March 9 - 22, 2015 • www.charlestonbusiness.com
Volume 21, No. 6 • $2.00
New Boeing leader wants efficient production, diversity By Liz Segrist
Best in Beard
Chef Sean Brock competes for top award among James Beard finalists. Page 9
Vice visit
Vice President Joe Biden talks infrastructure at Port of Charleston. Page 3
Incubating biotech Roper Innovation Center looks for startup ideas from around the world. Page 8
Tech roundup
Latest industry news from Charleston’s fast-growing tech sector. Page 10
O
lsegrist@scbiznews.com
ver the next five years, Beverly Wyse wants the Dreamliner campus in North Charleston to be Boeing’s benchmark for efficiency and productivity. Wyse, who will become vice president and general manager of Boeing South Carolina in May, wants to see more suppliers open in the
BATTLE ON BROAD Some downtown Charleston residents are against The Beach Co.’s proposal for a multiuse development in the old Sergeant Jasper site. Emotions were piqued and pandemonium erupted during a recent Charleston Planning Commission meeting when the chairman sparred with hundreds of residents who wanted to hear about the project. Full story, page 11
INSIDE Upfront............................. 2 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering and Constrcution................. 11 List: General Contractors................... 30 Certified Commercial Investment Members.... 33 At Work.......................... 35 People in the News......... 35 Business Digest.............. 35 Hot Properties................. 38 Viewpoint........................ 39
region and more local suppliers garner work for the locally built 787 Dreamliners. She aims to follow through on planned rate increases — up to seven Dreamliners a month — and integration of 787-10 assembly without any delays or production issues. Wyse said many techniques she used to increase rates to 42 planes per month at the 737 plant she managed for five years in Renton, Wash., will work well at Boeing S.C.
Rendering/Provided/The Beach Co.
Wyse said it is critical during rate increases to maintain on-time, quality deliveries to customers. “We need to focus so we don’t miss a beat as we go through production changes,” Wyse said. “Stability is what we want it to look like from the outside world while we’re increasing what we’re doing from the inside.” See BOEING, Page 5
➤
Entrepreneurs capitalize on funding options By Ashley Heffernan
F
aheffernan@scbiznews.com
inding capital is almost never easy and a lot of the work comes down to building relationships with the right people, according to Josh Silverman, founder and CEO of Charleston-based Jericho Advisors. “A few years ago there wasn’t anywhere to go, and I think the market has really opened up. There’s a lot of different places to look,” he said. Lowcountry Local First hosted a Connecting to Capital event last month to help startups learn about their options. “Sometimes if you can’t get a loan from a bank, then that’s when the nonprofit lender comes in and could be a great partner for you to get you started,” Jamee Haley, executive director of Lowcountry Local First, said. “Crowdfunding is also a great way to not only raise capital but also to test out your market.” During the event, panelists from the banking world along with nonprofit lenders and business owners who have had successful crowdfunding campaigns gave advice on funding options. See CAPITAL, Page 6
➤
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION Who is building what in the Charleston area? Projects, companies, prices, projected timelines, photos and stories. Page 11