CMCC Magazine: Volume 1 by Charleston Metro Chamber

A Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Magazine

Vol. 1 Spring 2016

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Within Vol. 1 Spring 2016

Leadership Briefs

Across the Region

Amplifying SC's Military Friendliness

CMCC Newsroom

75 Accelerate Greater Charleston Scholarships

Charleston's Economic Evolution

Small Business Big Opportunity

Center for Business Research

Career Headlight

One Region: A Global Competitiveness Strategy

Platinum Profiles

Gold Profiles

Leadership Circle Members

New Members

Events

What Members Say

Charleston's Economy A 25 Year Evolution

The Charleston Region's population has increased by 50 percent and nearly 106,000 jobs have been added over the past 25 years.

Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 4500 Leeds Avenue, Suite 100, North Charleston, SC 29405 CMCC Magazine is produced by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and is printed by Ross Printing. p: 843.577.2510 www.charlestonchamber.net

Cover: Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge construction. image provided by PERI Formwork Systems, Inc.

CMCC Magazine

image provided by PERI Formwork Systems, Inc.

Leadership Briefs

Executive Committee

An Evolution

Chairman of the Board Scott Woods South Carolina Federal Credit Union

OFFICERS

Two years ago, the Chamber launched the first volume of a new quarterly publication, further communicating the Chamber’s work to define our region’s tomorrow and bring increased visibility to members. At this 2-year milestone, we are seizing the opportunity to evolve the publication.

Chairman-Elect Patrick Bryant Bidr

I am pleased to present you with the first volume of CMCC Magazine. The publication encompasses the breadth of the Chamber’s regional impact and will continue to evolve as we further develop this new magazine.

First Vice Chairman Mark Lattanzio SunTrust Bank Immediate Past Chair Laura Varn Santee Cooper

This first issue includes a look at our region’s economy 25 years ago when the Chamber made the commitment to provide accurate economic forecasts to assist organizations in making informed decisions. That commitment still stands today, however, our economy looks significantly different than it did 1991. Read about exciting regional assets including the Center for Business Research, the new Charleston Regional Career Headlight and, last but not least, the One Region Global Competitiveness Strategy. Please enjoy this first issue of CMCC Magazine which takes a deep dive into the evolution of the Charleston metro’s economy over the past 25 years as well as the Chamber’s advocacy, communication and collaborative strategies to continue to enhance the region’s economy and quality of life.

Bryan S. Derreberry, President and CEO bderreberry@charlestonchamber.org

Finance Committee Chair Melonie Hammond-Trace Elliott Davis Decosimo LLC

The evolution of metro Charleston’s economy in just 25 years is astonishing. As we continue to evolve, the Chamber is at the forefront of collaboratively defining our region’s tomorrow.

President and CEO Bryan Derreberry Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

MEMBERS Willis Cantey Cantey Technology Consulting Kenneth Canty Freeland Construction Co. Inc. Larry Collett netGALAXY Studios

Scott Woods, 2016 Chairman of the Board President & CEO South Carolina Federal Credit Union

Willy Geary The Boeing Company Julie Gerthoffer TravelClick Anton Gunn Medical University of South Carolina David Hand O.L. Thompson Construction Co. Jessica Jackson The Boeing Company Marc Marchant LS3P ASSOCIATES LTD. Chappy McKay Trident Construction Co. Inc.

images by Photographer RE

CMCC Magazine

Jennifer Murray South State Bank Robby Robbins Robert Robbins, Attorney at Law LLC Tradd Rodenberg Wells Fargo Geoff Schuler World Trade Center Charleston James Ward Scientific Research Corporation

CYP Roadmap

State of the Chamber

CMCC Magazine

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Charleston Young Each quarter, business leaders from around the region gather to Professionals (CYP), started by young professionals for young hear about issues impacting the economy and to connect with professionals as an initiative of the Charleston Metro Chamber. others at State of the Region membership meetings. 2016’s first At the annual CYP Roadmap event, 2016 Chair Lauren Newman State of the Region was held on February 18th, for a State of the of Carolina One Real Estate accepted the gavel for the year Chamber discussion outlining 2015 achievements and business ahead. Members then viewed a new video and brochure priorities for 2016. The spring State of the Region will focus on the outlining the Who, What military’s presence and and How of this dynamic economic impact on our organization. Learn more region. Join us for this 2016 Legislative Reception and view the video at quarterly meeting of the charleston-yp.com. membership on May 25th. In January, more than 350 business leaders attended the annual Legislative Reception at the SC Aquarium. With 70 elected leaders in attendance, Chamber members enjoyed connecting and discussing items of importance to their business. Attendees also viewed the 2016 Legislative Infrastructure in Annual Meeting Agenda outlining the Chamber’s local, state and federal your Backyard priorities for the current legislative session, developed by On February 4th, more the Business Advocacy Committee and approved by the than 500 members Infrastructure has been, Board of Directors. View the Legislative Agenda and Guiding attended the Chamber’s and remains, one of the Principles at charlestonchamber.net/legislativeagenda. Annual Meeting, held at the region’s top priorities. new Charleston Gaillard On February 3rd, the Center, and welcomed Chamber held a Business the 2016 Chairman of the in your Backyard event at Mellow Mushroom in the Avondale Board, Scott Woods, of South Carolina Federal Credit Union as he area of West Ashley. Keynote Speaker Ron Patton, Deputy addressed the membership. Keynote speaker, Dr. Larry Sabato of Secretary for International Planning, South Carolina Department the U. Va. Center for Politics, provided insight on the presidential of Transportation, shared history and information on the State’s campaign process as we race toward the November elections. crumbling infrastructure system. Attendees were also provided View photos from this celebration of membership at with an updated infrastructure white paper. View the whitepaper at charlestonchamber.net/annualmeeting. charlestonchamber.net/ivtfwhitepaper.

Amplifying SC's Military Friendliness Military Retiree Tax Exemption Update

The military currently has an annual $16 billion economic impact on our state. With the next round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) scheduled to begin as early as 2017, it is imperative that steps are taken to protect our military assets.

CMCC Magazine

In 2014, Governor Nikki Haley reconstituted the South Carolina Military Base Task Force to begin the process of enhancing the value of military installations, facilities and the quality of life for military personnel throughout the state. The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (along with fellow chambers in Beaufort, Columbia and Sumter) is an integral member of the Task Force and has been since its inception during Governor Mark Sanfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration. The Task Forceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top priority is making South Carolina as military friendly as possible.

Over the last two years, the top legislative focus of the Military Base Task Force has been getting a tax exemption on military retirement income from the state income tax passed. Our boarder states, North Carolina and Georgia, along with many others in the Southeast, have similar programs for military retirees. Military personnel who are considering retirement, many of whom would

like to retire in South Carolina, ultimately choose to relocate to one of our neighboring states due to this cost savings. South Carolina is thus placed at a competitive disadvantage. These military retirees have over 20 years of military service and experience and, in most cases, are looking to continue working in the private sector. The advanced skills they have honed over their years in the military are often what many industries in South Carolina, such as Boeing, Bosch and BMW, are looking for. We are losing a trained workforce by not having this tax exemption. The Chamber has worked alongside the Task Force to help push the legislation through this legislative session. Last year, the bill was passed by the House and is currently working its way through the Senate Committee process and should hit the Senate floor by early summer. Passage of this important legislation will keep South Carolina among the most military friendly states in the country, improving our chances of maintaining this valuable economic driver during the next round of base closures.

CMCC Newsroom

and Website Enhancements

Members and visitors to the Chamber website will soon see and experience enhancements made to further streamline navigation and provide faster access to the information being sought. Additionally, a Newsroom will house articles and news briefs in a central location for easy selection based on user interest. The CMCC Newsroom will also include news from our members, links to press releases, regional business news and economic data. Since its unveiling in winter 2014, the Charleston Metro Chamber website has grown as the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body of work and initiatives have expanded in the areas of Talent, Infrastructure, Business Development and Membership Services. The new navigation will eliminate the need to scroll through numerous submenus by bringing the content in an easier to select format. Charlestonchamber.net delivers. Let us know what you think!

CMCC Magazine

In May the Charleston Metro Chamber will award 75 Career Academy graduates with full scholarships, paying each student's two-year tuition, fees and books to earn an Associateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree from Trident Technical College in a high-demand career field. The scholarships are made possible by the businesses and individuals who have invested in Accelerate Greater Charleston. Learn more about the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work in talent at charlestonchamber.net/talentdevelopment.

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FOR YEARS, TRIDENT HEALTH HAS PROVIDED CARE FOR MORE VICTIMS OF STROKE THAN ANYONE IN THE LOWCOUNTRY. Trident’s clinical stroke team is now enhanced by the strength of telemedicine, a technology that allows us the ability to provide a more timely evaluation and vital communication with a stroke specialist, linking doctor and

Trident and Summerville Medical Centers are certified stroke centers, each earning the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission for Advanced Primary Stroke Centers.

patient at the bedside. If you or someone you know shows signs of a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately or go to your closest emergency room.

✁ F.A.S.T. STROKE SYMPTOMS F.

Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

All Trident Health emergency rooms utilize this important stroke telemedicine system. Trident Medical Center Summerville Medical Center

Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly? Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Centre Pointe EMERGENCY Moncks Corner Medical Center

www.tridenthealthsystem.com

Charleston's Economy

CMCC Magazine

A 25 Year Evolution

image provided by PERI Formwork Stystems, Inc.

Twenty-five years ago, Charleston, along with the entire nation, was enjoying a booming economy. Boasting half a million people, Charleston was a proud military town. The region’s heavy reliance on the military, nearly 40 percent of the economy, and tourism shielded the economy from recessions and downturns.

The Forecast It was at this time that the Charleston Metro Chamber began developing and delivering an annual economic forecast, providing the business community with honest and reliable economic data that could be used to inform business decisions. The forecast is produced by the Chamber’s Center for Business Research (CBR) (see page 15) which tracks 15 to 16 economic indicators each month. This data is then provided to the forecast’s academic partner, College of Charleston, who inputs the data into an econometric model which produces the raw forecast. However, computers can only know so much and models cannot integrate real world knowledge.

CMCC Magazine

This is where the Economic Outlook Board comes into play. The board, featuring representatives from each part of our region’s economy, comes together to analyze and discuss each indicator, making adjustments based on significant economic impactors in the region, for instance Volvo opening their first American factory in Charleston. Additionally, the CBR is constantly monitoring and adjusting the forecast based on real-time knowledge.

The Chamber’s economic forecast is a unique model. In many metros the business and economic research entity is housed within a local university. Twenty-five years ago, our region had no such entity so the Chamber created the CBR in order to provide solid, up-to-date business and economic data to the business community. The Chamber is immersed in the business community, gaining knowledge of the inner workings of our economy and thus informing the forecast in a way that would otherwise be quite difficult. On top of this access to knowledge, the same two key staff members have been producing the forecast since day one. Mary Graham, Chief Advancement Officer for the Chamber, and Jacki Renegar, Research Analyst for the CBR, have both been

“ The Economic Forecast is a source of pride.” Jacki Renegar, Research Analyst, CBR

Economic Pop Quiz recognized nationally for their economic research work. Mary and Jacki weave their expertise into creating a top notch forecast and their long-term involvement and industry knowledge allow them to understand why trends are occurring. “Having fielded many questions from people outside the economy over the past 25 years, they are always pleasantly surprised to find such a jewel of knowledge,” said Jacki. “It impresses them that we are paying such close attention and proactively doing things collaboratively to affect the outcomes. I feel more confident in explaining the economy because of [the economic forecast]. It is a source of pride.”

CMCC Magazine

The Economic Burst

Just two short years after the Chamber produced the region’s first Economic Forecast, the unthinkable happened. Undetected,

the military had begun downsizing and 1993 brought a blow that nobody was prepared for. Over the next three years, Charleston's Naval Base would close. The economy was flipped upside down. “It was bad. Businesses were literally frozen in indecision because nobody knew how to react or how deep it was going to be,” said Mary Graham. The forecast showed jobs, retail sales, building permits and housing sales all declining or stagnant. While the forecast was not optimistic, it did help to establish credibility early on. This forecast did not sugarcoat the situation; rather it was honest and real – relieving some of the massive uncertainty that paralyzed the region. The forecast provided answers and allowed businesses to get a clear understanding of how the base closure would affect their business’ bottom line.

continued on pg.12

The Charleston International Airport begins construction on a third terminal

CMCC begins Career Academy programs in local High Schools

Harbor Deepening begins its journey to a 52' depth

Southwest makes its first flight from Charleston International Airport

Volvo breaks ground on its first U.S. manufacturing site

Nucor announcment of $500m investment to Charleston Region

8 11

Try to put the following significant economic events in chronological order. answers on pg.13

SC Ports Authority opens Inland Port in Greer, SC

Boeing rolls out first fully assembled 787 Dreamliner, in North Charleston

BRAC announces closing of Charleston Naval Base

First car travels over the new Ravenel Bridge

CMCC releases the first Economic Outlook Forecast

Carnival Cruise Ships make Charleston a permanent destination

CondĂŠ Nast proclaims Charleston as the #1 Visitor Destination in the world

One Region: a Global Competitiveness Strategy is announced

4 13

1 5

Determined to Recover In 1995, Nucor Corporation announced they would make a $540 million investment into the Charleston region, bringing in 600 high-paying jobs. “You could literally hear the sigh of relief and the community began to realize that we could get over this,” said Mary. Additionally, our private sector leadership was committed to recovering and replacing the jobs that would be eliminated due to the base closure. Efforts were made to demonstrate what the economic impact would be if no action was taken. The depiction of a dying community with a nearly 25 percent unemployment rate scared people into action. These efforts ultimately lead to the formation of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA), marking Charleston’s first efforts in developing a unified economic development strategy. Previously, there was no strong desire to develop an economic strategy – it did not seem necessary due to the region’s dependence on the military. The CRDA brought in a national consultant and was able to use the accurate data produced by the CBR to create a new story and ultimately uncover the region’s marketability. The first five-year strategy, which focused primarily on creating jobs, was developed. We are now in our fourth five-year strategy and are currently developing the fifth. (see One Region, pg. 18)

us the deepest harbor on the East Coast. Our airport is in the final stages of a more than $190 million renovation and continues to add new flights and see record breaking passenger volumes year after year. Our metro has a growing tech sector and prominent manufacturing companies like Boeing, Mercedes-Daimler and Volvo have made major investments into the region. We have seen exponential growth, not just in our population but in jobs - 106,000 net new jobs since 1991 to be exact.

Quick snapshot of regional data over the last 25 years.

POPULATION JOBS

AVG. DAILY RATE FOR HOTELS AVG. SALES PRICE OF HOMES RETAIL SALES

An Economic Evolution Twenty-five years ago, Charleston identified itself as a military town. The one-dimensionality of our thriving economy ultimately left us paralyzed. It was Charleston’s response that defines us and what makes our community great. The community rallied together determined not to go down with the ship. These efforts, along with strong strategic plans, transformed our region and helped build the multi-dimensional economy that has secured Charleston’s place on the global stage.

CMCC Magazine

Yes, we still have a strong military presence and a tourism sector that has garnered accolade after accolade, including the coveted number one visitor destination in the world from Condé Nast. But we are now so much more.

Our region features one of the fastest growing ports in the U.S. and the completion of the harbor deepening project will make

Average sales price of homes has increased 238 percent; retail sales have grown from $8 billion to $24 billion; and the average daily rate of hotels increased from $58.98 to $143.75 all in the past 25 years. However, this type of rapid transformation can create challenges. You experience one of those challenges every day, probably multiple times a day. We must address our decaying infrastructure and create a dedicated funding stream that allows our residents to travel our roads safely and our businesses to efficiently transport goods and services. Additionally, our metro must continue to make strides in creating a strong talent pipeline to fill the high demand for skilled workers. This means building upon efforts to bring real world application into the classrooms. Lastly, we must build differently. It is essential that we tie land use and transportation together and create areas where housing and jobs are located in proximity of each other.

“ We are going to look completely different than we do today.” Mary Graham, Chief Advancement Officer, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

THEN

NOW

507,000

760,000

232,751

338,746

$58.98

$143.75

$90,447

$306,000

$8 BILLION

$24 BILLION

The Transformation Continues The current Economic Forecast predicts we will gain 20,000 new jobs in just the next two years – making it essential that we address the underlying support systems of infrastructure and talent. In the next five to 10 years, we will hit one million people. “We are going to look completely different than we do today,” said Mary. The aerospace and automotive industry will be developed; the real estate market will get even healthier; the IT sector will grow more proactively, becoming deeper and wider; and the region will become a hub for manufacturing, bio medical research and development. The Charleston metro is strong and resilient. Our past has shown us that we can overcome any obstacle and our ongoing collaborative efforts have afforded us the opportunity to transform our region. Together, we will continue to define our tomorrow.

(8) Apr. 2012

(9) Feb. 1993 (1) Oct. 2012

(6) Mar. 1995

(10) Jul. 2005

(12) May 2010

(2) Aug. 2013

(7) Oct. 2013

(3) Jun. 2015

(4) Mar. 2011 (5) Sep. 2015

(13) Oct. 2011 (14) May 2016

CMCC Magazine

Pop Quiz answers: (11) Mar. 1991

The Chamber knows that small business owners, the hard-working leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs who put everything on the line to fulfill the dream of owning their own company, are the embodiment of the American dream. In 2015, we launched the Small Business Platform developed with feedback from our small business members. In 2016, we continue to develop the platform, with ongoing attention to our membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; input and needs. Sean Tracey, our new Vice President of Advancement, is working to increase Small Business member assets. He is listening to feedback, meeting with our Small Business Council and evaluating ways to maximize our relationships with other small business resources and agencies.

CMCC Magazine

Sean, who describes himself as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;process driven person,â&#x20AC;? is working hard to create a plan based on solid analysis that will provide your business with the powerful resources and innovative programing you need. Stay tuned to charlestonchamber.net for updates on all things small business.

Center for Business Research

In 1990, the Charleston Metro Chamber formed the Center for Business Research (CBR); a hidden jewel of knowledge that many are unaware exists. The CBR compiles, analyzes and distributes economic and demographic information on the Charleston region â&#x20AC;&#x201C; powerful data that can inform your major business decisions.

two years, the CBR conducts a wage and benefits survey which studies benefit and compensation practices among employers in the Charleston region. The CBR conducts primary and secondary research and has most recently produced studies on the economic impact of the Charleston International Airport and MUSC.

The CBR is responsible for tracking the indicators for the annual Economic Forecast, but their work is much vaster and nationally recognized. For instance, every

The data compiled by the CBR is distributed by the Chamber, but can also be found on the Charleston Regional Competitiveness Center.

The Competitiveness Center is an online portal designed to provide up-to-date economic and workforce information on the Charleston region and is sponsored by the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, the Charleston Metro Chamber, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments and the Trident Workforce Investment Board. Explore this comprehensive and informative tool at charlestonregionaldata.com.

CMCC Magazine

counselors, college students, researchers and more, will make better career choices that align with our growing and changing economy using the data provided by Career Headlight.

Features include: • Up-to-date job demand and education data in each county • Top careers ranked by salary, growth and other metrics for each county • Careers filtered by level of education required (one-year certificate, two-year Associate’s, etc.) and career field (medical, business, etc.) • A list of educational institutions and their certificate and degree programs matched to each career • A two-minute survey that lets users pick their top skills on 20 sliders and see a list of matching careers • The ability to bookmark education and career choices, using a password-protected account

In a rapidly evolving global economy, staying competitive and being successful is contingent upon employers having the talent to fulfill their workforce needs both now, and in the future. The Charleston Metro Chamber knows this and works diligently to increase our region’s talent pipeline by providing career education and tools that connect employers and future employees. One such tool recently launched is the Charleston Regional Career Headlight (CRCH), an online portal used to learn about careers in the region, career requirements, pay levels and the best fit for a job seeker based on his/her goals. It’s a onestop resource that helps students, parents and adults seeking employment navigate the educational and job opportunities available throughout the three-county region.

CMCC Magazine

Educators can use Career Headlight to help their students learn more about careers of interest so they can take the coursework needed to prepare. Parents can also use the resource to help their children and adults will find the tool helpful for their career options. Career

The CRCH provides a much needed regional resource, increasing metro Charleston’s competitiveness as a global economy in numerous ways: • Employers want a better way to match people’s interests with the skills required for available careers in the region and link them to local education and training • Communities want to retain their workers and young people when they graduate and the region wants to retain its talented workforce • When career seekers pursue areas of high job growth in the region, it supplies local business and industry with needed qualified workers • It provides a one-stop resource that covers occupations and education programs across our region Share this resource with any students and job seekers you know so they can experience the headlight at CharlestonRegionalCareerHeadlight.com. Opportunity awaits as they light their way to the future!

Financial support for Career Headlight is provided by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, Charleston Regional Development Alliance, the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments and SC Works Trident.

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In November, 2015, the Charleston Metro Chamber and the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) announced the launch of a strategic planning process to create a 5-year economic development plan for the three-county region. The process and resulting plan – One Region: A Global Competitiveness Strategy to Enhance the Region’s Economy – was a six month analysis of the region’s economic assets and community dynamics. The plan, outlining the steps that need to be taken in order for metro Charleston to continue to grow as a globally competitive region with a robust economy, represents an exciting evolution for metro Charleston.

The goal of the strategy is to work collaboratively as a region to further enhance the economy through advancements in talent, infrastructure and other assets. As the research, analysis and planning process concluded, the results and the One Region strategy will be shared, beginning in May. The strategy is developed from a three-phase process which has taken place over the past months, generating input, community information and feedback from multiple stakeholders on how the Charleston region is currently performing.

CMCC Magazine

Phase 1: Competitive Assessment

A detailed economic and demographic analysis of the region as seen through eight critical dynamics of community well-being – Affordability, Quality of Place, Infrastructure, Talent, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Equity, Global Fluency and Economic Momentum.

Phase 2: High Impact Clusters & Competencies Validation An evaluation of past performance of the region’s existing clusters including an examination of state, national and global industry trends and how they relate to the Charleston region. Analytical tools were utilized to understand the health of the region’s industry base as well as emerging opportunities. Validation of high impact clusters and competencies involved input from the region’s business leaders.

Phase 3: Competitiveness Strategy & Implementation Plan Provides a series of strategic recommendations to help the Charleston region realize its full economic potential. The implementation plan includes detailed timing, metrics and task assignments.

Facilitating the One Region process are the firms of Avalanche Consulting (Austin, TX) and McCallum Sweeney (Greenville, SC), both of which have worked with the Chamber and CRDA for several years and are nationally recognized for their work in economic development strategy and corporate location selection services. A One Region 80-member Advisory Group, which has guided the process, is comprised of leaders from a diverse range of public sector, private sector, nonprofit and educational organizations. Co-chairing the advisory board are Ken Seeger, President at WestRock, and Jeff Spicer, Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo. One Region Strategy Executive Committee Members include Mitchell Bohannon, Consultant at Thomas & Hutton; Chris Fraser, Principal & Managing Director at Avison Young; Jessica Jackson, Global Corporate Citizenship at Boeing; Mark Lattanzio, Charleston Regional President at SunTrust; Dr. Mary Thornley, President at Trident Technical College; and Anita Zucker, Chairperson and CEO at The InterTech Group. A Competitive Assessment summary, released by One Region in February, provided information on Charleston’s well-being contrasted against eight benchmark regions (the same regions as those analyzed in the Regional Economic Scorecard). Key findings from the summary are shown below and the full summary can be viewed on the One Region website at OneRegionStrategy.com. When the full 5-year strategy with detailed findings is completed and released in May, metro Charleston will have the opportunity to align resources toward the achievement of shared goals that, when achieved, will result in a globally competitive economy for the region as a whole. With the One Region strategy at hand, we can secure our future prosperity by ensuring our economy is robust and sustainable for many years to come. Visit the OneRegionStrategy.com to learn more.

ONE REGION COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY Affordability: Infrastructure: Equity

• The Charleston region is well educated but depends heavily on imported talent. • A lot more residents are getting associates degrees. Residents with Bachelor’s degrees are also growing, but primarily for older workers, not for 25-44 year old workers. • Minority educational attainment improvements are mixed. AfricanAmericans are becoming more educated, but not Hispanics. • In the Charleston region, median income levels for AfricanAmerican and Hispanic households are less than half that of White households. • Education outcomes are improving, but funding per capita is average compared to other benchmark regions. • Demand for technology skills is booming, but output of STEM graduates by local institutions lags. • The profile of individuals in management occupations does not match regional demographics or that of other globally competitive regions. Non-White and female corporate leadership levels are low.

Global Fluency: Economic Momentum

• The region enjoys a tremendous increase in exports and large foreign employer base. • But, foreign-born residents are a small and slow-growing share of the region’s population. • Residents have yet to travel the world like other benchmark communities, despite the large retiree population.

CMCC Magazine

• Housing in the Charleston region is expensive for both homeowners and renters. And, the region has the lowest rate of home purchases for millennials. • The region’s jobs to population imbalance is severe. Population growth and job growth are not occurring in the same place. • Suburban population growth forces single-passenger commuters. Commute times have increased dramatically in recent years. • Longer distances to work means higher transportation costs for workers and worsening affordability. And, traffic fatalities per capita are high. • The region does not have adequate roadways to support the population to job growth imbalance. And, funding for roadway improvements is low in South Carolina. • As a result, traffic is the number one problem cited by survey respondents.

Education: Equity: Economic Momentum

Platinum Profiles

In each CMCC Magazine issue, we will include brief profiles of our top platinum and gold investors.

Leadership Circle

The InterTech Group is a global holding company that owns or has investments in a wide array of industries including aerospace, advanced chemicals, financial services, consumer products, sports teams and arenas, location-based entertainment, real estate and alternative energy. The Company is listed by Forbes magazine as one of the largest privately held entities in the country.

CMCC Magazine

Founded by Jerry Zucker in 1982, The InterTech Group has been led by Anita Zucker since Jerry’s passing in 2008. The InterTech Group has grown substantially through a series of acquisitions, expansions, takeovers, “green field” start-ups, and organic growth. The Company has purchased significant divisions of DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, and Exxon, among others. Public company takeovers include the 2006 acquisition of the Hudson’s Bay Company, North America’s oldest company, which was founded in 1670.

Philanthropy and community service are ingrained in the foundation of The InterTech Group with a focus on education, workforce development and STEM initiatives. The InterTech Group currently supports programs within the top colleges and universities in the Southeast, including the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, College of Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina and The University of Florida. intertechsc.com 843.744.5174

South Carolina Federal Credit Union is headquartered in North Charleston and celebrating 80 years as the oldest, locally owned and operated financial institution in the tri-county area. Since 1936, when 14 Charleston Naval Shipyard workers contributed $5 each to form a member-owned financial cooperative, we’ve been offering the highest level of service to our community. We’re proud for our 17 financial centers and over 400 employees to call South Carolina home. Presently at $1.3 billion strong, we serve over 140,000 members. Committed to being an active corporate citizen, South Carolina Federal invests in the communities where we live and work. Through our philanthropic contributions, civic memberships and the South Carolina Federal Credit Union Foundation, nearly $400,000 is infused back into our region annually. As a communitychartered credit union, membership eligibility is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, or Georgetown counties, and most of the Columbia area. Come join us and experience the benefit of 80 years of people helping people! scfederal.org 800.845.0432

Mount Pleasant is home to stunning beauty, low taxes, the best schools, low crime and an unbelievable array of recreational opportunities, shopping, dining and culture. A combination of historical atmosphere and progressive development makes this maritime community the perfect locale for family lifestyles and entertainment. What you may not know is how attuned and attentive to business Mount Pleasant is – with incentives, support and hands-on, real-time help built for start-ups and smart growth. In 2010, Mount Pleasant was named an All-America City by the National Civic League and ranked the 100th Best Place to Live by Money Magazine. Yes, Mount Pleasant just may have it all – plus an indescribable magic and warmth we can only explain like this: “come on over.” TOMPSC.com 843.884.8517

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We want you to think of us as an extension of your team. Let us help you plan for tomorrow so you can focus on today. That’s relationship banking. That’s the South State Way.

SouthStateBank.com / Member FDIC

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. www.stryker.com

people are more than credit scores. This is a big year for South Carolina Federal Credit Union. We’re celebrating our 80th anniversary. And, as you might expect, we’ve learned a thing or two about banking and living in the Lowcountry. So, in honor of our 80th anniversary, we came up with 80 pearls of wisdom. Like how we believe our members are more than credit scores. That’s because we get to know our members and understand what’s going on in their lives. So keep an eye out, we’ll be sharing pearls throughout the entire year. 843-797-8300 (Charleston) 800-845-0432 (Nationwide) scfederal.org/80years

Federally Insured by NCUA

Building a bridge for entrepreneurs in South Carolina SCRA was established to foster the state’s high-tech economy. We mentor innovative companies and fill the funding gap through loans and grant matching. We are honored to work with entrepreneurs across our state.

scra.org

Gold Profiles

In each CMCC Magazine issue, we will include brief profiles of our top platinum and gold investors.

At East Cooper Medical Center, our dedicated team of physicians and caregivers are committed to making our hospital the premier healthcare facility in the community. We are proud to provide quality services, such as 24-hour emergency care, women's services, orthopedics, sports medicine, rehabilitation and nationally recognized spine, colorectal and breast reconstruction surgeries. eastcoopermedctr.com 843.881.0100

Leadership Circle

Since 1985, SeamonWhiteside has provided land planning, landscape architectural and civil engineering services to clients throughout the Southeast. We have established a portfolio of notable, award winning projects—public and private—and a reputation for exceptional services and creative buildable projects. In addition to our home office in Mount Pleasant, SW+ established a branch office in Greenville that has delivered land planning, civil engineering and landscape architectural services to our clients in the Upstate, North Carolina and Georgia. seamonwhiteside.com 843.884.1667

Chartered in 1983 by the state of South Carolina, SCRA enriches South Carolina’s technology economy. We improve the development and growth of South Carolina’s innovation ecosystem to create high-tech jobs, foster company growth and enable university research commercialization. scra.org 843.760.3200

Founded in 1933, South State Bank has been serving the financial needs of its local communities in South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina for over 80 years. The bank also operates Minis & Co., Inc. and First Southeast 401K Fiduciaries, Inc., both registered investment advisors; and First Southeast Investor Services, Inc., a limited purpose broker-dealer. Its holding company, South State Corporation has assets of approximately $7.8 billion and its stock is traded under the symbol SSB. southstatebank.com 843.965.6106

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. The Company offers a diverse array of innovative medical technologies, including reconstructive, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology and spine products to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives. Stryker products and services are available in over 100 countries around the world. stryker.com 843.569.6100 CMCC Magazine

Leadership Circle

Current Leadership Circle listing as of April 15, 2016

Platinum

Gold BB&T BlueCross BlueShield of S.C. The Boeing Company Charleston Branch Pilots Association CreateSpace East Cooper Medical Center Hagemeyer North America Ingevity

KapStone Charleston Kraft LLC Medical University of South Carolina Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC NBSC PNC Bank Richard D. Elliott Santee Cooper SCE&G

SCRA Soteria South State Bank Stryker Communications TD Bank Trident Health Wal-Mart - Market 36

CMCC Magazine

Silver

AECOM Anderson Insurance Associates LLC AstenJohnson Inc. AT&T Avison Young Bank of America Merrill Lynch The Beach Company Belmond Charleston Place The Brandon Agency C.R. Hipp Construction Inc. Carolina Waste Services LLC Charleston County Aviation Authority Charleston Magazine Charleston RiverDogs Charleston Southern University Chernoff Newman The Citadel, The Military College of S.C. Clawson and Staubes LLC College of Charleston Comcast Business CresCom Bank

Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP Elliott Davis Decosimo LLC Embassy Suites Hotel Charleston Area Convention Center First Citizens Bank and Trust Company Inc. Fred Anderson Toyota of Charleston Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd PA HLA Inc. Island Realty Johnson Development Associates, Inc. Kiawah Island Golf Resort Kiawah Partners Inc. Marathon Staffing McNair Law Firm, P.A. Morris Financial Concepts Inc. Mount Pleasant Waterworks Nucor Steel O.L. Thompson Construction Co. Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart Parker Poe Positive Eye Consulting, Inc.

PURE Renaissance Charleston Hotel Historic District Republic Services Robert Bosch LLC Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) Scientific Research Corporation Seamon Whiteside + Associates Stasmayer Incorporated SteelFab of South Carolina Sunbelt Rentals Inc. SunTrust Bank Thomas & Hutton Thompson Turner Construction WCIV ABC News 4 WCSC-TV Channel 5 Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP WOW! Business Young Clement Rivers LLP

Bronze Firefly Distillery First Reliance Bank - Charleston Francis Marion Hotel FrontDoor Communities Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation The GEL Group Inc. Gerald’s Tires & Brakes Inc. Gildan Go To Team Gravina Public Strategies LLC Grow Financial Federal Credit Union Hall Booth Smith Harris Teeter- East Bay HCA South Atlantic Division Hed Hi Media Hendrick Automotive Group of Charleston / North Charleston Heritage Trust Federal Credit Union Hill Construction Corporation Hilton Garden Inn - Charleston Waterfront Hilton Worldwide FSD Charleston Region HITT Contracting Inc. Hogan Construction Group Holiday Inn Charleston-Mt. Pleasant Hoover Mitsubishi Charleston HUB International Southeast Limited Hudson Nissan IFA Rotorion - North American LLC IFS Group, Inc. Imagine One Technology & Management, Ltd. Impresa Aerospace Integral Solutions Group InterContinental Hotels Group JMC Charleston LLC Johnson & Johnson K&L Gates LLP Kinder Morgan Terminals KSH Solutions KTM Solutions Inc. Laura Alberts Tasteful Options Lee & Associates - Charleston, Commercial Real Estate Limehouse Produce Co. Lineage Logistics Liollio Architecture Lockheed Martin Information Technology Lowcountry Graduate Center Lowcountry Residential Builders LLC LS3P ASSOCIATES LTD. M.C. Dean Inc. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens ManTech Mashburn Construction Master Solutions, LLC Matt O’Neill Real Estate Maybank Properties LLC McLaughlin & Smoak Benefits Nelson Mullins Law Firm netGALAXY Studios Newbold Services, LLC Nexsen Pruet LLC Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health Palmetto Railways Park Sterling Bank PDA - Production Design Associates PeopleMatter Plant Engineering Services Porter Consulting Group The Post and Courier

Premier Logistics Solutions Publix Super Markets - Regional Office Pulte Group - 3017 Pye Barker Fire Safety Systems Radiate Technologies Rawle Murdy Associates, Inc. Red’s Ice House Regions Bank - Charleston Residence Inn by Marriott - Charleston Riverview Riley Institute at Furman University Riser, McLaurin & Gibbons LLP Robins & Morton Rosen Hagood LLC Ross Printing Ruth’s Chris Steak House S&ME Inc. Sabal Homes Sandler Training by Peak Performance Management, Inc. SC Biz News SCS Engineers Select Health of South Carolina Inc. ServisFirst Bank Skanska USA Building Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP Solvay SOUTH South Carolina Aquarium Southcoast Community Bank Southern Current, LLC Southern Eagle Distributing LLC Southern First Bank Southwest Airlines Spherion The Spinx Company Headquarters The Standard of James Island Stantec Consulting Stubbs-Muldrow-Herin Architects Inc. Summit Industrial Flooring Superior Transportation TargetMarket Inc Teamphoria Tidelands Bank T-Mobile Tony Pope - State Farm Insurance Total Comfort Solutions Town Of Summerville Trane Transdev Services, Inc. Trident Construction Co. Inc. Trident Technical College Turner, Padget, Graham & Laney P.A. TY Lin International | Lindbergh UEC Electronics, LLC United Community Bank Verizon Wireless Vibra Healthcare of Charleston WCBD-TV, Channel 2 Webster University WebsterRogers LLP Wells Fargo Insurance Services Weston & Sampson The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Wild Dunes Resort Wonder Works WTAT FOX 24

CMCC Magazine

Adams Outdoor Advertising AETC Airport Employment & Training Agape Senior Assisted Living of North Charleston AHT Cooling Systems USA, Inc. Alternative Staffing Inc. Ameris Bank Anchor Pest Management, Inc. Anson Construction Co. Inc. Arthur J. Gallagher The Art Institute of Charleston AssuredPartners Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Co. Atlantic Shield Insurance Group Baldwin & Associates LLC Banks Construction Company The Bank of South Carolina BARD Belimed Belk Department Stores Bentley World- Packaging Ltd. - Charleston SC Berkeley Electric Cooperative Inc. BI-LO LLC - Corporate Office Blackbaud Blanchard Machinery Co. Bluegreen Resorts - The Lodge Alley Inn BNC Bank Bone Dry Roofing Company BoomTown BP Amoco Chemical Company BRPH C.H. Robinson Worldwide Cain Consulting California Dreaming Cantey Technology Consulting Care For Life Carolina Dock & Marine The Carolina Girl Yacht Carolina One Property Management Carolina One Real Estate - Corporate Office The Cassina Group CBRE Century Aluminum Mt. Holly Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina Chipton Ross Choate Construction Company ChoicePoint Consulting CINTAS Corporation Clemson University Restoration Institute Coastal Financial Planning Group Coastal Pediatric Associates CommunityOne Bank Container Land Associates, LP Cooper River Partners Cranston Engineering Group, P.C. Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport - Convention Center Cummins Turbo Technologies Cumulus Media Inc. D.R. Horton Dale Carnegie Training of SC LLC Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s Real Estate Davis & Floyd Inc. Deloitte Consulting LLC Details Charleston DuPont Company Embassy Suites Charleston Historic District Enterprise Holdings- Corporate Family Circle Cup

New Members 35 Folly Apartments / Flournoy Properties 35folly.com 706.324.4000

Detail Xperts 843.952.3650

Abberly at West Ashley Apartments liveabberlywestashley.com 843.302.0868

Diamonds Direct diamondsdirect.com

AIM Charter School charlestonaim.org 914.980.2550

Dolphin Architects & Builders, Inc. dolphindesignbuild.com 843.768.2404

LegalShield florencedavis.legalshieldassociate.com

ARRES arres.biz

Doug Snyder CPA dougsnydercpa.com

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society lls.org 843.972.4771

843.771.5688

Badcock Home Furnishings Center badcock.com 843.207.4094 Badcock Home Furniture badcock.com 843.974.5348 Belimed belimed.com

Boot Barn BootBarn.com

843.572.7573

Broadstone Seaside broadstoneseaside.com

*B RPH brph.com

843.973.3330 843.795.1102

843.743.0222 843.766.1644

Carolina One-Nick Collins nickacollins.com 843.224.8771 843.881.7766

Charlestowne Hotels Inc. charlestownehotels.com 843.972.1400

CMCC Magazine

843.327.9808

843.327.9900

843.559.6867

FocalPoint Business Coaching & Training - Heather Van Lin focalpointcoaching.com 515.650.0044 Hobby Lobby hobbylobby.com

843.797.7515 844.448.7725 843.936.3590

Ilderton Conversion Company ildertonvans.com 843.576.0414 JB's Proof jbsproof.com

Keystone Benefits Group keystonebg.com 412.443.5238

** Kiawah Partners Inc.

843.768.3400

Kiawah Partners is the Master Developer of Kiawah Island and also owns the Kiawah Island Club and Kiawah Island Real Estate.

CP&P (Concrete Pipe and Precast) concretepandp.com 843.744.5376

Knowledge Capital Group knowledgecapitalgroup.com

Cowan Strategies cowanstrategies.net

L3 Management Services, LLC l3msllc.com 843.804.9450

703.665.3399

Daniel Pointe Retirement Resort capitaloaksretirement.com 919.239.3634

LAM Services, LLC lamservicesllc.com

Law Office of Ittriss J. Jenkins LLC jenkinslaw1.com 843.608.3407

Low Country Yacht Charters lowcountryyachtcharters.com

843.364.6578

843.709.1332 803.767.0135

Lumbee Enterprises NA lumbeena.com 843.793.9012 Media Services, Inc. mountpleasantmagazine.com

843.881.1481

Mendoza & O'Brien Global Leadership Development mendozaandobrien.com 732.216.8457 Mira Winery Napa Valley Education Center & Tasting Room miranapa.com 843.952.7013 Mt. Pleasant Networking 843.284.0370 Nature's Calling, Inc. naturescallinginc.com

843.529.1399

* Newbold Services, LLC newboldservices.com 864.678.4696 Northwestern Mutual - John Crowell johncrowell.nm.com 843.277.3495

859.421.3967

kiawahisland.com

888.877.8351

LowcountryBizSC lowcountrybizsc.whosonthemove.com

407.917.6896

* Firefly Distillery charlestonwine.com

Holsinger PC thinkholsinger.com

Carolina Business Equipment cbesc.com 843.266.0930

Christian Condo Cleaning christiancondocleaning.com

843.606.2558

843.284.5000

Hoffmann Group hoffmann-group.com

*C alifornia Dreaming californiadreaming.com

Carowinds carowinds.com

* D.R. Horton drhorton.com

Finology Analytics finologyanalytics.com

843.216.7424

The Boulevard liveontheboulevard.com

Launchpeer launchpeer.com

Ferguson Waterworks ferguson.com 843.760.4540

Blackbeard's Cove Family Fun Park blackbeardscove.net 843.971.1223

December 15, 2015 - April 14, 2016

843.637.3920

843.460.5473

Old Whaling Company oldwhalingcompany.com

330.523.6558

OmniSource Staffing osisupply.net 843.225.1185 Palmetto Camera Products palmettocameraproducts.com Parrish & Partners parrishandpartners.com

843.518.0281

843.501.1910

People Helping People thephpagency.com 843.415.5540 Persimmon Cafe persimmoneats.com

843.937.5399

Physicians Eyecare Plan physicianseyecareplan.com

843.579.0508

Principal Financial Group principal.com 843.388.0811

Robco swurfer.com

Ravenel Associates ravenelassociates.com

Rogers Brothers Peanuts, Inc. 843.332.0790

Sleep Inn - Charleston North choicehotels.com 843.572.8400

Residence Inn Charleston North / Ashley Phosphate marriott.com/chsch 843.300.3636

Sandis Civil Engineers Surveyors Planners sandis.net 843.708.0065

Smithworks Creative Arts, LLC SmithworksCA.com 843.343.6456

Responza responza.com

Seasons of Japan seasonsofjapan.com

South Carolina Commission for the Blind 843.852.4225

843.768.9480

843.990.9200

Rise Above Consulting, LLC elmprint.com 304.216.0188

917.826.8222

SEE Eyewear seeeyewear.com

843.554.7544

843.722.6101

Simply Green Landscaping simplygreenlandscaping.com

Southern Paws, LLC southernpawsco.com

843.425.7464

317.431.9101

Springhill Suites by Marriott - Mt. Pleasant marriott.com 843.284.5250 Stage Front Presentation Systems sfps.net 912.236.1345 Steve Gulick 630.742.1006 Stono Dental Care, P.A. stonodentalcare.com 843.203.5429 Strategic Accounting Outsource Solutions saosllc.com 203.610.2212 Supply Chain Optimizers supplychainoptimizers.com

843.377.8803

The Church at LifePark churchatlifepark.org 843.654.7600 The Locator Service thelocatorservice.com

843.607.1107

Title Boxing Club Charleston charleston-westashley.titleboxingclub.com

843.696.0277

Tony Pope - State Farm Insurance tonypope.com 843.851.2222 TravelClick travelclick.com

Signs • Flyers • Labels • Posters • Banners • Booklets • Catalogs • Brochures Stationery • Direct Mail • Newsletters • Mailing Lists • Business Cards • Product Sheets Graphic Design • Forms & Checks • Presentation Folders • Promotional Products

843.793.3397

Truly Nolen TrulyNolenwestashley.com

843.974.4650

* United Community Bank ucbi.com 843.323.4241 Wells Business Solutions, LLC 843.259.3162

* Denotes Bronze Leadership Circle Investor ** Denotes Silver Leadership Circle Investor + Denotes Gold Leadership Circle Investor

CMCC Magazine

2139 N. Boland Circle, N. Charleston, SC 29406 Phone (843) 745-0001 Fax (843) 745-4110 www.rsaprinting.com

Events

MAY

11 MAY

12 MAY

18 MAY

Chamber 101 Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

Ask the Expert: LinkedIn Profile Expert Thomas Heath Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

Business in your Backyard Wyndham Garden Charleston Mount Pleasant

State of the Region: State of the Military U.S.S. Yorktown

Hear an update on one of our region’s largest economic drivers, Joint Base Charleston, from keynote speaker Captain Timothy Sparks.

JUN

1 Need a doctor? We’ve

In fact, we’ve got

got one.

438

JUN

8 JUNE

22 23

YP Connect Elan Midtown

Chamber 102 Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

Metro Leadership Visit Seattle, WA

And we’ll help you

find one who’s just right for you.

JUL

State Delegation Appreciation Founders Hall

Join the Chamber in thanking the members of our state legislative delegation for their ongoing support in enhancing our region.

AUG CMCC Magazine

18 28

CYP 10th Anniversary Celebration Francis Marion Hotel

Celebrating 10 years of empowering young professionals to advance their careers and transform our community. 2000 Hospital Dr., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 Physician Referral (843) 884-7031 • EastCooperMedCtr.com

For a full list of events, more information and to register visit charlestonchamber.net

What Members Say On Chamber Membership:

" I have gained a wealth of knowledge since getting involved with the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce during the past year. The events I’ve attended provided cutting edge information that I utilize daily. The Chamber has a finger on the pulse of the tremendous growth and needs in the Charleston area. In the educational profession we have a responsibility to prepare individuals for opportunities in this thriving community." Marc P. Embler, Dean Center For Academic Excellence, Charleston Southern University

On the Catalyst Center:

" The Catalyst Center gives our team an incredible work space to come together creatively to work, on the business. It's been an impressive place to bring new partners visiting Charleston and create video content on the fly. The environment breeds innovation and business growth.” John Rizzo, Partner

Globe On-Demand

On World Trade Center Charleston:

“ As a leader of a young manufacturing start-up looking to break into foreign markets, I found the International Finance Seminar extremely helpful. On topics ranging from currency exchange to the workings of the EXIM Bank, the seminar provided me with actionable strategies I will utilize in the near-term along with valuable connections to people who can help me get the work done. I am very happy to have attended. ” Matt Ackerman, COO

Swurfer

On Career Academies:

" To offer students an objective view of the finance sector through the Career Academy Partnership lays a tremendous foundation for success. Success breeds success." Scott Sharp, Regional Vice President, South Coast TD Bank

Did you know that as a Chamber member, your employees may also join Charleston Young Professionals and/or World Trade Center Charleston at no additional cost? Ask your membership representative for more information.