Profiles in Business CRBR 2014

2014 |

July 21, 2014 | Volume 7, No. 15 | www.columbiabusinessreport.com

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Contact Info: 1501 Main St., 5th Floor Columbia, SC 29201 803-254-4190 www.adamsandreese.com Photo: Back row, from left: Kirby Shealy, Tom Runge, Bill McElveen, Jack Pringle, Rob Bethea, Bill Short.

Front row, from left: Lindsey Livingston and Tara Nauful Top Executive: Robert P. Bethea Jr. Partner in Charge, Columbia Office Date Founded: Founded in 1980 as Nauful and Ellis; became Ellis Lawhorne in 1993; merged with Adams and Reese in June 2013 Number of employees: 40 in Columbia; 660 firm-wide “As a law firm in one of the fastest growing metro areas in the Southeast, we are committed to future growth in Columbia and the state. We will continue to position ourselves to meet and hopefully exceed our client’s expectations in this ever-changing business environment.”

- Robert P. Bethea Jr. Partner in Charge, Columbia Office

Adams and Reese

A Law Firm Committed to Business in Columbia

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or 33 years, law firm Ellis Lawhorne grew along with Columbia.

Then, in 2013, its leadership determined the next step in its growth required a merger with Adams and Reese, one of the nation’s 350 largest law firms and a firm named a “Go-To Law Firm for FORTUNE 500 Companies” in 2014 by American Lawyer Media.

“The merger with Adams and Reese provided more resources to meet the higher levels of sophistication that our clients are increasingly requiring with deeper talent pools and experience in more focused areas of practice,” said Robert P. Bethea Jr., Partner In Charge at Adams and Reese’s Columbia office.

Adams and Reese has over 340 attorneys and advisors in seven states and accommodates dozens of practice areas. The Columbia office has attorneys certified in bankruptcy, mediation and alternative dispute resolution. The law firm also serves clients in estate/wealth planning, land use, real estate, tax law and workers compensation and recently added a privacy, data security and information governance practice. The new practice, led by Columbia office Partner Jack Pringle, helps assist clients in their compliance with state, federal and international laws and standards regulating the collection, use, sharing and protection

of information, and with the protection of sensitive information, as well as that of their employees, customers and business partners, from unauthorized disclosure and misuse.

“Our attorneys are focused on and working towards serving our clients’ needs in emerging issues related to their legal and business challenges in various industries,” Bethea said.

“These needs are expanding and changing, and regular communication with them helps us deliver effective client service.”

Since the merger in 2013, Adams and Reese has shown that the firm is invested in the success of its Columbia office. “As a law firm in one of the fastest growing metro areas in the Southeast, we are committed to future growth in Columbia and the state,” Bethea said. “We will continue to position ourselves to meet and hopefully exceed our client’s expectations in this ever-changing business environment.”

And the firm will continue to position itself as a vital member of the local community. In conjunction with Adams and Reese’s corporate philanthropy program HUGS (Hope, Understanding, Giving and Support), the firm’s Columbia office has donated volunteer hours and financial resources to nearly two dozen local charities and civic organizations.

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A Note From the Publisher

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elcome to the fourth annual issue of the Columbia Regional Business Report’s Profiles in Business.

We are lucky to have a diversity of businesses that call the Midlands home, from manufacturing to technology firms and from financial services to transportation and so many more in between. We also have top-level colleges and universities that provide us with talented people.

Going about our daily routines, we find it easy to let the things that make the Midlands unique fade into the background. We forget about all the expertise that is at our finBob Bouyea gertips.

We created Profiles in Business to provide our readers insight into a sample of the knowledge our local businesses possess and the work they do. The narrative format of Profiles in Business allows these advertisers to share with you what they do day in and day out — things that are sometimes too complex for the usual display advertising format. In addition, we feel the information provided in these pages delivers value to you as you search for information that can help you make wise decisions for your business and personal life.

Turn the page to start learning more about some of our community’s businesses.

We hope you enjoy it!

Bob Bouyea Publisher

Profiles in Business Editor - Licia Jackson ljackson@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7546 Associate Editor - Jenny Peterson jpeterson@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3145 Publisher - Bob Bouyea bbouyea@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7541 Senior Graphic Designer - Jane Mattingly production2@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3118 Graphic Designer - Andrew Sprague asprague@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3122 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Senior Account Executive - Alan James ajames@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7540 Account Executive - Kathie Randall krandall@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7547 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mary Jane Benston, Licia Jackson, Janet Kendall, Jenny Peterson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeff Blake, James T. Hammond

Featured Profiles

Pollock Company................................ 8

Adams and Reese, LLP......................... 3

Production Design Associates........... 10

Artisan Logistics................................ 22

Regal Prints......................................... 9

Columbia Marriott Downtown.......... 12

Reliable Technology Solutions........... 23

Consultants of Carolina..................... 16 First Citizens Bank............................ 14 Greg Enos.......................................... 11 Hobbs Group, PA.............................. 15

SAFE Federal Credit Union................ 20 Sharp Business Systems..................... 21 Snelling Personnel Services............... 19

McKay, Cauthen, Settana & Stubley, PA.... 18

Spirit of Lake Murray........................ 17

NBSC - Synovus Financial................... 5

Webster Rogers................................... 6

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Contact Info: 1221 Main St. Columbia, SC 29201 800-708-5687 www.banknbsc.com

Photo: Boyd Jones

Top Executives: Chuck Garnett Regional CEO Boyd Jones Regional Chief Banking Officer

Dated Founded: 1905

Number of Employees: 408

“Responsiveness is a great asset at NBSC. The customer wants timely services and decisions and our professionals are committed to consistently providing quality financial services.”

- Boyd Jones Regional Chief Banking Officer

NBSC

Offering the Best of Both Worlds Through Products and Professionals

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f you think a full-service bank with a hometown feel seems unattainable these days, you haven’t banked with NBSC. NBSC is a division of Synovus Bank serving the South Carolina market with 42 branches in 17 counties. Synovus Bank is a Georgia-chartered, FDIC-insured bank. Together with its affiliates, it provides commercial and retail banking, investment, and mortgage services to customers through 28 locally branded divisions, 274 branches and 358 ATMs. “We are a customer-focused organization dedicated to being responsive to our customers’ needs. The local brand of NBSC provides us great equity within our market and our advanced product offering gives us a competitive edge,” said South Carolina Regional Chief Banking Officer Boyd Jones.

“Our bank is a great fit for small and middle market businesses. Advanced technology and skilled professionals provide for great relationship banking,” said Jones. “Business customers want to know their banker and the banking team that supports their business. At NBSC, we have been blessed with great continuity within the team, and NBSC has the leading professionals in the South Carolina market.”

“In the future, our bank will continue to invest in people and technology. We have advanced Treasury Management services1 and online banking. We have recently upgraded our ATMs and we have introduced an enhanced mobile banking platform.

“Responsiveness is a great asset at NBSC. The customer wants timely services and decisions and our professionals are committed to consistently providing quality financial services.

“Although delivery systems are changing, our customers still want to deal with people; at NBSC we believe that our team members are the most important asset we have. Like generations before us, business is still conducted person-to-person and that’s why we will continue to invest in our people,” said Jones. “South Carolina is a great market and we believe in its people and the businesses that operate here. Our future is very bright.”

All accounts are subject to approval.

Additional balances and/or fees may apply for Treasury Management products and services.

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Banking products are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Divisions of Synovus Bank operate under multiple trade names across the Southeast.

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Contact Info: Anthony Wrobel,CPA 1301 Gervais St. Suite 1950 Columbia, SC 29201 803-312-0001 www.websterrogers.com

WebsterRogers

Making Clients Successful

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here’s no secret behind the success of WebsterRogers, a leading South Carolina-based accounting and consulting firm.

A fierce focus on helping its clients become successful is what sets the firm apart.

Founded in 1984 in Florence, S.C., by five forward-thinking CPA professionals, WebsterRogers has grown to nine offices across South Carolina, including Columbia and Sumter. The firm serves clients throughout the Southeast.

WebsterRogers provides tax, assurance and management consulting services, along with payroll services, outsourced accounting solutions, forensic and investigative accounting, employee benefit plan administration and business valuations.

Specializing in a limited number of industries has helped the firm develop expertise and a knowledge base to help those businesses build their success, says Anthony Wrobel, CPA and tax partner in the Columbia office. The top industries served are health care, manufacturing, construction and real estate development. WebsterRogers also works with hospitality providers, auto dealerships, government and not-for-profits, as well as agriculture, retail and professional services.

This broad and deep industry-specific knowledge provides an advantage for clients who seek consulting services. WebsterRogers can help with strategic planning, operations, fraud prevention,

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human resources, process improvement while providing timely financial information. This helps a client company become more efficient and build a better culture of business ethics.

In WebsterRogers’ nine offices are 23 partners and a total of 145 staff members, all incredibly professional, hard-working, bright people, Wrobel said. WebsterRogers employees are very active in giving back to their communities and many serve on the boards of local nonprofits.

The firm also has a foundation that provides monetary support to charitable organizations throughout the state.

WebsterRogers was named one of the fastest growing accounting firms in the United States in 2012 by Inside Public Accounting magazine and ranks in the top 200 largest firms in the United States. It has also been chosen Best Accounting Firm in Myrtle Beach in 2013 and 2014. Partners and staff have also won many professional awards. Managing Partner, Debra Turner, was named one of Charleston’s most Influential Women in Business in 2013.

“We are firmly rooted in our commitment to South Carolina and the Southeast,” WebsterRogers states on its website. “Our commitment to bringing responsive local service has led to offices in nine cities. That means leading expertise is delivered locally.”

At WebsterRogers, every conversation is about what’s best for the client.

2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement

Photo: Back, left to right: Darin Aldinger, Ron Davis, Harold Finch, Patrice Sebastian. Front, left to right: Jessica Bastedo, Jessie Hazel

Top Executive: Debra A. Turner, CPA Managing Partner

Date Founded: 1984

Number of Employees: 145 (including 23 partners)

“At WebsterRogers, we put our clients first.

Everything we do, every conversation we have is about the client’s success.”

Anthony Wrobel, CPA Tax Partner

QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: 112 Corporate Blvd.

West Columbia, SC 29169 803-233-0900 www.pollockcompany.com

Photo: Gaylon Scoates

Pollock Company

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Listening to Customers is Key to Success

t has been nearly a half-century since E.B. Pollock II began selling office equipment. Today the typewriters and adding machines of 1965 are long gone. Even the copiers and calculators that succeeded them have given way to the “digital solutions” that businesses now require.

As equipment evolves, the Pollock Company keeps pace, but one thing remains constant, says Columbia branch manager Gaylon Scoates. “Yes, products, technology and solutions change, but at the end of the day it’s about that relationship with the customer. Listening to them, I think, has really been the key to Pollock’s success.”

Today the company sells and supports MFPs, multifunctional products that not only copy but also print, scan and fax. However, there’s much more to the business than providing equipment.

“The challenge that we have in helping customers meet their needs is how do we integrate our MFPs and our digital solutions with the technology of today,” Scoates says.

The products and support have to mesh with functions like cloud services and mobile printing. Pollock can help companies manage their total document footprint so their copy/print devices are used efficiently and cost-effectively.

That’s where listening to the customer comes into play.

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A team of Pollock consultants meets with customers and prospective customers to learn how their offices function and to look for what’s referred to as “digital solutions.”

“We do workflow analysis; we do managed print services assessments. These are tools that we use to understand what the customers’ needs are.”

And when customers have problems, Pollock responds with “local accountability.”

Scoates said this “service-first mentality” has repeatedly earned accolades. Pollock Company was the first-ever recipient of a national dealer excellence award from Konica Minolta, and it has received Konica Minolta’s Pro-Tech Service Award every year since its inception.

In addition to Konica Minolta, Pollock offers Canon and Ricoh products. Scoates said he knows those manufacturers will continue to develop new and better equipment, and he is also sure Pollock will continue to grow and stay abreast of technology changes and meet its customers’ needs.

The guiding consideration, Scoates says, is “how do we help our customers and how do we provide better, faster response in an economical way.”

2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement

Top Executive: Gaylon Scoates Vice President, Columbia Branch Manager

Date Founded: 1965 in Augusta, 2001 in Columbia

Number of Employees: 20 in Columbia branch 70 Total Employees

“When we talk about the evolving technology, we still come back to some things that just don’t change, and that’s staying connected to our customers and listening to them.”

- Gaylon Scoates Vice President, Columbia Branch Manager

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Contact Info: 101 Rice Bent Way, No. 7 Columbia, SC 29229 803-691-0718 www.regalprints.com

Photo: Back row, L-R, Ryan Rega, Eileen Rega, Lindsey Rega, Jerry Rega, and Kayla Osteen; front row, Savannah Jernigan and Erika Coulter.

Top Executive: Eileen Rega President

Date Founded: 2002

Number of Employees: 6

“We’ve got a unique capability for companies who need a superior level of quality and service on short-run, custom print work.”

- Jerry Rega Managing partner

Regal Prints

Ready to Roll with Expanded Printing and Graphic Capabilities

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fter focusing on producing custom-printed labels and decals for a dozen years, Regal Prints is ready to expand its product offering. With a recently installed highspeed color printer, Regal Prints is ready to turn out brochures, manuals and catalogs for both old and new customers.

Since they created Regal Prints, Jerry Rega and his wife, Eileen, have concentrated on supplying labels for use on items like medical and industrial equipment. Their customers often need small quantities of labels that are able to withstand harsh conditions for years. And often the labels are needed in a hurry.

In 2002, as a new business in the label-printing niche, Regal Prints offered some unique capabilities, such as serialized labels, in large part because of its pioneering use of digital equipment. “We actually taught the company that made the equipment a little bit about their own equipment, because it was fairly new,” Jerry Rega said. “I think we had serial number 2.”

The digital process saves both time and money. “We tend to think of ourselves as very

quick-turn,” Rega said. “Because of the way we’re set up, we can typically respond to very short-term demands.” Additionally, there are not a lot of up-front charges. “There’s no special tooling for special sizes or shapes, because it’s all done digitally.”

Rega said “responsiveness” has led to Regal Prints’ growth. “Many of our existing customers came to us because they were frustrated with their existing supplier and weren’t getting the kind of service and response that they needed.”

Today Regal Prints’ customers are as close as next door and as far away as Mexico.

In addition to printing labels and decals, Regal Prints provides nameplates, engraved panels and a wide variety of promotional and advertising items such as pens, koozies, balloons and plastic bags.

And now some of Regal Prints’ customers have been asking for fliers and manuals, leading to the addition of that high-speed color unit.

And of course the new product offerings come with the same superior level of service that has been a hallmark of Regal Prints.

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QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: 2799 Three Lakes Road N. Charleston, S.C. 29418 info@pdastage.com

Production Design Associates

A Leader in Quality Technical, Audio and Visual Productions

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rom beautifully-lit chandeliers on large oak trees at outdoor wedding venues to pulsating lights on a huge concert stage, Production Design Associates (PDA) can handle all lighting, staging, audio, visual and technical needs for any size event.

For the past 23 years, PDA has been a trusted leader in quality technical audio and visual productions. Whether it’s a corporate event, wedding, movie set—even events for the president of the United States — the production design firm consistently delivers the best in lighting and technology to make any event stand out.

“Our job is helping people communicate,” said Jeff Nickles, founder and president of PDA. “From a company event to an artist performing on stage, they all have a message, and we help communicate that to the masses.”

PDA’s staff of 28 travel all over the country to work on events of all kinds. Professionals can broadcast the image of a keynote speaker on a large screen, provide flawless audio for an outdoor symphony, even illuminate historic landmarks during anniversary celebrations.

“We love what we do,” Nickles said. “When people tell us it was the best event they’ve had,

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we know it’s all worth it.”

Nickles said he’s always had a passion for lighting and special effects and thrives on coming up with new and creative ways to enhance an event or production.

“An event is your time to shine,” Nickles said. “It really makes a difference when you can roll out scenic elements like scenic décor, backdrops and special effects. People expect that nowadays. Everybody expects more.”

Nickles recently launched a scenery division at PDA, a unique service where clients can get customized backdrops for their events.

“A lot of people will just put up a black curtain behind them, but there’s so much more you can do,” Nickles said. “We can make a skyline of New York or Paris as a backdrop.”

PDA recently invested $250,000 in new projectors and other technology to offer the newest in audio and video services. PDA works with clients on any size budget.

“There’s nothing worse than a microphone going out or a lighting system failing, especially if you’re presenting to customers,” Nickles said.

“You only have one shot to get it right. That’s why it’s so important to work with a company you trust.”

2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement

Photo: Biltmore House illuminated.

Top executive: Jeff Nickles Founder and President

Year founded: 1991

Number of employees: 40

“When people tell us it was the best event they’ve had, we know it’s all worth it.”

- Jeff Nickles, founder and president of Production Design Associates

QUICK FACTS

GREG ENOS Contact Info: 1988 Lees Landing Circle Conway, SC 29526 843-347-9920 www.gregenos.com

Photo: Gregory J. Enos uses a small model of the human brain to explain how most people do not use the brain’s full capacity because of distractions and unproductive work habits.

Top Executive: Gregory J. Enos Managing Principal

Date Founded: 1987

Number of Employees: Sole Proprietor

“I believe lifelong learning is a critical orientation. When you stimulate the brain as you age, when you are always ready to learn something new, it has a positive health effect.”

- Gregory J. Enos Managing Principal

Time Communications Associates LLC Helping Workers Improve Productivity

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veryone has the same amount of time – 24 hours in a day – but what you do with it can have a vast impact on your productivity, says Gregory J. Enos, managing principal of Time Communications Associates LLC. With 30 years’ experience in helping employees work smarter, Enos says that most of us fail to use the full capacity of the human brain. “We try to do too much,” he says. “It’s a fallacy that we can multitask and get more done.

The human brain is wired to do one thing well at a time.”

Enos leads one- to three-day workshops across the United States to help improve time management and productivity. Some of his tips are fairly simple: minimizing distractions by turning off computer and cell phone alerts, for example.

Others require more focused action. He advises a person to set no more than three daily priorities, in order of importance, before starting work. “Those are tasks that you can complete in two hours or less,” he says. Some days you might get just one done, but to be effective you need to focus 90 percent of your daily activity on those priorities.

Ineffective communication is another downfall, and Enos teaches active listening as a

critical skill for improving productivity.

When procrastination interferes with productivity, the underlying reason may be a lack of confidence.

Enos suggests breaking the project into manageable “chunks” that can be finished in a reasonable amount of time.

Team building workshops are another specialty of Time Communications Associates.

Based on his experience in corporate, military and government settings, Enos says that teams fail to succeed because goals were not clear and everyone had not bought into them.

“People have trouble accomplishing their priorities because they are not focused on the goal in an environment where they can accomplish it,” Enos says.

Using his personal observations as credible evidence sets his training apart from other programs.

“I have made the mistakes, I’ve procrastinated – that gives me credibility,” Enos explains.

He also works with his students before the workshop, requiring exercises or reading to prepare. He finds that participants have a vested interest if they have already spent time preparing.

After the fact, Enos answers questions and asks them to create an action plan.

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Columbia Marriott

A Landmark on S.C.’s Main Street

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hat a difference a year has made for the Columbia Marriott. Last year, the downtown hotel was in remodeling mode. This year — $12 million later — the downtown hotel is sparkling, with new guest rooms, lobby, and front entrance, and up-to-the-minute restaurant and bar, meeting space and concierge lounge.

“Main Street is becoming the go-to part of Columbia for dining and entertainment,” says Joel Darr, general manager. “We are very happy to be placed right in the middle.”

The 300-room hotel, with 27,000 square feet of meeting space, sits in a prime spot at the corner of Main and Hampton streets. The multimillion-dollar remodeling project was completed in October 2013.

A strong focus is the restaurant, Midlands’, and the bar, Rocks at Midlands’. “We’re celebrating what Columbia is, with local farmers and purveyors,” says Nancy Wagner, director of sales. The restaurant works with local farmers and dairies. Local craft beers are served in the bar, along with an amazing selection of bourbon and Scotch.

Matt Kennell, president and CEO of the City Center Partnership, calls the hotel “a landmark on S.C.’s Main Street.” “The beautifully renovated Columbia Marriott has only reinforced its status and reputation as Columbia’s premier hotel and conference center

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with its all new common areas and guest rooms, and ‘foodie driven’ restaurant and bar,” he says.

In the mornings, the bar starts out as Café at Midlands’, offering Starbucks coffee and a great place for a quick meeting. All the tables have power to charge electronic devices, and up to 12 people can gather at a communal table. After 11 a.m., the bar takes over the space.

The new bar has tripled its revenue, Darr says, and has become a meeting place for people who work in the area or who are going on to the nearby Columbia Museum of Art. “The Marriott is a terrific friend of the Columbia Museum of Art and a partner in creating vitality on Main Street,” says Karen Brosius, executive director of the museum. “The recent renovation of the hotel is fresh and attractive, and they bring tourists and residents alike to enjoy the lobby and a great bar as well as the cultural offerings at the CMA. Joel Darr understands the value of community involvement and has enriched our community with his support.”

The hotel is repositioning its banquet and catering menus to offer the same style of food as Midlands’, bringing more of a restaurant experience, Darr says.

The Marriott’s signature dishes are an important sales item,

2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement

QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: 1200 Hampton St. Columbia, SC 29201 803-771-7000 marriott.com/caemh

Wagner says. Their shrimp and grits or chicken and waffles have swayed more than one meeting planner’s decisions. “It creates an impression when they try our food.”

Mac Bennett, president and CEO of United Way of the Midlands, offers his endorsement: “Since the Marriott underwent its massive renovation, United Way has hosted several successful events in their beautiful new space. We have found Joel Darr and his capable staff to be very responsive to all of our requests. It is great to see the Marriott resuming its rightful space as the preeminent hotel brand in this market.”

Since the renovation, the next biggest item has been the opportunity to hire and train the “most talented staff in the Southeast,” Darr says.

“It is exciting to see the growth in the team.”

Good financial results have allowed the Marriott to hire the best and give them the training and tools to excel. The Marriott system has new branding with the theme “Travel Brilliantly,” and the staff works hard to offer brilliant service, Darr says.

The hotel staff is excited at the arrival of hundreds of students who will be living at Hub at Columbia, next door on Main Street. Night life will pick up downtown, and that can only mean good things for the Marriott.

Darr would like to add permanent outside seating for the restaurant on Main, and the hotel is considering a pizza delivery service.

The Marriott now takes part in First Thursdays on Main and the Soda City Farmers Market on Saturdays. The restaurant staff have set up a smoker outside on the sidewalk for smoking brisket and pulled pork, serving Bloody Marys

and craft beer as appropriate. Outdoor tables are set up for these events.

“We have the perfect spot in the connectivity of Columbia,” Darr says. “The Vista, Bull Street, Five Points and USC — we are right in the middle. We are so excited about what is going to happen in the future.”

Businesses wait to invest until they see that other investments are made, Wagner says. Developers visit the Marriott lobby daily, using the renovated hotel to promote downtown.

Recently, the Mayor said something very special is happening in downtown Columbia with over $800 million in new downtown development, saying “it’s not a revitalization – it is a renaissance and the Marriott has been helping lead the way from the very beginning.”

The city is planning improvements to the Sumter Street garage adjoining the hotel, investing money in security cameras and lighting, as well as cleaning and painting. The gate system will be in use 24 hours a day. “We are pleased that the city has committed to do that,” Wagner says.

Another improvement by the hotel is upgrading the wireless Internet service for the building.

High-speed Internet will be available at an additional charge in the lobby and the rooms. The regular wireless service, also upgraded, is available free for guests.

Darr attributes the hotel’s success to spending the right money in the right place and on the right people. “Columbia is growing and we are proud to be a big part of it, to be a catalyst in the economic resurgence of Main Street.”

Photos: Opposite page: The Marriott’s sparkling new lobby This page, left: Joel Darr, general manager; Nancy Wagner, director of sales.

Near left: Midlands’ restaurant, the signature dish, shrimp and grits.

Top Executive: Joel Darr General manager Nancy Wagner Director of sales Date Founded: 1983 Number of Employees: 160 “World-class service comes from more than a building. It comes from people — our Brilliant Hosts.”

- Bill Marriott First Host and General Manager

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QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: 1230 Main St. Columbia, SC 29201 803-733-2025 www.firstcitizensonline.com Top Executive: Jim B. Apple Chairman and CEO

First Citizens

A Focus on Service

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irst Citizens has a long and proud history of growth, financial stability and exceptional customer service. With more than 175 branch locations throughout South Carolina and Georgia, First Citizens offers a wide range of commercial and retail banking services, as well as wealth management, retirement, trust, brokerage and investment services.

According to First Citizens South Carolina Group Banking Executive Sharon Bryant, First Citizens is dedicated to providing the best service and financial solutions available.

“Our knowledgeable and talented associates are what make First Citizens the strong company it is today,” Bryant said. “What differentiates us from other financial services institutions are our comprehensive products and services, urgent and personalized attention to customers and their needs, and dedication to our decades-old core values of service, accountability and common sense. It is only when we help our customers achieve their unique financial objectives that we can thrive as a company.”

In fact, First Citizens was ranked No. 1 in the Southeast in J.D. Power and Associates’

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2013 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study. The study, which is based on responses from consumers, measures satisfaction among banks in 11 regions and evaluates the areas of account information, channel activities, facilities, fees, problem resolution and product offerings.

First Citizens also received preservation awards from Historic Columbia in 2014 for the bank’s rehabilitation of the historic Brennen Building and the opening of the First Citizens Café.

A first-of-its-kind concept, the First Citizens Café is a unique space where business professionals, customers and the general public can enjoy a cup of coffee, collaborate with colleagues and socialize with friends. The space also hosts weekly events that are open to the community. To date, the café has hosted more than 100 professional and community events, and served more than 23,550 patrons.

To learn more about how First Citizens can help with your banking needs, visit FirstCitizensonline.com or, better yet, stop by any one of their 12 Columbia-area branch locations and experience the difference First Citizens can make for you.

2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement

Photo: From left, Kevin Lindler, Columbia Market Executive; Sharon Bryant, Executive Vice President and S.C. Group Banking Executive; and Tripp Whitener, Columbia Commercial Area Executive.

Date Founded: 1964 Number of Employees: 807 in the Midlands “What differentiates us from other financial services institutions are our comprehensive products and services, urgent and personalized attention to customers and their needs, and dedication to our decades-old core values of service, accountability and common sense. It is only when we help our customers achieve their unique financial objectives that we can thrive as a company.”

- Sharon Bryant South Carolina Group Banking Executive

QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: 1704 Laurel St. Columbia, SC 29201 803-799-0555 www.hobbscpa.com Photo: Back row, from left: Mark Hobbs, Peter Pigeon.

Front row, from left: Christina Kelly, Allison Pena Executive Leadership: Mark T. Hobbs, CPA, CFF, CGMA Managing Shareholder Christina Kelly, CPA Shareholder and Director of Attest Date Founded: 1986 Number of Employees: 24 “We evaluate our performance based on how successful we are in assisting our clients in achieving their objectives, both strategically and financially. It is our responsibility to put our clients’ interests first and foremost in everything we do.”

- Mark T. Hobbs Managing Shareholder

The Hobbs Group

Targeting Small Business Goals and Objectives

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erving the goals and objectives of small business is at the core of The Hobbs Group, a full-service local CPA firm in downtown Columbia. In fact, this mission is so important that an actual bull’s eye with the reminder, “Targeting Small Business Goals and Objectives” is on a poster in the office.

This commitment to service, reflecting the highest standards, is foremost with the firm, says shareholder Christina Kelly. Mark Hobbs, managing shareholder, founded the firm in 1986 and it has grown to 24 employees. “Across the board for our services, our commitment is to client service,” Kelly says.

The firm’s leadership – Hobbs, Kelly and shareholder Allison Pena – works hard to keep the personal side of service. The Hobbs Group has a high retention rate among the 11 CPAs on staff, which means clients see familiar faces with long-term experience. The staff is dedicated to excellence, playing a role in professional organizations and seeking additional training to maintain superior standards.

Among accounting essentials, Hobbs stresses the critical nature of a regular audit, which a small business may think is unaffordable.

“When the doctor suggests a checkup, no one questions it. But with a financial checkup, people try to cut corners, and it ends up costing

them more in the long run. A regular financial checkup helps by safeguarding assets and enhancing internal control.”

This internal control system helps prevent fraud and unauthorized disbursements, as well as detecting possible errors in normal accounting functions. “Those errors, if not detected, could mean management makes decisions based on incorrect information,” Hobbs warns.

The core industries served by the Hobbs Group are small business owners and operators, nonprofit organizations, construction and real estate, government services, retail, manufacturing and distribution, professional services and employee benefit plans. Along with their work with nonprofits, staff members volunteer and serve on boards of community organizations, Kelly says.

The services offered by the firm are audit and attest work, small business services such as bookkeeping and payroll, consulting including financial and litigation support, tax services including tax planning and estate work, forensic investigation, and valuation services, with two Certified Valuation Analysts on staff. An affiliated company within their office has a Certified Financial Planner on staff and offers retirement services, financial planning and investment advisory services.

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QUICK FACTS

Consultants of Carolina

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Helping Organizations Fix Their People Issues

im Fadell, owner of Consultants of Carolina, says businesses that are the most successful have unlocked the talents, skills, and natural behavioral tendencies of their employees and use that knowledge to put them in the right jobs.

During his 27 years in Fortune 500 companies, Fadell established a reputation for fixing business performance issues. In nearly every situation, he found that people were part of both the issue and the solution. He recognizes that the investment in people is no different, financially, than an investment in anything else.

There has to be an acceptable return on that investment.

Fadell uses that experience in his business, Consultants of Carolina, based in Lexington.

He’s found a niche in training, employee assessments, consulting and coaching. The company, launched in 2011, is dedicated to helping organizations create extraordinary employees and achieve extraordinary performance.

Fadell works with companies that struggle with hiring decisions, turnover, productivity, sales, customer service, and team dynamics.

He develops and delivers training for supervisors and other leaders. His most popular topics include setting goals and expectations, giving effective feedback, supervisory skills, team build-

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ing, and giving effective performance reviews.

Fadell offers employee behavioral assessments that are among the most reliable and most highly-validated assessments on the market.

Most of his business comes from referrals and Fadell takes great pride in that fact. “There are few things more flattering than a client who refers another company to me. I bring real business experience to the table for my clients and that sets me apart from others who do what I do. I’ve run multi-million dollar businesses with hundreds of employees. I understand the issues, how to separate theory from reality, and what really works on a daily basis.”

One success was working with a multimillion dollar company that had its income from operations plummet to negative 5 percent of sales over a 3 year period.

“They had good people but they were just in the wrong positions for their talents,” Fadell said.

“We assessed the employees, made job changes, and then trained them in ways that catered to those natural talents. We also made changes at higher levels of the organization to effectively lead their employees. Within 180 days, the company’s income from operations had risen by 21 percentage points and they were operating at plus 16 percent of sales.”

2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement

Contact Info: Consultants of Carolina 100 Old Cherokee Road Suite F351 Lexington, SC 29072 803-767-7695 www.consultantsofcarolina.com

Photo: Jim Fadell

Top Executive: Jim Fadell Founder and CEO

Date founded: 2011

“Leveraging an employee’s strengths is the key to creating an extraordinary workforce.”

- Jim Fadell, founder and CEO of Consultants of Carolina

QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: 1056 Jones Road Irmo, SC 29063 803-730-3044 www.lakemurraycruises.com

Photo: From left: Owner Ken Colton and his son, Andrew Colton.

Spirit of Lake Murray

Top Executive: Ken Colton Owner

Date Founded: 2008

Number of Employees: 14

“Businesses in the Midlands have been very supportive of the first-class service we have provided over the past five years. We look forward to working with more companies in the months ahead.”

- Ken Colton, Owner

A Floating Event Venue

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ompanies are finding that a first-class yacht is a great place to do business. Lake Murray Cruises provides a hospitable venue for meetings of all types — formal or informal, with or without food, with a bar or just refreshments. It is also a superb place to entertain clients or celebrate milestones with employees.

The Spirit of Lake Murray is available for breakfast, lunch or dinner cruises. Companies may rent the ship for an entire day to have a special planning meeting with a break for lunch.

“Our customers always have great cruises,” said owner Ken Colton. “Many companies in the Midlands have already been onboard the Spirit of Lake Murray. Customers clearly appreciate the modern-style yacht, which offers air conditioning, bar service and regular bathrooms.”

“It’s like having a floating restaurant,” he said.

“We’re a year-round operation, so even in December we can take people out on a fully decorated ship where they can see holiday lights.”

Cruises can be tailored to a company’s specific needs. The Spirit of Lake Murray does not do “cookie-cutter” cruises to the same place at the same time every day.

Lake Murray Cruises is a family business.

Colton, a 30-year Air Force chaplain, saw the opportunity after he and his wife moved to the lake when he retired. Their son, Andrew, recently received a B.S. degree in hospitality management from University of South Carolina and is operations manager.

Of the 180 to 200 cruises a year, 75% are private charters for business events or family celebrations like weddings and anniversaries. The remaining 25% are public dinner cruises with live entertainment, and purple martin cruises, to Bomb Island to see the birds that have flown from Brazil and roost during July and August. Individuals can buy tickets for public cruises online.

“People are finding there’s an abundance of history associated with Lake Murray,” Colton said. “They’re fascinated by the communities that are now under water and by the history of Bomb Island, where the Doolittle Raiders had their initial training before bombing Japan. And then there’s the stunning sight of watching the purple martins come in to Bomb Island at sunset — as many as 750,000 birds by the end of summer. What a sight!”

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QUICK FACTS

The McKay Firm Comprehensive Approach to Business Draws National Recognition

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he law firm of McKay, Cauthen, Settana & Stubley and its attorneys are garnering numerous accolades that attest to their stature in the legal profession and their long history in the Midlands community.

The McKay Firm practices defense-oriented civil litigation; more specifically, insurance law, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice and governmental defense. The firm is more than 100 years old and offers businesses both traditional and innovative services, including mediation and public affairs consulting.

U.S. News and World Report rates the firm among the country’s best in workers’ compensation defense. The firm maintains an AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer-review measure of ethical standards and professional capabilities. It also is listed as a top civil defense firm by A.M. Best, Town & Country magazine and the Association of American Business & Insurance Attorneys.

Senior Partner Julius W. “Jay” McKay II, grandson of the firm’s founder, is also listed in Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers. “I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that our attorneys and staff put in day-in and day-out for our clients,” stated McKay. More recent accolades: • McKay Firm Partner Kelli Sullivan was recently named chairman of the South

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Carolina Bar Association’s Ethics Advisory Committee.

• McKay Firm Partner M. Stephen Stubley was named to The Best Lawyers in America 2014 in the field of workers’ compensation law-employers.

• McKay Firm Partner Janet Brooks Holmes has been named to the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization’s Board of Directors.

The firm’s attorneys have been selected for Leadership Columbia, the Midlands Legal Elite, a local Municipal Election Board, the Federal Bar Association Board and as vice chair of the Government Law Committee for the American Bar Association. The McKay Firm is involved in local philanthropies including mentoring committees, The Citadel Alumni Association, Wounded Warrior Project, the S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, Special Olympics and the Healing Families Foundation.

“We operate as a team and view each other as family,” said Ashley S. Hunter, vice president of McKay Public Affairs. “Our attorneys travel the country representing clients, speaking to trade organizations and are featured in numerous publications.”

“At the end of the day, it is all about making sure clients know they will receive the most effective and efficient legal services,” she said.

2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement

Contact Info: 1303 Blanding St. Columbia, SC 29201 803-256-4645 www.mckayfirm.com

Top Executive: Julius W. “Jay” McKay II, Senior Partner

Date Founded: 1908

Number of Employees: 32

“I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that our attorneys and staff put in day-in and day-out for our clients.”

- Julius W. “Jay” McKay II Senior Partner

QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: 114 Haygood Ave Victoria Square Lexington, SC 29072 803-359-7644 6941 N. Trenholm Road, #G-1 Pinnacle Professional Park Columbia, SC 29206 803-790-7171 www.snelling.com/ midlands

Top executive: Elizabeth Trenbeath Franchisee, Snelling Staffing Services of the Midlands

Date Founded: 1982

Number of local employees: 5

“We place great people with great companies and help put South Carolina back to work.”

-Elizabeth Trenbeath, franchise owner of Snelling Staffing Services of the Midlands

Snelling Staffing Services of the Midlands Quality Employee Placement for the Past 32 Years

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or the past 32 years, Snelling Staffing Services of the Midlands has been providing quality employee placement for contract, temporary-to-hire and career candidates with leading employers throughout the Columbia area.

Snelling Staffing Services fills a diverse span of needs — from clerical and accounting to manufacturing and distribution. Employees are placed in entry-level positions all the way to top executives, with the goal of finding the right fit every time.

“We place great people with great companies and help put South Carolina back to work,” said Elizabeth Trenbeath, franchise owner of Snelling Staffing Services of the Midlands. “It’s helping people feed their families and making a company profitable. It’s a win-win.”

Employees placed in jobs are employees of Snelling Staffing Services. They are paid by Snelling with options to participate in Snelling’s health care coverage, paid holiday and vacation time, 401K and other benefits. Depending on the contract, many employees are transferred to the client company after a temporary period.

The firm shows impressive placement figures: Since 2000, there have been 26,535 assignments placed for temporary employees and over 1,800 career placements with cumulative salaries of more than $50 million. At any giv-

en time, more than 100 daily employees go to work through Snelling Staffing Services, Trenbeath said.

Snelling Staffing Services was founded nationally in 1951 and franchised locally in Lexington in 1982 by Gina McCuen. Her daughter Elizabeth took over when she retired in 2009.

The firm acquired a Columbia location in 2004.

Snelling acts as an arm of a company’s human resources department, writing and reviewing job listings and fully vetting prospective employees. Snelling conducts interviews, reference checks, background checks and drug screening.

Snelling then presents a company with its top three to four picks.

There are over 27,000 candidates in Snelling’s database ready to work, and new, qualified workers are constantly being added.

“We keep inventory coming in the door to be prepared because we never know what company is calling us next,” Trenbeath said.

The firm has built a reputation on professionalism and commitment to the community.

“Because of our long-term experience and hometown roots, we know the clients and the positions that need to be filled today,” Trenbeath said. “We speed up the process and save them time and money.”

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QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: SAFE Federal Credit Union 160 West Wesmack Blvd.

Sumter, SC 29157 803-469-8600 www.safefed.org

SAFE Federal Credit Union

Branch Managers Set Credit Union Apart

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ith six branches in the Columbia area led by six experienced, committed managers, SAFE Federal Credit Union is poised to serve Midlands individuals and families for years to come.

In fact, the six local SAFE branch managers have a combined 66 years of experience with SAFE and each knows what it takes to meet their members’ financial needs.

Stephanie Jordan, manager of the West Columbia branch, has been with SAFE for 21 years.

Clemson Road branch manager Robin Jones joined SAFE a decade ago. Both attribute the business’ success to the credit union’s unmatched customer service and product offerings.

“SAFE stands out from the competition through the level of customer service provided by dedicated and loyal employees, our concern for members by offering products with low rates and by sharing profits with our members through bonus dividends and interest refunds,” Jordan said.

Cindy Long, who has been with SAFE 15 years and is branch manager for the Garners Ferry location, agrees, adding that customer service and member loyalty go hand in hand.

“Our members trust us; they know the products and service we offer are second to none,”

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Long said.

Community involvement is also important to SAFE, according to Lexington branch manager Debra Shoemaker.

“SAFE gives back to the community in many ways, sponsoring and participating in community events and service projects,” said Shoemaker, who has been with SAFE six years. “Our involvement in the community is recognized and appreciated by our membership. Most individuals will continue to do business with people they know and trust.”

SAFE’s products and services are unmatched, according to Eastover Mill branch manager Sharon Criminger.

“We are here to save our members money or time or make them money,” said Criminger, who has been with SAFE 13 years.

It didn’t take Antoine Frederick, who joined SAFE in September 2013 long to realize that level of service starts within at the top of the company.

“SAFE is successful because of its commitment to constantly thinking of ways to advance it’s employees and better the financial lives of our members,” said Frederick, manager of SAFE’s St. Andrews Road branch. “We focus on building long-lasting relationships at every level.”

2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement

Photo: Back row, from left: Robin Jones, Debra Shoemaker, Cindy Long, Stephanie Jordan. Front row, from left: Antoine Frederick and Sharon Criminger Top Executive: Beverly Gagne Chief executive officer Date Founded: 1955 Number of Employees: 299 “SAFE’s growth and success starts with a commitment from our board of directors and senior management. They are committed to ensuring SAFE remains competitive with rates, as well as improving products in a very competitive market.

More importantly I attribute our growth to our members. Their loyalty has made us one of the largest credit unions in the Midlands.”

- Debra Shoemaker, SAFE Lexington branch manager

QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: 1400 Browning Road Suite 175 Columbia, SC 29210 803-772-6444 www.sharp-sbs.com

Photo: Left to right: Lisa Johnson, Ken Newton, Joey Langley, Rachel Hill and Richard Crooks

Top Executive: Tommy Pickens President Lisa Cherry Johnson Columbia Branch Manager

Date Founded: 1983

Number of Employees: 70

“Our goal is to be the premier business technology provider in South Carolina. We help organizations leverage their current technology with our innovative imaging and software solutions.”

- Tommy Pickens President

Sharp Business Systems

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Cutting-Edge Technology Solutions

magine a business conference room with a sparkling clear screen that allows you to confer with colleagues in a workgroup environment as if they were all in the same room.

Or picture a large interactive touch screen that allows you to pull up a Google Earth view of a parcel of land, mark it up and even use overlays to show development plans.

What if your lobby or reception area could constantly stream information about who you are and what you do to all potential customers that walk through your door?

Sharp Interactive display technology and professional monitors allow you to give your message the impact it deserves.

“Our mission is to bring cutting-edge technology to Columbia businesses and offer them a business partnership with proven and measurable results,” says Lisa Cherry Johnson, Columbia Branch Manager. Rather than being an office equipment provider, Sharp is a global business technology company working to solve problems in the marketplace with new and innovative products and services.

Sharp Business Systems sells Sharp Aquos Board interactive displays, professional monitors and multifunctional imaging systems including copiers and printers. Sharp

professional services offer capture technology, document management, digital signage and fax server technology as well as managing one of the largest printer fleets in the state.

“We help organizations leverage their current business applications by improving how they communicate, capture, distribute, manage and secure their information internally and externally. We offer local onsite support that will work with organizations one-on-one, whether it’s hardware services and training or software implementation and support,” Johnson said.

The company was founded in Easley in 1983, said Tommy Pickens, company president.

After growing throughout the Upstate and being ranked as one of the top independent dealers in the United States, the company was acquired by Sharp Electronics in 2008. The Columbia branch was established a few years later and success in both markets has continued to grow. Sharp has plans for a coastal office as it continues its expansion. They attribute their success to their ability to deliver quality results to clients over and over. Sharp Business Systems of South Carolina is one of the top Sharp Branches in the United States, and in 2014, South Carolina was ranked the No. 1 Branch in all of Sharp USA.

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QUICK FACTS

Contact Info: Artisan Logistics 6904 N. Main St., Suite 102 Columbia, SC 29203 803-760-1819 www.artisanlogistics.com

Artisan Logistics

People and Practices Support Growth and Success

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ince its founding in Winnsboro in 2001, Artisan Logistics hasn’t stopped growing, and it has no plans to slow down in its second decade of existence.

Artisan, which was founded by Dennis Brannon as a trucking company, moved to Columbia in 2009 to facilitate its rapid growth and diverse customer base and is now a full-service transportation and supply chain logistics solutions provider. Artisan is in the top 3% of Landstar agencies by sales volume and has been the No. 1 agency in the Carolinas based on sales volume the last three years.

“I think it’s our culture,” chief marketing officer Doug Wilkes explained of the company’s growth. “Our account managers and their direct relationship with our customers and the knowledge they have about what they do really is key to our success. We truly understand their business so we are able to help them and be an extension of it.”

Artisan’s employees learn the importance of that connection with the customer from their first day of training, said Brannon, the company’s chief executive officer. The employees soon learn their own importance within the organiza-

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tion and their part in its success, he said. Artisan shares its revenue reports with all employees.

“For many of them, it’s the first place they have ever worked where they feel that involvement in the business and the organization,” Brannon said.

Employees who are treated right in turn treat customers right, said Ian McCroskey, Artisan’s vice president of truckload operations.

“They all believe in the potential success of the company so they all have a real motivation to push it forward,” he said of Artisan’s almost 20 local employees.

The latest step in Artisan’s growth is an expansion that allows it to take over all transportation issues for companies with sales between $100 million and $500 million annually.

“People with that type of sales revenue, generally have a $5 to $10 million freight spend, and they don’t really have one person that is dedicated to making that run as smoothly as possible,” Wilkes said. “We have the tools and the resources to provide them which, if they went to another organization to purchase, would be out of the realm of possibility for them.”

2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement

Photo: From left: Kevin Combs, vice president of customer development; Doug Wilkes, chief marketing officer; Dennis Brannon, chief executive officer; Cathy Batson, chief financial and information officer; Ian McCroskey, vice president of truckload services; Bill McKinney, vice president of logistics solutions Top Executive: Dennis R. Brannon Chief executive officer Date Founded: 2009 Number of Employees: 20 “Our growth and success is largely attributed to the Artisan Logistics account managers’ commitment to customer satisfaction, Landstar’s support staff and capacity, and Artisan’s management team’s experience in the transportation industry.”

- Dennis R. Brannon, CEO

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Contact Info: 104 Saluda Ridge Court West Columbia, SC 29169 803-422-1066 www.reliabletechsc.com Photo: Tim Christensen Top Executive: Tim Christensen Owner Date Founded: 2010 Number of Employees: 5 “Too often companies have to rely on specialized business to supply and sell each facet of their technology needs.

Having to make one phone call to resolve an issue or to address a need is a huge advantage for our customers.”

- Tim Christensen Owner

Reliable Technology Solutions A Master of All Trades

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im Christensen learned how to build his business before he even knew he would start one. Christensen grew up in Aiken watching, and then working for, his father, a general manager of a country club.

“I grew up in a customer service household,” Christensen said. “We all worked with my dad and we were taught to focus on customer service as our first priority. I learned early in childhood the value of making customers happy. I started this company recognizing that small business owners need support for not only data but telephones, copiers, printers, wireless, etc. Too often they had to rely on specialized businesses to supply and sell each facet of their technology needs. Quite often the data service companies don’t support phones; the phone service support team is not able to service the copiers and printers and so on.”

Reliable Technology Solutions is certified and qualified to supply and support them all.

Since opening in 2010, RTS has specialized in a wide range of telecommunications, teleconferencing, video conferencing, surveillance, network infrastructures, backup and

storage solutions, and audio and television systems. “Every day is a new adventure as we address each customer’s specific needs. This leads us to new applications for current and new technology. It is such a reward to see satisfied customers using new platforms to streamline their business and increase their bottom lines,” Christensen says. “Having to only make one call to resolve an issue or to address a need is a huge advantage for our customers who have built our business through word of mouth recommendations.”

“I credit our success to my family, my staff and my faith. With these underpinnings, I know our success is secure,” Christensen says. His success is such that a new office has now been opened in Spartanburg to meet the needs in the Upstate. Certainly there are larger companies available, but the personalized service with roots in excellence comes only from a business that is small enough to share core values and culture with every team member. From churches to doctors’ offices to boat dealers, RTS is ready to partner with customers to understand needs and deliver solutions.

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