February 23 - March 8, 2015 • www.charlestonbusiness.com
Volume 21, No. 5 • $2.00
S.C. hopes to draw tourists off beaten path By Ashley Heffernan
Keep on truckin’
Most common job in S.C. is the same for all the U.S. Page 2
Money to dig President’s budget includes cash for Charleston Harbor. Page 5
Need a lift?
Charleston startup gives free rides to college students. Page 14
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aheffernan@scbiznews.com
ites such as the Sheldon Church ruins, Harold’s Country Club, Charles Towne Landing and Hampton Plantation could soon see an uptick in tourist traffic if the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism has its way.
“Charleston is our international gem. Not only was it No. 1 in the U.S., but it was No. 2 in the world in destinations to come to,” Director Duane Parrish said, referencing the city’s wins from Conde Nast Traveler magazine. “It’s been discovered.” One of the department’s goals for 2015 is to bring visitors to the undiscovered parts of the state.
Parrish said there will be destination-specific marketing efforts to entice people to visit Summerville’s Sweet Tea Trail, which takes people from the Interstate 26 interchange through five districts in the town, along with Cypress Gardens and the not-so-popular beaches.
PROPELLING
GROWTH
Supply and demand
SCRA, Commerce establish center to help companies with supply chain issues. Page 8
INSIDE Upfront............................. 2 In Focus: Energy and the Environment........... 19 List: Heating and Air Contractors............. 22 List: Employee Benefits Brokers........... 23 At Work.......................... 25 People in the News......... 25 Business Digest.............. 25 Hot Properties................. 29 Viewpoint........................ 31
The opening of Propulsion South Carolina brings additional work to Boeing South Carolina. The new facility in North Charleston makes engine parts for the 737 Max and 777X, expanding beyond Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner campus. Full story, page 6
Photo/Liz Segris
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See TOURISM, Page 16
Lawmakers debate S.C. State’s future By Ashley Heffernan
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aheffernan@scbiznews.com
.C. representatives are at odds about how to handle the state’s only publicly funded historically black university. Two House Ways and Means subcommittees voted in mid-February for a plan that would shut down S.C. State University beginning July 1 and reopen it in the fall of 2017 with a new board of trustees, president, faculty and staff. To be enacted, the plan still must be approved by the House Ways and Means Committee, as well as the full House and Senate. During the possible closure, an advisory committee would create a plan to rebuild the university’s finances by Jan. 1, 2017, hire faculty, reconstitute athletic programs and set a new curriculum approved by the state Commission on Higher Education. The state would assume S.C. State’s debt and pay vendors, bonds and loans from the contingency reserve fund. Current S.C. State students with a 2.5 GPA or higher would be allowed to transfer to another in-state public institution or S.C. historically black university, and the state would pay tuition for those transferred students for up to four years. House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Hartsville, See S.C. STATE, Page 12
777-9X in flight. (Rendering/Boeing Co.)
Dumping e-waste
California company partners with Charleston County to get rid of electronic refuse. Page 20
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➤
Upfront:
Briefs, brights and business news
On the Record Charleston living on broadband Autobahn “I came into this worried that there was going to be pitchforks and shouts to burn ’em all down and shut all the restaurants.” — Restaurateur Steve Palmer, co-chairman of Charleston’s late-night activity review committee
You’re more likely to be a truck driver in South Carolina If you’ve ever underappreciated the role of trucking when sitting on Interstate 526, you might want to rethink your position. Aside from all the stuff getting to our businesses and store shelves in South Carolina and Charleston, trucking is the No. 1 job in South Carolina. NPR’s Planet Money recently used Census Bureau data to track the most common jobs in every state from 1978 to 2014 in two-year increments. In that time, the most common jobs were either secretary or truck driver (machine operator did own 1996). But for the past 16 years, it’s all been about trucking in the Palmetto State — and in most of the U.S. With all this commerce going on, the demand isn’t abating. The American Trucking Association says there’s a shortage of 25,000 drivers. What’s that noise? A diesel engine? Air brakes? We hear opportunity knocking for some out-of-work folks and some enterprising businesses. Also, because the Port of Charleston has no direct rail access, everything that touches a boat touches a truck before it touches your hands.
Most common jobs in selected states State
1978
2014
California Florida Georgia Hawaii New Mexico North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Virginia Washington State
Secretary Secretary Secretary Bookkeeper Secretary Truck driver Secretary Machine operator Secretary Secretary
Truck driver Primary school teacher Truck driver Cook Secretary Truck driver Truck driver Truck driver Software developer Software developer
So if telecommunications companies, Internet services providers and local and state officials continue to work toward expanding Internet access, there’s no doubt it’s going to be good for businesses. Today, economic development efforts and education across the U.S. and South Carolina are tied to online access and the Internet. Even if you’re not doing homework online or accessing some of the very cool resources at the Charleston County (or any county) Public Library to grow your business, without access you’re losing potential customers you might not even know you didn’t have. That’s why a 2013 study by the U.S. Department of Commerce that found nearly 82% of residents in South Carolina had access to high-speed Internet puts us in a positive position. But we’re not tops in the U.S. by any stretch. Consider, for example, that at 82% South Carolina rests comfortably at 31st among the 50 states, and then compare that to a highly connected state such as Rhode Island, which has 99.4% access. Also, don’t mistake access for something all folks have or that all businesses can afford. Even with 82% having the opportunity to live on the fastest lanes of the information superhighway, they don’t all have it. As with anything else where supply and demand often dictate service level and price, not all broadband is equal.
Internet access across selected S.C. metro areas
The U.S. Commerce Department study used data download speeds greater than 25 megabits per second as a baseline to create a snapshot of availability across metro areas. Percentages shift when slower and higher data speeds are measured. Spartanburg Greenville
90.4%
95.2%
Charlotte-Rock Hill
99.1%
Anderson
94.9%
Florence
Columbia
83.9% Augusta area
75.9%
Sumter
91.0%
95.7% Myrtle Beach
97.4%
Charleston
93.2%
Source: National Telecommunications & Information Administration National Broadband Map
Source: Planet Money, U.S. Census Bureau
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority set a system ridership record of more than 5 million riders in 2014 — crossing that threshold for the first time in the agency’s history — a 15% increase since 2010.
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
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Mayors Joe Riley (from left) of Charleston, Keith Summey of North Charleston, Linda Page of Mount Pleasant and Bill Collins of Summerville talk about handling population growth. (Photo/Kim McManus)
Mayors want quality workforces, infrastructure as populations grow By Liz Segrist
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
he Charleston region’s growth has local mayors focusing on implementing infrastructure solutions to decrease traffic problems and improving schools and workforce training programs to meet industries’ needs. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, Summerville Mayor Bill Collins and Mount Pleasant Mayor Linda Page spoke to those issues during the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Power Breakfast held last month. They talked about the challenge of maintaining their cities’ character while accommodating population growth with new housing and office developments. Page said it’s a balance of retaining land for business and residential uses, using citizen input to decide how densely developments should be zoned, and then figuring out how to pay for the projects. “I don’t want to be a suburb,” Page said. “We need jobs. I want it to be a livework-play place for people.” Collins said it’s important for downtown Summerville to both keep its charm and add new developments to attract people to spend time there. “Downtown Summerville is a gem for us,” Collins said. “If we don’t get to polishing it, what’s happening around us will draw people from downtown and it will die like it almost did in the ’80s.”
Traffic woes
Riley wants to expand Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority routes and create more bike and pedestrian paths throughout Charleston — including the potential bike lane over the Ashley River Bridge northbound — to get more commuters out of their cars. Summey wants to see more parkand-ride options and staggered shifts at large employers, like Boeing does with its
7,500-employee workforce, to help with congestion issues. Collins said Dorchester School District 2 is changing its endof-school time by 45 minutes to help decrease traffic problems. In downtown Charleston, Riley said more mixed-use developments, like the Horizon District or the city-planned tech district on the upper peninsula, can also help promote biking and walking.
Education
Ensuring quality education for Lowcountry children and having adequate workforce development programs for growing industries was also a concern. Anita Zucker, chairwoman of the Tri-Country Cradle to Career Collaborative board, said kindergarten readiness is the first step for students toward finishing school and joining the local workforce. “We have to educate our children. If Boeing is going to keep coming here and expanding here, we better be prepared. ... Baby boomers are retiring. We are going to have huge needs,” said Zucker, who is also CEO of The InterTech Group. “We need to fix our system and make sure every kid has the same opportunity.”
Tech growth
The mayors also touched on support for the booming tech sector in Charleston, which grew 26% faster than the national average from 2008 to 2013, according to a Milliken Institute report on tech job growth in U.S. cities. Riley pointed to the Charleston Digital Corridor, which the city created in 2001, and Page pointed to The Harbor Accelerator in Mount Pleasant, as examples of successful tech incubators. Summey is looking to use a closed elementary school in the Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood of North Charleston for a potential tech incubator site as well. cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
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Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
Business news from around S.C. Clemson expanding entrepreneurial culture
Tuomey Healthcare to partner with Palmetto Health Tuomey Healthcare System, a not-for-profit operator of a 301-bed hospital in Sumter, was looking for a partner that “could meet our financial needs, but also someone who cared about the employees and families we serve,” said Michael Schwartz, president and CEO of Tuomey.
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Southern Connector revenue climbs 8.7% in 2014
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Design and Entrepreneurship Network student Bre Przestrzelski (left) leads a discussion with other College of Business and Behavioral Science students. (Photo/provided)
Clemson University is expanding programs for students whose entrepreneurial ideas have the makings for starting a business. While most of Clemson’s entrepreneurship initiatives are in the College of Business and Behavioral Science, the programs are spreading across campus. At least two other colleges have “entrepreneurship” courses and the university offers a minor in entrepreneurship for nonbusiness majors. A team of 20 faculty members and students assessing the university’s offerings is working as the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative on strategies to “take them to the next level.” The initiative could include grants for research and to develop new curricula. Training workshops and seminars could be offered to faculty members. John DesJardins, an associate bioengineering professor, said entrepreneurs and innovation can arise from any academic discipline. “Several entrepreneurship programs are in place, so we have a great start,” he said. “The difference now is that we are on the verge of transforming campus culture.”
S.C. to pay off $1B unemployment loan
Food distributor expanding Richburg operation
After making three payments in 2014, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce says it now owes $195 million to the federal government for loans it needed to cover unemployment checks during the Great Recession.
The $4.6 million investment by Haddon House Food Products will add nearly 30,000 square feet to its freezer distribution building and create 55 jobs, officials said. The project is the second expansion of the Richburg facility since 2012.
Use of the toll highway in Greenville County increased 10.1% in 2014, boosting revenue to $7.56 million. Three years after the nonprofit Connector 2000 Association that manages the road emerged from bankruptcy, the chairman said the latest annual numbers show it is a “valuable part of our infrastructure.”
Azalea Capital sells Charlotte-based Etak Systems Greenville-based Azalea Capital has sold Etak Systems Inc., which provides installation services for wireless communication companies, to a private investment group led by Mosaic Capital Partners LLC and management. Azalea Capital invests in lower-middle-market companies.
Polydeck Upstate expansion adding 40 jobs Polydeck Screen Corp. is expanding its Spartanburg County operation. The $12 million investment will add 40 jobs over the next five years. The family-owned business provides products for the aggregate, coal and mining industries globally. Polydeck also offers process consulting and screen evaluation services.
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Sparc wins $7M contract for SPAWAR benefits system By Liz Segrist
lsegrist@scbiznews.com
Daniel Island-based Sparc will be the prime contractor for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command’s veterans benefits management system. Sparc will provide ongoing production operations and development support to the system, a cloud-based software platform with nationwide operations. The contract is worth $7 million for about a year. Sparc has worked on the
Army Corps gets $30M in Obama’s fiscal 2016 budget By Liz Segrist
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
resident Barack Obama’s fiscal 2016 budget included about $28.5 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District’s civil works program, maintenance dredging and other environmental activities. About $17 million will be used for maintenance dredging in Charleston Harbor, according to the district. The budget did not include any funds for the Charleston Harbor Post 45 project, though the Charleston District and the S.C. State Ports Authority said no more funds were needed to complete the feasibility phase of the harbor deepening project. The remaining steps are to complete and release the final draft in the summer and the Chief ’s Report in the fall to be considered by Congress. The remaining funds from the budget for the Charleston District are listed below: • $6.9 million for routine work for the Cooper River Rediversion Project • $530,000 for dredging the entrance to Town Creek near McClellanville • $875,000 for project condition surveys • $100,000 in caretaker funds for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway • $65,000 for inspections of completed works The Charleston District also received nearly $2.9 million to raise the dikes at one of the four cells of the Clouter Creek Dredged Material Disposal Site. This will ensure the cell is able to receive material pumped from the harbor when the other cells are taken offline to dry the material out. cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
project as a subcontractor in the past, Sparc spokesman Chad Norman said. The 50-person team, made up of Sparc employees and other contractors, will support continuous installation and monitoring of the system and deliver production support of the system’s software, network and supporting infrastructure. The team will also perform additional development of the system. In his 2015 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama said the benefits system for veterans has helped the U.S.
Veterans Affairs Department reduce its backlog of veterans waiting for benefits. “Our entire team is honored to continue serving SPAWAR and supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs on this important initiative. ... We’re thrilled to be creating innovation around the processing of paperless claims, which will lead to a more efficient process for our veterans,” Sparc CEO Marc Murphy said in a statement. Sparc, a software development services company, has worked with SPAWAR and
other defense contractors previously, including this contract and an enterprise resource planning technology contract with the Navy. The company now works with government and commercial customers. Its fastest-growing segment of business is for commercial customers, building mobile and Web apps and custom software, Norman said. cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
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Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
Boeing South Carolina expands with opening of propulsion plant By Liz Segrist
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
ropulsion South Carolina is officially open for business, designing, engineering and assembling engine parts for Boeing’s 737 Max and 777X. The new propulsion engineering and assembly facility in North Charleston extends Boeing South Carolina’s manufacturing capabilities beyond the 787 Dreamliner family. “What we’re telling the world is that it doesn’t have to be the -87. It can be the -37 or other parts,” Boeing South Carolina Vice President and General Manager Jack Jones said during the grand opening. Jones was accompanied by Boeing employees, local city leaders, Gov. Nikki Haley and Beverly Wyse, who will replace Jones as the head of Boeing South Carolina when he retires May 1. Propulsion South Carolina, which broke ground in November 2013, will be responsible for designing and assembling the 737 Max engine nacelle inlet, designing the 737 Max engine nacelle fan cowl and integrating the design and engineering for the 777X nacelle. Propulsion South Carolina has already received more work than orig-
Boeing S.C. Vice President Jack Jones, Gov. Nikki Haley and incoming Boeing S.C. Vice President Beverly Wyse (right) celebrate the ribbon-cutting for Boeing’s new Propulsion South Carolina. (Photo/Liz Segrist)
inally anticipated with the addition of the 737 Max fan cowl and 777X nacelle work. Nicole Piasecki, vice president and general manager of Boeing’s Propulsion Systems Division, said leading the 777X nacelle design work, in partnership with
Wichita, Kan.-based Spirit Aerosystems, is a “tremendous responsibility” for Propulsion South Carolina. Production of the 777X will begin in 2017 and first delivery is scheduled for 2020. The 777X launched in 2013 with 259 commitments.
Boeing has more than 11,000 737s ordered and has about 2,000 flying around the world at any given time, Piasecki said. Production of the 737 Max will begin later this year, with first delivery set for 2017. Final assembly for both planes will be in Washington state. Propulsion South Carolina teams will build two inlets a day once the facility is producing at its full rate, according to Charlie Hix, director of Propulsion South Carolina. Hix said more propulsion projects could come to the facility in the future. Currently, more than 150 engineers, mechanics, designers and support staff work at the 225,000-square-foot facility. It includes office space, assembly space and automated manufacturing equipment, including large orange robots that help assemble engine nacelle inlets for the 737 Max. The facility could eventually house 16 robots, depending on production rates. “In this space that we’re in today, we will house in just the next several months, one of aerospace’s most advanced automated manufacturing systems to build the inlet,” Piasecki said. The team delivered its first engine inlet to GE on schedule last summer and has since delivered five more, according
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
to Piasecki. “It wasn’t even two years ago when we were in leased space with just a handful of us in a room dreaming this dream,” Piasecki said. “It’s really exciting that we’ve come this far.” The majority of Boeing’s propulsion system design and assembly has been done outside of Boeing for the past 15 years. The Propulsion South Carolina facility is an effort by Boeing to bring some of the work in-house. The facility concept was established in May 2013 to build on Boeing’s propulsion system design and assembly capabilities for future airplanes. “South Carolina now is part of a much bigger family of Boeing airplanes than we ever could have imagined back in 2008 when we made the decision to do the second line,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner, who referenced Boeing’s local propulsion facility, interiors plant, IT center and 787 Dreamliner campus. Gov. Nikki Haley said she will ensure a qualified workforce for Boeing’s continued growth in South Carolina through ReadySC. She said the state also plans to launch a new workforce initiative in July. Through a partnership with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce and the state’s technical colleges, the state will pay for residents to get training. Residents will repay those expenses once
www.charlestonbusiness.com 7
Propulsion South Carolina What is it responsible for? Designing and assembling the 737 Max engine nacelle inlet, designing the 737 Max engine nacelle fan cowl and integrating the design and engineering for the 777X nacelle.
Why is it important? Propulsion South Carolina brings work for additional planes — the 737 Max and 777X — to the Palmetto State, in addition to the local 787 Dreamliner work. It also lays the groundwork for more propulsion projects to potentially come to South Carolina in the future. How big is the facility? It’s a 225,000-square-foot facility in North Charleston that currently houses about 150 employees. Boeing bought 106 acres in Palmetto Commerce Park from Stone Mountain Industrial Park Inc., a Pattillo Industrial Real Estate company. The site was designed to handle future expansions.
Where is it? It’s located at 8795 Palmetto Commerce Parkway adjacent to Interiors Responsibility Center South Carolina. Both facilities are about 10 miles from the main Boeing South Carolina site, all of which is in North Charleston. Who built it? Stone Mountain, Ga.-based Pattillo Construction Corp. was the general contractor and Greenville-based Global Performance LLC provided program management services. Around 1,500 tons of structural steel were used in the facility. Inside, 110 building columns were used, which would stretch 12 miles if stacked end to end. they land a job. Haley said this will be for all industries and is designed to help smaller businesses and suppliers. “This is not a certificate. This is not a promise. This is an actual job. ... That’s how we’re going to make sure people can
build a plane, build a car or build a tire if they want to and move up to a whole new level,” Haley said. cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
“It wasn’t even two years ago when we were in leased space with just a handful of us in a room dreaming this dream.” Nicole Piasecki Vice president and general manager of Boeing’s Propulsion Systems Division
“South Carolina now is part of a much bigger family of Boeing airplanes than we ever could have imagined back in 2008 when we made the decision to do the second (787) line.” Ray Conner President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes
“What we’re telling the world is that it doesn’t have to be the -87. It can be the -37 or other parts.” Jack Jones Vice president and general manager of Boeing South Carolina
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Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
New center wants to help companies fix supply chains By Liz Segrist
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
very company can benefit from improving its supply chains to boost revenues and expand operations, according to Peter Straub, the executive director of a new logistics research center in downtown Charleston. The S.C. Commerce Department and SCRA established the center in an effort to help the state’s manufacturers overcome supply chain challenges. The Applied Research Center for Supply Chain and Logistics is located on the fourth floor of the Beatty Center on the College of Charleston campus. Straub, a former Michelin executive, is its sole employee for now. Once company executives define their supply chain challenges, the center will match the manufacturer with the College of Charleston, University of South Carolina or Clemson University. Researchers and students will work in teams to make recommendations to the companies on how to improve their supply chains for the immediate future and for long-term planning. The center is currently talking to several large manufacturers for its pilot program. “By focusing on solutions to realworld issues these companies are facing, we hope to help improve their efficiencies, which will hopefully result in cost savings and lead to better profitability,” Straub said. Research teams might recommend ways to improve a company’s internal and external information systems to make its supply chains more efficient. The team might promote the Port of Charleston for importing companies’ raw materials or exporting their finished products. The teams could perform a cost-benefit analysis to see whether it’s more beneficial to use ports on the East Coast or West Coast. The research teams might also create a contingency plan for companies to use if their supply chain has a disruption, such as port workers going on strike and stalling port operations, which happened recently on the West Coast, or a snowstorm halting truckers carrying loads across the country. “We are beginning with large manufacturers because they have such a need for this,” Straub said. “There’s always something you can improve upon in your supply chain. Things change in volatile markets.” As the research center gains traction, Straub plans to expand its services to other manufacturers, suppliers, logistics companies, hospitals and smaller busi-
nesses. The program is free for companies for now. As the center hires a staff and grows its number of participating companies, it will likely begin charging for services to become a self-sustaining operation, Straub said. The S.C. Legislature approved $10 million for Commerce’s research initiatives; some of that funding will be used for this center’s startup costs, Commerce spokeswoman Allison Skipper said. “We envision that we will have a strong demand for this over time as companies seek ways to improve their supply chains,” Straub said. “Companies need to look at solutions that affect their whole supply chain from the time they purchase something to the time they distribute the finished product.” This is the state’s first supply chain and logistics center for the private sector. Others could be established across the state over time, according to Commerce. The idea for the center came when Commerce created a steering committee in 2013 to define what manufacturers in the state needed to be successful and what a research center would look like. As a member of that committee, Straub wanted to use his degree in supply chain management and his 15 years running Michelin’s domestic and international supply chains to help other companies find solutions to their logistics issues. “Few colleges were offering supply chain degrees when I was in school. Now companies are beginning to see the value in it and I think that’s why the Department of Commerce chose supply chain as its first applied research center,” he said. Students will be able to assist in the research projects to gain real-world experience. Internships with companies are a possibility as well. Over time, the center might also partner with the state’s technical colleges and high schools. SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney said the center will leverage SCRA’s capabilities in applied research and development. Going forward, the Commerce Department will oversee the center’s strategy and SCRA will handle contracts with private-sector businesses. “As South Carolina continues to recruit world-class companies, gaining efficiencies in the supply chain becomes even more important,” Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said in a statement. “We have many assets in the state that are advantageous for logistics — our port and growing rail infrastructure among them. The Applied Research Center is another way we can boost our service to clients in this area.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
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Porter Airlines joined Southwest Airlines and Silver Airways in announcing new flights at Charleston International Airport in the past several months. (Photo/Andy Owens)
Charleston International adding flights, passengers amid construction By Liz Segrist
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
harleston International Airport continues to grow passenger counts year over year and add new airlines while undergoing an extensive, $189 million terminal renovation. While operating as a construction zone, Charleston International Airport saw 3.13 million passengers in 2014, up 7% from 2013 and up 55% from 2010. This is the first time the airport has topped 3 million passengers. The Charleston County Aviation Authority’s efforts to recruit more airlines and nonstop flights has helped increase passengers counts. Additionally, accolades from publications like Conde Nast and growth in the region’s tech and manufacturing sectors attract more leisure and business travelers to the airport. “We are fortunate that Charleston International Airport continues to grow and has the support of the community and the passengers that choose us and the airlines that operate here for their flying needs,” Airports Director Sen. Paul G. Campbell Jr. said in a statement. So far this year, three new flight announcements have been made at the Charleston airport. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, which began flying out of Charleston in 2011, plans to begin a Saturday nonstop service from Charleston to Dallas Love Field on April 11. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Silver Airways will offer nonstop flights from Charleston to Orlando and Tampa, Fla., beginning March 19. Porter Airlines began weekly nonstop flights between Charleston and Toronto earlier this month. The Porter flights run seasonally through May 2. And in June 2014, JetBlue added two direct flights to Washington, D.C. Airlines serving Charleston fly to and
from 21 airports in 17 cities in the United States and Canada. Delta Air Lines, US Airways, American Airlines and United Airlines also fly in and out of Charleston International Airport. “This is a great time for the airport. We’re growing through our terminal redevelopment project, and the number of passengers coming through our airport is soaring,” Campbell said. The airport also was ranked as having the 48th-most-expensive domestic airfare out of the top 100 U.S. airports — but at just under $400, it had less expensive fares than other regional airports, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation data. The department looked at airfare data for domestic flights from the top 100 airports — determined by number of originating domestic passengers — and ranked them, with No. 1 being the most expensive. At No. 48, Charleston International Airport had an average airfare of $399.53 as of the third quarter of 2014, down 1.3% from the same time in 2013 and down 35% from 2000. Greenville Spartanburg International Airport ranked No. 38, with an average fare of $424.24, up 0.7% from 2013. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ranked No. 23 with an average fare of $439.32, which was about the same as 2013. And Charlotte Douglas International Airport ranked No. 22 with an average fare of $439.46, up 3.9% from 2013. The nationwide average domesticitinerary fare is $396.37, which is the same from 2013 but down 14.1% from 2000. The U.S. average is about $3 less than Charleston International Airport’s average airfare. cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
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Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
Charleston Police Officer Jessica Hans walks along St. Philip Street on the College of Charleston campus during an investigation into bomb and shooting threats. (Photo/Ashley Heffernan)
Businesses shut down during CofC threats By Ashley Heffernan
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aheffernan@scbiznews.com
ix College of Charleston buildings, portions of George and St. Philip streets and several businesses were closed for several hours on Feb. 10 after a bomb threat was called in to Charleston Police Department. Days later, the college revealed a gun threat also was made. The college initially sent a Cougar Alert message to the entire campus community saying a bomb had been found, but spokesman Mike Robertson said later that a college police dispatcher pressed “the wrong button.” “The alert should have said a bomb threat had been called in, not a bomb had been found,” Robertson said. “It was important we got out the information. We take all threats seriously.” For a four-hour period, the college canceled classes in the Beatty Center at 5 Liberty St.; J.C. Long Building at 9 Liberty St.; the Tate Center at 5 Liberty St.; the School of Education, Health and Human
Performance at 86 Wentworth St.; the Thaddeus Street Jr. Education Center at 25 St. Philip St.; and the S. Douglas Craig Residence Hall at 33 St. Philip St. Businesses on George Street, including Jimmy John’s and Caviar and Bananas, were shut down for the threat as well. Caviar and Bananas owner Kris Furniss sent his employees to other businesses to stay warm. He remained inside the business to manage phone calls. He said the threat impacted his business because it happened at the busiest part of his day. “I’m still paying employees and losing sales,” Furniss said during the shutdown. After the incident, CofC President Glenn McConnell issued a statement that the Cougar Alert system “proved less than effective in a real-time situation.” “We have learned that there was a glitch in the system, programmed years ago — which resulted in our communication protocols being compromised, and the initial ‘bomb found’ message was sent out electronically in error,” McCon-
nell said. “Also, the mechanisms for communicating quickly through the Cougar Alert system — by phone, text and email — did not reach all constituents.” McConnell said he would work with the college’s emergency management task force to address the issues. “Plain and simple, that is unacceptable,” he said. “Our first and foremost priority at this institution is for our students’ and college community’s safety. While we may hope something like today is never repeated, we must be better prepared in dealing with it.” McConnell and the college did not acknowledge that there was also a gun threat the same day. Days after the threat, an incident report revealed that the same person who claimed he had placed two bombs in the Beatty Center also said “he was on his way to the new School of Education with a gun with the intention of shooting people inside,” according to the incident report. A command post was set up on St.
Philip Street south of George Street, the report said. The college’s Department of Public Safety worked in conjunction with CofC Fire and Emergency Medical Services; Charleston Police Department and its explosive ordnance disposal and Special Weapons and Tactics units; Charleston Fire Department; and explosive ordnance disposal units from the State Ports Authority and the Air Force. While evacuating the buildings, a public safety officer found two unattended backpacks in the Beatty Center and a third in the Tate Center. The bags were X-rayed and found to be harmless. SWAT teams then cleared the building. “During the building clearing, nobody was found to be in Beatty Center, Tate Center and J.C. Long,” the report said. “Through the conclusion of the incident, patrolling officers never located a subject with a gun or any other suspicious parties in the campus area.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
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Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015 S.C. State students and community members held signs and chanted in support of the university during a news conference held by President Thomas Elzey. Signs read “#KillTheBillSCState,” “We are SC State!” and “Invest in SC State.” (Photo/Ashley Heffernan)
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said he stands with the subcommittees. “Allowing the university to continue its operations without oversight is a disservice to the faculty, staff and alumni — and most importantly — the students who are being denied access to the education they deserve,” Lucas said in a statement. “Based upon the school’s inability to establish financial solvency, it is apparent that current leadership is incapable of bringing about the necessary change this situation demands.” The subcommittees’ plan was met with immediate outcry from the university’s administration, students and alumni. President Thomas J. Elzey held an emergency board meeting and a news conference where more than 200 students and community members showed up holding signs and chanting. “News of this proviso has sent shock waves throughout this university community,” Elzey said. “It has incited worry and panic among our students, their parents, faculty, staff, alumni and our supporters everywhere. I want to make one thing clear: S.C. State will not close.” The two subcommittee votes were quickly followed by a vote of no-confidence in the university’s president by the S.C. Legislative Black Caucus, a group of 39 General Assembly members. Elzey said he has no plans to resign, and the school’s board is sticking with him. “We have an employment contract with our president, also a public document, which we will respect,” chairman William Small said. “Honoring this contract, of course, includes a professional performance evaluation, which we will perform and make public.” Elzey acknowledged that the school has had financial challenges, but he said they didn’t happen overnight, and it’s unrealistic to expect them to go away overnight. “We are confident that we are moving the university in the direction required to stabilize it,” he said. “We need, we require, we deserve the full support of our representatives in Columbia.” Willie Owens, president of the Orangeburg chapter of the S.C. State Alumni Association, said the group plans
to file a $500 million lawsuit against state lawmakers on behalf of the university. “You thought it was hell when Sherman hit Columbia? Just wait,” he said. Kwanza Winn, a junior at S.C. State from Charleston, said lawmakers shouldn’t close the school because too much has already been invested. “We come here with faith and graduate, and we’ve invested our time, money, education, and we didn’t come here, this far, to be turned to another university or be unsuccessful,” Winn said.
Another option
Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, proposed an alternate plan that would keep the cash-strapped university open but would require Gov. Nikki Haley to appoint a receiver. The board of trustees’ duties would be suspended, and the receiver would decide whether to keep or terminate Elzey. “We need one person who is decisive to take over the financial aspects of S.C. State,” Limehouse said. “Financially, S.C. State is a disaster zone, and the students deserve better.” Limehouse doesn’t want to see the university closed, but, he said, the constant “hemorrhaging of money” has to stop. “S.C. State needs to rethink where they are in the scheme of things. New personnel across the board would be beneficial,” Limehouse said. He said Elzey inherited a difficult situation and hasn’t been able to “wrangle it free of all the difficulties.” Limehouse said the university needs to increase its enrollment to between 5,000 and 6,000 students by accepting a more diverse student population. “I know it’s a historically black college, but let’s open it up to whoever wants to pay tuition and is qualified to go there,” he said. “The present model is broken.” He said lawmakers shouldn’t vote to close the school because it could potentially bankrupt the city of Orangeburg. “It’s terrible for business across the state to have these headlines nationally. Closing S.C. State would put the city of Orangeburg in dire financial straits,” Limehouse said. cr bj
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
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Judge sides with Episcopal churches that broke away By Ashley Heffernan aheffernan@scbiznews.com
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group of S.C. churches that broke away from the national Episcopal Church won a lawsuit in Dorchester County that allows them to keep more than $500 million worth of property. The defendants immediately filed a motion for reconsideration. More than a year after the suit was filed, Circuit Judge Diane Schafer Goodstein ruled in early February in favor of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina and nearly 40 parishes. They were looking to keep the national Episcopal Church and the parishes that remained affiliated with it from taking local church properties, some dating back to 1680, as well as using the diocese’s seal and name. St. Philip’s Church on Church Street and St. Michael’s Church on Broad Street in downtown Charleston were in question, among other properties. The group left the national church in 2012 after it tried to remove the Right Rev. Mark Lawrence as bishop. Disagreements about homosexuality and other “moral issues” also divided the church. The 14-day trial, which took place in July in a St. George courtroom, included 59 witnesses and 1,200 pieces of evidence. Goodstein ruled that all real and personal property of the plaintiffs is titled and held in their names and that none of the deeds reference any trust in favor of the national Episcopal Church, which claimed it was the beneficiary. “The undisputed evidence is that all the real and personal property at issue was purchased, constructed, maintained and possessed exclusively by the plaintiffs,” Goodstein’s final order said. The Rev. Jim Lewis, canon to the ordinary for the Diocese of South Carolina, said an insurance analysis valued all facilities on the properties of the breakaway churches at more than $500 million. The estimate doesn’t include the value of the land the properties sit on. Over the past few years, breakaway church groups in other states have gone to court against the national church over similar property disputes. “The decision protects our freedom to embrace the faith Anglicans have practiced for hundreds of years — and not the new theology being imposed on the TEC’s (the national church’s) dwindling membership,” Lewis said. Goodstein also ruled that the breakaway group’s names, service marks, styles, seals and emblems belonged to them, not the national church.
“We’re ready to move forward and grateful for Judge Goodstein’s handling of the case” Right Rev. Mark Lawrence the breakaway group’s bishop
The Right Rev. Charles vonRosenberg, bishop of the Episcopal churches in South Carolina that stayed under the national church’s umbrella, testified during the trial that he and the organization’s steering committee regularly used the name and seal of the diocese in the fall of 2012. “At least from November 2012 until the fall of 2013, the defendants intentionally used, without permission, and with knowledge of that use, the names, marks and emblems of the plaintiffs,” Goodstein ruled. She issued a permanent injunction protecting the breakaway group’s names and marks from being used by the national church and affiliates. Lawrence, who remains the breakaway group’s bishop, said his diocese is open to all. “It’s about the freedom to practice and proclaim faith in Jesus Chris as it has been handed down to us,” he said in a statement. “We’re ready to move forward and grateful for Judge Goodstein’s handling of the case.” Charleston-based defense attorney Thomas Tisdale — who is also diocesan chancellor for the Episcopal Church in South Carolina, the group that remained affiliated with the national church — said that Goodstein’s ruling was not unexpected and that the road ahead in the judicial system “is clear to us.” “We are considering all the issues raised by the court order and plan to recommend to the church to engage the appeal process as appropriate,” Tisdale said in a statement. The group filed a motion asking the judge to reverse her ruling, and she must respond before an appeal can be filed. VonRosenberg said the ruling represents just one step on a long journey. “Our biblical heritage tells of journeys experienced by faithful people,” he said. “Those journeys often were difficult and filled with setbacks, but people of faith were called to persevere on the way.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
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Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
Gotcha growing nationally with free on-campus rides By Liz Segrist
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
ean Flood wants to change the way college students get around campus, and possibly the way people travel throughout their cities. Flood is CEO of the Charleston-based company The Gotcha Group — “Gotcha” is short for Green Operated Transit Carrying Humanity Around. The company partners with universities to bring free rides to students 24/7, on or off campus, in its electric vehicles. The company does not share revenue with universities. The schools’ only cost is providing storage for the cars, which is usually in a parking garage. Once a partnership is established, students can get rides in the street-legal cars that have a max speed of 35 mph. Each Gotcha Ride is funded by advertisers like Coke, Pepsi, Whole Foods Market and Dunkin’ Donuts. The cars are wrapped in advertisements, interior TV screens play ads and free products are often available for riders. “Universities have a real need for transportation options, as do municipalities. ... This provides a much-needed service to students that keeps them safe and lets them have fun, while also giving brands a great medium to interact with college kids,” Flood said. After Florida State University signed on as the first Gotcha Ride partner, the company has expanded to nine other universities across the country: The University of Alabama, Auburn University, Arizona State University, Clemson University, University of Florida, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University. Each school averages between 2,000 and 3,000 riders per month. Gotcha has a manager and about 80 student drivers at each school, who have access to the keys from a lock system on campus. Each university has a phone number students can call to hail a Gotcha Ride. Flood plans to launch an Uber-like app this year so students can request the free rides from their smartphones. Additionally, he plans to soon import the Chinese-made cars through the Port of Charleston.
The beginning, the move
The idea came in 2009 when Flood and Drew Sfugaras, both Gotcha co-founders and Florida State University alumni, were listening to undergraduates at the school talking about their friend getting a DUI. They saw a need for safe, free transportation options for college students and a possible avenue for advertisers to
Gotcha Ride vehicles are wrapped by sponsors and some offer free products. (Photo/Provided)
target the 18-to-24 age market. About a year ago, Flood relocated from Atlanta to Charleston with his wife, Jacklyn, the company’s marketing director, and opened an office at 522 King St. in downtown Charleston. Flood hopes to sign on six more universities this year for Gotcha Ride, as well as launch with Charleston-area schools. He needs approval from local municipalities first. “I think Gotcha fits a real need we have here in Charleston, but right now, this type of vehicle isn’t allowed to give rides on the streets here,” Flood said. Flood also plans to launch Gotcha Bike, a bike share program, at college campuses around the country. The Gotcha Group designed a bike and partnered with Berlin-headquartered Lock8 to create a lock that can be opened via an app. Users can download the app, walk up to an advertiser-branded bike corral and unlock the bike for free. Users will return the bike to the same corral. “We feel that a round-trip system where the users return the bike to the original Gotcha Bike corral is a more sustainable model both financially and environmentally,” Flood said. Flood said this removes the barrier of cost-prohibitive bike kiosks, which many schools or cities looking to launch bike share programs have cited as an obstacle. Flood hopes to launch Gotcha Bike at 10 universities this summer. He is currently working to line up sponsors and university partnerships. To fuel growth, Gotcha garnered $1.5 million in funding from angel investors about 11/2 years ago. Flood expects to seek another round of capital in the future but is currently focusing on expanding the rides and launching the bike share. “The capital raise took me away from the business, which happens with a lot of founders when raising money. ... Now this bike program is cutting-edge and I’m learning a whole new business. It’s unbelievably exciting,” Flood said. “We’re going through the exact same startup pains. We are constantly in startup mentality.” cr bj
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Residents push for soft closings at bars in Charleston By Ashley Heffernan aheffernan@scbiznews.com
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diverse array of community members showed up to three public sessions in mid-February to voice their opinions concerning Charleston’s late-night bar moratorium. Neighborhood association representatives, attorneys, food and beverage industry employees and Charleston residents attended meetings held by the city’s latenight activity review committee. The committee, made up of 21 business and community members appointed by Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and City Council, wanted to hear from residents about how to create a balance among nightlife, businesses and neighborhoods. The committee divided residents into small groups and asked them to make a list of ideas for ways to deal with latenight establishments on the peninsula. Restaurateur Steve Palmer, who formed the Indigo Road hospitality group and is the committee’s co-chairman, participated in the group discussions. “It’s been a pleasant surprise,” Palmer said. “Obviously, as a restaurant person, when the mayor called me and asked me to serve, I came into this worried that there was going to be pitchforks and shouts to burn ’em all down and shut all the restaurants. There’s been a very fair and balanced mindset from the beginning and even today.” In the fall, City Council passed a oneyear moratorium on new businesses that intend to sell alcohol after midnight in the Market and East Bay streets area; King Street from Broad Street north to Poplar Street; and Meeting Street from Broad to Cooper Street. The moratorium is set to expire Sept. 22. The committee, formed as a result of the moratorium, met four times prior to hosting the public sessions. “There are strong opinions to be sure, but I think what I’m learning and what I’m appreciating is we seem to have the common purpose of everybody wanting what’s best. Now, we have different ideas about what is what’s best, but I’m learning that everybody has a pretty even mindset,” Palmer said. The different groups came up with many of the same ideas. A common concept was to require soft or staggered closings for bars. One group suggested allowing bars to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. and remain open for dancing and mingling until 3 or 4 a.m., while another said alcohol should be halted at midnight and the bars emptied at 2 a.m. Palmer said the popularity of soft closings was a surprise. “I didn’t go into this thinking that would be as important,” he said. “But as a business owner, I think it’s a really good idea.”
Other frequently suggested ideas were to improve and expand transportation and parking on the peninsula, create economic incentives for late-night establishments to open in other areas of Charleston and reduce the number of businesses in a zone by limiting liquor licenses. Elliott Smith, an attorney who represents Bace League of Charleston Inc., a consortium of local business owners and managers, also sits on the late-night activity review committee. “A nightlife, which can be a reasonable
nightlife, it’s what attracts and keeps talent in Charleston. Otherwise, you’re going to lose them,” he said. “They’re going to go to Greenville, who’s really focusing on this. They’re going to go to Asheville (N.C.); they’re going to go to Austin (Texas), and I see that happening every day.” A resident asked if Smith had data to support his claim, and he said no. But Smith suggested the city do a study. All of the ideas from the three meetings will be compiled and discussed by the committee before it drafts ordinances
for City Council approval in the fall. The committee will also receive advice from the Hospitality Institute of California and officials from other markets that have experienced a similar situation, according to Palmer. “The whole process has been about finding a common ground,” he said. “It hasn’t been about one side winning an argument.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
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Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015 TOURISM continued from Page 1
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“Beaufort and Georgetown are two fairly large destinations on the coast, but they’re still undiscovered as compared to Hilton Head, Charleston and Myrtle Beach,” Parrish said. “We’re still marketing those places, but we’re also expanding to other places off the beaten path.” Sheldon Church, formerly known as the Prince William’s Parish Church, was the first American attempt to replicate a Greek temple, according to the National Register of Historic Places. Completed in 1753, the church features seven Tuscan-style columns and was burned in 1779 and again in 1865, the register said. The department will be emphasizing the church ruins as a destination this year. “The old church ruins are just a phenomenal thing to see in the middle of nowhere,” Parrish said. “Then there’s Harold’s Country Club, which is an old gas station right close to there that you call ahead and tell them how you want your steaks done on Friday and Saturday nights. It’s not in Charleston, but it’s still in the area.”
Parrish hopes tourists also will flock to “the birthplace of South Carolina,” Charles Towne Landing, to see a replica trading vessel and watch live cannon firings, along with Hampton Plantation in McClellanville. The state historic site is the home of Archibald Rutledge and was visited by George Washington.
Looking back
Parrish spoke during the 2015 Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Travel, held in Myrtle Beach in mid-February, about the impact that the tourism industry has had on the state. “Over the past 50 years, tourism has flourished in a way quite frankly no one could have dreamed of in 1965,” he said. “Twenty-five years ago, tourism’s annual economic contribution to South Carolina was a little over $8 billion, pretty impressive. Today, we’re an $18.2 billion industry.” He said in 1990, admission tax collections totaled a little more than $10 million in the state; last year, it had grown to $34 million. Total accommodations tax collections were $17 million statewide 25 years ago, and were $55 million last year.
In Horry County alone, accommodations taxes totaled $18 million in 2014, Parrish said. Difficulties along the way — including Hurricane Hugo that obliterated much of the coast in 1989, the Sept. 11 terrorist attack that changed travel and several economic recessions that kept people holding onto their money — had an impact on the industry. “A great recent example of this happened in 2013, when we surpassed the pre-recession levels in all of our major metrics for tourism, hotel RevPar, admissions tax collections and state parks revenue,” he said. “We weathered that storm and came out on top.” Last year, driven by increases in occupancy and average rate, hotel revenue per available room statewide increased 11.2%. Smith Travel Research, a hotel data company, predicts occupancy rates statewide will continue to increase in February and April but will experience a decline in March. The company forecasts statewide occupancy to be 54.7% in February, a 1.9% increase from 2014; 63.2% in March, a decrease of 0.6%; and 68.3% in
DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON TOURISM EFFORTS ON DISPLAY
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n advisory committee appointed by Charleston Mayor Joe Riley released its tourism management recommendations during a public forum in February. The 27-member committee, chaired by Historic Charleston Foundation CEO and President Kitty Robinson, was tasked in 2014 with updating the city’s Tourism Management Plan, which was first created in 1978 and most recently updated in 1998. The committee worked for the past nine months to come up with five overarching tourism goals with specific strategies for each.
Visitor orientation
During the next two to three years, the committee suggested the city and S.C. Department of Transportation work together to improve signage throughout the peninsula to make sure residents and visitors know how to get to their destinations. The committee also suggested the city identify parking garages more clearly and create incentives for their use. The video that is shown to tourists at the city of Charleston Visitor Center should be shortened from its current 38 minutes to 10 to 15 minutes, updated to add a map of off-peninsula sites and incorporated into college orientations, according to the committee. The layout and organization of the
Residents gathered at the Charleston Museum to hear Tourism Management Plan recommendations from the city of Charleston’s tourism advisory committee. (Photo/Ashley Heffernan)
Visitor Center on Meeting Street should also be updated, and the city needs to consider a new visitor center location in the next two to three years, the committee suggested.
Tourism management and enforcement
Members suggested regulating the number, hours and areas of the city that carriages are allowed to operate in and
studying the impact motor coaches have on the traffic flow. They also recommended adding pull-over spots for tour vehicles and carriages to make room for vehicles to go around them and for the city to transition to narrower and cleaner tour vehicles. Additionally, the city needs to frequently look at the number of tourism enforcement officers, which is currently three, to determine if there are enough officers and add more if needed.
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
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The Old Sheldon Church in the Yemassee area of Beaufort County was completed in 1753 and was burned in 1779 and again in 1865, according to the National Register. The church features seven Tuscan-style columns, and the state is planning to market the ruins as a tourist destination. (Photo/File)
will be addressed, including a new splash pad at Sesquicentennial State Park in Columbia and new camper cabins at Dreher Island State Park in Prosperity. The department is also planning to demolish the welcome centers in Hardeeville on Interstate 95 north and in Fort Mill on Interstate 77 south to make room for new centers to open in the summer of 2016. Parrish noted growth across the state, including continued development in downtown Greenville; revitalization efforts in Columbia; a rejuvenation of Florence’s downtown area; and the rejuvenation of the old Pavilion in Myrtle Beach. “We’ve witnessed the rising popularity of Charleston, which has been the named the top city in the U.S. for four consecutive years, and the growth of Rock Hill as a premiere destination for sports tourism events” Parrish said. “When you take a step back and look at all that has happened over our state in the past few years, it truly is incredible.” cr bj
April, an increase of 0.8% from last year. Record-level revenues in the state’s park system were recorded last year, total-
Special events
Committee members recommended requiring that all special events be reapproved annually as new events, limiting the number of special events south of the Septima Clark Parkway to the current level and hiring a full-time special-events coordinator. The committee also wants filming and photography shoots to be included under the jurisdiction of the special-events committee and a city staff member to monitor events. Other topics discussed were making sure there is enough parking and restrooms for events, minimizing street closures and creating a new department for tourism and special-events management.
Quality of life
The committee said the city should review carriage and tour bus activity during peak times, such as when schools dismiss and churches disperse, and consider temporarily discontinuing tours during those times. Members also want the city to address concerns about recent hotel growth on the peninsula. A mobile application and more signs were suggested to show visitors where public restrooms are located on the peninsula. The mayor and City Council members will also be expected to continue talking
ing more than $24 million, Parrish said. To protect that revenue, deferred maintenance projects and capital improvements
to the S.C. State Ports Authority about the installation of shore power for cruise ships. The committee suggested they explore ways to avoid having cruise ships arrive on the same day as big events such as the Cooper River Bridge Run, Spoleto Festival opening and college graduations, and evaluate the possibility of remote passenger parking. The committee proposed studying a passenger head tax to defray city costs and committing to a maximum of 104 cruise ships per year in Charleston that carry no more than 3,500 passengers per ship.
Mobility and transportation
Members suggested conducting a comprehensive peninsula mobility and parking study to review all types, sizes and uses of vehicles. The study would include prioritizing modes of transportation and transitioning to smaller local delivery vehicles. The committee recommended creating remote parking lots, implementing a parkand-ride system, improving residentfocused parking for historic neighborhoods and developing a more efficient parking meter system with new technologies. The city needs to also develop a mobile app and website to
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
help visitors find parking locations and navigate the city, as well as invest in smaller, quieter and more efficient buses for the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, according to the committee. In the next two to three years, the city should build a public transit rail system and multiuse path in the existing Norfolk Southern right of way on the peninsula and develop water transportation infrastructure, the committee said. A network of bike lanes with markings, signs and rules should also be implemented in the next year. Additionally, the committee members said they support the Peninsula Mobility Report prepared by Gabe Klein in December. Klein, an internationally recognized urban mobility expert, studied Charleston’s peninsula for six months and suggested various goals to reduce congestion.
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Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
In Focus:
Energy and the Environment
LISTS Heating and Air Contractors, Page 22 Employee Benefits Brokers, Page 23
New solar programs offer incentives, leasing options By Liz Segrist
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
onservation groups, utilities and state regulators are outlining solar programs under the state’s new solar law in an effort to give customers more options. “Part of the reason we haven’t seen more solar projects is that we haven’t had policies encouraging it, and we had barriers in place undermining it until now,” said Hamilton Davis, director of the Coastal Conservation League’s energy and climate program. “Today, based on the law and the cost of technology, it is a very attractive investment for homeowners or business owners.” The solar energy law, which was passed in June, is designed as an incentive for residents and business owners to use solar panels at homes, schools, churches and businesses around the state. The law allows customers to lease panels for their homes or businesses rather than having to buy the materials and pay upfront for the installation, which can cost up to $15,000 for a homeowner. The law updates net metering policies and establishes a voluntary distributed energy resource program for utilities. Distributed energy resources, such as solar, can enhance grid security, according to the S.C. Clean Energy Business Alliance. The new solar law raises the limit on the size of commercial solar power systems from 100 kilowatts to 1 megawatt. It also encourages utilities to add more solar power to their grids and to create
By Liz Segrist
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il and gas drilling might be allowed off South Carolina’s coast as of 2017, according to a five-year draft plan from the U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The Obama administration’s plan outlines proposals to allow the federal government to sell leases for oil and gas drilling offshore of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia from 2017 to 2022. The administration proposed leasing federal waters off Virginia in 2010, but the BP oil spill along the Gulf Coast halted those plans. Plans to drill for oil off South Carolina’s coast have been touted by pol-
Commercial energy use is closely tied to economic development and energy production in South Carolina. The S.C. Energy Office issued a report in August about energy use in commercial businesses.
Commercial Energy in S.C.
6.03% 23.81%
72.51%
Electricity Natural Gas Petroleum
The Colleton Solar Farm has more than 10,000 photovoltaic panels across 15 acres. In its first year of operation, the solar farm produced enough energy to power 300 Walterboro homes. (Photo/File)
solar farms. “This law put us on the map,” Davis said. “North Carolina is a decade ahead of us on this as one of the top solar states in the country, and Georgia has made pretty big solar commitments in the last couple years. This definitely puts South Carolina in a good position to be competitive now.” Utilities, conservationists and state regulators are now deciding how to handle metering rules and incentive packages. A net metering settlement was reached in December that ensures customers who install solar panels on their rooftops
before 2021 will receive full retail credit for any excess power that flows back into the grid. Customers who do so will also be eligible to remain on this rate from 2021, when the agreement expires, until the end of 2025. The Southern Environmental Law Center represented the Coastal Conservation League and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in filing the settlement agreement, which is now before the S.C. Public Service Commission for approval. Duke Energy and S.C. Electric & Gas Co. say they support the agreement.
Renewable energy in S.C.
➤
Top 10 Counties for Photovoltaic Kilowatt-hours
See SOLAR, Page 21
Federal proposal could allow offshore drilling by 2017 lsegrist@scbiznews.com
Fueling Business
iticians for years but have yet go beyond talk. “At this early stage in considering a lease sale in the Atlantic, we are looking to build up our understanding of resource potential, as well as risks to the environment and other uses,” Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement estimated there are 3.3 billion barrels of oil on the Atlantic’s outer continental shelf and 31.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, based on estimates from the early 1980s. These estimates are not broken up by states’ coasts. The potential lease sale would require a 50-mile coastal buffer to minimize multiple-use conflicts, such as those from Department of Defense and NASA activ-
ities, renewable energy activities, commercial and recreational fishing, wildlife habitat and other environmental concerns, according to the Interior Department. A public comment period is open until March 30 and the plan will be subject to public hearings. If the administration moves forward with the proposal, a final plan is expected to be released next year. The draft has stirred response from environmental groups and industry advocates. Kay Clamp, executive director of the S.C. Petroleum Council, said drilling of the South Atlantic coast could bring tens of thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars to the state’s economy. “With offshore oil and natural gas, See OFFSHORE Page 21
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Source BTUs generated Wood/waste 96.3 billion Hydroelectric 13.5 billion Geothermal 648 million Solar 135 million
Charleston leads in solar The S.C. Energy Office reports that Charleston County’s installation of solar cells has a greater kilowatt generation capacity than any other county in S.C.
County KwH Charleston 725 Greenville 550 Richland 300 Lexington 250 Spartanburg 250 Beaufort 175 Horry 175 York 125 Berkeley 120 Dorchester 115 Sources: S.C. Energy Office, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Energy Information Administration
Next Issue’s Focus:
Architecture, Engineering and Construction
20
www.charlestonbusiness.com
IN FOCUS: ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
Samsung paying bill for Charleston County e-waste recycling By Ashley Heffernan aheffernan@scbiznews.com
C
harleston County residents recycled about 625,000 pounds of electronic waste in 2014, and the bill for some of that recycling was paid by an international technology company. About 58 semitrailer loads of televisions, computers, phones, fax machines, printers and microwaves, among other items, were recycled last year, according to Christina Moskos, recycling coordinator for the county. “Harmful material that’s in most electronic waste — lead and mercury being the leading two — that stuff never biodegrades, and we don’t want that ending up in the landfill,” Moskos said. The county accepts e-waste at eight convenience centers and then divides the items into different types at the Bees Ferry center. The e-waste is put onto pallets and picked up by Electronic Recyclers International once a week. The Fresno, Calif.-based company, which works with more than 4,000 municipalities across the country, takes the county’s e-waste to its Badin, N.C., processing facility. “We recycle everything down to different types of glass, plastics and metals, and from there the material is sent to different
Charleston County e-waste items processed in 2014
Calculators/adding machines Circuits CDs, DVDs and VCRs Clocks and stereos Copy machines Fax machines and printers Keyboards and computer mice Laptops Microwaves Monitors PCs Scanners Shredders Telephones and equipment Televisions Other
316 3,625 2,173 2,210 31 3,571 2,999 667 622 1,833 2,570 201 207 4,946 8,072 8,294
smelters or refineries to make new products, essentially,” said Kevin Dillon, chief marketing officer for Electronic Recyclers International. Some of the e-waste is used to make new electronics, while other pieces are reused in park benches and to make car parts.
About 8,000 TVs were recycled in Charleston County last year. (Photo/Ashley Heffernan)
Charleston County isn’t charged by the company to recycle its e-waste, though, because an international business has footed the bill since the county began working with Electronic Recyclers International in August 2014. Samsung, which produces electronics, including TVs, cameras, phones, computers and home appliances, has several national recycling programs and also pays to recycle Charleston County’s e-waste. Dillon would not disclose how much the full bill for the county totals, but he said it’s uncommon for an outside company to pay the entire amount. “Fiscally, it’s a shared responsibility of all parties,” he said. Samsung pays only for the recycling, not the transportation and other costs associated with the process.
Moskos said companies like Samsung are also a great place to start for businesses that need to recycle e-waste, because the county convenience centers only accept residential e-waste. “We get a lot of questions from businesses as far as what can I do with my e-waste — some of them are tiny businesses who just have a computer or two to recycle every year, and then some of them are looking at truckloads of stuff that they need to get rid of if they do a big cleanup — and I always tell them first and foremost to contact the manufacturer,” she said. “With the increased social responsibility that these manufacturers have seen, it’s becoming more and more required for them to focus on end-oflife maintenance for these products that they’re creating.” Companies such as Samsung, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Apple and Best Buy have take-back and trade-in programs for used devices. “There’s no way to stop people from driving their e-waste out to the middle of nowhere and dumping it on the side of the road,” Moskos said. “Recycling is just the socially responsible thing for them to do.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015 SOLAR, continued from Page 19 ➤
SCE&G and Duke Energy also recommended solar power incentive programs to the commission earlier this month for review. Both utilities are offering community solar programs for customers that cannot afford an installation on their own, such as schools, churches or nonprofits. These customers can buy into a solar farm to receive prorated, incentive-based production credits tied to the farm’s monthly system output. Duke Energy’s new programs would add up to 110 MW of solar energy to its system by 2021. Duke plans to offer roughly $5,000 in rebates to customers who install solar panels on their property. The utility also expects to issue a request for proposals this year for more than 50 MW of large-scale solar in the state. SCE&G’s programs would add 100 MW of new solar energy to its system by 2021. SCE&G also proposes production-based incentive rates for residential, nonresidential and tax-exempt customers who elect to install solar generation. Prices will be determined based on system size. SCE&G also expects to add 45 MW of utility-scale solar power at some locations in its service territory; two of those projects will be SCE&G’s first solar farms in Cayce and North Charleston. An announcement is expected soon about the developers selected for these projects, with completion anticipated by fall 2015. “Our proposed renewable generation programs provide customers with innovative new options to access solar,” said John Raftery, general manager of renewable products and services and energy demand management for SCE&G. “With construction beginning soon on our first two solar farms, the future is looking very bright.” In its first year of operation, the 15-acre
OFFSHORE, continued from Page 19 ➤
South Carolina has a great opportunity to take part in our nation’s energy renaissance,” Clamp said in a statement. The Southern Environmental Law Center said offshore drilling could threaten the coastal communities of the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia, which rely on clean water and beaches to support tourism and fishing industries. Additionally, offshore drilling could harm wetlands, barrier islands and marsh ecosystems, the center said. Sierra Weaver, the center’s senior attorney, said she supports investing in wind and solar energy along the Atlantic coast, rather than offshore drilling. “As we’ve seen with the Exxon Valdez and BP disasters, a single oil spill can devastate a coast for years. ... The best assurances and technology of the oil industry
IN FOCUS: ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Colleton Solar Farm produced enough energy to power 300 Walterboro homes. The solar farm generated 4,687 megawatt-hours from December 2013 to December 2014, 5% more than expected in its first year of operation. That extra energy is enough to power more than 1,200 60-watt lightbulbs for eight hours a day. TIG Sun Energy, a subsidiary of North Charleston-based The InterTech Group, is the owner and operator of the Colleton Solar Farm under a contract with Santee Cooper. The Colleton solar array has more than 10,000 photovoltaic panels. Some panels are stationary; others follow the direction of the sun to maximize the production of solar energy. Data indicate that the tracking panels that follow the sun generate power for about 3 1/2 hours longer than the fixed panels during the longest days of summer. Marc Tye, Santee Cooper’s senior vice president of customer service, said the first year’s results validated that multiple energy sources are needed to meet demand. Santee Cooper, Central Electric Power Cooperative in Jefferson City, Mo., and the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina purchase the total energy output of the farm and are studying data about the costs, performance and integration of utility-scale solar power. “From a performance perspective, it was a very good year for the solar farm,” Grant Reeves, senior vice president of Charleston-based The InterTech Group, said previously. “But more than anything, I believe the construction of Colleton Solar Farm did more to advance solar energy as a potential resource in South Carolina than any other project in the state.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
have not been good enough to prevent or quickly contain major oil spills,” Weaver said in a statement. “A single accident could ruin our coastal way of life — everything from the seafood we eat to the beaches we cherish to the jobs that support local communities.” The Coastal Conservation League said South Carolina’s fisheries and oceanbased tourism support nearly 79,000 jobs and generate more than $4.4 billion in gross domestic product annually. “Embracing offshore drilling would mean the industrialization of our state’s coastline with oil and gas infrastructure, which is in clear conflict with the existing economic and environmental advantages enjoyed by our coastal communities,” the league said. cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
www.charlestonbusiness.com 21
22
IN FOCUS: ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
www.charlestonbusiness.com
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
Heating and Air Contractors Phone / Website Email
NATE* Technicians / Total Employees
Area of Specialization
Maintenance?
Ext. Warranty?
Financing?
Ranked by No. of NATE* Certified Technicians
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
843-747-8877 www.totalcomfortsolutions.com -
13 18
Servicing and maintaining commercial, health care, industrial and manufacturing facilities
Y
Y
Y
Pat Garner 1976
843-747-6700 www.berkeleyheating.com info@berkeleyheating.com
11 38
Commercial and residential, new construction, geothermal
Y
Y
Y
Gordon Dinger, Dawn Oliveto 1958
843-554-8600 www.morelliair.com info@morelliair.com
9 52
Service, replacement and installation for residential and commercial purposes
Y
Y
Y
Anthony J. Morelli, Andrew Morelli 1981
Charleston Heating & Air 4225 Piggly Wiggly Drive North Charleston, SC 29405
843-216-9966 www.charlestonheatingandair.com info@charlestonheatingandair.com
8 19
Residential heating and air sales, service and replacements
Y
Y
Y
Blake Miller 2009
Smoak's Comfort Control 1781 Harmony St. Charleston, SC 29407
843-556-9550 www.smoakscomfort.com -
8 25
Commercial and residential
Y
Y
Y
Glenn Smoak, William Smoak 1972
AGL Services LLC 3226 Maybank Highway, Suite E-10 Johns Island, SC 29455
843-795-0066 www.aglair.com info@aglair.com
7 15
Residential heating and air conditioning service and installation; geothermal systems
Y
Y
Y
Richard Lingle Jr. 2004
LimRic Plumbing, Heating & Air 1920 Dunbar St., Suite G Charleston, SC 29407
843-225-2665 www.limric.com -
6 34
Residential and commercial replacement, service, maintenance
Y
Y
Y
David Miles 1959
AirMax 4236 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405
843-614-3276 www.airmaxsc.com medd@airmaxsc.com
5 16
Residential and commercial sales and service; BPI certified, Mitsubishi Diamond Dealers, American Standard Customer Care Dealer; specialize in maintenance service agreements
Y
Y
Y
Medd Box, Charles Brunson, Chris Clifton 2010
Johnson Controls Inc. 4415 Sea Ray Drive North Charleston, SC 29405
843-744-7144 www.johnsoncontrols.com tammy.r.lewis@jci.com
4 66
Full-line service provider of mechanical equipment and systems to control HVAC, FA, lighting, & security, as well as remote monitoring and diagnostics of chillers
Y
Y
Y
Steve M. Kachmar 1885
Terrace Heating & Air 2041 Wappoo Drive, Suite E Charleston, SC 29412
843-762-3639 www.terraceair.com -
3 12
American Standard customer care dealer specializing in residential and light commercial HVAC installation and service
Y
Y
Y
Joe Wham, Ryan Wham, Jenifer Inman 1992
843-747-2900 www.culluminc.com coulterd@culluminc.com
2 52
HVAC, maintenance, repair, refrigeration, service, retrofit
Y
Y
N
Rudy Cullum 1972
843-881-1044 www.resortmaintenance.com office@resortmaintenance.com
2 13
Heating and air conditioning, remodeling and general maintenance
Y
Y
Y
Kevin W. Colson, Julie M. Colson 1988
Taylor Appliance Heating & Air 1453 Goblet Ave. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-884-8777 taylorhvac@comcast.net
2 2
Light commercial, residential
Y
Y
N
Mark Taylor 1963
Truluck Service Heating & Air 7 Hobonny Lane Charleston, SC 29407
843-556-4500 www.truluckservice.com truluckservice@comcast.net
2 3
Residential and light commercial sales and service; International Ground Source Heat Pump Association geothermal certified, NATE-certified technician, Tranecertified technician
Y
Y
Y
Floyd Truluck 2003
W.O. Blackstone & Co. Inc. 2235 Technical Parkway, Suite D North Charleston, SC 29406
803-252-8222 www.woblackstone.com jgriffin@woblackstone.com
1 125
Commercial and industrial HVAC construction and service
Y
Y
N
Jeff Griffin 1937
843-225-6265 www.airplusllc.com info@airplusllc.com
0 12
Commercial and residential HVAC; air conditioning repair and replacement; heating repair and replacement
Y
Y
Y
Louis Schweers 2003
843-744-4477 www.crhippconstruction.com -
0 85
Commercial and industrial HVAC construction, service and installation on all makes, models and systems
Y
Y
Y
Al W. Hitchcock, Pete L Bailey, David C Gregg 1962
Cullum Constructors Inc. 3325 Pacific St. North Charleston, SC 29418
843-554-6645 www.culluminc.com arnoldm@culluminc.com
0 119
Air conditioning, heating, plumbing, process piping, medical gas
Y
Y
Y
Chris Cullum 1972
Sea Island Mechanical LLC 877 Brownswood Road Johns Island, SC 29455
843-469-3055 www.seaislandmechanical.com paul@seaislandmechanical.com
0 2
Commercial HVAC and refrigeration, residential air conditioning and heating
Y
Y
N
Paul Spell 2005
843-863-8972 www.wbguimarin.com cheryl@wbguimarin.com
0 5
Commercial and industrial heating and cooling
Y
Y
Y
Bryan Bochette, Cheryl D. Anderson 1903
Company Total Comfort Solutions 4760 Goer Drive North Charleston, SC 29406 Berkeley Heating & Air Conditioning 5915 Loftis Road Hanahan, SC 29410 Morelli Heating & Air Conditioning 2470 Faber Road North Charleston, SC 29405
Cullum Services Inc. 3325 Pacific St. Charleston, SC 29418 Resort Maintenance Inc. 1326-A Ben Sawyer Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Air Plus Heating & Air Conditioning 4365 Dorchester Road, Suite 211 North Charleston, SC 29405 C.R. Hipp Construction Inc. & Hipp Service Inc. 4981 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29418
W.B. Guimarin & Co. Inc. 176 College Park Road, Suite B Ladson, SC 29456
*NATE=North American Technician Excellence, www.natex.org. View this list online at www.scbiznews.com/data. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com or go to www.tinyurl.com/joinourlists.
Researched by Business Journal staff
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
IN FOCUS: ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
www.charlestonbusiness.com 23
Employee Benefits Brokers Ranked by No. of Employee Benefits Agents in the Charleston Area Phone / Website Email
Benefits Brokers / Total Agents / Total Employees
Specialization
Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded
843-571-1155 www.dgilston.com mensminger@dgilston.com
140 140 160
Health, life, dental and disability insurance, wellness programs, worksite benefits, 401(k), payroll, senior products and employer-required notification support
Thomas D. Swayne 1962
843-579-5549 www.merrilllynch.com donald.i.rhodes@ml.com
100 100 200
Financial advisory services, employee benefit programs, retirement planning, 401(k) plans
Frank Frazier 1914
Hibbits Insurance Inc. 140B W. Richardson Ave. Summerville, SC 29483
843-871-1095 www.hibbitsinsurance.com -
75 75 85
Employee benefit consultants specializing in group and individual health, life, disability, dental and vision insurance sales and service
Jack Hibbits 1971
Gallagher Benefit Services 1012 eWall St. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-884-2513 www.gallagherbenefits.com lori_humphreys@ajg.com
8 9 21
Group medical benefits, group dental, vision and disability insurance, individual health insurance, property and casualty insurance, personal coverage
Brandon Guest 1989
Southern Benefits LLC 871 Lowcountry Blvd., Suite 201 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-881-7636 www.southern-benefits.com -
8 10 11
Large- and small-group employee benefit plans
Dave Kay 2005
Benefit Concepts Inc. 1334 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29407
843-763-7718 www.benefitconceptsinc.net info@benefitconceptsinc.net
7 36 8
In-depth market and benefit analysis, plan design, oversight throughout underwriting, evaluation of plans and full-service support to individuals and businesses
Lynne M. Bernthal 1989
Commonwealth Brown & Brown Insurance 7515 Northside Drive, Suite 150 North Charleston, SC 29420
843-572-4567 www.thecommonwealth.com info@cbbins.com
6 16 20
Commerical insurance & employee benefits
Todd Tyler, Robert Messina 1997
Neace Lukens 3860 Faber Place Drive, Suite 400 North Charleston, SC 29405
843-552-3422 www.neacelukens.com starla.grimes@neacelukens.com
6 16 52
Small and large group benefit programs for medical, dental, life, disability and wellness
James H. Suddeth Jr., Kerri Colditz 1991
Hub International Southeast Ltd. 2430 Mall Drive, Suite 280 North Charleston, SC 29406
843-529-5470 www.hubinternational.com -
5 45 49
Large group
Todd A. Stephenson, Allison A. Rhyne, Michael S Chapman 1995
843-972-5414 www.mclaughlinsmoak.com ryan@mclaughlinsmoak.com
5 6 10
Large employers
Colin Smoak, Trey McLaughlin 2010
843-766-3393 www.beckhaminsurancegroup.com marshall@beckhaminsurancegroup.com
4 4 5
Employee Benefits for Employers Health Insurance Life Insurance
C. Marshall Beckham III 1966
843-884-3159 www.ctlowndes.com billy@ctlowndes.com
4 100 108
Property and casualty and employee benefits
Carl Morrison Allen III, Chelsea Walsh, Rawlins Lowndes, Ian Philpot 1850
843-971-5386 www.crosbyinsurancegroup.com -
4 5 7
All forms of employee benefits for large and small groups
Rick M. Crosby 1994
M&A Prime Benefits LLC 3527 Mary Ader Ave. Charleston, SC 29414
843-556-2594 www.mackeyonline.com -
4 4 4
Small to medium group employee benefits. We provide a no cost analysis of savings of the new healthcare law to your current benefits.
Jason Mackey, Dalton Mackey 1989
AIS Insurance 864 Lowcountry Blvd., Ste B Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-376-5263 http://atlanticusa.org/ sgorman@atlanticusa.org
3 6 8
Business Insurance Workers Compensation Insurance Personal Insurance
Scott Gorman 2007
843-762-4260 www.franklinassociatesinc.com barbara@franklinassociatesinc.com
3 3 3
Long Term Care and Medicare Planning
Barbara Franklin 1995
843-573-2600 www.wfis.wellsfargo.com -
3 12 48
Consulting, actuarial services, benefits administration, communications, technology assistance and implementation, wellness and clinical strategies
Carol D Baxley, Mike Murray 1868
843-767-9685 www.olaughlinagency.com george@olaughlinagency.com
2 2 3
Employee benefit consulting, CMS certified to enroll individuals and groups on the Federally approved Marketplace.
George O'Laughlin 1984
843-795-9751 www.psgltd.org insurance@psgltd.org
2 2 8
Payroll, Insurance, Human Resource Management, Bookkeeping, Accounting, Tax Credits
Robert Berman 2001
Company David M. Gilston Insurance Agency Inc. 15-A Gamecock Ave. Charleston, SC 29417
Merrill Lynch Wealth Managment 200 Meeting St., Suite 11 Charleston, SC 29401
McLaughlin Smoak & Clarke Benefits 710 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 102 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Beckham Insurance Group 767 Coleman Blvd Suite 6 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
C.T. Lowndes & Co. 966 McCants Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Crosby Insurance Group 802 Coleman Blvd., Suite 101 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Franklin & Associates Inc. 147 Wappoo Creek Drive, Suite 105 Charleston, SC 29412
Wells Fargo Insurance Services Inc. 176 Croghan Spur Road, Suite 300 Charleston, SC 29407
The O'Laughlin Agency 4790 Trade St. North Charleston, SC 29418
Professional Services Group Ltd. 125-D Wappoo Creek Drive, Suite 1 Charleston, SC 29412
View this list online at www.scbiznews.com/data. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com or go to www.tinyurl.com/joinourlists.
Researched by Business Journal staff
24
www.charlestonbusiness.com
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
At Work:
People, places and happenings across the Lowcountry
Hot Properties 30 Viewpoint 31
People in the News
Business Digest
LAW
Daniel Island charity event raises $200,000 The third annual Denny & Mark’s Pro-Am Jam, hosted by the Student Transportation of America Education Foundation, raised $200,000 for charity. The annual event has raised more than $500,000 in its first three years. This year’s event again featured the partnership of NASCAR driver and Chase for the Sprint Cup finalist Denny Hamlin; Hootie & the Blowfish founding member and lead guitarist Mark Bryan; and Denis Gallagher, CEO of Student Transportation Inc. The Denny Hamlin Foundation donated part of its share to MUSC Children’s Hospital for cystic fibrosis research. Bryan’s nonprofit, Carolina Studios, and the transportation company’s philanthropic arm, the Student Transportation of America Education Foundation, will use their shares to help children in the Charleston area.
Hayward Baker engineers opens new office in Charleston
The engineering firm of Hayward Baker has opened a new office on Carriage Lane in Charleston. The office, under the leadership of project manager Dan Holley, will support clients and projects in South Carolina and surrounding states. Holley has been a practicing professional geotechnical engineer for more than 13 years. He began his career as a project manager with SM&E, where he worked on commercial, industrial and transportation projects.
ELifespaces wins electronics association award for integration
a featured charity partner for one quarter in 2014, receiving the Friday wine tasting donations during that quarter.
Jan Waring Woods welcomed S.C. Sen. Sean Bennett during the ribbon cutting for the relocation of her accounting offices.
The Consumer Electronics Association has named Charleston-based eLifespaces a top electronic integrator at its 2015 annual International Consumer Electronics Show. ELifespaces was awarded a 2015 Mark of Excellence Award presented by the association’s TechHome Division. The winners were recognized at an awards ceremony at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The Mark of Excellence awards recognize companies for custom integration and installed technology.
Jan Waring Woods CPA celebrates new location in Summerville
Ted’s Butcherblock raises more than $2,600 for charity in 2014
Sweetgrass Pediatrics has broken ground on a new medical office at Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek. The new, 9,500-square foot location is on U.S. Highway 17A about three miles north of Interstate 26. The new facility was designed by Hoyt & Berenyi and is being constructed by Design Build Construction. It will house four physicians and approximately 30 support staff members and offer a
Patrons at Ted’s Butcherblock contributed to charitable donations totaling more than $2,600 in 2014 through participation in the butcher shop and gourmet cafe’s Friday night wine tasting events. Local nonprofits GrowFood Carolina, Wings for Kids, The Halsey Gallery and Charleston Waterkeeper each benefited as
The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce and Jan Waring Woods, CPA, LLC recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the office’s relocation to 119 W. Luke St., Suite A, in Summerville. Jan Waring Woods, CPA, LLC provides accounting, tax services and consulting services.
Sweetgrass Pediatrics breaks ground on new medical office
range of general pediatric services, along with pediatric sports medicine.
MUSC ranks 4th on Patent Power 2014 Scorecard for universities
The Medical University of South Carolina was ranked No. 4 in the university category in its debut on the Patent Power 2014 Scorecard, published recently by the International Electrical and Electronics Engineers association. The Patent Power Scorecard from the organization’s Spectrum magazine charts top U.S. portfolios in a range of sectors through an analysis of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records for the previous year. The top three universities include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by the University of California and Harvard University.
Hollings Cancer Center upgrades technology in Mount Pleasant
New technology installed at the Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center’s Mount Pleasant location offers improved imaging capabilities for patients, as well as several types of external beam radiation therapy. The addition of TrueBeam technology at Hollings Cancer Center/Mount Pleasant is the latest in a series of technology upgrades made across MUSC Health’s radiation oncology program over the past few months. A similar TrueBeam system was installed at the main location in downtown Charleston in August, while a major upgrade of the Gamma Knife Center’s stereotactic radiosurgery technology was completed in September. See BUSINESS DIGEST, Page 28 ➤
Young Clement Rivers LLP has named Russell G. Hines and Brandt R. Horton as partners in the Charleston office. Hines earned a Juris Doctor from the University of South Horton Carolina School of Law in 2004 and an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001. He practices primarily in the commercial litigation and appeals Hines group. Horton earned a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2004 and an undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina in 2001. He practices primarily in the trucking and transportation group. Moore & Van Allen PLLC has elected Felix C. Pelzer and William D. “Bill” Rust as members as of Jan. 1. Pelzer practices on the firm’s estate and wealth planning and federPelzer al and international taxation teams. His primary areas of emphasis include business law, taxation and estate planning. Rust practices on the corporate and health care teams, focusing Rust on business, commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions, and health care-related matters. Christopher Jaros has joined K&L Gates’ Charleston office as an associate in the litigation practice group. Jaros focuses his practice on civil litigation Jaros and environmental matters. His civil litigation practice includes all aspects of pre-trial and trial preparation, as well as settlement negotiation. He also See PEOPLE, Page 27
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26
www.charlestonbusiness.com
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
How bad is growth in Europe?
T
he consensus view is that growth in gross domestic product in Europe is slowing down. There is also a concern that falling price levels in Europe could trigger an unwanted slide into deflation. While that is clearly a disturbing scenario, it is not going to happen. The Young Presidents’ Organization Stephen D. has 22,000 memSlifer bers in more than 125 countries. Each quarter the YPO does a worldwide confidence survey, the results of which are available for a variety of regions. What do YPO members in Europe think? The latest survey was taken in early January. Perhaps surprisingly, confidence among YPO members in European Union countries actually increased slightly in the first quarter, from 60.0 to 61.2, which is close to its highest level thus far in the business cycle. Thus, a group of CEOs living in Europe does not see the dire problems being touted in the press. Why? First of all, GDP growth in Europe is not expected to slow this year. A few weeks ago, the International Monetary Fund downgraded its projected growth rate for Europe by 0.2%, from 1.4% to 1.2%. That was the headline. Nobody bothered to point out that GDP growth in 2014 was 0.8%. Thus, even after a downward revision, GDP growth in Europe is expected to quicken this year. It is important to remember that Europe will soon receive stimulus from a variety of sources. First, the euro has weakened considerably. There is a perception that GDP growth in the United States will be robust this year while growth in Europe should be sluggish. At the same time, the Federal Reserve is poised to raise rates while the European Central Bank is seeking to push rates lower. That is a recipe for a weaker euro. In April of last year it cost $1.38 to buy one euro; today is costs $1.14. That is a decline of 17%, which will make European goods cheaper for Americans to buy (which should bolster European exports) and U.S. goods more expensive for Europeans to purchase (which will reduce imports.) Second, there is the decline in oil prices. Europe will benefit from the drop in oil prices in exactly the same way that U.S. consumers do. It now costs European consumers about one-half as much to fill the tank
“It now costs European consumers about one-half as much to fill the tank with gas as it did in the middle of last year.” with gas as it did in the middle of last year. The money saved can be spent on other goods and services. Finally, fearing the possible onset of deflation, the European Central Bank has adopted a quantitative easing strategy similar to what the Federal Reserve has done in the United States. When the Fed first embarked on that strategy in late 2008, mortgage rates were 5.5%. They subsequently declined to 3.5%. If bond purchases in Europe can lower long-term interest rates, that, too, should enhance GDP growth this year. We believe the European Central Bank’s fear of deflation is unwarranted. Headline inflation in Europe has slowed from 1.3% in 2013 to 0.4% as oil prices have declined. But the European Commission thinks that the core rate will remain steady. It came in at 0.9% in 2014 and it is projected to be 1.0% in 2015 and 0.9% in 2016. Europe is not about to slip into a deflationary death spiral. But justified or not, bond buying by the ECB should lower long-term interest rates in Europe and further bolster GDP growth. Perhaps the Young Presidents’ Organization members in Europe are not so irrational after all. There are some solid underpinnings for their relatively optimistic view. Even more interesting is a comparison of confidence levels for YPO members in Europe versus their counterparts in the United States. Confidence in the United States rose in the January because U.S. GDP growth is expected to accelerate to 3.3% in 2015. As a result, the survey reading for the United States matched the high for the cycle at 65.0. Confidence among YPO members in Europe was not too far behind, at 61.2. Not too shabby for a region which is generally regarded as a basket case. Surveys are surveys, and either or both groups of survey respondents could be wrong. But when a group of corporate leaders in Europe can look at their own businesses and at the stimulative factors described above and not be too worried, then perhaps the degree of pessimism about the region is greatly exaggerated. cr bj
Reach economist Stephen D. Slifer at steve@numbernomics.com.
Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015
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People in the News advises clients on federal statutes and regulatory regimes including The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Jaros received his J.D. from the University of Virginia and his Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Brown University. Brady R. Thomas has been named a member of Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman. Thomas joined the firm in 2010 as an associate. He focuses on busiThomas ness litigation, class action lawsuits, medical devices, personal injury, product and premises liability, truck accidents and vehicle defects. Thomas is a 2004 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree in political science from Florida State University.
INSURANCE Andrew Muller of Mappus Insurance Agency in Charleston has been elected to the board of directors of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association Muller of South Carolina. The association is an advocate for bringing new insurance companies into the state to provide more affordable options for homeowners on the coast as well as help with legislation on issues such as flood insurance. Jessica Zelten has joined Tony Pope’s State Farm insurance office in Summerville as an insurance account representative. Zelten has six years of experience Zelten with State Farm and is licensed in property and casualty and life and health. Vickie Waller of Charleston and Daphne Wright of Goose Creek are among seven newly elected members of the Consumers’ Choice Health Plan of South Carolina board of directors. Waller is a former Small Business Administration area director who now owns and operates several boating industry businesses in the Charleston area. Wright is an educational consultant for nonprofit organizations.
REAL ESTATE
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Carolina One Real Estate Services has hired Shari Gordon in the U.S. Highway 17 North office in Mount Pleasant and Kathryn Poe in the West Ashley office on Orleans Road. Gordon is a graduate of Ohio State with a degree in fashion merchandising. After a 20 years in retail, Gordon embarked on real estate. Poe is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She opened and operated May Mojo Boutique in 2006 until it was sold in 2014.
Union Provisions has promoted Jimmy Shea to bar manager. Shea previously worked at 39 Rue de Jean as a bartender and Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royale as head bartender.
Col. Alvin A. Taylor, director of S.C. Department of Natural Resources, has been elected chairman of the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium’s board of directors as Taylor of Jan. 1. Taylor graduated from Clemson University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in zoology. He completed training at the U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Training Center in Yorktown, Va., in Neff 1976 and graduated from the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy in 1977. Additionally, Michele M. Neff was hired by the consortium as an accountant and fiscal analyst. Her job duties include grants accounting and management, budget analysis and revenue and expense reporting. She also will serve as the agency’s benefits coordinator, recruiting manager and assistant on other human resources activities. Neff earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and accounting from Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, N.J., and a human resources certificate from Penn State University.
Bobby Carrier has joined Caldwell Commercial as vice president of commercial property management. Carrier previously worked as director of properCarrier ty management for Colliers International, Carmody Co. and CBRE. Carrier is a graduate of Gardner Webb University with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting. Stacey Riederer and Kinsey Scroggs have joined NAI Avant’s Charleston commercial real estate office. Riederer, who will serve as office manager, was previously an executive assistant and office manager for Curtain Wall Design & Consulting Inc. in Purcellville, Va. At NAI Avant, she will oversee all daily office operations and provide brokerage and administrative support. Scroggs will be a senior administrative assistant. Previously, she held a senior administration position with Holcombe, Fair & Lane, a Charleston-based real estate investment company. As senior administrative assistant, Scroggs will provide executive-level broker assistance and support to the brokerage team.
COUNSELING Parke Smith has opened Lowcountry Counseling Services LLC at 3 Gamecock Ave., Suite 304A, in West Ashley and at 1060B Cliffwood Drive in Mount PleasSmith ant. Smith specializes in counseling and diagnostic assessments for children and adults. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s in hospitality management. He has a Master of Science in clinical counseling from Loyola University and trained at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, focusing on the mind-body connection. Smith is certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, an integrative psychotherapy approach for trauma treatment, and is trained in neuro-feedback.
Ted’s Butcherblock has promoted Jamey Fairchild from sous chef to head chef and has hired Sarah O’Kelly as wine consultant. Fairchild is now in charge of Fairchild creating the shop’s prepared foods and catering options, including the featured Friday dinner menu. Fairchild attended culinary school at Johnson and Wales in 2000. He came to Ted’s in 2011. O’Kelly will be responsible for overhauling the shop’s wine selections and providing staff members and customers with tasting notes and tips on pairings. She previously worked at Ted’s before leaving to start The Glass Onion. Jonathan Kaldas has been named executive chef for the Charleston location of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, which will open this spring. In addition, John St. John has been named Kaldas general manager for the restaurant. Kaldas has a silver medal in the American Culinary Federation Culinary S.C. State Competition, as well as a bronze medal in the federation’s Culinary Southeast Regional Competition. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of Charleston in 2010, Kaldas has held positions at The Meeting Room Restaurant, Ms. Rose’s Fine Food & Cocktails, The Woodlands Inn and Tristan, which formerly occupied Ruth’s Chris’ space at 55 S. Market St. in the French Quarter Inn.
SPORTS & RECREATION US Club Soccer has named Kevin Payne as CEO. Payne’s career includes 25 years of executive leadership positions within U.S. Soccer and Major League Soccer. Payne Bill Sage remains as executive director. Payne assembled the first ownership group for D.C. United and was a founding member of the MLS board of governors. Payne also previously served as president and general manager of D.C. United.
The Christian-Jewish Council has named Martha Jane Hudnall as program chairwoman, Mary Lee Lavelle as secretary and Doug Boston as treasurer. New board members include Aristotle Damaskos, Kathleen Rodgers and Elijah Siegler.
ENGINEERING Meridian Energy & Environment LLC has hired Kingman Hodgkiss as an engineer-in-training. Hodgkiss was previously with Design South Professionals Hodgkiss Inc. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering from Clemson University and will assist in providing environmental engineering and permitting services to industrial clients.
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Business Digest Berkeley Electric Cooperative given Legacy Builder award by Berkeley County Schools
Rodney Thompson (right), superintendent of the Berkeley County School District, and Kent Murray (from left), chairman of the school district, present a Legacy Builder award to Berkeley Electric trustees the Rev. Joe Gibbs and Willis Sanders, marketing director Eddie Plowden and communications director Leisa Stilley in recognition of the co-op’s past efforts and the launch of its 75 Acts of Education program to
Wells Fargo gives $300,000 to S.C. Community Loan Fund
Wells Fargo approved a $300,000 equity equivalent investment in December to the S.C. Community Loan Fund for use within its Revolving Loan Fund. This marks Wells Fargo’s second investment in two years for community development projects throughout South Carolina. The investment money is reserved for Wells Fargo’s nonprofit community development partners that are working to expand affordable housing, job creation and economic development in the communities where Wells Fargo does business.
Magnolia Plantation Foundation awards $90,000 in grants
The Magnolia Plantation Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, has awarded $90,000 in grants to 21 local and national organizations that support a variety of causes. The foundation gave grants to selected nonprofit groups involved with animal welfare, nature conservation, history, youth activities, education, horticulture and the arts. Berkeley County First Steps, based in Hanahan, received a grant for the first time this year. The foundation gave the state-funded, early childhood education program a grant for its literacy program. The foundation also awarded grants to the Charleston Animal Society in North Charleston, Francis R. Willis Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Summerville and Pet Helpers on James Island, among other organizations.
MedCare Urgent Care awarded ambulatory health accreditation
MedCare Urgent Care, an independently owned and physician-directed urgent care practice, has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compli-
The Berkeley County school board has named Berkeley Electric Cooperative a “Legacy Builder” award winner in recognition of the company’s support of area schools. Berkeley Electric performs energy audits for Berkeley district schools, participates in the development of best practices for school construction and offers rebates for energy-efficient designs. The nonprofit recently gave more than $25,000 to the district as part of its Capital Credits refund program, which returns surplus revenues to cooperative members based on energy use and length of membership. Employees also volunteer for the Berkeley County School District Math Buddies and lunch programs.
ance with its standards. To qualify for the honor, MedCare underwent an unannounced, multiday, on-site survey of all of its clinics in December.
equipment assessments and maintenance implementation plans for the Navy. Life Cycle Engineering has developed the Shipboard Equipment Assessment Coach program, designed to help improve the Navy’s maintenance planning, Consolidated Ship Maintenance Plan management and equipment repair processes through on-site, hands-on training.
Berkeley County collaborating with state on strategic plan Evolve Fitness Studio celebrates grand opening in Summerville
The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce and Evolve Fitness Studio LLC recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Evolve’s new location at 131 S. Main St. in Summerville. Evolve Fitness Studio is a private fitness studio that specializes in corrective exercise, bodywork therapy and sports fitness.
Southern Season makes grants to local hunger organizations
Share the Food Foundation, the nonprofit arm of gourmet retailer Southern Season, gave grants to several organizations in 2014 to fight poverty and hunger in communities where Southern Season stores are located. South Carolina recipients were East Cooper Meals on Wheels and St. Paul’s Summerville Low Country Food Bank. Share the Food donated more than $175,000 to help feed the hungry over two years. Southern Season employees also volunteer their time to work with some of these organizations
Life Cycle Engineering to offer new program with Navy
Life Cycle Engineering is participating in a new program to offer shipboard
The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce is collaborating with local government, education, health care and other local business and community leaders on a strategic community and economic development planning process. The vision plan will be led by Sen. Paul Campbell, Berkeley County delegation member; Dwayne Cartwright of Berkeley Electric Cooperative; Jesica Mackey from the city of Goose Creek; and Caldwell Pinckney of Berkeley County Council. Input from the community is being sought as well, through focus groups and interviews and an online survey that is open to all current and former residents of the Berkeley County area.
Colliers International launches website for commercial listings
Colliers International has launched its newly enhanced website, which is designed to provide online visitors with market information on available properties and includes an advanced design and easy-to-read layout. The new website offers a resource for detailed information on all of Colliers’ listings in South Carolina, and it shows the services the company offers, including property management, real estate brokerage services and project management.
Jeff Cook Real Estate opens downtown Summerville office
The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce and Jeff Cook Real Estate recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of company’s downtown Summerville office. Office manager Jennifer Young and agents Heather Beyler, Holly Carder, Phillip Wilson, Kim Martier and Michael Dixon work out of the new office, located on South Cedar Street.
David Rice (from left) and Jerry Walter of Davis & Floyd, Jim Tuten of Clemson University Restoration Institute, and Kevin Shokes and Rhett Reidenbach of Davis & Floyd.
North Charleston’s Davis & Floyd engineering wins state award
Davis & Floyd Inc. engineering firm of North Charleston won an Engineering Excellence award from the American Council of Engineering Companies and was named a national finalist. Davis & Floyd’s wind turbine drivetrain test facility project for Clemson University Restoration Institute won the state award in the category of building and technology systems of more than $10 million; it will be considered for the national award.
S.C. Aging in Place Coalition joins national group
The S.C. Aging in Place Coalition has become a chapter of the National Aging in Place Council. The Greater Charleston Chapter is a nonprofit organization supporting people as they prepare to age in place independently, comfortably and safely. Its initiatives include community education, employment, housing, outreach and transportation.
Communities In Schools campaign raises $100,000
Communities In Schools of the Charleston Area dropout prevention organization received a total of $102,585 in donations in 2014. The money raised will help the organization sustain and strengthen its program throughout the community.
Premier Logistics Solutions acquires Trans-Hold Inc.
Trans-Hold Inc. has entered into an agreement with Hanahan-based Premier Logistics Solutions under which Premier will acquire Trans-Hold, a warehousing logistics company. The acquisition became effective Oct. 17.
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Hot Properties The following commercial real estate transactions were recently completed in the Charleston area. For weekly updates on commercial deals, see the Hot Properties feature every Monday in the Daily Journal email or online at www.charlestonbusiness.com. To submit items for the feature, send email to dailyjournal@scbiznews.com.
Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young represented the landlord, Long Point Center LLC, in the lease of a 7,027-square-foot office space at 503 Wando Park Blvd. in Mount Pleasant to Lueder, Larkin & Hunter LLC. Tradd Varner of Coldwell Banker Commercial represented the tenant. Todd P. Garrett of Avison Young represented the landlord, 4281 Piggly Wiggly Drive LLC, in the lease of a 12,200-square-foot industrial warehouse at 4281 Piggly Wiggly Drive in North Charleston to Nostalgia Garage LLC. Del Shaffer of Carolina One Real Estate represented the tenant. Will Sherrod of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the owners of Pier Pont Crossing in the lease of more than 6,000 cumulative square feet of retail space at 2408 Ashley River Road to three new tenants, Ballroom Dance of Charleston, Famulari’s Pizza and Fit & Fresh. Pete Harper of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, Six Ensign Group LLC, in the lease of 2,993 square feet of office space at 1941 Savage Road, Suites 400A & 400B, in Charleston to Southern Atlantic Mechanical. R. Milton Thomas III of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, DDM Real Estate LLC, in the sale of a 4,961-square-foot office and warehouse building at 119 Memory Lane in Goose Creek to Sweeping South Inc. for $312,000. Trey Lucy and Blair Belk of Belk Lucy represented the landlord in the anchor lease of 46,540 square feet of retail space at Bowman Place in Mount Pleasant to Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. Trey Lucy and Blair Belk of Belk Lucy represented the landlord in the lease of 19,205 square feet of space at Bowman Place in Mount Pleasant to Kitchen & Co.
Kip Bowman and Tradd Varner of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the landlord, Nikki Lang, in the lease of a 3,198-square-foot office building at 2265209 Clements Ferry Road in Berkeley County. Oliver Mathewes of Carolina One Commercial Real Estate represented the tenant, Marolina Outdoors Inc. Drayton Calmes of Norvell Real Estate Group LLC represented the buyer, Marshall Bridge Capital LLC, in the sale of an 18,500-square-foot office and warehouse building at 3445 Buffalo Ave. in North Charleston to HD Supply for $1.5 million. Charlie Moore of Carolina Commercial represented the seller. Carl Michael Harrison with The Beach Co. – Beach Commercial represented the landlord, The Pastime Amusement Co., in the lease of 2,000 square feet of retail space in Island Center, at 1521 Palm Blvd. on the Isle of Palms to Sandy Cove Veterinary Clinic LLC. Chad Yonce of Southeastern Management Group represented the landlord, Lake Hunter Partners LLC, in the lease of 884 square feet of office space at 990 Lake Hunter Circle in Mount Pleasant to Coastal Tides Counseling LLC. Southeastern Management Group also represented the tenant. Chad Yonce of Southeastern Management Group represented the landlord, Lake Hunter Partners LLC, in the lease of 332 square feet of office space at 990 Lake Hunter Circle in Mount Pleasant to Providence Presbyterian Church. Southeastern Management Group also represented the tenant. Thomas Boulware VI of NAI Avant’s Charleston office represented the tenant, Safran Labinal Power Systems, in the lease of 19,500 square feet of space at 6209 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston. Woody Kapp of Meyer Kapp & Associates represented the landlord. Edward Oswald and Benjy Cooke of Oswald Cooke & Associates represented the buyer, Carolina Child Care Properties LLC, in the purchase of about 15,700 square feet of space at 7065 Cross County Road for $3.17 million. Edward Oswald and Benjy Cooke of Oswald Cooke & Associates represented the buyer, Carolina Child Care Properties LLC, in the purchase of about 4,800 square feet of space at 1859 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. for $2.88 million. Jonathan Chalfie of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, 3614 Ashley Phosphate Rd LLC, in the sale of an 8,000-square-foot office building at 3614 Ashley Phosphate Road in North Charleston to LDS REIT LLC. Amanda Reeves of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the buyer.
Robert Pratt at Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, Evangeline Kerr, in the lease of 1,200 square feet of space at 9279 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite D, in North Charleston to Eyecare Physicians & Surgeons LLC.
Kip Bowman of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the seller, Palmetto Interiors, in the sale of a 13,000-squarefoot industrial building at 3538 Meeks Farm Road on Johns Island. Patrick Price of The Prime South Group represented the buyer.
Robert Pratt and Jim Hamilton at Re/Max Pro Realty represented the seller, William Goshorn Jr. and Robert Goshorn, in the sale of a 1,481-square-foot building at 812 N. Cedar St. in Summerville. Robin Hanckel at Elaine Brabham and Associates represented the buyer, Juan and Lina Acevedo.
Trey Lucy and Blair Belk of Belk Lucy represented the landlord in the lease of 500 square feet of retail space at 357 N. Shelmore Blvd. to Be the Change Boutique LLC.
Chad Yonce and Bryan Perrucci of Southeastern Management Group represented the Landlord, 43-45-47 Broad LLC, in the lease of 2,300 square feet of office space at 43 Broad St. in Charleston to Diversified Resource Management. Southeastern Management Group also represented the tenant.
Marlena Franklin of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the buyer, Dependable Paper LLC, in the purchase of a 4-acre space at 150 Royle Road in Ladson from BTI Investments. Thomas Boulware of NAI Avant represented the seller.
Gerry Schauer and Jeremy Willits of Avison Young represented the landlord, First Point Properties LLC, in the lease of a 6,655-square-foot office expansion at 498 Wando Park Blvd. in Mount Pleasant to Jear Logistics LLC. Todd P. Garrett of Avison Young represented Plan C Investments LLC in the sale of a 9,600-square-foot office and warehouse building at 2285 West Technical Parkway in North Charleston to Pass-A-Grille Realty Co. for $781,000. John Tison of Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer represented the buyer. Shep Benjamin of Caldwell Commercial represented the tenant, Agape Senior Primary Care Inc., in the lease of 2,671 square feet of office space at 2680 Elms Plantation Blvd. in North Charleston. Gerry Schauer and Jeremy Willits of Avison Young represented the landlord. Gerry Schauer and Jeremy Willits of Avison Young represented the landlord, Trident United Way, in the lease of an office space at 6296 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston to the Small Business Development Center. Tradd Varner of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic Inc. represented the tenant, Premier Portable Building, in the lease of 1 acre of retail space at 211 Trolley Road in Summerville. Bob Glover of Harmon Properties represented the landlord. Charles Constant of Domicile Real Estate Brokerage represented the tenant and landlord in the lease renewal of 1,655 square feet of retail space at 363 King St. in Charleston. Mark Erickson of Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer represented the tenant, On The Go Deliveries Inc., in the lease of 11,953 square feet of industrial space at 1005 Bankton Circle in Hanahan.
Todd P. Garrett of Avison Young represented the landlord, Palms Preferred Properties LLC, in the lease extension of a 2,100-square-foot office and warehouse space at 7187 Bryhawke Circle in North Charleston to Cutting Edge Cabinets LLC. Isabelle Martinez of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the seller, Thomas D. Lee, in the sale of a 1.03acre multifamily space at 5631 Garrett Ave. in North Charleston. Todd P. Garrett of Avison Young represented the landlord, Nancy Crockett Cooper, in the lease of a 2,400-square-foot office and warehouse building at 3281 Associates Ave. in North Charleston to Horizon Landscape Management Services. Ed Kercher of Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer represented the tenant, Parsons, in the lease renewal of 25,700 square feet of office space at 2457 Aviation Ave. in North Charleston. Edward Robinson of The Beach Co. represented the landlord, Sherry Lee Taylor, in the lease of 1,200 square feet of office space on the second floor at 178 1/2 King Street in downtown Charleston to Orrie Lee Tawes III and Satinwood Ltd. Gerry Schauer of Avison Young represented the tenants. Thomas G. Buist of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, M&C of Charleston LLC, in the lease of a 10,000-square-foot warehouse space at 7289 Spa Road in North Charleston to Infinger Furniture. Will Martin of Holcombe, Fair & Lane represented the tenant.
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Hot Properties Will Sherrod of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, Carolina Bank, in the sale of 1.43 acres of land at 5689 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston to JTMG III LLC. Todd P. Garrett of Avison Young represented the landlord, GGT&S LLC, in the lease extension of an 8,000-square-foot office and warehouse building at 7385 Industry Drive in North Charleston to Horizon Landscape Management Services. Carl Michael Harrison of The Beach Co. – Beach Commercial represented the landlord, Majestic Square LLC, in the lease of 1,880 square feet of retail restaurant space at 159 Market St. in Charleston to Milmat LLC, dba Cafe Framboise.
Edward Robinson of The Beach Co. represented the tenant, National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, in the lease of 1,399 square feet of office space at 528 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant from Marshland Management LLC. Dan Henderson of CCBG Real Estate Group represented the landlord. Reid Davis and Pete Harper of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the buyer, Holder Properties, in the sale of land at 1 Central Island Plaza on Daniel Island for $1.05 million for the development of a 75,000-square-foot office building. Chip Shealy of CBRE Inc. represented the tenant, Lasik Vision Institute, in the lease of office space at 1801 Old Trolley Road in Summerville from Sal Investments LLC. Markus Kastenholz of CBRE Inc. represented the landlord. Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord in the lease extension of 630 square feet of space at 100 S. Main Street, Suite L, in Summerville to Cypress Engineering LLC.
Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young represented the landlord, Three Broad Inc. in the lease extension of an office space at 3 Broad St. in Charleston to Richard Cutler. Blair Belk and Trey Lucy represented the landlord in the lease of 1,450 square feet of space at 217 Lucas St., Unit G, to Teacups and Trucks LLC. Jason Ogden of The Cassina Group represented the tenant. Pete Harper of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, Acquired Capital II LP, in the lease expansion into 4,962 square feet of Class A office space at the Atrium Northwoods, 7301 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston, to Dan Ryan Homes. J. Ryan Welch of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, Wando Park Investors LLC, in the lease of a 2,190-square-foot office suite at 502 Wando Park Blvd., Suite 109, in Mount Pleasant to Alder Energy Systems LLC. Dexter Rumsey of NAI Avant represented the tenant. Thomas G. Buist of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, ITT Aerospace Controls LLC, in the sale of a 41,816-square-foot industrial building at 5154 U.S. Highway 78 in St. George to Comact Equipment Inc. for $850,000. Charlie Moore of Carolina Commercial LLC represented the buyer.
Alex Irwin of Newmark Grubb Wilson Kibler represented the seller, Fsisub LLC, in the sale of a 12,500-square-foot industrial building on 3.91 acres at 7365 Cross County Road in North Charleston. CJ Garrett of Lowcountry Property Management represented the buyer. Pete Harper of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, STH LLC, in the lease of 4,706 square feet of office space at 3125 Ashley Phosphate Road, Suites 117 and 118, in North Charleston to Serco Inc. Lee Allan of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the tenant. Todd P. Garrett of Avison Young represented Infinger Family LLC in the lease extension of a 4,500-square-foot office and warehouse building at 4748 Franchise St., Suite C, in North Charleston to K Construction Co. Inc. Chip Shealy of CBRE Inc. represented the buyer, 1906 LLC, in the purchase of a 27,900-square-foot warehouse at 2718 Azalea Drive in North Charleston for $1.4 million. Thomas Buist of Lee and Associates of Charleston represented the seller. Charlie Carmody and Chip Shealy of CBRE Inc. represented the seller, AT&T, in the sale of an 80,903-square-foot office building at 385 Meeting St. in downtown Charleston to Jupiter Holdings for $15.61 million. Tradd Varner of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the landlord, PV II LLC, in the lease extension of a 1,156-square-foot office space at 1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd. in Mount Pleasant.
John H. Tison of Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer represented the buyer, Bartlett Tree Experts, in the purchase of a 9,000-square-foot flex building on 1.2 acres at 2285 Technical Parkway in the Wildwood Business Park in North Charleston from Plan C Investments LLC for $781,000.
Thomas Boulware of NAI Avant’s Charleston office represented the landlord in the lease of 1,000 square feet of space at Midway Plaza, 1300 Savannah Highway, Unit C, in Charleston, to the electronic cigarette group Zuluvape.
Charles Constant of Domicile Real Estate Brokerage represented the tenant, Roberta Roller Rabbit, in the lease of 1,425 square feet of retail space at 336 King St. in downtown Charleston. Jennifer Davis of Domicile Real Estate Brokerage represented the landlord. Jack Owens and Bob Nuttall of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, Pierpont Baptist Church, in the sale of a 20,117-square-foot church building at 2498/2508 Ashley River Road in West Ashley for $1.1 million. Bud Poston of Century 21 Properties Plus represented the buyer. Todd P. Garrett of Avison Young represented the tenant, City Electric Supply Co., in the lease extension of a 5,000-square-foot office and warehouse space at 2200 Heriot St. in North Charleston from G.S. Carter & Son Inc. Will Martin of Holcombe, Fair & Lane represented the landlord. David Grubbs of NAI Avant’s Charleston office represented the seller, CEC Partners LLC, in the sale of 2.24 acres of land at the corner of Stockdale Street and Park West Boulevard in Mount Pleasant to Losajes Ltd. for $1 million. Scott Benedict of Carolina One Real Estate represented the buyer. Will Sherrod of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the owners of Pier Pont Crossing at 2408 Ashley River Road in Charleston in the lease of 2,460 square feet of retail space. Pete Harper of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the owner of West Charleston Business Center, 1941 Savage Road in Charleston, in the lease renewal of 2,080 square feet of office space to Integral Solutions Group. Jack V. Owens of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, North Central Apartments L.P., in the sale of a 31,711-square-foot former skating rink at 1056 King St. in downtown Charleston for $1.225 million. R. Hamilton Morrison with Reyworks LLC represented the buyer. Todd P. Garrett of Avison Young represented the buyer, 1063 Morrison Drive LLC, in the purchase of a 7,364-square-foot office and warehouse building at 1063 Morrison Drive in Charleston from Lord & Evans Investment Corp. LLC for $1.087 million. J. Steve Wray of Carolina One Real Estate Services represented the seller.
Jeremy Willits and Gerry Schauer of Avison Young represented the landlord, Mazyck Holdings LLC, in the lease of office space at 7 Charlotte St. in Charleston to Barry Emerson. Pete Harper of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the landlord, STH LLC, in the lease of 3,554 square feet of office space at 3125 Ashley Phosphate Road, Suites 109 and 110, in North Charleston to Eagle Fire Inc. Lee Allan of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the tenant. Dewey B. Golub of Keller Williams Realty Charleston represented the buyer, RCC Investments 1081 Morrison LLC, in the purchase of two vacant lots on Isabella Street. Amanda Reeves and Jack Owens of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the buyer, King Street Partners LLC, in the purchase of 583 King St. in Charleston for $3.325 million from TKH Holdings Group LLC. Anton Sedalik of Prospect Real Estate Brokers LLC represented the seller. Patrick Bell of Dunes Commercial Properties and Kristin Walker of Dunes Properties of Charleston represented the seller in the sale of 706 Meeting St. in downtown Charleston to Raven Cliff Co. Michael Wooddy of Raven Cliff Co. represented the buyer. Thomas G. Buist of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, Atlantic Avenue Partners LLC, and the buyer, Rancho McBog LLC, in the sale of a 23,000-squarefoot industrial building at 3265 Fortune Drive in North Charleston for $1.166 million. Gordon Geer and Miles Barkley of Lee & Associates Charleston represented the seller, EPSR Group LLC, in the sale of 2.51 acres at 2520 Ashley River Road in West Ashley for $600,000. Bud Poston of Century 21 Properties Plus represented the buyer.
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Viewpoint: Our Opinion
One River, One Boat 2 minutes too much If Gov. Nikki Haley had just let the Lowcountry poet read her work, we might not have given the underlying messages nearly as much thought. For that, we must thank the governor. As outlets across the state and nation, including The Washington Post and NPR, reported, South Carolina made news when Haley eliminated the state’s poet laureate from the governor’s recent inauguration. In doing so, Haley might have done more for highlighting the role that arts and literature play in advancing the conversation on race relations than any English or government class could. If you haven’t read Marjory Wentworth’s poem One River, One Boat, you likely will, but it’s doubtful that you would have had Haley allowed the Mount Pleasant resident to read the poem during the inauguration. Since that time, Haley’s people have said the governor didn’t have time to include the extra two minutes it would have taken to read the poem. Wentworth was invited to speak at the past three gubernatorial inaugurations, including Haley’s. Unlike Wentworth’s work for those events, this poem talks about some of South Carolina’s underlying issues, many grounded in a history of trafficking human beings for slave labor. Wentworth told NPR she was moved watching the protests across the country after the deaths of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Mo., and New York City. Her poem includes several images that push South Carolina’s past into the present, and when you read One River, One Boat, you quickly realize this isn’t a public relations piece. We suspect Haley has designs on national office. We also suspect that she would prove to be a good fit. She’s considered a rising star in the Republican Party, her legacy of job creation in South Carolina is a noteworthy accomplishment, and if she can facilitate the passage of big initiatives, such as an effective infrastructure improvement bill, by navigating and cajoling a notoriously prickly S.C. Legislature, she will have established three essential credentials that can lead her to national office. Another credential that remains elusive for many Southern politicians could be clearly in Haley’s grasp if she could find a way, on behalf of her state, to welcome truth — however painful — publicly and gracefully.
Views, perspectives and readers’ letters
The case for public transportation
W
hile there is a growing consciousness of transit alternatives in the region, let’s face it: There’s also a stigma attached to public transportation in much of America and in most of the South. Unfortunately, the Lowcountry is no exception. But as our roads become more and more congested, even the staunchest car-centric residents agree that something has to be done to literally keep our region moving forward. Part of the solution — for individuals and employers — is public transit. Jeff Burns The idea is demonstrably taking hold, fueled by transplants who expect reliable public transportation, exasperated natives who have seen once-free-flowing roads choked out and elected leaders who know our economic well-being hangs in the balance. Consider this: In 2014, the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority set a system ridership record of 5,000,462. It’s the first time we’ve crossed the 5 million threshold and it represents a 15% increase since 2010. Simply put, more people are riding the bus in Charleston than ever before. That’s progress. Still, for many, public transit is an unfamiliar entity. They see our fleet on the highway and our 723 stops and think, “Eh, that’s not for me.” Maybe you’re one of those. But why? Perhaps you feel you’re in the wrong demographic? CARTA ridership — surprisingly to some — runs the full socioeconomic spectrum, from retirees and minimum-wage workers to highly trained nursing managers and lawyers. Meanwhile, business travelers and tourists alike have taken to our Downtown Area Shuttles and the North Area Shuttle Express, an hourly, $3 direct connection from the Charleston International Airport to the Charleston Visitor Center. If it’s a question of timeliness, yes, public transit requires some foresight, but tools such as our Bustracker and Google Transit allow riders to efficiently map trips on our 25 routes. CARTA’s on-time performance borders on 90%. For context, that number in Atlanta was below 80% in 2014. The benefits of public transit on micro and macro levels are myriad. A few include:
More space on our roads
You think traffic is bad now? Imagine Interstate 526 or U.S. Highway 17 flooded with thousands of additional vehicles every day. That would be bad news for everyone, from commuters to the Port of Charleston. And with 1,300 residents arriving in the region each month, traffic mitigation is crucial.
Less wear on our infrastructure
South Carolina roads are in abysmal shape. A recent study estimated that roads cost South Carolinians
$3 billion annually. Mass transit use reduces the daily pounding on infrastructure.
Big-time savings for riders
A report last year from the American Public Transportation Association found that the average public transportation user saves more than $10,000 annually. Additionally, not driving during a commute frees up time to read, check email, text safely — or just relax. While our unprecedented ridership volume is welcome, it does present challenges. Public transit is a service, and much like police and fire departments, CARTA does not make a profit. Our funding comes from a mix of federal dollars, local half-cent sales tax revenue, fare recovery and advertising. Fortunately, we have grown our advertising revenue and strengthened a number of strategic partnerships over the past year. A prime example is our work with Boeing South Carolina, Tanger Outlets and the city of North Charleston. That trio funds the Nash Express and its affiliate route, the Nash Circulator — a free connection from the outlets and airport area to Olde North Charleston. We welcome such collaboration and encourage it among large employers and the many smart firms popping up in the region. Look no further than the Medical University of South Carolina and its thousands of employees for an excellent template. Mount Pleasant, meanwhile, has shown its commitment to public transit by incorporating transit considerations into its development strategy. A prime example of that is a pair of high-quality bus shelters that opened in January at Towne Centre. And, of course, the city of Charleston remains an integral part of our success. A million passengers rode our city-funded Dash trolleys last year. Ultimately, however, the system will need more investment to meet the demands placed on it by a growing population and ridership. Our fleet today is in need of considerable updating and our service frequency in a number of areas needs to be increased. Tough decisions are on the horizon, and we hope the business community will stand with CARTA as it looks to secure additional resources. For now, however, we’re excited and thankful for our continued growth. And you’re invited to hop on board. Jeff Burns is the interim executive director of the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority.
We want to hear from you Write: Andy Owens, Managing Editor Charleston Regional Business Journal, 1439 Stuart Engals Blvd., Suite 200 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Email: editorial@scbiznews.com
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Feb. 23 - Mar. 8, 2015