APRIL 11, 2014
LAURENS ROAD’S
REANIMATION Developers and city officials hope that a $100 million, 100-acre project could bring new life to one of Greenville’s oldest commercial corridors
WHAT’S YOUR BRIGHT IDEA?
CLEMSON.EDU/MBA
UBJ ECONOMY
Report: Statewide Labor Market Improves By Joe Toppe | staff | jtoppe@communityjournals.com
A recent report issued by the
slight decrease in manufacturing hours, a rise in residential building permits, and a drop in regional unemployment rates for the month of February.
South Carolina Department of Commerce highlighted an improving statewide labor market over the last year. The report also indicated a
Ã Ã Ä Ã
KEY S.C. INDICATORS INCOME
+0.5%
+0.4%
State Personal Income – increased to $171.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013. (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
South Carolina Stock Index – gained 0.51 points in February, closing at 116.27 on the last trading day of the month. (Bloomberg)
REAL ESTATE
-1.2%
+12.5%
Ã Ä Ã Ä Ã
Single-Family Home Sales Price – decreased by $1,812 to $152,931 in February. (South Carolina Association of Realtors)
Residential Building Permits – increased by 276 permits from the previous month to 2,486 permits issued in February. (U.S. Census Bureau)
Source: South Carolina Department of Commerce
EMPLOYMENT
+0.1%
-0.3%
+0.7% -6.9%
+1.1%
Nonfarm Employment – increased 2,100 non-seasonally adjusted jobs in February from the prior month. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Labor Force – decreased by 5,460 to 2,163,828, seasonally-adjusted, in February. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Unemployment Rate – fell by 0.5 percent to 5.7 percent for the month of February. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Over the last 12 months, the Palmetto State’s labor market has seen an increase of 33,800 nonfarm jobs, placing South Carolina in the top third of the nation with the second-fastest-growing payroll employment in the region. The state also added more than 5,000 professional and business services jobs during the last year, with over 4,500 jobs in manufacturing and over 3,000 jobs in the construction sector. Since February 2013, private sector job growth drove all positive movement, while local, state, and federal employment dropped by 100 positions. Although numbers revealed a rise in statewide employment, a decline in the average number of manufacturing hours worked in the State of South Carolina was reported at 6.9 percent for the second month of 2014, down to 39.0 hours from Jan-
uary’s average of 41.9 hours each week. Compared to the 8.5 percent issued nationwide, an increase of 12.5 percent in the number of residential building permits issued throughout the state was reported during the month of February. Compared to the same time last year, the valuation of all residential building permits issued in South Carolina was up 34.4 percent in February of 2014. The estimate for all February permits totaled $421.49 million statewide. Unemployment rates for both the Greenville MSA and the Spartanburg MSA improved in the second month of the year. Greenville’s unemployment rate dipped from 5.4 percent in January to 4.3 percent in February while Spartanburg’s unemployment rate dropped from 6.2 percent in January to 4.9 percent in February.
Manufacturing Weekly Hours – decreased by 2.9 hours to 39.0 hours in February from 41.9 hours in January. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Available Online Job Postings – increased by 700 positions in February to a seasonallyadjusted 62,200 job postings. (The Conference Board Help Wanted Online Index)
April 11, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 3
Volume 3, Issue 15
April 11, 2014
WORTH REPEATING “Analysts have been writing about [World Acceptance Corp.] for the last five years, saying they’re going to go bankrupt next year.” Bruce Roberts, research analyst with Fintrust Investment Advisors, on the implications of recent scrutiny on payday lenders.
“We are not interested in a return to shareholders; we are interested in getting power to the people who need it.”
“You don’t go to school hoping to become the VP for economic development.” John Ballato, on the “strange twist of fate” that led him to become Clemson’s new vice president for economic development.
Photo by Greg Beckner
Jim Donahoo, spokesman for Laurens Electric MONEY SHOT: Archer and bow hunter David Starnes takes aim at the ribbon to cut it with an arrow at Cabela’s grand opening ceremony last week.
TBA Lily Wikoff, owner of Lily Pottery located on Pendleton Street in the Village of West Greenville, has applied for a business license at 220 Coffee St. … Look for a new restaurant, Misos, coming soon to 18 S. Main St. …
4 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
April 11, 2014
VERBATIM
On Cutting the Ribbon… “No pressure.” David Starnes, an employee of the new Cabela’s store in Greenville and archery champion who cut the ribbon on the store last Thursday by firing an arrow at it (as reported in the Spartanburg Herald Journal).
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Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM) and its subsidiaries. NCAA is a trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
UBJ
CONFERENCES
Erwin Penland Conference Pitches Greenville to Attendees By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer | joladipo@communityjournals.com
With its Food for Thought conference, Erwin Penland has encouraged thought leaders from various industries to chew on the idea of Greenville for the past seven years. “We were finding that this area was still not as known for the creative class of people that was beginning to populate our area,” said Joe Erwin, president of Erwin Penland. The conference was designed to combat the kind of perceptions that led industry colleagues to joke about whether people in Greenville wear shoes, Erwin said. Conference sessions are held throughout the Greenville area April 29 through May 1, including Fluor Field and the BMW Performance Center. The small conference is capped at just 100 attendees, 10 of whom are given scholarships to cover all travel and conference costs. Most are CEOs of companies throughout the country. Several work in marketing, though Erwin said Food For Thought is not a marketing conference. “We want presenters who are using creativity to change the world. Just so we
don’t sound too high and mighty, the world might be 10 square blocks in Harlem,” Erwin said. There is a bit of an activist mission, he said. Still, a new digital marketing panel featuring heads of marketing at 20th Century Fox, The Coca-Cola Company, Michelin and other companies will offer solutions for smaller companies still struggling with the transition to digital. The food aspect has less to do with impressive culinary displays than opportunities for people to open up and talk. At the Fluor Field session, people will be eating hot dogs and other ballpark foods. Mornings offer opportunities for group runs on the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail. “I’ve called this conference kind of the un-TED conference,” Erwin said. “It’s inspired by TED, but unlike TED which is huge, we want people to interact with presenters. Many of them stay for the duration.” The event is not a moneymaker, but a valuable experience for Erwin Penland staff and attendees, who maintain relationships and ties to Greenville after they leave.
“I’ve called this conference kind of the un-TED conference. It’s inspired by TED, but unlike TED which is huge, we want people to interact with presenters. Many of them stay for the duration.” Joe Erwin
6 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
April 11, 2014
FOOD FOR THOUGHT APRIL 29-MAY 1 EPFFT.COM
Bradshaw Leaves TD for UCB By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer joladipo@communityjournals.com
Last week Richard Bradshaw became president of specialized lending at United Community Bank (UCB). “I had a good position at TD Bank, but this role provides me with broader responsibilities across a more strategic role,” Bradshaw said. He was previously head of Small Business Administration (SBA) programs at TD Bank since 2010. TD Bank has yet to name Bradshaw’s successor. A spokesperson said in a written response, “TD Bank has long been a leader in SBA lending, consistently making steady increases in dollar and loan volume, and piloting new SBA programs. We are currently interviewing candidates for the role of head of SBA to continue to grow our SBA business.” Bradshaw will head the SBA lending program at UCB in addition to overseeing all lines of commercial lending across the bank’s footprint. Bradshaw was recruited to UCB by president Lynn Harton. Harton had hired Bradshaw to work with SBA lending at Carolina First five years ago. “Rich and I have always shared the same vision for SBA lending,” Harton said. “Done correctly, SBA lending provides significant advantages to our customers by offering extended terms and lower payments than they could otherwise obtain. There are parts of SBA lending that can be very technical; however, Rich knows how to make the technicalities transparent to our customers. His expertise is second to none.” Bradshaw said the bank aims to expand SBA lending within UCB’s current footprint and also expand its program nationally. The national program will lend in targeted industries: franchises, manufacturers and
professional services, which have low risk of default. “Within the footprint, we will be lending in a much broader sense, but we will be BRADSHAW focusing more on the needs of small biz within in the communities we support. I would not have come over if that weren’t the case,” Bradshaw said. The same aforementioned industries will be attractive, but the focus will be on case-by-case considerations. He has begun recruiting staff and expects to take on about 20 new people in the first year, some of whom will be based in Greenville. Bradshaw has specialized in SBA lending since 1995. Carolina First became and remained the No. 1 SBA lender in the state under his tenure before it was acquired by TD Bank. He then led TD to become the seventh-largest SBA lender in the nation. He had previously served as president at UPS Capital Business Credit in Atlanta, where, under his direction, the bank tripled SBA origination volume during the SBA’s 2008 fiscal year. In the past 20 years, he said the most significant changes to the program have been times when it was completely shut down, and another time when loan sizes were restricted to $500,000 and no refinancing. Then the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act increased that limit to $5 million and changed the definition of a small business, thereby doubling the number of businesses that could receive the loans.
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by the Purveyors of Classic American Style
Suit Up! You will feel better! After the Dot Com Bubble popped in 2001 and the financial crisis of 2008, we have all become more serious in our work. We have focused on working harder and smarter to be more competitive. Companies have sharpened their marketing and brand to increase their advantage. As individuals, men have responded by enhancing their appearances through wearing more suits for work and for social events. The days of being more casual in the workplace are in decline and are trending toward a dressier, professional look. Wearing a suit puts you in a more serious mood helping you to be more focused and more productive. What you wear to work not only has an effect on how you feel about yourself but also how others think of you as well. Let’s face the facts: every man looks better when wearing a suit. A suit makes you look taller and stronger. It provides you with a one-color covering of your body which, if fitted properly, will hide your imperfections. It will hide your stomach and make your shoulders and chest seem broader, giving you a fitter appearance. You can’t help feeling good about yourself and that feeling will project confidence. You feel more important. You look successful. And others see you in the same way. When wearing a suit, you look more mature, confident and ready for business. Surveys show that people view a man in a suit as someone who can more easily make difficult decisions. Many CEOs feel that by wearing a suit for work, one shows respect for their position, company and for those with whom one works. At Rush Wilson Limited, we are seeing more of the younger generation buying suits for not only job interviews and special occasions, but also for everyday work wear. They realize that wearing a suit helps them look and feel more mature and confident and gives them an edge. So, Suit Up! Sharpen your personal brand and packaging. Project your confidence, success, quality and leadership at work. Show respect to your special someone by looking your best. Feel great about yourself and that feeling will be noticed by others.
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April 11, 2014
J44
UBJ BANKING
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 7
For our
60th BirthdAy UBJ celeBrAtion
APPAREL
New CEO and Partnership at Southern Tide
We proudly preSent our neW, StAte-oF-the-Art lAundry depArtment.
By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer | joladipo@communityjournals.com
Southern Tide became the Greenville Drive’s official apparel provider this year, and the companies announced last week that Southern Tide is also the new sponsor of the 500 Club at Fluor Field. With the sponsorship, the beer garden’s name changes to the Southern Tide 500 Club. It has been redesigned to fit the nautical theme that reflects the apparel company’s brand. Southern Tide CEO Chris Heyn, whose appointment was announced last week, said working with the Greenville Drive is great opportunity for local partnership and reflection of the brand. “They’re like a major-league operation. The property they have, how they run their events,
noW providinG the FineSt quAlity cleAninG And preSSinG oF lAundered ShirtS, pAntS, lAB coAtS And home linenS.
US Manufacturing Resurgence Creates Ripple Effect in Upstate
Lafayette Scientific Cleaners
By Joe Toppe | staff | jtoppe@communityjournals.com
Because you demand the best. Serving the Upstate for 60 years
Personalized Cleaning & Hand Finishing 1707 Augusta Street | Greenville 864.242.5606
the outreach programs Nautica Sportswear, Nautica they have with their fans Jeans Company and Nautica – it’s truly remarkable.” Apparel Inc. Calling Southern Tide’s Heyn said such partnerships are among Southern development a typical American success story, Tide’s best opportunities for growth. However, the Heyn said he has been a fan company’s main focus is to of founder Allen Stephenson for years. “maintain the existing energy and product devel“They started making the HEYN opment for existing acknits and wovens in their counts, building and developing basement piece by piece, not just content for our specialty stores.” about the design aspect for Allen, but Assisting with branding at more than also how it feels and performs,” he 700 specialty stores would be the next said. “David Chu [founder of Nautica] step, he said. had that same passion and energy Heyn previously served as CEO and with attention to detail I see in Allen.” chairman of Summit Golf Brands, a He said the most pressing issue in marketer of premium golf and sports- apparel right now is to take advantage wear products. Heyn also of the resurgence in popularity of served as the chief oper- sportswear, marked by consumers’ ating officer and manag- interest in greater personal expression ing director for D.C. through the clothing. Companies are Management Group, as competing to offer the best materials, well as the president of designs and authentic brands, he said.
In the wake of BMW’s $1 billion expansion and a resurgence of American manufacturing in full swing, the Upstate of South Carolina is compiling a skilled workforce and mobilizing for development. Already a hub of manufacturing, the region is in a unique position to prosper during the resurgence, said S.C. Sen. Larry Martin of Pickens. The Upstate has an established reputation for quality manufacturing, he said. An established market is where
8 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
April 11, 2014
new and expanding opportunities naturally migrate. Brian Gallagher, director of marketing for construction company O’Neal Inc., said the reshoring of manufacturing has been building for several years. A number of key trends and factors are driving the resurgence, he said, including energy cost, transportation and labor costs, supply chain concerns, intellectual property protection, and technology and automation advancement.
There is also a degree of pent-up demand as many domestic and foreign manufacturers delayed investments during the recession. Companies sitting on cash reserves are now making capital investments in expansions and new plants, he said. BMW’s most recent investment in the Palmetto State will mark the second of its kind in 2014. Toray, a carbon fiber company based in Tokyo, will create 500 new jobs with its $1 billion expansion >>
>> in Spartanburg County after company officials predicted the United States would regain its industrial competitiveness following the shale gas and oil revolution and the subsequent revival in manufacturing. The reduced cost of natural gas in the United States is due to the advances in extraction technologies such as drilling techniques and the ability to access new and deeper reserves, Gallagher said. The lower cost of shale gas and the surge in natural gas liquids supply has helped the U.S. move from being a high-cost producer of key petrochemicals and resins to among the lowest-cost producers globally, he said. In addition to the chemical industry, the lower cost of shale gas has also impacted other industries including automotive, advanced materials, nonwovens, plastics, pharmaceuticals and general manufacturing. Chip Winters, Milliken’s senior vice president and manufacturing general manager, said the company’s strategy has been to locate production as close to the serviced markets as possible. The cheaper cost of shale gas will enable Milliken to maintain close relationships with customers while gaining better insight into market needs, he said. By doing this, Milliken will continue its strong manufacturing presence in the U.S. while growing operations in both Europe and Asia. As manufacturing in the Upstate experiences a renewal and companies demand a trained workforce, Clemson University is reshaping its curriculum to meet the needs of employers. Manufacturing floors are now hightech and many of the jobs require special skills, said Kris Frady, director of operations at the Clemson University Center for Workforce Development. “We developed our curriculum by listening to industry needs,” she said. “Clemson and others in the state have been providing a steady supply of technicians, engineers and scientists that manufacturers need to succeed.” Clemson University researchers have developed a four-part curriculum designed to equip students for
manufacturing jobs. The program teaches manufacturing basics including maintenance, safety and micrometer use, while helping students prepare for possible certification through the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council. Because the basic skills performed in a manufacturing plant are not usually taught in school, “the time for training is now,” said Hope Rivers, vice president for academic and student affairs for the state Technical College System. Through programs offered in the Corporate and Career Development Division, Greenville Technical College is contributing to the industry’s resurgence, said school president Dr. Keith Miller. “The school was established in the 1960s to create the skilled workforce companies need for success, and that remains our focus,” he said. The technical college’s Quick Jobs with a Future program provides training in approximately 90 days or less. 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 handson training and is comprised of threecore certificates including MSSC Certified Production Technician, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, and OSHA General Industry. South Carolina offers manufacturers a unique combination of a trained work force, business-friendly environment, access to ports and infrastructure, an established supply chain, and aggressive economic development incentives, Gallagher said. “We’ve been fortunate to have several significant economic development announcements in the last few years, and I believe this will continue for the near future,” he said. “The manufacturing resurgence will include capital investment in new manufacturing plants, expansion and modernization, and the reshoring of manufacturing activities here in the Upstate.”
HR Spring Cleaning Finally, spring has sprung! After this winter, spring could not get here fast enough. Now that spring is here, I feel rejuvenated and have a burst of energy. I am trying to put that energy to good use and I am doing a little spring cleaning both at home and work. The human resources world is always changing and requires constant attention. Although you are busy keeping up with the daily operation of your business and the daily grind of HR requirements; don’t forget to periodically review your process and perform a little spring cleaning.
LEE YARBOROUGH
Here is my list of the top areas of focus for your HR Spring Cleaning:
• I-9s – Are your I-9s up to date? If certain documents, such as passports, alien resident cards or work visas, have expired then you must re-verify. Once an employee is terminated, employers must retain I-9s for 3 years after hire date or one year after employment ends, whichever is greater. Shred any old documents. • E-verify – Perform a spring audit of your e-verify process. Is the verification occurring in the first 3 days? If not, tighten up your internal processes NOW. • Safety – Put on your risk management hat and walk through your location. Look for hazards and fix them immediately. Keep all areas clean and clear. Accidents DO happen because of sloppiness. Don’t let that happen to your employees. • Unemployment Claims – The cost of unemployment insurance rises due to claims. As an employer, be prepared for this. Document employee performance and maintain records of any discipline. Keep your records. Be prepared to contest claims of for-cause terminations. Remember the HR mantra: Document, Document, Document. • Affordable Care Act – For companies with 50 to 99 employees, the ACA requirement of offering health coverage has been delayed until 2016. This does not mean you have time to sit back and relax. Take advantage of this time to strategize and get prepared. 2016 will be here before we know it. The trees are budding and flowers blooming; look to nature for inspiration in your work life. Rejuvenate your HR processes and allow your work to blossom!
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UBJ MANUFACTURING
April 11, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 9
UBJ FINANCE
Study, Probe Hint at Coming Regulations for Payday Lenders By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer | joladipo@communityjournals.com
A recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) might signal regulatory changes on the way for the payday loan industry, according to Bruce Roberts, research analyst with Fintrust Investment Advisors. South Carolina is among the few states where the payday loan industry significantly impacts the economy, mainly in the form of installment loans. The report focuses on the frequency of renewal loans, finding that more than 80 percent of payday loans are rolled over or followed by another loan within
two weeks. About 15 percent of new loans are followed by at least 10 more loans. The consecutive loans often keep payments from applying to principal. “Given what they did on the payday loan, they did a really indepth analysis, and it looks like they’ll be doing much the same with the installment loans,” Roberts said. “They’re putting out these studies right now to gear everybody up for regulation. They’re trying to make their case now so when they come out with rules everybody will understand why.” The report came on the heels of a
recently initiated federal probe of Greenville-based World Acceptance Corp., another indication that the industry intends to target payday lenders. It is the first in an occasional series of publications from CFPB, the agency said in the report. Roberts said World Acceptance was likely targeted because of its more frequent tendency to add services that drive up loan costs. “My guess is they won’t have to stop them, but [CFPB] may force disclosures at point of sale,” Roberts said. He said the industry could possibly MORE THAN 80% expect to see new regulaOF PAYDAY LOANS tions for payday loans are rolled over or followed by over the next 12 to 18 another loan within 14 days. months, perhaps restricting the number of consec15% OF NEW LOANS utive loans or interest are followed by a loan sequence at rates on those loans. least 10 loans long. Such restrictions would target the most FOR MORE THAN 80% profitable businesses of OF LOAN SEQUENCES installment lenders such lasting more than one loan, the last as World Acceptance, loan is the same size or larger than which could respond by the first loan increasing marketing efforts, expanding into 22% OF NEW new territories or lowerBORROWERS ing their APR rates, or who are paid monthly by an some combination. employer averaged at least one “Analysts have been loan per pay period. writing about World for Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau the last five years, saying they’re going to go bankrupt next year,” Roberts said. what’s really happening, with He said the current probe could greater transparency possibly even have a positive effect for the helping to reduce the stigma assocompany by shedding light on ciated with the industry.
PAYDAY LOANS BY THE NUMBERS:
10 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
April 11, 2014
UBJ NEWS
BMW Sales Break Records in March
THE INBOX Stay in the know with UBJ’s free weekly email.
Numbers reinforce company’s decision to invest $1 billion in Greer plant By Joe Toppe | staff | jtoppe@communityjournals.com
With sales of the BMW brand up 18.6 percent, the carmaker is reporting a record-breaking month of March. Compared to 27,078 vehicles sold in March 2013, sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 18.6 percent in March 2014 with a total of 32,107 vehicles sold. During the first three months of the year, the BMW brand was up 11.5 percent on sales with nearly 7,500 more vehicles sold than in the same timeframe last year. Sky Foster, manager of corporate communications at BMW Manufacturing in Greer, said the carmaker was pleased to announce positive gains in sales of the X3 and X5 following the announcement to invest $1 billion and add a new model – the X7 – to the South Carolina plant. “This reinforces the company’s recent decision to invest further in the U.S. plant as demand for the vehicles made in South Carolina continues to be high,” she said. In a statement issued by the company, Ludwig Willisch, president and CEO of BMW North America, said the month’s record-breaking numbers provided a strong start to the spring season. New models from the 2 Series to the 4 Series to the X5 are gaining traction in the marketplace, he said.
“This reinforces the company’s recent decision to invest further in the U.S. plant as demand for the vehicles made in South Carolina continues to be high.” Sky Foster
➤ GO
FIGURE
BMW BRAND SALES…
27,078
vehicles sold in March 2013
32,107
vehicles sold in March 2014
18.6
percent increase from 2013-2014
81,034
vehicles during January, February, and March of 2014
78,957
vehicles during January, February, and March of 2013 BMW AND MINI COMBINED…
33,149
vehicles sold in March 2013
35,000+
vehicles sold in March 2014
7.9
percent increase from 2013-2014 The months of drought will be ending for the MINI as the new Hardtop is arriving and on its way to showrooms. The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported March sales of just over 35,000 vehicles, an increase of 7.9 percent from the 33,149 vehicles sold in the same month one year ago. The BMW Group is up 2.6 percent on sales of 81,034 vehicles during the first three months of 2014 compared to 78,957 vehicles in the same period last year.
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 11
UBJ INNOVATE
By GAIL DEPRIEST
The Hard Truth About Soft Skills Modern corporations are learning the importance of mindfulness and reflection At a recent gathering of human resource professionals from various corporations, the issue of soft skills came up. Leaders spoke candidly about the importance of having employees who know how to manage themselves and their relationships with others. As organizations become leaner and employees are called upon to perform a variety of functions, it becomes more important for them to work well together and depend on one another for success. Developing soft skills allows for smoother interactions between employees and most likely will have a positive effect on the following:
• PRODUCTIVITY: Softs skills
contribute to productivity by helping individuals stay in an emotional “toward” state – working proactively rather than reactively – and by building stronger relationships, enhancing collaboration and increasing accountability.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING: Soft skills contribute to well-being by encouraging social support, reducing stress and helping employees align their actions with their values.
• RETENTION AND EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION: Employees who have a sense of psychological well-being at work feel supported and safe and do not tend to leave this type of culture.
As organizations seek competitive advantage in the workplace, a group of fully engaged employees can spell the difference between success and failure. Organizations are seeking new models and best practices in these areas to find ways to support
employees in order to gain their best contributions and retain them for the long haul. You may have seen the recent Time magazine cover story, “The Mindfulness Revolution.” Corporations such as Apple, Medtronic, Aetna, Google and Goldman Sachs are offering mindfulness classes to calm negative energies and help employees focus on creating innovative products. Some have set up dedicated meditation rooms within the workplace as a symbol of their company’s commitment to mindfulness and creativity. Aside from increasing innovative ideas, practicing mindfulness may have a positive impact on their health care costs over time. When you consider that the use of practices like meditation, reflection and journaling are contributing to the success of many organizations, maybe we should all be taking a look. What these organizations understand is the extreme pressure their employees experience every day. They understand the need for employees to have more time to reflect so they can create ways to overcome difficult challenges. We are all challenged to find ways of sorting through our various daily demands and distractions so that we can achieve more clarity when making important decisions, more creativity in our work and more compassion for our colleagues and clients. To address these issues, students in the Clemson MBA program are now taking an advanced leadership course complete with exercises in mindfulness, journaling and reflection. This 10-step process challenges students to think about how they are managing themselves, how they are helping others be successful and how they are adding value at work.
12 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
April 11, 2014
ONE STUDENT, A BMW ENGINEER, SAID…
“I am nearly certain that advanced leadership class might be the single most important course of my MBA journey. My perspective on how I can contribute to the workplace has taken on a whole new dimension, one that will be much more fulfilling.” Management and leadership research in the past few decades has significantly enhanced our understanding of human workplace behavior, and with the recent emergence of neuroscience, the benefits of soft skills are now supported by hard data. MBA students are using brain science to prioritize more effectively for better allocation of brain resources. This new field of neuroleadership allows for better decision-making, facilitation of change and personal interactions. As part of their educational experience, Clemson MBA students are given a framework that directs their attention on three areas: • Strategies for mindfulness, personal renewal and staying positive • Methods of supporting others through coaching, compassion and perspective-taking • Tools for contributing more effectively, such as solutionsfocus and creativity methodologies Students are asked to complete daily entries in a structured journal, which provides them regular intro-
spective practice so that they can move away from their routines and reflect on their work and life. Our hope is our students will cultivate daily practices that allow them to regularly renew themselves. We believe these critical skills will enable our students to be more successful, happier and more fulfilled in the long run. What do students say about this unique class? “I am nearly certain that advanced leadership class might be the single most important course of my MBA journey,” said one student, a BMW engineer. “My perspective on how I can contribute to the workplace has taken on a whole new dimension, one that will be much more fulfilling.” Since this program launched two years ago with a waiting list, a similar undergraduate leadership class is in the works, so Clemson students can learn these critical skills even earlier and apply them to enhance their college experience as well as their future careers.
Gail DePriest is director of corporate relations and leadership development for Clemson MBA.
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UBJ COMMUNICATE
Bullseye Selling What a homicidal maniac from the comics can teach businesses about sales force management Every serious fan of the Marvel Comics series “Daredevil” remembers Bullseye, a dastardly villain and the archenemy of Daredevil. Bullseye could hit anything, no matter how small, by throwing any object, no matter what shape, weight or composition, from any distance, no matter how far, even around corners. He was a hit man, so this skill was advantageous. But his narcissistic, psychopathic personality often drove him to commit his atrocities openly and exposed him to frequent capture and fierce battle with Daredevil. His ego even drove him to sport a target on his forehead, defying anyone to match his marksmanship. While Bullseye is a fictional character (and not remotely a healthy role model), there is a lot that business can learn from him. Acutely accurate, versatile, obstacle-friendly, driven, determined and keenly competitive: what executive doesn’t want that person?
Courtesy Marvel Comics
Conventional sales strategy assumes that every sales dollar equally impacts the bottom line. That’s simply not true. One business function in particular – sales – has a lot to gain by adapting to practices based on these characteristics, in a transformation tactic called the Bullseye Selling Model (BSM). Conventional selling is based on one very simple principle: As quickly as possible, sell as much as possible, for as much as possible, to as many buyers as possible, for as long as possible. For most companies, sales force pay plans maximize performance to this principle. Higher sales values drive higher salesperson income. This seems logical. In fact, it seems downright fair. The salesperson works harder, brings in more revenue and therefore deserves a larger slice of the pie… right? Maybe not. Conventional sales strategy assumes that every sales dollar equally impacts the bottom line – but that’s simply not true. Every product or service carries costs, etc., that are at least somewhat unique. Selling Item A can very likely have a quite different impact on the bottom line than the same unit sales volume of Item B, even where the sales price for the two items is similar or even identical. Yet the conventional model would give similar reward for selling both items. OK, suppose that’s so. Why not, then, base sales force pay on sales margins versus price? Better, admit-
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tedly. However, sales margin is calculated on individual products and services. Unfortunately, a company’s offering is seldom produced that way. The mix of products and services at a given time has a great effect on profitability of any item at that time. Conventional sales force compensation plans work perfectly when actual product cost and margin are accurately known. Unfortunately, they typically aren’t. To close the gap, many firms combine revenue, margin, etc., to compute commissions, and some even adjust pay on annual or quarterly earnings. Even with these worthy efforts, conventional strategies can promote behaviors that erode, not raise, corporate profits. Enter that mercenary homicidal maniac, Bullseye. Each product or service in a company’s portfolio has a cost profile. That profile details the
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product’s base cost, as well as inconsistency in cost performance. By plotting each item on a radar-like chart with the lowest-variability items nearest the center and the highest nearest the edge, a series of circular bands that very much resembles an archery target or dartboard appears. Training and coaching the sales force to be more consistent in selling products nearest the “bull’seye” (center) of this chart will maximize margins. To encourage salespeople to do this, the bands >>
UBJ COMMUNICATE >> translate into variable commission levels, which give greater rewards for “selling to the bull’s-eye.” Ironically, a company that sells only bull’s-eye products and services will eventually be unable to compete against globalization, commoditization and similar strategies. Maximum competitiveness results when the sales force adopts the Bullseye Selling Model, leveraging combined margin performance. BSM enables strategic sales planning to get and remain in concert with continuous improvement (Lean Six Sigma, Total Quality, etc.). It promotes continuous improvement transformation in sales, which is otherwise difficult to realize. The BSM-transformed sales force resembles Marvel’s Bullseye:
• Acutely accurate: able to
By CHARLES MENTION
put him in harm’s way). Instead, they must integrate BSM with cross-functional sales and operations planning to realize and sustain continual margin growth.
Charles Mention is the president and founding partner of TFM Consulting, a corporate consulting company based in Simpsonville.
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• Versatile: able to balance sales across margin performance bands.
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• Obstacle-friendly: able to
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• Driven: able to price on
feasible near-term improvement targets, not present cost.
• Determined:
able to “up-sell,” “add-on,” promote and bundle “from the bull’seye out.”
• Keenly competitive: able to focus on margin, not commissions, to achieve success.
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Unlike the egomaniacal Bullseye, sales can’t go this alone. Neither can they give undue focus to any single item (as did Bullseye, whose obsession with defeating Daredevil often
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April 11, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 15
UBJ FORWARD
By RUSSELL STALL
Beyond Tolerance to Bold Inclusion It’s time for Greenville to discover the economic power of diversity “In 2025, we dream of a Greenville that is open and welcoming to all, regardless of what you look like, how much you make, where you worship, where you come from, or who you love.” – Vision 2025
Greenville has had its share of diversity challenges over the years. The Willie Earle lynching was the last lynching recorded in South Carolina, and one of the last in the American South. In 1996, the Olympic torch was shrouded as it came into Greenville County because of a County Council anti-gay resolution. Greenville County was the last in the United States to adopt a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The regional playoffs for the NCAA basketball tournament could have been in Greenville this month if the Confederate Flag, a symbol of great-grandfatherly pride to some, but a deeply painful reminder of a raw and grotesque part of our history to others, had not been given a prominent place at the front steps of the South Carolina Statehouse. We struggle with diversity challenges in Greenville and South Carolina. We struggle to understand our differences and embrace our communalities. We struggle over tensions embedded by race,
economics and religion. Although we are often called the “Jewel in the Buckle of the Bible Belt,” we struggle with being a community that is loving, compassionate and inclusive. We often wonder what loving our neighbor really means. Greenville Forward spent the first quarter of 2014 boldly tackling the diversity issues that stifle us in being a worldclass, international and inclusive community. With Vision 2025 as our compass, we created conversations to move Greenville beyond tolerance toward understanding. The consensus during these conversations, whether at our monthly Momentum Discussion Series, at our Challenge Film Series, or through frank talks with community leaders, is that we have made some progress, yet still face a difficult journey in becoming a model for inclusion.
“WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE”
According to a 2009 survey sponsored by Beyond Differences, 95 percent of Greenvillians believe race relations in Greenville are better than during their parents’ generation. While a spark of positive news, more disturbingly 95 percent of blacks believe minorities are discriminated against in Greenville. Racism is still alive and rampant in Greenville County. The more we talk of our shared, common histories, the more we move forward and prosper. The Upcountry History Museum
remembers history through exhibits like “Protests, Prayers and Progress,” an exhibit focused on the struggles of local civil rights activists during the 1960s. This history is not easy to talk about, or history we are particularly proud of, but it is a history we must honestly and frankly talk about with our children.
“HOW MUCH YOU MAKE”
The tension between “haves” and “havenots” is becoming more obvious. The “economic downturn” challenged Greenvillians to explore poverty and the struggles of those in need. The community participated in two events, a Poverty Simulation led by Our Eyes Were Opened, and a guided tour, in partnership with the United Way, of the often-ignored White Horse Road Corridor. Both events honestly challenged the struggles faced by many Greenvillians every day. The key emerging issues included limited transportation options, hunger and food availability, and the limited supply of safe housing.
“WHERE YOU COME FROM”
March was International Month hosted by the International Center of the Upstate. During the month, Greenville celebrated the cultures represented by countries throughout the world, and acknowledged that Greenville has one of the highest international manufacturing investments
of any place in the world. Again, we strive to find our place as a true international community.
“WHO YOU LOVE”
When the Vision was written in 2004, it didn’t contain the words “Who You Love.” This was too bold for Greenville. Greenville Forward added these words without anticipating the national discussion that would emerge in 2014 around gay rights. Our Momentum Discussion “Alphabet Soup – LGBT Relations” (LGBT is an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) was one of the most oversubscribed programs ever. Clearly, this is a conversation the community hungers for, yet there is a lot of work to be done to make this inclusion goal a reality. Greenvillians are very proud of Greenville. We live in one of the most livable places in America. However, we have some work to do. Embracing our diversity goes beyond just doing the right or most compassionate thing. Embracing our diversity inspires prosperity and economic development, creates a more talented, interesting, and engaged pool of people living here, and enhances the quality of life for all Greenvillians. This is important work. Join us in our journey. The doors are open. We welcome the conversation. Russell Stall is executive director of Greenville Forward, the group inspired to shepherd and facilitate the community vision for Greenville outlined in Vision 2025. If you have comments for Russell, please contact him at rstall@greenvilleforward.com.
950 AM/1330 AM/ 97.1 FM/ WFBC-HD3
www.ESPNupstate.com 16 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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By LAURA HAIGHT
Do You Want Fries With That Logo? Branding, brand awareness,
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1. A VECTOR EPS FILE. This is not an image file; it is a data file of your logo. An EPS can be blown up to fill a billboard or scaled down to fit on the head of a pin without losing its visual clarity and integrity. Here’s the rub:
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brand marketing. Even among buzzwords, branding is up on a pretty tall pedestal. And yet small businesses that long for the holy grail of brand awareness often don’t put their best foot forward in the most obvious of ways. Technology makes a lot of things possible, including building your own website, making your own business cards and designing your own logo. Interfaces are simple drag-and-drop affairs with images and text options. Everyone can be a designer and save a satchel of cash. I am a great fan of finding free and inexpensive tools to help us be competitive. I won’t dwell on why you need a designer to create your logo except to say if you plan to be in business for a while, it’s a very worthwhile investment. But all designers are not the same – and many of them scrimp on the details that you should expect from any professional developing your brand identity, which is, after all, what your logo is. Here are five things you should get from your designer – whether you pay $200 or $2,000 – and why they matter.
The logo.eps file that your designer gives you may not be a true vector EPS file. EPS is a file extension that you create in Photoshop and other applications. But the end result will not be the same. How can you tell? Import your EPS file into a Word document and blow it up 200 percent. If it still looks crisp and clear, it is a true EPS.
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2. A FAVICON. Huh? That’s a 16-pixel-square image that represents your logo. The most frequent place you see them are on the tabs of your pages open in your browser. Typically this will be an element from your logo or image that represents your business. You will need this for your webpage for a more finished and professional look. (You don’t want to be the only one with the blank page icon on my browser tab, do you?)
book and Twitter, to name the two biggies, want a square image to represent your business. All over the Internet, you see businesses that have tried to use their horizontal logos in these spaces and end up with only part of their logos showing every time their message or tweet is displayed. This image can easily be created from the favicon you already asked for.
3. A SQUARE IMAGE. Businesses used to create both horizontal and vertical versions of logos so they had design flexibility without violating their own branding guidelines. Social media forces you into this in some ways, since many services like Face-
4. YOUR COLOR PALETTE. There is no such thing as blue. There are different ways color can be represented: RGB (red, green, blue) is the color protocol most often used in desktop publishing; CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) is a four-color process
YOUR COLOR PALETTE
All designers are not the same – and many of them scrimp on the details that you should expect from any professional developing your brand identity.
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used in newspaper color production such as for advertising; HEX (hexadecimal) is the color code used in HTML. When you are trying to match the color from your logo to the color of those custom-printed pocket folders you’re buying, you need to know the exact color values. To convert one protocol to another, you can use an online converter like this one: goo.gl/G1JVeb. It’s easy for your designer to provide this list of colors from your logo. If you’re on particularly good terms, you might also get an alternative color palette that will tell you what other colors you can use with your logo that will complement – not clash.
5. THE WORK FILE. I know you don’t have Adobe Illustrator. But you should have the work file anyway. If you ever want to change your logo, or move work to another designer, you will save yourself a ton of angst and money by being able to produce the original design file. You should specify with your designer that you are the owner of the logo and you will want that work file up front. They should have no problem with that. Laura Haight is the president of Portfolio (portfoliosc.com), which works with small businesses to incorporate emerging media and technology into business communications, operations and training.
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By Joe Toppe | staff | jtoppe@communityjournals.com
For nearly 20 years, Dr. John Ballato has provided an array of services to the students and faculty of Clemson University. He is the founder and former director of the Center for Optical Material Science and Engineering Technology, and a current professor in the Department of Material Science and Engineering. Recently named Clemson University’s vice president for economic development, Ballato will spearhead the school’s efforts to ensure statewide economic prosperity through the growth of businesses and high-paying jobs.
organization with strong relationships throughout the state.
What do you hope to achieve in your new role?
Can a university influence a region’s economy?
Clemson would be happy if we could show a tangible return to high-paying jobs across multiple industries in South Carolina. We want to have a statewide impact on promoting a knowledge economy.
Because we are a research university, we better, and the answer is that simple. If we are not influencing the regional and state economies, we are not doing our job. Influencing the economy is what we have been tasked to do and it is the expectation of the taxpayers and the State of South Carolina.
What do you bring to the position? I bring an understanding of all the university’s critical elements. I am a professor and I have gone through the academic ranks. I have been in the research administration and I understand its functions. I have participated in the economic development enterprise and I have participated with the Department of Commerce in recruiting companies to South Carolina. I am also an entrepreneur and I think the president saw that I could facilitate this role from many angles of expertise.
THE BASICS: JOHN BALLATO ALMA MATER: Rutgers
How do you plan to lead? I lead through the service of others, and we already have some remarkable staff within the division. I would love to say that we, as a team, have leveraged partnerships and investments to drive the local economy. If I am successful leading this initiative, it will be to utilize the main campus for economic development while enabling the staff and students to achieve their entrepreneurial interests and industry partnerships.
HOMETOWN: Long Branch, N.J. PAST EXPERIENCE: Director of the Center for Optical Material Science and Engineering Technology Academic director for Clemson’s Restoration Institute Faculty representative of the Clemson University Board of Trustees
What inspired you to pursue a career in economic development?
Associate vice president for research and economic development
Like most jobs people love, they get into them through a strange twist of fate. You don’t go to school hoping to become the VP for economic development. I came to Clemson to teach and do research, but given my nature, I jumped at the opportunity when it presented itself. I wake up every morning doing what I want to do.
Interim vice president for research Professor of mate FAMILY: Elijah, 9; Abram, 7; and Eva, 4.
Where did you spend your last vacation? My last vacation was a long weekend in Charleston with my kids.
What is the most utilized app on your phone? Right now, it is probably Google Maps, because I am driving all over the state talking to everybody I can about what we need to do to help them out.
If you could trade places with one person, who would it be and why? I would trade places with any one of our senior legislators. Not so much because I want to see what they do; I want them to see what we do. They would get to see how much Clemson is out in the state and not just teaching kids in the classroom or doing research. I would love for them to have a clear understanding of the value of a research university.
“I wake up every morning doing what I want to do.”
What is Clemson’s role in the Upstate’s economic development community? First and foremost, we are an institution of higher education. Our principal input into economic growth is providing a skilled workforce. The students we educate are properly trained to go in and help a company’s competitiveness expand. Another key function of the university is research. One of the inputs into a knowledge economy is knowledge itself. The economic development component of Clemson is its service as a matchmaker to both businesses and students as well as to private-sector businesses and the public sector such as partnerships with technical colleges and outside companies. A university is a remarkable Photos Provided
April 11, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 19
75 UBJ MILESTONE YEARS
Power to the People Laurens Electric celebrates 75 cooperative years By JOE TOPPE | staff | jtoppe@communityjournals.com The world was very different 75 years ago. The Interstate Highway System was little more than an idea and manned spaceflight remained two decades in the making when C.B. Cannon, chairman of the Rural Electrification Committee, became the lead organizer for a small utilities company in Laurens County, S.C. Established in 1939 as a co-op, Laurens Electric has remained a customer-owned utility for more than seven decades. A co-op is distinguished by its democratic governance and the return of any profits to its members through capital credits. With a loan of $224,000 from the Rural Electrification Administration, the Laurens Electric co-op began with a membership of 760 rural customers. At the time, the average monthly usage per member was a mere 40 kilowatt-hours. “From the very first board
meeting in May of 1939, things rolled pretty fast,” said utility spokesman Jim Donahoo. During the 1930s, only 10 percent of the nation’s rural residents had power because it was not profitable for investor-owned utilities to provide electricity beyond the urban areas. As a result, co-ops were set up for rural communities to get power. “The company’s initial co-op was made up of local farmers and rural residents in need of power,” Donahoo said. Laurens Electric’s first employee, Alyce Jacobs, was hired in 1939 as a stenographer for a monthly salary of $65, while the company’s first lineman, L.J. Castles, was hired that same year. By 1944, the same year as the D-Day invasion, Laurens Electric had grown to include eight employees,
By the end of the 1950s, Laurens Electric had ballooned to more than 7,500 members, 29 employees, and 1,900 miles of wire, providing an average monthly usage of 354 kilowatt-hours. The company’s first bucket truck was purchased in 1965 as its membership continued to grow, expanding to 10,900 customers. The five-digit membership required more than 2,000 miles of wire to provide an average monthly usage of 540 kilowatt-hours. Lewis Harrison, the current board
>>
Photos Provided
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three vehicles, and 1,800 members. The utility would continue to grow following World War II, opening its first main office in Laurens on Greenville Road in 1946. Four years later, members began receiving the South Carolina Cooperative News, which later became S.C. Living Magazine. During the 1950s and ’60s, Laurens Electric began using its first logo, Willie the Wirehand. The company logo would change in the 1970s and 1980s, and again in the 1990s and 2000s, until its current logo today.
April 11, 2014
The company’s first lineman, L.J. Castles, was hired in 1939.
LEADERSHIP
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>> chairman, joined the utility’s board in 1967. “Although a lot has changed over the last 75 years, our purpose has not,” Harrison said. “We are still owned by the people we serve, and all margins (profit) are still returned to the membership, making our intentions just as pure today as they were in 1939: to serve the best interests of our membership and community.” Agreed Donahoo, “We are not interested in a return to shareholders; we are interested in getting power to the people who need it. We are still owned by the people we serve.” Laurens Electric opened a branch office in Mauldin in 1975, while welcoming its current president and CEO, David Wasson. “When I reflect back on the history of the co-op and my years here, the incredible relationship with the communities we serve stands out,”
1939: C.B. Cannon, lead organizer in establishing Laurens Electric.
Wasson said. “The fact this relationship has remained consistent throughout our 75-year history is even more incredible, and it is one of the key factors that sets us apart to this day.” The birth of the 1980s saw a first for the company and its members as Laurens Electric began reading meters for the first time. Prior to 1981, members read their own meters and sent the information to the company for a bill. “Members operated on an honor system,” Donahoo said. Innovation remained the theme of the company into the next decade as Laurens Electric created its first website in 1998, joined Touchstone Energy that same year, and implemented its first drive-by automated meter reading in 1999. By 2013, Laurens Electric would include 53,000 members, 147 em-
1939-1944 (5 YEARS): V.E. Shealy, board chairman 1944-1945 (1 YEAR): W.B. Blakely, board chairman 1945-1949 (4 YEARS): J.B. Speake, board chairman 1939-1970 (31 YEARS): Henry M. Faris, general manager 1949-1970 (21 YEARS): W.M. Greshman, board chairman 1970-1975 (5 YEARS): W.A. Martin, board chairman 1975-2002 (27 YEARS): Ralph Hendrix, board chairman 1970-1975 (5 YEARS): Jack Templeton, general manager
▼ ▼
1975-PRESENT (39 YEARS): J. David Wasson Jr., general manager 2002-PRESENT (12 YEARS): Lewis Harrison, board chairman
ployees, and 6,366 miles of line. Since 1939, Laurens Electric has seen very few policy changes, but has done so when the environmental trends demand it.
April 11, 2014
“In the company’s early years, it was important to sell power and increase usage,” Donahoo said. “Now, as energy efficiency and renewable energy becomes more important, we focus on managing power.” In 2014, Laurens Electric is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a community initiative called “75 Acts of Kindness.” A committee of cooperative employees will review requests for the Acts of Kindness and award up to $500 for specific projects or needs to 75 different recipients throughout the year, totaling nearly $40,000.
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 21
COVER STORY
A NEW DIRECTION
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Retail, residential and an extension of the Swamp Rabbit Trail are part of Verdae’s $100 million plan to revitalize a stagnant commercial corridor
A
Amid a sea of dwindling auto dealerships and big-box retailers, Laurens Road is set to be transformed. Verdae Development announced this week a new $100 million redevelopment venture on Laurens Road that will have 30 acres of retail, 70 acres of residential and a new park and trails connecting to the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail. In terms of size, the 100-acre project is one of the city’s largest commercial enhancement projects in years. It will stretch between Laurens
By SHERRY JACKSON | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com and Woodruff roads, radically changing the look and feel of one of Greenville’s oldest commercial corridors. The project is part of Verdae’s 1,100-acre development master plan, said Rick Sumerel, president and chief operating officer of Verdae Development. “Since the beginning, the vision of Verdae Development has been to create a unique and dynamic community for residents and visitors,” Sumerel said at the project’s unveiling on Tuesday. “This project follows that vision as it transforms what has been seen as aban-
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“The city has targeted the road for a rebirth for several years. It was once a strong retail corridor, and this plan will revitalize the area.” Greenville Mayor Knox White
doned retail into an example of what Greenville can look like.” Verdae Properties acquired the 12.2-acre former Sam’s Club property at 2519 Laurens Road in February 2013 for $3.25 million. The final piece
of the puzzle was the $2.3 million purchase of the 6.9-acre former Best Buy site, which was completed last week. The two buildings will be bulldozed to make room for the new development. >>
LAURENS ROAD STREETSCAPE RENDERING
Photo by Greg Beckner
>> “The city has targeted the road for a rebirth for several years. It was once a strong retail corridor, and this plan will revitalize the area and eventually connect the residential areas to more shopping and recreation activities,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White. “This is another piece of the larger Verdae Master Plan, and a critical one for Greenville. I congratulate Verdae Development and Hollingsworth Funds for their vision and continued partnership with the city.” The redevelopment plan, led by Verdae Development, will feature a major shift in
the commercial design for Laurens Road. The project will have frontage directly on the road, as opposed to recessed away from the road behind vast parking lots, much different from the prominent car dealerships on Greenville’s famed “Motor Mile.” “This will go all the way down Laurens Road into downtown,” said White. “There are going to be opportunities here that there haven’t been in the past.” The mayor said he doesn’t foresee the Laurens Road redevelopment pulling business away from downtown or any of the other commercial corridors. “One way to address congestion is to have more retail centers,” White said. “There needs to be a strong, robust Woodruff Road. There needs to be a strong, robust Haywood Road, and there needs to be a strong, robust retail center on Laurens Road. We have retail and commercial that works in different spaces. I think you’ll see some big-box retail blended here that really doesn’t fit into downtown.” An improved streetscape design, underground utilities and connectivity/walkability plan will also include a new extension of the GHS Swamp Rabbit trail system connecting downtown Greenville’s Cleveland Park all the way to CU-ICAR. “It has been no secret that the city of Greenville has wanted to create a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere for some of its major shopping corridors,” White said. “We see the Verdae development as a bold step in the right direction toward the goal.” “As we’ve seen already with the Swamp Rabbit, trails and economic development go hand in hand,” said Brad Wyche, Upstate Forever’s executive director. “This will be another great example of that, and we applaud Verdae for stepping up to make it happen.” Aerial and on-the-ground surveys of the old rail line are already in progress and proposals have
Current Verdae Neighborhoods include: TAPESTRY AT HOLLINGSWORTH PARK – Luxury apartment community is 85 percent occupied as of March 31. SHADWELL TOWNES AT HOLLINGSWORTH PARK – Townhomes priced from the mid-$200s; 21 townhomes with three still available. The last eight are expected to begin construction later this spring. BELHAVEN VILLAGE AT HOLLINGSWORTH PARK – Single-family homes priced from the mid-$200s; scheduled to begin construction this summer and begin home sales early in 2015. RUSKIN SQUARE AT HOLLINGSWORTH PARK – Single-family custom homes priced from the mid-$300s; only four lots left to sell. BRAYDON AT HOLLINGSWORTH PARK – Single-family custom homes priced from the high $300s; public marketing campaign begins May 1, already 50 lots reserved. THE MANOR AT HOLLINGSWORTH PARK – Estate homes priced from the mid$700s; approximately five homes under construction now.
been received for the trail extension, Wyche said. Bill Monroe, president of WGM Design in Charlotte, N.C., and master architect for the Verdae master plan, is also architect for the Laurens Road project. Sumerel expects to begin marketing and attracting new tenants for the project in a few months. “In a few years from now when Laurens Road has become a beautiful and vibrant commercial corridor, we can look back and say it all started today,” said Wyche.
“This project transforms what has been seen as abandoned retail into an example of what Greenville can look like.”
President and COO of Verdae Development Rick Sumerel announces the plan to develop a 100-acre site on Laurens Road (right).
Rick Sumerel, president of Verdae Development
April 11, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 23
UBJ THE FINE PRINT Metrolina Greenhouses to Close Pendleton Location Metrolina Greenhouses, an N.C.based wholesale plant supplier, announced it is closing its five-acre Pendleton operation May 31, which will eliminate 57 full-time jobs as well as 18 seasonal positions. “All full-time employees have been
offered the opportunity to work at the York location,” said Michael Colitti, Metrolina’s chief financial officer. According to Colitti, the Pendleton location was part of Metrolina’s acquisition of Stacy’s Greenhouses last
Lima One Capital to Expand to Alabama Lima One Capital recently announced it plans to expand into the Birmingham, Ala., metropolitan area in the second quarter of 2014. “We have long considered Birmingham as a prime area for growth,” said John Warren, Lima One Capital founder and CEO, in a release. “Lima One Capital will provide investors in Birmingham with an unmatched
hard-money lending experience. Lima One Capital is committed to revolutionizing hard money lending in Alabama.” Lima One Capital will enter Birmingham as a fully capitalized hard-money lender, with services in Atlanta, Greenville, and Charlotte.
year, and the company decided to close Pendleton’s leased location
when they determined that the operations of that location could be done at another facility. Metrolina is one of the largest plant suppliers to major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Lowes and Home Depot, said Colitti.
Jeff Dezen PR Chosen to Rep Euphoria Jeff Dezen Public Relations (JDPR) was named as PR agency-of-record for the food, wine and music festival Euphoria Greenville. JDPR will support Euphoria’s board of directors with planning services and media-relations management for the festival, which takes place Sept. 18-21. “After reviewing a number of proposals, we felt that JDPR truly understands our event and how it helps facilitate tourism in Greenville,” said Taryn Scher, a member of Euphoria’s board of directors, in a release. “We know that people are traveling from all over the U.S. to experience Euphoria and our amazing city and we believe JDPR has the ability to continue to heighten that awareness on a national scale.” Euphoria was founded in 2006 by singer-songwriter Edwin McCain and restaurateur Carl Sobocinski to showcase Green-
ville’s talented local chefs, sommeliers, craft brewers and musicians. The event has grown through its first eight years to include celebrity guest chefs and musical acts.
CommunityWorks Becomes Chartered Credit Union CommunityWorks Federal Credit Union announced it has become a National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) -chartered credit union. It is the first NCUA-chartered credit union in the state in 15 years. NCUA’s Office of Consumer Protection granted a community charter to CommunityWorks Federal Credit Union, which will serve people who live, work and worship or attend school in Greenville County, as well
as businesses and other legal entities in the county. The credit union’s potential field of membership is nearly 475,000 people. “Everyone needs and deserves to have access to financial products and services they can afford,” said Debbie Matz, NCUA board chairwoman, in a release. “CommunityWorks will serve a real need among people who live in
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Greenville County.” CommunityWorks expects to have its grand opening at its main office, located at 115 W. Antrim Drive in Greenville, in June. During its first year of operations,
the credit union will focus on savings and loan products to help members build assets, repair credit and enhance their financial knowledge. CommunityWorks will serve a low-income community and intends to seek a low-income credit union designation at a later date. Additionally, the credit union will be a Community Development Credit Union, one of only four in the state.
UBJ THE FINE PRINT
Greenville Ranks in Ziprecruiter’s Top 50 Greenville was recently ranked as No. 14 in Ziprecruiter’s Top 50 Job Markets in 2014. The website explored each city’s unemployment rate, median home price, and cost of living index. Greenville’s unemployment rate
was 5.3 percent; median home price was $183,500; and cost of living index was 75. The website found that the Southeast region was the best overall for finding a job and had 23 of the 50 cities on the list.
The top five job markets according to Ziprecruiter were Salt Lake City; Omaha, Neb.; Madison, Wis.; Min-
neapolis-St. Paul; and Des Moines, Iowa. To view the complete list, visit bit.ly/ ziprecruiter2014.
Café Enterprises Receives $13M Investment Raleigh-based investment firm Triangle Capital Corp. recently announced it invested $13 million in Café Enterprises, the company that owns and operates Fatz Café restaurants throughout the Southeast, as well as Tablefields restaurant in Greenville and Tavern 24 in Gastonia, N.C. Use of the investment was not announced. Café Enterprises launched in
Taylors in 1988 and now owns 48 Fatz Café restaurants throughout South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. In 2012, the company launched both Tablefields and Tavern 24.
Cubbage Named Chairman of SC Venture Capital Authority Serrus Capital cofounder Leighton industries. Cubbage was appointed head of the He said he supports the Haley state Venture Capital Authority administration’s heavy emphasis on (VCA) to serve a term business climate and through July 1, 2017. recruitment and that he The VCA was estaband Gov. Haley agree lished in 2005 as an that government probagency within the Deably should not be in the venture capital partment of Commerce to identify and select business, but the VCA qualified professional must be managed to investors who will ensure the best outcome invest in South Carolina for the state. “Making an environcompanies. The authority is a seven-member ment where it’s good for board selected by the entrepreneurs is imCUBBAGE governor and state lawportant. It’s a path that many people can’t walk working in makers. Cubbage has several years of ex- both government and business and perience in the venture capital field. doing it the right way,” Cubbage said. He has served on boards in the au- “So I’m willing to lend my name to tomotive, banking and healthcare the effort.”
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 25
By David Krysh, owner and CEO, The Alternative Board
UBJ THE TAKEAWAY
Upstate Business Owners Find Value in ‘Plan To Succeed’ EVENT: Plan to Succeed – Business Owner Workshop WHO WAS THERE: 30 Upstate business owners/CEOs MODERATORS: Mike Riordan, Greenville Health System; Sam Irwin, Palmetto Bank; Kimberly Kelly, host of “Upside With Kimberly Kelly”; David Krysh, The Alternative Board of the Upstate TOPIC: Incorporating Leadership, Economic Factors and Personal Vision into Your Business Planning Process
The Alternative Board (TAB) of the Upstate hosted the first Plan to Succeed breakfast workshop recently. Billed as “A Workshop for CEOs by CEOs,” the interactive event was held at the unique Studio 220 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel with an expansive street-level view of the bustle on Main and Beattie streets in downtown Greenville. The morning began with theater students from the Greenville Fine Arts Center performing a skit depicting an entertaining view of business owners discussing their plans in a boardroom setting. David Krysh, owner/CEO of TAB Upstate, hosted the event providing insights from his own career experiences to introduce the agenda. Upstate CEOs Mike Riordan of Greenville Health
Systems, Sam Erwin of Palmetto Bank and media personality Kimberly Kelly of “Upside with Kimberly Kelly” were the primary moderators of the event.
1. UTILIZING CONFIDENTIAL BOARDS FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPING A CONSCIOUS LEADERSHIP STYLE Mike Riordan, CEO of Greenville Health System, spoke about leveraging personal boards to support self-awareness and planning. These confidential forums not only benefit the business but also provide personal accountability. “Connecting people to purpose is key in finding success,” Riordan said. As a leader the ability to find and utilize self-awareness is key – “all great leaders have self-awareness,” Riordan noted. Leaders need to look at a negative situation and instead of saying, “Whose fault is this?” say “What am I doing (or not doing) to create this?” and shift from complaining or placing blame to taking personal responsibility. Riordan ended his talk with this quote: “Instead of focusing on being right, focus on being present.”
2. PLANNING AROUND YOUR SPECIFIC ECONOMIC METRICS Sam Erwin, chairman and CEO of Palmetto Bank, provided attendees economic insights on the Upstate and
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how to pivot as changes occur. “You either have a plan or you have a problem,” he said about successful businesses. “Economic factors constantly change and are not in your control. So without a plan, you’re leaving it up to chance.” Sam led group breakout sessions for attendees to share their views on the economy. Among the insights was how 2013 held steady until the end of the year, when most agreed they saw a decline in business. 2014, however, seems to be much improved. Some indicated that hiring and finding employees with specific skills to fill their growth demands might be an issue in the Upstate as the year continues.
3. FINDING AND FOLLOWING A PERSONAL VISION David Krysh, CEO of TAB Upstate, introduced the importance of including an owner’s personal vision in business planning. “As a business owner you have the power to delegate work and reward yourself with free time to fulfill your passions,” he said. Maintain balance by developing your “bucket list,” plan time for pursuit of personal desires and reconnect with the passion that got you to start the business in the first place. As an example of a passion-driven business, he introduced Kim Hix, whose business Good Boy Roy, located in Simpsonville, was started with her son Zach, who suffers from brain disorders, to provide for his future. Kimberly Kelly, host of “Upside,”
continued the talk of personal vision as she shared her journey as a media personality working for the big networks, eventually leaving to create and launch her own new show. “When you no longer love what you do, you need to take a step back and re-evaluate your priorities,” she said. “Finding your personal vision and building it into your everyday schedule is key to happiness and success of your business.”
ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD The Alternative Board is an exclusive, membership-based organization that helps business owners achieve profitability, productivity and personal fulfillment through the use of peer advisory boards and private business coaching. Headquartered in Denver, Colo., The Alternative Board has been helping business owners succeed for more than 20 years. For more information visit TheAlternativeBoard.com.
UBJ SQUARE FEET
Renderings courtesy of Craig Gaulden Davis
Community Journals Heads West Publisher will relocate in “exploding” Village of West Greenville By Sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
Community Journals, publisher of the Upstate Business Journal, Greenville Journal, At Home and TOWN magazine, announced this week its move to Greenville’s emerging Village of West Greenville. After vacating its space in December 2013 at the Innovate Building on River Street downtown, Community Journals has been leasing temporary space at Church and Washington streets while making plans for the new space in the Village. The publisher’s new headquarters will be in a 3,500-square-foot building located at the corner of Pendleton
Street and Perry Avenue, directly across from Lily Pottery and in the same block as new Village residents Mac Arnold’s Plate Full O’ Blues, The Lash Bar and Clemson University’s Center for Visual Arts. “When Community Journals was evaluating a new location, we saw an opportunity to become one of the first office entities in the Village,” said Ryan Johnston, publisher of UBJ. “We plan to use our products to help serve as a catalyst and further highlight the arts and culture community that’s exploding over there.” “We’re essentially taking three
abandoned buildings and creating one very open office space,” said Stuart Stenger, architect with Craig Gaulden Davis. “We’re keeping the exposed wood beams; it will have a clean color palette and will bring as much daylight into the space as possible with a clear skylight-type window in the middle of the space.” The new offices will be a strong mix of exposed brick and character. A lot of “old with the new,” said Johnston. “We really enjoyed being in the Innovate Building and liked the feel of it, so we are somewhat replicating that.” “Since it’s a total renovation project, we were really able to upfit [the space] to fit with our future needs, which are very different from when we first started the company 15 years ago,” said Mark Johnston, president and CEO of Community Journals. “Each of our products will now have its own space.” “Due to all the exciting announcements in the Village of West Greenville there has been phenomenal interest in that part of town,” said Alexi Papapieris, broker for NAI Earle Furman. “We are receiving
April 11, 2014
PROJECT PARTNERS GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Mavin Construction ARCHITECT: Craig Gaulden Davis FINANCED BY: Southern First Bank BROKER: NAI Earle Furman multiple calls a day on our listings in the area. The majority of space still available needs considerable building renovations, but it’s still a great opportunity for an investor or a small business owner looking to get in before the area really takes off.” The new space will also house Community Journals’ newest venture, Community Creative, a new marketing services group, said Ryan Johnston. There will be a video production studio, with a living room-type setting, similar to Michelin on Main, where he says Community Journals will “conduct video interviews across all brands that we can leverage and utilize as we grow more into the digital space.” Construction is underway and is expected to be completed in August 2014 with move-in anticipated in mid-September.
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 27
New hires, promotions & award winners can be featured in On The Move. Send information & photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
UBJ ON THE MOVE HONORED
HONORED
HONORED
HONORED
Gordon D. Seay
Barry Nocks
Dana Green
Joy Finch
Inducted into the Marchant Company’s Hall of Fame. Seay has been with The Marchant Company since its founding in 1993, and served as development manager until 2005 when he assumed additional responsibilities as executive vice president and general manager. He is a graduate of Furman University.
Named to the College of Fellows by the American Institute for Certified Planners. Nocks is a professor emeritus of city and regional planning at Clemson University. About 400 of the approximately 15,000 certified planners in the United States have been named fellows. He is the fifth planner in South Carolina to be tapped.
Received the Operator or the Year Award at the Water Environment Association of South Carolina awards. Green is the facility operator at Renewable Water Resources (ReWa)’s Georges Creek/Marietta facilities. The award is given annually to a water or wastewater treatment plant operator.
Received the Snider Lifetime Achievement Award from the Environmental Information Association (EIA). The award is named in honor of Jack Snider Jr., a past national EIA president. Finch is the environmental health and occupational safety department head and instructor in the Corporate & Career Development Division at Greenville Technical College.
VIP – HONORED DR. LARRY BROTHERTON Named Greenville County’s 2014 Economic Development Ambassador. Brotherton is the CEO of Ortec Inc. He is also owner of Ortec Machining & Fabrication. He holds a B.S. degree in chemistry from Tusculum College and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Tennessee.
ARTS: The Greenville Symphony Orchestra (GSO) recently announced that Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel, music director and conductor, signed a new five-year contract. Tchivzhel, who has been music director and conductor for the GSO since 1999, will continue to serve in this role. CONSTRUCTION/ ENGINEERING: O’Neal Inc. has hired Stephen Blice-Baum as process engineer. Blice-Baum has more than five years of professional process manufacturing experience. He previously worked with 3V Chemical and Jacobs Engineering. William Few also joins O’Neal as control engineer. Few has more two years of professional electrical engineering experience obtained with Enercon in Atlanta. O’Neal has also hired Darryl Merrit as procurement manager. Merritt has more than 30 years of experience in design, contracting and construction management, having worked with Fluor
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Enterprises, Global Performance and Jacobs Engineering. CONSULTING: Visions International recently announced that Zhongyuan Wu has joined the organization as a marketing and public relations intern. Wu is a MBA candidate at Clemson University with two bachelor’s degrees in social work and psychology. EDUCATION: Clemson University announced that Gov. Nikki Haley recently recognized three of its professors for the global impact of their research in optical materials science, nano-scale physics and environmental nuclear chemistry. Dr. John Ballato and Dr. Apparao Rao each won the 2014 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Scientific Research. Dr. Brian Powell won the 2014 Governor’s Young Scientist Award for Excellence in Scientific Research. The awards are presented annually under the joint sponsorship of the
Governor’s Office and the South Carolina Academy of Science. Ballato is Clemson’s vice president for economic development, professor of materials science and engineering, and director of Clemson’s Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET). Rao is the R.A. Bowen professor of physics and the director of Clemson’s Nanomaterials Research Laboratory. Powell is an associate professor of environmental engineering and earth sciences and oversees the environmental radiochemistry education and research program. FINANCIAL SERVICES: Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network has for the ninth consecutive year designated A. Robert Nachman II, Ben K. Norwood III and John F. Parrott, managing directors, as members of the firm’s Premier Advisors Program. Nachman entered the financial services industry in 1986. Norwood has been in the financial services industry since 1987. Parrott entered the financial services industry in 1983 with Interstate Johnson Lane, followed by serving as branch manager for Nations Securities, as well as for Wheat First Butcher Singer. Wagner Wealth Management recently welcomed Sandra McCall as a financial advisor. McCall brings more than a decade of customer service experience to the firm.
MARKETING/ PUBLIC RELATIONS: DNA Creative Communications recently welcomed Janice Baddley to their team as senior account manager. Prior to joining DNA, Baddley was the principal executive in an independent marketing consulting firm. She has previously served as a statewide president/CEO for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the director of marketing and communication services for a multi-state healthcare system. Hughes Agency recently announced the addition of Lauren Bennett as senior account executive. Prior to joining Hughes Agency, Bennett was the marketing director at General Wholesale Distributors. She brings more than 10 years of experience in marketing, advertising, public relations, and event management. ZWO recently hired Jeff Van Zandt as creative director. Van Zandt’s career has spanned stints in South Africa, Prague and Toronto as senior copywriter, as well as associate creative director positions at Cramer-Krasselt and Ogilvy & Mather. REAL ESTATE: Coldwell Banker Caine recently promoted Ashley Andrews to experience manager of Property Services and Heather Byrd to project manager, and welcomed Mandy Mashburn as a residential sales agent and
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UBJ NEW TO THE STREET 5 I-8
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Global Location Strategies (GLS) recently welcomed Catalina Valencia as a consultant. Valencia brings more than 15 years of professional experience in international business and global marketing in various industries to the GLS team. Prior to joining GLS, she served as business development director for a Southeastern economic development organization.
Four Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors’ teams were recognized with top honors for 2013 sales performance during the network’s national sales convention in Nashville last month. The Chet & Beth Smith Group was named 2013 recipient of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ Top of The Rock Award for top residential units for the U.S. South region. In addition, the team received the Pinnacle Award as the No.
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4 team nationwide. The Spaulding Group ranked No. 14 nationwide in closed residential units and received the Legend 5 Year Award for ranking among the top teams for five years. The Keagy Team and the Toates Team were both ranked in the Top Teams nationwide at No. 79 and No. 82 respectively. The Toates Team also received the Legend 10 Year Award for consistently ranking among the top teams for 10 years.
April 11, 2014
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Lucy Pressly as an experience coordinator. Andrews began her career with Coldwell Banker Caine in 2010 as the manager of Greenville Office Operations and Concierge Services. Byrd began her career at Coldwell Banker Caine in 2012 as the commercial property management coordinator. Mashburn previously worked as an insurance account representative for Wells Fargo Commercial Insurance. Pressly was previously the assistant for
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1 State Farm Agent Eva Hurley recently held a ribbon cutting at 1939 Woodruff Road, Suite D, in Greenville. For more information, call 864-234-0156 or visit evahurleysf.com.
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Pennsylvania-based Materials Sciences Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of composite materials and structures for government and industry, has cut the ribbon on its new manufacturing operation at 102 Augusta Arbor Way in Greenville. For more information, call 864-516-7000 or visit materialssciences.com.
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UTILITIES: Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) recently announced that Joshua Webb received the Maintenance Person of the Year Award from the Water Environment Association of South Carolina (WEASC). Webb is an instrumentation and electronics technician for ReWa. This award is given annually to an Association member for achievement in maintenance of a water, wastewater, and collection or distribution system in South Carolina.
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 29
UBJ PLANNER FRIDAY APRIL 11 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@flynnwealth.com
SATURDAY APRIL 12 HEALTHY LIVING EXPO University Center, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
SPEAKERS: Jeannie Turley, Beacon Inc.; Elliot Hirshorn III, DPSC; Sharon Whiteley, pluggz. com; and Stephen Heuer, Nutripath Synergistic Nutrition COST: Free parking and admission CONTACT: Linda Craig at 864-569-8631 or healthyliving5.com
MONDAY APRIL 14
Network Call Golden Career Strategies at 864-527-0425 to request an invitation ROTARY CLUB GREENVILLE EAST MEETING CityRange, 615 Haywood Road, Greenville; 12:30-1:30 p.m. FOR INFORMATION: facebook.com/ GreenvilleEastRotary
GCS ROUNDTABLE The Office Center at the Point, 33 Market Point Drive, Greenville; 8:30-9:30 a.m. SPEAKER: Paul Clark and Matt Dunbar TOPIC: SC Angel
CONTACT: president@ greenvilleeastrotary.org
TUESDAY APRIL 15 HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS NETWORK
Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 7:30-9 a.m. CONTACT: Julie Alexander at 864-239-3754 REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org TOASTMASTERS BILINGUE 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 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
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 to achieve your dream. Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration or Accounting
Clemson University MBA Program, One N. Main St., Greenville; 5:30-7:30 p.m. COST: Free to attend. Open only to Greenville Chamber members. CONTACT: Lorraine Woodward at 864-239-3742 REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org
Coursework in Pre-CPA, Pre-MBA, and Pre-CMA To learn how Furman can tailor a program
GOLDEN STRIP TOASTMASTERS
that works for you, find us at: furman.edu/forwardwithfurman
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 739 N. Main St., Mauldin; 7-8 p.m.
email ues@furman.edu, or call 864.294.3160
COST: Free for guests FOR INFORMATION: bit.ly/gstm2014 CONTACT: Prasad Patchipulusu at pprasa1@hotmail.com
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UPSTATE PC USERS GROUP Five Forks Baptist Church, 112 Batesville Road, Simpsonville; 7:30-9:30 p.m. FOR INFORMATION: ucpcug.org
WEDNESDAY APRIL 16 HANDSHAKES AND HASHBROWNS Enhanced Living Chiropractic, 140 Sage Creek Way, Greer; 8-9 a.m. COST: Free to Greer Chamber members REGISTER AT: greerchamber.com STRATEGIC SALES DEVELOPMENT SERIES Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, 105 N. Pine St., Spartanburg; 8-10 a.m. SPEAKER: Jim Geffert TOPIC: How Great Organizations Create a Culture of Engagement COST: $49 per person, $196 for five people CONTACT: 864-594-5030
Networking Format CONTACT: Tripp James at tjames@ greenvillechamber.org or 864-239-3728 REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org TECH AFTER FIVE – GREENVILLE Carolina Ale House, 113 S. Main St., Greenville; 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Free to GSA Technology Council members. REGISTER AT: techafterfive.com.
THURSDAY APRIL 17 MARKETING SERIES USC Upstate, 800 University Way, Media Building, Room 238, Spartanburg; 5-7:30 p.m. TOPIC: Spreading Your Message COST: $25 for public; $15 for USC Upstate Faculty and Students REGISTER AT: scwbc.net CONTACT: Janet Christy at janet@scwbc.net or 864-244-4117
REGISTER AT: spartanburgchamber.com SALES ROUNDTABLE Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. SPEAKER: Jeremy Bishop, Marriott Hotels TOPIC: Intro on Value Proposition with a Speed
GOT A HOT DATE? Contribute to our Planner by submitting event information for consideration to events@upstate businessjournal.com
UBJ SNAPSHOT
Historic photo available from the Greenville Historical Society. From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,” by Jeffrey R. Willis
In the 1940s, the northeast corner of Main and Washington streets was still occupied by a local merchant. Payne’s For Music was a combination music and appliance store. In a day when many people made their own music, Payne’s sold pianos and offered a large selection of sheet music and brand instruments. Also stocked were refrigerators and home washing machines. On the roof a large lighted sign proclaimed the store’s name.
Today Payne’s For Music and the building that once housed it are gone. In its place is an office building, which is home to, among others, Freeman & Majors Architects, OpenWorks and OrangeCoat Web Design.
PHOTO PROVIDED 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, Lindsay 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 $50. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, P.O. Box 2266, Greenville, SC 29602. Printed in the USA.
April 11, 2014
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 31
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