JULY 10, 2015 | VOL. 4 ISSUE 28
WATCHING THE
CLOCK
The rules for overtime pay for full-time employees are about to change – with a big impact close to home Page 6
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| HOSPITALITY | 3
River’s Edge hopes for luck of the Irish Owner wants The Playwright to be “most authentic Irish pub in South Carolina” SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com The Playwright, an Irish pub, is set to open the second week of August at the River’s Edge mixed-use development at River and Broad streets. The restaurant is owned by Jason Fletcher’s High Street Hospitality Group, which also owns The Green Room, Ford’s Oyster House, the Loft at Falls Park and Sip. When developer Phil Hughes asked him to open a restaurant at the River’s Edge development, Fletcher said he “wanted to do something unique that hasn’t been done here before.” Fletcher, who lived for a short time in Ireland, spent the past year working on the design and working with an Irish team to come up with the concept. “We’re embracing the pub feel and expect to have people in here dressed in suits and ties along with people in shorts that just got off the trail,” said Fletcher. “We want to be a local place where everyone meets up.” The decor throughout the pub will feature Irish playwrights, giving a nod to the restaurant’s prox-
Securities are offered through SANDLAPPER Securities, LLC (“SLS”), a registered broker-dealer with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Investing in securities whether public or private involve risks including but not limited to the potential loss of some or all of your investment dollars. You should review any planned financial transactions that may have tax or legal implications with your personal tax or legal advisior. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and investments are not FDIC insured.
imity to Centre Stage and the Peace Center. The location on River Street makes it accessible for people walking along Main Street and downtown, said Fletcher. A public parking garage is across the street. The Playwright will also offer valet parking. The restaurant’s interior components – carpets, signature furniture, pictures, lighting and assorted bric-a-brac – all hail from Ireland. Two shipping containers arrived last week, and an eight-man crew from Ireland is on-site for the next two weeks installing everything. The Playwright will feature a “P”-shaped bar, Victorian-etched glass with portraits of playwrights, dark wood and leather seats. A stage area will feature musical acts on Friday and Saturday nights. The
Playwright will seat about 180 people in the 6,000-square-foot space. The restaurant will be open for both lunch and dinner, offering authentic Irish pub food, including fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie, along with some American fare such as fish, steaks and salads. Thirty-six beers will be on tap, along with wine and cocktails and some Irish whiskeys. Brunch will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays. The pub will employ about 100 people, and Fletcher said he is already interviewing for those positions and working on partnerships with the local theaters. “The goal is to be the best and most authentic Irish pub in South Carolina,” Fletcher said.
4 | THE RUNDOWN |
TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
UBJ
|
07.10.2015
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 28 Featured this issue: Are you getting the most out of LinkedIn? 8 Entrepreneur goes from physics to customer service 12 Verdae plans new Bella Grove neighborhood 14
MONEY SHOT: An artist’s rendering shows a Taxi 2000 SkyWeb Express automated transit network (ATN) in an urban setting. Last week, a Greenville County board voted to halt the current bid process for an ATN – but left the door open for a future podcar project. Read more on page 5.
WORTH REPEATING “A good business plan should not include abusing your employees.” Page 6
“Big egos make bad decisions.” Page 11
“My partners and I are Internet nerds. We hired other Internet nerds, and that’s worked out really well for us.” Page 12
TBA Look for a new Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market to open early next year on West Georgia Road in Simpsonville. The new store will be about 41,000 square feet and feature fresh produce, a full grocery department with bakery and deli, a drive-thru pharmacy and a gas station. An Orangetheory Fitness studio is planned for the South Ridge mixeduse development at University Ridge and Church Street.
VERBATIM
On the Export-Import Bank “As for GE, we would be left with choices of our own [if the Ex-Im Bank isn’t reauthorized] because we are not going to lose this business. We will build these products in places where export credit financing is available because we have to. What happens then? Good jobs in the U.S. will become good jobs in Canada and Europe.” Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE, during a speech to the Economic Club in Washington, D.C. GE has 3,200 employees in its Greenville plant, according to a spokesperson.
upstatebusinessjournal.com
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| TRANSPORTATION | 5
County board halts automated transit bid process Potential podcar project is ‘not dead,’ members say APRIL A. MORRIS | STAFF
amorris@communityjournals.com Following a vote last Thursday, the Greenville County Economic Development Corporation (GCEDC) evaluation committee, which was considering proposals for a driverless automated transit network (ATN) in the Upstate, halted the procurement process for a network developer. Initially two companies, Skycab International based in Auckland, New Zealand, and Taxi 2000 Corporation of Fridley, Minn., responded with proposals for an up to 20-mile network that would feature driverless vehicles, sometimes called podcars. In June, the Skycabs proposal was deemed “non-responsive” because it did not outline a detailed plan for 100 percent private financing for the ATN project. Taxi 2000 had listed two sources of potential funding and GCEDC had requested additional information on funding via letter. Taxi 2000’s response did not line up with what was outlined in the RFP, said Fred Payne, GCEDC chairman and Greenville County Council member. “We had to find they [Taxi 2000] did not fulfill our request.” However, the action does not kill off the project, Payne said. “We have to rewrite the RFP and provide additional information,” including a clear definition of a public-private partnership and responsibilities of each party. The RFP outlined that the ATN system would have to be self-funded, not with public dollars. Estimated cost would be between $6 million and $27 million per mile depending on capacity and terrain, according to the RFP. GCEDC member Peter Strub said, “In the interest of GCEDC and the evaluation committee, we need to rethink the whole process and the RFP … to rewrite to what we’re intending is what we’re asking for.” The network would not have to be the entire 20 miles, but initially could be a “phase one” that would “demonstrate the concept better,” said Payne. Potential routes could be a downtown loop connecting the Bon Secours
Wellness Arena to other spots, a loop at GSP Airport or among health care campuses, he said. The smaller loops could eventually be connected and also connect to other transit systems like bus and trails. “And that’s what we envisioned,” he said. Development along the routes could be eligible for a TIF-like district that would help pay for the expense of upgrading infrastructure, said Payne. Strub said the board must act quickly to recalibrate and issue another RFP. “We need to continue to move forward and not lose momentum,” he said. He anticipates work on a new RFP will continue over the next few weeks with a goal of issuing a new solicitation for proposals in late July or early August. The new solicitation most likely will allow companies additional time to draft a proposal and line up funders, Strub said. At a previous meeting, Payne said respondents had asked for between one month and two years to draft a proposal. The board is also considering doing away with a notice of intent requirement that could eliminate potential respondents, said Strub. “We want to exclude any barriers that prohibit someone getting into the running,” he said. Strub said he is hopeful GCEDC will receive more than two proposals this round. The revision will also allow GCEDC to learn from the industry what needs to be included in an RFP, he said. Many of the ATN companies are located outside the United States, and Strub said, “We feel we’re on the cutting edge of doing something in the U.S.”
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6 | WORKPLACE |
UBJ
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
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07.10.2015
Overtime rule could have larger impact in South ASHLEY BONCIMINO | STAFF
aboncimino@communityjournals.com A pending federal labor change that could affect 4.7 million Americans could have a larger impact on Southern states compared to the rest of the country. The rule change – slated to go into effect in 2016 – could increase the threshold for overtime pay for non-hourly workers to $50,440 per year nationwide. Southern states – including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina – have some of the largest shares of their workforces affected by the proposed rule, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Labor. The proposed rule would more than double the salary threshold requiring businesses to pay their workers “time and half” for hours worked in excess of 40 per week. The current threshold – $23,660 annually or $455 weekly – covered 62 percent of the non-hourly workforce in 1975, compared with just 8 percent today, according to research from the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute.
Above the current threshold, workers may be eligible for overtime pay depending on job duties, but eligibility is often unclear, said the organization’s vice president, Ross Eisenbrey. “We have calculated that tens of billions of dollars that are owed under the law are not being paid for workers,” he said. “It’s going to provide clarity, and probably provide rights, for 15 million people. … The only people who under the law are supposed to be exempt from overtime pay are essentially bosses and administrators.” But the rule’s effects on business, employees and the larger economy are far from cut and dried. One line of thought says some businesses may hire more employees as a result of the rule, opting to shift overtime hours from an existing full-time employee to a new part-time worker to avoid paying time and a half for overtime. On the other hand, businesses could reduce employee salaries to keep take-home pay the same, said Greenville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ben Haskew. >>
NEWLY ELIGIBLE WORKERS UNDER PROPOSED OVERTIME CHANGE
U.S. No. Affected Workers:
4,680,000
WEST No. Affected Workers:
SOUTH No. Affected Workers:
Share of Total Employed:
1,410,000
1,350,000
3.3%
Share of Total Employed:
Share of Total Employed:
3.0%
NORTHWEST No. Affected Workers:
830,000 Share of Total Employed:
3.1%
3.6%
MIDWEST No. Affected Workers:
980,000 Share of Total Employed:
3.1%
Source: Department of Labor estimates, 2011-2013 Current Population Survey data via WhiteHouse.gov.
upstatebusinessjournal.com
>> “When there’s a change like this that causes employers to have to look at overtime pay, ultimately it’s their products and services that pay the bill,” said Haskew. “Labor cost, many times, is one of the highest costs in a business … it’s certainly something of concern.” Trade groups and lobbyists have come out strongly against the rule change, saying reduced hours or base pay cuts would challenge the industry’s “ability to grow and preserve jobs,” according to a statement from the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association. “The leisure and hospitality segment of our economy is one of the leaders in job creation in our state. If implemented, the proposed rule changes would have a chilling effect on the continued growth of tourism, our state’s No. 1 industry,” said the group’s president and CEO, John Durst. The National Retail Federation stated that rather than boost incomes, the proposal would see virtually
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
no increase in worker take-home pay due to the tight economy. “This plan isn’t about expanding the middle class – it’s about turning salaried professionals into clock-watchers,” stated David French, the trade group’s government relations vice president. “Retailers believe careers are the path to success, not time clocks.” While tens of thousands of South Carolina workers and millions nationwide may seem like a huge chunk of the working population, overtime pay is only one lever the current administration has for the labor market, said Harry Holzer, professor of public policy at Georgetown University. “While Obama can legislate the overtime rule, he can’t legislate a big federal minimum wage increase,” said Holzer, who said politics have largely stymied efforts for a national $10 minimum. “There are several levers that you can push, some of which would help this group, some of which would help that group, that
| WORKPLACE | 7
altogether would have a real effect.” If labor costs are important for businesses, they should also think about the cost of turnover, according to S.C. Small Business Chamber President and CEO Frank Knapp. “The employees are a business’s most valuable assets. If you’re asking them to work for 55 hours for a $45,000 salary, that’s not a good way to take care of your employees,” he said, saying businesses could win in the long run with less turnover and more productive, happier workers. “A good business plan should not include abusing your employees.”
Once the overtime proposal is published in the Federal Register, the public has 60 days to submit written comments. Learn more at dol.gov/ whd/overtime/NPRM2015.
AFFECTED WORKERS AS SHARE OF TOTAL STATE EMPLOYED (IN %) 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2
OK FL TN AK MO NC AZ DC GA MS SC DE LA NH ND VA IL IN KY NE IA MD MA NY PA TX AL CO MN NJ VT ME OR UT KS NV OH RI ID WA SD WV WI AK CA CT HI WY MT MI NM
Source: Department of Labor estimates, 2011-2013 Current Population Survey data via WhiteHouse.gov.
CONNECTIONS COUNT
entor onday
Each month, UBJ presents an opportunity for the business community to step up, get engaged and start mentoring. We hope our readers will spend some time over the weekend thinking about how they can be ready to jump in next week with Mentor Monday.
OPPORTUNITY: Mentor to assist in equipping young adults as they make major life decisions. ORGANIZATION: Pendleton Place COMMITMENT: Volunteer for one year to serve as a mentor for at-risk young adults between the ages of 18 and 26. IDEAL FOR: Adults 21 and older with a desire to help guide young adults in making wise life choices. WHAT IT’S LIKE: Planning and participating in activities as a means of building friendships and motivating the young adults. WHY YOU’RE NEEDED: Early adulthood
is one of the most pivotal points in life, as many life decisions are made during this time. Young people who have grown up without support from family or community are much less prepared to make a successful transition into adulthood. By volunteering as a mentor, you will build meaningful relationships with young adults while preparing them for independent living. Make an impact today. Mentor the generation of tomorrow. LEARN MORE: pendletonplace.org CONTACT: Tennison Barry, community case manager, tbarry@ pendletonplace.org
8 | PROFESSIONAL |
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STRATEGIES FOR HONING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Employment-Related Practices:
ARE YOU PREPARED?
Employment-related lawsuits are a growing concern for employers of all sizes. In 2012, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported 99,412 charges filed for harassment, and harassment charge receipts filed and resolved were $365.4 million. As costs for litigation and damage awards climb, experts predict that employment liability will only become more complex. As a result, it is critical for employers to understand their exposures and options to manage the risk. STRATEGIES TO REDUCE YOUR Well-organized and credible documents COMPANY’S EXPOSURE can demonstrate fair treatment, deter Two effective risk management strategies litigation, ensure employee honesty and, include solid human resources practices should litigation occur, demonstrate the employer’s actions. and employment practices liability (EPL) insurance In addition to having the coverage, a policy used to appropriate employment cover your risk due to the policies and HR best practices ever-changing legal and in place, EPL insurance employment environment. coverage is another useful The three most common risk management tool used employment-related lawsuits to defend against a suit or today are: pay a claim. In fact, evidence of desirable practices and 1. Wrongful Termination CURTIS TAYLOR policies will be required to 2. Discrimination VICE PRESIDENT obtain EPL coverage. Typically, OF SALES, CLCS 3. Sexual Harassment the insurance underwriter Employment practices liability (EPL) will require a copy of your employee insurance works hand-in-hand with your handbook, which should cover the internal employment practices to provide following policies: the necessary resources to defend your • Sexual harassment company against a suit or to pay a claim. • Discrimination To best understand how to cover your EPL • Equal opportunity risk, it’s important to know the potential • Disabled employees sources: • Grievances • Recruitment practices; • Employee discipline • Employment applications; • Termination • Employment offers; • Performance evaluations • Employee orientation; • Internet usage/employee privacy • Annual conduct reviews; • Pregnancy leave • Enforcing performance policies; • Internal job postings • Termination; and • Hiring and interviewing • Improper documentation of above items • Alternative dispute To limit your exposure, engaging in solid • Resolution/arbitration human resources practices is an important • Employment-at-will strategy in reducing your company’s • Employment application form liability. In addition, you are usually required to To verify your HR policies and best provide the most recent annual report or practices, conduct a thorough HR audit: SEC 10-K, the list of entities proposed for the • Verify the Employee Handbook outlines coverage, and most recent EEO-1 reports. all policies and terms of employment in clear and concise language; EPL insurance works hand-in-hand with your internal employment practices to • Require employees to sign an provide the necessary resources to defend acknowledgement form for receipt of your company against a suit or to pay a Handbook; and claim. Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance is • Develop training for supervisors committed to assisting you in assessing your including interview skills, performance employment-related policies and helping reviews, ‘zerotolerance’ policy, etc. you to develop best-practice solutions. Employment law is often complex and Call us today to learn more about our varies depending on the jurisdiction. effective risk management services.
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07.10.2015
Young adults get a leg up with LinkedIn By LINDSEY STEMANN, vice president, Intero Advisory
If your son or daughter is a high school or college student, let’s explore a summer project that probably isn’t on your or your child’s radar yet. School has come to a close and while many of your kids are beginning to enjoy the heat of South Carolina’s summer, as parents you may be feeling a bit anxious. I spoke to a few parents of students, and they all shared similar concerns: How will my son begin vetting which universities he is interested in attending? How do young adults make themselves marketable nowadays? How will my daughter find an internship or a job?
Welcome one of your answers: LinkedIn. As reported by LinkedIn, there are over 39 million students and recent college graduates on LinkedIn. Students and emerging professionals are LinkedIn’s fastest-growing demographic. How can LinkedIn help my son find which college he wants to attend? In his article “LinkedIn is creating a revolution in university rankings” published in Financial Review, Tim Dodd reports that “drawing on the huge amount of data it has collected about professionals’ careers and their education background, LinkedIn tells you which universities lead to the best jobs in each major profession.” Between YOUniversity, University Finder, Decision Boards, a >>
More than 1.1 million entry-level jobs and 55,000 internships are posted on LinkedIn. The door is open, but it is up to your student to take the next step.
upstatebusinessjournal.com
STRATEGIES FOR HONING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
>>
personalized dashboard and University Rankings, LinkedIn has no shortage of entry points for your student to begin his or her college search. How can my daughter build a LinkedIn profile if she doesn’t have work experience yet? In 2013, LinkedIn lowered its member age limit to 14 years old in the United States. While some people immediately admonished LinkedIn’s decision upon first hearing this, others see it as a great opportunity. I can tell you that if LinkedIn was around when I was in high school, you better believe I would have become a member, so that I could have begun building my business experience versus the alternative of working at a local pizza parlor. With that said, the impression you make online is just as important as the one you make in person. Your footprint works around the clock and is accessible to anyone at any time. When your student creates a LinkedIn profile, it is critical to make sure they are positioning themselves in the most professional light. This includes using a recent headshot to use as their LinkedIn profile picture; selfies, pictures with other people and anything less than interview attire are not appropriate. So, they don’t have “real-world” experience at this point? No problem. Within the LinkedIn profile there are many sections that are applicable to students, such as: Education, Courses, Test Scores, Honors & Awards, Projects and Volunteer Experience – and the list goes on. Do not forget that they should mention in their Profile if they are looking for an internship or job. Remember there is no spell-check, no formatting and no draft version of the LinkedIn profile; use a Word document to draft, then copy and paste it into LinkedIn.
How will my son find an internship through LinkedIn? Once the LinkedIn profile is looking good, it’s time for them to begin connecting with key professionals. Let your friends and colleagues know your student just joined LinkedIn and ask them to connect. Encourage your student to connect with business owners of companies they are interested in and professionals whom they respect. And not to overlook the obvious, but make sure you connect with them, too. By growing their network of connections they can start conversations and even apply for jobs. As of the date this article was published, more than 1.1 million entry-level jobs and 55,000 internships are posted on LinkedIn. The door is open, but it is up to your student to take the next step. Here is just one resource of many to get started: students.linkedin.com. By tapping into LinkedIn, your forward-thinking young adult will have more visibility into university and career options than ever before. Ease your concerns by sharing this knowledge with your student and encourage them to take action. As LinkedIn puts it: “It’s not just for top executives, it’s not just for old people with heavy briefcases, it’s for you. And it’s the perfect place for you to start your professional story.”
Lindsey Stemann is responsible for launching the first expansion of consultancy Intero Advisory. She graduated from Clemson University with two degrees and has a passion for serving her community.
Learn more about LinkedIn for Students at bit.ly/ linkedin-for-students.
| PROFESSIONAL | 9
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07.10.2015
The business end of LinkedIn Why you’re probably not using the social media tool to your company’s best advantage By LAURA HAIGHT, president, portfoliosc.com The rule of thumb about software is that people only use about 10 percent of the capabilities they have – just what they can see on the surface. This is equally true in social media, and, most especially, with LinkedIn. Recently, we talked about how to make the most of your profile and professional presence on LinkedIn. As a business or nonprofit, there are on many more capabilities to capitalize on. Most functions are free, although job posting is a paid upgrade. LinkedIn makes you work for it, but under the covers, business owners may find a much more powerful tool than they might realize. Here are some tips, shortcuts and FAQs on creating an engaging company page. FIND IT: You would think there’d be a nice button at the top of the page that says “Company Page” with a drop-down menu. But you’d be wrong. Creating a company page is hidden behind “Interests>Companies.” There’ll you find the “Create” button in the sidebar.
AUGUST
|
CLAIM IT: Here’s where you can come across your first big stumbling block. If someone else has created a page (this occurs with groups as well) in your company’s name and has not made you an administrator of it, you will not be able to do anything until the owner gives you access. This is no biggie, if the person who set it up is down the hall in Marketing. But if it was a former employee who doesn’t care to respond to your emails, you have some work ahead of you. LinkedIn has an involved process to claim your page or a group that is using your company name and identity without authorization. But it takes time and paperwork. Their first step is always to have you contact the owner, so do that first and save yourself some aggravation. You will run into this issue on Google, Facebook, Yelp and others. LinkedIn, despite the process involved, is one of the easier services in terms
of helping you reclaim your business page. Make sure whenever a page is created that multiple admins are named, that you as the owner are one of them, and that the admin information is updated as individuals leave your employ. In order to claim your page, your profile must have an email address associated with your company domain.
LinkedIn makes you work for it, but under the covers, there is a much more powerful tool than many might realize. BUILD IT: The foundation of the page is pretty typical – a nice display photo, general company information and a description. Here you can also include the names of others to be included as admins on your page. Most of the information you enter will not be visible, however, when someone hits the page. They will have to click on a “See More” link to expose your details. So pick a great photo and, if possible, add a tagline to the photo itself to give the casual viewer some clue. Take note of the photo size instructions and make your photos EXACTLY these dimensions. I know it says they can be larger, but they can’t. If it says 646 pixels by 220 pixels, make it exactly that size and save time. EXPAND IT: LinkedIn’s Showcase Pages are the place to highlight your products and services. You create them from the “Edit” menu on your company page and they appear in the sidebar navigation of your main page. Resist the temptation to create a Showcase Page for each of your product lines or services. They are flashy and look great. But creating them is the easy part. Maintaining them is another story. Be selective.
NURTURE IT: Don’t just bulk upload the same content everywhere. LinkedIn is more of a solution center where colleagues share problems and solutions, ask questions, crowdsource advice, and, yes, find jobs and partners. Identify your goal and be diligent in publishing targeted content. Update regularly by posting directly to your company page, but make sure the content also makes sense for your brand. A brainteaser may get lots of views, but if it isn’t connected to your line of business, those eyes may be little more than drive-bys. TRACK IT: Company pages have analytics that can help you track what updates are most effective and enable you to focus on successful strategies. GO WITH IT: Your page includes links to employees with LinkedIn profiles. A lot of questions arise about removing former employees. LinkedIn provides no way for the company to do this. The function represents LinkedIn users who have “affiliated” their work experience with your company. According to LinkedIn, “It’s not meant to be a source of truth.” Once a person changes their profile to reflect that they’ve left a job, they will not appear on your page. Because this is user-managed information, it is up to the individual to keep it up to date. LinkedIn suggests you can contact former staff to get them to change their profiles. I suggest: Don’t get too twisted up over this. Most likely it will bother you far more than it will influence any viewer.
Want to see some great examples? Check out the 2014 winners of LinkedIn’s Best Company Pages award at bit.ly/linkedinbusiness-pages. Could this be you next year?
upstatebusinessjournal.com
MOVERS, SHAKERS AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE
| INNOVATE | 11
Words of entrepreneurial wisdom By JOHN MOORE, CEO, NEXT
Anyone who works with me at NEXT knows that I have a love for quotations or sayings that provide interesting insights into business, innovation and life. In fact, I keep a running list of favorite quotes on my computer that I reflect on regularly and add to when I hear something profound. Not surprisingly, many of the quotes in my list have direct or at least indirect application to the entrepreneurs that I work with, a tribe of folks I care deeply about and believe are critical to our economic future in Greenville and the Upstate. Here are a few of my favorite quotes that I believe carry important lessons, especially for entrepreneurs. “The things which hurt, instruct.” – Ben Franklin Entrepreneurship can hurt. In fact, it usually does. While the entrepreneurial experience is filled with excitement, energy and optimism, those highs are often offset by pains and struggles that practically every new venture faces, such as cash shortages, customer complaints and investor pressures, just to name a few. However, the key facet of this quote is not regarding pain itself but the instruction it can provide if we are attuned to it. Most mistakes and uncomfortable situations that confront founders have embedded within them lessons or insights that, if understood and appreciated, can drive future success. The key is to realize that pain instructs and to intentionally seek learning from the otherwise negative experience. “The key is not the ‘will to win’ ... everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.” – Bobby Knight
Preparation for success is often what differentiates winning from losing, regardless of the arena. Though entrepreneurs, like athletes, have a natural “will to win” that provides the emotional spark and drive to launch their effort in the first place, it is the hard work of preparing to win that separates success from failure. In other words, desire itself is of less value to company founders than the daily mundane work that is needed to make a new venture stronger, more efficient, etc. Like a basketball player spending time practicing free throws or lifting weights away from the court, entrepreneurs must prepare for success. They must pursue continuous improvement of their team, the products and processes within their company, and perhaps most importantly they must continue to better prepare themselves for success by working hard “off the court” to improve their own ability to lead, persevere and direct the company toward success. Remember, it is the unseen, underappreciated preparation to win that occurs away from the limelight that often determines whether an effort succeeds or fails. “Big egos make bad decisions.” – Mike Riordan, CEO GHS Though the original source for this saying is ambiguous, I first heard it a year or so ago from one of the top business leaders I have been fortunate to work with, Mike Riordan, CEO at Greenville Health System and former chairman of the Greenville Chamber board. He spoke about the importance of eliminating hubris from the decision-making process as a step for improving operating results and long-term success for any organization. Big egos do not listen to those around them, nor do they usually reconsider previously stated positions, even in the face of new evi-
dence or customer feedback. Big egos typically have their minds made up and they know what is best without input from others. As a result, they limit themselves from additional facts and opinions that, if viewed objectively, might alter the course of an organization or product line. CEOs need all the help they can get in determining the optimal path forward for a business, whether large or small. Thus it is imperative that entrepreneurs understand the difference between confidence and overconfidence and adopt a stance of humility and openness with their staffs, customers and investors in order to maximize business results. A great example of this principle in action is Mike Riordan himself. Relative to his lofty position as CEO one of the largest employers in our state, Mike is one of the most humble and open leaders I have ever worked with, and he truly practices what he preaches. He understands, as do many of our area’s
most successful entrepreneurs, that ego inhibits sound judgement and thus prevents many organizations large and small from achieving optimal results. “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; ‘Tis dearness only that gives everything its value.” – Thomas Paine I saved this quote for last as I believe it captures the entrepreneur life so well with its statement on the proportional relationship between difficulty and triumph, effort and value. I’m confident our area’s entrepreneurs can relate.
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12 | JUMPSTART |
COMPANIES BLAZING A TRAIL IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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07.10.2015
THE SCIENCE OF SERVICE LEIGH SAVAGE | CONTRIBUTOR
John Monarch, the 28-year-old CEO of Direct Outbound, has a degree in physics from Clemson, and though he doesn’t use the major directly at the growing customer service and fulfillment company, he does see how the fields are similar. “It’s problem-solving,” he said from his busy headquarters off of Woodruff Road in Greenville. “I’m not calculating electromagnetic fields anymore, but I still use some of that problem-solving.” Since its founding in February 2012, the company has grown to 200 employees, has moved to larger facilities three times, and is now working for about 50 clients, including two high-profile companies featured on the television show “Shark Tank.” As the company ventures into serving a wider array of industries, Monarch believes the growth is just beginning. “Everyone says we are a sleeper, and that no one knows who we are or how we got to this size being quiet in the Greenville area,” he said. “We’re working to get more involved in the community.”
What does Direct Outbound do and what sets you apart from similar companies? We are an outsource customer service and tech support call center as well as a fulfillment center. We work with a lot of e-commerce. We save companies a lot of money by bundling everything together – postal service, UPS, FedEx. It ends up being a lot cheaper because we are doing a much higher volume blended into one client – us. We host all of our own equipment in-house and built all of our own servers, so that’s a unique set-up.
What prompted you to start the company? I started out in high school, making websites for businesses. Then I had a couple of smaller ventures and got into online advertising. That’s how I got into this side, working with e-commerce partners. I learned there were a lot of things that could have been done better – things they were not able to handle as well in-house, like customer service and shipping.
Within three years, former physics major John Monarch has grown his customer service and tech support company Direct Outbound to 200 employees
“My partners and I are Internet nerds. We hired other Internet nerds, and that’s worked out really well for us.” Why do you think you had such steady growth? Everyone needs a call center. It’s a utility that can be used for anything. I think we are seeing more text message-based support, but everyone still wants to talk to a person. And a lot of overseas call center work is coming back to the U.S. People are realizing the value of having a support base in the same country you are selling to – the net cost of having it domestic is better.
What is the main difference between training salespeople and customer service people? It’s a different mentality entirely. Training sales is a lot more aggressive. Customer service offers a measurable benefit to the customer, and people are happier as a result of calling in.
You focus on e-commerce now. What are some industries that you would like to add? We are focusing more on help desk and b-to-b support. Corporations have internal software and they need tech support for it, so they can call in 24/7 when it doesn’t make sense for companies to hire internal techs to do it. We are working with companies in homebuilding that need customer service on phone calls. Also, insurance companies are hiring call centers staffed by nurses and nurse practitioners to reduce costs, so that’s something we’re working on.
Are different employees trained for different clients or industries? We have a training program. Our face isn’t out there – we answer the phone as the company we are representing. Our agents are trained on multiple clients, but some specialize. My partners and I are Internet nerds. We hired other Internet nerds, and that’s worked out really well for us.
What aspect of the business have you found the most challenging? As we grew, hiring. Unemployment is very low here, plus there are a lot of call centers around. And we never took any investment. For something that seems capital-intense, that was challenging at times. But growth happened very quickly.
What do you find the most fulfilling about your job?
What is the significance of the name Direct Outbound?
Walking in and seeing everyone that is working here. Our first employee still works for us. All our managers started out as base-level employees and moved up to management.
We initially wanted to be an outbound call center. We thought sales would be a good idea. But my partners [Owen Vahey and Stephen Perry] and I realized that we are bad at training telemarketers, so we went to customer service, and it was too late to change the name.
In general, just dealing with people and the variables that come. I’m used to data, physics, computer science. But you can’t predict human beings – it’s impossible. >>
What have you learned through the growth of Direct Outbound?
upstatebusinessjournal.com
COMPANIES BLAZING A TRAIL IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
| JUMPSTART | 13
“I’m used to data, physics, computer science. But you can’t predict human beings – it’s impossible.” >> What are your plans for the next five years? Continued expansion, getting more clients for an outsourced medical call center. We were at 4,500 square feet and now we’re at 16,000, and we’re going to get a second warehouse that is 50-60,000 square feet. We want to expand into more traditional warehousing for industrial and retail.
JOHN MONARCH CEO, Direct Outbound Age: 28 College: Clemson University, 2009; major in physics with minor in computer science Hometown: Chicago; moved to Greenwood in high school Photos by Jim Pitt Harris
Caffeine source: Monster Energy Hobby: Plays the French horn; “marching band geek”
Arthur J. Gallagher was recently named one of Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 4th Year in a Row
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14 | SQUARE FEET |
REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
UBJ
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07.10.2015
“We are your Proactive, Trusted, Real Estate Advisors”
#1 Coldwell Banker Team in South Carolina THOMAS CHEVES
STEVE MUSSMAN
864.201.0006
864.316.6569
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JAMIE OUZTS 864.617.5307 jouzts@cbcaine.com
Verdae plans new Bella Grove neighborhood will range from 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. All sjackson@communityjournals.com garages will be accessed @SJackson_CJ through an alleyway. Building materials, landVerdae, the 1,100-acre new-urbanscaping, tree-planting, ism master-planned traditional sidewalks, pocket parks and street neighborhood development, is planlighting will be consistent with existing ning its next new neighborhood, called Hollingsworth Park neighborhood Bella Grove at Hollingsworth Park. guidelines, said a Verdae spokesperLand sales are expected to begin in son. Lot/home packages are expected early 2016 on the community of 75 to to be priced from the $400s. 80 new homes, which will feature The project has already been single-level living, a first for the approved by the Greenville Planning Hollingsworth Park area of Verdae. Commission. The homes’ main living space will Those interested in the community be on one level with a maximum home may visit the Verdae Sales O height of 1.5 stories. Average lot ffice to pre-register to receive sales sizes will be 50 by 116 feet, and homes launch details.
SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
BUYSELLGVL.COM 111 Williams Street Greenville SC 29601
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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
YMCA to expand in Verdae The Greenville YMCA closed recently on approximately 12 acres of land for future expansion at Verdae. The intent is to build sometime in the next three years, said Mary Pat Minor with the Greenville YMCA. Preliminary plans are for a full, comprehensive facility with a pool, child care and other amenities, she said. Once built, the current, smaller YMCA location would probably be vacated. More detailed plans should be available in fourth quarter of 2016.
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APPROVED BUILDERS FOR BELLA GROVE; • Peery Custom Homes
• Milestone Custom Homes
• Stoneledge Properties
• Dillard-Jones Builders
This announcement appears as a matter of public record only.
| SQUARE FEET | 15
16 | ON THE MOVE |
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PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
HIRED
PROMOTED
HIRED
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07.10.2015
PROMOTED
Kyle Yongue
Scott Tollison
Kendra Heyward
Rob Gignilliat
Doug Karmel
Named cash management banking officer at Pinnacle Bank. Yongue will be based in Greenville and support customers with online cash management services. He previously worked at Carolina Alliance Bank in Spartanburg. He graduated from Clemson University with a degree in business management in 2009.
Named vice president of indirect lending at Palmetto Bank. Tollison has over 17 years of lending experience. He is also vice chair of the governmental affairs committee of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce and a board member and past president of the Laurens County Touchdown Club.
Named an agent at the Insurance Source. Heyward has more than 10 years of experience in the insurance industry. She will specialize in the areas of health, life, disability, vision and dental insurance. She also volunteers with the Ronald McDonald House, Meals on Wheels and other local charitable events.
Named an associate in the Greenville office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Gignilliat practices employment law, defending management in litigation involving discrimination, retaliation, wages, ERISA benefits and other issues. He previously clerked for Judges J. Randal Hall and G. Ross Anderson Jr.
Named vice president at O’Neal Inc. Karmel has more than 29 years of professional experience in global supply chain consulting, specializing in physical distribution and control, material handling systems and facilities planning. He joined the company in 2013.
CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN DP3 Architects Ltd. hired Carey Nelson as a member of the restaurant
studio. Carey has a master’s degree in architecture and digital ecologies from Clemson University. >>
A.T. LOCKE has a team of experts ready to help with your financial or accounting needs. From personal finance to cash management to reporting, we can provide valuable insight to help grow your business. We’re thorough, timely and ready to help.
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VIP
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
| ON THE MOVE | 17
Venture Capital & Angel Investing Venture capital and angel investing drives U.S. job creation and economic growth by helping entrepreneurs turn innovative ideas and advances into products and services that change the way we live and work.
100
Average number of venture capital transactions closed by Nelson Mullins in each of 2012, 2013 and 2014
200
Robert Emmett Staton
Number of emerging growth and venture capital stage companies represented by Nelson Mullins across the East Coast
Named interim president of Presbyterian College by the board of trustees. He previously served as chairman and CEO of Colonial Life and currently serves on the board of Delta Apparel. Staton served as a member of PC’s board of trustees from 1997-2006, serving on and chairing several committees. He also served as chair of the college’s Promise and Challenge capital campaign. In January 2007, he joined PC’s administration as executive vice president for external relations until 2012.
$173 MILLION Amount of venture capital invested in South Carolina companies since 2012*
$
10.7
>> FINANCE Marsh & McLennan Agency hired Leesa Simmons as an account manager at Rosenfeld Einstein/Capstone Insurance. Simmons will be responsible for servicing personal lines accounts. She currently holds a license in property and casualty. SunTrust Bank promoted Mitch Wright as retail area manager, and hired Georgia Luquire and Valerie Leonard as mortgage loan officers. Wright has held numerous positions within the company since entering the banking industry in 1992. He will oversee 15 branches throughout the Upstate. Luquire is a 16-year veteran of the banking industry. Leonard is a 25-year veteran of the banking industry with experience in jumbo and construction-to-permanent lending.
35
Number of Nelson Mullins attorneys in 8 offices across the East Coast who focus on emerging growth, venture capital and angel investing
Amount of money invested last year in seed and early stage companies in the U.S. by venture capitalists
billion Venture capital is about capturing the value between the startup phase and the public company phase
213
Total number of venture capital deals closed last year in the Southeast *As of 4Q14
Why pay extra for the inconvenience of out-of-state attorneys, when we have brought so much large market experience home to the Upstate? NEIL GRAYSON (864) 250-2235 neil.grayson@ nelsonmullins.com
BO RUSSELL (864) 250-2313 bo.russell@ nelsonmullins.com
MIKE JOHNSON (864) 250-2365 mike.johnson@ nelsonmullins.com
www.NelsonMullins.com
Sponsored Content The
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HARPER CORPORATION MOVES FORWARD WITH KEY PROJECTS IN THE UPSTATE. Explained by Harper Corporation
A
A Marleylilly Headquarters & Production Facility
Construction has begun on this new building that totals 70,000 SF. The structure will feature both office space as well as 60,000 SF of distribution space. The exterior features tilt up concrete panels.
Pump B Pelham Replacement Harper is replacing five pumps and associated piping and valves for the Pelham Wastewater Treatment Plant. This update will service the people of Greer, North East Greenville, and the surrounding community so that their water waste will be processed more efficiently.
WTP C Seneca Office Building Harper has completed a new office building for the City of Seneca. They are currently in the process of transitioning their operations into the new 7,783 SF structure. Additionally, it is in the process of gaining LEED certification.
Fresh D The Market This new grocery store is located at the intersection of Woodruff Road and Feaster Road. The footprint totals 21,000 SF, in addition to 6,300 SF of additional shopping space.
Harper Corporation is a full-service general contracting and construction management firm headquartered in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. An award-winning company, Harper consistently receives recognition in the areas of quality, safety, environmental stewardship, and community involvement. We serve clients in the commercial, industrial, healthcare, institutional, and environmental system markets throughout the southeast. Harper provides a full range of construction services that include design-build, value engineering, pre-engineered, and conventional construction.
BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN’ T MISS
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ZWO merges with Los Angeles company Greenville-based ZWO merged with Los Angeles advertising and public relations firm CPJ & Co. and opened a West Coast office with new principal Cynthia Jenkins as its head. Jenkins leads the national public relations efforts for Slyde Handboards; Balboa Travel; apparel company Seven To Seven; skincare company MD Complete; shading technologies company J|Geiger; Unlimited Power, a manufacturer of portable solar power systems; and Badazoom, “the first comprehensive electronics search engine.” “Increasingly we are serving more clients on the West Coast, particularly in the apparel, sports and retail industries,” ZWO CEO and founder Tina Zwolinski said in a release. “We are steadily building a team at ZWO West, including creative, content, and public relations assistance.”
American Starlinger-Sahm opens new HQ in Fountain Inn C
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American Starlinger-Sahm Inc. completed the move into its North American headquarters in Fountain Inn. The headquarters employs 25 people, and the facility comprises a total of 23,000 square feet and consists of a machine exhibition area, spare parts warehouse and office space. “North America is an important market with strong growth potential both in woven plastic packaging production and in plastics recycling, “ said American Starlinger-Sahm president Jimmy Carnford. He said customers will be able to make test runs with the material in the exhibition area of the building. The grand opening of the new headquarters will be a two-day event on Sept. 23 and 24. The company’s corporate headquarters is in Vienna, Austria.
Lockheed Martin donates $25K to Greenville Tech Lockheed Martin Greenville Operations added $25,000 to an endowed fund established in 1995 to provide scholarships for Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) students at Greenville Technical College. Lockheed Martin is among the companies relying on the AMT program for graduates with a balance of classroom training and hands-on instruction. The Federal Aviation Administration and Veterans Administration-approved associate degree program qualifies students to take the FAA airframe and powerplant technician certification exams. “We are pleased to be able to add to FINE PRINT continued on PAGE 20
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FINE PRINT continued from PAGE 19
our endowed scholarship fund so that men and women can pursue education that will give them skills critical for success in the aviation maintenance industry,” Don Erickson, Lockheed Martin Greenville site director, said in a release. “We are grateful to Lockheed Martin for the many ways the company supports our efforts,” said Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College. “The company’s commitment to education is obvious in its gifts that create opportunities for deserving people in our community.”
The Changing Tide in HR In the past month, there has been a deluge of employment law developments which will affect your business. The Supreme Court, Department of Labor (DOL) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have all been working overtime and making decisions that impact the business community.
Bank of America gives $8K to arts in Spartanburg The Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave $8,000 to The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg (TAP) to support the annual United Arts Fund. The organization fosters arts education programs for more than 47,000 students in Spartanburg County annually. The donation will support the agency’s countywide arts education efforts, community grants programs, public events and services, and its eight cultural partner organizations.
June was a busy month for the Supreme Court: Here are three of their decisions and some guidance for employers.
LEE YARBOROUGH
• The court upheld the Affordable Care Act in King v. Burwell by allowing subsidies through the federal marketplace. Employers should recognize that the ACA is the law of the land and prepare for the 2016 requirements.
• Obergefell v. Hodges guarantees the Constitutional right to samesex marriage. Businesses should evaluate their benefit plans, including leave policies, for compliance.
B&R Auto to offer U-Haul services
• A young woman was denied a job at Abercrombie & Fitch because she wore a headscarf, known as a hijab, which violated the “look policy” for sales clerks. However, in EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch, the Supreme Court ruled that the store’s failure to accommodate the applicant was discrimination. The lesson for employers: Do not make an applicant’s religious practice, confirmed or not, a factor in employment decisions.
U-Haul International Inc. has partnered with B&R Auto Services LLC to serve the Mauldin community. B&R Auto Services will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, support rental items and in-store pick-up for boxes. U-Haul claims that each truck placed in a community helps keep 19 personally owned large-capacity vehicles, pickups, SUVs and vans off the road.
In other HR news, the Wage & Hour Division of the DOL made an important proposal to extend overtime pay to nearly 5 million workers. By raising the salary threshold, the proposal would guarantee overtime pay to most salaried workers earning less than $50,440. Employers, stay tuned as this proposal moves through the rulemaking process.
SC Aerospace Conference announces keynote speaker
And lastly, Caitlyn Jenner is not the only one making news for transgender issues. The EEOC has recently filed its third lawsuit alleging discrimination on the basis of transgender status. This issue is tricky and full of legal pitfalls. As an employer, if you have an employee who is transitioning gender, please seek counsel with an HR expert before making ANY policy decisions.
669 N. Academy Street, Greenville, SC 864.679.6055 | 800.446.6567 | www.propelhr.com
C615J
Business in America is dynamic and it is imperative that employers keep up with the changing tide. By staying aware of new developments in HR, businesses will be able to reduce liability, protect their assets and grow successfully.
Organizers of the South Carolina Aerospace Conference and Expo announced National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Robert Sumwalt as one of the keynote speakers for the conference held on Aug. 26-27. Sumwalt, a South Carolina native and inductee in the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame, will speak on the emerging technologies that the NTSB is following and monitoring for safer flight. “Mr. Sumwalt will bring over 30 years of flight experience and almost 10 years of NTSB board member experience to our conference, and we are eager to learn more about his expertise,” said Steve Townes, chairman of SC Aerospace and president of Ranger Aerospace. Sumwalt was appointed as the 37th member of the National Transportation Safety Board in August 2006, whereupon President George W. Bush designated him as vice chairman of the board for a two-year term. In November 2011, President Barack Obama reappointed him to an additional five-year term. Registration and sponsorship information for the conference may be found at saeu.sc.edu/reg/aerospace.
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THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE
Open for business
| NEW TO THE STREET | 21
NOSE DIVE
1
$10 WEEKDAY LUNCH
Photos provided
2
1. Spinx recently opened a new location at 901 Marue Drive, Greenville. For more information, visit myspinx.com. 2. Calvary Automation recently opened at 1931 Perimeter Road, Greenville. The company supplies custom automation systems, machine replication services, manufactured parts and unique product offerings. For more information, visit calvauto.com. CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon? Email information to bjeffers@communityjournals.com.
Stay in the know. 116 South Main Street, Greenville SC 29601 | 864.373.7300 TheNoseDive.com Lunch and Dinner, Monday - Saturday | Sunday Brunch Upstate Business Journal
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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
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07.10. 2015
go to UPSTATEBUSINESSJOURNAL.COM OVERHEARD @ THE WATERCOOLER Distilled commentary from UBJ readers
BIZ BUZZ
RE: SIDEWALL PIZZA TO OPEN IN SAVOURY CORNER LOCATION
The top 5 stories from last week’s issue ranked by shareability score
“This is a serious problem! Not really, just TOO MANY GREAT places to eat here in Greenville! Love this city! #skylinexd #yeahTHATgreenville #nomnomnom Welcome Sidewall Pizza Company!” >> Skyline Exhibits & Design via FB
1. Lewis Plaza construction, including new Harris Teeter, to be completed by early 2017 – 424
“Sad to see it go.” >> Cynthia Saracino via FB
Photo by Michelle Gunning with Sling Shot Imaging
“Sad when the old stuff closes. #goodolddays” >> Tara Rowland via FB “Welcome to the NEXT Innovation Center neighborhood! First BiscuitHead, now Sidewall Pizza. Excellent.” >> NEXT – Greenville/ Upstate SC via FB “They have seriously good meatball pizza!” >> Jo Stamier Thompson via FB
RE: “Here’s a photo of our office space, located in The Village of West Greenville. A huge thanks to Craig Gaulden Davis for the beautiful transformation and hard work!” >> Upstate Business Journal via LinkedIn
RE: LEWIS PLAZA CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING NEW HARRIS TEETER, TO BE COMPLETE BY EARLY 2017
“We need this and a Kroger in Spartanburg. Also, bring back Winn Dixie.” >> John S Keenan via FB “A store right beside the Beacon in Spartanburg would be nice.” >> Scott Henson via FB “I want to know WHEN they are coming back to Shelby!” >> Brenda Mauney via FB “Best of all is that you can do your grocery shopping online. So when you pull up, they’ll just bring it all out to your car!” >> Lindsey Brown via FB
WATCH & SEE
4. Proterra snags $55M in financing, aims for profitability – 37
5. Fireworks sales fly upward – 36
CONNECT WITH US @UPSTATEBIZ
DIGITAL FLIPBOOK ARCHIVE >> The layout of print meets the convenience of the Web: flip through the digital edition of any of our print issues at upstatebusinessjournal. com/past-issues.
3. $41M in financing secured for Spartanburg Rite Aid distribution center – 189
JULY 3, 2015 | VOL. 4 ISSUE 27
GOOD FIEL D POSITION Greenville Leagues sco Sports res points in the major Upstate market and beyond PAGE 12
JIM PITT HARRIS
“I’d like more information on borrowing your way to profitability.” >> Tom Mills via FB
“A very nice, creative space. Well done!”
>> Edward Gubala via LinkedIn
PHOTO BY
RE: PROTERRA SNAGS $55M IN FINANCING, AIMS FOR PROFITABILITY
2. Sidewall Pizza to open in Savoury Corner location – 293
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WEIGH IN @ THE UBJ EXCHANGE Got something to offer? We’re looking for expert guest bloggers from all industries to contribute to the UBJ Exchange. Send posts or blog ideas to eprice@communityjournals.com. Check out the new Final Edit, a weekly blog post from our editors that reviews our week’s work in both UBJ and the Greenville Journal.
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INSIDE THE UPSTATE’S NETWORKING AND SOCIAL SCENE
| PLANNER | 23
DATE
EVENT INFO
WHERE DO I GO?
HOW DO I GO?
Tuesday
Commerce Club Conversation Series Topic: Biggest issues facing Greenville
Beattie Bar and Lounge, 55 Beattie Place, Greenville, 5 p.m.
Register: 864-232-5600
Entrepreneur Roundtable Topic: How to raise money for your startup Speaker: Jason Premo
Commerce Club, 55 Beattie Place, Greenville, 5:30 p.m.
Register: 864-232-5600
Tech After Five Networking for tech entrepreneurs
Pour Lounge, 221 N. Main St., Greenville, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free Register: bit.ly/taf-july2015
GSATC Learning Lunch Topic: Where is Greenville’s economy growing?
Embassy Suites, 670 Verdae Blvd., Greenville, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost: $25 Register: bit.ly/gsact-july205
SCORE Small Business Start-Up Workshop
Greenville Technical College Barton Campus, 506 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free Register: piedmontscore.org/workshops
Commerce Club Investment Club Participate in a “Fantasy Stock Market”
Commerce Club, 55 Beattie Place, 17th Floor, Greenville, 5:30 p.m.
Register: 864-232-5600
MauldinEdge Community based idea session moving the Mauldin Crossroads forward
All Occasions Celebrations, 108 N. Main St., 6:30-8:30 p.m.
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Networking with a Twist Monthly speed networking event
Commerce Club, 55 Beattie Place, 17th Floor, Greenville, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
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JULY 24: TRAVELERS REST The small town making big waves.
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DIGITAL TEAM Emily Price, Danielle Car
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.
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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
Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff
Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
Solve. Serve. Grow. Those three words summarize Jackson Marketing Group’s guiding principles, and according to owner Larry Jackson, form the motivation that has kept the firm thriving for the past 25 years.
Jackson graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in video and film production and started his 41-year career in the communications industry with the U.S. Army’s Public Information Office. He served during
Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood. He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980. In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he
learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage. In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar. “Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said. Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders
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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
JULY 31: QUARTERLY CRE ISSUE The state of commercial real estate in the Upstate.
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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jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years
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