Charleston Regional Business Journal - April 17, 2023

The South Carolina Ports Authority proposes a new plan, this one creating a public park that includes a piece of history. Page 6

(Photo/Boeing)

South Carolina tech sector worth $12 billion annually

With 86,446 workers serving in the information technology sector in South Carolina, IT isn’t the largest employer for the state’s workforce of nearly 2.28 million.

However, with a more than $12 billion annual impact, reported by market research company CompTIA, the jobs are among the highest paying and support adjacent industries, allowing businesses to produce other products and services.

Information technology also serves as an equalizer for those looking for higher paying jobs, which are often closed to women, Black and Hispanic professionals. CompTIA’s 2023 State of the Tech Workforce report found that 29% of IT professionals are women in South Carolina, which is nearly 12% higher than the national average.

Additionally, 17% of the IT workforce are represented by Black professionals and 3% are Hispanic.

Among all states, South Carolina ranks 35 in the number of workers employed in information technology jobs. The No. 1 ranked state is California, which has nearly 1.5 million workers and an economic impact of $536 billion. Alaska ranks last with fewer than 10,000 IT workers and an annual economic impact of $2 billion.

By Andy Owens

Information technology’s economic impact in Southeast

ITBy the Numbers

$311,000,000,000

Total annual economic impact among 11 Southeastern states from information technology sector.

$12,000,000,000

Annual economic impact of IT on South Carolina’s economy.

86,446

Number of workers employed in South Carolina’s IT sector out of a workforce of nearly 2.3 million.

$78,480

Median wage for IT workers in South Carolina, which is 113% higher compared to the median wages for all jobs in the state.

29%

Percentage of IT workers who are women in South Carolina, compared to 26% nationally.

Diversity in the tech sector

All Southern states beat the national average for the percentage of women in technology, with South Carolina among the highest, but many Black and Hispanic workers also have found jobs in the tech sector to rival national averages.

ON THE RECORD

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lightcast, CompTIA, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce

“We listened when city leaders, residents, conservationists and historians who said they’d like to see less density, more green space and the preservation of historic landmarks.”

— Barbara Melvin, CEO South Carolina ports Authority

SC Biz News Briefs

Securities and Exchange Commission charges SC man in alleged $20M scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced on Tuesday charges against Michael J. French, of Pendleton, and two companies controlled by him, MJF Holdings LLC and MJF Capital LLC, for allegedly defrauding investors and misappropriating millions of dollars in investor funds.

According to the SEC’s complaint, French, through MJF Holdings, allegedly sold more than $20 million in high-yield promissory notes to more than 400 investors across the country.

The complaint alleges that French falsely told investors that the notes — promising 12% returns for a one-year investment — were backed by a low-risk investment program, under which the note proceeds would be loaned to small businesses and/or invested in commercial loans on a fractional basis to produce returns. The complaint also states that French claimed that the loans selected for investment to back the promissory notes were strictly underwritten and posed little risk to investors.

The SEC claims the lending program was a “sham,” and French allegedly spent the money he raised to repay earlier investors and to fund a lavish lifestyle. French ultimately defaulted on the notes and ceased communicating with investors, according to the complaint. CRBJ

PDM US, a manufacturer of copper tubing recently opened its $18.5 million expanded facility in Rock Hill, site of the company’s global headquarters.

The company manufactures insulated and non-insulated copper tubes.

The expansion makes PDM the only fully integrated insulated copper tube manufacturer in the United States, according to a news release. The company uses state-of-the-art technology in a process that begins with raw copper cathode and culminates with the only UL certified pre-insulated copper tube made in the nation.

PDM expanded its existing facility by 20,000 square feet allowing for a more stream-lined operation, according to the release. New technology will allow PDM to cast its copper tubing in-house using only American-made parts for production.

PDM originally started in Italy and relocated its world headquarters and main production plant to Rock Hill in 2013. CRBJ

HILL With publications in Charleston, Columbia and the Upstate, as well as a statewide magazine, SC Biz News covers the pulse of business across South Carolina. Above are excerpts from our other publications. GSABusiness.com SCBIZmag.com Construction

Krys Merryman, GSA Business Report Christina Lee Knauss, Columbia Regional Business Report Elegant Escape INSIDE

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The SEC says 211 Crooked Cedar Way LLC is a South Carolina limited liability company formed to buy this property of the same address in Pendleton with investor funds. (Photo/Ross Norton)

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Boeing: faucet leaks will not interrupt deliveries

By Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com

Aleak in some lavatory faucets on certain Boeing Dreamliners is the subject of new concerns by the FAA, but the company said Dreamliner deliveries will not be affected as those concerns are addressed.

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner production program is based in North Charleston.

The Associated Press reports that the Federal Aviation Administration proposed on Friday to order repetitive inspections of Dreamliners and to replace the faucet parts when leaks are found.

The agency said one airline found wet carpet in the cockpit of a plane and, when it inspected its entire fleet of 787s, found “multiple” planes with leaking faucets,

according to the AP report. Regulators are concerned that the water could cause a safety hazard if it leaks into electronics.

The FAA described the extra inspections as a temporary measure while the manufacturer redesigns the faucet modules, the AP reported. After a 45-day period for comment, the inspection proposal can become a final order.

Boeing said in a statement: “We have previously issued inspection guidance to 787 operators, and fully support the FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which would make that guidance mandatory.”

Boeing in August 2022 resumed deliveries of the Dreamliner after slowing production and halting deliveries in 2021 over safety concerns for tiny cracks in the fuselage.

Since delivery of that first plane to

American Airlines, the company has announced a steady stream of new contracts for the 787s, including the most recent on March 30 when EVA Air ordered five 787-9 Dreamliners. Earlier in March two Saudi Arabian airlines ordered 78 Dreamliner aircraft with options that could mean 43 additional 787s.

Built with lighter composite materials, the widebody airplanes are desired by airlines for their fuel efficiency, according to Boeing.

Boeing Co. has two campuses in North Charleston, employing about 6,500. Their workforce in the state grew by about 950 in 2022. Some of that was because deliveries resumed, but not all of it; the company added 15,000 employees around the world, Boeing said in a January news release. CRBJ

The production line never stopped but deliveries did in 2021 as Boeing and the FAA investigated the cause of tiny cracks. Deliveries resumed last August. (Photo/File)

Spirit Airlines launches new nonstop flights out of Charleston

By Jason Thomas jthomas@scbiznews.com

Spirit Airlines has launched a new nonstop service from Charleston International Airport, and has added service to a popular entertainment destination.

The new nonstop flight options will take passengers to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Newark (EWR), and Philadelphia (PHL), according to a Spirit news release.

Spirit also announced an expansion with a new nonstop route to Las Vegas (LAS) starting in September. The new Las Vegas route will be the only nonstop flight connecting Charleston Guests to the popular entertainment destination, according to a news release.

Flights to Fort Lauderdale, Newark and Philadelphia will be daily, and service to Las Vegas will be five times a week.

“…Charleston is one of those unique destinations that attract travelers yearround. These new, nonstop flights provide easy access to three major metro cities on the East Coast and make the city’s rich history and coastal culture just a quick and affordable flight away,” said John Kirby, vice president of network planning at Spirit Airlines, in the release. “It’s also exciting to announce new service to Las Vegas, which is unserved from Charleston today and in addition to being a popular destination provides a gateway to many other Western

destinations in our Network.”

Spirit’s Charleston service adds to the airline’s long-time history in South Carolina. Spirit first entered the state more than 25 years ago with service from Myrtle Beach (MYR). The airline currently offers

17 peak-day daily departures in South Carolina. In addition to the new service from CHS, Spirit is launching seasonal nonstop flights to Chicago (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), and Rochester (ROC) from Myrtle Beach this May.

“It’s an exciting time at Charleston International Airport. We are pleased to have Spirit Airlines join us and even happier to have them announce more destinations on their first day of service for Charleston and the Lowcountry to enjoy,” Elliott Summey, executive director and chief executive officer of the Charleston County Aviation Authority, said in the release. “Lowcountry travelers have long been asking for a route to Las Vegas and we are thrilled to have Spirit offer a new nonstop flight to the Entertainment Capital of the World.”

The Spirit Charitable Foundation commemorated its new service in Charleston with a sizable donation to Friends of Fisher House Charleston, a nonprofit focused on providing temporary accommodations to veterans and their families while the veteran is receiving medical attention at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, according to the release.

“Friends of Fisher House Charleston is humbled by the generous support of Spirit. This donation will directly benefit our Veterans and their caregivers, taking care of their needs as they have done for us,” said Joshua Strimple, president of Friends of Fisher House Charleston, in the release. “Our mission is to allow our families to focus on healing and creating a family environment for our Veterans and their caregivers because family is the best medicine! We could not accomplish this without the support of organizations like Spirit.”

Spirit Airlines has launched new nonstop flights from Charleston, including the first service to Las Vegas. (Photo/Spirit Airlines)

Ports Authority prepares new master plan with public park

By Jenny Peterson

Contributing writer

Plans for a major public park with a grassy pedestrian mall and promenade from Concord Street to the waterfront will be submitted to the city of Charleston by the South Carolina Ports Authority as a new addition to a master plan for 70 acres in downtown Charleston.

Reduced waterfront development and a major new public space are proposed for the master plan after community feedback, said Barbara Melvin, CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority, at a press conference held April 5 on the site. The new plan will be submitted to the city in mid-April for review.

The narrow grassy pedestrian mall, just under an acre, would connect downtown Charleston to the water with the Bennett Rice Mill façade in the center. The Rice Mill will be stabilized and be part of the public walkways and flanked by a mixed-used building that would be three stories tall on the façade and up to seven stories in the middle.

The pedestrian walkway would connect

with an overall five-acre park for the site built over where industrial piers currently stand, with panoramic views of Mount Pleasant and the Ravenel Bridge, and connect via the waterfront to the South Carolina Aquarium and International African American Museum.

The city would have to approve the new

plan before the Ports Authority opens the project for bids.

The building heights for the development would blend seamless styles with the adjacent Ansonborough neighborhood and offer a variety of housing options, including workforce and additional housing commercial retail and

restaurant spaces, according to the plan.

“We believe this plan blends very well. Community input and what would be desirable for a developer to be a part of … there’s always a balance when you are trying to present a project like this

See UNION PIER, Page 7

An objective of the new proposed master plan is to reduce waterfront development and bring public space to the area, according to Ports Authority CEO Barbara Melvin. (Image/Provided)

A narrow pedestrian mall, just under an acre, wold connect downtown Charleston to the water with the Bennett Rice Mill facade in the center, (Image/Provided)

and we feel like we have found a balance,” Melvin said. “I will stress we are still listening and these plans can still be improved with public input.”

Jacob Lindsey, with Lowe, a private real estate company contracted by the Ports Authority to do property entitlements for the master plan, said the plan would include significant flooding mitigation and infrastructure improvements.

A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue agreement will be attached to the property, allowing developers to use taxes paid on the property to pay for infrastructure improvements, making the sale even more valuable, Melvin said.

Mexican chain to open first East Coast restaurant in Charleston

By Jason Thomas jthomas@scbiznews.com

AMexican restaurant is set to open in downtown Charleston in late April – representing the chain’s first location on the East Coast.

Seattle-born The Matador, known for its Mexican cuisine and innovative selection of agave spirits, will occupy more than 4,500 square feet of space at 235 Meeting St.

Owner Zak Melang, a native of Charlotte, is bringing The Matador experience east after years of business in the Pacific Northwest, according to a news release. In the heart of downtown, the opening of Matador Charleston represents the brand’s first location on the East Coast and in South Carolina, as well as the brand’s 10th location overall, the release stated.

At the adult-focused restaurant, which welcomes guests over 21, The Matador expects to offer one of the largest selections of agave spirits in Charleston, as well as a variety of weekly specials including a twice-daily happy hour and “Top Shelf Tuesday” offering halfoff any agave spirit over $16 on Tuesdays, the release stated.

Complementing the curated collection of tequilas, mezcals and other authentic agave spirits are dishes from The Matador’s scratch-made kitchen, ranging from nachos to salads and sandwiches, to burritos, enchiladas, tacos and more, the release stated.

Matador Charleston will be open every day from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Born in Seattle, the Matador family of restaurants was founded in January 2004 by restauranteurs Zak Melang and Nate Opper. CRBJ

“These new changes to the master plan create a major new public space and reduce development on the waterfront,” Lindsey said.

Melvin added, “We listened when city leaders, residents, conservationists and historians who said they’d like to see less density, more green space and the preservation of historic landmarks. These ideas and input are incorporated into this new plan. We heard you, and we are still listening.”

The city’s technical review committee, planning commission and city council would all have to approve the master plan that would dictate how the 70 acres would be developed.

e plans can be reviewed online at www. unionpiersc.com.

SC Ports CEO Barbara Melvin said the plan reflects public input. (Photo/Jenny Peterson)

Electrified future

By Jenny Peterson

What’s the cost to add a new electric eSprinter van to the existing gas-powered Sprinter van production line in North Charleston? A cool $60 million.

German automaker giant Mercedes-Benz said the investment includes cross-training its 1,600 North Charleston employees on how to safely handle high-voltage engine batteries as well as adding a new warehouse to store electric vehicle parts.

The Lowcountry facility remains on track to roll out the newest generation of the all-electric eSprinter van in the second half of 2023, said Jamila Anderson, communications specialist for Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC.

The vans are set to get a range of about 250 miles per charge. Photos of the new eSprinter show the plug to charge the battery located behind the shiny Mercedes Benz logo on the front of the van.

Anderson said the company has been leaning on internal training and pivoting employees who have been manufacturing traditional internal combustion engine Sprinter vans to the electric version.

In-house team members, including experts from Germany, have been flying in to the Lowcountry to help train employees on manufacturing with the high-voltage batteries.

“Some of (the German-based employees) have been here for the last year helping prepare our plant and our people for the eSprinter,” said Anderson. “There has been a big focus of awareness around high-voltage training and handling of the batteries. Team members have received on-site expert training on high voltage procedures as well as hands-on expert training in Germany at our sister plants.”

In 2021, Mercedes-Benz announced a goal to produce only electric vehicles globally by 2030. The North Charleston facility currently assembles internal combustion engine Sprinter vans and re-assembles internal com-

bustion engine Metris vans in both cargo and passenger options.

The Lowcountry facility will continue to manufacture the traditional gas-powered vans simultaneously with the electric eSprinter on the same production line, until the former is phased out, Anderson said.

This is the first time the eSprinter will be manufactured in the United States by the German automaker. It will be solely for the North American market, said Anderson, adding that Mercedes-Benz will be sourcing its electric vehicle batteries from “within its existing network.”

While Mercedes-Benz Vans plants in Germany have been manufacturing a previous generation of the eSprinter, the North Charleston plant was selected as the first Mercedes Benz plant worldwide to create the newest generation of eSprinter vans due to its success in delivering its current production models, Anderson said.

“We’ve worked really hard for it,” Anderson said. “We’re producing it first globally, and then the Germany plants will follow. Mercedes-Benz saw how well we were doing with (manufacturing) the traditional internal combustible engine Sprinter van and also (saw) the importance that the North American market holds for the Mercedes-Benz van globally. Right after Germany, we’re the second largest market and we are the only (Sprinter-style) van manufacturer for North America. Those were the key factors in choosing North Charleston and getting the eSprinter to those North American customers.”

The eSprinter, like its gas-powered counterpart, will be fully customizable to customer specifications, outfitted with either rows of seats and windows or builder-grade shelves, customizable side doors that can be placed on either side, a state-of-the-art navigation system, driver assist options and more.

“Our production system is flexible, so, say we have an ICE (internal combustion engine) van going down the line, one van can be a passenger van with all the bells and whistles, but the next van right afterwards could be a cargo van. We have certain customizations that we handle at the plant,” Anderson said.

The gas-powered Mercedes Benz Sprinter cargo van starts at $43,500. While the price tag for the eSprinter is still pending, Anderson said she does not expect there will be a significant price difference.

Since June 2006, more than 200,000 Sprinter and Metris vans have been assembled in North Charleston and delivered to destinations in the U.S. The operation moved into a full-scale production plant with a body shop, paint shop and extended assembly line in 2018. CRBJ

Mercedes-Benz invests $60 million in safety training, upgrades at North Charleston plant to produce all-electric eSprinter

A $60 million investment in the North Charleston facilities will enable employees of Mercedes Vans to safely handle high-voltage batteries. (Photo/Provided)

The charging port in the eSprinter van fuels the vehicle for about 250 miles. (Photo/Provided)

The Lowcountry Mercedes plant will make both internal combustion engines and electric e-Sprinter vans until the gas engines are phased out. (Photo/Provided)

NC company will invest $1.3B in Chester County operation

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

ANorth Carolina-based company will invest at least $1.3 billion to build a lithium hydroxide processing facility in Chester County.

Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, will establish South Carolina operations on 800 acres near Richburg, according to a news release. The “MegaFlex” lithium hydroxide processing facility will transform resources such as lithium and bromine into critical ingredients that can be used for mobility, energy, connectivity and health, the release said.

The project will create more than 300

new jobs and support the surging demand for electric vehicles and other energy storage applications that use lithium-ion batteries.

“Albemarle is focused on meeting growing customer demand and this investment is part of our global commitment to transforming

essential resources into critical ingredients that enable a more resilient world,” said Kent Masters, CEO for Albemarle Corp.

The term “Mega-Flex” refers to the facility’s ability to process diverse lithium feedstock, including lithium from recycled batter-

ies, according to the release. Once complete, company officials estimate the new facility will produce about 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from multiple sources, with the potential to reach up to 100,000 metric tons.

Construction is expected to begin in 2024.

The S.C. Commerce Department’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project, according to the release. The council also awarded a $9 million Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to Chester County to assist with the costs of mitigation, site preparation and infrastructure improvements. CRBJ Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

Battery recycler to invest $300M in processing plant

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Abattery recycling company will invest $300 million to build a processing plant in Richland County.

Cirba Solutions, headquartered in Charlotte, will build the first phase of a lithium-ion battery recycling and reprocessing facility in the Pineview Industrial Park, a move that will create more than

300 jobs, according to a news release.

The company hopes to make those hires within five years as it develops what will eventually become its flagship facility on more than 200 acres in the industrial park off Shop Road in the Lower Richland area, the release said.

Richland County Council on March 21 gave final approval on a 40-year fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with the company.

“We’re proud to welcome yet anoth-

er successful business to Pineview Industrial Park,” said Council Chairman Overture Walker. “We’re grateful that Cirba Solutions, an industry leader that promotes solutions for a sustainable economy, is investing in our community.”

The focus of the new facility will be processing hybrid and electric vehicle batteries, gigafactory scrap and endof-life consumer batteries and redistributing them into the supply chain,

according to the release.

Cirba Solutions operates six facilities in North America. The company aims to begin operations in Richland County by the end of 2023 and expand in phases through 2027 until the company has an operational footprint of more than 400,000 square feet.

People interested in working with Cirba can apply online. CRBJ

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

The plant is expected to produce about 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide. (Photo/File)

The Midlands future shifts into a different gear

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

With the stroke of a pen, the economic future of Richland County and South Carolina’s Midlands was transformed on March 20.

At a ceremony held at the S.C. State House, Gov. Henry McMaster signed legislation nicknamed the “Scout Motors Bill” which approves more than $1.3 billion in state funding to boost infrastructure in support of the $2 billion investment Scout Motors Inc. is making to establish operations in Blythewood.

The Virginia-based EV startup hopes to break ground later this summer on 1,100 acres in the Blythewood Industrial Park where it will manufacture electric trucks and SUVs. Company officials hope to begin production on the vehicles by 2026. Scout Motors Inc. is a subsidiary of Volkswagen.

Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Scout Motors, said the company chose Richland County over 74 other sites nationwide.

“We were looking for a place to call home, and Richland County proved to be the right place,” Keogh said. “We’re reviving an iconic American brand that

will make a rugged American truck designed for the American market, and it’s going to be made right here in South Carolina. The bold vision of Scout matched up well with the bold vision of this state.”

The Scout project, announced early in March, is the largest economic investment in the history of Richland County and finally gives the Midlands a presence in the state’s powerful automotive sector. The industry here first took off more than 30 years ago with BMW’s arrival in the Upstate and continued to grow with the arrival of Volvo and Mercedes Vans in the Charleston area.

Most recently, Oshkosh Defense announced plans to build the next generation of mail delivery vehicle in Spartanburg County, while part of the Proterra electric bus — a city bussized vehicle — is assembled in Greenville. BMW Manufacturing alone has a $26.7 billion economic impact on the state, according to the latest study, released this week by the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

The Midlands region, however, never got a piece of the automotive pie until Scout came calling in December of 2022. The company’s officials have said

they were impressed with how quickly the deal with Richland County came together, and named the area’s location and availability of a large workforce as factors that cemented their decision.

McMaster and company officials also signed the official Project Development Agreement to bring Scout to the Midlands on March 20.

Scout officials hope to produce about 200,000 of the rugged electric trucks and SUVs at the plant annually, and an independent economic analysis of the project recently predicted that the project could earn $15 billion by 2029, with an additional $4 billion a year after that.

The company’s record-breaking announcement will not only be transforming the economic landscape of Richland County, but also the area’s infrastructure.

State funding will be used for a host of infrastructure improvements to support Scout’s operations, including construction of a railroad bridge across I-77 and a new highway interchange to route traffic toward the Scout plant without overcrowding downtown Blythewood.

Richland County Council officials on March 30 announced the beginning of a massive road construction project in Blythewood to widen Blythewood

Road, using $15.6 million in funds from Richland County’s penny sales tax for roads and transportation. Residents of the town in northeast Richland have complained for years that growth in the area has made the road dangerous for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

Construction on the widening project started April 3 and will widen a .8 mile stretch of the road, doubling the lanes and also adding on a 15-foot turning median and 10 feet of cycling and walking paths on either side of the road.

An entrance to the future Scout Motors plant will also be located along Blythewood Road and will be particularly useful for trucks entering and leaving the facility, officials said. The road widening is estimated to be complete in April 2025.

Richland County Council also gave final approval March 21 for a massive incentives package for the Scout project, including the land for the site, a 40-year fee in lieu of tax agreement, childcare credits for Scout employees and upgrades to the Blythewood fire station.

“Excitement about this project is an understatement,” Richland County Council Chairman Overture Walker

Gov. Henry McMaster met with officials from Scout Motors Inc. to sign legislation and a performance agreement cementing the EV startup’s $2B investment in Richland County. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

told SC Biz News. “We’re always trying to conjure up ways to move the needle for residents in this county when it comes to economic development. We’ve been on a rather historic run in recent months and this is a culmination of a lot of work and effort.”

Scout officials have said they want work on the Blythewood facility to be “aggressive” and hope to begin construction in the near future, but Chris Condon, chief financial officer for Scout Motors, acknowledged at a roundtable discussion after the signing ceremony that many of the plans for the project are still in the earliest stages. Designs and plans for the new plant are still on the drawing board, he said, as are final designs for the vehicles the plant will produce. Company officials estimate the new design will be ready for unveiling sometime in 2024.

Company officials also have to make a decision about what type of battery the vehicles will use and who will manufacture it, although they have indicated that they hope to use one made by a U.S. manufacturer.

Another factor Scout officials are still wrestling with is how to raise awareness of the Scout brand. The original Scout vehicles are described as the predecessors to today’s SUVs and reached the height of their popularity in the 1960s and ‘70s. Baby boomers and Gen Xers may remember the brand, but there will

be a need to raise enthusiasm among millennials, Gen Z and even younger consumers who weren’t around during Scout’s heyday and also are the target drivers for the upcoming pivot to EV technology on the roads.

Keogh believes the company will succeed by promoting an iconic American brand form the past that now is being revitalized to embrace the technology of the future.

“What we like about revitalizing this brand is its classic American roots,” Keogh told SC Biz News. “We’re modifying these classic cars and will be promoting them coast to coast. These are going to be rugged vehicles that will appeal to the SUV and pickup truck segments of the market. They will have appeal to the people who like vehicles like the Toyota 4 Runner and the Ford Bronco.”

Another important factor to consider, of course, is price. The high price of many EVs has been cited as one of the reasons U.S. drivers have been slower than others overseas to adopt the new technology. Scout officials have estimated that the vehicles will sell for about $40,000, far less than many other EVs and the same price point as many of the higher-end internal combustion trucks and SUVs currently on the market.

“We need to make sure we hit a price point that makes these vehicles approachable for consumers,” Keogh said. “Strong brands have a universal appeal in this country, and we believe Scout is capable one of those brands.” CRBJ

The new Scout brought some classics from the nameplate’s original iteration. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

Gov. Henry McMaster met with officials from Scout Motors Inc. to sign legislation and a performance agreement cementing the EV startup’s $2B investment in Richland County. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

MAY 23, 2023 | 9AM-4PM

CHARLESTON AREA CONVENTION CENTER

7:30 am - 9:00 am - Kickoff Breakfast

Charleston’s Supply Chain Evolution: Navigating Today’s Landscape

Receiving and exporting goods is the lifeblood of South Carolina’s economy. Key industry stakeholders explore the future of South Carolina’s maritime economy while addressing global supply chain challenges - and how to overcome them - on the heels of a record year at SC Ports.

Sponsored By:

11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Power Lunch

- A Welcome from Mayor Keith Summey.

- Opening Presentation: Small Business Development Centers will present their Entrepeneur of the Year award.

- WHEELS UP: Exploring the Future of Mobility

For the first time, Japan-based SkyDrive and South Carolina economic development officials will gather to discuss the company’s vision for a statewide advanced airmobility ecosystem through its ‘flying car’ technology, placing the Palmetto State at the forefront of the future of mobility.

Sponsored By:

State DOE orders 160 Proterra-powered electric school buses

By Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com

The South Carolina Department of Education will buy 160 Thomas electric school buses, powered by Proterra, for school districts across the state over the next year, under a new procurement finalized this month between the Department of Education and Thomas Built Buses dealer Interstate Transportation.

The buses are Proterra Powered SafT-Liner C2 Jouley electric school buses. Proterra is headquartered in Burlingame, Calif., with manufacturing facilities in Los Angeles and Greenville. The company considers Greenville its anchor for East Coast operations.

“With our company’s long history in South Carolina, Proterra is thrilled to see the surge in the number and variety of schools that will soon have access to electric school buses in the state that many of our employees call home,” Chris Bailey, Proterra’s chief business officer, said in the release. “Knowing that the EV technologies we’re building at our Powered 1 battery factory in Greer, S.C., are enabling the next generation of clean, quiet transportation for South Carolina students makes this news even more special to our Proterra team. Now, through initiatives like the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, even more students and communities

are accelerating the transition to an all-electric, emissions-free future.”

Proterra has manufactured part of the electric bus in Greenville for nearly two decades, but announced plans in December 2021 to invest at least $76 million in a new battery manufacturing plant in Greer. The company two months ago celebrated production of its first battery.

The 160-bus order for South Carolina schools is the single largest order of electric school buses funded entirely by the Environmental Protection Agency’s new Clean School Bus Program, according to a news release.

“The South Carolina Department of Education is proud to partner with Thomas Built Buses and Proterra to bring more zero-emission, all-electric school buses to our state. We’re excited to see the positive impact these buses will have on our community,” Mike Bullman, transportation director for the S.C. Department of Education, said in the news release. “This partnership puts South Carolina at the forefront of the vehicle electrification movement and brings us one step closer toward building a healthier and more sustainable future for the next generation of students.”

Thomas Built Buses and Proterra offer school bus operators an elec-

tric vehicle program that includes EV planning and funding consultation, electric school buses, charging systems, and charging infrastructure design and installation. The Saf-TLiner C2 Jouley couples 226 kilowatt hours of onboard energy from Proterra Powered’s battery technology to offer up to 135 miles of drive range to meet the needs of school bus fleets, the release said. More than 300 Thomas Proterra Powered electric school buses are on the road, and have driven more than 1 million miles for school districts across North America.

Thomas Built Buses is currently the only school bus manufacturer to offer DC fast charging architecture as standard equipment, the releasesaid. The Jouley can charge in about three hours and can supply power back to the grid using vehicleto-grid technology.

“We applaud the state of South Carolina for their commitment to providing emission-free pupil transportation solutions to the many areas awarded funding through the Clean School Bus Program,” Kevin Bangston, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses, said in the release. “It’s an ambitious undertaking and we are proud to be a key partner in this initiative.”

Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is headquartered in High Point, N.C. It is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America LLC, which also produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner and Western Star nameplates. CRBJ

Battery recycling company will invest $300M in Richland County plant

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Abattery recycling company will invest $300 million to build a processing plant in Richland County.

Cirba Solutions, headquartered in Charlotte, will build the first phase of a lithium-ion battery recycling and reprocessing facility in the Pineview Industrial Park, a move that will create more than 300 jobs, according to a news release.

The company hopes to make those hires within five years as it develops what will eventually become its flagship facility on more than 200 acres in the industrial park off Shop Road in the Lower Richland area, the release said.

Richland County Council on March 21 gave final approval on a 40-year fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with the company.

“We’re proud to welcome yet another successful business to Pineview Industrial Park,” said Council Chairman Overture Walker. “We’re grateful that Cirba Solutions, an industry leader that promotes solutions for a sustainable economy, is investing in our community.”

The focus of the new facility will be processing hybrid and electric vehicle batteries, gigafactory scrap and end-oflife consumer batteries and redistributing them into the supply chain, according to the release.

Cirba Solutions operates six facilities in North America. The company aims to begin operations in Richland County by the end of 2023 and expand in phases through 2027 until the company has an operational footprint of more than 400,000 square feet. CRBJ

Proterra’s East Coast operations facility in Greenville, South Carolina. (Rendering/Provided)

Cirba Solutions, which is headquartered in Charlotte, says their Richland County plant will have 300 workers in the next five years. (Rendering/Provided)

The new factory will process hybrid and electric vehicle batteries in the heart of the industry’s new Battery Belt. (Photo/Provided)

In Focus

How this Greenville-based cybersecurity company plans to ‘change the world’

By Krys Merryman

While hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent building cybersecurity fortresses such as “strong” firewalls, this Greenville cybersecurity company focuses on making people laugh with the use of short videos.

Hook Security was founded four years ago after co-founder Adam Anderson, who had spent 20 years as a cybersecurity entrepreneur, realized 100% of his customers still got hacked. All that money was being spent to build those “fortresses” to protect them from cybersecurity threats but breaches continued. He sold his previous cybersecurity company to start Hook, which is a new take and concept on how to approach cybersecurity.

“When we started Hook Security, I really wanted to solve a problem,” Anderson said. “I wanted to have impact. What I didn’t want to do was create another company that sold fear.”

Ninety percent of cyberattacks

come through socially manipulating the human behind the keyboard, Anderson said.

He hired a consultant and developed a new field of study called psychological security, which is all about neurons, Anderson said. Hook was founded to be the “tip of the spear” to figuring out how to build resilient minds to protect against that manipulation.

Anderson said he banned his 14-yearold daughter from social media such as Instagram, because she hasn’t developed the ability resist manipulation through online sites she trusts, but shouldn’t.

“We know we have done our job right if five to 10 years from now Hook Security has developed new psychological and neuroscience technologies to make sure humans can’t be manipulated online,” he said. “And that gets back into important issues such as human trafficking. To me, this is more important than selling more firewalls.”

Hook Security Inc. in Greenville was one of the top 10 startup finalists at the

7th annual Next Venture Summit in September.

They teach nontechnical users to recognize cybersecurity threats and attacks through humorous training experiences. This next-level cybersecurity is more geared toward psychological security and is meant to retrain the brain to detect manipulation and give time to process versus just reacting to a phishing threat. The content length is short and entertaining to allow consumers to digest easier while remaining safe from cyberattacks.

“Makes learning about cybersecurity worthwhile,” said Anderson. “Moving from fear-based to humor-based security has been key for Hook.”

With approximately 17 employees, offices not only in Greenville but in Florida and Pennsylvania, Hook Security already has made a national and international cybersecurity impact.

“We are getting a lot of momentum outside of the U.S.,” said Anderson. “That’s a really cool problem to solve, because it’s a global digital economy and

if your supply chain starts in Southeast Asia and you’re only serving customers in the United States, you’ve already lost.”

Also, as the chief strategy officer of Hook, Anderson said he is always focused on where the company is going.

“There are three target markets I’m really excited about,” he said. “First one is the space industry, second is the manufacturing supply chain, and third is K through 12 education.”

Especially K-12 education, Anderson said, because there isn’t enough being done to protect children against online predators.

“I will change the world and make it a safer place if I can make our kids safer, and they can grow up with good cyber hygiene and cyber awareness, with the ability to identify predators and not be manipulated by them,” he said.

He said many companies exist below a “cyber poverty line,” where the things they need to be secure are too expen-

The team at Hook Security work to make laughter a critical part of something that is no laughing matter: IT security lapses that costs untold millions for business operators. (Photo/Provided)

sive. Those companies get pushed out of the supply chain because of security issues, he said. And Hook addresses that issue by offering affordable low-cost cybersecurity solutions for small-tomid-size markets that also work at the enterprise level, he added.

The training

The videos are a three-part system, Anderson said. Every video filmed is based on the tenets of psychological security. Fear creates a cortisol reaction in the brain — fight or flight. The first thing Hook does to create a “psychologically safe” environment is to send a dopamine hit to the consumer’s brain. That involves telling jokes, making their videos funny enough that the consumer mindfully becomes available for learning.

“Nobody has ever taken neuroscience and psychology and put it into cyber before, so we are making strides to be more impactful in what we do but there’s still so much room for growth,” said Anderson.

Anderson said Hook Security is what it is today because he brought on co-founder and CEO Zach Eikenberry and third co-founder Brad Powell, who has handled sales.

Eikenberry had the skillset to revolutionize training in schools with children and that also works in corporate America, Anderson said.

“Really quickly, the vision of Hook went from what did Adam want to what

did Zach discover,” he said.

The industry treats people like computers, as if they are a company’s weakest link, Anderson said.

Hook differs by treating people like a company’s biggest asset, he said.

“The act of training people makes them afraid of their inbox, and if you’re entire life is in your email, we are training people to be terrified of being in their email,” Anderson said. “So, you have all these amazing potential people, and they don’t have access to their creativity, because every time they go to check their email they are scared.”

Hook wants people to look forward to this concept rather than fear it, said Anderson.

There are a few reasons why Hook is quickly scaling, he said, and it happens

through phases.

Phase one, they have a fearless salesman in Powell. Phase two, their approach and content. And Phase three, word-ofmouth referrals.

“The primary reason for our growth is what our current customers are saying about us,” said Anderson. “I’ve never had a company before where we’ve never had to market but are still getting in-bound leads.”

Why is Anderson passionate about cybersecurity?

“I can’t change the world and make it a better place and give everyone access to this amazing thing we are building if people can’t trust each other online,” said Anderson. “I’m passionate about cyber awareness training, because I’m

passionate about people being able to trust each other.”

How big is the economic impact

“The economic impact isn’t just payroll, return on investment to investors, I like to look at it as the amount of business we need to make this happen globally,” said Anderson.

Nearly 200,000 people utilizing their platform, and if Hook can move those clients from an 80% chance they’ll click on a phishing attack or other cybersecurity threat to 5%, then Hook’s economic impact includes all the losses that were deferred for all those clients: about a billion-dollar economic impact based on all Hook clients and their revenue. Millions on a local level to billions on a macro level, said Anderson.

“We are tripling in size year after year,” he said. “Customers are impressed with how easy the concept is and had no idea they could even have fun with this type of cybersecurity while protecting their businesses. It’s important for people to understand what Hook’s doing, so even if they don’t do business with us, they know how to hold the rest of the industry accountable. Maybe we aren’t the right fit; there are a thousand reasons why people shouldn’t work with us, but if you go to a compliance-driven solution and you don’t understand the impact the training has on your employees, it creates insider threats and loss.”

For more information on Hook Security visit https://www.hooksecurity.co/. CRBJ

HOOK SECURITY, from Page 14

Hook Security accepts a check for $500,000 from SC Launch Inc. (Photo/Provided)

TedX Charleston: How teamwork can help your business

By Jenny Peterson

During a presentation at TedX Charleston on March 29, a neurologist at the Medical University of South Carolina said he regularly experiences an almost higher state of being while working with his team — everyone working together seamlessly, blending roles in an “unconscious state of peak human performance.”

He described what he believes is the formula for unlocking this level of team performance that can be applied to any industry.

In his personal life, Dr. Alejandro Spiotta, a thought leader in the field of neurosurgery, utilizes “Flow State” to complete long-distance endurance events like Ironman 70.3 triathlons. But life is rarely an individual sport. Spiotta’s presentation applied the same practical methods he uses in his personal success to improving a team’s success.

His simple equation had TedX attendees thinking about two aligning factors that could unlock a team’s potential.

According to Spiotta, aligning a team of people boils down to two factors on a graph. The vertical Y axis represents preparedness and skill. The X axis represents challenge and difficulty.

An upward diagonal line directly between the two, keeping both the fac-

tors in direct proportion to one another, is what he calls Team Flow state.

Spiotta says the magic formula is simple: Even with all the skill and preparation, if an individual is not challenged, boredom ensures. Adversely, if there is a difficulty or challenge and a person is not prepared or acquire the skills to complete it, that person will be stressed and overwhelmed.

The top of right corner of the graph, when maximum skill and preparation and maximum challenge and difficulty is achieved simultaneously, Spiotta calls amazing.

How does this translate to business? Employers should make a conscious effort to onboard and train employees to obtain the skills and preparation for the job and then task them with meaningful and challenging work to naturally achieve a team flow state.

For this formula to work, “the job must have meaning for the (employee),” said Spiotta.

During this unconscious team flow state, co-worker roles can — and do — naturally overlap, with everyone stepping up (or stepping aside) for the good of the outcome.

Spigotta used an example of his team’s peak Team Flow state during an emergency six-hour brain surgery on a pregnant woman who had been shot in the head.

“There was only a 5% chance she would make it and a 1% chance she would make it with any quality of life,” Spiotta said. “But, it wasn’t zero.”

When skill, preparation and appropriate challenges align, Spiotta said it’s a matter of energizing the team as a superior leader, setting the tone for success.

“I told (one team member), ‘If you give your best, I’ll give my best,” Spiotta recalled from that day. “I said to the next person (on the team), “If you give your best, I’ll give my best.”

At the presentation, attendees saw the result of the neurosurgeons’ team

flow state: the woman who the doctors worked on that day was in attendance at the event at the Charleston Music Hall — now a mother, thriving, and fierce advocate for domestic violence awareness. Dr. Spiotta recognized her in the crowd to a resounding applause.

“I love you!” the former patient yelled out to the doctor on stage.

After the presentation, Spiotta said his Team Flow formula could apply to any industry as well as one’s personal life and family dynamics: match skill and preparation with meaningful tasks that challenge and inspire others.

It was Spiotta’s first time speaking about the psychology of Team Flow state. The author of more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and three textbooks is a regular speaker in scientific and technical methods in neurology. He said he decided on a whim to sign up to be a TedX speaker and he gave credit to two TedX speech coaches who helped him focus his message.

The theme of this year’s TedX Charleston event was ReEmerge. The day, hosted by emcee LB Adams, comprised of “lessons worth sharing.”

For more information on TedX Charleston visit www.tedxcharleston.org. Follow Spiotta on Instagram @alexspiotta. Jenny Peterson is a contributing writer for SC Biz News. CRBJ

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“There was only a 5% chance she would make it and a 1% chance she would make it with any quality of life. But, it wasn’t zero.”

Dr. Alejandro Spiotta Neurologist, MUSC

IT Services & Networking Companies

Ranked by No. of Emplo yees in the Charleston Area

Fairchild St. Charleston, SC 29492

843-216-6200 www.blackbaud.com media@blackbaud.com

software company Home Telecom 579 Stoney Landing Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461

888-746-4482 www.business.homesc.com weborders@homtelco.com

internet, app-based video, voice, security and home automation Comcast Business 4400 Belle Oaks Drive North Charleston, SC 29405

843-714-1917gar y_toal@cable.comcast.com

voice, data, networking, SD wan, unified messaging Verizon Wireless 4854 Ohear Ave. Charleston, SC 29406

843-693-4786 www.verizonwireless.com tara.kutzli@verizonwireless.com

networking, security, hosting, email, data The Office People 5601 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406

Cantey Tech Consulting 2702 Azalea Drive North Charleston, SC 29405

eGroup 482 Wando Park Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Segra 5900 Core Ave., Suite 300 North Charleston, SC 29406

Stasmayer Inc.

2420 Mall Drive, Suite 201 North Charleston, SC 29406

Technology Solutions of Charleston Inc. 4973 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406

CNC - Computer & Network Consultants 1611 Cullowhee Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

DataSpring Inc.

3506 W. Montague Ave., Suite 101 North Charleston, SC 29418

TeamLogic IT Charleston SC 215 E. Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401

Teleco Charleston 1070 St. Andrews Blvd. Charleston, SC 29407

Knowlogix LLC 1235 Boonehill Road, Suite 2 Summer ville, SC 29483

Carolina Custom Electric 1155 Pleasant Oaks Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

eLifespaces 1808 Meeting Street Road Charleston, SC 29405

CMIT Solutions of Charleston 295 Seven Farms Drive, Suite C-127 Charleston, SC 29492

Creative Solutions SC LLC

2290 Technical Parkway, Unit C North Charleston, SC 29406

Software Projects Consulting Inc. 1550 Bacons Bridge Road Summer ville, SC 29485

843-769-7774 www.theofficepeople.com sales@theofficepeople.com

843-278-1827 www.canteytech.com INFO@CANTEYTECH.COM

877-347-6871 www.egroup-us.com info@egroup-us.com

833-467-3472 www.segra.com marketing@segra.com

843-724-3440 www.stasmayer.com sales@stasmayer.com

843-745-0045 www.tscharleston.com rshivers@tscharleston.com

912-272-4660 www.cncllc.net dhearne@cncllc.net

843-824-0908 www.dataspringinc.com marketing@dataspringinc.com

843-823-7003 www.teamlogicit.com charlestonsc@teamlogicit.com

843-571-0000 www.telecochas.com njones@telecochas.com

843-900-4576 www.knowlogix.com info@knowlogix.com

843-881-4802 www.carolinacustomsc.com/ info@carolinacustomsc.com

843-577-5644 www.elifespaces.com info@elifespaces.com

843-501-9908 www.cmitsolutions.com/charleston charleston.sales@cmitsolutions.com

843-285-2550 www.csivoip.com kkelly@csivoip.com

843-817-5152 www.spcnow.com info@spcnow.com

Sean P Mummert 2004 85 Y Digital multifunctional systems, managed ser vices, digital signage, VOIP phone system, workflow solutions, office furniture, cubicles, interior design, audio visual

Willis Cantey 2007 70 Y IT support, security, consulting and strategy

Mike Carter, Ben Gaddy, Jason Webster 1999 49 Y Managed ser vices, Microsoft Azure ser vices, Microsoft 365 ser vices, hybrid data center ser vices, consulting ser vices, security ser vices, CIO advisor y ser vices

Zenita Henderson Kevin T Hart Michael Brewerton 1984 40 Y Ethernet, MPLS, dark fiber, data center ser vices, IP and managed ser vices, voice and cloud solutions

David Stasaitis, Richard Krenmayer 2003 31 Y Managed IT ser vices, managed IT security ser vices, making your IT dreams come true

Rachel Shivers Crunk 2000 30 Y IP video sur veillance systems, network security, VPNs, wireless, e-business, computer hardware and network integration; temperature and facial recognition

Darrell Hearne 1993 19 Y IT, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, computers, networks, hardware, software, tech ser vices, web design and hosting, apps, PCI-SSL, SEO-SEM, phone systems, security sur veillance cameras, alarm and fire systems, and consulting

John Fraysher 1995 17 Y Technology systems, ser vers, hardware, software, accounting and financial software, IT support ser vices, disaster recover y, managed ser vices, websites, software development, e-commerce, business IT consulting, data backup, Microsoft Azure ser vices

Denise L. Kaufman 2005 16 Y Small-mid-market and large company IT ser vice provider with 20-minute response time; help desk, onsite tech support, cloud, cybersecurity, data Backup and sharing, disaster recover y, internet ser vice, business phone UCaaS VoIP, network installs

Nancy Diserio-Jones, Michael Jones 1983 15 Y Fiber optics networking, structured cabling systems, wireless networks, data networks, video networks and VoIP

Trae Dantzler Matt DePaulis Chris Nuss 2015 15 Y VoIP, voice, SIP, HSI, DIA, call center, cloud, SD-WAN, managed IT ser vices, security, UCaaS, networking, mobility, automation, cabling, recover y and backup, circuit monitoring, colocation, IoT, digital signage, fiber, wifi, CCTV, access control

Kellie D. Privette, W David Privette 2018 12 Y Residential electrical company ser ving the Lowcountr y; authorized Generac dealer and installer, of Infratech heaters, Lutron, Control4 wiring and installation as well

Fred Fabian Dixon Horres Austin Fabian 2001 10 Y Technology contractors, licensed and insured for installation of systems for access control, fire and security, audio-visual, electrical and data networks for three decades

Amy Justis 2013 9 Y

Managed IT support, cybersecurity consulting, disaster recover y and business continuity planning, business IT consulting, network design and management, compliance consulting, cloud computing

Keith Kelly, Kyle Nicholson, Leslie Kelly 2007 8 Y Technology; installation and support of business communications systems, including telephones, access control, security cameras

Frank Muehlenkamp 2000 7 Y Consulting, innovation, integration and education for SAP software

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although ever y effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to Listresearch@bridgetowermedia.com. • 1 2022 data.

IT Services & Networking Companies

Telecommunication Consulting Inc.

Box 1087

Charleston,

www.ctelc.com lauren@ctelc.com Peter J. Dieppe 1994

843-207-1911 www.compuzone.com regina@compuzone.com

M. Soriano 1997

6

Reason One 997 Morrison Drive, Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29403

Responza LLC 29 Gamecock Ave., Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29407

Unifying Technologies 201 Sigma Drive, Suite 300 Summer ville, SC 29486

Bridge Network Systems 4500 Leeds Ave., Suite 231W North Charleston, SC 29405

Compu-Experts 130 Gardners Circle Johns Island, SC 29455

Lowcountr y Computing LLC PO Box 81076 Charleston, SC 29416

DartPoints 8480 Palmetto Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456

Trident Communications Inc. 9433 US Highway 78, Suite A3 Ladson, SC 29456

Charleston Data Ser vice 2138 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29405

Kalson Media Group 8887 Old University Blvd., Suite 219 North Charleston, SC 29406

McLeod Information Systems LLC 8574 Refuge Pint Circle North Charleston, SC 29420

TPM 4000 Faber Place Drive, Suite 300 Charleston, SC 29607

netGALAXY Studios 8887 Old University Blvd., Suite 201 North Charleston, SC 29406

Cross Industries LLC 1317 N. Main St., Suite M151 Summer ville, SC 29483

NetTec NSI LLC 460 King St., Suite 200 Charleston, SC 29403

VWP Computer Ser vices

1532 Poinsettia Road Charleston, SC 29407

InfoArch LLC 997 Morrison Drive Charleston, SC 29403

843-628-6228 www.reasononeinc.com hello@reasononeinc.com Ben Cash Stacey Bailey 2000 6 Y Full-ser vice digital agency offering digital strategy, web design and development, digital marketing, and content strategy

843-990-9200 www.responza.com info@responza.net

843-972-9040 www.unifyingtech.com info@unifyingtech.com

843-732-4200 www.bn.systems info@bn.systems

843-509-3700 www.compu-experts.com info@compu-experts.com

843-766-9268 www.lowcountr ycomputing.com admin@lowcountr ycomputing.com

843-737-8050 www.dartpoints.com info@dartpoints.com

843-552-1345 www.tridentcommunicationsinc.com info@tridentcommunicationsinc.com

843-308-0349 www.charlestoncomputerrepair.com sales@charlestondata.com

843-608-4335 www.kalsonmedia.com info@kalsonmedia.com

843-608-0582 www.mcleodis.com info@mcleodis.com

843-266-0004 www.tpm.com marketing@tpm.com

843-480-4476 www.netgalaxystudios.com alan@netgalaxystudios.com

843-641-7644 www.crossindustries.llc contact@x-ind.com

841-881-4651 www.nettecnsi.com info@nettecnsi.com

843-766-3184 www.vwpweb.com vasco@vwpweb.com

843-730-1920 www.info-arch.com mona@info-arch.com

Lance Becker 2005 5 Y Enterprise-grade IT support for small and midsize businesses; network and application issues and minimizing outages

William J. Howarth, Stuart N. Moser 2015 5 Y Small to mid-size businesses, IT support and ser vices, managed IT, IT consulting, cloud ser vices, consulting ser vices

Wren Taylor 2014 4 Y Professional IT support; managed ser vices and consulting, ser vices include remote monitoring, desktop and network security, backup, disaster recover y

Sameer S. Maasarani 1995 4 1 Y System integration, outsourced IT for small and large businesses, hardware and software sales, design, networks, ser vice and support, partners and dealers to Carbonite online backup

John Stewart Neva Atkinson 2004 4 N

Mike Stokes 2012 4 Y

Beth Smith Kevin E. Smith 1994

Sales, ser vices and install computer networks, hardware sales, ser vers, PC's, laptops, tablets, copiers, scanners, printers, video walls, customized training, conference rentals, software support including Microsoft ser vers and databases

Cloud, data center colocation and managed IT ser vices, including disaster recover y, network and security ser vices, ser ver monitoring and management, data storage, backup and Microsoft Office 365 ser vices

3 Y On-premises and hosted phone systems; voice (carrier) and internet ser vices; network structure cable design and integration; network equipment setup

Brian Williams 1990 3 Y On-site computer repair, consulting, integration, remote computer repair, networking, network wiring, VoIP, GPS tracking, employee tracking

Laura Carson 2000

Debbie McLeod, Rodney McLeod 2016

3 Y Web design, search engine optimization, social media management, web hosting, digital marketing, branding, PR and marketing

3 Y Cyber security consulting, virtual CISO, CMMC assessments

Chris Fay Jerr y Cooper 1973 3 Y Canon copiers, HP plotters, document management and scanning

Alan Thompson, Kym Swanger 2010 2 Y Mobile app development, website development, social media marketing

Sean M. Mar vin 2011

Joe Rainero 1995

Vasco Pickett 2000

Farhad Nowroozyani, Mona Nowroozyani 2002

1

2 Y Managed ser vices and security, VOIP, data backup and recover y, infrastructure cabling and fiber wireless solutions, door access and camera systems

2 Y Azure cloud and Windows virtual desktop, cybersecurity, remote desktop ser vices, Microsoft Azure and cloud ser vices, Office 365, managed IT ser vices

1

N Computer repair, virus and spyware removal, wired and wireless networks, upgrades, consultations

Y Custom software development including white-labeled SaaS products and embedded BI reporting tools, with near-shore customer support and integration ser vices

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although ever y effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to Listresearch@bridgetowermedia.com. • 1 2022 data.

Security System Providers

Ranked by No. of Emplo yees in the Charleston Area

sales@charlestonsecuritysytems.net

843-900-4576

Knowlogix LLC 1235 Boonehill Road, Suite 2 Summer ville, SC 29483

Carolina Custom Electric 1155 Pleasant Oaks Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Carolina Sound Communications 7630 Southrail Road North Charleston, SC 29420

Radio Communications of Charleston Inc. 102 Farm Road Goose Creek, SC 29445

eLifespaces 1808 Meeting Street Road Charleston, SC 29405

Carolina Security Systems 4975 Lacross Road, Suite 306 North Charleston, SC 29406

DartPoints 8480 Palmetto Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456

HLS Technology Solutions 143 Lindera Preser

www.knowlogix.com info@knowlogix.com

843-881-4802

www.carolinacustomsc.com/ info@carolinacustomsc.com

843-571-4488 www.carolinasound.com david@carolinasound.com

843-553-4101 www.radiocommofcharleston.com kk4b@radiocommofcharleston.com

843-577-5644 www.elifespaces.com info@elifespaces.com

843-820-9595 www.carolinasecuritysys.com lisanne@carolinasecuritysys.com

843-737-8050 www.dartpoints.com info@dartpoints.com

Trae Dantzler Matt DePaulis

Kellie D. Privette, W David Privette 2018 12

David Reis Perr y Charles G. Perr y 1984 12 100% 0%

Liz Buckner, Rick Buckner 1971 12 100% 0%

Fred Fabian Dixon Horres Austin Fabian 2001 10

Lisanne Keane, Joe Keane 1998 5 1 95% 5%

Mike Stokes 2012

Access control, biometrics, burglar alarm and detection, CCTV, design and consulting, emergency notification, equipment sales, fire alarm and detection, flood alarm and detection, installation, IP video sur veillance, locks, safes, vaults, low-voltage systems, medical and call systems, monitoring, perimeter security, phone backup, ser vice and repair, system integration, UL certification, voice-based evacuation, wireless cameras

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Access control, biometrics, burglar alarm and detection, CCTV, design and consulting, emergency notification, equipment sales, fire alarm and detection, flood alarm and detection, installation, IP video sur veillance, low-voltage systems, medical and call systems, monitoring, perimeter security, phone backup, ser vice and repair, system integration, wireless cameras

Access control, biometrics, CCTV, design and consulting, emergency notification, equipment sales, installation, IP video sur veillance, low-voltage systems, ser vice and repair, system integration, voice-based evacuation, wireless cameras

Design and consulting, emergency notification, equipment sales, fire alarm and detection, flood alarm and detection, installation, IP video sur veillance, low-voltage systems, medical and call systems, perimeter security, system integration, wireless cameras

Access control, biometrics, burglar alarm and detection, CCTV, design and consulting, emergency notification, equipment sales, fire alarm and detection, flood alarm and detection, installation, IP video sur veillance, low-voltage systems, monitoring, perimeter security, phone backup, ser vice and repair, system integration, UL certification, wireless cameras

Access control, biometrics, burglar alarm and detection, CCTV, design and consulting, emergency notification, equipment sales, fire alarm and detection, flood alarm and detection, installation, IP video sur veillance, low-voltage systems, medical and call systems, monitoring, perimeter security, ser vice and repair, system integration, UL certification, voice-based evacuation

Access control, biometrics, burglar alarm and detection, CCTV, design and consulting, emergency notification, equipment sales, installation, IP video sur veillance, monitoring, phone backup, ser vice and repair, system integration, wireless cameras

notification, equipment sales, flood alarm and detection, installation,

video sur veillance, low-voltage systems, perimeter security, ser vice and repair, system integration, wireless cameras

Business Digest At Work

Palmetto Broker Partners merges with Core Enrollment Solutions

During the past two years, the strategic partnership between the two companies has resulted in delivery of benefit administration software and enrollment services that organizations can use to educate employees. As part of the merger, Palmetto Broker Partners is combining its private-equity experienced implementation team with Core Enrollment Solution’s technology resources and communication strategies. This combination will create a stron -

ger organization designed to better serve its customers across all aspects of enrollment management. Together, the companies will offer expanded product offerings, including benefit communication resources as well as enhanced support for both legacy systems and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. In addition, they will work together to increase access to benefit education for customers nationwide.

Choate Construction Co. selected to receive 2023 Pinnacle Award

Choate Construction Co. has been selected by the Carolinas Associated General Contractors as one of this year’s Pinnacle Award winners for the Credit One Stadium Renovations project, home to the Credit One Charleston Open, a women-only tennis tournament. Choate Construction’s work and partnerships earned this recognition in the Best Building Project, Large ($5 million and above) category. Trade partners SteelFab, Glasscorp, and Pleasant Places joined Choate in accepting the award.

Credit One Stadium underwent an extensive renovation totaling more than 167,000 square feet, with an increase in capacity from 7,000 to 11,000 through open-air design and a spacious bowlshaped arena. The facility is designed to blend with its Lowcountry environment, from the polished tabby flooring within all hospitality suites to emulating the cranes at the nearby Port of Charleston in the design of the Stage House’s exterior canopy.

The project schedule had both interior design and construction moving forward at the same time. Choate and the design team worked to coordinate the entire process.

Located on Daniel Island, Credit One Stadium is known for bringing the community together to enjoy matches, concerts and local fundraisers.

business administration at The Citadel’s Baker School of Business as No. 8 program of its kind in the nation, advancing from last year’s ranking of 26.

Both undergraduate and graduate online programs offered through the business school feature a flexible learning experience designed to help employed students pursue their interests.

The Baker School of Business is accredited by AACSB International.

services. SeamonWhiteside provided engineering services.

One Region releases roadmap, outlines next steps for 2023

One Region, a partnership formed to strengthen the economy and produce opportunities for residents of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, has released its Roadmap, an economic recovery and resiliency plan. Using feedback gathered from nearly 5,000 respondents in the community and the business, academic, nonprofit and government sectors, the Roadmap focuses on six action areas: affordability, global fluency, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, talent, and quality of place.

Nexton announces Dayfield Park

Nexton is planning a summer 2023 groundbreaking for Dayfield Park, a new commercial property featuring office space and residential options as well as retail and service providers. Designed to provide employee-centric amenities and conveniences, Dayfield Park spans approximately 60 acres with connectivity from Nexton’s Brighton Park neighborhood.

The first phase of Dayfield Park will combine approximately 100,000 square feet of commercial office and 20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space throughout five single-story buildings with additional outparcels. The total project will include three phases, each with five buildings. The project is expected to bring approximately 500 new jobs to the community.

Adjacent to the office core will be such services and amenities as The Goddard School daycare, HYLO Fitness for lunchbreak workout sessions, and Go Dog, a pet daycare, boarding and grooming facility also featuring a bar.

Dayfield Park will be adjacent to a condominium and townhome community by Stanley Martin Homes, providing a new housing option that is walkable to the existing and new office spaces.

The Citadel’s business school ranked No. 8 in online business education

U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the online bachelor’s program in

Expected completion is in 2026. Bridge Commercial will oversee leasing at Dayfield Park. Rush Dixon Architects and Bello Garris Architects provided architectural

With the rollout of the Roadmap plan, One Region also has opened the selection process for lead agents — organizations whose missions align with One Region’s key dynamics. The four current lead agents are the Charleston Metro Chamber’s Regional Housing Coalition (affordability), Tri-County Cradle to Career (broadband expansion), the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (infrastructure), and the Harbor Entrepreneur Center (innovation and entrepreneurship). The One Region advisory committee plans to announce additional lead agents in the weeks to come.

The Citadel’s Zucker Family School of Education receives STEM grant

Education opportunities continue at the Zucker Family School of Education with help from a South Carolina Grow Your Own grant, awarded by the South Carolina Department of Education.

The program is addressing the need for an increase in the teacher workforce for rural and urban communities throughout the state. With a focus on increasing the number of teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the Zucker Family School of Education will work with seven school districts — Aiken, Laurens 56, Marlboro, Hampton, Allendale, Barnwell Consolidated and Barnwell 45 — to identify 10 teachers who will attend The Citadel for

free to earn their master’s degree.

The Grow Your Own grant covers the coursework, books, certification testing fees and other expenses. All participants will earn an add-on endorsement for English as a second or other language (ESOL).

The selection process for each district will include teachers who have in interest in leading a STEM classroom and those who already have a bachelor’s degree. The grant will help these selected people get their master’s degree in either middle grades education or secondary education, both of which are fully online programs offered by The Citadel. The STEM and ESOL focus of this program — math and science teachers who have the knowledge and ability to employ effective strategies and assessment practices for the differentiated needs of every learner in their classroom — addresses an increasing need in education.

Black Food Truck Festival Returns April 22-23

The Black Food Truck Festival returns this spring celebrating Black businesses and culture with food, music, family-friendly activities, and entertainment. Tickets are on sale now for the two-day festival to run Apr. 22-23 at the Exchange Park Fairgrounds in Ladson.

The inaugural springtime festival in 2022 drew more than 15,000 people from all around the Carolinas. It generated more than $1 million for Black-owned businesses in the Charleston region. The full economic impact report is online at www.blackfoodtruckfestival. com/our-impact

In addition to highlighting the region’s food truck cuisine, the Black Food Truck Festival aims to have an economic and social impact on the

See BUSINESS DIGEST, Page 21

community by showcasing and investing in Black-owned businesses.

Food trucks returning to this year’s festival are Fab Sliders Keoni’s Nothin’ But Chicken Food trucks making their debut at the festival are: 1 Love Jerk Hut Seol Ah’s Curt Got Crabs The entertainment lineup includes nationally syndicated radio host Headkrack as the host, Trap Jazz All Stars, The Red Sample, Stout, and Mike Stone.

From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., there will be a DJ battle on the main stage. More activities and performances are to be announced. Festival times are noon to 7 p.m. for general admission and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for VIP ticket holders. The Exchange Park Fairgrounds is located at 9850 Highway 78 in Ladson. Tickets do not include food. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free. No pets allowed.

Frampton finishes industrial project in Greenville

Frampton Construction Company has finished work on a new 907,400-squarefoot speculative industrial development in Greenville. The project, comprising two Class-A industrial buildings, was developed by The Keith Corporation. The facilities, constructed of concrete tilt walls and structural steel framing, are equipped with early-suppression fast-response sprinklers,

People in the News

BUSINESS SERVICES

energy-efficient LED lighting, and 60-mil thermoplastic-polyolefin membrane roofs. Building one measures 640,640 square feet with a cross-dock design and a 36-foot clear height. Building two is 266,760 square feet with a rear-loading layout and a 32-foot clear height.

The project’s location, adjacent to US-25 and the Donaldson Center Airport, is within four miles of I-85 and presents direct access to southeastern metropolitan areas.

JLL is the sales representative for the two-building forward-purchase property. Merriman-Schmitt Architects provided design services and Thomas + Hutton served as civil engineer. Work on the site began in January 2022 and was completed in January 2023.

South Atlantic Bank relocates to Calhoun Street

South Atlantic Bank’s downtown Charleston office has relocated to 40 Calhoun Street, Suite 100, in the Charleston Gateway Center at the corner of East Bay and Calhoun streets. The renovated 5,600-square-foot Class A office space accommodates the full-service branch and commercial, retail, and mortgage teams.

The new location includes an ATM, night depository, and safe deposit boxes. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. South Atlantic Bank also has an office in Mount Pleasant as well

CONSTRUCTION

as 10 offices covering the coastal communities of South Carolina.

Ma’am Saab, at 251 Meeting Street shortly.

Cushman & Wakefield arranges $77.5M sale of Broadstone Ingleside

Cushman & Wakefield has arranged the $77.5 million sale of Broadstone Ingleside, a 336-unit multifamily community in Ladson. Cushman & Wakefield’s John Phoenix, Louis Smart, and Austin Green represented the seller in the transaction.

Malika opens second location at Pour House

The Pakistani restaurant Malika Canteen has taken over The Pour House container walk-up kitchen. Customers can expect to find some of the same food and drinks served at Malika’s location in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, such as masala fries, chicken tikka masala and dhamaka burger, along with such beverages as Malika’s signature chai and refreshing mango lassi.

Unique to James Island will be such items as naan one one, buttery naan bites served with two dips.

The Pour House is gearing up for a couple months of shows. Malika at The Pour House is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Its menu is online at malikacanteen.com. Owners Raheel Gauba and Maryam Ghaznavi plan to announce the opening date for their second concept,

Built in 2021, the multifamily community was acquired by a joint venture between affiliates of Abacus Capital & Westbrook Partners. Broadstone Ingleside is strategically positioned in Ladson, the North Charleston submarket off Interstate 26.

Chicken Salad Chick opens in Goose Creek

Chicken Salad Chick has opened in Goose Creek—the third for the Charleston area and the 13th to open in the state. The S.C. expansion of the fast casual chicken-salad restaurant chain is being led by Julie Beville and Michelle Singleton of Sing Bev Hospitality. The franchise owners opened their first Chick in Greenville.

Vicki Young and Kenya Mingo of the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association have joined the board of directors of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce.

Young has become the chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing the areas of clinical quality improvement, information technology, public affairs, advocacy and outreach and enrollment. She has a Ph.D. in pharmacy administration from the University of South Carolina and more than 15 years of experience in the areas of healthcare access, health disparities and quality-improvement programs.

Mingo is now the association’s director of corporate compliance and communications. She has a master’s in organization and management and more than 17 years of diversified, senior-level nonprofit experience in the areas of human resources, marketing, media and public relations, event planning, fundraising, contract negotiation/management, program management and grant writing.

Cullum Constructors has promoted Brenda Bowman to assistant project manager. Bowman joined the Cullum team in 2014 as a sheet metal helper. After a few years of on-the-job training, Bowman began performing as a fully skilled sheet metal mechanic. She has undergone numerous safety and equipment trainings and is CPR and OSHA 10 certified.

SouthCon Building Group has brought in Bradley Pierce as project superintendent. He has 16 years of hands-on project management and field supervision experience. Pierce has certifications in OSHA 30, CPR/1st Aid/AED and is a Certified Erosion Prevention & Sediment Control Inspector. Before joining SouthCon, he worked as a superintendent for Trident Construction and Harbor Contracting in Charleston.

DESIGN

Boudreaux has two new additions: interior designer Elise Shepard and senior planner Ryan Bland Shepard works with the firm’s interiors services, from early space planning to fur-

niture selection. She is focused on understanding the client’s vision helping them achieve best choices for long-term operation. She supports the design team with design development, furniture specifications, client presentations, interior space plans, and 3-D renderings. Shepard earned her bachelor’s in interior design from Appalachian State University.

With more than 20 years of experience in local government, Bland brings with him public sector planning and implementation strategies. He has shepherded a number of city projects, including comprehensive plans, park projects, and corridor improvements. Bland earned his masters in public administration and regional planning from Iowa State University and his bachelor of science in community and regional planning from Missouri State University.

EDUCATION

The new new chief communications and marketing officer at the Medical University of South Carolina is Cathie Cannon. She comes to MUSC from the Uni-

versity of Connecticut health system, where she served as the assistant vice president for health marketing, and with substantial experience developing strategic marketing plans, guiding communications work (internal/external), and translating insights into action through digital marketing and process improvement strategies.

Cannon earned her master of business administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, her bachelor’s from Syracuse University, and two certificates in leadership and business analytics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

FINANCE

Gracen Jennings Watts has opened Mint Group Mortgage, a mortgage brokerage with a small, boutique focus. She is joined by Ellen Frazier, Larry Stone and Marcy Cassidy, all previously with CrossCountry Mortgage.

See PEOPLE, Page 22

Young Mingo Bowman

Shepard Bland Cannon Watts

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Lists: Hospitals, Life Science Companies

Advertising Deadline: May 8

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ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/ CONSTRUCTION

Lists: General Contractors, Architectural Firms Advertising Deadline: May 22

PEOPLE, from Page 21 Was

David Was is the new chief operating officer of Trident Health’s Live Oak Mental Health & Wellness; the 60-bed mental health hospital is scheduled to open in June 2023.

In his 17-year career with HCA Healthcare, Trident Health’s parent company, Was has held a number of executive leadership positions, including of HCA Florida Aventura Hospital and HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital.

Was earned his undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University and his graduate degree at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management, where he specialized in health care operations. He is fluent in Spanish; a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives; and has served as an active member in his communities’ chambers of commerce.

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

New at TravelBoom are Pam Doute, account manager, and Connor Zahrobsky, analytics and data specialist.

Doute joins TravelBoom with more than 35 years of advertising and marketing experience. Upon graduating from Central Michigan University, she began her career in the automotive industry. She moved to the travel and hospitality industry in 2005. Most recently, she was marketing director for Ocean Isle Inn, Sloane Vacations/Realty, and Jinks Creek Waterfront Grille. As an account manager, Doute builds and maintains working relationships with current clients through managing budgets, billing, approving all internal client work and leading the strategic planning of programs and projects.

Zahrobsky’s role is to define and implement measurement strategies that align with the client’s goals by producing key performance indicators and delivering monthly, cross-channel performance reports with actionable insights. A recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he has a degree in marketing analytics with a minor in management information systems. His previous experience includes customer-relationship management, influencer marketing, and pharmaceutical software development.

MARITIME SERVICES

Austin Schell is now CEO of Port 32 Marinas and a member of the company’s board of directors. The company recruited Schell to build Port 32 Marinas into an industry leader, drawing on his twenty years of professional experience building three sector-leading companies in a variety of industries.

Before joining Port 32, Schell spent six years as president and chief operating officer of Xojet on-demand private jet services. His other senior executive roles include COO of

Modern Fertility and chief financial officer of Wildlands. Prior to his experience building businesses as an operating executive, Schell served as a private equity investment professional at Parthenon Capital in San Francisco; he began his career in investment banking at UBS Investment Bank in New York.

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Debi Schadel has joined the board of directors of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce. Schadel, chief operating officer and co-founding partner of Flock and Rally, has been honored as one of Columbia Business Monthly magazine’s 50 Most Influential, Free Times’ Power List, and Columbia Regional Business Report’s Women to Watch. Schadel has a lengthy track record in developing and managing integrated communications campaigns, creative direction and new brand development, longterm project management and launching new initiatives in the Midlands and beyond.

Under Schadel’s leadership, her firm has garnered multiple awards, including Silver Addys from the American Advertising Federation of the Midlands, Palmetto Awards of Excellence and Best in Show from the IABC/ SC, Mercury and Silver Wing Awards of Excellence and Best in Show from the South Carolina Public Relations Society of America, and the Shining Light Award from the Southeast Tourism Society.

Along with an undergraduate degree in sociology from the State University of New York, Fredonia, she has a master of real estate development from Clemson University and a master of science in geographic information systems from the University of South Carolina.

Brandon’s video production team now includes Taggert Vin Zant as a senior producer. With more than a decade of experience in the industry, Vin Zant’s experience covers featured work in sports, health care, higher education, business-to-business, consumer goods and public service announcements. In addition, he has worked on more than 60 projects in many different positions, such as assistant director, writer, cinematographer and more. As a senior producer, Vin Zant will help lead and manage the team and a wide variety of shoots and projects.

NONPROFIT

Canterbury House is under new leadership: Fred Fabian, president of eLifespaces, has succeeded Edmund Rhett Jr. as chairman and president. The appointment completes the organization’s planned transition. CRBJ

Schadel Zant

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AND READERS’ LETTERS

How to meet the threat posed by ‘walking dead’ records

It is tempting to dismiss zombies as a popular feature of apocalyptic movies – think of Brad Pitt in “World War Z” – but a particular kind of “walking dead” zombie, phantom records and accounts, can represent a real threat to businesses. However, working with an experienced cybersecurity consultant and following some relatively painless cyber-hygiene steps may offer a defense against these onslaughts.

The strategy of resurrecting dead records to mount attacks is a common phenomenon and may involve long-buried assets, like credentials that ex-employees still possess; old unused credit accounts at a retailer; a magazine subscription that lapsed a long time ago; or even an account at a professional services firm that is out of business or otherwise is no longer being used. These dormant accounts are easy targets for hackers since they are not active-

ly monitored and have not been used by their owners for extended periods. But they still retain important data, including credit card numbers, passwords, personally identifiable information and other sensitive intelligence that, like Hollywood zombies, can be reanimated by hackers and sold on the Dark Web — the hidden segment of internet sites that can only be accessed with a specialized web browser.

Through data dumps, cyber criminals routinely post volumes of stolen records on the Dark Web, putting up passwords or personal information that can be used for phishing and other attacks designed to get innocent users to click on infected sites or take other actions that can expose them to a cyber-attack. This kind of ambush can easily snare users who are not aware that their personal information and other data are up for sale and actively traded by the underworld.

To keep a business safe from zombies, unused accounts should be identified and deleted or disabled. Software should be updated, and all user accounts should be password protected. Business owners may also consider engaging a cybersecu-

rity managed services provider that offers Dark Web monitoring services, which use a combination of human and sophisticated intelligence search capabilities to identify, analyze and proactively hunt the Dark Web for compromised or stolen employee and customer data. This way, if a business is alerted that email addresses, account numbers or other phantom information is appearing on the Dark Web, passwords can be modified and other corrective actions can be taken.

For example, every user in a business ecosystem should have a unique password made up of a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and other characters. Once developed, these secure passwords should not be reused, and they should not be written down. Instead, a password manager or a software application like ITGlue or Passportal’s N-able can store and manage online credentials, generating passwords that are usually stored in an encrypted database that itself is locked behind a master password. With this secure approach, a legitimate user only has to remember a single password.

Powerful passwords can also be reinforced with multifactor authentication. This critical cybersecurity tool bolsters the sign-in process by sending a secondary, additional identity verification – like scanning a fingerprint or entering a code received by a mobile phone or another device – to the user. So even if a criminal manages to harvest a zombie or other password, they will be blocked by the second-step MFA protocol.

Zombie accounts can place businesses and other organizations at risk, but launching a proactive and comprehensive suite of defenses can help to put these threats back in the grave while keeping personal and financial information safe and secure.

Carl Mazzanti is president of eMazzanti Technologies in Hoboken, N.J.

MAZZANTI