Nov. 22, 2013 UBJ by Community Journals

NOVEMBER 22, 2013

Encore careers give older workers a fresh start

THE SECOND SHIFT

Barbara Drummond, 73, started her secondact career in wireless communications at age 50, after retiring from a 20-year career with Monsanto. Photo by Greg Beckner / Staff

ABOVE & BEYOND

At Clemson MBA, experiences and opportunities abound. Network with entrepreneurs, business leaders, professionals and fellow students at events designed to take your degree above and beyond classroom knowledge. And with all of Clemson’s MBA courses located at our beautiful downtown Greenville campus, you can take classes full time, attend classes in the evening after work or even explore turning your entrepreneurial spirit into reality in our new, convenient, online/weekend program, beginning Summer 2014. Clearly, whatever MBA is right for you, there’s one best place to earn an MBA your way. Clemson.

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UBJ FILINGS

Delta Apparel to Sell $100M in Securities

Tailored

by the Purveyors of Classic American Style

By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer joladipo@communityjournals.com

ment. “In addition, it streamlines the process in the event we identify strategic opportunities that may require additional capital.” As of Oct. 31, the company reported 7,873,848 outstanding shares of common stock. In its most recent quarterly filings, Delta Apparel also reported a dip in sales for the three-month transition period ended Sept. 28. Net sales for the period dropped to $122.6 million from $130.1 million in the same period of the previous year. A decline in the retail sales of the company’s undecorated T-shirts along with soft sales in its Soffe sportswear brand were chiefly responsible for the dip. Other brands include Salt Life, The Cotton Exchange and American Threads.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? In the fashion world, many of the styles and fabrics we wear today are named for their origin or historical significance. Since one of the most important foundations of a man’s wardrobe is footwear, I thought you might find it interesting to learn of shoe styles that are making resurgence in today’s fashion and how they originated. The Brogue is a multiple-piece shoe that has decorative perforations or “broguing.” Brogues can be styled in different toe styles such as wingtip, long wing tip and cap toe, and in different closure styles such as oxford or bal, blucher or derby, and monk. The brogue originated in Scotland and Ireland where farmers punched holes in their work shoes to let the water and muck drain from the shoes while working in the wet fields. Then the farmers would punch more decorative designs in the shoes and wear them to town and church. Brogues were traditionally considered country-wear and not appropriate for business dress. Now brogues are very appropriate for business and many versions are perfect to be worn with jeans. Monk Straps are shoes that do not have lacing. Their quarters overlap the upper vamp or tongue of the shoe like blucher style shoes, however monk straps do not close in the middle with laces, but fasten on the side of the shoe with a strap and buckle. The origin of the style dates back centuries when European monks favored these protective shoes over their sandals as work shoes. Today, monk straps rank in between oxfords and bluchers in fashion appropriateness. They can be fashionably worn with suits and then make the transition to jeans. Some men, who have a difficult time getting slip-on shoes to fit, opt for monk straps as their “slip-on” of choice because their fit is adjustable to the shape of the foot. So, what’s in a name? For Rush Wilson Limited, it is quality, service, honor, history, community, values, experience, and above all a desire to enrich the lives of all our customers.

23 West North Street, Greenville, SC 29601 864.232.2761 | www.rushwilson.com Open Mon.-Sat. 9:30am - 5:30pm Wed. 9:30am - 1:00pm

J13

Delta Apparel filed a form S-3, a universal shelf registration statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week that would allow it to sell up to $100 million in various securities over the next three years. The securities may consist of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units consisting of any of those. The knit apparel manufacturer said the filing would allow it to access capital markets to fund future business opportunities as needed, though there are currently no specific plans for issuing securities. “We believe the universal shelf registration statement provides us optimal financial flexibility for general corporate purposes,” said CEO Robert Humphreys in a state-

November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 3

Volume II, Issue XLVII

November 22, 2013

WORTH REPEATING “All my time was free to explore, relax and do all the things I thought retirement was, but it didn’t take long before I felt I wanted structure and a new experience in my life.”

“I hate to say ‘age discrimination,’ but what you see going on is younger clients in their mid-40s landing quicker than those clients that are 50 and over.” Officials from Bosch Rexroth and Greenville Technical College officially open a new state-of-the-art mobile hydraulics lab at Greenville Tech’s Buck Mickel Center.

Myles Golden, president of Golden Career Strategies, on the difficulties older job-seekers may face.

“My retirement will be upon death.” Charles Scales, president and CEO of Greenville Office Supply, celebrating its 45th anniversary this year.

VERBATIM

TBA Look for Le Peep, a new breakfast and brunch restaurant, to open on Pelham Road in December…

Word is sportswear supplier Under Armour may be looking at a distribution center near Greer…

On Unwelcome Events… “Further shutdowns are unwelcome.” South Carolina Realtors, whose latest report indicated that the recent government shutdown had an effect on borrowing. The report showed that S.C. home sales rose 5.2 percent in October.

Photo by Sherry Jackson

Barbara Drummond, 73, who started a new career with Verizon Wireless at age 50 after working for Monsanto for 20 years.

UBJ BIOTECH

Pitch Contest Features Young Biotech Companies By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer | joladipo@communityjournals.com As part of SCBIO’s “Face to Face Life Sciences Conference” last week, nine startups put their best pitches forward for a chance to win $2,500 and advice from biotech startup experts. The event took place Nov. 15 at the Mills House Wyndam Grand Hotel in Charleston. Gov. Nikki Haley delivered the keynote address earlier in the day. The pitch contest was a first for the annual conference of biomedical researchers, entrepreneurs and biomedical manufacturers. Participants were given four minutes to simulate an “elevator pitch” to a funder who would

potentially fund their startups. Riley Csernica, CEO of Tarian Orthotics of Charleston, won the contest. The company designed a shoulder brace that allows for direct support to the shoulder joint by combining a custom-fit insert and self-applicable strapping system not available in current braces. Five Upstate companies participated. Seth McCullen of Greenville-based Sierra Medtech pitched a synthetic meniscus that mimics the natural structure and maintains meniscal volume in the knee. He emphasized that the product could be used and manufac-

tured in South Carolina. The company was looking for $400,000 in its first round of funding to finalize development and conduct a large animal study. It plans to market the product to orthopedic surgeons. Cody Reynolds pitched AD3’s sutures and surgical meshes that release antimicrobial medicine for an unprecedented three months. “They sort of gave gentle prompts about what our commercialization process was or what were the value-added parts of our product,” he said of his pitch experience. Participants said they were impressed

with each other’s presentations. “It also showed us the level of competition that can be anticipated when appearing before a VC – anything and everything is competing for the same money so going in with a good hand of cards and a knowledge of how to play that hand of cards is a must,” said Hobey Tam, a Ph.D. student at Clemson. He pitched TriValve, a method for producing bioprosthetic heart valves. “All in all, though I did not win, people were impressed with the technology and the team. Most importantly, people will remember the TRI Heart name when it counts,” he said.

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UBJ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Upstate Alliance Names Interim CEO By Jennifer Oladipo | senior business writer joladipo@communityjournals.com

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6 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

“The Executive Committee has full confidence in Jennifer’s ability to lead the organization during the transition.”

The Upstate Alliance announced last week that Max Metcalf would lead the search committee for a president and CEO to replace Hal Johnson, who announced his resignation earlier this month. The group also appointed Vice President Jennifer Miller to serve as interim president and CEO. “The Executive Committee has full confidence in Jennifer’s Jim Evers ability to lead the organization during the transition. She has a great depth of knowledge about the organization and is fully in- Greer, director of the Greenville vested in its success,” said Jim Technical College Greer Campus; Evers, chairman of the board, in George Acker, VP of governmena statement. tal affairs with Duke Energy and Miller has been a part of the former Upstate SC Alliance chairorganization since 2006. man; and Russ Weber, president Metcalf is the of Integral Solumanager for govtions, corporate ernment and comsecretary for JM munity relations for Smith Corporation BMW Manufacturand Upstate SC Aling Co. LLC and liance board serves as the secremember. tary/treasurer for Johnson will the Upstate SC Alstep down on Dec. liance Board. 31 to take a posiJoining Metcalf tion with NAI/ on the search comEarle Furman. A mittee will be Dr. job description was JENNIFER MILLER Ronnie Booth, presplanned to appear ident of Tri-County on the Alliance’s website Technical College within a few days of the and vice chairman of announcement but the Upstate SC Alliwas not yet posted at ance Board; Jean press time.

UBJ EDUCATION

Bosch Partners With Greenville Tech for New Training Lab By Sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com

“It’s a model partnership for all involved and a win-win-win for everyone.” Les Gardner

DS4NA fluid power training systems, various on/off manual and mobile hydraulic component sets, and one drive pump trainer. Along with equipment, Bosch has supplied textbooks, online training and manuals for teachers and students. “Greenville Tech is and has been a valuable partnership,” said Berend Bracht, president and CEO of Bosch Rexroth Americas. “They provide the curriculum and we provide the hands-on experience.” The first classes are already sched-

Photo by Sherry Jackson

A new state-of-the-art mobile hydraulics lab opened this week at the Greenville Technical College Buck Mickel Center as part of the new Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI), otherwise known as the Enterprise Campus. Bosch Rexroth donated more than $420,000 worth of training equipment for the lab. The donation was announced in March along with the company’s $80 million expansion plans of the Bosch Rexroth Fountain Inn facility. “It’s a model partnership for all involved and a win-win-win for everyone,” said Les Gardner, director of development for the Greenville Tech Foundation. The lab will be used for training Greenville Tech students along with Bosch Rexroth customers and associates. Equipment incorporated into the lab includes three

Doug Wilson, training manager for Bosch Rexroth, shows some of the lab equipment the company donated.

uled for early 2014 and Bracht expects many of those graduates “to come work for us,” he said. “We’ll need capable associates for years to come.”

The CMI will feature an innovative learning environment for manufacturing and other new businesses. The program will continue to train students in hightech manufacturing techniques, but will also be a unique venue that co-locates and shares space for industry to create prototypes and serve as a manufacturing accelerator where f l e d g l i n g companies will have access to equipment.

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UBJ Your Money

2 Secrets for Maximizing Social Security Do I have enough money to last throughout my retirement? Will my income stream sufficiently support my lifestyle? Of all the financial areas covered by a comprehensive personal financial plan, having the financial ability to live independently through retirement invariably rises as the top concern for most clients. As a Certified Financial Planner, I often witness clients under-utilizing their Social Security benefits. Many people begin taking them as early as they possibly can “in case it disappears or I die early.” Unfortunately, that is often the extent of thought given to this extremely important component of retirement planning. A study by Mercer LLC shows that for 35 percent of those receiving benefits, Social Se-

curity accounts for 90 percent or more of their income, and for 66 percent, it is more than half of their income. Surely, the decision of when and how to take this benefit deserves more than a cursory review. The decision becomes even more important for married, divorced and widowed individuals whose decision could affect others’ income as well. Experience shows that little guidance is given by Social Security representatives who typically only offer information regarding your specific benefit amount at various ages. The decision of when and how to claim this benefit should be based on so much more. Without a proper analysis of your particular situation, you could be leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table.

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AS AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCIES CONTINUE TO RISE, RETIREMENT SAVINGS MAY NEED TO LAST DECADES. • A single male age 65 has a 50% chance of living beyond age 85 • A single female age 65 has a 50% percent chance of living beyond age 88. • A married couple age 65 has a 50% chance that one of them will live beyond age 92 and a 25 percent chance one of them will live beyond age 97. Source: Mercer LLC

By utilizing two different strategies, namely “File and Suspend” and “Filing a Restricted Application,” you may be able to significantly increase your lifetime

Social Security income stream. Both strategies revolve around delaying the higher earner’s benefit as long as possible while “backfilling” those dollars until the higher earner begins taking his benefit. Neither of these strategies can be used until full retirement age. Naturally, other factors to consider include longevity, health issues and family history. Delaying benefits may not be an option for some people who need the income immediately.

Restricted Application

The first strategy we will explore is the “restricted application.” A restricted application is used when a retiree wants to file for Social Security retirement but not their own benefit. The application is “restricted” to the spousal benefit >>

By MELISSA BANE

only, hence the name. For example: Assume a wife started collecting benefits at age 62. The husband, who is now 66, is still working and wants to delay receiving his own Social Security benefit until he stops working at age 70. Further, assume the wife would have been entitled to a Social Security benefit at full retirement age of $1,750 a month. Therefore, the husband is entitled to receive a spousal benefit of $875 a month (half her full retirement benefit) for every month that the husband does not claim his own benefit. If he waits until age 70 as planned, he would receive $42,000 in spousal benefits from his wife’s earnings record. In addition, for each year of receiving the spousal benefit, the husband receives credits that will earn him an 8 percent annual increase in his own benefit. He then switches to his own benefit at age 70. Filing the restricted application

Without a proper analysis of your particular situation, you could be leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table. has given this couple an additional $42,000 over the four-year period.

File and Suspend

The second strategy, “file and suspend,” generally works best for couples who have a bigger disparity in their earnings histories and Social Security benefits. For example: Husband and wife are both full retirement age. He is still employed and she spent most of her life working in the home and therefore will be better off claiming half of his Social Security rather than her own. His current benefit is $2,500 a month. Husband files for Social Security then

immediately suspends the actual payments. His filing is the trigger that allows the wife to file and claim her spousal benefit of $1,250 a month. During the period the husband’s benefit is suspended, he continues to earn delayed retirement credits of 8 percent per year. By the time he refiles at age 70, his payment has increased to $3,300 per month. The couple has now collected $1,250 per month for four years and increased their total income stream after age 70. If the husband predeceases the wife, she can give up her spousal benefit and begin taking his higher payment for the rest of her life.

Social Security can be confusing and complicated. For married, widowed and divorced people the decision is even more complex due to the crossover effect the decision has on the other person. Engaging an advisor to guide you through this calculation may be well worth the investment in the long run.

Melissa Bane serves as the private client advisor for Greenwood Capital Associates. Her expertise includes financial, tax, insurance, retirement and estate planning, as well as strategic plans for medium-to-high net worth clients.

The Upstate Business Journal welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics that relate to their specialties, especially little-known but significant issues they feel are pertinent to business readers. Our guest columns run 700-800 words and we welcome supporting art that will help explain your points graphically. Please contact Executive Editor Susan Clary Simmons at ssimmons@communityjournals.com if you are interested in submitting an article for consideration.

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November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 9

UBJ INNOVATE

Create, Compete, Control, Collaborate The Competing Values Frame- Companies utilize all of these forces work (CVF), developed by Jeff to varying degrees and may DeGraff and other professors at emphasize different areas at the University of Michigan, has different points in their been cited as one of the 50 most development and growth, but they important models in the history of tend to progress through the four business by the Financial Times. stages in a cyclical pattern. According to DeGraff, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes the most effective leadership Create: This stage is characdecisions that enable innovation teristic of the startup as well as are more about stopping current corporate research and developpractices than starting new ones.â&#x20AC;? ment efforts. It is marked by The framework is about under- breakthrough innovation and standing how to appreciate con- the creation of new products or flicting values and integrate them services. successfully so that an organization is open to collaboration and Compete: Once the idea is growth. developed and product/market The framework identifies four fit is established, the company is fundamental forces, or competing ready to compete. This stage values: Create, Compete, emphasizes measurable Control and success via expoFLEXIBLE Collaborate. nential >> DE LO VE NG LO -

COLLABORATE

INTERNAL

PURPOSE

PRACTICE

Do things first

PEOPLE

CONTROL

COMPETE

Do things right T EN EM CR IN

-T PM ER EN M T

Do things fast T OR LO SHEVE D

FOCUSED

10 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

CREATE

EXTERNAL

Do things together

BR EA KT

H UG RO H

T RMEN TE M P

By MATTHEW KLEIN

>> growth, income generation and expansion of market share. Control: As the company becomes established it becomes necessary to add control mechanisms to rein in the sales force in order to maintain quality. As a product or service matures, incremental improvements to the original product can generate additional profits and help to extend the longevity. Collaborate: Eventually a product or service reaches a stage where the easiest way to squeeze profits is through operational cost-cutting, which is often accomplished by having individuals in different parts of the company collaborate. At some point the cycle will end – the product or service has become a commodity in the eyes of the customer or even worse obsolete. Unfortunately for many companies, when it is time to begin the cycle anew with the Create stage, they have forgotten how. An entrepreneurial-focused business incorporates continuous innovation and encourages ongoing idea generation and development. This model is far more sustainable than a business that waits until the cycle is over before giving thought to what comes next. Have you experienced these cyclical stages of growth in your own company? Where are you in the cycle now? One of the key qualities for business success is the ability of a company to continually innovate. The late Harvard

“Sometimes the most effective leadership decisions that enable innovation are more about stopping current practices than starting new ones.”

Better. Value. Global. Ability.

Jeff DeGraff

economist Joseph Schumpeter famously coined the term “creative destruction” to describe the innovation cycle, how old ways of doing things are inevitably replaced by new ways in an unending cycle of growth and decay. This economic cycle closely resembles how organizations grow from entrepreneurial concerns (Create) into socio-economic entities (Control and Collaborate) and finally into the mature enterprise (Control). Does your company need to emphasize the Create value? In June, Clemson University is launching a part-time version of their successful MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program specifically designed for individuals who want to innovate at work. The program is delivered through a unique combination of online classes and two weekends per semester of in-person classes, an ideal arrangement for working professionals. The curriculum emphasizes the Create value in order to develop product/ market fit to enhance the performance of companies in the Upstate and beyond.

Matthew Klein is the director of business development for Clemson’s College of Business and Behavioral Science, Greenville. He teaches lean startup methodologies in the Clemson MBA in Entrepreneurship Program. For more information please visit clemson.edu/mba.

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November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 11

ENTREPRENEURIAL

SPIRITS

Spartanburg’s Main Street Challenge helps Motte & Sons fire up the still By Sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com

12 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

“The Main Street Challenge brought the family together in developing the presentation and business plan. It validated the idea within the family.” Michael John Motte of Motte & Sons Bootlegging Company

The Mottes hoped the city would allow them to use the rent credit they won in the Main Street Challenge for landscaping and parking lot improvements to the building they purchased. However, the program will not allow for credit for what was intended as rent to property owners of designated spaces in the Main Street Challenge, said Patty Bock, economic development director for the City of Spartanburg. “We are pleased the Mottes have found a location in our city where they can grow their business, and we will continue to talk with them about improvements planned for the property,” Bock said. Another Main Street Challenge is anticipated to kick off in early 2014. City leaders say the new challenge will be expanded to a broader area of the city, providing more options in size and locations for those businesses that are applying.

How did the Main Street Challenge help you launch your business? Photos Provided

The last winner of the Spartanburg Main Street Challenge in UBJ’s continuing coverage is Motte & Sons Bootlegging Company, a rum, whiskey and gin craft distiller. The Local Hiker, an outdoor equipment and apparel store, had its grand opening at 173 E. Main St in downtown Spartanburg at the end of October. Haute Mama, a clothing store for expectant mothers, opened on Nov. 6. With an anticipated launch date sometime in early 2014, Motte and Sons will be the last of the Main Street Challenge winners to open for business. But that’s not for lack of trying to open sooner, says Eugenia Motte. Unanticipated federal laws prevented the company from locating in the Main Street space the Mottes originally chose. But their new space at 134 Turnberry Drive isn’t far. The Motte family roots run deep in Spartanburg County. Ancestors Alphonse Motte and his brothers immigrated to America in the late 1880s from Gap, France, with an interest in sheep and agriculture. In the late 1930s, John Victor, the eldest son, took on his two brothers, Frank and Charles, as business partners. They called their business Motte Brothers and farmed crops such as potatoes, onions and grains. When microdistilleries were legalized in South Carolina in 2009, Michael John Motte and his wife, Eugenia Maria DeJong, along with their sons Johnny, Matthew, Michael and Luke, decided to open a distillery. Son Johnny took classes to learn the craft of distilling and will be Motte & Sons’ first master distiller. As a Main Street Challenge winner, the business received $12,000 in subsidized rent and another $8,000-$10,000 in startup services such as legal advice, printing and accounting services.

Michael John Motte: The Challenge gave us confidence and feedback in our microdistillery business plan. Both Eugenia and I really believe it brought the family >>

–

>> together in developing the presentation and business plan. It validated the idea within the family. The boys – Johnny, Matthew, Michael and Luke – and their girlfriends Reagan and Rebecca have been working feverishly at the distillery. This summer, Eugenia and Johnny went to St. Louis and trained at Square One Distillery to develop recipes. Motte & Sons are now members of the American Distillation Institute. The Challenge also developed relationships such as Costco and Marriott within the city that will make us successful in upcoming months.

What obstacles or challenges did you have to overcome? MJM: The largest obstacles have all been

Fast Facts SPARTANBURG MAIN STREET CHALLENGE THE WINNERS: MOTTE & SONS (motteandsons.com), distillers (opening planned for first quarter of 2014) The Local Hiker (thelocalhiker.com), outdoor clothing and equipment (opened Oct. 25) Haute Mama (facebook.com/hautemamaspartanburg), maternity store (opened Nov. 6)

WHAT THEY WON: $12,000 in subsidized rent $8,000-$10,000 in startup services

Next Main Street Challenge planned for early 2014

Your best is yet to come The Mottes historically have been fine purveyors of grains, corn, sugar beets and other cash crops in Perris Valley since the 1880s.

It Starts In The Field (1880s) Alphonse Motte and his brothers immigrated to America in the late 1880s from Gap, France with an interest in sheep and agriculture. In the late 1930s John Victor, the eldest son, took on his two brothers, Frank and

Charles, as business partners. They called their business the “Motte Brothers.” The Mottes farmed crops such as potatoes, onions and grains.

Don’t waste one minute more! Who are the sons? Johnny, Matthew, Michael and Luke. Johnny studies the craft of distilling in order to become Motte & Sons first Master Distiller. How do you get that title… be born into the family that make the finest spirits in South Carolina.

Blending (1985) Michael John Motte marries Eugenia Maria DeJong. USC and Pepperdine graduate spends a career in hospital administration. With the legalization of micro-distilleries in South Carolina the Mottes buy two Hoga stills from Spain.

governmental. First, the lack of knowledge in importing caused delays and penalties to get our 1,000-liter Hoga stills from Spain. Second, who knew the federal government was going to shut down? Our timeline was to open late December and the federal shutdown has delayed the processing of our license with the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Third, who knew that the parking lot to the building we were purchasing would be ripped up by the Department of Transportation due to underground water problems? Fortunately we were blessed to have a local commercial real estate agent, Ben Hines. This guy single-handedly corralled DOT, brought the stakeholders to the table and renegotiated the building contract in our favor. ... Ben’s a real superman. He gets our first production bottle.

Of the services and money received from the Main Street Challenge, what have you used so far? What was the most helpful? MJM: We have been using the vendor credits that sponsored the Challenge and have found local help to move ahead. Our attorney, Don Wildman, had donated his fees to the Challenge and without his help we would not have a retail front and manufacturing plant. We are hoping that the City of Spartanburg will allow Motte & Sons to use the $12,000 rent credit to beautify the landscaping and parking lot as we purchased the building.

BUSINESSJOURN ATE A T S

Visit UpstateBusinessJournal.com to sign up for our latest updates and announcements.

MJM: We hope to be open sometime in the first quarter 2014.

The Upstate’s leading weekly business news is available everywhere, every week.

What are your plans for the next year?

OM L.C

We’re Leaving You to Your Own Devices.

Courtesy of motteandsons.com

SINE S S J O U R NA L

November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 13

45 UBJ YEARS

‘Food for Business’ After 45 years, Greenville Office Supply slugs it out with the big boxes by forging community connections By Sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com

In an industry with fierce competition from big-box retailers, Greenville Office Supply has been an Upstate institution for 45 years. Founder Bill Chandler decided to open an office supply store in November 1968, renting space in what was known as the Wade Hampton Mall. Within a few years, the company outgrew that space and moved to a new location on Stone Avenue. Chandler eventually opened a second location on North Main Street that he called the GOS Budget Furniture Mart, selling new and used office furniture.

New Leadership

When Chandler was ready to retire, the Carpenter and Pazdan families formed a partnership and bought the company in 1989. Both families ran the business until 1992, when the Carpenters bought the Pazdans out and moved GOS to a location on Pleasantburg Drive. Charles Scales joined Greenville Office Supply in 1989 as a sales manager. A lifelong friend of the Carpenter family, he had been working as a traveling sales rep for another company and wanted to “get off the road” with the birth of his second child. GOS was looking for someone to head up its sales department. In 1991, Scales took over as president and CEO, and in 1999 became a partner and shareholder in the company. The other partners are now “silent partners” and have nothing to do with the day-to-

Charles Scales, president of Greenville Office Supply.

day business, he said. Under Scales’ leadership, the company has grown from $2 million to $20 million in sales. Scales attributed that growth to the long-term team at GOS, saying a majority of the 50 employees have been with the company from 15

14 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff

to 40 years. Another move in 2004 brought GOS to its current “and hopefully final location,” Scales said: an office and warehouse on Frontage Road in Greer with 54,000 square feet of space and plenty of room to grow. >>

UBJ MILESTONE >>

Long-Term Loyalty

Every business needs office supplies, Scales said. “It’s the food for business” and encompasses far more than paper, pencils and pens. Scales said he’s fulfilled a request from a customer for a forklift and once provided dog biscuits to a local bank to give to its furry customers. The company has expanded into printing, furniture, janitorial supplies and promotional products over the years – really “anything you can put your name on,” he says. “Computers completely changed our industry,” Scales said. With online shopping, “loyalty, sadly, has left the building.” But while some customers will only price shop, Scales said GOS has built and values

“Big-box stores completely changed our industry. We had to learn how to be competitive with them.” Charles Scales

long-term relationships with many businesses. GOS is a business-to-business company, and it’s the relationships that continue to build the business, he said.

Telling the GOS Story “Big-box stores also completely

changed our industry,” Scales said. “We had to learn how to be competitive with them.” GOS stocks roughly 3,000 items in its warehouse and is a member of a larger buying group to provide more than 40,000 items to its customers – allowing GOS to buy items wholesale at about the same price as the big-box retailers. Scales said his local sales force that are truly “office product specialists” with breadth and knowledge sets GOS apart from Staples, Office Depot and Office Max. Employee training is a constant to keep current on latest products and technologies, he said. The company also hosts monthly lunch-and-learn events for its customers, which Scales sees as yet another way to communicate and maintain personal relationships with customers. GOS also believes in giving

Greenville Office Supply operates out of a 54,000-square-foot building that includes a large warehouse (left), which allows the company to store popular products in house, and a print shop (above).

back to the community, working with local chambers of commerce, schools, and the United Way. “We also try to use local businesses as much as possible,” he said. For the next 45 years, “who knows where we keep going?” said Scales. “We’re still filing and businesses will still need office supplies to operate their businesses.” Scales’ three sons all work in the business, so there is a succession plan, but Scales has no thoughts of retirement. “My retirement will be upon death,” he said.

Greenville Office Supply’s 45 Years Nov. 1, 1968 GOS began operations in a rented space in what was formerly known as the Wade Hampton Mall. 1968 1970 GOS Founder Bill Chandler moved the business to 211 E. Stone Ave.

1979 Added printing services. 1978

1973 Expanded Stone Avenue location.

1989 The Carpenter and Pazdan families purchased GOS from Bill Chandler.

July 12, 2004 Moved to current location at 310 E. Frontage Road, Greer.

1988

October 1977 Chandler rented the building that currently houses Robert Jones Pianos and Organs at 616 N. Main St. as a second location called GOS Budget Furniture Mart, selling new and used office furniture.

1998

1992 The Carpenter family bought the Pazdan holdings and Renovated the former Alexander’s Showroom and moved GOS to 928 N. Pleasantburg Drive.

2003 Added beverage services to the GOS product offerings.

2005 Added promotional products to the GOS product offerings.

2008 2012 Added janitorial services to the GOS product offerings. October 2013 Celebrated 45th anniversary.

November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 15

COVER STORY By Jennifer Oladipo senior business writer joladipo@communityjournals.com

“All my time was free to do all the things I thought retirement was, but it didn’t take long before I wanted structure and a new experience.” Barbara Drummond

LIVE LONG AND

PROSPER W Barbara Drummond

For many in the Upstate, aging doesn’t mean retirement, but encore careers can have their own rewards and challenges

16 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

Whether driven by needs or wants, people are working longer, well into their 70s. As leisurely retirement is no longer the default option at the end of a career, many in their 50s and beyond are hitting the reset button and trying a second career, perhaps with even more intention and attention than their first. These “encore” or “second-act” careers come with their own sets of rewards and challenges.

WORKING, AGAIN

A national study by the Families and Work Institute found that 20 percent of workers over age 50 had a retirement job, and 75 percent expected to have one. People working in retirement were highly satisfied and engaged in their work, and rated their workplaces more positively than people not yet retired. Often, experts say, the stereotypical hobby-filled retirement isn’t an >>

option when financial obligations continue. Sometimes that lifestyle just isn’t as fulfilling as people imagine. “I tried staying home for a year and a half after I left my 20 years with Monsanto,” said Barbara Drummond, 73, senior analyst of facilities and real estate with Verizon Wireless. She began working for what was then Metro Mobile at age 50, after Monsanto moved its Greenville operations to Atlanta and Drummond chose not to follow. Instead, she retired, but wasn’t happy with that option for long. “All my time was free to explore, relax and do all the things I thought retirement was, but it didn’t take long before I felt I wanted structure and a new experience in my life,” Drummond said. “I was divorced, my son was grown and had a life of his own. My family unit was small, so it was a good time to give my future lots of thought.”

MAKING MONEY

Sales, health care, franchises and niches related to the senior lifestyle are among the most popular and enjoyable choices, said Myles Golden, president of Golden Career Strategies. As for money, however, expect to make less. Golden said most of his clients overvalue their work experience and make wrong assumptions about the job market. “Unrealistic expectations is one [challenge] I find myself talking about quite often,” he said. “I just got done talking with somebody who was just in a high

six-figure career and his assumption is that somebody out there really needs him and he will be able to make the same income. Wrong.” The truth is that only some of the skills built up over decades will be transferrable to a new career. Usually those are the “soft skills” like problem-solving or work ethic. The rest might have to be learned, which pay will tend to reflect. Not only that, but it will likely take longer than expected to even land a job. Golden said seekers should expect to spend about one month of searching for every $10,000 of a previous salary. That means high-income earners probably will be unemployed for more than a year, though he said planning and diagnostics tests can cut that time in half.

GETTING REAL

Even as older workers become more common, employers’ perceptions of them have yet to catch up. Career-seekers like Drummond often find themselves “overqualified” for jobs. Often that means that employers assume an applicant will want a salary commensurate with two or three decades of experience in his field, which employers do not intend to pay. But Golden said older employees, who tend to be more dependable and aren’t trying to climb the corporate ladder, might be better employees in the end. Then there’s just the simple matter of bias.

POPULAR SECOND ACT:

FRANCHISE OWNER

Here are five types of baby boomer-friendly franchise opportunities and why they make sense for older entrepreneurs. 1. Home-based franchises require much less startup capital than brick-and-mortar franchises and have more flexible hours. 2. Business coaching franchises allow retirees to use their acquired business experience, and they can often work from home. 3. Tutoring/education franchises require a lower capital investment and are proven to be less stressful than a business opportunity like a restaurant concept.

4. Senior-care franchises allow baby boomers to easily relate to the customer base. Additionally, there is high demand for senior-care services, which will only continue to grow. 5. Staffing/recruiting franchises are a great option for retired executives who have grown accustomed to the hiring process. Staffing services also have high customer demand that will grow as the economy improves.

– Jim White, regional developer of The Entrepreneur’s Source, a career and franchise business coaching company with offices in Greenville.

“I hate to say ‘age discrimination,’ but what you see going on is younger clients in their mid-40s landing quicker than those clients that are 50 and over,” Golden said. It’s illegal for employers to say outright that they prefer younger candidates, but employers will use other descriptors such as years of experience to get the point across. What’s more, the world probably will have changed quite a bit over the course of a person’s career, making adaptation a challenge. Drummond said it was “very stressful” to find new work in a changed landscape. “My past training was really not in demand and I knew I would have to learn everything as if it was my first day to have a job. So, I may as well have been 20 years old, but found myself at the age of 50 and starting over,” she said. After being told repeatedly that she was overqualified for the jobs she wanted, Drummond realized she would have to start over with an entry-level position and salary.

FINDING THE FIT

Even without such obstacles it can take a while to figure out what kind of work, or work environment, is the best fit. Drummond spent two years working part time but found she craved the salary, benefits and long-term opportunities of the corporate world. “After about a year of looking in the newspaper, I heard from a friend that the wireless cellphone industry was a good place to start because everybody was on fire to have a cellphone,” Drummond said. She followed the lead. Once the right job is found, there are fringe benefits that cannot be measured as easily as pay. Golden said a meaningful second career can be an exciting time of learning and exploring. Drummond said working around young, energetic people was just what she needed and wanted. She enjoys the fast-paced, ever-changing industry in which she now works, even if she has to work harder than others to adapt to the next new thing. As Drummond’s company changed names and owners, she said she always expanded on the roles she was given. That often led to new positions. Over 23 years she moved from accounting to her current role, traveling the country to set up and maintain operations at Verizon Wireless stores. She loves the motivational part of the job, helping others get to where they need to be.

GO FIGURE 20%

workers over 50 who have a retirement job

75%

workers over 50 who expect to have a retirement job

REASONS FOR WORKING AMONG WORKERS 50+

53%

Earning money to retire more comfortably

31%

Bored not working

18%

Insufficient income from other sources

18%

Want to feel productive, useful, helpful

15%

Have a job that is fun, enjoyable

13%

Want to interact with people

12%

Want to stay physically/ mentally active

Need health insurance

Pursuing dream

Want to learn new things

9% Other Source: Families and Work Institute Note: Does not equal 100%; respondents listed multiple answers.

“I was over 60,” she said. “It was unthinkable to me that I would do this, and most importantly that I could handle being on the road, cover lots of miles and continue to do this to date as I am approaching 74. Believe it or not, this is easier now for me than it was a few years ago.”

November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 17

3 WAYS TO CONNECT:

UBJ THE TAKEAWAY

State Helps Businesses Keep It Simple

S.C. Secretary of State Mark Hammond outlines resources businesses need to improve efficiency

1. PRINT

2. MOBILE

SOUTH CAROLINA SECRETARY OF STATE Mark Hammond joined the Marchant Company last week as keynote speaker of their Fourth Quarter Executive Breakfast, a series providing regular insight on the issues affecting our business community. In his role, Hammond is responsible for the supervision and enforcement of business records and licensing. His remarks, delivered to a collective of Upstate professionals and civic leaders, reinforced state efforts to “simplify business services” and provide the resources needed to improve efficiency. IN FOCUS The South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office is responsible for the administration, oversight and enforcement of services for a wide range of public, private, corporate and not-for-profit entities. Divisions of the office manage business operations and licensing, trademarks, state boards and commissions, public charities and notaries. Resources provided by the office are available online at scsos.gov. SC BUSINESS ONE STOP SC Business One Stop is an

3. ONLINE www.UpstateBusinessJournal.com

For print subscription and email subscription to the “In Box.” Stay up to date with the business of the Upstate. 18 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

EVENT: Marchant Company Fourth Quarter Executive Breakfast SPEAKER: S.C. Secretary of State Mark Hammond TOPIC: Simplifying Business Services

online resource created by the secretary of state to streamline and simplify state business filings. Prior to its launch, the average time required to apply and file state paperwork cost the average business over 40 hours. The new system aligns and assimilates required forms for five separate state agencies including DHEC, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Employment Security Commission – making it easier to establish and manage businesses in South Carolina. GOING DIGITAL Over the past two years, the state has worked to move records and access to key corporate data online. By increasing the accessibility of information like UCC reference data, businesses and individuals are able to request and obtain critical information when and where they need it. The move reduces government red tape >>

By Andrew Trull, PR strategist, Ferebee Lane + Co.

>> and expedites the due diligence

funds open and accessible.

and contract process.

CORPORATION SEARCH The online corporate search tool provides a resource to vet and validate the background of corporations operating in South Carolina. The secretary of state works in conjunction with the Department of Revenue and the Department of Justice to maintain a comprehensive history of corporate records â&#x20AC;&#x201C; giving citizens the information they need to determine the standing of a business before entering into contracts and agreements. CHARITY SEARCH The secretary of state is responsible for regulating charities and enforcing the Charitable Funds Act, which protects citizens from predatory organizations. The Charity

MARK HAMMOND

Search tool enables the public to research charitable organizations through an interactive platform, making annual solicitation filings and information on distribution of

Self Employed & finding it more

difficult to get a mortgage?

Give us a call. We originate and underwrite all our mortgage loans so we can be more flexible than lenders like commercial banks who will sell your loan to the secondary market.

ANGEL INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT Recently passed legislation making state tax credits available to angel investors dictates that startups seeking to qualify for investor funds apply to the South Carolina secretary of state. The tax credit was designed to jump-start high-growth industries operating in our state by incentivizing qualified investors. Business applications available through the office regulate the types of startup companies eligible to benefit from investments made through the tax credit program. OTHER INITIATIVES Other initiatives spearheaded by the secretary of state include student grant applications that

provide tax credits offsetting the cost of private education for special-needs students. Further, pending constitutional referendums and legislative considerations propose the legalization and regulation of charitable raffles as well as the reorganization of state elections. The Marchant Company is a locally owned real estate firm that has provided comprehensive residential and commercial services to the Upstate for over 20 years. Their Quarterly Executive Breakfast Series provides business and civic leaders timely real estate updates and insights on key issues affecting the regional business climate. More information on the Marchant Company and the Executive Breakfast Series is available at marchantco.com.

All Aboard For Family Fun! The Largest Christmas Model Train Display in the Southeast featuring 100 Christmas Village Buildings, 20 Trains including Thomas The Tank and the Polar Express, Scavenger Hunt and more!

ADMISSION ONLY $5.00 includes a sneak peek of the Miniature World of Trains (scheduled to open February 2014)

Security. Stability. Strength.

November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 19

UBJ THE FINE PRINT AidJoy Runs Online Fundraiser Greenville-based charity AidJoy, which provides technology and technical know-how to assist charities around the globe, recently announced that the charity is seeking to support itself so that the volunteer group can expand its philanthropic efforts through an online fundraiser. The fundraiser will be available until Dec. 31 and money raised will be used to fund support for continued projects and to help additional charities in 2014. AidJoy’s projects include Project Amazonas, which

delivers medical aid to remote communities in the Amazon rainforest. According to a release, with AidJoy’s involvement, Project Amazonas has expanded its medical program from treating 1,500 patients to 9,000 patients a year. In addition, AidJoy is overseeing the financing and construction of a medical facility that will help 45,000 people a year in that region. For more information on the fundraiser, visit razoo. com/story/Aidjoy2013.

Furman Accepting Nominations for “Connections” Furman University’s Center for Corporate and Professional Development is accepting nominations for “Connections: Women Leaders of the Upstate.” The program, which began in 1997, is designed for women of various ages, races and areas of the community who have either demonstrated leadership abilities or been identified as possessing potential for leadership. The program launches on Jan. 14, 2014, and runs through April 22 at Furman with an evening orientation and a kickoff presentation. It also features a luncheon and seminar

series on issues confronted by women in leadership. In addition, this year’s class will be able to participate in a 360-degree evaluation followed by a oneon-one coaching session to help enhance their personal leadership style. Graduates are also invited to follow-up networking programs. Tuition is $1,250, which includes professional development seminars, materials and meals.

Spartanburg Farmers Market Receives Funding

SBA Cuts Upfront Loan Fee for Veterans

The Lowcountry Housing Trust approved a

The Small Business Administration recent-

$350,000 loan for the Northside Development Corporation to fund the construction of the Hub City Farmers’ Market in Spartanburg’s Northside community. The farmers’ market will be one part of the Northside Community Food Hub, which combines elements of a grocery store, restaurant and community garden with the farmers market. The project is estimated to cost $1.7 million and will be located on Howard Street, between Milan and Vernon streets in Spartanburg, to address what’s considered to be a “food desert,” or an area that does not have access to fresh fruits and produce. The project has support from the city of Spartanburg, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Mary Black Foundation, the Spartanburg Market Fund and Duke Energy as a way to create jobs and improve the quality of life in the Northside community.

ly launched a new initiative to help veterans get small business loans. SBA’s Express program allows veterans to take out loans up to $350,000 with no upfront fees starting Jan. 1, 2014, and continuing until Sept. 30, 2014. Currently 73 percent of all SBA loans that go to veterans are $350,000 and below. In addition, SBA provides veterans access to business counseling and training, capital and business development opportunities through government contracts. In fiscal year 2013 SBA supported $1.86 billion in loans for 3,094 veteran-owned small businesses. According to statistics from 2007, the most recent available, South Carolina has 46,445 veteran-owned businesses. For more information, contact SC SBA veteran entrepreneurship specialist Frank Anderson at 803-253-3118 or Floyd Bryant at 803-765-5907.

BBB Honors 15 Upstate Companies The Better Business Bureau of the Upstate recently presented 15 area companies with the 2013 Business of Integrity Award in categories including marketplace ethics, customer service and community service. According to Renata Parker, director of public relations for the BBB of the Upstate, “the Business of Integrity Award is open to all for-profit businesses in the 10county area of the Upstate. The award recognizes businesses for their commitment to exceptional marketplace standards that benefit their consumers, employees, suppliers, industry peers

20 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

and the communities in which they do business.” Applicants submitted an essay or completed a questionnaire, then BBB staff and independent volunteers reviewed applications. In the one-10 employees category, Bentley’s Heating & Air and Tandem Innovative Payment Solutions won the Marketplace Ethics Award; Capehart Family & Cosmetic Dentistry and Dillard-Jones Builders won the Community Service Award; Premiere PC Technology Group won the Customer Service Award; Cottman Transmission won the Community and

Customer Service Award; and Mr. Transmission won the Marketplace Ethics Award. In the 11-49 employees category, The Marchant Company won the Marketplace Ethics Award; and Grier Roofing, Joe Roberson and Son Roofing, and The Turner Agency Inc. won the Customer Service Award. In the 50-199 employees category, SC Telco Federal Credit Union won the Community Service Award and Dick Brooks Honda won the Customer Service Award. In addition, in the 200+ employees category, American Credit Acceptance won the Marketplace Ethics Award and Toyota of Greenville won the Customer Service Award.

UBJ SQUARE FEET

Sweet Street to Upfit Former Sara Lee Plant By Sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com quired the property in early 2011 for use as a manufacturing facility, but announced later that year that the opening would have to be delayed for several years. Sweet Street Desserts is headquartered in Reading, Pa., and has over 800 employees. The company was founded by CEO Sandy Solmon, who began Sweet Street in a two-bay garage in 1979. The company has rapidly grown to become the premier gourmet dessert manufacturer in the world, providing a wide range of products including pies, big cakes, cheesecakes, dessert bars, scones, cookies and petit fours in more than 60 countries worldwide.

Richard Barrett represented D & D Automation Services Limited in the lease of 2,300 SF of flex space located at 209 Riverside Court, Greer Richard Barrett represented R & J Investments in the leasing of 6,000 SF of flex space located at 528 Brookshire Road, Unit A, Greer, to Valley Grinding & Manufacturing, Little Chute, W.I.

Photos Provided

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Pie Old

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DEALMAKERS

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCED:

“While we are firmly rooted in Reading and it will always be home, Sweet Street is excited to begin this new chapter in our history here in South Carolina,” said Messinger. “We look forward to creating a dynamic and gratifying environment that customers, suppliers and co-workers will enjoy, and ensuring a story of sweet success for them, our company and our community in the years to come.” Many of the world’s leading food-service establishments – including wellknown hotels, restaurants, cafes and upscale supermarkets – serve Sweet Street products as their own, and Sweet Street is consistently voted by food-service professionals as the most innovative and one of the Top 10 food service suppliers in the United States. “We are pleased to move Sweet Street forward with plans to locate our I-85 new facility in South Carolina, allowing us to expand production capacity and more easily W. L enha rdt R and efficiently reach our d. growing customer base in Imagery ©2013 City of Greenville, Google, markets across North and South Map Data ©2013 City of Greenville, Google America,” said Solmon. “The W

Greenville will be getting sweeter next year when Sweet Street Desserts takes over the former Sara Lee manufacturing facility at 1916 Piedmont Highway in Greenville County. With a tag line of “sweet, indulgent desserts as a way of life,” the frozen gourmet dessert company plans to upfit the 120,000-square-foot facility with new machinery and equipment. The company expects to begin manufacturing operations by summer 2014 and is expected to generate at least 80 new jobs over the next several years. “We were looking for options to expand our capacity, and the plant became available in Greenville,” said Douglas Messinger, vice president and general manager of Sweet Street. “On researching the existing plant infrastructure, the area, the availability of talented workforce, as well the availability of educational programs and the community support, we felt it was the perfect place.” Amy’s Kitchen, makers of natural and organic frozen and convenience foods, had ac-

Frank Hammond represented the Biltmore Group LLC in the sale of 3.22 acres located at Biltmore Drive & Pearle Avenue, Greenville. Will Nelson represented Foothills LLC in the renewal lease of 2,400 SF of retail space located at 144 Foothills Center Drive, West Union. Givens Stewart represented Betulla LLC in the lease of 30,000 SF of industrial space located at 100 Fortis Drive, Duncan.

Lyn Tyner represented Diamond Auto Sales of SC in the renewal lease of 4,800 SF of industrial space located at 159 P & N Drive, Greenville.

CORPORATE CENTER, a Class A flex park situated on 193 acres off of I-85 in Spartanburg, is growing by laying foundation for the eighth building at 130 Corporate Drive, which is expected to be available for occupancy starting Jan. 1. In the next six months, Corporate Center is

projected to build a second 50,000-squarefoot building on the same site. Additionally, five new tenants have moved into the existing buildings, collectively leasing a total of approximately 90,000 square feet. The new building will offer an additional 50,000 square feet of space that can be expanded up to 72,000 square feet. All utilities, including fiber optics, will be available, and additional parking can be added as needed. Dan Dunn of NAI Earle

state of South Carolina and the local community offered us a wonderful business environment and bent over backwards to assist us. Greenville County provided us with an excellent facility that is ideally suited to our needs and we are excited to begin this new chapter in our organization’s history.”

Furman is the leasing agent. Filling the existing buildings, the five new tenants are Charter, Smooth Bore, NicVape, Lyndorff and Turnkey Design. With the new occupants included, there will be 19 companies in the Corporate Center with approximately 300,000 square feet leased.

Greenville-based THE FURMAN CO., DEVELOPMENT LLC will act as developer on

behalf of Historic Marina Partners LLC, which is comprised of Furman and Chaffrin/Light, on the redevelopment of the underutilized waterfront parking lot at the Beaufort Downtown Marina. The site is approximately four acres between Bay Street and the Beaufort River. It is adjacent to the city-owned Downtown Marina, two public parks – Freedom Park and the recently renovated Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park – and the downtown shopping and entertainment district.

November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 21

UBJ SQUARE FEET

Rendering Provided by RBA Group.

Homes2 Suites Hotel Planned for North Main By Sherry Jackson | staff sjackson@communityjournals.com

Sycamore Investment Group, a Georgia-based company, has filed plans with the Greenville Design Review Board for a new Homes2 Suites hotel at the corner of Elford and North Main streets downtown. According to plans, the proposed five-story hotel will have 117 rooms, a three-story parking garage and an outdoor pool. The hotel will be managed by Sycamore Investment Group and will be “the first all-suite hotel in downtown,”

said Yatish Patel with Sycamore Investment Group. Homes2 Suites is a mid-tier, extended-stay hotel by Hilton. The Hilton website says the hotels have “unexpected style, enhanced flexibility, expanded spaces, and differentiated amenities, to create a more forward-thinking extend-

ed-stay experience.” Homes2 Suites usually have saline swimming pools, integrated laundry and exercise facilities, patio grills and walking paths. However, the initial plans submitted do not show any of these amenities and Patel said that final design approval from Hilton is still pending.

Construction is expected to begin in May 2014, said Patel, and will take approximately 14 months to complete. Another new hotel at River’s Edge was also announced this week. The plans will be reviewed at the Dec. 5 City of Greenville Design Review Board meeting.

Apartment Complex Approved for Millennium Campus By Sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com

A new 330-unit multifamily apartment complex located on the Millennium Campus received conditional approval from the Greenville Planning Commission last week. The 17-acre development by Woodfield Investments will be located at the corner of Laurens Road and Innovation Drive. Plans call for nine three-story buildings consisting of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The community will have walking trails, a pond, bicycle racks, a pool and clubhouse. Five six-unit garages will also be available. The building design completed by

Housing Studio of Charlotte, N.C., was done in an “International Style” to be consistent with the architectural guidelines of the Millennium Campus, which is adjacent to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The Millennium Campus Design Review Board met in October to review the plans and issued its approval. “I think it’s a great addition to the area,” said Planning Commission board member Carmella Cioffi.

22 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

According to city staff, because the property is located within an area that

is designated as “transit-oriented development,” transportation options are important. Residents will be able to utilize existing bike lanes and sidewalks already on the Millennium and CU-ICAR campus and the site is served by existing city bus routes. City officials said they are hoping to have more “destination retail” adjacent to the apartment complex in the future, and want the area to become more urban as time goes on.

UBJ SQUARE FEET River’s Edge Plans Boutique Hotel

Within the past few months, plans for four new hotels have been announced for downtown Greenville.

By Sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com

River Street is gaining attention again, and not just because grading has already begun for the River’s Edge project. Plans were submitted this week for a new boutique hotel. In August, developer Phil Hughes announced plans for the mixed-use development that will have apartments, a courtyard area with outdoor seating, retail space, a restaurant and hotel. Accente Group of Clemson filed plans for a new hotel to be built at the northwest corner of River and Broad streets in downtown Greenville. The hotel brand has not yet been unveiled but the plans say it’s an “international hotel franchisor.” Plans show the business and leisure hotel will be eight stories with a basement and

1. Home2 Suites 2. Aloft Hotel at ONE

rooftop area. The proposed hotel will have 120-140 rooms along with meeting and restaurant space. Hughes has previously said he anticipates the hotel to fit in with the adjacent eight-story apartment building. When asked if downtown can handle another hotel, Hughes said that currently Greenville is “one of the strongest hotel markets there is.” Plans for another new hotel at Elford and Main streets were also announced this week. The plans will be reviewed at the Dec. 5 City of Greenville Design Review Board meeting.

3. River’s Edge 4. Embassy Suites at RiverPlace

2 3

Rendering Provided by Accente Group, Inc.

NAI Earle Furman

Recent Deals in Spartanburg

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21,920 SF | Aaron’s Plaza SOLD RETAIL PROPERTY

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November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 23

New hires, promotions & award winners can be featured in On The Move. Send information & photos to onthemove@upstatebusiness journal.com.

UBJ ON THE MOVE ELECTED

HIRED

Ted Gentry

Dennis Porter

Elected chairman of Wyche’s executive committee by the firm’s membership. Gentry succeeds Wallace Lightsey, who served as chairman of the executive committee for the past six years. Gentry is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Yale Law School.

Joined the management team at Greenville Water as the chief administrative officer. Porter formerly worked as the director of utility services for the City of Henderson, Nev. He has more than 27 years of municipal government and consulting experience.

HIRED

is a recent graduate from Clemson University with a degree in english literature and a minor in economics. Bradley Kittel was also hired as a loan servicing analyst. Kittel is a recent graduate from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in accounting.

Clemson University. She has authored several books with colleagues, including “Landscape Design for Energy Efficiency,” “Designing Outdoor Environments for Children” and “The Nature of Clemson: A Field Guide to the Natural History of Clemson University.”

LEGAL:

Harvest Hope Food Bank recently welcomed Jessica Knight Blake as community development and events coordinator for the greater Greenville area. Her previous roles include scheduling and outreach work for U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint as well as campus recruiting for Elliott Davis. She is a graduate of Furman University and Leadership Greenville Class 37.

Wyche recently announced the addition of David Anna as a member of the firm. Anna focuses his practice on corporate, transactional and securities law matters. He previously was an associate at Paul Hastings LLP and Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago.

MOTORSPORTS: Jackson Motorsports Group recently welcomed Sean Lake as office coordinator and Taylor Weaver as event specialist and CDL driver. Prior to joining Jackson Motorsports, Lake served in managerial positions at restaurants, fitness centers and a security service company.

NONPROFIT:

Andy Windham

Emily Walker

Joined Crawford Strategy as senior vice president, director of account management. Windham was previously executive vice president and COO at Walker & Associates, and a senior account executive at Price McNabb in Charlotte, N.C.

Joined the Greenville Drive as senior director of business development. Walker spent the previous 12 years with Network Tours in Greenville and Nashville, Tenn. Before that, she spent five years as an account manager with the Winston-Salem Journal.

BUILDING:

and Washington, D.C., offices.

GMK Associates Inc. recently announced that Brooke Pearsall has joined the firm’s Interiors Division as the director of interior design. Pearsall brings more than 17 years of experience in the interior design field and comes to GMK from HVS Design, where she served as the managing director of design for the firm’s Boston

FINANCIAL SERVICES: Lima One Capital recently announced the hiring of Shelley Brown and Chris Wilhoit as operations analysts. Brown is a graduate from College of Charleston with a degree in business administration and a concentration in marketing. Wilhoit

Amanda Osborne joined the Friends of the Greenville Zoo as executive director. Osborne will lead the organization as it begins to implement its 20-year master plan. She was previously area director for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem, N.C., region. Upstate Forever recently added to its board of directors. Michael Allen is a LEED-certified architecture project manager with Goodwyn Mills Cawood. He holds an architectural design degree from Clemson University, where he also played defensive back for the Tigers. Eric Breitenstein is a recent graduate of Wofford College, where he was the recipient of the John W. Harrington Environmental Studies Award as the outstanding student in his major. During his time at Wofford, he served as an intern with Upstate Forever. Mary Haque is a landscape architect and professor of horticulture emeritus at

24 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

RESTAURANTS: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill recently announced the addition of Sean Dowling as executive chef and Adam Hester as general manager. Dowling recently served as the executive chef at 131 Main at three locations in Charlotte and has 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry. Hester has served as the general manager at the restaurant’s flagship location in Charlotte for nearly six years. Prior to that he was a managing partner at Carrabba’s Italian Grill.

nications and services. Ramsey joined ScanSource in 2005 and previously served as vice president, worldwide reseller financial services. In addition, David Hertwig has been appointed the new vice president of worldwide reseller financial services. Hertwig has been with ScanSource for 15 years, having most recently served as vice president of sales for ScanSource POS and Barcode. EDTS recently announced that information technology engineers William Green and Ted Nichols have joined the staff as support engineers. Green has more than a decade of professional information technology experience in higher education and business-to-business environments, and specializes in Microsoft server administration, networking and virtualization. Nichols joins EDTS after serving in IT support and management for Blue Cross Blue Shield.

VIP – HONORED

TECHNOLOGY: ScanSource Inc. recently announced the promotion of Christy Thompson to vice president of worldwide marketing. Thompson joined ScanSource in 2005 as director of strategic marketing and has more than 16 years of experience in marketing leadership positions. Len Parramore has been promoted to vice president and controller, worldwide barcode and security. Prior to being appointed to this role, Parramore held multiple positions within the company, including director of corporate accounting and, most recently, controller of North American operations. Tim Ramsey has been promoted to vice president and controller, worldwide commu-

DR. RICHARD J. HAWKINS Received the George D. Rovere Award from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). Hawkins also received the Excellence in Sports Medicine Award from the Orthopaedic Foundation for Active Lifestyles. He specializes in shoulder, elbow and knee reconstructive surgery and sports medicine at Greenville Health System’s Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas.

UBJ NEW TO THE STREET 2

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5. Oil & Vinegar recently opened at NOMA, 220 N. Main St., in Greenville. The store sells not only oils and vinegars, but gourmet food items, ceramic tableware and kitchen accessories. For more information, visit oilandvinegarusa. com or call 864-241-6689.

6. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill recently opened at 1025 Woodruff Road in Greenville’s Magnolia Park. The restaurant is the 27th location in the chain and its first in South Carolina. The restaurant uses local hickory and oak to cook its meat entrees and also offers lemonade, for which the company gives $1 per lemonade sold to Alex’s Lemonade Stand. For information, visit firebirdsrestaurants. com or call 864-704-1555.

N. Ac adem y St.

2. Jared Galleria of Jewelry recently opened at 1025 Woodruff Road in Greenville’s Magnolia Park. The store is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. For more information, visit jared.com or call 864-627-2126.

3. Downtown Dogs recently cut the ribbon at 204 Coffee St. in Greenville. The hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. For more information, visit facebook. com/downtowndogsgreenville or call 864-239-0151.

4. Ultimate Massage Therapy held a ribbon-cutting at 32 Hampton Ave. in Greenville. For more information, call 864-527-5905 or visit ultimatemassagesc.com.

Gib bs Sh oa ls

1. Hatfield Dentistry recently held a ribbon-cutting at 301 The Parkway in Greer. For more information, visit hatfielddentistry.com or call 864-968-8811.

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November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 25

UBJ PLANNER FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22 EXECUTIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING SEMINAR Clemson at the Falls, 55 E. Camperdown Way, Greenville; 7:30-10 a.m. FOR INFORMATION: Contact Nan Johnston at 864-656-2200 UPSTATE TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT BMW Zentrum, 1400 Hwy. 101 South, Greer; 8:30-11:30 a.m. REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org. CONTACT: Elizabeth Edwards

at 864-239-3748 or eedwards@ greenvillechamber.org 1ST ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAREER CONFERENCE Darla Moore School of Business, 8th Floor, 1705 College St., Columbia; 1-6 p.m. TOPICS: “Recent Grads Share Lessons Learned in Getting the First Job”; “Interactive Session: Conducting a Targeted Job Search”; and “The 7 ‘Tudes: Attitudes Needed for Success in Global Business.” COST: $15 per person DRESS: Business formal

ENTREPRENEUR IN THE ROUND

CONTACT: alumni@ moore.sc.edu or 803777-7602

Clemson at the Falls, 55 E. Camperdown Way, Greenville; 5-6 p.m.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 25 GCS ROUNDTABLE The Office Center at the Point, 33 Market Point Drive, Greenville; 8:30-9:30 a.m. SPEAKER: Myles Golden TOPIC: “Does Your Mindset Determine Your Success?” REQUEST AN INVITATION: Golden Career Strategies at 864-527-0425

Tealoha, 131 E. McBee Ave., Greenville; 8-9 a.m. FOR INFORMATION: crewupstate.org

COST: Free CONTACT: Amy Burka at burka2@clemson.edu REGISTER AT: clemsonmba. eventbrite.com

GREENVILLE (DOWNTOWN) ROTARY MEETING Westin Poinsett Hotel, 120 S. Main St., Greenville; noon FOR INFORMATION: greenvillerotary.org

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 26 CREW UPSTATE COFFEE CHAT

Greenville, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville; 6-8 p.m. SPEAKER: Randy Dodds, Matrix Medical Network COST: Free, but participants must be registered FOR INFORMATION: successfulentrepreneurship.com

SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR LECTURE SERIES University Center of

GOT A HOT DATE?

Contribute to our Planner by submitting event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com

FIRST FRIDAY

LEADERSHIP SERIES PRESENTS

DAVE WATROUS Senior Director, Strategic Development Fluor

DECEMBER 6

5:00 Presentation · 6:00 Networking Reception

Clemson at the Falls Attending First Friday is free, but space is limited! register at FirstFridayWatrous.eventbrite.com

WE’RE HIRING EXCEPTIONAL READERS.

EXCEPTIONAL SALES PROFESSONALS. Full Time / Part Time If you meet this standard as a Sales Professional, we look forward to meeting you. EMAIL RJOHNSTON@COMMUNITYJOURNALS.COM WITH COVER LETTER AND RESUME. COMMUNITY JOURNALS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

26 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL November 22, 2013

UBJ SNAPSHOT The Corner of East North and Main streets. Located in the northernmost block of the Main Street business district, Batson’s was on the northeast corner of Main and North streets. Specializing in women’s ready-to-wear clothing, the store did business in a building constructed about 1910. The upper floors were offices. Later this corner would be the site of Ivey’s Department store. From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Cox Collection” by Jeffrey R. Willis. Historic photo available from the Greenville Historical Society. PHOTO PROVIDED

The Ivey’s store building completed in 1949 stands where the Batson’s building once stood. Ivey’s moved to McAlister Square when it was completed, leaving the building vacant for many years. In the 1990s the building was remodeled for shops on the street level and office space on the upper levels. On the street level you will find Antonino Bertolo’s Pizza, the Artists Guild Gallery and Charleston Cooks! CURRENT PHOTO BY GREG BECKNER / STAFF

SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER Jennifer Oladipo STAFF WRITERS Sherry Jackson, Cindy Landrum, April A. Morris PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com UBJ ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com MANAGING EDITOR Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dick Hughes, Jenny Munro, Jeanne Putnam, Leigh Savage

MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Lori Burney, Kristi Jennings, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Pam Putman MARKETING & EVENTS Kate Banner DIGITAL STRATEGIST Emily Price

INTERN Benjamin Jeffers PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Beckner ART & PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR Kristy M. Adair PRODUCTION MANAGER Holly Hardin ADVERTISING DESIGN Michael Allen, Whitney Fincannon

Copyright @2013 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. 148 River Street, Suite 120, Greenville, South Carolina, 29601. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $65. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, 148 River St., Ste 120, Greenville, SC 29601. Printed in the USA.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS: ideas@ upstatebusinessjournal.com

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November 22, 2013 UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL 27

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