MARCH 28, 2014
John Bauknight’s entrepreneurial life has been “a pretty good ride”
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UBJ EMPLOYMENT
Tech Program Helps Students Fast-Track Job Search Quick Jobs With a Future provides 90-day training By Joe Toppe | staff | jtoppe@communityjournals.com
While continuing to evolve to meet the demands of local employers, a short-term training program at Greenville Technical College is arming students with the credentials to perform a specific job. The Quick Jobs With a Future program provides training in approximately 90 days or fewer and will help students get their feet in the door of potential employers, said Leslie Trant, dean of corporate and career development at Greenville Technical College. The program began a little more than a decade ago as a large portion of the local textile workers were being laid off, she said. Many of the workers needed to acquire new skills for employment fast. “We are very engaged in what is happening in our community, and particularly with manufacturing,” Trant said. Local manufacturing employers need a skilled workforce because the industry is now more advanced with the use of computers and robotics, she said. New programs tied to entry-level manufacturing, including the South Carolina Manufacturing Certification (SCMC), are now available through Quick Jobs. The SCMC is a state-funded program offering 40 hours of hands-on training and is comprised of three core certificates: MSSC Certified Production Technician, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, and OSHA General Industry. Larry Millwood, training manager at Baldor Electric Company, said the Quick Jobs program is a great asset to employers. “It can be a struggle to find a quali-
fied staff, but Greenville Tech’s program provides a prepared workforce,” he said. The Quick Jobs program also incorporates training in business, industrial and environmental careers, as well as creative, health care and safety careers. The aim of the program is to offer short-term career training for quick, gainful employment, Trant said. The target demographic is the unemployed, the underemployed and individuals in career transition, she said. The courses are open to anyone wanting to return to the workforce quickly. The Quick Jobs program has special funding for veterans providing scholarships for courses in skilled trades, health care training and information technology. Trant said improving the status of local employment remains the focus of Greenville Technical College and all of its programs. “The mission of this institution is to meet the needs of employers,” she said. “We want to provide a trained workforce to our area employers so they can succeed.” Greenville Technical College has dual customers in the individual and the company, and the program was designed to respond to the needs of both incumbent employers and to those coming into the area, Trant said. “Since the program was established, the curriculum has been continually modified to match the requirements of employment demand,” she said. “I don’t see this program going away anytime soon, and we will continue to expand and implement new ideas.”
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 3
Volume 3, Issue 13
March 28, 2014
24
WORTH REPEATING “We had some real tough talks about whether we’d be able to persevere as a business. We kept telling our wives, ‘We’re almost there!’” John Bauknight, on the rough times he and Nick Wildrick, his partner in Longleaf Holdings, endured.
“The process by which we obtain what we want from somebody who wants something from us.” John Horton, owner of Corporate Energy, defining “negotiation.”
“I want to be her when I grow up.” Nika White, vice president for diversity and inclusion at the Greenville Chamber, on Michelle Obama.
MONEY SHOT: New plans for the apartment complex at 400 N. Church St., the former site of the Greenville Memorial Auditorium, have been submitted to the Greenville Design Review Board. See story on page 24.
TBA Word is a Burke’s Outlet clothing and accessories store will be opening in the old Circuit City space in Cross Pointe Plaza across from Haywood Mall… The Greenville Urban Design panel will decide April 3 whether to allow artist Andrew Pisacane, a.k.a. Gaia, to paint a mural on the north wall of the City Welding building on Rhett Street as a memorial to Greenville’s Year of Altruism…
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VERBATIM
On Self-Evident Truths… “I have learned that for people in the urban-planning world, noting that Greenville has a walkable and gracious downtown is like mentioning that Seattle has good coffee.” James Fallows, continuing his coverage of downtown Greenville for The Atlantic. Read the whole thing at bit.ly/whycitieswork.
UBJ REAL ESTATE
Justin Winter Named Sotheby’s Affiliate By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer | joladipo@communityjournals.com
Global luxury real estate powerhouse Sotheby’s International Realty brings its brand power to the Upstate in a partnership with Justin Winter and Associates, the two companies announced Tuesday. Justin Winter represents properties including The Cliffs and The Reserve at Lake Keowee. The 10-year partnership agreement marks Sotheby’s first foray into the northern part of the state. Sotheby’s, a name linked with high-end sales from fine art to diamonds to wine, operates in Aiken and Charleston, areas known for their historical properties and grand estates. This will be its fifth independently owned and operated office in the state. “What appeals to my company about being part of their network is being able to leverage their marketing power,” which includes strong relationships with medial outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune, said broker/owner Justin Winter. “It just gives us a tremendous reach.” The increased exposure for Justin Winter Properties will mean growth for the local firm, Winter said. “We could very easily double our staff this year,” he said. However, he said the firm plans to stay WINTER within its niche area, the north end of Lake Keowee. Having been a leader in both the Greenville and Western Upstate MLS areas for the past several years, Justin Winter has maintained the sales volume and pricing to meet Sotheby’s standards. “For the last 10 years, [Winter] and his team have been a trusted resource
in these communities,” said Philip White, president and CEO of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates. “We proudly welcome Justin Winter Sotheby’s International Realty to our network and look forward to bringing our brand’s global reach to this important real estate market.” The Sotheby’s marketing, though focused on Justin Winter’s niche luxury home market, will bring attention to areas of the Upstate that do not necessarily qualify for Sotheby’s affiliation. It is rare for Sotheby’s to move into a relatively young luxury market such as the Upstate, which began developing in the late 1990s. The affiliation suggests Sotheby’s expects the area to perform well in the long term. Winter said he approached Sotheby’s about affiliation two years ago, but was told then that the market needed more development. He had considered similar affiliations, including Christie’s Great Estates, but felt that Sotheby’s had better brand recognition and marketing programs. Winter said the majority of buyers are currently from the southeastern United States, but international buyers are showing increasing interest in the area. The firm has worked with buyers from Singapore and China, “and there’s quite a bit of interest coming out of Great Britain.” Sotheby’s recently opened an office in China, creating an opportunity for Justin Winter to market there more directly. Sotheby’s International Realty is headquartered in New Jersey, and has a network of more than 700 offices in 52 countries and territories.
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UBJ MANUFACTURING & HEALTHCARE
Materials Science Corp. Makes Tracks in Upstate
Final Rules for Business as ACA Sign-ups Wind Down
High-tech bike utilizes innovative composite materials
By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer | joladipo@communityjournals.com
By Joe Toppe | staff | jtoppe@communityjournals.com
The Greenville County Sheriff’s
Department will be the first to benefit from a composites manufacturer new to the Upstate. At a private opening held Wednesday, Materials Sciences Corporation (MSC) President and CEO Tom Cassin presented Lt. Sam Cureton with a high-tech racing bicycle to use while patrolling the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Made from the company’s patented countervail vibration-cancelling materials and technology, the Bianchi racing bicycle is in limited production in Europe and has been sold out worldwide for months. “This gift allows us to bring to life some of the unique MSC materials we will manufacture in Greenville County in an interesting and tangible way,” Cassin said. Greenville attracted MSC because of its pro-business climate and amenities that enhance the quality of life, he said. While creating 23 new jobs, MSC, a designer and manufacturer of composite materials for government and industry, represents an Upstate investment of over $1 million. With existing operations in both Mississippi and Pennsylvania, the manufacturer is globally recognized for its development of specialty algorithms that simulate and predict composite performance. The company’s proprietary technologies allow MSC to develop custom composite materials for clients in the defense, commercial, energy and recreation sectors. Cassin said the mission of the company is to develop, test and improve advanced manufacturing materials that can be transferred into military and industrial applications of high value.
“We have been very pleased with our decision to expand our engineering, research and manufacturing operations to Greenville County and appreciate the support and leadership of the Greenville Area Development Corporation,” he said. Dr. Bob Taylor, board member of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and chairman of Greenville County Council, said the technology-driven business has an entrepreneurial energy and is a great addition to Greenville County’s business community. “Materials Sciences Corp. is an outstanding example of a company that is using world-class technology, performance-based processes and a mix of local and national talent to grow and succeed,” he said. To accommodate the company’s requirements, MSC purchased and renovated approximately 13,000 square feet of space in a former textile manufacturing facility at 102 Augusta Arbor Way. Cassin said hiring is underway. Positions to be filled include experienced loom technicians, advanced materials engineers, project managers, CNC and computer-controlled cutter operators and quality assurance personnel.
To see the Bianchi cycle in action, visit bit.ly/bianchivideo.
This week marks the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare. As individuals rushed to meet the March 31 deadline to sign up for health insurance through exchanges created as part of the ACA, smaller businesses found extended deadlines and some other relief in the final rules recently announced. The biggest news for employers: no “shared responsibility” requirements for this year, referring to the requirement that employers provide affordable minimum coverage. Those with 100 or more full-time employees won’t have to comply until 2015, and those with 50 or more aren’t required to do so until 2016. Large employers had previously been granted an extension, but smaller businesses were left out. According to employee benefits advisors at Rosenfeld Einstein Insurance, major provisions include a one-year delay to help smaller employers transition into providing affordable coverage. There will be no penalties for the 2015 calendar year, or any part of a 2015 plan year that rolls over into 2016. However, in order to be eligible for the delay, employers will have to stick with the benefit plan years and workforce size calculations they had as of Feb. 9, 2014. Other notable changes include an extension of 2014 transition relief. Employers can choose a six-month period during which to assess the number of employees they might have to cover, rather than the whole year. The counting period can start no later than July 2014 and end no earlier than 90 days before the 2015 plan year. Seasonal workers, however, will be based on an entire calendar year. March 28, 2014
What’s more, everyone doesn’t have to be covered right away. The requirement that employers must offer coverage to at least 95 percent of full-time equivalent employees can now be phased in over two years. The number is reduced to 70 percent for 2015, and the rest by 2016 in order to avoid the largest penalties. If any of the people who have signed up for insurance are full-time employees and their insurance is subsidized by the government, their employers will have to pay penalties, but there is a tiny bit of relief there, too. Employers with 100 or more full-time employees can reduce fulltime employee count by 80 when calculating the penalty for the 2015 plan year. Some employers might see another slight reduction in the number of people they must cover now that stepchildren and foster children have been eliminated from the definition of “dependent” for the purposes of the employer mandate to cover dependents under age 26. Children who are not U.S. citizens or nationals are also excluded unless they are residents of a country contiguous to the U.S. Finally, industries that usually require temporary staff during various parts of the year should note that the definition of “seasonal employee” has been clarified to mean anyone who is hired into a position that customarily lasts for six months or fewer. In some cases, the employee can still be considered seasonal if the job lasts longer than six months.
See the full rules at bit.ly/finalACArules.
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 7
UBJ NEWS
CU-ICAR Knows When to Fold ’Em
Industrial origami has potential to make vehicles lighter while maintaining safety By Joe Toppe | staff | jtoppe@communityjournals.com
Using a folded metal technology, students at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) are reshaping the science applied to vehicle structures. Headquartered in Ohio, Industrial Origami Inc. (IOI) patented the idea of folding a sheet material design into complex load-bearing structures and is partnering with CU-ICAR on prospective automotive uses of the technology. Dr. Paul Venhovens, BMW chair in automotive systems integration, said CU-ICAR has a working business relationship with IOI and a development license to explore their proprietary technology in the automotive domain. Deep Orange is a concept vehicle program, part of the coursework for master’s students seeking a degree in automotive engineering at CU-ICAR, he said. Each student entering the program will partner with an original equipment manufacturer on a two-year product development of a vehicle. The students at CU-ICAR have the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working with innovative technologies and equipment manufacturers, said Kevin Walz, vice president of sales and marketing at IOI. “We are grateful to see our technology used in automotive applications
Photo Provided
and taken to other industries as the students move forward in their careers,” he said. To date, there have been three completed Deep Orange project vehicles utilizing an array of technologies including industrial origami. Venhovens said utilizing a laser cut or a punch, IOI has innovated a method of vehicle construction using sheet metal. The benefits of industrial origami are the features in the metal, he said. The fold line in the metal predeter-
mines where it will fold and makes the creation of accurate parts possible. Venhovens said the technology works ideally with rectangular structures and allows a customer to build a vehicle, refrigerator, solar panel box or a microwave without high capital investment. There are no hydraulic presses or million-dollar investments to build low-volume products, he said. Once removed from the laser-cutting machine or the punch machine, the manufactured parts are stacked,
shipped, stored flat or folded on site. Venhovens said a product made from the technology does not contain a multitude of individual parts that need to be joined by welding or riveting. The technology is simply a sheet of metal or box that is folded together needing only one or two seams to be welded, he said. Industrial origami drastically reduces the need for joining technologies. In relation to the technology’s use in the automotive industry, Venhovens said the folding methods require a lower gauge material to reduce weight in the vehicle. Because the lighter sheet material is being folded together, it will be just as safe as another vehicle, and because it is a lighter material, it will reduce fuel consumption, he said. Although students at CU-ICAR have utilized the technology in automotive research and construction, Venhovens said the future of its application lies rooted in low-volume manufacturing, Low-volume products such as appliances and solar panel boxes are ideal uses for industrial origami, he said. Mass-market products would require too much capital investment.
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UBJ UTILITIES
Duke Addresses SC Coal Ash Facilities By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer | joladipo@communityjournals.com
Last week Duke Energy Carolinas met with the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) to discuss its coal ash storage facilities, but faced opposition from an environmental group that also attended. “Duke Energy requested the opportunity to give the commissioners the latest and best information not only on our ongoing activities in North Carolina, but specifically inform them about our coal ash facilities in South Carolina and answer any questions they might have on the topic,” said Duke spokesman Ryan Mosier. The safety of Duke’s coal ash storage facilities has come under scrutiny since large amounts of coal ash spilled from a broken pipe at a retired power plant into North Carolina’s Dan River last month. The environmental group, Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), asked to attend the meeting in order to point out gaps in Duke’s report, said Frank Holleman, an SELC attorney who lives in Greenville. Two days earlier SELC had released documents from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) that showed elevated levels of arsenic around the Lee Steam Station in An-
derson County that exceeded federal safety levels, in addition to chromium pollution. Those show a more alarming scenario than reports from the federal Environmental Protection Agency that primarily looked at infrastructure, processes and water levels at the site. Duke did not comment on the DHEC reports. SELC has filed lawsuits that forced other utility companies operating in the state to begin cleaning up their coal ash storage facilities in 2012 and 2013. He said SELC has not yet decided whether it would file suit against Duke. “What we hope is that Duke will follow the lead of the other South Carolina utilities and clean up the site in [Anderson County], which is the only remaining set of coal ash lagoons that [Duke] has nether cleaned up nor committed to clean up,” Holleman said. The S.C. House of Representatives recently passed a bill intended to block such lawsuits. Although Duke has said the facilities are safe, Holleman said the Anderson County impoundment is currently polluting soil and water around the ponds. He said Duke’s indication to the
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PSC that it could take 30 years to clean up the facility was misleading, being based on estimates for a much larger facility in North Carolina. He noted that South Carolina Electric and Gas, which agreed to clean up 2.4 million tons of coal ash at its Wateree Facility, had already removed 25 percent in just two years. The Charlotte Observer also reported earlier this month that Duke estimated four and a half years to clean
out coal ash stored at the Riverbend Power Plant on the Catawba River in Charlotte, which is larger than the plant in Anderson, Holleman said. Duke did not respond to a query about the accuracy of that statement. Instead Mosier referred to an open letter from company president and CEO Lynn Good, which stated that “each ash basin site is unique and will require complex measures that will take time.”
Photo by Greg Beckner
The W.S. Lee Steam Station in Pelzer, one of Duke Energy’s two coal-fired generating facilities in S.C.
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 9
UBJ TECHNOLOGY
SCRA Spotlights Spartanburg By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer | joladipo@communityjournals.com
Last week SCRA Technology Ventures presented two Spartanburg leaders with Knowledge Economist awards and held their first-ever offsite board meeting in the city. The two actions indicated the group’s positive stance on Spartanburg’s contributions to the state’s tech economy. SCRA is mandated by the state legislature to develop technology-based industries in the state. About 30 people from SCRA and the Spartanburg community attended the private award ceremony and dinner at the Piedmont Club. Community leaders George Dean Johnson and William Barnet were recognized for their contributions to advancing South Carolina’s technolo-
Photos Provided
gy-based economy for the public good. The city itself was recognized for successful efforts to grow high-impact companies. One such company is Integrated Biometrics, whose fingerprint-scan-
ning technology is certified by the FBI and has been used in counterterrorism activities, said SCRA president Bill Mahoney. Johnson said last year’s launch of the Iron Yard’s health technology
accelerator was one of the most exciting developments that illustrated the city’s direction. Barnet, former mayor of Spartanburg, had pushed for SCRA to become as involved in Spartanburg as it was in Greenville and >>
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>> Charleston. SCRA responded with the “Spartanburg Plan,” a template for what the city could do to make that happen. It primarily called for better integration of the city’s business, educational, government and other sectors. “You have to have a field general,” said Mahoney. “There’s also a kind of translation you have to do, building bridges between the different parts of the ecosystem. People need to know where to go when they need a lawyer or a sales VP.” Several people credited Steven Hahn of the Spartanburg Economic Futures Group with helping to bring the Spartanburg Plan to fruition in recent years. Hahn said the challenge was to become good at bringing companies to SCRA’s attention, and then guiding those companies through the process of getting the
William Barnet (left) and George Dean Johnson (right) both received a Knowledge Economist award from SCRA president Bill Mahoney (center).
group’s funding and support. “I think it’s taking the responsibility of maintaining that level of activity throughout the county,” Hahn said. “The other half is assuming the responsibility of getting that message out to the community that there are lots of cool things happening here.”
He pointed out that the first three months of the year have brought programs including a local edition of the national Start-up Weekend blitz; a new Grain Ideas business ideas meet-up; an Impact & Launch Competition connecting students with investors at Wofford College; and the
March 28, 2014
second phase of the Main Street Challenge business-launching contest. It’s also important to identify local companies that are poised to profit from the multibillion-dollar markets that are developing in the wider world, which Spartanburg has done, Mahoney said. Barnet said Spartanburg is shifting from sole reliance on large companies to boost its economy. “I do think it’s a team sport,” he said. “Starting to nurture entrepreneurs and create an environment where people take risks and are rewarded for that risk is important.” When asked to what that shift in thinking could be attributed, Barnet could not name specifics, but chalked it up to lessons learned. “We have all changed. Those of us who grew up and prospered in the old business environment are students of what causes success.”
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 11
UBJ YOUR MONEY
By RUSTY HAMRICK
Green Acres Are the Place to Be Investing strategically in large rural land tracts can lead to maximizing ROI Although the appeal of acquiring a large tract of rural land is timeless, the mechanics involved with making a sound investment in this class of real estate are constantly evolving. Traditionally, the purchase of land in a rural location is viewed as a longterm investment with a high probability of appreciation that is a good hedge against inflation. The recent global recession served as a reminder that economic conditions have major impacts on real estate (including land in agricultural production) and traditional investment strategies often need adjustment. For example, nearly six years after the recession, Southeast timberland values remain at long-term lows while farmland values in some Midwest states have quadrupled in value during this time frame. This comparison reinforces the idea that the days of simply following Will Rogers’ advice of “Don’t wait to buy land, buy land and wait” are over. Current land investors need to comprehend the driving forces behind past, current and future land markets. Proper due diligence for rural land begins with a focus on fundamental, value-adding characteristics. Property features that create the foundation of value for a land asset include water,
The days of simply following Will Rogers’ advice of “Don’t wait to buy land, buy land and wait” are over. Investors need to comprehend the driving forces behind land markets.
➤ AVERAGE FARM REAL ESTATE VALUE – U.S. DOLLARS PER ACRE 3,000
Source: National Agriculture Statistics Service, USDA
2,500
2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
soil, minerals, roads, encumbrances, access, neighbors and location. The identification of any lapses in integrity relating to each feature can play an important role in not only valuing a property, but also in determining its suitability for purchase. Therefore, land investors should be prepared to devote resources to ensure that the quality of the property’s framework is legitimate. The next step should evaluate the use(s) of the land and how the use(s) will relate to property values. For instance, consider the above-mentioned difference in the Southeast timberland values and the Midwest farmland values. The status of the housing market and corn prices over the last few years resulted in low demand for merchantable timber and high demand for tillable acreage. These implications were certainly driving forces behind current land values in these regions, and it is important as a land investor to recognize that future demands will shift. One example of shifting demands is the current price of milk, which is approaching all-time highs. This trend will very likely have an impact on land values in certain regions of the country well known for dairy
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farms. On the local level, South Carolina landowners are anticipating several hundred million dollars in loss and damage from this year’s winter ice storms, which should affect timberland prices to some degree. The ups and downs of the agricultural commodity and timber markets are incredibly volatile, so it’s essential to become educated on available income opportunities in order to protect a land investment. Landowners can generate income through cattle leases, cropland leases, hunting leases, timber sales, easement sales and USDA grants. Selling pine straw and leasing land for cellphone towers are gaining traction in some markets, and operating commercial hunting outfits can become high-end business ventures. Establishing income-producing outlets on a property is paramount to a land investor who may need to wait out a market downturn, and in some instances, these uses add value to a property. Re-investing some of this income into a land asset is an excellent tool for maximizing ROI and therefore should
be done early and often. Again, a landowner needs to focus on the highest and best use of a property. Cost-effective improvements have the ability to add uses and increase land values and, if the timing is right, can lead to homerun investments. Picture a scenario of a Midwestern landowner that purchased timberland, converted the timber into pasture before the current bubble, and then sold the property after farmland values shot up. Implementing a wildlife habitat is another cost-effective improvement that a land investor should consider, as properties that offer highend hunting and fishing pursuits typically trade at high-end prices. Waterfowl impoundments, for example, can triple the value of the land. The current local market continues to be heavily influenced by the effects of the economic downturn as average land values remain very low compared to pre-recession prices. However, 2013 did show legitimate growth in land sales and has carried over into 2014. Many transactions during this time period are beginning to pull average land values up. Low entry-level prices for land investments are still available, and buyer activity has steadily increased over the last 18 months and continues on an upward trend. These conditions support Will Rogers’ advice of “not waiting to buy land.” However, simply waiting for a land investment to appreciate in value is an outdated, one-dimensional strategy. Today’s land investor should take a proactive approach to understanding the fundamentals of value, agricultural and timber markets, income opportunities and cost-effective improvements in order to position themselves for a maximum return.
Rusty Hamrick leads the land division (Huff Creek Properties) at NAI Earle Furman LLC, a commercial real estate brokerage firm in the Upstate. He specializes in representing buyers and sellers of all facets of rural acreage including development property, recreational/hunting property, farmland and timberland.
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Truly Collaborate With Remote Workers Interaction is the key to keeping employees and employers engaged and productive There are a lot of reasons for the growth of telecommuting. The rise of gas prices, long commuting times in busy cities that add significantly to the workday, and – not to be overlooked – the ability of technology to make it possible. Some 20 percent of American workers telecommute at least once per week, and research suggests that could balloon to 60 percent before decade’s end (goo.gl/Xkvtis). Studies also find most workers are happier with this arrangement. While workers may be happier, their bosses are starting to wonder if they’re getting their money’s worth. Jim Clifton, CEO of Gallup, wrote a recent piece for LinkedIn Pulse (goo.gl/ EwjVr0) that suggests that the more employees telecommute, the less engaged they are with the company, the more actively disgruntled they become and the greater the risk they will affect the attitudes of co-workers. The level of engagement an employee and employer feel depends largely on how much we interact together. Having managed teams of remote workers before, I learned a lot of these lessons the hard way. Companies that have both satisfied workers and happy managers are those who communicate frequently
20 percent
Some of American workers telecommute at least once per week, and research suggests that could balloon to
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March 28, 2014
60 percent before decade’s end.
and on multiple levels. Here are some ways to make remote work a more fulfilling and collaborative environment – even for a small business on a tight budget. 1. Pick the right people. Not just the right person for the job, but the right person to manage the job. Not every manager is going to be good at supporting and supervising remote employees. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, jobs best suited for telecommuting are those that: • Require independent work. • Require little face-to-face interaction. • Require concentration. • Result in a specific, measurable work product. • Can be monitored by the output, not by the time spent doing the job. 2. Plan frequent contacts online. Seeing someone face to face (even virtually) makes a deeper connection than a phone call. Two to three contacts per week are not too much to keep remote workers in the loop. They don’t have to be long and they don’t have to be complicated. Make them quick touches with a point by using free and accessible tools: • Google Hangouts is a quick way to hop on a face-to-face, requiring nothing but a browser and a Gmail account. It’s built more for fun than work, but that’s not always a bad thing. • Fuze does it all from one-on-ones to full-featured webinars. Content collaboration, whiteboarding and screen sharing are all included in free accounts, covering meetings with >>
UBJ DIGITAL MAVEN >>
up to 25 people on VOIP and up to 12 HD video streams. Your whole team can participate online – and why shouldn’t they? If they all get online, everyone can see everyone. Isn’t that the idea? There are many services, but these two are free and are mobile, so you don’t have to be tied to your desk to participate. 3. Get out of your inbox. Way too many of us manage through email. A large percentage of emails are really task assignments or queries, but without the management functions required to track or monitor them. Outlook has many tools that let it be more collaborative – including a function to turn email into trackable tasks. Surprisingly, a
lot of people who have been using Outlook all their working lives are surprised that these functions exist. There are other services used by companies with a large remote employee footprint, like Basecamp, 5 pm, Asana, and Zoho, all designed
By LAURA HAIGHT
While workers may be happier telecommuting, their bosses are starting to wonder if they’re getting their money’s worth.
to bring work teams together to collaborate on a project. The goal is task completion, and all the tools are designed to track and manage the task. All these tools have freemiums (free levels for reduced functions), but of them Asana provides its full menu of project management functions free for teams up to 15 people. A few premium features – like private project teams – are not included in the free version, but all the functions are.
need to, maybe either the employee shouldn’t be working remotely or the manager isn’t managing.
4. Put technology in its place. Telecommuting is really a management and communication issue. There are tools available that can log a remote employee’s time on task, do screen grabs at certain times of the day, capture browser history. You can do all these things, but if you feel you
Laura Haight is the president of Portfolio (portfoliosc.com), which works with small businesses to incorporate emerging media and technology – like implementing remote collaboration technologies – into their business communications, operations and training.
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 15
UBJ INNOVATE
By MATT DUNBAR
Shark Bites and Angel Exits If you like sports or technology or reality TV, you are probably familiar with Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks, the cofounder of Broadcast. com (which sold to Yahoo! for nearly $6 billion in 1999), and one of the stars of the popular show “Shark Tank.” Cuban is colorful and brash, and he doesn’t hesitate to hurl inflammatory comments at those he disagrees with – from entrepreneurs to NBA officials to the Securities and Exchange Commission (against which he successfully defended himself in a recent insider-trading case). But beneath the bravado, Cuban is a talented entrepreneur and savvy investor with a knack for cutting
through fluff and extracting valuable business insights. In a blog post last week, Cuban
directed some of his colorful commentary at Silicon Valley, pointing out elements of a current bubble-like environment for startup valuations in the technology epicenter of the world. However, he ultimately concludes there is no bubble – not because of where the valuations start, but where they end. “Startup capital is not their secret sauce,” Cuban wrote. “What Silicon Valley does better than anyone is create exits. They know how to get people who they have made money for to turn over a lot of that money to buy the companies they have invested in. … So if you want your new tech corridor to play in the big leagues with Silicon Valley and its VCs, don’t stress about capital for entrepreneurs to create companies. Stress about capital that will provide exits for companies.” Of course, it certainly helps to have
plenty of available capital to start companies in the first place, but his point is an insightful one. He goes on to say, “It doesn’t have to be billion-dollar exits. Millions. Tens of millions. Small IPOs. If you can help enough companies get to capital that takes them to the big leagues or gives them an exit, it will be like financial gravity. It will pull entrepreneurs to you. … Brag about the exits and how there is capital waiting for amazing entrepreneurs to reach their goals.” At the Upstate Carolina Angel Network, we very much want to help pull entrepreneurs into South Carolina – so we agree that it makes good sense to focus on exits we can brag about to entrepreneurs and investors as evidence that startups can be successful here. Fortunately, UCAN has several portfolio companies poised for exits in 2014 and 2015 – with three currently in highly active merger or acquisition discussions – so we will soon see these exits add to the gravitational pull for entrepreneurs in our state. Since the acquisitions are in still in process we can’t reveal all the details, but one transaction that was made public last week is the pursuit of Selah Genomics by EKF Diagnostics out of the U.K. The proposed transaction will provide a substantial return on investment to local investors while providing the company with greater resources to attract talent and continue building their fast-growing business. Michael Bolick, CEO of Selah Genomics, >>
“Don’t stress about capital for entrepreneurs to create companies. Stress about capital that will provide exits for companies.” Mark Cuban
16 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
March 28, 2014
UBJ INNOVATE >> has been a longstanding champion for entrepreneurship in South Carolina, and his company’s successful exit will add significant mass and momentum to the startup nucleus here. The two other active UCAN exits involve companies that are not located here, but the capital that will be generated from those transactions will come back home to the Upstate, available to be deployed in other promising companies that take root here because they see increasing opportunities here for “amazing entrepreneurs to reach their goals,” to borrow Cuban’s phrase. Of course, these exits also come with practical implications that sometimes cause concern in discussions about local economic growth. If these startups are sold to bigger companies located elsewhere, it is often unavoidable that at least some of the capital, talent and community support that comes with local headquarters may be diluted or expatriated – at least for a time. However, these exits ultimately generate financial capital, intellectual capital and brand value for our state and region that can be recycled into the next generation of startups that will gravitate here to build on the knowhow, capital and reputation of previous exits to build even bigger and stronger companies in the future. Over the long term, exits provide the key push it takes to turn the flywheel on a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem, fulfilling a virtuous startup-to-exit life cycle that will be key to growing our economy in the decades ahead amidst a backdrop of unprecedented technological disruption and innovation. Thanks to the consistent efforts of many business and community leaders here over the last several years, that ecosystem is steadily gaining momentum. UCAN is working here in Greenville and with communities across the state to help create more infrastructure for angel investors to deploy their capital in
search of exits that will generate even more gravitational pull to attract entrepreneurs to South Carolina. We’re looking for investors and
partners to join us in the cause, so if you’d like to learn more about swimming with sharks and enjoying early exits, please get in touch. We promise
not to bite! Matt Dunbar is managing director of the Upstate Carolina Angel Network.
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 17
UBJ PROFESSIONAL
By DAWN REID
Welcome to the New Temporary Workplace Have you ever worked for a temp agency, or are you working for one now? Either way, welcome to the new world economy and the new temporary workplace. Yes, this is the new normal in today’s society of professionals and non-professionals, the highly educated and the non-educated. We are all in the same boat; we are riding in the stormy water of unemployment hoping to make it through to the land of opportunity: a company that will offer us a job. Gone are the days of walking in the door of a company, shaking the hand of the owner and sitting down to discuss job possibilities. The reality now is applying for a job online and waiting for someone to call for an interview. Those lucky enough to receive that call shouldn’t expect any discussion of benefits or a future with that company – because neither can be expected. What matters is whether you’re qualified and what your rate of pay will be (typically lower than what you’re used to). If you are fortunate enough to land a job through a temp agency, congratulations, you now have a job – which in
today’s economy is like finding a piece of gold. Day after day you hope for the best and try to do the best job possible, hoping the end result will be a permanent job offer and not a layoff. Month after month goes by and you are still a temp. Don’t misunderstand; if you were not a temp you might still be unemployed. One of the biggest temp agencies now is the second-largest employer in the nation, just behind Wal-Mart. That fact in itself should tell everyone what the workplace has become. Remember when a person could actually plan her life and future goals around her job? Relationships were developed; training for long-term
Temporary work does not mean a temporary life. goals was put into place for the betterment of the company and for the employee. Plans for the family, such as vacations, a new car or home, braces for the kids and then college plans, were possible. Oh, and don’t forget the fact that we had health care. These things were possible because we were secure in our permanent workplace. What security do we have now? None. Even if you have a permanent job, is anything really permanent anymore? What are we to think? What are we to do? Do we just give up and give into the bad economy and the temporary job agencies? Do we settle? I have felt like it and am sure many of you have as well. The answer, the only answer, to this uncertainty is to use what you’re given to improve what you have. Charge through the anxious and dull life of a temporary anything. Learn all you can on the job that you have so you can beef up your resume. Try to take the temporary jobs that are long-term even if they will not become permanent. Take online
classes or return to school if you can. Read motivational books. Never burn a bridge; keep good relationships with the people you work for and with. Be polite, respectful and work really hard. If you can, pick up a second parttime job to save money and pay off debt, little by little. Don’t doubt that you could fit in a second job. I was a single parent of two and worked a second job many times. Even if it is two days a week, it would be a great resource for you. Eat at home. Cut expenses wherever you can. Prepare for times of no income as well as emergencies. Meanwhile, look for a permanent job that you would enjoy. Temporary work does not mean a temporary life. Temporary should only mean temporary with other longterm goals. Always have goals. Remember, all work is important and honorable, but temporary should mean temporary. Always be of good character and do the best job possible wherever you are. Strive for the best in your job performance and in yourself. These tough times can develop great character and a humble spirit, and that is always a good thing. You can do it. Good luck. Dawn Reid has worked for a temporary agency for the past year, but her professional background is in commercial insurance.
APPLY NOW FOR
LIVEWELL GREENVILLE’S 2014 Healthy Workplace Awards • Recognizing Greenville’s Healthiest Organizations • Useful benchmarking and planning tool • Join us for lunch on April 24 at Greenville’s TD Center to recognize and celebrate our award winners! • The online application is open now through March 31: http://10.selectsurvey.net/livewellgreenville/ 18 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
March 28, 2014
UBJ WORKING WELL
By EMILY O’SULLIVAN
The Missing Link in Workplace Wellness Make wellness a permanent part of the fabric of your organization Most employers are all too familiar with the cost burden of poor employee health, including increased health care costs, absenteeism, lost productivity and poor employee morale. The simple truth is that unhealthy employees are less productive and engaged than their healthier peers. In fact, according to the Partnership for Prevention, the indirect costs of poor employee health from sick leave, disability and presenteeism (underperformance due to illness or injury) can be two to three times the direct medical costs. Approximately half of U.S. employers offer workplace wellness initiatives to improve employee health and combat these costs. Most of these employers offer traditional wellness program components such as a health risk assessments, screenings, education, health coaching and challenges, while failing to address perhaps the most foundational aspect of organizational and employee health: policy, systems and environmental change. While behavior change programs can be effective at producing individual change, programming alone will never be effective at changing organizational culture. Addressing policies, systems, environment and benefits is essential to producing a sustainable culture of wellness for a few key reasons: • These changes are often low- or no-cost, making them attainable for all employers regardless of size and available resources. • Policy, systems and environmental changes impact 100 percent of the employee population, while programs only impact those employees who choose to participate, often missing those
EMPLOYERS CAN EXPECT TO PAY:
$5,800
extra per year for an employee who uses tobacco
$2,676
for an employee who is overweight or obese
$1,984
for an employee who is physically inactive Employers who invest in creating a comprehensive workplace wellness strategy can reasonably expect to receive:
$5.8-TO-$1
savings-to-cost ratio including a
26%
reduction in health care costs.
27%
reduction of sick leave
32%
reduction of disability and workers’ compensation Sources: The Ohio State University; Be Active North Carolina; Partnership for Prevention.
who need it most. • These changes help to produce lasting results because they are more permanent, unlike programs which come and go from year to year. • Policy, systems and environmental changes approach employee health from an
organizational level rather than just an individual level. Approaching workplace wellness from a policy and environmental level helps to enhance, align and sustain current wellness efforts. Wellness becomes a part of the fabric of the organization. Employers have a unique opportunity to impact population health. Employees spend the majority of their waking hours at work, making the workplace an ideal environment to impact health behavior. Programming, policy, environment and benefits must all align and work together to create consistent messages where the healthy choice is the easy choice. A comprehensive workplace wellness program must not only include assessments, screenings and educational programs, but also policies, onsite resources, benefits, and incentives to support the healthy choice, as well as participation from all levels of leadership within the organization. Examples of policies to support employee health include: • A 100 percent tobacco-free, property-wide policy. • A healthy food policy to ensure that delicious, affordable, healthy foods are available to employees during all hours of operation. • A physical activity policy to allow employees to exercise on paid time, to offer flex time for physical activity, or to encourage the use of paid breaks for
physical activity. Examples of environmental changes to support employee health include: • Providing employees with easy access to fitness equipment or a walking trail on site. • Providing and promoting healthy foods in cafeterias and vending machines through product placement and pricing strategies. • Eliminating ashtrays and tobacco receptacles from the property to discourage the use of tobacco products. Examples of benefits to support employee health include: • Providing employees with low-cost tobacco cessation prescription medications and over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies. • Covering nutritional counseling for all employees. • Providing discounts to local fitness facilities. Policy, systems, and environmental change takes time, effort and a strong commitment from organizational leadership. Employees are an organization’s most valuable asset, so the investment in human capital is more than worth it. There is no question that the work environment has a strong influence on employee health. Employers can either choose to support or unwittingly sabotage their employees in their health improvement efforts.
Emily O’Sullivan is the corporate wellness specialist for the South Carolina Hospital Association’s Working Well Initiative, a cross-sector strategy addressing healthy eating and active, tobacco-free living to establish cultures of wellness in worksites throughout South Carolina. She is a member of LiveWell Greenville’s At Work group, a graduate of Clemson University and has been working in corporate health promotion for the past five years.
March 28, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 19
UBJ ONES TO WATCH
Nika White VP for diversity and inclusion, Greenville Chamber
G
By JOE TOPPE | staff | jtoppe@communityjournals.com
son County town of Belton, Nika White, vice president for diversity and inclusion at the Greenville Chamber, didn’t need to look much further than her parents to find inspiration and a commitment to hard work. “They did the best they could to raise two daughters,” she said. White attributes her success, along with her sister’s as an attorney in Washington D.C., to the foundation their parents provided – a foundation she says helped them pursue their dreams and career paths. White began her career in account services at Erwin Penland Advertising, spending about 17 years in the marketing field before going to the Chamber. White said she enjoyed the culture of the agency and the dynamics involved in problem solving to produce great results for clients. “It was a great place to be.” While working at Erwin Penland, White was inspired to lead diversity and inclusion at the prominent Greenville marketing firm.
“Hope is a powerful thing, and I am hopeful that Greenville will reach its full potential.”
“If I loved my job so much, why were there not others who looked like me taking advantage of this career path?” she said. Interested in furthering work opportunities for minorities, White presented her idea to the president of the agency as an opportunity. “Having diverse perspectives at the table to help address the needs of the agency’s clients would help them to become more effective marketing partners,” she said. With the president’s backing, White “took on a dual role, but I was able to work as a diversity and inclusion manager.” Realizing a career in diversity and inclusion would require a larger audience, White soon took her message to the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. “I have greater influence at the chamber, and I am really enjoying this journey,” she said.
Within the perimeters of your career, what is one thing about Greenville you would like to change? I would like to change the overall perception that Greenville is not a progressive city. We have a lot to offer and I want to change that negative perception of South Carolina.
What inspires you about your career? I have a passion for inclusion and seeing people have opportunities they might have not been able to see before. >>
20 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
March 28, 2014
Photos by Greg Beckner
Growing up in the small Ander-
>> What advice would you give
others as it relates to your career?
It is important for people to recognize the full benefits of diversity inclusion, and the only way to do that is by engaging in conversation and education to make sure everyone has a seat at the table.
Can you identify one thing that contributed to your success? The reason I have reached some key milestones since assuming this role is because hope is a powerful thing, and I am hopeful that Greenville will reach its full potential.
Where do you see yourself in five, 10, or 20 years? I would like to see myself as a consultant or public speaker helping to empower women into advanced minority leadership. I would also like to finish a book my husband and I started on successful living.
If you had to choose a second career, what would it be? Fashion designer.
What’s your pet peeve? Complacency.
What is the one app on your phone you cannot live without?
PRESENTS
A devotional called “Jesus Calling.”
What does a “good time” mean to you? A good time is when everyone gets lost in the moment without distraction.
If you could trade places with one person, who would it be with and why?
Congratulations to the Greenville Chamber’s
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
Michelle Obama. She is classy, brilliant, poised, and a person of significance. I want to be her when I grow up.
US&S, Inc. CEO Rich Hagins and Team accept the March Small Business of the Month Award from Chamber leaders and award sponsor Charter Business.
“Being engaged with the Greenville Chamber comes with significant value for our company, our employees, and the overall community.” -Rich Hagins, CEO US&S, Inc US&S is a Greenville-based facility maintenance and support service provider specializing in: Operations & Maintenance; Repairs; Renovation; Janitorial Grounds Maintenance; and Staff Augmentation. They offer an unparalleled level of service for clients and operate at offices and project sites predominantly throughout the southeast United States, serving federal, commercial, industrial and institutional markets. Learn more at www.usands.com. Impressed by a local small business lately? Nominate them for the Greenville Chamber’s Small Business of the Month Award at www.GreenvilleChamber.org. 24 CLEVELAND ST. GREENVILLE, SC 29601
March 28, 2014
864-242-1050
WWW.GREENVILLECHAMBER.ORG
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 21
‘A PRETTY GOOD RIDE’
FOUNDERS COVER STORY
From selling candy as a kid to co-owning Longleaf Holdings, John Bauknight’s entrepreneurial career has seen plenty of ups and downs By Jennifer Oladipo senior business writer joladipo@communityjournals.com
Photos by Greg Beckner
TEN STARTUPS INTO HIS CAREER, John Bauknight has seen all the ups and downs of business. He shares them in a matter-of-fact way, successes and failures getting pretty much equal weight as he tells his story. That story begins with a boy who, from an early age, figured out how to turn a profit by breaking up packages of Now and Later candies to sell individual pieces to friends at a premium, “thinking my $0.50 I was making off of $0.10 was good stuff.” Later, he started a window-washing business, and after three years had saved $1,500. He spent the money on a stereo system, as any young man would. Today he is co-owner of Longleaf Holdings in Spartanburg. Longleaf is a holding company for businesses, partnerships and investments owned by Bauknight and partner Nick Wildrick. The companies cover commercial real estate, business training, storage and document destruction, and include a brewpub, RJ Rockers Brewing Company. Bauknight says he probably spends as much time advising other people on their ideas and businesses as he does on his own ventures, and shared some of those insights with UBJ. 22 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
March 28, 2014
things as a kid?
After the Now and Laters, I really started trying to make money by starting a window-washing business in the sixth grade. I wanted to buy things. I was into music and over a two- to three-year period, I saved enough for a stereo system. I think I spent about $1,500 dollars on it. I obviously had to wash a lot of windows.
What could your childpreneur self teach us today?
Do most people understand that it’s going to take a while? Obviously people have different skill sets, but there are some folks who I can tell from their business plan have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. They’ll show me a plan that has them making beaucoup money within year. It’s a bit naive. What put me and [Wildrick] on the map was our first shredding business we started in 1997. After about 14 months, we were doing $25,000 in revenue and spending about $25,000 or $30,000. You know how that math works. We had some real tough talks around 1998 about whether we’d be able to persevere as a business. We kept telling our wives, “We’re almost there!”
“There are some folks who I can tell from their business plan have no idea what they’re getting themselves into.”
It was almost too good to be true. In the fall of 1998 a friend from Wofford asked if we could destroy returned computer software CDs for one of his clients. So we tried running CDs through our paper shredders and the next thing I know we’re doing up to eight tractor-trailers a day of music and software CDs. Then we started selling that scrap to a gentleman from China who’s actually now in business with us. It changed our whole business model and we ended up being one of the largest independent shredding companies in the country. In 2006 we sold that business to Cintas [a national corporate apparel company].
You said you used a “pros and cons” list to make that decision. Yeah, any time I make a significant decision I try to get to that habit, which was taught to me by my father. He was not an entrepreneur but is a very thoughtful person, unlike me, who kind of flies by the seat of the pants. I use that as a tool to slow myself down when making a big decision.
My Advice
JOHN BAUKNIGHT, co-owner, Longleaf Holdings PERSISTENCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. It doesn’t come easily, and you have to keep knocking on doors. IF SOMETHING DOESN’T WORK OUT, THERE’S A REASON WHY. Don’t repeat those mistakes. That’s the definition of stupidity. TO BE A GOOD MENTOR, you first have to have time, and then know what you’re good at and what you have to offer.
What have you considered your failures? That recycling business was the biggest financially. I tried to start a real estate investment firm around 1993 but my partner and I couldn’t make it work. We just didn’t have the money to make a go of it like we needed to. Twenty years later I still have a constant reminder of that failure with four homes. Selling them is one of my big goals for 2014. Other than that, it’s been a pretty good ride.
“You’re used to having faith that things are going to get where you’re trying to take them. You want to hang on, but you have to know when to cut your losses.”
]
I think the single biggest thing is persistence. It doesn’t come easily and you have to continue to keep knocking on doors. With a business plan or job, it’s about a three- to five-year window to really see whether it’s something they have a passion for, and whether they have the persistent nature to keep doing the things they have to do to be successful.
How did you two turn that around?
[
r
>> What got you into selling
go of some associates. When you’ve got other people counting on you for their livelihood, that’s probably the hardest part and the greatest reason to try to hang in there.
How do you know when it’s time to walk away? It’s never easy. We added recycling to the shredding business and after a few years found ourselves losing money again. We’d started growing horizontally because our customers wanted it. It was a humbling experience because we had to tell about 60 accounts, one of which was the city of Spartanburg, that we were getting out of the business and they should try to find somebody else within 90 days.
Was it hard to convince yourself to do that? Yes, it was hard because like I said earlier, it’s about persistence. You’re used to having faith that things are going to get where you’re trying to take them. You want to hang on, but you have to know when to cut your losses. It’s not only difficult to go tell customers, but we had to let
March 28, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 23
UBJ SQUARE FEET
Plans Revised for Development on Memorial Auditorium Site By Sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
into downtown Greenville. A parking garage with 330 spaces will be constructed on site and the apartment complex is expected to have efficiencies, one and two bedroom units. On-site amenities will include a club room, coffee bar, resort-style fitness center, landscaped courtyards and a large pool area. There will also be a grilling area and an outdoor fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs. The pool area will feature another outdoor fireside area and a covered lounge with an outdoor television. Steve Barton of Charlotte, N.C.-
based Axiom Architecture submitted the modified plans which include two internally focused courtyards “since Church Street has a high volume of traffic” and added more height to the buildings due to the close proximity of Liberty Towers and Palmetto Bank. East North Street will serve as the main vehicle and pedestrian entrance, according to the report, with additional modifications that include patio elements and stoops to Beattie Place that will accommodate additional pedestrian traffic on event nights at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
DRB staff is recommending approval of the application, subject to final review of colors by staff, saying they believe the architects have responded to the many comments received and “have created a cohesive development that responds to the various conditions on each side and provides a unique character to address each.” Buildings that are currently on the site will be demolished. The DRB is set to review the plans on April 3, and if approved construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2014.
BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE TWO LIBERTY SQUARE BUILDING
OVERPASS TO ARENA
EET
BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA
T TI EP L AC PROPOSED E BROADSTONE GA TE WAY APARTMENTS TREE T RTH S O N . E
STR RCH
NOR
TH
CHU
THE PALMETTO BANK
CHRIST CHURCH EPISCOPAL
24 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
March 28, 2014
BE A
Renderings and map provided by Axiom Architecture.
After initial plans were submitted in January for a new apartment complex at 400 N. Church St., the former site of the Greenville Memorial Auditorium, several modifications have been made at the city’s request and the developer has submitted new plans for review to the Greenville Design Review Board. Called Broadstone Gateway, the proposed four-story, 257-unit development will sit on a triangular piece of land bordered by North Church Street, East North Street and Beattie Place. This strategic location has long been considered a gateway
UBJ SQUARE FEET
Outdoor Dining Coming to Rick Erwin’s Deli By Sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
Rick Erwin’s Deli and Market
nancial officer. “This project enables us to gain more sidewalk space in front of the Deli and create a unique outdoor dining experience. It was a no-brainer to make this a covered dining area and add to the pedestrian-friendly Camperdown environment.” “Since the city was reworking the streetscape and narrowing the street, it provided a wider area that could provide a separate space from the required walkway of the sidewalk,” said Ed Zeigler, president of CGD, who designed the area in conjunction with the city’s
new streetscape plan for Camperdown Way. The European-design-inspired patio will have eco-screens with retractable sides that will be installed to allow for covered outdoor dining during the winter months and inclement weather. A planted area will run alongside the sidewalk to create a natural barrier between the sidewalk and restaurant patrons. “Rick Erwin Dining Group desired an outdoor dining area
that would provide an area for all types of weather, giving them more seating and provide a place for customers to enjoy the exterior while dining,” said Zeigler. “Greenville has such a great climate most of the time; this area will be utilized every day.” The restaurant and market, which opened March 2013, provides lunch and dinner with fresh salads, meats, breads and pastries.
Renderings provided by Craig Gaulden Davis
at RiverWalk on Camperdown Way in downtown Greenville has submitted plans for a new outdoor dining space. Architectural firm Craig Gaulden Davis submitted the plans to the city’s Design Review Board to add an outdoor area that would seat 34 people under a covered awning. The plans will be reviewed at the April 3 DRB meeting. “The outdoor dining feature was part of our original plan for Rick’s Deli & Market; we just had to wait for the city’s Camperdown street project to be completed before we could introduce this element,” said Michael Ivey, Rick Erwin’s chief fi-
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March 28, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 25
Rendering provided by Craig Gaulden Davis
UBJ SQUARE FEET
New Admin Building Underway at Governor’s School By Sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
Construction is underway on a new administration building at the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, located on University Street near Falls Park in Greenville. The 11,413-square-foot, two-story brick building is intended to showcase the school to prospective students and parents as they arrive on campus and to serve as the school’s new visitors center as well as offices for admissions, enrollment and outreach. The Governor’s School Foundation will also move its offices to the first
floor of the new building along with costume production, print shop and storage areas which will be located on the lower terrace level located on the Falls Park side of the site. The $2.2 million project received $1.2 in funding from the state and has raised $425,000 to date towards the additional $1 million needed, says Cathy Jones, executive director of the Governor’s School for the Arts Foundation. Jones says that the foundation hopes to raise the additional $575,000 needed and is seeking capital contri-
butions to support the project. There are funds earmarked in the budget for other purposes that could be used to complete the project, but that is not a desirable option, she said. The structure will provide a “warm and inviting lobby/gallery space giving prospective students, parents and school guests a visual experience of the opportunities the school offers to challenge, inspire and enlighten our state’s talented young artists,” said Dr. Bruce Halverson, president of SCGSAH.
The design will replicate the rest of the campus, says Halverson, which was built to resemble a Tuscan-style campus with stone, wood and brick veneers. Pavers, engraved with names of alumni, will wind through a courtyard garden near the entrance to the new building. Construction began late last year and is expected to be completed by December 2014. Craig Gaulden Davis designed the project and Yeargin Potter Shackelford is the general contractor.
FOR SALE ±756 Acres on Lake Greenwood
Riverfork Road | Laurens County, SC Subdivided Dockable Tracts Available (2 acres and up)
Huff Creek Properties Huff Creek Properties is a timber and recreational land division of
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www.huffcreekproperties.com
UBJ DEALMAKERS NAI EARLE FURMAN ANNOUNCED:
for $5,500.
TONY BONITATI and KAY HILL represented the seller, Upstate Property Rentals LLC, in the sale of Valley Creek Apartments, a 102-UNIT apartment complex, located at 9085 Fairforest Dr., Spartanburg. The buyer, Two Bridges Asset Management of Brooklyn, N.Y., was represented by Tyler Flesch of Red Drum Capital.
FLAGSHIP PROPERTIES ANNOUNCED:
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD | THALHIMER ANNOUNCED: BRIAN J. YOUNG and ELLIOTT FAYSSOUX handled the lease negotiations for Creative Recycling Systems in their expansion and leasing of an additional 16,800 SF at their current location at 1061 Carolina Pines Road, Columbia. They now lease a total of 50,400 SF. The landlord, Miller-Valentine, was represented by Dave Matthews and Chuck Salley of Colliers InternationalColumbia. BRIAN J. YOUNG and KACIE JACKSON handled lease negotiations on behalf of the landlord, Wade Hampton LLC, in leasing approximately 83,000 SF at Hampton Park, 2819 Wade Hampton Blvd., Taylors. Mid State Tires renewed its lease of 65,000 SF and Cott Beverages signed a lease for an additional 15,000 SF. Blue Bell Creameries will occupy 3,000 SF for their Greenville distribution center. CROSS CREEK REALTY LLC ANNOUNCED: STEVEN SMITH served as both listing and selling agent in selling the Niro family’s 7.10 ACRES on Gap Creek Road, Greenville, to Charles and Cynthia Dillon for $45,000. STEVEN SMITH served as both listing and selling agent in selling the Furman family’s 94 ACRES on Pittman Road, Greenville, to Adam and Christina Ness for $360,000. STEVEN SMITH served as both listing and selling agent in selling Jennifer Winney’s 0.65-ACRE lot on Fishers Cove Road, Oconee, to Robert Blinia
BENJI SMITH and JOSH TEW represented the tenant, Coveris Flexibles US LLC, formerly known as Exopack LLC, in leasing 8,258 SF of office space at 11 Brendan Way, Greenville, for their Financial Shared Service Center. CBRE represented the landlord REVA Management Advisors LLC. BENJI SMITH and JOSH TEW represented the landlord, Snow Enterprises LLC, in leasing 3,500 SF of office/retail space at 1559-1563 Laurens Road, Greenville, to tenants Staffworks Group, Palmetto Health Pros and Liberty Tax, also represented by Flagship Properties. BENJI SMITH and JOSH TEW represented the landlord, Jenbella Properties LLC, in leasing 1,514 SF of office space at 3519 Pelham Road, Greenville, to Visions International LLC. The tenant was represented by Lee and Associates. BENJI SMITH and JOSH TEW represented the tenant, Alexium Inc., in leasing 1,275 SF office space at 148 Milestone Way, Greenville. Flagship Properties also represented the landlord, PI Holdings II.
of Langston/Black represented the tenant, DRC Investments LLC, located at 162-A Kerns Ave. COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL CAINE ANNOUNCED: TIM SATTERFIELD represented the landlord, Palmetto Belk LLC, in the leasing of a +3,500 SF retail space at 113 N. Church St., Spartanburg, to the tenant, Growler Haus 2 LLC. TIM SATTERFIELD represented the landlord, Palmetto Belk LLC, in the leasing of a +2,108 SF retail space at 100 E. Main St., Spartanburg, to the tenant, OEC Graphics Inc. TIM SATTERFIELD represented the purchaser, 2320 South Pine LLC, in the sale of a +20,000 SF industrial building at 2320 S. Pine St., Spartanburg, from the seller, Three Brothers Pine Street LLC.
TIM SATTERFIELD and BEAU GUNN represented the seller, DMS Investments LLC, in the sale of a +1,584 SF retail building at 204 E. Rutherford St., Landrum, to the purchaser, Shawn Armstrong. DAVID SIGMON represented the sellers, Thomas Ray Shaleuly, James David Shaleuly and Jerome Patrick Shaleuly, in the sale of a +3,757 SF retail building at 2227 Augusta St., Greenville, to the purchaser, Fairway Investments Inc. GEORGE ZIMMERMAN represented the seller, Simpsonville Interstate Joint Venture, in the sale of +19.4 acres of vacant land at W. Georgia Road, Simpsonville, to the purchaser, Tango Alpha Management Co., LLC.
Remember when you had lots of time? Neither do we. That’s why we designed the Undergraduate Evening Studies program for motivated students who want to complete their degree, quickly, affordably, conveniently. With tuition that is competitive with other non-traditional programs, plus evening classes that work with your busy schedule, Furman has everything you need
AVISON YOUNG ANNOUNCED:
to achieve your dream.
SHAWN HAMMOND and JOHN ODOM represented the landlord, Hammond Realty LLC, in the leasing of a 1,960 SF retail space at 1941 Woodruff Road, Greenville, to Tropical Grille. Ford Elliot of Elliot & Company LLC represented the tenant.
Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration or Accounting
SPECTRUM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, LLC ANNOUNCED:
Coursework in Pre-CPA, Pre-MBA, and Pre-CMA To learn how Furman can tailor a program that works for you, find us at: furman.edu/forwardwithfurman email ues@furman.edu, or call 864.294.3160
BRENT L. FREEMAN represented the landlord in leasing approximately 7,650 SF in two flex space units on Kerns Avenue, Greenville. Rachel Neves Veltri represented the tenant, Renaissance Company Inc., located at 162-B Kerns Ave.; and Jay Stephens
March 28, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 27
UBJ THE FINE PRINT Clemson Bioengineering, Advanced Materials to Present to Investors
InnoVenture will provide opportunities for investors to see presentations from bioengineering and advanced materials researchers and entrepreneurs 3 to 7 p.m. April 22 at Clemson University’s Madren Center. The event is part of the InnoVenture series. “InnoVenture has long been a bright spot for fostering a regional ecosystem for the formation and growth of high-impact companies,” said Dr. John Ballato, vice president for economic development at Clemson University. “This event specifically focuses InnoVenture’s network and mindset on Clemson and will provide our faculty, staff and students a forum to talk about their ideas and capabilities that we anticipate will drive industry/university collaborations and economic impact.” The bioengineering track will feature discussions on a superior
method for soft tissue stabilization, MeduSim solutions, a mobile application for detection of skin abnormalities, and other topics. Additionally, Mike Gara of CUBEInC, Tom McLean of Norgenix Pharmaceuticals, Michael Bolick of Selah Genomics, Erin Ford of Upstate SC Alliance, and Lisa Perpall of CURF will be speaking. The advanced materials learning track includes talks on nanotechnology, an electron microscopy laboratory, a light imaging facility, and other topics. Additionally, Chris Desozia of Milliken & Co., George Wofford of Sealed Air, Claudio Bizzaglia of Tile Council of NA, Jacob Hickman of Upstate SC Alliance, and Bethany Acampora of CURF will speak. It is free to attend the learning tracks, but registration is required. For more information, visit clemson.innoventure.com.
Pacolet Milliken Acquires Cooper River Partners Pacolet-Milliken Enterprises Inc. recently acquired Cooper River Partners, the owner and operator of Bushy Park Industrial Complex, a 1,600-acre industrial park in Charleston. Bushy Park houses eight tenants and features businesses including Jacobs, Perigon Engineering, Phillips Industrial Services and SunChemical. According to a news release, the eight manufacturers have collectively invested $1.2 billion in the area and created thousands of jobs. Additionally, Cooper River Partners supply energy, utility and infrastructure services such as steam, nitrogen, compressed air, process water and refrigeration, and
deep-water and rail access, to its tenants at Bushy Park. “The team at Bushy Park is very excited about Pacolet Milliken’s investment in this asset,” said Marc Fetten, president and CEO of Cooper River Partners, in a release. “The company’s values align very well with Bushy Park’s commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and focus on providing opportunities and employment for the people of South Carolina. Pacolet Milliken’s commitment to continuing the growth of technology-oriented and high-value-added manufacturing at this location will help recruit quality companies to our region.”
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Photos Provided
Upstate Journal Upstate Business Business Journal
UBJ THE FINE PRINT Hotel Domestique Announces Additions
Spartanburg Community College to Build New Technology Center
Photo Provided
Hotel Domestique, the 13-room boutique hotel opened last year by Rich and George Hincapie, announced that it will add a new café and bike shop. The new café, Café 17, is set to open this spring and will serve gourmet coffee, pastries and baked goods. “Café 17 is a natural extension of Restaurant 17,” said Adam Cook, chef of the hotel’s Restaurant 17, in a release. “It’s a way for us to highlight our growing pastry program, and
certainly an added amenity for our hotel guests and local visitors.” Additionally, the hotel will launch its outdoor seating for Restaurant 17 this spring, and its outdoor pizza oven is scheduled to start cooking in June. The hotel has also added a bike shop, which will offer BMC road bikes to rent along with pre-plotted ride routes ranging from eight to 80 miles. Group rides will also begin again this spring.
Spartanburg Community College (SCC) plans to break ground this fall at its Cherokee Campus on a $5.9 million technology center. The facility will be similar to SCC’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies, which houses the college’s automated technology, mechatronics, electronics, engineering and machine-tool technology programs, located at its Spartanburg location. “This building is the result of the needs in Cherokee County for man-
ufacturing-related programs,” said Ray Switzer, vice president of business affairs at SCC. “Programming will include welding, machine-tool technology, automated technology and mechatronics/electronics technology. We are looking at this new facility turning out as many as 300 students graduating per year.” The new center will be a 27,245-square-foot facility. The building is slated for groundbreaking in the fall and completion before classes begin in August 2015.
Rendering Provided
Fluor Completes Cytec Carbon Fibers $300M Expansion Fluor Corporation recently announced the mechanical completion for Cytec Carbon Fibers LLC’s Piedmont manufacturing facility. The project, a facility expansion, will be used to produce aerospace carbon fiber for aircraft and related use and will be integrated with Cytec’s existing operations. Officials have said the new facility is intended to double Cytec’s carbon fiber
manufacturing capacity and provide additional capability to meet the demand for next-generation carbon fibers. It will support the expected build rate increases in Cytec’s commercial transport, business jet and rotorcraft market segments, the company said. “Fluor is pleased to have reached this significant completion milestone for Cytec,” said Juan G. Her-
nandez, president of industrial services for Fluor, in a release. “Our company’s successful track record of 80-plus years in South Carolina and the southeast U.S. with our Greenville operations center as the
March 28, 2014
hub exemplifies the value we bring to clients locally and across the globe.” Fluor began providing full procurement and construction management services in July 2012.
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 29
UBJ SOCIAL SNAPSHOT 2.
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NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL MARCH MADNESS EVENT
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Last week, Northwestern Mutual held a March Madness event at American Roadside in Greenville. 1. Bruce Fowler and Don Clardy 2. Jay Hatten supervising Anna Hatten, Riley Campbell, Will Hatten and Catherine Hatten 3. Tee Hooper and Zach Banks 4. Mike Dowling and Mark Clary 5. Rajeev Jindal, winner of giveaway, and John Tripoli​ 6. Peter Dumont, Todd Whitely and Amanda Dumont 7. Ann Golden and Myles Golden 8. Barry Lynch and Dane Pierce 9. Steve Grant and Cathy Breazeale 10. Luanne Runge and Dave Ellison 11. John Kaup, Charles Eldridge and Ted Ellefson 30 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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By Jeremy Bishop, director of sales, Residence Inn by Marriott, Greenville Chamber Sales Roundtable Committee
UBJ THE TAKEAWAY
Negotiating Principles, Processes and Payoffs John Horton on the art of getting what you want – from somebody who wants something from you ed sales strategy.” EVENT: The Greenville Chamber’s Sales Roundtable WHO WAS THERE: More than 55 attendees SPEAKER: John Horton, owner of Corporate Energy
PURPOSE, PROCESS AND PAYOFF
With a conversational and interactive style, John Horton engaged attendees through an interactive process of completing a “Negotek Attitudes Questionnaire” to reveal the following:
TOPIC: Negotiating • Individual negotiating attitudes
On the third Wednesday of each month, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce hosts the Sales Roundtable meeting. The Sales Roundtable meetings provide exceptional speakers and relevant topics offering sales professionals and business owners the opportunity to learn best practices, innovative ideas, and expand and enhance their professional skills. The featured speaker for February was John Horton, owner of Corporate Energy, whose experience in motivational, leadership development, and sales skill building workshops and training provided more than 55 attendees with tremendous insight into the topic of negotiating.
NEGOTIATION DEFINITION AND DIFFERENCE
• Negotiating attitudes determining behavior patterns • Understanding how our behavior and beliefs influence our approach to negotiating As each attendee ranked their responses to attitudes and approach statements, Horton guided attendees through a ranking guide, resulting in a personalized diagram charting four quadrants of “Red: Obvious and Devious” or “Blue: Softer and Assertive” behavioral styles. Horton described those who typically chart in the red zone are “takers” in nature – revealed by aggressive, competitive and dominant traits evident in must-win, bluffing, coercive and exploitive sales strategies. Those ranking high in the blue zone
feature characteristics of “givers,” which are evident in assertive, cooperative and relationship-based approaches – viewing “each deal leading to others,” and likely dominated or submitting to others through negotiations. The optimal attitudes and behaviors, according to Horton, are those resulting in a “purple” blend of red and blue characteristics – adaptable to various situations and contexts.
TAKEAWAYS
While the questionnaire results varied by attendee, Horton illustrated the capability for each person to increase their negotiating sales strategies and skill sets through the following:
APR
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NEXT SALES ROUNDTABLE Intro on Value Proposition Details: greenvillechamber.org
• Behavior and relationship-based perspective • Understanding the “trade” benefit • The continual process of preparing, relating and debating in negotiations • Developing the language of deal-making • The importance of having fun through the process
Horton began with a definition of negotiating as “the process by which we obtain what we want from somebody who wants something from us.” Further, Horton stated the differences of great negotiators exist in the ability to negotiate or “trade” with others through coaching “learning behavior shifts” in a “replicated and duplicat-
The next Sales Roundtable, “Intro on Value Proposition With a Speed Networking Format,” is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more and register at greenvillechamber.org.
March 28, 2014
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New hires, promotions & award winners can be featured in On The Move. Send information & photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
UBJ ON THE MOVE HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
SELECTED
Stefanie Wilson
Katie Knobeloch
Joshua Chriscoe
Stinson Ferguson
Hired as operations manager at Wagner Wealth Management. Wilson is currently seeking her Bachelor of Accounting degree after returning from a year of teaching abroad in Seoul, South Korea.
Joined OnPoint CFO & Controller Services. Knobeloch received a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management from Clemson University. Prior to joining OnPoint, she worked in the corporate accounting department at Edens, a Columbia-based real estate developer.
Joined Shertech Pharmaceuticals LLC as business development director. Chriscoe is a graduate of East Carolina University and joins Shertech Pharmaceuticals after eight years with GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics Division.
Selected for The Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative. Ferguson is an associate in Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd’s Greenville office. She is a member of the United Way of Greenville County’s Young Philanthropists and the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, and sits on the board of directors for the Warehouse Theatre.
VIP – HIRED TERRY KNAUSE Joined accounting firm Scott and Company as a partner in the firm. Knause also serves as a senior lecturer for Clemson University on a range of accounting topics. He joins Scott and Company’s Assurance and Advisory Services Team after more than two decades as a partner with Deloitte & Touche.
32 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
EDUCATION: Clemson University recently announced that John Ballato, professor of materials science and engineering, director of the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies and academic director for the Clemson University Restoration Institute, is taking on additional duties as vice president for economic development; and George Askew, associate vice president of public service and agriculture (PSA), will be the university’s vice president for public service and agriculture. Ballato takes on areas previously led by John Kelly, who assumed the presidency of Florida Atlantic University earlier this month. Askew already manages day-to-day PSA operations and, as vice president, will become part of the president’s executive leadership team. Additionally, the Clemson Alumni Association awarded Charles Dalton, an Upstate
March 28, 2014
business leader and president of IPTAY, the university’s highest alumni honor, the Distinguished Service Award.
INSURANCE: Brown & Brown Insurance Company recently awarded Bob Langley the company’s Lifetime Bounty Hunter Achievement Award. Langley is the first agent within the company to be presented with this achievement for production.
MANUFACTURING: Wood Group Mustang recently promoted Tim Griffin to vice president of industrial operations, leading the company’s North American industrial division based in Greenville. Griffin joined Wood Group Mustang in 2011.
MEDICAL: The St. Francis Foundation recently announced the chairman and six new members of its
board of directors. They are: Lee Palms, commercial broker/sales leader with KeenanSuggs, as the chairman; and Victoria Kirby, ideation consultant with Calibrating Excellence LLC; Mike Munafo, retired CFO of Ominsource Corp.; Steve Owings, partner of Osprey-Lanett LLC; Caroline Schmitt, self-employed holistic nutritionist; David Beard, executive vice president of CertusBank N.A.; and Mike Kiriakides, principal/owner KDS Commercial Properties LLC as its new board members.
NONPROFIT: ReWiGo Ministries recently added Ryan Garrison, Burgess Metcalf and Will Gregory to its board of directors. Garrison is a principal with Greenwise Design & Co. Construction, Metcalf is a forensic architect with Construction Science and Engineering, and Gregory is the owner of Palmetto Insurance in Clemson.
UBJ NEW TO THE STREET
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3 The Hayes Agency recently moved to 24 Vardy St., Suite 401, in Greenville. The new office offers auto, home, life and disability insurance for individuals and various types of businesses insurance. Additionally, they provide financial and retirement planning for clients. For more information, visit hayesagency.net or call 864-551-4267.
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2 Arthur Rutenberg Homes recently opened at 205 Chamblee Blvd. in Greenville. For more information, call 864-558-0066 or visit arthurrutenberghomes.com.
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1 Technetguys recently cut the ribbon at 945 Hwy. 8 in Pelzer. For more information, call 864-556-4896 or visit technetguys.com.
Sullivan St.
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 33
GOT A HOT DATE?
UBJ PLANNER FRIDAY MARCH 28 THE FRIDAY FORUM Embassy Suites, 670 Verdae Blvd., Greenville; 8–9:30 a.m. TOPIC: NEXT High School Panel Discussion COST: $12 for Greenville Chamber members, $20 for nonchamber members with full buffet breakfast REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org NORTH GREENVILLE ROTARY CLUB The Poinsett Club, 807 E. Washington St., Greenville; 12:30-1:30 p.m. COST: Free to attend, lunch $16 CONTACT: Shanda Jeffries at 864-968-2319 or sjeffries@flynn wealth.com HR SEMINAR Thornblade Club, 1275 Thornblade Blvd., Greer; 8 a.m.-noon SPEAKERS: Tom Bright and Janet Lewis,
Contribute to our Planner by submitting event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com
attorneys with Ogletree Deakins Law Firm TOPIC: The Evolving Workforce: Changing Compliance Requirements for Individuals with Disabilities, and for Veterans COST: $95 per person, includes continental breakfast and materials; pre-paid reservations are required. CONTACT: 864-242-1050 REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org or call 864-585-1007
MONDAY MARCH 31 GCS ROUNDTABLE The Office Center at the Point, 33 Market Point Drive, Greenville; 8:30-9:30 a.m. SPEAKER: Myles Golden
118 NE Main St., Simpsonville; noon-1 p.m. SPEAKERS: John Baker, executive director of the Greenville Region Workforce Collaborative; Tom von Berg, Integrated Management Resources; and Dean Jones, director of Greenville County Workforce Development TOPIC: Workforce Development in the Upstate
Call Golden Career Strategies at 864-527-0425 to request an invitation
COST: $15 per person CONTACT: Jennifer Richardson at jrichardson@ simpsonvillechamber. com REGISTER AT: simpsonvillechamber. com ROTARY CLUB GREENVILLE EAST MEETING
CONTACT: president@ greenvilleeastrotary.org
LEGISLATIVE LUNCH SERIES Simpsonville City Hall,
TOPIC: Benefits in the Workplace COST: $25 per person
TUESDAY APRIL 1 GSHRM MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Behavioral Science at Clemson University
goldenstriptoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org
TOPIC: The Nonprofit Experiment - Entrepreneurial Principles
CONTACT: Prasad Patchipulusu at pprasa1@hotmail.com
FOR INFORMATION: greenvillehr.shrm.org
COST: Free to Greenville Chamber members, $20 for non-members
CONTACT: greenvillehr@gmail.com
CONTACT: 864-242-1050
TOASTMASTERS BILINGUE
CityRange, 615 Haywood Road, Greenville; 12:30-1:30 p.m.
TOPIC: Emotional Intelligence
Thornblade Club, 1275 Thornblade Blvd., Greer; 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
University Center, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Auditorium Room 204, Greenville; noon–1 p.m. FOR INFORMATION: tmbilingue. toastmastersclubs.org CONTACT: Jeff Alfonso at jeff@ alfonsointerpreting.com NON-PROFIT ALLIANCE Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; noon–1:30 p.m. SPEAKER: Matthew Klein, founding partner of BlackBaud and lecturer for the College of Business and
REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org NXLEVEL FOR ENTREPRENEURS USC Upstate, The George Business College, Room 270, 160 E. St. John St., Spartanburg; 6–9 p.m. FEE: $195 for 6 weeks CONTACT: Beth Smith at es2@clemson.edu REGISTER AT: clemson. edu/centers-institutes/ sbdc GOLDEN STRIP TOASTMASTERS Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 739 N. Main St., Mauldin; 7–8 p.m. COST: Free for guests FOR INFORMATION:
WEDNESDAY APRIL 2 MANUFACTURERS ROUNDTABLE Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 12:30-1:30 p.m. TOPIC: Pitch Your Issue Panel COST: Free to Greenville Chamber members, $15 for guests CONTACT: Darlene Parker at 864-2393706 REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org
THURSDAY APRIL 3 GCS TOASTMASTER TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville; noon-1 p.m. CONTACT: Ann or Myles Golden at agolden@golden careerstrategies.com or myles@golden careerstrategies.com
A different reason to join us at Soby's on the Side each day of the week!
Hot BBQ Dog Monday Tuesday
34 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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Baked Grilled Potato Cheese Wednesday Thursday
$4 Friday
Saturday Brunch
UBJ SNAPSHOT
Historic photo available from the Greenville Historical Society. From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,” by Jeffrey R. Willis
The west side of the block between Coffee and North streets offered the Main Street shopper two major department stores: W.T. Grant and MyersArnold. In a circa 1920 building on the northwest corner of Coffee Street, Grant’s was immediately across Main from the Bank of Commerce. The Grant building represented a transitional style between the heavily ornamented facades of the 19th century and the windowless, laminated storefronts of the mid20th century. Along with Kress’s and Woolworth’s, Grant’s formed a trio of five-and-dime stores to be found on most Main Streets throughout the nation. In the late 1930s Main Street shoppers still observed the standard dress conventions. Throughout the year, hats were standard attire for men. Straw hats were worn in warm weather and felt hats during the autumn and winter.
Today the Grant building is gone but the building that was once occupied by Myers-Arnold is home to Mast General Store. The building where the Grant building once stood is home to Verizon Wireless and Proaxis Therapy, among others.
Photo by Greg Beckner
STAFF WRITERS Sherry Jackson, Cindy Landrum, April A. Morris, Joe Toppe CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jeanne Putnam PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Beckner 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 Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER Jennifer Oladipo
MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Kristi Jennings, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Lindsey Oehman, Pam Putman MARKETING & EVENTS Kate Banner DIGITAL STRATEGIST Emily Price ART & PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR Kristy M. Adair OPERATIONS Holly Hardin ADVERTISING DESIGN Michael Allen, Whitney Fincannon CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley, Jane Rogers
UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties. Guest columns run 700-800 words. Contact Executive Editor Susan Clary Simmons at ssimmons@communityjournals. com to submit an article for consideration.
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PO Box 2266, Greenville, SC 29602 Phone: 864-679-1200 | communityjournals.com Copyright @2014 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. P.O. Box 2266, Greenville, South Carolina, 29602. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $65. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, P.O. Box 2266, Greenville, SC 29602. Printed in the USA.
March 28, 2014
events@ upstatebusinessjournal.com
NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AWARDS: onthemove@ upstatebusinessjournal.com
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 35
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