JANUARY 15, 2016 | VOL. 5 ISSUE 3
MILLENNIALS who are they? what do they want? where are they going? Community Journals’ Digital Content Manager Danielle Car came to the Upstate for school and plans to stay... for now.
WHAT’S YOUR BACKUP PLAN? How much would eight hours of downtime cost your business?
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“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
POWER SOLUTIONS CASE STUDY of
Magnolia Manor
The Upstate of South Carolina is a beautiful area home to many businesses. It is also home to severe thunderstorms in the summer and ice storms in the winter. As the weather gets colder, as memories of warm thunderstorms melt away, it’s tempting to forget the cold, hard dread that the Scott Kelly President Carolina lights might go Heating Service out. Most of the Upstate have Serving Greenville felt the effects since 1981 of no power due to ice and wind. But the potential for storm related power outages is a year-round sleeping trigger. While you cannot prevent power outages, you can prepare for them. As a business owner I know just how important having power is to stay profitable and keep that competitive edge, so do the folks at Magnolia Manor here in the Upstate. Magnolia Manor Inman SC is a skilled nursing facility offering independent physician/nurse practitioner coverage 24 hours a day. Their services are offered around the clock to residents whose medical conditions may make them dependent upon a power source. In a competitive world, assuring their residents continued continuity of operations provides Magnolia Manor an advantage over many other facilities that would be at the mercy of their local power grid. Virtually every function of their business is dependent in some way on a power source. From the food storage to the building security, from the medical services to ensuring a safe environment, everything needs power. Any loss of power takes them out of communication with their residents and their employees. As peace of mind Carolina Generators installed a 45KW Generac Generator on location. Power your peace of mind by installing an emergency generator. Contact Carolina Generators today.
STAY OPEN FOR BUSINESS. HAVE A BACKUP PLAN FOR POWER! Contact us today to schedule our Power Pro Professional for your FREE onsite assessment. Greenville: 864-232-5684
Seneca: 864-638-6635
Anderson: 864-281-1977
www.CarolinaCommercialGenerators.com
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| MANUFACTURING | 3
BMW hits record production year in 2015 LETY GOOD | STAFF
lgood@communityjournals.com BMW Manufacturing logged its largest recorded annual production in 2015, producing 404,904 X-models at the South Carolina plant. This achievement made the U.S. factory the largest volume producer in the company’s global network. The 15 percent increase in production from 2014 allowed the plant to export 70 percent of the total volume to over 140 countries worldwide last year, according to a press release. “2015 was another very successful year for Plant Spartanburg,” said Manfred Erlacher, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Co., in a statement. “We have an outstanding team of dedicated associates that are highly committed to delivering premium quality vehicles for our customers to enjoy.” Development of the three-year, $1 billion investment, announced in 2014, will continue to evolve in 2016. The expansion will add a fifth model to BMW’s vehicle lineup, the all-new BMW X7, and will further increase the plant’s annual production capacity to 450,000 units by the end of the year. Plans also include construction of a new stateof-the-art, 527,000-square-foot body shop, two new indoor test tracks, a 200,000-square-foot expansion to the X5/X6 assembly hall, and a warehouse expansion.
2015 PRODUCTION VOLUME BY MODEL TOTALED: X3 (142,613) X4 (55,027) X5 (158,766) X6 (44,498) A BMW X6 rolls off the line at BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg.
BMW vehicle models produced in South Carolina accounted for nearly one-third of all BMW brand U.S. sales. With 404,537 vehicles sold in 2015, record sales were reported for the third year in a row. BMW Manufacturing Co. currently produces over
1,400 vehicles per day and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 and X4 Sports Activity Coupes. For more information on BMW Manufacturing, visit bmwusfactory.com.
If Service Is The Reason You Love The Palmetto Bank, You’re In For A Treat United Community Bank and The Palmetto Bank are joining forces to bring our shared commitment to quality customer service to the Upstate. With warm smiles that welcome you when you walk in the door and personal attention focused on your goals, our Upstate team is dedicated to providing you an exceptional level of service. Everything You Love About The Palmetto Bank - Multiplied.
Member FDIC. ©2016 United Community Bank | ucbi.com
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TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 Featured this issue: Recap: January Greenville DRB meeting Renovations soon for old Handlebar site John Warner is One to Watch
10 12 18
WORTH REPEATING “The promise of a sewer line won’t get you very far in this business.” Page 6 “I’m not going to go out and buy an SUV right away just because I see gas at $1.60.” Page 8 “That’s what happens when you’re unemployable. You make jobs for yourself.” Page 18
A new QuickTrip downtown inched closer to reality this week when Greenville City Council gave first reading to a rezoning request for the property at Academy and North Markley streets. Gray Engineering Consultants has asked Greenville County to rezone two industrial tracts near SCTAC to single-family residential. If approved, the new subdivision could total close to 800 homes on 237 acres.
Photo provided
TBA
MONEY SHOT: A 3-D desktop printer manufactured by Airwolf 3D, a California-based company that was one of two 3-D printer makers to announce a partnership with Greenville-based TPM Inc. to make their products available in the Upstate. See our story on page 16.
VERBATIM
On winning and losing “The biggest thing I learned from losing? Winning’s better.” Ted Turner
CORRECTION: The article “Greenvillegrown startup Aunt Fannie’s packs up for Portland” should have appeared with the bylines of both staff writer Benjamin Jeffers and staff writer Ashley Boncimino.
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Beaded Frog closing due to high rents on Main Street BENJAMIN JEFFERS | STAFF
bjeffers@communityjournals.com The Beaded Frog, a jewelry and beading supply store, is closing its Greenville store in March due to rising rents on Main Street, according to owner Heidi Woody. “Our rent will more than double at the end of our lease,” Woody said in an email. “The new rent structure exceeds what a bead store should pay, but is in line with the current expectations of landlords on Main Street.” Woody said the growth of Greenville is “exciting and positive” but, as a result, rent rates have been rising. The store opened in 2003 at 233 N. Main St., and Woody said she arrived at the de-
cision to close after “much thoughtful and heartfelt contemplation.” She said she plans to continue as an e-commerce business and will be updating the website beadedfrog.com. The store is holding a closing sale starting on Jan. 15 and asks customers to use gift certificates by the end of February, “while there is still a selection to choose from,” Woody said.
ng i r Sp 16 20
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FIRST FRIDAY LEADERSHIP SERIES
Register: clemsonmba.eventbrite.com
February 5
Cheryl Smart Owner, Duke Sandwich Co. & Palmetto Cheese
March 4
Atlanta’s Tin Lizzy’s Cantina to open in Greenville
Mo Mullen
Director of Business Development LOCAL, West Elm Brand, Williams Sonoma Inc.
April 1
Corinne Mason Chief Learning Officer, Milliken SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com Atlanta-based Tin Lizzy’s Cantina is expanding to Greenville with a new 5,000-square-foot restaurant planned to open in April at Magnolia Park on Woodruff Road. The taqueria and cantina plans to bring its chilled margaritas and famous “FlexMex” cuisine to Greenville. It will be the restaurant’s
second South Carolina location following the launch of its Columbia restaurant in October 2015. The popular eatery has 10 restaurants in Georgia. Tin Lizzy’s is actively looking to hire experienced local managers and 100 employees. Qualified candidates should visit tinlizzyscantina.com for more information.
www.clemson.edu/mba • 864-656-8173 1 North Main Street Greenville, SC 29601
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GADC director updates council on economic development Industrial zoning and sewer capacity considerations for 2016 APRIL A. MORRIS | STAFF
amorris@communityjournals.com At a recent Greenville County Council meeting, Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC) director Mark Farris offered an update on economic development activity in the county and highlighted challenges ahead. More than $400 million was logged as economic development investment in 2015, reported Farris, noting that the county rewards a company’s investment and the state rewards job creation. Farris said he was proud of the “geographic diversification” of announcements in 2015, including those in Fountain Inn and Travelers Rest. Council member H.G. “Butch” Kirven said council was happy with the economic development projects in the last year. County Council works closely with GADC and often approves fee in lieu of tax agreements (FILOT) for com-
panies seeking relocation and expansion. “FILOT is not something we relish, but is a necessity,” Farris said. Farris explained the process of courting a company to locate or relocate and said the state’s property tax rate is a hurdle that must be overcome. The rate is a full percent higher than Jackson, Miss., and Houston, he said. When asked whether council should work to preserve industrial zoning, Farris said that would be a good move if possible. The county has a small amount of industrial property, but it makes the most income tax-wise, he said. SITE INVENTORY IS KEY GADC is moving forward with analysis of why the county lost some projects in 2015, Farris said. Initial information from the last three years revealed the need for an adequate inventory of available sites, he said. “About 30 percent of the time we lost a project because we didn’t have a good site, so we have to make sure that’s a
consideration in land use planning, is that we have a balance. I don’t want to make it a prime consideration for land use planning, but it’s a consideration.” Kirven echoed the need for a mix of land use types. “There’s certainly no shortage of people who want to live in Greenville, but we want to make sure it’s a good place to work, as well,” Farris said. He estimated five percent or less of county land is zoned industrial, yet generates “close to 50 percent of property tax revenues.” Keeping a balanced mix of sites is important, especially for covering the cost of county services, he said. “We’re losing money on Mark Farris [residential developments] as opposed to commercial or industrial where we are covering the cost of community services.” INCENTIVES, INFRASTRUCTURE ALSO CRITICAL Council members asked why the county lost out on the headquarters of Sealed Air, which moved to Charlotte. Farris said he thought concern about access to an international airport was one factor, along with the amount of available class A office space. He sees the Upstate offering more mid-level locations when it comes to corporate headquarters, citing Wynit, which will locate in downtown Greenville, and ScanSource. The new gigabit Internet access proposed by AT&T will work in the Upstate’s favor in attracting high-tech businesses and startups, he added. In the future, Farris said he would like to see a change in South Carolina incentives that are geared toward
manufacturing, shifting toward allowing items like textile mill reuse credits to be used for office space. Availability of infrastructure like water and sewer are other considerations, Farris said. Though water seems ubiquitous, “it seems like the sewer is the real limiting factor for us, at least industrially,” he said. “I would love to see more proactive [sewer] lines built in areas of Greenville County that would give us an opportunity to market additional sites,” he said. The lines are dependent on cost and the sewer authority’s ability to expand, he added. Multiple residential developments have been hampered or stalled in the Taylors area because of limited or no sewer capacity. “In economic development, it is a given that if you show a site, it’s got all utilities,” Farris said. “The promise of a sewer line won’t get you very far in this business.”
“There’s certainly no shortage of people who want to live in Greenville, but we want to make sure it’s a good place to work, as well.” Mark Farris, GADC director
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Stylist Bo Stegall to open Perimeter salon
SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com Perimeter, a condo development coming to 100 N. Markley St. at the corner of Rhett Street in Greenville, has announced an upscale salon/spa brand partnership with Master Stylist Bo Stegall. Bo Stegall | The Salon at Perimeter will incorporate such amenities as signature color concepts, tailored haircuts, event styling and makeup, massage therapy, esthetician services and nail artistry. The new 1,450-square-foot salon and spa will be a second location for Stegall, who also owns Bo Stegall | The Salon at 225 E. Stone Ave. Stegall, an Upstate local from Dacusville, began his career in Beverly Hills, Calif., at the age of 17. While in Beverly Hills, Stegall trained under two internationally recognized master hairdressers, styled celebrity clients, and worked for networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, MTV, Style Network and E! After five years working in the Hollywood hair industry, Stegall said he knew it was time to return to Greenville and bring a cosmopolitan aesthetic and technically sound salon brand to the Upstate. Stegall opened his first location three years ago at age 25, and said the time has come to expand. Stegall said he and Perimeter’s developer share a “passion for our community and vision for its needs. Both of our brands reflect a dedication to offering Upstate residents luxury and comfort, and it made our partnership a perfect pairing.”
Bo Stegall | The Salon at Perimeter plans to offer perks to Perimeter residents such as complimentary blowouts and preferred bookings in addition to other VIP residential services. Both Stegall salons will offer a dedicated internship program and Stegall’s local product line, Bo Stegall | The Collection. Stegall said he is also producing a television series that brings awareness to the Upstate’s nonprofit organizations and other local businesses. Perimeter will be a 70-unit, mixeduse condo development with four stories of condos over two stories of underground parking. Amenities will include two parking spaces per unit, additional on-site covered storage and shared spaces including a lobby with fireplaces, community seating, a rooftop terrace, and a saltwater pool that will be heated year-round. The development features 4,500 square feet of retail. Due South Coffee Roasters previously announced an additional location at the project. Construction start is dependent on pre-sales. To learn more about the Perimeter project, visit perimetergreenville.com. To learn more about Bo Stegall | The Brand, visit bostegall.com.
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SC poised for more growth than other states in 2016
COLD & FLU GERMS
Scott Baier anticipates strong growth for the state’s economy in 2016.
BENJAMIN JEFFERS | STAFF
bjeffers@communityjournals.com The South Carolina economy is
Contact Charles IV to learn more
864-233-5346
WWW.GOS1.COM | CSCALES4@GOS1.COM
everything for your office...
poised for stronger growth in 2016 than the rest of the country, according to Scott Baier, Clemson economics professor and director of the BB&T Center for Education and Policy Studies. Baier said the state economy could grow by 3 percent this year, about half a percent better than the anticipated economic growth for the nation as whole. Manufacturing will continue to be one of the main factors driving economic growth, especially in the Upstate, he said. Although manufacturing across the country is struggling to grow, Baier said, “The trend in manufacturing in the Upstate has looked better than the national trend, and I think that will continue.” South Carolina is attractive to manufacturers because it is a rightto-work state and the area labor pool is larger than in other parts of the country, he said. Baier also expects significant growth in the professional services, education, health services and leisure industries. Growth in these sectors would support other industries and help lower the state’s unemployment rate to under 5 percent, he said. South Carolina’s unemployment rate was listed at 5.5 percent in the latest employment numbers from the state Department of Employment and Workforce.
“I’m not going to go out and buy an SUV right away just because I see gas at $1.60.” Scott Baier, Clemson economics professor While Baier sees an optimistic year for the state, he said several factors could hurt the economy. The recent economic problems in China could have a ripple effect and cause growth nationally and in the state not to be as high. “It’s never clear when you see some disruption [globally] how quickly or if it will affect the economy, if at all,” he said. The low gas prices could also hurt, even though low gas prices are generally viewed positively, he said, as low prices mean that oil companies are getting less of a return on the oil they sell. In order to increase production and keep up profits, companies are taking on significant amounts of debt to acquire land for drilling, he said. The high debt leaves the oil companies vulnerable to defaulting on their loan payments. On the consumer side, Baier said the low gas prices don’t necessarily mean that consumers will spend their money on other things until they are assured that the prices will remain low. “I’m not going to go out and buy an SUV right away just because I see gas at $1.60,” he said.
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| REAL ESTATE | 9
Most important for renters: Amenities, amenities, amenities New study also shows Upstate renters want locations near groceries, restaurants SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com In a newly released national study on renter preferences conducted by San Francisco real estate research firm Kingsley Associates, a majority of apartment dwellers in the Greenville-Spartanburg market are single women with pets who want amenities such as parking, a swimming pool and fitness center, and to be located near grocery stores and neighborhood restaurants. The 2015 Renter Preferences Study was conducted in August via a partnership with the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC). The report includes responses from 119,266 residents at 3,280 communities from 22 industry-leading multifamily firms who own or operate more than 1.2 million units across the United States. The NMHC surveyed 600 residents in the Greenville/ Spartanburg area, and is calling the report the nation’s “largest resident preference survey of its kind.” The increase in renters, “from millennials to boomers, has fueled an evolution in apartment living and raised expectations for amenities and services,” said Rick Haughey, vice president of industry technology initiatives at NMHC. National data from the report shows that 38 million apartment renters live in 20 million apartments across the country – 1.6 million more renters today than five years ago. Those renters are looking for walkability – specifically to a grocery store, restaurants and bars and public transportation, said Haughey. “Also, surprisingly, three quarters of the respondents were interested in non-smoking buildings, and the same amount were in interested in living in a certified green building with sustainability initiatives.” View the entire report online at UpstateBusinessJournal.com.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS Specific to the Greenville and Spartanburg market Demographics: 59.5% of apartment renters are women (of those who responded). 50.7% are ages 25-44. 33.3% are single living alone and 23.8% are living with spouse/ partner. 36.3% are pet owners. 43% have lived in their apartment one to three years. 47.1% currently rent a twobedroom apartment; 22.8% a one-bedroom and 19.4% a three-bedroom. 63.7% have never owned their own home.
Desired amenities: Top 5 apartment features: highspeed Internet access, washer/dryer hookups, refrigerator with water/ice dispenser, ceiling fan, microwave. Top 5 community amenities: parking, pool, fitness center, recycling, secured community access. Destinations preferred within walking distance: grocery store (61%) and neighborhood restaurant (54%).
EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT
Destinations preferred within a short drive: grocery store (70%), work/ office (62%), neighborhood restaurant (57%).
Reasons for leasing: 76.6% see themselves owning in five years. Reason for renting: 30.9% say it suits their lifestyle and 33.3% say they may need to move and renting offers more flexibility. Top leasing decision factors: location/convenience, floor plan/ layout, rental rate, property appearance/quality, community amenities.
“Purveyors of Classic American Style” 864.232.2761 | rushwilson.com | 23 West North St., Greenville 29601 Open Mon.-Sat. 9:30am-5:30pm; Closed on Sunday
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SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
FRONT ROW
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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
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Greenville Design Review Board, January Meeting
While not quite a full house attended, the first Design Review Board meeting of the new year offered several interesting items on the agenda. First up was the Design Review Board Neighborhood Panel. As usual, several items involved single-family home remodels. While important to the individual homeowners and contractors, they don’t really hold mass appeal so I won’t bore anyone with those details. However, a couple of applications heard during the informal review are worth mentioning. Multifamily development of three units at 420 Grove Road This application was part of the informal review section of the agenda. Informal reviews are just that – no vote is required; applicants can bring their project (in some cases, it’s a requirement) before the DRB for feedback before formally filing or going before another board. On this project, city staff said that the parking proposed for the three units is inadequate and the colors are too bright. The DRB added that the windows on the side and front façade should be revised along with the “porch-type element on the front.” Overall the project needs to fit more into the single-family neighborhood, the board said. The applicant was not present at the meeting, and the board agreed with city staff that the design needs more work before a formal vote is taken. Multifamily development of 61 units at Wade Hampton Boulevard and Brookside Circle This application is for a new three-story townhouse development called Highview Towers. Each unit has a brick option and a two-car garage with additional parking for guests. Sidewalks will be throughout the development. Ryan Homes would be the builder, and the applicant said that the townhomes would be similar to a project at Verdae. DRB members said
they would endorse as long as the applicant provides unified materials in the project. After a short recess, the Design Review Board Urban Panel took their seats to review two items on the regular agenda and two additional items to review informally. Renovate exterior of Keys Building at 307 E. McBee Ave. This application is to renovate the former Keys Printing Building (next to the American Roadside Burger restaurant), which has been vacant for more than seven years. Both the building that butts up to Church Street and the adjacent printer building are in desperate need of a facelift. City staff said parking will need to be brought into compliance as much as possible and paint colors for the remodel must be approved via a paint board sample (a new city requirement by the city for all projects). A landscape buffer must also be added between parking and the sidewalk. Doug Harper, president of Harper Corporation, told the panel that he and his business partner, Steve Navarro, bought the building and want to “bring it back to life.” Harper said the building may look like an eyesore now, but it’s a hidden gem on the inside with great character. Two residents from the nearby Davenport condos on McBee Avenue spoke in favor of the application, saying that the renovation is much needed. One gentleman said he was a little concerned about the railings along Church Street that are coming apart from the building. Harper said they will look at them and see what can be done. The DRB agreed that the renovations are needed and approved the application.
Replace an existing billboard with digital on the building at 307 E. McBee Ave. Same project as above, just a separate application for changing out the existing billboard that sits atop the Keys Building and replacing it with a digital billboard. City staff said City Council has already approved a preliminary agreement to allow the digital billboard, and the application is for a recommendation from the DRB on which of two billboard designs is best. Billboards of any kind are usually controversial within the city, and digital billboards espeProposed billboard atop the Keys Building on McBee Avenue
cially are met with resistance. This one was no different. Since the final decision on the billboard’s future is up to City Council, DRB members refrained from providing input on the sign itself. Michael Kerski, planning and development manager for the city of Greenville, said anyone who wants to object to the digital billboard should go before City Council at the second hearing on the matter. No date has been set; just check the agenda that is posted each week, he said. Harper said the overall billboard size would be reduced by about 37 percent with the installation of the new digital billboard. The billboard was grandfathered and provides a financial package that makes it work to renovate the building, he said. The digital billboard will be state-of-the-art and can be programmed to dim and turn off at night. As part of an agreement with the city, it would also display community service announcements such as Amber Alerts, festivals and storm warnings. Hal Stevenson, an urban sign specialist and Sign Crafters vendor, also spoke and said the billboard is similar to one in Columbia that was a great improvement to the area. During public comment, Wade Kent, who represented the Davenport condos HOA, said residents support the renovation of the building, but “strongly object” to the billboard. Dan Parker, who represented homeowners at McBee Station, also objected to the billboard, predicting it would produce direct light intrusion into homes on the second and third levels at McBee. The DRB encouraged those opposing the billboard to go before City Council and deliberated a bit about the two different designs, finally deciding on an exposed truss option billboard along with the condition that city staff approve the colors. Rezoning to modify Renaissance Place Next up were two informal reviews. The first was a design that’s been before the DRB several times: an application by Betsch Associates for a rezoning to modify the commercial portion of a development at North Pleasantburg Drive. The project is called Renaissance Place, and the new design no longer contains a Goodwill store and restaurant pad sites. Two office buildings, one of which would be a dentist’s office, are all that remain. The applicant wasn’t present, but the DRB commented that the overall design seems fine and recommended approval to the Planning Commission. Rezoning 9.32 acres for NorthPointe The application discussed was to rezone 9.32 acres at Stone Avenue, Wade Hampton Boulevard, North Church Street and Column Street into a planned development to ready the site for the mixed-use project called NorthPointe. Plans include 285 multifamily units, 30,000 square feet of commercial space, >>
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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com |
@SJackson_CJ
restaurant location on Stone Avenue and two buildings that contain a frame store and music shop on Wade Hampton Boulevard, all owned by Central Realty. Wallace said these would probably end up being light retail, as the area lacks the parking to support restaurant use. The DRB said it wants to see more design work on all buildings, including the apartments. More articulation is needed at the street level along Wade Hampton Boulevard as the design “still looks like a big box and needs more variation in height and materials,” said one member. The entrances don’t stand out and need to be more emphasized, said another DRB member. The DRB said it wants to see more revisions to the design before it goes to NorthPointe development the Planning Commission. I followed up with Rece Morgan at Central Realty, who said they will ed and available access-only to residents. One DRB work on the recommendations and design and will member asked: What would keep residents from probably postpone the formal Planning Commission parking in the retail space? The answer: Nothing, review slated for Jan. 21. Morgan said they will really, but apartments will only be accessible from be back before the DRB at the Feb. 4 meeting and the top floors, which will be more secure, providing then hopefully present at the February PC meeting. incentive for residents to use those parking spaces. All in all, it puts the project behind schedule about Two outparcels included in the planned develop30 days. ment were also discussed: the former Capri’s 104 S. Hudson Street
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>> 100 surface parking spaces and a six-story, 665-space parking deck. City staff and the DRB expressed concern about the landscaping and screening on the rear of the Harris Teeter building slated for the site. Relying strictly on landscaping, trees and shrubbery is not enough, DRB members said; instead, they would like to see additional “design articulation,” pointing to Cabela’s on Woodruff as an example of a store that “looks good on both the back side and front.” More discussion occurred on pedestrian access – one of the biggest concerns expressed in neighborhood meetings. Tori Wallace with Central Realty said that SCDOT has taken more of the land than originally anticipated for the redesign of the Wade Hampton/Stone Avenue intersection, but plans still include sidewalks throughout the project and a 5-foot buffer from the street to the project. The project will include 16 crosswalks throughout, she said, along with a median and crosswalks at Wade Hampton. DRB members also expressed concern about parking in the parking garage, the two bottom floors of which are to be free and available for retail use. The upper floors of the parking deck will be key-card-
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xperience in old Greenville. ience in Greenville’s coveted West End District? A place at once steeped in the
thoroughly forward-thinking in its conception and vision for the future. A place
s storied downtown setting, and also points the way to a dynamic, one-of-kind-
best of both worlds: a rich heritage and a modern living experience, all bound
igned, original townhomes.
A new living experience in old Greenville. GRANITE COUNTERTOPS | HARDWOOD FLOORS | GARAGE PARKING NEARBY PARKS & RECREATION | OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE | KROC CENTER MEMBERSHIP
www.parkplaceonhudson.com 104 S. Hudson Street | Greenville, SC | 29601 864.561.4031 | info@parkplaceonhudson.com
What if there was a vibrant, new living experience in Greenville’s coveted West End District? A place at once steeped in the history and charm of old Greenville, and yet thoroughly forward-thinking its conception and vision for the future. A place that celebrates all that has come before in this storied downtown setting, and also points the way to a dynamic, one-of-a-kind-lifestyle that’s altogether unique. This is the best of both worlds: a rich heritage and a modern living experience, all bound together by a collection of 24 thoughtfully designed, original townhomes.
Renderings and Plans presented are illustrative and shall be used for general information purposes only. Actual layout, room dimensions, window sizes and locations and steps to grade vary per plan and are subject to modification without notice.
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Changes ahead for former Handlebar space
Sitting vacant now for almost a year, the former Handlebar music venue on Stone Avenue is about to get a makeover. After plans were put on hold for a boutique bowling alley and entertainment venue from Charleston-based The Alley, developer Ron Rallis found a new tenant with new ideas for the property. Howard Dozier and his business partner, Paul Talley, who also own The Comedy Zone, Kilpatrick’s Public House and Pour Lounge in downtown Greenville, have signed a lease on the former Handlebar property. Construction is expected to begin this month on the Revel Event Center, which will occupy the
8,500-square-foot upstairs space of the former Handlebar property. Work on the additional 8,500 square feet downstairs will follow later this summer, and it’s not out of the question for that space to still be a boutique bowling alley, said Dozier. Revel will be a flexible event space that can host approximately 350 people for weddings, receptions, parties and meetings. “It will be a world-class event space complete with the latest technology, modern sound/light/video, an on-site full-service catering company, full bar and a garden-style patio area,” said Dozier. Dozier said Greenville’s rapid growth is outpacing the number of independent, freestanding (not a
Last M West townhomes near release The last seven units at M West terrace homes will be released Jan. 20. The project includes 18 townhomes in total at the former Blandin’s Clean Up Shop property at 1027 S. Main St. in Greenville’s West End. Pricing on the phase III units will range from
$490,000 to $665,000. Construction on phase I units is slated to be completed in late February thru mid-March. For more information, contact The Parker Group at 864-326-5047 or visit mwestgreenville.com.
ballroom in a hotel) event spaces currently available. He anticipates being able to attract larger comedy acts to perform at Revel, such as Amy Schumer and Chris Tucker, who won’t come to the smaller Comedy Zone venue. “It’ll put us in a different market,” he said. The remodel will accent the natural beauty of the space and re-expose its industrial and 1920s warehouse-like elements, much of which has been covered up for decades by soundproofing and other live music-related materials, Dozier said. “Brick-lined walls, original warehouse windows, barn doors and handcrafted lighting are just a few of the terrific things we will introduce as we create an event space that will be on par with any event space in the entire Southeast.” Parking and noise topped the concerns residents expressed at last year’s neighborhood meetings. Dozier said he and his partners will hire a sound engineer to ensure that “everything is not too loud for the neighbors.” He said they don’t intend to incorporate the concert-grade sound equipment The Alley team expected to have; Revel will offer just enough to accommodate a wedding band, he said. As for parking, some spaces are available on-site, with more secured across the street. Valet parking will also be available. Revel is expected to open spring 2016. More details on the downstairs plans will be released in the coming months.
01.15.2016
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COVER | 13
upstatebusinessjournal.com
YOUNG
WHAT OUR READERS THINK What does Greenville need to do to attract millennials?
AMERICANS Millennials are fueling Greenville’s population growth and delighting employers, while presenting unique challenges CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF
clandrum@communityjournals.com That Greenville’s population is growing is no surprise to anyone who travels on its crowded roads and sees the glut of construction cranes that dot Greenville’s skyline. What may come as a surprise is who is fueling that growth. Millennial population growth over the past five years in Greenville County has outpaced that of Generation X (those born from 1965 to 1980), and far outpaced baby boomers, the post-World War II generation born between 1946 and 1964. The same is true for Spartanburg County, where the five-year percent change showed growth at nearly 3 percent for millennials and decreases of 2.2 percent for Gen X and 4.5 percent for baby boomers, according to the Asheville-based SYNEVA Economics, a consulting firm that focuses on local and regional analysis. “Here in Asheville, and it’s true of Greenville, we took for
granted that it was the baby boomers [fueling the growth],” said Tom Tveidt, SYNEVA’s research economist. “Over the past five years, the millennial generation has overtaken the baby boomers as the major source of population change.”
WHO ARE THEY? The millennial generation, generally considered to be people born between 1980 and 2000, is the biggest in U.S. history – eclipsing the baby boom – and unlike any generation that has come before them. Some researchers divide the millennial demographic into two groups: Generation Y (born 1981–2000) and Generation Z (born after 2001). Both have grown up with the Internet and smartphones, are technically savvy, and are more diverse and more educated than past generations. Millennials are less likely to be married than previous generations at the same age, more likely to live with their parents and less likely to live in their own household.
Today UBJ continues a community dialogue begun in the Greenville Journal, exploring the changes, opportunities and choices we all face as #GreenvilleGrows. Our region capitalizes on assets like innovative public-private partnerships, a thriving retail and hospitality environment, and continued expansion of the downtown housing market, with seemingly never-ending construction. But we must also deal with challenges like an aging infrastructure, gentrification, parking shortages and workforce education. Where do we go from here? Join the conversation at UpstateBusinessJournal. com, facebook.com/ TheUpstateBusiness Journal or twitter.com/ UpstateBiz.
The oldest millennials were just 27 years old when the Great Recession hit in late 2007. While the economy is recovering, the recession hit this generation hard and still does. Millennials typically have less money to spend than past generations at the same age MILLENNIALS continued on PAGE 15
“Greenville has a rapidly growing population of millennials and we need to be sure that we bridge the gap between older generations and the new population to help drive smart growth in our city. But we also need to make sure that we’re innovative enough to retain the millennials that move here. Recruitment and retention need to be considered together.” Ryan Heafy, 30, CEO of IMAGINEXT Solutions via Facebook.
“Greenville needs to focus on better infrastructure that attracts millennials. Making it easier to walk or bike from areas like Overbrook and other areas just outside of the downtown area, with the addition of paths or adding pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and crosswalks along busy streets that currently do not have any sort of sidewalks.” James Akers via Facebook
“Be proactive and bold in creating alternative transportation instead of reactive by building more parking garages just because everyone wants to park their Tahoe downtown.” Mike Pennington via Facebook
“I would love to see more nonprofit and business boards make room for millennials. Some of them are great about having Advisory Committees, but the old guard can still be hesitant to let go of power.” John Boyanoski via Facebook
“Better music. Toro y Moi is my favorite musician, grew up in Columbia, but doesn’t even stop through Greenville on a national tour. The reason why? He would get booed off the stage for not playing bro-country.” John Ashmore via Facebook
“I think millennials will be attracted to jobs that have very flexible working hours, vacation and non-traditional working environments.”
Kathryn Fortenberry via Facebook
14 | COVER MILLENNIALS continued from PAGE 13
due to lower employment levels, higher debt and smaller incomes. But millennials are the generation that will shape the economy for decades to come.
SOUGHT BY EMPLOYERS The millennial generation is very important to employers, Tveidt said. “Millennials are typically the group [potential] employers who are looking at an area ask about, and that means you have to get into affordable housing and building communities in which people want to raise their families,” he said. “I tell people it’s a good problem to have. There are plenty of communities that are losing jobs, and companies are moving out.” Ryan Heafy, 30, had never heard of Greenville before ADEX Machining Technologies tapped him to help develop the company into an aerospace manufacturing facility. “I found it by mistake,” said Heafy, who is CEO of IMAGINEXT Solutions and a partner in Switch Image Concepts. Greenville struggles with brand identity and what makes it special and unique to millennials, he said. “I didn’t know Greenville existed. We’re not there recruiting millennials, we’re out there recruiting manufacturers.”
30% OF GENERATION Z (BORN AFTER 2001) WOULD TAKE A
10-20% PAY CUT TO WORK FOR A COMPANY WITH A MISSION THEY DEEPLY CARE ABOUT
74% PREFER TO
COMMUNICATE FACE-TO-FACE WITH COLLEAGUES Generation Z statistics Sources: Robert Half, “Get Ready for Generation Z” research report. Bruce Tulgan, RainmakerThinking, “Meet Generation Z: The Second Generation Within the Giant ‘Millennial’ Cohort” research report.
presence of friends and family are equally or often more important. By a near 2-to-1 margin, respondents believe that investing in communities, over recruiting companies, is the key to growth,” the report said. Jessica Pate, a member of the advisory board of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s young professional group PULSE, said she decided to attend college and start her working career in Greenville due to the city’s efforts over the past 10 to 15 years to make downtown inviting. “My parents went to Furman but I said, ‘No, I’m not following you to the same school.’ I applied to 14 schools and Greenville and Furman was actually what I wanted despite me not wanting to follow my parents,” she said. “Downtown, the energy, the community is so well developed. I’m an Army brat and I never really had a place that felt like home until Greenville.” Housing options in downtown Greenville are expanding. Some of the city’s fastest-growing areas as >>
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METROPOLITAN AREAS WITH 10 HIGHEST & 10 LOWEST EMPLOYMENT RATES OF YOUNG ADULTS AGED 20–24 AMOUNG THE NATIONS 100 LARGEST METROPOLITAN AREAS, 2010–2011 Top 10 Metropolitan area
Employment rate
Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb. and Iowa
75.8
Madison, Wis.
75.0
Salt Lake City, Utah
74.6
Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa
74.5
Portand-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine
73.7
Honolulu, Hawaii
73.5
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Mich.
73.1
Ogden-Clearfield, Utah
72.3
Wichita, Kansas
71.3
Provo-Orem, Utah
71.1
Bottom 10 Syracuse, N.Y.
56.7
Tucson, Ariz.
55.8
Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia, S.C.
55.6
Springfield, Mass.
55.6
Fresno, Calif.
55.5
Bakersfield, Calif.
55.3
New York, Northern N.J., Long Island
54.5
Greenville-Mauldin-Easley 54.2 Stockton, Calif.
54.0
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
52.9
5
For more information, see roberthalf.com/generation-z
91 2
LOOKING FOR SAME FEATURES A 2014 American Planning Association report says both the millennial generation and retirees prioritize quality-of-life amenities above most other factors when choosing where they will live. “Job prospects and economic health are not the overriding factors for choosing where to live,” said the report, called “Investing in Place.” “Quality of life features such as transportation options, affordability, parks, local vitality, health and
UBJ
99
8 3 10
1
96 95
7
94 97
4
9 98 93 92
6 100
Surprised by these numbers? Let us know at UpstateBusinessJournal.com, facebook.com/TheUpstateBusiness Journal or twitter.com/UpstateBiz.
01.15.2016
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>> indicated by the latest Census numbers are in the neighborhoods that surround downtown, popular with young professionals who are looking for starter homes or can’t afford the rents in the central business district. Entertainment, music and food options are increasing as well, although some millennials think more are needed. GREENVILLE CAN COMPETE “Greenville is small and growing, but on any single day it can compete with any other city in terms of its offerings,” said Drew Dezen, a 27-year-old public relations professional who grew up in Greenville, worked in Australia for nearly three years and then moved back. “It doesn’t have the breadth of offerings of some other communities, but it can compete on a single day.” Dezen said the chance to make a difference was one opportunity that attracted him back to Greenville. “If you’re 27 and living in New York City, you really have to do something big to make an impact,” he said. “In Greenville, your impact is tangible. It’s very intriguing to be a part of the generation that can shape Greenville’s future.” Heafy said Greenville “needs to give millennials a purpose … the next big thing, a catalyst project they can get behind, a movement and identity they can embody, something that will act as a tool that they can
NUMBERS GROWING, PERCENTAGE FALLING
“Greenville is small and growing, but on any single day it can compete with any other city in terms of its offerings,” Drew Dezen, 27, public relations professional use to continue to share the message about Greenville and use as an example of why others would also want to move or locate here.” Today’s millennials “don’t see anything they can get behind,” he said. “Greenville has a rapidly growing population of millennials and we need to be sure that we bridge the gap between older generations and the new population to help drive smart growth in our city. But we also need to be sure that we’re innovative enough to retain the millennials that move here. Recruitment and retention need to be considered together.”
SET APART Heafy said Greenville needs an identity to set it apart from other places in the eyes of millennials.
While the number of millennials living in Greenville and Spartanburg counties has risen since 2000, their percentage of the population is falling. County
Year
Total Pop.
25 to 34-year-olds
Percentage
Greenville County
2000
379,616
56,900
15 percent
2009*
430,273
58,795
13.7 percent
2014**
467,087
62,870
13.5 percent
Spartanburg County
2000
253,791
36,381
14.3 percent
2009*
276,544
35,630
12.9 percent
2014**
288,728
34,907
12.1 percent
*American Community Survey 2005-09 5-year estimates; ** American Community Survey 2010-2014 5-year estimates Source: U.S. Census Bureau
FIVE YEAR CHANGE IN POPULATION BY GENERATION Greenville County
Spartanburg County
Sources: US Census Bureau, SYNEVA Economics, SYNEVA.com
“Greenville could be a leader in autonomous transportation or the Internet of Things or have the most powerful open Wi-Fi network downtown with working spaces in public places for the new and growing mobile workforce,” he said. Dezen agrees that marketing is key for Greenville’s
growth. “You want the best and brightest in the fabric of the community,” he said. “I think millennials are critical in shaping Greenville. Greenville is evolving, changing and improving every day. We’ve made great strides. There’s still work to do. It’s not an overnight thing, but I’m proud of our community.”
Pate said Greenville “needs to keep doing what it’s doing well. It needs to continue to be affordable and traversable and not be incredibly overcrowded. We want to make sure that Greenville continues to improve, but that it doesn’t fundamentally change from what it is now.”
THE GENERATION GAP Six generations now living in U.S., with different likes, dislikes and attributes
GI Generation (Born 1901 - 1926)
Mature/Silents (born 1927 - 1945)
Baby Boomers (Born 1946 - 1964)
Generation X (Born 1965 - 1980)
Generation Y/ Millennials (Born 1981 - 2000)
Generation Z/ Boomlets (Born after 2001)
• Young in the Great Depression, fought in World War II • Community minded • Strong loyalty to jobs, groups, schools • Avoid debt, save and buy with cash • No “retirement”; you worked until you died or couldn’t work anymore
• Korean and Vietnam War generation • Disciplined, self-sacrificing and cautious • Married for life; divorce, children out-of-wedlock were condemned • Richest, most free-spending retirees in history • Loyalty to the corporation; kept same job for life
• The “me” generation • Buy on credit • First generation to raise children in two-income household; record numbers of women worked outside the home • Expected technology/innovation to require learning process • Retirement = second wind; chose skydiving over a porch and rocking chair
• Latchkey kids • Entrepreneurial • Late to marry (after cohabitation), quick to divorce • Deep in credit card debt • Cautious, skeptical, unimpressed with authority, self-reliant
• “Echo boomers” • Digitally literate; have never known a world without computers • Prefer to work in teams • World is a 24/7 place; want it fast and now • Do not live to work; want relaxed work environment with handholding and accolades
• 2006 saw record number of births (far more than start of baby boom generation) • Never known a world without computers/cell phones • 61 percent of children 8-17 have TVs in their rooms • Abandon toys at younger age; called KGOY – kids growing older younger
Source: Dr. Jill Novak, Texas A&M University
16 | PROFESSIONAL |
STRATEGIES FOR HONING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
UBJ
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01.15.2016
Who’s down with TPP? Court rulings could change your import-export strategy By DOUG KIM Intellectual Property Attorney, McNair Law Firm
Time to review your importexport strategy in light of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement (TPP), changes in IP protection and patent exhaustion cases in the U.S. Supreme Court. On Oct. 5, 2015, an agreement was reached by the 12 member countries on the TPP, which, among many other things, seeks to standardize how intellectual property is treated among the member countries. It contains
approximately 2,000 pages in 30 chapters and addresses a broad array of issues. The TPP is likely to have an “up-down” vote in 2016, most likely after the 2016 election. Because the TPP seeks to promote international trade and standardize intellectual property protection, we should see an increase of intellectual property protection issues at the international level. As we look to 2016, we expect international trade, especially exports, to expand as companies seek new markets as the world flattens. Export-
WHAT IS IT? Patent exhaustion: When the patent owner or licensee makes the first unrestricted sale of a patented product, the patent rights are exhausted and the patent owner’s control over that particular item ends. Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP): A trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries, reached in October 2015, which, among other things, seeks to standardize how intellectual property is treated among the member countries.
Moving businesses forward
Greenville
864.329.1228 twomen.com Each franchise is independently owned and operated. U.S. DOT No. 1037672 | MC No. 435975 | PSCSC9664-B
ing could be greatly affected by the TPP and a recent development in patent exhaustion. It is unclear how cases like Lexmark International Inc. v. Impression Products Inc., which concerns patent exhaustion, will intertwine with the TPP. Patent exhaustion provides that when the patent owner or licensee makes the first unrestricted sale of a patented product, the patent rights are exhausted and the patent owner’s control over that particular item ends. Case study: LG and Intel LG Electronics owned three patents covering computer systems, including components and methods. LG licensed its patents to Intel. Under the license, Intel was allowed to manufacture and sell microprocessors and chipsets covered by the LG patents. Quanta, a computer manufacturer, purchased microprocessors from Intel and combined the Intel products with non-Intel components to make computers that infringed LG’s patents. LG sued Quanta for patent infringement, but the district court held that the license from LG to Intel exhausted LG’s rights to sue Intel’s customers. Notably, LG attempted to restrict the doctrine of patent exhaustion with a license, but the Supreme Court did not find this attempt successful. Case study: Jazz Photo Historically, patent exhaustion is geographically based, in that lawful sales of patented goods outside the United States did not give rise to patent exhaustion inside the United States. Jazz Photo was purchasing used disposable cameras that were already sold and once used, “repaired” them and sold them into the United States. Several original camera manufacturers sued Jazz Photo for patent infringement. The Federal Circuit held that the “law is well settled that an authorized sale of a patented product places that product beyond the reach of the patent.” Importantly, the Federal Circuit stated that to “invoke the protection of the first sale doctrine, the authorized first sale must have occurred under the United States patent.” [Boesch v. Graff, 133 U.S. 697, 701-703 (1890) (a lawful foreign
purchase does not obviate the need for license from the United States patentee before importation into and sale in the United States).] Therefore, cameras sold in the United States were immune from patent infringement, but cameras sold in foreign markets and imported were not. Oral arguments for this case were heard Oct. 2, 2015. Unless the case is settled, it is expected that one of the parties will appeal to the United States Supreme Court. If Jazz Photo is overturned, foreign activity may in fact exhaust United States patent rights. IF this occurs, the intellectual property protection as effected by the TPP could results in patent rights being extinguished in the United States by overseas activities. Changes coming from overseas Changes are not just coming from implementing TPP and recent IP cases, such as Jazz Photo and Lexmark International Inc., but also from legal activity in other countries. The differences of “foreign patent exhaustion” can be significant. For example, in Germany, patent rights are exhausted if the patented product is marketed by the patentee (or a third party with the consent of the patentee), not just sold. Further, German patent rights are only completely exhausted if the license grants complete rights. If the license only grants component manufacturing rights, the patent rights are only exhausted in part. Patent exhaustion is inextricably intertwined with licensing of intellectual property. Given the changes that are occurring with patent exhaustion, companies that are involved with importing or exporting their goods should review their intellectual property and licensing arrangements as it pertains to imports and exports. We know that with our network of foreign associates and our international intellectual property practice, this task should not be limited to United States law, but be performed in a much more global reach.
01.15.2016
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upstatebusinessjournal.com
MOVERS, SHAKERS AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE
| INNOVATE | 17
Open innovation demands partnerships, alliances, mergers Working together, companies can become more than the sum of their parts from the rub at the shoe heel end seam. Under Armour’s OI director set out to find a stitchless solution to this problem. The insight led him to Regina Miracle in China. WHAT IS IT? Regina heat-molds products Open innovation: Using external, as well as internal, for big brands like Hanes, Bali ideas and paths to market to advance technology – and Limited. A close partnerletting knowledge flow both in and out. ship, forged between Baltimore and Shenzhen, modified a bra-making process, replacing 2015 was a record year of merger activity sewn shoe elements with – $4.9 trillion globally. Dow/DuPont, ABInBev/ heat-molded components. Not SABMiller, Charter/TimeWarner, Kraft/Heinz, and only were socks eliminated as Walgreens/RiteAid are noted examples. And while South Carolina needed cushioning, but a such mergers grab headlines, partnerships and should investigate a lighter shoe was invented, business alliances are quietly at work behind creatformal OI program to permitting faster track speeds. ing daily value. Similarly, Lipton recognized enhance and announce Open Innovation (OI) has provided important the opportunity to sell preits technology hubs. examples of how talent connections produce value brewed iced teas to the summer greater than either party could achieve alone. One tice within South Carolina to share market, but lacked any means of bottling. favorite story is that of P&G approaching competimethods and connect like technologies. They decided to utilize potential competitor tor Clorox to explore transferring unused innovations Another considered how technology coalitions Pepsi to perform the bottling and distribution service to Clorox Glad Products. The partnership, together may attract foreign investors to South Carolina by and share the value of a new beverage offering. with further collaborations, became successful alerting external entities to the regional innovation Partnerships and alliances occur locally as well. A beyond either company’s hope, with ForceFlex trash landscape and the depth of talent (stay tuned). multinational company in South Carolina identified a bags and Press‘n Seal wrap innovations. It clearly Two U.S. examples validate the importance of such need for a chemically resistant shrink film, and believed demonstrated how partnerships create new value discussions. The state of Ohio developed their Ohio polyester could provide the solution. But limited from idle technology. Third Frontier program (bit.ly/ohio-third-frontier) polyester film expertise and low to connect and promote regional talent; and then Strategic alliances pay off big manufacturing scale jeopardized GUIDELINES FOR PARTNERS OF CHOICE advertised the collective value to the world. That Ohio Consider strategic alliances: the opportunity. They apinnovation ecosystem claims more than $2 billion in One partner possesses keen Instill trust – meet person-to-person proached SKC, who have worldapplied research and commercialization programs understanding of its market Let go of the past – eliminate class polyester operations near “Us-Them” thinking that have created more than 2500 new jobs. space, thereby defining a product Atlanta. SKC eagerly took up the The Metro Atlanta Chamber is now two years into Never undervalue or prejudge that could resolve current challenge and partners developed the partner its Open Innovation Forum initiative (bit.ly/atlanproduct shortcomings, but lacks a new film that exceeded the ta-open-innovation). Like Third Frontier, Atlanta’s the capability of commercializ- Filter out the positives – find the abilities of any prior offering at opportunity program promotes the concentrated strength of ing its solution while opportumuch lower thickness than others technologies in the region, and solicits new companies Maintain trust – always be honest nity awaits. Under Armour in that market sector. and clear to invest in their success. Both programs use NineSigprovides one such example. Awakening hibernating ma as their global billboard and connection resource. UA forged and now maintains Keep the focus on the prize – innovation potential “Prize before Pride” strong partnerships with worldSC needs partnerships, personal relationships With all of the technologies class athletes in a widening Local businesses and governments in the Upstate in South Carolina, there should arena of sports. That close relationship enabled could reap the benefits of increased revenue from be great potential for many important strategic alUA R&D to recognize that runners prefer to go regional alliances. International institutions and liances. A recent meeting at the Upstate SC Alliance sockless, but complain of heel abrasion resulting governments, once aware of South Carolina’s potenexplored this possible resource. The initial meeting tial, are likely to spark even greater regional ecoconsidered several ideas, including repositioning nomic investment and development. idle, often patented, corporate technologies into It therefore seems that South Carolina should external small company settings. With a different investigate a formal OI program to enhance and risk tolerance, entrepreneurial business culture, announce its technology hubs. Partnership is indeed and lower market-entry the crucial starting place for applying open innovathresholds, hibernattion principles to stimulate local economies, propel ing potential may business synergies and enable entrepreneurs. awake and thrive. Perhaps strategic alliances will uncover new A second discushorizons. Alliances simply stem from partnerships; sion considered the and all begin with personal relationships. benefits of forging
By BLAINE CHILDRESS U.S. patent agent, Open Innovation champion
Communities of Prac-
18 | WHO'S WHO: ONES TO WATCH |
WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE YOU NEED TO KNOW
UBJ
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01.15.2016
JOHN WARNER
Co-founder and CEO, Concepts to Companies LEIGH SAVAGE Contributor
John Warner has been One to Watch since he arrived in Greenville in 1982 to work in accounting at KPMG. Over the next 34 years, he’s been involved in numerous high-profile ventures, including overseeing one of the country’s largest angel investing networks, building a social networking community to promote entrepreneurship, and creating InnoVenture, which creates communities among entrepreneurs, service providers, academia, investors and others. The common thread is that Warner is always looking ahead. His latest venture, Concepts to Companies, provides business leadership and early-stage capital for startups. But this senior statesman of the entrepreneurial community is already contemplating his next project. “That’s what happens when you’re unemployable,” he said, laughing. “You make jobs for yourself.” Were you always entrepreneurial? I was one of those kids, if you gave me something to sell, I went and sold it. When we had Boy Scouts stuff to sell, I’m sure there were times when I went further from my house than my mom knew about. How did you first become involved in the Upstate investment community? In the 1980s, there were a number of really successful businesses in the Upstate: Ryan’s was the best-performing stock on NASDAQ; Tel/Man was the first of a series of telecom companies; Jack Tate had started Carolina Baby, now Babies R Us. Half of my client base was these companies. I learned a lot and was always very curious about the businesses. Do you remember a key lesson you learned from those businesses and their leaders? Charlie Way was CFO of Ryan’s. They opened 200 stores with a highly replicable model. I came up with a tax planning strategy that would save them a few million dollars – today you’d call it a loophole. But Charlie said it made his business complex. I thought he didn’t get it, but now I see: Keep it focused, keep it simple, especially when you are growing that fast. If you make it complex, it will fall apart. You know you’re being successful when things start to simplify. What “failure” has taught you a lesson that helped you succeed later? There was Sam Wyche Sports World [a sporting goods chain that closed in 1992]. This comes up with my peers – is there a different way of framing that? It was a failure, yes. But your life is a campaign. We didn’t pull this off and the world continued to revolve
on its axis. Success is not proving you are right. Success is learning what the world is, what customers want, and iterating to what is right. You could end up in a very different place than you started if you are smart enough to listen and react to what you are learning. What prompted the creation of Capital Insights in 1992? I saw these people who had made a lot of money and worked together over the years. They were not investing in any formal, organized way, but were informal groups that today you would call angel investors. I put together a white paper to organize these informal groups. It turned out reasonably successful, with $15 million invested. You were vice president at Kemet and overseeing Capital Insights during the early 2000s. What did you learn from that experience? I went to Wall Street once a quarter to talk to investors. A big takeaway is these guys collect every crumb they can that affects stock price. There’s no way I can beat those guys because I don’t have as much information. But we live in the real world. Greenville is much more like the real world than midtown Manhattan. So we can gain insights they don’t necessarily have. It’s like Warren Buffett’s mentor, Ben Graham, says – the whole idea of buying good companies and holding on long-term. Why did you create InnoVenture? I looked around and there was an amazing amount of talent in the Upstate, but people didn’t know each other. So, just like I took it upon myself to form an angel group, I took it upon myself to start this conference and invite people to present ideas and look for ways to collaborate. It iterated and evolved.
“You could end up in a very different place than you started if you are smart enough to listen and react to what you are learning.” What led you to start Concepts to Companies (with co-founder Brian McSharry)? It’s an evolution of InnoVenture. A few years ago there hadn’t been a lot of startups coming out of universities, and most incubators were dealing in mobile apps, not automotive, bioengineering and other research. So I was trying to create forums where researchers would present ideas. I got introduced to a Ph.D. student [Kayla Gainey] working with health clinics in Tanzania who wanted to print diabetes test strips on location. They said they could do for a penny what now costs a dollar, and we thought that was really cool. What are the next steps for Concepts to Companies and for your career?
POINTS OF INTEREST Currently: Co-founder and CEO, Concepts to Companies Previously: Founder and CEO, InnoVenture; director, Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce; president, Capital Insights LLC; vice president of strategy and communication, KEMET Corp.; senior manager, KPMG Education: Clemson University, B.S. in accounting; University of Georgia, Masters of Accountancy Family: Wife Jane, two grown children, one grandchild Hobbies: Hiking 25-30 miles per week Recent books (listens on Audible while hiking): Biographies of Elon Musk, the Wright Brothers and Alan Turing; “The Innovators” by Walter Isaacson. This project [Accessible Diagnostics, the company creating cheap glucose test strips] is a big idea. We want to commercialize this product – it should be for sale within a year. We have a second company, Recovr Inc., that makes video games that can reprogram your brain after a stroke. It improves therapy outcomes. So we’ll focus on those and then maybe expand the portfolio later in 2016. I am aware of what I’m good at – strategically seeing things ahead of most people. It’s the way I’m wound. And I’m pretty good at putting teams together. I’m not as good at day-to-day operations. With Accessible Diagnostics, I’m in my comfort zone right now, but there will be a time when I need to let someone else operate it day-to-day and I’ll need to move on to the next thing. ONES TO WATCH: The judges could only choose a handful of winners from the more than 130 nominees for Who’s Who in 2015. Throughout the year, UBJ has been introducing you to a dozen more whose work is worth keeping an eye on.
01.15.2016
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upstatebusinessjournal.com
HIRED
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
HIRED
LICENSED
ELECTED
| ON THE MOVE | 19
HIRED
James Wagner
Polly Gaillard
Joseph W. Rohe
Sheryl Booker
Todd Coleman
Named general manager of Tucanos Brazilian Grill. Wagner has more than 10 years of experience in the restaurant-hospitality industry, including his previous role as an owner/ operator. He has both front-of-house and back-of house knowledge of the restaurant industry.
Named communications manager of Artisphere. Gaillard will help with strategic communications planning, social media strategies, content creation and management. She previously served in a marketing administrative role for The Emrys Foundation and as an instructor of photography at Anderson University.
Completed the U.S. Customs and Border Protection certification to be a U.S. Customs broker. Rohe is an attorney for Smith Moore Leatherwood and practices with the firm’s transportation industry and litigation groups. Customs brokers assist importers and exporters in meeting federal requirements.
Named to the board of trustees for The Spartanburg County Foundation. Booker serves as support specialist for the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM). She previously held positions as a professional and executive banker with Bank of America and school counselor at Dorman High School.
Named senior loan officer and assistant vice president for the mortgage team at United Community Bank. Coleman has more than 20 years of banking experience. He most recently served as a doctor loan specialist and certified construction loan officer at SunTrust Mortgage.
COMMUNITY Ten at the Top (TATT) announced the following people as officers for 2016-2017: Hank McCullough, senior manager of government relations at Piedmont Natural Gas, as chair; Sue Schneider, general manager of Spartanburg Water, as first vice chair; Terence Roberts, mayor of City of Anderson, as secretary; Erwin Maddrey, CEO of Maddrey & Associates, as treasurer; Rick Danner, mayor of City of Greer, and Jim Shew, director of national accounts at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, as development co-chairs; Carol Burdette, chief professional officer of United Way
of Anderson County, as immediate past chair.
tions, as its 2016 Enterprising Women of the Year.
FINANCE
MARKETING/PR
KeenanSuggs Insurance promoted Lee Palms to Upstate office leader and named Albert Hyndshaw and Joe Sullivan as insurance and client service advisors. The company also appointed Jo Ann Whitaker as the Greenville operations manager to oversee the client services staff in the Upstate office.
Ferebee Lane + Co. hired Courtney Gibson and Josie Maszk as graphic designers. Gibson has nearly four years of industry experience. She most recently served as a media specialist at Freedom in Christ Ministries. She also served as a design intern at Design Sensory and at Moxley Carmichael in
HR Enterprising Women magazine named Pamela Evette, founder and CEO of Quality Business Solu-
Knoxville, Tenn. Maszk is a former graphic designer for Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park in New York City and served as design intern at City Corridor in Charleston. Jackson Marketing, Motorsports & Events hired Kathy Vass as public relations director. Vass has more than 25 years of public relations, marketing and events experience. She most recently served as manager of development and marketing for Greenlink.
CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
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20 | THE FINE PRINT |
BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN’ T MISS
UBJ
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01.15.2016
Medical center offers groundbreaking medical device for women in Upstate
Duke Energy names Bausch & Lomb as a Power Partner
Dr. Fleming Mattox of the Carolina Continence Center and his office have been trained and certified to offer a new technology for non-surgical vaginal restoration. During an in-office treatment, a patented ThermiVa electrode is used to heat tissue, which then promotes collagen remodeling. “I now have a non-surgical treatment that supplements or can replace older surgical methods for revitalizing and Mattox restoring conditions and issues that many women experience – from mothers to those in menopause and beyond,” Mattox said. The procedure helps patients who have experienced problems from incontinence, menopause and childbirth. Most patients receive three 30-45 minute treatments over one year for optimal results, according to a release. For more information, visit sccontinencecenter.com.
Duke Energy recognized Bausch & Lomb in Greenville for the company’s responsible use of energy and for creating lasting value for the organization and the community it serves. Bausch & Lomb was one of 14 companies across the country and the only one in the Upstate recognized as 2015 Duke Energy Power Partners. “We are pleased to recognize these organizations for their wise use of energy,” said Chris Edge, Duke Energy vice president for large business customers. “It’s exciting to collaborate with them and witness firsthand how they add value to their customers and their communities.”
$10,000,000
Sandlapper Capital Investments, LLC Launches
SL Opportunity Finance, LLC Short-term preferred equity and debt investments for the acquisition and/or development of §1031 replacement property investments.
Solar tour to showcase benefits of solar energy The Winter Sun Solar Tour on Jan. 23 from noon to 4 p.m. will offer participants an opportunity to observe four homes powered by solar energy. The tour, which is presented by SmartPower and Solarize South Carolina, will stop at three homes retrofitted with solar panels and one new home constructed with solar shingles.
The tour is designed to highlight realistic solar options for general consumers. The Winter Sun Solar Tour starts at the model home in the new Trailside community that is designed with Dow Powerhouse solar shingles to produce as much electricity as it consumes. During the tour, attendees can watch a live solar
Investment Opportunity
10%
Preferred Return
$50,000
Minimum Investment
installation at one of the homes, while seeing two other finished rooftop installations at the other sites. All stops on the Winter Sun Solar Tour are within 12 miles of each other, located north of Greenville, in the Berea and Travelers Rest areas. Light refreshments will be served, and attendees can sign up for a free solar assessment through Solarize South Carolina. For more information, visit solarizesc.org/events/ upstate-solar-tour. >>
Photos provided
01.15.2016
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upstatebusinessjournal.com
THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE
| NEW TO THE STREET | 21
Open for business Inspirations Home Décor recently opened at 102 N. Main St., Suite A, Fountain Inn. The business is a boutique furniture store that offers a variety of items. For more information, visit inspirationshomedecor.com. CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon? Email information to bjeffers@ communityjournals.com. Photos provided
This announcement does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities. Such offers may only be made to qualified accredited investors via Private Placement Memorandum. Investments should be considered highly speculative and involve a degree of risk including the potential for complete loss of principal investment. This announcement does not supersede the PPM. Securities offered through SANDLAPPER Securities, LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC) an affiliate of Sandlapper Capital Investments, LLC the Sponsor/Manager of the Fund.
To learn more contact: Trevor Gordon, CEO (864) 679-4701 ext. 101 tgordon@sandlappercapital.com www.SandlapperCapital.com
2015
Roaring Twenties Award: South Carolina’s 4th Fastest-Growing Company Real Estate Forum Magazine: One of 2015’s Fastest-Growing Companies
S.C. Chamber releases competitiveness agenda
>>
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce announced its 2016 Competitiveness Agenda. Funding for infrastructure topped the agenda, followed by workforce development and business licensing reform. The South Carolina Chamber calls on the General Assembly to dedicate at least $600 million of additional revenue annually to maintain and improve our state’s roads and bridges, and standardize the business licensing process statewide with a uniform application, renewal dates and standard classifications. It will also work to ensure a statewide initiative for early childhood development for all students that is better defined. “In addition to improving infrastructure and reforming business licensing, the Chamber calls on the General Assembly to prioritize workforce development,” said John Uprichard, chairman of the South Carolina Chamber and president of Find Great People. “Specifically, the Chamber supports streamlining workforce development programs so we can better address the skills gap South Carolina is facing.” He said South Carolina’s future depends on a strong infrastructure and a steady workforce.
Investors will be entitled to a preferred distribution accruing from date of issuance of Preferred Units at a cumulative, non-compounding rate of 10.0% per annum on capital contributions. Investors may also receive an additional distribution accruing from date of issuance of Preferred Units at a cumulative, non-compounding rate of 5.0% per annum on capital contributions. INCOME IS NOT GUARANTEED.
TPM partners with two 3-D printing companies Greenville-based TPM Inc., a 2-D and 3-D design technology provider, named Massachusetts-based MarkForged and California-based Airwolf 3D as partners. MarkForged is one of the first 3-D desktop printers capable of printing continuous carbon fiber, Kevlar and fiberglass, enabling innovators to create plastic parts that are as strong as aluminum. Airwolf 3D, a professional-grade desktop 3-D printer manufacturer, enables engineering departments to migrate from centralized back-room 3-D printing to de-centralized desktop 3-D printing with high-quality parts and faster speeds. “These two new partnerships, alongside our existing relationship with industry giant 3-D Systems, will allow TPM to bring the most complete and advanced product portfolio of 3-D printing technology to the marketplace at a starting price well under $10,000,” said Chris Fay, vice president of TPM. “These two new desktop solutions allow a distributed 3-D printing model whereas multiple smaller printers are being utilized by a group of designers as opposed to one large centralized piece of equipment.”
22 | #TRENDING |
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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
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01.15.2016
BIZ BUZZ
Distilled commentary from UBJ readers
The top 5 stories from last week’s issue ranked by shareability score
RE: ATLANTA’S TIN LIZZY’S CANTINA TO OPEN IN GREENVILLE
1. Atlanta’s Tin Lizzy’s Cantina to open in Greenville
> Nancy de Jong “And another good one comes to Greenville!” > Russ Dixon “Thank goodness. We need more restaurants over there! Maybe next they can start stacking them on top of each other.”
>> 1,075
>> 721
2. Birds Fly South lands in Hampton Avenue space
>> 536 3. Caviar and Bananas plans gourmet concept for downtown Greenville
>> 265
> Ellen Cadeaux Gardner “Just what we need: something else on Woodruff Rd. They won’t be seeing us either.”
4. Founders bootstrap $500k for Anderson manufacturing startup
> Kirk Fisher “Woodruff Rd.... #facepalm”
5. Four-legged lodging
> Michael Cheatham “Woodruff Rd.? Not likely they will ever see me.” > Tracy Fay Cappio “Love Tin Lizzys!” > Marlene L. Merck “Sounds like a great new place for good food and fellowship.” > Hamilton Bridges Sr. “Birmingham next please.”
>> 161
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| VOL. 5 ISSUE 2
RUFF ROADS
BringFido.com’s Melissa Halliburton wants for you to make travel easier - pg. 10 and your best friends
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01.15.2016
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upstatebusinessjournal.com
DATE
Wednesday
1/20
Friday
1/22 Friday
2/5
| PLANNER | 23
EVENT INFO
WHERE DO I GO?
HOW DO I GO?
GSATC Learning Lunch Networking event for business professionals
Embassy Suites 670 Verdae Blvd., Greenville 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Cost: $25 ($30 at the door) Register: bit.ly/gsatc-jan2016
Tech After Five Networking for tech entrepreneurs
Pour Lounge 221 N. Main St., Greenville, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free Register: bit.ly/taf-jan2016
Doing Business Better: Learning LinkedIn Speaker: Lindsey Stemann, vice president of Intero Advisory
Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Pine St., Spartanburg 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Cost: $20 Chamber members, $40 nonmembers Register: bit.ly/dbb-jan2016
FYI Friday with Todd Horne and Allen Smith: Spartanburg’s Community Vision Plan
Spartanburg Marriott 299 N. Church St., Spartanburg 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost: $15 Chamber members, $25 nonmembers Register: bit.ly/fyifriday-jan2016
HTI Organizational Solutions’ Friday Morning Coffee Monthly series on current HR topics
Human Technologies Inc. 105 N. Spring Street Suite 200, Greenville 8:30-9:15 a.m.
Cost: Free Register: bit.ly/hti-feb2016
Comprehensive Small Business Start-up Workshop
Greenville County Library Hughes Branch, 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $69 (second person, same company, $25) Register: piedmontscore.org/workshops/ register/212
Saturday
2/20
EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR
CONTRIBUTE: Got a hot date? Submit event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com. ART & PRODUCTION
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ART DIRECTOR
JAN. 22 THE MARKETING AND BRANDING ISSUE Getting the word out on local businesses.
Whitney Fincannon 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
PHOTO COORDINATOR/LAYOUT PRESIDENT/CEO
Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
UBJ PUBLISHER
Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com
MANAGING EDITOR
UBJ milestone
UBJ milestone jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years 1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport
Tammy Smith
1988
with a majority of them utilizing the general aviation airport as a “corporate gateway to the city.” In 1997, Jackson and his son, Darrell, launched Jackson Motorsports Group. The new division was designed to sell race tires and go to racetracks to sell and mount the tires. Darrell Jackson now serves as president of the motorsports group and Larry Jackson has two other children and a son-in-law who work there. Jackson said all his children started at the bottom and “earned their way up.” Jackson kept the Jackson-Dawson branches in Detroit and others in Los Angeles and New York until he sold his portion of that partnership in 2009 as part of his estate planning. The company now operates a small office in Charlotte, but its main headquarters are in Greenville in a large office space off Woodruff Road, complete with a vision gallery that displays local artwork and an auditorium Jackson makes available for non-profit use. The Motorsports Group is housed in an additional 26,000 square feet building just down the street, and the agency is currently looking for another 20,000 square feet. Jackson said JMG has expanded into other verticals such as financial, healthcare, manufacturing and pro-bono work, but still has a strong focus on the auto industry and transportation. It’s
OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
ADVERTISING DESIGN Kristy Adair, Michael Allen
1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993
1990 Jackson Dawson acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.
>>
Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff
Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
Solve. Serve. Grow. Those three words summarize Jackson Marketing Group’s guiding principles, and according to owner Larry Jackson, form the motivation that has kept the firm thriving for the past 25 years.
Jackson graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in video and film production and started his 41-year career in the communications industry with the U.S. Army’s Public Information Office. He served during
Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood. He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980. In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he
learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage. In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar. “Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said. Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders
>>
2003 motorsports Division acquires an additional 26,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space
1998 1998 Jackson Dawson moves to task industrial Court
also one of the few marketing companies in South Carolina to handle all aspects of a project in-house, with four suites handling video production, copywriting, media and research and web design. Clients include heavyweights such as BMW, Bob Jones University, the Peace Center, Michelin and Sage Automotive. Recent projects have included an interactive mobile application for Milliken’s arboretum and 600-acre Spartanburg campus and a marketing campaign for the 2013 Big League World Series. “In my opinion, our greatest single achievement is the longevity of our client relationships,” said Darrell Jackson. “Our first client from back in 1988 is still a client today. I can count on one hand the number of clients who have gone elsewhere in the past decade.” Larry Jackson says his Christian faith and belief in service to others, coupled with business values rooted in solving clients’ problems, have kept
2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003
2009-2012 Jackson marketing Group named a top BtoB agency by BtoB magazine 4 years running
him going and growing his business over the years. He is passionate about giving back and outreach to non-prof non-profits. The company was recently awarded the Community Foundation Spirit Award. The company reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community last week by celebrating its 25th anniversary with a birthday party and a 25-hour Serve-A-Thon partnership with Hands on Greenville and Habitat for Humanity. JMG’s 103 full-time employees worked in shifts around the clock on October 22 and 23 to help construct a house for a deserving family. As Jackson inches towards retirement, he says he hasn’t quite figured out his succession plan yet, but sees the companies staying under the same umbrella. He wants to continue to strategically grow the business. “From the beginning, my father has taught me that this business is all about our people – both our clients and our associates,” said his son, Darrell. “We have created a focus and a culture that strives to solve problems, serve people and grow careers.” Darrell Jackson said he wants to “continue helping lead a culture where we solve, serve and grow. If we are successful, we will continue to grow towards our ultimate goal of becoming the leading integrated marketing communications brand in the Southeast.”
2011 Jackson marketing Group/Jackson motorsports Group employee base reaches 100 people
2008 2012 Jackson marketing Group recognized by Community Foundation with Creative spirit Award
pro-bono/non-proFit / Clients lients American Red Cross of Western Carolinas Metropolitan Arts Council Artisphere Big League World Series The Wilds Advance SC South Carolina Charities, Inc. Aloft Hidden Treasure Christian School
CoMMUnitY nit inVolVeMent nitY in olV inV olVe VeMent & boarD positions lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member David Jones (Vice President Client services, Chief marketing officer): Hands on Greenville board chairman mike Zeller (Vice President, Brand marketing): Artisphere Board,
Metropolitan Arts Council Board, American Red Cross Board, Greenville Tech Foundation Board, South Carolina Chamber Board
eric Jackson (Jackson motorsports Group sales specialist): Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board
November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21
20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013
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JAN. 29 QUARTERLY CRE ISSUE The state of commercial real estate in the Upstate. FEB. 19 THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE Getting around in a growing region. Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at ideas@ upstatebusinessjournal.com.
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“We are the Commerce Club where Greenville’s dynamic leaders come to connect, host, work, and play.”
From 2014-2015...
The Commerce Club wants to say, “Thank you” to Ingrid Erwin for her service as the Commerce Club Board of Governor’s Chairman.
• Set record for dollars fundraised in both 2014 and 2015 for Commerce Club Charity Classic • Back to back years of Membership growth with over 90 more NET Members than when her term commenced • Under her direction, Commerce Club awarded Gold Circle of Excellence award for 2014 performance and expected for 2015 - ClubCorp’s highest honor
And we welcome the new Commerce Club Board of Governor’s Chairman Phil Reeves, Shareholder at Gallivan, White,& Boyd, P.A., who will serve for 2016 and 2017.
We also welcome
Dr. Keith Miller, President of Greenville Tech, as our new Vice Chairman of the Commerce Club Board of Governors.
For Membership Information or to Host your Event at the Commerce Club, please contact:
Dylan Petrick General Manager 864.232.5600, Ext. 201