September 15, 2017 UBJ by Community Journals

INSIDE // BMW AT 4 MILLION • HUSK SETS A DATE • BEACH CO. BUYS BB&T BUILDING

SEPTEMBER 15 , 2017 | VOL. 6 ISSUE 37

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 37 Featured this issue: Husk Greenville to open next month .........................................................................6 BMW switches up management roles .....................................................................10 Greenville Chamber responds to DACA decision ................................................12

WORTH REPEATING “You’d think these elite guys would find a good job when they get out, but it’s not that easy.” Page 17

“It’s not as slick and modern as Panera, and not as sterile as a Firehouse [Subs].” Page 20

“So, rather than trying to comprehensively tell everything about your brand story, focus instead on just the most memorable parts being front and center.” Page 22

VERBATIM On the Equifax cyberattack “If you have a credit report, chances are you may be in this breach. The chances are much better than 50 percent.”

Greenville’s annual Euphoria food fest kicks off next Thursday, Sept. 21, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 24. See our sister publication Greenville Journal for more. Photo provided

Pamela Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum, quoted in the New York Times. Up to 143 million Americans may be impacted by the hack, which stole sensitive information such as Social Security and driver’s license numbers.

9.15.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

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GREENVILLE COURTS AMAZON

A Giant Leap

Greenville to bid for Amazon’s ‘second headquarters’ RUDOLPH BELL | STAFF

rbell@communityjournals.com Local economic development officials say they’ll make a bid for a jaw-dropping jobs opportunity that just surfaced – a proposed second headquarters by e-commerce giant Amazon.com that would employ 50,000 people. But Greenville will be competing with much-larger metro regions for the economic plum, and its bid will be a “long shot,” according to one veteran site consultant. Seattle-based Amazon said in a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued on Sept. 7 that it was considering a “second corporate headquarters” somewhere in North America and was encouraging metro areas to submit proposals for hosting the facility. Amazon said it plans to hire up to 50,000 full-time employees at the facility over the next 10 to 15 years with an “average annual total compensation” of more than $100,000. The company said it could spend more than $5 billion on the facility over time. Mark Farris, president of the Greenville Area Development Corp., Greenville County’s economic development organization, said GADC was “working with several partners” to respond to the RFP. He declined to provide details. Farris successfully recruited numerous corporate headquarters when he was economic development director in York County within the Charlotte, N.C., metro region. His York County wins include two Fort Mill facilities announced in 2014 by The Lash Group and LPL Financial that together were to employ nearly 5,500 people. John Lummus, president of the Upstate SC Alliance, a regional economic development organization based in Greenville, said his organization would also work on a response to the Amazon RFP, though it was still thinking through exactly how. A spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Commerce said it would not actively participate in recruiting the Amazon headquarters but is ready to assist any counties that want to do it. Amazon said responses are due Oct. 19 and 4

UBJ | 9.15.2017

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so you take a shot at it.” that it expects to announce the winning community sometime next year. The e-commerce giant said an “important consideration” in the decision is travel time to an international airport with daily direct flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. Amazon also said a “highly educated labor pool is critical, and a strong university system is required.” The company said incentives offered by state and local governments will also be significant factors. Its second headquarters would employ managing executives and software development engineers, as well as legal, accounting, and administrative workers. The headquarters site would need more than 500,000 square feet of building space initially and up to 8 million square feet over time, the company said. Mark Sweeney, a Greenville site consultant

who has helped numerous companies find locations for new headquarters, including Hertz and Nissan North America, said Greenville doesn’t seem to meet some of the basic criteria that Amazon outlines in the RFP. Those criteria include preferences for a metro area with more than 1 million residents and a location within a 45-minute drive of an international airport. “If I’m working for Greenville, I can show a million people,” Sweeney said. “But international air service? You’re talking 90 minutes to Charlotte, and Charlotte has limited international air service. You’re talking two and a half to three hours to Atlanta.” Still, Sweeney said Greenville can’t be blamed for trying. Recruiting the Amazon headquarters to Greenville “may be a low probability,” he said, but it’s “not a zero probability.” “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so

GREENVILLE COURTS AMAZON

| COVER

The S.C. Department of Commerce said it would not actively participate in recruiting the Amazon headquarters but is ready to assist any counties that want to do it.

you take a shot at it,” Sweeney said. Sweeney, whose firm helped find locations for seven corporate headquarters between 2011 and 2014, said he figures Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, New York, and Boston should be strong contenders. “I would suspect those five are in the mix right off the bat,” he said. Sweeney said he also thinks Detroit “could put together a very interesting proposal.” Didi Caldwell, another Greenville site consultant, said adding 50,000 workers would constitute a 12 percent increase in the current workforce of 414,000 in the Greenville/Anderson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). That would make Amazon the area’s dominant employer by far and reduce diversity in the local

employment base. “To add another 12 percent to our workforce, where are those people going to come from?” Caldwell said. She said the workers could only come from two places: They’d have to move from outside of the area or leave their existing employers in Greenville. “It sort of eats away at other companies’ ability to thrive by attracting and retaining the right type of workforce,” Caldwell said. Caldwell, who counts Conoco and Procter & Gamble among her clients, said she figures South Carolina’s best bet for recruiting the Amazon headquarters would be in the two counties that are part of the Charlotte, N.C., metro area, York and Lancaster.

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RESTAURANT

Southern First Sean Brock’s celebrated locavore franchise Husk is ﬁnally ready to make its Greenville debut ARIEL TURNER | STAFF

aturner@communityjournals.com Husk Greenville will open this October, according to a statement issued by Skelly Stevens of Polished Pig Media. Construction at the long-anticipated restaurant at 722 S. Main St., Greenville, is well underway, as is hiring for the third Husk location to open in seven years. Husk Savannah, located in the heart of Savannah’s Landmark Historic District at 12 W. Oglethorpe Ave., will open the first week of December 2017. Following the success of the original Husk in Charleston in 2010, and the opening of the Nashville, Tenn., outpost in 2013, Neighborhood Dining Group President David Howard was eager to introduce two new locations to continue celebrating the ingredients and cuisines of the South. “We are excited to build our popular brand in two vibrant cities, renovate two more historic buildings, and create so many jobs in our communities,” Howard says. Howard’s Husk partner Sean

Husk’s future home in Greenville’s West End. Photo by Sherry Jackson

Chef Sean Brock. Photo by Andrea Behrends

Brock, a James Beard and Emmy award-winning celebrity chef, has hired Jon Buck (Husk, Charleston) as chef de cuisine of Husk Greenville and Tyler Williams (Woodfire Grill, Atlanta) as chef de cuisine of Husk Savannah. “Jon and Tyler both bring immense culinary talent and a true appreciation for preserving the relationships with local farmers, the land, and the ingredients that are essential to Southern heritage,” Brock says. “I am honored to be

working with both chefs as we expand the Husk footprint across the South.” Under the direction of Brock, Buck and Williams will introduce the Husk concept and philosophy of sustainable and locally sourced dining and gracious hospitality in these new markets. Buck and Williams lead the menu creation and food sourcing, using the highest quality, seasonally driven bounty from local farmers and purveyors to create dishes with a distinct Southern identity, influenced by local Appalachian and Savannah Lowcountry flavors, respectively. Both chefs plan to bridge the gap between the foodways of their local

area by sourcing indigenous ingredients and representing them on the plate in their truest historical form. The Neighborhood Dining Group team has hired Andrea Ciavardini as general manager and Joe Billesbach as manager/sommelier at Husk Greenville. Ciavardini formerly held the position of general manager of Chicago’s, located in Atlanta, and Billesbach was the beverage director at Brennan’s in New Orleans. Both Ciavardini and Billesbach are certified sommeliers.

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Joan Herlong. Photo provided

REAL ESTATE

Higher Profile AugustaRoad.com’s Joan Herlong joins forces with Sotheby’s RUDOLPH BELL | STAFF

rbell@communityjournals.com One of the Upstate’s leading residential real estate brokers, Joan Herlong, is now affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, a pairing that she believes will help make Greenville’s profile a little higher around the world. Prior to her affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty, Herlong was a top deal closer with what is now Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/C. Dan Joyner Realtors. In 2011, she launched her own company, AugustaRoad.com Realty, and grew it into a 20-agent firm.

Effective Sept. 13, Herlong’s company is now called Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty. The Greenville broker said she wasn’t seeking to affiliate with the international firm when it approached her earlier this year. The overtures included a daylong visit for Herlong and her husband, attorney William Herlong, to the company’s headquarters in Madison, N.J. Herlong said she changed her mind about affiliating after learning about Sotheby’s International Realty’s powerful global network and that she would be free to list homes of any price.

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“I was absolutely blown away by the truly global marketing reach that they have,” she said, adding that when your home is listed with Sotheby’s International Realty, “anybody in the world can find you.” For example, Herlong said, real estate investors in China use the Sotheby’s International Realty website, sothebysrealty.com, to find U.S. listings. Now that the company is marketing local properties, Greenville

should get some new attention, Herlong said. “It will bring Greenville to the attention of people who weren’t even thinking about Greenville,” she said. Herlong’s company is the fifth South Carolina affiliate for the Sotheby’s International Realty brand. The others are in Bluffton, Charleston, Lake Keowee, and Pawleys Island.

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The collection includes 10 rugs with patterns ranging from intricate Persian and ornate English themes to geometric African mud cloth motifs.

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Textile Tribute

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Milliken & Co. unveils new rug collection inspired by Drayton Mills TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com The textile legacy of Spartanburg’s historic Drayton Mill has come full circle. Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. announced Thursday, Sept. 6, that its floor covering division has developed a collection of rugs inspired by the former Milliken plant. A Milliken design team visited the 115-year-old mill about one year ago to draw inspiration for the collection from a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of the site aimed at transforming it into a dynamic mixed-use community. “It was inspiring to see how history was being preserved while setting the stage for more modern living,” said Ginny Jones, a senior designer with Milliken, in a statement. “That very idea of merging the old and new at Drayton Mills formed the foundation for the Drayton rug collection.” Milliken said its design team was inspired by artifacts and building features that were preserved during the renovation. Those elements include original maple floors embedded with metal shavings from textile machinery that once operated in the mill, tall ceilings, massive hearth pine beams, exposed brick, and old weaving books on display throughout the property. “When the Milliken design team toured the restored space, the his-

toric artifacts and finishes sparked their creativity and encouraged them to rethink traditional design,” the company said in a statement. The company said the collection includes 10 rugs that each feature distinctive traditional textile patterns found in cultures across the globe. Those patterns range from intricate Persian and ornate English themes to geometric African mud cloth motifs, the company said. The rugs have a distressed look the company said gives the rugs a “fresh interpretation of timeless classics” that allow the patterns to “feel new and relevant in modern interiors.” Customers can choose each Drayton rug in one of five unique color schemes and one of five sizes, including a large 10.9-foot by 13.2foot version, the company said. Milliken said the rugs are constructed with performance nylon that repels stains and releases soil, which makes them durable and easy to clean. The company said it is planning to hold an event to celebrate the launch of the new rug collection. The event, which is open to the public, will be held from 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Drayton Mills Marketplace at 1802 Drayton Road in Spartanburg on the loading dock outside of Bella Latte.

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BMW produces 4 millionth vehicle TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com BMW Manufacturing Co. has hit another production milestone. The Spartanburg County-based automaker announced Friday, Sept. 8, that it has produced its 4 millionth vehicle since it began assembly in 1994. “This achievement reflects the commitment and dedication of every associate to produce premium quality vehicles,” said Knudt Flor, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Co., in a statement. “Customers around the world love our products, and our X models are an important part of the company’s success.” BMW Manufacturing Co.’s an-

nouncement comes 23 years to the day after plant associate Ryan Childers drove the first BMW made in the Upstate – a 318i – off the assembly line. The 4 millionth milestone vehicle is a Phytonic Blue Metallic BMW X3 xDrive M40i with a Vernasca Cognac leather interior, which will be shipped to a BMW dealer in Vienna, Austria, the company said. BMW Manufacturing Co., which was the luxury car company’s first plant outside its native Germany, has grown into a nearly $8 billion investment with more than 5 million square feet of production space and 9,000 employees. In terms of volume, the plant is BMW’s largest manufacturing facility in the world and the produc-

tion hub of its popular light trucks division, including the X3, X4, X5, and X6 Sports Activity Vehicle models. The plant will soon begin production of the full-size X7 model, which is set to hit dealerships in late 2018. BMW Manufacturing Co. said its associates currently produce 1,400 vehicles per day. The plant has the capacity to produce 450,000 vehicles annually. An additional $600 million investment in the plant announced by BMW in June will bring the facility’s employment to about 10,000 associates by 2022. BMW Manufacturing Co. remained the nation’s largest automotive exporter in 2016.

It shipped 287,700 vehicles, or about 70 percent of the 411,000 vehicles it produced during the previous year, to 140 markets worldwide. Nearly 86 percent of those vehicles were exported via the Port of Charleston. The plant’s exports were valued at $9.53 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, confirming it as the country’s leading car exporter in terms of value for a third consecutive year. BMW Manufacturing Co. hit its 4 millionth vehicle milestone just 29 months after celebrating its 3 millionth milestone. It hit its 2 millionth milestone 39 months prior to that, demonstrating the plant’s growth in production.

BMW ANNOUNCES SENIOR MANAGEMENT CHANGES Spartanburg County-based BMW Manufacturing Co. announced five senior management appointments on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The automaker said Sherry McCraw has been named vice president of assembly at the plant near Greer. McCraw was one of the first associates hired for the local plant in 1993 and has worked in several areas of assembly production, planning, engineering, and technology. Since 2013, she has served as vice president of finance and compliance. Stefan Diregger, a 20-year employee of BMW Group, will assume McCraw’s former role. Diregger most recently served as the general manager of plant finance for BMW’s Rosslyn plant in South Africa. Andreas Guecker, who has been an employee of the BMW Group since 1999, will step into a new role as vice president of integration product projects. Siegfried Mueller will move into Guecker’s previous role as vice president of total vehicle, quality management, and plant projects. Mueller has worked for BMW Group for more than 20 years. He has experience in the development and launch of several vehicles and has served in quality management at the national and international level. Most recently, he was vice president of BMW’s manufacturing concept luxury class in Munich. Murat Aksel, who joined the company in 2009, has been named vice president of BMW’s purchasing and supplier network in the Americas. He replaces Franz Linner, who has been appointed vice president of supplier support NAFTA for the BMW Group. Today, the BMW Manufacturing Co. plant represents a nearly $8 billion investment encompassing more than 5 million square feet. –Trevor Anderson

UBJ | 9.15.2017

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BMW’s US sales continue to slump in August TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF

tanderson@communityjournals.com

Photo by Will Crooks

BMW’s U.S. business declined again in August, as three out of four of the German automaker’s popular light trucks models produced exclusively in Spartanburg County – the X3, X5, and X6 – failed to gain traction. BMW of North America LLC reported its sales fell to 28,001 vehicles during the month, an 8.2 percent decrease compared with 30,500 during August 2016. For the year, BMW’s sales in this country are down 5.8 percent to 225,655 vehicles, compared with 239,631 during the same period of the previous year. “Even as we are reporting the August sales, our thoughts are with those in the devastated areas of Texas and Louisiana, especially our many employees and colleagues,” said Bernhard Kuhnt, president and CEO of BMW of North America, in a statement. “We are making significant contributions

to the American Red Cross to relieve as much of the suffering as possible. August numbers were a bit unusual in that sedans outpaced our SAVs as model year changeover for the X5 and new-model production of the X3 significantly restricted availability of our especially popular SAV models. This, of course, will improve as production ramps up.” Sales of BMW passenger cars, including the i3, i8, Z4, X1, and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 Series, increased 6.2 percent to 16,708 vehicles during the month, up from 15,730 during the same month of 2016. For the year, the company’s passenger car sales are down 9.3 percent to 127,510 vehicles, compared with 140,605 during the same span of the prior year. Sales of the company’s light trucks assembled at its Spartanburg County plant decreased 30.2

percent during the month to 6,845 vehicles, compared with 9,801 in August 2016. Year-to-date, sales of locally made X models are up 4.6 percent to 67,094 vehicles, compared with 64,139 during the first eight months of the previous year. X3 sales decreased more than 37 percent during the past month to 2,918 units, compared with 4,668 in August 2016. For the year, X3 sales have increased 10.1 percent to 29,925 units, compared with 27,174 during the same period of the prior year. Sales of the X4 were the only bright spot for the light trucks during the month, as the numbers increased 16.4 percent to 503 units, compared with 432 during the same month a year ago. However, X4 sales are down 11.6 percent for the year to 2,985 units, compared with 3,376 during the same period of 2016.

X5 sales decreased more than 25 percent in August to 3,079 units, compared with 4,121 during the same month of the previous year. For the first eight months of the year, X5 sales have increased 4 percent to 30,224 units, compared with 29,069 during the same period of 2016. Sales of the X6 decreased 40.5 percent during the month to 345 units, compared with 580 during the same month one year ago. X6 sales are down 12.4 percent for the year to 3,960 units, compared with 4,520 during the same period of the previous year. BMW’s North American affiliate said its brand sales fell 7.7 percent during the month and 5 percent so far this year. The company’s MINI brand sales were down 10.5 percent in August and have decreased 11 percent during the first eight months of 2017.

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GOVERNMENT

Greenville Chamber disappointed in DACA decision The Greenville Chamber of Commerce has released a statement expressing disappointment regarding President Donald J. Trump’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. “DACA residents enrolled in the program in good faith, came out of the economic shadows, and became a crucial part of our region’s – and our nation’s – economy. Reversing this policy now runs contrary to our American Carlos Phillips. Photo by Will Crooks values,” said Carlos Phillips, Greenville Chamber president and CEO. “There are approximately 7,000 DACA recipients working, paying taxes, and contributing to the businesses in South Carolina. Ending their eligibility to work legally runs completely against the president’s stated goal to expand the nation’s economy.” Introduced in June 2012 by former president Barack Obama, DACA allows certain undocumented immigrants

who were brought to the United States as minors to be granted temporary protection from deportation while allowing them to receive work authorization. In order to be accepted into DACA, recipients had to prove they were attending or graduated from high school or college, and that they had no criminal background. President Trump announced last week that DACA would be phased out in six months, making some of the 800,000 program recipients eligible for deportation. He urged Congress to pass a legislative solution prior to March when the program is scheduled to end. Phillips said that DACA recipients in the Upstate are “filling critical holes in our region’s workforce” and that Trump’s decision “will be a drag on productivity, business growth, and our Upstate economy.” He urged the South Carolina Congressional delegation to “follow Sen. Graham’s lead and work quickly to find a solution before DACA expires next year.” Sen. Graham, along with Sen. Dick Durban, D-Ill., reintroduced the bipartisan Dream Act in July. The Dream Act would “allow immigrant students who grew up in the United States to earn lawful permanent residents and eventually American citizenship,” according to a press release from Sen. Graham’s office. Like DACA, the Dream Act has stipulations, including that recipients graduate high school or obtain a GED and “pursue higher education, work lawfully for at least three years, or serve in the military.” All recipients must have a clean criminal background, be proficient in English, and have knowledge of United States history. Last Tuesday, the day Trump’s decision was an-

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nounced, Sen. Graham released a statement saying that he “always believed DACA was a presidential overreach.” He added, “However, I equally understand the plight of the Dream Act kids who – for all practical purposes – know no country other than America. … I have introduced legislation to solve this problem along with Sen. Durbin. I look forward to working with President Trump and my colleagues in Congress to find a fair solution to this difficult problem.” –Emily Pietras

MANUFACTURING

DEVITA acquires Charlotte-based engineering firm Greenville-based engineering firm DEVITA has acquired Elm Engineering Inc., an engineering firm based in Charlotte, N.C. Darren Springer, president of DEVITA, said in a statement Elm Engineering’s expertise in renewable energy and sustainable systems will add value to DEVITA’s commercial and institutional projects across the country. Elm Engineering was the first engineering firm in the Charlotte area to focus on sustainable engineering, energy efficiency, LEED consulting, and commissioning, according to a press release. Kim Humiston, Elm’s president, will be joining DEVITA as a principal. “Darren and our new colleagues at DEVITA share our values and way of doing business – we’re looking forward to offering more talent, experience, and band-

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width to our current and new clients,” Humiston said in a statement. Springer wouldn’t disclose the price of the acquisition but said that it’s part of DEVITA’s continued growth strategy. The firm, which launched in 1984, recently opened offices in Atlanta and Petersburg, Va. According to the company’s website, DEVITA provides a full range of mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering services, including specialized structural precast design and detailing. –Andrew Moore

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Nearly 100 will lose their jobs at Kongsberg’s Easley site. Photo provided

Auto parts maker leaving Easley for Mexico An auto parts maker says it’s pulling up the stakes in Easley and heading to Mexico, throwing 97 people out of a job. Kongsberg Automotive, which has made hose and tube assemblies along Powdersville Road in the Easley area since spring 2012, said it would close the plant in January and move most of the production and equipment to Mexico. The plant has been put into “an uncompetitive position” by a “very competitive market in the area,” Kongsberg said in a statement. “This means there is a strong need to become more efficient and reduce costs.” The industrial building at 111 Kayaker Way was formerly home to Perception, a kayak company now called Confluence Outdoor and located in Greenville. Bill Masters, a Greenville entrepreneur who founded the kayak company and owns the 82,000-square-foot building, said Kongsberg has more than five years left on the lease. Masters said the Norwegian auto parts maker spent more than $1 million improving the building and is now “having to walk away from it.” He wants to lease the property to another company. “We’ll get it re-leased, because we want employees in Pickens County,” Masters said. The Easley plant is one of six plants that Kongsberg has said it intends to close in order to improve its performance. The 97 layoffs include temporary and permanent positions, Kongsberg said in a notice to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. – Rudolph Bell

REAL ESTATE

Developer to turn BB&T tower into apartments Charleston developer The Beach Co. plans to turn a high-rise in downtown Greenville that is currently occupied by the BB&T bank into an apartment complex. The Beach Co. also plans to put a grocery, as well as houses and townhomes, on what are now parking lots used by BB&T across the street, said Dan Doyle, a senior vice president with the developer. It paid $10 million for the bulk of the development site in July and is scheduled to close on two more parcels, according to Doyle and Greenville County property records. The proposed mixed-use project on both sides of Buncombe Street near the Heritage Green cultural complex would be The Beach Co.’s third major development in 9.15.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

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TerraceRestaurants.com Now Open in Downtown Greenville’s West End!

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BB&T has already announced plans to relocate more than 600 employees in the downtown high-rise into a new building currently under construction along Interstate 385 in Mauldin. The proposed grocery, which Doyle described as a neighborhood market, would go on what is now a surface parking lot across Buncombe Street from the high-rise. Doyle said it would have about 30,000 square feet of space with parking on top. No grocers have signed leases yet, he said. Doyle said The Beach Co. plans 35-40 houses and townhomes on both sides of Whitner Street close to the grocery. They will be designed to blend with existing housing at the corner of Butler and Hampton avenues, he said. The Beach Co. has developed two other downtown retail-and-apartment complexes in recent years. Last year, it sold one of them – South Ridge at the corner of University Ridge and Church Street – for $68 million. Doyle said The Beach Co. plans to keep the other one, Main + Stone, at the corner of North Main Street and Stone Avenue. –Rudolph Bell The Beach Co., a Charleston developer, plans to put 100 apartments into the high-rise at 301 College St. that now houses BB&T bank.

downtown Greenville since 2014. “I think that’s a reflection of how we feel about Greenville,” Doyle said. “It is a great city. It’s a city that we believe in.” Doyle said The Beach Co. hopes to break ground on its latest Greenville project in the spring. First, Doyle said he’d meet with homeowners near the development site and seek a rezoning from the Greenville Planning Commission. He said The Beach Co. plans to put about 100 apartments in the eight-story, 140,000-square-foot high-rise at 301 College St. The apartments would be more moderately priced than other new apartments closer to Main Street, Doyle said. He said the building’s upper floors offer “outstanding” views of Paris Mountain and the downtown skyline. Residents would park at the existing parking garage on site.

YOU NEED YOUR HEARING CHECKED Davis

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

New leader hired for Carolinas international chamber If you’re visiting Greenville from Europe, there’s a fair chance the new leader of the Carolinas chapter of the European American Chamber of Commerce can speak your native language. Samantha Spratt, a Brazil native with advanced degrees in law and business, was recently hired as executive director of the Greenville-based chamber chapter. She’s fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. She also speaks Italian and is learning French. The 41-year-old Spratt also runs a Greenville consultancy that helps companies expand into foreign markets. Before, she was Latin America regional director for Samantha Spratt Wahl Clipper Corp., an Illinois-based maker of hair care and grooming products. Spratt said she’ll strive to make the chamber chapter a “strong source of expertise” and a “solid networking platform that stimulates business between Europe and the Carolinas, raising the region’s profile as an international business partner.” The chamber chapter has hosted European trade officials and a Wells Fargo economist at three separate events in downtown Greenville since its founding last year. Its next public event – at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport on Sept. 21 – will focus on transportation infrastructure. Speakers will include Gregor Ulbrich, business development manager for Senator International, a German freight-moving company that flies cargo twice a week between GSP and Munich, Germany. Also speaking will be Dave Edwards, GSP president, and Micah Mallace, manager of strategic projects for the S.C. State Ports Authority, which operates the Inland Port next to GSP in Greer. –Rudolph Bell

Anderson Chamber gearing up for Gain Momentum biz Expo Kristin Davis, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology

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The Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 2017 Gain Momentum Business Expo-Taste of the Chamber from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Anderson Civic Center at 3027 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Monica Elmer, events and special projects coordinator for the Anderson Chamber, said this year’s installment of the annual event has been geared to showcase local businesses and entrepreneurs. Participants will have the opportunity to sample a variety of foods from Anderson County restaurants and get to know a little bit more about area businesses. The Anderson Chamber will also bring back the Art Slam Live, a live art competition featuring visual art and live music. The competition, introduced in 2016, has an impromptu format that gives artists a surprise theme or subject matter, and then they have to perform in front of a live audience. The viewers choose the winner.

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

| NEWS

Spartanburg Chamber launches The Exchange

The Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce will host its Gain Momentum Business Expo-A Taste of the Chamber on Oct. 12. Photo courtesy of the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce.

Participating businesses can showcase their products, services, and people during the expo portion of the event. The Anderson Chamber said exhibition space is still available, but the deadline is Friday, Sept. 15. Booths are $300 for 100 square feet, $425 for 200 square feet, and $600 for 400 square feet. A $40 fee for electricity use may be charged. Businesses or organizations interested in space can register online, download a registration form and send it to the chamber by fax at 864-226-3300, or mail it to 907 North Main St., Suite 200, Anderson, SC 29621. Tickets purchased before Friday, Oct. 6, are $5 per ticket, or $20 for five tickets. Tickets purchased after Tuesday, Oct. 10 will be $10 per ticket, or $40 per five tickets. The same prices apply to tickets purchased at the door on the day of the event, but payments of cash will only be accepted at the door. Participants who pre-purchase a Team Terence T-shirt will receive one free ticket to the event. For more information, visit andersonscchamber.com. –Trevor Anderson

Spartanburg’s after-hours networking event, the literally named Business After Hours, has been rebooted and rebranded. On Wednesday, Nov. 8, The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce will host its first installment The Exchange at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium at 385 N. Church St. beside Wofford College. Megan Collins, membership and events coordinator for the Spartanburg Chamber, said The Exchange will be “an experience,” built on three innovative concepts that include The Idea Lounge, The Resource Hub, and Build Better Relationships. The concepts are aimed at attracting both greater and new participation, and providing local businesses with comprehensive solutions to help them grow. And instead of being open only to the chamber’s members, The Exchange will be open to the public. “This isn’t going to be merely people talking and giving each other their business cards,” Collins said. “It’s designed to give people a quality experience, where they are making meaningful connections, learning, and, at the same time, having a lot of fun.” Collins said the chamber began planning the shake up of its Business After Hours program earlier this year. She said it is “absolutely” designed to increase engagement from young professionals in Spartanburg. “We just felt [Business After Hours] had grown a little stale,” said Will Rothschild, vice president of strategic communications for the Spartanburg Chamber. “Meg has really done a great job leading this effort. We’re excited about it.” The Idea Lounge will be a place where business owners and professionals can interact with “marketing gurus” to receive advice, brainstorm, and gain insight into “all things digital marketing,” according to the chamber’s website.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAKES A TEAM.

That team includes public leaders and private companies, working hand in hand, across the region. To learn more about the network of partners who are positioning the Upstate to excel in the global economy, visit www.upstatescalliance.com.

9.15.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

NEWS |

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

For the inaugural event, The Idea Lounge will be presented by Berbank Events and supported by Arrowhead Design Co., Infinity Marketing, Launch Something, MoreView Media, The Palladian Group, and Slant Media. The Resource Hub, according to Collins, will be a business expo redefined. Instead of having traditional exhibition booths, The Exchange will feature business resource tables. Participants will be able to choose what materials are displayed on their table, and then move around and interact with other professionals. Traditional nametags with a participant’s name and title of the entity they represent will be coupled with a description of what their company or organization does, Collins said. Build Better Relationships is a little more theoretical, but is the gist of The Exchange. “It can be really difficult to walk up to someone you don’t know and talking [about] yourself or your company,” Collins said. “We think [The Exchange] will help people build more meaningful, lasting relationships that will benefit them more in the long run.” Admission is $10 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Collins said the chamber hopes to attract 150 participants. She said 80 people had already registered as of Wednesday, Sept. 6. There will be 25 Business Resource Tables available. The tables, which will be provided, are standard, skirted cocktail tables that are 36 inches in diameter. Table pricing is $75 for a single event, $125 for two events, $250 for four events, and $375 for six events. One complimentary ticket will be included with the price of each table. Founders Federal Credit Union will present the first event. Host sponsorships are $1,000 and include company logo placement on 4,000 event notifications; more than 30,000 email event invitations; recognition in all event marketing, recognition before and throughout each event, a dedicated business promotional table in a prominent location at the event, four complimentary tickets; and a mailing list of attendees. –Trevor Anderson

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Email owner at roger.kersch@gmail.com or call 828 735-9711. Or call Cecil, Sunbelt Business Brokers, at 864 934-2225.

UBJ | 9.15.2017

Proterra buses being built in Greenville. Photo by Will Crooks

TRANSPORTATION

CATbus inks deal to buy 10 more Proterra buses Clemson’s bus service, CATbus, has agreed to pay more than $9 million for 10 battery-powered buses to be manufactured by Proterra in Greenville and related charging equipment. Nearly $4 million of the total is covered by a Federal Transit Administration grant, while state and local funds are covering the rest, according to Keith Moody, interim general manager at CATbus. CATbus announced in August that it had selected Proterra over two other manufacturers to supply the buses, but at the time it had not finished negotiating a contract. CATbus has said it will use the 40-foot Catalyst E2 buses on routes serving Clemson University. CATbus already operates six Proterra buses in Seneca, a deployment that Moody said has been a “total success” with more than 520,000 miles logged. Proterra, which moved to Greenville as a startup in 2010, has sold hundreds of its zero-emission buses to transit agencies across the country. Greenville is the California-based company’s East Coast base, home to its busiest factory, vehicle engineering department, and more than half of its 300 employees. –Rudolph Bell

RESTAURANTS

Crêpe du Jour opens on Main Street downtown Greenville Crêpe du Jour Café and Wine, 20 S. Main St., officially opened its doors Sept. 6, a year after it was announced to the public. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant took over the 2,800-squarefoot former Moe Joe Coffee between West Washington Street and West McBee Avenue. The menu offers a wide variety of savory and sweet crêpes, as well as traditional breakfast items, such as eggs Benedict, cured meats, and waffles. Salads are available for lunch and dinner alongside additional, more substantial crêpe offerings. Crêpe du Jour also offers vegan and gluten-free options. The beverage menu includes Counter Culture coffee and espresso drinks during the day and specialty cocktails, French wines, and craft beers at night. The restaurant is decorated with sleek white marble, black accents, and whitewashed exposed brick. High-top tables and bar seating at the front provide a view of the bar and coffee bar, and low-top tables at the back allow diners to view the action in the open kitchen. Hours are Monday–Wednesday, 7 a.m.–4 p.m., and Thursday–Sunday, 7 a.m.–10 p.m. The bar will remain open until midnight on weekends. –Ariel Turner

THE HONOR FOUNDATION

| PROFILE

HONOR BOUND How one Greenville entrepreneur is helping Navy SEALs find jobs back home

WORDS BY ANDREW MOORE PHOTO BY WILL CROOKS

John Sterling sponsors The Honor Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s employer network in Greenville.

9.15.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

PROFILE |

THE HONOR FOUNDATION

he U.S. Navy’s Sea, Air, and Land teams (SEALS) are considered one of the most elite and highly trained special operations forces in the world. But despite their uncanny ability to find solutions in high-pressure situations, many operators struggle to find meaningful employment once they transition back into the civilian world. “You’d think these elite guys would find a good job when they get out, but it’s not that easy,” said John Sterling, CEO of Greenville-based warehouse management software company Foxfire. “Many operators actually choose to redeploy rather than transition, because they can’t figure out how to translate their skills to the corporate world.” Sterling, however, is working to make that transition easier for special operators. In 2015, Sterling traveled to San Diego to visit his son, Jack, who is transitioning out of the Navy SEALS after nine years of service. While there, Sterling heard about his son’s experience with The Honor Foundation, a San Diego-based nonprofit that offers career coaching and professional development courses to both current and retired special operators to help them transition to their next job.

Sterling was inspired by his son’s experience and met Joe Musselman, founder of The Honor Foundation, to learn more about the nonprofit’s programs. Since its launch in 2013, THF has established employer networks in more than 10 cities to help active and retired special operators connect with potential employers or find mentors within the business community. Last year, Sterling partnered with Musselman and became the official sponsor of an employer network in Greenville. Today, Sterling is working to employ 100 special operators in the Greenville area by 2027.

It could benefit businesses across the region. Since 2013, THF has graduated 101 former special operators from its program. Graduates are currently employed in a wide variety of industries, including finance, manufacturing, hospitality, advanced technology, cybersecurity, health care, and more. “Overall, they are highly trained at planning and solving complex problems often with very limited time constraints,” Sterling said. “They are trained to never quit until they meet the goal. Many go into roles managing general operations, while some have specialties that they have been trained in.”

“The Greenville business community has been outstanding.

We have not had one business leader that we have called not want to be helpful or be willing to meet and interview a visiting THF graduate.”

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UBJ | 9.15.2017

THE HONOR FOUNDATION

“Overall, they are highly trained at planning and solving complex problems often with very limited time constraints.

They are trained to never quit until they meet the goal.” Sterling is trying to attract recent THF graduates to Greenville and surrounding areas by organizing annual networking events and tours of local businesses. Last year, for instance, Sterling invited Musselman and three graduates to tour ScanSource and North American Rescue, as well as network with companies like Amazon. According to Sterling, the networking events and tours are essentially designed to help THF graduates market their skills and capabilities to Greenville businesses, hopefully resulting in follow-up discussions and interviews. So far, Sterling’s employer network has raised more than $20,000 for The Honor Foundation and helped Ty Hardee, a former Navy SEAL and

recent THF graduate, find employment with Northwestern Mutual in Charlotte. Hardee was one of the three operators to tour Greenville last year alongside Sterling. “The Greenville business community has been outstanding. We have not had one business leader that we have called not want to be helpful or be willing to meet and interview a visiting THF graduate,” Sterling said. As for the future, Sterling is looking to improve the employer network, which has already garnered support from local economic development leaders like Greenville Mayor Knox White and developer Bo Aughtry.

| PROFILE

Sterling, for instance, recently recruited the help of George Tomkins, founder of Greenville-based recruiting firm The Kidder Group, in order to expand the network’s reach and specialize tours for this year’s visiting group of operators. “We are working to line them up individually with businesses that represent their specific job interests,” said Sterling. “The more exposure the graduates can get to what different business situations look like the better.” Sterling added that eight THF graduates will visit Greenville on Sept. 21 and network with professionals from various industries, including real estate, logistics, apparel marketing, social media, management consulting, and more. If the graduates find a job in Greenville, then it could create a domino effect and attract more operators to the area, according to Sterling. It could also help The Honor Foundation establish an alumni chapter in South Carolina. “We expect it to start with a trickle, and as more and more THF grads settle in the area, they will tell their friends that are still in the service and we will start to build a pipeline that will start to feed itself,” Sterling said. For more information, visit honor.org.

9.15.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

SQUARE FEET |

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

ARIEL TURNER | STAFF

FRONT ROW

aturner@communityjournals.com |

@arielhturner

Design Review Board Urban Panel

Last Thursday, the City of Greenville Design Review Board Urban Panel approved with recommendations the exterior design of Blue Ridge Brewing Company’s new downtown location and the design of the privately funded portion of the Grand Bohemian Hotel’s site plan. Additionally, an application for a certiﬁcate of appropriateness for an exception to the sign ordinance for Harbinger at Lowndes Hill Road was approved, and the Camperdown Plaza materials and ﬁnishes plan review was postponed by request of the applicant until Oct. 5.

BLUE RIDGE BREWING COMPANY The panel approved an application for a certificate of appropriateness for adaptive reuse of the former White Horse Paper Co. at 405 Westfield St. to now be used as the Greenville location of Blue Ridge Brewing Co. The proposed updates to the exterior include repainting the existing façade a neutral color, opening the rear of the building to allow for outdoor seating, adding storefront openings to break up the monotony of the solid wall, and prominent reclaimed barn wood accents. The plan also calls for street lamps along Westfield and the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail, which runs parallel to the building. The updates were approved with recommendations that the property owner modify the southern elevation of the building running parallel to the trail to be more visually impactful. Suggestions include working with Art in Public Places to plan a mural for the visible wall, or enliven the exterior with some color or other elements to make a big visual impact. “Would be nice if there’s a little something, maybe some color variation or something,” said DRB panel member Carmella Cioffi.

Rendering by Keel Concepts

Joe Delaney, architect with Keel Designs who was representing the project, said a main reason for the simplicity of the design is due to restrictions placed on property in a FEMA ﬂood plain. The renovations must not exceed the property value.

“Being in the ﬂood way is almost as bad as being in the river itself,” Delaney joked. Delaney said he would work with city staff to develop a plan for the suggested changes.

Sourdough & Co. to open three Upstate locations A Northern California-based fast-casual restaurant, Sourdough & Co., is branching out to the East Coast with locations in Greenville, Duncan, and Spartanburg, according to Joe Xavier, who handles public relations for the franchise.

Sourdough & Co., with San Francisco sourdough bread as the main feature, is scheduled to open Nov. 1 in the 1,680-square-foot former Firehouse Subs at 219 Pelham Road, Greenville. The two other locations will quickly follow suit – in Duncan, 2109 E. Main St. at 1,500 square feet, and Spartan-

burg, 1725 John B. White Sr. Blvd. at 2,600 square feet, which will also include the franchise ofﬁce. The chain currently has eight stores in California. Xavier describes the décor of the restaurants as “gold rush-era” using reclaimed barn wood and corrugated metal overhangs.

“It’s not as slick and modern as Panera, and not as sterile as a Firehouse [Subs],” Xavier says. The menu features deli sandwiches assembled on bread ﬂown in from San Francisco, soups served in sourdough bowls, and salads. –Ariel Turner

REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION

| SQUARE FEET

IN-HOME CARE SERVICES

Caring for the Ones Who Cared for You

The Grand Bohemian in downtown Greenville will overlook the lower Reedy River Falls. Renderings provided by the Kessler Collection

THE GRAND BOHEMIAN HOTEL The panel approved the privately funded site plan for the landscaping and hardscaping around the Grand Bohemian Hotel, being developed by Kessler Enterprise Inc., which includes measures to stabilize the slope down to the river during demolition of the Wyche PA law firm, 44 E. Camperdown Way. The public portion of the site scape was given final approval by Greenville City Council members on Aug. 28. As reported by the Greenville Journal in July, the city will take $3.5 million from its Economic Development Fund to 945 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302 pay for public improvements to Falls Park’s East Camperdown Way entrance. 864-573-2353 The private portion includes vegetation, stone to blend in with Falls Park, and screens to obscure the service entrance and mechanical equipment, with special attention given to maintaining the indigenous vegetation and grasses on the slopes to the river. At this point, the construction will call for the removal of two heritage trees, a beech and sycamore, with no other tree removal plans. Should the demolition and construction cause damage to other trees and landscaping along with Reedy River, the panel recommended the applicant return to the DRB with an additional landscape plan. Cioffi urged the applicants to preserve local historic sites they may encounter during the process that are not legally protected at this time. “Our intentions are to tread lightly,” said Jack Reel with Thomas & Hutton Engineering. 9.15.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

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Diﬀerent is Good Three vital considerations for your web presence (Part 3) By BRENT WARWICK Partner, ipsoCreative

In the first installment of this series, I explored the visual credibility of a website and how that affects whether a visitor wants to explore further: “Viewers have more choices then ever, and that is largely paralyzing to them. With so much digital white noise and content clutter, it’s no wonder that web users make quick decisions about what’s worthy of their time to click-through and what is not.” Then, in the second installment, I explored the relevance of a website and how that affects a visitor’s perception of your brand’s usefulness: “The real (or perceived) needs of your target audience matter a great deal when it comes to what you choose

to include or exclude on your website. Given the vast and ever-growing volume of available content on the web, it is crucial that you give careful and intentional consideration to this second ﬁlter, relevant content.” The third and ﬁnal vital consideration in this series centers on the question, “Does my web presence pass the differentiation test?” In other words, does your website help visitors reach the conclusion that what you are offering is worth their time in contacting you? This is essentially the realm of your brand’s value proposition (aka brand promise): Why should people work with you and why do you add more value and create solutions better than others? It’s this one seemingly simple question, and a brand’s answer to it

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UBJ | 9.15.2017

largely sets memorable brands apart from forgettable ones. And distilling down your answer is one of the most challenging parts in positioning your brand and subsequently determining what to include in differentiating your website.

Stating the “givens” is a waste of valuable engagement time The ﬁrst reaction that most folks have in talking about their brand is to rattle off things like quality, customer service, or the common features and beneﬁts of their product or service (the things that your competitors also communicate). While these things need to be included in your overall communication to your target audience, they aren’t the reasons that someone is going to choose you or remember your brand when the time comes. They are “givens,” meaning that they are merely the baseline expectations that your target audience has for everyone in your industry. To state those things, as if they differentiate your brand, is to subtly convey to your target audience, “The best that we have to offer is meeting your minimum expectations.” As the venerable Ferris Bueller once stated, “Life moves pretty fast.” Your audience is making quick assessments, and your brand’s time in front of them may be quite limited. Therefore, it is vitally important to capitalize on what could be a brief engagement by telling them a story that is interesting, useful, and memorable.

The reward goes to those who are willing to be memorable The safe path is to communicate the same story in the same way as everyone else (communicating the “givens”). The unsafe path involves the risk of being memorable, of communicating your difference or perhaps communicating your sameness in a way that is completely different. This is tough to accomplish

through just your website, more speciﬁcally just your homepage, where visitors choose to dive deeper or bounce. So, rather than trying to comprehensively tell everything about your brand story, focus instead on just the most memorable parts being front and center. Practically speaking, this means that your website needs to communicate your value proposition clearly and succinctly on your homepage (particularly in the hero image area of your homepage), and that story needs to be expanded and expounded throughout the rest of the homepage and on subsequent main menu landing pages. If your brand is uncommonly good at making life better or exceptionally experienced in meeting others’ needs or extraordinarily mission-minded, then lead with that value proposition. Capture the imagination of your visitor with what it could be like if they were to choose your brand. Give them compelling reasons to set you apart in their memory of who could potentially meet their needs.

It’s as simple as remembering While this can seem daunting as you consider what story to tell and what content is necessary to tell that story, the single most important tool to employ is your memory of what has stuck with you. As you have visited websites outside of your industry, websites that you return to, and websites that have made a positive impression with you, think about why that was the case. Your needs were met in some way. Remember that as you seek to meet the needs of others. No one wants to be sold something. No one remembers a list of “givens.” No one cares about content that doesn’t matter. Remember what matters to you as an interested human, and then you will be able to communicate what matters to other interested humans.

WHAT ’S NEXT FOR THE UPSTATE, AND HOW WE’LL GET THERE

| FORWARD

The Fourth Industrial Revolution Automation, additive manufacturing, and AI set to change workforce prep By DAVID CLAYTON Executive Director, Center for Manufacturing Innovation

As executive director of Greenville Technical College’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI), I have found that one of the joys of this job is welcoming middle and high school students for field trips. Over the last year, we’ve hosted more than 3,000 kids, showing them the exciting technology and interesting careers in advanced manufacturing. Inevitably, as we walk through the mechatronics lab, an astute student will pose questions such as, “Why are you teaching robotics? Won’t they replace all the jobs?” The easy answer is that someone has to fix the robots, but if we dig deeper, there is much more to the story. It’s an exciting time to work in manufacturing. Over the last decade, we have witnessed the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution, with the blending of digital and physical technologies opening the door to new methods of manufacturing, distribution, and product maintenance. In particular, automation, additive manufacturing, and artificial intelligence will have a profound impact on industry in the near future. The convergence of these technologies will accelerate the pace of change in our lifetimes. The most mature of the three is automation. The rise of industrial robots, particularly in automotive and electronics manufacturing, began in the 1960s. As fans of Transformers and Voltron know, peak hype surrounding automation and robotics hit in the mid-’80s. Several factors have sparked a renaissance in the automation and robotics industry: the popularization of internet-connected devices, cost reductions spurred by the economies of scale realized with the advent of smartphones, and the development of collaborative robotics that can work safely with people in close quarters. At Greenville Tech’s CMI, we are preparing students in our mechatronics program for these technologies using state-of-the-art industrial robots, programmable logic controllers, and other automation equipment. Thanks to our partnership with Clemson University and the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute, we will work to industrialize new technologies

Just as ATMs have not eliminated bank teller jobs, manufacturing associates will always be needed, in large numbers, to manage increasingly complex industrial processes.

and expose students to the future of robotics. These new technologies include autonomous guided vehicles on the factory floor, collaborative robots that work side-by-side with associates, and the application of advanced sensors and programming of industrial robots. Additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing, is another technology with the potential to upend manufacturing and supply chains. Parts for aircraft engines, medical devices, and dental implants are already being manufactured at scale through 3-D printing. With an expected reduction in price and increase in speed, 3-D manufacturing will revolutionize how products are made and shipped, allowing for the mass customization of products and simplified supply chains. CMI is home to the only metal 3-D printer in the Upstate dedicated to training and prototyping services for area businesses. We train students on the best applications for these tools and how to operate them. Through our partnership with Renishaw, experienced faculty and applications engineers are onsite to further enhance our capabilities. Finally, artificial intelligence, or AI, is the least mature of the three technologies reshaping manufacturing. Manufacturing processes have long relied on structured data from operators, sensors, or other inputs to control the flow of goods, the speed of a machine tool, or other operations. The power of AI is its ability to drive a process or make a decision based on large amounts of unstructured data. For a simple analogy, a computer can easily recognize when a temperature reaches a threshold based on reading a digital thermometer. This is structured data. On the other hand, Apple’s Siri requires large

unstructured datasets of sound along with advanced AI algorithms to work properly. While manufacturing is largely a structured environment, we can see numerous potential applications, including monitoring the vibrations of a machine to detect impending failure, using vision systems to guide autonomous vehicles across a factory floor, or predicting disruptions in global supply chains. This brings us back to the question of robots replacing people. Will these technologies evolve to the point of making us so productive that jobs are eliminated? Just as ATMs have not eliminated bank teller jobs, manufacturing associates will always be needed, in large numbers, to manage increasingly complex industrial processes. I would argue that the survival of the regional manufacturing economy is critically dependent on investments in advanced technologies and training the skilled workers needed to program and maintain these systems. As companies look to where they can continue to invest and expand in the future, the ability of the workforce to rise to the challenge and embrace these new technologies is a prime factor in their decision-making process. With the constant evolution of manufacturing technology, graduates must be prepared with the foundational knowledge and problem-solving skills necessary to adapt, while also learning the state-of-the-art technology of today. At Greenville Technical College’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation, we are ready to rise to the challenge.

9.15.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

ON THE MOVE |

PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS

HIRED

PROMOTED

AMY DOSER

ALEX VANHAASTEREN

JUSTIN ROMAN, MD

ADIA N. DANIELS

KIM PURDY, PH.D.

Joined the Greenville Revitalization Corporation as executive assistant. Doser is a native of Greenville with more than 20 years of career experience in sales, marketing, advertising, and nonproﬁts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and political science from Clemson University and is also a graduate of Webster University with an MBA.

Joined new Greenville website design ﬁrm Uncommn that works with small businesses, churches, and nonproﬁts as web developer. VanHaasteren has coded new websites for Spartan Federal Credit Union, HopeSouth Credit Union, and Hawaii First Federal Credit Union.

Joined Clemson Eye’s team of doctors. Dr. Roman completed his bioengineering master’s degree at Clemson University and his medical degree at the University of New Mexico. After an ophthalmology residency at MUSC, Dr. Roman continued with a cornea fellowship under the tutelage of Drs. Kerry Solomon and Charlene Grice of Carolina Eyecare Physicians in Charleston.

Named assistant dean of students in the ofﬁce of student affairs at Newberry College. Most recently, Daniels served as senior coordinator – student victim assistance for Georgia State University in Atlanta (201516) and director of student activities at North Carolina Wesleyan College (2009-14). In 2009, Daniels earned her Master of Science in education from Old Dominion University after earning a Bachelor of Science in experimental psychology from the University of South Carolina in 2006.

Appointed as the dean of USC Upstate’s new University College. Purdy received her Ph.D. in 1998 from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and has worked at USC Upstate since 1998. She was appointed as chair of the psychology department in 2013. Purdy is the recipient of several awards, including the Bank of America Excellence in Teaching and Advising Award in 2008, and the University of South Carolina Disability Advocate Award in 2003, and again in 2015 with her department.

ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN will lead Tribus Architecture, the architectural design side of Tribus Design Studio, as principal architect with nearly 30 years of residential and commercial architecture experience.

CIVIL ENGINEERING

Tribus Design Studio, a full-service, luxury architectural and interior design company serving, launched in August with three key staff members. Susan Vernon, principal designer and ASID member, specializes in hardscape design. Kerry Howard, ASID, joins the Tribus team as senior interior designer from Atlanta, where he previously owned KMH Interiors. Jeff Dishner, AIA member, 24

UBJ | 9.15.2017

Landscape architect and civil engineering firm SeamonWhiteside announces additions to its Greenville office. Andrew Allen joined the SeamonWhiteside Greenville office as a senior civil engineer. He has extensive experience in the engineering field with a specialization in road and infrastructure. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Charlie Geer recently graduated from Clemson University with a degree in civil engineering and joins the firm as engineer in training. Caroline Donaldson, land planner, graduated from Samford University in 2014, where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in fine arts and English. Following her undergraduate studies, she earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture at Clemson University. CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions, & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.

THE FRESHEST FACES ON THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

| NEW TO THE STREET

Coming Soon 1

Photo provided

1. My Place Hotel has officially broken ground at 11 Ketron Court in Greenville. Learn more at myplacehotels.com.

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

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Celebrating Celebrating 9.15.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com

#TRENDING |

INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW

THE WATERCOOLER

Social Chatter RE: DUKE ENERGY MAY ASK FOR SC RATE HIKE TO RECOUP COSTS OF NIXED NUCLEAR PLANT “Not only will rate increases put more financial burden on customers (corporate and residential), it will make S.C. less competitive in attracting business investment.”

Global Location Strategies

RE: HUSK GREENVILLE TO OPEN IN OCTOBER

Burn and gain calories all at the same time.

“It’s the most wonderful month of the year!”

@noelmgriffin

RE: SPARTANBURGBASED MILLIKEN & CO. UNVEILS NEW RUG COLLECTION INSPIRED BY DRAYTON MILLS “What a wonderful way of preserving the rich history that is Drayton Mills. Proud to be a resident of the Drayton Mils Loft Apartments.”

Tickets on sale now at

euphoriagreenville.com

“Way to go, Greenville! I feel an Upstate Cinderella story brewin’!” “This would be HUGE for Greenville!”

Inside the Design LLC “So glad something is finally going in the space!”

“Worked out great for us to bring BMW here. Basically put the

@tonyemoore

Lawrence King

DIGITAL FLIPBOOK ARCHIVE

TOP 5: SEPTEMBER

8 , 2017

| VOL. 6 ISSUE

Chic Sells

2. Husk Greenville to open in October

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

siness wing bu The gro uthern style of So

3. Upstate businesses lead the way in the rise of sorority chic, fratastic fashions, and down-home preppy apparel

Will Crook

CONNECT

We’re great at networking. 4. Husband-and-wife duo turn the kickboxing franchise 9Round into a world champion

5. BMW announces senior management changes

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RE: GREENVILLE TO BID FOR AMAZON’S ‘SECOND HEADQUARTERS’

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Be a part of our bike-tolunch experience. Ride down the Swamp Rabbit Trail to the Travelers Rest Farmer’s Market Pavilion for a delicious lunch with food from TR’s local favorites and live music from Mark Webb.

“Amazon should absolutely build the new HQ in the Upstate of South Carolina. Southern Greenville County or Anderson County would be perfect. They will find wonderful open land all along I-385 or I-26 where they can build their new campus!”

Crystal Pace

Friday, September 22

Swamp Rabbit Ride & Lunch

Ben Pettit

Mary Ellen Mountain Wright

“Loved this restaurant in Charleston. Glad we’re getting one here now, too!”

1. Greenville to bid for Amazon’s ‘second headquarters’

Taste of the Trail:

Upstate on a path to growth.”

*The Top 5 stories from last week’s issue ranked by page views

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EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR

| PLANNER

DATE

EVENT INFO

WHERE DO I GO?

HOW DO I GO?

Monday

9/18

Greenville Chamber Golf Tournament

Greenville Country Club Chanticleer & Riverside Courses 10 a.m.

Cost: $375–$1,500 For more info: bit.ly/2w2KBo1; 864-239-3729; or mmann@greenvillechamber.org

Thursday

Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Advocacy Lunch with Sen. Lindsey Graham

Westin Poinsett 120 S. Main St. 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Cost: $35 investors, $50 general For more info: bit.ly/2eMvdoJ; 864-239-3748; kbusbee@greenvillechamber.org

WednesdayFriday

Greenville and Spartanburg Chambers’ Joint Intercommunity Leadership Visit

Hughes Development Corporation and Johnson Development Associates

For more info: Greenville: 864-2393729; Spartanburg: 864-347-6080; mmann@greenvillechamber.org, wrothschild@spartanburgchamber.com

Wednesday

9/27

Upstate Business Journal’s Business on Tap

Zen 924 S. Main St. 5:30–7 p.m.

Cost: Free

Thursday

MARKETING & ADVERTISING VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

10/5

Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s BBQ Bash/Manufacturers Celebration

Greenville Technical College Center for Manufacturing Innovation 575 Millenium Blvd. 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Cost: $45 investors, $105 general For more info: bit.ly/2xDikVN; 864-239-3714; hhyatt@greenvillechamber.org

ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Thursday

Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Forum and Re-entry Job Fair

TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Cost: $45 investors, $60 general For more info: bit.ly/2f0Dzfz; 864-239-3748; kbusbee@greenvillechamber.org

Wednesday

Upstate Business Journal’s Business on Tap

Stella’s Southern Brasserie 340 Rocky Slope Road 5:30–7 p.m.

Cost: Free

PRESIDENT/CEO

Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com

UBJ PUBLISHER

Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com

9/21

EDITOR

Chris Haire chaire@communityjournals.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Tori Lant tlant@communityjournals.com

STAFF WRITERS

Trevor Anderson, Rudolph Bell, Cindy Landrum, Andrew Moore, Ariel Turner

9/27-9/29

David Rich drich@communityjournals.com

Donna Johnston, Stephanie King, Rosie Peck, Caroline Spivey, Emily Yepes

ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR Will Crooks

LAYOUT

Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith

10/12 10/25

OPERATIONS Holly Hardin

ADVERTISING DESIGN

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OCTOBER 13 THE DESIGN ISSUE

Kristy Adair | Michael Allen Anita Harley | Jane Rogers

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

Kristi Fortner

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

UBJ milestone

UBJ milestone jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS:

NOVEMBER 3 CRE ISSUE

1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport

1988

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NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS:

onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties. Guest columns run 700-800 words. Contact editor Chris Haire at chaire@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration. Circulation Audit by

Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff

Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com

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

1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993

1990 Jackson Dawson

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

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

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

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 lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member David Jones (Vice President Client services, Chief marketing officer): Hands on Greenville board chairman mike Zeller (Vice President, Brand marketing): Artisphere Board,

Metropolitan Arts Council Board, American Red Cross Board, Greenville Tech Foundation Board, South Carolina Chamber Board

eric Jackson (Jackson motorsports Group sales specialist): Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board

November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21

20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013

AS SEEN IN

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

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