POWERING SOUTH CAROLINA
Working with the state’s electric cooperatives and the South Carolina Power Team, Santee Cooper is an important resource for industries relocating and expanding here. Since 1988, we have helped bring more than $11 billion in industrial investment and more than 67,000 new jobs to our state. That’s a powerful partnership.
www.scpowerteam.com
Safety doesn’t come in a box. It’s not a banner that goes on a wall. It’s not something you do now and then. Or when it’s convenient. It’s using state-of-the-art simulators to better prepare for any situation. It’s giving offshore teams in the Gulf 24/7 support from onshore experts. And it’s empowering anyone to stop a job if something doesn’t seem right. Safety is never being satisfied. And always working to be better.
bp.com/safetyUSA
BP Cooper River facility South Carolina
You see a storefront‌
We see a family-owned business with a proprietor who counts on city water, sewer, police and fire protection, and other services to keep providing that special hometown experience to his customers, each of whom he treats like family. www.masc.sc
Follow: Cities Mean Business @MuniAssnSC MuniAssnSC.blogspot.com
2017 Issue South Carolina Chamber of Commerce 1301 Gervais St, Suite 1100 Columbia, SC 29201 800.799.4601 www.scchamber.net ASCEND is a publication of the
FEATURES 21 THE SC CHAMBER AWARDS
22 Public Servant of the Year 24 Business Leader of the Year
28 SC TOP 100 39 JUST RIGHT FOR TOURISM
The State of Tourism in South Carolina
49 LOVE SC
Discover the Undiscovered South Carolina
58 MILLENNIALS DECODED
Q &A with Nicole Curtis, LeadSC Chair
61 ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE A Look at BP’s S.C. Strategy
President & CEO Ted Pitts
64 THE POWER PLAYERS
Chief Operating Officer Robbie Barnett Vice President of Membership & Marketing Sunny Philips Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy Mark Harmon Vice President of Education/Business Relations SC GEAR UP Cynthia Bennett Vice President of Finance Susan O’Neal Associate Vice President of Communications Andrea Mock Director of Public Policy & Research, Magazine Editor Kate Bondurant •
DEPARTMENTS 5 7 8 12 15 18 26 46 55 71 74 76
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT INDUSTRY UPDATES 2016 LEGISLATIVE RECAP SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE EXPORTS SPOTLIGHT MEMBER SPOTLIGHT BUSINESS WEEK SC EATS AFTER THE EVENT
ASCEND Magazine Published by Business Black Box Copyright @2017 by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Business Black Box. All foreign and U.S. rights reserved. Contents of this publication, including images, may not be reproduced without written consent from the publisher. Published for South Carolina Chamber of Commerce by Business Black Box and ShowCase Publishing. 864/281-1323
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S.C. Chamber of Commerce
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BARBARA MELVIN – CHAIR Senior Vice President of Operations and Terminals South Carolina Ports Authority JOHN UPRICHARD – PAST CHAIR President Find Great People Greenville JACK SANDERS – CHAIR-ELECT President and CEO Sonoco
OUR VISION Make South Carolina the best place in the nation to live, work and do business.
OUR MISSION To strategically create and advance a thriving, free-market environment where South Carolina businesses can prosper.
LEIGHTON LORD – COMMERCE CHAIR Chairman Nexsen Pruet CHRIS BARRAS – TREASURER Executive Director Ernst & Young, LLP CHARLES “TED” SPETH II – GENERAL COUNSEL Shareholder Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. TED PITTS – CEO President & CEO SC Chamber of Commerce DAVID ALEXANDER – TAX COMMITTEE CHAIR Director of Taxes Mount Vernon Mills, Inc. NATALIA CASTILLO – CHAIRMAN’S NOMINEE Founder and President Escapada CHUCK CLAUNCH – CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE State Government Affairs Duke Energy STEPHEN COX – EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR Attorney Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, PA CHRISTINE CRAWFORD – SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN D&G Management McDonald’s Franchisee JAMES D’ALESSIO – CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE Vice President of Government Affairs BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
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TYLER EASTERLING – COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR President and Chief Operating Officer The Brandon Agency SIDNEY J EVERING II – LATF COMMITTEE CHAIR Special Counsel, Director of Diversity Parker Poe Adams and Bernstein, LLP KENNY JACKSON – CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE Senior Vice President, Service/Rates & Regulatory Affairs South Carolina Electric & Gas RANDY LOWELL – CHAIRMAN’S NOMINEE Attorney Willoughby & Hoefer, P.A. STEVE NAIL – HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE CHAIR Dean, College of Business Anderson University DAN SANDERS – MANUFACTURER’S STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary Michelin North America ELIZABETH “BABS” WARNER – ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CHAIR Vice President Legal Services and Corporate Secretary Santee Cooper CYNTHIA WALTERS – DIVERSITY COMMITTEE CHAIR Corporate Director of Inclusion Palmetto Health
Letters
A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR It is indeed an honor to serve as the Chair of the South Carolina Chamber. The membership of this esteemed organization embodies the best of South Carolina and her citizens’ desires to succeed and prosper. As incoming Chair, it is a privilege to support the Chamber’s ongoing strategic efforts to make South Carolina the most business-friendly state in the nation. South Carolina has all the components necessary to outpace the nation’s economic performance in our global economy. We may be a small state, but as I like to say, “We punch well above our weight class.” There is no question that we excel at economic development and have been successful at maximizing opportunities for growth of businesses large and small. The rise in exports attributed to both manufacturing and agribusiness fortify our position as a leading player in international trade. We may someday soon see exports outpace imports, indicating growth of these and other business sectors made possible by a capable workforce, willing government partners and the availability of land. I think you would agree that the quality of life we enjoy in South Carolina is unmatched across the country. The beauty of our natural resources attracts population growth resulting in a hungry consumption market demanding imports. Our state is fortunate to have a naturally deep ocean harbor capable of facilitating international trade today and in the future, supporting local economies across South Carolina and enhancing our role in the global marketplace. I may be biased, but I believe all businesses in South Carolina benefit from the world-class access to international markets provided by the Port. The diversity of South Carolina’s economic offerings, whether it is tourism, top-tier higher and technical education, or healthcare, insulates our business community from the market swings that negatively affect other states who focus solely on a particular sector. The accolades bestowed on our state continue to pile up and our pride is evident. From the friendliest cities to the best places to do business, South Carolina does not go unnoticed. We have earned well-deserved attention around the world. As we celebrate these successes, we cannot rest on our laurels. We have much more to do. Improving the K-12 education system for our children and modernizing all aspects of our infrastructure are bold, yet vital goals. Positive strides were made last year and in previous years to appropriate needed funding to improve our rankings and foundation, but more must be done. Sustainable, recurring revenue streams are critical to secure our future success. Together, we must be bold as we champion these and other causes that create the best business climate in the nation. I look forward to a year filled with challenges and rewards, and appreciate your support and engagement as we strive to continue the important work of our South Carolina Chamber. Warmest regards,
Barbara Melvin Senior Vice President of Operations and Terminals, South Carolina Ports Authority Chair, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
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S.C. Chamber of Commerce
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barbara Melvin Sr. VP of Operations and Terminals SC Ports Authority
Randy Lowell Attorney Willoughby & Hoefer, P.A.
John Uprichard President Find Great People Greenville
Rob Youngblood President York County Regional Chamber of Commerce
John Williams President and Chief Executive Officer Domtar
Len Hutchison SVP and Lowcountry Business Banking Manager Wells Fargo
Sidney Locke Director of Strategic Marketing & Communication Sage Automotive
Roger Schrum VP, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs Sonoco
Janet Matricciani Chief Operating Officer World Acceptance
Michael Baxley Sr. VP & General Counsel Santee Cooper
Blanton Phillips CEO Phillips Staffing
Don Balderson Sr. Client ManagerMiddle Market Banking Bank of America
Mark Crocker Partner Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP
Jack Sanders President & CEO Sonoco Ted Speth Shareholder Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Chris Barras Executive Director Ernst & Young, Greenville Leighton Lord Chairman Santee Cooper Ted Pitts President & CEO SC Chamber of Commerce Kenny Jackson SVP, Services/Rates & Regulatory Affair South Carolina Electric & Gas Chuck Claunch VP, State Government Affairs SC Duke Energy James D’Alessio VP of Government Affairs BCBS Tyler Easterling President & COO The Brandon Agency Stephen Cox Attorney Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, PA Steve Nail Dean, College of Business Anderson University
David Dubberly Partner Nexsen Pruet
Sharon Marra Senior ViP & Savannah River National Laboratory Deputy Director Savannah River Nuclear Solutions
Frank Bullard Regional President - Coastal Region BB&T, Charleston
Cheryl Stanton Executive Director SCDEW
Richard Lackey Legal Counsel Cox Industries
Roger Stonecipher Executive Vice President ZEUS Industrial Products
Boyd “Nick” Nicholson Attorney Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A.
Lauris Finney District Operations Mgr. UPS
Jane Sosebee Director Legislative Affairs AT&T
James Bennett Executive Vice President First Citizens Bank, Columbia
Mike Shetterly Attorney Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Zeb Portanova President & CEO Swiss KRONO USA
Thomas Rhodes Vice President Rhodes Companies
Rich Williams Senior Vice President of Growth Markets Colonial Life
Doyle Hopper Vice President and General Manager Nucor Steel South Carolina
Bill Dudley Vice President AFLAC
Dr. David Cole President MUSC
Robby Hill President & CEO HillSouth IT Solutions
David Alexander Director of Taxes Mt. Vernon Mills
Walt Tobin President Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
Dan Becker Sr VP and Controller AECOM, Aiken, SC
Christine Crawford McDonald¹s Franchisee D & G Management
Jonathan Taber Shareholder McNair Law Firm, P.A.
Lindsay Leonard Senior Director State & Local, Government Operations The Boeing Company
Cynthia Walters Corporate Director of Inclusion Palmetto Health, Columbia, SC
Deepal Eliatamby President Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Kay Biscopink Shareholder Elliott Davis
Natalia Castillo Founder and President Escapada
Chris McCorkendale VP of Operations, Engineering & Strategic Sales Hargray
Ben Rex CEO Cyberwoven
Sidney Evering Attorney Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP Dan Sanders VP, General Counsel & Secretary Michelin North America, Greenville Babs Warner Associate General Counsel Santee Cooper
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Sky Foster Manager Communications BMW
Ben Green Partner Insurance Advantage, LLC Steve Mitchell Regional Managing Partner Fisher Phillips Adam Hatcher General Counsel MAU Grey Humphrey Executive Vice President of Sales Spirit Communications, Columbia David Jones Executive Vice President/CMO Jackson Marketing Gene King Managing Director Sequence Holdings, LLC David Summer Partner Parker Poe Adams Bernstein, Columbia Lou Kennedy President and CEO Nephron David Cuda Director of Corporate Solutions Colliers Christian L. Gullott Director, State & Federal Government Affairs Bridgestone Chris Stormer Shareholder Bauknight, Pietras & Stormer, P.A. George R Jurch, III General Counsel Continental George Wolfe Partner Nelson Mullins & Scarborough LLP Richard Jackson CEO C. R. Jackson, Inc. Keith Avery President & CEO The Electric Cooperatives of SC, Inc. (Newberry) Michael Allen Project Designer McMillan Pazdan Smith Todd Hyneman President Total Comfort Solutions Chuck Garnett President and CEO NBSC
Letters
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Each year, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce works to strengthen the connection of businesses across the state. By working together, our collective voice is stronger and we are able to communicate effectively with lawmakers to improve the business climate in South Carolina. As we look back at 2016, it turned out to be a strong year on the state policy front. We saw unemployment drop to 4.9 percent in September, the lowest in 15 years. As of October, we added 7, 800 jobs and had $1.9 billion worth of new business investment. We saw our state’s leaders come together with an infrastructure bill that is a good start. Our lawmakers also started to focus on the business community’s number one issue, workforce development. While both measures were a step in the right direction, much work is left to do. One of the highlights of ASCEND is getting to recognize the business community’s honorees for Business Leader and Public Servant of the Year. This year’s honorees are Mikee Johnson, President and CEO of Cox Industries, and House Speaker Jay Lucas. Johnson has led Cox Industries, headquartered in Orangeburg, to a global operation in the wood products industry. Johnson doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk, bringing people together and working to find solutions that benefit all of South Carolina. That’s what leaders do. For the 2016 Public Servant of the Year, no one is more deserving than Speaker Jay Lucas. Speaker Lucas has shown real leadership since being elected Speaker of the House and has been vital to moving South Carolina forward. Whether it’s finding a sustainable plan to improve our infrastructure or the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, Speaker Lucas has been a public servant our state can be proud of. I hope you enjoy the 2017 issue of ASCEND. This publication seeks to provide the state’s business community an opportunity to look back at some of the highlights of the past year and a look forward to what will come in 2017. Your State Chamber will keep working to make South Carolina the best place in the nation to live, work and do business.
Ted Pitts President and CEO South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
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Industry Updates
Agribusiness
CONNECTING AND ENGAGING: THE LEADING INDUSTRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA By Mikee Johnson, President & CEO of Cox Industries and Past Chair, Board of Directors, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness is unquestionably the number one industry in South Carolina with an economic impact of over $34 billion and providing in excess of 200,000 jobs. Clearly, the statistics speak for themselves, but the statement is often followed with the question, “What type of companies does agribusiness represent?” The answer most commonly provided is based on a 1957 definition reading, “agribusiness includes agrichemicals, breeding, crop production (farming and contract farming), distribution, farm machinery, processing, and seed supply, as well as marketing and retail sales.” The most exciting part of agribusiness in South Carolina is the incredible upside potential created by a state where rich, arable lands collide with an incredibly well positioned geography all bound by a citizenry with a common business ethos. As Mark Twain once famously said, “Buy land, we don’t make it anymore.” Although South Carolina is a small land mass state, we continue to think less about the land we do not have and more about the economic engine the land we do have can be. Approximately one-quarter of South Carolina’s 19.27 million acres are in farms, while more than two-thirds are forestland. While it is true we cannot make any more land, we continue to be phenomenal stewards of what we have been blessed. From the forward thinking efforts of our state government creating the South Carolina Conservation Bank, the encouragement of longterm land stewardship by the South Carolina Nature Conservancy, the development of advanced silviculture practices by both private firms like Milliken Forestry and our State’s own Clemson University, investing in new harvesting technologies like Super Sod, and the long-term planning of our South Carolina State Ports Authority to provide a growing outlet for our products to the World and our leaders in product packaging and preservation like Sonoco, South Carolina continues to demonstrate unparalleled leadership in agribusiness. So with all of the aforementioned success, how do we parlay these invaluable resources into a super-charged economic engine? I would simply suggest improved connections and deeper engagement.
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Speaking as an active member of the agribusiness community, I often happen across companies that are acutely focused internally and miss the external opportunities. As a South Carolinian, if I could buy a product that was grown, harvested, processed, branded and sold by South Carolina companies, I would do it every day of the week and twice on Sunday! If I could go to a store that sold only South Carolina made products and knew the money was going to be redistributed in our State many times over, I would only shop there! While this sounds good in theory, I understand it is not entirely practical. However, I do know the more business we do with one another, the better off we are. When we grow something in South Carolina, we turn seed, dirt, water and sunshine into dollars. Those dollars find themselves spent over and over again right here in our state. This is called the multiplier effect! We must think about this more often. Secondly, I believe the agribusiness community must engage more aggressively in the political process. While I do not mean we must all descend on the Statehouse for every issue, I do believe we must support a unified voice. I was surprised to learn of over 350 agribusiness companies that are not members of our South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. While there are many ways to engage including your local Chamber of Commerce, the Palmetto Agribusiness Council, industry specific trade associations and political action committees on the Federal level, I would simply say we all need to do more. This is not a time to take a tepid approach to elevating the South Carolina agribusiness community. Now is the time to go all in! Whether you are a part of the agribusiness community or not, the long-term success of South Carolina rests largely on the success of this industry. I hope you will find a new approach this year to connect and engage with the agribusiness community of South Carolina.
Industry Updates
Information Technology
SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY POINTED IN RIGHT DIRECTION By Ari Robbins, Corporate Analyst, Cyberwoven South Carolina is one of the nation’s most business-friendly states. Our long-time success in industries like agriculture and tourism have been supplemented by rapidly evolving strength in dynamic industries including aerospace, healthcare, automotive, and insurance. As our state’s economy has strengthened and diversified so has the broad field of information technology (IT). Companies, governments, and nonprofits across South Carolina are seizing opportunities to strengthen South Carolina’s IT workforce and to ensure we have the human and physical infrastructure to support future economic development. Here are a few data-driven examples from across the state that showcase such progress.
44%
Growth in number of students at USCColumbia seeking computing/engineering degrees since 2010
The increasing demand for IT professionals has encouraged universities like the University of South Carolina to offer a greater number of opportunities for its students through computing courses, seminars, and trainings. The university system is more prepared than ever to meet the growing need for tech graduates—since 2010, there has been a marked increase in the number of students seeking computing and engineering degrees at USC.1 IT graduates can feed the thriving insurance industry in the Midlands, while also fueling the growth of a blossoming entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.
16%
How much faster the tech sector in Charleston is growing compared to the national average 2
efforts like the Charleston Digital Corridor, founded in 2001, has positioned the city as a hub for technology companies. When the city isn’t working hard to support IT firms headquartered in the area, it’s hosting festivals like Dig South to bring its brightest minds together on how to explore, innovate, and create more opportunities for the city and state as a whole.
634
Number of jobs created by registered South Carolina start-ups 4
The success that the Lowcountry and the Midlands have seen in the tech industry depended on significant investment in a network of start-ups and incubators. The Upstate is commonly cited as the first region in the state to harness the power of angel investing to strengthen the general business environment, especially the tech sector. The home of the Upstate Carolina Angel Network, a group that has invested $14 million in 47 companies since its founding in 2008 and serves as a model for other SC-based angel networks, the Upstate has set a precedent for directing angels’ dollars to IT-oriented businesses. 5 The work that the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry have put into incubators, education, and collective problem solving is beginning to pay off, but the job is never over. Frank Mobley, CEO of Immedion, acknowledges that work still needs to be done, but the state is well on its way. “It’s absolutely critical that we continue work to augment the technical talent being produced within the state’s education system, while making South Carolina an ever-more attractive destination for engineers, programmers, and other tech types.” With the combined powers of South Carolina’s three regions, continued success in IT is guaranteed.
Charleston is locally referred to as the “Silicon Harbor.”3 The city’s early focus on growing its knowledge economy through 1. http://ipr.sc.edu/factbook/2015/columbia/flenrtd.htm, 2. http://www.best-cities.org/2015/best-performing-cities-report-2015.pdf, 3. http://www.crda.org/info-tech/ 4. http://www.sos.sc.gov/forms/QBLR.pdf, 5.http://www.scangelnetwork.com/ucan, http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/money/business/2014/12/19/investors-band-together-fundstartup-companies/20639347/
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Industry Updates
Tourism
TOURISM IN SOUTH CAROLINA By Duane Parrish, Director, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
With Labor Day just behind us, school back in session, football season underway and cooler fall weather (hopefully) ahead, we are entering into what has been generally considered the “shoulder season” for tourism in South Carolina. This is that time of the year when visitation traditionally begins to slowly ebb and the bustle of travel activities slacken as we draw nearer to winter. At least that has been considered the standard cycle of tourism business in South Carolina for the past few decades. Over the past few years, however, the classic narrow bell curve of visitation has begun to broaden and the cyclical waning of tourism business has become less pronounced as hotel occupancy rates and revenues have steadily climbed during these so-called shoulder seasons. These increases in visitor volume throughout the year have yielded a substantial impact on our state’s economy and tourism business communities – resulting in record-level tourism growth for South Carolina for the past three consecutive years. The year 2013 was a benchmark year for tourism in South Carolina, as our state surpassed pre-recession levels in all three economic metrics—Hotel RevPAR, State Admissions Tax Collections, and State Parks Revenue—we monitor to gauge the health of our state’s travel and tourism industry. In the following two years, our state’s tourism industry experienced even greater gains, with all three metrics again posting positive growth. At the end of 2015, we saw hotel revenues increase by more than seven percent, driven by continued increases in both hotel occupancy and average daily room rates and outpacing the
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national average for hotel revenue growth. Our State Admissions Tax collections had reached nearly $37 million, an 8.5 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. And State Parks revenues for fiscal year 2015 also reached an all-time high of $26.9 million. At the close of the most recent state fiscal year, I’m glad to say that our state’s $19.1 billion tourism industry is still going strong and bolstering our state’s economy. In fiscal year 2016, State Parks reached yet another record level of revenue–generating a little over $28 million during the year. And, while statewide Admissions Tax collections remained relatively flat compared to the previous year, the tax collections specifically from golf climbed to just more than $13 million, representing an almost two percent increase over the previous year and showing some hopeful signs for South Carolina’s golf industry, which is a vital component of our state’s tourism economy. The lodging sector, which we monitor on a calendar year basis, has also experienced increases in both hotel occupancy and revenue, significantly outpacing growth trends both nationally and in the South Atlantic region. While it’s always difficult to say what the coming year may bring, I believe we will continue to see even greater gains for our state’s tourism economy and business communities. We are still experiencing an extraordinary amount of hotels being built at destinations throughout our state, and we’ve experienced an influx of both professional and collegiate major sports events that have (wisely) chosen South Carolina as their host destination. These factors, I believe, evidence our state’s growing reputation as a premier travel destination and portend even greater success in the months and years to come.
Industry Updates
Manufacturing
MANUFACTURING IN SOUTH CAROLINA By Dan Sanders, Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Michelin North America, Inc. and Chairman, SC Chamber Manufacturers’ Steering Committee
Yogi Berra famously advised, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Since the early days in South Carolina, our civic and business leaders have taken many forks in the road. Sometimes they turned right. Other times they turned left. Each time, however, they progressed and laid the foundation for future growth and development. This is especially true in the context of manufacturing. Our state has a rich history in manufacturing. It started with textile mills in the Upstate and the cultivation of rice, cotton, and indigo in the Lowcountry. It continues today with the evolution of the high tech tire, automotive, and aerospace industries, just to name a few. Manufacturing companies now employ more than 10 percent of the workforce and account for almost 20 percent of state GDP. Companies continue to invest billions of dollars and create thousands of new, high paying jobs. These investments are well placed bets on our future. Taking stock of where we are today, our strengths are well known: an attractive location and climate, a world class port, pro-business government and community leadership, solution-oriented businesses, a highly skilled workforce preferring direct relationships with employers, and most fundamentally, a competitive Palmetto State spirit to achieve and progress.
The opportunities and challenges also are clear, and it is no coincidence they are aligned with the Chamber’s Competitiveness Agenda. First, we need a laser focus on workforce development. The skills needed tomorrow are unlike those of yesterday and we must ensure the workforce is in place to meet these needs. Second, we need durable solutions on infrastructure. Improving roads is a must, as is for deepening the port. These investments are basic, fundamental building blocks. Third, we must make it easier for small businesses to operate. Small business always drives the biggest growth. As we look forward to 2017, we can address these opportunities and navigate the next fork in the road by focusing on two simple themes: leadership and innovation. For leadership, business and civic leaders play a role. Government leaders play a role. The Chamber plays a role. We all play a role. Our Governor recently said, “If we scream less and listen more, we can make a lot of progress and we can do it together.” The other theme is innovation, and note there are two kinds. The obvious one is technological innovation. But an arguably more important innovation driver is changing behavior. “True innovators get people to do new things, not just buy new stuff,” says Diane Zuckerman in her Inc.com article, “Innovation is About Behavior, Not Products.” Let’s join forces on these themes and keep our great state in the best position to succeed in manufacturing for many generations to come.
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LEGISLATIVE RECAP: THE CHAMPION FOR BUSINESS The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce announced its 2016 Competitiveness Agenda in January. The Agenda is formed through a survey of Chamber members along with input through Grassroots Meetings held throughout the state where South Carolina Chamber representatives listen to local business concerns. The issues of concern are compiled by the South Carolina Chamber and taken to the Chamber Board to be vetted, developed, and placed on the agenda for the upcoming legislative session.
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Ted Pitts, President and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber said, “The business community is committed to advancing the State of South Carolina. After months of traveling the state and listening to businesses of all sizes, the Chamber Board agrees with what we heard at our Grassroots meetings. We need our elected officials to focus on finding solutions to the two most important issues facing the business community: unreliable infrastructure and the skills gap. In addition to those two items, our members believe that statewide standardized business licensing will ensure South Carolina remains competitive.” These three items were the focus of the Chamber’s legislative efforts during the 2016 session.
Legislative Recap
Infrastructure Accountability and Funding
“
In addition to improving infrastructure and reforming business licensing, the Chamber calls on the General Assembly to prioritize workforce development. Specifically, the Chamber supports streamlining workforce development programs so we can better address the skills gap South Carolina is facing. While the Chamber will continue to promote pro-business, pro-growth policies this legislative session, we have placed priority on workforce and infrastructure. The future of South Carolina is dependent upon a strong infrastructure and a steady workforce and we call on
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our state’s elected leaders to work with us for solutions.
John Uprichard,
Improving South Carolina’s infrastructure is directly related to economic growth, safety, and quality of life for our citizens. The Chamber supports reforming government to increase accountability and a recurring funding mechanism to maintain and repair roads and bridges.
PASSED - S. 1258
DOT Reform & Infrastructure Funding Passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, this transportation infrastructure funding plan provides as much as $2.2 billion for South Carolina roads through bonding of vehicle sales tax and DMV fees. S. 1258 also reforms the governance of SCDOT, allowing the Governor to appoint commissioners with legislative approval. Additionally, every project considered by the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank must now be prioritized using objective criteria, and any project approved by the Bank must be subsequently approved by the newly constituted DOT Commission.
2015-16 Chairman, South Carolina Chamber President, Find Great People January, 2016
Bills Impacting Business PASSED BUSINESS FRIENDLY BILLS
S. 1258 – DOT Reform & Infrastructure Funding. This funding plan provides $2.2 billion for roads and makes SCDOT more accountable to the Governor. H. 4145 – Coordinating Council for Workforce Development. The enacted bill creates a statewide entity to implement strategies and programs to improve pathways to employment. H. 4147 – SC Farm Aid Fund. Passage of this relief measure provides funding to farmers who lost over $375 million in crops as a result of the historic flooding of October 2015. S. 267 – Shortened Legislative Session. The legislature approved this bill to shorten session by nearly a month. H. 3147 – Military Retirees Tax Relief. This bill increases income tax deductions on retirement benefits for military retirees who choose to make their home in South Carolina. H. 3184 and H. 3186 – Ethics Reform. These ethics reform bills are measures to ensure accountability in elected officials. Budget Line Item – Certified Work Ready Communities. This year, South Carolina became the first state to attain 100% Work Ready certification.
Workforce Development The most pressing issue facing South Carolina’s business community, both now and over the long-term, is workforce development and closing the skills gap. The South Carolina Chamber reaffirms its position that workforce development is critical to the success of our state.
PASSED - H. 4145
Coordinating Council for Workforce Development This enacted bill creates a statewide Coordinating Council for Workforce Development to implement strategies and programs to improve pathways to employment. The final version of this bill is a major step forward, but leaves unfinished work for addressing the need for scholarships and grants and programs and training for the certification of undereducated, underemployed adults.
PASSED - BUDGET LINE ITEM Certified Work Ready Communities
This budget line item supports Certified Work Ready Communities as they bolster our state’s workforce and boost South Carolina’s competitiveness. In 2016, South Carolina became the first state in the nation to achieve 100% Work Ready certification.
BLOCKED BUSINESS NEGATIVE BILLS H. 4555 - A Bill to Repeal S.C.’s Right to Work Status S. 1203 - Government Overreach Bill
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CONNECTING
NETWORKS
Serving our customers and our community Headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, AFL is 800 associates strong and growing. As a global leader in fiber optics, AFL continues to develop innovative products and services that fuel our growth. More importantly, we are dedicated to making a difference—in our community and throughout the world.
www.AFLglobal.com 864.433.0333
Small Business Spotlight
Manchester Farms
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Small Business Spotlight
By Jordana Megonigal, Publisher, Business Black Box
Brittney Miller always knew she’d end up in the family business raising quail for her father’s startup, Manchester Farms; it just took three times to make the job stick. “On weekends and nights I’d come walk the barns and the hatcheries. I grew up with the passion of caring for these birds,” she says. Those birds, Pharaoh Quail, now help make up one of the largest quail farms in the U.S. Her father, Bill Odom, founded Manchester Farms in 1974, after he began raising quail to train hunting dogs and selling off the extra birds after the hunting season ended. Soon, he was distributing product to restaurants and chefs, through direct mail, across the U.S. By the ‘80s, however, the business could no longer keep up with the demand, and Manchester Farms partnered with industry distributors to supply the need. While her father continued to grow the business, Miller went to school and earned a degree in Poultry Business. Then, wanting to learn more about the pharmaceutical side of animal husbandry, she took a job with a pharma company in sales. Eventually, she came back to Manchester, working in sales for five years, serving all areas west of the Mississippi River. But she soon tired of jumping on a plane every other week and left the farm and moved to Colorado where she met her husband, Matt. After getting married and starting their family, and with the experience of managing a private ski club, Miller came back to South Carolina. At that time, the opportunity to play a significant role in the family business surfaced when Miller and her brother, Steve, took over the company’s operations. “Steve and I ran the company for a couple of years, then as 50/50 partners bought out our parents’ interest,” Miller remembers. “Then, I bought out my brothers interest.” It was Miller’s chance to grow a business that had already been so successful. Fortunately, her love for the business was balanced with a drive to avoid failure. “It’s always been a passion of mine,” she says. “And, we didn’t want to be that quintessential second generation business that wasn’t working.” Today, under Miller’s leadership, Manchester Farms has 125 employees and runs seven barns in three locations, where they hatch birds, grow birds, and then operate both layer and meat
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operations. And while in recent years they have added a few organic produce products like watermelon and bok choy, quail remains their bread-and-butter. With hatching day every Thursday, the farm will sell up to 90,000 quail per week. About 10 percent of that is sold fresh, going to restaurants and chefs in major metropolitan areas like Houston, New York or Chicago. The remainder is frozen, servicing food service and grocery stores around the country. In all this, Manchester Farms has built quite a name for itself and, according to Miller, most of their chefs and restaurants know them as a provider by name. In terms of future growth, Miller is more interested in perfecting the craft than growing to be a mass producer. She is currently preparing to start an organic compost business from the eggs and droppings the quail naturally provide, “trying to be respectful of the birds and have as little waste as possible.” According to Miller, those moves to ancillary products and services was a natural growth pattern for Manchester Farms. “It’s just our thing. We never, ever use antibiotics—in the feed or in the water. We just give our flock a whole lot of love and environment and feed and care, and if you take better care on the front end you don’t have to give them antibiotics and push them on the other end. We’re already all-natural and nearly organic, so we’re kind of in that wheelhouse already. So, people ask, ‘what else do you do?’” While Miller notes that while they could increase their production another 25 percent and be comfortable, they aren’t looking to double. “We don’t necessarily want to be the Tyson in the industry,” she says. “We like our reputation as a boutique producer.” Besides, she notes, she’s not trying to achieve success by massproducing quail at rock bottom prices; she’d rather provide a level of care and service for both the animal and the customer. “I don’t want to do any business for someone who’s shopping a penny price,” Miller says. “We’re always trying to raise the bar, not cheapen up the product.”
Welcome to SOUTH CAROLINA PORTS
MYRON RIVERS, CRANE OPERATOR, CHARLESTON, SC
Moving 40-50 containers per hour is a tough job, and no one does it better than the SC Ports. Day in and day out, skilled crane operators like Myron make our ports work. We handled nearly 1.1 million containers in the last fiscal year. And cargo velocity is higher than ever. Our box volume is growing, but our productivity won’t budge. Good thing we have the right people to keep freight moving.
SCSPA.com
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By Jeff Archie, PCF Board Chair and SCE&G Chief Nuclear Officer
It’s been called the spine of South Carolina. The Palmetto Trail is the signature project of Columbiabased nonprofit Palmetto Conservation Foundation (PCF) to create a 500-mile path through the state, connecting mountains to sea. Conceived by PCF in 1994, the Palmetto Trail is the state’s largest bicycle and pedestrian project and one of just 16 cross-state trails in the United States. It currently crosses 14 counties, drawing hundreds of visitors and contributing to local economies along the over 360 miles already completed. But the impact could be greater, supporters say. Efforts are now mounting to increase corporate support and complete another 150 miles of the Palmetto Trail, while also maintaining and improving parts already in use. “It’s time to finish the trail,” said Natalie Britt, executive director of PCF, which has launched a Finish the Trail Campaign. “We know that this trail can bring in tourism, help us protect the state’s natural resources and stimulate the towns, cities and counties along its path. With the help of business partners and
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the public, we can finish our state’s mountains-to-the-sea hiking path and showcase the rich natural resources of our state.” “Business and corporate partners like South Carolina Electric and Gas are key,” Britt said. Since 1994, SCE&G has donated $254,750, along with vehicles and other equipment. Officials with the utility say support for the Palmetto Trail is part of SCE&G’s efforts to protect the environment and serve the community. “One of the core values of our company is doing what’s right … doing what’s right by the communities we serve and doing what’s right as good stewards of the environment,” said Stephanie Jones, SCE&G philanthropy supervisor. “The Palmetto Trail not only supports conservation, but also showcases South Carolina’s rich culture, history and landscape. Preserving these treasures and providing a way for people to enjoy them are things we care
Love Where You Live about deeply as a company. So, we’re proud to support ongoing efforts to finish the project.”
South Carolina Parts Unknown
Agencies like the South Carolina State Parks Service have worked alongside businesses and nonprofits to develop parts of the trail. “It’s more than just a trail; it provides important infrastructure to connect people with undiscovered areas of the state,” said Phil Gaines, State Parks Director. “Parts of the Palmetto Trail go through our state parks. Others have spur trails that lead to parks, historical sites and towns throughout the state. So it’s an important project, not only for us but for enhancing quality of life and growing tourism across South Carolina.” Local officials also view the Palmetto Trail as a welcomed opportunity for exposure and new revenue. “We have a lot that we can market … a lot that could bring tourism and the trail potentially can help,” said Eutawville Councilman Brandon Weatherford. “We’re working to revitalize the town, something that hasn’t been done in several years. With the trail being here, it’s definitely going to help spur that marketability.” Weatherford pointed to historical battlegrounds and other landmarks along the trail that could be a draw for tourists. “And if we have visitors come into town, they’ll want to visit stores and eat in restaurants and patronize businesses,” he added. “The trail goes right through the center of Eutawville…Right now there’s nothing but a couple of little stores, but we’re talking with developers about ways to revitalize. The trail is a part of that conversation. It needs to be completed and maintained.” In Santee, where tourism is a leading industry, officials already have seen the trail’s positive impact on the local economy. “Walkers, hikers and bikers often travel through the town along the trail’s two entrances in Santee, generating revenue for local restaurants and stores,” said Joanie Pinter, Santee tourism director. “We see a huge way for the trail to impact Santee,” she said. “We’re working on a bridge beautification project. There are plans for a new restaurant near the trail, but we could also see other businesses potentially: a bicycle shop or other stores that will complement the business that the trail already brings to the town.” Golf courses and lodging are the major draws to the town. Officials would like to partner more with businesses and counties to maintain the trail and discourage illegal dumping. “Santee is ripe to be a major tourism stop, all we need is a boost to get started,” Pinter said. “The more we can offer, the better it will be for all of the towns… So far, the trail has definitely benefited us.” The Palmetto Trail currently travels through Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Union, Laurens, Newberry, Fairfield, Richland, Sumter, Clarendon, Orangeburg, Berkeley and Charleston counties. Its 27 passages connect state parks, national forests, Revolutionary War battlefields, county recreation areas, and historic military posts—all potential tourist attractions. “Connecting these attractions heightens the impact, especially for the virtually unknown parts and treasures we have in South
Carolina,” Britt said. “All across America, we’re seeing an economic revitalization due in whole or in part to trails and greenways and we know the same can happen for towns along the Palmetto Trail. We just need to finish the work that’s been started.”
Forging New Paths
In July, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation announced the launch of the Palmetto Conservation Corps. The new trail-based AmeriCorps service program will focus on construction and maintenance of the Palmetto Trail as well as conserving natural resources and wildlife habitat. “This is a huge step forward for us,” said Matt Lawson, Lowcountry trail coordinator with the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. “Unfortunately, the trail faces significant environmental danger from litter and illegal dumping. It also requires constant maintenance. The AmeriCorps group will work with us to maintain the trail’s integrity, make repairs and keep it a place that hikers, walkers and bikers want to visit.” Grants, donations and other funding have spurred expansion of the trail in the Upstate, where the focus is on connecting sections of the trail. The Palmetto Conservation Foundation recently announced that two new parts of the trail were recommended for funding through the federal Recreational Trails Program. City officials also are showing support for completion of the project. “We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support for trail development in the region,” the foundation said in a press release. “The City of Walhalla, Oconee County and Pickens County have been exceptional partners in moving the mission of the Palmetto Trail forward.” Private groups also are pitching in to make upgrades in other parts of the state. In late September, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for a new state-of-the-art pedestrian bridge on the Enoree passage of the Palmetto Trail. The new fiberglass bridge will help protect sensitive wildlife habitats and provide safe passage for visitors. “This is a great example of public land management, where the public is helping to make a difference on their public land. I am proud the Forest Service is able to host sections of the trail that offer rich and diverse outdoor experiences,” said Rick Lint, supervisor of the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests. “The Palmetto trail is a great resource in our state and made possible by Palmetto Conservation Foundation, dedicated volunteers, and numerous partners.” Progress on completing the trail has been slow albeit steady, supporters say. “We’ve had great business support, but we would like to see even more to finish the project and help maintain it,” said Lawson, who works along the trail daily and sees its potential firsthand. “History, culture, the diversity of our ecosystem, all of these things can be found along the Palmetto Trail, and we want to showcase that.” Gaines added, “We call it the spine of South Carolina because it’s that connector for a lot of other parts of our state. It’s really exciting, and I think the closer we get to the completion of this project, the more people will realize how much of a legacy component the Palmetto Trail is for our state.”
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THE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION is the Voice of South Carolina’s
WOOD & PAPER PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
Billion Industry TIMBER: #1 Agribusiness Crop $20
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Cam Crawford President & CEO Forestry Association Columbia, SC scforestry.org
facebook.com/SCForestryAssociation
Reg Williams Chairman Log Creek Timber Edgefield, SC
twitter.com/SCForestryAssoc
PRESENTING the
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Awards by Jordana Megonigal, Business Black Box
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JAY LUCAS
Speaker of the House
2 0 1 6
Public Servant OF THE YEAR
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On the corner of Jay Lucas’ desk sits a political cartoon by famed S.C. cartoonist Robert Ariail. The cartoon, originated June 7, 2016, is only two panels: in panel one, an ambiguous, suited man labeled “Senate”, kicking a tin can “roads bill” into the distance. The second panel shows “House Speaker Lucas” kicking a can as well—only it’s the one attached to the Senate leader. For the average reader, Ariail’s statement is one on the lackadaisical approach to a roads bill by the Senate. But for those who have followed South Carolina’s political works and woes for years, there is something else hiding among the sketch lines and colored comic—the public notice of Lucas’ intolerance for inaction. Lucas—having been Speaker of the House since 2014, when then-Speaker Harrell stepped down—never intended to hold the position. In fact, it’s quite a feat that he’s in the Statehouse at all. Although he had a degree in political science and another in public administration—both from USC—Lucas was 40 years old when he decided to run for office in his home county. The seat in District 65—an area that encompasses Darlington, Lancaster, Kershaw and Chesterfield counties—was open after then-Representative Mike Baxley decided to retire. But Lucas was a Republican running in a district that rarely, if ever, voted Republican, so he realized the odds of his election were stacked against him. After an arduous nine-month campaign, Lucas won by a mere 32 votes. “So I’m that guy. I’m 32 votes away from not even serving this great body and to go from that, to actually being Speaker of the House,” he says. “I still don’t believe it today.” Lucas’ approach to politics is also quite different than others’. With a high focus on moving the needle and getting things done, he mimicked the standards found in his district throughout his 16 years in service as a State Representative. “Politics in Darlington County is much more of a gentleman’s sport than it is in other parts of the state,” Lucas says with a laugh. “A lot of times you find people serving longer terms, and when those people retire, you generally have a race and those races are tamer than ones you would find in other parts of the state. That, I think, has played a part in certainly how I approach this job. Not coming from an area where politics is a collision sport. We just try to get a lot accomplished.” But when Lucas, serving as Speaker Pro Tempore, became the Speaker of the House seemingly overnight, he fell back to those roots for the next phase of his legislative career. Lucas had been concerned for a while about the perception of the Statehouse, and its legitimacy within the walls of the House chambers. “What I felt had happened in the House was that we had really become stagnant,” Lucas notes. “We weren’t dealing with the
big issues that I felt affected the state. I took the opportunity to put several committees together to deal with the roads, to deal with ethics, to deal with other issues that had been neglected for far too long by the SC House of Representatives.” Almost immediately, Lucas became a “big issues” leader. “I didn’t want to come in and do nothing,” he says. “When speaking to the body after I had been elected, one of the things I told them that would be different was that we would deal with big issues. That we were going to handle big issues.” Some of those issues—like a roads bill to fund the state’s crumbling infrastructure, or the ethics reform that many have longed for over recent years—he planned to tackle. Others, like Abbeville v. SC and the underfunded pension issues, were more or less dropped in his lap. Still, over the past two years, Lucas has proven the title of “big issues leader” again and again. In a critical Abbeville v. SC decision, he afterward received praise for his handling of the situation and his willingness to redefine the state’s commitment to education. He was instrumental in the removal of the Confederate Flag from the Statehouse grounds. He worked with Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman to create a committee to address reform of widely underfunded pensions. He’s tackled ethics reform and, yes, even helped to get a roads bill passed in the last hour of session this year. “We have done more the last two years than I can ever remember the General Assembly ever doing in the last 10 years,” Lucas says. “These are big issues, and these are important to the people of the state. One of the reasons I wanted to be Speaker was because I thought we could have an effect in all of these areas, if we got past being stagnant.” It’s been two years of non-stop heavy lifting, but Lucas has, by many accounts, earned respect as a legislator who gets things done. In a very short time, he has proven his worth in the House with one success after another—even if, as in some cases, success is defined as simply moving the ball forward. Of these successes, Lucas says simply, “We have been very fortunate; everything that we have dealt with or attempted to deal with, we have moved the ball down the road. Now, have we finished on all those issues? Absolutely not. But are we a lot better off today than we were two years ago? I think certainly—in all of those areas.” Moving forward into a new session, Lucas has more big issues in his sights. Some plans are simply to finish what has been started—with pension reform and the Abbeville decisions as examples. But he also has plans to go after some new challenges, with tax reform being one of them. Regardless of what issues Lucas decides to bring to the forefront, one thing is certain—he’s willing to put in the work to make sure they happen. After all, he says, “we still have got some work to do.”
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MIKEE JOHNSON
President and CEO, Cox Industries
2 0 1 6
Business Leader OF THE YEAR
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To walk into Mikee Johnson’s office is to walk into a miniature museum in tribute to his life. Books line the bookshelves that rise to the ceiling, interspersed with photos, collectibles and other memorabilia. He soon calls attention to one shelf. “This,” he says, lifting a beaten and worn football helmet off the shelf, a chewed mouth guard still attached, “this is my father’s football helmet. And this,” he says, pointing out the mouthpiece, “describes him perfectly. He was a hard, no nonsense, grind it out kind of guy.” He puts the helmet back on its shelf, directly beside a framed photo of his grandfather, the founder of Cox Industries, of which Johnson now serves as CEO and President. The generational lines are long—the company was originally founded by Bill and Ed Cox, grandfather and grand-uncle to Johnson, back in 1954, to serve as a manufacturer and distributor of lumber for residential use. The brothers were innovative, crafting a technique called “kiln drying after treatment” as part of the process for treating wood made to last. But while Johnson grew up around the business, he never intended to be a third generation leader to it, at least, early on in his career. “I had no intentions to come back to work here,” Johnson says. “In fact, before we got married, my wife, Cyndi, asked me if we were ever going to move back to Orangeburg and I said no.” But after getting his degree at Furman University and then working with Morgan Stanley for a number of years, Johnson had an opportunity he couldn’t turn down. Having served as the sole appointed family member to the Cox Board of Directors, Johnson was approached by the founders of the company to take over at the helm in 2000. And although he never intended to return to Orangeburg, that’s exactly where he found himself, even in spite of what he told Cyndi. He instinctively accepted. “When my uncle and my grandfather asked me about coming to work here, I was frankly so excited that I accepted without ever thinking about asking her about that transition,” he says. “I’m very appreciative of Cyndi for taking that leap of faith with me.” That same year, Johnson took a huge step for the company: manufacturing utility poles. The pole business, what Johnson calls “the real growth platform in the company over the last 16 years”, has served them well, and makes Cox Industries the largest U.S.-based manufacturer of utility poles and marine piling. The company now boasts 16 facility locations across the U.S.—the largest being around 200 acres—and more than 500 employees. This type of job immediately lends itself to a presence in trade and manufacturing organizations and conservation efforts, but Johnson is just as concerned with workforce and infrastructure across the state—both topics that not only interest him, but hold the most potential to affect his business, as well. “We talk a lot around the state about infrastructure in South Carolina, and most of us think about it in terms of asphalt and bridges, but the infrastructure of our country was essentially
given new life post-WWII,” Johnson explains. “There was a tremendous investment by our federal government and from soldiers returning home from the war and this country invested a lot into infrastructure then. Now, a lot of that infrastructure is aging, whether that is roads, or our utility grid or, for that matter, technological infrastructure. And so I definitely see our company playing a significant role in the terms of infrastructure as we fit today, but I also see us having a significant role in the environmental stewardship in the environmental resources of our state which is the forestry industry.” Johnson’s hat tip to forestry—translated in a broader sense to all of agribusiness across the state, is no minor issue. As a reference point, the aerospace industry in South Carolina—an industry that garners a lot of attention, dollars and efforts— employs around 17,000 people across the state. Agribusiness? About 200,000. “If you look at the very roots of South Carolina, agribusiness is not the old industry. In fact, if you tour most of our facilities or businesses in the agribusiness space, there’s a lot of technology that goes into everything—from grading a peach to turning a piece of lumber to turning a tree into a pole and how we track it,” Johnson says. “So much has changed in our space, but nevertheless I think from an infrastructure standpoint we have a long way to go. And agribusiness has a lot of work to do to remind people—not just here in S.C. but across the country—of the role it plays” Still, it’s his work outside of the company walls that garners Johnson so much attention. He is visibly active in the community—not only in Orangeburg, but across the state as well. He serves as Chair of the S.C. Workforce Investment Board, and as Vice Chair of Governor Haley’s Original Six Foundation, which focuses on rural communities around the state. Active in both the local and state Chambers of Commerce, with the Manufacturers Alliance, and the Palmetto Conservation Foundation (just to name a few), he was also recently named Chair of South Carolina’s prestigious Liberty Fellowship. In his free time, and in addition to spending time with his own family and children Brady, Causey, and Lilly-Rae (who “make all this effort worth it that much more,” he says), he serves as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 45, which was founded in 1936. It’s an intimidating list of commitments, but Johnson is undaunted. In fact, it’s a mandated part of his job description—a challenge from the board itself—that he spend 80 percent of his time outside of the business. “Outside of the joke that I can’t mess things up if I’m not in the office,” he laughs, “the purpose of that is that for us to know where we’re going as a company, we have to know what’s happening in the world around us. So I have the latitude to spend a lot of time working in a lot of different areas and exploring a lot of different opportunities to determine where to help lead the strategic decision of where we’re going to invest our time and effort down the road.”
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2016 WORKFORCE INNOVATOR AWARDS
INNOVATING FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE By Josh Overstreet, Associate Editor, Business Black Box
Workforce development is a challenging subject. Every company—everywhere—has workforce needs but they don’t necessarily know how to work to meet them. For 2016, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce recognized three companies for their work in developing successful workforce development programs to meet not only their needs, but also the needs of their communities. We decided to take an in-depth look at each of the programs that were established by Total Comfort Solutions, MTU America and Michelin North America.
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Workforce Innovator Awards
Total Comfort Solutions
MTU America Inc.
Michelin North America
Total Comfort Solutions of Columbia, SC has been in the HVAC business since 1976 from their humble beginnings of just two employees at a single location. Since then, their footprint has grown to include locations across South Carolina and Eastern Georgia.
MTU America Inc. is the regional headquarters for Rolls-Royce Power Systems and is a market leader in the manufacturing and sale of off-highway power and propulsion systems. For more than 100 years, MTU has pushed the innovation envelope in its field, leading in utilizing green technology and being environmentally conscientious.
Michelin North America is the largest business to be named for the South Carolina Chamber’s 2016 Workforce Innovation awards, specifically for their Michelin Technical Scholars Program.
Columbia, South Carolina
As with any growing company, the biggest challenge came from a need of filling positions with skilled workers. To remedy this, Total Comfort Solutions began to work with both the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Midlands Technical College and the Midlands Education and Business Alliance (MEBA).
“The biggest challenge is having a workforce who collaborates and works well as a team, so we spend a significant amount of time training and coaching the core skills that drive effective communication and teamwork. TCS runs two courses annually to build these skills, and we invest significant time coaching and reinforcing behaviors as we continually nurture our teamwork culture.” KRISTI EIDSON, Culture Coach Total Comfort Solutions
Through the Chamber and MEBA, Total Comfort Solutions sent technicians to local area schools and were able to share their personal job experience with students in order to get them interested in HVAC. This effort quickly doubled enrollment at Midlands Tech in their HVAC programs. Now, Total Comfort has strategic partners across the state in order to train and find jobs for those in HVAC degree programs, teaching them not only the skills of the trade, but also soft skills like communication and team building that apply to every potential job a student could hold.
Graniteville, South Carolina
To address a growing workforce problem and a national youth unemployment rate of 11.9 percent (as of February 2015), MTU created its Youth Apprenticeship Program in 2012, working with Aiken County School District, Apprenticeship Carolina and Aiken Technical College to get high school juniors and seniors into careers in manufacturing, offering programs that give them real-world experience in working in a manufacturing position, even earning a wage.
“The MTU Youth Apprenticeship Program has been a win-win for all involved. Students earn money while they learn large diesel engine assembly, CNC machining skills and soft skills. The school system graduates students who have a set of skills that match what we are looking for. The parents gain students with skills and confidence who will be a step above the competition. MTU America then has the opportunity to hire graduating apprentices who are a known entity to us and have a sense of loyalty to us because of our relationship during the program.”
Greenville, South Carolina
“The challenge for Michelin and companies alike is to develop and grow current and future employees to build the necessary skills for today’s work environment.” MICHAEL WILLIAMS, S. C. Workforce Development Leader Michelin North America
For qualified students in the program, scholarships are provided that cover tuition, books and fees associated with the program. They also offer part-time work and benefits for students in the program so they can both learn on the job and get paid for it as well. The program is designed to give students a chance to not only gain an academic degree and certification but also give them valuable experience in the manufacturing field. By the end of the program students earn a two-year associate’s degree in Electronic Engineering Technology or Mechatronics, and they also become full time technical employees. “This program has helped Michelin attract talent in a very competitive field,” says Williams. “Today, Michelin employs more than 70 Technical Scholars throughout its North American plants.”
ARJONETTA GAILLARD, Senior HR Generalist MTU America
The program has received recognitions such as South Carolina’s Private Sector Champion of the Year in 2013, the Award of Merit for an outstanding training program by the Association for Career and Technical Education and the medium business winner in the 2016 Workforce Innovator Awards by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
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FOR OVER 30 YEARS, Grant Thornton has proudly saluted the Top 100 private companies in South Carolina through the Grant Thornton South Carolina 100TM, the only ranking of the state’s largest privately held companies. The South Carolina 100TM is compiled under the direction of Mark Ballew, Partner-in-Charge of the Columbia Office, and Andrew Pope, Audit Partner, in cooperation with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Participation in the South Carolina 100TM is voluntary and companies are ranked based upon their net revenues for their most recently completed fiscal year. To qualify, companies must be privately held, headquartered in South Carolina, and cannot be a subsidiary of another company. Financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate and other brokerages, health care organizations and companies primarily engaged in retail are not eligible for the South Carolina 100TM listing. Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. In the United States, Grant Thornton has revenue in excess of $1.65 billion and operates 60 offices with more than 575 partners and 8,000+ personnel. Grant Thornton works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions and civic and religious organizations.
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2016
The 2016 ranking of the Grant Thornton South Carolina private companies includes many dynamic companies in multiple industries. While each year the ranking experiences some changes, a few highlights are 1) overall the revenue increased slightly, 2) while the employment in the Manufacturing and Distribution industries increased 2% the overall employment declined between years. The change is evident in comparable statistics between the 2016 and 2015 South Carolina 100TM ($ amounts in Billions).
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2016
#
REVENUE
$
ALL OTHER
23 22 55
# AMOUNTS IN BILLIONS
100
$
MANUFACTURERS DISTRIBUTORS
CATEGORY
2015
RANKINGS
CATEGORY
MANUFACTURERS DISTRIBUTORS ALL OTHER # AMOUNTS IN BILLIONS
#
9.0 $ 6.5 $ 7.4 22.9
REVENUE
$
19 21 60 100
EMPLOYEES
37,961 5,564 43,418
EMPLOYEES
37,307 5,329 46,687
22.8
89,323
$
BILLION
86,943
8.1 7.0 $ 7.7
$
22.9
$
22.8
$
BILLION
2015
2016 TOP COMPANIES
While the companies in the top 10 are the same as 2015, both Novolex Holdings, LLC and United Sporting Companies moved up 1 place each in the ranking as indicated in the comparison chart.
2016 RANK MOVEMENT
The most significant movement was with the addition of 8 companies joining the ranking for the first time or after an absence. That compares to 9 companies joining in the 2015 ranking.
SIGNIFICANT RANK JUMPS FROM 2015 Companies with increases in rank of 10 or greater for 2016.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2014
COMPANY
1 2 3 5 4 6 8 7 9 10
Milliken & Company The Intertech Group, Inc. and Affiliates J.M. Smith Corporation Novolex Holdings, LLC Southeastern Freight Lines, Inc. Quality Business Solutions, Inc. United Sporting Companies Lincoln Oil Co., Inc. Carolina Eastern Inc. Mount Vernon Mills, Inc.
2015
COMPANY
32 36 80 89 91 94 97 99 100
AGY Holdings Corp Broad River Furniture Delta Pharmacy Inc. Ambio Holdings, Inc. Rhythmlink International, LLC Metalworx, Inc. Turbeville Insurance Agency C. Ray Miles Construction Co., Inc. Paxen Learning Services, LLC
INCREASE
COMPANY
21 21 15 15 15 14 14 13 13 13 12 10
Parkplace Corporation A3 Communications, Inc. Ishpi Information Technologies, Inc. McMillan Pazdan Smith LLC Colite International, Ltd. M. B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc. Merritt Veterinary Supplies, Inc. Commercial FoodService Repair, Inc. Yeargin Potter Smith Construction, Inc. JEAR Logistics, LLC Human Technologies, Inc. HG Reynolds Co. Inc.
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MORE THAN $1 BILLION #
COMPANY
CITY
CEO
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
1
Milliken & Company
Spartanburg
Harold Chandler
Chemicals, carpet and textile manufacturing
2
The Intertech Group, Inc. and Affiliates
North Charleston
Anita G. Zuiker and Jonathan M. Zucker
Diversified Family-owned company
3
J M Smith Corporation
Spartanburg
William R. Cobb
Wholesale, pharamaceutical and computer hardware, software, data processing services
4
Novolex Holdings, LLC
Hartsville
Stanley B Bikulege
Manufacturer of a family of North American based packaging products
5
Southeastern Freight Lines, Inc.
Lexington
W.T. Cassels, Jr.
Transportation
6
Quality Business Solutions, Inc.
Travelers Rest
Pamela Evette
Provides a wide and comprehensive range of benefits and services
$100 MILLION TO $999 MILLION #
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COMPANY
CITY
CEO
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
7
United Sporting Companies
Chapin
Bradley Johnson
Distributor of hunting & shooting products
8
Lincoln Oil Co., Inc.
Greenville
James E. Farish, Jr.
Wholesale petroleum, ethanol, biodiesel, trucking and terminal servicing
9
Carolina Eastern Inc.
Charleston
Alton Phillips
Distributor of fertilizer, Ag. chemicals and seeds
10
Mount Vernon Mills, Inc.
Mauldin
W. David Hastings
Apparel fabrics, denim, plc workwear, paint rollers, napery, sheets, towels & chemicals
11
Blanchard Machinery Company
West Columbia
Joe Blanchard
12
Dearybury Oil & Gas Inc
Spartanburg
CW Dearybury
Wholesale distributor of petroleum products and distillates
13
Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC
Charleston
Robert A. Faith
Investor, developer and operator of multifamily real estate assets
14
M. B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc.
Columbia
William H. Neely
General contractor
15
Edens Investment Trust
Columbia
Jodie McLean
Retail SC owner and developer - national
16
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Columbia
James K. Lehman-Managing Partner
Legal Services
17
Mungo Homes, Inc.
Irmo
Steven Mungo
Residential development and homebuilding
18
Southeastern Paper Group, Inc.
Spartanburg
E. Lewis Miller, Jr.
Distribution of disposable paper, plastics and cleaning supplies
19
Comporium, Inc.
Rock Hill
Bryant Barnes
Communications company provider
20
Spartanburg Forest Products, Inc.
Greer
Steve Michael
Sell, distribute, manufacture, pressure treated lumber and all related products
21
Thompson Construction Group, Inc.
Sumter
Greg A. Thompson
22
Metromont Corporation
Greenville
Rick Pennell
Builder of precast buildings for schools, offices, stadiums and data centers
23
Medical Services of America, Inc.
Lexington
Ronnie L. Young
Health care services, rental and sale of home medical equipment and supplies
24
Cox Industries, Inc.
Orangeburg
R. Michael Johnson
25
JHM Enterprises, Inc.
Greenville
HP Rama
Developer, owner and operator of upscale hotels
26
Spirit Communications
Columbia
Robert M. Keane
Provider of voice, data and internet services
27
Prestage Farms of SC, LLC
Camden
Dr. Ron Prestage
Distributor of live turkeys sold to Oscar Meyer/Kraft Foods
28
G&P Trucking Co, Inc.
Gaston
G. Clifton Parker
Truckload transportation of freight
29
Cregger Company, Inc.
West Columbia
Morris Cregger
Distributor of plumbing and heating and cooling products and electrical
Heavy Equipment dealer that specializes in CAT products. Parts, sales, service and rental of heavy equipment and power generation equipment
Leading provider of industrial construction, maintenance, and building construction services in the southeastern United States
Manufacturer and distributor of treated lumber products for residential, commercial, industrial and utility markets
30
General Information Services, Inc.
Chapin
Raymond Conrad
Employment screening and HR onboarding solutions
31
Diamond Hill Plywood Company, Inc.
Darlington
John C Ramsey
Wholesale distribution of building materials, manufacturing of hardwood/plywood
32
AGY Holding Corp
Aiken
Patrick Burns
Leading manufacturer of advanced glass fibers & yarns
33
The Beach Company
Charleston
John C.L. Darby
Full Service real estate-sales, leasing, development, management
34
Human Technologies, Inc.
Greenville
Herbert W. Dew, III
Multi-faceted human resource advisory firm
35
Terminix Service, Inc.
Columbia
Marion Knox
Pest Control Sales and Service
36
Broad River Furniture
Fort Mill
Charlie Malouf
Home furnishings
37
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville
Kevin Bean
Integrated engineering and construction company
$50 MILLON TO $99 MILLION #
COMPANY
CITY
CEO
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
38
HG Reynolds Co, Inc.
Aiken
Jeffrey Reynolds
General Contracting
39
Defender Services, Inc.
Columbia
John N. McCarter, Jr.
Janitorial, security and staffing services on a contractual basis
40
Merritt Veterinary Supplies, Inc.
Columbia
Robert M. Mims, Jr.
Distributor of supplies, equipment, and drugs for the veterinary industry
41
Thompson Industrial Services
Sumter
Greg Thompson
Provider of integrated industrial cleaning and facilities support services.
42
Dilmar Oil Company, Inc.
Florence
Earle Atkinson III and Gray Atkinson
Petroleum distributor, commercial real estate
43
Industrial Packaging Supplies, Inc.
Fountain Inn
Jerry Murdock
Wholesale distribution of packaging materials
44
Life Cycle Engineering, Inc.
North Charleston
Robert Fei
Consulting, engineering, IT services, and education solutions
45
Springs Creative Products Group LLC
Rock Hill
Derick Close
Provider of textile based products and logistics services
46
The Ritedose Corporation
Columbia
Umesh Dalvi
Contract pharmaceutical manufacturer
47
CoLinx, LLC
Greenville
Donavan A Louis
Logistics and e commerce services
48
Eldeco, Inc.
Greenville
Allen McKinney
Electrical Subcontractor
49
Palmetto Corp. of Conway
Conway
Shawn Godwin
50
The Yahnis Company
Florence
Ken Emery
51
Commercial FoodService Repair, Inc
Greenville
Kurt Herwald
52
Gateway Supply Company, Inc.
Columbia
Sam Williams Jr.
Plumbing and HVAC wholesaler
53
Trehel Corporation
Greenville
William W. Huss
Design build general contractor
54
Gregory Electric Company, Inc.
Columbia
Robert Livingston
55
Sumter Transport Company
Sumter
Pat Sears
56
Yeargin Potter Smith Construction, Inc.
Greenville
R. Lynn Yeargin
57
Infinity Marketing Solutions, Inc.
Greenville
Tony Williams
Full-service advertising agency
58
Ishpi Information Technologies, Inc.
Mount Pleasant
Earl D. Bowers
Provider of information & Cyber Dominance, C51SR Engineering & Technical Services
59
Palmetto Synthetics
Kingstree
Henry Poston
Producer of synthetic fibers
General contractor, asphalt manufacturing, sidewalk paving, grading, concrete, reclamation, vertical construction, erosion control Wholesale distributor of beer and non-alcoholic beverages National service provider to hospitality, retail and restaurants. Repair, maintain and installation of hot and cold foodservice equipment.
Electrical and mechanical construction operating in - commercial, institutional, industrial, and utilities Provider of environmental solutions to refinery and chemical industries. General contractor, commercial, industrial, mixed use, multifamily, institutional, senior living, churches, renovation, design build
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LESS THAN $50 MILLON #
CITY
CEO
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
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McNair Law Firm, P.A.
Columbia
David J. Tigges
Provider of legal services
61
Wolverine Brass, Inc.
Conway
Thomas Penner
Manufacture/distribution of Brass Plumbing Products
Columbia
Bert Pooser
Own, operate and manage hotels throughout FL, NC, SC and TN
62
34
COMPANY
Interstate Management & Investment Corporation
Provide third-party transportation of products throughout the continental United
63
JEAR Logistics, LLC
Mount Pleasant
Mark Neumeyer
64
Parkplace Corporation
Greenville
Jason L. Kelley
Mattresses
65
Greenville Meats, Inc.
Greenville
Dan Sloan
Meat and poultry processing and distribution
66
Dillon Provision Co, Inc.
Dillon
Dan Bozard
Wholesale Meat Distributor
67
Roebuck Buildings Co., Inc.
Roebuck
W. Dean Anderson
General contractor - commercial and industrial
68
A3 Communications, Inc.
Irmo
Joe Thomas
Systems integrator, provider of IT and security solutions
69
Beverage & Food Group, Inc.
Bluffton
Kevin Meany
Creative communications agency
70
AME, Inc.
Fort Mill
Gregg S. Campbell
Industrial contractor, crane rental, fabrication, machinery relocation-installation
71
H.R. Allen, Inc.
Charleston
Rod Allen
Electrical & mechanical contractor
72
Southern Weaving Company
Greenville
Ron Mohling
Design, development, and manufacturing of industrial woven products
73
McMillan Pazdan Smith LLC
Greenville
Joseph M Pazdan
Architecture, interior design and planning firm.
74
Waldrop, Inc.
Spartanburg
William Caldwell
Mechanical Contractor
75
New South Construction Supply, LLC
Greenville
Jim Sobeck
Construction products distributor
76
Colite International, Ltd.
Columbia
Martin C Brown
Provider of technical development, manufacturing and signage programs
77
Electric Guard Dog, LLC
Columbia
Jack DeMao
Electric security partner for commercial and industrial locations across US
78
Dove Data Products, Inc.
Florence
Richard Coxe
Manufacturing and sales of computer printing supplies and printing solutions.
79
Sumter Packaging Corporation
Sumter
Benjamin DeSollar
80
Delta Pharmacy Inc.
Moncks Corner
Willis High
81
International Plastics, Inc.
Greenville
Steve McClure
82
Find Great People, LLC
Greenville
John Uprichard
83
Blue Ridge Log Cabins LLC
Campobello
Chip Smith
Modular home manufacturer, primarily log
84
J.L. Anderson Co. Inc.
Wallace
Robert S. Rogers III
Manufacturer of brick, wholesale and retail sale of brick and masonry products
85
Augusta Fiberglass Coatings Inc.
Blackville
John W. Boyd
Fiberglass reinforced plastics
86
Companion Professional Services, LLC
Columbia
Terry M. Floyd
87
Eagle Construction Company
Newberry
Jeff D Spotts
Heavy Highway Construction
88
GMK Associates, Inc.
Columbia
Thomas P. Monahan
Architecture, engineering, design-build, construction services and interior design.
89
Ambio Holdings, Inc.
North Augusta
Juncai Chris Bai
States and Canada
Manufacturer of custom corrugated packaging and displays. Provider of digital printing and contract packaging and fulfillment services Community Retail Pharmacy Manufacturer, importer and wholesale supplier of plastic bags and flexible packaging. Temporary staffing for IT, accounting, and administrative services; executive search; Human resources consulting
An information technology consulting group dedicated to providing innovative and cost-effective IT solutions primarily to the healthcare industry.
Develops and provides contract manufacturing for peptides and biopharmaceuticals at clinical and commercial scale as well as developer of generic drugs.
90
VC3, Inc.
Columbia
David Dunn
IT service provider to the private and public sectors in SC, NC, Ga, Va, AL and TN
91
Rhythmlink International, LLC
Columbia
Shawn Regan
92
Chicora Affiliates LLC
Myrtle Beach
Don J Smith
93
Carolina Ceramics, LLC
Columbia
Michael Borden
Brick manufacturing and distributor of brick, mortar and other masonry products
94
Metalworx, Inc.
Summerville
Michael L. Sawer
Provides high quality, customer focused, single source manufacturing solutions
95
Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Columbia
Deepal S. Eliatamby, P.E.
Civil and environmental engineering firm
96
Chernoff Newman, LLC
Columbia
W. Lee Bussell, Sr.
Integrated marketing communications
97
Turbeville Insurance Agency
Columbia
Bill Turbeville
Insurance Agency
98
Dennis Corporation
Columbia
Daniel R. Dennis, III
Engineering, surveying, and construction management firm
99
C. Ray Miles Construction Co., Inc.
Lugoff
C. Ray Miles
100
Paxen Learning Services, LLC
Florence
Richard Semancik
Designs, manufactures and distributes medical devices and provides custom packaging, private labeling, custom products and contract manufacturing Residential and commercial sales, residential and commercial rental management, land development
Heavy road construction - grading, concrete, water/sewer, masonry, hauling, pond/ dam sitework, etc. Services to at risk youth
To learn more about this year’s survey, please contact Mark Ballew, Partner–in-Charge of Grant Thornton’s Columbia office at (803) 231-3045 or e-mail at mark.ballew@us.gt.com. Grant Thornton’s web site address is www.GrantThornton.com. For more information on the Grant Thornton South Carolina 100™, including prior year rankings, go to www.gt.com/sc100.
35
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With an annual impact of $19.1 billion, South Carolina’s tourism industry is certainly a cornerstone of our state’s economy. But, in addition to the dollars and cents, the commercial development and the jobs, and the other measurable impacts and aspects of this vital industry, the travel and tourism experiences that drive tourism business in our state also represent something more intangible but perhaps equally as important: these experiences embody the very spirit of South Carolina, the qualities of our state that we South Carolinians hold the most dear and for which we feel the most pride. And while most of these experiences may be simple, commonplace activities, there are those significant events that have come to define who we are as a destination. Among these are our legacy sports events in the Palmetto State, which include the Volvo Car Open, the RBC Heritage presented by Boeing and the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. We term these legacy events in part because of their span of history, ranging from 40-plus to 60-plus years. But we also call these legacy events because of their influence on the course of tourism development in South Carolina, and how they’ve shaped the travel experience and tourism development in each of their respective destinations. In total, these three events attract hundreds of thousands of spectators each year from across the state, the nation, and even from overseas. These spectators often fill area hotels to capacity and bring in fresh visitor spending for local business communities, generating an estimated $180 million for South Carolina’s economy annually. Yet, the full reach, impact and importance of these events to South Carolina go far beyond the stadium walls and golf course borders, and even past the host city limits and state boundaries. In addition to bringing droves of visitors to our state, these staple sporting events broadcast the Palmetto State at its finest to millions of households both across the nation and worldwide—providing unparalleled, value-added exposure of South Carolina as a premier travel destination and helping to further drive our state’s tourism industry and economy to greater heights.
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Although the sport has grown tremendously to become popular in nearly all reaches of the U.S., its roots are so thoroughly planted in Southern culture that American stock car racing is nearly synonymous with the South itself. At the heart of NASCAR racing history is a race track that is legendary both within the sport and within South Carolina’s tourism industry. Of course, I’m talking about the Darlington Raceway—often revered as the Track Too Tough to Tame, sometimes dreaded as The Lady in Black, but always celebrated as a fast-paced driver of our state’s tourism industry and economy. Since its inaugural race well over half a century ago, the Darlington Raceway has consistently performed at top speed as a tourism driver, often outpacing expectations and leaving in the dust any doubt about its popularity both at home and abroad. During that
first race, on Labor Day in 1950, the anticipated crowd of 10,000 spectators swelled to a crowd of 25,000 roaring fans who turned out to cheer their drivers to victory in the first-ever Southern 500. Fast forward sixty-six years to the most recent Labor Day race, where an estimated 75,000 fans filled the bleachers and the infields, as well as campgrounds, hotels and restaurants in the greater Darlington/Florence area. Throw in the exposure for Darlington that is achieved through NBC’s televised coverage of the event and it is easy to see just what the race track and this legacy event means to the local business community and to our great state. Although there have been a few twists and turns in its history, the Darlington Raceway and the BoJangles’ Southern 500 are still running strong today and serve as a tremendous source of pride for both the Pee Dee and the Palmetto State.
Action Sports Photography / Shutterstock.com
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Just as the Southern 500 helped to put Darlington on the map, so did the Heritage Classic help to bring Hilton Head Island into prominence as a travel destination and golfer’s paradise. Back in the 1950s and 60s, few could have ever imagined the island’s full tourism potential. And, had it not been for the vision of men like Charles Fraser and a handful of others, who knows what the island community would be like today. Somehow, beyond the reedy marshes and unconquered Lowcountry beauty of South Carolina’s largest barrier island, Fraser could see the evolution of Hilton Head as a prosperous resort destination and knew that the key to its future success was simply giving it a little more popular exposure. What better way to accomplish this than by hosting a professional tournament and inviting the golfing greats of the day? Since 1969, Harbour Town Golf Links has counted among its champions some of the greatest golf legends of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including Arnold Palmer (who won the initial tournament), Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Davis Love III and Payne Stewart. As the number of Tartan-clad champions has increased, so has the event’s purse grown from a modest $100,000 to an astounding $6.5 million. Over the past few decades, the success and growth of this event has nearly paralleled the development of Hilton Head Island itself, which today boasts an impressive inventory of luxurious accommodations and championship-quality golf courses. Despite a brief period of uncertainty a few years back, the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing remains one of South Carolina’s most prestigious and popular annual sports event. During this year’s tournament, it only took a moment of observing the ceaseless movements of the sea of spectators walking the grounds and following the game in hushed excitement to realize just what this event means for the PGA TOUR players and their fans, for Hilton Head Island, and for the state. And, when the Boeing Dreamliner made its 18th Hole flyover debut, you could literally feel the energy that swept over the crowd and the sense of awe and pride because, like the Heritage tournament, that plane also now represents South Carolina. Following the 2016 tournament, which drew an estimated 130,000 attendees and received television coverage by both The Golf Channel and CBS Sports, both the title sponsor, RBC, and the presenting sponsor, Boeing, extended their sponsorship commitments for this event – a further testament to the tournament’s success and South Carolina’s status as the greatest state for the greatest game there is.
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The Volvo Car Open (formerly the Family Circle Cup) is the “youngest” of our state’s legacy sporting events, beginning in 1973 in Hilton Head Island, which remained the event’s home until 2001, when organizers made the decision to move the event to the Charleston area on Daniel Island. Since then, the tournament – which is the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in the world– has become an anchor for commercial development and a catalyst for tourism growth in the area.
44
By all measures, the tournament has served as a pioneer event in terms of elevating the status and popularity of women’s tennis and in raising awareness of South Carolina as a travel destination. This event has also found great success in forging collaborative partnerships between the host destination and private industry. The partnership between the City of Charleston and Family Circle magazine was unique in women’s tennis as Family Circle magazine was the first title sponsor to partner with local governments to build a state-of-the-art tennis stadium of that size. This ingenuity in partnerships was further advanced when Volvo Car of North America, in conjunction with Volvo Car’s first American plant, became the title sponsor of the WTA Charleston tournament, subsequently changing the tournament’s name to the Volvo Car Open. The Volvo Car Open continues to have a substantial impact on tourism in the Charleston area, attracting an average of
90,000 attendees, as well as dozens of the top tennis players each year, and broadcast to more than 165 countries via ESPN. Certainly, over the past fifteen years, this event has become an indispensable part of Charleston’s inventory of events that have helped bring more visitors to South Carolina’s Holy City, which over the past few years has been designated as the best destination in the US and the world by the most widely-read travel magazines. The Volvo Car Open, like its companion legacy sports events, has had, and will continue to have, a substantial positive impact on the growth of our state’s tourism industry. Each of these events has become a part of the very character of its host destination, superbly epitomizing and enhancing each area’s visitor experience. These events are true sources of pride for our state and also provide us with invaluable opportunities to showcase to the rest of the world why we South Carolinians love the place that we call home.
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Exports
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Exports Dorette Coetsee is the Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in South Carolina. She manages a team based in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, helping South Carolina companies find and increase global sales.
In case you’ve missed the headlines, South Carolina is a global powerhouse. For six straight years, the state has set records for international sales—reaching $30.9 billion in 2015, more and more foreign companies are investing in the state, and U.S. companies are locating here at a breakneck pace. Even for those who have read the headlines, there are still a lot of South Carolina business leaders who have missed the story. Large companies and major investors in South Carolina certainly are responsible for much of the state’s global position, but small businesses are also making a charge, and there’s more room to grow. Put simply, small businesses have the opportunity to target customers on any corner of the globe, tapping into a much larger consumer base and protecting against revenue fluctuations cased by changes in a single market. Take the case of Charleston-based Rewined Candles. This is a small business making decorative candles out of recycled wine bottles. Now, if you’re anything like me, you already see wine as a major international currency, but it took the creativity of this South Carolina business to turn the wine bottle into a product rather than just a recyclable. Creating the product was the first step. Developing and growing sales was next, and that’s when the company started to look overseas. By working with partners across the state, Rewined has developed a customer base in 42 international markets, and as of July, its 2016 export sales already beat its 2015 totals by $700,000. For Columbia-based Bridge to Life, China represented an appealing sales market, but also a difficult one to enter. Working through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service, the company found representation on the ground, translation services, and market research to help define a sales strategy–all in less than a month. International sales for Bridge to Life now come from 37 markets and account for more than half of the company’s total revenue. My job is to help companies like Bridge to Life and Rewined Candles create success stories, and I love doing it. My team at the U.S. Commercial Service also has partners across the state that love their work. For all of us, telling these stories is maybe the best part of the job. And we all want more stories to tell.
So, for any small business that is looking to find new sources of revenue, let me share three tips to help get the ball rolling:
Add International Sales to Your 2017 Business Plan: There are several agencies that can help you with this important step. South Carolina has Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) across the state, which are a great support for new-toexport companies to evaluate their readiness for global sales. SBDCs can also connect experienced exporters to resources and tools to help them expand their global footprint. Get started: scsbdc.com
Target the Right Trade Events to Make Connections and Tailor Your Strategy: Trade shows and trade missions are excellent ways to find new partners and customers. South Carolina has led a number of great trade missions to support businesses, and I encourage you to take advantage of upcoming missions. Our team at the Commercial Service regularly leads industry- and market-specific missions to connect your business to qualified, pre-vetted partners. Events like the Trade Winds trade mission or Discover Global Markets business forum also feature one-to-one business counseling to help you finalize your market strategies. Get started: export.gov
Take Advantage of Financial Support: The South Carolina Department of Commerce often provides grants and awards to companies participating in qualified trade events and missions. If the perception that overseas missions has prevented you from exploring international sales, this support can help beat that perception. The team at South Carolina also works with a number of partners including the Department of Commerce and Small Business Administration to provide funds for export training programs. Get started: sccommerce.com/international The key advantage companies in South Carolina have is that there is such a strong partnership between federal, state, and regional resources to support companies. Whether you start at an SBDC, a U.S. Commercial Service office, the SC Department of Commerce, or a partner like a World Trade Center, you won’t miss out on an appropriate program to help your business. That partnership supporting your business couples nicely with a global increase in demand for quality products. About 70 percent of global purchasing power exists outside the United States, and we regularly hear from international leaders that global consumers recognize the Made in USA brand as a symbol of quality. I hope that you will take advantage of the opportunities available to your business and capitalize on the global demand for South Carolina products. For a small business owner looking to increase revenue, I cannot think of a more promising opportunity.
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Jayne Scarborough, Executive Director Olde English District Tourism Commission
South Carolina’s tourism marketing efforts are “SCATRed”. Literally. SCATR translates into the South Carolina Association of Tourism Regions and its 11 regions who market the state to visitors. In some ways the 11 regions are like field offices for South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SC PRT) as they work closely together on a variety of marketing projects. Look for the result of one of those projects when the new South Carolina Vacation Guide comes out in February 2017. SCATR, SC PRT and SC Department of Natural Resources have teamed together to produce a fishing guide in an effort to catch more visitors who love to fish or want to try it for the first time. 49
While the 11 regions work together, we also work independently and market our attractions differently. Each region knows its niche and strives to increase visitation and visitor spending through its promotions. Capital City / Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board is always looking for unique ways to promote Lake Murray and Lexington, Richland, Newberry and Saluda counties. Recently, the organization hosted CMS-Nashville and American Music Award-winning singer/songwriter/ musician Ryan Follese. Follese produced his music video with his recently released debut Country single “Float Your Boat” on Lake Murray. Capitalizing on the opportunity, the region made sure that Lake Murray and their Visitors Center signage and website LakeMurrayCountry are shown on the video. In the Old 96 District at Lake Thurmond, a plane was sunk on purpose and cemented in place over 20 years ago as a manmade reef attracting fish and a spot that attracts scuba divers. To market this and their region, they ran a Facebook campaign with the tag line, “Our Bubbles Are Better” and people could sign up to win a weekend in the Old 96 District (Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens and McCormick counties). They focused their scope on a 350-mile radius and those who had an interest in scuba diving and the outdoors. To capitalize on this success, they have hired a photographer to take underwater pictures that will update their YouTube channel. Thoroughbred Country, promoting Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg and Barnwell counties, is the only region who is part of a council of governments. While Aiken is their largest county, they position their region with the theme “Way More than Horses”. They focus on bringing in travel writers for behind the scenes tours, especially with artists. One of their featured artists, Liz Ringus, crafts SC face jugs at the Little Red Barn Gallery. She hosts an annual Herb Fest and brings in other artists in the area including some Mennonite artists with their colorful quilts.
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stadium photo by Action Sports Photography / Shutterstock.com
Visit Myrtle Beach formed a unique partnership with TaxSlayer.com and JR Motorsports, the professional race team and management company for Dale Earnhardt Jr. The partners collaborated on a 2016 program that used databases and marketing experts to cross-promote to brand loyal customers across various touchpoints. The VisitMyrtleBeach. com and TaxSlayer.com No. 7 car (driven by Justin Allgaier) ran in the July NASCAR XFINITY Series race. On September 24 the bluegrass once again met the Grand Strand with the NASCAR XFINITY Series VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 at Kentucky Speedway. The Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand Region promotes Horry and Georgetown counties. Tying into SC PRT’s “Satisfy Your Thirst” campaign, the Charleston Area CVB (promoting Charleston and Dorchester counties) created a landing page highlighting anything related to drinks, from America’s only tea plantation to where to buy cocktail sets. RefreshingCharleston.com was launched in Spring 2016 and supported by a sponsored content campaign with Afar magazine. The Charleston area hosted events with Afar in Boston, New York and Washington DC. to introduce readers in those markets to the Charleston area and highlight direct flights via JetBlue. The events featured local beers and spirits along with a different guest mixologist from Charleston at each event. The Afar team highlighted the festivities on Facebook and Instagram. A great way to explore the undiscovered parts of the Upcountry is along the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Byway (SC 11). Visitors are treated to a birds-eye view along the highway of over 150 waterfalls, two crystal clear lakes, 10 state parks, and numerous mountain vistas. To promote this natural beauty, The Upcountry region (Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg counties) created a dedicated website, scenic11.com, to pique visitors’ interest and draw them off the Interstate for a new experience.
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Historic Pendleton District, Crown of the Carolinas, (Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties) is one of only two tourism regions in South Carolina that also operates a museum in addition to promoting attractions like Split Creek Farm and Jocassee Gorges, named “One of the Last 50 Great Places on Earth” by National Geographic. The Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum of South Carolina is committed to the interpretation and preservation of South Carolina’s agricultural heritage and the impact and importance of agriculture to current and future culture and economies. They feature workshops, classes and demonstrations in addition to their permanent exhibits. Another tourism region is the Lowcountry and Resort Islands. Their Lowcountry Visitors Center & Gift Shop is housed in the historic Frampton Plantation House (built in 1868) and is a museum in itself with remnants of Civil War earthworks in the back yard. They feature exhibits from ten of their museums in the area as they promote Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties in one of the only plantation homes in the area open to the public. They market to our sister states but also to the more northern states and have been pleasantly surprised by significantly higher numbers of requests coming in from the West Coast. And as they like to say, “they are South of Charleston, North of Savannah, just near heaven.” Only one region operates out of a South Carolina Welcome Center. In 2010, the Pee Dee Tourism Commission moved into the Welcome Center in Dillon on I-95. While continuing their traditional marketing efforts, they have a great opportunity to promote the entire region (Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Lee, Marion, Williamsburg and Marlboro counties) to visitors that
52
stop in the Center. They serve an average of 1,000 visitors monthly and with Dillon County being the first county of the Pee Dee Region, they are able to feed visitors throughout the entire region to see such attractions as Pearl Friar’s Topiary Garden. This has increased the number of visitors and has doubled the number of overnight reservations in the region. Santee Cooper Country has found a great way to attract visitors is to give away money! The 28-day Big Fish Big Bucks Fishing Derby involves their entire region of Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter counties. The $197,000 in prizes drew 3,028 adults and children with 18.6 percent of participants coming from outside SC and 69 percent coming from outside their region. Seeing the success of that event for the past three years, the region is hosting a month long hole-in-one promotion during October. Four courses in Santee Cooper Country are participating and each hole in one will be awarded $200. The largest free farm tour in the USA began as a collaboration with the Olde English District and Clemson Extension Service. Growing from just York County the first year, Ag + Art expanded into 9 counties in 2016- all of the Olde English District (Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Union and York) and Darlington and Horry counties. While using online and traditional advertising methods, the word is spreading via speaking engagements including the AfricanAmerican Tourism Conference next month. SCATR wants YOU to discover UndiSCovered South Carolina. Visit SCATR.com to begin your journey.
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Discover the undiSCovered South Carolina Eleven Regions — Thousands of Memories
Explore waterfalls in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains; stroll through the shops and boutiques in quaint, small towns; catch big fish in the lakes, rivers and ocean; seek out the best barbecue joints; visit Revolutionary War battlefields; kayak a blackwater river; camp or hike at one of the 47 state parks; go shelling on a quiet beach; and celebrate the state’s history, food and culture at the hundreds of festivals and events. To begin your journey across our great state, visit undiSCoveredsouthcarolina.com.
Myrtle Beach & The Grand Strand
Capital City & Lake Murray Country
Santee Cooper Country
Lake Hartwell Country
Thoroughbred Country
Old 96 District
The Upcountry
Lowcountry & Resort Islands
Olde English District
undiSCoveredsouthcarolina.com
Historic Charleston
Pee Dee Country
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A MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
Meet Burnie
A basset hound, honey bees and a bright tax mind are some of the facets of life that make Burnet R. (“Burnie”) Maybank III truly unique. On any given day at his law office in Columbia, South Carolina, Maybank can be found serving some of South Carolina’s largest companies while dressed in khakis and a shirt covered in flying ducks. Clients don’t care about the unusual business attire because Maybank’s legal mind and understanding of state and local tax laws is comprehensive and solution-orientated. That being said, those clients often get a South Carolina history lesson or two when navigating multi-million dollar tax issues.
Maybank is a descendant of six former South Carolina Governors. One of them, Maybank’s grandfather, is one of only 20 people to serve as Mayor (of Charleston), Governor and United States Senator. With a family history like that, it’s no wonder the New York Times, the Washington Post and Politico all mentioned the family and/or their Point of Pines Plantation on Edisto Island within a 30day time period in 2016. Maybank himself is a two-time former Director of the South Carolina Department of Revenue who now represents companies and organizations needing state and local tax (SALT), tax controversy and economic development incentives assistance. He has also co-authored numerous legal articles and books, most recently the NonProfit Corporate Practice Manual, published by the SC Bar Association. “Alrightttt!” exclaims Maybank. “Now you understand where our love of politics comes from. But we also cherish and enjoy the environment.” On his Point of Pines Plantation Maybank is growing tomatoes, harvesting honey, caring for his chickens and raising his sevenyear-old grandson James following the death of Maybank’s daughter, Katherine, in February of 2016. “James and Frankie, the basset hound, love mud and water,” says Maybank with a big, mischievous grin. Point of Pines has been in the Maybank’s family since the King of England deeded it to an ancestor of Maybank’s mother. Point of Pines was actually the first deeded property on Edisto Island. As many in the state who have visited Point of Pines know, it’s completely normal to do as you please in the laid-back atmosphere of Maybank’s home. He holds an annual fall honey harvesting event that Maybank recently compared to Mardi Gras saying, “it’s something everyone needs to experience at least once in life.” He also frequently takes friends out on his boat and posts pictures of his Point of Pines life to his Facebook page. But while Maybank’s generosity and fun-loving personality attract visitors, a piece of his home place will soon be viewed on a national stage.
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A former slave cabin from Point of Pines is one of the key artifacts at the nation’s newest Smithsonian museum which opened in September of 2016. “Curators came and oversaw the complete dismantling of a slave cabin,” says Maybank. “And as I read in the New York Times, workers completely put it back together on the new museum site.” That museum—the National Museum of African American History—is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The nation’s capital is where Maybank testified before the United States Senate Finance Committee in 2005. While serving as South Carolina’s Revenue Director, Maybank testified about the agency’s investigation of potentially abusive conservation easement donations. His remarks garnered national press. That same year, Maybank was back in the national press for the Department’s investigation under IRS Circular 230 of tax professionals who were involved in tax shelters. And his name lives on what’s been dubbed “Maybank Money” in South Carolina. When Maybank was Revenue Director he promised to “boost state coffers by $90 million” if the legislature would allocate him an additional $9 million to hire workers to retrieve uncollected tax revenue. His plan was a success, year after year. So whether it’s serving the state or helping clients like Boeing, Michelin, and Duke Energy, this unconventional tax lawyer determines the right solution. And while co-workers and company leaders certainly learn much about state and local tax law from Maybank, it’s likely they also catch a glimpse of the beauty of being comfortable in one’s own skin, of living life to its fullest and of generously giving all you can to the people around you.
To contact Burnie Maybank email: bmaybank@nexsenpruet.com or call 803-771-8900.
We bring more to packaging than just the package.™
[ in•ven•tion] If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses. ~Henry Ford
1 North Second Street Hartsville, SC 29550 843 383 7000 sonoco.com
Nicole Curtis, Vice President, Business Strategy & Enterprise Initiatives and Chair, LeadSC
Rather than a traditional editorial on the state of young professionals in South Carolina, we thought we’d try something a little different, asking our guest author some questions that penetrate deeper and get to the trends and hurdles facing our state’s next generation of leaders. From managing the digital age to ensuring South Carolina is prepared to thrive in the new economy, young leaders are carving their own path in the 21st century. So here are 6 questions we asked our featured young professional Nicole Curtis.
us a little bit about LeadSC. What are you Q: Tell accomplishing with young professionals around the state of South Carolina?
A:
LeadSC was founded three years ago by a group of young professionals who had a vision of empowering our state’s next generation of leaders. Young leaders are continuously looking for ways to expand their network, develop their leadership potential and engage in activities that can make their communities a better place to live and work. LeadSC offers the opportunity for influential young leaders to make meaningful connections with peers and senior leaders, generating relationships and initiatives that will improve our state.
young professionals are looking Q: Today’s beyond the basic career opportunities. Many
young people are now searching for a job with “purpose” or a career with a “purpose driven
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brand.” What are some of the motivating factors young professionals are looking for in a company & in an employer? How does that affect what companies are doing in response to that shift? more than ever, young professionals have an acute focus A: Now on their employer’s corporate values and I think companies are responding to that as an important part of attracting and retaining talent. We give so much of ourselves to our work, so it’s important to know that investment is reciprocated— that our company cares about what is important to us and is using its strength to generate positive momentum for the broader community.
Obviously I care a great deal about South Carolina and its success, so it’s especially important for me to work for a company that shares that value. Through our banking services and philanthropic giving, Bank of America is all about being a
force for economic mobility—not only in our global economy, but also very locally in every community we serve. I’m proud to work for a large company that invests locally. In 2015, Bank of America contributed $3 million to South Carolina through foundation grants, sponsorships and employee giving. Bank of America also values their employees’ ability to give of their talents out in the communities. We all want to make time for volunteerism, but it’s often a challenge given the demands on our lives. Bank of America offers employees paid time off for volunteer work and also supports employees’ monetary giving through matching donations. Last year, our employees gave over 17,000 volunteer hours in South Carolina and donated over $650,000 of their own money to local nonprofits. Collectively our impact is very meaningful. Young professionals also want to know that their employer is there for them with their personal needs and priorities. I’m fortunate that Bank of America is a national leader in this space, with world-class benefits and support services for employees. As a young mother I particularly appreciate that Bank of America recently extended its paid Family Leave from 12 to 16 weeks for both parents.
30-year gold retirement watch may now be a Q: The thing of the past. A new study by LinkedIn found that the average young professional jumps to a new job 4 times in their first decade out of college. Many theories try to explain the reason for this–what do you think is driving this “Job Jumping” revolution?
A:
I have never heard of a 30-year gold retirement watch, but I’m sure my Dad received one during his lifelong tenure at Michelin. Yes, being part of this “Instant Gratification Generation” may contribute to a young professionals’ risk appetite to shake things up and seek out new things, but it’s also the natural progression of how different generations hold different values, and today much of that is driven by the way we interact. YPs grew up in an uber-connected society. While some criticize technology for making people less interpersonally connected, it has allowed us to increase connections in unique and progressive ways, and that includes access to job opportunities. We also have virtual tools that enable us to do jobs that weren’t possible in previous generations. For instance, a teacher in Baltimore can virtually teach classes to students in Charleston. All of this leads to more career mobility and everyone benefits from the expansion of expertise to places it couldn’t go before. I’m inspired to see how employers are embracing the benefits of a multi-generational workforce. We have multiple InterGenerational Employee Networks (IGEN) at Bank of America so that we can better appreciate our diversity and find new ways to transfer expertise between generations. For instance, we are currently engaging our socially savvy young professionals in assisting our more mature leaders in social networking.
Q:
With that said, no matter where you go these days, you will find people constantly glued to their phones or tablets. How has the never-ending, instant access & massive reach of online social
networks changed the game of traditional personto-person networking? Is there still value there, and if so, where?
A:
Technology undoubtedly enables and challenges today’s workforce. Despite all the wonderful advancements that technology provides in terms of access, in my opinion, nothing will ever truly replace the value of in-person- relational connectivity. You can’t recreate shaking someone’s hand and having face to face conversation. To be successful, we need to master both – integrating our virtual tools and in-person forums for the most efficient yet authentic outcomes. For example, you can dramatically increase your leads online, but you need the skills to be able to close the deal in person and solidify a personal trust.
How do mentors play in a young professional’s growth strategy? How do you find mentors?
Q: I received a great piece of advice from a peer many years A:
ago. She suggested building a personal ‘board of directors’ to advise me through different seasons of life – both personally and professionally. This small core of people should be carefully selected because they are resources who can fill your knowledge gaps and offer opportunities to help you grow and excel. Over the years my BOD has been crucial when making decisions small or large. When seeking mentors, do not look through a narrow tunnel. Mentors don’t have to be the same industry, more senior in position or geographically related. We are a connected world. Find the people who inspire you, who push you out of your comfort zone, people you aspire to be – these are the people you want on your board.
In your view, what is the biggest challenge facing young professionals in South Carolina?
Q: There are two things that immediately jump out. First is workforce development. The economy is changing rapidly— A: from globalism to technology, we must focus on training
the current and next generation to compete. You can see this firsthand by looking at where companies are focusing their efforts. I see it at Bank of America where we have very clearly prioritized workforce development in our community engagement efforts, partnering directly with technical schools and other experts across the state to fund training and other readiness programs that will prepare South Carolinians to fill the increasing demand for skilled labor. The other challenge for young professionals in South Carolina is the same challenge faced in every state – we let ourselves get in the way of greatness. We all view life through a prism of our own experiences. What we come to think about people and the world around us determines the way we see the thousands of opportunities that life sets before us each day. In other words, your thinking shapes your life. People with a positive mindset are able to accomplish amazing things. The state of South Carolina provides endless opportunity for emerging leaders to work hard, learn from the best, accomplish great things and most of all enjoy life. Sometimes it’s as easy as getting out of the way of yourself!
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Grant Thornton understands that success is built on more than just talent; it takes passion and perseverance to achieve your vision for a better future. On behalf of the professionals who live and work here in South Carolina, we are proud to recognize the top 100 private companies as recognized through the 2016 SC100TM Program on their accomplishments.
Audit | Tax | Advisory | grantthornton.com
“Grant Thornton” refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL), and/or refers to the brand under which the independent network of GTIL member firms provide services to their clients, as the context requires. GTIL and each of its member firms are not a worldwide partnership and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. In the United States, visit grantthornton.com for details. © 2016 Grant Thornton LLP | All rights reserved | U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd
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A LOOK AT BP’S SOUTH CAROLINA STRATEGY By John Harvey, Plant Manager, BP Cooper River Chemicals
Tucked away as we are in a 6,000-acre, heavily wooded site just outside of Charleston, BP’s Cooper River Chemicals has been a quiet but important contributor to South Carolina’s economy since 1978. However, something big has been happening on our campus over the last several months and it’s time for us to make a little noise about it. We are nearing the completion of a nearly $200 million investment that will reduce our energy consumption by nearly 40 percent and make our plant one of the most energy-efficient and cost-competitive in the world. It’s an investment that will help us stay competitive in a challenging global economy, while dramatically shrinking our carbon footprint. This project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions at our plant by the equivalent of the energy use of 2,000 U.S. households. I’m proud to say that our Cooper River plant already is America’s largest producer of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), a chemical used to make literally thousands of everyday items ranging from T-shirts and plastic bottles to X-ray film and food packaging. Today, our Cooper River site has the capacity to generate more than 1.4 million tons worth each year. This investment is especially important when we consider what a vital component of the region’s economy this plant is, directly employing nearly 250 workers and supporting more than 2,100 South Carolina jobs. Launched in 2012 and scheduled for completion in early 2017, our project has allowed us to apply BP’s latest technology and process know-how. It has entailed—among other things— replacing four aging oxidation reactors with a single, currentgeneration reactor, while also installing a steam turbine
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generator system that will capture steam created in our processes and turn it into power. Taken together, these improvements will improve safety, reliability and efficiency while reducing the plant’s power and acetic acid consumption. They also will reduce the amount of down time needed for maintenance and inspection. BP is making all these investments and improvements while continuing our long history of responsible stewardship of the rich habitats and diverse wildlife that surround the Cooper River plant. Our site is located on more than 6,000 acres, but its industrial footprint takes up only 450 acres. The rest of the land is home to wood ducks, longleaf pines, and a host of other animal and tree species indigenous to the Lowcountry. On any given day, walking across our site will allow you to see some combination of deer, turkeys, beavers, snakes, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, hawks, and eagles. We feel an obligation to these species, and to all others around our facilities. Indeed, our conservation efforts have been recognized by groups such as the Wildlife Habitat Council and the National Land Conservation Conference. In 2013 we were designated a “Corporate Leader” by the National Land Conservation Conference In so many ways, Cooper River is a symbol of BP’s and South Carolina’s shared values—a commitment to support both economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. We understand that smart investments in good technology can be beneficial to our business but also to our environment, our community and our world. BP is a proud part of the larger Charleston community and, we are thrilled to be investing in the future economic prosperity of the city.
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Emily Heflin Regional Business Developer Upstate
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Call 888-845-6887 or email Sales@DoctorsCare.com63
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Chairman’s Circle
David Pankau BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Columbia, SC
Clark Gillespy Duke Energy Greenville, SC
Kevin Marsh South Carolina SCANA Corporation Cayce, SC
President’s Circle
Pamela Lackey AT&T Columbia, SC
Kim Wilkerson Bank of America Columbia, SC
Michael Brenan BB&T Columbia, SC
Mikee Johnson Cox Industries, Inc. Orangeburg, SC
Nick Nicholson, Jr. Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A. Charleston, SC
Pete Selleck Michelin North America, Inc. Greenville, SC
Harold Chandler Milliken & Company Spartanburg, SC
Leighton Lord Nexson Pruet, LLC Columbia, SC
Mike Shetterly Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Greenville, SC
Lonnie Carter Santee Cooper Moncks Corner, SC
Jack Sanders Sonoco Hartsville, SC
Kathy Heffley Wells Fargo Columbia, SC
Joan Robinson-Berry The Boeing Company Charleston, SC
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Cornerstone
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Teresa Arnold AARP South Carolina Columbia, SC
Keith Wood AECOM Aiken, SC
Virgil Miller Aflac Group Columbus, GA
Manfred Erlacher BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC Spartanburg, SC
Stephen Brooks Bridgestone Americas Graniteville, SC
Robert Hochstetler Central Electric Power Co-op Columbia, SC
Tim Arnold Colonial Life Columbia, SC
Mark Crocker Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP CPAs Greenville, SC
Craig Arnold Eaton Beachwood, OH
Mike Couick Electric Cooperatives of SC, Inc. Cayce, SC
Rick Davis Elliot Davis Decosimo Greenville, SC
Dave Solano Enterprise Holdings Columbia, SC
John Uprichard FGP International, INC. dba Find Great People Greenville, SC
First Quality Tissue SE LLC Anderson, SC
Roger Quillen Fisher Phillips LLP Atlanta, GA
David Seaton Fluor Corporation Greenville, SC
Todd Coker FUJIFILM Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. Greenwood, SC
Trey Paris General Electric Southeast Region Atlanta, GA
Chase Clelland Grow Financial Federal Credit Union Columbia, SC
Andy Satterfield Jackson Lewis P.C. Greenville, SC
Cornerstone
Stephen Roell Johnson Controls Florence, SC
Randy Hatcher MAU (Management Analysis & Utilization, Inc.) Augusta, GA
David Tigges McNair Law Firm, P.A. Columbia, SC
Chuck Garnett NBSC, a division of Synovus Bank Columbia, SC
James Lehman Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Columbia, SC
John Ferriola Nucor Steel South Carolina Darlington, SC
David Summer Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP Columbia, SC
Thomas Skains Piedmont Natural Gas Greenville, SC
Jerry Sweetland Pure Power Technologies, Inc. Blythewood, SC
Carol Johnson Savanna River Nuclear Solutions, LLC Aiken, SC
Thomas Foster Savannah River Remediation Aiken, SC
Jim Newsome South Carolina State Ports Authority Charleston, Sc
William Cassels III Southeastern Freight Lines Lexington, SC
Bob Keane Spirit Communications Columbia, SC
David Lominack TD Bank, N.A. Greenville, SC
Richard Kyle Timken Company Gaffney, SC
Harris Pastides University of South Carolina Columbia, SC
John Winarchick Zeus Industrial Products, Inc. Orangeburg, SC
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Crown
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POWER PLAYER
PROFILE NAME
CITY
POWER PLAYER
PROFILE NAME
CITY
Jeff Barron
A. O. Smith Corporation
McBee, SC
Bill McGowan
Devro Inc.
Columbia, SC
Jody Gallagher
AFL
Duncan, SC
Paul R. Briggs
Cayce, SC
Nicholas Clark
Alexium Inc
Greenville, SC
Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission
John Williams
Domtar
Fort Mill, SC
Deepal Eliatamby
Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Columbia, SC
John McAlister
Electrolux North America, Inc
Charlotte, SC
Joe Nassab
Allied Air Enterprises Inc.
West Columbia, SC
Mark Morant
EnergySolutions, LLC
Columbia, SC
Jeff Murphy
AMCOL Systems, Inc.
Columbia, SC
Philip Snipes
Ernst & Young
Greenville , SC
Ben Harrison
Amick Farms, LLC
Leesville, SC
Mark Cherpes
FN AMERICA
Columbia, SC
Bill Manson
AnMed Health
Anderson, SC
Chris Allen
Fabri-Kal
Piedmont, SC
John Harvey
BP America
Charleston, SC
Sharon Bryant
First Citizens Bank & Trust
Columbia, SC
Paul Stracey
Belmond Charleston Place
Charleston, SC
Bruce Brumfield
Founders Federal Credit Union
Lancaster, SC
Shawn Jenkins
Benefitfocus
Charleston, SC
Mike Hutchins
Franks Car Wash
Lexington, SC
Joe Blanchard
Blanchard Machinery Company
West Columbia, SC
Mike Nelms
Mount Pleasant, SC
R. Craig McCoy
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
Greenville, SC
Fresenius Medical Care North America
Mary Peck
Gentiva Health Services
Blythewood, SC
David Firstenberg
Canal Insurance Group
Greenville, SC
Carmen Evola
Gestamp South Carolina, LLC
Union, SC
Richard Ryan
Carolina International Trucks, Inc./ Ideal Lease
Columbia, SC
Mike Grunza
GKN South Carolina
Orangeburg, SC
Matthew Ouimet
Carowinds
Charlotte, NC
Manoj Devulapalli
Lexington, SC
Mark D. Bolton
Centerra-Savannah River Site (SRS) Aiken, SC
Globalpundits Technology Consultancy Inc.
Larry Page
Google Inc.
Moncks Corner, SC
Dennis Gregory
Century Aluminum of Mt. Holly
Goose Creek, SC
Mark Ballew
Grant Thornton LLP
Columbia, SC
Durand Standard
CenturyLink
Columbia, SC
Michael Riordan
Greenville Health System
Greenville, SC
Ben Breazeale
Charter Communications
West Columbia, SC
Gregory Electric Company, Inc.
Columbia, SC
Andrew Littlefair
Clean Energy
Newport Beach, CA
Major General Robert Livingston
Dennis Malatek
CMC Steel South Carolina
Cayce, SC
Hugh Tappan
HCA South Atlantic Division
Charleston, SC
Mark Moore
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated
Blythewood, SC
David Thomas
Haile Gold Mine
Kershaw, SC
Gary Mabrey
Honda of South Carolina Mfg., Inc.
Timmonsville, SC
John W. Folsom
Colliers International
Columbia, SC
Kevin Brasche
Colonial Pipeline Company
Alpharetta, GA
Intel Corporation, Columbia Design Center
Columbia, SC
Chip Little Cara Crotty
Constangy, Brooks, Smith, & Prophete, LLP
Columbia, SC
Mark Sutton
International Paper
Raleigh, NC
J.J. Darby
Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
Columbia, SC
Jochen Etzel
Continental Tire the Americas, LLC
Fort Mill, SC
Bruce Hoffman
KapStone
Charleston, SC
Ben Rex
Cyberwoven, LLC
Columbia, SC
Mark Kent
KENTWOOL
Greenville, SC
Kerry Tharp
Darlington Raceway
Darlington, SC
Tom Falk
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Beech Island, SC
John Miller
Denny’s, Inc.
Spartanburg, SC
Crown POWER PLAYER
PROFILE NAME
CITY
POWER PLAYER
PROFILE NAME
CITY
Bob Barenberg
Kingston Plantation
Myrtle Beach, SC
Bruce Warmbold
Schaeffler Group USA INC.
Fort Mill, SC
Steve R. McCullough
Koyo Bearings North America
Blythewood, SC
Bob Quinn
SCRA
Columbia, SC
Todd Augsburger
Lexington Medical Center
West Columbia, SC
Karl Diely
Sealed Air Corp.
Duncan, SC
Don Erickson
Lockheed Martin
Greenville, SC
Rebecca Engelman
Select Health of South Carolina, Inc. Charleston, SC
Robert Bolchoz
MasterCard
Columbia, SC
James Amos
Shaw Industries Group, Inc.
Columbia, SC
Mona Flowers
Mechanical Contractors Assocation of S. C.
Columbia, SC
Frederick B. Palmer
Shell
New Orleans,LA
Ron Smith
McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture
Spartanburg, SC
Tim Todd
South Carolina Association of Tourism Regions (SCATR)
Greenville, SC
Ronnie L Young
Medical Services of America
Lexington, SC
Paula Harper Bethea
South Carolina Education Lottery
Columbia, SC
David Cole
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
John Pollok
South State Bank
Columbia, SC
Rod Nease
Sunbelt Rentals
Fort Mill, SC
Thomas Lindquist
Molina Healthcare of South Carolina
North Charleston, SC
Zeb Portanova
SWISS Krono
Barnwell, SC
Miriam Hair
Municipal Association of SC
Columbia, SC
Claude Theisen
T & S Brass & Bronze Works, Inc.
Travelers Rest, SC
Charlie Tsai
Nan Ya Plastics Corporation
Lake City, SC
Jim Phillips
Teleperformance
Columbia, SC
Lou Kennedy
Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation
West Columbia, SC
Dan Adams
The Capital Corporation
Greenville, SC
Jeff Hamilton
Nestle Prepared Foods Company
Gaffney, SC
Anita Zucker
The InterTech Group, Inc.
North Charleston, SC
Dale Kurtz
Nexans High Voltage USA Inc.
Goose Creek, SC
Jim Reynolds
Total Comfort Solutions, Inc.
West Columbia, SC
Frank Macchiaverna
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Columbia, SC
Lauris Finney
United Parcel Service
West Columbia, SC
Charles Beaman
Palmetto Health
Columbia, SC
Lowell McAdams
VERIZON Communications
Tallahassee, FL
Katarina Fjording
Volvo Car Group
Summerville, SC
Elliott Botzis
Vulcan Materials
Piedmont, SC
James Gilmore
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Lexington, SC
Jill Cox
Warehouse Services, Inc.
Piedmont, SC
Randall Essick
Waste Management of South Carolina
Elgin, SC
Melissa Bishop-Murphy Pfizer Inc.
Mableton, GA
Blanton Phillips
Phillips Staffing
Greenville, SC
Ronald Prestage
Prestage Farms
Camden, SC
Todd Jones
Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Lakeland, FL
Will Reid
Regions Bank of South Carolina
Greenville, SC
Lee Postal
Republic Services
West Columbia, SC
David Precht
Westinghouse Electric Company
Hopkins, SC
Richard Garneau
Resolute Forest Products
Catawba, SC
Kevin Hall
Columbia, SC
Peter Marks
Robert Bosch Corporation, LLC
Charleston, SC
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP
Janet Lewis Matricciani
World Acceptance Corporation
Greenville, SC
Phil Adamson
Roche Carolina Inc.
Florence, SC
Wilbur Johnson
Young Clement Rivers, LLP
Charleston, SC
David Dunlap
Roper St. Francis Healthcare
Charleston, SC
Cheryl Stanton
SC Department of Employment and Workforce
Columbia, SC
Mike Baur
ScanSource, Inc.
Greenville, SC
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Life’s better when we’re connected®
to community
to jobs
to compassion
At Bank of America, we’re connecting our resources and people to the things that make life better in communities across the United States. From working with local businesses that create jobs and supporting nonprofits that address critical needs to revitalizing neighborhoods and funding safe and affordable housing. Our mission is simple: to help South Carolina thrive. Learn more about how we’re helping at bankofamerica.com/local
to each other
Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. © 2015 Bank of America Corporation. AR9GG7D7 | CSR-121-AD
Business Week
SC BUSINESS WEEK: RESPONSIBILITY IN ACTION By Pete Selleck, Chairman & President of Michelin North America I reported for duty to Michelin in 1982, going to work as a newly minted industrial engineer at Michelin’s first major passenger-tire plant in South Carolina, located in Greenville County. Not too long after that, in 1985, I volunteered to serve as a “company advisor” in a novel new initiative designed to cultivate business interest and enthusiasm among students in a way that would keep their talents rooted in our home state for college and beyond. Hard to imagine today, but that was a time when we didn’t have email—we didn’t even have computers in manufacturing then.
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Earlier this year, I was present again as the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Week” initiative celebrated its 33rd class, but this time I spoke to about 200 participating students at the graduation ceremony. I explained the importance of adapting to new technology, and understanding that a life-long learner’s education never ends. As fast as technology has evolved in the past 40 years, it will change twice as fast in the next 20. Another thing that’s hard to imagine today: These students will one day laugh about their current smartphones just like we laugh about cassette tapes and floppy disks. The Chamber launched Business Week in 1983 to give highschool-aged students an immersion in entrepreneurship and American free enterprise by introducing them to principles of leadership, teamwork, self-reliance and individual responsibility. These values and principles are close to the heart of our culture at Michelin, as well as many other great businesses in South Carolina. Inside our company, we talk constantly about our commitment to sustainable development, which includes living in harmony with our communities. It’s a principle that defines what it means for Michelin employees to be good corporate citizens by investing and participating in the fabric of communities where our operations are located. The Chamber’s Business Week is exactly that kind of participation. Every July over the last three decades, 200 of South Carolina’s best and brightest teens converge at Presbyterian College in Clinton (or sometimes another campus in the state) to learn what makes business great—unfortunately, it’s become a rare message in today’s media landscape. Business Week is run by the Chamber staff with support from corporate and private donations that fund program costs and most of the students’ tuition. The role of the “company advisor”—the assignment I held as a young Michelin engineer—is a key to the success of the program. These loaned executives donate their time and talents to coach and counsel a small group of students as they develop, launch and run a model business of their own for the week. The college-level business simulation is the main activity for the week, allowing the students to experience all aspects of business operations by managing a simulated clothing retailer—design the products, evaluate supply and demand, develop marketing, deploy advertising, set pricing, and so on. And they also face a few ethical dilemmas along the way. Oh, and yes, in addition to all the business learning, there are also many fun activities during the week—“junk night,” movie night, talent night, banners and cheers, and even a formal banquet and dance, to name a few.
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I didn’t quite know what to expect before I arrived that first year; after all, high school students can be intimidating. Instead, I discovered an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of a few students, not to mention the profound impact of their lives on me. It’s hard to describe, but you inevitably form a significant bond with the students you’re coaching, even as they challenge, change and sharpen you. Maybe you didn’t realize, but many Michelin employees have long, successful careers working in our plants, and many of them also continue to roles beyond the plant. Like them, I’ve enjoyed a great career in our company, today serving as chairman and president of Michelin North America. It’s been a privilege to continue working closely with the Chamber over many different assignments, which eventually led to an invitation to speak at Business Week’s graduation— the culmination of the week’s activities where parents come to reunite with their kids and celebrate the week’s accomplishments with staff, leaders and volunteers. I remembered my own great experience as a company advisor, as well as the experiences of my Michelin colleagues over the years. Michelin has supported Business Week with financial sponsorships and by lending company advisors each year— one of our “loaned executives” has attended for 17 years! Speaking at graduation allowed me to “re-connect” with the Business Week community, and to remember its incredible impact on future business leaders in our state. We have the opportunity to teach and shape young adults about the positive outcomes for communities and families that result when businesses are run responsibly and sustainably, whether they are small tech start-ups or large manufacturers like Michelin. It’s a unique environment to encourage them and motivate them to stay in South Carolina and contribute to its growth and development. We need more leaders from all sectors to join us in supporting Business Week—small businesses, large corporations, state government, non-profits, education and so on. If you or your organization, share Michelin’s sense of community involvement and responsibility, get involved with Business Week either by supporting the program financially or by sending loaned executives. Business Week is a sound investment in the future leaders of our state.
For more information on how you and your company can get involved in Business Week, visit scbusinessweek.com.
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Babs Warner
Vice President Legal Services and Corporate Secretary, Santee Cooper S.C. Chamber Environmental Technical Committee Chair
Our best place for a business lunch in Moncks Corner is the Barony House (affectionately known by the locals as “Bubba’s” for the proprietor Bubba High). Great southern cooking and the place to see and be seen. Don’t miss Thursday. That is backbone and rice day!
Tyler Easterling
President and COO of the Brandon Agency S. C. Chamber Communications Committee Chair
Bored with your usual lunchtime routine? Get the chopped cobb salad, shrimp tacos or turkey pretzel club from my favorite lunch spot in Myrtle Beach, Croissants Bistro and Bakery. You can enjoy a terrific meal, chat easily with your companions and even, if you insist, get some work done. Don’t leave without getting one of the cupcakes. They are to die for!
John Uprichard
President and CEO of Find Great People International Inc. Past Chair, S.C. Chamber of Commerce
I think the best place for a business lunch in the Upstate would be Larkin’s on the River. I like Larkin’s because at any time of the year you can sit outside and really enjoy the scene of the Reedy River. I think the service is great and they also have daily features on different quiches. The atmosphere is personal and comfortable, which allows you to have private conversations, when needed. I also find that it’s easy to access off of River Street.
Mike Brenan
State President, BB&T Past Chair, S.C. Chamber of Commerce
Restaurant is Il Giorgione, Devine Street in Columbia. Excellent Italian and you just might see the Governor , Ray Tanner, Coach Muschamp, Coach Holbrook or Coach Staley. George and Monica Kessler, owners are huge Gamecock fans.
Lou Kennedy
CEO and Owner, Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation S.C. Chamber Board of Directors
If I had to choose the best place for a business lunch, I would recommend Motor Supply Co. or Blue Marlin. Both restaurants are downtown in the Vista and have great food selections.
Mikee Johnson CEO and President, Cox Industries Past Chair, S.C. Chamber of Commerce
I grew up grazing through the line of Dukes BBQ on Whitman Street. I remember the white bread, sweet tea and paper towel rolls adorning the tables. However, it was the sticky white rice, hash, pulled pork BBQ and unctuous sauce that brought me back for the last 30 years. To this day, my many college friends pass through Orangeburg to eat at Dukes. If there is one secret to Dukes that most underestimate in a BBQ establishment, I have not eaten better fried chicken or hush puppies anywhere in all of my travels.
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After the Event
After THE Event The South Carolina Chamber is known for its exceptional events designed to unite the business community on issues and topics of concern, including federal issues, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, energy, the environment, education, workforce, workplace safety, diversity, human resources and loving where you work. More than half the events hosted for the Chamber’s members are designed to be listening forums and grassroots meetings, elevating regional concerns to the capital.
for more information on upcoming events, visit: scchamber.net/events
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After the Event
(L to R) Total Comfort Solutions (Small Employer Category) Kim Wilkerson, Bank of America; Steve Mallett, Total Comfort Solutions; Rich Sweet, Total Comfort Solutions; Kristi Eidson, Total Comfort Solutions; Robbie Barnett, S. C. Chamber of Commerce; Jim Reynolds, Total Comfort Solutions.
Uniting Business Leaders at
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM In February, the 2016 Workforce Development Symposium united business leaders, educators, and elected officials for a two day, jam-packed discussion on closing the skills gap and building a capable workforce to meet the future needs of our state. The Chamber partnered with the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and the South Carolina Workforce Development Board to produce the event, which was presented by Bank of America and featured keynote speeches from S.C. Deptartment of Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt and author Anne Loehr, legislative and business panels, industry exhibits and more.
(L to R) MTU America (Medium Employer Category) Kim Wilkerson, Bank of America; Arjonetta Gaillard, MTU America; Robbie Barnett, S. C. Chamber of Commerce; Jeremy Diebel, MTU America
The inaugural Workforce Innovator Awards were presented to Total Comfort Solutions (Small Employer), MTU America (Medium Employer), and Michelin North America (Large Employer) for their ground-breaking contributions to workforce development in South Carolina.
(L to R) Michelin North America (Large Employer Category): Kim Wilkerson, Bank of America; Mike Williams, Michelin North America; Robbie Barnett, S.C. Chamber of Commerce.
Brian Pearson, President of the Board of Directors for the South Carolina National Safety Council and Continuous Improvement Manager at Michelin North America, Inc., addresses the representatives from the winning companies during the awards
Workplace Safety Recognized at
SAFETY AWARDS LUNCHEON The annual Safety Awards luncheon, presented by Fisher Phillips LLP, was held on March 22, 2016, at the Embassy Suites in Columbia and recognized over 500 companies for their successful workplace safety records throughout 2015. This program was designed to recognize companies and their employees who have had a commendable Lost Workday Case Rate during the 2015 calendar year. Brian Pearson, President of the Board of Directors for the South Carolina National Safety Council and Continuous Improvement Manager at Michelin North America, Inc., addressed the winners during the awards luncheon.
Meaghan Norman of WIS, luncheon emcee, greets attendees.
SC Forestry Commission employees are presented with a 2015 Safety Award
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After the Event
Policy Update on Federal Issues at
SC DC DAY
On April 26, 2016, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce hosted more than 30 chamber members for our first ever Washington D.C. fly-in, presented by AT&T. The day began on Capitol Hill with a policy update from the U.S. Chamber on federal issues. Chamber members then heard from Congressional Leadership including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Sen. Richard Burr of N.C. gave updates, as well as four Members of the South Carolina delegation, including Rep. Mark Sanford (SC-1), Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-3), Rep. James Clyburn (SC-6) and Rep. Tom Rice (SC-7). South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott addressed the group and took questions from members covering topics including the Export-Import Bank, energy, taxes, and the 2016 elections. Members ended the day with refreshments at a reception hosted by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, where attendees met with Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-2) and his staff.
Representatives from the US Chamber update attendees on legislative priorities.
SCDC Day attendees head to the US Capitol to discuss federal issues with the delegation.
Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell addresses attendees while Ted Pitts and Mikee Johnson look on.
Small business attendees of the matchmaker event pitch their wares to purchasing agents from major companies and government entities.
Connecting Small Businesses at
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS
Small business owners enjoy a break to network with their peers.
Salute’s luncheon sponsor Wells Fargo employees meet with attendees at the bank’s booth to discuss small business banking needs.
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On May 4th the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2016 Salute to Small Business, presented by The Boeing Company, to honor South Carolina small businesses and connect them with resources and companies that will help them continue to thrive. The event featured an exhibitor area, a B2B matchmaking session where over 1,200 appointments were conducted, an exclusive networking space and more. The 2016 Small Business awards were also presented during the luncheon. 2016 award winners were JoAnne LaBounty of Spartanburg Meat Processing Co. Inc. (South Carolina Small Business Person of the Year), Charleston Area Small Business Development Center (Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Center Award Region IV & South Carolina), USA eShop (South Carolina Small Business Exporter of the Year), Denise Thigpen of Wholesale Boutique, LLC (Female Business Person of the Year), Joseph Walker III of JH Development, LLC/ DBA-Marco’s Pizza (Veteran Business Person of the Year), and James Jordon of Jordon Construction Company, LLC /JCC General Contractors (Minority Business Person of the Year).
After the Event
26th Annual
Britt Sims, Owner and Operator, Chick-fil-A West Columbia and Chick-fil-A Saluda Point closes out the conference sharing the Chick-fil-A Method for Success with attendees.
2016 Finalists for the HR Professional of the Year Award (from left to right—Carolyn Cloud, Chemtrade; Joyce Hill, Honda of South Carolina; Keith Schnulle, Wild Dunes Resort; Sharon Sellers SLS Consulting, LLC; Karen Smith, Gallman Personnel Services, Inc.; and Sharon Wilcox, Santee Cooper with Steve Nail, Anderson University and Chair of the SC Chamber HR Committee and Lisa DeVeaux, South State Bank and State Director for SC SHRM, State Council.
HUMAN RESOURCES CONFERENCE Human Resources professionals from around the state convened in recordbreaking numbers at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa on May 11-13, 2016 for the 26th Annual Human Resources Conference, presented by Jackson Lewis. Attendees received updates on topics ranging from FLSA regulations to retaining millennial employees from experts in the HR Field, networked in the lively exhibitor area and at the seaside reception, and more. During this year’s luncheon, the Chamber, in partnership with the SC SHRM State Council, presented the 2016 Human Resources Professional of the Year award to Sharon Sellers, President of SLS Consulting, LLC. Keynote speakers were Jeremy Kingsley, Best-Selling Author and President of OneLife Leadership and Kenston J. Griffin, CEO of Dream Builders Communication Inc.
Chris Lauderdale of Jackson Lewis provides a National Labor Relations Board update.
Workers’ Compensation Lunch & Learn
South Carolina Business Information at
LUNCH & LEARNS
New in 2016, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce held Lunch & Learns periodically to provide attendees with the most current information on all aspects of South Carolina business. These educational meetings covered various topics including employee health benefits (May 25), workers’ compensation (August 11), unions (September 13), and health and wellness (October 19). These lunch and learns also provided professional development credits for Human Resources professionals.
Workers’ Compensation Lunch & Learn
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2016
BUSINESS WEEK South Carolina Business Week was held at Presbyterian College July 24-29 with 180 of the state’s rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. This program contributed to the preparation for the business environment by introducing them to the principles of leadership, teamwork and the American free enterprise system while promoting self-reliance, individual responsibility and entrepreneurship. Throughout the week, more than 30 prominent business executives taught current business topics and leadership skills. Starting with the basics and adding topics throughout the week, students collaborated with executives in an intensive program designed to develop a thorough understanding of private enterprise. The students’ interaction with professionals provided them with the opportunity to gain information on a number of career options. Many students begin to form important choices related to college degree major and professional field of interest during South Carolina Business Week.
Company L getting ready for Banner and Cheer Night.
Business Week Class of 2016 at Presbyterian College.
Hire Dynamics in Simpsonville is the No. 1 Best Place to Work for the third year in a row (Small/Medium Size Employer Category).
South Carolina’s
BEST PLACES TO WORK Edward Jones in Florence is the No. 1 Best Place to Work (Large Size Employer)
Employees from T-Mobile celebrate being recognized as one of the best places to work in South Carolina.
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The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with SC Biz News and Best Companies Group unveiled the rankings of the 60 winning companies representing the 2016 Best Places to Work in South Carolina on August 4, 2016 at the 11th Annual Best Places Awards Dinner at the Columbia Marriott, presented by Colonial Life. This initiative is dedicated to identifying and recognizing South Carolina’s most innovative and top-notch employers. This year’s event boasted record-breaking attendance with 400 guests as well as the highest number of companies recognized in the history of the event.
After the Event
South Carolina’s congressional delegation participates in a Washington Night panel discussion.
Washington Night in
SOUTH CAROLINA
Chamber members network at the reception following the Congressional panel.
On August 24, 2016, at the Columbia Marriott, the South Carolina Chamber held its annual Washington Night in South Carolina, presented by Cox Industries, Inc., to connect the business community with our Congressional Delegation before they head back to D.C. A range of business issues were covered, from transportation, the TPP social security, tax reform, the national budget, our rising debt and national security. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, U.S. Representative Mark Sanford, U.S. Representative Joe Wilson and U.S. Representative Tom Rice were all in attendance. This year’s event boasted the highest attendance level in the past five years.
Mikee Johnson, President and CEO of Cox Industries, Inc. moderating the Congressional panel.
3rd Annual
LEADSC YOUNG PROFESSIONALS SUMMIT Young Professionals from all across the state congregated in Columbia on September 21-22, 2016 to network and learn what it takes to be business leaders in South Carolina from some of the best in the business. From networking their way to their next promotion, how to handle personal cash flow and office conflicts, to how millennials affect politics and more, these future leaders heard it all.
LeadSC Committee Chair Nicole Curtis with Bank of America addresses attendees.
Executive Committee member Perry MacLennan of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd (LeadSC presenting sponsor) chats with Summit attendees.
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After the Event
Moderator Sidney J. Evering II with Senate Issues Panel participants Senator Nikki Setzler, Senator Thomas Alexander, and Senator Harvey Peeler.
Ted Pitts moderates House Issues Panel with participants Representative Brian White, Representative Bill Sandifer, and Representative Todd Rutherford.
Legislative Panel at
BUSINESS SPEAKS The South Carolina Chamber kicked off the 2016 legislative session with its annual gathering, Business Speaks, on January 26 at the Columbia Marriott. Presented by Zeus Industrial Products, Inc., the evening featured a South Carolina General Assembly legislative panel to discuss the business community’s Competitiveness Agenda, infrastructure funding, workforce development needs, and business licensing reform.
Zeus Industrial Products, Inc. attendees networking at the reception following the town meeting.
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Senator Harvey Peeler networking with attendees at the reception following the town meeting.
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