MAY 19, 2017 | VOL. 6 ISSUE 20
THIS MAY HURT A BIT Underinsured patients cost local health care systems half a billion each year. If AHCA passes, that number could climb. page 16
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“…The
real -franklin safeguard of d. roosevelt Democracy… is education.”
CARLTON MOTORCARS — FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
www.CarltonMB.com | (864) 213-8000 | 7446 Laurens Road, Greenville, SC 29607
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Mercedes-Benz is helping families of America’s Mercedes-Benz is veterans helping
families of America’s veterans
TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
| THE RUNDOWN
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 20 Featured this issue: First Looks: Farm Fresh Fast, Happy+Hale...........................................................12 Will Rothschild moves from City Hall to Chamber.............................................14 Live music venue coming to Woodruff Road..........................................................19
Beyoncé was the inspiration for this sign, now on display in a Greenville eatery that opened this week. Learn more on page 12. Photo by Will Crooks.
WORTH REPEATING “We want to create jobs, not just take somebody’s money.” Page 8
“That’s the dirty little secret of health care. The only way hospitals can survive is to increase charges to people who are insured or who have Medicare.” Page 16
“That’s a pretty expensive sandbox to bury your head in.”
VERBATIM
On governmental HR “The president is the CEO of the country. He can hire and fire whoever he wants.” Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former S.C. governor, describing a perk of the office of commander in chief on ABC’s “This Week.”
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Students from Fisher Middle School visited Greenville Technical College’s Gene Haas Center for Manufacturing Innovation last week to learn about mechatronics and machine tool technology. Photos by Katie Fenske.
TECHNOLOGY
A Bridge to Learning Greenville Tech’s CMI teaches students advanced manufacturing with new interactive exhibit ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
amoore@communityjournals.com Terrell Chancellor, like many kids, can’t name any jobs that interest him. But the eighth-grader loves computers, an interest Greenville Technical College is working to turn into an advanced manufacturing career. Last Thursday, about 20 eighthgrade students from Fisher Middle School, including Chancellor, visited Greenville Technical College’s Gene Haas Center for Manufacturing Innovation to learn about mechatronics and machine tool technology. The lessons are part of General Electric’s Bridge to Learning, a collection of interactive exhibits that aim to showcase advanced manufacturing career opportunities to area middle and high school students. “Students usually can’t go inside a 4
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manufacturing facility,” said David Clayton, director of the Center for Manufacturing Innovation. “Our exhibits allow them to experience CNC machining, 3-D printing, and other disciplines.” The exhibits are comprised of various manufacturing elements, ranging from robotics to 3-D printing. One station allows students to use touchscreens to see how tools in the center’s manufacturing labs are used to make products. Other stations allow students to use 3-D printing and modeling to solve a manufacturing problem. An augmented reality station allows students to explore the center’s machine shop floor and discover the purpose of each machine. “Many students don’t know what advanced manufacturing is,” said Kurt Goodwin, general manager for advanced manufacturing at GE. “We’re hoping these exhibits inspire kids to
pursue this career path, because we need a pipeline.” Greenville County is the epicenter of manufacturing in South Carolina, ranking first in gross regional project, first in total payroll for all industries, and third in the number of individuals employed in the private sector. However, many of those working in manufacturing are retiring, and there aren’t enough workers to take their place, often because of the misconception of manufacturing being a dirty and low-skill profession. The Center for Manufacturing Innovation, paid for with a $25 million bond issued by Greenville County, opened last year to attack the skills gap that exists in the workforce as manufacturers seek skilled technicians and engineers to fill positions. To combat misconceptions about manufacturing, GE gave the center $500,000 last year for the Bridge to Learning. “One of the challenges is
that many students don’t think about manufacturing as a career,” said Clayton. “The center was designed to capture the attention of students, and these exhibits really add to the ‘wow’ factor.” The center currently hosts weekly field trips for area students. From a glass-walled lobby, students can look down on the center’s ground floor equipped with three- and five-axis lathes, a vertical turning lathe, 3-D printers, hydraulic and pneumatic robots, and simulators. “Students typically tour the facility and watch films about manufacturing,” said Clayton. “Now they can actually run these machines, which is a big step forward.” Clayton said the Bridge to Learning is the first phase of interactive exhibits. The center plans to add more exhibits focused on robotics and open its 3-D printing labs to students.
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
TECHNOLOGY
Chambers celebrate road-funding win RUDOLPH BELL | STAFF
rbell@communityjournals.com Chambers of commerce across the Palmetto State took a victory lap after winning a three-year fight at the State House to secure more money for South Carolina roads. The culmination came Wednesday, May 10, when the House and Senate voted to override a veto by Gov. Henry McMaster and allocate about $600 million more a year to fix the state’s crumbling transportation infrastructure. The money will come by raising the state’s 16.75 cents a gallon gas tax by 12 cents over six years and through various new fees. Among those who pushed lawmakers for the funding was the Upstate Chamber Coalition, an alliance of 13 chambers from Anderson, Cherokee County, Clemson, Easley, Greer, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee County, Simpsonville, Spartanburg, Walhalla, and Westminster. In a statement following the vote, Carlos Phillips, president of the Greenville Chamber, urged local businesses to thank lawmakers who
voted for the road-funding measure. In Columbia, members of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, including Pete Selleck, president of Greenville-based Michelin North America, appeared with lawmakers at a celebratory press conference. “After three years, South Carolina is proud to finally, finally have an infrastructure bill that is the most significant bill of this type in three decades, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of both the House and the Senate,” Selleck declared at the State House, standing beside House Speaker Jay Lucas and Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman. The chambers’ chief adversary in the fight, the South Carolina chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a libertarian group that wants smaller government, surrendered in late April after the Senate followed the House in voting by a veto-proof majority to raise the gas tax. Phillip Joffrion, AFP’s regional director, said in a statement at the time that the group was “extremely disappointed” but would move on to other important legislative work.
ALL UPSTATE LAWMAKERS VOTED YES TO ALLOCATE MORE FUNDING FOR ROADS EXCEPT HOUSE MEMBERS Voting NO Rita Allison, R-Lyman Eric Bedingfield, R-Belton Mike Burns, R-Taylors Bill Chumley, R-Woodruff Neal Collins, R-Easley Jason Elliott, R-Greenville Jonathon Hill, R-Townville David Hiott, R-Pickens Steven Long, R-Boiling Springs Josiah Magnuson, R-Campobello Dennis Moss, R-Gaffney Joshua Putnam, R-Piedmont Garry Smith, R-Simpsonville Anne Thayer, R-Belton Mark Willis, R-Fountain Inn
EXCUSED ABSENCE Harold Mitchell, D-Spartanburg Bill Sandifer, R-Seneca
NOT VOTING Dan Hamilton, R-Greenville Dwight Loftis, R-Greenville Tommy Stringer, R-Greer
SENATE MEMBERS Voting NO Tom Corbin, R-Tigerville Shane Martin, R-Pauline Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney Rex Rice, R-Easley William Timmons, R-Greenville Danny Verdin, R-Laurens
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TECHNOLOGY
Signing Off Furman grads shut down the controversial college messaging app Yik Yak ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
amoore@communityjournals.com Furman University graduates Tyler Droll and Brooks Buffington have shut down Yik Yak, an anonymous messaging app for college and high school students. “We were so lucky to have the most passionate users on the planet. It’s you who made this journey possible,” the founders wrote in a blog post. “The time has come, however, for our paths to part ways, as we’ve decided to make our next moves as a company.” The duo launched the free app on Furman’s campus in 2013. The app, which allowed users to post messages, videos, and photos anonymously to anyone else in their “herd,” became a go-to social feed for high school and college students across the country to
complain about finals, find a party, or crack a joke about a rival school. At the height of its popularity, Yik Yak was the third-most frequently downloaded mobile app. After experiencing a period of huge user growth, a $73.5 million funding round valued the company at $400 million. But many colleges and universities soon banned the app from their wireless networks as it became a ripe platform for cyberbullying. John Brown University, a Christian college in Arkansas, did so in 2014 after its Yik Yak feed was overrun with racist commentary during a march connected to the school’s World Awareness Week. In 2015, a group of African-American students at Clemson University unsuccessfully lobbied the university to ban the app when racially offensive posts appeared after a campus march
to protest a grand jury’s decision not to indict a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Mo. Droll and Buffington banned Yik Yak from school zones by eliminating access to it on or near school properties, a technique called geofencing. Geofences were added around all Greenville County Schools. Last year, the duo implemented mandatory usernames due to the increasing amount of unfiltered vulgarity and threats. The lack of anonymity led many of the site’s most dedicated users to delete their accounts. By December, the company had dropped out of the top-1,000 apps downloaded in the App Store and laid off 60 percent of its workers. It also sold its engineers to Square, an online payments app, for $3 million.
While Square has adopted Yik Yak’s engineers, Droll and Buffington said they will be “tinkering around with what’s ahead for our brand, our technology, and ourselves,” suggesting that they still control what remains of the company. “Building Yik Yak — both the app you used and the company that powered it — was the greatest, hardest, most enjoyable, most stressful, and ultimately most rewarding experience we’ve ever had,” the founders wrote in their blog post. “We’re incredibly grateful to the team that put their hearts and souls into making this app special, the investors and mentors who helped us along the way, and the city of Atlanta, which provided a great community for us to build our business.”
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TRANSPORTATION
Who’s Driving? Connecticut nonprofit wants to fund self-driving vehicle pilot program in Greenville RUDOLPH BELL | STAFF
rbell@communityjournals.com A nonprofit organization from Connecticut has agreed to contribute up to $2 million toward a demonstration project that would put self-driving vehicles on the streets of Greenville, provided local boosters can raise an equivalent amount. The Global Autonomous Vehicle Partnership aims to hasten the adoption of computer-driven, or autonomous, vehicles, believing they will reduce traffic accidents and pollution and make the economy more efficient and productive, according to its website. The group was founded last year by Scott Case, former chief technology officer for Priceline.com, the Internet travel service. Among its activities is supporting cities that are willing to be early adopters of autonomous vehicle technology. The $2 million commitment for matching funds came in a May 3 letter from Art Shulman, executive director of the Global Autonomous Vehicle Partnership, to Doug Webster, a commercial real estate broker who is part of a local group hoping to make Greenville a test bed for — and ultimately center of — transportation technology. Working with Webster on the idea as volunteers are Greenville County Councilman Fred Payne, City Councilman George Fletcher, industrial marketer Lee Stogner, and Fred Cartwright, executive director of the International Center for Automotive Research, the Clemson University research park in Greenville. Webster, Payne, and Stogner said they aim to deploy self-driving vehicles on public streets in several places around Greenville, starting this year at ICAR. They’re also eyeing downtown, Verdae, and the West Greenville neighborhood around Legacy Charter School as sites for autonomous vehicle deployment.
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“We want to create jobs, not just take somebody’s money.” Lee Stogner
Prototype driverless car from Volvo. A demonstration project could put driverless cars on the streets of Greenville. Photo by DimiTVP, via Creative Commons.
They initially envision battery-powered shuttles capable of carrying between four and eight passengers that could be summoned on demand through smartphone apps. Each self-driving vehicle, they say, will need an on-board “operator” to satisfy a South Carolina law requiring a licensed driver be in every vehicle riding on public streets. Webster, Payne, and Stogner said they were introduced to the Global Autonomous Vehicle Partnership by Bryant Walker Smith, a professor at the University of South Carolina’s law school and an expert on law relating to self-driving vehicles. They recently formed a nonprofit organization called Carolinas Alliance 4 Innovation that they hope can organize numerous projects related to transportation technology. They say their long-term goal is to bring the autonomous vehicle industry to Greenville. “We want to create jobs, not just take somebody’s money,” said Stogner, who chairs several committees for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and was instrumental in
bringing an IEEE conference on electric vehicles to Greenville five years ago. Webster, Payne, and Stogner said they’ve worked with Duke Energy on a Greenville County application to Electrify America, a Volkswagen initiative that provides funding for electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle education centers. They said they’re talking to foundations and corporations, but not local or state government, in an effort to raise $2 million to match the $2 million in matching funds offered by the Global Autonomous Vehicle Partnership. If they can raise $2 million locally, they’ll start contacting vehicle providers and put together a package to deploy self-driving technology in Greenville. Webster, Payne, and Stogner said the Carolina Alliance 4 Innovation hasn’t signed any contracts and isn’t committed to any particular vehicle maker or brand. They said they’re willing to talk with any interested company — from large automakers such as BMW and General
Motors to small startups such as EasyMile, a French firm that markets self-driving shuttles. “In fact, we want to deploy different types of vehicles because ultimately they have to work together,” Payne said. Webster, Payne, and Stogner said a small U.S. company involved in self-driving vehicles, Robotic Research, is scheduled to make an exploratory visit to Greenville on Monday. The engineering firm and defense contractor from Gaithersburg, Md., specializes in unmanned vehicles, according to its website. Its previous work includes development of a self-driving shuttle service for wounded soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C., according to an article in the Fayetteville Observer. Webster, Payne, and Stogner also said they’d be happy to work with Proterra, a manufacturer of battery-powered buses with a factory in Greenville. Proterra earlier this month announced an autonomous vehicle pilot program in Nevada.
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Jim DeWitt (middle), Executive Director of the Facility and Lewis and Kelly, Maintenance Staff
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The Springs At Simpsonville The Upstate of South Carolina is a beautiful area home to many businesses. It is also home to severe thunderstorms in the summer and ice storms in the winter. As the weather warms up, as memories of recent winter storms melt away, it’s tempting to forget the cold, hard dread that the lights might Scott Kelly go out. Most of President Carolina the Upstate felt Heating Service the effects of no power due to ice Serving Greenville and wind. But since 1981 the potential for storm related power outages is a year-round sleeping trigger. While you cannot prevent power outages, you can prepare for them. As a business owner I know just how important having power is to stay profitable and keep that competitive edge, so do the folks at The Springs at Simpsonville here in the Upstate. The Springs at Simpsonville is both a senior living community and a strand woven into the town’s cultural fabric. They are a thriving part of life and aging in the greater Greenville area; a cultural best-in-class, with a need to be an innovator in the technology and cutting-edge programs for care across the spectrum of needs and capabilities. In a competitive world, assuring continued continuity of operations provides The Springs at Simpsonville an advantage over many other senior living communities who would be at the mercy of their local power grid. Virtually every function of their business is dependent in some way on a power source. Most importantly, the residents that are dependent on oxygen could not use their oxygen backup because of a lack of power. Also with no power at night there is no way for residents to see and this could result in an injury from a fall. The decision to get back-up power became first priority after a tornado came through Simpsonville. With only some small 10 KW Generators not capable of handling the power requirements of their building they decided to get a turn-key system where if power goes down, for any reason, the entire power needs of their community will be backed up. This adds confidence to families that have oxygen, knowing that power will always be available. As peace of mind Carolina Generators installed a 150KW Generac Generator on location. Power your peace of mind by installing an emergency generator. Contact Carolina Generators today.
STAY OPEN FOR BUSINESS. HAVE A BACKUP PLAN FOR POWER! Contact us today to schedule our Power Pro Professional for your FREE onsite assessment. Greenville: 864-232-5684
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Electrolux didn’t mention any new jobs. “The plant will be in a strong position to meet growing demand and the future needs we see in the market to ensure long-term competitiveness,” Alan Shaw, chief executive of Electrolux Major Appliances North America, said in a news release.
Carter Davis, founder of Lift for the 22
RESTAURANTS
FITNESS
Rick Erwin launches Drayton Mill eatery
Workout Anytime hopes to give Spartanburg veterans some support
Spartanburg’s historic Drayton Mill got some more of its panache back last Wednesday. Greenville-based restaurateur Rick Erwin opened the doors to his sixth eatery, The Standard: A Refined Kitchen. The 7,000-square-foot concept, which is the largest of all of Erwin’s fine-dining establishments, is located within the former textile mill’s 98-year-old Tudor Revival-French Eclectic company store at 1800 Drayton Road. Diners will find affordably priced American dishes, as well as a good selection of craft beers, wines, and cocktails, in a rustic, modern space. “I am certainly very excited,” said Erwin, owner and founder of Rick Erwin Dining Group. “It took a lot of work to get us here, but we’re finally ready. I can’t say enough about the support we’ve received so far.” Erwin’s restaurant was announced in June 2016 as an anchor for the second phase of the 115-year-old mill’s redevelopment as a vibrant mixed-use community featuring residential, commercial, and recreational amenities. The first phase, which kicked off in 2014, included the construction of 289 luxury loft apartments — Drayton Mills Lofts — in the mill’s spinning and weaving buildings. In early 2016, developers began the second phase of the revitalization — transforming the mill’s old cotton warehouses and company store into an attractive destination for restaurants, retailers, and office users. In addition to The Standard, industrial developer Agracel Inc., Bella Latte and Mozza Roasters, and Melotte Enterprises have opened at Drayton Mills Marketplace. Burn Boot Camp and Pi-Squared Pizza have also announced upcoming openings. John Montgomery, principal of Spartanburg-based Montgomery Development Group, the majority owner of Drayton Mills Marketplace, said the Marketplace was meant to complement the Lofts. But both projects are part of a long-range plan to revitalize the former mill village and bring hundreds of new homes to the area. Tara Sherbert, managing partner of TMS Development, the majority owner of Drayton Mills Lofts, said the luxury apartments are almost fully occupied. The Standard occupies a majority of the mill’s company store building, but there is still almost 3,000 square feet available for other tenants. Erwin said he has hired about 60 employees for the restaurant and hopes to fill about 20 more positions. The eatery has seating for almost 200 diners, a private dining room, and a 2,500-square-foot outdoor patio. —Trevor Anderson
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Twenty-two veterans in Spartanburg County will receive a one-year gym membership for free. Workout Anytime, a Georgia-based 24-7 fitness franchise, announced it has launched the offer at its new location at 1915 Old Furnace Road, Suite D, in Boiling Springs. The offer is a result of the company’s partnership with Lift for the 22, a nonprofit headquartered in Oregon that seeks to fight the veteran suicide epidemic by creating a support network centered on fitness. Veterans of all ages who are not already Workout Anytime members can apply via the organization’s website, liftforthe22.org, to obtain one of the memberships. The offer is already in place at the fitness chain’s gyms in Anderson, Greenville, and Easley. “This partnership is going to be incredibly powerful,” said Carter Davis, president and founder of Lift for the 22. “There are hundreds of veteran’s organizations across the country. We are the first to specifically fight suicide through fitness.” Davis served as a corpsman in the U.S. Navy. He was deployed twice to the Middle East. An injury that confined him to a wheelchair, along with the breakup of his marriage, led to a “really bad transition,” he said. “The day of my divorce, I went home and almost committed suicide that night. I had two buddies show up and drag me to the gym,” he said. “I realized if I exhausted my body, I could exhaust my mind.” Davis said the organization’s name was derived from a 2012 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs study that estimated 22 veterans per day were committing suicide. Although that number has decreased to 20, Davis said he wouldn’t rest until the rate is zero. “I tell every single veteran I speak to that I want them to go into the gym each day and pick up one extra pound,” he said. “Then I tell them to go pick up that extra pound in life.” —Trevor Anderson
MANUFACTURING
Electrolux gets ready to boost production in Anderson Appliance maker AB Electrolux said last week that it plans to spend more than $200 million improving its refrigerator plant in Anderson County. The Swedish company said it would add 800,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space, modernizing the plant and “creating the opportunity” to boost production.
About 1,300 people work full-time at the 29-year-old plant, not including a temporary workforce that fluctuates seasonally, said Eloise Hale, spokeswoman at Electrolux’s North American headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. The refrigerators it makes are sold primarily in the U.S. market under the Electrolux and Frigidaire brands, she said. The company manufactures stoves and ovens in two Tennessee cities, Springfield and Memphis, and makes dishwashers in Kinston, N.C. —Rudolph Bell
Spartanburg-based manufacturer Menzel plugs into solar After almost 52 years in business, Spartanburg County’s first foreign manufacturer is reenergizing its operations in more ways than one. Menzel LP has installed a 180-kilowatt (kW) solar system on the roof of its nearly 100,000-square-foot headquarters facility at 951 Simuel Road off Interstate 85 Business. Hans-Joachim Menzel, the second-generation owner of the family-run company established by his father in 1965 in Spartanburg, said the investment signifies Menzel’s long-term commitment to the community and sustainable practices. It doesn’t hurt that it will also have a positive impact on the company’s bottom line. “I just paid my power bills for the next 30 years in one shot,” Menzel said. “It’s a significant investment that we think will pay off in the long run.” Menzel said the company’s new solar panels produce as much energy as the plant consumes. The solar system feeds into Duke Energy’s power grid, and the company is credited for the energy produced. The company is also credited for any excess energy produced. The owner said he hopes more manufacturers in the Upstate will follow suit on the solar installation. He credited tax incentives for solar as being a major attractor for companies who want to reduce their carbon footprint. “Without incentives, you can’t do it. It’s just not feasible,” he said. “It’s a steep decision for a businessman to make. For us, it was the right decision.” Menzel, who runs the company alongside his wife, Birgit, said the operation has about 50 employees. The company produces custom machinery for a range of industries. —Trevor Anderson
TECH
Comfort Keepers of Spartanburg introduces grandPad to customers A smile crept across 80-year-old Elizabeth Pruitt’s face as the retired Spartanburg schoolteacher took her first “selfie” on Thursday, May 11. Pruitt was one of the first clients of Comfort Keepers of Spartanburg to be given her new grandPad, a tablet
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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
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company from Orlando, Fla.
designed especially for seniors.
The Spartanburg-based franchise of the inhome care company, which serves residents of Greenville and Spartanburg counties, has introduced the technology as part of its core service offering. “Our goal has always been to help Upstatearea seniors stay happy, healthy, and engaged,” said Erin Couchell, who co-owns the franchise with her husband, Chris Couchell. The device features an 8-inch touch screen that users can activate and control with their finger or a stylus pen that is included in the box. It comes with a charging cradle, so users don’t have to worry about plugging in cords. GrandPads are designed for users ages 75 and older that have little or no experience with technology, the company said. The tablet’s interface is simple. It comes preloaded with eight apps that are all displayed in bold type with a recognizable symbol. Apps include a video call, mail, photos, camera, weather, a searchable music app with thousands of songs, games, and “lookup,” a non web-based search engine. Instead of connecting to the internet via Wi-Fi, each device is connected to Verizon’s 4G LTE network. Comfort Keepers of Spartanburg is offering the device and service for free to certain customers. Family members can download a free companion app to their smartphone to send pictures and videos, either by uploading them directly, emailing them, or linking to their Facebook and Instagram accounts. — Trevor Anderson
DEVELOPMENT
Millstone Golf Course could become a park or subdivision An abandoned golf course may become a hotspot for Upstate hikers and wildlife alike. The former Millstone Golf Course, comprised of 200 acres along Highway 123 and 4 miles from downtown Greenville, has been purchased and permanently protected by the Ethos Project, a land development
The company, which focuses on sustainable development, has established a conservation easement on 185 acres to protect the property’s various natural resources, which includes 1,500 feet of frontage along the Saluda River. “Animals will need more places to live as Greenville continues to grow,” said Hank Didier, founder of the Ethos Project. “We believe the property will flourish under the conservation easement and become a wildlife destination.” But the property, also known as River West, could also become a hub for outdoor recreation. “The land sat for over a decade,” Didier said. “There are existing structures from the golf course that would make for a great outdoor experience.” The property has more than 100 acres of unused creeks, ponds, waterfalls, and more than five miles of golf cart paths. Ethos is considering donating some land to the City of Greenville or Greenville County for a public park and trail system. “We’re currently putting together a map of possible wildlife trails,” Didier said. “It would be a beautiful park with views of Table Rock State Park and the surrounding mountains.”
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The company has also retained 15 acres of residential lots for future development. Ethos planned to construct 1,400 homes on the property before establishing an easement. The property, which was listed for more than $5 million, was approved for 172,500 square feet of commercial units. “The property is best suited for single-family and multifamily residential development,” said Didier. He said the sliver of land could hold at least 30 homes, which would offer solar panels and other “environmentally conscious” options to owners. The company’s plans for the property, including the park, are preliminary and subject to change, according to Didier. “It’s going to be at least three to five years before anything is done with the property,” he said. “A lot can happen during that time.” —Andrew Moore
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FIRST LOOK |
A SNEAK PEEK AT NEW LOCATIONS IN THE UPSTATE
The Greenville location of Happy+Hale features plus-sign overhead lights, eclectic artwork, blonde wood paneling, and pink bar stools. The space seats 43 people. Photos by Will Crooks
Happy+Hale brings health-conscious fare to Falls Park Place ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com When a restaurant marketed as fast-casual has the Old English term “hale” in its name (meaning free from disease or infirmity; robust; vigorous), you might assume the menu options are slightly more health-conscious than a grilled smoked chicken salad with thick-sliced bacon. And you’d be correct in the case of Happy+Hale, whose most popular menu items include an ahi poke bowl (raw ahi tuna, avocado, sticky rice, sliced scallion, tuxedo sesame, ginger wasabi, and citrus ponzu dressings), quinoa bowl (golden organic quinoa, black beans, diced tomatoes, diced onions, feta cheese, cilantro, avocado, tortilla crunch, red pepper vinaigrette), and avocado toast (avocado mash, red pepper flakes, olive oil, capers, multigrain toast, and a sunny side egg). Happy+Hale opens this week at 600 S. Main St., #101, in the 2,500-square-foot space behind Lululemon and under Jianna in Falls Park Place in downtown Greenville. The 43-seat Greenville location is the third Happy+Hale college friends Matt Whitley and Tyler 12
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Helikson have opened. The first opened in Raleigh, N.C., in 2014 and the second in Durham, N.C., in 2016. “We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and are so excited to open our first location outside of North Carolina in Greenville,” Helikson says. Happy+Hale began literally with a tricycle, an electric golf cart, and a website made overnight, as Whitley and Helikson set out to provide diners with fast, healthy dining options. Today, they serve juices, salads, and breakfast items as fuel to better people’s lives. Central to the business model: sourcing ingredients locally and partnering with local yoga studios as a means of growing community. While they’ve since outgrown the street-cart-style retail, Happy+Hale still provides bike delivery within a 1.5-mile radius of its stores. Each of the three stores is unique in design — Greenville’s features plus-sign overhead lights, light pink bar stools, blonde wood paneling, and a neon “I’ve Been Drinkin’” sign over the juice bar. Helikson says they threw a brainstorming party to determine what the sign should say and landed on the first line of Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love.”
Also unique to the Greenville location: frosé, or frozen rosé. Happy+Hale is one of the first to serve it in the Upstate, though it’s been a growing trend since last summer in coastal towns. While training the 40 new employees before the friends and family night held May 13, Helikson explained the particulars of what makes a Happy+Hale salad different. “The key to a good salad is bite-size pieces with a little bit of everything in every bite,” he says. Happy+Hale opens May 17 and 18 for lunch only, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. On May 19, normal hours begin, Monday–Saturday 7 a.m.–9 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Breakfast is served all day, though it is not available for delivery.
A SNEAK PEEK AT NEW LOCATIONS IN THE UPSTATE
| FIRST LOOK
Farm Fresh Fast opens May 22 on Church Street ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
planned but subject-to-change
aturner@communityjournals.com menu for opening week inThe dining room of Farm Fresh Fast, formerly Elev8, has the same nostalgic vibe you’d expect from a country store where the local farmers might drop in at any point with their fresh eggs and produce. That’s not far from reality, except it’s happening on Church Street, in downtown Greenville. Flowers on the rustic tables, barn doors and windows hung on the walls, and exposed light bulbs give more of a cozy, familiar feel than the starkness of many rustic industrial spaces. Bringing the farm to the city is exactly the goal owner Jonathan Willis has had since he first conceptualized the farmto-table, fast-casual restaurant based on the success of his Elev8 Next Level Nutrition meal delivery service begun in 2015. The 32-seat Farm Fresh Fast at 860 S. Church St. with drive-thru opens May 22 at 11 a.m. The menu will feature weekly rotating entrees dependent on the supplying farms. The
cludes the “Almost Heaven Burger” (fat-free, cheddar-stuffed) on an Upcountry Provisions bun, a seasonal stir-fry of veggies and choice of protein, quinoa coconut curry, a salad with Tyger River Farms mixed greens, and sweet potatoes and broccoli as sides. Protein such as chicken or tofu, along with pastured duck or chicken eggs, can be added to anything. Wednesday nights will be breakfast for dinner featuring duck or chicken egg omelets, farm bowls with local sausage, potatoes, peppers, and onions, and a chorizo burger. Local products also for sale will be Due South Coffee, Kuka Juice (which will sell 8-ounce bottles for $4), and Blue Moon Specialty Foods in Spartanburg’s regular and blueberry lemonade made without sugar. The Next Level Nutrition graband-go items will also be available. Hours of operation beginning May 22 are daily, 11 a.m.–9 p.m., with plans to add breakfast and a late-night drive-thru window in a few weeks.
Flowers on the tables, barn doors and windows hung on the walls, and exposed light bulbs give a cozy, familiar rustic feel and align with Willis’ vision of “bringing the farm to the city.” Photos by Will Crooks.
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C-SUITE |
WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE YOU NEED TO KNOW
Sparkle City’s Storyteller Will Rothschild is moving from City Hall to the Chamber, but his mission stays the same: sharing what makes Spartanburg special WORDS BY TREVOR ANDERSON | PHOTO BY WILL CROOKS
A
familiar face in the community will occupy a new position created to help grow Spartanburg County’s economic and cultural capital. The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce announced Monday, May 15, that it has hired Will Rothschild to serve as vice president of marketing and communications. Rothschild, 44, originally of El Paso, Texas, previously served as communications manager for the city of Spartanburg. In his new role, he will be tasked with creating a unified communications strategy for all five entities under the Spartanburg Chamber’s banner, including the chamber, the Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, Economic Futures Group, One Spartanburg, and the Downtown Development Partnership. But in a broader sense, Rothschild will be one of the leading standard-bearers of the community’s vision for a more vibrant and prosperous Spartanburg. He officially assumed the new role on May 15. After a study of the city’s marketing efforts, “what we found out is that we don’t do nearly a good enough job of telling our story,” said Allen Smith, president and CEO of the Spartanburg Chamber. Officials quickly realized that a higher-level position needed to be created in order to maximize the impact of the community’s message. “One of the things I told Will during the interview process is that this is not about marketing the five entities of the chamber. It’s about marketing Spartanburg,” Smith said. “We think he’s the right person to do it.”
Two years later, he joined the Asheville Citizen-Times. He served as a sports reporter, sports copy editor, and assistant sports editor during his time with the newspaper. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal hired Rothschild in 1999 as a sports copy editor. He became assistant city editor the following year and later a features and projects editor. He accepted the position of bureau chief at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in 2006. Rothschild eventually stepped away from journalism to pursue marketing and communications. In 2008, he ran as a Democrat for the S.C. House District 32 seat, but was defeated by Republican Derham Cole Jr. The following year, Rothschild teamed up with his friend Baker Maultsby to launch their firm Rothschild and Maultsby Media. In 2011, the communications manager job at the city became available and Rothschild decided to throw his hat in the ring. “When I worked with Baker, one of our clients was the city,” he said. “It gave me a little insight into their needs. They had gone through a transition and I felt like I could be an asset to them.” Rothschild said upon his exit from journalism in 2006, he and his wife, Carey, decided to move with their two daughters, Alex, now 17, and Sarah, 15, back to Spartanburg. As a couple, the Rothschilds have each carved out their own niche in the community, seeking out opportunities where they can have an impact. “We missed the Carolinas,” he said. “There’s just something special about the town your kids are born in — the relationships you build.”
FROM PRESSROOM TO CITY HALL
HONING THE MESSAGE
Rothschild attended Appalachian State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. In 1993, he went to work as a sports reporter for the Watauga Democrat in Boone, N.C. 14
UBJ | 5.19.2017
Will Rothschild received praise from local leaders for his efforts to hone the city’s message. “We tried to do a number of things to help citizens and stakeholders engage with the city, making sure they know what’s going, so it’s not just easy, but fun,” Rothschild said.
Rothschild’s team at the city included Multimedia Content Specialist Christopher George and assistant Kensley Drummond. The team led the implementation of initiatives such as updating the city’s website, broadcasting city council meetings on social media, beefing up the city’s activity on social media in general, and being more available to media outlets. “One of the things I noticed when I first started at the city was that it was a professional institution,” Rothschild said. “That’s fantastic, but one of the negatives is that institutions tend to have their own language. One of the biggest things I focused on was changing the way we talk. It’s a cultural change that we needed to make in order to eliminate the distance between the community and us. … I’m really proud of what we were able to do in terms of engagement.” Rothschild said he tried to be creative, but was also focused on only spending taxpayer money on things that would “move the dial.” “I hope to bring that into this job,” he said. “We spent five years building an audience, tweaking the message, and creating a platform. City leaders really empowered me to run with it and I can’t thank them enough. Chris and Kensley have been amazing. In my mind, Chris is the best digital creative mind in Spartanburg.” As of Monday, the city had not announced Rothschild’s replacement. “Will is a great guy and has done a terrific job for us, modernizing our approach to a number of things and bringing a good positive spirit to our efforts to keep the community informed,” said Chris Story, assistant city manager. “On a day-to-day basis, we will miss him, but we’re pleased he will remain a member of the broader Spartanburg team. We think he will do great things. The chamber is a key partner for the city in the big picture.”
WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE YOU NEED TO KNOW
| C-SUITE
“One of the biggest things I focused on was changing the way we talk. It’s a cultural change that we needed to make in order to eliminate the distance between the community and us.” Will Rothschild, VP of marketing and communications, Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce
WILL ROTHSCHILD
Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce AGE: 44 HOMETOWN: El Paso, Texas EDUCATION: Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina – Asheville EXPERIENCE: Communications Manager, City of Spartanburg (2011–2017) President, Rothschild & Maultsby Media (2009–2011) Journalist, Wautauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.); Asheville Citizen-Times; Spartanburg Herald-Journal; Sarasota Herald-Tribune (1993–2007) FAMILY: Wife, Carey; daughters, Alex, 17, and Sarah, 15
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COVER |
LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEMS AND THE ACA
THETRUMPCARE CONUNDRUM
ACA was good news and bad news for area health care systems — and now that the act is in jeopardy, hospitals are wondering what’s next
Words by Melinda Young
LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEMS AND THE ACA
I
n 2016, Greenville Health System (GHS) gave away medical care valued at more than half a billion. They weren’t alone. Other Upstate health systems also gave away hundreds of millions of dollars in care to people who have too little or no health insurance. To put it in perspective, the health systems give away care that is worth several times the City of Greenville’s annual budget of $170.98 million. It’s even more money than dozens of nations spend, including Sierra Leone, Belize, and Syria. But those large numbers don’t tell the whole story: For most systems, uncompensated care actually declined over the last decade as a percentage of total revenue.
THE BREAKDOWN • Local health care systems give away half a billion dollars per year in uncompensated care. • The burden for paying for uncompensated care in part shifts to the insured — the more people who have insurance, the lower uncompensated care will be. • Uncompensated care declined after ACA, but it was less help to states like S.C. that did not accept the ACA’s Medicaid expansion. • Although charity care and bad debt increased in the last decade for local health care systems, the losses were offset by revenue growth. • Projected losses to US hospitals if ACA is repealed could reach $165.8 billion by 2026. • The future of population health and fee-for-value initiatives is unclear.
The half a billion-plus is what health systems attribute to charity care and bad debt costs, collectively called uncompensated care. Charity care goes to people without insurance and who cannot afford their medical costs. It also can cover Medicaid and Medicare shortfalls. Bad debt includes unpaid bills from people who had more medical expenses than their insurance covered, and who couldn’t or wouldn’t pick up the difference.
The way uncompensated care is calculated and reported is complicated. There are the actual costs — related to salaries, services, and products — and there is the estimated value of the care. The value is what a hospital might charge someone if the patient had to pay full price — like a retail price tag. Since every payer — the term the health care industry uses for insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. — negotiates a different rate, the charges patients see on their bills can vary greatly. “If I go to the ER and the charge is $1,200, the ER’s actual cost to provide that service is probably less than half of that,” says Lee Crandall, professor in the department of public health sciences at Clemson University. So if a patient with no insurance and no way of paying for their medical care ends up in the emergency room, someone has to cover the costs of that person’s care because the ER cannot refuse to help the person. And that someone typically includes the federal and state government and businesses and employees with private insurance. “That’s the dirty little secret of health care,” Crandall says. “The only way hospitals can survive is to increase charges to people who are insured or who have Medicare.”
SHIFTING THE BURDEN TO THE INSURED The system works so long as there are enough people with employer-sponsored health insurance to pay the higher rates. Private insurance pay at GHS is about 32 percent. Nationwide, more people gained private insurance in the post-Affordable Care Act (ACA) years, which meant that uncompensated care declined in overall dollars or at least in proportion to revenues, says Robert Hartwig, professor of finance at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. In states like South Carolina that did not accept the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, the ACA was less help to hospitals’ bottom line. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (SRHS) and AnMed Health in Anderson have seen their combined charity care and bad debt costs increase over the past decade. For GHS, the combined costs have doubled. SRHS has seen a near 50 percent increase. “Charity care and bad debt have increased because we have increased the size of our system and serve more patients,” says Terri Newsom, GHS vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). From SRHS’ perspective, the increased costs are offset by revenue growth. “While the total amount of charity care/bad debt has increased, it has increased at a slower rate than the growth of revenue in the health care district,” says Ken Meinke, SRHS chief financial and administrative officer. “As a result, the percentage of charity care/bad debt is less than it was in prior years.” As a percentage of gross revenue, SRHS’ bad debt and charity care has declined from 9.28 percent in 2006 to 6.05 percent in 2016. Upstate health system CFOs say they have seen some evidence of people gaining insurance through the ACA, but not enough to make a big impact on their overall
| COVER
uncompensated care costs. “We’ve seen an increase in visits by people who were insured and coming through the emergency department,” says Ronnie Hyatt, BSSF senior vice president and chief financial officer. GHS had the same experience: “We absolutely did see individuals who had received charity in the past and now are back in our facility with ACA exchange products,” Newsom says. The health system estimates that the ACA added about 2 percent to its private pay percentage, Newsom says, “but these plans do not reimburse for services at the same level as non-exchange private pay.” Only 2.5 percent of SRHS’ patients have insurance through an ACA health care exchange product. “The percentage of our patients who are uninsured has not significantly changed over the last several years,” Meinke says. Things could have been different. If South Carolina had agreed to the Medicaid expansion, then many low-income people who still do not have insurance would have been covered under Medicaid. That would have lowered local health systems’ overall charity care and bad debt costs, says Rozalynn Goodwin, vice president for engagement with the S.C. Hospital Association in Columbia. Health systems in states like Arkansas that expanded Medicaid to cover more poor people saw their charity care and bad debt decline, Goodwin says. “People who are uninsured come to the emergency room. They delay care and may not receive preventive care, and by the time they receive care it’s at an advanced stage, where it’s more expensive,” Goodwin says.
ACA REPEAL COULD COST HOSPITALS $165 BILLION Emerging national reports and research suggest things could get worse economically for health systems. President Donald J. Trump has asked Congress to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill on May 4, intending it to replace much of the ACA. The new bill would cut Medicaid funding and raise health insurance costs for many older and sicker patients — those who spend the most time using hospital services. Hospital advocacy groups reported in December 2016 that if Obamacare — the Affordable Care Act — is repealed, it would cost hospitals $165.8 billion between 2018 and 2026. The estimate was based on a projected 22 million people losing insurance by 2026. In March, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) gave its estimate that Trump’s AHCA would increase the number of uninsured people by 24 million in 2026. By mid-May, the CBO had not issued an updated report on the AHCA, which had several amendments added after its March introduction. But other reports say the amendments will do too little to help low-income people maintain insurance coverage. The new bill would repeal a payroll tax increase and investment income tax that only high-income Americans paid. The taxes helped fund expanded health HEALTH CARE continued on PAGE 18
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LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEMS AND THE ACA
WHOLESALE COSTS OF UNCOMPENSATED MEDICAL CARE IN 2016 Greenville Health System: $173,279,000 Bon Secours St. Francis: $129,700,000 Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System: $64,245,000 AnMed: $28,200,000 Self Regional Healthcare: $24,600,000 RETAIL VALUE OF UNCOMPENSATED MEDICAL CARE IN 2016 Greenville Health System: $536,068,000 Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System: $193,536,000 AnMed: $141,121,002 HEALTH CARE continued from PAGE 17
coverage to millions of indigent and working-class families. The AHCA also would allow states to opt out of maternity care, emergency services, and some other health benefits. And it would cut Medicaid by $880 billion over 10 years. Those changes could lead to more people who lose insurance coverage and who end up using the emergency room for all health care needs. If that happens, hospitals will see their charity care and
bad debt costs increasing even faster. “Right now, the government is paying a sizable portion of the health care bill,” Newsom says. “But if they shift it back to the person receiving the care, the individual would potentially have a difficult time paying for the care and may not access the care they need to remain well.” Most health systems are so dependent on payments from the federal programs of Medicaid and Medicare that they could not function without the money.
For instance, Medicare and Medicaid pay for about 59 percent of Greenville Memorial’s hospitalized patient care. Medicaid expansion was partially paid for by cuts in Medicare payments. South Carolina hospitals had the same Medicare cuts as hospitals in other states, but did not benefit from expanded Medicaid, Meinke says. “We already have it pretty bad from that perspective.”
UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR FEE-FOR-VALUE CARE Under the Affordable Care Act, health systems grew bigger, merging with smaller hospitals, and began pilot programs that found ways to save overall health care money through population health initiatives. The idea was to spend preventive dollars on keeping people healthy with the hope of reducing their hospital and emergency room visits. The ACA provided grants and other assistance to encourage these programs, and Upstate hospitals have started to move in the direction of keeping people healthier and out of the hospital. The AHCA doesn’t mention population health or funding for pilot programs that improve quality and cut spending,
so it’s unclear how the shift to population health will continue to be funded if the bill is passed. However, health system officials say they do not believe hospitals will turn the juggernaut around and drop all prevention efforts. Population health is the path Bon Secours St. Francis currently is on, and the health system will continue in that direction, Hyatt says. “Our charity care fluctuates up and down, but negative changes [to the ACA] will not modify our strategy to provide health care to those in need,” Hyatt says. GHS, the region’s largest health system, also will not stop its work to keep people healthier rather than just treat them when they’re sick. “We’ve done a lot of work to get ready for the shift from fee-for-service to feefor-value, doing more for taking care of people and focusing on wellness and rewarding providers for doing well,” Newsom says. “That’s the piece from the Affordable Care Act that I hope we don’t lose sight of.”
WE’RE GRATEFUL FOR FOREIGN RELATIONSHIPS. Did you know that foreign-owned companies typically pay higher wages than domestic ones? Or that although foreign firms represent only 5 percent of U.S. employment, they account for 19 percent of corporate R&D spending and more than 20 percent of exports? We’re grateful that nearly 500 foreign-owned companies have chosen to call the Upstate home, creating career opportunities for today and the future. You, too, can join more than 170 public and private sector partners in helping the Upstate engage intentionally in the global economy. To join us, please contact Lauren Scoggins,
51,753 jobs among foreign-owned companies 462 foreign-owned companies in the Upstate 34 countries represented
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UBJ | 5.19.2017
Director of Investor & Public Relations, at lscoggins@upstatealliance.com or 864.283.2305. www.upstateSCalliance.com
REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION The Firmament will occupy the former Blue Fire Grill near Whole Foods. Photo by Will Crooks
New music venue The Firmament planned for Woodruff Road area ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com It’s clear someone was listening when Greenville music fans spoke out recently about wanting a new concert venue in the area. A new 450–550 capacity, 9,300-square-foot music venue called The Firmament plans to open this fall at 5 Market Point Drive in the former Blue Fire Grill location near Whole Foods. UBJ previously reported a virtual-reality sports startup called Hitrium was going to occupy the space, but The Firmament has now taken over the lease. The venue will have a 30-by-20-foot stage featuring music of all genres, including local, regional, and national acts, Tuesday–Saturday; a full-service restaurant and bar; and 139 parking spaces on site with additional parking available at neighboring restaurants Sticky Fingers, Otto Izakaya, and The Point shopping center. The Firmament’s owner, Andrew Peek, who will be phasing out of his family’s business, Peek Performance Insurance, when the venue opens, is no stranger to the Greenville music scene. A drummer, DJ, and dabbler on other instruments, Peek played and promoted sold-out shows at the former Handlebar in Greenville, now the Revel
events space. He also organizes a music festival at the Saluda River Yacht Club in June called the Lazy River Fest. “Music is my passion,” Peek says. “I want to offer a place where people can have a safe environment.” Peek says renovations will include building the stage, installing a sound system by PK Sound, building a large green room, and removing the kitchen in the center of the bar, including a 22-by-11-foot ventilation hood. There will be seating for 40–50 diners, plus bar seating. Peek is working with a local chef to create a gourmet small plate menu. “The majority of revenue will be from alcohol sales and tickets,” Peek says. South Carolina law states that establishments serving alcohol must also serve food, unless they are a private club. “I figure, if I have to serve food, it might as well be good food,” Peek says. As he raises more capital, Peek plans to renovate and add several more restrooms. Plans for the additional restrooms could increase the venue’s capacity to 1,150 since one toilet is required for every 30 women and every 60 men. When capacity is increased, it will allow Peek to book more popular acts, since he will be able to sell more tickets
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to cover the high booking fees, he says. Planned hours of operation are
Tuesday–Thursday, 4 p.m.–midnight, and Friday–Saturday, 4 p.m.–2 a.m.
DIGITAL MAVEN |
THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF BUSINESS
This Is the Big One Last week’s massive global ransomware attack is making hundreds of thousands WannaCry By LAURA HAIGHT President, portfoliosc.com
It’s hard to overstate the damage that the spread of the WannaCry ransomware attack has had and will continue to have across the globe. The attack, which hit hospitals, telecoms, transit, universities, and utilities across Europe and Asia last Friday, is a massive one that will end up costing untold billions of dollars, risking who-knows-howmany lives, and taking an immeasurable toll in lost business and remediation. For years, U.S. officials like retired Gen. Michael Hayden, former director of the NSA, have warned of the massive vulnerabilities of our infrastructure to cyberattacks. Although the U.S. was not a major target in this potentially first wave of attacks, those officials have the cold comfort of knowing they were right. We, and the rest of the world, are woefully unprepared to fight against coordinated cyberattacks. To make matters worse, the NSA developed the tool hackers used to unleash the “WannaCry” ransomware on the world. Code-named “EternalBlue,”
the hacking tool the security agency created was used to hack into millions of Windows computers by exploiting a vulnerability in a network protocol. That tool was obtained by a hacking group called Shadow Brokers and released “into the wild” last month. Still, Microsoft had released a patch to close the vulnerability, back in March. For those of you who want to run to your computers and check, it is MS17010. Obviously, massive numbers of systems — from servers to desktops — are unpatched and vulnerable. If we are lucky enough to have dodged a bullet in the U.S., we should count ourselves very lucky — especially since we created the monster in the first place. But we shouldn’t go back to business as usual. There are lessons to be learned — and work to do.
It turns out Apple was right In the fall of 2015, Apple and other technology companies were embroiled in a controversy over privacy vs. security. At issue was an encrypted phone used by a “terrorist” that the FBI demanded Apple hack into. When that request failed, a national conversation ensued over suggestions that technology companies build backdoors into all devices so law
We should count ourselves lucky to have dodged a bullet in the U.S. But we shouldn’t go back to business as usual. There are lessons to be learned — and work to do. enforcement and homeland security could adequately “protect us.” Apple, Google, and, yes, Microsoft, demurred because a backdoor would put everybody at risk. And it turns out they are right. Last week’s hackathon certainly proved that. Tools we create to defeat security measures, whether we’re cop or criminal, are inherently unsafe. Even the NSA can’t keep their work product safe.
«
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UBJ | 5.19.2017
THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF BUSINESS
| DIGITAL MAVEN | 21
Presented by
Last week, users worldwide saw screens like this one as their computers fell victim to a massive ransomware attack.
« What’s your excuse for not patching systems?
Let’s see. We’re too busy. Something might break if we do. We haven’t had time to test. No one ever wants to believe that the answers to big problems can be simple. But sadly, they can be. The fact of the matter is systems that had installed the critical patch delivered in March did not get hit. Q.E.D. Of course, there are legitimate reasons why some companies lag behind in patching. Some system’s landscapes are so complex that a test bed is required to ensure a critical piece of the operation doesn’t go down when a patch is applied. Not unsurprisingly, those hypercritical systems — hospitals, utilities, hydroelectric plants, law enforcement agencies, banks, and brokerages — are exactly the key targets for this attack and other large, coordinated efforts in the past. But not all unpatched systems fall into this category. A year after the vast Heartbleed exposure in 2014 that opened a hole in the very system that provided security to nearly every public-facing server in the world, three out of four of the Forbes 2000 companies had still not deployed the patch that had been available for nearly 12 months. If your business is at this level, then you need a permanent test bed and the staff to regularly review, test, evaluate, and deploy critical patches. For the rest of us, not patching is a weak excuse. And, this week, a costly one.
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It still takes a user An unpatched system in and of itself is just a petri dish. But layer in an authenticated user, who clicks where they shouldn’t, and — whamo — you’ve got the technology equivalent of Ebola. And that’s exactly what happened here. Attackers sent an encrypted zip file, which is harder for intrusion detection systems to scan. And yet, over and over, the file was opened, spreading throughout attached devices and computers on the user’s network. When I talk about cybercrime and security, I often hear, “Everyone knows that.” Clearly, everyone doesn’t. And that’s a pretty expensive sandbox to bury your head in. The ransom demanded for each hack so far totals over $30 million. Have you been hit by ransomware? We want to talk to you. Share your experiences with other businesses who need to know this threat is not happening “to someone else.” Email laura@portfoliosc.com.
Drop in and network…
first drink is on us. TheUpstateBusinessJournal
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22 | COMMUNICATE |
STAYING ON MESSAGE WITH YOUR CLIENTS AND YOUR COLLEAGUES
Okay, Google… Find My Business By MICHELLE THOMPSON Digital Marketing Strategist, Crawford Strategiesg
You know you’re a local business, but does Google? Our digital lives now connect us to the physical world, and more and more people are turning to their smartphones to find local businesses. In fact, the number of “near me” searches performed in the United States doubled from 2015 to 2016 and has increased 21-fold since 2012. With an influx of tourists and visitors, Greenville businesses can capitalize on this growing trend by ensuring they are sending the right “local signals” to Google.
How to Send the Right “Local Signals” Google takes three main criteria into account when determining which businesses to display in local search results: physical location, relevance, and prominence.
1
Even if you do everything right and send all the necessary location and relevancy signals to Google, there is
The number of “near me” searches performed in the United States doubled from 2015 to 2016 and has increased 21 fold since 2012.
Relevance
It’s not enough to simply be local. You also have to be relevant, and one of the best ways to showcase relevancy is with a Google My Business page. Google classifies local business into several predefined categories. When creating a Google My Business page, make sure Google understands your 22
3
Prominence
still a chance that your competitors will outrank you in local search results. If that is the case, you may need to improve the prominence, or popularity, of your business online. To improve prominence, consider investing in digital marketing strategies designed to increase your presence on the web, such as getting more online customer reviews, improving audience engagement rates via social media channels, and growing referral traffic from trusted sources. At the end of the day, Google loves to personalize search results and prefers to show listings for local businesses whenever possible. Make sure it’s your business that customers are seeing.
Physical Location
The easiest way to improve the appearance of your business in local search results is by ensuring Google has a clear understanding of your physical location, starting with your website. Your business’ name, address, and phone number (NAP for short) should be clearly listed in the footer, as well as on the Contact Us page of your website. Since search engines can’t crawl text in images, it’s important to make sure your NAP is written in plain text. In addition to websites, Google frequently looks for business information in directories, as well as on social media. Having a consistent NAP across all listings on the web is key in building trust with search engines. Finding and making directory updates can be extremely time consuming, especially for organizations with multiple branches or businesses that recently relocated. To save time, consider investing in a local search engine optimization (SEO) campaign with a marketing agency that includes directory updates as part of the engagement. Pro Tip: If you have both a toll-free phone number and local number, always default to using the local phone number in online directories.
2
business by selecting the appropriate category (or categories) it falls under. The categories you select will directly impact how your business appears in local search results. Example: A full-service marketing firm like Crawford Strategy would select the “marketing agency,” “public relations firm,” and “advertising agency” business categories. Pro Tip: With categories, Google is essentially telling you what search terms will trigger local search results for your business. Use this as an opportunity to improve SEO by incorporating category phrases into your website copy.
UBJ | 5.19.2017
Google considers a business’ physical location, relevance, and prominence when displaying local search results.
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
Bambino launches babysitting app in Greenville market
| NEW TO THE STREET / THE FINE PRINT
Open for business 1
Bambino Technologies Inc. (bambinositters. com) has announced the expansion of its babysitting app into Greenville and the surrounding areas. Bambino is a mobile app that modernizes the way parents find, book, and pay trusted local sitters. The app enables parents to find sitters who are connected to them through friends and neighbors. After downloading the free app and creating a profile, parents enter details for when they need a sitter, preview the available sitters, and choose one for the job. Bambino also tracks the duration of the sit and, once the job is done, parents pay the sitter through the app. Photo provided
Greater Greenville has two of the world’s fastest-growing women-owned businesses Two businesses in greater Greenville are on the list of the 50 fastest-growing women-owned/led companies, co-sponsored by American Express and the Women Presidents’ Organization, a national nonprofit with 137 chapters located internationally. Contingent Resource Solutions in Duncan was founded by Debra Gentry. The company ranked 10th, with gross revenue that grew from $11.9 million to $14 million in two years’ time. Quality Business Solutions in Travelers Rest was founded by Pamela Evette. The company ranked 17th, with gross revenue that grew from $906 million in 2014 to more than $1 billion last year. The companies were ranked according to a sales growth formula that combines percentage and absolute growth.
1. Elwood Staffing recently opened its first South Carolina branch at 1099 East Butler Road, Suite 108H, in Greenville. Visit elwoodstaffing.com for more information. CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon? Email information to aturner@communityjournals.com.
Priority One Security acquires Blue Ridge Security Regionally based Priority One Security has successfully executed the acquisition of Blue Ridge Security Solutions. Included as part of the acquisition is a UL-listed/FM-approved central station. The addition of the monitoring station will give Priority One Security the opportunity to facilitate an even higher standard of customer service. William R. Francis, president of Priority One Security, stated, “The acquisition of BRSS strengthens our current position in the marketplace and affords us the ability to further establish ourselves as a leader in the industry. Once we complete the integration of Blue Ridge Security, we will begin pursuing additional growth opportunities.”
Independent Living Patio Homes • Independent Apartment Homes Assisted Living • Memory Care • Rehabilitation • Skilled Nursing
1 Hoke Smith Blvd., Greenville 864.987.4612 • www.RollingGreenVillage.com
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ON THE MOVE |
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
PROMOTED
HIRED
KAILEY PHILLIPS
ALLYSON SEITZER
PEYTON HOWELL
RACHEL TESTA
PAULA WILLIAMSON
Hired as a venue captain for the Old Cigar Warehouse. A recent graduate of Clemson University, Phillips earned a degree in parks, recreation, and tourism management. Phillips has previously interned for the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Anna Balkan Designer Jewelry, and Maman NYC.
Hired as a marketing manager at High Spirits Hospitality. Seitzer most recently worked as an account executive at VantagePoint Marketing. Seitzer graduated magna cum laude with a degree in visual communications from the University of South Carolina.
Joined the Harper Corporation as an industrial market director. Howell, who brings over 26 years of construction experience, will be responsible for project executive support for planned industrial projects while offering assistance to Harper’s preconstruction and estimating departments.
Promoted to the director of accounts at Engenius. She will maintain and grow existing accounts, oversee all company marketing, and conduct business development. Testa previously served as the agency’s marketing director for nearly two years.
Joined McNair Law Firm, P.A. as a communications manager. Among several duties, Williamson will manage the firm’s public relations efforts and support the diverse marketing initiatives across its eight locations.
VIP SUSAN CREDLE
Financial Services
Greenville native Susan Credle, global chief creative officer of FCB, is among several communications leaders who were honored at the 2017 Matrix Awards, presented by New York Women in Communications. Susan joins the distinguished ranks of previous honorees such as Katie Couric, Sheryl Sandberg, and Arianna Huffington, to name a few. The prestigious award, which recognizes select extraordinary women each year in the field of communications, honors “women who connect the world.” Credle was honored for her impact on the advertising industry, as well as her outspoken commitment to making a difference for women in communications. She has previously received numerous industry accolades, including CAF’s Chicago Ad Woman of the Year in 2013, Advertising Age’s 100 Most Influential Women, Business Insider’s Most Creative Women in Advertising, and induction into the AAF’s Hall of Achievement.
Rebecca Kincaid of Greenville was recently honored as one of the top three producers among hundreds of Tarkenton Financial agents nationwide in 2016. The award was presented by NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton, the founder and CEO of Tarkenton Financial.
Construction Spartanburg-based Waldrop Mechanical Services, a full-service mechanical contracting firm, recently received “Best in Class” National Excellence in Construction awards from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for two Upstate projects. Waldrop brought home two Eagle Awards — ABC’s highest level award — for its mechanical renovation work inside Furman University’s Lakeside Residence Hall complex and for an emergency HVAC system replacement and renovation at Oconee County’s Walhalla Elementary School. The Heirloom Companies was recognized for its craftsmanship at the 2017 Bridge Awards through the Home Builders Association of Greenville. The company was awarded with the Special Feature Award for Best Staircase for its custom-designed staircase in a Cliffs community residence. Additionally, the company’s head of operations, Ben Moseley, was awarded the President’s Citation Award for his outstanding service as a board member on the Greenville 24
Home Builders Association and as the organization’s Home and Garden Show committee chairman.
UBJ | 5.19.2017
Brian McKay, senior vice president/chief operating officer of SC Telco Federal Credit Union, has been named president of the Upstate Chapter of Credit Unions. The purpose of the chapter is to promote unity among credit unions in the local area through communication, networking, training, and participation in community, state, and national projects that support the cooperative spirit of the credit union movement. Tom Hafemann has joined SC Telco Federal Credit Union as vice president of information technology. Hafemann will manage the credit union’s day-to-day technology operations and oversee new technology initiatives and implementations. Community First Bank has hired William P. “Bill” Lackey Jr. as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Lackey’s career includes extensive leadership experience in financial markets with a focus on operations management, technology, and security.
Health Care Greenville chiropractor Dr. Jacob Siler has completed a certification program offered by the Council on Extremity Adjusting and has become a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (CCEP). Dr. Siler is one of 1,200 extremity specialists worldwide. As a CCEP, Dr. Siler is trained to pinpoint and treat root causes of recurring pain in the spine or extremity. The board of directors of the Cancer Society of Greenville is pleased to announce the election of Brad Halter as the chairman of the board. Brad Halter is the chairman of the Caine Company, which operates both Coldwell Banker Caine and Coldwell Banker Commercial Caine. He has been an active member of the Cancer Society of Greenville County board of directors and served as the vice chairman of the board in 2016.
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
Services Didi Caldwell, founding principal of Global Location Strategies (GLS), has been re-elected to a third consecutive term on the board of directors of the Site Selectors Guild (SSG). She will serve as an officer in the capacity of treasurer, which has a one-year term. Membership to SSG is exclusive to the most elite professionals in the business and individuals must be nominated and approved by their industry peers.
Arts Reel Video & Stills, a Greenville-based photography and video firm, has added Graham Zielinsk to their team as a photographer, videographer, and social media marketing manager. Zielinsk comes to Reel Video & Stills with a background in marketing and a Bachelor of Science in film from Full Sail University. Zielinsk’s experience also includes directing, 1st AD, and gaffer work on numerous commercial, documentary, short films, and web-based content. The Centre for Performing Arts, a dance studio, announced that Jordan Chastain has purchased the company. The studio will continue operation under the brand “The Centre” with Chastain serving as director. Chastain has over 15 years of intensive dance experience, learning under industry veterans across the United States. His training includes hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and musical theater.
Legal Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP partner Thomas W. Epting was recently recognized in the 2017 edition of IP Stars, produced by Managing Intellectual Property magazine. IP Stars uses client and peer feedback to analyze and identify the leading IP firms and attorneys across the country to provide deeper insights to the complex U.S. IP legal market for in-house counsel at Fortune 500 companies. Epting was selected as a “Patent Star” and a “Trademark Star” in South Carolina.
Ginny Beach Vice President of Operations
| ON THE MOVE
Attorney Joseph W. Rohe of Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP recently received the Certified Customs Specialist (CCS) designation from the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Inc. The CCS Certification Program is designed to assist trade professionals involved in the import industry to become fluent in the current import regulations.
Marketing Infinity Marketing is pleased to announce the promotions of Jeremy Stewart, Taylor Jones, and Bryan Huber. Stewart and Jones, both previously media assistants, have each been promoted to media coordinator and Huber has been named senior graphic designer.
Nonprofit Rhonda Hovious recently joined Meals on Wheels as donor relations coordinator. Hovious will support the day-to-day operations of the development team by maintaining the donor database, managing donor acknowledgements, assisting with fundraising, and providing donor research and analysis. Hovious is a graduate of Winthrop University and has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
Technology
Green Cloud Technologies, a 100 percent channel-only, Cisco-powered cloud provider, was recently named the Best Cloud Hosting Provider by The Cloud Awards program. The Cloud Awards are the first and largest recognition platform of its kind for companies across the globe. Green Cloud Technologies was founded in 2011 and today is the largest independent channel-only cloud IaaS (infrastructure-as-a-service) provider in the country. CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions, & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
We’ve already met your next employee.
Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing specializes in executive recruiting, career placement, and consulting for businesses and independent job seekers in South Carolina. Our team of recruiters brings a combined 124 years of experience placing candidates in the financial, technical, healthcare and professional industries. Let us find the perfect fit for your employment needs. Professional • Finance • Technical • Healthcare sccareersearch.com • 864-242-3491
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Celebrating Celebrating 5.19.2017
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#TRENDING |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE WATERCOOLER Social Chatter RE: THE NOBLE DOG HOTEL IS READY TO PAMPER YOUR PUP “Congratulations. A great vision becomes a reality.”
Nancie Jean Papriska Cheskey
RE: FIRST LOOK: BOUTIQUE BOWLING ALLEY STONE PIN COMPANY SET TO OPEN MAY 15, 2017 “This is another jewel added to the crown we call Greenville.”
for the Grand Bohemian? The new buildings look so similar. I like the idea of something different that blends into the park!”
Tanya Stiegler “City DRB needs to Google Image ‘traditional diner sign.’ @diner24gvl design appears to be very ‘traditional.”’
@mark.hetu
“Keep the diner sign the way it is. A hint of nostalgia won’t kill downtown, especially if it isn’t directly on Main Street.”
Kerry Lightner
Rob Lewis
RE: DRB DENIES DINER 24 SIGN, SAYS GRAND BOHEMIAN MUST MODERNIZE PARK LODGE LOOK
“Sorry to hear this. This seems like a unique sign that would not be a detriment to the area it’s in. I understand having some guidelines, but this fits the theme of a diner and adds variety.”
“1. It’s really hard to take the restriction against the Diner 24 sign seriously as long as the turquoise second floor of City Tavern is allowed to exist (and it’s been a long time). 2. What’s wrong with some rustic originality downtown
Beth LeMay Beautler “Noooo! I’ve been admiring that thing for a while now. So perfect! Shame on the city.”
@ryanhamilton
“Who gets to define what the word ‘traditional’ means? Do they want poodle skirts and a Corvette on it? It’s fine the way it is. Traditional isn’t what Greenville is about. It’s growing, and the DRB needs to get with the times.”
@stephs321
RE: Q&A: JAMES FALLOWS “Great catch — good piece! The Atlantic seems to connect with GVL.”
@IamMikeHarrison
RE: PUP-FRIENDLY UNLEASHED DOG BAR PLANNED NEAR LAURENS AND WOODRUFF ROADS “Now if only my dogs were well enough behaved for such an outing.”
Amber Lewis “We’ve wanted this concept so bad and it’s finally coming!”
Greenville on the Rise
E 19
MAY 12, 2017
TOP 5: 1. First Look: Boutique bowling alley Stone Pin Company set to open May 15
| VOL. 6 ISSU
D PENLAN ERWIN NEW HOME, ON A TAKES IDENTITY AS NEW
EP+CO
DIGITAL FLIPBOOK ARCHIVE
The layout of print meets the convenience of the Web. Flip through the digital editions of any of our print issues, and see them all in one place. upstatebusinessjournal.com/past-issues
2. Furman grads shut down Yik Yak, the once popular and controversial college messaging app ALSO AT LOOK A FIRST MPANY L PIN CO STONE E DOG HOTE & NOBL
3. The Noble Dog Hotel is ready to pamper your pup
4. Pup-friendly Unleashed Dog Bar planned near Laurens and Woodruff roads
5. DRB denies Diner 24 sign, says Grand Bohemian must modernize park lodge look
*The top 5 stories from the past week ranked by shareability score
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UBJ | 5.19.2017
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EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR
PRESIDENT/CEO
DATE
EVENT INFO
WHERE DO I GO?
HOW DO I GO?
Friday
Innovative Leadership Series: George Wofford of Sealed Air
Clemson MBA at Greenville ONE Buiding 1 N. Main St., 5th floor noon–1:30 p.m.
Cost: Free For more info: bit.ly/2pMHEah
Pulse Leadership Luncheon
Hilton Greenville 45 W. Orchard Park Drive 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: Free for members, $25 for nonmembers For more info: bit.ly/2qiBzDy, eaustin@greenvillechamber.org, 864-239-3730
Collaborators & Cocktails
ONE Building 1 N. Main St., 4th floor 5–7:15 p.m.
Cost: Free for members, $25 for nonmembers (request in advance) For more info: bit.ly/2pOE7ET, Endeavor@EndeavorGreenville.com
Nonprofit Alliance: Guiding Volunteer Recruitment & Retention
Greenville Chamber 24 Cleveland St. 8–9 a.m.
Cost: Free for investors, $10 for noninvestors For more info: bit.ly/2riAkl2, tjames@greenvillechamber.org, 864-239-3728
Netnight
Fluor Field (Indoor Space) 945 S. Main St. 6–8:30 p.m.
Cost: $15 for investors, $25 general admission For more info: bit.ly/2riFf5z, nwhite@greenvillechamber.org, 864-239-3727
5/19
Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
UBJ PUBLISHER
Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com
EDITOR
Chris Haire chaire@communityjournals.com
| PLANNER
Wednesday
5/24
MANAGING EDITOR
Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com
DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Tori Lant tlant@communityjournals.com
Wednesday
5/24
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com
STAFF WRITERS
Trevor Anderson, Rudolph Bell, Cindy Landrum, Andrew Moore, Ariel Turner
Thursday
6/8
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Sherry Jackson, Melinda Young
MARKETING & ADVERTISING VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES David Rich drich@communityjournals.com
Thursday
6/8
SALES REPRESENTATIVES Nicole Greer, Donna Johnston, Lindsay Oehmen, Rosie Peck, Caroline Spivey, Emily Yepes
ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR Will Crooks
LAYOUT
Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith
UP NEXT
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?
JUNE 2 THE INTERNATIONAL ISSUE Upstate, meet the world. World, meet the Upstate.
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
UBJ milestone
UBJ milestone jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years 1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport
1988
>>
OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
ADVERTISING DESIGN
Kristy Adair | Michael Allen
CLIENT SERVICES
Anita Harley | Jane Rogers
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff
Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
JUNE 16 THE LEGAL ISSUE Critical information from local experts.
Kristi Fortner
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS:
ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com
EVENTS:
events@upstatebusinessjournal.com
NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS:
onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties. Guest columns run 700-800 words. Contact managing editor Jerry Salley at jsalley@communityjournals. com to submit an article for consideration. Circulation Audit by
JULY 14 THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ISSUE Tomorrow’s game-changers and disruptors.
Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993
Solve. Serve. Grow. Those three words summarize Jackson Marketing Group’s guiding principles, and according to owner Larry Jackson, form the motivation that has kept the firm thriving for the past 25 years.
Jackson graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in video and film production and started his 41-year career in the communications industry with the U.S. Army’s Public Information Office. He served during
Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood. He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980. In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he
learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage. In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar. “Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said. Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders
>>
2003 motorsports Division acquires an additional 26,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space
1998
1990 Jackson Dawson
acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.
1998 Jackson Dawson moves to task industrial Court
with a majority of them utilizing the general aviation airport as a “corporate gateway to the city.” In 1997, Jackson and his son, Darrell, launched Jackson Motorsports Group. The new division was designed to sell race tires and go to racetracks to sell and mount the tires. Darrell Jackson now serves as president of the motorsports group and Larry Jackson has two other children and a son-in-law who work there. Jackson said all his children started at the bottom and “earned their way up.” Jackson kept the Jackson-Dawson branches in Detroit and others in Los Angeles and New York until he sold his portion of that partnership in 2009 as part of his estate planning. The company now operates a small office in Charlotte, but its main headquarters are in Greenville in a large office space off Woodruff Road, complete with a vision gallery that displays local artwork and an auditorium Jackson makes available for non-profit use. The Motorsports Group is housed in an additional 26,000 square feet building just down the street, and the agency is currently looking for another 20,000 square feet. Jackson said JMG has expanded into other verticals such as financial, healthcare, manufacturing and pro-bono work, but still has a strong focus on the auto industry and transportation. It’s
also one of the few marketing companies in South Carolina to handle all aspects of a project in-house, with four suites handling video production, copywriting, media and research and web design. Clients include heavyweights such as BMW, Bob Jones University, the Peace Center, Michelin and Sage Automotive. Recent projects have included an interactive mobile application for Milliken’s arboretum and 600-acre Spartanburg campus and a marketing campaign for the 2013 Big League World Series. “In my opinion, our greatest single achievement is the longevity of our client relationships,” said Darrell Jackson. “Our first client from back in 1988 is still a client today. I can count on one hand the number of clients who have gone elsewhere in the past decade.” Larry Jackson says his Christian faith and belief in service to others, coupled with business values rooted in solving clients’ problems, have kept
2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003
2009-2012 Jackson marketing Group named a top BtoB agency by BtoB magazine 4 years running
him going and growing his business over the years. He is passionate about giving back and outreach to non-prof non-profits. The company was recently awarded the Community Foundation Spirit Award. The company reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community last week by celebrating its 25th anniversary with a birthday party and a 25-hour Serve-A-Thon partnership with Hands on Greenville and Habitat for Humanity. JMG’s 103 full-time employees worked in shifts around the clock on October 22 and 23 to help construct a house for a deserving family. As Jackson inches towards retirement, he says he hasn’t quite figured out his succession plan yet, but sees the companies staying under the same umbrella. He wants to continue to strategically grow the business. “From the beginning, my father has taught me that this business is all about our people – both our clients and our associates,” said his son, Darrell. “We have created a focus and a culture that strives to solve problems, serve people and grow careers.” Darrell Jackson said he wants to “continue helping lead a culture where we solve, serve and grow. If we are successful, we will continue to grow towards our ultimate goal of becoming the leading integrated marketing communications brand in the Southeast.”
2011 Jackson marketing Group/Jackson motorsports Group employee base reaches 100 people
2008 2012 Jackson marketing Group recognized by Community Foundation with Creative spirit Award
pro-bono/non-proFit / Clients lients American Red Cross of Western Carolinas Metropolitan Arts Council Artisphere Big League World Series The Wilds Advance SC South Carolina Charities, Inc. Aloft Hidden Treasure Christian School
CoMMUnitY nit inVolVeMent nitY in olV inV olVe VeMent & boarD positions lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member David Jones (Vice President Client services, Chief marketing officer): Hands on Greenville board chairman mike Zeller (Vice President, Brand marketing): Artisphere Board,
Metropolitan Arts Council Board, American Red Cross Board, Greenville Tech Foundation Board, South Carolina Chamber Board
eric Jackson (Jackson motorsports Group sales specialist): Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board
November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21
20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013
AS SEEN IN
NOVEMBER 1, 2013
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Copyright ©2017 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. 581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $50. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, P581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Printed in the USA.
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THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL SC LEGISLATORS For five years, the Upstate business community has worked with partners across the state for new, sustainable and substantial funding for our crumbling infrastructure. That work has finally borne fruit. These legislators exhibited the leadership we asked of them, tackled one of our biggest problems, and chose to advance our state:
Sen. Thomas Alexander
Rep. Gary Clary
Rep. Steve Moss
(R-Oconee)
(R-Clemson)
(R-Blacksburg)
Sen. Karl Allen
Rep. Derham Cole
Rep. Leola Robinson-Simpson
(D-Greenville)
(R-Spartanburg)
(D-Greenville)
Sen. Mike Gambrell
Rep. Chandra Dillard
Rep. Tommy Stringer
(R-Anderson)
(D-Greenville)
(R-Greer)
Sen. Glenn Reese
Rep. Mike Forrester
Rep. Eddie Tallon
(D-Spartanburg)
(R-Spartanburg)
(R-Spartanburg)
Sen. Scott Talley
Rep. Craig Gagnon
Rep. Jay West
(R-Spartanburg)
(R-Abbeville)
(R-Belton)
Sen. Ross Turner
Rep. Phyllis Henderson
Rep. Brian White
(R-Greenville)
(R-Greenville)
(R-Anderson)
Rep. Bruce Bannister
Rep. Harold Mitchell
Rep. Bill Whitmire
(R-Greenville)
(D-Spartanburg)
(R-Walhalla)
We thank these representatives and senators who repeatedly voted to fix our roads, and we ask the Upstate business community to do the same. We look forward to seeing the cones and barricades that mean our roads and bridges are being repaired. Decades of neglect will not be fixed overnight, but we are on our way to having the infrastructure we need for a globally competitive Upstate economy where businesses succeed and people prosper.