Spring 2019
The road ahead Growth and change in 2019 for S.C. automotive industry
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Evidence of South Carolina’s prominence in the global automotive sector is easy to see. From the Piedmont to the Lowcountry, automakers and tire manufacturers lead an industry that is No. 1 in the U.S. in exports of tires and completed passenger vehicles. Their production supports a large network of third-party suppliers that provides a wide variety of services and components. Automotive jobs have become a mainstay of our state’s economy. According to S.C. Department of Commerce data, 61,000 people work in the automotive industry and 21,000 of those jobs have been added in just the past seven years. During that same period, automakers and associated businesses invested $8.9 billion in the state. This issue of SCBIZ magazine examines where this vital sector of our economy is concentrating its efforts now and in the future. BMW, recognizing the burgeoning demand for crossovers and SUVs, has launched its largest model to date, the three-row X7 Steve McDaniel sports activity vehicle that will be built in Spartanburg County and Editor, exported around the world. SCBIZ Magazine Volvo and Mercedes-Benz are undertaking ambitious projects in the Lowcountry that will require a large number of skilled workers. We take a look at the training programs in place to help fill an expected need for thousands of jobs in the near future. Tariffs have been a major topic of recent discussion and concern among automotive leaders and government officials. We explore the impact these policies are having in the present and could have in the future for automakers in S.C. This issue also includes SC Biz News’ annual partnership project with Junior Achievement of Greater S.C. and its S.C. Business Hall of Fame inductions. The 2019 class features posthumous honors for Robert McNair and Albert Sottile, who will be honored at a March gala in Columbia along with Smyth McKissick. This issue also features the semiannual Cities Mean Business section produced with the Municipal Association of South Carolina. It highlights the generous support and relief efforts that communities around the state provided to the towns that suffered damage from Hurricane Florence, and includes a look at the hard work that goes into creating unique community identities that residents and businesses value. As always, thanks for reading SCBIZ magazine, and we hope you find valuable insight and information in the pages that follow.
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Table of
CONTENTS TRENDING: AUTOMOTIVE IN S.C. 13 Volvo, Mercedes creating new generation of S.C. automotive workers 16 Officials, business leaders warn of tariffs’ impact 18 Charging ahead: BMW counting on Plant Spartanburg in sales forecast Cover: Volvo Cars produces S60s for global customers from its automotive campus in Berkeley County. (Photo/Volvo Cars) Left: Volvo Cars will continue hiring in 2019 to reach 2,000 employees at the plant. (Photo/Volvo Cars)
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DEPARTMENTS
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4 Upfront 6 County Spotlight: Greenwood 20 S.C. Delivers
CITIES MEAN BUSINESS Communities pitched in when others needed help after storm.
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UPFRONT regional news | data
Military base opens dining facility after $2.4M renovation
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oint Base Charleston has opened the air base’s dining facility after a multimillion renovation and repair project, the public affairs office in North Charleston said. The Gaylor Dining Facility opened in late January after $2.4 million in repairs and renovations at the region’s largest employer. Joint Base Charleston said the dining facility had been closed since March 2017. The renovations are part of Food 2.0, an Air Force dining and food service initiative. Repairs and updates have been made to the facility’s HVAC system, kitchen equipment, dining room and the menu. Joint Base Charleston said that all base patrons are now able to eat at the dining facility. Sodexo, a France-based company, provides food service management under a contract with Joint Base Charleston. The
company held food preparation training with crew members from the 628th Force Support Squadron prior to opening. Joint Base Charleston said the base also is working with the Palmetto Goodwill Services, a subcontractor of Sodexo, to employ more than 20 local workers to help run the facility.
Top: The Gaylor Dining Facility opened in late January after $2.4 million in repairs and renovations. Inset: Food service workers serve patrons of Joint Base Charleston’s newly renovated Gaylor Dining Facility. (Photos/Joint Base Charleston)
FAST FACTS | South Carolina’s Automotive Business Here’s a quick look at the impact of the automotive industry:
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Over the last two decades, the size of South Carolina’s automotive industry has quadrupled
21,500
jobs added in automotive from 2011 to 2018
$8.9 billion
in capital investment from 2011 to 2018 Sources: S.C. Department of Commerce
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61,000
people in the automotive industry workforce
More than 400
automotive-related companies call SC home.
UPFRONT
Rolling Study Halls, an initiative that outfits school buses with computers and Wi-Fi for students facing long commutes, has launched at Pelion Middle School in Lexington County. (Photo/Provided)
Google initiative puts Rolling Study Halls in rural areas
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elion Middle School is the latest participant in a Google initiative to bring Wi-Fi access to students in rural areas who face long school commutes. The Rolling Study Halls initiative, piloted in North and South Carolina and being expanded to 16 school districts nationwide, outfits school buses with Wi-Fi access, computers and onboard educators. The program allows students to continue learning during more than 1.5 million hours spent commuting to school annually, according to a news release. S.C. State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman helped celebrate the program’s launch at Pelion Middle School. “We are excited that Google has partnered with Lexington School District One to bring the Rolling Study Hall program to students in Pelion,” Spearman said in the release. “This program acts as an extended classroom and helps promote student achievement while students are still on the bus going to and from school each day.” Rolling Study Halls is part of Grow with Google, a program that aims to provide resources across the U.S. for people to improve their skills, businesses and careers through free tools, training and events. “It’s important for students everywhere to have access to the tools they need to learn every day,” Google spokesperson Alex Sanchez said.
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county spotlight
GREENWOOD
Uptown Greenwood was named one of 15 Great Places in America by the American Planning Association in 2017.
GLOBAL REACH, HISTORIC CHARM By Elizabeth Hodges, Contributing Writer | Photos provided by Greenwood Partnership Alliance
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reenwood County has grown from its roots as a rail and agricultural hub into a modern and diverse economy. Since 1950, the county has experienced diversified industrial growth with the construction and expansion of factories and production facilities by major corporations. According to U.S. Census data, 26% of the workforce is in the manufacturing sector and 19% in health care and social services. Greenwood’s Self Regional Healthcare, a medical center providing advanced health care services and leading-edge technology, is the county’s largest employer, with more than 2,200 employees.
Greenwood Co by the numbersunty Populat
ion........................ ......70,355 Per capita income.. .............. $35,829 Median household income.... $39,196 Age distribution Median age.............. ................... 39.3 18 and older............ .................... 60% 65 and older............ .................... 18%
Source: Greenwoo
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d Partnership Allia
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: GREENWOOD
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: GREENWOOD Kevin Moore, Mechatronics Technology instructor at Piedmont Technical College, teaches a future Mechatronics tech.
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Fujifilm Manufacturing’s Greenwood facility is a global manufacturing hub that plays a key role in the company’s strategic vision. Fujifilm was established in Greenwood in 1988 and employees over 1,000 people with a total investment of more than $1.8 billion. The company is celebrating its 30th anniversary in Greenwood this year with a
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Fujifilm takes part in the Business & Industry Showcase, which is designed to help young students in Greenwood County explore career options.
$3.9 million expansion, and president Todd Croker recently reflected on this milestone. “I cannot think of anything better for our associates, the community and the company than to announce this expansion, which demonstrates Fujifilm’s continued commitment to Greenwood County. We appreciate the support from the state and local governments, as well as the Greenwood Partner-
ship Alliance for facilitating investments in existing industries.” A wave of recent economic development projects has been announced by major corporations. Caterpillar Inc., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of construction and mining equipment, announced it will locate a casting facility in Greenwood County. The company’s $13.5 million proj-
COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: GREENWOOD
Dr. Boccuto, a clinical geneticist at The Greenwood Genetic Center, analyses a sample (top). The center’s diagnostic labs use cutting-edge technologies to make accurate diagnoses for patients (bottom).
Doctoral student Sneha Mokashi (left) shows a sample to a guest at the opening of the Clemson Human Genetics Center.
ect is expected to create 85 jobs. Another global manufacturer, Ascend Performance Materials, provides high-quality fibers, chemicals and plastics worldwide. It recently announced plans to expand its Greenwood County operations to accom-
modate the company’s continued growth. This $35.2 million expansion is expected to create 30 new jobs. “The polymer we make at Ascend in Greenwood forms the building blocks for things we use every day, from air bags to
high-end carpet to tennis balls,” Senior Site Director Hal McCord said. “Thanks to the hard work of our employees and the support of leaders in Greenwood County and South Carolina, this expansion will allow us to increase our polymer production by 50 per-
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: GREENWOOD
Established in Greenwood in 1988, Fujifilm Manufacturing U.S.A. Inc. is their North American manufacturing and R&D headquarters.
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Named one of Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events in June for nine years running, the S.C. Festival of Flowers offers a monthlong schedule of activities the whole family can enjoy.
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Featuring over 200 miles of shoreline and 11,000 acres of water, Lake Greenwood provides a vital source of water for Greenwood County as well as a variety of recreational options. The lake was created in the late 1930s by construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Saluda River near Chappells.
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cent, creating more jobs for local residents.” Central Packaging and Crating, Inc., a manufacturer of wooden, heat-treated pallets, recently announced plans to expand operations in Greenwood County at a cost of $6 million with a projected 37 new jobs. “I would like to thank the community of Greenwood for supporting us now for the past 20 years,” company president Kevin Neuman said. “We are proud of our continued growth and look forward to being a partner for success in both Greenwood County and the state of South Carolina.” Manufacturing jobs require a skilled and talented workforce with hands-on training and experience. Lonza Specialist Ingredients COO Sven Avend spoke to the high quality he sees in Greenwood’s workforce. “Lonza is making a significant investment in our operations in Greenwood, further demonstrating our commitment to providing high-quality products and services to our customers worldwide. Greenwood County is rich with talented, skilled individuals who will enhance our global and regional footprint, particularly in the area of consumer health and nutrition.” Piedmont Technical College is a comprehensive two-year college with an enrollment of over 6,000 students. The college offers university-level education and associate degrees, as well as hands-on career training. It is part of the South Carolina State Technical College System, which has partnered with readySC and Apprenticeship
COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: GREENWOOD
Eaton Corp. is Greenwood’s largest manufacturer. The global provider of power management systems has 1,275 employees.
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Carolina to provide well-trained employees to qualifying companies that invest in South Carolina. Lander University is a four-year university with an enrollment of 3,000 students. Lander offers educational opportunities within its traditional liberal arts and science programs, and professional programs in business, education and nursing. Greenwood County has three public school districts: Greenwood School District 50 (Greenwood Metro), Greenwood School District 51 (Ware Shoals), and Greenwood School District 52 (Ninety-Six). The largest of the three is Greenwood School District 50, which serves over 9,000 students in two high schools, three middle schools and eight elementary schools, an early childhood center, a technology center and one alternative center. Greenwood County’s mild temperatures and picturesque terrain provide endless avenues for outdoor recreation. With over 200 miles of shoreline and 11,000 acres of water, Lake Greenwood offers recreational boating, fishing, camping, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities. Parks and gardens are abundant in Greenwood County, including Magnolia Park, Heritage Trail and Greenwood City Garden. The South Carolina Festival of Flowers, named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events in June for nine years running, has been held annually in Greenwood County for 51 years. Special Advertising Section
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TRENDING: AUTOMOTIVE IN S.C.
TRENDING: AUTOMOTIVE IN S.C.
Volvo workers produce the S60 from the automaker’s new plant in Berkeley County. (Photo/Volvo Cars)
VOLVO, MERCEDES CREATING NEW GENERATION OF S.C. AUTOMOTIVE WORKERS By Liz Segrist, Staff Writer
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one another is really unique. … To see this kind of renaissance in advanced manufacturing is pretty amazing,” said Susan Pretulak, ReadySC’s vice president of economic development. Germany-based Mercedes-Benz Vans and Sweden-based Volvo Cars have rushed since to hire a combined 3,300 workers to begin vehicle production within a region that lacks significant automotive manufacturing experience. Recruiting, vetting, hiring and training workers was crucial to launching operations on schedule. The state was financially and logistically on the hook to assist with workforce training, per the incentives used to help secure the economic development wins for South
Carolina. The S.C. Commerce Department, the automakers and the S.C. Technical College System — including its ReadySC workforce training division and Trident Technical College in North Charleston — collaborated to launch external training programs. Both companies also train new hires internally. Pretulak said the need to hire thousands of automotive workers at one time, combined with a low unemployment rate and the competition for skilled advanced manufacturing workers, created challenges and required creativity. “Recruitment of people is a key challenge for any company,” Pretulak said. Volvo planned to hire 2,000 people
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n the spring of 2015, two global automakers announced plans to invest $1 billion to build manufacturing campuses and produce vehicles in the Lowcountry for the first time, sparking the need for thousands of skilled automotive workers. Since then, Mercedes-Benz Vans expanded its existing reassembly site in Ladson to build Sprinter vans part-by-part for the U.S. and Canadian markets. Volvo Cars built a new automotive campus near Ridgeville to build the new S60 sedan for North American customers. Both companies began producing vehicles in 2018. “When I reflect back on that … to have two world-class, luxury car makers and automotive OEMs locate within 20 miles of
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recruitment and training strategies for the specific hiring timelines, knowledge, skills and abilities of the jobs we’re going to be recruiting for,” said Susan Pretulak, ReadySC’s vice president of economic development. ReadySC then works with the companies to advertise positions, recruit and screen workers, create a training curriculum and find space for training. “It is not a cookie-cutter process,” Pretulak said. “We are not dropping pre-existing things in. We really have to make sure we’ve tackled what those particular
training needs are for that company and those particular recruitment needs for their hiring timeline.” Executives at Volvo and Mercedes have said they want production workers with at least one year of manufacturing experience, or those who have completed the S.C. Technical College System’s lean manufacturing certificate in lieu of that time in a manufacturing setting. They said it can be difficult to hire for the more technical positions, such as employees who can program, operate and repair robots.
TRENDING: AUTOMOTIVE IN S.C.
As the Lowcountry prepared to become a hub of automotive manufacturing for the first time, thousands of workers had to be hired and trained within a few years. Those workers also needed space to train while Volvo and Mercedes built their manufacturing campuses. The Trident Technical College Workforce Training Center in Summerville houses training space for area companies. Trident Tech paid $1 million and the state Commerce Department and
S.C. Technical College system both paid $2.5 million to buy the $6 million building, which formerly housed American LaFrance. Trident Technical College currently leases the facility to readySC to run workforce training program for companies. ReadySC recruits workers to open positions, creates training programs and hires trainers to teach in the center. New hires for Volvo and Mercedes undergo pre-employment screenings, interviews and classroom training at the center. Day and evening classes are offered. A new training area for future Mercedes production employees recently opened in the center, offering hands-on experience with the same equipment used in the plant. Welding machines, robots, virtual reality simulation technologies and the body of a Sprinter van sit in the 30,000-square-foot training area. Workers will learn how to perform manual welding, robotic welding and quality inspection of vehicles, among other skills, said Mick Baldwin, a ReadySC project manager. “They cannot distinguish between what’s here and what’s at the plant. … It’s a direct replication, so when they hit the plant floor, they have the skills, the familiarity and the qualifications so they can begin immediately,” Baldwin said. Mark Allen, the interim CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans echoed this, saying the new training spaces allows workers “to get acclimated with our equipment, technologies and production processes before they ever step foot on the production line.”
The Trident Technical College Workforce Training Center in Summerville houses a new training area for Mercedes-Benz production employees. Workers get hands-on experience with the same equipment used in the plant, including learning to weld and inspecting van bodies for imperfections. (Photo/Liz Segrist)
initially to build the S60; the company currently employs 1,400 people at its Berkeley County site. Hiring will continue through 2019. Volvo also plans to hire another 2,000 people, for a total of 4,000, to build the new XC90 in 2022. Hiring for that vehicle’s production has not yet started. Mercedes-Benz Vans planned to hire 1,300 people to build the new Sprinter vans; the company currently employs around 1,100 people, up from around 130 workers in 2015. The automaker is hiring for a third shift currently with a goal of employing 1,300 workers by 2020. “To be successful in running produc-
tion in a three-shift operation, we have to hire the right people,” said Biljana Jelacic, Mercedes’ head of human resources.
Hands-on experience
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CUSTOMIZED TRAINING
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ReadySC representatives typically meet with interested companies about workforce needs before projects are announced publicly. Once a deal is secured, they travel to companies’ facilities to learn the company culture, manufacturing processes and production workers’ skillsets. S.C. officials traveled to Volvo’s manufacturing operations in Sweden and Mercedes-Benz Vans’ plants in Germany and Tuscaloosa, Ala. “That’s what helps us essentially customize our
‘Regional training space’
Training might take several days or weeks, depending on each hire’s background, experience and position. New hires spend time observing and meeting with employees, in addition to training. “We use a blended learning approach, with classroom training for foundational needs and hands-on training with vehicles, bolt stations and wiring harness/grommet stations,” Mangini said. “We also use simulation software for virtual welders, paint and assembly to level expectations and demonstrate standard work procedures prior to the individual reporting to the floor.” Volvo’s training at the Trident Technical College Workforce Training Center in Summerville mostly involves pre-employment work, such as basic safety classes and some hands-on training. S.C. Technical College System President Tim Hardee said that the center is vital to help train the next generation of Lowcountry automotive workers, but that different companies will likely use the space in the future. He said it will help meet the region’s workforce needs over the next 10 to 20 years.
TRENDING: AUTOMOTIVE IN S.C.
Mercedes-Benz spokeswoman Alyssa Bean said the new training area will help address the challenge of finding local workers with automotive experience. “We’ve definitely succeeded in bringing on those more than 1,000 team members, but it has been a challenge to get to that point. … It is challenging to find those team members, but that’s also what this center helps us to accomplish — bringing team members on board who maybe aren’t as experienced in automotive manufacturing, because that’s a new skill set for this area, but we can use this center to train them,” Bean said. Mercedes also uses space at Trident Technical College’s main campus for interviews and assessments and performs internal training, such as having new hires shadow production workers on the assembly line. Volvo Cars handles most of its new-hire orientation, onboarding and training at a company training facility near the car plant in Ridgeville, Volvo Cars spokeswoman Stephanie Mangini said.
A Mercedes-Benz Vans employee welds parts in the body shop. (Photo/Mercedes-Benz Vans)
“This part of the state is growing, and it is growing fast,” Hardee said. “To stay on the cutting edge of this growth, we knew we needed a regional training space that can meet the needs of workforce demands and make sure the 800,000 residents from Dorchester, Berkeley and Charleston counties are ready and prepared for all the jobs coming to this area.”
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TRENDING: AUTOMOTIVE IN S.C.
Officials, business leaders warn of tariffs’ impact
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By Melinda Waldrop, Editor, Columbia Regional Business Report
adia Theodore is a self-professed optimist, a trait which leads the Consul General of Canada to view the current friction over steel and aluminum tariffs between Canada and the United States as a stumbling block that will be resolved because of the strength of the countries’ longstanding relationship. “We will recognize and understand, sooner rather than later, I hope, that these tariffs are doing nothing but passing on costs to businesses and then to consumers, which does little if not nothing to further economic development and prosperity in the state of South Carolina, across the United States and in Canada,” Theodore said. Theodore, who represents Canadian interests in six southeastern states, including South Carolina, from her Atlanta office, spoke with the Columbia Regional Business Report after attending Gov. Henry McMaster’s January inauguration. Top of mind during her visit was the potential effects of steel and aluminum tariffs enacted against
Canada, Mexico and the European Union by President Donald Trump in March 2017, triggering retaliatory action. Those tariffs remained in place in the renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement, which took effect between the U.S, Mexico and Canada in 1994, when the revamped United States-Mexico-Canada agreement was signed last November. The USMCA laid out new country-of-origin rules for automotive production, mandating that 75% of auto components must be manufactured in the U.S., Canada or Mexico to quality for zero tariffs, and granted U.S. dairy farmers greater access to the Canadian market, among other measures. But it did not include section 232 protections, so named because of the trade loophole Trump used to impose the steel and aluminum tariffs. While a December 2017 study by the Economic Policy Institute found “no evidence of broad, negative impacts on the economy of steel and aluminum tariffs to date,” according to CNBC, a July 2017 analy-
sis by the U.S Chamber of Commerce found that the tariffs would threaten billions of dollars in U.S. exports, including $3 billion from South Carolina. BMW Group, one of the state’s largest manufacturers with an auto manufacturing plant in Spartanburg County, sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross warning that tariffs could lead the company to reduce investment and cut jobs in the U.S. International tire companies also have a big presence in South Carolina, with Giti Tire’s $560 million manufacturing facility in Chester County, Michelin plants in Lexington and the Upstate, Continental Tire the Americas headquartered in Fort Mill and Bridgestone in Aiken County. The tariffs have already spurred Volvo to say it will not sell any S60s, one of the company’s luxury sedans, made in South Carolina to China to avoid additional taxes, unless the tariff situation changes. The automaker still plans to export half of the S60s, with the caveat that the cars previously
“At the end of the day, half of our volume is intended for export. If we’re inhibiting the free flow of trade between different regions, of course that’s a concern. Not a short-term concern, but longer-term.” Nadia Theodore, Consul General of Canada which means it’s happening to workers right here in South Carolina.” According to the International Trade Administration, South Carolina exported $32.2 billion goods in 2017. Data from 2017 compiled by the Office of the United States Trade Representative found that $3.8 billion of that went to Canada, making that country the state’s No. 2 export market. Canadian companies are also increasing their state footprint. Automotive supplier Magna International announced an $8 million expansion of its Spartanburg County seat manufacturing plant in 2016, and in 2017, Canada-based industrial strapping system manufacturer Caristrap located its new corporate headquarters in Greenville County. “(South Carolina) has become known for advanced manufacturing and tech manufacturing, which are highly skilled, well-paid jobs
that have been developed thanks to companies from around the world that are coming here to assemble their cars and their other manufacturing products,” Theodore said. “They’ve done that because they can take advantage of the supply chains that Canada, the United States and Mexico have created because of the North American hub.” Theodore said steel and aluminum tariffs threaten that winning formula. “When companies have to pay more for something, they do one of two things: They either raise the price of the product, or they look for ways to reduce their operating costs,” Theodore said. “And the easiest way to reduce their operating costs is to have less workers, which means less jobs.”
TRENDING: AUTOMOTIVE IN S.C.
designated for Chinese customers will now likely go to European customers, said Jeff Moore, the head of Volvo Car Charleston Plant, in an interview late last year with the Charleston Regional Business Journal. “Our concern is less specific to China. It’s to the overall tariff situation globally,” Moore said. “At the end of the day, half of our volume is intended for export. If we’re inhibiting the free flow of trade between different regions, of course that’s a concern. Not a short-term concern, but longer-term.” The Swedish-based, Chinese-owned company, along with the state of South Carolina, invested $500 million to build its first U.S. automotive manufacturing campus in Berkeley County in 2015. Production of the S60 began at the site in September 2018. Volvo currently employs 1,400 workers to build the sedan and plans to hire through 2019 to reach 2,000. “South Carolina is booming when it comes to advanced manufacturing. Advanced manufacturing has a lot of steel and aluminum,” Theodore said. “It’s not just conceptual, something that’s happening in D.C. This is something that’s happening to companies right here in South Carolina,
Charleston Regional Business Journal reporter Liz Segrist contributed to this article.
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TRENDING: AUTOMOTIVE IN S.C. BMW Plant Spartanburg produced more than 155,000 units of its popular X5 Sports Activity Vehicle in 2017. (Photo/BMW)
CHARGING AHEAD BMW counting on Plant Spartanburg in sales forecast By Ross Norton, Editor, GSA Business Report
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key cog in the Upstate’s economic apparatus is moving forward with apparent confidence that a trade war with China and a new version of NAFTA won’t derail the engine. BMW, the largest of the state’s automakers, rolled out the fourth generation of its popular X5 Sports Activity Vehicle last summer and closed the year at the LA Auto Show, where the new X7 was introduced to an international audience. In a LevaData survey of U.S. auto executives, 78% said they feel changes in the North American trade deal will have a positive impact on their company long-term and a little more than half felt the deal will increase vehicle manufacturing on the continent with net improvement for workers and buyers. When it came to Chinese tariffs, 30% of auto executives expressed concern, compared to 9% who were concerned about
the agreement among the U.S., Mexico and Canada, LevaData said. Publicly, although some automakers have predicted significant impact from international trade tensions, BMW has been more guarded about what the company expects that effect to be. But at the LA Auto Show, BMW Group executives spoke confidently about the future and Plant Spartanburg’s role in it. Bernhard Kuhnt, president and CEO of BMW of North America, referred to the South Carolina plant as the company’s “crown jewel” and was effusive in projecting the importance of Spartanburg Countymade cars to BMW was well as the company’s significance in the United States. “Nationwide, we employ more than 70,000 people together with our suppliers and dealers, and we believe we are driving innovation in this country,” he said. “BMW
is designing and developing new technologies for the world. … We have experienced 12 months of growth in the U.S. We’ve rolled out new models … in fact, we are in the middle of the largest product offensive in our company’s long history with the youngest portfolio that we’ve ever seen.” The BMW Group delivered nearly 2.5 million vehicles to customers around the world during its 2018 fiscal year, surpassing sales goals by 1.1 % by selling more BMWs and Rolls-Royces than ever before. Those brands, plus Mini, accounted for the eighth consecutive annual sales record for the group, according to a company press release. BMW officials gave a nod to the role Xmodel SAVs played in surpassing those sales goals. They are placing hope for continued success in its Spartanburg products, especially the stalwart X5 and the new X7, the largest model the company has ever built.
TRENDING: AUTOMOTIVE IN S.C. BMW unveiled its newest and largest model, the X7 Sports Activity Vehicle, at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show. The three-row variant of its popular X series will be built at Plant Spartanburg. (Photo/BMW)
are expected to remain volatile, which could have an impact on the automotive market,” the news release said. In mainland China, the BMW Group expects solid sales growth in 2019. While the Chinese market has normalized, the premium segment is expected to show good growth potential, according to a BMW analysis. China-manufactured BMW vehicles will be the main growth drivers,
especially the BMW X3, which will be available in 2019, made in a plant that opened last year in China. It is the first X-model not manufactured in Spartanburg County. Last year, 70% of the vehicles made in Spartanburg County were exported, according to company statements, and more of them were destined for China than any other country, according to company statements.
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Pieter Nota, head of sales and brand for BMW Group, introduced the X7 at the LA Auto Show and called it a symbol of the company’s commitment to the U.S. market. “This is the vehicle many of you have been waiting to see for a long time,” Nota said. “We are very proud to present it here in its home market of the United States of America. As the pinnacle of the X-family, it offers a new level of luxury. It’s big, it’s bold, and has an incredible on-road presence. We truly believe it also offers the very best driving capabilities in its class.” According to a company news release, the BMW X7 includes an array of driver assistance systems designed to enhance comfort and safety. These systems process camera images with data gathered by radar sensors and together they help drivers in a variety of situations. They ease the driver’s workload in monotonous driving conditions, such as traffic jams and heavy traffic, and make it easier to stay in control in awkward traffic situations, according to information provided by BMW. These systems mark the latest advances on the road to automated driving, the release said. The vehicle has cruise control with braking function, as well as collision and pedestrian warning with a “city braking” function, which alerts the driver when a cyclist is detected. An optional cruise control feature is capable of braking the car to a halt then setting it back on its way automatically. “Ladies and gentlemen, the luxury segment is our home turf and automobiles like the X7 are testament to that,” Nota said at the press conference. “We are moving ahead with our expansion in the luxury class.” The company also made it clear in Los Angeles that they will sell a lot of electric vehicles in the future and have invested significant funds in developing the technology. Plant Spartanburg produced more than 45,000 X5 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles from 2015 to 2018 and temporarily stopped production last year when the new X5 was introduced, but production will resume this year, spokesman Steve Wilson said. The BMW Group expects to achieve a slight increase in global sales in 2019, but a news release did warn about the potential for economic fallout caused by politics. “… Political and economic circumstances
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S.C. DELIVERS Ports, Logistics & Distribution
The site master plan for the I-77 International Megasite in Fairfield County. (Image/Provided)
Megasite
Staff Report
I-77 megasite ready to attract suppliers, manufacturers
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1,500-acre tract of land that state officials hope will attract a major manufacturer and thousands of jobs to an area of the state hard hit by job losses is now ready for potential buyers to take a closer look. The I-77 International Megasite, located about 20 miles north of Columbia in Fairfield County and first announced in August, is now being actively marketed. The site features more than 9 million square feet in its master plan, along with an electrical substation, a rail spur and a million-gallon water tank. It is designed for use by a single occupant such as a large automotive supplier
which could bring more than 2,000 jobs and benefit from interstate access, airports in Columbia and Charlotte and the Port of Charleston, according to news release from the S.C. I-77 Alliance, which markets the site for Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster, Richland and York counties. “The International Megasite is ready to represent the next chapter in the Palmetto State’s record of building a major presence in the transportation manufacturing space, including automotive and aerospace,” S.C. Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said in a news release. “When this property is a thriving workplace, the benefits will be felt across South Carolina.”
The site is located just past Exit 34 off I-77 near Winnsboro, a town hit hard by the 2017 closing of a textile company and the abandonment of a nuclear reactor project at the V.C. Summer power station in Fairfield County. A labor force of nearly 850,000 people, along with more than 20 vocational and training opportunities, are within an hour’s drive from the site, according to the release. “Competitive incentives, a ready and willing workforce and proximity to Charlotte and Columbia — both known for their outstanding lifestyle, entertainment and See MEGASITE, Page 23
S.C. DELIVERS
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Port
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By Liz Segrist, Staff Writer
S.C. Ports Authority opens new headquarters building in Mount Pleasant
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he S.C. Ports Authority has moved into a new 80,000-square-foot headquarters building that will house around 160 employees at the Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant. The port relocated operations from its longtime office building at 176 Concord St. in downtown Charleston. Lowe Enterprises, a private real estate company, bought the site for $38 million in 2017 with plans to build a luxury hotel and extend Waterfront Park. Port CEO Jim Newsome has said the relocation puts staff closer to cargo operations, consolidates office employees into one building and creates a more modern space for the workforce. The new building has a glass atrium extending up all four floors. The site also has a nearly 1-mile walking trail. The office has a fitness center, primary care and occupational health services provided by MUSC Health, a cafeteria and sit-to-stand desks in all workstations and offices. The open
The S.C. Ports Authority’s 80,000-square-foot headquarters building is located in Mount Pleasant. (Photo/ Provided)
floor plan allows for better collaboration and communication, Newsome said. “The port’s new headquarters offers a single, modern campus for employees with direct access to our biggest operating terminal, the Wando Welch,” Newsome said in a statement. Choate Construction and LS3P led the design-build project that started in fall 2017.
“The port’s new headquarters offers a single, modern campus for employees with direct access to our biggest operating terminal, the Wando Welch.” Jim Newsome
CEO, S.C. Ports Authority
Logistics
Staff Report
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partanburg-based manufacturer AFL has acquired the assets of Impulse NC LLC, a manufacturer of overhead contact systems and catenary hardware in Mount Olive, N.C. The acquisition will expand AFL’s rail transit systems product line, according to a news release. The company expects the acquisition to increase productivity and output. The Impulse manufacturing facility will remain in Mt. Olive, and Impulse products will be available from AFL immediately, the release said. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. “Impulse shares AFL’s mission to deliver superior quality products and service to customers,” Eric Borowicz, general manager of AFL’s accessories division, said in the release. “Adding the Impulse family as well as its product portfolio will further strengthen our impact in the rail transit market.” Impulse NC LLC manufactures overhead contact system and catenary hardware for all types of electrified transit systems including streetcars, light rail, intercity and commuter rail, freight, heritage trolley and electric trolleybus, the release said.
“The work to attract that one mega-manufacturer for our megasite is now officially underway.” Ty Davenport
director, Fairfield County Economic Development
said. “We’re thrilled about the potential impact this industrial development will have on our community and beyond.”
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AFL has acquired the assets of Impulse NC LLC, a manufacturer of overhead contact systems and catenary hardware in Mount Olive, N.C. (Photo/ Provided)
educational opportunities — is going to make this a great home for a world-class manufacturer,” Rich Fletcher, president and CEO of the S.C. I-77 Alliance, said. Infrastructure details, along with information about incentives such as state corporate tax credits, can be found at www. i77megasite.com. “The work to attract that one megamanufacturer for our megasite is now officially underway,” Ty Davenport, director of Fairfield County Economic Development,
S.C. DELIVERS
AFL expands rail division with acquisition of N.C. company
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S.C. DELIVERS
Manufacturing
Staff Reports
Eclipse Automation investing $4.6 million in York County facility
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utomated system provider Eclipse Automation will spend $4.6 million in new operations in York County, a project expected to create 90 jobs during the next five years. Eclipse Automation, with locations in Canada and the U.S., supplies custom automated manufacturing equipment for the life sciences, energy, transportation,
mining and telecommunications industries. “The Rock Hill facility is the perfect location to support our long-term growth plan and ongoing commitment to our customers,” company president and CEO Steve Mai said in a news release. “Eclipse is focused on delivering innovative automated solutions worldwide, and we believe that South Carolina has an impressive
reputation in quality manufacturing and developing skilled resources. Both will provide a solid foundation for success at our new location.” The renovated, 57,000-square-foot facility, located at 1510 Cedar Line Drive in Rock Hill, is projected to be operational in March. “We are proud to welcome Eclipse Automation as they establish their new operations here in York County,” York County Council chair Michael Johnson said. “It is always exciting when a business of this caliber picks York County to call home.”
Chemical supplier locating operations in Allendale County
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KPA Kimya Organic Peroxides and Initiators is investing $2.6 million in a new distribution and warehousing facility in Allendale County expected to create 13 jobs. AKPA Kimya, founded in 1997 in Istanbul, specializes in the production of organic peroxide, initiator, accelerator and paint dryers used in the composite, petrochemical and paint sectors. The company supplies customers in North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The new facility, located at 122 Innovation Drive in Fairfax, is expected to be operational in the second quarter of this year. “We are excited about our new facility in Allendale County. At AKPA Kimya Organic Peroxides and Initiators, we are always delighted to work with the community,” said company president Kemal Darcan in a news release. “We hope that this facility is the first of many investments that will help both the company and community thrive.”
of Hall Fame 2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS
Sponsored by
Special Section Sponsored by
Investing in the future
2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
Dear Reader, Welcome to the 2019 South Carolina Business Hall of Fame section of SCBIZ magazine. In partnership with Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina, SC Biz News has published features on the winners of this prestigious award since 2016. This year’s group, the 35th class since JA created the Hall of Fame in 1985, includes posthumous honors for Robert McNair, a University of South Carolina graduate who created a diverse, billion-dollar empire and became owner of the NFL’s Houston Texans; and Albert Sottile, whose creative energy and business acumen were the foundations for Pastime Amusement Company. They are joined by E. Smyth McKissick III, who has guided his family company, Alice Manufacturing, through the challenges of globalization within the textile industry. The business leaders honored here will be featured at a gala on March 12 at the USC Alumni Center in Columbia, and all have made significant, lasting contributions to the
Hall of Fam e 2019 SOUT
H CARO
LINA BU
SINESS
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Palmetto State’s economic growth and well-being. Their names will join a list that includes South Carolinians from as far back as the mid-18th century to the present: Pinckney, Milliken, Koger, Detyens, Seibels, Sweringen and Kahn, to name just a few. Also, 2019 marks 100 years of Junior Achievement proudly helping young people learn the foundations of entrepreneurship and business success. The work is done by community
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volunteers in partnership with local schools to teach the programs offered by JA. Their
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contributions are vital to JA’s mission of preparing future generations of America’s business leaders and entrepreneurs. SCBIZ magazine is honored to be a part of the celebration of the great entrepreneurs and leaders who helped build what is now a thriving, diverse and progressive state economy. Please join us in learning about and celebrating their contributions.
On the cover: Dent Middle School students, from left, Kayliana Highland, QuaVon Eichelberger and Christian Brogdon participate in Junior Achievement. (Photo/Jeff Blake)
Steve McDaniel, Editor
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About the S.C. Business Hall of Fame
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Each year, the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame honors business leaders chosen for their unique contributions to South Carolina’s business landscape, for being agents of positive change, for their leadership, and for being a source of inspiration to the leaders of tomorrow. The Business Hall of Fame is presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina. The Laureates for 2019 are E. Smyth McKissick III, Robert McNair and Albert Sottile.
Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina 2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 301 Columbia, SC 29204 | 803 252-1974 Casey Pash, President Bette Bronson, Program Manager Elizabeth Blake, Program Manager
Published by:
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2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
E. Smyth McKissick III
Robert McNair
Albert Sottile
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Rhett Brewer speaks with Dent Middle School students Anna Todd, left, Gowri Sunilkumar, top right, Ashlyn Martin, right, and Madison Gwin, bottom.
BY EXAMPLE
2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
LEADING Junior Achievement honors state’s business leaders, helps prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs Photography by Jeff Blake
For 35 years, Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina has proudly honored the industry magnates of our state who have shaped the lives of many with their business acumen and dedication to community service. Many of these award winners, called Laureates, have credited their success to an entrepreneurial spirit that helped them dream big and create successful businesses that have stood the test of time. This year, three Laureates will be inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame as business giants who truly exhibit the strength and tenacity of entrepreneurship: Mr. E. Smyth McKissick III, the late Mr. Robert C. McNair, and the late Mr. Albert Sottile. See JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, Page 31
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2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
Dent Middle School student ing Angela Perez-Pedro speaks dur t. Junior Achievemen
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Dent Middle
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ks during Junior
ea igail Robillard sp School student Ab
Achievement.
Tushar Agarwal speaks with Den t Middle School students.
The business climate in South Carolina has changed and evolved over the past century, but regardless of the trends, our state has continued to cultivate a strong pipeline of entrepreneurs. These budding, drivento-succeed individuals are finding their place not only as business owners, but as valuable employees of the almost 400,000 businesses located in our state. But how do we encourage these entrepreneurs? Who leads the training of SC’s future workforce? Simply put, it is Junior Achievement. Established in the United States 100 years ago, this nonprofit organization, using volunteers, reaches into schools to inspire the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. Using fun and interesting grade-level lesson plans, students in grades K-12th are educated and inspired to learn more about the world of business and the communities in which they live. While not every student will want to start their own business, entrepreneurship — bolstered by work readiness and financial literacy — is just one of the three core tenants of Junior Achievement. With the overall goal to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy, Junior Achievement takes its role seriously as a leader in fostering entrepreneurship. Exposing students to entrepreneurial skills through carefully created lessons allows the volunteers to illustrate which skills are needed to start a business, why a diversity of business sizes
2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT from, Page 29
See JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, Page 32
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2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT from, Page 29 is needed to create a strong community, and how to identify what kinds of businesses are most likely to succeed in our state. The best part is that ANYONE can be a Junior Achievement volunteer. Whether you are a captain of industry or new to the workforce, your passion and life experiences only add to the already scripted and wellorganized lesson plans you can share with school children in your community. If you are interested in inspiring the next generation of South Carolina Business Hall of Fame Laureates, the next step is to teach a JA program. For more information on how you can get involved with Junior Achievement in South Carolina, call 803-252-1974 or visit the website centralsc.ja.org. Dent Middle School studen ts Gowri Sunilkumar, left, and Ashlyn Martin par ticipate in Junior Achievement.
h Dent Middle Allison Cranford speaks wit d, top left, and School students Anna Tod . left Madison Gwin, bottom
Junior Achievement Classes
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Here are the classes offered to teach students business and career skills:
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Elementary School
Middle School
High School
• JA Ourselves
• JA Economics for Success
• JA Be Entrepreneurial
• JA Our Families
• JA Global Marketplace
• JA Career Success
• JA Our Community
• JA It’s My Future
• JA Company Program
• JA Our City
• JA It’s My Business!
• JA Economics
• JA Our Region
• JA Job Shadow
• JA Our Nation
• JA Personal Finance
• JA More than Money
• JA Personal Finance
Do you want to inspire future business leaders? Volunteer for Junior Achievement. Contact the JA office at centralsc.ja.org or 803-252-1974.
2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
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2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
E. Smyth McKissick III
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Hard choices and hard work define McKissick’s business legacy
eing recognized by the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame, with all the attendant glory, the dinner, the speeches and the encomiums, is just about the last thing E. Smyth McKissick III would ever want. It’s not that McKissick isn’t honored to be inducted among the state’s business titans, it’s just that whenever he is asked to discuss himself, his achievements or his success, he diverts the conversation instead to his parents, his family, his mentors and his employees. “The world is full of self-promoters. Smyth McKissick is the exact opposite,” said SC Supreme Court Justice John Kitteredge, a friend of McKissick’s since kindergarten. “If you want to make him uncomfortable,
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“The world is full of self-promoters.
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Smyth McKissick is the exact opposite.” – SC Supreme Court Justice John Kitteredge
2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
just share with him some of his accomplishments.” McKissick is CEO of Easley-based Alice Manufacturing, a position he was born and raised to occupy, but not one he in which he was fated to succeed. The domestic textile industry has been buffeted by low-cost global competition and disruptive technological change, which have combined to thin the ranks of profitable American textile mills to just a few. The fifth generation of his family to lead the 95-year-old company, McKissick has faced the challenges with hard work, determination and a commitment to producing the highest quality fabrics and providing outstanding service to customers. The son of E. Smyth “Bubby” McKissick, Jr., a member of the SC Business Hall of Fame himself, Smyth originally wanted to
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be a firefighter, even as he toiled over the hot, dusty looms in the mills during high school and college. “You never forget the smell of cotton,” he said. The family company beckoned and he returned after graduating from Clemson, taking the reins in 1988 at the tender age of 31. By then, stateside textile mills were going belly-up at an alarming rate, undercut by cheap labor in Asia and elsewhere. Smyth was forced to pivot the company by focusing on quality, streamlining the operation for maximum efficiency and adopting the latest technology — and then keeping cur-
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rent with it. “He showed how they could get through the downturn. He was creative, innovative and always one step ahead. Everyone nationwide looks at Alice Manufacturing and what they have been able to do in SC. They are truly a source of pride for SC,” said former Governor Nikki Haley. It didn’t come without the wrenching decision to close a pair of antiquated U.S. plants. Though a business imperative, it inflicted emotional agony on Smyth for the impact it would have on hundreds of families.
2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
Augustine “Auggie” Tantillo, president and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations, told the Greenville News that companies like Alice Manufacturing had to be nimble or die, and take even more jobs with them. “Those who have survived have done so through creativity and meaningful change,” he said. Today Alice Manufacturing employs information systems to leverage big data for super-powered marketing strength and customer service. McKissick views rapid technological advances as good for the company because it creates opportunities for those who are ready. McKissick is not simply a great businessman; he is a pillar of the communities to which he belongs. One is the Clemson University community, of which he is a proud member. He serves as chair of the school’s board of trustees after claiming a parade of university honors for his service and financial support, including the Clemson Distinguished Service Award and the Clemson Medallion. As chair of the board, he works closely with Jim Clements, the university presi-
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dent whose selection committee McKissick chaired. When Clements walked into that first meeting with McKissick, he was immediately impressed. “He was Clemson — tall, good-looking, smart, articulate and charismatic,” he said. “He makes me a better leader and he makes the university better. With Smyth, you’d better never be late for a meeting.” The McKissick family name is also on buildings owned by charities in Pickens and Greenville counties, though he’d prefer that you didn’t notice. For example, his family foundation helped build the new Meals on Wheels McKissick Center for Senior Wellness for Pickens County, leveraging nearly $1 million for the project. McKissick and his family have supported numerous other arts, education and economic opportunity charities, say his friends, though usually quietly and behind the scenes. As CEO of a global manufacturing company, McKissick believes the future of business in South Carolina is on the upswing. The new learning economy, he believes, is opening vast opportunities to those who are prepared to grasp them. He has this advice for the generation behind him: “I would encourage young people to bring a great work ethic and a great attitude to their approach to their job. It’s a rapidly changing world and with those changes come great opportunities.”
McNair’s successes and failures ultimately led to a life of giving back
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f all you knew about Robert McNair is that he brought NFL football back to Houston as owner of the Houston Texans, it would be like knowing only that Thomas Edison founded General Electric Company. And like Edison, McNair owed his success to “1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Bob McNair was born in Florida and raised in North Carolina, and he made his fortune in Texas. So how is he a member of the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame? For that we can thank the Navy ROTC. After graduating high school in the western North Carolina mountain town of Forest City, McNair rebuffed an offer from the Chicago Cubs to play baseball and enrolled on a Navy ROTC scholarship at the Univer-
2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
Robert McNair sity of South Carolina. From USC, McNair graduated with three things: a bachelor’s degree in psychology; a wife, Janice, who graduated from Columbia College a year later; and an enduring love for his school and the Palmetto State. “He never forgot where he came from,” said U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who counted McNair as a friend and political ally. The McNairs moved to Houston in 1960 where Bob spent 20 years as a struggling entrepreneur. His goal was never to become a billionaire, just to provide for his family. His car leasing and trucking business went bust in 1983, so at age 46, his résumé read: failed businessman. That same year, McNair came upon the
– Charlie Way, Charleston businessman and McNair’s college roommate
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“He told me one time, ‘The reason I want to make money is because I enjoy giving it away.’ ”
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idea of co-generation — a cleaner and more efficient way to create and use electricity, heat and mechanical energy from the same fuel source. He built Cogen Technologies, supplying low-cost power to the nation’s utilities. At its peak, Cogen supplied onethird of the power delivered to residents of New York City by the utility Con Edison. Cogen Technologies became the largest privately owned cogeneration company of its kind, operating power plants around the country. While the company flourished financially, McNair paid back his creditors
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from the bankrupt leasing company all $10 million he owed. In 1998, with McNair actively bidding to bring an NFL franchise back to Houston following the departure of the Oilers to Tennessee, he sold Cogen to energy giant Enron for $1.5 billion, though he maintained ownership in a pair of plants. The following year, while the Cogen deal was being finalized, NFL owners agreed to sell him the franchise for $700 million. Besides the Texans, McNair continued to run a venture capital firm, Palmetto
Partners, with investments in the energy, financial and real estate sectors. He also formed a biotech investment firm, Colgene, and served as its chairman. But McNair’s greatest joy was the philanthropy his wealth made possible. “He told me one time, ‘The reason I want to make money is because I enjoy giving it away,’” said Charlie Way, a Charleston businessman who lived with McNair in college. Over the years, the McNairs have lavished the University of South Carolina with support, creating the McNair Scholars
2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
to attract out-of-state students to the school. More than 400 students from across the nation have benefited from the family’s largesse. “One student scholar told me that listening to him during his annual visits made the student want to ‘stand taller, work harder, and serve more people,’” said USC president Harris Pastides. In addition, they established the McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise, and underwrote a new Football Operations Center at USC. They also donated $5 million each to start entrepreneur programs at five other colleges and universities in Texas. In all, the McNair family has distributed $500 million through a series of foundations to scientific, religious, educational and literary organizations around the country, and continues to make grants today.
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But events, and a home on Kiawah Island, always seemed to draw McNair back to South Carolina. Three of the Texans’ most consequential draft picks have been Palmetto State athletes — USC defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Following the horrific, racially motivated murders of nine black parishioners at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in June 2015, he paid for all of the funerals and donated $1 million to a memorial at the church. Last June, aware that he was dying of cancer, McNair led a contingent of Texans to Mother Emanuel to meet the parishioners and share their grief over the tragedy three years earlier. It was one of his last public appearances. McNair died just before Thanksgiving at the age of 81, but he leaves behind a legacy of business success, warm relationships and philanthropy. “He was a generous, kind man who was a business genius,” said Graham. “He was passionate about his causes, but he didn’t take himself too seriously.”
Sottile informed, entertained and embraced Charleston for more than a half-century
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lbert Sottile, Mr. Albert to almost all who knew him, was a bundle of contradictions. Short in height, he was huge in stature, towering metaphorically over those a foot taller than he was. An Italian immigrant, he led efforts to raise money for the U.S. war effort against the Axis powers that included Italy. Though a Charleston “come’ya,” he was accepted, even beloved by locals for providing them with entertainment and jobs, and for his contributions to the commonwealth. Born in Sicily in 1878, Albert Sottile walked miles from his home at the age of 13 to the northern port city of Palermo, from which he ventured across the sea alone to join his brothers in Charleston. He learned English by reading newspapers with the
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Albert Sottile help of an English-Italian dictionary and took a series of menial jobs to support himself. At one time, he worked as a cabin boy, going from room to room changing the points of residents’ fountain pens. People who knew him say he believed strongly in education, although he had little formal education himself. He spoke perfect American English without an accent, they say. “He was so, so proud to be an American,” said Charlie Way, who married Mr. Albert’s granddaughter. “On the wall of his office he had his citizenship papers.” Sottile and his brothers owned a silent theater where he sometimes performed with the Charleston men’s chorus. In 1908, brokered a deal among feuding movie theaters and created a collaborative venture — the
–Mary Jo Sottile Manning, Albert Sottile’s great niece
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“He treated people with respect and it didn’t matter who you were. He considered his competitors friends and sometimes they became partners.”
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Pastime Amusement Company, which he served as president until his death 52 years later. Family recall his dedication to the point that he even left Christmas dinners to oversee operations at the movie theater. In its heyday, Pastime owned and operated the Victory, Garden, Gloria, American, Avondale, Arcade and Riviera theatres. Albert Sottile was referred to as “The king of the motion picture business in Charleston.” During World War II, movie theaters served the purpose later filled by television news, broadcasting film reels depicting progress in the war and promoting support for the fight against Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini. People flocked to Sottile’s theaters for their only opportunity to see the latest news. Sottile used the opportunity to sell war bonds to patrons to support the
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war effort. When Mr. Albert built the 2,000-seat Gloria Theater on the Charleston peninsula in 1927 it was the largest theater of its kind in the state. It served as a venue for both
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vaudeville and movies and presented the South Carolina premiere of a movie that brought Charleston’s elegance to a national audience. Most of the cast of the movie — Gone With the Wind — was on hand for
the occasion. After its closing in 1975, the Sottile family donated the theater to the College of Charleston, where it is known today as the Sottile Theatre. In 1964 they donated the
2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
Winthrop University to aid children of Pastime employees. “He kept track of students whom he supported,” said Dr. Charles Darby, a prominent local pediatrician who married another Sottile granddaughter. “He kept a scrapbook of their progress.” Perhaps more than anything, Albert Sottile was remembered as a gentleman. Mary Jo Sottile Manning recalls getting dressed up to visit his office when she was 12. “He treated me like I was a human being,” she said.
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ornate Victorian Sottile House at 11 College St. to the school. The family purchased the massive Queen Anne mansion in 1912 and made an annual tradition of stringing it with Christmas lights for the public to enjoy. Since 1986, the College of Charleston has carried on the tradition with an annual tree lighting ceremony in front of the house. Mr. Albert also dabbled in real estate, buying up one third of the parcels on middle King Street by 1950. He was instrumental in aiding many of these businesses during their formation and early years of operation. Albert Sottile was respected by his friends and competitors alike; in fact, they were often the same people. “He treated people with respect and it didn’t matter who you were,” said Mary Jo Sottile Manning, Albert Sottile’s great niece. “He considered his competitors friends and sometimes they became partners.” Indeed, although his theaters entertained the entire city and beyond, Albert Sottile was known less for his business acumen than for his civic-mindedness. He was a catalyst to the formation of the SC State Ports Authority; the Community Chest, the precursor to United Way; and the Grace Memorial Bridge, which stood until the new Cooper River crossing was constructed a decade ago. He founded the Charleston Development Board and the Charleston Industrial Association. He helped forge the merger that produced the Bank of South Carolina and had a hand in establishing the Charleston Airport. He also supported area colleges, establishing scholarships at The Citadel and
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2019 SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
