March 9 - 22, 2015 • www.charlestonbusiness.com
Volume 21, No. 6 • $2.00
New Boeing leader wants efficient production, diversity By Liz Segrist
Best in Beard
Chef Sean Brock competes for top award among James Beard finalists. Page 9
Vice visit
Vice President Joe Biden talks infrastructure at Port of Charleston. Page 3
Incubating biotech Roper Innovation Center looks for startup ideas from around the world. Page 8
Tech roundup
Latest industry news from Charleston’s fast-growing tech sector. Page 10
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
ver the next five years, Beverly Wyse wants the Dreamliner campus in North Charleston to be Boeing’s benchmark for efficiency and productivity. Wyse, who will become vice president and general manager of Boeing South Carolina in May, wants to see more suppliers open in the
BATTLE ON BROAD Some downtown Charleston residents are against The Beach Co.’s proposal for a multiuse development in the old Sergeant Jasper site. Emotions were piqued and pandemonium erupted during a recent Charleston Planning Commission meeting when the chairman sparred with hundreds of residents who wanted to hear about the project. Full story, page 11
INSIDE Upfront............................. 2 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering and Constrcution................. 11 List: General Contractors................... 30 Certified Commercial Investment Members.... 33 At Work.......................... 35 People in the News......... 35 Business Digest.............. 35 Hot Properties................. 38 Viewpoint........................ 39
region and more local suppliers garner work for the locally built 787 Dreamliners. She aims to follow through on planned rate increases — up to seven Dreamliners a month — and integration of 787-10 assembly without any delays or production issues. Wyse said many techniques she used to increase rates to 42 planes per month at the 737 plant she managed for five years in Renton, Wash., will work well at Boeing S.C.
Rendering/Provided/The Beach Co.
Wyse said it is critical during rate increases to maintain on-time, quality deliveries to customers. “We need to focus so we don’t miss a beat as we go through production changes,” Wyse said. “Stability is what we want it to look like from the outside world while we’re increasing what we’re doing from the inside.” See BOEING, Page 5
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Entrepreneurs capitalize on funding options By Ashley Heffernan
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aheffernan@scbiznews.com
inding capital is almost never easy and a lot of the work comes down to building relationships with the right people, according to Josh Silverman, founder and CEO of Charleston-based Jericho Advisors. “A few years ago there wasn’t anywhere to go, and I think the market has really opened up. There’s a lot of different places to look,” he said. Lowcountry Local First hosted a Connecting to Capital event last month to help startups learn about their options. “Sometimes if you can’t get a loan from a bank, then that’s when the nonprofit lender comes in and could be a great partner for you to get you started,” Jamee Haley, executive director of Lowcountry Local First, said. “Crowdfunding is also a great way to not only raise capital but also to test out your market.” During the event, panelists from the banking world along with nonprofit lenders and business owners who have had successful crowdfunding campaigns gave advice on funding options. See CAPITAL, Page 6
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CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION Who is building what in the Charleston area? Projects, companies, prices, projected timelines, photos and stories. Page 11
Upfront:
Briefs, brights and business news
On the Record A reason to actually try Texas barbecue “The ultimate goal is we want our children to be first in any line they want to be in ... I won’t say they can’t catch up; they can. But for a lot of them, it’s too hard. They’re expected to move twice as fast with half the resources.” — Joe Pye, superintendent of Dorchester School District 2
Jobs your significant other will hate
Some jobs attract more stress than others, just like some businesses attract more business than others. But there are breaking points at which the person with whom you’ve chosen to spend the majority of your nonworking time with decides your working life and personal life are incompatible. If you’re thinking of a career change or of starting a new business, you might pause for a moment and go over this list of some of the worst jobs for relationships, based on demographic and other data from many sources, such as the Census Bureau, Statista.com and CheatSheet (no pun intended).
5 Worst Jobs for Relationships Job
% divorce Avg. salary
5. Extruding machine operator 32.74%
$33,160
4. Casino chip cashier
34.66%
$26,190
3. Massage therapist
38.22%
$40,400
2. Bartender
38.43%
$21,770
1. Dancer/choreographer
43.05%
$49,930
Source: CheatSheet, Statista.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau
Southern Living recently named the 20 top barbecue joints across the South, and no fewer than five were in the Lone Star State of Texas. South Carolina had two, which makes us think Southern Living needs to get out more. We’ve always heard from Texans that Texas does beef barbecue better than South Carolina does pork barbecue. Southwest Airlines just gave us a reason to decide for ourselves. Southwest Airlines will start daily, nonstop service between Charleston International Airport and Dallas Love Field on Aug. 9, which is significant since the airline had just announced it would do weekly flights beginning April 11. Along with Southwest, Delta Air Lines, US Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue and Porter Airlines give Charleston passengers access to 23 airports in 17 cities in the United States and Canada. Sure, you can fly to Texas for business, but you know, a lot of deals get done over a plate of ’cue. (House of Cards, anyone?)
ONE NUMBER
2,588
Best BBQ Joints in the South We only pulled barbecue places that Southern Living listed for South Carolina and Texas, but there are 13 others on the magazine’s list. South Carolina • Scott’s Bar-B-Que, Hemingway • Sweatman’s Bar-B-Que, Holly Hill Texas • Smitty’s Market, Lockhart • Black’s Barbecue, Lockhart • Lamberts Downtown Barbecue, Austin • City Market, Luling • Sonny Bryan’s, Dallas Source: Southern Living
Number of square miles in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.
All of South Carolina has 30,060 square miles, which allows for 153.9 people per square mile, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Compared with North Carolina with 196.1 people per square mile, we’re fairly sparse.
March 9 - 22, 2015
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Vice President Joe Biden stands with dockworkers and longshoremen at the Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant during a recent visit to the Port of Charleston. (Photo/List Segrist)
Biden: Infrastructure needs funding By Liz Segrist
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
ice President Joe Biden recently visited the Port of Charleston for the second time in two years to advocate for the deepening of Charleston Harbor and investment in infrastructure. Biden met with city leaders and port officials to talk about the importance of all levels of government investing in infrastructure projects — such as deepening ports, improving roads and bridges, and expanding rail lines nationwide — in an effort to support industry growth, create jobs and bring manufacturing work back to the United States. The U.S. transportation system moves 52 billion tons of goods worth $46 billion every day but ranks 28th globally for transportation and infrastructure investment. To help fund infrastructure projects amid funding shortfalls, Biden promoted President Barack Obama’s $478 billion Grow America Act. This four-year surface transportation reauthorization bill includes $87 billion for the Highway Trust Fund to address the nation’s deficient bridges and aging highways, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, who visited Charleston with the vice president. Biden also pushed for changing the corporate tax from 35% to 28% and eliminating corporate tax loopholes, which he said would generate an estimated $200 billion for infrastructure projects. Biden said this funding could be used to make Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grants permanent funding sources for infrastructure projects around the country. S.C. agencies received about $21 million in Tiger grants last fall, including nearly $11 million to the S.C. State Ports Authority to fund infrastructure improvements at the Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant.
The estimated $80 million terminal renovation project will strengthen the terminal’s cranes and pilings to accommodate wear and tear from the larger ships expected to flood the East Coast after the Bayonne Bridge between New York and New Jersey is raised and the Panama Canal expansion is completed by 2016. Post-Panamax ships already call on the Port of Charleston weekly. The ports authority will fund the remaining $70 million for project. Work is expected to begin this year and last for about 2 1/2 years. The terminal will be operational during construction. During his visit, Biden said that he believes the Port of Charleston could be deepened to 54 feet and that he thinks the project will get federal funding to do so. The Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, and ports authority are working toward 52 feet. S.C. State Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome said Biden’s visit shows that the Port of Charleston’s deepening project will likely qualify for the federal share, about $200 million. The S.C. Legislature has set aside about $300 million for the deepening project. “We really want to emphsaize to the federal government that the federal government needs to uptake its share of the deepening project,” Newsome said. Biden said that while harbor deepening projects and port terminal improvements are crucial to supporting industry, those efforts rely on congestion-free highways, improved roads and bridges and more robust rail networks for companies looking to transport their goods faster and less expensively. “In order to keep momentum going, we need to invest more right here and all around the country,” Biden said. “We have to invest in our roads, our bridges, our rails, our waterways, our connectors, that connect all these ports.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
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LOWCOUNTRY NEWSROOM Managing Editor - Andy Owens aowens@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3142
March 9 - 22, 2015
Business news from around S.C. Greenville County tourism revenue up $83M in 2014
Senior Copy Editor - Beverly Barfield bbarfield@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3115 Staff Writer - Liz Segrist lsegrist@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3119
Spending in Greenville County increased to $1.1 billion in 2014. Data from VisitGreenvilleSC also shows hotels accommodated more than 4.4 million customers, 1.4 million people made day trips and tourism provided at least 9,500 jobs in the county.
Staff Writer - Ashley Heffernan aheffernan@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3144 Editorial Assistant - Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123 Research Specialist - Melissa Verzaal mverzaal@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3104 Associate Editor, Special Projects - Jenny Peterson jpeterson@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3145
Urban Outfitters closing Trenton fulfillment center
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BMW exported 260,000 vehicles through the Port of Charleston in 2014. Vehicles are driven off trains and onto ships at the Columbus Street Terminal in downtown Charleston. (Photo/File)
MIDLANDS NEWSROOM
BMW in Greer nation’s top automotive exporter
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Account Executive - Bennett Parks bparks@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3126
BMW Manufacturing Co. exports increased by 13% in 2014 as it sent more than 260,000 vehicles through the Port of Charleston. The company said the export value of those passenger vehicles totaled $9.2 billion, making the plant the No. 1 U.S. automotive exporter. The more than 260,000 exported vehicles represented more than 70% of the plant’s total volume last year, a company statement said. “Claiming the top spot for U.S. automobile exports rounds out a very successful year for BMW in South Carolina,” said Manfred Erlacher, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “With more than 364,000 units, 2014 was also a record production year for the plant.” The 8,000-employee plant each day makes more than 1,200 vehicles that are shipped by rail to Charleston and to more than 140 global markets. The company last year celebrated two decades of operation in the Upstate and announced a $1 billion expansion that will boost annual production to 450,000 vehicles, making the Greer plant BMW’s largest. In December, Doug Woodward, research economist at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, said his research showed the plant’s track record of investment has resulted in annual economic output of $12.54 billion. With indirect and induced economic impact included, that total climbs to $16.63 billion. The 1,150-acre, 5-million-square-foot complex in Spartanburg County is a subsidiary of BMW A.G. in Munich and represents an investment of about $7 billion. The plant builds the X3 and X5 sport activity vehicles and X4 and X6 sport activity coupes.
South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth
DHEC board regroups, launches national search for director
Staff Writer - Chris Cox ccox@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7545 Special Projects Editor - Licia Jackson ljackson@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7546 Research Specialist - Patrice Mack pmack@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7544 UPSTATE NEWSROOM News Editor - Don Fujiwara dfujiwara@scbiznews.com • 864.235.5677, ext. 106 Staff Writer - Bill Poovey bpoovey@scbiznews.com • 864.235.5677, ext. 104 Graphic Designer - Jean Piot jpiot@scbiznews.com • 864.235.5677, ext. 105 LOWCOUNTRY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Senior Account Executive - Sue Gordon sgordon@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3111 Senior Account Executive - Robert Reilly rreilly@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3107 Account Executive - Sara Cox scox@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3109
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The decision is a sharp reversal from the board’s original approach to replacing Catherine Templeton, who was herself picked from a pool of 250 applicants. Eleanor Kitzman,
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SCANA earnings for 2014 up 14.2% to $538M Abnormal weather, rate increases and customer growth helped boost the earnings of the Cayce-based energy provider and parent of S.C. Electric & Gas Co. The company offered an upbeat outlook, noting that it continues to see improved economic conditions in all service territories.
New Columbia stadium offers luxury suite options Since construction of its new home, Spirit Communications Park, started six weeks ago, Columbia’s new minor-league baseball team said it has received hundreds of inquiries about luxury suites.
Bassmaster pegs Upstate catch at $23 million to $24 million Despite frigid air, ice and rain, the 45th Bassmaster Classic ran up a big economic score for the Upstate, with the tournament’s third-largest turnout. Spectators numbered more than 103,000 and likely generated $23 million to $24 million, a spokesman for B.A.S.S. LLC said.
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who was recommended by Gov. Nikki Haley, withdrew from consideration after senators questioned conflicting statements the former S.C. Insurance Department chief reportedly made, as well as her experience, which includes no environmental or health background.
The Philadelphia-based specialty retailer said it will begin winding down operations between June and September at the 460,000-squarefoot facility in Edgefield County as it moves to a new facility in Gap, Pa. About 500 people work at the S.C. distribution center.
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March 9 - 22, 2015
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Beverly Wyse, incoming vice president of Boeing South Carolina, plans to make the local 787 Dreamliner campus in North Charleston a benchmark of efficiency and productivity for the Boeing Co. as it increases production rates over the next five years. (Photos/Kim McManus) BOEING, continued from Page 1
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Jack Jones, the retiring vice president and general manager of Boeing South Carolina, said Wyse’s transition to head of Boeing South Carolina this year “is a great move” for the growing operations in North Charleston. “She understands high rates, and for us, this is high rates, so I think the transition is going to be a good one,” Jones said. Jones said the past four years have been “really hard work” and “an incredible effort by the team.” During that time, Boeing established its local presence and built up its workforce and campus. Boeing workers learned to build planes and parts, dealt with production delays, increased rates in mid- and aft body and recently integrated 787-9 assembly alongside 787-8 work. “We’ve had some recovery. We’ve had lots of learning, lots of improving the skills of our employee base,” Jones said. “That’s all behind us.” Boeing South Carolina has grown from building parts for one mid- and aftbody a month to building 10 sets of parts and three airplanes a month, Jones said. By 2020, Boeing South Carolina plans to increase to 14 sets of mid- and aft body parts and seven airplanes a month. Going forward, Jones said the site will work to improve efficiency and quality. “That’s really where you want to take a mature production system, where you’re constantly trying to come down the learning curve. ... That’s where Beverly will be pushing on and driving every day because now we’ve got the experience curve,” Jones said. “We know how to build airplanes. We know how to go up in rates.” Boeing uses its rate readiness plan to prepare for increases. This checklist preps the supplier base and ensures Boeing has the right facilities, tools and trained employees in place. Jones said the first Boeing South Carolina-assembled 787-9 Dreamliner will be delivered in the first of this year. The facility also is preparing to assemble the 787-10 beginning in 2017. Boeing
employees from Puget Sound in Washington are visiting North Charleston regularly to help prepare the facility for the 787-10, Jones said, including ordering tools and reviewing engineering progress. “The rate planning is going on right now every day. We have a dedicated team just for the dash-10,” Jones said.
Workforce needs
Dan Mooney, vice president of Boeing’s Engineering Design Center South Carolina, said the company needs more mechanical engineering master’s programs in Charleston. The Citadel recently established an undergraduate mechanical engineering degree and Clemson University recently launched courses for its mechanical engineering program at the Lowcountry Graduate Center in North Charleston. To fill that pipeline, Jones said Boeing has pushed the Legislature and Gov. Nikki Haley to fund more science, technology, engineering and math programs beginning in sixth grade. Jones said Haley has initiatives planned in her education plan. Wyse plans to continue the push for STEM programs and to advocate for initiatives to attract more women and minorities to these fields. Wyse, a mechanical engineer, said that although Boeing S.C. has a diverse workforce, more diversity is needed in engineering programs that require creativity and different points of view when building airplanes. She said educators, business leaders and government officials should track what schools are doing to attract and retain women and minorities in engineering programs, and hold them accountable for admission rates. “It’s really about having a diverse workforce, and that begins with the pipeline. It’s hard if you don’t have a balance of gender or ethnicity that wants to do the job,” Wyse said. “It starts with the way parents talk to their children at home about technical or mechanical fields and grows from there.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
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March 9 - 22, 2015
Finance executives and business professionals spoke during a Lowcountry Local First event on Connecting to Capital. (Photo/Ashley Heffernan) CAPITAL, continued from Page 1 ➤
“A lot of the panelists will tell you that building relationships is a key part,” said Silverman, who moderated the panel and is also managing director of the Lowcountry Angel Network. “The biggest issue that my clients have found is that they’re often talking to the right people but it’s the wrong time for them, so they end up feeling frustrated with the process. If during your capital raise you’re getting frustrated with the process, find an objective person that can help you weed your way through it.”
Private banking
Banks and credit unions in the area offer small-business loans to cover salaries and equipment, as well as operating lines of credit and real estate construction loans. The business owner’s character, which includes his or her financial history, cash flow and available outside resources, is pivotal to securing a loan for a startup company, according to Thomas Anderson, vice president of commercial banking at South State Bank. “The worst thing that a borrower or a potential customer can feel like is they come to the bank with a stack of paperwork, (we) put all your numbers into a machine and it spits out a ticket with ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ There are certain institutions that operate like that or make you feel that way,” Anderson said. “We want to take every case and dig in, whether it be with the business plans, financial review, historical financials, whatever the borrower may have at the time, and really talk through the situation.” He said in the financial world, “startups” are traditionally seen as a bad word, but South State Bank doesn’t have a policy against them. “We don’t turn startups away. We welcome listening to anybody’s story,” Anderson said. Southcoast Community Bank also sees opportunity in fledgling companies. Jeffrey Odom, vice president of commercial lending for the Mount Pleasant bank, said the institution is ultimately looking to guarantee it gets the money back. “The way I describe it to my customers is you want to build layers: primary source of repayment, secondary source
of repayment, maybe a third source of repayment,” Odom said. “The more layers a bank can build when they’re doing underwriting, which is just collecting their information and saying can they pay me back ... the better you feel about that.” Credit unions also make loans to business owners who are members or are interested in becoming members. Heritage Trust Federal Credit Union has about 47,000 members in the greater Charleston area, and each member has a vote in the overall direction of the group, according to Executive Vice President Steve Wichmann. “We believe in community involvement, community referral,” Wichmann said. “We’re not out there to get the multimillion-dollar-type business. We’re there to present the funding necessary for small businesses to grow when those small-business owners are members of the credit union.” The credit union typically makes loans between $10,000 and $100,000, and like at the banks, startups aren’t a deal breaker. “If it’s brand-new, you really don’t have any background in what the business can generate as far as bottom line or as far as cash flow in most cases,” Wichmann said. “You’re still trying to get your feet on the ground. We look at the individual who is running the business and what kind of experience they may have had in that same line.” SouthStar Capital, based in Mount Pleasant, has 15 employees. It looks to fund companies that bring in $250,000 to $30 million a year in revenue, according to Vice President McLean Wilson. “Time in business doesn’t really matter to us. We’ve had a handful of businesses that literally filed their state paperwork yesterday, we got our deal closed today, and we’ll fund them the next day. As long as we can understand the processes and the collateral and the control points within there, we’re happy to fund,” he said. Most of SouthStar Capital’s companies are temporary staffing and trucking companies.
Nonprofit lenders
Many small-business owners who are turned down by banks end up receiving funding from nonprofit lenders such as the Charleston Local Development Corp. and the S.C. Community Loan Fund.
March 9 - 22, 2015
Cindi Rourk, a loan officer at the Local Development Corp., said the most common first-time business owners she meets are in industries that banks tend to have a hard time dealing with, such as restaurants, hospitality companies and retail shops. The Charleston Local Development Corp. borrows funds from federal and private sources and then re-lends the money for economic development and job creation in Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester counties. After the loan is made, the corporation also consults with the business on bookkeeping and marketing and monitors monthly profit and loss statements. “The type of business is really varied. I’m fortunate I know how much a dump truck costs and I know how much a pedicure chair costs, and it’s just kind of all across the board,” Rourk said. “The only thing we cannot lend to is anyone that is rehabbing or purchasing residential real estate to get into an investment type of thing, and we don’t like businesses that are manufacturing overseas and then selling it to a wholesale environment. That just doesn’t do anything for our community.” Like the Local Development Corp., the S.C. Community Loan Fund raises and pools capital from public and private investments, then lends the
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money out for community development Crowdfunding Websites such as Kickstarter.com and projects. The Community Loan Fund makes Indiegogo.com are helping people around loans for small businesses to open in the world fund projects, ideas and busiunderserved neighborhoods, as well as nesses by hosting campaigns and inviting for community facilities, health food “backers” to contribute financially to the causes. facilities and affordEric Thome, able housing to be “We’ve launched products owner and CEO of built. Charleston-based Community on Kickstarter and off Folbot, completed facilities made up a Kickstarter camabout 40% of the fund’s loans last year, Kickstarter, and there’s no paign last year. His was to raise according to assiscomparison. If your brand goal $25,000, but 51 backtant director Patrick ended up giving King. has no awareness at all, ers him $31,414 to buy a “We’ve made a material for his lot of headway in which ours didn’t, it’s a new company’s foldable community facilities. That’s everygreat way to reach that kayaks. “I have a kayak thing from a charter that goes in a bag school to a federally community.” that you can keep charted health cenin the trunk of your ter, people that want Nate Justiss car. It’s a niche prodto do an after-school industrial designer, uct, but everybody program, a YMCA, Distil Union I introduce it to even government says, ‘Oh, my cousin entities,” he said. “Small towns come to us and they say, would love this, or my roommate, or my ‘Well, we need to build a fire station. Can uncle or somebody.’ Just to spread that you help us?’ and we do things like that.” knowledge of our product, that was a lot The fund’s board also recent- of what we were looking for,” Thome said. ly approved increasing the maximum “We had a project, an idea and wanted to amount of a loan from $500,000 to test to see if people would buy it before we bought materials.” $1 million, King said.
Distil Union, a company based in downtown Charleston that consists of industrial designer Nate Justiss and creative director Lindsay Windham, has launched four successful Kickstarter campaigns and is planning a possible fifth in the near future. “It is an absolutely great way to introduce a product for a small, cash-strapped business,” Justiss said. “It does a lot of things for you. It pays for your first production run. It reaches all new customers. It’s a community that is open to new ideas.” Justiss and Windham created several types of wallet cases and skins for cell phones in addition to an iPhone alarm dock. Instead of spending their money upfront to create the products, they went to Kickstarter to test the market first. “We’ve launched products on Kickstarter and off Kickstarter, and there’s no comparison. If your brand has no awareness at all, which ours didn’t, it’s a great way to reach that community,” Justiss said. Their first campaign, for the Wally case, raised $20,862 in 34 days. Their campaign for a pull-tab wallet raised $32,152, more than $27,000 above the goal; and the team raked in more than $90,000 for a campaign to make iPhone wallets. cr bj
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
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March 9 - 22, 2015
Roper recruiting business ideas from around world By Ashley Heffernan
F
aheffernan@scbiznews.com
or the past 20 years, Dr. Marta Hampton has dealt with patients who suffer from swollen legs. They end up in her Charleston dermatology office when wraps and stockings to reduce the fluid in their legs cause rashes. The wraps, which Hampton instructs patients to wear, are difficult to put on and typically require help from another person. “A lot of my patients have arthritis or they’re obese or dealing with other health problems,” she said. “Some don’t have a family member there to help.” Hampton has created a new type of medical compression stocking that she said is easier to put on and more effective. She is vague on details because the products lacks a patent. The physician has experience running a medical practice, but she didn’t know how to take her idea to the market. So in hopes of growing the product, Hampton teamed up with a Roper St. Francis doctor who is working to turn biotechnology ideas into businesses. Dr. Jacobo Mintzer, executive director of Roper’s Clinical Biotechnology Research Institute, is recruiting ideas, like Hampton’s, from physicians and researchers all over the world. “In the last few years, South Carolina has made a concerted effort to bring new business to the state with a goal to increase our employment base and to retain the talent that we train. We have been very successful as a state in different areas,” said Mintzer, who has an MBA in addition to an M.D. “One of those that has not been equally successful has been the biotechnical part, especially as it concentrates in medical life sciences.” He created the Innovation Center, an arm of the research institute, to bridge the gap between ideas and profitable companies. When someone presents an idea to the center, Mintzer’s team first evaluates it to see whether it already exists. Then they do a market analysis, feasibility study and evaluation of possible obstacles. “These assessments will give us a sense of the cost of developing the technology,” he said. If the idea is viable, the team approaches other entities, such as SCRA, angel groups and private donors, to put together a funding and development plan. If clinical trials are needed, they can be performed at Roper through the research institute. When other data are required, the group calls upon collaborators in North Carolina and Israel.
That preliminary work could cost about $10,000 for each idea, according to Mintzer, which makes the risk high. “For every idea that we take through this process, we expect 87% of those to fail, and that would be a very good rate,” Mintzer said. That percentage is the national average for other centers doing similar work, he added. The person who developed the idea pays for services provided and is required to operate its U.S. headquarters in South Carolina, preferably on the Roper campus. Roper gets part ownership in the company. None of the ideas have become successful businesses yet, but the team is working on 14 currently, and at least one is in the final negotiation phase. NeuroQuest, a company based on work done at a research institute in Israel, was the Innovation Center’s first client. The company will likely have an office soon with employees on the Roper campus. Their product, which they hope to bring to market soon, is a blood test they believe can predict the onset of the Alzheimer’s disease 15 years ahead of time. “The preliminary data we obtained, with a collaboration with a large group in Australia, suggests that the technology is highly promising, and we’re now in the process of developing the second and final stage of scientific development with the idea to be able to explore potential commercialization in the next two years,” Mintzer said. Of the 14 ideas in the works, Mintzer said about five of them are from researchers and physicians in Israel. The reason is largely a result of the South CarolinaIsrael Collaboration, a partnership that began in 2011 to connect businesspeople in both locations with investors. He said plenty of ideas are coming in, and now the team is just desperate for resources to implement them. The center is inviting South Carolinians to “adopt an idea” for $10,000. The money would pay for the preliminary work, and the donor would receive periodic updates. “If you adopt a company and the company grows and succeeds, you are helping a whole community. There will be people that will be employed. There will be resources in the community they will use,” Mintzer said. “I have a belief that many treatments that can improve people’s lives are sitting in the minds of physicians everywhere. What is impairing those ideas to become new treatments is the lack of tools to facilitate the process.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
March 9 - 22, 2015
www.charlestonbusiness.com 9
Local chef to compete again for James Beard’s top award
UK-based answering service opens first U.S. location in North Charleston By Liz Segrist
By Ashley Heffernan
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aheffernan@scbiznews.com
he James Beard Foundation chose 11 Charleston chefs and restaurants as 2015 semifinalists. Husk Restaurant’s Sean Brock will again compete in the Outstanding Chef category. Brock lost the category last year to Los Angeles chef Nancy Silverton, and he won the foundation’s Best Chef in the Southeast title in 2010. Running for Best Chef in the Southeast from Charleston this year is Jeremiah Bacon of The Macintosh on King Street, Josh Keeler of Two Boroughs Larder on Coming Street and Jason Stanhope of Fig on Meeting Street. Bacon and Keeler were both semifinalists in the category last year, but neither advanced to the finals. Lauren Mitterer of WildFlour Pastry on Spring Street was nominated in the Outstanding Baker category, and Ari Kolender, chef at Leon’s Oyster Shop on King Street, was named a semifinalist in the Rising Star of the Year group. Edmund’s Oast on Morrison Drive was nominated in the Best New Restaurant category; Rutledge Avenue’s Hominy Grill will compete in the Outstanding
Charleston chef Sean Brock won the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef in the Southeast title in 2010, but he lost in last year’s outstanding chef category. (Photo/Provided)
Restaurant group; and Charleston Grill on King Street was named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Service category. Fig will go up against McCrady’s Restaurant on Unity Alley in the Outstanding Wine Program competition. Fig lost in the category last year. No S.C. restaurants outside of Charleston made the foundation’s semifinals. The final restaurant and chef award nominees will be announced March 24 in New York City, and the James Beard Awards gala will be May 4 in Chicago. cr bj
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
lsegrist@scbiznews.com
British answering service chose North Charleston for its first U.S. location and plans to hire 400 people over time. Moneypenny made a $760,000 investment to open its office on Faber Place Drive in North Charleston. The company plans to hire 20 employees this year and 40 by the end of 2016. It currently employs more than 400 people at its United Kingdom and New Zealand offices. Moneypenny provides answering and receptionist services, taking 9 million calls a year for more than 7,000 businesses 24 hours a day. Services include receptionists for one-person companies, small businesses or large corporations. Moneypenny Vice President Pete Hardie, who is heading up the Charleston operations with Vice President Toby Diggens, said the service is valuable for smaller companies that can’t afford an in-house receptionist or for entrepreneurs trying to launch a business. The service is also used by global corporations that need an outsourced team of receptionists fielding calls full time.
Moneypenny employees are each assigned a company. When a customer calls the company, the call is routed to that representative at Moneypenny’s office. The Charleston office will work only with U.S. companies, Hardie said. “Classic Southern hospitality and the internationally recognized service attitude of Charleston and the Carolinas were a huge draw as we felt the location perfectly reflected Moneypenny’s culture of positivity and friendliness” he said. The idea for Moneypenny came when co-founder and director Ed Reeves lost one of the biggest clients at his graphic design company because of poor answering services while he was on vacation. Reeves wanted to change the telephone answering service and outsource switchboards to create more personal services that focus on customer service and quick response times. Reeves founded Moneypenny in 2000 with his sister, Rachel Clacher. “We have revolutionized this service in the U.K. and are confident that we will be a game changer for businesses in the U.S. too,” Reeves said in a statement. cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
10
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March 9 - 22, 2015
TECH ROUNDUP Benefitfocus expands, angels come to town and kids learn to code By Liz Segrist
Benefitfocus opens customer center, announces $75M investment
Global health investment and consulting firm Mercer is taking a 9.9% stake and making a nearly $75 million investment in Daniel Island-based Benefitfocus, CEO Shawn Jenkins announced recently. Mercer has an option to eventually grow its stake in the 800-employee software benefits provider. During the fourth quarter earnings call, the company reported 2014 losses of $63.2 million. Full year revenue increased 31% from 2013 to $137.4 million. Benefitfocus ended 2014 with 533 large-employer customers and 43 insurance carrier customers. As part of its plans to grow its Daniel Island campus, the company recently opened its four-story, 145,800-squarefoot Customer Success Center. It houses 500 employees currently, with plans to hire 250 more, and the Benefitfocus University, which provides software implementation training programs for associates, customers and partners.
Angel investor network launches in Charleston
A new investor network looking to invest capital and expertise in early stage ventures has launched in Charleston. The Lowcountry Angel Network, a chapter of the S.C. Angel Network, generally seeks early-stage, post-revenue companies in Charleston that have valuation up to $8 million. A typical investment will be around $250,000. Josh Silverman, the fund’s managing director and CEO of Jericho Advisors, expects most companies to be in the startup stages, though some might be well-established businesses looking to expand. He said the investor group is “industry agnostic.� Following the Upstate Carolina Angel Network’s process, local angel investors will meet monthly to hear pitches and vet companies. Silverman hopes to expand from 20 investors to 50 by 2016.
Digital Corridor director Andrade leaving post to lead foundation
Ernest Andrade, head of the Charleston Digital Corridor since its founding in 2001, will leave his post to become the director of the Charleston Digital Corridor Foundation in April. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that was formed in 2004 to support the corridor’s efforts to grow Charleston’s tech economy. It uses member fees to fund coding classes, incubator spaces and other programs. Looking ahead, Andrade said the foundation might license some of its best
practices for other industries — such as the corridor’s tech job portal website. “Sharing knowledge with other communities ... that is economic development in the 21st century,� Andrade said.
Coding for kids
Elementary and middle school students can learn coding this summer through the Charleston Digital Corridor Foundation’s CodeCamp Kids. Blue Acorn employees will teach kids the basics of programming. Twelve scholarships are available for those who qualify.
Startup Grind connects entrepreneurs in Charleston
Startup Grind, an entrepreneur group that began in 2010 in Mountain View, Calif., and has since expanded globally, is connecting entrepreneurs locally with its Charleston chapter. Run by Google for Entrepreneurs, Startup Grind hosts monthly events where people share stories and hear from a speaker about growing a business. It creates a support network for people trying to start their own businesses or scale their ideas, said Daniel Drolet, the director of Startup Grind Charleston, which launched last spring. Drolet, an intellectual property expert, runs the local chapter with Jeremy Berman, a mobile product manager, and Mike Hartwell, a designer at eHouse Studio in Charleston.
CODEshow brings tech executives to Charleston
Tech executives, engineers and developers from software companies around the country — like Google, Cloudera, Apigee and Red Hat OpenShift — will speak in downtown Charleston this May at CODEshow Southeast. The one-day conference is designed for software professionals in the Southeast who want to enhance their skillsets, make connections and collaborate on ideas.
Blackbaud revenue up for Q4
Blackbaud’s revenue grew 13.3% to $152.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to the year prior. Net income was down 59% to $4.8 million. “Our organization achieved several key milestones in 2014, including our goals to accelerate organic revenue growth ... and to provide improved product quality and innovative solutions for our customers,� Blackbaud CEO Mike Gianoni said during the fourth quarter earnings call. cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
In Focus:
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
Beach Co. looks to redevelop Sergeant Jasper site By Ashley Heffernan
CHARLESTON UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
aheffernan@scbiznews.com
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public meeting in mid-February to discuss the rezoning of 6.41 acres of property in downtown Charleston had to be rescheduled after a crowd of at least 300 residents demanded to stay in the overflowing room. The city’s Planning Commission meeting was moved from its regular room at 75 Calhoun St. to a larger space in the building with a capacity for 200, in anticipation of the large gathering. But that wasn’t big enough for the residents who wanted to speak out about The Beach Co.’s plan for the Sergeant Jasper apartment building site off Broad Street. The commission was expected to discuss a rezoning of 310 and 322 Broad St., along with the vacant lot next door known as St. Mary’s Field, from its current limited-business zoning to a planned-unit development. But hundreds of residents who were opposed to the zoning change arrived at the commission meeting wearing “No PUD” pins, and they argued with commission Chairman Francis McCann when he suggested that some residents would have to wait outside and take shifts with others so the fire marshal wouldn’t shut the meeting down completely. “I run this meeting like a courtroom. No one is more important than anyone else,” McCann said after the crowd had moaned, cheered and yelled back at his responses multiple times. “I came here tonight to hear you. But my duty is to
LIST General Contractors, Page 30 BONUS LIST Certified Commerical Investment Members, Page 34
The proposed Jasper community would be located off Broad Street. (Rendering/Provided/The Beach Co.)
make certain that somebody who might be rude or who interrupts you, my place is to stop them from interrupting you.” One man questioned how residents outside the room would hear any discussion from the commission members prior to their vote if the shifts were enacted. McCann responded that commission members have no duty to share why they vote the way they do. “In this state, in this country, majority does not always rule,” McCann said. The crowd of residents began booing, and conversations quickly erupted throughout the room. The commission then immediately voted to defer discussion of the project
until a larger venue could be secured, and hundreds of people began filing out of the building. The Beach Co. issued a statement after the meeting saying it is looking forward to reconvening and sharing the development’s vision. “The Beach Co. has been committed to gathering community feedback on this project since 2006 and agrees that it is essential that the community’s voice continues to be heard as we progress through the rezoning process,” the statement said. The next Planning Commission meeting regarding the Sergeant Jasper devel-
Construction, engineering and architectural firms are working hard in Charleston. Thank you to everyone who submitted projects and photos for this special section. We’ll expect more in the next quarter. Feature your project in the next issue of Charleston Under Construction. The project submission deadline is May 8 for the June 1 edition. Email to cuc@scbiznews.com.
See JASPER Page 16 ➤
Architects seek to preserve history while pushing new designs By Liz Segrist
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lsegrist@scbiznews.com
n a city known for its charming streets, rich history and old buildings, architects and the city’s Board of Architectural Review are trying to find a balance to preserve Charleston’s buildings and also create new spaces for a swiftly changing peninsula. The city of Charleston’s population is expected to grow from 35,000 to 60,000 residents over the next 20 years. Lower King Street has 0% vacancy, and Upper King Street has several large mixed-use developments under construction, such as Midtown and Courier Square. New restaurants are opening, more tech companies are setting up and people are moving into the area. A city experiencing this much growth needs a
Planners wanted the Midtown condos to be modern and fit the neighborhood. (Photo/Provided)
balance of architectural styles, preservation and bold designs, according to several local architects.
“In 1988, grass was growing on the corner of Market and King streets. Nothing was happening. Then (Hurricane) Hugo came along and sparked a renaissance in Charleston,” said Neil Stevenson, who launched Neil Stevenson Architects in Charleston in 1992. Traditionalists and preservation groups have recently blocked plans to build more modern designs, such as Clemson’s Architecture Center, saying that the designs were not strong enough or do not complement the city’s older buildings that make downtown Charleston memorable. Many complain that some newer buildings in the city should not have been approved. Modernists argue that copying traditional styles prevents future generations See ARCHITECTURE Page 12 ➤
AtlAtl 174 Meeting St., Charleston Developer: Holder Properties, Atlanta Architecture firm: Henry J. Smith Architects, Charleston (floor plan); LS3P Charleston (finishes) General contractor: Linden Construction, Charleston Engineering firm: Conway & Owen, Alpharetta, Ga. Estimated completion date: March 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $880,000 This project is an upfit of a 13,000-squarefoot, Class A office space. See UNDER CONSTRUCTION, Page 18
Next Issue’s Focus:
Hospitality and Tourism
➤
12
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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
ARCHITECTURE, continued from Page 11 ➤
from seeing the contemporary architectural designs of today. Most agree that preservation is crucial for keeping Charleston’s character intact, but local architect Brad Brown said making new construction look old means “people can no longer tell what’s old and what’s new.” “You start to get a Disney-esque take on history,” said Brown, owner of Brown-Architecture. “People come here and expect to see history, and really it’s a building that was built two years ago.” The growing tech sector also is pushing the need for more modern designs, often created within a renovated historic building, said Brown, who designed the Charleston Digital Corridor’s Flagship2 building off East Bay Street in downtown Charleston. He envisions more developments that incorporate older buildings and newer designs — exposed brick walls with steel beams or glass walls next to them. “There is a need for new architecture,” Brown said. “It’s part of telling the story of a city and letting the city develop in a real way through time. If it sort of stops and tries to stay the same, it loses some of the character of it.” About 90% of the projects are approved at the city’s staff level, and the remaining projects are sent to the city’s Board of Architectural Review for approval,
Neil Stevenson, the architect of the Midtown of Charleston development, said he wanted to incorporate modern designs while ensuring the scale did not overwhelm surrounding structures and homes. He said many downtown projects are ideal for mixing modern and traditional styles. (Photo/Neil Stevenson Architects)
according to Jay White, an architect with Liollio Architecture and a BAR board member for three years. White is not a spokesman for the board. “This gives you an idea of the volume,” said White, who worked on the redevel-
opment of a school that’s now Charleston Progressive Academy. “As I talk to people about what’s going on downtown, there’s a general sense of unease about how fast things are changing and how they’re changing.”
White said the board, formed in the 1930s, has a solid process for vetting quality projects and designs along with city staff. While the system is not perfect, he said it works well and helps improve designs from their initial proposals.
March 9 - 22, 2015
IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
“I would hope over the next few years we do not see urbanization influence abating. I would hope that above all else the city finds its courage again.”
The Charleston Digital Corridor’s Flagship2 uses new, modern designs incorporated into an older building, an approach architects hope more projects adopt as the city grows and redevelops existing structures. (Photo/ Charleston Digital Corridor)
Jay White architect with Liollio Architecture and a BAR board member
“I hear the criticism all the time: If the BAR is so great, why do we end up with ugly buildings? The BAR doesn’t design buildings. They give comments and allow the public to voice their opinions,” White said. “It’s a forum that, in my view, an architect can take seriously and use the comments to make the project better. That doesn’t always happen.” Historic Charleston Foundation, the Preservation Society of Charleston, neighborhood associations, architects, developers and residents often speak at BAR meetings. The board must determine whether projects’ design, scale, quality and materials fit the character of a neighborhood. They consider preservation issues and whether the proposal is a renovation of a
historic building or new construction. “That’s the basis of a lot of debate: Do we put new construction or major renovations in the heart of the historic district?” White said. “Will it be built in such a way that it will be a lasting and beautiful contribution to the city?” White said many of the buildings considered “perfect Charleston buildings” today, which traditionalists seek to replicate, were considered very progressive and controversial at the time they were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. “I would hope over the next few years we do not see urbanization influence abating. I would hope that above all else the city finds its courage again,” White said. Stevenson, who designed the Midtown
of Charleston condominium development in the Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood and who is planning a modern, four-story office building on King Street next to the Crosstown Expressway, wants to see more of this blending of modern and traditional styles to have architecture that respects Charleston’s older buildings and also reflects the current era. “I think the consensus is that we’re OK with a contemporary connection to historical buildings. They have to be balanced and fit in. They can’t tower over everything. They have to work and be good architecture,” Stevenson said. Stevenson applauds recent efforts to push modern styles but says designs should have gone further. He said it’s important to work with neighborhood
www.charlestonbusiness.com 13
and historical preservation groups to get feedback but also to not let such input completely control the design process. “Go into any great city in the world and it has a mix of current architecture and historical architectural and the buildings respect each era’s style it’s from. If it’s done properly, the landscape blends together to make an amazing architectural city,” Stevenson said. “Everyone is so scared of the BAR that instead of working harder to be bolder with modern designs in the right area, they do what’s easy to get it passed.” White said more industry and people are coming to town, people are spending more money than they used to on developments and everyone takes architectural design much more seriously than in recent decades. But many still are afraid to present different designs because they might have 100 people waiting at a BAR meeting to complain about the proposal, White said. “I think that would be the worst possible outcome for a process that’s worked as well as the BAR historically has, that people are so afraid of getting caught up in criticism they find safe harbor in something people will ignore,” White said. “Don’t be afraid to be bold; it’s the in-between designs that are often the least successful.” cr bj
Reach staff writer Liz Segrist at 843-8493119 or @lizsegrist on Twitter.
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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
The Gadsden House, located at 329 East Bay St., is expected to reopen in the spring as a wedding and event venue. (Photo/Tripp Smith)
East Bay Street’s Gadsden House to become event venue after renovation By Ashley Heffernan aheffernan@scbiznews.com
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downtown Charleston home named after the creator of the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag is under renovation and will likely open later this year as a wedding and event venue. The Gadsden House — built between 1798 and 1800 for the daughter of Revolutionary War soldier and politician Christopher Gadsden — sits on East Bay Street in the Ansonborough neighborhood. The four-story, 7,000-square-foot, solid brick Charleston single sits on a 22-inch-thick foundation, according to Tim Sites, a conservation specialist for Luxury Simplified. The company, a Charleston-based real estate and construction company, is renovating the property and expects it to reopen in the spring with office space on the upper floors, along with areas for weddings and receptions inside the home, in the garden and on two piazzas. Sites said the home survived the 1886 earthquake with only one crack in the foundation and was a tenement house in the 1950s. Around 1960, Historic Charleston Foundation purchased the house and did some repair work to save it from being demolished. The foundation still has an
interior and exterior easement on the house. “We’re taking it down to the original structure, down to each room as it was built,” Sites said. “We’re taking anything out that was added after the home was built. ... A lot of these rooms got chopped up over the years. People added walls, kitchens, bathrooms. We’re taking all those out.” The original plaster molding, wooden chair railing and wainscoting are being restored, and a kitchen — which will be available for catering purposes — is being reworked in a separate building behind the home. “It’s remarkably untouched for the fact that in the ’50s and ’60s it was a tenement house. You would think it would have been totally destroyed. We’re very fortunate,” Sites said. The windows throughout the home will be steamed and reglazed, and the longleaf heart pine flooring will be cleaned. “It’s actually in pretty good shape. There’s a few spots where they added a bathroom or kitchen and it was torn out, so we’re replacing that with the same pine floor,” he said. On the exterior, all the brick work will be repointed after a mortar analysis, and any damage to the roof will be repaired prior to its being repainted, according to Sites.
March 9 - 22, 2015
IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
Top: Tom Podhrazsky, a preservationist with Luxury Simplified, makes a mold to recreate the crown molding in part of the Gadsden House. The property’s iron gate (left) and the home’s windows (right) are also being repaired. (Photos/Tripp Smith, Ashley Heffernan)
Iron-gate restoration
In the 1960s, Charleston blacksmith Philip Simmons was commissioned by Historic Charleston Foundation to create a set of iron gates for the property. He chose to incorporate the rattlesnake featured in the Gadsden flag into the gates. Since then, though, the gates have been hit by a car and have deteriorated over time. Frank Verga, who owns Seventh and Division LLC and is a professor at the American College of the Building Arts in Charleston, was hired by Luxury Simplified to restore Simmons’ work. “That tight bend in the snakes, to make two of them that matched, that’s the tough part,” Verga said. He took the two 500-pound gates to the college’s workshop in James Island to remove the old paint, treat them with a chemical to retard rust and determine what parts need to be straightened, repaired or replaced. “We’re hoping not to have to cut out that many damaged sections. Hopefully we can keep as much of the original gate as possible,” he said. Verga plans to hire college students to help him work on the project at night and on the weekends. “I want to give them some hands-on restoration work,” he said. “I want them to actually get their hands dirty — with some supervision of course.”
recently entered the historic restoration market, according to owner Chris LeighJones. During the next two years, the construction group is expected to work on nearly $25 million worth of projects in the Charleston area. “You do one on the Eastside and it’s basically new construction with some old parts. You do a house like this; this is what you call restoration. Restoration is a more sensitive project,” Leigh-Jones said of the Gadsden House. He said the group tries to spot niches or unique opportunities, and the Gadsden House was “a gem” because it had been for sale for 10 years. “It was under-rented because it had no maintenance and it couldn’t achieve sufficient rent for a bank to mortgage it,” he said. “You can get wrapped up in the renovation and the restoration, but if you want to make something last it has to be a model you can repeat again and again.” The company is also looking to create workforce housing on Nassau Street in downtown Charleston, but that project is still in the early stages. “It’s not Section 8. It’s for city workers, teachers, doctors, who want to live and work in the city. We’re looking at making a development specifically aimed at that,” he said. “It’s for people who want to live downtown and will sacrifice size for livability.” cr bj
Branching out
Luxury Simplified Group has renovated five homes south of Broad Street and
Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.
www.charlestonbusiness.com 15
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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
JASPER, continued from Page 11 ➤
opment will be held at 5 p.m. March 16 at the Burke High School auditorium, 244 President St.
The project
The 14-floor, 221-apartment Sergeant Jasper apartment building is scheduled for demolition this year, and The Beach Co. is looking to replace it with about 450 apartments, 35,000 square feet of commercial space and more than 700 parking spaces within hidden parking decks in three separate buildings on the site. The three buildings, collectively known as The Jasper, would be four stories tall along the public right of way, with the middle portion of one building stretching to seven stories. Kent Johnson, vice president of development at The Beach Co., said the project would be the most expensive in the company’s history. He said it will like- The 1950s-built Sergeant Jasper apartment ly be comparable to the price of luxury building is scheduled to be demolished this year. apartment building Elan Midtown, which (Photo/Ashley Heffernan) Johnson said cost about $250,000 per unit deck in the middle that would sit four stoto build. The Beach Co. hired Glenn Keyes ries high and be rimmed by apartments. Architects, DesignWorks, LS3P and JHP An additional three stories of apartments Architecture/Urban Design to study would sit on top of that parking deck, downtown Charleston architecture and Parker said. “From the street, looking up, pedestridesign the new development. It would be built in three sections with ans won’t be able to see the higher apartpedestrian space between each, according ments from their line of sight, and parkto Scott Parker, urban planner and land- ing is totally hidden,” he said. Johnson said the scape architect with company would DesignWorks. target employees “It’s really like “In this state, in this from the Medical three blocks, which University of South is nice because if you look at the intensi- country, majority does not Carolina and the College of Charlesty or the size of the always rule.” ton as renters, along blocks in Charleston, with employees who you don’t have really Francis McCann work in the King big blocks,” Parker chairman, and Broad streets said. “It’s a finer grain City of Charleston Planning Commission business districts. to our grid, and what He said the developthat means is people ment would encourhave lots of ways to age residents to walk or bike to work. walk through.” “The demographic that we’re going Gadsden Street would extend between the first two blocks as a pedestrian walk- after are people that work on the peninsuway, and a small neighborhood park la and, given the choice, would choose to would be built along Barre Street dividing live on the peninsula,” Johnson said. “Our pricing is going to have to be in keeping the other two blocks. Along the edges, facing Broad and with incomes of what people make on the Canal streets, the buildings would be set peninsula.” About 90% of the apartments would be back from the property line. From the curb to the buildings, pedestrians would rented at market rates, while the remainhave 23 feet of space, and Parker said his der would be rented through a program vision is for people to walk from Colonial that reserves apartments for couples Lake to the Ashley River along the “Colo- making less than $50,000. “Let’s say you take a young couple, nial promenades.” On the ground floor of the three and she is a police officer and he works buildings, there would be parking decks at MUSC. They could very easily between behind retail space, according to Parker. the two of them be making $70,000 to A high-end food store is likely, along with $75,000,” Johnson said. “So we would possibly a restaurant or a small amount of have to have housing that’s appropriately priced for that point.” office space. The top three floors of each building would hold apartment units, and the mid- Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at dle building would have a larger parking 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter. cr bj
March 9 - 22, 2015
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Sunoco convenience store 1257 St. James Ave., Summerville Developer/owner: Sunoco R&M, Lester, Pa. Architecture firm: Cornerstone Consulting Engineers & Architectural, Inc., Allentown, Pa. General contractor: Progressive Builders Inc, Greenville Engineering firm: Stantec (civil, roadway and landscape), North Charleston Estimated completion date: Dec 1, 2014 The project is a 4,300-square foot convenience store with eight gas pumps and an outdoor dining area located at Carnes Crossroads at the intersection of U.S. 17-A and U.S. 176.
Main Road Self Storage 10814 Dorchester Road, Summerville Developer: Main Road Self Storage Johns Island LLC, Montana Development LLC, Johns Island Civil engineer: Cypress Engineering, Summerville General contractor: R.M. Buck Builders, Inc., R.M. Buck LLC, Johns Island Estimated completion date: April 1, 2015 This project is an expansion of a self-storage facility in Summerville. Four buildings for a total of 30,000 square foot single story structures will include: 250 various-sized storage spaces that are climate-controlled; 25 boat, RV, trailer and vehicle parking spaces; a security system, coded access; LED lighting system; and a packing and moving supplies store, pack and ship via UPS. A U-Haul dealership will remain on the site.
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CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
Scout Boats, new manufacturing facility and paint booth 2531 U.S. Highway 78, Summerville Owner: Scout Boats, Steve Potts Architect/Engineer: Berenyi Inc., Charleston General contractor: Palmetto Construction Group LLC, Charleston Estimated total cost of project: $1.5 million Estimated completion date: May 2015 This project includes preparation, construction and erection of a new, 22,500-square-foot building including double overhead boom cranes, a large paint booth and new production facility.
Jewish Studies Center addition 94 Wentworth St., Charleston Owner: College of Charleston Architecture firm: Rosenblum Coe Architects Inc., Charleston General contractor: MB Kahn Construction Co., Charleston Engineering firm: DWG Inc., Mount Pleasant (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection); E.M. Seabrook Jr. Inc., Mount Pleasant (civil); ADC Engineering Inc., Hanahan (structural); and John Tarkany Associates Inc., Charleston (landscape) Estimated completion date: 2015 The project consists of an approximately 15,000-square-foot addition to the existing three-story Jewish Studies Center at the corner of Wentworth and Glebe streets on the southern edge of the College of Charleston campus. The three-story addition will be in character with the existing building and in context with the surrounding neighborhood.
March 9 - 22, 2015
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Family Dollar 1806 Dogwood Road, Charleston Developer: Twin Rivers Capital LLC, Charleston General contractor: HJB Construction, Charleston Opened: Dec. 11, 2014 The project at the corner of Dogwood and Ashley River roads is a new, all-brick design with protected grand trees.
City of North Charleston Fire Station No. 2 2800 Carner Ave., North Charleston Owner: City of North Charleston Architecture firm: Rosenblum Coe Architects Inc., Charleston General contractor: Contract Construction, Irmo Engineering firm: Live Oak Consultants, North Charleston (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection); ADC Engineering, Hanahan (structural); and URS Corp., North Charleston (civil). Estimated completion date: 2015 The new fire station will be a two-story, five-bay, 19,000-square-foot building. The first floor will include offices, a community and training room, exercise room and support spaces. The second floor includes areas for the dayroom, kitchen, dining room and 12 bunk rooms. The station features a sliding pole and a fireman’s slide to aid in the crew’s ability to quickly and efficiently move from the second floor to the first floor.
be able to appreciate their views all year round.
Johns Island pump station 2522 Bullock Guard Drive, Johns Island Owner: Charleston Water System, Charleston Engineering firm: R.H. Moore, Murrells Inlet General contractor: Weston & Sampson, Environmental/Infrastructure Consultants, Charleston Estimated completion date: Jan. 16, 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $3.15 million The project includes a new trunk sewer main; 7,000 linear feet of 14- and 16-inch force main; 5,400 linear feet of 10-, 18- and 24-inch gravity sewer, and a 3.4 million gallon-perday capacity wastewater pump station to serve Johns Island. The project scope includes route survey, development of plans, easement acquisitions, permitting, geotechnical study, cultural resources study, coordination with the city of Charleston, Charleston County, S.C. Department of Transportation, SCANA/SCE&G, and multiple private landowners.
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CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
Private Residence Wappoo Creek, Johns Island Architecture firm: Rosenblum Coe Architects Inc., Charleston General contractor: Solaris Inc., Johns Island Estimated completion date: 2015 This existing private residence on Johns Island is nestled on 2.65 acres with views of Wappoo Creek. The original home is approximately 7,000 square feet and was renovated by Rosenblum Coe Architects in the early 2000s. The 450-square-foot family room is being renovated and 550 square feet are being added to create a new conversation room overlooking the water. The new addition has 9-foot-tall windows and six skylights in the dormer roof to take advantage of the scenic views of the creek. With a 6-foot roof overhang, the owners will be able to appreciate their views all year round.
Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston 55 Wentworth St., Charleston Architecture firm: Reese Vanderbilt & Associates, Atlanta General contractor: Mashburn Construction, Charleston Engineering firm: Browder & LeGuizamon & Associates, Atlanta (structural); Forsberg Engineering & Surveying, Charleston (civil); Jordan & Skala Engineers, Norcross, Ga. (mechanical, electrical and plumbing). Estimated completion date: Mid-2015 Estimated total cost of project: $15 million This project is a new, 57,125-square-foot, four-diamond hotel, including 50 rooms, an art gallery, wine blending and tasting room and fitness center, as well as a rooftop restaurant and terrace. It is being constructed on a tight site in downtown Charleston on the corner of Meeting and Wentworth streets.
March 9 - 22, 2015
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
and Wentworth streets.
w Goose Creek High School Red Bank Road, Goose Creek Developer: Berkeley County School District Architecture firm: SGA Architecture LLC, Charleston General contractor: Thompson Turner, North Charleston Engineering firm: ADC Engineering Inc., Hanahan (civil/structural); RMF Engineering Inc. Charleston (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) Estimated completion date: 2016 Estimated total cost of project: $26 million Goose Creek High School is in need of renovations and additions to the existing campus for capacity relief and dated interiors. The proposed renovations and additions on the operating school campus will provide and replace 130,000 square feet of classroom space and will redesign the overall campus master plan. A focal promenade will be created to connect the parking at the front of the school to the athletic facilities and fields. An outdoor quad will also be created by the addition of the new classroom wing. The quad is protected and contained, which provides increased security for students. Student, staff and visitor safety is paramount in phase planning and site logistics. A phased plan that uses “swing space� to enable the demolition of existing facilities will ensure that no portable classrooms are used, resulting in a savings of more than $800,000.
Summerville Elementary School Auditorium Addition 835 S. Main St., Summerville Owner: Dorchester School District 2 Architecture firm: SGA Architecture LLC, Charleston General contractor: Hill Construction, Charleston Engineering firm: ADC Engineering, Inc., Hanahan (structural, civil); RMF Engineering Inc., Charleston (mechanical) Estimated completion date: Spring 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $1.9 million This project will provide a new multipurpose room and faculty parking for the existing school. The multipurpose room includes a platform, restrooms and storage. The building addition will also provide improved student dropoff and pickup, in addition to serving as a venue for school and community functions.
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CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Freeman’s Point Amenity Center 1105 Hills Plantation Drive, Charleston Developer: Freeman’s Point Developers LLC, Mount Pleasant Architecture firm: Bailey Oldham Design PLLC, York (landscape and design) General contractor: Linden Construction Engineering firm: Sitecast, Mount Pleasant (site plan) Estimated completion date: June 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $640,000 The amenity center is set on a tidal creek of the Folly River and will serve the Freeman’s Point Community. The job incorporates all required site work to accommodate a swimming pool, clubhouse and related amenities.
March 9 - 22, 2015
Spencer Creek Woods Ladson Road and Palmetto Commerce Parkway, Ladson Developer/owner: Lennar Carolinas LLC, Charleston General contractor: Livingston Construction, Moncks Corner Engineering firm: Stantec Consulting Services Inc., North Charleston Estimated completion date: July 2015 Spencer Creek Woods is a residential subdivision located near Ladson Road and Palmetto Commerce Parkway. The final phase of the development consists of 47 residential homes, many of which back up to the marsh. The phase includes stormwater retention ponds, 1,600 linear feet of new roadway with curb and gutter and sidewalks, water and sewer extensions and stormwater infrastructure.
March 9 - 22, 2015
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Capital Bank 960 Morrison Drive, Charleston Developer: JFrone LLC, Charleston Architecture firm: Thompson Young Design LLC, Charleston General contractor: Linden Construction, Charleston Engineering firm: Epic Engineering, Mount Pleasant Estimated completion date: April 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $180,000 This project is an upfit of a Class A office space on the second floor of an existing building.
Sherwin Williams 823 Folly Road, Charleston Developer/owner: Global Project Folly Road SW LLC, Charleston Architecture firm: Insite Strategy & Architecture, Charleston General contractor: J. Musselman Construction Inc., Charleston Estimated completion date: December 2014 Construction of a new, free-standing Sherwin Williams paint store will be slab-on-grade concrete with shallow footings, wood wall and roof truss framing with exterior, sprayapplied thermal barrier. Exterior elements include architectural shingles; impact-rated storefront system; and cast-in-place monument wall. Interior finishes include vinyl plank flooring; interior storefront systems; casework; and stained concrete floors. The site layout posed a unique challenge as a result of several grand oaks on a tight site.
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CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
` Private residence 481 Creek Landing St., Daniel Island Architecture firm: Spivey Architects Inc., Charleston Engineering firm: Francis Langford, Charleston (structural) Estimated completion date: Late 2015 Located on deep water in the Daniel Island Park section of Daniel Island, this home includes an elevated outdoor living area with pool, spa and outdoor cooking space. A social center and curvilinear glass wall opens views to the pool terrace and waterfront beyond. Approximately 7,000 square feet includes development of a ground-floor playroom and guest space; a first-floor bedroom, bath and living space; and a second floor containing a media room, master suite and children’s bedrooms and bathrooms.
Private residence 428 Morrison Drive, Mount Pleasant Architecture firm: Rush Dixon Architects LLC, Mount Pleasant; Wertimer & Associates, Charleston (landscape architecture) General contractor: Harbor Contracting, Mount Pleasant Engineering firm: ADC Engineering, Hanahan (structural) Estimated completion date: 2015 This private residence is designed to maximize daylighting and energy efficiency. The contemporary sustainable design will accommodate a green roof as well as solar panels. Rainwater from the roof will be collected in a cistern to control runoff and be used for irrigation.
James Chapel AME Church 1550 Mulberry St., Charleston General contractor: Atrium Builders Inc., Summerville Engineering firm: The J.R. Broadway Co. LLC, Mount Pleasant (structural) Estimated completion date: December 2014 Estimated total cost of project: $141,000 Roof trusses on the building failed when they were loaded with new shingles in 2013. This project is to remove the roof trusses, install new trusses and re-roof.
March 9 - 22, 2015
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ 126 Williman St., Charleston Architecture firm: Stumphouse Architecture-Design, Charleston General contractor: Linden Construction, Charleston Engineering firm: Constantine Engineering Associates LLC, Charleston Estimated completion date: July 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $890,000 Project includes demolition of existing structures, full site work package, rehabilitation of other existing structures and construction of new structures.
Private residence 3556 Henrietta Hartford Road, Mount Pleasant Developer/owner: Trey and Becky Smith, Charleston Architecture firm: Vinyet Architecture, Charleston General contractor: Sceltas LLC, Mount Pleasant Engineering firm: Residential Structures, Charleston Estimated completion date: May 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $750,000 This custom home was placed to highlight a grand oak off the back porch and make the transition from indoor to outdoor flow smoothly. The two-car garage was recessed, with design features to look more like a historic carriage home.
Private residence 163 River Green Place, Daniel Island Architecture firm: Vinyet Architecture, Charleston General contractor: Lowcountry Premier Custom Homes, Charleston Estimated completion date: July 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $1.3 million This speculative home includes a small, detached garage enclosing a motor court accessed through the porte-cochere. There are plans for an outdoor living area with a pool.
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CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
‘
Private residence 208 Furman Farm Place, Daniel Island Architecture firm: Vinyet Architecture, Charleston General contractor: Lowcountry Premier Custom Homes, Charleston Estimated completion date: July 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $1.3 million Serving as a speculative home on Daniel Island, this 3,263-square-foot residence is situated on a tight lot along a fairway. It includes outdoor living spaces and indoor spaces that take advantage of the views.
Private residence 417 Lesesne St., Daniel Island Developer/owner: Gasque, Charleston Architecture firm: Vinyet Architecture, Charleston General contractor: Lowcountry Premier Custom Homes, Charleston Engineering firm: Residential Structures, Charleston Estimated completion date: June 2015 Estimated total cost of project: $1.2 million Double staircases in a grand entrance lead visitors into this two-story, 4,652-square-foot home. There are several garages and storage opportunities on the ground level.
March 9 - 22, 2015
CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Restoration on King Hotel 79 Wentworth St., Charleston Developer: Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate, Cincinnati Architecture firms: Phoenix Architecture, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Neil Stevenson Architects, Charleston General contractor: Miller-Valentine Commercial Construction, Charleston Engineering firm: Advantage Group Engineers, Cincinnati Estimated completion date: August 2015 The seven-story, 34-room boutique hotel will be an addition to the existing Restoration on King Hotel. Features of this project include a rooftop bar and restaurant, a fifth-floor pool and deck, structured parking under the hotel, meeting rooms and event space. The project also includes the renovation of 77 Wentworth St., a three-story existing structure that will be converted into additional guestrooms, a spa area, meeting facilities, and lounge and lobby space.
North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary School 5200 Lackawanna Blvd., North Charleston Developer: Charleston County School District Architecture firms: Stubbs Muldrow Herin Architects Inc., Mount Pleasant; Craig Gaulden Davis Architects, Greenville (consulting). General Contractor: M.B. Kahn, Charleston Engineering firms: ADC Engineering, Hanahan (civil, structural, landscape); Owens & Associates, Mount Pleasant (mechanical, fire protection); S&ME, Mount Pleasant (geotechnical). Consultants: Whitmire Ballington Associates, Lexington (food service); BRC Acoustics, Summerville (audiovisual, acoustics); System WorCx, Columbia (commissioning). Completion date: January 2016 Estimated total cost of project: $21.283 million This 80,000-square-foot elementary school is under construction in North Charleston. The new facility will be an arts-infused partial magnet school.
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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
General Contractors
Ranked by $ Value of Contracts in 2014 in the Charleston Area Top Local Official(s)/Year Contracts: Founded Value/No.
Employees
Work Done Locally
Areas of Specialization
$428,000,000 12
70
10%
Construction Management, General Contracting, and Design-Build
William H. Neely, L. Davis Petty 1927
$200,000,000 81
404
20%
Construction services that will take your project from concept to completion on time and under budget
843-284-9047 www.choateco.com cyaw@choateco.com
Matthew Brewer, Dave Priester, Tim Heichelbech 1989
$196,700,000 18
40
80%
Industrial, aviation, medical office buildings, corporate, hospitality, design-build, construction manager at risk, LEED, assisted living, data, student housing, apartments
Trident Construction 2245 Technical Parkway North Charleston, SC 29406
843-572-7600 www.tridentconstruction.com -
Robert D. Fairey, John David Griffith, $85,000,000 H Chapman McKay 51 1981
80
95%
Commercial office, health care, industrial
Banks Construction 4902 Banco Road North Charleston, SC 29418
843-744-8261 www.banksconstruction.com -
Reid Banks, Ron Banks, Trey Banks 1948
$79,600,000 63
230
100%
Asphalt paving and land grading
HITT Contracting Inc. 2457 W. Aviation Ave., Suite 100 Charleston, SC 29406
843-308-9400 www.hitt-gc.com cknizevski@hitt-gc.com
Carson P. Knizevski 1937
$73,000,000 57
29
99%
Government and defense, health care, corporate interiors, base building, industrial, manufacturing
Skanska USA 284 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401
843-277-2605 www.usa.skanska.com heather.justus@skanska.com
Steve Stouthamer, Bob Ferguson 1918
$70,000,000 4
35
100%
Health care, education, sports, data centers, government, aviation, transportation, power, energy, water, waste water and commercial
Gulf Stream Construction Co. Inc. 3820 Faber Place, Suite 200 North Charleston, SC 29405
843-572-4363 www.gulfstreamconstruction.com Info@giulfstreamconstruction.com
Matt Blackwood, Ken Holseberg, Mark $51,000,000 Hylton 29 1963
162
100%
General site contractor
Hill Construction 295 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 301 Charleston, SC 29492
843-884-6888 www.hillcon.com -
Bob Dunn, Chip Crane, Gene Garrett 1956
$46,288,178 50
55
100%
Clubhouses, hospitality, health care, corporate offices, educational buildings, and sports facilities
Mashburn Construction Co. Inc. 1202 Chuck Dawley Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-853-4303 www.mashburnconstruction.com -
Harry L. Mashburn, Paul Mashburn, Lee Mashburn, Jr. 1976
$45,000,000 40
20
100%
Construction management, design-build, general construction, preconstruction services
Landmark Construction Co. Inc. 3255 Industry Drive North Charleston, SC 29418
843-552-6186 www.landmark-sc.com shayes@landmark-sc.com
Cynthia Mixson, Rick Mixson, Ann Mixson 1965
$37,800,000 55
173
90%
Site work, utilities, grading, storm drainage, heavy concrete foundations, cast-in-place concrete, concrete paving, and road construction
Company
Phone/Website Email
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company PO Box 2230 Goose Creek, SC 29445
843-719-2712 www.whiting-turner.com jay.norman@whiting-turner.com
Jay H Norman 1909
M.B. Kahn Constrction Co. Inc. 8 N. Atlantic Wharf Charleston, SC 29401
843-714-2020 www.mbkahn.com -
Choate Construction Co. 1671 Belle Isle Ave., Suite 100 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
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.
March 9 - 22, 2015
IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
www.charlestonbusiness.com 31
General Contractors
Ranked by $ Value of Contracts in 2014 in the Charleston Area Top Local Official(s)/Year Contracts: Founded Value/No.
Employees
Work Done Locally
Areas of Specialization
$32,000,000 4
10
30%
Base building, interior renovations and additions, special projects
Gary D. Brantley 2005
$25,969,347 8
36
30%
Education, commercial, sports, health care, warehouse, religious, industrial and manufacturing
843-572-2400 www.frampton.construction -
Chad Frampton 1993
$25,000,000 12
15
50%
Commercial, industrial, tenant upfits, renovations and expansions
R.M. Buck LLC 950 Main Road Johns Island, SC 29455
843-559-1155 www.rmbuck.com ryan@rmbuck.com
Ryan M. Buck 1977
$25,000,000 14
16
100%
New construction, renovation, luxury properties, investment properties, self storage, commercial buildings, and developments
Palmetto Construction Group 2265 Clements Ferry Road Charleston, SC 29492
843-971-7156 www.pcgllc.net info@pcgllc.net
John M. Kendle, Jr. , Jay Handegan, Skylar Ashby 2001
$15,600,000 7
18
51%
Medical, industrial, manufacturing, office, general commercial, commercial and retail upfit.
Coward-Hund Construction Group Inc. 3636 W. Montague Ave., Suite 200 North Charleston, SC 29418
843-767-0900 www.coward-hund.com information@coward-hund.com
Ronnie Coward 1976
$11,700,000 23
25
80%
Office, retail, commercial, institutional, auto dealerships, hotels, industrial, manufacturing, warehouse, design-build, fast-track, preengineered buildings, financial institutions, distribution
C.R. Hipp Construction Inc. & Hipp Service Inc. 4981 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29418
843-744-4477 www.crhippconstruction.com -
Al W. Hitchcock, Pete L Bailey, David $10,300,000 C. Gregg 12 1962
80
90%
Commercial and industrial HVAC construction, service and installation on all makes, models and systems
Dooley Mack Constructors of South Carolina, LLC 2420 Mall Drive, Suite 211 North Charleston, SC 29406
843-762-6690 www.dooleymack.com -
John O. Ross, Jr. 2008
$10,000,000 20
15
20%
National retail, restaurants, banking, automotive, commercial renovations, open-store remodels, clubhouses, flex space, light industrial, professional and medical office
Harbor Contracting LLC 1147 Pleasant Oaks Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-884-3434 www.harborcontracting.net info@harborcontracting.net
Peter A. McKellar, IV 1985
$10,000,000 23
15
100%
Commercial construction, dental, medical, office, municipal, industrial, religious, retail
Quattlebaum Construction Co. LLC 1028 LeGrand Blvd. Charleston, SC 29492
843-856-0799 www.qdevco.com info@qdevco.com
Alex M. Quattlebaum, III, Scott M. Quattlebaum 1947
$10,000,000 6
10
100%
Industrial, commercial, retail, medical
Construction Services Group, Inc. 1412 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29407
843-225-2527 www.csgcharleston.com contactcsg@csgcharleston.com
Ron McCollum, Andy Moody 2005
$9,200,000 23
15
40%
Hospitals, industrial, commercial, private and public bid.
Company
Phone/Website Email
Hogan Construction Group 2007 Cherry Hill Lane Charleston, SC 29405
843-619-4900 www.hoganconstructiongroup.com phogan@hoganconstructiongroup.com
Paul Hogan 1998
Brantley Construction Co. LLC 8300 Dorchester Road Charleston, SC 29418
843-552-0150 www.brantleyconstruction.com -
Frampton Construction 3227 Benchmark Drive Ladson, SC 29456
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.
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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
General Contractors
Ranked by $ Value of Contracts in 2014 in the Charleston Area Top Local Official(s)/Year Contracts: Founded Value/No.
Employees
Work Done Locally
$9,100,000 30
16
90%
Health care, class A office, historic renovations, student housing, retail, light industrial
Chris R Spach 2008
$8,500,000 6
12
90%
Design-Build, commercial, office, retail, financial institutions, warehouse and distribution, schools, institutional and industrial, medical
843-747-5757 www.blanchardconst.com ronnie@blanchardconst.com
Michael Blanchard, Matt O'Donnell, John O'Donnell 1975
$7,654,000 26
60
100%
Commercial, industrial, process piping, historical, metal buildings, retail, medical offices, restaurants
Carolina Contracting Solutions LLC 1318 S.C. Highway 61 Ridgeville, SC 29472
843-832-1300 www.ccsolutionssc.com steve@ccsolutionssc.com
Joellen P. Rogers, Steve W. Tumbleston, Butch Clayton 1989
$7,000,000 15
150
100%
Architecture, interiors, design-build, renovations, new construction, additions
Cook Bonner Construction Inc. 147 Wappoo Creek Drive, Suite 302 Charleston, SC 29412
843-795-9301 www.cookbonner.com info@cookbonner.com
George Cook, Rick Bonner 1976
$7,000,000 5
10
100%
Custom homes, additions, renovations, remodels, banks, medical, general offices
Freeland Construction Company, INC 1629 Meeting Street Road Charleston, SC 29405
843-722-1740 www.freelandconstruction.com info@freelandconstruction.com
Kenneth B. Canty 2001
$6,893,152 276
30
70%
Government, industrial, utility and institutional entities.
Phillip W. Smith, General Contractor, Inc. 465 W. Coleman Blvd., Suite 301 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-881-9828 www.phillipsmithcontractor.com info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
Phillip W. Smith 1996
$5,999,000 10
9
100%
Remodeling
J. Musselman Construction Inc. 1430 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29407
843-225-0406 www.jmusselmanconstruction.com frontdesk@jmusselmanconstruction.com
Jon Musselman 2006
$5,775,000 43
10
95%
Commercial offices, medical offices, health care, dental, retail and design-build work
Classic Remodeling & Construction Inc. 1832 River Road Johns Island, SC 29455
843-763-3297 www.classicremodeling.com dreams@classicremodeling.com
Robert "Bob" D. Fleming 1989
$5,200,000 62
26
100%
Whole home remodels, kitchens, baths, outdoor spaces, additions, small projects, repairs
IPW Construction Group LLC 7623 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29418
843-308-0524 www.ipwcg.com tara@ipwco.com
Cyrus D. Sinor 2002
$5,174,838 21
16
85%
New construction, renovations, design-build, historical renovations, road work, site work, operations, maintenance, electrical, mechanical services
Zuuk International Inc. 3567 Meeting St. North Charleston, SC 29405
843-414-8500 www.zuukinternational.com info@zuukmail.com
Francis J. Kearney, John D Hayes 2009
$5,000,000 200
60
60%
Code repairs, boiler and pressure vessel installation and repair, process piping, fabrication, welding, orbital welding, inspection, nondestructive testing, API inspections
Company
Phone/Website Email
Linden Construction 245 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 230 Charleston, SC 29492
843-637-4375 www.lindenconstructionco.com andy@lindenconstructionco.com
Brandon Linden 2009
SouthCon Building Group, LLC. 682 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843 225 2845 WWW.southconbuilding.com administrator@southconbuilding.com
Charles Blanchard Construction Corp. 2845 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405
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.
Areas of Specialization
March 9 - 22, 2015
IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
www.charlestonbusiness.com 33
General Contractors
Ranked by $ Value of Contracts in 2014 in the Charleston Area Top Local Official(s)/Year Contracts: Founded Value/No.
Employees
Work Done Locally
$4,000,000 43
6
100%
Commercial restaurants, office upfits and renovations, residential new construction, remodels, additions and renovation
Tony A. Berenyi, Keane Steele 1990
$3,407,519 22
11
80%
Turn-key construction, heavy industrial & manufacturing, process equipment & material handling, accelerated schedule driven projects, preconstruction value engineering
843-554-0222 jtskaggs@lcmconstructors.com
David Montgomery Will 2004
$2,500,000 5
9
100%
Federal and local government
Seamar Construction Group Inc. 3690 Bohicket Road, Suite 3C Johns Island, SC 29455
843-768-1758 www.seamarconstruction.com info@seamarconstruction.com
Richard J. Faenza, Charles L. Hudson, $2,500,000 Jr., Steven C. Parham 3 2004
9
100%
Historical renovation
First Team Construction Inc. 1110 Pinefield Drive Charleston, SC 29492
843-873-8030 www.1stteamconstruction.com info@1stteamconstruction.com
David A. Johnson 1994
$2,130,000 42
17
100%
Remodeling, insurance restoration, new construction
Trulane General Contracting Inc. 2020 Shell Ring Circle Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
843-747-0077 www.trulane.com -
Chris L. Biggers 1997
$1,800,000 8
3
100%
Office buildings, interior buildout, restaurants, medical offices, dentistry offices, retail, religious
The Verdi Group 1450 Fifth St. W., Suite 300 North Charleston, SC 29405
843-475-3317 www.theverdicompany.com amy@theverdicompany.com
David Hill, Amy Hill 2005
$1,600,000 9
2
100%
Structural insulated panels, design-build, energy-efficient design and construction, residential, light commercial
Liberty Construction Co. Inc. 6333 Fain Blvd North Charleston, SC 29406
843-556-8846 www.liberty-construction.net liberty.construction@knology.net
Doug Burgreen, Alan Burgreen 1994
$1 33
8
80%
Additions and renovations, historic renovation, commercial upfits
Anson Construction Co. Inc. P.O. Box 31979 Charleston, SC 29417
843-556-4411 www.ansonconstruction.com anson@ansonconstruction.com
P.F. Stutsman, C.W. Stutsman 1962
$0 40
40
90%
Highways, airports, government, military, utility lines, sports and entertainment, heavy civil infrastructure, parks and recreation
Chastain Construction Inc. 623 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403
843-722-4555 www.chastainconstruction.com newprojects@chastainconstruction.com
Cameron Drolet 1995
$0 92
18
100%
Active medical, hospital, health care institutional, commercial office, distribution and warehouse, education, government, retail and restaurants, sports and entertainment
HJB Construction Inc. 125-G Wappoo Creek Drive Charleston, SC 29412
843-853-6801 www.hjbconstruction.com -
Jim Kilburn 2007
$0 0
20
7%
Commercial general contracting
Company
Phone/Website Email
Unique Constructors LLC 461 Fleming Road, Suite F Charleston, SC 29412
843-795-1210 www.uniqueconstructors.com info@uniqueconstructors.com
Forrest J. Albaugh, Brian Cruse 2006
Berenyi Incorporated 49 Immigration St. Charleston, SC 29403
843-284-2000 www.berenyi.com email@berenyi.com
LCM Constructors Inc. 3690 Old Charleston Hwy Johns Island, SC 29407
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.
Areas of Specialization
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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
March 9 - 22, 2015
Certified Commercial Investment Members Listed alphabetically by company name Scott D. Adams
Charles S. Carmody
Bart Langlois
Richard B. Morse
Adams & Wilson Development scott@adamswilsondevelopment.com 843-216-9990
CBRE charles.carmody@cbre.com 843-577-0702
Landmark Enterprises Brokerage Group blanglois@landmark-enterprises.com 843- 884-8166
Palmetto Commercial Properties richard.morse@palmettocommercialproperties.com 843-577-2550
George E. Wilson
Jason Smallwood
Jack Owens
Adams & Wilson Development george@adamswilsondevelopment.com 843-216-9990
CBRE Jason.Smallwood@cbre.com 843-577-1152
Lee & Associates Charleston jowens@lee-associates.com 843-576-0568
Arthur Ravenel
Dan Henderson
Amanda Reeves
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Company Arther3@arjrc.com 843-723-7847 x 16
CCBG Real Estate Group LLC dan@danhendersoncommercial.com 843-216-3740
Lee & Associates Charleston areeves@lee-associates.com 843-747-1200
Christopher D. Donato
Colleen Carducci
William Sherrod
Atlantic Appraisals cdonato@atlanticappraisals.com 843-884-1266
City of Charleston carduccic@charleston-sc.gov 843-724-7154
Lee & Associates Charleston wsherrod@lee-associates.com 843-747-2292
John Bevon
Brent A. Case
Peter Harper
Avison Young johnny.bevon@avisonyoung.com 843- 856-1540
Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic International brentacase@yahoo.com 843-744-9877
Lee & Associates Charleston pharper@lee-associates.com 843-329-0108
Alan A. Bolduc Avison Young alan.bolduc@avisonyoung.com 843-860-9566
Christopher B. Fraser Avison Young chris.fraser@avisonyoung.com 843-725-7200
Todd P. Garrett Avison Young todd.garrett@avisonyoung.com 843-725-7200
Gregory H. Atkinson Birchin Lane Realty Advisors LLC greg@birchinlanerealty.com 843-817-7736
Thomas D. Calcote Calcote Properties LLC tc@calcoteproperties.com 843-849-0089
James H. Rowe Carolina One Commerical Real Estate jrowe@carolinaone.com 843-416-3077
Gary A. Catterton Catterton-General LLC gacatterton@ccim.net 843-766-1600
Jay Keenan Palmetto Commercial Properties jaykeenan@earthlink.net 843-577-2550
Brandon Graham Reliance Realty Advisors LLC brandon@reliance-advisors.com 864- 232-0019
Robert L. Pratt Re/Max Professional Realty robert@robertpratt.com 843-576-2705
Tom Sadler Sadler Group Inc. tsadler@sadlergroup.net 843-766-0261
Mike Ferrer Michael R. Rose Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic International mrose@cbcatlantic.com 843-744-9877
John Orr Colliers International john.orr@colliers.com 843-723-1202
Scott Rogers Colliers International scott.rogers@colliers.com 843-720-7502
Lincoln Harris Mike.Ferrer@lincolnharris.com (843)568-3427
David H. Seay Seay Development LLC david@seaydevelopment.com 843-364-6720
David Maybank Maybank Properties LLC dmaybank3@maybankproperties.com 843-740-9201
Chad Yonce Southeastern Management Group yonce@semgsc.com 843-577-8595, ext. 12
Michael G. McFall Maybank Properties LLC mmcfall@maybankproperties.com 843-740-9202
Bryan Perrucci Southeastern Management Group perrucci@semgsc.com 843-577-8595, ext. 15
Teresa Wall Meadows Management Services Inc teresawall@knology.net 706-836-3236
Dennis Avery
Eddie Buxton
Jeffery S. Yurfest
Harbor City Real Estate Advisors LLC chris@harborcityadvisors.com 843-805-8011
Palmetto Commercial Properties eddie.buxton@palmettocommercialproperties.com 843-577-2550
The Shopping Center Group jeffy@theshoppingcentergroup.com 843-532-8607
Charles Henrich
William H. Edlund
ICR Performing Assets charles@icrpa.com (720) 284-4637
Palmetto Commercial Properties dtd64@aol.com 843-577-2550
Henry A. Futch Hank Futch Real Estate LLC hank@hfcommercial.com 843-696-2207
Christopher T. Cunniffe
The Avery Company, Inc. dennis@theaveryco.com 843-849-5509
Lauren Collins Twin Rivers Capital LLC lauren@twinriverscap.com 843-722-9925
Kelley Glenn John Hagerty
Mary Lloyd Hatcher
KingFisher Investments LLC john.hagerty@nelsonmullins.com 843- 534-4308
Palmetto Commercial Properties mlhatcher10@gmail.com 843-577-2550
WSB Retail Partners, LLC kellglenn@gmail.com 843-216-0301
At Work:
People, places and happenings across the Lowcountry
People in the News
Business Digest
Stantec’s I-526 analysis project earns award Stantec’s Interstate 526 Corridor Analysis project has received an Engineering Excellence Award in the Studies, Research and Consulting Category from the American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina. The award recognizes Stantec’s ability to identify resolutions for current congestion issues while addressing future needs to maintain I-526 as an efficient and viable transit link. A nine-mile corridor of the interstate, including the I-26 interchange, was experiencing considerable congestion during the weekday peak periods, as well as higher-than-average collisions as a result of problematic weaving sections. Stantec’s team studied existing conditions and created a microsimulation traffic model. Multiple concepts were developed for all interchanges in the study area. Options were presented as a menu of potential improvement projects based on cost, which build upon each other and will include a combination of improvement alternatives. Michael Dennis (from left), project manager for the S.C. Department of Transportation; Dipak Patel, Technical Applications Director for the DOT; Rick Day, project manager for Stantec; S.C. Transportation Secretary Janet Oakley; and Rick Reiff, traffic engineering manager for Stantec.
Escapada Living featured in new book
Joni Vanderslice (from left) of JBanks Design; Rob Ponder of Ponder Architect; Sean Rowe, general manager of Courtyard Summerville; Vic Mills of Blanchard & Calhoun Commercial; Norm Brody of MWV; Rita Berry, president and CEO of the Greater Summerville/Dorchester Chamber of Commerce; Mac Baughman, chamber board chairman; John Lee of Blanchard & Calhoun Commercial; Jim Hill of MWV; Paul Covington of Omega Construction; Beau Benton, president of LBA Hospitality; and Chris Leonard, Omega Construction.
Escapada Living, a Charleston-based apparel brand, has been featured in Carolina Style magazine’s new coffee table publication, The Winter Book. Natalia Castillo founded Escapada in 2009, and it was named one of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine in 2014. Her Escapada Signature store is in Mount Pleasant.
Courtyard by Marriott opened its newest Lowcountry location Feb. 4 in Summerville’s Nexton community. The 96-room hotel is located at 1510 Rose Drive.
Mac Baughman (from left), chairman of the Greater Summerville/Dorchester Chamber of Commerce board; Glen and Susan Haynes; Billy Romanstine, 2014 chairman of the chamber board; Dr. Brunson Westbury, Berlin G. Myers Lifetime Achievement Award recipient; and Rita Berry, chamber president and CEO.
CFO Council opens chapter in Charleston; meetings start in April
Summerville chamber names annual award winners
Courtyard by Marriott opens in Nexton community
The CFO Council has opened a Charleston chapter with the mission of providing educational and networking opportunities to senior financial executives in the Lowcountry. Membership is open to chief financial officers, comptrollers, finance vice presidents and other similar positions. The CFO Charleston Council meets monthly for breakfast on the third Tuesday of each month starting April 21.
Hot Properties 38 Viewpoint 39
The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Economic Forecast Luncheon and Membership Meeting on Jan. 27 to honor businesses in the community and outgoing board members. Recipients of the chamber’s annual awards were: Wingate by Wyndham at Charleston Southern University, Business of the Year with 50 and fewer employees; AllCare Living
Services in-home care agency, Business of the Year with 51 or more employees; Edward Tupper, Volunteer of the Year; and Dr. Brunson Westbury, Berlin G. Myers Lifetime Achievement Award.
EDUCATION Charleston Southern University has named Andreea Meier dean of the College of Nursing. Meier has served as interim dean since June. She earned a Meier Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of nursing practice from the University of Michigan School of Nursing, with an emphasis on advanced nursing management and nursing research.
GOVERNMENT Berkeley County Supervisor Bill Peagler has named County Council Finance Committee Chairman Tim Callanan as deputy supervisor of finance. Callanan will supervise finance, purchasing, human resources, information technology and geographic information systems for the county.
COUNSELING
Teacups and Trucks opens new location
The event planning company Teacups and Trucks LLC opened a new store at 217 Lucas St., off Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, on Jan. 31. Owner Corrie Silvers has expanded the business she ran from her garage for the past five years to carry party supplies and host parties. Space for up to 20 children is available Saturdays and Sundays, and a Fun Friday party is held every week from 6-9 p.m. The company also provides child care for children ages 4 to 12.
New Allstate agency opens in Mount Pleasant
Chris von Lehe has opened a new Allstate Insurance agency at 593 Belle Station Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. The full-service agency offers a complete line of products and services, includvon Lehe ing auto, property, commercial and life insurance.
Oldfield
Certified life coach Stacy Oldfield is launching Minerva Management Partners LLC in Charleston to provide business consulting services and life coaching to professional women.
ENGINEERING ECS Carolinas LLP has hired Thomas Blackwell as a construction materials testing project manager and Christopher Harrison and Christopher Roberts as construction materials testing field technicians.
FUNDRAISING
The Cocktail Club on King Street has
Chris Stowers has joined The Winkler Group as senior campaign consultant. Stowers was vice president of the Orlando Health Foundation and holds a Master’s Stowers in Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies from the University of Florida.
See BUSINESS DIGEST, Page 38 ➤
See PEOPLE, Page 35 ➤
Conde Naste Traveler names Cocktail Club a top bar
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March 9 - 22, 2015
West Coast dockworkers slowdown puts brakes on GDP growth
T
he recently ended West Coast dockworkers slowdown took its toll. The labor dispute that affected ports from Seattle to San Diego began last July when the contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the port owners expired. The problem gradually escalated and reached a peak over the long President’s Day weekend when West Coast port activity came Stephen D. to a virtual standstill Slifer because the ports chose to shut down rather than pay overtime. While it has now been resolved, this trade issue appears to have subtracted at least 1% from GDP growth in the fourth quarter and will trim growth in the first quarter as well. This is another in a long series of oneoff events that have prevented the economy from shifting into higher gear during each of the past several years – from an earthquake in Japan, a budget impasse, financial difficulties in Europe, a hurricane, adverse winter weather and now a trade dispute. Fortunately, the economy has been strong enough to shrug off these temporary obstacles. In every case growth came roaring back in subsequent quarters. The 29 ports on the West Coast handle about $1 trillion of goods annually. Asian imports of electronics, household goods and clothing, as well as U.S. exports of produce and meat destined for Korea, Japan, and China pass through those ports. As a result of the slowdown, Honda cut back production at a number of its factories in the U.S. because of parts shortages. California citrus exporters reported that shipments were about one-half of normal. In mid-February more than 30 huge ocean-going ships were at anchor in L.A. and Long Beach harbors awaiting dock space. Even though the slowdown has now ended, it will take several months for the backlog to be eliminated. Economists expected GDP growth in the fourth quarter to be 3.3%. Instead it came in at 2.6% and, by the time you read this, was probably reduced to the 2% mark. Some of the unexpected shortfall was attributable to trade. The trade gap widened by $40 billion in the fourth quarter, which subtracted 1% from GDP growth. But the impact on the economy was likely even greater as firms in a variety of industries may have been forced to curtail production because of an inability to get parts.
“West Coast port activity came to a virtual standstill because the ports chose to shut down rather than pay overtime.” The fourth-quarter GDP result was particularly surprising because firms significantly boosted payroll employment and worked people longer hours in the final three months of the year, which should have stimulated GDP growth. For example, the aggregate hours index, which is the product of employment and hours worked, rose 4% in the fourth quarter. If productivity growth had been unchanged, GDP should have climbed by 4%. That didn’t happen. Instead, productivity declined 1.8%. Productivity tends to be a volatile series, and it is not always clear why it increases or falls in any given quarter. However, if fewer ships were being loaded and unloaded daily at West Coast terminals, it makes sense that productivity would decline. Thus, the West Coast dockworkers slowdown appears to have been the culprit behind slower-than-expected GDP growth last quarter. While the strike was resolved at the end of February, it is almost certain that the labor slowdown will have a negative – but smaller – impact on GDP growth in the first quarter. This event does not alter the long-term path of economic activity, which remains solid. GDP growth will rebound in the months ahead and offset most of what was lost. Its economic impact will be similar to what happened in the wake of the BP oil spill in 2010, the Japan earthquake in 2011, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and the harsh 2013/2014 winter weather conditions. In each case GDP growth was impacted negatively for a few months, but then rebounded. The point is that fourth-quarter growth was disappointing and the same thing could happen in the first quarter. But we should not interpret slower-than-expected growth in these two quarters to be a harbinger of a change in trend. Growth will remain on roughly a 3% growth track until such time as the Fed raises rates enough to curtail the pace of economic activity. That will not happen for several more years. cr bj
Reach economist Stephen D. Slifer at steve@numbernomics.com.
March 9 - 22, 2015
www.charlestonbusiness.com 37
People in the News TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY Dawn Wells, general manager of Fairfield Inn & Suites Charleston Airport, has been named a Top 25 GM to watch by Hotel Management.
Hiers
Lindsay Hiers has joined Leo Events as event services manager. Hiers is a graduate of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, where she earned a degree in interior design.
SPORTS Dan Acheson has been named the new director of broadcasting and media relations and Will Senn has been hired as a sales representative for the Charleston RiverDogs. Acheson was previously the Arizona Fall League’s communications assistant and broadcaster. He has a journalism degree from Emerson College in Boston. Senn is a 2014 cum laude graduate of The Citadel, where he studied business administration.
REAL ESTATE Chadwick Davis and Richard Star have joined the commercial real estate division of Dunes Properties. Davis was president and co-founder of East Coast Capital Inc. in Winston-Salem, N.C. Star previously founded RJS Ventures, a diversified investment fund.
Turner
Reid
Heather Turner and Debbie Reid have joined the Mount Pleasant office of AgentOwned Realty. Turner graduated from Virginia Tech in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in clothing and textiles and merchandising management and has 12 years of real estate experience. Reid previously worked in the dental and medical fields for 28 years.
Colliers International has named Daniel Pellegrino a senior brokerage associate. His specialties are urban development, mixeduse projects and hospitality.
Nicole Anthony has joined CBRE as a retail associate in the company’s Charleston office. Her responsibilities include increasing the company’s marAnthony ket share in the retail sector. Prior to joining CBRE in 2014, Anthony worked as a director of leasing and property management for Ziff Properties’ portfolio of office, flex and retail property across the Southeast.
COMMUNITY SERVICE Children’s Trust of South Carolina has hired Amber Atkinson as a program assistant, Michael Shirley as community prevention coordinator and Whitney Atkinson Tucker as policy and research associate. They will also work with the organization’s programs, outreach and advocacy efforts in South Carolina. Atkinson will focus on providing Tucker support for the organization’s statewide prevention training efforts. She graduated cum laude with honors from University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in public health and a minor in social work. Shirley will serve as a liaison for Children’s Trust with its community partners. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in business marketing from Anderson University. Tucker works as a partner with Children’s Trust’s policy and data teams. She has a master’s degree in public health from the University of South Carolina. The S.C. Association of Nonprofit Organizations has hired Sharon Thomas as member services manager. She worked in the nonprofit field for 20 years as a trainThomas er and consultant in child abuse prevention and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and religious studies from Charleston Southern University.
Get Charleston Regional Business Journal updates by email. Register at charlestonbusiness.com Pellegrino
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March 9 - 22, 2015
Business Digest been named one of eight “Best Southern Cocktail Bars” by Conde Naste Traveler. The Cocktail Club is housed in a historical building on Upper King Street and includes a bar made of salvaged materials.
Regatta Inn recognized by Southern Living
The Regatta Inn, located on Sunset Cay Marina on the west side of Folly Beach, has been named one of Southern Living Magazine’s Best New Hotels for 2015, as well as one of the magazine’s Best Budget Hotels. The inn was one of 10 Southern hotels that made the Best New Hotels list.
Geocent awarded $8.5M contract
Information technology firm Geocent has been awarded an $8.5 million contract to be commercial cloud services integrator for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic’s Commercial Services Integration Integrated Product Team. Geocent will provide project management, information technology ser-
vices, including information assurance and security, cloud and mobile computing IT consulting, and testing and validation support to the team. Geocent will base the work out of its Charleston office and employ 27 engineers and support personnel, 20 of which will be new hires.
Family Wellness Center opens in North Charleston
Family Wellness Center of Charleston has opened at 9217 University Blvd., Suite C1B, in North Charleston. The center’s mission is to provide integrative, DeJesus personalized medical care at an affordable cost. Dr. Stania A. DeJesus, a board-certified family physician, is head of the clinic.
MUSC ranked No. 4 for patent work
The Medical University of South Car-
olina was ranked No. 4 in its debut on the Patent Power 2014 Scorecard published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers association. Since 2005, IEEE’s Spectrum magazine has published the scorecard, which charts top U.S. portfolios in a variety of sectors through an analysis of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records for the previous year. MUSC was ranked behind No. 1 MIT, the University of California Berkeley and Harvard University.
Nationally, the satisfaction rate for other utilities is 85.6%.
Santee Cooper exceeds national average in customer satisfaction
New bus shelters open in Mount Pleasant
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.
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.
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.
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.
Statewide utility company Santee Cooper has exceeded the national average in residential customer satisfaction, excelling in customer service, reliability, rates, value and conservation, according to an annual independent survey conducted by Market Search. The survey shows an overall satisfaction rate of 98.7% in 2014 from Santee Cooper’s residential customers.
Mount Pleasant has added two new bus shelters at Towne Centre for Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority buses. The shelters are part of a development agreement between Miller Capital Advisory Inc. and the town of Mount Pleasant and are located next to the roundabout leading to Lowe’s and on Hungryneck Boulevard.
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. Todd P. Garrett of Avison Young represented the landlord, 4281 Piggly Wiggly Drive LLC, in the lease of a 12,200-squarefoot 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.
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.
Carl Michael Harrison with The Beach Co. – Beach Commercial represented
Chad Yonce of Southeastern Management Group represented the landlord,
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.
Submit items to editorial@scbiznews.com with “People,” “Business Digest” or “Hot Properties” in the subject line. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.
Viewpoint:
Views, perspectives and readers’ letters
Follow Tennessee’s example, make free two-year tuition an S.C. Promise
B
eginning with the class of 2015, students in Tennessee may apply for the Tennessee Promise scholarship, which will provide a two-year, tuition-free education at a community college or technical school in the Volunteer State. That’s similar to the unkept S.C. Promise that was part of the S.C. Education Lottery proJames T. posal put forward Hammond more than a decade ago by then-Gov. Jim Hodges. By the time the lottery plan became law, too many special interests had to be satisfied for it to include the free two-year college education. While the Education Lottery has funded many thousands of partial scholarships to two-year and four-year colleges since the lottery-funded Life Scholarship program was implemented, many students still struggle to pay the cost of the most basic requirement for a well-paying job: an associate degree or certificate from an S.C. technical college. Tennessee has made a powerful commitment to help its population join the middle class and earn enough money to buy homes and put their children through college. The Tennessee scholarship will cover tuition and fees not covered by the Pell grant, the Hope scholarship or Tennessee Student Assistance Award funds. Students can use the scholarship at any of the state’s 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology or other eligible institution offering an associate degree program. A key element of the Tennessee Promise is the individual guidance each participant will receive from a mentor, who will assist the student as he or she navigates the college admissions process. Tennessee Promise participants must complete eight hours of community service per term enrolled, as well as maintain a 2.0 grade-point average. South Carolina’s 16 technical colleges may ultimately touch the lives of more young people than the four-year universities. The system serves 114,000 credit students and 128,000 continuing education students with programs across the state. Currently, about 17,000 students are enrolled in more than 150 programs at Trident Technical College. And while the two-year technical colleges are not as expensive as the four-year universities, the sticker price can still be a
Welding is one of the many trades taught at two-year technical colleges like Midlands Tech in Columbia, but students carry the burden of paying for the training. South Carolina should follow Tennessee’s example where starting this year, students can attend a tech school in the state at no cost. (Photo/Chuck Crumbo)
barrier to a better future for youth from low-income families. The full cost, or so-called “sticker price,” at Midlands Technical College, for example, is $4,700 annually, plus the cost of books. The need-based federal Pell Grant program pays the total cost of attendance for about 50% of students at Midlands Tech. A further 30% of Midlands Tech students receive $1,140 a semester from the Education Lottery, or about half the cost of attendance. After some other scholarships are factored in, fewer than 10% of Midlands Tech students pay the full cost of attendance, according to Sonny White, who recently retired as president of Midlands Tech. Not only does a two-year degree dramatically improve the chances a young person can get a well-paying job, it also dramatically improves the state’s chance of attracting and keeping high-tech manufacturers that employ thousands of South Carolina’s citizens. White describes the mission of the technical colleges as “aligning workers’ skills with the workforce needs of the state.” To the extent the S.C. technical college system is successful in that mission, it
will lift all boats, providing greater potential for the emerging workforce to buy homes, take vacations at South Carolina’s beach and mountain resorts, and in general spend on a middle-class lifestyle. For a relatively small additional investment, the S.C. General Assembly could supercharge the state’s manufacturing sector by expanding the potential pool of skilled and educated workers available to existing and new employers. Trident Technical College creates programs designed around companies’ needs for emerging or expanding industry. Many of these programs have focused on aerospace, technology, manufacturing and hospitality, as these industries have seen huge growth in Charleston over the past decade. Through the ReadySC program, Trident Technical College screens workers for Boeing South Carolina and then trains them through lectures and handson work using Boeing equipment. If they excel during training, the aerospace giant can hire them as employees at its North Charleston campus. Often these workforce programs at the state’s technical colleges are subsidized by the S.C. Legislature or by companies to increase the number of candidates for
high-paying, technology-intensive jobs. For example, the state put $45 million toward the Boeing South Carolina training facility at Trident Tech. And Michelin North America sponsors the Michelin Scholars program to prepare candidates for $50,000-a-year jobs maintaining manufacturing equipment in the company’s tire plants. Today, Tennessee has the right idea with its promise of free tuition for a twoyear technical college degree. South Carolina should follow that state’s example, so that we may maintain a competitive workforce in the automotive, aerospace and other advanced manufacturing fields. Technical colleges already are one of the state’s greatest assets when it comes to preparing a high-tech workforce for the future. The General Assembly should provide the necessary funds to ensure that anyone whose ambition includes a job in a high-tech industry is equipped to compete for such a job. A guarantee of free tuition at any of the state’s 16 two-year colleges would be a great place to start. James T. Hammond is former editor of the Columbia Regional Business Report. Reach him at jthammond46@gmail.com.
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March 9 - 22, 2015