VOLUME 23 NUMBER 15 ■ GSABUSINESS.COM
Part of the
Charter flight companies pitch convenience and privacy as a selling point to conduct business travel through smaller airports. (Photo/Provided)
Rapid response
Clemson researchers are on the trail of a faster COVID-19 test. Page 9
T
Architects weigh in on statues
A different view on value of monuments. Page 13
INSIDE
Leading Off .......................... 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 C-Suite ................................ 4 In Focus: Banking and Finance ............................. 17 LIST: Accounting Firms....... 18 At Work ..............................22 Viewpoint ...........................23
rnorton@scbiznews.com
he shutdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic started with a flurry of activity for general aviation airports as people turned away from commercial flights. Charter flight companies that operate out of general aviation airports such as the Greenville Downtown Airport saw a sudden spike as people tried to find another way home. “If you go back to the beginning when it was first announced about the pandemic, things kind of locked down and you saw charter spike for about two weeks with people trying to get back to other states and other countries,” said Doug Goldstrom, president of sales and marketing for Special Services Corp., based at the Greenville Downtown Airport. “We did a lot of international flying during that time to get people out, and to get some back, and then the charter business stopped. And there was nobody flying because most of charter business is business related.” That’s when April arrived, a bleak month for aviation generally, and aviation airports mirrored the decline suffered by
Attorneys from Ogletree Deakins follow developments. Page 10
Financial planners have advice for assessing risk in trying times. Page 20
Smaller airports see faster ascent By Ross Norton
Managing in a pandemic
Tough times, careful plans
AUGUST 10 - AUGUST 23, 2020 ■ $2.25
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See AVIATION, Page 1
South Carolina strikes chord with niche instrument industry By Molly Hulsey
mhulsey@scbiznews.com
Tom O’Hanlan, Booker Labs, Liberty
Spotlighted by Pink Floyd to the Beatles to Eric Clapton, some might call the Leslie speaker the unassuming backbone of classic rock and roll. Tom Booker O’Hanlan called the spinning speaker a hobby horse — until the Sealevel Systems CEO became one of few people in the world to refurbish the vintage speakers commercially from his Liberty-based BookerLab.
“It’s a fun sport, if you will,” O’Hanlan said about collecting the now 13 Leslie speakers that jumpstarted his work at BookerLab in 2018. “And I don’t even play keyboards. I’m just enamored with the technology.” In the late 1930s, Don Leslie invented the titular speaker, a cabinet with a revolving hornlike amplifier, to marry the doppler effect to the Hammond organ. Over the decades, musicians like John Lennon experimented with the speaker to torque their voice — as in the Beatles’ otherworldly cut “Tomorrow Never See INSTRUMENTS, Page 6
Tom O’Hanlan in BookerLab, which started with his fascination with speakers. (Photo/Molly Hulsey)
In Focus
Commerce Department Audit
Examination shows lack of transparency in business recruiting Page 17
Leading Off
BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | C-SUITE
Fight your insect enemies
T
he overwhelming concern over the coronavirus, including how to protect customers, employees, families and the economy, likely will continue to be with us for a while. It’s also mosquito season, and the winged syringes are causing problems for backyard barbecuers and gardeners. They’re also a disease vector for West Nile virus, which has been in South Carolina for years. Less than 1% of people exposed to West Nile virus have life-threatening symptoms, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reports, but 100% of mosquito bites are painful and annoying.
Top West Nile vectors in S.C. Mosquitoes are the No. 1 spreader of West Nile virus, according to DHEC researchers, but birds and, on occasion, other animals also bring about a few cases each year.
149
The number of mosquitoes that DHEC testing found to be carrying West Nile virus in 2017, the latest data available.
49
Fewer than 50 birds were found to have West Nile. They’re part of the virus vector when they are bitten by infected mosquitoes, allowing the virus to travel greater distances.
Group, Mac Carpenter brings 35 years of construction experience to O’Neal as
The amount of information focused on how to repel, avoid and dispatch mosquitoes is vast, and not all of it reliable. DHEC warns against spending your money on the following products to get rid of mosquitoes:
work to expand business opportunities
Bug zappers
plants do not work, and they do not contain citronella. Scented geraniums aren’t bad, but they won’t help you fight your insect enemies.
These don’t work against mosquitoes unless they happen to randomly fly into one. DHEC says zappers use ultraviolet light to attract bugs. Mosquitoes are attracted to scent — but not the scent of blood. Mosquitoes are lured by the scent of human skin and carbon dioxide, the National Institutes of Health says. But bug zappers tend to mostly just kill beneficial insects and some harmless nighttime flying critters, DHEC says.
You can find an anti-mosquito app that promises to repel mosquitoes through your device’s speaker. You can also buy devices that emit sound to drive away pests with the promise of a nonlethal solution to all sorts of critters, including roaches and mosquitoes. None of these works, DHEC says.
‘Mosquito plants’
Garlic or garlic pills
A lot of homeowners plant citrosa geraniums, which are often marketed as citronella plants, as mosquito repellents. DHEC says these
its new executive vice president. He will for O’Neal’s industrial manufacturing and advanced facilities units.
Ultrasonic sound devices
Anderson University has launched its online Digital Marketing Science
Eating garlic or taking garlic pills will not keep mosquitoes from biting you, but it might encourage social distancing.
Certificate program through GreenFig, a market-driving education company that offers mentored apprenticeship-like experiences. The program will use cover Google Analytics, Google Ads and
Where West Nile appears The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reports annually on detection of West Nile. The following data shows where some West Nile was found in the state in 2017, the latest data available.
Cases of other animals, such as horses, that also are susceptible to West Nile, detected in 2017.
RECORD
The former president of BE&K Building
What doesn’t work against mosquitoes
11
ON THE
A LA CARTE
County
Virus cases detected
County
Virus cases detected
Richland Berkeley Greenville Beaufort Anderson York Colleton
73 18 19 18 16 12 6
Spartanburg Lexington Union Cherokee Georgetown Charleston Oconee
6 5 5 5 4 3 3
Frampton Construction Co. LLC has com-
“The idea with this test is to detect traces of the virus protein with highly sensitive sensors enabled by nanotechnology. And hopefully we could do that at the site of care by quickly analyzing the patient sample in as few as 15 minutes.”
pleted construction on a 126-room Cambria Hotel in Greenville. The four-story, 75,000-square-foot hotel is located in Woodruff Road’s Carolina Point Parkway retail area. Overcash Demmitt Architects completed the hotel design.
— Feng Ding, Clemson University
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HISTORIC INDUSTRIAL OFFICE
S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman addresses crowd on plans for the next school year at a Michelin-hosted press conference July 23. (Photo/Molly Hulsey)
COLUMBIA
Staff Report, Columbia Regional Business Report
State will focus $15M grant on broadband access to education South Carolina has received a $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education as part of pandemic relief. Congress set aside 1% of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act for grants to states with the highest coronavirus burden, according to the S.C. Department of Education. In April, the federal education department announced a Rethink K-12 Education Models grant competition supporting innovative educational access. A focus of South Carolina’s program will be increasing the availability of remote learning resources for students and teachers in areas of the state lacking broadband access. “The Rethink K12 grant will allow our state to address and overcome these challenges not only in the upcoming school year but also in the long term, S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said.
CHARLESTON
Andy Owens, Charleston Regional Business Journal
Distillery operators warn of closures without more help for pandemic State and national leaders in the distillery industry told the S.C. congressional delegation in a letter that without increased federal help to deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, many distilleries in the state could be facing closure. Fourteen distilleries in South Carolina received federally backed loans through Paycheck Protection Program. In total, S.C. distilleries borrowed between $1.5 million and $2 million. But the distilleries are asking for more than just help covering their employee salaries and benefits. They’re also asking for help for restaurants, as the food and beverage sector drives a lot of the demand for distilled products, and they want to see a shift in trade barriers for S.C. distilled products. Requests to the S.C. congressional delegation also included federal excise tax relief, suspended distilled spirit tariffs and support for the Restaurants Act. JASON COHEN CEO and head coach of Locomotion Fitness
PAGE 4 Part of the
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VOLUME 26 NUMBER 17 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM
Part of the
By Andy Owens
Judging stature
Nephron growing
Architects say statues were more about messaging than architectural significance. Page 13
Pharmaceutical company plans $215.8M expansion. Page 2
W
aowens@scbiznews.com
hen Goose Creek launched an economic development quest last year, the city was determined that food and beverage would be part of the plan. It wasn’t that the city didn’t have any restaurants; rather, Mayor Greg Habib said it was about creating a convergence of commerce
at a level that would help the economy of the entire city. “The pairing of the restaurant was even more important for us,” Habib said. “Most of our restaurants realize the more restaurants we bring in the better it is for all of them. If people know they can come to the city of Goose Creek and stay in the city of Goose Creek, everybody benefits.” Habib and a regional developer have
Area developer says smaller office spaces could see a surge as companies get used to remote workers. Page 13
Minor League Baseball sees 2020 season canceled. Page 3
Cayce land site of planned mixed-use development. Page 4
Mayors from three municipalities reflect on the past few months and what’s ahead. Page 10
HOME SWEET HOME?
Affordable housing scarce for many in S.C. Photo/File
Eviction worries
Expiration of moratorium looming for renters. Page 34
INSIDE
Upfront................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs................ 3 In Focus: Residential Real Estate.........................29 List: Mortgage Companies..33 At Work ..............................37 Viewpoint ...........................39
By Christina Lee Knauss
C
Contributing writer
OLUMBIA — Nearly every day of the week, the phone rings in Alisa Mosley’s Columbia office. On the other end is someone looking for help finding an affordable place to live. Mosley’s job as executive director of the Affordable Housing Coalition of South Carolina makes her seem like the logical person to call for someone in need, but all she can do is
offer advice on where to look. The calls, however, never stop coming. “Our group does policy and advocacy work, but I get calls every day from people looking for housing and reaching out to us trying to find it. It’s constant,” Mosley said. “It’s a constant problem in this state. I get calls from people in cities. There’s a huge problem in rural areas. I also get calls from seniors looking for housing, especially along the coast where wealthier retirees can often afford housing and those on a fixed income can’t. The
need out there is just so much greater than the number of units available in this state.” Mosley and her organization are on the front lines of an ongoing fight to get more access to affordable housing for people across South Carolina. It’s a battle that’s not unique to the state. Nationwide, no state has enough affordable rental housing for the lowest income renters, and the situation is not much better for those with slightly higher incomes, See HOUSING, Page 32
Icons & Phenoms
The Columbia Regional Business Report salutes its 2020 class of business and community leaders. Page 15
ColumbiaBusinessReport.com
Seeds of doubt
U.S. Department of Agriculture working on mystery seed deliveries. Page 3
INSIDE
Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 Best Advice .......................... 4 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering & Construction................... 13 List: Architecture Firms ......28 Bonus List: Commercial Moving & Storage Companies .......................... 31 At Work ..............................33 Hot Properties .................... 36 Viewpoint ...........................39
SUMMER 2020
See GOOSE, Page 8
By Jenny Peterson
Regional leaders
Otarre Pointe
announced that an effort to repurpose the city’s old fire station has moved forward, with a new brewery and restaurant coming into the building. Habib said the fire station building on Button Hall Avenue is an important part of a larger plan to redevelop that part of the city and let residents and visitors know the city is open for business.
Advisers say tech, health care bright spots in investing
Office size matters
Take me out ... oh
AUGUST 10 - 23, 2020 ■ $2.25
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Goose Creek advances economic development
SLOW ASCENT Business travel has been in a holding pattern, causing numbers to plummet at airports across S.C., but tourism travel continues to slowly lift enplanements. Page 7
Passengers wait in line recently at Charleston International Airport as signage throughout the airport encourages business and social distancing. (Photo/Alec Owens)
F
Contributing writer
inancial advisers are seeing bright spots amid the pandemic in industries that we rely on now more than ever: technology, health care and communication. “By now, it is no secret that high-tech and telecommunications industries are leading the recovery. As an industry, it has outperformed in the last 90 days,” said Manuel Martinez, managing partner of Charleston Wealth Advisors. “For example, 5G is one of the biggest secular growth trends in the market and will continue to grow regardless of what happens in the economy. Mega-cap stocks such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Netflix, Facebook and Tesla are leading the market rally.” Investment in health care has also seen an upswing during the pandemic, especially in biotechnology companies, said Laura H. Clark, a Mount Pleasant-based wealth management adviser with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. “Everyone has been interested in solutions to the pandemic, so we’ve seen biotechnology companies growing to meet demand. ... Tech-
Economic upheaval S.C. industries respond to unprecedented shutdown
See INVESTMENT, Page 9
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION Who is building what in the Charleston area? Projects, companies, prices, projected timelines, photos and stories. Page 13
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2020 | SOUTH CAROLINA
MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE AND EXPO The Most Significant Manufacturing Event of the Year Presented by:
VIRTUAL CONFERENCE & EXPO October 29th–30th, 2020
Join us virtually for the most significant manufacturing event of the year! The SC Manufacturing Conference and Expo – the state’s most significant manufacturing event of the year -- is going virtual! The two-day conference will stream live on October 29th-30th. Will it be as informative and all-encompassing as the traditional live event? We think absolutely it will! The virtual format will provide the type of convenience needed for nationally-renown speakers to fit us into their busy schedules. We are in the process of scheduling those speakers and formulating the agenda now. More details to come, but this is what you can expect: • Virtual Expo that includes live chat feature, video and link uploads, and more! • 10 Keynote Speakers • Three CEOConversations on Industry 4.0 • Conversations with Facility Managers on Industry 4.0 • Three CEOConversations on Workforce Challenges • Conversations with HR execs on Workforce Challenges
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States,” Herin said. “There’s a company in Taiwan that makes the product with my licensing, and there’s a company in Germany called Witter which is like comparing apples to oranges, because the Witter pegs are aimed at the low end and they’re made out of plastic,” he said.
INSTRUMENTS, from Page 1
Knows” — as well as electric guitars and other instruments. Today, throwback bands, churches favoring a traditional gospel vibrato and college-age musicians seeking out a vibe that’s equal parts old-school and new are the market for Leslie speakers, he said. The speakers are still being manufactured with organs fresh off the production line but connoisseurs claim the new kids on the block don’t sound quite the same as their predecessors. The pricepoint also doesn’t match up. “A church could buy a new Hammond organ and one or two new Leslie speakers for $25,000 to $30,000 or they could buy a used Hammond B-3, which is the classic one — like a Ford Mustang — and one or two vintage Leslies for $8,000 to $9,000, and in 10 years there will probably be no one to service the new one,” he said. Once O’Hanlan learned to refurbish the speakers he collected, he built off his expertise from Sealevel’s circuit boards to launch a line of motor controllers, Revolution: The Advanced Motor Controller, now joined by other components for sale. “We recognize it’s not a huge market we’re catering to, but just like Sealevel started doing little plug-in boards and now we’re doing computers for the military, I see this as a startup music business, and our focus and niche is on the Hammond and Leslie market right now,” O’Hanlan said. Past customers include Peter Keys, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s contemporary keyboard player; a keyboardist who toured with the Who; The Revivalists and Van Morrison contemporary Joey DeFrancesco, who multitasks a trumpet and a Hammond organ. COVID-19 precautions have braked the regular “pulse” of purchases for upcoming 2020 tours — such as parts for the organist with Grammy-award
Chuck Herin makes wood-encased aluminum tuning pegs with the 14 lathes in his workshop, which is up for sale. (Photo/Provided).
Tom Strange, Square Piano Tech and Carolina Music Museum, Greenville
Pegheds is the only supplier of custom geared tuning pegs for lutes in the world (Photo/Provided).
winning Lauren Daigle — but O’Hanlan and James McCarter, the company’s new business development representative, are staying busy with at least 50 purchases from the start of 2020 to late June. And if anything, O’Hanlan’s willing to wait things out. He’s done it before. “Everything starts in my mind and stays there a long time. Yes, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” he said.
John “Chuck” Herin, Pegheds, Winnsboro
Chuck Herin can’t remember a time when music wasn’t a part of his life. The cellist became one of the youngest members of the S.C. Philharmonic orchestra when he was 14 years old in 1971. As soon as he took his seat in the cello section, neighboring ladies flocked around the boy with requests to tune the often swollen wooden pegs on their gutstrung cellos. “By the time the rehearsal started, I had sore hands from tuning about eight or nine other cellos,” Herin said. “Looking over my shoulder because I was on the very last row of the cello section — to my right was the string bass section and the bass section has had geared (tuning) pegs since the early 1800s — and I was thinking I wonder why cellos don’t have gears?” In college, Herin began tinkering with prototypes of tuning pegs that housed gears instead of a solid wooden stem. It wasn’t until his sister challenged him to stop talking about the idea and actually do something about it in front of Herin’s wife-to-be decades later, however, that Herin brought his plans to light. One week later, he visited Columbia patent attorney Mike Mann with the idea, and convinced Mauldin’s Centerline Technologies to make a plastic mold for the cello peg. Thirty instrument peg lines later, Herin purchased a historic 23,000-squarefoot schoolhouse and 14 lathes to begin manufacturing and distributing aluminum-fashioned pegs to musicians from
BookerLab’s Revolution Motors rotate the hornshaped Leslie Speaker at various speeds. (Photo/ Molly Hulsey)
Czechia to California full time. At one time, he sold up to 90,000 pegs a year. Geared cello, violin and ukulele pegs are now sold by a smattering of other companies, but Herin says he is the only one in the market for about 27 of the 30 instruments, ranging from lutes to sitars. Herin has crafted 30 pegs for a “oneof-a-kind” French lute with synthetic base strings by request. Grammy-win-
Tom Strange had a wild idea in college. Infatuated with the sound of a softtoned clavichord built by his professor at the University of South Carolina, he decided to build one himself. After graduating, he pivoted instead to a harpsichord and bought a kit Zuckermann. “When they call it a kit, it’s not like IKEA where you can assemble it in a few days and you’re done. In this case, the kit is more like what the great builders in antiquity would have done,” he said. For 20 years, Strange focused on his physics career as Abbott’s research and development director and put his devotion to keyboards on the back burner. The internet was the icebreaker, however. “The next thing you knew, you could talk to people all over the world about things like early pianos and harpsichords,” he said. “The marketplace suddenly exploded wide open.” As he began to collect early pianos, harpsichords and clavichords himself, restoration-work came with the territory. “You aren’t going to find parts that are ready made, you have to make them,” he said. Strange launched early piano hub squarepianotech.com, and aficionados and musicians alike began to contact him to buy parts and parry advice. Like slicing a loaf of bread, Strange said it’s easier to fashion a set of parts, such as piano hammershanks, of which he makes hundreds a year, out of one block of wood instead of just one replacement. Now that the physicist has retired from Abbotts, Strange is turning his attention
“The next thing you knew, you could talk to people all over the world about things like early pianos and harpsichords. The marketplace suddenly exploded wide open.” Tom Strange curator, Carolina Music Museum
ning cellist Lynn Herrell also used Herin’s pegs to tune his Montagnana, an Italian cello that Herin says rivals a Stradivarius violin in both price and rarity. Still, the cellist is ready to retire and sell his company after all these years, but once you become a one-of-a-kind fixture in the field of replacement pegs, it can be difficult to find a replacement for yourself. “I’m the only person in the United
to Greenville’s Carolina Music Museum, which he has served as curator since its opening in 2018. Last year, the museum inherited hundreds of early keyboards and woodwinds from collector Marlowe Sigal, an exhibit set to open this month. “I have years and years of restoration work already lined up,” he said. Reach Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1222 or @mollyhulsey_gsa on Twitter.
August 10 - August 23, 2020
www.gsabusiness.com 7
AVIATION, from Page 1
commercial airports. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport passenger traffic was down nearly 96% from April 2019 and other commercial airports around the state reported similar numbers. Business travelers make up 70% of GSP’s passenger traffic. For charter flight companies, business travel is 90% of the mix, Goldstrom said. And they weren’t going anywhere. State and local governments had shut down many destinations while company policies closed offices and halted business travel. “We had trips booked and they just started canceling one after another due to states on lockdown, counties on lockdown, companies not opening their doors to outside vendors,” Goldstrom said. “So that put a hold on it.” Aircraft owned and operated by corporations flew some, mostly taking care of business within the company. The season came for part-time Florida residents to charter flights back north for the summer months, but those calls never came, he said. Goldstrom said almost nothing happened for seven or eight weeks until states started making efforts to reopen the economy. When that happened, business travelers started looking for alternatives. “We’ve been busy ever since. We’ve
had a number of people to reach out to find out what kind of services we offer, what kind of pricing, because they were wanting to move to private travel and no longer fly on commercial airlines, not only for themselves but for their employees,” Goldstrom said. He’s con-
“We had trips booked and they just started canceling one afer another ...” Doug Goldstrom president of sales and marketing Special Services Corp.
fident the new clients are in it for the long haul. “It will become permanent business,” he said. “Aside from the pandemic, the approach we have always had for people looking at charter is the fact that if you take a jet, you can fit eight or nine passengers onboard an airplane versus flying each one of them to a location, with rental cars and hotels and all the time it takes to coordinate all that. You’re sometimes better off to take a jet, especially for those day trips because you’re on your own schedule. You’re not having to
adhere to an airline schedule. You just come and go as needed.” Goldstrom said business was down to 20% to 30% of normal in April. Now it’s close to 70%. “We are still not where we were (before the pandemic) but we have picked up business; we have picked half a dozen clients that do not want to use airlines anymore,” he said. “We’re flying some people who are doing business within their own company but there’s still less business-to-business travel.” James Stephens, executive director of the S.C. Aeronautics Commission, said the story is similar at business-focused airports across the state. There are 58 publicly owned, public-use airports in South Carolina. Fifty-two are general aviation airports, the busiest being Greenville Downtown Airport, known as GMU to the Federal Aviation Administration. Fifteen of them are, like GMU, are classified as S.C. II corporate/business airports. Stephens said busy flight schools are keeping the flight counts up at some airports, including Greenville Downtown, but those flights don’t make up for lost business travel. “From what I’ve seen operations are not drastically down but fuel revenues are down so what that tells me is flight schools are doing very well,” he said. “So when you look at the operation counts, and because students are flying with
instructors, those counts are up, but when you look at the fuel sales that tells me that the corporate guys are not quite back to where they were because they’re your big fuel purchasers.” Even if they are not buying much fuel for now, those flight school students could be economic beneficiaries of the pandemic. As the aviation industry rebalances staffing, some pilots are leaving for good, hastening a predicted pilot shortage, Stephens said. “Prior to COVID-19 we kept hearing about a pilot shortage and a mechanic shortage. They were saying there’s not enough people in the pipeline — the demographic was much closer to retirement, some are calling it quits and that is right-sizing staffing levels as of today,” Stephens said. “But what happens in three years when COVID is gone and the airlines start to track back upward in passenger levels? As passenger levels grow the aircraft that were parked during this are going to have to be put back into the system and as they are, they are going to have to be piloted. So the young pilots that are training today will, in a few years if they’re positioned properly, they’ll be able to get on to a great career at an airline and they should be able to get a good job pretty quickly in the next five years.” Reach Ross Norton at 864-720-1222 or @ RossNorton13 on Twitter.
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Clemson researcher working on faster COVID-19 test Staff Report
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But the researchers have an idea that they will test as well while they work to determine a faster testing option. They are working to build alternative approaches such as electrochemistry-based — instead of opticsbased — detection of riboswitch shape changes upon recognizing the virus. Ding said this idea is still in develop-
gsanews@scbiznews.com
lemson scientist Feng Ding is working to develop a quick detection test for COVID-19 with funding from a one-year National Science Foundation RAPID grant. Ding said he hopes to speed up a process that has bogged down test results as coronavirus testing has surged in the United States. Ding is using the $190,065 grant and his work with Pengyu Chen, a Clemson alumnus and now an assistant professor at Auburn University in Alabama, to find a faster way to test, according to a news release. “The idea with this test is to detect traces of the virus protein with highly sensitive sensors enabled by nanotechnology,” Ding said in the news release. Ding is an associate professor in the College of Science’s department of physics and astronomy. “And hopefully we could do that at the site of care by quickly analyzing the patient sample in as few as 15 minutes.” Ding and Chen plan to accomplish their goal this by developing a new nanomaterial-based sensor with the capability to detect virus proteins in real time, the release said. This project builds on prior research of riboswitches commonly used by single-cell organisms for gene regulation. When sensing metabolites or small molecules, a riboswitch can change its three-dimensional shape and subse-
College of Science researcher Feng Ding is hoping to help speed up the turnaround rate for COVID-19 testing. (Photo/Clemson University College of Science)
quently turn on the “switch” of enzyme expression for unitizing the nutrient. In this project, the SARS-CoV-2 proteins will be targeted by computationally designed “riboswitches,” and nanomaterials will be used for reporting the corresponding change of shape in the presence of the virus. Further testing of this method for detecting the actual virus should allow for fast screening and isolation of COVID-19 patients, a key to breaking the chain of transmission to stop the current pan-
demic, as well as potential new waves of the SARS-CoV-2 after reopening the economy, Ding said in the release. They are in the beginning stages of their research, and plan to start testing the method soon. Then the plan is to work with the doctors in testing real COVID-19 samples. Ding said one of the hurdles they have to tackle is making their test available without the use of high-powered microscopes that can be found only in state-of-the-art research labs.
“We are hopeful this method of testing will be a viable alternative to the current testing methods. The idea is that this test is easy to conduct without the requirement of expensive equipment.” Feng Ding associate professor, Clemson University
ment, but ideally, the device that can measure the electrochemistry-based information would be small and portable. “We are hopeful this method of testing will be a viable alternative to the current testing methods,” Ding said in the release. “The idea is that this test is easy to conduct without the requirement of expensive equipment.”
College of Charleston closes School of Professional Studies By Jim Tatum
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jtatum@scbiznews.com
he College of Charleston has closed its School of Professional Studies. The College of Charleston’s board of trustees voted to dissolve the school at the recommendation of CofC President Andrew T. Hsu, according to a statement Hsu released to the college community. The purpose of the school was to establish and deliver new programs and to position it as an option for adult learners and nontraditional students throughout the Lowcountry, Hsu said in the statement. “Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of many, the SPS has not generated the sustained revenue and enrollment growth we desired, and the college can no
longer justify continued investment in the stand-alone structure of the school,” Hsu said. As part of the decision, the college will no longer lease the North Campus
regarding a new location, according to director Nancy Muller. Hsu said he made the “very difficult decision” to recommend that the school be discontinued as a separate school and
“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of many, the SPS has not generated the sustained revenue and enrollment growth we desired.” Andrew T. Hsu president, College of Charleston
building in North Charleston. The college’s membership in the Lowcountry Graduate Center, which was administratively housed at the North Campus, will continue, Hsu said. The graduate center is in discussions
that its existing programs — Bachelor of Professional Studies, Bachelor of General Studies, Continuing Education and English Language Institute — be incorporated into other areas on the college’s main campus.
The students in these programs will be supported by the various schools overseeing the courses, he stated. Hsu said the college will assist the school’s 12 employees in finding potential job opportunities elsewhere on campus. Acknowledging that any closure of a program leaves a feeling of loss, Hsu said, “As the college begins to implement its new strategic plan, we must recognize that achieving our shared vision of becoming a national university will require us to continually look inward, ask tough questions and make strategic choices that, in the short term, may sting, but in the long term may be necessary for us to remain viable and relevant in a highly competitive and rapidly changing world.” Reach Jim Tatum at 864-720-2269.
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COVID-19 Chronicles: Possible Employer Liability Attorneys take a look at pandemic-related developments in law By Phillip A. Kilgore, W. Kyle Dillard and S. Michael Nail
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TYPES OF CLAIMS
EXAMPLES OF ALLEGATIONS AGAINST EMPLOYERS
Whistleblower/Retaliation/ Wrongful Discharge
• Retaliation for objecting to unsafe working conditions or workplace exposure to individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or positive tests • Misappropriation/misuse of funds received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act • Violation of other state and federal anti-retaliation statutes based on alleged protected activity, such as whistleblower retaliation, and refusal to test workers • Retaliation for utilizing leave related to COVID-19
Unsafe Working Conditions
• Unsafe workplaces causing sickness and/or death due to COVID-19 • Failure to take appropriate measures to adequately clean and sanitize workplaces • “Public nuisance” claims against facilities with outbreaks • Failure to provide necessary personal protective equipment, make adequate handwashing areas and sanitizing dispensers available, or enforce social distancing protocols • Failure to comply with state and local orders concerning the safe operation of “essential” businesses and the closure and reopening of “nonessential” businesses • Failure to follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines for reopening/essential work locations
Disability (ADA) Discrimination
• Forced leaves of absence • Failure to accommodate, including denials of requests to work from home • Adverse action for taking leave due to COVID-19 concerns in the workplace. • Adverse action against employees with vulnerabilities such as preexisting health conditions or risk factors • Perceived disability discrimination by screening out older employees while implementing return-to-work plans
Title VII Discrimination
• Discrimination claims related to pregnancy, childcare, national origin, or other protected categories.
Family and Medical Leave Act/ Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Failure to provide COVID-19-related leave under the FMLA or FFCRA • Failure to provide paid leave under the FFCRA • Retaliation for utilizing leave related to COVID-19 • Interference with ability to take leave related to COVID-19
Wage and Hour (FLSA) and State Wage Claims
• Failure to pay for hours worked prior to business closures due to COVID-19 concerns • Failure to pay hazard pay, overtime, and sick pay • Unpaid compensation claims arising out of remote work by nonexempt employees • “Donning/doffing” claims, seeking pay for time spent completing health screenings, temperature checks, and/ or other tests mandated by employers • Unpaid sick leave claims under state sick leave statutes and the FFCRA Claims related to vacation, paid time off and paid sick leave
Reductions in Force/ Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)
• Failure to provide required WARN notifications in connection with mass layoffs and facility closings • Disparate impact claims related to reductions in force “right to recall” claims based on new ordinances in various locations
Workplace Safety and Health/Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
• Violations of health and safety regulations and state health and safety orders related to COVID-19 OSH Act 11(c) retaliation claims
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
• Failure to provide COBRA notices or providing defective COBRA notices
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
• Failure to properly administer claims related to benefits governed by ERISA • Failure to provide short and long term disability benefits
Traditional Labor Relations/ National Labor Relations Act
• Unfair labor practice (ULP) charges by employees and/or unions arising out working conditions, reductions in force and reassignments • ULP charges and grievances by unions for claimed unilateral changes in employment terms and conditions, breaches of collective bargaining agreements, inconsistent application of policies • ULPs by employees claiming to be engaging in protected concerted activity related to alleged unsafe working conditions or failures to provide, hazard pay or PPE • Strikes and individual refusals to work
Data Privacy/Technology
• Fraudulent unemployment claims due to data breaches • Claims related to symptom tracking, contact tracing, proximity beaconing, and the use of other forms of advanced COVID-19-related technology, such as thermal imaging to check people’s temperature for possible fevers • Biometric privacy concerns relating to increased employer use of technology
Other Claims
• Workers’ compensation retaliation claims • “Presumptive” claims of work-relatedness of COVID-19 claims under worker’s compensation
Attorneys
ike many Americans, employers (and their lawyers) have had to become true experts on the coronavirus over the past several months. Employers have had to learn the science behind COVID-19, how to prevent its spread, how to maintain or resume safe work environments, and how to navigate a complex web of new and existing laws and regulations created or implicated by the pandemic. Employers also have had to anticipate and contend with a growing wave of employment litigation related to COVID19. Data suggest the potential for a tsunami of litigation springing from the pandemic. Employers thus face the difficult choice of re-opening in order to survive or avoiding uncertainty and potential liability by keeping operations on hold. At this stage, it is difficult to fully anticipate all the types of claims that may be brought by employees and how those claims will be handled by courts or administrative agencies. This article will survey the types of claims employees have filed around the country as of the date of publication, and specifically hone in on current South Carolina claims. Our conclusion will recommend steps for employers to consider to mitigate liability exposure. This article does not address claims that may arise outside of the employment context. Claims based on products liability, insurance coverage, injunctive relief, or general tort principles brought against businesses by customers or other third parties are beyond the scope of this article.
Survey of national COVID-19 employment claims:
A review of court filings in the United States reveals numerous employment lawsuits based on COVID-19–related claims that fall into the broad categories set forth in the first chart. Thus far, the most common claims relate to workplace safety and retaliation. Many of the related claims overlap and allege complaints about reports of unsafe workplaces and adverse action resulting therefrom. The foregoing summary derives from filings during a timeframe in which most states had “shelter-in-place” or “stay-at-
home orders,” and many employers were either not operating or only partially operating. Thus, it seems likely that these types of lawsuits will increase dramatically in the coming months. Not only is actual COVID-19 court litigation on the rise, but agency complaints with OSHA are increasing. Between Feb. 1 and July 28, federal OSHA received 8,363 COVID19–related complaints and referrals and State OSHA Plans received 20,589, for a
total of 28,952. Of these complaints and referrals, 18,418 have been closed; 10,534 remain open. Employers should expect an uptick in agency inspections as well. While workplace safety claims will dominate in the near term, disability, leave, and wage and hour claims are likely to rise in popularity as more employees return to work and employers continue to adjust operations around COVID-19 challenges.
Are there any protections for employers?
A top legislative priority for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been a broad “safe harbor” shield for businesses from COVID-19 related lawsuits, tied to guidelines established by the CDC and state health authorities. Opponents claim that such safe harbors are unnecessary and would be overly broad. On July 27, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas,
August 10 - August 23, 2020
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joined by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R.-Ky., introduced the Safe To Work Act, which would provide substantial and comprehensive liability protection from coronavirus-related claims for businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, health care providers and employers. The bill proposes to create an exclusive federal claim for plaintiffs alleging they contracted COVID-19 from an exposure to the virus caused by a defendant. This federal claims would limit liability to certain narrow circumstances and preempt all state laws that would otherwise apply to such lawsuits. While a federal adoption of a liability shield is debated in Washington, states have begun to take similar action to help businesses mitigate the risks of such potential litigation. The S.C. General Assembly has not passed such legislation, but a bill has been proposed. On June 24, the “South Carolina COVID-19 Liability Safe Harbor Act,” also called the Safe Harbor Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives (H. 5527). The Safe Harbor Act would provide liability protections for a broad class of businesses and government entities, acting in their capacities as employers and otherwise (“covered entity”), that reasonably adhere to “Public Health Guidance” as defined in the Safe Harbor Act and in effect at the time of the alleged conduct giving rise to a “coronavirus claim.” The
Safe Harbor Act defines “coronavirus claim” as any cause of action that is related to any actual, alleged, or feared exposure to or contraction of coronavirus from: • the premises of a covered entity; • the operations, products, or services provided on or off premises of a covered entity; • the acts or omissions of a covered individual or covered entity, to include the delay or withholding of medical care; and • efforts to prevent or delay the spread of the coronavirus, to include making precautionary equipment or supplies such as personal protective equipment. The safe harbor provisions would not apply if a claimant were to prove by “clear and convincing evidence” that the covered entity or covered individual caused the injury or damage (1) through knowingly reckless, willful, or intentional misconduct; or (2) by failing to make any attempt to adhere to public health guidance. Observers expect the General Assembly to revisit the proposed law in mid-September. Some states already have implemented temporary COVID-19 related liability protections for employers and legislation is pending in others. While these laws vary from state to state, the common theme is to protect employers from tort
liability if they comply with applicable safety guidance. By way of example, North Carolina Senate Bill 704, signed into law on May 4, provides that “essential businesses” (defined in Executive Orders 121 and 141 — and further including “any business that the Department of Revenue determines is essential”) and “emergency response entities” (which includes manufacturers of PPE and ventilators, for example) are temporarily immune from civil liability. This immunity shields against claims by customers, employees or PPE users for COVID-19 illness claims unless the business was grossly negligent, reckless or intentionally caused the harm. North Carolina’s immunity law applies only to claims filed on or after March 27, and covers acts or omissions on or after March 27 until North Carolina’s governor rescinds the emergency declaration or it expires. Also, in North Carolina, House Bill 118, signed into law on July 2, covers businesses, government agencies and other groups sued by someone who contracts COVID-19. This law shields companies and other entities from lawsuits as long as they do not act with gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing. The protections do not apply to workers’ compensation claims. Businesses are required to provide “reasonable” notice of actions they have taken to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus on their premises, but they wouldn’t be held accountable if workers
or customers fail to comply. In anticipation of possible passage of South Carolina’s Safe Harbor Act, employers will want to stay current on and follow CDC, OSHA and state specific guidelines for safe operation. An employer that can demonstrate a track record of following official recommended practices will have a greater chance of successfully defending against allegations of heightened negligence. This points out the need to plan, train, and practice thorough sanitation procedures, and keep good records of such efforts.
Does the workers’ compensation bar apply?
South Carolina law already provides a structure for dealing with employment-related COVID-19 claims. For example, if an employee were to contract COVID-19 out of and in the course of employment, the employee’s exclusive remedy may lie in the workers’ compensation system. South Carolina’s workers’ compensation law, like those of some other states, excludes “ordinary diseases of life,” such as the flu, from being considered an “occupational disease.” Such a claim (or the employer’s “workers’ compensation bar” defense to a civil claim) may be stronger if the employee is employed in the health-care setting where the alleged “occupational disease” is an attendant hazard of the job, not unlike See COVID-19, Page 12
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hepatitis, which has been held compensable in many jurisdictions, including South Carolina. Under the more demanding general framework of South Carolina’s workers’ compensation law, however, it may be difficult for employees to prove a compensable, occupational injury associated with COVID-19. Some states have enacted special COVID-19 workers’ compensation legislation or are considering COVID-19 amendments to their workers’ compensation laws. The new laws in many states would create a presumption that employees with COVID-19 contracted the disease at work. These changes would shift the burden of liability from businesses to the state or create a hybrid solution. Similar legislation pending South Carolina’s House of Representatives (House Bill 5482) would create a workers’ compensation presumption in response to the pandemic. Specifically, this bill would create an easier path for first responders, health care providers and correctional officers who contract COVID-19 to obtain workers’ compensation benefits. These essential workers would be entitled to the presumption that a diagnosis of COVID-19 arose from and in the course and scope of such employment. They would be entitled to immediate receipt of temporary total disability benefits under certain circumstances, specifically if they: • received a COVID-19 diagnosis from a physician; • received a presumptive positive COVID-19 test; • received a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 test; or • were directed to isolate by an employer due to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 exposure.
August 10 - August 23, 2020 TYPES OF CLAIMS
ALLEGATIONS
FMLA/FFCRA
• Failure to provide leave related to COVID-19; • Retaliation for utilizing leave related to COVID-19.
Wage & Hour
• Failure to pay for hours worked prior to business closures due to COVID-19 concerns; • Failure to pay all hours worked remotely.
Retaliation/Wrongful Discharge
• Retaliation for terminating employee with suspected outside exposure to individual with COVID-19; • Wrongfully terminating employee for self-quarantine after co-worker tested positive for COVID-19.
Should this bill become enacted in its current form, it would almost certainly ensure that a tort claim asserted by a covered employee for exposure to COVID19 at work would be barred by the workers’ compensation exclusivity doctrine, absent an exception to the bar, such as a deliberate intent to harm.
Survey of South Carolina COVID-19 employment claims
A review of court filings in South Carolina from late March 2020 through late June 2020 reveals a variety of employment lawsuits based on COVID-19-related claims that fall into the broad categories set forth in the chart.
Tips for employers to mitigate exposure to COVID-19 claims
Follow all applicable safety guidelines of state and local health departments (i.e. South Carolina DHEC), OSHA and the CDC. This includes requiring the use of and supplying appropriate personal protective equipment, regular cleaning and disinfecting of workplaces, and appropriately distancing employees to limit exposure. Properly train employees to following safety protocols and train management-level employees to implement the protocols and how to respond to employee safety concerns. Investigate and address any report-
ed concerns about compliance with the employer’s COVID-19 workplace safety plan and document investigation processes and outcomes. Ensure that relevant policies are up to date. These policies include but certainly are not limited to, those related to non-harassment, anti-discrimination, anti-retaliation, FMLA, the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act under the FFCRA (if fewer than 500 employees), ADA interactive process/reasonable accommodation, and remote work. Educate managers, supervisors, and human resources professionals on the relevant policies and steps to take if an employee invokes such policies and/or claims noncompliance. Encourage employees to report health and safety concerns, ensuring multiple reporting avenues. If conducting health screenings, temperature checks, or other testing such as viral or oxygen testing, ensure compliance with social distancing and PPE requirements, confidentiality regarding any records, and the observance of applicable privacy laws (note that restrictions on permissible testing exist in some jurisdictions). Document steps taken after an employee reports a positive and/or presumptive COVID-19 diagnosis and comply with all state guidelines and CDC recommen-
dations on quarantine timeframes and return-to-work parameters. If surviving during the pandemic requires adjustments to employee compensation, provide notice of changes as required by applicable state wage payment laws. If reducing the workforce, provide appropriate notices and use nondiscriminatory selection criteria. Stay abreast of new legislation, emergency orders and agency guidance.
Conclusion
The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic is certain to change the legal landscape, particularly with respect to labor and employment litigation. This pandemic is likely to spawn a number of as yet unimagined issues for employers to manage in order to succeed in the “new normal.” As employers continue to operate during the pandemic or begin to re-open, they should consider all of the implications, have a plan in place, and regularly consult with employment counsel along the way. Sources for this article include ongoing reviews of courthouse news reports nationwide, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s COVID-19 Response Summary, various bills before the S.C. Lesiglature and court rulings in Muir vs. CR Bard Inc and Edens vs. Bellini. Phillip Kilgore is the managing shareholder of the Greenville office of Ogletree Deakins and practices employment law and litigation. Kyle Dillard is a shareholder of the Greenville office of Ogletree Deakins, and is a member of Ogletree’s Steering Committee for COVID-19 Litigation Practice Group. Michael Nail is an associate in the Greenville office of Ogletree Deakins and practices employment litigation, construction litigation and workers’ compensation.
Climate change will cause more extreme wet and dry seasons, researchers find Staff Report
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he world can expect more rainfall as the climate changes, but it can also expect more water to evaporate, complicating efforts to manage reservoirs and irrigate crops in a growing world, according to a Clemson University researcher whose latest work has been published in the journal Nature Communications. Ashok Mishra, who is the corresponding author on the new article, said that previous studies have focused mostly on how climate change will affect precipitation, according to a news release. But the key contribution of the new study is that it also examined the magnitude and variability of precipitation and evaporation and how
much water will be available during the wettest and driest months of the year. Researchers found that dry seasons will become drier, and wet seasons will become wetter, said Mishra, who is the Dean’s Associate Professor in the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering. Most of the Eastern United States, including all of South Carolina, has high precipitation that is well distributed throughout the year, researchers found. The region and others like it can expect greater precipitation and evaporation in both wet and dry seasons, according to the study. The greatest concern for those regions will be more flooding, Mishra said in the release. The regions that will be hardest hit by climate change are the ones that already get slammed with rain during wet seasons and
struggle with drought during dry seasons, researchers found. They include much of India and its neighbors to the east, including Bangladesh and Myanmar, along with an inland swath of Brazil, two sections running east-west across Africa, and northern Australia, according to the study. As part of the study, researchers divided the world into nine land regions, or regimes. They looked at annual precipitation and how it fluctuates through the seasons for each region from 1971-2000. Researchers then used that data to predict future water availability during each region’s three wettest months and three driest months. They evaluated three scenarios based on multiple global climate models, the release said. The best-case scenario for relatively stable water availability during wet and dry seasons is that the global temperature will
stabilize at 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels, according to the study. But researchers also looked at what would happen if the temperature were to rise to 3.5 degrees Celsius or 5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. The higher the temperature, the more variation in water availability, researchers found, according to the release. Mishra said that his message to the world is that water is a very important resource. “The availability of this resource is an issue everybody is facing,” he said in the release. “We need to take precautions to optimally use how much water we have. As the climate changes and population increases, we should be preparing for the future by improving the technology to efficiently use water for crops.”
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Experts: Calhoun statue not architectural loss By Jenny Peterson
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wall and it’s very abstract.” The Holocaust Memorial in Marion Square, built in 1999, is also an example of a modern style memorial. A concrete and bronze inscription wall details the history of the Holocaust and lists names of survivors living in South Carolina. The center is surrounded by a four-sided iron screen. “These types of memorials are more invokable to an experience,” White said.
Contributing writer
rom an architectural standpoint, the John C. Calhoun monument that was removed from Marion Square in June doesn’t have any unique characteristics that make it aesthetically rare, say local architects. “The way in which it was built is not lost technology,” said Jay White, a principal with Liollio Architecture. “It could be replaced today — it would just be very, very expensive. Nobody is going to argue it shouldn’t be removed due to its architectural quality. The Calhoun statue was made of bronze, and most of the figures created today are still made of bronze.” Southern and Confederate monuments across the United States are being taken down because the figures were defenders of slavery or held similar racially charged stances. In Charleston, the local architect community has not had objections over the Calhoun monument’s architectural significance. The John C. Calhoun monument that was removed had replaced a previous monument of the S.C. statesman that was criticized for its poor casting, according to the National Park Service. “People didn’t think it was a beautiful monument, and they sought to create a new statue,” White said. “Another reason they had a new monument was the previous one was mounted low and kept getting vandalized.” According to the National Park Service, the original monument honoring Calhoun contained a cannonball used in the Revolutionary War battle of Fort Moultrie, a banner used in Calhoun’s funeral, $100 in Continental money, a lock of Calhoun’s hair and the last speech he delivered in the U.S. Senate in 1850. The original statue was replaced in 1896 with Calhoun 115 feet high on a pedestal looking down over the public park. Architects describe the monument as a classical style with sculptors creating a bronze body on a pedestal, common for the time period of building tributes to men on horseback. “These monuments were built to communicate, through both their design and architecture, that white people in power were the dominant movers and shakers in any of these places,” said R. Grant Gilmore, director of historic preservation and community planning for the BA program at the College of Charleston. “Monument construction was specifically-designed to communicate power. They represent a time of a singular person. Robert E. Lee is the emperor of the South, for example,” he said.
Architectural preservation
Marion Square’s John C. Calhoun statue in Charleston replaced an existing statue of the statesman in 1896. His home in Clemson is now the university campus. (Photo by Sean Pavone)
Gilmore said that the classical style of building monuments, with a big bronze figure on an old, Greek column was modeled specifically after Roman emperors and victory statues and were added to the U.S. landscape despite the South losing the Civil War and the Confederacy. “The victory is false even though these styles of monuments are typically designed to elicit a victorious feeling of anyone who looks at it,” Gilmore said. “We are rewiring anyone who looks at it about our ‘hidden victory’ and the incomplete Reconstruction process.”
New statues, old style
Classic-style statues honoring historic figures are still being built today, with a more thoughtful eye on what figure is featured on top. “There are enough monuments designed today in a classical style that are not celebrating the confederacy’s minutemen — from presidents and senators, to baseball players and tennis players done in the classical style,” Gilmore said. “Having 196 monuments be removed is very small. I don’t think towns celebrate these monuments for their aesthetics.” The city of Charleston added two new classic-style monuments made of bronze in the past 15 years: In Hampton Park, a monument in honor of Denmark Vesey, a former slave and leader of African Americans in Charleston in the early 1800s. It was unveiled in 2014. A monument of Maj. Gen. William Moultrie, a Revolutionary War hero and Charleston native, was unveiled in 2007 at White Point Garden downtown. The same manner and materials used for these monuments shows that there is nothing specifically unique in the materi-
als and style of how the John C. Calhoun monument was created. Perhaps the most fascinating characteristic of the Calhoun monument, according to architects, is how it took crews two full days to remove the statue, as there were no plans available showing how it was built. “It was very interesting in the fact that they had some sort of attachment all the way down in it, and it was interesting that no one had any drawings or any information about how it was attached to the base,” Bello said.
Evolving styles
Over the course of history, the style of monuments across the country changed with the times. Gilmore said this type of sculpture architecture isn’t even taught to architecture students anymore, except in a special class at Notre Dame University. “Modern monuments today are utilizing architecture to communicate something from that particular time. The 9/11 memorial got it right. There is a general feeling that it should have been more hopeful, but it’s reflective of our time. My students are not hopeful,” Gilmore said. “The Vietnam memorial is a very simple design and reflective of the 70s and 80s as a modernist memorial.” “In the early 1930s, we had a fascination with art deco sculpture architecture,” White said. “What’s really interesting is that in the 20th century, there was a really radical shift in the way society memorialized things after World War II, and you don’t see statues of great men and women on horseback being built anymore.” He added, “One of the most famous memorials in the United States is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It’s just a
As an architectural preservationist, White is exhaustive on the issue of monuments’ place in history. “I teach a seminar at Clemson University on architecture and politics, and each semester the students have to do a parliamentary-style debate, and one of the things they have to debate is if the Calhoun monument is still relevant to our age, and each student does research on the history,” White said. “As they were taking down the statue, I was fielding messages from students who debated both sides and their perspectives.” White said that from a purely architectural standpoint, architects shouldn’t be worried about losing a representation of a certain style or design by removing the Calhoun monument. Still, the monument won’t be destroyed. Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said the statue would be moved to a museum or other site where it could be viewed privately. The monument’s new location has not been announced, and it is not clear if it has been determined. A subcommittee of the city’s Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Conciliation Commission will be working with museums and other academic institutions to find a location “where Calhoun’s story can be told in its full context,” according to the city of Charleston. As for future monuments in the city, if a monument is on private property and under the jurisdiction of the Board of Architectural Review, it receives the same design review as any other structure and does not consider the content or message, said Jack O’Toole, the city’s director of communications. If a monument is on public property, it is reviewed by city staff, O’Toole said. As for what should replace the Calhoun Monument — if anything — local architects aren’t rallying to declare that a particular statue or monument should replace it. “Cemeteries are one place these confederates could be placed, and not on an 85-foot pillar,” Gilmore said. “I am not a huge fan of adding a lot of monuments to our public spaces in general,” Bello said. “I’d rather see trees.”
August 10 - August 23, 2020
www.gsabusiness.com 15
Campaign launched to keep rural domestic abuse services running By Molly Hulsey
mhulsey@scbiznews.com
Before COVID-19 sealed families indoors, South Carolina already ranked in as the fifth-worst state in the union for domestic violence. Every four minutes, at least one South Carolinian fields physical abuse from their partner, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — that’s 119,000 people a year or about 2% of the entire population of the state. The Palmetto State is also the fifth most lethal in the nation for women in danger of being murdered by a man, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation data — and 92% of the victims knew their killer. Nonprofit Silent Tears has been working to alter these statistics for years, but the stream of domestic violence reports flooding abuse hotlines has lent a new sense of urgency to the group’s mission: eradicating domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault throughout the entire state. “Right now during the pandemic, we’re facing a lot of people having to stay at home and (are) isolated, and that’s really for the safety of society, but what it does is it forces the person who is being abused to be forced at home and isolated with their abuser,” Kelly Nichols, executive director
Silent Tears executive director Kelly Nichols discusses campaign following the July 23 press conference at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport’s Cerulean Aviation Center. (Photo/Molly Hulsey)
of Silent Tears told GSA Business Report, adding that the financial stress, job loss and health concerns coupled with social isolation has been the gasoline poured over an already-stoked fire for many abuse victims. Greer-based philanthropist Bob Castellani launched Silent Tears in 2013 and has since gifted and pledged more than $12 million to the cause. Up to $525,000 of those funds will seed the group’s 2020 Emergency Match campaign, launched on July 23 at a press conference at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. For every dollar donated to the nonprofit, $2 from Castellani’s fund will be put toward one of five centers financed by the group — four that serve areas where one of
every four people live in poverty, according to a news release. Both businesses and individuals are invited to donate to the campaign. Participating centers include The Safe Home (serving Abbeville, Laurens and Saluda counties), CASA Family Systems (serving Bamberg, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties), YWCA of Upper Midlands (serving Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties), The Cumbee Center (serving Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale counties) and The Pee Dee Coalition (serving Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg counties). “What we’re trying to do is reach out to the economically challenged and rurally-isolated areas,” Nichols said, hoping that the campaign will help raise awareness for the needs in those communities. The funding will help impacted families have access to social services, education and counseling. If a victim can’t leave the relationship, he or she can use an anonymous lifeline to call for help via the program. Funding also will help support the centers’ role as a shelter for individuals who have escaped an abusive home situation, often paying for hotel rooms, health care, groceries and other services. The centers began to panic as typical funding streams like fundraising events
dried up with the spread of COVID-19 in the state, Nichols said. In addition, reliance on WiFi-based services and support simply was not an option for abuse victims in rural areas of the state, where many have little to no internet access. “People usually have no money when they leave a domestic violence situation. They’re at rock bottom. So what we’re trying to do is have that safety net there, so that you aren’t forced to stay in a situation because you don’t financially have that ability to leave. We’re trying to take that power away from the abuser and offer hope,” she said, adding that the focus on rural areas would help level the playing field for services across the state. S.C. Sen. Scott Talley of Spartanburg praised the program and Castellani for shining a light on domestic violence. “The shadow of domestic violence has hung over South Carolina for far too long,” Talley said in a news release. “It can take a great deal of strength for someone to escape from an abusive relationship. The least we can do is make sure the centers that serve these survivors have the financial resources they need to offer their services during the ongoing pandemic.” Reach Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1222 or @mollyhulsey_gsa on Twitter.
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16
www.gsabusiness.com
August 10 - August 23, 2020
Surge in Black-owned businesses amid protests Dalvin Brown
K
USA Today
ris Christian, a small-business owner in Chicago, was mourning the death of George Floyd when she was hit with an onslaught of online orders that caught her off guard. The owner of Chicago French Press was home reeling after watching cellphone footage of the white police officer’s knee on Floyd’s neck when her iPhone lit up with notifications from new orders. “I was crying when I kept hearing these Shopify ‘ching chings’ going off,” said Christian, who started the online coffee shop in 2016. “It was like new order after new order.” It was a bittersweet moment, she added. People are showering Black-owned businesses with support in the wake of protests against police brutality. The sudden attention on inequality in America has spun numerous online lists spotlighting Black-owned companies for people to support. But the Black entrepreneurs who run the businesses say they have mixed feelings about the renewed interest in buying Black. They say the renaissance is well overdue, but it’s unfortunate that the movement was birthed by tragedy.
“The awareness around racism caused people to rethink where they’re doing business and how they’re participating in the social well-being of their community.” Kevin Cohee CEO, OneUnited
“On one hand, this is what we’ve been praying for. This is the support we’ve wanted for so long,” Christian said. “But it comes after such horrible and disgraceful acts. It comes after all these Black men and women have been killed by cops.” Almost as soon as protests kicked off in late May, online sales surged 225% over what was considered average, she said.
It started with a list
It turned out that her Chicago-based coffee brand was included on several blog posts, Google Docs and spreadsheets making rounds on Facebook and Twitter in a loosely connected effort to uplift the community.
One such list was created by Destinee Stark of Plain Township, Ohio, and includes more than 250 Black-owned establishments in the state. Duan Gavel, a developer in Springfield, Mo., created another one even before Google spreadsheets or graphics started circulating on social media urging people to support Black entrepreneurs. Lois Hines, founder of the hair care company Tropic Isle Living, also saw a surge in business after the firm was included on a list. Orders for the products ramped up in late May, and the Jamaica-sourced castor oil brand flew off the shelves at Target and Walmart. “At first we couldn’t understand it,” Hines said. “We were like, wait a minute. Is this people shedding light on black-owned businesses?” As awareness spread, so did other tools making it easier to find Blackowned businesses around the country. Yelp introduced a search attribute for shops to identify as Black-owned. And the customer review company added a list of places to choose from. A Yelp representative said searches for Black-owned businesses on the platform increased 35-fold amid protests against police brutality. UberEats also kicked off an initiative to support Black-owned businesses. The delivery company began waiving delivery fees for restaurant orders placed at Black-owned restaurants in the United States and Canada. The movement may mark a cultural shift. For a long time, many Black entrepreneurs were wary of having their businesses labeled “Black-owned” out of fear that it would limit their customer base. “When I started my business, I had advisers say, ‘You shouldn’t put your face in front of your brand because that might turn off certain people from buying your coffee,’“ Christian said. “Now, I’m glad I didn’t listen, because when people start searching for Black-owned businesses on Google, they find us.”
Black-owned banks are busy, too
Minority-owned businesses have long had a harder time getting financing, which might also be spurring interest in Black-owned banks amid race-related protests. OneUnited, with five total branches in California, Florida and Massachusetts, received 40,000 new accounts over the past month. The first boost came from the pandemic with more people shifting to mobile banking, said Kevin Cohee, CEO of OneUnited. A second wave came from people thinking about how
spending can influence the race-related changes they want to see in America, he added. “The awareness around racism caused people to rethink where they’re doing business and how they’re participating in the social well-being of their community,” Cohee said. “The death of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery focused people’s attention on using their financial resources as a way to
took everyone on a first-come, firstserved basis. We didn’t prioritize. We didn’t try to pick off the best customers first. We tried to serve everyone equally.” Many banks run by Black people are in locales that are underserved by other banks. The minority institutions provide access to safe and affordable bank accounts, mortgages and business loans, which are often hard for
“The murder of George Floyd really has highlighted the importance of mission-aligned or mission-driven institutions and businesses that truly live their values.” Dominik Mjartan CEO, Optus Bank
better their community.” OneUnited is one of about two dozen Black-owned banks and credit unions in the United States, according to the financial advocacy group Blackout Coalition. South Carolina is served by OneUnited, as well as C.O. Federal Credit Union, headquartered on Spring Street in Charleston, and Brookland Federal Credit Union on Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia. Optus Bank, a minority-owned community bank headquartered on Columbia’s Main Street, has seen a significant uptick in business dating back to federal pandemic relief and likely amplified by increased awareness of racial issues, president and CEO Dominik Mjartan said. He said the bank, which had about 450 loans in its porfolio before the pandemic struck, has since processed 600 as customers become more intentional about where their money goes. “I do think that the awareness of our bank and the relevance that we have for our community certainly has increased,” Mjartan said. “The murder of George Floyd really has highlighted the importance of mission-aligned or mission-driven institutions and businesses that truly live their values.” Mjartan said he and his staff are working seven days a week to keep up with the increased demand, driven in part by Optus’ policy of not requiring minimum loan amounts. “We’ve seen an influx of interest from both people that have ample choices with banking services, that are well-banked, but that have been mobilized to reach out to us,” Mjartan said. “We’ve also seen an influx of customers that may not have been aware that there was an alternative for them. … We took everyone, regardless, and we
Black entrepreneurs to secure, Cohee said. From 2007 to 2017, more than half of companies with Black owners got turned down for loans, a rate twice as high as white business owners, according to the Federal Reserve’s most recent data. Despite issues with financing, the share of Black-owned businesses in the U.S. has risen over the past decade. There are now 2.6 million, up from 1.9 million in 2007, according to the Department of Commerce. And those businesses might be on track to get another boost, with movements surrounding Juneteenth encouraging people to spend intently. My Black Receipt, for example, is urging consumers to spend $5 million at Black-owned businesses from June 19 through July 4. The idea is to quantify how much financial impact consumers and allies make by having people upload receipts. “We want people to buy Black every day,” said Kezia Williams, lead organizer for My Black Receipt. But “this window allows us to see that impact in real time.” Still, Black business owners say it’s hard to gauge how to scale their companies with the influx of revenue because no one knows whether or how long the shifts in buying habits will last. “I’m afraid to scale too much because you never know if this is going to be a week-long thing or is it going to be a one-day type of thing,” Christian said. “But it’s my hope that we keep this energy up so that we can create more opportunities, more jobs and more resources for our own communities.” Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown. The Columbia Regional Business Report contributed to this article.
In Focus
BANKING & FINANCE
NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS: Market Facts
LISTS: Accounting Firms, Page 18
Commerce Department addresses audit criticism By Molly Hulsey
mhulsey@scbiznews.com
O
ver one month after the release of a legislative audit critiquing the Commerce Department for its lack of oversight and transparency with money funding economic development projects, the agency has adopted some recommendations as state lawmakers prepare to address corresponding budgetary concerns in September. The S.C. Legislative Audit Council report, released in early June, argued that the Commerce Department should up the ante on developing and publicizing performance criteria, such as new jobs created, for job development credits and grant projects. “This is really the first audit to go into depth on these things,” Eric Douglass, audit manager with the Legislative Audit Council, told GSA Business Report. He and Earle Powell, director of the Legislative Audit Council, noted that during the auditing process, the Commerce Department was interested in making some changes to their procedures. According to Alex Clark, spokesperson for the Commerce Department, the agency has started to report performance measures beyond the initial investment and job-creation baseline required to receive grant funding. Following the audit’s recommendations, performance measures also will be recorded for job development credit recipients. “Adding information to our database in excess of the required amount will further demonstrate that the state often gets a better benefit for
Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt speaks a BMW Manufacturing event. The plant is one of the state’s recruitment successes, originally promising 2,000 jobs and now providing 11,000. (Photo/Ross Norton)
its bargain when companies create additional jobs above the minimum committed to in an RVA (revitalization agreement) or performance agreement (for grants),” Clark told GSA Business Report in a written statement. She also said the department will account for the wages of new jobs when assessing grant eligibility, another suggestion found in the audit. Clark added that wages have always been reported with job development credit documentation.
In a move toward greater transparency, the agency also will add clawback amounts — the money collected from failed or underperforming economic development projects — in annual reports. According to the audit, from 2009 to 2019, the S.C. Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved 972 total projects including 557 grants, adding up to $526.2 million, and 415 job development credits worth up to $6.2 billion if reimbursements are claimed and 66,684 jobs are
created. Roughly $223 million in tax credits has been claimed so far. Of the 248 grants closed since 2009, roughly 92% of required jobs were created. Grant recipients also exceeded the investment requirement by about $1.8 million. The audit report, launched late last year, entreated the Commerce Department to update the agency’s cost-benefit model, require additional documentation and vetting for grant applicants and enhance verification measures for grant and tax credit programs. “We had found that that particular analysis was outdated,” Douglass said concerning the agency’s current cost-benefit model. “And the formula for that was implemented in the mid-1990s. And Commerce, in their response, agreed to try to update that.” The Commerce Department says it is revising the current model in conjunction with a third party, along with compilation of a manual charting the impact analysis process for future use. Highlighting what one Commerce Department employee called the “honor system,” or relying on businesses to self-report investments, jobs created and other measures, the Legislative Audit Council report found that the agency deferred to Revenue Department audits to verify that job-development credit recipients claiming more than $10,000 a year had actually created those jobs. The Coordinating Council certifies job minimums through payroll records, according to Clark. However, some companies never See AUDIT, Page 19
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18
IN FOCUS: BANKING & FINANCE
www.gsabusiness.com
August 10 - August 23, 2020
Accounting Firms Ranked by No. of CPAs in the Upstate
Managing Partner(s) / Year Founded
CPAs / Accountants / Employees
Assurance and advisory; tax planning and compliance; accounting, financial reporting; strategic planning, business valuation; risk, cybersecurity advisory; business, management consulting; wealth management, due diligence for financial transactions
Company
Phone / Website / Email
Elliott Davis LLC 200 E. Broad St., Suite 500 Greenville, SC 29601
864-242-3370 www.elliottdavis.com elliottdavis@elliottdavis.com
Richard E. "Rick" Davis 1925
124 200 254
Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP 11 Brendan Way, Suite 200 Greenville, SC 29615
864-288-5544 www.dhg.com info@dhg.com
Mike Kelly
62 100 124
Audit and assurance, income tax compliance and consulting, corporate governance, transaction advisory services, due diligence, litigation support and valuation, forensic and IT risk and advisory
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 320 E. Main St., Suite 420 Spartanburg, SC 29302
864-680-4675 www.pwc.com
Margaret Young 1994
48 55 55
Assurance, tax, business advisory and transaction services
Cherry Bekaert LLP 110 E. Court St., Suite 500 Greenville, SC 29601
864-233-3981 www.cbh.com akeller@cbh.com
Mark H. Cooter 1947
42 51 73
Audit and assurance, tax planning and compliance, international tax advisory and transfer pricing, state and local tax advisory, credits and incentives, business valuation transaction advisory services and litigation support
KPMG LLP 40 W. Broad St., Suite 260 Greenville, SC 29601
864-250-2600 www.kpmg.com edmills@kpmg.com
Terry Grayson-Caprio 1958
42 58 60
International audit, tax and advisory services
Ernst & Young LLP 2 W. Washington St., Suite 901 Greenville, SC 29601
864-242-5740 www.ey.com
Jessica Donan 1926
41 67 110
Assurance, tax and consulting services
Bradshaw Gordon & Clinkscales LLC 630 E. Washington St. Greenville, SC 29601
864-233-0590 www.bgcllc.com contact@bgcllc.com
James Starks, Pete Tiffany 1980
15 20 40
Auditing, attestation, business advising, tax planning and preparation, business valuation and litigation support
Greene Finney LLP 211 E. Butler Road, Suite C-6 Mauldin, SC 29662
864-232-5204 www.greenefinney.com info@gfhllp.com
Larry Finney, David Phillips, Larry J. Finney 1996
13 28 35
Tax planning and compliance, outsourced controller, accounting and payroll services, audit, review and compilation services, advisory services
Stokes & Co. CPAs PC 15 Halton Green Way Greenville, SC 29607
864-242-1418 www.stokescpas.com info@stokescpas.com
Stephen C Stokes, Allen A Hodges 1999
10 28 32
Tax preparation, bookkeeping, accounts payable, fractional controller and CFO, compilations and reviews
Suggs Johnson LLC 107 Edgebrook Drive Anderson, SC 29621
864-226-0306 www.suggsjohnson.com info@suggsjohnson.com
Brian Johnson, David Gray Suggs 2005
9 19 21
Advisors and consultants to businesses and individuals; emphasis in income, estate and trust tax planning and compliance; industries include healthcare, construction, manufacturing, professional services; assurance and accounting services
SwaimBrown P.A. 350 E. St. John St. Spartanburg, SC 29302
864-585-0176 www.swaimbrown.com
Scott Keim 1952
8 11 16
Audit and assurance services, reviews, compilations; employee benefit plan audits; tax compliance and consulting; accounting and bookkeeping services; business planning, consulting and outsourced CFO services; transaction advisory services
Argo and Associates LLP 303 E. Calhoun St. Anderson, SC 29621
864-226-7202 www.argocpa.com admin@argocpa.com
Joseph Argo, Mendell Key, Varada Ogale 1974
7 15 18
Tax management and preparation, business advisory, bookkeeping, payroll and compensation planning, audit and assurance, international taxation
Saunders O'Dell P.A. 210 E. Trade St. Simpsonville, SC 29681
864-963-3467 www.saundersodellcpa.com marc@saundersodellcpa.com
Marc Saunders, Benjamin O'Dell 1976
6 6 10
Tax, accounting, audit, QuickBooks consulting, reviews, payrolls
Smith Kesler & Co. P.A. 200 Westgate Mall Drive Spartanburg, SC 29301
864-327-1504 www.skandco.com spartanburg@skandco.com
Steve Hinds 1974
6 9 13
Auditing, reviews and compilations; tax services, estate planning, bookkeeping and write-up; litigation support, payroll services, financial forecasting and projection
Cline Brandt Kochenower & Co. P.A. 145 Rogers Commerce Blvd. Boiling Springs, SC 29316
864-541-0218 www.cbkpa.com timblake@cbkpa.com
Tim S. Blake, Ben D. Kochenower 1950
5 12 15
Auditing, bookkeeping, compilation, review, payroll processing, taxpayer representation and estate planning; individual, partnership, fiduciary and corporate tax preparation
Jeter, Lloyd, Benjamson & Booth CPAs LLC 310 Memorial Drive Greer, SC 29650
864-877-3525 www.jlbbcpas.com bryanjeter@gmail.com
Bryan Jeter, Quentin Benjamson, Bryan Lloyd 1972
5 8 8
Tax preparation and consulting, financial statements and write up, probate services, consulting and bookkeeping
Stancil Cooley Estep & Stamey LLP 631 U.S. Highway 123 Bypass Seneca, SC 29678
864-882-3048 www.scescpa.com susan@scescpa.com
Susan M. Stamey 1982
5 8 12
Individual and business tax; preparation and planning, estate and trust tax services; litigation support, audit, review and compilation; business consulting, bookkeeping, payroll; Quickbooks setup and assistance
Cox Cauley & Richardson LLC 908 N. Main St. Anderson, SC 29621
864-225-8713 www.ccrcpallc.com ccauley@coxcpas.com
Christopher S. Cauley, Thomas W. Cox 1985
4 8 15
Financial statement reviews; accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, tax planning and preparation, Quickbooks consulting, construction support for licensing and bonding; forensic analysis, business valuations
Lindley Pettigrew & Co. CPAs LLC 1907 N. Main St. Anderson, SC 29621
864-224-9230 www.lindleycpa.com james@lindleycpa.com
James Lindley, James H. Lindley 1991
4 4 11
Individual tax returns, corporate tax returns, bookkeeping, payroll, small-business advisers
Love Bailey CPAs 218 W. Laurens St. Laurens, SC 29360
864-984-2698 www.lovebaileycpa.com gbailey@lovebaileycpa.com
Gary Bailey 1982
4 11 11
Outsourced accounting department
Montgomery & Co. CPAs 101 Roper Creek Drive Greenville, SC 29615
864-233-8449 www.montgomeryandco.com info@montgomeryandco.com
Joseph F. Montgomery 1994
4 9 14
Bookkeeping, consulting, tax preparation, tax planning, exam representation, compilation, review and information technology for small businesses
Lee MacBay Hamilton & Associates LLC 109 Southport Road Spartanburg, SC 29306
864-574-3620 www.lmhtax.com
Angela W. Hamilton 1968
3 7 10
Consulting, bookkeeping, payroll, Quickbooks ProAdvisor and tax services
Nason Accounting LLC 233 Adley Way Greenville, SC 29607
864-297-7742 www.nasonaccounting.com cpa@nasonaccounting.com
Lisa Nason 2006
3 5 7
Tax return preparation; tax planning and consulting; business consulting; bookkeeping, international consulting
Ramage Lewis LLC 1310 Augusta St. Greenville, SC 29605
864-250-1818 www.ramagelewis.com taxadmin@ramagelewis.com
Martha Louise R. Lewis 1998
3 6 10
Tax planning and compliance for high net worth individuals and families; estate planning and fiduciary administration; family office 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 lists@scbiznews.com.
Services
Researched by Paige Hardy
IN FOCUS: BANKING & FINANCE
August 10 - August 23, 2020
www.gsabusiness.com 19
Accounting Firms Ranked by No. of CPAs in the Upstate
Company Upstate CPAs P.A. 775 Spartan Blvd., Suite 202 Spartanburg, SC 29301 A.T. Locke 68 Pointe Circle, Suite 2202 Greenville, SC 29615 Brock Tax Settlements 217 Whitsett St. Greenville, SC 29601 Carole S. Cooley CPA LLC 106 S. Main St. Fountain Inn, SC 29644 Moore Beauston & Woodham LLP 3447 Pelham Road, Suite 102 Greenville, SC 29615 Upstate Professional CPA Services 101 Aaron Tippen Drive, Suite C Greer, SC 29650 Curtis CPA LLC 105 Hampton Grove Way Greenville, SC 29617 Dan Livengood CPA LLC 3598 Highway 11, Suite 214 Travelers Rest, SC 29690 Gregory A. Owens CPA Inc. 2406 N. Main St., Suite G Anderson, SC 29621 Lynne D Jones CPA LLC 11 North Irvine St., Suite 4 Greenville, SC 29601 McConnell CPA Firm LLC dba Barbara R McConnell CPA New Hope Road Pelzer, SC 29669 Wells & Associates CPA LLC 1218 John B. White Sr. Blvd., Suite C Spartanburg, SC 29306 Carrick Consulting LLC 2123 Old Spartanburg Road Greer, SC 29650 JMV Management Services LLC dba CFO Services On Demand 204 E Park Ave., Suite 1003 Greenville, SC 29601
Phone / Website / Email 864-587-0667 www.upstatecpas.com sammathur@upstatecpas.com 864-908-3062 www.atlocke.com info@atlocke.com 864-558-0755 www.brocktaxsettlements.com george.brockcpa@gmail.com
Managing Partner(s) / Year Founded Salil Mathur, Bharti Mathur 2010 Anna T. Locke 2008 George H. Brock 1976
864-862-4959 carole@cooleycpa.net
1995
864-288-8000 www.fullservicecpa.com info@fullservicecpa.com 864-877-9022 www.upstatecpallc.com admin@upstatecpallc.com 864-882-2882 www.curtiscpallc.com robert@curtiscpallc.com 864-836-3136 www.danthecpa.com dan@danthecpa.com 864-224-0771 www.gregowenscpa.com gowenscpa@gmail.com 864-380-3275 www.ljonescpa.com ljones@ljonescpa.com
Mark J. Swanson 2003 Tim Moxie 2005 Robert A. Curtis 2008 Dan Livengood 2002 Gregory A. Owens 2006 Lynne D Jones 2009
864-414-2810 barbara@brmcpa.net
Barbara McConnell 2000
864-574-6768 www.wacpallc.com rw_wacpa@bellsouth.net 864-915-5505 www.carrickconsulting.com info@carrickconsulting.com 864-363-7921 www.cfosod.com jill@cfosod.com
Randy W. Wells, John A. McArthur 2003 Amy E. Carrick 2009 Jill M. Vales 2006
CPAs / Accountants / Employees 3 7 7 2 4 5 2 5 7 2 6 8 2 5 7 2 3 5 1 2 2 1 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 2
Services Provide accounting, tax, consulting and audit services for small and medium retail service businesses Outsourced accounting management services IRS and SCDOR tax negotiations, offers in compromise, tax settlements; resolving garnishments, levy reductions Business sales and acquisition consultation; business evaluations, tax planning and preparations; litigation support, attestation and bankruptcy services Accounting, tax, forecasting, tax credit, tax planning, financial modeling CPA firm providing tax, accounting, business consulting, financial planning and general consulting services Comprehensive tax and accounting services for small businesses and their owners Tax preparation, bookkeeping, Quickbooks training and upkeep, payroll processing Attestation services including financial statement audit, review and compilation; industries served include manufacturing, service, nonprofit, construction, benefit plans Compilations, accounting services, payroll services; personal, C corp, S corp and partnership federal and state tax returns; nonprofits accounting and Form 990 returns; personal financial planning and services Accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, tax planning, preparation and representation Professional fiduciary and bill paying services Outsourced finance and accounting management and consulting services for small businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies
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 lists@scbiznews.com.
AUDIT, from Page 17
received the mandatory triennial audit, and according to the Department of Revenue, for the up to 184 companies that claimed a job development credit during the past four years, only 14 or 29 audits were conducted per year over the past three years. The Revenue Department confirmed those numbers with GSA Business Report and echoed concerns that with only two job development credit auditors and one manager, the department wasn’t able to keep up with the to-do list — a job that would require $389,576 for four full-time auditors according to the Legislative Audit Council report. Department of Revenue spokesperson Bonnie Swingle verified that the suggested funding has not yet been put aside for the additional auditors — a move supported by the Commerce Department — nor has the suggested audit fee increase to $2,000 taken place. “There has always been strong and continuous communication between the Coordinating Council and the South Carolina Department of Revenue,” Swingle said in an email. “We will continue to work closely with the Coordinating Council to ensure all Job Development Credit recipients are complying with state law and revitalization agreements.” When asked about measures to mit-
igate the risk of fraud as suggested by the audit, the Commerce Department said it will continue site visitation after the threat of COVID-19 passes and acknowledged the Revenue Department would be increasing its auditing ability. The Legislative Audit Council recommended that, when applying for a grant, all applicants submit verified
Council report that audits would be prohibitive for small or new companies. “And this recommendation does not acknowledge that these types of companies typically are approved only for JDCs (which a company only receives if it performs as promised) or grants with extra stipulations requiring achievement of certain investment and/or job creating
“Adding information to our database in excess of the required amount will further demonstrate that the state often gets a better benefit for its bargain when companies create additional jobs above the minimum committed to in an RVA or performance agreement.”” Alex Clark communications director, S.C. Commerce Department
bank statements, loan guarantees, audited financial statements or reports and returns subject to review by the Internal Revenue Service or Securities and Exchange Commission. Clark said the verified bank statements and loan guarantees are already required by the council if there is any doubt that a company will be able to financially support a project. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt expressed concerns in a response letter published with the Legislative Audit
thresholds before any grant funds may be distributed,” Hitt said in the letter. State Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Columbia, — one of several politicians, including Sen. Wes Climer, R-Columbia, who called for the audit after the General Assembly passed a bill to unlock financial incentives used to move the Carolina Panthers’ headquarters to South Carolina — had not heard of any of the changes at the Commerce Department and continues to call for Hitt’s resignation.
Researched by Paige Hardy
“Frankly speaking, I’m shocked that in a state run by a conservative, Republican government, that we give away taxpayer dollars in such a flagrant and disingenuous way,” said Harpootlian, a former chairman of the S.C. Democratic Party. The Commerce Department estimated that the football team’s relocation would create 6,000 jobs, but a former economist with the agency informed Harpootlian that the 20-yearold cost-benefit model inflated the 200 jobs that would actually be created, according to Harpootlian. “Not once could they find in the last six years that the Coordinating Council turned down a project, so there’s no oversight of how these dollars are spent, who gets the money, whether it’s spent correctly,” Harpootlian said. He argued the Palmetto State’s Commerce Department is one of the least transparent in the nation. In discussion with Climer and others, Harpootlian said he hopes to make some changes to budget allocations for the revenue and commerce departments in September. “I’m not going to go into detail on those, but we’ve got to have more accountability, more transparency,” he said. Reach Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1222 or @mollyhulsey_gsa on Twitter.
20
IN FOCUS: BANKING & FINANCE
www.gsabusiness.com
August 10 - August 23, 2020
Financial planning startup takes the risk, with prudence By Molly Hulsey
Target your market in an upcoming issue of the GSA Business Report
AUGUST 24
MARKET FACTS
Advertising Deadline: July 17 SEPTEMBER 7
ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION (AEC) List: Engineering Firms Advertising Deadline: August 24 SEPTEMBER 21
MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE Special Section: Preview Guide Advertising Deadline: September 7 OCTOBER 5
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT List: Colleges and Universities Bonus List: Technical Colleges and Trade Schools Advertising Deadline: September 21 OCTOBER 19
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
List: Residential Real Estate Firms Advertising Deadline: October 5
For advertising information, call Rick Jenkins at (864) 720-1224
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or partners Chris Beard and Jesse Hansford, the greatest risk was remaining complacent. So they left their jobs at a community bank to forge a new start: investing in a start-up that helps clients assess the risks of their own investments, along with other financial planning services. “There’s things that are scary and things that are risky, and this felt like it was more scary than risky,” Hansford said. “The risk was staying where we were and kind of doing the same old thing for the rest of our career.” Launching a startup at any time takes guts and a steady hand, but especially during a pandemic. The duo hope that their experience balancing both the certain and the unknown will speak to client’s needs during challenging economic times. “That is the risk we all face on some level: ‘I’ll get to it tomorrow, and if we just never make tomorrow today, then we never get around to doing it,” Beard said. Beard and Hansford launched Professional Planning & Wealth in June and already have clients across a variety of sectors including a distributor of battlefield technologies, a hospice group and a human resource company among others. The duo also consults individuals on 401(K)s, taxes, trust and estate planning, assets and liabilities, retirement strategies and Social Security benefits. And as the marketplace continues to flatten, opening up myriad opportunities for both startups and established corporations despite and also because of the circumstances, Beard and Hansford offer a few suggestions to help business owners seize the day while also mitigating unnecessary risks. “Know what percentage of your income you’re saving,” Beard said when asked about his top advice for clients. Also: “There’s a difference between being smart and being prudent.” Beard, a former Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards member of the U.S. Commission of Standards and chairman of the Disciplinary and Ethic Commission, covers most of the company’s wealth management processes and 401(k) consulting, according to a news release announcing the company’s launch. Beard pointed to investors mimicking the choices of day trader and blogger Dave Portnoy without realizing the long-term implications it could have for
them as a prime example. Portnoy’s shout-out-of-day was an investor who had made $3 million on Kodak stock after it shot up to about $11 a share from its former $2 or $3 price following the former photography giant’s foray into COVID-19 treatment. It may have worked for him, Beard warns, but that doesn’t mean it will work for everyone else. During economically uncertain times such as the era ushered in by COVID19, the partners recommend ensuring that a business owner’s portfolio favors high liquidity to face market uncertainty. “So what does “liquidity looking
“There’s a difference between being smart and being prudent.” Chris Beard partner, Professional Planning & Wealth
good” mean? It means either having cash in the bank or having access to cash obviously for your business. One of the things we see a lot with business owners is that they will have illiquid as a pretty hefty portion of their net worth, and one thing about having a business — that’s a risk factor in and of itself. The other side is trying to find your capacity for risk, that you’re thinking about your capacity for risk,” said Beard. Especially during this time, business owners must weigh their company’s sensitivity to the market with other ongoing financial decisions. Understanding the budget allows for some flexibility “when things turn south” reiterated Hansford. He also encourages clients to recognize the incentives at play for advisers. Hansford, a U.S. army veteran from the Chicago area, has served as a financial adviser for 13 years, according to a news release. He tends to cover oneon-one meetings with clients and also manages client communications in the office. “Planning is in the more distant future. The budget is now, and the savings aspect gives you some more flexibility in the here and now, as well as in planning for the future. As I said, they are all intertwined,” Hansford said. Reach Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1222 or @mollyhulsey_gsa on Twitter.
At Work
BUSINESS DIGEST | PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Business Digest
Roylco makes child-sized facemasks
Roylco of Anderson announced it is producing My Animal Face Shields, a line of washable, reusable face shields for personal protection intended specifically for children. Roylco is also making face shields for first responders throughout the United States. My Animal Face Shields are available at www.roylco.com.
Parker Fire earns safety designation
The Parker Fire Department received a Fire Safe South Carolina Community Designation. Fire Safe South Carolina was launched in 2017 and works with local fire departments to develop community risk reduction plans, as well as provide educational resources for citizens. Parker was one of 57 departments honored this year.
United honored for support of arts
United Community Bank said it was recognized by the South Carolina Arts Commission as a 2020 Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Awards for the Arts award recipient. The bank, which has executive headquarters in Greenville and more than 30 locations in South Carolina, was recognized in the business category for its nearly 10 years of contributions to various arts organizations in the state. The bank has given support to the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, the Peace Center in Greenville and North Charleston POPS! in the Lowcountry, among other organizations.
Spartanburg Community College to offer students an avenue into the School of Pharmacy. Students at SCC who satisfactorily complete the agreed-upon courses and submit a PharmCAS application to Presbyterian College will be guaranteed an interview, the schools said. The pre-pharmacy courses at SCC can be completed in two years. Once accepted by Presbyterian, students will be eligible to complete their doctor of pharmacy degree in four years.
Company moves ahead on AI tech
Greenville-based software development and IT company Blue Eye Soft announced that it received acknowledgment from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of its pre-submission package for its proprietary artificial intelligence-driven medical imaging software, BluedocaiTM, to assist with the medical diagnosis of diseases such as COVID-19. BluedocaiTM is a clinical support tool that uses AI-driven deep learning algorithms to assist radiologists and other health care professionals with diagnosis of diseases, such as COVID-19. BluedocaiTM can rapidly analyze chest X-rays to detect the presence of COVID-19, for example, the company said. Blue Eye Soft Corp. said it is also developing tools to support the medical diagnosis of other diseases, such as pneumonia, pneumothorax, tuberculosis, cancer and stroke.
Jersey Mike’s opens Anderson store
Jersey Mike’s Subs said it opened a location at 3319 N. Main Street in Anderson. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and public health authorities, Jersey Mike’s dining room will be open at a limited capacity with socially distant tables. Guests can continue to place takeout orders in-store or for curbside pickup through the website or through the Jersey Mike’s app. Additionally, delivery is available in most areas through the Jersey Mike’s app or through third-party delivery partners. The restaurant’s hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
Endowment receives high rating
Schools enter pharmacy partnership
The Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy entered into an agreement with
The ETV Endowment of South Carolina said it earned the 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, which recognizes fiscal responsibility and accountability. This is the ninth consecutive year the ETV Endowment of South Carolina has
earned this top distinction, the organization said.
Ellipsis enters new partnership
Greenville-based Ellipsis Technologies announced a partnership with San Francisco-based Convesio, a hosting platform for WordPress site owners and agencies. With this partnership, the Ellipsis Human Presence security plugin will be included with the Convesio service. The Human Presence technology was designed for WordPress and includes invisible bot detection and prevention with a special focus on combating form spam for WordPress site owners.
nent Services Greenwood LLC.
Site Design moves to new office
Site Design Inc. said it moved to a new office space at 225 Rocky Creek Road in Greenville. The firm will be located in two buildings, one for the survey department and the other for the engineering and landscape architecture departments. Site Design provides civil engineering, landscape architecture and land-surveying services throughout South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Service sectors generally include single and multi-family residential, commercial, health care and industrial projects. The firm was founded in 1991 and has offices in Greenville and Spartanburg.
Fuel announces grant recipient
Construction complete on Cambria
Frampton Construction Co. LLC completed work on the 126-room Cambria Hotel in Greenville. The four-story, 75,000-square-foot hotel is located on Carolina Point Parkway in a mixeduse retail area off Woodruff Road. The property is situated near retailers Whole Foods, Total Wine and Starbucks, among others. The hotel is operated by Raines Hospitality.
Greenville marketing agency Fuel said it selected Neighborhood Housing Corp. as its third quarter Fuel for Good Grant recipient. The $10,000 quarterly marketing grant helps local non-profits achieve their goals and fulfill their vision to positively impact the Upstate community. Neighborhood Housing Corp. constructs and rehabilitates homes for affordable home-ownership. The organization also provides housing rentals for low- to moderate-wealth families and special attention segments of the population, such as veterans or seniors.
Fitesa to expand in Simpsonville
Fitesa, a global producer of nonwoven solutions for the hygiene and health care industries, announced plans to install a production line at its Simpsonville facility to supply raw materials for the production of N95 face masks. Commercial production is expected to start in the 4th quarter. Fitesa supplies nonwoven materials to manufacturers of diapers and feminine care products. The company employs around 300 people in Simpsonville and said it will be hiring this summer in preparation for the new line.
AU adds digital marketing program
Eaton acquires site in Greenwood
Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer announced that Eaton Corp. purchased the 111,600-square-foot manufacturing facility at 5502 Highway 25 North in Hodges for $4.2 million. The location sits on 10 acres and will be used to consolidate Eaton operations into one location, according to a news release. The property was sold by Turbine Compo-
Anderson University announced the launch of an online Digital Marketing Science Certificate program in partnership with GreenFig, an education company that provides universities with programs in applied business science. In the new Digital Marketing Science program offering, learners will be working extensively in three technologies: Google Analytics, Google Ads and HubSpot. The 10-week program at Anderson University will begin monthly on a rolling basis, starting Sept. 8.
Submit items using our online submission portal: www.GSABizWire.com. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.
22
www.gsabusiness.com
August 10 - August 23, 2020
People in the News ADVERTISING, MARKETING & PR
Hall
Crawford Strategy added Jane Finney Hall as account director. Hall has more than 25 years of agency experience with a background of managing accounts for national and international brands.
BANKING & FINANCE Michaela Shoop joined MassMutual South Carolina as a financial services professional in the Greenville office. Shoop earned her MBA from the UniShoop versity of Southern California and formerly worked as a research scientist in Los Angeles.
Brown
United Community Bank added Bob Brown as chief information security officer. Brown has more than two decades of experience managing business technologies.
CONSTRUCTION
Southern Wesleyan University appointed Michael Hylen as graduate faculty and coordinator of doctoral studies and associate professor of education. Hylen Hylen previously taught online for Louisiana State University-Shreveport in education leadership studies and curriculum and instruction departments.
Eigner
North Greenville University named longtime law enforcement leader Tony Eigner director of safety and security. Eigner served with the Newberry County Sheriff ’s Office for more than 20 years.
Professor named fellow of American Chemical Society Staff Report
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gsanews@scbiznews.com
urman University chemistry professor George C. Shields has been selected as a member of the 2020 class of fellows of the American Chemical Society. The ACS Fellows Program, created in 2008, is one component of a broader ACS Awards Program. It recognizes members of the Shields American Chemical Society for outstanding contributions to the science and the profession and for exemplary service to the society. The American Chemical Society named 53 members as fellows in 2020, according to a news release. In November, Shields was elected a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In February, he was named a 2020 Council on Undergraduate Research fellow, an honor that recognizes his leadership and service as a role model in under-
graduate research, scholarship and creative activities. He has received more than $5.9 million in grant funding for his research and several honors for his teaching and research, the news release said. Shields has worked with more than 120 undergraduate students on research projects over his career, and 90% of his alumni have entered graduate or professional school. In 2000, Shields founded the Molecular Education and Research Consortium in Undergraduate Computational Chemistry, which has provided opportunities for more than 1,000 students and 38 faculty members, with substantial participation from underserved populations, to work on computational chemistry research projects and share findings at conferences and in published work, the release said. The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. The organization’s mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of earth and its people, the release said.
ENGINEERING Eldeco Inc. named Joel Langhals president. Langhals previously served as vice president of the company’s Charleston operations.
Langhals
Carpenter
Shaw Resources Inc. A former state representative, Shaw has served as a corporate director of BB&T Corp.; director and member of the executive comShaw mittee of the United Carolina Bancshares; vice chairman of United Carolina Bank of South Carolina; and director of the Bank of Greer.
Mac Carpenter has joined O’Neal as executive vice president. He has 35 years of construction experience, including serving as president of BE&K Building Group for the past six years.
EDUCATION Anderson University awarded an honorary doctorate to Jack E. Shaw, the founder, chairman and president of
Zuendt Engineering hired Brent Ward as a business development specialist. Ward, who served in the U.S. Air Force, previously worked for Verizon Wireless, Ward Open Range Communications and Design South Professionals Inc.
MUNICIPALITIES The Greer City Council appointed Andrew Merriman as new city administrator, effective Aug. 3. Merriman, who previously served as deputy county administrator Merriman for York County, will replace Ed Driggers, who is retiring following 20 years of service to the city of Greer.
REAL ESTATE
Purdie
Marchant Co. named Celeste Purdie coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion. Purdie has 25 years of experience in human resources and served as a member of the U.S. Air Force.
Wilson Associates Real Estate hired Ashley Bickerstaff as vice president of business development. She is a former board member of the Center of DevelopBickerstaff mental Services, as well as The Bradshaw Institute for Community Child Health & Advocacy at Prisma Health.
Furnas
Colliers International South Carolina hired Greyson Furnas as a brokerage associate in Spartanburg. Greyson is a Certified Commercial Investment Member.
TECHNOLOGY IMS Solutions Group, a division of Immedion, promoted Kim Anderson to director of accounting. Anderson joined Immedion in 2018 through Anderson the company’s acquisition of Integral Solutions Group, where she served on the finance team for more than 10 years.
Submit items using our online submission portal: www.GSABizWire.com. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.
Viewpoint
VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS
Pandemic fuels accelerated adoption of telemedicine in S.C.
I
n the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a wide range of changes in society, technology and health care have been accelerated exponentially by the extraordinary biological and economic forces at play. The adoption of telemedicine, or telehealth — the delivery of health care from a distance by means of audio and visual technologies — has been a clear examRYAN JUDD ple of such a shift. While telehealth had been slowly making its way into medicine’s mainstream in recent years, during the early weeks of the coronavirus’s spread in March and April, its utilization as a percentage of all health care visits increased from essentially 0% to 15%. Across the country, the move toward telemedicine was expedited by a roughly 60% decrease in outpatient visits during the initial surge of the outbreak, according to data from private health care foundation The Commonwealth Fund. In South Carolina and many other states, medical practices were further incentivized to adopt this new method of health care delivery when public and private insurers temporarily expanded reimbursement for certain services provided via telehealth, including well-visits, behavioral assessments and physical therapy. Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, the ground rules for telemedicine were established in South Carolina by statute and guidance from the state’s Board of Medical Examiners. The South Carolina Telemedicine Act of 2016 (SC Code § 40-47-37 et al) addressed the fundamental standards for the practice of telemedicine, including requirements that the provider maintain a South Carolina medical license, a standard of care equal to in-person delivery of services, and patient medical records consistent with state and federal laws. In addition, both the act and board policies made clear that a physician-patient relationship cannot be established via telemedicine solely for the purpose of prescribing medications, and that prescriptions for controlled substances are not permitted unless specifically authorized by the Board. While the act provided a basic framework for the authorized practice of telehealth in South Carolina, it left ample room for future legislation and refinement.
Photo/File
Such a dramatic shift to telemedicine across the nation has brought several issues to light that will require public discussion and policy changes in the coming months. One concern is that most of the expansions of telemedicine reimbursement were only provided for the short term “state of emergency” and will need to be made permanent through the proper channels. Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, recently told Hospice News that the “genie’s out of the bottle” on telehealth reimbursement and “there’s absolutely no going back,” but it remains to be seen how payer terms and rates will be renegotiated once the pandemic subsides. This leads to the issue of payment parity — that is, the debate as to whether insurers will reimburse providers the same amount for telemedicine as for in-person services. Verma told leadingage.org that she sees “potential savings for the system” in telehealth visits, which indicates that she is not in favor of strict payment parity for federal programs. Private payers will be watching federal policy closely as they look to create their own cost savings through telemedicine visits at lower rates. Another important issue is the originating site rule which, prior to its suspension by CMS during the pandemic,
required that in order to conduct a federally reimbursable telehealth visit, the patient had to live in a rural area and utilize telemedicine facilities at a physician’s office or clinic. At a recent hearing on telehealth before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, advocated, in remarks reported on the American Medical Association’s website, for the permanent removal of the originating site rule so that any patient could attend a telemedicine visit from anywhere, including from the patient’s home. While the originating site rule has limited the patient’s location during a telehealth visit, state licensure barriers have limited a physician’s ability to practice telemedicine across state lines. To address these barriers at the federal level, legislators could define the provider’s location as the location in which the telehealth visit takes place for purposes of licensure and payment. State licensing boards will not be quick to relinquish control over the practice of medicine in their states, but potential solutions advocated by experts in an article on mhealthintelligence.com include waiving licensure requirements for licensed providers from other states, creating reciprocal agreements with neighboring states, and expanding the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact,
which facilitates the licensure process for physicians preparing to practice telehealth across state lines. Many physicians in South Carolina have opened the door to telemedicine due to the remarkable circumstances of the Covid-19 outbreak, but much remains to be seen as to how the practice of telehealth will emerge on the other side as patients return to pre-pandemic comfort levels with in-person services. While many barriers to telemedicine have been removed out of the necessity of the current situation, the imminent decisions of politicians and policy makers on these issues will go a long way in shaping the practice of medicine in our state and the country as a whole. Ryan Judd is an associate in the Columbia, S.C. office of Turner Padget. He focuses his practice on transactional business matters in the areas of commercial real estate and health care law. Ryan can be contacted at rjudd@turnerpadget. com.
We want to hear from you Write: Ross Norton, Editor GSA Business Report, 35 Cessna Court, Suite A Greenville, S.C. 29607
Email: rnorton@scbiznews.com
24
www.gsabusiness.com
August 10 - August 23, 2020
Our “Coffee With…” page features an Upstate business executive sharing insights about their business, the industry in which they work and the community in which they live. Where’s the coffee, you ask? Well, that occurs in an accompanying video. We sit down with the executive – over coffee – to see what else is on their mind. Much better than you might expect, actually! Everyone understands that we all have to work together to keep the spread of this virus controlled. We had a large portion of our clients take advantage of the PPP [Payment Protection Program] loans, and we worked with them continuously to make sure they have the most up-to-date information. We believe it’s our role to ensure that our clients are fully informed on all aspects of the pandemic that impact their businesses and employees.
Today, we’re “having coffee” with David Evette, QBS President. You can check out David’s video on GSA Business Report’s YouTube channel or on one of our two e-newsletters, Morning Blend or GSA Daily (Monday – Friday).
AND, HOW HAS QBS HELPED YOUR CLIENTS TO NAVIGATE THIS PANDEMIC ON A BROADER SCALE? In the beginning, we focused mainly on helping clients understand and navigate the unemployment process. We provided guidance they could disseminate to employees relating to the complex tasks associated with filing for unemployment and how to get checks as quickly as possible. We also helped business owners understand that placing employees on unemployment during this pandemic wasn’t necessarily hurting them as much as it could otherwise – providing additional expertise on protecting their investment by timely placement, before using up any, or all, of their reserve funds. We knew it was important to our clients that they had something for employees to come back to as soon as they could restart operations. QBS also shared numerous webinars, training calls, and memorandums to help clients understand new information and changes coming from both the Federal and State levels. Overall, communication was key for us to best support our clients, as well as any prospects we were working with.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, COVID OR NOT, WHEN YOU TAKE ON A NEW CLIENT, WHERE DO YOU TEND TO FIND THE MOST ROOM FOR BETTER EFFICIENCY – FOR SAVING TIME OR MONEY? It’s been my experience that saving time almost always leads to saving money. We all know that the administrative management of employees generates no revenue, so QBS utilizes advancements in data collection, data processing and safe data storage – which have changed drastically over the last 10 years – to help our clients do this necessary work both efficiently and effectively. Innovation and technology have always been at the heart of what ultimately makes QBS and our clients successful. YOU MENTIONED THAT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS CONTINUES TO BE A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR SMALL TO MEDIUM BUSINESSES. HOW DO YOU HELP THIS SEGMENT OF BUSINESSES? This is one of the areas I enjoy most when working with clients. Every business in different and every business is unique in the way that they want to provide for their employees. Every business also has certain financial constraints. While traditional health insurance is always an option, there are several new programs that have recently come to market. At QBS we are preparing to launch a new suite of Direct Care services as an alternative to traditional health insurance for those companies who want to provide some type of health and wellness benefit to new and existing employees. In my almost 30 years in this industry, I’ve learned that you can never get too comfortable to think that what you have is good enough. If you don’t stay up to date on new ways to provide benefits to your employees, you will end up paying more than you need to.
Quality Biz Solutions Full Page
YOU’RE IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THEIR BUSINESSES. BEFORE I ASK YOU HOW BUSINESS IS GOING FOR OTHERS, LET ME ASK: HOW IS BUSINESS FOR YOU? A big part of my job, in addition to leading the company, is business development. As you can imagine, it’s been a bit more challenging to get out and meet new people and talk face-to-face. The good news is that we have a really loyal client base. They’ve not only stuck with us, but have also continued to refer others to us, which has kept us going during this challenging time. HOW HAVE YOU ADJUSTED WORKING CONDITIONS FOR YOUR STAFF DURING THIS PANDEMIC? Due to the nature of our business, QBS has always needed a back-up plan where our people could easily transition to working from home on short notice. When you deal in payroll, if there’s an ice storm or other incident, you still need to take care of your clients. At the onset of the pandemic, we made quick adjustments to limit the number of people physically reporting to work. Since there are some items we can’t complete remotely, a minimal number of employees have continued to come into the office. When folks do come in, we are following all the recommended procedures. We have a daily temperature check upon arrival and team members must wear a face mask when not seated at their desks. We’re also cleaning and sanitizing throughout the day more frequently than before. Overall, our staff has been incredible in terms of flexibility and understanding. We’re doing everything we can to provide the best service to our customers while keeping our employees safe. NOW, TO YOUR CLIENTS: OVERALL, WHAT IS THE MOOD OF THE PEOPLE AT THE BUSINESSES YOU SERVE?
OF THE VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES THAT YOU OFFER, HAS THE PANDEMIC CAUSED A SHIFT IN DEMAND (UP OR DOWN) FOR ANY OF THEM? Definitely. Besides the overwhelming increase in demand for our HR Administration service and expertise, we also had a renewed interest in benefits, particularly medical offerings. Providing affordable health care offerings continues to be a challenge for small to medium businesses. And with the added possibility of an employee or family member becoming ill with COVID-19, now more than ever, our clients are looking for creative ways to provide affordable benefit options for all employees. IS THERE ANY ASPECT OF BUSINESS THAT OPERATORS SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW? Compliance is a big one. While this is always important, it is especially relevant now for any organization that has taken advantage of the programs developed in response to this pandemic like PPP or Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Getting financial assistance was one thing, but now companies must focus on recordkeeping, as well as how and when to complete the paperwork required for loan forgiveness. Beyond compliance, technology and innovation have climbed to the top of the priority list in our increasingly virtual world. There are a lot of offerings out there, but business owners need to be selective and choose partners who can keep their information safe.
INCLUSIVITY HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE’VE ALL BEEN AWARE OF, BUT MANY OF US ARE SUDDENLY REALIZING WE ONLY THOUGHT WE WERE DOING ENOUGH. HOW CAN BUSINESS LEADERS ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INITIATIVES AND BEGIN TO TAKE ACTION FOR IMPROVEMENT? This is a great question. Over the past month, QBS has hosted a series of webinars including the topics of Unconscious Bias and Emotional Intelligence (EQ). We have also shared insights on how to create a more inclusive workplace, and we realize this is just the beginning. As employers and as Americans, we must all take a hard look at the status quo — within our companies and communities — and ask ourselves how we can move towards greater equity and equality.
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