July 12, 2013 UBJ

JULY 12, 2013

CONSTRUCTION’S

NEXT BIG LEAP

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David Batson, construction project engineer for O’Neal Inc., consults a digital plan at the job site.

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Upstate builders are starting to embrace the paperless job site

Volume II, Issue XXVII

July 12, 2013

Worth repeating “Follow your gut, which is a combination of my heart and my head. If you try to live with just one or the other, I don’t think you get as far in life.”

a nissan Leaf gets recharged wirelessly. CU-iCar and SCtaC are collaborating to test new plugless eV charging technology.

Photo provided

Marti spencer, executive director of Greenville’s Ronald McDonald House, on the best advice she’s received.

Michael bedenbaugh, executive director of the Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation, on the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act, signed into law last month.

Word is bMW has signed a short-term lease for rental space downtown. BMW’s Sky Foster says the carmaker’s continued growth requires more space and resources and “utilization of office space in downtown Greenville is a temporary solution for some of our employees” …

“I think the industry is changing forever pretty quickly in terms of how buildings are designed, built, maintained and operated.”

“This is just the beginning of a larger journey which hopefully will bring more transportation-related R&D activities to the Upstate.” joachim taiber, Clemson University research professor and leader of CU-ICAR and SCTAC’s project to test plugless chargers for electric vehicles.

Taco lovers take note: Table 301 is fast-tracking a new taco shop to open soon under its Lazy Goat restaurant in the former lazy Goat Gelato space …

Look for cycling stars of the past, present and future to descend on the Upstate in October, when George Hincapie hosts a Gran Fondo (“big ride”) group cycling event known among cyclists as a “party on wheels” …

“Instead of trying to go out on the fringes of communities, this helps bring people back into towns to fill into the existing infrastructure.”

brian Gallagher, director of marketing at O’Neal Inc., on high-tech changes in the construction industry.

13

tba

Verbatim

On Raman (R.P.) Rama’s leadership…

“One of those rare leaders whose long-term dedication and commitment to excellence and further education have shaped and inspired our industry.”

Robert L. Steele III, president of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, awarding R.P. Rama, vice president and Greenville-based JHM Hotels, the title of CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator) Emeritus.

2 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal July 12, 2013

UBJ News GSP Projects $25M Revenues, Says Southwest ‘Worth It’

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

at its regular meeting, the gsp Airport Commission adopted a fiscal year 2013-14 budget and announced it expects revenues to increase 8.69 percent. Revenue is expected to surpass $25 million by 2014, up about $8.1 million from 2010.

The news was mostly positive.

The cost per enplanement (CPE) is expected to drop to $6.45 from $6.60, which will help with air service development.

Among challenges, President and CEO Dave Edwards said that sequestration continues to be a problem. International travel has been affected with wait times in Miami being three to four hours.

The commission also addressed the question of whether the cost of bringing Southwest Airlines to the airport justified the benefits. Jack G. Murrin, vice president of administration and finance and CFO, gave a presentation that answered with a resounding “yes.”

Among the gains, jobs increased

by 5,837 and income by more than $58 million, he said. Airfares have come much closer to national averages, though still hover just above.

Total incentives paid to Southwest were nearly $4.9 million in fees waived from April 2011 to April 2013.

At the same time, there was some concern over Southwest’s plans to move into the Charlotte market, which a spokesperson said would doubtless mean some loss of passengers to Charlotte. Edwards said in the meeting that he expressed those concerns to the airline.

The fiscal year ended June 30.

The airport’s operating income was up by 1.58 percent when compared to the budget through May 2012. Operating expenses were down by 6.51 percent over the budgeted amount for the period.

Net operating income was up 11.50 percent. For the period ending May 2013, about $10.39 million has been returned to the bottom line in operating income.

SUMMER SALE

EffEcts of southwEst AirlinEs Oct 2009-sept 2012 NumBer Local jobs

iNcrease

5,837

158.14%

$58,477,352

52.21%

Local output

$439,594,081

116.44%

Tax Revenues

$65,656,793

140.01%

Local income

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TA I L O R E D

UBJ NEWS

by the Purveyors of Classic American Style

“Ask Rush” Men’s Fashion Q & A The staff at Rush Wilson Limited uses our knowledge and experience to answer our client’s questions concerning a wide range of topics.

Q: May I go sockless at work?

A: In a business environment, a man should always wear socks. If you

are the pool boy, feel free to go sockless. Otherwise, keep them on for business, leave them off only in a casual, social setting.

Q: Which buttons do I fasten on my blazer?

A: Here’s a simple phrase to help you remember, “Sometimes, Always,

Josef Kerscher

Never” - On a three button blazer - Sometimes button the top button, Always button the middle button, and Never button the bottom button.

For a two button blazer, it is even simpler, “Always, Never.” Unless you are going for the Pee Wee Herman look - NEVER button all of the buttons.

Changes at the Top at BMW Manufacturing

Q: I have a full round face, what shirt collar should I wear?

A: For a round face, one should wear a narrow point collar or button

Manfred Erlacher will replace Josef Kerscher as president in November

down collar. Stay away from wider spread collars that accentuate the horizontal lines.

overwhelmed by a man’s cologne. Cologne is appropriate outside the workplace in a social setting. However, even then, it should only be enough to be detected when your wife, mother, daughter, or girlfriend gives you a hug or a kiss on the cheek. Keep this in mind - Cologne should be a subtle hint, not a kick in the head!

Q: Should I wear lace up shoes or slip-ons with my suit?

A: Lace up shoes are considered dressier than slip-ons. Wear a cap toe or wing tip lace up shoe with a dark, dressier suit. Slip-ons are fine with slacks and a sport coat or a casual suit of cotton or linen.

At Rush Wilson Limited we strive to provide helpful advice to our customers, so they can feel confident in the way they are dressed in any situation. We welcome your questions by email, phone, Facebook, and of course, in person.

4 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL July 12, 2013

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bmw announced that josef Kerscher will vacate his post as president of BMW Manufacturing and his replacement will arrive November 1.

Kerscher will assume the role of managing director of BMW Plant Dingolfing in Bavaria, Germany.

He will be replaced by Manfred Erlacher, currently managing director of BMW Plant Leipzig in Saxony, Germany.

“Since 2007, I have had the privilege to oversee significant expansion and investment in BMW’s South Carolina operations,” Kerscher told UBJ. “As I transition to manage Plant Dingolfing, I hope to retain the wonderful relationships developed with my Spartanburg team and the surrounding community. The key insights learned from my tenure in South Carolina will serve me well as I begin my next opportunity.”

The company said production at the plant nearly tripled during Kerscher’s tenure, going from 105,000 vehicles in 2006 to more than

301,000 vehicles in 2012. He oversaw a major expansion and sustainable energy improvements.

During the same period, the Spartanburg plant became the largest exporter of cars from the United States, adding the X6 model.

Erlacher succeeded Kerscher once before as head of BMW’s Munich plant when Kerscher came to Spartanburg. Erlacher has been managing director of Leipzig since 2009, recently leading the plant through a major expansion.

An engineer by training, Erlacher has extensive experience in BMW production having led both assembly and body shop operations at Plant Munich before becoming managing director of the plant.

Last week the company reported that BMW Group’s U.S. sales increased 21 percent from a year ago to 33,729 units. For the first half of the year, the group’s sales rose 9 percent from the same period in 2012 to 173,291 units. Numbers reflect combined sales of BMW and MINI models.

Photos provided

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

Q: What type of cologne is appropriate for work?

A: NONE! Nothing is more annoying in the workplace than to be

Open Mon.-Sat. 9:30am - 5:30pm Wed. 9:30am - 1:00pm

Manfred Erlacher

UBJ News

Veto Puts Medical Facilities in Limbo

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

gov. nikki haley’s recent veto of funding for a state program that regulates requests to expand healthcare facilities or add services or equipment has put the health care industry in limbo until the path forward is determined by the courts.

In a statement, Haley called the certificate of need program (CON) a “political obstacle to quality care” that “restricts access, drives down quality and drives up costs.” Her own experience with CON came while working as a fundraiser for the Lexington Medical Center Foundation, whose request for a heart surgery unit was rejected at that time.

Haley’s veto eliminated $1.7 million in funding designated for the Department of Health and Human Services to review requests and issue certificates of need, which are required by law before new medical facilities can be built or existing facilities expanded. The state House of Representatives upheld the veto.

DHEC then suspended the program for the coming fiscal year, prompting a wave of confusion that ultimately led the agency to file suit in an attempt to get direction from the S.C. Supreme Court on whether it must continue to

regulate such activities – since the permits are still required by law – without the funding to do so.

Meanwhile, health care providers say the uncertainty keeps them from being able to make business decisions that will affect not just the next fiscal year, but also many years beyond.

DHEC Director Catherine Templeton argued the suspension is justified as her agency lacks the authority to carry out an unfunded mandate. She cited a 2011 S.C. Supreme Court decision that funds could not be used for their intended purpose if a veto is upheld by the Legislature. She also cited a 2010 case where the Attorney General found that the General Assembly’s refusal to fund an S.C. Human Affairs Commission relieved the commission of its obligation to carry it out.

She promised providers DHEC would not take action against facilities that undertake expansions during that time. There were CON requests for 33 projects worth about $85 million awaiting DHEC’s review or approval as of last month.

The resulting situation leaves two important questions: whether the

veto supersedes the law and means hospitals can expand unfettered, and whether Templeton has the power to suspend the program.

As of press time, the Supreme Court had not indicated whether it would take up the case.

In 1998, DHEC was asked to review how a proviso in a legislative act that appropriated funds for Medicaid patient days affected Medical Home of Florence’s pending request for additional Medicaid beds. Douglas Bryant, the DHEC commissioner at the time, had deferred to the “legislative intent of the law,” and allowed the addition of additional beds without a CON. When another facility, Commander Health Care Facilities, challenged that decision in 2005, the court upheld DHEC’s decision because Commander could not prove it had been harmed.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 36 states have some type of CON requirement. States that don’t “still retain some mechanisms intended to regulate costs and duplication of services,” according to the NCSL website.

Michael Batchelor, CEO of Baptist Easley, said his hospital would continue to operate under the usual rules.

“I basically said to my board that we’re going to continue to follow the process, still submit the same paperwork,” he said. He expressed concern that the suspension of CONs would allow entities to start up and drive existing organizations out of business and then eventually raise costs for all. He said the current system provides checks and balances that ensure community needs are met, and met responsibly.

Upstate CON ReqUests as Of JUNe FACILITY

PROJECT

STATUS

AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital (Anderson)

5 new rehabilitation beds $67,500

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Bon Secours St. Francis – Eastside (Greenville)

Buy and install da Vinci Si HD Surgical System - $2,642,699

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EmeriCare Skylyn Place (Spartanburg)

16 new community nursing home beds, switch of 11 other beds to community beds $2,977,800

Under Review

Spartanburg Regional Health Services District (Spartanburg)

New CyberKnife Radiotactic Stereo Surgery System and vault $8,346,395

Under Review

St. Francis Millennium Cancer Center

New outpatient oncology center

Under Review

The Carolina Center for Behavioral Health

Renovations for new 18-bed psychiatric unit

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Source: SC Department of Health and Environmental Control

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UBJ News

Affordable Care Act Partially Delayed the treasury department announced last week that parts of the Affordable Care Act would be delayed until 2015 for employers with 50 or more employees.

The Shared Responsibility Penalty, as it is called, is still in effect and on schedule for small employers. The delay does not change the individual care mandate, which requires most people to buy insurance and provides access to tax credits.

In a note titled “Continuing to Implement the ACA in a Careful, Thoughtful Manner,” Assistant Treasury Secretary for Tax Policy Mark Mazure said the timeline has been changed in response to con-

cerns about the complexity of the bill and time needed for implementation. The additional year would give the government time to simplify the reporting requirements.

Employers will be “strongly encouraged” to implement in 2014 despite the delay, and reporting systems will be tested during that time.

David McMillian, chairman of the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (SCRLA), said businesses are welcoming the change and the chance to respond to the law with more time and hopefully more information.

“I’m sure everyone’s breathing

a sigh of relief because there’s so much we don’t know,” McMillan said. “The biggest thing that it gives us some time to do is to get this 30-hour workweek legislation rolled back.” He was referring to new designation in the law that considers those who work more than 30 hours per week to be fulltime employees.

Formal guidelines describing the transition were expected to be released by the end of this week.

UBJ’s expanded coverage of the Affordable Care Act begins later this month with a look at small business.

Governor’s Regulatory Task Force Sets Local Meeting gov. nikki haley’s regulatory Review Task Force has announced a schedule of regional meetings in July, including a session at the Greenville Public Library on Heritage Green, on Monday, July 15, from noon until 2 p.m.

The task force invites the public, businesses, employees, professional associations, and any other affected person or entity to comment on state statutes and regulations, current or proposed, that may unduly burden businesses or employers, according to task force Chairman Mark Lutz.

Any South Carolina resident may attend and make recommendations to the task force.

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sary Discount Program shows our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of city business owners,” said City Manager John Castile.

The program will reward 436 business owners this year. To qualify, businesses must have a current 2013 business license, be in good standing with the city and have been located in the city of Greenville for at least 10 years as of the effective date of the ordinance as indicated by their business start date.

Businesses are rewarded based on longevity milestones which range from five percent for businesses celebrating their 10-year anniversary to 10 percent for those in business for 20 years or more. The anniversary discount is capped at $10,000.

“We recognize the valuable role that [businesses] play in the continued vitality and prosperity of our community and we look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with them,” Castile said.

BANKING CENTERED AROUND ME. D

“Innovation is our calling card, so we needed a

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longtime greenville business owners will be getting a nice anniversary gift from the city over the next few weeks. Checks will be sent out as part of the business license tax discount change City Council made to the business license code in November 2012.

The Anniversary Discount Program ordinance was put into place to reward longevity and recognize city businesses’ contributions and long-term commitment to the community.

“We hope that the Anniver-

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By Sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com

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City Sends Anniversary Checks to Businesses

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Gov. Haley established the task force in February of this year to “evaluate South Carolina’s current regulatory burdens on businesses and to propose recommendations to relieve those burdens,” said Lutz in a statement.

Other meetings have also been scheduled for Columbia, North Charleston, Beaufort, Conway and Aiken.

South Carolinians unable to attend a meeting can send comments to GovRegTaskForce@sccommerce. com. The task force asks that email correspondence include information such as name, company name and contact information; the specific statute, rule, regulation or policy the writer wishes to comment on; and how the regulation “unduly burdens you or your business.”

For complete email guidelines and more information, visit SCcommerce.com/TaskForce.

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UBJ YOUR MONEY

By CAMP R. WYNN

The Psychology of the Market the recent market volatility should lead investors to pause and examine economic fundamentals and market psychology.

Typically, markets have approximately three 5 percent declines annually, and a 10 percent decline every year. The market is a discounting mechanism for future cash flow, either through dividends or future value of assets. Therefore, market values should be linked to current economic activity and the prospects for future growth.

The psychology of the market differs from fundamentals, similar to how moods differ from personalities. Market psychology can be reactionary, and lately it has reacted to statements from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. If he is dovish, psychology is positive, while if he is hawkish, psychology is poor.

First quarter GDP growth was 2.4 percent and it likely slowed

units, near multiyear highs. Job growth is insufficient to cure our economic ills, but has been additive to growth. For the first five months of 2013, the economy has created 189,000 jobs per month, compared to 134,000 and 152,000 in the same periods of 2012 and 2011.

The energy sector is creating an economic catalyst through investment and job creation. Due to technological advancements, U.S. oil production increased 40 percent since 2008. U.S. shale production increased sixfold, to 265 billion cubic meters since 2007. Long-term, this energy renaissance will create a competitive advantage for the U.S. and improve our fiscal situation, strengthen the dollar, and create an advantage for energy intensive industries. Again, the economic fun-

It is easy to get caught up in the short-term psychology, ignore the fundamentals and act. More often than not, this is a poor decision. during the second quarter. The recovery from the 2009 recession has been lackluster, but we are recovering. Current economic data shows strength in housing, improving employment, and expansion in the energy sector.

Home starts, permits and existing home sales are all moving higher, with starts and permits up 28.6 percent and 20.8 percent respectively over last year. Existing home sales are above 5 million

damentals are not fantastic but the trend is positive and many areas appear to be gaining strength.

Market psychology has become very dependent on the Federal Reserve’s policy. The Fed’s programs have kept interest rates low and pumped money in the capital markets through quantitative easing (QE). The objective of this policy was to increase economic activity and thereby to increase employment and create moderate inflation.

THE BASICS QE

QUANTITATIVE EASING an unconventional monetary policy used by central banks to stimulate the national economy when standard monetary policy has become ineffective.

Market participants bid up risk assets due to cheap money and lack of alternatives. Since Bernanke’s testimony in May before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), interest rates and volatility are higher due to hints of less QE. Bernanke’s June 20 press conference caused a rapid uptick in interest rates. This speed of this reaction has caused dislocations in the bond, commodity and ETF (exchange traded funds) markets, both here and around the globe. Equity markets have also reacted negatively, albeit in a more orderly fashion.

Bernanke’s statement indicated a willingness to curtail QE because “downside risks to the economy have receded.” While his commentary of the economy was more positive, market psychology equates less QE will lower asset prices and traders are rushing for the exits.

On the margin, higher interest rates are negative for the economy and the direction of rates is important, but so are levels. Rates are higher than five months ago, but remain at historically low levels.

Assets prices are influenced by fundamentals and psychology. In the short term, psychology can outweigh fundamentals, driving stocks higher (1999) or lower (2009). In the long term, fundamentals are more important in determining the value of a company.

The S&P 500 is trading at 16.2x current operating earnings. When

ETF

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS investment funds traded on stock exchanges

Forward P/E FORWARD PRICE-TO-EARNINGS a measure of the price-toearnings ratio (P/E) using forecasted earnings for the P/E calculation

compared to next year’s earnings estimates, the S&P 500 has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.8x. Historically, this is a reasonable multiple of earnings and below the 10- and 15-year averages.

If earnings could grow slower than anticipated, the market is still not overly expensive. After a strong move up, there will be corrections.

Additionally, some portion of the market returns was due to QE, and less QE going forward will force markets to stand on their own.

Based on the fundamentals of the economy, things don’t look too bad and the trend is improving.

It is easy to get caught up in the short-term psychology, ignore the fundamentals and act. More often than not, this is a poor decision. If the economic fundamentals change, that is the time to act. Remember, moods and market psychology can change.

Camp R. Wynn is the executive vice president and trust officer for the Colonial Trust Company. He received the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2003 and became a principal of the firm in 2007. He is a Spartanburg native and a graduate of the University of South Carolina.

8 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL July 12, 2013

More links, less inks.

The Upstate’s leading weekly business news is coming to web, mobile and tablet this August.

Limited Ad options available, call (864) 679-1200 for more information.

Visit UpstateBusinessJournal.com to sign up for our latest updates and announcements.

UBJ INNOVATE

By MATT DUNBAR

A Tectonic Shift On June 14, the earth moved for S.C. entrepreneurs – and angel investors although you probably didn’t feel the ground quake on June 14, there was seismic activity in South Carolina that day. When Gov. Nikki Haley signed House Bill 3505, the “High Growth Small Business Access to Capital Act,” she set in motion a tectonic shift in the marketplace for early-stage capital for entrepreneurs in the Palmetto State.

With the enactment of the new law, South Carolina joined the ranks of more than two dozen states that have jump-started capital formation for startup companies through an income tax credit for angel investors (a moniker coined during the Depression for individuals who invest their own personal capital and expertise in fledgling private companies).

WHY IT MATTERS According to the Kauffman Foundation, all net new job creation in the United States over the last 30 years has been generated by startup firms less than five years old. One key implication of that eye-opening finding is that in order to grow our way back to a healthy economy, we

must cultivate ecosystems for supporting the entrepreneurs who drive economic growth.

Unfortunately, those entrepreneurs face a notoriously difficult task in attracting the funding they need to get to market and scale up their enterprises – especially in a state like South Carolina where organized venture capital funding has been exceedingly scarce.

However, there’s an overlooked source of capital in our state that can help close the funding gap for entrepreneurs – and that’s the wealth that already exists right here in our own backyard.

According to a 2011 Deloitte study, South Carolina is home to over 115,000 households that have a net worth of $1 million or more (which means they qualify as accredited investors per the Securities and Exchange Commission and are therefore eligible to invest in private company offerings). If just one percent of those households were to invest 5 percent of their net worth in South Carolina startups (assuming just the minimum of $1 million in net worth), that could mean $57

million in available capital for jobcreating entrepreneurs in our state (which is more than the venture capital dollars invested here in all but two years since 2000).

However, most of those individuals are not aware of opportunities to invest in startup companies, and even those who are may be reluctant to invest in admittedly high-risk ventures. Enter the new Angel Investor Credit for South Carolina (along with pending rules from the SEC that will allow startups to advertise their capital-raising efforts), and soon investors will not only be made aware of more startup investment opportunities, but they’ll also know their risk is mitigated in the form of a state income tax credit.

HOW IT WORKS The new tax credit will allow angel investors to claim a 35 percent income tax credit against the value of investments they make in qualified high-growth businesses in South Carolina, beginning retroactively with January 1, 2013.

In order for a company to be eligible to receive investments that qualify for the credit, the company must first apply to be a South Carolina Qualified Business with the Secretary of State. The Secretary’s office will ensure that the company is headquartered in South Carolina,

is fewer than five years old, has no more than 25 employees, and generated less than $2 million in revenue in any previous fiscal year.

The company must also conduct its business in high-growth sectors such as manufacturing, wholesaling, information technology, research and development, or business services. (Several industries are excluded, including real estate, retail, gambling, mining, professional services and brokerage and insurance services).

Once the business is qualified by the Secretary of State, an angel investor can then claim a tax credit for a qualified investment in the company by submitting an application to the Department of Revenue no later than December 31 of the year the investment is made.

The investor may claim up to $100,000 in credits for a given year, while the total credits available from the state is $5 million annually. Up to half of the credit may be taken in the year the investment was made, while the remaining portion may be used in a subsequent year. The credit may be

Matt Dunbar is managing director of the Upstate Carolina Angel Network. He was recently appointed to the board of directors of the Angel Capital Association, a North American trade group of angel groups and private investors.

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To qualify to receive angel investments that qualify for tax credit under the new law, a company must: • Be headquartered in S.C. • Be fewer than 5 years old • Have no more than 25 employees • Have generated less than $2 million in revenue in any previous fiscal year • Do business in high-growth sectors

carried forward up to 10 years and can be transferred, which means it can be sold if the investor does not have a South Carolina income tax liability. This feature is quite attractive as it creates an incentive for investors outside of South Carolina to co-invest with local dollars.

South Carolina’s legislation is similar to many other states with angel tax credits (including Georgia and North Carolina), with one important twist. Sen. Hugh Leatherman of Florence introduced a clever credit recovery provision in the bill that appears to be unique among other states. Under the Leatherman amendment, the state will recover the amount of the credit it provided the investor if and when the investor realizes a capital gain from the investment.

WHAT NEXT? First, the next time you speak with one of the following legislators, please thank them for their leadership and dedication to moving the earth for entrepreneurs in South Carolina: Sen. Hugh Leatherman (Florence) and Rep. Dwight Loftis (Greenville). There were many other elected officials who helped along the way, but Leatherman and Loftis carried the torch.

Second, if you, or someone you

know is interested in learning more about how to take advantage of the new tax credit by supporting entrepreneurs, please get in touch with me at matt@upstateangels.org.

Third and finally, although this bill created a tax credit for investors, it is really all about entrepreneurs and their risk-taking efforts to create value and grow our economy.

In that spirit, you might join me in thanking an entrepreneur with these words from Nassim Taleb from his recently published book “Antifragile”: “Heroism and the respect it commands is a form of compensation by society for those who take risks for others. And entrepreneurship is a risky and heroic activity, necessary for the growth or even the mere survival of the economy.

“Most of you will fail … but we are grateful for the risks you are taking and the sacrifices you are making for the sake of the economic growth of the planet and pulling others out of poverty. You are at the source of our antifragility. Our nation thanks you.”

GO FIGURE

115,000

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1,150 x $50,000

1 percent of those households

5 percent of those households’ net worth invested

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July 12, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 11

UBJ News

LeFT: Ivy grows on a fence of an abandoned manufacturing facility in Greenville; RIGHT: Grass grows in what was a parking lot while ivy grows on the side of an abandoned manufacturing facility in Greenville.

Abandoned Buldings Act Provides Rehab Incentives

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in an effort to stimulate development of abandoned buildings across the state, Gov. Nikki Haley signed the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act into law last month. Developers and individuals looking to rehabilitate abandoned buildings now have a 25 percent state tax incentive.

“In all of our communities throughout the Upstate we are faced with the dilemma of what to do with long-term vacant commercial buildings,” said Nancy Whitworth, director of economic development for the City of Greenville. “Not only do they dilute our tax base, but also lead to further deterioration and disinvestment. The Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act can help provide a needed incentive to get these buildings back into productive life.”

The idea came from The Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation to “attract capital back into locations where capital has left,” said Michael Bedenbaugh, the Palmetto Trust’s executive director.

“Instead of trying to go out on the fringes of communities, this helps

12 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal July 12, 2013

bring people back into towns to fill into the existing infrastructure.”

The bill passed unanimously in both the House and Senate.

The Palmetto Trust had commissioned a fiscal impact study from Clemson University’s Strom Thurmond Institute to ensure the idea was something that would create value.

“The numbers showed this would be a boon to create capital investments,” Bedenbaugh said. “For every dollar of tax credit, it will create $19-$21 in economic return. For every $500,000 in tax credit taken, it will create 100-150 new jobs.”

The new law allows a 25 percent state income tax credit on the rehabilitation of commercial buildings that have a minimum of 66 percent of their square footage empty and unused for five years or more. The bill was written this way to allow for those properties where maybe “there’s a three story building and only one floor is occupied,” Bedenbaugh said. Any commercialuse building qualifies, except owner-occupied, residential homes.

The law sets minimum invest-

ment thresholds to qualify for the funding to allow for scaling in smaller towns. For towns with populations of fewer than 1,000, the minimum investment is $75,000; for towns or counties with populations between 1,000-25,000, the minimum is $150,000; and for towns or counties over 25,000, the minimum investment is $250,000.

The maximum tax credit allowed per project is $500,000.

Though the bill is not historic preservation-specific, renovations on historic properties will not only qualify for the existing 35 percent state historic preservation tax credit, but will now also be eligible for the 25 percent Abandoned Buildings Revitalization tax credit, Bedenbaugh said. This equates to a total 55 percent in tax credit, which in most cases “will pay for the renovations,” he said.

The tax credit is slated to expire after 2019, but Bedenbaugh is confident the Legislature will extend it.

“It will empower local developers and investors and save buildings that can still contribute,” he said.

Photos by Greg Beckner

By sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com

UBJ News

Electric Vehicles, Unplugged CU-ICAR, SCTAC collaboration will test plugless, on-the-go EV charging

Photos provided

By Dick Hughes | contributor dhughes@communityjournals.com

clemson’s international automotive Center and the South Carolina Technical and Aviation Center are collaborating to test plugless charging for electric vehicles while on the move.

CU-ICAR also is responsible for testing and validating international technical standards for stationary wireless charging systems, a technology just now making its way to the market.

The collaboration puts CU-ICAR and SCTAC at the center of a technological advance to make EV charging more convenient, accessible and economical. It, too, could lead to smaller and lighter batteries, the holy grail of the budding EV industry.

“This is just the beginning of a larger journey which hopefully will bring more transportationrelated R&D activities to the Upstate,” said Joachim Taiber, the Clemson research professor leading the project.

CU-ICAR will conduct the tests and oversee the technology. SCTAC will provide the infrastructure on a 5,500-foot (1.04-mile) runway “redeveloped into a testing track,” said Jody Bryson, president and CEO of SCTAC. He said the joint venture “marks the next step … in the development of a world–class track infrastructure to support the rapidly emerging clean transportation ecosystem.”

The three-year program is funded under a $1.5-million grant from the Department of Energy. The wireless power transfer technology was developed by DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which will monitor the testing data. The work began this year.

“It is technology that works like a

transformer where you basically have a primary coil and a secondary coil,” explained Taiber. “The primary coil is on the ground and the secondary coil’s in the vehicle, and you charge the vehicle over an air gap.”

If it proves viable as an efficient and fast-charging alternative to stationary plug-in technology, drivers would be able to drive over charging routes “throughout their

garage; and as the coils are aligned, power is transferred. You don’t have to actively think about connecting the vehicle to the power grid,” Taiber said. “You can use it outdoors. The technology can be utilized when it is raining.”

The stationary plugless system is already in use, having been co-developed and manufactured by Evatran of Wytheville, Va., under

“this is just the beginning of a larger journey which hopefully will bring more transportation-related r&D activities to the Upstate.”

Clemson research professor Joachim Taiber

daily drive,” even at high speeds.

The other major component of the project is to validate stationary wireless systems in which, for example, a residential garage or parking deck or lot has embedded primary coils and the undercarriage of the EV has the secondary coil.

“Basically, you drive into the

a separate DOE grant. Taiber’s team at CU-ICAR, which has a close relationship with Evatran, conducted the testing.

Last year, Evatran installed prototype stationary wireless systems for the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf at CU-ICAR, Google headquarters, the Los Angeles Depart-

ment of Water and Power, Duke Energy and Hertz Corp.

Last month, it introduced it to the commercial after-market in partnership with Bosch, which is providing installation and support.

To soften the $3,000 expense, Bosch promises help securing “money-saving rebates offered by utility companies, government or vehicle manufacturers.”

Convenient and reliable wireless “stop and go” and dynamic or inmotion charging could lead to extended range and to smaller batteries, which brings automakers to the table with strong vested interest.

Along with Evatran, Duke Energy and Cisco, GM and Toyota are project partners, and Clemson is working with them “on how to integrate the technology” into their original equipment. Both GM and Toyota have test vehicles with Evatran’s coil receptors.

The focus of CU-ICAR’s role is “on the communication system between the vehicle control system and the control system of the charge on the road,” he said.

“Different test cases will be set up at the SCTAC site with different vehicles. We will confirm how efficient power can be transferred, how reliable and so forth.”

Without a test track at its Millenium campus, Taiber said, the partnership with nearby SCTAC provides a secure environment, access to power and the ability to run test vehicles at high speeds.

SCTAC is a 2,600-acre industrial park that was converted from what had been Donaldson Air Force Base. The runway being fitted for CU-ICAR’s test is the smaller of two runways.

July 12, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 13

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cover story

Tech Breaks New GrouNd iN BuildiNG construction companies in the Upstate are saying hello to increased efficiency and communication – and goodbye to the paper blueprint

By Jennifer oladipo | senior business writer

The construction industry is a notoriously late adopter of new technologies.

“Our work processes – the way we do things – have been tried and proven over a 100-year tenure,” said Tony Roache, director of construction automation at Fluor Corporation.

He said a great deal of apprehension about replacing a tried-and-true method with a new one is not uncommon in the industry.

Yet the move toward what he calls “datacentric” operations is marking a time of rapid transition in the industry. Mobile devices have been household items for more than a decade, but have just recently begun to appear at construction sites. Software for online collaboration, workflow management, and even tools to address legal and language challenges of working overseas are being rapidly developed and adopted.

On the material side, new concrete curing sensors can tell exactly when fresh concrete will bear the load needed for work, eliminating the need for core samples and lab testing. And radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips can track thousands of pieces of material associated with a project. A truck could simply

roll past a scanner to complete an inventory.

The last notable technology jump in construction came with computer-aided design (CAD) software in the 1980s, Roache said.

In the late 1990s, the emphasis was on more robust AutoCAD products and project management software, said Brian Gallagher, director of marketing at O’Neal Inc. Now data is king, said Roache, and the best use of it makes the most difference. “New stuff has allowed us to move that data to the point of activity, and that’s were we’ve realized the most efficiencies,” he said.

oN-siTe aNd off

o’neal, an industrial engineering and construction firm with worldwide markets, recently investigated where it could derive the biggest benefits from investing in technology, and found that engineering and construction were the “lowhanging fruit,” Gallagher said. It invested in more technology and training. The entire company aims to be paperless by 2015.

16 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal July 12, 2013

For the past six months, employees have “been playing with” iPads and various software.

The bulky paper blueprint, perhaps second only to the hardhat as the archetypal item of construction, will one day be a relic, Gallagher said.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is you’re not always sure if the contractor’s working from the most recent version of the plans,” he said.

Before, addressing discrepancies meant snapping and printing a digital photo, comparing it to the paper blueprint in the shed, and making a telephone call to somebody at the home office to discuss the problem. Now it’s an iPad snapshot and a couple of minutes of back-and-forth on the Web. For about a year, O’Neal has used GPS technology to make documentation more precise, so everyone knows exactly where the issue is.

“When you can get that engaged with the owner, designer and contractors in the field, you can make lots of up-front fixes,” Gallagher said, adding an electronic document trail adds an extra level of security and accountability among multiple partners.

O’Neal workers consult their digital plans at a construction project.

Photo provided

WHO’S REALLY BEHIND?

it’s true the construction industry had to overcome barriers of convention and psychology, but technologies also took a while to evolve to meet construction’s particular needs.

Leaders say software companies have only recently begun to address construction’s needs.

Until recently, appropriate software simply was unavailable, Gallagher said, but now Apple and Microsoft are looking for opportunities to develop tools for construction. He has seen a serious acceleration in offerings in the past six to eight months. Startups are being snatched up and companies are merging and going public, all of which indicates potential for a new phase of growth, he said.

Roache said it has taken companies time to differentiate between what’s needed on a work site and what’s needed on a desktop. Also, the hardware could not handle the rigors of a construction site, where sunlight, dust, water and threats of dropping are routine.

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Estimating and Takeoff software from PlanSwift planswift.com Bluebeam PDF creation, markup and collaboration bluebeam.com Concrete curing sensor from TDR

for various reasons, some clients still do not want everything to be so connected and accessible. Gallagher said some clients still request paper blueprints while some “extremely protective” clients refuse cloud storage options.

He admits that protecting clients’ intellectual property will be critical as technology evolves.

Yet employees are sold.

“They love it. They can’t imagine going back to the way it had been in the past,” Gallagher said.

Some veterans in the industry are embracing the technology, but Gallagher said it is mostly younger employees who are most adept and enthusiastic.

“I think the industry is changing forever pretty quickly in terms of how buildings are designed, built, maintained and operated,” he said. Not only that, the technology investments have given the company a competitive edge when it comes to recruiting, he said. New graduates are armed with a new toolbox, and they’re looking for employers prepared to let them use it.

July 12, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 17

UBJ PROFILE

Making the Leap

Marti Spencer went from corporate to nonprofit with her leadership of the Ronald McDonald House

By APRIL A. MORRIS | staff amorris@communityjournals.com

I enjoy the challenge

Marti Spencer, CEO and executive director of the Ronald McDonald House.

18 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL July 12, 2013

Photo by Greg Beckner

of working for a nonprofit and how they would tell me, “You’ve got $10,000 (for an event), make it look like $50,000.”

Marti spencer left tHe corporate WorlD for tHe nonprofit sector WitH an 18-Year

stint as full-time mom in between. Since 2012, she’s been the new executive director of Greenville’s Ronald McDonald House, but she’s been involved with the nonprofit for a lot longer than that. The house gives families a place to stay while their children are undergoing treatment in local hospitals. Spencer sat down with the Upstate Business Journal to talk about its mission and her journey before arriving in the top seat.

How did you become involved in the ronald McDonald House?

I started as a volunteer about 10 years ago working on events and fundraising. When I lived in Miami, I worked in marketing and public relations and thought I could use some of my skills to help out the Ronald McDonald House. I stayed at home with my children and liked reinventing myself after that time. I built my resume around the work I did as a mom.

After two years, in 2006, I was asked to come on board as their program manager. I went on to be chief development officer. I had to really think about taking on executive director because I really enjoyed my work as chief development officer, but I thought I knew what the house needed and I would give it all I had.

Who has been your inspiration?

There are several strong women in my family who were pioneers in their fields. My grandmother was with civil defense and the Red Cross in Miami. She got her masters’ degree in the ’30s, which was uncommon for a woman. And my maternal grandmother was the first radio announcer in Colombia, South America, at a time in the ’30s and ’40s when women weren’t on the radio. I also have an aunt who was a nun at a convent and orphanage in the Mariana Islands during World War II. She managed to help some other nuns and children be rescued by American soldiers. My mother also studied male-dominated drafting architecture, coming to the University of Miami from Colombia, and didn’t know how to speak English. They all gave back – my heroes happen to be in my own family.

What are you passionate about?

I enjoy the challenge of working for a nonprofit and how they would tell me, “You’ve got $10,000 (for an event), make it look like $50,000.” I love the mission and have a dear friend who stayed here. She would have been bankrupt without the Ronald McDonald House. There isn’t one specific

illness that we’re dealing with here and I like that. I love the fact that we can provide lodging for families and they can be close to their children.

My whole goal in life is to help people. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of making people happy.

What are some of your favorite parts of the job?

The supporting the families, the giving back to the community and sharing the story we have here at the house. There are sad stories, but there are great stories. Children are incredibly resilient and they give their parents a strength that we would do well to adopt –they don’t sweat the small stuff.

What’s a challenge in your role as executive director?

You’re always on; we are open seven days a week and 24 hours a day.

Luckily my husband has a similar job and there’s an understanding about the time it takes us to do our jobs. Another challenge is educating people that we are not supported by the McDonald’s corporation, but by the local McDonald’s owner-operators and by the community.

What is the best advice you’ve received?

“Follow your gut,” which is a combination of my heart and my head. If you try to live with just one or the other, I don’t think you get as far in life. I’ve been using that method since high school and it’s never steered me wrong. Also, if you fail, pick yourself up and realize it’s all part of the whole experience. It doesn’t mean you’re not right for what you’re doing, you may just have to reorganize yourself.

You and your staff deal with families in crisis and facing life-and-death issues. How do you cope?

I can’t afford to be negative in what I do. When you hear the stories, you count your blessings that it isn’t you. But because it isn’t you, you need to help those families out. You need to lift them up and give them what you can. It also gives you more empathy towards everyone you meet.

The Basics: marTi spencer homeTown Miami, Florida

peTs Louie and Biggie (cats), Lonnie (dog)

alma maTer Stratford Women’s College

hoBBies wine tasting, cooking, painting, reading and dancing

previous occupaTions Before ronald mcdonald house Marketing, PR, event planner, travel director family husband Paul, sons Adam and Sean

service member of the board of directors for Connections: Women Leaders of the Upstate at Furman University favoriTe vacaTion spoT from the sea to the great Rocky Mountains

favoriTe spoT in The upsTaTe/Greenville downtown on the Reedy River

Spencer’s mother’s family is from Colombia and she speaks fluent Spanish.

nexT projecT Adding more rooms to the Ronald McDonald House

Spencer met her husband, Paul, on a blind date in Chicago.

They have two sons; one is in the Air Force and the other is a screenwriter and cinematographer.

Marti Spencer’s grandmother was the first female radio announcer in Colombia, South America, during the 1930s and 1940s.

Before working in marketing and public relations, Spencer studied fashion merchandising.

July 12, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 19

UBJ The Fine PrinT

BPW to Hold Event at Children’s Museum

For more information, call Maria Meinke 864-871-3314 or email maria@cossban.com or go to facebook.com/bpwgreenville

CertusBank Gives $100,000 to Spartanburg’s Northside Community certusbank announced a gift of $100,000 made to Northside Development Corporation (NDC) to support redevelopment of Spartanburg’s Northside community.

The NDC initiatives that will benefit from CertusBank’s support include economic development, site acquisition, capital projects, affordable housing and

job training.

Walter L. Davis, co-CEO of CertusBank, said in a statement, “We are proud to call the Upstate home and are committed to supporting the growth and strength of communities we serve. Spartanburg’s Northside neighborhood is certainly moving in the right direction with plans for the Hub City Farmer’s Market and

other initiatives that will transform the area into a healthy, thriving environment. It is our honor to partner with the Northside Development Corporation to help redevelop and enhance this deserving community.”

The $1.9 billion institution has one branch and 31 ATM locations in Spartanburg and operates in eight states.

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the business & professional Women (BPW) will hold a free Networking and Business Expo Event 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at the Children’s Museum of the Upstate. The museum has donated use of the entire facility and free access to exhibits. The BPW will also raffle gifts including a computer, a massage and gift cards.

The event is for adults only, and business attire is required.

The BPW of Greenville works to expand and promote women in the workplace for equal pay and for work/life balance, as well as serving as an example to young women in today’s business world.

Independence Bancshares Launches Follow-On Offering independence bancshares, the holding company for Independence National Bank, will sell up to 2.35 million new shares of common stock in a follow-on offering to its shareholders of record as of December 30, 2012.

The offering was planned to follow $14 million in stock sold in a private offer in December. The follow-on offering is available to those who were shareholders of record immediately prior to the close of the private offering and at the same price per share the private investors were offered, 80 cents per share. They have the opportunity to purchase up to 2,351,250 shares of common stock, which could yield $1.8 million.

The Securities and Exchange Commission declared the registration statement for Independence Bancshares’ offering effective on June 28, 2013.

This is not a rights offering, and the company reserves the right to

not offer to, or to accept or reject subscriptions from, any of its shareholders in whole or in part for any reason. In the event that shareholders oversubscribe for the offering, Independence Bancshares will allocate shares on a pro rata basis in accordance with the shareholders’ ownership in Independence Bancshares, but has reserved the right to allocate shares of common stock according to other methods, including on a “first come, first served” basis.

The offering, which Independence Bancshares may cancel at any time, is scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m. EST on August 1, 2013, unless extended for an additional 30 days by the board of directors.

AFS Acquires Trendset Info Systems afs, a transportation cost management solution company based in Shreveport, La., acquired Greenville-based Trendset Information Systems through a Section 363 bankruptcy transaction.

According to AFS, Trendset will be renamed and reorganized as part of AFS. Trendset will become a subsidiary of AFS. It specializes in freight audit and payment, managed more than $10 billion in freight spending in 2012.

The transaction follows an embezzlement scandal at Trendset.

AFS performs specialized con-

sulting and analytics services to increase profitability and efficiency, according to the company.

This acquisition will make AFS one of the largest freight payment companies in the U.S. with more than 1,200 clients, according to AFS. The company plans to continue operations in Greenville and “retain the valuable employees who work there,” according to a statement.

Elliot Davis Opens Raleigh Office last week, the elliot davis accounting firm opened an office in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area through its acquisition of Lunsford & Strickland, P.A. A spokesperson for Elliot Davis said the firm is continuing to look for additional office space to accommodate continued growth in that region.

The shareholders of both firms approved the merger earlier this year.

The Raleigh office will focus on industries including real estate, biotech, life sciences, software, healthcare, not-for-profits, retail and hospitality. It will le-

verage Lunsford & Strickland’s niches in transaction services, international business, government entities, manufacturing and financial institutions.

“For years we have served Triangle-based clients, therefore geographic proximity is important. Equally important is the addition of Lunsford & Strickland’s talented professionals to our 450person practice,” said Rick Davis, firm managing shareholder for Elliott Davis, in a statement.

Elliot Davis has offices in Greenville, Greenwood, Columbia, Charleston, Charlotte, Augusta, Ga. and Richmond, Va.

Upstate Breweries, Distillery Win Awards National recognition continues as brewing and distillery related businesses expand in the Upstate.

The U.S. Open Beer Championships were held in Atlanta last week.

Greenville’s Thomas Creek won a bronze in the barley wine category for its “Up the Creek.” In the fruit/veggie beer category, RJ Rockers of Spartanburg won a bronze for its “Son of a Peach.”

The competition included more than 2,500 beers from professional breweries and award-winning homebrewers judged in 68 different categories.

It was sponsored by Beer Connois-

seur magazine and BeerInfo.com.

Six & Twenty Distillery in Powdersville also received national attention at the 2013 Artisan Distillers Taste Challenge. It won one of three gold medals for its “Virgin” whiskey made of locally grown wheat, and a bronze medal for its “Blue.” Sprits were judged on their own merits, not against each other, so there was no guarantee that superlative medals would be awarded.

The area’s newest brewery, Quest Brewing, opened in Greenville this week.

July 12, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 21

UBJ ON THE MOVE

Richard L. “Rich” Jones Appointed executive director of Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) Greenville. A senior healthcare and nonprofit executive with 12 years of director-level experience, Jones is a Certified Addiction Counselor, Certified Clinical Supervisor, Co-Occurring Disorder Professional, DOT Substance Abuse Professional, and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist.

HIRED

HIRED

HIRED

PROMOTED

Jessica Boiter

Brian Hungerford

Rankin Blair

Kathy Weeks

Recently joined Blu-Sky Group as a sales team leader. Boiter has worked in the real estate industry since 2006, earning her residential real estate license in 2008. Previously, she worked for Ryan Homes in Greenville and Spartanburg.

She was Ryan’s Greenville Sales Representative of the Year in 2011.

Hired as senior vice president and senior relationship manager in Wells Fargo’s South Carolina Regional Commercial Banking Office in Greenville. Hungerford joins the Wells Fargo Commercial Banking team from Bank of America where he most recently served as a director with its Enterprise Client Coverage team in Greenville.

Joined Lima One Capital as assistant director of operations. Blair graduated from Clemson University in 2010. Following graduation, he joined the United States Army Reserve, where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and is currently serving as the Battalion Communications officer with the 391st Engineer Battalion.

Named as area manager for Allen Tate Real Estate’s Upstate region. Weeks has had 17 years of real estate experience, establishing a top-producing team with Allen Tate before being promoted to sales management and branch leadership positions.

Prior to her real estate career, she worked as a public school teacher in North and South Carolina.

GODSHALL Professional Recruiting Staffing Consulting

Photos provided

APPOINTED

Keep Calm and Call a PEO HONORED Raman P. Rama Named CHA Emeritus by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. The CHA Emeritus title recognizes a Certified Hotel Administrator “who has shaped the industry through leadership, education and service.” Rama is a principal and vice president and chief technology officer/chief information officer for JHM Hotels in Greenville. He is one of five brothers who own JHM Hotels, which operates more than 40 properties in the United States and India. He currently serves as the global president of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), and holds both the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive and Certified Hospitality Technology Professional certifications in addition to the CHA.

Lima One Capital recently welcomed Katie Richardson as office manager. Richardson graduated from Clemson University with a degree in sociology in May.

HEALTH CARE:

Giles M. Schanen Jr. was recently elected secretary of the board office by the board of directors of the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED). Schanen is a litigation partner with the national law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. He currently serves on the board of directors of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association.

Photo provided

NONPROFIT:

The Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, recently announced that Mark Owens, vice president of the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the program and has

received the recognition of IOM. The Institute for Organization Management also announced that Patty Cornelius, director of administration, and Debbie Bateman, accountant, of the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce have recently completed their first year at Institute for Organization Management, a fouryear nonprofit leadership training program held in Athens, Ga.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

• Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have expanded same-sex marriage rights.

• The Supreme Court also rejected the EEOC’s broader definition of “supervisor” LEE YARBOROUGH and defined a supervisor as one who has the power to make a change in employment status, such as hiring or firing.

• E-verification has been required for small businesses in SC for some time, but effective July 1st, North Carolina businesses with 25 or more employees must use the e-verify system on all new hires too.

• Immigration reform passed the Senate and now the House of Representatives must respond. lee All of this has occurred in the past few weeks. Meanwhile, you have been running your business, managing your employees and hopefully making time for a short vacation. All of the above changes can have a direct impact on how you perform your daily business in the future. Do you know how you will handle these regulations? How do you plan to stay informed of future regulatory changes, yet not take away valuable time from running your business?

Businesses today need help managing increasingly complex employee related matters such as payroll, tax filings, benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment, and general HR compliance. The burden of employment law and regulations has increased astronomically since 1980 and it doesn’t seem like this will change anytime soon. A business owner not only has to stay on top of his or her business needs, but must constantly stay in touch with changing governmental regulations.

So where do you go for help? Consider outsourcing your HR needs to a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) whose core business is human resources. Propel HR focuses on the business of human resources, so you can focus on YOUR business.

New hires, promotions and award winners can be featured in On the Move.

Send information and a photo to onthemove@ upstatebusiness journal.com.

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FINANCIAL:

• The Administration has delayed until 2015 the enforcement of a major Affordable Care Act requirement that employers with more than 50 employees provide health care.

July 12, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 23

UBJ New to the Street

3. Clothes Mentor recently opened at 30 Orchard Park Drive, Greenville, just across I-385 from Haywood Mall. Owners Sadie and Bill Cherney plan Spartanburg and Columbia locations and their national chain should have 80 stores by year’s end.

Most items sold in the store originate from specialty or department stores. They carry business and casual apparel in sizes 0 to 26 or 3x. There are tops and bottoms, jeans, suits, career separates, coats and jackets, purses, designer handbags, shoes, jewelry, belts, scarves and other accessories.

For more information, visit clothesmentor.com/ greenville# or call 864-297-7704.

Photos provided

w Butler rd

2. GeArS (Growth empowerment Achievement respect Service) Youth Services has recently opened at 959 Mauldin Road, Suite 103, in Greenville. Their mission is to educate and empower youth through a holistic approach of positive youth development. They serve youth in second through eighth grades and their summer hours are 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Youth participants receive one hour of daily math instruction, summer reading, breakfast, lunch, snack, weekly field trips, crafts, indoor recreation, outdoor park recreation, spiritual development, character building, team building and crafts. For more information, call 864-509-6180.

24 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal July 12, 2013

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1. Acrosmith Gymnastics is located at 126C Corporate Drive in Simpsonville, off I-385. It serves Simpsonville, Greenville, Mauldin and beyond. They offer both recreational and girls’ competitive team gymnastics. Owner Shawn Smolen has more than 20 years of experience in coaching gymnastics, and has had many gymnasts continuing their gymnastics career through the college level. The gym is open Monday through Friday, times varied based on schedule. For more information, call 864-5934066, email information@acrosmithgymnastics. com or visit acrosmithgymnastics.com or facebook.com/AcrosmithGymnastics.

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UBJ PLANNER FRIDAY JULY 12 OGLETREE DEAKINS WOMEN’S NETWORKING EVENT Ogletree Deakins, 300 N. Main St. Greenville; 5:30-7 p.m.

Topic: Fight Like a Girl Discussion & Demonstrations, work clothes appropriate.

Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Contact: Kaitlyn Morris at 864-240-8303 or Kaitlyn.morris@ ogletreedeakins.com

MONDAY JULY 15

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Open only to Greenville Chamber members.

Cost: Free to attend.

Contact: Lorraine Woodward 864-239-3742.

MINORITY BUSINESS OPEN HOUSE Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, 111 Trade St., Greer; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Complimentary food and beverages will be served.

Register at: greerchamber.com

TOASTMASTERS BILINGÜE

UPSTATE PC USERS GROUP

University Center Auditorium, Room 204, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville; noon

Five Forks Baptist Church, 112 Batesville Road, Simpsonville; 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Contact: jeff@alfonso interpreting.com

Description: We are a small informal PC users’ group that can help cut through the confusion of today’s computers and software with real-world information and answers.

TUESDAY JULY 16 PNC/PALMETTO PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Contact: hal@pn connections.org for information and invitation

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

Contact: Julie Alexander at 864-239-3754.

WEDNESDAY JULY 17 HANDSHAKES AND HASHBROWNS Curves, 215 West Wade Hampton Blvd., Greer; 8-9 a.m.

Cost: Free for Greer Chamber members Register at: greerchamber.com.

AM THINK TANK Simpsonville Chamber of Commerce, 211 N Main St., Simpsonville;

8:30-9:30 a.m.

Cost: Free to Simpsonville Chamber members Attendees can bring a beverage and a snack.

Contact: Becky at 864-963-3781 to RSVP.

TECH AFTER FIVE – GREENVILLE Carolina Ale House, 113 South Main St., Greenville; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

SALES ROUNDTABLE

Free to GSA Technology Council members.

Register at techafterfive.com.

Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

UPSTATE INTERN & YOUNG PROFESSIONAL BBQ AT THE BALLPARK

Speaker: Linda Gallicchio, associate director, Clemson University Rutland Institute for Ethics Topic: The Economics of Integrity Cost: Jason’s Deli will be providing lunch at $7.50 per boxed lunch or attendees may choose to bring their own lunch. Beverages will be provided.

Contact: Claudia Wise at 864-239-3728.

Fluor Field, Greenville Drive Stadium, 945 South Main St., Greenville; 6-9 p.m.

BACKUP AND DISASTER RECOVERY WORKSHOP Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, 105 North Pine St., Spartanburg; noon-1 p.m.

Speaker: Liz Richardson, Beowulf Technologies Cost: Free Attendees are asked to bring their own lunch; beverages will be provided by the Chamber.

Contact: Cindy Teaster at 864-594-5022 or cteaster@spartanburg chamber.com

For Diversity Recruitment Consortium (DRC) member organizations only.

Member organizations are encouraged to register those from your organization who will benefit from participating. Be sure to include the names and email addresses of each person and remember that DRC events are “pay as you go” and all member organizations are expected to absorb the cost of participation in DRC events and engage in at least one event per year. For all pre-registered attendees, tickets will be provided at the gate.

Contact: 864-239-3727

THURSDAY JULY 18 POWER EVENT SERIES Kroc Center, 424 Westfield St., Greenville; 7:30-9:15 a.m.

Topic: Ozone Choking Biz Growth Panelists: Myra Reece, chief, S.C. Dept. of Health & Environmental Control, Bureau of Air Quality; Dean Hybl, executive director, Ten at the Top; and Myra Carpenter, director of environmental affairs, Michelin North America.

Cost: $30 per person, $295 for a table of eight Register at: eventbrite.com

HEALTH CARE REFORM: CHARTING DEVELOPMENTS & FINALIZING STRATEGY Thornblade Club, 1275 Thornblade Blvd., Greer; 8 a.m.-noon Speaker: Penny Wofford, Ogletree Deakins attorney Cost: $95 per person, includes a continental breakfast and materials.

Advance pre-paid reservations are required.

To register: Call the Upstate Employers Network at 864-585-1007

INNOVISION FORUM McNair Law Firm, 104 S. Main St., Suite 700, Greenville; 3-6:30 p.m.

Speakers: Craig Morris, USPTO, managing attorney for trademark outreach; Jeffrey M. Rehling, Center for Marketing Solutions, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina; and Doug Lineberry, special counsel, McNair Law Firm, P.A. Topic: What Do You Do When You’re Branded?: Increasing Business

Value Through Branding and Trademark Protection Cost: Free and open to the public, but registration is required due to limited seating.

RSVP to: Kathy Ham at kham@mcnair.net or 864-271-4940.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Hampton Inn and Suites-Duncan, 108 Spartangreen Blvd., Duncan; 5:30-7 p.m.

No RSVP required.

Contact: Cindy Teaster at 864-594-5022 or cteaster@spartanburg chamber.com

NON-PROFIT ALLIANCE ANNUAL SOCIAL Tablefield’s, 1117-A Woodruff Road, Greenville; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free for members, $10 for non-members.

Tablefield’s will provide beverages and light fare.

Register for a chance to win door prizes.

Contact: 864-242-1050

ENTREPRENEURIAL READINESS G.F. League Manufacturing, 2200 Poinsett Hwy., Greenville; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Workshop helps evaluate entrepreneurial skills by discussing common traits of successful entrepreneurs and learning what lenders are looking for.

Cost: $20 per person Register at: scwbc.net

GOT A HOT DATE? Contribute to our Planner by submitting event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com July 12, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 25

UBJ SQUARE FEET

By Sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com.

Columbia Officials Debate Hughes Project full accounting of what the cost will be to the city and more historical sites preserved. The vote took place after UBJ press time and will be reported in detail next week.

MANAGING EDITOR Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com UBJ ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com

STAFF WRITERS Sherry Jackson, Cindy Landrum, April A. Morris SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER Jennifer Oladipo CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dick Hughes, Jenny Munro, Jeanne Putnam, Leigh Savage EDITORIAL INTERNS Cynthia Partridge, Keith Sechrist

26 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL July 12, 2013

LANGSTON-BLACK REAL ESTATE, INC. ANNOUNCED: Chuck Langston recently represented the Greene family with the sale of their 12.98 acres located across from

Riverside High School.

The purchaser, Mark III Properties Inc., has plans to develop a townhome community at this location. The seller has an additional 3-acre

parcel on the corner for sale suitable for retail and/or office use.

NAI EARLE FURMAN ANNOUNCED: The company represented the BMW Car Club of America Foundation (BMW CCA Foundation) in purchasing a 15,000 SF industrial building at 190 Manatee Court, Greer, located next to the BMW Performance Center; and they represented Hendrix Heating & Air Services in selling the property. The property was purchased with the intention to build a library, museum and archive at the new location. Scheduled to move in September, the BMW CCA Foundation will launch a capital campaign to fund the development and the expansion will allow for the BMW CCA Foundation to grow as a resource of BMW historical information and continue their educational and safety initiatives for the automotive community.

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCED:

ART & PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR Richie Swann PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Beckner PRODUCTION Holly Hardin MARKETING & ADVERTISING MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Lori Burney, Mary Beth Culbertson, Kristi Jennings, Donna Johnston, Pam Putman MARKETING & EVENTS Kate Banner DIGITAL STRATEGIST Emily Price BRAND STRATEGIST Austin Hafer BILLING Shannon Rochester CLIENT SERVICES MANAGERS Anita Harley, Jane Rogers ADVERTISING DESIGN Kristy Adair, Michael Allen, Whitney Fincannon

IDEAS, FEEDBACK, OPINIONS opinions@upstatebusinessjournal.com HOW TO REACH US 148 River Street., Suite 120 Greenville, SC 29601 864-679-1200 Copyright @2013 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved.

Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. 148 River Street, Suite 120, Greenville, South Carolina, 29601. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $65.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, 148 River St., Ste 120, Greenville, SC 29601. Printed in the USA.

Frank Hammond represented Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park in the lease of 45,562 SF of space at Market Place Shopping Center located at 2465 Laurens Road, Greenville, next to Books-a-Million. This will be the first Sky Zone location in South Carolina. The indoor trampoline park, which will feature 3-D dodgeball courts, a basketball court, a foam zone, an open jump court and fitness classes on the trampolines, is expected to open late summer 2013.

Photo provided

greenville-based hughes development Corporation could break ground later this year on a 20-year redevelopment project for Columbia’s Bull Street neighborhood. The 181-acre project would restore the property to the tax rolls and is estimated to have an economic impact of $1.2 billion to the city.

But’s it’s not a done deal. A final vote was slated for July 9, but opponents say the city is rushing the decision and asked for more time to review the development agreement.

A spokesperson for the Historic Columbia organization said they are disappointed that the agreement doesn’t call for the additional 14 buildings that the City Council had once considered for preservation.

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said more than a dozen updates were already made to the agreement that addressed complaints raised in a July 1 public hearing. The changes revised the language on the city’s liability, added provisions to ensure Realtors aren’t being shut out of commissions, and require Hughes to contribute $25,000 for excavation of a historical Civil War site.

At least two council members have said these changes are not enough for their vote and want a

DEALMAKERS

UBJ SNAPSHOT

Full service specializing in Honda, Acura, Toyota and Lexus

FREE WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK & TIRE ROTATION with purchase of oil change and mention of this ad.

SINCE 1990

Photo Provided

p Main and East Coffee streets. By 1930, the Walgreen drugstore occupied the southeast corner of Main and East Coffee. Its new building lacked architectural ornamentation but provided larger display windows. A dominant feature of the exterior was a large neon sign. Such signs were a hallmark of the new building era. Corner buildings were especially vulnerable to redevelopment. Below this Walgreen store, running south to Washington Street, the older buildings still survive in this photograph.

118 Carrie Court, Greenville • 864-676-9126 www.acutechonline.com

Historic photograph available from the Greenville Historical Society From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,”

by Jeffrey R. Willis q Where the Walgreen drugstore once stood, the Trio Brick Oven Café now resides.

109 FLEETWOOD DRIVE Medical

Robert L. Brissie, Jr. Broker-Associate

Agent of the Year 2012

103 CLEVELAND STREET Retail

OFFICE INDUSTRIAL RETAIL INVESTMENT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Contact us to discuss your commercial real estate needs Visit our properties at:

www.SpectrumCarolinas.com

Photo provided

Spectrum Commercial Properties

864.335.3030

2311 DRY POCKET ROAD Land

135 S. Main St., Suite 800 Greenville, SC 29601

Photo by Greg Beckner

July 12, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 27

Saturday, July 20, 2013 Best Hand $2000 Worst Hand $250

Registration 8 A.M. First Bike out 9 A.M. Last Bike out 10 A.M.

Door Prize Drawings

Registration fee $25

Dual Starting Locations: Laurens Electric Cooperative 2254 Hwy. 14, Laurens, SC or Harley-Davidson of Greenville 30 Chrome Drive, Greenville, SC Ride Will End At: Harley-Davidson of Greenville

(includes a FREE t-shirt) Benefitting

Cooperative Care Contact: David Hammond at

864-683-1667 PO Box 700, Laurens, SC 29360

FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE from Quaker Steak & Lube