Sept. 30, 2016 UBJ by Community Journals

SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | VOL. 5 ISSUE 40

The Earl of

Sandwiches Duke Food CEO Andrew Smart readies his ﬁrm’s move to downtown Greenville

Chris Collins, VP of Sales & Marketing

Andrew Smart, Chief Executive Ofﬁcer

Ben Leinster, Chief Financial Ofﬁcer

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TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK

| THE RUNDOWN | 3

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 40 Featured this issue: Duke Foods Productions returns to Greenville........................................................4 Search is on for new planning and development director .....................................7 New development planned for Camperdown Way .....................................................17

A variety of root vegetables are grown in a greenhouse that sits on a half-acre plot at Reedy River Farms’ Mayberry Street location. The farm will soon relocate to 1176 Pendleton St. in the Village of West Greenville, a move that will double the farm’s production. Read more on page 13. Photo by Will Crooks

WORTH REPEATING “Eugenia Duke was a true pioneer. To think that she established a business that continues to thrive today at a time when she didn’t even have the right to vote is mindboggling to me.” Page 4

“It is so critical to facilitate positive growth rather than react to growth. We have to be proactive to make sure growth is what we want.” Page 7

“More than ever, attending college sports events is like travel: more about the journey than the destination.” Page 20

VERBATIM

On food surplus “Composting is not only important for South Carolina's environmental health, it also has the potential to become a significant driver of our economy.” Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt on the benefits of repurposing the state’s food waste. Spartanburg-based Atlas Organics is a partner in the Don’t Waste Food S.C. campaign, which aims to cut food waste by 50 percent by 2030.

4 | COVER |

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Duke Food Productions moving HQ to Greenville DAVID DYKES | STAFF

ddykes@communityjournals.com Duke Food Productions, an industrial food manufacturer of branded and private label brands, is returning to its roots by establishing its company headquarters in downtown Greenville. The offices, which are under construction, will take up 12,000 square feet of space on the third and fourth floors of the new Falls Park Place building at 600 S. Main St. The company is moving its headquarters from Easley. The headquarters will be a stone’s throw away from the site where the company’s story began. In

1917, Eugenia Duke began selling her signature spread sandwiches up and down Main Street to local drug stores, textile mills and World War I soldiers stationed at Camp Sevier. Made with her family’s homemade mayonnaise recipe — what we now know as Duke’s mayo — the spreads were an instant hit. In the spring of 1919, Eugenia Duke sold more than 10,000 sandwiches in one day. She eventually established a manufacturing factory at the site where the Wyche Pavilion stands now. “The City of Greenville represents the beginning of our company’s rich history, one that includes

an evolution from wholesale sandwich sales to the retail and manufacturing industries,” said Duke CEO Andrew Smart. “We are proud to soon be one of the few, if not only, corporate headquarters in our field downtown, and look forward to continuing our company’s legacy in Greenville over the next 100 years.” While Eugenia Duke sold her original mayonnaise recipe to C.F. Sauer in 1929, her sandwich business continued to flourish in Greenville, eventually being taken over by the Smart family in 1964. Today, the Duke brand includes Duke Sandwich

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Company, which has two local retail sandwich locations, and Duke Food Productions. Both are independent corporations owned by the Smart family. “Eugenia Duke was a true pioneer,” Smart said. “To think that she established a business that continues to thrive today at a time when she didn’t even have the right to vote is mind-boggling to me. It was important to us to return our company to its roots and honor Eugenia’s gift to this city.” “The City of Greenville and Duke Food Productions have shared a long history together and we’re excited that what Ms. Eugenia Duke started 100 years ago will continue to flourish right here in our city,“ said Greenville Mayor Knox White. “This is also another example of Greenville’s ability to attract and support industries from a very diverse base.” Duke Food Production’s existing 80,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Easley produces ready-to-eat dips, salads, salsas and fresh and frozen bakery products for grocery chains and restaurants nationwide. The company also is acquiring a new manufacturing plant in Bonham, Texas. Set to open in the second quarter of 2017, the company anticipates a $10 million capital investment and 200 new full-time jobs at

the location over the next five years. The 110,000-square-foot facility, which will more than double Duke’s manufacturing capacity, marks the company’s first expansion outside South Carolina. Located on 26 acres approximately 60 miles north of Dallas, the plant will manufacture many of Duke Food Productions’ ready-to-eat foods for distribution to the West Coast. Initially, 25 to 30 corporate employees will move to the new Greenville headquarters, which is slated to open in January 2017, Smart said. Research and Development managers also will have a new state-ofthe-art test kitchen there. Duke will share the building with Lululemon, Happy + Hale and Table 301 Restaurant Group’s latest concept Jianna, as well as six luxury apartments. “We are thrilled to have Duke Food Productions as an anchor tenant at Falls Park Place,” said Hughes Investments Inc. Vice President Ryan Peiffer. “They have deep roots in Greenville, and Falls Park Place was the perfect location for their corporate headquarters to come home to. The Duke Company will be a tremendous asset to both the building and downtown Greenville.” For more information, go to dukefp.com or dukesandwich.com.

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| FEATURE | 5

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Duke will share the Falls Park Place building with Lululemon and Jianna, among other tenants.

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6 | EDUCATION |

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Center of Manufacturing Innovation aims to close skills gap CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF

clandrum@communityjournals.com Jason Premo knows firsthand the problem manufacturers in Greenville County have in finding enough skilled technicians to fill the positions they need to grow their companies. “As a company expands, finding talent is one of the biggest challenges,” said Premo, who is chairman of Premo Ventures. Premo developed an apprenticeship program for ADEX, an aerospace company, to give the company a pipeline of employees who were ready to produce their first day on the job. “It’s great that a company is bringing in 100 jobs, but what about the next 100?” Greenville Technical College’s Gene Haas Center for Manufacturing Innovation is designed to train today’s students on the latest advanced manufacturing equipment so they are ready to fill the technical jobs needed for companies to innovate and expand, said Greenville Tech President Keith Miller. The program will also marry the education of the engi-

Last Wednesday, Greenville Tech officials cut the ribbon and officially opened the Center for Manufacturing Innovation.

neer with the education of technicians to mirror real-world work conditions. “The future of manufacturing will only prosper if we see more schools such as Greenville Tech work together with the manufacturing community to create advanced manufacturing education centers,” said Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America. The impetus for the center came

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as South Carolina started to come out of the recession in 2010-2011 and manufacturers said there was a critical gap between the skills the area’s workforce had and the skills they needed to grow. Greenville County is the epicenter of manufacturing in South Carolina, ranking first in gross regional project, first in total payroll for all industries and third in the number of individuals employed in the private sector. The worker problem was twofold. Many of those working in manufacturing were retiring, and there weren’t enough workers to take their place, often because of the misconception of manufacturing being a dirty and low-skill profession. The center combats that misconception as soon as students and parents walk into the facility. From a glass-walled lobby, visitors can look down on the center’s ground floor equipped with three- and five-axis lathes, a vertical turning lathe used in the aerospace industry, 3-D printers, hydraulic and pneumatic robots and simulators. “A lot of people don’t know what today’s manufacturing is,” said David Clayton, the center’s executive director. Clemson University is a partner in the center, and its involvement is designed to bridge the gap between the education of the technician and the education of the engineer. The partnership is the first of its kind between a technical college and a research university in the U.S. A manufacturing honors college, which will allow Greenville Tech and Clemson students to work together

to solve real-world manufacturing challenges, is also a first. The center also has a 10,000-square-foot business incubator for small startup manufacturers who can rely on the expertise of Greenville Tech instructors and the center’s equipment to help launch their company, Miller said. Three or four startups have already indicated interest in the space and one could be in as soon as a month, Miller and Clayton said. “I can foresee the need for more incubator space,” Clayton said. “We hope it spawns real specialty manufacturers. The goal is to outgrow it in a year.” Programs will be offered in a variety of formats, from continuing education workshops and shorter certificate programs to two-year associate degrees and beyond, in machine tool technology, CNC, robotics and mechatronics. Additive manufacturing will be incorporated into the curriculum for machine tool technology and CNC students. Premo said the center provides manufacturers a way to be actively involved in closing the skills gap. “I look at it providing a year-long or two-year-long interview,” he said. “It typically takes nine to 18 months for a typical hire to be productive. This program will allow employees to produce on day one to enable the company to grow,” he said. Many companies and individuals donated equipment and money for the center. Miller called the support tremendous and said it indicates the community’s desire to keep Greenville County’s manufacturing base strong.

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| DEVELOPMENT | 7

Development is booming, but Greenville’s top planning and development position remains vacant CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF

clandrum@communityjournals.com There’s an empty seat in Greenville’s Planning and Development department, one of the most important positions in the entire city. And it’s a position that has been vacant since former city planner Michael Kerski left in July to become the planning director in Shakopee, Minn., a city southwest of Minneapolis. “That position is very pivotal,” said Steve Navarro, president and CEO of The Furman Co. “They have to understand the city plan, the vision of city leaders and elected officials and interpret that principle of healthy growth to the private sector.” Bryan Wood, the city’s zoning administrator, has served as interim planning and development manager while Greenville is conducting a national search, said Deputy City Manager Nancy Whitworth. Whitworth said the city expects to

bring an undetermined number of candidates in for interviews in mid-October. She said it is more important for the city to find the right person to fill the position than it was to hire somebody quickly. Navarro said the way Greenville has grown is different than how Columbia and Charleston have grown. He said with the University of South Carolina, a medical school, a military base and state government, Columbia is going to grow no matter what and that growth is dictated by those behemoths. Charleston’s growth depends on tourists. Greenville’s growth, on the other hand, comes from business and economic development. “Economic development depends on the good decisions being made. It is so critical to facilitate positive growth rather than react to growth,” he said. “We have to be proactive to make sure growth is what we want. The planning director is a pivot point with the city on one side and devel-

opers on the other.” City Manager John Castile said the city has met with stakeholders such as neighborhood leaders, developers and city employees in order to develop a list of qualities the new manager should possess. Among them are the ability to coordinate with other planning agencies, work with the development community in a positive way to influence appropriate development, look creatively at opportunities and recommend solutions to planning, design and development issues. A job listing says that candidates will have a master’s degree in planning or a related field and more than six years of experience in planning. “Our most important mission is to balance our growth with quality of life. With so much happening, it is a real challenge every day,” said Mayor Knox White. “The person in this position stands at the front lines. We must find a person who is trustworthy and respectful to everyone, knows

how to mediate conflict and sets a high standard for quality.” Navarro said the new manager will need to understand Greenville and the role public-private partnerships have played in its growth. “While we want to see healthy economic growth, we also need to remember what made Greenville great while looking at where we’re headed,” he said. Robert Hughes, chief operating officer of Hughes Development, said Kerski made a lasting impact on Greenville. “Given the pace at which Greenville is growing, the new planning and development director will be faced with an equal amount of opportunities and challenges. I am confident the city will find someone with a pragmatic approach to design and development, who also appreciates where Greenville is today and what is coming next. This is an exciting time,” he said.

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8 | MATERIALS |

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09.30.2016

Albis and Barnet partner at polymer facility in Duncan TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com A joint venture between Germany-based Albis Plastic Gmbh and William Barnet & Son LLC will bring $14 million in new investment and up to 60 jobs to Spartanburg County. Company officials revealed more details about the venture Albis Barnet Polymers LLC during a ceremony at Spartanburg-based Barnet’s former polymer plant at 1720 E. Main St. in Duncan, where the new enterprise will be housed. The venture will be comprised of Barnet’s former polymer business and the sales activities for Albis in North America. It will specialize in the recycling, repelletizing and marketing of post-industrial raw materials as the basis for Albis’s Altech products. “Two years ago, we began a discussion with Albis, one of our best customers, about the possibility of working together,” said Bill McCrary, president and CEO of Barnet. “We determined that through collaboration we could more effectively and efficiently [grow] than we could by going it alone… This is a true and formal collaboration.” As part of the venture, Albis will build a 25,000-square-foot production facility adjacent to the existing plant that will initially be able to handle a capacity of 15,000 tons per year. Kerstin Müller-Kirchhofs, CFO for Albis, said her company expects the facility to be completed during the second quarter of 2017. Albis will also acquire Barnet’s existing polymers business in Europe, which includes production sites in Obernburg, Germany and Humenné, Slovakia. As a whole, the venture is expected to have an annual production capacity of 70 million pounds, or 35,000 tons. Müller-Kirchhofs said Albis had been looking for a site in the U.S. to better serve its global and domestic customers. She said the company plans to initially hire 40 employees during the first quarter of 2017. Some employees will be trained

Bill McCrary, president and CEO of Barnet

in Europe and then return to the U.S. to train additional employees. As the venture’s business grows, Müller-Kirchhofs said the company could hire 20 additional employees during the next few years. “The joint venture unites the strengths of both partner companies,” said Philip Krahn, CEO of Albis, in a statement. “This concept will give us a competitive edge that we will implement and take advantage of globally to serve our customers even better in the future.” Barnet, founded in 1898 in Albany, N.Y., specializes in the production, recycling and trading of polymers, synthetic fibers and yarns. Its operations include sales and manufacturing facilities and about 400 associates worldwide. The company’s synthetic fibers and yarns divisions will remain under the Barnet banner, including its facility in Kinston, N.C. McCrary said all 75 of Barnet’s employees that

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currently work at the Duncan plant will be retained. The venture will enable Barnet to focus more on its synthetic fibers and yarns divisions, he said. Founded in 1961, Albis said it has a diverse product range of high-performance plastics, compounding solutions and “masterbatches.” According to the company’s website, it has seven compounding plants, 23 subsidiaries and 1,200 employees across the globe. The company said its sales exceeded $1 billion in 2015. Frank Kriebisch, chief operations officer for Albis, said the company has a number of customers in the automotive industry, including BMW and some of its suppliers. McCrary said Barnet has been seeking to break into the automotive industry for some time and Albis’s existing relationships in that industry will be a boon for both companies. For more information, visit albisbarnet.com.

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| ENERGY | 9

Duke Energy solar program issues $5M in rebates in first year ANDREW MOORE | STAFF

amoore@communityjournals.com Almost one year after its launch, the Duke Energy Solar Rebate Program has paid about $5 million in rebates to its South Carolina customers who have invested in solar power. “The response to the rebate program has been fantastic,” said Clark Gillespy, president of Duke Energy South Carolina. “This shows our customers want options to help them participate in a sustainable solar energy marketplace.” Duke Energy designed the rebate program to help customers with the cost of solar panel installation. It launched the program after the Distributed Energy Resource Program Act (Act 336) passed in 2014. The bill increased on-site solar production limits and allowed utilities to build solar and regain the costs. Currently, Duke Energy offers a small and large solar rebate program. Both offer $1 per watt of installed generating capacity direct current. The small rebate is open to residents with solar panel systems producing 20 kilowatts (kW) or less. The large rebate program is open to businesses producing more than 20 kilowatts and less than 1,000 kilowatts. This means a residential customer who installs a 5-kilowatt system could earn rebates of about $5,000 under the small solar rebate program. Likewise, a business that installs 50 kilowatts could earn a rebate of $50,000. Customers typically receive rebates a month after the solar installation is online and certified by Duke Energy. Duke Energy also started offering net metering earlier this year, allowing customers to earn a credit of one kilowatt-hour for every kilowatt-hour they produce and send to the Duke Energy Grid. The offer is available through 2025 for current customers. “We believe a rebate coupled with our net metering incentive provides customers a meaningful financial incentive to seriously consider going solar,” said Gillespy. “For many of our resi-

Duke Energy’s solar rebate program helps offset the cost of solar panel installation for customers.

dential and small business customers, installing solar on their property is a significant investment.” So far, more than 750 residential customers and 35 businesses have applied for solar rebates. That has created more than 30 megawatts of solar power, which is more than half of the 53-megawatt goal cited in Act 336. That goal could be in sight as additional solar farms are being installed throughout the Upstate. Furman University plans to build the largest solar farm on a college campus in South Carolina. The $1.7 million solar farm will be located on 6 acres near Furman’s main entrance on Poinsett Highway and will have an output of 743-kW. Duke Energy is offering a $997,000 rebate, one of the largest the company has committed to since the start of the solar rebate program, said Duke Energy spokesman Ryan Mosier. The solar farm is projected to be finished sometime in 2017. Also, Glen Raven Inc. plans to build a $2 million solar farm through the Duke Energy Solar Rebate Program at its Anderson-based Sunbrella manufacturing center. The 1000-kW project will become the largest solar energy installation in the Upstate owned by a privately held company. The solar farm will be online in January 2017.

The solar rebate program is creating more than just economic benefits. In the U.S., carbon dioxide accounts for 82 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, which can cause multiple health issues such as asthma and heart attacks. But many companies are adopting clean energy sources such as solar. These sources reduce the use of power plants, which account for 31 percent of U.S. emissions, according to the EPA. Furman University’s solar farm will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent, supporting the school’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2026, said Jeff Redderson, associate vice president for facility and campus services. Glen Raven’s solar farm is going to offset 317 tons of carbon emissions annually – the equivalent of planting 2,500 tree seedlings annually – and can supply energy to about 105 homes, according to Edmund Gant, sustainable development manager. Interested residents must be receiving electric service from Duke Energy and own the property where solar is installed. Once the program is fully subscribed, customers can install more solar power using tax credits through the state and federal government. For more information, please visit duke-energy.com/SCSolarRebates.

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10 | PROFILE |

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Left to right: Bobby Lyons, Jordan Skellie, Adam Padgett and Dillon Swayngim.

The Lyons Share TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com Bobby Lyons knew he had to make a change. After earning his civil engineering degree from Clemson University in 1993, he got into heavy construction but realized the job wasn’t going anywhere. “There was a lot of downtime with that job,” Lyons said. “I used to spend a lot of time in my truck reading books about real estate. The other guys probably didn’t know what to think… But most of the people I saw across the state and nation who were successful were buying and selling real estate. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” Lyons said in 1996 he joined Spartanburg-based Spencer/Hines Properties to learn the ropes as a broker. In 1999, he decided he knew enough to strike out on his own. But instead of commercial real estate, Lyons decided to focus on industrial properties because he felt like that was where he saw the most potential for growth. He hasn’t regretted that decision. While other brokerages failed or struggled to make it due to the collapse of the commercial real estate market during the Great Recession, Lyons says his company, Lyons Industrial Properties, remained profitable. The company, headquartered at 812 E. Main St. on Spartanburg’s east side, sold about $20 million worth of real estate between 2009 and 2011. Lyons said the company’s portfolio

included several industrial properties that housed tenants with long-term leases, which helped produce revenue. The company also cranked up its auction services during a time when banks and other financial institutions needed to offload properties accumulated by foreclosure or other means. “We weathered the recession,” Lyons said. “We’re a small boutique industrial brokerage with four agents and we’re out there competing with the big guys… At the end of the day, it comes down to customer service. We follow the golden rule. We go above and beyond for our customers.” Lyons said the company has a steady flow of repeat business. And because it’s smaller, Lyons Industrial Properties can be a little more selective about its partners and projects. “When both parties walk away from a transaction happy, we know we’ve done a good job,” Lyons said. During the past year, the company has added another dimension to its services by earning a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone. The technology has enabled the company to use its drone to shoot aerial photographs or video footage of buildings and properties for its marketing efforts. In the past, the company had to pay to hire a pilot to fly over the properties for similar results. “Technology has really changed the game for us,” Lyons said. Lyons said with growth in manufacturing and distribution across the Upstate, he believes there is a need

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for more speculative, or spec, building space to be developed in the region. To help meet that need, Lyons Industrial Properties will build a 30,000-square-foot spec building on 3.08 acres off Fortis Drive in Duncan. The building will be expandable to 50,000 square feet. It will feature 30-foot ceilings, offices and several docks, T5 lighting and a sprinkler system. It is expected to be complete in April or May of 2017. “We’re very excited about the future,” Lyons said. “The most important thing to us is our reputation. One bad deal can ruin 20 years of hard work.” Lyons’ team includes Adam Padgett, vice president of leasing and development, and brokerage associates Jordan Skellie and Dillon Swayngim. Padgett, originally of Aiken, began working with Lyons in Feburary 2006

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while he was attending school at the University of South Carolina Upstate. After earning his real estate license, Padgett transferred to USC in Columbia. He continued to work for Lyons Industrial Properties part-time until he finished his undergraduate work in 2008. In 2009, he moved to Spartanburg to work full-time as a broker for the company. Swayngim, who is from Gaffney, manages the company’s marketing. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from USC Upstate’s George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics. Skellie, a native of Landrum, attended Clemson, where he studied construction science. After college, he worked for two years as a project manager before joining Lyons Industrial Properties. Lyons is a board member of the Downtown Rotary Club of Spartan-

burg. He grew up on Long Island, N.Y., but moved to the Upstate after he was recruited by Clemson to play baseball. Lyons met his wife, Nikki Hamrick Lyons, at Clemson. Her family owns the Gaffney-based clothing store chain Hamrick’s. She is the inspiration behind one of the company’s private clothing labels, Nikki. The couple has six children. “We each have strengths and weaknesses and I think we complement each other well,” Lyons said. “It makes us stronger as a team.” Lyons said one of the things he’s most proud of is that the company employs a profit-sharing model that allows each team member to financially benefit from every deal. “Most [real estate] companies are 100 percent commission based,” Lyons said. “I’ve seen a lot of companies where agents in the same office

| PROFILE / MANUFACTURING | 11 are competing against each other. As we added Jordan and Dillon, we decided we wanted to do something different. We pay salary plus commission and we all share in the success. This encourages everyone to be involved and to take pride in what we do.” Lyons said he is excited about the company’s future in the Upstate. He remains bullish on the industrial market and believes Lyons Industrial Properties is poised to capitalize on growth in that segment. “The current spec inventory will get absorbed,” Lyons said. “We have to build more… I think the Upstate is on a hot streak. We have such a diversity of companies here. That’s the beauty of it. It’s hard to pinpoint what is going to grow the most.” For more information, visit lyonsindustrial.com.

Michelin plans to create 350 jobs in Spartanburg TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com Greenville-based Michelin North America officially announced its plan to invest $270 million to build a 3.3 million-square-foot distribution center and add 350 jobs to Spartanburg County. The center will be on a large site near the intersection of Highways 101 and 417, according to a company spokesman. Michelin said it plans to begin construction later this year, with the first phase of the center opening in late 2017. The company expects the center to be completed in early 2019. “We’re very happy to be in Spartanburg,” said Michelin spokesman Tony Fouladpour. “We found a location that best meets the project’s parameters and that will allow us to better serve our customers.” The company said the center will support the distribution of its Michelin, BF Goodrich and Uniroyal brands for passenger vehicles, heavy trucks and agricultural equipment. Michelin said the site is located within a short distance of seven of its tire plants in the Upstate, Interstates 26 and 85 and the South

Carolina Ports Authority’s inland port near Greer. Fouladpour said the center will utilize the inland port. He said Michelin will announce details about hiring for the facility in the coming weeks. Michelin is building the center in partnership with Panattoni Development Co., a private international developer with operations in North America and Europe. The company said Swisslog Group, a subsidiary of Germany-based KUKA AG, will automate the center’s distribution warehouse operations for receiving, tire selection, sequencing and shipping, as well as providing warehouse management and controls software. “The Spartanburg distribution facility will cap a multiyear evolution of Michelin’s distribution network in North America,” said Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America, in a statement. “We see it as a transformational milestone designed to better serve our customers while optimizing inventories and improving supply efficiency.” Spartanburg County Council approved incentives for the project

GSP I-85 101

Proposed Area 417

codenamed “Project Magellan” earlier this year. County leaders have spent the past few months working to extend sewer services along the Highway 101 corridor to support Michelin’s new center and a 432,000-squarefoot distribution center planned nearby by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, the parent company of Bauch & Lomb. “We are excited to welcome this project to Spartanburg County,” said Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt in a statement. “This

milestone results from the responsiveness of our Spartanburg team working with Michelin. We have worked closely with Michelin concerning multiple significant investments over 35 years, during which Michelin has established itself as a great corporate neighbor and citizen of our community.” For more information, visit michelinman.com.

12 | SUSTAINABILITY |

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09.30.2016

Atlas Organics delivers organic compost to local farm, school ANDREW MOORE | STAFF

amoore@communityjournals.com Spartanburg-based Atlas Organics delivered 20 tons of organic compost to Greenville’s Reedy River Farms and Legacy Charter Elementary School last Friday. The delivery signaled continued growth for the state’s Don’t Waste Food SC program. “Twenty tons is an impressive beginning with much more to come,” said Anna Lange, recycling market development manager with the state Department of Commerce. “This amount of material composted not only reduces disposal but also generates economic activity by turning a potential waste into a valuable commodity.” Launched in July, the Don’t Waste Food SC program is a collaboration among the state Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Environmental Control and Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling to reduce food waste in the state by 50 percent by 2030. The state agencies partnered with multiple food waste recycling companies across the state to meet that goal. One of the partners is Atlas Organics. “The problem with food waste must be attacked by both the public and private sector. The public-private partnership creates the best foundation for success,” Atlas founder Gary Nihart told UBJ earlier this year. Food waste accounts for 21 percent of the nation’s waste, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. South Carolina produced an estimated 607,000 tons of food waste in 2015, according to DHEC. Food waste creates a nationwide loss valued at more than $160 billion annually, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Atlas, which opened a compost facility at Greenville County’s Twin Chimneys Landfill in June, collects food waste from businesses and facilities

around the state and brings it back to the composting facility, where it is combined with mulched yard waste. The mixture then undergoes a 45-day process that includes aeration and monitoring. That process converts the waste into reusable compost for agricultural, landscaping and home gardening customers. Compost helps produce higher crop yields, decrease the use of chemicals and increase water retention, meaning less water use, according to Joseph McMillin, CEO of Atlas Organics. Atlas plans to produce about 12,000 tons of compost from combined waste per year. So far, the company has diverted more than 2.65 million pounds of food from the landfill, according to the Commerce Department. The company’s latest delivery could spur benefits for the local food system. About 15 tons of compost was dumped at Reedy River Farms’ newest location on Pendleton Street in the Village of West Greenville, where various vegetables will be grown and sourced to restaurants such as American Grocery Restaurant, Coastal Crust and Bacon Bros. Public House. “Compost is basically the most important production input in our business. There isn’t really any fertility to speak of in urban environments,” said George Dubose, founder of Reedy River Farms, which operates on 1 acre of land. “It’s not hard to imagine that some of the food we sell to restaurants might wind up back in our compost.” Atlas also dumped about five tons of compost at Legacy Charter School’s garden, which was started in 2011 to promote good health. The compost will help the school maintain the garden. Its produce is sent home with students and staff as well as to the cafeteria, according to health and education consultant Karen Brown.

The compost could also boost educational opportunities for students. “Our elementary scholars are actively involved in planting, tending and harvesting from our school garden. This compost donation will allow us to involve more lessons aligned to science standards and the experience of hands-on science, as well as cross-curriculum lessons,” said Margaret Scieszka, math and science coach at Legacy Charter School. The Don’t Waste Food SC program also continues to grow. In October, the city of Charleston will begin a food scraps composting initiative for restaurants in the Upper Peninsula area, according to Lange. It is partly funded by DHEC.

3 SIMPLE STEPS TO PREVENT FOOD WASTE AT HOME

STEP 1: PLANNING MEALS

• Plan your meals for the week before you go shopping. • Consider the quantities of each item you’ll need for a recipe to prevent overbuying. • Evaluate the foods in your refrigerator or cabinet to avoid buying what you already have.

STEP 2: CAREFUL SHOPPING

• Choose loose produce over pre-packaged. It will help you better control the quantity you need. And avoid pre-cut fruits and veggies, which tend to spoil more quickly. It will also save you money. • Try to avoid buying in bulk just to save money. It won’t matter if you don’t use the food before it spoils. Grains, beans and pasta are good items to purchase in bulk. • Request that the butcher repackage meat if there’s more than you need. • Make sure to use reusable shopping bags and ensure that produce is stored carefully in that bag to prevent bruising.

STEP 3: SMART STORAGE AND PREP • When unpacking groceries, move older products to the front of the refrigerator or pantry and put new products in the back. You’ll most likely use the older stuff first before it can expire. • Freeze foods such as bread, sliced fruit or meat that you won’t be able to eat in time. • Store bananas, apples and tomatoes by themselves and store the fruits and vegetables in different bins. • Use storage bags or containers designed to extend the life produce. • Wash berries before storage in the refrigerator to prevent mold. Source: DHEC (Left to right) Joseph McMillan, CEO; Jim David, vice president of business development; and Gary Nihart, COO.

09.30.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS Words by Andrew Moore | Photos by Will Crooks

A Wofford College graduate dropped out of a master's program and started an urban farm near downtown. Now that farmer hopes to start competing against major U.S. food suppliers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all from an acre of land.

REEDY RIVER FARMS

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REEDY RIVER FARMS

George Dubose, founder of Reedy River Farms, will be the first person to admit he’s not as seasoned as his competition. “We’re not the best,” he says. “The learning curve is still five years for farming. But I really believe we’re close to having a solid operation.” Last year, Dubose planted seeds on half an acre on Mayberry Street and sold his first head of lettuce to the Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery. The urban farm now supplies 450 pounds of organically grown produce a week to multiple restaurants, including American Grocery Restaurant, Passerelle Bistro, Bacon Bros. Public House and more. That number is about to change. Dubose and his business partner Chris Miller, who joined the farm a few months after it opened, will plant a half-acre plot at 1176 Pendleton St. on Oct. 1. The new location is going to double the farm’s production to 100 beds. That could help the farm supply more restaurants and compete against large food suppliers.

“I just want to land a huge account,” said Dubose. “The demand was too high before, because we could only grow so much. But we stand a chance with this plot. I really believe we could grow a 100 pounds of turnips for several weeks now.” The plot could also open the farm up to West Greenville’s selection of restaurants. The duo is already selling produce to Coastal Crust and GB&D, which opened earlier this year. The duo also plans to sell to The Anchorage when it opens on Perry Avenue later this year. Their reputation has already set them up for success. “Reedy River Farms might be the new kids on the block, but they’re really setting a high standard for farmers wanting to grow alongside restaurants,” said Greg McPhee, owner of The Anchorage and former executive chef of Restaurant 17. “Quality is paramount at the end of the day. And that’s why they’re my No. 1 farm right now. They have it.”

FROM SHAKESPEARE TO FARMING While Dubose and Miller have cultivated a growing customer base and reputation in the culinary world, the road to success wasn’t always so clear. Dubose graduated from Wofford College in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in English and business. He then relocated and started a job at Nalley Commercial Properties in Easley. In 2010, he decided to pursue a Master of Arts degree at Clemson. He spent three years pursuing his degree but dropped out. “I just decided that office life or academia wasn’t for me. I was meant to be outside,” said Dubose. “And I was eating really bad food and smoking cigarettes and was considering a life change. So I just decided that growing food for a living would be the best thing I could do.” Dubose spent a couple of months searching for farms, where he could learn the ins and outs of agriculture. He found an apprenticeship at Mountain Harvest Organics in Hot Springs, N.C. Dubose relo-

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cated and started living on the 5-acre farm. It was there he met Chris Miller, who had dropped out from pursuing an environmental science degree at the University of Northern Michigan to become an organic farmer. Dubose and Miller became friends, contemplating plans for their own farm beside campfires. But the duo went their separate ways in 2014. Dubose then became an intern at Greenbrier Farms, where he spent eight months under the instruction of co-owner Chad Bishop. It was there that Dubose started to excel and make a name for himself in the farming community. “He was one of only two that actually finished the season,” said Bishop. “He seemed engaged in why we were doing things the way we did them instead of mindlessly doing the task in front of him, which is rare. George and I talked quite a bit about his plans after his internship, so I felt pretty sure he was going to give it an official go of it.” As the end of the internship neared, Dubose felt that it was time to start his own farm. At first, he searched for land in the “more rural areas” of Greenville so that he could raise livestock. But Dubose changed his mind after seeing how much it would cost. “I decided that urban farming made more sense, because you don’t have to put in a massive capital investment. So I started looking in the city,” Dubose said. Dubose found 3.5 acres less than a mile from downtown Greenville. He called owner Phil Hughes of Hughes Investments, who decided to let him use the land for free as long as he paid for liability insurance. Dubose agreed and started designing his urban farm. But he made a disappointing discovery – only half an acre could be planted. So he decided to use Small Plot Intensive (SPIN) farming, an organic-based production method designed to get as much profit from each square foot of land as possible.

09.30.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

SPIN farming requires farmers to plant three varieties of produce in a narrow, long crop bed each season. Thirteen beds, or one segment, can reap about $1,300 in gross sales. Half an acre of land can hold about 20 segments, producing $26,000 in gross revenue. SPIN farms can generate more than $50,000 in gross sales from half an acre of land in about 10 years, according to Cornell University. Relay cropping, where the second crop is planted into the first crop before harvest, can boost sales. Twenty intensively planted segments with three crops per season can produce $78,000 in gross revenue. In February 2015, Dubose cleared the land, added a greenhouse and planted 50 beds of baby greens, turnips and other root vegetables About a month later, Dubose harvested his produce and set his sights on restaurants in or around downtown Greenville. “I thought it would be the biggest opportunity for the farm,” said Dubose. “Our restaurant scene is just continuously growing. I mean, we’re really getting to the point where we can compete with Asheville and Charleston in terms of culinary talent.” Within a 10-block stretch, there are more than 120 independent restaurants in downtown Greenville, according to the city of Greenville. Countless restaurants, including Cantina 76, Caviar & Bananas and Ink N Ivy, have opened in downtown this year. Dubose sold his first couple of crops to The Lazy Goat, Passerelle Bistro, Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery and The Farm Cart. But soon after, Dubose recruited Craig Weiner, owner of Broken Oak Organics, to help with sales. “I remember he came down one morning that May and picked up some kale and sold it to Southern Press Juicery. I’d never been so excited about anything in my life,” said Dubose. “He was really instrumental to some of those early sales.” While Dubose flourished in the spring, the summer brought devastation. “It was a punch in the gut. I just wasn’t prepared for the heat, humidity or insects. So

REEDY RIVER FARMS

I suffered in the field and the crops really shut down. The baby greens, which were seeing a revenue stream, just shriveled up and died in the heat. I just couldn’t sell them.”

FROM FARM TO TABLE As the summer ended, Dubose started to prepare for the fall and reconnected with Miller, who was working on a farm in Michigan at the time. He told him about Reedy River Farms, and Miller turned in his notice a few days later. Miller relocated shortly after and became an official partner in September. Since then, Reedy River Farms has flourished because of his marketing capabilities, cultivated during his time at farms and restaurants throughout the Midwest. After leaving Mountain Harvest Organics, Miller spent a year in Chicago at Marigold Hill Organics. There, he learned how to sell to restaurants, including Parachute Restaurant, which received a Michelin star that year. Intrigued by the culinary scene, Miller relocated and started working on the Ham Family Farm in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During the day, Miller worked the farm. But at night, he worked at a farmto-table restaurant, hoping to learn more about the movement. “Grand Rapids had an awesome culinary scene, which taught me that restaurants want variety. The idea is flavor and freshness. There are varieties within varieties that have more flavors. That’s why heirloom has became popular,” he said. Miller incorporated that theory at Reedy River Farms, which now imports seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds and Baker Creek Heirloom and grows radishes, sweet peppers, squash, baby Red Russian kale, cherry tomatoes, arugula, okra, eggplant, carrots and more. With a boosted inventory, the duo started to sell to more restaurants. They can still recall their first sale: “We went to American Grocery before dinner that

| FEATURE | 15

fall to sale baby greens, and I let Chris take the lead. And it was just so good. I swear to this day that he must have planned that pitch ahead of time,” Dubose said. “Funny thing, that pitch wasn’t rehearsed at all,” said Miller. “I was just passionate. I want us to bring the best produce to tables. That’s what Reedy River Farms is about. We’re bringing gourmet-level produce to the tables.” With the door open to high-level restaurants, the farm started to get more business. Now, the farm supplies Bacon Bros. Public House, Adam’s Mobile Market, Stellar Wine Bar, North Hampton Wines, Restaurant 17, GB&D and Coastal Crust. “Their selection is more chef-oriented,” said Philip Scott, sous chef at American Grocery Restaurant. “We had asked them to grow about 200 pounds of Carmen sweet peppers for a paste. And they did. It’s really that time and effort that will help Greenville catch up to Charleston’s culinary scene. If our farms are doing well, our restaurants are doing well.” As winter neared, the duo closed the farm. However, Dubose formulated plans to bring in more profits. In January, Dubose applied for the TD Saturday Market. Reedy River Farms was accepted on its first attempt – a rare occurrence. When spring returned, Dubose and Miller planted the field and prepared for the market. In May, the duo set up their first tent and put up a sign decorated by Dubose’s mom, who is an artist at the Artist Guild Gallery in downtown Greenville. The farm sold most of its produce on the first of the market and has continued to see similar success since then. “I got emotional on the first day,” said Dubose, tearing up. “I was just like, ‘Oh my god, it’s actually working.’ It was incredible to see that after all the work we had put into the farm for the past year. And the support from my friends and family has been critical to our success. Without them, we probably wouldn’t be where we are today.” FARM continued on PAGE 16

George Dubose

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REEDY RIVER FARMS

FARM continued from PAGE 15

BUILDING THE BRAND With boosted sales, Dubose and Miller got the idea to sell to more restaurants. So the duo visited 2 Chefs Cafe & Market on North Main Street to sell lettuce. The restaurant agreed but needed 150 pounds of lettuce per a week. It would be a challenge for the duo. “Each of these restaurants deal with U.S Foods and Sysco, which are the largest food purveyors in the nation,” said Dubose. “When they requested that much, I was stunned. So we planned for it and tried. We came really close but failed. I could see how it would be possible for us to do it. But we needed more land to keep up with demand.” The duo lasted three weeks before they had to end the deal. Almost immediately, Dubose and Miller started searching for more land. Dubose remembered

a location that he had scouted before starting the farm. It was the plot on Pendleton Street. He started researching the plot, and during a routine delivery to Bacon Bros. Public House in June, Dubose bumped into Mike McGirr, director of Feed & Seed, a nonprofit that connects farms to consumers by distributing products to farmers markets. Dubose told him about his need for more land. And it just so happened that McGirr had the perfect location in mind – the plot on Pendleton Street. In fact, McGirr even knew the owners. A few days later, Dubose and McGirr met with owner Amy Vaz and her husband, Dev, a cardiovascular surgeon with Greenville Health System. They decided to lease the land to Dubose and Miller. “As luck would have it, I started seeing announcements that new local restaurants would be located a stone’s throw from the plots. These establishments could be supplied by the wonderful bounty of Reedy River Farms,” said Vaz. “This is more progress on Pendleton Street than we could have imagined, but we are overjoyed.” Dubose and Miller immediately started prepping the land for SPIN farming and placed a tarp over the land to kill the grass. For two months, the land sat undisturbed. The duo lifted the tarp in August and started preparing the land for planting. But they also saw an opportunity to build more connections and save money. The duo called Vaz and asked if they could build a shared parking spot for Charleston’s Coastal Crust. She agreed and the food truck started using the spot when it opened in August. Dubose worked out an agreement with the truck so that he provides produce and a parking spot as long as the truck pays his utilities for a walk-in cooler. Currently, Dubose is handling the preparation of the land while Miller tends to the farm on Mayberry Street. The new location won’t just boost production and business, it is going to give the duo a safe haven in the future, which is uncertain.

STARTING FROM SCRATCH

Chris Miller

The farm on Mayberry Street is part of the Reedy River Redevelopment Area, which is bounded by West Washington, Mayberry and Hudson streets. The area will be transformed into one of the city’s signature parks. The 3.5 acres at Mayberry Street is planned for the first phase of redevelopment, which should begin sometime in the next decade. “We’ll be invited to leave within the next three years. Mr. Hughes told us about the park when we moved in. But

09.30.2016

I didn’t worry, because I knew we’d move onto bigger things,” said Dubose. “For right now, I’m looking for other places in town. I can’t turn it off. Every time I’m driving around Greenville, I’m looking at old torn down lots.” Dubose and Miller are also worried about losing the attention that the Swamp Rabbit Trail has brought them. The 21-mile biking path had about 501,000 users last year, according to Greenville County. It’s been a free marketing tool. “The trail has been huge for us. We don’t have any signage, but people come by all the time and stop at our greenhouse. It was really smart on George’s part to set the farm up here,” said Miller. “We’re very thankful for the time we’ve had to grow here. But we’re going to miss it. We just hope the trail runs into The Village eventually.” The relocation could lead to different farming approaches. Dubose and Miller hope to lease multiple plots of land throughout the city and rotate crops on about 2 acres, which would allow them to increase volume and sell to the larger restaurants in the area. “If anyone has a decent, flat backyard with sunlight and they’re tired of cutting their grass, give me a call,” Dubose said. For now, the duo plans to expand their operation and sell produce in the winter. Dubose and Miller plan to add three more greenhouses and low tunnels to their half an acre on Mayberry Street this fall. Low tunnels, which are metal hoops with plastic draped over them, sit above crops, offering protection from the wind and frost. The temperatures inside a low tunnel can reach up to 10 degrees higher than outside. “A lot of the local farms shut down during the winter – and with good reason. But we’re going to try to capitalize on that fact,” said Miller. “Our hopes are to grow year-around. But we’ll have to see how this winter goes before we make any final decisions.” As for the spring, Dubose and Miller are contemplating a different approach for the new half-acre plot on Pendleton Street. The duo might just focus their efforts on more volume of the same variety. “You can’t really get a lot of baby greens from U.S. Foods or Sysco, because they don’t travel well,” said Dubose. “But it’s a big risk. You’re SOL if you put your energy into the crops and some bug comes along and chews it up.” Dubose and Miller might also offer landscaping services. Earlier this summer, the duo started offering home garden installations and yard maintenance as well as planning and design. However, the duo couldn’t handle both landscaping and the farm. “That turned out to be a dead end. It’s just a whole different business. And if you can’t devote yourself to it, then it’s not a responsible business move. We’ll probably revisit it someday in the future when we’re more established. But we both want our customers to be happy, and we can’t do that right now if we’re doing both. So we’re going to just focus on what we do best – growing and selling vegetables,” Dubose said. For more information, visit reedyriverfarms.com.

09.30.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF

| SQUARE FEET | 17

clandrum@communityjournals.com

New development planned on Camperdown Way NEW OFFICE AND RETAIL

Glass facade faces the Reedy River and Falls Park

Bowater Building

Falls Park View from Main Street

A new office and retail development is planned at the edge of Falls Park at 55 E. Camperdown Way, property that includes the Bowater parking garage and the former Bowater building that now houses the Nexsen Pruet law firm, MGC Law, Colliers International real estate firm and others. Wakefield, Beasley and Associates of Alpharetta,

Ga., architect for the project, has applied for a certificate of appropriateness from the city's Design Review Board. The board will consider the project at its Oct. 6 meeting. Centennial American Properties is the developer. Centennial is also developing the Camperdown

project on the Greenville News site on Main Street. Greenville Mayor Knox White said the project will be a boost to the underdeveloped Camperdown Way and River Street area. "It demonstrates the positive impact Falls Park has had on downtown development," he said.

UCB to move into former CertusBank space in One building DAVID DYKES | STAFF

ddykes@communityjournals.com United Community Bank is moving nearly four dozen employees, including several top managers, into the One building in downtown Greenville. Employees will move into the Washington Street portion of the building, above the Brooks Brothers store, said Lynn Harton, president and chief operating officer of United Community Banks Inc. and its subsidiary bank, United Community Bank. United Community Banks is the Blairsville, Ga.-based holding company for the bank. The UCB employees have been

working in offices at RiverPlace downtown, Main and Broad streets and the former Palmetto Bank headquarters on East North Street. Last year, Palmetto Bank merged with United Community Bank. The bank will take one floor – the seventh – and about 20,000 square feet in One space once used by CertusBank, Harton said. The space is laid out for 79 people, but the bank initially will move 47 employees, he said. They will include UCB’s mortgage team, which is headquartered in Greenville; the heads of secondary marketing, underwriting and processing; and several underwriters and processors, Harton said.

The specialized lending group, which includes the Greenville-based Small Business Administration division, will also move into the One space. Several senior managers, including Harton, eventually will move there as well. They include the parent company’s chief credit officer, head of operations and technology and chief information officer, Harton said. Last year, Palmetto Bank merged with United Community Bank. Harton has been working from an office in RiverPlace. “We were able to get a really attractive deal,” Harton said of the One space from developer Bob Hughes that formerly was occupied by CertusBank. Certus closed its downtown offices and

sold its operations. “We’re actually the same net cost, with significantly more space,” Harton said. “We’re scattered about so this is a chance to get everybody together,” he said. “It’s a great financial decision. It’s a great team decision, bringing us all together, and I think it’s great for Greenville because we keep a lot of people downtown, which is important.” In the Upstate, including branch and corporate personnel, UCB has 344 employees, Harton said. The bank will be subleasing its RiverPlace space, he said.

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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

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09.30.2016

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22-lot subdivision to break ground in Cleveland Forest SHERRY JACKSON |CONTRIBUTOR

A long vacant piece of land in Cleveland Forest will soon be developed into a new 22-lot subdivision called Woodland Park. The 8-acre property is bordered by Woodland Way and Newman Street. The process has been a long one. In fact, six months later than anticipated, said developer and native Greenvillian Pace Beattie. Beattie and his brother Bill plan to sell the lots individually and allow owners to choose their own builder. The project was approved by the Greenville Planning Commission in November 2015, and nearby residents

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09.30.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS IN THE UPSTATE

Greenville Highway, Lyman, Videography and Katlyn by Janet R. Lambert and Jacobsen-Garcia. Robert Rhodes to B. Scott Rick Cauthen was the Streetman LLC. agent in the lease of 940 SF of retail space at 505-B Tim Satterﬁ eld was the Pete Brett, David Sigmon N. Main St., Mauldin, by agent in the lease of and Matt Vanvick were Henderson Enterprises Inc. 34,000 SF industrial the agents in the sale of to K & N Associates Inc. building at 1201 Union a 5,613 SF restaurant St., Spartanburg by Ribeiro building on 1.24 acres at CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD Maria, LA to Vintage 3540 Highway 153, by | THALHIMER DGP LLC, to Nick & Kens Warehouse. ANNOUNCE: LLC. Pete Brett, David Sigmon, Edward Wilson was the Sammy DuBose and Pete and Matt Vanvick were agent in the lease of 8,250 the agents in the lease of Brett were the agents in SF of office space at 421 1,362 SF of office space the sale of a +0.95 acre N. Main St. in Simpsonville at Falls Place, 531 S. Main outparcel at Marketplace by Palmetto State Thrift St., Ste. 201, by Falls Shopping Center, 2419 Co. Place LLC to Front Roe Laurens Road, by Restaurants Inc. Hollingsworth Funds Inc. to Sandhills Group. Pete Brett, David Sigmon COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL and Matt Vanvick were Pete Brett and Matt ANNOUNCES: the agents in the lease of Vanvick were the agents Scott Burgess was the in the sale of a 6,200 SF 4,847 SF of office space at Innovate, 148 River St., agent in the lease of medical office building Ste. 120, by Mountain 31,065 SF of retail space on 1.413 acres at 13 City Land & Improvement at 30 Orchard Park Drive to Edgewood Drive from Oakwood Properties of the Co. LLC to Master Power Bargain Hunt. Transmission Inc. Upstate LLC to Granite Scott Burgess was the Ridge LLC. Matt Vanvick was the agent in the lease of agent in the lease of office 41,479 SF of retail space Tim Satterﬁeld was the suites at 217 E. Stone at 5149 Calhoun Memorial agent in the of sale of a Ave. by Stone Avenue Highway in Easley to 670 SF office building Partners LLC to Charlene’s, Bargain Hunt. on 0.4 acre at 12333 Snapster Photo Booth and COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL CAINE GREENVILLE AND SPARTANBURG ANNOUNCE:

Richard Jackson was the agent in the lease of 16,500 SF of industrial space at 315 Pendleton Road by Fagus LLC, to Mercy Recycling LLC.

St. in Duncan to Watson Electrical.

Brantley Anderson and Taylor Allen were the agents in the lease of 9,467 SF of office space at 201 Brookfield Parkway to Richard Barrett was the agent in the sale of 64,700 Aerotek Inc. SF of industrial space at Frank Hammond and Nick 27 West Road by Travelers Reinhardt were the agents Rest Associates LLC to in the sale of 7,900 SF Madrigal LLC. of retail space at 131 N. Givens Stewart, Garrett Scott and Brockton Hall were the agents in the lease of 60,000 SF of industrial space at 1335 Hayne St., Ste. E, in Spartanburg by RS Holdings LLC to Knights Apparel LLC.

Givens Stewart, Garrett Scott and Brockton Hall were the agents in the lease of 100,000 SF of industrial space at 1335 Hayne St., Ste. C, in Spartanburg by RS Holdings LLC to Wal-Mart Stores East LP. Brockton Hall was the agent in the lease of 4,500 SF of industrial space at 1865 E. Main

| DEALMAKERS | 19

Bostic St. by KH5 LLC. Caldwell Johnston and Josh Tew were agents in the lease of 2,500 SF of retail space at Hampton Station to White Duck Greenville LLC.

Caldwell Johnston and Josh Tew were the agents in the lease of 1,950 SF at 318 Prado Way to The South Carolina Autism Main St. by Louise A Quinn Society. to Pinky on Main LLC. FLAGSHIP PROPERTIES ANNOUNCE:

Benji Smith and Josh Tew were the agents in the sale of 14,000 SF medical facility and 1.72 acres at 13 Edgewood Drive by Oakwood Properties of the Upstate LLC to Granite Ridge LLC. Josh Tew was agent in the lease of 1,250 SF at 2078 Woodruff Road by Webb Investments LLC to Magnolia Medical Group. Josh Tew was agent in the sale of a residential quadplex property at 6B

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09.30.2016

Redefining the 50-yard-line experience By SAMOTRIA HOLMES President, Bandwagon

Since collegiate sports clubs began in the United States in 1843, fans have been as much a part of the team as the players and coaches. They represent family, friends and encouraging onlookers who all pine for the very best spot to see their favorite player or team: the spot where they can see all of the moves, plays, fouls and even facial expressions. For many fans – and for a very long time – the best spot was right in the middle as close to the field of play as possible. And with most sports involving some kind of competition between two opposing sides of the field, it makes sense that the best seat would be smack in the middle... right? Well, not exactly. That statement makes some pretty big assumptions about what fans think, want and value. Things like

• The best seats are on the 50-yard line or center court. • The closer you are to the ﬁeld of play, the better your in-game experience. • It does not matter who you are sitting with, as long as you have great seats. • Fans want to be as close to the ﬁeld of play as possible. • Being close to the team playing is more important than sitting with the group I traveled to the game with. These assumptions would ring true if every person who attended a sporting event was a die-hard fan; however, that is not the makeup of today’s stadium. In addition to more casual fans attending games, an increased number of categories of fans are attending games today, including young children, persons with physical challenges and women These new categories of consumers have helped to build a multibillion-dollar primary collegiate ticket industry and an equally impressive $4 billion secondary ticket market. The size of the secondary ticket market shows us that there is a substantial disconnect between the school, which thinks their season ticket holders fill its stadium, versus the fans, who bought their ticket through the secondary market and showed up in the season ticket holders’ place.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FANS AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS?

• Each fan, regardless of category or demographic, deﬁnes the perfect game experience. • Athletic departments’ metrics on fan demographics are skewed.

WHAT ARE FANS WILLING TO SPEND MONEY ON? Food, merchandise and convenience. Fans are not afraid to spend money on nachos, hot dogs, soda, programs or the best parking spot. The median revenue generated from concessions in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools has ticked up from $660,000 in 2008 to over $1 million in 2013, according to the NCAA, and has consistently represented 3 percent of total revenue for FBS schools in the same time frame.

Now more than ever, customers are looking for curated experiences, activities, merchandise and even food. Since 2008, the NCAA has regularly noted in their financial reports the growing gap between FBS college athletic programs that are profitable versus the programs that operate at a loss. They also call out the three areas in which schools generate the most revenue: ticket sales, donor contribution and conference distributions. They state, “Although revenues continue to increase in all three subdivisions, expenses continue to increase at a faster pace.” As expenses rise, and in many cases outpace revenue, college athletic programs have attempted to get more fans in seats that are willing to make donations and buy merchandise. Some have invested millions in fan-targeted technology enhancements that will help to encourage ticket sales and in-game spending like custom phone apps. In 2012 the University of Michigan earned nearly $2 million in concessions, parking and program sales alone. Think of how simple it would be for Michigan to double that number by enticing one-third of their stadium’s capacity to spend an extra $10 per home game, assuming six home games. Opportunities for new revenue streams are needed to support the demands of managing an athletic department.

WHAT IF ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS KNEW

• How many nursing moms attended games? • Which social groups responded most positively to digital signage? • How many fans would pay for pictures with the team mascot? • The number of fans that identify as vegan or vegetarian? • The actual number of fans in the stadium? College athletic programs can miss the mark on giving fans what they are looking for in a great game-

Photo by Zachary Hamby

day experience. With more insight as to who is in the stands, athletic departments can more accurately market offerings that they can monetize to this further defined segment of fan. Athletic departments can create custom season ticket offerings in smaller threeto five-game bundles and have better ideas on what kinds of merchandise to increase for those games. For example, if athletic programs knew what percent of the alumni-fans attending military appreciation day were 60 and older, they could increase nostalgic merchandise and commemorative class reunion products. This kind of targeted data is what can ensure positive cash flows for athletic programs over time and enthused, supportive fans in the stands.

FACTORS THAT IMPACT THE FAN EXPERIENCE

• Digital signage • Wi-Fi bandwidth • Seat design • Interactive fan games • Concessions • Facilities • Weather protection (shade, awnings) • Restroom proximity/cleanliness • Children’s activities • Merchandise These are some ways fans are measuring their game-day experience. More than ever, attending college sports events is like travel: more about the journey than the destination. The idea that the perfect game experience involves your physical person being right in the middle of the action has faded. Now more than ever, customers are looking for curated experiences, activities, merchandise and even food. The success of Birch Box, Blue Apron, Nutrisystem, Jetsetter and many of the other hundreds of companies like them is built on the idea that not only does one size not fit all, neither do the standard categories of small, medium and large. Today consumers can seriously say, “I’d like an extra medium” with confidence and in most respects receive a serious response.

09.30.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

NOTES FROM THE BEST TALKS YOU MISSED

| THE TAKEAWAY | 21

TEN AT THE TOP REGIONAL SUMMIT WHEN: SEPT. 13, 2016 WHERE: TD Convention Center, Greenville WHO WAS THERE: Nearly 900 attendees

Geoff Colvin, editor-at-large of Fortune magazine

Creating a leading region Ten at the Top’s Upstate Regional Summit asks ‘What do we want?’ and ‘How can we get there?’ By DEAN HYBL Executive Director, Ten at the Tops

In 2014, Ten at the Top’s Upstate Regional Summit called for leaders to think about “what’s next” for the Upstate. It emphasized an Upstate where collaboration and cooperation were hallmarks, and as evidenced two years later, the 2016 Upstate Regional Summit underscored that vision. Nearly 900 business, community and civic leaders convened at the TD Center for the twice-yearly summit to refocus the collaborative efforts of the 10 South Carolina counties known as the Upstate for the purpose of creating a leading region. During the previous two years, Ten at the Top, the Summit’s host and a regional connecting organization, saw a 40 percent increase in task force participation. These task forces – centered around community vibrancy, natural beauty and resources, economic and entrepreneurial vitality, sustainable growth and human potential – analyze key issues facing

the region. With the goal of sharing ideas and discussing opportunities, these tasks forces are integral to building collaborative partnerships and ensuring that the Upstate is effectively utilizing and leveraging our resources.

BUILDING THE REGION’S COLLECTIVE CAPACITY Featuring an agenda to spark conversation and connections, the summit began with a leadership panel that included leaders of four organizations that have a major impact on the success of the Upstate region. Mike Baur, CEO of ScanSource; James P. Clements, president of Clemson University; Pamela Lackey, South Carolina president of AT&T; and Michael Riordan, president and CEO of Greenville Health System, outlined the role their entities play in the region and also discussed the importance of working collaboratively across the Upstate to enhance our global competitiveness and quality of life. Following the morning session, six

breakout sessions provided a glimpse into the work of 18 organizations or businesses that are working to make the Upstate a leading region.

WHAT DO YOU WANT MOST? The summit culminated with a keynote presentation featuring Fortune magazine’s senior editor-at-large Geoff Colvin. He started by asking, “What do you want most?” In a business context, he said the answer is usually “a sustainable competitive advantage” – an often-elusive edge that companies constantly chase.

The key, according to Colvin, can be found in 1.

Continually innovating your business model

2. Integrating all aspects of the enterprise 3. Building new high-value skills, such as STEM knowledge, collaboration, empathy, creative problem solving and storytelling

He noted that these principles apply not only to individual companies but to successful regions as well.

HOW DO WE GET THERE? Citing the story of Uber launching its self-driving cars program in Pittsburgh, Colvin pointed to the environment of the region. Leaders in Pittsburgh fostered an attitude of regional collaboration, which allowed them to seize opportunities such as this for the purposes of bettering the region. The summit is a reminder that working across city, county and stakeholder boundaries is critical to the collective success of the Upstate region. Every two years, this signature event sets the tone, but success is cultivated day-byday through the collaborative work by organizations, businesses and local governments across the Upstate.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO GET INVOLVED, VISIT TENATTHETOP.ORG.

22 | INNOVATE |

UBJ

MOVERS, SHAKERS AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE

09.30.2016

From startup to scale-up Angel investors in the Upstate have a lot to be proud of in 2016 By MATT DUNBAR President, DNA Creative Communications

“Scaling up is vastly harder than starting up,” said Daniel Isenberg, professor and founder of the Babson Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Project. “Starting up a venture is just the first baby step on a long hard trudge to scale up.” When we launched UCAN in the spring of 2008 to invest in Southeastern startups, we were, of course, a startup ourselves. Like many new ventures, we faced classic startup challenges even as we looked to invest in other startups – and needless to say those were exacerbated by the perils of the Great Recession that came shortly thereafter. But with the dedication and support of more than 50 local investors and a strong board of directors, we slowly built momentum, and by the end of 2013 we had invested over $9 million in 31 companies – many of which had been acquired or were well along the pathway of evolving from startup to scale-up. By that time, we too were ready to look beyond our startup phase to consider how we could build a more sustainable and impactful enterprise by scaling up. With inbound demand from other cities seeking help in starting angel groups, Charlie Banks and Paul Clark joined our team in 2013 to prepare for the launch of the South Carolina Angel Network in 2014. That year we launched two new angel groups in Columbia and Asheville, along with our first sidecar fund, the Palmetto Angel Fund.

VentureSouth Workshop: How to Pitch to Investors

NOV

NEXT Innovation Center, University Ridge, Greenville 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. venturesouth.vc/events

In 2015 our growth continued with the addition of five more angel groups (Aiken, Anderson, Charleston, Rock Hill and Spartanburg), and we faced many of the early challenges encountered by every organization that scales. It takes a significant investment of time and resources to hone the right processes and communications to effectively manage a distributed network of more than 200 investors who make individual investment decisions on a steady stream of incoming startup opportunities. Like any scale-up, we’ve stubbed our toe on a few things here and there, but we’re focused on learning fast and correcting course quickly – and now in 2016 we are proud to have reached several significant new milestones: • This summer we launched a new brand name – VentureSouth – that reflects both the focus of our business and our continuing growth across the Carolinas. • We also invested in our 50th portfolio company this summer – and as of this month we have now invested in 52 companies since 2008. • We’ve invested 90 times in those 52 companies, now totaling more than $18 million in capital deployed. We’ve now invested as much in the last two and a half years since we began our expansion as we did in our first five and a half years as a single angel group in Greenville. • Importantly, nine of those companies have been acquired or monetized and 37 are still operating – meaning only six have shut down thus far – much better than the expected 50 percent-plus failure rate for early-stage investments. • Since July, we’ve started new angel groups in Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, and next week we are launching our newest group in Charlotte with the help of our fourth partner in VentureSouth, Mac Lackey. • This month we began investing in our second sidecar fund,

VentureSouth Angel Fund II, which co-invests alongside our active angel investor groups • We are expanding our educational offerings for entrepreneurs and investors. Next month, we are hosting a pitch workshop for entrepreneurs, and in November we’ll host a workshop on executing exits led by renowned angel investor Bill Payne (see venturesouth.vc for details). While we are proud of the progress we’ve made, we know, like all scaleups, that there’s plenty of hard work ahead. But we believe strongly that our efforts to build the infrastructure to support a more robust and efficient market for early-stage investments in the Upstate and beyond are worth the risks and challenges.

By providing local entrepreneurs with more access to risk capital, we help give them reason to come here, stay here and grow here rather than emigrating to other startup hotspots. By providing investors with infrastructure and education, we give them a vehicle to diversify with discipline in a very risky asset class – helping them to “make money, have fun–– and do good.” The “do good” part matters. All net job growth in our economy comes from high-growth startups that become successful scale-ups. But it takes patience and risk-tolerance to get there, so if we want a vibrant, thriving economy that accelerates the growth of new jobs and wealth and opportunity, we need our early stage capital market to scale up too. And that’s what VentureSouth is all about.

09.30.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

HIRED

PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

HIRED

CURTICE WINSCH

ALEX MCNAIR

Joined Carolina Alliance Bank’s Greenville office as a loan officer in the mortgage division. This is a new position that was added as Carolina Alliance continues to expand its Greenville presence. Winsch is a veteran banker with almost two decades of experience in the Greenville market.

Named to the newly created position of director of correspondent lending at Lima One Capital. In this role, McNair will spearhead the company’s newly announced correspondent lending program.

JANE HARRISON FISHER Named senior account director at Hughes Agency. Fisher will be responsible for public relations, media relations, marketing campaigns and coordination of special events for major accounts.

HIRED

| ON THE MOVE | 23

HIRED

SCOTT STEPHENS

JEREMY R. SUMMERLIN

Joined Generations Group as the director of development responsible for raising awareness and funding throughout the state of South Carolina. He has a master’s degree in counseling and experience in business and nonprofit development.

Named associate attorney at Horton Law Firm. After receiving an undergraduate degree from Bob Jones University, Summerlin earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

top individuals: Johnathan Lower, Amy Tippitt and Rhonda Hartman-Smith. Augusta Road Office top individuals: Beth Crigler, Jeremiah Dew, or JDew as he’s known around the Upstate, has been named as vice president Ginger Sherman, Lang Cheves, of business development for LOCALLY EPIC, a company providing real-time, location-based Jill Norman, Katy Glidewell and marketing technology for big brands and small businesses. Dew will lead the LOCALLY EPIC Carmen Crigler Feemster. DownUpstate launch along with providing a leadership role in the LOCALLY EPIC Let’s Keep It town office top individuals: Iris Local Upstate initiative geared toward building a stronger business-to-consumer relationship Wainright, Jo-Ann Rutledge and to help boost the local economy. JDew has entertained hundreds of thousands of fans since Keith Boling. Easley/Powdersville 2007 as the director of fun and in-game personality for the Greenville Drive and on-court office top team: Sheri Sanders and HYPE man for Clemson basketball, as well as emceeing dozens of local charity events and Gary Thompson and Dara Lynn fundraisers. Ratliff. Easley/Powdersville top individuals: Twila Kingsmore, Linda Ballard and Carol Houston. Garlington Road office top teams: Donna O. Smith and Partners and REAL ESTATE Ronda and Chris Holder. Garlington Road top individuals: John Rathbun, Wilson Associates has been named the first Who’s Who in Luxury Real Pat Norwood and Jean Keenan. Greer office top team: The Shepherd Estate member in the Greenville market. To be eligible for membership, Team. Greer office top individuals: Jill Chapman, Jada Barnette and brokers/firms must list and sell in the top 10 percent of their market and Lauren Danner Purcell. North Pleasantburg Office top teams: The Keagy provide a two-year sales and listing history, references and marketing examTeam, The Chet and Beth Smith Group and The MacDonald HomeTeam. ples. As a member, Wilson Associates will benefit from having their listings North Pleasantburg top individuals: Melissa Morrell, Kennie Norris and on LuxuryRealEstate.com, a Webby award-winning website. Maggie Aiken. Pelham Road office top teams: Spaulding Group, The Toates Team and Pam McCurry Team. Pelham Road top individuals: Marie Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, announces the top Crumpler, Jennifer Van Gieson and Jim Fritzsche. Simpsonville office producers from each of its residential sales offices for the month of August. top teams: Bob and Linda Brown Group and Sandra Palmer and AssociThese agents and teams earned the highest gross commission incomes based ates. Simpsonville top individuals: Debbie Hearn, Bob Schmidt and on closings completed in August. Anderson Office top teams: Gia and Elizabeth Mekker. Company, The Clever People and Foronda Hall and Associates. Anderson

VIP

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

24 | NEW TO THE STREET |

UBJ

THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

09.30.2016

Open for business 1

It’s no about finding a job.

IT’S ABOUT FINDING YOUR PURPOSE.

1. Nelson & Galbreath, Attorneys at Law, recently opened their Greer satellite office, located at 955 W. Wade Hampton Blvd., Ste. 10A. Photo provided

OCTOBER 6-7 The Kroc Center /// Greenville, SC

E X C L U S I V E LY F O R V E T E R A N S I N C A R E E R T R A N S I T I O N

InsideBlackBox .com/ R E C O N

2. Dr. Matthew Smith and Dr. Amanda Ryan opened Highlands Center for Women, an independent obstetrics and gynecology practice, at 369 Halton Road on Sept. 20. Photo provided

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

09.30.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

Clemson Eye first to implant ‘game changing’ lens A new intraocular lens, the Symfony, that provides a full range of vision for cataract patients, even those with astigmatism, was implanted by Clemson Eye surgeon Dr. Brian Johnson. The Symfony is the latest innovative technology Clemson Eye has been the first to bring to the Upstate. The Symfony lens, approved in July for use in the United States, is a “game changer,” according to Dr. Johnson. In the past, patients with significant astigmatism were only candidates for monofocal lens implants that would correct either distance or near vision but not both. Symfony is the first extended focus lens with astigmatism correction. This allows excellent night vision and clear vision from near out to distant. “Patients who have received these have been very excited and pleased with how their lifestyles have improved,” Dr. Johnson said. “These lenses are ideal for patients who have an active lifestyle. They meet the needs of our patients who like to golf, use a computer or tablet, shop, use a smartphone and drive at night.”

Duke Energy economic development team honored by Site Selection magazine For the 12th consecutive year, Duke Energy has been named to Site Selection magazine’s annual list of “Top Utilities in Economic Development.” In the magazine’s September edition, it credits Duke Energy’s economic development team and its successful collaboration with state and local partners for delivering more than $3.5 billion in capital investments and more than 12,000 new jobs in 2015. Duke Energy has been featured on the list every year since 2005. “Economic development is a team sport and we are a key position player – we work with many allies in different capacities throughout the economic development process to achieve success,” said Stu Heishman, Duke Energy’s vice president of economic development. “We will continue to get these results by providing dependable, affordable energy to the industries, businesses and residential customers we serve.”

BUSINESS BRIEFS YOU CAN’ T MISS

| THE FINE PRINT | 25

Community Journals is hiring!

SALES EXECUTIVE FULL TIME

PRINT / DIGITAL / SOCIAL / EVENTS Email MJOHNSTON@COMMUNITYJOURNALS.COM with cover letter and resumé.

COMMUNITY JOURNALS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

UPS Inside Sales receives South Carolina Governor’s Award for Volunteerism UPS Inside Sales recently received the Workplace Agency/Association Award at the 2016 South Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Awards. Nominated by Meals on Wheels of Greenville, UPS Inside Sales received this award for demonstrating commitment to the community by supporting volunteer activities. “UPS Inside Sales has proven to be one of the most dedicated corporate partners in recent Meals on Wheels history,” said Leslie LaRue, volunteer coordinator at Meals on Wheels of Greenville. “They deliver a meal route every week, package meals once per month and routinely substitute for other volunteer drivers, often on a last-minute request. They are a consistent, reliable and dedicated partner in the Upstate.”

Sparks Research expands into downtown Greenville Sparks Research, a national marketing research and business intelligence firm for more than 45 years, has opened a second office in Greenville. The office is located in the Endeavor share office space on the fourth floor of the ONE Building. The company’s primary operations remain in Clemson.

LIG R=

DA R=

CH R=

26 | #TRENDING |

UBJ

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

OVERHEARD @ THE WATERCOOLER

“Yes! The best combo with a brewery #BirdsFlySouthBrewery #TacosTacosTacos”

SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

| VOL. 5 ISSUE 39

211 THE

MILLION SHIPMENby Tthe

Propelled inland port in Greer, s SC Ports continue to expand its economic impact PAGE 12

> Nicole Anagnost “They have the best steak taco!”

> Laura Thomas “I love this restaurant.”

> Ben Ivans

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

>> WEIGH IN @ THE UBJ EXCHANGE

“This is so exciting!”

> Sara Manring

RE: NEW DEVELOPMENT PLANNED ON CAMPERDOWN WAY “So much for Greenville’s charming downtown! Disappointing!”

> Edie Parrott “This is irresponsible. Part of what makes Greenville “Green” is that it’s not a concrete jungle downtown... at least not yet. I know the space where this is planned — It’s much smaller than it looks in the renderings, and currently it’s a pleasant and peaceful walking path from the parking garage to the Peace Center and a small wooded area next to the river where people relax, all of which will be cleared for this development. Seems the developers won’t be happy until every inch of open space in Greenville is developed.”

> Jana Sains

09.30.2016

BIZ BUZZ

Distilled commentary from UBJ readers

RE: WHITE DUCK TACO SHOP MIGRATES TO GREENVILLE

Got something to offer? Get it off your chest. We’re looking for expert guest bloggers from all industries to contribute to the UBJ Exchange. Send posts or blog ideas to dcar@communityjournals.com.

food-related gifts. I’m so glad they’re in the North Main neighborhood now!”

> Tanya Stiegler “Extremely loud, even with only a few diners. Acoustics are positively awful. Too many hard surfaces and no sound buffers.”

The top 5 stories from the past week ranked by shareability score

>> 605 1. Guacamole Mexican Grill expanding to Spartanburg’s east side

>> 563 2. Westone to feature restaurant, retail and office space on Stone Avenue

>> 541 3. White Duck Taco Shop migrates to Greenville

>> 215 4. New development planned on Camperdown Way

>> 215 5. UST Logistics makes Greenville home to new headquarters

> Jim Simkins Love love love Two Chefs!!!!”

> Annie Grubb

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAILS

RE: TWO CHEFS OFFICIALLY OPENS DUAL-PURPOSE RESTAURANT

“come back to your old spot”

> @brantlyvest

Follow up on the Upstate’s workweek in minutes.

“Great offerings to eat in or to go, including coffee in the morning and wine... nice selection of mostly

RE: WESTONE TO FEATURE RESTAURANT, RETAIL AND OFFICE SPACE ON STONE AVENUE

Subscribe to our emails & receive The Inbox – our weekly rundown of the top 10 local biz stories you need to know – as well as breaking news alerts. It’s the best way to stay informed on the go. >> upstatebusinessjournal.com/email

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

“Dessert will be that much closer”

> Lizzie Osborne Kolkowski

LINKEDIN.COM/COMPANY/ UPSTATE-BUSINESS-JOURNAL

“This could be dangerous”

FACEBOOK.COM/ THEUPSTATEBUSINESSJOURNAL

“omg we will have to go and check it out. They better have a corner booth. Lol”

@UPSTATEBIZ @CWHaire

@daviddykes

@AndersonTrev

@melindagyoung

@andrewmooreGVL

@EPietras_CJ

@clandrum

@jerrymsalley

> Matt Dance

ORDER A PRINT SUBSCRIPTION

> Brenna Schneider

Style & substance are not mutually exclusive.

RE: TUPELO HONEY CAFÉ BRINGS ALL-DAY BRUNCH TO FURMAN UNIVERSITY

Our print issues look great in waiting rooms, lobbies and on coffee tables (where they age well, too). Order a year of UBJ in no time, and we’ll deliver every week. >> upstatebusinessjournal.com/ subscribe

“Is the student center food court open to the public?”

> Mark Garrison “Tupelo Honey Cafe comes to Travelers Rest... sort of, but we’ll take it!”

> Gap Creek Gourmet

UPSTATEBUSINESSJOURNAL.COM

09.30.2016

upstatebusinessjournal.com

DATE

Wednesday

10/5

WHERE DO I GO?

HOW DO I GO?

Aspiring Entreprenuers of Greenville Meet Up

Phil Levin & Co. 750 Executive Drive 7–8:30 p.m.

More info: meetup.com/AspiringEntrepreneurs-Of-Greenville

Piedmont SCORE Business Planning for the Small-Business Owner

Spartanburg Community College – Tyger River Campus 1875 E. Main St., Duncan 6–8 p.m.

Cost: $19 Register: piedmontscore.org/workshops

Greenville Chamber BBQ Bash

Center for Manufacturing Inovation 575 Millenium Blvd. 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Phone: 239-3714 Email: hhyatt@greenvillechamber.org Info: greenvillechamber.org/events

Endeavor presents Collaborators & Cocktails: Lisa Holladay

1 N. Main St. 5–7:15 p.m.

Cost: Free to members; limited non-member tickets at $25 Register: Endeavor@EndeavorGreenville.com

Greenville Furman business series luncheon: Understanding Millennials in the Workplace

The Commerce Club Greenville 55 Beattie Place, Ste. 1700 12–1:45 p.m.

Business Attire. Cost: $20 per person, includes lunch and parking validation Register: alumni.furman.edu or 800-787-7533

Thursday

10/6 Thursday

10/13 Friday

10/21

| PLANNER | 27

EVENT INFO

Sunday

10/02

EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR

CONTRIBUTE: Got a hot date? Submit event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com. DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & ACCOUNT STRATEGY Kate Madden

PRESIDENT/CEO

ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR

Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com

Will Crooks

UBJ PUBLISHER

Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith

Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com

EDITOR

Chris Haire chaire@communityjournals.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com

STAFF WRITERS

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Melinda Young, Ariel Turner, Sherry Jackson

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Danielle Car

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

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

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

1988

Holly Hardin

ADVERTISING DESIGN

1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993

1990 Jackson Dawson

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

LAYOUT OPERATIONS

OCTOBER 14 THE BE YOUR OWN BOSS ISSUE When your boss is the person in the mirror.

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

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-prof 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 lients 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 nit inVolVeMent nitY in olV inV olVe VeMent & boarD positions

OCTOBER 28 QUARTERLY CRE ISSUE The state of commercial real estate in the Upstate.

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

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