May 28 - June 10, 2012
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Free clinics seen as good for business By James T. Hammond jhammond@scbiznews.com
Skills Gap
Education struggles to prepare workers. Page 2
Defensive Moves Banks seek to shed Treasury-held shares. Page 3
In Focus
Assembly Street overhaul to reduce on-street parking. Page 9
Volume 5, No. 11 • $2.00
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hen Leadership Columbia’s current class looked around for a project, they settled upon a major upgrade of facilities at Columbia’s Free Medical Clinic on Harden Street. These mid-career business people didn’t
just see it as charity for people with no health insurance; keeping the Free Medical Clinic viable diverts people from the region’s trauma centers, where episodic care can be expensive. That translates into higher health care costs in hospital rates and health insurance premiums for employers and employees. The Leadership Columbia class built a cover for the walkway leading to the front door of the
THE RIGHT
MOVE Last June, Accuride paid $22 million for the assets of Forgitron Technologies in Camden. Today, the company is riding surging demand for its large vehicle wheels. Page 6
At Work
Social networking, blogging is Shop Tart’s business. Page 19
clinic, to protect clients of the clinic who often line up for services before it opens for business. They built a bench on the walkway so that sick or elderly people can sit while they wait. They renovated the four toilets in the clinic, replaced the waiting room furniture, and solicited a trove of supplies for the facility from area business See clinics, Page 8
Congress approves Ex-Im Bank reauthorization By James T. Hammond
S
jhammond@scbiznews.com
ince 2007, the Export-Import Bank has assisted exports sales valued at $533 million from South Carolina companies. A total of 43 South Carolina-based exporters benefited from the Export-Import Bank’s financing, according to Executive the bank’s data. summary Those figures likely will soar as Boeing Co. The Export-Import begins exporting passen- Bank provided $32 ger jets from its North billion in financing Charleston assembly last year — all at plant. Some $30 billion no cost to the taxin loans have been made payer. since 2007 to assist Boeing’s sales to overseas buyers. In Columbia, Avantech exported $6.6 million worth of high-tech equipment to Japan to remove radioactive contaminates from trapped seawater in the nuclear reactors destroyed in the Fukushima tsunami. Export-Import Bank financing helped make those sales possible, according to the bank’s data. But, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., tried to See CONGReSS, Page 5
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Upfront..............................2 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering, Construction....................9 List: Architecture firms.........16
SIOR................................17 At Work...........................19 Economics Column .........20 People in the News..........21 Business Digest...............22 Calendar..........................23 Viewpoint.........................23
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“I see no evidence that competitor nations like China are getting out
of the ex-im business. I
cannot . . . support unilateral disarmament.” U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham Explaining why he supported reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank
Education struggles to close S.C. extends life of Conservation Bank skills gap of S.C. workers Gov. Nikki Haley signed legislation earlier this month extending the sunset clause
As South Carolina’s economy expands, the state must develop better ways of providing its workforce with the technical skills needed to land a job. That’s the consensus among panelists at a Power Breakfast discussion on education and the workforce hosted by the Columbia Regional Business Report. “There’s a disparity in the skills gap between those seeking work and the needs of employers,” said Abraham Turner, executive director of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. He said there are five people competing for each job. Most likely, he said, few of those out of work have the skills needed to fill the position. State Education Superintendent Mick Zais said public schools need to move away from the “one-size-fits-all model” to one that accommodates how children learn. Public education, Zais said, needs to drop the assumption that every child needs to pursue a college education. Only 25% of jobs require a four-year degree or higher, he said. But 75% of jobs require skills beyond a high school diploma, said Midlands Tech president Sonny White. Panel participants echoed results of a survey sponsored by the World Economic Forum that 10 million manufacturing jobs worldwide go unfilled because of a growing skills gap. The survey reported that 67% of respondents said there was a moderate to severe shortage of available qualified workers. More than half of the respondents believe the shortage will worsen. Among manufacturers, 83% expect the shortage of production workers will worsen. Public education doesn’t do a good enough job preparing students, participants said. White said Midlands Tech spends $15 million a year on remedial classes before students can pursue their training. The state does a good job of training its workforce for manufacturing, said Jim Reynolds, CEO of Total Comfort Solutions and co-chairman of the New Carolina Education and Workforce Development Task Force. One reason why BMW decided to build its new X4 model in Spartanburg County is the high quality of the workforce, he said. While the schools can help remedy the problem, Catherine Horne, president and CEO of EdVenture, said learning doesn’t just happen between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., 180 days a year. “Families, particularly parents, need to be a more active part in education,” Horne said, “and in many ways the schools need to learn how to use that relationship.”
of the state Conservation Bank from 2013 to July 1, 2018. The bank, created a decade ago, has helped protect more than 150,000 acres of forestland, parks, farm land, wetlands and other property from development. The bank helps property owners enter into conservation easements. The bank is funded by a portion of annual state revenue from document stamp fees. In her executive budget, Haley recommended $7.5 million for the bank for the fiscal year 2012-13, which begins July 1.
Continental Freight Services acquired by Michigan company for $3.4M Blythewood-based Continental Freight Services, a non-asset third-party logistics company, has been sold to XPO Logistics Inc. XPO, based in Buchanan, Mich., said it bought Continental for $3.4 million with a potential earn-out of up to $300,000. Continental, which has satellite offices in Texas, Florida and North Carolina, generated $22 million in revenue over a 12-month period ending March 31, XPO said. “Continental is a good strategic fit because we can scale it up quickly by adding salespeople and carrier capacity,” said Bradley Jacobs, chairman and CEO of XPO. “Our cold-start program is running ahead of plan. Given our cold-start performance and healthy backlog of acquisition candidates, we’re comfortable with our target of a $500 million revenue run rate by year-end.” XPO reported revenue for the first quarter of 2012 was $44.6 million, a 7.4% increase over the initial three months of 2011. XPO’s revenue for 2011 totaled $177.1 million. Continental Freight has been providing truckload brokerage services since 1980.
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First Community Corp. raising capital to buy back TARP stock First Community Corp. of Lexington has proposed a public offering of up to $12.5 million in shares of its common stock, par value $1 per share. The holding company for First Community Bank said it would use the estimated $11.5 million in proceeds to repurchase all of its outstanding Series T Preferred Stock and, potentially, the warrant issued to the U.S. Treasury as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. First Community Bank operates 11 offices in Lexington, Richland, Newberry and Kershaw counties. It is the 20th largest bank in South Carolina measured by deposits, according to the FDIC’s June 2011 ranking, with a 0.7% maket share. The U.S. Treasury is divesting bank ownership it acquired in the TARP program of 2008 and 2009. The Treasury auctioned the $65 million in stock it had in Charleston’s First Financial Holdings Inc., the parent of First Federal Bank. While no other auctions have been announced, more are likely. Greenville-based Southern First Bancshares Inc., which has operations in the Midlands, registered 17,299 preferred shares owned by the Treasury in advance of a potential auction. Southern First will not receive any proceeds from the sale. The preferred stock pays a 5% annual dividend until 2013, when it will increase to 9%. Southern First Bank is the 14th largest bank in the state, with a 0.82% market share, according to the FDIC. First Community, Southern First and First Financial were among 20 South Carolina-based banks to receive investments from the Treasury through the TARP program. So far, seven of those banks have repaid and are no longer part of the program. In some cases, the Treasury lost money. Through TARP, the federal government still owns stakes in about 343 banks and is owed roughly $12 billion. The department said its options are to sell or restructure the investments, or wait for banks to repay.
Treasury investments in S.C. banks (millions) Institution
City
First Community Corp. South Financial Group Inc. First Financial Holdings Inc. Security Federal Corp. Tidelands Bancshares Inc. GrandSouth Bancorp. Congaree Bancshares Inc. SCBT Financial Corp. Greer Bancshares Inc. BankGreenville Regional Bankshares Inc. Southern First Bancshares Inc. HCSB Financial Corp. First Reliance Bancshares Inc. Provident Community Bancshares Inc. Clover Community Bankshares Inc. Peoples Bancorp. Inc. CoastalSouth Bancshares Inc. TCB Corp. Atlantic Bancshares Inc. Total
Lexington Greenville Charleston Aiken Mount Pleasant Greenville Cayce Columbia Greer Greenville Hartsville Greenville Loris Florence
TARP investment Amount repaid $11.35 $347.00 $65.00 $18.00 $14.45 $15.30 $3.29 $64.78 $9.99 $1.00 $1.50 $17.30 $12.90 $15.35
N/A $130.18 $55.93 $18.00 N/A $15.30 N/A $64.78 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Rock Hill
$9.27
N/A
Clover
$3.00
N/A
$12.66 $16.02 $9.72 $2.00 $649.88
$12.66 N/A $9.72 N/A $306.57
Easley Hilton Head Island Greenwood Bluffton
4
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Publisher - Bob Bouyea bbouyea@scbiznews.com • 803.401.1094, ext. 200 Editor - James T. Hammond jhammond@scbiznews.com • 803.401.1094, ext. 201 Staff Writer - Chuck Crumbo ccrumbo@scbiznews.com • 803.401.1094, ext. 204 Senior Copy Editor - Beverly Barfield bbarfield@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3115 Special Projects Editor - Licia Jackson ljackson@scbiznews.com • 803.401.1094, ext. 206 Contributing Writers Meagean Dugger
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May 28 - June 10, 2012
Export-Import Bank assists South Carolina companies to sell their products overseas Total exports supported in South Carolina, 2007-2012:
$533 million
Loan disbursements by Congressional District atlas .gov
43
Total exporters assisted statewide:
TM
Where We Are
Less than $5,000,000
Total small businesses assisted with loans:
22
Hottest exporting region:
4th Congressional District (Greenville, Spartanburg)
$5,000,000 to $24,999,999
Top 3 destinations for exported goods:
$25,000,000 to $74,999,999
Mexico, China, Britain
More than $75,000,000 The National Atlas
Nationwide, the biggest beneficiary of Export-Import Bank loans was the Boeing Co., with more than $30 billion in loans for products exported by four different units of the aerospace company.
Midlands exporters with Export-Import Bank loans
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Exporter
Location
Total Loans
Total export sales
Harsco Corp. Transcon Trading Co. Imagemap Inc. Compass Management Avantech Inc. Progressive Alloy Steels Carbis Inc. Transfer Point Inc. Compass International Supremes LLC Shakespeare Co. Bridge to Life
West Columbia Irmo Columbia Lexington Columbia Florence Florence Columbia Lexington Columbia Newberry Columbia
$42.8 million $17.9 million $8.3 million $6.1 million $2.7 million $1.7 million $1.5 million $780,914 $720,000 $228,502 $103,314 $55,700
$42.8 million $17.9 million $11.9 million $6.1 million $6.7 million $5.2 million $1.5 million $780,914 $720,000 $228,502 $103,314 $55,700
Top five exporters in S.C. with Export-Import Bank loans Sage Automotive Harsco Corp. J.W. Aluminum Co. Mount Vernon Mills Confluence Holdings
Greenville West Columbia Goose Creek Mauldin Easley
$18 million $42.8 million $38.1 million $36.7 million $30.6 million
Source: U.S. Export-Import Bank
SC Business Publications LLC A portfolio company of Virginia Capital Partners LLC Frederick L. Russell Jr., Chairman
$210 million $42.8 million $38.1 million $36.7 million $30.6 million
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May 28 - June 10, 2012 CONGRESS, continued from Page 1
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kill the bank’s reauthorization in the Senate. He was on the opposite side of the issue from South Carolina’s senior senator and fellow Republican, Lindsey Graham, and much of the state’s business establishment. The Senate, with Graham’s urging, approved the reauthorization on May 15 and boosted its lending limit to $140 million from $100 million. The biggest beneficiary regionally of Ex-Im Bank financing has been the Fourth Congressional District, comprising Greenville and Spartanburg counties and part of Union County. That’s DeMint’s home territory, one he represented for three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. The largest single beneficiary of Export-Import Bank financing in the state has been Sage Automotive Interiors, based in Greenville, with $210 million in exports assisted by the Ex-Im Bank, according to the bank’s data. The U.S. House voted 330-93 on May 9 to continue the Ex-Im Bank for three years, a measure assistant Democratic leader Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said would sustain U.S. jobs, especially in South Carolina. The measure was sent to President Barack Obama for his signature. Clyburn said that last year, the Ex-Im Bank supported nearly 300,000 American jobs. “This reauthorization is a no-brainer,” he said. Clyburn also said the Ex-Im Bank provided $32 billion in financing last year — all at no cost to the taxpayer — and more than 80% of those transactions directly supported small businesses in 2011. Clyburn noted that the Boeing Co., which employs 6,000 people in North Charleston, depends upon Export-Import Bank financing to sell its jets abroad. James McNerney, chairman of the board, president and CEO of Boeing, has been pointed in his comments about the importance of Export-Import Bank financing for his company’s products. “Eight out of every 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners now built in South Carolina are expected to be purchased by international customers who are eligible for and regularly seek export credit support from Ex-Im,” he said. “Without this support, many of our customers would choose to purchase airplanes from Airbus, made in Europe, built by European labor, sold with the aggressive backing of multiple European export credit agencies. Jobs in South Carolina are at risk without an extended and robust reauthorization for Ex-Im.” Graham also noted the Ex-Im Bank loans in selling Boeing planes abroad. “Eighty percent of the Boeing 787s produced in North Charleston will be sold to companies who are eligible for and routinely use Ex-Im financing,” Graham said. “Boeing’s competitor, Airbus, relies on three export-import banks located in France to help sell their airplanes to international customers. “One-third of the General Electric
gas turbines produced in Greenville sold overseas use Ex-Im financing. In the case of Boeing and General Electric, the availability of Ex-Im financing is the difference between staying viable in South Carolina or dramatically reducing their business. Simply put, for South Carolina businesses like these to be successful in the international marketplace, Ex-Im has to be reauthorized.” Without naming anyone, Graham alluded to the Ex-Im Bank’s opponents. “I also respect those who chose a different path and voted against reauthorization,” Graham said. “I believe American companies could compete and thrive in a
BRINGING
world without Ex-Im banks and this would be the ideal outcome. However, that world does not exist today.” DeMint hangs his opposition to the Export-Import Bank on a free-market philosophy that says businesses should stand or fall on their own merits, not because of government assistance. DeMint urged South Carolina voters in an email to South Carolina voters to “stop Washington politicians from micromanaging our economy.” “Any time government hands out favors, they’ll be unfair to someone,” DeMint wrote. “When Washington picks winners and losers, in the end taxpayers always lose, and Ex-Im is no exception.”
But Graham said competing nations have ex-im banks far larger and more aggressive than ours. “China’s export bank is larger than many European nations combined. Canada, one-tenth the population of the United States has an ex-im bank that is three times as large as the United States.” “I see no evidence that competitor nations like China are getting out of the ex-im business, and I cannot, in good conscience, support unilateral disarmament,” Graham said. cr br
Reach James T. Hammond at 803-4011094, ext. 201.
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May 28 - June 10, 2012
Camden Accuride plant meets demand for wheels By Chuck Crumbo
ccrumbo@scbiznews.com
W
ith projections showing the commercial vehicle industry’s demand for aluminum wheels peaking in the next couple of years, Accuride Corp. saw an Executive opportunity to summary increase manufacLast June, Accuride turing capacity for paid $22 million for aluminum wheels. substantially all the So last June, assets of Forgitron Accuride, which Technologies in last year posted Camden. $936.1 million in revenues, paid $22 million for substantially all the assets of Forgitron Technologies in Camden. Forgitron, a commercial and military wheel manufacturer, at that time was a portfolio company of Massachusetts-based Kamylon Capital. Not only did Accuride get a modern, 80,000-square-foot plant in the deal, it also retained 80% of Forgitron’s workforce of about 80 employees. A few months later, Accuride announced plans to spend another
Accuride paid $22 million for the former Forgitron Technologies facility in Camden. Photo/Jeff Blake
$8.7 million to expand the facility’s production lines and hire 25 more workers. “Kershaw County is very fortunate that Accuride chose to locate here,” said Peggy McLean, director of the Kershaw County Economic Development Office.
“This is so important because not only did they save the jobs of many of our citizens, they chose to expand, which means new jobs. And as we know, jobs drive the economic success of our community.”
Located on Camden’s outskirts near the interchange of U.S. Highway 521 and Interstate 20, the plant will increase Accuride’s aluminum wheel manufacturing capacity by 21% in North America. Accuride also has an aluminum wheel plant in Erie, Pa., and is building one in Monterrey, Mexico. While the acquisition strengthened Accuride’s core product offering, it also put the Evansville, Ind.-based manufacturer closer to original equipment and after-market customers in the Southeast, said Don Krampe, director of operations at the Camden facility. The company considered other expansion options and locations for a new facility, but due diligence pointed Acurride in the direction of South Carolina, Krampe said. “We approached all options,” Krampe said. “This made sense from the standpoint of where our customers reside, the type of workers in this state we needed to run this type of facility, and the commitment of the local and state government.” The Kershaw County Council approved on April 10 — the day Accuride announced the expansion — a fee in lieu of taxes agreement.
May 28 - June 10, 2012
“It is exciting to see that Accuride, one of our industry neighbors, is growing and prospering,” said Kershaw County Council Chairman Gene Wise. “This is the solid result of the supportive pro-business climate we enjoy.” The new hires will be trained through readySC, a division of the South Carolina Technical College System, Krampe said. “New jobs mean increased opportunities for our citizens and especially our young people,” McLean said. “So the continued success of our existing industries and the recruitment of new industries result in a higher quality of life for everyone.” There is competition for workers from such manufacturing neighbors as Haier America, a Chinese appliance manufacturer, and Hengst of North America, a Germany-based automotive parts manufacturer, which are in Steeplechase Industrial Park where Accuride also is located. “We’re trying to make sure we have a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” he said. The unemployment rate in the county was 7.5% in April, well below the state average of 8.8%. Recent plant closures and layoffs have helped the company in recruiting additional workers. The Camden location gives Accuride “greater flexibility to balance production between three aluminum wheel plants,” added Rick Dauch, CEO and president. With demand for its wheels expected to peak around 2013-14, the Camden facility allows Accuride to ramp up production much sooner than if it had chosen to build a new plant or acquire a plant that had manufactured a different product. “It was a lot quicker to provide additional volume,” Krampe said. A number of factors are driving growth in the North American commercial vehicle industry for aluminum wheels, Dauch said. Those factors include fuel economy, residual value and aesthetics. Before Accuride began making wheels at Camden, it stopped production for a brief period to convert the facilities to the company’s brand standards. Plant manufacturing systems and controls, as well as customer order management and sales programs were integrated into Accuride systems. Workers who stayed through the acquisition also had to learn some new ways of doing things. Everyone was willing to pitch in, Krampe said. “The people in this area are good,” Krampe said. “They’re friendly, hardworking and open to change.” One-piece wheels are made from aluminum billets supplied to the Camden plant by manufacturers in Kentucky and Canada, Krampe said. A wheel is fashioned from a solid billet of aluminum heated up to 900
www.columbiabusinessreport.com 7
The Camden location gives Accuride “greater flexibility to balance production between three aluminum wheel plants.” Rick Dauch president and CEO, Accuride Corp.
degrees, and then extreme pressure is used to force the billet between the forging dies. The forged profile then is placed in a spin machine that shapes the rest of the wheel’s rim. Computer-
controlled lathes and milling machines remove excess stock, and form the hub bore, hand holes and bolt holes. The finished product yields a shiny wheel that’s strong enough to han-
dle the heavy loads hauled by heavy trucks. So far, the Camden facility is on track to meet the company’s production goals, Krampe said. And Krampe added that he has been impressed with the workforce and support that Accuride has received from the local community. “It’s been a good group of people to work with,” said Krampe, a native of Henderson, Ky. “We’re extremely fortunate to be here in South Carolina.” cr br
Reach Chuck Crumbo at 803-401-1094, ext. 204.
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owners. Overall, the benefit to the Free Clinic was 1,700 hours of labor by the class members, $19,000 of in-kind donations from area businesses, and $11,000 in supplies for the clinic’s operations. The Free Medical Clinic fills a critical void. Krisdee Foster, who chairs Leadership Columbia, said there are 72,000 uninsured people in Richland and Lexington counties. Last year, clinic patients soared to 13,495 from about 10,000 in 2010. That included 1,343 new patients. Medications dispensed jumped to $5.33 million from $3.94 million in 2010. Dennis Coker, executive director of Columbia’s Free Medical Clinic, said the impact is incalculable of “the ripple effect of more than 60 leaders in the region who now know what we do here.� Coker said because of the services provided by the Free Medical Clinic, 17% of people with chronic diseases got better, in large part because of lower blood sugar levels and weight loss. While indigent people can get treatment at hospital trauma centers — at a high cost to the public — those people do not receive continuing care for chronic illnesses. At the free clinic, they can get ongoing care. Mayor Steve Benjamin said the Leadership Columbia contribution to the Free Medical Clinic “is indicative of the caring
Galloway of the business leadership in Columbia.� All 42 clinics have seen demand for their services soar. Dr. Frank Bowen, director of the Free Medical Clinic at Hilton Head Island and chair of the South Carolina Free Clinic Association, said the need is great. The free clinics see 52,000 patients, provide 175,000 patient visits a year and deliver $60 million of medical services annually. “Without free clinics, our patients get sicker until they are admitted to hospitals for complex illnesses,� he said. “When you eat at a restaurant, the person pulling dishes out of the dishwasher is our patient. We want the free clinics to be in a position to become a real resource for whatever the future health care system is going to be in South Carolina,� he said. The largest health insurance provider in the state is one of the businesses trying to
help the clinics meet the surge in need. Earlier this month, the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation announced it would give $5.25 million to the South Carolina Free Clinic Association to provide subsidies to all the clinics. The grant also envisions resources for the association to better organize its activities statewide and development a certification program to ensure a standard level of care across the free clinic system. BlueCross has donated money to Free Medical Clinics for years, said Harvey Galloway, executive director of the BlueCross foundation, but he was surprised when he learned that some of the clinics were getting nothing. Funneling the money through the association will help address that issue, he said. Amanda Berrier, executive director of the Free Medical Clinic Association, said Galloway “is really about the details, and we needed that.� “We are saving people’s lives,� Berrier said, and offered the example of a 57-year-old woman who was caring for her 87-year-old mother. The caregiver had lost her health insurance in a divorce, and was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix. Berrier said the woman has been treated and is now cancer-free because of a Free Medical Clinic. The BlueCross foundation provides other grants to meet critical needs in health care, such as subsidizing nursing educa-
tion. Since it was established in 2003, the BlueCross foundation has made $40 million in grants to programs from promoting childhood health to addressing the epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Galloway has spent 42 years at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, running some of its major divisions. He told directors of Free Medical Clinics earlier this month he now has the best job in South Carolina, delivering the ceremonial big checks to foundation beneficiaries. But Galloway has a very serious side; he aims to use the foundation’s resources and grants as leverage to improve health care education, efficiency and delivery. Galloway said he doesn’t believe the uninsured and underserved will magically go away with the advent of the federal Affordable Care Act. “My bet is the number of uninsured will stay about the same as it is. Some estimates even suggest the numbers may grow,� he said. Coker said the Columbia clinic is caring for a family who once supported it with regular donations. But because of job losses in the recession, that family now relies on the free clinic for medical services. Coker said he is keenly aware that many people are just one paycheck from being without health insurance or other resources to obtain health care. cr br
Reach James T. Hammond at 803-4011094, ext. 201.
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In Focus:
Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
Assembly Street overhaul to reduce on-street parking By Meagean Dugger
A
News@scbiznews.com
landscaped median and reduced street parking are coming to Assembly Street where the city’s busy center thoroughfare passes through the University of South Carolina campus. USC and Richland County Transport Committee earmarked $5.8 million to improve the 1100 block of Greene Street and half-mile of Assembly Street between Pendleton and Blossom streets. The S.C. Department of Transportation, city of Columbia and Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority will partner with USC for the project. USC also has sought funding from the Federal Transit Authority. The improvements are expected to begin this fall and be finished by fall 2013. Changes include a widened, landscaped median in the center of Assembly Street to replace metered parking spots, a fence to prohibit jaywalking, extended curbs at the intersections, improved sidewalks with pedestrian-scale lighting and the addition of bus stop shelters. All metered parking on Greene Street will be removed to add bike lanes. The intersections along Assembly Street at Greene and Devine streets will restrict left turns in all directions, and the Assembly intersections at Greene and College streets will prohibit right turns on red. Construction is expected to finish before the opening of the new Darla Moore School of Business on the southwest corner of Assembly and Greene streets. Once the business school opens at its new location in 2014, pedestrian traffic is expected to triple. The pedestrianfocused improvements are in line with the university’s vision to make Greene Street the “corridor” and heart of campus. “We’re ramping up transit and want more commuting,” said Derrick Huggins, associate vice president for transportation and logistical relations at USC. Huggins said USC plans to add direct routes for students using the buses and will schedule the transit around class changes. Current shuttle schedules on campus employ designated routes and don’t run concurrent with class changes. “We want a paradigm shift, a cultural change in the way people get around on campus. The parking in this area is not
List Architecture Firms, Page 16 Bonus List SIOR, Page 17
COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION Construction, engineering and architectural firms are working hard in the Midlands, as you’ll see in the projects listed in this edition of Columbia Under Construction. The number and variety of projects being developed indicates the strength of the industry recovering from a recession. Thank you to everyone who submitted projects for this issue. We’ll be looking for more in the next quarter. Feature your project in the next issue of Columbia Under Construction. Project submission deadline is Aug. 24 for the Sept. 17 edition. For more information, contact Leslie Burden at 843-849-3123 or lburden@scbiznews.com.
A new landscaped median would replace the concrete walkway and metered parking spaces in the half-mile section of Assembly Street where the major thoroughfare passes through the USC campus. Photo/James T. Hammond
good,” Huggins said. “We’re going to promote carpooling, biking and walking. We’re discouraging people from just jumping into cars to get to class. That’s what the bike lanes and sidewalks are for.” Although USC and SCDOT are sure the changes will improve public safety, some businesses on Greene Street are concerned about the removal of parking. “That’s going to be bad for our business. It’s going to be rough,” said Kathy Weathersby, manager at the South Carolina Book Store on the corner of Devine and Main streets. Weathersby said she has not yet filed a comment on the project as she did not see the notice for the public information meeting on May 8, but she plans to do so. “I have mixed emotions about it,” she said. Conversion of the parking lot behind her store from a rented lot to a metered one might help to balance the removal of meters on Greene Street, she said. According to other business owners on Greene Street, owners and managers were notified of the proposed changes and the public information meeting via letter. Brad Grey, pastor at Greene Street United Methodist Church, attended the public information meeting and is concerned about the removal of meters. “Our biggest concern is just the lack of parking,” Grey said. “I’m all for the safety and welfare of pedestrians, but we’ve got an older congregation and only 12 spaces
in our parking lot.” The average Sunday service would not pose a parking issue because the church has permission to use USC’s law school parking lot. However, Wednesday night church would present problems because attendees park in the church lot and on Greene Street, Grey said. “Our congregation needs to park close to the church. We just want that to be heard,” he said. Julie Barker, SCDOT project manager on the improvements said about 10 written comments have been filed, but she expected more comments before the May 23 deadline. “There are some concerns of parking on Greene Street and a few people concerned about parking for the Koger Center,” she said. Barker said she has received questions about bike lanes and said she gets the impression people want more changes to improve pedestrian safety. “Generally, once we explain our reasoning, everybody understands our safety issue. Anyone who has walked across Assembly knows how dangerous it is,” she said. Once the comment period closes, SCDOT, USC and the city of Columbia will see what can be done with design and construction to address the issues raised. “There’s a little bit of growing pain, but it’s for the safety and greater good,” Huggins said. cr br
Fields Health Clinic LLC 3926 Devine St. Columbia This 4,000-square-foot medical building features a brick and stucco masonry exterior with a custom storefront system. Additional highlights to the exterior include custom landscaping, wall sconces and an 86-foot brick masonry retaining wall. Internally, the medical building is equipped with all ADA requirements, custom flooring and cabinetry and functional and decorative lighting. Both windows and HVAC units are high efficiency. Architect: LTC Architects, Columbia. General contractor: Cohn Construction Services LLC, Columbia. Engineer: Michael Ray, HB Engineering, Lexington. Completion date: Jan. 27, 2012.
Next Issue’s Focus:
Statehouse Review
10
www.columbiabusinessreport.com
IN FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
May 28 - June 10, 2012
6837 North Trenholm Road Columbia Arcadia’s Edge is the first apartment community in South Carolina to achieve Silver Certification through the National Green Building Standard by the National Association of Homebuilders. Arcadia’s Edge features a clubhouse, salt water pool, walking trails and a waterfront park with multiple social gathering areas revolving around Roper Pond. The apartment homes feature an abundance of natural lighting, hardwood floors, stone countertops, tiled backsplashes, tankless hot water heaters and stainless energy star appliances. Developer: Estates Inc., Columbia. Architect or firm: Steinberg Design Collaborative, Inc., Houston. General contractor: McCrory Construction Company, Columbia. Civil engineer: BP Barber, Columbia. Mechanical and plumbing engineer: Carolina Engineering Group Inc., Greenville. Structural engineer: Structural Consulting Group-Alpharetta, Ga. Estimated completion date: April 2012. Estimated total cost of project: $12.2 million.
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Moore Orthopedics first floor buildout 104 Saluda Pointe Drive Lexington This 9,000-square-foot design-build project completes the shell build-out program at the Moore Orthopedics facility on U.S. Highway 378 in Lexington. All work was completed in a highly active clinical environment with ongoing patient activity. The design includes clinical spaces, physician’s offices, waiting rooms, two X-Ray rooms, a cast room and extensive custom cabinetry. Architect or firm: Jeff Lewis Architects, Columbia. General contractor: Hood Construction, Columbia. Estimated completion date: January 2012.
May 28 - June 10, 2012
IN FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
Robert Mills House 1616 Blanding St. Columbia The Historic Columbia Foundation is performing an extensive renovation/restoration of the Robert Mills House, a nationally recognized and registered historic landmark. The project includes the complete replacement of mechanical systems, along with miscellaneous high priority restorations to interior and exterior components. Exterior work includes stucco column repairs, masonry restoration and installing new stone pathways. Interior elements include restoration of plaster walls, ceilings and other finishes. Developer: Historic Columbia Foundation. Architect or firm: John Milner Associates Inc. General contractor: Hood Construction, Columbia. Estimated completion date: Spring 2012. Estimated total cost of project: $775,000.
www.columbiabusinessreport.com 11
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WELCOME TO COLUMBIA’S PREMIER GOLF CLUB
South Carolina Student Loan 8906 Two Notch Road Columbia The scope of this project called for a complete gut-and-redo, with expedited product acquisitions, complete interior demolition, an early delivery full-service data center with UPS and generator back-up systems, an executive office suite, formal boardroom, training rooms, multiple break rooms and large open finished areas housing call and data processing departments. Upgrades included all MEP’s, along with new roofing and exterior water-proofing systems to optimize long-term building ownership and ongoing operations cost. Architect or firm: Ashley Scott, 1x1 Design, Columbia. General contractor: Hood Construction, Columbia. Estimated completion date: February 2012.
“Thank you so much for such a successful luncheon. Everyone enjoyed the food, the location and the view. Your staff was very professional and very attentive. Thanks again for hosting our event.� - Wells Fargo
Facilities available for golf outings, corporate luncheons, business meetings, weddings, wedding receptions. The only Pete Dye designed golf course in Columbia. The only bent grass greens in Columbia. All-inclusive membership opportunities. Beautiful clubhouse with gorgeous views of Lake Windermere. The Windermere Club | 1101 Longtown Rd E | Blythewood, SC 29016 803-786-6088 - office | 803-754-4503 - fax | www.windermereclubsc.com
12
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IN FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
May 28 - June 10, 2012
St. Andrews Park Recreational Center 920 Beatty Road Columbia Located at the existing St. Andrews Park Recreational site, the new one-story, 15,600-squarefoot St. Andrews Park recreation facility will consist of a new gymnasium, classrooms, game rooms, meeting rooms, crafts room, weight room, kitchen and an office for use in the St. Andrews Community in Richland County. Outside the recreational center, a 16,500-squarefoot swimming pool will be constructed with the addition of a second parking lot to the existing facility. This new facility will supplement the existing tennis courts, soccer, softball and baseball fields that were originally dedicated on the 20-acre site in March 1970. Developer: Richland County Recreational Commission, Columbia. Architect or firm: LCM Design Group Inc., Columbia. Construction manager: M. B. Kahn Construction Co. Inc., Columbia. General contractor: J.C. Wilkie Construction, Lexington (site); Arnold Construction Family Corporation, Columbia (building and finishes); Hill Plumbing & Electrical Co. Inc., Sumter (plumbing); Pierce & Catoe Mechanical Contracting Inc., Columbia (HVAC); Buriss Electrical Inc., Lexington (electrical). Engineer or firm: Alliance Consulting Engineers Inc., Columbia. Estimated completion date: 2012.
City Of Columbia Parking Garage Sumter and Taylor streets Columbia The new 524-car, 6-level parking structure was designed to blend in with the existing downtown context. The building’s exterior cladding is comprised of stone, groundface concrete block, precast concrete and brick. Leasable tenant space is located along Taylor Street to promote activity and help generate interest at the street level for customers and passersby. There also will be pedestrian access directly to Main Street from the rear of the parking garage through a secure, well-lit, landscaped connector. This new investment by the city will support existing businesses and residences and provide support for future economic growth in the City Center area. Owner: City of Columbia. Architect: LS3P ASSOCIATES LTD., Columbia. General contractor: Contract Construction Inc., Irmo. Structural engineer: Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., Raleigh, N.C. MEP engineer: Buford Goff and Associates, Inc., Columbia. Civil engineer: Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc., Columbia. Estimated completion date: June 2012.
May 28 - June 10, 2012
IN FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
www.columbiabusinessreport.com 13
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5000 Thurmond Mall Suite 215 Columbia, SC 29201
Gold’s Gym 450 Killian Road Columbia The 42,000-square-foot, two-story gym is located off of Interstate 77 at the Killian Road exit. The project scope includes the construction of a full-sized basketball court, an indoor swimming pool, saunas and steam rooms, spaces for designated fitness classes, a tanning salon and a collection of exercise equipment. One signature amenity will be a Cardio Cinema room where gym members can work out on one of 20 pieces of equipment while watching a movie theater-style screen with surround sound system. Developer: The Burriss Corp., Irmo. Architect: J.R. Bernlohr, Annapolis, Md. General contractor: M. B. Kahn Construction Co. Inc., Columbia. Engineer: James F. Turner Engineers, Dallas, Estimated completion date: September 2012. Estimated total cost of project: $5 million.
Westwood High School 180 Turkey Farm Road Blythewood The new multi-story, 370,000-square-foot high school, including a new district stadium, is designed for 1,750 students and constructed on a 100-plus acre site. The new facility is LEED registered and expected to achieve LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Features include ample day lighting, an energy efficient ice storage HVAC system and use of the site drainage system to provide water for the irrigation system. The building includes 16 science rooms, four collaboration rooms, an auditorium, running track on the mezzanine level of the gym, an auxiliary gym, as well as baseball, softball and track facilities. Developer: Richland School District Two. Architect: AAG Associates, Beaufort. Construction manager: M. B. Kahn Construction Co. Inc., Columbia. Engineer: Owens & Associates, Mount Pleasant; Johnson & King Engineers, Columbia; Powers Engineering, Columbia. Estimated Completion Date: August 2012. Estimated total cost of project: $61 million.
Architectural Design and Civil, Structural, MEP and Process Engineering
J. Richard Lindler, Director of Business Development
803.252.3232 main 803.238.6100 cell
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IN FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
May 28 - June 10, 2012
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Heathwood Dining Commons 3000 S. Beltline Blvd. Columbia This project consists of a two-story, 13,000-square-foot, full-service cafeteria with commercial kitchen. LEED Silver certification is being pursued, and features include an integrated audio/visual system, allowing the cafeteria to double as a multi-function space for the gathering of the student body, faculty and staff. Developer Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia. Architect or firm: Heyward & Woodrum, LTD., AIA, Columbia. General contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction Inc., Columbia. Engineer or firm: Kyzer and Timmerman Structural Engineers, West Columbia. Estimated completion date: May 2012. Estimated total cost of project $3.6 million.
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Firestone Complete Auto Care 310 Harbison Blvd. Columbia The new facility is approximately 8,500 square feet and will consist of a showroom area, offices, an alignment pit and nine vehicle lifts. The 10-bay service area, which is roughly 4,300 square feet, will house state-of-the-art tools and equipment. The building structure will consist of metal stud walls and will have concrete masonry units and a brick veneer exterior finish. Architect: CASCO, St. Louis. General contractor: North Lake Construction Co. Inc., Lexington. Estimated completion date: July 2012. Estimated cost of project: $1.1 million.
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Greater Lexington Chamber& Visitor’s Center 311 West Main St. Lexington This new 7,000-square-foot, multi-purpose building will be a modern administrative facility that will house the offices of the Lexington Chamber and provide space for a visitor’s center. Architect: Craig A. Otto Architect, Inc., Lexington. General contractor: North Lake Construction Co. Inc., Lexington. Estimated completion date: Early October 2012. Estimated cost of project: $1 million.
May 28 - June 10, 2012
IN FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
www.columbiabusinessreport.com 15
Darla Moore School of Business
Darla Moore School of Business 1014 Greene St. Columbia The new Moore School will be an environmentally sustainable facility with a cantilevered and glass design that maximizes natural light within. Through the coordinated efforts of USC, the Darla Moore School, and a Department of Energy grant, the project team will be pursuing a rating of Net-Zero, meaning the facility will generate at least as much energy as it will consume. The first floor of the facility will be the learning level and feature 35 classrooms designed with the latest technology and maximum flexibility. Other features on this level include a 250-seat auditorium, skylights, movable walls, and a 500-seat lecture/ performance hall which is a result of a collaborative partnership with the USC School of Music. The main level of the building will house a visitors’ center, a cafÊ, a digital library, a trading room  with stock market ticker boards, the student career services center, the office of business communications, and a large pavilion area for lectures and special events that opens to an expansive, outdoor courtyard landscaped with clusters of Sabal Palmetto trees. The third floor features executive education, additional executive-type classrooms with advanced telepresence technology, a conference center wing with meeting spaces and administrative offices. The fourth floor will contain faculty offices, doctoral space and a research lab. The rooftop will include additional collaboration and special events pavilions; areas designated for photovoltaic panels; and feature both green and white spaces which will reduce heat and improve energy efficiency. Architect: Rafael Vinoly Architects PC, New York. General contractor: TBD. Construction managers: Cumming-SMG, Columbia; Brownstone Construction Group, Columbia; Gilbane Building Company, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Engineer or firm: Stevens & Wilkinson, Columbia. Estimated completion date: December 2013. Estimated total cost of project: $106.5 million.
Columbia Airport Restroom Project Columbia Metropolitan Airport 3000 Aviation Way West Columbia This project consists of a complete renovation and upgrade to all public restrooms at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, including water-conserving plumbing fixtures, energy efficient light fixtures, ceramic tile, toilet partitions, toilet accessories, acoustical ceilings, vanities and cleaning gates. Developer: Richland-Lexington Airport District, West Columbia. Architect or firm: Heyward & Woodrum LTD., AIA, Columbia. General contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction Inc., Columbia. Mechanical engineer: Felkel & Hastings, Columbia. Electrical engineer: John Ray Williams & Associates, Columbia. Estimated completion date: Phase 1 April 2012; Phase 2 August 2012. Estimated total cost of project: $1.03 million. / D G \ 6 W U H H W 6 X L W H & R O X P E L D 6 & Z Z Z /7 & D U F K F R P
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IN FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
May 28 - June 10, 2012
Architecture Firms
Ranked by No. of Registered Architects in the Columbia Area Phone / Fax Website
Architects / Total Employees
Major Services
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
803-788-7717 803-788-7671 www.brennansc.com
12 18
Master planning, design for criminal justice, commercial, senior living facilities and social housing
James Brennan, Will Brennan 1992
803-765-0320 803-254-6209 www.stevens-wilkinson.com
11 38
Architecture, engineering, interior design
Robert T. Lyles, Keith Branham, T. Ashby Gressette, Robby Aull 1978
803-254-2211 803-779-0482 www.lpagroup.com
8 137
Architecture, planning, interior design, construction administration, environmental science, engineering
Paul A. Holt 1981
JHS Architecture: Integrated Design 1812 Lincoln St. Columbia, SC 29201
803-252-2400 803-252-1630 www.jhs-architects.com
7 18
Health care, resort and multifamily, corporate, educational, interior and mechanical design
Douglas E. Fraser 1986
Jumper Carter Sease Architects 412 Meeting St. West Columbia, SC 29169
803-791-1020 803-791-1022 www.jcsarchitects.com
7 20
Architectural design, interior design, civil engineering
L. Todd Sease, Joel M. Carter 1938
803-799-5181 803-799-5757 www.wtsliollio.com
7 30
Full architectural services, LEED-certified
J. Sanders Tate, Michael S. Watson, Thomas M. Savory 2011
CJMW Architecture 201 W. Main St. Lexington, SC 29072
803-957-9373 INP www.cjmw.com
6 10
Architecture, interior design, master planning
Larry Wilund 1906
Garvin Design Group 1209 Lincoln St. Columbia, SC 29201
803-212-1032 803-212-1074 www.garvindesigngroup.com
6 12
Commercial, education, sports and recreation, religious, civic, performing arts
Scott Lawton Garvin 2003
The Boudreaux Group 1330 Lady St. Columbia, SC 29250
803-799-0247 803-771-6844 www.boudreauxgroup.com
5 13
Architecture, interior design, planning, sustainable design, historic preservation
Heather A. Mitchell, R. Randall Huth, John A. Boudreaux 1976
803-256-0000 803-256-9610 www.gmka.com
5 83
Architecture; mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering; planning; design-build; construction services; interior design
Thomas P. Monahan, J. Bruce Barragan, Jeffrey L. Baker 1966
803-771-2999 803-771-2858 www.quackenbusharchitects.com
5 10
Architecture, interiors, planning
Doug Quackenbush, Barb Haller 2004
803-252-3232 803-799-9054 www.carlisleassociates.com
4 22
Master planning and site selection; architectural design; civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering
T. R. Zanders 1977
LS3P Associates Ltd. 701-A Lady St. Columbia, SC 29201
803-765-2418 803-765-2419 www.ls3p.com
4 11
Strategic visioning, architecture, interior architecture
Mary Beth Branham, Allen Taylor, Lisa Lyles 1963
LTC Associates Inc. 912 Lady St., Suite 300 Columbia, SC 29201
803-254-9082 803-252-7200 www.ltcarch.com
4 8
Architecture, interiors, planning
J. Wes Taylor, John Taylor 1995
Carter Goble Lee 1619 Sumter St. Columbia, SC 29201
803-765-2833 803-779-8518 www.cartergoblelee.com
3 19
Correctional, detention, justice, government, law enforcement
Stephen A. Carter, Robert T Goble, Joe Lee 1974
Catalyst Architects 212 W. Main St. Lexington, SC 29072
803-358-6565 803-358-6566 www.catalystarch.com
3 5
Architecture
D. Wayne Rogers, Heather B. Stallworth 1988
803-765-9011 803-765-2011 www.scn-architects.com
3 1
Architecture; space planning; master planning; interior design; consulting; feasibility studies
James C. Stewart 1971
Studio 2LR Inc. 801 Gervais St., Suite 201 Columbia, SC 29201
803-233-6602 803-233-6613 www.studio2LR.com
3 6
Architecture, interior design, planning
Wes Lyles, Gretchen Lambert, Tripp Riley 2005
CDA Architects 1122 Lady St., Suite 810 Columbia, SC 29201
803-799-6502 803-799-2014 www.cdacolumbia.com
2 13
Architecture; interior design; sustainable design and LEED consulting; adaptive reuse design; programming; facility analysis
Curt Davis, Sheryl A. Abbott, Debbie Bowman 1984
Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung International Inc. 1219 Assembly St., Third Floor Columbia, SC 29201
803-799-0444 803-799-1499 www.hgbd.com
2 10
Architecture, planning, interior design, structural engineering, civil engineering, surveying
Timothy D. Williams, Peter W. Stewart 1987
Jackson & Sims Architects 7 1/2 S. Main St. Sumter, SC 29150
803-773-4329 803-778-1642 INP
2 4
General architecture, educational, commercial
John Jackson, Walter Sims 1993
803-799-1084 803-252-2786 www.jbaarchitecture.com
2 3
Municipal, educational, commercial, health care, religious, residential
John D. Bowman 2004
LRC Architects & Planners 1180 Columbia Ave., Suite 201 Irmo, SC 29063
803-781-1451 INP www.lrcarch.us
2 4
Health care, institutional, commercial, ecclesiastical, justice, education
L. Ray Clark, William F. Woods, John P. Beals 2007
McCreary Snow Architects P.A. 3111 Devine St. Columbia, SC 29205-1845
803-771-6267 803-771-6264 www.msarch.net
2 4
Architectural design, sustainable design, LEED-accredited, master planning, programming aviation planning, construction oversight
Deborah A. Snow, Joel McCreary 1992
803-771-7008 803-771-4375 www.moltenlamar.com
2 4
Residential, commercial, renovation
Dick Lamar 1977
803-407-8284 803-407-8206 INP
2 7
Roofing and waterproofing evaluation and design
Blount Shepard 2001
1x1 Design 221 Pickens St. Columbia, SC 29205
803-834-4048 803-834-4082 www.1x1design.com
1 2
Residential and commercial architectural, interior design and planning services
Asheley Scott 2011
Architrave Inc. 730 Blanding St. Columbia, SC 29201
803-252-6636 803-779-1739 www.architraveonline.com
1 4
Religious, historic preservation, residential and fire department architecture
Allen Marshall, Dale Marshall 1988
Company Brennan Group LLC 1233 Washington St., Suite 500 Columbia, SC 29201 Stevens & Wilkinson 1501 Main St., Level G Columbia, SC 29201 The LPA Group Inc., a unit of Michael Baker Corp. 700 Huger St. Columbia, SC 29201
Watson Tate Savory Liollio Architecture 1316 Washington St., Suite 100 Columbia, SC 29201
GMK Associates Inc. 1201 Main St., Suite 2100 Columbia, SC 29201 Quackenbush Architects & Planners 1217 Hampton St. Columbia, SC 29201 Carlisle Associates Inc. 1015 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201
Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects P.A. 9133 Two Notch Road Columbia, SC 29223
John Bowman Architect P.A. Inc. 2422 Devine St., Suite C Columbia, SC 29205
Molten-Lamar Architects 808-C Lady St. Columbia, SC 29201 Shepard & Associates 3547 Dreher Shoals Road, Suite 6 Irmo, SC 29063
LEED=Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. INP=Information not provided. Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit www.scbiznews.com/data. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Send additions or corrections to List Research, 389 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 200, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, fax to 843-849-3122 or go to www.scbiznews.com/data and click "Add Data."
Researched by Beverly Barfield
May 28 - June 10, 2012
IN FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
www.columbiabusinessreport.com 17
Architecture Firms
Ranked by No. of Registered Architects in the Columbia Area Company
Phone / Fax Website
Architects / Total Employees
Major Services
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
Craig A. Otto Architect Inc. 334 Old Chapin Road Lexington, SC 29072
803-957-9004 803-957-2050 INP
1 2
Schools, churches, retail
Craig A. Otto 1994
803-256-4121 803-254-4549 www.davisfloyd.com
1 14
Master planning, needs assessment, building programming; existing facility evaluations; design of new buildings; design for renovations and expansions; in-house multidisciplinary engineering; LEED sustainable design
Jennifer L. Bragg, Eric S. Dickey, Walter M. Carns 1990
803-699-0844 866-475-8597 www.davisarchitecture.com
1 2
Commercial, residential, religious facilities, renovations, retail upfit
Matt Davis 1995
Design Collaborative Inc. 3710 Landmark Drive, Suite 408 Columbia, SC 29204-4046
803-782-4488 803-782-3995 www.designcollaborativeinc.com
1 4
Architecture, interiors, graphics planning
Don E. Golightly, Beth Rials 1973
E. Ralph Walden & Associates 524 Portia Road Blythewood, SC 29016
803-333-9610 803-333-9612 INP
1 1
Churches, planning, design-build, construction management
E. Ralph Walden 1980
Heyward & Woodrum Ltd. 3144 Carlisle St. Columbia, SC 29205-1810
803-312-0066 803-312-0057 INP
1 1
Commercial, residential, renovations and additions, historical restorations, building analysis, feasibility reports
Lawrence Woodrum 1964
J. Lesesne Monteith, Architect 1201 Hampton St., Suite 1A Columbia, SC 29201
803-256-5529 803-929-0384 INP
1 0
General architecture, office buildings, commercial upfit, residential
J. Lesesne Monteith 1991
LCM Design Group Inc. 334 Old Chapin Road Lexington, SC 29072
803-356-6123 803-957-2050 INP
1 3
Educational, commercial, industrial
Larry Thompson 1994
Robert J. Probst, Architect 1712 Cofield Drive West Columbia, SC 29169
803-939-1111 803-939-1111 INP
1 2
Commercial architecture, historic preservation
Robert J. Probst 1996
Summers & Associates Architects 1540 Russell St. Orangeburg, SC 29115
803-536-0025 803-331-4485 INP
1 2
Consulting architect
J. West Summers 1965
803-518-2281 INP www.vonahndesign.com
1 2
Residential architecture; custom home design and planning; construction administration; design consultation; green design; 3D renderings
Pete von Ahn 2006
803-731-0261 803-731-0132 www.woolpert.com
0B 14
Civil engineering, surveying, architecture, landscape architecture
Bill Spearman 1993
Davis & Floyd Inc. 240 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 305 Columbia, SC 29210 Davis Architecture Inc. 24 Office Park Court Columbia, SC 29223
Von Ahn Design LLC 153 Chapin Road Chapin, SC 29036 Woolpert Inc. 2000 Center Point Drive, Suite 2200 Columbia, SC 29210
LEED=Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. INP=Information not provided. Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit www.scbiznews.com/data. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Send additions or corrections to List Research, 389 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 200, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, fax to 843-849-3122 or go to www.scbiznews.com/data and click "Add Data." B Architects for this office work out of Woolpert's Charlotte and Atlanta offices.
Researched by Beverly Barfield
SIOR Members Listed alphabetically by last name Developer associate Stephen J. Koewler, SIOR Miller-Valentine Group Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-798-3800 www.mvg.com
Industrial specialist Benjamin E. Brantley, SIOR CBRE Columbia Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-744-6855 www.cbre.com/columbia George T. McCutchen, CCIM, SIOR Grubb & Ellis Wilson Kibler Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-779-8600 www.wilsonkibler.com G. Alan Moyd, CCIM, SIOR Grubb & Ellis Wilson Kibler Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-779-8600 www.wilsonkibler.com
Charles W. Salley, SIOR Colliers International Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-254-2300 www.colliers.com/columbia
H. Paul Hartley Jr., SIOR NAI Avant LLC Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-744-9824 www.naiavant.com
Nick P. Stomski, SIOR NAI Avant LLC Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-744-9859 www.naiavant.com
Jeff K. Hein, SIOR NAI Avant LLC Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-744-9825 www.naiavant.com
Office specialist
C. Marshall Kibler, CCIM, SIOR Grubb & Ellis Wilson Kibler Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-779-8600 www.wilsonkibler.com
Marsha A. Davis, SIOR Colliers International Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-401-4284 www.colliers.com/columbia Bruce T. Harper, SIOR NAI Avant LLC Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-744-9805 www.naiavant.com
David C. Lockwood, CCIM, SIOR Colliers International Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-401-4211 www.colliers.com/columbia Martin A. Moore, CCIM, SIOR CBRE Columbia
Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-744-6842 www.cbre.com/columbia
Mac Ogburn, CCIM, SIOR CBRE Columbia Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-779-7777 www.cbre.com/columbia Dick C. Stanland Jr., SIOR retired NAI Avant LLC Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-744-9858 www.naiavant.com Billy Way, CCIM, SIOR Grubb & Ellis Wilson Kibler Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-779-8600 www.wilsonkibler.com Beronica M. Whisnant, CCIM, SIOR NAI Avant LLC Columbia, SC Direct phone: 803-744-9836 www.naiavant.com
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IN FOCUS: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC)
May 28 - June 10, 2012
At Work:
Social networking, blogging is Shop Tart’s business By Meagean Dugger
A
News@scbiznews.com
nne Postic is no rookie when it comes to social media. The Columbia blogger uses Facebook, where her alias the Shop Tart has 3,601 “likes,” and Twitter, where she has 3,083 followers. Postic said her blog, which informs readers where to shop, what to buy and where to go to lunch in Columbia, would be impossible without social media. Postic began her career in the Web world in 1999, when she worked at iVillage.com in technical support and customer service. At a time before widespread social networking, iVillage was home to message boards, intended mostly for women, on topics ranging from pregnancy and parenting to fashion and fitness. “I learned a lot about how people interact on the Web. That was before Facebook, so people reached out to each other in different ways. It’s been interesting to watch the changes over the years,” Postic said. “There are so many people using social media now, whereas it used to be people who were already into using computers. It’s fascinating to watch how people interact. I never thought the iVillage job would have anything to do with my eventual career, but I guess it has.” Postic has been the Shop Tart for four years now, and has a passion for both locally owned business and writing. She married her passions years ago with her first blog, The Daily Digress. To Postic’s surprise, the blog became hugely popular in Columbia and her readers wanted more, particularly shopping advice. Thus, the Shop Tart was born. Postic’s current blog, theshoptart.com, receives more than 30,000 views per month, around 1,300 per day on weekdays. She boasts advertisements from countless local businesses such as El Burrito in Five Points to Momo’s Bistro to Pout on Devine Street. Despite ad revenue and a huge following, Postic said she runs the blog primarily because she enjoys it. “A lot of people think Shop Tart is more successful than it is. I make very little money off of the site, and I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t care about Columbia and the locally owned businesses here,” she
People in the News 21 Business Digest 22 Calendar 22 Viewpoint 23
People, places and happenings across the Midlands
People in the News BANKING & FINANCE Westminster resident Gary Alexander earned re-election to the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank board of directors. He will serve a four-year term that began on Alexander Jan. 1. Alexander is the owner and operator of Alexander Farms Inc., a poultry production and property development business in Seneca. See People, Page 21
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Business Digest
Anne Postic
Pastimes: Art, yoga and the beach Education: Bachelor’s degree in modern languages at McGill University, Montreal; master’s degree in social work at University of South Carolina
added. “Though it isn’t exactly lucrative, it’s great to have the opportunity to write without waiting for a freelance assignment.” Postic recently began working with Shout Fire Brands, a local multimedia company located in West Columbia. The company specializes in video production, advertising, branding, photography, graphic and Web design. Here, Postic writes and edits copy and does social media and creative work. Postic said the job just sort of happened. “When (the director of accounts) found out I was looking, she suggested Shout Fire. It’s a good fit for me, because I can do a little bit of everything and there are a lot of things I want to learn. Though I’ve done a lot of writing, I need to learn about pretty much everything else,” she said. At Shout Fire, Postic has begun
dabbling in art direction and proposal writing. She also consults and manages and works to obtain accounts for the company. Since beginning in January, she has gained two of her own accounts for creative work. Postic currently is a board member at the Nickelodeon Theatre, an avid supporter of the arts, a self-proclaimed yoga junkie, a wife and mother of three. She said she suspects readers might think she is shallow and selfish for choosing to write about shopping and eating, but she remains unfazed. “I started the site to make people more aware of local businesses and how to shop them without necessarily spending more than they would in a national chain,” she said. “People think I’m more fun than I am. I do like being social, but I would rather stay home and cook (and) then watch a movie on Netflix any night of the week,” she said. cr br
The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation presented a $5.25 million grant to the South Carolina Free Clinic Association on May 4. From left are foundation executive director Harvey Galloway, S.C. Free Clinic Association executive director Amanda Berrier, S.C. Department of Health and Human Services director Tony Keck, free clinic board chairman Dr. Frank Bowen and S.C. Sen. John Scott. (Photo provided)
S.C. BlueCross Foundation grant to help mission of state free medical clinics The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation presented a check for $5.25 million to the South Carolina Free Clinic Association on May 4, enabling the 42 member-clinics across the state to have a centralized, integrated and multifaceted support system. The system will include such functions as establishing a statewide certification program and special projects See Business digest, Page 22
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Calendar MAY 29 Business Network International St. Andrews chapter. 7:15 a.m., Lizard’s Thicket, 7569 St. Andrews Road, Irmo. Info: Adam Phelps, 803-941-3650. See Calendar, Page 22 ➤
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May 28 - June 10, 2012
Stock market jitters will be short-lived T
he recent elections in Europe have made stock investors nervous. But, the U.S. economy has solid underpinnings, so the odds on a problem in Europe derailing it seem relatively small. Invariably, news regarding debt problems in Greece and elsewhere in Europe creates angst in the stock market. Thus far, the S&P 500 index is Stephen D. only about 3.0% below Slifer its highest level for the cycle. A drop of that magnitude can be erased easily in a matter of days. The more important question is whether the U.S. economy remains fundamentally sound. There is no question in our minds that is the case. Here is why. The payroll employment gains in March and April were surprisingly small. But, we believe strongly that weather distortions biased the data on the high side during the winter months and skewed them in the opposite direction in the spring. Over the course of the past five months, private sector employment increased on average by 212,000 per month. During the particularly warm winter months, there was more hiring than usual and the reported monthly gains were surprisingly robust. But then in the spring when employment typically rises sharply, the gains were smaller than normal because so much hiring had occurred earlier. Thus, a more accurate barometer of employment gains throughout the entire period is probably the average increase of 212,000. If this assessment is correct, we will soon see employment gains once again exceed 200,000.
If the labor market were weakening, an early indication of the problem would become apparent from initial unemployment claims which are a measure of layoffs. Claims did rise for a couple of weeks -- presumably because of the floating nature of the Easter holiday -- but they have since fallen back close to the very low levels reported in mid-March. The unemployment rate has declined by a percentage point in the past eight
months to 8.1%. Many economists believe that the drop is much faster than should have occurred given the moderate pace of economic activity. But perhaps it is not that surprising after all. There are two measures of employment in the United States. The first is “payroll employment” which, as the name suggests, measures the number of workers that are on some company’s payroll. Those are the statistics widely discussed every month following the release of the employment report. But, there are also many self-employed workers in this country that are not captured in the payroll data. Fortunately, there is an alternative measure of employment, known as “household employment” which includes both workers that are on a company’s payroll and self-employed workers. This is the employment measure used in the calculation of the unemployment rate. During the course of the past eight months when the unemployment rate fell so rapidly, payroll employment rose by 200,000 per month. Household employment, which includes self-employed workers, climbed by 265,000 per month. This makes a certain degree of sense to us. Older workers, and many who may have been unemployed for a long period of time, may have decided to start their own businesses to generate enough income to pay their bills. This process should continue in the months ahead, hence we anticipate that the unemployment rate will fall to 7.6% by year-end. We might also become nervous if consumer sentiment were to ratchet downward. But that is not happening. In May, consumer sentiment climbed to its highest level since January 2008. Consumers are apparently happy about the current pace of job creation, the rapid descent of the unemployment rate, the early stages of a rebound in housing and now a rapid drop in gasoline prices. Oil prices always rise in the first part of a year and decline thereafter. Typically, the descent begins in May or June. This year, it started in April, but it appears to be very legitimate. Prices at the pump thus far have fallen 4.0% to $3.79. But prices in the wholesale market have dropped 15%. Clearly, pump prices are headed significantly lower, most likely to sub-$3.50 per gallon. News about debt problems in Europe is always unnerving. But from where we sit, the economic fundamentals in the U.S. appear sound, so we expect the recent stock market sell-off to be short-lived. cr bj
Reach economist Stephen D. Slifer at steve@numbernomics.com.
May 28 - June 10, 2012
www.columbiabusinessreport.com 21
People in the News LAW Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. have added three consultants in the areas of regulatory affairs, public policy and legislative activities. Jeff Thordahl, Billy Routh and Kim Varnadoe Kent have been added to the firm’s governmental relations team in the firm’s Columbia office located at 1201 Main St. The trio is part of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd’s subsidiary called Copper Dome Strategies LLC. The group also works with Mike Tongour, special counsel, who heads the firm’s federal legislative office in Washington. Four Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough attorneys have been promoted to partner in the Columbia office. The new partners are Matt Bogan, Julie Flaming, Chris Genovese and Jeremy Hodges.
Rogers
Lightsey
Attorneys Harry Lightsey and Sally Rogers have joined Nexsen Pruet’s public policy and governmental affairs group. They will work closely with Bob Coble in the firm’s Columbia offices on Main Street, which is located in the block across the street from the South Carolina Capitol. For three decades, Lightsey has worked as an attorney and executive. Rogers represents businesses and professionals at the South Carolina Statehouse and before regulatory agencies.
EDUCATION Sumter school board member Larry Addison and Lexington Two board member Cheryl Burgess were among those who were elected to the South Carolina School Boards Association board of directors at the association’s annual business meeting held on Dec. 3. The board is comprised of 22 members who are elected to four-year terms. Also, Lexington Two school board member Beth Branham was elected to a one-year term as the association’s vice president, and Robert Gantt of Lexington and Richland Five was elected as treasurer.
NONPROFIT The South Carolina Wildlife Federation has hired Harley Carpenter, an
experienced fundraiser, to support the organization’s efforts to conserve South Carolina’s invaluable wildlife and natural resources. A Hartsville-native, CarpenCarpenter ter brings more than a decade of experience in non-profit and higher education settings to her new position, most recently serving as director of development at USC’s College of Education. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, which serves Richland and Lexington counties, added two new board members and elected officers for 2012. The new board members are Michael Friday, manager in the I/S audit management office at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, and Ben Glenn, a CPA with Bauknight, Pietras and Stormer P.A. The officers are chair Tina Cundari, Sowell Gray Stepp and Laffitte LLC; chair-elect Ernest Pringle, vice chancellor for information services and chief information officer, University of South Carolina Aiken; treasurer Andy Lowrey, CEO of AgFirst Farm Credit Bank; and secretary Gerald Patton, regional sales director of Pepsi Bottling Group.
TECHNOLOGY Robby Hill, of HillSouth based in Florence, has been named to the Empact100 list of the country’s top young entrepreneurs and was recognized in a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C. The award winners were selected to be honored for their accomplishments and positive impact on the American economy. Hill started HillSouth, an information technology consulting services firm, while still in high school at the age of 16. HillSouth serves companies, non-profits and other organizations all over the Southeastern U.S. by providing consulting services in all areas of technology and developing custom applications.
RETAIL & SALES J.D. Byrider’s Columbia franchisee was named a Franchise of the Year at the company’s annual awards program during the convention in Ranchos Palos Verdes, Calif. J.T. Gandolfo was chosen because of a commitment to customer service, sales excellence and for sharing best practices with other J.D. Byrider franchisees. The franchise, opened in 1999, is one of two stores for Gandolfo. The location also received a President’s Award, which is given based upon store
earnings, portfolio quality and customer service rankings.
INSURANCE Allstate agency owner Bill Tindall received the Agency Hands in the Community Award for his commitment to helping others. Tindall With this award came a $1000 grant from The Allstate Foundation for the Children’s Chance in Columbia, where Tindall volunteers. The Allstate Foundation awards more than $1 million every year to nonprofit organizations across the country in honor of dedicated agency owners who give back. To be eligible for nomination, Allstate agency owners must volunteer, mentor or lead a nonprofit of their choice.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce presented 54 South Carolina legislators with the third annual Business Advocate Award at the chamber’s Business Speaks event held Jan. 17. Recognition was given to members of the General Assembly who scored 100% on the Chamber’s 2011 Legislative Scorecard. Columbia-area legislators who were recognized included Sens. John Courson, of Richland County, and Ronnie Cromer of Newberry County and Rep. Murrell Smith, of Sumter County.
BANKING & FINANCE Sarah Ford has joined First Citizens as business development relationship manager and will be responsible for creating and executing a strategy that focuses on increasing the bank’s competitiveness, with a particular emphasis on business development in Columbia’s downtown area. Prior to joining First Citizens, Ford served as a project manager of global business development for the South Carolina Department of Commerce. Ford received her bachelor’s degree from Wofford College. Spence Cosby has joined Homeowners Mortgage Enterprises as managing director and chief operating officer and will work from the company’s Columbia headquarters. Cosby brings more than 30 years of experience in leading and growing a multi-state mortgage banking company. Prior, Cosby oversaw regional office expansion from the Carolinas to New England.
Submit items to editorial@scbiznews.com with “People,” “Business Digest” or “Calendar” in the subject line, or fax to 843-849-3122. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.
STAFFING AND MEDICAL SERVICES
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BACK TO WORK LET SNELLING WORK FOR YOU TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR NEXT EMPLOYEE OR JOB IN 2012!
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May 28 - June 10, 2012
Business Digest to implement statewide or regional efforts that would strengthen individual clinics’ capabilities. The SCFCA and its members will receive $1.75 million a year for three years, totaling $5.25 million.
Accident Fund honors Columbia agency Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America announced four South Carolina agencies as recipients of its 2011 President’s Club Award. The company based in Lansing, Mich., presented the award to the independent insurance agencies that meet specific criteria, including written premiums that exceeded $1.5 million, a cumulative loss ratio of 52% and premium retention of 78% or higher. The Midlands’ company recognized was KeenanSuggs Inc. in Columbia. Robinson, McFadden and Moore sign lease at Bank of America Plaza Paul Hartley, SIOR, and Macon Lovelace, both members of NAI Avant’s office brokerage team, recently completed a new long-term lease extension with Robinson McFadden and Moore P.C., in Bank of America Plaza. Hartley and Lovelace represented the landlord in the transaction. Bank of America Plaza is located on Main Street, a block from Columbia’s City Hall and the Richland County Judicial Center. Governor’s School recognized The S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics took home one of five awards in the second annual Przirembel Prize competition at the 2012 InnoVenture Conference held on May 8. The Przirembel Prize is awarded each year to outstanding collaborations of diverse organizations that are significant in scope. The school
won in the category of Collaboration in K-12 Education for its efforts in bringing together its growing alumni base, the state’s three research universities, the four state engineering colleges and hundreds of statewide companies and business leaders.
Sonoco earns sustainability Star Award at N.C. facility Sonoco Recycling LLC, a unit of Sonoco and one of the largest packaging recyclers in North America, announced that Sonoco CorrFlex’s Winston-Salem, N.C., facility has received a silver-tier Sonoco Sustainability Star Award for diverting a minimum of 95% of its waste from landfill. Created to recognize customer and Sonoco facilities for achieving significant milestones in landfill diversion and waste stream reduction, the program is composed of three tiers: Gold Star Awards recognize facilities that have achieved 99% landfill diversion; Silver Star for over 95%, and Bronze Awards for significant reduction. Lincoln Harris expands into Columbia Lincoln Harris, a southeast-based, fullservice commercial real estate firm, has recently expanded its operations to Columbia. Tammy Moore, vice president and senior director of asset management, will lead the new office which will offer a full complement of corporate real estate, property management and leasing services. The new office is located at 1004 Gervais St., Suite 217. Miller-Valentine Group, GKN Aerospace begin work on Orangeburg facility Miller-Valentine Group began the manufacturing facility improvements for GKN Aerospace’s new 150,000-square-
foot assembly facility located in Orangeburg. The operation will support GKN’s recently awarded production contract to support the HondaJet business jet. The facility will launch production of the all composite HondaJet fuselage assembly in August. Miller-Valentine is scheduled to complete the facility and its improvements for GKN Aerospace’s manufacturing and office requirement by the second half of 2012. Resolution recognizes Mungo award from building industry magazine Columbia Rep. Chip Huggins and Rep. Nathan Ballentine on April 26 presented a resolution to honor The Mungo Companies for being named America’s Best Builder 2012 by Builder magazine. The America’s Best Builder award honors the best new home builders in the country, based on overall achievement in housing and excellence in finance/operations, design/construction, customer service/ quality, community/industry service and marketing. KeenanSuggs earns Uniphy contract KeenanSuggs, South Carolina’s largest independent insurance firm, has been selected by Charleston-based Uniphy to manage the medical malpractice insurance program for its 700-member physicians located in Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester counties. Uniphy is a physician association that allows physicians to maintain independent medical practices by providing professional and group purchasing services. Sovereign Homes to build in Lake Carolina Lake Carolina, a residential masterplanned community, announced Sover-
eign Homes purchased home sites within Lake Carolina’s gated Peninsula neighborhood and will begin construction on six homes. Sovereign Homes specializes in building luxury homes in the finest neighborhoods of Columbia and this marks the builder’s first presence in Lake Carolina. The homes are expected to start in the mid-$300,000 price range. Southern Community Services earns AAMC designation Southern Community Services LLC recently earned the Accredited Association Management Company designation from Community Associations Institute. Southern Community Services is the only Midlands-based management company, and one of only 150 management companies nationwide, that has earned the highest level of professional recognition in the community association field. SCS specializes in the management of multi-tiered associations of single family residential neighborhoods, condominiums, park-o-miniums and business parks from offices in Columbia, Charleston and Edisto Island. Columbia gets new ad agency Juana Quick has established a new marketing and advertising agency, queue LLC, with corporate offices in the Columbia area and in Raleigh, N.C. Quick will serve as president of the full-service regional agency. Agency expertise includes branding and corporate identity; media planning and placement; creative services; public relations and event planning; print and collateral design; video, audio and broadcast production; web design and interactive, and social media.
Calendar Business Network International Capital City chapter. 11:30 a.m., Za’s Brick Oven Pizza, 2930 Devine St., Columbia. Info: Jernell Simmons, 803-726-4752.
MAY 30 Small Business Interaction of Columbia. 11:30 a.m., Brookland Baptist Banquet & Convention Center, 1066 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia. Networking group of local professionals. Only one spot per profession is available. RSVP: 803-446-1462. Columbia Executives and Owners Association. 7 a.m., Capital City Club, 1201 Main St., 25th floor, Columbia. The association is for the promotion and generation of business for its members. Info: Garry Beasley, 803-463-8735.
Business Network International Midlands chapter. 12:00-1:30 pm, Brookland Baptist Church Conference Center, 1066 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia. Info: Dave Heffron 803-673-0214. Sandhills Business Group. 7 a.m., Le Pepe at Sandhills, 10 Forum Dr., Columbia. Info: Drew Welp, drew@rogerharrelsoncpa.com or 803-794-2506 ext 4.
JUNE 5 Women’s Business Connections group. 8 a.m., Albie’s Place, 2001 Hampton St., Columbia. Breakfast buffet, $6.95. Info: Donna Freeman, Dfreeman001@sc.rr.com or 803-260-3310.
Business Network International St. Andrews chapter. 7:15 a.m., Lizard’s Thicket, 7569 St. Andrews Road, Irmo. Info: Adam Phelps, 803-941-3650. Business Network International Capital City chapter. 11:30 a.m., Za’s Brick Oven Pizza, 2930 Devine St., Columbia. Info: Jernell Simmons, 803-726-4752.
JUNE 6 Columbia Executives and Owners Association. 7 a.m., Capital City Club, 1201 Main St., 25th floor, Columbia. The association is for the promotion and generation of business for its members. Info: Garry Beasley, 803-463-8735.
Business Network International Midlands chapter. 12:00-1:30 pm, Brookland Baptist Church Conference Center, 1066 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia. Info: Dave Heffron 803-673-0214. Sandhills Business Group. 7 a.m., Le Pepe at Sandhills, 10 Forum Dr., Columbia. Info: Drew Welp, drew@rogerharrelsoncpa.com or 803-794-2506 ext 4.
Scan this QR code using a code-scanning app on your cell phone to link to view the full calendar online. columbiabusinessreport.com/community
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Viewpoint:
Views, perspectives and readers’ letters
USC historian cites risk of slighting higher education in South Carolina On May 5, Walter Edgar, author of “South Carolina, a History,” addressed graduating students of the University of South Carolina. Edgar is retiring after 40 years on USC’s history faculty. This column is condensed from his remarks.
S
everal weeks ago, I was asked to give my “last lecture” to a group of students. The topic was to discuss the changes I witnessed in the 47 years since I first set foot on this campus as a student in 1965. One of the questions gave me pause: “you’ve told us about what you’ve remembered from your days at Carolina, what should those of us who are students now remember in 2052?” There were some easy answers, but there was one that really should matter the most. My answer was that some of you don’t fully appreciate what a great university this is, the school that will soon be your alma mater. You are not alone. Some faculty members don’t always appreciate this place. And, there are some in the state who do not credit USC, or higher education itself, for what it is today. Rankings are bandied about willynilly and there are times when questions can be raised about their accuracy. But, they do mean something. It matters that we have highly ranked programs in business administration, engineering, history, English and other disciplines. The bottom line, alumni-to-be, is that USC is not only a wonderful place, it is a great school. Carolina’s greatness didn’t just drop out of the sky, or spring from the earth like kudzu. The education you received is the result of the labors of countless men and women over two centuries, through good times and bad, to bring USC to this place in time. At this point, a brief accounting of how that occurred is appropriate. South Carolina has two state mottos: One is “Prepared in mind and resources.” It was chosen by our state’s founding fathers, some of whom were among our nation’s founding fathers. They knew that to make the state and nation successful and prosperous, future generations must be well-educated, to be prepared for a post-revolutionary world. Prior to the American Revolution, South Carolina’s elite sent its sons abroad for college — to Geneva, Switzerland; Leyden, Holland, and Oxford, England.
Walter Edgar, whose South Carolina history class has been one of the most popular courses at the University of South Carolina for many years, taught his last regular class earlier this month.
South Carolina had more men receive law degrees in England than the other 12 colonies combined. Education was expensive and even someone as wealthy as Henry Laurens lamented the absence of a college in South Carolina. The history of higher education here is a manifestation of a desire by South Carolinians to see that an ever-larger portion of the state’s young people are prepared in mind and resources. In 1785, the General Assembly chartered colleges in Charleston, Ninety Six and Winnsboro. In 1795, a college was chartered in Beaufort. None of these four became true colleges. In 1801, the South Carolina College was chartered in part to unite the disparate sections of the state. It was to be publicly funded. Following the Jeffersonian ideals of meritocracy, it was to be open to any qualified young white male. Before the Civil War, denominational colleges for men such as Erskine, Furman and Wofford appeared. In the 1850s, denominational colleges for women, such as Columbia College, opened. After the Civil War, education was one of the most persistent goals of the newly freed men and women. Colleges such as Claflin, Allen and Benedict were the result of denominational support of higher education for African-Americans. From 1873 to 1877, the University of South Carolina opened its doors to stu-
dents regardless of race. And, in 1885 our school became the first land-grant institution in the state. During the 1890s, the state opened three institutions of higher education: Winthrop, Clemson and the Colored Normal, Agricultural, Industrial, and Mechanical College (now South Carolina State). Each of these provided new publicly funded higher education opportunities previously unavailable for young Carolinians. Also, during the 1890s, USC opened its doors to women. In the 1950s, USC opened its first regional campus. The number of campuses has fluctuated, but today there are eight campuses serving 47,000 students from the mountains to the sea. In the 1960s, the first of what would eventually become a system of 16 technical schools opened in Greenville. In 1972, they became technical colleges. In both instances, they opened doors and provided additional higher educational opportunities here. Our founding fathers understood the need for higher education. They were willing to invest in higher education because they knew that the state would reap benefits many fold. In the 21st century, there are those who lack the courage, the spirit and the wisdom of our founding fathers. They denigrate higher education as unnecessary; as a frill. They are unwilling to invest in it, saying the costs
should be borne by those who receive the education. The fact that the community itself would benefit is ignored. Here are a few undeniable facts. USC economist Doug Woodward, in a recent address at Furman University’s Riley Institute, noted that if the percentage of South Carolinians obtaining college degrees could be increased, the state would reap a tremendous economic benefit. An average full-time worker who earns a bachelor’s degree before the age of 25 will make in excess of $1.2 million more in her/his lifetime than a person with just a high school diploma. Currently, 28% of the population of the U.S. has a bachelor’s degree. In South Carolina, the figure is 24%. Increasing the number of Carolinians getting a college degree just to the national average would boost our state’s economy in ways that hardly could be matched by any other means. According to Woodward, by 2030— that’s a generation—just about the time your children will be graduating from Carolina, the 4% increase in the percentage of college-educated citizens would: • Add $6.9 billion in total personal income. • Create some 44,500 jobs. • Increase South Carolina’s gross product by $7.3 billion. All it will take is for you to remember that you have reaped the benefit of the labor of others. Because of that, you have an obligation as citizens to work to see that others have the advantage of an excellent college education. And, it will rebound not only to your benefit but to that of your children and the entire state. South Carolina’s founding fathers took a quotation from Virgil’s Aeneid: “Prepared in mind and resources” as one of our state’s mottos. These men were in a desperate fight, but their motto exudes confidence in the destiny of South Carolina. If we ignore the words, wishes and wisdom of our founding fathers, we are betraying a sacred trust. Each of us here must ensure that the citizens of South Carolina have the opportunity for a quality college education, so they can be prepared in mind and resources to face challenges in the 21st century. If we fail them, our second state motto is meaningless. For, while they might still be breathing, we will have denied them hope for the future. cr br
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