VOLUME 14 NUMBER 14 ■ COLUMBIABUSINESSREPORT.COM
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Treasure hunt
Clemson archaelolgists seek Revolutionary War-era fort. Page 3
Growing rewards
Midlands Technical College held a ribbon cutting for its renovated Welding Technology Center on Sept. 22. (Photo/Melinda Waldrop)
SC Biz News honors high-growth companies. Page 4
BUILDING DEMAND
Eviction worries
Expiring moratorium stresses tenats, landlords. Page 6
New MTC welding center aims to feed workforce pipeline By Melinda Waldrop
BullStreet addition Luxury apartment complex to add 500-plus residents. Page 14
INSIDE
Upfront................................. 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering and Construction .......................................... 13 List: Landscape Architecture Firms.................................. 18 At Work............................... 21 Viewpoint............................23
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ust before the groundbreaking for the Obama Presidential Center on Sept. 28, Michelle Obama stopped by a welding class at the Chicago Women in Trades career training and support center. In an Instagram post, the former first lady reflected on how her father provided for his family through his job as a pump operator, and noted that the welders she visited – some of whom will work on her husband Barack’s center – are pursuing a career that “can help them build a good life for themselves and their families.” According to May 2020 numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 33,150 workers employed as welders, solders, and brazing machine setters, operators and
tenders (which does not include self-employed workers) made a mean annual wage of $41,320, with top-tier positions paying as much as $58,660. What’s more, a shortage of welders is looming: the American Welding Society estimates the U.S. will need 400,000 welders by 2024 as older workers retire. The average age of a welder is 55, the organization said, with fewer than 50% of welders under the age of 35. That’s where Midlands Technical College’s latest capital improvement comes in. A $4.5 million renovation to what is now the college’s new Welding Technology Center continues a $50 million modernization campaign the school embarked on in 2015. The center, now housed in the former Industrial Building on MTC’s Airport campus, features 64 state-of-the-art welding bays and fume extraction capabilities, multi-purpose class-
rooms, a computer lab and external covered work areas, among other upgrades. “We almost doubled our capacity in terms of welding booths, and so we’re going to be able to double the production of students,” MTC President Ronald Rames told The Columbia Regional Business Report after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new welding center on Sept. 22. “What we do know is the welding and welders are in high demand. By increasing this capacity, we’re going to be able to help business and industry meet their needs.” Along with welding fundamentals and qualifications certificates, MTC also offers the first college degree in welding available in South Carolina through its Associate of Applied Science degree in welding technology. See CENTER, Page 17
Infusion of cash
New Wells Fargo program adds to coffers of three S.C. Community Development Financial Institutions. Page 10
Upfront
BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS
Settling down in the South
A LA CARTE
Top Cities to Retire in South Carolina Researchers used an index of data from across South Carolina to determine the ranking of the best places to save for retirement. We’ve pulled out two data points: taxes and doctors.
Rank
City
Tax burden
Doctors per 1,000
1
Murrells Inlet
15%
8.1
2
Seneca
14.1%
5.7
3
Hilton Head Island
14.1%
2.4
4
Myrtle Beach
15.4%
9.3
5
Camden
15%
3.5
6
Greenville
14.1%
5.2
7
Georgetown
15%
4.2
8
Orangeburg
15%
3.7
9
Anderson
15%
4.1
10
Laurens
15%
0
Source: SmartAsset 2021 Study on Best Places to Save for Retirement
HEARD IN THE
REPORT
“I think that we’ve probably renovated or built over 60% of Main Street here. That’s been unbelievable, the transformation of what’s happened in downtown Columbia.” — Paul Mashburn, CEO, Mashburn Construction
WEBSITE: www.ColumbiaBusinessReport.com
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I
t’s never too early to start thinking about retirement. Financial gurus will tell you to take advantage of compounding interest immediately; lifestyle influencers will tell you to consider breathtaking views. But less glamorous are the factors that will play into your everyday quality of life — ones that you perhaps have not thought to consider yet but will prove to be significant. In its seventh annual study, SmartAsset breaks down top cities to retire in South Carolina according to an analysis across four criteria: tax burden, access to medical care, and opportunity for recreation and social activity. While Columbia didn’t make the overall ranked list, check out the top 10 cities in South Carolina where you can prop up your feet a little easier and enjoy some well-deserved rest.
Hotel Trundle, recently named one of the top five best historic hotels in the country by USA Today, now has its own day on the calendar. Mayor Steve Benjamin issued a proclamation during Tuesday’s Columbia City Council meeting designating Oct. 5 Hotel Trundle Day, according to a news release from the downtown boutique hotel. Hotel Trundle, which transformed three vacant retail buildings at the corner of Taylor and Sumter streets, opened in April 2018. The project, in combination with the adjoining design of architecture firm Boudreaux’s new studio, was recognized by the S.C. Department of Archives and History, Preservation South Carolina, and the Office of the Governor with an honor award as part of the 2020 Historic Preservation Awards. The 41-room hotel has also been featured in Southern Living magazine’s hotel collection, a curated list of 24 recommended hotels, inns and resorts across the South. Hotel Trundle’s most recent honor was bestowed by a panel of hotel experts at USA Today, which ranked it No. 5 in a list of the country’s best historic hotels for 2021. Each of the top 10 selections “has witnessed a great deal of history, and each has held true to its historic roots and unique sense of place,” according to USA Today’s website. Historic Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pa., once the site of a convalescent home for World War I soldiers, was named the top historic hotel by the publication.
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SC Biz News Briefs
Florence County Judicial Center
Enhancing the
Experience David Markus (right) joins an undergraduate student to carefully remove soil from a Revolutionary War-era fort dig site at Clemson University. (Photo/Provided)
CLEMSON
GSA Business Report
Archaeologists seek to uncover buried fort on Clemson University campus Some archaeologists have to travel thousands of miles away to scour the trenches of their next dig. Others, like Clemson University’s David Markus and Josh Catalano just stride across campus. “From an archaeological standpoint, Clemson is largely a 17,500-acre untapped resource,” Markus said in a news release. “From the plantations like Fort Hill to Cherokee sites dating back to before the American Revolution, we have so much Upstate history right here within our property boundaries.” The latest site of interest is a Revolutionary War-era fort built by South Carolina militia in 1776 following engagement with Loyalist forces and their Cherokee allies. But no one knows where the remains of Fort Rutledge are located. A stone marker built in 1908 by trustees of the Clemson Agriculture College commemorates the fort after a crew of convict laborers excavated the ruins of a corner of the fort visible at the time, but after breaking ground in the summer of 2020, archaeologists question whether X marks the spot. “According to records, the fort only stood for around four years before being torn down, so we can’t rely on the existing monument to indicate the fort’s original location, although it was a good place to start,” Markus said in the release. So far, Markus, Catalano and their undergraduate students have uncovered various iron tool heads, musket balls and projectile points including arrowheads near the site as well as what they believe to be the remains of a wall and soil stains suggesting more evidence of the fort’s proximity to the site. The researchers now believe that this was the staging ground for the S.C. militia’s ultimately successful efforts to starve out and demoralize the Cherokee people after the Battle of Esseneca, according to the release. This small engagement, which occurred on Aug. 1, 1776, takes its name from the Cherokee town now submerged under the waters of Lake Hartwell. Once the site is uncovered, the researchers hope to unveil it to the public through an interpretive plan developed in concert with a group of stakeholders including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Nikwasi Intiative and the Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina.
With publications in the Upstate, Columbia and Charleston, 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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Residential developments expand into Ravenel By Jenny Peterson
Luxury living
New townhouse community begins development on Broad Street. Page 14
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Contributing Writer
second planned unit development has been pitched for Ravenel, the rural town of 2,700 residents, showing signs that progress is now pushing outward from West Ashley. Residents are concerned the movement could fundamentally change the rural nature
of the area they call home. Plans for the Tea Farm Tract, a proposed 400-unit planned development in Ravenel, and the related annexation of over 3,100 acres of land in Ravenel, were blessed Sept. 16 by the town’s planning and zoning commission, with a recommendation to limit density on over 2,000 acres of land outside the development. The Tea Farm Tract would sit on 395 acres
By Alexandria Ng
S
Help needed
Could immigration reform help solve S.C.’s workforce shortages? Page 20
Taking on Twitter Motley Rice negotiates an $809.5 million settlement. Page 8
INSIDE
See RAVENEL, Page 11
100s of students enroll for work training center
Pay increase
Charleston County raises its minimum wage to $13.50. Page 8
Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 Small Business Spotlight ....... 4 In Focus: Education and Workforce Development ..................... 15 List: Postgraduate Degree Programs........................... 17 Bonus List: Private Schools..18 At Work .............................. 21 Viewpoint ...........................23
of land. Rebecca Baird, who lives adjacent to the property and whose husband runs a grass-fed beef farm on their property, also opposed the annexation and development. “I’m begging you to not annex this property; it will be devastating for this community, it will change the traffic flow, it will change how
STREET SMART
The business owners behind Ma’am Saab take a pandemic-era opportunity to serve up Pakistani street snacks East of the Cooper. Page 7
(Photo/Fia Forever Studios)
ang@scbiznews.com
outh Carolina’s economic region is growing, and the trained workforce is struggling to keep up. But the West Ashley Center for Advanced Studies is aiming to equip students from a young age to be career-minded and skills-oriented. Opened in August, this four-acre campus adjacent to West Ashley High School will offer courses to students from West Ashley High, Baptist Hill Middle High and St. John’s High School. According to Dale Metzger, principal of the center, the goal is to have every student earn career- and/or college-readiness certification by the time they complete their semester, along with normal high school credits and soft skills. Students will leave with training and industry certifications in hand, enabling them to directly enter the workforce or to pursue higher education better prepared for college coursework and with a better understanding of their career goals. The center offers 11 programs that cover a variety of fields, including cybersecurity, See WEST ASHLEY, Page 9
Calculating for the future
Accounting firms figure out how to attract and retain young workers. Page 15
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MIDLANDS NEWSROOM Editor - Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7542 MIDLANDS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Senior Account Executive - Lucia Smith lsmith@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7547 MultiMedia Advertising Executive - Amanda Alford aalford@bridgetowermedia.com • 803.726.7540 LOWCOUNTRY NEWSROOM Executive Editor - Andy Owens aowens@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3142 Editor, Custom Publishing Division Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123 News Editor - Alexandria Ng ang@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3124 Research Specialist - Paige Wills pwills@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3125 Staff Writer - Teri Errico Griffis tgriffis@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3144 Web Editor - Rob Lyle rlyle@scbiznews.com.com • 843.849.3119 UPSTATE NEWSROOM Editor - Ross Norton
Business professionals from across South Carolina came to Columbia Sept. 23 for The Roaring 20s networking and awards ceremony. The awards honor high-growth companies, divided into large and small categories, as ranked by SC Biz News. (Photo/Andy Owens)
High-growth companies honored B usiness professionals from across South Carolina gathered for The Roaring 20s event at the DoubleTree in Columbia for in-person networking and an awards ceremony Sept. 23. For decades, The Roaring 20s has honored high-growth companies across South Carolina as ranked by SC Biz News. Last night’s event unveiled the rankings for all 40 companies, divided into large and small categories. The companies, with photos, will
The Roaring 20s for 2021
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be profiled in the winter edition of SCBIZ magazine. The honorees underwent an analysis of financial statements, which determined dollar and percentage increase in revenues. To qualify for The Roaring 20s, companies must have a physical location in South Carolina. Company size is based on gross revenue. Small companies are $10 million and under in annual revenue. Large companies are more than $10 million in gross revenue.
RANKING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
SMALL COMPANIES Sonfast Corp. ClaimLogiq Floyd Lee Locums Havens Furniture Catch Talent Matt O’Neill Real Estate Avtec Dental Stokes & Co., CPAs The Cassina Group Upstate Granite Solutions 6AM City Accountfully Swafford Warehousing Inc. Drum Creative DWG Inc. Consulting Engineers Mappus Insurance Agency Big Red Box Coastal Kopis Broad Insights Belk | Lucy
RANKING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
LARGE COMPANIES Samet Corp. Creative Builders Inc. Harper General Contractors Clear Touch Interactive Inc. Atlantic Electric LLC Capital Waste Services LLC J Davis Inc. Logisticus Group National Land Realty Crescent Homes MedTrust Holdings Inc. Parker’s Sage Services Group Hire Dynamics Blue Haven Pools & Spas Armada Analytics Inc. Job Impulse Inc. USI Insurance Services Shelly Leeke Law Firm LLC Knight’s Companies
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As a pandemic-related morotarium on evictions expires, tenants who fell behind on payments are left facing eviction while some landlords still struggle to make mortgage payments and pay other bills . (Photo/File)
Pandemic-driven eviction concerns vex tenants and landlords By Christina Lee Knauss
A
Contributing Writer
sk financially strapped South Carolina tenants and their landlords to sum up the past several months and two words will probably be at the top of the list: confusion and frustration. Earlier this year, the ongoing COVID19 pandemic led the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to continue extending a nationwide moratorium on evictions that
had been in place since the spring of 2020. Originally slated to expire on July 31, the moratorium was extended until Oct. 3, but the U.S. Supreme Court struck down that decision on Aug. 26. As a result, tenants who fell behind on rent because of the pandemic are left facing eviction once again. All of the bickering between elected officials and public health experts often left out the very real concerns of people on both sides of the issue, according to both Midlands realtors and advocates for
affordable housing who say that while tenants’ concerns often get the most media coverage, many people often forget about property owners who rely on rental income. “This has been causing stress for both renters and landlords,” said Alisa Mosley, executive director of the Affordable Housing Coalition of South Carolina in Columbia. “A lot of landlords are small business people who are at wits’ end about making mortgage payments and paying other bills.”
As a COVID-19 resurgence continues across South Carolina, especially the highly contagious delta variant, Mosley said many tenants are facing financial struggles because of unemployment or health care issues such as long-haul side effects from COVID-19 infection. When renters in dire straits call Mosley’s office, she steers them to assistance programs depending on where they live. One of the main sources for help is the SC Stay Plus rental assistance program run by SC Housing. Launched in May,
October 11 - 24, 2021
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the $272 million program utilizes federal funds to help renters in 39 South Carolina counties. As of Aug. 12, SC Housing had approved 2,205 of 2,931 completed applications for total of $10.4 million in rental and utility assistance. Seven counties in the state have received other funding and have their own rental assistance programs: Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Richland and Spartanburg. SC Housing officials recently made several updates to SC Stay Plus to make it easier for more people to apply for and receive help, according to SC Housing spokesperson Chris Winston. One of the biggest is a relaxed documentation requirement that allows applicants to self-attest to certain information instead of having to provide detailed documentation. This includes allowing residents in 196 ZIP codes to self-attest to their income rather than having to provide documentation. SC Housing has also added staff and expanded hours for its call center, and added in-person support at libraries in Beaufort, Easley and Lancaster for people who need help filling out applications. “Relaxing the documentation requirements has helped us get a lot more funding out the door,” Winston said. “This has hopefully been able to calm some of the landlords who have been expressing concerns. We provide funding directly to a tenant if the landlord is non-responsive,
“Relaxing the documentation requirements has helped us get a lot more funding out the door. This has hopefully been able to calm some of the landlords who have been expressing concerns.” Chris Winston Spokesperson, SC Housing
but that is a last resort. Our main focus is getting the funds to the landlord who is owed the money so the renter will continue to have a place to stay.” The South Carolina Association of Realtors, meanwhile, has been trying to advance the interests of both property owners and tenants, according to CEO Nick Kremydas. Kremydas said the organization has been working since the summer to get information to tenants and property managers around the state about SC Stay Plus and other assistance programs, using both social media and an advertising campaign. Kremydas said the association also had been lobbying legislators to try to make it possible for landlords to apply directly for assistance instead of having to wait for money generated by tenant applications. “As an organization, we’ve been advocating not only for protecting tenants, but also for the rights of individual property
owners who provide the properties for the tenants,” Kremydas said. “Because of the way South Carolina property tax laws are structured, most landlords need three months of rent simply to pay property taxes, on top of insurance, maintenance and other costs. It’s an issue of fairness.” Steve Taylor, president of the Central Carolina Realtors Association, said he is familiar with the difficulties from both sides. He and his partner at Wolfe and Taylor Inc., a Columbia-based real estate agency, both own rental properties and have heard from tenants who were having problems making rent because of COVID-19. He asks people upset about the end of the moratorium to consider both sides of the issue. Tenants, he said, are not the only ones with financial challenges. “It’s important to note that not all landlords are large corporations – many of them are small business people, folks
that have bought investments to pay for their children’s college funds,” Taylor said. “That guy can’t afford not to be getting his rent. In Richland County it takes three months’ rent on the average property to pay the property taxes alone. If you have a tenant who is a year behind on rent, what do you do? We’re trying to educate our tenants and assist them with finding these programs that can help them get signed up for rental assistance. Short of that, I don’t know what else a landlord can do in the current situation.” Good old-fashioned communication might be the best solution for struggling tenants who can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel since the moratorium ended. “I always tell tenants that if you are in a situation where you can’t pay your rent, for whatever reason, talk to your landlord and hopefully you can work something out,” Mosley said. “If a landlord doesn’t know why you’re not paying, they’re going to file eviction. Talk to your landlord, let them know what your plan is. Meanwhile, landlords should talk to their tenants and ask them what they can pay and when. Communication is often the best solution.” To learn more about the SC Stay program, visit https://schousing.com/home/ sc-stay-plus. To learn about rental assistance programs in counties not covered by SC Stay, visit https://schousing.com/Home/ Resources-for-Renters.
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Columbia International University has named its business school for John and Lyn Cook, owners of Cook’s Pest Control. Lyn Cook has served on CIU’s board of trustees for 12 years, while John Cook graduated from Ben Lippen School, CIU’s pre-K-to-12th grade Christian school. (Photo/Provided)
CIU names its business school for owners of pest control company By Melinda Waldrop
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olumbia International University’s business school has been named for the owners of America’s eighth-largest pest control company. The John and Lyn Cook School of Business was dedicated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 7 at the William H. Jones Center on the university’s campus at 7435 Monticello Road. Cook’s Pest Control has 40 locations in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida, according to its website. The company has served homeowners and businesses across the Southeast for more than 90
years and has earned the International Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau. Lyn Cook has served on the CIU board of trustees for 12 years, while John Cook is a 1972 graduate of Ben Lippen School, CIU’s Pre-K to 12th grade Christian school. A donation of an unspecified amount will be used to expand the business school’s programming, offer scholarships and host business leaders for workshops and seminars, according to a news release from CIU. “We are privileged and grateful that the Cook family has recognized those qualities and invested in the CIU School of Business and its students,” Scott Adams,
dean of the CIU School of Business, said in the release. “This partnership will provide additional program resources, and the Cook family’s international reputation for excellence will further enhance the placement of CIU’s students in businesses and ministries worldwide.” CIU’s School of Business is the fastest-growing school on campus with more than 600 students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Some of its newest degree offerings include a master’s degree in Health Administration and a master’s in Public Administration. CIU also announced a record enrollment of 2,373 for the 2021-2022 academic year, the largest enrollment in the school’s nearly 100-year history.
SBA loan program reaches milestone
O
ne million applications have now been received by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program Direct Borrower Forgiveness Portal from borrowers seeking forgiveness for loans of $150,000 or less. The SBA announced the milestone Sept. 22. Since the portal’s launch on Aug. 4, the organization has received applications for more than $17 billion in loan relief. “We are committed to delivering against the promise of forgiveness for our eligible PPP borrowers. Our innovative direct forgiveness portal is helping our PPP borrowers get back to doing what they do best – creating jobs and power-
ing our nation’s economy,” SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman said in a news release. “With over one million application submissions, our direct forgiveness portal has already given so many of our smallest businesses the ability to apply for forgiveness quickly and smoothly and move forward with their rebuilding and recovery. I encourage those eligible PPP borrowers who have yet to apply to visit SBA.gov or contact their lender today.” The SBA said the number of lenders participating in the program has more than doubled from 600 at its launch last month to more than 1,400. Borrowers whose loans are through banks that have chosen not to participate in the SBA pro-
gram must apply through their lender for forgiveness. In addition, 65% of 2021 PPP loans eligible for direct forgiveness have been submitted, the organization said. The Direct Borrower Forgiveness Portal applications take an average of six minutes to complete via computer or smartphone, according to the SBA, with most application decisions made within a week from the submission date. The portal can be accessed from the SBA website at https://directforgiveness. sba.gov. Assistance is available by calling 877-552-2692 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Reach Melinda Waldrop at 803-726-7542.
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Appraisers struggle with demand in hot real estate market By Steve McDaniel
T
smcdaniel@scbiznews.com
he real estate frenzy of the past year-plus has been well documented. As buyers flood the market, a dwindling supply of available homes has caused a spike in home prices, yet done little to blunt that surge in demand. In South Carolina, home sales in 2020 and early 2021 increased by almost 15% over 2019. This red-hot real estate market has put a strain on every industry involved in home buying and selling: homebuilders, real estate agents, mortgage lenders and, especially, appraisers. Nearly every home sold must go through an appraisal process, where a licensed or certified appraiser inspects the home for sale and researches nearby comparable properties recently sold to calculate a fair market value for the home. No bank or mortgage lender will agree to a loan without an appraisal, and the process by its nature is detailed and painstaking. But as with many other industries during the coronavirus pandemic, those in the real estate appraisal business find themselves overwhelmed by a trend no one saw coming. Photo/File
See APPRAISALS, Page 11
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FILLING THE GAP
CDFI funding program targets minority-owned and rural businesses By Melinda Waldrop
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mwaldrop@scbiznews.com
ammie Hoy Hawkins has already begun making phone calls. Hawkins is CEO of CommunityWorks, a Greenville-based Community Development Financial Institution. Her organization is one of three to receive a total of nearly $3 million in grants from Wells Fargo’s Open for Business program, a $420 million national small business recovery effort. Launched using the interest earned by Wells Fargo from Paycheck Protection Program loans, the program aims to help diverse and minority-owned businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. CommunityWorks, along with the South Carolina Community Loan Fund, each received $1 million, while the CLIMB Fund, a Charleston-based business development organization, received $750,000. “You could not imagine the phone calls that we were able to make,” Hawkins said during a Sept. 29 announcement of the funding at Piecewise Coffee Co. in Cayce. “So far, 29 businesses have already benefited from the Open for Business fund, in particular areas like Hartsville, Greenwood, Clemson, Florence, Myrtle Beach and other areas.” Hawkins said the Open for Business funds have helped CommunityWorks reach small, mainly rural businesses that did not receive Paycheck Protection Program loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. “A lot of folks were shut out of that relief effort,” said Hawkins, who said her organization made $9 million in loans to more than 600 small business across South Carolina. “What was missing was access to capital and relief to our rural communities. Many of our rural communities who had USDA loans or other types of loans did not have access to that SBA relief. “There was a huge gap in the market, a huge gap for South Carolina businesses that were struggling and needed resources to thrive. Open for Business allowed us to support rural businesses.” Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, an entrepreneur and the founder of Travelers Rest-based benefits services firm Quality Business Solutions, attended the announcement. She said investment in small business such as the Open for Business funds and the Opportunity Zone program created by Sen. Tim Scott is crucial to help underserved, rural communities continue to recover from the pandemic. “Those small businesses change lives, change families, and change communities,” Evette said. “It’s those people coming
Amber Murray, owner of subscription fueling service Fuel Flo, describes the impact of a small business loan from the S.C. Community Loan Fund with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette at left. (Photo/Melinda Waldrop)
together and changing their trajectory. We want to make sure that we capitalize. Not only do we now have $3 million to offer to diverse and minority-owned businesses, it comes on the heels of Tim Scott’s Opportunity Zone funds. So we’re really looking to help our rural communities and change what they look like, because we realize bringing business to our rural areas is what changes those communities.” Justin Hawkins, regional bank president for Wells Fargo, launched a small business of his own a few years ago in Greer and now knows firsthand the struggles faced and sacrifices made by small business owners. “Your job ranges from being CEO to janitor on a daily basis,” he said. “It’s a tough job, but we know that small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities across the United States. They really pump life into our neighborhoods, making them vibrant places to live, to work, to raise families, and they are key to millions of jobs. … More needed to be done to reach diverse small business owners, especially those that were really hit hard by the pandemic.” Lindsey Scoma, who owns Piecewise with her husband Stan, received a $118,000 small business loan from the S.C. Community Loan Fund, which has offices in Columbia, Charleston and Spartanburg, to open the cozy State Street coffee shop in Cayce’s River Arts District in 2019. “We couldn’t thank them enough for their investment,” Scoma said. “It’s difficult in the beginning. It’s like I used to
“You could not imagine the phone calls that we were able to make. So far, 29 businesses have already benefited from the Open for Business fund, in particular areas like Hartsville, Greenwood, Clemson, Florence, Myrtle Beach and other areas.” Tammie Hoy Hawkins CEO, CommunityWorks
serve in a restaurant, and everyone wants you to have experience, but no one wants to be the one to give you the experience. We were super thankful that they met us where we were at and saw a lot of potential in us.” The funding announcement took place in a new, airy event space adjacent to the coffee shop slated to open soon. Scoma said she has been in talks with the building owners about expanding for a while, “but for a couple of years, we were like, no more liability for us, especially because the pandemic happened,” she said. But with ongoing safety protocols necessitating more space as part of a business pivot that also included opening a catering arm, “we took the leap of faith
and here we are, opening in the next week or so.” Other small business owners and CDFI funding recipients in attendance Sept. 29 included Fernando Soto, owner of Charleston-based New Digital Press, and Danny Young, owner of Extreme Cheer and Tumble in Florence. “We started as a small business back in 2020 right at the beginning of the pandemic, and like many small businesses, we were very nervous about what our future was going to be like,” Soto said. “Finding funding for these types of ventures can be pretty difficult, but we’ve been blessed with a very strong community that has supported us along the way for the last year and a half.” Soto credited the CLIMB Fund, formerly Charleston LDC, with helping his company through those turbulent times. “Over the last 20 months that the pandemic has been impacting our community, Latino business have been some of the most resilient across the entire country,” he said. “We’re very excited that Wells Fargo is investing in businesses like ours.” Facebook’s September Global State of Small Business Report, with responses from 35,189 business leaders across 30 countries and territories, found that minority-led small businesses were more likely to report closures related to the pandemic at 20% to 14%, as well as more likely to report a drop in sales (44% to 29%) and reduced employment (32% to 20%) than other businesses. Hispanic-led small businesses had the U.S.’s highest closure rate at 24%, while Blackled businesses reported a 22% closure rate. Amber Murray owns Fuel Flo, a subscription fueling service that provides fuel to customers at their homes or businesses. Serving Orangeburg, Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, the business received a $145,000 small business loan from the S.C. Community Loan Fund. “The struggles of finding funding for this business, especially during the pandemic — it was extremely hard,” said Murray, who moved back to her native St. George from Georgia to launch her business. “But they believed in me. I can’t thank them enough for that.” Cindi Rourk, CEO of the CLIMB Fund, said CDFI funding fills a critical niche in S.C.’s small business community. “Our state will never live up to its full potential unless every one of its citizens has a realistic shot for success,” she said. “The opportunities we are creating today are small but very important steps toward making that dream a reality.”
October 11 - 24, 2021
APPRAISALS, from Page 9
Paul Ryll is a real estate appraiser based in Greenville and owns several restaurants in the Upstate. When COVID-19 cases first started to surge in the U.S. and lockdowns forced business and school closures in spring 2020, he thought about how he’d survive financially with an expected sharp decline in revenue. “I remember thinking at the start of the pandemic about what I would do when business slowed down, where I could save money, because I assumed a lot less money would be coming in,” Ryll said. “We had no idea we’d be going 100 miles an hour right now.” Ryll said he and other appraisers in the Upstate have been overwhelmed with appraisal orders since at least May or June 2020, a few weeks after the first lockdowns were imposed. At first, it was home loan refinancing that created a surge in his business. “People could basically sit at home and apply online, do most of the refinancing work at their computer,” he said. “With everyone being home so much more and interest rates being so low, we saw a big increase in refi appraisals at the beginning of the lockdowns.” That unexpected spike in demand was compounded as people started looking to move out of larger cities where COVID19 cases were at high levels or sought to move within their local area into a newer
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or larger space more suitable to spending substantially more time. Appraisals have always been one of the limiting factors in the timeline of the home-buying. According to Ryll, a normal timeline for an appraisal to be completed is about 10 days. But now, with the backlog of orders from home sales and refinancing, 30 days is what his company quotes to complete an appraisal. “We are absolutely slammed right now,” he said. “Before the pandemic, we would do about 80 appraisals a month. Now, we’re doing about 140. All appraisers in the Upstate are in the same situation.” Ryll said the number of appraisal companies in the Upstate has remained fairly steady in the past decade or so, and the fact that the certification process takes up to 18 months or more means new appraisers can’t enter the market quickly. “It’s difficult to add staff quickly in this business,” he said. “The training takes a long time, and licensed appraisers like myself simply don’t have the time to properly train people when we’re as busy as we are right now.” According to information from the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, which oversees certification and licensing of real estate appraisers, the process for qualifying as an appraiser begins with three courses and completion of a supervisor/trainee course. Once that
“We had no idea we’d be going 100 miles an hour right now.” Paul Ryll Owner, Oscar Mike Appraisal Group
is completed, training continues under the supervision of a certified appraiser for six to 18 months, depending on the license being attained. During that time, trainees must take more appraiser courses and gain experience to upgrade to “licensed” or “certified.” The last step is the state exam. Ryll has developed an online software platform that aims to streamline the appraisal process. During the pandemic, many lenders allowed more desktop appraisals, which means an appraiser is not required to do an on-site inspection, but can accept photos and data from a real estate agent or home inspector to begin the appraisal process. He said appraisers were reluctant in the past to accept data from third parties not specifically trained to take those measurements because the appraiser was still liable for any mistakes made. But new language in federal lending guidelines has now passed that liability to the data col-
lector, so certified appraisers have more protection in that regard. Ryll’s platform, Oscar Mike Mobile Appraisals, helps data collectors upload information into a template that can easily be accessed and used for online appraisal submissions. “It makes the process more streamlined, and saves a lot of time on data entry,” he said. “When you can save 20 minutes or so in one appraisal, that adds up over a month of doing so many appraisals.” Ryll unveiled his platform at the recent Valuation Expo in Las Vegas, a national convention for appraisers and lenders. He said response was enthusiastic, especially about the fact that his software was developed by an appraiser, not from a typical source such as a fintech firm or lending company that might store data that can be used basically in perpetuity. “Appraisers are reluctant to submit data on properties that can be stored indefinitely,” he said. “If enough of that data is kept, appraisers worry that it can reduce demand for their expertise and services. OMMA keeps data for just 30 days; then it’s erased. We aren’t interested in data storage; appraisers understand current data on a home or property is the only way to create an accurate market value.” Reach Steve McDaniel at 843-849-3123.
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In Focus
ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION LIST: Landscape Architecture Firms, Page 18
NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS: The Insurance Cluster
FAMILY BUSINESS
Brothers leading Mashburn Construction to new heights in company’s 45th year Mashburn Construction is the contractor behind Smoked, a new restaurant opening soon in the 1600 super block of downtown Columbia. Mashburn has helped transform the downtown area through a number of projects, including Hotel Trundle and Nickelodeon Theatre. (Photo/Melinda Waldrop)
By Melinda Waldrop
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mwaldrop@scbiznews.com
he large capital M is omnipresent. The block letter, which could be considered burgundy but skews closer to garnet in Columbia color palettes, that is Mashburn Construction’s simple but instantly recognizable logo marks a plethora of construction sites in the Midlands and throughout South Carolina. The Columbia-headquartered company, with divisions in Charleston, Greenville and Myrtle Beach, is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year and showing no signs of slowing down. Founded in 1976 by CEO Harry Mashburn, the company underwent a leadership transition in May 2017. Following Harry Mashburn’s retirement, son Paul, 55, took over as CEO after serving as president and COO,
“We definitely have different roles, and we feed off each other’s strengths.” Paul Mashburn CEO, Mashburn Construction
and son Lee, 52, became president of the firm where he’d been executive vice president of preconstruction. “We definitely have different roles, and we feed off each other’s strengths,” Paul Mashburn told the Columbia Regional Business Report.
“If you’ve seen that beer commercial with the two partners where one of them says if you can sell it, I can make it — I make the beer and he sells the beer.” There was never any real question that progression would eventually take place, the brothers said. “When you grow up around something, when you drive around and see job signs and you have an equipment yard and your grandfather worked at the equipment yard … it was just always right there,” Paul said. “We worked summers. It’s just what we did growing up, so unless we wanted to go out and be a lawyer or a doctor or an accountant or something different, then it was just an opportunity that made a lot of sense.” The firm has been behind some of the most well-known projects throughout the state and in downtown Columbia, where its expertise in
historic renovation is on full display. Mashburn has been the contractor on high-profile historic renovations including Hotel Trundle, The Grand, Mast General Store, Nickelodeon Theatre, and the Sheraton Conference Center. “My passion would be all those historic buildings,” said Lee Mashburn, who traces that love to his father’s longtime involvement with downtown economic development group City Center Partnership, an organization on whose board both men have served. “Seeing all these buildings — you don’t even know what they look like behind the facades that have been put on them. … It’s great to walk into an old building and see what it used to be and look at pictures from 100 or 80 years ago and say, ‘Well gosh, this is See MASHBURN, Page 16
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October 11 - 24, 2021
New apartment complex to add 500 residents to BullStreet By Melinda Waldrop
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mwaldrop@scbiznews.com
new apartment complex will add more than 500 residents to the BullStreet District as soon as 2023. Work has begun on Bennet at BullStreet, a 280,000-square-foot community with 269 luxury apartments ranging from studio to three-bedroom units, according to a news release. The apartments, anticipated to open in 2023, will include a pet spa, a rooftop deck, an upscale clubhouse and a state-of-the-art fitness center, along with dedicated co-working spaces. Charlotte-based Proffitt Dixon Partners is the developer of the new complex, which will include a 45,000-square-foot, ground-floor retail space. Bennet at BullStreet will be located between Boyce Street, home to Segra Park, and Pickens Street in the 181-acre mixed-use BullStreet development, overseen by master developer Hughes Development Corp. of Greenville. “The Hughes Development Corporation team’s talent and dedication to placemaking is remarkable,” Stuart Proffitt, founding partner of Proffitt Dixon Partners, said in the release. “We’re excited to be a part of bringing their transformative vision to life. Our goal for Bennet at BullStreet is to deliver the highest level of
Bennet at BullStreet, a 280,000-square-foot apartment community, is expected to add more than 500 residents to the mixed-use development. (Rendering/Provided)
rentable living in Columbia, on par with urban projects we’ve recently delivered in other Southeast growth markets. We’re thrilled to now be underway with construction.” Proffitt Dixon Partners also has multifamily properties in Charlotte, Greenville and Nashville, Tenn., among other Southeastern locations. Hughes Development Corp. will own and operate the retail space. “We have toured Proffitt Dixon proj-
ects across the Southeast and are excited that they have chosen to do their next great project in the BullStreet District,” Robert Hughes, president of Hughes Development, said. “These units will bring over 500 new residents to BullStreet, all of whom will enjoy the recently opened Page Ellington Park, Fireflies games and the growing mix of retail and restaurant tenants who call BullStreet home.” The apartments will range from 550 to 1,600 square feet. Other amenities will
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include an outdoor saltwater pool, grilling areas, private cabanas and a covered entertainment pavilion, along with two additional courtyards and two dog parks. The project will also include a 350space parking garage, which will join two parking garages already under construction in the district. These garages will have added more than 1,300 structured parking spaces and have more than 1,100 surface parking spaces when completed, according to the release.
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October 11 - 24, 2021
IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
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Engineering organization seeks new solutions By Melinda Waldrop
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mwaldrop@scbiznews.com
he Engineering Research Visioning Alliance has an ambitious goal to influence the future of engineering while helping to change its face. The organization, founded by the National Science Foundation in April to unite the diverse voices of the engineering community in pursuit of innovative research and problem-solving, recently relocated its headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Columbia. Funded by the NSF, EVRA’s founding partners include members of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research/Institutional Development Award Foundation, and the University Industry Demonstration Partnership. ERVA named its first executive director last month. Jennifer Carinci, who has a background steeped in STEM education research, is passionate about expanding the reach of science, technology, engineering and math fields to all demographics. Carinci, who holds master’s and doctoral degrees in education from Johns Hopkins University with a focus in teacher development and leadership, brings an interdisciplinary approach to ERVA and the issues it is tackling — some of which may not be ones the average person would immediately associate with engineering. Soon after being named executive director Sept. 1, Carinci explained ERVA’s mission and vision to the Columbia Regional Business Report. CRBR: Tell us a little about what ERVA’s goals are. JC: It’s really a first-of-its-kind engineering research visioning organization, which is really exciting. I love building things. I had an opportunity earlier in my career to be an inaugural researcher director at an accreditor which was kind of a novel position there, but I love being able to build and shape things, especially things that are interdisciplinary. CRBR: That seems to fit in with your background, which includes your previous position at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and managed NSF-funded national initiatives. JC: I do have a background in education and I really enjoy convergence across disciplines, which I think that ERVA really allows us to do. We have a really exciting group of advisory members, 36 Standing Council members from different disciplines of engineering. We’re really looking to bring the engineering community together with one voice to identify bold, new research directions. CRBR: What issues will ERVA be
“We’re really a partnership. We’re looking to connect all of these groups together. … It’s about convergence of ideas, where we can potentially get these solutions to the most vexing engineering and other problems that our society is facing.” Jennifer Carinci Executive director, Engineering Research Visioning Alliance
tackling first? JC: We have our first visioning event set for Dec. 7 and 8. The topic of that is the Role of Engineering in Climate Change. The way that we came to that was we went out and surveyed the engineering community. We cast a broad net to be able to talk to people across the nation and see what was on their minds and see what their priorities were. … Our plan is in December to convene experts from across the nation who are working multi-disciplinary across this big issue. What we’re looking to do is come out of there with use-inspired and basic research lines that we think should be taken up by the research community and perhaps suggested to funding agencies as a way forward. As big as this issue is and as much money is going toward it right now, there are gaps in what is being worked on and where we need to go, or perhaps getting the right people who have never talked to each other in the room so that they are actually cross-pollinating ideas and not just working in discipline silos within engineering. We want to come out of there with some research lines that really find those gaps. CRBR: Climate change is not necessarily the first thing you’d think of where engineering plays a role. Is that indicative of the kind of outside-thebox thinking at ERVA? JC: That’s a good way to put it. That’s certainly where we want to go. So much of what we see today really is inspired by engineering, the technology that we’re using now, even something like GPS that we use every day to get to work or go places. You never know where that next big idea is going to come from. One of the things that we’ve emphasized here and that our Principal Investigator team is concerned about is making sure that our initiative is inclusive, that we’re bringing a diversity of voices on a lot of different dimensions. One of those is early-career engineers. Some of the students in engineering working on their dissertation may have the next big thing that we want to pursue that’s not on anybody’s radar. We want to be finding those things, those out-of-the-box
solutions. We want to be working in the spaces where maybe there’s been a little bit of research but it hasn’t been connected. We’re a network of networks and we really want to connect those dots across different ideas and disciplines that are often working in silos. We’re looking to catalyze the engineering community’s pursuit of innovative and high-impact research to really benefit society. CRBR: How do we get more women and other underrepresented groups involved in engineering from an early age? JC: One of the ways that we do that is through our partners. ERVA has affiliate partners signed on and is in conversations with many more – engineering societies and groups specific to women engineers as well as underrepresented groups in STEM. Seven out of 12 of our advisory board members are women, and more than half of our 36-member standing council are women. Right now in the U.S., about three out of four engineering degrees are held by men. That’s cer-
tainly something that we want to change moving forward to make sure we’re not missing out on a really important part of innovation. If we’re not attending to underrepresented minorities and making sure women are brought into STEM from a young age, we’re missing out on the potential innovation that our country really needs to move forward. CRBR: Who are some of the women working with ERVA and its founding partners? JC: Our Principal Investigator is Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska. She’s the first woman at Ohio State University to be elected to National Academy of Engineering. Her early research helped build more reliable GPS navigation and improved smartphone technology. At IUDP, our organization had a conference (where) Susan Margulies spoke. She’s the new head of the NSF’s Engineering Directorate. She was really inspiring about the need for mentoring for women. She mentioned something about a class that she had and the professor saying remember when you first worked with your dad on your car? And she’s sitting there in class thinking that wasn’t my experience. Angelique Johnson, on our Standing Council, is the CEO and founder of MEMStim, a medical device startup. She does a lot of work in education and is passionate about entrepreneurship and bringing more women and underrepresented groups into STEM. CRBR: Tell us about ERVA Champions, through which people and organizations interested in engineering and innovation can subscribe for email updates, apply to be affiliate partners and contribute to visioning events at https://www.ervacommunity. org/get-involved. JC: ERVA Champions can give feedback about our mission and research or nominate people to attend visioning events. We’re looking to get more people involved in all different ways. We’re really a partnership. We’re looking to connect all of these groups together. … It’s about convergence of ideas, where we can potentially get these solutions to the most vexing engineering and other problems that our society is facing. Jennifer Carinci is the inaugural executive director of the Engineering Visioning Alliance. (Photo/Provided)
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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
October 11 - 24, 2021
MASHBURN, from Page 13
the way this building should be anyway, the way it was originally built.’ We’ll go back and bring it back to the pictures that we see from the 1930s or 40s, and the building functions as it should.” Mashburn is also the contractor on two of Columbia developer Scott Middleton’s newest projects: Smoked, a restaurant opening soon in the 1600 super block of Main Street, and Peak Drift, a $34 million, 64,000-square-foot brewery and entertainment venue coming to the Cottontown area on North Main. “I think that we’ve probably renovated or built over 60% of Main Street here. That’s been unbelievable, the transformation of what’s happened in downtown Columbia,” Paul Mashburn said. “And it’s really been neat to be a part of that and watch all these old, dilapidated buildings, wig shops, different kinds of things that really wasn’t a bustling downtown, turn into restaurants and bars and bowling alleys and boutique hotels and all that.” Statewide, Mashburn has also overseen the 90,000-square-foot MUSC College of Health Professions, which included both historic restoration and new construction; its 2,125-square-foot Myrtle Beach office, which renovated a building in the city’s revitalized downtown; the 57,125-square-foot new construction Grand Bohemian Hotel completed in Charleston in 2015; and the historic renovation of 27,310 square feet of office space at the former Elks Lodge at 18 E. North Street in downtown Greenville. “Restoring something historic, there’s something pretty special about it, instead of just tearing something down and building a brand-new shiny glass building,” Paul Mashburn said. “That’s nice, too, but it’s a little different when you take an old relic, like an old classic car.” Mashburn’s historic renovation projects have won numerous awards, with Hotel Trundle ranked No. 5 in USA Today’s 2021 list of best historic hotels. But only one concluded with a knighting ceremony. “One of the first projects we did in Myrtle Beach was Medieval Times, and I was onsite project manager for that,” Paul Mashburn said. One of the first tilt-panel restaurants Mashburn had done when it opened 26 years ago, “it’s a fortress, still standing today,” he said. “To remember being there every single day, and walking around doing a punch list when you’ve got knights in armor walking past you with these giant Andalusian stallion horses, jousting while we’re doing a punch list, was very surreal.” A sword hanging on the wall in Mashburn’s Columbia office is a memento from an equally memorable honor.
Paul Mashburn (left) became CEO of Mashburn Construction when founder Harry Mashburn (center) retired in 2017. Lee Mashburn (right) is president of the Columbia-headquartered contractor, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. (Photo/Provided)
Mashburn Construction vehicles line the center curb in the 1600 super block of Main Street in downtown Columbia as construction continues on new restaurant Smoked. (Photo/Melinda Waldrop)
“I got knighted,” Paul said. “It wasn’t by the queen. It was by some hippie guy, but he could joust pretty good.” While no new honorary titles are on the horizon, plenty of construction is. Paul Mashburn said the company is going into 2022 with one of the healthiest backlogs in its history as the industry’s recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continues — with some lingering complications. Though the price of lumber has halted a stratospheric rise that left the company unable to begin wood-frame projects, the brothers said residual supply chain issues are affecting other materials and delivery times. “It takes 11 months to get a steel joist when it used to take one and a half to two months,” Lee Mashburn said, while
Paul said that prices have increased 15% across the board from pre-pandemic levels. Other delays have come from finding new ways to navigate inspection and permitting processes with many municipal offices still closed. “Where before you could go in and see somebody that you’ve known for 15 years to walk a permit through, that person is not sitting there anymore,” Paul Mashburn said. “You’re dealing with somebody on the phone or on the computer.” Hiccups aside, Mashburn is focused on busy future that includes a new multiuse outdoor space called The Hangout planned for Myrtle Beach’s Broadway at the Beach attraction as part of its newly launched hospitality division and a new
riverfront location for Larkin’s restaurant in Greenville. “Now all of a sudden everybody’s chomping at the bit to do something,” Lee Mashburn said. “They’ve sat on the sidelines for a long time, so a lot of people are doing a lot of things right now.” Said Paul: “Developers develop. If you’re a developer and you do buildings and you turn them and these private equity firms have this money to put into these projects — it’s got to keep going, and we’re waiting right there to build them.” Some of that business comes through “osmosis,” Paul said, borne out of longtime connections that go along with that capital M. “That’s one good thing about a family business and us having the name and being a part of the company. People like that.” Both brothers hope folks who need something built keep calling on the Mashburns for another four decades. “I think Paul would agree that we’ve got this company in a better place than it’s ever been,” Lee Mashburn said. “We’ve got better people. We’ve really got a great stock of good, young, experienced project managers, superintendents, marketing people. “From top to bottom, we’re excited about where we are and what the future holds.” Reach Columbia Regional Business Report editor Melinda Waldrop at 803-726-7542.
IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
October 11 - 24, 2021
CENTER, from Page 1
“The opening of this welding technology center is Midland Technical College’s response to this increased demand for high-skilled welders right here in the Midlands,” MTC Provost Barrie Kirk said at the ribbon cutting. “Within this new facility, we’re going to be able to train over 150 new welders. Our great students are going to be prepared to hit the ground running on Day One.” Evan Seal, who has been in the school’s welding program for a year and a half, is looking forward to what he thinks will be an easier learning experience in the renovated building. “There’s a lot more space in the booth,” said Seal, who found a high school welding class “really entertaining. I’ve always been into metalworking and the creativity you can put into it.” Creativity also went into the renovations of the Industrial Building, originally constructed in 1967. Contractor Sumwalt Associates, based in Forest Acres, and Columba architects Watson Tate Savory wanted to deliver the technical aspects the lab required while also incorporating design touches such as the bank of windows that ring the roof of the building. “Most of these labs are in a dungeon or a windowless box,” Gene Bell, principal at Watson Tate Savory, said. “We really
A $4.5 million renovation has added 19 state-of-the-art welding bays to Midlands Technical College’s Welding Technology Center, giving the Airport campus a total of 64 bays. The new welding center was formerly known as the Industrial Buliding and originally constructed in 1967. (Photo/Melinda Waldrop)
wanted to flip that on its head. We put the windows up high. Where we could, we popped a window in. In doors, which are at the end of corridors, at the handwash stations. We looked for every opportunity to open it up and make it an unusual and exciting place to be in. “It’s about finding the bones that are great in an existing building and then exploiting them, and then with the addition just adding onto that in a sensitive way that gives the college exactly what
they need.” After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests milled about the center, peeking into classrooms and into welding stations. “Facilities, in our mind, matter,” said L. Todd Sease, Chair of the Midlands Technical College Commission, the school’s governing board. “They play an important role. We firmly believe that quality architecture and well-designed buildings enhance the student experience and enhance the
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Requester Publications Only)
www.columbiabusinessreport.com 17
work that our faculty does on a day-today basis.” Midlands Tech, the state’s third-largest technical school with 8,800 students, broke ground in June on a new $30 million, 58,245-square-foot technology center at its Beltline campus. Scheduled to be finished in August 2023, that center will replace the 53-year-old Lindau Engineering Technology building and serve as a hub for the college’s business, information technology, and science and mathematics workforce development programs. MTC also opened a $14.5 million Learning Resource Center at its Beltline campus four years ago. The school also has campuses in northeast Columbia, Harbison, Batesburg-Leesville and Fairfield County and operates an education center at Fort Jackson. “What we do is workforce development, and we take that very seriously,” Rhames said. “This is why we made this commitment. This is why we’re expanding the welding capability for our college. We’re looking at all our programs in that way – how can we produce more? How can we make it more attractive for young people in particular who want to take on some of these skill paths as a career? “We know many of them can do very well in terms of a career and family-sustaining income by taking on things like welding.”
Bui l di ng wi t h Inte grit y
Columbia Regional Business Report; Publication number 8400; The Mailing address of the Known Office of Publication, 1612 Marion St. Ste. 301, Columbia, SC 29201. The Mailing address of the Headquarters and General Business Offices of the Publisher (not printer), 1612 Marion St. Ste. 301, Columbia, SC 29201. The Full Names and Addresses of the Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor are: Rick Jenkins (Publisher), 1802 Dayton St. Ste. 101, North Charleston, SC 29405, Melinda Waldrop (Editor) 1612 Marion St. Ste. 301, Columbia, SC 29201, Managing Editor: None. Columbia Regional Business Report; is owned by BridgeTower OPCo, LLC (OpCo), 100 N Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste 1725, El Segundo, CA 90245. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities, Cerberus Business Finance Agency, 11812 San Vicente Blvd, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90049. Issue Date for Circulation Data is August 16, 2021; the average number of copies of each issue during the preceding 12 months is: (A) Total number of copies printed 3,990. (B1) Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscriptions 1,511; (B2) Paid/Requested In-County Subscriptions: 2,123 (B3) Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and requested: 0; (B4) Other classes mailed USPS: 0; (C) Total Paid/Requested Circulation: 3,634; (D1) Non-Requested Distribution by mail, samples complimentary and other free copies: 155; (D2) In-county Non-Requested distribution: 141; (D3) Other classes mailed Non-Requested Distribution: 0; (D4) Non-Requested distribution outside the mail: 0; (E) Total Non-Requested distribution: 296; (F) Total Distribution: 3,930; (G) Copies not Distributed: 61; (H) Total: 3,990; (I) Percent of Paid/Requested: 92.47%. The actual number of copies of a single issue published nearest to the filing date are: (A) Total number of copies printed 4,927; (B1) Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscriptions: 1,728; (B2) Paid/Requested In-County Subscriptions: 2,981; (B3) Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and requested: 0; (B4) Other classes mailed USPS: 0; (C) Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 4,709; (D1) Non-Requested Distribution by mail, samples complimentary and other free copies: 15; (D2) In county Non-Requested distribution: 8; (D3) Other classes mailed Non-Requested Distribution: 0; (D4) Non-Requested distribution outside the mail: 0 (E) Total NonRequested distribution: 23 (F) Total Distribution: 4,732; (G) Copies not Distributed: 190; (H) Total: 4,922; (I) Percent of Paid/Requested: 99.51%.
Hotel Trundle
The Grand
Electronic Copy Circulation; The Average number of copies in the last 12 months was: (16A) Requested/Paid Electronic Copies, 2; (16B) Total Requested/Paid Print and Digital Copies were 3,636; (16C) Total Requested Print and Paid/Requested Digital Distribution was 3,932; (16D) Percent Paid/Requested Print & Digital was 92.47%. The Actual Number of Copies of a Single Issue (16A) Paid/Requested Electronic Copies, 3; (16B) Total Paid/Requested Print and Paid Digital Copies were 4,712 (16C) Total Requested Print and Digital Distribution was 4,735 (16D) Percent Paid/Requested Print & Digital was 99.51%. (Signed) Rick Jenkins, Publisher REQUIRED BY TITLE 39 U.S.C. 8400 STATEMENT SHOWING OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION OF COLUMBIA REGIONAL BUSINESS REPORT, publication number 8400, filed October 1, 2021, Published Twice A Month Except in January, May, June and August, 20 issues per year, $57.95 annually, at 1612 Marion St. Ste. 301, Columbia, SC 29201. The General Business offices of the Publishers are at 1612 Marion St. Ste. 301, Columbia, SC 29201.
Columbia SC Visitors Center
The War Mouth
HISTORIC | INDUSTRIAL | OFFICE | RETAIL | HEALTHCARE | K–12 | UPFIT mashburn con struction .com
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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
October 11 - 24, 2021
Landscape Architecture Firms
Ranked by No. of Registered Landscape Architects in the Columbia Area Company
Phone / Website / Email
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Landscape Architects / Employees
Kenneth B. Simmons Associates LLC 2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 210 Columbia, SC 29204
803-254-3791 www.kbsala.com dcheatham@kbsala.com
Kenneth B. Simmons 1946
5 6
Landscape architecture and land planning
Grimball Cotterill LLC 600 Beltline Blvd. Columbia, SC 29205
803-738-9525 www.grimballcotterill.com information@grimballcotterill.com
Thomas Mark Cotterill 1987
3 3
Site design consulting, landscape architecture
Saluda Hill Landscapes 2025 Industrial Blvd. Lexington, SC 29072
803-957-7335 www.saludahill.com reception@saludahill.com
Shanez Padgett, Wendell Furtick 1991
2 130
Offers landscaping services to home and business owners; some services include hardscapes, full landscape installs, grounds maintenance, irrigation and outdoor lighting
Hay Hill Services Inc. 200 Hay Hill Farm Lane St. Matthews, SC 29135
803-834-6652 www.hayhillservices.com contactus@hayhillservices.com
Fred Gantt, David Stack 1992
1 40
Landscape architecture, design-build, masonry installation, concrete installation, irrigation, outdoor lighting and fireplaces
One 12 Landscaping 171 New Village Road Gilbert, SC 29054
803-260-6564 jkelly@one12landscaping.com
Jeremy Kelly 2011
1
Specialize in unique landscape designs for residential areas
Specialty Services
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.
Researched by Paige Wills
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October 11 - 24, 2021
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COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION SPONSORED BY:
Bojangles 903 Spears Creek Court, Elgin Developer/owner: 561 Lowcountry Architect(s): AKA Studio, PC Architects & Interiors Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Mimms Contracting Engineers(s): E. L. Robinson Engineering Estimated completion date: December 2021 Estimated total cost: $925K This project consists of new construction and site work for a Bojangles drive-thru restaurant. Columbia High School press boxes 1701 Westchester Dr. Developer/owner: Richland School District One Architect(s): SGA Narmour Wright Design, Charleston Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Mashburn Construction Company Engineers(s): Chao and Associates Estimated completion date: Fall 2021 Estimated total cost: n/a Columbia High School will use its two new 172-square-foot press boxes for the baseball and softball teams. The scope of work includes slab-on-grade construction and slab-on-metal deck construction as well as split-face block, metal spiral stairs, prefabricated metal roof trusses, a metal roof, signage, and electrical work.
Furo Sato Beno upfit for a Japanese grocery and takeout 748 Harden St. Developer/owner: n/a Architect(s): n/a Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Sacon Engineers(s): n/a Estimated completion date: December 2021 Estimated total cost: n/a The project’s scope covers buildout of the interior for a sale area and new kitchen. Future restaurant on Devine Street 4418 Devine St. Developer/owner: Jim Pagett Architect(s): n/a Project Manager: n/a
General contractor: Sacon Engineers(s): n/a Estimated completion date: December 2021 Estimated total cost: n/a The two parts of this project cover replacement of the exterior façade and upfit of the interior space.
Historic Good Samaritan—Waverly Hospital renovation and expansion 2204 Hampton St. Developer/owner: Allen University Architect(s): GMK Associates Architectural Division Project Manager: GMK Associates Design-Build Division General contractor: GMK Associates Design-Build Division Engineers(s): GMK Associates Engineering Division (MEP); Alpha–Omega Environmental, Lexington (Hazmat survey); The LandPlan Group (site civil/landscape architecture); Mabry Engineering Associates (structural) Estimated completion date: n/a Estimated total cost: n/a This multiphase project includes renovating 19,200 square feet of the empty three-story historic hospital building and the addition of 4,675 square feet for a new auditorium and academic/ office space. The goal is to create an economic driver within the community, while furthering the university’s academic mission. Phases to date include programming, perimeter waterproofing, interior renovations and utilities infrastructure, interior finishes, and the addition’s design. Mavis Tire 839 U.S. Hwy. 378 W, Lexington Developer/owner: Mavis Tire Architect(s): Larson Design Group, Williamsport, PA Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Mimms Contracting Engineers(s): n/a Estimated completion date: November 2021 Estimated total cost: $1.4 million This project comprises new site development and vertical construction of a 7,000-square-foot eight-bay building using concrete masonry units and steel bar joists.
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COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Midas of Columbia 1517 Gervais St. Developer/owner: Agnus Properties Architect(s): Seed Architecture Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction Engineers(s): n/a Estimated completion date: October 2021 Estimated total cost: n/a An existing office building is being renovated to house the new Midas of Columbia headquarters, while an adjacent warehouse is turned into an automotive service center.
Palms on Lady 1300 Assembly St. Developer/owner: Arnold Companies Architect(s): Cline Design Associates Project Manager: n/a General contractor: M. B. Kahn Construction Co. Engineers(s): n/a Estimated completion date: n/a Estimated total cost: n/a This luxury building at the corner of Lady and Assembly will feature one- and two-bedroom floor plans, covered parking for residents, a top-floor club lounge, business center, pool, fitness center, concierge services, and coffee bar. The ground floor will have 2,800 square feet for future retail or restaurant space. Planet Fitness 1031 Wylie St., Camden Developer/owner: Furlong Fitness, Cayce Architect(s): MT Studios, Troy, OH Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Mimms Contracting Engineers(s): MSW Design, New Albany, OH (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Estimated completion date: January 2021 Estimated total cost: $1.2 million A redevelopment project is bringing a state-of-the-art fitness facility to downtown Camden. Resource Financial Services headquarters 708 Lady St. Developer/owner: Trinity Partners/Resource Financial Services Architect(s): Seed Architecture Project Manager: Trinity Partners General contractor: Mimms Contracting Engineers(s): Swygert & Associates (mechanical, plumbing, fire protection); eti Engineering (electrical) Estimated completion date: February 15, 2022 Estimated total cost: $3 million A former restaurant and bar will become the new office headquarters of Resource Financial Services. The property is located in the heart of Columbia’s Congaree Vista District.
October 11 - 24, 2021
Richland County—New Hopkins Magistrate Facility Lower Richland Blvd. (near Air Base Road) Developer/owner: Richland County Architect(s): GMK Associates Architectural Division Project Manager: GMK Associates Design-Build Division General contractor: GMK Associates Design-Build Division Engineers(s): GMK Associates Engineering Division (MEP); The LandPlan Group (site civil/ landscape architecture); Joel E. Wood & Associates, York (specialized civil engineering); Arrowood + Arrowood, Greenville (structural) Estimated completion date: January 2021 Estimated total cost: $1.4 million The new Hopkins Magistrate Facility consists of a 4,830-square-foot slab-on-grade, one-story, brick-veneer/hard-coat–stucco building with a pitched architectural asphalt shingle roof. The facility, which sits on 1.9 acres, includes elevated window sills for security and a public entrance with glass entry doors and sidelights. The facility houses the magistrate’s courtroom and support areas as well as various administrative offices and common space.
Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, Amphibian and Reptile Complex 500 Wildlife Pkwy. Developer/owner: Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens Architect(s): GLMV Architecture, Wichita, KS Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction Engineers(s): n/a Estimated completion date: Summer 2022 Estimated total cost: $8.0 million Riverbanks is adding a myriad of habitats that offer views of some of the world’s endangered wildlife and bring to the forefront animal care and conservation efforts that take place behind the scenes every day.
Rosewood Mixed Use 2811 Rosewood Dr. Developer/owner: Cason Development Group Architect(s): Garvin Design Group Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction Engineers(s): n/a Estimated completion date: March 2022 Estimated total cost: n/a Under construction is a two-story mixed-use building that will feature a Starbucks and an additional tenant on the first floor and three luxury apartments on the second.
At Work
PEOPLE, PLACES AND HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE MIDLANDS
People in the News CONSTRUCTION
Garrett Givens has joined Cason Development Group as director of finance and project manager. With a background in commercial banking, Givens’ focus is Givens fiscal function and performance, finance management for projects under development, and procurement of project financing. Givens, who spent 11 years with South State Bank in Columbia, graduated from Clemson University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics. At Landmark Construction, Derrell Ward is now assistant superintendent for the concrete division. Ward is responsible for on-site administration, safety, budget management, project planning, and coordination on construction projects. He is certified in OSHA 30 hour, CPR and first aid, fall protection, and aerial lift operation.
ENGINEERING Jennifer Carinci, EdD, PMP, a veteran of STEM research and innovation, is the inaugural full-time executive director of the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance. The National Science Foundation created the new alliance to unite the voices of the diverse engineering community, and enable processes to effectively identify bold and societally impactful engineering research directions. Carinci had been with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where she was program director for STEM education research.
FINANCIAL SERVICES Southern First Bancshares, holding company for Southern First Bank, has appointed Chris Shugart as chief mortgage officer. A Certified Mortgage Shugart Banker, Shugart has more than 15 years’ experience in the industry. He graduated from Wofford College with a bachelor’s degree in business and government.
First Reliance Bank’s Donna Smith, a vice president for consumer lending at the West Columbia branch, has graduated from the South Carolina Bankers School, hosted at Lander University.
GOVERNMENT SERVICES The City of Cayce’s new chief of police will be Chris Cowan, its current deputy chief and a 29-year law enforcement veteran. Byron Snellgrove, the current Cowan director of the Cayce Department of Public Safety, will retire in December. Meanwhile, the City of Cayce is in the process of dividing the department into two separate entities: the Cayce Police Department and the Cayce Fire Department.
HEALTH CARE BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina chose Michael Mizeur to fill the newly created position of president and chief operating officer. In his new role, Mizeur Mizeur is responsible for all operating areas, including more than 20 companies involved in health-insurance services, Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and the Veterans Choice program. Mizeur began his career at BlueCross in 1998 as a director in the finance area. Douglas S. Schultz Jr., MD, is now practicing with Midlands Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery. Schultz completed his adult reconstruction fellowship Schultz at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, following his orthopaedic residency at the University of Florida COM Jacksonville. A graduate of Wofford College, he received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
LAW Fisher Phillips brought in Susan
Maupin Boone as a partner in its national Wage and Hour practice. Boone had been with the U.S. Department of Labor’s wage and hour division, where she directBoone ed more than 1,500 employees across five regional offices. Before that, she served as chief legal and policy officer at the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, where she led the office of general counsel and the government affairs, policies and procedures, and appellate divisions. Adair Patterson has joined Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd as an associate with the corporate law practice group. She was judicial clerk to the Hon. A. MarPatterson vin Quattlebaum Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Patterson earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Virginia, a master of education and educational specialist degree in counseling from Clemson University, and a juris doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina. Named managing partner at Moore Bradley Myers is Christian G. Spradley. He oversees operations, delegates responsibilities, and guides the firm’s straSpradley tegic vision. Spradley is a member of the South Carolina Bar, Lexington County Bar, Tri-County Bar, South Carolina Association for Justice, and the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He served as a state prosecutor for the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office and was the first prosecutor for the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team. He was also municipal judge for Ridge Spring and is a former board member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
MANUFACTURING Rebecca Leach is the new vice president of government relations for the
South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance. She had been executive director for the South Carolina Retail Association. Leach is a former director of governmental affairs Leach with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and a budget specialist with the South Carolina Office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she received both her bachelor of arts in public relations and her master of business administration.
NONPROFIT The Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor, was awarded to Laura Allen, of Spartanburg, for her work with Children’s Cancer Partners Allen and her community involvement. Allen was nominated by elected officials and community leaders. Since joining Children’s Cancer Partners in late 2014, Allen has expanded the organization’s reach, from helping a small handful of patients to a projected 1,700-plus children by the end of 2021. Together SC has three new board members, elected by its nonprofit member organizations across the state: Darrin Goss, president and CEO of Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina; Shawn Edwards, chief inclusive excellence officer of The Citadel; and Spencer Scott, executive director, Florence and Marion County First Steps. In addition, Together SC’s 16-person statewide board of directors re-elected its board chair: Monroe Free, president of Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County. He is joined by Sherrie Snipes-Williams, who leads Charleston Promise Neighborhood and was re-elected vice-chair; Nate Barber, retired senior vice president of community development for South State Bank, re-elected as treasurer; and Melanie Huggins, executive director of Richland Library, elected to a second board term as she continues to serve as immediate past chair.
Submit items using our online submission portal: www.SodaCityBizWire.com. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.
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COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Target your market in an upcoming issue of the Columbia Regional Business Report
OCTOBER 25 THE INSURANCE CLUSTER
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Advertising Deadline: October 12 NOVEMBER 8 HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
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For advertising information, call Lucia Smith at (803) 726-7547
October 11 - 24, 2021
Rosewood Retail 2811 Rosewood Dr. Developer/owner: Cason Development Group Architect(s): Garvin Design Group Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction Engineers(s): n/a Estimated completion date: February 2022 Estimated total cost: n/a This project includes bringing an existing building to shell condition for future upfit. Salon Centric 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road Developer/owner: n/a Architect(s): Studio 2LR Project Manager: Studio 2LR General contractor: Sacon Engineers(s): Swygert & Associates (mechanical, plumbing, fire protection); GWA Electrical Engineers (electrical) Estimated completion date: November 2021 Estimated total cost: n/a This project consists of a complete demo and interior upfit of an existing 3,423-square-foot space. The scope includes building two ADA restrooms, an office, utility room, stockroom, and suite retail area. Starbucks 4551 Hard Scrabble Road Developer/owner: Baker K&R Architect(s): Bobbit A&E Project Manager: Columbia General contractor: Mimms Contracting Engineers(s): HB Engineering (site development consultants) Estimated completion date: December 2021 Estimated total cost: $1.2 million This project consists of new construction and site work for a Starbucks. USC Taylor House maintenance renovations 1501 Senate St. Developer/owner: University of South Carolina, Columbia Architect(s): Boudreaux Group Project Manager: Solid Structures General contractor: Solid Structures Engineers(s): Swygert & Associates (mechanical); Belka Engineering Associates (electrical) Estimated completion date: February 14, 2022 Estimated total cost: $1.2–$1.4 million This project seeks to restore and renovate a 111-year-old, 8,000-square-foot building for the School of Law’s rule of law program. Planned work in this phase includes replacing the HVAC system, replacing the electrical systems, and installing a fire sprinkler system. In addition to the mechanicals, planned work includes architectural restoration of decorative plaster, floors, walls, the monumental staircase, and fireplaces. Wild Birds Unlimited 134 Forum Dr. (Village at Sandhills) Developer/owner: n/a Architect(s): n/a Project Manager: n/a General contractor: Sacon Engineers(s): n/a Estimated completion date: November–December 2021 Estimated total cost: n/a This project comprises demolition of the interior of a former hair salon to make way for an upfit for a new Wild Birds Unlimited location.
Viewpoint
VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS
Why do young professionals keep leaving? W hat if I told you that I could give you the answer to this question? That if you listen to every single word I say here, the young professionals at your company will never leave. Now, we must be realistic here and recognize that life happens. People move away for personal reasons, another job pops up that fits their lifestyle better, and the “grass is always greener” mentality prevails. But what if I told you the key to this problem is finding a way to sustain a KAMBER strong young proPARKER fessional culture, so that they stay? If we look at the workplace today — one that is ever-changing given the unprecedented times we live in — the workplace is in need of a facelift. If it is not costing your business now, just know young professional turnover costs the U.S. economy $30.5 billion annually according to Gallup’s article on Millennials: The Job-Hopping Generation. With young professionals (ages 21-39 years old) making up majority of the American workforce today, it’s about time we figured out what to do to make them stay. Before I get started, it is important to share that I am a young professional myself and have been lucky to be on the receiving end of hundreds of interviews with young professionals from across the country talking about what they want, need and even crave at their workplaces. Their stories and experiences have guided businesses toward higher retention rates and stronger young professional cultures, ultimately raising the overall company culture as well.
First, let’s start with the problem:
• 29% of young professionals are engaged at work, leaving two-thirds disengaged and actively looking for new jobs, according to Gallup. • Young professionals will have, on average, up to four different jobs by the time they reach their 30s, according to Cionet, a blog for digital and IT executives. • 49% of young professionals leave their first job within two years, according to a 2019 article in Forbes.
Why is this a problem? • Burnout • Mental health
Photo/File
“Based on interviews with more than 325 young professionals across the country in various industries and stages of life, these are the findings of what they want to be happy and succeed in the workplace: Clear communication, expectations and the opportunity to grow.”
• Company culture • Unclear expectations and poor communication All of these issues cause young professionals to leave. Now that we know the reasons for this problem and the cost of this problem, what can you do to fix it? Establish a young professional onboarding program, complete with a “Company Starter-Pack” for your newbies. Prepare them for the real happenings at your office (tell them what they can expect working as a young professional first, not just at your company). I’m talking about telling them whether it’s okay to leave for lunch — or if they need to work through it, instead. Get a team of more experienced young professionals and non-young
professionals to lay out the expectations now so they are not disappointed — and tempted to leave — later. Offer semi-annual “young professional culture” check-ins. Whether you use a professional or not to assist you, don’t just check in with them for their quarterly or annual reviews about their job; create an environment where they can share what they need to about the reality of being a young professional. They’re going through stuff that you went through too … age, credibility, learning new systems and trying so hard to get them right. Ring a bell? Offer ongoing training for your young professionals about being a YoPro. It doesn’t just stop after your first
year on the job. In fact, you’re technically a young professional until 39, though once you reach your 30s, there should be new trainings available with a clearer focus on developing them as long-term leaders at your workplace. Trainings can focus on topics like: preparing for leadership as a YoPro; facing age as a problem in the workplace; how to develop credibility among coworkers; etc. Oftentimes when this subject is broached, business leaders always state that they “can’t just keep giving us (young professionals) ping pong tables and beer after work.” News flash: that’s not what we want! Based on interviews with more than 325 young professionals across the country in various industries and stages of life, these are the findings of what they want to be happy and succeed in the workplace: Clear communication, expectations and the opportunity to grow. You have the power to make their experience better and in return, your workplace culture stronger. Kamber Parker is a YoPro living in Greenville. She seeks to improve workplace culture by offering a bridge between ambitious young professionals and the businesses who want to hire, retain and promote them.
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CONFERENCE CENTER Featuring the world-class services & amenities you have come to expect from Hilton
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October 11 - 24, 2021