GSAPIB2011 by SC Biz News

2011

IN Business

SPONSORED BY:

MIDLANDS

Reach the state’s top decision makers with an integrated marketing plan from

S.C. March jobless rate highest since ’83 South Carolina’s unemployment rate rose to 11.4% in March, equaling the highest rate ever recorded since January 1983. The March figure was five-tenths of a point higher than the revised February rate of 10.9%. Highlights: 10 counties in Upstate Alliance Rank County in state

Jobless rate

4 Union 20% 12 Cherokee 16.4% 18 Oconee 14.3% 19 Abbeville 14% 23 Greenwood 13% 29 Anderson 11.9% 30 Spartanburg 11.6% 33 Laurens 10.9% 37 Pickens 9.9% 40 Greenville 9.6% Source: S.C. Employment Security Commission

Fluor’s mastery of wind power yields European projects

CHANGE

by James T. Hammond jhammond@scbiznews.com

Greenville and South Carolina have a growing cluster of expertise in harnessing the wind. GE Energy makes electric generators driven by windmills capable of lighting a small town. Fluor Corp. builds wind farms that stand like centurions at sea and pour out enough power for a city. Three companies in S.C. make bearings for the huge machines. Wind turbines utilize free energy, and emit no harmful carbon pollutants. The American Wind Energy Association estimates U.S. wind power capacity will grow 20%, or 5,000 megawatts, this year alone. Demand for this new-technology hardware will preserve jobs, or even increase employment in the Upstate.

GE Energy expects demand to grow for generators built in Greenville factory Wind-powered turbines critical

to future growth

by James T. Hammond jhammond@scbiznews.com

I Spotlight Ben Stevens: a family lawyer turns Apple guru PAGE 19

Volume 12, No. 18 • $2.00

www.gsabusiness.com

WINDS OF

n the next 20 years, worldwide electricity demand is expected to double, and the world’s largest gas turbine plant, operated by General Electric on Garlington Road in Greenville, is retooling itself to meet a diverse set of global needs, including wind power generators. Already one of every two wind turbines in the United States today is made by GE. Last year, GE Energy built 604 of the 60-ton wind turbine machine heads in Greenville. (The blades are made elsewhere.) see GE, page 16

luor Corp. saw the potential of wind power early in the technology’s development, and set out to become a major player for renewable sources of energy. “We saw the potential in this technology six or seven years ago,” said David Eppinger, vice president in the power division at Fluor. “We believed it would yield projects of the size and complexity that Fluor is known to execute very well.” Today, the engineering and conEppinger struction company that employs more than 2,500 professionals in Greenville is the prime contractor for the world’s largest wind turbine project under construction – the Greater Gabbard Offshore Farm near Britain’s Suffolk coast. The giant turbines will occupy a hostile, corrosive environment of saltwater, waves and storms, while resting on pylons in water as deep as 100 feet. Despite those challenges, the service life of each of the high-tech windmills is expected to be 20-25 years. The $2 billion-plus, 500-megawatt complex is expected to be 20 miles or more from shore, minimizing visual and noise objections from neighbors. The 140 windmills will stand on 260-foottall towers and have three-bladed rotors that are more than 300 feet in diameter. Siemens Wind Power A/S will build turbines for the British project. Each one will pump out 3.6 megawatts of see PROJECTS, page 13

insidE

To subscribe to GSA Business call (864) 517-1492

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID GREENVILLE SC PERMIT 294

To t SC Biz News delivers the hard facts and expert analysis about business issues across all of South Carolina with no fluff.

Leading Off .................2 In Focus: Energy ......................11 list: lEEd Accredited Professionals ..........15 list: largest utility Providers .................18

At Work ....................17 Real Estate ...............20 People in the News ...21 Calendar ...................21 Leads .......................21 News Briefs ..............22 Viewpoint..................23

UPSTATE

Whether your focus is hyper-local or statewide, you can rely on SC BIZ NEWS print publications, electronic products & event sponsorship opportunities to deliver your message to our targeted audience of business leaders.

April 27 - May 10, 2009

389 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Suite 200, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

M l

SC BIZ NEWS.

BuildErs, BAnks join city to Add AffordABlE homEs PAGE 6

Winter 2009

STATEWIDE

For more information about any of our products, contact Steve Fields at sfields@scbiznews.com or 843.849.3110

389 Johnnie Dodds Blvd Suite 200 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PA I D COLUMBIA SC PERMIT # 380

The Lohnen Group

Varied experience drives success for The Lohnen Group’s clients

n 2005, a friend who is CFO of a major manufacturer in the Greenville area asked Donna Rauch if she knew someone who could partner with her to develop a cost and pricing structure for a new product line. “The company was rapidly expanding and she had no time and her staff was busy on other projects,” explains Rauch, who was working at the time as an operations manager for an IT company. Armed with an extensive list of contacts, Rauch went over the list with her friend, explaining what each person could bring to the project and how to get it done. Before the meeting was over, her friend asked Rauch to come on board and tackle it herself. “I had to admit, I enjoyed engaging in business growth projects but was concerned that the projects would end and I would be out of work,” she says. She shouldn’t have worried. Six years later, Rauch is president and CEO of The Lohnen Group with a bustling office on Main Street in downtown Greenville. The Lohnen Group provides professional accounting and financial consulting services for all stages of a business, including early growth and expansion and diversification, for continued financial improvement. “We allow entrepreneurs to focus on the passion and vision that created their business by establishing and managing sound accounting and financial processes,” says Rauch. The Lohnen Group also partners with more mature companies to establish pricing and cost structures, define measurable performance accountabilities and analyze customer financial performance. Although The Lohnen Group partners with a CPA firm on some projects, Rauch says the core business is based on her and her staff ’s experience and perspective as controllers, financial managers and business owners. “Technical knowledge is certainly important, but our team has experience in those key positions when products ship out the door, when decisions are made regarding product

Donna Rauch, owner of The Lohnen Group. lines, manufacturing lines and investing in capital to move an operation, etc.,” she says. This experience allows The Lohnen Group to drive results. Rauch says their success is based on the ability to see financial management as more than just debits and credits or accounting for money after it has been earned. “We understand that the needs of an ‘up and coming’ company are different than one ‘on the move’ or ‘off and running.’ We understand them because we have held management positions in those companies. We’ve been in the trenches,” she says. 2011 will be a year of developing strategic partnerships, Rauch says. “The Lohnen Group plans to include an IT partnership and CPA firm partnership to better meet the needs of our clients.”

135 S. Main Street, Suite 100 | Greenville, SC 29607 www.thelohnengroup.com | 864-752-5926

Special Advertising Supplement | 2011 Profiles in Business

The Palmetto Bank

Extending their long legacy of personal service

Corporate headquarters in downtown Greenville.

“There are three key attributes that make our company stand out from the rest,” says Erwin. In addition to having a rich history and being a one-stop shop for clientele, Erwin says The Palmetto Bank’s greatest asset is its staff. “We have outstanding bankers across our 29 offices and support areas and our decision makers are here in the Upstate with broad expertise that allows for a lot of flexibility.” The Palmetto Bank takes pride in the fact that its workforce ranges from 30-year employees to recent hires with experience from a variety of institutions and industries. Over the past couple of years, The Palmetto Bank has spent a considerable amount of time strategically positioning itself for continued growth. Erwin says that by reallocating resources and planning how best to add value to both current and potential relationships, The Palmetto Bank will introduce additional products and services such as mobile banking. “It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when,” he adds. “Our most recent strategic change has been to focus on segments of our clientele: retail or consumer clients, small business and mid-sized commercial clients. We will continue to grow and improve our ability to deliver financial solutions to our clients’ business challenges and opportunities.”

ince its establishment in 1906 in Laurens, S.C., The Palmetto Bank has grown to become a 29-office, 10-county community bank covering the entire Upstate region of South Carolina with headquarters in downtown Greenville. But one thing remains the same. Sam Erwin, Chief Executive Officer, notes that throughout the last century, The Palmetto Bank has developed a reputation for excellent client service. “Through all types of economic times, service remains critical to meeting and exceeding our clients’ need regardless of whether it is for a savings account for a newborn or a $5 million loan to finance a commercial project,” Erwin says. The Palmetto Bank offers a full array of financial services in retail and commercial banking as well as wealth management.

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8am-6pm Saturday 9am – 12 noon 1-800-PAL-BANK | palmettobank.com

6 2011 Profiles in Business | Special Advertising Supplement

Photo: Doug Jordan

Pratt Industries - Simpsonville and Summerville locations

100% Recycled Box Manufacturer creates new fulfillment and packaging solutions center in Summerville

Bill Fruetel (from left), Frank Adams, Todd Bowman and Susan Henderson make up the management team at Pratt Industries in Simpsonville. Jerry Ward (not pictured) manages the new Summerville facility.

ratt Industries is headquartered in Conyers, Ga., with a major converting facility in Simpsonville. The company has doubled its business in recent years and plans to continue that trend by providing award-winning customer service to manufacturers and consumer products companies seeking 100% recycled packaging for their products. This growth recently inspired Pratt Industries to expand to Summerville to offer its newest service of fulfillment and distribution solutions. Products can be packaged in either a climate-controlled or industrial environment in Summerville. “We can pull products from the Port of Charleston into Summerville, log each part into our Warehouse Management Software, design and produce creative packaging for the products, re-pack them and distribute them to the world from a single point of contact,” said General Manager Frank Adams. “The complete project management, from design to manufacturing to inventory control and supply chain solutions offered to customers, is second to none.” Founded in 1987, Pratt recycles paper and corrugated containers into new products for a 100% green packaging solution. That

effort earned it 2010 Partner of the Year Award and Eco Options Environmental Partner of the Year from Home Depot, as well as accolades from the Captain Planet and Global Green organizations. “Our ability to complete structural and graphic design, manufacture corrugated packaging and displays, as well as supply other packaging materials and complete fulfillment solutions for our customers’ products is something that is rarely available in our industry,” Adams said. “We truly partner with our customers by becoming part of their internal team for packaging solutions.” Pratt’s biggest challenges in recent years have been positive ones — dealing with tight space issues as the customer base has grown. The Simpsonville location created more than 15 jobs in the past year, including an additional shift to manufacture corrugated packaging, as well as staffing the new location in Summerville. “Our business strategy is to work with companies that are ready to challenge the status quo,” Adams said. “Our company desires to design and test what customers need for packaging their products.” The largest cost of packaging isn’t in the materials, it is from the products that are damaged as a result of the wrong packaging, he explained. “We grow where our partners need us,” Adams said, adding, “...We desire to build strong business relationships.”

The Simpsonville manufacturing site will expand to offer more packaging solution opportunities like those offered at Summerville.

1410 Old Stage Road | Simpsonville, SC 29681 864-963-0992 | www.prattindustries.com Summerville, SC | 843-695-6006 Special Advertising Supplement | 2011 Profiles in Business

Spirit Telecom

When it comes to South Carolina telecom, it’s Spirit all the way “We are in a unique position to serve businesses no matter where they are in the Palmetto State.” Grey Humphrey Executive vice president of sales, Spirit Telecom

Spirit Telecom’s Greenville team: Grey Humphrey, executive vice president of sales; Josephine Bernson, Greenville regional sales manager; Tim Tyler, director of sales for business markets.

fter more than 20 years serving South Carolina businesses, Spirit Telecom knows what it takes to keep its clients in communication. After all, it is owned by the independent telephone companies of South Carolina and dedicated to serving South Carolina businesses by providing the latest technology in voice services, data networks and the Internet. Last year, Spirit’s sister company, PalmettoNet, installed a 30mile fiber optic ring connecting downtown Greenville with the surrounding high-growth area. The fiber ring provides the high bandwidth needed for growth in a business environment and adds to Greenville’s reputation as a high-tech business center for leading-edge companies. Spirit Telecom brings combined telecommunications services to South Carolina companies, offering its clients the full range of voice, network, on-demand conferencing, and Internet-hosted solutions. The result: a single provider that can customize and seamlessly integrate the optimal telecom system for any company in any industry sector anywhere throughout the state via

a dedicated circuit on its private secure network. With its own multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network, and its servers housed right here in South Carolina, Spirit can guarantee a quality of service and a class of service on its network. “Because we are owned by the independent telephone companies of South Carolina, we are in a unique position to serve businesses no matter where they are in the Palmetto State,” said Grey Humphrey, executive vice president of sales for Spirit Telecom. Spirit’s approach is flexible, reliable, cost-effective and tailored to support productivity and business continuity that includes such services as: • Fully managed voice over IP • Data networks • Internet access and services • Local voice, long distance, and toll-free services • Conference calling • Private line services • Broadband services over an MPLS network Use of MPLS network technology provides a number of advantages. For one, it ensures that sensitive data is fully protected during transmission. For another, it allows for the control of bandwidth among voice, data and Internet. This combination of features is one of the reasons that the state of South Carolina chose Spirit as its provider of telecommunications services. Its dedication to providing new and innovative products within its existing markets and to expanding into new markets is paying off. In Grant Thornton’s 2010 list of the South Carolina 100, Spirit ranks 45th among the state’s largest privately held companies.

492 Garlington Road | Greenville, SC 29615 864-517-1200 | www.spirittelecom.com

8 2011 Profiles in Business | Special Advertising Supplement

Innovative Hiring Services

Innovative Hiring Services/Upstate offers quality staffing with a personal touch

hough she’d been in sales in the staffing business for 16 years, it only took Diane Whisnant one week to open her business Innovative Hiring Services/Upstate with her daughter. With 29 applicants seeking work on the very first day, I H S-Upstate was off and running. That was back in 2004. “We have continued this pace by providing our clients with fast service ever since,” notes Whisnant. I H S-Upstate is a certified woman-owned firm recognized by the Governor’s Office of Small and Minority Businesses. Located in Simpsonville, I H S-Upstate stays true to its name, offering a full-range of staffing services to businesses in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Clinton, and Laurens. I H S-Upstate specializes in helping companies find the right candidates for clerical, light industrial, medical and technical management positions and does all screening, aptitude testing, reference and criminal background checks and drug testing for each applicant. I H S-Upstate will also handle payroll services for temporary employees until the client is ready to take them on full time. But the one thing that sets I H S-Upstate apart from the competition is that they answer each call personally. “You won’t get an automated message,” maintains Whisnant. “Our original strategic plan was to be available to our clients 24/7. That has helped us give them individual attention. We remain dedicated to quick turnaround to fill our clients’ staffing needs.” That commitment to personal service has allowed I H S-Upstate to grow during the recession and help fill temporary, temp-to-hire, and permanent positions for a variety of businesses. Though the economy is showing signs of strength, businesses can still benefit from hiring temporary workers, according to Whisnant. “Companies are still being cautious and don’t want to commit,” she says, especially in the manufacturing industry. Temporary staff allows the business to employ workers on a contract basis, without carrying them on their books.

Left to right: Angela Brooks and Diane Whisnant. Whisnant also points out that I H S-Upstate is a boon to overworked human resource managers. “They are busy handling OSHA, EPA, and other compliance-related paperwork. If they give us information on their staffing requirements, we can send them quality candidates. They don’t have to commit to employ them full-time until they have to,” she says. Whisnant remains excited about the prospects for 2011. “Flexibility is the key for business and industry in today’s world. It’s our flexibility working with clients that will save them money by utilizing employees as needed on a temporary basis.”

503-B SE Main Street | Simpsonville, SC 29681 864-228-9981 | www.ihsupstate.com

Special Advertising Supplement | 2011 Profiles in Business

Lee & Associates

Bentley Commercial partners with national brokerage company Lee & Associates

The Lee & Associates - Greenville Team

ince 2005, Randall Bentley has been at the helm of Bentley Commercial, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm that assists clients with real estate acquisition, disposition, tenant/buyer representation and developments, as well as its full service property management division- Bentley Property Services, LLC. “We are a team of professionals that expertly handle all of the details of commercial real estate services for our clients across the Upstate of South Carolina.” “After five years of building our firm, we have decided to take business to the next level and partner with one of the

nation’s top commercial real estate firms, Lee & Associates, in order to broaden our reach and benefit from the vast resources of a national brand,” Bentley explains. Lee & Associates is a 30-year-old brokerage company that began in California and is a dominant force on the West Coast. They have aggressive growth plans to expand from 43 offices to 100 across the country over the next five years. Bentley says, “We chose to partner with them because we share the same vision and goals.” Lee & Associates has a unique business model where it is 100 percent broker-owned and locally managed.

10 2011 Profiles in Business | Special Advertising Supplement

Lee & Associates-Greenville will be managed by the same four principals, Kevin Bentley, Marty Flora, Laurens Nicholson, headed up by Randall Bentley. “We will remain the same group of professionals that you’ve come to know, focused on our long-standing client base,” says Bentley. “We are committed to understanding clients’ needs and thoroughly assessing each property to develop the best plan to achieve clients’ objectives.”

“After five years of building our firm, we have decided to take business to the next level and partner with one of the nation’s top commercial real estate firm, Lee & Associates, in order to broaden our reach and benefit from the vast resources of a national brand.”

sales and leasing. Two brokers have earned CCIM and SIOR designations and three more are candidates for CCIM. Partnering with Lee & Associates will further enhance Bentley’s client-centered approach. “It gives us more connections across the country for our clients interested in lease, sale, or acquisition,” he says. Now that the economy is gathering steam, this is more important than ever, says Bentley. He’s noticed an uptick in the industrial and retail market sectors with activity coming both out of and into the Greenville market. “We hope this affiliation will foster relationships nationwide and procure business from all over the country,” he adds. As the team continues to grow its stable of brokers and broaden its reach with Lee & Associates, one thing will remain constant, Bentley maintains. “We are passionate about our business and remain dedicated to building engaging partnerships and striving to exceed expectations.”

P. Randall Bentley, SIOR, CCIM President Bentley’s strategy includes using an extensive network and resources to conduct the best market research. Bentley’s clients’ properties are presented to qualified prospects through various well-defined channels with a full complement of market facts and statistics, comparable analyses, competition assessments, and targeted, innovative marketing plans. As Bentley Commercial, the now Lee AssociatesGreenville team has been recognized with a Co-Star Power Broker Firm Award as one of the Top 10 Firms in the Greenville MSA for its outstanding service in both sales and leasing for the past four consecutive years. Many of its brokers have also been awarded individually as a Top 10 Broker in retail, industrial and office categories for both

P. Randall Bentley, SIOR, CCIM President, Lee & Associates-Greenville

Local Expertise. National Reach. World Class. 864-704-1040 | lee-commercial.com

Special Advertising Supplement | 2011 Profiles in Business

AFL

AFL grows globally, continues to give back locally

Jody Gallagher, AFL’s President and CEO, pictured in the company’s 250,000 sq. ft. fiber optic cable plant located in Duncan, S.C.

FL manufactures, engineers, and installs fiber optic products and equipment that communications providers use to provide high-speed voice, video and data services to their customers. Headquartered in Duncan, SC, the company was formed in 1984 as a joint venture between Alcoa and Fujikura, and manufactured fiber optic cable and conductor accessories. Over the past 25 years, AFL has expanded its product line to include connectivity, fusion splicers, and test equipment, as well as education and training and engineering and installation services. AFL is now a global company with over 2,600 associates worldwide and operations in the U.S., Mexico, Europe and Asia. In the past five years AFL has grown by 42 percent, and over the past two years, the business has grown by 14 percent. “Our growth and success is a direct result of our high expectation of exceptional customer service. We make sure each customer’s needs are met every time,” says Jody Gallagher, AFL’s President and CEO and Fujikura executive officer. He says AFL has also expanded into new markets such as oil and gas, medical, nuclear, and mining while maintaining and servicing its core markets including telecommunications, broadband, electric utility, wireless, and enterprise technology.

“AFL continues to expand its product line, customizing various products to meet customer expectations, and follows through on the final product and/or service to make sure our customers’ needs are met. Our growth over the past several years has been impressive, particularly in a down economy,” he observes. Though AFL continues to focus on customer satisfaction, the company is also dedicated to community stewardship. Gallagher says, “While we are growing globally, we are proud to be headquartered in the Upstate.” As such, AFL has given back both financially and through the time and talent of its employees. From associates’ volunteer efforts and personal donations of food, school supplies, and Christmas gifts to local children in need to the company’s grants to nonprofits ranging from $2,500 - $15,000, AFL strives to be a good corporate neighbor in the Upstate. Gallagher notes, “We also are stewards of the environment with our Take Root program which has a goal to plant 5,000 trees every five years.” AFL has been recognized for its efforts, both philanthropic and commercial. It’s been a recipient of the Middle Tyger Council award for Large Manufacturer of the Year for Outstanding Community Service and has been named Manufacturer of the Year by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. AFL has also received numerous safety awards. AFL continues to focus on healthy growth both locally and globally as the economy rebounds. “AFL is an end-to-end solutions provider. We continuously review our processes internally, make improvements whenever possible, expand operations as needed, and support our employees so they can better support our customers,” Gallagher AFL associates volunteer at the asserts, “With this Middle Tyger Community Center formula, we are for United Way’s Week of Service. positioned for success.”

Corie Culp, PR Manager | 170 Ridgeview Center Drive 864-433-0333 | www.AFLglobal.com

12 2011 Profiles in Business | Special Advertising Supplement

GromVision

GromVision provides quality corporate video services at reasonable prices

With his professional camera gear and private edit studio, Greg’s $975 day rate is a popular choice for cost and quality.

ver since he was a kid, Greg Grom was interested in what happens “behind the scenes” in television. So after serving in the Airforce, Grom headed to Kent State University to get a degree in television production. But an internship at Roadway Express convinced him to look to corporate video as a career. After a few years freelancing, Grom never looked back. GROMVISION was established locally in 1995. Staying true to his independent video production roots, Grom shoots his own video at clients’ locations with his own high definition cameras and edits the videos in his private studio on a Mac. He creates a variety of videos for companies, including: corporate overviews, training, informational, year-in-review, benefit plan options, new employee orientations, etc. Videos can then be uploaded to the Web, or burned to DVDs including Blu-ray. On larger projects, Grom hires other freelance scriptwriters,

grips, lighting, voice-over talent, animators, and graphic designers. But most of the corporate projects he handles stay between him and the client. “I enjoy the small-scale production and they prefer the small price. It’s a great combination of cost and quality,” Grom says adding, “If I hire employees, my clients still want me as their cameraman. So I have chosen to remain freelance and work with a smaller group of quality clients.” Instead of being a one-stop shop, Grom prefers to stick with what he delivers best: quality camerawork and editing on a reasonable budget. This dedication to his clients’ needs has worked well. One of his first clients, BMW Manufacturing, continues to rely on Grom as their primary video freelancer, garnering a Telly award for one of their projects. Grom has also been a cameraman for the Carolina Panthers since 1996. “It keeps me in touch with other video professionals in the Charlotte area. I’ve already hired three of my Panther vision team members for corporate video projects.” This collaborative attitude is what sets Grom apart. “I’m one of those freelancers that actually work with my competition. I’m available as a second camera for 2-camera shoots. I also offer my jib, dolly and teleprompter.” Though he tries to keep his overhead low, Grom does upgrade cameras and editing systems regularly to keep pace with emerging technology and maintain the quality of his work. With companies using video more than ever Grom says, “As my business has grown, I have learned the value of relationships. Many of my clients have been with me for years. I know their needs and their budgets, so I go the extra mile to give them everything they expect and then a little bit more.”

9 Seagrass Court | Mauldin, SC 29662 864-284-6160 | www.gromvision.com | greggrom@me.com

Special Advertising Supplement | 2011 Profiles in Business

Hyde Park Capital, LLC

Hyde Park Capital’s Greenville office extends investment banking services to local middle market companies

Kenneth Burnside, top, John McDonald, lower right.

ver a decade ago, John Hill and John McDonald were both managing directors at a well-known investment bank. Yet each saw a need in the market for premier investment banking services for companies with revenues from $10 million to $300 million. So they formed Hyde Park Capital, a boutique investment bank, based in Tampa, Fla. In 2010, Kenneth Burnside joined Hyde Park Capital to head up a branch office in Greenville dedicated to developing relationships with middle market public and private companies. “Hyde Park provides a very high level of service throughout the Southeast at competitive pricing and staffs each engagement with a team led by experienced senior bankers,” says Burnside. As such, Hyde Park Capital offers both merger and acquisition services and private capital raising. “Within M&A we represent both buyers and sellers of companies and provide the full range of investment banking services required to identify, execute and consummate a transaction,” Burnside explains. When Hyde Park sells companies, they target both strategic buyers and financial

buyers and will sell either all or a portion of the company, depending on the client’s preference. “We also render Fairness Opinions,” Burnside adds. To help clients buy companies, Hyde Park Capital assists in developing the acquisition criteria and then performs a worldwide search for quality candidates. Hyde Park is also a licensed Broker/ Dealer with FINRA and can raise all forms of capital including equity, mezzanine debt and senior debt. Burnside points out that many competitors specialize in one service or the other, but not both. Hyde Park Capital’s focus on the Southeast region allows its experienced principals to stay in close touch with local clients and has earned the firm recognition from such sources as local chambers of commerce and industry trade associations, among others. Streamlining the business through prudent fiscal management and targeting specific industry sectors such as healthcare and outsourced business services helped Hyde Park not only survive the downturn, but thrive. “We believe strongly that success begets success and that we are only as good as our last closed transaction. So closing successful transactions for our clients is always our number one goal. As a result we enjoy a very high closing rate. This reputation, combined with exceptional referrals from our clients, helps us attract new business which fuels our growth and our ongoing success.” Burnside asserts that Hyde Park will continue to build on its successful foundation by hiring the best and brightest from within the industry and from top undergraduate and graduate business schools. “We also plan to open additional offices in the Southeast so that we can provide a better, more personalized service to our clients based on our core expertise.”

7 Monet Drive | Greenville, SC 29609 864-905-9633 | www.hydeparkcapital.com

14 2011 Profiles in Business | Special Advertising Supplement

tw telecom

From left: Rick Spivey, Cathy Brazinski, Jamie McVay, Jim Keesaer, Jerry Howell. Not shown in photo is Chris Oberg, VP/General Manager.

Big Company Capabilities, Hometown Service

Helping businesses connect and communicate

or two decades, tw telecom has provided industryleading converged services, Ethernet, transport and data networking, VoIP, VPN, and security to enterprise organizations in the U.S. and around the globe. In fact, tw telecom connects more U.S. commercial buildings to its fiber-optic network than any other competitive communications provider and has the third highest market share of retail Ethernet ports in service with one of the ten most interconnected IP backbones in the world. As a result, tw telecom customers reap the benefits of a reliable, flexible and scalable network at a competitive price and on an easier-tomanage network platform. “Having a highly reliable network is critical to our business operations,” said Brian Burch, Director of Worldwide IT Infrastructure at KEMET Corporation. “We selected tw telecom to assist us in establishing and maintaining vital network connections that keep our business running because of their proven track record delivering superior service. When we measured providers on service, reliability and customer service, it was clear that tw telecom best met our needs.” What really sets tw telecom apart from other providers is hometown service and a deep-rooted, customer-first mindset that

exists at every level of the company, according to tw telecom’s CEO, Larissa Herda. Unlike some providers who might give you the runaround, tw telecom’s national and local support teams are empowered to be customer advocates who listen carefully to your needs, get to know your business, your network and your name. “I have worked with several of the major carriers over my 18 years with Gerber Childrenswear and tw telecom’s support group is the best I have worked with. Their engineers put together a great solution for us that handles not only our daily operational needs but our Disaster Recovery requirements as well.” – Randy Nix, Network Manager, Technical Support and Operations at Gerber Childrenswear. One reason tw telecom is so efficient is its commitment to local market leadership. Their two National Operations Centers work in concert with local sales, operations and service teams to deliver innovative solutions and a customer experience that excels above the competition. Helping customers connect and communicate easily is what tw telecom offers companies—one network for all communications. So while technology continually changes, what will remain is tw telecom’s commitment to provide big company capabilities and quality hometown service.

2 Hampton Avenue | Greenville, SC 29601 864-751-2200 | www.twtelecom.com Special Advertising Supplement | 2011 Profiles in Business

SCJobmarket.com

SCJobMarket.com connects local employers with local candidates

Melissa Verzaal, SCJobMarket.com account executive.

nline and local. The recruiting service SCJobMarket.com captures the best of both worlds. The service combines the speed, efficiency and economy of the Internet with local knowledge and good, old-fashioned customer service to successfully connect local employers with local candidates. SCJobMarket.com account executive Melissa Verzaal says, “I provide the difference between using a big national site and a site that is focused only on South Carolina. I have a relationship with the employers posting jobs, and they know they can call me for technical help or help with wording the job descriptions on the site. Because I live here, I know the state and what works in South Carolina.” Verzaal says, “There are several advantages in using a job site that is owned and operated by the local publishers of the region’s business newspapers, SC Biz News. Candidates tend to be of a higher quality because they are usually located within the area of the job being offered, are focused on local jobs and are not

just ‘shotgunning’ their resumes nationally or internationally. In addition, skills, education and experience levels trend higher within the readership of the business publications.” Because Internet recruiting is quicker, easier and more costeffective than other methods, SCJobMarket.com can efficiently serve small and large firms. The company offers single job postings for companies that have the occasional hiring need and packages that range from multiple to unlimited job postings for companies that hire more frequently. The clean design and easy online interface allow jobs to be posted and viewed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving job seekers and employers access to results on any schedule. Employers posting jobs can also post a company profile page. Verzaal says, “Posting a company profile that includes a description of the company and logo is a wonderful way to market your company and look for job candidates at the same time.” SCJobMarket.com is a division of SC Biz News, the publishers of the Charleston Regional Business Journal, the Columbia Regional Business Report, GSA Business and SCBIZ magazine. For more information on SCJobMarket.com, contact Melissa Verzaal directly at 843-849-3104 or mverzaal@scbiznews.com.

389 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 200 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-849-3130 | www.scjobmarket.com

16 2011 Profiles in Business | Special Advertising Supplement

Swafford Transportation

Swafford Trucking, Transport and Warehouse moves forward with continued focus on customer care

Complete Coverage of the United States.

an Swafford got his start in the transportation business in 1983 as a trucking agent with a one room office in Duncan. Armed with nothing but a telephone and a fax machine, Swafford grew his business from the ground up, eventually adding his own trucks, personnel and warehouse. From the beginning Swafford built a solid reputation as a hard worker who cared about his customers. In 1999, Swafford Trucking, Transport and Warehouse moved to its current location in Greer, the company’s permanent home that now operates 20 trucks, 100 trailers, and has 250,000 square feet of warehouse facilities. Services include trucking for local and long haul, flatbed and specialize, and third party logistic, inspection and packages, bar code inventory control, internet inventory access, and total logistics. The company also has a dedicated IT division that specializes in warehouse management software. Through each expansion Swafford continued to focus on creating partnerships with customers. “We believe their success correlates with ours,” says Swafford. Additionally he notes that

the company consistently goes beyond the DOT’s basic safety requirements and that awareness has given Swafford excellent ratings in a competitive industry. As such the company has been awarded the SCTA Truck Safety Award for eight consecutive years and was named Small Business of the Year in 2006 by the Greer Chamber of Commerce. Three Swafford truckers have been awarded SCTA Driver of the Month status in the past two years. Swafford attributes this success to his team. “Surrounding ourselves with the right people who believe in our culture and in our goals has been key,” he explains. “Employees at Swafford understand the importance of our values and that with hard work goals can be met.” Swafford Transport’s office manager Jessica Bruce adds, “Everyone that works at Swafford knows that Van isn’t afraid to roll his sleeves up and jump in the trenches. His willing attitude to help his team and his customers makes him a great leader.” Swafford’s ultimate goal is to become the Southeast’s number one choice for all logistics services. Activation of its Foreign Trade Zone which will include new partnerships both locally and globally and adding staff is part of the company’s immediate plan. “In the logistics industry we have to deal with so many aspects that are out of our control, such as the cost of fuel. We do our best to remain proactive and stay ahead of issues before they arise. To be successful in the logistics industry you must be able to adapt to the climate around you,” he says. “With the excellent service we provide, the outstanding reputation we have with our customers what we can survive through the hard times and flourish in the good.”

1630 Old Highway 14 South | Greer, SC 29651 | 864-848-3854 www.swaffordtransport.com | van@swaffordtransport.com

Special Advertising Supplement | 2011 Profiles in Business

AFP

Organization uses education to put the trust back in fundraising

Top local executive: Barbara Martin, 2011 president. Founded locally: 1997

ven in the best of times, fundraising is a difficult job. Just ask anyone who does it. And while it doesn’t claim to make the process easy, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, South Carolina Piedmont Chapter, tries to give a helping hand to those professionals who want it. Barbara Martin, the chapter’s president for 2011, says the idea for the national organization had its beginnings in 1960, with three fundraisers in New York City. “AFP’s mission,” Martin says, “is to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. AFP promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. It is not an organization that raises money. It trains fundraisers.”

The Piedmont Chapter has about 75 members. “The purpose is to work to advance philanthropy through education and advocacy,” Martin says. One of the main ways it does so is by promoting a credentialing program — certified fundraising executive, or CFRE. “AFP has adopted a set of standards and guidelines that promotes the growth of fundraising professionals,” Martin says. People who seek the credential must have worked in fundraising for five years, have undergone 80 hours of course work and have raised a minimum amount of money. “Then you take a test to get the certification,” she adds. The credential is important because of its meaning to donors. “It shows that you have the experience and training and that you support the ethical fundraising standards promoted by AFP,” Martin says. “Professional certification lets the community know the person raising the money believes in the highest ethical standards in the business.” Approximately 20 members of the Piedmont Chapter have CFRE credentials. The chapter is highly decorated as well. It has just been designated a Ten-Star AFP chapter — fewer than 100 of the national organization’s 222 chapters have that status, which is awarded once the group adopts a set of guidelines and accomplishes certain tasks. The chapter also has received the Friends of Diversity designation from the AFP, meaning it includes members from a wide variety of fundraisers. But the Piedmont Chapter refuses to stand still, Martin says. “Part of our strategic plan this year is to increase our membership in the Upstate. Part of that outreach includes stressing the education it offers. “We’re constantly looking at best practices and staying aware of the trends,” she says. “I just attended a conference in Chicago in March and heard the speakers who wrote the books on fundraising. AFP has a lot to offer if you want to improve yourself in the field.”

Association of Fundraising Professionals — South Carolina Piedmont Chapter 1132 Rutherford Road | Greenville, SC 29609 864-242-1111 | www.afpnet.org

18 2011 Profiles in Business | Special Advertising Supplement

Palmetto State E-cademy

Virtual public high school provides nontraditional learning environment for SC students

Social activities let students spend time with friends!

raditional classroom settings don’t work for all students, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t talented individuals with great potential. Given the right environment, they can graduate and be successful. In fact, that is the purpose of Palmetto State E-cademy, a virtual high school serving the state of South Carolina. In 2007, the state Legislature approved the use of virtual schools for students seeking a nontraditional learning environment. Parents, educators and community members around the state joined forces to create PSE with state-of-the-art technology, experienced teachers and a diligent governing board. “The students who come to Palmetto State E-cademy are motivated and want to finish school but need a nontraditional, flexible program to complete their education,” said Dr. Barbara Stoops, executive director. “PSE exists to meet the needs of these special students and provide an avenue for them to continue their education and earn a high school diploma.” PSE is different from other virtual schools in that it is focused only on the Palmetto State. All the teachers live in South Carolina,

are certified to teach in the state and have an average of 10 years of teaching experience; in fact, 80% have master’s degrees. At PSE, students choose from one of four academic tracks. Instructors work with students on a personalized, yearlong learning program. Target deadlines are set within each course to help students budget their time and stay on task. Over the course of a year, a typical student may take three to four courses per block, up to six full-year courses, or any combination thereof. Courses include core academic areas of math, language arts, science and social studies, as well as electives in areas such as world languages, business and marketing, digital technologies, fine/visual/performing arts, life/study skills and physical education. PSE’s partnership with Southern Wesleyan University provides a dual credit option for its students. The program is free and students who participate can earn as many as 30 university credits while completing their high school educational requirements. “I believe our biggest draw for new students is the opportunity to graduate from high school in a time frame that is based upon the student’s needs following one of four different tracks to create a schedule that is unique to each student,” Stoops said.

I can complete high school on my time.

115 Atrium Way, Suite 200 Columbia, SC 29223 PSEcademy.org Special Advertising Supplement | 2011 Profiles in Business

Corporate & Consumer Publishing Division

SC Biz’s custom publishing division delivers premium products and excellent customer service “We have the ability to deliver turnkey projects, including origination of editorial content and photography, advertising sales, graphic layout and design, and distribution.” Mark Wright Director of Business Development, SC Biz News

Mark Wright, director of business development, and Allison Oliverius, special projects editor.

C Biz News is the market leader in business publishing in South Carolina. In addition to publishing business newspapers in the three major metro areas of the state — the Charleston Regional Business Journal, the Columbia Regional Business Report and GSA Business — as well as SCBIZ magazine (a quarterly statewide business and economic development glossy publication), the company also publishes a diverse group of magazines within its Corporate & Consumer Publishing Division. Those titles include a quarterly community magazine, Lake Wylie Today; newcomer guides Intro Charleston, Intro Upstate, Allen Tate’s Navigator Triangle and Navigator Charlotte; the Port Directory and other publications of the S.C. State Ports Authority; Cities Mean Business, a publication of the Municipal Association of South Carolina; regional economic scorecards for Charleston and Greenville; and

Energized, a guide to the nuclear industries in North and South Carolina. “The corporate and consumer publishing division’s ability to deliver premium quality publications under strict deadlines can be directly attributed to the talented staff with deep experience in a broad range of publishing genres,” said Mark Wright, director of business development. “We have the ability to deliver turnkey projects, including origination of editorial content and photography, advertising sales, graphic layout and design, and distribution.” Allison Oliverius, special projects editor, began her career as a newspaper reporter and eventually moved into editing and project management. She has more than 18 years of newspaper and custom publishing experience. “I work with a team that understands that each publication must not only present content — writing, photography and other graphic elements — in a compelling way, but that a publication must also convey the client’s vision and mission,” Oliverius said. From independent business news journalism to consumer titles to trade publications to membership associations, SC Biz’s clients reap the benefits of working with an experienced staff motivated to deliver premium products and excellent customer service. For more information about how the Corporate & Consumer Publishing Division can help meet your publishing needs, contact Mark Wright directly at 843-849-3143 or mwright@scbiznews.com.

Corporate & Commercial Publishing Division

20 2011 Profiles in Business | Special Advertising Supplement

389 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 200 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-849-3100 | www.scbiznews.com

SCMEP

The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a Business’ Best Resource to Drive Growth

stablished in 1989, the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) is a private, nonprofit group that provides South Carolina businesses with a range of innovative strategies and solutions to drive growth, eliminate waste, and develop resources. “SCMEP is a strategic advisor, promoting business growth and connecting manufacturers and other businesses to public and private resources essential to achieving increased competitiveness and profitability,” says SCMEP’s Vice President Chuck Spangler. Spangler explains that SCMEP’s business improvement services are managed by regional vice presidents and technical specialists who provide any level of assistance, from training resources including Lean, Six-Sigma, Theory of Constraints (TOC) to quality certifications- ISO 9001, AS9100C, TS 16949. “We even help companies with sales and distribution of their new products and inventions, licensing, and exporting,” he says. Businesses can rest assured that they are in qualified hands when consulting with SCMEP’s employees. “Our employees average over 20 years of manufacturing and consulting experience in a variety of different industries and have extensive training and education in their fields,” says Spangler. Additionally, some SCMEP specialists have been with the company for 18 years and have developed long term relationships with manufacturing clients, state officials, Clemson University, Tri-County Technical College, Spartanburg Community College, Greenville Technical College, as well as local Councils of Government, local workforce investment boards and chambers of commerce across the state. But the most essential service SCMEP provides is a starting point to evaluate the overall business. “The Competitiveness Review, a thorough business analysis, is the first step in our strategic, handson approach to help improve a company’s performance. It appraises capabilities, gauges the effectiveness of business systems, and enables a company to analyze, benchmark and plan,” Spangler says. The best part is that working with SCMEP isn’t cost prohibitive. According to Spangler, premium consulting

Andy Carr & Larry Jolly your SCMEP Upstate Representatives. services are available at competitive rates and the Competitiveness Review (worth about $2,500) is completely free. Not bad for an organization that’s had a total economic impact of more than $1.5 billion over the last five years. As demand for market diversification and sustainable solutions such as energy assessments and lean manufacturing continue to rise, Spangler says SCMEP’s strategic plan continues to focus on responding to businesses’ needs in five key areas including continuous improvement, technology acceleration, supplier development, sustainability, and workforce development. In the fall, SCMEP will offer a statewide series of market diversification workshops geared to help companies enter new markets both domestic and abroad. Spangler says, “Our only agenda is to do what is best for the client. Instead of one-size-fits-all programs, our strategic and tactical business improvement recommendations are tailored to the specific circumstances and needs of the company.”

216 S Pleasantburg Dr. | Greenville, SC 29607 864-288-5687 | www.scmep.org

Special Advertising Supplement | 2011 Profiles in Business

Precision Walls, Inc.

Precision Walls offers integrity, experience, competitive pricing, financial strength, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to ensure projects are completed on time.

Since its founding, Precision Walls has focused on safety, quality and customers

t Precision Walls Inc., it’s all about the customer. Whether it’s a relatively simple job, like adding a door to an office, or a multimillion-dollar project, each customer and each project gets the same level of commitment. “When you call Precision Walls, you reach people who care and who are committed to the industry,” said Brian Allen, company president. “We are an experienced, well-trained team that is willing to go to any length to get the job done right.” Precision Walls is a family owned and operated specialty contractor headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. Since Allen’s parents started the business in 1964, the company has grown to 1,000 employees with customers all over the Southeast. The company is often recognized by Engineering News Record as one of the top 10 wall and ceiling contractors in the United States. The company’s pioneering work in the area of moveable and specialty wall systems has allowed it to triple its volume in the last few years. Yet, “walls” in the traditional sense is just one piece of what Precision Walls offers its customers. Other products and services include: light-gauge and load-bearing metal framing; commercial drywall; acoustical ceilings; exterior insulation and finishing systems; fire stop systems; demountable partitions;

exterior panel systems; light-gauge metal trusses; panelization; operable and accordion partitions; projection screens; and residential drywall and paint. Precision Walls also owns and operates one of the most advanced exterior panelization and truss facilities in the Southeast. “Much of Precision Walls’ success has derived from our ability to recruit knowledgeable and skilled employees and to diversify our construction capabilities as market and business conditions indicated,” Allen said. “We have become as comfortable and capable at building residential high-rises as working on high-technology projects. There is truly no job too large or too small for Precision Walls.” Precision Walls has a lengthy list of accolades recognizing the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, safety and its growth in the construction industry. Those awards are a testament to Precision Walls’ team members, who believe in and implement the company’s mission and core principles, including making safety, quality and customer service No. 1 priorities. “Our goal is to have the company viewed by our customers as delivering the highest standards of customer service in the industry,” Allen said.

925 GSP Drive | Greer, SC 29651 864-334-2100 | www.precisionwalls.com

22 2011 Profiles in Business | Special Advertising Supplement

Bridging the gap between the Upstate and the Nation. Lee & Associates, one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the nation is making a debut in South Carolina, right here in Greenville. The new office, formerly Bentley Commercial, LLC/CORFAC INTERNATIONAL is excited about this opportunity to partner with a company that celebrates more than 32 years of success, and has 43 offices nationwide, with aggressive plans to double in size in the next five years. Lee & Associates- Greenville is comprised of a select group of the top commercial real estate experts in our market. Our team is highly regarded and well-established with deep roots and a solid, long-standing client base in the Upstate area. We are backed by experience and a strong sales and marketing strategy that is measured by decades of success. We are dedicated to providing unmatched expertise, service and insight, and strive to meet client’s needs with economy, ingenuity and integrity. Lee & Associates boasts some of the top-producing commercial real estate brokers in the nation that form an incredible network of experts. You can rest assured that when you decide to work with our team, you are getting a direct connection to the very best in the business nationwide.

“We remain the same experienced team of professionals that you have come to know; and now we can better assist our clients with the vast resources and national network that this partnership will bring. ”

- P. Randall Bentley, SIOR, CCIM President

Local Expertise. National Reach. World Class. lee-commercial.com

864.704.1040

GREENVILLE, SC