NOVEMBER 17, 2017 | VOL. 6 ISSUE 46
BUILDING A LEGACY
GREENVILLE’S TRIANGLE CONSTRUCTION CELEBRATES 70 YEARS
ALSO INSIDE //
• BIG NEWS FOR JUDSON MILL • COFFEE WITH KITTENS • AVANT’S LUXURY CONDOS
Tom Baer and Tracy Pellett of Triangle Construction. Photo by Will Crooks
Who said intelligent life isn’t out there? Get in the driver’s seat and see for yourself. The 2018 E 300 Sedan. This isn’t just the most advanced E-Class yet. With technologies never before offered on a production car, the E-Class writes a new chapter in the story of driving: Where cars can talk to each other, and look out for you, in ways you never imagined. Athletically elegant outside, it’s in the E-Class cabin where your senses come alive. Vivid screens and flowing shapes entice the eyes. And from multitouch controls to aromatherapy and a hot stone massage, wherever you touch, it caresses you back.
CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com (864) 213-8000 2446 Laurens Road | Greenville, SC 29607
TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
| THE RUNDOWN
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 46 Featured this issue: Plans for a live-work-play district at Judson Mill ..................................................4 Rise Biscuits Donuts coming to Woodruff Road ..................................................21 The dollars and sense of tax reform......................................................................... 22
Triangle Construction’s major projects in Greenville have included the Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville County Courthouse, Children’s Museum of the Upstate, S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (pictured above). Read more about the 70-year-old company on Page 14. Photo provided
WORTH REPEATING “There are tons of old textile equipment, old scales. We absolutely will incorporate those back into the design.” Page 4
“There’s a strong demand in Greenville for houses in this price range.” Page 21
“These three different teams in three different sports each share similar strategies: a willingness to endure short-term pain to set building blocks in place for future sustained success. That’s playing the long game.” Page 23
VERBATIM
On holiday shopping “There is no need to rush away from Thanksgiving dinner to a crowded store or to waste time on Monday, the 27th, shopping online. Deals will come and go through Christmas.” Tenpao Lee, interim dean of the College of Business Administration at Niagara University, on sitting out Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year.
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Judson District will include 204 apartments, from studio to three bedrooms, priced at attainable rental rates. Future growth may include attracting grocery, pharmacy, and retail to the development. Rendering provided by McMillan Pazdan Smith
DEVELOPMENT
Let ’em Live-Work-Play Former Judson Mill to be turned into workforce housing, mixed-use development SHERRY JACKSON | CONTRIBUTOR
Once one of the largest mills in Greenville County, Judson Mill had been spinning raw cotton into yarn for more than a century. But when Milliken and Company listed the property for sale in 2015 and closed operations, everyone knew change was coming. The property was purchased last month with plans to convert the 36-acre mill into a livework-play mixed-use district. Judson District will include 204 apartments, more than 215,000 square feet of office space, 141,000 square feet of light industrial/flex, and 8 to 12 acres of retail along Highway 123 (Easley Bridge Road), near St. Francis Hospital. It is being developed by a joint venture between North Carolina-based developer Belmont Sayre and Chicago-based Three Corners Development. The plans are ambitious. The first phase will be workforce housing – 204 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, ranging from 4
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“ The developers love the story behind the property. These mill communities were the original live-work-play communities.” CBRE associate Nick Hollstegge
565 to 2,200 square feet. “We try to not define it [workforce housing] too much. The apartments will be good quality – not quite luxury, but not low-income either,” says Ken Reiter, president of Belmont Sayre. “It’ll be attainable housing for people like civil servants and first responders who work in the downtown area and want to live in the neighborhoods they participate in. It’s a missing component of downtown Greenville’s housing strategy.” Rental rates have not yet been set.
In subsequent phases, Reiter is expecting to attract grocery, pharmacy, and retail to the development, something much needed in what Greenville has previously defined as a “food desert.” Office and light industrial users will bring the work piece to the project. Selected outlying buildings will be demolished, but most buildings on the property will be redeveloped. Belmont Sayre specializes in these types of large urban infill historic redevelopment projects in neighborhoods that are on the fringe of downtown areas. The company has tackled Mill 800 in Winston-Salem, N.C., and American Tobacco in Durham, N.C., both similar to Judson District, Reiter says. “It’s a core competency of ours that not many developers want to do. There’s a lot of impact you can bring to a neighborhood.” Elements of the mill will be incorporated into the new development. “There are tons of old textile equipment, old scales. We absolutely will incorporate those back into the design,” Reiter says. Some may be turned into furniture; some
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
AMENITIES AT JUDSON DISTRICT APARTMENTS ARE LIKELY TO INCLUDE: INDOOR
OUTDOOR
• Club room with full-service kitchen • Lounge with gas fireplace • Game room • Media theater room • “Work from home” spaces • Business print center • Fitness center • Yoga studio • Resident lounges on all floors
• Outdoor kitchen with gas grill • Garden lounge space • Fire pits • 20-meter, four-lane lap pool with sun shelf • Hot tub spa • Cabanas • Dog wash • Bike shop and storage
may be woven into the landscape design. A library or heritage center where people can learn about the history of the mill and neighborhood is also planned. “These large projects are a challenge, because of their scale,” Reiter says. “Because the property is so large, it may seem sometimes like we’re not doing much.” Another challenge will be overcoming the perception of Judson not being a preferred neighborhood. “That’s not our perception. It’s not downtown, but downtown is getting expensive,” Reiter adds. “We’ll be competitively priced, and we have larger spaces and parking.” The deal came together like many other Greenville projects. A group from Greenville made a presentation in Durham a few years ago. Reiter attended, traded business cards, and made connections. When North Carolina changed legislation on how developers can use state tax credits, Reiter began looking at South Carolina opportunities. CommunityWorks, a Greenville nonprofit financial organization, along with CBRE associate Nick Hollstegge, who represented Belmont Sayre and Three Corners in the mill’s purchase, helped pull everything together. This will be Belmont’s first project in the Upstate. Belmont Sayre will be teaming
with Three Corners Development as co-developers. Three Corners has a construction arm of its business, and the two companies have worked together on several previous projects. The companies will be utilizing historic and new market tax credits, along with the Bailey Bill incentive, which locks in the property’s pre-rehabilitation tax assessment value for 20 years. Recently, the property was rezoned to a Planned Development by the county, and the first phase is currently in design. Financing is in place with plans to begin construction in the second or third quarter of 2018 with an opening date of third quarter 2019. Pre-leasing on the office and industrial space has also begun with prices in the low- to mid-teens for office space. “We’ve seen interest already from a wide range of business services, office users, and marketing firms who like the cool, creative loft-type space,” Hollstegge says. (CBRE will be handling the leasing of the office and industrial space.) “The developers love the story behind the property. These mill communities were the original live-work-play communities. Now, they’re breathing life back into it. We’re hoping Judson Mill has a great next chapter,” Hollstegge adds.
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REDEVELOPMENT
Making Progress An inside look at the Montgomery Building, one of the projects transforming Spartanburg TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF
tanderson@communityjournals.com
Concrete panels from the facade of the building were removed early on in the renovation. They are being recast and will be replaced with new panels. Some of the decorative pieces had to be reengineered because the originals had deteriorated. James Bakker, co-principal of BF Spartanburg, said the National Park Service and the S.C. State Historic Preservation Office have both approved the new panel designs, which he said would be as close to the original color as possible. Photo by Will Crooks
Construction noise echoes through downtown Spartanburg’s Montgomery Building. A $29 million renovation that will transform the historic 10-story, 130,000-square-foot former office high-rise into a mixed-use development is inching closer to completion. Greenville-based developer BF Spartanburg is leading the effort to bring new residential, commercial, office, and entertainment space to the building perched at a prominent intersection near the city’s urban center. James Bakker, co-principal of BF Spartanburg, said the project’s anticipated completion is October 2018. The revival of the 93-year-old structure, orig-
inally built as a monument to Spartanburg’s ascent as a textile hub during the early 20th century, is already helping to kindle new growth. “This building is not just deeply rooted in Spartanburg’s business community; it’s closely tied to the people of Spartanburg,” said Tom Finnegan, Bakker’s business partner. “We often get to hear people share their memories of the building. You don’t get a lot of opportunities like this.” Constructed in 1924, the Montgomery Building sits on nearly 1.5 acres at the northeast corner of the North Church and East St. John streets intersection. During its life as an office building, it housed
corporate operations for prominent textile manufacturers, government agencies, and a plethora of other businesses. A 1,300-seat theater adjacent to the office tower originally named The Montgomery, but later renamed the Carolina Theater, was a thriving local entertainment venue. BF Spartanburg purchased the property in February from Florida-based Cypress Lending Group for $680,000. “It took us two and a half years to close,” Bakker said. “When we first came to Spartanburg and said we wanted to do this, people really had to trust us. So many people have been helpful in moving this project forward.”
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IN-HOME CARE SERVICES
According to the Montgomery Building’s National Register of Historic Places filing, Lockwood Greene “used the Chicago skeletal frame method of construction,” in order to make it more fireproof. The building’s frame was constructed entirely from U.S. steel and bonded together with rivets, which Bakker said makes it much stronger than some contemporary methods used to bond steel. Photos by Will Crooks
945 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302
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Culture of Professionalism You can’t read a newspaper or turn on the news right now without learning of another allegation of sexual harassment. The news coverage has certainly illuminated the magnitude of this problem. Sexual harassment is certainly not a new concept but maybe we are at a pivotal time in history where the recent abundance of cases will produce some real progress. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the main federal law that prohibits sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is any uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile or offensive working environment. Some examples of harassment include: • A manager implies that an employee must sleep with her to keep a job. • An employee sends sexually explicit jokes to coworkers. • A sales clerk makes demeaning comments about female customers. • A vendor frequents the workplace telling crude jokes and pinching certain workers. The harasser can be the victim’s supervisor, manager, co-worker or even a non-employee under certain situations. Sexual harassment is a gender-neutral offense and harassers can be male or female, however most claims are brought by women. Employers have a responsibility to maintain a workplace that is free of sexual harassment. This is not only a legal requirement, but it also makes good business sense. A workplace that struggles with a hostile environment is at risk for expensive lawsuits and is prone to low employee morale, low productivity, and an overall toxic environment. There are steps that businesses can take to reduce the risk of sexual harassment: • Adopt a clear harassment policy. The policy should be in the employee handbook and should clearly state that harassment will not be tolerated. It should outline the complaint procedure and address retaliation as a form of discrimination as well. • Conduct training sessions. Training should be performed at least once a year for all employees. It is recommended that an additional session be provided for supervisors to provide them with the additional knowledge of how to identify and prevent harassment. • Have multiple channels for reporting. Employees should never feel that they don’t have a path to report harassment. The policy and the trainings should address how to properly file a complaint. If employees are uncomfortable going to their supervisor, employees should have the option to report the complaint to another supervisor, HR, or a third-party hotline. • Take all complaints seriously. If a complaint is made, act immediately to investigate and involve HR outsourcing firms or legal counsel as necessary. If the complaint turns out to be valid, take immediate and appropriate action. Most importantly, create a culture of professionalism. We must learn from the recent news of sexual harassment and not allow the sheer volume of claims to desensitize us to the importance of the message. If companies create and maintain workplaces that promote respect and value hard work, then there will be no place for crude jokes, unwanted advances, or offensive behaviors. No employee should ever have to face hostility at work.
Lee Yarborough President
669 N. Academy St. Greenville, SC 29601 propelHR.com Info@propelHR.com 800–446–6567
Photo by Will Crooks
PUBLISHING
As We Grow Susan Schwartzkopf named Community Journals’ executive vice president STAFF REPORT
Susan Schwartzkopf, who has worked in advertising, digital media, and marketing for more than 25 years, has joined Community Journals as executive vice president. Schwartzkopf will manage the strategic initiatives of Community Journals, including the company’s community outreach and engagement, special projects, and Community Experiences, which develops and manages experiential events and branded entertainment platforms, as well as provides advisory services in support of event development and brand activation. “We’ve become the preferred provider in this market of many marketing and advertising services,” said Community Journals’ President Mark Johnston. “We are the market storytellers. As we grow, we needed somebody with Susan’s experience in both print and digital.” Schwartzkopf began her career in advertising at The News-Press in Fort Myers, Fla., where she progressed through several leadership roles in advertising and circulation sales and marketing. She worked in the advertising department at The State newspaper in Columbia. In 2002, she joined The Greenville News as vice president of market development and new media. In 2014, Schwartzkopf took on regional responsibilities as regional director of digital sales and strategy for both The Greenville News and The Asheville Citizen Times. In 2015, she became Wynit Distribution’s director of marketing and communication. “I am excited to be joining a team that is filled with amazing talent, energy, and a deep commitment to the communities it serves. I look forward to helping Community Journals enhance the depth and breadth of marketing services we offer to local businesses,” Schwartzkopf said. “Susan is undoubtedly the best media and market development professional I have ever worked with. It is very exciting that she is now at the Community Journals,” said Alan Ethridge, executive director for the Metropolitan Arts Council. “I look forward to working with her in promoting all of Greenville’s phenomenal arts amenities.” UBJ | 11.17.2017
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RETAIL & HOSPITALITY
Organic Cat Café What you need to know
Address: 123 College St., the former JB Lacher Jewelers Opening date: As soon as possible, pending DHEC certification Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m.–11 p.m. Organic Cat Café plans to hold Ping-Pong tournaments, among other events. Photo by Will Crooks A $10 admission fee includes a complimentary beverage and unlimited time playing with the cafe’s resident cats. Photo by Will Crooks
Admission: $10, includes free beverage and as much time playing with the residents as desired (time limit imposed if maximum occupancy of 40 is reached) Owner: Jennifer Bronzel and Ernesto Cardenas, who did the construction themselves, using as much recycled material as possible Square footage: 3,600 Number of cats: Around 30, with a few available for adoption; majority are free roam with a few quarantined based on behavior. Can board additional cats on a case-by-case basis. Menu: All vegetarian – coffee, tea, smoothies, sandwiches, waffles, and granola; prepared and served in an area separated by two doors where cats cannot access Special events: Weekly Ping-Pong tournaments, biweekly cat yoga, Sunday ambient music sessions, art exhibits, and cat adoption events in partnership with cat rescue centers –Ariel Turner
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Diner 24 closes, will reopen under new management
Diner 24, downtown Greenville’s lone 24/7 dining option, was open for just over three months before Bottle Cap Group announced its closing. Photo by Caroline Herring
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One of the most anticipated restaurants of the year – Diner 24 – was short-lived, at least with the current management. Bottle Cap Group, the owners of the 24hour diner in the former Charlie’s Steakhouse at 18 E. Coffee St., Greenville, announced the restaurant’s closing Nov. 13 after opening in July. The sudden closing came after an almost two-year process to open the only 24-hour dining option in downtown. “At this time, we are not releasing additional information. Diner 24 closed today and will open under new management,” said Morgan Conroy, Bottle Cap Group marketing director. “Our company will continue to operate SIP, Ink N Ivy Greenville, Vine Nightclub, and our newest addition, Wu’s Cajun Seafood, that will open later this month. Training began today, and we are actively hiring all front-of-house and back-of-house positions.” Bottle Cap Group recently closed Brazwells Premium Pub at 631 S. Main St., and in May, they closed Green Room Restaurant & Bar at 116 N. Main St., which will reopen as Wu’s Cajun Seafood in the coming weeks. – Ariel Turner
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InnoVision Awards recognizes four Upstate institutions The InnoVision Awards Organization recently hosted their 19th year celebrating innovation at their annual awards dinner. Founded in 1999, the organization is dedicated to the advancement of technology across the state of South Carolina through education and communication. Winners in seven different categories were announced in front of more than 200 guests at the dinner, held at the Spartanburg Marriott. The keynote speaker was Steve Johnson, president of Compass Bioscience Advisors in Greenville. Johnson, a Furman University graduate, has over 35 years of experience in taking innovative strategies from the lab to the market. The keynote address was followed by the night’s presentation of awards. The Technology Department Award, sponsored by Intellectual Capitol, was given to Medical Beal Laboratories in Greenville, who is developing the first dedicated veterinary stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) device. Greenville County Schools received the Education Award, sponsored by Techtronic Industries Power Equipment, for their investment and development of a comprehensive business intelligence and analytics solution known as Source. Source is embedded within GCSource, an early warning response system that is a strong dropout prevention tool. Spartanburg’s Resiliency Technologies received first place in the Community Service category, sponsored by Furman University, for their Sharpen technology that provides education resources to address the causes of depression, stress, and other mental health disorders. Sharpen is able to track the behavior of individuals to help create targeted recommendations. Additional awards included the Dr. Charles Townes Individual Lifetime Achievement Award given to Spartanburg native Bill Cobb; the Young Innovation Award, sponsored by Michelin North America, presented to the Fred P. Hamilton Career Center in Oconee County; and the Technology Integration Award, sponsored by Immedion, presented to Singular Sleep of Mt. Pleasant for their first ever “virtual” sleep center. –Sara Pearce
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Vetroresina plans $7.5M expansion in Greenville County Vetroresina LLC, an international manufacturer of fiberreinforced polyester laminates, has announced plans to invest $7.5 million in an expansion of its operations in Greenville County. The plans include the construction of a 50,000-square-foot expansion to its current facility to accommodate custom orders and a growing product line. It is expected to create 17 new jobs, according to a press release. “Vetroresina is thrilled to be expanding our operations in Greenville. Despite opening our facility during the economic downturn of 2008, we persevered, met our target goals, and are now enjoying steady and growing business,” said Elena Colombarini, Vetroresina general manager and CEO. Vetroresina, which is located in the S.C. Technology and Aviation Center at 6 Idaho Street, opened in 1968 and manufactures fiberglass sheets with a variety of reinforcements and resins and primarily serves the recreational vehicle and refrigerated truck industries. The company opened its Greenville facility in 2008 to serve the North American market. The expanded facility is expected to be operational by the first half of 2019, and those interested in joining the Vetroresina team should contact info@vetroresinallc.com. –Andrew Moore
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BSI Companies acquires Hewitt Coleman & Associates Greenville-based benefits provider BSI Companies has completed its acquisition of Hewitt Coleman & Associates, a third-party administrator also located in Greenville. The acquisition includes Hewitt’s group health, workers’ compensation, property, casualty, and liability business units, which will be integrated into BSI Cos. Both companies decided not to disclose details about the acquisition, including the cost. “We are excited to have the opportunity to bring broader insurance solutions, new technology, and new service standards to all of the Hewitt Coleman clients, while bringing the strength of the HCA team to our organization,” said Bob Harling, CEO of BSI Cos. “Combining the talent from two complementary organizations will help create an exceptional team with leadership in employee benefits, risk management, and claims administration.” BSI Cos. offers a broad range of insurance products and related services to businesses, public entities, individuals, and trade and professional association clients nationwide. It also offers risk management, retirement plans, and other services. –Andrew Moore
THANK YOU, INVESTORS.
Your financial support, industry insights and ongoing engagement help make our Upstate region a competitive environment where business moves, grows, and thrives.
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Thank you to the 180+ public and private companies whose work enhances the Upstate’s prosperity and quality of life. We can’t do it without you.
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MAPAL Inc. plans $4M expansion in Greenville County MAPAL Inc., a German-based company that creates hard metal tools for the automotive and aerospace industries, has announced plans to expand its existing operations in Greenville County. According to a press release, the company will be investing $4 million in the expansion, creating 16 new jobs over the course of five years at its facility in Fountain Inn. The expansion includes construction of a 7,600-square-foot office building, with a completion date of 2018. “One of MAPAL’s mottos is ‘Always close to the customer, everywhere.’ For the Southeast, we chose the Greenville area, and that has been a great success story. MAPAL is dedicated to continuously meeting and exceeding customer expectations. This expansion will allow us to better serve our customers as well as expand our customer base. We have established great relationships with many businesses throughout this great state, and look forward to developing these relationships further,” said MAPAL chief operating officer Rene Kristensen in a press release. MAPAL has had a presence in the United States for more than 40 years, according to a press release. In 2012, the company spent $3 million to expand its operations into a 27,000-square-foot facility at 110 Valley View Road in Fountain Inn. Before, the company operated a facility in Port Huron, Mich. With more than 200 employees, the company established itself early on as a market leader for custom tools supporting the automotive, medical, general machining, and aerospace sectors. –Andrew Moore
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MILESTONE | A TRIBUTE TO OUR LONG-LASTING ENTERPRISES Tom Baer
LAYING A FOUNDATION
TRIANGLE CONSTRUCTION CO. BUILDS ON SEVEN DECADES IN GREENVILLE WORDS BY ANDREW MOORE PHOTOS BY WILL CROOKS
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Tracy Pellett
A TRIBUTE TO OUR LONG-LASTING ENTERPRISES
| MILESTONE
Ingenuity. Hard work. Dedication. Those words are the guiding principles that have kept Greenville’s Triangle Construction thriving for the past 70 years, according to the company’s board chairman Tracy Pellett. Pellett’s father, John Pellett Jr., started the company in 1947 alongside his college friends Heyward Morgan and Nelson Tracy. After opening a small office in downtown Greenville, the trio secured their first contract and built a 50,000-square-foot warehouse for Poe Hardware and Supply along Perry Avenue in West Greenville. “They really struggled to complete some of their first projects, because there was a shortage of construction materials after World War II,” Tracy Pellett said. “Luckily, they were able to make do with what they could find at the time.” Despite some early successes, Morgan and Tracy left Triangle after a few years to pursue other interests. That’s when Pellett moved the company to a single-story building off Laurens Road, which was then unpaved and surrounded by farms. “I don’t think there was a single car dealership around us back then,” Pellett said. “It was just cows.” The company has since grown from a small local business into a thriving regional practice known for constructing some of the most popular spaces in Greenville, along with high-profile projects in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. Pellett said Triangle’s portfolio is filled with complex and schedule-driven projects that span various sectors, including industrial plants, higher education facilities, religious facilities, offices, hospitals, restaurants, apartment buildings, and shopping centers. Locally, the company is known for building the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville County Courthouse, Children’s Museum of the Upstate, and S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. Other projects include the construction of Falls Park in 2005 and the $22 million expansion of the Peace Center in 2013. The company also recently built a 9.8-acre campus along West Washington Street that houses Greenville Water operations, a parking garage, office space, and a 1-acre park with an amphitheater and water features. Over the years, Triangle’s projects have garnered local and national acclaim.
In June, for instance, the company was named the winner of the 2017 S.C. Historic Preservation Award for transforming the Palmetto Compress, a former cotton warehouse in downtown Columbia, into an apartment complex and shopping center. “I think our biggest advantage is our dedication and reliability as a builder,” Pellett said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s an apartment complex or school; we’re able to do things right the first time around because our people have years of experience under their belt.” In fact, most of the company’s 60 employees have more than 25 years of experience in the industry, according to Pellett. That includes Triangle’s senior project managers and engineers, whose years with Triangle span at least six decades. President Tom Baer, for instance, started working for Triangle nearly 32 years ago as a field engineer and gradually rose in the company’s leadership. While he has to oversee more paperwork in his current position, Baer remains one of the company’s leading project managers. For instance, he has overseen construction of the Cascades at Verdae, S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and multiple projects at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley. “Most of our managers can run projects,” Baer said. “It’s our way of cutting through the red tape of large contractors and providing clients a single point of contact capable of ensuring cost-effective construction that’s also done correctly and on time.” Baer said the company’s streamlined approach is one of the primary reasons for its large amount of repeat business from major customers, including Furman University and Greenville Health System. It has also built more than 70 schools in Greenville, Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Triangle, for instance, most recently finished constructing a $7.5 million building for Greer Middle Charter High School. However, Baer and Pellett maintain that the company has survived because of its decentralized organization. In 1988, John Pellett Jr. and other board members voted to allow Triangle’s employees to buy stock in the company. Today, roughly half of the company’s employees are shareholders, including every job superintendent out in the field, according to Baer. “It was a brilliant idea, because it’s encouraged
“I think our biggest advantage is our dedication and reliability as a builder. It doesn’t matter if it’s an apartment complex or school; we’re able to do things right the first time around because our people have years of experience under their belt.” Triangle Construction Board Chairman Tracy Pellet 11.17.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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MILESTONE | A TRIBUTE TO OUR LONG-LASTING ENTERPRISES
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employees to save money on projects and stick around,” he said. “We actually have a few employees who have been around for more than 40 years.” Simpsonville resident Jimmy Skelton, for instance, joined the company in 1977 and has since become the superintendent overseeing the renovation of Apalache Mill, a former textile mill in Greer that produced cotton until 2007. And Greenville’s Dot McConnell has worked for Triangle as an administrative assistant since 1961, maintaining the daily payroll and helping company executives. But the job hasn’t come without challenges, according to Baer. When the recession hit in 2007, Triangle stopped offering masonry, concrete, and other various in-house services. That decision eventually forced the company to downsize and lay off nearly 90 employees. “It sounds like a negative thing,” Baer said. “But we really had to conform to the way the industry was changing.” “Specialty contractors were offering the same services at cheaper prices, because they weren’t paying people hospitalization. But we were pricing our in-house capabilities out of the market,” he added. “We honestly couldn’t look developers in the eye and tell them we were offering them the best value for their dollars.” As for the future, Triangle is focusing on numerous high-profile projects, including the S.C. Children’s Theatre. The $12 million campus is expected to be complete in 2019 near the Greenville Drive stadium. It will feature a 300-seat theater and separate second stage space, with classrooms, offices, and event space available to rent. Baer and Pellett are also thinking about a succession plan for the company as they near retirement. Luckily, the duo has stocked Triangle’s management team with a crop of young professionals that are ready to make their mark. “Our future looks bright,” Baer said. “We’ve put some younger guys in leadership roles, and they’re already looking to make money, so I can’t wait to see what they do with this company when the time comes.”
Notable projects built by Triangle Construction in Greenville include the 1. Greenville County Library, 2. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, and 3. Beth Israel Synagogue, among many others. Photos provided
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UBJ | 11.17.2017
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The Upstate of South Carolina is a beautiful area home to many businesses. It is also home to severe thunderstorms in the summer and ice storms in the winter. As the weather gets colder, as memories of warm thunderstorms melt away, it’s tempting to forget the cold, hard dread that the Scott Kelly President Carolina lights might go Heating Service out. Most of the Upstate have Serving Greenville felt the effects since 1981 of no power due to ice and wind. But the potential for storm related power outages is a year-round sleeping trigger. While you cannot prevent power outages, you can prepare for them. As a business owner I know just how important having power is to stay profitable and keep that competitive edge, so do the folks at Magnolia Manor here in the Upstate. Magnolia Manor Inman SC is a skilled nursing facility offering independent physician/nurse practitioner coverage 24 hours a day. Their services are offered around the clock to residents whose medical conditions may make them dependent upon a power source. In a competitive world, assuring their residents continued continuity of operations provides Magnolia Manor an advantage over many other facilities that would be at the mercy of their local power grid. Virtually every function of their business is dependent in some way on a power source. From the food storage to the building security, from the medical services to ensuring a safe environment, everything needs power. Any loss of power takes them out of communication with their residents and their employees. It is federal regulation that skilled nursing facilities have a backup power solution. As peace of mind Carolina Generators installed a 45KW Generac Generator on location. Power your peace of mind by installing an emergency generator. Contact Carolina Generators today.
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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com |
@arielhturner
Renamed Avant development moves forward at South Main and River street Avant, originally named South Main at River, will now have 12 luxury condos for sale, rather than 40 apartments for rent. The development’s centerpiece will be an 84-foot waterfall facing River Street. Rendering provided by Craig Gaulden Davis.
A mixed-use development at 702 S. Main St. that was approved in 2015 by the City of Greenville is finally moving forward with the same exterior design, which includes an 84-foot waterfall facing River Street, but a complete overhaul of the interior plan. The most notable change: the initially planned 40 apartments have been nixed in favor of 12 condominiums. Formerly named South Main at River, Avant was unveiled Nov. 16 at an event held on the vacant corner across River Street from the Army Navy Store where the 50,000-square-foot, six-story structure will stand. The building footprint is approximately 7,500 square feet, and it will stand just slightly taller at the highest point than the adjacent Link Apartments at River and Rhett streets. Avant’s developer Steve Mack, owner of STM Acquisition & Development, says he’s aiming for a late spring 2018 groundbreaking, with the first-floor retail portion completed within 12 months and five floors of residential completed in 18 months. The building, designed by Ed Zeigler, principal and president of Craig Gaulden Davis, will feature terracotta colored panels on the exterior to continue the brick aesthetic of many of the surrounding buildings while using an updated material. After receiving approval for the apartment building project from the Design Review Board Urban Panel in November 2014 and City Council in January 2015, Mack saw that the downtown market was being flooded with apartments. 18
UBJ | 11.17.2017
“We went through several different models,” Mack says. “It took time to put our arms around it.” Over time, he decided to move from a rental to an ownership model, reducing the number of units to 12 luxury condos on floors two through six. The first floor will include 10,000 square feet of retail. “The market has changed over the years,” Mack says. “There was an incredible amount of apartments being built.” The units range in size from 1,600 to 3,400 square feet and are priced from $700,000 to $1.9 million. Karen Turpin of The Marchant Company, who will be handling condo sales, says buyers moving from larger homes don’t want to give up space in order to live downtown, but the current supply doesn’t meet the demand. Avant will be four stories along Main Street and then step up to six stories off Main. A rooftop area at the corner of Main and River streets will serve as an outdoor community area. The 84-foot water feature fabricated by Florida-based BluWorld of Water will face River Street and is the tallest water feature the company has ever built, according to Stephanie Miller, senior account manager at BluWorld of Water. BluWorld has also created and installed water features at the Aloft hotel in downtown Greenville and at Furman University. The unique waterfall, which includes a 1,200pound chainmail-like sheet of stainless steel, will feature colored lights that change the ap-
pearance of the water as it flows over the mesh panel, creating a tiger-stripe pattern. Mack says they’ll likely change the colors according to holidays or special events. The property will also feature an on-site automated parking garage engineered by New Jersey-based Park Plus. Avant’s system will accommodate 29 cars, with the cars essentially shelved in three layers in what amounts to 10 spaces. A typical parking garage requires 375 square feet per vehicle, but the automated system uses less than 200 square feet per vehicle, according to Michael Beck of Park Plus. Ryan Astrup, principal of Park Plus, says this will be one of the largest systems of its type the company has installed. An additional 35 parking spaces will be available along a back alleyway. Upstate Business Journal previously reported on Jan. 14, 2015, that City Council amended a 2008 agreement with Mack, which specified that the facades of two historic buildings originally on the site be used or replicated in any new construction. The agreement was drafted after Mack’s 2006 request to demolish the two 1800s-era buildings was rejected by the city’s Design and Preservation Committee. Mack took the issue to a circuit court, which negotiated the settlement facade agreement through mediation. The two buildings were demolished, and the corner has sat vacant since then.
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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com |
@arielhturner
Hartness unveils home designs for village-esque neighborhood development Hartness has unveiled the individual home designs for the neighborhood development on the 444-acre property off of Highway 14. A suburban village, Hartness will offer dozens of plans, from quaint cottages and townhomes to grand manor homes and estates, which may be customized to taste; buyers may also custom-build their homes. The homes on property will range from the $400,000s to more than $1 million. The crafting of each home design is carefully overseen by residential architect Lew Oliver, with an array of architectural styles featured, including Federal, Italianate, Greek Revival, and Colonial Revival. “We look forward to watching this unique neigh-
borhood come to life, as it provides Greenville families stunning architecture within a nature preserve,” said David Pisano, vice president of sales and marketing at Hartness. Hartness is in the style of a Traditional Neighborhood Development, an approach modeled on the way cities and towns were built before the mid-20th century. The new walkable village encompasses 444 acres, 180 of which will be permanently preserved green space, including 15 miles of trails connecting neighbors to woodlands, lakes, streams, wildlife, and shared recreational areas. Also included will be a clubhouse and wellness center, resort-style swimming pools, and a “sports garden.”
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UBJ | 11.17.2017
“On behalf of the entire Hartness family and team, we are excited about unveiling these beautiful designs and providing the Upstate with a chance to see our community come to life,” said Sean Hartness, CEO of Hartness Real Estate. “I could not be more excited about breaking ground and beginning the home construction process. Very soon, Greenvillians and beyond will be able to see and touch the unique architecture and designs that will differentiate Hartness from other more typical suburban offerings.”
To see all of the Hartness home designs, go to upstatebusinessjournal.com
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REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com |
| SQUARE FEET @arielhturner
Rise Biscuits Donuts Greenville to open in February 2018 Rise Biscuits Donuts from Durham, N.C., will be opening its first South Carolina location at 1507 Woodruff Road, Greenville. The store, located in front of Hobby Lobby and next to Fresh Market, plans to open in February 2018. “We are excited to bring the best dang biscuits and donuts to Greenville,” said Peter Cotter, who leads the experienced ownership group. “We know Greenville will fall in love with Rise at first bite, and we look forward to being a part of the thriving business community.” Cotter says they are also actively pursuing a second Greenville location not yet announced. The quick-serve concept will feature counter ordering and indoor seating in its 2,000-square-foot store with outdoor patio dining and parking around the store. Rise Greenville will also offer online express ordering for same-day pick up and catering for off-site events, parties, and business meetings. Rise Biscuits Donuts first opened in Durham, N.C., in 2012, netting multiple local and national awards,
including being ranked among the Best Biscuits in the U.S. by Food + Wine magazine and a TV appearance on Food Network’s “Donut Showdown.” Rise Biscuits Donuts currently has 14 stores open in North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia. There are more than 100 franchise locations under contract. Yeast and cake donuts are available throughout the
Kolache Factory announces opening of new bakery-café in Powdersville The Upstate’s first of at least three Kolache Factory franchise locations will open in December at 3609 Highway 153, Powdersville, in a new strip center owned by RealOp Development. The lease for the 1,700-square-foot space was finalized in June with a projected opening of Dec. 5, which franchisee Dean Lord says may be delayed because of construction and the Thanksgiving holiday. Taylor Fisher and Bobby Hines of Spencer | Hines Properties represented Lord, the tenant, and Tommy Molin of CBRE represented the landlord in the transaction. The bakery-café chain founded in Texas has been baking the Czech Republic-born kolache daily since 1982. Kolache are pastries stuffed with a variety of ingredients, such as fruits, meats, and cheeses. The pastries are baked on-site each morning and designed to be eaten on the go. The chain has expanded to 23 company-owned and 28 franchise stores primarily located in the Houston, Texas, area, with additional stores located
throughout the Midwest, Southwest, Colorado, California, and Virginia. Franchise Times magazine recently named Kolache Factory one of the 300 biggest brands in franchising by worldwide sales in 2017. In addition, Entrepreneur magazine named it among the top 200 food-based franchises in 2017. Greenville-area franchisee Lord is bringing his 10-year dream of becoming a baker to life by opening the Powdersville location, with a commitment to open at least two more in the Upstate. “Kolache Factory has a perfect business plan,” Lord says. “On top of that, there’s no beating the taste of our fresh baked kolaches and pastries.” Lord discovered kolache when work brought him to Texas. “I have no doubt in my mind that folks will love our kolaches,” he said. “There’s nothing like Kolache Factory available in Greenville right now, and I’m excited to share unique and delicious pastries with our friends and neighbors.” Hours of operation will be Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m.–2 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m.–2 p.m. –Ariel Turner
day and feature flavors like the Maple Bacon Bar and Crème Brulee. Rise also serves biscuit sandwiches all day, featuring buttermilk-brined fried chicken, crispy bacon, salt-cured ham, and country sausage topped with egg, cheese, and spreads. Lunchtime sandwiches available on a choice of a biscuit or on a potato roll include Rise’s Savory Buffalo Chicken with house-made buffalo sauce, shaved celery, and blue cheese sauce, and limited-time offerings like the Cubano with roast pork loin, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. Plenty of vegetarian options are also available, including the Huevos Rancheros Biscuit, the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich, and the fresh garden salad topped with veggies and biscuit croutons. The store will be open from 6 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information and to follow the store now through opening, follow Rise Greenville (Woodruff Road) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Construction on new Greenville subdivision set to begin Construction is expected to start this month on a 79-home subdivision on Ridge Road. The subdivision, located across the street from the Wenwood Soccer Complex, will have homes ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 square feet and start in the mid$200,000s, said developer Mac Beaty, one of the principals of Ridge Partners LLC. “There’s a strong demand in Greenville for houses in this price range,” he said. “Our marketing research has been very positive.” The subdivision will be built on about 50 acres previously owned by Central Realty Holdings, the company developing NorthPointe, a mixed-use development at Wade Hampton Boulevard and Stone Avenue. Between 20 and 22 acres of the now-wooded site will be undisturbed, Beaty said. The land was annexed into the city in April.
Work on infrastructure will start this month. Construction of the three- and four-bedroom homes will begin in the spring, Beaty said. The builder is Eastwood Homes of Charlotte, N.C. “It’s a great location. That area is starting to develop,” he said. The subdivision is near Interstate 85 and U.S. 276. Schools are a big draw, with Christ Church Episcopal School, J.L. Mann Academy, and Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School nearby. This is the first project in Greenville for Beaty, who has been a Greenville resident since 1970. Most of his previous projects have been in Atlanta, where he developed subdivisions between 1994 and 2010. –Cindy Landrum
11.17.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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YOUR MONEY |
NEWS AND TIPS FOR YOUR PERSONAL BOT TOM LINE
Making Sense of Tax Reform An overview of current legislative proposals By JOE POORE CPA, senior manager, Elliott Davis
Even on the campaign trail,
then-candidate Donald J. Trump was clear about his views on tax reform. He wanted a “yuge” tax cut. After a surprisingly strong electoral victory, Republicans seemed to have all the pieces in place to deliver: political momentum, majorities in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, and a president eager to achieve a legislative success. Over the past several weeks, Republicans in the House and Senate have finally released tax reform bills. As stump speeches have been distilled into actual legislation, it is has become clear why the country has not had major tax reform in three decades. Suc-
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cessfully passing major tax reform is the equivalent of finishing a triathlon. The Republican political strategy for passing tax reform relies on a unique Senate rule called reconciliation. Using reconciliation as a legislative tactic allows the Senate majority to avoid filibusters from the minority party and pass legislation with only 51 votes. The tradeoff is that special rules apply to bills approved through the reconciliation process. The rules narrow legislative flexibility by imposing strict financial contours on proposed legislation. In the case of tax reform, the rules require that tax reform legislation cannot increase the deficit by more than $1.5 trillion dollars over the next decade. When it comes to tax cuts, every taxpayer is fighting for the same pot of money.
Although some key provisions are similar in the House and Senate plans, they contain important differences on other popular tax benefits, such as the deduction individual taxpayers can claim for mortgage interest, state income taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. The centerpiece of the tax reform plan is a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent. According to the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, the corporate tax rate reduction will cost $1.46 trillion over the next 10 years. This break leaves very little room for additional cuts without surpassing the cap of $1.5 trillion imposed under the reconciliation rules. While corporate taxpayers receive a large tax break, other taxpayers may see relatively small benefits or no benefit at all. One group hoping for a larger piece of the tax cut pie is small-business owners. Many small businesses are structured in various legal forms commonly called “passthrough” entities. Pass-through businesses comprise the majority of U.S. businesses. According to the Brookings Institution, over 90 percent of pass-through businesses have $10 million or less in annual sales. Hence, the colloquial name “small business.” Small businesses also earn the majority of business income in the United States and employ the majority of the private-sector workforce. In short, these are the types of businesses that line Main Street USA and form the backbone of the U.S. economy. Pass-through businesses, which include sole proprietorships, partnerships, S-corporations, and LLCs taxed as partnerships or S-corporations, generally do not pay tax. Instead, the businesses “passthrough” profits to the owners who pay the tax on income from the business. Under the Republican
House plan, income for these small businesses would be taxed at a special 25 percent rate. However, special rules in the House plan could substantially limit the amount of business income taxed at the lower 25 percent rate. Business income not taxed at this preferred rate would be subject to individual income tax rates, which could be much higher. The Senate plan maintains the corporate tax cut but offers a different plan for non-corporate small businesses with a special 17.4 percent deduction on pass-through income. Although some key provisions are similar in the House and Senate plans, they contain important differences on other popular tax benefits, such as the deduction individual taxpayers can claim for mortgage interest, state income taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. The Senate plan also preserves the politically divisive estate tax. While House and Senate leaders attempt to find a narrow path to legislative victory, taxpayers wait and wonder if some of the tax cut benefits will ultimately trickle down to their pockets or if someone else will get the majority of the limited tax cut benefits available. Due to the dynamic nature of the legislative process, the legislative provisions within tax reform are subject to daily change. This article is based on legislative proposals in place prior to press time. At elliottdavis.com, you can find up-to-date summaries of current legislative proposals. Contact the author at joe.poore@elliottdavis.com.
MOVERS, SHAKERS, AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE
| INNOVATE
Playing the Long Game How rebuilding in sports relates to investing By MATT DUNBAR Co-founder & Managing Director, VentureSouth
When Sports Illustrated boldly claimed on the cover of their June 25, 2014, issue that the Houston Astros would win the 2017 World Series, it seemed to be a ludicrous prediction. The Astros had lost two-thirds of their games the previous three seasons and were in last place in their division at the time. But the writer had done his homework and could see that the organization was playing a “long game.” They were carefully putting the pieces in place for long-term success, despite the substantial near-term struggles – and now both SI and the Astros look pretty smart since the team just fulfilled the prophecy. When the Philadelphia 76ers launched their infamous rebuilding process in 2013, their new general manager indicated he would take “smart risks” with long investment horizons, reportedly with an unspoken timeline of five to seven years. The team continued to suffer woeful results for the next three seasons, but with four straight top three draft picks thanks to their disciplined long-term strategy, the team now has one of the most exciting young rosters in the NBA and a strong chance to make the playoffs this season. The team’s rebuilding approach inspired the phrase “Trust the Process” for belief in a long-term plan to acquire talent and develop a winning culture, even while gritting through painful losses in the short term. Closer to home, when Dabo Swinney took the helm for the Clemson Tigers, he famously promised that the Tigers would win championships and that the best was yet to come. Eight years later, the Tigers are defending national champions, and the results of his long-term vision have been nothing short of remarkable, as he has methodically implemented his playbook to build a consistently high-achieving program, on and off the field. These three different teams in three different sports each share similar strategies: a willingness to endure short-term pain to set building blocks in place for future sustained success. That’s playing the long game. That’s “trusting the process” of rigorous analysis, courageous change, developing talent, and building culture to eventually produce winning outcomes. In many ways, those lessons from the athletic fields translate well into the realm of angel investing and startup communities. Admittedly, there are many stark distinctions that don’t transfer between the arenas – unlike sports, economic development is not a zero sum game (quite the opposite, actually). There are fewer constraints and more competitors, and the game never ends. But when
it comes to trusting the process and playing the long game, the key insights apply. Similar to the short-term losses incurred by rebuilding sports teams, those involved in cultivating startup communities usually face a “J-curve” in their early efforts, where losses and failures accrue first before successes have time to develop and pay off. However, as evidenced by numerous studies of angel investor returns, the long-term gains from eventual significant successes produce net positive returns that far outweigh the early losses. Such is the case with the Upstate Carolina Angel Network and VentureSouth. We understand the long game of startup investing. We know well, like the entrepreneurs we support, that startups are hard, that the default mode is failure, and that only with herculean work, skill, and luck do successes eventually emerge. While we have had some nice wins along the way (and inevitable losses), the last nine years of refining our processes have now positioned our portfolio to realize significant wins from several companies in the months ahead. But the wins are not just for investors. High-growth startups create all net job growth in our economy – and generate significant wealth in their communities. But often, the critical role of angel investors in long-term economic development is overshadowed by the immediacy of major industrial recruiting wins. We believe that both are vitally important, so we’ve been playing the long game to build a sustainable infrastructure for early-stage capital formation to help fuel an engine for long-term, sustainable economic growth. VentureSouth has now created 11 angel groups and two funds that comprise more than 225 investors across the Carolinas, and we launched Venture Carolina as a nonprofit organization to help further develop the market for early-stage companies through entrepreneur and investor education. To explore these ideas and opportunities more deeply, we invite anyone interested in the future economic growth of Greenville and the region to join us Nov. 30 for our workshop on Angel Investing for Economic Developers. The workshop is hosted by Venture Carolina as part of the annual VentureSouth Summit in Greenville, which brings together angel investors from across our expanding footprint. As part of the workshop, we’ll hear an inspiring keynote message from Eric McCarthy, senior vice president of government relations, public policy, and legal affairs at Proterra, a local company with a tremendous long-game success story that illustrates the power and economic impact of angel investing. Please join us as we play the long game and trust the process for helping create the economy of the future for Greenville and beyond. Learn more and register at venturesouth.vc/venturesouth-summit-2017.
11.17.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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NEW TO THE STREET |
NEWS FACES OF BUSINESS
Open for business
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1. The Dapper Doughnut recently opened at Haywood Mall. This is the national franchise’s first location in South Carolina. Learn more at thedapperdoughnut.com. 2. Pretty Credit Consultants recently opened at 2007 Woodruff Road in Greenville. Learn more at prettycreditconsultants.com.
Photos provided
2
CONTRIBUTE: Know of a business opening soon? Email information to aturner@communityjournals.com.
John Riddle Professional Recruiter
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Celebrating Celebrating 24
UBJ | 11.17.2017
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
PROMOTED
PROMOTED
JOINED
HIRED
APPOINTED
MICHELLE BLOWER
DANIELLE MCKELLEY
ANNA BRADLEY RICE
COURTNEY RUSSELL
Has been promoted to vice president of CresCom Bank’s Poinsett Branch in Greer. Blower has been with the bank since 2015, where she served as branch manager of the Greenville office. She previously worked at Sharonview Federal Credit Union as vice president of sales.
Has been promoted to inbound marketing strategist at Waypost Marketing. She was previously a senior inbound marketing producer. McKelley has been with Waypost Marketing since 2014, where she began as a digital marketing associate.
Has joined Bright + CO Marketing as a marketing intern. Rice is a senior at Clemson University majoring in visual art and minoring in brand communications. She has served on the staff of several publications and organizations during her time at Clemson.
Has joined SVN BlackStream LLC as an associate advisor. Russell attended Florida State University, where she majored in communication disorders, and went on to the University of Tennessee for her master’s coursework in speech pathology. She has worked in speech pathology for nine years, including for the University of Tennessee and Greenville Health System.
VIP SAM KONDUROS
| ON THE MOVE
MARY PAT BUCHANAN MINOR Hired as public relations specialist and project manager at BRIGHT+CO Marketing. Minor has previously served as a public relations and marketing specialist at Greenville Health System and vice president of marketing and public relations at YMCA of Greenville.
FINANCE Southern First reports results for the third quarter of 2017. Net income to common shareholders increased 24 percent to $4.2 million from $3.4 million in 2016. Total loans increased 19 percent to $1.33 billion from $1.11 billion in 2016. Total deposits increased 28 percent to $1.34 billion, compared to $1.11 billion in 2016, and other borrowings decreased by 66 percent or $76 million. The efficiency ratio improved to 55.6 percent for Q3 2017.
CHAMBER The 129th Annual Meeting of the Greenville Chamber has been announced for Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, at the TD Convention Center. There is also a call for the annual award nominations including the Athena Award, Distinguished Leadership Greenville Alumni Award, Max Heller Neighborhood Improvement Award, Minority Business of the Year, and Young Professional of the Year.
TECH Sam Konduros, CEO of South Carolina Biotechnology Industry Organization (SCBIO), was recently presented with the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor, by Gov. Henry McMaster. The Order of the Palmetto is awarded for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of national or statewide significance. Konduros has been serving as president and CEO of SCBIO since spring 2017. He previously served as founder of SK Strategies LLC, a Greenvillebased consulting firm specializing in economic development. He has also worked for Greenville Health Research Development Corporation, S.C. Department of Commerce, and Alfmeier Corporation. He is the founder of Upstate SC Alliance. Konduros is involved in the Upstate community through several organizations, and he serves on the board of the Cancer Society of Greenville County, South State Bank Greenville Advisory Board, and Palmetto Conservation Foundation Board. He has also been on the board of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce. CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions, & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
Office technology dealer G-Five has been acquired by Xerox’s Global Imaging Systems. Xerox continues to expand their reach in the Carolinas and expand their indirect sales channel by building multibrand dealers. This is the third GIS acquisition of the year. G-Five serves large areas in the Carolinas, including Greenville and Charlotte, N.C. Acumen IT, a South Carolina based company, has expanded its physical presence to Columbia. The company will continue to focus on managed technical services, IT security, and business intelligence.
WORKFORCE MAU Workforce Solutions is celebrating the grand reopening of its Skill School. The Skill School works to close the growing skills gap in the Upstate by assuming more responsibility for recertification and training in the workforce. The Skill School is located at 2824 Old Woodruff Road in Greer and celebrated the opening on Thursday, Nov. 9. Those who attend the Skill School will be better prepared for jobs and able to work at higher levels of performance, while also allowing employers to have a safer work environment. 11.17.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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#TRENDING |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE WATERCOOLER Social Chatter
TOP 5:
RE: RISE BISCUITS DONUTS TO OPEN IN GREENVILLE IN FEBRUARY 2018
RE: EGGS UP GRILL, CRAFT BEER STORE COMING TO NEW DUNCAN SHOPPING CENTER
“This is awesome!”
“I can’t wait.”
“Looks delicious.”
FROM THE GREENVILLE JOURNAL, RE: NEW ROAD TO RELIEVE WOODRUFF ROAD TRAFFIC COULD BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY
Karen Moore Winton Miller Hyatt
RE: GATHER GVL WILL BRING ANOTHER FOOD HALL CONCEPT TO GREENVILLE “Greenville can’t let Spartanburg have anything unique… LOL!”
Amy Cathcart
“Will there [be] enough parking?”
Tom Kline
1. Gather GVL will bring another food hall concept to Greenville
2. Rise Biscuits Donuts to open in Greenville in February 2018
Ivan Dion Wesley
“You know what would help – to stop building everything on Woodruff Road! And to have a police officer at every single light getting the people that hang out in the middle of the lane during light changes. That is 99.9 percent of the problem.”
3. Rocky Moo ice cream sandwich parlor headed to Spartanburg’s east side
4. Condo living meets hotel amenities at new Clemson project at Lake Hartwell
5. SC Ports Authority’s inland port in Spartanburg County sets October record
Jennifer Pitts
*The Top 5 stories from last week ranked by Facebook reach
M NOTES FRO INSIDE //
NOVEMBER
10 , 2017
THE
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UBJ | 11.17.2017
EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR
DATE
EVENT INFO
WHERE DO I GO?
HOW DO I GO?
11/29
Pulse Leadership Luncheon
Hilton Greenville 45 W. Orchard Park Drive 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: Free for members, $25 nonmembers For more info: bit.ly/2yxGTG3; 864-239-3702; eaustin@greenvillechamber.org
Wednesday
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Minority Business Accelerator Info Session for 2018 Cohort
Greenville Chamber Board Room 24 Cleveland St. 3–5 p.m.
Cost: Free For more info: bit.ly/2xTD2j7; 864-239-3727; nikawhiteconsulting@greenvillechamber.org
VentureSouth Summit 2017
The Westin Poinsett 120 S. Main St.
Cost: Free for members, $99 for guests For more info: bit.ly/2hoNFbs; grace@venturesouth.vc
Friday
12/08
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Legislative Breakfast
Hyatt Regency 220 N. Main St. 7:30–9:30 a.m.
Cost: $35 for investors, $50 general For more info: bit.ly/2yxquQv; 864-239-3748; kbusbee@greenvillechamber.org
Thursday
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 5–8 p.m.
Cost: $95 for investors, $150 noninvestors. For more info: bit.ly/2A8oPjL; 864-271-0718
Wednesday PRESIDENT/CEO
Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
| PLANNER
UBJ PUBLISHER
Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Susan Schwartzkopf susans@communityjournals.com
11/29
EDITOR
Chris Haire chaire@communityjournals.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com
STAFF WRITERS
Trevor Anderson, Cindy Landrum, Andrew Moore, Ariel Turner
MARKETING & ADVERTISING VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES David Rich drich@communityjournals.com
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
WednesdayThursday
11/2911/30
John Clark, Maria Hall, Donna Johnston, Stephanie King, Rosie Peck, Caroline Spivey, Emily Yepes
ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR Will Crooks
LAYOUT
2/1
Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
ADVERTISING DESIGN
Kristy Adair | Michael Allen
CLIENT SERVICES
Anita Harley | Jane Rogers
UP NEXT
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?
DECEMBER 15 MANUFACTURING ISSUE
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
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristi Fortner
1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport
JANUARY 19 MARKETING ISSUE
1988
>>
Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff
Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS:
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EVENTS:
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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
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.
FEBRUARY 9 QUARTERLY CRE ISSUE 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.
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
2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003
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
2009-2012 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
Order a reprint today, PDFs available for $25. For more information, contact Anita Harley 864.679.1205 or aharley@communityjournals.com
EVENTS: Submit event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com
publishers of Copyright ©2017 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. 581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $50. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, P581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Printed in the USA.
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11.17.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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