AUGUST 23, 2013
BIG PLANS FOR RIVER’S EDGE Phil Hughes wants to make Greenville's River Street “come alive” with an ambitious new mixed-use development PAGE 16
An artist's rendering shows the eightstory apartment building planned for River's Edge.
UBJ UP FRONT
Right, Now
Of course media is changing. It always has, as anybody who has seen a cave painting or a Gutenberg Bible can tell you.
Photo by Greg Beckner
By Jerry Salley | managing editor jsalley@communityjournals.com
We’ll get to the UBJ’s social media strategy, and how we hope to use it to better and more quickly deliver information relevant to you, in a second – but first, I want to talk about my mother. This week was my mom’s birthday, and, thanks to Facebook – which, honestly, is the only way I remember the birthdays of most people in my life these days – I was able to post a message to her first thing in the morning, along with a sweet picture that my niece took of the two of us. It was a nice, public gesture, which several of our friends and family have been able to share in. It took me, tops, five minutes. But my mother didn’t raise me to get away with cheap gestures. Modern technology is no substitute for an old-fashioned two-way conversation, complete with “I love you” in our real, human voices, even if it was transmitted between two cellphones 100 miles apart. The convenience and ease of social media
did not relieve me of my traditional duty as a son. I could wish Mom a happy birthday quickly and easily, but I also had to do it right. A discussion along these lines is happening in newsrooms worldwide in the 21st century, between those invested in traditional ways of publishing information, and those who are looking at the new ways people actually get informed. Entrenched publishers and editors, with millions of dollars and generations of workers invested in putting ink on paper, are trying to figure out how
to deal with an audience who is using new technology. Newspapers, some say, with their big, gray walls of text, are obsolete. Print is dying. Which brings us, finally, to social media. In our own newsroom, we’ve been (virtually) passing around an article by Ryan Holmes, posted on LinkedIn (read it at bit.ly/postbezos), with the attention-grabbing title “Can Jeff Bezos Fix the Washington Post With Social Media?” One of the tips that Holmes, CEO of social media company HootSuite, offers for Amazon founder Bezos and others who may find themselves in charge of a traditional media outlet is to embrace velocity. To compete, he says, the Post and others should produce “quick, short-form stories pushed out nearly as fast as the news breaks (i.e. exactly the kind of continuous
news stream that online publishing is ideally suited to).” Of course media is changing. It always has, as anybody who has seen a cave painting or a Gutenberg Bible can tell you. But do we need to abandon tradition entirely? Is there room for more than 140 characters in the modern attention span? In the struggle to publish things now, can we also remain mindful of the old-school, time-consuming values of research, verification and analysis – which Holmes admits are “part of the intrinsic value of a news site”? At UBJ, we say “yes.” Because the thing about old-school and newschool is that we need each other. New media shows which way we’re going. Traditional values keep us honest while we’re getting there. Happy birthday, Mom.
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August 23, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 3
Volume II, Issue XXXIII
August 23, 2013
WORTH REPEATING
TBA
“We track the major projects in Greenville, so we know what they are, and there are some major projects in Greenville that have almost zero minority participation.” S.T. Peden, president and CEO of the Minority Economic DevelopmentInstitute Inc.
Word is the coming update to the Bank of America will include new LED lighting atop the building that will change color based on what’s happening around town…
“In South Carolina, the thing here is that we are a young kind of community and we have challenges across the board, especially with language. After that is access to capital and access to education in how to manage a business.”
Owners have requested rezoning for 1504 Brushy Creek Road for a planned office district that would extend the Hudson Center development, to the reported horror of nearby residents…
Evelyn Lugo, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Nika White, vice president for diversity and inclusion at the Greenville Chamber, rating the Upstate business community’s diversity on a 1-10 scale. “The moment you start talking business, though, start talking solutions, all of a sudden it doesn’t matter and you qualify.” Robert Chandler, CEO of IG Global Sourcing, on meetings with people he has contacted first by phone who are surprised when an AfricanAmerican man shows up.
20 VERBATIM
On the Manufacturing Skills Gap… “I believe that if we don’t find a solution to the needs we’re hearing now, we’ll have a skills gap that’s become even more crippling, companies that decided not to locate here, and other companies that went under because they couldn’t find a skilled workforce.” Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College. On Tuesday, the school asked Greenville County Council for $25 million in bond funding for its Enterprise Campus, designed to help fill the skills gap.
4 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL August 23, 2013
Photo provided
“For sure, Greenville has the potential of a 10. But we have work to do to get there.”
Two new subdivisions are in the works for southern Greenville County; developers are seeking to rezone 53 acres on Reedy Fork Road and another 117 acres on Sandy Springs Road…
UBJ News BMW Pro-Am Adds New Course, Announces Funds Raised the bmw charity pro-am golf tournament presented by SYNNEX Corporation announced that the tournament raised $731,152 for Upstate charities in 2013. The 2014 tournament will occur May 15-18, adding Green Valley Country Club to its list of courses including Thornblade Club and The Reserve at Lake Keowee. Green Valley replaces Greenville Country Club’s Chanticleer course. Officials from South Carolina Charities Inc., the nonprofit that manages the tournament, presented checks to charity representatives. Supported charities were 100 Black Men of the Upstate, Child Evangelism Fellowship of Greenville, Child Evangelism Fellowship of Spartanburg, Dogs for Autism,
The First Tee of Greenville, Greenville Tech Foundation Inc., Harvest Hope Food Bank, JDRF – Greater Western Carolinas Chapter, MakeA-Wish Foundation of SC, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), New Foundations Home for Children, Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS), Play Safe Inc., The Reserve at Lake Keowee Charitable Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas, Scottish Rite Foundation, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Greenville, Spiritual Two-A-Days, and The Walker Foundation for the SC School for the Deaf and Blind. For more information, visit bmwcharitygolf.com.
New Home for Clemson’s Real Estate Development Program Graduate program one of nine in the country By Cindy Landrum | staff clandrum@communityjournals.com
with all of its development in recent years, downtown Greenville is the perfect “living lab” for students in Clemson University’s graduate program in real estate development. The program is relocating from Clemson’s campus to Clemson at the Falls – formerly known as the Bowater Building – in downtown Greenville. The program will eventually be housed in ONE, a $100 million mixed-use development at the corner of Main and Washington streets in the heart of downtown. All of Clemson at the Falls’ business school components – the MBA program, the Small Business Development Center and the Spiro Institute – will
move to ONE in early 2014. “The new location provides a more urban and dynamic setting for our students, creating a ‘living lab’ due to the amount of significant real estate development currently underway in Greenville,” said Robert Benedict, director of the Master in Real Estate Development program. He said the move would allow the program to continue to grow and create greater local, regional and national awareness of it. No more than 20 students are accepted into the program each year. The program combines several disciplines: business administration, finance, law, city and regional planning, architecture, and construction science and management.
BANKING CENTERED AROUND ME. “Innovation is our calling card, so we needed a bank with innovative solutions. That’s why we chose The Palmetto Bank and their Commercial Banking Team. Their local decision making and flexibility are crucial to our growth-mode business plan. We can’t afford to wait in this industry. They provide the lending solutions and customized cash management tools which enable us to grow. The Palmetto Bank gives us the edge we need. They get it.” - Michael Bolick Selah Genomics, Biotechnology
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UBJ DIGITAL MAVEN
By LAURA HAIGHT
Ghosts in the Machines In the “Internet of Things,” will we be just another “thing”? i used to have a bit of a temper. OK, I have a bit of a temper. And it is most often directed at things that aren’t working as they are supposed to. As a self-proclaimed gizmo, I surround myself with a lot of technology, and often that means surrounding yourself with things not working as they are supposed to. So while I find the “Internet of Things” an exciting vision on the near horizon, I am also a bit concerned. What happens when my car – powered by Microsoft Sync – starts to act just like my PC? The idea of a car crash could mean something much different in the future, as you have to start shutting down your air conditioner, your radio or your navigation in order to give more processing power to your engine. And with Bluetooth-enabled entertainment systems, will you start getting the ubiquitous “I see you’ve added a new human interface device. Do you want to search for a driver?” message? There are a lot of applications, like auto computers, home security systems, lighting controls and neat thermostats, which let you control your environment via your smartphone. These tools put us right on the edge of the cliff that overlooks the “Internet of Things.” That next iteration will move from us control-
ling multiple things to the things talking to each other, “saving” us the trouble and time of having to interact with them at all. If you watch any TV, you’ve already seen the breathless Cisco commercials that show a seamlessly functioning world of Internet-connected and Internet-aware devices, turning themselves on and off, deciding how to reroute shipping, saving energy and – certainly – replacing the humans that are so prone to err. It’s a pretty picture, but as we are
that makes your toilet play music! The researchers found that many apps that ride on your home (or office) network required no passwords and were easily hackable. It’s worth noting that one of the current iPhone rumors is that some future version may have biometric security – fingerprint or retina recognition. With apps starting the car, unlocking the doors to our homes, and controlling our alarm systems, securing our phones – with a lot more than an easily hackable
Our tendencies are often to take the easy road and then be horrified at what we gave up to use it. starting to learn, devices controlled by computers also function like computers – and that can be sketchy and, even more concerning, inherently insecure. The MIT Technology Review recently published an interesting story about researchers hacking into application-controlled home appliances (goo.gl/qQxWNU), including (who knows why) an app
four-digit passcode – will be crucial. But my mind wanders a bit further to the future, when my refrigerator tells my iPhone grocery app that we need milk, butter and that goat cheese my husband likes. And when the TV talks to the lighting system and tells it to turn the lights down because we’re starting a movie. Or the home thermostat tests for heat signatures, learning
over time the ebb and flow of our lives and adjusting the temperature accordingly. All these activities are easily part of our future – and, you’ll notice, they don’t involve us at all. Sweet, right? Well, sure, but our tendencies are often to take the easy road and then be horrified at what we gave up to use it. Last week’s comments by Google chief Eric Schmidt and the company’s top legal team that Gmail users have no expectation of privacy and that the company “goes right up to the creepy line without crossing it” should be a wake-up call to all of us. (goo.gl/qkELOq) We can’t be aghast when Facebook shares our posts, Google logs our emails, Apple keeps track of our voice commands to Siri and the NSA captures our cellphone conversations. Every time we hastily scroll through the pages and pages of licensing agreements to hit the “OK” button, we are giving our consent to this. Because it is easy. Because technology is complicated. Because we just want it to work. Are we positioning ourselves to be the masters of the exciting future vision of self-driving cars, environmentally aware appliances and interconnected devices, or are we just another “thing” on the network? “iRobot”, anyone?
Laura Haight is the president of Portfolio (portfoliosc.com), which works with small businesses to incorporate emerging media and technology into its business communications and operations.
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UBJ NEWS Greenville Listed in Top 20 for Housing Recovery By Sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com
on monday, realtytrac, a real estate information company and online marketplace, released its first-ever Housing Market Recovery Index (Housing MRI) report. The Greenville-Mauldin-Easley market ranked No. 11 of the top 20 housing markets showing signs of recovery. Spartanburg ranked 19th. “The U.S. housing market has
clearly shifted to recovery mode over the past 18 months, with home prices consistently rising and foreclosures falling closer to pre-housing bubble levels,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “Still, symptoms of the distress that plagued the housing market over the past seven years continue to linger, particularly in
Metro Rochester, NY Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Birmingham-Hoover, AL Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA Fort Collins-Loveland, CO Flint, MI Oklahoma City, OK Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC Tulsa, OK Madison, WI Boulder, CO Reno-Sparks, NV Pittsburgh, PA Duluth, MN-WI Tucson, AZ Spartanburg, SC Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL U.S. Average
the form of a high percentage of underwater borrowers and distressed sales. This lingering distress is creating an uneven pace of recovery across different local markets.” The index was calculated based on seven different factors relating to the health of the real estate market: unemployment rate, underwater loans percentage, foreclosure activity percent change from peak, distressed sales percent of total sales, institutional investors share of total sales, cash purchases share of total sales, and median home price percent change from bottom. Those seven
factors were indexed for each market with national averages as a baseline, and all seven indexes were averaged to calculate a total recovery index. RealtyTrac ranked 100 major U.S. metros based on this total recovery index. “Median home prices have bottomed and are now rising in all 100 ranked markets,” Blomquist noted. “Likewise, foreclosure activity is past its peak in all 100 ranked markets — although foreclosure numbers have been rebounding recently in some areas where a more lengthy judicial process created a backlog of pent-up foreclosure activity.”
Unemploy. Rate
Under water %
FC%r from Peak
Dist. Sales %
Inst. Inv. %
Cash Sales %
7.0 7.4 6.4 6.9 6.5 5.9 8.9 6.2 10.1 5.4 7.4 5.9 5.2 6.1 9.8 7.2 6.6 7.5 8.8 6.8 7.6
7% 42% 9% 9% 17% 15% 36% 13% 23% 12% 14% 14% 11% 10% 40% 9% 16% 34% 15% 19% 26%
-68% -91% -63% -90% -88% -78% -77% -97% -85% -49% -46% -65% -55% -86% -92% -47% -58% -80% -42% -79% -65%
7% 42% 8% 15% 22% 8% 26% 12% 25% 12% 19% 16% 13% 13% 32% 10% 17% 35% 18% 9% 23%
4% 13% 2% 3% 5% 5% 27% 19% 12% 10% 19% 18% 2% 3% 28% 2% 7% 29% 19% 4% 9%
26% 70% 39% 19% 24% 25% 42% 33% 54% 34% 42% 39% 18% 21% 36% 32% 58% 48% 53% 16% 30%
Price %r Total Recovery from Trough Index 93% 82% 44% 70% 96% 58% 57% 21% 64% 41% 42% 29% 55% 40% 43% 36% 44% 24% 26% 46% 19%
217 168 168 166 164 163 158 157 153 153 152 148 146 145 145 144 143 141 140 139 100
Wherever you are in your time horizon, we can help you build a diversified portfolio.
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UBJ news Report: Demand for New Industrial Space Rises BMW, Caliber Ridge, Caterpillar developments drive market By sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com
total vacancy rates - industrial & flex market 25.0% 19.4 18.2 17.9
20.0% 15.0%
13.7 13.0 12.5
11.5 10.4 10.3 10.6
9.9
9.0
10.0%
8.5 5.6
7.9
7.5
10.3
7.5
9.3
8.1
4.6
5.0% 0.0%
market
anderson
cherokee
Q2-12 as the inventory of quality industrial space continues to dwindle in the Upstate, the demand for new industrial construction is on the rise, says a new report from Colliers International. At the end of the second quarter, demand for space from businesses looking to locate in the region was present, but new construction was still absent from the market, resulting in supply falling short of demand, the report said. The industrial market in the Upstate consists of roughly 169.6
Q1-13 million square feet of space in 2,421 buildings. The market continued to excel in the second quarter of 2013, ending the quarter with a vacancy rate of just 8.4 percent, the report said. The combined Upstate markets ended the second quarter with a fifth consecutive quarter of positive absorption, absorbing over 1.4 million square feet of space and achieving the low vacancy rate of 9.0 percent, down 90 basis points from the first quarter vacancy rate. Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville,
8 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal August 23, 2013
Greenville
laurens
Pickens
spartanburg
Q2-13 Laurens, Pickens and Spartanburg counties all experienced positive absorption during the second quarter of 2013 with Anderson improving the most during the quarter, dropping 3.3 percentage points to a vacancy rate of 4.6 percent, Colliers said. Many developers have been reluctant to invest in speculative construction and banks are hesitant to lend, but that too is changing with the announcement of the first speculative building in Greer since 2008 being built at Caliber Ridge
Industrial Park by Liberty Property Trust, the report said. Successful leasing of the newly developed building is promising to the market as it will likely spur further interest in the construction of Class A speculative buildings, which will attract new manufacturers to the area yielding capital investments and promoting economic growth, Colliers said. In an effort to lower costs and increase efficiency, manufacturers are looking to locate closer to their customers and suppliers, a trend
“ that is being called “localization,” Colliers said. The Upstate is experiencing this emerging trend as new manufacturers and suppliers are choosing to locate in the region. The recent decision announced by Caterpillar Inc. to relocate its plant from Japan to Athens, Ga., has motivated two of its suppliers, Moline and McLaughlin Body Co., to locate in Anderson County, close to Caterpillar Inc.’s new plant, the report said. Cabures, a Spain-based manufacturer of carbon and composite structures, is opening its second Upstate facility in Greenville County in the Beechtree Business Park near its original facility at the SC Technology and Aviation Center (SCTAC). Cabures distributes materials to automotive and aerospace companies and thus enjoys success in the thriving automobile and aerospace industries present in the Upstate. The company plans to invest $4 million and hire up to an additional 100 employees over the next three years. The Inland Port continues to play a significant role in the industrial market, even though the opening has been delayed until October 2013 due to construction delays from the area’s heavy rainfall, Colliers said. The first distribution facility located there is also under construction, developed by CenterPoint Properties for BMW Manufacturing Co. The approximately 414,000square-foot distribution facility, scheduled to open December 2013, is located on 45 acres owned by Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. The $13.4 million facility will have a direct connection to the Inland Port and will be used to transport vehicles to the Port of Charleston for export. The Upstate region is also continuously motivating companies to locate and expand in the area by providing a skilled labor force, growing economy and county tax incentives, the report says.
NBSC makes everything so easy for us; it just doesn’t make sense to bank anywhere else.
”
Daniel Bunnell President
Daniel Bunnell, President, and Thomas Lammons, Vice President Bunnell-Lammons Engineering, Inc. — Greenville, SC
It’s not easy building something from the ground up, even when you’re an engineering company. When Bunnell-Lammons Engineering (BLE) broke ground in 1996, they needed a bank that could provide them with something every construction project needs — stability. And that’s what NBSC gave them. BLE was just starting out, offering a wide range of services to commercial, fi nancial, industrial, municipal and construction contractors, as well as architectural design and engineering clients. Building their business required working capital, but BLE had yet to prove themselves. NBSC did more than partner with them, they believed in them. Over the years, NBSC banker Ronnie Colson has offered expert advice, showed them how to make cost-effective decisions and taught BLE good money management techniques. NBSC also suggested refinancing their loans in order to get a lower rate … before BLE even asked. Being able to anticipate a company’s needs, looking out for their best interests; that’s a sound foundation for success. Learn more at bankNBSC.com. Loan products subject to credit approval. NBSC is a division of Synovus Bank. Synovus Bank, Member FDIC, is chartered in the state of Georgia and operates under multiple trade names across the Southeast. Divisions of Synovus are not separately FDIC-insured banks. The FDIC coverage extended to deposit customers is that of one insured bank.
August 23, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 9
UBJ WORKING WELL
By LESLIE KNOX, ACSM CPT
Take Action for Healthy Eating at Work Employee obesity costs companies $73.1 billion a year obesity is a problem that affects American individuals, families and communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is affecting one of every three adults in the U.S. Eating too many calories and a lack of physical activity contribute greatly to this epidemic, which is impacting employers where it hurts – their bottom line. Research conducted by Duke University found that obesity among full-time employees is costing employers $73.1 billion a year. Organizations that create a work environment that supports healthy eating will help employees become healthier and lower their costs. Because most adults spend a large part of their day at work, the workplace is a feasible setting to promote healthy eating. Employees who are in good health are more likely to perform better at work and have improved morale. Raising awareness, providing nutritional education, creating an environment that supports healthy eating, and implementing healthy policies are proven strategies that workplaces can implement to improve the health of their employees. To encourage healthy eating, a workplace can begin implementing these action items: 1. Offer healthy vending options: Many vending companies offer healthy snack options that can help you stock workplace vending machines. If they do not, requesting this option will send a message that this is a priority for your company. Designating a certain side of the vending machine for healthy options and labeling it will help employees choose these better snack options. As an employer, you can also subsidize healthy options to make them more affordable for employees.
Does your organization have a formal or an informal practice or policy to promote healthy food and drinks for work-related functions where food is served, in on-site vending machines or in the company cafeteria?
YES 40% NO 60%
How have the employees responded to your organization's efforts to promote healthy food and drinks in the workplace?
2% 24% 73%
n
Very Favorably
n
Favorably
n
Unfavorably
n
Very Unfavorably
Source: Society for Human Resource Management
LiveWell Greenville’s At Work committee helps Greenville businesses create and improve their workplace wellness initiatives. You’ll find more information and free resources at livewellgreenville.org.
10 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL August 23, 2013
2. Designate a place to eat: Design an area for employees to sit down and eat, and equip it with necessary items such as refrigerators and microwaves. This will encourage employees to leave their desks when eating meals and snacking. It will also allow employees to bring their lunch/ snacks containing healthier choices. 3. Establish a healthy catering policy: When planning an event or hosting a meeting that will be catered, simple steps can be taken to make the meal healthier. Add fruits or vegetables, request sauces on the side, eliminate chips, monitor serving sizes, increase whole-grain options, and avoid choices with high fat or high sugar content. Work with your catering vendor to ensure that they have healthy options to offer. Do some research and determine which caterers best meet your healthy eating requirements. 4. Offer healthy beverages: In addition to ensuring there are healthy drink options in the vending machines, make sure water fountains provide clean and cold water throughout your facility. This provides access to drinking water to employees throughout the day.
Additional strategies organizations can consider implementing to support healthy nutrition choices at work include:
4. Recognize employees who exhibit healthy eating habits. 5. Provide healthy eating reminders through internal communications, such as posters or e-mails. 6. Provide information resources on healthy portion size and other healthy eating recommendations. 7. If your workplace has a cafeteria, work with your vendor to ensure healthy options are on your menu. Prominently display those options at decision-making points of selection or purchase. Share these options through internal communications.
Here are some ideas for employees interested in eating healthier: 1. Healthy snacking at work: Eating healthy at work is hard especially with vending machines close by, candy dishes on your co-workers desks, and birthday celebrations, to name a few. To avoid this temptation, be prepared with your own healthy snacks to consume instead. Try homemade trail mix, sunflower seeds, kale chips, raisins, avocados, edamame, almonds, string cheese or an apple with peanut butter. If you are going to celebrate birthdays with cakes, try cupcakes for single-serving sizes and add healthy snack options to ward off the temptation to have additional pieces of the sugary dessert.
1. Launch a healthy eating campaign. 2. Provide information on how to pack a healthy lunch. 3. Provide information on nearby restaurants, highlighting their healthiest menu options.
2. Healthy beverages: WATER. Water meets the body’s fluid needs. Beverages such as sodas, juice, sports drinks, specialty coffee drinks and other sweetened beverages are high in sugar and calories and easily add hundreds of calories to your day’s intake.
Leslie Knox, ACSM CPT, is owner of KnoxFit Wellness Services and a health and wellness professional in the Upstate area. She is a member of LiveWell Greenville’s At Work committee.
UBJ DIVERSITY
‘We Have Work to Do’ Nika White looks back on her first year as leader of the Greenville Chamber’s diversity and inclusion initiative By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer joladipo@communityjournals.com
this month, nika white closes her first year as vice president for diversity and inclusion at the Greenville Chamber. Founder of MLK Dream Weekend and former management supervisor with Erwin Penland – where she started a Diversity and Inclusion Council – White was the first in the Chamber position.
Photo provided
How has your first year with the Chamber been surprising? The Greenville Chamber has had a lot of starts and stops as it relates to diversity and inclusion initiatives because we have not always been able to afford a senior-level staff person specifically for diversity and inclusion. Without that internal champion, it’s hard to sustain key programs and initiatives. After so many stops, it became hard for minority communities to see the Chamber’s efforts as authentic. I knew during my first few months my primary goal needed to be re-
gaining trust and re-engaging minority communities in meaningful ways. This is what kept me up at night my first few weeks. But it didn’t take long before I saw skeptics slowly being converted to believers and minority interest and membership increase. The fast pace with which we gained positive momentum was quite unexpected and certainly a pleasant surprise after bracing myself for what I thought was going to be a more challenging year one. I am so grateful for the support. What has moved more quickly than you expected? What has moved more slowly? The engagement of the minority community almost happened overnight, it seems. I’ve been very encouraged by that. Getting people who were not early adopters on board to support the CAPACITY initiative financially has been a slower process than I had hoped for.
To be effective, we must have resources. While we’ve had incredible support through charter investors who graciously seeded the capital to fund the position of VP of diversity and inclusion, raising operating dollars has not happened quickly enough for my level of passion and sense of urgency. However, it’s providing a great lesson in patience and forces me to understand the significance of allowing people to catch up with my enthusiasm. Diversity and inclusion are somewhat amorphous terms. How do we know them when we see them? Diversity and inclusion cannot be separated in my book. The two are like Obama and Michelle, pancakes and syrup. Diversity simply describes the makeup or mixture of a variety of people with different experiences and demographics. Inclusion is the engagement factor. It’s how those diverse individuals function and coexist. Inclusion enables us to be intentional, strategic and thoughtful to have all people represented, accepted and valued – not only for their abilities, but also for their unique qualities and perspectives. On a scale of one to 10, where is the Upstate business commu-
“Diversity and inclusion cannot be separated in my book. The two are like Obama and Michelle, pancakes and syrup.”
Nika White
nity in terms of diversity? I always like to speak in terms of the potential. For sure, Greenville has the potential of a 10. But we have work to do to get there. I think we’re making progress, and as a whole there are a number of great programs and initiatives in place. But when we compare ourselves to some of our peer cities and recognize all that they are doing in this space, we realize how much more we could be doing to further this underdeveloped opportunity. What do you hope to be saying when we check in again with you at the end of year two? I want to be able to show how economic inclusion is advancing, resulting in a stronger minority business community. Most importantly, I want to be able to speak of a strong sustainability plan that will afford the Greenville Chamber the ability to continue work in this area of diversity and inclusion. Our community deserves this.
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lE B r B a
ryonE vE
in g E g in
Upcoming minority EntErprisE DEvElopmEnt WEEk looks at challEngEs anD opportUnitiEs
thE t to
By JEnnifEr oladipo | senior business writer joladipo@comunityjournals.com
m
inority businesses are growing in number, but they’re not keeping pace in many other ways. National Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week) approaches next month, giving the community a chance to look at the current situation and what is being done to foster positive change. Minority-owned businesses contribute more than $1.4 billion in Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg counties, according to the 2007 U.S. Economic Census, the most recent data available. Despite becoming more numerous, minority businesses remain smaller in scale for a number
of reasons. As with many businesses these days, access to capital can be difficult. But even when it’s achieved, minority businesses face low loan amounts, higher denial rates and higher interest rates than non-minority firms, according to a 2010 report by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency. Some face cultural barriers that make is harder to chart the business landscape. Several groups and initiatives are working to level the playing field in our region. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HCC) and the Minority Economic Development Institute Inc.
12 August 23, 2013
(MEDII) are two dedicated organizations that have emerged in the past six years. Last year the Upstate Chamber of Commerce began its own diversity and inclusion initiative (see page 11).
Both SidES of BuSinESS
medii, which brought med week to greenville, is shifting its organizational focus, said president and CEO S.T. Peden. The group has begun to generate research that will help minorities and others in the community understand the economic impact of minority organizations and businesses.
Although opportunities are open to all, processes often are not, Peden said. “We track the major projects in Greenville … so we know what they are, and there are some major projects in Greenville that have almost zero minority participation.” The research findings will be revealed at the CEO roundtable Wednesday, Sept. 18, and Peden said he expects some of the information to be “startling.” MEDII also plans to highlight the large area companies that have given significant business to minorities. In addition, MEDII is paying more attention to other economic impacts Greenville’s AfricanAmericans make. Peden said the “big one there is per-capita income,” where the conversation tends to focus on the middle-class and above, excluding the poor. “Some would ask, ‘Why are you only talking about African-Americans?’ If you take the ethnic minorities, Asians, Hispanics and others, you will find that African-Americans are at the bottom as citizens and as businesses,” Peden said. “We focus on minorities, but our focus in terms of where the greatest need is now is with African-Americans.” Documentation and education on spending power is also a new focus. MEDII is conducting a study of 35 predominantly African-American
churches’ banking activities in order to quantify their contribution to bank assets. The idea is to see how much capital African-Americans are contributing versus how much they are receiving. The hope is that MED Week will kick off community-wide dialogue based on the data.
Hispanic perspectives
for many hispanic business owners, learning the basics is hugely important, said Evelyn Lugo, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She said the six-year-old organization has focused on educating business owners about issues such as finances and marketing, even as it works to grow its own influence. Lugo said she has seen an increase in service industry and restaurants, as well as lots of cleaning and construction companies. They tend to stick with industries that are familiar or which have proven successful for Hispanics elsewhere. “In South Carolina, we are a young kind of community and we have challenges across the board, especially with language,” Lugo said. “After that is access to capital and access to education in how to manage a business.” Lugo said Hispanics in other states such as California, Texas and Florida have the benefit of more established communities. “Even North
minority Business snapsHot type
no. of firms
anderson county, south carolina
all firms
13,212
$12B
anderson county, south carolina
minority
1,049
$144B
theme: "Strategic Growth: Access, Inclusion, and Advocacy”
$49B
West End Community Development Center
greenville county, south carolina
minority
5,561
$901m
spartanburg county, south carolina
all firms
21,534
$28B
spartanburg county, south carolina
minority
42,400
2,539
Source: 2007 US Econmic Census
monday, 8:30 a.m. Kick-Off Breakfast & City Proclamation
monday, 5:30 p.m -7:30 p.m CEO Business Connection Blues Boulevard Jazz tuesday, 9:30 a.m. Greenville Chamber’s
$368m
different groups have their specific concerns, but all express a need for greater connectivity. Groups are working to educate their constituents about doing business better, while educating the larger community about the many opportunities to work with minority businesses. It’s a matter of bringing everyone to the table, group leaders say, and at least a few tables will be set for that purpose next month.
med Week 2013, sept. 16-19
region
all firms
creating a WHole from parts
RSVP to speden@mediiupstate.org except where noted
sales, receipts, or value of sHipments
greenville county, south carolina
Carolina that is so close to us, the community is so different.” She said that has a positive effect on their business communities. “They’re already kind of integrated even though they keep their cultural background. That’s what we hope to see here in the next 10 years.” But looming political issues on the national scene are also taking their toll on the community. Lugo said the immigration debate has brought greater scrutiny on the Hispanic community, as has Hispanics’ increasing political power. The immigration system itself poses a threat to businesses in the hospitality, agriculture and industrial sectors. Inadequate solutions could jeopardize the $1.7 billion in revenue Lugo said Hispanic-owned businesses bring in across the state according to the economic census.
EngagE
13 August 23, 2013
Minority Business Resource Collaborative Entrepreneurial Workshops and Information Fair The Kroc Center register: web. greenvillechamber. org/events/eventdetail. aspx?EventID=4041 Wednesday, 8 a.m. Minority Enterprise Development Week Breakfast Greater Greer Chamber
of Commerce Wednesday, noon Business-to-Business CEO Roundtable Forum theme: “Access To Opportunities… Barriers and Challenges” West End Community Development Center tHursday, 6:15pm Annual Achievement Awards Banquet TD Convention Center
Hispanic cHamBer of commerce schcc.org minority economic development institute inc. mediiupstate.org
UBJ PROFILE IG Global Crosses Many Territories By JENNIFER OLADIPO | senior business writer joladipo@communityjournals.com
Flexibility to Compete
Like many other companies, the recession underscored for IG the importance of staying flexible. As a result, IG diversified significantly. “There’s no inhibitors that keep me from jumping into one market or jumping out of one,” Chandler said. Where others are looking at a product or an industry, he is thinking of all the little parts like hinges or gears or spring-loaded mechanisms that IG could supply. Warehouse facilities on the west coast and in the Midwest help IG respond quickly to clients, and the inland port opening in Greer this fall
Robert Chandler
Outside of work, Chandler is something of an anomaly as an African-American businessman in China. He said people usually assume he is a celebrated athlete or Hollywood star and he gets the kind of attention that comes with it. He laughs when describing how other grocery store customers will look through his cart to see what famous people like to eat. Interestingly, Chandler said he is often an unexpected sight in his home country. He can tell when somebody he has contacted first by phone is surprised when an African-American shows up to the meeting they’ve arranged. “The moment you start talking business, though, start talking solutions, all of a sudden it doesn’t matter and you qualify,” Chandler said. “They don’t expect you to be culturally literate in Mexico or have operations in China.”
The Next Generation should also be a boon. Being able to call on manufacturers at different price points and with different levels of expertise is also important, which is why IG has investments in manufacturing operations in China and has had long-term relationships in Mexico. Chandler said about half of IG’s business is domestic, the rest overseas. The goal is to increase domestic work as much as possible, and he is sure to look for minority suppliers to help accomplish that goal.
Crossing Cultures
Chandler has spent his entire career doing business across cultures. The Chinese, he said, tend to be much more interested in forging a personal connection before talking business. Hours might be spent discussing family and hobbies before there’s ever a mention of the negotiations that brought parties together. “We’re microwave whereas they are slow cooker,” Chandler said to illustrate the difference in business cultures.
14 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL August 23, 2013
It is important for Chandler to bring his business and cultural experiences back home for a number of reasons. He said the many Mexican children who attend summer Bible school at the Mauldin church where his parents minister are excited when they realize that he shares some of their favorite foods. Perhaps even more important is the example he feels he can set for youth and business owners who don’t think they, too, could work globally. “I think it’s because they don’t know that they can do it. They think, ‘Where can I get those kinds of relationships?’ They see cultural barriers and don’t know about resources such as translators who could help them get along,” Chandler said. Regardless of the business size, he would like to see more African-Americans considering working for themselves. His own brother, Ethan, is vice president of operations at IG. Career achievement has left many with comfortable salaries in other people’s companies, Chandler said, yet the unwillingness to take entrepreneurial risks means they are not handing down companies that future generations could build upon.
Photo provided
in his business, robert chandler finds himself managing cultural expectations overseas and at home. Chandler is president of IG Global Sourcing, a company that represents distributors and manufacturers, often connecting them with each other. He started the company in 2001 with other partners he had met while working at Kemet. Later, the group sold the business to a Japanese company, but Chandler stayed on. He bought the company back in 2010, when global economic woes had changed the playing field. “Once the market started to drop, all of a sudden I saw an opportunity. They needed cash and I wanted to purchase the division back,” Chandler said. Today IG’s core business is as a supplier for metals fabrication and plastic injection molding. Those products – usually parts of products – go to agricultural and packaging industries, as well as some automotive, energy and other industries. The company fills a gap for those who have significant manufacturing needs but would be unable to get the loans for capital investments. IG’s recycling services for Fujifilm had been the impetus for the Japanese buyout, and the company still provides those services. About six months ago the company added printing services. “That has gotten us in the door with a lot of people that we weren’t able to get to before,” Chandler said.
UBJ News Unemployment Holds Steady south carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 8.1 percent for July 2013. Over the year, the rate has dropped by more than a full percentage point. There were 174,267 unemployed South Carolinians in July and an estimated total labor force of 2,161,966. The number of employed South Carolinians slid to 1,987,699, decreasing by 4,084 since June. The state saw the most growth in professional and business ser-
vices, construction, leisure and hospitality and other services. Industries experiencing declines were manufacturing, financial activities, education and health services, and government. Nationally, the unemployment rate declined to 7.4 percent from June’s estimate of 7.6 percent. South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted non-farm payroll employment increased to 1,889,600, reaching this year’s highest level and representing an increase of 1,700 jobs over the month.
south cAroliNA uNeMployMeNt NuMBers July 2013 (seasonally Adjusted)
Figure
rAte
National unemployment
7.40%
down 0.2%
8.1%
no change
174,267
156
sc unemployment No. unemployed
upstAte uNeMployMeNt locAtioN
rAte
Anderson county
7.60%
down 0.6%
greenville county
6.60%
down 0.5%
spartanburg county
8.40%
down 0.4%
West Side Planning Meetings Begin By sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com
long-range planning efforts for the west side of Greenville – which includes the neighborhoods of Southernside, West Greenville, the West End, Hampton-Pinckney Historic District, and the recently renamed Village of West Greenville – kicked into high gear last week with the first of many communitywide involvement sessions. About 40 people attended a planning luncheon sponsored by Connections for Sustainability, a grant project that received $1.8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of the interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. The city’s proposal was one of 42 chosen throughout the country to receive funds, and only one of 14 to receive joint funding from HUD and DOT. Long-term planning efforts have paid off tremendously in recent years, spearheading recent downtown de-
velopment announcements. Downtown Greenville, the West End and Heritage Green all have master plans in place to guide both commercial and residential development. Mary Douglas Hirsch, downtown development manager for the City of Greenville, said that “mixed-use development is a key component of our planning efforts.” Even though there’s a current master plan in place for the west side of Greenville, “the new planning initiative will build on this one,” said Hirsch. The Comprehensive Plan will build on all of the existing plans completed for the west side, and incorporate lessons and strategies identified in the Housing Strategy and Transit Feasibility Study. The objective of the plan will be to document areas where revitalization can best occur, recommend tools for managing this growth to avoid involuntary displacement of residents, and outline strategies to address issues related to affordable housing options,
chANge FroM JuNe 2013
transportation choices, parks and open space, and economic development on the west side. The consultant team leading this process is The Lawrence Group. The team has already put together an outline with key issues and guiding principles for the project’s four areas of focus: Economic Development, Parks/Trails/Open Space, Housing, and Transportation. They’ve also been gathering data and doing analysis, as well as interviewing resident leaders to prepare for the robust public engagement schedule. “Over the last 12 months or so, the momentum in that area has really caught on," said Hirsch. "Buildings have been renovated, a number of new, unique stores have moved in, and the city is planning a new streetscape renovation to a portion of Pendleton Street.” Planning efforts began in July 2013 and will continue through December 2013, when the final plan is to be presented.
chANge FroM JuNe 2013
MeetiNg schedule August Aug. 24, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Kroc Center Share Your Dream of the west side with the comprehensive planning team Aug. 26, 6-7:30 p.m., Kroc Center Workshop Week Kick-Off Aug. 26-30, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Kroc Center Workshop Week septeMBer Sept. 5, 6-7:30 p.m., Kroc Center Workshop Wrap-Up NoveMBer Nov. 2 – West Side Fair Nov. 5, 12, 14 Plan presentations to area neighborhood association meetings deceMBer Dec. 5, 6-7:30 p.m., Kroc Center West Side Comprehensive Plan Final Presentation For more information, visit connections.greenvillesc.gov/ Westside.aspx.
August 23, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 15
UBJ SQUARE FEET
‘Time for River Street to Come Alive’ Hughes Investments’ River’s Edge development to include apartments, hotel, restaurant and retail By Sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com
the shape of downtown greenville is to be transformed yet again. On what is currently a parking lot behind a small hillside on the corner of River and Broad streets, developer Phil Hughes is proposing a mixed-use development with apartments, a courtyard area with outdoor seating, retail space, a restaurant and a hotel. Named River’s Edge, this would be the only apartment building in
Greenville’s central business district located on the river with access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, said Hughes. It will also have expansive mountain, city and river views. The hill will be graded to make room for the development, said Mark Peters of Britt, Peters and Associates, an engineer working with Hughes Investments on the project. “It’s now time for River Street to come alive,” said Hughes, who de-
16 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL August 23, 2013
scribed the location as “perfect” next door to Centre Stage. The area will offer tenants and visitors an attractive mix of entertainment, living space and hotel space all within walking distance, he said. There’s an abundance of underdeveloped property along River Street, Hughes said, and his company owns a good portion of it. He has big plans to transform the entire area and calls River’s Edge
“a stepping stone to where we’re going to be.” Hughes is “taking extra steps to build a quality development” and expects construction to take about a year. The 144 studio, one- and twobedroom units, along with two penthouses, will be built with steel and concrete, incorporating six-inch walls for soundproofing via an “infinity” building system that entails using the walls and studs of the units
Photo provided
Hughes has big plans to transform the entire area and calls River’s Edge “a stepping stone to where we’re going to be.”
Photo provided
to hold up the next concrete floor. Apartments will have nine-foot ceilings, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances and be Energy Star-efficient, he said. Besides the adjacent retail and restaurant space, residents will have access to a barbecue area, on-site gated parking (including eight garages available), indoor bike storage, trash chutes, Wi-Fi in common areas and 50 on-site
storage lockers. A pool may also be in the works, depending on finalized plans, he said. The size of the units will be the most attractive feature, Hughes said, with studios around 500 square feet and two-bedroom units around 1,100 square feet. Two-bedroom apartments will have balconies and smaller units will have eight-foot windows. Some will open onto a European courtyard
area that will have an interior traffic circle and grassy area, he said. The development will include about 8,000 square feet of retail space, with 4,000 of that going to the proposed restaurant. Discussions are already underway, but it is too early to release details, Hughes said, adding that he highly prefers “someone local.” The hotel will be a boutique hotel yet to be named, and Hughes an-
ticipates it to fit in with the adjacent eight-story building. When asked if downtown can handle another hotel, Hughes said Greenville is currently “one of the strongest hotel markets there is.” Hughes is now working with the city on finalizing the plans and says city officials have been “enthusiastic and positive” so far. The plans will be reviewed at the Sept. 5 Design Review Board meeting.
August 23, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 17
UBJ Square Feet
$4M Makeover Planned for Liberty Square By Sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com
Liberty One, Main Lobby
added, such as bike racks and outdoor green space with seating and Wi-Fi between One Liberty Square and the parking garage. HighBrook retained LS3P and Seamon Whiteside for all renovations. “HighBrook has already differentiated itself as a hands-on, longterm owner who recognizes the value in proactively investing in the
3 offices. 37 brokers. 600 deals completed in 2012. 4 million+ SF under property management.
properties with capital enhancements,” stated Stephanie Folger, senior real estate manager for CBRE | The Furman Co. CBRE | The Furman Co is the exclusive leasing and management agent of the Class A office towers. Leasing efforts have successfully attracted a new amenity to the property, JACs Restaurant. “CBRE | The Furman Co., already
The Upstate’s leader in Commercial Real Estate.
Celebrating 27 Years 101 E Washington Street Suite 400 Greenville, South Carolina 29601 864 232 9040 naiearlefurman.com
18 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal August 23, 2013
entrenched in the property, was best positioned to foster positive tenant and community relationships. Given the uncertainty surrounding the asset over the last couple years, we knew it was essential to align ourselves with a firm that understands the value of a strong owner-tenant relationship,” noted Ed Gargiulo, HighBrook’s vice president of asset management.
Photo provided
one and two liberty square will be getting a $4 million makeover with the recent purchase of the two buildings by New York-based Highbrook Investment Management. The properties, located at 55 and 75 Beattie Place, will receive capital improvements that include lobby renovations and elevator cab modernizations. In addition, common areas and tenant amenities will be
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DealMaKers Prudential CommerCial real estate C. dan Joyner announCed: Wayne smith recently represented Hydi Development LLC in leasing 2500 sF of flex space at 20 Grand Ave., Greenville, to Upstate Home Impressions.
Photo provided
Colliers international announCed: Frank Hammond brokered the 15,000 sF sale of 201 Foothills Center Drive, Seneca, to Perez and Leon LP. Hammond represented the seller, Foothills Partnership, in the transaction. The building is an out-parcel to the Foothills Shopping Center in Seneca anchored by Sav-A-Lot,
Family Dollar, Burke’s, the U.S. Post Office and CVS. CaPital advisors announCed: matt Good of Capital Advisors’ Greenville office has arranged $12,500,000 in refinancing for Bluffton Center, a 100,362 sF shopping center located at 1050 Fording Island Road in Bluffton, S.C. The shopping center is shadow-anchored by Target and features Dick’s Sporting Goods and Staples as its anchors. The 10-year loan, which includes a 30-year amortization schedule, was arranged with CMBS lender Cantor Fitzgerald on behalf of Stafford Bluffton LLC.
lee & assoCiates – Greenville announCed: randall Bentley represented the landlord in the renewal of the +/- 43,200 sF property at 201 Brozzini Court, Suite M, Greenville, where Anixter Inc., a communication and security products supplier, is the tenant.
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randall Bentley represented the landlord in Container Design & Solutions’ +/- 15,005 sF expansion. deanna Hemberger represented the landlord in leasing a +/- 1,500 sF retail space to H & R Block tax services at 7704 Augusta Road, Suite E, Piedmont. randall Bentley represented the landlord in a +/- 77,064 sF industrial lease of 800 SE Main St., Simpsonville, to InterKraft LLC.
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August 23, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 19
UBJ The Fine PrinT Manufacturing Expo Set for TD Center south-tec, a manufacturing event focusing on increasing production, advanced technologies and workforce development, is set for a return to Greenville Oct. 29-31. More than 4,000 are expected to attend the expo at the TD Center, South-Tec said in a statement, with an estimated 200 exhibitors of innovative products. The event will also feature new product demonstrations, panel discussions and network events designed to keep attendees abreast of the latest manufacturing topics. South-Tec lauded Greenville as “a hotbed for advanced manufacturing by companies like Michelin, BMW and Lockheed Martin.” “The Southeast is experiencing
exceptional growth in areas critical to the economy, such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing,” said Cathy Kowalewicz, South-Tec event manager. “South-Tec is designed to give manufacturers the technology and knowledge to leverage that growth into new business for their companies.” “South-Tec is one of the most important and influential trade events in the advanced manufacturing world,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White. The organizers’ choice of Greenville “makes a powerful statement about how the Upstate is perceived nationally and globally.” For more information, visit southteconline.com/2013.
CertusBank Invests in Monarch CertusBank, through its wealth management division, CertusWealth, announced Monday it will make a strategic investment in Monarch Business and Wealth Management, a joint venture between Barry Klarberg and Asset Alliance. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed and the completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Monarch, a financial and life management company founded by Barry Klarberg, has offices in New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Miami. Klarberg currently manages several prominent individuals, including musician and actor Justin Timberlake, actor Charlie Sheen, entrepreneur Russell Simmons, several top NASCAR
drivers and NHL Hall-of-Famer Mark Messier. “We are excited to partner with Monarch and their talented team of professionals in the next phase of our wealth management business,” said Charlie Williams, CertusBank’s co-CEO. “We are pleased to have this unique opportunity to invest and partner with such a robust platform.” “This partnership represents a significant opportunity for Monarch by providing our clients with strategic benefits in the future,” added Klarberg.
20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal August 23, 2013
Heiche to Locate US HQ in Spartanburg heiche us surface technology will locate its new production facility and U.S. headquarters in Spartanburg County. The company specializes in surface treatment for metal automotive components. The
$4 million investment is expected to generate 38 new jobs. The new facility will apply anticorrosion surface treatments to metal parts used by automotive companies. Heiche will take over
Proterra Announces Expansion proterra inc., the greenville-based maker of electric buses, announced last week that it has more than doubled in size in the past nine months, adding a second production line and shift and increasing its number of employees by more than 50 percent. In a statement, the company attributed this rapid growth to strong interest in lower total cost of ownership clean energy transit options. The company has also made significant infrastructure investments in the past year to prepare for planned future growth and to expand beyond its current U.S. transit agency customer base and
commercial operators. Proterra has also expanded its leadership team by hiring executives from transit agencies, such as the Chicago Transit Authority and Star Metro in Tallahassee, Fla., as well as from industrial and transportation sector giants as Honeywell, Navistar, Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft. “While we are proud that our growth is based on a track record of solid performance, we are even more pleased that our Americanmade buses are contributing to U.S. energy independence and economic growth,” said Christina Rever, director of human resources at Proterra.
Tailored
by the Purveyors of Classic American Style
“Trim it up” – The Trim Fit Trend ens South Carolina’s manufacturing renaissance and adds to our reputation in the automotive club. Every one of these jobs will create a positive impact,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved a rural infrastructure grant for $100,000 to lure the automotive business to the area. The new facility is expected to begin operations in December.
Edgewater Automation Coming to Hub City edgewater automation, a maker of custom machines, announced it will be establishing a new facility in Spartanburg with a $3 million investment and 53 new jobs. The company makes custom machines, primarily robotic assembly and testing, for industrial clients across the country. The company will locate its operations in the former Somet building at 1750 Martin Road and is expected to begin operations in January 2014. “We are excited about the opportunity to locate in the Southeast and expand our market presence there. This was a big step for our company, and Spartanburg and South Carolina provided the perfect fit for our new operations. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said Rick Blake, president of
Edgewater Automation. “We are pleased with Edgewater Automation’s decision to locate a new facility in Spartanburg County,” said Spartanburg Economic Futures Group executive vice president Carter Smith. “We would like to thank our team of local allies and especially Spartanburg Community College for providing soft-landing space for the company while they upfit their new location. We wish much success for Edgewater Automation and we welcome them to the community.” The company will begin hiring for the new positions in the first quarter of 2014. Anyone interested in job opportunities with the company should visit the company’s careers webpage at edgewaterautomation.com.
This trend has affected every facet of menswear- suits, trousers, shirts, and ties. Everything has been redesigned. And that’s not a bad thing! The fashion of the 1980’s was oversized, characterized by wide shoulders on suit coats and full legged, pleated trousers. The “trim fit” is the reverse of the 1980’s look. The fashion magazines always show extremes within a look. Skinny coats that are too small in the shoulders and too short for the model’s torso, skinny pants that are hemmed above the ankle, and shirts so tight that buttons would pop off if the model sat down. In the real world (where we live) the trend has affected traditional clothing as well. Coat lengths have gotten fractionally shorter and many people prefer flat front pants over pleated pants to achieve the “trimmer” appearance. However, good taste will never change or go out of style. Not everyone can wear the skinny suit or should. Good taste mandates that clothing should fit a man properly. That means not too big and definitely not too small. Each body type requires its own fit. Coats should cover the torso, sleeves should be finished at the natural break of the wrist. The body of the coat should drape the body smoothly when buttoned and not pull at the buttons or open at the vent. When coats and pants fit properly (no matter the body type) a man will look his best. For those of you who wish to try the trimmer look, we offer trim fit suits from several manufactures. At Rush Wilson Limited, our experienced staff understands how the different models should fit, giving you the confidence that you will look your best.
23 West North Street, Greenville, SC 29601 864.232.2761 | www.rushwilson.com Open Mon.-Sat. 9:30am - 5:30pm Wed. 9:30am - 1:00pm
J83
an existing building at 2790 Fairforest–Clevedale Road, Suite A. “We are looking forward to setting up our new operations in Spartanburg County,” said Gunter Heiche of Heichegroup. “South Carolina provides us with an excellent business environment and a location for us to reach customers throughout the U.S. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials.” “The ‘BMW effect’ continues to send ripples throughout our state’s economy and announcements like this one show its impact. Today’s announcement by Heiche strength-
One of the biggest trends in men’s fashions in the last couple years is trim fitting clothing. You see it being worn by such modern style icons as Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Timberlake. You have seen the models in fashion magazines do more extreme versions of the style. For our younger customers, trim fitting clothing is a fresh, new look. One that looks different than their dad’s wardrobe. For our older customers, it’s a recycling of the fashion fit of the 1950’s and 60’s (think Mad Men).
August 23, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 21
TALENT
UBJ planner
Pitmaster Samuel Jones Chef Trevor Higgins Chef Phillip Bryant The Piedmont Boys BEVERAGES
BottleTree Deutsch Family Wines and Spirits Eppa SupraFruta Sangria Georges Duboeuf Sierra Nevada Six & Twenty Distillery Slow & Low: Rock and Rye Whiskey SUPPORTED BY
Upstate Business Journal ROOST
Friday-Sunday auguSt 23auguSt 24 SHe greenville TD Convention Center, One Exposition Drive, Greenville; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Cost: $8 for adults, $4 for children 6-12 years old, $5 for students with college ID, $12 for two-day pass, and $5 for group discount (10 or more) Free from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and $2 off when you bring five canned goods to benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank Parking is $5 For information: shegville.com
Monday auguSt 26 gCS roundtable
Business Leadership. Productivity. Sales. Company Culture. Motivation. Entrepreneurship. Developed for small business owners around the Upstate, GrowWithCountybank.com digs up great articles and insights every week. Log on, recharge and grow!
The Office Center at the Point, 33 Market Point Drive, Greenville; 8:30-9:30 a.m. Speaker: Myles Golden topic: The Seven Phases of Transition Call Golden Career Strategies at 864-527-0425 to request an invitation
Spartanburg nigHt at tHe greenville drive Fluor Field, 945 S. Main St., Greenville; 7 p.m.
Greenville • Greenwood www.GrowWithCountybank.com
Cost: $7, $8 and $9 to attend. Hot dogs are $2.50. Contact: Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce members can call the Greenville Drive box office at 864-2404528 for special rates.
tueSday, auguSt 27 CreW CHatS CoFFee Hour Tealoha, 131 E. McBee Ave., Greenville, 8 a.m. For information: crewupstate.org
WoMen at Work breakFaSt Fountain Inn City Hall, 200 North Main St., Fountain Inn, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Hostess: Gwen Britt, secretary and other City Hall ladies rSvp to: Charlene Knight at 864-8622586, ext. 0, or cknight@fountaininn chamber.org
greenville rotary Club Meeting The Westin Poinsett Hotel, 120 S. Main St., Greenville; noon panel speakers: Chris William, moderator and executive producer of Carolina Business Review; Bob Hughes, president of Hughes Development Corporation; Nancy Whitworth, director of economic development for the City of Greenville; and Bruce Yandle, dean emeritus of Clemson University’s College of Business and Behavioral Science. topic: Economic Growth in the Upstate For information: greenvillerotary.org
young proFeSSional toaStMaSterS The Commerce Club, One Liberty Square, 55 Beattie Place, Greenville; 6 p.m. Cost to visit: $5 to cover meeting space and one drink at the bar For information: visit yptm.toastmasters clubs.org
netWorking CoCktail party The Commerce Club; One Liberty Square, 55 Beattie Place, Greenville; 6-8 p.m. For information: clubcorp.com/Clubs/ The-Commerce-Club
SuCCeSSFul entrepreneurSHip leCture SerieS University Center of Greenville, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville; 6-8 p.m. topic: Setting the Stage Speaker: Leighton Cubbage, Serrus Capital Partners Cost: Free, but limited to 75 participants register at: successfulentrepreneurship.com
greenville CHaMber nigHt2013 neW MeMber reCognition Fluor Field, 945 S. Main St., Greenville; 7 p.m. Contact: 864-242-1050
WedneSday auguSt 28 auguSt CoFFee and ConverSation Upstate SC Alliance, 124 Verdae Blvd., Suite 202, Greenville; 8-9 a.m.
22 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal August 23, 2013
Investors only. Discussions about the GSP Wingspan Project and touring the facility. Contact: If interested in becoming an investor, call Clay Andrews 864-283-2300. RSVP at RSVP@ upstatealliance.com.
HANDSHAKES AND HASHBROWNS The Arts Company, 1451 Woodruff Road, Suite B, Greenville; 8-9 a.m. Cost: Free to Greer Chamber members Register at: greerchamber.com
BBB ACCREDITED BUSINESS ORIENTATION Piedmont Natural Gas, 100 Woodruff Industrial Lane, Greenville; 8:30-9:30 a.m. Topics: Increasing public trust, saving money, increasing exposure, safeguarding your privacy, and getting connected. Cost: Free, but space is limited. Breakfast will be provided. Contact: Tammy Dankovich at 864-2426905 or tammy@ upstatesc.bbb.org
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS’ FORUM Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Open only to Greenville Chamber members, who are small business owners. Cost: Free to attend; boxed lunches available for purchase. Drinks will
be provided. Contact: 864-242-1050
PULSE SOCIAL The Cazbah, Rooftop, 308 Trade St., Greer; 5:30 p.m. Contact: 864-239-3743 or greenvillechamber.com
THURSDAY AUGUST 29 BUSINESS BOOT CAMP Greer City Hall, 301 E. Poinsett St., Greer Speakers: U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy; Russ Davis, Sandler Training; Greg Boone, Lookup Lodge; Daniel Lovelace and Jordana Megonigal, Showcase Marketing; James Schofield, The Purpose Driven Mind; Brian Black, Ogletree Deakins; Martin Miller, The Image Forge; and Donny Kauffman, Freedom Fellowship. Cost: $50 for Greer Chamber members and $60 for non-Chamber members. Each ticket includes all sessions, breakfast, lunch, and reception. Tickets can be purchased at greerchamber.com or by calling 864-877-3131.
CHAMBER AMBASSADORS TRAINING & INFORMATION SESSION Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, 105 N. Pine St., Spartanburg; 8:30-9:30 a.m.
5000 for registration
TAX SEMINAR FOR MANUFACTURERS
PRESENTS
Hilton Greenville, 45 West Orchard Park Drive, Greenville; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Topics: Exemptions and exclusions for the manufacturing industry, sales and use taxes, and what to expect if you are audited. Cost: $45 to attend and will include all needed course materials and lunch. Contact: DOR’s Taxpayer Education Coordinator at 803-898-5593 or visit sctax.org.
Congratulations to our Charter Business
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
BUSINESS PLAN CLINIC Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Board Room, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Topics: Possible outlines, budgeting time and money, marketing planning, operating plan, computing costs, and projecting revenue. Cost: $25 per person. Bring your lunch and dessert will be provided. Register at: scwbc.net/ events/upstate/ Contact: Janet Christy at janet@scwbc.net or 864-244-4117
CREW CHATS HAPPY HOUR Breakwater, 802 S. Main St., Greenville; 5:30 p.m. For information: crewupstate.org
Contact: 864-594-
GOT A HOT DATE? Contribute to our Planner by submitting event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com
August 2013 Greenville Chamber Small Business of the Month Award Presentation for The HAYES Approach: Chamber Board Chair Luanne Runge, The HAYES Approach’s Derek Raucci, Carolyn Elsea, Vernon Hayes and Bob Kunkle, Award Sponsor Ken Pelanda/Charter Business, Award Recipient Leslie Hayes, Award Committee Representative Debbie Nelson/DNA Creative, and Chamber President/CEO Ben Haskew.
The Hayes Approach was launched in April 2007 by Leslie and Vernon Hayes with the vision that all organizations, regardless of size, with locations in the Southeast, would have access to customized, world-class organizational behavior support in the areas of strategic planning, leadership coaching, human resources support, and training and development. If you would like someone to listen to your current organizational issues or assist you with personal clarity around your business goals, The Hayes Approach could be a beneficial part of your approach. They are fond of saying, “Let’s have a cup of coffee and you can tell us all about it.” Learn more at www.thehayesapproach.com. Impressed by a local small business lately? Nominate them for the Greenville Chamber’s Small Business of the Month Award at www.GreenvilleChamber.org. 24 CLEVELAND ST. GREENVILLE, SC 29601
864-242-1050
WWW.GREENVILLECHAMBER.ORG
August 23, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 23
UBJ ON THE MOVE APPOINTED
HIRED
JOINED
PROMOTED
Grant Burns
Richard Schultz
Rebecca F. Barksdale, M.D.
Lance D. Player
Joined the board of directors of South Carolina Charities Inc. (SCCI), the nonprofit that manages the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation. Burns is vice president and general counsel at AFL and president of tournament host course Thornblade Club.
Joined Spartanburg Rehabilitation Institute as CEO. Prior to joining the Spartanburg community, Schultz served as CEO at a rehabilitation hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz., for more than 10 years. He also was the Arizona regional vice president for a rehabilitation healthcare system.
Recently joined Bon Secours Medical Group. Barksdale is a family practice physician with Barksdale Medical Center in Greenville. She attended medical school at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Promoted to senior middle market lender at TD Bank and to sales and marketing director of TD Community Development Corporation for the South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida markets. Previously, he worked for SunTrust Bank in the Greenville area.
Don’t Miss This Event! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
OUR 45TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!!!
gos
~ OCTOBER 10, 2013 ~ Great Prize GIVEAWAYS + Delicious FOOD + FREE office supplies + FUN for your whole OFFICE + GIVEAWAYS from our suppliers & IT’S ALL FREE!!! Contact gos today to RSVP: 800.277.0208 or help@gos1.com
24 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL August 23, 2013
HONORED DEBBIE NELSON Recently named the 2013 American Advertising Federation of Greenville (AAF Greenville) Silver Medal Award recipient. Nelson serves as the founder and CEO of DNA Creative Communications, a full-service public relations and nonprofit marketing firm in Greenville. She is the founder of the Shine the Light on Your Nonprofit educational workshops, which ACCOUNTING/ FINANCIAL SERVICES: A.T. Locke, which provides accounting services, business analysis and financial and strategic guidance, has added Sean Kurtz as an accounting specialist and Ryan LaPierre as an accounting analyst. AUTOMOTIVE: D.B. Carter Used Cars Lot One Inc. recently announced that P. Dan Carter, president and owner, was selected to receive the Chairman’s Award for Service, Commitment, Integrity and Trust at the 58th Annual Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association (CIADA) Convention and Expo. American Credit Acceptance, an automotive finance company based in Spartanburg, recently announced the addition of Chip White as staff attorney. White has experience as a business litigator focusing on financial services and commercial disputes, including matters involving consumer finance and lending law. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) has designated Allen Smith, president and CEO of the Greater Greer Chamber
We specialize in DNA produces annually in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Greenville, United Way of Greenville and the Hollingsworth Funds. of Commerce, a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE). Smith was one of 21 chamber executives in the nation who earned the CCE designation this year. CONSTRUCTION/ ENGINEERING: Haley and Aldrich, a national environmental and engineering consulting firm, recently announced the addition of Ryan Waring to its Greenville office. Previously with Kestrel Horizons, Waring is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. HEALTHCARE/ HUMAN SERVICES: The Woodlands at Furman recently hired Kevin Parker as its new executive director. Parker served for the past nine years as the executive director of Freedom Village in Bradenton, Fla. PUBLIC RELATIONS/ MARKETING: Complete Public Relations has promoted Sarah Moore from public relations intern to public relations associate. Moore has completed two summer internships with Complete, and will now be working as a parttime associate with the firm.
PROFESSIONAL RECRUITING, COMPLEX PROJECTS, INDUSTRIAL STAFFING, and delivering expert
HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES. 105 N. Spring Street - Suite 200 Greenville, SC 29601 | 864.467.0330
www.htijobs.com At HTI Employment Solutions we make it our priority to be informed about current employment trends and opportunities in the upstate and across the Southeast. August 23, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 25
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GREENVIllE TEch
1. The ribbon cutting for page 1 branding was recently held at 57 Faris Circle in Greenville. The business is co-owned by Stephen Palacino and Jonathan Tribble, who both came from small business backgrounds and wanted to address the differences in marketing for large businesses and small businesses. For more information, visit page1branding.com, email info@ page1branding.com or call 864-908-4471.
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ubJ ASSocIATE PublIShER Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com EXEcuTIVE EDIToR Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com MANAGING EDIToR Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com
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2. The Spice & Tea Exchange recently opened at 124 N. Main St. in Greenville. It offers high quality spices, herbs, specialty blends, salts, sugars, tea and accessories. They are open Monday-Friday 10-7 p.m. and Sunday noon-6 p.m. For more information, visit spiceandtea. com or call 864-509-0125. 3. IMSIckofThIS Authentic Gear llc recently opened at 103 N. Main St. in
MARkETING & ADVERTISING
SENIoR buSINESS wRITER Jennifer Oladipo coNTRIbuTING wRITERS Dick Hughes, Jenny Munro, Jeanne Putnam, Leigh Savage
MARkETING & EVENTS Kate Banner
ART & PRoDucTIoN ART DIREcToR Richie Swann PhoToGRAPhER Greg Beckner PRoDucTIoN Holly Hardin
26 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal August 23, 2013
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Simpsonville. Their mission is to provide a platform for individuals to declare and begin to positively change what they are “sick of” in their life. The store offers a variety of IMSICKOFTHIS trademarked products and accessories, such as caps, T-shirts and wristbands. They also customize products for groups or organizations to promote their causes. For more information call 864-7571072 or email info@imsickofthis.com.
SAlES REPRESENTATIVES Lori Burney, Mary Beth Culbertson, Kristi Jennings, Annie Langston, Donna Johnston, Pam Putman
INTERN Keith Sechrist
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STAff wRITERS Sherry Jackson, Cindy Landrum, April A. Morris
PRESIDENT/PublIShER Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
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DIGITAl STRATEGIST Emily Price Copyright @2013 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. 148 River Street, Suite 120, Greenville, South Carolina, 29601. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $65. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, 148 River St., Ste 120, Greenville, SC 29601. Printed in the USA.
how To coNTRIbuTE SToRy IDEAS: ideas@ upstatebusinessjournal.com
EVENTS: events@ upstatebusinessjournal.com
NEw hIRES, PRoMoTIoNS, AwARDS: onthemove@ upstatebusinessjournal.com
UBJ SNAPSHOT
The Carolina Supply Company. Large industries spawn smaller companies that supply the needs of the larger manufacturers. The phenomenal growth of Greenville’s textile industry in the last decades of the 19th century created a need for mill supply companies. The Carolina Supply Company was organized in 1899 by a group of businessmen that included T. S. Inglesby, Francis Joseph Pelzer, and his namesake, Francis Joseph Pelzer Cogswell. Eventually Inglesby and Cogswell became sole owners. Carolina Supply grew to become one of the largest mill supply companies in the southeast. In 1914 the company constructed this large four-story building on West Court Street.
Today the building remains, though an addition was added to the east side of the building, the rest of the exterior is virtually unchanged from it’s construction in 1914. The building is home to Wells Fargo Advisers and Harper Corporation General Contractors.
LEFT: Photo provided; RIGHT: Photo by Greg Beckner
Historic photograph available from the Greenville Historical Society From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,” by Jeffrey R. Willis
August 23, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 27
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