June 13, 2014 UBJ by Community Journals

JUNE 13, 2014

An Upstate businessman’s inventive approach has led him to 54 patents – and into amusement parks around the world

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UBJ MANUFACTURING & HOSPITALITY

Delta Apparel Shifts Operations to Honduras 70 jobs will be lost at North Carolina plant JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com Greenville’s Delta Apparel announced plans last week to combine fabric production for material used in basic blank tees to its Ceiba Textiles facility in Central America. The company will move the manufacturing operations of basic tees from its plant in Maiden, N.C., to Honduras, boosting the plant’s production by 8 percent and roughly 900,000 pounds of fabric per week. A statement issued by the company said the change in operations would be more cost-effective and was expected to shorten the production cycle by 10 days. The company will further reduce production in the U.S. to better align inventory levels with sales expectations. Total fabric production at the company’s North Carolina facility is expected to decrease by 35 percent. Delta Apparel can no longer justify the additional cost associated with

its current level of domestic fabric production for the competitive blank tee shirt business, said Bob Humphreys, chairman and CEO. These kinds of decisions are always difficult, especially when they affect dedicated associates, he said. “We believe this economic decision is in the best long-term interest of Delta Apparel and our shareholders.” Although the North Carolina facility will continue to employ roughly 190 of its current associates, the consolidation will impact 70 positions at the plant. The movement of production to the Ceiba Textiles facility will be completed by the end of the month, and the company expects to see annual savings in excess of $1 million once the consolidation is finished. Humphreys said Delta Apparel would continue to improve its manufacturing platform to ensure the introduction of new products. “In the meantime, the company is managing costs to find ways to operate more efficiently,” he said.

A New Joint for the Family The Universal Joint, a family-friendly kick-back-on-the-patio kind of restaurant and bar, opened for business this week at 300 E. Stone Ave. in downtown Greenville. One of the restaurant’s main fea-

June 13, 2014

tures is a large outdoor patio with two large roll-up garage doors. The menu features a mixture of salads, sandwiches, burgers and tacos and an always-rotating draft and bottle beer selection.

GIFT CA RD

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

Volume 3, Issue 24

June 13, 2014

WORTH REPEATING “This is a compelling example of willpower. To have survived some fairly tough economic conditions is pretty incredible.” Larry Miller, president and CEO of Independence National Bank, on the lifting of an Office of Comptroller of Currency consent order the bank had been under since 2011.

“Previously, we had dismissed South Carolina … [but] this progress may cause us to take another look.”

“If it’s fun, I want to do it. If it’s not fun, I don’t want to get involved.” Jerry Barber, inventor, entrepreneur and founder of Barber Wind Turbines.

Photo by Joe Toppe

Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery founder and CEO Gary Fish on considering an East Coast location in the wake of Gov. Haley’s signing of a bill relaxing restrictions on the state’s breweries.

MONEY SHOT: (From left) GE Power & Water president and CEO Steve Bolze, Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, and Greenville County Council Chairman Bob Taylor “break ground” for GE’s new $400 million facility at a ceremony on Tuesday. The new facility will open in 2015 and create more than 80 jobs. Read more on page 22.

WELLS FARGO CONTINUES to approve more SBA 7(a) loan dollars for America’s small businesses than any other lender, extending nearly $798 million through the first seven months of federal fiscal year 2014 – up more than 8 percent year-over-year. Wells Fargo ranks No. 2 nationally in SBA 7(a) units, approving 1,959 loans – up nearly three percent from a year ago. In 11 states, including South Carolina, Wells Fargo is the leading SBA lender by dollar volume, and in 10 states, also including South Carolina, Wells Fargo is the No. 1 SBA 7(a) lender by units. As of April 30, 2014, Wells Fargo has made 35 SBA 7(a) loans in South Carolina, totaling $15.1 million.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

TBA Look for Spice of India, an Indian restaurant claiming to have the “hottest” food, to open soon at 15 Market Point Drive off Woodruff Road, near Whole Foods in the former J. Peters restaurant building…

June 13, 2014

VERBATIM

On Rex Carter… “Our state is better off because Rex was at the helm.” Speaker of the S.C. House Bobby Harrell, on former Speaker Rex Carter, who died Monday in his Greenville home at 88.

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UBJ UTILITIES

by the Purveyors of Classic American Style

WHEN AND WEAR?

White Dinner Jackets and Proper Wedding Attire

Piedmont Plans Gas Pipeline to Duke Plant in Anderson JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com Piedmont Natural Gas has announced plans to provide Duke Energy with the delivery of natural gas to its power generation facility in Anderson County. The $38 million investment will be completed by May 2017 and include the construction of approximately 1.5 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline to Duke Energy’s W.S. Lee Steam Station site on the Saluda River. Although the agreement is subject to approval by the South Carolina Public Service Commission, Piedmont Natural Gas chairman, president and CEO Thomas E. Skains said the company was excited about an opportunity to work with Duke Energy and build new infrastructure to deliver clean and efficient natural gas to the W.S. Lee facility. “We believe this project will benefit both the environment and energy consumers in South Carolina,” he said. In a statement issued last month, Duke Energy Carolinas announced it would build and operate a 750-megawatt natural gas-fired com-

bined-cycle plant at its existing location in Anderson County. The agreement with Piedmont Natural Gas will allow the plant to convert the existing plants from coal use to natural gas and is part of a comprehensive, long-term plan to modernize the fleet, maintain a diverse fuel portfolio, and manage customer costs while delivering a high-quality, reliable power supply, according to the statement. Natural gas-fired combined-cycle plants are better equipped to meet the significant energy needs of customers and are expected to be an important part of the future Duke Energy Carolinas generation portfolio, said Clark Gillespy, Duke Energy state president, South Carolina. “They are very efficient in the production of electricity using natural gas as fuel and have very low plant emissions,” he said. Construction of the new facility will begin in the summer of 2015 with an expected completion by November 2017. The project is expected to create at least 500 jobs during the height of construction, with about 25 full-time employees to operate the plant once it is online.

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At Rush Wilson Limited we use our knowledge and experience to answer our client’s questions concerning a wide range of topics such as men’s fashion, etiquette, and individual style. Here are just a few. Q: Is the white dinner jacket still in style? A: Absolutely. The dinner jacket has always been a classic. It’s been working for James Bond for the last 50 years. Q: When may I start wearing my white dinner jacket? A: Generally you may start wearing your white dinner jacket, instead of your all black tuxedo, on Memorial Day through Labor Day. The dinner jacket is appropriate to wear to after-six weddings, formal receptions, and galas. You should wear the same formal accessories with your dinner jacket as with your tuxedo. For instance, if you are attending a conservative, formal wedding, a black bowtie and cummerbund, black or smoked mother of pearl studs and cufflinks with your formal shirt is the appropriate combination to wear. If the event is more festive, then substitute a colorful bowtie and cummerbund made of silk, linen, or cotton in a pattern that suits your mood. A white dinner jacket is an essential in a well-dressed man’s wardrobe. It offers a change of pace during the warm weather months to help you look your best and to keep things interesting. Q: What is considered proper wedding attire? A: Take your cues from the invitation and the hour of the wedding. If the invitation is formal and the hour is six or later, your tuxedo, or white dinner jacket during summer, is appropriate. If you don’t own a tuxedo, you may either rent one or wear a suit. The color and fabric will depend on the season. For instance, in the winter, spring, and fall, wear a dark dressy suit. In the summer, a lighter color such as medium to light grey or tan is appropriate. If the time of the service is before six pm, a suit is the most appropriate choice. At Rush Wilson Limited we strive to provide helpful advice to our customers so that they feel confident in their dress in any situation. We welcome your questions by email, phone, Facebook, and, of course, in person.

June 13, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ HOSPITALITY

Full Brew Ahead New legislation offers breweries food service option, removes on-site consumption cap APRIL A. MORRIS | STAFF

amorris@communityjournals.com

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Gov. Nikki Haley signed what is

In addition to the sampling and sales provisions set forth in subsection (A), a brewery licensed in this State is authorized to sell beer produced on its licensed premises to consumers on site for on-premises consumption within an area of its licensed premises approved by the rules and regulations of the Department of Health and Environmental Control governing eating and drinking establishments and other food service establishments. These establishments may also apply for a retail on-premises consumption permit for the sale of beer and wine of a producer that has been purchased from a wholesaler through the three-tier distribution chain set forth in Section 61-4-735 and Section 61-4-940.

called the “Stone Bill” into law last week, eliminating production limits on Palmetto State breweries and giving them the option to offer food, sell products from other breweries and serve more than three pints of beer per customer per day. According to the new law effective July 1, if a brewery serves food, it is no longer subject to the 48 ounce per day, per person limit for on-premises consumption. In the past, a brewpub was allowed to sell food, but its production was limited as part of its license. The “Stone Bill” nickname refers to state efforts to attract California-based Stone Brewing Company, which is seeking an East Coast expansion and eyeing South Carolina as one of the options. In addition to the potential $100 million yearly investment projected if Stone Brewing moves to the state, the new law will be a boon to breweries already operating in South Carolina,

THE “STONE BILL” WHAT IT DOES: • Allows breweries to serve food (requires a DHEC permit) • Removes the 48-ounce limit for on-premises consumption if a brewery sells food • With food service, a brewery can sell other producers’ beer and wine to customers (purchased from a wholesaler) WHAT IT DOES NOT DO: • Change the limit a brewery can sell for off-premises consumption (288 ounces, which must be sold in conjunction with a tour) • Change the type of license a brewery needs • Change production limits on brewpubs (already allowed to serve food)

said Brook Bristow, an attorney and advisor to the S.C. Brewers Association. The wording of the law allows for an interpretation that gives breweries considerable flexibility in what type of food they may offer, said Bristow. “It could be a full-on restaurant, small kitchen or hot dogs or sandwiches,” he said. Many Upstate breweries have previously held events that featured fare offered by local food trucks, and Bristow said that could also qualify as a brewery serving food, according to his interpretation. Some uncertainties still exist about how the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) will classify the food service, he said. One longtime Upstate craft brewer, Tom Davis of Thomas Creek Brewery, said last week that his facility is preparing to set up a deli counter that would offer premade sandwiches to munch with a pint. He expects the addition to draw more customers and a potential lunch or early dinner crowd, he said. Davis said the counter could be up and running fairly quickly because

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

DEFINED Brewpub: A restaurant-brewery

Source: Brewers Association

Brewery: A brewery that produces fewer

that sells 25 percent or more of its beer on site. The beer is brewed primarily for sale in the restaurant and bar. The beer is often dispensed directly from the brewery’s storage tanks. Where allowed by law, brewpubs often sell beer “to go” and /or distribute to off site accounts.

much of the required equipment is already in the brewery, including sinks, preparation surfaces and refrigeration. Thomas Creek will also continue to host food trucks on its property, he said. Bristow said adding food service will definitely be an economic boon to local breweries and broadcast to the nation that the state is open to new brewing investment. “South Carolina has sent a clear message that we support craft brewing,” he said. According to Stone Brewing Co. spokeswoman Sabrina LoPiccolo, Stone is still narrowing the search for an East Coast location. “We are looking to identify and begin construction on the site end of this year,” she said. The new legislation has also caught the attention of other West Coast breweries like Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery. Spokeswoman Marie Melsheimer said Deschutes’ expansion may be “several years out, if at all.” However, founder and CEO Gary Fish said the brewery may reconsider the state after the law’s passage. Bristow said the Stone Bill moved through the Legislature with amazing

than 15,000 barrels (17,600 hectoliters) of beer per year with 75 percent or more of its beer sold off-site. Microbreweries sell to the public by one or more of the following methods: the traditional three-tier system (brewer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer); the two-tier system (brewer acting as wholesaler to retailer to consumer); and directly to the consumer through carry-outs and/or on-site taproom or restaurant sales.

speed, in part due to a large public push along with increased awareness of craft beer by legislators who are paying attention to neighbor North Carolina’s booming craft beer industry. “It’s hard to ignore what North Carolina has done in craft brewing,” Bristow said, noting that the industry boasts $740 billion in economic impact for the state. “It’s a good thing and a step in the right direction,” Davis said. “It gives other breweries the opportunity to come into the state and it’s what this bill is all about.”

➤ BY THE NUMBERS

20 $254,300,000 91 $791,100,000 number of craft breweries in South Carolina

economic impact

number of craft breweries in North Carolina

economic impact

Source: Brewers Association

UBJ MANUFACTURING

Chinese Company Creates 38 Jobs in Seneca JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com A China-based manufacturer of cutting tools will establish its overseas headquarters on the same site as its subsidiary, Greenfield Industries, in Oconee County, creating an additional 38 jobs. TDC Cutting Tools Inc. will invest $8.2 million in the construction of the new TDC Overseas campus, in-

cluding a 32,000-square-foot office building and a 10,000-square-foot recycling center added to the existing 168,000-square-foot facility.Â TDC Cutting Tools and Greenfield Industries manufacture and sell drills, taps, end mills and other cutting tools. Together, both companies employ more than 3,300 worldwide and produce more than 300 million tools annually. Through this expansion, TDC has

TDC chose Oconee County for its overseas headquarters due to the proximity to Clemson University and Tri-County Technical College, the good support provided by both county and state governments, regional infrastructure and potential cost advantages.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

positioned itself for strong future growth in its overseas markets, said Jeff Chee, founder and CEO of TDC Cutting Tools Inc. TDC chose Oconee County for its overseas headquarters due to the proximity to Clemson University and Tri-County Technical College, the good support provided by both county and state governments, regional infrastructure and potential cost advantages, he said. Greenfield Industries recently consolidated its U.S. manufacturing operations and both its U.S. and Canadian headquarters at the Davis Creek Road site in Seneca. The company selected Oconee County over options in Chicago and Switzerland and plans to establish its Outside

Photo Provided

of China Global Operations headquarters in Seneca in the near future. Site work will begin next month with completion of the complex slated for May 2015.

UBJ BANKING

Federal Oversight Lifted on 2 Upstate Banks Improved finances at Greer State Bank, Independence National Bank help clear restrictions SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com

In the daily struggle to produce and complete the myriad of tasks assigned, all can be guilty of ignoring Quality for the sake of Quantity. But at the end of each day, we need to ask ourselves, “What value did I bring to the organization today?” Work is not always about checking items off our list. Some days, we may not accomplish one thing on our to-do list, yet we provide tremendous value to the organization. Those are the days that we focus on Quality, not just Quantity. As managers, this struggle affects not only us, but our employees as well. How do we lead by example and help our teams focus on quality service? LEE YARBOROUGH

Two Upstate banks have improved

• Don’t micromanage. Allow employees to control their own work flow but provide clear deadlines and expectations. • Consistently evaluate growth and forecast personnel needs. When stress is high and work is overloaded, it is easy to just fill a seat. However, take the time necessary to evaluate future needs. Does the company need another team member or would a team manager be the best approach for the future? • When a “star” employee comes around, managers are often guilty of piling on extra work. The employee is so competent and seems to be able to handle anything. However, everyone has a breaking point. As a manager, it is our job to set employees up for success, not failure. that it had repurchased $3.15 million of its TARP preferred stock from the U.S. Treasury. Independence National Bank was put under a consent order Nov. 14, 2011, by the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. The bank was notified last week the enforcement action was lifted effective June 4. “This is a compelling example of willpower,” said Larry Miller, president and CEO of Independence National Bank. “To have survived some fairly tough economic conditions is pretty incredible. It is welcomed news because it represents very positive feedback from regulators that bank management is moving the bank in a position direction.” Now that the bank has been “restored to a safe and sound condition by regulators,” Miller says that INB will now be able to pursue “growth initiatives and enhance its infrastructure,” such as lending and mobile banking that it couldn’t do while under the consent order.

• Avoid the busy work trap. There is a feeling of accomplishment when we are able to complete a task, no matter how menial it may be. It is human nature to avoid the long, hard jobs and take care of the quick, easy ones. As managers, we must recognize this in ourselves and help our team as well. Work with employees to prioritize tasks based on value and maintain an open dialogue. Be prepared to switch responsibilities in order to provide the best Quality work for the company. All employees need to provide value to the organization every day. True value is measured by results not just busy work; Quality work is more valuable than Quantity work. As managers, we need to model this value driven behavior and help our employees succeed.

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their financial conditions and are no longer under the microscopic eye of banking regulators. Greer State Bank received notice last week that the Federal Reserve Bank had lifted its oversight, and Independence National Bank received notice from the Office of the Comptroller of Currency that the consent order against it had been lifted. Greer State Bank (GSB) and its holding company, Greer Bancshares Inc., received notice from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond on June 2 that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between GSB and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond had been terminated effective May 30, 2014, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The MOU had been in effect since May 29, 2013. The MOU required GSB, among other directives, to preserve its cash; obtain the written consent of supervisory authorities prior to paying any dividends with respect to its common or preferred stock or trust preferred securities, purchasing or redeeming any stock shares or incurring, increasing or guaranteeing any debt; and submit quarterly reports to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond regarding the company’s actions to comply with the requirements of the MOU. GSB reported an 80 percent net income increase in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Net income rose to $1,153,000 from $641,000 a year ago. In March the company announced

Quality versus Quantity

June 13, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ MANUFACTURING

BMW Continues Record-Breaking Sales Streak Sales of Greer-made X5 up 58.7 percent from last year JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com

With a significant contribution made by the Greer-made X5 model, record-breaking sales continued during May for the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) as the carmaker reported more than 35,000 vehicles sold. Sales of BMW sports activity vehicles (SAVs) have increased 80.6 percent from May 2013 and 25.5 percent the first five months of the year. In particular, the BMW

BMW brand 29,602 25,230 17.3% BMW passenger cars 19,237 19,491 -1.3 BMW light trucks 10,365 5,739 80.6 MINI brand 5,729 5,944 -3.6 TOTAL GROUP 35,331 31,174 13.3

MAY 2014

MAY 2013

% CHANGE

YTD MAY 2014

YTD MAY % 2013 CHANGE

127,181 113,357 12.2 87,247 81,540 7.0 39,934 31,817 25.5 18,776 25,785 -27.2 145,957 139,142 4.9

Source: BMWblog.com

X5, manufactured in Greer, is up 58.7 percent from May 2013. “BMW’s plant in Spartanburg is obviously very pleased with the sales numbers for May,” said Sky Foster, depart-

ment manager of corporate communications for BMW Manufacturing. “BMW of North America, the company’s sales subsidiary, is obviously doing a phenomenal job of selling every X model we produce for the U.S. market.” BMW’s record numbers during

Celebrate success on a higher level.

May have highlighted the company’s path in 2014, said Ludwig Willisch, president and CEO of BMW of North America. “This will be the summer of BMW, with the new M3 and M4 on sale this month and the new X4 and 4 Series Gran Coupe coming in July,” he said.

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

UBJ ECONOMY

SC Leading Index Reaches 7-Year High Source: South Carolina Department Of Commerce

101 100.5 100 99.5 99

FEB 14

APR 14

OCT 13

DEC 13

JUN 13

AUG 13

FEB 13

APR 13

OCT 12

DEC 12

JUN 12

AUG 12

FEB 12

Carolina, said Clemson economist Bruce Yandle. Coupled with the Port of Charleston, the growth is driven by the state’s unusually large international economy, improvements in educa-

APR 12

OCT 11

DEC 11

JUN 11

AUG 11

FEB 11

APR 11

OCT 10

98.5 DEC 10

South Carolina Department of Commerce showcased a seven-year high in the Palmetto State’s leading index, a decline in weekly unemployment claims, and an increase in the price of home sales and residential building permits. The South Carolina Leading Index (SCLI) rose for the third consecutive month in April, gaining 0.03 points to a high of 101.46. An SCLI value greater than 100 indicates statewide economic growth over the next three to six months. The positive growth of leading indicators offers the promise of continued economic expansion in South

102 101.5

JUN 10

A recent report issued by the

SOUTH CAROLINA LEADING INDEX

AUG 10

jtoppe@communityjournals.com

APR 10

JOE TOPPE | STAFF

tional attainment, above-average population growth, lower-cost energy, and being located in one of the nation’s strongest regional economies, “Charlanta,” he said. The average number of weekly

initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 4.1 percent to 3,169 statewide during April and was 17 percent lower than the same month last year. Greenville saw a 4.6 percent decline in initial claims last month. Charleston, Greenville, Columbia and Florence saw modest increases in UI claimant activity in April. In addition, according to the report, in April: Total non-farm employment increased by 19,000 non-seasonally adjusted jobs. The price of single-family homes increased by $3,000 to $159,000. The total of residential building permits rose by 135 to 2,376. For the complete report, visit sccommerce.com.

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ DIGITAL MAVEN

By LAURA HAIGHT

4 Ways Ex-Employees Can Hijack Your Business Follow these steps to close security holes after showing workers the door It used to be a lot easier. Someone left your company and IT took his computer, turned off his account access, collected his badge and called it done. Not anymore. There are many more exposures you need to think about and be prepared for. The first thing you have to wrap your mind around is that there is no difference between a voluntary and involuntary termination. The same procedures should be followed in every instance. Just because someone was a great guy but moved on does not mean you should be any less concerned about quickly and efficiently stopping his access to company files, online services or equipment. Here’s a list of steps to take so you are prepared when any employee – from president to clerk – leaves your company.

1. Eliminate Physical Access This used to be easy when outgoing employees just turned in their keys. Today, you may have keys, badges, RFID chips or even mobile apps. Most connected systems have an online database where you can set access for individuals. Make sure you know which employees have access to the database and remove their access. Many small companies or nonprofits may have one account shared by many people. That means a generic login and shared password. You have no way of knowing how many people could have this account login. Change the password on this account for everyone, if that’s the case. If you utilize a mobile app to access the building – instead of a card – you need to know if the employee has that app installed on his personal device. Hopefully, your app allows disabling access from an administrative account. Oh yeah, and take their keys...

There is no difference between a voluntary and involuntary termination. In every instance, you need to quickly and efficiently stop access to company files, online services or equipment.

2. Count Your Assets Desktops, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, scanners, portable printers, cameras, oh my. Some remote employees may have equipment at home. Some have company smartphones or tablets. What muddies the waters is when work equipment does double duty as personal devices as well. Contacts are a particular challenge. We don’t have separate contact programs for work, family or friends. We just have “contacts.” Yet employees, particularly those involved in sales or marketing, should not be able to walk off with key contacts that you might not have anywhere else. This is a good reason to require employees to keep their work smartphones separate from their personal ones. Yes, it’s a pain for them. That’s why we call it “work.” Either way, you have to know what they have in order to get it back. Mobile device management tools from providers or hardware compa-

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

nies (like Apple) should enable you to wipe the devices remotely, but then you have lost the opportunity to capture contacts, emails, proposals or any other work product.

3. Change the Online Locks Smaller businesses may be very vulnerable here by having a single shared account for online services. This is not a safe practice. But in the event you do, every time someone leaves the company you should change the password. Don’t try to guess at whether or not this is something they would have ever used, or something that they may want to get into for company information now that they are gone. It is safer and faster to change the password. It’s also a good way to reduce the pool of people who may have access. Provide the password to people you know should have it. That will automatically reduce the number of unauthorized people with access.

4. Weed Out Your Social Media Admins This is one we don’t think about as much. Take a look at your Facebook account under “Manage Admins.” You might be surprised at who you find is an administrator. It could be someone no longer with your company. It could be someone who filled in once when the marketing staff was tied up but really has no good reason to be an admin. Then think about all your social media (not just those you use). Sure, you’ll change the password on Twitter. But what about Instagram, SoundCloud, Storify, Pinterest? Also check your LinkedIn company page and remove anyone no longer in your firm. You can’t control when – or even if – the employee will remember to update his own profile. LinkedIn must do this for you (goo.gl/LV2bVc). But it’s worth it.

How can you keep track of all this? User management software like Microsoft Exchange or even Google Apps for Business will give you a dashboard to turn off and on many different accesses and set permission levels. But some things – like external online services, physical hardware, etc. – must be maintained separately. An employee spreadsheet or database that keeps all this information in one place will make it easier to work through best practices when someone leaves. It’s also easier if you reinforce practices like not allowing generic logins or password sharing among your staff. These are often the places where the biggest exposures come from.

Need help? Laura Haight is the president of Portfolio (portfoliosc.com), which works with small businesses to incorporate and manage emerging media and technology into business operations.

UBJ PROFESSIONAL

By DOUG KIM

Another Bad Day for Patent Trolls Patent trolls have been coming out from under the bridge in increasingly larger numbers. The following chart illustrates the sharp increase in the number of patent infringement lawsuits filed by patent trolls:

and the tests above are used by the trial judge to determine if the case is “exceptional.” Another important holding in these cases is that the trial judge’s decision is given deference by the

PERCENTAGE OF PATENT LITIGATION FILED BY TROLLS

Source: RPX Research and United States PACER as reported by the Kauffman Foundation.

This trend may have just changed. On April 29, 2014, the United States Supreme Court handed down the decision in Octane Fitness LLC v. Icon Health & Fitness Inc., and Highmark Inc. v. Allcare Health Management System Inc. In this pair of cases, one common issue that directly affects patent trolls is the ability to recover attorney fees. Under prior case law, the recovery of attorney fees was only awarded when: 1. The litigation was brought in subjective bad faith, and 2. The litigation was objectively baseless. [Brooks Furniture Manufacturing, Inc. v. Dutailier Int’l Inc., 393 F.3d 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2005).] These were difficult standards to meet, resulting in the rare recovery of attorney fees. Now, however, the standard is to allow the recovery of attorney fees if the case “stands out from others,” a lower standard. Today, one may recover attorney fees if the case is “simply one that stands out from the others with respect to the substantive strength of a party’s litigation position.” At the core of these two cases is the fee-shifting provision of the patent laws that says that the “court in exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party” [35 U.S.C. § 285]. The question is focused on what is an “exceptional case,”

appellate court which, in theory, makes it harder to overturn the trial judge’s determination. The impact on the patent troll with these holdings is that it is now easier for the trial judge to (a) award attorney fees to the target of the patent troll if the patent troll is engaged in undesirable or abusive behavior, and (b) a determination of attorney fee awards will be harder to change on appeal. This is a step in the right direction to curb the overly aggressive and unsavory behavior of patent trolls and get the patent litigation system back to being a system to legitimately enforce intellectual property rights and not a vehicle for a “stick-up-job.” These cases could not have happened soon enough for one local business. BMW North America LLC finds

itself a victim in a patent infringement suit filed in early May by Antennatech LLC, an organization with all the signs of a patent troll. Antennatech alleges the carmaker is infringing its patents that allegedly protect technology that uses radio frequency antennas to connect a mobile device to a wider communications network. Researching Antennatech reveals little available information on this new company. The Delaware Secretary of State shows that a company called Antennatech LLC was formed Feb. 18, 2014. Its address of 3131 McKinney Ave., Suite 600, Dallas, Texas 75204, is a Meridian Office Business Center; an indicator that Antennatech is renting temporary offices and does not have much in the way of operations. The attorneys representing Antennatech are known to have represented patent trolls in the past. And Antennatech has also sued the following companies – all indicators pointing to a patent troll (see chart below). This story is not complete, as there are multiple bills pending in Congress and at the state level that are targeting patent trolls – bills that include fee shifting, forced identification of the real party bringing the lawsuit, a requirement of detailed pre-filing investigation, detailed explanation of alleged infringement and more. While these bills have very recently stalled in the Senate, (postponed four times in April), Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), supporter of patent reform and member of the Judiciary Committee, has stated that the bills would have to be presented by the end of May to get a vote in 2014. Given that August vacation is only weeks away, the window is quickly closing. Chairman of the Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) states that the opposition is principally the fee-shifting provisions where the losing party would have to pay the winner’s court fees. Doug Kim is an intellectual property (IP) attorney and head of the IP practice of McNair Law Firm. He concentrates on counseling companies concerning the protection and enforcement of IP rights.

CASE (DELAWARE) PARTIES AND FILED DATE 1:14-cv-00497-GMS

Antennatech LLC v. American Eagle Outfitters Inc. filed 04/18/14

1:14-cv-00498-GMS

Antennatech LLC v. CVS Caremark Corporation filed 04/18/14

1:14-cv-00499-GMS

Antennatech LLC v. Foot Locker Inc. filed 04/18/14

1:14-cv-00500-GMS

Antennatech LLC v. Guess? Retail Inc. filed 04/18/14

1:14-cv-00501-GMS

Antennatech LLC v. Macy’s Inc. filed 04/18/14

1:14-cv-00502-GMS

Antennatech LLC v. Sports Authority Inc. filed 04/18/14

1:14-cv-00503-GMS

Antennatech LLC v. Doctor’s Associates Inc. filed 04/18/14

1:14-cv-00504-GMS

Antennatech LLC v. Geoffery LLC filed 04/18/14

1:14-cv-00505-GMS

Antennatech LLC v. Walgreen Co. filed 04/18/14

1:14-cv-00569-UNA

Antennatech LLC v. BMW of North America LLC filed 04/30/14

June 13, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ SOCIAL SNAPSHOT

CLEMSON MBAe STUDENTS WIN $30K IN FUNDING $30,000 in start-up funding was awarded at Clemson MBA in Entrepreneurship’s annual EnterPrize Awards presented by CertusBank on May 29. The top 10 students presented three-minute pitches of their business ideas to a panel of judges, who then narrowed the field to five finalists. First-place winner Even Skjervold of SouthYeast Labs received the $20,000 top prize. Darryl McCune of Community Bound and Ryan DeMattia of Voice took second place ($6,000) and third place ($4,000), respectively.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

GOT HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOS OF YOUR NETWORKING OR SOCIAL EVENTS? Send them to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com (put “Social Snapshot” in the subject line), and look for them in a future issue.

UBJ SOCIAL SNAPSHOT MINORITY PROFESSIONALS CONNECT AT NETNIGHT Last week, a group of diverse business owners and professionals connected at Studio 220 in downtown Greenville for NETnight, a program of the Greenville Chamber. These quarterly meetings combine sharing of substantive information relevant to minority professionals and an opportunity to highlight a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to address the needs of diverse communities. Learn more at greenvillechamber.org/ netnight.php.

June 13, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

Jerry Barber’s business approach may be unorthodox, but it works – and he’s got a wall full of patents to prove it

FOUNDERS

‘PUSH THE ENVELOPE MAKE MISTAKES AND HAVE FUN’

By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer | joladipo@communityjournals.com

A good businessman needs to keep track of which way the wind is blowing, and right now that’s a literal and figurative concern for Jerry Barber. The founder of Barber Wind Turbines also patented the Free Fall tower ride that’s now common in amusement parks and carnivals around the world. After that he founded and ran the nation’s second-largest amusement park manufacturer for nearly two decades. Branching out, he then founded a company that financed amusement park equipment. More than half of Barber’s 54 patents have been commercialized. If you ask which is his favorite, he’ll tell you it’s the one he’s working on at the time. Among other projects, these days Barber is most immediately concerned with his concept for wind turbine design, which has over two dozen patents issued and pending in the United States and other countries. The design differs from the common three-blade-topped white towers; in fact, it’s conspicuously reminiscent of a Ferris wheel, harkening back to Barber’s early work with amusement parks. Even as he talks about how few people follow through the invention process to a commercial end, his process seems to be as much about play as about perseverance. That’s obvious even in his home. Opposite

one of two walls where his framed patents are displayed, a life-sized figure of Yoda from “Star Wars” stands wearing a conical Asian farmer hat. He’s next to a display of miniature Ferris wheels, carousels and other amusements that come to life with the flip of a switch. Barber tells every new employee point-blank that one of the easiest ways to get fired is to never make any mistakes. “And they look at me like I’ve lost my mind,” he said. But he explains that he wants them pushing the envelope. “I want you to make mistakes, learn from your mistakes and make this a better – a more fun – company to work in.” Barber said many of them tell him later how liberating that attitude is, and how it gives them a sense of ownership and freedom – and, yes, it’s a lot more fun. Barber, however, also sees it as a growth strategy. He sat down with UBJ to talk more about his approach to business and inventing.

How do you know when you’ve got a marketable idea? “If it’s fun, I want to do it. If it’s not fun, I don’t want to get involved. And when I get involved in something, it’s no different than playing sports. You want to win, and you don’t win by giving up halfway through.” Entrepreneur and innovator Jerry Barber with the original model of an early amusement he built with two friends and patented.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

Here’s my process. I know I’m emotionally involved with my patents like anybody else. So I make it a point to find two different types of people to have lunch or coffee with. I’ve got one who can tell you everything that is wrong. I mean, you could bring >>

>> the most beautiful female model here in a bikini, and he could tell you everything wrong with her. So I take my idea to negative people. Then I try to find the same number of people that you could put that Yoda in front of them and they could tell you how sexy that is, all the good things about it. They’ll brag about my idea and come up with good things I never thought about. I listen to both sides, then come up with a non-emotional judgment about the value of the thing. Sometimes that is really tough. I get the sense that you’re really playful about… Everything. And the other thing I’ve found is that when you’re looking for people to suggest improvements or tell you what’s right and wrong, you want to forget the idea that you want smart or established people. You want people who have maybe not even gone to school, who can look at it with real-world knowledge. A lot of them can be a lot better at helping you and be honest and tell you really what they think.

Why are so few patents produced? One of the problems is because you are personally so involved [with the patent], it becomes your baby. And you think that once you get that someone’s going to come knock on the door and give me a bunch of money. Well, of my 54 patents I’m still waiting for the first person to knock on the door. Nothing happens unless you sell that patent, which isn’t as easy as you think even if it is a great idea. Sometimes I think if you had a patent that could make gold bars you’d really have to work hard to sell that patent to anybody.

I know it sounds strange. A lot of people are really good but just don’t have the self-confidence or perseverance to go do it.

FAVORITE BOOK: “Unbreakable: A Navy SEALs Way of Life” by Thom Shea READING RIGHT NOW? Technical articles on wind turbines.

How do you get a company to take a serious look at your idea? A lot of my graduate work included psychology courses. I figured out if you take a good idea to a company’s engineering department, what are they going to do? Analyze it and look for everything that’s possibly wrong. If you take it to the sales department, the executives are used to hearing ideas they pass on from their customers, and sometimes they laugh them off. Since you’re not a customer, they have no skin in the game and it dies. On the Free Fall, I got a few minutes with the CEO of Intamin, a Swedish amusement ride company, and gave him a two-page document about my product at a big trade show. I listed all of the negatives, and only half the positives, leaving out the ones you could figure yourself.

Wasn’t that risky? Well, it worked. That way when he asks his engineers about the idea, he already knows about the drawbacks and shuts them down. Then he’s figured out some of the benefits I left out, so now they’re his ideas. Do you think anybody on his staff is going to object?

What’s a time when it didn’t work out? Six Flags once asked me to come up with a ride. I came up with something somewhat like a racetrack-based underground roller coaster. They loved the idea and we were ready to go to Bristol International Speedway so all the key

FAVORITE MOVIE? “Dr. Zhivago” MOST IMPOSSIBLE INVENTION I WISH I COULD CREATE: An automobile-sized battery that could power your home for one year.

A painting of perhaps Jerry Barber’s bestknown patented creation, the ride Free Fall. executives could get a sense of how it would feel. That meant modifying a car and even scheduling an ambulance. But then a wooden fun house at a New Jersey Six Flags caught fire and burned up some teenagers and there were serious threats of criminal charges against the executives. The minute that hit, everything stopped. It never got revived after that. It shows you how something unexpected can kill your idea.

BEST THINKING SPOT: In bed late at night and in the very early hours of the morning. FAMILY: Wife, Tammy. Children are Todd, Dustan, Jason, Ashley, Kate and Lee. EDUCATION: Ohio State University, B.S. physics, chemistry and comprehensive science; graduate studies at Bowling Green State University, secondary school administration and guidance counseling

So you’ve made mistakes in that department?

What important lessons have you learned from making mistakes? One thing I’ve noticed about companies is that, yeah, the product, quality and service make some difference, but the real difference between a really good company and one that’s not so good always boils down to the ability of the owner to find, get and keep good people. That is above everything else.

Oh, of course. Listen, this is how I’ve learned. Push the envelope, make mistakes and move on. I never give up.

Why not? Have you always been that way? I don’t know. If it’s fun, I want to do it. If it’s not fun, I don’t want to get involved. And when I get involved in something, it’s no different than playing sports. You want to win, and you don’t win by giving up halfway through.

Some of the 54 patents Jerry Barber has received hang on the wall of his Greenville home (far left photo). From left, Dick Chance, Guy Levit and Jerry Barber take a few minutes to talk at a gas station on Pelham Road. Chance and Levit, both old friends of Barber, were taking part in the Gumball 3000 Road Rally, a 3,000-mile road rally from Miami to Ibiza, Spain, for the benefit of the Gumball 3000 Foundation.

Photos by Greg Beckner

June 13, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ LAW

EUREKA! As inventors abound in the Upstate, the region becomes a hotbed for intellectual property By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer joladipo@communityjournals.com

Judging by the thousands of patent applications originating from Upstate cities, there are more bright ideas floating around us than we’ll ever know. As such, the details of patent law can be an important if sometimes invisible part of the local economy. The region’s intellectual property (IP) comes from lone inventors, small teams, universities and large companies such as Milliken, whose claim to 2,200 U.S. patents and more than 5,000 worldwide patents is part of its standard marketing message. That does not include companies such as GE, whose locally produced IP is credited to headquarters cities in other states. And there’s more to come. For instance, ZF Transmissions last year announced an expansion that is expected to bring 400 more employees to its Gray Court facility by 2016. Patent lawyer Stephen Bondura of Dority and

>> A wall at Milliken headquarters honors the many patents the company has been awarded.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

Manning IP law firm said ZF is the kind of company whose huge patent portfolio will have a marked effect on the amount of IP generated here. “As more and more technical companies move into this area, the Upstate is becoming a hotbed for engineering and development, and they’re going to continue to do so,” Bondura said.

LAW CHANGES

They and all would-be inventors have been affected by parts of the 2011 America Invents Act (AIA) that took effect this past March. That is when the U.S. began granting patents to the first person to file the application instead of the first person to come up with the idea. The change puts the U.S. system more in line with the rest of the world, but not without controversy. Jerry Barber, who holds patents for 54 inventions he has been creating >>

UBJ LAW POP QUIZ –

Who was the only U.S. president ever to have an invention patented? Check upstatebusinessjournal.com for the answer. >> since the 1970s, is one of the many who feel the rule potentially favors large corporations. “I don’t like that. It used to be I could come up with a good idea, and talk about it before I began the patent process,” he said. However, Bondura said the change adds some clarity to the process. It also preserved some advantages for individuals and smaller organizations, such as a one-year grace period before an inventor has to go public, something unique among the world’s countries. Even so, Bondura says other changes added a different type of uncertainty about how they will affect the process. For instance, patents can now be challenged after they have been granted. “So people are waiting to see how many companies are going to take advantage of that,” Bondura said. “Is it going to help? Is going to work?” A COMPLEX TOOL Even without AIA changes, the business of inventions is so complex that patent lawyers can’t just be lawyers: they must have an engineering degree or background in order to even qualify to take the test to practice patent law. The level of

➤ BY THE NUMBERS THE PRICE OF A BIG IDEA

$45-$280 $30-$600 $7,000$10,000+ $50-$100+ Basic USPTO filing fees

USPTO search fees

Attorney draft and filing

Draftsman fees (per drawing)

complexity and detail required to draft the legal document demands that patent lawyers understand the invention as well as its designers. Cost and complexity are factors in why fewer than 5 percent of patented products are ever produced commercially. What’s more, Bondura said, companies often use patents as a defensive tool, known as a “picket fence.” In that case, they might develop and patent a product that competes with one they intend to sell, but never actually produce it. [For more information on the intricacies of patent law, see “Another Bad Day for Patent Trolls” on page 13.]

CONTINUED INVENTING Even if companies might use patents to hinder competition, Bondura said the spirit of the law is to foster innovation – and it works very well. The technical detail of patent applications is to ensure that others can understand the idea and build upon it. In exchange for opening their secrets to the world, inventors get a period of 14 or 20 years, depending on the type of product, to enjoy exclusive commercial benefits. There’s no sign that the pace of invention will slow any time soon. Dority and Manning opened up nearly 1,700 U.S. patent applications in 2013. “The Internet has dramatically changed the ability for an inventor to gather information and learn what’s out there,” said Barber. He said he could never have created the wind turbine design he is currently working with without being able to find information from aviation and other industries on the Web. Prototyping with 3-D printing technology has also made a remarkable difference. Despite legal challenges and changes, Barber said the climate for individual inventors only keeps getting better.

COMBINED CYCLE POWER PLANT INCLUDING A CARBON DIOXIDE COLLECTION SYSTEM

PATENT NO. US 2012/0096870 A1 INVENTORS: Lisa Anne Wichmann (Simpsonville, S.C.), Samuel David Draper (Simpsonville, S.C.), Gilbert Otto Kraemer (Greer, S.C.), Alan Meier Truesdale (Greenville, S.C.), James Anthony West (Simpsonville, S.C.)

ENERGY ABSORBING COUPLER

PATENT NO. US 2012/0199545 A1 INVENTOR: Jason D. Peckham, Greenville, S.C.

GOT A GREAT IDEA? You might not be the only one, but there are plenty of tools to help you work it out and find out whether it really is unique. If your own search doesn’t turn up an idea like yours, it might be worth contacting a patent attorney to examine your options further.

BRAINSTORM 3-D DRAWING: sketchup.com INVENTOR’S NOTEBOOK: bookfactory.com/ inventors-notebooks/inventors-notebook.php CHECK PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE: uspto.gov GOOGLE PATENTS: google.com/patents PATENTDOCS: faqs.org/patents GET HELP LAWYER SEARCH: bit.ly/lawyersdotcom PATENT LAW VIDEOS: uspto.gov/patents/resources

June 13, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ THE FINE PRINT Palmetto Bank Recognized for Small Biz Lending Efforts The Palmetto Bank was recently recognized for its small business lending with two awards from the Business Development Corporation (BDC) and Certified Development Corporation (CDC) at their 2014 annual meeting. The bank received the South Caro-

lina Capital Access Program (SC CAP) Top Participating Lender Award and the South Carolina State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) CAP Top Participating Lender Award. It is the largest SSBCI lender in South Carolina and the 14th largest user of SSBCI nationally.

Solid Gold Pet Relocates HQ to Greenville Solid Gold Pet LLC, maker of all-natural pet food, recently relocated its corporate headquarters from San Diego, Calif., to the Innovate building in downtown Greenville. “With its convenient location, diverse community, professional work force and resources, and managed economic growth, Green-

ville was a natural site to relocate our corporate headquarters,” said Solid Gold principal and CEO Michelle Higdon in a news release. The company plans to roll out a new branding campaign and product line, and hire additional management, sales and support staff later this year.

CORRECTION: A Fine Print item in the May 30 UBJ about the second College All Star Bowl included some incorrect figures. Three of the players were drafted by the NFL, and a total of 68 of the approximately 100 alumni are on NFL rosters and in NFL camps. We apologize for our error.

“As a local community bank, fostering economic development and job creation right here in South Carolina is a top priority,” said Samuel Erwin, president and CEO of The Palmetto Bank, in a news

release. “We are appreciative of the recognition from BDC for our small business lending efforts and are pleased that our efforts continue to make a difference in the communities we serve.”

Carolina Country Club Announces New Ownership and Management The Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg recently announced that it is now under new ownership and will be managed by Davis Love Golf Management (DLGM). DLGM was created in 2008 and is headquartered in Greenville. The company provides facility management, including operational, financial, accounting and administrative services, for clubs throughout the Southeast. “We are delighted to add The Carolina Country Club to our portfolio of courses,” said Mark Love, founder of Davis Love Golf Management, in a news release. “We are especially excited at the prospect of providing new ideas, as well as making facility and operational improvements at the club.”

The new owners have plans to make upgrades throughout the property and have started on several improvement projects. The upgrades include physical improvements and repairs to the facility as well as improved golf conditions.

950 AM/1330 AM/ 97.1 FM/ WFBC-HD3

www.ESPNupstate.com 20

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

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UBJ THE FINE PRINT McMillan Pazdan Smith Receives AIA Awards McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture has received two Honor Awards presented by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) South Carolina. Lee Hall at Clemson University is a 55,000-square-foot addition that was conceived to accommodate the expanding needs of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities. Designed in association with Thomas Phifer and Partners, Lee Hall was awarded a National AIA Honor Award in 2013. Honored in the Unbuilt Category, the Sassafrass Mountain Im-

provement Project is an educational facility and observation tower that includes the design of a trail network that connects all structures. The conceptual project is aimed at preserving the tallest point in South Carolina.

Esys Automation Sets Up at CU-ICAR A Michigan company is expanding its North American operations to the Southeast by establishing an office at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Esys Automation provides automation for manufacturers, specializing in vehicle final assembly applications in body assembly, paint, sub-assembly, trim, chassis and final line applications. Esys

joins more than 17 industry partners at CU-ICAR’s Center for Emerging Technologies as the first automation service provider. “We are very excited to join the CU-ICAR partnership,” said Dave Valentine, president of Esys Automation. “CU-ICAR has created a very powerful and innovative way for OEMs, suppliers, research and education to collaborate in mutually beneficial ways.”

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Sandlapper Acquires Georgia Firm Sandlapper Wealth Management LLC recently acquired Colony Park Financial Services LLC of Dunwoody, Ga., for an undisclosed amount. Colony Park formed as a FINRA member Broker Dealer in 1996 and a registered investment advisor in 2004. The firm has 16 advisory and brokerage representatives and operates six offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Chicago. Sandlapper Securities will integrate all registered representatives of Colony Park over the next few weeks, but the advisory business will remain under the Colony Park banner.

“The talent that these individuals bring to our team will allow us to continue to grow the assets and capabilities within our group of companies,” said Trevor Gordon, Sandlapper Wealth Management founder and CEO, in a release. As part of the acquisition, Colony Park senior management members Bjorn Jordan and Mark Reinstein will take on leadership roles within the Sandlapper companies.

Faurecia to Close Spartanburg Plant Faurecia, manufacturer of exhaust systems for BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen plants across North America, recently announced that it will close its Spartanburg plant. “Essentially what we are doing is restructuring our manufacturing resources,” said Tony Sapienza, spokesman for Faurecia. He said the company will try to relocate as many of the 150 employees impacted by the closure as

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possible. The company is also going to work with state and local officials to help the remaining employees find other jobs. According to Sapienza, production ends for the Spartanburg plant in November with the official closure in December. The Spartanburg location was opened in 2010. Faurecia intends to keep its plant in Fountain Inn open.

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June 13, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ SQUARE FEET

GE Breaks Ground on $400M Facility in Greenville SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com GE Advanced Manufacturing broke ground this week on a new 125,000-square-foot building located on the current 413-acre GE Power & Water campus on Garlington Road in Greenville. The new $400 million state-ofthe-art Power & Water Advanced Manufacturing Facility will create 80 new jobs. Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Tim Scott and Greenville County Council Chairman Bob Taylor, along with GE Power & Water President and CEO Steve Bolze, attended the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday.

The new facility will feature an open office space designed for “collaborative employee interactions” and serve as an incubator for innovative advanced manufacturing process development and rapid prototyping. It will also have dedicated factory floor space for a variety of advanced manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing and robotics. “The Advanced Manufacturing Facility represents another major GE investment in expanding our power and water technologies and our ongoing investment in South Carolina, which began in 1968,” said Bolze. “The facility will serve as a cornerstone for generating prototypes of new components that will enable GE to launch new products and technologies that

drive technical innovation to compete in high-growth markets. The advanced manufacturing techniques that are developed in South Carolina will increase product speed to market, benefiting our global customer base. GE’s innovation will power the world.” GE began its Greenville County operations in 1968 with the creation of a 340,000-square-foot manufacturing site. Today, GE has more than 3,000 employees in Greenville, and in the past five years alone has invested more than $500 million to bolster critical manufacturing activities housed in the Greenville County Power & Water campus. It is home to GE Power & Water’s Power Generation Products Engineering, Renewables Engineering and Chief

Engineer’s Office, and has grown to more than 1 million square feet of factory and offices creating products that serve GE customers worldwide. “GE’s decision to locate this stateof-the-art advanced manufacturing center here is a direct result of having national-caliber talent available for growth, an attractive and pro-business community, and the commitment of state and local officials who embrace their vision,” said Taylor. “We celebrate their brilliant decision to grow and prosper here in Greenville County.” GE has already started staffing up and will operate as a virtual facility until the building is ready, said a company spokesperson. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2015.

McMillan Pazdan Smith Moving to Former Bakery Claussen building to get $6.3 million makeover SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF | sjackson@communityjournals.com

Architectural firm McMillan Pazdan Smith will be moving its Greenville office to the former Claussen Bakery property at 400 Augusta St. The firm will occupy 16,000 square feet – almost the entire top floor. An additional 3,000 square feet on that floor will be available for another tenant. The 40,000-square-foot building and property is Rendering provided by McMillan Pazdan Smith

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

UBJ SQUARE FEET

Kohl’s Will Anchor Piedmont Market Place improvements, we halted the project until Kohl’s was ready to open.” The Kohl’s store has been under construction since early March 2014 and is scheduled to open this fall. An additional 43,586 square feet of co-anchor and shop space will be completed in a second phase. Navarro said he is “currently in negotiations with other prime national and regional retailers to anchor Phase II.” Several small-shop-space lease opportunities will also be available. Spaces will range from 2,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. Rents will be in the mid-teens for larger spaces, and mid $20s for smaller spaces said Navarro. Construction on phase two is ex-

SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com Along Wade Hampton Boulevard, a new 131,000-square-foot shopping center is taking shape at the former K-Mart plaza. The Piedmont Marketplace shopping center’s main tenant will be a 66,000-square-foot Kohl’s department store. Also located in the shopping center at 1320 Wade Hampton Blvd. will be a 21,500-square-foot Tractor Supply Company. Developer Marty Navarro of Navarro Real Estate says that phase one began in 2010 and “after demolition and redevelopment of all site work improvements and completion of Tractor Supply relocation and

PIEDMONT MARKETPLACE

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FATZ

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undergoing a $6.3 million makeover into a mixed-use redevelopment containing retail and services-related businesses. “Upon our inception, Brad Smith and I made an effort to locate in areas that we felt would be most impactful,” said Joe Pazdan II, managing principal. “Though not in the central business district, we felt that Augusta Road, and in particular the West End, provided ample opportunity for MPS to impact the area in a very positive way.” The building itself is unique due to

its irregular floor plates and the second floor’s high volume of space, Pazdan said. Renovation plans call for sandblasting the building’s interior painted brick walls and structure to their original color and replacing all operable windows. Nineteen-foot-high ceilings with exposed trusses will provide an “open work environment with ample natural light,” creating “a space totally unique to Greenville,” he said. “Our desire will be to couple the historic nature of the existing structure

pected to begin late 2014 with delivery to tenants in summer 2015. “We feel that Greer has strong demographics that match up well with the Kohl’s customer,” said Navarro. “We expect Piedmont Marketplace to be the dominant retail center in the market. We are blessed with a great location in Greer, near the intersection of Wade Hampton Boulevard and South Buncombe Road, adjacent to Lowes, Home Depot, Target and BI-LO. Kohl’s is a great retailer and a tremendous anchor tenant.” with elements of contemporary architectural features, thus complementing our firm’s philosophy for design.” The new space will offer additional conference rooms and meeting space for client interaction as well as an additional 5,000 square feet of office space. MPS currently employs 63 people in its Greenville office. Downstairs will provide roughly 16,000 square feet of space that will open onto Augusta Street. The property will also feature an outdoor terrace and bike racks – both indoor

June 13, 2014

PROJECT PARTNERS OWNERSHIP: Greer Piedmont LLC DEVELOPERS: Navarro Real Estate (Greenville, S.C.) and Passco Development Companies (Irvine, Calif.) PROJECT ENGINEER: Site Design Inc. LEASING: Navarro Real Estate PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: Joyner Hover Property Management GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR OWNER: Harper Corporation GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR KOHL’S: Savannah, MO based Crane Construction PROJECT ARCHITECT: Greenville based Johnston Design Group

and outdoor – along with shower facilities, common restrooms, plenty of parking and a dog run. Pazdan said the firm’s main goal “for this transition is twofold: First, to assist in the renaissance of the Haynie-Sirrine/Augusta Road area, and second, to create a work environment that speaks to our firm’s philosophy of ‘Good Design,’ thus creating a work environment that is both practical and functional.” The firm is planning a late-December move-in.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

New hires, promotions & award winners can be featured in On The Move. Send information & photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

UBJ ON THE MOVE HIRED

HIRED

PROMOTED

SELECTED

Corporate and Business Law Practice Group.

LOGISTICS: UCW Logistics has hired Julianna Williamson and Kristen Nichols as solutions analysts. Williamson has experience in sales and customer service. Nichols has a background and education in logistics.

Bill Roughton

Hannah Barfield

David Sawyer

Steve Farrar

REAL ESTATE:

Joined the Greer Relief team as the business director. Roughton has served on the Greer Relief board of directors and has over 40 years of experience in banking. He was also the 2013 chairman of the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce and still serves on their board of directors.

Joined Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing as the newest health care recruiter. Barfield began her career as a therapist in a community mental health center. She has been published in The Journal of Career Counseling, The Family Journal and Counseling Theory.

Named executive vice president of Cliffs Club Partners. Sawyer most recently served as the organization’s COO. He joined The Cliffs in 2007 as the general manager of the Cliffs Valley and has been a regional manager and vice president of The Cliffs Club and Hospitality Group.

Selected as a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), which recognizes the country’s top trial attorneys. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation only. Farrar is a partner at Smith Moore Leatherwood.

Colliers International recently announced the addition of Nick Reinhardt as a brokerage associate. Reinhardt is a graduate of Furman University with a B.A. in communications studies. He previously worked for ScanSource Inc.

TECHNOLOGY: CONSTRUCTION/ENGINEERING: KTM Solutions Inc. recently announced that James “TJ” Theodore completed a fouryear mechanical design apprenticeship program. Theodore received his certificate of completion from the United States Department of Labor certifying he successfully completed all requirements.

EDUCATION: The Graduate School Alliance for Education of Coaches (GSAEC) recently announced that Gene M. Gallivan was elected vice president. Gallivan is founder of Leadership Center East, a leadership coaching and organizational development firm. He is also a partner with Atlanta-based consulting firm Exceleration Partners.

LEGAL: Collins & Lacy P.C. recently announced that Chet Chea has joined the 2014 board of directors for the YMCA of Greenville Metropolitan. Chea is the head of the Collins & Lacy

EDTS recently announced the addition of Matt Schubeck as a network engineer and Tina Biddle as billing assistant. Schubeck joins EDTS with over two decades of experience in information technology support, compliance, security and virtualization primarily in the governmental and healthcare arenas. He joins EDTS from Unified Network Group and holds Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Certified Novell Administrator (CAN), MCSA, Network+ and A+ certifications, among others. Biddle adds nearly five years of professional experience in office administration and customer service to the EDTS team.

THE BEACH COMPANY’S mixed-use project at the corner of Stone and Main, which will include 226 apartments and 21,175 square feet of retail space, is on track to break ground in the fourth quarter of 2014.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

UBJ SQUARE FEET

New UCB Location Will Be ‘Gateway to Community’

SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com United Community Bank began construction this week on its soon-tobe new location at the corner of Augusta Street and Grove Road. The 4,500-square-foot new facility will feature community gathering-spaces inside and out, with two lanes of drive-through teller service and a driveup ATM. The exterior will include a pocket park with seating areas and a water feature designed to fit with the city of Greenville’s Downtown Streetscape Master Plan.

Inside, the bank’s main lobby will include a vaulted ceiling with a clerestory lobby feature, fireplace with comfortable seating and meeting space that will be available to local organizations for community functions. “We believe this location is the ideal gateway to the Augusta Road community and Greenville Health System and allows us to partner with the community in unique ways,” said Michelle Seaver, president of United Community Bank for Greenville County. “We have exciting plans in store for this location, and we look

UBJ NEW TO THE STREET

Greenville Medical Center recently opened and held a ribbon-cutting at 50-C Parkins Mill Road in Greenville. The medical center offers a $20 walk-in clinic where patients are seen and treated by a professional family nurse practitioner with a Master of Science in nursing. The clinic requires no appointment or insurance. The walk-in hours are Thursday-Friday 6-9 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit greenvillemedicalclinic.com or call 864-987-9919.

forward to sharing our beautiful space with our new neighbors.” The building is designed “in the Arts & Crafts style of architecture, with exterior materials and proportions that match the surrounding neighborhood architecture,” said Benjamin T. Rook, chairman and CEO of Design Strategies LLC. “United Community Bank wanted to create a unique, inviting space that complements and enhances the beauty of the neighbor-

hood.” United Community Bank operates 102 offices in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The bank opened an interim office at 1950 Augusta St. in April and will continue to serve its customers from that location while the new building is under construction. The bank also has a location at 40 W. Broad St. in Greenville that houses executive offices. Construction is expected to be completed December 2014.

PROJECT PARTNERS GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Creative Builders Inc. ARCHITECT: Design Strategies LLC

Renderings provided by Design Strategies LLC

June 13, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

GOT A HOT DATE?

UBJ PLANNER FRIDAY JUNE 13 NORTH GREENVILLE ROTARY CLUB The Poinsett Club, 807 E. Washington St., Greenville; 12:30-1:30 p.m. COST: Free to attend but invitation required, lunch $16 CONTACT: Shanda Jeffries at 864228-2122 or sjeffries1@ allstate.com

MONDAY JUNE 16 GCS ROUNDTABLE The Office Center at the Point, 33 Market Point Drive, Greenville; 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Contribute to our Planner by submitting event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com

Grill, 774 Spartan Blvd., Spartanburg; 5:30-7 p.m. COST: Free for Spartanburg Chamber members to attend

TUESDAY JUNE 17 HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS NETWORK Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 7:30-9 a.m.

REQUEST AN INVITATION: Call Golden Career Strategies at 864527-0425

CONTACT: Lorraine Woodward at 864-239-3742

SBDC WORKSHOP Greenville SBDC, 1 N. Main St., Greenville; 9-11 a.m.

CONTACT: Julie Alexander at 864-239-3754

GOLDEN STRIP TOASTMASTERS

TOPIC: Messaging Your Brand

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 739 N Main St., Mauldin; 7-8 p.m.

COST: $39 per person, but pre-registration is required

UPSTATE PROFESSIONAL PLANNERS GROUP

COST: Free for guests

Pelham Medical Center, 250 Westmoreland Road, Greer; 9-11 a.m. TOPIC: Proposed Upstate Food Hub

RailHouse Steak & Seafood Restaurant, 1003 N. Old Laurens Rd., Fountain Inn; 5:307 p.m.

CONTACT: Kirbie Crowe at kcrowe@tenatthetop. org or 864-283-2313

CityRange Steakhouse

COST: Free to attend. Open only to Greenville Chamber members.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Larkin’s Sawmill, 22 Graves Drive, Greenville; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

COST: Free to Greer chamber members

SPEAKERS: Chris Manley and Catherine Ryan, ENGENIUS team members

SPEAKER: Scott Park

CONTACT: Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce at 864-862-2586

HASHBROWNS

CONTACT: Jeff Alfonso at Palmetto Exterminators, jeff@alfonsointerpreting.com 171 Tandem Drive, Greer; 8-9 a.m. BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

CONTACT: 864-594-5000

SPEAKER: Rich Witowski TOPIC: Finessing the Interview

toastmastersclubs.org

TOASTMASTERS BILINGUE University Center, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Auditorium Room 204, Greenville; noon-1 p.m. FOR INFORMATION: tmbilingue.

FOR INFORMATION: goldenstriptoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org CONTACT: Prasad Patchipulusu at pprasa1@hotmail.com UPSTATE PC USERS GROUP Five Forks Baptist Church, 112 Batesville Road, Simpsonville; 7:30-9:30 p.m. FOR INFORMATION: ucpcug.org

WEDNESDAY JUNE 18 HANDSHAKES AND

greenvillechamber.org or 864-239-3728 REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org BNI CHAPTER, GREATER GREENVILLE City Range, 615 Haywood Rd., Greenville; noon-1:30 p.m. COST: $15 for lunch CONTACT: Hardy Auston at 864-313-9942 or hdaustonmoving@aol.com TECH AFTER FIVE – GREENVILLE Carolina Ale House, 113 S. Main St., Greenville; 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free to GSA Technology Council members.

CONTACT: visit scsbdc. com, call 864-9771776 or email contact@ engeniusweb.com

BNI

THURSDAY JUNE 19

SALES ROUNDTABLE

Southern Fried Green Tomatoes, 1175 Woods Crossing Rd., #8, Greenville; 8:15-9:45 a.m.

Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

CONTACT: Shanda Jeffries at 864-2282122 or sjeffries1@ allstate.com for invitation

SPEAKER: Lindsey Stemann, vice president of Intero Advisory

SBDC WORKSHOP

COST: $10 per person, includes parking vouchers, packet of materials, speaker fees, and light refreshments (coffee and water) REGISTER AT: clemson. edu/sbdc CONTACT: Leslie Armstrong at clemsonsbdc@clemson. edu or 864-370-1545 BIZTALKS LUNCH SERIES Holly Tree Country Club, 500 Golf Club Dr., Simpsonville; noon-1 p.m. SPEAKER: Brenda Verdone, president of the Greater Greenville Greeter COST: $20 per person REGISTER AT: simpsonvillechamber.com CONTACT: Jennifer Richardson at jrichardson@ simpsonvillechamber.com BUSINESS AFTER HOURS The Gun Shop & Indoor Range, 622 NE Main St., Simpsonville; 5:30-7:30 p.m. COST: Free to attend, $20 to shoot

TOPIC: “LinkedIn: It’s Not Social, It’s Business”

Greenville SBDC, 1 North Main St., Greenville; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

CONTACT: Jennifer Richardson at jrichardson@ simpsonvillechamber.com

CONTACT: Tripp James at tjames@

TOPIC: Small Business Tax Workshop

JOIN THE 20 COMPANIES SHARING WORK AND EVENT SPACE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE www.JOINOPENWORKS.com 26

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 13, 2014

UBJ SNAPSHOT

Historic photograph available from the Greenville Historical Society. From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,” by Jeffrey R. Willis A purveyor of men’s furnishings, Smith and Bristow opened in 1891 at the northwest corner of Main and W. Washington streets on the future site of Woolworth’s store. Alonzo A. Bristow, a co-owner along with Jesse R. Smith, was one of Greenville’s leading merchants. After the Greenville Board of Trade closed during the panic of 1893, Bristow was instrumental in reviving this businessmen’s organization in 1901. He served as president of the board along with the vice president, Alester G Furman. In 1912 the Board of Trade affiliated itself with the new statewide chamber of commerce network. Both Bristow and Smith were also involved in the construction of the Ottaray Hotel.

Photo Provided

GREG BECKNER / STAFF

MARKETING & EVENTS Kate Banner

DIGITAL STRATEGIST PRESIDENT/CEO Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com

UBJ PUBLISHER

Emily Price

ART & PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR Kristy M. Adair

Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com

OPERATIONS Holly Hardin

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Michael Allen, Whitney Fincannon

Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com

MANAGING EDITOR

ADVERTISING DESIGN CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley, Jane Rogers

Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER

ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com

Jennifer Oladipo

STAFF WRITERS

Sherry Jackson, Cindy Landrum, April A. Morris, Joe Toppe

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jeanne Putnam

PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Beckner MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Kristi Jennings, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Lindsay Oehman, Pam Putman

STORY IDEAS: EVENTS: events@upstatebusinessjournal.com

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA TWITTER: Follow us @UpstateBiz

FACEBOOK: TheUpstateBusinessJournal

LINKEDIN: Upstate Business Journal Copyright @2014 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. P.O. Box 2266, Greenville, South Carolina, 29602. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $50. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, P.O. Box 2266, Greenville, SC 29602. Printed in the USA

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

1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993

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

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AWARDS:

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

Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years

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 Executive Editor Susan Clary Simmons at ssimmons@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration.

Greenville’s newest Main Street development, ONE, now occupies the former home of Smith and Bristow. The site will be remembered as the location of Woolworth’s store and the Civil Rights sit-ins and marches that took place there. The statue of Sterling High School students commemorates the significance of the school and the intersection to the Civil Rights movement. Brooks Brothers opened at Sterling Square in 2013, outfitting 21st-century Greenville men just as Smith and Bristow did in the 19th century.

By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CoMMUnitY inVolVeMent & boarD positions lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member David Jones (Vice President Client services, Chief marketing officer): Hands on Greenville board chairman mike Zeller (Vice President, Brand marketing): Artisphere Board, Metropolitan Arts Council Board, American Red Cross Board, Greenville Tech Foundation Board, South Carolina Chamber Board eric Jackson (Jackson motorsports Group sales specialist): Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board

November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21

20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013

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June 13, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL