August 5, 2016 UBJ

AUGUST 5, 2016 | VOL. 5 ISSUE 32

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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

| TECHNOLOGY | 3

ChartSpan reaches download milestone MELINDA YOUNG| CONTRIBUTOR

myoung@communityjournals.com

ChartSpan’s medical app has become the most downloaded free U.S. medical app from Apple’s App Store for the third straight year.

Also available for Android operating systems and on the web, the app gives consumers a convenient way to request, manage and send electronic health care records. The app, which has been downloaded more than 200,000 times, is free, encrypted and secure.

Since 2014, the health care technology company has focused on improving patient engagement. Most health care apps have very low patient engagement, says Jon-Michial Carter, chief executive officer of ChartSpan. The company opened headquarters in Greenville in 2013 after being part of the NEXT team and graduating from Iron Yard Digital Healthcare Accelerator.

“The biggest users of our consumer products are mothers who use our products to manage their entire families’ health care records and information,” Carter says. “They use ChartSpan to manage immunization, physicals and medical information for their children, with the ability to request, receive and send those records all within ChartSpan.”

People with chronic illnesses are the second-biggest

user segment for the app, Carter notes. “If you’ve got multiple doctors, labs, prescriptions, etc., you need one single place to manage everything,” he says.

After receiving $3.2 million in funding from a Texas-based syndicate, ChartSpan recently announced plans to expand to encompass nearly 100,000 square feet on North Main Street in downtown Greenville, and hire more than 300 new employees.

Competitors of ChartSpan’s app include MyChart from Epic and Healow from eClinicalWorks. One of the competition’s limitations is that patients might have to log into different mobile apps or portals, depending on which doctors they visit. ChartSpan’s app manages health care records from any doctor for any patient, Carter says.

Marketing a new app directly to consumers is hard, as the marketplace is crammed with many options, Carter says.

“Our marketing team is executing dozens of parallel strategies, at any one time, designed to ensure ChartSpan gets noticed,” he says. “Those strategies include app store search, demographic targeting and unique branding.”

But marketing success ultimately is achieved through user referrals and going viral, Carter says. “If you delight the consumer with a fantastic user experience when they download your app, they’ll tell their mother, brother and friends about your product.”

ChartSpan CEO Jon-Michial Carter

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4 | THE RUNDOWN |

TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 33 Featured this issue: Green Cloud closes $7.5 million in financing.......................... 8 Tyger River Park could become development magnet........ 10 Sales careers: not as bad as you think..................................... 21

Carolina Panthers president Danny Morrison addressed the Spartanburg Chamber’s FYI Friday luncheon series last week, as the team opened its training camp at Wofford College. Last year’s camp drew in 77,625 visitors, a 60 percent increase compared with the previous record, and had an estimated $8 million impact on Spartanburg County.

Photo by Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce

WORTH REPEATING “The goal when I came here was to create the next-generation cancer center.”

Page 6

“Every boardroom should have a woman in it.”

Page 20

“When I became a recruiter, my own mother shamefully told me that she was going to make a genuine effort to be nicer to recruiters when they call.”

Page 21

TBA

VERBATIM

On California kumquats Major changes could be in store for Greenville’s Tindal Park, as developer Tom Croft is set to go before the Greenville Planning Commission Aug. 18 with plans for a 17-lot subdivision called Tindal Place.

“Here’s one more surprise: On Saturday mornings, in season, Main Street becomes a farmers market so bustling … it would make California spit its kumquats.”

The Chicago Tribune (“With dark days behind it, Greenville springs to life”). Read the article at bit.ly/tribune-greenville.

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6 | HEALTH CARE |

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08.05.2016

Gibbs’ cancer research draws international attention MELINDA YOUNG | CONTRIBUTOR

myoung@communityjournals.com

Health systems with access to the latest cancer research and laboratory work can provide oncology patients with treatments that are a decade ahead of what other patients receive — especially in this era of personalized medicine. It’s already happening in the Upstate.

The phenomenon of research quickly moving from bench to bedside has the potential to improve the region’s status by increasing professional science jobs, attracting “medical tourists” and shoring up a technology-based business infrastructure, much like North Carolina’s Research Triangle area. And this basic translational research model is what is driving rapid growth at Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute in Spartanburg.

“Our clinicians are very much attuned with all the new advances coming out in research, and they are able to apply them much faster,” says Dr. Timothy J. Yeatman, director of the Gibbs Cancer Center and president of Gibbs Research Institute.

With a $2 million investment in its research laboratory, Gibbs is a community-academic hybrid. Clinicians are focused on treating cancer patients, but they’re also working in a

Dr. Timothy Yeatman

research atmosphere.

“We’re bringing the academic research model to the community without the full cost of a medical school,” says Yeatman, who came to Gibbs four years ago after 20 years of research at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla. “The goal when I came here was to create the next-generation cancer center,” Yeatman says. “My goal in coming here was to make Gibbs Cancer Center a lighthouse for the Upstate and beyond and to be a demonstration of what one can do in a community cancer center.”

Spartanburg Regional Health System's Gibbs Cancer Center upcoming Greer campus.

To create an academic research center or a National Cancer Institute (NCI) comprehensive cancer center takes considerable time and money, but Gibbs is achieving some of the same benefits without the huge investment. “We’re getting there faster and more efficiently by creating this community-academic hybrid model.”

Evidence of success can be found in Yeatman’s study about colorectal cancer, published in June in Nature Communications, a renowned international scientific journal. “We’ve gotten phone calls from all over the world, from Switzerland, and from people in Australia,” Yeatman says.

The study identifies four classes of colon cancer, defined by specific mutations that can be measured with a simple sequencing assay that clinicians regularly use, he explains.

Yeatman and co-investigators sequenced nearly 500 colon cancers to identify specific mutations in genes.

“We think these genes have therapeutic implications and will predict which drugs work with people,” Yeatman says. “We’ll be doing clinical trials with people, talking with major drug companies about these findings, and, if they’re interested, we may get future trials based on those.”

While basic research involves studies done in laboratories with cells

and chemicals, basic translational research, which is what Gibbs researchers are doing, uses patient specimens, such as tumor samples that might otherwise be incinerated.

Those specimens give investigators a way to study cancer, draw conclusions and create treatment models.

“The next step is to take that from translational research to clinical research, with human volunteers, to test out these hypotheses,” Yeatman explains. “If you just did a cell line model, you may not go directly to a human trial, but when you use human tumors, your work has much more relevance and you can go directly to human trial; it speeds up the bench to the bedside.”

The Upstate and Asheville-Tryon, N.C., areas benefit from having cutting-edge treatment within a 100mile radius. Patients do not have to travel to Texas or New York City for a cancer study or to receive optimal care, he says.

“People might not recognize immediately the value of research, which costs money and doesn’t make money, but it builds the reputation of an institution,” Yeatman says. “Most patients would rather go to an institution where there is cutting-edge research being done than to one that just provides standard of care.”

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8 | GATEWAYS |

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08.05.2016

New signs dress up Spartanburg gateways Local brokers continue to see a flurry of interest in development TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com A grass-roots effort aimed at improving gateways to the city and county of Spartanburg took a step forward this week.

Construction crews placed a new sign bearing the Spartanburg County seal on the northbound side of Interstate 85 at Highway 14 near the offramp at exit 56.

A similar sign welcoming visitors to the city was placed at the intersection of California Avenue and the I-585 spur across from Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co.’s corporate headquarters.

“This is part of a larger gateway improvement project that is a collaboration between several public and private entities in Spartanburg,” said John Montgomery, principal of Spartanburg-based Montgomery Development, which is assisting the effort. “It’s very exciting. For a long time now, we’ve needed to beautify our gateways. It sends the message that we care about our community.”

Montgomery said the project has its roots in a beautification project completed in 2014 by Pacolet

Milliken, a private investment firm founded by Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. shareholders in 2007.

The project included landscaping at the intersection of I-85 and I-585 (exit 72) on 30 of the 100 acres Pacolet Milliken owns around the interchange.

In the coming months, residents and visitors could see the projects occur at the I-26 and Highway 14 intersection in Landrum, at I-85 and Gossett Road near Cowpens and at I-26 and Highway 221 near Dorman High School.

A new Spartanburg gateway sign on I-85 and Hwy. 14.

Plans are in the works for beautification projects at each interchange along I-85 in Spartanburg under the effort coined “Eyes on 85.”

Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt said county officials have met with private entities and companies in hopes of creating more interest in the project.

“We’re looking at all of the major gateways,” Britt said. “We’ve had other meetings also with some other companies to get them to buy into this at their interchanges.”

A new welcome sign across from Miliken’s Spartanburg headquarters.

Green Cloud wraps up $7.5M financing package DAVID DYKES | STAFF

ddykes@communityjournals.com Green Cloud Technologies, a Greenville-based channel-only cloud technology solutions provider, said it has closed on $7.5 million in new financing.

The package consists of a $5 million senior line of credit with Bridge Bank and $2.5 million of additional equity and sub debt provided primarily by its existing investor base.

The new capital will fund the company’s expansion of its national channel partner program and acquisition capital as Green Cloud searches for tuck-in cloud or data-center asset acquisitions, company

officials said.

“Coming off a three-year growth rate through 2015 of 4,000 percent and anticipating 65 percent growth during 2016, the additional capital helps fund our organic growth and acquisition plans,” said Shay Houser, Green Cloud’s CEO. “We are pleased to announce our relationship with Green Cloud and our support of their continued growth,” said Blake Reid, vice president and market manager at Bridge Bank. “We are excited about the momentum that the company’s market strategy has demonstrated, and we look forward to supporting Green Cloud’s future growth plans.”

Green Cloud provides custom cloud solutions to an exclusive network of reseller partners. By relying on channel-only distribution, Green Cloud focuses on partner enablement without competing for end-user business.

The company said its suite of Cisco-powered, cloud-based products, services and support is scalable to applications of any size.

Bridge Bank, a division of Western Alliance Bank, was founded in 2001 in Silicon Valley for small-market and middle-market businesses across many industries, as well as emerging technology companies and the private equity community.

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Patewood Memorial named best in S.C. for orthopedics ANDREW MOORE | STAFF

amoore@communityjournals.com Greenville Health System’s Patewood Memorial Hospital has the best orthopedic care in South Carolina, according to new hospital rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

The hospital – located at 175 Patewood Drive – was ranked 19th in the nation for adult orthopedic care with a score of 62.5 out of 100. There were no other hospitals recognized in that category in the state.

“This achievement is a testament to our dedicated physicians, nurses and allied health staff members who strive to provide the best care and the best possible outcomes to our patients,” said Beverly Haines, president of Patewood Memorial Hospital, in a prepared statement.

U.S. News & World Report publishes adult and pediatric hospital rankings every summer that are based on patient survival, infection rates and more. The media company also issues high performance ratings in multiple areas of care.

This year, the company named the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., the best hospital in the country. The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston was named the best hospital in South Carolina.

Patewood Memorial Hospital received a high performance rating in hip replacement. And Greenville Memorial Hospital received high performance ratings in heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatments as well as colon cancer surgery.

“It is a true team effort that provides

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| HEALTH CARE | 9

Just like you…

We get the job done.

our patients with outstanding and special care. We are fortunate to have a beautiful facility in Patewood, but, most important, are the caring people that work there. Everyone strives to give our patients the best experience possible with the best outcomes,” said Dr. Brian Burnikel, an orthopedic surgeon with Greenville Health System.

Other hospitals were recognized throughout the Upstate: • Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in downtown Greenville received high performance ratings in knee and hip replacement and heart failure treatment.

• Spartanburg Regional Medical Center was ranked sixth in the state for overall medical care. It also received high performance ratings in heart failure and COPD treatments as well as colon cancer surgery.

• Mary Black Memorial Hospital in Spartanburg received a high performance rating in COPD treatment.

• AnMed Health Medial Center in Anderson was ranked second in the state for overall medical care. It also received high performance ratings in heart failure and COPD treatments as well as knee and hip replacement and colon cancer surgery.

None of the South Carolina hospitals were named on the “honor roll” – a list of the Top 20 hospitals in the nation.

The full U.S. News & World Report rankings are available online at health. usnews.com/best-hospitals.

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10 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |

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08.05.2016

Pacolet Milliken will open Tyger River Industrial Park for development TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com The fertile fields of an 850-acre

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property off Highway 290 in Moore could soon reap economic investment and thousands of jobs for Spartanburg County.

Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, a private investment firm founded in 2007 by shareholders of Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co., said it plans to open up the northern tract of its Tyger River Industrial Park (TRIP) for development.

The property, which is the last remaining undeveloped tract in the 2,250-acre park, was purchased in 1968 by the late Spartanburg businessman Roger Milliken. It has access to a CSX rail line, Highways 221 and 290 and Interstates 85 and 26.

The southern portion of the park is comprised of two properties that sit about 1.5 miles south along the Highway 290 corridor.

Pacolet Milliken opened up those sites for development in 2014. They have attracted nearly $2 billion in new investment from four companies — Toray, Kobelco, Ritrama and Sterling CPI. Those investments have promised hundreds of jobs.

“We knew this site had tremendous potential,” said John Montgomery,

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principal of Spartanburg-based Montgomery Development, who is serving as a consultant on the project.

“Maybe even more potential than the first two sites. After Toray, we started to focus on TRIP South. About a year and a half ago, we decided to come up with a master plan to develop TRIP North.”

UPPING THE ANTE Just as it did with the first two sites, Pacolet Milliken will invest in infrastructure at the site that will make it shovel-ready for new projects. Only this time, the company plans to up the ante.

In the coming months, the company will begin a multimillion-dollar effort to bring sewer, water, power and new roads to the property.

Pacolet Milliken’s master plan for the property showed it has the potential to house 13 facilities with a combined footprint of 7 million square feet, including two massive distribution centers that would each total about 1.4 million square feet.

Montgomery said the site is certified as a class A industrial site with the S.C. Department of Commerce, making it even more attractive to prospective companies and developers who might also be considering sites in other states.

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Pacolet Milliken’s subsidiary Lockhart Power will also serve the property, which will increase the reliability and affordability of power for end users, according to project officials.

“Our view is that we’ve got the best state support, county support and park ownership anywhere,” said Clay Adams, executive vice president and head of real estate for Pacolet Milliken.

BRINGING DEVELOPERS TO THE TABLE The infrastructure project will include realigning Anderson Mill Road beginning just after a bridge spanning the Middle Tyger River. The road’s access to Highway 290 will be moved about 2,000 feet north of its current location.

Monroe Road, a J-shaped road that connects with Anderson Mill Road and Highway 290, has already been mostly closed to through traffic.

Pacolet Milliken will leave a small portion of Monroe Road open to provide access for residents along an extension of the road that was capped off years ago with a cul-de-sac near the Poplar Springs fire station.

The company has partnered with Colliers International brokers Garrett Scott, Givens Stewart and Brockton Hall, who will be responsible for marketing the site.

Scott, Stewart and Hall said one of the most exciting aspects of the park is that a private investment firm, not a developer, owns it. That means developers and builders who don’t have existing landholdings can bring their deals to town, increasing the

number of development opportunities for the site.

“Companies can bring as many developers to the table as they want in order to get the best price,” Scott said. “This is the ultimate development success story … It creates a path of least resistance for developers and companies.”

The brokers said the site has already generated interest from a range of companies, including BMW suppliers, manufacturers and distributors. They anticipate the site will attract high quality companies, large investments and better paying jobs to the county.

“Having a site that already has the infrastructure makes all of the difference in the world,” said Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt. “It sends a message to the client that we mean business. Look at a company like Toray. When they saw the site, they were blown away. It makes such a difference, especially the high caliber companies we hope to attract.

It gives them great confidence in who they are dealing with and takes all of the concerns off the table.”

Britt said he anticipates the site will be a boon for the county’s economic development efforts.

“I think we are going to see an explosion [of economic development] of epic proportions,” he said. “There’s nothing else like this in South Carolina that I’m aware of and possibly the Southeast. This speaks to the talent of the people of Spartanburg, the partners, the infrastructure.

We’ve proven we know how to build things.”

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| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | 11

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12 | RESEARCH |

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08.05.2016

Clemson professor says trees can improve auto parts USDA provides $481,000 grant to support study at CU-ICAR that aims to develop ultra-strong bumpers from recycled trees nanomaterials, creating high-value products out of what A new study underway at Clemson could otherwise be University’s International Center for low-value wood.”

Automotive Research in Greenville Pilla said the celluCounty hopes to convert recycled trees losic nanomaterials into car bumpers and fenders. are harvested from Srikanth Pilla, an assistant professor the pulp and wood of for Clemson, announced last week he felled trees. While has received $481,000 from the some species of trees United States Department of Agriculcan yield more celluture to work with the Forest Service’s losic nanomaterials Forest Products Laboratory in than others, the Madison, Wis. product is the same.

The five-year study aims to convert The processes trees removed during forest restobeing used by Pilla ration projects into liquid suspensions and his team at of tiny rod-like structures called celICAR, which inlulosic nanomaterials. cludes two researchPilla said the structures, which have ers and two students, a width about 20,000 times smaller are environmentally than a human hair, would be used to friendly. develop new composites that can be Ted Wegner, assisshaped into automotive parts with Srikanth Pilla, a Clemson assistant professor, has received $481,000 from the USDA to research turning tant director of the greater strength and durability than recycled trees into auto parts.

Forest Products traditional polymers.

Laboratory, said in a “This is a new way to advance susstatement there are abundant forest tainability in the automotive sector,” resources to support the commercialPilla said. “I’m happy to see the federal ization of cellulosic nanomaterials, government recognize the value of which in turn could create jobs. taking this to the next level.”

YOU CAN’T FIND THIS Pilla, originally of India, earned a Pilla said the composites made with Bachelor of Technology degree in the cellulosic nanomaterials are mechanical engineering from Jawabiorenewable, meaning they can be harlal Nehru Technological Universicomposted rather than being placed ty. in a landfill.

He also holds a Master of Science He said that will be beneficial to degree from the University of Toledo automakers complying with recycling and a Doctor of Philosophy degree regulations that are being implementfrom the University of Wisconsin-Miled in Europe and could one day be in a store waukee, and he was a postdoctoral adopted in the U.S. fellow at Stanford University.

Pilla said bumpers and fenders Pilla, who is married with children, made from the composites are about went to work at ICAR in 2013. three to four times stronger than parts He was named in 2015 as the May-October 8:00am-12:00pm made with current materials and are principal investigator on a $5.81 less likely to distort or break on impact. million research project at ICAR He said parts made from the combetween Court Street and Washington Street aimed at developing an ultra lightposites weigh about the same as their weight door to help automakers meet polymer counterparts. Their cost, he federal fuel economy standards. said, will likely be determined by Local Produce • Free Range Meats This year, he earned the Robert J. demand.

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“We find appropriate outlets for all turing Engineer Award from SME, a kinds of forest-derived materials,” said nonprofit student and professional Craig Clemons, a materials research organization. engineer at the Forest Products LabTREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com

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oratory and co-principal investigator on the project. “We’re trying to move up the value chain with cellulosic

For more information, visit www.clemson.edu.

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| EVENTS | 13

Tryon submits bid to host 2018 World Equestrian Games Event could attract 500,000 visitors and have a $200 million economic impact TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com Tryon Equestrian Partners announced Tuesday it has saddled up to pursue the world’s top equestrian competition.

TEP said it has partnered with the United States Equestrian Federation to submit a bid to the Fédération Equestre Internationale to bring the 2018 World Equestrian Games to Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C. The bid follows the withdrawal of Bromont, Quebec, as the host venue of world championships, which FEI said could attract 1,200 riders from 70 countries and 500,000 spectators, and have a $200 million economic impact.

“It’s an amazing event — a true game-changer,” said Mark Bellissimo, managing partner of TEP. “I can’t think of anything that would put the spotlight on this region the way that this would.”

In a letter to FEI, William Moroney, CEO of USEF, expressed regret that Bromont will not host the event, but said it was “critical” the games remain in North America “so that the globalization of the sport can continue.”

Chrystine Tauber, president of USEF, said in the letter that Bellissimo and TEP have the organization’s full endorsement due to “a brand new venue, deep experience and sufficient resources.”

“We are very excited about it,” Bellissimo said. “We’re hopeful the business community will support it.

It’s an opportunity for North and South Carolina to work collaboratively … There’s still a lot that needs to be done. But we are well-positioned.”

A study by the Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet following the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games showed the potential economic impact from the two-week event.

The study found the games generated $201.5 million in visitor spending, including $128.2 million in direct spending and $73.3 million in indirect spending.

The event generated nearly $23 million in state and local tax revenue and supported 3,101 jobs. It attracted nearly 420,000 visitors from 63

The Tryon International Equestrian Center

countries and all 50 U.S. states, according to the study.

“We have a long and rich history in equestrian competition, and welcome the opportunity to showcase our state’s world-renowned hospitality and tourism assets to the attendees and participants of this prestigious event,” said S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, in a statement.

TEP, a partnership comprised of six families who hope to grow the sport, said it has invested $125 million during the past two years to develop “the premier equestrian lifestyle destination and resort in the world.”

TIEC is “the centerpiece” of their portfolio. It includes 1,200 permanent stalls, 12 competition arenas, a 6,000seat international arena with lights and multiple VIP areas, an indoor arena that seats 5,000 and a cross-country course.

Bellissimo said the center has continued to add recurring events to its lineup and believes the games will help that list continue to increase.

He said he anticipates hotels, restaurants, retail shops, airports and other businesses throughout the Upstate and Western North Carolina will benefit from the influx of participants and visitors.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Carolina foothills,” said Chris Jennings, executive vice president of the Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We should have a few more hotels open by 2018. We are well-positioned to support the event.”

Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples said his

town has continued to benefit from TIEC’s presence in the area. He said he expects the games will bring more exposure to Tryon and surrounding communities.

“There will be some challenges that come from hosting an event of this magnitude,” Peoples said. “There’s a

saying that goes ‘In order for personal growth to occur, you have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone.’ I think the same can be said for economic development.”

For more information, visit www.tryon.coth.com..

14 | NEWS |

UBJ

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

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08.05.2016

Milliken & Co. raises $500k in annual giving campaign TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. associates raised more than $500,000 during the innovation company’s 2016 Community Impact Campaign that launched June 6.

Company spokeswoman Courtney Edwards said it was the largest amount ever collected during the annual campaign, which began in 2006, and associate contributions increased 9 percent compared with 2015.

The funds will benefit four local charities, including United Way of the Piedmont, Northside Development Group, Partners for Active Living and the Spartanburg Academic Movement.

“When you empower people to ‘do good’ in ways that are personally meaningful, you’ll see a collective response for the greater good,” said Joe Salley, president and CEO of Milliken & Co., in a statement. “We work to inspire that profound sense of purpose every day throughout company and community initiatives.

We’re honored to be able to support Spartanburg citizens through significant charitable giving.”

In the past, the campaign has only supported the company’s longtime partner, United Way of the Piedmont. Milliken & Co. decided this year to increase the number of recipients to enable its associates to have a broader impact on the community.

Associates were able to designate donations to the nonprofits of their choice.

Edwards said associates gave more than $250,000, and the Milliken Foundation matched associate donations to all four organizations.

The company said the charities were selected to align Milliken’s philanthropic initiatives with its core values of vibrant culture, health and quality education.

Edwards declined to comment on the specific amounts that will be gifted to each charity.

For more information, visit milliken.com.

Duke sets record for summer electricity use DAVID DYKES | STAFF

ddykes@communityjournals.com Duke Energy’s customers in the Carolinas set a summertime record for electricity use as the region's lingering heat wave drove up energy demand.

The new summer peak usage record is 20,671 megawatt-hours of electricity for the hour ending at 5 p.m. July 27, Duke officials said.

That exceeded the previous record of 20,628

megawatt-hours on Aug. 8, 2007, the officials said.

The all-time Duke Energy Carolinas record – covering both summer and winter seasons – remains 21,101 megawatt-hours on Feb. 20, 2015.

Temperatures have reached above 90 degrees in the Carolinas every day for more than a week, often hovering in the mid to upper 90s.

"We have sufficient supplies of electricity to meet our customers' needs, and our technicians are

Brown Roof Thrift expands to Greenville LETY GOOD | STAFF

lgood@communityjournals.com Spartanburg-based Brown Roof Thrift, an upscale thrift store and coffee shop, will be expanding to Woodruff Road in Greenville with a second location.

Co-founder Robert Caldwell III opened the first store almost a year ago in Spartanburg in the former Fresh Market location on Fernwood Drive. Brown Roof Thrift supports local nonprofits by donating a portion of the store’s profits to organizations focused on at-risk youth, families and seniors.

In the last year, Brown Roof has given more than $12,000 in grants to local Spartanburg nonprofits.

The Greenville store will be supporting five local nonprofits: Mill Village Farms, Great Outdoor Adventure Trips, Neighborhood Focus, Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network and Meals on Wheels.

“The goal is for people to donate their clothing, household items and furniture,” Caldwell said in a release. “In turn, we are able to sell these items and create revenue which we give to nonprofits in the community.”

The Greenville location will feature a similar layout to the Spartanburg store with a 10,000-square-foot shopping space and a coffee shop with a drive-thru planned to open in 2017. Brown Roof Thrift will also be hosting coffee pop-ups on Saturdays until the full coffee shop is complete. The store will offer clothing, household items, books and furniture.

Brown Roof Thrift Greenville will be located on Woodruff Road, in the former Rite Aid building across from Walmart, and is slated to open mid-September.

For more information, visit brownroof.org or follow Brown Roof Thrift on Facebook and Instagram.

working around the clock to ensure smooth operations at our power plants and along our power lines," said Nelson Peeler, Duke Energy vice president of system planning and operations.

Charlotte-based Duke Energy’s regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.4 million electric customers in six states in the Southeast and Midwest.

08.05.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

CAMPERDOWN CRUSADER

A conversation with Erik Weir, the man behind a project changing the face of Main Street DAVID DYKES | STAFF

ddykes@communityjournals.com

PROFILE

| COVER | 15

16 | COVER |

Dallas-based Trammell Crow and Greenville-based Centennial American Properties were scheduled to develop the site of The Greenville News property on South Main Street, but Trammell Crow subsequently pulled out, providing an opportunity for a new investor.

Enter Erik Weir.

A 27-year veteran of finance and investing, Weir is helping provide the capital needed for the Camperdown project to move forward in downtown Greenville.

As manager of Greenville-based WCM Global Wealth, Weir, 49, and his team work with individuals, business owners, executives and entrepreneurs in the wealth-planning process.

A black belt in the martial art of Tang So Do, a licensed private pilot and an investor in faith-based movies, Weir recently sat down with Senior Business Writer David Dykes to discuss his involvement in the Camperdown project and his hopes for Greenville moving forward.

Here are excerpts from that conversation, which took place in Weir’s RiverPlace office in downtown Greenville.

UBJ

PROFILE

Why did you choose Greenville to live and do business?

We had a home in the Bay Area [of Northern California] and a home in Lake Tahoe [Calif.], and we’re looking around, saying, ‘We don’t want our children growing up — as nice as this is, as beautiful as it is, as great as the business climate is — I’d rather have them grow up like we did.’

I had a friend who had retired from Home Depot who lived here locally and we came to visit him. While I was here, we got tricked.

We went to something called Fall for Greenville [in 2005] and I could not believe how beautiful the city was, all that was here. There were restaurants serving food. There were bands, live music, and there were kids everywhere. We visited Asheville. We visited other areas and other states along the Eastern Seaboard and just loved Greenville.

We met with the mayor [Knox White]. He spent probably a half a day with us and talked to me and my family about Greenville, what’s going on. He showed us the area, where it’s growing and all the growth that Greenville’s experiencing. And really, Knox played a key role in us moving here and just spending time with us, showing us around, introducing us to a few people in town. We opened up our business here in 2006.

What was the first transaction you did here or the first deal you put together?

Most of what I did initially was just buying things individually for myself — rental properties and self-storage and raw land.

How has Greenville changed in the last 10 years?

It’s changed remarkably. It’s growing and it seems more youthful. It seems more energetic.

It seems even more cosmopolitan.

What makes this economy attractive to both you at this stage of your career but also somebody who is younger?

If you look out the window, you see young people walking around. You see people with strollers, people jogging down the street. They’re drinking coffee. You look at people’s faces. They all look really happy. It’s just a joyful, great place to be.

I see cranes. I see buildings under construction in every direction that I look so that gives you a sense of vibrancy, of growth, of expansion, of energy.

When you look at the parks we have downtown and the beautiful walk areas and the investment the city has made in really thinking of the appearance — the view corridors are in every direction. It’s not just in one place.

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08.05.2016

When you look at Charlotte and Atlanta and then Greenville, are there lessons we should learn?

If you look at each of those cities, every city will have whatever their growth engine happens to be. They’ll have their own culture, their own view, their own growth plans.

And if you look at what we’re doing here, it seems to be all viewed with the mind of being pro-business and pro-family and enjoying the outdoors and making the city a walkable city and an enjoyable city and a safe city. There’s a feeling of openness. You see grass. You see water. It’s growing in a way, in my mind’s eye, that it’s only improving.

There’s oftentimes a fear of change, that change will be adverse, and change will take away our culture. But even the new buildings, you’ll see the brick, links to the past – of the mill – and it pays tribute to Greenville’s history. But at the same time, you’ll see the glass and more of the modern things looking to Greenville’s future. That’s a nice balance.

What about the real estate market here?

From an investment perspective, is this an especially strong market, or is it a maturing market or an emerging market?

To me, it’s a steady, growing market. Companies want to be here. If you look at the combination of taxes, from all the different levels, South Carolina is one of the lowest 10 tax states. If you look at the environment, the weather, it’s one of the better places to live.

My personal experience is very pro-business.

People are accessible. They are friendly. You can meet people. You can get involved in the area.

And commercial real estate?

I like commercial real estate here. I like commercial, residential, industrial. This is going to be an area that continues to grow.

I had a meeting at my office probably a month ago. I had people in from Chicago, from Denver, from Anchorage, from California, around the country.

I haven’t had anybody in 10 years who has come here and wasn’t surprised of what they thought of Greenville, S.C. They had a mental image of what Greenville looked like and when they got here they, to the last person, were blown away.

It’s a nice size. It’s not overwhelming.

The traffic may feel overwhelming if you’ve lived here your whole life. But if you’re from other cities, it’s quite manageable, even where it is today. It’s more than it was, without a doubt. But it’s manageable.

Talk about the Camperdown project and how you got involved.

There was a situation where a developer backed out of a deal and was not going to move ahead.

08.05.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

And that was Trammell Crow. They had their own reasons for doing that that were specific to them.

Then I was made aware of the opportunity, of there being room for a developer to come in and partner, provide financing or capital for the project.

I was very excited to look at it. I spent a lot of time analyzing it. I spent time with Mack [Whittle, former chairman, president and CEO of the South Financial Group, a bank holding company, and now a member of the WCM advisory board] and he helped to look at it with me. We brought in other consultants that we use around

PROFILE

the country to help evaluate the deal.

I was thrilled to be able to be part of the solution to help put that back together.

What was you role in that solution?

It was financing. The Glenns [developers David and Brody] have done an amazing job in their developments in the Greenville area. They have an outstanding reputation.

They were going to be partners in developing that [Camperdown] with Trammell Crow.

And when Trammell Crow departed the transaction, that left an oppor-

tunity for someone who could provide capital to help the project to move ahead. My role was providing the capital to move ahead with the project.

In terms of arranging financing, is it mostly local? Is it part local, part outside South Carolina?

At this point and time, it’s part local but it would be substantially outside of the state.

There are people who I talked to about the project. They’ve seen the property. They’ve walked the land.

They’ve been to Greenville with me.

The Camperdown project, under construction at South Main and Broad streets in downtown Greenville.

| COVER | 17

And they are the people I talk about — so impressed with our community that they want to invest in it.

Can you talk about the financing vehicle used for Camperdown?

We invested in a group, with probably 12 individuals. It’s an LLC that provided the funding.

How much equity capital are you putting in?

It’s in the millions of dollars.

Thanks, Erik.

18 | COVER |

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PROFILE

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08.05.2016

Erik Weir and Bill Reeves find rewards in faith-based film DAVID DYKES | STAFF

ddykes@communityjournals.com Erik Weir and Bill Reeves are partners in the faith-based film business.

They met four years ago over dinner in Spartanburg with film director Alex Kendrick and producer Stephen Kendrick.

That spawned a mutual interest between Reeves and Weir.

After their families met and they played golf together, the two men signed an agreement in June 2013 to become business partners.

Reeves is the founder of the Nashville, Tenn.-based WTA Group, which helps develop, brand and market products with a Christian view.

Weir is founder of Greenville-based WCM Global Wealth, an investment adviser firm.

Since 1988, Reeves has worked in Christian retail roles, then with Word Entertainment/Warner in distribution support for recording artists such as Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.

In 2009, he launched The WTA Group to develop his business, and he

Bill Reeves (far right) speaks at the Sundance Film Festival.

has led marketing campaigns for such films as “90 Minutes in Heaven,” “The Ultimate Life” and “God’s Not Dead.”

The agency also steered the release of films such as “Heaven Is for Real” and “War Room.”

FINDING DEALS, FINDING MONEY Reeves’ company is a service provider to filmmakers, handling marketing, distribution and consumer-product licensing.

“Erik and I have often joked, in its

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simplest form, that my job is to find the deals. And Erik’s job is to find the money,” Reeves said.

“Ninety percent of our business is faith-based film because it’s the most underserved audience in the film business.”

The core of their work is spiritual, not political, Reeves said.

“We tend to avoid the political issue because we think the faith that we’re trying to convey is relevant to all people, whether they’re Democrat or Republican,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we want to share the hope of Christ with the world.”

Weir said the two jointly decide which movies to invest in or help finance marketing efforts.

“What we’re trying to do is – me from the finance side and the structure side and Bill from identifying artists and the opportunity side – help to increase the level of play in the faithbased arena and provide financing and returns for those who participate,” Weir said.

“War Room,” a 2015 film directed

by Alex Kendrick and co-written and produced by Stephen Kendrick, is a faith-based drama about the power prayer can have on marriages, parenting and other life events.

The film has grossed more than $67 million, according to IMDb.com.

DIFFERENT PATHS Reeves and Weir came to the faithbased business in different ways.

Reeves, who lived in Graniteville as a child, saw his parents divorce.

At age 15, he attended a youth camp at North Greenville University.

At a devotion one morning, looking

out at the mountains, he felt a call from God to minister, Reeves said.

“I didn’t know at the time it would be through entertainment,” he said.

Weir, who grew up in a Christian home, was in an automobile accident as a young boy and began stuttering.

It took him two days to be able to say his name in school.

“Working through that, and persevering through that, through speech therapy and all the different things, and being teased as a child, it made me fairly goal-oriented and driven to be known for something other than a kid that stuttered,” he said.

He worked hard and became successful, but it taxed his marriage and family. About age 40, he hit a wall.

“By God’s mercy, he allowed me to see that,” Weir said.

He realigned his priorities and his faith became the hub of his activity, he said.

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DAVID DYKES | STAFF

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

| SQUARE FEET | 19

ddykes@communityjournals.com

Greenville named in top 10 of housing rental markets HomeUnion, an online residential real estate investment management firm, has named Greenville one of the 10-best markets for returns on single-family rental properties.

The lists analyze first-year SFR returns, or cap rates, in each market.

The cap rate is the relationship between an investment property’s net operating income (rents minus expenses) and the market value of the property.

Greenville tied with Memphis (No. 7) with an 8 percent cap rate.

“Through midyear, owners of SFR investment properties benefited from healthy returns in many markets nationwide, but especially in markets located in the Midwest and Southeast,” said Steve Hovland, director of research services at HomeUnion. “Investment real estate has proven to be a successful part of a diversified portfolio, and these markets offer the largest returns.”

For more information, homeunion.com.

visit

THE 10 HIGHEST-YIELDING MARKETS TO INVEST IN SFRS: Metro Area

Cap Rate (%)

Cleveland

11.1

Columbia, S.C.

9.7

Birmingham, Ala.

8.5

Pittsburgh

8.4

Milwaukee

8.4

Cincinnati

8.2

Memphis, Tenn.

8

GREENVILLE, S.C.

8

Tampa, Fla.

8

Philadelphia

8

THE 10 LOWEST-YIELDING MARKETS TO INVEST IN SFRS: Metro Area

Cap Rate (%)

San Francisco

2.5

San Jose, CA

2.6

Orange County, CA

2.7

Los Angeles

3.1

San Diego

3.5

Oakland, CA

3.5

New York

3.5

Seattle

3.5

Sacramento, CA

3.7

Portland, OR

3.8

Source: HomeUnion

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UBJ

NOTES FROM THE BEST TALKS YOU MISSED

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08.05.2016

"We just have to step up" Krista Bourne explains why every boardroom needs a woman

By MARION MANN Marketing Director, Greenville Chamber

As president of a 12-state market for Verizon, Krista Bourne leads a team of more than 5,000 employees responsible for delivering extraordinary customer service and growing the sales, marketing, operations and financial performance in the market.

Bourne began in Verizon’s mailroom reading and responding to customer feedback. She is also a self-proclaimed corporate mom, and shared valuable insights from her journey from mailroom to market president of a Fortune 100 company.

"Every boardroom should have a woman in it,” she said. “I'm here because I decided I deserved to be in those places. We just have to step up."

ALWAYS KNOW THE WHY TO YOUR WHAT “Why you do what you do will get you through the best and worst of days,” Bourne said. “If ever you have self-doubt, always connect the what to the why, and you will never lose sight of the things that are most important to you."

HAVE THE COURAGE TO PUT YOUR IDEAS ON THE TABLE Bourne had the opportunity early in her career at a small company to speak up and share her ideas in an environment where they were appreciated, considered and acted upon.

She noted that most men don’t hesitate to put their thoughts and ideas on the table — good or bad — while most women wait to be asked or given permission to use their voice.

Krista Bourne with the Greenville Chamber President/CEO Carlos Phillips.

Krista Bourne with girls from the Urban League of the Upstate.

AN IMPORTANT WEEK FOR WOMEN IN AMERICA It was a coincidence that our Women at Work Empowerment Breakfast took place the morning after a woman accepted, for the first time, a major party’s nomination for president of the United States. Bourne didn’t allow this to go unnoticed and commended Hillary Clinton for choosing to be great at what she does and paving the way for women to come.

CREATIVE COMPETITIVENESS Bourne noted that when you walk in a room and you're the only woman, you're already different. It’s how you make the most of your uniqueness that matters.

“I work every day to make sure when I leave the room, they aren't thinking a woman left the room. They're thinking Krista Bourne left the room,” she said. “I refuse to miss my moment to represent my thoughts and ideas. I am uniquely me and that is my creative competitiveness.”

ENCOURAGE AND WELCOME UNIQUENESS As important as it is to be uniquely you, encourage others to do the same.

Bourne stressed the importance of building teams — in work and in life

Krista Bourne with the Greenville Chamber’s Women at Work Committee, from left: Ava Smith, Judith Prince, Kelly Byers, Krista Bourne, Jordana Megonigal and Jada Jacobs.

— with people who are different than you, who have different skills and motivations than you, in order to help you and your company grow and achieve goals.

AMPLIFY YOUR VOICE You don’t always want to walk into a meeting with your idea alone.

Bourne recommends finding out first who is going to be in the room, and making calls to discuss your ideas with them. If you’ve talked ideas through with others, they’ll be more likely to piggyback on them, and that buy-in is what will lead to action, she said.

LET GO As hard as it can be to do, Bourne noted the importance of knowing when to let go of an idea. When you have perspective that's bigger than your own and are able to see that something’s not working, be transparent and own it, she said.

TITLES DO NOT DEFINE PEOPLE; THEY DEFINE RESPONSIBILITIES Not at all a fan of chasing titles, Bourne has had many opportunities

to move up and around her company.

Her advice to a young lady just out of college and fresh to the workforce is to find a company that will allow you to grow and try lots of positions within it in order to learn as much as possible before committing to a specific track.

“You can learn the most when you’re uncomfortable,” she said.

HELP BRIDGE GAPS Bourne told a very funny story about enlightening an older cigar-smoking white male supervisor who had no idea that most black women don’t wash their hair every day. She noted how important it is that we not be so easily offended or sensitive, but make light of our differences and judge others on their reactions. This is how we can bridge the gaps of awareness and help ease the interactions of those who come after you, she said.

Learn more about Greenville Women at Work at greenvillechamber.org.

What: The Greenville Chamber’s Women at Work Empowerment Breakfast When: July 29, 2016 Where: Hilton Greenville Feature Presentation: Krista Bourne, "Courageous Steps: From Mailroom to Verizon Market President"

Who was there: 200+ members of Greenville’s business community – 99 percent women

08.05.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

STRATEGIES FOR HONING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

| PROFESSIONAL | 21

Never say, “I’ll do anything but sales”

By HANNAH BARFIELD SPELLMEYER Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing

When someone says “car salesman” to me, I always think about Danny Devito’s character in the childhood movie “Matilda.” Remember? He buys stolen parts and puts sawdust somewhere in the car so it runs smoothly for a few miles. Even if you don’t remember, just trust me that he was a deceptive crook. Why is it that when people think “sales,” they conjure that image and automatically think “deceptive”?

In my line of work, I meet a lot of people on the job market — passive and active. I’m not great at helping people transition careers because my industry doesn’t work that way, but I do ask, “If you could do anything you wanted, what would that be?” Answers vary, but many times I hear “anything but sales.” Really? Would you dig a ditch? Work in a fishery? Apply to be Naomi Campbell’s personal assistant?

All over being in sales?

Why? To be honest, there are more than just a couple of reasons sales jobs can be intimidating: customers can be rude to you; customers hang up on you; customers refuse to see you; customers don’t trust you; and on top of all that, you have tough metrics to meet. When I became a recruiter, my own mother shamefully told me that she was going to make a genuine effort

to be nicer to recruiters when they call. That being said, I still can’t email her from work because I’m on the company blacklist since I’m in recruiting.

The truth is that good salespeople are some of the most enjoyable people you’ll meet. I love great salespeople. They aren’t overly pushy (bad sales tactic). They don’t demand meetings or call every single week at the same time saying the same thing (bad sales tactic). Good salespeople are charming, polite and responsive to your needs. They make you feel good about what you’re buying.

Here are a few quick ways to make sales less daunting and become a better salesperson along the way.

WORK ON YOUR LONG GAME. Statistically speaking, very few times will you close a deal during your first interaction. Once you realize that you’re not going to get the sale the first time you meet a prospect, you instantly relax. Instead of trying to aggressively sell someone you just met, take some time to get to know him or her and the business. Be consistent and don’t act turned off when prospects don’t give you an order right away.

Your goal is to be there and be in good graces when they have a need.

THEY ARE BUYING IT FROM SOMEBODY. A lot of people feel timid about asking customers to part with their money and buy something. I want to take those people, gently shake them

I love great salespeople. Great salespeople are charming, polite and responsive to your needs. They make you feel good about what you’re buying. by the shoulders, and say, "They're already buying it from someone else!"

In more situations than not, your target clients are already buying what you're selling from your competitor.

Find their pain point, show them how you're different (real reasons, not fluff), and get the sale.

THE ONLY OBJECTION YOU CAN’T OVERCOME IS SILENCE. Average salespeople hang up the phone as soon as they hear an objection and call back the next week just hoping something has changed. This is mindless and a waste of a good learning opportunity. As soon as you get an objection, ask an open-ended

question. If I hear, "We never have turnover so we don't use recruiters," then I ask, "Oh, great. Must be a good place to work then. How do you handle contract needs?" Don't take objections personally and never turn an objection into a competition. You cannot bully someone into being your client, but you can learn something new about him or her every time you connect.

With those things in mind, I think most people would find that sales aren’t as intimidating as they think it is. So, if right now you’d do anything but sales, maybe you’re selling yourself short.

22 | WORKING WELL |

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GOOD HEALTH IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

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08.05.2016

Is your wellness program worthy?

By LACEY DURRANCE Nutritionist

Two things can determine the worth of any program: the satisfaction of participants and the impact of the program on participants. We all strive for worthy wellness programs, though we may not assess both the satisfaction and the impact our programming has. Are your employees offered a worthy wellness program? How do you know? Evaluating both satisfaction and impact is key to answering this question.

BEYOND SATISFACTION A simple survey can be a low-cost, quick and convenient way to understand how employees felt about a wellness program offered to them, though a thankful and satisfied employee doesn’t equate to a healthy and impacted employee. Surveys are a great way to assess satisfaction with a program, but won’t truly determine its worthiness without specific questions that assess the changes employees made as a result of a program.

CASE IN POINT Consider Jan who has just attended a five-week wellness program that targeted healthy eating. She completed a post-program evaluation where she gave her satisfaction of the program facilitator, the programs’ handouts and her overall satisfaction. Jan was highly satisfied with these parameters; however, the survey failed to assess any behavior changes Jan made during the five weeks of the program.

What the survey data didn’t say was that Jan was able to increase her intake of vegetables each day from 1 cup to 3 cups and became more confident planning meals for her family, which included tackling a few picky eaters. If documented, these changes would have been a great opportunity to confirm the program’s worthiness, including both satisfaction and impact.

SHIFTING TO ASSESS WORTHINESS Satisfaction is important to keep assessing, but more information is needed to determine worthiness.

Moving from solely satisfaction surveys to “worthiness assessments” involves one additional step: adding specific questions that assess specific changes. Programming should target specific changes that are desired of employees.

Ask the question, “How do we want participants to change as a result of our program?” and design survey questions to assess those changes. It could be knowledge changes, attitude changes, skills changes or behavior changes. If we wanted participants to eat healthier, we would ask questions to assess that behavior such as, “Because of this program, I am eating more fruits and vegetables than I was prior to beginning the program.” If the participant was already doing the asked behavior, give an N/A option to signify that.

Did a participant improve their cholesterol and lower their weight on a crash diet or a healthy eating plan?

Did they stop smoking just to begin drinking more alcohol?

Just because weight loss occurred or an unhealthy behavior stopped doesn’t mean the individual is actually healthier.

Put simply, determine the specific behavior or behaviors that you want participants to achieve and ask participants if they did them.

POINTS TO CONSIDER Combining survey data with biometric data can help assess the impact component of a program’s worthiness. Nevertheless, use caution when interpreting changes through lab results or biometric results. The specific behaviors participants used to reach those results could remain unknown if specific behavior questions aren’t asked.

Did a participant improve their cholesterol and lower their weight on a crash diet or a healthy eating plan? Did they stop smoking just to begin drinking more alcohol? Just because weight loss occurred or an unhealthy behavior stopped doesn’t mean the individual is actually healthier.

Keep in mind that the specific behaviors employees perform are much more important to the sustainability and safety of an individual’s heath than the hard numbers.

THE FINAL STEP Pilot your survey with a focus group. It is important to ensure survey questions are perceived in the same way you intend them to be. Have participants share their feedback and how they interpreted the questions.

Be sure to pilot with participants similar to those that the survey will be used on. Revise your survey as needed before rolling it out to the masses. Remember, your data is only as valid as the survey used to collect it.

Once administered, use survey data to your advantage. Humans have a psychological need to belong.

Market future programming for success by including how prior participants saw improvements or specific changes.

Imagine a future attendee reading, “Healthy eating program now available. Register today to receive the same program that caused 78 percent of Business X employees to improve their confidence in meal planning.” Not only does this signify that the program has impact, but other Business X employees will be more likely to sign up in order to belong by having the same great experience others had.

08.05.2016

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PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

upstatebusinessjournal.com

HIRED

AWARDED

APPOINTED

| ON THE MOVE | 23

HIRED

APPOINTED

JUSTIN ROBERSON

CHARLES TEGEN

HAROLD F. GALLIVAN III

CHRIS STOVER

H. MILLS GALLIVAN

Named as digital marketing specialist at FUEL Digital Marketing and Branding.

Roberson has more than eight years of SEO, SEM/ PPC and analytics experience. In his new role, Roberson will expand FUEL’s digital team with a concentration on driving leads, engaging customers and increasing sales for clients.

Named as the recipient of the 2016 Professional Development Award by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). Tegen is Clemson University’s associate vice president for finance. NACUBO’s annual awards honor individual and institutional excellence in higher education business and financial management.

Joined the Hollingsworth Funds board of directors.

Gallivan currently serves as senior vice president of investments at UBS Financial Services. He has more than 45 years of experience in the financial services industry and has been involved in community organizations such as the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, among others.

Named as project engineer with Verdae Development Inc. Stover has 20 years of experience and certifications in land use planning/ development, stormwater management and erosion control, among others. He most recently served as a senior engineering technician with the City of Greenville.

Named as president of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

Gallivan is a shareholder in the Greenville office of Gallivan, White & Boyd P.A. He has more than 37 years of experience as a litigator and currently focuses his practice on alternative dispute resolution, complex litigation and workplace practices.

The Greenville Airport Commission elected R. Kinard Johnson Jr. as vice chairman and Jim Wall as chairman.

DEVELOPMENT O’Neal Inc. hired David Glassman as project engineer. Glassman is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in civil engineering. He previously served as an intern for Kiewit, Jordan and Skala Engineers and R.W. Allen.

Verdae Development Inc. hired Desiree Puglia as administrative

coordinator. Puglia is a graduate of Ashford University and is an experienced travel planner with Disney. In her new role, she will be responsible for office operations and organizational support for the Verdae corporate and sales team.

EDUCATION Clemson University named Brian D. Voss as interim chief information officer (CIO). Voss is a consultant with Brian D. Voss and Associates and has more than 30 years of experience in information technology serving as the vice president for information technology and CIO at the University of Maryland.

HOSPITALITY Charleston-based Caviar & Bananas, a gourmet market and café concept, added Ryan LaFleur as general manager, Edwin Wiles as executive chef and Holly Whatley as executive pastry chef to its Greenville leadership team at its new location in downtown Greenville opening in early August.

marketing to president of The Furman Co. Insurance Agency. Cline is on the board of directors for Ten at the Top and is a member of the Governance Committee, among others.

INSURANCE Harrison G. Cline was promoted from vice president of operations and CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

Carly is a second-generation Allstate Agency Owner. Like her dad before her, she knows success comes from treating clients like family. That’s why her business is growing strong, just like her two little girls.

Isn’t that the kind of good life you deserve? Reserve your spot today.

TALK TO YOUR ALLSTATE RECRUITER IN THE GREENVILLE AREA TODAY. Bonnie Lins Executive Recruiter 888-901-9692 blins@allstate.com

Subject to all terms and conditions as outlined in the Allstate R3001 Exclusive Agency Agreement and Exclusive Agency program materials. Allstate agents are not franchisees; rather they are exclusive agent independent contractors and are not employed by Allstate. Allstate is an Equal Opportunity Company. Allstate Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. In New Jersey, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, Bridgewater, NJ. © 2015 Allstate Insurance Co.

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COMMUNITY

24 | NEW TO THE STREET |

UBJ

THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

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08.05.2016

Open for business

2

1

1. Partners in Primary Care, a senior-focused primary care center, recently opened at 101 Orchard Park Drive, Greenville. For more information, visit youdeservepartners.com.

2. Upstate Home Care Solutions recently opened at 113 W. Antrim Drive, Greenville. For more information, visit upstatehomecaresc.com.

Photo provided

Photo provided

CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon? Email information to lgood@communityjournals.com.

OUR TRAFFIC DRIVES YOUR TRAFFIC

24,500 viewers daily and GROWING Shouldn’t you be talking to them?

For current availability call GRACE Outdoor 803-252-7084

08.05.2016

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

Bosch Rexroth donates funds to GTC’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation A $70,000 gift by the Bosch Community Fund will create scholarships for students who are part of the Manufacturing Honors College at Greenville Technical College’s (GTC) Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI).

Through this innovation in education, GTC students preparing to be technicians and Clemson University students preparing to be engineers will work together to address real-world manufacturing challenges. The CMI, opening this fall, is expected to impact the skills gap and create strong interest in opportunities available in the sector.

“Bosch-Rexroth is proud to continue our partnership with Greenville Technical College,” said Mike McCormick, technical plant manager for Bosch Rexroth. “By opening the Center for Manufacturing Innovation, GTC and Bosch Rexroth are committed to the journey of better preparing future technicians and engineers for the Upstate.”

BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN’ T MISS

| THE FINE PRINT | 25

recognizing

our community

heroes

WYNIT partnership expands DayMen’s commercial reach California-based DayMen, a worldwide owner and manufacturer of Lowepro and JOBY branded products, and WYNIT Distribution LLC, a leading North American distributor headquartered in Greenville, recently announced an exclusive North American distribution agreement.

As part of the agreement, WYNIT will oversee all customer-related operations and logistics and partner with DayMen sales personnel for the Lowepro and JOBY brands in the U.S. and Canada. WYNIT will also partner with DayMen on commercial trading and fulfillment efforts in support of Latin America. The partnership enables DayMen to extend its reach in the Americas while increasing its internal focus on product design and marketing.

“We understand the importance that DayMen places on the tens of millions of professional photographers and photo enthusiasts worldwide that rely on Lowepro and JOBY gear every day,” said Pete Richichi, COO of WYNIT Distribution LLC. “We see our role at WYNIT as one of growing the DayMen leadership position within photo, but also importantly introducing the brand’s latest offerings to new channels and new audiences.”

Duke proposes nearly $5 in monthly fuel savings Duke Energy Carolinas, headquartered in Charlotte, is proposing nearly $5 in monthly fuel savings for its customers beginning this fall. If approved by the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC), the new fuel rates, which would go into effect Oct. 1, would be the lowest since 2006.

Under the proposal, typical residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month would see their bills decline from the current $116.57 to $110.92, a savings of $5.65. General service customers would see an average decrease in the fuel charge of about 6.4 percent, and industrial customers would receive an average decrease of about 10.5 percent.

Duke Energy Carolinas offers its customers electric rates in South Carolina that are consistently below the national average, according to a release. The company also offers energy-saving tips and efficiency programs to help customers receive additional savings.

August 19, 2016 12pm Hyatt Regency 220 N. Main Street | Downtown Greenville

Bringing deserved recognition to two local heroes and benefiting two local scholarship funds for Greenville City Firefighters and City Police Officers.

In addition, the luncheon will offer a tribute to fallen officer Allen Jacobs.

For tickets or more information

greenvilleheroes.org Presented by JHM Hotels

26 | #TRENDING |

UBJ

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

OVERHEARD @ THE WATERCOOLER JULY 29, 2016

COMMERCIAL

> Anita Quiros Harley “We will miss you, Sherry, but we wish you the best in the west!” > Christy Ashkettle “Thank you for your contribution to the community! We look forward to seeing some of your freelance work popping up on our news feeds. Best of luck! PS: We can send some mosquitoes your way for old times’ sake... :)” > Ryan Johnston “I don’t want to like this post! So I will wish you well in the comments! You did some great work here and I am thankful for your contribution.” > Maggie Maher “Best of luck! You'll always hold a special place with me because you were the first person to do a writeup on me and my business. Thank you for everything!” > Lauren Harper Newton “Best wishes, Sherry! Greenville will miss you.” > Diane Jackson “Best of luck, Sherry, on your next chapter!” > Natasha Sexton “You will be missed!!! Best of luck”

RE: PACELOT MILLIKEN WILL OPEN TYGER RIVER INDUSTRIAL PARK FOR DEVELOPMENT > Paul Desmond Saw it this morning on my way in to town, it looks amazing!!!” > Lauri Soles Darwin “I have been so excited to see what's happening at the gateways. This has been needed in Spartanburg for quite a while. The improvements are looking great!”

RE: GATEWAY IMPROVEMENT PLANS PROGRESS IN SPARTANBURG > Rebecca Vitvich Johnson “Anyone looking for work????” > Teresa Brooks – Keller Williams Realty Partners “Here we grow again! In case you haven't heard, Moore is booming!”

08.05.2016

BIZ BUZZ

Distilled commentary from UBJ readers

RE: THANKS FOR THE WILD RIDE

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DIGITAL FLIPBOOK ARCHIVE >>

| VOL. 5 ISSUE 31

QUARTERLY ISSUE REAL ESTATE

The layout of print meets the convenience of the Web. Flip through the digital editions of any of our print issues, and see them all in one place. >> upstatebusinessjournal. com/past-issues

GREENVILLE'S

HOT 17

ent is estate developm Commercial real n this summer warming up downtow

PAGE 14

>> WEIGH IN @ THE UBJ EXCHANGE Got something to offer?

Get it off your chest.

We’re looking for expert guest bloggers from all industries to contribute to the UBJ Exchange. Send posts or blog ideas to dcar@communityjournals.com.

RE: 17 DOWNTOWN CRE PROJECTS TO WATCH > The Art Cellar “With all the new housing opportunities underway in downtown, we hope to fill them with local art!” > Keith Boling, C. Dan Joyner Realtors “There's a lot going on in Greenville these days! #yeahTHATGreenville #buyandsellwithBoling” > Jim Simkins “Greenville is exploding with development, especially downtown!”

>> CONNECT WITH US We’re great at networking.

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The top 5 stories from last week’s issue ranked by shareability score

>> 767 1. Brio Internal Medicine is opening 2 new locations

>> 424 2. Financial planning firm launches in Greenville

>> 236 3. Pacolet Milliken will open Tyger River Industrial Park for development

>> 235 4. Gateway improvement plans progress in Spartanburg

>> 179 5. 17 downtown CRE projects to watch

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAILS Follow up on the Upstate’s workweek in minutes.

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

DATE

Friday

8/5 Tuesday

8/16 Tuesday

8/18 Tuesday

9/1 Tuesday

9/13

EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR

| PLANNER | 27

EVENT INFO

WHERE DO I GO?

HOW DO I GO?

Clemson University Mini MBA: Leading and Motivating Part of the Mini MBA Certificate Program sessions dedicated to help business professionals improve their skills

Clemson One Building 1 N. Main Street, 7th Floor, Greenville 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cost: $500 Register: thinkclemson.com/events/ mini_mba_program

The Iron Yard Greenville: Demo Day See first-hand demos of final projects by trained front and back end engineers

Warehouse Theatre, 37 Augusta Road, Greenville, 3-5:30 p.m.

Cost: Free Register: bit.ly/demoday-aug2016

Piedmont SCORE Basic Small-Business Start-Up workshop

Greenville Technical College Barton Campus 506 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville 6-8 p.m.

Cost: Free Register: bit.ly/bsbs-aug2016

GSHRM Annual Human Resource Management Conference Evolve, Engage, Empower: Developing Authentic Leaders for the Future

Hyatt Regency Greenville 220 N. Main St., Greenville 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

More info: bit.ly/hr-aug2016

Greenville Chamber Netnight Networking event for business owners and professionals

Aloft Greenville Downtown Hotel, 5 N. Laurens St., Greenville, 6-8 p.m.

Cost: $10 investors, $15 non-investors More info: bit.ly/netnight-sept2016

Ten at the Top Upstate Regional Summit: Creating Leading Region

TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville 7:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

More info: bit.ly/tattusummit-2016

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

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & ACCOUNT STRATEGY Kate Madden

PRESIDENT/CEO

ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR

Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com

Will Crooks

UBJ PUBLISHER

Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith

Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com

EDITOR

Chris Haire chaire@communityjournals.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com

STAFF WRITERS

Trevor Anderson, David Dykes, Lety Good, Caroline Hafer, Andrew Moore, Cindy Landrum

OPERATIONS Holly Hardin

ADVERTISING DESIGN CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley | Jane Rogers

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristi Fortner

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS: ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com

EVENTS: events@upstatebusinessjournal.com

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com

MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Nicole Greer, Jenny Hall, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Lindsay Oehmen, Emily Yepes

jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years 1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport

1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993

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

>>

with a majority of them utilizing the general aviation airport as a “corporate gateway to the city.”

In 1997, Jackson and his son, Darrell, launched Jackson Motorsports Group. The new division was designed to sell race tires and go to racetracks to sell and mount the tires. Darrell Jackson now serves as president of the motorsports group and Larry Jackson has two other children and a son-in-law who work there. Jackson said all his children started at the bottom and “earned their way up.”

Jackson kept the Jackson-Dawson branches in Detroit and others in Los Angeles and New York until he sold his portion of that partnership in 2009 as part of his estate planning.

The company now operates a small office in Charlotte, but its main headquarters are in Greenville in a large office space off Woodruff Road, complete with a vision gallery that displays local artwork and an auditorium Jackson makes available for non-profit use. The Motorsports Group is housed in an additional 26,000 square feet building just down the street, and the agency is currently looking for another 20,000 square feet.

Jackson said JMG has expanded into other verticals such as financial, healthcare, manufacturing and pro-bono work, but still has a strong focus on the auto industry and transportation. It’s

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

Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com

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

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

Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood.

He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit.

After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980.

In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he

learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage.

In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar.

“Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said.

Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders

>>

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

SEPTEMBER 16 THE DESIGN ISSUE Designing, crafting and making locally.

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

Kristy Adair | Michael Allen

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS:

Danielle Car

UBJ milestone

1988

UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties.

Guest columns run 700-800 words.

Contact managing editor Jerry Salley at jsalley@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration.

Circulation Audit by

UP NEXT AUGUST 19 THE CAREERS ISSUE Finding – and keeping – the right job.

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

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CONTRIBUTING WRITER Melinda Young

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08.05.2016

BUSINESS TO BUSINESS SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RESTAURATEURS

PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOD FORWARD Local restaurateurs team up to offer you the chance to experience some of the area’s best cuisine at an appetizing price!

AUGUST 18-28

8TH ANNUAL Check for updates @