2014 |
A Note From the Publisher Profiles in Business Editor - Licia Jackson ljackson@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7546
Those of you who have been Business Journal readers all of these years most likely know this story, but for you newer readers, the origin of Profiles in Business bears repeating. Not long after we launched the Business Journal in 1995, businesspeople began asking us to include stories about their companies in our publication. As journalists, we always had to reply, “We can’t do that until you do something we can report as news.”
Associate Editor - Jenny Peterson jpeterson@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3145 Staff Photographer - Kim McManus kmcmanus@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3116 Senior Graphic Designer - Jane Mattingly production2@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3118 Account executives Senior Account Executive - Sue Gordon sgordon@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3111 Senior Account Executive - Robert Reilly rreilly@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3107 Account Executive - Sara Cox scox@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3109 Account Executive - Bennett Parks bparks@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3126 Contributing Writers Holly Fisher, Licia Jackson, Nike Kern, Jenny Peterson Contributing Photographers James T. Hammond, Kim McManus, Gibson Pitts, Robbie Silver
President and Group Publisher - Grady Johnson
At the same time, many of those same people were asking if they could hire our advertising Grady Johnson copywriters to produce pieces they could use in brochures and marketing materials — but we were always too busy putting out the newspaper. Finally it dawned on us: Why not combine the two? And looking at the success of this year’s version of Profiles in Business, it seems the marriage has been a happy one. I hope these profiles give you some insight into the working lives of the people who make up the Charleston-area business community, because each and every one has a unique story to tell. Please accept my enthusiastic invitation to read the 2014 Profiles in Business, and I hope you will enjoy reading about this sample of Charleston business life as much as I do.
gjohnson@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3103 Vice President of Sales - Steve Fields sfields@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3110 Creative Director - Ryan Wilcox production1@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3117
Grady Johnson Publisher
Director of Audience Development - Rick Jenkins rjenkins@scbiznews.com • 864.235.5677, ext. 26 Event Manager - Kathy Allen kallen@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3113
SC Business Publications LLC A portfolio company of Virginia Capital Partners LLC Frederick L. Russell Jr., Chairman
Accounting Department - Vickie Deadmon vdeadmon@scbiznews.com • 864.235.5677, ext. 25 Custom media division Director of Business Development - Mark Wright mwright@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3143 Account Executive - Mariana Hall mhall@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3105
South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth The entire contents of this newspaper are copyright by SC Business Publications LLC with all rights reserved. Any reproduction or use of the content within this publication without permission is prohibited. SCBIZ and South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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American Automated Payroll............................................ 8
Liquid Box....................................................................... 10
Benefit Concepts............................................................ 33
Maybank Systems.......................................................... 27
Carolina Contracting Solutions....................................... 36
netGALAXY Studios......................................................... 31
Carolina One Real Estate Corporate................................ 32
Oswald Cooke & Associates........................................... 25
Carolina Lanterns & Lighting.......................................... 34 Cassina Group, The......................................................... 17 Charleston Cup............................................................... 30 Charleston Defense Contractors Association.................. 28 Costanzo Team Carolina One Real Estate....................... 22 ECPI University................................................................ 38
PST - Productivity Solutions & Training.......................... 20 Reads Moving Systems.................................................. 24 RP & Associates Land Surveying and Drafting............... 14 Sonoco Recycling........................................................... 13 Spherion......................................................................... 15
Energy One America......................................................... 6
Spivey Architects, Inc...................................................... 11
Grayson Thomas LLC...................................................... 37
Trident Pain Center......................................................... 23
Greg Enos....................................................................... 19
Trident Technical College................................................ 16
Hogan Construction Group, LLC...................................... 35
Webster Rogers LLP......................................................... 9
Energy One America
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Charleston Company Thrives With Positive Culture And Elated Customers
eadquartered in Charleston, SC, Spray Foam Insulation provider Energy One America services the residential and commercial building industries across the southeastern US. A keen focus on positive company culture, excellent customer service, and local community involvement has enabled Energy One America to grow to be the largest individually held company of its kind in the US*, and one of the fastest growing companies in South Carolina. John Guffey, owner of Energy One America and a former Fortune 1000 CEO of Colt Firearms and Coltec Industries, started his love affair with spray foam insulation in much the same way as other SPF ambassadors, by having it installed in his personal home. When his attic temperature dropped from 143 to 85 de-
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grees, Guffey saw a great business opportunity, and promptly started his own spray foam company. While Guffey had successfully guided a company of 10,000 employees at Coltec, starting a new small business didn’t come without its challenges. “We started Energy One America at the beginning of the economic collapse” said Guffey, “which was a difficult time for everyone in the home building industry. The other challenge was learning for the first time what it was like to run a small business and dealing with the various agencies from federal down to the local level.” Shortly after opening the doors, Guffey teamed up with current Energy One America CEO, Clint Allen, who had previously owned and operated several companies providing Spray Foam Insula-
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 454 Jessen Lane Charleston, SC 29492 843-388-6260 www.EnergyOneAmerica.com
tion, Mold Prevention, Crawl Space Systems, and Pest Control to the Charleston market. Allen added Marketing Director, Reid McCall, and together with Guffey, quickly grew the company to become a leader in the spray foam industry. Through close attention to their customers’ needs, other services were added, including Forticel, a nationally recognized mold prevention treatment. The shortcomings of epoxy flooring were addressed with the introduction of Decorative Floor Coatings based closely on spray foam technology, a durable system that cures quickly and is resistant to common garage chemicals. Spray Foam Insulation offerings were expanded to include standing walls in existing homes (without drywall removal), and Cool Roof Systems that enable energy savings for commercial buildings without the need to re-roof, creating a monolithic air, thermal, and moisture barrier in one application. Said Allen, “If a service can contribute to the energy efficiency of a structure, or the peace of mind of the owner, then it’s on the table.” When asked what leading factors were behind the rapid growth, Allen answered, “Our people. When a group of talented people agree to share those talents for the good of the group’s single initiative, anything is possible.” Guffey echoed that sentiment, “I know the most valuable asset a company can have is its people, and my philosophies toward dealing with people within the organization have proved invaluable in guiding our growth.” Added McCall, “As we grow and add employees (40 in the last 18 months), we develop tools internally to allow employees to interact in a relaxed environment and reward each other for a job well done. One
of the driving factors in our success is that our employees like working here. We enjoy working together as a team to create better systems, to push forward to new milestones.” Energy One America is deeply involved in the local community, as well, primarily supporting The Boys & Girls Club of The Lowcountry, The Palmetto Animal League, and the Charleston Battery USL Pro Soccer Team. “We want to be force for good in Charleston, an example and a model for new Charleston companies, and we know the best way to accomplish that is by getting out and meeting the great people that are helping to make Charleston THE place to work and live,” said McCall. As the company continues to grow, said Allen,“The recruitment of talented professionals who can maintain the high standards demanded of Energy One America is always a challenge.” He added, “However, we have been very proud of the men and women who have joined us from all over the country.” Guffey attributes one word as the key to his success, “Integrity. Having spent a lifetime in business, I have a very strong belief that you have to have integrity in all of your actions, both in dealing with your own people and with your customers. Keep your promises to your constituents. This has proven very valuable in creating the great culture we have at Energy One America.” Should you have an interest in lowering the operation cost of your building or improving the comfort of your home or business, call Energy One America at 843-388-6260. *according to data obtained in a 2013 survey by Prinicipia of 135 US based spray foam companies.
Photos: Opposite, top: Company Photo Bottom, left: Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation Bottom, right: Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation This page: Christmas Parade w/ Boys & Girls Club and Palmetto Animal League Top Executive: Clint Allen President Date Founded: 2004 Number of Employees: 60 “We want to be a force for good in Charleston, an example and a model for new Charleston companies, and we know the best way to accomplish that is by getting out and meeting the great people that are helping to make Charleston THE place to work and live.” - Reid McCall Marketing Director
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QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 901 Old Trolley Road Suite A Summerville, SC 29485 843-851-2289 www.aappayroll.com
AAP
The Affordable Care Act and How We Can Help
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he Affordable Care Act has been weighing heavily on the minds of business owners as they await more information regarding federal reporting and benefits requirements. AAP, a Summerville-based Payroll, HR and Benefit provider is proactively monitoring the ACA regulations so it can best assist businesses with reporting and compliance issues. “To assist our clients we continue to stay well informed about the ever-changing legislation associated with the ACA,” said Andrew Osborne, President. “There are so many unknowns.” The company has hosted workshops for clients and prospects, bringing in benefits specialists who can educate clients on forthcoming changes and what they mean for specific companies. One important aspect of the ACA, said Lisa Burnett, Vice President, is that many businesses aren’t aware of something called “common ownership.” There are specific regulations written about how to address ACA rules for companies that have common ownership. If two or more companies have a common owner or are otherwise related, these companies are combined for the purpose of determining whether they are subject to the Employer Shared
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Responsibility thresholds. In addition to keeping companies compliant, AAP is adding a level of convenience to new hire paperwork. AAP can streamline the new hire process with options to provide electronic documents – I-9s, W-4s, E-Verify documentation – that can be filled out and submitted even before the employee’s first day on the job. This process creates a new hire file that can feed directly into the payroll system, eliminating redundant data entry and improving accuracy. Working with clients around the country, AAP is providing human resources tools, workers’ compensation, E-Verify, time and labor management, and 401(k) retirement solutions. The company’s goal is to create efficiencies for each of its clients and to help each business grow. “What we do each and every day is build relationships with our clients so they can rest assured that their payroll, HR and benefit compliance are handled properly and in a timely manner,” said Ashley Bond, Payroll Operations Manager. “Our goal is to help all of our clients get back to focusing on growing their business. We take care of the rest.”
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Photo: AAP Staff
Top Executives: William Streyffeler CEO Andrew Osborne President
Date Founded: 1996
Number of Employees: 32
“To assist our clients we continue to stay well informed of the everchanging legislation associated with the ACA. There are so many unknowns.” - Andrew Osborne President
QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 40 Calhoun St. Suite 320 Charleston, SC 29401 843-577-5843 www.websterrogers.com
Photo: Front row: Nelda D. Fields, FACMPE, FHFMA; Debra A. Turner, CPA Back row: Charles E. Talbert III, CPA; Robert M. Moise, CPA; Bobby R. Creech, CPA
Top Executive: Debra A. Turner, CPA Managing Partner
Date Founded: 1984
Number of Employees: 145 (including 24 partners)
“At WebsterRogers, clients are our number one priority. Our goal is to help our clients reach their goals, it’s that simple.” - Bobby Creech, CPA Tax Partner
WebsterRogers
Focus on Client Success Sets It Apart
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here’s no secret behind the success of WebsterRogers, a leading South Carolina-based accounting and consulting firm. A fierce focus on helping its clients become successful is what sets the firm apart. Founded in 1984 in Florence, S.C., by five forward-thinking CPA professionals, WebsterRogers has grown to nine offices across South Carolina. The firm serves clients throughout the Southeast. WebsterRogers provides tax, assurance and management consulting services, along with payroll services, outsourced accounting solutions, forensic and investigative accounting, employee benefit plan administration and business valuations. Specializing in a limited number of industries has helped the firm develop expertise and a knowledge base to help those businesses build their success, says Bobby Creech, CPA and tax partner in the Charleston office. The top three industries served are health care, manufacturing and hospitality. WebsterRogers also works with construction and real estate, auto dealerships, government and not-for-profit, as well as agriculture, retail and professional services. This broad and deep industry-specific knowledge provides an advantage for clients who
seek consulting services. WebsterRogers can help with strategic planning, fraud prevention, streamlining processes and providing timely financial information. All this helps a client company build a better culture of business ethics. In WebsterRogers’ nine offices are 24 partners and 145 staff members, all incredibly professional and hard-working, bright people, Creech said. WebsterRogers employees are very active in giving back to their communities, and, many serve on nonprofit boards. The firm has a foundation that provides monetary support to charitable organizations throughout the state. WebsterRogers was named one of the fastest growing accounting firms in the United States in 2012 by Inside Public Accounting magazine. Partners and staff have also won many professional awards. Managing Partner Debra Turner was named one of Charleston’s most Influential Women in Business in 2013. “We are firmly rooted in our commitment to South Carolina and the Southeast,” WebsterRogers states on its website. “Our commitment to bringing responsive local service has led to offices in nine cities. That means leading expertise is delivered locally.” At WebsterRogers, every conversation is about what’s best for the client.
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QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 3135 Pacific St. North Charleston, SC 29418 843-745-0023 www.liquidbox.us
Photo: Top: Liquid Box Trucks faceoff Left: Liquid Box owners Michele and Scott Adams Right: Liquid Box’s FanZam
Liquid Box
Always on the Road to Improving its Services
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ocally owned and operated by Scott and Michele Adams, the company consistently raises the standards in the intermodal transportation industry. Along the way, Liquid Box has revolutionized the industry by offering dry and liquid transportation of overweight and legal loads in 20-foot and 40-foot containers, transloading of tankers and rail tankers, plus full-service flexi-tank operations and ISO tank and flatbed. The company has turned a 53-foot dry van into a tanker truck, giving businesses a more cost-effective way to transport nonhazardous liquids. “This method could cut tanker costs almost in half for businesses that need to haul liquid in the United States,” owner Scott Adams says. Equipped with company-owned trucks, Liquid Box hauls liquid and dry freight to and
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from the Port of Charleston daily. The company’s adherence to government safety standards makes it a top choice for many Fortune 500 companies. The company has its own mechanics, tire repair staff and a safety coordinator to make sure drivers stay on time. Liquid Box can lift and store containers and ISO tanks for long or short periods depending on a customer’s needs. The East Coast distributor for six major flexi-tank manufacturers, Liquid Box delivers the flexi-tank in a timely manner at the highest standards. After all its hard work, Liquid Box believes in supporting the community, sponsoring events and taking part in parades. Its Liquid Box FanZam, a 1957 Zamboni, is a constant presence at the South Carolina Stingrays hockey games. “If you do business with us, we include everybody in the fun,” Adams says.
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
Top Executive: Scott Adams Owner
Date Founded: 2007
Number of Employees: 30
“Our flexi-tank service in Charleston is the best in the United States. We are the only facility that is certified to build for all six major flexi manufacturers.” - Scott Adams Owner
QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 147 Wappoo Creek Drive Charleston, SC 29412 843-795-9370 www.spiveyarchitects.com
Photo: From left: Steven Booth, architect; Paula Spivey, office administrator; Michael Spivey, principal architect; Brad Brown, architect
Top Executive: Michael Spivey Principal Architect
Date Founded: 1983
Number of Employees: 5
“We assist our clients in bringing their dreams into reality; everything is custom designed and suited specifically to our clients, their budget, and their property.” - Michael Spivey Principal Architect
Spivey Architects
Experience and Client Input to Design Breathtaking Homes and Offices
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ichael Spivey, principal architect at Spivey Architects, has a unique approach to designing homes and business spaces for clients: He’s diligent about getting to know his clients, listening first to their ideas and often visiting them at their residences or businesses to fully understand their lifestyles and architectural needs. “I view what our practice does as a service. We believe that unless you know who clients really are, you can’t design a home or business for them that fits them like a glove,” he said. For more than 30 years, Spivey has made a name for itself in the Charleston area designing high-end homes, businesses, resort facilities, retail space, and tenant upfits and renovations to maximize space. Their portfolio includes stunning homes with expansive views on Kiawah Island, The Charleston Peninsula, Daniel Island, James Island and beyond. They are currently working on projects in North Carolina as well. Spivey brings a host of unique talents to clients, including a strong construction background. Michael Spivey co-founded a residential design-build company on Kiawah Island in the late 1970s and said that experience allows him to walk clients through every step of the design and construction process. He has a
thorough understanding of design elements and their corresponding cost. This greatly assists his clients in cost control during the design process. His commercial design and construction experience includes service-based companies like doctor’s offices, banking facilities, veterinarian offices and resort facilities. “I like the variety,” he says. “Every project is different.” In addition to staff, the firm includes three licensed architects: Michael and his associates Steven Booth and Brad Brown. They all work out of an office on James Island overlooking the Wappoo Cut. His wife of 39 years, Paula, is the office manager at the firm. Spivey Architects uses updated computer technology, from 3-D modeling to 3-D animation. The phenomenal range of choices and options allows Spivey Architects to design the home or commercial space of clients’ dreams. “We live in a time where people have so many opportunities to be unique,” he said. “Maybe (a client) went to the Hamptons and they want a design of that particular style; or they went to Italy and experienced the architecture of Tuscany. We have the ability and tools to find and integrate all the things clients want for a beautiful and truly functional home or business.”
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QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 2025 Tellico Road North Charleston, SC 29405 843-577-6840 www.sonocorecycling.com
Photo: Workers sort recyclables at Charleston County’s facility.
Top Executive: Rodger Fuller, President, Sonoco Recycling
Date Founded: Sonoco Recycling is a unit of Sonoco, founded in 1899
Number of Employees: 292 full-time employees, in addition to temporary, contract and transportation workers
“From the beginning, it’s been our mission to change the way people, companies and communities think about waste. Because we believe waste isn’t the end of something, it’s the beginning of something new.” - Rodger Fuller President
Sonoco Recycling
The Lead in Recycling Solutions
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f a company or community has waste it would like to transform into opportunity, Sonoco Recycling is ready to help. “We’ve taken more than a century of experience as a global packaging leader and recycler and put it to work to consistently find alternative recycling solutions for waste previously thought to be ‘unrecyclable,’” says Rodger Fuller, Sonoco Recycling’s president. Sonoco Recycling is a unit of Sonoco, a 115-year-old packaging company headquartered in South Carolina. Located in North Charleston, the recycling company is working with Charleston County to handle its recycling, helping them develop plans to expand and grow their single-stream municipal program. Sonoco Recycling’s roots date to the 1920s, born out of Sonoco’s growing need for the recycled materials used to make packaging. The company today operates more than 40 recycling facilities globally, collecting more than 3.5 million tons of recyclables in more than 125 cities and towns across the U.S. each year. As a result, more than 15,000 retailers, manufacturers and
communities save money, save resources and create clean, renewable energy. “Today, we provide insights-driven recycling solutions across an array of industries that do more than drive business; they ensure a better future for all,” Fuller says. Those industries include exports, national accounts, industrial and manufacturing, paper mills, government, commercial and retail, and residential recycling. “As an almost 100-year-old company that not only collects recyclable materials, but also uses them in our own production, Sonoco Recycling offers a security not often found in this industry,” Fuller explains. Sonoco has won many awards for sustainability. It is listed as one of three global packaging companies in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for 2013-14 and is ranked in the Top 5 of the Packaging and Container sector of FORTUNE magazine’s 2014 World’s Most Admired Companies. Fuller says, “Our success is built upon a commitment to doing what’s right for our customers, our environment and our people — it’s good business.”
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QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: P.O. Box 1820 Mount Pleasant, SC 29465 803-873-0482 www.rpasurveying.com
RP & Associates Land Surveying The Latest Technology for Efficient Workflow
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PA Land Surveying is leading the Lowcountry’s surveying scene through customer service, minimal project disruption and budgetary finesse while putting the latest technology into play for the client. “We are highly motivated and embrace the challenges that are encountered in each project,” says Rafal Pawlowski, owner. “We thrive on coming in on budget while keeping to a strict on-time work schedule.” A product of a long career in surveying, Pawlowski recently began work as RPA Land Surveying, a multi-disciplined land surveying and drafting service. RPA offers a variety of services to facilitate architects, builders, developers, engineers, planners, municipalities, and the general public. This top-notch group’s work can be seen in the commercial, industrial and residential arenas throughout the Lowcountry. RPA welcomes all types of projects whether they are small, residential projects to large, commercial track or building developments. RPA understands the industry and the challenges that each project may undergo. Utilizing the latest technology for efficient workflow, RPA focuses on providing an accurate product
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that allows for an easy transition from design to construction. “We can deliver an impressive 3D model,” says Pawlowski. “This type of technology helps in the design and implementation of an endless number of construction scenarios.” As with all construction, there are a lot of considerations to be made which can sometimes be a painful and tedious process for all parties involved. Applying 3D infrastructure modeling to existing conditions allows engineering teams to design and analyze projects more quickly and identify areas of conflict faster, ultimately allowing them to stimulate different load capacities on design prior to construction. “In the end, 3D technology is a very cost effective technique for the client,” says Pawlowski. RPA believes there is a long list of reasons why a client should keep a land surveyor service nearby. Many considerations need to be made and acquiring an accurate account of space is both timely and financially sound. For more information, contact Rafal Pawlowski at www.rpasurveying.com to learn about the technology and services that this cutting-edge land surveying and drafting firm can offer your next project.
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
Photo: Rafal Pawlowski, owner of RP & Associates Land Surveying
Top Executive: Rafal Pawlowski Owner
Date Founded: 2013
Number of Employees: 1
“Exceeding client’s expectations one project at a time.” - Rafal Pawlowski Owner
QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 4995 LaCross Road, Suite 1050 North Charleston, SC 29406 843-554-4933 www.spherion.com
Photo: From left: Co-owners Mary Barrineau and Pam Ueberroth
Top Executive: Mary Barrineau Co-owner
Date Founded: 1994
Number of Employees: 7
“Our services give our business partners the competitive advantage that they need to grow.” - Mary Barrineau Co-owner
Spherion Recruiting and Staffing
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A Competitive Advantage to Help Business Partners Grow
pherion Recruiting and Staffing has been connecting top talent with top jobs in Charleston for 19 years. The full-service staffing agency provides temporary, contract and professional staffing for businesses across the Lowcountry. “We are a family-owned and operated Woman Owned Small Business that has built its foundation upon strong values of dedicated service, loyal relationships and tailored business solutions,” said Mary Barrineau, co-owner. After years of experience in the staffing industry, Pam Thompson Ueberroth knew the closing of the Naval Base would mean a major change for Charleston – and that it would be an ideal time to join the Charleston community with a staffing agency. She launched a staff agency here in 1994. Over the course of the next five years, Barrineau, Ueberroth’s daughter, moved from Atlanta and began working with the business. In 2000, Norrell was acquired and became Spherion Staffing. Barrineau became co-owner with her mother and the all-women team has continued to make strides in the staffing industry. Clients turn to Spherion when they need top-quality staff without the hassle of endless searches. “Our services give our business partners the competitive advantage that they need to
grow,” Barrineau said. Spherion provides executive searches, direct hire, contract staffing and workforce management while also helping clients with staffing needs in 3PL and distribution, warehouse, manufacturing, engineering, quality, call centers, collections, medical coding/billing, administrative and finance. Additionally, Spherion provides on-site management and recruitment process outsourcing to make finding the right people as simple as possible. Spherion is also 100 percent compliant with the Affordable Healthcare Act. One of the benefits of using Spherion as the staffing agency of choice is the combination of a locally owned business and an international company. The seven full-time employees at Spherion know the staffing needs and expectations of businesses in the Lowcountry. They also have the benefit of the backing of an international staffing company with international resources. Since 2001, Spherion Charleston has been in the top 10 percent for growth of all Spherion offices. Additionally the team has been in the top three Executive Placement Awards since 2001 while being honored with a Multi-Million Dollar Growth Award and an On-Premise Management Award since 2005.
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QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 2001 Mabeline Road North Charleston, SC 29406 843-574-6788 www.tridenttech.edu/ce.htm
Trident Technical College
Continuing Education Classes Train Workforce
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hether exploring a passion or jump-starting a profession, Trident Technical College’s Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development has classes and training for almost anything you want to learn. “While open enrollment classes with the highest registrations are in the health care professions, manufacturing programs represent the largest segment of customized contractual training performed by the division,” said Bob Walker, vice president for Continuing Education and Economic Development at TTC. Students are taught essential skills in these fast-growing professions with accelerated hands-on training and cross-training. In addition, students are often eligible to earn nationally recognized industry certifications and credentials upon completion. TTC’s Continuing Education Division works closely with major employers such as Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Kapstone, Showa Denko and Boeing to identify workforce skills gaps and develop training programs to close those gaps. The Continuing Education Division also works with area chambers of commerce, economic development agencies and government entities to align customized classes to meet the needs of area employers.
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At times, companies contract with the division to provide classes to train or retrain current employees. “We are engaged with the community and local industry to respond quickly with training and professional development opportunities,” Walker said. “We work closely with individual companies to identify their specific training needs. We’re able to provide customized training very quickly at one of the college’s seven convenient locations throughout the Lowcountry or onsite at the client’s facility.” In health care, the division expanded its phlebotomy program and offers a medical scribe program, a new discipline where students learn to transcribe treatment and medical coding. Manufacturing also has big enrollment numbers, both in hands-on training and recertification with updated technology and real-world machinery. Classes are affordable and may be free for the unemployed. Several nonprofit and governmental organizations help fund skills-based classes to qualified residents, military veterans and high school students in health care and manufacturing tracks. “One of the most rewarding parts of the work we do is seeing a graduate obtain a job offer. It’s ultimately why we’re here,” said Walker.
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
Photo: Bob Walker
Top Executive: Bob Walker Vice President
Date Founded: 1964
Number of Employees: 30
“We are engaged with the community and local industry to respond quickly with training and professional development opportunities.” - Bob Walker Vice President, Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development
QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 309 Coleman Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-628-0008 www.thecassinagroup.com
Photo: General brokerage agents at the Cassina Group with co-owners Jimmy Dye (far left, front row) and Robertson Allen (far right).
Top Executives: Robertson Allen, broker in charge and co-owner Jimmy Dye, broker and co-owner
Date Founded: 2006
Number of Employees: 32
“We set the bar high. We believe that success breeds more success.” - Robertson Allen Broker in charge and co-owner
The Cassina Group
Unique Real Estate Firm Model Shows Success
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obertson Allen and Jimmy Dye first met as competing Realtors in Charleston, but they soon combined forces to start their own real estate firm, The Cassina Group, in 2006. They shared a vision of how they wanted their new firm to be – a cooperative team of experienced agents working together with an emphasis on a strong company culture. “Agents work in open-style offices to create a community atmosphere,” Allen said. “Agents learn from each other.” Agents are often experts in specific areas of Charleston, and specialization allows clients to get the most knowledgeable assistance. Coming off a record-breaking year in home sales, it’s clear the work culture created at Cassina has paid off. Nineteen Cassina agents produced more than $152 million in closed sales last year, a 50 percent increase from 2012. Sales have doubled over the past three years, resulting in The Cassina Group being named the seventh highest-producing team of agents in the Charleston area, surpassing firms with many more agents. This year 20 general brokerage agents and 8 buyer’s agents are helping to move properties all over the Charleston area. The company’s state of the art website displays more than 13,500 MLS properties for buy-
ers and sellers to search. Allen said the office culture fosters a healthy competition among agents. “We set the bar high,” Allen said. “We believe that success breeds more success.” Success also includes a comprehensive online presence, with professional photographers and video services for all its properties. “One hundred percent of people looking for properties today are looking at the Internet first,” Allen said. “People have seen your house before they even come in the front door.” Buyers and sellers can log onto Cassina’s website at www.thecassinagroup.com to browse listings, and the site can tailor its listings to that person’s preferences – showing only properties within a given price range, for example. “Time is money, and this allows us to maximize the time spent with agents looking at properties,” Allen said. A Cassina Group smartphone app is also available. The firm recently hired Owen Tyler, a managing broker, to assist the agents in providing an even higher level of service to clients. Agents participate in continuing education classes and are quick to learn new trends in the market. Cassina handles listings all over the Charleston area. “It’s a huge variety, and that’s what makes it fun,” Tyler said.
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QUICK FACTS
Greg Enos
Contact Info: 1988 Lees Landing Circle Conway, SC 29526 843-347-9920 www.gregenos.com
Photo: Gregory J. Enos uses a small model of the human brain to explain how most people do not use the brain’s full capacity because of distractions and unproductive work habits.
Top executive: Gregory J. Enos Managing Principal
Date Founded: 1987
Number of Employees: Sole Proprietor
“I believe lifelong learning is a critical orientation. When you stimulate the brain as you age, when you are always ready to learn something new, it has a positive health effect.” - Gregory J. Enos Managing Principal
Time Communications Associates LLC Helping Workers Improve Productivity
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veryone has the same amount of time – 24 hours in a day – but what you do with it can have a vast impact on your productivity, says Gregory J. Enos, managing principal of Time Communications Associates LLC. With 30 years’ experience in helping employees work smarter, Enos says that most of us fail to use the full capacity of the human brain. “We try to do too much,” he says. “It’s a fallacy that we can multitask and get more done. The human brain is wired to do one thing well at a time.” Enos leads one- to three-day workshops across the United States to help improve time management and productivity. Some of his tips are fairly simple: minimizing distractions by turning off computer and cell phone alerts, for example. Others require more focused action. He advises a person to set no more than three daily priorities, in order of importance, before starting work. “Those are tasks that you can complete in two hours or less,” he says. Some days you might get just one done, but to be effective you need to focus 90 percent of your daily activity on those priorities. Ineffective communication is another downfall, and Enos teaches active listening as a criti-
cal skill for improving productivity. When procrastination interferes with productivity, the underlying reason may be a lack of confidence. Enos suggests breaking the project into manageable “chunks” that can be finished in a reasonable amount of time. Team building workshops are another specialty of Time Communications Associates. Based on his experience in corporate, military and government settings, Enos says that teams fail to succeed because goals were not clear and everyone had not bought into them. “People have trouble accomplishing their priorities because they are not focused on the goal in an environment where they can accomplish it,” Enos says. Using his personal observations as credible evidence sets his training apart from other programs. “I have made the mistakes, I’ve procrastinated – that gives me credibility,” Enos explains. He also works with his students before the workshop, requiring exercises or reading to prepare. He finds that participants have a vested interest if they have already spent time preparing. After the fact, Enos answers questions and asks them to create an action plan.
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Productivity Solutions & Training
Workplace Efficiency, Quality Instruction, Business Development, Leadership Training and Consulting
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roductivity Solutions & Training (PST) has provided quality consistent training for the business, medical, school and military communities throughout the Southeast for over 20 years, specializing in comprehensive training, consulting services, business skills workshops, executive coaching, small business development, team-building events and keynote speakers. From end-user courses to network administration courses and preparing participants for certification, PST offers a large selection
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of courses tailored to enhance employee performance on the job. All of PST’s courses are taught using a combination of instructor lecture and hands-on labs for all of the skill sets covered. Instructors encourage questions and course discussion as a method for the participants to internalize the information presented and to make it applicable to their work environment. In every course, the focus is on giving the participants the ability to successfully utilize the application when they return to their workplace.
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“In a tough economy, training is often the first thing to go,” said Kim Holcombe, Director of Training with PST, “but it’s one of the most important things a company can do for its employees. Training will reduce frustration and make daily tasks so much easier.” PST has over 300 interactive workshops that can be delivered at their training facility or onsite at a client’s location. Popular topics include motivation, retention, low performers, delegation, change management and managing your organization through tough times. All courses are high-impact, interactive and allow every participant to apply learned skills immediately to their workplace. PST’s training center includes three state-of-the-art classrooms at their North Charleston campus. Courses are offered during the day, evening or on the weekends. Companies needing their own conference and training space can rent out the classrooms complete with A/V connections, networking hubs and classroom computers. Instructors can tailor training sessions, and create customizable workshops, for groups of any size to fit any client’s need. PST also provides industry certification testing as a Prometric, VUE, Castle, Kryterion, PAN, and Certiport testing facility. “We believe our client’s success is our success,” said Ingrid Tugwell, president and CEO. “We have a ‘can-do’ attitude and will do whatever is possible to make them successful — long-term — from training to consulting.” More programs and applications come on the market each year and PST employees make it their business to keep up with the changing technology. “There are so many tools to learn; ‘self-teaching’ is a thing of the past,” Holcombe said. For businesses looking to see how training can help their workforce, PST’s consulting program can evaluate workplace efficiency to see how a specific company can save time and money in its operation. Examples include helping with automating existing workflow, upgrading legacy systems, database and website development and software integration.
Many clients are repeat customers, interested in keeping employee skills sharp. “PST has been building long-term relations with clients dating back to 1994,” Tugwell said. “We believe that community involvement and client support is the key to our success.” PST is now offering training in mobile apps and smartphone technology, privacy compliance, online marketing and online security in marketing. The company hired Lou Vega, a fulltime employee who focuses on cyber security compliance. Vega teaches a class called “Don’t Get Hacked,” and brings more than 30 years of experience on Internet security and on how to keep others from compromising computer systems. “It’s absolutely necessary to learn security if you are going to do IT work,” said Vega. Although PST appears small, they hold the state term training contract for the state of S.C. Region 5 through 2018, a GSA Schedule for training and consulting, and accept all VA educational resources such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), VRAP, Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) and Voc Rehab (Vet Success Chapter 31). In its newest venture, PST works with partners to train, consult and promote their local businesses. Companies like StonzThrow, OpsAssure, and Private and Personal Transportation are currently using PST’s expert services to enhance their business and reach more clients. Herbert Drayton, vice president and health insurance administrator, said, “Partnering with PST allows us to expand our client base in a responsible manner. PST’s technical knowledge and customer engagement approach will enhance our service offerings to clients as we prepare to reach out to our vast network of clients.” There’s no question that the need for continuing education and training is essential to remain competitive. From an individual looking to be a more desirable candidate in the workforce to a business leader looking to be more confident, no matter what the educational need, PST has the training solution that’s right for you.
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Contact Info: 4105 Faber Place Drive Suite 420 North Charleston, SC 29405 843-529-0098 www.trainwithpst.com Photos: Opposite, top: PST core staff members. Bottom left: PST staff member Lou Vega and Anthony Frazier, owner of Private and Personal Transportation. Bottom right: Herb Drayton, with OpsAssure & StonzThrow, and PST owner Ingrid Tugwell. This page, top: Steven Schultz, SCS Advisory Group does executive consulting for clients. Bottom: Michael Ray, Training Concepts, handles veterans benefits. Top Executive: Ingrid Tugwell President and CEO Date Founded: 1994 Number of Employees: 6 “We have a ‘can-do’ attitude to ensure our clients’ long-term success — from training to consulting. ” - Ingrid Tugwell President and CEO
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Contact Info: 49 Broad Street Charleston, SC 29401 843-414-2541 www.CostanzoTeam.com
The Costanzo Team
Over 40 years of Experience in the Charleston Real Estate Market
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ina Costanzo and her daughter Michele Costanzo set themselves apart by offering a large range of services to a diverse clientele, including relocation and interior design. They have been awarded Realtor of Distinction numerous times. Lina is a Senior Real Estate Specialist and Michele has been certified as an REO Specialist and also works with commercial real estate clients. Lina’s knowledge of the various neighborhoods in the tri-county area is extremely useful in helping people relocate to Charleston for work, retirement or a second home. Whether it be schools, medical services, churches or simply finding the right neighborhood, Lina can help with the process. Michele’s previous career as an interior designer is invaluable in staging and photographing properties for sale as well as helping buyers utilize the various spaces. This experience is essential to those buyers and investors who are interested in restoring, renovating or purchasing new construction. The Team works out of the Downtown Charleston office of Carolina One Real Estate
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on Broad Street. They work together with their full-time team manager and closing coordinator, Sally Maitland, who is also a licensed real estate agent and the glue that keeps the Team together. Lina and Michele maintain an average of 60 to 70 listings at all times and have consistently been in the Top Ten in sales of Carolina One Real Estate. Through their association with Carolina One, they are able to avail themselves of the latest in technology the company has to offer as well as their affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Here’s what some of their satisfied clients have to say: “Smart, competent, loyal, attentive, funny. Lina Costanzo and her team were terrific. We would not have been able to buy our house without them. Many, many thanks.” “Michele is exceptional. She treated my modest property as if it were a home on the Battery. She was creative in showing it, patient with my tenants, extremely resourceful in financing, and CALM. My one regret is I only wish I had more opportunities to work with her. She is a work horse, not a show horse.”
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Photo: From left: Sally Maitland, Lina Costanzo and Michele Costanzo
Year Founded: 2002
Number of Associates: 3
“This is a familyoriented business and it is relationship-based. We work with clients on building their dreams from the ground up.” - Michele Costanzo Realtor
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Contact Info: 9267-G Medical Plaza Drive North Charleston, SC 29406 108 N. Highway 52 Moncks Corner, SC 29461 www.tridentpaincenter.com
Photo: From left: Kristen Giet, PA-C; Allison Davis, NP-C; J. Edward Nolan, M.D.; Rebecca Muirhead, FNPBC; Allyson Thatcher, M.D.
Top Executive: J. Edward Nolan, M.D. Owner
Date Founded: 2002
Number of Employees: 41
“When someone goes from a ‘9’ on the pain scale to a ‘1’ after just one visit to Trident Pain Center, that makes me feel good. We can change patients’ lives.” - Allyson Thatcher, M.D. Pain Specialist
Trident Pain Center
Individualized Plans for Pain Relief
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octors at Trident Pain Center don’t merely want to find a quick, temporary remedy for a patient’s chronic pain; they want to find the best treatment plan for each patient so that chronic pain can be relieved, as well as managed for life. J. Edward Nolan, M.D., owner of Trident Pain Center and a board certified physician in pain management, works with his patients on individualized and specific treatment plans that can provide relief immediately and for their future. Trident Pain Center specializes in helping patients who have neck and lower back pain, but also provides effective relief to those suffering from chronic headaches, migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease and more. Treatment plans include injections, back braces, in-house massage therapy, and optional on-site psychological counseling. In addition Trident Pain Center is the leading provider in Charleston offering SphenoCath, a relatively quick outpatient procedure for chronic headaches and migraines available for patients of all ages. SphenoCath is a safe and highly effective procedure that can provide relief for up to 90 days with just one treatment. The office works with all major insurances to
bring pain relief to as many people as possible. Allyson Thatcher, M.D. was recently hired to be part of the team. “We treat people with pain from top to bottom,” says Thatcher. “People don’t need to live with pain.” A former member of the US military and a primary-care physician for 20 years, Thatcher brings a unique perspective to the office and works with patients who have pain issues as well as other diagnoses. “We see so many successes,” she said. “When someone goes from a ‘9’ on the pain scale to a ‘1’ after just one visit to Trident Pain Center, that makes me feel good. We’ve had patients who come in with migraines and leave the clinic headache-free. We can truly change patients’ lives.” In order to make services easier for patients to obtain, Trident Pain Center is opening satellite offices. The first satellite office opened in Moncks Corner last October, with a second satellite opening this summer. The practice will announce future satellite locations via its website and Facebook page. With a host of treatment plans available and offices located across the LowCountry, the staff at Trident Pain Center is committed to providing effective treatments that result in a pain-free life.
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Contact Info: 1072 Drop Off Drive Summerville, SC 29483 843-285-7374 www.readsmovers.com
Reads Moving Systems of Carolina No Move is Too Far
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uality work sets Reads Moving Systems of Carolina apart from its competitors, says Donald Wishman, company president. An agent for Atlas Van Lines, Reads Moving Systems specializes in home relocation, international moves, storage, distribution and final mile delivery. The company began in 1955 as Palmetto Moving and later became part of the Reads organization. In 2004, the current owners purchased the Charleston operation and another in Richmond, Va., and changed the name to Reads Moving Systems. Now a much larger operation, “this company has grown from a one-truck outfit to over 100 pieces of equipment owned by us,” Wishman said. What sets Reads apart is its certified labor, required by Atlas, said John Mentel, sales manager. All employees are backgroundchecked, drug-tested and uniformed. As a result, the company has low turnover. Reads handles moves locally, nationwide, and internationally, often managing moves overseas. The company also has 50,000 square feet of warehouse space, including a fully air-conditioned section used for high-
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end furnishings and temperature-sensitive distribution projects. Some goods coming through the port are stored there, including household goods for the military. The warehouse stores furnishings for restaurants and hotels undergoing renovation. One local project had them store and deliver 20 containers of hotel furniture. The availability of storage as well as moving services is a major selling point when a customer wants a single point of contact, Mentel said. “They know that person will see them through and that lowers the stress level.” On another recent project, Reads removed 5,000-pound safes from a business and coordinated the transportation to Ohio. “We handle jobs no other companies want to,” said Ryan Wishman, vice president. Reads Moving Systems has won quality awards from Atlas. The company works with 20 carriers and receives a monthly report card from each one. Keeping standards high is a must. For the future, the company plans to build the moving business and expand the warehouse space. It has a pair of billboards in the Charleston area that show the outlook of Reads Moving Systems: “No move . . . . too far.”
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
Photo: From left: Ryan Wishman, Donald Wishman, Michael Wishman Top Executive: Donald Wishman President
Date Founded: 1955
Number of Employees: 50 direct employees 20 owner-operators
“Our mission statement is: Do it right the first time.” - Donald Wishman President
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Contact Info: 887 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Suite 231 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-416-2126 www.oswaldcooke.com
Photo: Edward Oswald and Benjy Cooke
Top Executives: Edward Oswald Broker/Owner Benjy Cooke Broker/Owner
Date Founded: 2011
Number of Employees: 2
“We work a plan, and the plan is working.” - Edward Oswald Broker/Owner
Oswald Cooke & Associates
Land & Investment Real Estate – A Plan That Works
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swald Cooke & Associates has created a niche in the commercial real estate market. Using a blend of their backgrounds and skill sets, partners Edward Oswald and Benjy Cooke maintain a loyal client base and healthy book of business doing what they do on a consistent basis. It is a commitment to those principles that have led to continued success and profitability. The platform is built on four specific areas of detail: • Net Leased Sales • 1031 Exchanges • Retail Site Selection • Multi-Family and Single-Family Land Development “There are alternative investments out there that investors should be considering,” Edward Oswald, BIC and partner says. “Our clients are buying credit, low maintenance long-term returns that provide an alternative to the stock market. Investors are searching for stable yield, and the Southeast is a target for growth. The Lowcountry of South Carolina is at the center of the story. We are out in front of that.” The firm represents developers and investors alike, and to date has transacted more than $70,000,000 in income sales since their company formed in 2011. “Coming out of the Recession there was a lot of money that had been tied up in land or long-term debt,” says part-
ner Benjy Cooke. “Many of our clients were locked into land without a plan, or into loans that weren’t allowing them to move. The growth in the Charleston economy has allowed them to transact again. We foster the change in their holdings.” OC&A has a unique knowledge and expertise with 1031 exchanges. Says Oswald, “Understanding all the rules and requirements with 1031 are essential tools in educating our clients of their options. Many of our investors were not aware of the tax deferred options that were available to them. Probably half of our clients are buying into a net-leased asset for the first time.” “One of our clients sold a chain of retail stores he and his family owned and operated for a number of years,” said Cooke. “These folks had been physically running a business at multiple locations. They were able to profitably exit the operation and move the money into multiple net-leased investments that now provide security through passive income. They don’t work anymore, and they are as tan and rested as anyone we know.” With over 1,200 residential lots in the books, over 500 more in entitlement, 10 apartment developments under their hats, and a host of retail developments open and operating, OC&A continues to provide results. “We work a plan, and the plan is working,” says Oswald.
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Contact Info: 525 E. Bay St., Suite 301 Charleston, SC 29403 843-278-0339 www.maybanksystems.com Photo: Corey Turner and Larry Campbell Top Executives: Larry Campbell Managing partner Corey Turner Partner and COO Date Founded: 2004 Number of Employees: 11 “With over 100 years of combined experience in today’s most vital industry, our engineers bring an extensive skill set to each client.” - Larry Campbell Managing Partner
Maybank Systems 24/7 IT Solutions
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aybank Systems specializes in full-service IT consulting and management for both large and small enterprises. “We have regional clients with hundreds of employees as well as local clients with less than ten on staff,” says Larry Campbell, managing partner. When a client decides to outsource its IT work, Maybank Systems takes over. The company specializes in system design, system integration, system maintenance and emergency response. “Other companies have two or three guys who can do two or three things,” Campbell said. “We have a team of engineers which provides us with a team of skill sets and expertise.” A growing part of Maybank Systems’ business is the hospitality industry. From designing systems to maintaining hardware, phone systems and software, the company has emerged as the premier hotel IT vendor on the Charleston Peninsula, serving 25 area hotels from boutique to national chains. “Hotels face numerous challenges. They are 24/7 businesses, and so are we,” Campbell said. His company helps them with securing client information as well as maintaining the integrity of the hotels’ infrastructure. Maybank Systems understands that response time and up time for the client are paramount. Today’s technology allows
for most issues to be handled remotely. Maybank Systems also partners with clients in the maritime, public transportation, health care, and legal industries. With their largest client in Tallahassee, Fla., and having completed projects throughout the Southeast and Central America, Maybank Systems can be where you need them to be. Plans for growth include adding staff and expanding to hotel markets along the South Carolina coast as well as into the Florida market. What sets Maybank Systems apart from the competition is its employees. They are fully vested employees, not contract labor. “Our guys work on our clients’ needs and that is the only thing they work on,” Campbell said. And because of the size of the staff, they can begin working on system critical issues almost immediately. Clients are not required to sign a long-term contract to receive Maybank Systems’ services, although a contract will be executed if a business requires it. “We are proud of our flexibility and our clients appreciate that.” What has led to the company’s success? “Clients love the fact that they can reach either of the two owners by phone at any time day or night. It’s very comforting when you can speak with an owner whether it be at 3 a.m. or on Thanksgiving Day,” Campbell said.
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Charleston Defense Contractors Association A Trusted Voice for the Defense Community
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or the past 12 years, the Charleston Defense Contractors Association has been an important advocate for the defense contracting community and SPAWAR. The organization was formed in 2002 with 40 members made up of business and government officials as a response to the possible closing of the local military bases. The group successfully petitioned to keep the bases open and preserve the highly skilled workforce that would be affected. “We hoped our combined forces would send a message, and it did,” said Beth Waugh, a member of the CDCA board and executive committee. The organization has been an important voice for those employed by the industry ever since. Now, with 258 corporate and affiliate members representing approximately 7,000 employees, CDCA has substantial influence in addressing issues and opportunities facing the Charleston-area defense community. It heavily participates in political engagement and represents the defense contracting community based in Charleston. The mission of the CDCA remains clear: “The name of the game is employing people here,” Waugh said. “Our position, as a governing body, is to be an advocate.”
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Regular email blasts keep members in the loop about legislation or other changes that affect the industry. Each corporate member company has voting rights, and their company information is listed in an online member directory. Board members serve 3-year terms. Mark Gadomski currently serves as president. The CDCA acts as a liaison with local, state, and federal governmental agencies, elected officials, legislatures, special groups and committees on opportunities that advance the local defense industry. While SPAWAR is the largest Department of Defense employer in the area, there are thousands of other related jobs, like IT (information technology) work, security, communications, shipping, vehicle use and maintenance. Waugh is the president of Liberty Business Associates, which provides professional services to the defense industry. “The industry has seen a lot of layoffs; now, our job at CDCA is to help the defense contracting industry amidst cuts in the Department of Defense and indecision about funding,” Waugh said. “We stay in touch with our local folks and we also go to D.C. We have employees on the ground. Other groups don’t do political engagement like we do.” Currently, a big push is on for Charleston to be the location for
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a new military command location that is moving from Germany to the United States, Waugh said. The CDCA is actively petitioning government officials and business leaders across the board about considering Charleston as a good place to relocate. The CDCA staff is working closely with local leaders and organizations to showcase Charleston’s assets and abilities. “That is something that we are working to promote,” Waugh said. “It would mean a lot of IT work in communication systems.” A Contracts Industry Council, formed through CDCA, works with SPAWAR to discuss issues related to contract work; the CDCA staff can relate that feedback to government officials, Waugh said. The group also collaborates with organizations with similar interests and goals, including Women in Defense (WID) and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). The groups meet regularly so they can work together on common goals. One goal is to increase and improve interaction between defense contractors and government, so the CDCA also hosts quarterly Small Business Industry Outreach Initiative (SBIOI) symposiums where representatives from SPAWAR and other government organizations regularly speak about the industry. These symposiums are free and open to the public. Other informational forums are held
throughout the year, and an annual CDCA summit is held each November that draws hundreds of people to hear about the state of the industry. The annual summit is open to the public and allows members to network with one another. Vendors set up booths to distribute information. Many people who work in defense contracting are retired military personnel, Waugh said. In order to assist members of the defense community, CDCA helps fund scholarships for students on an IT and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) track. There are also efforts by the CDCA to get more women involved in the industry. Through the Women in Defense group, CDCA helps fund a scholarship for female cadets at The Citadel. The CDCA also provides internships for college students giving them exposure to the defense contracting world. All of the fees the CDCA generates from membership go back to the community in the form of donations, internships, scholarships, and sponsorships. “We make donations to local schools, local programs and local events that are directly related to our mission and provide value to our membership,” Waugh said. Waugh said there are always challenges in the defense contractor industry, such as looming budget cuts, unexpected outside influences, new laws and regulations that the group has little control over.
Contact Info: PO Box 61089 North Charleston, SC 29419 843-435-3080 www.charlestondca.org
Photos: Opposite page: Beth Waugh, CDCA Board Member; top: businesses take part in CDCA summit; bottom left, businesses attend the SBIOI symposium; bottom right, SBIOI intern is honored. (Photos this page, CDCA)
Top Executive: Mark Gadomski President
Date Founded: 2002
Number of Employees: 2
“The name of the game is employing people here. Our position, as a governing body, is to be an advocate.” - Beth Waugh CDCA Board Member
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Contact Info: 5304 Stono Ferry Course Hollywood, SC 29449 843-766-6202 info@charlestoncup.net www.charlestoncup.net
21st Running of the Charleston Cup Steeplechase:
A Corporate Must-Do
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he sport of horse racing in the Lowcountry takes its origins from England. The first recorded race in Charleston was held on Feb. 1, 1734. Today, the sport is alive and well as the 21st running of the Charleston Cup Steeplechase will be held Sunday, Nov. 9, at The Plantation at Stono Ferry in Hollywood. Sanctioned by The National Steeplechase Association, the Charleston Cup is one of the premier sporting events in the Carolina Lowcountry, offering spectators of all ages the opportunity to experience live horse racing at its finest. “This is a perfect opportunity for businesses to host special clients or tout employees that are making a difference,” says Karl McMillan, race director. “We are offering a number of corporate packages that make entertaining at the Cup a win-win.” This year’s corporate packages include a number of opportunities for businesses, small
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to large, to participate at a number of financial levels. Charleston Cup officials look forward to also customizing packages for companies or families for an unforgettable experience. The weekend kicks off with the elegant black-tie Race Ball at the historic Hibernian Hall on Friday, Nov. 7. Live music, fabulous food and a race preview combine to make this gala party an essential element in the Cup experience. Corporate sponsors can include the Race Ball into their packages. Day of the Cup activities activities include a children’s village, tailgating, hat contests and more.. Charleston Cup can strategically place you and your guests on the field to accommodate your own style of entertaining. “We have had a lot of success in customizing race packages for businesses,” says McMillan. “All you have to do is let us know what you want and it will be waiting for you.”
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
Photo: Top: Riders take to the course at the running of the Charleston Cup Steeplechase in 2013. Left: Race director Karl McMillan
Top Executive: Karl A. McMillan Race Director
Date Founded: 1986
Number of Employees: 50
“Let us customize a package for your business and then come enjoy the races.” - Karl McMillan Race Director
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Contact Info: 3 Broad St., Suite 320 Charleston, SC 29401 843-300-1167 netgalaxystudios.com
Photo: Larry Collett, president and owner of netGALAXY
netGALAXY Studios
Mobile Solutions for Businesses Top Executive: Larry Collett President and CEO
Date Founded: 2010
Number of Employees: 9
“We’re making it affordable for small to enterprise businesses to get a mobile app. My primary focus as a local business is to make it affordable for other small to enterprise businesses.” - Larry Collett President and CEO
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n early 2010, Larry Collett sensed a shift was coming. He left his post as the regional interactive media director for Media General, looking ahead to what would become the next big trend of mobile application development. Collett opened the doors of his company, netGALAXY Studios, in July 2010, providing web development with an ever-growing emphasis on mobile technology. The company creates mobile apps for iPhone and Android through both custom programming and an easy-to-use cloud-based app-building platform. The App Builder offers business owners an affordable way to create and maintain a mobile app. Businesses can purchase the app builder and create and even sell their own apps under their own brand. The apps are integrated with Facebook and Twitter so clients can send push notifications to social media and their app with one click. netGALAXY Studios also offers a complimentary mobile responsive website. That’s an important perk considering the Pew Research Center found 90% of American adults have a cell phone, and CNN reported January 2014 was the first time mobile use outpaced desktop. The app-building platform is available for only $69 a month plus a one-time setup/publishing fee of $199. Clients can create the app
themselves or have netGALAXY Studios create it for them, including submitting the app to Apple or Google for inclusion in the app stores. In early 2011, media companies were a primary focus of netGALAXY Studios as there was an immediate need for a mobile solution within their organizations and their clients. Media General was the first media company to sign netGALAXY Studios as an approved vendor for mobile app development. When Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, acquired Media General’s more than 60 newspapers in 2012, Collett’s company remained as a preferred vendor for app development. In addition to media companies across the U.S., netGALAXY Studios has also developed hundreds of apps for organizations such as the Mount Pleasant and Charleston police departments, Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure, Rick Hendrick Auto Group, Auburn University and the Charleston Animal Society. The company is building the app for the USGA 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in New York. “I encourage businesses to consider taking this important leap into the world of mobile,” Collett said. “In today’s highly technological environment, it’s important to keep up with the changing technology or be left behind. We help you stay ahead of the curve.”
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Contact Info: 4024 Salt Pointe Parkway North Charleston, SC 29405 843-202-2000 www.carolinaone.com
Photo: Michael Scarafile and Patty Scarafile
Carolina One Real Estate Services
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Committed to Professional Real Estate Services for Lowcountry Customers
hroughout its 50-year history, Carolina One has been focused on one goal: helping its clients through the home buying or selling process. “The best interest of our buyers and sellers is first and foremost in everything we do,” said Carolina One President Michael Scarafile. Carolina One’s dedicated, knowledgeable and professional real estate agents make a financially and emotionally important decision much easier for their clients. Operating under different names through mergers and acquisitions and national affiliations, the company is 100% locally owned and operated and has grown over five decades to 10 sales offices located throughout Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties and approximately 800 sales professionals. “The tri-county is our home and our attention and focus are here,” Scarafile said of the company’s longevity in the community. In addition to residential sales, Carolina One operates a New Homes Division, a Commercial Division, Property Management, and Vacation
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Rentals. In keeping with its mission of helping customers through each and every step of the process, Carolina One also has its own mortgage and insurance divisions as well as a partnership with real estate law firm Weeks & Irvine LLC for title and closing services. “Those services allow us to help a real estate consumer every step of the way, long after the contract is signed,” Scarafile said. “It creates the opportunity for a simpler and streamlined process, which is much more convenient for the buyer.” “Our agents are key to our history and success,” Scarafile said. “All real estate agents are required to have a real estate license, but at Carolina One we believe that is only the beginning. We believe that it takes a fulltime career commitment, ongoing education through our full-time Training Department, professionalism, programs, tools and services – all in an effort to better serve the client, our ultimate goal. We are privileged to represent about three of every 10 families buying or selling real estate throughout greater Charleston.”
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
Top Executive: Patty Scarafile CEO and Michael Scarafile President
Date Founded: 1964
Number of Employees: 800 sales associates/ agents 125 employees in administration, support, training, etc.
“The best interest of our buyers and sellers is first and foremost in everything we do.” - Michael Scarafile President
QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 1334 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29407 843-763-7718 www.benefitconceptsinc.net
Benefit Concepts Inc.
Photo: Top: Staff at Benefit Concepts Inc. handle all health and life insurance needs.
Top Executive: Lynne Mohrmann Bernthal President
Date Founded: 1989
Number of Employees: 8
“It’s important to discuss health insurance plans from a service standpoint and not have clients just go through a menu of options.” - Lynne Mohrmann Bernthal President
25 Years of Determining the Best Health Insurance Solutions for Individuals and Businesses
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or the past 25 years, Benefit Concepts Inc. (BCI) has been exemplifying their superior customer service by helping individuals and companies of all sizes find health and supplemental insurance plans best-suited for their needs. “We counsel clients and look at all the options; that’s always been our process,” said Lynne Mohrmann Bernthal, president of BCI. “Health insurance is a very emotional issue. It’s important to discuss plans from a service standpoint and not have clients just go through a menu of options.” Over the past several years, this has become especially important in light of the Affordable Care Act. BCI helps clients navigate through all the complex rules and regulations, outlines the myriad of options and assists clients in complying with ACA laws – all while choosing plans that fit clients’ needs. The firm even recruited an agent to the team solely dedicated to changes in the individual and senior market plans. “People ask: ‘Why does insurance cost so much? Why do I pay all this money and still
have to meet a deductible?’” Bernthal said. “It’s our job to explain it; whether we’re meeting with a CEO of a company of 500 employees or meeting with the owners of a mom-and-pop store down the street.” She adds: “Our role is to make benefits more palatable for a company’s employees. We are constantly evaluating plans to find the best fit for clients.” Individual customer service has paid off; many clients have depended on BCI’s services for more than 25 years. At BCI, client interaction and communication are the company’s foundation. “When clients call us, we answer our phone,” Bernthal said. “If a customer has issues, we take care of it, and this will often give us clues on how to improve plans for the following year.” The firm’s team has 200 combined years of experience and is continually learning. “We’re constantly attending webinars, seminars, and we read a tremendous number of bulletins,” Bernthal said. “We set the bar high,” she said. “The health insurance world has changed, and for the past 25 years, we’ve evolved to transform with it.”
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QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 1362 Chuck Dawley Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-881-4170 www.carolinalanterns.com
Carolina Lanterns & Lighting Will Light Your Way
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business that started with one shopper’s quest for a gas lantern has blossomed into a full-service retail center to meet any lighting need – and budget. Back in 1999, Jan Clouse was the shopper; she wanted to buy gas lanterns for her home in Mount Pleasant. The lack of selection and affordable options led her to launch Carolina Lanterns and Accessories. The business now offers a full showroom in its Lowcountry Lighting Center at 1362 Chuck Dawley Blvd. There, customers can compare many different designs at a wide range of prices for interior or exterior uses. The showroom allows customers to see their choices beforehand, making it easier to imagine that piece shining in their own dining room. That’s something customers miss if they order over the Internet, even as showroom prices are competitive with online. Carolina Lanterns also maintains good relationships with light manufacturers. That gives it the tools to help a customer quickly and without a hassle if it becomes necessary. For instance,
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if a lamp glass is cracked when it is delivered, that’s no problem at Carolina Lanterns. For Internet shoppers, such a return can be a headache. Clouse is proud of her trained staff and the customer service that is a hallmark of Carolina Lanterns. All the team members are certified by the American Lighting Association. The staff at Carolina Lanterns can help plan an entire project for a homeowner, starting with the blueprints. Team members ask key questions to make sure that the lighting in a customer’s home will meet their needs: for instance, where in the kitchen will chopping and food preparation get done? That spot will need special attention in the home’s lighting plan. Carolina Lanterns will assemble everything needed for a customer’s order and deliver it all to their site, free of charge. The staff is happy to walk through a construction or renovation project and make sure that everything is in place. The team at Carolina Lanterns also is happy to stand behind their work. “I’ll be there for you,” Clouse says.
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
Photo: Jan Clouse
Top Executive: Jan Clouse President
Date Founded: 1999
Number of Employees: 11
“If you satisfy one customer, they’ll go out and tell their friends.” - Jan Clouse President
QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 2007 Cherry Hill Lane Charleston, SC 29405 843-619-4900 www.hoganconstructiongroup.com
Photo: Front row: Suzanne Shurley, Steve Hatton, Christine Wright, Thomas Scruggs Back row: Bobby Heuber, Brian Carter, Chip Shurley, Hank Maxwell
Top Executive: Steve Hatton Vice President
Date Founded: 1998
Number of Employees: 85
“Where tradition meets innovation.” - Steve Hatton Vice President
Hogan Construction Group
New Management Leads Hotel Expansion
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ith an influential presence throughout the southern United States, Hogan Construction Group is a leading construction manager and general contractor in all phases of this diverse industry. With a comprehensive office in Charleston, the firm is excited by new management under the direction of Steve Hatton, vice president of Hogan Construction Group. Having recently taken over the helm, Hatton and his team have been selected to construct the 92-room addition to the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. “We are pleased to announce we are handling the $27 million hotel addition at Patriot’s Point marina,” says Hatton. “Construction has begun and we are expecting completion in 18 months.” The project is a second building at the existing hotel complex. The Patriot’s Point project is a typical example of Hogan Construction’s scope of work as a leader in industrial construction. The firm offers the following: • Commercial (Corporate, Mixed-Use, Retail, Restaurant, Interiors) • Federal (Military, Department of Transportation) • Health Care (Community Health Care, Medical Office, Hospitals)
• Industrial (Warehouses, Transportation Facilities) • Municipal Projects (Library, Administration, Public Safety, Judicial, Recreational) • Technology (Data and Call Centers, Web-hosting) • Public and Private Education (Early Childhood, K-12, Higher Education) Hogan Construction strives to create an integrated, behavior-based safety culture that assigns implementation responsibility to each of its employees according to their job description. “Having safety integrated into our work culture results in an amazing ratio of no client schedule delays, no lost time accidents and an incident rate that is 40% below industry averages,” says Hatton. Hogan Construction has gone more than 700 days without incident. Proud of a long list of local and regional projects, Hogan Construction in Charleston is unique in having the resources of its Atlanta-based organization behind them. This allows the local team of professionals to offer cutting edge technology and experience to every South Carolina project. Contact Steve Hatton at Hogan Construction to discuss how this experienced group of professionals can make your project stand out.
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QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: P.O. Box 217 1318 Highway 61 Ridgeville, SC 29472 843-832-1300 www.CCSolutionsSC.com
Carolina Contracting Solutions: Effective Design and Construction
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ooking for impeccable, cost-effective design and construction work? Carolina Contracting Solutions, or CCS, is one of South Carolina’s premier general and mechanical contracting companies managing an array of building projects for clients big and small. A locally owned company that began as a metal fabrication shop has expanded over the years to become a diverse organization handling general and mechanical construction projects, architectural and interior design, site-work, custom metal fabrications, and more. “We not only treat our employees like family,” says Steve Murray, owner. “We treat everyone that does business with us as family.” CCS believes the best way to expand their own business is by building long-term relationships and growing its client base through top-notch customer service and an exceptional end product. Having been in business for over 20 years now, Carolina Contracting is an industry leader in the construction trade. From start to finish, CCS will sign, seal, and deliver each project with the utmost care and attention it deserves. By employing an on-staff architect and design team, the firm is primed to address any type of client need. “Meeting budgets and maintaining
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timelines allows us to keep our clients pleased and the referrals coming,” says Murray. “We strive for complete and total job satisfaction.” Based in Ridgeville, CCS is one of the area’s largest employers with 130 industry-trained staff stationed throughout the Lowcountry. Their work product can be seen at facilities such as MeadWestvaco, the Kapstone paper mill, Children’s Discovery Center, the Boeing complex and numerous other projects. Last year the company performed over $20 million in contract work, increased its labor force, and kept true to its mission to outperform in customer service. Carolina Contracting Solutions continually expands its services to meet clients’ needs. • Industrial maintenance • Mechanical contracting services • General contracting from start to finish • Design via a licensed architect and designer • Site-work division • Machine shop detailing • Specialized industry equipment “With the Lowcountry being one of the nation’s largest areas of targeted growth, we at Carolina Contracting Solutions are ready and able to meet the development needs of the growing region,” says Murray.
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
Photo: From left: Curt Altman, Curt Causey, Bennie Sanders, Mike Shepard, Theresa Strobel, Butch Clayton, Sherri Murdaugh, Joellen Rogers, Steve Murray, Bobby Caldwell, Melinda Murray, Rich Jeffers, Melinda West, Billy Guess, Steve Murray Jr. and Steve Tumbleston Top Executive: Steve Murray President and Owner Date Founded: 1989 Number of Employees: 150+ “We have the experience, trained staff, and proper equipment to complete all facets of a construction project, which makes even the most difficult of tasks that much easier for our clients.” - Steve Murray President and Owner
QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 525 East Bay St., Suite 202 Charleston, SC 29403 843-603-5888 www.graysonthomas.net
Photo: Clay M. Grayson and Elizabeth T. Thomas
Top Executives: Clay M. Grayson and Elizabeth “Lisa” Thomas Principals
Date Founded: 2013
Number of Attorneys: 7
“We are proud of the team that we are building. Our attorneys understand that clients are seeking value, not just in terms of cost management, but as committed partners to their enterprise.” - Clay M. Grayson Principal
Grayson Thomas LLC
Business and Transactional Law Firm for Healthcare, Academic and Technology Industries
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new Charleston law firm dedicated to healthcare, academics, and technology has recently opened its doors in the Dixon Hughes Goodman Building on East Bay Street. Nationally known and well-respected attorneys Clay M. Grayson and Elizabeth “Lisa” Thomas have joined forces to form the law firm, Grayson Thomas LLC. Grayson is a corporate attorney with a strong background in taxation, intellectual property, and health information technology, as well as prior business experience working on the launch of pharmaceutical products in the Italian market. Thomas is a healthcare attorney with substantial transactional and regulatory experience. Together, they have founded a law firm to serve the legal needs of universities, hospitals, healthcare providers, and companies dedicated to the advancement of technology. “The merging of accountable care and quality reimbursement, made possible through advances in technology, creates an excellent opportunity for our attorneys to provide meaningful, practical guidance to providers that are
willing to engage in an interesting and innovative change for the healthcare industry,” says Thomas. Also joining Grayson Thomas LLC, are attorneys Ashley Bender, Kathy Brown, Callie Campbell, Elizabeth Riddle and Matt Slocum, all of whom are trained in a variety of legal disciplines and are experienced at working in a team-based environment in order to approach clients’ goals from a holistic perspective. “We are proud of the team that we are building,” says Grayson. “Our attorneys understand that clients are seeking value, not just in terms of cost management, but as committed partners to their enterprise.” Grayson and Thomas, are both members of the American Bar Association, S.C. Bar Association, the Charleston County Bar Association, and the American Health Lawyers Association. The new firm is located at 525 East Bay St. in the wellknown Dixon Hughes Goodman building. For more information, please contact the Grayson Thomas office directly at 843-603-5888 or visit www.GraysonThomas.net.
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ECPI University
Real-World Training to Accommodate Real-World Needs
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ll great institutions of higher learning serve two constituencies: students and employers. This has been a guiding principle for ECPI University since its founding in 1966. From the beginning, ECPI has worked closely with employers to produce graduates that meet the demands of the professional workplace. Toward that end, each program offered is reviewed twice a year by advisory boards comprised of people who are among the top performers in their fields. Curriculum is evaluated and – as new technologies and best practices emerge – redesigned to remain timely and relevant. With campuses in three states – South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia – ECPI University is also sensitive to the specific needs of local employers, offering only programs that are considered valuable and needed. In doing so, ECPI meets the needs of its students by offering programs that give them the best chances for meaningful employment upon graduation. In Charleston, the advisory board maintains trusted relationships with major local employers such as MUSC Physicians, Daimler Trucks North America and PeopleMatter. “Every program offered at ECPI University is aligned with the economic rhythm of the Charleston community,” said Campus President James Weaver. “When it comes to software and technology, if an employer says ‘we need this very specific list of skills,’ we can quickly modify our programs to accommodate that need.” According to ECPI Career Service Advisor Amy Livingston, “there are tremendous opportunities in and out of the classroom that focus on hands-on education, externships, and networking.
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We actively engage our students to develop the full range of skills required for professional success, including those all-important soft skills that allow technically knowledgeable graduates to become valued team players. That’s why just about every single day our office gets calls from local employers inquiring about qualified students for job openings.” ECPI University is not only responsive, it’s also efficient. The University’s accelerated schedule allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in as soon as 2.5 years or an associate’s in 18 months. Students attend class year-round, taking two classes per five-week term, with a student-to-instructor ratio of no more than 25 to 1. Is it challenging? Absolutely, but help is never far away. From the moment a student steps on campus, to the moment they graduate, a team of support professionals are available to assist with such things as financial aid, tutoring, and career counseling. With hard work and dedication, they can be job-ready and prepared to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. Programs in the technology field include cloud computing, electronics engineering, network security, and software development. Students are offered classroom experience in mobile applications and become proficient in a variety of object-oriented programming languages such as Java and C#. “We talk to prospective employers to discuss anything that (would) add value in the workforce,” says Livingston. “Charleston has a considerable Department of Defense presence, for example, so we focus on the DOD-compliant IT certifications, like CompTIA’s Network+ for jobs right out the gate, working with students to get as many of the
2014 Profiles in B usiness | Special Advertising Supplement
QUICK FACTS
Contact Info: 7410 Northside Drive North Charleston, SC 29420 843-414-0350 www.ecpi.edu
ten professional certifications (included in the program) as possible. This enables government contractors to compete for and retain business in the Charleston market.” In its school of Health Sciences, ECPI University offers a bachelor’s degree in health care administration, an associate’s degree in medical assisting, and a diploma in practical nursing. When students complete the nursing program, they can be well prepared to take the NCLEX exam which provides the state license for Practical Nurses. This enables graduates to become employable in their field very soon after completion. The Career Services department works with employer-partners in every program, acting as a liaison to the academic department to meet the workforce development demands of the community. Continuing education, and possibly stand-alone classes, are currently in development so that employers and the workforce may maintain or improve their competitiveness in the marketplace. With an average age of 28 years, ECPI University has historically served students that are a bit older. Oftentimes, they are people who have tried college before but find they need a little more one-on-one help, or they learn better through hands-on education. With all of its success, word is now getting out and others are gravitating to the ECPI experience. The University recently signed a dual enrollment agreement with Dorchester District 2
Schools to offer high school juniors and seniors opportunities to take classes in engineering and information science. Additionally, having recently been ranked No. 1 by Military Times (non-traditional and online schools) in its annual Best for Vets list, ECPI University is proud to be acknowledged for its efforts to help returning veterans succeed in the classroom and the workplace. The campus’ Student Veterans of America chapter is very active and provides vets a chance to interact with like-minded students, as well as perform community service to other vets. Career Services often works directly with employers to identify veterans for employment opportunities. Charleston employers see the intrinsic value in hiring ECPI’s military veterans. With a ratio of 50 percent veteran students, the Charleston campus is privileged to oblige them. Every student’s journey through ECPI culminates with the all-important job search. That’s where the Career Services department becomes so valuable. Long before they enter their final term, students can begin working with counselors to secure an externship, arrange for certification tests, develop a resumé, and sharpen interviewing skills. Even following graduation and entering the workforce, ECPI University’s Career Services department is always available, and at any campus. This commitment reflects a collective belief that student success and institutional success are forever intertwined.
Photos: ECPI University faculty and staff are eager to help produce job-ready graduates; ECPI University students in the College of Health Science use life-like simulation in the practical nursing program; ECPI University students pursuing a degree in technology have handson experience with networking systems.
Top Executive: James Weaver Campus President
Date Founded: 1966 with Charleston campus opening in 2004
Number of Employees: 60 (including adjunct faculty)
“Every program offered at ECPI University is aligned with the economic rhythm of the Charleston community.” -James Weaver Campus Presidente
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