Aug. 1, 2014 UBJ by Community Journals

AUGUST 1, 2014

With new, exotic metals being used in production, Upstate manufacturers are adapting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the recycling industry is reaping the rewards

CRUNCH TIME Scrap metal is unloaded at the OmniSource facility in Spartanburg.

UBJ OPINION & MANUFACTURING

Sealed Air to send 750 Upstate jobs to Charlotte JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com More than 700 Upstate jobs will be lost over the next three years as Sealed Air Corporation moves its headquarters to Charlotte, N.C. Company spokesman Ken Aurichio said last week the packaging company would be relocating approximately 750 jobs from its Greenville and Duncan facilities. Sealed Air initially considered Greenville as a location for its headquarters, but decided on Charlotte because of its airport and indigenous workforce, said Aurichio. “It was a very deliberate process, and Sealed Air considered both the business environment and quality of life for its employees before choosing a final location,” he said. “The airport in Charlotte was more conducive for company travel than GSP and the region’s existing workforce consisted of IT, HR, and finance professionals that were more suitable to the positions needed.” The company’s call center in Greenville is expected to lose all of its 140 positions and eventually close over the next three years, while approximately 250 jobs will remain at the business and research development office in Duncan, he said. Of the 750 Upstate positions designated for Charlotte, “some of the employ-

FAN MAIL Dear Editor,

ees will accept relocation and others may choose to stay in South Carolina.” While maintaining a smaller presence in Duncan, Sealed Air Corporation will retain its existing operations in Seneca and Simpsonville, totaling 1,300 jobs. Including the 750 Upstate positions, Sealed Air anticipates approximately 1,300 jobs will be relocated to Charlotte within the next three years from its current headquarters in Elmwood Park, N.J., and all or part of its facilities in Saddle Brook, N.J., Danbury, Conn., and Racine, Wis. Along with select operations in Duncan, the Fortune 500 Company intends to maintain manufacturing in its Saddlebrook and Danbury facilities. Sealed Air is confident Charlotte will provide a great environment to operate, said Jerome A. Peribere, president and CEO of Sealed Air. The move will contribute to a stronger, one-company culture that will enable greater collaboration, efficiencies, and better use of the company’s investments in people and new technologies, he said. “We considered numerous criteria in making our decision and believe Charlotte’s attributes make it an ideal place for our employees to live and work.” Operating in over 170 countries around the world, Sealed Air employs around 25,000 people and created $7.7 billion in revenue last year.

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your article on the 20 projects fueling Greenville’s real estate boom [cover story, July 25]. It’s a great time for the students to be in the Clemson Master of Real Estate Development Program. Your article on Columbia’s Kline City Center [Square Feet, July 25] was also good to see. This is a former MRED Practicum project, like the Beach Company’s North Main project, which was a first-year project. MRED alumnus Austin Knapp (’11) is working with Russ Davis (incidentally one of our board members) on the Kline project, D.J. Van Slambrook (’11) is with the Beach Company working on their Greenville projects, and Helen Hughes Sanders (’09) and Chandler Thompson (’15) are working with Bob Hughes on Bull Street [in Columbia] and ONE. Developer Bogue Wallin is a member of our advancement board for real estate development, and an adjunct professor. Developer Phil Hughes is also an adjunct professor. We’re very proud of all of our alums, but it’s especially gratifying to see their former student projects become real deals.

Robert Benedict Director, Clemson University Master of Real Estate Development Program

August 1, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

Volume 3, Issue 31

August 1, 2014

Top-of-mind and in the mix this week

WORTH REPEATING “It was a very deliberate process, and Sealed Air considered both the business environment and quality of life for its employees before choosing a final location.”

“We’re not a discount site – we’re the anti-Groupon.”

“There may or may not be evidence that it improves health, but if people are willing to pay for it and it makes them feel healthy, by all means they should do it.”

Page 3

Page 12

Page 14

MONEY SHOT: Ty Houck, director of greenways, natural and historic resources for the Greenville County Recreation District, makes a few comments before the ribbon-cutting formally opening the latest section of the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail at its northern terminus near Travelers Rest. Read more on page 22. Photo by Greg Beckner/Staff

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Word is a new restaurant called Asian Delights is set to open this month at the Pelham Commons Shopping Center (where Publix is located) at 215 Pelham Road… Watch for food truck operators Angell Brothers Catering to open soon in the same Pelham Commons Shopping Center. Once they have DHEC approval in hand, owners plan to offer to-go food from the new location and host specialty nights and private catering… 4

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 1, 2014

On getting our groove back… “A once-blighted and boarded-up Greenville has risen like a phoenix and emerged as one of the hottest and fastest growing small towns in America.” VIE Magazine, “How Greenville Got Its Groove Back: South Carolina’s New Hot Spot.” Read the article at bit.ly/vie-greenville.

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UBJ WORKFORCE

Biden: Job training can strengthen middle class Vice president’s report praises S.C. apprenticeship program

JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com On the same day last week that President Obama signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act into law, Vice President Joe Biden released a 76-page report outlining a pathway to a stronger middle class through better job training. Rebecca Hartley, director of pathways at the Clemson University Center for Workforce Development (CUCWD), said Biden’s White House report, “Ready to Work: Job-Driven Training and American Opportunity,” exhibited some terrific ideas. “We need to ramp up worker skills in this country,” she said. The report said the “consensus is clear: We must fundamentally rethink the pathways to

“Manufacturing jobs aren’t what they used to be. They’re high-tech now, and workers need a solid background in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).” Rebecca Hartley

well-paying, middle-class jobs, and open those pathways to all Americans.” The study heralded the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act as consistent with Biden’s key job-driven elements and as a significant legislative reform for the nation’s job training system. In correlation with the new law, the White House report indicated the Obama adminis>> tration would promote partnerships

FOLLOWING CONVERSATIONS WITH EMPLOYERS, WORKERS AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, BIDEN’S REPORT NOTED THREE CONSISTENT PROBLEMS: 1. EMPLOYERS can’t find enough skilled workers to hire for in-demand jobs they must fill to grow their businesses. 2. EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS need better information on what skills those in-demand jobs require. 3. HARDWORKING AMERICANS, whether studying, looking for work, or wanting better career paths, often aren’t sure what training to pursue and whether jobs will be waiting when they finish. Source: “Ready to Work: Job-Driven Training and American Opportunity,” White House report

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 1, 2014

UBJ WORKFORCE >> between education and workforce institutions to create training programs, increase the number of apprenticeships, and empower job seekers and employers with better data on available jobs and the skills needed to fill those jobs. The report also highlighted opportunities in high-growth industries like advanced manufacturing, information technology and health care. “Many dynamic companies in these sectors aren’t just expanding their workforces,” said the report’s authors. “They are creating jobs that pay middle-class wages.” Hartley said South Carolina is leading the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, but the state would have to expand worker education programs to boost more people into the middle class and meet employers’ needs. “Manufacturing jobs aren’t what they used to be,” she said. “They’re high-tech now, and workers need a solid background in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).” Clemson economist Bruce Yandle said as manufacturing employment increases, the targeted tax cuts would matter, but the industry’s average wages are similar to the government and services sectors nationwide. There are many paths to higher lifetime earnings and a healthy manufacturing sector can stimulate all of them, he said. The Palmetto State has long been a leader in connecting technical students to jobs, and “the state apprenticeship program is the latest bloom on this well-established flower.”

Hartley said the vice president suggested engaging employers up front when designing programs. Everything the Clemson center does

is based on industry needs, and Biden’s approach fits well with its existing policies to connect Upstate businesses with an educated workforce, she said. “We

can accomplish more together than we can separately.” The White House report is available online at bit.ly/whitehouse-skills-report.

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ TRANSPORTATION

Legal roadblocks continue in SC for ride-sharing company Uber JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com As Uber attempts to clear a path for business in South Carolina, state agencies and city law enforcement continue to throw up roadblocks, saying the mobile app and ridesharing company is operating illegally. Beginning on July 10, Uber launched its lower-cost UberX service in Greenville, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach, but friction between the company and the state has mounted ever since. A law enforcement officer for the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) attended a meeting in Columbia designed to recruit drivers

for UberX and attempted to attend another in Charleston but was asked to leave, said Dukes Scott, executive director, ORS. The officer wanted to attend both

meetings to obtain information on Uber’s recruitment practices, he said. The Nerve, a project of the South Carolina Policy Council, reported that a ruckus ensued once Uber officials

learned of ORS’ presence at the meeting. The article included a statement from Dawn Hipp, director of ORS’ Office of Transportation, Water/Wastewater and Consumer Services. ORS officials spoke at the meeting but were asked not to come back and shown the door, she said. “As it stands, Uber is breaking South Carolina law.” Uber officials maintain their willingness to work with state and local agencies. The company has been working with officials across the state, said Taylor Bennett, Uber spokesman. “We look forward to continue working with officials to demonstrate the value that safe and reliable transportation options offer >>

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 1, 2014

7/1/14 3:13 PM

UBJ TRANSPORTATION >> residents and visitors, and to develop sensible regulations that embrace consumer choice and economic opportunity,” he said. The Charleston Post and Courier reported last week that the city’s police department decided to discourage local drivers from offering the car service after meeting with local taxi companies. According to the article, Charleston police also plan to engage in sting operations to begin issuing warnings to UberX drivers who are violating local and state codes by driving their personal vehicles for fares. Eventually, undercover police will begin handing out citations with a maximum fine of $1,049 instead of warnings. Bennett said that any effort by law enforcement to discourage drivers from partnering with Uber is the equivalent of discouraging people from pursuing entrepreneurship, making a living and contributing to the economy. “Instead of listening to taxi companies complain about competition, authorities should listen to the people of Charleston who have embraced more choice and greater access to opportunity,” he said. The City of Charleston issued a statement on July 22, saying that the state and city regulations require drivers to obtain a chauffer’s license, confirm their commercial liability insurance, outfit their vehicles with the appropriate license plate conveying the vehicle is for hire, get their

“We look forward to continue working with officials to demonstrate the value that safe and reliable transportation options offer residents and visitors, and to develop sensible regulations that embrace consumer choice and economic opportunity.” Taylor Bennett

vehicle inspected, and submit to a regulated fee structure on the City of Charleston peninsula, that includes a $5 charge for any licensed vehicle ride. Uber told the Upstate Business Journal in an interview last month that the ride-sharing service is not a transportation company and the regulations for those business models do not apply. “We’re a technology company that connects riders to drivers,” said Taylor Bennett. Current transportation regulations are antiquated and were created long before Uber, but “we want to help modernize those policies and look forward to continuing conversations with city and state officials to find a permanent home for Uber in South Carolina,” he said. The Office of Regulatory Staff filed a petition with the state’s Public Service Commission saying that it is illegal for the company to operate in South Carolina. The petition states that Uber has been actively engaged in the re-

UBER (UBER TECHNOLOGIES INC.), THE UMBRELLA COMPANY, OFFERS SEVERAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS: • UberX – lower-cost ride-sharing option, currently the only offering in S.C. Drivers use their own vehicles. • UberBLACK – higher-end town cars with professional drivers. • UberSUV – a similar higher-end platform providing luxury SUVs. • Other platforms available in other cities include UberTAXI and UberLUX. cruitment of “partner” drivers and the advertisement of its transportation services in the State of South Carolina and intends to begin offering transportation passenger carrier services through its app to the general public. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26 in Columbia so the Public Service Commission can determine if Uber or its drivers should be subject to the regulatory authority of the commission. A spokesperson for the Greenville

August 1, 2014

Police Department said they are not aware of any issues involving Uber in the city and are waiting on results of the hearing in late August. Interim City Attorney Robert Coler agrees, saying Uber may become a good thing for the citizens of Greenville, but the city’s position will remain objective until the state determines their business model. “As the city’s attorney, I will not authorize any police resources to investigate Uber’s operations,” he said.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ HOSPITALITY & EMPLOYMENT

Stone Brewing passes on Carolinas for brewery project APRIL A. MORRIS | STAFF

amorris@communityjournals.com After months of speculation and

potentially 350 jobs, according to The Virginian-Pilot. “While we’re disappointed that Stone Brewing will not be locating to South Carolina, what we’re not disappointed about is the positive impact that the Stone Law is already

Photo Provided

anticipation, the Stone Brewing buzz in the Carolinas lost its fizz last week as officials learned that the San Diego-based company passed on locating its new East Coast brewery in either state. The 10th largest brewery in the U.S., Stone had announced it was seeking a new location east of the Mississippi for its brewery and restaurant concept. In order to help attract the brewery, the state swiftly passed legislation amending regulations to allow breweries to serve food and increasing the limit of on-location beer sales. In homage to the potential investor, the legislation was nicknamed “The Stone Bill.” The South Carolina Commerce

Department learned last week that the state was not a finalist for the brewery’s East Coast location, said spokeswoman Allison Skipper. Though the short list was not publicized, officials believed Palmetto State locales Greenville and Lexington were in the running, along with Greensboro and Charlotte in North Carolina. “After careful review and evaluation, we narrowed the candidates to locations that we feel better fit our needs and requirements,” said Sabrina LoPiccolo, spokeswoman for Stone Brewing. An announcement of the new location will be made within 30 to 60 days, 90 days at the latest, she said. Officials in Norfolk and Richmond, Va., along with Columbus, Ohio, believe they are still in the running for the brewery that is expected to bring a $30 million investment and

having for South Carolina brewers,” said Brook Bristow, an attorney and advisor to the South Carolina Brewers Association, who helped draft the Stone Bill. “The new law is all about creating jobs and providing flexibility to these great businesses, and has sent the message that South Carolina is not only open for business for brewers near and far, but will nurture and support these businesses once open. The future is bright for craft beer in the Palmetto State,” said Bristow. Skipper was also hopeful: “Because of the new law passed this legislative session, South Carolina is now well positioned to compete for these kinds of projects in the future,” she said. “Also, our existing brewing businesses now have additional options to expand and create more jobs and impact in our state.”

AtWork to bring franchise roadshow to Greenville JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com Bringing opportunity to the area’s entrepreneurs, a national staffing company is coming to the Upstate for a roadshow in downtown Greenville. AtWork Group will host a Franchise Discovery Day Roadshow on Wednesday Aug. 6, at the Hampton Inn & Suites at RiverPlace to showcase new ownership opportunities throughout the area. Many of AtWork’s business owners don’t have a background in the staffing industry, but the company’s turnkey franchise model provides entrepreneurs with the resources and support they need to be successful, said Jason Leverant, COO and president, AtWork Group.

“We also equip owners with the ability to make decisions on a local level and really take ownership of their business, without running into barriers or red tape from corporate,” he said. The Franchise Roadshow is open to entrepreneurs, brokers and independent staffing agency owners, and will highlight ownership opportunities in the Greenville area. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with an AtWork Group franchise development representative, to learn more about the company,

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 1, 2014

“More than 11 million people find work through a staffing agency each year, and that number continues to grow every day.” Jason Leverant

as well as the training and operational support. Along with South Carolina, Leverant said the staffing company has added several offices all over the country. “More than 11 million people find work through a staffing agency each year, and that number continues to

grow every day,” he said. Although the company’s main focus is staffing services, AtWork Group also provides an established platform for entrepreneurs. Leverant said franchising is a great option for entrepreneurs who would like to own a business but are nervous about failure. Eighty percent of startup businesses are at risk of failure, yet 90 percent of franchised businesses are still open after five years, he said. “We offer four staffing programs to our business owners, for just one franchise fee, and with @WORK Personnel Services, Medical Services, Helping Hands and Search Group, owners have multiple profit centers from which to grow their businesses.”

UBJ HOSPITALITY

The ICEBOX cometh Beverage company expands into Greenville, scoring major win with Euphoria festival SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com ICEBOX, a Charleston-based event beverage and logistics company, has entered the Greenville market with its second location and is ready to serve up cocktails, wine, beer and other drinks to Greenville area residents and businesses. The company, which has leased an 8,000-square-foot warehouse at 514 Pickett St. in Greenville, began as a hobby by principal owner Boris Van Dyck in a garage in Charleston in 2007. In March 2009 Van Dyck decided to turn his hobby into a full-fledged business. ICEBOX became the spirits service company for the BB&T Wine and Food Festival, a partnership that has helped grow both the festival and the ICEBOX brand. The company now boasts clients across the U.S. and has several colleges as customers such as The Citadel, College of Charleston, Clemson Uni-

Photo Provided

versity and Furman University. About a year ago, the company “made a connection with a client in Greenville,” and started doing its beverage program for them, said Chris Laine, national operations director. That relationship facilitated the expansion into the Greenville market. “Greenville is bringing in a new class of companies,” said Laine. “We want to be part of that revitalization.” The company already scored a win as it will be handling the beverage service for the Euphoria VIP party this year. ICEBOX provides bar and beverage services from “a backyard barbecue to large-scale music festivals,” said Laine. Services are fully customizable and can include all of the glassware, alcohol, custom bars, bartenders and draft service, he said. Part of what sets them apart is they only hire bartenders who are already professionals in the food and beverage industry, said Laine. The bartenders also have to go through the ICEBOX training program and Bar Smarts training program, ensuring they know the latest techniques of mixology, customer service, and alcohol awareness and responsibility. ICEBOX also offers cocktail tastings and “flair bartenders” who offer a non-typical bartending experience with entertainment such as bottle flipping, fire breathing, juggling and shot stacking. The company plans to open a third location in Nashville, Tenn., in early 2015, Laine said. To contact ICEBOX, visit iceboxbar.com, call 1-800-818-2737 or email chris@icebarbox.com.

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ TECH BYTES

Local Flavor app focuses on Greenville’s unique businesses SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com Looking to shop, eat and frequent local businesses in Greenville but don’t know where to go? That’s okay, because there’s an app for that. The Greenville Local Flavor app, which launched earlier this month, provides information on locally owned businesses in several different categories including food and drink, beer (yes, it needed its own category), places to stay, shopping, entertainment, services, arts and venues.

Husband-and-wife team Ted and Flori Pate created the Local Flavor app and website in Asheville, after winning the 2013 Asheville Startup Weekend Competition, an event created to help fledging entrepreneurs launch their idea in 54 hours. The competition “encouraged us to take the idea to the next level,” said Ted Pate. The Pates launched the Asheville app late last year, and while they said they never really started out with a goal of expanding to additional markets, the “business model can

KOHL’S DEPARTMENT STORE at Piedmont Marketplace in Greer will be holding a job fair at the Greenville Marriott, One Parkway East in Greenville, Saturday, Aug. 2 through Wednesday, Aug. 6. The new Kohl’s location at 1320 Wade Hampton Blvd needs to fill approximately 100 part-time positions, including register operators, department associates, customer service associates, early a.m. freight unloaders and evening ad set associates. Applicants should visit KohlsCareers.com to schedule an interview and obtain additional information regarding times and location.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 1, 2014

work anywhere,” said Flori Pate. Earlier this month, The Local Flavor, Greenville edition, debuted with a soft release. The Pates spent four years in Greenville, and even though they now live in Asheville, say they still have a connection to the area and do day trips frequently. Businesses that sign on are called members and are able to customize their own information on the app and website, send push notifications to users that favorite them and provide a daily scoop notification on things that are happening. Cost is $100 per month for businesses, with discounts for artists and local musicians. The platform was built from scratch and was created “with ease of use in mind,” said Ted Pate. “We wanted the least amount of clicks possible to get information.” Pate says the platform will be highly customized for each city. Members can provide discounts, but it’s more about information to offer “an authentic experience” and what makes a city unique, said Flori Pate. “We’re not a discount site – we’re the anti-Groupon.” The main difference in the Local Flavor app versus others is the commitment to local-only businesses, said Flori Pate. In order to become a member, a business must be independent and at least 50 percent owned in Greenville County with no headquarters outside of the region, not registered as a franchise, and must make independent decisions about the business – meaning name, look, and purchasing plus distribution practices are decided on by a local team. “We have a strict definition of what local is, and it’s what makes us different,” said Flori Pate. “We turn down a lot of businesses, but we are not budging on that. We’re sticking to our guns.”

LOCAL FLAVOR BUSINESSES SO FAR IN GREENVILLE: Roots4Rooms Trappe Door Barley’s Greenville Swamp Rabbit Inn Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery Ponthieux’s Jewelry Design Studio Pedal Chic The Nose Dive Kim Eades, who works for the Table 301 restaurant group, and friend AC Rodwell are heading up the effort in Greenville to attract new members. Eades and Flori Pate had been friends and attended Presbyterian College together. So far, they have 10 members in Greenville with several more who have expressed interest. Eades says the goal is to have 100 members in the Greenville market within the first year. “I think we’ll definitely surpass that,” she said. “I’m a big believer in supporting local businesses,” said Eades. “We’re keeping the mom and pop stores in business and keeping the greenbacks in Greenville.” Ted Pate says that so far growth to other cities such as Chattanooga, Tenn., and Del Ray Beach/Boca Raton, Fla., has been through friends in each area. The Pates intend to launch into Savannah, Ga., and Charleston later this year as well as continuing to fine-tune the app and website. To download the free app, visit greenville.localflavorapp.com.

UBJ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

GADC names Farris as new leader The Greenville Area Development Corporation has named J. Mark Farris, currently the director of economic development for York County, S.C., as its new president and CEO effective Sept. 15. Farris was unanimously selected after an extensive nationwide search in which the GADC received more than 300 applications and actively considered dozens of candidates from across the United States, said the GADC in a statement. Farris succeeds Kevin Landmesser, who has served as interim president and CEO since the resignation of Jerry Howard in May 2013. Landmesser will remain with the GADC and has been promoted to senior vice president, said the GADC.

The GADC is a nonprofit organization established to promote and enhance the economic growth and development of Greenville County. “There are few positions in all of America that I would have entertained leaving York County for, but my overwhelming love of the Palmetto State and the strengths of Greenville County as an attractive and vibrant location made me realize that this was the right time and destination to commit my efforts and abilities to,” said Farris. “The GADC is a nationally respected economic development organization with a superb team, and Greenville County is a model for planned strategic growth. I look forward to contributing to the advancement of such an attractive

and vibrant community.” Farris has served as the director of economic development for York County since 1987. During his tenure, York County J. Mark Farris has announced more than $4 billion in new capital investment, according to the GADC. Farris is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and past

president of the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association. A South Carolina native, he holds both undergraduate and master’s degrees from Clemson University. “Mark has been a tireless advocate of smart, strategic and high-impact economic development in South Carolina overall and in York County, and is widely respected as a strong leader, visionary and strategist in the industry,” said Richard (Dick) Wilkerson, chairman of the GADC board of directors. “He will bring knowledge, energy and a strong collaborative spirit to our public/private partnership, and is the right leader to build upon Greenville County’s tremendous opportunities, reputation and momentum.”

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

Rob Howell with Avison Young works using his homemade stand-up desk.

Adam Landrum with Merge at work using a stand-up desk.

Tobin Wolverton with Carolina Business Interiors using a height-adjustable desk.

Taking a stand

Adjustable desks help Upstate workers boost productivity – and possibly health LEIGH SAVAGE | CONTRIBUTOR

About eight months ago, Rob Howell was sitting at his desk reading an article about how the human body is not designed to spend all day sitting. That’s when Howell, managing director at Avison Young in Greenville, decided to stand up for a change. “I thought I’d try it and see if I could tell the difference,” said Howell. He designed his own static L-shaped desk using PVC legs and a plywood top with sanded edges, which took a couple of hours and minimal financial investment to build. Though it took some getting used to – “I was sore and more tired at first,” he said – he quickly started noticing benefits, including less soreness and tightness after exercising, a small amount of weight loss from extra calorie expenditure, and,

most importantly, better energy and focus throughout the day.

HEALTH BENEFITS SOUGHT The stand-up desk trend took off in 2011 when two studies were released on the dangers of excessive sitting. One, reported in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise, examined 17,000 people over 13 years and found that those who sat the most had a 54 percent higher chance of dying of a heart attack. That was true even for non-smokers who exercised regularly. Another study reported in New York Times Magazine in 2011 included 123,000 people and found that those who sit six or more hours per day had a death rate 20 percent higher than those who sit less. Women who sat more than six hours per day had a 40 percent higher death rate. Dr. Christopher A. Smith, a physi-

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 1, 2014

cian with Medical Group of the Carolinas in Simpsonville, said he hasn’t seen studies that conclusively prove using a standing desk will improve heart health or increase longevity, but he does advocate them for people who have neck or shoulder problems from hunching over a desk all day. His former office had static desks that required him to turn around to speak with patients, and he often went home with headaches or aching shoulder and neck muscles. His new office has desks that move up and down, allowing him to sit or stand. “I like options that give you flexibility,” he said. “Changing positions can be more comfortable. There may or may not be evidence that it improves health, but if people are willing to pay for it and it makes them feel healthy, by all means they should do it.” As the research began reaching the

public, more offices started offering the stand-up option, including Google and Facebook. Bloomberg Businessweek reported that one company, Steelcase, saw their standup desks selling four times faster than traditional desks. According to a Forbes article, Ergo Desktop, which makes an attachment that converts desks to standing versions, tripled its sales between 2011 and 2012.

UP AND DOWN Locally, Tobin Wolverton, partner and vice president of sales at Carolina Business Interiors, has seen “a huge increase” in clients interested in stand-up desks for their workspaces. “And not just stand-up desks, but the ability to height-adjust a desk,” he said. “Ergonomically, you do not want to be in one position all day, sitting or standing, so the ability to adjust is very popular, more so >>

Photos by Greg Beckner

UBJ WORKPLACE

UBJ WORKPLACE >>

than just standing.” CBI sells a mechanism that can be added to existing desks, including traditional designs, that allow them to adjust up and down. There are a variety of ways to raise and lower the desks, including electric, pneumatic, crank and pin-set styles. “There are even desks where they sit in one area and if they turn to the side, that portion is at standing height, so they don’t have to adjust,” Wolverton said. That’s how Howell arranged his desk, which has a sitting area available if he needs it, or he’ll head to the conference room for seated meetings. Adam Landrum, CEO at Merge, a Greenville digital strategy agency, started with a stand-up desk he fashioned himself back in 2008, but after seeing numerous benefits decided to purchase an electric Workrite stand-up desk. He recommends trying it out for a while before making the investment. He started with a workbench purchased at Lowe’s stacked on books and bed-risers to achieve the proper height. He also purchased a bar stool so that while he stands most of the day, he can rest as needed. His blog about the switch – “The Stand-Up Desk Experiment” (bit.ly/landrum-desk), once Google’s top result for “stand-up desks”– touts such benefits as better posture, more energy, clearer thinking and more engagement on phone calls. In the negative category, he did have sore feet in the beginning and some guests found the stand-up situation odd. But six years after making the switch, Landrum is still standing, and Merge has four more employees using the desks. “I just need to be able to move around a lot and be active throughout the day,” he said. “I can’t even think of going back.”

STAND UP GUYS Like to stand at work? You’re in good company. These famous people have said they use the desks or have been rumored to do so.

LOOKING FOR MORE OPTIONS TO STAY FIT AT YOUR DESK?

Donald Rumsfeld, former secretary of defense Philip Roth, writer Rob Schwartz, chief creative officer at TBWA/Chiat/Day LA Ernest Hemingway FitnessCubed has created Cubii, “the world’s first under-desk elliptical trainer designed specifically for your workspace.” Cubii, which just became fully funded on Kickstarter, can also charge electronic devices. fitnesscubed. com/cubii.html

p Sir Winston Churchill, former British prime minister Leonardo Da VInci Virginia Woolf

LifeSpan’s line of Treadmill Desks boast features such as adjustable height, heavy-duty workspace and Bluetooth integration with a computer fitness app. lifespanfitness.com

Thomas Jefferson Michael Dell, entrepreneur

p Charles Dickens t Oscar Hammerstein, songwriter Benjamin Franklin

August 1, 2014

The Gaiam Balance Ball Chair “provides all-day ergonomic support for a stronger, healthier back. By actively sitting on the ball, you’ll improve your posture and spinal alignment while getting a powerful corestrengthening workout.” gaiam.com

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

By ANA PARRA, community relations director, Greenville Forward

FORWARD What’s next for the Upstate, and how we’ll get there

It’s Time to Celebrate 10 ways to honor the 10th anniversary of Greenville Forward’s Vision 2025 Ten years is a short time in the life span of a county. But in 10 short years, Greenville County has seen a lifetime of changes. Ten years ago, Vision 2025 was created and launched in our community. Vision 2025 was a list of goals that would transform Greenville into a community that people wanted to move to and not move away from. It was an ambitious vision, but as we’ve seen over the last few years, it was doable with the right leadership and partnerships. Ten years later, Greenville has accomplished about 60 percent of Vision 2025. In an August column for the Upstate Business Journal, Greenville Forward’s Executive Director Russell Stall discussed how, despite all of Greenville’s successes, we as a community could not rest on our laurels. But we should also be immensely proud of what Greenville has become. And this year with all of our successes and the 10th anniversary of Vision 2025 to commemorate, it’s time to celebrate. We should celebrate Vision 2025’s 10-year anniversary, and we should celebrate all year long. And I have some ideas on how to do that – 10 ideas, to be exact.

1. GET ENGAGED. At Greenville Forward we often encourage people to get engaged in the community, but we’re not asking people to volunteer just yet. We’re asking people to take time to really learn about Greenville, its past and present. Whether it’s participating in one of

John Nolan’s History Tours or attending a County or City Council meeting, understanding Greenville will allow you to move on to the second celebratory experience.

2. GET INVOLVED. Okay, now we want you to jump in and be a part of Greenville’s story. And if you studied Greenville, you’ll know how to find where your role lies. It may be advocating for more bike lanes and walkways, or it may even be running for a seat on the school board (if this is this is the case, skip to No. 5). 3. DISCOVER THE COUNTY. Greenville receives many accolades for its gorgeous downtown, but there’s so much more to this community than Falls Park and our tree-lined Main Street. Lake Conestee Nature Park is a beautiful hidden gem in Greenville, 400 acres of wilderness right in our backyard. Run by Greenville Rec, it also has great family-friendly programming. Or you can drive further south to Fountain Inn’s Younts Center for the Performing Arts for its impressive schedule of performances.

4. TRAVEL. If you’ve thoroughly explored Greenville County, go somewhere else. Go to other communities and take note of what you like that Greenville may be missing. While every community should have its unique experiences, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to “borrow” great ideas and see how they may fit at home.

All you need to do to celebrate 10 years of success is to commit to make the next 10 years even better. 5. GET EDUCATED ABOUT EDUCATION. Whether you have kids or not, it’s important to appreciate the learning community in Greenville. Our school district is top-notch and we have some wonderful higher-ed institutions that are driving community development. Participate in Greenville Forward’s annual Eye on Education tour of schools in our district or sign up for a class through continuing ed programs at Furman or Greenville Tech.

6. SUPPORT LOCAL. Thanks to amazing local producers who have made Greenville their home, this is one of the easiest – and sometimes, the most delicious – way to celebrate Greenville. Enjoy a beer from our award-wining breweries Quest Brewing or Swamp Rabbit Brewery. Visit the Travelers Rest Farmers Market and meet some of the farmers who grow and sell in Greenville. Eat at one of the many independently owned restaurants in town, or support our local artists and artisans and purchase one (or several) of the handmade pieces made in the West Village. 7. INVITE FRIENDS OVER. You may be tempted to keep Greenville a secret, but there’s no better way to

share your love than by inviting out-of-town friends and family to visit you in Greenville.

8. SAY THANK YOU. The changes in Greenville seemed to happen overnight, but they took decades of visioning, planning and execution to accomplish. From city leaders to community organizers to educators and corporate visionaries, there are so many people who worked to move Greenville forward. While these change agents don’t seek attention, it’s important to recognize their hard work. 9. GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR. At Greenville Forward we’re huge advocates of having coffee, because we like getting to know people. A community is only as good as its people, and we have some dynamic people in Greenville who are the real reason Greenville is great.

10. FIND YOUR OWN UNIQUE WAY TO CELEBRATE. The wonderful thing about today’s Greenville is that it’s incredibly easy to show this town some love. All that you really need to do to celebrate 10 years of success is to commit to make the next 10 years in Greenville even better.

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@UpstateBiz

TheUpstateBusinessJournal

By MATTHEW KLEIN, director of business development, Clemson College of Business and Behavioral Science, Greenville

INNOVATE Movers, shakers and disruptors shaping our future

Pitch perfect

Here’s how to make your pitches connect with heavy-hitting investors A clear, concise, compelling pitch is something every entrepreneur needs. Research has shown that people make up their minds in 90 seconds or fewer whether they want to know more about an idea. The ability to articulate an idea at any time, to anyone, in any environment is an essential tool of a skilled entrepreneur. While the pitch itself must be short, developing one that is effective requires a significant amount of time, thought, practice and revision.

Understand your audience. Research prospective investors thoroughly. What kinds of businesses are they looking at? What model/ criteria/triggers do they use to judge whether a startup will be successful or not? If you don’t have some sense of their points of view, your likelihood of making the pitch go well is more random. You may happen to emphasize the right points that pique an investor’s interest, but you shouldn’t leave your financing up to chance.

Open with your investment thesis. What must prospective investors believe in order to want to be shareholders of your company? Your first slide should articulate the investment thesis, generally in three to five bullet points. Then, spend the rest of the pitch backing up those claims and increasing investors’ confidence in your investment thesis.

Your investment thesis is either concept-driven or data-driven. Which kind you are pitching? In a data pitch, you lead with the data because you are emphasizing how good the data already is. Investors therefore evaluate your company based on the data. If it’s a concept pitch, on the other hand, there may be data, but the data supports a yet-undeveloped concept. A concept pitch shows your vision for

You don’t need everyone to believe in it – you only need the right people to believe in it. how the future will be and how you will get to that future, so investors will want to buy a piece of it. Thus, concept pitches depend more on promised future data rather than present data. When you’re doing a concept pitch, it’s especially important to consider pitching by analogy.

Steer into your investors’ objections. There will be one to three issues that are potentially problematic for your financing. Address them head-on. You have the most attention from investors in the first couple of slides. Most investors arrive with questions, and if you proactively show you understand their principal concerns, you earn their attention for the rest of your pitch.

Explicitly identify the risks that could thwart your success and how you will mitigate them. And

pitch should answer:

the call to action is to schedule another meeting, to seek expert 1: What’s the problem? (Where advice, gather feedback or attract there is pain, there is opportunity) potential employees. Finally, remember that with any 2: What’s the solution? (And most importantly: How does your solution pitch you are telling a story, and there differ from the competition?) may be some people who don’t believe that story or don’t connect with your 3: Who will it help? (A.k.a. your idea. If every single person who hears target market) your idea has valid objections, it may 4: Can I make money? (Business- be time to reevaluate, but the occaes must ultimately be profitable to sional bit of negative feedback is not be sustainable) cause for discouragement. Remember that you don’t need 5: What do I need to move everyone to believe in it – you only forward? (Call to action, tailored need the right people to believe in it. to the audience) If you can get the right investor to say Stay in the know with free email. yes, you willweekly be on your way to entreThe call to action is not always an UBJ’s preneurial success. “ask” for financial support. Sometimes

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instead of waiting until investors ask about your risks, share them proactively so you build trust. The goal of pitching is not always investment. Sometimes you pitch to get feedback on the viability of the idea, to recruit future customers for the business, or in an effort to leverage networking connections or other contacts. These types of pitches are often done on the fly and are most effective when you emphasize the points that are important to the person you are speaking with. For example, if the person is a potential customer, emphasize the value proposition of your product or service. Beyond this, there are five main questions that every good business

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

By VINCE GUERRA, president and founder, Guerra Strategy

COMMUNICATE Staying on message with your clients and your colleagues

Making peace between sales and marketing Three steps to get the two departments working together and producing revenue The conflicts between sales and marketing are legendary. Marketing doesn’t feel like it gets enough credit for its contribution to the sales process, while sales is still asking, “Does all this marketing stuff even work?” While both sales and marketing are focused on generating revenue for the company, they go about it from two vastly different perspectives. After all, you rarely hear a salesperson getting excited about social media and big data, and you never see a marketing manager full of adrenaline after closing a big contract. Ideally, sales and marketing should

Sales and marketing go about generating revenue from two vastly different perspectives. But if they are disconnected from each other, then new business, client retention, and ultimately revenue will suffer. work toward agreed-upon goals and complement what the other is doing. If they are disconnected from each other, then new business, client retention, and ultimately revenue will suffer. So how can sales and marketing start playing nice together? Here are a few steps you can take

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towards sales and marketing alignment.

AIM AT THE SAME TARGET. While marketing has all the demographic data on your best clients, sales can tell you their names, what they look like, where they went to college, what car they drive, and why they even come to work. Working together to create a detailed buyer persona is the most important starting point for sales and marketing alignment. If they agree on the characteristics of your target clients, then marketing will generate more new prospects who will look a lot like the clients sales is already closing.

SALES, GO WITH MARKETING. And marketing, go with sales. Football fans love to second-guess a coach’s decision or a quarterback’s mental capacity. It’s no different with sales and marketing. Marketing feels that closing ratios are too low considering all the high-quality leads they are delivering to sales. Sales wonders if marketing knows the difference between an interested suspect and a qualified prospect. By working in each other’s role for a few days, sales and marketing learn exactly how difficult it is to walk in the other person’s shoes. Sales can jump in on a lead-generation or retention campaign and see the details that are involved with tracking budgets, managing vendors and constructing a compelling offer, while writing attention-grabbing copy.

Marketing can no longer hide behind email when they have to pick up the phone and call all those fantastic leads they’ve been handing to sales.

IDENTIFY WHERE SALES AND MARKETING OVERLAP. Typically, marketing owns the top of the funnel while sales owns the bottom. However, those warm prospects in the middle of the funnel make a great place for sales and marketing to work together. For the next piece of content your company creates (blog posts, ebooks, videos, etc.), have a salesperson describe the characteristics of the last major sale that he or she closed to the appropriate marketing personnel. Marketing should put on their journalist hat and thoroughly interview the salesperson. He or she should ask the salesperson questions in order to learn why the company’s product was a good fit in that specific situation and how the customer benefited from purchasing the product. Suddenly, sales will actually care about the final content and get excited about discussing it with their prospects and clients. As you can see, aligning sales and marketing can be simple to implement, and the benefits are definitely worth it. Integrating sales and marketing allows you to achieve greater results from the two areas that most affect your company’s revenue. Plus, annual planning and goal-setting will become more about working together to achieve the overall goals of the business rather than each department operating in a vacuum. Your customers will benefit, too. Aligning sales and marketing improves customer feedback, which allows their needs to be communicated quickly throughout the organization, resulting in timelier product enhancements and increased client retention.

August 1, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

COVER STORY

‘EXOTIC’ METALS CREATE NEW RECYCLING CHALLENGES Use of new materials in manufacturing means recyclers must adapt

JOE TOPPE | STAFF jtoppe@communityjournals.com

As new material grades come online and production expands across the region, the recycling industry in the Upstate must adapt to maintain an efficiency level suitable to the environment. John Suchon, commercial manager at OmniSource, said the metal recycling company wants to ensure the practice is done properly throughout South Carolina. In addition to Spartanburg County, OmniSource has locations across South Carolina including Rock Hill, Anderson, Columbia and Greenville, he said. Company-wide, OmniSource is capable of processing 7 million tons of ferrous scrap per year and more than 1 billion pounds of nonferrous metals, Suchon said. The company’s $7 million shredding machine located in Spartanburg County can break down 2,000 tons of material each day and reduce an automobile to shreds in 20 to 25 seconds. Although the industries involving exotic metals have yet to establish a strong presence in the Upstate, Suchon said they are “starting to gear up.” “We are used to the ‘old-school’ automobile materials or obsolete scrap, but we need to stay in front of the trends to efficiently recycle the new materials,” he said. As these companies come into the area, OmniSource will work with them on the standards of efficient recycling, he said. Suchon noted that the aerospace industry has a strong representation in the Upstate and continues to draw more companies to the Spartanburg and Greenville area. Specialty aerospace items such as titanium, high-strength alloys, Inconel, Monel, and stainless material are becoming more prevalent. In addition, “we are processing more circuit boards then ever and anticipate more carbon fiber and plastic resin material to be recycled in the near future,” he said. >>

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

A stack of junked cars wait to be loaded into the car shredder at OmniSource’s Spartanburg facility.

August 1, 2014

COVER STORY

Indian

Mississippi

ment, he said. Many >> While older materials were easier to businesses have envipull apart, Suchon said ronmental staffs on newer materials are board but as production materials change co-joined and more and processes are addifficult to separate. Co-mingled materials justed, “they will need can create an issue for to be informed.” cost and how the prodSuchon said it is ucts are processed, he imperative that local said. industries engage a As new technologies good recycling program. By interactand recycling methods become intertwined ing with the region’s with the older practices, companies, “we have OmniSource places an found things to help emphasis on maintaineach other,” he said. ing environmentally There is a good intersound operations. change of information Suchon said larger in the Upstate business community, he companies have a responsibility to ensure said. their materials are OmniSource’s presdisposed of in an envience in the area can assist the existing inronmentally respectful way. The companies dustry in becoming don’t want to be acmore cost-effective countable for their Scrap metal is unloaded at the OmniSource facility in Spartanburg. with recycling while spurring innovation, discarded materials As OmniSource establishes its re- Suchon said. being handled improperly, he said. As the new materials come into “Our stance is to be a good corporate cycling presence in the Upstate, the company continues to work with play and as OmniSource establishes citizen of South Carolina.” existing businesses and those new to a standard for their recycling, the the region on the changing face of relationship can enable the developSHIPPING OUT ment of technology and offer insight the industry. Materials recycled at OmniSource’s on how their materials can be proSuchon said most companies want Spartanburg Facility are shipped to to be “green,” but the cost can be an duced for 100 percent recycling down locations in… issue. Recycling is a long-term invest- the road, Suchon said.

CHARITY WORK

OmniSource works with national and local charities such as the American Heart Association, Saint Jude’s, and the Susan G. Coleman Foundation to support the region, spread the word about recycling, and give back to the community.

IN FOR PROCESSING

Processing at OmniSource facilities includes shredding, baling, compacting, shearing and bundling, while most recycled steel is sold to steel mills and foundries.

BUYING GUIDE

OmniSource will buy ferrous metals including crushed automobiles, industrial scrap, clean cast parts, and rebar scrap. OmniSource will by nonferrous metals including aluminum cans and copper wire.

HOW EXOTIC

According to a paper by the Oregon Institute of Technology, exotic metals include:

Titanium

Aluminum

Zirconium

Chromium

Fe Ni Cr Stainless Steel most often composed of Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr) and sometimes Vandadium (V)

Virginia

Uses for the materials include:

Kentucky John Suchon, commercial manager at OmniSource.

Photos by Greg Beckner

August 1, 2014

Aerospace Dentistry Medical Implants Sporting Goods Fuel efficient modes of transportation

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

ONES TO WATCH Who’s Who 2013 Panel Picks

Ty Houck

TY HOUCK AGE: 43 EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in geology from Furman University

Director of greenways, natural and historic resources, Greenville County Recreation District

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Enjoys hiking with his family, mountain biking, carveboarding and surfing on the flow rider. FAMILY: Wife Erin and a 5-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son

By JENNIFER REYNOLDS contributor

endeavors to see recreation facilities like the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail from the perspective of others, such as children. In this way, he helps make the facilities enjoyable for the residents of Greenville. “It’s very important to self-evaluate,” Houck says, “to see how people work and make the enjoyment factor high.”

Ty Houck first learned to love the recreation department while growing up in Palm Beach, Fla. His mother was the local parks and recreation director, and Houck biked to his first job there: sweeping tennis courts and driving golf carts. Now, he is director of greenways, natural and historic resources for the Greenville County Recreation District, and recreation is still an important part of his life. Houck established roots in the Upstate while attending Furman University and later as park manager of Paris Mountain State Park. In 2000, the city of Greenville published its master plan for Greenville parks. As Houck was developing trails for Paris Mountain, Greenville was developing the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail. He calls the move to his current position a “natural evolution” allowing him to continue to develop recreation spaces and to remain in the Greenville area. During his time at Greenville’s recreation department, Houck has overseen numerous projects. He runs oversight and construction of the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail outside city limits. He has overseen the improvements at Poinsett Bridge and Campbell’s Covered Bridge. But it is the projects where he works with volunteers from Hands On Greenville that he loves the best. “It’s exciting knowing that many people are as excited about parks and recreation as I am,” Houck says. Houck’s work is marked with enthusiasm. He frequently gives out his personal cellphone number so he can get feedback and ideas. When staff was stretched thin and bush-hogging needed to be done, he did it himself. “I like to be hands-on,” he says. He also knows the value of perspective, and

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? We have a “Kumbayah” mentality around the rec department, meaning if there’s an idea that makes sense and we can partner with someone to make it happen, that’s great. I’m always excited when there’s a good idea and I can run with it. There are so many unique opportunities to connect to different age groups. Everyone can enjoy a parks and rec kind of experience. It’s about creating individual opportunities and making them enjoyable for everyone.

“I try to be as accessible as possible. I give out my cell number freely. If you’ve got an idea and want to talk about it, I’m open to ideas.”

August 1, 2014

WHY IS CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE IMPORTANT TO YOU? I try to be as accessible as possible. I give out my cell number freely. Customer service is so important. If you’ve got an idea and want to talk about it, I’m open to ideas. Lots of people are involved in making this happen. I’m just fortunate enough to get the day job to work with it. I’m always happy to work with people.

HOW DO YOU USE THE GHS SWAMP RABBIT TRAIL? My wife and I decided to move closer to the trail so that the kids can use the trail to go to school. I wanted my kids to have that experience. I modified my bike so my daughter can ride with me when I take her to school, and my son and I bike to the park. We started something called “Pedaling to Pizza” where we take the kids, meet up with friends and bike to local pizza restaurants. For us, it’s a quality-of-life issue. Photos by Greg Beckner

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

SOCIAL SNAPSHOT Inside the Upstate’s networking and social scene

TEDXGREENVILLE JULY SALON “Why Failure Is Good for Success” was the topic of the July TEDxSalon. Local attorney Kevin Reese led the interactive discussion at Zen Greenville.

Photos by Derrick Goodwin

Real World Teaching for Real World Application

Courses & Certifications Offered SCMEP is a non-profit organization that promotes the economic growth and long-term success of small and mid-size manufacturers. Using a strategic, hands-on approach, SCMEP helps companies improve their competitiveness, performance, and profitability. SCMEP's new Business Learning Center also provides training and certification classes right here in the Upstate. Check out our upcoming classes: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt / Black Belt Combo - Starts Aug 4 ISO 9001/ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Combo Course - Aug 18 - Aug 22 Value Stream Mapping - Aug 19 5S - Aug 25

A3 Problem Solving - Aug 26

Reducing Energy Costs - Energy Efficiency - Aug 27 TPM - Aug 28

TWI - Aug 28

Safety Root Cause Analysis - Sept 3 LMI Productivity for Managers - Starts Sept 8 LMI Leadership Development - Starts Sept 9 LMI Personal Management - Starts Sept 10 Design for Six Sigma - Starts Sept 15 For a complete list of courses, visit our website: www.scmep.org

SCMEP’s Business Learning Center | 37 Villa Road, Suite 500, Greenville SC 29615 | (864) 288-5687 | www.scmep.org August 1, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

FINE PRINT Business briefs you can’t miss

Palmetto Bank reports Q2 net income of $2M

Greer Bancshares repays nearly $10.5M in TARP funds Greer State Bank’s parent company Greer Bancshares recently reported that it has repaid all of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) preferred stock through a series of repayments, totaling $10,493,000. In order to repay the principal and $2,059,000 of deferred and current year dividends in several payments throughout the first seven months of 2014, Greer Bancshares used $6,597,000 in dividends from Greer State Bank as well as its own $5,955,000 with its directors purchasing approximately 40 percent of the subordinated debt. Additionally, Greer Bancshares paid the U.S. Treasury $3,791,000 in dividends since the TARP was issued. “The TARP investment served a useful purpose when it was issued in 2009, reinforcing our capital during the height of the financial crisis,” said president and CEO George Burdette in a release. “We are pleased that our financial progress has allowed this investment to be repaid, at full face value, along with almost $3.8 million in dividends and interest.” Instituted in 2008 under then-President George W. Bush, TARP is a U.S. government program to purchase assets and equity from financial institutions in order to strengthen the financial sector.

In its latest earnings release, Palmetto Bancshares reported a net income of $2 million for the second quarter ended June 30, which is unchanged from the previous quarter. The Palmetto Bank holding company said in a release that since the loan portfolio continued to improve and net charge-offs remained low, no provision for loan losses was recorded in the first and second quarters. “Our earnings for the second quarter and the first

$1.3M net income in Q2 for Southern First Southern First Bancshares reported a net income of $1.3 million in the second quarter ended June 30 – the same as the first quarter, but an increase of 18 percent from $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2013. “We are proud of our second quarter results as we reported record earnings of $1.3 million,” said CEO Art Seaver in a release. During the second quarter, loan balances rose from $778.8 million in the previous quarter to $812.8 million. Additionally, the holding company reported an increase in core deposits to $536.2 million during the second quarter from $519.9 million in the previous quarter.

844 -GSP-ESPN 24

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August 1, 2014

half of 2014 continued to reflect progress towards our objective of achieving high-performing financial results,” said chairman and CEO Samuel Erwin in the release. The Palmetto Bank strengthened its “deposit funding base through growth of low-cost transaction deposits,” said Erwin. During the second quarter, non-interest-bearing deposits increased $7.7 million while time deposits decreased $6.1 million.

Engenius announces finalists for Web makeover Engenius announced that Outman Cigars and AAA FenceCrafters are the two finalists in its Upstate’s Worst Website competition. The two businesses are competing to get a new website for free, and Engenius is inviting the public to vote through Aug. 8 on who wins the Web makeover. “The goal of this contest has to been to help small businesses get a better website,” said Chris Manley, Engenius’s managing partner, in a release. “Now, it is up to the Upstate community to decide who gets it.” To vote, visit upstatesworstwebsite.com once a day through Aug. 8. To view the contestants’ websites, visit outmancigars.com and aaafencecrafters.com.

Mike & Mike 6 -10 A

The Her d 10A-1 P

FINE PRINT Business briefs you can’t miss

Gold’s Gym to acquire The Rush Fitness Complex Gold’s Gym recently signed a new deal to acquire The Rush Fitness Complex, which owns 23 clubs in communities in Greenville, as well as Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. The acquisition is expected to close next month. Once acquired, all 23 locations will grow Gold’s Gym’s corporate-owned gym portfolio to 146, a 40 percent increase from the gym’s 104 corporate-owned gym count from July 2013, and an 80 percent increase

from its 81 corporate-owned gyms in July 2012, said the release. “Following steady growth this last quarter, which included the acquisition of Aspen Athletic Clubs, we are excited to kick off the second half of the year with this announcement,” said Gold’s Gym president Aaron Watkins in the release. “There were obvious syner-

Park Sterling announces $3.4M in Q2 net income Park Sterling Corporation reported a net income of $3.4 million for the second quarter ended June 30, a decrease from $3.6 million in the previous quarter. The holding company for Park Sterling Bank reported that the bank has seen a 132 percent increase over the previous quarter in mortgage banking production, totaling $55.7 million. “Operating results for the second quarter clearly demonstrate the value of Park Sterling’s multifaceted growth strategy,” said CEO James C. Cherry in a release.

Park Sterling Bank reported a $70.8 increase in organic loans and decreased nonperforming loans to 0.65 percent from 0.70 percent in the previous quarter. Additionally, total deposits increased by 14 percent to $1.86 billion, compared to $1.64 billion in the previous quarter. Park Sterling Bank also completed a merger with Provident Community Bancshares Inc. on May 1.

gies between The Rush Fitness Complex offerings and Gold’s Gym offerings, which is why this deal was attractive to us. We look forward to providing award-winning service and helping these new members of the Gold’s Gym family reach their individual fitness goals.” Additionally, The Rush Fitness Complex’s clubs will be rebranded under the

Gold’s Gym name and the locations will remain open throughout the transition. Gold’s Gym will also honor all existing memberships at the locations, but will automatically convert the memberships to the Gold’s Gym system, allowing members to gain travel privileges to the Gold’s Gym network of more than 700 locations in 38 states and 28 countries.

Naked Pasta opens up commercial kitchen for rental A dedicated commercial kitchen for rent has launched in The Village of West Greenville at 1286 Pendleton St., in the location that currently houses Naked Pasta, artisan makers of pastas, sauces and dips. Naked Kitchen is available for rent by the hour, day, week or month. The business describes itself as a “great solution for caterers, food trucks, food carts or home-based food businesses looking to expand.” Naked Pasta will continue to operate in Naked Kitchen, along with tenants

Carolina Pops, a baker based in Asheville, and a Greenville caterer, the Greenville News reported. Although the store will be closed to visitors, Naked Pasta products can still be found at local farmers markets. In July, Naked Pasta owners Julie Jenkins and Ed Creighton announced on Facebook that they would turn management of the pasta business over to their children, Jacqualyn Brooks and Jon Creighton. More information is available at getnakedpasta.com.

Greg McKinney 4-7 P Sturg 7-10 P August 1, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF sjackson@communityjournals.com @SJackson_CJ

SQUARE FEET Real estate deals and developments across the region

Rendering by Freeman & Major Architects

18 apartments slated for McBee Ave. Plans have been filed with the Greenville Planning Commission for a new 18-apartment community called Holland Flats, located at 722 E. McBee Ave., across from the Poinsett Club. The plans submitted by Freeman & Major Architects show a three-story gray building with balconies and metal-clad windows and doors. An existing office building occupied by J. Darryl Holland, a local attorney and developer of the project, would remain. If approved, the development will be next door to the new Park Sterling Bank headquarters in the former Steel Heddle factory.

The application will be reviewed at the Aug. 14 Planning Commission meeting.

New apartment complex planned near Haywood Mall Garages will also be available. The application will go before the Planning Commission at the Aug. 14 meeting. rd Rd

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The development, called Crescent Place Apartments, will occupy a little more than half of the 14.6-acres at 37 Timmons Drive. The remainder of the land will be set aside for future retail development. Crescent Place will have 11 buildings, a large pool, clubhouse, an event lawn and park area.

coming to Timmons Way, near the main Fluor Corp. campus off Haywood Road in Greenville. Daniel Realty Company, a firm based in Birmingham, Ala., is listed as the property owner on the land development permit filed with the city Planning Commission.

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A new 292-unit apartment complex may be

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Opportunity Pl

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 1, 2014

Hayw

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Rendering by Wakefield Beasley & Associates. Map: Google Maps

po Air

NEW TO THE STREET The freshest faces on the business landscape

2 1. MonsterCon’s Con Café recently opened at 138 Webber Road in Gaffney. The café features locally roasted, 100 percent organic coffee blends. The café’s hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/theconcafe or email shane@monstercon.org. 2. The law firm of Stephenson & Murphy recently opened at 207 Whitsett St. in Greenville. The firm is run by Tom Stephenson, Brian Murphy and Alex Cable, and the practice will focus on labor, employment and corporate law. For more information, call 864-370-9400. 3. The Le Peep restaurant recently held a ribbon-cutting at 5935 Pelham Road in Greer. For more information, visit lepeep.com or call 864-558-0396.

4. World Scents and More recently held a ribbon-cutting at 3058 Wade Hampton Blvd., Suite 6, in Taylors. For more information, call 864-534-1646. PHOTOS PROVIDED

JOIN THE 20 COMPANIES SHARING WORK AND EVENT SPACE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE www.JOINOPENWORKS.com August 1, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

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

ON THE MOVE Play-by-play of Upstate careers

HIRED

NAMED

PROMOTED

Bern DuPree

Erica Marett

Dr. Eileen T. Kraemer Mollie Murphy

Dr. John Gowdy

Tami Miller

Hired by NAI Earle Furman as a broker in the multifamily division. Dupree was previously vice president of Vista Capital Management Group, where he worked for seven years. He has a B.A. in business economics from Wofford College.

Joined the Greenville Road Warriors as the team’s new director of corporate partnerships. Marett is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. She joins the Road Warriors with more than 10 years of business development, contract negotiation and client relations experience.

Joined Clemson University as the new C. Tycho Howle director of the School of Computing, which includes computer science, visual computing and human-centered computing. Kraemer comes to Clemson from the University of Georgia, where she was associate dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

Named interim associate dean for undergraduate studies in Clemson’s College of Engineering and Science. Gowdy, who has been at Clemson for 43 years, has most recently served as undergraduate program coordinator in the Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Promoted to director of LEAD programs at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. She will continue to assist with the overall LEAD initiative with a renewed focus on the implementation of Leadership Greenville, Opportunity Greenville, Youth Leadership Greenville, PULSE, and the Corporate Leadership Series.

Joined Canterbury Counseling Center as a licensed professional counselor. Murphy previously worked as a full-time counselor, and she has served as chaplain, bereavement care coordinator, and child and family therapist. At Canterbury, she will specialize in serving adolescents, young women, couples and families.

We’ve already met your next employee.

Ginny Beach Professional Recruiter 11 years experience

Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing specializes in executive recruiting, career placement, and consulting for businesses and independent job seekers in South Carolina. Our team of recruiters brings a combined 87 years of experience placing candidates in the financial, technical, healthcare, and professional industries. Let us find the perfect fit for your employment needs. Professional • Finance • Technical • Healthcare sccareersearch.com • 864-242-3491

GODSHALL 28

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August 1, 2014

Professional Recruiting Staffing Consulting

ON THE MOVE Play-by-play of Upstate careers

ARCHITECTURE/ CONSTRUCTION/ ENGINEERING: Matt Kelley has successfully passed the exam and met the education and experience requirements to become a registered professional engineer. Kelley is manufacturing manager at Automation Engineering Co. LLC and a graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. O’Neal Inc. has hired Don Albrecht as structural engineer. Albrecht has more than eight years of design experience in the heavy industrial industry. He joins O’Neal from HWH Architects, Engineers and Planners in Cleveland. DP3 Architects Ltd. announced the addition of Jackie L. Batanglo. Batanglo has interned with DP3 Architects for the past two years and will be assisting DP3 Architects’ growing Restaurant Studio. Fuller Consulting Engineers Inc. announced the addition of Mark Irving as senior engineer, Arthur Simmons as engineer in training and Melody Waller as architectural designer. Irving was previously with McCluskey Engineering Corporation, Naperville, Ill., and has more than 25 years of experience in multi-story developments, precast and industrial industries. Simmons joins FCE after having worked with Tyndall Engineering and Design PA in Garner, N.C. M. B. Kahn Construction Co. Inc. announced the promotion of Glen Newton as the chief estimator and the hiring of Michael Dunlap as senior estimator. Newton joined the company in 1992 following his graduation from Clemson University and had previously served as project manager, estimator and preconstruction manager. Dunlap is a 1994 graduate of Clemson University and has been involved in numerous commercial, institutional and industrial construction projects in the Upstate and Western North Carolina over the past 18 years.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: The Greenville Chamber of Commerce has promoted Elizabeth Edwards to senior manager of government affairs and Megan Sherard to communications

coordinator to assist with the Chamber’s communications efforts, including social media and graphic design.

EDUCATION: Clemson University announced professor Windsor Westbrook Sherrill has been named associate vice president for health research at Clemson and chief science officer at Greenville Health System (GHS). Sherrill has worked with the South Carolina Hospital Association, Picker Institute for Patient Centered Care, the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center and served on the national boards for the Association of University Programs of Health Administration and Academy Health. Finally, professor R. Barton Palmer has been named editor of South Atlantic Review (SAR), the official journal of the South Atlantic Modern Language Association. Spartanburg Methodist College announced Sharon Wilborn has resumed the position of administrative assistant to the vice president for academic affairs, Scott Deskins assumed the position of facilities event and administrative coordinator, Cheryl Somerset assumed the role of administrative assistant to the president, and Jeannette R. Dunn will work as special assistant to the president. Wilborn previously worked as an energy supply cost analyst with HKA/Duke Energy. Deskins is a 10-year SMC employee. Previously, Somerset served as administrative assistant to the vice president for academic affairs for six years.

HOSPITALITY: Greenville Country Club (GCC) announced the addition of Kimberley Loper as director of membership sales and Paul Rutherford as clubhouse manager. Loper comes to GCC with more than 10 years of experience in outside sales. Rutherford has more than 11 years of experience working in the private club industry; he most recently worked for Brier Creek Country Club in Raleigh, N.C., and previously worked at the Commerce Club in Greenville.

CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com. Reserve at Lake Keowee’s new clubhouse manager. McCurdy brings more than 30 years of private club and resort management experience to his new position, having most recently served as the general manager of The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Arden, N.C.

MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS: Complete Public Relations announced that Krandal Turner will be joining the firm as a summer intern. Turner is a public health major at the University of South Carolina, where she plans to graduate in May 2015. Crawford Strategy welcomes Topper Carsten, Elizabeth Hughes, Katie Peden and Isabel Posada as undergraduate interns for the summer of 2014. Carsten will serve as a marketing intern at Crawford Strategy. He is a rising senior at Wofford College majoring in business economics with a

minor in history. Hughes will focus on event planning. She is a rising senior at Wofford College majoring in accounting with a minor in business. Peden will also serve as a marketing intern. She is a rising senior at Clemson University and is majoring in marketing with a minor in psychology. Posada will specialize in public relations while at Crawford Strategy. She is a student at the University of South Carolina and is majoring in public relations with a minor in health promotion, education and behavior.

STAFFING: HTI Employment Solutions announced the addition of Melanie Graham as an industrial recruiter in Spartanburg. Geoff Barnard will move into the supervisor role in Anderson, and Josh Shiflett returns to the company as an on-site supervisor in Anderson.

Make a move, we’re hiring:

SALES EXECUTIVE FULL TIME Email RJOHNSTON@COMMUNITYJOURNALS.COM with cover letter and resumé.

We look forward to meeting you. COMMUNITY JOURNALS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Ryan McCurdy has been named the

August 1, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

NOSH LIKE YOU MEAN IT.

Events you should have on your calendar

FRIDAY AUGUST 1 FIRST FRIDAY LUNCHEON Greer City Hall, 301 E. Poinsett St., Greer; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. COST: $10 for Greer Chamber members, $15 for non-members CONTACT: katie@ greerchamber.com REGISTER AT: greerchamber.com NORTH GREENVILLE ROTARY CLUB The Poinsett Club, 807 E. Washington St., Greenville; 12:30-1:30 p.m. COST: Free to attend, lunch $16 CONTACT: Shanda Jeffries at 864-968-2319 or sjeffries@flynnwealth.com

MONDAY AUGUST 4 GCS ROUNDTABLE The Office Center at the Point, 33 Market Point Drive, Greenville; 8:30-9:30 a.m. SPEAKER: Myles Golden TOPIC: The Collective Genius Theory Call Golden Career Strategies at 864-5270425 to request an invitation 10-4 GOOD CITY OpenWorks, 2 N. Main St., Greenville; 7:30-9 a.m.

AUGUST

21–31 Be sure to check the Greenvillefor participating restaurants, menus, and more!

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

PLANNER

FOR INFORMATION: 104good.com

University Center, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Auditorium Room 204, Greenville; noon-1 p.m. FOR INFORMATION: tmbilingue. toastmastersclubs.org CONTACT: Jeff Alfonso at jeff@alfonsointerpreting.com UPSTATE CAREER FAIR TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. More than 50 employers. Targeted toward professionals, veterans and recent graduates from all area colleges. NON-PROFIT ALLIANCE Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; noon-1 p.m. TOPIC: Business Funding, Part II COST: Free to Greenville Chamber members, $20 for non-members A box lunch will be available for $10. REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org CONTACT: 864-242-1050 NETWORKING FOR CRAFT BUSINESSES Tealoha, 131 E. McBee Ave., Greenville; 2-4 p.m. REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org CONTACT: 864-244-4117

GREENVILLE WOODWORKERS GUILD

INTRODUCTION TO PULSE

Education Center, 209 Hollyridge Drive, Greenville; 6:45-7:45 p.m.

Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 5:30-6:30 p.m.

FOR INFORMATION: greenvillewoodworkers.com

TUESDAY AUGUST 5 TOASTMASTERS BILINGUE

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 1, 2014

COST: Free to attend. Open to all. REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org

CONTACT: 864-239-3743

12:30-1:30 p.m.

GOLDEN STRIP TOASTMASTERS

TOPIC: Federal and State Regulatory Update for Manufacturing

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 739 N. Main St., Mauldin; 7-8 p.m. COST: Free for guests FOR INFORMATION: goldenstriptoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org CONTACT: Prasad Patchipulusu at pprasa1@ hotmail.com

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6 PELHAM POWER HOUR PartnerMD, 12 Maple Tree Court, Suite 103, Greenville; 8-9 a.m. COST: Free for Greer Chamber members REGISTER AT: greerchamber.com @WORK GROUP ENTREPRENEURSHIP LUNCH AND LEARN Hampton Inn & Suites, 171 RiverPlace, Greenville; 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

COST: Free for Greenville Chamber members, $15 per guest REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org CONTACT: Darlene Parker at 864-239-3706 BREWMASTERS Commerce Club, 55 Beattie Place, Greenville; 6:45-7:45 p.m. COST: $20 for members, $24 for guests FOR INFORMATION: ccbrewmasters.com CONTACT: 864-232-5600

THURSDAY AUGUST 7 BNI Southern Fried Green Tomatoes, 1175 Woods Crossing Road, Greenville; 8:15-9:45 a.m. CONTACT: Shanda Jeffries at 864-228-2122 or sjeffries1@allstate.com for invitation

Free lunch

GCS TOASTMASTERS

RSVP TO: LaToya Williams at 800-383-0804 ext. 230 or lwilliams@atwork.com

TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville; noon-1 p.m.

BNI CHAPTER, GREATER GREENVILLE City Range, 615 Haywood Road, Greenville; noon-1:30 p.m. COST: $15 for lunch CONTACT: Hardy Auston at 864-313-9942 or hdaustonmoving@aol.com MANUFACTURERS ROUNDTABLE Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville;

CONTACT: Ann or Myles Golden at agolden@ goldencareerstrategies. com or myles@ goldencareerstrategies.com SMALL BUSINESS START-UP Tri-County Technical College-Pendleton Campus, 7900 Hwy. 76, Pendleton; 5:30-8:30 p.m. COST: Free to attend REGISTER AT: piedmontscore.org

Historic photograph available from the Greenville Historical Society.

SNAPSHOT A quick look into the Upstate’s past

From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,” by Jeffrey R. Willis

Today both houses are gone. North Spring Street, on the left, has been reconfigured at East North Street with a tree-lined median and at the intersection. A parking lot has replaced the vacant lot at the corner, and an office building on North Spring Street occupies the site of the old boarding house. On East North Street a building housing the Tsunami Japanese Sushi Bar replaces the former McDavid Apartments.

Corner of North Spring and East North streets. The large house on the left was located at 117 N. Spring St. and was one of several downtown boardinghouses. At the time this photo was taken, about 1930, it was operated by Alonzo H. and Mary Bagwell. The house on the right, at 200-202 E. North St., was moved from the corner of North Main and East North. In 1930 it was the McDavid Apartments

MARKETING & EVENTS

GREG BECKNER / STAFF

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

Kate Madden

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

UBJ PUBLISHER

ART & PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR Kristy M. Adair OPERATIONS Holly Hardin

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Michael Allen, Whitney Fincannon

MANAGING EDITOR Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER Jennifer Oladipo

STAFF WRITERS

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jeanne Putnam

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

jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years

Emily Price

Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com

UBJ milestone

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.

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

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

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

1998 1998 Jackson Dawson moves to task industrial Court

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21

20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013

AS SEEN IN

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

ADVERTISING DESIGN CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley, Jane Rogers

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS: ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com

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

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NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS: onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties. Guest columns run 700-800 words. Contact Executive Editor Susan Clary Simmons at ssimmons@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration.

publishers of

COMING SOON… Special Issue: Focus on Technology Is the outsourcing scare over? Can social media change how we enjoy downtown? What exactly is data mining, and should we be scared? Is 3-D imaging the wave of the future?

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

UBJ milestone

u UP NEXT

Special Issue: Focus on Leadership Who’s building leaders in the community? What are questions leaders should never ask? What can we learn from the military, football coaches and university presidents? Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

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

PO Box 2266, Greenville, SC 29602 | 864-679-1200 | communityjournals.com UBJ: For subscriptions, call 864-679-1240 | UpstateBusinessJournal.com

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