June 3, 2016 UBJ by Community Journals

JUNE 3, 2016 | VOL. 5 ISSUE 23

HOT SCOOPS Spartanburg entrepreneurs have the whole state screaming for their “adult” ice cream—Pg 14

Don’t be surprised when people can’t take their eyes off you. 2017 C300 Coupe

Carlton MotorCars www.CarltonMB.com (864) 213-8000 2446 laurens road | Greenville, sC 29607

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| M&A | 3

Atlanta M&A ﬁrm opening Greenville office ASHLEY BONCIMINO | STAFF

aboncimino@communityjournals.com

Atlanta-based M&A firm Abraxas announced plans to open an office in Greenville at the NEXT Innovation Center in June. The company works with client businesses reporting between $5 million and $30 million in revenues across the manufacturing, logistics, technology, health care and services industries, according to its website. The company has facilitated more than $100 million in deals over the last five years and chose the Upstate for a second location because of its track record with successful small business owners and entrepreneurs, stated Abraxas president C. David Chambless. The company provides legal advice, transition tax planning, wealth management positioning, financial strategy consulting, due diligence and closing services. Abraxas’ Greenville office will be lead by Jason Premo, founder of

Greenville-based private equity firm Premo Ventures. Premo did not respond to requests for details about the new office in time for publishing. The company’s Upstate presence could boost regional foreign direct investment through joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, stated Upstate SC Alliance president and CEO John Lummus. “Abraxas will heighten the Upstate’s profile among investors in multiple sectors while providing our companies with a vital beacon for navigating partnership arrangements,” he said. “Strengthening the region’s business support sector is among the goals of the plan, in which noted area manufacturing, wholesale trade and transportation industries seek business support services at greater rates than the same industries in Atlanta or Charlotte.”

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4 | THE RUNDOWN |

UBJ

TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK

06.03.2016

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 23 Featured this issue: Fitesa expansion 20% larger than announced ............. 8 The ransomware threat is real .................................... 20 Spec homes going up in Drayton Mill .............................. 22

Amod Ogale (center) of Clemson University has received $2 million and will work with a group of researchers across the country to lower the cost of high-tech materials that have helped make airplanes and luxury cars more fuel-efﬁcient. Ogale, the director of the Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films and Dow Chemical Professor of Chemical Engineering, has been working for more than 30 years to create composite materials, made of carbon ﬁbers, that are stronger and lighter than steel. Now he will turn his attention to making the materials less expensive. Photo: Clemson University

WORTH REPEATING “We’ve seen the evolution of technology correlate directly with the hindering of social interaction.” Page 9 “It’s like those folks dressed like the Statue of Liberty or that giant pink elephant that you see in front of businesses. I think the Big Boys trigger fond memories. It’s brilliant.” Page 12 “He started trying to ﬁgure out this whole alcoholic ice cream thing. He wouldn’t stop talking about it. I bought him a subscription to the Wall Street Journal just so we’d have something else to talk about.” Page 14

TBA

VERBATIM

On office dress codes Look for a new art gallery by artist Mary Whitefeather to open mid-June at 102 W. North St. in downtown Greenville.

“Casual Friday was something of a gateway drug, its jeans and flats and relaxed cuts asking an obvious, but also revolutionary, question: Why not be casual on other days, too?” Megan Garber, “Casual Friday and the ‘End of the Office Dress Code,’” The Atlantic

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Dick Wilkerson CEO Build Chair AFL Jody Gallagher, President & CEO Bon Secours St. Francis Health System Craig McCoy, CEO Community Foundation of Greenville Bob Morris, President Complete Public Relations John Boyanoski, President Design Strategies Ben Rook, President Ethox Chemicals, LLC Chuck Hinton, President Fluor Corporation James Brown, General Manager Fresh Water Systems, Inc. Steve Norvell, President GBS Building Supply Bob Barreto, CEO Greater Greenville Association of Realtors Mike Sabatine, President & CEO GCRA Stanley Wilson, Executive Director Greenville Health System Mike Riordan, President & CEO

every hand makes a difference

Greenville Technical College Dr. Keith Miller, President Home Builders Association of Greenville Michael Dey, President & CEO JHM Hotels D.J. Rama, President Lockheed Martin Don Erickson, Site Director

Thanks to participants in the 2016 CEO Build for helping the Delanuez family transform their future through affordable homeownership.

SC Telco Federal Credit Union Steve Harkins, CEO

#strength #stability #self-reliance

The Blood Connection Delisa English, President & CEO

habitatgreenville.org

Southern Fried Green Tomatoes Kevin Baluch, Owner

The Marchant Company Seabrook Marchant, President United Way of Greenville County Ted Hendry, President Wal-Mart Distribution Center Steve Wetmore, Operations Manager

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06.03.2016

Building a Strong Foundation for Growth in Real Estate & Construction

Shindig returning to Village of West Greenville SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com After spending two years in a

Find out how we can be your guide forward

Greenville 201 West McBee Ave. Suite 200 Greenville, SC 29601 864.233.3981 cbh.com

small space on Rutherford Road, Shindig Furnishings is coming home to the Village of West Greenville. Owner Jackie Blackwell says moving to the space at 11 Lois Ave. (formally occupied by Knack) is a homecoming. “It’s interesting when life brings you full circle,” said Blackwell. “We've acquired the most beautiful building in The Village of West Greenville, bringing us back to the area of town where we first started selling midcentury under a 10-by-10 tent in a grassy lot two years ago.” Shindig, which specializes in midcentury modern furniture, barware and accessories, will be tripling its space with the move and will also house vintage clothing store Kate DiNatale Vintage. Blackwell, who owns Shindig along with her mom and dad, Jeff and Joan Soladay, says they chose the former Knack space for its “move-inready condition and ability to accommodate moving large pieces of furniture in and out.” A large sliding door in the back can be opened on nice days, and the building has exposed brick and original tin ceilings.

“It's a gorgeous space, and since we sell primarily through social media outlets, a clean, beautiful, bright space makes photographing pieces that much easier,” said Blackwell. They also hope to bring more awareness to The Village of West Greenville. “With so many chains coming to Greenville, especially downtown, The Village seems to be a safe zone of sorts for smaller and local business owners, as it’s simply more affordable,” she said, adding that the area reminds her of Athens, Ga., where she went to college. Blackwell says she plans to be open in the new Village location by July 5. Hours will also be expanded with new set hours of Tuesday through Saturday noon to 6 p.m. (Saturday may be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

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| MANUFACTURING | 7

Oconee manufacturer to expand operations, add 26 jobs ASHLEY BONCIMINO | STAFF

aboncimino@communityjournals.com

Walhalla, S.C., manufacturer Nason Co. plans to expand its existing Oconee County operations by 30,000 square feet with a $2.5 million investment expected to add 26 jobs. The company manufactures electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic components for military and industrial applications and employs around 100 people in the Upstate. Nason operates an existing 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility out of 1307 S. Hwy. 11 in Walhalla, according to the company’s website. "Oconee County and the Upstate community continue to provide a strong home for our operation,” said Nason Company president Stephen Mihaly in a news release. “These are exciting times for the Nason Company, and we appreciate the continued support of the local and state governments." Oconee County drew $53.4 million in capital investment in 2015 over six projects associated with 425 jobs, according to an exclusive Upstate Business Journal report. The news follows the $20.7 million capital investment announcement by Baxter Enterprises and Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering in Oconee County in March.

"Nason has been a wonderful corporate citizen of Oconee for many years, and seeing this growth occur is highly encouraging on many fronts,” stated Oconee County Council Chairman Paul Cain. “This expansion means that even more first-class products will continue to be made in Oconee to satisfy a global customer base, and it further confirms that Oconee has the right business climate and the skilled workforce that thriving businesses need." This year, Oconee County has been recognized as the top-performing micropolitan area in the state and 22nd overall for the country. Global Trade Magazine recognized the county’s economic development arm, Oconee Economic Alliance, as one of the best in the country.

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8 | MANUFACTURING |

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06.03.2016

Fitesa expansion to be larger than announced ASHLEY BONCIMINO | STAFF

aboncimino@communityjournals.com

Fitesa Simpsonville Inc. plans to

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invest 20 percent more than previously announced to expand its Upstate facility, a $62 million project that Greenville won over Washington state, according to sources. The industrial textile firm announced expansion plans in March to invest $52 million to make infrastructure improvements, buy equipment and add 20,000 square feet to its existing 190,000-square-foot facility in Simpsonville. The company’s deal with the state outlined an investment of $62 million instead of $52 million by the end of 2019, according to Greenville County documents reviewed by Upstate Business Journal. Greenville competed with cities across the country for the $62 million project, and ultimately outbid Washington state, according to Greenville Area Development Corporation. The expansion is an amendment to a previous investment deal, bringing Fitesa’s investment to $177 million within a single state incentive deal. Fitesa is located at 840 SE Main St. in Simpsonville. Fitesa’s roots go back to 1973 with a Brazilian industrial holding company. The company serves the medical and hygiene markets with nonwoven fabrics with a variety of physical and aesthetic properties, including softness, strength, abrasion resistance and sustainability. The international textile firm opened its Greenville County facility in 1990 and operates a total of 11 facilities in eight countries. The most recent expansion will include equipment to produce spunmelt fabrics. According to the South Carolina Department of Commerce news release, the improvements and additions are slated for a 2017 completion and will include 38 new jobs in the area. When complete, the company will have invested more than half a billion dollars in its Simpsonville operations, according to a news release.

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

| HOSPITALITY | 9

Ink N Ivy set to open June 6 SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com

Ink N Ivy, a new bar and restaurant concept by restaurant group The Bottle Cap Group will have its grand opening on Monday, June 6. The restaurant is located in downtown Greenville in the former Corner Pocket space on Coffee Street. The red-ribbon ceremony will begin at 10:45 a.m. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the first 40 guests will receive a

$10 gift card toward their next visit. Live music, drink specials and other activities will be part of the grand opening festivities. Hand-painted walls, floor and ceiling murals, tattoo-inspired artwork, unique chandeliers and roll-up doors offering indoor/outdoor seating are just part of the new venue, which includes several bar areas, including a rooftop bar, and

two floors of restaurant space that will serve “classic American food but with an edgy twist and attention to detail and quality.” The menu will include chef-inspired seafood, steaks and smallplate items. This will be the North Carolina-based Bottle Cap Group’s second downtown Greenville restaurant. Brazwell’s Pub opened earlier this year in the former

Ford's Oyster House & Cajun Kitchen space on Main Street. The group is also working on Diner 24, Greenville’s first 24-hour diner with '50s-style décor, jukeboxes on the tables and sparkly booths in the former Charlie’s Steakhouse location, also on Coffee Street. Diner 24 is expected to open this fall. For more information, visit greenville.inkanivy.com

Tech bar concept to open in downtown Greenville LETY GOOD | STAFF

lgood@communityjournals.com

A locally owned and operated technology services center, Gizmo Bar, is coming to downtown Greenville. Shaun P. Robertson, a Greenville native and entrepreneur, is bringing the technology and lounge hybrid to Greenville with plans to open this July. The interactive technology retail space will offer face-to-face smartphone and tablet repair in a lounge-style environment, craft brew and a modified selection of appetizers and sushi from Sushi Go.

The concept will be located in a 19,000-squarefoot multitenant building at 245 N. Main St. Gizmo Bar will join tenants Spencer Hines Properties, Equip Studio and The Upper Room. “We’ve seen the evolution of technology correlate directly with the hindering of social interaction,” Robertson said. “Gizmo Bar is a concept driven by creating experiences, generating excitement and social interaction with the strategic use of technology.” Robertson collaborated with Virtual Graffiti, a West Coast-based IT solutions provider, for the design of the bar’s interactive surface. Six 50-inch

touch panels will allow customers to be entertained, work or shop while waiting on their device repairs. Customers will also be able to demo Oculus Rift, a virtual reality experience. Renovations for the 3,000-square-foot space are slated to be complete by mid-July. Robertson plans to take the franchise-built concept to the Charlotte and Atlanta markets by 2019.

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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

A four-legged luxury experience Bo Stegall plans The Noble Dog Hotel for fall opening at Hampton Station an affordable, five-star experience for dogs, The Noble Dog Hotel, and a nonprofit, The Canine Healing Project. For pet owners like salon owner Bo Stegall A FIVE-STAR EXPERIENCE who don’t like leaving their furry family members Pets will have the chance to expeat a regular kennel or doggy day care, having a trusted rience a number of amenities includindividual go to their house and take care of them ing different suite options, a fitness can get pricey. center and lounge, spa treatments When Jen Hanna visited Bo Stegall | The Salon and more. “Our guests are kings and for a regular hair appointment, a conversation about queens,” Stegall said. “We want to her therapy dog turned into a business plan for a make sure they feel comfortable and project that would bring the community together to [their owners] feel comfortable.” create an affordable and convenient option for pets Parents of overnight guests will have three differto stay. ent suite options to choose from: a standard Stegall said the idea came up about two years ago 24-square-foot, a medium 35-square-foot or a with Hanna, a former professional golfer and 60-square-foot penthouse suite with a luxury twinwomen’s golf team coach at Furman. She created a size bed. Upon arrival, guests will have a guest co74-page business model and started looking for ordinator assigned to them and an itinerary created investors. “It didn’t cross my mind to invest in for their stay. Coordinators will be available 24/7 another business,” Stegall said. and will be the main point of contact for pet parents. However, he felt they had the same vision and All private suites include private webcams, an passion, so Stegall told her he wanted to be her unlimited pass to the fitness center, the option for business partner. And after a few years of doing evening story time or snuggle time and optional market research in the area, the duo set out to create homemade USDA organic meals prepared by a private chef. Owners may bring their own pet’s food from home instead. Stegall said the price difference for the different suites is “not a lot at all.” The spa element of the hotel will offer a full Carly is a second-generation Allstate list of grooming services Agency Owner. Like her dad before her, where pets will have she knows success comes from treating their own pet stylist. A clients like family. That’s why her quick wash area will business is growing strong, just like her also allow owners to two little girls. bring in their pets for a bath in between groomIsn’t that the kind of good life you deserve? Reserve your spot today. ing appointments. Stegall said he is developing a luxury hair care TALK TO YOUR ALLSTATE RECRUITER IN THE GREENVILLE AREA TODAY. line of natural and organic hair care prodBonnie Lins ucts for dogs. Executive Recruiter The fitness center 888-901-9692 will have k9 rubber blins@allstate.com flooring, material specifically designed to be therapeutic for dogs, and webcams for Subject to all terms and conditions as outlined in the Allstate R3001 Exclusive Agency Agreement and Exclusive Agency program owners to check in on materials. Allstate agents are not franchisees; rather they are exclusive agent independent contractors and are not employed by their pets, Stegall said. Allstate. Allstate is an Equal Opportunity Company. Allstate Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. In New Jersey, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, Bridgewater, NJ. © 2016 Allstate Insurance Co. Guests will be divided daily into LETY GOOD | STAFF

179617

lgood@communityjournals.com

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groups based on their sizes and energy levels. For those who would rather spend a relaxing afternoon resting than playing, there will be a private lounge area. Passes for the fitness center include hourly, half-day or full-day options. A full-time trainer will be on staff at The Noble Dog Hotel, offering private and group training classes. The trainer specializes in senior and socially challenged dog care. Other services offered are the option to Skype with your pet and guest coordinator, extended hours for convenient pickup and drop off throughout the week, and a rewards program where individuals can earn points for future purchases. The hotel’s hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Noble Dog Hotel will also feature a café for pet parents and dog lovers. Plans for the café are still in the making, but Stegall said a brunch menu would definitely be served. The café will have tall ceilings with glass walls where guests can watch rambunctious dogs at play. Individuals will be able to walk to the café by way of the Swamp Rabbit Trail that is planned to extend directly behind Hampton Station. “It’s a part of the brand, but a different and separate space,” Stegall said. THE PERFECT LOCATION Stegall said they had been looking at a building for the hotel for six months, but hit some bumps along the way. The idea of placing The Noble Dog’s home at Hampton Station in Greenville’s “Water Tower District” came up through another conversation with Rob Howell, another client of his. The hotel will join several other tenants such as Birds Fly South at the new Hampton Station. “It just worked out exactly how it was supposed to be,” Stegall said. Moving forward, he hopes the concept will grow and eventually open a location in Asheville. A SENSE OF COMMUNITY A vital element of Stegall’s and Hanna’s plan includes The Canine Healing Project. The nonprofit project will allow dogs from kill shelters around the Upstate to be rescued and brought to The Noble Dog Hotel. The rescues will live at the hotel to be trained as therapy dogs. “All people have to do [to adopt] is commit to being a therapy dog parent,” Stegall said. He hopes the project will inspire a generation of people and create a sense of community. “The biggest thing we want everybody to know is that this is really about more than just humans and fur babies; this is about bringing our community together and inspiring people to get involved with nonprofits.” The Noble Dog Hotel is slated to open this fall.

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| MANUFACTURING | 11

Pallet manufacturer expanding Greenwood operations ASHLEY BONCIMINO | STAFF

aboncimino@communityjournals.com

Wooden pallet manufacturer Central Packaging & Crating Inc. is investing $1 million in new equipment and upgrades for its Greenwood facility. The investment will help the company meet increased customer demand, bringing the facility’s production capacity to 250 pallets per hour and nearly 3,000 pallets per day. Launched in 1998, the company’s Greenwood operations include four buildings across seven acres at 102 Joe Bernat Drive. The company is one of the largest wooden heat-treated pallet manufacturers in the state, according to a news release. "Our business has experienced tremendous growth, and we look forward to supporting the Greenwood community for years to come,” stated Central Packaging & Crating president Kevin Neuman. Greenwood County attracted $44.9 million in capital investment last year, according to an exclusive report by Upstate Business Journal. The invest-

ment by Central Packaging & Crating is the first publicly announced investment for the county this year. "We take pride in the success of our existing industry and the fact that Greenwood County is a great place to do business,” stated Greenwood Partnership Alliance Chairman Jim Medford. “We stand ready to assist Central Packaging and Crating with any future support they may need."

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06.03.2016

“Big Boy” statues get big response around Spartanburg TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com

Mention the “Big Boy” statue to anyone above the age of 30 and it will likely conjure up fond memories of posing for pictures outside a popular restaurant chain before the days of smartphone “selfies” and social media. But Ed Yarborough, owner of Diamond Jewelers at 153 E. Main St. in downtown Spartanburg, hopes to captivate generations of customers with two of those statues placed at the front and rear of his business. Yarborough has already started to create a buzz with a guerilla marketing campaign that features the family-friendly icon from the past. “I thought it would be something fun, something different,” said Yarborough, who opened his downtown shop in 1972. “I was only going to put them out for a month to try it at first, but the response has been so great that I’ve decided to keep them out.”

Yarborough said he purchased the statues, each standing more than 6 feet tall and weighing nearly 300 pounds, from an antique dealer. He had the statues delivered the Tuesday before the city’s Spring Fling event earlier this month. The statue at the rear of the building is bolted into the concrete for safety, Yarborough said. The one in the front has been set on platform with wheels so his employees can move the statue inside when the business is closed. “We’ve had zero complaints,” Yarborough said. “Everyone has loved it. The day I put them out, people were stopping by to take photos. That has continued every day since. I think it brings back fond memories.” Buddy Bush, building official for the city of Spartanburg, said Yarborough’s statues do not violate any codes.

Jeffrey Cohen, owner of Cohen’s Closeouts at 307 W. Main St., applauded Yarborough’s decision to place the statues. For several years, Cohen displayed a stuffed gorilla in front of his store. The gorilla was stolen two years ago and Cohen has not yet replaced it, but he said customers still talk about it. “Ed is a very smart marketing guy,” Cohen said. “We had that gorilla, and to this day people still talk about it. It’s like those folks dressed like the Statue of Liberty or that giant pink elephant that you see in front of businesses. I think the Big Boys trigger fond memories. It’s brilliant.”

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| UBJ upstatebusinessjournal.com COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

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14 | COVER |

PROOF

CHILLING EFFECTS

The Spartanburg entrepreneurs behind Pr%f want to put a shot in your scoop with their alcoholic ice cream

Written by Trevor Anderson, staff

UBJ

06.03.2016

PROOF

upstatebusinessjournal.com

s a boy growing up in Kentucky, Ryan Langley’s

family had a tradition. His father, J.B. Langley, would churn peach ice cream in their basement to pass the time during thunderstorms. “There were no iPads or iPods,” Ryan Langley said. “That was our entertainment. He had an old crank machine. He would chop up the peaches really fine and put a little bourbon in it, but we’d have to eat it right away because it would melt quickly.” The family relocated to Spartanburg after Ryan was accepted to Wofford College in 1998. In 2008, economic chill forced J.B. to shutter his construction business. And that’s what piqued his interest in turning a family pastime into something more. “He started trying to figure out this whole alcoholic ice cream thing,” said Ryan Langley, now an attorney in Spartanburg. “He wouldn’t stop talking about it. I bought him a subscription to the Wall Street Journal just so we’d have something else to talk about.”

J.B. began working with a Midwest dairy to figure out the perfect ice cream mix and the “stabilizers” that allow alcohol to freeze. He finally got the recipe just right. In August, Ryan and his wife, Leigh Anne, who he met in 2005 while in law school at the University of South Carolina, launched the company JB’s Pr%f (a play on “Proof”) out of a facility in Columbia. “We had a rule that [J.B.] wasn’t allowed to talk about ice cream at the dinner table,” Leigh Anne said. “Now, it’s all we talk about.” The company’s repertoire includes about a dozen flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, peach, coconut, caramel, mocha and butterscotch, mixed with a range of premium liquors, such as bourbon, moonshine and rum. The Langleys introduced a new tequila flavor at an event at Willy Taco in Spartanburg on Monday, May 2. Each flavor is about 7 percent alcohol by volume per each four-ounce serving. The Langleys said that South Carolina law has enabled them to produce their alcoholic ice cream without a liquor license because it is classified as a

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food product. Customers, however, must be 21 to purchase the product. But it does mean that JB’s Pr%f can be purchased and sold at events that are not licensed to sell liquor, which is one area Leigh Anne said she hopes to focus on going forward. The company’s first large tasting event was this past weekend at Spring Fling in downtown Spartanburg. JB’s Pr%f products are currently only available in South Carolina at about 200 retailers and restaurants across the state, according to the owners. The Langleys said they have two full-time employees and six contract employees. They anticipate they will sell a record $50,000 worth of their alcoholic ice cream in June. The couple said they have assembled a crack team of local business leaders to serve as their advisors. Jennifer Randall-Collins is the company’s CEO. While they would like to grow into North Carolina and Georgia, the couple said their next step could be into New York, but they are exploring all of their options.

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PROOF

“Things are moving rapidly,” Ryan said. “There are all sorts of markets out there … We have even entertained interest from overseas.” Rebecca Fite, store manager of Chastain’s at 104 Garner Road in Spartanburg, sells JB’s Pr%f for $8.79 per pint, or less if a customer buys in bulk. Fite said the company’s alcoholic ice cream is one of the store’s best sellers.

06.03.2016

WHERE IS IT?

SOME OF THE PLACES YOU CAN FIND PR%F AROUND THE UPSTATE

GREENVILLE:

“It sells itself,” she said. “Once people taste it, they’ve got to have it.” The Langleys have two children: Lilla, 6, and Jack, 4. The couple said it has taken a lot of teamwork to maintain a healthy work-life balance, but they hope their efforts will pay off in the long term. “My dad was an entrepreneur,” Leigh Anne said. “He used to say, ‘Dream bigger, set your goals high, count your blessings and never give up no matter what people say.’” Ryan said his father is still involved behind the scenes. He said the company’s story is a testament to J.B.’s entrepreneurial spirit. “There were many times that I questioned him,” Ryan said. “It’s still scary. You wonder, ‘Are they going to like it?’ Many entrepreneurs let fear stop them. You have to set that fear aside and just go for it. Seek out good mentors and be prepared to work harder than you ever have before.” For more information, visit jbsproof.com

Bouharoun’s Fine Wine & Spirits Breakwater Restaurant Empire Spirits Flat Rock Grill Green’s Discount Beer & Wine Grill Marks Hooch’s Filling Station Independent Public Alehouse La Reata Mexican Restaurant Larkins on the River Liberty Tap Room MaryBeth’s at McBee New York Butcher Shoppe Swamp Rabbit Cafe

SPARTANBURG:

Chastain’s Wine, Beer & Spirits Cribb’s Kitchen Hub City Co-op Oasis Party Shop Renato’s Restaurante Two Samuels Restaurant Willy Taco

JB'S PROOF CONCOCTIONS FLOATS

Chocolate Bourbon & Coca-Cola Float Peanut Butter Chocolate Stout with Caramel Moonshine Belgian Pale Ale with Peach Rum Hard Root Beer with Vanilla Rum Champagne with Peach or Vanilla Rum

DESSERTS

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich with Coconut Rum Peach Cobbler with Peach Rum Pound Cake with Strawberry Moonshine and fresh berries Bananas Foster with Caramel Moonshine Brownie with Mocha Chocolate Moonshine A scoop of any flavor covered with Magic Shell hardening chocolate Recipes courtesy of JB’s Pr%f

06.03.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

STAYING ON MESSAGE WITH YOUR CLIENTS AND YOUR COLLEAGUES

| COMMUNICATE | 17

The Trump Brand 4 marketing principles for everyday businesses from the extraordinary world of politics By TINA ZWOLINSKI CEO and Founder, ZWO Branding & Marketing

In my last article (“Huge branding lessons from Donald Trump,” April 22), I listed two of six marketing principles that are helping Trump achieve "consumer" appeal. "The Blue Collar Billionaire" is the presumptive Republican nominee. The principles that are helping Trump rise also help other brands and corporations rise – I see it every day in my business.

3. Say what you believe is the truth even if it is not popular or in keeping with the style of your industry. This is a delicate issue, isn't it? There are plenty of Americans who don't like what Trump is saying, and don't like the way he says it. So they won't be voting for him. Others absolutely love what he's saying and how he's saying it – and they'll be voting for him. From a larger perspective I believe that, just as consumers are dissatisfied with the "political industry" and ready for a revolutionary brand, they are also weary of "corporate speak" that is as bland and inoffensive as possible. Often we read to the end of a news release and think, "What did this just say?" In my business we call Mr. Trump's distinctive style a strong "brand tone" – the development of an authentic, sincere voice that says the truth as the brand leaders see it. Such a brand tone doesn't have to sound as brash as Trump's, but it may still offend some. Such a tone will also appeal to many others, in part for its honesty and frankness. From a marketing perspective, that trade-off is generally worth it. Donald Trump has always been who he is – an extroverted guy from Queens who has very few filters on his speech. One may object to or approve of his speech, but we know what the Trump brand represents – big, winning (however he defines it), blustering, grandiose and assertive. That brand existed long before he ran for office — back in the days when he was the host of “The Apprentice” — and further back when he was a real estate developer with a flair for the opulent and dramatic. As it happens, we also know who the much more understated Bernie Sanders is – he has a distinctive "brand tone" also. People know exactly what he stands for, whether they agree or not, and we know he is sincere – depending on one's politics, sincerely wrong or sincerely right. Further, neither Trump nor Sanders particularly care about what the political industry, their competitors or even those who won't be voting for them think about them. They say what they want to say and what they think their

"customers" need to hear. Straightforward, honest speech is a valuable service that brands offer their customers.

4. Know and identify with your audience – know the needs and longings of your market so that you can speak directly to them. This is different from changing your brand principles in order to attract a new audience. This is about knowing what kind of person is already attracted to your brand, identifying with them and speaking to them directly. In political terms, this is about your “base" – that core of people who are naturally attracted to your message and policies and will share your story with enthusiasm with their friends, generating word-of-mouth marketing. Whether his naysayers like it or not, Trump's supporters identify with him; he seems like the outsider that they believe themselves to be. Trump's persona is similar to one of the guys working the line at a manufacturing plant. Perhaps he's at the next station down, and he's the extrovert who's always talking. Sometimes he says things you don't understand. Sometimes he says things you think are a little

Donald Trump has always been who he is – an extroverted guy from Queens who has very few ﬁlters on his speech. One may object to or approve of his speech, but we know what the Trump brand represents.

over the top or with which you don't agree. But he's your buddy – he's one of "us." And you know that when he gets a little wild, that's just him mouthing off – saying the kinds of things you might say around the family table, or think but not say out loud. Trump's language is approachable, too. The main difference between Trump and the rest of the guys on the line is that Trump has actually accomplished something in business – he's developed real estate and built a personal brand and made a lot of money. But unlike, for instance, with Mitt Romney, the guys on the line are happy for Trump's success, and hope that such success bodes well for their futures. Regardless, Trump knows these people – the core market for his brand – very well. Though it may seem ironic and incredible, Trump and his base identify with one another.

5. Funding sources matter insofar as they tell your markets who you are. While Sanders asks for $20 at a time from grass-

roots, Trump says, "I don't need your money; I've got plenty." Who owns either of them? That autonomy that both candidates project lends a shine to their brand. Voters feel more secure knowing that Trump's not "owned" by anybody, because he exudes the aura of being independent of everybody's money. Further, because Trump's already made his money, he's able to comment on issues that could lose other candidates their political careers. Trump doesn't need the nomination, he has very little to lose – and that makes him uniquely free, and more attractive.

6. The capacity to respond "in the moment" to events allows your brand to supply unique, custom, relevant substance that is attractive to consumers. Rather than having to wait for days for the staff to craft a suitable response to something Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz or a media personality with whom Trump is feuding says, the campaign can release a video within hours, and a tweet, photo or Facebook post within minutes. Instant relevant response keeps the brand newsworthy, generates more earned media, creates the appearance of substance and offers unique, custom, flexible communication that is responsive to the things people are noticing that very day, hour or minute. Along with that kind of near-immediate response comes a few more tools for brand promotion – not merely the old-fashioned (and still useful) yard signs, stickers and door-to-door visits, but more social graphics, content sharing and even selfies of the candidate with his supporters. The personal immediacy of that kind of response is golden, not simply for Trump but for all brands. Regardless of whether we agree with Trump's politics, or approve of his style, it's clear that Trump's brand management is effectively luring consumers to his brand in the form of votes. His success as the GOP presumptive nominee – in a new industry (for him) – has shocked the world, and he has accomplished something that very few predicted 12 months ago. We can all learn something from the things he's doing right. As you consider your largest and most frequent customers, are you able to envision their problems, needs and dreams? Do you identify with them? How immediate, personal and unique is your response to industry or product news? To customers? Do your messages sound like the messages from competitors, or are they distinctively your brand's? For further conversation, contact Tina Zwolinski at tinaz@betalkablet.com or at linkedin.com/in/tinazwolinski. For principles 1 and 2, read “Huge branding lessons from Donald Trump” on upstatebusinessjournal.com.

18 | FORWARD |

WHAT ’S NEXT FOR THE UPSTATE, AND HOW WE’LL GET THERE

UBJ

06.03.2016

Greenville vs. the world A cautionary tale from deep in the heart of Texas By JOHN BOYANOSKI Co-author, “Reimagining Greenville”

I recently spent some time in Texas with an emphasis on San Antonio. If you are into urban planning, downtown revitalizations and streetscaping, then you know that San Antonio has its famed River Walk. Actually, if you know Greenville history, the San Antonio River Walk was often used as an example of what could be done with the Reedy River in the early 2000s. Basically, creating a pedestrian-friendly pathway along the water with plenty of shops and public art. I felt the same about finally seeing San Antonio as a painter may feel seeing a true Picasso. This was the masterpiece that Greenville copied.

Well, me being me, I came back unimpressed. First, it took me some time to figure out how to get to the River Walk. I was thinking about Greenville where you can’t miss the Reedy River and how to get down there. There are access points everywhere. Not so in San Antonio. By the time I found my way down some steps, I was on a back end of the River Walk where there were no people and no art, just a litter-strewn walkway on a muddy canal. For those who don’t know, the River Walk ain’t the Reedy. It is completely below street level. I eventually did find “the heart” of the River Walk where all the restaurants are – and, well, that may have been worse. It seemed everything was a chain restaurant, and while seeing boats busking tourists up and down

San Antonio got me thinking about what could happen to Greenville’s downtown in the next 20 years. Will the hype overtake the reality?

the canal was interesting, it was uninspiring. There was little public art, and it was crowded in a way that felt claustrophobic. It was clear the River Walk was a victim of its own success. Local restaurants couldn’t afford the rent. I spent the next day exploring the street-level version of downtown San Antonio. Again, I saw little public art and littler greenery, and while the people were friendly, there were not a lot of them. A lot of the storefronts were vacant and, sort of surprisingly, there was little new construction. Spend time in the other big Texas cities (Austin, Houston and Dallas), and you see new buildings, new architecture and new developments. It ain’t happening in downtown San Antonio. It is happening in the suburbs around there and on the interstates. Just not downtown. I remarked, “It was like they took

the least charming parts of Boston and plopped them down in the middle of Texas.” (“Least charming parts of Boston” is Johnspeak that it looks like my hometown of Scranton, Pa., but since most people only know Scranton from NBC’s “The Office,” I reference the more familiar city of Boston.) Where is this leading? It got me thinking about what could happen to Greenville’s vaunted downtown in the next 20 years. Will the hype overtake the reality? With so many cities and communities visiting Greenville and trying to copy what we have, is there a chance that someone from Rochester, N.Y.; Akron, Ohio; and Athens, Ga., can come here in 20 years and smile because they have outdone downtown Greenville? It is something to think about.

06.03.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

MOVERS, SHAKERS AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE

| INNOVATE | 19

Education pathways critical to meet workforce needs

Almost half of all college

excellent choice as they allow a student to gain a strong foundation and quickly move to the four-year level. Transfer agreements provide select courses that transfer seamlessly from the community college to the university, typically sup-

graduate will earn 60 credit hours; however, many times the four-year institution only accepts a percentage of these hours toward the bachelor’s degree. In March 2015, Clemson University and the University of South Carolina signed a letter of intent with the

students study on a two-year campus. Of those students, more than half – 60 percent – transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Those numbers represent a large group of students in the U.S. who, instead of choosing a two-year institution or a four-year college, are choosing both and making the most of the advantages that pathway offers. We need to make sure that pathway is smooth and seamless. Why is this pathway so important? In Greenville County, the need for a broader-educated workforce has increased. By providing clear pathways and partnerships for students to transfer from the two-year institution to the university, institutions of higher learning support higher education attainment, which drives per-capita income and benefits all businesses. Students who intend to transfer often ask, “Should I complete an associate degree before transferring?” A recent study from the Community College and Research Center (CCRE) found that “community college students who transfer to four-year colleges with an associate degree are more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree than similar students who transfer without one. The analysis found that students who transferred with an associate degree had an advantage: They were 49 percent more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree within four years and 22 percent more likely to earn one within six years.” Bridge, transfer and articulation agreements provide clear, distinct pathways for students to transfer from the community college to the university. Bridge agreements between the two-year and four-year institutions provide an opportunity for a student to complete his or her freshman-year courses at the community college and transfer to the four-year university as a sophomore. Even though the student transfers before completing an associate degree, these agreements are an

porting general education requirements. In South Carolina, there are 86 courses that are accepted from the state technical colleges directly to the state four-year institutions. A typical associate of arts or associate of science

South Carolina State Technical College System to improve that scenario for state technical college graduates. In response to the letter of intent, James C. Williamson, president of the SC Technical College System, stated, “This

By RENEE SAWYER Assistant dean, academic advancement and support, Greenville Technical College

agreement will benefit students and families across South Carolina by allowing students to take financial advantage of lower tuition in a high-quality learning environment for the initial two years, then transfer seamlessly to complete a bachelor’s degree at USC or Clemson.” Articulation agreements, specifically 2+2, provide students the opportunity to transfer their first two years of credits (full associate degree) at the community college and enter the university as a junior in their designated program. 2+2 agreements provide the best value for transfer of credits and cost to the student. Greenville Technical College has partnered with both public and private colleges and universities through bridge, transfer and articulation agreements. These agreements continue to grow along with recognition of the fact that a course taken on a two-year campus equates to a course taken at the four-year level when faculty credentials, course objectives and outcomes are equivalent. GTC opened a Planning and Transfer Headquarters (PATH) in fall 2014 to provide a location for students to learn more about transfer opportunities. Four-year colleges and universities visit PATH through the Transfer Tuesday and Thursday program to interact one-on-one with transfer students. These four-year partners are working with GTC and other two-year colleges on improved transfer paths. USC Upstate’s Direct Connect, for example, allows seamless transfer while giving the student participating in Direct Connect an opportunity to get involved in student life on the four-year campus before making the move. Institutions of higher learning, two-year and four-year, public and private, must engage in the path of educational change that will provide a broader range of opportunity for students. Ultimately, that path of change will yield more college graduates for our community, benefiting everyone who lives and works here.

20 | DIGITAL MAVEN |

UBJ

THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF BUSINESS

06.03.2016

A hostage response plan for your data Knowing your options when your system is afflicted with ransomware

By LAURA HAIGHT President, Portfoliosc.com

A countdown clock, a link to learn how to convert cash into Bitcoin and a big red X across your computer screen. You are a victim of ransomware. Don’t feel special; ransomware attacks are one of the fastest growing cybercrimes. This week, a new ransomware variant was released. ZCryptor has the ability to spread through a network as well as attached drives and USBs. This ability to take over many devices through potentially one download is expected to make it very popular among cyberthieves and very dangerous for you. You are likely to be targeted if you are in particular industries or sectors that have a large amount of critical information and cannot afford to risk losing it or suffering a week or two-week delay while you restore your network and systems from backups. That means police departments, airports, doctors’ offices and hospitals may be particularly at risk. Horry County, S.C., paid $8,500 to regain control of its school system website following a ransomware attack in February. The school system had 25 servers infected by the attack and was offline for a week.

Also in February, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, a 430-bed facility in Los Angeles, paid $17,000 in ransom. The hospital said it made the decision to pay rather than hold out and take the time necessary to rebuild and restore all of its systems because it was in the “best interests” of patients. For many businesses, the easy path is “cave and pay,” but often the ransoms demanded are considerably higher. You are more vulnerable if you are using older software, don’t patch your software or operating systems, don’t have a consistent and tested backup plan or don’t have a business resumption or disaster plan in place. And because ransomware is closely linked to and delivered via phishing and At the Peace Center Amphitheatre malware, businesses that train employees to recognize these threats and to be skeptical of clicking on links in email messages are better protected. Adhering to best pracfree admission • events.greenvillesc.gov tices will help you be more resistant to ransomware, but it might not protect you, and ameliorating the

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problem can still be costly. Two best practices that may protect you against ZCryptor are not allowing employees to install software (this ransomware is sometimes embedded in a fake installer for Adobe Flash), and advising employees to never authorize an application to run macros. Will backups bulletproof you? Not necessarily. You are certainly better positioned if you have a solid backup strategy with off-site storage of your data. But for many small businesses, a more common process is backing up to external hard drives or flash drives attached to individual computers. Attackers know this, too, and will often search out attached devices and encrypt them as well. Backing up to network shares with removable media is a cost-effective approach, but off-site storage is a must. That’s a best practice for general emergency preparedness or disaster plan, as well as ransomware. If you use external hard drives for backups, do not leave them connected all the time. Plug them in when the backup is to run, and then disconnect them. What’s not accessible cannot be hacked.

06.03.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF BUSINESS

| DIGITAL MAVEN | 21

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE DATA-NAPPED • Quarantine: Before you do any troubleshooting, handwringing or debating, pull the infected machine(s) off the network. Turn off any wireless or Bluetooth services. Disconnect any attached storage devices like external drives or USBs.

• Decision time: Unlike a lot of other business decisions, you don’t have a lot of time for this one. Ransomware comes with its own countdown clock. So you need to make your move quickly, and your options are limited. If you don’t have a backup, you can pay up or try to decrypt the affected systems yourself. There are companies that offer this service (note that they will charge you regardless of success), and some third-party decryptors you can buy, but there is a relatively small chance of success. Depending on whose computer has been infected, it can also mean critical downtime. If you do have a backup, you have some more options, but they are more complex. Restoring from a backup after a ransomware attack means wiping the infected computer, rebuilding with a clean install of the OS and the software (this can take some time depending on how organized your company is), and restoring from your backup after you have ensured that you have not backed up any infected files or other malware that you will be reinstalling.

• Final option: Do nothing. In assessing the importance of the encrypted files, think of other places where you might have them. For example, if you emailed the file to someone, a copy may still be in the receiver’s email. Or if you use a service like Gmail for your company mail, a copy could be archived online (outside of the scope of the infection).

Understand the ransomware threat

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WHAT IS IT?

Although there are several variations, ransomware is a form of malware that attacks a computer, encrypts the hard drive and then requires you pay some amount in Bitcoin to obtain the decryption keys.

HOW DANGEROUS IS IT?

Last year, U.S. businesses paid more than $25 million to data-nappers, according to FBI reports. Most cases are unreported and the real number is expected to have been many times that. The Cyber Threat Alliance estimates $325 million in damages from one variant alone last year.

HOW DO I GET INFECTED?

Like most viruses and malware, the most likely source is phishing emails.

“Purveyors of Classic American Style” 23 West North St. | Downtown Greenville 864.232.2761 | rushwilson.com

22 | SQUARE FEET |

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

UBJ

06.03.2016

tanderson@communityjournals.com

Quinn Satterﬁeld to build 5 spec homes at Drayton Mill Revitalization of the village surrounding the historic Drayton Mill in Spartanburg County will soon take another step forward. Greenville-based homebuilder Quinn Satterfield Inc. will build five speculative homes on more than 1 acre of property on the east side of Floyd Street between Calvert and Carney streets. Rick Quinn, a principal of Quinn Satterfield, said the homes would be similar to houses his company constructed on Haynie Street near downtown Greenville. They will be upscale, modern and comparable to homes cropping up in heavily urbanized areas across the country. The homes will be between 1,265 to 1,300 square feet, with three bedrooms, two and a half baths and spacious front porches. Pricing will start at $149,900. “We’re very excited about this opportunity to build at Drayton,” Quinn said. “We have a history of building in areas that are being revitalized, and we see a lot of potential in Spartanburg.” Quinn Satterfield serves as a builder for the nonprofit Homes of Hope in Greenville, a faith-based organization that provides affordable housing for low-income families.

The company has been involved in several Homes of Hope builds in Spartanburg’s north side, Quinn said. Concrete steps connecting to the sidewalk are all that remain of the three mill homes that once occupied the Drayton property. Quinn Satterfield will purchase the site from Pacolet Milliken Enterprises Inc., which owns more than 200 acres surrounding the textile mill. Quinn said construction will begin soon and should be completed within five months. “I think there are opportunities for neat, affordable housing in Spartanburg,” he said. “We’re impressed by the revitalization of downtown and the Northside Initiative. I think there’s the same sort of excitement in Drayton.” The mill was originally built in 1902 and ran continuously before Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. shuttered it in 1994. Generations of local families worked at the mill and grew up in the community that surrounded it. Without the economic engine of the

mill, the community began to fade. Residents moved away to find work. New residents with no prior knowledge of the mill moved in. Homes fell into disrepair and the sense of pride that once permeated the neighborhood evaporated. In 2014, Pacolet Milliken, a private investment company formed by shareholders of Milliken & Co. in 2007 to pursue and preserve high-quality real estate and energy assets, launched an effort to transform the community. The company sold the 114-year-old mill to Charlotte, N.C.-based TMS Development. TMS constructed 289 luxury apartments, a 60-foot lap pool, fitness center and other amenities in and around the 114-year-old mill’s spinning and weaving plants. In October, Pacolet Milliken unveiled a one-mile walking trail connecting the mill with Mary Black Health System’s property. The trail is only one block from the site where Quinn Satterfield’s homes will be built. Pacolet Milliken sold the mill’s warehouse and Romanesque Revival

company store earlier this year to Tara Sherbert, a partner with TMS Development, and John Montgomery, principal of Montgomery Development, whose great-great grandfather, John H. Montgomery, helped organize the mill. Sherbert and Montgomery are redeveloping those facilities for 60,000 square feet of commercial space for a mix of retail, restaurant and office tenants. “We’re very excited to have someone make an investment in this community who believes there is a market here,” Montgomery said. “Rick is an experienced builder who has had a lot of success. We like his design and the quality of his work and believe this will help move the residential side [of the Drayton community’s revitalization] forward.” Montgomery said master plans for the community include a variety of residential units, which is something he said the east side hasn’t had a lot of for several years. In addition to new residential and commercial opportunities, Montgomery said there are plans to connect the Drayton trail with the Cottonwood Trail. He said the goal is to make the Drayton community a “destination” for Spartanburg. “John has a great vision for where he wants this thing to be,” Quinn said. “It has been my experience that projects with a developer who is focused tend to be much more successful.”

06.03.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

| NEW TO THE STREET | 23

Open for business Photos Provided

South Carolina

is a great place to

start your own

franchise.

And franchising with 7-Eleven® just might be the smartest business move you’ve ever made.

• You control your future – build a business that fits your life • Your earning potential is as big as you make it • Work with a top-five franchisor that’s known and loved worldwide • Gross profit split – we only succeed when you do

1. Doctor For Life, a wellness and treatment center for healthy weight lifestyles, recently opened at 309 Tanner Road, Greenville. For more information, visit drforlife.com. 2. Dodson Dig Co.-Nostalgic Finds & Auction House recently opened at 427 Wade Hampton Blvd., Greenville. The company buys and sells antiques, collectibles and pottery, among others. For more information, visit dodsondigco.com.

• 7-Eleven provides the store, land and equipment, plus top-notch training

BEACHIN’ FRIDAYS

at the Mauldin Cultural Center

mauldinculturalcenter.org | 101 East Butler Road

Every Friday in June • 7-10pm • Hosted by Beach Bob & Kathy Cole Beach Music • Shag Dancing • Craft Beer • Food Trucks

To learn more, contact Brian Mulcahy at 864.300.4889 or

Brian.Mulcahy@7-11.com

3. Fairﬁeld Inn & Suites recently opened at 3821 Grandview Drive, Simpsonville. For more information, visit fairﬁeld.marriott. com or call 962-8500.

CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon? Email information to lgood@communityjournals.com.

• Start-up is fast, and we’re with you every step of the way

Downtown Market Saturdays 8am-12pm | Beginning June 4 at the Mauldin Cultural Center 101 EAST BUTLER ROAD

MAULDINCULTURALCENTER.ORG

© 2016 7-Eleven Inc. All rights reserved. This is not an offer to sell a franchise. An offer can only be made in applicable states with authorized documentation. 7-Eleven Inc., P.O. Box 711, Dallas, TX 75221-0711

24 | ON THE MOVE |

UBJ

PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

HIRED

PROMOTED

HIRED

06.03.2016

HIRED

EMILY CLEVER

VICTORIA FERNANDEZ

BROOKE BARLOW

EMILY MICHKO

JEREMY STEWART

Rejoined Inﬁnity Marketing as a content marketing specialist. Clever previously worked with Inﬁnity as a marketing coordinator and most recently worked as a copywriter at Ferebee Lane. In her new role, she will work with the social media team to formulate content for clients.

Named as director of operations for Hyatt Regency Greenville. Fernandez most recently served as director of resort operations for L’Auberge Del Mar in Del Mar, Calif. She has previously worked with InterContinental Tampa as the assistant director of food and beverage and with The Westin Tamp Harbour Island as the director of outlets.

Named as director of business development with FUEL. Barlow has been with company since 2014 as an account executive and most recently as director of account service. She has 10 years of experience in sales and marketing and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in business.

Joined AJH Renovations design studio, Designed for Downtown, as staff designer. Michko is a recent graduate of Clemson University’s architecture program. In her new role, she will provide design development and drawing support for DfD, as well as additional marketing and social media coordination.

Joined Inﬁnity Marketing as a media assistant. Stewart previously worked with Kensington Flowers as a marketing intern and is a graduate of Richmond, The American University in London with a degree in communications. In his new role, he will support the media, healthcare and digital teams with planning and placement deliverables.

VIP

DEVELOPMENT O’Neal Inc. hired Paul Christopher as structural engineer. Christopher has over 15 years of structural engineering experience and previously worked with Ford and Bacon & Davis LLC, among others. He is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in civil engineering.

EDUCATION

Krista Newkirk Named as Converse College’s 10th president. Newkirk is currently the chief of staff for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has served on several boards, as chair of the education section of the North Carolina Bar Association and on the Women + Girls Research Alliance, among others.

COMMUNITY The Spinx Company promoted Jim Weber from chief marketing officer to executive vice president of operations and Brendan Nugent from director of merchandising to vice president of merchandising. Weber has been with Spinx for six years and has experience in operations, previously working at BI-LO. Nugent has been with Spinx for seven years and has served in various category management and merchandising roles.

The Furman University board of trustees added six new trustees: Yendelela Neely Anderson, Carl Kohrt, James A. Lanier Jr., Jason W. Richards, Todd Ruppert and Daniel S. Sanders Jr. Merl F. Code will join the board as trustee emeritus.

MARKETING/PR The Business Marketing Association (BMA) of the Carolinas named VantagePoint Marketing the 2016 Agency of the Year. BMA also awarded the firm with four Gold Awards, seven Silver Awards and six Bronze Awards for projects, campaigns and products completed for clients. Infinity Marketing hired Brittany Sweeney as a media assistant. Sweeney previously worked as a brand ambassador with Lululemon Athletica in New Jersey and is a graduate of Furman University with a degree in economics. In her new role, she will work with the manufactured housing team to complete projects focused on scheduling and tracking as well as client satisfaction and deliverables.

CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@ upstatebusinessjournal.com.

06.03.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

INSIDE THE UPSTATEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NETWORKING AND SOCIAL SCENE

| SOCIAL SNAPSHOT | 25

ENDEAVOR LAUNCHES Endeavor, a co-working space for creatives launched by Erwin Penland founder Joe Erwin, opened its doors last week.

Willam Crooks / staff

CONTRIBUTE: Got high-resolution photos of your networking or social events? Send photos and information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

26 | THE FINE PRINT / TRENDING

Bausch + Lomb wins Walmart Supplier of the Year Award Canada-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. recently announced that Walmart, one of Valeant’s largest customers, presented Bausch + Lomb, a global eye health organization with a presence in Greenville, with a Supplier of the Year Award for U.S. Manufacturing in the consumables and health & wellness areas. Bausch + Lomb, which includes the Valeant Consumer Healthcare portfolio and businesses, is one of the largest global provider of eye care products. The award, which was presented at Walmart’s annual supplier summit, recognized Valeant’s significant current and long-term investment plans in its U.S. manufacturing facilities – specifically the Bausch + Lomb sites in Greenville and Tampa, Fla. – and acknowledged Valeant’s investment in the Bausch + Lomb contact lens manufacturing facility in Rochester, N.Y. “We take pride in our ability to develop and introduce products that consumers want and need, and on our speed-to-market capabilities,” said Joe Gordon, senior VP and GM of consumer healthcare. “Being recognized by Walmart as a top supplier is a true honor, and we look forward to additional growth and success with Walmart, our division’s largest customer.”

Insurance Applications Group of Greenville recognized for its growth Employee Benefit Advisor (EBA), an online source of benefit news to the broker and advisor community, recognized Insurance Applications Group Inc. (IAG) of Greenville as the second fastest-growing, large-group brokerage in the U.S. IAG is a national employee benefits product design, communication and technology firm headquartered in Greenville. The ranking compares all U.S. brokerages across all industries with $10 million or less in large-group revenue. Backed by data from the business intelligence firm miEdge, EBA reported that IAG grew nearly 45 percent in the large-group market between 2014 and 2015. “A large part of our success comes from helping brokers, consultants and other partners navigate the complex and often confusing regulations and new policies associated with the [Affordable Care Act],” said J. Marshall Dye, CEO and founder of IAG. “Not only do we provide our customers and partners with one-on-one training about ACA and other complex government regulations, we have a full suite of the industry’s most innovative, user-friendly technologies that allow them to confidently operate their businesses with prudent selections of fully insured ACA compliant products. The peace of mind we bring has immense value in our ever changing industry.”

UBJ

OVERHEARD @ THE WATERCOOLER

Distilled commentary from UBJ readers

RE: GSP PREPARES FOR LANDING OF PROJECT WINGSPAN, UNVEILS CENTRALIZED TSA CHECKPOINT > Bill via upstatebusinessjournal.com “How about some wide body airplanes to direct destinations other than CLT or ATL?” > Maggie Blair “That is all very exciting. However, I really wish RJ rockers and others were available to the public as well, without security.” Drayton Mills Loft Apartments “Another great sign of growth”

>> WEIGH IN @ THE UBJ EXCHANGE Got something to offer? Get it off your chest. We’re looking for expert guest bloggers from all industries to contribute to the UBJ Exchange. Send posts or blog ideas to dcar@communityjournals.com. MAY 27, 2016

06.03.2016

BIZ BUZZ The top 5 stories from the past week ranked by shareability score

>> 142

1. Rite Aid’s distribution center arrives in Spartanburg, Kobelco opens excavator plant

>> 101 2. BMW’s new body shop will be twice as large as expected

>> 79 3. “Big Boy” statues create big buzz in Spartanburg

>> 49 4. 42 graduate through Leadership Spartanburg

>> 48 5. BMW Manufacturing Co. produced its 3.5 millionth vehicle

| Vol. 5 Issue 22

DIGITAL FLIPBOOK ARCHIVE >> The layout of print meets the convenience of the web: flip through the digital edition of any of our print issues at >> upstatebusinessjournal.com/ past-issues

CLOTHES MINDED

the OOBE and the rest of adventurous Lee Norwoodto launch their —p. 14 team gear up menswear line new Van Willem

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06.03.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR

| PLANNER | 27

DATE

EVENT INFO

WHERE DO I GO?

HOW DO I GO?

Sunday-Saturday

Clemson College of Business and Behavioral Science "Being a Leader And The Effective Exercise of Leadership" 7-day course

Madren Conference Center 230 Madren Center Drive, Clemson

Cost: $4,400 Register: bit.ly/leader-april2016

SCMEP Executive Peer Council: Age and the Workforce

SCMEP 37 Villa Road, Suite 500, Greenville 12–5 p.m.

More info: contact Scott King at sking@scmep.org

Spartanburg Chamber Doing Business Better: Becoming a Content Campaign Dynamo workshop

Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Pine St., Spartanburg 8:30–10:30 a.m.

Cost: $20 Chamber members $40 nonmembers Register: bit.ly/dbb-june2016

Tech After Five Networking event for tech entrepreneurs and professionals

Pour Lounge 221 N. Main St., Greenville 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free Register: bit.ly/taf-june2016

Piedmont SCORE Basic Small Business Start-Up workshop

Tri-County Technical College: Pendleton Campus 7900 Hwy 76, Pendleton 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Cost: Free Register: bit.ly/bsbs-june2016

6/12-18 Tuesday

6/14

Wednesday

6/15

Thursday

6/16

CONTRIBUTE: Got a hot date? Submit event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com. ART & PRODUCTION

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

VISUAL DIRECTOR

JUNE 17 THE MONEY ISSUE Investing 101, funding and ﬁnance.

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

PRESIDENT/CEO

Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com

UBJ PUBLISHER

Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com

STAFF WRITERS

LAYOUT

UBJ milestone

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

Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith

1988

with a majority of them utilizing the general aviation airport as a “corporate gateway to the city.” In 1997, Jackson and his son, Darrell, launched Jackson Motorsports Group. The new division was designed to sell race tires and go to racetracks to sell and mount the tires. Darrell Jackson now serves as president of the motorsports group and Larry Jackson has two other children and a son-in-law who work there. Jackson said all his children started at the bottom and “earned their way up.” Jackson kept the Jackson-Dawson branches in Detroit and others in Los Angeles and New York until he sold his portion of that partnership in 2009 as part of his estate planning. The company now operates a small office in Charlotte, but its main headquarters are in Greenville in a large office space off Woodruff Road, complete with a vision gallery that displays local artwork and an auditorium Jackson makes available for non-profit use. The Motorsports Group is housed in an additional 26,000 square feet building just down the street, and the agency is currently looking for another 20,000 square feet. Jackson said JMG has expanded into other verticals such as financial, healthcare, manufacturing and pro-bono work, but still has a strong focus on the auto industry and transportation. It’s

OPERATIONS Holly Hardin

ADVERTISING DESIGN Kristy Adair | Michael Allen

1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993

1990 Jackson Dawson

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

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

Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com

Solve. Serve. Grow. Those three words summarize Jackson Marketing Group’s guiding principles, and according to owner Larry Jackson, form the motivation that has kept the firm thriving for the past 25 years.

Jackson graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in video and film production and started his 41-year career in the communications industry with the U.S. Army’s Public Information Office. He served during

Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood. He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980. In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he

learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage. In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar. “Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said. Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders

2003 motorsports Division acquires an additional 26,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space

1998 1998 Jackson Dawson moves to task industrial Court

also one of the few marketing companies in South Carolina to handle all aspects of a project in-house, with four suites handling video production, copywriting, media and research and web design. Clients include heavyweights such as BMW, Bob Jones University, the Peace Center, Michelin and Sage Automotive. Recent projects have included an interactive mobile application for Milliken’s arboretum and 600-acre Spartanburg campus and a marketing campaign for the 2013 Big League World Series. “In my opinion, our greatest single achievement is the longevity of our client relationships,” said Darrell Jackson. “Our first client from back in 1988 is still a client today. I can count on one hand the number of clients who have gone elsewhere in the past decade.” Larry Jackson says his Christian faith and belief in service to others, coupled with business values rooted in solving clients’ problems, have kept

2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003

2009-2012 Jackson marketing Group named a top BtoB agency by BtoB magazine 4 years running

him going and growing his business over the years. He is passionate about giving back and outreach to non-prof non-profits. The company was recently awarded the Community Foundation Spirit Award. The company reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community last week by celebrating its 25th anniversary with a birthday party and a 25-hour Serve-A-Thon partnership with Hands on Greenville and Habitat for Humanity. JMG’s 103 full-time employees worked in shifts around the clock on October 22 and 23 to help construct a house for a deserving family. As Jackson inches towards retirement, he says he hasn’t quite figured out his succession plan yet, but sees the companies staying under the same umbrella. He wants to continue to strategically grow the business. “From the beginning, my father has taught me that this business is all about our people – both our clients and our associates,” said his son, Darrell. “We have created a focus and a culture that strives to solve problems, serve people and grow careers.” Darrell Jackson said he wants to “continue helping lead a culture where we solve, serve and grow. If we are successful, we will continue to grow towards our ultimate goal of becoming the leading integrated marketing communications brand in the Southeast.”

2011 Jackson marketing Group/Jackson motorsports Group employee base reaches 100 people

2008 2012 Jackson marketing Group recognized by Community Foundation with Creative spirit Award

pro-bono/non-proFit / Clients lients American Red Cross of Western Carolinas Metropolitan Arts Council Artisphere Big League World Series The Wilds Advance SC South Carolina Charities, Inc. Aloft Hidden Treasure Christian School

CoMMUnitY nit inVolVeMent nitY in olV inV olVe VeMent & boarD positions lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member

JULY 15 THE HEALTH CARE ISSUE The business of cancer and other medical matters.

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

CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley | Jane Rogers

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristi Fortner

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS:

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

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Trevor Anderson, Ashley Boncimino, Lety Good, Caroline Hafer, Sherry Jackson, Cindy Landrum

ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com

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CONTRIBUTING WRITER

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS:

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

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Melinda Young

Danielle Car

MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Nicole Greer, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Lindsay Oehmen, Emily Yepes

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & ACCOUNT STRATEGY Kate Madden

events@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.

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AUGUST 19 THE CAREERS ISSUE Finding – and keeping – the right job. Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at ideas@ upstatebusinessjournal.com.

Copyright ©2016 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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