Aug. 29, 2014 UBJ by Community Journals

AUGUST 29, 2014

OWNING IT Real estate broker, investor, consultant, restaurateur â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Graham Howle takes entrepreneurial highs and lows in stride

UBJ SMALL BUSINESS

Small Business Week celebrates local enterprises The Greenville Chamber of Commerce, along with the city and county of Greenville, recently announced a Local Small Business

Monday, Sept. 15 Kick-Off & Proclamation Reading Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 10 a.m. Contact: 864-242-1050 Register at: greenvillechamber.org

Tuesday, Sept. 16 Minority Business Resource Collaborative Kroc Center, 424 Westfield St., Greenville; 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Topics: Business Financial Matters, Marketing Communications, Comprehensive Business Start-Up, Networking Lunch, and Business Information Fair Cost: $35 per person Contact: Nika White at 864-239-3727 or nwhite@greenvillechamber.org Register at: greenvillechamber.org

Week Celebration on Sept. 15-19. To download the Local Small Business Week App, visit my.yapp. us/SB2014 on your mobile device. Business After Hours The Greenville Country Club, 239 Byrd Blvd., Greenville; 4-6 p.m. Contact: Lorraine Woodward at 864-239-3742 Register at: greenvillechamber.org

Wednesday, Sept. 17 and Thursday, Sept. 18

THE INBOX Stay in the know with UBJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free weekly email.

Special visits to small businesses

Friday, Sept. 19 Celebration Lunch & Small Business Expo Embassy Suites, 670 Verdae Blvd., Greenville; 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Speaker: Thom Shea, CEO of Adamantine Alliance Inc., former Navy SEAL of 23 years, and author Expo participants: Bank of America Small Business Banking, Engagement Health, Engenius, GreatUpstate.com, ItFixIt, Merus Refreshment Services, Muncaster Financial Services Inc., Table Sponsors, and AcumenIT. Cost: $125 for Greenville Chamber members, $250 non-members for Expo Sponsor, $400 for lunch table sponsor Contact: 864-242-1050 Register at: greenvillechamber.org

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

Volume 3, Issue 35

August 29, 2014

Top-of-mind and in the mix this week

WORTH REPEATING “Our flywheel is spinning, but it’s not a perpetual motion machine.” Page 14

“I love how you come up with a little bit of money and buy a lot with it.” Page 18

“We get requests every day for this type of building.” Page 22

TBA

MONEY SHOT: A Proterra V2 electric bus rests at National Harbor just south of Washington, D.C. The Greenville company is touring more than 50 U.S. cities to tout the bus to public transportation systems. Read more on page 12.

Plans are on file with the city of Greenville to construct two new buildings on a vacant site on the corner of Pelham and Villa roads to house Clemson Eye, a Lasik center, and Autumn Leaves, a residential memorycare facility… Look for Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers to open soon in the former Jackin-the-Box and Twisted Kitchen location on Woodruff Road across from Cheddars… 4

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

VERBATIM

On staying positive… “More than 2 million people are working in South Carolina, just below historic highs reached earlier this year. Over the last year, more than 28,000 people have found work, and the state’s unemployment rate has declined by approximately 2 percentage points.” Cheryl M. Stanton, executive director of the SC Department of Employment and Workforce, naming some of the reasons to “remain positive” despite the rise in the state jobless rate to 5.7 percent in July.

August 29, 2014

CORRECTIONS: An article in last week’s UBJ, “Prepare to launch at Greenville’s first Startup Weekend,” incorrectly stated that “judges [would] pick the top eight to 10 ideas” presented during Startup Weekend. Participants of the weekend, not judges, will pick the top ideas. The article “The rise of the contingent workforce” gave the incorrect name of the division director of Robert Half Technology. His name is Josh Morris. We regret our errors.

Photo Provided

Word is Magnolia Park is down to the last 5 percent (or 20,000 square feet) of space to be leased, with several possibilities in the pipeline. Stay tuned for announcements soon…

UBJ TECH BYTES

Strong Greenville roots.

Clemson selected for $10M CloudLab project SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com Clemson University, along with five other institutions, will receive $10 million to fund the development of a flexible scientific cloud architecture that will support the national research community. The National Science Foundation-funded project, “CloudLab: Flexible Scientific Infrastructure to Support Fundamental Advances in Cloud Architectures and Applications,” is designed to be a large-scale, distributed facility that can support hundreds of different experimental cloud environments for researchers simultaneously. This environment is designed to be a testing and proving ground for researchers who will ultimately develop the next generation of cloud architectures. “CloudLab creates a facility that will catalyze significant and fundamental changes in the scientific world’s understanding of computing,” said Kuang-Ching Wang, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, who will lead the project at Clemson University. “By providing unprecedented levels of access and support to customizing building blocks of a computing cloud interconnected with high-performance and software-programmable networks, CloudLab will help researchers reimagine more powerful ways to compute their data and conduct their research.” The project is focused on providing resources for researchers to build their own cloud environments specifically tailored to their scientific and research applications that enable the exploration of fundamental science in the cloud. The cloud architecture research is projected to empower a new generation of applications in critically important fields as medi-

cine, smart electric grids and natural disaster early warning and response. “We are very excited to be part of this groundbreaking cloud computing research project,” said Clemson Chief Information Officer Jim Bottum, who will serve on the Clemson team. “The expectation is that a great deal of first-rate technology will be deployed in production environments by the research facilitators funded in our NSF ACI-REF [Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Research and Educational Facilitation] project to enhance the research capabilities of our communities.” The project’s collaborating institutions are led by the University of Utah and include Clemson, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the University of Wisconsin, Raytheon BBN Technologies and the US Ignite project. The existing NSF-funded Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Research and Educational Facilitation project is designed to extend the reach and impact of campus and national research computing infrastructure on the science conducted by students and faculty. Through the coupling of these two projects, researchers around the nation will have access to both the virtual infrastructure needed to conduct their research and the expertise of these distributed facilitators to assist in the deployment of these resources. Clemson Chief Technology Officer Jim Pepin, professors Barr von Oehsen and Amy Apon and research associate Linh Ngo also are on the project team. Dell, Cisco and HP are the project’s key industrial partners. The project officially begins Oct. 1, and researchers can apply for a CloudLab account at cloudlab.us.

With more branches than ever.

Although we’ve changed our name from SCBT to South State Bank, when you visit any of our Greenville offices, you’ll see the same familiar faces and receive the same great service you’ve come to expect. Plus, with more than 135 banking locations to serve you in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, you’ll enjoy a little extra added convenience as well.

August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ NETWORKING

Ten at the Top announces summit panelists With three weeks until Ten at the Top hosts its Upstate Regional Summit, “Re-Checking Our Reality,” the event has drawn more than 65 sponsors and 800 expected attendees from all 10 counties of the Upstate. The organization has released its slate of confirmed panelists for the event, which is being held on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the TD Convention Center in Greenville. WSPA-TV anchor Amy Wood will be emcee of the summit. Glenda Hood, former mayor of Orlando, Fla., former Florida secretary of state, and founding partner of strategic consulting firm triSect LLC, will be keynote speaker. Hood will discuss collaborative efforts in other regions across the nation and globally, and what the Upstate can do to ensure it remains competitive in the global economy while also continuing to enhance the quality of life for local residents, said event organizers.

• Dean Hybl – Executive Director, Ten at the Top

E N G A G E SEP

Breakout Sessions: Idea Generation Exercise 10:00-11:45 am, Panel Discussions 10:50-11:45 am

TEN AT THE TOP SUMMIT

Tickets: $40; $20 for nonprofits and government representatives

Details: TenattheTop.org GLENDA HOOD

Opening Session: 9-10 a.m. • Amy Wood – Anchor, WSPA (emcee of the summit) • Carol Burdette Board Chair, Ten at the Top and Chief Professional Officer, United Way of Anderson County • Irv Welling III Founding

Board Chair, Ten at the Top • Neal Workman Immediate Past Board Chair, Ten at the Top and Chairman of the Board, Trehel Corporation • Sue Schneider Second Vice Chair, Ten at the Top and CEO, Spartanburg Water

Breakout Session: Community Vibrancy • Knox White – Mayor, City of Greenville • Suzette Cross – Executive Director, Blue Ridge Arts Council • Abe Goldberg – Professor, USC Upstate (moderator)

Breakout Session: Economic & Entrepreneurial Vitality • John Warner – President, Innoventure

Premier Sponsors

2014

WHAT ’S NEXT UP STATE?

Much has been done to enhance economic vitality and quality of life across the Upstate region, but much is left to be done. Don’t miss your chance to join community and business leaders, elected government officials and other interested Upstate residents at the Upstate Regional Summit to discuss “What’s Next?” as we look to ensure the Upstate is universally recognized as a leading place to live, learn, do business and raise a family.

T U E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 6 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM | TD CONVENTION CENTER

Luncheon Sponsor The Daniel-Mickel

FOUNDATION

Keynote Sponsor

Expo/Video Sponsor

Event Partners

To purchase tickets, visit www.tenatthetop.org or for general information and table purchases, call (864) 546-4782. .

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Join the conversation: #TATTSummit

. . .

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UBJ NETWORKING • A. J. Kramer – Commercial Relationship Manager, TD Bank • Gustavo Nieves – Government Affairs Director, South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce • Erin Ouzts – Director, Center for Innovation and Business Engagement, USC Upstate • Jim Price – Member, Nexsen Pruet (moderator)

LLC (keynote speaker of the summit) • Hank McCullough – First Vice Chair, Ten at the

Top and Senior Manager of Government Relations, Piedmont Natural Gas

Additional speakers and panelists will be confirmed before the summit, organizers say.

Breakout Session: Human Potential • Stan Means – President, Elder Source Senior Ministries • Peggy Baxter – Community Advocate • Zach Eikenberry – Chairman, NEXT High School • Paul Corbeil – Vice Chairman, Oconee County Council (co-moderator) • Karen Burgess – President, Brown Mackie College (co-moderator)

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Breakout Session: Sustainable Growth • Fred Cartwright – Executive Director, CU-ICAR • Stephanie Monroe – City Administrator, City of Woodruff • Scott Park – Principal Planner, Greenville County Department of Planning and Code Compliance • Barry Nocks – Professor, Graduate Program in City and Regional Planning, Clemson University (moderator)

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Breakout Session: Natural Beauty & Resources • Phil Hughes – President, Hughes Investments • Kevin Laird – Engineer, Goodwyn Mills & Cawood • Ed Bruce – Lead Engineer, Duke Energy • Dyke Spencer – Executive Director, Powdersville Water (moderator)

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Luncheon: 12:00 – 1:30 pm

STAFFING • PROFESSIONAL RECRUITING PAYROLL • CONSULTING

• Fred Cartwright – Executive Director, CU-ICAR • Glenda Hood – Partner, triSect

August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ INFRASTRUCTURE

$231M contract awarded for I-85/I-385 rehab JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com Not since the $631 million

New Bridge New Roadway Pavement Removal

LEGEND Open Water/streams Wetlands

Rendering Provided.

construction of Charleston’s Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in 2001 has the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) undertaken such an expensive project – awarding a $231 million contract to the Flatiron-Zachry Joint Venture to reconfigure the I-85/I-385 interchange in Greenville County. Flatiron-Zachry is a joint venture of Flatiron Construction Corp. of Denver and Zachry Construction Corp. of San Antonio. Construction will begin once a Notice-To-Proceed order is issued by the SCDOT, allowing the contractor a period of 1,035 days to

complete the project. The project is made possible by legislative approval of Act 98 in 2013, which provided SCDOT additional funding for bridge, resurfacing and mainline interstate projects. “It is the first item on the list that has advanced to construction,” said Secretary of Transportation Janet P. Oakley. Once completed, the improvements will make the section of interstate safer and more efficient, she said, both of which should greatly contribute to economic development and growth in South Carolina. As outlined by the SCDOT release, the bonding program for Interstate Improvements in Act 98 will provide $80 million in funding for the project, while the balance of the

THE PROJECT AIMS TO • Improve safety and increase traffic capacity • Replace ramps • Provide additional lanes in the north and southbound directions of I-85 between Salters and Pelham roads • Provide additional lanes on I-385 from Roper Mountain Road to Smith Hines Road

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

• Rehabilitate approximately two miles of I-85’s northbound lane • Make various improvements to Roper Mountain Road, Chrome Drive, Garlington Road and Woodruff Road project will be funded by the SCDOT as part of its federal-aid program. Act 98 also provides for a $50 million transfer from the state’s general fund to the SCDOT each year. An equivalent amount is then transferred to the SC Transportation Infrastructure Bank to fund a 15-year bonding period that is expected to yield between $500 and $550 million for interstate projects. Christy A. Hall, SCDOT deputy secretary for engineering, said the extra funding would continue to

SC’S BUSIEST INTERCHANGES I-26/I-126, Columbia area (202,150 vehicles per day) I-26/I-526, Charleston area (195,100 vehicles per day) I-85/I-385, Greenville area (194,000 vehicles per day) advance other projects on the interstate list. “The benefit of Act 98 funding is that it supplements our regular federal interstate program and enables the SCDOT to accelerate delivery of these much-needed interstate upgrade projects,” she said. Without the infusion of Act 98 funding, several of these projects would remain in the prioritized queue for several years until the SCDOT could accumulate enough federal funds to advance them. The scope of interstate projects typically requires three or more years to complete design work, acquire permits and purchase rightof-way once funding is in place, Hall said. The SCDOT is using the Design-Build approach to compress the timelines on these interstate projects and speed their completion, she said.

UBJ LEADERSHIP

27 graduate from Grassroots Leadership Development Initiative SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com Twenty-seven Spartanburg County residents are embarking on a new journey to improve the community by utilizing the skills they gleaned from their participation in the 2014 Grassroots Leadership Development Institute. A graduation ceremony was held at the Spartanburg Marriott on Tuesday, Aug. 26, with roughly 200 present to show their support. The Grassroots Leadership Development Institute is a special initiative of The Spartanburg County Foundation. Organizers say participants meet one Saturday a month

for seven months to increase their ability to make a positive difference in their neighborhoods and in the greater Spartanburg community. Since its inception in 2004, more than 250 individuals have graduated from the Institute and serve the community in various leadership roles. The Grassroots Leadership Development Institute is now accepting applications for its 2015 session. For more information regarding the Institute or to obtain an application, please contact Tara Weese, director of community philanthropy, at The Spartanburg County Foundation at 864-582-0138 or visit spcf.org.

2014 GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSITUE GRADUATES Kelley Jones Ashcraft Douglas Bodem Roxanne Bradley Allison Caulk Melissa Earley Witney Fisher Allexis Gilliam William Gray George Harakas II Stacy Harmon Dorothy E. Jenkins-Smith Cathaye Jones Kelli McCormick Kelly Newman

Lynn B. O’Dell Wanda Owens-Jackson Stephanie Peak Dorothy Pearson Theresa Perry Chad Robinson Kimberly Shell Kenneth D. Smith II Audrey Sperry Valerie B. Sullivan LaDarius Thompson Megan Wall Mary Grace Wallace

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ TRANSPORTATION

Inland Port exceeding expectations, officials say JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com In the wake of the South Carolina Ports Authority’s (SCPA) 2014 fiscal year-end report, officials with the terminal in Greer say the Upstate facility is making an impact since beginning operations in October of last year. The Inland Port is increasing its volumes each month, while meeting or exceeding expectations, said ports authority spokeswoman Erin Dhand. Along with smaller companies and freight forwarders, the major clients targeted to use the inland port are doing so, she said. The terminal surpassed 6,000 gate moves during the month of July, and “we’re on track to meet our goal of handling 25,000 containers in the first full year of terminal operations, with current

capacity of up to 40,000 containers annually.” BMW, the Inland Port’s launch customer, continues its export rate of 70 percent in annual production. BMW’s partnership with the state’s ports authority extends more than two decades, and “as we approach a milestone output of 350,000 units this year to over 140 countries, our use of both the SC Inland Port and the Port of Charleston is vital to meeting our production growth,” said Sky Foster, department manager of corporate communications for BMW Manufacturing. Foster said BMW receives about 1,000 containers (approximately 2,000 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs) each month through the Inland Port. As the plant’s annual capacity is planned to increase to 450,000 units by 2016, the volume

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through the Port of Charleston will proportionately increase as well, she said. The SCPA recorded operating earnings during FY2014 of $14.3 million, 20.7 percent over the organization’s financial plan. With the Port’s aggressive capital plan over the next several years, SCPA board chairman Bill Stern said a solid financial performance is essential. The strong 2014 fiscal year revenues reflect the SCPA’s continued focus on the growth necessary for important projects, he said. A statement issued by the SCPA last week showed that major initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year included continued work on harbor deepening, construction on the Wando Welch Terminal wharf refurbishment project, and efforts to

restructure container contracts and refine capital planning.

➤ NUMBERED

14% 11% 153,916

amount pier containers are up over July 2013

amount July volumes exceeded plan (in TEUs)

TEUs handled in July, 13% increase over July 2013

1,026,372

TEUs handled in calendar year to date, up 11% from last year

55,485

breakbulk cargo pier tons moved by Charleston in July, up 8% over July 2013

71,135

pier tons moved in Georgetown, up 19% over July 2013

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

UBJ TECHNOLOGY

Scio reports $15.6M deficit, faces SEC probe SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF

sjackson@communityjournals.com Scio Diamond Technology Corp., a Greenville-based startup company that manufactures lab-grown diamonds for the gemstone and industrial marketplace, reported a net loss of just over $1 million and a total deficit of $15.6 million in its latest earning report. The report also shows that the Securities and Exchange Commission subpoenaed records on May 16 “ordering the provision of documents and related information concerning various corporate transactions between the Company and its predecessors and other persons and entities.” The filing said the company is “fully cooperating with this inquiry.” The report, filed with the SEC for the quarter ending June 30, 2014, also said that “the company has generated very little revenue to date and consequently its operations are subject to all risks inherent in the establishment and commercial launch of a new business enterprise.” In the filing, Scio listed actions being taken that they believe will be “sufficient to provide the Company with the liquidity it needs to meet its obligations.” Actions include ongoing solicitation of investments, a focus on new business development to generate revenue, and enhanced efforts to optimize production. In July, the company board of directors also approved the issuance and sale of up to 2 million shares of common stock at 30 cents a share to raise additional funds. According to the SEC filing, the company has issued 750,000 shares through the offering and raised $225,000 through Aug. 8. Scio also has a loan payment of

$1.4 million due to Platinum Capital Partners that matured on June 30, 2014. The company went into default on the loan, and according to the filing documents “in default status, Platinum could foreclose on the loan and has the right to take possession of the collateral including the Company’s fixed assets and intellectual property. To date, Platinum has not taken any action related to this default, including adjusting the interest rate, as the Company continues to pursue additional financing alternatives.” In June, Scio had a management shakeup as it fired CEO Michael McMahon and CFO Jonathan Pfohl. In July, Scio named interim replacements, Gerald McGuire as CEO and Douglas Walker as CFO. Four members of its board of directors also resigned, including Edward Adams, Scio’s co-chairman and cofounder. Additionally, Scio added Michael Laub, a consultant specializing in restructuring, to the management team. A letter filed with the SEC in April from a group of investors led by a former board member and calling themselves “Save Scio” accused the company’s board of “trying to rob stockholders of their ability to elect the management of their corporation by written consent – all the while knowing Scio has not held an annual meeting to elect directors in the last several years.” The group had filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the directors, but a judge dismissed the suit in December. The letter was authored by Bernard McPheely, who had himself resigned from the board in May 2013. It represents the group’s efforts to publicize through SEC filings a dispute that has been ongoing since at least early 2012.

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August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

UBJ TRANSPORTATION The Greenville Chamber Congratulates our August 2014 Small Business of the Month!

Proterra hits the road with EV buses Company sells electric vehicles to Seattle, eyes further expansion JOE TOPPE | STAFF

“As a small business, we recognize the value of word of mouth marketing in the Upstate. The Greenville Chamber provides our company and employees with local networking and business development opportunities through industry-related events and forums.

-Tad Goetcheus, HRP PE Southeast/Midwest Regional Vice President

Small Business of the Month Award Presentation to Talent Management Solutions: Chamber President/CEO Ben Haskew, Chamber Board Chair Tim Reed, Award Committee Representative Debbie Nelson/DNA Creative Communications, Talent Management Solutions founder David C. Mitchell, and Ken Pelanda, Charter Business/Award Sponsor.

Award Presentation to HRP Associates: Chamber President/CEO Ben Haskew, Board Chair Tim Reed, Award Committee Representative Debbie Nelson/DNA Creative, HRP Project Managers Ty Hawkins and Jackie Baxley, and Small Business Vice Chair Steve Bailey.

A multidisciplinary environmental consulting, engineering and risk management firm, HRP Associates was founded in 1982 and expanded to Greenville in 1993, 21 years ago. HRP’s staff consists of multi-disciplined engineers, hydro-geologists, environmental scientists, and industrial hygienists. They serve in the fields of site investigation and remediation, environmental health and safety compliance, environmental and civil engineering, energy management and risk management consulting. Learn more at hrpassociates.com. Impressed by a local small business? Nominate them for the Greenville Chamber’s Small Business of the Month Award at www.GreenvilleChamber.org.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

jtoppe@communityjournals.com Proterra is touring more than 50 cities across the United States to show off its second-generation electric bus as a viable addition to the public transportation industry. The new zero-emission V2 bus was introduced in May at the American Public Transportation Association Bus and Paratransit Conference in Kansas City, Mo., and will be Proterra’s first 40-foot model. In a statement issued by the company, Heidi McNary, Proterra’s vice president of marketing, said the company’s position in the marketplace would ensure the next-generation product uniquely responds to the performance requirements and operational needs of transit customers. The new bus will also allow the company to include knowledge from years in revenue service on routes across the U.S. to improve the overall product, she said. The demo tour began on the East Coast July 5, and has already made stops at major cities such as

Washington, D.C., and Albany, N.Y. The tour is now making its way along the West Coast, targeting cities such as Salt Lake City, Portland, Sacramento and the Bay Area. Proterra CEO Ryan Popple said the tour targeted major cities to raise interest in sustainable solutions, while placing the brand at the forefront of the environmental movement in the public transportation industry. As concerns over environmental impact continue to increase, the public transportation industry is quickly evolving, he said. Based not only on sustainability, but on lowest total cost of ownership, electric buses are gaining acceptance and becoming the preferred option for many cities across the country. Last week, Proterra announced the sale of two V2 vehicles and a fast-charge system to King County Metro in Seattle. Following a oneyear trial period, the agency has the pre-arranged option to purchase up to 200 more buses and additional fast-charge systems, depending on the outcome of the demonstration.

ROAD TRIP • Presented to fleets ranging from 30 to 2,700 buses, Proterra’s secondgeneration bus features one-step access for ease of maintenance and ergonomics, and a fast-charge system that keeps the bus on the road with no requirement for long charging periods. • Proterra buses have logged more than 340,000 miles in revenue service. • Proterra has all-electric buses operating in cities such as Stockton, Calif., San Antonio, Texas; Tallahassee, Fla.; Worcester, Mass.; Reno, Nev.; and Pomona, Calif.

Photo Provided

UBJ WORKFORCE

Manufacturing is mainstay of Upstate staffing JOE TOPPE | STAFF

jtoppe@communityjournals.com Although trends in workforce

needs may fluctuate, Upstate staffing companies point to the manufacturing industry as the region’s mainstay for significant employment demands. Josh Morris, division director for Robert Half Technology in Greenville, said the area has not experienced much change in its dominant industry over the last 30 years. What is being made has changed drastically, “but manufacturing is still around and strong,” he said. The change in manufactured products has altered the type of talent needed, he said. “Now, there’s a need for highly skilled and technical professionals.” Upstate South Carolina has been a technically specialized manufacturing region for decades, and that special-

ization will continue, said Clemson economist Bruce Yandle. First based in textiles, then synthetic fibers, textile manufacturing and related machinery, the region’s focus changed to machinery, tires, auto parts and autos, Yandle said. While manufacturing’s fast pace has continued, employment growth has moved to service activities, such as human resources, payroll, engineering, maintenance and shipping – “things that manufacturing companies did for themselves years ago.” James Taylor, regional manager for Robert Half Professional Services in Greenville, agrees, saying the area has grown significantly more diverse over the past three decades. The greatest change is a decline in the textile industry’s importance to the economy, he said. While textile-related companies still play an import-

➤ NUMBERED

2.91 million

people per day are employed by staffing companies.

11.5 million

temporary and contract employees are hired by U.S. staffing firms over the course of a year.

79%

of temporary and contract employees work full time, virtually the same as the rest of the workforce. Source: Julie Godshall Brown, president and founder, Godshall Staffing

ant role, the manufacturing industry has broadened. Although manufacturing remains a staple customer for area employment companies, both Godshall Staffing and Robert Half Technology cite health care as a developing entity in

the region. Morris said the industry is beginning to assert itself on the local workforce. The Upstate has been a relatively stable area for job seekers, and health care is the newest addition to the industries looking for talent as technologies and regulations change, he said. To better understand workforce trends, Taylor said staffing companies should remain in constant communication with employers and be aware of current economic and business factors that may be impacting staffing decisions. Companies should also focus their recruiting efforts on job seekers with in-demand skill, he said. When companies are ready to staff up, “the talent they’re looking for must be available and sent over as qualified professionals.”

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

By MATT DUNBAR, managing director, Upstate Carolina Angel Network

INNOVATE Movers, shakers and disruptors shaping our future

Top 10 Angels send a strong signal for SC Two weeks ago, CB Insights, a leading data provider for the venture capital industry, released a ranking of U.S. angel groups based on the Investor Mosaic algorithm they developed to score venture capital firms. When the analysis of 370 angel groups was complete, an unexpected result emerged. Among a list of premier groups from traditionally strong venture markets like California, Boston and New York, a group from South Carolina landed at number 8. While the top 10 ranking is certainly nice recognition for the investor members of the Upstate Carolina Angel Network, we think the accolade signals something more important for the Upstate and for South Carolina. Namely, to borrow a phrase from the classic Jim Collins book “Good to Great,” the Flywheel Effect is taking hold in our entrepreneurial ecosystem. Thanks to years of steady, strenuous pushing by a cadre of dedicated visionaries and partners, we’re building towards sustainable momentum as a place where entrepreneurs, investors and our economy can thrive. We don’t know all the particulars of the CB Insights algorithm, but we do know that it includes factors such as portfolio selection (attractive companies), co-investment partners (successful syndication) and investment returns (exit events). For UCAN to have success along any of those dimensions means that our ecosystem is attracting talented entrepreneurs, who are creating strong companies, that are attracting smart risk-tolerant capital from local investors, and generating attractive financial returns from exit events – which is ultimately the key to keeping the flywheel spinning. In other words, UCAN’s ranking is a function of the leaders, entrepreneurs and investors in our community who have been willing to risk failure for a chance to build successful new companies and a healthy startup community. 14

Here are three quick examples of successful UCAN investments that have drawn from the growing strength of that ecosystem – and surely helped generate points for UCAN in the CB Insights scoring system. In 2006, aspiring entrepreneur Michael Bolick attended an InnoVenture conference where he learned about a Clemson University technology that he later licensed to form Selah Technologies. After receiving critical funding from individuals, SC Launch and UCAN, Selah Technologies eventually became Selah Genomics, which was recently acquired by EKF Diagnostics for $75 million, creating a several-fold return for investors. In 2010, concerted efforts by city, county and state leaders, along with economic developers like GADC, Upstate Alliance and SCRA, led to the relocation of electric busmaker Proterra from Colorado to Greenville. In 2011, key local business leaders partnered with UCAN and SCRA to provide the company with critical bridge funding while prestigious venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins considered an investment. Since then, Kleiner has led multiple rounds of venture capital investment totaling more than $100 million alongside key industry leaders like GM Ventures and Edison Energy. As evidenced by the announcement last week that Seattle may order up to 200 Proterra buses, the company is well positioned to handsomely reward its angel and venture investors. In 2011, Peter Barth sought to bring noted venture capitalist Brad Feld to Greenville as part of the NEXT initiative of the Chamber of Commerce. Those conversations led Barth to launch a startup accelerator now called the Iron Yard, which has helped launch over two dozen companies since 2012. One of those companies is AuditFile, which moved to Greenville from the Bay Area to participate in the

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

TOP 20 ANGEL GROUPS BY INVESTOR MOSAIC Rank Angel Group

Notable Investments

Zogenix, Nanostim Akebia Therapeutics, Aerpio Therapeutics Smart Cells, Carbonite Vocalocity, Verdeeco Vital Therapies, Hipmunk Practice Fusion, CENTRI Technology AdColony, Savara Pharmaceuticals Proterra, Selah Genomics Localystics, Hadapt Carbonite, Smart Cells TaskRabbit, HitFix Savara Pharmaceuticals, Phunware Zonare Medical Systems, Qumu Storefront, NoWait Localytics, Chromis FlightCar, Openbucks HTG Molecular Diagnostics, Calimmune DocuSign, Dashwire Alung Technologies, HealthSpot Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, AdiCyte

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Life Science Angels Queen City Angels Boston Harbor Angels Atlanta Technology Angels Tech Coast Angels Band of Angels Pasadena Angels Upstate Carolina Angel Network Launchpad Venture Group Keiretsu Forum Goldent Seeds Central Texas Angel Network The Angels’ Forum Sand Hill Angels New York Angels TiE Angels Desert Angels Alliance of Angels Blue Tree Allied Angels Arizona Technology Investor Forum

(Sources: CG Insights

accelerator program. After receiving some local funding from UCAN and others, the team moved back to San Francisco and recently announced they have secured over $3 million in funding, led by legendary investor Tim Draper. AuditFile is now off to the races – and the Iron Yard has launched a code academy that has grown to over 10 cities in less than a year, creating another promising investment for UCAN. There are many more stories to be told, (ask us about Charleston Pharma, Verdeeco, New York Butcher Shoppe, KIYATEC and others) but this small sample highlights that UCAN will only be as successful as the ecosystem in which it operates. Our group is a glad beneficiary of the momentum that’s been accelerating the local flywheel, and UCAN members are trying to do our part to accelerate the effort. But just because we made a top 10 list doesn’t mean we can relax. We still have significant work to do in fully funding the promising entrepreneurs who create companies here. We need more accredited investors to participate in local funding efforts. We need entrepreneurs to continue

recycling their intellectual and financial capital in building successful companies. We need our state and local agencies to make it easier, not harder for startups to set up shop and grow in our communities. We need more recognition by a broader audience that startups are key to our longterm economic vitality (it turns out startups create all net job growth in our economy). UCAN is working to help build the infrastructure for that early stage capital marketplace by supporting the launch of new angel groups as part of the South Carolina Angel Network (SCAN). UCAN has also helped launch the Palmetto Angel Fund, which has closed on over $1 million in funding to co-invest with SCAN groups. With these efforts and others, we hope to create a more efficient marketplace for early-stage capital in South Carolina. Our flywheel is spinning, but it’s not a perpetual motion machine. It is certainly easier to keep it spinning now than it was just five years ago, but if we don’t keep up the steady pressure, we could lose the momentum we’ve built and never make the transition from Good to Great.

August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

By TY HAWKINS, project manager, HRP Associates

YOUR MONEY News and tips for your personal bottom line

Protecting your investment after the flood Four steps can stop mold from damaging your property With the recent rain and flood damage in the Upstate comes mold. Whether it is the musty smells experienced in a damp basement or significant mold growth due to a water leak, mold can present health problems and be expensive to remediate. Mold is naturally occurring within our environment, and we’re exposed to it every day. To further complicate the issue, our bodies are all different and each individual’s sensitivity to mold concentrations can vary. One thing is for certain: The influx of rain and storm damage will make mold an issue for property owners. Mold requires three constituents to thrive: a food source, moisture and an acceptable temperature. Most commonly, mold growth occurs when water or moisture enters a material that is allowed to remain saturated for an extended period. When mold grows, it releases spores, which are then dispersed and allow the mold to spread. The type of mold you may have can depend upon what region of the country you’re in, the amount of water or moisture, the type of food source and the temperature. The type of mold spores present and the airborne concentration is what creates adverse health effects such as respiratory symptoms, asthma, hypersensitivity

pneumonitis, rhinosinusitis, bronchitis and respiratory infection. The presence of mold growth and the source of water intrusion must first be identified to eliminate the potential for the mold growth to expand. Unless you stop the water infiltration, you will find it very difficult to stop the mold. The first step is to stop the water. Repairs to the structure may be performed by a general contractor to fix a leaky roof or window, or a company that specializes in basements. A simple trip to the local hardware store for piping parts or adhesive may even be enough to stop the water leak. Unlike asbestos or hazardous materials remediation, only about half of the states in the U.S. have mold guidelines, and many times mold contractors are not required to be licensed. Doing your homework to find a qualified contractor utilizing proper engineering controls is the most prudent way to eliminate mold growth.

Mold is most often remediated in four steps: 1. Eliminate the water source. 2. Dehumidify the impacted area and water-saturated materials to a relative humidity between 30-60 percent.

3. Remove the water-damaged and mold-contaminated materials. 4. Treat the affected area with a series of specialized cleaning solutions to kill any residual mold. This part of mold remediation is relatively simple, but often labor-intensive and dirty. After the source of water intrusion is stopped and the mold is remediated, a final clearance inspection that includes air sampling is recommended. Confirmatory air sampling can consist of a number of sampling techniques dependent upon the circumstances, but in most cases sampling includes moisture readings and the collection of mold spore samples. Mold spore samples are often collected by specialized air pumps that draw air in through a collection dish. This dish is submitted to a laboratory whereby trained analysts grow and identify the quantity and types of mold present. These results are often compared to mold samples collected outside of the structure to provide a relative threshold value. Standards, or threshold limit values (TLVs), have not been established by the EPA for airborne concentration of mold or mold spores. A comparison of the indoor air concentrations to the exterior air concentrations of mold usually dictates the successful

KEEP IT SAFE • Re-wet materials with a mist of water to suppress spores, dust and debris. • Wrap and seal the items that will be discarded in plastic bags or sheets to reduce the spread of spores. • Provide natural or local exhaust ventilation during all cleaning steps. • Do not eat, drink, or smoke in work areas. • Avoid breathing dusts. • After an area has been cleaned and is completely dry, vacuum with a HEPA vacuum. • The work area and areas used by remediation workers for egress should be cleaned with a damp cloth or mop and a detergent solution. Set up a decontamination area. • Leave the area clean, dry and free of visible debris. • After working, wash thoroughly, including hair, scalp and nails. Source: OSHA

remediation of mold. Preventive maintenance is the best defense against the potential for unwanted mold growth. This means keeping the basement dry, inspecting your gutters for clogs and fixing those leaky or rotten window seals. Once an area of water intrusion is discovered, the water-saturated material must be dried out within 24-48 hours of exposure to deter unwanted mold growth.

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

Every Game

By JOHN BAKER, executive director, Greenville Region Workforce Collaborative

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

The future skilled workforce needs Career Skills Now Program leverages today’s free training to achieve tomorrow’s prosperity

Across South Carolina and the Upstate, this region’s skilled and experienced workforce – long a point of pride and competitive advantage – is at risk of becoming a weakness. Too many of our young people – tomorrow’s workforce – lack fundamental skills to succeed in the emerging knowledge-driven economy. As baby boomers approach retirement across America, we have fewer trained individuals to take their place. Manufacturers nationally can’t fill over 500,000 open skilled positions, while here in the Upstate hundreds of good-paying, career-ori-

➤ NUMBERED

30% 55% 33% 80%

fail to earn a high school diploma within four years

of those who do graduate earn a bachelor’s degree within six years earn an associate degree within three years

CSN graduates who organizers expect to place in quality jobs with leading advanced manufacturer

243

CSN participants who have earned occupational skills certificates making them significantly more marketable

203

secured new jobs

ented positions go unfilled. A lack of skilled machinists, welders, multiskilled maintenance workers and quality technicians – just a few of the many numerous positions that pay well, yet are going unfilled – demonstrates the skills gap that has emerged between skills workers have to offer and what employers demand. Part of the challenge lies with education. There is increasing momentum to ensure that students at the middle and high school levels receive the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum essential for success in today’s changing world, along with the presentation of technical career opportunities as an attractive career path to consider. Our school systems are hard at work

addressing this essential need. The other critical need is training, to help individuals today to improve their skills and take advantage of quality careers with family sustaining wages. A local collaboration of public and private funders and area technical colleges has begun offering free training and job placement support to Upstate citizens who “are committed to putting time, talent and effort into the program to produce a better life for themselves and their loved ones,” organizers say. Residents who are unemployed, underemployed or simply seeking a new career path are welcomed. The Career Skills Now (CSN) program is designed to help motivat-

GET WITH THE PROGRAM CSN applicants must: • Possess a high school diploma or GED • Be at least 18 • Pass a drug screen and a background check • Be a South Carolina resident and U.S. citizen or hold permanent status • Earn a WorkKeys Silver level or higher Career Readiness Certificate to enter the program

Training can be completed in as little as six weeks, after which there are ongoing placement opportunities. Average starting pay for those earning the initial training certifications is $16.35/hour. The training is available through the South Carolina Technical College system across the Upstate.

ed individuals build careers in today’s rapidly expanding manufacturing arena, and provides the link between unemployed or lower-skill workers and the needs of industry for the higher-skill, high-value jobs that are increasingly difficult to fill. Training leverages the South Carolina Manufacturing Certified program funded last year by the Legislature and includes additional training in high-skill areas such as machining, multi-skill maintenance, welding and quality assurance, among others. Organizers stress that the program is “an opportunity for an individual to build a career to be proud of,” and that participants are expected to work hard, attend the training, and be committed to learning. Manufacturers may also send entry-level or lower-skilled associates to the program to enhance training and skills sets, and Career Skills Now organizers work with employers on shift adjustments for incumbent workers to try to meet the schedule needs of the individuals so they can attend the free training. Opportunity for a brighter future is presenting itself – and at no cost. To apply while space is available or for more information, visit CareerSkillsNow.com.

Clems n Every Game August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

COVER STORY – FIRST PERSON What you want to know about people you need to know

‘I Love How It Works’

THE BASICS— GRAHAM HOWLE HIGH SCHOOL: J.L. Mann COLLEGE: Clemson University, 1994, economics FIRST JOB: high school rock band UNITS OWNED: 49 FAMILY: Wife Marci, son Gray (12), daughter Perrin (10) WORKOUT FIX: Crossfit Reaction – every day READING LIST: Anything on business and real estate

With several irons in the fire, entrepreneur Graham Howle has learned to roll with the bad as well as the good LEIGH SAVAGE | contributor

A Clemson bar, car lot, a pedi-cab company, condominiums, a mountain home – Graham Howle has owned numerous businesses and properties over the years, and it’s just part of his lifelong entrepreneurial mindset. After college, he began researching real estate and quickly recognized his niche. “I love how it works,” he said. “It’s just an incredible way to build wealth.” Howle has a lot on his plate these days since joining Coldwell Banker Commercial in December as a broker. He also maintains 49 investment properties and runs Mosaic Management, a business consultancy, with his wife, Marci. On top of that, there is Loose Change Eats and Drinks, an eatery and bar in Clemson that is prepping for expansion. For Howle, keeping the various balls in the air requires skill and time management, but that’s part of the fun. “It can be challenging,” he said, “but I like the complexity.”

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

Entrepreneur and business owner Graham Howle works in his home office with his assistant and wife, Marci Howle.

How did you become involved in real estate investment? My older brother was looking to start a coffee shop, and I helped him research it, reading books about it. I immediately knew that’s what I wanted to do. I’ve been a real estate investor for about 14 years.

What skills do you need to manage numerous properties? You have to be built for it. You have to know what you are doing is going to be good later, because you don’t get a lot of cash flow off of these. It’s for the future. You might be cleaning, fixing garbage disposals. But you keep collecting rent.

What is the draw for investing in properties? I love how you come up with a little bit of money and buy a lot with it. The leverage of that is a really huge way to make money. But you have to operate it >>

COVER STORY – FIRST PERSON What you want to know about people you need to know

80 percent of my business is now focusing on commercial real estate at CBC. I’m systemizing at Mosaic, because I don’t want to lose any current clients, and I like the deal structuring part, but I’m phasing out the management of businesses – I’m not looking for more clients there.

What has been the biggest lesson you have learned in your various business endeavors? A lot of entrepreneurs just look at the highlight reel and see the good stuff they’ve done. But that doesn’t always happen. A lot goes bad. But you can’t let it get you down. If it doesn’t really affect your day-to-day life, don’t worry about it. You have to take the highs and the lows in stride.

‘A FULL PARTY BY 10:30’ Howle, center, meets with clients and associates of Coldwell Banker Commercial Caine. Howle, right, with Chris Fuller, his business partner and manager of Loose Change Eats and Drinks in Clemson.

Photos by Greg Beckner

lot about real estate before I became a broker, and I did know a lot. But there is so much involved with commercial real estate, it’s amazing. I’m learning fast. Like the investments, selling commercial real estate doesn’t make much at first, but I’m able to do it because I’m making money off my other businesses, too.

>> really well. You can’t just buy a property and put no money or time into it. I’ve owned a car lot, a car financing company and a pedi-cab company, to name a few. And looking back, I got into these because I thought they’d make money, but also pride – I wanted to say I was the owner. But I no longer have that. I will still invest in businesses and put together projects, but not because I want to say I’m the owner.

What prompted you to become a broker as well? I want to develop into a great commercial real estate broker, and probably concentrate on investment properties. I thought I knew a

How did you end up owning Loose Change? My brother, Glenn Howle, was the first owner. He had it for two years and then he died in a plane crash a little more than 10 years ago, and I took it over. It’s gotten busier every year thanks to my operating partner, Chris Fuller. He’s an incredible operations manager. So I talk to him on a regular basis, but he runs it.

What is Mosaic Management? We specialize in deal structuring for businesses that are selling and have already found a buyer, but can’t work it out. I also manage several small businesses through that, helping with bookkeeping or whatever they need. I have a team of people, including my wife, who do bookkeeping and taxes.

How do you manage your time with so many different irons in the fire? It’s very synergistic. When I’m learning something, it applies to different areas. I’d say

Graham Howle’s brother, Glenn Howle, graduated from Clemson in 1991 and in 2002 fulfilled his desire to open a coffee and wine bar there, christening the establishment Loose Change Eats and Drinks. Over the years, more drinks were added and Loose Change became a popular college gathering spot. After Glenn Howle died in a plane crash in May 2004, Graham became owner of the establishment, and he and operating partner Chris Fuller decided to build on what Glenn had created. “It was strictly a bar when we took it over – it served some bar food, but it wasn’t a big part of the business,” Graham Howle said. “But now it is. Chris is a bit of an amateur chef. We have cooks, but Chris does the menus and put an emphasis on the food, like our barbecue every week.” The bar has a small outdoor area, but Howle and Fuller are working on a plan to expand it to accommodate more customers. While Loose Change draws more of a dinner crowd that ever before, “it’s definitely a college bar, too,” Howle said. “We put wheels on all of the furniture and then we roll them out of the way for bands. It turns into a full party by 10:30.”

August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

FINE PRINT Business briefs you can’t miss

Webber Kerr to open in Greenville

Webber Kerr Associates, a retained executive search and consulting firm, recently announced the opening of its Greenville location. Webber Kerr chose Greenville after Forbes ranked the city No. 57 among “The Best Places for Businesses and Careers” in 2014, and South Carolina was named fifth among “Best States for Business” in 2014 by Chief Executive magazine. Additionally, companies located in South Carolina, such as Michelin, BMW and Boeing, were an additional attraction Webber Kerr. “The Carolinas have experienced increasing growth within the engineering, manufacturing, banking and energy sectors, all directly related to our business. We’re excited to contribute and be part of such a thriving economy,” said Adam Lloyd, president of Webber Kerr, in a release.

Upstate Global Professionals Panel set The Upstate Global Professionals Panel will be held Sept. 9 from 8-10 a.m. in the TD Gallery of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The breakfast panel, hosted through a collaboration between the International Center of the Upstate and CU-ICAR, will feature David Stefanich, technical services director of Michelin North America, as discussion panel moderator.

Stefanich is an international business development executive who relocated to the Upstate from the Chicago area last year. He invited the panel to Greenville to explore the reasons why 230 international companies have put down

roots in the Upstate, making this 10-county region one of the top three international business startup hubs in the U.S. The event will also give a brief introduction to events planned for Upstate International Month in March 2015. The event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 by contacting The International Center at 864-631-2188 or visiting internationalupstate.org.

Milliken to acquire Pipe Wrap assets Milliken announced this week the acquisition of the assets of Pipe Wrap Inc., by its subsidiary Milliken Infrastructure Solutions LLC. Pipe Wrap designs and constructs composite materials for repair of high-pressure pipes, providing custom solutions for structural reinforcement, leak repair and corrosion prevention. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The acquisition is the latest in the expansion of the company’s fiber-reinforced polymer business,

serving both steel and concrete structures, said Milliken in a press release. For Milliken Infrastructure Solutions, the announcement follows the June 2014 acquisition of the assets of Edge Structural Composites Inc., which produces strengthening systems for structural upgrades, corrosion repairs, seismic strengthening, and other applications. Pipe Wrap is headquartered in Houston and has operations in Denver. Its two U.S. patents, with four pending, add to Milliken’s patent collection, one of the largest held by a private company.

Chamber names HRP Associates Small Business of the Month The Greenville Chamber recently recognized HRP Associates as its August 2014 Small Business of the

Month Award winner. HRP Associates is a multidisciplinary environmental consulting,

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

engineering and risk management firm in Greenville. The company, which is headquartered in Connecticut and has 12 other offices throughout the country, was founded in 1982 and opened its Greenville location in 1993. “As a small business, we recognize the value of word-of-mouth marketing in the Upstate,” said Tad

Goetcheus, HRP PE Southeast/ Midwest regional vice president, in a release. “The Greenville Chamber provides our company and employees with local networking and business development opportunities through industry-related events and forums. We are glad to be a part of the Chamber and continue expanding our roots in the South.”

FINE PRINT Business briefs you can’t miss

Greer builder honored by Cabinet Makers Association Keith Smith Builders in Greer has won six Wood Diamond Awards from the Cabinet Makers Association. The awards were announced last week at the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta. Keith Smith Builders won first place in the Architectural Millwork, Best Overall Project, Fireplace, Game Room, and Home Theater categories, and second place in the Residential Bar category. “With over 50

projects and the CMA members behind them being recognized for their extraordinary talents, it’s both humbling and inspiring to see the levels of style and execution from this group of world-class shops,” said Dave Grulke, CMA’s executive director. Builders of custom homes since 1969, Keith Smith Builders also provides home improvements, commercial tenant improvements and commercial and residential land development.

ScanSource announces intent to acquire European tech distributor Nearly a week after announcing plans to acquire a Brazilian communications distributor, Greenville-based ScanSource Inc., an international distributor of specialty technology products, has announced plans to boost its European presence with the acquisition of Imago Group plc, a value-added distributor of video and voice communications equipment and services. ScanSource will be acquiring Imago’s operations in the United Kingdom and France, and its recently acquired business in Germany, according to a statement released by ScanSource. The all-cash transaction as currently negotiated includes an initial purchase price of approximately GBP 24.5 million (approximately

US$41 million), plus earnout payments over the next two years, according to the statement. The company expects that Imago would operate as a separate business unit as part of the ScanSource video, voice and data strategy in Europe, according to the statement. Imago founder Ian Vickerage would remain as managing director of the company. Earlier this month, ScanSource announced plans to acquire Network1, a Brazilian value-added distributor of communications equipment and services.

SCBIO offers Startup Boot Camp SCBIO’s Startup Boot Camp on “Decisions, Dilemmas and Disasters” will be held on Sept. 11 from 9 a.m.3:30 p.m. at ICAR Campus Innovation Building, 5 Research Way, in Greenville. The boot camp is moderated by Tom Strange, director of research and development at St. Jude Medical. The event will include topics such as: “What Is It: Idea, Product or Business?” “The IP Strategy: Think Around the Box,” “Before You Raise the Money:

Avoiding Really Stupid Decisions,” “Making Sense: The Pitch, the Pitcher, the Catchers,” and personal experience presentations. Cost is $50 for a sponsored student, $100 for SCBIO members and $150 for nonmembers. For more information and to register, visit scbio.org.

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August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

FINE PRINT

SQUARE FEET

Business briefs you can’t miss

Real estate deals and developments across the region

245 apartments proposed for Market Point Drive Along Woodruff Road and across from the Shops at Greenridge, plans have been filed with the city of Greenville for a new 245-unit apartment community on

4 new tenants for Patrick Square Patrick Square Town Center in Clemson recently announced four new tenants will be opening this fall in conjunction with the opening of Rick Erwin’s Clemson. Greer State Bank Mortgage has leased a 760-square-foot space to be its first stand-alone mortgage office. Alex Vassey, a certified financial planner with Financial Dynamics

Rendering Provided.

in Seneca, will open a second location in a 528-square-foot space. Cheryl Aaron of Aaron & Aaron Attorneys at Law, who specializes in real estate law, will be leasing a 656-square-foot space. Aaron & Aaron currently has offices in Clemson, Seneca and Easley. Jacob Dean Photography will relocate its office and studio space to Town Center. The owners, Jacob and Jenny Dean, will be the first Patrick Square residents to have a business in the development.

Things are moving along at MAGNOLIA PARK ALONG WOODRUFF ROAD. According to Marc Yavinsky, executive vice president for Palm Beach, Fla.-based Menin Development, which owns the shopping center, all tenants that have signed leases are working hard to open by the end of this year.

Rendering Provided.

Anderson County plans spec industrial building off I-85 In an attempt to lure more

SEPTEMBER OPENING

BY THE END OF THE YEAR

Destination XL

Fresh to Order

Yard House

Huhot Mongolian Grill

OCTOBER OPENING

Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar and Grill

Pier One Imports Dave and Buster’s Nordstrom Rack

Another Broken Egg Café Scottrade Tucano’s Brazilian Grill Allen Tate Realtors Grimaldi’s Brick Oven Pizzeria

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

Market Point Drive. The plans, submitted by Atlanta-based real estate investment group Brand Properties, show a 12-acre development with seven >>

August 29, 2014

manufacturing to Anderson, last week Anderson County Council voted to purchase 27 acres at the Alliance Industrial Park and build a new spec industrial building. The 190-acre industrial park is located at exit 27 on Interstate 85. The new building will have 30-foot ceilings and comprise approximately 50,000 square feet with the ability to expand, said Burriss Nelson, Anderson County economic development director.

Only 12 to 15 of the acres will be used for the spec building; the additional acreage will be set aside “for the next building or another project that may come along,” said Nelson. Total cost for the project is expected to be around $2.1 to $2.8 million. The cost of just the land was “just under $900,000,” he said. “We get requests every day for this type of building,” Nelson said, with 70-80 percent of the requests seeking 40,000 to 60,000 square feet. “This hits it in the center.” >>

SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF sjackson@communityjournals.com @SJackson_CJ

SQUARE FEET Real estate deals and developments across the region

THE TABLE IS SET, GRAB A SEAT.

buildings, a pool, community clubhouse and park area. The application will be reviewed at the Sept. 11 Planning Commission meeting.

Reserve a seat at the table and in three weeks youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to enjoy all you can eat, sip and listen at euphoria2014. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit euphoriagreenville.com.

Available Property Existing Business/Industry

>> Nelson said the county

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initiated the process to purchase the land about three years ago during the economic downturn, when developers were having a hard time getting loans for speculative construction. Nelson said the county would consider partnering with a private developer on the project. Construction is expected to be completed in 2015.

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Anderson 10 miles

Front Charlotte 125 miles Greenville 18 miles

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Atlanta 125 miles

August 29, 2014

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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

DEALMAKERS Commercial real estate transactions in the Upstate

COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL CAINE ANNOUNCED: Pete Brett and David Sigmon represented the seller, SCBT, in the sale of +3.324 acres at Brushy Creek Road, Greer, to the purchaser, George Troubetaris. Pete Brett and David Sigmon represented the seller, SCBT, in the sale of a +4,800 SF retail building at 115 N. Caroline St., Laurens, to the purchaser, Suzanne Mullis Lowry. Rick Cauthen represented the seller, NCB Investments Inc., in the sale of a +4,583 SF office building on +0.765 acre at 15 Wellington Ave., Greenville, to the purchaser, 15 Wellington Avenue LLC. Pete Brett represented the tenant, YMCA of Greenville, in the leasing of a +1,882 SF office space at 27 Cleveland St., Suite 204, Greenville, from the landlord, Ridgeland LLC. David Sigmon represented the landlord, Mountain City Land & Improvement Company LLC, in the leasing of a +3,763 SF office space at the Innovate Building, 148 River St., Suite 105, Greenville, to the tenant, OOBE Uniforms & Apparel Inc. Tim Satterfield represented the seller, Circor Instrumentation Technologies Inc., in the sale of a +55,238 SF industrial facility on +3.22 acres at Zima Park Drive, Spartanburg, to the purchaser, Formosa Investments LLC. Tim Satterfield represented the seller, Wells Fargo Bank NA, in the sale of a +8,000 SF industrial building on +1.59 acres at 108 Northeast Drive, Spartanburg, to the purchaser, London Blue Properties LLC. Pete Brett and David Sigmon represented the seller, South State Bank, in the sale of a +6,275 SF medical office building on +1.02 acres at 104 Montgomery Drive, Anderson, to the purchaser, Terreck Holdings LLC. Pete Brett and David Sigmon represented the seller, South State Bank, in the sale of 3 office condos (+2,995 SF, +1,206 SF, and +1,206 SF) at Easley Commons, 1824 E. Main St., Units A, M & P, Easley, to the purchaser, TAMM I LLC. Pete Brett, David Sigmon, and

Steve Hammett represented the seller, South State Bank, in the sale of a +6,648 SF retail center on +1.365 acres at 506â&#x20AC;&#x201C;510 S. Alabama Ave., Chesnee, to the purchaser, Harish Mirchandani. Sammy DuBose represented the seller, Woodvan LLC, in the sale of +1.07 acres on Halton Green Way, Greenville, to the purchaser, KWS Properties LLC. Rick Cauthen represented the seller, Pimpernal, LLC in the sale of a +17,000 SF industrial building on +2.35 acres at 655 N. Main St., Travelers Rest, to the purchaser, Deeco Travelers Rest Real Estate LLC. David Sigmon represented the tenant, Ten Thousand Villages of Greenville, SC LLC, in the leasing of a +1,800 SF retail space at 207 N. Main St., Suite B, Greenville, from the landlord, E. Kwang Kim, Trustee of the E. Kwang Kim Revocable Trust. SPENCER/HINES PROPERTIES INC. ANNOUNCED: Craig Jacobs represented the lessor, Dawood Properties LLC, in leasing a 11,000 SF truck terminal at 311 Gossett Road, Spartanburg. The lessee, VSS Carriers Inc. was represented by CBRE Dallas, Texas. Guy Harris represented the lessee, IAC Spartanburg Inc., in leasing a 15,071 SF warehouse space at 120 Brooks Blvd., Spartanburg. The lessor, Upstate Development Partners LLC, was represented by Ryan Delaney of UpState Logistics. Bobby Hines represented the lessor, 221 N. Main St. and Associates, in a 21,000 SF lease renewal at 221 N. Main St., Greenville. Zach Hines represented the lessee, 221 N. Main Street LLC. Andy Hines represented lessor Richard Mimz and lessee David Smith in leasing a 1700 SF retail space at 810 WO Ezell Blvd. Spartanburg. Guy Harris represented lessor F Hugh Atkins RE and lessee Southland Landscaping Management Corp. in leasing a 1,874 SF space at 180 Dove Hill Road, Spartanburg. Craig Jacobs represented lessor Richard Pratt d/b/a Iron Properties and lessee Rosemary Wood d/b/a Bundle Box LLC in leasing a 5,000 SF warehouse

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

space at 251 Inglesby Parkway, Duncan. Craig Jacobs and Guy Harris represented lessor 2 BS LLC in leasing a 3,670 SF space at 1190 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg. David Strickland represented the lessee, Market Place Staffing Services. Guy Harris represented the lessor, Willis Association LLC, and the lessee, Powertrain Integration, in leasing a 13,250 SF space and 1.45 acre space at 289 Willis Road, Gaffney. Andy Hayes represented the lessor, Tietex International Ltd., and the lessee, Marlow Trucking Co., in leasing a 84,000 SF manufacturing/ industrial facility at 160 Lincoln School Road, Spartanburg. Andy Hayes represented the lessor, Harley Holdings, and the lessee, Pine Street Financial Partners, in leasing a 1,800 SF facility at 1983 S. Pine St., Spartanburg. David Strickland represented the lessor, Hearon Center, and the lessee, Atlantech Distribution Inc., in leasing a 10,125 SF facility at 7092 Howard St., Spartanburg. Guy Harris represented the lessor, Serendipity Properties, LLC, in leasing a 1,200 SF facility at 1983 S. Pine St., Spartanburg to the lessee, Sin U Well Hair Salon. Neal Boyett represented the lessee. Neal Boyett represented the seller, DAM Properties LLC, and the buyer, F3 Holdings LLC in purchasing a 32,750 SF manufacturing facility at 350 Seminole Drive, Una, for $360,000. Alison Germain represented the seller, Robert Camp in selling a 3,208 SF residential facility at 410 Leyswood Drive, Greenville, for $161,500. Paul Wetzel represented the buyer, Catherine Kaufhman. David Strickland represented the seller, Robin Moss, in selling a 3,600 SF automotive facility on 1.68 acres at 2497 Bryant Road, Chesnee, for $137,500. Upstate Realty Brokers represented the buyer, Vadim Kapnik. Andy Hayes represented the seller, Uma Vijayan, in selling land on Hayne Street, Woodruff, for $137,500 to the buyer, Dialysis Clinic Inc.

August 29, 2014

Dale Seay represented the seller, Dorothy A. Quinn, trustee, in selling 2.87 acres and 5,880 SF at 101 Old Hills Bridge Road, Roebuck, for $62,500. The buyer, Biggerstaff Investment Holdings LLC, was represented by Andy Hayes. Andy Hayes represented the seller, EXOPACK LLC, and the buyer, Parker-Hannifin Corp., in the purchase of 5.85 acres and 41,732 SF at 3070 Southport Road, Spartanburg, for $700,000. RE/MAX REALTY PROFESSIONALS ANNOUNCED: Bo Matheny recently represented the buyer, WilliamVonessen, in the purchase of a 10,000 SF industrial building at 11 International Court, Greenville. The building will be used as a distribution facility for Boars Head Meats in servicing Upstate SC. AVISON YOUNG ANNOUNCED: Reggie Bell represented 3270 N. Pleasantburg Properties LLC, in the lease renewal of a 15,443 SF of retail space located at 3270 N. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, to Petco Animal Supply Stores LLC. FLAGSHIP PROPERTIES ANNOUNCED: Benji Smith and Josh Tew represented the landlord of 3519 Pelham Road, Greenville, in leasing office space to Monarch Mortgage, and in leasing additional office space to Redi Group. Benji Smith and Josh Tew represented the landlord of 2078 Woodruff Road, Suite B, in leasing 1,500 SF of medical office space to Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical Clinic. Josh Tew represented American Foam and Fabric in purchasing a building site at 91 Sonia Drive, Greer, for its new corporate headquarters. Josh Tew represented the landlord of 637 Congaree Road, Greenville, in leasing 2,000 SF to The Pole Academy LLC, 2,000 SF to American Dance Club and 4,400 SF to Confections LLC. Josh Tew represented the landlord of 4013 Pelham Court, Greer, in the lease renewal of

2,500 SF of office-warehouse space to Vintage House LLC. Josh Tew represented the landlord of 4015 Pelham Court, Greer, in the lease renewal of 2,500 SF of office-warehouse space to J&M Services LLC. Benji Smith represented the landlord in the lease renewal of 3,000 SF of office space located at 492 Garlington Road, Greenville, to Spirit Communications. Benji Smith represented DryClean USA in leasing 1,625 SF of retail space located at 802 S. Batesville Road, Greer. Benji Smith represented the landlord of 496 Garlington Road, Suite A, in leasing 2,000 SF of office space to Wilbert Burial Vault Company Inc. Benji Smith represented the landlord of 2092 S. Hwy. 14, Greer, in the renewal of 10,000 SF of distribution-warehouse space to Baby Furniture Plus Kids Inc. COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCED: Richard Barrett and Bob Shaw completed the sale of four flex buildings totaling 46,100 SF at the Golden Oaks Business Park located in Greenville to Golden Oaks Industrial Park LLC. Barrett and Shaw represented the seller, RSL Associates, in the transaction. Buildings that were sold in this transaction include 1085, 1091, 1095 and 1100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Golden Oaks has retained Richard Barrett and Michael Sease as exclusive leasing agents for all four office buildings. In addition, Barrett and Sease are the leasing agents for 1040 Thousand Oaks Blvd., making Barrett and Sease exclusive leasing agents for the entire Golden Oaks Business Park. Givens Stewart and Richard Jackson represented the seller, Eastern Distribution Inc., in the sale of its 162,400 SF industrial building located at 220 Commerce Road, Greenville. Richard Barrett and Michael Sease handled the lease negotiations for Flashco Manufacturing Co., leasing 10,000 SF flex space at 514 Matrix Parkway in Matrix Business Park, Piedmont. Frank Hammond and Will

DEALMAKERS Commercial real estate transactions in the Upstate

Nelson served as agents for the seller of a 10,323 SF shopping center at 1036-1050 N. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, to Yuze Holdings LLC. Bob Shaw represented the SC Telco Federal Credit Union in leasing 4,489 SF and 1,432 SF office space at 420 E. Park Ave., Greenville. Bob Shaw represented US REIF ICP South Carolina in leasing new office space of 3,072 SF at Independence Corporate Park, Greenville. He also renewed a lease for an additional 2,465 SF at the same location. Givens Stewart and Richard Jackson represented the landlord in leasing two 7,000 SF industrial spaces at 101 Fortis Drive, Duncan. Will Nelson represented the landlord in leasing 6,060 SF at McAlister Court, Greenville, to Consign and Design on Augusta LLC. Will Nelson added another 1,200 SF for an existing tenant, K-180 Fitness at McAlister

Court on Laurens Road, Greenville. NAI EARLE FURMAN ANNOUNCED: Tony Bonitati and Kay Hill represented the seller of Village Park Apartments, Southwood Realty, based out of Gastonia, N.C. The 132-unit complex is located at 110 Village Park Drive, Simpsonville. The buyer, Two Bridges Asset Management, based in Brooklyn, N.Y., purchased the complex for $4,848,250. Earle Furman, Jon Good, and Alexi Papapieris represented CamperdownAcademy Inc. in selling 16 acres of land for multifamily development at 501 Howell Road, Greenville. Tony Bonitati and Kay Hill represented the buyer, Certus Partners, based out of Greensboro, N.C. Certus Partners purchased the land for $2 million and plans to build approximately 252 units on the site, which is next door to Camperdown Academy.

Tony Bonitati, Kay Hill, and Glenn Batson represented Ameris Bank in selling 11 vacant townhome units at 507-535 E. Perkins Creek Road, Seneca. Jake Van Gieson represented the buyer, Ben Glunt, who purchased the property out of foreclosure. NAVARRO REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCED: Marty Navarro represented Clemson Town Center LLC in its $2.9 million sale of a approximately 8.5 acres near the intersection of Hwy. 93 and Berkeley Drive, Clemson, to the buyer, Twister 118 LLC. SRS Real Estate Partners represented the buyer. Twister will construct over 40,000 SF of anchor retail space on the 11.5 acre mixed-use planned development. LANGSTON-BLACK REAL ESTATE INC. ANNOUNCED: Jim Griffin represented SABAAA LLC in the sale of its 10,559 SF building situated

on 1.5 acres located at 7931 Moorefield Memorial Hwy., Liberty. The purchaser was Patton Development SC LLC. TRANSWORLD BUSINESS ADVISORS ANNOUNCED: Curtis Harper represented the tenant in leasing 2,500 SF at 14152 E. Wade Hampton Blvd., Greer. LEE & ASSOCIATESGREENVILLE ANNOUNCED: Laurens Nicholson and Bryon Culbertson represented the seller in a +/-3,975 SF office investment transaction at 3598 W. Blue Ridge Drive, Greenville. Bill Durrell represented the landlord in a +/-2,440 SF office lease transaction at 419 SE Main St., Suite 200, Simpsonville. Randall Bentley facilitated a +/-32,000 SF expansion at 1 Brozzini Ct., Suites G-H, Greenville. Laurens Nicholson represented the seller in a +/-0.56 acre sell

at 105 Mills Ave., Greenville. Randall Bentley facilitated a +/45.85 acre sell at Scuffletown Road and Jones Mill Road, Simpsonville. Deanna Hudgens represented the tenant, Mae Mae’s Massage, in a +/-1,900 SF retail transaction at 430-D Haywood Road, Greenville. Randall Bentley represented the tenant, VisitGreenvilleSC, in a +/-3,784 SF office lease transaction at 148 River St., Suite 222, Greenville. Bill Durrell represented the landlord in a +/-3,400 SF office lease transaction at 672-B Fairview Road, Simpsonville. Kevin Bentley and Deanna Hudgens facilitated a +/15,000 SF sale at 340 Interstate Blvd., Greenville. Randall Bentley and Deanna Hudgens represented the landlord in a +/-1,380 SF retail transaction at 1757 Woodruff Road, Suite 200, Greenville.

CELEBRATE ALL WEEK LONG

SEPTEMBER 15-19 MONDAY

Kick-Off & Proclamation Reading

LoAl SmLl BuInSs WeK

TUESDAY

MBRC Entrepreneurial Workshops & Business After Hours

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY Special Visits

Friday

Celebration Lunch & Small Business Expo Download the app & register to participate at:

www.greenvillechamber.org/local-small-business-week.php August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

SOCIAL SNAPSHOT Inside the Upstateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s networking and social scene

Photos Provided

FURMAN PRESIDENT ADDRESSES UPSTATE ALLIANCE The Upstate SC Alliance held its mid-year meeting last week at Crowne Plaza in Greenville. The guest speaker was Dr. Elizabeth Davis, the 12th president of Furman University.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

AUG

NEW TO THE STREET

21–31 2014

The freshest faces on the business landscape

LAST

WEEKEND 1

THIS FRI–SUN

Photos Provided

1. JP’s 4 Corners recently held a ribbon-cutting at 1298 Woodruff Road in Greenville. The restaurant is open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. For more information, visit jp4corners.com or call 864-281-7777. 2. Wagner Wealth Management recently opened its third office in Seneca at 135 Eagles Nest Drive, Suite B1. For more information, visit wagnerwealthmanagement.com. 3. Greenville Rental Properties recently opened at 1053 S. Batesville Road, Building A, in Greer. The company is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit greenvillerentalproperties.com or call 864-475-1234. 2

3 FOR

$30 MENUS For Menus & Updates: Facebook.com/ UpstateFoodieFest

August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

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

ON THE MOVE Play-by-play of Upstate careers

CERTIFIED

ELECTED

HIRED

Grice Hunt

H. Mills Gallivan

David Lominack

Meredith L. Cheatham

Steve Opitz

Attained the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) designation. Hunt is a broker in the industrial division at NAI Earle Furman, focusing on sales and leasing. In 2013, he was named a partner, making him the firm’s youngest principal.

Elected secretary-treasurer of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC). Prior to his election as secretary-treasurer, Gallivan served the FDCC as a senior director. He is a senior shareholder with Gallivan, White & Boyd P.A.

Elected by the Greenville Chamber’s leadership to the chair of its board of directors in 2016. Lominack is the Upstate-Midlands Market president at TD Bank. He will serve as chair-elect throughout the next year as Julie Godshall Brown chairs the Chamber’s 2015 board of directors.

Joined DP3 Architects Ltd. Cheatham comes to DP3 Architects with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Tennessee. She will be assisting DP3 Architects’ growing Restaurant Studio.

Named as Solid Gold Pet’s director of quality. Opitz’s career spans more than 35 years in the human and pet food sectors, where he held significant leadership roles in quality assurance with such brands as Kraft, Frito Lay, Con Agra, Cargill and Ventura.

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

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

ON THE MOVE Play-by-play of Upstate careers CONSTRUCTION/ENGINEERING:

HIRED Bill Vicary, Named Skanska USA’s

senior director of business development for its South Carolina operations. Vicary joins Skanska from Homeric Partners LLC in Charleston, where he was a senior partner. He has worked for 16 years in South Carolina, with leadership roles at construction and engineering firms including Fluor Daniel, Simons Engineering, Thomas and Hutton Engineering and Wood Group Mustang.

O’Neal Inc. has hired Kari Neville as structural engineer and Scott Bishop as project manager. Neville has more than 10 years of design experience with firms in the Raleigh, N.C., area. Bishop has more than 15 years of estimating experience, having worked with HDR in Charlotte. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and a Certified Estimating Professional. S&ME welcomes back Jacob Foose as a project scientist in its Greenville office. Foose has more than six years of natural resources experience including 404/401 permitting and mitigation, wetland delineation, mitigation banking establishment, stream restoration, and extensive GIS/GPS knowledge.

FINANCIAL SERVICES: OnPoint CFO & Controller Services recently welcomed Michael Storrie as manager of accounting services and Scott McGregor as operations manager. Storrie has more than 35 years experience in

treasury, audit, finance, accounting and operations. Prior to joining OnPoint, he served as the vice president of finance for Sunland Logistics Solutions Inc. McGregor previously served as operations manager at The Crown Group.

ZWO has hired Sarah Leugemors as a graphic designer. Leugemors graduated from Anderson University with a B.A. in art and a concentrate in graphic design.

eDocHome recently named Rod Fountain as vice president of sales and marketing. Fountain is a certified public accountant and a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the S.C. Association of Certified Public Accountants.

Jackson Marketing Group announced the promotion of Kelsey Johnson to account executive and the hiring of Thomas Reece as account service intern. Johnson has been promoted twice since joining JMG in 2013 as account coordinator. Reece recently completed an internship with Campus Banner + Design during which he managed sales and marketing for this student-run business.

MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS:

MEDICAL:

INSURANCE:

Unicomm Media Group recently announced the hire of Emma Klak to serve on the agency’s creative team. Klak recently graduated from Bob Jones University with a BFA in graphic design. She has won multiple awards, including Student Best of Show and Gold and Silver ADDY awards through the American Advertising Federation Greenville.

Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) recently hired Lori Custer as its new compliance/ privacy officer. Custer comes to OBHG with more than 10 years experience in supporting executives and managers in order to improve internal operations for health care organizations.

GRAND OPENING BACON, EGGS AND BUSINESS. We have hatched again in Greenville! Get your business meeting off to a good start at our downtown location. Breakfast and lunch served daily from 6am-3pm. THREE LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU 31 Augusta Street Greenville SC 29601 (West End) 864-520-2005

1939 Woodruff Road - Unit E Greenville SC 29607 (Landmark Retail Center) 864-509-6625

www.eggsupgrill.com

1601 E. Greenville Street Anderson, SC 29621 (Anderson Pavilion - Publix) 864-760-0528 OPEN 7 DAYS FROM 6 AM - 3 PM

August 29, 2014

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

PLANNER Events you should have on your calendar

FRIDAY AUGUST 29

NETWORK

864-592-6318

NORTH GREENVILLE ROTARY CLUB

The Iron YardSpartanburg, 151 S. Daniel Morgan Ave., Spartanburg; 10:30 a.m.-noon

BNI CHAPTER, GREATER GREENVILLE

The Poinsett Club, 807 E. Washington St., Greenville; 12:30-1:30 p.m. COST: Free to attend but invitation required, lunch $16 CONTACT: Shanda Jeffries at 864-228-2122 or sjeffries1@allstate.com

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1 GREENVILLE WOODWORKERS GUILD Education Center, 209 Hollyridge Drive, Greenville; 6:45-7:45 p.m. FOR INFORMATION: greenvillewood workers.com

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2 SPARTANBURG HEALTHCARE

City Range, 615 Haywood Road, Greenville; noon-1:30 p.m.

CONTACT: Matthew Fish at 864-594-5024 or mfish@spartanburg chamber.com

COST: $15 for lunch CONTACT: Hardy Auston at 864-313-9942 or hdaustonmoving@ aol.com

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3 SBA SMALL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE Spartanburg Library, 151 S. Church St., Spartanburg; 9:15 a.m.-noon TOPIC: Retail Growth Strategies COST: Free to attend REGISTER AT: clemson.edu/sbdc CONTACT: Beth Smith at es2@clemson.edu or

MANUFACTURERS ROUNDTABLE Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland St., Greenville; 12:30-1:30 p.m. TOPIC: Employee Reward and Recognition

BREWMASTERS Commerce Club, 55 Beattie Place, Greenville; 6:45-7:45 p.m. COST: $20 for members, $24 for guests CONTACT: 864-232-5600

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4 BNI Southern Fried Green Tomatoes, 1175 Woods Crossing Road, Greenville; 8:15-9:45 a.m. CONTACT:

COST: Free to Greenville Chamber members, $15 per guest CONTACT: Darlene Parker at 864-239-3706

Shanda Jeffries at 864-228-2122 or sjeffries1@allstate.com for invitation

clemsonsbdc@clemson. edu or 864-370-1545

SBDC WORKSHOP

Poinsett Club, 807 E. Washington St., Greenville; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Clemson Regional Small Business Development Center, 1 N. Main St., Greenville; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. TOPIC: Small Business Tax Workshop COST: $10 per person, includes parking vouchers, packet of materials, speaker fees and light refreshments (coffee and water) REGISTER AT: clemson.edu/sbdc CONTACT: Leslie Armstrong at

CREW UPSTATE LUNCHEON

SPEAKER: Lori Kilberg, CREW Network president-elect TOPIC: CREW Network Tools You Can Use COST: $18 for CREW members, $25 for guests REGISTER AT: crewupstate.org/event/ crew-luncheon-9414 CONTACT: crewupstate@gmail. com

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

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Upstate Business Journal 30

UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 29, 2014

Historic photograph available from the Greenville Historical Society.

SNAPSHOT A quick look into the Upstate’s past

From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,” by Jeffrey R. Willis This photograph shows a view of the corner of South Main and Washington streets in the early 20th century. The two-story building with a seamed metal roof was the first location of Greenville’s quality shoe store, Patton, Tilman & Bruce. The next prominent occupant of this building was Hale’s Jewelers. The three-story building on the right is the Mauldin Building. Various offices occupied the top floors, while several different retail stores were on the ground floor.

Photo Provided

Today four restaurants occupy the location. Yap, an Asian fusion restaurant operates in what was once Patton, Tilman & Bruce. Where Abraham Katz once sold clothes, the Cantinflas restaurant serves Mexican and vegetarian food. The three-story Mauldin Building is gone. In the buildings that replaced the Mauldin Building are The Orient on Main, serving Asian dishes, and Sushi Muraski, serving Japanese cuisine.

MARKETING & EVENTS

Photos by Greg Beckner

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

SEPTEMBER: TECHNOLOGY

Kate Madden

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

UBJ PUBLISHER

ART DIRECTOR Kristy M. Adair

Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com

OPERATIONS Holly Hardin

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Michael Allen, Whitney Fincannon

Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com

MANAGING EDITOR Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER Jennifer Oladipo

STAFF WRITERS

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jeanne Putnam

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

Is the outsourcing scare over? Can social media change how we enjoy downtown? What exactly is data mining, and should we be scared? Is 3-D imaging the wave of the future?

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

UBJ milestone

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

Emily Price

ART & PRODUCTION

1988

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 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

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