Columbia Regional Business Report - October 10, 2022

CYBER CAREERS

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Programs combating cybersecurity workforce shortage

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Cybersecurity

is a family affair for David and Danijela Hunt and their son Anto nio Curcic.

The three Columbia residents have all stud ied cybersecurity at ECPI University in Colum bia, and all graduated from the school in July David and Danijela with bachelor’s degrees in cybersecurity and Antonio with an associate’s in software development. In their spare time, Antonio and his mom also spent much of the past year as members of the school’s award-win ning cybersecurity competitive team.

The family is part of a growing number of people of all ages studying cybersecurity as the need for employees in the field explodes both nationwide and in South Carolina.

The state currently has about 5,000 open cybersecurity jobs that are not being filled, according to statistics compiled by SC Tech, an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness designed to promote informa

tion technology and other tech jobs around the state.

Some estimates indicate the deficit might be even larger, according to Kim Christ, director of SC Tech and Cybersecure SC, the council’s initiative to promote cybersecurity. Christ said CyberSeek.org, a site dedicated to covering and promoting cybersecurity workforce develop ment, recently posted statistics showing South Carolina’s number of open jobs in the field at more than 7,000.

The stats get even more dramatic at the national level. According to statistics compiled by CyberSeek, from May 2021 through April 2022, there were 180,000 nationwide openings for information security analysts, cybersecuri ty’s largest job, but only 141,000 workers cur rently employed in those positions an annual talent shortfall of 39,000 workers.

Additionally, CyberSeek said, employers nationwide are struggling to fill 534,548 addi tional openings nationwide for workers with cybersecurity-related skills. On average, the organization’s statistics show, cybersecurity jobs

Focusing on the future

take 21% longer to fill than other IT jobs simply because there are not enough workers available with the needed skills.

That’s why staff members with the cyber security degree program at ECPI and other programs at schools nationwide are hearing almost nonstop from employers looking to hire graduates almost as soon as they complete their degrees.

“We can’t fill the spots fast enough for employers requesting our students,” said Chris Flanery, a faculty member in ECPI Columbia’s cybersecurity department and coach of the school’s cybersecurity team. “And I can tell you right now that for members of the cyber com petitive team over the past four years, we’ve had a 100% job placement rate working in the field.”

Students in ECPI Columbia’s cybersecu rity program, as well as similar ones at ECPI campuses in Charleston and Greenville, come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some enter the program straight out of high school,

Members of the Columbia Cyber Team, D0wn the L1ne, practice for an upcoming competition. The team includes (clockwise from center) Danijela Hunt, coach Chris Flanery, Kris Tanner, Danial Lewis, Jacob Allen, and Greg Cowell. The team from ECPI’s Columbia campus recently won first place in a national cyber skills contest. (Photo/Provided)

SC

ThePalmetto State still has a way to go to catch up to states like Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia overall, but South Carolina saw the highest percentage increase of adults with bachelor’s degrees or higher than any other state in the Southeast over 10 years.

An analysis of data released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis earlier this month shows that South Carolina saw a more than 30.7% increase in degree-holding adults in the state in 2021 compared to 10 years ago. The state with the next highest percentage increase was Tennessee with a 29.8% increase compared to 10 years ago.

Nationally, the District of Columbia, which is measured along with other states, had the highest rate of bachelor’s degrees in 2021 at 63.6%, followed by a distant Massachusetts, Colorado, Maryland and New Jersey.

The state with the lowest rate of higher education degrees was West Virginia at 23.1%, followed by Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Ten years ago, South Carolina was closer to where West Virginia is today in terms of higher education, with 24.10% of residents holding bachelor’s degrees, representing a steadily increasing percentage point increase from 2011 to 2021, federal data show.

By Andy Owens

SC Biz News Briefs

Volvo’s multimillion investment plans for Upstate move forward

Volvo

Cars USA’s bid for tax breaks for some Upstate investments is part of the company’s efforts to prepare its Ridgeville plant for building its new and fully electric flagship SUV.

Volvo CEO Jim Rowan says the EX90 ushers in a new era for safety for Volvo drivers and passengers.

“Born electric, born with lidar. The start of a new era of electrification, technology and safety,” Rowan said in a video presentation at the end of September. All Volvo EX90s will come with a combination of the latest technology powered by an understanding of the car’s outside environment and the person driving the vehicle, the company says.

“We’re yet to achieve our safety vision: that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car. To continue our journey toward zero, we’re introducing inno vations that will change how we all see safety,” Rowan said.

Rowan promises in the video that this next-generation SUV is beyond any of its Volvo predecessors.

“With the state-of-the-art technology, made up of cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors and, key, a lidar in the roofline, which is a precision light-enabled radar system that mea sures distance with pulsed laser, all of which combined will give us more time to act and avoid collisions,” he said.

Ordinances authorizing the execution and delivery of the FILOTs — fees in lieu of taxes — between Volvo Cars USA and Greenville and Spartanburg counties were unanimously approved by the counties’ councils in late September, moving the proposals forward for final votes at upcoming meetings. The final votes are anticipated within the next few weeks.

Volvo Cars USA plans to invest upward of $62 million in existing businesses that supply the automaker.

The investment is part of Volvo’s plan to ready Ridgeville for building the EX90, which is set to debut on Nov. 9, said Katherine Bergmann, Volvo Cars U.S. Operations head of communications and community relations for the Charleston Plant.

“This type of investment is common in the industry and will have a positive impact on the economy,” Bergmann said. “We’re always looking to support the local community.”

This is a new investment that will generate tax revenue without putting a strain on existing infrastructure in the county, Bergmann added.

Volvo cars in the United States are available through a national network of nearly 300 independent retail partners.

Both counties are considering the FILOT agreements with Volvo in return for the company’s significant capital outlay plans, according to the agreements. A Greenville Area Development Corp. statement on Sept. 20 clarified reports of a new factory, stating that the investment is not to build new Volvo plants.

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By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Anew

restaurant, BirdsNest Grille, has opened inside Random Tap in Elgin.

The new eatery, which opened in early September, is run by Chapin residents Donald and Chatara Taylor, who bring years of experience in the restaurant industry to the new venture inside the popular taproom, which features a wide variety of craft beers.

Random Tap’s owners had been search ing for someone to take over the kitchen after the death of former chef Catherine Cosby in a car accident in October 2021.

The Taylors heard about the opportu nity and decided to bring their talents to Elgin.

The restaurant is named after the town of Birdsnest, Va., where Donald Taylor spent many summers during childhood and watched his grandmother and other relatives in the kitchen.

“I had that old-school grandma who really knew how to cook and that gave me

a lot of inspiration,” he said.

Taylor’s love for cooking developed further in high school home economics class, where he said one teacher urged him to pursue a career as a chef. After serving in the U.S. Army, Taylor went to culinary school.

Chatara Taylor, meanwhile, said she first got exposed to the restaurant indus try while waiting tables as a teenager, and has always come back to it even after working in other fields such as retail and office management. She said her interest is mostly in baking while Donald concen trates on all other facets of cooking.

The Taylors moved to the Midlands 13 years ago and ran a restaurant, Captain Taylor’s BBQ and Seafood, from 20172019.

Since then, they have run a food truck, Hooked on Sammiches, which serves a variety of gourmet sandwiches includ ing lobster rolls and po’boys made with shrimp, chicken, and alligator, among other offerings. They decided to get back into a brick-and-mortar site after hearing about the opening at Random Tap.

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“We love the food truck, but you can only have so much variety in the restrict ed space,” Chatara Taylor said. “He really wanted to get back to having a full kitch en experience.”

They will continue to run the food truck occasionally but are focusing on growing BirdsNest right now.

BirdsNest Grille’s menu includes a wide variety of dishes from starters to desserts. The menu includes everything from shepherd’s pie to traditional South ern favorites like shrimp and grits, and other casual dining fare such as quesadil las, burgers and pizza.

The Taylors said they also hope to start serving brunch soon and would like to add touches including a Bloody Mary bar.

BirdsNest Grille is located inside Ran dom Tap at 117 Spears Creek Church Road in Elgin. Hours are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss

BirdsNest Grille, owned by Donald and Chatara Taylor, is now open inside popular Elgin tap room Random Tap. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

Sumter man sentenced for defrauding nonprofit

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

RodneyEllis, 71, of Sumter, has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding a Sumter County nonprofit.

While serving as the financial officer for Sumter Behavioral Health Services, Ellis defrauded the organization out of more than $800,000 over eight years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. His scheme was to divert funds from SBHS bank accounts to his own personal bank accounts.

Ellis has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison followed by three years of court-ordered supervision, according to a news release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $812,259.07.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“By stealing from an organization that serves those suffering from substance abuse, Ellis took from those he should have been protecting,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “This case shows that finan cial crimes are not victimless, and often do the most harm to those who need help the most.

“This office will continue to aggres sively prosecute fraud, and we appreciate the efforts of all state and federal agencies involved in this case.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower pros ecuted the case.

“I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in bringing Rodney

Ellis to justice,” said Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis. “Ellis betrayed the trust of not only members of the Sumter Behav ioral Health office, but the citizens of Sum ter County.”

Man indicted for defrauding resort

Troy Benjamin Bittner, 53, of Myrtle Beach, has been indicted by a Florence grand jury for defrauding a local resort out of nearly $1 million during the pandemic, according to the U.S. Attorney of the Dis trict of South Carolina.

The indictment alleges that Bittner, in his role as manager for Carolina Pines RV Resort in Conway, used his access to the company’s credit card reservation system to commit wire fraud, according to a news release.

According to the indictment, during the pandemic Bittner mishandled refunds for guests who canceled reservations. Instead of directing refunds to the credit cards on file, the indictment alleges Bittner issued the refunds to his own personal credit cards and received more than $800,000 in fraudulent refunds at the expense of Caro lina Pines over a 26-month period.

Bittner faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison in addition to forfei ture and restitution, the U.S. Attorney said.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investiga tion and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek A. Shoe make is prosecuting the case.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

Military procurement company investing $3M in expansion

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

MGS

LLC, a military procurement company, is investing $3 million to expand its operations in Rich land County.

Based in the U.S., MGS LLC is an interna tional procurement and distribution compa ny that assists the government in acquiring

police and military equipment and services, according to a news release. The company’s products and services include ammunition and components, law enforcement and security, weapons systems and more.

213 Dawson Road off the Trenholm Road Extension in Northeast Columbia. The expansion will create 12 jobs and include construction of a new facility with additional

office and warehousing space, the release said.

“MGS LLC is not only a longstanding employer in Richland County, but it has also

double its workforce over the next few years and is happy to help facilitate this company’s growth.”

The expansion is expected to be online by

New tenant comes to Cardinal Crossing; LMC expands

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Specialty

food services such as bakeries continue to be among the hottest new tenants of rent al space around the state, including the Midlands. One recent example is Crumbl Cookies’ lease of 1,414 square feet of retail space in the Cardinal Crossing development at 4605 Forest Drive in Forest Acres.

Rox Pollard and Danny Bonds of Colliers South Carolina represented The Beach Co. in the lease.

Founded in Utah in 2017, Crum bl Cookies’ menu includes mainstays such as its milk chocolate chip cookie and also features a rotating assortment of offerings. The chain has more than 300 bakeries in 36 states.

In the Midlands, Crumbl Cookies also has a location at 5135 Sunset Blvd, Suite J.

Lexington Medical Center expands Lexington Medical Center contin ues its expansion of facilities around the Columbia area with the recent pur chase of two properties. NAI Colum bia’s Ben Kelly Patrick Chambers and Jack Springs represented Lexington Medical in the transactions.

The first new location is a 21,475-square-foot office building located at 1000 Center Point Road inside the Center Point Business Park, near the intersection of I-26 and I-20 in Columbia.

The other is at 2729 Sunset Blvd., directly across from Lexington Medi cal’s main campus in West Columbia. The property sits on 5.98 acres and was formerly occupied by a Farm Bureau claims center.

Lexington Medical Center also recently purchased two properties at 5133 and 5143 Forest Drive, with plans of building 20,000 square feet of office space to house a family practice and obstetrics/gynecology office.

New medical offices at Landmark

NAI Columbia principal Jeff Hein recently executed the lease of two office suites in the Landmark Business Park to medical tenants.

The first is a 11,608-square-foot space located within Landmark II, and the second is for 3,310 square feet in Landmark IV. Both spaces are currently undergoing renovations with projected occupancy in the first quarter of 2023.

“We are thrilled to have two new medical tenants join Landmark Busi ness Park,” said Hein. “We’re continu ing to see great leasing momentum in Landmark from traditional office ten ants as well as medical tenants.”

The three-building park located at the corner of Forest Drive and Beltline

Boulevard in Forest Acres is owned by LM Cola Partners LLC, a Green ville-based investment group. The park’s 50 current occupants include nonprofits and medical practices.

Construction done at 321 Logistics Development and construction of 321 Logistics, a 181,440-square-foot industrial building in the Lexington County Industrial Park in West Colum bia, is complete.

The Magnus Development Partners project, located along Highway 321 less than a mile from the intersection of interstates 77 and 26, was fully leased to three tenants before construction was completed.

The Colliers South Carolina indus trial brokerage team of Chuck Salley, Dave Mathews, Thomas Beard and John Peebles represented Magnus in the leas ing of 68,040 square feet to CED Green tech in July 2021, 56,700 square feet to The Marwin Co. in February and 56,700 square feet to AGP Glass in March.

Colliers also represented CED Greentech and AGP Glass in the transactions. “The industrial demand in central South Carolina continues to show its strength while existing availabilities are scarce,” Salley,

managing director of industrial services in Colliers’ Columbia office, said in a news release. “321 Logistics was the last available Class A industrial space in the market until new construction delivers in the fourth quarter of 2022. Because of that, tenants are considering executing leases well in advance of a building’s delivery to secure space within buildings under construction or planned.”

Solar equipment distributor CED Greentech relocated from another West Columbia site to a larger space at 321 Logistics. Cayce-based residential con struction business The Marwin Co., which provides attic access solutions and doors, moved a portion of its cur rent operations to 321 Logistics. The West Columbia location is the first in S.C. for AGP Glass and serves as a sat ellite production plant for the interna tional automotive glass company.

Other recent Colliers transactions:

• Allen Wilkerson and Markus Kastenholz represented Florence East Properties in the sale of 50-site mobile home community at 3175 Tall Oaks Drive in Flor ence to Benchmark Housing for $6,350,000.

• Henry Roe and Allen Wilkerson

represented St. Andrews Offices LLC in the lease of 6,033 square feet of office space at 240 Stoner idge Drive in Columbia to the S.C. Commission for Minority Affairs.

• Allen Wilkerson represented Columbia Skin Clinic LLC in the purchase of a 3,400-squarefoot office building at 7039 St. Andrews Road in Columbia for $850,000.

• Tommy Johnson represented HPT Sunbelt Portfolio LLC in the lease of 3,350 square feet of office space at Meridian, 1320 Main St., Columbia.

• Rox Pollard and John Gressette represented Kao Thai Cuisine in the leasing of 2,276 square feet of retail space at 1307 Main St., Columbia.

• Mary Winter Teaster represented Northeast Medical Development Group LLC in the lease of 1,452 square feet of office space at 710 Rabon Road I Columbia to Mark Their Words Therapy Services.

• Crawford Prezioso represented Keenan Energy in the sale of a 1,250-square-foot gas station at 239 S. Congaree St., Winnsboro to Roots Oil.

Crumbl Cookies is a new tenant in the Cardinal Crossing development at 4605 Forest Drive in Forest Acres. (Photo/Provided)

CAE to feature artwork by Transitions clients

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Artwork

by clients of Transitions Homeless Center in Columbia

is on display for the next few months at Columbia Metropolitan Air port.

Each year, Transitions officials work with CAE to highlight the artistic tal ents of many of their clients.

“This exhibit is reflective of the fact that the homeless in our community are not invisible,” said Elizabeth Igle heart, vice president of advancement at Transitions. “When we bring the client artists out to the airport to see their art on display, it gives them such a sense of

self-worth and pride. This exhibit helps all of us remember that even the least

among us have a gift they can share if we let them.”

The exhibit will be on display in the entrance to CAE’s food court through the end of fall. It features several differ ent mediums, including drawing and painting.

“We’re thrilled to be able to continue our strong partnership with Transitions to bring such a powerful exhibit to our travelers,” said Kim Jamieson Crafton, CAE’s director of marketing and air service development. “By amplifying a marginalized group within our commu nity, CAE is able to ensure its focus of diversity, equity and inclusion remains woven into the fabric of everything we do.”

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

Longtime business executive named chamber’s Ambassador of the Year

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

DavidPankau has received the Ambassador of the Year award from the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and was honored at the chamber’s 119th Annual Gala on Oct. 6.

The award, sponsored by Colonial Life, is presented to a member of the commu nity who demonstrates outstanding busi ness ethnics and has influenced positive

promotion and preservation of the Mid lands area.

“David Pankau is a leader in the busi ness community whose tireless efforts have helped to grow and shape Columbia as we know it,” said Carl Blackstone, pres ident and CEO of the Columbia Cham ber, in a news release.

Pankau was with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina for 30 years and served as president and CEO from 2010 until his retirement July 1.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in public health from the Univer sity of South Carolina. Pankau served on the board of directors of Midlands Busi ness Leadership Group, Palmetto Busi ness Forum and the National Institute for Health Care Management. He has also served on BlueCross BlueShield’s board of directors since 2010.

Pankau has worked with many regional organizations including Junior

Achievement, Transitions Homeless Cen ter, St. Lawrence Place, Healthy Learners and United Way of the Midlands.

“It is an honor and a privilege to rec ognize David with this year’s award,” said Tim Arnold, president of Colonial Life. “David is an outstanding leader, and many organizations in the community have benefited from his passion for driv ing lasting change.”

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

Artwork by clients of Transitions Homeless Center will be displayed at CAE through fall. (Photo/Provided)

USC budget proposal seeks to keep tuition costs steady

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbzinews.com

TheUniversity of South Carolina’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2023-24 seeks to keep tuition affordable across the eight-campus sys tem.

The budget proposal also priori tizes construction of classrooms and innovative learning spaces, invests in research infrastructure and clinical outreach and promotes initiatives to support students’ needs, according to a news release.

The proposed budget was approved by the university’s Board of Trustees on Sept. 23 and will be submitted for con sideration by state officials as part of the annual budget process, the release said.

Highlights of the budget request include $29.5 million in tuition mitiga tion funds for the Columbia campus to offset inflation and allow the universi ty to hold tuition prices steady for the fifth consecutive year. An additional $4.7 million would provide for tuition price freezes across the entire USC sys tem.

The request also includes $53 mil lion to renovate and build classrooms and learning spaces in and around the Science and Technology building on campus and $41 million to reno vate and upgrade outdated labs in the Coker Life Sciences building and the Jones Research Center, according to the release.

Also requested is $30 million to bring a new Brain Institute to the Bull Street health sciences campus, home to the university’s future new School of Medicine. The Institute will serve as headquarters for a Rural Brain Health Network and allow doctors to serve patients from across the state with com

plex brain health problems. An addi tional $10 million in recurring state funds would establish and support a program in which experts specializing in clinical dementia care would work together to serve patients in rural areas.

The proposed budget also includes a variety of programs to address regional needs across the system, including an

expansion of the number of nursing grad uates and enhanced instructional support for students.

“This request reflects our priorities: serving our students and enhancing the university’s ability to make a real difference in the lives of South Carolinians,” Michael Amiridis, university president, said in the release. “By working together with

the General Assembly, we can increase the number of degree-holders in South Carolina and create innovate research and patient care models that improve the lives of all our residents.”

The S.C. Legislature will set budget appropriation.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

Columbia communications agency names McNeely new CEO

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Flock

and Rally, a woman-owned integrated communications and marketing agency based in Colum bia, has named Merritt McNeely its new CEO.

McNeely, who has served in an exec utive leadership role at the agency since spring 2018, will lead strategic plan ning, financial management and busi ness development as well as serve as the agency’s key spokesperson, according to a news release.

“It is a dream come true to empower a trusted colleague to assume the role of chief executive,” Tracie Broom, co-found

ing partner at Flock and Rally, said in the news release. “Merritt’s skill, experience and commitment to our unique company culture — as well as our shared vision for measured growth — make her a natural fit for the position of CEO.”

McNeely joined Flock and Rally in April 2018 as vice president of marketing and in 2020 was promoted to executive vice president, the release said. Since she joined the agency, it has more than dou bled in size and revenue and has received dozens of awards.

“This is a full-circle moment for me, having worked with Flock and Rally as a client multiple times over the years,” McNeely said in the release. “It’s been an honor to be part of this agency’s remark

able growth in the last four years and now, it is a privilege to be entrusted to lead this amazing team as we continue forward.” McNeely previously served as direc tor of marketing and membership for the S.C. State Museum, where she led state wide marketing and communications for the 2014 grand opening of the museum’s new observatory and planetarium, and co-founded and co-chaired the 2017 Total Eclipse Weekend, which drew hundreds of thousands of travelers to the Midlands for that year’s total solar eclipse.

She also served as executive director of the Five Points Association from 200513, where her accomplishments included installing a new fountain at Saluda Ave nue and Blossom Street and the creation

of a public monument at Harden Street and Santee Avenue to honor the band Hootie and the Blowfish. She currently sits on the Five Points Association’s board of directors and has served on numerous local boards and committees, including Columbia Design League, the Animal Mission and the Babcock Center Foun dation.

She has been named to the Columbia Regional Business Report’s annual list of Women of Influence.

McNeely holds a degree in public rela tions from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina.

The University of South Carolina’s proposed

tuition prices steady for the fifth consecutive year. (Photo/File)

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Hotel mixes nature and art in downtown Greenville

By Krys Merryman kmerryman@scbiznews.com

Richard

Kessler said from the beginning — which was near ly eight years and $100 million ago — that the hotel he had in mind for Greenville would be a destination for locals as much as travelers.

And in the days since the Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville opened with a ceremony on Sept. 15, a steady stream of Upstate visitors suggests he was right.

The lodge is the first of its kind for hospitality developer The Kessler Collec tion.

Grand Bohemian hotels are part of the Marriott Bonvoy Autograph Collection, specifically the Kessler Portfolio. From start to finish, it has been nearly eight years since Kessler, chairman and CEO of The Kessler Collection, first saw the site with Greenville Mayor Knox White.

“As soon as I saw the location on the river, I knew there was no question this would be the site of the hotel. We couldn’t do a typical hotel, it’s too precious of a site in this park. We had to do something special, and this is really an opportunity for us to add something beautiful for the community,” Kessler said.

The lodge is located right on the Reedy River with views of downtown Greenville and Falls Park. Whether you are a guest at the hotel or its restaurant or want to read a book on the porch overlooking the river, this is a destination for anyone, said Mark Kessler, president and COO of Kes sler Collection Design and Development.

“It’s already created a lot of excitement for the business and social club scene in Greenville as a social center. This is some thing new to Greenville that could not be replicated,” he said.

The Grand Bohemian Lodge Green ville was a large investment, embarked upon not as an investment to flip but for longevity, with expectations to be the managers and owners of the location for years to come, said Mark Kessler.

With 187 luxury suites and guest rooms, the lodge also features the tranquil Poseidon Spa, Between The Trees contem porary cuisine restaurant with a Michelin Star chef, Nicolas Abello, and bourbon bar Spirit & Bower. Guests can enjoy an inti mate or group dining experience around one of the four fireplaces in the upscale dining space, in the 1,000-bottle wine room or private dining room featuring an exterior glass wall that opens to views and sounds of nature.

Overlooking the Liberty Bridge and the waterfalls, Spirit & Bower is an upscale bourbon bar featuring an outdoor veran da and terrace with a variety of seating for both dining and lounging, two fireplac es, and a stone firepit, with cocktails and regionally inspired small plates from a shareable menu. Inside the bar, guests will be welcomed by a “warm and handsome

interior” and a display of Spirit & Bow er’s curated bourbon and whiskey collec tion with some of the rarest spirits in the country. A “sleek and elevated” stone bar opens to the exterior, engaging guests and connecting the inside with the beauty and sounds of Falls Park, according to a news release from The Zimmerman Agency.

The seven-story property features sig nature Bohemian interiors designed to reflect the natural beauty of Greenville and $2 million worth of curated artwork, including an art gallery.

“This location is something truly special that not many people have ever experienced before, and a destination unmatched, especially for South Carolina residents,” Mark Kessler said. “You will not even feel like you’re in downtown Green ville.”

Jill Lopez visited Greenville from Ros well and agreed that the Grand Bohemian brings a unique experience to the area.

“This hotel was only open for two weeks when I chose to book it for the weekend,” she said. “The staff members are friendly and accommodating. The hotel is decorated inside with American Indian art and design along with a museum for your enjoyment. I loved the food in both of their restaurants. Shopping is just a short

walk away from the hotel, too. I loved it and it is a great getaway for anyone who wants a staycation also.”

Greenville resident David Haskins said it feels more like an art museum than a hotel.

“I think it’ll be great for elevating the profile of the city, and it really completes the Falls Park space,” he said. “Our kids loved playing on the public greens out in front, too. I really like that they made the hotel feel welcoming and open to the public, even if you aren’t staying the night.”

Ken Johnson, regional president for AECOM/Hunt Construction, and Christian Sottile of Sottile & Sottile Architects, were major players in the lodge coming to life.

With Grand Bohemians popping up in other major Southeast cities such as Asheville, Charlotte and Charleston, the Kesslers and White believe this social center will bring new businesses and travelers who have never been to or thought about Greenville before.

“We see that everywhere we go,” Mark Kessler said. “We create these as a social destination, even if you do not stay or dine with us. We have created something truly unique and inspiring.”

Designed to capture the architectural expression of a grand park lodge, the property’s interior space features an extensive collection of Native American and Western art from Richard Kessler’s private collection of art, gathering areas overlooking Falls Park, and new green space creating a gateway to the Reedy River, according to the release.

The lodge’s design was inspired by national parks such as Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone, and Kessler said every part of its design was a “labor of love, passion and authenticity that will stand the test of time.”

Founded by Richard Kessler in 1984, the Kessler Collection is a hospitality brand that develops, owns and manages luxury boutique hotels, restaurants and retail. The Kessler Collection features 12 hotels and resorts, and 28 restaurants and lounges.

“After years of planning, we’re proud to see our vision of natural beauty and tranquil ambiance come to life in down town Greenville,” the CEO said.

“We look forward to introducing the luxurious Grand Bohemian Lodge to our beloved repeat and new guests alike in this emerging destination full of rich heritage.”

The Grand Bohemian began booking rooms in August, but opened last month with a ceremony. (Photo/Ross Norton)

$2M grant to help tackle mental health concerns in ER

from Clemson Uni versity, Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina are launching a study focused on develop ing systems-based solutions to improve the safety and well-being of children with mental and behavioral health con ditions that arrive in emergency depart ments.

Researchers

“Mental health issues have been on the rise among children, and has been further exacerbated by the pandem ic,” said Anjali Joseph, director of the Center for Health Facilities Design and Testing and professor in the Clemson University School of Architecture.

“There is a shortage of adequate mental health resources in the commu nity and this has resulted in an increas ing number of kids with mental and behavioral health issues showing up in emergency rooms, which are really the worst place for them,” she said in a news release.

Dr. Ann Dietrich, pediatric emer gency department chief for Prisma Health Upstate, said cases are on the rise nationally.

“Mental health disorders have exploded in the pediatric population with multiple organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics declaring a national emergency in in child and adolescent mental health in 2022,” Dietrich said in the news release.

A $2 million grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will allow a team of doctors and schol ars to search for solutions to ensure that when children arrive in emergen cy rooms with mental and behavior al health needs, they can receive the care they need. The team will be led

by Joseph, along with Dietrich and Dr. Meera Narasimhan, chairwoman in the department of psychiatry at Prisma Health and health innovations adviser to University of South Carolina presi dent.

“Mental health disorders have exploded in the pediatric population with the multiple organizations includ ing the American Academy of Pediat rics declaring a National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health in 2022,” Dietrich said in the release.

“Between 2010 and 2018, mental health concerns and suicide rates rose consis tently, and in 2018 suicide was the sec

ond leading cause of death in children between 10-24 years of age.”

The study has three aims. The first aim is to analyze the ways that current emergency department workflows either help or hinder proper care for children’s mental and behavioral health needs. The second is to design human-centered work systems to improve care. The third is to integrate, implement and evaluate the new work systems, the news release stat ed.

“Chaotic emergency department environments warrant innovative solutions at a systems level to better meet the needs of children who present with

mental health emergencies,” Narasimhan said in the release.

Joseph, whose research specializes in health facilities design, said that most emer gency departments were not designed for the needs of patients — especially children — with severe mental and behavioral health conditions who may not have any visible physical problems. Further, she said many emergency rooms lack adequate men tal health professionals on call, which can result in long wait times for patients in dis tress. She noted that Black, indigenous and other children of color are disproportion ately impacted by shortcomings in mental and behavioral health care.

SCBIO rebrands, launches new website in bid to expand visibility

By Jason Thomas jthomas@scbiznews.com

SCBIO

has a new look.

The statewide life sciences orga nization has introduced refreshed branding and launched a new website aimed at meeting the needs of the orga nization and its constituents across the region, an SCBIO news release stated.

“Our members, our industry, and our world look and operate differently today than they did when SCBIO was formed more than a decade ago,” James Chap pell, CEO of SCBIO, said in the release.

“As SCBIO and our industry advance, we must share South Carolina’s life sciences story more broadly and even more con sistently. That led to this new visual iden

tity and communications tools for use internally and externally.”

Working with branding partner Stil well & Co., the brand refresh includes a new logo, fonts, color palette, website and numerous tools across all communica tions channels, the release stated.

The relaunch is part of SCBIO’s strate gic emphasis on developing an expanded visibility with key opinion leaders both domestically and globally, Chappell said.

The statewide life sciences organiza tion, which represents more than 1,000 organizations statewide employing more than 87,000 professionals across the state, intends to present its brand to audienc es including corporate pharmaceutical and medical device executives, health care and health IT leaders, top officials in

government and higher education, and venture funds and sources of capital, the release stated.

“This diverse industry necessarily has a wide range of audiences of impor tance; thus we need to tailor our mes sages and approaches to connect with many diverse stakeholders,” Chappell said in the release. “With South Caroli na’s life sciences growth outpacing that of all other Southeastern states since 2017, we needed a bold, fresh look to represent the industry across numerous touch points. We believe this achieves that goal.”

New website features include imple mentation of a customer relationship management system to better cap ture data and store information on the

fast-expanding industry and its sup porters.

A security-enhanced WordPress architecture, plus expanded sections on SCBIO and its industry leadership and members, and detailed sections on each of its areas of strategic priority are also incorporated in the site.

Further sections will be added to the website over the coming months, according to the release.

South Carolina’s life sciences indus try has a $25.7 billion annual econom ic impact in the state, ranking it among South Carolina’s largest economic con tributors, with an industry presence in 42 of 46 counties.

Anjali Joseph says that most emergency departments were not designed for the needs of patients — especially children — with severe mental and behavioral health conditions. (Photo/Provided)

In Focus

LISTS: Postgraduate Degree Programs, Page 18 | BONUS: Private Schools, Page 19

NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering and Construction

THE FUTURE OF WORKFORCE

Savannah River Site programs provide training — and jobs — to students

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Thefuture of operations and safe nuclear waste disposal at the Savannah River Site hinges on making sure enough skilled workers are available to keep things running.

Like almost every other employer these days, SRS is facing challenges in maintaining the workforce it needs. As a result, officials at the site. located in the western part of South Carolina in Aiken, have started several new programs focused on building up that workforce and making it easier for people to quick ly make the transition from classroom to full-time employment.

Savannah River Mission Completion, one of the main employers at the site, has started programs that streamline the path from college to employment for students interested in careers at SRS.

SRMC’s responsibility is the safe reduction of curies, or radioactive mate rial, in aging waste tanks at the site, and also reducing the risk that the liquid waste presents to both the community and the environment. Its workers con duct operations all around SRS, includ ing at the defense waste processing facility, tank farm operations and other associated production and disposal facilities, according to a description on the SMRC website. SRMC is made up of parent company BWX Technologies Inc.

and partners Amentum and Fluor.

The key mission of SRMC engineers, according to the site, is to safely com plete the group’s mission of tank closure through disposing of liquid waste “in a safe and cost-effective manner.”

In order to achieve that mission, SRMC must maintain a workforce that includes mechanical, chemical, elec trical and nuclear engineers, IT and administrative professionals, radiologi cal control inspectors, production oper ators, maintenance mechanics and lab technicians.

To develop that workforce, SRMC started the Technical Student Program in 2021, which simplifies the process of helping interns become new hires.

Each summer, college students majoring in science, technology, engi neering and math fields work in sum mer internships at the site. The TSP pro gram allows students to continue to gain experience by remaining employed with SRMC even after those internships end.

While they finish their degree pro grams, workers remain part-time employees of SRMC, which reduces the time it would take for them to become qualified engineers with the agency once they are hired full time.

During the first year of TSP, three of four student participants were hired by SRMC, with the fourth deciding not

Caroline Wilson, a senior engineering major at Clemson University. says she gained valuable experience participating in the Savannah River Site’s Technical Student Program, which streamlines the process of helping interns become full-time hires and helps SRS build the workforce pipeline needed to keep the site operating safely. (Photo/Provided)

FBI pilot program offers opportunities to HBCU students

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Notmany college students get to have an FBI agent as a mentor helping them decide on a career path, but that is the reality beginning this year for some students at five of South Carolina’s historically Black colleges and universities.

Agents and other employees from the FBI are taking part in a pilot college and university mentoring program offered by the bureau’s Columbia field office that launched in September and will run until the beginning of the spring semester.

Twenty-two students from Benedict College and Allen University in Colum bia, Claflin University and S.C. State University in Orangeburg and Morris College in Sumter were selected to par ticipate, said Chiquanda Tilley, commu nity outreach specialist with the FBI’s Columbia field office.

Tilley said 21 Bureau employees, including agents, are serving as men

tors. They will work with students to help them develop successful habits while still in college and also introduce them to potential future career opportunities with the Bureau.

The program is inspired by the FBI’s Beacon Project. Launched in Huntsville, Ala. in spring 2021, Beacon’s goal is to partner the FBI with students and staff at HBCUs to not only increase the diver sity of the FBI but also work to improve the relationship between the Bureau and minority communities.

After Beacon launched, representa tives from the Columbia field office met with presidents and other officials from the state’s eight HBCUs to discuss the FBI’s history, relationship with the Black community and other issues, Tilley said.

“We asked them how we could strengthen our relationship with the state’s HBCUs and some of the strongest feedback we got was the need for men torship opportunities,” she said.

Getting more Black students interest ed in working with the FBI is important

because the Black community is under represented in its workforce related to overall U.S. population, according to the August 2022 FBI Diversity Report.

The report’s statistics show that although 27.1% of the Bureau’s workforce identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, only 5% of special agents, 7% of intelli gence analysts and 14.5% of other profes sionals in the Bureau are Black.

Efforts to diversify the FBI are paying off, according to the report. Since 2018, statistics show, the Bureau has increased its racial/ethnic diversity by 1.3% and the number of female employees by 1.3%. The number of special agents who iden tify as racial or ethnic minorities has increased by 2.2%, and female special agents have increased by 2.7%.

“We applaud the FBI for moving in a direction to mentor possible candi dates who are representative of their communities, especially if those com munities are currently underrepresent ed,” said Roslyn Clark Artis, president and CEO of Benedict College. “Bene

dict students care about crime in their communities and want to be a part of the solution while benefiting from the exposure to law enforcement careers offered by the Beacon Project.”

The mentorship program was ini tially supposed to start in January but was pushed back because of COVID19.

Students selected for the program had to go through an application pro cess. They are mostly sophomore and juniors and bring with them a variety of backgrounds and academic interests.

Many people might think an FBI mentoring program would only be suitable for students pursuing degrees in criminal justice, but that is not the case at all, Tilley said. She said one of the biggest misconceptions about the agency is that it only has one type of job open and is only looking for people with specific backgrounds.

“The great thing about the FBI is

S.C.

Black colleges and universities. (Photo/File)

BMW unveils new $100 million logistics center

By Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com

Onthe eve of the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking ceremony that signaled the arrival of BMW Manufacturing, the company on Sept. 29 added two private bridges and nearly 1 million square feet of floor space to its ever-expanding Upstate footprint.

The company officially opened LCX, a logistics center on Freeman Farm Road in Greer that BMW bills as a “more efficient, sustainable and digital operation.”

The $100 million facility was construct ed by Becknell Industrial. It includes two private bridges that connect LCX to the manufacturing plant, where parts are transported by crossing Freeman Farm Road and Interstate 85.

BMW Manufacturing President and CEO Robert Engelhorn said LCX com bines two warehouses into one facility, “making our processes faster, leaner and more efficient.” He said the center incorpo rates elements of the BMW iFactory strate gy, which defines the future of automotive manufacturing for all of BMW production worldwide.

A feature of the logistics center is a fence that cuts through the interior of the build ing, separating the new container freight station from BMW’s Foreign Trade Zone. Parts enter the warehouse on one side to be

CYBER SECURITY, from Page 1 in their a part of from the careers was ini January but COVIDprogram application pro sophomore and a variety interests. an FBI only be degrees not the said one of about the type of for people the FBI is

like Antonio Curic, while others come from other careers, like his parents did.

“One of the reasons I chose the field was for the protection of my family and also because it’s such a growing industry,” Mrs. Hunt said. “Your average house alone has about 20 devices in it that could potentially be hacked, and that‘s not something that is going to go away. This is a great field to be in because it’s only going to keep growing.”

ECPI offers cybersecurity degrees through its cyber and information securi ty technology major with a cybersecurity track, with year-round classes allowing many students to get their bachelor’s degree in as little as two and a half years. Students study programming, databases and net working as well as how to maintain, mon itor and troubleshoot network and securi ty infrastructure and how to use security controls to protects an organization from threats and vulnerabilities.

“The courses don’t just involve textbook material but extensive labs focused on hands-on, real-life scenarios that you have to learn how to deal with,” said David Hunt. “You have to be able to take the knowledge you’ve gained and use critical thinking to figure out to fix the issue and learn what repercussions would occur if you did not fix it correctly.”

ECPI’s cyber team, meanwhile, gives students an additional chance to use their

separated. The duty-paid material is crossdocked and travels by truck to BMW’s Consolidated Services operations at Inland Port Greer, according to a BMW news release.

Only the duty-unpaid BMW Manufac turing-owned parts are allowed to enter the Foreign Trade Zone. Those parts are

either stored on racks temporarily in the warehouse or go directly to the BMW plant to be used in production. Driverless yard trucks called “holsters” carry the parts across the bridges built by United Infra structure Group. The one over Interstate 85 is one of the longest free-spanning bridges in the state, according to the news release.

“BMW has worked in close partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and appreciates their support in creating this one-of-a-kind warehouse,” Oliver Bil stein, vice president of Logistics and Pro duction Control, said. At the ceremony, Bilstein said the effort required everyone involved to overcome challenges induced by COVID-19 — including supply short ages and the rising cost of building mate rials — but the project was still completed on time.

Spartanburg County Councilmember David Britt, who was first elected shortly before BMW chose Greer for its only U.S. plant, said the new facility, like everything at the site since 1992, is a result of partner ships.

“This investment in itself is a milestone of collaboration,” said Britt, also the long time chairman of the county’s economic development committee.

Since 1992, BMW has invested near ly $12 billion in the Spartanburg County plant, Engelhorn said before cutting a rib bon to officially open the LCX.

A video of the holsters at work showed the tractor-trailer sized vehicles at work. When BMW launches its autonomous logistics program in the future, it will use 5G wireless technology on the Plant Spartanburg site, enabling real-time connectivity between machinery and equipment.

ment really work hand-in-hand with each other because if a computer is not secure, software won’t run correctly,” he said.

Awareness of cybersecurity’s importance in all facets of information technology is also key to getting more people interested in the field in general.

skills to combat realistic, simulated attack situations similar to what could happen to a government agency or a business. Students try out for positions on the team and then take part in events around the Southeast.

This past spring, the team, nicknamed “D0wn the L1ine,” won first place, best ing more than 1,000 teams nationwide, in the “U.S. Cyber Range” competition. The 32-hour contest was sponsored by Wicked6 Cyber Games and was a fundraiser for the Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu, a nonprofit focused on closing the gender gap in cyber security careers.

To compete, teams had to have at least one woman member, and Danielja Hunt was proud to be one of them.

“It was an amazing experience to take

part in that competition, because it really showed you what cybersecurity is about,” she said. “You compete against other peo ple who are so much better than you in a high-pressure situation in a specific amount of time, and that’s similar to what you face when you’re working in the field as well.”

The Hunts and their son Antonio all have used what they learned through study ing cybersecurity to move ahead with their career goals. David Hunt left the construc tion field and now works in the biomedical engineering department at Prisma Health. Daniejela Hunt got a job as an IT specialist for the Lexington Police Department, and Antonio plans to continue to study software development.

“Cybersecurity and software develop

Christ said some of the main goals of the two initiatives she runs are to raise aware ness of the many facets of the cybersecurity field. Cybersecurity experts work at many different levels within companies and per form a wide variety of different roles, she said. They’re not always in a company’s IT department and work to combat a wide variety of problems, not just the most com monly known ones such as computer virus es and malware.

Cybersecurity jobs are increasingly com ing open in companies’ C-suites as more industries become aware that they need to bring planning for secure technology into every facet of the business in order for it to be effective.

“As we’re preparing our cyber work force pipeline, we now know we need to prepare not just great technical brains but also workers that know how to implement cybersecurity into a company’s overall busi ness plan,” Christ said. “We want to remind people that cybersecurity is more than one job. There are multiple jobs in the field and multiple pathways to get to them. The potential for the field nationwide and in this state is enormous.”

ECPI University’s Columbia campus cybersecurity team won first place in the U.S. Cyber Range competition, besting more than 1,000 teams from across the country. (Photo/Provided)

BMW Manufacturing has unviled its $100 million logistics center in Spartanburg County. (Photo/Ross Norton)

$5M Google.org grant helps SC youth get connected

people in rural and under served South Carolina communities can now get connected — to tech nology, resources and training — thanks to a $5 million grant from Google.org to the National 4-H Council.

Young

The grant is aimed at expanding com puter science skills and education to under served youth across the country and builds upon support from Google.org of computer science in 4-H that has reached 1.4 million students since 2017. Google.org is the com pany’s philanthropic arm.

“In South Carolina, we are thrilled to continue to support this great effort and appreciate the opportunity National 4-H Council and Google have provided,” Ashley Burns, S.C. 4-H Youth Development assis tant director, said in a Clemson University news release.

Computer science skills are critical to sparking interest in STEM and promoting workforce development skills that all young people need, Burns said.

And S.C. 4-H has a wealth of experience doing just that, with previous and continu ing work related to computer science and computational thinking skills including the 4-H Journey to Mars program, independent computer science activities, profession al development and the 4-H Engineering Challenge.

This is the third grant Google.org has made in 4-H’s mission to reach and provide young people with opportunities in com puter science education, totaling nearly $14 million since 2017, the release said.

“To date, we have served over 3,000 youth with our programs,” Burns said in the release. “We look forward to making the most of this investment by continuing

and expanding CS programming efforts and engaging with the new National 4-H Summit, Clover and PYD Academy expe riences.”

With this new funding from Google, 4-H will increase the reach of the Comput er Science Career Pathways program for students from rural and under-resourced communities who have had minimal CS education.

The new grant will also help teach young people through Clemson Cooperative Extension’s in-person 4-H programs and online resources. These resources will provide access to computer science education to youth nationwide, including six million 4-H’ers and more than 3,500 educators across the 4-H system anytime and anywhere.

This effort combines the reach and edu cational expertise of 4-H, the nation’s larg est youth development organization, and the power of Google’s computer science knowledge and innovation. Since its start, 1.4 million youth have participated in the program, with 65% living rurally, 56% of teen CS leaders being girls and 47% com ing from racially diverse backgrounds.

Despite the demand for high-skilled computer science professionals, oppor tunities to access this education have been out of reach for youth from rural and other underserved communities, said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council.

“We are proud to continue this initia tive with help from Google.org to make a

real difference in the lives of young people who otherwise wouldn’t be given a chance to discover their interest in computer sci ence. This program goes beyond prepar ing youth for future careers. Teaching computer science at a young age develops problem-solving skills and confidence, and most important, empowers young people to find their spark and passion that translates to success in life,” she said.

According to a Code.org Advocacy Coalition’s 2021 report, although 51% of public U.S. high schools offer computer science, rural schools, urban schools and schools with high percentages of economically disadvantaged students are less likely to offer computer science education.

SC Chamber launches digital skills development program

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Anew

workforce development ini tiative is aimed at helping S.C. res idents sharpen digital job skills.

The S.C. Chamber of Commerce is launching a new online training program called Community Skills Initiative South Carolina which will help job seekers and professionals around the state gain new skills for in-demand roles in the digital economy. The effort is being funded by Microsoft Philanthropies, according to a news release.

The program is available to any S.C. resident age 16 and above and allows par ticipants to complete training and certi fication on LinkedIn learning and earn points to win cash prizes.

The cornerstone of the initiative is an

“Up-Skill-A-Thon” competition which will run from Oct. 17 through Nov. 15 and include $10,000 in prize money. The com petition launched at the chamber’s Oct.4 Workforce Development Symposium.

“The S.C. Chamber has witnessed financial, educational and workforce challenges brought on by the pandemic,” said Bob Morgan, chamber president and CEO. “When Microsoft approached us about a digital skilling grant, we jumped at the opportunity to take on a new chal lenge and fill a crucial gap in South Caro lina’s workforce.”

The suite of online training and resources is now available through the CSI website at https://www.communitys killing.org/partner/scchamber

Entrepreneurial summit set

Entrepreneurs from around South

Carolina can learn how to grow their businesses at the seventh annual Growth Conference, scheduled for Oct. 20-21 at 701 Whaley in Columbia.

The summit will offer professional growth and networking for local leaders, according to a news release. Half of tick et sales from the event will be donated to local nonprofits.

“We created this event to fill the void of networking and educational opportunities for local entrepreneurs and small business leaders,” said Matt Vaadi, CEO of human resources firm guHRoo and creator of the event. “Our challenges are unique. Learn ing from those who have been where we want to go is paramount to the success of the local economy.”

The event includes educational ses sions, panel discussions and keynote speakers. More than 30 sessions will

be geared toward what organizers call “wantrepreneurs,” or people thinking about starting a business, as well as com panies in the early and growth stages.

Topics to be discussed include lead ership; marketing and branding; strate gic partnerships; growth acceleration; and development. Keynote speakers will include leaders from local, regional and national companies.

Event sponsors include guHRoo, Colite City, GrowCo, SOCO, and the McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise at the University of South Car olina.

To sign up for the conference, visit www.growth-summit.org.

For more information, email brooke@ guhroo.co.

S.C. 4-H Youth Development Assistant Director Ashley Burns works with a student on a computer science activity. (Photo/Provided)

to continue. This year, the program is continuing with eight more students from around the state who are continuing work with the agency after completing their internship.

“The combination of the internship program at SRMC with the technical student program is beneficial to both students and the departments they are assisting,” said Paul Cundey, a program manager for the TSP program and design authority engineer at Saltstone Disposal Unit, one of the units charged with dis posing of liquid waste at SRS. “Initiatives like this speak to SRMC’s core value of continuous improvement.”

Caroline Wilson, a senior engineering major at Clemson University, said the TSP program gives her a chance to gain much-needed experience while finishing her engineering degree.

“The program is a great way to simul taneously continue my education while

getting hands-on work experience,” Wil son said. “Most students don’t have the opportunity to learn from engineers who have been in this field for a long time, and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

Programs like TSP are important not only because they allow students to continue to build skills they learned during their internships but also attract students interested in STEM fields to look to SRS for work, said Dave Olson, president of SRMC and TSP program manager.

“At SRS, we need to open as many doors as we can to bring in the best and brightest employees to meet our mission requirements,” Olson said.

The TSP program is not the only pro gram aimed at increasing the workforce at SRS.

This past summer, the first 36 stu dents from Aiken Technical College graduated from an SRMC training pro gram with a certificate in nuclear fun damentals.

wide variety of education backgrounds that can lead to a career with us.”

The certificate program is a partner ship between Aiken Tech, SRMC and Apprenticeship Carolina designed to train students for entry-level jobs in the nuclear industry, including jobs as nuclear operators.

Apprenticeship Carolina, a division of the state’s technical college system, is a statewide program that works to attract new companies to the state and provide training opportunities to build the workforce pipeline.

The students received seven months of intensive training, including cours es in chemistry, physics, engineers and radiation fundamentals. A strong grasp of these topics is critical to understand ing how SRS facilities operate, officials said.

The Aiken Tech students also partic ipated in SRS regulatory courses, facility training and other requirements. They attended two days of classes each week and worked two days at SRS.

Olson said recruiting and training the

right people to fill these positions is crucial to the future of the liquid waste program.

“These students have proven that they want to be an important part of the liquid waste team at SRS,” he said. “We are extremely pleased to have this part nership with Aiken Technical College because it helps us strengthen our team while providing important job opportu nities for the local workforce.”

The second group of SRMC employ ee trainees from ATC is scheduled to be hired and begin the certificate program in January 2023.

Workforce expansion at SRS is going on in other areas besides the liquid waste disposal field.

Earlier this year, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions also partnered with Denmark Technical College to create a paid internship program to train nuclear operators for the site. The apprenticeship trains students in nuclear operations, radiation control, maintenance and other positions.

that we have 400 different positions you can apply for when you’re looking for job,” Tilley said. “A lot of the students we speak with have the misconception that the only people that can apply for this program are those with a criminal justice major. The fact is we invite all majors to apply. We want to show the students the full breadth of different career opportunities the FBI has and the

Tilley said the first group of participants includes not only criminal justice majors but those studying education, mathematics, psychology and other subjects.

Students and mentors are required to set up action plans with specific academic and career development goals to be met over the course of the program, Tilley said. She and others from the

Bureau will check in with the mentors and students periodically, and mentors are also asked to complete a monthly evaluation form to document what they are working on with the students. Students and their mentors can also take part in five different career development events planned over the next few months. Participants who complete the mentoring program will go through a graduation ceremony at the end of the semester.

Tilley said one goal of the program is to encourage student participants to apply for one of the many internships the FBI offers and then, after graduation, to consider entry-level positions not only in South Carolina but in more than 55 other field offices around the country.

Those interested in researching and applying for available FBI jobs should visit the agency’s recruiting site, Fbijobs.gov.

Postgraduate Degree Programs

Claflin University

400 Magnolia St.

Orangeburg, SC 29115 803-535-5000 www.claflin.edu communications@claflin.edu

Director of Postgraduate Program: Verlie Tisdale, Isaiah McGee, Anthony Pittman, Nicholas Hill

Year Founded: 1869

Graduate Enrollment: 87

Postgraduate Faculty: 30

Public / Private: Private

Top 3 Graduate Programs by Enrollment: Business Administration (MBA), Criminal Justice MS, Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) MS

Evening Classes?: Y

Weekend Classes?: Y

Online Classes?: Y

Columbia College 1301 Columbia College Drive Columbia, SC 29203 800-277-1301 www.columbiasc.edu admissions@columbiasc.edu

Year Founded: 1854

Public / Private: Private Evening Classes?: Y

Weekend Classes?: Y Online Classes?: Y

Columbia International University 7435 Monticello Road Columbia, SC 29203 803-754-4100 www.ciu.edu admissions@ciu.edu

Director of Postgraduate Program: Kevin Jones, David Croteau , Connie Mitchell, Ed Smither

Year Founded: 1923

Graduate Enrollment: 1,454

Postgraduate Faculty: 32 Public / Private: Private

Top 3 Graduate Programs by Enrollment: Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, MBA, Master of Divinity (M.DIV.)

Evening Classes?: Y

Weekend Classes?: N Online Classes?: Y

Lenoir-Rhyne University, Columbia Campus 4201 N. Main St. Columbia, SC 29203 803-461-3297 columbia.lr.edu admissions_columbia@lr.edu

Year Founded: 1911

Postgraduate Faculty: N/A Public / Private: Private Evening Classes?: Y Weekend Classes?: N Online Classes?: Y

S.C. State University

300 College St. N.E. Orangeburg, SC 29117 803-536-7000 www.scsu.edu

Director of Postgraduate Program: Frederick Evans

Year Founded: 1896

Public / Private: Public Evening Classes?: Y Weekend Classes?: Y Online Classes?: Y

South University 9 Science Court Columbia, SC 29203 803-799-9082 www.southuniversity.edu Year Founded: 1899

Public / Private: Private Evening Classes?: Y Weekend Classes?: Y Online Classes?: Y

Strayer University 200 Center Point Circle Columbia, SC 29210 803-750-2500 www.strayer.edu info@strayer.edu

Did you

Year Founded: 1892

Public / Private: Private Evening Classes?: Y Weekend Classes?: Y Online Classes?: Y

University of South Carolina 915 Bull St. Columbia, SC 29208 803-777-7700 www.sc.edu

admissions-ugrad@sc.edu

Director of Postgraduate Program: Cheryl Addy

Year Founded: 1801

Public / Private: Public Evening Classes?: Y Weekend Classes?: Y Online Classes?: Y

Webster University - Fort Jackson Campus P.O. Box 10328

Fort Jackson, SC 29207 803-738-0603

www.webster.edu/ftjackson

Year Founded: 1975

Public / Private: Private Evening Classes?: Y Weekend Classes?: Y Online Classes?: Y

At Work

DESIGN

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The Columbia Museum of Art received the 2022 Southeastern Museums Conference Gold Award for Media Production for its podcast “Binder.” The competition recognizes excellence and innovation in the use of technology within Southeastern muse ums. Currently in its second season, “Binder” uses art as a catalyst to talk about big ideas.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Sunbelt Business Brokers worked on the sale of Advantage Services , a commercial janitorial company, to Jodi Ballington , of Busy Bee’s Clean ing Solutions. Advantage Services, which is keeping its name, is expand ing its footprint as a provider of com mercial and high-end residential cleaning solutions.

Jeremy Johnson has joined the South Carolina Small Business Develop ment Centers as a business consul tant. He has more than ten years in the banking indus try and first-hand experience as a small business owner. Johnson is working with fellow con sultant David Dougherty on the state’s Community Navigator Pilot Program, which aims to equip and empower minority, rural, and other underserved sectors of the entrepreneurial commu nity.

The Kudzu Staffing Columbia Branch has opened as the anchor business in The Barn at Brookside, a 6,500-square-foot multi-tenant com mercial barndominium in Lexington.

The Carolinas-Virginia Business Brokers Association recognized David Yezbak, of Sunbelt Business Brokers of Columbia, with the Multi-Million Award. He was one of only 15 recipients.

CONSTRUCTION

Katie Bender is now a designer with Thomas & Hutton’s civil department in Columbia. She earned a bachelor of sci ence in civil engineering from the Uni versity of South Carolina. Before joining Thomas & Hutton, Bender worked in the geotechnical engineering field; she is an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, where she was a technical engineer sergeant.

The new mar keting coordina tor at Quacken bush Architects + Planners is Ebonn Twilley . A gradu ate of the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of science in busi ness administration, Twilley brings strategic marketing and multimedia experience. While at Keenan Suggs, for example, she established the firm’s fully operational communications department. She is a member of Lead ership Columbia’s class of 2014.

Studio 2LR recently earned a 2022 Aspire Design Merit Award for Orangeburg County Library & Con ference Center. Twenty-five win ners were selected from more than 280 project submissions from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Kentucky. The design for this 47,000-square-foot library includes adult, teen, and children’s collections, computer training, art space, gallery spaces, a bookstore, meeting rooms, a conference center, and campus-like outdoor spaces.

EDUCATION

Thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Johnson Con trols Community College Partnership Program, students at Midlands Technical College can receive hands-on training as well as classroom instruction that will prepare them for a vari ety of careers. Introduced in 2021, the pro gram is investing $15 million over five years in non-profit community college through out North America to support HVAC, fire, security, and digital academic programs. In addition, local Johnson Controls employees serve as volunteer educators and mentors.

Rhodes Graduation Services and Jostens announced that Steve Frazier is now lead ing Broward Graduation Services.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Come the first of the year, Ben Lynch , CPA, will be a partner at Bauknight Pietras & Stormer and assume strategic and opera tional responsibil ities for the firm, which serves clients

across the United States and interna tionally. Lynch joined Bauknight Piet ras & Stormer after graduating from the University of South Carolina. He focuses his practice on estates and trust planning and compliance.

Coastal Carolina National Bank has brought in Wade Sparks as senior vice president, Midlands market executive. Sparks brings with him more than thirty years of experience in commercial lending.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

Trey Byars has joined Copper Dome Strategies as a lobbyist and consul tant. He is working with Jeff Thordahl , Kim Kent , and Billy Routh to expand the firm’s presence in local, state, and federal affairs. Prior to joining Cop per Dome, Byars worked for the South Carolina Senate as director of research for the agriculture & natural resources committee and as assistant director of research for the transportation com mittee.

HEALTH CARE

Palmetto Infu sion has promot ed Brian Scott to senior vice pres ident of procure ment and trade relations from vice president of pro curement and trade relations. His focus is contracting, drug pipelines, and trade to promote the success of the company, while he continues to foster strong relationships with manufactur ers, vendors, and industry partners.

LAW

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd’s Theodore B. DuBose has been elected as a fellow of the American College of Bond Counsel. A graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, DuBose has more than 33 years of experience in counseling

South Carolina governments in public finance and related matters. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for public finance law since 2003 and is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers.

Attorney Jaclynn B. Goings has joined the Law Office of Laura H. Huggins. Goings graduated summa cum laude from Wofford Col lege with a bache lor of arts in busi ness economics and Spanish. She went on to the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she received the Cali Award in Real Estate Transactions I and II and was a member of the Southeastern Envi ronmental Law Journal. Upon grad uation, Goings clerked for William P. Keesley of the 11th Judicial Circuit of South Carolina, then practiced with firms in Charleston and Columbia, focusing on real estate, banking, and corporate matters.

Sarah C. Frierson has joined Robinson Gray as an associate. Her practice focuses on appellate advocacy, business and commercial litigation, administrative and regulatory litigation, and probate and estate litigation. Frierson graduated from Clemson University with a major in marketing and a minor in economics. She received her juris doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she was in the top five percent of her class and graduated magna cum laude. In addition, she served as associate managing editor of the South Carolina Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Coif.

The FBI Colum bia field office has named Vanessa Mota as the 2021 recipient of the FBI Columbia Director’s Communi ty Leadership Award. Mota is the founder and owner of Mota Crosslinking Business Academy, which focuses on addressing the need for more business programs geared toward diverse populations. The academy hosts such events as the South Carolina Latino, Indigenous, European and Black Business Days.

Johnson

Twilley

Frazier Lynch

Sparks

Byars

Scott

Dubose

Goings

Frierson

Mota

Attorney Clara Elizabeth (“Lizzie”)

Weston has joined Robinson Gray as an associate. She works with the business team, which represents com panies and individuals across a range of com mercial practice areas. Her practice focuses on commercial dis putes, workouts, and commercial litigation. Previously, Weston clerked for David R. Duncan, U.S. bankruptcy judge for the Dis trict of South Carolina, at the United States Bankruptcy Court in Columbia. Before that, she was in private practice for four years. Weston earned her bachelor’s in environ mental studies from Washington and Lee University and her juris doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Real estate attor ney Trent Womble has joined Morton & Gettys. Previously, Womble was a part ner at a real estate law firm in Fort Mill. His work includ ed reviewing title searches, surveys and

title commitments, and overseeing prop er execution of documents necessary for real estate closings in the Carolinas.

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Virginia Jacques , MPA Strategies director of market ing, is a member of the Leadership Columbia class of 2023. Jacques assists MPA clients with digital strategy, social media con

tent, press releases, videography and photography, advertising, web design and big picture ideas and promotions. She majored in public relations at the University of North Carolina at Char lotte, where she was a division 1 col lege soccer player.

NONPROFIT

The American Heart Association’s school-based youth programs, Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge, honored Baron Davis, Richland School District Two superintendent, with a national award as Administrator of the Year. He earned the

title for his advocacy of good heart health. Davis was the co-chair of this year’s Midlands Heart Walk and was responsible for bringing in more than $152,000 new dollars to the American Heart Association. Along with a bachelor of science in sociology from Francis Marion University, Davis holds master’s degrees in school counseling and educational administration as well as educational specialist and doctor of philosophy degrees in educational counseling from the University of South Carolina.

Family Connec tion of South Caroli na elected Elizabeth Kinney, of Lexing ton-Richland School District Five, as pres ident of its board of directors. Kinney has served as a board member since 2020. Outgoing president John Roberts, part ner at Burr & Forman, will remain a member of the board.

Chair for the American Heart Associ

ation’s 2023 Midlands Heart Ball is Philip Simoneaux, a CPA, CFP, and director of planning, family office services for South eastern Freight Lines. In this role, he is focusing on equitable health for every community member, with an emphasis on nutrition security and blood pressure rates. In addition, he will help raise funds to support the organization.

The Georgia/South Carolina Region of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has announced that BlueCross Blue Shield of South Carolina has joined Columbia’s 2022 Light The Night cam paign as presenting sponsor. The annual fundraising event, which aims to create a world without blood cancer, will take place on Nov. 3 at the South Carolina State House. Through campaigns such as Light The Night, the society has invested more than $1.5 billion since its incep tion in research to advance breakthrough therapies.

TECH

The first 36 Nuclear Fundamentals Certificate students graduated from Savannah River Mission Completion’s training program. The program is a partnership between Aiken Technical College and the Savannah River Site liq uid-waste contractor.

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Columbia pipe manufacturer’s new facility part of $40M investment

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

American

SpiralWeld Pipe Com pany in Columbia recently opened a new pipe-coating facility at its location at 2061 American Italian Way off Shop Road.

Production at the new facility start ed about three weeks ago but an official ribbon cutting for the expansion was held Sept. 29, with Gov. Henry McMas ter, Richland County Council Chair Overture Walker and other community officials in attendance.

The pipe-coating facility will increase workers’ ability to coat the steel-coil pipe produced at the plant with polyure thane, a type of pipe that is used in many water systems and other facilities.

The expansion is the result of a $12.5 million capital project and also part of a five-year strategic plan to invest $40 million and create 100 jobs at the Columbia facility, according to Patrick Hook, vice president of operations for American Spiralweld in Columbia.

The company’s Columbia plant opened in 1999 and currently employs 150 people.

“We’re confident about the future of American SpiralWeld in Richland County

and we know we’re going to continue to do great things here,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of sales and corporate secretary for American SpiralWeld. “When we were looking to expand the manufacture of larg er diameter pipes, we looked at a lot of sites and when we looked at Richland County, it was obvious we could form a partnership which continues to expand.”

Founded in 1905 in Birmingham, Ala., American SpiralWeld has eight facilities in six states and manufactures steel pipe in diameters up to 144 inches. The company also makes fire hydrants, valves, and duc tile iron pipe for the waterworks industry as well as high-frequency welded steel pipe for the oil and natural gas industries.

The company’s product line also

includes fire pumps, structural casing and piling, castings for large machinery and specialty rubber products, according to the company website.

American SpiralWeld’s Columbia expansion will continue in phases and is expected to be completed by 2025.

Weston

Womble

Jacques

Davis Kinney

American SpiralWeld Pipe Company has opened a new pipe-coating facility at its Columbia plant at 2061 American Italian Way. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

SC unemployment rate dips in August

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

South

Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased to 3.1% in August from July’s estimate of 3.2%, according to statistics released last month by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

During August, the state added 9,600 nonfarm payroll jobs, according to the DEW report, with the biggest gains in professional and business services; trade, transportation and utilities; government; manufacturing; and leisure and hospitality.

The national unemployment rate for August increased to 3.7% from 3.5%.

The seasonally adjusted monthly sur vey estimated the number of South Caro linians working at 2,320,187, a decrease of 3,776 from July but a significant increase of 43,839 people over August 2021 esti mates, the report said.

The number of unemployed people in the state decreased to 74,539, a decrease of 1,122 from July and 18,298 less than the number of unemployed a year ago, according to the report.

The state’s estimated labor force, made up of people working plus those looking for work, decreased to 2,394,726, a drop of 4,898 from the July estimate but an increase of 25,541 from July 2021.

Richland County’s unemployment rate stayed the same at 3.3%, and Lexing ton County also maintained the same rate at 2.6%.

The Columbia metropolitan statis tical area added 1,700 jobs from July to August, while the Charleston/North Charleston area added 2,500 and Green

ville/Anderson/Mauldin added 1,600 jobs, the DEW report said.

“While the numbers tend to fluctuate from month to month, South Carolina continues to enjoy record employment this year,” Dan Ellzey, executive director of DEW, said in a news release. “Some employers have had temporary layoffs due to parts and supply shortages, and there are business closures. What makes this time unique is the number of alter natives and opportunities for jobseek ers.”

Some industries are seeing particular ly significant increases in employment so far this year, according to the release.

“Accommodation and food services has grown by nearly 15,000 people, and both retail trade and the government sectors have grown by approximately 8,000 people,” Ellzey said.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Requester Publications Only)

“What makes this time unique is the number of alternatives and opportunities for jobseekers.”

Dan Ellzey, Executive director, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce

Viewpoint

LETTERS

3 principles can help acquire the right talent

Ihavespent much of my career in the search for great talent, both in bou tique recruiting firms and in-house with a large public accounting firm. I consider it a privilege to spend my work ing hours helping the right candidates and right companies connect and flourish together. The right person in the right role changes everything

But over the past two years, I have seen many of those perfect matches fizzle out under today’s extreme competition for talent. Finding the right techni cal skillset and the right cultural fit at the right compen sation level is hard enough. But once you’ve gotten that far, how do you successfully keep that candidate engaged and interested?

Through hard-won experience and some stumbles along the way, I’ve devel oped three broad principles that offer a higher chance of successfully closing a search process.

1. Human beings want to be valued: Court your candidates.

I have found this to be perhaps the most challenging adjustment for execu

tives and hiring managers. Historically, the employer has held most of the power in the hiring relationship. The candidate was expected to convince the hiring man agers that he or she was the right fit for the job. But this world as we knew it has flipped upside down. As an employer, you now must persuade the candidate that the organization is the right fit for them as well. . . while still vetting out the fit at the same time.

To do this, I have found it helpful to think about the hiring process as a court ship. Put yourself in the shoes of the can didate and ask what you would want to know if you were considering taking a job. How can you show off your compa ny culture? Your corporate strengths? An invitation to a candidate to simply come sit within the department and watch the team work together is a great way for a prospect to learn more in a natural, authentic work setting.

With a high-value candidate, I often recommend the CEO or other top leader ship get involved in the process. A phone conversation with company leadership sharing about a candidate’s future at the company can go a long way towards a prospect’s feeling valued.

2. Human beings need time: Respect the process.

True story: my now-husband told me he could see us getting married on

our first date, which happened to be in a McDonalds drive-through. (Although we were broke college students, I do not rec ommend this approach!).

Committing to taking the time to learn about a candidate and to allow him to learn about you requires patience. It means that you don’t move directly to the “sell” until you’ve offered enough to attract some interest and engagement.

It is crucial to note that respecting the process does not mean to move slowly. As an old mentor of mine used to say, “Time kills all deals.” Juggling a commitment to the process and to moving with intention ality creates tension at times.

The best solution I have found for this tension is to prioritize communication. Set expectations for the process and be clear about timelines and steps. Let the candi date know how many rounds of interviews and with whom, and when a candidate can expect to know next steps or decisions. Without communication, we all create our own stories, and sometimes those stories are false or at least incomplete.

And finally, be clear about a “no” or “yes.” Most people in the job market are OK with almost any news, except for no news at all.

3. Human beings want to believe in something: Know your sizzle.

Quite simply, why should someone want to work at your company? What

position is your company in the present market, and how will that change for the better? Is your culture “different” from others in the same industry?

Work through an assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats from an employee perspective and be prepared to articulate to a prospect what a career might look like at your firm and how it could develop. Often we will create a slide deck for clients that walks candi dates through the opportunity. It gives can didates something tangible they can show a spouse or another family member.

While these principles will help you develop a hiring process that attracts the best talent, the most important thing you can do is remember the human in each sit uation.

Rhiannon Poore is the CEO and founder of Forge Search, a professional recruiting firm that primarily recruits within the fields of accounting and finance, marekting and sales, and HR and operations. Connect with her at https://www.linke din.com/in/rhiannonpoore.

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A competitive job market requires a rethinking of recruiting talent, with a new emphasis on employers persuading candidates a job is right for them, according to our guest columnist. (Photo/File)