Issuu

VOLUME 24 NUMBER 19 ■ GSABUSINESS.COM

Part of the

Entrepreneur helps police bring down $4.5M patent scam

Workhorse clears way for Oshkosh

Competing company drops opposition to automaker’s contract. Page 8

By Molly Hulsey

Millions for movies Film industry gets unexpected boost. Page 6

Milestone for SBA portal

1 million owners seek loan forgiveness. Page 3 Solvay officials Prasad Donti and Carmelo Lo Faro discuss the new TPC product lines at the Piedmont facility with Gov. Henry McMaster. (Photo/Molly Hulsey)

Modern and modular

Impresa plans factory in Greenwood. Page 16

INSIDE

Leading Off .......................... 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 C-Suite ................................ 4 In Focus: Residential Real Estate ................................ 15 LIST: Residential Real Estate Firms ................................. 18 At Work ..............................22 Viewpoint ...........................23

OCTOBER 4 - OCTOBER 17, 2021 ■ $2.25

network

Solvay answers lithium shortage fears with PVDF tape line By Molly Hulsey

mhulsey@scbiznews.com

lternative energy demand began to climb for an auto and aerospace giant, and something had to give. Solvay sent out a companywide survey several years ago querying employees for thoughts on the next best home for a thermoplastics composites, or TPC, facility. Officials debated locations in Europe, South America and the United States, and in 2019, a former Cytec carbon fiber production facility in Pied-

mont’s S.C. Technology and Aviation Center won out. “Globally, everybody is going to clean energy, and the applications we are going after: it saves them about 30% in total costs of ownership, so this is an enabler for that industry,” Prasad Donti, project leader for the company’s thermoplastic capital projects, told GSA Business Report. The Belgian company produces tapes made from thermoplastic composites used in the See SOLVAY, Page 11

In Focus

Boom time for appraisers Red-hot market causes scramble, appraisal delays. Page 15

mhulsey@scbiznews.com

scam run out of a Latvian apartment bilked American companies for millions of dollars, but less than $2,000 taken from a Greenville entrepreneur ended the scheme and landed the suspect in an American prison. Julie Maddox, the Greenville founder of the diabetic-friendly Benji Bars, was one of 2,900 businesses that investigators say were swindled in a $4.5 million scheme by Latvian Viktors Suhorukovs. He was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison on Sept. 14 for tricking trademark holders into sending him trademark renewal fee payments that victims thought were going to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For Maddox the scam threw her exclusive ownership of her product name and tagline, “Make it Better,” into jeopardy, she told GSA Business Report. Since she could not afford to renew the trademark after mailing Suhorukovs, 37, a check that she thought was bound for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, her brand is up for grabs. If she sells any of her trademarked products, she is committing an act of fraud, according to intellectual property attorney Santucci Priore. “Every hard thing that I have come across in the business, I have overcome,” Maddox said. “COVID didn’t shut me down, but this person who perpetuated this scam did shut me down.” For Maddox, it started on a July day in 2019, when she pulled an invoice from the mailbox. Maddox has invested seven years into her startup, which she launched after developing a recipe for low-sugar protein bars for her son Benjamin after he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Even before the snacks hit See SCAM, Page 12

Leading Oﬀ

BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS | C-SUITE

Sellers market continues across the Southeast

outh Carolina’s housing market is on fire, and that means if you’re selling real estate, you’re getting at or above asking price in record time on most locations. The pandemic has had a number of economic ripple effects that economist likely will spend the better part of this century trying to figure out, but numbers don’t lie. Real estate professionals and their buyers understand the allure of places like South Carolina during a health care crisis like coronavirus: You have relatively cheap land, low taxes and a low population density. Then add some of the garden-spot amenities, such as Charleston’s reputation, Columbia’s access to state government and higher education, and the Upstate’s location as a gateway to the mountains, and you have a recipe for high demand. However, if you’re already here, that means equity. CoreLogic, a California-based property and financial data analytics company, analyzed the first quarter equity data for all 50 states to compare how each state is ebbing and flowing with the national housing market.

Equity in the South While the national housing market has lured people away from many states as they realized they could work remotely, the South has become a hot market for those looking to get away.

State

Yearly change in equity

Virginia

$36,000

North Carolina

$28,000

Tennessee

$27,000

Florida

$26,000

Georgia

$24,000

South Carolina

$22,000

Alabama

$18,000

Kentucky

$17,000

Louisiana

$17,000

A LA CARTE

Alice Co.’s E. Smyth McKissick III (left) and E. Smyth McKissick IV donated a 1954 Hunt fly shuttle loom to the Easley Area Museum. Now a diversified holdings company in Greenville, the company operated as Alice Manufacturing for nearly a century in Easley.

$1,900,000,000,000

The value of homeowner equity rose 19.6% between Q1 2020 and Q1 this year, increasing nearly $1.9 trillion in 12 months.

$33,400

Average home equity gained by the average U.S. homeowner over the past year.

AC Hotel Greenville Downtown hosted a reception for the Peace family to show them the new Press Room, a cocktail bar located in the hotel. Auro Hotels’ J.P. Rama, H.P. Rama and John Deck presented the family with the original Roger Craft Peace Plaza historic marker once

$70,900

California gained the most during that time.

$8,400

displayed where the hotel now stands.

North Dakota had the lowest equity nationally.

Source: CoreLogic Homeowner Equity Insights

ON THE

RECORD

“That they (Workhorse) withdrew their claim is telling. None of the others who were competing for the contract challenged it.”

Better Business Bureau of Upstate South Carolina awarded Simply Southern Chiropractic Center with the BBB Applause

— Mark Simmons, Parker Poe Consulting

Award for meeting and exceeding advertising standards.

WEBSITE: www.GSABusiness.com

@GSABusiness

facebook.com/GSABusiness

October 4 - October 17, 2021

www.gsabusiness.com 3

SC Biz News Briefs EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST Retail • Hospitality • Financial Centers Corporate Offices • Healthcare Facilities

CHARLESTON

Teri Errico Griffis, Charleston Regional Business Journal

September sees additional flights and increased volume at Charleston airport September was a good month for the Charleston International Airport. Early in the month volume surpassed 2019 passenger traffic, and that was without the full return of business travel. The airport saw an average increase of 138% passengers over Labor Day weekend. Each day saw double the passengers from 2020, with Sept. 2 jumping from 2,951 last year to 6,791 passengers. The spikes continued through Labor Day with a difference of 5,238 passengers between the two years. And the Southwest Airlines added a new nonstop service from Charleston to Austin, Texas — the first of its kind between the two cities. Flights are expected to begin March 10. “Southwest is an incredible partner, and it’s a real vote of confidence for the airport and this region that they’ve decided to expand their route map again from Charleston International,” said Elliott Summey, CEO of the Charleston County Aviation Authority.

COLUMBIA

FORGECONSTRUCTION.COM

Bui l di ng wi t h Inte grit y

Melinda Waldrop, Columbia Regional Business Report

SBA loan forgiveness portal reaches milestone with 1 million applications One million applications have now been received by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program Direct Borrower Forgiveness Portal from borrowers seeking forgiveness for loans of $150,000 or less. The SBA announced the milestone Sept. 22. Since the portal’s launch, the organization has received applications for more than $17 billion in loan relief. “We are committed to delivering against the promise of forgiveness for our eligible PPP borrowers. Our innovative direct forgiveness portal is helping our PPP borrowers get back to doing what they do best — creating jobs and powering our nation’s economy,” SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman said in a news release. The SBA said the number of lenders participating in the program has more than doubled from 600 at its launch to more than 1,400. The organization said 65% of 2021 PPP loans eligible for direct forgiveness have been submitted.

Canvas Lofts

CAPERS CAUTHEN Landrum Tables, owner

PAGE 4 VOLUME 14 NUMBER 13 ■ COLUMBIABUSINESSREPORT.COM

Part of the

network

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 10, 2021 ■ $2.25

With publications in the Upstate, Columbia and Charleston, as well as a statewide magazine, SC Biz News covers the pulse of business across South Carolina. Above are excerpts from our other publications.

FROM THE GROUND

That’s nuts

Premium Peanut coming to Orangeburg County. Page 2

VOLUME 27 NUMBER 20 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM

Part of the

By Jenny Peterson

Luxury living

New townhouse community begins development on Broad Street. Page 14

Contributing Writer

second planned unit development has been pitched for Ravenel, the rural town of 2,700 residents, showing signs that progress is now pushing outward from West Ashley. Residents are concerned the movement could fundamentally change the rural nature

of the area they call home. Plans for the Tea Farm Tract, a proposed 400-unit planned development in Ravenel, and the related annexation of over 3,100 acres of land in Ravenel, were blessed Sept. 16 by the town’s planning and zoning commission, with a recommendation to limit density on over 2,000 acres of land outside the development. The Tea Farm Tract would sit on 395 acres

Pay increase

McCutchen House serving lunch to public once more. Page 4

Charleston County raises its minimum wage to $13.50. Page 8

Power List

SC Biz News ranks state’s most influential bankers. Page 17

INSIDE

Upfront................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs................ 3 In Focus: Commercial Real Estate......................... 12 List: Commercial Real Estate Firms................................. 14 At Work ..............................29 Viewpoint ........................... 31

Could immigration reform help solve S.C.’s workforce shortages? Page 20 Tombo Milliken (left) and Tom Milliken scout a piece of property in Fairfield County for NAI Columbia. The father-son duo has been behind many of the Midlands’ biggest commercial real estate deals. (Photo/Ashley Wright for NAI Columbia)

By Melinda Waldrop

mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

wenty years ago, Tom Milliken sat on a Blythewood porch and rocked. He had a vision for land surrounding the house where he was occupying a rocking chair. He would have to get it under contract three times and keep an assemblage of nine landowners on the same page for almost two decades, but eventually, that vision would come to fruition in the form of the $26.2 million, 1,348-acre Blythewood Industrial Park. “Holding all these people together for all these years … Contracts would expire, but I would always go out and rock on the porch

with all those people, take them a little something at Christmas, and stay in touch with all of them,” he said. “It took exactly 20 years to close from the time I ever set foot at somebody’s door. Any one person could have pulled the plug in the middle.” The park, along Interstate 77 in northeast Richland County and completed in 2019 in a deal involving the county, is just one of the latest examples of the major moves Tom Milliken has been orchestrating for the better part of a half-century in the Midlands and beyond. Now senior broker and principal at NAI Columbia, specializing in commercial and recreational properties, industrial and investment land, and timberland, he has

Taking on Twitter been a part of a firm that has gone through five mergers since it was founded in the mid1960s by real estate pioneer Joe Edens. Ten years ago, Tom Milliken was joined at the firm by his son, Tombo, and the duo has been the driving force behind some of the Midlands’ biggest — and most complicated — commercial real estate deals ever since. “I always wanted to be in the real estate business. I never thought that I could afford to be in the real estate business,” said Tombo Milliken, who worked in employee benefits for 19 years before insurance changes in the wake of the Affordable Care Act in the smallSee BROKERS, Page 16

Motley Rice negotiates an $809.5 million settlement. Page 8

INSIDE

Upfront................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs................ 3 Small Business Spotlight ....... 4 In Focus: Education and Workforce Development ..................... 15 List: Postgraduate Degree Programs........................... 17 Bonus List: Private Schools..18 At Work .............................. 21 Viewpoint ...........................23

STREET SMART

The business owners behind Ma’am Saab take a pandemic-era opportunity to serve up Pakistani street snacks East of the Cooper. Page 7

(Photo/Fia Forever Studios)

Interstate widening

State allocates $360 million to widen Interstate 26 between Columbia and Charleston. Page 9

ColumbiaBusinessReport.com

See RAVENEL, Page 11

By Alexandria Ng

Help needed

Vaccine mandates City of Columbia passes measure requiring shots. Page 6

of land. Rebecca Baird, who lives adjacent to the property and whose husband runs a grass-fed beef farm on their property, also opposed the annexation and development. “I’m begging you to not annex this property; it will be devastating for this community, it will change the traffic flow, it will change how

100s of students enroll for work training center

Milliken duo turns dirt into momentous projects

Your table awaits

OCTOBER 4 - 17, 2021 ■ $2.25

network

Residential developments expand into Ravenel

ang@scbiznews.com

outh Carolina’s economic region is growing, and the trained workforce is struggling to keep up. But the West Ashley Center for Advanced Studies is aiming to equip students from a young age to be career-minded and skills-oriented. Opened in August, this four-acre campus adjacent to West Ashley High School will offer courses to students from West Ashley High, Baptist Hill Middle High and St. John’s High School. According to Dale Metzger, principal of the center, the goal is to have every student earn career- and/or college-readiness certification by the time they complete their semester, along with normal high school credits and soft skills. Students will leave with training and industry certifications in hand, enabling them to directly enter the workforce or to pursue higher education better prepared for college coursework and with a better understanding of their career goals. The center offers 11 programs that cover a variety of fields, including cybersecurity,

See WEST ASHLEY, Page 9

Calculating for the future

Accounting firms figure out how to attract and retain young workers. Page 15

CharlestonBusiness.com

SCBIZmag.com

mashburn con struction .com

www.gsabusiness.com

October 4 - October 17, 2021

UPSTATE NEWSROOM Editor - Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1222 Staff Writer - Molly Hulsey mhulsey@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1223 Associate Editor, Custom Publishing Division Jim Tatum jtatum@scbiznews.com • 864.720.2269 MIDLANDS NEWSROOM Editor - Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7542 LOWCOUNTRY NEWSROOM Executive Editor - Andy Owens aowens@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3142 Staff Writer - Teri Errico Griffis tgriffis@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3125 Editor, Custom Publishing Division Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123 Research Specialist - Paige Wills pwills@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3125 News Editor - Alexandria Ng ang@scbiznews.com • 843-849-3124 Web Editor - Rob Lyle rlyle@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3119

Photo/Provided

A View From The C-Suite

Pamela L. Christopher, IOM, CCE, CCEC | President & CEO | Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce

UPSTATE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Senior Account Executive - Ryan Downing rdowning@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1221 Account Executive - Angie Hammond ahammond@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1974 MultiMedia Advertising Executive - Amanda Alford aalford@bridgetowermedia.com • 864.720.1225

THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED

Group Publisher - Rick Jenkins rjenkins@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1224 Robert Reilly - Director of Advertising rreilly@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3107

Working to help our businesses thrive through this pandemic and reach the qualified workforce they need

Take time to listen and help

to prosper.

others because you may be

LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOUR COMPANY

the only person they have to count on.

South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth

WHAT IS THE STIFFEST CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY NOW?

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE? In all you do, give it your all.

We worked with the Small Business Administration and Small Business Development Center to ensure that webinars/training was allotted for our businesses throughout South Carolina to help them with the federal assistance and proper application process.

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE? To work collectively to strengthen our economy and provide resolutions for our business community through promotion and advocacy that will protect our businesses and ensure they thrive. We provide needed business connections that add to each business’ bottom line.

Creative Director - Ryan Wilcox rwilcox@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3117 Events Account Executive - Melissa Tomberg mtomberg@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1220 Events Manager - Kim McManus kmcmanus@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3116 Accounting - Linda Burnette ar@bridgetowermedia.com • 704-247-2900 Subscription Services service@bridgetowermedia.com • 877.615.9536 CUSTOM MEDIA DIVISION Director of Business Development - Mark Wright mwright@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3143

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION GSA Business Report (USPS 8460) is published twice monthly by SC Biz News, 35 Cessna Court, Suite A, Greenville, SC 29607-2700. Periodicals postage paid at Greenville, SC and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: Subscription Services PO Box 1051 Williamsport, PA 17703-9940.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Annual subscribers receive the GSA Business Report, including Book of Experts, Market Facts, and the Book of Lists. One year for $57.95; Two years for $92.95; 3 years for $129.95. Subscribe, renew, change your address or pay your invoice online at www.gsabusiness.com or call 877-615-9536.

NWS Company LLC A portfolio company of BridgeTower Media

The entire contents of this newspaper are copyright by NWS Company LLC with all rights reserved. Any reproduction or use of the content within this publication without permission is prohibited. SCBIZ and South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Ofﬁce.

October 4 - October 17, 2021

www.gsabusiness.com 5

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.

Today, we’re “having coffee” with Lisa Gunton, VP of Human Resources, AFL. You can check out Lisa’s video on GSA Business Report’s YouTube channel or on one of our two e-newsletters, Morning Blend or GSA Daily (Monday – Friday). Headquartered in Spartanburg County, AFL is an international manufacturer of fiber optic cable, equipment and accessories. Its customer base includes service providers, telecom companies, electric utilities, cooperatives, data center and hyperscale corporations, oil and gas firms, medical institutions and more. With more than 5,800 associates worldwide, and 1,200+ in the Upstate of South Carolina, AFL has been expanding its operations locally and abroad. AFL COMMENCED OPERATIONS IN THE UPSTATE IN 1984 AS A BUSINESS-TOBUSINESS MANUFACTURER, STARTING WITH ONE PRODUCT – OPTICAL GROUND WIRE. TODAY, AFL HAS 11 GLOBAL MANUFACTURING LOCATIONS, SELLS INTO MORE THAN 130 COUNTRIES AND HAS OVER 3,000 PRODUCTS. WHAT EXACTLY DO YOUR PRODUCTS DO?

AFL products enable a multitude of communications. From fiber optic cable to connectivity to equipment, we provide an endto-end solution for high-speed voice, video, and data communications. Our products are found in apartments, condominiums and college campuses, neighborhoods and high rises; hyperscale and data centers; oil and gas fields; mines; hospitals; the list goes on. AFL also provides engineering and installation services for telecommunications, broadband and wireless companies.

to work while manufacturing associates continued supporting our operations. We implemented COVID protocols—zoning, six-foot social distancing, masks, and more. During this time, we realized that office personnel were just as effective working from home, so we adopted a flexible schedule when we returned in June 2021. Office personnel work in the office three days per week and can work from home twice per week.

AFL HAS GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. WHAT IS DRIVING THIS? HOW IS THIS GROWTH IMPACTING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA?

Our biggest challenge today is workforce. AFL is growing exponentially. We’ve invested locally to grow our operations and like many businesses and organizations across the US, we need people. AFL hires talented individuals and team players who strive to make a difference. We are focused on taking care of our customers and are just as committed to helping our community.

AFL grows organically with our legacy products, plus innovative new products, and through acquisitions. However, over the past couple of years, Covid revealed a greater need for broadband. AFL has seen substantial growth with rural cooperatives and their need for our products which enable broadband communications. Additionally, there is development in grid modernization, digital transformation and edge computing, plus 5G. All this need fuels our growth, and this growth fuels our economy. AFL has invested in expanding operations in Duncan, SC to accommodate the demand for fiber optic communications. And with expanded operations, we need people to support that. Our employee headcount has increased by 20% over the past two years and we continue to seek personnel due to our growth here in SC and throughout the world. And the effects continue - our ports, the trucking industry, supply chain and more. COVID IMPACTED MANUFACTURERS AROUND THE WORLD. AS AN ESSENTIAL MANUFACTURER, HOW DID YOU MANAGE THROUGH THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC? ARE THERE PERMANENT CHANGES TO HOW YOU DO BUSINESS?

WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE TODAY?

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR AFL? AFL continues to grow. As the need for communications expands and grows, we’ll support it. AFL is integral to this growth. As a society, we are becoming more digital and more connected and fiber optics plays an enormous role in this. AFL will continue researching, innovating and servicing our customers, providing unique solutions that enable advanced communications.

AFL is an international company, so Covid was impacting our businesses in Asia and Europe before it ever started here in the US. Our priority was ensuring our employees’ health and safety across the globe. Office personnel were sent home

Sponsored Content

www.gsabusiness.com

October 4 - October 17, 2021

SC film sector gets extra millions from admissions taxes By Teri Errico Griffis

tgriffis@scbiznews.com

outh Carolina is doubling down on its investments in the state’s film industry — at least for this year. Thanks to an overflow of admissions tax revenue, state legislature has given the S.C. Film Commission an extra $15 million, one-time allocation to help attract new projects. The funds come on top of the commission’s previously allocated $10 million from the state’s general fund, plus 26% of the state’s admission tax revenue, which amounts to roughly $15 million total annually. Production companies are now clamoring to film in the Palmetto State. “I’m dealing with at least four or five projects that are knocking on the door and trying to make it work,” said Dan Rogers, project manager for the film commission. With the extra funding to attract more projects to South Carolina, timing will next determine what series or films can potentially move forward. “Things are timed out for the crew,” Rogers said. “We want to get as many of our locals as possible hired, but if they’re working on a show already, obviously they’re not available.” The commission may never be able

to time every project perfectly, but Rogers is trying to work it out so that when one project finishes, another is ready to go immediately after, creating continual, year-round home base work for the state’s crew to transition into. Currently, South Carolina’s film crew has to leave the state between jobs to piecemeal together work. That’s because as of now, South Carolina is only able to film two major series here because of incentive money. OuterBanks, a Netflix drama about a group of teens searching for buried treasure, just wrapped up season two. HBO’s comedy, The Righteous Gemstones, featuring Danny McBride and John Goodman as televangelists, expects to wrap up filming season two by the end of September. Between the two shows, the majority of South Carolina’s $15 million in rebates is spent, offering a 25% rebate on in-state wages, 30% on in-state suppliers, 20% on all out-of-state wages and 25% on out-ofstate suppliers. Rogers is hoping with the extra funding, the state can take on two to three feature films, or even a pilot. The state would have to be cautious with a pilot, however, because the extra funding is not guaranteed for next year, Rogers said. If a show based its first

Danny McBride and Cassidy Freeman film a scene for HBO’s top comedy, Righteous Gemstones, at the North Charleston Coliseum. (Photo/HBO)

season off a certain Lowcountry look, it may be out of luck returning for season two. As big as the Hollywood scene is, Rogers said producers make up a really small, tight-knit group. When there are extra incentives, word of mouth travels fast. “Especially if you’ve never been to a place, what are you going to do?” he said. “You’re going to call your buddy and ask him what his experience was shooting there.” Because incentive money has become such a crucial determinant for where a production company films, payroll companies have found that it’s in their best interest to keep up with the incentives

TRUST IT’S IN OUR NAME.

Take your business to the next level. 499 Woodruff Road | 864.335.2200 8599 Pelham Road | 864.605.6200

HTBforBusiness.com 210908-857800296

on their end, Rogers said. Rather than producers calling every film commission themselves, they can now reach out to payroll companies for advisement. To centralize data on incentive programs, Entertainment Partners in Burbank, Calif., for example, created an interactive worldwide map that will break down a state or country’s incentive, annual cap, minimum spend and project cap. In addition to incentives, the S.C. Film Commission uses its budget to enhance the future of the industry and train filmmakers through the state’s S.C. Indie Grant program. Indie Grants is a job and career training program created in collaboration by the commission and Trident Technical College. Two films produced in the program, Abducted and Graceland, were selected to the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival this past June in New York City. “Indie Grants has garnered a major reputation among producers, writers, actors and all types of crew,” said S.C. Film Commission Senior Project Manager Tom Clark in a previous statement. “This is a way for us to show off the state’s talent, location and production value to the world.” Reach Teri Errico Griffis at 843-849-3144.

October 4 - October 17, 2021

www.gsabusiness.com 7

You keep up with changing times. Shouldn’t your payroll/HR partner?

At QBS, we get it. You want to concentrate revenue-generating tasks for your business. Our expertise is your non-core business operations. We free up your time to focus on what you do best – lead and grow your business. We offer products and services that keep you in compliance, up-to-speed with industry standards, and operating at the highest possible level to support your customers. See for yourself. Contact us today.

• • • •

PEO/ASO Payroll Benefits Tax Reporting

• • • •

Workers’ Compensation HR Management Applicant Tracking Employee Onboarding

Grow Smarter, with QBS 1.877.834.3985 • qualitybsolutions.net

www.gsabusiness.com

October 4 - October 17, 2021

Workhorse drops challenge to Oshkosh contract Plans for new Spartanburg auto plant move forward By Ross Norton

rnorton@scbiznews.com

threat to plans to bring a new auto assembly factory to Spartanburg County has eliminated

itself. A Cincinnati company called Workhorse has dropped its claim against the winning contract. The company filed an objection shortly after Oshkosh Defense landed the contract earlier this year to build the next generation of vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service to replace a fleet of trucks pushing 40 years old. For Spartanburg, it is a $155 million investment commitment and the promise of 1,000 jobs. For the company, it was part of a $482 million contract for now, but the USPS has said it will spend billions on new vehicles in the coming years. Oshkosh Defense’s winning bid, which proposed a combination of trucks powered by a mix of battery and low-emission internal combustion engines, was announced in February

Even with its contract being challenged, Oshkosh Defense never took its foot off the gas. The company moved ahead with plans to build the next generation of mail delivery trucks in Spartanburg County. (Image/Provided)

Converse makes pursuing your goals easier by offering our Masters in Professional Leadership fully online and our Doctorate in Professional Leadership in both Spartanburg and Greenville.

WE WILL take your career to the next level

Reach the next level in your career with Converse University’s Professional Leadership programs. Converse’s affordable, flexible Masters and Doctorate degrees are designed for today’s working professionals, like you. Who will help ensure you are ready to take on the future?

WE WILL. Together. LEARN MORE: Graduate Admissions graduate@converse.edu 864.596.9040 converse.edu/academics/graduate

October 4 - October 17, 2021

by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Workhorse Group, which proposed a fully electric fleet, filed a federal claim three months later, saying the decision to pick Oshkosh was irrational. Oshkosh is best known for making vehicles that can take a beating, including military vehicles. A hearing was scheduled in federal court for September, but Workhorse withdrew its objection. Workhorse released a statement Sept. 15, indicating the company would move on to other projects, perhaps even leaving open opportunities to get in on other parts of USPS plans to replace its fleet. “After attending the recent Advanced Clean Transportation show, we are excited about the multiple business opportunities ahead for last-mile delivery truck and drone system technologies,” Workhorse CEO Rick Dauch said in the statement. “These opportunities include several commercial industry markets as well as a broad array of initiatives designed to modernize and electrify government funded and owned vehicle fleets across the country at the federal, state and city level.” He added that since he joined the company in early August, Workhorse has been conducting a “deep and intensive overview of all aspects of our business,” including the history of the USPS bid and the filing that followed.

www.gsabusiness.com 9

“The federal government has announced its intention to replace its fleet with electric vehicles, and we believe that the best way for us to work with any governmental agency is through cooperation, not through litigation,” Dauch said in the statement. “By withdrawing our protest, we can also better focus our time and resources on initiatives that we expect will be

that there is no impact on the contract schedule. We are proud that the USPS selected Oshkosh Defense to fulfill the needs of the Next Generation Vehicle program and we look forward to getting these highly capable vehicles into the hands of mail carriers beginning in 2023.” The company’s moving-forward plans included scheduling a suppli-

“Oshkosh Defense continues to execute under the USPA contract, to include facility preparations in Spartanburg.” Tom Quigley Vice president, Oshkosh Defense

more productive for our company.” For its part, Oshkosh said the company never expected the complaint to change its course toward a production facility in Spartanburg. “Oshkosh Defense continues to execute under the USPS contract, to include the facility preparations in Spartanburg, S.C.,” Tom Quigley, Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager for government programs, said in an email to GSA Business Report. “While bid protests are a normal part of the government contracting process and we do not comment on such proceedings, we can tell you

er outreach event for Oct. 5-6 with the assistance of the S.C. Commerce Department and One Spartanburg Inc. Mark Simmons, who leads the site selection and economic development division of Parker Poe Consulting, said it’s not uncommon for losing companies to challenge government contracts when the money is large, but he said it was worth noting that none of the other companies that lost out responded by filing a complaint. “That they (Workhorse) withdrew their claim is telling,” said Simmons, a long-time player in economic development and an auto manufacturing

industry observer. “None of the others who were competing for the contract challenged it.” Oshkosh’s Spartanburg facility will be in an existing warehouse at Flatwood Industrial Park, according to the company’s announcement in June. “We’re proud to bring this historic undertaking to Spartanburg County. South Carolina has a skilled workforce and a proven history in advanced automotive manufacturing — it’s the perfect place to produce the NGDV,” Oshkosh Corp. Executive Vice President and Defense President John Bryant said in the release, referring to what the company calls the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle. “More importantly, we know the people of the Upstate take pride in their work and their community. What we build together here will reach every home in the country.” Founded in 1917, Oshkosh Defense is a tactical vehicle manufacturer that specializes in designing and manufacturing a portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected vehicles and technologies for clients around the globe. According to the news release, the repurposed warehouse’s “innovative features” will accommodate the technical requirements of a large-scale manufacturing operation. Reach Ross Norton at rnorton@scbiznews.com.

Protecting your most valuable resources. 54 Locations in South Carolina for Occ Med Services

Call today to inquire about on-site wellness solutions.

| On-site rapid COVID-19 testing | On-site biometrics and flu shots

Doctors Care Employer Health Services | DOT Physicals | Drug Screens | Injury Care

Employers.DoctorsCare.com

| Workers’ Compensation | Occupational Medicine | On-site Medical Centers

Ryan Martin

Business Developer

(864) 516-1274

(888) 845-6887 | Sales@DoctorsCare.com

www.gsabusiness.com

October 4 - October 17, 2021

www.gsabusiness.com 11

SOLVAY, from Page 1

production of several applications including the construction of aircraft, vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. After a few delays from COVID-19, the 27,000-square-foot facility opened on Sept. 16 with Gov. Henry McMaster in attendance. The plant’s new line may serve as a barometer for the lithium-ion battery industry that drives demand for Solvay’s PVDF tape used to bind battery components, especially as shortage fears escalated after U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan and what some have speculated to be most lithium-rich deposits on the planet. Critics claim the U.S. decision hands over Afghan deposits to nations like China, which operates 73% of all lithium-ion battery production, according to 2020 U.S. Senate testimony from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. During a facility tour, Solvay officials briefed McMaster on China’s preeminence in all aspects of the lithium-ion battery industry from its sourcing, production and research and development. Diplomatic veterans and industry leaders drive home China’s leg up in the lithium industry, but the jury is still out on the U.S. withdrawal’s impacts on battery manufacturers — and suppliers like Solvay — in the long run. “China is back to get everything in Afghanistan, and they’re going to get a lot,” said Michael Ussery, former U.S. Ambas-

“They’re dealing with a Taliban that is desperate for money, so we’re going to lose out.” Michael Ussery Former ambassador to Morocco

Greenville business and economic development leaders tour the new Solvay facility at SCTAC on Sept. 16. (Photo/Molly Hulsey)

sador to Morocco and president of one of the founding organizations of the American University of Afghanistan. “They’re dealing with a Taliban that is desperate for money, so we’re going to lose out.” Building up to 2021, Ford had greased the tracks for lithium mining through concessions with the country and a partnership with a localized mining company. Plans were underway to build a factory in Thailand to produce batteries from the Afghan mined resources, Ussery said. This was the year Ford would have

received the concessions following a bidding process. “It took us years to figure out how much wealth is under the ground in Afghanistan,” he said. “We should have been figuring that out at the get go.” Some industry professionals question whether dated Soviet geologic records or aerial photographs of the country can be trusted in the quest for the rare earth mineral. “To suggest Afghanistan’s lithium is a pot of gold for the Taliban, China or any-

WELCOME TO THE

BRANDI PREVATTE SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

KNOX DUNCAN ASSOCIATE

1 0 1 E . W A S H I N G T O N S T R E E T , S U I T E 4 0 0 , G R E E N V I L L E , S C 29601

one else is just incorrect,” Simon Moores, managing director of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, said in a statement following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The U.S. is already far behind China in manufacturing of lithium batteries — 10% of global production — he said in the 2020 testimony, but the sector is still on the move in the United States. Afghanistan’s role among industry players and their suppliers has yet to be seen, Moores and Ussery said. “Production, of course, would really be years out,” Ussery told GSA Business Report. “But I think that’s the game. The world is open for sale. China and Russia and others are out buying. I’m not sure we’re doing the same thing.” Reach Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1222 or @mollyhulsey_gsa on Twitter.

TEAM!

MARVEL MURRAY PROPERTY MANAGER

NAIEARLEFURMAN.COM

www.gsabusiness.com

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

October 4 - October 17, 2021

MARCH 2017

JULY 12, 2019

AUG. 22, 2019

SEPT. 9, 2019

OCT. 14, 2019

JAN. 16, 2020

Suhorukovs begins billing patent and trademark holders

Maddox receives invoices from fraudulent “Patent and Trademark Office”

Suhorukovs cashes Maddox’s checks in Bank of America account

S.C. Farm Bureau receives invoice from “Patent and Trademark Office”

QSM Inc. receives invoice from “Patent and Trademark Office”

After Dempsey’s investigation into Maddox’s report, the Greenville Police Department contacts DHS agents in Greenville

SCAM, from Page 1

local shelves, she made sure to obtain a federal trademark for the brand. So when the renewal date for the Benji Bars trademarks rolled around, Maddox received exactly what she was prepared for: two invoices that appeared to be from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office requesting $1,850 with a trademark ID number matching her own. She made sure to scan the QR code on the invoice, which linked her to the official U.S. Patent and Trademark Office site, before sending off the check.

A bitter aftertaste

Months down the road, she opened mail to find what appeared to be the same invoice from the real U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and she felt sick to her stomach. She saw a notice on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s website that warned trademark owners about a nationwide renewal scam that matched her experience. “I realized after some digging that I had absolutely been deceived, that I had been scammed, and it was so disheartening because I didn’t have any money to actually renew my trademarks,” she said. Maddox felt almost too ashamed to tell anyone she had sent checks to a fraudulent trademark office, but she knew she

had to take action, because, as she said to herself at the time, “If you can’t make something better, at least don’t make it worse.” “So I did the only thing that I felt like I could do, and I contacted local law enforcement and got the most wonderful detective,” she said. Greenville Police Department’s John Dempsey, a former detective, took on the case. He recognized the brand right away, Maddox said, since she had donated bars to first responders over the years.

Recipe for disaster

Dempsey, now a sergeant at the Greenville Police Department, said he sent a search warrant to the Bank of America account where the check had been deposited along with $42,265 under the name of the Patent and Trademark Office LLC, based in Washington, D.C. The sole signer of the account was a Victor Suhorukovs with a Staten Island, N.Y.,

Julie Maddox named Benji Bars after her son Benjamin, whose need for low-sugar protein snacks prompted the creation of the bar. (Photo/Provided)

address, according to court documents. Suhorukovs’ account information included a Latvian passport number. Suhorukovs based his operations in an apartment complex in Riga, Latvia’s capital, according to records from the Spartanburg County Sheriff ’s Office. “This young man had every advantage in the world,” Maddox said after hearing his defense in court. “He was aﬄuent. He

was not someone who couldn’t do better.” In early 2020, Dempsey said he had requested copies of all checks attached to Suhorukovs’ account and received a stack sourced from business owners across the country. Funds from the cashed checks were wired to Latvia, he said. After speaking with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the

$1000 $0

Goodwill Industries Inc. (Derwood, Md.): $1,650

City of Vancouver (Vancouver, Wash.): $ 1,650

Anderson University (Anderson): $1,650

$2000

Sugar Beeze LLC. (Greenville): $1,850

$3000

Reliant Bancorp (Brentwood, Tenn.): $4,950

$4000

International Mahavira Jain Mission (Blairstown, N.J.): $8,425

$5000

Enterprise Florida (Orlando, Fla.): $1,850

$6000

Gaelic Athletic Association (Dublin, Ireland): $3,350

$7000

Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority Inc. (Danbury, Conn.): $3,300

$8000

CHEM-TEX Manufacturing (Houston, Texas): $1,900

$9000

National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce (Gaithersburg, Md.): $3,300

A FEW VICTIMS OF THE SCAM

October 4 - October 17, 2021

www.gsabusiness.com 13

JAN. 21, 2020

JAN. 30, 2020

FEB. 9, 2020

JULY 23, 2020

JAN. 12, 2021

SEPT. 14, 2021

SEPT. 20, 2021

United Bank closes Suhorukovs’ two accounts after DHS communication

DHS agents receive deposit slips and uncashed checks from United Bank

Suhorukovs is apprehended at JFK Airport in New York after flight from Moscow

Suhorukovs is booked into Spartanburg County Detention Center

Suhorukovs pleads guilty to four counts of mail fraud

Coggins sentences Suhorukovs to 52 months in federal prison

Suhorukovs’ judgement includes $4.5 million in restitution filed

Department of Homeland Security, he discovered the person who took Maddox’s money could also be behind a nationwide trademark scam DHS had been investigating. An agent with the DHS based in Greenville tracked down two additional accounts connected with Suhorukovs at United Bank in Washington, D.C. The bank closed the accounts in January 2020 under suspicion of fraud and mailed Wright 916 deposit slips and checks that Suhorukovs had tried to cash into the closed accounts. The deposit slips and undeposited checks from the closed accounts totaled $1.2 million, according to court documents. One check originated from the S.C. Farm Bureau Federation for the trademark “South Carolina Farmer” after the Cayce-based insurance company reported it had accidentally sent two checks to what they believed to be the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Another came from the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation in Clemson, a nonprofit that supports congenital heart defect research and the families of children suffering from the condition. Piedmont steel fabricator QSM Inc. had also received an invoice from Suhorukovs, according to court documents. Investigators brought copies of the checks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina, who took up the case, according to Dempsey. Dempsey charged Suhorukovs with obtaining money under false pretenses, while the DHS unfurled a record of fre-

“The time I did white collar investigations as a detective, I rarely, if ever, say any restitution at all.” John Dempsey Former detective Greenville Police Department

Coggins sentenced the Latvian citizen to 52 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay more than $4.5 million in restitution to the victims. “Trademark filing scams are a growing international problem with foreign entities increasingly targeting U.S. citizens with misleading solicitations,” David Gooder, commissioner for trademarks, said in a statement following the sentencing.

Make it better

quent flights made by the Latvian between Eastern Europe and the United States. So when Suhorukovs left Moscow for John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Feb. 7, 2020, according to court documents, officers with Homeland Security Investigations were waiting for him. As was a lawsuit from the United States.

A Latvian in Judge Coggins’ Court

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina indicted Suhorukovs for the checks forwarded to his closed accounts, and Suhorukovs found himself on a carousel of court proceedings in New York, Greenville and Spartanburg from Feb. 10, 2020, to Sept. 20, 2021. Suhorukovs pled guilty to mail fraud in January 2021 and appeared for a final sentencing before District Judge Donald Coggins on Sept. 14 at Spartanburg’s federal courthouse.

The case is now closed but the story is not yet over for the victims. “A lot of the trademark holders were charitable organizations. They were nonprofits doing really great work, and it really has had an impact on those people,” said Winston Marosek, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case. The COVID-19 crisis interrupted court proceedings time and again over the past two years, but it also pummeled the small businesses and sole proprietorships like Benji Bars LLC who were unable to renew their trademark in time and lost ownership of their brand. At least three binders full of testimonies were presented during the hearings. Some victims have received notice that their trademarks are expiring, Maddox said, but so far, she has not. According to Upcounsel, re-registering cancelled trademarks can be more costly than an annual renewal and often requires the services of a trademark attorney. “I’m not going to go into debt,” she said. “I would have to get a lawyer to help

me work through all of this, and at some point, you just have to say it’s easier to start over.” Especially when some, like Dempsey, question whether victims will ever see any portion of the $4.5 million Suhorukovs owes in restitution. According to court documents, $2.4 million was seized from Suhorukovs’ accounts at Wells Fargo Bank, Capital One and JP Morgan Chase & Co., leaving $2.1 million still owed to victims. “Once it goes across, it’s gone,” Dempsey said of the funds wired to Latvia. “A lot of times, people just lose the money. The time I did white collar [investigations as a detective], I rarely, if ever, saw any restitution at all.”

Keep on keeping on

Even if Maddox may not own the “Make it Better” tagline anymore, it’s still a motto she lives by. “He’s a relatively young person,” she said of Suhorukovs, “I hope that he’ll go on and do better things; I certainly hope that, because that’s certainly what I’m going to do.” The mother of two is in the process of launching a keto version of the protein snack under a new brand name. She has received high praise during a taste testing held in Nebraska. “In my mind, I say my trademarks were victims but I wasn’t,” Maddox said. “Because I’m going to keep going.” Reach Molly Hulsey at 864-720-1222 or @mollyhulsey_gsa on Twitter.

$9000

Seattle Pinball Museum LLC (Seattle, Wash.) $925

Nature’s Way Farms Inc. (Faison, N.C.), $925

Fujifilm, Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas (College Station, Texas): $925

Freeman Gas and Electric Co. Inc. (Spartanburg.): $925

$1000

First National Bank (Pittsburgh, Pa.): $925

$2000

Firefly Distillery LLC. (North Charleston): $925

$3000

Cadillac Products Automotive (Troy, Mich.): $925

$4000

BBC Creative Agency (London, United Kingdom): $925

$5000

Hong Kong Trade Development Council Inc. (Hong Kong, China): $1,250

$6000

Raceway Petroleum Inc. (Atlanta), $1,650

$7000

National Association of Infant Mental Health (Southgate, Mich.): $1,650

$8000

www.gsabusiness.com

October 4 - October 17, 2021

2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA

MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE AND EXPO PRESENTED BY:

SAVE THE DATE: NOV. 10 - NOV. 12

GREENVILLE CONVENTION CENTER | GREENVILLE, SC

To view the agenda and to register, visit www.scmanufacturingconference.com

Join Manufacturing suppliers and innovators across all industry verticals at South Carolina’s most significant manufacturing event of the year. The 2021 conference will include:

• An exhibit hall the equivalent of three football fields • Leadership Training (SHRM/HRCI credits earned) • Implementing Industry 4.0 Technology • Driving Change: The Future of Electric Vehicles in South Carolina • 2022 Economic Outlook: Auto, Aerospace, Biotech • Women in Manufacturing: Leaders and Influencers • SCMEP Manufacturing Excellence Awards • The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) will conduct training courses

PRESENTING SPONSORS:

#NotYourAverageJanitor

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

For questions about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Melissa Tomberg at (864) 720-1220 or mtomberg@scbiznews.com Visit scmanufacturingconference.com for the latest updates.

In Focus

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE LISTS: Residential Real Estate Firms, Page 18

NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS: Food & Beverage

Appraisers struggle with demand in hot real estate market By Steve McDaniel

smcdaniel@scbiznews.com

he real estate frenzy of the past year-plus has been well documented. As buyers flood the market, a dwindling supply of available homes has caused a spike in home prices, yet done little to blunt that surge in demand. In South Carolina, home sales in 2020 and early 2021 increased by almost 15% over 2019. This red-hot real estate market has put a strain on every industry involved in home buying and selling: homebuilders, real estate agents, mortgage lenders and, especially, appraisers. Nearly every home sold must go through an appraisal process, where a licensed or certified appraiser inspects the home for sale and researches nearby comparable properties recently sold to calculate a fair market value for the home. No bank or mortgage lender will agree to a loan without an appraisal, and the process by its nature is detailed and painstaking. But as with many other industries during the coronavirus pandemic, those in the real estate appraisal business find themselves overwhelmed by a trend no one saw coming. Paul Ryll is a real estate appraiser based in Greenville and owns several restaurants in the Upstate. When COVID-19 cases first started to surge in the U.S. and lockdowns forced business and school closures in spring 2020, he thought about how he’d survive financially with an expected sharp decline in revenue. “I remember thinking at the start of the pandemic about what I would do when business slowed down, where I could save money, because I assumed a lot less money would be coming in,” Ryll said. “We had no idea we’d be going 100 miles an hour right now.” Ryll said he and other appraisers in the Upstate have been overwhelmed with appraisal orders since at least May or June 2020, a few weeks after the first lockdowns were imposed. At first, it was home loan refinancing that created a surge in his business. “People could basically sit at home and apply online, do most of the refinancing work at their computer,” he said. “With everyone being home so much more and interest rates being so low, we saw a big increase in refi appraisals at the beginning of the lockdowns.”

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A VIP TOUR OF BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM SWEEPSTAKES.ALLENTATE.COM NO PURCH. NEC. ENDS 11/2/21. U.S. RES. OF NC & SC, 18+.

Photo/File

That unexpected spike in demand was compounded as people started looking to move out of larger cities where COVID-19 cases were at high levels or sought to move within their local area into a newer or larger space more suitable to spending substantially more time. Appraisals have always been one of the limiting factors in the timeline of the home-buying. According to Ryll, a normal timeline for an appraisal to be completed is about 10 days. But now, with the backlog of orders from home sales and refinancing, 30 days is what his company quotes to complete an appraisal. “We are absolutely slammed right now,” he said. “Before the pandemic, we would do about 80 appraisals a month. Now, we’re doing about 140. All appraisers in the Upstate are in the same situation.” Ryll said the number of appraisal companies in the

Upstate has remained fairly steady in the past decade or so, and the fact that the certification process takes up to 18 months or more means new appraisers can’t enter the market quickly. “It’s difficult to add staff quickly in this business,” he said. “The training takes a long time, and licensed appraisers like myself simply don’t have the time to properly train people when we’re as busy as we are right now.” According to information from the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, which oversees certification and licensing of real estate appraisers, the process for qualifying as an appraiser begins with three courses and completion of a supervisor/ trainee course. Once that is completed, training conSee APPRAISALS, Page 16

www.gsabusiness.com

APPRAISALS, from Page 15

tinues under the supervision of a certified appraiser for six to 18 months, depending on the license being attained. During that time, trainees must take more appraiser courses and gain experience to upgrade to “licensed” or “certified.” The last step is the state exam. Ryll has developed an online software platform that aims to streamline the appraisal process. During the pandemic, many lenders allowed more desktop

“We had no idea we’d be going 100 miles an hour right now.” Paul Ryll Owner, Oscar Mike Appraisal Group

appraisals, which means an appraiser is not required to do an on-site inspection, but can accept photos and data from a real estate agent or home inspector to begin the appraisal process. He said appraisers were reluctant in the past to accept data from third parties not specifically trained to take those measurements because the appraiser was still liable for any mistakes made. But new language in federal lending guidelines has

IN FOCUS: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

now passed that liability to the data collector, so certified appraisers have more protection in that regard. Ryll’s platform, Oscar Mike Mobile Appraisals, helps data collectors upload information into a template that can easily be accessed and used for online appraisal submissions. “It makes the process more streamlined, and saves a lot of time on data entry,” he said. “When you can save 20 minutes or so in one appraisal, that adds up over a month of doing so many appraisals.” Ryll unveiled his platform at the recent Valuation Expo in Las Vegas, a national convention for appraisers and lenders. He said response was enthusiastic, especially about the fact that his software was developed by an appraiser, not from a typical source such as a fintech firm or lending company that might store data that can be used basically in perpetuity. “Appraisers are reluctant to submit data on properties that can be stored indefinitely,” he said. “If enough of that data is kept, appraisers worry that it can reduce demand for their expertise and services. OMMA keeps data for just 30 days; then it’s erased. We aren’t interested in data storage; appraisers understand current data on a home or property is the only way to create an accurate market value.” Reach Steve McDaniel at 843-849-3123.

IT’S TIME TO BINGE BUSINESS What’s New and What’s Hot!

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

Recognition Events

With events like Women of Inﬂuence in the Upstate, Icons and Phenoms in the Midlands and Health Care Heroes in the Lowcountry, SC Biz News honors the movers and shakers across the state.

October 4 - October 17, 2021

Nonprofit offers programs in affordable housing communities Staff Report

gsanews@scbiznews.com

Rainbow Housing Assistance Corp., a national nonprofit organization that provides services for low-income housing tenants, has been selected by developer Related Affordable to service three communities and an estimated 200 families in Anderson. With Rainbow Housing Assistance’s help, residents of Clinton Manor, Friendship Court and Newberry Arms will have access to free property-wide Wi-Fi, live webinars and socially distanced in-person workshops led by a resident services coordinator. Residents alco can view an online calendar of workshops and classes which covers topics like learning English as a second language, home buying and obtaining a GED. “All residents living in low-income housing should have access to first-rate services that meet their needs and support their professional, financial and personal aspirations,” Flynann Janisse, executive director of Rainbow, said in a news release. “Partnering with Related Affordable

expands our service portfolio to an additional state and allows us to serve individuals and families in South Carolina.” After implementing Rainbow’s programs into communities, Rainbow’s partnering developers have seen improvement in occupancy, reduced turnover costs and lower concessions, according to the release. Owners who partner with Rainbow can receive financial incentives such as low-income housing tax credits because the nonprofit is a Certified Organization for Resident Engagement and Services. Rainbow currently provides resident services to 126 rental housing communities, representing 16,384 units across the country. “We are proud to once again partner with Rainbow to offer free, quality workshops and services to residents in South Carolina,” Zack Simmons, senior vice president of Related Affordable, said in the release. “Rainbow’s custom supportive services provide access to life enrichment programs for youth and adults, both virtually and in person, as well as resources to directly help residents and the community.”

With nearly 150 videos (and counting), our YouTube channel features a wide variety of businessrelated content. Our playlists have something for everyone.

Coﬀee With

This ongoing video series features business executives sharing insight about their business, the industry in which they work and the community in which they live.

Coping with COVID

Explore the impact the coronavirus is having on our daily lives, both at home and at the oﬃce.

Subscribe to SCBIZtv and stay in tune with what’s happening across South Carolina. https://www.youtube.com/scbiztv

October 4 - October 17, 2021

IN FOCUS: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

www.gsabusiness.com 17

Modular housing operation makes itself home in Greenwood Staff Report

gsanews@scbiznews.com

Impresa Building Systems of Greenwood SC LLC will spend $9 million to establish modular construction operations in Greenwood County. The investment promises 180 jobs for the community. The company is an affiliate of Impresa Modular, a residential home design, sales and development company, according to a news release from the S.C. Department of Commerce. The company, headquartered in Martinsburg, W.Va., bills itself at the only national modular home builder in the country. Located at 161 Rock Church Road S.E. in Greenwood, Impresa Building Systems’ 240,000-square-foot production facility will increase the company’s operating capacity to meet growing demand and is targeted toward regional builders and developers to produce private-label residential homes in the Southeast, the news release said.

“We are so excited to locate our flagship factory in Greenwood,” Impresa Building Systems of Greenwood SC LLC President and General Manager Dan Hobbs said in the release. “The facility will be a combination of process proven off-site modular construction practices with today’s cutting-edge methods to be an industry leader. As always, workforce is key, and we are driving to assemble top talent in all disciplines.” The new facility is expected to be operational by January and in full production by July. Full production capacity is estimated to be more than 300 homes per year. “Greenwood County is proud to become the home of the first Impresa branded factory that will serve the region with much-needed housing solutions,” Greenwood County Council Chairman Chuck Moates said in the release. “We look forward to supporting their launch and creation of many jobs that will make a lasting impact in our community.”

Impresa says construction that takes place in a plant has precision advantages.

Modular homes are built in sections in factories and assembled on site, according to the company. A key difference between modular and manufactured homes is that a modular is removed from the trailer chassis that delivers it to its final site.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to this project, the release said. The council also awarded Greenwood County a $200,000 Set-Aside grant to assist with related project costs.

Greenville’s Lima One joins forces with Charlotte’s Sétanta Staff Report

gsanews@scbiznews.com

ima One Capital and Sétanta Development Capital, two residential real estate finance companies, formed a strategic alliance through a joint marketing arrangement under which they will provide alternative financing options for residential real estate builders and developers. Greenville-based Lima One Capital, which provides financing for residential real estate investors and home builders across the country, is one of the fastest growing private lenders in

the industry. Sétanta Development Capital, headquartered in Charlotte, provides acquisition and development financing for residential land developers. The Sétanta platform is designed specifically to address the needs of land developers and remove many of the headaches and obstacles typically found in land financing, according to a news release. “We are excited about this newly formed alliance with Sétanta,” Josh Craig, Lima One’s chief revenue officer, said in the news release. “It will provide significant benefit to home builders and developers across the country by

bridging the under-served gap between acquisition and development financing and new construction financing. Through this partnership with Sétanta, our builder and developer clients will benefit from having a reputable and proven A&D lender to support the completion of the horizontal land development, before bringing in our team at Lima One to assist them with the vertical construction and any rental loan needs.” John Curry, Sétanta’s CEO, said in the release, “Setanta’s founders have many years of hands-on development experience, and to that end we see

ourselves as developers who lend as opposed to lenders trying to understand land development. We wanted to create a platform that would have excited us when we were in the development business, and we see this alliance with Lima One Capital as continuing that goal.” Since its inception in 2011, Lima One Capital has funded more than $4 billion in loans for real estate investors across the nation. Launched in August 2020, Sétanta Development Capital provides land acquisition and development loans to developers, focusing on affordable, attainable and rental housing.

WE CAN HANDLE IT LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED TRANSPORTATION AND WAREHOUSING SERVICES

YOU CAN DEPEND ON

1630 Old Hwy 14 South | Greer, SC 29651 864-848-3854 | 1-800-366-1895 | www.swaffordtransport.com

IN FOCUS: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

www.gsabusiness.com

October 4 - October 17, 2021

Residential Real Estate Companies Ranked by $ Value of Residential Sales in 2020 in the Greenville Area Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Sales Volume (2020) / Current No. of Listings

Upstate Offices / Residential Agents

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, Realtors 745 N. Pleasantburg Drive Greenville, SC 29607

864-242-6650 www.cdanjoyner.com info@cdanjoyner.com

David Crigler, Danny Joyner 1964

$1,213,669,556 583

10 390

Allen Tate Realtors 323 Buncombe St. Greenville, SC 29601

864-297-1953 www.allentate.com client.relations@allentate.com

Mark Bardo 1957

$590,572,350 223

9 168

Keller Williams Greenville Upstate 403 Woods Lake Road., Suite 100 Greenville, SC 29607

864-444-7690 www.kwgreenvilleupstate.com teresacox@kw.com

Dan P. Hamilton, Teresa Cox, Mandy Underwood 2003

$563,343,411 262

1 199

Keller Williams Realty Greenville Central 1030 E. Butler Road Greenville, SC 29607

864-400-4100 www.greenvillekw.com pattyk@kw.com

Patty Korahais 2007

$443,440,511 177

1 200

Wilson Associates Real Estate 213 E. Broad St. Greenville, SC 29601

864-640-8700 www.wilsonassociates.net info@wilsonassociates.net

Sharon P Wilson 2014

$244,825,662 34

1 30

Cliffs Realty Sales SC LLC 635 Garden Market Drive Travelers Rest, SC 29690

864-660-8422 www.cliffsliving.com/buzz info@cliffsliving.com

Lauren Fine Buckland 2012

$244,000,000 195

2 13

Re/Max Moves 100 Batesville Road, Suite C Simpsonville, SC 29681

862-520-1000 www.greenvillemoves.com ckeegan@greenvillemoves.com

Cameron Keegan 2013

$160,906,003 38

3 29

Marchant Real Estate 100 W. Stone Ave. Greenville, SC 29609

864-467-0085 www.marchantco.com info@marchantco.com

Seabrook L. Marchant 1993

$126,073,737 200

2 35

Joy Real Estate Co. Inc. 309 E. Butler Road Mauldin, SC 29662

864-297-3111 www.joyrealestate.com hello@joyrealestate.com

Craig Bailey 1975

$103,000,000 43

2 70

McAlister Realty 955 W. Wade Hampton Blvd., Suite 9B Greer, SC 29650

864-292-0400 www.builderpeople.com stan@builderpeople.com

Stan McAlister 1988

$100,365,845 42

1 20

Wondracek Realty Group 101 Regency Commons Drive, Suite A Greer, SC 29650

864-907-2792 www.selling-greenville.com marcus@selling-greenville.com

Marcus Wondracek 2010

$56,472,013 21

1 22

Jeff Cook Real Estate 30 Orchard Park Drive, Suite 16 Greenville, SC 29615

843-225-2002 www.jeffcookrealestate.com info@jeffcookrealestate.com

Kris McDonagh 2003

$53,000,000 11

1 42

Jackson Stanley Realtors 306 E. Main St. Williamston, SC 29697

864-214-2747 www.jacksonstanley.com execs@jacksonstanley.com

Carolann Newton 2011

$48,528,951 25

1 38

Carolina Moves Real Estate 455 Congaree Road Greenville, SC 29607

864-448-1234 www.carolinamoves.com team@carolinamoves.com

Ernie Truman 2014

$48,024,681 48

1 29

Top Guns Realty Inc. 15481 N. Highway 11 Salem, SC 29671

800-682-9098 www.lakekeoweerealestateexpert.com mattroach@topgunsrealty.com

Matt Roach 1998

$41,160,300 2

1 2

Monaghan Co. Real Estate 422 College Ave. Clemson, SC 29631

864-639-1188 www.monaghan-co.com neil@monaghan-co.com

Neil Monaghan 2007

$40,000,000 19

1 16

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. For a full list of participating organizations, visit scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

Researched by Paige Wills

IN FOCUS: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

October 4 - October 17, 2021

www.gsabusiness.com 19

Residential Real Estate Companies Ranked by $ Value of Residential Sales in 2020 in the Greenville Area Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Sales Volume (2020) / Current No. of Listings

Upstate Offices / Residential Agents

Fathom Realty SC LLC 1200 Woodruff Road, Suite A3 Greenville, SC 29607

864-513-6284 www.greenville.fathomrealty.com dlang@fathomrealty.com

Dan Lang 2018

$38,629,915 42

1 55

Buice Realty Inc. 718 E. Frederick St. Gaffney, SC 29340

864-489-7194 www.BuiceRealty.com jfbuice@mindspring.com

Jeff Buice 1973

$21,600,000 18

1 7

Ezelle Hines Residential Living 500 E. North St., Suite F Greenville, SC 29601

864-697-8356 www.ezellehines.com info@ezellehines.com

Dani Ezelle 2020

$16,790,297 28

1 2

Bob Hill Realty LLC 528 Bypass 123, Suite D Seneca, SC 29678

864-882-0855 www.bobhillrealty.com sales@bobhillrealty.com

Michael S. Hill 1996

$15,000,000 8

1 12

Gibbs Realty & Auction Co. Inc. 4891 S.C. Highway 153 Easley, SC 29642

864-295-3333 www.gibbsrealty.com darrell@gibbsrealty.net

Darrell Gibbs 1994

$12,813,256 8

1 9

All-Star Realty Associates LLC 405 S. Pine St. Spartanburg, SC 29302

864-583-0996 www.allstars4u.com rosebcarpenter@gmail.com

John C. Powell 1997

$11,275,617 4

1 13

Wetzel Realty 511 Pettigru St. Greenville, SC 29601

864-286-1177 www.wetzelservices.com realty@wetzelservices.com

Paul Wetzel, Jacki Jesch 2004

$5,529,300 -

1 5

Showcase Realty Group 11068 Asheville Highway, Suite B12 Inman, SC 29349

864-708-3343 mark@autorino.com

Mark L. Autorino 2003

$2,000,000 -

1 1

Alpha Property LLC 715 Pendleton St. Greenville, SC 29601

864-335-8683 www.alphapropertysc.com leasing@alphapropertysc.com

2007

$1,742,000 -

1 4

Jeff Richardson Co. 3706 E. North St. Greenville, SC 29611

864-962-1750 www.jeffrichardsoncompany.com rrealestcm@aol.com

Caroline Richardson Mahaffey 1926

$1,500,000 4

1 3

Researched by Paige Wills

20 21 The expert in your industry is you. Share the expertise of your company in GSA Business Report’s Book of Experts. This magazine is an opportunity for a business to demonstrate a sample of its specialized knowledge to our readers. The narrative format is a great way to share complex information that goes beyond the usual advertising display. Your “expert story” told in an article with photograph can help businesses and consumers make wise decisions.

PUBLICATION DATE: December 20, 2021

ADVERTISING DEADLINE: October 22, 2021 For advertising information, contact Rick Jenkins at (864) 720-1224 or rjenkins@scbiznews.com

IN FOCUS: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

www.gsabusiness.com

October 4 - October 17, 2021

Target your market in an upcoming issue of the GSA Business Report

OCTOBER 18

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

List: Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries Advertising Deadline: October 4

NOVEMBER 1

MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE Special Section: Preview Guide Advertising Deadline: October 18

NOVEMBER 15

ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION (AEC) List: Heating & AC Firms Advertising Deadline: November 1

DECEMBER 13

PROFESSIONAL STAFFING SOLUTIONS

List: Professional Staffing Firms Advertising Deadline: November 29

Hartness townhouses will start at $685,000. (Image/Provided)

Townhomes introduced to Hartness portfolio Staff Report

gsanews@scbiznews.com

artness, a new urban village on Greenville’s east side, is offering townhomes for the first time. Preserve Townhomes, 14 residences situated across from a pond overlooking Hartness’ nature preserve, is part of the development’s strategic plan to create a designed urban village with walkable blocks and streets, green space and a variety of home types, sizes and styles. “Hartness continues to craft a diverse range of homes that naturally create a place for moving up or rightsizing,” Sean Hartness, CEO of Hartness Development, said in a news release. “The Preserve Townhomes will provide the ease of a lock-and-leave lifestyle while also offering a classic design and modern living.” Created by Hartness town designer Lew Oliver, the Preserve Townhomes were designed to create a low-maintenance lifestyle with designed landscaping and gardens leading to the nature preserve, the news release said. The exterior details of the townhomes are feature a front porch highlighted by an

expansive arched window and a combination of Hardie-plank siding and brick, all of which is topped with a genuine cedar shingle roof. Inside details include wood flooring, stone countertops, an upgraded appliance package, custom designed lighting and plumbing fixtures, and a designer color palette. The homes are about 1,944 square feet and include three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and an optional elevator. The Preserve Townhomes are available for purchase through a priority reservation system. Pricing begins at $685,000. Hartness is a 449-acre urban village offering residences and homesites connected by pathways, green streets, and community gathering spaces. It also boasts unique amenities, including the Grand Lawn, the Sports Garden, a fitness center and 15 miles of outdoor trails throughout the development’s 175 undeveloped acres. Additional amenities will include tennis courts, a community clubhouse, and multiple resort-style pools. Located within the village and opening for Hartness residents and the public will be The Village Center, home to specialty retail shops and casual and fine dining, and Hotel Hartness.

GSA DAILY

For advertising information, call Rick Jenkins at (864) 720-1224

Sign up today for the GSA Daily email newsletter at www.GSABusiness.com Get your message in front of the Upstates’s top CEOs, executives, business owners and decision-makers every afternoon. For advertising information, contact Rick Jenkins at (864) 720-1224 or rjenkins@scbiznews.com

At Work

BUSINESS DIGEST | PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Business Digest

program. Through this program, The Starbucks Foundation invites Starbucks employees to nominate local organizations for grants. The grant to the Homeless Period Project will be used to provide menstrual hygiene products to those in need in the Upstate.

Holliday Ingram opens in Anderson From left: Marvin Miller, director of Greer Community Outreach Center; Steve Watson, pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church and founder of Greer Community Outreach Center; Kevin Duncan, Greer city executive for Countybank; and Lincoln Stewart, commercial relationship manager for Countybank.

Countybank donates to Greer project

The Countybank Foundation recently donated $10,000 to the Greer Community Outreach Center, a nonprofit organization that provides homeless shelters, a community center serving children and families, a food bank and resource center, as well as public and private partnerships to develop affordable housing. Funds will support summer camps and free meals for children in low-income households.

Alice Manufacturing changes name

Alice Manufacturing Co. has changed its name to Alice Co. The company is led by president and CEO E. Smyth McKissick IV, who returned to the business started by his great-great-grandfather after earning his MBA from Columbia Business School and working at the management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. McKissick also has an undergraduate degree in finance and economics from the University of Georgia. His father, E. Smyth McKissick III, continues as chairman of the board.

Holliday Ingram, a real estate law firm headquartered in Greenville, announced the opening of an Anderson office. Mike Burrell, formerly of Michael B. Burrell Attorney at Law, will serve as managing attorney and lead the Anderson location. Joining him are Christina Giorgio, closing paralegal; Jennifer Welborn, closing paralegal; Shari Demers, closing paralegal; April Turpen, title paralegal; and Nicole Whitman, receptionist and assistant closing paralegal. Based in Greenville, the firm has additional locations in Lexington, Mount Pleasant and Summerville.

Nonprofit calls for patient rights

Physicians for Act 432, a nonprofit organization founded by Upstate doctors and patients, unveiled what it calls a “Patients’ Bill of Rights.” The document calls for stronger health care for all in the greater Greenville area, great autonomy for physicians to provide care and a stronger role for the Greenville Health Authority to oversee health care, among other measures. Physicians for Act 432 launched earlier this year to create a stronger health care environment. The group’s name comes from the 1947 legislation that codified public health care needs for Greenville County residents. One of the group’s goals is to get health care to live up to the goals of that law, according to a news release. To learn more, visit www. physiciansforact432.com.

Starbucks partners present a $1,000 grant to the Homeless Period Project.

Jill M. Vales, founder and owner, Count On Us Controller Services

Starbucks donates to homeless project

CFO rebrands as Count on Us

The Homeless Period Project was awarded a $1,000 grant through The Starbucks Foundation’s Neighborhood Grants

JMV Management Services LLC said it changed its operating name from CFO Services On Demand to Count On Us

Dustin Tenney and Daniel Holloway make up the commercial retail division of SVN Blackstream. (Photo/Provided)

SVN Blackstream creates retail division SVN Blackstream has created a commercial retail division that the company says is the first of its kind in Greenville. As Greenville and surrounding areas have expanded, so has the demand for retail property, the company said in a news release, and SVN Blackstream recognized the need and formed a dedicated duo to serve as specialized retail advisors. Dustin Tenney and Daniel Holloway felt there was a void in the market for a team that is hyper-focused on retail brokerage, the news release said, and the Reedy River Retail at SVN Blackstream was formed. The Reedy River Retail team specializes in retail investment sales, landlord representation and tenant representation. Tenney and Holloway have played an integral role in several retail developments in the last few years. They Controller Services. The new name is designed to better align the brand identity with the services needed most by small businesses and organizations, according to a news release. Founded by Jill M. Vales in Greenville in 2006, Count On Us Controller Services offers outsourced accounting and financial management services to small businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the Upstate as well as southeast Florida.

Laundry service app launches locally

Hampr, a free app for wash-and-fold laundry services, is available in Greenville and Spartanburg, according to a news release. The app, a Techstars-backed start-up, is available on both Android and iOS devic-

oversaw the redevelopment and leasing of The Junction at Downtown Airport, as well as the historic redevelopment of Burdette Central in Simpsonville. Their most recent project is Hammett Street Market, a 30,000-square-foot food hall which is planned to connect to the Swamp Rabbit Trail. They also work with noteworthy tenants such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Tipsy Taco and Brixx Wood Fired Pizza. SVN Blackstream is one of the fastest growing commercial real estate firms in the Upstate. Blackstream affiliated with SVN in 2014. SVN Blackstream operates franchises in Greenville, Columbia, Charlotte and Charleston with more than 50 advisers. They provide commercial real estate services to local and regional property owners, investors and national investment funds. es. Hampr provides a platform for users to schedule wash-and-fold laundry services via the mobile app. The customers’ laundry is picked up, washed, folded and delivered back.

School program merges S.C. affiliates

Communities in Schools, a provider of social and emotional support programs in public schools, announced that it merged three state affiliates in Greenville, the Midlands and Charleston to form Communities In Schools of South Carolina. The organization will work with 40 site coordinators to provide programing in 34 partnering schools, supporting more than 18,000 students with social and emotional support programming.

Submit items using our online submission portal: www.GSABizWire.com. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.

www.gsabusiness.com

October 4 - October 17, 2021

People in the News TECHNOLOGY Engenius hired Cassidy Krasinski as support manager. Krasinski graduated from the College of Charleston and is certiﬁed in Advanced Google Analytics, Krasinski SEMrush Competitive Analysis and Keyword Research.

Craig

Avison Young’s Greenville ofﬁce announced that Rhett Craig was promoted to senior vice president. He began his commercial real estate career in 2017.

Dan Joyner Reatlors announced that Thomas Butler Evers joined the company’s N. Pleasantburg ofﬁce as a sales associate. Tollison

Sims

Tudi Homes Realty added Tanzania Scarborough as its Spartanburg ofﬁce. She is a graduate of Clemson University. Scarborough

Langston

Seaborn

Tomlinson

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Anna Langston joined the company’s Spartanburg ofﬁce as a sales associate. Rosenfeld Realty Group hired Bobbie Jo Seaborn. Seaborn began working in real estate in June 2019 after more than 25 years teaching early childhood education. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Thomas “Tommy” Tomlinson joined the company’s North Pleasantburg Drive ofﬁce as a sales associate.

Evers

years of experience in real estate and formerly served as director of property management for Hughes Commercial Properties.

REAL ESTATE NAI Earle Furman named Bryant Sims a project manager. He previously worked as an assistant property manager.

MacNabb

Macklin

Coldwell Banker Caine hired Traci Garrett to its Spartanburg ofﬁce as a residential agent after working with another Upstate ﬁrm.

Colbert

Global Location Strategies added Nicholette Macklin and Cedric Colbert to its consulting team and promoted Andrew Ratchford to senior conRatchbord sultant and Parker Wyatt to consultant. Macklin previously worked as an was international business development manager for the S.C. Department of Commerce in Germany. Colbert previously worked as a business development and incentives specialist with the Alabama Department of Commerce. Ratchford joined GLS in 2019 as a site selection consultant. Wyatt has been with GLS since 2018 a business analyst. Coldwell Banker Caine hired Katie Barrera as a transaction manager at its Greenville ofﬁce.

Garrett

Tollison

Lambert

Barrera

Prevatte

NAI Earle Furman hired Brandi Prevatte as senior accountant. She has more than a decade of experience in property management accounting.

Wilson Associates Real Estate hired Reid Tollison and Anne Carter Hughes MacNabb as realtor associates. Reid is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. MacNabb has nearly 15

McClenny

Shen

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Sydney Tollison joined the company’s North Pleasantburg office as a sales associate. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Mary Grace Lambert joined the company’s Spartanburg office as a sales associate. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Sandy Shen has joined the company’s N. Pleasantburg office as a sales associate.

McNamara

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Kyle McClenny joined the company’s N. Pleasantburg ofﬁce as a sales associate. Pat McNamara joined Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty. McNamara has been in the real estate industry since 1984.

ACCOUNTING

Clement

Count On Us Controller Services promoted Ellen Clement to associate vice president and client controller. Clement joined the company in 2013 and had advanced to senior accountant.

ADVERTISING, MARKETING & PR

Dimas

Arbore

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Maria “Liza” Arbore joined the company’s Woodruff at Five Forks office as a sales associate.

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services C.

Infinity Marketing promoted Meghan Foreman Dimas to director of analytics and insights. Dimas joined Infinity in 2016 as analytics manager.

CONSTRUCTION Nichole Kopenhaver of McCrory Construction received a GroundBreaker Award from GroundBreak Carolinas, an organization that focuses on connecting design, construction, economic development, and commercial real estate communities.

Submit items using our online submission portal: www.GSABizWire.com. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.

Viewpoint

VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

Why do young professionals keep leaving?

What if I told you that I could give you the answer to this question? That if you listen to every single word I say here, the young professionals at your company will never leave. Now, we must be realistic here and recognize that life happens. People move away for personal reasons, KAMBER PARKER another job pops up that fits their lifestyle better, and the “grass is always greener” mentality prevails. But what if I told you the key to this problem is finding a way to sustain a strong young professional culture, so that they stay? If we look at the workplace today — one that is ever-changing given the unprecedented times we live in — the workplace is in need of a facelift. If it is not costing your business now, just know young professional turnover costs the U.S. economy $30.5 billion annually according to Gallup’s article on Millennials: The Job-Hopping Generation. With young professionals (ages 21-39 years old) making up majority of the American workforce today, it’s about time we figured out what to do to make them stay. Before I get started, it is important to share that I am a young professional myself and have been lucky to be on the receiving end of hundreds of interviews with young professionals from across the country talking about what they want, need and even crave at their workplaces. Their stories and experiences have guided businesses toward higher retention rates and stronger young professional cultures, ultimately raising the overall company culture as well. First, let’s start with the problem: • 29% of young professionals are engaged at work, leaving two-thirds disengaged and actively looking for new jobs, according to Gallup. • Young professionals will have, on average, up to four different jobs by the time they reach their 30s, according to Cionet, a blog for digital and IT executives. • 49% of young professionals leave their first job within two years, accord-

ing to a 2019 article in Forbes. Why is this a problem? • Burnout • Mental health • Company culture • Unclear expectations and poor communication All of these issues cause young professionals to leave. Now that we know the reasons for this problem and the cost of this problem, what can you do to fix it? Establish a young professional onboarding program, complete with a “Company Starter-Pack” for your newbies. Prepare them for the real happenings at your office (tell them what they can expect working as a young professional first, not just at your company). I’m talking about telling them whether it’s okay to leave for lunch — or if they need to work through it, instead. Get a team of more experienced young professionals and non-young professionals to lay out the expectations now so they are not disappointed — and tempted to leave — later.

Offer semi-annual “young professional culture” check-ins. Whether you use a professional or not to assist you, don’t just check in with them for their quarterly or annual reviews about their job; create an environment where they can share what they need to about the reality of being a young professional. They’re going through stuff that you went through too … age, credibility, learning new systems and trying so hard to get them right. Ring a bell? Offer ongoing training for your young professionals about being a YoPro. It doesn’t just stop after your first year on the job. In fact, you’re technically a young professional until 39, though once you reach your 30s, there should be new trainings available with a clearer focus on developing them as long-term leaders at your workplace. Trainings can focus on topics like: preparing for leadership as a YoPro; facing age as a problem in the workplace; how to develop credibility among coworkers; etc. Oftentimes when this subject is broached, business leaders always state

that they “can’t just keep giving us (young professionals) ping pong tables and beer after work.” News flash: that’s not what we want! Based on interviews with more than 325 young professionals across the country in various industries and stages of life, these are the findings of what they want to be happy and succeed in the workplace: Clear communication, expectations, and the opportunity to grow. You have the power to make their experience better and in return, your workplace culture stronger. Kamber Parker is a YoPro living in Greenville. She seeks to improve workplace culture by offering a bridge between ambitious young professionals and the businesses who want to hire, retain and promote them.

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

www.gsabusiness.com

October 4 - October 17, 2021

Presents

Join us for this monthly webcast featuring America’s top business minds and thought leaders.

BE OUR GUEST. REGISTER FREE.

Go to: bit.ly/21stcbfgsa

David vs. Goliath: How To Win Big in Business MICHAEL DUBIN EMORY UNIVERSITY PHOTO VIDEO/KAY HINTON

The founder and former CEO of the Dollar Shave Club was a pioneer in the direct-toconsumer sector and oversaw explosive growth before selling his men’s grooming company for $1 billion to consumer product giant Unilever. His comedic and offbeat commercials went viral, earning him respect as one of the most innovative marketers in business.

OCTOBER 13 12 PM EST

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR