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Publisher Tammy Clark tmclark225@gmail.com Editor Heather Page heather@vipmagsc.com Office Manager Tiffany Skipper jtskipp35@gmail.com Advertising Executive Mary Kevin Miller marykevinmiller@gmail.com Advertising Executive Jordan Pupa jordan@vipmagsc.com

Contributing Photographers Devin Cartsen Dewey Ervin Phillip Guyton Chris Neal Fred Salley Tracey Rowell Judy Quick Sharon Contributing Writers Gray Bostick Ashley Elvington Zach Hearne Bill James Jack Muench Jordan Pupa Donna Tracy Hillary White

Creative Design Tuesday Taylor

Serving Florence, Hartsville, Darlington, Marion, Mullins, Lake City and the surrounding areas 2011-B Second Loop Rd, Florence, SC 29501 FIND US ON FACEBOOK

For advertising rates, call 843-687-4236.

COVER CONCEPT

ArtFieldsÂŽ, the nine-day art competition in Lake City, has become the largest competition of its kind. We are proud to have so many local artists that can partake in the competition. This month we celebrate their works of art. When seeing Christopher Nealâ€™s portrait, we had to share it with our audience. Jump to page 32 to read more about these talented individuals.

VIP Magazine | April 2018

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

ISSUE 29

APRIL CONTENTS 12 Experience Hartsville Celebration of Success & Leadership

14 Fashion for Work & Play Lillie K’s Collections Boutique

16 Advocating Healthcare Senior Health

18 Under the Dome Collectible & Art Owners

20 Create Tiny Human Clothing Co.

22 Create

24 Health & Wellness

48 Time to Toast

Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center

26 Florence Community

50 Positive Pursuit State Elder Elijah Green

Signature Wealth Strategies | Zach Hearne

28 Agribusiness

52 To Dine For Crossroads On Main

The Swamp Log Artisans Gallery

30 Developing Downtown

54 Business Spotlight Wilcox Office Mart

Lake City Concert Series

32-39 Cover Story

56 In The Head Of Wim Roefs

ArtFields®: The Artist Behind The Art

40-45 Around Town

58 Employee Spotlight ADP: Steven Bright

Campbell Bridgeman

46 Happenings

60 In Your State Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden

VIP Magazine | April 2018

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

EXPERIENCE HARTSVILLE

A CELEBRATION OF SUCCESS AND LEADERSHIP Hartsville Chamber Honor Community Leaders Tenacity. Courage. Strength. Devotion. Class. These are a few of the words used to describe award winners during the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce’s 97th Annual Membership Banquet, held on February 26, 2017. The banquet is a night where the board updates attendees on last year’s accomplishments, talks about the plans for the present year, and presents several of the community’s most prestigious awards. The theme of this year’s banquet was “In Full Bloom.” The Harris E. & Louise H. DeLoach Center was adorned with hydrangeas to symbolize the new growth the chamber experienced in 2017 and to represent the freshness of ideas and concepts the chamber is implementing this year. Immediate-past chair Martin Driggers shared that the chamber experienced an 11% growth in membership in 2017 bringing the total membership base to 341 members. Several HR Managers meetings as well as Small Business Development meetings were held that focused on topics ranging from Apprenticeship Carolina to the Small Business Administration’s government contract and funding opportunities. The biggest success for 2017 was the new Women’s Leadership Symposium. Over 175 women attended and enjoyed a day in which Duke Energy’s CEO Lynn Good was presented with the first Chrysalis Award and SPC’s Linda Weatherford was given the Woman of Achievement Award. Chair Darnell Byrd-McPherson next spoke about the bright future the chamber is looking toward in 2018. To begin this year another new event was held- the first Economic Development Outlook Luncheon. Members from around the county joined to hear updates from leaders in economic development from both the county and state levels. Byrd-McPherson also talked about a new Champions for Education program that will connect the business and education communities. In May, Leadership Hartsville will graduate a class of 17 who are currently working on their project of Boys & Girls Club beautification. Driggers thanked outgoing board members Tim Browne and John Griggs for their service and welcomed new board members Kelly Benton and Sue Shugart. Moving on to the awards portion of the event, two women were presented with Women in Business scholarships. FlorenceDarlington Technical College presented their scholarship to

VIP Magazine | April 2018

Bobby McGee presenting the Hartsville Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year award to Adlena Graham

Courtney Rogers, a dual major student who has remained on the Dean’s List her entire college career while always working. Coker College awarded their scholarship to Megan Friedt, who attends their Hartsville Adult Degree Program. Next, Janie Campbell presented the Pilot Club Caregiver of the Year award. Given since 2008, this award recognizes a volunteer who has enhanced the life of someone in need. This year’s recipient was Charles Douglas, who was described as being dependable and someone whose acts of kindness to friends, neighbors, and strangers may go unknown. Mindy Taylor then presented the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award to the Christmas in April board, accepted by Joann Delong. Typically on the last Saturday in April, churches, community groups, and individuals mobilize to repair owner-occupied housing of low income, elderly families in the Hartsville area. Christmas in April has helped over 700 families stay warm, safe, and dry and changes the lives of Hartsvillians each year. Fresh off of winning an award, a teary Joann Delong presented the Hartsville United Way Volunteer of the Year award to a recipient described in the nomination as “very dependable, you can always count on her to step in when needed and she has the best interest of the girls and heart. She continues to be a positive role model and is committed to the principal of the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law.” Michele Brown was presented with this award for being a devoted volunteer to the Girl Scout Organization. Kelly Benton, 2016 Chamber Ambassador of the Year, then presented Brandy Johnson with this year’s award. Kelly thanked all of the ambassadors that give 100%, but described Johnson as someone that always gives 115%.

United Way Joann Delong presenting the Hartsville Brown Volunteer of the Year award to Michele Brandy helped the chamber secure several new members as well as strengthened relationships with current members. Patrick Rogers presented the Hartsville Young Professional (HYP) of the Year award to Jordan Pupa, who held almost every HYP board seat last year. Jordan helped to live out the mission of the HYP organization, which is to make Hartsville a place where young professionals want to live, work, and play. The chamber’s Will Woodham Business Person of the Year 2016 recipient Danny Johnson came to present this year’s award. This award was given to a couple who is gearing up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their business this year, Leigh Ann and Willie Bizzell. Bizzell’s has been a staple in downtown Hartsville for 20 years, all while the Bizzells have helped young entrepreneurs flourish. They’ve also partnered with different charitable organizations to raise funds through their Sunday buffets. Danny explained how this couple embodies the entrepreneurial spirit in which Hartsville has come to be known. Finally, the Hartsville Rotary Club presented the Citizen of the Year Award to Adlena Graham. Described as being “someone who came forward and made a difference,” Graham was the only one in the room completely shocked that all of the praise describing such a remarkable woman was indeed about her. As someone who Bobby McGee stated as being “the embodiment of the Rotary motto, Service Above Self,” Graham received the award with utter shock and was completely speechless. The chamber is working hard to fulfill its mission by being a catalyst for community success through member support and advocacy.

For more information about the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce, visit www.hartsvillechamber.org or call (843) 332-6401. April 2018 | VIP Magazine

FASHION FOR WORK AND PLAY

Looking on the

Bright

Side!

Photography by Jonathan Boatwright

VIP Magazine | April 2018

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

ADVOCATING HEALTHCARE

Senior

Health story by Donna Tracy, Communications Coordinator, HopeHealth

DID YOU KNOW?

• Between 1977 and 2007, employment of workers 65+ increased 101% • In 2015, 33 million Americans aged 55+ were employed, and 1.3 million were actively seeking work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics • Nearly twice as many workers aged 65+ were employed in 2015 than teenage workers (8.4 million vs 4.7 million) • By 2019, Americans aged 55+ will comprise over 25% of the U.S. labor force

Source: National Council on Aging and Bureau of Labor Statistics

Today, more and more people are choosing to stay in the work force as they enter their senior years. A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2017 report indicated about 40 percent of seniors – those age 55 and older - were working or actively looking for work in 2014. In 2015, 33 million seniors still collected paychecks, and, by 2019, the BLS estimates that seniors will comprise 25 percent of the workforce. Why are seniors working longer? For some, it’s financial security or independence, for others it’s to stay active and engaged in their communities. Whatever the reason for staying in the workforce, seniors’ ability to continue working is dependent on a common factor – maintaining their health. Nicholas Licari, a board-certified family nurse practitioner at HopeHealth Medical Plaza, said the best way to maintain and improve senior health is to stay up to date with annual wellness visits and complete recommended screenings. Additionally, addressing chronic health

concerns, nutrition and fitness, and other assessments are key for seniors to maintain their health and ability to work. Assessments specifically for seniors take a closer look at factors such as fall risks, physical activity levels, and functional abilities. Screenings for all seniors include tests for colorectal cancer, hepatitis C, hypertension, hearing, vision, and mental health. For women, health screenings also include mammograms, cervical cancer, and osteoporosis. At HopeHealth, seniors have access to a variety of programs: • Hope Gold - A free concierge program for HopeHealth patients specifically designed to help seniors with chronic diseases navigate their health needs • Thursdays at Hope – A free program open to the community and held on the second Thursday of the month. Each 90-minute session provides an opportunity to hear from area experts on two topics, one medical, and one lifestyle, that are important to healthy senior living photo by Grayson Markle/HopeHealth

VIP Magazine | April 2018

• Educational Classes - HopeHealth offers classes covering topics including: chronic disease management, health education, exercise, and cooking and nutrition. Some are open only to HopeHealth patients with specific needs; others are free and open to the community. Examples include: • HeartWise Hypertension Self-Management: A six-week course for patients diagnosed with hypertension and their family members to learn about controlling high blood pressure and covering topics such as hypertension education, home blood-pressure monitoring, stress reduction and relaxation techniques • Walk with Ease – A program designed to promote a healthy heart and to reduce arthritic pain through walking, as well as discussions on arthritis, managing symptoms, foods that reduce inflammation, and other topics. Each class in the six-week program also includes stretching, warm-up and cool-down sessions, and walking • Cooking Matters – A six-week course teaching techniques for preparing delicious, new recipes and getting your family excited about healthy eating while staying within a budget

More information on Hope Gold is available by calling (843) 662-8469. To become a HopeHealth patient or to learn more about classes offered, visit hope-health.org or call (843) 667-9414.

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

UNDER THE DOME

Attention:

Collectible & Art Owners story by Jack Muench Americans hold a considerable amount of wealth in the form of art and other collectibles. Despite their sophistication in assessing the desirability of a particular piece, many collectors fail to address fundamental planning techniques that can materially enhance the collection process. In the March edition of Trusts and Estates magazine, Caryn Keppler and Jodi Lipka address in significant detail the items summarized below, and to which all collectors and their advisors should attend: 1 Collector, investor, or dealer? This classification, which itself entails a number of subtle concepts, is critical in assessing the income tax treatment of gains and losses and the potential deductibility of expenses in maintaining a collection. Anyone but the most casual dabbler must attend closely to these classification issues, and must be mindful of the fact that a particular characterization can change over time. 2 Failure to plan. There is a time in the collector’s life when it becomes apparent that her collection will be sold. However, without careful planning, a last-minute sale will likely result in a small fraction of the collection’s value being realized. The collector should consider using the collectibles to fund charitable gifts, other lifetime giving, and methods aimed at realizing the full value of a collection. 3 Failure to realize an object’s value. All but the most casual collectors should obtain professional appraisals, expensive though those appraisals may be. Appraisals are not only important when it comes time to price a particular asset, but they are also vital for insurance purposes, obtaining loans with the property as collateral, and, in the event of charitable giving, substantiating the value of the gift.

4 Maintain an inventory! This is probably one of the simplest, and yet most neglected, planning item. An inventory should include a system for indicating when an item is bought or sold and to and from whom, records of loans or gifts, records of appraisals and insurance, records of damages and losses, and records of repairs or enhancements to a particular item. An up-to-date inventory may enable a collector to establish the provenance of an item. Indeed, reviewing an inventory which has been compiled over the years can often be an innervating process in itself. 5 Maintain accurate records. An essential element in determining the value of a collectible is its provenance. Evidence of an item’s history and chain of title will help establish an item’s authenticity, which can aid in realizing the highest value for an item at the time of sale, trade or donation. Further, a review of such records may prevent a collector from paying too much for an item which is inauthentic. 6 Adequacy of insurance. Many collectors store some of their most precious items in their homes and offices, which oftentimes are not maintained in a fashion to minimize damage from an accident. In dealing with collectibles, insuring them for true value presents special complications. Merely insuring through some sort of blanket coverage or as part of the contents of a building can be inadequate to determine true value for insurance purposes. A collection should be insured by way of a separate schedule. The collector must present the insurer with accurate and complete information, lest a claim be denied later.

Serving Businesses and Individuals from Florence to Myrtle Beach: the Business Law, Litigation, Real Estate, and Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys of Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.

willcoxlaw.com

VIP Magazine | April 2018

248 West Evans Street | Florence, SC | 843.662.3258 2050 Corporate Centre’ Drive, Suite 230 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 843.650.6777

7 Communicate with your heirs. Many of us maintain collections that, for good or ill, our children or other beneficiaries have no interest in maintaining. As mentioned earlier in this article, a last-minute sale is unlikely to produce a positive result. Thus, if valuable items are left to heirs who have no desire to maintain them, those items will often be sold for a fraction of their fair market value. A collector should ascertain what her children’s or other beneficiaries’ desires are with respect to her cherished collectibles, and leave only items which are clearly desired and will be maintained. Otherwise, she may wish to sell the collection herself in a reasoned and appropriate fashion or perhaps make gifts of her appreciated property to museums or other institutions. 8 Charitable giving issues. Many collectors make charitable gifts of their appreciated collectibles. There can be substantial income tax advantages to making such gifts, especially by utilizing so-called “split interest” planning techniques. But not all charities regard a collectible with the same passion as their current owner. Thus, a gift may be refused; and the collector may wish to place restrictions on the collectible’s use in the hands of the charity. This last item has been the grist for court cases in recent years, as donors attempt to rescind gifts on the grounds that the charities’ use of the items fails to comport with the original terms of those gifts. As those cases show, undoing a gift is far from simple and certain. As with the other items mentioned in this article, time can be on the side of the collector. Decisions made in haste will often be compromised. 9 Rely on experts. The casual collector knows what she likes and may be happy collecting on that basis. Once the emphasis shifts from a passing, casual pleasure, the involvement of others in the collecting process can be important. Dealers, appraisers, and other collectors can and do provide invaluable guidance in all phases of the collection process, including sales and future acquisitions. Financial advisors, tax specialists, and accountants round out this important team. Collecting works of arts and other collectibles can be a pleasurable and edifying process. As the value and significance of a collection grows, attention to the planning issues described above can materially enhance the enjoyment inherent in the collecting process.

Jack Muench Concentrating in Corporate Law, Tax Law and Estate Planning

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

CREATE

Tiny Human Clothing Co. Southern Traditional Style with a Sweet, Sassy Twist story by Jordan Pupa

With her unique talent, Grace Byrd has created extraordinary handmade pieces of children’s clothing. Her dedication, attention to detail, and creative eye has led her to down the road to new opportunities. Grace has been described as “an artist of children's clothing” and her journey is only beginning for Tiny Human Clothing Co. Grace is from the quaint town of Cheraw, SC and attended Cheraw High School where she met her husband, Patrick. Patrick joined the military after graduation, then the two ended up tying the knot and starting their new life together where Patrick was stationed in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Grace shares, “I could not find a decent paying job in the area and daycare was insane for anyone to afford, much less a military family, so I decided to try my hand in sewing within a small Etsy shop.” Etsy is an online marketplace focused on handmade, unique items. What started as a hobby of creating handmade children’s clothing to pass the time has led to success for Grace. The project enabled her to stay home and take care of her children while her husband was on deployment for six months out of the year. “I made outfits for friends and family, 90% of the time charging hardly anything. It took me almost two years to actually turn a profit.” All of Grace’s designs are handmade traditional styles, though with a sassy twist. Products 20

VIP Magazine | April 2018

have included Disney princess inspired dresses, beautiful bonnets with bows, ruffle top and bloomer sets, and so much more! Some items are even complete with a southern staple, a customizable monogram. “I made sure that every single outfit that left my studio was consistent as far as high-end fabrics, perfect stitching, and the best customer service you can get with a small Etsy shop went.” After countless weeks of working seven days a week, missing family events, and pushing herself to the limit to make her small business thrive, it has finally paid off! Tiny Human Clothing Co. will launch their first ever manufactured clothing line made within the United States this April. The line will start off small with one simple design in several fabric options. “I have decided to use these designs inside of a monthly subscription box we are also offering starting in April. We have teamed up with some other amazing handmade designers to offer “made to match” accessories within these boxes as well!” Grace hopes to reach a target market of moms and families that are similar to her and continue to grow the Tiny Human family as much as she can.

Go check out what Tiny Human Clothing Co. has to offer on Facebook and Instagram (@tinyhumanclothing) and find the perfect Spring outfit for your little one!

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

CREATE

Campbell Bridgeman

Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, and Pianist story by Hillary White Campbell Bridgeman is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist who began his journey in music in the third grade when he was taking piano lessons. Unfortunately, he had no interest in piano at the time, and took guitar lessons instead. After dropping music for about three years altogether, he eventually picked back up piano and guitar and began teaching himself. Today, Campbell is busy performing within the local area and uses his unique talent to provide entertainment for people of all ages. He is the son of Martha Bridgeman and the late Ray Bridgeman, is from Florence, South Carolina, and is a senior at West Florence High School. Campbell has gained inspiration from the people in his life and the community. He states, “I was always able to sing and I was raised by a family that has always been head over heels in love with music, so I was always singing while doing things. Sometimes people took notice. I never really considered the thought of music being something I’d want to do as a career, just because the thought never occurred to me.” In the eighth grade, Campbell’s godfather, Randall Pipkin, convinced him to sing and play at an open mic night at Southern Hops Brewery in Florence. Shortly after that, he played his first solo gig at Cast Iron Waffles, a small coffee shop that was once in Florence. “Owner, Steve Milligan is a lover and player of music himself and he let me play for a couple hours while people ate.” From there, Campbell continued to pursue his talent and share it with others. “I slowly started playing in more and more bars and restaurants. About a year ago I was able to begin doing it as my job. It’s how I make all my money now. Doing something I love for work is pretty wild and makes it not even feel like work and I hope to continue doing it indefinitely.” Campbell plays a wide variety of genres, which makes him appealing to all different audiences. “If I had to pick a favorite genre, I’d say rock, in all its shapes and forms.” He has played and continues to play in Florence and the surrounding areas of Darlington, Hartsville, Chesterfield, and even Charleston. “The furthest I’ve ever traveled to play was a mission trip to Costa Rica with my church, Central United Methodist, 22

VIP Magazine | April 2018

where I played music for children and their families while they attended a vacation bible school.” Campbell owes much of his success to one of his mentors in music, Johnny Tanner. “He taught me and continues to teach me not only ways to better myself in music itself, but also has shown me the ropes of how to work equipment and get the best sound from the equipment. He has taught me little things about being a live musician that I never even thought about prior.” Campbell will be attending The College of Charleston in the fall. In the future he hopes to live in many different musical centered cities such as Nashville or New Orleans where he can make a living playing his music and be able to keep moving. He even hopes to possibly release a couple albums and gain enough of a following to justify a few tours! Check out more from Campbell Bridgeman on his YouTube channel.

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Providing Exceptional Medical Care The All America City of Hartsville has much to offer in the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina, and their hospital and adjoining medical office continues to be the healthcare facility of choice for discerning citizens across the region. Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville just completed their tri-annual Joint Commission review March 12 – 14, 2018 and received an excellent rating of ZERO conditional findings; this puts CPRMC in the top rankings of all hospitals across the nation. CPRMC also recently earned the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Chest Pain Center Base Accreditation in March 2018. Two of our nurses were named Palmetto Gold Nurses, Autumn Collins and Kelly Beasley. Both nurses work in the ICU area, and will receive their awards with the combined 100 South Carolina nurses at the Palmetto Gold banquet in April 2018. In October of 2017, CPRMC was awarded the following South Carolina Certified Zero Harm Awards from SCMA/ SCHA: Zero Surgical Site Infections – Hip Replacement 45+ Months; Zero Surgical Site Infections – Knee Replacement 45+ Months; Zero Surgical Site Infections – Abdominal Hysterectomy 24+ Months; and Zero Surgical Site Infections – Zero CLASBI ICU 18+. Of the awards, 40 hospitals were honored for the entire state of South Carolina, and of those healthcare facilities, just 17 were honored with the 45+ month awards; Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center received TWO! In November of 2017, CPRMC was awarded The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification for Total Hip Replacement and total Knee Replacement. CPRMC opened a new, larger Sleep Lab in January of 2018, moving from the medical office building to a larger space in the main hospital. Since January 2017, six new physicians have joined CPRMC: Wallace Vaught, MD – Urology Specialist; Siddarth Badve, MD – Orthopedic Spine Surgery; Anna Jane Dudley Senseney, MD – Internal Medicine; David Horger,

VIP Magazine | April 2018

MD – Urology Specialist; William “Bill” Martin, MD – Family Practice; and Brian Sponseller, MD – Family Practice. In December of 2017, Abraham Areephanthu, MD was honored for his nine years of service and leadership as Chief of Staff from 2009 – 2017. Dr. Areephanthu continues to practice Family Medicine and serve as a hospitalist. Terence W. Hassler, MD was named the new Chief of Staff January 2018; Dr. Hassler specializes in Orthopedic Surgery. In June of 2017, Christy B. Moody, RN, BSN, CCRN was named Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). In the past year, seven ER nurses have earned their CEN Certification, including: Shannon McPherson, RN, CEN; Edie Campbell, RN, CEN; Brandon Singletary, RN, CEN; Frank Munn, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, Director of Emergency Services at CPRMC; Samantha Joyner, RN, CEN; Tracy Jacobs, RN, CEN; and Pat Spencer, RN, CEN. We also participate in the DAISY Award program for our outstanding nurses each quarter. Our 2017 Nurse of the Year was: Autumn Collins, ICU; Employee of the Year was Deena Shelley of Dr. Vaught’s office; and Manager of the Year was Kelly Miller, Director of Women and Children’s Services. Sue Shugart, FACHE Chief Operation Officer (COO) received the American College of Healthcare Executives Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award in February 2018. In January 2018 we provided new inpatient guides for our patients, including our first Spanish language versions. The CPRMC Board of Trustees welcomed new member Darnell McPherson, Executive Director of Darlington County First Steps and newly elected Mayor of the Town of Lamar, SC. Our affiliation with MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) has afforded us with tele-health services that have further enhanced what we can offer our patients, including tele-stroke, tele-neurology, and e-ICU services. Plans to add tele-health to the Darlington County School District will be released in coming months. We also participate in specialized training with MUSC for our local clinical staff.

Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center 1304 W Bobo Newsom Hwy, Hartsville, SC 843.339.2100

Economic impact for 2017:

Community Involvement:

• $3.2 million in City of Hartsville and Darlington County taxes.

• Free cardiac screenings were given to student athletes of various Hartsville High School and McBee High School teams.

• $40.7 million of uncompensated care. • 614 jobs to local community members, resulting in $44,091,638 in combined salary and benefits paid to employees – most of which is spent here in the Pee Dee area. • $2.8 million invested in capital equipment – all without fundraising efforts or federal, state or local grants. • $222,430 in contributions to local charities, civic groups and schools.

Monthly Classes/Events: • Living Well with Diabetes support group held the 2nd Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. in the Education Classroom • Childbirth Preparation Classes: open the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for expectant parents free of charge. Must register at: 843-339-4563. • Senior Scene: first Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Education Classroom with programs and speakers designed for our vibrant seniors. • Lunch and Learn the 3rd Thursday of every month from 12 – 1 p.m. in the Education Classroom. Enjoy a boxed lunch and hear informative presentations from selected physicians. Free of charge, must register to attend: 843-339-4563. Limited to first 40 meals. • Athletic Trainers for Coker College SC Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (SCGSSM), Hartsville High School and McBee High School. • Growth and Outreach: under direction of Growth and outreach director Michael Northcutt, Lunch and Learns with CPRMC physicians are held on site at businesses including Sonoco, SCGSSM and Nestle Water, with future plans to include other businesses including Stingray Boats. • Employee Wellness: Each employee is invited to participate in barometric health screenings and smoking cessation assistance. Great care is given to providing employee bonding with holiday meals, Easter Egg Hunts, Christmas Party, and Birthday luncheons and family involvement with annual Trunk or Treat for the children and grandchildren of all employees.

• CPRMC employees volunteer once a month for Carolina Kids “Hunger Busters” program, filling over 800 bags of easy to prepare food for needy children of Darlington County School District to bring home over the weekend. Our employees also participate in food drives for this organization. • Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce supporter of Annual Banquet, Taste of Hartsville, golf tournament, Women’s Symposium; our COO Sue Shugart was named to their Board of Directors in 2017. • CPRMC has been a presence at Main Street Hartsville’s Farmer’s Markets sharing information about the hospital and providing free blood pressure checks. • Red Cross Blood Drives are held on site each quarter. • Host American Heart Association Relay for Life for Darlington County meetings, sponsor a team of employees to walk and help raise funds each year. • Diabetes Fair in November 2017, providing free cardiopulmonary screenings, dietitian consultation, blood pressure screenings and vendors to community members suffering from diabetes. • Speakers began sharing health related issues on the Good Morning Hartsville local radio program on WHEZ 95.9 FM in February of 2018. • American Heart Association of the Pee Dee: CPRMC will be the official sponsor for the 2019 Heart Ball of the Pee Dee. Our hospital has consistently been a big supporter of AHA, and this year the hospital won the following awards during the 2017 American Heart Association – Pee Dee Heart Walk: 2017 Over Achiever Award; 2017 Top Team Award Erin Griggs, $3,867; 2017 Top Fundraising Company $10,870; 2017 New Team Award $10,870; and 2017 Lifestyles Change Award went to hospital Auxiliary member and Cardiac Rehab patient Bob Haarlow. April April2018 2018| |VIP VIPMagazine Magazine

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FLORENCE COMMUNITY

Learning About The People and Places

That Make Florence Great!

story by Zach Hearne, Associate Wealth Advisor, Signature Wealth Strategies

It would be hard to tell any part of my life story without talking about Florence. I was born and raised here but growing up, I always saw Florence as one day being part of my past, not a part of my future. Growing up at Florence Christian School, I have always trusted faith would lead me in the right direction. After playing soccer at Francis Marion University I was given the opportunity to live and study in France for a year. This opportunity opened my eyes to a lot of things, none of which at the time included me moving back to Florence to start my career. After returning home from France, I accepted an internship with First Reliance Bank, then started a consulting business for a short time. So, here I was starting my career in the very place I thought I’d leave. Florence was a place I envisioned to soon be in the rearview. Things changed when in 2016 I joined the team at Signature Wealth Strategies, where I am now a financial advisor. Shortly after joining SWS, members of the Florence Chamber of Commerce reached out to me to join as an ambassador, which didn’t necessarily excite me at the time. However, after spending time working alongside the Chamber doing ribbon cuttings, welcoming new business owners to the community and helping existing businesses grow in our community, things began to change for me. Previously I was completely unaware of the vast amount of work it takes to keep Florence running as a functioning city, much less grow and attract new businesses and people.

I can say now after spending more than a year working alongside the Chamber, proudly and humbly, I spent 23 years living somewhere I truly knew very little about and an important one year, learning about the people and places that makes Florence the great city it is today. I’d like to challenge everyone to get involved and be a part of what is being built around us. Mother Theresa said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” When growing up, it was easy to enjoy something, yet know very little about it. Today, I know it’s even better being a part of building it. I can say I am proud to be from Florence. Our new Full Life, Full Forward attitude is directly representative of the people here and the action we are taking in our community to make it a better place. In my time working with the Florence Chamber, I have seen our city grow and change, and what was once a place I thought would soon appear in my rearview has now become my future.

Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, 100 W Evans St, Florence | 843.665.0515 | flochamber.com 26

VIP Magazine | April 2018

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

AGRIBUSINESS

THE

SWAMP LOG Artisans Gallery We provide rare, hard to find heirloom quality offerings that enrich your way of life. story by Jordan Pupa

An old building in downtown Bishopville is now home to a beautiful storefront, The Swamp Log Artisans Gallery. The store is unlike any other, as it is a gift shop, furniture store, local history museum, and art gallery all in one. Alec Blalock opened the store nine months ago after being approached by Greater Bishopville, Inc. with a downtown revitalization project funded by $1,000,000 from an anonymous donor. The Swamp Log Artisans Gallery is one of five unique businesses placed downtown with suitable retail space at a reduced cost in order to fulfill the dream of re-inventing downtown Bishopville. His business proposal was a hit and interest from artists, craftsmen, and artisans soared, leading to a dream becoming a reality. The gallery specializes in products handmade from lumber which is sawn from ‘old growth sinker’ logs recovered from the muddy, dark bottoms of South Carolina rivers and swamps. Dark water diving and nature have always been an interest to Blalock. After 15 years running SCUBA charters, Blalock made the difficult decision to retire from hunting one kind of underwater treasures of fossils and artifacts in favor of hunting ‘sinker’ logs. Logs were lost over 100 years ago and are pulled multiple times per year. Blalock has the necessary license to salvage the old trees, as anything spent underwater for over 100 years in South Carolina belongs to the state. Certain qualities of the logs can reflect 28

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its time period. Blalock continues to sell the beautiful lumber, but what makes the Swamp Log Artisans Gallery unique is that they feature items made from the wood that has been pulled from underwater in South Carolina. About 90% of the wood items in the store are made from recovered sinker logs, including larger items like full tables to smaller items, such as pepper shakers. The gallery has over fifty talented artisans, craftsmen, and artists who contribute their handmade items to the store. Artisans are primarily from South Carolina, but also from Georgia and North Carolina, with one from Pennsylvania. With their own individual talents and passion, they are able to create one-of-a-kind handmade pieces of jewelry, carvings, furniture and wood-works, to photography and beautiful paintings, plus more. Many items are heirloom quality pieces. The Swamp Log Artisans Gallery gives artisans the opportunity to display and share their creative talents at a reasonable cost. Alec Blalock has used his exceptional talent and interests to contribute to a new attraction in Bishopville. The Swamp Log Artisans Gallery is located at 229 N. Main Street. For a full list of artisans, store hours, or for more information, visit www.swamplogartisans.com or find The Swamp Log Artisans Gallery on Facebook. Visiting the gallery is an opportunity you do not want to miss. Make the short trip to Bishopville today and check out all they have to offer!

Inside The Swamp Log Artisans Gallery

229 N Main St., Bishopville | 843.483.2424 www.swamplogartisans.com April 2018 | VIP Magazine

DEVELOPING DOWNTOWN

LAKE CITY CONCERT SERIES - Since 1984 story by Jordan Pupa

The Lake City Concert Series was founded in 1984 by Betty Ballentine Carter and provides quality, professional concerts and arts outreach opportunities for students in the community. The organization has been a successful series for 33 years and has brought several world class musicians to perform each year. Betty Frances Stone is the current director. She states, “I have a wonderful board of directors who work very hard to make everything run smoothly throughout the year. We continue to follow the dream of our founder touching the lives of the children in our community by bringing the Arts into their lives.” The Arts In Education Program is part of the Lake City Concert Series and brings in professional theatre performances and residencies with musicians and visual artists to work with teachers and students. The organization purchases instruments or supplies for the residency when needed. School residencies have included music such as African drumming and classical guitar, as well as visual arts in metal sculpture and mural painting. Four concerts are held throughout the year in addition to the fundraising events. Concerts are held at different locations within the community including the Lake City Presbyterian Church, The Bean Market, The Stables at the Inn at the Crossroads, and Moore Farms Botanical Garden, where they hold their Fundraising Gala. This year the Gala will be on May 10th with a Caribbean Celebration theme and tickets are $25. Entertainment will be by Pantasia, a steel drum band. The event consists of wonderful food and drinks and a silent auction with work from professional and student artists. “We would love to increase our audience for all of our concerts and especially for our fundraising event. It is a fantastic way to support the Arts and have an enjoyable evening.” 30

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For more information on upcoming concerts, visit www.lccs.info/ , call 843-374-8611, or call the Lake City Chamber of Commerce.

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

COVER STORY â€¢ The Artists Beind the Art

photography by Dewey Ervin 32

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Donna GOODMAN “...My autobiographical photograph is of a young, handsome, sexy man with one large tear rolling down his cheek. The title is, “good to the last drop.”

-Goodman

Donna has always had an interest in farming, gardening, and paying attention to what everyday life looks like. She is originally from the Shiloh community near Olanta and was raised on a farm that has been in her family since the 1700s. Her creative eye and inspiration from the outdoors has led her to produce wonderful art that reflects the beauty of world we live in. She is a painter, photographer, and collector of stories. Donna is a graduate of Coker College, where she earned a degree in Art Education, USC where she earned a Masters in Painting and Printmaking, and she holds a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in Arts Administration. She shared her knowledge and passion for art and taught in the Darlington County School District as an art teacher for several years. In 1987 she began teaching art education and art history at Francis Marion University. Donna states, “I started the program that teaches art students how to be public and private school art teachers. I am proud to have trained art teachers all over the Pee Dee.” Donna was named the 1996 Francis Marion Distinguished Professor.

In 2006 Donna retired, became a SC Master Gardener for the second time, and a SC Master Naturalist. Her husband, Dewey Ervin, and their Jack Russell, Eloise (Ellie) live on Ridgehope, a longleaf pine tree farm north of Florence in the Back Swamp community. “Ellie and I started to walk in the swamp, woods and fields at Ridgehope. Because we walked miles every day, I noticed the huge variety of wildflowers and began to photograph them. That started an eight-year project that culminated in the book called “Morning Walk in the Pee Dee.” The book is a visual chronicle of wildflowers that grow in the area year-round and can be purchased at the Florence County Museum. The proceeds go to the museum education programs. “This year over 1000 artists submitted work to the Artfields’ jury, and I am honored to have been selected as one of the 400 artists from the eleven states of the Southeast. My autobiographical photograph is of a young, handsome, sexy man with one large tear rolling down his cheek. The title is, “good to the last drop.” The description or story behind the photograph is, “A long time ago, I made him cry.” And that’s all I’m going to say about it.”

COVER STORY • The Artists Beind the Art

Kevin SPAULDING Having moved from New York to South Carolina over five years ago, Kevin Spaulding has finally been able to fulfill his vocation working as a fulltime artist. Raised as a military brat, he lived in thirteen different locations throughout the country, as well as in Germany. Though it afforded different perspectives on seeing the world, which he has drawn on in his recent work, he always had misgivings in not having a permanent home. He has been an accomplished artist for over 20 years.

variety of mediums (drawing, painting, and sculpture) under the tutelage of such renowned instructors as Barney Hodes and Michael Grimaldi.” Major influences on his work include Edward Hopper, Thomas Eakins, and Andrew Wyeth, and earlier painters such as Ribera, Velasquez, and Jan Van Eyck. While attending school, Kevin supported himself working as a painter for an “artist.” “It was a regrettable experience, but enabled me to survive and periodically work on my own art.”

Kevin studied art at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, majoring in Painting and Printmaking. Kevin states, “Their curriculum emphasized more the development of (plastic) ideas, than in the craft of making art. Nonetheless I still found it a rich and rewarding experience.” After college, he moved to California to be near family living in Orange County. His first job was working at a newspaper as a layout artist. Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles to start his own family and begin a career as an illustrator. “Due to concerns about the quality of education for our son, we decided to move to Vermont. It was there that I began painting, with a focus on still life and portraiture.”

After Kevin met his wife, Laura, nearly six years ago, they decided it was best that he move to South Carolina, especially given how expensive it was to live in New York. “It is here that I have been able to give full attention to my art, which is decidedly more personal than the previous genre work I’ve done in the past.” Kevin is a fulltime painter residing in Evergreen, not far from Effingham, where he currently paints in their converted dining room. Kevin and Laura plan to build a studio and office behind his house in the future. “The paintings I’ve been working for the past five years are called the Black Painting Series.” The last painting he completed, entitled The Sacrifice, will be entered in this year’s ArtFields.

Following the end of his first marriage, he moved to New York City to study at the Art Students League. “There I was able to sharpen my skills working in a

The Barrens

For further information, Kevin can be reached at night_daimon@yahoo.com.

The Crows The Sacrifice

VIP Magazine | April 2018

“The paintings I’ve been working for the past five years are called the Black Painting Series.” -Spaulding

photography by Reflection Images

COVER STORY • The Artists Beind the Art

Elizabeth ODOM

Elizabeth Odom has always been passionate about creating art and positively affecting others through her work. She is a creator and educator of art, with a specialty in collages that express the significance of the jigsaw puzzles she put together with her grandmother as a child. She was born and raised in Florence, graduated from South Florence High School, and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in art education from Francis Marion University. While at Francis Marion her studies focused on creative writing and fine art. After graduation she began teaching fine art at South Florence High School and has taught Art 1, Art 2, Honors, and Advanced Placement art for four years. She resides in Florence with her husband, Matthew, and their great dane, Duke.

Elizabeth shares, “He nominated me for Horizons, a gifted and talented visual arts program in my local school district. I created a landscape, portrait, and still life and prepared them within a small portfolio. I gathered recommendations from teachers and interviewed for a position in Horizons. My dedication paid off and as an imaginative third grader, I was accepted to participate in one of the most meaningful summers of my life.” Elizabeth was immersed in clay, sketchbook prompts, and art critiques along with a wealth of new media, ideas, and techniques each day. Thinking back on her experiences that summer Elizabeth states, “I realized that I had always been an artist. The experience was only the beginning of my creative journey.”

Elizabeth’s start to her artistic journey stemmed from encouragement from her third-grade teacher.

Today, Elizabeth creates unique collages that express the significance of the jigsaw puzzles that she created

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“My nana, she sewed and cross stitched, which influenced my desire to learn to quilt...” -Odom

photography by Fred Salley throughout her childhood with her grandmother. The materials that make up each collage are pieces that have been saved from experiences of daily life. Materials are carefully selected and placed together into a finished design which symbolizes the observation and careful selection involved in putting puzzles together. Elizabeth explains, “Choosing which experiences to save and which to abandon is much like collecting and selecting fabrics for quilt squares. Choosing which materials to keep or collect is largely based on the sentimental value of the pieces, as well as the surface textures and colors.” Elizabeth has always been surrounded by creative minds and has been inspired by the artistic talents of her family members. One of her brothers is the pastry chef at Townhall Restaurant in Florence, while her other brother writes creatively. Her mother dabbled in watercolor growing up and still collages and paints today. Overall, her maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather have had the most influence on the work she creates today. “My nana, she sewed and cross stitched, which influenced my desire to learn to quilt. Her desire to collect and the jigsaw puzzles we

did together when I was a kid are big influences.” Elizabeth’s grandpa is a craftsman and a collector. “He can create about anything out of wood and he has an intriguing collection of antique furniture among other things. The collages I create are also a kind of collection. In my mind they fall into place much like a puzzle. I think of them as a collection of memories through the art form of collage.” Elizabeth’s grandparents have both been major influences of her installation for Artfields 2018 titled, Pieces Quilted. Her collages are quilted together to showcase the parallels between collage making and quilting. “Quilts and collages are parallel artistic forms as both form a larger whole created from treasured and carefully chosen smaller, sentimental pieces. Both quilting and collage are joined in this work to preserve memories and represent the universal evolution people experience as they learn and grow,” Elizabeth explains. “While all experiences aren’t relevant to every person, the deeper experiences are learned, practiced, used, and passed on to the next generation as my grandparents have done for me. Carefully selected by individuals, these life collections are pieced together to offer insight into the human existence. Pieces Quilted offers an artistic expression of the archetypes that echo in every person’s journey through life.” Elizabeth has also exhibited work at the Art Trail Gallery (Florence, SC), Jones carter Gallery (Lake City, SC), The Curtis R. Harley Gallery at The University of South Carolina Upstate (Spartanburg, SC), and the former Railroad Junction Art Gallery in Florence. She painted a piano for Play Me I’m Yours Florence 2016. Elizabeth held her first solo exhibition of paintings and collages in September 2016 at the Dr. N. Lee Morris Gallery inside the Florence Library. She was recently published in South Carolina’s Best Emerging Poets and was awarded an individual artist grant through the Florence Regional Arts Alliance for a Solo Exhibition in 2016.

To view more of Elizabeth Odom’s work, visit www.elizabethraye.com or follow her on Instagram, @ElizabethRayeArt. She can also be reached by email at atelieransley@gmail.com.

COVER STORY â€¢ The Artists Beind the Art BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Chris

NEAL

photography by Reflection Images 38

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“ I feel very honored to have one of my photographs in ArtFields....”

-Neal

Chris Neal is passionate about photography, particularly capturing the night sky. He became interested in photography in his late teens and learned on a fully manual Minolta SLR. He is currently a criminal investigator with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and has been with the department for 26 years. In fact, the only formal photography training he had was a two-week course when he became a Crime Scene Investigator. His photography journey started in late 2015 when he decided he wanted to learn how to photograph the Milky Way. He then began reading and watching tutorials on landscape and astrophotography. Chris states, “My father has always loved photography and was the first person who inspired me to start taking pictures.” While Chris photographs primarily landscape and wetlands, his real passion is the night sky. Capturing the best images requires passion, preparation, and dedication. “I have always been fascinated by the night sky and I enjoy capturing images that most people don’t get a chance to see. Night sky photography is done with long exposures. My shutter speeds are measured in seconds instead of the fractions of seconds that most photographers use.” He uses a sturdy tripod, a wide-angle lens, and a full frame camera. “It also requires a good bit of planning and some very late nights and early mornings. I use several photography apps to help me figure out the time and location of the things in the sky that I’m

interested in photographing. I also do a lot of day and night scouting which involves driving to, and in most cases, hiking different areas to find the best place to photograph.” Chris will have a piece featured this year in ArtFields in Lake City titled, Milky Way Dawn. The piece was shot in late February 2017 at the beginning of Milky Way Season (Feb-Oct when the Galactic Center is visible about the horizon) on Pawleys Island. “It was captured early in the morning just after astronomical twilight began and the first ray of the sun are visible over the horizon. It was one of the first images of last year’s season that I captured.” Chris’ favorite place to capture the night sky is in Pawleys Island. “I feel very honored to have one of my photographs in ArtFields. I know over 900 artists submitted pieces and a little over 400 made it. It’s even more special for me that I’m a local and my friends and family will have a chance to see my work in the show.” Chris resides in Florence with his wife and three sons, is a graduate of West Florence High School, and attended Francis Marion University. Chris has plans to shoot on the Outer Banks and Florida this season. To check out more of Chris Neal’s art, visit christophernealphotograph.com or follow him on Facebook and Instagram. All images on social media are available for purchase. April 2018 | VIP Magazine

AROUND TOWN

Business After Hours On Thursday, February 22nd, Raines Hospitality hosted an after hours event at the Residence Inn. Guests took tours of the hotel while listening to live music, and enjoying a menu catered by Pee Dee Food Service.

Photography by Phillip Guyton 40

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AROUND TOWN

An Evening of Hope On Monday, March 5th, House of Hope hosted “An Evening of Hope” at the Florence Center. The event featured New York Times’ Best Seller Ron Hall and his story about how the unlikeliest of people started a friendship through their love for Christ. (Photos provided by House of Hope.)

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

AROUND TOWN

Oyster Roast, BBQ, & Bog On Thursday, March 15th, All Saints’ Episcopal Day School staff and board members welcomed guests to their annual Oyster Roast, BBQ, & Bog. The event was presented by Edward Jones-Nicole Hupfer and WebsterRogers LLP and WRFA. Proceeds benefited All Saints’ students in “Building Strong Foundations”! 42

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April 2018 | VIP Magazine

AROUND TOWN

Hartsville Chamber Membership banquet The 97th Annual Hartsville Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet was held at the DeLoach Center on Coker College’s campus on February 26. The event included a networking social, a delicious meal, and an awards ceremony. At the event, the chamber recapped the past year’s plan of action; outlined the new year’s plan; recognized outgoing board members, and incoming board members; and presented awards to outstanding community leaders. Women in Business Scholarships: FDTC- Courtney Rogers, Coker College- Megan Friedt Pilot Club Caregiver of the Year: Charles Douglas Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award: Christmas in April Hartsville United Way Volunteer of the Year: Michelle Brown Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Brandy Johnson Hartsville Young Professional of the Year: Jordan Pupa Will Woodham Business Person of the Year: Leigh Ann & Willie Bizzell Hartsville Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year: Adlena Graham

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pacing 4 pieces

The 6th Annual Pacing 4 Pieces & Piece Jam was presented by Armstrong Wealth in Downtown Florence on Saturday, March 10. Pacing 4 Pieces benefits All 4 Autism and the Autism Resource Center of the Pee Dee. The event celebrates those with autism and their familes. April 2018 | VIP Magazine

HAPPENINGS

FEATURED EVENT

FLORENCE 1-9......................................................................................................................... Spring Carnival @ Florence Center 4............................................................................................................................ April Wine Dinner, The Library, 6:30pm 13........................................................................................................................... Sip and Savor Wine Stroll, Downtown Florence, 6pm 14.......................................................................................................................... Arts International Festival, FMU, 12pm Ten Piece Bucket Comedy Night, FLT, 7:30pm NYC Comedy Night, Local Motive Brewing, 8pm 13-14..................................................................................................................... Youth Mentors BBQ Festival, Palmetto Peddlers Florence Wine & Food Event 50+ Senior Life Expo, Florence Center 16.......................................................................................................................... FMU Select Vocal Ensemble, FMU PAC, 7:30p 19.......................................................................................................................... Cooks for Christ @ WFFS FMU Music Industry Ensemble, FMU PAC, 7:30p 20......................................................................................................................... Girls STEM Fest 2018, FDTC, 9am McLeod Children’s Hospital Golf Classic ParTee, FCC, 6pm 21........................................................................................................................... Black Violin Classical Boom Tour, FMU PAC, 7:30pm 25.......................................................................................................................... Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon, SiMT, 11am 26......................................................................................................................... Men’s Brotherhood Supper, College Park Baptist, 6:30pm 27.......................................................................................................................... Florence After Five - Too Much Sylvia, Downtown, 5:30pm 28.......................................................................................................................... FloTown 5K CAPES for Kids Run, Briggs Elementary, 8am 9th Annual Florence Beer Fest, Palmetto Peddlers, 3pm 27-29................................................................................................................... Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, FLT 30......................................................................................................................... Symphonic Rock, FMU PAC, 7:30p WEEKLY EVENTS Wednesdays..................................................................................................... Wine Down Wednesday | Dolce Vita 4pm Thursdays.......................................................................................................... Ovis Hill Farmer’s Market | Naturally Outdoors 3pm-7pm Trivia Night | Southern Hops 7pm Live Music | The Dispensary Saturdays........................................................................................................... City Center Farmer’s Market | Downtown 9am-1pm Live Music, The Dispensary

MARION 2-4.................. Spring Break Camp, Swamp Fox Farms, 9am-2pm 21............. Fox84 Initiative 5k Fun Run/Walk, Marion HS, 7:30am Marion Seafood Festival, 301 Green Street, 1pm-4pm

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APRIL 2018

HARTSVILLE

2................................................................................................................. Art in the Interim Exhibit, Hartsville Museum, 10am 9................................................................................................................. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Studio Basics, Retrofit, 6:30pm 12............................................................................................................... Bourbon Tasting, Retrofit Sip-n-Seat, 8pm Downtown Block Party, College Ave., 6pm-9pm 13............................................................................................................... Local Motive Tap Takeover Pairing, Retrofit, 6pm 14............................................................................................................... Farmer’s Market, Downtown Hartsville, 9am-1pm Carolina Thunder Basketball Game, TB Center, 4pm-5pm Go Big: Street Festival 2018, College Ave., 6pm-11pm 17................................................................................................................ Foreign Language Night, Retrofit Sip-n-Seat, 6pm 21............................................................................................................... Earth Day Festival, Kalmia Gardens, 9:30am Duck Cup Race Fundraiser, Kalmia Gardens,12pm Evening Under the Oaks, Oak Manor Inn, 4pm-7pm 26.............................................................................................................. Downtown Block Party, College Ave., 6pm-9pm WEEKLY EVENTS Thursdays............................................................................................... Centennial Farmers Market | 5th & Carolina 3pm-6pm

DARLINGTON 12............................................................................................................... Taste of Darlington, Darlington Raceway, 7pm 14............................................................................................................... Drumline Battle & Greek Showcase, Darlington HS, 6pm 21............................................................................................................... Bow Ties & Pearls, South of Pearl, 6:30pm 28.............................................................................................................. Clean Up Darlington Day, Darlington Chamber, 9am

LAKE CITY 14............................................................................................................... Wine Stroll, Moore Farms Botanical Garden, 3pm-6pm 18-20........................................................................................................ AIASC Design Conference, 6:30pm-9pm 18............................................................................................................... DDRA Golf Tournament, Dar Country Club, 11:30am Professional Women’s Luncheon, LCUM Church, 12pm 20-28....................................................................................................... ArtFields, 110 E. Main St., 11am-8pm 21-22......................................................................................................... Makers Market, Atlantic Coast Line Building, 1pm 22............................................................................................................... Gospel on the Green, The Green, 6:30pm-8pm 23-28........................................................................................................ Art of Gardening Tours, MFBG, 10am

DILLON 7................................................................................................................. Corner Cookout & Carwash, 1st Ave & Calhoun St., 11am 21............................................................................................................... Springfest, 117 E Main Street (Latta), 10am-5pm April 2018 | VIP Magazine

TIME TO TOAST

Carolinas Hospital System Celebrates National Certified Nurses Carolinas Hospital System celebrated Certified Nurses Day , on Monday, March 19, by honoring its board-certified registered nurses. Thirty-nine nurses were recognized for their professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence in patient care. Board Certification plays an increasingly important role in assuring a high standard of care for patients and their loved ones. Nursing, like health care in general, has become increasingly complex. While a registered nurse (RN) license provides entry to general nursing practice, the knowledgeintensive requirements of modern nursing require extensive education, as well as a strong personal commitment to excellence by the nurse. “We thank our nurses who have demonstrated professionalism and dedication to quality patient care by earning their national board certification. Their credentials and commitment to excellence are recognized, trusted and appreciated,” said Costa Cockfield, Chief Nursing Officer of Carolinas Hospital System. Registered nurses at Carolinas Hospital System hold specialty certifications in areas including medical-surgical, pediatrics, oncology, orthopedics, emergency nursing, critical care, operating room, addictions, wound care and rehabilitation nursing. Please join Carolinas Hospital System as they honor these hardworking, dedicated nurses for their professionalism, and a job well done!

New Special Events Manager for Lake City Creative Alliance Shady Rodgers is the new Special Events Manager for the Lake City Creative Alliance. While he will be assisting with special events throughout the year, his primary focus is coordinating Lake City’s new barbeque and live music festival, “Rhythm & Q’s.” He is excited to work with the LCCA as they continue to promote growth and tourism in historic Lake City.

Florence Chamber’s Small Business Person and Ambassador of the Year Awarded Congratulations to the Florence Chamber’s Small Business Person and Ambassador of the Year. Nearly 500 local business and community leaders attended the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City & County luncheon at Florence Center on March 20th. During the event the Small Business Person of the Year Award was given to Irby Wilson, director of operations for Orr Company, Inc, The chamber announced Zach Hearne of Signature Wealth Strategies as the Ambassador of the Year.

PDRTA Named Transit Provider of the Year by SCDOT

Congratulations to HELP 4 KIDS

At the annual Transportation Association of South Carolina Conference last week, SCDOT awarded the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority with the 2018 Transit Provider of the Year Award for outstanding transit services to the general public. PDRTA was recognized in part for their compliance with financial reporting and ability to introduce new cost effective services. PDRTA Executive Director Chuck MacNeil accepted the award and offered praise and thanks to many involved in the recognition. PDRTA Bus Driver Albert McClain won the SCDOT award for “2018 Operator of the Year” in the Demand Response category.

In February 2018, Help 4 Kids Florence was awarded the Marion Medallion, an award sponsored by Francis Marion University and the Florence Morning News in recognition of exemplary volunteer service in Florence County. The Mission of Help 4 Kids of Florence is to fill the weekend hunger gap for the children in Florence County elementary schools receiving free or reduced breakfast/lunch during the week and who are identified as being “food insecure” on the weekend.

Congratulations to Rhythm & Q’s Logo Winner

(l to r) Diana Collins, FNP, Carolinas Medical Alliance, Lake City Primary Care; Wendy Davis, RN, Joint Care Coordinator/Stroke Coordinator; Priscilla Russell, BSN, RNC-OB, Assistant Director of Women’s Services; Marcella Crosby, RN, South Tower; Misty Martin, RN, BSN Cardiac Cath Lab (in front)

Carolinas Hospital System Nurses Receive Palmetto Gold Award A coalition of South Carolina nursing organizations has named five Carolinas Hospital System nurses among the state’s top 100. The announcement from the South Carolina Nurses Federation distinguishes them as Palmetto Gold winners. The five nurses recognized are Wendy Davis, RN, Joint Care Coordinator/Stroke Coordinator, Misty Martin, RN, BSN, Cardiac Cath Lab, Priscilla Russell, RNC-OB, BSN, Assistant Director of Women’s Services, Marcella Crosby, RN, South Tower, Diana Collins, FNP, Carolinas Medical Alliance-Lake City Primary Care. Palmetto Gold is the premier statewide nurse recognition program that salutes registered nurses for exceptional nursing practice and commitment to the profession. Nominations are received from nursing employers and peers from a variety of nursing education and health care facilities across the state. One hundred nurses are selected from the nominations and will be honored during a formal gala with a specially-designed Palmetto Gold pin and certificate. “We are proud to honor these five exemplary nurses who symbolize the true spirit of nursing. Admired among their colleagues, these honorees embody the essential qualities of a nurse. Their commitment to providing high quality and compassionate care consistently exceeds our patients’ expectations, bringing honor to Carolinas Hospital System and to the healthcare profession,” said Costa Cockfield, Carolinas Hospital System Chief Nursing Officer. Proceeds from the gala are used to provide scholarships for students in state-approved registered nursing programs in South Carolina and continue the legacy of excellence in nursing for South Carolina citizens. The Palmetto Gold Scholarships will be managed by the South Carolina Nurses Foundation, a 501-C 3 organization, whose mission is to promote high standards of health care by insuring the advancement of the nursing profession through awards, grants and scholarships.

I’m Alan Gonzalez, I’m 23 years old and I’m a graphic designer. It was in tenth grade when I realized I wanted to do design. In 2012 I graduated from Hartsville High School and I attended Horry-Georgetown Technical College from 2015-2017. I’m currently doing graphic work from stickers to full vehicle wraps at Evening Shade Inc. I also do freelance work building and animating logos. To contact me or to support my work feel free to follow me on Instagram @ alan_gonegonzo. Creating the Rhythm and Q’s logo was a little daunting. I followed my gut on this one as there wasn’t anyone to approve or reject ideas. One idea was to blend piano keys, a grill, and flame without it being too complex. After a little bit of research and a series of sketches, I built the logo in Adobe Illustrator and thankfully, it won the competition!”

Robb Sasser Named Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors Ranking Robb Sasser, Senior Financial Advisor, at Wells Fargo Advisors at 408 South Irby Street in Florence was named to the 2018 Forbes Bestin-State Wealth Advisors Ranking. This annual list recognizes advisors as among the top in America. At Wells Fargo Advisors, we recognize the importance of excellent service and trusted investment advice.

Windham Broadcast For Over 60 Years Woody Windham has been in broadcasting for over 60 years and is a member of The South Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He started at WDAR in Darlington, SC and in 1960 he moved to Columbia and began working for WCOS AM and he was very instrumental in the growth of FM Radio at WCOS FM.He has done virtually every conceivable format in broadcasting, and with his brother Leo Windham they were able to amass the highest ratings in the history of South Carolina Radio on “The Windham’s Brothers Show” on WNOK FM.And he now is a pioneer of internet radio at www.woodywindham.com Go to www.woodywindham.com and listen live to “The Woody Windham Morning Show” on iWoody Radio between 7&11am every weekday morning, and on Monday nights from 8pm until midnight for “The Ruba Say Guitar Show”,and on Tuesday nights from 8pm until midnight for “The Wendy Windham Show”, and on Sunday mornings for Woody’s Gospel show from 7am until 11am.And don’t forget to download the appropriate app on the website, so you’ll have our broadcast on your cell phone everywhere you go.

POSITIVE PURSUIT

The Real Thing State Elder Elijah Green Enters His 50th Year in Ministry story by Heather Page Have you ever met someone that had a light that shone so bright you could nearly see their halo as they stepped into a room? I’m aware of what a powerful statement that is to make but State Elder Elijah Green, Pastor of House of God Church on Wilson Road in Florence, certainly glows in the glory of the Lord. For nearly two years now Pastor Green has stopped by our office every Monday morning to pray with us and for us, both individually and as a business. His prayer has certainly made our team stronger and encouraged our walk with the Lord. This month we celebrate Pastor Green as he enters his 50th year in ministry! Pastor Green has ministered at House of God for 45 years, a church his mother started with four members back in 1958. In 1970, Pastor Green moved to Florence from Connecticut with his wife, Florena, to help his mother grow the church. He 50

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and Florena relied on the Lord during their move; they had no jobs, no decent place to live, but they knew that they would be taken care of. Pastor Green went door-to-door inviting people to their ‘little shack’ they considered church on Cannon Street in West Florence. “The church was so raggedy, people would visit and never come back,” Green says. “Since we couldn’t keep them in church because of the building conditions, I started visiting people at home, getting them saved, and they eventually began coming to church.” In 1973 Pastor Green began preaching at House of God. By 1974 he built the first church on Brunson Street and filled it with 30 members. Pastor Green, along with Florena who joined him as Assistant Pastor in 1987, grew the church to nearly 250 members and 20 preachers by 1999. It was then they decided to build their current location on Wilson Road. ??????

In addition to being a witness to Christ, Pastor Green is passionate about the city he came from - Pamplico. Visiting and praying with the businesses in Pamplico led Pastor Green to further his reach. “I saw how it helped my hometown so I wanted to increase my foot print into Florence businesses.” Pastor Green continues, “You ought to talk about Jesus everywhere you go. Somebody helped me once, so I’m just doing what I can to help somebody else.” And he does just that.

On April 28th at 4:00 PM, join us in celebrating Pastor Elijah Green’s 50 years in ministry at St. Paul United Methodist Church on Palmetto Street in Florence. If you know him, or would like to know him, please join us for gospel singing, delicious food, and some wonderful preaching!

April 2018 | VIP Magazine

TO DINE FOR

Cindy Schlorf & Sherif Elkhyati

Story by Gray Bostick | Photography by Judy Quick Sharon

CROSSROADS ON MAIN Fine Dining at its Best

This is not your father’s Lake City. For generations known the epicenter of the Pee Dee’s tobacco heritage, where leaf prices often dictated economic realities, prosperity or hardship – and even led some to crime, such as the Palmetto State Bank Robbery of 1934, when tobacco harvest deposits reportedly totaling over $114,000 were stolen – once-sleepy Lake City, South Carolina is a thing of the past. As anyone who has passed thru its downtown area of late can attest, in its place is a progressive and vibrant city prepping for a brighter tomorrow. In short, the renaissance is on. A host of carefully-thought out moves are forever changing this town, resulting in a bevy of new cultural, civic, and economic opportunities – some completed, some underway, and even more planned. It might be said that Lake City is turning over a new leaf – literally – to re-make itself and, to quote Frank Sinatra, “those little town blues are melting away.” A keystone to Downtown Lake City’s vision for a better future is the Inn at the Crossroads, a new 57-room boutique hotel, and its in-house restaurant, Crossroads on Main, home to some of the most exquisitely delicious dishes and finest dining experiences ever available in the Pee Dee. And those ritzy restaurants that have either grown trite or required Pee Dee residents spend hours of travel be

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advised: there’s a new chef in town. And this time he’s local – and serving dishes on par with entrees served anywhere. The chef in this case is Crossroads on Main Executive Chef Sherif Elkhyati, who’s made it his goal to set new standards in providing the most elegant dining in a refined and cultured atmosphere available not just in the Pee Dee, but the state. Just as Sinatra sings, Elkhyati is determined to make Crossroads the “king of the hill, top of the heap” – and has pulled out all stops to ensure that it becomes THE place for special nights out. And given the opportunity to do it his own way – such as trashing the old menu and starting from scratch, Elkhyati turned to those who mattered most: potential diners. “We had to determine what people were looking for,” he says. “My first couple months, I would go to people and ask, ‘’What do you think of when I say ‘Crossroads’ restaurant’? I wanted to know exactly what we needed to do to let people see that a change was coming, that we wanted their input into how we did things, and that they could trust us to be the best.” Crossroads on Main can be categorized as an upscale steakhouse serving regional cuisine with a European bent. Only top-quality ingredients are used in Crossroads dishes, including certified Angus Beef, fresh seafood, and farm-raised, free-range chicken, as well as many products

grown in the Pee Dee. The dinner menu is loaded with palette-pleasing dishes ranging from steaks of all cuts, plus delicious kabobs, to lamb and pork chops, salmon, tuna, or shrimp, or exquisitely prepared poultry dishes including Pollo Dia, Chicken Marsala, or Chicken Alexander. Sides are also scrumptious, featuring caramelized carrots, sautéed spinach, roasted asparagus, and garlic mashed potatoes, as are the soups, such as the She-Crab and Shrimp bisque, and salads ranging from House to Caesar to Arugula, all topped by in-house prepared dressings and vinaigrettes. Desserts, including crème brulée and tiramisu, are delectable. Crossroads also operates a bar that runs daily specials, and has a courtyard where diners, or guests may gather to share a pre-dinner liquid appetizer or post-meal cocktail socializing with friends, or just relax with a nightcap beneath twinkling lights and stars. Crossroads serves a delightful lunch menu, featuring appetizers, soups, and salads, and a broad selection of scrumptious sandwiches and burgers, all prepared to order. Additionally, Crossroads serves a delicious breakfast with traditional Southern favorites, as well as more extravagant offerings such as Smoked Nova Benedict, in addition to various standard three-egg omelets, including a “Build Your Own” option. But menus are just a starting point for Elkhyati. “Our menus are constantly evolving as we replace some items with new things, different dishes that we think our guests might enjoy,” he notes. “We want to make sure that everyone is happy, not only with our food, but with our service. That is a matter of personal pride.” And it’s that same pride in accomplishment that has motivated Elkhyati to attain his status as an executive chef. A native of Alexandria, Egypt, Elkhyati traveled a long path to reach Crossroads on Main, first arriving in America alone as a young immigrant, forgoing friends and family for a chance of living the American Dream. Touching down in Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” without any prospects – just a dream and faith – he was able to secure employment at a Brooklyn restaurant where he worked for two years as a dishwasher. But it was time well-spent as he also became increasingly knowledgeable about the restaurant business thanks to an employer who recognized and nurtured his culinary curiosity.

He also worked in other bakeries and diners before deciding to study Culinary Arts at North Hampton Community College, completing his education at Saucon Valley Country Club, a unique and spacious 800+ acre club retreat just outside of Allentown, PA noted for its exceptional recreational and social offerings. He also served as executive chef and kitchen manager at Chelsea’s Restaurant and Pub in Lebanon, NJ, and was owner/ operator of the Norfay Cafe in Nazareth, PA. But having found a bride and started a family, Elkhyati reassessed priorities and decided to relocate to South Carolina in order to be closer to relatives. Once settled there, he found work in Murrells Inlet, before moving on to become executive co-chef at Victor’s Steakhouse and Wine in Florence. But it’s Lake City – and a job he loves – that is now Elkhyati’s primary focus, especially since it was announced that Lake City would be home to Florence-Darlington Tech’s new Culinary Arts school, opening later this year within sight of Crossroads. “I look forward to seeing that happen and being able to work with students and help them learn how to be creative in their cooking, how to manage a kitchen and train staffs properly, and how it can help them to lead a better and more rewarding life,” he says. “The kitchen has been very good to me.” And good for the Pee Dee, too, as connoisseurs of fine dining now have a new venue to treat someone special to dining as special as it gets – and as special as they are. And as special as Sherif’s friends who have followed him to Lake City and who, thru word of mouth, are steadily cluing friends in about Crossroads, something for which he is most thankful. “Having people say good things about us is the best advertising we can get,” he points out. “I’m very happy to be in Lake City. I love what I do. It’s not a job. I love to cook and I feel fortunate to be able to please people with my dishes. I invite everyone to come to Lake City and give us a try.”

28 West Main St | Lake City 843-394-2100 www.CrossroadsOnMain.com FIND US ON FACEBOOK! April 2018 | VIP Magazine

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Biff Wilcox and son, Luke, in front of the original courthouse, where Biff furnished the office furniture in 1971.

Wilcox Office Mart A Legacy of Furnishing the Carolinas story by Bill James

What is known as Wilcox Office Mart today was once called Wilcox Office Equipment many years ago. The business consisted of office machinery with very little furniture. The store was located on Dargan Street and has since been torn down. In 1967, Biff Wilcox returned to Florence with his wife, Kathryne, and began working full-time with his father, Earl Henry Wilcox. The store added more furniture, though typewriters and calculators were still their big-ticket items. As copy machines came along, business grew, and they expanded more into office furniture. In 1971, Biff put in a competitive bid to furnish the new judicial building and won. Biff states, “I was lucky enough to work with Gill Wilkins and Wood Architect during this time. Dick Wilkins, the owner, was a fine guy.” With help from friends in Gastonia who were large office furniture dealers, they had enough product to supply the property. “Dick’s nephew, Chip Wilkins, was our designer and did a wonderful job. D.A. Kennedy was the superintendent of the building at the time and he was also the plant manager of La-Z-Boy back then. He was easy to work with and helped us however he could.”

Luke and Biff Wilcox proudly standing in front of their latest project, the new county courthouse.

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The project required that 7,000 pieces of furniture be moved into the building, which took roughly three months, with more being added later on. There was only one elevator available which made furnishing upper levels challenging. “The fun part about that was myself and about 16 to 18 local young men helped get all of that furniture moved in,” Biff shares. “John Jebaily and J.P. Costas were some of the boys that helped us back then. Weston Houck was the go between for the county, city and us, basically managing the project while we worked the project. It was a blast and a lot of work, but we got it done.” John Jebaily was a student at Francis Marion College during his time at Wilcox Office. He was hired on by Biff to work around his school schedule.

John assisted with the project of moving furniture into the building in 1971 and as it turns out, he took part in the first case in the new judicial building alongside Attorney Gary Crawford and Probate Judge Mumford Scott, two very close friends of Biff. Wilcox Office was fortunate to furnish the Florence Airport shortly after the first courthouse, and has since grown considerably. Biff’s daughter, Ashley Bunn, Gary Crawford, Mumford Scott has followed in her father’s and John Jebaily during the first case heard in the new footsteps, she’s worked for Florence County Courthouse. the company for nearly 30 years. In 2008, Biff’s son, Luke, got involved, too. Luke and Ashley take on majority of the business’s responsibilities these days while Biff offers his expertise when needed. Since getting involved, Luke has furnished ABB, Ruiz Foods, Otis Elevator, Johnson Control, HopeHealth, Pee Dee Electric and many others, while continuing to build relationships with organizations like McLeod, Carolinas, local school systems, Francis Marion University, Florence Darlington Technical College, and more. Luke was pivotal in winning the job at the new judicial building. After meeting with childhood friend Dewey Ervin, architect responsible for designing the judicial building, Luke made the necessary connections to be a front runner in furnishing the building. The county wanted to spend local as much as possible which helped set the stage for Wilcox Office. “We began with the cubicals which took about three weeks to set up and then were awarded all of the casegoods which included the judge’s chamber desk, the receptionist desk, conference tables and all of the guest seating,” says Luke. With the help of Crystal Russ, Wilcox Office’s Project Manager and Luke’s right hand, the three story building has been beautifully furnished. In addition to furnishing businesses of the Pee Dee, Luke and Ashley were an integral part of Wilcox Office expanding into Charleston in 2009. “Family business has been a blessing. We’ve expanded our services and offerings over the years and have added more employees. We try to cater to the needs of our clients and help businesses by providing affordable options,” said Luke. Biff states, “I’m very proud of the jobs Ashley and Luke have done with the business. It’s been fun to watch all of the growth that’s happened throughout the Pee Dee over the years and I’m honored to have been a part of it.”

Celebrating 66 Years in Business! 1109 W Lucas St • Florence 843-662-1563 wilcoxofficemart.com April 2018 | VIP Magazine

IN THE HEAD OF

ARTFIELDS

4 April 20-28

WIM ROEFS

NDC Photography

LAKE CITY CREATIVE ALLIANCE’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Wim Roefs has been able to use his artistic background, knowledge, and passion of the arts for his position as the Artistic Director of the Lake City Creative Alliance (LCCA). He leads a staff to develop arts programming for Lake City, including ArtsFields. Wim was brought on board last year to help take ArtFields to the next level and to help turn Lake City into an art destination year-round. Wim is from The Netherlands and was born in the village of Velden in the Southern province of Limburg. He has an undergraduate degree in History and a graduate degree in Economic and Social History, both from the University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. He has a Master of Social Sciences degree in Irish Political Studies from the Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and an MA in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. Wim states, “I’ve been an art nut all my life, going to museums and such by myself as a teenager and reading art books. I started organizing exhibitions in 2004. My first ever exhibition was the Sumter County (SC) Gallery of Art. It was a big 56

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exhibition of contemporary art that focused on birds and the concept of birds. The show also traveled to Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Pickens, SC.” Wim also began organizing exhibitions in Columbia in 2004, first from his home before moving into Vista Studios, which he rented temporarily. In 2006, he opened an art gallery in Columbia in the downtown Vista area, if ART Gallery, that he still has today. In 2008, he was among the group who started 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia and is the organization’s founding board chair; he also served as the volunteer executive director for the first five years. Throughout his career, Wim has curated dozens of exhibitions, published numerous exhibition catalogues, written several articles and essays about art and artists, and designed and installed many shows. In addition, he has taught Contemporary Art and African-American Art at the art department and at the Honors College at USC, he is on the supervisory commission for the public art component of the light rail system in Charlotte, he has been on art panels and juried exhibitions, and much more.

A major part of Wim’s position as the Artistic Director of LCCA includes organizing ArtFields, in which he has attended the previous five years. “It’s a great experience and ton of work, but I am having a blast. My staff is very good and a pleasure to work with.” Wim’s staff has been involved with ArtFields for several years, so he is able to rely on their experience and dedication.

“

Lake City has great bones and a great building stock for a small town, and because there are resources, too, it has the potential to turn into something really special. I think it’s already turning that way, but I suspect that in the next two years we’ll turn some real corners, which will result in increasing numbers of people visiting the town.

”

With the combination of art, retail, special events, Moore Botanical Gardens, and more in the area, Lake City is on the way to becoming a major draw as a destination for weekend visitors. The FlorenceDarlington Tech campus will open in January of 2019 in downtown Lake City. “All the development is simply exciting. There is leadership here with vision and commitment, and there’s a shared enthusiasm among folks working on the various aspects of putting Lake City back on the map.” Wim and his team are also working on programming for the various art spaces in Lake City. In addition to the Jones-Carter Gallery, they will be opening a large new art center with two gallery spaces called TRAX Visual Art Center, or TRAXvac for short. The space will be used for ArtFields and will become a permanent exhibition venue after that. They are also working on turning the front of the ArtFields offices into a gallery space, which will be named the AFO Gallery. From the summer moving forward, Lake City will showcase their creative arts by having three to four exhibitions running at all times. “Once we have all art spaces up and running, Lake City will simply be one of the major producers of high-quality art exhibitions and events in South Carolina.” April 2018 | VIP Magazine

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

STEVEN BRIGHT

photography by Fred Salley

Vice President of Operations story by Ashley Elvington Although he was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, Steven Bright spent most of his youth in Atlanta, Georgia. Steven received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree and Master of Business Administration degree from Valdosta State University. He is fairly new to the Florence area, where he now lives. However, he became acquainted with our beloved city prior to moving here, thanks to meetings and business trips he’s attended over the years. For Steven, it was easy to move to a city that left a lasting impression. “Everyone has always been so welcoming, which made this transition pretty easy.” Steven now lives in Florence with his wife and high school sweetheart, Morgan. Together, they have three children – Laila (11), Noah (10), and Sienna (5). “Most of our spare time is spent attending our kids’ events, including soccer, tennis, football, and performing arts.” Steven began his career with ADP in 2006 as a product support specialist. “This role enabled me to gain a solid understanding of our business and what separates us from the competition.” Steven excelled into other roles over the years, including operations, client service, and management of payroll, audit support, and production. Prior to accepting the position of Vice President of Operations, Steven managed ADP’s West and Midwest state tax credit practices in the Business Incentives group. In regards to his ability to grow in his career field, Steven shares, “I guess the saying, ‘Walk before you crawl,’ is relevant here. Over the years, I gained experience working with some of our smaller sized employers where hiring may be sporadic throughout the year, then progressing on a larger scale to Fortune 500 employers where mass hiring occurs quite frequently throughout the year. In each role, I have been able to learn the many nuances of the market, which translates into creating a better experience for our clients. It has been a great ride!” Staying with ADP over the years is a decision Steven will never regret making. “ADP is known for drawing in a

variety of talent, supporting their staff, and consistently looking for ways to evolve. They are committed to establishing and maintaining successful relationships with clients all around the world. For me, ADP was an easy decision to make. I have been fortunate to have great mentors within ADP to show me the ropes along the way.” Steven and his family are happy to be here in Florence and look forward to creating solid roots here in the Pee Dee. “Florence is the best of both worlds. You definitely feel like you’re part of a community with people going out of their way to make you feel welcome. My family and I feel fortunate to be surrounded by some of our favorite places to travel. We already started planning our Charleston and Myrtle Beach days for spring and summer breaks. What used to be a weeklong time investment is now an enjoyable day trip.”

“I have been fortunate to have great mentors within ADP to show me the ropes along the way.” 58

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April 2018 | VIP Magazine

IN OUR STATE

the

Pearl Fryar

topiary garden story by Jordan Pupa

A place of positivity, nature, and outstanding craftsmanship, The Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden located in Bishopville, SC brings in nearly 10,000 visitors per year from near and far. Originally from North Carolina, Pearl lived in New York, then Atlanta, GA, and eventually Bishopville, South Carolina where he and his wife settled into their first home. Determined to win “yard of the month,” he went to a local nursery where he received a brief lesson on topiary and left with a shrub that was part of the recycle pile. Pearl never had a garden before, but once he planted and nurtured the shrubs, he became inspired and motivated to produce a topiary garden. Eventually his skills grew, as did the garden. You won’t see anything quite like Pearl’s garden style. “As a kid I was always cutting up things, making things, and getting into trouble. I did it from sheer creativeness. I didn’t want to copy or do what everyone else was doing. If you’re working from the book or doing what everyone else is doing, you’re never going to get credit for what you do.” In an area that was once a cornfield, the garden now consists of plants such as junipers, hollies, Leyland cypress, pines, or oaks. Shrubs, bushes, and trees are trimmed into abstract shapes of all sizes. Pearl also creates yard art pieces from recycled objects. In addition to creating a beautiful sight for people to see, Pearl also has made an impact on the community. Neighbors have been inspired by his work and have also

fixed up their own yards to include topiary creations. Pearl has lead instructional classes to encourage and teach others. In addition, The Pearl Fryar Scholarship has been awarded to select Lee County students who will attend a SC technical or community college. The scholarship opportunity is part of an effort for Pearl to inspire and help young people within the community to live successful lives. “Success is not about whether you graduate top of the class or bottom of the class. It is about how much work you put into what you do well. I have become known by my talent, which didn’t show up in test scores.” Pearl strives to provide a positive experience and leave an impactful message with visitors. Love, peace, and goodwill are words that Pearl Fryar has added to his garden as a message last seen before visitors depart. The words are a reflection of what the garden can bring to visitors and what they will take with them when they leave. If you are looking for the whole experience, you should go and meet the creative mind behind it, Pearl Fryar himself. “The most challenging part is going to be to save it. I’m 78 years old and I don’t know how much longer I am going to be able to keep up with this thing.” Luckily, the garden is a preservation project of the Garden Conservancy in efforts for it to continue to be a South Carolina destination and maintain Pearl’s style and vision for years to come.

THE PEARL FRYAR TOPIARY GARDEN 45 BROAD ACRES, BISHOPVILLE, SC WWW.PEARLFRYAR.COM The Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden is open to visitors TuesdaySaturday from 10am-4pm year round. It is located at 145 Broad Acres Road in Bishopville, which is approximately 45 miles east of Columbia. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged. On your way out of town, be sure to swing by Waffle House to see some of Pearl’s creations right outside the restaurant. 60

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April 2018 | VIP Magazine