February 28, 2020 Upstate Business Journal

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UPSTATEBUSINESSJOURNAL.COM | FEBRUARY 28, 2020 | VOL. 10 | ISSUE 5

MINORITY IN

BUSINESS ISSUE How Greenville’s LinVest Consulting made $2 billion in deals with China in the middle of a tariff war PAGE 6 February 28, 2020 | upstatebusinessjournal.com photo by WILL CROOKS1

THE OPENING BELL

6

QUOTED

John Ling’s LinVest

Consulting stays strong, even in the midst of a tariff war

4 8

14 Upstate SC Alliance celebrates its 20th year as it looks to the future

“Bouldering is all about taking on new challenges, pushing yourself, trying new things. And that’s what makes it exciting.”

-Doug Johnson, owner, Rockoon Climbing Community

“I think there are people who would like to more intimately tell a business what they think, without having to blast it out on social media, where you have useless anonymity and the ability to say anything you want and get away with it.”

-Mark Johnsen, founder/brewer, RJ Rockers Brewing Co.

THE BIG NUMBERS

75,000

square-foot warehouse at Spartanburg Meat Processing. Page 13

24%

of Greenville County residents have challenges with securing dependable transportation. Page 16

February 28, 2020 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

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BUSINESS

Rock climbing community to open at Judson Mill development

n story by EVAN PETER SMITH | rendering PROVIDED

Doug Johnson is aware of how he sounds when describes the rock climbers he knows as “down to earth.”

But he means it sincerely. This August, Johnson will open a new bouldering gym in the Judson Mill development, which means he has

Bouldering is all about taking on new challenges, pushing yourself, trying new things.

And that’s what makes it exciting.”

-Doug Johnson, owner, Rockoon Climbing Community

been spending a lot of time with climbers lately.

“They can sometimes like to propagate this image of themselves as ‘dirtbag climbers,’ but that’s not the real climbers we’ve gotten to know,” Johnson said.

Rockoon Climbing Community, soon to open at 701 Easley Bridge Road, is an indoor rock climbing and bouldering gym with a café, retail shop and yoga studio that hopes to grow the community of what he calls the “down-to-earth problem solvers” here in Greenville.

The climbing gym, which has been in the works for three years, is designed by Vertical Solutions with construction work done by Brooklyn Boulders. It will encompass 25,000 square feet of bouldering, rope climbing and top roping, plus a café and a

The 2020

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4 UBJ | February 28, 2020

15-vendor retail space. The gym will also include an elevated mezzanine and observation seating to accommodate official competitions.

Serious climbers can take comfort in the fact that the entire layout of the gym will be redesigned every six weeks, meaning every single “problem” – climbing lingo for the layout of handholds – will be a fresh challenge.

Classes will also be available at a range of skill levels, Johnson said, along with climbing leagues for high schoolers, college-age climbers and adults.

“We just try to get people engaged and learning,” Johnson said. “Bouldering is all about taking on new

challenges, pushing yourself, trying new things. And that’s what makes it exciting.”

Johnson and his wife selected Greenville specifically for its growing community and strong downtown center, and he said the Judson Mill development was an easy choice given the area’s history and potential.

“We’re very cognizant of this part of town, the history of the Judson Mill,” Johnson said. “We want to bring in and engage people of all economic and cultural backgrounds, because climbing truly is for everyone.”

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BUSINESS

Unemployment: It’s all about location, location, location n story by EVAN PETER SMITH

For years, the common rule held that the respective unemployment rates for South and North Carolina remained relatively on par.

But that rule no longer holds true, according to Matthew Martin, senior vice president and Charlotte regional executive with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

In December 2019, North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate was 3.7%, placing the state in the bottom third of all states in the nationwide rankings.

By contrast, South Carolina’s unemployment rate for December was 2.3% – the lowest unemployment rate in the entire country. That marks three years in a row that South Carolina’s unemployment rate has been lower than that of North Carolina, Martin said.

“So while it used to be that North Carolina and South Carolina were tracking pretty closely, that’s clearly no longer the case,” he said. “I think in South Carolina, that’s an indication particularly of the impact of the manufacturing sector.”

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES COMPARED BETWEEN SC & NC

5.5 5.4

4.6 5.0

4.0 5.2

3.2 3.7

2.3 3.7

DEC. 2015

DEC. 2016

DEC. 2017

DEC. 2018

DEC. 2019

Let’s go for a ride.

A TALE OF TWO ECONOMIES

Martin addressed the diverging nature of the two states’ economies at the Upstate Housing Market Forecast earlier in February, a gathering of homebuilders, sellers and other stakeholders.

He noted the trends today reveal two starkly different economies, with North Carolina’s growth being primarily based in the service sector, while South Carolina’s growth is strongly rooted in construction and manufacturing.

“But I think it will be interesting to see the extent to which South Carolina can find workers to fill those manufacturing jobs by bringing in people from elsewhere,” he said, “because that’s probably what’s going to happen.”

Labor force participation in the Palmetto State is actually declining far faster than the nationwide average, with about 57.9% of the population working or seeking work, compared to the national average of 63.3%. Some

of this can be attributed to baby boomers leaving the job market, but Martin also attributes South Carolina’s lower rate to an increasing number of retirees moving into the state.

Worth noting, however, is that the rates of both growth and labor force participation are not spread out evenly across the Carolinas, according to Martin. Metro areas – like Greenville and Charleston in South Carolina, and Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina – are seeing strong growth and a less drastic decline in labor force participation, while smaller towns and rural areas are seeing a starker picture.

“They’re lagging behind,” Martin said, seeing less growth and a faster decline in labor-force participation.

Even still, Martin said the Carolinas and especially the Upstate are doing better than the nation in terms of growth.

“And that’s exactly what we expected,” he said.

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JOHN LING ART OF THE

Basically, I’m a business-development guy, I’m a relationship type of guy.”

-John Ling, managing director, LinVest Consulting LLC 6

UBJ | January 17, 2020

FROM THE COVER

G’S BIG GE T n story by JOHN JETER photo by WILL CROOKS

J

ohn Ling’s secret sauce is Sichuan. Not that spicy goodness in, say, kung pao chicken, but the dialect he speaks — one of three in Mandarin that he uses to help bring billions of dollars in Chinese investments to South Carolina.

“Basically, I’m a business-development guy, I’m a relationship type of guy,” says the 52-year-old managing director of LinVest Consulting LLC. At the moment, Ling’s life seems steeped in headlines. The coronavirus and ongoing U.S.-China trade war buffet his business and even his family. He recently called his mother in Hainan, an island some 330 miles southwest of Hong Kong.

“I would have thought that place would have been somewhat more immune from this,” he says of the epidemic that has taken nearly 1,400 lives, as of Feb. 14. “But I talked to them yesterday, and their condo complex has been totally shut down so they cannot go out and nobody can come in.”

As for the Washington-Beijing trade negotiations, he says uncertainty is driving some Chinese companies to consider planting their flags in the U.S. or creating joint ventures, another LinVest specialty.

“So my pipeline has never been this strong,” he says. Now he says he’s working as many as two dozen deals from here to the Midwest, valued at more than $2 billion.

A CONTINUING MISSION

LinVest, which he started last May, is simply a continuation of what he’s been doing since his first big get in 1999.

That’s when the Qingdao, China-based Haier Group Corp. invested $40 million in a refrigerator-manufacturing plant in Camden — the first Chinese manufacturing plant built in the U.S. Ever since, his name has been attached to a large roster of multimillion-dollar projects, including, to name just two:

LING’S BIG GETS

•

Jushi, part of the Keer Group, a company headquartered near Shanghai, spent $400 million and hired some 800 workers at its Lancaster textile plant. Ling says he invited company executives to tour the site in 2012, but groundbreaking didn’t occur until December 2016.

• Uniscite Inc., which makes plastic films, opened its $70 million investment in Laurens County in 2012.

It was through Greenville Glass Industries Inc. that Ling and Jim Bannister became friends. Their wives, Sophie and Krista, respectively, used to work at the company, which is now Fuyao North America. One of the world’s largest auto-glass suppliers, the Chinese-based Fuyao Group announced last year a $16.1 million processing center in Fountain Inn that will create 70 jobs.

“His personality is such that he’s able to recognize and put together folks who may not recognize that they need this kind of venture in the United States,” says Bannister, managing partner at the downtown law firm Bannister, Wyatt, Stalvey. “He’s easygoing, despite the big numbers that he gets and the intensity. He’s just like a steady ship.”

CROSSING CULTURES

Ling was born Lin Xin Wèi, meaning “gratified” or “happy.”

Lin says one of his uncles, Frank, moved to the U.S. in 1949 and another, Edward, arrived in South Carolina in the 1960s. It was Frank’s wife, Elaine, who gave him his “Christian name.” (The uncles added the “g” to the family name.)

He came to South Carolina in 1991 to attend Charleston Southern, where he earned his MBA in 1993, after a stint as a manufacturer’s rep for a company that made pre-engineered metal buildings.

In 1995, he and his family moved to Greenville, and in

| FEATURED

2000 he was recruited to work for the South Carolina Department of Commerce. Five years later, then-Gov. Mark Sanford recruited him to open the state’s trade office in Shanghai.

“He’s a competent professional who knows his stuff when it comes to economic development,” Sanford says, “and, of equal importance, he can cross both cultures, which makes him an incredibly valuable economic catalyst.”

South Carolina’s exports (2018 value) to major world areas included:

$19.9

BILLION

$14.1

BILLION

APEC ASIA

$9.0

EUROPEAN UNION

BILLION

SOUTH/CENTRAL BILLION AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

$2.2

SUB-SAHARAN MILLION AFRICA

$505

Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative

After nearly a decade in Shanghai, he returned to Greenville. In 2015, the state of Georgia lured him away, but in 2017 declined to renew his consulting contract — because of the trade climate between China and the U.S. Nowadays, Ling’s consulting keeps him busy, and Sanford says he keeps in touch.

“He’s done enormous work on behalf of the people of South Carolina,” the former U.S. representative says, “and for that, he has my enormous respect and appreciation.”

SUN FIBER

KEER

JUSHI

SENTURY TIRE

TOPOLYMER

Chester, SC

Fort Mill, SC

Columbia, SC

LaGrange, GA

Walton, GA

$45 M |318 JOBS

$218M |501 JOBS

$400M |800 JOBS

$530 M |1071 JOBS

$15M |70 JOBS

February 28, 2020 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

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TECHNOLOGY

GoBeep.me – Data privacy and craft beer? There’s an app for that

n story by JOHN JETER

Explaining why he started an app that he hopes will soon make your craft-beer experience even more enjoyable, Paul Della Maggiore mentions the grocery-store loyalty card on your keychain. After giving away even more byte-size pieces of yourself, you get a coupon you didn’t know you needed.

“We are going about it the wrong way, trying to solve this problem of how people share data and how companies take advantage of the data that’s being shared with them,” the co-founder and CEO of GoBeep says.

The platform, which Della Maggiora plans to launch in April, focuses on “customer loyalty, experience and micro-experience,” and it’s designed to benefit consumer and company alike, he and his website say.

The 52-year-old Greenville native worked nearly 30 years as an engineer and in sales with the likes of NCR Corp., Cisco Systems, Avaya and

Lexmark. In early February, his startup won a $50,000 grant from the South Carolina Research Authority.

“We think GoBeep’s focus on consumer-driven management of their own purchase data will drive important efficiencies in the market,” says Lee MacIlwinen, investment manager at SCRA’s SC Launch Program.

In late February, Della Maggiora took his pitch to RJ Rockers Brewing Co., one of the oldest microbreweries in South Carolina.

Founder/brewer Mark Johnsen says he sees the platform’s potential to help a company — such as his 23-year-old Spartanburg brewery — create a better relationship with customers.

“I think there are people who would like to more intimately tell a business what they think, without having to blast it out on social media, where you have useless anonymity

and the ability to say anything you want and get away with it,” he says.

“And we’re saying, ‘Look, we want you to use GoBeep, sign up with us and tell us what you think and help us make our business better.’”

As MacIlwinen puts it, the app leads to “stronger customer insights and targeted marketing for participating companies.”

That’s because consumers opt in, while GoBeep charges $90 a month for companies to use the service-as-a-software, or SaaS, platform. Della Maggiora says savings in time and marketing dollars more than pay the costs, while also creating a stronger sense of community around the brewery.

“It’s asking me, what is one of my favorite beers or whatever beers don’t I like? Am I a vegetarian? Do I like a dog-friendly place? All this preferential-type information — breweries did not have that before,” he says.

For now, Della Maggiora primarily targets craft breweries and wineries.

He notes those sectors’ size: The Brewers Association reports a record 8,000 independent breweries operated in 2019 in the U.S., and the number of wineries nationwide surpassed 10,000 last year.

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8 UBJ | February 28, 2020

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SPONSORED

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE: A LOOK INSIDE THE BLOOD CONNECTION This excerpt is from a story that previously ran in the Greenville Journal.

It’s hard work, but absolutely necessary: getting hundreds of blood products to local hospitals on a daily basis. The Blood Connection, your community blood center, has been doing that since 1962 — managing a complicated web of logistics to help save lives.

With dozens of ongoing blood drives, 10 collection centers, 50 mobile blood collection buses, couriers rushing blood donations to area hospitals and medical centers before rushing back to the two-story headquarters in Piedmont, the blood center’s operations require constant oversight and is open 24 hours a day.

Overseeing these operations is TBC’s production planning office — the “command center.” In a secluded room, six flat-screen televisions dominate a wall, displaying a steady stream of data on everything from blood drives to units of product collected.

Those “products” are whole blood — what most people imagine when they think of donating blood — as well as plasma, platelets and red blood cells. They’ll be redistributed to every hospital in the Upstate to patients whose lives depend on them.

TBC President and CEO Delisa English says it’s a delicate balance. “The demand never stops,” English says. “It’s a constant reminder that on the other side of requests from local hospitals are patients who rely on us for life-saving blood products. It makes all the intense planning and logistics worth it.”

THE JOURNEY

The moment one donates blood, a journey begins. The blood is taken back to TBC headquarters, where it’s tested and processed in-house. When hospitals call, products are quickly driven to their final destination.

The couriers often meet the very people the blood center is serving — the last link in the chain. “Especially at the cancer centers, they love to talk to us, thank us for helping,” says Sheridan Copeland, a courier for five years.

“We all love what we do. We take it really seriously.”

n photo PROVIDED

THE COMMAND CENTER

THE LAB

Downstairs in the testing lab, specialist Blake Lawson’s job as “mystery solver” is outside the usual journey that blood products go through. He’s handling a special case — and if he fails, a woman’s life and the life of her unborn child could be on the line.

Lawson has only one piece of evidence: a vial of blood. These are the cases that hospitals can’t solve on their own.

And when any mistake could have deadly consequences, hospitals rely on resources like Lawson. In his current case, a pregnant mother might have antibodies in her blood that are attacking her unborn child.

“I’ve got to divide and conquer,” Lawson says. “But here’s how I look at it: Someone is in need of a life-saving thing,” he says. “And I’m a small part in saving their life. Just one small piece. But from start to finish here in TBC, I’m one of those little cogs that says: Here’s how I can help you save your life.”

So he gets to work, confident that soon enough, he’ll have found it — that perfect recipe on how to save a life.

GROWTH IN 2019

59%

increase in collections

25+

mobile units added

45,000+ neighbors impacted by donations* *number of units used by Upstate hospitals

Exclusive blood provider for ALL Upstate hospitals.

February 28, 2020 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

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SPONSORED

Powerful, secure productivity tools not just for workers behind a desk n story by BRENDAN BLOWERS, MARKETING DIRECTOR, PTG INC.

In the last year, many information workers have enjoyed a boost in their productivity — partly due to advancements in cloud technology. However, there is one group, firstline workers, who have been historically underserved when it comes to this type of tech. Hopefully, that is about to change.

A firstline worker is someone who serves as the first point of contact between a company and the outside world. They are the people in the field, on the manufacturing floor and behind a counter. Many companies who employ these workers could not continue to operate without them.

Because this workforce is so crucial, anything that can make them more productive and happier in their jobs can have a positive effect on a company’s bottom line.

“As Microsoft SMB partners, we have a unique opportunity to leverage technology that can increase the value of local small business owners who employ firstline workers,” says Reed Wilson, founder and CEO of Palmetto Technology Group.

Advancements in AI and automation help firstline workers get more done

Microsoft tools like Teams and Power Apps can be configured for a rolebased experience to help firstline workers collaborate and complete tasks faster. This mobile-first approach can also be organized and controlled to support management’s goals as well.

When employees have better tools to engage, customer service is improved.

Tasks that used to require multiple form factors — like a tablet, phone and laptop — can now be handled within Microsoft Teams.

For example, a delivery driver who needs to alert his supervisor about a damaged package would be able to take a picture of the item, circle the area in question, alert their boss in real time and receive instructions about what to do—all through Teams on a single mobile device or tablet.

The goal of this technology is to streamline the user experience and standardize communication between workers. “We can build experiences across devices to connect organizations from the shop floor to the top floor,” says Jared Spataro, corporate vice president of Microsoft 365.

Securing company and customer data is a priority

One of the advantages Teams has over other worker productivity apps is that it is built on Microsoft 365. This gives small businesses the ability to

10 UBJ | February 28, 2020

offer enterprise-level security to every worker — even employees working remotely on a mobile phone or tablet. The friction of the technology experience is reduced by using Teams where private channels can even be created to enable workers to chat securely about confidential topics. An integrated smart camera allows workers to capture pictures and store them in a secure cloud — not locally on a device that can be lost or stolen. There is also a built-in app that makes it easy for workers to praise coworkers in one click — raising the morale of the entire team.

Empowering firstline workers in the Upstate

Palmetto Technology Group of Greenville, South Carolina, in partnership with Microsoft, will be the first tech company to deploy these new digital tools to this area. The Upstate has become a booming area for the employment of firstline labor in the manufacturing, health care and service industries.

With this new low-cost mobile technology at their disposal, Upstate businesses stand to save as much as 166 hours per worker while enjoying an 8% decrease in turnover rate, according to an SMB Firstline Total Economic Impact Study conducted by Forrester on behalf of Microsoft.

Businesses interested in participating in the Upstate’s Firstline Worker Pilot Program can visit info.goptg.com/firstline to learn more.

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BUSINESS

Eggs Up Grill expanding to Easley, Clemson and elsewhere n story by EVAN PETER SMITH | photo PROVIDED

Eggs Up Grill is expanding operations to Easley and Clemson, with a third location tentatively planned for Seneca.

The new locations come as part of a five-unit deal with Wendy’s franchisee Jackson Turner and Henry’s Smokehouse owner Darby Smith.

The two longtime friends said they will soon be announcing the specific location in Easley but are still scouting for a spot in Clemson. Once the first two locations open, they plan to move forward with three more locations. They have their eyes on Seneca, as well as Anderson County and Greenwood County.

“We want to get going here in the Upstate because we know this area well,” Turner said.

They also said they plan to put a stronger focus on expanding Eggs Up Grill’s catering capabilities in the Upstate.

CAREER SERVICES R EC R U IT • EN G A G E • COLLABORATE

“There’s a really big market for breakfast catering,” Turner said.

“We feel like that area has not really been tapped into yet as much as it could be.”

The Eggs Up Grill brand currently has 41 locations, the most recent of which opened in Camden earlier this month.

Eggs Up Grill CEO Rick Richardson said the brand plans to open 15 to 20 new locations by the end of 2020, with another 20 new locations planned for 2021.

Unlocked Coffee Roasters and LaRue Fine Chocolate opening in March

n story by ARIEL TURNER | photo PROVIDED

Two of the five food and beverage components of the Poe West redevelopment project, 556 Perry Ave., are on track to open mid-March.

LaRue Fine Chocolate and Unlocked Coffee Roasters, which sit side by side at units 115 and 116, will likely open within days of each other as both are at the final stages of arranging furniture and making last-minute caulk and paint touch-ups.

These are the first brick-andmortar locations for both LaRue owner Elizabeth McDaniel and Unlocked owners Andres Camargo and Rocío Salazar.

LaRue’s space is a deep chocolate with brushed brass fixtures, concrete bar and a white feature wall on which a colorful mural of a cacao pod is painted. By contrast,

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Unlocked is white with navy accents and a curved L-shaped bar designed to allow guests to view the entire pour-over process.

The 60,000-square-foot Poe West mixed-use development in Village of West Greenville will be anchored

by Greenville Technical College Center for Culinary and Hospitality Innovation (CHI) and include the second locations for both Carolina Bauernhaus and Six & Twenty Distillery. All are expected to open later this spring.

Jamie Patterson

Kelli Seawell

WWW.CLEMSON.EDU/MBA/RECRUITERS

February 28, 2020 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

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BUSINESS

Life as a business owner… who is female

n by JULIE GODSHALL BROWN

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I don’t see myself as a Female Business Owner. I see myself as many things: wife, mother, daughter, colleague, sister, friend, fan and yes, second-generation business owner — who is female.

The designation is not pronounced for me or one with which I identify. I’ve never uttered the words “girl power,” yet as I write, I’m forced to think about what it is that makes us different. I am not referring to supplier diversity or preferential treatment, but we as business owners have real power, the ability to empower, encourage, set a stage or trench a path.

Where do we as female and minority business owners have real opportunities that others do not? Can minority- or woman-owned businesses provide an example to those outside of our own businesses?

We should share informal mentorships with those who may doubt that they, as minority men or women, can lead or start a business. We can demonstrate that the same hard work and smart work wins regardless of race or sex. Can we take credit for success while maintaining the humility that causes us to be a positive example to others in our community?

I recently read that the glass ceiling could also be considered a mirror.

Many who don’t have an example fall victim to feeling unworthy of success.

Positive role models, particularly those who look like us, can be powerful in overcoming impostor syndrome.

Can we encourage and empower those who work in our own businesses? I understand the importance of “sponsorship,” particularly in organizations with very few or no minorities and females. Many organizations, even in 2020, seem to find that women and minorities don’t often rise to the top ranks of leadership.

Do we not have the power to create an environment where everyone, regardless of sex, race or national origin succeeds on their own merits?

Amid the many challenges of running a business, my team will always be treated as the valuable members of our work family they are. We are in a unique position to understand these real or perceived barriers.

12 UBJ | February 28, 2020 10MBA-Ad1-Print--AfricanAmericanMale-UBJ-v3-2.indd 1

9/20/19 9:16 AM

Can we approach issues and provide solutions with a creative and collaborative spirit that might be unique to those who are not in the majority? My goal is to build my team with complementary strengths.

If an organization truly seeks input from all, having a diversity of thought yields a better decision. Are minority- or woman-owned business leaders more likely to hear answers from those who often may not be asked?

Can we accept leadership roles in the nonprofit community to support those organizations’ desire to demonstrate their commitment to diversity? No one wants to be a “token,” but we are created to shine. Do we need to thoughtfully say “yes” or carefully say “no” to these opportunities to be in the spotlight?

Can we take the time to invest in others, by forming alliances, personal or business, to support others who may be in a more disadvantaged situation? To our peers: Let’s make the commitment to give of our time, our expertise and our influence to help others. Though there is a great deal of support available for woman- and minority-owned businesses, our failure rate is higher. Most such businesses remain very small if they survive. Research demonstrates reasons ranging from access to capital to lack of networks. We can not only contribute to the success of our own businesses but also benefit others who are willing to put in the work to succeed.

Julie Godshall Brown is the president and owner of Godshall Recruiting. She joined the family business in 1995.

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| NEWS

BUSINESS

Pedal to the metal: Graduates of the Greeenville chamber’s Minority Business Accelerator pick up speed

n story by ANNA LEE

Starting your own business is hard, and a minority-owned business can be even more challenging.

That’s where the Greenville Chamber of Commerce comes in. Now in its sixth year, the Minority Business Accelerator is partnering with the Spartanburg and Anderson area chambers to support the growth, development and capacity of minority-owned enterprises around the Upstate. The program has created 250 full-time employees and $23 million in new revenue since its inception, according to the Greenville chamber. Here’s a look at some of the program’s success stories:

MEMOIRS EVENTS & CATERING MemoirsCatering.com

Co-owners and sisters Raygan France and Jackie Saunders started the catering business in November 2015 by pooling together their passions: cooking and interior design. An off-site, full-service catering company, Memoirs specializes in private parties, corporate functions and social and milestone celebrations.

SMIT’N PHOTOGRAPHY

Tiffney Davidson-Parker is the force behind Universal Therapeutic Services, an outpatient mental health clinic specializing in bio-psychosocial evaluations, individual and group psychotherapy, grief and trauma therapy and early intervention services.

CORPORATE STITCH

JamesWhiteLLC.com

The Greenville-based photography studio is the brainchild of photographer Stacey Gardin. It offers event photography for workshops, seminars and galas as well as a full-service studio experience for individual and family portraits that includes hair, makeup and wardrobe consultation.

CorporateStitch.com

James White’s career in construction led him to start his own contracting business, which specializes in residential building and property management.

The business also performs inspections, lead-based-paint testing and home leasing.

WH TRUCKING WHTrucks.com

GreenvilleChamber.org

UniversalTherapeuticServices.com

JAMES WHITE ENTERPRISES

SmitnPhotography.com

For more on the Minority Business Accelorators Program:

UNIVERSAL THERAPEUTIC SERVICES

Clemson University graduate and Air Force veteran Carlo White started WH Trucking in May 2015. The freight-transport company headquartered in Duncan now operates in 48 states and specializes in regional and short-haul delivery of non-hazardous dry freight.

Its 8,000-square-foot warehouse offers a 35door motor freight terminal with 15 tractor-trailers, including day cabs and sleepers.

Based in Easley, Corporate Stitch provides embroidery services on a range of products, including polos, dress shirts, T-shirts, pullovers, jackets, golf towels, hats, cosmetic bags and totes. Owner Dionne Sandiford also makes custom wraps and capes for ladies.

SPARTANBURG MEAT PROCESSING EatBBQRibs.com

Spartanburg Meat Processing Co. was founded in 1999 by JoAnne LaBounty and four other business partners as a small pork-processing plant. LaBounty became the sole owner in 2002, growing the operation into a 75,000-square-foot facility that’s USDA certified to process pork, beef and chicken. It also has a small retail arm that sells ribs, shredded pork and dry rub.

February 28, 2020 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

13

MILESTONE

Upstate SC Alliance celebrates 20 years ‘at the front end of the funnel’ n story by JOHN JETER | photos PROVIDED

Mark Farris was working for an economic-development organization near Charlotte when he saw an ad aimed at luring companies to the Upstate. He was blown away — precisely what the Upstate SC Alliance intended with its “I Was Blown Away” marketing campaign in the late 2000s.

“At the time, with the regional efforts that were underway then, that seemed the most effective way to market, and I felt they really hit the target,” Farris, now president and CEO of the Greenville Area Development Corp., says of those slick commercials.

“They” are the members of Upstate SC Alliance, the 10-county public-private partnership that marks its 20th anniversary this year. These days, John Lummus, its third president and CEO, oversees a $3 million annual budget with counties paying 50 cents per resident — and seeing a handy return on those dues.

In April, for instance, Spartanburg County announced Keurig Dr

Pepper’s $350 million investment in a coffee roasting and packaging operation in Moore, expected to create 500 new jobs.

“From the perspective of what we do, what we’re supposed to be doing for the Upstate, that would be a great example,” Lummus says, adding: “We don’t take credit for projects. We’re just on the front end of the funnel.”

In 2014, Lummus took over from Hal Johnson, who became alliance president in 2005 and is now chief development officer at the NAI Earle Furman real estate company. Before Johnson, Sam Konduros served as the group’s first chief executive.

Around 2000, Konduros says, corporate execs and government policymakers embraced the idea of a marketing organization with a broader economic-development scope.

“With a rapidly evolving global economy, we needed at least to harness the energy of the entire Upstate and not have our counties just kind of going it alone or even necessarily competing with each other,” he says.

Konduros is now president and CEO of the SCBIO life-sciences industry association, headquartered on Woodruff Road in Greenville.

He started the nonprofit Upstate SC Alliance with a staff of two. Lummus today oversees an 11-member crew in a plush office suite just off With a rapidly evolving Verdae Boulevard.

When Lummus global economy, we needed became chief execuat least to harness the energy tive, 375 international companies called the of the entire Upstate and not Upstate home. Today, that figure stands at have our counties just kind 510, according to the of going it alone...” organization whose tagline is “Business -Sam Konduros, former chief executive, Upstate SC Moves Here.”

Alliance, current CEO, SCBIO

14 UBJ | February 28, 2020

A high-water mark came in 2008, when the o r g a n i z at i o n’s then-treasurer and now state Commerce Department Secretary Bobby Hitt told members the “Blown Away” campaign worked.

That same year saw $2 billion in investments, including BMW’s $750 million expansion.

Looking forward, Lummus sees a two-fold approach to marketing the region: going after smaller so-called “middle-market projects” because companies with annual revenues between $10 million and $100 million are presenting better and more recruitment opportunities; and attracting talent.

The group’s new ‘Move Up’ initiative, for instance, showcases such local amenities as bicycle trails, food trucks and sunshine — aimed at workers to fill 200,000 unique jobs that 10,000 employers posted in the Upstate last year.

Erin Ford served as the alliance’s business recruitment officer from 2012 to 2015. Today, she works with Konduros as SCBIO’s vice president.

She calls Lummus and his staff the “storytellers of the Upstate.”

Without them, she says, “company executives would have no idea the wonderful things that are here in the Upstate region.”

UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE highlights

2000 Upstate Alliance created to market the Upstate region for global business investment

2002 All 10 counties become aligned with Alliance

2013 Upstate SC accepted into Global Cities Initiative, a joint project of theBrookings Institution & JPMorgan Chase

2017 Upstate SC Alliance Launches updated mission:“To position the Upstate to excel in the global economy through strategic marketing, collaboration and thought leadership.”

For more visit UpstateBusinessJournal.com

HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR EXCLUSIVE INVITATION? ADIDAS — REEBOK EMPLOYEE STORE SIGN UP AT ADIDAS.COM/GREENVILLE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, OR SPORT TEAMS, PLEASE EMAIL ADIGREENVILLE@ADIDAS.COM TO LEARN HOW TO GET YOUR GROUP ADDED TO OUR INVITATION LIST.

10 QUE S T L A NE. GREEN V IL L E, S C 2 9605 | 8 6 4-5 35-5 08 8

NEWS |

NEED TO KNOW

TRANSPORTATION

Addressing access to transportation is critical for the Upstate n by DEAN HYBL

Over the last couple of years, we have started to see a shift from a primary focus on attracting jobs for available workers to developing, attracting and retaining talent to fill available jobs. We also now must reduce the barriers to employment for people living in the Upstate who are unemployed or underemployed.

At Ten at the Top we have spent the last two years working to bring

together stakeholders from across the region to address transportation and mobility.

With the unemployment rate now near a record low at under 3%, this barrier to employment doesn’t just impact the individuals that do not have access to transportation — it impacts the entire Upstate economy.

Over the last decade the Upstate secured more than $17 billion in new corporate investment. The jobs created through that investment are a significant reason OF ALL for our current low unemployHOUSEHOLDS IN ment. To continue, removing THE UPSTATE lack of transportation as a bar(roughly 37,000 households) rier for potential employees is have no access to a vehicle critical. In addition, mitigating OF GREENVILLE congestion, regular road mainCOUNTY tenance and enhancing the RESIDENTS general movement of people (roughly 125,000 people) have some challenges and goods across the Upstate with securing dependable transportation to must also be addressed.

6%

24%

get to jobs, school or other locations

There is no silver bullet to fix transportation and mobility issues. Instead, there is a need for a multiple-front approach with different elements of mobility each playing a vital role in reaching success.

In 2017, the state gas tax was increased to help ensure sufficient funding to repair and maintain roads. However, that was simply the first step toward improving mobility. We also need to improve public transportation, provide regional connectivity, use technology to mitigate congestion and increase opportunities for alternative transportation such as biking and walking.

Our study revealed the need for a group to connect the many different mobility efforts happening across the region. That led to the creation of the Upstate Mobility Alliance, which officially began efforts in Jan-

uary following the hiring of Michael Hildebrand as the alliance director.

The role of the Upstate Mobility Alliance is to help connect the more than two dozen entities that play a role in the movement of people and goods across the Upstate so that we are maximizing the limited resources within our region.

The Michelin Corporate Foundation has committed $825,000 to enhance mobility in the Upstate through a grant awarded to the Upstate Mobility Alliance and Greenlink to help support increased access to public transportation.

Check out the Upstate Mobility Alliance at www.UpstateMobilityAlliance.org to learn how you can become involved in enhancing mobility in the Upstate.

Dean Hybl has been executive director of Ten at the Top since 2010.

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Stretch Lab recently held a ribbon cutting. This business offers a exologist training program, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and dynamic and static stretching. In addition, customers can book oneon-one stretch or group stretch sessions.

Where: 1922 Augusta St., Suite 111, Greenville Hours: 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays For more information: Visit www.local.stretchlab.com/locations/greenville, call 864-808-3125 or email greenville@stretchlab.com

David Husman Consulting, LLC was recently launched by Dr. David Husman. This company assists manufacturers with quality and compliance within the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotech industries. Its services include program development, compliance auditing, remediation and training.

Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information: Call 864877-9208 or 864-593-5377, email david@davidhusmanconsulting.com or visit www.davidhusmanconsulting.com

18 UBJ | February 28, 2020

NEED TO KNOW

| NEWS

BUSINESS

On the Move Some of the Upstate’s most recent hires, promotions, awards and appointments

PROMOTED: Susan Schwartzkopf has been promoted to General

Manager of Community Journals. In this role, she will oversee daily business operations of the company. She joined Community Journals in 2017 as executive vice president and has more than 25 years of newspaper publishing experience.

PROMOTED: Sherry Jackson has been promoted to Executive

Editor of the Greenville Journal and Upstate Business Journal. In this role, she will oversee all digital and print content for both publications. Jackson is an awardwinning journalist, editor and author.

NAMED: Nicholas Vazsonyi was recently named as dean of the

college of architecture, arts and humanities. Vazsonyi is currently chair of the department of languages, literatures and cultures, and Jesse Chapman Alcorn Memorial professor of languages at the University of South Carolina. He will begin his new position at Clemson University on July 1.

NAMED: Terry D. Morrison was recently named Green Cloud

Technologies’ chief technology officer. Morrison has over 23 years of experience in the technology industry and was previously chief technology officer. He is a graduate of Southern Nazarene University.

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AWARDED: Sammy DuBose was recently honored was recently

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David Zabriskie recently joined HomeTrust Bank

as a senior vice president and commercial relationship manager. Prior to joining HomeTrust, Zabriskie was a SVP, Greenville county executive for First South Bank of Spartanburg and a SVP, commercial loan portfolio manager with First Citizens Bank.

HIRED: Tre Kennemore recently joined Caldwell Constructors

as superintendent. Kennemore brings over eight years of experience to the team and has worked on many projects holding positions ranging from framer and machine operator to assistant manager.

Lisa Ellis-James was recently named chief operation

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Networking + Business Events Planner FEB

29

MARCH

3

LaunchGVL and Learn Tinis & Tapas benefiting Hope Center for Children 7-11 p.m. | Spartanburg Marriot | 1299 N. Church St., Spartanburg Join the Spartanburg chamber on the red carpet for the 13th annual Tinis & Tapas, a night at the Oscars. The event will feature movie-themed martini stations, signature crafted cocktails, tapasstyle food and live entertainment by Straight Fire. $100 per person; 864-583-7688 MARCH

4

1 Million Cups 8:30-9:30 a.m. | The GreenHouse (3rd Floor) | George Dean Johnson College of Business & Economics 160 E. Saint John St., Spartanburg.

This is a monthly morning networking event hosted by the Spartanburg chamber.

Free to attend; Betsy Neely Sikma at bsikma@spartanburgchamber.com.

MARCH

25

Business on Tap 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Stella’s Southern Brasserie | 340 Rocky Slope Rd, Greenville UBJ’s casual networking event. Bring your friends, grab your business cards, and meet other local professionals.

Presenting sponsor: Intelli-NET | Networking Sponsor: Bank of Travelers Rest

22 UBJ | February 28, 2020

8:30-9:30 a.m. | Greenville Chamber Interested in hiring a LaunchGVL intern? Learn more from the experts at this informative session detailing all the ins and outs of the program.

Cheryl Garrison at 864-239-3716 or cgarrison@greenvillechamber.org.

MARCH

5

MARCH

4

Presentation Skills Workshop 10 a.m.-noon | SCORE at My Greenville Office Attendees will learn how to present to a small group, describe a company’s background and product offerings, and more.

Piedmont SCORE at 864-271-3638 or info@ piedmontscore.org.

MARCH

11

TATT Ignition Fund Meeting

Pelham Power Breakfast

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Jackson Marketing This event gives Ten at the Top supporters a chance to learn more about the ignite initiatives that can impact key issues related to economic vitality and quality of life in the Upstate.

8-9 a.m. | First Citizens Bank A breakfast networking event hosted by the Greer chamber.

Dean Hybl at 864-283-0345 or dhybl@ tenatthetop.org.

MARCH

12

Free to Greer chamber members and guests; Josh Shaffer at josh@greerchamber.com.

MARCH

13

Meet & Greet with The Springs at Simpsonville

Human Resources Law Update

4:30-6:30 p.m. | The Springs at Simpsonville The chamber will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with its members in Kelly green style.

7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Greenville Convention Center Join over 200 Upstate human resources professionals for this annual one-day event providing a briefing on current HR issues.

Free for Simpsonville chamber members; JR Humphries at info@simpsonvillechamber.com.

$295 per person; hhyatt@greenvillechamber. org or 864-239-3730.

UP NEXT GOT ANY THOUGHTS? PUBLISHER

CARE TO CONTRIBUTE?

Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com

LET US KNOW AT

sherry@communityjournals.com.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Susan Schwartzkopf

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sherry Jackson

STAFF WRITERS Anna Lee, Evan Peter Smith

IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?

p r e s e n t e d

b y

MARKETING & ADVERTISING MANAGER OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

UBJ milestone

UBJ milestone jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years 1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport

1988

>>

Donna Johnston Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Heather Propp | Mary Hill |Michelle Fleury

1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993

1990 Jackson Dawson acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.

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

>>

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

2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA

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

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-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 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 inVolVeMent & 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

AS SEEN IN

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

SALES OPERATIONS MANAGER Meredith Rice

RELATIONSHIP MANAGER Anita Harley

Order a reprint today, PDFs available for $25. For more information, contact Anita Harley 864.679.1205 or aharley@ communityjournals.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER Callie Michalak

Greenville Journal honors the history and lives of African Americans in our community.

Each week, during the month

CLIENT SERVICES Lizzie Campbell | Georgia Gay

DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER John Olson

ART & PRODUCTION GRAPHIC DESIGN

UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties. Guest columns run 500 words. Contact the editor at editor@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration.

Laura Allshouse, Kimberly Collier

ADVERTISING DESIGN Michael Allen

Circulation Audit by

of February, we will highlight the inspirational stories, events, notable people, music, culture and more.

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS Holly Hardin

ACCOUNTING AND HR MANAGER Kristi Fortner

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE Have a recently opened business in the Upstate?

Submit photo and details to newtothestreet@communityjournals.com

For new hires, promotions awards and appointments send to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com

For quarterly commercial real estate transactions, send to dealmakers@communityjournals.com

Have a business event to submit to our networking and business events planner? Send to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com

publishers of GREENVILLE JOURNAL 581 Perry Avenue, Greenville, SC 29611 864-679-1200 | communityjournals.com

Follow along with the series each week in the Greenville Journal and on GreenvilleJournal.com

For subscriptions, call 864-679-1240 or visit UpstateBusinessJournal.com Copyright ©2020 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published biweekly by Community Journals LLC. 581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (26 issues) can be purchased for $50. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, 581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Printed in the USA.

February 28, 2020 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

23

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