2011 Mar-Apr South Carolina Business

M arch /A pril 2011 V ol . 32 | N o .2

The Business of Leisure PGA Tour Events Shoot for the Green MAVERICK SOUTHERN KITCHENS

Genuine Hospitality Star Attractions S.C. Film Tourism

The Roads Less Traveled

TRANSFORMING THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

Proud to be ranked 1st in CHARLESTON, SC - Admiralty & Maritime Law Alternative Dispute Resolution; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Genera Commercial Litigation; Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; COLUMBIA, SC - Antitrust Law; Banking and Finance Law;; Bankruptcy / Insolvencyy and p y and Creditor Debtor Rights g Reorganization ga anization Law; Law w; Corporate Co orporate Law; Law; General General Commercial Comm merccial Litigation; Litigattion; Insurance Insur Law; Non-Profi No on-Prrofitt/Charities /Charitiies Law; Law; Project Project Finance Finance Law; La aw; Public Public Finance Fina ance Law; Law; Rea Estate e Law; Law; Securities Securities / Capital Capital Markets Markets Law; Law; Tax Tax x Law; Law; Trusts Trusts & Estates Estates Law FLORENCE, SC - Tax Law; Trusts & Estates Law; GREENVILLE, SC - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Construction Law Corporate Law; Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; General Commercial Litigation Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Trusts & Estates Law

The results are in!

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. has been recognized by U.S. News - Best Lawyers® as the law firm with the most first tier rankings in South Carolina.

The Firm distinguished itself from other South Carolina law firms with these rankings: • The most first-tier rankings in South Carolina in Corporate Law. • The most first-tier rankings in South Carolina in General Commercial Litigation.

• The most first-tier rankings in South Carolina in Public Finance Law. • The most first-tier rankings in South Carolina in Trusts & Estates Law. • The most first-tier rankings in Greenville.

U.S. News & World Report partnered with Best Lawyers in America®, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, to produce the 2010 national rankings of “Best Law Firms” by state and practice area. A total of 8,782 law firms from across the country were ranked in 81 practice areas. These rankings are intended as a referral guide for attorneys, corporations, individuals, and others.

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW

WWW.HSBLAWFIRM.COM

CHARLESTON

COLUMBIA

FLORENCE

GREENVILLE

MYRTLE BEACH

WASHINGTON, DC

Anne S. Ellefson, Esq., 75 Beattie Place, Greenville, SC 29601 864.240.3200 aellefson@hsblawfirm.com

contents >> CONTENTS

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13 23 F e a t u r e s 10 PGA TOUR EVENTS SHOOT FOR

THE GREEN

by Sandy Mau 13 STAR ATTRACTIONS

by Dr. Simon Hudson 16 GENUINE HOSPITALITY

by Matthew Gregory

IN EVERY ISSUE ECONOMIC DRIVERS

20 THE ROADS LESS TRAVELED

by Marc Rapport 23 Member Spotlight

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

by Julie Scott

HEALTH CARE CHECKUP

25 PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH

by Thornton Kirby

DEPARTMENTS & NEWS From the President..............................................3

by Otis Rawl

Member News.....................................................30 Compiled by Matthew Gregory

Business Briefs....................................................26

Welcome, New Members................................31

HR Conference....................................................27

Upcoming Events...............................................32

After the Event Business Speaks.................................................28 HR Professional.................................................29

Advertiser Index................................................32

The opinions and views expressed by the contributors to this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, its staff or members.

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| S o u t h C a r o l i n a B u s i n e ss | M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 1

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Education / Workforce

by Jim Reynolds and

Valerie Richardson

5 Business Costs

by Aric Newhouse 7 Legal Environment

by Steve A. Matthews 7

Infrastructure

by Hal Johnson

8

Dynamism / Entrepreneurialism

by Lloyd I. Hendricks

9

Quality of Life

by Matthew Gregory

Coming Next Issue The May/June issue will focus on what businesses must do to prepare for the changes brought about by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Articles will provide advice on how businesses can keep health care costs down while still providing health benefits for employees.

>> FROM THE PRESIDENT

March/April 2011 Volume 32, Number 2

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce 1201 Main Street, Suite 1700 Columbia, South Carolina 29201 800.799.4601 www . scchamber . net

M

P resident & C hief E xecutive O fficer OTIS RAWL V ice P resident of P ublic P olicy & C ommunications DARRELL SCOTT P ublic R elations M anager JULIE SCOTT M ulti M edia C oordinator MATTHEW GREGORY G raphics & W eb A dministrator BOBBY BAKER

M SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS MAGAZINE E ditor MATTHEW GREGORY A rt D irection & D esign TIM MCKEEVER / TMCA INC. P roduction & P rint C oordination TMCA INC. D igital I maging & P rinting R. L. BRYAN COMPANY A dvertising S ales CONVERGING MEDIA LLC DEIDRE MACKLEN 803.318.3923

Economic recovery brings new tourism opportunities Otis Rawl

T

he term “staycation” became popular as the entire nation faced deep recession in 2009. As families struggled to make ends meet, many took advantage of tourism attractions right in their own backyards.

Websites, articles and blogs bubbled up with an abundance of “staycation” ideas and tips, making it the trendy way to spend summer or winter break.

As the nation recovers and we attempt to dig out in South Carolina, many experts see signs of an improving economy. Myrtle Beach reportedly broke tourism records last year, with more first time visitors than ever before. This is great news for tourism in South Carolina, but it is still vitally important for the Palmetto State to take a close look at the future of tourism as we compete with neighbors who have similar offerings. We all know tourism is one of our top industries, and its impact on South Carolina’s economy is enormous. But we sometimes forget that tourism also bodes well for our state’s image. When you ask someone from the Midwest or Northeast what they know about South Carolina, they are likely to mention our great beaches, warm climates, rich history and friendly people.

Rawl is president and chief executive What should South Carolina do to keep and even speed up its momentum officer of the South Carolina Chamber on the tourism front? What should tourism look like in 10 years, and how of Commerce. should we plan? These are questions we must answer. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Tourism Committee, led by Barbara Ware, executive director of the Old 96 District Tourism Commission, meets bimonthly to discuss strategic issues like the future of the industry. Tourism Committee members understand and communicate problems and opportunities in the industry and work together to create a positive statewide environment that allows tourism-related businesses to grow and compete effectively in the global marketplace.

The Tourism Committee also regularly takes action on legislation with potential impacts on tourism. In 2011, the South Carolina Chamber’s Competitiveness Agenda, the business community’s annual list of legislative priorities, calls for adequate, dedicated and recurring funding for broad tourism marketing and matching dollars around the state. Although tourism’s largest impact is certainly along the coast, it is important to market all of South Carolina’s tourism destinations, which include areas of the state with deep history and natural resources.

We also must take a proactive approach to the state’s road and bridge network, the means most travelers use to reach our popular destinations. We have let our roads and bridges crumble for too long. South Carolina leaders must move now on improving our primary and secondary roads to ensure safe and timely travel for tourists. Our secondary roads, which lead to many popular destinations, are increasingly becoming the most dangerous and deserve special attention. In addition, plans for proposed Interstate 73 must move forward.

In this issue of South Carolina Business, we explore some popular tourism destinations and a few off the beaten path.

I know many of you have dined at the famed Slightly North of Broad or High Cotton in Charleston. We are pleased to feature the owner of these fine establishments and more, entrepreneur Dick Elliott of Maverick Southern Kitchens. In this centerfold interview, Dick shares the secret of his success, how he expanded his businesses statewide and his goals for the tourism industry in the state. In addition, we take a look at the impact golf tourism has on the state and explore how film tourism can fuel economic growth. This issue of the magazine also focuses on the financial industry and includes articles on proposals to lower the national corporate income tax rate and tips on securing a small business loan.

As the economy continues to recover, more families are resuming vacation plans. As business leaders, let’s do everything we can to tout and support the state’s tourism opportunities. Perhaps you could host your own “staycation” this year in the Palmetto State. In addition to increasing tourism revenue, an influx of visitors can create new business investments and showcase our state to a global audience. With sound legislative priorities in place and the right marketing, we can ensure South Carolina is a prime destination for generations to come.

STATE CHAMBER with Distinction

Copyright © 2011 by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Converging Media LLC. 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 the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce by Converging Media LLC. 803.256.3010

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They can prove it!

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1,000 students saved from dropping out Jim Reynolds a n d Va l e r i e R i c h a rd s o n

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outh Carolina needs jobs – good paying jobs that can support families and contribute to the economic growth of our state. To attract and create jobs, South Carolina must have a workforce that is educated and capable of competing in the global knowledge economy. Eighty-five percent of jobs now require education beyond high school. Too many students drop out before finishing high school, and that has been a drag on job growth in our state.

Now there is good news. For the school year ending in 2009, 1,000 students were saved from dropping out. As those students progress through school and graduate, South Carolina will have a stronger workforce to attract, create and retain jobs. Those graduates will have higher lifetime earnings, contributing to our state’s economy. In addition, dropouts have a much higher rate of incarceration and increase costs to the state in health and social services.

In 2005, business and education leaders crafted major education reform, and the legislature enacted and funded the Education and Economic Development Act, now known as Personal Pathways to Success. Through this reform, all students develop individual graduation plans with the involvement of guidance counselors and

parents. Students choose clusters of study that fit their interests and map out college and career plans beyond graduation. This reform is based on research that shows when students see a connection between learning and their career goals, attendance, test scores and graduation rates increase.

Another component of Personal Pathways is early identification and intervention for students at risk of dropping out of school. Just this past school year, 31,000 students who were identified as being among the most at risk of dropping out were enrolled in at risk programs vetted by the Clemson National Dropout Prevention Center. Ninety-one percent of those students successfully completed their grades and did not drop out of school.

A third component of the reform is the 12 Regional Education Centers positioned around the state to connect businesses to schools and students. Thousands of businesses across the state are active with their Regional Education Centers. Last year, 127,000 students visited employers and spent a day with a successful role model.

Personal Pathways will increase the number of students completing high school, better prepare students for college and work and build a globally competitive

workforce. Personal Pathways is education reform that is working, even with recent budget cuts of as much as 40 percent. We cannot let this successful education reform die. We encourage the South Carolina General Assembly to support funding for Personal Pathways to Success (EEDA). Our future depends on it.

Jim Reynolds is chief executive officer of Total Comfort Solutions and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Business Leader of the Year.

economic d r i v e r s

> > E D U C AT I O N & W O R K F O R C E

Valerie Richardson, MA HRDV is the workforce development manager of Palmetto Health and chair of the At-Risk Student Committee.

This article also appeared in The State.

>> BUSINESS COSTS

Corporate tax cuts: The key to economic recovery Aric Newhou s e

A

s our economy begins to shake loose from the stifling economic downturn, everyone seems to have a perspective on the best way to speed up recovery. Innovation, infrastructure investment and an increased focus on exports have all been proposed as possible solutions, and these are important components of a long-term strategy for economic strength.

At the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and out in the real world, we know there is a quicker, surefire way to ensure sustained economic recovery and vitality: Reduce the corporate tax rate to 25 percent or lower without imposing offsetting tax increases. Our tax system puts American companies at a significant competitive disadvantage against our formidable competitors in other countries. The United States now has the second-highest statutory corporate tax rate among the major industrial countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), trailing only Japan.

Other countries have been regularly lowering their tax rates to encourage economic growth. A recent analysis by the Milken Institute, Jobs for America, con-

cluded that reducing U.S. corporate income tax rates to the current average of OECD countries would stimulate growth in the manufacturing sector and create more than 2 million jobs by 2019.

Tax cuts are proven ways to improve competitiveness and generate growth. Lowering the tax rate would allow manufacturers to expand operations and create good jobs that, on average, pay significantly more than jobs in other sectors. In South Carolina, workers in the manufacturing sector make $13,000 more than their counterparts in other industries.

Creating a national tax climate that does not place U.S. manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace goes beyond just corporate tax cuts. We also must promote fair rules for the taxation of active foreign income of U.S.-based businesses and institute permanent lower tax rates for individuals and small businesses. Small businesses are responsible for the bulk of new jobs created in the United States, and tax policy should support the capital formation that encourages new business growth. Capital gains, accelerated depreciation and expensing, and estate taxes are also areas where long-term lower tax rates strengthen

manufacturing and job creation.

We all agree that our economy needs more jobs and strong, sustained business growth. Corporate tax cuts and a national tax policy that ensures U.S. manufacturing workers can continue to provide for themselves and their families are critical first steps.

Aric Newhouse is senior vice president for policy and government relations at the National Association of Manufacturers.

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Party on: The legal aspects of event planning Steve A. Mat t h e w s

S

Sharon Dominick

ocial events are a ubiquitous aspect of business life. Whether the event is a networking function with clients, a management retreat, a company picnic, a political fundraiser or a charitable shindig, most businesses are more or less regularly involved in event planning.

What could be easier? Moms pull it off with aplomb all the time: the invitations, a place to gather, a bite to eat, something to drink, a game or two with some cool party favors, a couple of songs and you’re done. Unfortunately for businesses, the modern regulatory state does not allow a festive throwdown to be quite as carefree and spontaneous as the office Christmas party described in Scrooge’s Christmas Past. Now, businesses and nonprofit organizations must bear in mind (in addition to Emily Post) a series of legal concerns.

Licensing and permitting Each vendor should have a business license from the relevant county or municipality to avoid embarrassment or interruption of the event. The organizer needs a business license if the event is being hosted as its own business (forprofit, ticketed function, concert, etc.).

South Carolina Department of Health and

Environmental Control (SC DHEC) inspection or permitting for food production may be necessary.

Taxes Income from ticket, food and drink sales may be subject to sales, admissions or other taxes, and appropriate records must be kept. Non-profit organizers may be able to claim exemptions by filing appropriate forms with the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR).

Alcohol use The host must obtain (or determine that the venue has) a liquor license or permit from SCDOR, Alcohol Beverage Licensing Section. A criminal background check, available online, is required along with approval of the local municipal or county police agency. Bartenders must be at least 21. Visibly intoxicated partygoers must be denied service. There may be liability for injury caused by an intoxicated partier.

Personal injury liability and insurance In addition to alcohol-related liability issues, there are the usual slip-and-fall issues. A rider to an existing policy or being added to the venue’s policy is appropriate to cover the event.

Intellectual property liability The use of music, live or recorded, must, in order to avoid copyright liability, be under license. The host (or perhaps the venue if it regularly includes music at events) should obtain the necessary licenses from the copyright clearinghouses: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) and SESAC. Gaming activities Raffles, door prizes and almost any contest of chance are off limits in South Carolina. The General Assembly is currently considering limited revisions to the laws in this area. For now, don’t take the chance.

Knowing your business is protected from these legal concerns should make any party a lot more enjoyable.

economic d r i v e r s

>> LEGAL ENVIRONMENT

Steve A. Matthews practices law in Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A.’s Columbia office. He can be reached at smatthews@hsblawfirm.com or (803) 540-7827.

>> INFRASTRUCTURE

The Southwest Effect Hal Johnson

Sharon Dominick

W

hether you talk about tourism, travel or capital investment, Southwest Airlines’ decision to provide service in Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg is a game changer for South Carolina’s economy.

In the Upstate, the Dallasbased airline will begin offering service at GreenvilleSpartanburg International Airport in March with big jets, low fares and a powerful market force, referred to

by USA Today as the “Southwest Effect” -- an effect so powerful that within an hour of the announcement, routes were extended into South Carolina, and fares were dropped by 30 percent or more.

Dave Edwards, executive director of the GreenvilleSpartanburg International Airport Commission, said the arrival of Southwest Airlines may have a positive effect of $150 million on the Upstate’s 10-county area.

Since Southwest’s announcement, the GreenvilleSpartanburg Airport Commission began an estimated $99 million renovation of its 48-year-old terminal, and low-cost carrier Vision Airlines announced new service starting in March.

The gravity of Southwest’s impact extends beyond the obvious.

First, South Carolina can expect a boost in business and leisure travel as Southwest begins seven daily flights to five destinations. These flights are expected to open 63 additional locations and will appeal to business groups seeking convention destinations.

The same can be said for leisure travel. According to the South Carolina Tourism Action Plan, a study conducted by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the Upstate’s abundant natural and cultural resources will attract new groups of tourists. An increase in visitors means a greater demand for hotels, amenities and quality of services.

Successful tourism spreads its profits deep into the economy. More jobs in the service industry will require more training, and technical colleges and universities will have to provide more programs.

As the leading marketing organization for economic development in the region, the Upstate SC Alliance’s mission is to showcase the Upstate to the world and demonstrate how investing here can be

mutually beneficial. Even with an economy anchored

by BMW, Michelin and a world-class research facility like the Clemson University-International Center for Automotive Research, the Upstate has been passed for relocations due to the cost or lack of airline service. Too many times, air travel was the deal breaker.

Southwest’s decision seemed to happen overnight.

In reality, it was an accomplishment that was years in the making and the result of a strategy implemented with numerous private and public partners. Because of the “Southwest Effect,” corporations are taking notice and investing here, which positions our region for economic prosperity. The pendulum is swinging in favor of the Upstate.

Hal Johnson is president/CEO of Upstate SC Alliance, a public/ private regional economic development organization. He can be contacted at hjohnson@ upstatealliance.com.

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Seven tips for getting a small business loan Lloyd I.Hendricks

I

n this economy, if you have a small business, or are thinking about starting one, what chances do you have at qualifying for a small business loan? After spending much of the last few years talking to key South Carolina bankers, here are some tips they have for small businesses looking for a loan:

1.) Get to know bankers at several financial institutions in your community.

Before requesting a loan, find out which financial institutions in your market offer loans to firms like yours, as not all banks specialize in business loans. Work with bankers who understand your industry, and find out how the current financial crisis has affected credit availability in your community.

Another reason to deal with banks experienced in your industry is the financial advice they can offer. Because these bankers work with firms facing the same industry-related problems that may challenge you, they’re in a better position to provide helpful advice and financial products tailored to your firm’s needs. Often the advice bankers give is far more important than the products or services they sell. Seek a banker who can give financial advice that will help you survive and thrive in today’s economy.

2.) Be able to articulate your firm’s “value proposition” to its target markets and your business plan to reach them.

To increase your chances of getting a loan, you must clearly articulate why other companies or customers should do business with you and how you’ll effectively compete in your chosen target market segments.

Develop a business plan that has three different scenarios: best case, most likely case and worst case. You want the banker to understand all three since you’re asking for support through good times and bad.

3.) Do your homework.

Many bankers stress the importance of doing your homework correctly the first time. Along with your business plan, banks need your business’ current statements and tax returns. They’ll be looking at these closely to analyze your ability to repay. Old statements offer little for analysis.

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4.) Think like a banker.

Understand the risks of operating in your industry.

Have a plan to mitigate those risks, and share it with your banker. Bankers are going to do a risk analysis anyway, so it’s important to help them. Most likely, you can provide a perspective the banker hasn’t considered. It’s important for the banker to see that you recognize the risks of operating in your industry and that you have a plan for dealing with them.

5.) Develop at least two ways to repay the loan.

Bankers look for primary and secondary loan repayment sources. Be sure to discuss these options with your banker before the loan is made. Secondary repayment resources could include the pledging of business or personal collateral as well as the addition of a loan guarantee by the firm’s owners, suppliers or customers.

The more certainty the banker has that the loan will be paid “as agreed,” the more likely it will be that you not only receive a favorable loan decision but also the best interest rate.

| S o u t h C a r o l i n a B u s i n e ss | M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 1

6.) Don’t ask for loans that should be funded with equity injections.

Bankers aren’t paid to take equity risks; they get paid to make loans that will be repaid on time. The amount of equity you need to operate your business will depend on several factors. One of the most important factors is what role your business plays in your industry. The amount of equity required for a manufacturer will be different from that required to run a wholesale distribution business.

Retailers in the same industry also will have different equity requirements.

The stability of the industry is also an important factor influencing the amount of equity needed. Firms in stable industries need less equity than firms operating in industries undergoing rapid change, as they can carry a higher level of debt due to the greater certainty of their revenue streams.

7.) Banks are actively seeking borrowers.

Banks make money by lending and, in every community, are actively looking for lending opportunities. As one banker said, “There’s a perception that credit has dried up. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. People think that banks aren’t lending, so they never ask. The truth is that banks haven’t restricted the flow of capital; simply put, demand has dropped, causing the supply to dwindle.”

Banks recognize the important role small businesses play in our communities and in the health of the economy. Keep these common sense tips in mind as you seek financing for your business.

Lloyd I. Hendricks is the president and CEO of the South Carolina Bankers Association (SCBA), a 109-year-old trade association in Columbia that represents banks doing business in South Carolina.

G E OR G E P E T E R S

economic d r i v e r s

>> DYNAMISM/ENTREPRENEURIALISM

The changing face of the Grand Strand Matthew Gre g o r y

CO U R T E S Y O F T H E G E OR G E T O W N CHA M B E R

D E N I S TA N G N E R

D

uring tough economic times, vacations are one of the first expenses families cut. However, South Carolina’s Grand Strand region, which runs from Little River to Georgetown, continues to power forward despite the economic downturn, creating new attractions and drawing tourists from around the world.

According to Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brad Dean, the Myrtle Beach area, which attracts an average of 14 million visitors annually, broke tourMyrtle Beach ism records last year by attracting more first time visitors than ever before.

“That success is partly owed to our increased regional and national advertising and marketing efforts, but also to our new oceanfront boardwalk. New and improved attractions bring in new visitors, and studies show that our first time visitors are likely to return. With all the new development, and as the economy rebounds, we fully expect to continue that trend in growth this year,” said Dean.

A major element of attracting more tourists is being addressed through a massive expanMarchwalk at the Georgetown Harbor sion project at the Myrtle Beach International Airport. In addition to the expansion, Spirit Airlines will begin providing non-stop flights between Myrtle Beach and five new cities in May, and Porter Airlines is providing non-stop seasonal service from Toronto.

These tourists will have plenty to do in Myrtle Beach, with many new attractions on the way.

“New attractions like Wonderworks Science Center, SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, Dolly Parton’s Pirates Voyage and Jimmy Buffett’s Landshark Bar and Grill have the community buzzing with anticipation for what this year’s spring and sumFamily at the beach mer are going to bring,” said Dean.

North Myrtle Beach is also gearing up for significant change, as the North Myrtle Beach Chamber is still strong, as 6,600 of the 9,500 total jobs in the area of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau is imple- are directly tied to visitor spending.

The North Myrtle Beach Chamber’s economic menting a five-year action plan to grow the visitor and destination market, diversify the local economy and development council, which helped initiate what has employment base and equip the Chamber to function transitioned into the North Strand Coastal Wind Team, as a focal point for growth and development and a in partnership with the City of North Myrtle Beach and others, is pursuing wind energy along the coast. The state-of-the art business resource center.

“Our comprehensive marketing plan and economic initiative has been awarded a $176,000 grant to purdevelopment initiative will continue to focus on sus- chase wind turbines, which will be placed at six public tainable growth built around a green economy and beach access locations and atop one oceanfront hotel.

In addition to ramping up North Myrtle Beach’s busia prosperous community benefiting both locals and visitors,” said Marc Jordan, president and CEO of the ness community, new tourist attractions are constantly being added. The newest attraction in North Myrtle North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce/CVB. Historically, visitors spend $395 million annually in Beach is the O.D. Pavilion & Amusement Park, located North Myrtle Beach, representing 62 percent of all beside the famous horseshoe at the end of Main Street.

“Last year’s return of our famed oceanfront amusespending within the city. Visitor spending in North Myrtle Beach has been declining annually since 2007 ment park resulted in one of our best years ever for Main following national travel trends, but the tourist impact Street, North Myrtle Beach, and with the opening of

the Robert Edge Parkway as an extension of Main Street, this record success is expected to continue,” said Jordan.

Historic Georgetown County, The Hammock Coast, is also a key destination for many tourists visiting the Grand Strand.

Nestled on the shore along the south end of the Grand Strand and home to Pawleys Island, The Hammock Coast has drawn families to its beaches for generations. Five tidal rivers converge at the mouth of the Winyah Bay in Georgetown, South Carolina’s third oldest city.

The rivers, along with the ocean, provide a natural setting for outdoor exploration to sports enthusiasts, and the historic nature of the area fulfills the needs of the heritage traveler.

“Tourism is a major contributor to the Georgetown County economy. However, we do differ from the total beach communities in that we have a fairly blended economy between traditional industry and tourism,” said Annette Fisher, president and CEO of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce.

According to Fisher, Georgetown is a small town destination without the large branded big box businesses. This has kept the area very intimate, and many of the people who have vacationed in the area have been quoted in the Georgetown County Chamber’s branding research as saying they do not want others to know about their favorite vacation spot.

“That’s how the Hammock Coast branding came about. We are relaxed, quiet, laid back and altogether different than the other destinations in the Waccamaw Grand Strand Region,” said Fisher.

While travel to the Hammock Coast may have declined during the recent economic crisis, numerous construction projects have added new venues. In May of 2010, to meet the growing demands of fisherman and boaters to the area and to create a venue to host major fishing tournaments, the county invested $7 million in the Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marina Complex. The county is also investing in competitive tennis facilities and baseball complexes and is in the bidding process for some significant tournaments.

The Grand Strand continues to constantly reinvent itself, adding new incentives to attract business development and tourists from around the world. Given the ongoing improvements being made, 2011 should be another strong year for the Grand Strand.

Information for this article was provided by the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB and the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce/CVB.

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economic d r i v e r s

>> QUALITY OF LIFE

> > F E AT U R E

PGA TOUR EVENTS SHOOT FOR THE GREEN

The skybox on the 18th hole at Thornblade Club provides a great view.

By Sand y M a u

D

ew gently blankets the manicured grass underfoot as the first spectators surge through the gates on opening day. A professional golf event is South Carolina’s ticket to show off some of its best qualities: plenty of sunshine, hundreds of smiling volunteers and some of the finest competitive courses in the country.

That sweet scent of green isn’t just rising from the bent grass underfoot. A 2010 economic impact study of South Carolina’s oldest PGA Tour event, The Heritage, estimated direct spending by visitors, wages attributed to the event and event-related taxes and fees totaled $81.90 million in that year alone. Beneath the convivial civility and hushed applause of well-heeled fans hums an economic engine that runs long after the winning putt drops.

“A PGA tournament brings in a large number of out-of-town visitors on the high end, who will stay at the most upscale locations and eat in the upscale restaurants,” said Wayne W. Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor at College of Charleston’s department of hospitality and tourism management. Transportation and shopping are also areas of direct impact that benefit from golf-related tourism.

Then there is the second ripple in the business economy: When the PGA comes to Hilton Head, a flurry of sprucing up for the guests arrives with it.

“I can tell stories of printing companies that live for March because all the restaurants need new menus for the tournament. There are landscaping companies that live for the spring because people are beautifying their homes. Painters get work with lodging companies making improvements. It all adds up,” said Steve Wilmot, tournament director for The Heritage.

When tourists spend, local hotel owners and businesses are not the only beneficiaries. In 2010 alone, the Heritage tour event produced $8.56 million in state and $4.09 million in local tax revenues. This economic impact is one reason that The Heritage, which as of press time is running without a title sponsor in 2011, has worked to garner local support from both corporate and public sponsors. Wilmot said 80 percent of sponsors renew their commitment to The Heritage from year to year.

The 2011 event will see some 50 different sponsors, including $1 million from the town of Hilton Head. Recognizing the impact on employment and local business, Beaufort County has contributed a $1 million loan to ensure the event continues without a title sponsor. Despite this outpouring of support, the future of The Heritage beyond 2011 is in doubt unless a title sponsor signs on.

“Golf tournaments mean big dollars for the state,” said Smith. “The accommodation tax is between 9 and 12 percent. When they’re spending $200 on a hotel room over a number of nights, that tax can add up to a significant number. And those tax dollars go to support better roads, better transportation, better schools--it benefits the whole state.”

According to Wilmot, a single PGA Tour event creates positive ripples across the state.

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“The economic impact of The Heritage to the community, region and state totals close to $100 million,” said Wilmot. “It represents more than 1,000 jobs both locally and around the state.”

Wilmot noted that the 2010 economic impact study of the event, conducted by University of South Carolina-Beaufort and Clemson University experts in tourism research, doesn’t include spending by the tournament sponsor, the 132 players or the television networks that provide coverage.

“We assume that spending represents well over an additional $10 million,” he said.

National television coverage of PGA events puts South Carolina on millions of screens across the nation for hours every day of the event.

That is an economic tool that South Carolina has yet to fully leverage.

“In the TV coverage, they are promoting South Carolina, showing the beautiful vistas and the views,” said Smith. “Having these events brings large corporate entities into the area and allows them to see firsthand the quality of life here. Golf can be a very good economic development tool, if capitalized.

“The tourism is the introduction, and economic development can use tourism to draw more business to come to the state. This is something that shouldn’t be underestimated,” Smith added.

In the Upstate, the BMW Charity Pro-Am, presented by SYNNEX Corporation, brings professionals, amateurs and celebrities to play on three different courses over the tournament week. BMW is moving into its eleventh year as title sponsor of the event and has found sponsorship to be good for business.

“When you sponsor an event like this, you’re looking at linking the image of your brand and your audience,” said Max Metcalf, manager of communications, BMW Manufacturing. “Golf draws a diverse, wideranging population. The BMW Charity Pro-Am is a great presence for the brand and our image.”

Smith said his research has shown a clear connection between corporate sponsorship of events and connection with a brand among those who attend.

“One of the things that consumers want to feel is connected,” said Smith. “What companies need to do is capture the heart and mind of the consumer. One way to make that consumer connection is to support something that consumers like. Then consumers think, ‘We have something in common.’ It becomes almost like a friendship. Sponsorship is one of the most effective ways of selling that notion. In my research, we are seeing this as becoming more and more powerful.”

BMW brings in about 150 other corporate sponsors for the event each year, who host clients in skyboxes and corporate boxes, and links its brand to the event through signage, advertising and marketing. The Heritage also offers a range of corporate sponsor opportunities, from the title sponsorship to skyboxes, vendor spaces and dozens of other opportunities.

“It’s such a signature event,” said Metcalf. BMW’s sponsorship of the Upstate tournament creates plenty of positive buzz in the community,

The 2010 BMW Charity Pro-Am drew many celebrities, including (l to r): Oliver Hudson, Kurt Russell and Lucas Black.

both among the thousands of volunteers, the charities that benefit from the proceeds and among employees.

“It is good for business,” he added. “It’s good for our team members here, who have an opportunity to see the tournament on TV, knowing it’s on the Golf Channel and reaching an international audience. It creates buzz and pride. Some of the celebrities come to the plant and take a tour before the tournament starts.”

That combination of corporate goodwill and positive exposure in the international community is a major opportunity to build South Carolina’s image as a great place for business. According to Jay Monahan, senior vice president of business development for the PGA Tour, there are plenty of examples of businesses that have relocated their operations or added jobs after visiting a tournament or seeing it during 30 hours of typical television coverage.

That opportunity to show off stunning ocean views and outstanding hospitality will be especially strong in 2012, when the PGA Championship is played on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. The honor is substantial; the Kiawah course is just the fifth to host the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and the Senior PGA Championship. Sponsor hospitality suites range from space for 50 guests in an ocean-front double-decker suite that overlooks the 18th hole to private pavilions and clubhouse views.

Smith is already working with organizers to put South Carolina’s best foot forward for the 2012 event. In a signature collaboration effort, select students from College of Charleston’s Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management will volunteer as concierges to serve in corporate hospitality suites throughout the championship. Mingling with company executives and their invited guests, students will ensure that VIP guests receive personal service and enjoy a thoroughly high-end experience. A similar arrangement linked College of Charleston students with tournament activities in 2007 when the Ocean Course hosted the Senior PGA Championship.

“These events bring the community together with thousands of volunteers that participate,” said Monahan, noting that the charitable donations the events generate are also substantial. The BMW tournament raised some $665,000 for local charities in 2010, and The Heritage contributed some $1.3 million to charity in 2009.

“Our best events happen when the community benefits and everyone has an interest,” said Monahan. ”There is great pride in having a world-class sport in your community and when the best talent in the world comes into the marketplace and competes in your home territory.

There is a multiplier effect as companies see that, sponsor events and benefit from it, and that’s why they stay with us.”

A ceremonial cannon shot opens The Heritage.

Spectators gather at the 18th hole of the Harbor Town Golf Links.

Sir William Innes

The economic impact of The Heritage to the community, region and state totals close to $100 million,and it represents more than 1,000 jobs both locally and around the state.

– Steve Wilmot

Sandy Mau is a freelance writer based in Columbia.

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A dve r t o r i a l

Battling Bed Bugs takes teamwork orkin Partners with sC Businesses for successful remediation

when visitors come to our beautiful state, it’s important that they have a positive experience so they come back again and recommend our cities and towns to others. in fact, travel and tourism in south Carolina generate approximately $18.4 billion a year in total economic demand.1 But one tiny pest that’s been receiving a lot of media attention lately – the bed bug – could put a dent in our positive tourism image. if bed bugs find their way into your business, it doesn’t have to be a losing battle with orkin Commercial services on your side. we have vast experience successfully treating bed bugs in all types of commercial settings, including hospitality, retail, healthcare, multi-family and office properties.

Having accurate Bed Bug information is Critical Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely prevent these persistent pests from getting into your business. Anyone could bring bed bugs onto your premises unintentionally via their personal belongings, which means you need accurate information to know how to help prevent an even larger infestation from occurring.

That’s why we partner with our business customers to provide expert, up-to-date educational resources and training to share with your staff and customers.

orkin offers the latest technologies in Bed Bug detection and treatment With more than a century of pest management experience, Orkin continues to be at the forefront of developing the latest technologies in the detection and treatment of bed bugs. Some of the services we offer include: n Bed bug DNA testing n Bed bug-sniffing dogs (where available)

n Heat or steam treatments (where available) n Mattress, box spring and pillow encasements

Choose orkin as your business partner, and we’ll help you keep south Carolina full of smiling faces and beautiful places.

ContaCt your loCal soutH Carolina orkin rePresentative for more information on Bed Bug serviCes, ComPreHensive insPeCtions or staff training oPPortunities: rhonda mcaulay rmcaulay@orkin.com 803.317.1698 Cell

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www.orkincommercial.com A dve r t o r i a l

US Travel Association, SC Tourism Satellite Account

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fter the premier of The Greatest Movie Ever Sold at the Sundance Film Festival in January, corporate sponsors featured in the film trooped up on stage to join director, Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), who wore a suit emblazoned with their brand names and logos. One of these sponsors was the island of Aruba. Why would the Aruba Tourism Authority be interested in being featured in such a movie? In an increasingly competitive market, destination placement in films and television shows can increase awareness, enhance destination image and result in dramatic increases in tourism numbers, succeeding where traditional marketing efforts cannot.

Defined as tourist visits to a destination or attraction as a result of the destination being featured on television or the cinema screen, film tourism is a fast-growing phenomenon and is linked to both the rise in international travel and the history of film-making. Given the number of major motion pictures filmed in South Carolina over the years, the Palmetto State should view film tourism as a way to increase revenue, an issue of paramount importance given the state’s current budget crisis.

Some of the films shot in South Carolina include The Patriot, The Fugitive, Forrest Gump, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Sleeping with the Enemy, Cold Mountain, The Prince of Tides, Leatherheads, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, Days of Thunder, Radio, The Notebook and Dear John.

One good side effect of having projects filmed in the state is celebrities sometimes talk about their positive experiences in the national media.

Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, the stars of Dear John, couldn’t stop talking about what a wonderful destination Charleston was when they were on the late night and morning network talk show circuit last

year. Samuel L. Jackson was even quoted as saying he took the role in Die Hard: With a Vengeance with Bruce Willis instead of a role in Waterworld so he could play golf in Charleston.

Featuring a destination in a film is more important than a celebrity plug, as research confirms film viewing really does influence travel decisions.

Just last year, Sony Pictures teamed up with STA Travel to leverage the film Eat, Pray, Love based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir in which the author embarks on journey across the world on a quest for selfdiscovery. Fans of the film and the book flocked to follow in her footsteps, and a number of hotels, tour companies and even guidebook publishers jumped on the bandwagon, offering everything from do-it-yourself itineraries to luxury trips based on the film.

Film tourism can be enduring. Historic Brattonsville Plantation got a tremendous boost in visitors for years after The Patriot was shot in York County, and South Carolina-bound tourists call the SC Film Commission offices weekly to ask about locations near Charleston, especially those from The Notebook. In addition to The Notebook, Cypress Gardens has hosted Cold Mountain, The Patriot, The Tempest and the cult classic, Swamp Thing, but nothing compares to the visits prompted by The Notebook.

Even when film locations don’t spark ongoing flocks of tourists, they can bring a temporary increase to local business. When Leatherheads was being shot in Greenville and Anderson, downtown restaurants attracted star seekers every evening as they looked for George Clooney and Renée Zellweger. Photos of the stars were featured in daily blogs during the weeks they were in Greenville. s c c h a m b e r. n e t | M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 1 | S o u t h C a r o l i n a B u s i n e ss |

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The more than 40 states in the U.S. that offer film incentives know film and television production can inject million of dollars into a local economy. The $7 million that producers of Army Wives were given for the 2008 second season generated more than $29.5 million in South Carolina. The television series, which is filmed in Charleston, has a flyer touting South Carolina in its DVD set that was produced by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The DVD set also includes videos in the bonus features showing what each of the actors do in Charleston during their spare time.

The long-term tourism benefits of this kind of production, which are more difficult to quantify, are often ignored.

However, some destinations have done the calculation. In the U.K., around one in 10 foreign visitors come as a result of seeing the country depicted in film, and their spending in 2006 exceeded $3 billion. As a result of this spending, around 20,000 jobs were supported in the U.K. The period of time following a film’s release is when many get engaged in marketing activities related to film tourism. At this stage, the challenge is to convert the audience’s interest in a film into a commitment for a future visit and capitalize on additional visitors brought through film.

A few years after Forrest Gump was released, a Japanese tour company put together several successful tours showcasing locations from the movie. They toured the Vietnam jungles at Fripp Island, the town that Forrest grew up in (Varnville) and his house at the Bluff Plantation.

In fact, Beaufort writer Ginnie Kozak regularly published a walking tour and guide to Beaufort area movie locations called Lights, Camera Beaufort: Hollywood Comes to the Lowcountry, which started with locations from The Great Santini and ended with stories of Hollywood executives and stars meeting at a local watering hole called Harold’s Country Club.

South Carolina is an excellent film location because of the diversity of its landscapes, offering everything from mountains, beaches, forests, lakes, rural towns and big cities. Aside from advertising in the Hollywood trade publications and electronic media, the SC Film Commission hosts movie executives for weekend trips to show not only the great quality of life but also the nearness and diversity of locations within a very short distance of each other, an important aspect when moving a movie troupe of 175 people

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from place to place for the next scene. Producers of Dear John were able to change locations within 30 miles of Charleston into an African village, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe and a remote military post.

Destinations often don’t get involved in leveraging the film tourism phenomenon because of budget constraints or because of the absence of a measurable return on investment. Others are concerned about retaining control over how and to whom the destination is presented through films and television. But cooperative marketing can be very powerful, and partnerships between the film and the tourism industries can offset costs and establish a region as film friendly. This outcome is a win-win for both tourism and film industries.

South Carolina does not always have the most positive image outside of the state, but movies and television can change that. South Carolina should continue to exploit the image enhancement and economic development opportunities that exist through the medium of film.

Dr. Simon Hudson is the endowed chair for the Center of Economic Excellence (CoEE) in Tourism and Economic Development at the University of South Carolina.

Produc ers of Dear J of Cha ohn we rleston re able into m to cha ultiple nge loc setting ations s, inclu within ding A 30 mile fghanis s tan.

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Downtown Columbia Skyline

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Maverick Southern Kitchens

DICK ELLIOTT

March~April 2011 Centerfold

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By Matthew Gregory

PHOTO GRA PH BY PAT C RAWFORD

s president and owner of Maverick Southern Kitchens, Dick Elliott knows a lot about southern hospitality. With four restaurants in South Carolina – Slightly North of Broad (Charleston), High Cotton (Charleston and Greenville) and The Old Village Post House (Mt. Pleasant) – Elliott understands he is introducing the state’s culture and cuisine to the thousands of tourists who dine at his restaurants every year.

“We consider it a real responsibility. In trying to define who we are, the first thing we say is we are derivative of where we are. We’re proud to be part of the South,” said Elliott. “What we focus on is causing our experience to be better than other restaurants. It’s the way our personnel responds to the guests and provides the services guests are expecting with genuine hospitality.”

Genuine hospitality

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ust as a master chef can craft culinary masterpieces in numerous cooking styles with countless ingredients, Elliott has demonstrated talent in a variety of fields, serving as a journalist, lawyer and manufacturer before setting his sights on the fine dining business. Elliott was born in Charleston in 1945 and grew up in Lexington. While he attended the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Elliott served as editor of the school’s newspaper and also worked full time for The State newspaper, reporting on governmental affairs.

After he graduated in 1967, Elliott thought about staying in journalMaverick Southern Kitchen’s signature ism but instead pursued an Charleston restaurants: (above) Slightly North of Broad, and (below) High Cotton opportunity to work for Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn in Washington. He then returned to Columbia to work for University of South Carolina President Thomas Jones.

Needing an additional degree so he could pursue a career in university administration, Elliott obtained a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. He traveled to Atlanta in 1972 to work for a law firm before eventually entering the manufacturing world at textile manufacturer Burlington Industries. After leaving Burlington in 1989, Elliott returned to Charleston intent on buying a small manufacturing business. Not able to find one, he became the owner of an equipment distribution business in Charlotte.

Then came the game changer. Looking for a good business investment, Elliott bought a restaurant, the Colony House, which was then Charleston’s oldest and largest restaurant.

While he went on to sell the Colony House in 1993, the restaurant provided a crash course in the hospitality industry. Elliott decided to commit to the restaurant business, selling his portion of his Charlotte company.

Nearly two decades later, Elliott has four restaurants that serve Lowcountry cuisine, which contains elements from Barbados, the Caribbean and Africa. Whether it’s the Roasted Palmetto Squab at High Cotton, the Coastalina Shrimp and Grits at Slightly North of Broad or the Post House Lump Crab Cake at the Old Village Post House, Maverick Southern Kitchens provides quality Charleston cuisine with a twist, which has earned the company national recognition. In 2008, Slightly North of Broad was inducted into the Fine Dining Hall of Fame during the annual meeting of the National Restaurant Association in Chicago. Also in 2008, Elliott was named Restaurateur of the Year by the South Carolina Restaurant Association. In addition, Slightly North of Broad has received praise from Southern Living, Esquire, GQ, USA

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Today and The New York Times.

Elliott is quick to give credit for the numerous accolades to his business colleagues, David Marconi, vice president of operations, and Frank Lee, vice president of culinary development. Lee is currently the executive chef of Slightly North of Broad and the Old Village Post House as well as a consultant for Elliott’s other restaurants.

While many restaurants across the state have become a part of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Certified SC Grown campaign, Maverick Southern Kitchens kept its ingredients local long before it became popular.

“The first time I met Frank Lee, our exceptional chef, in 1992, he was walking across a parking lot with an armload of collard greens he had just gotten from the market.

He has always been like that. Today, many others are following suit,” said Elliott.

Elliott also has been recycling in his restaurants for many years. The South Carolina Hospitality Association and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) recently collaborated to form the South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance. The Alliance encourages restaurants and hotels to reduce the environmental impact of their operations, while providing technical assistance to begin or expand green practices. The Alliance awards one palmetto for implementing programs, two palmettos for effective and consistent operation of programs and three palmettos for sustained performance. Currently, Slightly North of Broad, High Cotton Charleston and High Cotton Greenville are honored at the second level, and The Old Village Post House will soon join them.

Elliott attributes much of his success to the business community.

“I’m pleased to say much of the Boeing deal was done here over dinner,” said Elliott. “One of the best things we do is provide meals for the State Ports Authority.

We get to be the dining room for [South Carolina State Ports Authority CEO] Jim Newsome. The people who are doing things in Charleston are often in our restaurants. It gives me the opportunity to interact with those people and experience some of what they’re doing.”

The business environment in the Upstate was one of the factors that prompted Elliott to create a second High Cotton location in Greenville. Located in Falls Park with scenic views of the Reedy River, High Cotton Greenville offers the same food, wine and professional service in the trendy surroundings of downtown Greenville. Elliott said creating additional restaurants in the future is a possibility.

“One of the questions I’m asked the most is why did we skip over Columbia? I think Columbia is our next logical location. We have, in fact, been exploring that for several years.

When the most recent great unpleasantness in the form of the recession came along, we decided to wait awhile. We’re still looking there. We’re also looking very strongly at North Charleston,” he said.

In typical Elliott fashion, Maverick Southern Kitchens hasn’t just stuck with restauHigh Cotton restaurant in Greenville, SC

PHO T O G RAPH Y CO U R T E S Y O F M A V E RICK S O U T H E R N KI T CH E N S

Dick Elliott / Maverick Southern Kitchens

rants. In addition to expanding to Greenville, Elliott established Charleston Cooks!, a retail store in downtown Charleston that offers cooking classes from top chefs.

Elliott recognizes that fine dining has a big impact on South Carolina’s tourism industry.

“I think it’s fair to say years ago people came here because of beaches, golf, mountains or our history. When you can couple those things – outdoor activities and intellectual pursuits – that increases the number of people who want to come here. Food has become a critical component of that,” said Elliott.

Elliott is an active member of the Charleston community. He was the 2001-2002 chairman of the board of directors of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.

In June 2009, he was awarded the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year honor. He has served on the board of directors for numerous groups, including Trident Technical College Foundation, the Medical University of South Carolina Foundation and the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities.

He is also a big supporter of efforts to improve education in South Carolina.

“I learned earlier in my career how important education is. The quality of the people you are working with is often the direct result of the education and training they had.”

According to Elliott, when he first got involved in the business more Maverick Southern Kitchens’ cuisine than 20 years ago, most parents were not proud to see their children pursuing jobs in the food and beverage industry, as it was considered by many to be just a part time job. However, Elliott has always

approached the restaurant business as offering a career path.

“In the course of the last 20 years, that evolution has taken place.

There are now many more culinary schools that turn out chefs and managers,” he said.

“That has changed the nature of the people who populate the industry Charleston Cooks! retail store in downtown and the way we manage Charleston the industry.”

Looking back over his varied career, Elliott is able to recognize some common themes that still apply to his work in the restaurant industry.

“It’s amazing how similar food preparation is to manufacturing carpet. You’ve got raw materials coming in the back door, and you’ve got trained personnel who are processing it and creating the product. All the cost accounting in the manufacturing world is directly applicable to watching the costs of a kitchen or restaurant,” he said.

Elliott said South Carolina’s hospitality industry has a bright future.

“People are always going to eat,” said Elliott. “I’m thankful there are a sufficient number of those people who want to eat really good food.”

Matthew Gregory is the multimedia coordinator at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the editor of South Carolina Business magazine.

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By Marc Rapport

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harleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach are internationally regarded for their unique charms and offerings, but all across South Carolina are lesser known destinations, accommodations and attractions just waiting to be discovered by the millions of tourists who come to the Palmetto State every year.

Here is a look at four examples of hidden gems that would make great vacation destinations for tourists and South Carolinians alike.

Aiken ounded in 1875 as a rail town, Aiken quickly became a summer retreat for wealthy Charlestonians and a winter haven for even wealthier northerners and their celebrity friends. Horse farms where champions are trained, steeplechases and international polo now are weaved into Aiken’s fabric of life. Adding to the mix are the technologists who have worked at the nearby Savannah River Site since the 1950s.

Today, downtown Aiken is a lively center of activity, with thriving shops and restaurants.

“It’s a really good mix of businesses, including some like Plum Pudding and the Bowery that have been there for 30-plus years, and not really chain stores or chain restaurants downtown,” said Mary Ann Keisler of the Thoroughbred Country Tourism Region.

On Saturdays, tourists can take a guided tour of the Winter Colony and Historic District. Other can’t-miss destinations include the Aiken County Historical Museum and the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum. Another popular spot is the historic Willcox Inn, where Franklin Delano Roosevelt once stayed, and its gastropub restaurant at 100 Colleton Avenue.

Nature lovers should visit Hopelands Gardens, a 14-acre estate with formal gardens and serene, year-round beauty. Aiken also is notable for Hitchcock Woods, billed as the largest urban forest in the United States, covering 2,100 acres with 65 miles of walking and riding trails.

A rich mix of cultural attractions, diversions and educational institutions – anchored by the USCDowntown Aiken Aiken, Aiken Technical College and a surprising number of theaters and galleries – also give Aiken its unique charm. The world-renowned Juilliard School is now staging residence and performance programs based at Joye Cottage, a 60-room mansion whose owners paved the way for the New York City institution to set up shop in Aiken.

Aiken’s attractions, accessibility and uncrowded ambience make the town a pleasant discovery for visitors.

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Chattooga Ridge nstructions for the new Chattooga Ridge canopy tours and zip-line include “long hair must be tied back” and “leave your cell phones in your car.” After all, it’s

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Creating Edgefield pottery

difficult to check e-mail or send a text while zipping along a tethered line high in the hardwoods forest of the Blue Ridge foothills.

Chattooga Ridge opened in March 2010 at the Chattooga Rafting Center, not far from the spectacular Chattooga River. The canopy tour traverses much of the wooded property at the former Long Creek Academy. It takes about three hours to complete the course, which begins with a lift up to the “Triceratops” platform and then goes from platform to platform, using gravity and arm power to move through the 10 zip sections. The tour includes four crossings over the lake at the heart of the nine-acre course.

The zip-line has a maximum height of about 40 feet off the ground. A climbing wall and ropes course are integrated into the zip-line trip. Combine all those elements for an adventurous afternoon in the tree tops, throw in a half-day raft trip in the morning, and most visitors will be exhausted and ready to call it a day.

Because of its ideal setting in the state’s forested, hilly far northwest corner, hiking and camping options are available in the area, including such longtime favorites as Oconee State Park.

Edgefield he National Wild Turkey Federation has its headquarters in the quiet little town of Edgefield, not far off Interstate 20 or the Savannah River in west-central South Carolina. Despite being tucked away, it attracts more than 350,000 members and has become one of the nation’s most prominent private, non-profit conservation and hunting education operations.

The organization was created in 1973 to help save the threatened wild turkey, one of America’s most respected and intelligent game birds and woodlands residents. The bird has recovered nicely, and the organization has thrived, a story told in the Federation’s robust Winchester Museum at the Wild Turkey Center in Edgefield. Open weekdays year-round, except national holidays, the museum

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Riding the zip-line at Chattooga Ridge.

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attracts more than 10,000 visitors a year.

“Our exhibits include folk art, Native American culture, resource management principles and many other interactive exhibits and animatronics that the whole family will enjoy,” said Sam McDuffie, museum coordinator.

No visit to the area is complete without a stop two miles down the road to downtown Edgefield, “The Historic Brattonsville Town of 10 Governors.”

Among those chief executives who hailed from here is the legendary Strom Thurmond. The senator’s grave is in a peaceful, picturesque cemetery not far from the center of town.

Edgefield is known for its pottery as well as its turkeys, so the galleries and storefronts around the classic old downtown, including the Turkey Shoppe on Main, make a great stop.

Historic Brattonsville ollywood quickly recognized the beauty of Historic Brattonsville. Much of the 2000 blockbuster, The Patriot, was filmed at the plantation in rural York County west of Rock Hill, a setting whose peaceful ambience in the Piedmont woodlands and fields belies its stormy past.

“The Revolutionary War – the real one, not the movies – was fought here,” said

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Karen Cox, a costumed interpreter who helps tell the story of the Bratton family.

“Slaves lived and labored here, once as many as 139 of them, and there was harvest work and a post office and more. This was a very busy place for a long time.”

Founded before the Revolutionary War, a house dating to 1774 still stands there.

So do slave houses and other outbuildings – such as a store and a corn crib – along an 18th century roadway. At 775 acres, the site covers more than a square mile and is part of a family of museums promoted as York County Culture & Heritage Museums.

“Every Saturday is a living history day here, as long as it’s not Christmas or New Year’s Day, and what we’ll be doing is dictated by the seasons,” said Cox. “We could be pulling in corn or processing flax into linen. We could be tending to newborn lambs in the spring, which is planting time of course, or working in the kitchen garden or the cotton field in the summer.”

The site tells the stories about the bloody Revolutionary War skirmish that led to the pivotal battle of nearby Kings Mountain and the generations of Brattons who called the site home.

Less Famous, Equally Engaging hether it’s Walterboro’s treasure trove of antique shops, Edisto Island’s quiet beaches, the revitalized Newberry Opera House or Greenville’s gorgeous waterfalls on the Reedy River, scenic destinations abound in the Palmetto State. Some of these spots may not have the fame of South Carolina’s tourism mainstays, but their wealth of opportunities and impact on local economies make them a vital part of South Carolina’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry. Get out there and explore.

W

Marc Rapport is a freelance writer on behalf of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism.

TOURISM It’s the economic engine that fuels the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina. Tourism affects not just those directly working in the hospitality industry, but many other facets of our community, including education, infrastructure, economic development, the arts, and recreation.

DID YOU KNOW? • Tourism accounts for a $6.5 billion economic impact in the Myrtle Beach area.

• Combined, Horry & Georgetown counties generated $9 billion in retail sales in fiscal year 2009-10, accounting for more than 9% of the state’s retail sales.

• Combined, Horry & Georgetown counties generated nearly $15 million in accommodations taxes in fiscal year 2009-10, more than one-third of the state’s total accommodations tax collections.

• Combined, Horry & Georgetown counties generated nearly $9.5 million in admissions taxes in fiscal year 2009-10, roughly one-third of the state’s total admissions tax collections.

• Tourism generates, directly or indirectly, most of the jobs in Horry and Georgetown counties. In 2009, this included more than 74,000 local jobs for the area

Learn more about how tourism benefits the Grand Strand by visiting TourismWorksforUs.com

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Business Connections South Carolina St yle

Successful business expansion plans are all about connecting the dots. As the nation’s largest publicly owned generator of electricity, Santee Cooper can provide you access to all of the power and the resources of South Carolina’s Power Team. Composed of Santee Cooper and all 20 of the state’s electric cooperatives, the Power Team is dedicated to building strategic relationships with smart, forward-thinking businesses that are looking to expand within the state. We back this commitment by delivering quality service and reliable power at some of the lowest rates in the nation. Get connected in South Carolina. Visit www.scprimesite.com/SCB.

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2/15/11 11:31 AM

>> MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

By Julie Scott

i

magine hosting your annual office holiday party with an elephant or a meerkat peeking in the window. Or, hosting your wedding reception surrounded by beautiful botanical gardens.

Over the last six years, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden realized a revenue opportunity right in its own backyard, offering business leaders and employers the chance to host events on site in one of the most interesting venues the Midlands has to offer. Six internal facilities on the zoo’s campus are able to accommodate anything from a hot dog dinner to a formal occasion with filet mignon “We have a facility that closes at 6 p.m., so we started focusing on our buildings where we could host events, parties and meetings,” said Tommy Stringfellow, director of marketing at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “One of our sales reps focuses on brides and the wedding market. You almost have to book a year

in advance now to have your wedding in the park.”

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, established in 1974 after a group of business leaders initiated the concept, is one of the most successful midsized zoos in the U.S. During that first year, the zoo saw a little more than 2,000 visitors. In 2010, that number exceeded 1 million. Now,

visitors from all 50 states plus several countries like Canada and Mexico visit the park.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s economic impact on the state cannot be denied.

In 2008, the University of South Carolina reported the zoo generated $60.8 million in local business sales, $42.8 million of which was generated as a result of travel-related expenses associated with tourists visiting.

A native of the Midlands of South Carolina, Satch Krantz has served as the zoo’s executive director since 1976, making him one of the longest serving zoo directors in the nation. During that time, the zoo has seen downturns like any other tourism destination, but the recent recession, though

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>> MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

tough with more and more cuts, actually provided an unforeseen opportunity for growth.

“When the economy turns bad, we usually reap the benefits because people are staying closer to home. They don’t have the money to travel to Disney, or maybe they decide to cut their week at the beach a little bit shorter,” said Stringfellow.

And with government funds drying up, the zoo has had to become more self-sufficient. Popular events like Boo at the Zoo, Brew at the Zoo and the Lights Before Christmas each offer revenue opportunities during non-peak times like the fall and winter. The events also provide an opportunity to showcase the zoo to different demographics and offer businesses a chance to advertise.

“We know things are changing in the world of philanthropic giving to more of a cause-related marketing” said Stringfellow.

Though the zoo spends the bulk of its marketing dollars in the state, Charlotte and Augusta are considered secondary markets for Riverbanks Zoo. During the recession, media became more affordable in Charlotte, and the zoo took advantage of it. Stringfellow believes that made an impact on visitors who were reminded that Riverbanks Zoo was “right up the road.” Each month, Riverbanks takes its animals to Charlotte and Augusta for television segments that showcase the zoo.

Typically, the park adds a new attraction each year.

Last summer, a kangaroo walkthrough feature was added. Stringfellow says the types of exhibits that enable visitors to interact with animals are becoming more and more popular. This year, a baby koala was added along with a baby baboon and baby giraffes. A brand new, interactive attraction will be announced soon and is expected to open in May 2011.

But perhaps the most nontraditional addition has been the release of what the zoo dubs Compoost. With the tagline, “Get a load of this,” it is one of the cleverest ideas the zoo has had in recent years and is now widely successful. According to its website, this “100% all-natural,

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composted zoo poo is effortlessly produced by some of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s most famous animals: elephants, giraffes and even zebras! It’s heavy doodie.”

“Every year, we would ship thousands of tons of animal waste, mainly from elephants and giraffes, to the landfill,” said Stringfellow. “We paid about $15,000 per year to have it hauled off, so we looked at a way to compost it and resell it.”

Anyone can buy Compoost by the quart, gallon or even truckload.

Compoost is also friendly to the environment. Since the concept was first introduced, thousands of tons of waste are now being reused around the zoo. Today, Riverbanks has a compost yard at the back of the zoo where waste and clippings from the horticulture department are packaged.

“Our horticulture staff used to spend about $10,000 per year in buying mulch and compost for the gardens. Well, guess what? Now, they’ve got an instant source,” Stringfellow said.

Great savings and recycling coupled with added revenue for the zoo is a great mix. At www.compoost.org, gardeners, children and those just interested in the process can see how the Compoost is made, packaged and sold to the public.

Riverbanks Zoo also has introduced a new savings program, called the Explorer wristband, which enables families to enjoy all of the park’s attractions multiple times. With more paid attractions in the park than ever before, like giraffe feeding, 3D theaters, a climbing wall, pony rides and a carousel, purchasing a package up front is a great value. Just ask the 30,000 household members who have taken advantage of the program.

So, whether you are looking for a venue to hold your next office gathering, choosing a location for your daughter’s wedding reception or even contemplating starting that garden, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has something for you. Visit www.riverbanks.org for more information.

Julie Scott is the public relations manager at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

H e a lt h

Care

Checkup

Penny wise and pound foolish

By Thor nton K i r b y

S

outh Carolina faces dire circumstances if our leaders do not find a balanced way to address the budget deficit. Understandably, they are focused on where they can cut back and cut out services paid for by the state, and the Medicaid program is a giant target because it accounts for $663 million of the deficit.

The biggest downside of cutting the Medicaid budget is the additional loss of federal matching funds. For every one percent or $4.7 million the state cuts from its hospital reimbursement line, hospitals incur a total loss of $15.7 million in unreimbursed care. And who ultimately pays that bill? Businesses and individuals Featuring.... pay it through increased insurance premiums.

• 238 Exquisitely appointed guest rooms, including 35 suites “Saving” $4.7 million at a cost of $15.7 million is a classic case of being penny • Complimentary wireless internet available in guest rooms wise and pound foolish.

• Expanded fitness center • Outdoor pool, volleyball court and sundeck Medicaid cuts simply make no sense from a business standpoint. Last year, • Columbo’s Italian Eatery & Prime Steaks - a truly unique dining experience the federal Medicaid match accounted for $3 billion in new monies that entered • Over 20,000 square feet of meeting space South Carolina’s economy and supported more than 88,000 jobs and $2.1 billion • Complimentary Airport Shuttle in wages. Medicaid cuts mean the loss of federal matching funds, jeopardizing the 2100 Bush River Rd @ Interstate 20 fragile economic recovery just now underway in the state.

Columbia SC 29210 www.radisson.com/columbiasc So what to do? South Carolina still has to find enough money to pay 25 percent www.columbos.net (803) 731-0300 of the Medicaid bill. In the long run, the best way to downsize our Medicaid program is to create good jobs with benefits, adopt healthier lifestyles to reduce heart disease, cancer and diabetes, and make preventive care affordable and available to all. South Carolina must work toward those goals. But in the short-term, we need to increase state revenue.

South Carolina hospitals already contribute $264 million per year to the Medicaid program and are willing to negotiate an additional contribution in lieu of reduced payment rates until the state’s economy recovers. For every additional $4.7 million contributed by hospitals and matched by the federal government, we could avoid a net reduction in uncompensated Darlington Raceway’s $54 million annual economic impact is a care by $11 million. vital part of the state’s economy. Help us continue this southern While not without cost to hospitals, this approach tradition by supporting your home track. would have a much smaller financial impact on hospital operations and on South Carolina’s overall economy. And it would help us avoid being penny wise and pound foolish during this crisis.

SHOW YOUR PALMETTO PRIDE AND EXPERIENCE NASCAR… IN YOUR BACKYARD!

Thornton Kirby is the president and CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association.

MAY 6

MAY 7

For corporate or employee hospitality or group tickets, please contact the Darlington sales team: • Jeff Taylor, Director of Marketing at 843.395.8877 or jataylor@darlingtonraceway.com • William Hodges, Marketing Manager at 843.395.8892 or whodges@darlingtonraceway.com

DAR-11-2985 SC_BusinessAd.indd 1

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2/1/11 2:10 PM

BUSINESS BRIEFS

>> BUSINESS BRIEFS

Remembering Roger Milliken

R

oger Milliken, one of the last in the tradition of the great industrialists who built America’s manufacturing success, passed away on December 30 at the age of 95. Under his long leadership, the company – founded in 1865 by his grandfather, Seth Milliken, and expanded by his father, Gerrish – grew to become the largest privately-held textile and chemical manufacturer in the world and home to Roger Milliken the world’s largest textile research facility.

Milliken became president of the company on the death of his father in 1947 and served in that capacity until 1983. That year, he became chairman and chief executive officer of Milliken & Company and named Dr. Thomas J. Malone president and chief operating officer. In 2003, Dr. Malone retired, and Dr. Ashley Allen was named president and COO, becoming CEO in 2006 as Milliken stepped aside from daily management. In 2008, Dr. Allen retired and was succeeded by Dr. Joe Salley. Milliken continued as chairman of the board until his death.

“We are in a profound state of sadness,” said Milliken CEO Dr. Joe Salley.

“Not only was Mr. Milliken a great leader, but he was also the consummate builder. He helped build businesses and educational institutions, manufacturing plants and academic facilities, communities and arboreta. Most of all, he gained and built upon the gratitude, admiration and love of all the associates of Milliken & Company. We will miss him greatly.”

Headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., the 145-year-old, family-owned,

technology-based company provides innovative technical and industrial materials, highly-specialized chemicals and floor coverings for customers around the world.

Milliken was born October 24, 1915 and was married to the late Justine Van Rensselaer Hooper. They are survived by five children – Jan, Nancy, Roger, David and Weston – and nine grandchildren.

Timmerman to retire from SCANA; Marsh named president and COO SCANA.

C

hief Executive William B. Timmerman will retire effective November 30.

Kevin Marsh, who since 2006 has been president of South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G), the company’s major subsidiary, has been elected to replace Timmerman immediately as SCANA president and COO. Marsh also joins the company’s board. He will become SCANA’s chairman and CEO after Timmerman’s retirement. In the interim, Marsh will retain his position as president of SCE&G.

South Carolina port volume up 17 percent in 2010

T

he Port of Charleston closed 2010 with a nearly 17 percent increase in container volume, capping a year marked by new shipping services, statewide business initiatives and the arrival of the biggest ships on the East Coast.

December marked the twelfth consecutive month of year-over-year growth for the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA), according to results released at a recent SCSPA Board meeting. Charleston’s container volume in December totaled 62,405 pier containers, up 9.7 percent from the same month in 2009 (56,877 pier containers). Container volume was up 16.9 percent for the calendar year, with 793,090 containers handled in 2010 versus 678,715 pier containers in 2009.

“While we have tempered expectations on near-term volume growth, South Carolina’s ports are positioned to continue the upward trend in 2011,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the SCSPA. Breakbulk tonnage at the ports of Charleston and Georgetown was up 27 percent for the calendar year, with 876,852 pier tons handled at the two ports in 2010. Non-containerized cargo is up 36.5 percent for the first six months of the fiscal year.

The SCSPA welcomed several new shipping services during 2010, including MSC’s Golden Gate Service, CSAV’s AMEX service, Höegh Autoliners’ Middle East service a new breakbulk service with Liberty Global Logistics.

Ocean carriers continue to take advantage of Charleston’s deep water. In December, the SCSPA welcomed its 300th post-Panamax ship to Charleston and has handled 35 calls of ships of 8,000-TEU capacity or greater.

Approximately 80 percent of the container ships on order are post-Panamax and, by end 2013, 50 percent of the capacity in operation will be post-Panamax, according to published reports.

NLRB backs down on threats of secret ballot suit

I

n late January, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) sent letters to attorneys general in Arizona, South Dakota, Utah and South Carolina threatening to sue over passage of secret ballot constitutional amendments. South Carolina’s amendment, which 86 percent of South Carolinians supported in November, ensures a secret ballot when a union election takes place. The stated purpose of the amendment was to prevent intimidation – by a union or

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by an employer – from influencing an election. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce was one of the statewide organizations that led the charge to protect workers’ rights to secret ballots in union elections.

In early February, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) responded to a letter from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, which reiterated South Carolina’s intention to continue preserving citizens’ rights to cast secret ballots in union elections.

In the response, Acting NLRB Director Lafe Solomon said, “As you have unanimously expressed the opinion that the State Amendments can all be construed in a matter consistent with federal law, I believe your letter may provide a basis upon which this matter can be resolved without the necessity of costly litigation.”

The NLRB’s response is a major win for South Carolina employers, Attorney General Alan Wilson and the 86 percent of South Carolina voters who believe that secret ballots are a fundamental right of all citizens. The South Carolina Chamber pointed out that secret ballots are the standard for elections through the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and “card check” has been merely a practice of the NLRB.

>> UPCOMING EVENT

HR Conference: New location and agenda

T

he 21st Annual Human Resources Conference, presented by Fisher & Phillips LLP, is May 15-17 at a new location, the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes. Hosted by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Human Resources Committee, this year’s conference promises to be the best Attendees take part in an educational session. yet with a new location and agenda.

In addition to the many new and exciting networking opportunities, there will be targeted educational sessions during the three-day conference.

Sessions will cover the latest on health care, the new union organizing initiative, the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Attendees chat at the 2010 HR Conference.

Act (GINA), new state and federal regulations and much more. The HR Conference has been pre-approved for recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute.

Conference registration fees start as low as $299 and include all conference sessions, materials and conference meal functions. A very limited number of exhibit booths and sponsorships are still available starting at $599. Visit www.scchamber. net for additional conference details, or contact Alexa Stillwell at (803) 255-2621.

Hotel reservations must be made on or before Friday, April 22 and can be made by calling the hotel directly at (800) 228-9290. The special group rate is $169 per night but cannot be guaranteed if the room block is full. All reservations must be guaranteed and accompanied by a first night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card. s c c h a m b e r. n e t | M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 1 | S o u t h C a r o l i n a B u s i n e ss |

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AFTER THE EVENT

>> AFTER THE EVENT

S.C. Chamber honors pro-business legislators at Business Speaks

T

he South Carolina Chamber of Commerce presented 17 South Carolina legislators with the second annual Business Advocate Award during Business Speaks at the State House, January 26 in Columbia.

Business Speaks at the State House is an annual gathering of more than 400 of South Carolina’s most prominent business leaders, constitutional officers and members of the General Assembly. During the town hall-style meeting, audience members asked the House and Senate panels questions about South Carolina’s budget shortfall, education, tax reform, tort reform, the port and health care. The House panel included Reps.

Bill Sandifer and Harry Ott. After Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell opened the Senate panel with a few remarks, he answered questions along with Sens. Hugh Leatherman, Harvey Peeler and Brad Hutto.

During this year’s Business Speaks town meeting, the South Carolina Chamber recognized members of the General Assembly who scored 100 percent in the Chamber’s 2010 Legislative Scorecard and are true friends of business.

2010 Business Advocate Award recipients included: Senate: Mike Fair (Greenville), Chairman Hugh Leatherman (Florence), Yancey McGill (Williamsburg), Nikki Setzler (Lexington) House of Representatives: Bill Clyburn (Aiken), Derham Cole (Spartanburg), Mike Forrester (Spartanburg), Speaker Bobby Harrell (Charleston), Chairman Jim Harrison (Richland), Jackie Hayes (Dillon), David Hiott (Pickens), Chip Limehouse (Charleston), former Rep. Lanny Littlejohn (Spartanburg), Gene Pinson (Greenwood), James Smith (Richland), Mike Sottile (Charleston), Bill Whitmire (Oconee)

Sponsors Presenting Sponsor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions

Platinum SCANA

Gold ALCOA, Inc. Bank of America BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Duke Energy Carolinas FUJIFILM Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. Michelin North America Progress Energy

Silver BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Colonial Life McNair Law Firm, P.A. Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Nestle Prepared Foods Company Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Greenville, Columbia, Charleston Offices) Palmetto Health SC Hospital Association Sonoco Products Company Waste Management of South Carolina

Bronze

Business Speaks attendees gather at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Jim Reynolds with Total Comfort Solutions (left) and Senator Ronnie Cromer (right) chat with another attendee.

AbitibiBowater Incorporated Allied Air Enterprises Inc. Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative Carolinas AGC, Inc. Coleman Lew & Associates, Inc. Darlington Raceway Delta Dental Denmark Technical College Ernst & Young LLP International Council of Shopping Center Liberty Life Insurance Company McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture Midlands Technical College Motorola Solutions, Inc. - Palmetto 800 Network Piedmont Natural Gas Roche Carolina Inc. SC Credit Union League & Affiliates The Electric Cooperatives of SC, Inc. Time Warner Cable Total Comfort Solutions

Contributors

Michelin Chairman and President Dick Wilkerson welcomes guests.

Speaker Bobby Harrell (left) receives the Business Advocate Award from S.C. Chamber President and CEO Otis Rawl (right).

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ArborGen Inc. Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce J. W. Hunt and Company, LLP North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau Novesis, Inc. Orangeburg County Chamber Of Commerce Sloan Construction Company, Inc. Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce

AFTER THE EVENT

>> AFTER THE EVENT

Palmetto Health Senior VP named Human Resources Professional of the Year

T

he South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) honored the 2011 Human Resources Professional of the Year February 8 in Columbia. The event, presented

by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC (Greenville, Columbia and Charleston offices), drew approximately 200 attendees from across the state. Willis “Trip” Gregory III, SPHR, senior vice president of human resources at Palmetto Health in Columbia, was named the 2011 Human Resources Professional of the Year.

During his acceptance speech, Gregory commented, “I owe much of this recognition to my wonderful staff and colleagues at Palmetto Health. I have learned that if you surround yourself with people who are much brighter than you, then you will be successful.”

In 1998, Gregory participated in the architecture of the merger between Richland Memorial Hospital and Baptist Healthcare System. In 2005, he led record-setting hospital employee participation and engagement scores. In 2007, he championed a major diversity initia-

tive for Palmetto Health and facilitated the creation of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Diversity Council. In addition, he spearheaded Palmetto Health’s transition from paper to electronic processes, including performance evaluations, employee satisfaction surveys and related tracking tools, benefit enrollment, hiring and data management.

The South Carolina Human Resources Management Award for Professional excellence was established in 1989 to recognize an individual for outstanding service and dedication to the human resources field. This year, Gregory was joined by 12 nominees from across South Carolina, and he was one of three finalists. The other finalists were Steve Nail of Hubbell Lighting and Allison Dennis of Santee Cooper.

The keynote speaker was Greg Blake, international chief encouragement engineer of PepWorks. Blake is a former leadership development specialist with Denny’s, Greenville Hospital System and BMW. He presented his inspiring and motivational presentation, We’re in the People Business... It’s about People Before Profits.

2011 HR Professional of the Year nominees: Melissa H. Anderson Domtar Deb Davidson, SPHR South Carolina Research Authority George DeCroes Jr. Eastman Chemical Company Allison Dennis Santee Cooper - Finalist Willis “Trip” Gregory III, SPHR Palmetto Health Gina Guilliams Springs Creative Products Group, LLC

Steve Nail Hubbell Lighting, Inc. - Finalist Rachel Platt, SPHR Metglas, Inc. Susan Rector, PHR, CLT Fabri-Kal Corporation Annette Rollins, SPHR First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc. Crystal Rookard Midlands Technical College John Slavich Human Resources Dynamics

Trip Gregory, 2011 Human Resources Professional of the Year

Sponsors Presenting Sponsor Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Greenville, Columbia, Charleston Offices)

Gold Sponsor BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Columbia SHRM Domtar First Federal Fisher & Phillips LLP Greenville Society for Human Resource Management Hubbell Lighting McLeod Health McNair Law Firm, P.A. Palmetto Health S. C. SHRM State Council Santee Cooper SCANA SCRA

Silver Sponsor Delta Dental Fabri-Kal Corporation First Citizens Bank Food Service, Inc.

Bronze Sponsor ALCOA - Mt. Holly Jackson Lewis LLP Jim Gray Consultants, LLC Metglas Inc. Midlands Technical College 2011 HR Professional of the Year nominees

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MEMBER NEWS

>> MEMBER NEWS

Atkinson

Bobertz

Chapman

Chase

Cole

Connor

Garraux

Grayson

Hauser

Hendricks

Hetherington

Hum p h r e y s

Johnson

Kilgore

Genova

Compiled by Matthew Gregory (Send publicity photos to: matthew.gregory@scchamber.net.)

The opportunity for Lowcountry students to explore careers with just a few clicks of a mouse is growing, thanks to a $15,000 Alcoa Foundation grant to The Education Foundation. Announced recently by Alcoa’s Mt. Holly plant, the grant will further the development of Virtual Job Shadows, free career exploration modules available to high school students, parents and educators through the Personal Pathways to Success website.

W. Foster Gaillard, a principal in the law firm Buist Moore Smythe McGee P.A., was recently elected to the Board of Governors of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL). ACREL’s distinguished, nationally-known lawyers have been elected to fellowship for their outstanding legal ability, experience and high standards of professional and ethical conduct in the practice of real estate law.

Ellis Lawhorne Attorney Michael H. Quinn Jr. has been named a shareholder in the firm. Quinn is a member of the Business, Real Estate and Finance Practice Group.

Erwin-Penland has promoted Rebeca Ortega to account supervisor and Kimberly Langston to lead designer, and hired DeVona Mitchell, Julie Morsberger, Allen Vailliencourt and Kinley Cothran.

Chernoff Newman recently won three InShow awards and two Wallie Awards for the agency’s excellence in creative design and health care-related marketing work on behalf of various clients.

Karen Luchka, an associate in the Columbia office of Fisher & Phillips LLP, is a finalist to receive the inaugural South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Emerging Legal Leader award.

Two Collins & Lacy PC attorneys have been named finalists in the South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Emerging Legal Leaders Award. Suzanne (Suzy) Boulware Cole and Robert F. Goings are among the top 18 finalists based on the significant impact they have made on the legal profession and the community at large. Brian Comer has been selected to serve as co-chair of the Products Liability Substantive Law Committee for the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association (SCDTAA).

Andrew Cole has been selected to serve as chair of the Construction Substantive Law Committee for the SCDTAA.

Scott Mason has been formally installed as the Fluor Endowed Chair in Supply Chain Optimization and Logistics in Clemson University’s industrial engineering department. The investiture ceremony was held to bestow the Endowed Chair Medallion — the symbol of the university’s most prestigious academic positions — on Mason and Fluor Corp. representatives David Seaton, chief operating officer and CEO-elect, and Jim Scotti, senior vice president and chief procurement officer.

Fluor contributed $2 million, matched by $2 million from the South Carolina Centers of Economic Excellence program, to fund the Fluor Endowed Chair of Supply Chain Optimization and Logistics.

Kara Sproles Mock, APR has been named assistant vice president of corporate and external communications for Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company.

Domtar Corporation has announced the start-up of its newly installed 50 megawatt bio-fueled steam turbine generator at its Marlboro (Bennettsville) mill in South Carolina. Domtar invested approximately

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$40 million in 2010 to complete this project. Domtar has entered into a 15-year agreement with Santee Cooper, South Carolina’s state-owned electric company, for the purchase of up to 50 megawatts of green power. The renewable energy generated by the turbine would be enough to power roughly 31,000 South Carolina homes.

Furman University’s Center for Corporate and Professional Development has received the 2010 InnoVision Technology Award for “Innovation in Education and Community Service.”

The award recognizes Furman’s new programs in corporate sustainability.

Furman University communication studies professor Janet Kwami has

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received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study how gender and new technologies intersect in the processes of social development among marginalized groups in developing countries.

Editors of the ABA Journal have selected Abnormal Use: An Unreasonably Dangerous Products Liability Blog, the official legal blog of Greenville-based Gallivan, White & Boyd P.A., as one of the ABA Journal Blawg 100. The ABA Journal describes its Blawg 100 as “this year’s 100 best legal blogs.”

Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina celebrated the grand re-opening of its new Beaufort Goodwill Retail Store, located at 137 Parris Island Gateway, on January 21. The new 25,000 square foot retail store features a drive-through donation center and a 1,000 square foot Job Link Center that offers free employment services, such as access to computers for job searches, assistance with resume writing and other resources.

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A. is pleased to announce that Clay M. Grayson, David C. Humphreys III, Courtney C. Atkinson and Christopher B. Major have been named shareholders.

Three associates have been selected as finalists in the inaugural “Emerging Legal Leaders” by SC Lawyers Weekly: Clay M. Grayson, William R. (Will) Johnson and Stephen J. (Seph) Wunder Jr. Five Mashburn Construction professionals recently completed the Cost Control and Productivity Improvement module of the Project SuperVISION® program, administered by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): Jason Bittner, Drew Coleman, Paul Diemer, Brian Johnston and Lindy Morris.

Attorneys Heather Connor, Kara Glidewell, Stuart Moore, Charles O. “Bo” Williams and Mikell Wyman have been elected as members of McAngus Goudelock & Courie.

McKay, Cauthen, Settana & Stubley P.A. (The McKay Firm) has received

Glidewell

Goings

Lexington Medical Center celebrated its 40th anniversary on January 20 with a series of special events honoring employees and community members who have played important roles in the hospital’s history and mission of providing quality health services that meet the needs of the community.

The hospital hosted a breakfast for four employees who have worked at the hospital since it first opened.

The 40-year employees are (left to right): Sharon Rogers, clinical supervisor; Ronelle Schumpert, monitor technician; Carol Jodie, clinical coordinator; and Danny Hugueley, senior application analyst. recognition in U.S News & World Report’s inaugural edition of the “Best Law Firms” publication.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) has announced that Sharon C. Bramlett has been reappointed by the governor as chair of the Council of Advisors on Consumer Credit for the agency. Bramlett, an attorney in the Columbia office of McNair Law Firm P.A., has been a member of the Council since 2001, serving under two governors.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau has been awarded accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). DMAP is an international accreditation program developed by the Washington, D.C. based Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). In earning the DMAP accreditation, destination marketing organizations (DMOs) communicate to their community, buyers and potential visitors that their DMO has attained a significant measure of excellence.

Hudson M. Rogers is the newest team member to NAI Avant’s Charleston Brokerage Group. Hudson will focus on retail leasing, tenant representation and investment sales.

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Calvin Gilmore, who is credited with starting the year-round theater industry on the Grand Strand with his Carolina Opry, was recognized recently at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President’s Gala for his impact on tourism. Gilmore was honored with the 2010 Ashby Ward Pioneer Award, bestowed each year on the individual who has best exhibited a significant, positive impact on the Myrtle Beach area. Former Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer also made a surprise appearance and presented Gilmore with the Palmetto Patriot Award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their fellow citizens and the state of South Carolina.

ABB Inc. Florence

Hargett & Associates LLC Spartanburg

American Board of Physician Specialties Tampa, FL

iSelectMD Hilton Head Island

Atlantic Broadband Aiken Biz 2 Biz Commerce Surfside Beach Bonitz Contracting Company Corporate Office Columbia Brookland Baptist Church West Columbia Carolina AAC Chapel Hill Concurrent Technologies Corporation Charleston The Desa Group Columbia Eat More Tees Columbia

Leading in South Carolina, a one-day event presenting an in-depth overview of the political and business environment in the Palmetto State, was held at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce January 19. New South Carolina executives and officers were invited to attend to enhance their understanding of South Carolina and discuss relevant issues with other executives from across the state. The event focused on major areas, such as the legislative process in South Carolina and current initiatives, education updates and current programs, and workforce needs and employment issues. After lunch, the group visited the State House and toured the Senate and House Chambers to connect with their area legislators.

Three companies have named Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough as a “2011 Go-To Law Firm for the Top 500 Companies” in litigation and intellectual property in surveys conducted by American Legal Media. Danaher Corporation named Nelson Mullins for Intellectual Property work as well as Litigation, while Norfolk Southern and Whirlpool named the firm for Litigation. The firm will be featured in the eighth annual edition of Corporate

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Counsel’s reference guide, In-House Law Departments at the Top 500 Companies.

The Richland County Bar Association has honored Steve Morrison, a partner with Nelson Mullins, with its prestigious Civic Star Award. The honor recognizes Morrison’s distinguished and meritorious service to the legal profession and to the public.

Nexsen Pruet Attorney Bob Coble

Electric Guard Dog Columbia FPL Food LLC Augusta, GA

Legare Bailey & Hinske LLC Mount Pleasant Masonite Inc. (formerly Lifetime Doors) Denmark McGuireWoods Consulting LLC Columbia Night Wind Transportation West Columbia O.B. One Communications Inc. Lexington Parsons Brinckerhoff Columbia Primesouth LLC, a Wamar International Company Columbia Regal Logistics Charleston S.C. Title Services LLC Hartsville South Carolina Central Railroad Inc. & Carolina Piedmont Railroad Darlington

Green Earth Services Inc. Columbia

has been recognized with the prestigious John W. Williams Distinguished Service Award, also known as the “Tootie” Williams Award. Coble, who served as mayor of Columbia for 20 years, received the award at an event on December 9, at the Columbia Museum of Art. It is the highest recognition given by the Richland County Bar Association and recognizes “distinguished and meritorious service to the legal profession or to the public in pro-

fessional related activities.” Nexsen Pruet has named Dan Leonardi, Grainger Pierce and Travis Wheeler members (partners) of the firm. Tushar Chikhliker has been named an Emerging Legal Leader finalist by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly.

Will Beverly has been named a supervisory civil engineer in the Charleston office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global infrastructure strategic consulting, engineering

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>> MEMBER NEWS and program/construction management organization.

M. Melissa Genova, MHRD has been named recipient of the 2010 PHTS Gold Award. Presented to one associate on an annual basis along with a plaque and a gift certificate, the Gold Award is part of the PHTS Associate Rewards and Recognition Program, designed “to ensure the work environment has a positive influence on motivation, satisfaction and performance of staff in order to enhance the performance of the organization.”

Presbyterian College President Dr. John V. Griffith has announced that Deborah J. Thompson has been selected to serve as the college’s new vice president for enrollment and communications.

Providence Hospitals recently named Thomas (Tommy) E. Suggs, president and chief executive officer of Keenan and Suggs Inc., an insurance brokerage and consulting firm in Columbia, as chair of the hospital system’s new Development Foundation. The foundation will assist in bridging the financial gap between the needs of the community and what the hospitals can afford to provide. Providence Hospitals recently named Rodney (Van) Hauser as director of Facilities Management and David Kilgore as director of Pharmacy Services.

Richardson, Plowden & Robinson P.A. Attorney Jared H. Garraux was selected as one of 18 finalists for South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s 2011 Emerging Legal Leaders.

The following people have been elected to three-year terms on the SC Economics (formerly the SC Council on Economic Education) Board of Directors: R. Jason Caskey, office managing shareholder, Elliott Davis’ Columbia office; David Charpia, senior vice president, Special Assets, Ameris Bank; Ted Creech, director, External Affairs, AT&T South Carolina; D. Christian “Chris” Goodall, chief executive officer, Aflac Group Insurance; Roger A. Huse, senior vice president, Anderson & Strudwick, Columbia; Burnet R. “Burnie” Maybank III, a member of Nexsen Pruet’s economic development, banking and finance groups; and Bruce White, public affairs specialist, State Farm Insurance. In addition, South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis has been elected to SC Economics’ Honorary Advisory Board.

Stephen Hetherington has joined the staff of Scott and Company LLP as staff accountant, Tax and Advisory Services.

Becky Laffitte, a founding member of Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, has received the Matthew J. Perry Jr. Civility Award from the Richland County Bar Association. The award, named after the U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Perry Jr., is bestowed annually to the judge and lawyer who best exemplify the word “civility” by exhibiting courteous and polite conduct while working in the legal profession. Tiffany F. Hendricks

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has joined the firm as an associate.

Spartanburg Regional is one of four hospitals in South Carolina that has been recognized with the Gold Performance Achievement Award through participation in the American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry’s (NCDR) ACTION Registry®-GWTGTM. ACTION Registry®–GWTG™ establishes a national standard for understanding treatment patterns, clinical outcomes, drug safety and the overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients.

Michael E. Chase, shareholder in the Columbia office of Turner Padget, has been elected to serve as legal advisor to the Board of the South Carolina Self-Insurers Association (SCSIA). Chase concentrates his practice in the area of workers’ compensation and is certified by the Supreme Court of South Carolina as a Certified Civil Court Mediator. He has been recognized by the Best Lawyers in America in the area of workers’ compensation since 2008.

Shannon F. Bobertz has been elected to shareholder.

UCI Medical Affiliates Inc. has announced that the renovation of its corporate offices located in downtown Columbia has been awarded Gold Certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. There are four levels of LEED Certification—Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. UCI Medical Affiliates is only the third building in Columbia to obtain LEED Gold Certification.

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has selected Andressa Chapman, director of marketing for Wild Dunes Resort (a Destination Hotels & Resorts property), as one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing” for 2010.

The eighth annual list recognizes the “best of the best” in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries. The recipients were honored during a private ceremony preceding the Adrian Awards Gala in January, at the New York Marriott Marquis, and were recognized at the Adrian Reception and Gala.

Kevin W. Mims and James E. Scott IV have been named partners in the Charleston office of Young Clement Rivers LLP. Mims practices primarily in the Construction Law and Longshore and Harbor Workers groups, and Scott practices with the Professional Liability and Retail Liability groups.

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Upcoming Events

ADVERTISER INDEX

March 10, 2011 Legislative Agenda Task Force Columbia

Alliance...........................................................22

March 16, 2011 2010 Safety Awards Columbia

Collins & Lacy..................................................15

Quality Forum Columbia March 24, 2011 Tax Committee Columbia Excellence in Education Council Columbia April 1, 2011 Environmental Technical Committee Columbia April 7, 2011 Human Resources Committee Columbia

Best Places to Work.........................................27

Darlington Raceway........................................25 Haynsworth Sinkler & Boyd, P.A........................1 Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce....21 Orkin...............................................................12 Parker Poe.........................................................6 Radisson Hotel & Conference Center..............25 Ripley’s Attractions..........................................19 Safety Awards.................................................26 Santee Cooper................................................22 Sonoco....................................Inside Front Cover Washington Night...........................................27 WorkReadySC...................................................4

April 13, 2011 Small Business Committee Columbia April 14, 2011 Legislative Agenda Task Force Columbia April 19, 2011 Washington Night in South Carolina Columbia Safety, Health & Security Committee Columbia April 20, 2011 Quality Forum Columbia April 28, 2011 Tax Committee Columbia Manufacturers Steering Committee Meeting Blythewood PR Advisory Committee Columbia

FOR ADDITIONAL EVENTS LOG ON TO WWW.SCCHAMBER.NET

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