolina will see a 16% increase in demand for F&B workers, including food service and other related jobs.

No longer is Charleston the only place for worldclass dining, but the entire Palmetto State is experiencing a renewed focus on different takes on Southern food and other F&B experiences. The state’s major metro areas aren’t the only places where good food can be found.

In 2022, the country’s F&B sector pulled in $898 billion, data from the National Restaurant Association show. The national trade group estimates that will increase 11% year-over-year, for nearly $1 trillion in revenue in 2023. – by Andy Owens

Cooking the numbers

Regional F&B retail sales Annual sales in 2022 for food and beverage establishments topped a quarter of a billion dollars among Southeastern states. South Carolina alone was worth $15 billion or 6.3% of the total.

Mississippi 3% Arkansas 3% Kentucky 4.9% Alabama 5% Louisiana 5.5%

10,705

S. Carolina 6.3%

South Carolina has more than 10,000 eating establishments as of 2022. That’s an average of 232 per county.

Tennessee 8.2%

257,800

Number of jobs directly related to the food and beverage sector in South Carolina, which represents 12% of all employment in the Palmetto State.

Virginia 10.2%

$997,000,000,000

N. Carolina 12.6%

27%

Georgia 12.6%

Southeast Food & Bev Sales

$238.2 billion

Amount of food and beverage sales expected national in 2023, an 11% increase from 2022.

The percentage of annual F&B sales in 2022 which came from 11 Southeastern states.

$69,400,000,000

Amount of F&B sales in Florida, the highest-grossing revenue state for the sector in the Southeast in 2022.

Florida 29.1%

$15,000,000,000 F&B sales in South Carolina for 2022.

Source: National Restaurant Association

Source: National Restaurant Association, 2022

we provide jobs with lots of benefits, we’re a leader in the area and ON THE “Because blessed with a lot of highly skilled food and beverage people who are very loyal to

RECORD

our team,” — David Howard, founder of The Neighborhood Dining Group, Marbled & Fin

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SC Biz News Briefs Member---Bration Member Bration 1773 – 2023

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Southern Tide will move its headquarters into the iconic Borden building in Greenville. (Rendering/Provided)

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Iconic coastal brand relocates HQ to downtown Greenville historic building

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coastal lifestyle and apparel brand announced its Greenville headquarters will move to a newly renovated historic building downtown.

Southern Tide’s move to the Borden building in an approximately 23,000-square-foot-space at 711 W. Washington St. marks a new chapter for the brand, as it embraces a space deeply steeped in local history and impact on the Greenville community.

The Borden provides not only a strategic location but also a connection to the brand’s origins, according to a news release.

“We are very excited to announce this new chapter of Southern Tide and are looking forward to continuing the company’s growth,” said Southern Tide CEO Carey Ann Campbell. “Greenville has always been our home and is ingrained in Southern Tide’s DNA. We hope to continue to expand our coastal lifestyle while staying true to our roots in Greenville.”

The completion of the Southern Tide office space and official move-in are both scheduled for the end of 2024.

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Undeveloped Boyd Island transformed into new public space for Columbia area

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former undeveloped swath of property has been transformed into a sanctuary and public space in Columbia.

The city of Columbia and the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation recently hosted the official grand opening for the Sanctuary at Boyd Island on Boyd Island.

Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann, District III Councilman Will Brennan, the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation, and the River Alliance provided details about the island sanctuary, and the efforts to facilitate its transformation into a public outdoor space available to the community, according to a news release.

The Boyd Island Sanctuary was made possible thanks to the vision of Darnall and Susan Boyd, and more than $1 million in contributions from the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation, the release stated. After visiting the undeveloped Boyd Island by canoe, Donnie and Susan Boyd found an enchanting natural treasure, but without easy access, the release stated.

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.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16 @ THE SHED, Downtown Charleston 250 years calls for our best Member-Bration yet! We invite you to join us as we go all out to celebrate our community of invaluable members and 250 years of serving the region. This quintessential Charleston evening will feature food, themed cocktails, live music, special entertainment, interactive Lowcountry experiences and more!

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

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Charleston School of Law has taken the first step towards becoming a nonprofit school. It is currently the last independent, ABA-approved for-profit law school in the United States. (Photo/Provided)

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Charleston School of Law seeks non-profit status — here’s why

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harleston School of Law has taken the first step toward becoming a nonprofit school. It is currently the last independent, ABA-approved for-profit law school in the United States, a news release stated.

Recently, the law school filed an application with the American Bar Association seeking acquiescence in the conversion from for-profit to not-for-profit status, according to the release. The American Bar Association’s Council on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is the national accrediting agency for law school programs leading to the Juris Doctor degree. A Juris Doctor from an ABA-approved law school in turn qualifies a graduate to sit for the bar exam in any state.

If the ABA acquiesces in the change, the law school then will seek approval from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and the United States Department of Education, the release stated. Acquiescence is not guaranteed,

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Interest in the Charleston School of Law is high with a 38% increase in applications in the last five years, the release stated. This heightened interest has allowed the school to be more selective, leading to significant increases in the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores and undergraduate grade point averages of new students. The law school has established seven clinics in which law students work with organizations to gain practical skills while serving low-income populations in the greater community. This is in addition to the hundreds of externship placements that are available each year.

Charleston School of Law has had record high bar passage and graduate employment rates, the release stated. It also recently completed the construction of a new, modern, state-of-the-art library and student center.

“Becoming a nonprofit entity has been a key priority for the law school since I joined the school in 2015,” said J. Edward Bell III, a South Carolina attorney who also serves as the law school’s president, in the release. “We look forward to the ABA’s decision on our application.”

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and there is no timetable for the ABA’s decision.

Conversion to non-profit status will involve the current owners of the law school donating the school to an existing nonprofit, the Charleston School of Law Foundation Inc., the release stated. The owners, including President J. Edward Bell III, have pledged not to take any money from the transaction. Instead, they will donate the school in its entirety to the foundation.

“There are many benefits to students, faculty, alumni and the community of a nonprofit law school in Charleston,” Larry Cunningham, the law school’s provost and dean, said in the release. “We are excited about this possible next step in the law school’s history and are ready to work with the regulatory agencies to achieve this important conversion to being a nonprofit school.”

Cunningham noted that a nonprofit school will be able to engage in robust fundraising, which can lead to increased support for student scholarships and a capital campaign for a new building on the Charleston peninsula.

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Luxury Daniel Island townhome development launches new phase

By Jason Thomas

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jthomas@scbiznews.com

ast West Partners, a luxury real estate developer, has launched sales for the initial offering in its third collection at the mixed-use community, The Waterfront Daniel Island, which features 11 townhomes.

Located in the heart of the Waterfront, the 11 Sanderling townhomes offer approximately 2,900 to 3,500-square-feet of indoor living space, including an upstairs flex space perfect for a game room or den, in addition to a spacious, covered outdoor terrace and a two-car garage in each unit, according to an East West Partners news release.

Starting at $2 million, the development offers four floor plans.

“The Sanderling townhomes bring one of our most highly sought after residential product types back to the community and we couldn’t be more excited to share this latest collection,” said Harriette Calder, project manager for The Waterfront Daniel Island, in the release. “With sales launched in a phased approach, it allows us to listen to our buyers’ needs and adapt accordingly. This offering incorporates valuable feedback from our existing homeowners and emphasiz-

Located in the heart of the Waterfront, the 11 Sanderling townhomes at The Waterfront Daniel Island offer approximately 2,900 to 3,500-square-feet of indoor living space. (Rendering/Provided)

es indoor/outdoor living to maintain coastal sensibilities.”

The design vision for the third collection is led by Betsy Berry of B. Berry Interiors, the Charleston-based firm also behind the community’s second collection offering, the release stated. Berry creates a classic aesthet-

ic throughout. Bluffton-based architecture firm Court Atkins Group is involved with the project.

Celebrating the best of waterfront living and the Lowcountry lifestyle, The Waterfront Daniel Island combines an elevated residential offering with premium community amenities,

the release stated. Amenities include: Direct access to Daniel Island’s newly redesigned waterfront park, featuring two public docks, an interactive fountain, waterfront swings and children’s play area.

Access to an array of natural and planned amenities, including 25 miles of trails with views along the marsh and water; The Kingstide, Daniel Island’s only waterfront restaurant with rooftop bar; and The DIME – The Daniel Island Market and Eatery – a gourmet grab-and-go market featuring coffee, pizza, gelato, and more.

Private amenities: pool; pool pavilion with fire pit, fireplace, and grilling station; fitness center with stateof-the-art equipment; community outdoor gathering spaces; post center with onsite property management.

Other partners involved in the waterfront village include Hart Howerton, the master plan architect; Thomas & Hutton, the civil engineer and landscape architect; and Brockington and Associates, environmental consultants for the project. Phase II, which began construction in April 2022, is sold out and expected to deliver in early 2024. The master plan for the development of The Waterfront on Daniel Island includes a total of six phases.

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

Charleston company behind first vertical farm of its kind in US

By Ross Norton

T

rnorton@scbinews.com

he S.C. Department of Corrections, joined by the S.C. Department of Agriculture and Charleston-based AmplifiedAg Inc., received legislative approval in October build a vertical farming facility and training program at Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution, a women’s prison in Columbia.

This initiative marks the first vertical farm in the United States to be located onsite at a correctional institution, according to a news release issued jointly by the Department of Corrections and Amplified Ag. This modern agricultural operation will provide incarcerated individuals with real world experience and career training in vertical farming and agricultural technology. In addition, the farm will supply fresh, healthy, pesticide-free lettuce — producing an estimated 48,000 pounds of lettuce per year — to the institution’s cafeteria and food program.

“This partnership is good in so many ways,” SCDC Director Bryan Stirling said in the release. “Inmates learn job skills while providing food for the institution. We see this as a win-win.

We appreciate the legislature’s continued support in fostering innovative

The technology of the vertical gardens enable crops to be grown with much less water and without pesticides, year-round. (Photo/AmplifiedAg)

programs to improve our prison system and keep the public safe by helping reduce recidivism.”

The $1.2 million project received approval for $350,000 in state funds from the State Fiscal Accountability Authority on Oct. 17. The remainder is expected to

come from private donations, the release said. The facility will be built by program partner AmplifiedAg, a Charleston-based agricultural technology company. The farm facility will use the same technology and modular growing infrastructure as AmplifiedAg’s commercial, non-profit and

government research partners – and will be upfitted with enhanced security for the safety of incarcerated persons and employees, the release said. The farm facility will consist of eight farming modules; four modules for growing lettuce, and four support modules for food processing, logistics and food safety checkpoints.

Vertical farming and agricultural technology are rapidly growing industries in modern agriculture and present valuable vocational opportunities for incarcerated persons, the release said. The Corrections Department, Agriculture Department, AmplifiedAg and other reentry organizations are collaborating to develop a full-spectrum vertical farm training program, where incarcerated persons will receive hands-on experience in every aspect of vertical farm production including horticulture, farming (seeding, growing, harvesting), technology, and food processing and packaging.

The objective of the vertical farming program at Camille Graham is to provide access to fresh produce, create a positive environment where incarcerated persons can contribute directly to their community, and ultimately provide STEM skills development and agricultural work experience for individuals to secure meaningful employment after incarceration See VERTICLE FARM, Page 7

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

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Scout Boats breaks ground for $10M campus expansion

By Ross Norton

S

rnorton@scbiznews.com

cout Boats Inc. broke ground on $10 million in expansion projects at its Summerville campus with a ceremony on Nov. 1.

Expansion plans include a fifth production building of 37,500 square feet and renovations to the front office and dining area at 2531 Highway 78 W./W. 5th North St. in Summerville. Renovations to the offices at the 36-acre campus are expected to be complete in the spring, according to a news release, with production facility construction to be

finished next summer.

The new plant will add 125 to the Scout Boats workforce.

The new production space, Plant E, will allow the company to build component parts for its yacht division and support the production of its newest flagship, the 67 LX series, a 67-foot model that will be one of the largest outboard-powered sportfishing yachts built in the world, the news release said.

The 67 LX Series project, comprised of three unique models, was announced to the marine industry at this year’s Miami International Boat Show in February.

Both expansion projects are a com-

bined $10 million investment by the company and come on the heels of a recent $3 million investment plant expansion completed in 2021 for Scout’s new dedicated 21,000-squarefoot product development and engineering building.

“The quality of the product we design and produce here with our skilled labor force has continued to set us apart in the industry, and the demand for our product has grown exponentially,” said Scout CEO Steve Potts. “To keep up with the demand, we felt it’s the appropriate time for this expansion, which will also allow us to expand our labor force from 475 to

600 employees over the next 18 months.

We’ve always been a debt-free company with an eye on the future, and we feel we set the example for other manufacturers to follow. These are exciting times for our brand — and though not without challenges — overcoming, persevering and excelling is in our blood.”

Scout builds luxury sportfishing center console, dual console and inshore/bay boat models ranging from 17 feet to 67 feet. Since its founding more than three decades ago, the company’s goal has been to manufacture the best-built boats in its distinctive sportfishing niches, the release said.

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VERTICLE FARM, from Page 6

– contributing to South Carolina’s lowest-in-the-nation recidivism rate, while bolstering the state agricultural workforce.

“South Carolina is on the cutting edge of agriculture innovation, and this initiative shows it,” S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said in the release. “This partnership between AmplifiedAg and two state agencies will offer meaningful job training and a healthy work environment to incarcerated people, helping them learn the importance of farming.”

AmplifiedAg founder and CEO Don Taylor said in the release: “It is an honor and a privilege to be partnering and supporting the Camille Graham vertical farming initiative. This is an important and innovative program and has the potential to positively impact the daily lives of incarcerated individuals, reduce recidivism, create new jobs in agriculture, and contribute to the facility’s healthy food security program. Camille Graham is a model institution, and our objective is to prove the program’s success and expand the initiative to other institutions across the state of South Carolina and the nation.”

AmplifiedAg modular farms are designed to grow produce year-round, and can operate regardless of climate, weather or land, enabling local food production close to the point of consumption, the release said. A single 320-square-foot module produces 3,400 heads of lettuce every harvest, with an average of 16 harvests per year.

The technology-enabled farms are complete with automated hydroponic growing systems, LED lights, and an advanced software platform that monitors and controls every aspect of the environment (including temperature, water, air, light, humidity) as well as food safety and traceability. The controlled farm environments are built to USDA and FDA world-class food safety standards and therefore do not require the use of pesticides. The modules use up to 95% less water than a traditional lettuce field, the release said.

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“Since 1983, Lowcountry Food Bank has led the fight against hunger in the Lowcountry. We believe food is a basic human right and all our neighbors should have access to healthy food every day. We thank all the donors, volunteers, and community partners who have come alongside us to serve thousands of families each year across the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina.

SouthState is one of our long-time supporters of this fight, providing both financial expertise and committed volunteers. We are so proud and appreciative to have SouthState as our partner.”

Nick Osborne

President & CEO Lowcountry Food Bank

SouthState Bank takes great pride in serving local businesses, ensuring they have the tools, guidance and security they need to reach their unique goals.

Member FDIC

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

State of the Ports: South Carolina ‘a powerful alternative gateway’

By Jason Thomas

D

jthomas@scbiznews.com

uring her second State of the Port address, South Carolina Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin showcased how SC Ports is powerhouse port, serving as a powerful alternative gateway for cargo owners seeking a well-run port in the thriving Southeast market.

With more than $3 billion invested into port infrastructure, S.C. Ports is positioned to be the preferred port on the U.S. East Coast, an SCPA news release stated.

While addressing a packed room of more than 800 people, Melvin announced that SC Ports will add at least 2 million TEUs of additional capacity at the Port of Charleston by modernizing North Charleston Terminal, making it comparable to Wando Welch Terminal, according to the release.

With upgraded cargo-handling equipment and an optimized terminal layout, the already-efficient container terminal offers future growth potential, the release stated.

“We have the opportunity to enhance North Charleston Terminal and add capacity to an already-deepened asset to further support our customers’ supply chains,” Melvin said in the release.

As part of the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, the Cooper River has been deepened up to North Charleston Terminal. This depth, combined with the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s

plans to replace the Don Holt Bridge on Interstate 526, sets the stage for the modernization of North Charleston Terminal, the release stated.

“A taller bridge and deepened harbor can accommodate larger vessels, and enhanced terminal capacity will drive growth,” Melvin said in the release. “The South Carolina Department of Transportation is playing a pivotal role in this vision. We are excited to see this critical highway infrastructure project benefit the people who live here, as well as the businesses that depend on the port. These investments will support S.C. companies’ growth well into the future.”

S.C. Ports has strategically invested in critical capacity and capabilities, while continuing to provide reliable service and efficient operations to keep freight moving in the supply chain, the release stated.

“We are experts at quickly working ships for ocean carriers and efficiently moving cargo for the businesses who entrust us to expertly handle their goods,” Melvin said.

“We provide the service, speed and connectivity that our customers depend on to thrive.”

Cargo continues to flow from the U.S. West Coast to the U.S. East Coast port market, as companies seek predictability, reliability and access to the Southeast.

Even as manufacturing and retail imports have declined across the U.S., the Southeast market continues to thrive with an influx of new residents and industrial growth.

“Port-dependent companies are investing in new operations, including advanced manufacturers, EV and battery manufacturers, solar panel producers, retailers, e-commerce sellers and import distribution centers,” Melvin said. “We have capacity for your supply chain, and as an operating port, we provide unmatched service to propel your supply chain.”

With the ongoing growth in the Southeast, S.C. Ports is actively building port capacity and rail capabilities with the new Navy Base Intermodal Facility in North Charleston, the release stated.

Significant progress has been made over the past year to prepare the site for new cargo-handling equipment, buildings and rail tracks, the release stated. The state-of-the-art cargo yard will be served by CSX and Norfolk Southern when it opens in July 2025.

This near-port intermodal operation will further speed goods to market, alongside a future barge operation that will transport containers between port terminals.

“These critical infrastructure projects are made possible by $550 million in state funding,” Melvin said. “The South Carolina Legislature and Governor McMaster understand the key role our port plays in driving our state’s economy. When our port grows, our state thrives.”

In the Lowcountry, Charleston now boasts the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet, capable of seamlessly handling fully loaded vessels at any tide.

S.C. Ports has also invested in its ro-ro and breakbulk operation and high-performing container terminals in Charleston, the release stated.

Melvin highlighted how port investments drive economic growth in South Carolina, creating generational opportunities for South Carolinians.

A new study found that having a worldclass port in South Carolina makes a nearly $87 billion statewide economic impact each year, according to Joseph Von Nessen, a research economist and professor at USC Darla Moore School of Business, who authored the study, the release stated.

The 2023 SC Ports’ Economic Impact Study found that port activities support 1 in 9 jobs in South Carolina, meaning that 260,000 S.C. jobs are tied — directly or indirectly — to port operations and port users, the release stated. These jobs account for both those employed by the port and maritime industry, and those working at port-dependent businesses around the state, like advanced manufacturers or retail distribution centers.

“We have remained incredibly competitive as the 8th largest port in the country, and when port-dependent businesses thrive, it creates opportunities in our communities,” Melvin said. “This growth is thanks to our best-in-class customers, industry partners, visionary state and elected leaders, strong supporters, incredible Board of Directors, and the most amazing port teammates and maritime community in the country.”

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rom activists to CEOs, the Lowcountry is full of talented young professionals making a mark in their chosen industry and in their communities.

You can meet dozens of these shining stars on the following pages in this Forty Under 40 special section.

What is particularly noteworthy, aside from our honorees’ professional achievements, is their desire to make the Lowcountry a better place through volunteerism.

Educating students about the untold story of the Lowcountry’s

civil rights movement. Mentorship. Serving on the board of the Lowcountry Addiction Treatment and Recovery Alliance.

Giving back is in these people’s DNA — and the Lowcountry is better off because of it.

We celebrated their accomplishments at a recent awards luncheon at The Francis Marion Hotel in downtown Charleston.

We’re humbled to do the same on these pages of Charleston Regional Business Journal. Congratulations to all honorees.

The Francis Marion Hotel rises 12 stories high and has been the epicenter of social and community life in Downtown Charleston since 1924. The hotel offers 20,000 sq. ft of meeting space including three magnificent ballrooms and eight smaller meeting rooms, fully equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment.

Our 235 guest rooms and penthouse suites offer unsurpassed harbor and city views of the Historic District, making it the perfect destination for your conference, corporate meeting or group event.

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Brittany Albright

Founder, owner, chief medical officer, Sweetgrass Psychiatry Brittany Albright designed and implemented a cutting-edge Magnetic Stimulation outpatient treatment regimen and a ketamine treatment program for individuals suffering from mental illness. She is a Harvard-trained physician, a researcher with numerous publications to her credit, a coveted expert speaker and an advocate of including pets into mental health treatment. She also leaps tall buildings in a single bound.

Brittany serves our community primarily by sharing her significant expertise pro bono, for example, as a board member of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Soledad Banner

Business intelligence analyst, Coastal Fertility Specialists Soledad Banner is a domestic violence survivor who was determined to provide a safe environment where her children could thrive. She graduated from a dead-end job and living in the shelter to a flourishing technology career five years later and is now co-author of an anthology on women in tech.

Banner combines her two great passions by mentoring young women who want to enter the tech industry and helping domestic violence survivors find resources and financial advice. She knows what it’s like to start from zero, dust herself off, and began building her dream.

Charlotte Berger,

Matthew Bostic

Before she turned 30, and smack dab in the heart of Covid, Charlotte Berger founded her PR firm, focused primarily on the industry most devastated by the virus — hospitality.

Matthew Bostic is a North Charleston native who founded the Cultura Festival for the city’s stylistically diverse hip hop and R&B music scene. His work in the music business has helped many young artists by nurturing their talent and offering them a platform.

His record label, SWIM, supports creative freedom and artistic control.

Founder, Charlotte Berger PR

Just three years later she has a team of 12, numerous clients in multiple industries and a social media non-profit that has raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity and more for Ukraine.

Berger was recognized as the Charleston American Marketing Association’s Marketer of the Year, and she plans to continue growing the firm beyond Charleston.

CEO, SWIM

If you hadn’t heard about Bostic, or his festival, you will soon.

Charleston City Paper named him Best Local Hip Hop Artist and he was the first hip hop artist named Charleston’s most progressive by Charlie Magazine.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

www.charlestonbusiness.com 11

Jonathan Capps, Chief revenue officer, Charlestowne Hotels

Simply put, Jonathan Capps is so money.

In his 13 years at Charlestowne Hotels, the company has grown from a handful of hotels to a nationally acclaimed hospitality management company with a portfolio of more than 40 properties. Jonathan has helped the company achieve a banner year in 2022, with revenue per available room more than triple the national average.

He has been named one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization by The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.

A sought-after industry expert featured in numerous publications, Capps mentors students in the College of Charleston’s hospitality management MBA program.

Zach Carman,

Associate, The Middleton Group Zach Carman manages five to 10 architecture projects at a time but he has developed an expertise designing schools. That goes over well at home, where his wife is a teacher.

Among several other local school projects, Carman designed the $30 million Sand Hill Elementary School educational complex and the 1,000-seat state-of-the-art performing arts center at Rollings Middle School of the Arts, both in Summerville.

That will also go over well at home, where his wife is a music teacher.

The two projects will serve 1,500 students combined.

In his free time, Carman enjoys gardening, and donating the extra produce to the community

Your leadership, sense of humor, innovative spirit and kindness continues to push our company towards greatness!

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Paul Cason

Owner, Reliance Global Logistics Paul Cason’s signature achievement may be that he transported the world’s largest donut, a Krispy Kreme special, to Times Square.

Or maybe it’s not. Maybe his signature achievement is building a logistics company from scratch, centered on the idea of business as ministry.

Casonleads company drives for diapers and food, serves breakfast to truckers during Truck Driver Appreciation Week, and adopts a child for Christmas. He gives his employees paid time to volunteer in the community.

Cason started his company in his apartment, just him and a phone.

Today he has 10 employees with partner carriers on land, sea and in the air.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Elizabeth Corr

Architect/project manager, Liollio Architecture A member of the U.S. Softball Hall of Fame for her record-setting career at Shippensburg University, the math and physics major also earned Academic All-American honors.

At Liollio, Elizabeth Corr manages numerous high-profile ventures, but her great love is community service projects, particularly libraries. She’s just completed two of those, one here in Charleston. She’s also leading the renovation of CofC’s Simons Center for the Arts, which was environmentally designed for net-zero water usage.

Corr is a coach as well, mentoring students and co-workers, and she volunteers for organizations like Trident United Way, Enough Pie and the Charleston Parks Conservancy.

CONGRATULATIONS

LIZ CORR FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENT ON BEING HONORED AS

ONE OF CHARLESTON’S

Charlotte-Mecklenburg South County Library

Charleston County Library Support Center

Liz Corr, AIA, LEED GA Architect + Associate liz@liollio.com 843.762.2222 liollio.com

Discovery Place Nature Museum Charlotte

College of Charleston Simons Center

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Sara Couch

Member attorney, Motley Rice Tobacco companies and toxic paint manufacturers have learned the hard way that you do not want to mess with an accomplished litigator who was a varsity athlete, cancer survivor and new mother.

That makes for one motivated lawyer.

And that’s Sara Couch, who represents clients in a wide variety of civil law cases. A varsity rower at Duke and a classically trained pianist, this talented young tort lawyer moved to Charleston out of law school and immediately immersed herself in community service. Couch serves on the board at East Cooper Habitat for Humanity and Slow Food Charleston, and is a major donor to Roper St. Francis and a member of her firm’s charitable giving committee.

Erin Dudley,

Hub Operations and Events Manager, Daniel Island Development Point Hope is a new development of thousands of residents coming to the Cainhoy peninsula, which is in the city of Charleston but the county of Berkeley. And Erin Dudley is in charge of communicating about the residential opportunities it offers. It is a gigantic undertaking. But Dudley is the person for the job.

A Realtor, an experienced event planner, a mentor at a nearby school, an autism and suicide prevention activist and a mother with a heart for service, Dudley is the hub of The Hub — the communications center for Point Hope. And she’s got some great job security, as full buildout of the community will take several decades.

www.charlestonbusiness.com 13

Chris Courchaine Operations manager, Heritage Pools

“Chris really sees us, not just as employees, but as people,” says one direct report at Heritage Pools. “He walks in a room and inspires. He lifts your spirits. Not a day will pass without him sending positivity one’s way or giving advice.”

Chris Courchaine has climbed the corporate ladder at Heritage and now leads the company’s organizational evaluation for sustainable and strategic growth. But while he’s crafting KPIs to measure performance, he also clearly understands the human element of business.

Upon hearing the news that he was to be honored today, what was Courchaine’s response? He publicly thanked his parents, siblings, grandparents, mentor, friends, business associates, son and wife — and took no credit himself.

Ty Grooms,

Enterprise sales account executive, Segra When you talk about Ty Grooms, a phrase keeps coming up: No. 1 salesperson. He was the No. 1 salesperson for AT&T Uverse when he worked for them, the No. 1 salesperson for Verizon Fios when he worked for them, and in his first nine months at Segra has already three times been recognized as the No. 1 salesperson.

Grooms is a salesperson for God, for kids, and for his community too. He’s served as a youth minister at his church, run food drives, and volunteered as coach for his 8-year-old son and other kids at the North Charleston Athletic Center. He’s no slouch in business either: He’s already agreed to serve as regional director for the SummervilleDorchester County Chamber.

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Helen Hall

Founder, Blender Bombs Helen Hall is one smoothie. A personal trainer, she recognized the need for convenient and nutritious food options that cater to busy lifestyles. So, she started a smoothie additive business that turned into a consumer packaged good line and a franchise model of smoothie bars.

What does the founder of a multimilliondollar company do to help her community? Why, mentor other aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women and minorities who are under-represented in the entrepreneur ecosystem. If they achieve onetenth of Hall’s success, they’ll be Forty Under 40s themselves.

Natalie Hauff

Deputy director for innovation, Charleston County Public Library How many Ted Talks have you done? OK, forget that. How many Pulitzer Prizes have you won? Natalie Hauff checks off both those boxes, before the age of 40.

Hauff is a former reporter at WCIV-TV and the Post and Courier, where she contributed to the 2015 Pulitzer prizewinning series on the epidemic of domestic violence in South Carolina. Then she rose up the ranks at the library, where she runs all the programming. Her Ted Talk concerned the evolution of libraries.

Hauff now serves the community as board chair of My Sister’s House, the domestic violence shelter.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Jamilla Harper

Chief operations officer, Metanoia Jamilla Harper doesn’t do community service; she is community service. By day she is a key leader in the economic development and leadership non-profit, Metanoia, which serves the low-income Chicora Cherokee neighborhood. Metanoia’s noteworthy asset-based approach seeks to unlock the community’s own brilliance from within.

Every other waking hour, she is still working and advocating for others. Out of college, Jamilla served as an AmeriCorps member and then worked in Nairobi, Kenya for a non-profit that helped plan positive public spaces in slums. Harper also serves on the board of a community development lender and on the College of Charleston Foundation Board.

Sharina Haynes

Project manager, The Boeing Co. Sharina Haynes’ actual title is DevSecOps Agile project manager. She’s also a scrum master. Those tongue twisters hide a talented and dedicated individual who leads teams at the aircraft manufacturer and serves as president of the Goose Creek NAACP. Haynes graduated with a physics degree from Tennessee State and a master’s with a concentration in astronomy from Fisk University, and is passionate about getting more minorities and women interested in STEM careers.

Haynes is a fixture at city and county council meetings advocating for marginalized communities, while serving on the Goose Creek Cultural Arts Commission and as social justice chairperson for Alpha Kappa Alpha, the national Black sorority. You might say this physics major is accelerating equality in her community and beyond.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Kevin Hoak

Senior vice president and chief operating officer, Roper St. Francis Healthcare Kevin Hoak is the second in command at a health care system that employs 6,000 people at four hospitals and 100 medical offices in three counties. His largest project is Roper’s $1 billion plan to leave the flooded Charleston peninsula after 175 years and move its main hospital closer to the center of the region in North Charleston.

Hoak became fascinated with healthcare as a seven-year-old when his mother was confined to a hospital bed. Through hospital Bingo, he discovered that healthcare is about more than medicine; it’s about caring for people.

As for his spare time, Hoak and his wife have three children under the age of 5.

www.charlestonbusiness.com 15

Domonic Jones

Principal and project manager, Thomas & Hutton Though he’s trained as a civil engineer, Domonic Jones’ primary skill is communication. He is lauded for his consistent communication and culture of continuous growth with his team. He balances promoting autonomy and providing guidance, laying the foundation for effective and enduring team building, which has generated respect from those who work with him.

A Leadership Charleston graduate, Jones oversees the planning and design of large-scale residential, commercial, and roadway projects in the Charleston Metro and throughout South Carolina. He project managed Mount Pleasant’s first workforce housing complex, Gregorie Ferry Towns. His community involvement includes mentoring Citadel cadets at his alma mater and support for East Cooper Community Outreach.

DOMONIC MONIC JONES,, PE PE Nikki Kuniej

Director of digital strategy, Charleston Radio Group Described as a dynamic personality with infectious positivity, Nikki Kuniej is your South Carolina Broadcasters Association Star Award winner. And why not, she’s carving up the digital arena for top radio stations like Star 99.7 and Chuck FM. Kuniej generated nearly $1 million in gross revenue last year and leads a team of seven creating integrated marketing plans for Lowcountry businesses.

Kuniej broadcasts herself in the community as a longtime Big Sister, a fundraiser for the Blood Connection and a serial networker, leading a couple of professional women’s groups. It seems like everyone in the Charleston area knows and loves Nikki.

20233 SC BIZ NEWS WS CLASS OF FORTY FORT TY UUNDER 40

www.tandh.com

Congratulations to:

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Jay Kramer

Project manager of existing industry, Charleston County Economic Development If Jay Kramer did nothing more the rest of his career, he would already have made a bigger mark than most of us. In his first job out of college, Kramer led the nationwide release of Caroline’s Cart, the world’s first shipping cart for individuals with special needs.

But Kramer is doing something more — serving as primary ombudsman between the county and existing businesses. During his tenure 72 companies have invested more than half a billion dollars in expansion and generated 5,072 new jobs. He knows that a rising tide lifts all boats.

On weekends, you can find Kramer pounding the skins for his highenergy Lowcountry Soul wedding band with a fitting name: The Rising Tide.

CONGRATULATIONS, JAY KRAMER!

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Alex Kusek

Owner, CHS Dental Named among America’s Best Dentists by the National Consumer Advisory Board, Dr. Alex Kusek is on the cutting edge of dental practice, using 3D printers to provide sameday service to patients requiring crowns.

He’s been certified in IV sedation, implantand bone-grafting and is working for other certifications.

Besides the high tech, his office is high touch. He promises never to recommend a procedure he wouldn’t recommend to his wife and two young daughters.

Kusek believes everyone should have great dental care. He donates supplies and equipment to East Cooper Community Outreach for their subsidized dental program.

Modern Dentistry Meets Family Values

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

“Having the latest in dental technology allows us to treat you more effectively and efficiently. We are constantly learning and evolving to encompass cutting edge techniques and materials to provide comprehensive five star care.”

-DR. ALEX KUSEK

CONTACT US (843) 884-2021 Hellochsdental@gmail.com www.chs.dental

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Ashley Landreth

Senior scientific technical manager and Expeditionary Warfare Department head, Naval Information Warfare Center The youngest department head at NIWC and one of only two female department heads, Ashlee Landreth commands 600 engineers and technical specialists, a $600 million budget and 100 projects protecting our country against China, Russia and the growing threat of information warfare. Her contributions have been recognized with NIWC Atlantic’s You Made a Difference Award.

That sounds like a 24/7 job, but this mother of four young children is an ardent advocate for high-performing diversity in STEM fields, leading a series of efforts to recruit and retain Black employees. She also volunteers for Toys for Tots and through her church.

www.charlestonbusiness.com 17

Julianne Lang

School Leader, Lowcountry Leadership Charter School Julianne Lang was elevated to lead the school right in the middle of Covid. Nonetheless, she and her team have turned the school into a Platinum School of Excellence with growth in English and Math. With a school curriculum focusing on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, it’s closing the achievement gaps and outperforming surrounding schools.

Lang is an asset outside the building too, leading her students to service projects all over the community for the Food Bank, Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary and more.

FIND THE MISSING PIECES WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE JUNE 5-18, 2023 ■ $2.25 VOLUME 29 NUMBER 10

Spirits of the Silver Screen

Bottling company buys Coastal Pure Beverages.

Page 7

Kenneth Marolda Co-president, Marolda Enterprises

Kenneth Marolda’s mother taught him that when you see someone in need, it’s your obligation to help them. And Marolda has made a life and a career of doing that, right here and across the globe. Combining business and social good, his company provides property management services to hundreds of units, most of them affordable housing. He also serves on the boards of two non-profits and as president of his neighborhood association.

All the while, he’s working to raise money and supplies for the people of Ukraine though a non-profit he founded called CHS4Ukraine. He has organized 25 courier flights to Poland and Ukraine delivering supplies to war refugees.

network

COMING FULL CIRCLE

■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM

Part of the

Boeing boosted by private purchasers Efficiency of Dreamliners leads to more sales for business division.

Page 8

Work begins on materials complex Clemson launches building for advanced materials.

Page 10

New way to tour historic Yorktown app Bulldog Tours develops as audio around museum.

Page 11

INSIDE

Upfront .....................................................2 ... 3 SC Biz News Briefs.......................

In Focus: and Architecture, Engineering Construction.....................................13 List: Architecture Firms...........21 Bonus List: General Contractors.......................................220 Hot Properties ..................................2 ............24 .....................................

Work At .......27 Viewpoint .....................................

the Park Circle A complete revamp of — part of playground in North Charleston — finally of the area a $20 million overhaul date. Page 13 has an anticipated opening

(Image/Provided)

North Charleston Business Expo drew The North Charleston event and more than 150 exhibitors hundreds of attendees.

Page 6

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Courtney Long Capata Vice president of communications, Beemok Hospitality

Courtney Long Capata may be under 40, but she has racked up 17 years of expertise in hospitality public relations. After a long stint in New York City, where she helped launch 20 hotels around the world, she’s back home weaving the story for Charleston Place and its related properties.

After being away for so long, Long Capata is dedicated to her hometown. She’s spent 100 hours already this year volunteering at Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and serves as a board member at The Gibbes. Co-workers say she exhibits unbridled positivity and enthusiasm and always seeks opportunities to lift up others.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Thomas Mathewes

Real estate project manager, Parker’s Kitchen Thomas Mathewes has a mind for real estate and a passion for the communities those properties can create. After earning his B.A. in Historic Preservation and Community Planning from the CofC, he restored historic properties in downtown Charleston.

At Parker’s Kitchen, Mathewes has helped identify, acquire and develop 20 store locations and negotiated $20 million in contracts and leases.

He also established communications in advance with neighboring residents of the Charleston site.

Mathewes gives back to the community through Parker’s Community Fund and its Fueling the Community program.

Jennifer Maxwell

Regional director of sales, Raines Jennifer Maxwell manages sales and marketing efforts for the hotels in the Raines portfolio consisting of Choice, Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott brands. Under her leadership, the company consistently beats its sales goals.

But what Maxwell really is is a relationship builder. She believes in creating conditions conducive to business success for everyone.

That’s led her to serve as president of the Mount Pleasant Chamber and as a member of the Mount Pleasant Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee. She is also helping other women climb the career ladder with as part of a group that started a women’s networking collaborative called RISE.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

www.charlestonbusiness.com 19

Jill Meyer

Toni Moore,

Principal, DWG Consulting Engineers

Culture and community manager, Frampton Construction

DWG’s first female engineer, Jill Meyer’s career focuses on the healthcare market, where she has renovated two dozen operating rooms and cardiac cath labs around town.

And boy is she good at it. Meyer has won five awards from the American Council of Engineering and won Healthcare Design Magazine’s Remodel and Renovation competition. DWG credits her for winning a big contract at Roper’s new North Charleston campus.

Public service is part of her portfolio too, volunteering with Water Missions International, Winwood Farm Home for Childrern and Pet Helpers. You might say she is designing a better community.

A special education teacher for six years and former Teacher of the Year in the Charleston School District, Toni Moore is still teaching, but now inside a business. She is passionate about making sure every team member has the training they need to be successful and works diligently to inspire a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Moore didn’t stop having a positive impact on her community when she entered the construction business. She’s involved with Habitat for Humanity, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Heart Association, Green Heart Project, First Tee, and more.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations

Jill Meyer, PE

2023 CRBJ Honoree

for being recognized as a 2023 Woman of Influence and as one of Charleston’s 2023 Forty under 40

TONI MOORE

Congratulations

Gaelyn Zafred, PE on being named a 2023 Woman of Influence!

Thank you both for your exceptional achivements and leadership!

Culture & Community Manager

20

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

Lauren Minors

Director of partnerships and marketing, Reason One Lauren Minors is a talented digital marketer who moonlights as a comedian. She regularly performs at Theatre 99 and with independent improv teams YesAdventures and Octopus Garden.

Minors joined Reason One with limited digital knowledge and soon after was such a subject matter expert, she was speaking at conferences on digital topics.

Minors believes that a strong community comes from active participation and so she’s generous with her time: the list of charities she supports is long and includes establishing a scholarship for Black students in tech at Reason One.

Lowcountry Hotels would like to congratulate RYAN PADGETT on his induction into the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

RYAN PADGETT Lowcountry Hotels Director of Procurement

Will Morrison

Associate, The Middleton Group You might say Will Morrison is in local architecture for the long run. This marathoner and triathlete is also an awardwinning designer. His signature local project replaced the iconic Three Sisters buildings on Calhoun and East Bay. Torn down in 1964, this trio of tightly spaced single houses included a corner store.

Replacing such a treasure with a pharmacy is a fraught proposition, but Morrison handled it with care and appreciation. He designed the new Delta Pharmacy Building to march the style and scale of the neighborhood while paying homage to its predecessors.

Ryan Padgett

Director of procurement, Lowcountry Hotels; founder, Holy City Sports League By day, Ryan Padgett is a mild-mannered hospitality executive responsible for all the furnishings and equipment for 800 rooms in six area hotels. By night, he’s the runs Holy City Sports League, which brings healthy competition and networking opportunities to hundreds of participants. In addition, Padgett uses some of the participation fees to purchase and donate sports equipment to local subsidized housing communities.

The league offers something for nearly everyone, including disc golf, tennis, volleyball, golf, hoops and flag football. There are leagues for men and women and they operate in all four seasons.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Lauren Nilan

Senior manager, Elliott Davis Lauren Nilan, who has her bachelor’s and master’s from Georgia, is an accountant with an extensive banking background, specializing in audits of publicly-owned companies and helping banking clients run more efficiently.

Service and leadership have been staples in Lauren’s life since college. She has volunteered with the Florence Crittendon Center for pregnant teens, which led her to co-found YoungLives Charleston, a Christian ministry that supports pregnant and parenting teens through mentorship and community. Nilan is also chair of United Way’s Young Leaders Society.

www.charlestonbusiness.com 21

Masheed Rockwell

Co-owner, chief financial officer, Rockwell Construction Charleston is in Masheed Rockwell’s blood, her diplomas, her children and her business.

A Charleston native who graduated from Ashley Hall and College of Charleston, Rockwell raised her two sons here. When her husband needed her help running their construction business, which focuses on historic preservation, she jumped in and created systems to streamline operations. Since she came on board, the company has grown from three to four house renovations at a time, to 15 to 20.

Rockwell spreads her love for the Holy City through volunteerism as well, working with the Association for the Blind, Habitat for Humanity and Porter Gaud School.

IT’S TIME TO BINGE BUSINESS Subscribe to SCBIZtv and stay in tune with what’s happening across South Carolina. www.youtube.com/scbiztv

Joshua Royal, Founder, Aventus

What’s New and What’s Hot!

Raised by a single mother, Joshua Royal dropped out of high school and probably never will make anything of himself. Except for the $1 million he earned by age 19, the $100 million of sports supplements he sold online, and the call center he founded that has generated $15 million in revenue.

And that doesn’t even seem to be his main job. Royal dedicates himself to helping others, donating significant sums to veterans, paying to repair the homes of staff members affected by natural disasters, fulfilling the Christmas wish list for five dozen children each year, sponsoring the Walk for ALS — and that’s just the first page of the list. Josh is proof of what hard work and a big heart can accomplish.

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

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.

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

Domenico Ruggerio

Leslie Skardon

Executive director, We Are Family

Director of client partnership, Global Prairie

We Are Family provides a safe and understanding haven for queer youth, who have a significantly higher rate of depression, anxiety and suicide than other young people.

Teens and young adults with sexual identity issues are vulnerable and often marginalized, even by their families.

Domenico Ruggerio has a long history of serving individuals in this community. He served on the board of directors for Charleston Pride and is an active member and vice president of the Charleston Blockade Rugby Club, the state’s first queer and inclusive sports team.

Raised in the Philippines and on New York’s Long Island, Ruggerio has dealt with feeing like an outsider his whole life. And for much of it, he has helped others who feel the same way.

What’s a young woman with a personal ethos of making the world a better place doing at a marketing firm? Global Prairie’s mission is to cultivate a healthier world through purposedriven marketing. Leading the Charleston office, Leslie Skardon embodies the culture they have built.

She recently founded Charleston Civil Rights and Civics, a program for high school freshmen teaching the untold civil rights history of the Lowcountry. She was recently appointed by the Mayor to serve on Charleston’s Commission on Women. A graduate of Leadership Charleston, Skardon has been named one of South Carolina’s Top 50 Women Leaders by the news site Women We Admire.

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

Amy Stasiukaitis,

Chief of staff, Lowcountry Case and Millwork Along with her husband, Amy Stasiukaitis is co-owner of Lowcountry Case and Millwork.

Entirely separate from her husband, she is the self-proclaimed chief matriarch of the Stasiukaitis household and founder of The Helm Collective, a community for executive mothers.

In her primary job, Stasiukaitis is responsible for the cultural well-being of the company and its 50-plus employees. Amy has implemented a complete cultural evolution at the business. On the side, she and husband David buy, renovate and sell distressed properties and have begun a vacation rental business.

The mom of four has embarked on her women’s executive gig and volunteers with the Charleston Metro Chamber, the Harbor Club and MUSC.

www.charlestonbusiness.com 23

Tony Turner,

Vice president for enrollment and marketing, Charleston Southern University When Tony Turner joined Charleston Southern two years ago, his predecessor exclaimed “the Lord has answered our prayers.”

The son of two deaf parents, Turner has never been known to back down from a challenge. He is intentional about providing financial assistance to the highest-need students — which he has done through his assistance to deaf students on campus and the creation of an undocumented student scholarship program at CSU. Turner referees high school basketball and organizes his family reunion in his spare time, and that’s no small undertaking. It’s a few hundred aunts, uncles and cousins.

LEWIS WHITE Senior Project Manager

Lewis White

Senior project manager, Trident Construction Lewis White has been involved with $300 million worth of construction projects for companies you might have heard of. Do Boeing, Volvo, the City of North Charleston and Charleston County ring a bell? How about Habitat for Humanity? He has cultivated a culture of collaboration with his peers, which has led to ever-increasing management responsibilities for this young professional.

White’s community contributions run the gamut, from fundraiser for Windwood Farm Home for Children to football and baseball coach for rec teams. Lewis serves as a volunteer firefighter on Sullivan’s Island and earned Firefighter of the Year for an ocean rescue that saved three lives.

CONGRATULATIONS!

You’ve

Earned it... now Promote it...

Each year, the Charleston Regional Business Journal honors highly influential, young professionals in the business community.

This elite 40 comprises people under the age of 40 who have excelled in the professional arena and in community involvement.

Lowcounrty surgeon hopes to model opportunies

By Teri Errico Griffis

D

K ATE ALLEN

AGE:

32

POSITION TITLE:

Regional Sales Director, Southeast ORGANIZATION OR BUSINESS:

Neuronetics Inc.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT? My proudest accomplishment was being selected for the Seacoast Church "Love People" award of 2020. To me, success isn't about how much money I make. It's about making others feel encouraged, loved and welcomed.

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN? My sister once told me, "Life isn't always greener on the other side. It's greener where you water it." I also had a mentor instill in me that a I shouldn't be insecure because of my age or lack of experience, but rather be empowered by the positions of leadership I've been asked to step into.

Reprinted by EnVeritas Group with permission from Charleston Regional Business Journal . www.enveritasgroup.com | KA120821

r. Shasta Henderson is a force.

Of the nearly 20,000 orthopedic surgeons in the U.S., only 6.5% are women and around 2% are Black, with Black, female surgeons making up less than 1%, according to reports by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and Yale School of Medicine, respectively.

Henderson is the 10th Black female orthopedic trauma surgeon to enter the industry in the U.S. and she works at Trident Health in North Charleston.

“It’s 2021. Who knew?” she said. Excited, not deterred by this statistic, the surgeon is working to bridge the gap with both women and minorities, hoping when they see her, they see opportunities for themselves in the field.

“I always find great joy in the shock and awe of when I walk in the room and say, ‘Hey, I’m Dr. Henderson, and I’m an orthopedic surgeon,” she said. “Sometimes I’m met with a look of surprise, and I welcome that. It’s good. It’s a change that’s happening in the world, that’s happening here.”

Growing up with both her parents working in a health care field, Henderson felt destined to follow in their footsteps.Her mother worked on the administrative side and ran several federally qualified health care centers, while her father was a gastroenterologist. Henderson remembers

Dr. Shasta Henderson sees being one of the few Black female orthopedic surgeons in the country as an opportunity to model her profession for those who might not have considered the possibility. Photo Provided

spending weekends as a little girl making rounds with her father, and was impacted by the way he was always there for patients in times of need.

A Division I college basketball career at Barnard College of Columbia University and a sports injury led her to orthopedics in particular. She was impressed with how involved her doctors were and how they literally and figuratively helped patients back on their feet.

After graduation, Henderson moved to Winston-Salem, N.C., where she attended Wake Forest

School of Medicine. It was there she fell in love with fracture care, the “bread and butter of ortho care,” as she put it. Orthopedics was the best way for her to work with her hands and intervene on the worst days of patients’ lives.

“No two fractures are the same and every case presents its own unique complexities, but also opportunities for fixation,” she said.

“It’s a very artistic puzzle that you can piece back together and mend with plates and screws, getting peo- ple back to function and doing what they love.”

Take the first step today toward building equity in your brand, promoting your excellence and offering your audience more reasons to trust you.

Contact EVG, and a member of EVG’s content licensing team will be happy to answer your questions and get you started.

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

www.charlestonbusiness.com 25

CONGRATULATIONS

C

ongratulations to the inaugural Columbia Regional Business Journal’s 2023 Women of Influence honorees.

These 42 women represent a wide variety of industries and sectors in the Lowcountry, including business, entrepreneurship, public service, education, law, communications, health care, hospitality and finance, to name a few. These women were nominated because of the impact they have had in their fields and because they have demonstrated

exceptional leadership, resilience, and innovation, not only having impact on the business world and in the community right now but also paving the way for future generations.

The women were honored at a luncheon held Oct. 25 at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, an event which allowed them a day of recognition and helped the community as a whole learn about the continuing contributions of remarkable women of influence in the Lowcountry.

Ani Paulson

2023 WOMAN OF INFLUENCE CHARLESTON REGIONAL BUSINESS JOURNAL

liz ashley, M.A. Founder + Chief Aligner + Workplace Strategist + Mentor + Volunteer

“A modern woman of influence balances business acumen, leadership ability, and volunteerism, skills that ultimately build a better community.”

& Proud 2023 Recipient of a Charleston Regional Business Journal Women of Influence Award

alignbehaviors.com 843-860-1376

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Maka Aptsiauri

President, CHS4Ukraine Maka Aptsiauri hails from the Republic of Georgia and remembers Russia’s illegal invasion of her country, supported by all the same false rhetoric that precipitated its invasion of Ukraine last year. That’s when the owner and chef at EuroFoods grocery and café founded CHS4Ukraine with her Ukrainian husband, to provide aid to the besieged people of that country.

With volunteers from the U.S., Poland and Ukraine, they have raised and shipped thousands of pounds of humanitarian supplies and helped settle Ukrainian refugees.

Aptsiauri came to the U.S. without knowing a word of English but she is an American citizen and entrepreneur now. What could make her more American than that?

Janet Bates

Client solutions manager, JE Dunn Construction Janet Bates knows what it’s like to work in a mostly male industry. She heads JE Dunn Construction’s efforts to build long-term strategic relationships with clients.

Janet was nominated by her business partner, who truly loves her. That’s why he married her. The Charleston Chamber named Bates to its “One to Watch” last summer, just six weeks after the birth of her third child. She serves on the board of the Charleston Metro Chamber, of the Women’s Business Center at Increasing Hope financial training center and at her synagogue, KKBE, one of the oldest in the nation.

Bates isn’t afraid to have that tough conversation that leads to change, which has helped JE Dunn earn recognition from SC Biz News as a Best Place to Work in SC.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Liz Ashley

Founder and CEO, Align People + Results, a Workplace Strategies Consulting Firm What makes Liz Ashley such a successful workplace strategist who has helped everyone from family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 clients improve their processes and retain their employees? It started at Estee Lauder, the cosmetics company, where she worked as a sales and education executive, turning the lowest performing territory into the highest performer.

Now running Align, a People + Results Consulting Firm, she also volunteers her expertise by chairing Thrive, the Chamber’s women’s organization, and serves on the board at the Harbour Club, at WestEdge, and as the first female board member of the Warrior Surf Foundation for veterans with PTSD.

Charlotte Berger Founder, CharlotteBergerPR

Charlotte Berger, also a Forty Under 40 award winner this year, founded and leads CharlotteBergerPR, which she launched during the pandemic and now employs 10. She also founded TastemakersCHS, Charleston’s only culinary social media group that connects restaurants, nonprofits, and influencers under the same umbrella.

She’s leveraged it to benefit local restaurants, raise $60,000 for area nonprofits and another $25,000 for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

Berger runs a girls-only club there at Charlotte Berger PR, except for her husband. Because several of them are mothers, including Berger, she has embraced remote work to strike that work-life balance. Having founded two firms before 30, Charlotte mentors young women who want to follow in her giant footsteps.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Katie Blomquist

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Jennifer Charzewski

Founder and CEO, Going Places

Principal, Liollio Architecture

Katie Blomquist is Going Places. That is, she’s the founder and CEO of a non-profit by that name, which gets bicycles into the hands of low-income children to increase their mobility, experiences and opportunities.

A former teacher whose heart hurt for the challenges facing her students, she got bikes for 400 kids last year.

As a principal at Liollio Architecture, here is a list of awards bestowed upon Jennifer Charzewski: she is a Business Journal Forty Under 40, she’s won recognition for design excellence from the American Institute of Architects and well, unless you have a half hour, you don’t have time to read the rest.

Suffice to say that Charzewski is a highly decorated architect, volunteer and public servant.

Blomquist makes things happen even when she’s standing still, which isn’t often. She founded a social media management company, co-owns an online academy to teach people how to start a nonprofit, and teaches two social media classes at The College of Charleston. Taking a break from all that, Blomquist boarded 26 airplanes this summer.

As principal in charge of business development, Charzewski must understand how to build and how to interact with other humans. In fact, she’s often asked to speak about the built environment. You might have seen her at Pecha Kucha Charleston last year.

A working mom of three, Charzewski champions opportunities for women in architecture, as well as office policies to support growth and leadership opportunities, especially working mothers.

CONGRATULATIONS

JENNIFER

CHARZEWSKI FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENT ON BEING HONORED AS

Charleston Fire Station #11 West Ashley

ONE OF CHARLESTON’S

Discovery Place Nature Museum Charlotte

Jennifer Charzewski, AIA, LEED AP Principal + Architect jennifer@liollio.com 843.762.2222 liollio.com

James Island Town Hall James Island

Charlotte-Mecklenburg South County Library

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

Lucinda Brasington

Krisdee Clark

Chief operating officer, ERA Wilder Realty

Mrs. American 2022-23, blogger

Leading a 300-agent brokerage with 10 offices across the state, it’s not surprising that Lucinda Brasington is considered an expert in her field.

The COO of ERA Wilder Realty is a national speaker on lead management and conversion, and has been quoted many times in industry publications on agent connectivity and successful agent adoption of tools and technology. Because of that, she was featured in a recent issue of Realty Biz News.

Her dedication and support for agents and staff earned her the company’s Always There for You award, and two years ago she created the firm’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.

Brasington has helped guide the company to heights in the industry as well, winning numerous awards and spearheading $168,000 of charitable fundraising efforts.

Tammy,

Here she is, Mrs. American, The Blonde Bombshell, Krisdee Clark. The director of corporate affairs for the largest hospice in the Southeast, Clark is best known as one of the nation’s leading advocates for survivors of breast cancer.

As the winner of the 2022 Mrs. American pageant, Clark has used her platform to educate, support and uplift those affected by the disease. The Blonde Bombshell is her blog about thriving after breast cancer.

But it’s more than that: She was chosen by the Susan G. Komen Foundation to serve as keynote speaker on Capitol Hill. She personally lobbied members of Congress, helping get four bills passed to support breast cancer research.

Tammy Coghill

Manager of economic development and local government, Dominion Energy

Dr. Mary Thornley and the Board of Trustees of the TTC Foundation extend our heartfelt appreciation for your leadership, passion and advocacy in support of the students of Trident Technical College.

Tammy Coghill’s job as Dominion Energy’s manager of economic development and local government is to connect people and organizations for solutions that build community and opportunity for all. But her passions are photography and volunteerism.

We congratulate you on this well-deserved honor!

What might be a highlight for those organizations is that she donates her photography to them for auction, combining her two passions in one beautiful picture.

Coghill has served on the Trident Tech board for a decade, now as board chair. She volunteers with Sea Island Habitat’s Women Build, the Charleston Chamber and the Charleston Regional Development Alliance. She gives her time to numerous women’s groups like Thrive and Charleston Women in International Trade, and says all those experiences have been the highlight of her career.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Mackenzie Crabtree

Broker-owner, Mackenzie Crabtree Real Estate Former radio talk show host Mackenzie Crabtree was not someone you wanted to antagonize. She’s got a black belt in karate.

Mackenzie Crabtree Real Estate specializes in foreclosed properties. She and her team have sold more than 800 foreclosed properties in an average time of one day for an average price 3% above list price. She has been a top 1% sales producer nationally for 15 years in a row.

“If it’s distressed, then we are the best!” she says, and she has more than 70 clients who will testify it’s true.

Tosha Connors

CEO, My Sister’s House Tosha Connors has done the most terrifying thing any leader can: She took over a stagnant 40-year-old agency and introduced change.

She serves as CEO of My Sister’s House, a non-profit organization that provides direct services and support to victims of domestic violence and their families.

Prior to Connors, My Sister’s House was a shelter-first organization. Today victims of domestic violence are housed throughout the community and offered more expanded services, like court advocacy and representation, education and prevention through trauma-informed tactics and strategies. She has engaged businesses and other non-profits to increase the agency’s reach.

Taking calculated risks, Connors is moving a venerable non-profit forward to keep up with today’s realities.

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Ronda Dean

Founder, president, CEO, Afaxys Ronda Dean provides oral and emergency contraceptives in U.S. clinics, now serving more than 8,400 public health centers across the nation. Her company has delivered more than 27.5 million months of contraceptive protection to patients. Ronda says a woman’s access to contraception is critical in her ability to control her own life, pursue her educational goals, and achieve economic mobility. Yet that access is dependent more than anything on her zip code, something Afaxys is working to change.

Being at the forefront of women’s reproductive rights afforded Dean the opportunity to meet Justice Harry Blackmun, and chat about Roe v.

Wade, the controversial Supreme Court decision he authored legalizing abortion, which was recently overturned by the current court.

Jamie Dement

Brand manager, Charleston Regional Development Alliance The Charleston region is booming, and just a little bit of the credit goes to Jamie Dement, brand manager for the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, which works to attract companies, talent and entrepreneurs to the Lowcountry. Dement’s expertise is in marketing, which is helpful when working to land a big catch like Volvo or Scout Motors.

A 40 Under 40 honoree in 2019, Dement is dedicated to improving life in the region. She’s a Riley Fellow, a Diversity Initiative graduate, a Palmetto Goodwill board member and an active participant in Women in Tech.

Dement is a “speak softly and carry a big stick” kind of person. She’s rarely the loudest but often the most compelling. That yin-yang approach makes sense for someone who both played rugby and sang in an acapella group in college.

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

Elizabeth Dees

Experience manager, Trident Construction Elizabeth Dees is serving as president-elect of the Society of Marketing Professional Services’ local chapter while she attempts to create “Raving Fans” of Trident Construction — that’s what they call loyal customers.

Combining a graphic communication degree with an architecture concentration and an MBA, Elizabeth can skate circles around other marketers – literally. She’s earned medals for figure skating skills and free dance, finishing in the top 10 in last year’s U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships.

Pixie Paula Dezzutti

Owner/CEO, Striped Pig Distillery, Ghost Monkey Brewery, Skirt, Charleston, Sycamore BioPharma Being a mother of nine children would drive any woman to drink. Instead, Pixie Paula Dezzutti opened a distillery. One of only a few women worldwide to own a distillery and brewery, Pixie’s Striped Pig Distillery in North Charleston is the Lowcountry’s first since Prohibition.

Spirits are a small part of Paula Dezzutti’s secret sauce. She’s a cryptocurrency expert, record company executive, brand strategist, a CBD entrepreneur and more. She has worked in finance, real estate, import/export, and even as an ordained minister. She’s instilled the entrepreneurial spirit in her children too.

During the first year of Covid, Striped Pig was acclaimed for pivoting its alochol production to make hand sanitizer and donating it to the food bank and MUSC.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Lindsey Donohue

Owner, Moxie Park Salon Besides running a business that took off from the start, Lindsey Donohue and her business partner, Tiffany Munoz, use their salon to host events for female entrepreneurs and offer their expertise regularly to help other women succeed in business.

They host charity events and have reached out to other stylists – competitors – to join with them. And they have made their business a safe space for women in an industry where women aren’t always treated well.

Says one admiring employee, “it almost leaves me speechless. I’ve never met two women more proud to watch their team succeed.”

ELIZABETH DEES

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Aris Ferguson

General counsel, Charleston Housing Authority Aris Ferguson is working hard to expand affordable housing as general counsel for Charleston Housing Authority. She recently spoke to Congress about allocating more funding for public housing.

Fergusion is dedicated to public service. She has extensive experience in property and landlord-tenant matters and assisted Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services and the Housing Court Pilot program in that area of the law. She also offers her time to Big Brothers Big Sisters, Charleston Law School and Junior League.

One law school classmate and friend says Ferguson is an advocate for everyone, the type of woman who will shout your name when she gets the opportunity. Quote, “You can’t help but love her!”

Maggie Griesman

Broker-in-charge, Carolina One Real Estate Services The youngest person in Charleston Trident Association of Realtors history to be named a broker in charge, it’s no surprise that Maggie Griesman earned Forty Under 40 recognition from this publication a few years ago. Still the youngest person on the leadership team of the area’s top residential real estate company, Carolina One, she’s also the president-elect of the first Women’s Council of Realtors in the state.

Griesman has attracted a social media following for her online words of inspiration. Here’s one: “You are the only you that will ever be.

You’re kind of a big deal.”

If that doesn’t make you feel good, how about all the good Griesman does in the community, like getting Thanksgiving dinner to 20,000 people in need, and delivering gifts to kids in need from a North Charleston Fire Department hook and ladder.

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Sunshine Goodman

Speaker/Consultant/Activist, Sunshine Bella Global If sunshine on your shoulder makes you happy, Sunshine Goodman in your corner can be a godsend. A leading advocate for transgendered individuals specifically and for the queer community generally, Goodman is the first Black trans woman to serve on the board of the Alliance for Full Acceptance. She served as grand marshal of Charleston’s Pride Parade last year.

Goodman is good for your hair and your wardrobe too. As a stylist for the last 15 years, she helps people feel beautiful on the outside for a living, while she advocates in the community for us all to feel beautiful on the inside.

She says, “my personal mission is to empower people to lead with authority while living their most authentic lives.”

Lindsey Halter

Partner, Carolina Retail Experts If you were going to attach a number to Lindsey Halter, it would be 100. A founding partner of Carolina Retail Experts, a boutique commercial real estate firm that is one of the few women-owned in the state, she has leased out 100% Shannon Park Shopping Center in Goose Creek. She’s got St. Andrews Shopping Center 100% leased too. And Market Square at Carnes Shopping Center – 100%.

That Halter oversees 3.2 million square feet of retail real estate is almost as impressive as her position in the field to begin with. Women comprise just 9% of the commercial real estate industry.

Halter understands that with great success comes great responsibility.

She serves as president of the Commercial Real Estate Women Charleston chapter to help women in her field – 100% of them.

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Beverly Hutchison

Executive director, Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center Despite having served as as a volunteer, board and staff member at Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center for 30 years, Beverly Hutchison had no thoughts of becoming executive director while sitting on the search committee for the agency’s new leader.

But as the committee began sketching out the qualities their third E.D. should possess, that person looked increasingly like Beverly Hutchison.

So, today she leads the organization where children receive comprehensive care in response to abuse or a traumatic event.

A colleague says, “working with abused children is a very challenging ecosystem, yet I have never seen her lose sight of the child, even among budget challenges, a pandemic and operational forces.”

Tiffany Johnson-Wilson

CEO, Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Company, J&W Construction & Design, Johnson & Wilson Development Company, Johnson & Wilson Title Company, Tiffany’s Teachings, J&W Mortgage Solutions, Hope For Homes Tiffany Johnson-Wilson’s husband Todd Wilson says he is in awe of his wife’s work. And folks, he’s underselling it. Johnson-Wilson runs seven companies and a non-profit while serving as broker-in-charge of her real estate firm. And she’s a top 1% producer nationally in real estate sales.

Johnson-Wilson had to work extra hard for her accomplishments, as she had a troubled childhood. Despite a rough start in life, she earned her bachelor’s degree, set industry records, began writing a book, coached 60 agents, raised two kids, started Homes for Hope and became a multi-millionaire. Oh, and by the way, she’s running for Summerville Town Council.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Robin Phoenix Johnson CEO, motivational speaker, professional comedian, talent manager

Did you hear the one about the lieutenant colonel in the Army who became a comedian?

Well, you’re about to. After 20 years in the military, Robin Phoenix Johnson is using comedy to heal, particularly veterans and their spouses through her companies, Best Medicine Brigade and Heal-Arious.

This is serious business. Phoenix Johnson started her work after seeing too many of her fellow soldiers commit suicide. She knew that laughter is the best medicine and wanted to be the doctor to administer it.

Phoenix Johnson is a comedy boot camp instructor for the Armed Services Arts Partnership and a Level 2 Certified Humor Professional with the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. She has performed on Broadway and was voted Charleston’s Best Comic last year.

Stephanie Kelley

Executive director, East Cooper Community Outreach In the past six years, with Stephanie Kelley at the helm of East Cooper Community Outreach, the agency has exceeded its capital campaign fundraising goals, more than doubled its operating budget and the number of major donors, increased services to Mount Pleasant residents in need and earned a Chikfil-A True Inspiration award worth $175,000. No wonder she was named Non-Profit Leader of the Year by Trident United Way. A leader who cares for hearts as well as business, Kelley and her staff at ECCO established an online ordering system for clients of the food pantry during Covid and bought a handicap-accessible van to shuttle clients facing transportation challenges.

It’s all a full circle experience for Kelley, who’s been volunteering for ECCO since she arrived in town in 2012.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Lindsay Leonard

Senior director, national strategy and engagement, The Boeing Co. Lindsay Leonard seems to wear roughly 137 hats at Boeing, where she is officially the senior director for national strategy and engagement. That means she is in charge of basically everything but building the planes.

Most significantly, she leads the company’s philanthropic efforts, which amount to $90 million in a variety of educational, equity, veterans and sustainability areas.

A consensus builder who has been a catalyst for strengthening and maintaining relationships in the community, Leonard is a member of nearly every business and education group the Lowcountry has to offer.

Leonard was also a critical leader in helping Boeing South Carolina navigate the post-COVID work environment. One colleague calls her Superwoman, which is impressive coming from a company that knows a bit about flying.

Empowered to lead

We celebrate our Boeing teammates and others who are paving the way and leaving a legacy. Congratulations to all the recipients of the 2023 Women of Influence Award.

Learn more at boeing.com/community

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Lisa Metheney

Senior civilian (deputy district engineer for programs and project management), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District Lisa Metheney is a senior civilian with the Army Corps of Engineers, leading a team of 250 who develop engineering and environmental solutions for all 32,000 square miles of our state.

Metheney says her biggest challenge is a common one for women in business – knowing when to ask for help. Brought up not to burden others, she now realizes that seeking help is a sign of strength, and a great way to find the most efficient solution.

Prior to her selection as a Woman of Influence, she had already earned five achievement medals for civil service, a small business champion award and the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest honor.

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

Phyllis Martin

Executive director, Jewish Foundation of South Carolina

Tiffany Munoz Co-owner, stylist, Moxie Park Salon

Phyllis Martin is dedicated to the ancient concept of Tze-duck-kah, the Jewish philanthropic obligation to do what is right and just, as an important part of living a spiritual life. As executive director of the Jewish Endowment Foundation of South Carolina, she has the opportunity to contribute to the broad ecosystem of Tze-duck-kah.

Tiffany Munoz, the co-owner and stylist at Moxie Park Salon, is a bit of a psychologist.

Twenty years of listening to clients’ life stories, woes and complaints, dispensing sage advice and adding beauty to their lives does that.

In fact, her salon partners with the National Alliance on Mental Illness to provide training to her staff.

Says the former CEO of Tri-County Cradle to Career, “connecting people and organizations to their passion, purpose, and resources; ensuring the legacy and perpetuity of Jewish education, culture, and values is the very best thing about my job.”

Of course, one could argue that Munoz needed her own head examined when she opened her salon during a pandemic. She and her team learned about flexibility and ingenuity to survive – and then thrive – from that experience.

Moxie Park has been voted Charleston’s best salon all three years of its existence. True to form, her staff says, Munoz credits their success to her determined and kind business partner, Lindsey.

Congratulations Phyllis Martin

JEFSC’s first Executive Director on being honored as a 2023 Charleston Woman of Influence Your contributions to the communities you serve have an enormous and lasting impact.

Phyllis Martin, Executive Director Terry Fisher, President Steven Goldberg, President-Elect Ben Chase, Secretary Richard Star, Treasurer

JEFSC.org

Board Members

Jerry Kaynard Edward Kronsberg Jan Lipov Mike Mills Ellis Regenbogen David L. Cohen, Emeritus

Kristen Nichols

Shareholder, Turner Padget Is Kristen Nichols a good attorney? Well, she was offered a partnership at Turner Padget, one of only four voting members on its executive committee. She has been named one to watch this year by Best Lawyers in America for bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights and insolvency. And for banking and finance law.

And for commercial litigation. And she earned a Martindale Hubbell peer review rating of pre-eminent. So, yeah, she’s pretty good. Maybe that’s why United Community Bank recently hired her away as vice president of their creditors’ rights counsel.

Nichols had been trusted to lead Turner Padget’s women’s committee and its diversity, equity and inclusion committee. Her peers say she is passionate about listening and collaborating, and is particularly focused on creating best-in-class work/life balance solutions for her staff in a high-pressure profession.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Ani Paulson

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Jenean Petoskey

Vice president, investments, Marcus & Millichap

Chief operating officer, Finkel Law Firm

For the last three years, Ani Paulson has been the top salesperson at commercial real estate investment company Marcus & Millichap, where she is vice president of investments.

Named one of the nation’s top 100 people in her industry by Top 100 magazine, Paulson opened her own company under the M & M banner, The AP Group.

By day, Jeanean Petoskey is the chief operating officer at Finkel Law Firm. As COO, she leads the firm’s practice and business support functions, including the areas of compliance, information technology, human resources, and office operations.

Her commitment to exceptional client service and hands-on involvement in every transaction has resulted in increased property values for her clients. Her advisory services and premium asset disposals have proven instrumental in preserving and growing her clients’ wealth. The crew at Marcus & Millichap accounted for $32 billion in bought and sold properties last year.

By night Petoskey is an an aerial yoga instructor, philanthropist and artist whose work has previously been featured at the Columbia Museum of Art and donated to numerous charities. She led an awardwinning fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, raising more than $50,000, and serves as vice president of a local non-profit organization. Petoskey was named an Unsung Legal Hero by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly last year and is named in this year’s edition of Who’s Who in America.

That’s a long way from Paulson’s seven-year stint in automotive repair as a Meineke Car Care franchise owner.

Karen Perlmutter

Owner, Collaborative Consulting Karen Perlmutter admits that her favorite client is every single one – their needs, vulnerabilities courage and grit inspire her.

The founder of Collaborative Counseling and a Ted Talk speaker on addiction, Perlmutter is balancing the desire to help people selflessly with the need to run a business.

Specializing in the treatment of substance abuse and mental illness, Perlmutter has developed an evidence-based curriculum for families coping with substance abuse. She also serves as a board member of the Lowcountry Addiction Treatment and Recovery Alliance. In her Ted Talk, Perlmutter notes that families of those with substance abuse issues need their pain validated, their knowledge of the disease expanded, their own island of sanity, and a community of others like them.

CONGRATULATIONS JEANEAN PETOSKEY Finkel Law Firm congratulates its Chief Operating Officer for being named as a 2023 Women of Influence honoree by Charleston Regional Business Journal

SERVING THE PEOPLE AND BUSINESS OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS. North Charleston 4000 Faber Place Dr., Suite 450 843-593-0399

Columbia 1201 Main St., Suite 1800 803-470-0118

www.finkellawcharleston.com

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Kristie Rasheed

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Yolanda Roary

Managing director, The Dewberry Hotel

Master coach, Grace Coaching Academy/Beautifully Empowered

A mother of three, a graduate student, a mentor for women, and the managing director of an award-winning downtown hotel – that’s all Kristie Rasheed.

You might say Yolanda Roary is ambidextrous.

She provides master coaching both to individuals and to organizations, a combination you don’t see very often.

This Renaissance woman at The Dewberry Hotel runs the best rooftop bar in Charleston, according to the Charleston City Paper, and has been lauded for actively promoting and creating leadership roles for women, providing opportunities for those coming up behind her.

For individuals, this certified life coach and licensed marriage facilitator provides the tools to assess where they are and the strategy to help them accomplish their dreams. For organizations, she provides work style assessment and image shifts that change the trajectory of the business. She’s even written “The Coaching Guidebook: A Biblical Approach.”

Previously recognized as one of 40 people under 40 to watch, we’ve been watching. With her membership on the boards of the Lowcountry Hospitality Association and Meals on Wheels, along with all her other activities, Rasheed is a Woman of Influence.

Even when she’s not at work Roary is a coach in everyday life. She mentors other life coaches and offers a helping hand to those around her struggling with grief.

Says one satisfied customer, “she teaches and equips you with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding completely provided through education and lived experiences.”

Dr. Kay Phillips

Executive director, Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center Under the 20-year leadership of Dr. Kay Phillips, the Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center has grown from one employee to 22, from a 1,000 square foot facility to 16,000 square feet, and from serving 57 children annually to 1,200. And has now the organization has expanded into Berkeley County. It is the state’s largest children’s advocacy agency.

Employing an evidence-based response to child abuse, the Center reduces trauma and provides treatment for children and their families.

Because of the success of its care model, the agency has earned accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance, which also conferred a lifetime achievement award on Phillips. That followed her recognition by Trident United Way as the nonprofit leader of the year in 2018.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Ashley Richardson

Director of strategy and communication, Charleston County Economic Development Every time you brag about economic development in Charleston, you’re bragging on Ashley Richardson – at least a little. As senior director of strategy and communication at Charleston County Economic Development, Richardson has assisted 90 projects in their expansion announcements and earned an industry consulting firm’s recognition as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers.

Richardson was also named a Forty Under 40 by this publication.

Richardson Richardson is involved in non-economic development of our community as well, by, among other things, mentoring in the College of Charleston MBA Program and serving on Charleston County School District’s School Improvement Council at her children’s school.

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Elizabeth Russell

Executive director and business banking area manager, JP Morgan Chase Elizabeth Russell participates in over 25 volunteer events with organizations such as the American Heart Association, Veterans Field of Honor, Lowcountry Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, the Black Pages and more. She serves on the board of Commercial Real Estate for Women and as an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, Low Country Manufacturing Council and the Maritime Association of South Carolina.

She also has a small side job – executive director and business banking area manager for JP Morgan Chase, where she leads a team of 10 business bankers across the Carolinas from her office in Charleston. Russell was JP Morgan Chase’s first South Carolina employee and she serves on an internal women’s interest group and mentors up-and-coming women in the company.

But only when she is not busy attending events for Accelerating the Legacy, Center for Youth Development, Women’s Business Center and the list goes on.

Celebrating leadership in the community

CONGRATULATIONS, A SHLEY RICHARDSON! ASHLEY BETH RUSSELL

Congratulations to our exceptional colleague, Beth Russell, Head of Business Banking for the Carolinas, on her recognition as one of Charleston Regional Business Journal’s 2023 Women of Influence honorees. Thank you for using your voice, vision and extraordinary leadership in serving the people and businesses of Charleston.

JPMorgan Chase celebrates our region’s best and brightest community leaders!

jpmorganchase.com/wotm

© 2023 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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Courtnay Thompson

Market president, Select Health of South Carolina Courtnay Thompson and the Charleston Regional Business Journal are old friends. In 2020, this former ICU nurse was named one of 40 people under 40 to watch. That was after she became the youngest market president in Select Health’s history. The following year, we recognized her as a Health Care Hero for her focus on serving low-income communities. Following five years at the helm of the health insurer, navigating it through a health crisis that killed 1 million Americans, Thompson is being recognized as a Woman of Influence.

Thompson serves the rest of the community as well, on the Board of Ronald McDonald House and the Trident United Way campaign cabinet, and she was awarded the Palmetto Gold award as a student for exemplifying excellence in nursing practice and commitment to the nursing profession.

NAMED A

Woman of Influence 2023 Congratulations to Stacy L. Waters, MBA, President of the Roper St. Francis Foundation and Vice President of Roper St. Francis Healthcare

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Stacy Waters

President, Roper St. Francis Foundation, vice president, Roper St. Francis Healthcare All you need to know about Stacy Waters is that colleagues moved here from Austin, Texas to continue working with her when took over as president of the Roper St. Francis Healthcare Foundation, the fundraising arm of the healthcare system. Roper St. Francis is the only private, not-for-profit hospital system in the area.

Waters has since more than doubled the size of the team and created ambitious new goals to raise philanthropic dollars. Just months into her tenure Stacy and her team landed a $5 million gift from Parker’s Community Fund to establish community health initiatives.

None of this was any surprise to those who worked with Waters at the University of Texas. There she was awarded the Go Bigger award, one of only 20 in a university system employing more than 100,000 people.

November 13 - December 4, 2023

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Natalie Wright

Gaelyn Zafred

CEO, broker-in-charge, Real Estate House International

Associate team leader, DWG Consulting Engineers

You’ve heard all about how the real estate market has nearly come to a halt. Well, not at Real Estate House International, where closed deals have increased by 45%. It speaks to the leadership of Natalie Wright, CEO and Broker-in-Charge. A board member of the South Carolina Realtors Association, Wright championed the development of a virtual home-buying experience, which allows clients to explore properties remotely.

Treasured by staff for her collaborative approach, her support of employee success and her innovative ideas, Wright is active in her professional life, as a founding and charter board member of the Women’s Council of Realtors and director of the Darla Moore School of Business Black Alumni Alliance. She also serves her community by serving as treasurer of her local PTA and youth director of her church.

Gaelyn Zafred’s climb to the top is not about her job as associate team leader with DWG Consulting Engineers. Her climb involves grueling bike rides up mountains, like those in the Alps. She even conquered one mountain stage of the Tour de France.

Zafred’s been defying stereotypes about women for a long time, for example, as a female engineer in a male dominated industry. Her in-office mentorship of women has propelled several of her co-workers into leadership roles. She recently joined Thrive, the Chamber’s women’s organization, to keep that momentum alive.

Zafred’s got another hill to climb: she wants to visit all 63 National Parks. With only 16 under her belt so far she’s got a long road in front of her. But no one is doubting her endurance.

Buy. Sell. Experience.

In honor of

NATALIE WRIGHT,

a true influencer leading with grace. Congratulations on your well-deserved Women of Influence award 2023!

Natalie Wright, ceo, broker-in-charge

In Focus

FOOD AND BEVERAGE LISTS: Restaurants, Page 43 | Restaurants with Banquet Facilities, Page 44

NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS: Finance

Group behind Husk and several other spots to open new downtown Charleston restaurant

By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

T

Contributing writer

hose that brought us Husk, Minero, The James and the Delaney Oyster House, are now ushering in a new restaurant slated to open in February.

According to David Howard, founder of The Neighborhood Dining Group, Marbled & Fin will open at 480 E. Bay St. in Charleston, which for 60 years operated as a cleaning business known as the East Bay Cleaners.

“When I looked at the interior, I saw a large space with plenty of light and 17-foot ceilings and thought that it was a great environment to promote socialization and be David Howard configured as a steakhouse,” Howard said.

According to Howard, NDG chose the neighborhood because it’s up and coming.

“It’s located a little off Main Street in downtown Charleston,” Howard said, explaining why NDG views the project as a good investment. “Part of the business side of what we do is not only to find a unique space, but also to make sound financial decisions. With elevated costs (on Main Street), we found that the rent was more palatable at the location a quarter mile away.”

Add that to the fact that condominiums, which will cost in the neighborhood of $2

Marbled & Fin, from The Neighborhood Dining Group, will open in the former East Bay Cleaners location. (Rendering/Provided)

million and $4 million, will be located a mere 500 yards away and it’s not difficult to come to the conclusion that future residents will find the restaurant convenient.

Another plus for the restaurant is plenty of parking, a bit of a rarity for restaurants located in cities today.

“Guests will be able to choose from onsite parking, parking in the aquarium garage and valet,” said Howard of the eatery that will seat approximately 150.

As for food, with a name like Marbled and Fin, it’s easy to determine that the stars of the show will be seafood and steak. When it comes to décor, Howard reports that they

will deviate from the standard, clubby steakhouse atmosphere.

“It will be just a little more sophisticated: sleek and elegant with ample natural light,” Howard said, adding that the goal is to make it comfortable, inviting, fun and vibrant with a lighthearted, energetic space.

Marbled & Fin will also feature a full bar.

“Our highly skilled cocktail team is currently developing the program which will contain classics, along with more modern drinks, an extensive whisky and bourbon program and a well-vetted and worldly wine list,” said Howard.

With this newest addition to their portfo-

lio, NDG brings their employment numbers up to a total of 325, according to Howard.

“Because we provide jobs with lots of benefits, we’re a leader in the area and blessed with a lot of highly skilled food and beverage people who are very loyal to our team,” said Howard, adding that he and his colleagues are proud to play such a pivotal part of the restaurant scene in the Charleston area.

“It’s our fifth Charleston restaurant, we’re a Charleston-owned company and all our partners are Charlestonians,” he said, adding that he’s looking forward to what the future will bring to the area.

CRBJ

National taco restaurant opens second SC location in Mount Pleasant

By Ross Norton

C

rnorton@scbiznews.com

ondado Tacos has brought its own entry in the taco game to Mount Pleasant.

The restaurant group, based in Columbus, Ohio, specializes in what it calls unique tacos, margaritas and tequilas in a “colorful and energetic atmosphere,” will open its second South Carolina location in Mount Pleasant Towne Center. The first opened in Greenville earlier this year.

The Mount Pleasant location at 1712 Towne Centre Way celebrated a grand opening on Nov. 4.

The 4,000-square-foot restaurant will feature 225 seats, including 110 seats in the dining room, 15 at a stand-alone bar, and another 100 seats on a large outdoor patio.

Condado considers their queso to be one of their signature items, along with best-selling specialty tacos that include Lucy’s Fire and Blue Dream, both with “secret shells,” the news release said. In addition to their menu of signature tacos,

Operators of Condado say their restaurants are designed to bring energy to the menu. (Photo/Provided)

Condado offers build-your-own taco options, with a variety of taco shells and a choice of proteins including steak, pork, chicken, ground beef, brisket and plantbased options with a number of different toppings and sauces. Condado Tacos also features a full bar with an assortment of

100% blue agave tequilas and specialty margaritas such as the Gran Clasico and Handsome Devil.

“We are thrilled to bring our innovative, craveable, preservative-free tacos and margs to Towne Centre and continue our growth and expansion throughout South

Carolina,” Chris Artinian, Condado Tacos president and CEO, said in the release.

“At Condado Tacos, we offer a full-service dining experience that matches your speed, for either a sit-down dining experience or to-go and delivery. For this level of freshness and quality, Condado provides an amazing value for under $20 per person, which includes an average of two tacos, a dip and a margarita. We are proud of our “come-as-you-are” culture with this unparalleled experience.”

Condado Tacos in Towne Centre will be open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight.

“We are thrilled to welcome Condado Tacos to Mount Pleasant Towne Centre and further our fantastic dining offerings for our customers,” Kathi Herrmann, marketing director of Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, said in a news release. “With its delicious tacos and upbeat ambiance, we know it will be the perfect fit for our community here at Towne Centre.”

A menu can be seen at https://condadotacos.com.

CRBJ

November 13 - December 4, 2023

IN FOCUS: FOOD AND BEVERAGE

www.charlestonbusiness.com 41

New Mount Pleasant restaurant promises a breakfast that is ‘big and bad’

By Ross Norton

A

rnorton@scbiznews.com

breakfast restaurant that comes with a dinner-time attention to food and service has opened a location in Mount Pleasant.

Julie Bumgardner and operating partner Kraig Houk, joined by members of the City Council and Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce opened Big Bad Breakfast with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Suite 101 at 2664 N. Highway 17.

At Big Bad Breakfast, the French toast is deep fried and served with strawberries, whip cream and a house blend of syrup. The Mother of All Biscuits is a crispy-fried dill chicken breast topped with cheddar cheese and much bigger than the biscuit that carries it. Huevos rancheros comes on stone-ground grits made specially for Big Bad Breakfast, along with saucy black beans, pico de gallo, sliced avocado, poached eggs, tortilla strips and cilantro oil. Shrimp N Grits includes jumbo shrimp sauteed with bacon and tomatoes with grits, red eye gravy and one egg cooked to order.

The oyster po boy hints at the restaurant’s origins.

Chef John Currence was born and raised in New Orleans. His first job after high school was cooking on a tug boat that served the oil fields in the Gulf of

The founder of Big Bad Breakfast says he drew on his upbringing in New Orleans and time spent in other parts of the South to guide his way to a menu that includes an entirely scratch-made breakfast menu, from the jellies and jams to the cocktails. (Photo/Provided)

Mexico. College and other jobs took him to other parts of the South, including Virginia and North Carolina, before he opened his first restaurant, City Grocery, in Oxford, Miss., according to the company website.

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Currence was nominated for the first time for a James Beard Award for Best Chef South in 2005 and each of the next several years before winning in 2009. He opened the first Big Bad Breakfast there in 2008. The second opened on the out-

skirts of Birmingham, Ala., in 2013 and that store became the laboratory where the restaurant honed its menu and the skill of its staff, according to the website.

With the Mount Pleasant opening, there are 19 locations now with two more expected to open soon, according to the website.

The name “Big Bad Breakfast” derives from the title of a book of short stories written by Currence’s friend, the late Larry Brown, Big Bad Love. “Larry was one of the most wonderful people to walk the planet and he wrote like Godzilla stomping the Garden of the Month,” Currence says in the company history. “The irony is that Larry’s writing schedule kept him up until 5 or so every morning, so while breakfast was his favorite meal of the day, he never got to eat it because he was always asleep at breakfast time.”

Big Bad Breakfast is open until daily from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The breakfast menu is served through lunch, and lunch items, such as the ham po boy and Screamin Demon, a crispy fried chicken sandwich are available for breakfast.

Cocktails are also served.

“We are so excited to be here in Mount Pleasant,” Bumgardner said in an announcement through the city. “We are here making fresh biscuits every day with house-made jams, and more, so we hope you give us a try.”

CRBJ

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IN FOCUS: FOOD AND BEVERAGE

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November 13 - December 4, 2023

Charcuterie concept opens first South Carolina location in Mount Pleasant

By Jason Thomas

G

jthomas@scbiznews.com

raze Craze, a new charcuterie concept known for crafting grazing boards and boxes, has opened its first South Carolina location at 3373 South Morgans Point Road in Mount Pleasant.

The new storefront is in the National Crossing shopping center at the main entrance of the Charleston National neighborhood, according to a news release. Graze Craze is a part of Big Flavor Brands, the food service division of Starpoint Brands, a family of companies affiliated with United Franchise Group.

At Graze Craze, charcuterie experts, known as grazologists, design arrangements that feature an array of ingredients that are ideal for grazing, like fresh fruits and vegetables, premium meats and cheeses, artisanal sweets, nuts and more, the release stated.

The Mount Pleasant Graze Craze is the only one of its kind in the Charleston area, and the franchise owners behind the new store Keith and Kendra Lovas are thrilled to share something completely new with the community they call home, the release stated.

“The wonderful people of Mount Pleasant love to gather and celebrate,” Keith Lovas said in the release. “There is no better centerpiece for a special occasion than a Graze Craze charcuterie board — it’s unmatched in quality, beauty and functionality.”

At Graze Craze, charcuterie experts, known as grazologists, design arrangements that feature an array of ingredients that are ideal for grazing. (Photo/Graze Craze)

The Lovas enjoy playing a role in their community with Kendra working at a local elementary school and Keith coaching youth sports teams through the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department, according to the release. In addition to serving exceptional grazing boards, the Lovas plan to use their Graze Craze to expand their local involvement and sponsor sports teams, further supporting kids

Folly Beach City Hall

in being active and chasing their dreams.

The Lovas are also interested in bolstering regional business development through their involvement with the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce.

Graze Craze charcuterie arrangements incorporate an assortment of flavors, like the popular Gone Grazey board, balanced to provide a bit of everything – a mix of cured meats, premium cheeses, crackers,

fresh produce, nuts and more. The Vegegrazian is designed with a medley of fresh fruits and vegetables for anyone embracing a plant-based lifestyle.

The artisan-inspired charcuterie offerings at Graze Craze are available in different size options, from Char-Cutie-Cups and Picnic Boxes for nibbling to sharing-size boards with enough fresh food to feed a large party, the release stated.

CRBJ

Welcome, Hamer!

Hamer Darby Business Development Manager

654 St. Andrews Blvd | Charleston, SC 29407 | 843.225.0406 www.jmusselmanconstruction.com OFFICES | MEDICAL | RETAIL | HISTORICAL

November 13 - December 4, 2023

www.charlestonbusiness.com 43

Restaurants Listed alphabetically Company

Phone/ Website / Email

Manager

Menu / Signature Dishes

167 Raw 193 King St. Charleston, SC 29401

www.167raw.com info@167raw.com

Greg Mest, Bailey Campbell

Oyster bar, New England seared scallops and lobster roll

Anson Restaurant 12 Anson St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-0551 www.ansonrestaurant.com info@ansonrestaurant.com

Shaun Connolly

Filet mignon, ribeye, New York strip, seafood and desserts

Caviar & Bananas Gourmet Market & Cafe 51 George St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-7757 www.caviarandbananas.com CBinfo@caviarandbananas.com

Joe Caradonna

Breakfast sandwiches, coffee bar, gourmet sandwich platters and boxed lunches, hors d'oeuvres, gourmet-togo entrees, salads, sides and desserts

The Chicken Basket 4110 Highway 24 Anderson, SC 29626

864-226-3242 www.facebook.com/TheChickenBasket

Jeff Pittman

BBQ, chicken, sandwiches, meatloaf, casseroles, soups

Circa 1886 149 Wentworth St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-853-7828 www.circa1886.com circa1886@charminginns.com

Mark Severs, Michael Dawson

Southern dishes, featuring local and seasonal foods

Coast Bar & Grill 39-D John St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-722-8838 www.holycityhospitality.com/coast-bar-and-grill

Zach Middleton

Seafood

FIG 232 Meeting St. Charleston 29401

843-805-5900 www.eatatfig.com hello@eatatfig.com

Adam Nemirow

Seafood, chicken, salads, lamb

Fleet Landing 186 Concord St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-722-8100 www.fleetlanding.net

Rich Rettig

Seafood, brunch, vegetarian and gluten free options

Gaulart & Maliclet Cafeteria 98 Broad St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-9797 info@fastandfrenchcharleston.com

Grill 225 225 East Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-266-4207 www.marketpavilion.com

Holly Perry

USDA prime steakhouse

Hank's Seafood Restaurant 10 Hayne St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-723-3474 www.hanksseafoodrestaurant.com info@hanksseafoodrestaurant.com

Tim Richardson

Seafood

Harbour Club 35 Prioleau St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-723-9680 www.harbour-charleston.com

Shannon E. Hutchings

High Cotton 199 E. Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-724-3815 www.highcottoncharleston.com

Josh Gadsden, Filip Slesarov, Mark Drabik

Fried oysters, wagyu carpaccio, variety of hors d'oevures, local fish, Allen Brothers steaks

Husk 76 Queen St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-2500 www.huskrestaurant.com

Steven Chandler

Menu changes based on seasonal availability

The Junction 5599 N. Highway 14 Gowensville, SC 29356

864-468-4675 info@thejunctionofgowensville.com

Magnolias Upper Level Gallery 185 East Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-7771 www.hmgicharleston.com ppettus@hmgicharleston.com

Don Drake

Down south egg roll, parmesan crusted flounder, shellfish over grits, fried green tomatoes, warm cream cheese pecan brownie

Michael's on the Alley Hutson Alley - 39 E. John St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-203-3000 www.michaelsonthealley.com info@michaelsonthealley.com

Kinsey Rogers

Steaks, fresh seafood and desserts

Poogan's Porch 2 Queen St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-829-4332 www.poogansporch.com

Travis McMaster

Salads, seafood, pasta, lamb, steak, chicken

The Rooftop at the Vendue 19 Vendue Range Charleston, SC 29401

843-414-2337 www.rooftopcharleston.com sales@thevendue.com

Carley Ford

Seafood, sandwiches, chicken, burgers, salads

Slightly North of Broad 192 E. Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-723-3424 www.snobcharleston.com

Allison Carey

Seafood, lamb, steak, salad, brunch

Square Onion 18 Resolute Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-856-4246 www.squareonion.com Info@squareonion.com

Cary Zapatka

Gourmet sandwiches, salads, soups, house made desserts, dips and spreads, take-home casseroles, bread and an old fashioned ice cream shop

Three Little Birds Cafe and Catering 65 Windermere Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29407

843-225-3065 www.threelittlebirdscafe.com threelittlebirdscafe@gmail.com

Meridith L Swygert

Breakfast, quiche and grits, casserole; dinner, pulled pork, tomato pie, grilled veggies

Twenty Six Divine 682 King St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-297-8118 www.twentysixdivine.com info@twentysixdivine.com

Enan and Jennifer Parezo

Catering, afternoon tea, desserts, private dinners

Victor Social Club 39-F John St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-212-8400 www.victorsocialclub.com info@victorsocialclub.com

Kinsey Rogers

Small plates, caviar, cold seafood, shellfish towers, cocktails, wine

Zero George 0 George St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-817-7900 www.zerogeorge.com contact@zerogeorge.com

Lynn Easton, Dean Andrews

Inspired dishes change regularly

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. For a full list of participating organizations, visit scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Email additions or corrections to Listresearch@Bridgetowermedia.com. To be considered for a future list, or for omissions or corrections, email listresearch@bridgetowermedia.com

44

www.charlestonbusiness.com

November 13 - December 4, 2023

Restaurants with Banquet Facilities Ranked by event capacity Company

Phone/ Website / Email

Manager

Middleton Place Restaurant & Pavilion 4300 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414

843-377-0548 www.middletonplace.org/explore/restaurant sgs@middletonplace.org

The Alley 131 Columbus St. Charleston, SC 29403

Event Capacity

Private Banquet Rooms

Beth Kerrigan, Chris Lukic

400

3

Eclectic, Lowcountry southern cuisine

843-818-4080 www.thealleycharleston.com charleston@bowlthealley.com

David Crowley, Caroline McCormick

350

3

American and Southern inspired menu, wings, burgers, sandwiches

Edmund's Oast 1081 Morrison Drive Charleston, SC 29403

843-727-1145 www.edmundsoast.com edmundsoast@edmundsoast.com

Scott Shor

350

3

Salt chicken, butter lamb, fresh local dishes

Trotters Restaurant 2008 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29407

843-571-0027 www.thetownandcountryinn.com sales@thetownandcountryinn.com

Stephen P. Clarke

300

5

Lowcountry cuisine

High Cotton 199 E. Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-724-3815 www.highcottoncharleston.com

Josh Gadsden, Filip Slesarov, Mark Drabik

250

3

Fried oysters, wagyu carpaccio, variety of hors d'oevures, local fish, Allen Brothers steaks

The Establishment 28 Broad St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-789-4028 www.establishmentchs.com info@establishmentchs.com

Shane Diviney

200

3

Fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients and quality wines and spirits from around the world

Charleston Harbor Fish House 32 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-284-7070 www.charlestonharborfishhouse.com fishhouse@charlestonharborresort.com

Andy Morgan

150

4

Seafood, grilled citrus herb chicken, salads, pasta

Grand Bohemian Hotel 55 Wentworth St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-722-5711 www.grandbohemiancharleston.com info@grandbohemiancharleston.com

Tony Liartis

150

3

An elegant rooftop garden is the backdrop for inventive coastal cuisine with Southern heritage

Stars Rooftop & Grill Room 495 King St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-577-0100 www.starsrestaurant.com info@starsrestaurant.com

Heather Greene

140

3

Seafood, ribs, steak, salads

Upstairs at 39 Rue de Jean 39 John St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-725-5959 www.holycityhospitality.com/39-rue-dejean/#private-events privatedining@holycityhospitality.com

Sarah Franklin

130

1

Grilled pork chop, braised grouper and pecanencrusted chicken breast

Victor's Seafood and Steak 39 John St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-203-3000 www.holycityhospitality.com/victors-seafoodand-steak privatedining@holycityhospitality.com

100

1

Shareable appetizers, classic steakhouse entrees, and local seafood

Vincent Chicco's 39-G John St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-203-3002 www.vincentchiccos.com info@vincentchiccos.com

Tristan Whisenant

100

1

Italian American dining, bruschetta, lobster and spaghetti, veal marsala

Charleston Grill 224 King St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-722-4900 www.charlestongrill.com

Julia Laurito

90

Rudy Royale 209 E. Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-297-4443 www.rudyroyale.com info@rudyroyale.com

Chris Simmons

80

3

Chicken, seafood, steak, ribs, salads, brunch

Circa 1886 149 Wentworth St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-853-7828 www.circa1886.com circa1886@charminginns.com

Mark Severs, Michael Dawson

76

2

Southern dishes, featuring local and seasonal foods

Magnolias Upper Level Gallery 185 East Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-7771 www.hmgicharleston.com ppettus@hmgicharleston.com

72

2

Down south egg roll, parmesan crusted flounder, shellfish over grits, fried green tomatoes, warm cream cheese pecan brownie

Wild Wing Cafe 7618 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406

843-974-1540 www.wildwingcafe.com sharyn@wildwingcafe.com

60

1

Wings, wraps, and sides

The Gallery at The Vendue 24 Vendue Range Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-7970 www.thevendue.com info@thevendue.com

50

2

Specialty drinks, seafood, appetizers

Don Drake

Carley Ford

Menu / Signature Dishes

Specializing in Lowcountry cuisine, seafood and filet mignon

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. For a full list of participating organizations, visit scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Email additions or corrections to Listresearch@Bridgetowermedia.com. To be considered for a future list, or for omissions or corrections, email listresearch@bridgetowermedia.com

At Work

BUSINESS DIGEST | PEOPLE IN THE NEWS | HOT PROPERTIES

Business Digest

People in the News

SMHa completes architectural renovations in Old Village

NONPROFIT

S

Staff Report

MHa recently completed renovations at 125 Pitt St. in Mount Pleasant’s historic Old Village neighborhood. The white building is now home to Kate Miles Design, an interior design firm and home accessories store.

Renovation of the building aimed to restore the existing historic structure and correct non-historic and poorly constructed additions while maintaining the historic fabric and aesthetic of the Old Village.

With the help of David Moffly and his team at Moffly Construction, original materials were cataloged for restore and re-use, with repair materials milled to match original profiles.

The brick façade, which had been added later, was removed and replaced with a more historically accurate wide-plank wood siding, reflective of

building - The Paper Canopy

Stationery and craft shop opens

The Paper Canopy has opened its first brick-and-mortar location at 93C Spring St. The stationery and craft store, which started in 2021 as an online brand, now has 650 square feet of stationery, fine writing pens and craft supplies. The store features products from around the globe as well as art and gifts from local artisans. In addition, classes and art events are scheduled for the fall with a focus on paper-related crafts such as bookbinding, crepe paper flowers and collage.

Owner Casey Berry is a College of Charleston alumna.

US&S awarded honors certification

US&S recently qualified for the CIMSGB with honors certification through ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. CIMS, the cleaning industry management standard, is a globally recognized certification that sets the benchmark for excellence in the cleaning industry.

Zandrina

Deas

Ashley

Rapalo

125 Pitt St. in Mount Pleasant is home to Kate Miles Design. (Photo/Provided)

the building’s original façade. Large windows and the addition of a front porch with new entry reflect the Old Village’s small-town character.

Inside, large exposed trusses, custom cabinetry, and a bright kitchen accent the light-filled space. SMHa Vice President Chris Altman, AIA, led SMHa’s design team.

“Central to all design decisions was the customer-service amenity, comfort and accessibility Kate’s clients have come to know,” Altman said. “Also, as being long-time residents of the Old Village ourselves, we want to maintain the integrity of this neighborhood, honoring its history and traditions. We feel we have accomplished this goal.”

The CIMS-GB (green building) certification recognizes organizations that demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices, environmental stewardship, and the use of green cleaning supplies and chemicals. This distinction highlights the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility, health and safety.

The CIMS-GB with honors certification process evaluates various aspects of a company’s operations, including management commitment, quality systems, service delivery, human resources, health, safety and environmental stewardship.

Firm seeks Mansfield recertification

ECPI addresses workforce shortages

In response to workforce shortages in the tech and nursing sectors throughout the Southeast, ECPI University held an open house to encourage a diverse set of potential students — including first-generation college students, career switchers, active-duty military personnel and recent veterans — to explore and consider a future in the fields of technology and health care.

Attendees participated in campus tour, immersive lab simulations, faculty meetand-greets, and a guided admissions and financial-aid consultation.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2021 to 2031 the overall employment for health care occupations is projected to grow 13%, and computer and information technology jobs are expected to grow 15%.

CRBJ

Shumaker is seeking Mansfield Rule certification in 2023-2024, reaffirming its commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive culture that actively works toward eliminating barriers within the legal profession. Shumaker is one of more than 360 law firms participating in the program.

Overseen by Diversity Lab, the Mansfield Rule seeks to increase and sustain diversity in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities and senior lateral positions.

To achieve Mansfield certification, participating firms must affirmatively consider at least 30% female lawyers, underrepresented racial and ethnic lawyers, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for roles and opportunities. Participating firms must also develop and publish leadership job descriptions and election/appointment guidelines to ensure transparency in historically opaque advancement processes.

Shumaker’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion supports the firm’s culture of inclusion, as do its many initiatives, including the Shumaker Women’s Leadership Initiative, Diversity Scholarship, and Undergraduate Diversity Science Scholarship. In addition, Shumaker is a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

CRBJ

Twelve of South Carolina’s women leaders across a dozen industries took the stage at YWCA Greater Charleston’s sixth annual #WhatWomenBring event in October. Honorees included: Zandrina Dunning, Arts (CEO and artistic director, The ZD Experience): Dunning has produced tributes to Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder and others. As a vocalist she has opened for Natalie Cole and sung background for George Benson.

Her show on Ohm Radio 96.3 FM delivers positive programming focused on the community. Dunning serves as entertainment chair for TEDxCharleston and is on the board of the Charleston County School of the Arts Middle School Band.

Lee Deas, Business (founder, ObviousLee): A champion for equity and an advocate for entrepreneurs and women in leadership, Deas is the founder of a multimillion-dollar marketing company.

This Charleston Regional Business Journal Forty Under 40 winner also founded the Charleston Cinco de Mayo Festival.

Deas is also a co-founder and board member of Citibot. She has served as board chair for Palmetto Goodwill, on the board of Lowcountry Local First, and on the founding board of Palmetto Excel.

Akua Katelyn Page, Community: eliminating racism (independent Gullah Geechee language activist and educator): An advocate working to ensure the voices of her ancestors are heard while fighting for a more equitable future for the Gullah Geechee people, Page educates people on the ways Charleston has been influenced by the Gullah Geechee people.

She has been featured on a national level

by NBC News. After learning that a brick structure at Riverfront Park was made by enslaved Africans, she successfully petitioned the city of North Charleston See PEOPLE, Page 46

46

www.charlestonbusiness.com

November 13 - December 4, 2023

PEOPLE, from Page 45

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

DECEMBER 4 FINANCE

Lists: Banks, Accounting Firms Special Section: Reader Rankings Advertising Deadline: November 20

JANUARY 15

WORKFORCE/STAFFING

Lists: Professional Staffing Firms, HR & Payroll Advertising Deadline: January 2

FEBRUARY 5 AGRIBUSINESS

Lists: Chambers of Commerce

Advertising Deadline: January 22

FEBRUARY 19

HOSPITALITY/TOURISM

Lists: Hotels, Event Spaces Power List: Logistics

Advertising Deadline: February 5

For advertising information, contact Ryan Downing at rdowning@scbiznews.com

to install an educational placard near the Dead House. Page received the Jenkins Youth and Family Village’s Special Appreciation Award for her work mentoring foster girls.

Megan Manigault, Community: empowering women (founder and executive director, I Am Voices): Manigault created the first transitional program in the Charleston tri-county area serving female survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking. She is the author of a series of books and literature, including “Wilted Flowers Still Bloom” for trauma survivors. She is also co-chair of the Preventative Education subcommittee of the Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force, a Shared Hope International ambassador, NoMore Human Trafficking facilitator, national speaker for the Rape Abuse Incest National Network, South Carolina Attorney General Task Force member, and Charleston Metro Chamber Housing Coalition member. Manigault, who has a day named after her by the state of South Carolina, has won multiple awards, most recently the 2022 Martin Luther King Portrait Award.

Tasha V. Joyner, Education (project prevent program officer, Charleston County School District): Joyner oversees a grant at seven North Charleston schools that supports scholars, their families and their communities. She has served on the district’s inaugural cohort of restorative practices trainers, as a founding member and lead educator for the Black Educators Affinity Group, the district’s first affinity group, and as president and a lead charter member of the South Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators’ Lowcountry chapter. Joyner is the founder of READy to Evolve, and has served as a national presenter on restorative practices for communities of color, in addition to serving on a host of boards and initiatives across the state.

Liz Ashley, Entrepreneurship (CEO, Align): An advocate for professional women and healthy workplace cultures, Ashley created her business to develop and align both leaders and teams to achieve results. Prior to that, she led more than 100 professionals at Estée Lauder Companies, building its highest-performing team in the nation, and worked in construction, recruiting women to represent more than half her team and founding her employer’s first professional women’s resource group. Ashley chairs the professional women’s group Thrive at the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, and serves in a variety of board and committee roles.

Loretta Thrower Bookard, Government (vice president of youth service, Alston Wilkes Society): Bookard began her career in corrections as a line officer.

Before retiring from the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice after 31 years, she helped design four facilities and served as warden at its Coastal Evaluation Center. Today she supervises a

high-management youth home. Bookard has also served as president of the South Carolina Correction Association.

Nilsy Rapalo, Health care (wellness director, Circulos de Bienestar): Rapalo is a trainer, coach and organizer of community wellness events. She also produces a podcast and writes about wellness for El Informador and serves as a therapist for the Department of Mental Health.

She has authored a self-help book for the Spanish-speaking community and research papers on domestic violence and the impact of infertility issues on women.

Rapalo, a founding board member of the Hispanic Business Association, is a member of both the Charleston’s Latinx advisory board and its Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise Office advisory committee as well as the Congreso Hispanoamericano de Negocios, South Carolina Community Loan Fund, New Visionary Women Exchange Club, and Commission for Minority Affairs.

Laurie Alderson Smith, Hospitality & Tourism (chief of staff, Explore Charleston): Smith is involved in building Explore Charleston’s intern cultural enrichment program. She was named Ally for the Future Workforce at the 2023 Lowcountry Diversity Leadership Awards and co-wrote the post-9/11 article “How Charleston Got Her Groove Back,” published in the Journal of Vacation Marketing. She serves on the board of the MUSC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Jennifer Owens, Law (vice president and associate general counsel, Sonepar USA): Owens oversees litigation and compliance for Sonepar USA. Previously, she handled compliance for Greystar, and specialized in government investigations at the Washington, D.C., office of Baker Botts. She has represented clients at trial, in government investigations, and before Congress. Named a Woman Worth Watching in Leadership by Profiles in Diversity Journal and a Rising Star

by Super Lawyers DC, Owens is a Riley Fellow and has served on the board of Pure Theatre.

Marcela Rabens, Media (director, Universal Latin News Charleston): A defender of the rights of women and immigrants, Rabens created the first local Hispanic newspaper in Charleston as well as the first local Hispanic directory, GuiaLatinaCharleston.com. She also hosts Ritmo Latino on Ohm Radio 96.3 FM. A member of the Federation of Journalists of Peru, Rabens has won awards in the U.S. and Peru and served on the College of Charleston’s diversity board and Hispanic Studies advisory board.

Candice Cohen, Technology (CEO and founder, Girl Go Hustle and CēSuite Digital Agency): A digital marketing entrepreneur, Cohen founded Girl Go Hustle with the vision of creating digital tools and resources that allow women to launch businesses. Cohen’s journey began at the age of 14, with leadership roles in pageantry and community service. Today she volunteers her time widely, including for Dorchester School District Two. CRBJ

Viewpoint November 13 - December 4, 2023

www.charlestonbusiness.com 47

VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

The budget deficit — why it matters

T

he budget deficit for fiscal 2023 was $1.7 trillion. Nobody cared.

Projected budget deficits for the next 10 years never get smaller and within five years are expected to exceed $2.5 trillion. As a result, the Treasury will add $20 trillion to outstanding debt in the next decade.

Debt in relation to GDP will climb to a record high level. As the amount of debt outstanding climbs, the interest expense will increase comSLIFER mensurately. Today interest represents 2.5% of GDP. It is likely to reach 3.7% by 2033. Looked at in a slightly different way, interest payments today represent 15% of GDP. By 2033 they should climb to 20%. And by 2053 will be 35% of tax revenue.

To pay the mounting interest bill other categories of spending must get reduced.

This means that tough choices lie ahead.

Today, entitlements like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid represent about two-thirds of all government spending and would be prime candidates for reduced spending. But politicians never want to cut entitlements. Less money for defense? In today’s increasingly dangerous world that seems foolish . What about education? Infrastructure?

The bottom line is that the budget deficit is spiraling out of control and our leaders

in Washington need to make a serious effort now to rein in spending. But with divided government likely to continue for some time to come the odds on that actually occurring seem remote.

The budget deficit for fiscal 2023 was $1.7 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office envisions deficits between $1.6 and $2.8 trillion every year for the next ten years. By definition a deficit means that the government spends more money than it receives from taxes and must issue an equivalent amount of debt to pay its bills.

Over the course of the next decade the government is expected to add $20.0 trillion to the amount of debt outstanding. Prior to the recession debt in relation to GDP was 79%. Today it is 100% and by 2033 the CBO expects it to be a record 119%. The previous record high debt/GDP ratio was 106% after World War II. It subsequently fell quickly as defense spending plunged. That is not going to happen today.

One of the government’s many expenses is interest on the public debt. Given the massive increases in debt outstanding that began around the 2008-09 recession, jumped sharply in the wake of the 20202021 recession, and are expected to continue climbing for the next decade, interest on the public debt has risen from 1.5% of GDP prior to 2008 to 2.5% today and is expected to climb to 3.7% of GDP by 2033. It has never been higher. The CBO also does a longer-range budget forecast.

By 2053 interest payments are expected to

be 6.7% of GDP. But those are just numbers. They seem disquieting, but the seriousness of the problem may not be readily apparent. Let’s think about this in a different way. The government collects taxes from each of us. Every year it spends more than it collects in taxes. It must borrow the difference to pay its bills. Every year the amount of debt outstanding increases which means that interest on that outstanding debt also increases. Today interest represents 15% of all tax revenue. The remaining 85% of tax revenue can be used for spending on everything else. But by 2033 the CBO estimates that interest will be 20% of tax revenue.

By 2053 the government will have to allocate 35%, or roughly one-third of its tax revenue, to pay interest. That means that the spending on everything else will drop to 65%. So between 2023 and 2053 the amount of spending on defense, social welfare, infrastructure, research, education and a myriad of other spending categories, will be cut from 85% of GDP to 65%. That is a cut of 20%. It is hard to see where those cuts will come from.

Even closer to home let’s look at the typical consumer’s budget. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tell us that consumers today spend 33% of their income on housing. Let’s suppose that in the next 30 years consumers go on a spending spree, borrow extensively, and interest payments on credit card bills represent another 33% of our income.

Only one-third of our income will be

available to pay for food, gasoline, medical expenses, insurance, education, and vacations. That is simply not going to happen. Consumers cannot afford such a spending spree.

Neither can the government. As budget deficits soar to $2.0 trillion or more, debt outstanding will climb commensurately. And now, thanks to the Federal Reserve, interest rates have risen dramatically. If the government’s spending spree continues, 30 years from now once the interest payments have been made there will not be enough money left for everything else.

The government cannot afford such a spending spree. Something has to give.

From 1980 until 2003, when he retired, Stephen Slifer served as chief U.S. economist for Lehman Brothers in New York City, directing the firm’s U.S. economics group along with being responsible for forecasts and analysis of the U.S. economy. He has written two books on using economic indicators to forecast financial moves and previously served as a senior economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. Slifer can be reached at www.numbernomics.com.

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