INSIDE // FIGHT THE SUMMER SLOWDOWN • FIREFORGE LIGHTS UP • THE EAGLE ZONE HAS LANDED
JUNE 22, 2018 | VOL. 7 ISSUE 25
DECLASSIFIED
BMW UNVEILS THE NEW AND IMPROVED SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE TO BE PRODUCED IN THE UPSTATE
THE RUNDOWN |
TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 25 Featured this issue: Meet Clemson’s Mark Johnson.....................................................................................4 Haas and sons fly like eagles..........................................................................................5 Millennials Investing.......................................................................................................16
The new BMW X5’s dashboard will feature a 12.3-inch digital display that runs the latest generation of BMW’s iDrive infotainment system. Users will be able to interact with the screen via a control knob on the center console, through the touch screen, by using a “table-like touch surface,” or by using gestures, similar to the BMW 5 and 7 series sedans. Read more on Page 10. Photo provided
WORTH REPEATING “The move will allow us to bring all of our Greenville associates together in a single location and give us the square footage needed to serve increasing client needs now and into the future.” Darrell Jackson, Page 8
“I believe that education is a national security issue.” Van. D. Hipp Jr., Page 9 2
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VERBATIM
Apple, meet Oprah. “ We don’t know anything about making television,” So what skills does Apple bring to that? And the viewpoint is: very little. There’s other things we bring. We know how to create apps, we know how to do distribution, we know how to market. But we don’t really know how to create shows.” Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue to CNNMoney in March on why the tech giant has signed Hollywood names such as Opraph Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Octavia Spencer, and Reese Witherspoon
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
LEGAL
Nelson Mullins to merge with Florida-based Broad and Cassel ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
amoore@communityjournals.com Columbia-based law firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, which has an office in Greenville, is merging with Broad and Cassel, a Florida-based law firm. The merger, which is set to take effect Aug. 1, will produce a “super-regional” law firm with a significant presence along the Eastern seaboard, according to a news release. The new firm, which will be known as Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel in Florida, will have 725 lawyers operating in 25 offices in 11 states and Washington, D.C., the release said. It is expected to have a combined revenue of more than $500 million. Jim Lehman will continue to serve as the managing partner of the combined firm, with
David Brown becoming a voting member of the firm’s executive committee. “Our goal is always to provide comprehensive solutions to our clients, and this combination will benefit clients of both firms with added capabilities, enhanced practices and a broader geographical reach,” Lehman said in a statement. Lehman said the combined firm would “have leading national practice groups in corporate and litigation in areas such as real estate, health care, pharmaceuticals, and the automobile industry.” In addition, specialty practice areas will include white collar, trusts and estates, public finance, construction, and affordable housing tax credits. Founded in 1897, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough is one of the oldest law firms in South Carolina. The firm currently employs more
Pictured from left to right: Tim Madden, Dick Riley and David Wilkins, co-founders of the Nelson Mullins office in Greenville. Will Crooks/Upstate Business Journal
than 575 lawyers in 11 offices along the Eastern seaboard. It opened its Greenville office in 1987. Broad and Cassel currently has 150 attorneys in 10 offices across the state of Florida, according to the release. It was founded in 1946. “As Florida has grown over the past several decades to become the third largest state in the country, Broad and Cassel has grown with it to serve our clients,” said Chairman C. David Brown II in a statement. “Many of our clients seek regional and national legal counsel outside Florida so this combination with Nelson Mullins positions us to offer them expanded services geographically and through additional practice areas. By joining together with Nelson Mullins – a firm that shares our culture, values, and vision – we will be able to address client needs into the future,” he added. 6.22.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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NEWS |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
Mark Johnson. Photo provided by Clemson University.
EDUCATION
Clemson’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing names founding director
ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
amoore@communityjournals.com A former government official with more than a decade of research experience will lead Clemson University’s effort to become a statewide hub for advanced manufacturing. The university has named Mark Johnson as the founding director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and the Thomas F. Hash ’69 SmartState Endowed Chair in Sustainable Development. Johnson previously served as associate professor of materials science and engineering at North Carolina State University. “With Johnson, Clemson is gaining a leader with experience, talent, and vision,” said Robert Jones, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Clemson, in a statement. “We are confident that he is the best person to lead us into the future as we build the programs that will take advanced manufacturing to the next level not only in the state but around the world.” Clemson announced the creation of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing last December. The center is envisioned as a “one-stop shop” for the university’s research and education programs in advanced manufacturing, according to Johnson. Among the goals of the center is to help develop new technology that will give manufacturers a competitive edge, making them more profitable, while helping create more manufacturing jobs, he said. “We are going to make sure all the resources of Clemson are available to the manufacturing community.” 4
UBJ | 6.22.2018
Johnson and other university officials are working with industry leaders to develop the center’s programs, including the Vehicle Assembly Center in Greenville.
“ There will be individual jobs that will be replaced by robots, but we’ll have a lot more jobs as a result” Mark Johnson
The 4,000-square-foot research and development space, which is part of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research and located at Greenville Technical College’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation, will enable faculty, students, and local companies to collaborate in learning and developing advanced manufacturing techniques and technologies, including robotics. “There will be individual jobs that will be replaced by robots, but we’ll have a lot more jobs as a result,” Johnson said. “It’s not just people building the robots. We’ll have jobs you haven’t even thought of yet. When the steam engine replaced the water wheel and the horse cart, yes, some people who were tending the horses lost their jobs. They could have never envisioned people running CNC mills, but that’s a direct outcome of technological advancement.”
Johnson added that he plans to use his experience as a former government official, entrepreneur, and university professor to act as a conduit that connects manufacturers, faculty, students, and other resources. As director of the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Johnson oversaw a program aimed at making the United States more competitive through the support of research and development of new technologies, according to a news release. During his tenure with the AMO, Johnson managed more than $250 million annually, supporting universities, national laboratories, companies, and nonprofits. Prior to that, Johnson had the longest-serving tenure as director in the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, where he managed more than $150 million in research projects from 2010 to mid-2013. He joined North Carolina State University in November 2017. Johnson, who has a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, has also been an entrepreneur in the startup phase of three semiconductor companies that ultimately had successful exits at QED, EPI Systems and Nitronex. Johnson’s primary role at Clemson will be to serve as the Thomas F. Hash ’69 SmartState Endowed Chair in Sustainable Development. Hash created the endowment in 2010, two years after he retired from Bechtel Corp. as a senior executive.
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
SPORTS
PGA golfer Jay Haas, sons, and other investors buy Eagle Zone
Jay Haas and Jay Haas Jr. are among a group that has purchased the Eagle Zone on Pelham Road. Photo by Will Crooks / Upstate Business Journal
CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF
clandrum@communityjournals.com PGA golfer Jay Haas, his two sons and other investors have purchased the Eagle Zone driving range at 8000 Pelham Road, Greenville, and have plans to turn it into a golf training center unlike most others in the Southeast. “I think we will be recognized on a national scale at some time in the future,” Haas said. The investor group includes, among others, Haas’ older son, Jay Jr., who teaches at the Greenville Country Club; his younger son, Bill, who competes on the PGA Tour; and his brother-in-law, Dillard Pruitt, who played on the PGA Tour and is now a PGA Tour rules official. The group also includes John Gerring, who manages Eagle Zone and has more than 50 years’ experience as a head golf professional at a variety of noted country clubs, such as Holly Tree Country Club in Simpsonville, Atlanta Country Club, and Bloomfield Hills Country Club in Michigan. Haas said plans call for using the group’s connections to bring in some of the country’s most experienced and notable golf coaches to conduct clinics along with himself and his sons. In addition, Jay Jr. will offer one-on-one instruction along with the facility’s six current instructors, including Jamie Michala.
“We want people to be able to come here and learn the game from some of the best teachers,” Haas said. “I foresee bringing in nationally-known instructors to do one- and two-day clinics. I don’t think many places in the area can claim anything like that. That’s something that will separate this facility from many others.” In addition, plans call a short-game facility, short-game clinics, and instruction that includes electronic devices that can show spin rate, launch angle, club angle, distance, ball speed. He said he, Bill Haas, and Jay Haas Jr. use Trackman devices that register that data but they are specific to one golfer. He’d like to be able to offer that to all golfers who use the facility. “We have great plans, dreams for what this facility can be going forward and, hopefully, we’ll realize them sooner than later,” Haas said. Haas said he’s always been intrigued by driving ranges, which are the place most golfers develop their love for the game and first learn how to hit golf balls. Haas said he often took Jay Jr. and Bill to Eagle Zone, known then as Pelham Tees, when they were growing up. “You can go and grab a bucket of balls and have no consequences at all, just hit, loosen up and try to learn something,” he said. Haas said the facility would focus on providing proper instruction to junior players so they can
develop and to established golfers who want to improve their game. Haas and the investor group recently closed the sale of the 24-acre facility for an undisclosed sum. They are planning to rebrand the facility with a new name in the coming months. Immediate plans include new mats, new balls, and enhanced lighting, as well as retaining the instructors, club fitting, club repair, and retail business. Renovations of the building could include displaying a variety of golf memorabilia that he and his sons have collected over the years, including Ryder Cup and President’s Cup gear. Haas said he knows that TopGolf, which is building a 55,000-square-foot facility near the intersection of Pelham and Garlington roads, is coming to Greenville, but said he believes comparing the two are “apples and oranges.” “TopGolf is more on the entertainment side where we have more of the instructor side,” he said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to work with the players who are introduced to golf by TopGolf.” Haas said Eagle Zone has the bones of a great facility. “There’s nothing but upside here,” he said.
6.22.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
ARIEL TURNER | STAFF aturner@communityjournals.com |
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River Street Sweets Savannah’s Candy Kitchen is headed to Main Street The former YAP restaurant space at 12 S. Main St. in downtown Greenville has a new tenant after the Ottaray Seafood & Raw Bar concept announced for the location in November 2017 didn’t pan out. Instead, the first Upstate franchise of Savannah, Georgia-based River Street Sweets - Savannah’s Candy Kitchen has signed on for the location next to Cantinflas. RealServ broker Philip Whisnant represented the landlord in the transaction, and Robbie Romeiser with Spencer/Hines Properties represented the tenant. River Street Sweets originated in Savannah and is known for its pecan pralines, gelato, ice cream, chocolate treats, and old-fashioned candies. In 2014, River Street Sweets began to franchise under the merged brand name River Street Sweets - Savannah’s Candy Kitchen. In addition to the River Street, Habersham, and City Market locations in Savannah, the sweets shop now has 12 more stores in Charleston; Myrtle Beach; Atlanta; Nashville, Tennessee; and Maryland, with more on the way. Longtime Greenville resident Lisa Warriner, the Greenville franchisee, says that after visiting the original Savannah location, she fell in love with it and wanted to bring it to Greenville. She’s never owned a franchise, but she plans to be the owner/operator when the shop opens in the fall. The location with foot traffic trending north up Main Street out of Falls Park on the Reedy was ideal, Warriner says. “Really wanted to be on Main Street in a high-visibility area,” she says. River Street Sweets - Savannah’s Candy Kitchen joins other candy UBJ | 6.22.2018
stores such as Kilwin’s, Mast General Store, and Le Petit Croissant on Main Street, but none are located within the same block. Because the City of Greenville Design Review Board Urban Panel does not meet in July, no work can begin on the exterior of the building until after the plans are approved by the panel when it meets Aug. 2. Warriner says plans for the building include getting back to the original beauty and removing the current façade that blocks a lot of natural light. “It has a cavelike feel right now. It feels dark,” Warriner says. The former potential tenant, Ottaray Seafood & Raw Bar, was going to occupy both floors of the building, with the second story designated as an event space, but the sweets shop will occupy only the ground level. Part of the exterior renovation will include an entrance to the second floor, which is still available for lease. Warriner says the interior will be built out based on the “already successful specifications” of the other locations. The original brick walls will be restored, and elegant wooden cabinetry will be installed. An open kitchen will be inside the front window, where customers and those walking along Main Street will be able to see the candymakers work and interact with them. “People love going in these stores,” Warriner says. “They love the nostalgia.” Warriner says she plans to hire 13 to 15 employees, including the candymakers and management, who will train in Savannah. Planned hours of operation will be 10 or 11 a.m. until 10 or 11 p.m. to capture the after-dinner crowd.
REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
| SQUARE FEET
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop to open in Augusta Commons The 11th location of Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, will open this summer in the Augusta Commons shopping center at 2222 Augusta St., Suite 9, Greenville. Suzanne Keim and Michelle Hay became franchise owners this year and are scheduled to open the Greenville location this summer. This will be the first South Carolina location of the brand, which will have 16 total when all of the stores in progress open. Founded in November 2013 by Meredith and Scott Layton, the pie shop was inspired by their maternal grandmothers. The menu features the fruit pies from Scott’s Granny and the cream pies and pecan pie from Mere-
dith’s Nanny. The menu also includes mini 4-inch pies, which were recently available as a preview during the Summer on Augusta June 15 Grillin’ and Chillin’ block party. Validation of the brand came in 2015 when the Laytons won Cooking Channel’s “Sugar Showdown” garden-themed pie competition in season 1, episode 6. “As founders of the brand, my husband, Scott, and I have been especially hopeful for a store in Greenville since our oldest son plays football at Furman and we spend a lot of time there,” Meredith Layton says. “We have fallen in love with the city.” Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop has locations in Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee. -Ariel Turner
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WINNERS 1 ST P L AC E
VIRGIL PLATT FRAME NATION
2 N D P L AC E
JAMES PALMER COMMA
3 R D P L AC E
MICHAEL SIEGEL GROUNDSHARE
6.22.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
CLEMSON.EDU/MBA
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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com |
@arielhturner
BREWERY
RESTAURANTS
Fireforge Crafted Beer to open June 28
Fast-casual franchise Burgerim enters Greenville on Pelham
Right around 18 months after announcing the location for Fireforge Crafted Beer, owners Nicole and Brian Cendrowski are ready to announce the opening. The brewery and taproom in the 4,500-square-foot warehouse at the back of the former Watson building at 311 E. Washington St. in Greenville will officially open for business June 28 with limited taproom hours. The Cendrowskis had searched for a location for the brewery for nearly two years before settling on the former tire and automotive building owned by Stone Properties. After numerous construction delays, Fireforge passed its
Burgerim, an international fast-casual burger concept, has leased the front anchor space at 115 Pelham Road, Greenville, in the Pelham Court shopping center owned by RealOp Investments. Construction is underway, and Greenville franchisee Nick Patel says the expected opening is July. The burger chain founded in Israel in 2011 now has more than 160 locations across the United States and the globe. This will be the first South Carolina location, with four North Carolina and six Georgia locations listed as “coming soon” on the brand’s website. The customizable burgers come in one size, 2.8 ounces, and are sold as an uno, duo, trio, or 16-count party box. For size comparison, White Castle patties are less than
DHEC inspection May 1 and recently received its certificate of occupancy. Nicole Cendrowski says she and her husband are training employees and finalizing initial offerings in preparation for opening day.
1 ounce and Five Guys patties are 4 ounces. Patty options are beef, dry aged beef, wagyu beef, merguez (spicy beef), turkey, lamb, chicken, salmon, veggie, Spanish beef, and falafel. Bun options are Burgerim bun, gluten-free (coming soon), and whole wheat. Toppings are the usual suspects plus sautéed mushrooms, jalapeños, avocado, and fried egg. In addition to cottage-style round fries and sweet potato fries, the menu includes chicken wings, a variety of salads, and home fries (cubed potatoes tossed in chili sauce and topped with sesame seeds). On-duty police officers, firefighters, and paramedics receive 50 percent off at Burgerim.
RETAIL
Greenville area shopping center sells for nearly $8 million The Shops at Easley Town Center sold for $7.72 million on May 22. The seller, Charleston-based Bond Street Advisors, was represented by The Shopping Center Group in the transaction with Georgia-based buyer Mill Creek/Cooper LLC represented by Franklin Street. Built in 2011, the shopping center at 125 and 128 Rolling Hills Circle, Easley, includes two buildings with 21,300 square feet fully leased with tenants including AT&T, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Aspen Dental, Supercuts, GameStop, and Sprint. “This retail asset is at the core of an established retail node anchored by the
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650,000-square-foot Easley Town Center — only 10 miles southwest of Greenville,” said The Shopping Center Group’s Neal Pringle, partner and director of sales and finance. “Not only is the tenant lineup a powerhouse of national shop tenants, but the unanchored strip is shadow-anchored by Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kohl’s, and other strong retail names that are thriving and expanding at this time.” The Greenville metropolitan statistical area experienced a 7.4 percent population increase over the past eight years and is home to nearly 885,000 consumers. The population of 22,500 having an average household income of more than $70,500 living within three miles of the
Easley shopping center and heavy traffic through the neighboring intersection of Prince Perry Road and Calhoun Memorial Highway/U.S. Highway 123 also attracted the buyer in the transaction. “Not only is the center fully occupied, but the overall retail core attracts consumers from an extensive regional trade area that includes Clemson University,” said John Tennant, senior director, retail investment sales, Franklin Street. “The economic viability of this retail node, coupled by the strength of the tenant lineup, made this an attractive investment opportunity for Mill Creek/Cooper.” -Melody Wright
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| NEWS
FINANCE
NBSC moniker dropped by Synovus; rebranding part of bank’s growth strategy NEIL COTIAUX | CONTRIBUTOR
What’s in a name Dropping the hybrid Synovus/NBSC brand adopted when the former National Bank of South Carolina became a division of Synovus Financial Corp. 23 years ago should lead to a better understanding of what the unified company can do for its customers, according to Dixon Harrill Jr., the bank’s Upstate region market executive. “By the end of this month, we should have everything converted to the Synovus brand,” said Harrill, who joined Synovus/NBSC in November and is overseeing the change of identity locally. With a total of five offices in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson, about 50 employees, and $400 million in Upstate assets, “We’re a lot smaller for the market here than Greenville is used to for the size it is,” Harrill said at his office at 201 E. McBee Ave. Discarding the NBSC name for a single brand will help eliminate the erroneous impression that the bank – part of a $31 billion-asset, 250office institution – has only limited capabilities, especially in the commercial arena, he added.
In a 2017 survey of 42 financial institutions by the Reputation Institute, Synovus scored an overall rating of 80.7, the highest overall score in survey history. “We’re going after business owners and their employees. … The bulk of our strategy is to grow the commercial,” Harrill said. In a 2017 survey of 42 financial institutions by the Reputation Institute, Synovus scored an overall rating of 80.7, the highest overall score in survey history. The Columbus, Georgia-based company also snagged the top spot for leadership, governance, workplace, and citizenship among customers and noncustomers.
Eight of the survey’s top 10 banks had assets below $50 billion. “The larger something is, the harder it is to manage,” even with good people and products, Harrill said. At $31 billion, “we think we have a better chance of being connected to our customers.” Synovus will soon add at least two small-business bankers and one middle-market banker in Greenville. Commercial and industrial lending represents the largest part of the bank’s total loan portfolio, according to its latest annual report. In addition, the Upstate operation recently hired two officers in trust and investment management, added a credit analyst position, and will hire a residential mortgage originator for Spartanburg. On June 20, Kessel Stelling, Synovus’ chairman and CEO, joined Harrill and his team in Greenville for an invitation-only reception for select customers and prospects where they toasted the bank’s new brand and its redoubled commitment to the region.
ENERGY
Crown Holdings installs 1,300-MW solar array at Spartanburg facility ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
amoore@communityjournals.com Pennsylvania-based Crown Holdings Inc., a leading supplier of packaging products, has installed a solar array that will offset one-third of the annual electrical usage at its manufacturing plant in Spartanburg. The ground-mounted solar project, which is located at 930 Beaumont Ave., is online and has been generating electricity since October 2017, according to a news release. Annual production is anticipated to be approximately 1,310 megawatt hours/year of energy. Keystone Power Holdings and its affiliate KPH Construction Services worked alongside Georgia-based Hannah Solar to construct the
924.6-kilowatt DC system with 2,680 Photovoltaic modules, the release said. Crown is using the solar array via an operating lease. “From start to finish, Keystone Power Holdings has been a great partner in this initiative,” said Bob Harding, manager of Crown’s Spartanburg facility. “We are glad to be reducing our carbon footprint and to be contributing to Crown’s wider sustainability goals, which include further reducing energy consumption. Offsetting one-third of our annual energy usage in our Spartanburg plant is an important achievement.” As part of the initiative, Keystone Power Holdings applied for and was granted a Duke Energy Solar Rebate, which helped to lower
capital costs and make the project viable for Crown and Keystone. The rebate program, which was launched in 2015, offers a rebate of $1 per watt of installed generating capacity direct current. “Solar energy continues to gain ground as an alternative energy solution at the local level. We’re pleased to be able to partner with businesses like Crown to help make green their energy purchases while delivering significant energy savings,” said William R. DePhillipo, co-founder of Keystone Power Holdings. “It is also significant that we were able to develop the largest leased solar array in the state of South Carolina.”
6.22.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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NEWS |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
ADVERTISING
Jackson Marketing expanding, relocating office to BridgeWay Station in Mauldin Jackson Marketing, Motorsports, & Events, South Carolina’s second largest integrated marketing communications and events agency, recently announced that it plans to expand and locate its Greenville office to BridgeWay Station, a new mixed-use development off Interstate 385 in Mauldin. The move, which is expected to occur before the end of the year, will allow the company to consolidate its Greenville operations and expand its footprint to accommodate growing client programs, according to a news release. “We have been operating from three separate locations in the Greenville area for the past few years,” said president and CEO Darrell Jackson. “The move will allow us to bring all of our Greenville associates together in a single location and give us the square footage needed to serve increasing client needs now and into the future.”
A rendering by Street-Works Studio shows what an urban village planned along Interstate 385 in Mauldin might look like. At far left is an existing office building constructed on the site 16 years ago for Charter Communications. Photo provided.
ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
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The company will relocate its Greenville office from its present location on Smith Hines Road to an existing warehouse behind the Samsung Electronics America Office off Holland Road, according to the release. The warehouse, which was formerly occupied by Coca-Cola Bottling Co., is currently in the midst of a “complete renovation” that will result in new offices, collaboration areas, expanded conference and meeting spaces, kitchen facilities, and a dedicated video studio with editing suites, the company said in the release. The new Jackson campus will cover 15 acres within the BridgeWay Station development. An additional warehouse that can accommodate up to six tractor-trailers at once will be built at the site primarily to serve as prep space for the event teams handling experiential events, ride-and-drives, and mobile marketing tours. Jackson said his company considered several sites before settling on BridgeWay Station. “Ultimately, the Holland Road location allows us to unify our current operations, gives us ample room for growth, and places us at the center of an exciting mixed-use development with easy access to planned retail, entertainment, and recreation venues.” Located along Interstate 385 near Mauldin, the new BridgeWay Station development will encompass both sides of Holland Road. The first phase of the new mixed-use community will feature more than 1 million square feet of retail and restaurants, Class A office space, residential, and hospitality and entertainment venues along a new main street, according to Ryan Peiffer, vice president of Hughes Investments, whose projects include RiverPlace and Falls Park Place. Plans also call for parks, an outdoor amphitheater, and pedestrian and bicycle paths that connect to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, the release said. “Jackson’s move to BridgeWay Station is a huge first step in our vision for the new development,” Peiffer said. “Jackson’s energy and creativity are right in line with our vision of creating a walkable, vibrant community much like what you see in downtown Greenville.” The length of BridgeWay Station’s main street will be roughly the same as Greenville’s Main Street from the Hyatt Regency to the Peace Center, according to Peiffer. “Our goal is to create a new city that incorporates those elements that have made downtown Greenville so successful,” he said.
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
EDUCATION
ECPI receives state, federal recognition for cyber defense education ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
amoore@communityjournals.com ECPI University, which has a campus in Greenville, has been awarded the S.C. Cyber Award for Excellence in Academia. S.C. Cyber is a statewide initiative that aims to “develop talent, techniques, and tools to defend the connected infrastructure within South Carolina and the United States,” according to a news release. At its annual summit, S.C. Cyber recognizes government, industry, and academic organizations that demonstrate excellence within their sector. “ECPI University has been a strong leader in providing students with valued educational and experiential learning opportunities,” Tom Scott, executive director of S.C. Cyber, said in the release. Dr. Keith Morneau, dean of computer science and information science at ECPI, said the university is “honored that S.C. Cyber has recognized us for our efforts to produce highly skilled cybersecurity professionals” “Through our partnerships with industry and government, it is our mission to empower students with real-world skills and help close the cybersecurity talent gap,” he added. ECPI, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges,
was also recently designated a national center of academic excellence in cyber defense education by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. To earn the designation, schools must meet stringent criteria and mapping curricula with requirements focusing on course content and relevance, laboratories, and faculty involvement, according to a news release. “This recognition is a stamp of excellence for our program and our faculty,” Morneau said in the release. ECPI’s cyber and network security program’s applications-based curriculum teaches students how to: • administer, manage, and troubleshoot hardware, software, and services • use cybersecurity measures to protect data and manage personnel • conduct vulnerability analysis/penetration testing • actively monitor and defend networks • create basic security policy and procedures A private university founded in 1966, ECPI University has campuses in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, and offers convenient classes during the day, evening, and online; graduate employment services, continuing education, certification classes, and testing are also available. 6.22.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
| NEWS
COVER |
THE NEW BMW X5
Photo provided. 12
UBJ | 6.22.2018
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THE NEW BMW X5
| COVER
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BMW Group to produce new X5 model at Greer facility
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WORDS BY ANDREW MOORE
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B
MW Group’s X5 Sports Activity Vehicle is getting a makeover. The German automaker earlier this month unveiled the fourth generation of the popular crossover, which is one of the four models exclusively produced at its Spartanburg County plant. BMW said the 2019 X5 is expected to hit dealerships in November. “Our new BMW X5 is the continuation of Plant Spartanburg’s success story,” Knudt Flor, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Co., said in a statement. “With the new X5, our impact in this state and the nation will continue to grow.” Flor noted that the upcoming launch of the new X5 and first-ever X7 would not only boost production levels at BMW Manufacturing Co., but also lead to increased exports. “Because of these new models we are adding hundreds of jobs at this plant and at our suppliers, and we will export more cars than ever before in 2019,” he said. Already BMW Group’s largest plant worldwide in terms of volume, BMW Manufacturing Co. is the birthplace of the company’s X3, X4, X5, and X6 models. The plant, which began operations in 1994, represents a nearly $9 billion investment, produces more than 1,400 vehicles per day, and provides jobs to some 10,000
people. It has been the nation’s largest automotive exporter since 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Despite maintaining top export status and seeing an increase in production totals in 2015 and 2016, BMW experienced a nearly 10 percent decrease in production last year. A breakdown of the plant’s 2017 production shows its employees assembled 130,582 X3s, 48,463 X4s, 155,324 X5s, and 36,915 units of the X6. The total U.S. sales of the company’s X models for 2017 were 103,484, a less than 1 percent decrease compared with 103,943 in 2016 Steve Wilson, a spokesman for BMW Manufacturing Co., said the dip in production levels was due to the introduction of the company’s new X3 model in 2017 and renovations that shut down the plant’s X5/X6 assembly hall for a month. Wilson said preparation for the company’s new X5 and other future models began in 2014 when BMW Group announced a $1 billion investment in the Spartanburg plant. The three-year expansion project included the construction of a 1.2 million-square-foot body shop, an expansion of the plant’s X5/X6 assembly hall by 200,000 square feet, and a 100,000-square-foot expansion of logistics. The body shop houses about 2,000 robots that will
build all of the plant’s X models, including the new X5, Wilson said. More recently, BMW announced its plans to invest $600 million in the Spartanburg plant and create 1,000 jobs between 2018 and 2021. The investment includes an expansion of the X3/X4 assembly hall to house production of the new X5 beginning in 2019. “Global demand for the new X5 is forecast to be very strong. … This [expansion] will allow the new X5 to be built in both assembly halls,” Wilson said. BMW has sold more than 2.2 million X5s since introducing the model in 1999, with about one-third of those deliveries happening in the United States. The company’s Spartanburg plant has produced more than 76,000 X5s in 2018 so far. Production of the new X5 is expected to begin in August, according to Wilson. Pricing and fuel economy figures will likely be announced closer to the start of sales date in November. While the company’s new X5 is expected to look similar to the model it replaces, it will be “significantly larger than its predecessor” with extra passenger and cargo room, according to a news release. It will also come standard with subtle design changes, advanced safety systems, off-road comfort controls, and numerous hightech components. 6.22.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
13
COVER |
THE NEW BMW X5
BMW plant in Spartanburg County. Photo provided.
The vehicle’s dashboard, for instance, will feature a 12.3-inch digital display that runs the latest generation of BMW’s iDrive infotainment system. Users will be able to interact with the screen via a control knob on the center console, through the touch screen, by using a “table-like touch surface,” or by using gestures, similar to the BMW 5 and 7 series sedans. Standard luxury features in the X5 will include a four-zone climate control system, heated front seats, ambient lighting, and a panoramic glass roof. Optional features include cooled and massaging front seats, remote engine start, and heated and cooled cup holders. A bundle of digital services including remote services, concierge services, and real-time traffic information will come standard on the new X5 for four years. The optional off-road package, which is being offered for the first time in a BMW X model, includes underbody protection at the front and rear, a two-axle air-suspension system that self-levels automatically for riding comfort, and an anti-spin rear-wheel differential lock that provides differing grip for the left and right back wheels, the release said. 14
UBJ | 6.22.2018
“ Our new BMW X5 is the continuation of Plant Spartanburg’s success story. With the new X5, our impact in this state and the nation will continue to grow.” Knudt Flor, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Co
All the new X5s will include various safety features, including blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, front and rear collision warnings, pedestrian monitoring, and city collision mitigation. Optional safety features include traffic jam assist, lane keeping assist, automatic lane changing, and collision evasion aid with steering assist. The 2019 X5 will initially be available in two variants – xDrive 40i and xDrive 50i. The X5 xDrive 40i uses a turbocharged 3.0L inline-six engine that can hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds with a top speed as high as 150 mph, according to a new release. The X5 xDrive 50i uses an updated version of BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 that can hit 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph. “The BMW X5 embodies the origins of the BMW X family and, in its fourth generation, sends out its most powerful message yet in terms of presence and modernity,” Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice president at BMW Group Design, said in a statement. “It defines a new X design language – robust, clear and precise.”
STRATEGIES FOR HONING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
| PROFESSIONAL
Surviving the summertime slowdown It’s summer. The signs that Kenny Chesney sang about are in full swing ... CEO, Engenius “That old ballpark, man, is back in gear/ Out on 49, man I can see the lights/ School’s out and the nights roll in/ Man, just like a long-lost friend/ … Temperature says 93 down at the Deposit and Guarantee/ But that swimmin’ hole, it’s nice and cold.” That time of year is here. Business seems to slow down amid summer vacations, long weekends, and afternoon “meetings” on the back nine. We’re not in school anymore, but summer still holds a special place for us. We tend to knock off work earlier and, when we’re at our desks, daydream of being outside under the summer sun, relaxing by the pool like we did when we were 17. Summer is a special time. The kids are home, the weather is great, and it’s a season to slow down a bit and enjoy life. Fire up the grill and enjoy the company of friends over an ice-cold beer. Take a long drive in the mountains with the windows down. For many, this season mimics the lyrics, “It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine/ It’s summertime/ Sweet summertime.” For those of us in business, all this talk of outdoor play, relaxation, and taking it easy can mean something entirely different: the slow season. Sales opportunities begin to drag out. People you’re calling on are somehow never in their offices. Client projects stretch out because the client’s attention is elsewhere. Unless you’re in an industry that benefits from summertime fun, Memorial Day to Labor Day can be a rough stretch. Here are a few tips to survive the summertime business blues: By CHRIS MANLEY
• In America, We Don’t “Summer” • In some cultures, taking several months off at a time is normal and accepted. As I remind my team every summer, “The people you need to reach aren’t gone for three months – they may take a week to head to the beach or a long weekend, but they’re still around.” It’s easy to write off this stretch of time as impossible to reach out to prospective or existing clients. Don’t buy into that frame of mind. People are still at their desks – it may just take some added perseverance to reach them.
• Is Your Toolbox Running Low? • Every business has tools that it can use to aid and drive sales. Whether it is through marketing, sales materials, advertising campaigns, or other means, we all have a “toolbox” of things we can reach in, grab, and use to move us forward. Is your toolbox running low? Is it time for a refresh? Use this slower season to prepare for busier times ahead. Start preparing your holiday campaigns now, refresh your marketing, plan a back-to-school campaign. Make sure your toolbox is locked and loaded for when business picks up.
• Get Out of the Office • If business is slow, take some downtime. We’ve all seen studies showing that Americans don’t take nearly as much time off as other cultures. Use the slow season to play a few rounds of golf, or head out early a few days, or take that long weekend with your family. At Engenius, we close early on Fridays and all take the afternoon off. It’s a big culture builder and gives our team time to R&R, knowing the busier season is ahead. Don’t let the slow season get you down. Take advantage of it and keep on keeping on. All you might need is a fresh perspective to make this season your own sweet summertime. Chris Manley is the CEO of Engenius, a marketing firm specializing in helping businesses navigate digital marketing through strategic web design, search optimization, and digital advertising. You can contact him at chris@engeniusweb.com or by visiting www.engeniusweb.com.
The Community Foundation of Greenville bridges philanthropy and purpose by offering planned giving services, donor-advised funds and administering charitable endowment funds in support of a better community.
6.22.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
15
YOUR MONEY |
NEWS AND TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL BOT TOM LINE
Are you investing for the life you want? Millennials typically get a bad rap. We By CARTER HALL are known as wealth adviser, the generation Nachman Norwood and Parrott that spends more than it saves, overindulges in frivolous luxuries like avocado toast, and treats jobs like pairs of shoes, exchanging them on a whim. But recent studies have begun to prove these stereotypes wrong. Bank of America recently published its 2018 Better Money Habits Millennial Report and found that of the millenials surveyed, 63 percent are saving money responsibly, and 57 percent say they have savings goals, compared with 42 percent of Gen Xers and baby boomers. Nearly half have $15,000 or more in savings. Clearly, millennials are growing up. We have heeded the advice to save “early and often.” But in today’s world, simply opening a savings account, 401(k), or IRA will not be enough to adequately prepare you for retirement or a rainy day scenario. This is where a wealth manager can be your hero. You may not think you have “enough” investments to bring in outside help. The truth is, it’s not just about what you have; it’s about where you are going.
Because we don’t just DO taxes, we MANAGE them.
CREATE A PLAN “Adulting” carries with it a lot of responsibilities and complicated tasks. Insurance? Homeownership? Taxes? It’s a lot to balance. So, it’s understandable that millennials may just open a 401(k), start a direct deposit, and forget about it. But there are ways to be strategic about savings goals. A wealth manager can be that expert who helps you create a long-term plan. In 2017, Charles Schwab surveyed millennials and found that 34 percent do have a written financial plan, which is more than both Gen Xers and baby boomers. Millennials are open to creating and following a plan, and working with a professional to craft that plan could make it that much stronger.
More often than not, investment goals have emotional consequences. This is where technology-based investing tools fall short.
KEEP YOUR GOALS IN MIND We advocate diverse investments for all types of clients, and millennials are no different. A wealth manager can help you understand what options are out there and which ones might be best for your individual needs. Working with a wealth “quarterback” can also help you create a financial plan that supports your lifestyle goals. Planning to be a one-income family? Hoping for early retirement? Want to save for your children’s college education? Each of these goals requires a different approach to your investments and cannot be done on the fly.
IT’S PERSONAL More often than not, investment goals have emotional consequences. This is where technology-based investing tools fall short. While robo-advisers offer that convenience so often sought by millennials, they cannot empathize with a client during a challenging time. Establishing a relationship with a trusted adviser helps when the financial challenge is more emotional in nature.
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Another extremely positive benefit of working with a wealth management professional is the guidance during volatile market periods. This can be a benefit no matter what generation you belong to, but for millennials in particular, it is reassuring to know someone is watching out for your investments when the market starts moving and is ready to call you when you need to act. As you build your team of experts in tax, insurance, and real estate, you should engage a wealth management professional to quarterback this team and to help you plan for the future. We are a team of experienced professionals who can help you navigate through this aspect of “adulting” and help secure your financial future. If you would like to connect with Carter, you can reach him at carter.hall@nnpwealth.com.
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
PROMOTED
HIRED
HIRED
NAMED
| ON THE MOVE
HIRED
DARIAN VILLALOBOS
KATIE SHOLLER
PERRY MAJOR
RANDALL WILLIAMSON
JAMES TERRY III
Has been promoted to media coordinator at Infinity Marketing. Villalobos is a graduate of Duquesne University, where she earned a degree in integrated marketing communications with a business management minor. Villalobos will be responsible for assisting with creating and sharing client deliverables, maintaining relationships with vendors, and upholding client brand standards.
Has joined Crawford Strategy as senior graphic designer. Sholler has more than a decade of experience designing for a wide range of clients. She previously worked as art director for The Greenville News. Sholler graduated from Clemson University with a degree in graphic communications.
Has joined JLL as senior vice president. Major has more than 14 years of experience. Though he will serve in the Charlotte, N.C., office, Major will focus on the industrial markets in the Upstate. Major previously worked for Avison Young, where he served as senior vice president of industrial brokerage.
Has been named vice president and branch manager at South State Bank in Powdersville. Williamson brings more than 16 years of experience in banking to the role, and most recently was branch manager for SunTrust Bank in Greenville. Williamson graduated from Clemson University with a degree in financial management.
Has joined Pinnacle Financial Partners Insurance Group as an insurance adviser. Terry has been working in insurance since 2000 and has been with The Hartford for the past six years. Terry attended the University of South Carolina and has served on numerous boards and organizations, including United Way Young Philanthropist Council, Ducks Unlimited, Greenville Saltwater Sportsmen’s Club, and March of Dimes Greenville.
HEALTH CARE For the second year, Interim Healthcare of the Upstate has been named the top workplace in South Carolina. The award is based on the results of employee surveys that assess the company’s growth potential, employee engagement, employee benefits, and leadership. Interim employs more than 600 people.
MARKETING Infinity Marketing has been selected as a winner in the 39th annual International Telly Awards for its xFi Pod Training video produced for Comcast. The xFi Pod video received a Bronze Award in the Promotional category.
DEVELOPMENT The Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC) has named Marshall Franklin as chairman of its board of directors for 2018-19. Tom Epting will be Vice Chair, Beverly Haines will be secretary, and Scott Case will be treasurer. Additionally, GADC has announced that Roy Chamlee, Beverly Haines, and Je’Varus Howard have been appointed by Greenville County Council to threeyear terms on the GADC board.
ACCOUNTING McGregor & Company has admitted Harris Darver to partnership after 10 years with McGregor. Darver is a graduate of the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.
Contribute: New hires, promotions, & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com. 6.22.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
17
#TRENDING |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW / NEW FACES OF BUSINESS
THE WATERCOOLER 1. With the Kava Konnection, Gabriel Coggins has created a hub for community and socialization
2. Front Row: June Design Review Board Urban Panel
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EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR
DATE
| PLANNER
EVENT INFO
WHERE DO I GO?
HOW DO I GO?
6/27
Business On Tap
Topside Pool Club 600 S. Main St. 5:30-7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Tuesday
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Netnight (nonprofit community)
Avenue 110 E. Court St., Suite 600 5:30–8 p.m.
Cost: $25 investors, $50 general For more info: www.bit.ly/2JQfIct; 864-631-6596; nikawhiteconsulting@greenvillechamber.org
7/10
Clemson MBA Info Session
Clemson MBA at Greenville ONE 1 N. Main St., 5th floor 5:30–7 p.m.
Cost: Free. Registration required. For more info: www.bit.ly/2M4YvxV
Wednesday
7/11
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Small-Business Owners Forum
Greenville Chamber 24 Cleveland St. 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: Free. Registration required. For more info: www.bit.ly/2Je7nU1; tjames@greenvillechamber.org; 864-239-3728
Friday
7/20
Clemson MBA Program’s Innovative Leadership Series: Jonathan Parker
Clemson MBA at Greenville ONE 1 N. Main St., 5th floor noon–1:30 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public For more info: www.bit.ly/2Ltt1QC
Tuesday
CLIENT SERVICES
8/7
Ten at the Top’s Connecting Our Future
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Cost: $25 For more info: www.conta.cc/2kPv2LX; anottingham@tenatthetop.org
ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR
TuesdayWednesday
Ogletree Building (Aug. 28) & TD Convention The Greenville Chapter of the Society Center (Aug. 29) - 300 N. Main St., 500 (Oglefor Human Resource Management’s tree); 1 Exposition Drive (TD Convention Center) REthinkHR 7:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Wednesday UBJ PUBLISHER
Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Susan Schwartzkopf susans@communityjournals.com
MANAGING EDITOR
7/10
ADMINISTRATIVE EDITOR
Tuesday
Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com Heidi Coryell Williams hwilliams@communityjournals.com
COPY EDITOR Rebecca Strelow
STAFF WRITERS
Cindy Landrum, Andrew Moore, Sara Pearce, Ariel Turner
MARKETING & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES Emily Yepes
MANAGER OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Donna Johnston
MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Heather Propp, Meredith Rice, Caroline Spivey, Liz Tew Anita Harley | Rosie Peck
Will Crooks
LAYOUT
Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amanda Walker
ADVERTISING DESIGN Michael Allen
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristi Fortner
8/28-8/29 UP NEXT
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?
JUNE 29 LEGAL ISSUE
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
JULY 27 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ISSUE
1988
AUGUST 3 FINANCE ISSUE
EVENTS:
Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at upstatebusinessjournal.com/submit.
events@upstatebusinessjournal.com
NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS:
onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties. Guest columns run 700-800 words. Contact managing editor Emily Pietras at epietras@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration. Circulation Audit by
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
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Cost: Aug. 28: $100 members/nonmembers; Aug. 29: to July 1: $150 members/$175 nonmembers; to Aug. 15: $175 members/$200 nonmembers For more info: www.greenvillehr.org/meetinginfo.php
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
2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003
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
2009-2012 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
AS SEEN IN
NOVEMBER 1, 2013
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19
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