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The higher your expectations, the more you’ll appreciate working with

THE CHET AND BETH SMITH GROUP! The Chet & Beth Smith Group has sold more homes than any other agent or team in the Upstate.

With over One Billion Dollars in closed sales transactions, more than 4,650 individuals and families have chosen to either buy, sell or build a home with the help of our team! If you want to maximize what you make on your home or make sure no stone is left unturned in the search for your next home, you need to interview us to find out how big of a difference we can make for you!

We would love an opportunity to work with you! Everything we touch turns to SOLD!

ChetandBethSmithGroup.com

Call us today!

864-458-SOLD (7653)

DRIFT FLOAT & SPA Expect Nothing. Find Everything.

When Kelly Caldwell and her mother, Robin Carroll, opened Drift Float & Spa in 2017, they knew they had something cool to offer the Upstate. Five years later, their business has grown into something more than just cool— it’s really important.

In a world that constantly bombards people with physical, mental and emotional challenges, Drift is providing a place for clients to cultivate a deeper level of self-care that brings lasting improvements to quality of life through floating, an oxygen bar, infrared sauna and other restorative care services. “We live life stressed and overwhelmed,” says Caldwell. “Our tranquil environment at Drift carries no expectations, no deadlines and no responsibilities. You enjoy a unique silence unlike anywhere else.”

Many people around Greenville have found the healing experience of floating in skin-temperature water, total darkness and unique silence that creates an environment of complete tranquility. Kelly Caldwell has seen her clients benefit from the unique float tanks made in Hungary and has become a distributor and consultant in the United States to further the reach of their therapeutic impact.

As the business has grown, Caldwell and Carroll have added Lucia Light and specialty massages to their offerings. Just in the last year, Drift has added Vanessa Reinarz, a licensed mental health therapist, to offer CRM counseling— a technique that remaps your neural pathways, heals trauma and improves overall well-being with a combination of traditional therapy.

A completely family-owned, woman-owned, local business, Drift Float & Spa has grown from the best kept secret in Greenville to a growing place of healing in the Upstate and beyond.

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

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644 N. Main St., Suite 105, Greenville 864.414.2388 driftgreenville.com

ESTABLISHED: 2017 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Caldwell says, “What really inspires me and gives me the most joy is getting to know my clients and helping them on their journey to healing and selfimprovement.”

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GRACE HERLONG LOVELESS Clicking with Clients Through Social Media On the Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty website, there’s a section called “Notable Old Ads” featuring the wit and whimsy of notable broker Joan Herlong. Her daughter Grace Loveless, the top agent in their Greenville office in 2021, has since found her niche on social media.

Grace’s Instagram features elegant homes in established neighborhoods, but @homeswithgrace is also an honest expression of everyday life for the agent whose sales reached almost $17 million last year.

“Social media doesn’t have to be polished and perfect.

People feel like they know me, and what they see is what they get,” Grace says.

One thing followers might get is a “real estate rant,” occasional color commentary on frustrations associated with the industry. Grace tends to downplay it but has been encouraged to post more. She notes that 80 percent of her business comes from Instagram, and social media helps her sync with clients.

“People who reach out to me tend to already be on my wavelength,” she says. “We may use ‘DocuSign’ instead of reviewing a contract in person, but technology doesn’t preclude personal service.”

Having come from the corporate world, Grace appreciates the freedom to be herself. “Some people can be chameleons to ‘match’ any client, but I’d rather be myself. Hopefully people will extend me some grace for that,” she says.

1 McDaniel Greene, Greenville 864.660.3925 JHA-SothebysRealty.com

ESTABLISHED: 2019

DID YOU KNOW? Prior to becoming an agent, Grace traveled all over the world, working with BMW North America’s luxury clients.

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PHOTO PROVIDED

FUN FACT 1: Grace Herlong Loveless has appeared on HGTV’s “House Hunters” twice.

PHOTO PROVIDED

ESTABLISHED: Newly expanded in 2020

GIBBS CANCER CENTER AT PELHAM Making Hope Happen, Together

QUOTE: “Here, you are not a number.

Here, you are part of a place that has your best interests at heart.”

DID YOU KNOW? Dr. Alwine competed globally as a badminton player, traveling the world and qualifying for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

2759 SC-14, Greer 864.530.6400 GibbsCancerCenter.org

When telling people about Gibbs Cancer Center at Pelham, Dr. Isaac Alwine’s message is clear.

“This is the most state-of-the-art cancer center in the Upstate. Period,” says Dr. Alwine, a hematologist/oncologist.

The 191,000-square-foot expansion at Gibbs at Pelham opened in 2020, providing comprehensive, personalized cancer treatment and support services to patients throughout the Upstate and beyond.

Just off Highway 14 and I-85, the location is convenient with ample parking. An atrium bathes the lobby and waiting areas in natural light. Floor-to-ceiling windows on the seventh floor provide unobstructed views of the mountains for patients undergoing treatment.

The facility is a physical manifestation of the Gibbs philosophy of placing the needs of patients first — and organizing that care under one roof. At Gibbs, every patient’s case is reviewed by teams of healthcare professionals who specialize in each patient’s specific type of cancer.

From survivorship resources to massage, clinical trials to dieticians, patients are sometimes surprised at the resources available to support them at Gibbs, Dr. Alwine says. “We know that all of these things working together translate to us providing patients with the best possible quality of care,” Dr. Alwine says. “We’re here to take care of you and to make sure your needs are met every visit.”

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PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

TRIBUS INTERIOR DESIGN

ESTABLISHED: 2015

Full Circle Design Seven years ago, Tribus Interior Design was born to serve the needs of one luxury home builder in the Upstate. Today, it’s a thriving company with multiple clients throughout the Southeast and a popular showroom in the Village of West Greenville.

As vice president and principal, Susan Peace-Vernon leads the Tribus team, and her experience in construction naturally lends itself to complete design services — or as she likes to call it, “Soup to nuts.”

“Our goal is to take care of everything a client needs. We do it all from builder selections and sourcing products to providing custom millwork and one-of-a-kind furniture,” Susan says. “It’s a very personal service, and our main goal is making sure the client enjoys the experience.”

One thing that sets Tribus apart is the diversity of its designers. “Our team has various backgrounds, unique styles and a very diverse portfolio,” Susan says. “This gives us the ability to listen to each client’s specific needs, what they want and how they’ll use their home. Then, once we’ve taken the time to learn who they are, we partner them with the best designer for their project!”

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From resort communities in Bluffton and Cashiers to the beautiful shores of Lake Keowee, Tribus is making friends everywhere they go. Whether it’s new construction or renovations, a residential or commercial project, they’re creating one-of-a-kind experiences that people are sure to enjoy.

On the home front, they love it when residents and visitors to the Village of West Greenville stop in their new showroom for some inspiration or to say hello — that includes you! So, stop by next time you’re around and see why people trust Tribus with all their interior design needs. You won’t be disappointed!

1263 Pendleton St., Greenville 864.729.4148 | TribusInteriorDesign.com

FUN FACT: Walkin traffic has more than doubled since Tribus moved to the Village of West Greenville.

DID YOU KNOW? Tribus Interior Design is a sister company of luxury home builder Dillard-Jones, and the Tribus name was inspired by Dillard-Jones’ three-part mantra: Design, Build, Dwell.

ALEX & ELLIS CRIGLER

Everything We Touch Turns To SOLD Alex Crigler and his wife Ellis are about to make a big transition, one that’s been several years in the making.

“Chet and Beth Smith have run one of the most successful, if not the most successful, real estate teams in the Upstate for the last 25 years,” Alex Crigler says. “And they’ve reached a point that they are ready to slow down and pursue some of their hobbies.”

With that in mind, about a year and a half ago, Alex and Ellis bought the Chet and Beth Smith Group. Now begins the transition to the Crigler Group.

But Alex is quick to say that things behind the scenes will remain very close to the same.

“It’s going to be the same great staff, same great agents,” Crigler says. “We’ve operated under their name for the last year and a half, but we’re getting to the point where they’re about to ride off into the sunset so to speak. Our plan is for them to still be as involved with the team as they want to be.”

Alex says you can expect the same great service and a focus on treating new and established clients like family.

“Our duty here is to continue to service our past clients, in the same way that they’ve been treated over the years,” he says. And we want to treat every single client, every single customer, every single agent on the other side of the deal like they are part of our family. From an emotional standpoint, we’re going to treat everybody like we would want our family to be treated.”

1016 Woods Crossing Rd., Greenville 864.616.3988 | 864.458.SOLD ChetAndBethSmith.com

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2006 DID YOU KNOW? Alex Crigler’s grandfather is C. Dan Joyner.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “There’s two things that inspire me about what I do,” Crigler says.

“It really scratches the competitive itch that I have. You’re fighting extremely hard to get your clients exactly what they want or better.

So that motivates me. But then there’s also seeing somebody once they get handed their keys or when they hand off their keys, seeing them smile after what could be a very stressful situation, that’s what inspires me.”

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MASSAGE ENVY Helping Greenville Feel Their Best For 15 Years Nataly Perez had no idea she would still be with the company today when she started working at Massage Envy in 2008 as a Front Desk Associate. Today, she is an experienced and accomplished manager who was the Massage Envy Manager of the Year in 2019, no small feat given that the company has more than 1,000 locations.

“My role kept me challenged as I grew within the brand; however, I met such wonderful clients along the way who are like family,” Perez says. “It’s been such a rewarding career.”

Don and Caroline Taylor own three Massage Envy locations in Greenville. They have built a foundation of excellent customer service while expanding the services offered to clients and setting up a support system, including opportunities for continuing education and training for their employees.

Jessica Chavez, a licensed esthetician, is the Massage Envy Pelham Hills clinic manager. She is impressed with the investment Don and Caroline make in their team, giving them opportunities for leadership growth.

“The relationships with clients, seeing them get better with continuous and focused care, gives a lot of satisfaction in this career,” says Chavez.

Courtney Gray is a certified personal trainer and a recent addition to the Massage Envy team. She knew she wanted to work for the company as soon as she met her coworkers, noting how invested they are in their people.

When the pandemic hit, Massage Envy overcame the challenges and reopened with high care, cleanliness and safety standards. The managers worked through the pandemic to come back and thrive.

Massage Envy never stopped moving forward since it opened its doors in Greenville. The Taylors and their team attribute success to the affordability of their services and the educated, trained and dedicated team that provides those services.

“Our goal as a business is that we want to give people the most for their money by offering affordable, convenient and professional care,” says Don Taylor.

101 Verdae Blvd., Suite 900, Greenville | 864.675.1155 3714 Pelham Rd., Greenville | 864.288.1150 120 N Laurens St, Suite 100, Greenville | 864.520.1111

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PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2007 FUN FACT: Massage Envy Greenville has been a sponsor for the Ride to End Alzheimer’s for the past seven years.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “I am most inspired when I see someone I helped mentor grow professionally and as a person.” – Don DID YOU KNOW? Many therapists who come to work for Massage Envy go into the healthcare field. It’s a great transition.

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GENCO POOLS AND SPAS From Backyard Getaways To Commercial Paradises For more than thirty years, Genco Pools and Spas has been the premiere installer for luxury pools, spas and water features in the Upstate. Whether it’s in a new hotel complex or a backyard in need of some recreation, Genco’s innovative pools can enhance any space. Todd Edwards, director of sales and business development and marketing, says, “Genco is the pool company of the Upstate. We often get asked to build what no one else can, so many of our pools are unparalleled in South Carolina.”

After two years of economic disruption and strained supply chains, Genco still leads the industry in providing for its clients. While many competitors were telling clients it would take months for their projects to begin, Genco has continued building beautiful aquatic landscapes thanks to some agile maneuvering and strong relationships with suppliers.

The experts at Genco are second to none, and their willingness to think outside the box has led to some of the most unique creations in the area. “What sets us apart is our ability to construct high-end projects,” says Rusty Sabo. “We build everything from backyard pools to waterparks.” Construction manager Josh Laughlin adds, “I’ve been here a long time, and it’s been amazing to see how we’ve changed the way pools are designed and constructed.”

Like a synchronized swimming team, Genco’s staff work together as a team to make the process from initial consultation to post-build maintenance feel seamless.

According to Pieter Vorster, “You don’t just buy a pool from us, but you get a friendship as well—a friendship that lasts longer than any pool you can buy.”

It takes the entire team of Sabo, Laughlin, Edwards, Vorster, Brandon Parrott, Amber Boehm, Jeremiah Tanuminjada, Wendy Bradley and Farrell Edwards to create the innovative and cohesive atmosphere at Genco Pools and Spas.

1217 NE Main St., Simpsonville 864.967.7665 | GencoPools.com

ESTABLISHED: 1983 by Dan Ball DID YOU KNOW? Upstate residents can see Genco’s work at the Powdersville YMCA, Goldfish Swimming School, High Hamptons in North Carolina and hundreds of backyards.

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PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

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PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

DEFENDERS FOR CHILDREN

ESTABLISHED: 2010

Saving Children & Stopping Those Who Hurt Them!

Sniff. Point. Cuff. K9 Officer, Queue, and Sergeant Michael Rainey with Greenville County Sheriff ’s Office are heroes once again! The duo just completed another home search of an alleged sex offender as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Only the Electronic Detection K9’s snout can smell hidden electronic evidence that proves sex offenders, traffickers or child pornographers guilty.

The K9s are trained to signal officers by pointing their noses at Micro SD cards, thumb drives, hidden cameras, phones and computers. One device can hold countless images and videos of live children being abused. Founder of Defenders For Children, Toni Clark says, “On average, the K9s locate two electronic devices missed by law enforcement per search. There’s a high probability the evidence located will be needed for prosecution.”

Clark says, “One sexual perpetrator, child pornographer or sex trafficker abuses multiple children, ages range from babies and up.” It’s imperative to stop them before they abuse again.

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Child exploitation is growing at alarming rates. Sergeant Rainey and his team of investigators fight daily to keep children safe. “We currently have Six K9s assisting different Law Enforcement Agencies. It’s not enough, we need many more.”

Clark says the K9s are powerful tools necessary in every search to save and protect children.

1140 Woodruff Rd., Suite 106 P.O. Box 108, Greenville defendersforchildren@gmail.com DefendersForChildren.org

DID YOU KNOW? If the entire cost of a dog ($21,000) is donated, the group or individual can name the dog and leave a legacy behind.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Knowing the power behind the K9’s capability of stopping abuse and protecting God’s innocent children.

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

LAURA SIMMONS & ASSOCIATES

ESTABLISHED: 1992

Concierge Real Estate

There are more than 4,000 REALTORS® in the Upstate. Laura Simmons distinguishes the 18 in her agency by noting that they’re all producers. “Anybody can take a test and become an agent, but a true REALTOR® doesn’t see this as a job. It’s way of life,” she says.

Calling her business a concierge agency, Laura says she and her associates help coordinate any services from contractors to movers that their clients need. “We’re not a big box type of agency, and our clients are not just numbers to us. We do so much more than put a sign in the yard,” she says. “The majority of people want to do business with an individual, and they don’t need a national

corporate logo for that.”

At age 20, Laura was in the process of buying her second home when her real estate agent asked, “Why aren’t you selling houses?”

Something clicked, and Laura started doing exactly that. She worked for Joy Real Estate for 21 years, serving as vice president of their new homes division, and started her own agency in 2014.

Laura and her associates handle residential and commercial properties, as well as land and new construction all over the Upstate. She and her husband Bennie, who is also a broker associate, have been married for 33 years. They have four children and three grandchildren and enjoy traveling.

FUN FACT: Around the office, Laura Simmons is the BIC (Broker in Charge); her husband is a BIC (Bennie in Charge).

218 A Trade St., Greer 864.630.7253 LSAHomeSales.com

DID YOU KNOW? Laura Simmons and her associates help clients find the perfect home before the property even hits the market.

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GENERAL AIR Small Enough to Listen; Big Enough to Deliver.

When air conditioners start humming around the Upstate, the phones at General Air are always ringing right along with them. Their customer service representatives say the busy season is actually yearround, but there is definitely a surge when the seasons change.

Often, problems with air conditioning or heating units are discovered when they’re switched on for the first time in months, so while some technicians are troubleshooting, others are fulfilling General Air’s service agreements with existing customers.

Customer Service Representative Leigh Everette says, “Many people don’t realize that having a professional change the filters, clean the coils and perform routine maintenance extends the life of the equipment.

Maintenance in the spring and fall saves money in the long run.”

General Air has been in the area since 1959 keeping the Upstate “comfortable and healthy season, after season, year after year.” In addition to maintenance, their technicians handle residential and commercial installation. They are a full-service HVAC company that can successfully install, repair and maintain a large array of products, and their brands include York, Train, Carrier, Heil and Lennox.

“The business has been family-owned for three generations, and we’re very family-oriented. We spend time with each customer, and there’s a stability about the way we work with them that you can’t find just anywhere,” Leigh says, noting that the majority of their business is generated by word of mouth or from online comments and reviews. “Our customers call and ask for specific people they’ve gotten to know, and that’s who they want. Some of them even become like family.”

With 40 employees currently serving Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Taylors, Pickens, Clemson, Fountain Inn and Easley, the company is growing along with the Upstate. However, continued expansion will not change their personal service and attention to detail.

“We like to say we’re small enough to listen but big enough to deliver. No matter how big we get, though, we will always listen to our customers,” Leigh says.

5409 Augusta Rd., Greenville 864.299.8979 GeneralAC.com 12

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ESTABLISHED: 1959 FUN FACT: General Air’s customers appreciate the staff so much, they typically ask for technicians by name.

DID YOU KNOW? Having filters changed and coils cleaned regularly can significantly extend the life of an HVAC unit.

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BECK DIGITAL We’re Passionate About Results When they were eight years old, brothers Ryan and Michael Beck started taking private computer programming lessons—an unconventional hobby in the early 1980s. By the time they were in high school, they were competing against other programmers and had developed a passion that would eventually lead them to become partners leading a world-class digital agency.

CEO Ryan Beck was a linguist in the army before returning to Greenville in 1999. He partnered with his brother, Michael, in 2002, working with several marketing companies before branching off on their own in 2016.

They started BECK Digital because they saw a growing need in the market for groundbreaking custom development, intelligent design, and innovative digital marketing, all wrapped within the framework of unmatched client service and partner relations. Ryan and Michael knew with their particular skillsets that they could not only fulfill this need but also expand it to include creative services.

This mindset, combined with the momentum they had created with their clients and within their own organization, enabled them to scale the agency to encompass a whole host of services. As veterans of the digital age, the Beck brothers were already well-versed in developing, designing and hosting websites but then added SEO, social media and online advertising to their roster of ever-evolving skills. Recently, BECK expanded their services even further to include branding, copywriting, advanced design, experiential thinking and more.

What differentiates BECK from other agencies isn’t just their ability to provide custom development; it’s also their organizational thinking. They look at each project holistically to understand how their talents and skills can be best used and then plan accordingly. “What excites me the most about this company and our clients is there is always something new to learn, something challenging to innovate,” Michael says. “I’m regularly forced to craft novel solutions to incredibly complex problems, and I love that.”

Another differentiator is their culture. “We like doing business with people we like. It makes it easier to take care of clients that we have a relationship with,” Ryan says. “We really believe in coming in and building relationships with our clients and encourage them to seek us out when they have questions or need an opinion. When we develop these deeper relationships, it gives us the impetus and desire to go above and beyond to serve them.”

Along with Ryan and Michael, Ryan’s wife, Jordan Beck, is COO, and long-time friend, Tim Mesaric, is Senior VP of Business Development. Today, BECK Digital has offices in Greenville, Asheville and Honolulu, and they have grown to twenty-five employees and more than three million dollars in revenue. After decades of experience and thousands of digital solutions for clients, the Beck brothers still say their success is grounded in relationships.

“There are two ways to grow business—hunters and farmers,” says Ryan. “We are very much farmers. We join hands and grow relationships. The business grows naturally from that.”

Ahead of the game at eight years old, the Beck brothers are still innovating, building relationships and finding solutions for clients in Greenville and across the nation.

864.551.6055 beckdigital.com

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ESTABLISHED: 2016 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “We are inspired by helping solve unique challenges for our clients and providing solutions for things they haven’t been able to fix.”

PHOTO BY JUSTIN IRICK

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UPSTATE FATHERHOOD COALITION Dads make a difference

Men come to Upstate Fatherhood Coalition because they aspire to be a positive role model for their children. They know that when dads are engaged, children are more likely to graduate from high school, less likely to go to jail and better positioned to be good parents themselves.

“Our newest program, Ready4Life, is tailored for young men ages 14-19,” says Johnny Sellers, UFC’s Executive Director. “The Reality Check curriculum laser focuses them on making good choices, like staying in school, finding a satisfying career and then thinking about having children.”

With sites in Greenville, Anderson and Spartanburg, UFC provides a comprehensive suite of programs and services “to teach the essentials of responsible fatherhood,” its website says. Those include employment coaching, navigating the child-support system, access to health care, education; transportation, and peergroup sessions, among others—with the ultimate goal to reengage fathers with their children. All services are free.

Last year, the Coalition served more than 530 dads, impacting some 1,040 children. One of those fathers is William Hickerson, shown here with his daughter, Mady. “Upstate Fatherhood Coalition helps fathers be good fathers and gives fathers a voice,” says Hickerson. “That’s something I’m proud of and glad to be a part of.”

730 S. Pleasantburg Dr., Suite 205 Greenville 864.241.4464 | UpstateFathers.org

ESTABLISHED: 1999

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PHOTO BY LIBBY HUBBARD

DID YOU KNOW? The average age of UFC fathers is 32.

PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

ESTABLISHED: 2013 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Dr. Casebolt’s dad, now 94, inspired her to become a doctor. She wanted something intellectually stimulating.

DID YOU KNOW? Dr. Casebolt is a gourmet cook, but it must be gluten free and healthy. Her vegan potluck attendees always want her recipes.

FORUM HEALTH GREENVILLE

Your health is our #1 goal

Wouldn’t it be nice to walk into a doctor’s office and have them listen to your concerns, ask about your lifestyle, and dig deep into the reasons why you are experiencing the symptoms you are instead of automatically prescribing powerful drugs?

At Forum Health, an integrative and functional medicine clinic, that’s exactly what will happen.

“We are that outside-the-box destination for people who are just tired of the incorrect approach to medicine of symptomdiagnosis-drugs,” says Dr. Casebolt. “We treat the entire individual in a holistic, functional and integrative manner.”

Dr. Connie Casebolt, an integrative medicine practitioner for the last 20 years, treats her patients with compassion and total attention, offering scientifically-based holistic and personalized therapy for a variety of issues from managing pain to dealing with menopause and sexual disfunction to diabetes and joint problems to natural obstacles that come with aging.

“I want people to know that there’s hope. There is hope for whatever issues you are experiencing. Most of our patients’ only regret is that they didn’t come to us sooner,” she says.

Besides the relief Forum Health sees in its patients, it’s the eye-opening knowledge that this kind of treatment exists.

Pictured: Connie Casebolt, MD, MPH and Amanda Dyar Moss, APRN, FNP-C

850 S Pleasantburg Dr. #103, Greenville 864.863.7781 ForumHealthGreenville.com

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PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

INTERNATIONAL BALLET

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2003

It’s All In The Training

Greenville’s International Ballet is still on pointe after almost two decades of dance.

The company began in 2003 with 15 students under the tutelage of Lena Foster and dancers Hennadii Bespechnyi and Vlada Kysselova. Forster retired in 2019, passing the baton to Artistic Director Kysselova and Executive Director Sarah Shoemaker.

The non-profit organization has grown to serve more than 200 students a year, ages 3 to 70+. The Company focuses on Vaganova training and brings classical ballets like The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Giselle to the Greenville stage.

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eight outreach performances reaching over 1500 people at Greenville County Library branches. IB also has a partnership with Thrive Upstate to provide a weekly accessibility class for adults with intellectual disabilities. In 2019, International Ballet opened the Somerville Center, a 10,000-square-foot state of the art training and rehearsal space.

“We are proud to provide the Upstate with a home for students and fans of classical ballet to be together and share in their love and appreciation for the art,” says Shoemaker. “We are grateful for the thriving arts and philanthropic communities in the Upstate.”

FUN FACT: International Ballet is the only ballet company in the Upstate to feature live music by the Greenville Symphony Orchestra for The Nutcracker performances at the Peace Center.

1018 S. Batesville Rd. Greer, SC 29650 864.879.9404 InternationalBalletSC.org Pictured: Artistic Director Vlada Kysselova rehearsing with Company dancers.

DID YOU KNOW? Ballet has evolved from 15th Century Italian court dances to the highly athletic form seen around the world today.

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

STARTED: Peterson began with State Farm in 2017 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “I’m inspired by taking care of my customers as I would my own family,” says Peterson.

ADAM PETERSON Helping Our Customers Recover From The Unexpected Adam Peterson is the perfect local example of State Farm’s nationwide motto—“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.”

For the last several years, Peterson has built a reputation in the Greenville area for maintaining a focus on relationships in a market that is constantly changing. “Keeping that customer relationship is important to us,” says Peterson. “Our clients know that they have someone in their corner who they can rely on from a service standpoint.”

When the unthinkable happens, Adam’s customers take solace in knowing who is on the other end of the phone. “We want to earn our customers’ business and keep them for the long-term,” he says, adding that the trust he has built in the Upstate has helped him keep those kind of clients. More than ever before, Peterson is meeting with clients wherever they are most comfortable doing business—virtually or in-person—to help

in even more ways.

In addition to helping the community in their times of need, Peterson is working to help develop other State Farm agents through the Aspirant Program. By mentoring newer agents, Adam is able to extend his message of the importance of personal customer relationships. Whether it’s customers in an accident or aspiring agents needing help, Adam Peterson is there in every time of need.

517 S. Pleasantburg Dr., Suite C, Greenville 864.605.7733 | SFSouthCarolina.com

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VIRGINIA HAYES - REALTOR® Knowledgeable, passionate and client-focused Guided by a love of Greenville architecture and a background in marketing and public relations, Virginia Hayes decided to make the move to residential real estate in 2005. And it’s been a positive experience (and a whirlwind) ever since.

“Real estate is such a rewarding job,” Virginia says.

“Not only do I get to tour beautiful homes, but I’m an active part in helping people realize their dreams of home ownership. Guiding clients through one of the most important times in their life is pretty special.”

Virginia has built her 17-year business primarily by referrals, which she attributes to going the extramile for every client from first-time homebuyers and sellers to seasoned clients buying and selling multimillion-dollar properties.

“No matter the price point, each client is equally important and deserves my full attention,” she says, “which is why I limit the number of buyers and sellers I represent at a time. This provides ample time for scouting out homes before they hit the market, availability for last-minute showing needs, and the ability to write offers quickly, which is often done from my car! To be successful in Greenville’s fastpaced and challenging real estate market, you need an agent that’s working hard for you 24/7.”

111 Williams St., Greenville 864.313.2986 vhayes@cbcaine.com VirginiaHayes.com

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Through hard work in my job and outreach in the community, I am making a positive difference in the lives of others.”

DID YOU KNOW? Virginia’s been the Presenting Sponsor of Augusta Road Business Association’s annual “Summer on Augusta” festival since it began in 2013.

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PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2005

PHOTO BY ROBERT KLEMM

ESTABLISHED: 1934 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? The family business is inspired by “continuing three generations of excellence through integrity, fair pricing and a hands-on commitment to customer satisfaction.”

JORDAN LUMBER COMPANY Three Generations Of Wood Flooring Excellence

If you’re looking for hardwood flooring—traditional or exotic, retail or custom—Jordan Lumber Company has it all. The familyowned company, flourishing since its founding in 1934 by C.G. Jordan, specializes in hardwood flooring, serving builders, independent installers and homeowners.

“There are a lot of years of experience in the family,” says David Sweeny, who joined the family and the business after marrying into the Jordan family. Now a vice president, he has been proudly working for 20 years alongside his brother-in-law, vice president Keith Jordan, and his father-in-law, president and owner Gary Jordan. Ben Greene has been in the industry for 16 years and brings his experience to the sales and marketing at Jordan Lumber.

“When you’ve got a family-owned and operated business, the service is different,” David says. “We’re all in the business together, and that creates a trust and a connection with our customers.” As with any long-successful company, Jordan Lumber has adapted to meet the market trends, offering a wide range of options, including wide plank, long length, prefinished,

unfinished, European White Oak, live sawn, solid and engineered. “We install a wide array of hardwood floors to meet any taste,” says Keith, who joined the family business in 1997 after graduating from Clemson University.

“We have high-quality employees across the board who are very respectful of our customers and their homes,” Keith says. “We treat them well and they treat us well. We really enjoy operating in the Upstate market.”

104 Rutherford Rd., Greenville 864.232.9686 | JordanLumberCompany.com LIVE LOCAL 2022

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NANDINA HOME & DESIGN Real Life, Real Style Home is where the heart is, and Nandina Home & Design wants the hearts of their clients to show through in every design.

“We want someone to walk into your home and say ‘this is so you!’” says Nandina Home & Design co-owner Susan Victor. “We really design for our clients by getting to know them and building a relationship. Our designs are all collaborative with our clients so they feel like the space is all theirs, not ours.”

Excellent customer service was the foundation of Nandina Home & Design right from the beginning.

Both Susan and her co-founder, Sue Shannon, came from the healthcare industry, where the focus on patients’, or customers’, needs being of utmost importance was ingrained in them. Since opening the interior design company, they have focused entirely on the customer and hiring educated and talented designers who had the same motivation and drive to be collaborative, innovative and unique in their design concepts.

Ashley Diggelmann and BethAnn Connor head up the Greenville location of Nandina Home & Design.

Both are natives of the Upstate and were recruited to come back to Greenville from Charleston and Dallas, respectively.

“Whether a new build, residential or commercial, collected or modern,

the best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them,” says Ashley Diggelmann.

Nandina’s tagline of “Real Life, Real Style” encompasses the fact that everyone, no matter the living arrangement, has crazy and complicated real lives, but that should not preclude anyone from having a stylish and thoughtfully designed home.

“As a designer, my goal is to seamlessly blend functionality, aesthetics and personal style to create a home that tells the story about you and your family,” says BethAnn Connor.

Through the use of experimental studios that are reset twice yearly, Nandina Home & Design offers a space that their clients can walk into and not only see what interests them but work with the designer to come up with ideas that fit their space and lifestyle.

Given the incredible mix of people in the Upstate, Nandina Home & Design aims to cater to any client of any background and use their experience to take their homes to the next level. And the one thing they want people to know?

“That we are approachable, that we believe in doing top quality work but that we will represent you and do something that you are a part of,” says Susan Victor.

ESTABLISHED: 2006

10 Toy St., Suite 201, Greenville | 864.565.8801 158 Laurens St., Aiken | 803.649.0616 6170 Roswell Rd., Sandy Springs, GA | 404.521.9303 NandinaHome.com

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

DID YOU KNOW? Their offices are in the historic schoolhouse on Toy Street, which they renovated and now rent for their studio.

PHOTO BY BONFIRE VISUALS

KEEL CONCEPTS, INC. “Regular, Good Guys” Designing Greenville’s Future Joe Delaney and Adam Roberts, founding partners of KEEL Concepts, believe in an old saying: “If two business partners always agree, one of them is unnecessary.” However, their differences tend to complement rather than conflict, resulting in a diverse repertoire for their architectural firm.

“Between us, there’s almost no type of project we haven’t handled,” Adam says. With a range of work including medical offices, automotive dealerships, restaurants, breweries, hospitality, retail, manufacturing and multi-family residential, their depth and versatility are core strengths.

“We offer personalized service, and we’re nimble,” Adam says.

Noting that most of their clients are small business owners, Joe says, “They’re regular people, good people, and that’s who we are – just regular, good guys who are very good at what we do.”

Although their partnership is just six years old, Joe and Adam have a more extensive history as co-workers.

“We’d be working together somewhere. Then Joe would leave.

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I would eventually come over there, and Joe would leave,” Adam jokes. “Hopefully, that pattern won’t ever repeat.”

When asked where they see themselves in 10 years, there was talk of well-designed beach cabanas, but the ultimate answer was “right here.” Their intention is to grow but never to the point at which clients won’t know them personally as consummate professionals and “regular, good guys.”

1830 N. Main St., Greenville 864.900.2262 | KeelConcepts.com

ESTABLISHED: 2016 FUN FACT: In 2021, the owners of KEEL Concepts repurposed a 1920s “filling station” property as their new headquarters.

DID YOU KNOW? An annual golf tournament founded by the principals of KEEL Concepts benefits Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County.

HILARY HURST, REALTOR® Dream homes delivered The dream homes on her website and social media may create a certain impression of Hilary Hurst. She has earned the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation, but clients agree her success stems from her approachability, humility and undeniable work ethic.

In today’s tight market, Hilary’s masterful multitasking is extremely valuable. “Extra work comes with the territory,” she says. “It’s much more than showing houses. You have to keep your hands on every aspect of the transaction to make sure it all comes together.”

Hilary has developed a wide array of connections and friendships throughout her 35 years in the Upstate, and among them, she’s known as an expert negotiator whose kindness does not preclude tenacious client advocacy.

“I’ve been told I have a lot of spunk, which, to me, means representing my clients’ best interests and fighting for them when I have to,” she says.

Launching her real estate career during the late 2000s recession, Hilary’s determination gave her momentum. “I jumped in right about the time the market really tanked, but I persevered,” she says. “The market will change. I work hard so the service and care my clients receive doesn’t.”

Hilary also co-lists properties on Lake Keowee with her husband, David, who’s been in the business for 37 years.

They love spending time there, relaxing or engaging in water sports with their son and daughters and their two Maltese.

Follow Hilary on Instagram at hilaryhurstrealestate.

Photo taken at Greenville’s The Upper Room.

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

111 Williams St., Greenville 864.313.6077 CBCaine.com

ESTABLISHED: 2009 FUN FACT: Hilary’s history in real estate sales dates back to her childhood when her grandparents, both agents, took her along for showings in Glenville, North Carolina.

DID YOU KNOW? Hilary was ranked 26th among Coldwell Banker Caine agents in 2021 and is a member of their International President’s Circle Society.

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GHOST MARKETING Growing Greenville businesses with paranormal marketing Local entrepreneur, Britton Briley, would like to share a secret.

Building a successful business is done behind the scenes. As founder of Ghost Marketing, Briley’s motto is to be the “secret marketing agency,” but that hasn’t stopped the company from becoming one of the fastest growing agencies in South Carolina.

Reaching success didn’t come from being quiet. It came from making noise with full-service marketing. Briley adds, “It takes blood, sweat, tears and gray hairs at 28.” A highly creative group with over 30 years of experience are all inside one haunted house. They provide social media management, brand management, website design and hosting, content creation and more. The company focuses on Greenville, making them experts in the local market.

Briley explains, “We’re here to help Greenville grow. Greenville is our home base. I don’t ever want to lose sight of what’s happening here.”

Though Briley moved to places like Romania with his family, Greenville is home. It’s where he met his wife, Danielle, and facilitated a career with a myriad of marketing experiences. In 2018, he opened Viking Solutions, but rebranded to Ghost Marketing in 2020. The new brand reflects the work his team does behind the scenes while maintaining an approachable staff and atmosphere.

Don’t expect buttoned-up suits and a high-rise office building. Think jeans, t-shirts, a tattoo laden Briley and a seven-foot Star Wars stormtrooper in Briley’s office on Woodruff Road. Briley says, “I like to be authentic. I speak my mind, and I love honesty.”

Briley’s welcoming personality and transparency are key in developing real relationships. Whispers of success have allowed Ghost Marketing to build recognizable brands including Larkins Restaurant Group, Dipple Plumbing and Southern Culture Hospitality Group. It’s all about immersing businesses into the community to create awareness, including partnerships with Mauldin High School to develop a Maverick Wall for client, HipBurger. He says, “We’re your backyard marketing agency. We’re always thinking on our feet.”

Three facets of the business help accomplish client goals. Ghost Marketing is the communication between business and consumer.

Ghost Production generates creative elements for promotions.

Ghost Consulting consists of a business analysis to find and fix holes.

Problems vanish after meeting with a team of ghosts who develop a plan and execute it. Briley explains, “We’re an execution team. If you can’t execute, the idea is worthless.”

As staff members fade in the background like an apparition during implementation, clients glow in the spotlight. For that reason, Ghost Marketing won’t be disappearing. They’ll continue providing local companies with a paranormal experience.

1941 Woodruff Rd. Suite B. | 864.704.3229 GhostMarketing.org

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FUN FACT: “I’m a massive Star Wars fan. My keyboard is a stormtrooper. I’ve got Star Wars helmets, pens, and watches.”

DID YOU KNOW? Briley authored a book called Entreprenuersh!t. It’s about the journey of entrepreneurship, including the struggles and hardships.

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PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2020

PHOTO PROVIDED

SPAULDING GROUP AT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES, C. DAN JOYNER REALTORS Exceptional agents. Exceptional results.

Carole Atkison got her real estate license in 1987. She was the Sales Manager for Spaulding Farm from 1990-1997. Spaulding Company evolved into a full-service real estate team that now represents home buyers and sellers across the Upstate. Spaulding Company merged with C. Dan Joyner Realtors in 2009 and Atkison became team leader of Spaulding Group.

They are a small group that is passionate about their business.

Carole says, “Our team is not just about selling. Our focus is people helping people, which is reflected in our agents’ commitment 28

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to their clients and to each other. Some members of our team have worked together for over a decade.”

Spaulding Group’s experience, expertise and repeat clients have contributed to their success: ranked the #1 or #2 team for C. Dan Joyner Realtors in the Upstate for 12 out of the last 13 years, ranked the #21 large team for 2021 out of approximately 50,000 agents in the world for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Spaulding Group has developed a broad network of repeat business and referrals. This is their focus and what they work toward every day.

1016 Woods Crossing Rd., Greenville CaroleAtkison.CDanJoyner.com Front Row: Pam McCartney, Susan Raynal, Carole Atkison (team leader), Margaret Marcum, Kem Swenson, Marie Crumpler; Back Row: Toni Leopard, Leigh Irwin, Meredith Dixon, Beth Sarmento, Debbie Levato, Diana Slashinski, Susan Waters, Lapaula Lanier, Heather Tiller, Olivia Grube, Christina Grube, Susan Tallman; Not pictured: Becky Orders, Shelby Jordan, Melissa Ross-Merkel

FUN FACT: Spaulding Group sales volume for 2021 was higher than any other team ever in the history of C. Dan Joyner Realtors.

QUOTE: “All the talent in the world won’t take you anywhere without your teammates.”

– Zig Zigler

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

YEAR ESTABLISHED: The store originally opened in 1997, but Leigh Ann Miller bought it in 2020.

FUN FACT: She had a bad experience with a mannequin as a child, and now she won’t go anywhere near them.

DID YOU KNOW? She rides horses once a week under the hunter jumper discipline.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “My customers: becoming a part of their life when they tell me they wore one of our pieces to their special event.”

PINK BEE GVL

More than just a Lilly store Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Leigh Ann Miller ended up in South Carolina for college and graduate school.

When the pandemic hit, her MBA classes went online, and she needed a challenge. So why not buy a retail shop in downtown Greenville, she thought.

She took a calculated risk when she bought Pink Bee GVL in 2020, but coming from a family of entrepreneurs, having an interest in fashion and overflowing with marketing ideas, Leigh Ann was ready. She has made Pink Bee GVL more than just a Lilly Pulitzer store, adding in a multitude of designers, accessories, local apparel and a lounge area for customers to hang out, have a drink and relax.

“I want Pink Bee GVL to be more than a place to buy a dress,” says Miller. “I want it to be an experience, to feel like a family and friendship for our customers.”

When Miller isn’t jetting around the country and looking at brands that her customers would love, she’s at home with her dog, listening to a psychological thriller on audio and needlepointing. She also volunteers at the PRISMA Children’s Hospital reading to kids or playing with them.

105 Augusta St., Greenville 864.271.4332 | PinkBeeGVL.com LIVE LOCAL 2022

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PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

CENTRE STAGE

ESTABLISHED: 1983

Still the Best Seat in Town

Centre Stage is a unique space in Greenville that produces all of its own shows locally, gives hundreds of playwrights and artists the space to create annually and provides quality entertainment that supports the local community.

goal of providing quality entertainment and artistic inspiration. In fact, they will be celebrating the 20th year of their New Play Festival Competition this fall where they work with local playwrights to produce their own shows.

“Centre Stage is completely rooted here in Greenville,” said Laura Nicholas, Managing Artistic Director for Centre Stage. “If someone wants to give back to the community, this is the place to do it.”

Their involvement in the Upstate runs deep as they partner with many nonprofits to raise awareness for their causes.

As an indoor venue, they pushed through the pandemic through local and national support, especially the from Greenvillebased Metropolitan Arts Council. Now they are stronger than ever, holding fast to their

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“When we produced Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, we worked with Greenville First Steps, who facilitates her Imagination Library, to give free books to children,” said Nicholas. “We also give high school and college students opportunities to explore their dreams of theatre artistry.”

FUN FACT: Centre Stage is the only thrust stage — where the audience sits on three sides of the stage — in town!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “The local artists. We work with hundreds of local artists and their commitment to artistry, is really inspiring.”

501 River St., Greenville 864.233.6733 centrestage.org

DID YOU KNOW? The venue at Centre Stage is built entirely inside another building (a building within a building!) for complete soundproofing.

PHOTO PROVIDED

MELISSA MORRELL

ESTABLISHED: 2003 FUN FACT 1: Melissa prefers wearing heels over flats.

FUN FACT 2: She has never had a cup of coffee in her life!

She says she was born with energy.

FUN FACT 3: Her favorite song is Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”

Greenville’s Agent 24/7

Melissa MORRELL Greenville’s Agent 24/7 E S T. 2 0 0 3

1016 Woods Crossing Rd. Greenville 864.918.1734 GreenvilleAgent247.com

When it comes to taking risks, Melissa Morrell doesn’t leave anything to chance. Lady Luck has nothing on years of hard work, both professionally and personally.

Named the No. 1 individual agent for BHHS C. Dan Joyner Realtors 11 times now and married for 26 years, Melissa knows the key to success. It’s all about supporting others and being supported in return.

“The only person I’m competing with is me,” she says.

In business, Melissa says she recognizes that each day and each sale is a gift, and she’s always grateful for both. She knows life is preciously short after losing her mother to breast cancer in 2014.

The same is true at home where her husband and three children cheer her on every day, and she supports them in all their endeavors. Melissa says the family trait for being ambitious has been passed to her children. She says they’re all entrepreneurial and have wonderful heads on their shoulders.

Melissa notes three tricks to staying successful in the roulette wheel of life. First, learn from the best. Second, don’t take life for granted. And third, strive to improve and recreate yourself through setting lofty goals and always being willing to try something new!

“It’s not luck. When you work hard, it pays off,” she says.

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CORLEY PLUMBING AIR ELECTRIC Founded by Chris Corley in 1986, Corley Plumbing Air Electric has always focused on being the service leader in the industry. Although the company faces a lot more competitors now than when it started, “it’s still our desire to be the best, to be the brand that people can trust,” says the company’s general manager, Mitzi Ott.

the company send flowers to a customer for a special occasion. “We encourage that,” reports Ott. “Anybody can fix a toilet, but not everybody can have that relationship.

It’s always been my motto that you should build a relationship before you build a reputation.”

Mr. Corley sold his business in 2019 to parent company, TurnPoint Services, a shared-services organization that provides human resources, marketing and financial support to 42 brands across the U.S. He may not be involved in the day-to-day details anymore, but Corley still meets with Ott every couple of weeks to share his wealth of knowledge about the business.

Those relationships reach out to the community, where Corley sends staff volunteers to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity and raises money for March of Dimes. They are even working with a staff member from Ukraine through local churches to support families who are fleeing the war.

Over the years, Corley’s company has expanded its services to include not only plumbing, but HVAC and electrical services—everything from installing toilets to upgrading electrical panels—for both residential and commercial properties. “Our job is to find the right solution and the best option for the customer,” Ott says. Case in point, replacing an entire HVAC system may not be in a customer’s budget, so the Corley team will work with them to find another solution.

It’s all about relationships. Many customers know the technicians personally and will ask for them by name. It’s not unusual for Corley’s technicians to request that

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“We stand behind what we do,” Ott says. “We have 3,000 service partners [customers who have annual service contracts with Corley] beyond just the customers who call in for service. They’re part of our family.” Also part of the family are the 105 team members, many of whom have worked at Corley for years.

Although the company is no longer family-owned, Ott insists that nothing has changed. “It’s still the same Corley, the same philosophy and approach the company has had since 1986. It was always a family; now it’s just part of a larger extended family.”

ESTABLISHED: 1986 FUN FACT: The company has had five name changes over the years: Corley Plumbing and Heating, Corley Professional Services, Corley Plumbing and Electric and finally Corley Plumbing Air Electric.

PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Seeing our team at the end of a hard day feeling proud of the work they did for their customers and their community! And knowing they were the professionals that customers were counting on to show up and turn a bad day into a good one..

864.659.2914 | CorleyPro.com

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Here To Take You Home ESTABLISHED: 1964 their union and often works with Carmen.

As a teenager, Carmen Feemster answered phones in her grandfather’s offices. She made appointments and “looked When she can get away, Carmen finds short trips rejuvenating, through the big books” before real estate listings were online, but clients are a priority. “This job is hard. There are no days off, learning all sides of the business. not even when you are out of town. No deal is the same, no client is the same, no house is the same and I love every bit of it!”

Despite the recession, she was eager to live up to her family’s legacy when she graduated college in 2008. However, she took As the incoming PTA president, Carmen Feemster is proud her parents’ advice and first gained business experience outside that her children are third-generation students at Sara Collins the company. After her grandfather passed away in 2012, she Elementary where she and her mother went to school. felt it was time to officially join C. Dan Joyner.

“Family support is essential,” Carmen says. “My mom has been doing this for 30 years, teaching me exactly what kind of realtor I should be, and my dad, our Executive Vice President, is always there to guide me.” Also helping with Carmen’s demanding schedule is her husband, Will, who’s been by her side since they were sophomores at J.L. Mann. He’s a partner on the home front, helping with carpools, dance recitals and 2021 Augusta St., Greenville sports practices for their three children; on the business side, he brings vast knowledge of the mortgage lending industry to 864.616.5177 | CarmenFeemster.CDanJoyner.com

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FUN FACT: Carmen is ambidextrous; she does almost everything with her left hand but writes with her right.

DID YOU KNOW: Working with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Carmen is a third-generation agent with the local real estate company started by her grandfather, the late C. Dan Joyner.

PHOTO BY ROBERT KLEMM

CARMEN CRIGLER FEEMSTER

STANLEY STEEMER OF GREENVILLE – ALLEN & SARAH D’ANDREA Living Brings It In; Stanley Steemer Takes It Out!

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

You probably think you know what Stanley Steemer does.

After all, they’ve spent decades being the best in the carpet cleaning industry, expanding their services for home or office to include rugs cleaned in-home/office or off-site, deep cleaning of hardwood floors, tile and grout cleaning and sealing, as well as indoor and outdoor furniture.

But the truth is that Stanley Steemer does a lot more than that. Specifically, they now offer comprehensive air duct cleaning services for your home and business.

“We’re NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaning Association) certified,” says Greenville Stanley Steemer Allen D’Andrea, “which is the governing body for air duct cleaning in the industry. So I think that provides customers with credibility, knowing we’re going to clean it the right way, use the proper equipment and make sure we follow the standards to get the system clean.” After they get your air ducts cleaned to standard, they can install a UV light to maintain a cleaner and healthier home for the future.

Stanley Steemer cleans residential and commercial locations, and they can clean any home or business no matter the size of the ductwork, day or night.

“We’re using the best equipment possible to clean people’s homes and businesses the right way,” D’Andrea says.

D’Andrea adds that the highest level of service is the least he can do for the area he loves.

“What’s there not to enjoy about living and working in Greenville?” he says. “It’s a great city, the people here have been fantastic, it’s great for kids, and for a business that we’re trying to grow and establish roots down here, it’s worked out perfectly.”

Call for a free estimate on any Stanley Steemer service.

1140 Whitehorse Rd., Greenville TO SCHEDULE: 864.232.7746 | StanleySteemer.com

ESTABLISHED: 1979 DID YOU KNOW? Stanley Steemer cleans upholstery, tile & grout, hardwood floors and water mitigation services.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Seeing people happy and appreciative of the work we do and the results.”

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PROSOURCE The Source For Plumbing, Lighting, And Hardware When you walk into the expansive showroom at ProSource, you can’t help but be awed by the dazzling displays of bath and kitchen fixtures, door and cabinet hardware, mirrors and lighting from the most reputable brands in the industry.

At 10,000 square feet, the Greenville showroom is the largest of the seven ProSource locations, which include five in Upstate South Carolina and two in Western North Carolina.

utilize showroom displays, vendor literature, social media and proprietary technology to help customers envision what their space could look like.

ProSource opened in 1996 in a 13,000-square-foot warehouse with just five employees. In the ensuing years, the company has grown along with the Upstate, and today it boasts a vast 89,000-square-foot warehouse in Greenville and employs 140 people across its seven locations in the Carolinas.

Working with customers to complete a project is a complex process. “We start by sitting down with a client to find out what they want, so we know what direction to lead them,” notes Jennifer Lopez, who has been with ProSource for 15 years and is now director of showroom sales. Next, it’s crucial to ascertain whether the clients are making decisions based solely on price point or they’re just looking for a particular style. “What sets us apart is our amazing team,” she adds.

“We consider it an honor to be a part of a process that helps make someone’s house a home.”

“We pride ourselves on customer service, whether that customer is a homeowner, designer, builder or plumber,” says the company’s new marketing director, Jennifer Phillips. Members of the showroom staff, including Greenville showroom manager Nikki Carter, work with homeowners and their designers to achieve the aesthetic that they desire to see in their home. The showroom consultants at ProSource

There’s a good reason that ProSource was voted Best Plumbing Supply by Best of the Upstate (per The Greenville News) in 2021. “We focus on exceeding customer expectations with every person who walks into our showroom,” adds Jennifer Phillips. “We’re here to meet their needs, whether their budget is small or large, or whether they’re working on minor updates, remodeling or building a new home.”

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ESTABLISHED: 1996 FUN FACT: “Our Greenville Showroom has a fully functioning spa room, which allows customers to experience a steam shower, sauna and three different types of tubs. Call to schedule your appointment!”

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “I am inspired by our team of showroom consultants. They work together as a team to ensure no matter the project size, each customer benefits from our extensive product knowledge and guidance, whether they’re planning for a renovation, building a new home or making simple updates.”

PHOTO BY BONFIRE VISUALS

DID YOU KNOW? “Our showroom consultants receive weekly productknowledge training, so they’re constantly being educated on what’s new.

Also, not only do our showroom consultants train on-site, but they also visit manufacturers’ plants all over the country.”

200 Industrial Dr., Greenville | 864.232.2545 | ProSourceSupply.com

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PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

BRIGHTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES

ESTABLISHED: 2010

The Carolinas’ IT Support Just Got Brighter As the owner and operator of BrightFlow Technologies, Brian Mangum knows security is imperative to life as well as business. In business, he and his team work to keep businesses running smoothly and with proper safety measures. In life, it’s much of the same.

Brian encourages people to verify everything to save both time and money in the long run. Whether it’s financial or familyrelated, taking the time to double-check things is worth it.

“It is far less exhaustive to spend an extra few minutes to verify information than to get exploited,” he says.

Outside of BrightFlow, Brian hopes he is

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instilling a sense of security and his personal focus of “Core Four” into his three children.

He said those four core things in life are body, being, balance and business.

“Helping people drives me forward. I love being able to share my knowledge on something that most people find frustrating,” he adds.

Much of his success he attributes to his mentor, John, who taught him to trust God and to show love to others. He said John is a shining example of just what a man ought to be.

When it comes to security, Brian Mangum knows all about it, both in the world of IT and at home.

1 N Main St., 4th Floor Greenville 864.485.8600 Brightflow.net

FUN FACTS: “I am an adventurer – backpacking and kayaking are my two main hobbies.

I completed a 26-mile ruck competition last year and 3 consecutive 27mile backpacking trips on the Mountains to Sea Trail.”

GOLDEN STRIP GLASS Clearly the choice.

Reflecting excellence.

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

Dominick Abbate moved south in the early 1980’s and found work with a local glass company. When that company closed, the man affectionately known as “The Dom” started his own company out of the back of his truck. Over three decades later, that company, Golden Strip Glass, has become one of the premier glass companies in the Upstate.

Since the very beginning, Abbate cut glass, but he didn’t cut corners. “Things were being done the way they should be done,” says Matt Abbate, Dominick’s son and President of the commercial division at Golden Strip Glass. “That has been passed down to my brother and me.”

Today, Matt and his brother, Michael, run the business in the wake of Dominick’s retirement. They have updated the technology involved, adding a commercial fabrication system that allows for even more customization. People in the Upstate have seen Golden Strip’s work at the newly completed AC Hotel in Downtown Greenville, Fountain Inn High School, Bon Secours Hospital in Simpsonville and hotels in the area.

Michael Abbate is President of the residential division, which focuses on customization in new residential buildings and remodels. They provide frameless glass shower doors, antique mirrors, glass tabletops and even glass repairs of residential windows.

Starting with one man and his truck, the company has grown to over twenty employees. “A lot of our workers started young and grew up doing things the right way,” says Matt, who says doing things the right way is a team effort. “Everybody has a vested interest in it. Everybody feels a part of it.”

Although “The Dom” retired in 2018, his sons are carrying on his legacy at Golden Strip Glass.

According to the Abbate brothers, their dad has always been the guy to lighten the mood in the shop. “He’s still involved, and he’s always telling jokes,” Matt explains. “He’s always in the middle of everything, and you can always hear him laughing.”

343 Miller Road, Mauldin 864.297.9989 goldenstripglass.com

FOUNDED: 1991 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Matt Abbate says he is inspired by “continuing to grow the business and honoring the integrity of the company that my dad set from the start.”

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PHOTO BY LIBBY HUBBARD

FOOT SOLUTIONS GREENVILLE

ESTABLISHED: 2021

Foot wellness experts Ken and Celeste Purdie are both veterans with passion for business and helping others, which is what led them to opening Foot Solutions in Greenville last summer.

Celeste was in the US Air Force while her husband was in the US Navy. It was there they both developed their desire to serve others and their community as they traveled the world. After their time in the military, they spent decades in the corporate world which, according to Celeste, left her stressed and exhausted. All that exhausts her now is trying to incorporate everything new she wants to do.

It was after a life-changing car accident that Celeste knew she needed to make a change.

She says they had never taken a full week’s vacation without constantly taking business

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calls and checking email. Celeste notes that in that lifestyle, they scheduled their life around work.

But now, the Purdies schedule work around their life. While in the military, Celeste went to more than twenty-five countries, and they still love to travel. Now with being business owners, they can renew that love of travel.

She says South Africa was a favorite, and she’s happy to be based in the Upstate.

Time for family has also been made a priority, and their employees are like family – even down to a friendly in-house rivalry between Clemson and Carolina. Celeste and Ken have plans to open two more Foot Solutions locations in other parts of South Carolina.

FUN FACT 1: The Purdies will have two more Foot Solution locations in South Carolina soon.

103 E Butler Rd., Unit K Mauldin 864.412.8513 footsolutions.com/locations/ greenville/

FUN FACT 2: They have an instore Clemson/USC rivalry happening.

FUN FACT 3: Celeste believes travel is key to staying young and happy.

AMY HAMMOND Dedicated to the Extraordinary Just before her Live Local interview, Amy Hammond grabs her phone and says, “Could I call you back? I’m giving a boat driving lesson.” This is just one example of her extraordinary dedication to her clients and her profession.

In 2021, Amy was the Top Producer for Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty. With $20 million in sales last year, a career best, she also received the Chairman’s Circle and Skyrocket awards and was named Most Valuable Agent.

As a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), she spends part of the year in the British Virgin Islands. She and her husband of 25 years are avid travelers, and Italy is next on their itinerary.

Amy is licensed in three U.S. states and often works through Sotheby’s in Highlands, N.C. and Atlanta Fine Homes. “The Upstate is my home and my heart, and I love working all over South Carolina. If clients are not from here, I let them know where to meet people with similar interests so they feel like they’re part of something,” she says.

Selling properties from $200,000 to $10 million, Amy’s devotion never varies. Her hallmarks include candid advice, availability — and the occasional boating lesson.

148 Thomas Green Blvd., Clemson 864.314.4000 JHA-SothebysRealty.com

PHOTO BY LIBBY HUBBARD

ESTABLISHED: 1997 FUN FACT: For part of the year, Amy Hammond travels to and sells homes in the British Virgin Islands.

DID YOU KNOW? Certified International Property Specialists take specialized courses to enhance their expertise on currency exchange, international transactions and more.

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PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

ESTABLISHED: 2002

Movers Who Care

This year, Greenville’s Two Men and a Truck franchise celebrated 20 years. That’s two decades of making people’s lives easier as a top-notch moving company, a junk hauling service and provider of storage space for homeowners and interior designers.

“It feels like it’s gone by in the blink of an eye,” says Rebecca Feldman, who co-owns the Greenville franchise with her husband Bryan.

Greenville has remained the Feldmans’ home even as they’ve expanded their reach, growing their business into multiple franchises all over the Southeast and starting a management company that provides back-office support to all those franchises.

“It’s just a wonderful place to raise our children,” Feldman says, “and there’s a wonderful sense of community. We have absolutely no desire to go anywhere else.”

Feldman says that the secret to making a business successful for two decades is to just take it one day at a time.

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seems in that moment and that this too shall pass,” she says. “And that’s how we keep going. More and more over the years, you see the ups and downs and you see the ebbs and flows and you know that it’s not going to stay the same.”

Left to right: Rebecca Feldman, Caroline Feldman, Bryan Feldman and Reid Feldman

107 Sandra Ave. Greenville 864.329.1228 TwoMen.com

FUN FACT: Running, volunteering, soccer and dance keep this family busy!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Continuing to make an impact on the lives of our employees and the Greenville community.”

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

ROBINSON FUNERAL HOMES AND MEMORIAL GARDENS Outstanding Team of Professionals Helping You Remember The Moments ESTABLISHED: 1875 DID YOU KNOW: The new expansion at Robinson Memorial Gardens creates two hundred new crypts, 368 cremation niches and more than 2,500 new ground burial spaces.

Robinson Funeral Home is one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the Upstate—existing for almost 150 years. Many of the licensed Funeral Directors and Memorial Gardens professionals shown here are demonstrating one of the meaningful ways for families to say goodbye to their loved ones. Standing on the porch of the Chapel of Reflection Mausoleum at Robinson Memorial Gardens, these outstanding, caring professionals are participating in a balloon release.

Situated on a calming pond, there are glass-front niches for urns on the inside as well as crypts and niches both inside and out. The acoustics of the Italian Marble floor are the perfect setting to conduct a service to remember your loved one inside this climate-controlled mausoleum.

Robinson Memorial Gardens maintains its tradition of caring, and continues to grow and change to reflect the needs of the Upstate. The cemetery has just undergone a large expansion of more than four acres with a new garden mausoleum with a pavilion attached for outdoor committal services featuring a state-of-the-art sound system.

Robinson Memorial Gardens offers a variety of options, including glass-front niches, a Veterans Garden of Honor, Chapel of Reflection Mausoleum and plots overlooking more than 80 acres of rolling green hills. With Robinson Funeral Home-Powdersville Road situated next to the Memorial Gardens, a family can make all the arrangements for the funeral and the cemetery under one roof in one conference room. With

a crematory under the same roof, there is every option available for families to consider.

“We’re here to provide a comfortable place for families to have a meaningful service that honors their loved ones,” says Chris Robinson, managing owner and a fourth-generation funeral director. “We specialize in listening to families as they tell us about their loved one, and we make recommendations to personalize a service to enable them to share memories and remember the moments.”

With full-service funeral homes in downtown Easley, Powdersville Road and Central-Clemson Commons, plus Robinson Memorial Gardens easily accessible to each, Robinson can assist families throughout the Upstate as they honor and celebrate their loved ones. As they have for more than a century, Robinson Funeral Homes is guiding families to plan meaningful tributes to their loved one and providing them a calming environment to remember the moments.

1425 Powdersville Rd., Easley 864.442.1800 RobinsonFuneralHomes.com

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PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

GARRISON OPTICIANS

ESTABLISHED: 1974

Artistic Eyewear and Outstanding Service Garrison Opticians has been called Greenville’s premier eyewear boutique thanks to their exclusive, high-quality and artistic inventory. You won’t find Garrison’s selection of eyewear available in chains or other stores around town. The eyewear may be high fashion, but the business is anything but snooty. The staff’s hospitable service goes hand in hand with their distinctive inventory.

Owner Bonnie Silberman and Manager Mignon Borchert, credit Bonnie’s late husband, Phil, with Garrison’s dedicated clientele and vibrant tone. “When he passed, so many people came in to tell me about their interactions with Phil. Our clients really do become our friends,” Mignon says.

Coming from California in 1992, Phil worked with Nelson Garrison at another Upstate establishment and later purchased Garrison Opticians from him. The business has brought a touch of Europe to the Upstate - not just in frame styles and brands, but with a European way of doing business. In Europe, there are small 44

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optical shops everywhere, serving local clientele.

Mignon’s eye for fashion in this industry is undeniable, but her background in optical labs helps provide clients a full service experience. “It’s about listening well and sometimes just giving people permission to have fun,” Mignon says.

Our selections are like pieces of art. Nothing is mass produced. Your eyewear is personal, and it should be tailored for you to see and look your best.

1992 Augusta St., Stuite 109, Greenville 864.271.1812 | GarrisonOpticians.com

FUN FACT: “When you find ‘That Garrison Look!’ it’s YOUR look – we will not carry that eyewear model again for a while, if at all.

DID YOU KNOW? The Garrison’s website features ads dating back to 1974, showing Greenville residents modeling their fashionable eyewear, also known as, “That Garrison Look!”

PHOTO BY JUSTIN IRICK

DID YOU KNOW? Pressley and Moore-Shaw bought Wild Birds Unlimited in 1997.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? The community.

Abbie says, “During the pandemic, many small businesses struggled to survive. We are extremely grateful to the Greenville community for their support over the last few years.”

WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED “We bring people and nature together.”

When Abbie Pressley and Melanie Moore-Shaw opened Wild Birds Unlimited twenty-five years ago, they had a mission to help people (and birds) in the Upstate. Since then, the mother-daughter duo has helped people around Greenville create sustainable environments for birds in their own backyards. “Some things don’t change,” says Pressley. “Our mission never changes.”

One thing that has changed in the last fifty years is the bird population. Billions of birds have disappeared from the environment, and Wild Birds Unlimited provides solutions for everyday people to make a difference in saving the birds. From bird feeders and seed to birdbaths and nesting boxes, Wild Birds has everything customers need to create an environment for local birds to thrive. Wild Birds Unlimited has partnered with the National Wildlife Federation,

(NWF), and local citizens can even get their backyard habitats certified by the NWF by applying online.

Over the last few years, many in the Upstate have taken a renewed interest in the birds right outside their windows. “So many people have learned to stay at home more than they used to,” explains Pressley. “They’ve found that birds create a sense of joy and peace of mind.”

She also recommends that parents get their children interested in birds as an alternative to screens and technology. Creating a bird habitat and watching birds is a great family activity, which is easy to do and provides opportunities to discuss nature with children. “We have children who have become very interested in birds in the last couple of years,” Pressley says. “I’m amazed at what they’ve learned and what they can tell us.”

626 Congaree Rd., Greenville 864.234.2150 wbu.com/greenville LIVE LOCAL 2022

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BOOZE BUGGY

ESTABLISHED: 2020

Why Go To The Bar When The Bar Can Come To You?

FUN FACT: “Booze Buggy does actually drive, although you won’t see it driving around town. We have a trailer for safe transport.”

be able to bring our creative vision to Greenville.”

An Italian three-wheeled vehicle has rolled into Greenville carrying precious cargo. Mobile bar owners, Sarah and David Guthrie, created Booze Buggy to deliver an unforgettable bartending experience to clients for a variety of celebrations.

The eye-catching design makes events more memorable while sipping a tasty beverage.

Packages vary based on event size and timeframe. David says, “Alcohol is paid for by the client separately, but we handle all the details for convenience.” The Guthries are responsive and accommodating. David says, “We strive to go above and beyond with our customer service.”

The pint-sized 1981 Piaggio Ape (ah-pay) mobile bar has five taps allowing for several beverage choices.

Sarah says, “It adds that special touch to an event.” The business started as a side gig for the sociable couple.

Sarah says, “We’re both social and love parties. I saw this concept of a mobile bar. Greenville didn’t have a vintage one.” David says, “We were fortunate enough to

Their signature Honey-Thyme Margarita is a crowd favorite. Sarah says, “It is made by hand with all-natural and fresh ingredients.” In addition to beer, wine and mixed cocktails, they can also serve Prosecco from the tap, which isn’t a common local option. There’s nothing quite like this customizable experience, making it a really special delivery.

boozebuggysc.com

DID YOU KNOW? Ape means “bee” in Italian, which inspired Booze Buggy’s honeycomb backsplash and logo design.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

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PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

JACOB MANN, COLDWELL BANKER CAINE Your Greenville Realtor We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: “When it comes to buying or selling a home, Jacob Mann is the man!”

He’s once again # 1 agent in sales volume and units for Coldwell Banker Caine, and he knows how to put the work in to stay there.

He’s got the right game plan and strategies for success for both buyers and sellers.

“Being number one doesn’t just fall in your lap,” Mann says. “You have to be able to react quickly (especially in this current market) because time truly is of the essence, but you also have to react quickly with things that you know from years of experience that have succeeded in the past for your clients to give them the best chance to win.”

You may be surprised where you see a

Jacob Mann real estate sign through all of the Upstate!

“I do not at all corner myself into a certain market,” he says, “whether that be price range or location. I sell all over the Upstate, including the lake, the foothills, the countryside. I sell for first-time buyers, dream-home buyers and downsizers.

Whether you need more house or less house, I’m there. I hit singles, doubles, triples and home runs, and last time I checked, they all add up at the end of the day. A deal is a deal.

I am an advocate for my clients, and I am so thankful for each and every single one of them, regardless of price.”

Call Jacob Mann, he is the Mann!

ESTABLISHED: 1999 FUN FACT: Jacob could cook or cater a party of 300 at a moment’s notice!

111 Williams St., Greenville

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Family is everything; they are my inspiration!”

864.325.6266 JMann@CBCaine.com

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PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

EMBELLISHME

ESTABLISHED: 2019

Professional Piercing & Fine Jewelry Rebekah Keenan is proud of her business, EmbellishMe, and what they do.

“We are Greenville’s first high-end piercing studio,” she says.

“We do only fine quality piercings with fine high-end jewelry such as gold and diamonds.”

Why go to a typical studio and get a typical piercing when you can go to EmbellishMe and get exactly what you want; your “dream piece,” so to speak.

“We do have literally thousands of options to choose from,” Keenan says, “so the client is able to pick and choose what they want from the very beginning and they don’t get just a ‘starter piece.’ They can immediately go to their dream piece of jewelry.”

And you can trust that your piercing will be done with the highest level of safety at EmbellishMe. “We can pick anything off of one of our displays and have it sterilized for you within ten minutes while you’re filling out your paperwork or asking questions,” Keenan says. “That’s really important to me because you don’t have a bunch of

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jewelry sitting in the back collecting dust. The client can immediately go to their dream piece of jewelry, and have it installed immediately with the highest level of sterilization procedures.”

There you have it; EmbellishMe has the selection and safety to ensure the perfect piercing.

301 Haywood Rd. Suite 5, Greenville 864.236.1157 | EmbellishmeGreenville.com

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “My clientele. Everybody has their own story to tell. It inspires me to help people design themselves and be able to ornate themselves the way that they want to and be able to express themselves tastefully. Hearing their stories and seeing their inspiration and being able to make it come to life for them.”

DID YOU KNOW? EmbellishMe has thousands of options to choose from that you can get pierced with from the very beginning. They cater to every individual specifically.

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

RUSH WILSON LIMITED Purveyors of Classic American Style

ESTABLISHED: 1950 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? ”I’m inspired by making people feel good. When people feel good about how they look, they perform better, and we’re able to touch many people’s lives that way.”

– Rush Wilson III

For the past 70 years, Rush Wilson Limited has continued to be woven into the fabric of the Greenville community. In every sense of the term, Rush Wilson Limited is a family business. Since Rush’s father opened the business in 1950, Greenville’s premier men’s clothing store has built a culture of camaraderie and respect inside the store and throughout the community. Today, Rush and his son, Jay, work in the store alongside each other.

But the Rush Wilson family extends beyond bloodlines. “Our team is a family,” says Rush.

“The people I get to work with are the best. They’re conscientious, family people who love Greenville. It makes coming to work exciting and fun.” When customers enter Rush’s store, they can sense the family atmosphere, providing a comfortable and inviting shopping experience. While times have evolved, “we plan to continue offering the quality clothing and expert fitting knowledge that all three generations have once provided.”

At Rush Wilson Limited, they believe that the philosophy of a welltailored wardrobe will bring confidence to the way their customers carry themselves. From the young man looking for his first suit to the savvy corporate gentlemen and every stage of life in between, confidence is always key. By offering current fashion styles and everything a man might need, from socks and shoes to boxers and hats, they plan to continue weaving themselves into Greenville’s community as it expands.

23 W. North St. Greenville 864.232.2761 RushWilson.com LIVE LOCAL 2022

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CAROLINA FURNITURE & INTERIORS Four Decades Of Fine Furnishings

Linda Dickens opened Carolina Furniture & Interiors in 1976, the same year her son Will was born. He grew up right along with the business, which has the best collection of home furnishings and accessories in the Upstate, and he also grew to admire his mother’s dedicated work ethic and commitment to customer service.

In addition to an unparalleled work ethic, Linda always had a keen eye for design, which translates to hand-selected pieces from top manufacturers in the marketplace. The goal is for customers to find creative ways to make their homes unique and livable.

The Dickens family and the staff at Carolina Furniture & Interiors has managed to thrive over 46 years, and Will Dickens, who runs the day-to-day operations now, says he feels gratitude toward the Upstate more than anything else.

“I want to say thank you to the Upstate for your continued support and business,” he says. “We’re looking forward to the future.”

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In fact, the Upstate has been so supportive that Carolina Furniture & Interiors was able to purchase a warehouse last year to keep even more stock available.

“What really helps us is to be able to keep the product in front of our customer,” Dickens says. “We’re a high end resource for people who are in our area, and we’re very fortunate to be in an area as solid as the Upstate.”

CAROLINA

FURNITURE & INTERIORS 135 Mall Connector Rd., Greenville 864-963-9536 | CarolinaFurnitureInteriors.com

ESTABLISHED: 1976 DID YOU KNOW? Will Dickens is an interior expert and an exterior adventurer – an avid hunter, fisherman and conservationist.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “We are inspired by helping customers create stylish, livable spaces in their homes that they can be proud of and enjoy with family, friends and neighbors.”

CRUMBL COOKIES

ESTABLISHED: 2020

Taste weekly

PHOTO BY LIBBY HUBBARD

FUN FACT: On Saturdays, an incredible crew of bakers at our Greenville store sells 5,000 hand-made cookies from two mixers and two ovens.

DID YOU KNOW? Crumbl is opening between 4 and 10 stores a week across the country.

New store locations are coming to Greenville soon.

A weekly surprise of ooey gooey goodness is sweetening our community’s taste buds. Every Monday, Crumbl Cookies offers new flavors like golden brown, cinnamon dusted churro cookies.

Thanks to local family, Paul and Robyn Gallucci, residents can bite into confectionary perfection.

1118-B, Woodruff Rd. Greenville 864.881.2250 702 Fairview Rd., Suite 103 Simpsonville 864.881.2684 CrumblCookies.com/Greenville

Robyn says, “It’s a national franchise, but we’re a local business. We’re raising our kids here. This is a concept we brought to our people.” Paul explains they wanted to find the right franchise opportunity, “I thought a lot about our community. What people would enjoy.” After one visit to Crumbl’s headquarters in 2020, the Galluccis put on an apron.

For them, it’s about bringing people together.

Paul says, “Our motivation is to provide the

world’s best cookies to share with friends and family.” Their values are baked into the business, which blesses the community with end-of-day cookies for nearby non-profits with fresh ingredients.

Paul explains, “Our cookies are all made from scratch and balled by hand all day.” New cookie concoctions are just icing on the cake. Robyn says, “It makes it exciting. The fact that flavors change every week.”

Employees hope to sprinkle a little happiness into customer’s meetings and events with catering or help neighbors brighten someone’s special day. It’s a dream come true for the Galluccis to help the community celebrate every occasion with cookies.

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PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

LITTLEJOHN PORTABLES

ESTABLISHED: 1985

Serving the Upstate Over 30 Years With over thirty years in the community, Littlejohn Portable Toilets has established itself as a reliable, essential part of the Upstate. Brad Steele, owner of Littlejohn since 1991, prides himself on being customeroriented, which has led to customers returning time and time again, some working with Littlejohn for decades. “We’re a familyowned business,” says Steele, who has added his children—Brad Jr. and Anna—as well as his son-in-law Brantley into the business.

“Customers can always reach us on the phone, and we’ll do whatever we can to get customers what they need.”

The oldest portable toilet company in the Upstate, Littlejohn can be found across the area at construction sites, big

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and small. They also provide portables to special events, weddings, parties, festivals and other community events. They can be found at athletic events at universities and colleges across the Upstate. If you’ve been to a Clemson football game, you’ve probably seen—or used—a Littlejohn portable.

But Littlejohn does more than just standard portable toilets. They can also provide portable sinks, holding tanks and even roomy, executive trailers that approach the luxurious.

“We are proud of our past thirty years and are looking forward to our future,” says Steele.

“We appreciate the customers we’ve had for decades, and we are constantly improving for our future customers.”

DID YOU KNOW? Dedicated employees like Brandy Miller, Zeke Adams and Rogelio Ponce among others have been with Little John Portables for over ten years.

864.295.2969

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Everyday is inspiring being able to work with the good people I work with,” says Steele. “And we’re all inspired by being involved in the growth of the Upstate.”

PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

GREENVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA GSO’s Diamond Anniversary Season

What began as a group of volunteers performing at Furman University has evolved into a renowned professional orchestra known as the Greenville Symphony Orchestra (GSO). For the 2022-2023 season, the musicians are set to deliver blockbuster performances of classical favorites, some cinematic moments and a unique tribute to the city that has been its home for 75 years.

Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel has thoughtfully selected pieces staff members call the greatest hits of classical music. The season includes stunning Masterworks concerts in Peace Concert Hall, approachable Chamber concerts in the Gunter Theatre and special events. Additionally, the POPS concerts include community favorite “Holiday at Peace,” presented

by United Community Bank, and a magical performance of the “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™” score while the film plays on a 40-foot screen. There will also be a casual event at Furman’s Timmons Arena conducted by Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops and Artistic Director of the Brevard Music Center.

The first Masterworks concert will feature the world premiere of a piece commissioned by the Peace Center. “Love This Place!” was created by acclaimed composer and Furman graduate Bob Farnsworth. During the second half of the season, the Upstate History Museum will showcase the symphony in honor of its diamond anniversary.

To be part of the celebration and learn more about the 20222023 season’s programming, educational activities and special 75th Anniversary events, visit greenvillesymphony.org.

Partial Orchestra featured in photo.

200 S. Main St., Greenville 864.232.0344 | greenvillesymphony.org

ESTABLISHED: 1948 FUN FACT: The 75th anniversary season features an original musical composition from an accomplished creative director with local ties.

DID YOU KNOW? Every year, 25,000 local students enjoy music free of charge during ensemble performances at their schools and during field trips; many experience downtown Greenville and hear live orchestral music for the first time.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN IRICK

GARRETT’S GOLF CARS

ESTABLISHED: 1992

Carolina Born And Bred

Thirty years ago, Hal Garrett had the idea to sell golf carts for use off the golf course. Today, he sells new and used carts all over the country but is thrilled to call South Carolina home.

Along with his wife Tara Ann, Hal credits his employees who share his enthusiasm for hard work and customer satisfaction.

He has many employees who have worked with him for over a decade, and they play an integral part in the company’s success.

Another part of Garrett’s Golf Cars success is the customers they get to work with day in and day out. This great region of Upstate SC is the best place in the country to live with the best people.

The recreational use of golf carts has become more common, and it goes hand in hand with Hal’s love of the outdoors.

Whether it’s hunting, fishing or spending time with family and friends, he enjoys working and playing outdoors.

No stranger to hard work, Hal says he was influenced by his grandfather, who set an excellent example for him and everyone he encountered. He’s grateful for his impact on his life.

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“My grandfather needed something to drive around his property besides a truck or tractor, and the idea of using a golf cart came to fruition. One thing led to another, and a business was born,” Hal says.

Married for 27 years, Hal says his family is his number one success. He and his wife have three children and they are proud to be active in their local community. He says he’s happy to have a close-knit family..

604 N Woods Dr., Fountain Inn 864.862.7709 | gowithgarretts.com

FUN FACT 1: The Garretts are fans of both the Clemson Tigers and the Greenville Triumph.

FUN FACT 2: They have provided golf carts for PGA tournaments.

FUN FACT 3: Hal considers himself to be an avid outdoorsman.

PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

ESTABLISHED: 1992 FUN FACT: Moisture remediation is a huge part of the business. People have no idea we do this – and do it well.

DID YOU KNOW: Each year in the U.S., termites cause $5 billion in property damage.

DOBBINS TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL We treat your home like our own It’s been 10 years since Jason and Crystal Galloway quit their full-time jobs, took a leap of faith and bought Dobbins Termite and Pest Control.

At the time, they had one part-time employee, and because of their customer service and community relationships, they have grown to eight full-time staff and a host of happy, bug-free customers in the Upstate.

“We treat our customers’ homes like our own. We don’t try to sell anything that isn’t necessary, and we take pride in the fact that all of our guys are very honest,” says Crystal Galloway. “Our ultimate goal is to do quality work and build relationships with our customers so that they will refer us to a friend.”

Jason is a former firefighter who worked a bit

with the previous owner of the company, Brian Dobbins. Unfortunately, Dobbins succumbed to cancer, which prompted the Galloways to purchase the company. Dobbins was also a firefighter, and the company still honors that connection by offering a discount on services to first responders.

Both Jason and Crystal, who have been married for 16 years, are engaged in the community with Jason volunteering for Crime Stoppers and Crystal with the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dobbins Team (from left): Tom Davis, Brad Winnslette, Crystal Galloway, Jason Galloway (seated), Dusty Lawson, Cory Lawson, Chase Davis and Beth Pifher

P.O. Box 1683, Taylors 864.246.4506 dobbinstpc@gmail.com dobbinstermiteandpestcontrol.com

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BUTLER COLLEGE COUNSELING Fit Focused Approach It was her own experience applying to college that led Emily Butler to launch Butler College Counseling, a firm that walks alongside families of high school students to design their paths after high school.

A 38-year Greenville native, Emily is now raising her own family while helping the next generation navigate ways to use their strengths and interests to plan for college and their ultimate career. Emily partners with students to curate a compelling college-application, while focusing on the right fit.

She also works to break educational barriers amongst underserved communities in Greenville with GirlUp GVL. By providing free college planning for these students, she aims to empower 1st generation college bound students to not only succeed in high school, but in their career, as well.

“I love to work with all these kids. It’s that ‘Ah-ha’ moment when things click,” she said.

It’s gratifying to know they aren’t following in someone else’s footsteps, but taking ownership of their future.

Serving the Greenville community with her firm has helped shape Butler into an up-andcoming woman in the Upstate.

864.320.2606 ButlerCollegeCounseling.com

FUN FACT 1: Emily would eat sushi every day if she could.

FUN FACT 2: She loved being an original member of CESA soccer in the late 90’s.

FUN FACT 3: Her greatest success is being a mother.

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PHOTO BY CHELSEY ASHFORD PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2020

JILL CHAPMAN, C. DAN JOYNER

PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2007

Buying Or Selling, Not Cutting Corners

FUN FACT 1: “It’s hard for me to drive down a street without eyeballing roofs or walking into a house and privately pointing out flaws.”

FUN FACT 2: Jill has a new love for ballroom dancing.

DID YOU KNOW? “I received the Presidents Circle Award from Berkshire Hathaway and am in the top five percent out of 430 solo agents.”

1016 Woods Crossing Rd. Greenville 864.918.9508 cdanjoyner.com/ agents/55930-jill-chapman

C. Dan Joyner REALTOR, Jill Chapman has special milestones to commemorate this year. Not only has she turned 50, she will also celebrate her 15th anniversary as a licensed agent at the same company. Every day, her goal is to celebrate life, individuals and accomplishments with thoughtful gestures.

Jill says, “I’ve recently overcome serious obstacles and am looking for reasons to celebrate.” The most recent attainment she’s toasting is being recognized as the Top 25th Solo Agent within her company. She says, “It was nothing but favor from the Lord.” By utilizing her strengths in communication, negotiation, listening and sales strategies, she’s been able to serve others and develop strong friendships in the process.

The accomplishments of clients are another reason for Jill to clink glasses. Judson and Mary Jahn are genuine friends, clients and reliable neighbors of Jill’s. Judson is a professor at Clemson University and is one of three partners at Merrell Jahn & McDuff Law Firm. Mary is a managing real estate assistant. They were key players in opening a second location for the law firm in Pendleton Square. It was Jill’s suggestion that they join the Anderson Chamber of Commerce to celebrate with a ribbon-cutting.

The turnout was outstanding.

Every achievement deserves recognition.

Whatever the occasion, Jill will continue to applaud the successes of clients, friends and neighbors. She may even break out the big balloons.

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PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

MARTIN GARDEN CENTER

ESTABLISHED: Over 50 years ago

Your Happy Place Throughout eight years of ownership at Martin Garden Center, Reggie Meehan confides that her most challenging goal is helping customers develop their green thumbs. “Most people love their plants to death,” she says as she explains gardeners tend to overwater their plants. Meehan continues, “We owe it to our customers to teach them.” She plans to do so with extensive training classes for customers this year.

Despite five dedicated employee-owners besides Meehan, she still works exhausting 12+ hour days, particularly during the spring season.

She says, “I guess farming is in my blood. I spent summers snapping peas and shucking corn at my grandparents’ farm in Mississippi.”

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pouring sweat is not a new experience.

With 25,000+ plants covering every open space at Martin Garden Center during spring, Meehan credits her staff with keeping everything flourishing. “We have built the most amazing team,” Meehan says. “They’re dedicated to making the customer experience as positive as possible and growing the best plants. You couldn’t work with a better group of people.”

Guests can purchase annuals, perennials, herbs, veggies, trees, shrubs and vines. Seeds, soils, fertilizers, chemicals and décor items such as pots, stakes, birdbaths and statuary are also available. Stop by for a peaceful stroll among vibrant colors and floral scents. It’s always a good time to pick up a plant and play in the dirt.

FUN FACT: “We grew the best crop of Hostas this year because we finally mastered the art of not overwatering.”

DID YOU KNOW? Plants are resilient and can generally pop back up after being underwatered but not when they’re overwatered.

198 Martin Rd., Greenville 864.277.1818 MartinNursery.com

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Beauty inspires me. Not just the beauty of plants but the beauty in people.”

BIG ‘O’ DODGE

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 1983

Family-owned and operated

FUN FACT: Jake Odum has a 150-pound Bullmastiff named Gunner who likes to shake hands with customers when he visits the dealership.

DID YOU KNOW: Big ‘O’ has been in the same location under the big American flag on the Motor Mile for 39 years.

“I like to tell our story, but I don’t want it to be a sob story,” Jake Odum says. Seeing his smiling face on TV commercials, viewers might be surprised by that story, but the Odums’ faith has seen them through tragedy and bolstered a prosperous business for almost 40 years.

2645 Laurens Rd. Greenville 864.288.5000 BigODodge.com

Jake’s dad, Michael, ran Big ‘O’ until 2003 when he passed away due to a motorcycle accident two months before his 50th birthday.

At age 24, Jake’s older brother, Tanner, stepped up, their mom, Beverly, took on a daily role at the dealership and Jake also made a major change. “My younger brother, Kyle, was headed to Florida for an automotive business management degree,” Jake says. “Our

world was upside down, so I transferred from Clemson and went with him.”

Big ‘O’ was going strong when the unthinkable happened again in 2008. Tanner was killed in a car accident. Jake, then 25, took the lead and continues to run the company with Kyle, who joined him after graduating in 2007, and Beverly is still involved. The Odums held their ground when many businesses moved to Woodruff Road and are now looking forward to the Swamp Rabbit Trail expansion and further development around Verdae. Outside work, the brothers enjoy time with their wives and children and love to go mountain biking together in places like Pisgah National Forest.

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JANA CANDLER

ESTABLISHED: March 2017

CDJ Feels Like Home #homewithJana What you see is what you get with realtor Jana Candler, and that is all good news when it comes to the biggest purchase of your life. She holds nothing back from her clients, always answering her phone and taking great care to be as communicative as possible, especially in this complicated market.

“I do this because I love it. I find satisfaction in serving people,” she says.

“And letting people know you are there, no matter how small the question or concern, is important to me.”

Born in Alabama, Jana received her college education in Nashville, where

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FUN FACT 1: “I was a wedding photographer for 18 years before I became a realtor.”

she met her husband, and then moved to his hometown of Greenville to raise her family. Jana chose the real estate industry because she needed a position that fit her family’s busy schedule. Her love of people led her to choose real estate, and she hasn’t looked back.

FUN FACT 2: Jana and her husband met and fell in love in a mere two weeks.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “My family. I want people to feel like I do when I walk into my house, that feeling of being home.”

As members of Taylors First Baptist church, Jana and her family are active in the faith community, singing in the choir and teaching Life Group. It’s a full but wonderful life in Greenville, which she loves sharing with her clients.

“I love our city. It’s so easy to sell Greenville,” she says.

864.313.6990 | JanaCandler.com

DID YOU KNOW? “Growing up in a military family, I went to 12 schools and four high schools.”

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: Serving Greenville since 1994 DID YOU KNOW? Jeff Milliman is the recipient of the Runner’s World Golden Shoe Award, for helping thousands of runners enjoy running and avoid injury.

GREENVILLE RUNNING COMPANY Dedicated To Improving The Lives Of Runners

Jeff Milliman brings over 42 years of experience in the running business to Greenville Running Co., which seeks to improve the lives of runners through proper footwear, as well as sharing wisdom that comes from having put his hands inside hundreds of thousands of pairs of running shoes in that time.

Jeff started running in the 1960s and learned how to come up with innovations to perform better and avoid injury. And when they say innovative footwear, they mean it; the former National Champion has a patent on the use of composite fibers (including Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass and Kevlar) in running shoe cushioning.

“I’m in the shoe business, but the reason I’m in the shoe business is that, at first, I was an athlete,” Milliman says. “I was a runner, and I started running when I was very young; I ran in middle school, high school and college as well as beyond and in fact still hold the state record in Georgia for the Men’s Marathon. One of the things that always intrigued me was trying to find footwear that would help people perform better.”

Greenville Running Co. offers all manner of performance shoes, apparel, accessories and nutrition, all designed to maximize runners’

skills and keep them healthy and injury-free. They professionally fit and offer performance and injury prevention modification with any shoe purchase at no charge.

Milliman and his staff are able to use their combined 75+ years of experience to advise runners on the runner’s lifestyle.

“Running stores didn’t used to exist, and people with a lot of knowledge in running shoes didn’t used to exist,” Milliman says. “It’s been an evolution.”

765 Haywood Rd., Greenville 864.631.1154 GreenvilleRunningCompany.com

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CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS, INC. Civil & Environmental Consultants ranks among the top 100 design and environmental firms in the U.S., per Engineering News-Record. They opened a Greenville office in 2016, and Charlie Isham was charged with leading that office after having spent 35 years serving the industrial, commercial, legal and public sector markets on environmental, regulatory, hazardous waste, wastewater, civil and transportation projects.

The opportunity to build an office from the ground up was the challenge with which he wanted to finish his career. “I wanted to find the right people to position the office for growth and sustainability,” Isham says. Isham, who retired in May of 2022, did exactly that!

Under his leadership, the office has welcomed talented professionals who chose to build their careers in a place with an exceptional business climate and superior quality of life.

The growth of CEC’s Greenville office will continue to be the focus of Isham’s successor, Brian Souva. Souva has been with the firm since 2011, half a decade before the Greenville office opened. A licensed and registered professional land surveyor with 36 years of experience, Souva began in the firm’s office on the Pennsylvania-New York border, moving later to CEC’s Knoxville office for several years before the opportunity to lead CEC’s Greenville office came to light. He quickly jumped at the chance to take on the leadership opportunity and build on what Isham started. Souva also serves on the company’s Board of Directors.

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The office recently welcomed Karuiam Booker to the team as a project manager in the Civil Engineering practice. Booker’s experience lies in public sector work. His most recent position was with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, and he is currently the youngest elected member of the District 2 city council in Greer, a close neighbor of Greenville. He loves to participate in community service projects. Recently, he was invited by the Riverside High School Black Student Union to share life advice and speak to students about politics, the role of local government and how to get involved. The Clemson grad is a certified Engineer in Training in South Carolina and is a member of the Municipal Association of South Carolina and the South Carolina Economic Development Association.

Another new staffer is Bryan Lightweis, a Senior Project Manager in the Civil Engineering practice, and he will provide services in the civil/environmental engineering and construction industry. He joined the Greenville office late last year. Lightweis is a professional engineer with experience in site layout and design; roadway, utility and building infrastructure; and a specialization in stormwater management, spill prevention and erosion/sediment control.

“All of our people have the energy, the drive, the conscientiousness — and they all want their reputations to be stellar,” says Isham. Exactly what you’d expect from a stellar team that will continue to grow and diversify under the new leadership of Brian Souva.

ESTABLISHED: 2016

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

DID YOU KNOW? The Greenville Office has home grown employees that were born and raised in the local area but also has four nationalities from three continents represented! If that wasn’t enough, four different languages are spoken by CEC Greenville employees.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “I enjoy meeting new clients and fostering long lasting relationships where they have the utmost trust in my work and in turn they tell their colleagues about the quality of service that I provided them. This is the best form of advertisement and flattery that a consultant could ever wish for.”

530 Howell Rd., Suite 203, Greenville | 864.626.3140 | CECInc.com

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TAKE COVER STORAGE

ESTABLISHED: 2018

Making It Easier To Enjoy Your Toys Blake Jones is an avid outdoorsman who loves being out on the water more than just about anything else.

“Honestly, I enjoy being outside, I enjoy being on the water, anything boat-related is something I’ve always been a part of,” he says. “I’ve been in the boat business for 15 years, but I’ve boated all my life, so I was able to find that niche for a business that helps other people do the same thing.

That’s probably why he’s so good at his job: General Manager of Take Cover Storage, a unique facility that focuses on the needs of boat, camper and RV owners. In addition to secure, climatecontrolled storage, Take Cover provides one-stop convenience with concierge services such as pre-use prep and post-use clean-up; refueling; maintenance, repairs and refurbishing; even transport and dockside delivery.

“We provide another option outside of an on-the-water marina,

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which always stay booked up,” Jones adds.

And the Upstate is the perfect place for a company like Take Cover Storage.

“The Upstate has three great lakes right here,” Jones says. “You’re an hour from the mountains and just a few hours from the coast, so you sort of have everything. This area is really starting to become more populated for all those reasons. It’s a great place to be.”

1448 Blue Ridge Blvd.

Seneca 864.608.9270 TakeCoverBoatAndRV.com

FUN FACT: Take Cover operates out of 220,000 square feet of repurposed space in the old Covidien factory.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Making sure people are taken care of on the recreational side.”

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2013 DID YOU KNOW? TCM opened a new Charleston office this past year.

FAVORITE 2021 PROJECTS: “Definitely The SchoolHouse Lofts in Spartanburg, 20 S. Battery Boutique Hotel in Charleston and The Lofts Anderson in Anderson.”

TAX CREDIT MARKETPLACE Connecting investors with tax credit opportunities Greenville’s Tax Credit Marketplace (“TCM”) connects investors with state and federal tax credit opportunities, and they’ve developed a reputation as the in-demand project partner among their peers. Their investors include individual SC taxpayers, banks, corporations and family offices, while their development partners are local and out-of-state professionals doing projects in South Carolina.

“In most cases, the general public does not hear about us,” says TCM’s COO Josh Workman, “but developers, wealth firms and municipalities know us because we’re the go-to firm in South Carolina for tax credits. Professionals in the CPA and financial planning world do because we provide tax saving solutions for the clients, while the commercial real estate world see us as their trusted capital solution to complete their tax credit generating projects.”

In fact, TCM has partnered on over 80 successful projects in SC to date and has 50 on the board. “Dozens of upcoming projects are in the Upstate,” Workman says. “17 in Greenville County, 13 in Spartanburg, 4 in Anderson and more in Columbia and on the coast.”

Workman says his team thrives on connecting people, not just with much-needed tax credits, but with each other. In fact, their logo’s design is based on this activity.

“What makes TCM unique is sharing our expertise and connecting the right professionals to ensure these projects are a catalyst for more investment, which revitalizes SC communities large or small, urban or rural. We are proud to play a role in South Carolina’s success,” Workman says.

777 Lowndes Hill Rd., Building 3, Suite 110 844.825.4337 | TaxCreditMP.com

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BANKER EXCHANGE Earning Trust, Protecting Assets, Providing Sound 1031 Exchange Advice.

Banker Exchange focuses exclusively on maneuvering the complexities of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows investors to defer capital gains taxes on real estate transactions through qualifying exchanges.

If that sounds confusing at all, don’t worry. President Shonna Felkel and the team can explain the complex in a simple manner.

“The satisfaction I get is helping Main St. investors, the small community investor, manage their tax liability and leveraging the tax savings to grow their net worth. We did a tremendous amount of work down Woodruff Rd. and up at Lake Keowee.

People just didn’t know it because we’re kind of behind the scenes.”

“Probably 80% of what we do is educate and try to get the centers of influence up to speed,” Shonna says, “as well as being a resource for our investors who have questions. Before a transaction even starts, we’ve typically consulted with the investor on how the process works, what the options are and the time frames they’re subjected to as part of the exchange process.”

In layman’s terms, what all this really means is that, thanks in part to Shonna and the team at Banker Exchange, the Upstate’s development and growth are stronger than ever.

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777 Lowndes Hill Rd., Building 3, Suite 110, Greenville 864.271.1449 | Bankers1031.com

ESTABLISHED: 1992 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “The fact that people trust us with their hard-earned money – and refer us to their clients and colleagues.

I’m a real estate/ corporate lawyer, and I love closing deals. The parties to a real estate transaction are usually happy at the end – unlike the parties to litigation.”

PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

ESTABLISHED: 1969 FUN FACT: Garner’s Natural Life has over 10,000 products.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Seeing our customers reach their health goals!”

DID YOU KNOW? They used to be a big market and cafe and in 2008, refocused on vitamins and supplements.

They’ve since opened four stores.

GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

Take Your Health Somewhere It’s Never Been Before Driven by a love of health and wellness and the belief that everyone deserves health, the staff at Garner’s Natural Life are more than happy to show their customers around and help them choose from the vast array of vitamins, supplements, skincare, herbs, teas and even natural pet care.

“You can go anywhere and buy vitamins.

You cannot just go anywhere and have someone tell you what they do, how much to take, or how they may best fit you, your body, and health goals,” says Susan Ledbetter, the Marketing Manager at Garner’s Natural Life and Master Herbalist herself.

In fact, seven of Garner’s staff are certified natural health professionals and another seven are Master Herbalists. They are able to use their extensive knowledge of their products to help guide customers and personalize the experience.

“Supplements are a personal thing. This is about your body and health and you need to have a good idea about what is going in your body and feel good about where it comes from,” says Ledbetter.

A mom-and-pop shop right from the start in 1969, Garner’s Natural Life is also involved in supporting the Greenville Humane Society through sponsorship of the annual Mutt Strut.

27 S. Pleasantburg Dr. #20 Greenville 864.242.4856 1601 Woodruff Rd., Suite A Greenville 864.603.5550 LIVE LOCAL 2022

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ASBURY HILLS

ESTABLISHED: 1961

A place set apart

While Asbury Hills is known for their kids summer camps, they also have a robust program to bring out the kid in everyone through their business and corporate retreats.

Picture a calming creek to wash worries away, chef-prepared meals and comfortable, private accommodations.

“We want adults to know they can come here for respite, relaxation and retreat,” says Bob Kahle, a director at Asbury Hills. “We plan retreats full-time and help groups by listening and working with them to achieve their goals.”

Asbury Hills is a special place set apart from a frenzied world in a peaceful setting not far from Greenville. But really what sets Asbury Hills apart is their staff.

“They are service-minded in a way that puts the needs of the guest ahead of anything else,” says Bob. “ They aren’t trying to take shortcuts or do things the fastest way to go home. We live here, and we welcome you to our world.”

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Asbury Hills wants to bring the carefree kid out in all their guests, in an environment that meets their needs and leaves them feeling like they experienced a bit of heaven.

“We are waiting to serve – that’s what we were made for,” said Bob.

150 Asbury Dr., Cleveland AsburyHills.org Pictured left to right: Chris Hulme, Trevor Brock, Paige Helms, Travis Johnson, Steve Maynard, Bob Kahle, Sarah Moseley; Sitting: Arthur Spriggs

FUN FACT: “We’re a 2,000-acre memory maker.”

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “When I see someone’s shoulders finally come down and they start to relax. They can then truly appreciate where they are.”

DID YOU KNOW? “We have six or seven waterfalls on camp.

That’s something people are attracted to. “

PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2016 FUN FACT 1: Since June 2021, the firm has opened three new offices in the Upstate to better serve the Anderson, Spartanburg and Powdersville communities.

FUN FACT 2: Trey Ingram and his wife Kelli helped pass several bills concerning foster care in the state of South Carolina.

HOLLIDAY INGRAM Say Hi to a New Closing Experience Hayes Holliday and Trey Ingram want to break the stereotype of a law firm. In fact, they strive to be intentionally non-traditional. From not outfitting their offices with law books to supporting business casual attire, the crew at Holliday Ingram want their staff and clients to feel welcome, at ease and right at home.

That’s because while both men recognize that work is very important, they value relationships — with clients, friends and family — as their top priority. When they established Holliday Ingram in 2016, they set out to create a business that was deeply vested in relationships built on the highest level of trust, personalized service and client satisfaction. With the addition of five new

office locations across South Carolina, and now a team of more than 60, their founding mission still holds true today.

“We strive to be successful, but we all know that family is number one,” Holliday says. As a father of three, he knows time at home is vital.

Ingram, a father to eight, agrees. He adds that they work hard to get that balance and want everyone who works with them to feel the same way.

Celebrating people and serving the community are both phrases they say and put into practice every day. Providing a positive experience for families outside of their own is what drives them to continue growing the Holliday Ingram brand.

25 E Ct. St. #201, Greenville 864.232.3541 HollidayIngram.com LIVE LOCAL 2022

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HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREENVILLE HBA Supports Building Industry, Benefits Upstate Residents.

The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greenville has been advocating for both builders and consumers since 1960, and with the ongoing surge of development in the Upstate, their mission of promoting responsible growth and development is more relevant than ever.

With building permits up 32 percent (5,253 more in 2021 than 2020), Chief Executive Officer, Taylor Lyles says a slight decrease in activity would actually reduce strain on the labor force, as well as the city, the county and suppliers. For its part, the HBA stays on top of local legislation, engages lobbyists and communicates information about building codes, permitting, materials and any other issues that may affect the residential home building process. They also offer many networking opportunities and continued that practice during the pandemic. “We had weekly updates — sometimes with more than 300 people on Zoom — and our speakers included the governor and members of city council,” Taylor says.

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As of May 2022, the HBA’s 600-plus members included more than 100 builders and a wide variety of industry professionals.

When it’s time to build or improve a home, consumers can look to the HBA for a reference. An Approved Professional Builder (APB) must pass a 20-point checklist, and other service providers are thoroughly vetted. “It’s like an easier, free version of Angie’s List,” Taylor says. “I grew up here, and to me this is also a personal reference and an important responsibility to help businesses, homeowners and the community as a whole.”

5 Creekside Park Ct., Suite H, Greenville 864.254.0133 | HBAofGreenville.com

ESTABLISHED: 1960 FUN FACT: The Southern Home & Garden Show, the largest and most popular event of its kind in the state, is presented annually by the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greenville.

DID YOU KNOW? The local HBA is not limited to builders; its members include a wide variety of contractors, trade partners and any other ancillary arm of the building industry.

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

MOUNTAIN BROOK VINEYARDS Extraordinary Service, Beautiful Environment, and Exceptional Wine Mountain Brook Vineyards looks like it is straight from a movie. The vast mountain views, the large and comfortable terraces overlooking the vineyards, the kind and welcoming staff – it all blends together to not only make exceptional wine but also the kind of magical experience you want to have again and again.

“The overall experience is one of our main priorities,” says Tim Smith, the General Manager. “We want people to feel welcome and walk away with a greater appreciation of wine. Our team is warm and friendly.”

The winery is quite the hidden gem, located minutes from the Tryon International Equestrian Center and

nestled amongst a picturesque valley in the foothills. Several types of grapes are grown on-site, and the winemaker has more than 35 years of experience.

The current owners, Jonathan and Vickie Redgrave, bought the property in 2018 and have added more acres for vineyards, a barrel room that is often used for private events and weddings, and state-of-the-art tanks. The winery is both family and dog-friendly and hosts live music, tours and movie nights.

“We want guests to feel relaxed and not rushed,” says Andrew Gorczyca, the Tasting Room Manager. “We want them to come out and enjoy the property.”

ESTABLISHED: 2002; Jonathan and Vicky Redgrave purchased it in 2018.

FUN FACT: The Wine Club, a terrace and a wine blend are all named after the family dog, Cooper.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “There is something inspiring about creating something that people are going to appreciate and enjoy.”

731 Phillips Dairy Road Tryon, NC 828.722.1037 mountainbrookvineyards.com

DID YOU KNOW? Every year on Cooper’s birthday, they partner with a local no-kill shelter for an adoption event.

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THE HIRING GROUP

Great Contractors + Great Benefits = Staffing Reinvented Chris Yarrow and Brooks Israel have known each other for more than two decades, and for the last eight years, they have been running perhaps the most unique technical staffing company in the Upstate.

After years of learning and working in the industry, Yarrow and Israel founded The Hiring Group, which has grown to be one of the largest technical recruiting companies in the area.

What sets The Hiring Group apart is the way they treat their contractors. While most staffing companies do not offer quality benefits to their contractors, Yarrow and Israel decided to offer the best benefits they could. “We knew we wanted to do something different,” says Yarrow. “By offering our people the benefits they deserve, the same benefits Brooks and I have, we thought we were doing right by our contractors. We found out we were doing right by our clients too.”

Chris and Brooks say that the companies hiring their contractors notice a difference. When workers are taken care of, they tend

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to stick around, do better work and bring more positivity to the worksite. “People like working with us for a long time,” says Israel, who has lived in Greenville since 2001. “We treat them like human beings who deserve benefits and time off.” That attitude has led to 94% retention at The Hiring Group in an industry that typically retains about 50% of its contractors.

The Hiring Group has been one of the fastest growing private companies in South Carolina for several years, and they have just been named one of INC Magazine’s Best Places to Work for 2022.

3 Independence Pt. Suite 107, Greenville 864.729.3701

FOUNDED: 2014 QUOTE: “The coolest part for me is when new recruiters or contractors are able to have kids, buy a house or do exciting things in their lives,” says Chris Yarrow.

“It’s inspiring knowing that you’re providing for your employees and making those things possible.”

PHOTO BY JUSTIN IRICK

GREENVILLE TRACK CLUB Greenville Track Club....... 50 years ...... The Tradition Runs On! The Greenville Track Club is South Carolina’s second oldest running club and is celebrating 50 years in 2022. They are a nonprofit organization giving their proceeds to many local non-profit charities.

The Greenville Track Club would love for everyone who is interested in running, walking or just volunteering at great events (road races, All Comers Track Meets) for a good cause to be a part of it. Reach out today at www.greenvilletrackclub.com “You don’t have to be a great runner to join the track club,”

FUN FACT: Founder Bill Keesling is still a very active member with amazing stories of watching the club grow for 50 years.

says Beth Grumbles, VP of the GTC. “People think they aren’t good enough to join but really, we are a club for everyone — walkers, runners, families. We’re not exclusive.”

The GTC was formed by Furman University Track & Field Coach, Bill Keesling, and has grown to include competitive and casual runners plus walkers and people interested in fitness.

One of Bill’s biggest goals when he started GTC was to build relationships in the community, a milestone the club has certainly met!

ESTABLISHED: 1972

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “The excitement that happens every time seeing the community come together as they volunteer and/or participate in our local events.”

1619 E. North St. Greenville GreenvilleTrackClub.com

DID YOU KNOW? Over the years, Olympic medalists have also participated in Greenville Track Club events alongside all the participants.

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HENNESSEE HAVEN Gillespie Can Make Your Home A Haven Terry Gillespie chose to name her interior design firm Hennessee Haven as a nod to her maiden name and through her talent, Terry creates remarkable design.

As a designer, Terry not only has in-depth knowledge of décor, but also architecture and space planning. Her career has included design-build construction, architecture, project management and property development. “My roots are in design, and I’ve been blessed to apply my talents and passion in a creative way. I’m able to look at each new project comprehensively,” she says.

Terry’s personal tastes lean toward transitional modern – clean lines, natural stone, reclaimed woods, expanses of glass and mixed metals – but she loves delving into each client’s aesthetic preferences.

From historic Charleston homes to The Reserve, The Cliff’s communities, a sleek condo above Fluor Field, a penthouse at St. Regis Atlanta and other homes in Upstate SC and NC, Terry brings an expert eye and experience to any interior. The process always begins with an initial consultation and a thoughtful analysis. Developing a budget early on guides how expenditures will be made for the best overall effect.

During her off-time, Terry enjoys cooking, nature walks, art and spending time with family, which includes her fur baby, Tebow.

820 S. Main St., Greenville 864.597.9494 HennesseeHaven.com

ESTABLISHED: 2013

DID YOU KNOW? Interior decorating and interior design are not synonymous; in addition to aesthetics and furnishings, designers focus on optimal space planning for clients’ lifestyles.

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PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

FUN FACT: One definition of the word “haven” is a place of safety or refuge, which is exactly the type of environment Terry Gillespie creates for her clients.

PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

DIPPLE PLUMBING

ESTABLISHED: 1979 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “I enjoy helping my employees.

This is a very close-knit group, we help each other.”

The Trusted Name In Greenville For Over 42 Years Since 1979, Dipple Plumbing has had the solutions for your plumbing, heating, A/C and home remodel needs. And they aren’t part of some huge, impersonal conglomerate.

“We’re not owned by a big corporation,” says Chuck Dipple, the owner of Dipple Plumbing. “We’re family owned and operated. We’re also really big on using domestic parts and materials.”

So what’s the secret to staying in business for nearly 43 years? Dipple says it’s all about trust and having a good team.

“The success is directly a result of the quality of our employees and management, and we pride ourselves on dependability and trust,” he says.

“We’re really big on if there’s a problem, we go back and correct it. A lot of companies will sell you something, but they don’t really take care of it.

And that’s the difference, that’s what sets us apart. And we’ve been doing that for 43 years.”

In fact, Dipple Plumbing starts from the ground up, crafting their employees with the same care they use on their plumbing, heating and

A/C services.

“We build our service technicians,” Dipple says. “We’re not interested in hiring experienced service technicians, we like to build them. We like to bring younger, fresh, clean-cut people in that don’t know anything about plumbing, electric, heating and air and figure out what they want to do and then teach them a trade. And that’s been extremely successful for our business, having people that really know what they’re doing and really care.”

Pictured left to right: Nathan Ashley, Billy West, Chuck Dipple, and Ryan McCooey

211 N. Pleasantburg Dr. Greenville

864.271.1205 DipplePlumbing.com LIVE LOCAL 2022

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BIG DAVE’S ALL-AMERICAN BBQ Big Dave for the Win

A self-taught chef, “Big Dave” Jones developed his signature sauce as he recuperated from an injury he sustained while working in a different field. “I prayed for something else to do and got up every day striving and dreaming,” he says.

After opening Lil’ Red BBQ Smokehouse in Dallas, the longtime Cowboys fan had another dream. “The guard at the stadium said every vendor in the world was trying to get in, but after about 20 tries, I got them to taste my food,” Dave says. The team loved his Texas beef brisket, and Dave was soon catering for coaches, players and dignitaries.

The Joneses were living large in Texas until 1997 when they came home to Greenville to care for his mother and decided to stay after she passed away. Dave continued catering for teams such as the Panthers and Falcons and sold barbecue from a Spinx building on White Horse Road. He later opened on Tiger Boulevard, but the 2008 recession took its toll.

This year, Dave returned to a brick-and-mortar establishment on

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Faris Road, and his son D.J., formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, signed with the Denver Broncos. A portion of Big Dave’s proceeds goes to D.J.’s foundation, which the family will continue to grow with the addition of scholarships as they add retail outlets for Dave’s sauces. “I’m still dreaming and believing,” Dave says.

1193 W. Faris Rd., Greenville 864.593.8884 | TheBigDavesBBQ.com

ESTABLISHED: 1997 FUN FACT: Dave Jones is a former executive chef of the Dallas Cowboys.

DID YOU KNOW? Big Dave’s AllAmerican BBQ Sauces are available at participating Lowes grocery stores.

PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2015

CUSTOM ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS Organizing Life Your Way

FUN FACT : Even though Eric isn’t of full Italian descent, he can cook better Italian/Sicilian cuisine than Peter.

DID YOU KNOW? They are a Christianbased company and have four ministers who work there.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? "To be able to help take care of the 30 families we have working for us."

1004 Geer Hwy., Travelers Rest 864.501.9555 CASDesignSolutions.com

There are companies who say they will follow through on promises. Then there are companies who have an extensive track record of doing so. Custom Architectural Solutions is the latter, whose owners know that reputation, work ethic and quality mean everything.

“For us, it’s about integrity. We do what we say we are going to do and don’t leave people hanging,” says Peter Pasienza, president of Custom Architectural Solutions.

While the company is known for their custom closets and cabinets, anyone strolling around Greenville can see its work — especially in several of the larger buildings downtown. The company’s showroom in

Travelers Rest is a wonderful place to see what they offer and understand the integral values and work ethic that lie at the heart of Custom Architectural Solutions.

Customers recognize the quality work done by Custom Architectural Solutions, and business has grown tremendously since Peter and his business partner, Eric Anderson, opened up. “We started with just the two of us and now have grown to 30 employees,” says the team.

“Faith, family and finesse are key elements that make up the DNA of Custom Architectural Solutions. These have been vital to our success thus far,” says Eric Anderson.

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CAROLINA VEIN CARE AND AESTHETICS Advanced Care & Expert Techniques For many, vascular problems are more than cosmetic. They can lead to skin ulcers and cause a significant degree of pain, interfering with work and normal activities. According to Dr. Mark Jackson, co-founder of Carolina Vein Care and Aesthetics, enlarged veins, spider veins and other concerns impact a significant percentage of adults; however, he and his partner, Dr. Julie Park, offer minimally invasive techniques with little downtime.

Standing puts pressure on the veins, and some people simply have genetic tendencies toward circulatory issues. Fortunately, today’s technology precludes the old-fashioned procedure known as “vein stripping.” Mark says, “We use ultrasound to locate the vein and only a small puncture to reach it. There’s much lower risk and less discomfort. The newer techniques lend themselves well to office-based practice.”

Mark started the vascular surgery program at St. Francis where he met Julie and her husband in 2006. She was working elsewhere when he decided to open his own practice, but he reached out to her when the time came.

Due to the appearance of the veins, patients can often “self-diagnose,” and anyone can ask questions through the online Patient Portal. The process is streamlined because there’s no need for a referral to visit Carolina Vein Care and Aesthetics. “The ratio is 2:1 now — direct patient contact to physician referrals,” Julie says.

While vein care is more accessible and convenient than ever, Mark cautions that not all “vein experts” have hospital credentials, and some receive only scant preparation. “The lack of standards and regulation is really unbelievable,” he says.

Mark is a board-certified vascular surgeon with 30 years of experience treating varicose veins and other vascular disorders. In Dallas, he was on the vascular surgery faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern.

Julie holds board certification in both interventional radiology and diagnostic radiology. She completed an interventional radiology fellowship at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago and has extensive experience using image-guided minimally invasive techniques to treat various conditions, including vein disorders. Additionally, she performs tumescent liposuction and other aesthetic procedures.

Mark and Julie say patients often remark how kind and friendly the office staff is, as well as on the décor and soothing atmosphere in their office. In less than five years, the business has grown to the point where they need to move to a larger facility, and they plan to bring the same expertise and energy to a setting in Five Forks later this year.

103 South Venture Dr., Suite B, Greenville 864.610.1947 | CarolinaVeinCare.com

ESTABLISHED: 2018 FUN FACT: In less than five years, Carolina Vein Care and Aesthetics has grown to the point that its staff will be relocating to a new office in Five Forks in 2022.

DID YOU KNOW? Varicose veins are a common circulatory disorder, affecting as many as 23 percent of American adults.

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THE FAMILY EFFECT

ESTABLISHED: 2008

Heal a family and we all get better.

The Family Effect believes families are the fertile soil from which all good things grow. Sadly, one in four kids live in alcohol-abuse homes and one in eight live in other substance-abuse homes. This often leads to abuse, neglect and harm to children. The cycle continues, leading to family and community collapse.

To prevent the cycle, The Family Effect’s mission is to reduce addiction by supporting the Phoenix Center’s efforts. It allows individuals like Tom Murphy to have access to high-quality services regardless of financial resources. The Phoenix Center offers on-site residential programs and outpatient counseling.

Individualized treatment services are provided by skilled, licensed staff who use evidence-based therapies to help clients live healthier and more productive lives. The prevention team also educates the community on the harmful effects of substances through a mobile education unit and other outreach programs.

The Family Effect supports this work by securing funds for a variety of projects including updates to Serenity Village, a residential program that provides treatment for pregnant women, mothers and up to two young children. Becky Maddox, Executive Director of the

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Phoenix Center, says, “Three thousand children are impacted locally because their parents’ received treatment through our services.”

Every destructive cycle ended begins a new pattern of recovery.

Help a family get back on their feet by scanning the QR code above.

The organization will use your support to heal entire families, which leads to healthier communities.

1400 Cleveland St., Greenville 864.467.4757 | FamilyEffect.org/donate.php

FUN FACT: “Ninety-four cents of every dollar donated goes directly to services for our children and families in treatment.”

DID YOU KNOW? Each year, there are over 10,000 served through prevention programs and 5,000 through treatment programs. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of The Family Effect.

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOENIX CENTER

ESTABLISHED: 1973

Prevent. Treat. Recover.

All it takes is one tragic experience for someone to hit rock bottom. Tom Murphy suffered four of them. A series of events led him to the bottle to numb the pain. It was the Phoenix Center that helped him turn pain into purpose.

At a young age, Murphy was abused by his mother’s boyfriend. He enlisted in the Army to escape the abuse. Murphy says, “After I was transferred to my duty station, my father committed suicide in 1980.” Less than a year later, Murphy’s grandfather did the same.

Murphy tried to help his mother escape her abusive boyfriend, but the boyfriend took his mother’s life.

Murphy recalls, “I managed to get through this rough period, but after my marriage of 26 years ended, drinking became my self-medication.”

He got serious about sobriety with the Phoenix Center’s 30-day adult residential program.

Murphy explains, “The program helped me set specific goals and keep active.”

An individualized plan is created for clients upon admission. After treatment, individuals are connected with the right network of support for sustained sobriety. Counselors also assist in linking clients with transportation, housing and job opportunities.

Unexpected losses and tragedies can happen to anyone. Murphy’s goal is to prevent addiction from happening again. He says, “I put in my application at the Phoenix Center because my goal was to have a meaningful job and help others.” Murphy is now happily supporting others at the Phoenix Center.

FUN FACT: During the past two years, the community has experienced a 50 percent increase in the need for services.

1400 Cleveland St. Greenville 864.467.3790 PhoenixCenter.org

DID YOU KNOW? “Only three percent of treatment centers throughout the country offer the gamut of services we offer at the Phoenix Center.”

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BARBARA STONE FOUNDATION

ESTABLISHED: 1991

All Individuals With Disabilities Can Flourish.

There have been many innovative leaders throughout the history of Greenville who wanted to see substantial changes and improvements to make it one of the best places in the United States. One of those noteworthy leaders was Barbara Stone.

In the 1950s, Barbara was a young mother with a son who was born with a severe and profound disability. The Stone family, along with many families across South Carolina, had no services for their family member living with disabilities. This challenging personal experience planted the seed in Barbara to advocate and create services and opportunities for people like her son, Barham.

Her hard work helped establish services and programs, making her one of the most active visionary champions in the history of Greenville.

Even years after her passing, her work is continued through the Barbara Stone Foundation’s staff and volunteer board of directors. All are committed to making Greenville more equitable, inclusive, and accessible for all individuals with disabilities.

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community systems by identifying gaps in services, investing in or creating its own innovative programs, leveraging partnerships in the community, and through its signature initiative Greenville CAN. Greenville CAN is a collective impact coalition focused on creating systemic community-wide change through specific projects focused on improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Through their multi-faceted approach, the Barbara Stone Foundation works to open doors and believes it can achieve the vision of a community where all people with disabilities flourish.

Pictured: (back row, left to right): Sam B., Joe Z., Amanda D., Andrew L. (front row, left to right): Zane H., Chris S., Catherine S. P.O. Box 26567 Greenville, SC 29616 barbarastonefoundation@gmail.com BarabaraStoneFoundation.org

OUR MISSION: To serve as a champion for individuals with disabilities.

WHAT WE DO: “We raise funds to invest in innovative programs and initiatives that empower individuals with disabilities and enlighten the community.”

PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

PREMIER ARTS COLLECTIVE

ESTABLISHED: 1998

Healing Lives Through the Arts and Music Processing emotions that stem from trauma is not easy. Premier Arts Collective, an international non-profit based in Greenville, is paving the way using the arts to provide healing for those who have experienced trauma and abuse.

“The arts have a way of drawing out deep emotions in a way many don’t think possible,” says Gene Krcelic, President of Premier Arts Collective.

“In 2016, we started offering art workshops with our partner organizations. It was overwhelming how people reacted,” says Krcelic. “In Cambodia, a director was amazed at how positively the classes affected the girls who had been sex trafficked. In the Upstate, one veteran was able to

share something through art that he was never able to share previously with his therapist.”

The non-profit provides programming for various groups, including those experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence, those rescued from slavery, among others. Often partnering with organizations serving these populations, Premier Arts Collective brings a unique kind of healing to people who have experienced trauma.

Most programs are exclusive to PAC’s partner organizations’ clientele.

However, Premier Arts Collective looks to make art and music therapy available to anyone online and in-person in the future.

QUOTED: “You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” – William Wilberforce WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

864.200.2764 PremierArtsCollective.com Left to right: Rebekah Gregory, Gene Krcelic, Alexis Krcelic, Logan Rice

DID YOU KNOW? The idea for Premier Arts Collective was born out of interactive art events in Cambodia, Jordan, Mexico and Cuba.

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D’ALLESANDRO’S PIZZA

ESTABLISHED: 2018

Come Have A Good Time And A Great Bite To Eat With Us. Pizza is a love language. Especially for John and Ann Petrich. As owners of D’Allesandro’s Pizza (D’AL’s) in Greenville, the couple wanted to bring families together to share their affection for hand-tossed dough.

D’AL’s opened in Charleston 14 years ago. When the Petriches visited their son at college, they fell for D’AL’s New York-style pizza. John says, “We always liked their pies and decided Greenville needed one.” They created a family-friendly environment to serve a community they adore. Ann says, “We have a whole play area. It’s just so nice for parents to enjoy themselves while their children play.”

Hot pizzas and cold pints are served on the patio underneath string lights while kids run

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in an open yard. Live bands play on weekends for a festive night out. Customers can have cornhole tournaments with friends or celebrate family occasions one cheesy bite at a time.

Chewy, golden crust is smothered in either red sauce, ranch or an oil and garlic base with local meats from Revival Butchery. Customers can customize their own concoctions, ordering classics or cutting-edge combinations. D’AL’s is also known for vegan and gluten-free options.

General Manager, Beth Dickson says, “I’ve had people send the gluten-free pizza back because they didn’t believe it was gluten-free.”

Dig into chocolate chip pizza or locally crafted ice cream. Sip craft beer or wine to make fond memories. This neighborhood pizza joint really offers more than just a slice.

FUN FACT: The Spicy Bunny (mozzarella, pepperoni, feta, jalapenos) and the Beetnick (golden beets, goat cheese, bacon, rosemary) are crowd favorites.

17 Mohawk Dr., Greenville 864.252.4700 DalsPizzaGVL.com

DID YOU KNOW? A percentage of pizza sales from the “Public Educator” pizza goes to local schools.

Red sauce, sausage and goat cheese tastes even better when it helps the community.

ESTABLISHED: 2007

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

FUN FACT: Ryan would have been a sports agent.

Professional athlete, Bo Jackson (yes, Bo knows), talked him out of it!

DID YOU KNOW? State Supreme Court Justice, John Few, is Ryan Beasley’s cousin.

His uncle, David Beasley, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for the World Food Programme.

RYAN BEASLEY LAW FIRM

Let’s Change The Outcome

As a criminal defense lawyer in Greenville, Ryan Beasley does more than protect clients from prison. He helps them prevent serious losses. Those potential losses could be precious time or a client’s reputation.

Whether it’s a misdemeanor or federal crime, Beasley treats them equally. He says, “I have clients with massive problems involving money and spending lifetimes in jail. I have clients dealing with misdemeanors. I treat all of them the same to make sure they get the best results possible.” Favorable verdicts have earned him a positive reputation.

Beasley’s peers recognized him as a “Super Lawyer” and one of the most respected attorneys in downtown Greenville–not just in criminal cases, but with all kinds of obstacles. Beasley explains, “Successfully helping someone with one situation, and gaining

their trust, usually makes me their go-to problem solver.”

Big business decisions are also best executed with legal advice.

Last year, Beasley helped an international company move their headquarters to South Carolina. He says, “My relationships with key state economic development officials have been essential in negotiating incentive packages for clients relocating or expanding to South Carolina.”

Beasley’s federal and state connections allow him to accomplish more than the average lawyer. His relationship-based practice has helped change the outcome for clients. He says, “I’m able to help them tremendously with decisions that make or break their careers or the rest of their lives.”

416 E. North St. Level 2, Greenville 864.679.7777 | RyanBeasleylaw.com

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GREENVILLE EXPLORERS

ESTABLISHED: 2003

It Takes a Village. So, We Built One. With a love for children and a heart for empathy, the mission of World Explorers was already built into the fabric of Kisha Edwards-Gandsy’s Pelzer, SC upbringing before she even co-founded the business in NYC with her friend, Keyanna Murrill.

“I have always had a deeply rooted love for children. I was an adopted foster child, and we had a revolving door of foster children in our home,” said Edwards-Gandsy, co-founder and CEO of World Explorers.

Excited to return to her roots and family, Edwards-Gandsy felt it was time to bring aspects of her company home. The team jumped right in, starting summer camps, preschool and after-school programs and

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showcasing the best of Greenville through their family-friendly downtown tours.

Their camps for ages 5-12 offer an active week of exploring the best of Greenville’s culture while their yearround preschool program for ages 2-5 offers an inspiring play-based learning environment.

Greenville Explorers is unique in its holistic approach to childcare.

Mindfulness, inclusivity and empathy are foundational to their educational programs and childcare services.

“When we learn about our planet and its people, we learn to celebrate our uniqueness and gain more empathy for each other,” EdwardsGandsy says.

QUOTE: “When you learn, teach.

When you get, give.”

— Maya Angelou WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Above all else, I am inspired by nature, our wisest teacher.”

135 S Main St., Greenville 638 E Washington St., Greenville 855.687.6923 greenville.explorerkids.us

DID YOU KNOW? Edwards-Gandsy has written over 300 haikus, enjoys songwriting, and recently finished a middle-grade fantasy novel.

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

REEDY RIDES

ESTABLISHED: 2010

The Best Way to Take the Trail

FUN FACT: Both Jamie McDonough and Tate Putnam, owners of Reedy Rides, are certified yoga instructors, and Tate competed as a cyclist for Boston University.

DID YOU KNOW? In addition to renting bikes, Reedy Rides has a full-service repair business.

50 S. Richardson St. Greenville 864.419.2944 ReedyRides.com

Every year, thousands of people enjoy the views and venues of the Swamp Rabbit Trail — many of them on bikes. When the trail opened in 2010, Jamie McDonough was the first to offer rentals to Upstate residents and tourists, and she and partner Tate Putnam plan to keep Reedy Rides rolling along with the growing population and trail.

“When the trails movement started booming, I saw a need for affordable rentals,” Jamie says. Tate, a former competitive cyclist, says the goal is to enable everyone to hit the trail safely and appreciate the outdoors.

Reedy Rides’ fleet features seven-speed cruisers that Tate says will satisfy even the

avid cyclist who normally thinks cleats and Spandex versus pets and pedestrians.

“When some people hear ‘pathway cruiser,’ they think of rusty beach rentals,” he says with a laugh. “The majority of our bikes are pedal-forward — very comfortable, well maintained and perfect for the trail.”

Anyone taking a longer route or seeking a less strenuous ride can rent an e-bike for a motorized assist.

In addition to rentals, Reedy Rides has a full-service shop for all types and brands of bikes. Repair and maintenance prices are posted on their website where customers can also book appointments for tours and half- or full-day rentals.

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GOODWILL INDUSTRIES Goodwill to All One donated lamp can change someone’s life. In fact, every household item-- from clothing to shoes and furniture donated to Goodwill Industries plants a seed. That seed grows roots as each donated item turns into dollars reinvested in local neighbors by creating opportunities.

“Ninety-three cents of every dollar is reinvested in our mission services. We use those funds to provide employment services and training,” says Vice President of Community Engagement of the Upstate and Midlands, Monique McDaniels.

Goodwill Job Connection facilities are charitable branches that extend assistance with resume development, interviewing skills and training for employment. Programs offered include technology workshops, food service, certified nursing assistant (CNA), commercial driver’s license (CDL), forklift and heavy equipment operations and power line technician.

“Goodwill offers these services for free. We are helping our neighbors down the street and across town,” explains McDaniels. “It’s the most rewarding feeling to do something much greater than myself.”

Providing job placement and skills to the community are vital to local growth, but Goodwill doesn’t stop there. The company also helps the community with transportation, childcare, GED courses, health assistance including companion care, financial planning, taxes and reintegration of incarcerated individuals. Additionally, they have a great partnership with South Carolina Vocations and Individual Advancement (SCVIA), which allows people with disabilities to achieve self-sufficiency through employment and training.

These resources are available to anyone in need. “Goodwill is going through a new branding campaign. The new tagline is ‘Goodwill to all.’ I love that we’re doing something that’s – in fact - for the goodwill of all,” McDaniels says.

The company just celebrated its 49th anniversary on May 1st and has added exciting stems to its outreach. Their new Mission Mobile vehicle brings career services to the community by eliminating transportation barriers. The goal is to provide mission services and employment training to help people take the next step in their careers. This mobile unit travels across 16 counties to assist job seekers.

Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Jarid Munsch believes in Goodwill’s mission of reaching everyone. “Some people shy away from actively engaging with certain demographics – the disabled, elderly and those with a criminal record. Goodwill does the opposite,” explained Munsch. “Goodwill shines a light on the most vulnerable or marginalized to provide a hand up, not hand out, and help them tap into their value.”

Small acts of kindness can have a big impact–not just on the community, but on the environment. It can save a landfill from overflowing or simply do good for the goodwill of others.

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ESTABLISHED: 1973 FUN FACT: “We put nearly 8,000 people to work last year with an economic impact of approximately $118 million back into our community.”

DID YOU KNOW? “Last year, we diverted $38 million pounds of material from landfills. Goodwill was able to reuse them for the power of employment.”

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Knowing that you’re helping people and yourself.

I’m working today so someone else can work tomorrow.”

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AID UPSTATE Prevention, Treatment and Support In the 1980s, a group of public health workers organized to address an unnamed illness that was rapidly becoming a pandemic. Today, AID Upstate is an alliance of organizations and individuals offering comprehensive HIV care, prevention and related services.

According to Director of Community Relations Jose Giocamea, AID Upstate was chartered in 1987 and initially began as palliative care for those suffering from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Over the years, they expanded to include free HIV and STD testing and added HIV medical services. Working through Prisma and AnMed, physicians and nurse practitioners provide HIV specialty and primary care.

Additionally, the staff can assist patients with health insurance enrollment and transportation to other medical appointments.

Calling AID Upstate a “no stigma zone,” Jose says the staff members are great listeners, and each one is extremely proficient at helping those who rely on their services. Their case managers are licensed social workers who make referrals, answer questions and handle the “maze of paperwork” necessary to access services. Dealing with administrative details like that may become even easier as AID Upstate recently partnered with a major university to pilot an app for people in treatment. The software helps them track a number of factors involved in their care and digitally sign and upload forms.

In addition to direct care and case management, AID Upstate connects people with mental health and addiction counseling. They also have a food pantry and can even help with everyday expenses. “If there’s a diagnosis, some things can be covered such as medication, health insurance premiums and copayments, utilities and short-term mortgage or rent payment,” Jose says.

The prognosis for HIV patients has fundamentally changed over the past three decades, but Jose says efforts to increase awareness remain vital. “Occasionally, when I tell someone what I do, I’ll still get the question, ‘Is that still around?’” he says. “People aren’t dying like they used to, so the urgency and concern aren’t always there. We have to walk back in time with the current generation and make sure they understand the history. Cases in 18-25-year-olds are actually on the rise.”

Don’t hesitate to call 864.250.0607 to learn more about AID Upstate’s services and what they may be able to do for you or a loved one.

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ESTABLISHED: 1987 FUN FACT: Red Ribbon Resale, a thrift store located at 803 Pendleton Street in downtown Greenville, is a fundraising arm of AID Upstate. They accept gently used clothes, furniture, home décor, books and more and welcome shoppers.

DID YOU KNOW? The AID Upstate prevention team provided HIV testing to approximately 1,400 individuals and prevention services to over 2,500 last year.

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LIVING THIS LIFE WELL with Jerome Craig - Certified High Performance Coach A recent transplant to Greenville, Jerome Craig has brought his love for life and adventure into the heart of the Upstate. Jerome moved here from Oregon with his wife and two children in January and is eager to bring his services to the area.

Jerome has always had the desire to help, wanting us all to feel better, stronger, healthier, happier, more fulfilled - to live this life well.

After years in health education and private practice, Jerome is using his broad holistic perspective to transform clients’ lives for the better through the science-backed process of high performance coaching.

Jerome delivers coaching that empowers people with the necessary tools to perform at their best. He particularly enjoys working with small business owners and entrepreneurs, and those looking to lead a more engaged life.

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“People inspire me, and I love to see them become more passionate and courageous and reach new heights,” Jerome said.

Jerome offers a complementary hour-plus strategy session to explore each individual’s needs and if his coaching is right for them. He loves the quote, “Discipline is remembering what you want,” and he thrives on helping clients take the necessary steps to move to the next chapter of success in their lives.

ESTABLISHED: 2020 FUN FACT 1: Jerome was born and raised in South Africa and loves world travel.

FUN FACT 2: He and his wife love landscaping and remodeling their home.

503.708.1314 | LivingThisLifeWell.com

PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

ESTABLISHED: 2018 – moved to its current location in 2020.

FUN FACT: In 2001, Jeremy Webb began working behind a local meat counter at the age of 17.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “I’m inspired by contributing to the community,” says Webb. “We want to make an impact for the better in the Upstate.”

REVIVAL BUTCHERY

Purveyor of Specialty Meats

Jeremy Webb first stepped behind a meat counter when he was seventeen years old. More than twenty years later, he owns one of the premier butcher shops in the Upstate. Revival Butchery was born out of Jeremy’s desire to feed a lot of people. “When I was a little kid, I thought I’d be a farmer and be able to feed people,” says Webb. “I really like this idea of feeding people.”

Instead of farming, Jeremy’s first job at a meat counter turned into a real passion. When he decided to start his own butchery, he sold his vintage truck to buy a 4x4 display cabinet and opened shop in a commercial kitchen in the Village in Greenville. Pretty soon, he was selling meat five days a week. A few months later, he realized he needed his own space and moved

into Revival Butchery’s current building on Pendleton Street.

Growing quickly, Jeremy’s team has built relationships with local farms to provide the highest quality meat in the Upstate. “We love supporting small farms,” says Webb. “We have several we’ve been working with since day one here in the Upstate.”

What sets Revival Butchery apart is simple— quality. “We’re giving people the best possible,” Jeremy says, adding that he’s not in this business to get rich. “I really love what I do. I want everybody’s plate on their supper table to be a home run every single time. It doesn’t matter how small of a portion that is. Everything that leaves the store must be a knockout. We don’t skimp one bit on quality. No exceptions.”

1296 Pendleton St. Greenville 912.777.8000 RevivalButchery.com

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PRIDE LINK

ESTABLISHED: 2018

Taking Pride in Service, Education and Advocacy Chamber of Commerce, a wealth of businesses, from chiropractors to yoga studios and breweries, welcomed Pride Link supporters as patrons and employees.

The organization’s newsletter and social media spotlight businesses and spread the word about relevant legislation and events, such as a will and probate clinic set for June 30 at their office. Pride Link also offers cultural competence training and guest speakers for businesses, churches and schools. “We want everything we do to be mutually beneficial, helping our constituency and the public,” Keona says.

30 Pointe Cir., Suite B, Greenville 864.248.4040 | Pridelink.org

DID YOU KNOW? Pride Link has a youth group whose members learn about civil rights, financial literacy and more.

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

When Keona Prude moved to the Upstate in 2014, she didn’t immediately feel at home. That changed dramatically when she discovered Pride Link, an organization that provides a valuable network for the Upstate’s queer population and serves the whole community.

Prude, who’s now employed as Pride Link’s communications & outreach coordinator, says there are an estimated 130,000 members of that population — many of whom feel marginalized. “When I first came here, everything felt hush-hush,” she says.

Keona credits founder Ethan Johnstone for starting something that’s improving quality of life for countless people. “As a transgender man, he noted a gap in critical services such as medical care and mental health, along with opportunities to socialize and just feel safe,” she says.

Pride Link seeks queer-affirming businesses — establishments that are not necessarily queer-owned but welcoming to the queer community. Recently, during a career fair with the Upstate LGBTQ+

FUN FACT: Pride Link was recently selected as the 2022 charity partner for the Greenville Roller Derby.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

MATT THE DRIVEWAY GUY

ESTABLISHED: 2020

Professional quality from a friendly neighbor Matthew Jackson doesn’t just go by Matt The Driveway Guy because he’s a guy who pressure washes your driveway. He also wants you to think of him as your neighbor, the guy down the street who will come by and pressure wash your driveway as a friend.

“I wanted to create a business that’s based off of that emotion,” Jackson says. “This idea of, ‘This is the guy down the street who’s gonna do a good job of pressure washing your house.’”

Jackson sees his approach as the antithesis of the way business is so often done.

“Everybody is more commission-minded, and they don’t really focus on the customer experience or customer service. So I wanted

DID YOU KNOW? Matt grew up in Greenville and played college baseball at Anderson University.

to kind of put it on its head and say, ‘I treat everything like it’s my own personal property,’ because you’re gonna go the extra mile when it’s yours.”

Jackson only started his business full-time a year or so ago, but he says the experience has been a rewarding one.

“It’s been awesome, connecting with people and growing my business,” he says. “A lot of people think I’ve been doing this forever because I have my systems down. Before, when I was working other jobs, it always felt like I was just chasing time and just punching the clock. And now I’m doing something that I just love, helping and serving people in Greenville.”

864.420.4172 MattTheDrivewayGuy.com

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “To be a light to everyone and leave them better than when I met them.”

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SOUTHERN GARDEN SOLUTIONS Garden Coaching & Design Stephanie Szkolnicki grew up in a family of growers. She would often help her parents in the garden, and she enjoyed visiting her grandparents’ farm, working and learning alongside them in the daily tasks of farming and gardening. However, it wasn’t until she had spent a few years as a realtor that she returned to her roots.

In December of 2020, Stephanie decided to start her own consulting business, Southern Garden Solutions. She had been gardening on her own for nearly a decade, researching, learning and becoming certified as a garden coach. Her goal was to share her love of gardening with the Upstate. “When I started gardening, I wished I had somebody that was local who knew what to do with each plant in our specific area and climate,” says Szkolnicki. Instead, she decided to become that consultant herself.

With Southern Garden Solutions, Stephanie helps guide homeowners through the design, installation and maintenance of vegetable gardens and edible landscapes. Her company develops and installs raised-bed gardens, integrates edibles into landscaping and also provides coaching for existing gardens. “I talk to people about their goals,” Stephanie says. “Then we find the amount of sun, soil, water access and location that is perfect for a garden.”

For Stephanie, gardening isn’t just a job – it’s a calling. She wants to help people get back to their roots – literally. “We’ve lost some of the desire to grow our own food. We moved indoors,” explains Szkolnicki. “During the pandemic, we shut down for a while and gardening was a good outlet.

Some people have started to give that up. I want people to continue gardening, and with a little help, they can be successful.”

ESTABLISHED: 2020 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “What inspires me is the excitement that I see in people when they are successfully able to grow their own food,” says Szkolnicki.

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PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

864.386.2630 | SouthernGardenSol.com

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

SHRINERS CHILDREN’S GREENVILLE Together, Doing The Right Thing, Every Time, For Every Child Shriners Children’s Greenville is celebrating a truly momentous event this year. The hospital system is celebrating 100 years since it was first founded in 1922. And following right in that anniversary’s footsteps is the Greenville location of the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

“Shriners Children’s Greenville will be celebrating its 95th anniversary,” says Paul Finelli, the Director of Donor Development for Greenville Shriners Children’s Hospital. “It was about 97, 98 years ago that a group of Shriners from the Atlanta area and a group of Shriners from the Upstate here in SC determined that there was a need for a hospital in Greenville to address the polio epidemic of the time.”

And the community gathered around the hospital in support, as it continues to do to this day. Without that philanthropic support, the hospital couldn’t continue to provide incredible services for children and their families.

“I think it’s huge because when you think about philanthropy it can be transformational,” Finelli says.

“When a donor makes a gift to the hospital, it enables us to provide care to a family for a long period of time.

The types of ailments that we treat will require a child to be seen over a multitude of years. And when you’re able to meet that need, without there being a concern for finances, it’s critical.”

ESTABLISHED: 1927

950 W. Faris Rd., Greenville 864.271.3444

DID YOU KNOW? The Greenville Shriners Hospital is home to the largest team of pediatric orthopedic surgeons in the Carolinas, boasting over 150 cumulative years of trusted experience.

GreenvilleShrinersHospital.org

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JUNIOR LEAGUE OF GREENVILLE FOUNDED: 1930

Promoting Voluntarism, Developing The Potential Of Women And Improving The Community For more than 90 years, the Junior League of Greenville has been helping to improve the Upstate. They have contributed financial and volunteer support to some of Greenville’s most iconic organizations, including the Peace Center, The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Roper Mountain Science Center and Pendleton Place. They’ve also made significant donations to countless charities around the Upstate.

One of the JLG’s most important projects is the Nearly New Store in Greenville, which serves over 21,000 customers each year. The store accepts donations of gently used items and resells those items to raise funds that are put back into the community. “All money raised by the Nearly New Shop stays in the Upstate to support the JLG’s programs, projects and partner agencies,” says Adrienne Frain, incoming Communications Vice President for 98

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2022-2023.

Amy St. John is serving as this year’s Nearly New Store Committee Chair. “Simply put, the shop is a direct connection to our community,” says St. John, who will pass on her committee assignment to Melissa Marsh for the upcoming league year. “Whether you’re donating, shopping or in need of support, the shop is there.”

The Junior League of Greenville is committed to making lasting change in the Upstate through training, leadership and charity. With more than 1,150 members, the JLG provides women a place to collaborate, grow and make a difference in their own community. “The Junior League has taught me the power a group of women can have when they focus on effecting change,” says Frain. “In giving back to your community, you receive so much more than you give.”

FUN FACT: The JLG has members ranging from age 23 to 100.

118 Greenacre Rd. Greenville 864.232.1051 JLGreenville.org

DID YOU KNOW? The JLG has contributed $3 million in grants to support over 300 agencies in its 92 year history.

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

SWAMP RABBIT DENTAL

ESTABLISHED: 2021

Blazing a Trail with Digital Dentistry The term “Swamp Rabbit” may sound odd outside the Upstate, but it’s perfect for an office located steps away from the upcoming Laurens Road flyover bridge of the Swamp Rabbit Trail and the official dentist of the Swamp Rabbits hockey team.

Swamp Rabbit Dental (SRD) opened in March 2021, but Dr. Parks Alexander has been an Upstate dentist for 18 years. He was co-owner of a Simpsonville practice until he opened his own in Greenville. His parents were Greenville natives, but his dad’s job moved the family away when Parks was young. He met his wife, Claire, during high school in Georgia.

She says dentistry is a perfect fit for Parks: “If you take a love of science and engineering and combine it with artistic talent and a great sense

of humor, that’s him!”

He is most proud of the team at SRD and the technology used on-site. “SRD is home to an outstanding team of warm, welcoming professionals who love what they do, and it shows,” says Parks. “Implants are planned ‘from the crown down’ here. We use a digital camera to scan the mouth — instead of taking goopy impressions — and digitally design the crown restoration and placement of the supporting implant. Then, we 3D print a surgical guide, so the implant is placed at the optimal location, angle and depth for the best outcome.” SRD also offers same-day crowns and clear orthodontic aligners, as well as sedation options, including oral conscious or IV sedation.

FUN FACT: The phone number for Swamp Rabbit Dental is 864-DENTIST.

114 Laurens Rd., Greenville 864.336.8478 SwampRabbitDental.com

DID YOU KNOW? Swamp Rabbit Dental is the official dentist of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team.

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PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

DWELL CHIC

ESTABLISHED: 2012

Let Us Help Create a Home You’ll Love Starting from her home 10 years ago, Sarah O’Dell has made Dwell Chic a thriving interior design firm with a waiting list and a retail venue.

Although her mother worked in the design field, Sarah initially became a Certified Specialist of Wine employed by E&J Gallo Winery to space plan and draw wine sets for retailers. Rather than leave Greenville when she had the opportunity as a newlywed, she went to school for design.

Now, she and her staff are looking to “get back to fun!” Despite supply chain issues, they’re determined to delight their clients. “It takes longer to procure pieces, and furniture prices have almost doubled since the pandemic,” Sarah says. “Those challenges aren’t going to take the joy out of improving a home.”

Seeking certain fabrics and furnishings for her own home, Sarah developed a showroom where others can see and feel materials.

She also commissions artists for custom pieces. “We can deliver something truly unique,” she says.

Beyond the Village at West Greenville, design team members are often on job sites overseeing custom craftsmen and

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coordinating with trade professionals. “There may be eight tile selections for one room. We’re in constant contact regarding what direction to lay them out and attending to every technical detail to bring the vision to life,” Sarah says.

1288 Pendleton St., Greenville 864.214.1856 | DwellChic.com

FUN FACT: Dwell Chic is primarily known for residential design, but commercial projects include a bridal boutique and a high-end food court set to open in downtown Greer later this year.

DID YOU KNOW? This year marks the 10th anniversary of Dwell Chic interior design, and five years ago, a retail business and showroom were added in the Village of West Greenville.

SYNERGY COFFEE Without Coffee, Something’s Missing…

Name one drink so universally loved it brings whole communities together. If you guessed coffee, you must have had your daily cup. Cody Childers, the owner of Synergy Coffee, first noticed the unity coffee creates as a barista six years ago. He says, “I think it’s cool how coffee shops have people from all walks of life in one space.” His observation inspired a passion to create spaces for relationships to flourish through coffee.

Childers’ coffee concept offers locals a different approach. In October 2019, he opened a coffee catering company that brings the coffee shop experience to clients. His goal is to duplicate the feeling and interactions customers have when they step into a Greenville coffee shop – not just the relationships, but the conversations and innovation that happen with coffee in hand.

He loves the relationships corporate catering can develop. He explains, “I love going into a three-story office building and suddenly the whole team is connecting over a cup of joe!”

Colleagues can brainstorm while sipping a madeto-order hot latte, iced coffee, tea or seasonal drink. Employers may be surprised what new ideas and connections begin to brew.

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

SynergyCoffee.Catering

ESTABLISHED: 2019 FUN FACT: “We enjoy randomly hosting latte art competitions. A CEO and new hire can battle it out to create a steamed milk masterpiece.”

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Bringing people together through coffee.”

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COWART AWARDS We Are More Than Awards Cowart Awards is committed to providing personable, timely service, products of the highest quality and a level of expertise, resourcefulness and knowledge that is standard setting in the industry.

People are what make Cowart different. The staff shares a working knowledge of the awards and recognition industry and the know-how and wherewithal to get things done. They are committed to providing quality products that customers are proud to present and awards recipients are proud to keep.

The Cowart team comes in early and stays late. They ask questions like, “Why?” and “What if?” and they do more than trophies, plaques and engraving. Cowart innovates. They create. They do name badges, interior signage, apparel or anything requiring custom production. They find one-of-a-kind solutions, because awards and recognition mean something to people. Those awards have impact. They have meaning. They’re worth the time.

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In order for Cowart to stay competitive in a strong market, they continually look for ways to improve and stay up to date with technology. They have invested in new equipment in order to add capacity and improve efficiency for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These updates have allowed them to better serve their current and future customers as their needs grow and expand with time.

And with the addition of new industry-leading technology and machinery, Cowart Awards can provide clients with even more capabilities. They have added two high-speed 3D laser marking machines, which allow them to laser etch on any type of metal. With their 5x10 foot industrial router, the staff can cut most materials in-house. They utilize 3D scanning and 3D printing to prototype and create molds for each custom award. There are not many materials that exist that Cowart cannot imprint, etch or fabricate.

At Cowart, they do so much more than awards.

ESTABLISHED: 1965 WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “Knowing that every trophy has a story and makes our customers smile.”

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

DID YOU KNOW? We recently added 10K square feet of warehouse and production space!

912 Laurens Rd., Greenville | 864.271.9131 | AwardsThatWork.com

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MR. CRISP Fresh, Thoughtfully Prepared Seafood Through Signature Fish & Chips, Sandwiches, A Raw Bar And More and they hope to convey that to their customers and their staff. They hope to do their part to make every day better than the last.

Both had amazing influences in their lives to help with achieving their dreams. When developing the concept for Mr. Crisp, Greg was inspired by his time spent in Toronto as a child when his family would go to the local chippy for weekend dinners.

And Beth’s previous career in fashion marketing has been a big influence when they work together to develop new brand ideas and designs for their spaces.

While nobody knows where the McPhee family might get inspiration from next, their love of local, sustainable food has certainly been beneficial to Greenville.

FUN FACT: They met through a mutual friend in Charleston.

One of Greg’s coworkers at Husk was a good friend of Beth’s in college and they met at a dinner party at his house.

1501 E. North St., Suite 102 Greenville TheRealmrCrisp.com

FUN FACT 2: We have 2 dogs, a 12 year old German Shorthaired Pointer, Benton,and an 8 year old lab mix, Bonnie.

PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

The newest adventure for Greg and Beth McPhee is Mr. Crisp, a brand new seafood restaurant on East North Street in the Historic Overbrook neighborhood in Greenville. Focused on seafood, Mr. Crisp offers a traditional English fish and chips, as well as a full raw bar.

The McPhees love to travel and those travels often lead them to new ideas. According to Beth, whenever they visit new cities and countries, they are inspired by their surroundings and those experiences lead them to develop ideas for new restaurant concepts, design ideas and even new dishes to put on their menus.

“Visiting new places is so inspiring and also helps us get recharged and reinvigorated,” Greg says.

Each day is a new opportunity for the McPhees,

ESTABLISHED: 2022

THE ANCHORAGE

PHOTO BY REBECCA GAULT PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 2017 FUN FACT 1: Greg is ambidextrous. He uses his right hand for writing, eating and cutting but is left-handed in all sports. Greg’s family is Canadian, and he was the first in his family born in the U.S. FUN FACT 2: Beth is 1/16th Cherokee Indian, and her family are registered members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Serving thoughtfully prepared small plates, craft cocktails & beer and sustainable wine A small footprint and global ideas are what led Greg and Beth McPhee to open The Anchorage, their small-plates restaurant in the Village of West Greenville. They wanted to bring big tastes to the area while using locally-sourced goods, and they have succeeded in that for the past five years.

In addition to The Anchorage, their love of local and sustainable has reached into Taxi House Wines, which is inside the restaurant, with a selection of over eighty wines from sustainable, familyowned wineries.

“Our employees and regular customers inspire us to keep moving and changing our concept constantly. Keeping things fresh for them helps us keep interest and focus in honing our model,” Greg says.

That love of local is evident in their day-to-day life as well, as the McPhee family enjoys the Swamp Rabbit Trail and being in the mountains with their two-year-old son. According to Beth, their son, Sam, is their greatest accomplishment.

Keeping things family-oriented is important in business as well for the McPhees. Beth says they strive to treat everyone involved in their business like family – from employees to customers to vendors. They want to make every day meaningful and fulfilling for everyone they encounter.

More amazing things are to come from the McPhee family as they bring their ideas on local and sustainable food further into the heart of Greenville.

586 Perry Ave., Greenville | 864.219.3082 | TheAnchorageRestaurant.com

C.O.R.E. grow strong.

Need a nap? Take one. What about a hardcore workout? Go for it.

A mental break from a hectic lifestyle? Just breathe. Currie Gossett, owner of C.O.R.E., wanted to build a communal hub of wellness–a place members could meditate, practice Pilates, yoga, shop apparel and snack healthily with genuine companions.

Gossett explains, “We have the sweetest and most authentic group of people. If you need a hug, you get a hug.” That kind of support and acceptance are hard to find, but it became Gossett’s goal. People are welcome from all different backgrounds. “Our doors are open to everyone. I’ve been told our studios are the most welcoming clients have ever been to. We’re trying to build a lasting community that resonates on multiple levels,” she says.

The no pressure environment creates a Zen-like fitness experience.

Workouts can be as restorative or intense as needed. Gossett says, “That’s why we call ourselves a mindful movement studio. It’s not about killing yourself. It’s about being tender with yourself. If you need time to rest, just do it. It’s a zero-judgment facility here.” Gossett adds, “It’s about feeling good in your body. Some days you need to push yourself, and on others, you just need a nap on your mat.” At C.O.R.E., that’s perfectly acceptable.

Busybodies can take time for rest and relaxation with meditation to quiet the mind. Guided breathing can calm the nervous system and ease anxiety. Gossett says, “Internal organs can rest when you intentionally inhale and exhale.” Pilates can be done on a mat or the Reformer and vary in intensity. TRX is higher intensity suspension resistance conditioning for the body. Athletes use it to help with core strength, stability, flexibility and agility. Pilates can provide stretching methods including hip openers to assist golfers with an easier swing or allow cyclists to bike longer. It’s simply up to participants to figure out what their body needs.

Gossett says, “I heard once that there’s so much power in the pause.

When you take the time to focus on yourself first, the better we’re able to pour ourselves into every relationship in our lives.” Amazing instructors provide invigorating classes in two wide-open studios: one for Reformer Pilates and one for mat work. There’s also a great selection of quality athletic and casual apparel including brands like Free People Movement, Varley, Vuori and Beach Riot. Individuals can shop for supplements, accessories and Blender Bombs while sipping on Kuka Juice or Methodical Coffee.

There are no expectations during sessions. It’s just members and their mats, looking for ways to grow stronger in mind, body and spirit.

1501 E. North St. Suite A, Greenville 864.923.5974 CoreGrowStrong.com | @ coregrowstrong 106

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ESTABLISHED: 2018 FUN FACT: “C.O.R.E. stands for Confidence, Optimism, Resilience and Energy. These power words describe our community.”

DID YOU KNOW? “We offer private events including corporate wellness, bridal parties, and uniquely crafted classes for team building in our large open studios.”

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? “My favorite thing is our community of members. We get to help them connect to their hearts, bodies and each other.”

PHOTO BY MONICA PARKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY

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VILLAGE OF WEST GREENVILLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (VOWGBA) Visit the Village The Village of West Greenville is that kind of edgy, hip, organic main street that grows out of creativity and grit of the businesses that reside there. There are more than 65 of them, offering everything from original art to clothing to exceptional food and drink to journalism, photography and consulting.

“The tenants in the Village are artists, designers and creators in every sense of the word, which helps to create a kind of unique excitement with a funky, cool vibe that is synonymous with what our businesses do here,” says Ryan Johnston, president of the Village of West Greenville Business Association.

The history of the Village is fascinating. It was a place where people who worked in the mills of Greenville would come to spend their money on goods, food and entertainment. After many of the mills shut down, the commercial corridor struggled to survive, leaving many of the buildings boarded up. Then entrepreneurs, artists and restaurateurs saw the opportunity to set up shop less than a mile from downtown Greenville and started coming in for the cheap rent.

“When we moved out to the Village over eight years ago, we needed to figure out how to activate the strip and support the artists; we needed foot traffic,” says Johnston. “What really kicked it off was coffee. Then we got the Anchorage, Growler Haus, Kuka Juice, Oxford Barber, Varsity Goods and the Saltbox. Over the last few years, multiple artists have become property owners, and we have more than tripled the number of artists that now call the Village home.”

The most important way the association supports businesses is by making sure people know who is there, what is offered and when and what to come check out.

“The business association are the artists, the makers, and the dreamers who all come here to create,” says Johnston. “Part of what makes the Village so special is that it is full of spaces where when you walk in, the owner is there.

Their grit, pride, ownership, and work ethic are unmatched.”

Events like First Fridays and Third Thursdays, a market for start-ups to celebrate minority and women-owned businesses, give people who may have never been to the Village a taste of what all the excitement is about. The best way to connect with the Village and learn about events is to follow them on social media @villagewgvl.

Pendleton St. & Traction St., Greenville 864.414.0802 VillageWGVL.com facebook.com/villagewgvl instagram.com/villagewgvl

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PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

ESTABLISHED: 2012 FUN FACT: Beautiful Demise currently occupies the space where the Shoeless Joe’s Jackson liquors used to be.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Seeing people discovering new things, connecting, and supporting each other in physical environments like the Village, not on Zoom meetings.

DID YOU KNOW? Revival Butchery in the Village was featured on Discovery’s “Moonshiners: Smoke Ring” last year.

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PHOTO BY KEITH MUCCILLI PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

THE WHEEL SESSIONS You’ll Be Amazed

When jazz musician Kevin Korschgen moved to the Upstate from Chicago seven years ago, he rented a shared arts space called The Wheel in West Greenville. It was the ideal spot for practicing drums and giving private lessons without the fear of being kicked out of his new apartment. In the summer of 2016, Kevin gained permission to host a small performance at The Wheel. Little did he know, that one gig would become the first of over 90 shows, now known as The Wheel Sessions.

Since that first concert, The Wheel Sessions has become an underground sensation—hosting many of the best jazz musicians in the Upstate and beyond. “I have a mission which I embraced a long time ago,” says Korschgen, “to entertain, enrich, and enlarge the Greenville jazz community.” He goes on to explain that the brand has not changed in 94 sessions. The Wheel Sessions are a jazz performance series hosted in front of an intimate listening audience.

In 2019, The Wheel Sessions moved from its original location to a photography studio in the Heddle Industrial Park on Rutherford Road in Greenville. With great sound and exceptional sight lines, the new space combines the acoustics of a concert hall with the

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ESTABLISHED: 2016 atmosphere of an underground jazz club. “When you come to one, you realize how special it is,” says Korschgen, who by the way, provides complimentary beer and wine at each session. “Most attendees BYOB.” While the shows remain an intimate affair with space for up to eighty people, the quality of music at The Wheel Sessions continues to soar. Major jazz artists such as Jon Faddis, Ignacio Berroa, James Carter and John Fedchock have played the series, not to mention many of the Southeast’s foremost musicians. The next session, #95 on July 21st, features a jazz quartet, Art of Thieves. AOT is a collective of Greenville musicians recently put together by Korschgen and features saxophonist Peter Dimery, guitarist Troy House, bassist Sam Kruer, and himself on percussion.

1801 Rutherford Rd. Greenville 312.520.2760 WheelSessions.com

DID YOU KNOW? The Wheel was named for the white wheel on top of the building at 1288 Pendleton St. Korschgen encourages, “Check it out, it’s still there!”

DID YOU KNOW? Kevin was a high school band director for 28 years in Chicago, Illinois and 3 years in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Jazz musicians are inspired by the legendary masters that have preceded them and by The Wheel Sessions’ enthusiastic and supportive audiences.

PHOTO BY JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

ESTABLISHED: 1999

COMMUNITY JOURNALS We Delivered Then, We Deliver Today, and We Will Continue to Deliver for Greenville.

DID YOU KNOW? Community Journals has donated more than $3.7 million in in-kind advertising and services over the last two decades.

FUN FACT: This years photo and tagline are inspired by Disney’s musical “Newsies.”

581 Perry Ave., Greenville 864.679.1200 CommunityJournals.com

When Community Journals first launched the Greenville Journal in 1999, the team behind the publication took it to the streets – literally.

“We were out there going around just handing the issues to people,” says Publisher and CEO Mark Johnston. “We had our family and friends acting like old fashioned newsies.”

More than 22 years later, that spirit of community engagement remains unchanged.

Founded by Johnston and fellow media veteran Doug Greenlaw, Community Journals has worked hand-in-hand with community leadership, civic organizations and local government to hold the community accountable to itself and champion it to outsiders.

The mission? To always be with, for and about Greenville. “We’ve taken that responsibility seriously over the years,” Johnston says. “We

delivered then, we deliver today, and we will continue to deliver for Greenville and our community going forward.”

The Journals team has organically grown a roster of award-winning print and digital products that nourish and challenge the Upstate community, including the Greenville Journal, Upstate Business Journal, TOWN magazine, atHome and their newest publication, Vive. As industry analysts bemoan the turmoil of a changing media landscape, Community Journals has proven time and again that investing in the people, places and businesses that make up a community is a winning strategy.

“We’re not just a collection of brands,” Johnston says. “We’re a team of dedicated people going out into the community day in and day out, working hard to carry Greenville forward for all of us.”

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advertiser index Adam Peterson...............................................................................19 AID Upstate.............................................................................. 90-91 Alex & Ellis Crigler...........................................................................5 Amy Hammond..............................................................................41 Asbury Hills.....................................................................................68 Banker Exchange..........................................................................66 Barbara Stone Foundation.......................................................82 BECK Digital..............................................................................14-15 Big 'O' Dodge ................................................................................59 Big Dave's All-American BBQ................................................76 Booze Buggy..................................................................................46 BrightFlow Technologies..........................................................38 Butler College Counseling........................................................56 C.O.R.E.................................................................................... 106-107 Carmen Crigler Feemster.........................................................34 Carolina Furniture & Interiors ................................................50 Carolina Vein Care and Aesthetics................................ 78-79 Centre Stage...................................................................................30 Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.......................62-63 Community Journals....................................................................111 Corley Plumbing Air Electric............................................32-33 Cowart Awards................................................................... 102-103 Crumbl Cookies..............................................................................51 Custom Architectural Solutions.............................................77 D'Allesandro's Pizza....................................................................84 Defenders for Children...............................................................10 Dipple Plumbing........................................................................... 75 Dobbins Termite and Pest Control.......................................55 Drift Float & Spa...............................................................................1 Dwell Chic .....................................................................................100 EmbellishMe....................................................................................48 Foot Solutions Greenville........................................................ 40 Forum Health Greenville............................................................ 17 Garner's Natural Life...................................................................67

Garrett's Golf Cars.......................................................................54 Garrison Opticians...................................................................... 44 Genco Pools and Spas.............................................................8-9 General Air.................................................................................. 12-13 Ghost Marketing.....................................................................26-27 Gibbs Cancer Center at Pelham...............................................3 Golden Strip Glass.......................................................................39 Goodwill Industries...............................................................88-89 Grace Herlong Loveless................................................................2 Greenville Explorers....................................................................86 Greenville Running Company..................................................61 Greenville Symphony Orchestra...........................................53 Greenville Track Club.................................................................. 73 Hennessee Haven......................................................................... 74 Hilary Hurst, Realtor....................................................................25 Holliday Ingram.............................................................................69 Home Builders Association of Greenville..........................70 International Ballet........................................................................18 Jacob Mann, Coldwell Banker Caine...................................47 Jana Candler.................................................................................. 60 Jill Chapman, C. Dan Joyner................................................... 57 Jordan Lumber Company......................................................... 21 Junior League of Greenville.....................................................98 Keel Concepts, Inc.......................................................................24 Laura Simmons & Associates.................................................... 11 Littlejohn Portables.....................................................................52 Living This Life Well....................................................................92 Martin Garden Center.................................................................58 Massage Envy.............................................................................. 6-7 Matt the Driveway Guy..............................................................95 Melissa Morrell.................................................................................31 Mountain Brook Vineyards........................................................ 71 Mr. Crisp..........................................................................................104 Nandina Home & Design.................................................... 22-23

Mark B. Johnston President & CEO

Phoenix Center...............................................................................81 Pink Bee GVL..................................................................................29 Premier Arts Collective..............................................................83 Pride Link.........................................................................................94 ProSource.................................................................................36-37 Reedy Rides....................................................................................87 Revival Butchery...........................................................................93 Robinson Funeral Homes and Memorial Gardens........43 Rush Wilson Limited...................................................................49 Ryan Beasley Law Firm.............................................................85 Shriners Children's Greenville.................................................97 Southern Garden Solutions.....................................................96 Spaulding Group at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, C. Dan Joyner Realtors..........................................28 Stanley Steemer of Greenville – Allen & Sarah D'Andrea.............................................................35 StretchLab...................................................... Inside Back Cover Swamp Rabbit Dental................................................................99 Synergy Coffee............................................................................. 101 Take Cover Storage ....................................................................66 Tax Credit Marketplace..............................................................64 The Anchorage............................................................................105 The Chet & Beth Smith Group.............. Inside Front Cover The Family Effect ....................................................................... 80 The Hiring Group.......................................................................... 72 The Wheel Sessions................................................................... 110 Tribus Interior Design................................................................... 4 Two Men and a Truck..................................................................42 Upstate Fatherhood Coalition.................................................16 Village of West Greenville Business Association (VOWGBA).................................................108-109 Virginia Hayes, Realtor...............................................................20 Wild Birds Unlimited...................................................................45 Wilson Associates Real Estate............................Back Cover

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Keeping Our Neighborhood Flexible

T

here comes a time when most people feel a little out of shape and perhaps unable to enjoy sports and hobbies they love. When that time came for Ashley Gondi, she literally decided to stretch her limits.

“On a ski vacation, I found myself feeling sore and not really able to hang in there for the whole week,” Gondi says. That’s when she decided to look for solutions.

Gondi and her husband discovered StretchLab, where “flexologists” help clients increase flexibility. However, Gondi was dismayed to find the closest studio was in Charlotte. The couple was passionate about bringing StretchLab to the Upstate, and they opened a franchise on Augusta Road. The Gondis, along with their children—now eight and four—live one block away from the studio.

“We actually looked at more than one company, but StretchLab requires an extensive background and education for employees. We identified with their values and phenomenal positive energy,” Ashley says.

Newcomers sometimes question this relatively new modality, thinking stretching is something they could do themselves. Gondi insists, however, that the results of having someone “do the stretching for you” exceed what one could achieve alone.

“Why go to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned? It’s the same idea with this type of deep stretch,” she says. “You feel good while it’s happening. You feel good when you leave— physically and mentally.”

General Manager Luke McClellan joined StretchLab in 2020 because he has a passion for helping people. “It’s very rewarding to see people come in with various needs and, after a dedicated stretching routine, be able to do things they couldn’t do before.”

Luke understands the importance of stretching after an injury cut his collegiate football career short. “I get stretched as often as I can from our staff,” says McClellan. “Being able to move freely is the key to being able to workout, run or perform physically demanding jobs.”

1922 AUGUSTA ST., SUITE 111 GREENVILLE, SC 29605 864.808.3125 GREENVILLE@STRETCHLAB.COM

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