Nov. 11, 2014 UBJ

NOVEMBER 14, 2014 | VOL. 3 ISSUE 46 COMPLIMENTARY

Getting Yours

An in-depth look at personal wealth management from top local money pros

upstatebusinessjournal.com

NEWS

| DEVELOPMENT | 3

Rendering of CU-ICAR’s One Research Drive by LS3P Associates.

Work begins on $14M CU-ICAR building BENJAMIN JEFFERS | STAFF

bjeffers@communityjournals.com Clemson University officials broke ground Tuesday on the $14 million One Research Drive building at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).

Slated for occupancy in December 2015, the 82,000-square-foot multitenant facility is the sixth and final building in an area of campus known as Technology Neighborhood I. Officials expect the new building to create 220 jobs and generate $2.6 million in private investment at the outset.

“To keep moving forward, we need world-class facilities that give our students a place to learn, our researchers a place to develop cutting-edge breakthroughs and our industry partners an innovative environment in which to flourish,” Clemson President James Clements said at the groundbreaking.

He called the building an “engine for economic growth.”

About 700 students, faculty members and employees work in Technology Neighborhood I at CU-ICAR. The population will rise to about 1,000 when

One Research Drive is filled, said John Boyette, director of Clemson University’s Office of Land and Capital Asset Stewardship.

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is providing $2 million for the building, which will be built to the LEED Silver standard.

About 30,000 square feet of One Research Drive will go to classroom and lab space for Clemson’s fast-growing department of automotive engineering. Imtiaz Haque, executive director of the Carroll A. Campbell Graduate Engineering Center, said, “We have far more applicants than we can accept. The additional space will allow us to open our doors to even more students.”

The department started with eight graduate students in 2007, and grew to 212 by 2013.

John Ballato, Clemson’s vice president for economic development, said as the Southeast’s automotive sector expands, more research-and-development activities are shifting to the region.

123 College Street . 864.232.7385 . JBLacher.com

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN GREER 222 Trade Street, Greer, SC • 864.877.6525

THE SHOPS AT GREENRIDGE SHOP ONLINE AT SMITHANDJAMES.COM

1125 Woodruff Rd., Greenville, SC • 864.234.8880

4 | NEWS |

UBJ

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

|

11.14. 2014

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 46 Featured this issue: Dr. Elizabeth Davis on leadership Anna Locke looks beyond the spreadsheet Interim Health celebrates 35 years

14 16 24

CORRECTION: The photo of the former 8 O’Clock Superette building that ran on this page in our Nov. 7 issue was provided by the Greenville Historical Society.

VERBATIM

On investment FOMO…

FinancialBuzz.com, in a recent post called “How to Avoid Investment FOMO” [ fear of missing out]. Read it at bit.ly/ investment-FOMO.

Photo by Greg Beckner

“One should never covet the portfolio of thy neighbor – no two investment preferences are the same, and those attitudes are what dictates the profitability or safety of each investment.”

MONEY SHOT: With this issue, we celebrate two years of publication. While we predict that UBJ will be around for years to come, we cannot say the same about this cake.

TBA A new Fresh Market location is planned for 1607 Woodruff Road, near Bonefish Grill…

The Pasta House in Simpsonville is reportedly closing its doors Nov. 25 due to “economic struggles,” its owners say. No word yet on future plans for the site…

Brewery 13 Stripes is said to be looking to set up shop in the Upstate in spring 2015…

WORTH REPEATING “Accept that you’re not going to change difficult people, but figure out how to operate within the system.”

Dr. Elizabeth Davis, president of Furman University, on dealing with challenging work environments.

“I gathered up my remaining staff of one and told her how grateful I was that she had stayed. And that day I decided my drive now would be to show the other three that they’d made a mistake.”

Interim HealthCare president Ray Schroeder, on losing three of his four main employees to a competitor.

“There are solutions for every level of asset base that you have.

And in terms of professional advice, you can find that at all levels, too.

You don’t have to be bashful about not having a million dollars to invest.”

Trevor Gordon, founder and CEO of Sandlapper Wealth Management, on the usefulness of wealth management programs.

UP FRONT | 5

upstatebusinessjournal.com

Blowing out the candles and turning 2 olina is “Just Right” for business.

not to support but be part of the conversation, to take advantage of the power of the players who look to the UBJ every week to keep them one step ahead of their competition, the ones looking for that edge.

By RYAN JOHNSTON, Publisher We have a birthday tradition in the Johnston house. At your birthday dinner you have to talk about the past year and what you’re excited about for the upcoming year of your life. Rules are loose; you can talk about something you want to accomplish, something you are going to experience, or even something you’re looking forward to.

This week the UBJ turns 2. So on behalf of my team (listed below), I would like to tell you what we are proud of that happened as we grew from 1 to 2 and what we are looking forward to in our third year.

Two means 104 issues. 3,428 pages. With an ad ratio of 70 percent content to 30 percent advertising. That is a total of 2,399 pages of content, if you are doing the math. That means we have sold more than 1,000 pages of ads in two years.

That is strong. Thank you to our advertising partners, who allow us to lead the conversation.

To bring you this product. Without their marketing dollars there would be no UBJ. They are here

COMMUNITY OF CONTRIBUTORS: Just last week, we had three exclusive stories come to us from people who wanted the announcements to appear first in UBJ. We are having more and more contributors send in thought leadership, photos from business events, story ideas, hiring announcements and events for our planner. They are helping tell the story, connect more dots, do more business. The more you contribute to the conversation, the better and stronger it gets.

Here are a few things we are looking forward to in our third year: RAISING THE BAR: If you have heard me speak about our product strategy, you have heard me say that I want our readers to put down the UBJ and pick up the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, or Inc. magazine, and not see a large contrast in the questions and angles of the business trends we are covering. The only difference we want is to make those items relevant by localizing them.

CAPITAL CONVERSATIONS: We intend to lead the conversation around capital in the Upstate.

From knowing where to look, to how to ask for it, how to raise it, and how to grow our capital talent pool. You will see us front and center contributing and sharing the outcome of these conversations.

DIGITAL DISTINCTION: I want people checking upstatebusinessjournal.com three times a day.

To get there we need fresh content populating the site all day that’s different from what we are delivering in print. Digital also allows us new opportunities to tell stories in ways limited by print. We also hope to create a platform for readers to share exciting business stories from the region with folks outside of the state. This will allow us to spread the word even farther that South Car-

MARKETING & EVENTS

DESIGN TWEAKS: You will notice a few new changes this week. With the exception of the new flag, cover logo, the other changes are just tweaks; small details we feel will create a cleaner read and lead to a stronger package.

So as we blow out the candles and make a wish, I would like to thank you for coming to the party.

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

DEC. 5: ENERGY What does S.C. need for the future?

Kate Madden

DIGITAL STRATEGIST PRESIDENT/CEO

ART & PRODUCTION

UBJ PUBLISHER

ART DIRECTOR Whitney Fincannon

Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com

OPERATIONS Holly Hardin

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Kristy Adair, Michael Allen

MANAGING EDITOR

CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley, Jane Rogers

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER

STORY IDEAS:

Jennifer Oladipo

ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com

STAFF WRITERS

EVENTS:

MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Sarah Anders, Kristi Jennings, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Lindsay Oehman, Pam Putman, Maddy Varin, Emily Yepes

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

1988

1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993

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

>>

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

ADVERTISING DESIGN

Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

Sherry Jackson, Benjamin Jeffers, Cindy Landrum, April A. Morris PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Beckner

UBJ milestone

Emily Price

Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com

Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com

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

events@upstatebusinessjournal.com

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

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA TWITTER: Follow us @UpstateBiz FACEBOOK: TheUpstateBusinessJournal LINKEDIN: Upstate Business Journal

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS: onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties.

Guest columns run 700-800 words.

Contact Executive Editor Susan Clary Simmons at ssimmons@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration.

publishers of

u UP NEXT

DEC. 19: LEADERSHIP Who’s building leaders in the community? What are questions leaders should never ask? What can we learn from the military, football coaches and university presidents?

JANUARY 2015: THE FUTURE What will the Upstate look like in 2030?

Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

Copyright @2014 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. P.O. Box 2266, Greenville, South Carolina, 29602.

Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $50. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, P.O. Box 2266, Greenville, SC 29602.

Printed in the USA.

581 Perry Avenue, Greenville, SC 29611 | 864-679-1200 | communityjournals.com UBJ: For subscriptions, call 864-679-1240 | UpstateBusinessJournal.com

6 | CAPITAL |

UBJ

NEWS

|

11.14. 2014

JENNIFER OLADIPO | SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER

joladipo@communityjournals.com

BarberWind Turbines graduated from client to portfolio company after a $200,000 investment from SCRA was announced this week. The Greenville-based company was accepted into SCRA’s SC Launch program in June, receiving mentoring and support services as a client company.

BarberWind, founded by Greenville inventor Jerry Barber, designs, manufactures, constructs and maintains wind energy assets. The company’s wind turbine, which will be manufactured in Upstate South Carolina, is highly efficient and among the most cost-effective wind technologies on the market, SCRA said.

SCRA also announced four new client companies, two of which are in the Upstate. Greenville’s Servosity, an IT service provider, and health care software company ThoroughCare of Rock Hill/

Spartanburg joined the group, along with incident management communications provider InciComm and mobile video company Infinite Takes.

ThoroughCare founder and CEO Dan Godla said affiliation with SCRA will be a boon to his company. ThoroughCare was part of the first cohort in the Iron Yard’s health care accelerator in Spartanburg. The company operates part-time out of the Iron Yard space, but moved its headquarters to Rock Hill in order to be closer to connections in Charlotte.

“My company moved from Pennsylvania, so being a part of SC Launch helps us within the state as we look to find clients, investors and partnerships,” Godla said. “They have a very big network, so if we need assistance they have companies willing to help SC Launch companies, so it’s very good exposure.”

The company is set to launch its first pilot program in partnership with AccessHealth in Spartanburg, which was its first client.

Jerry Barber, founder of BarberWind Turbines.

The Mercedes-Benz Winter Event Is Here.

2015 Mercedes Benz M-Class ML350

Photos by Greg Beckner

SCRA invests $200,000, adds clients in Upstate

Owning a small business isn’t easy. And with a wave of old and new problems crashing down on SBOs, it seems to be getting harder for them by the minute. Our fall study takes a closer look at the problems they’re facing, and how brands might be able to come to their rescue.

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Mind your reputation

upstatebusinessjournal.com

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| MARKETING | 7

NEWS MELBORP

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business owners showed several significant changes from its April 2014 study. Optimism among small business owners dropped 6.6 percent in just six months, as did the number who believe their businesses will have good growth in the next 12 months.

Greenville-based Cargo specializes in business-to-small-business marketing. Its studies intend to help marketers better understand what is happening inside small businesses in order to better fill their needs.

Of the businesses surveyed, about 33 percent were women-owned.

About 19 percent were owned by minorities.

Cargo attributes the more negative outlook to the problems owners reported.

The top challenge among small

U.S. SBOs have their hands full with all sorts of problems. Dealing with them consumes time, energy, and resources, but not dealing with them poses an even greater threat.

Q u a l i ty · # # · 1 1Q

Cargo’s fall 2014 survey of small

say a good brand experience will get them talking to peers about a brand

So, what’s the problem?

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joladipo@communityjournals.com

business owners was balancing work and personal life, according to 39 percent of respondents – a 13 percent increase from the previous survey.

Earlier this year, the biggest challenge was the rising costs of employee benefits. That concern dropped down to No. 7, after gaining/ maintaining a competitive advantage, hiring and retention, planning and other concerns. Planning for the future was as the single hardest part of running a business, respondents said. They are also spending less time on purchasing decisions.

As for dealing with companies that market to or support their businesses, owners said the quality of the product or service they received was their biggest frustration, followed closely by responsiveness and customer service.

The study also found that 55 percent of small business owners spend three or more hours online each day for business-related >>

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JENNIFER OLADIPO SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER

of SBOs say brand reputation is the top buying decision influence

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Single-hardest part of owning a business: 18.7% managing employees (up 10.7%)

Causing disruptions Having to deal with problems day in, day out is having some significant effects on how SBOs operate. they Cargo is the authority on marketing and If advertising to small businesses. We help a wide range of brands can’t solve some of influence these issues they could beofinmillions and millions of small businesses that exist today. engage and thefast, decision makers for a rough 2015.

www.CarltonMB.com

(864) 213-8000 2446 Laurens Road Greenville, SC 29607

>> matters, a 28 percent increase. need to adhere to,” says Cargo 2015 @tweetcargo Join Cargo’s B2SB group on LinkedIn thecargoagency.com Email was the most preferred managing director Dan Gliatta, “is method of follow-up. relevance.

Ensure your communimetrics@thecargoagency.com | 864.704.1180 | USA: 640 S. Main St, Ste 200, Greenville, SC 29601 | CA: 489 Queen St E., Ste 201, Toronto, ON M5A 1V1 “And if you really want to know cations are directed specifically at No time to plan when to catch them, Mondays the small business you’re targeting between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. is the and you’ll instantly gain the respect highest day part of the week for all of the overworked and often unsmall business Internet usage,” the der-valued small business owner.” study’s authors said.

The full report is available for “The main thing brand marketers download at thecargoagency.com.

8.7%

30.7%

drop in SBOs who are planning 12 months out

said business / financial planning was a top 3 challenge (up 14%)

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8 | TRANSPORTATION & TECHNOLOGY |

UBJ

NEWS

|

11.14. 2014

GSP flights cheaper than Charlotte, Atlanta BENJAMIN JEFFERS | STAFF

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bjeffers@communityjournals.com Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) has a lower average domestic fare than Charlotte and Atlanta, according to a recent report by the US Department of Transportation.

The report ranks the top 100 airports in the country based on average domestic fare.

GSP’s average domestic fare is about $415 compared to about $436 for Charlotte and $435 for Atlanta, according to the report. Passengers at GSP pay about $20 more than the national average.

The average domestic fare for GSP has decreased 39.8 percent since 2000, compared to only 15.6 percent nationally.

The fare decreased 0.1 percent at GSP since last year. According to the report, the lowest average fare for the top 100 airports was about $111 at Sanford, Fla.; the highest was $523 at Cincinnati, Ohio.

A press release by GSP attributed the low fares to low-fare carriers Allegiant and Southwest Airlines and “the competiveness of American, Delta Airlines, United and US Airways,” offering about 49 nonstop departures to 15 major cities daily.

LOWEST AVERAGE DOMESTIC FARES $110.61—Sanford, Fla. $138.43—Mesa, Ariz. $187.76—Atlantic City, N.J. $192.46—Bellingham, Wash. $250.41—Long Beach, Calif. $274. 28—Las Vegas, Nev. $297.05—Burbank, Calif. $299.86—Fort Lauderdale, Fla. $304.20—Dallas Love, Texas $307.95—Islip, N.Y.

#63 $415.36—GreenvilleSpartanburg, S.C. #78 $435.34—Atlanta, Ga. #79 $436.45—Charlotte, N.C.

InnoVision Awards honor 9 Nine organizations, businesses and people were recognized Tuesday night as the latest class of winners of the InnoVision Awards.

The InnoVision Awards Program, founded by Deloitte in 1999 and presented by McNair Law Firm, recognizes advancement of technology in South Carolina. Doug Kim, shareholder with the McNair Law Firm and the chairman of the InnoVision Advisory Board, presented the awards at the 16th Annual InnoVision Awards Celebration at the TD Convention Center in Greenville.

BB&T Wealth is a division of Branch Banking and Trust Company, Member FDIC. Only deposit products are FDIC insured.

Investment solutions are provided by Branch Banking and Trust Company and BB&T Investment Services, Inc., a wholly owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Branch Banking and Trust Company, Member FINRA/SIPC. Securities and investment products or services are: not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not insured by any federal government agency, may go down in value, not guaranteed by the bank. © 2014, Branch Banking and Trust Company. All rights reserved.

ISI Technology, headquartered in Charleston, received the Technology Development Award for devel-

oping the world’s first fully electronic liquid heating technology,

“redefining how the world heats and uses water,” said InnoVision.

The College of Charleston earned the Technology Application Award for using a newly released consumer digital camera, Lytro, to generate 3-D images for clinical imaging of cancer growths in severely underserved regions of the world.

upstatebusinessjournal.com

Furman University received the Hall of Fame Award, “an accomplishment that is hard-earned and rarely awarded by the judges,” said InnoVision. The award, the third Furman has received in the awards’ 16-year history, recognizes the school’s continued contributions in the Innovation of Education category.

Furman University also received InnoVision’s Community Service Award for its collaborative project with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Department and other departments within Furman University. The team is employing the use of drones to study the correlation between streetlight illumination and crime in the New Washington and Poe Mills neighborhoods.

ActivEd received the Innovation in Education Award for developing accessible products and programs to foster learning and promote healthy lifestyles through movement and physical activity.

NEWS

Recovr LLC was one winner of the Small Enterprise Award. Recovr’s product, “Duck Duck Punch,” is a game developed between Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina to aid in post-stroke upper extremity neurorehabilitation.

VRM Labs, another winner of the Small Enterprise Award, developed a proprietary method for extraction of antioxidants from animal blood, which is broadly available as an inexpensive byproduct of the animal processing industry.

Martin Lap Yin Li, a student in the Discovery Science & Math Magnet Program at Spring Valley High School, won the Young Innovator Award. He combined a mechanical bathroom scale with a light-producing spin top to create a piezoelectric power generator, providing a reliable 12-volt step power source for about $100.

Dr. Larry Gluck won the Dr. Charles Townes Individual Lifetime Achievement Award, for his nearly 30 years of work in improving cancer care delivery.

MeadWestvaco, through its Specialty Chemical Division, has advanced the use of activated carbon in the on-board storage of natural gas for all classes of motor vehicles.

The firm was the recipient of the Sustainability Award.

Senior Chief Thom Shea, former Navy SEAL and the author of “Unbreakable: A Navy SEAL’S Way of Life,” was the keynote speaker for the evening’s celebration. More information on the InnoVision Awards is available at innovisionawards.org.

23 West North Street, Downtown Greenville 864-232-2761 www.RushWilson.com

| TECHNOLOGY | 9

10 | INNOVATE |

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MOVERS, SHAKERS AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE

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11.14. 2014

Creative Inquiry in school can help fill missing pieces for employers

By DR. LEE EDWARDS, director of Creative Inquiry, Greenville Tech What does an employer want to see in a college graduate? The Chronicle of Higher Education and American Public Media’s Marketplace conducted a survey in 2012 of 50,000 employers who hire recent college graduates to understand employer perceptions of the role of colleges and universities in career preparation. The survey asked questions like, “What skills do college graduates need to succeed in the workplace?” and “Do you see these much-needed skills in prospective job seekers?”

The study found that the skills most needed by employers, such as written and oral communication skills, adaptability and managing multiple priorities, making decisions, and problem-solving, were found to be lacking in recent college graduates. Many employers report that new college graduates can memorize facts and regurgitate them, but do not exhibit the ability to go past what they learned in class. Unfortunately, their education did not include much time spent on designing a detailed approach to addressing a problem or actually engaging their design plans and evaluating their attempts.

One suggestion made by the Chronicle study for strengthening skills of graduates is for colleges and universities to support rich experiential opportunities that integrate content learned in classes with soft skills necessary in industry like those mentioned above.

Those of us in the world of undergraduate education hear what those in industry are saying.

Unfortunately, we feel the pressure to deliver so many facts and figures to provide the students a basic understanding of their field. But this delivery is leaving no room for students to take on a project and work with it over time to investigate all parameters. Students have limited opportunities to ask, “If this idea doesn’t work, what can I try next?” Or, “If I get an answer I didn’t expect, how do I interpret that unexpected information?”

For students to be better prepared for their future, they need to have the experience of working with information over time and developing the ability to analyze and draw conclusions. Students need to develop critical thinking skills and the ability to ask the right questions.

Greenville Technical College has heard this call from employers and has developed a new program, Creative Inquiry. Modeled after Clemson University’s program, GTC’s Creative Inquiry is a col-

lege-wide initiative to provide students the opportunity to go beyond classroom instruction and get involved in faculty-driven or faculty-mentored research, career-related research, or problem-based learning.

In the GTC Creative Inquiry program, students seek out a mentor, either a faculty member or possibly a business community member, who can guide their project. They work on a project developed by their mentor or can propose their own topic of investigation. The student is expected to research the area and write a proposal, consisting of a review of the literature currently available, followed by a thorough description of their project, and how the results of their project add to the current body of knowledge.

demonstrate to potential employers that they have experience with long-term information management and have developed problem-solving skills not learned from a textbook.

During the course of their project they probably will have run into a dead end somewhere and have had to find their way around it to successfully complete their work to earn their grade.

Students will have had to ask for help from other people, possibly a GTC librarian during the research phase or a GTC staff member well-versed in statistics or spreadsheet navigation, all the while learning cooperation, being on time for appointments, and communication skills in order to get answers to their questions.

Greenville Technical College is the first tech-

For students to be better prepared for their future, they need to have the experience of working with information over time and developing the ability to analyze and draw conclusions.

Students need to develop critical thinking skills and the ability to ask the right questions.

The mentor and student discuss how the student is to progress throughout the semester, addressing certain benchmarks that need to be completed, and the student is expected to make progress toward his or her goal. By the end of the semester, the student will have a “product,” such as a paper, an oral presentation, a prototype or a newly developed protocol, and skills developed that will prove valuable when looking for employment.

GTC Creative Inquiry students sign up for a three-credit-hour college course in order to complete their project and receive credit towards their degree. These students will be able to

nical college in South Carolina to implement a college-wide undergraduate research program.

Our goal is to prepare students with the skills sought by employers, whether the student is working toward an associate degree or plans to transfer and earn a baccalaureate degree.

We are looking for those in the business community to serve as mentors to our students. If you would like to share your expertise and help shape the future of a student, please contact Dr. Lee Edwards, director of Creative Inquiry at GTC, at 864-250-8457 or by email at Lee.Edwards@gvltec.edu.

How well prepared are recent graduates?

2%

18%

49%

Very well prepared

Well prepared

Unprepared

Very unprepared

28%

3%

Prepared

Only 31% of employers indicated recent graduates are “unprepared” or “very unprepared”— similar to how they responded to how well schools were doing in producing successful employees.

Source: Chronicle of Higher Education and Marketplace survey, 2012

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12 | YOUR MONEY |

NEWS AND TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL BOT TOM LINE

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11.14. 2014

Crowdfunding – South Carolina should be next

By MIKE JOHNSON AND LEE KISER, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP It has been more than two years since Congress passed the JOBS Act, and almost one year since the SEC issued proposed rules for equity crowdfunding. With the SEC moving slowly on federal crowdfunding rules, many states are choosing to bypass the SEC and adopt their own crowdfunding laws, including states that South Carolina competes with for businesses, jobs and investors.

Twelve states have passed crowdfunding laws, and another 12, including D.C., have either legislation pending or have started studies on legislation.

In early 2014, state Rep. Dwight Loftis of Greenville introduced House Bill 4799, which would create an intrastate offering exemption for South Carolina businesses and investors. Because House Bill 4799 was introduced in the second year of a two-year session, the bill died last June and must be reintroduced, which Rep. Loftis plans to do in January.

Loftis’ bill is patterned after rules recently

proposed by the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking to permit crowdfunding within the District of Columbia. The proposed D.C. rules, which are intended to facilitate small-entity capital-raising, would permit D.C.-based startups and small businesses to engage in equity-based crowdfunding with D.C. residents through online platforms.

The proposed rules would allow businesses in D.C. that are organized under D.C. law and authorized to do business in D.C. to raise up to $2 million in any 12-month period from D.C. residents. The amount businesses would be permitted to raise under the exemption would be based primarily on the level and quality of financial disclosure provided (from $500,000 for a company with basic financial statements to up to $2 million for a company with audited financials).

Non-accredited investors (individuals with annual income below $200,000 or net worth below $1 million) with annual income under $100,000 would be limited to investing $10,000 in any 12-month period, and those with annual income between $100,000 and $200,000 would be limited to investing $25,000 in any 12-month period. Non-accredited investors

who are not natural persons, such as trusts, LLCs and partnerships, would be required to have annual gross income or net worth exceeding $1,000,000 to be eligible.

Like the proposed D.C. rules, the South Carolina bill would permit crowdfunding if done solely within South Carolina, would allow businesses to advertise their investments throughout the state and, most importantly, would allow South Carolina businesses to raise capital from everyone, even non-accredited investors. Similar to the D.C. rules, the South Carolina proposal would place limits on the amount of money that could be raised from non-accredited investors: up to $15,000 in any calendar year, with no more than $5,000 invested in a single business.

South Carolina has an excellent opportunity to enhance the capital markets for small businesses at its next legislative session by passing an intrastate offering exemption similar to that which was introduced last legislative session.

Further, South Carolina must send a message to investors and businesses throughout the U.S. that it will support legislation aimed at creating economic opportunities and enhancing the competitive positions of businesses and investors located in the Palmetto State.

Exemption enacted Exemption in progress (including Alaska, not on map) Exemption rejected

INTRASTATE CROWDFUNDING EXEMPTIONS (AS OF NOVEMBER 2014)

source: Crowdfundinglegalhub.com

14 | THE TAKEAWAY |

NOTES FROM THE BEST TALKS YOU MISSED

‘Create an environment for success’ Gender is not a barrier for leaders, says Furman president Dr. Elizabeth Davis keynote speaker Dr. Elizabeth Davis, president of Furman University. A noted scholar, teacher, author and administrator, Davis came to Furman from Baylor University in Texas, where she served as executive vice president and provost.

The inaugural ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award was presented during the symposium to Wyche P.A. Wyche has a number of proactive programs that have been in place for some years to ensure the success of women attorneys.

Additional presenters included Tim Reed, chairman of the Greenville Chamber board of directors; Terry Grayson-Caprio, partner at >>

By MEGAN SHERARD, Communications coordinator, Greenville Chamber The ATHENA Leadership Symposium is a unique leadership program inspired by past recipients of the ATHENA Award in an effort to actively support talented women in achieving leadership positions in greater numbers. The Greenville Chamber has recognized and honored women in leadership with the ATHENA Leadership Award since 2001. This award is presented to women who have made significant contributions to Greenville in promoting community prosperity and quality of life.

This third annual event featured

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NOTES FROM THE BEST TALKS YOU MISSED

When tackling obstacles, Dr. Davis insists on staying true to your authentic self, even in the face of adversity. She attempts to calmly resolve issues by anticipating obstacles and imagining herself overcoming them. Being prepared helps her to complete tasks with a clear mind.

WHAT: The Greenville Chamber’s ATHENA Leadership Symposium WHEN: Nov. 4, 2014 WHERE: TD Convention Center FEATURE PRESENTATION: “Advancing Women’s Leadership and Corporate Board Service” with Dr. Elizabeth Davis

DEALING WITH CHALLENGING WORK ENVIRONMENTS

WHO WAS THERE: 400+ members of Greenville’s business community SPONSOR: KPMG LLP

>> KPMG LLP; and Barbara League, past ATHENA award recipient.

“DRAWN TO A PLACE, NOT A PRESIDENCY”

Davis became Furman University’s 12th president on July 1, 2014.

She says of Furman, “I was drawn to a place, not a presidency.” She is currently working with the university on initiatives to further develop women leaders. Programs like the Women’s Leadership Institute of Furman assist women in taking control of their careers,

| THE TAKEAWAY | 15

Attendees at the ATHENA symposium.

“Whether we’re scared or not, we need to channel the confidence that is in there and find a way to tell our story.”

Dr. Elizabeth Davis, president, Furman University

becoming stronger leaders and making significant contributions to their communities.

VALUE OF A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM

Davis feels lucky to have had a strong support system during her youth, a solid foundation upon which

she has built her professional career.

She received great support from her family, and considers her father a “champion of women in dentistry.”

Davis, who attended an all-girl public high school, says, “My high school experience contributed to my worldview that gender is not a barrier.” It was not until the start of her professional career that she became keenly aware of the lack of women in leadership roles.

She says that the support she enjoyed as a teenager bled over into her first job after graduate school, providing her the confidence she needed to excel in the workplace.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1. Don’t be afraid to throw your hat into the ring.

Be willing to take risks.

Help people remember your value.

2. Be willing to walk away when a position is no longer fulfilling.

Careers should feed you, not drain you.

Pursue a career which brings you joy.

3. Declare non-negotiables.

Decide what’s most important to you and stand up for what you believe in.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

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“Obstacles help us get to the goal,” Davis says. “Just make sure you focus on the goal and not the obstacles and be sure not to create the obstacles yourself.” Whenever inevitable mistakes happen in dealing with obstacles, Davis suggests “apologizing, owning it and moving on.”

“Accept that you’re not going to change difficult people, but figure out how to operate within the system,” Davis says. In her experience, asking peers for help on dealing with difficult situations has been beneficial. She also suggests helping people remember your value – what talents you bring to the table without which the company could not operate.

HANDLING FEAR

“Whether we’re scared or not, we need to channel the confidence that is in there and find a way to tell our story,” says Davis. Confidence in the face of fear makes you a stronger individual and builds you up for the future. “People can sense confidence,” she says.

BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY

Though she sometimes noticed judgment from other females in her professional career, especially when it came to topics such as family, Davis insists you have to have “confidence in your judgment with your family and career.” In declaring her own non-negotiables, family is extremely important and she vows to make every attempt to keep her career from interfering with her family time.

SUPPORTING OTHER WOMEN LEADERS

“Norms for behavior don’t depend on gender, race or age,” Davis says.

“Create an environment for success.”

It is each woman’s duty to help lift up other women professionals. We must continue having honest, dynamic conversations about women’s leadership roles, she says.

“Chart your path and support the paths of your colleagues.”

inspired?

The Greenville Chamber offers a number of resources for those interested in women’s initiatives.

Check out greenvillechamber.org/ women.php for more information.

16 | ENTREPRENEUR |

THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THE BUSINESSES

Counting on community Anna Locke takes her accounting business beyond the spreadsheet

JENNIFER OLADIPO SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER joladipo@communityjournals.com If there was a career that a professional could

Photos by William Crooks

take anywhere, Anna LOCKE figured it was accounting. So, before she founded the A. T. LOCKE accounting firm in 2008, she was a recent college graduate working at Elliott Davis and waiting for the day her husband’s engineering career might call for the family to move to another location.

That day has yet to come. Anna Locke said she still tries to make sure that what she does complements her husband’s goals, and vice versa. But in the meantime, Locke built her own company, a Greenville business that is poised to expand beyond the Upstate.

It was accounting’s geographical flexibility that drew Anna to the career, but she also had an inkling that it would allow her to explore in a way, even if she never ventured far. She said one of her favorite aspects of the job is learning about >>

Anna Locke, founder of A.T. LOCKE.

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11.14. 2014

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THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THE BUSINESSES

| ENTREPRENEUR | 17

to the day when the company has a physical footprint in those areas.

Locke likes to be out and about, and is a good source for intel on the community. She said these days, area companies are making their plans for the first and second quarters of 2015, and also keeping an eye on the Ebola virus. Because she prefers face-to-face interaction, she said she relies heavily on a calendar to keep her in line.

“Otherwise I’ll spend a lot of time on a lot of different things – enjoying every single one, but not really getting that deeply into anything.”

Interestingly, her husband, Sidney, referenced that same impulse to stay busy and involved when he said “genuine” and “sincere” were the words he would use to describe Locke. “She is truly interested in the boards and other things she’s involved in, and has a true interest in her customers.”

Even as she stays on the move, Locke keeps a reminder that she is on a certain path. She wears a small lapel pin in the shape of a lantern that represents a light from God illuminating the path toward her next adventure.

She said her guiding principle is her faith. “I may not have it all planned out on my own,” she said, “but I don’t have to.”

>> a great diversity of industries and business among her clientele. She works with international companies new to the Upstate, small startups and family-owned businesses in their second and third generations. To keep up with them all, she intentionally hires different types of people, ensuring a divesity of ideas about how to use financial information.

As she grew in her field, Locke wanted to do more than just get the numbers right. She wanted to know what they could do.

“My personality and my curiosity was building so that I wanted to see what businesses did with the numbers on a day-to-day basis,” she said. Now Locke is passionate about helping people use financial statements to their greatest potential as a business tool. “It’s amazing how that can kick-start a conversation,” she said, showing companies when and how they can expand, revealing information that might be contrary to what business owners think they have observed.

Do companies have the cash they think they have? Are they truly making money on their favorite customer or product line? Is the organization growing? The numbers will tell.

The time spent helping organizations understand what they need on an individual level parallels Locke’s involvement in initiatives that aim to support the wider business community. She serves on the boards of the Greer Chamber of Commerce and NEXT High School, an innovative public school set to open next year. In addition to those formal roles, Locke said she tries to be part of conversations that are moving the business community forward. She’s getting to spend two years on big ideas for the entire state of South Carolina as part of the current class in the Liberty Fellowship, an esteemed statewide leadership program.

Locke recently served as a judge for Startup Weekend, a three-day crash course in building in a startup. She said it was difficult to choose winners among so many promising concepts.

“I’m grateful to live in a community that talks a lot about new business ideas,” she said.

A.T. LOCKE now has more than 100 clients, and has grown to the point that Locke no longer needs to be involved in the minutiae of client accounts.

The 18-employee firm also has grown physically, steadily taking over one floor at a time in a beautifully appointed office building off of Pelham Road.

Most recently, they took over the downstairs, creating a laid-back meeting space where travel books sit on the coffee table and the financial publications are tucked out of sight. Locke said that choice was deliberate, an effort to encourage employees to put accounting aside once in a while and let their minds travel.

She said the plan for 2015 is to continue building her team. Her five-to10-year plan is to reach into different markets. She said the firm already has clients in other parts of the Carolinas and Georgia, and she looks forward

“My personality and my curiosity was building so that I wanted to see what businesses did with the numbers on a day-to-day basis.”

Anna Locke, president, A.T. LOCKE

18 | MILESTONE |

A TRIBUTE TO OUR LONG-LASTING ENTERPRISES

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11.14. 2014

Taking service personally For 35 years, Interim HealthCare has been enriching lives – and not just those of its clients

35 YEARS

JENNIFER OLADIPO SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER joladipo@communityjournals.com

Interim HealthCare of Upstate South Caro-

INDUSTRY CHANGES

As with many industries, advances in technology have had a significant impact on the business.

First, there’s the simple fact that mobile commu-

CEO Rick McDuff and president Ray Schroeder of Interim HealthCare.

Photos by Greg Beckner

lina is part of a larger chain of more than 300 independently owned franchises around the country. Yet the home health and hospice care provider has a unique identity deliberately cultivated by president Ray Schroeder and vice president Charyl Schroeder, his wife, and the rest of the leadership team.

While the larger corporate mission is “We Improve People’s Lives,” the purpose at Interim HealthCare of Upstate SC is “We are dedicated to honoring God through the enrichment of human life.” Ray Schroeder and CEO Rick McDuff say their own lives are enriched by the work they and their support and clinical staff do; it’s not something they can turn off at the end of the day.

The company started off as Personnel Pool of Greenville in 1979, creating a home health division in 1984. The game-changer came later when Medicare changed its policy to include home health care.

“Our business really got legs when Medicare decided to cover home health,” Schroeder said.

The business more than doubled in size every year from 1984 to 1988, requiring continual hiring and requisite expansions. “That’s when we really learned what it takes to run a large company.”

nication is easier. In the early days, Schroeder would carry a pager on his evening runs and if an emergency occurred, he’d have to jog up to a stranger’s home and ask to use the phone. But even more impactful than that have been changes in care delivery. Now each of Interim’s home care clients have telemonitoring devices that track seven different vital signs. >>

“Our business really got legs when Medicare decided to cover home health. That’s when we really learned what it takes to run a large company.”

Ray Schroeder, president, Interim HealthCare

upstatebusinessjournal.com

>> Interim also leads the field by providing a concierge service to each patient for 60 days.

Patients have a call alert device that contacts Interim immediately if they need help, which Schroeder said gives many of their elderly patients a much-needed sense of security.

Most recently, requirements related to the federal Affordable Care Act have brought the biggest change to how Interim does business.

Medicare payments have been reduced, causing the company to make cuts. Gone is the annual office Christmas party at the TD Center where 400 employees and their guests would celebrate the year.

It’s not the first tough time.

Twenty years ago, a competitor came to town and set out to ruin Interim. The new company lured away three of the company’s four main employees overnight by offering them $10,000 more than their salaries at Interim.

“I gathered up my remaining staff of one and told her how grateful I was that she had stayed.

And that day I decided my drive now would be to show the other three that they’d made a mistake.”

He said two of the deserters eventually asked to come back (but he wouldn’t have them), and the other company had folded up and disappeared within a year.

Another time the company was subjected to a random IRS audit, six months Schroeder called “one of the most acerbic and painful times.”

Nearly every day brought contact with an IRS agent whom he felt was very negative. In the end, however, the company ended up with a substantial tax rebate after the agency pored over its finances.

CONSUMING WORK

Schroeder speaks somewhat matter-of-factly about the challenges the company has faced, as if dealing with them is just part of what needs to be done in service to his clients. It’s a service he says he takes personally. Schroeder had begun his career as a lawyer, but his mother’s death unexpectedly changed his path.

He’d gained a reputation in Florida for divorce law after representing actor Mickey Rooney’s seventh wife, he said, but he eventually soured on working divorces. Then, an only child, Schroeder watched his mother die of lung cancer. He was struck by the care she received at the end of her life, which he described as spiritual, loving, and the best care he’d ever seen.

“It change my outlook on death and dying,” he said. It also changed his notions of what would make a fulfilling career. With that, he bought into the Interim franchise, loaded up a truck with whatever supplies his partners would allow him to take, and moved to Greenville to set up shop.

Actually, he got to Greenville but the truck was lost en route for four days. So he bought a cot and two chairs for his 450-square-foot office on

A TRIBUTE TO OUR LONG-LASTING ENTERPRISES

| MILESTONE | 19

TIMELINE OF INTERIM HEALTH

1979

Opening / Original Articles of Incorporation for Personnel Pool of Greenville Inc.

1980

Created Home Health Division

1981

Anderson office opened

1983

Spartanburg office opened

CEO Rick McDuff and president Ray Schroeder in front of Interim HealthCare’s headquarters in Greenville.

University Ridge. He spent his first nights on the cot and days in one of the chairs, interviewing people to build his staff.

A considerable number of current staffers have stayed with the company for a long time. Seven people have been with the company for more than a quarter century, and more than 60 of the rest have been with the company for more than 10 years. McDuff said they know they have the right employees when “they fit our heart. They understand coming into it what we believe in.”

It’s notable language, especially coming from somebody who was a partner with Smith Moore Leatherwood until last year. As a former trial lawyer now working in a heavily regulated industry, he “looks at everything,” but said it’s the small and grand gestures from the clinical staff that continue to impress him. They befriend clients, celebrate their milestones and attend their funerals. One nurse whose elderly client was having difficulty getting in and out of the home took her own family to build the client a ramp in a weekend.

“It’s a business you’re totally consumed by,” McDuff said. It’s a drastic departure from law, which McDuff said is an adversarial system that doesn’t offer as many opportunities to help others.

LEADERSHIP “DREAM TEAM”

A “dream team” of six people makes up the company’s leadership. They are dedicated folks, most of whom have been with the company more than 15 years, Schroeder said.

“Every one of them are people I say, ‘I don’t keep hours with you, because if I had to pay you for all the hours you work, I’d lose.’”

1984

Ray elected first President of SC State Home Health Association

1985

Medicare begins coverage of home health care

1993

Easley, Seneca, and Gaffney offices opened

1994

Received license for Hospice (in memory of Ray’s mother)

1998

Purchased Upstate Carolina Home Health agency (Gaffney)

2001

Purchased Atlanta office

2012

Interim estimates it has been awarded slightly over 275 awards over the years

2013

Former Interim attorney (over previous five years) Rick McDuff joins company as CEO

20 | PERSONAL FINANCE

UBJ

JENNIFER OLADIPO SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER joladipo@communityjournals.com If you feel like you’re hearing a lot about wealth management recently, it’s not your imagination. New firms, new services at existing institutions and encroachments from other markets have been announced with increasing frequency in recent years. They’re looking for more accounts in the Upstate; could they be looking for you?

Ask any wealth management professional when is the best time to consider their services, and the answer will be something like “now” or “yesterday.”

Yet that leaves a lot of ambiguity for lay people unsure if they have quite enough wealth to manage.

Retirees can be certain: Wealth managers want to talk to you. The uptick in wealth management activity is an echo of the baby boom, and financial institutions are looking to reach the 10,000 people a day who are hitting retirement age, expecting the demand for their services to increase.

“Unfortunately, many people wait until they are at or near retirement before they start to make a plan,” said Bob Nachman, managing director of Nachman Norwood & Parrot wealth management consultancy. “They may have done a reasonable job at accumulating assets but they don’t have a comprehensive game plan. With these statistics, it is easy to see why financial institutions are expanding into this field.”

HOW WEALTHY?

A sampling of wealth management services available in this region from small firms to large banks showed a range of minimum asset requirements. Although there usually isn’t a hard and fast rule, they’re looking for numbers such as $25,000, $50,000, $250,000 or $1 million or more. Some might only count investable assets.

Advisors usually can take on whomever they want, but they might not receive commission on accounts with assets under a certain amount. Especially at large national firms, they’re often incentivized to seek out the bigger accounts.

Nachman Norwood &

Parrott serves the seven-figure individuals, families and institutions. “We typically work with clients who have at least $1-$2 million in investment assets,” said Nachman.

“However, we have a longstanding practice of working with those who we feel are on the right path to become high net-worth.”

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11.14. 2014

some advisors are on the lookout for clients whose trajectory is toward greater assets in the future, and they don’t mind helping them get there. That might include young professionals who are likely to have more investable income later.

“There are solutions for every level of asset base that you have. And in terms of professional advice, you can find that at all levels, too. You don’t have to be bashful about not having a million dollars to invest,” said Trevor Gordon, founder and CEO of Sandlapper Wealth Management and other investment businesses.

He added that seeing “wealth” in a firm’s name does not always mean it caters only to high-networth individuals; sometimes it’s more of a marketing tool. It’s best to shop around and ask for referrals to know what you’re really getting.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Dan Wagner, president of Wagner Wealth Management, said a slight difference exists between an investment advisor and a wealth manager. Advisors might work with investments and portfolios, setting goals and a date of return to meet them, but that is just a small part of what a wealth manager might do. Wealth managers also take on tasks in addition to services such as helping clients work out succession plans or analyzing business opportunities. They might even play a key role in a client’s company, dealing with issues including taxes and retirement plans.

NOT SO WEALTHY?

Even for people who feel like wealth is the least descriptive word for their finances, points of entry definitely exist. In fact,

Finally, Gordon says to expect that as a person’s investment needs change, the need to change advisors could arise as well. If you don’t need a wealth manager today, that doesn’t mean you won’t need one later.

Are you ready for wealth management?

PERSONAL FINANCE | 21

upstatebusinessjournal.com

Financially fit to be the

BOSS 5 things you need to know if entrepreneurship is on your horizon JENNIFER OLADIPO SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER joladipo@communityjournals.com Your business will likely be your biggest asset, but its success is linked to your overall financial health. From startups to multimillion-dollar enterprises, many of the same principles apply.

After talking with financial experts and serial entrepreneurs in the Upstate, here is what UBJ discovered you need to know now to get ready to be the boss.

THAT RECENT ELECTION? IT MATTERED. Several pieces of pro-

posed legislation at the federal level likely bit the dust along with some re-election campaigns. As a result, some existing and expected tax rules and other business-related laws could see important changes within the next 45 days.

For example, accelerated depreciation, which allowed business to write off up to $500,000 in the first year after a piece of equipment is purchased, just reverted back to a $25,000 write-off. That’s bad news for businesses looking to buy expensive equipment, and also for the sellers looking to get rid of equipment. Reach out to your accountant or financial advisor to see if you’re affected, because you might have to dig deeper into your own pockets than you thought.

FAMILY MATTERS, TOO.

Experts say it’s a good idea to get some outside input about how debt structure and liability factor into business plans. “That gets into what spouse may own the home, versus what spouse may own the business,” said Dan Wagner of Wagner Wealth Management. What’s more, entrepreneurial risk might require a solid plan for income replacement in the event that things don’t work out, or the business doesn’t materialize fast enough. It is also good to plan for unexpected financial entanglements in the business that could affect the rest of the family. “Unfortunately, this is a litigious society,” Wagner said.

APPLY BOLDNESS TO PERSONAL INVESTMENTS. People

IT’S A GREAT TIME FOR BAD DECISIONS. Don’t make them.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THE RISK. “The one thing

in the Upstate often tend to over-emphasize real estate investments in their portfolios. They might take comfort in the tangibility of dirt, buildings and homes, or it might be the residual effect of a Scots-Irish heritage.

Either way, area advisors say they have to encourage people to consider investments that might feel riskier but that can also be lived off if needed.

Same goes for debt. It might be smarter to take out that big bank loan rather than wait for cash on hand. That way, the expense can be written off immediately and create a larger return for your company at the same time. On the other hand…

Finance experts say the current climate created by low interest rates is leaving a lot of people scratching their heads about how to make more from their money, and unfortunately making poor, overly risky decisions. Be smart and diligent about investments that seem like they might provide the quick or exponential return that’s tempting as you start a business. As one local expert put it, “people do dumb things when interest rates are low.”

you have to understand with any investment you ever make, with very few exceptions, is they might lose money somewhere along the way. You have to be willing to lose,” said Trevor Gordon of Sandlapper Wealth Management. Entrepreneurs need to plan for the reality that economies can change, or that they might have great ideas but lack the wherewithal to sell them.

Think ahead about the how much of your personal finances you’re willing to risk, and the points at which you will say it’s time to cut your losses if necessary.

22 | PERSONAL FINANCE

UBJ

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11.14. 2014

How much cheaper is G-Vegas?

Greenville is growing, and people are coming from all over the county. A sampling of the most popular points of departure from 2006 to 2012 shows that, for the most part, it’s cheaper to live here. If you’re looking for a bargain, you’ll want to get your pizza and your health care someplace else. But for a cup of coffee and a nice house, look no further. % = Percentage above or below the cost of living in other cities 16.10% above

11.81% above

20%

1.52% above

10% 0%

9.89% above

Washington, DC

3.59% above 7.72% above

0.74% above

Tampa

San Diego

NJ Middlesex-Monmouth

Detroit

Atlanta Housing

10%

3.74% below

20%

6.95% below

7.12% below

7.39% below

30%

17.98% below

19.22% below

2.24% below

50.98% below

40%

Utilities

50% 50.98% below

60%

62.95% below

70% 69.88% below

80%

Health Washington, DC

$4.85

$4.98

$3.89

Coffee

$258,431

$8.50

Pizza $8.05

Movie

$8.00

$11.03

Dry Cleaning

$10.45

$9.99

$12.76

$82.70

$125.26

$97.33

$79.50

Doctor Visit $93.85

$9.49

$3.68

$85.21 $10.76

$10.74

T-Bone Steak

$11.40

$12.04

$9.91

$10.16

$10.19

$11.35

$11.24

$605,051

$11.44

$8.68

Atlanta Greenville

Detroit

$10.69 $9.93

$10.67

$8.75 $8.00

$8.03

$456,311

House

$8.00

$9.53

$219,303

$259,309

San Diego

$12.16

$212,315

$5.20

$4.34

NJ Middlesex-Monmouth

$779,749 $3.56

$3.55

Tampa

$104.92

$3.42

$3.16

$3.58

$3.43

Gasoline $3.59

$4.00

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Election Implications to Health Care EXPECT THESE ISSUES TO ARRIVE ON THE PRESIDENT’S DESK FOR SIGNATURE OR VETO, WHEN THE 114TH CONGRESS CONVENES IN JANUARY 2015. By Forum

2. MEDICAL DEVICE TAX ELIMINATION. Implemented in 2013, the 2.3 % medical device tax is based on revenue, not profits. This results in the manufacturer simply pushing cost on to the end user.

There has been bipartisan support to overturn this tax, as many manufacturers are located in “Blue” states.

3. HEALTH INSURANCE TAX (HIT) ELIMINATION. The Affordable Care Act imposes a tax that is a fixed

Sponsored Content

5

The

< “DOC FIX” ON MEDICARE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH RATE-SGR. Currently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses a calculation method referred to as SGR to control spending by Medicare for physician services. This results in severe cuts to fees authorized due to the formula. Congress has intervened 18 times since 2003 to moderate the cuts. The options going forward are to have Congress continue to intervene or a complete restructuring of the formula. amount per year on the fully insured health plans.

This tax is passed on to employers and employees through premium increases.

Large companies who typically fund their own plans are exempt from this tax, meaning the burden falls solely on the small employer.

The revenue is meant to directly fund the Affordable Care Act. 4. CADILLAC TAX ELIMINATION. This 40% excise tax is scheduled to

be implemented in 2018 on the value of health insurance benefits exceeding a certain amount ($10,200 for individual and $27,500 for family). Since it is not adjusted for health care inflation, this will affect many employers in the years following 2018. Companies have already begun making adjustments to their benefit plan including lowering benefits to reduce overall costs to avoid this potential tax.

5. HOURLY ELIGIBILITY RAISED. When the Affordable Care Act passed in 2011, the bill defined a full-time insurance eligible individual as one working at least 130 hours per month, or 30 hours per week. Some employers immediately faced an increase in the number of insurance eligible employees and the costs that come with that. Many low margin industries, particularly retail and hospitality, have been lobbying for a 40 hour work week for insurance eligibility.

Forum is a team of employee benefit experts whose sole purpose is to make health benefits easier for shareholders, HR administrators and employees. Better than anyone, we know how to navigate the complex and ever changing landscape of health, life and disability insurance so our clients can focus on running their business and doing what they enjoy. Visit forum at www.forumbenefits.com for more information.

23 Cleveland St. Suite A, Greenville, SC | 864.233.1101

24 | NEW TO THE STREET |

UBJ

THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

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11.14. 2014

CONFIDENCE

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1. The Butterfly Foundation (TBF) and the Monarch Café & Fresh Food Store recently opened at 498 Howard St., Spartanburg. TBF provides assistance in the areas of housing, job readiness and training. The Monarch Café will provide community members with moderately priced breakfast and lunch and offer cooking classes for job training. For more information, visit butterfly-sc.com.

97% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION* Our trusted team and proven processes mean that our clients count on us to do what we say we will do, and more. Our team is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations and enhancing the client experience.

Contact us today to learn how our passion for excellence can make a difference to your financial future.

2. Vom Fass recently opened at 4 Market Point Drive, Suite F, Greenville. The store sells fine oils, vinegars, spirits and wines from the cask. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

1116 SOUTH MAIN STREET 8 6 4 . 4 6 7 . 9 8 0 0 | N N P W E A LT H . CO M Nachman Norwood & Parrott is a local wealth management consultancy for top-tier individuals and qualified retirement plan sponsors. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member FINRA/SIPC. Nachman Norwood & Parrott is a separate entity from WFAFN. *Using averages from 2012 Client Satisfaction Survey results.

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

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Springs at Simpsonville adds new wing, cottages Expansion is due to increased demand at assisted living facility

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SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF sjackson@communityjournals.com @SJackson_CJ The Springs at Simpsonville, an assisted living and memory care facility that’s been a Simpsonville mainstay since 2001, is once again expanding with a new wing and new cottages in the works.

A groundbreaking event was held Wednesday to kick off the construction of an additional wing with 14 new rooms. Also currently under construction are three new independent cottages. The facility now has 70 rooms and three existing cottages.

The expansion is to accommodate demand. The Springs usually has a six-month waiting list, said Ashley Burry, marketing director. The new rooms will also be better designed for couples who wish to move into The Springs, she said.

Also in the planning stages is a new activity room with a stage and projection screen, but construction on that won’t begin until later in 2015 after the new wing is finished, said Burry.

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The Springs is privately owned by the Howard family and Hunter Howard III along with Smithkellett Contracting will be doing the development.

Construction on the new wing is expected to be completed and ready for new residents in July 2015. The cottages are expected to be completed

by Dec. 1.

For more information, visit thespringsat simpsonville.com.

Renderings Provided.

4 MILLION SF

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD | THALHIMER’S Greenville office has completed over four million square feet of industrial sales and leases year-to-date. Put our experienced industrial team to work for your commercial real estate requirements. DRIVING CLIENT VALUE BY DELIVERING THE RIGHT REAL ESTATE SOLUTION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

(864) 370 8155

Wells Fargo Center 15 South Main Street, Suite 925 | Greenville, SC 29601 | thalhimer.com

26 | SQUARE FEET |

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

UBJ

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11.14. 2014

Beverly Hills company acquires Crosspointe Plaza SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF sjackson@communityjournals.com @SJackson_CJ BIG Shopping Centers USA, a Beverly Hillsbased private shopping center investment company, has acquired Crosspointe Plaza in Greenville. The 124,200-square-foot center is located across from Haywood Mall with current tenants T.J. Maxx, DSW, JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts, Burkes Outlet, Up 2 Us Furniture, Jason’s Deli and Chipotle.

This is BIG Shopping Centers USA’s first entry into the South Carolina market.

“The acquisition not only marks the addition of another high-quality property to BIG USA’s retail portfolio, it also marks the beginning of a partnership with RealtyLink that will undoubtedly capitalize on the obvious synergies between our teams,” said Dan Eisenberg, vice president – east, BIG Shopping Centers USA. “BIG brings a wealth of retail experience while RealtyLink has developed or acquired and maintained best-inclass properties throughout the Southeast.” BIG Shopping Centers USA owns an 85 percent interest in the shopping center and RealtyLink the

remaining 15 percent. The shopping center is currently 100 percent leased.

Crosspointe Plaza was originally constructed in 1989 and redeveloped by RealtyLink in 2013.

RealtyLink will continue to lease and manage the retail property.

“Greenville is fast becoming a notable economic as well as cultural hub within the Southeast. >>

upstatebusinessjournal.com

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

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We are Jenks Inc Realty and we sell land…

The place you go camping with your son · hunting with your daughter · grow renewable resources like timber · bream fish with your dad · plant food plots for wildlife · trail ride atvs · listen to the wood ducks come to roost · build a home with your spouse · call in your first gobbler · It is the foundation of all real estate and

...an investment you can experience.

VISIT WWW.JIRLAND.COM TO SEE MORE OUTSTANDING TRACTS OF LAND LIKE THIS ONE.

Photo Provided

>> A solid job market – one of the strongest in the Southeast – as well an expected long-term population growth puts this city among the fastest-growing in the United States. As a result, BIG USA will continue to look for acquisition opportunities in Greenville, in the Upstate region of South Carolina as well as throughout the state,” said Eisenberg.

· · · ·

NEW RESTAURANTS AT MAGNOLIA PARK on Woodruff Road are opening just in time for the holiday shopping rush. Here are the latest opening dates… · Opened Oct. 30: HuHot Mongolian Grill · Opening Monday, Nov 17: Dave and Buster’s · Opening Monday, Nov 17: Fresh to Order Opening January, 2015: Another Broken Egg Café Opening first quarter of 2015: Tucano’s Brazilian Grill Date not yet announced: Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar and Grill Date not yet announced: Grimaldi’s Brick Oven Pizzeria

Turkey Creek reTreaT 410 acres · $2,050 per acre.

1.5 miles of creek frontage and duck habitat 20 years of trophy whitetail management 250 acres of plantation pines 126 acres of mature hardwood 45 minutes to Greenville

RICK ERWIN’S DINING GROUP HAS LEASED 5,333 SQUARE FEET at 8595 Pelham Road for a new restaurant expected to open late spring 2015. The location was once home to Coal Fired Bistro. This will be Erwin’s fifth restaurant. The newest location at Patrick’s Square in Clemson opened in October.

DOTTIE’S TOFFEE, A SPARTANBURG CANDY MAKER, received approval for a $30,000 incentive package from Spartanburg City Council Monday night.

Dottie’s Toffee plans to move from its current location on Spring Street into a larger storefront location at 155 W. Main St., Spartanburg, in February 2015.

According to the city, Dottie’s Toffee will receive $15,000 from the city as a grant, with another $15,000 coming in the form of a loan.

THE STARBUCKS AT NOMA SQUARE ON MAIN STREET in downtown Greenville plans a Dec. 15 opening.

Call Jenks Patrick at 864-506-0416 for more information on this property.

Land&Timber

28 | ON THE MOVE |

UBJ

PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

AWARDED

PROMOTED

APPOINTED

HIRED

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11.14. 2014

ELECTED

Jonathan Edward Terrell

Aaron Parris

Beverly Haines

Steven Buckingham

Lynn Harton

Received Northwestern Mutual’s Bronze Leader Award, based on an outstanding year of helping clients achieve financial security. Terrell, a financial representative based in Greenville, led all firstyear Northwestern Mutual financial representatives in production.

Named partner at Cherry Bekaert LLP. Based in the Greenville practice, Parris offers assurance and consulting services to privately held and family-owned businesses. He has served on various firm committees and as an instructor at Cherry Bekaert training sessions.

Named by Greenville County Council to a three-year term on the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC) board of directors.

Haines is the president and chief nursing officer of the Patewood Hospital and Medical Campus of the Greenville Health System.

Named as an attorney in the Perkins Law Firm corporate, employment and litigation groups. He will focus on dispute resolution, whether through mediation, arbitration or litigation. Buckingham will also provide business clients with advice in corporate formation and governance and employment practices.

Named to the board of directors for the national Risk Management Association.

Harton is executive vice president and COO of United Community Banks, Inc., and president and COO of the company’s subsidiary bank, United Community Bank.

Prior to joining United he worked at TD Bank Financial Group in Greenville.

ACCOUNTING

The South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (SCACPA) named Carolina Van Hook as one of 2014’s Women to Watch. She was one of three honorees in the Experienced Leader category, which recognizes CPAs who hold leadership positions

within their firms and have made significant contributions to the accounting profession, their workplaces and their communities. Van Hook is a shareholder in the firm’s Greenville office and provides tax planning and compliance services to both businesses and individuals.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

iMAGINE Upstate hired Jared Hartzell as director of development and community relations and Sarah Arbogast as director of marketing and events.

The new positions will make up part of iMAGINE Upstate’s core staff known as the iTEAM. Hartzell

WWW.WOB2020SC.EVENTBRITE.COM SC KEYNOTE SPEAKER Catherine Heigel General Counsel at Elliot Davis WOMEN ON BOARDS UPDATE Diane Perpich Associate Professor of Philosophy; Director, Women’s Leadership Program, Clemson University HOSTED BY 2020 Women on Boards SC Chapter

upstatebusinessjournal.com

PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

has experience in marketing, project management, commercial lending and real estate investment. He is the founder of Switch Image Concepts, focusing on the success of corporate marketing strategies and corporate images. Arbogast has experience in public relations, cross-channel marketing, higher education, event planning and fundraising. She received her graduate degree at Clemson University where she now mentors students and participates in Women’s Leadership events.

IT

EDUCATION

LEGAL

Judith Sosebee Prince, director of academic engagement at University of South Carolina Upstate’s Greenville campus, was honored with the annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Humanitarian Award by the Urban League of the Upstate. The award recognizes significant community and civic involvement.

Prince has served at USC Upstate for 34 years in various roles, including interim executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and vice chancellor for the USC Upstate Greenville Campus.

EMPLOYMENT

Human Technologies Inc. promoted Abby Gary to director of professional services and hired Jennifer Lackey as manager in the HTI Employment Solutions division. Gary was previously manager of professional services and a recruiter. She will be responsible for skilled hourly, professional and miscellaneous recruiting within the HTI Employment Solutions division of Human Technologies Inc. Lackey will oversee the launch and operation of HTI Solutions. She has more than 19 years of experience in human resources and organizational management in sales, manufacturing and service.

EDTS hired Gerry L. Owen as CFO. Owen has almost two decades of accounting, business consulting and financial management experience. Owen will be responsible for financial planning and analysis, recordkeeping and reporting and will oversee the human resources, billing, accounts payable and accounts receivables departments. Owen most recently served as CFO and chief compliance officer for Savannah River Banking Company.

Wyche named Meliah Bowers Jefferson as a shareholder. Jefferson focuses on complex commercial litigation, intellectual property law and insurance coverage. She is on the board of directors for the South Carolina Women Lawyer’s Association and serves on the Law School Professionalism Committee for the South Carolina Chief Justice’s Commission on the Profession. Prior to joining Wyche, Jefferson served as law clerk to United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs.

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd Greenville shareholder J. Derrick Quattlebaum was recently elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the South Carolina Chapter of ABOTA. He defends clients in class actions, business, construction, commercial, financial services litigation and insurance coverage.

MARKETING/PR

| ON THE MOVE | 29

tiatives for various DIRECTV agents. Haltiwanger provides assistance to the hospitality team, supporting media buyers and coordinators by conducting research, gathering and organizing media kits as well as preparing reports. She previously worked as a campaign manager at Modern Marketing Inc. in Greenville. Benson assists the grocery team with client deliverables including placing orders, maintaining legal notices and tracking confirmations.

She previously worked at York Technical College where she was responsible for creating recruitment campaigns, communications plans, project briefs and radio advertisements.

SERVICES

Spruce: Services and Solutions, a residential and commercial cleaning and maintenance services company, hired Heather Listar as office manager and Corey Bailey as its first maintenance specialist.

Listar has experience in business development, real estate and property management, including the management of properties spanning five states. She will be responsible for leading the administrative and business operations of the company. Bailey has more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry. He owned and operated Bailey Construction/Maintenance for 10 years. He will spearhead Spruce’s movement into small-scale repairs and improvements within both commercial and residential business sectors.

Infinity Marketing hired Ben Means, Dana Haltiwanger and Kinsley Benson to its media team.

Means supports the telecommunications team with client deliverables including tracking and purchasing media. He previously served as a client service intern for IMG LIVE where he helped develop iniBC104_1009_AwardAd.qxp_Layout 1 11/10/14 11:24 AM Page 1

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

Better Business Bureau® honors Arthur Rutenberg Homes and American Eagle Builders with the 2014 Business of Integrity Award “Arthur Rutenberg Homes, and independently owned franchise, American Eagle Builders have demonstrated high ethical standards and have established a history of strong ethics. They have also been recognized by the industry and community for sound business practices.”

Our ethics and integrity are reflected in every home we build.

To see for yourself visit our model home in Claremont

Somerset Model

205 Chamblee Blvd, Greenville, SC Open Monday - Saturday 10 am-6 pm and Sunday 1-6 pm Nichole Moore - Sales Consultant

864-558-0066

NMoore@arhomes.com

Bruce Pasquarella

Arthur Rutenberg Homes Franchise Owner

American Eagle Builders, Inc., an Independent Franchise

30 | THE FINE PRINT |

BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN’ T MISS

Recon Group looks to create 248 jobs in Blacksburg The Recon Group Inc. (TRG), a company specializing in logistics solutions, is investing $1.3 million to locate in Blacksburg in Cherokee County. The investment is expected to create 248 new jobs.

TRG’s Blackburg facility will be the firm’s seventh in the United States and ninth worldwide. It will specialize in the refurbishment of high-definition TVs, with the ability to accommodate flex space for pilot programs.

“Along with its proximity to key suppliers’ distribution centers, [Blacksburg] provides faster turnarounds and reduced logistics costs for our East Coast-based customers,” said Matt Gallagher, TRG’s chief customer officer. readySC, a division of the S.C. Technical College System, will assist with recruitment and training of repair and lead technicians at the facility. To apply

Huddle House to open in Cowpens

Huddle House, a full-service family restaurant, has signed a franchise agreement for a restaurant in Cowpens, S.C. The restaurant is expected to open early in 2015.

Huddle House, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, is on pace to open 20 new restaurants in its fiscal year ending April 30, 2015.

Overall, new franchise agreement signings are up more than 170 percent over 2013, and new construction starts are 100 percent ahead of last year.

“The demand for comfort food served in a warm atmosphere has never been greater,” said Huddle House CEO Michael Abt.

for these positions, visit sctechjobs.com.

Mancan Staffing will recruit and hire employees for all other positions.

Mancan has local offices Gastonia, Gaffney and Blacksburg. The Blacksburg office is located within the TRG facility and is accepting applications on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

All three locations are participating in the recruiting process. Interested candidates should contact a staffing office by phone, in person on-site or submit resumes to ckable@mancan.com.

Bon Secours announces new partnerships The Bon Secours Wellness Arena (BSWA) announced new partnerships with local businesses.

Sandlapper Capital Investments is now the sponsor of the Sandlapper Securities VIP Entrance as well as the new Sandlapper Premium Services Lobby.

The Blood Connection Guest Services Desk is located at the Plaza Entrance and offers an area for guests to receive information and assistance during events.

Cree Lighting will replace all existing fixtures with LED lights, including all exterior, concourse and arena lighting.

BSWA has also added new corporate partners who will be displayed on the ribbon boards, center-hung scoreboard and 40 digital concourse displays.

UBJ

|

11.14. 2014

Elliott Davis recognized for internship program

Elliott Davis LLC was recognized for providing one of the Best Overall Internships in the country by Vault.com, a source of ratings and insights for students and professionals.

The Elliott Davis internship program ranks second, higher than any other accounting firms.

Vault.com surveyed thousands of current and former interns about the company’s programs to determine the website’s annual ranking.

The Elliott Davis seven-week summer internship program, Envision, is designed to give participants an opportunity to explore potential career paths within the company, build relationships throughout the firm and obtain work experience in the public accounting field.

“The program focuses on developing important soft skills, such as teamwork, problem solving and adaptability, in addition to technical skills,” said human resources manager Megan Wright.

Throughout the summer, interns work in their local offices, as well as the company’s Greenville headquarters, alongside Elliott Davis team members on career-related tasks, team presentations and community volunteer efforts. In addition, interns are assigned a team project to develop with their local group.

This year, each group was tasked with creating a video that taught viewers about Elliott Davis’ specialty practices.

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upstatebusinessjournal.com

BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN’ T MISS

| THE FINE PRINT | 31

SC companies honored for environmental performance

Accelerate helps J.L. Mann students start engineering careers

BMW Manufacturing Co. Inc. of Greer, Michelin North America Inc. of Lexington, and Glen Raven Custom Fabrics of Anderson were honored for their environmental performance with a renewed membership in the South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program (SCEEP) through 2017.

BMW Manufacturing began an Energy Task Force in 2010 to focus on energy and cost-saving initiatives throughout the facility. Through 2013, total realized energy savings were above 129,000 megawatt-hours, a 23 percent reduction. The company has also achieved a 69 percent reduction in waste going to the landfill.

Michelin North America uses its Michelin Environmental Footprint (MEF) to track the worldwide impact of key environmental measures. With recent changes to Michelin’s tire manufacturing process, the company has reduced volatile organic compound emissions by 70 percent over existing tire-building processes.

Glen Raven is a zero waste-to-landfill facility, and over the past 12 months, the facility also had a 9.3 percent reduction in water usage and 3 percent reduction in energy use. The company replaced older light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs to aid in energy reduction. Glen Raven has also eliminated the use of nonylphenol ethoxylates from its furniture fabrics.

Seven 10th-grade Greenville County students from J.L. Mann High School have begun the three-year virtual Accelerate program at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) The program is designed to help high school students jump-start engineering degrees and careers.

Ethan Coppenbarger, Michael Cox, Cole Curran, Tres Key, Milan Shah, Rob Smith and Jon-Luc Tourigny represent Greenville County in the Accelerate class of 2017.

The number of schools and students participating in Accelerate will increase annually, with plans under way to invite students in Spartanburg School Districts 5, 6 and 7, Darlington County School District and Berkeley County School District in fall 2015.

Accelerate allows students a path toward earning as many as 32 semester hours of college credit during the last three years of high school. Students will remain in their home high schools, with virtual courses taught by GSSM and Clemson University faculty.

Sunland creating new jobs Sunland Logistics Solutions has created 75 new full-time positions in South Carolina this year. Operations expansions have primarily fueled the growth in job opportunities for the third-party logistics provider.

Stephanie Gillespie, director of human services for the Simpsonville-based company, said Sunland is looking to fill positions for forklift drivers, customer service representatives, team leads and engineers. For information about job opportunities, visit sunlandlogisticssolutions. com/careers.

Herlong retains status as best practice

Greenville’s Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance Inc. has retained its status as one of the independent insurance agencies in the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) “Best Practices” Study Group.

Each year, IIABA and Reagan Consulting, an Atlanta-based management-consulting firm, join forces to study the country’s leading agencies in six revenue categories.

The selected “Best Practices” agencies retain their status during a three-year cycle by submitting

extensive financial and operational data for review each year.

Last year, which marked the start of a new three-year study cycle, more than 1,100 independent agencies throughout the U.S. were nominated to take part in the annual study, but only 217 agencies qualified. To be chosen, the agency had to be among the 35-45 top-performing agencies in one of six revenue categories.

The Best Practices Study was initiated by IIABA in 1993 in an effort to improve agency performance.

Clems n Every Game

32 | SOCIAL SNAPSHOT |

INSIDE THE UPSTATE’S NETWORKING AND SOCIAL SCENE

UBJ

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11.14. 2014

The Silo Effect A silo is a structure used for storing bulk materials. On farms, they are typically used to store grain or feed and the thin, cylindrical structures are as familiar to people as the quintessential red barn. Silos are an important and essential part of agriculture, but can be destructive in the business world.

The Silo Effect in business refers to the lack of communication across departments or groups.

On a farm, the silos keep the grains from mixing; in an organization, the silos prevent information from flowing. And don’t be fooled, the Silo LEE YARBOROUGH Effect does not just effect the Fortune 500 companies; it is prevalent in businesses of all sizes. One person can represent their own silo and damage the flow of information to other individuals, ultimately effecting productivity.

Photos Provided

TBF LAUNCHES NEW FACILITY The Butterfly Foundation (TBF) celebrated the grand opening of its new facilities and Monarch Café & Fresh Food Store with a ribbon cutting ceremony in Spartanburg last week. TBF provides assistance in the areas of housing, job readiness and training. Local community leaders and representatives from The Butterfly Foundation and the organization’s partners, Northside Development Group and Hub City Farmers’ Market, attended.

As a business leader, you need to be mindful of this trend and work to break down the Silo Effect.

• Communicate your vision. Make sure ALL employees understand the goals of the organization.

• Encourage collaboration and innovation. If the research department has an idea that it wants to present; it is much better to have communicated with production and sales beforehand and receive buy-in and strategic advice.

• Re-evaluate the formal organization chart. People should be encouraged to interact regardless of title and position on an organization chart. Information should be shared horizontally as well as vertically.

• Improve communication channels. Plan your meetings for increased effectiveness. Use technology to increase information flow. Ask for feedback and then reward it.

• Have fun. When team members have fun together, it is much easier for them to work together towards a common goal. There is true value in the company picnic and other social events. A fun work atmosphere encourages creativity and improves morale which will lead to a more productive office.

669 N. Academy Street, Greenville, SC 864.679.6055 | 800.446.6567 | www.propelhr.com

M43A

We have all been victims of the Silo Effect. We have all been frustrated customers of businesses and have wondered if the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. Remember to work constantly to instill a culture of collaboration in your organization.

As the leader, you can effectively SMASH the SILOS.

upstatebusinessjournal.com

INSIDE THE UPSTATE’S NETWORKING AND SOCIAL SCENE

ATHENA HONORS WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP Since 2001, the Greenville Chamber has recognized and honored women in leadership with the ATHENA Leadership Award, presented at the Chamber’s annual meeting to women who have made significant contributions to Greenville in promoting community prosperity and quality of life.

Photos Provided

| SOCIAL SNAPSHOT | 33

FOR OUR

60TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

WE PROUDLY PRESENT OUR NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART LAUNDRY DEPARTMENT.

NOW PROVIDING THE FINEST QUALITY CLEANING AND PRESSING OF LAUNDERED SHIRTS, PANTS, LAB COATS AND HOME LINENS.

Lafayette Scientific Cleaners

Because you demand the best.

Serving the Upstate for 60 years

Personalized Cleaning & Hand Finishing 1707 Augusta Street | Greenville 864.242.5606

34 | PLANNER |

EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18

GREER DAY AT THE INLAND PORT

SC COMMUNITY CAPITAL CONFERENCE

Greer City Hall, 301 E. Poinsett St., Greer; 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Hotel, 220 N. Main St., Greenville; 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Behind-the-scenes look at Greer’s Inland Port

Statewide conference of local and national partners to highlight innovations in investing capital locally. Tickets on sale through Nov. 13.

COST: $20, includes lunch REGISTER: bit.ly/inlandport-day

MONDAY NOVEMBER 17 GSP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT GOLF TOURNAMENT Greer Country & Golf Club Outing for businesses to advertise and network with community leaders COST: Team sponsor $400, individual players $100 FOR INFORMATION: katie@greerchamber.com REGISTER: bit.ly/ gsp-golf

COST: $50 REGISTER: bit.ly/capitalconference

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19 TECH AFTER 5

UBJ

COST: Free for tech entrepreneurs and professionals

Twigs, 1100 Woods Crossing Road, Greenville; 6-9 p.m.

REGISTER: bit.ly/techafter-five

Recognize the Hispanic businesses and professionals in South Carolina

REGISTER: wob2020sc. eventbrite.com

SPEAKER: Raul Lugo

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20 SMALL BUSINESS TAX WORKSHOP ONE Building, 1 N. Main St., Greenville; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

For prospective and new small business owners.

Presented by Greenville Area Small Business Development Center.

Grille 33, 535 Haywood Road, Greenville; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

COST: $10

Networking event for tech professionals

¡IMPACTO! EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AWARDS

REGISTER AT: clemson. edu/sbdc

COST: Hispanic Chamber members $60, nonmembers $65 INFORMATION: bit.ly/ impacto-awards

2020 WOMEN ON BOARDS ONE Building, 1 N. Main St., Greenville; 5-7 p.m.

National campaign to increase the number of women on company boards to 20 percent or greater by 2020

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21 FRIDAY FORUM Embassy Suites Golf Resort and Conference Center, 670 Verdae Blvd., Greenville; 8-9:30 a.m.

SPEAKER: Nigel Robertson, WYFF reporter COST: Chamber members $12, nonmembers $20 ($25 at the door) PREREGISTER: bit.ly/ friday-forum (by Nov. 19)

|

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22 COMPREHENSIVE SMALL BUSINESS START-UP WORKSHOP Hughes Main Library, Heritage Green, Greenville; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Business plans, financing, marketing, legal considerations, accounting, digital strategy and next steps.

COST: $69 (includes program materials and lunch) REGISTER: PiedmontSCORE.org

FRIDAY DECEMBER 5 FIRST FRIDAY LUNCHEON Greer City Hall, 301 E. Poinsett St., Greer; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Economic update from S.C. Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt

SPEAKER: Catherine Heigel, general counsel at Elliot Davis

REGISTER: bit.ly/greerfirst-friday

COST: Free

Thank You To Our Inaugural Fundraising Dinner Sponsors

Greenville Health System Bradshaw, Gordon & Clinkscales, LLC JHM Hotels Upstate Business Journal iHeartMedia, Inc. Depositions, Inc. First Citizens Bank Jackson Marketing Group Jeff Gilstrap Long Branch Baptist Church

South State Bank Southern First Bank Span-America Medical Systems, Inc. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Steve Reynolds BMW Manufacturing Company Capstone Insurance Services City Scape Winery Woodmont High School Denny’s Corporation

11.14. 2014

The Greenville Drive Greenville Federal Credit Union Johnna Reed Mavin Construction Muncaster Financial Services QuikTrip R&D Trading Co. Rödl & Partner SHARP Business Systems Upstate Circle of Friends

www.GenerationsGroup.com

upstatebusinessjournal.com

A QUICK LOOK INTO THE UPSTATE’S PAST

| SNAPSHOT | 35

The Dunean Mill Village, 1929. In the early decades of the 20th century, the rent for mill houses averaged between 25 and 50 cents per room a month for a two-to four-room house. Prior to 1930, the villages had no electricity, and kerosene was the main source of lighting. Cooking was done on a wood stove. For water, each house had its own well. Toilet facilities were outside.

Photo Provided

Today the Dunean community has paved roads, sidewalks, city water and sewer. Many of the mill houses remain, though updated with modern conveniences. Parker Fire District maintains a fire station on Allen Road, on the far right in this photo. A church occupies the vacant lot seen in the center of the William Coxe photo from 1929.

Historic photograph available from the Greenville Historical Society.​ From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,” by Jeffrey R. Willis

GREG BECKNER / STAFF

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Jimmy Gulledge

South Carolina Upstate Area Executive

Sharon Bryant

South Carolina Regional Executive Vice President

Your future. Our team.

Perfect partners.

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