March 2017 by VIP Magazine

VIP Magazine | March 2017

ISSUE 16

MARCH CONTENTS 10 Under the Dome Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.

12 Health and Wellness Roy McAllister

14 Innovate Startsville | 2017 StartUp Hartsville

16 All Access Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate school

18 Finance Bobby McGee

20 Paying It Forward Lighthouse Ministries

22 Professional at Play Angie Garrett | Pickleball

24 Advocating Healthcare Chiropractic Collaboration | HopeHealth

26 Dancing For Our Future Stars The School Foundation

29 Cover Story Raines Hospitality, Inc.

34 Developing Downtown Visit Lake City | Seth Kines

36 Experience Hartsville Mutual Savings Bank | Crystal Gardner

38 Tech Savvy Internet Retargeting | Shane Gebhards

40 Women in Business iWIN Leadership Program | Jessica Morris

46 Happenings Pee Dee Heart Ball

50 Health and Wellness Beach Body Ready | Dr. Edward Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Dell

52 All Access CSP Insurance Services

54 Florence Community Support Our Local Entrepreneurs | Mike Miller

56 Tax Prep Personal Tax Returns | Elizabeth Campbell, EA

58 Health and Wellness Sweet Tooth | Dr. Sharla Bush Price, DMD

60 Employee Spotlight Pepsi of Florence | Gerald Tisdale

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

Publisher Tammy Clark tmclark225@gmail.com Editor Heather Page heather@vipmagsc.com Proof Reader Sandy Welch Office Manager Tiffany Skipper jtskipp35@gmail.com Advertising Executive Mary Kevin Miller marykevinmiller@gmail.com Creative Design Tuesday Taylor

Contributing Photographers Heather Byrd Bradley Lail Milton Morris Fred Salley Jeff Smith Contributing Writers Elizabeth Campbell, EA Crystal Gardner Shane Gebhards Brian Hutcheson, DC Ella Lawson Bobby McGee Rion McAllister Mike Miller Jack Muench Dr. Edward Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Dell, MD,FACOG Dr. Sharla Bush Price, DMD Jordan Pupa Emily Stone

COVER CONCEPT

Raines Hospitality, Inc. is a staple in our community. They are committed to developing, building, and operating first class hotels and hospitality organizations to satisfy patrons and to maximize the investments of their partners. They are a local, family led business that the Pee Dee is proud to home. Milton Morrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision to capture this family in their element will forever make for a favorite VIP cover.

VIP Magazine | March 2017

A LETTER FROM OUR TEAM Take Time for You As we roll out of this extremely mild SC winter and into March, our minds begin to fully engage in planning our ultimate warm weather getaways. We spend long, cold, confined months planning and dreaming of perfect escapes complete with sun, fun, and relaxation! We long for exciting locations complete with exquisite accommodations and long lists of activities. The “perfect” vacation can look very different for different folks. Some look forward to action packed getaways; the kind you need three days to recoup from. Others picture fabulous weeks spent doing as little as humanly possible. This crowd looks to muster no more energy than would be required to retrieve a pineapplecoconut infused cherry from the bottom of an empty, froth covered cocktail glass. No matter what your getaway looks like, these highly anticipated breaks give us the time we need to disconnect and take a break from the hustle and bustle of our busy everyday lives. These trips and getaways may seem like luxuries, but in all actuality they are vitally important to our health and well-being. Yes, it can be daunting to find the time, money, and opportunity to break away from everyday life for the chance to reconnect and recoup with family and friends. Our schedules have become so busy and packed with “stuff” that it makes it hard to find time to slow down and enjoy the places and people that life has to offer. These little excursions take us away from reality and offer us small slices of time where we can allow the weight of the world to melt away. For mere moments we get to immerse ourselves in alternate realms with no responsibilities, timelines, or work pressures in fun, relaxing, and exciting places. So if you haven’t already, go ahead and request time off for that next vacation! Give yourself something to look forward to and begin dreaming and planning out the many ways you are going to relax and recharge this summer. Life is short and time is a precious commodity. As it always does, summer will quickly give way to fall, and gone will be the chance for tans and sand! Even if your summer ideas are to take advantage of the rest and quiet serenity that can be found in your own home, take the time to block it out on your day planner today! Whether it be the mountains or the beach we wish you happy dreaming and perfect getaways for the summer of 2017 from your friends at VIP!

-TEAM VIP Serving Florence, Hartsville, Darlington, Marion, Mullins, Lake City and the surrounding areas MARCH 2017 | ISSUE 16 2011-B Second Loop Rd, Florence, SC 29501 FIND US ON FACEBOOK

For advertising rates, call 843-687-4236. We welcome all contributions, but we assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. No portion of this publication can be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission.

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

UNDER THE DOME

ESTATE PLANNING Non-Tax Reasons to Plan story by Jack Muench For a significant portion of the last thirty years, many of our clients possessed taxable estates (a taxable estate is an estate whose value exceeds the “exemption amount”). As recently as 2001, the exemption amount was $675,000.00. Over the last fifteen years, the exemption amount has risen to where it now equals $5.49 million per individual. Since few of us are worth that kind of money, most estate plans no longer need to focus on and contain tax-oriented language and its related, complicated structures. Instead, clients and their advisers are able to focus primarily on non-tax estate planning issues. The purpose of this article is to describe generally a few of the more important nontax issues that arise in the estate planning process. The following is digested in part from Janice Forgays’ recent article in Wealth Management. Typically, estate planning clients are concerned with avoiding probate, avoiding taxes, providing for their families, and dealing with closely-held businesses. While “probate avoidance” can serve to

protect privacy concerns, it must be recognized that South Carolina has very low probate fees. The probate fee on $600,000.00 is only $845.00. Thus, clients are well advised to look askance when advised to pay for, execute, and fund a so-called “living trust.” The fees inherent in such a strategy may significantly exceed the probate fee savings; and such trusts almost never feature tax savings. As regards planning for spouses and other family members, consideration needs to be given as to the order of priority for providing for whom, when, and in what amounts. As regards preserving closely-held businesses, such matters are far better addressed outside the estate planning process, i.e., attention needs to be given to a thoroughly vetted succession plan. These items aside, there are other non-tax issues that should be attended to in the estate planning process. A critical issue involves family members or acquaintances who may seek unfair advantage once an individual has passed away. These matters often arise in situations involving a caretaker, a new love interest, or club or church beneficiaries outside what might be considered the ordinary course of client’s affairs. This problem can be ameliorated by every client maintaining a detailed inventory of assets and their values, informing potential

Jack Muench Concentrating in Corporate Law, Tax Law and Estate Planning

beneficiaries of what they are likely to inherit, and giving a copy of the inventory list and estate planning documents to at least one heir (other than the personal representative or trustee). Heirs with potential substance abuse or credit problems also merit close attention. It cannot be stressed fully enough that our society is plagued by substance abuse problems. Further, a credit problem is not just an overextended Master Card: it can involve a catastrophic, uninsured illness or accident. An estate plan should address what property can be made available to an heir with a potential substance abuse or credit problem. In such events, a will or trust should not feature outright gifts or mandatory distributions. A well-drafted estate plan will address these asset conservation and beneficary protection concerns. It is also important to recognize that an estate plan can serve to incentivize what the client regards as positive family behaviors. A will or trust can contain clear objectives that an heir will have to achieve in order to enjoy a trust distribution. In summary, the current $5.49 million per individual estate tax exemption signifies that non-tax planning issues demand close attention by the client and by the adviser alike. Such items are frequently of critical importance, even in what may be considered “modest estates.”

Serving Businesses and Individuals from Florence to Myrtle Beach: the Business Law, Litigation, Real Estate, and Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys of Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A. willcoxlaw.com

VIP Magazine | February 2017

248 West Evans Street | Florence, SC | 843.662.3258 2050 Corporate Centre’ Drive, Suite 230 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 843.650.6777

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

2016 Fitness Forum Member of the Year

photo by Fred Salley

ROY McALLISTER Investing in Life

Fitness Forum member of 20 years got the scare of his life back in April 2015… and he didn’t

even know what was happening. Out of town at an awards banquet with his frat brothers, Roy McAllister sat there as the numbness and tightness in his fingers continued to worsen. He knew things were progressively getting worse as he limped up to the stage to receive his award. Lacking any other symptoms, he went back to the hotel and decided to see if a shower and some rest would help him to feel more like himself. Around 3:00 am, Roy knew something was seriously wrong. He woke a few of his friends and after a quick verification of high blood pressure, Roy ended up at the local emergency room out of town. A few confusing hours and a misdiagnosis later, Roy’s wife, Debbie, and his brother, Michael, were contacted and the family traveled, along with his father, to bring Roy home. Roy went to Carolinas Hospital System the following Monday. It was only then, over 48 hours later, that he was correctly diagnosed with having had a full stroke and admitted to Carolinas for the next two weeks. It is a little known fact that, According to the American Heart Association, Heart Disease and Stroke are the number one and number three killers in the U.S. with S.C. leading the nation and the Pee Dee region leading the State. Unfortunately, Roy found himself like multitudes of Americans who struggle to recover from debilitating heart events year after year. Having developed limb weakness and walking with a limp, Roy was in for a long road to recovery. This guy who could previously bench press 400 pounds had to let it sink in that he may never walk quite the same again…but Roy wasn’t about to give up!

VIP Magazine | March 2017

story by Rion McAllister Upon instruction from his Doctor, and with the help of his Fitness Forum family, he adopted a different workout routine. By adding in more cardio, implementing shorter work out times, and focusing on lifting lighter weights, Roy has taken his recovery time into his own hands. He says in addition to laying off the fried foods and the sweets, he also walks on weekends and checks his blood pressure regularly when at the Fitness Forum. This man who just 18 months ago suffered at the hands of weakness and limitation had turned things around by making some adjustments to his routine and lifestyle. When we asked him what advice he had for other’s who were trying to overcome physical depicts due to stroke, Roy said to “Obey your doctor, take your medicine, exercise, and stick to your diet.” For all of the physical challenges he faced, Roy knows that he would not be here today if it had not been for his family. He owes special thanks to his loving wife, Debbie and his three daughters (Crystal, Angel and Dee) for their unending love and support. He also appreciates his loving brother, Michael, his church family at Mount Carmel Baptist Church and for the prayers made on his behalf by his late grandmother, Elle Mae McAllister. To make Roy’s recovery even more of a challenge, he would go on to lose both his mother and his grandmother at the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016. These losses combined with his stroke experience made him look at life a little differently. He feels he has a new appreciation for the gift of life and physical recovery. That’s why on any given day, you will find Roy investing in his life by investing in his health down at the Fitness Forum.

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

INNOVATE

GSSM Foundation’s Innovation Center Kicks Off the 2017 Startup Hartsville Competition story by Emily Stone On January 11th, the 2017 Startsville committee announced the 10 semi-finalist for this years competition. The semi-finalist are made up of several ambitious individuals, determined to begin or expand their goals as an entrepreneur. The Startsville competition offers incentives to help local entrepreneurs establish businesses in downtown Hartsville. The entrepreneurial startup competition began in October and allows contestants 10 months to build their business plans and present them in front of judges in order to be one of two winners. Winners are announced on April 10th at Black Creek Arts in Hartsville. The South Carolina Governor’s School of Science and Mathematics Foundation’s Startsville Center for Innovation, in partnership with the City of Hartsville, is offering an incentive package of $12,000 to each of the two winning entrepreneurs.

QUALIFYING SEMI-FINALISTS Wild Child - Nikki Belville Girls University - Ashli Smart 1000 Lives Gaming - Ashlynne Charlton Something Sweet - Akebulan Wallace Cafe Sole - Karesa Jacobs Potato-Potato - Shay Davis Z Desert Bar - Christopher Williams Mary’s Bridal - Mary Benjamin Strike Zone - Cory Watford Fruits of Forest - Diane Delucia Read further to learn how two semi-finalists have plans to become entrepreneurs.

VIP Magazine | March 2017

1000 Lives Gaming - Ashlynne Charlton As lovers of all things gaming, sci-fi, and fantasy worlds, Ashlynne and Will Charlton began exploring the opportunities of a store that would cater to these interests. They visioned a place people could go to have their gaming needs met and get their geek on. With that vision in mind, 1000 Lives Gaming was originated. Specializing in collectible card gaming such as Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Vanguard, they will also offer a host of other gaming methods including: in house console gaming, role playing, table top games and an arcade. They additionally cater to those who are passionate about the fantasy kingdom universe; providing comic books, graphic novels, and an array of merchandise that will keep even the most devout fan satisfied. Business Builder has been an invaluable resource during the planning period of 1000 Lives Gaming. The course is taught by Joshua Edwards who does all he can to ensure students have everything they need to create a strong business plan and are successful in business endeavors. “Brenda Kelley, who helps oversee the program, is involved in the classes as well and is a beacon of excitement and is always eager to answer any question or provide any information that would be pertinent to our business success,” says Ashlynne. “Dr. Kathryn de Ridder-Vignone and Startsville, Joshua Edwards, Brenda Kelley, and the Business Builder program have provided my husband and I with the encouragement, strength, and tools needed to add this much needed and wanted business to the community.”

Cyber Solè - Karesa Jacobs Karesa Jacobs is an IT professional with an extensive background in printing services and graphic design. During her career, she found herself searching for a cozy, safe place to work late or early hours to prepare for meetings or to print information for a presentation. Most businesses she visited closed too early or were open only during traditional business hours. Karesa believed she wasn’t the only one in need of these after-hour services, that’s where they idea of Cyber Solè evolved. With Cyber Solè, Karesa envisions a place college students and professionals can visit outside of the traditional business hours. The downtown office will be an internet (Wi-Fi) cafe that will offer small printing services and a snack bar. The plans are for it to operate on a 24/4 schedule (24 hours, 4 days a week). The execution of her future business plans have been greatly motivated by the Startsville competition. “Kathryn de Ridder-Vignone (Director of Startsville) has assisted with understanding the overall concept of how to run a successful business and what it requires to get started,” says Karesa. “Vision takes hard work, but it’s easier when you have Startsville to mentor you through the process and make you excited about it at the same time!”

www.startsville.com

director@startsville.com 145 West Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550 A partner with the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics Foundation

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

ALL ACCESS

A Hidden Gem Offering Next Level Education story by Jordan Pupa, Director of Marketing In August of 2016, Trinity-Byrnes started the academic year with a record-breaking enrollment number of 254 students in grades seven through twelve. Since then, the enrollment has grown to 257 students. Trinity-Byrnes is a college preparatory school that offers a rigorous yet flexible curriculum plus a wide range of athletic and extracurricular activities. Located in Darlington, the school serves students in all counties of the Pee Dee region. Since the school was founded, Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School has had a 100% college acceptance rate to four-year colleges.

are equipped with large flat screen digital televisions, AppleTV, and/ or digital projectors/screens. All students and teachers use iPads or other tablet devices with digital versions of almost all textbooks.

“Not only has the enrollment grown over the years, but also the strong educational programs and foundation in STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, offered to students at Trinity-Byrnes,” said April Munn, Director of Admissions and Communications.

Course offerings at Trinity-Byrnes are very broad, with unique classes offered in areas of Robotics, Forensic Science, Cinematography, iForce Network Management, and more. In Robotics, students gain an understanding of basic robotics design and object based programming. Students use the knowledge and expertise gained in the classroom to compete with other students in the FIRST LEGO League regional competition. Trinity-Byrnes took second place in the competition in December and advanced to the State Tournament in January. TBCS also won first place in Division II of the Pee Dee Regional High School Mathematics Tournament in December.

TBCS integrates information technology into each student’s learning experience. In 2013, TBCS became the first public or private school in the Pee Dee region to offer comprehensive school-wide iPad based teaching and learning through applications, electronic textbooks and flipped classroom pedagogy. TBCS offers a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) mobile program, with students using iPads in the classroom. All classrooms

In November, Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School received a $10,000 grant which covered the new addition of a Technology Club, known as the “IT Club.” The club promotes and advances the use of technology by teachers and students allowing for greater comfort and ease in the use of varied devices. The IT Club has the responsibility and oversight of recommending purchases and upgrades for the school.

VIP Magazine | March 2017

Left, bottom: Anatomy students dissecting a cow eye with the assistance and instruction of Mrs. MacPherson; Middle: Marine Biology students dissecting crayfish; Right: IT Club students

Faculty advisor of the club, Matthew Sanders, remarked, “The new club is a wonderful opportunity for our school. The future of education depends on how we manage our use of technology in the classroom. Thanks to this grant, our club will be able to help edify our faculty and student body as the 21st century classroom continues to evolve. Our classrooms began a transformation about four years ago when we became a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) school. That move has led many of our classrooms to become paperless in areas that recently required using much copy paper. The opportunities are limitless as we discover the wonders of recent technology trends, such as 3D printing and virtual reality.” Matthew Sanders is also an official Apple teacher. The IT Club has since purchased a 3D printer, which forms layers of material under computer control to create a three-dimensional object. Students recently had the opportunity to receive a hands-on lesson in 3D printing at the Gould Business Incubator’s MakerSpace on the campus of Florence-Darlington Technical College. In addition to the IT Club, the visual art classes at TBCS plan to incorporate the use of the printer into their classes to create 3D items. 3D art creations may be displayed at this year’s Arts Festival event, which is April 28th and 29th. The addition of the IT Club will help bring educational opportunities offered at TBCS to the next level for all students.

Contact Jordan Pupa: Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School 5001 Hoffmeyer Road, Darlington | 843.395.9124 jpupa@trinitybyrnes.org www.trinitybyrnes.org March 2017 | VIP Magazine

FINANCE

“Bobby, GO talk to

MR. CLEGG.”

Oh, how I dreaded those words.

story by Bobby McGee, Investment Advisor I was raised in a small cotton mill town in Georgia. As was the case with most families, both my mother and father worked in the mill. It was hard work for very little pay. Back in the 1960’s they each brought home between $45 and $60 per week. Needless to say, money was always tight. My mother’s close attention to every penny probably explains how they managed to raise a family of four on that meager income. While things were always tight, real financial disaster struck in 1964 when my father became disabled and was no longer able to work in the mill. Once he recovered somewhat, he picked up odd jobs, mainly painting, but jobs were sporadic, and so was his income. I was 11 years old. At that time, the local stores sent folks around every Saturday morning to collect the weekly payments for things like cars and furniture. All our furniture came from Henson furniture in Covington, Georgia, and the salesman who came around to

Bobby McGee is an Investment Advisor offering securities, investment advisory and financial planning services that include life insurance, IRA, 401(K), annuities, retirement plans, long-term care insurance and disability income insurance.

VIP Magazine | March 2017

collect was Mr. John Clegg, father of my very best friend, Glenn. On weeks when we didn’t have the money to pay, my parents would sometimes send me to the door to tell Mr. Clegg, “Mama and daddy don’t have any money this week; please come back next week.” I really don’t think that mama and daddy understood how putting me in the position of having to tell my best friend’s dad we were short on money would make me feel. There simply are no words to describe the embarrassment. Somewhere along the line, this event, and others like it (I’ll have to tell you my Christmas story some time) hard-wired me to want to go into the financial field to help folks make smart decisions about their money. Something I’ve been doing since January 12, 1974, so their children would never be put in the position of having to “go to the door,” to face the Mr. Clegg’s of today.

Contact Bobby McGee:

McGee Financial Group 546 West Carolina Ave, Hartsville, SC 843.383.4497 (o) | 843.229.2729 (c) rkmc@financialguide.com

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

PAYING IT FORWARD

What Are Your Post-Retirement Plans? Mary Wallace shares her love for helping others through Lighthouse Ministries story by Heather Page When we’re young, taking a risk and moving across the country to pursue our dreams can be intimidating. More often than less, the idea of the unknown is exciting enough to forget the fears and take a stab at the dreams. As time passes and the number of candles on our birthday cake increases, the fear associated with change seems to grow. Mary Wallace made her life in North Carolina. She taught French at a public high school, raised her family, and 33 years later, retired. After retirement, she found herself asking the same questions she asked after college graduation, “What now?” This question guided her to a second career, here in Florence, South Carolina. For five years, Mary taught French to students at Wilson High School before entering her second attempt at retirement. During those years, the Pee Dee made a great impact on her; she fell in love with the location and the locals. She particularly enjoyed the time spent and the family made while volunteering her time with Lighthouse Ministries. Not long after her move to Florence, Mary searched for a non-profit to share her talents with and was directed to Lighthouse Ministries. Mary was overwhelmed with the kindness she witnessed here. Every volunteer, along with the few paid employees, are evidently devoted to the betterment of our community. Mary explained about the organization, “It’s the community helping the community, that’s what I love about it.” At last, Mary found her place post-retirement, spending time with those in need of a listening ear and a little direction. Three days a week Mary dedicates her God-giving listening skills to the many individuals that visit Lighthouse Ministries every week, providing guidance when they are evicted from homes or when they are unable to pay an electricity bill, to arranging transportation and helping working mothers find their way. “We have developed a process to work with participants budgets to help suggest ways that may help,” Mary explains. A large majority of the participants that go to Lighthouse Ministries for help have never faced these sort of obstacles and are unclear of how to overcome them, volunteers and staff are equipped to assist in these needs. 20

VIP Magazine | March 2017

left: Mary Wallace; right: Lighthouse Ministries volunteers

Helping stabilize a community we love is gratifying. Mary constantly imagines how quickly her fate could change and how she could be sitting on the opposite side of the desk having someone help guide her through caring for disabled family members. She is fully aware of how the Lord has blessed her throughout the years and is prepared to do his work now that her career has come to an end. Mary is grateful for the opportunity to work with Lighthouse Ministries. The employees and volunteers work together so that the job is made easy. “We are blessed in Florence County to have a non-profit like Lighthouse Ministries.”

For more information or to become a volunteer, call (843) 629-0830 or visit www.lighthouseflorence.org.

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

PROFESSIONAL AT PLAY

WHAT’S THE DILL WITH

Pickleball? Angie Garrett Has Passion For The Game story by Ella Lawson

Game, set, match…pickle? I must admit,

when I first heard the term “pickleball,” my thoughts weren’t directed towards sports, but rather the tasty vinegar soaked treat found amongst the likes of Mt. Olive and Vlasic. (I’m a pickle fanatic, what can I say?) But after some quality research of epic journalism proportions, I discovered that although it has nothing to do with one of my favorite foods, pickleball is rather exciting. If you’re like me and have never heard of the sport before, well you’re in luck. After all, it’s never too late to learn something new, right? Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines aspects of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It can be played both indoors and outdoors, and is fun for all ages. Created in 1965 by three fathers who were desperate to find a new fun activity for their children, the origin of the name pickleball remains a great mystery….depending on which creator’s family member you ask. Typically played on a court the same size as one for badminton, pickleball can be played in both singles and doubles with a pickleball paddle (smaller than a tennis racket yet larger than a ping-pong paddle), a net and a pickleball (which has holes in it similar to a whiffle ball). According to Angie Garrett, a high school math and computer science teacher at Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School in Florence, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States. “It is easy to pick up, fun to play, yet can be competitive and addicting. The play is usually pretty fast back and forth. There are a lot of different styles of playing, so it’s fun to mix it up and play against a variety of players.” Angie started playing back in August 2015 when one of her friends who moved to Florida developed a passion for the game. “I contacted the club, who asked me to show up at a practice time, and they provided racquets 22

VIP Magazine | March 2017

Angie Garrett

and help for newcomers.” Florence has a pickleball club that has in its possession six courts outside at Timrod Park and two courts inside the Barnes Center. Angie has made quite the impressive connections since picking up the sport. “Pickleball players have become very good friends and are like a second family to me. When you play a sport, you really get to know someone because you see their determination, their sportsmanship, their humor and their camaraderie.” Angie and her fellow players have tournaments quite often and attend social events in order to support fundraisers. In addition to playing pickleball, Angie is passionate about her job as a teacher. “I teach a variety of math classes from Algebra 1 Honors to AP Calculus, and I also teach AP Computer Science. Our school also has two International Houses, and I am a house parent at one of the International Houses. I love teaching math and computer science. I love problem-solving and teaching students how to do that, too. Trinity-Byrnes is a great school to work. It is an independent school, which gives faculty independence over how they teach, and the faculty is outstanding. Administration is supportive and values faculty input. The students have more school spirit than any school I know! They are well-behaved, focused on academics and college prep, but also wellrounded. Faculty and students get to know each other well.” And luckily for Angie, the school is working towards creating a pickleball court for a student club!

Angie and her fellow sportsmen play pickleball year round. If you are interested in learning more or joining the team, visitusapa.org/places-to-play-pickleball/ or contact Ambassador Debbie Spinazzola at (843)944-0120 or debbie.spinazzola@gmail.com. They can also be found on Facebook at the Pee Dee Picklers Pickleball Club. “Come join us!”

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

ADVOCATING HEALTHCARE

Brian Hutcheson, DC

Optimizing Primary Care

With Chiropractic Collaboration

Chiropractor, HopeHealth Photo by Bradley Lail

story Brian Hutcheson, DC

Chiropractic care collaborations with primary care providers give patients a unique assessment; one that takes into account the patients’ physical form and deviations from their individual norm. Primary care encompasses a wide array of health services and does a fantastic job at prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Primary care often takes a mix of patient history, lab tests, and clinical reasoning to determine a medical intervention to bring back health and/or to eliminate symptoms. Chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between the body’s structure and its function. Chiropractic care is a philosophy, science and art; a system of adjusting the spine without the use of surgical means to correct areas with reduced coordination. Chiropractors follow the philosophy that form follows function. This means structures are formed in direct correlation to what they are meant to do. Like primary care physicians, chiropractors are trained to observe, locate, diagnose, and treat.

VIP Magazine | March 2017

Chiropractors focus on dysfunction in the structures of the muscles, joints, fascia, tendons, and ligaments. Treatments typically consist of adjustments to the spine, other handson therapies, exercises, correcting breathing patterns, and making changes to the way we walk. Treatments may be aimed at restoring appropriate coordination between tissues and bones, with the goal of restoring function and homeostasis to the body. Ideally, the goal of chiropractic care is to assist and encourage the body with its inborn capacity to heal. Research illustrates that chiropractic treatments benefit conditions in the musculoskeletal system, including the back, neck, headaches, arms, and legs. The ability of the chiropractor to diagnose and treat this system adds another layer of assessment to a primary care physicians’ diagnosis. Collaboration between a primary care physician and a chiropractor allows for treatment plans that incorporate both medical and chiropractic elements, are cost-effective, and patient-centered.

Such collaboration also allows both providers to see the overall picture of the patient’s health, helps avoid unnecessary tests and procedures, and provides the first lines of defense against internal and musculoskeletal conditions, many of which require and respond best to such co-management. This is especially true when providers are co-located and using the same electronic health record. While this integrative model is still in its infancy, and with opioid addictions a growing concern, primary care providers are recognizing the value of chiropractic techniques in pain management. When care is integrated, it allows for direct communication between primary care and chiropractic providers and results in optimum treatment plans. Many chiropractic patients find they are in less pain, have more energy throughout the day, are resting better, rely less on over-thecounter medicine, and feel better than they had prior to being part of an integrative approach to patient care.

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

DANCING FOR OUR FUTURE STARS

March 30th 7:00pm at SiMT

It’s that time again, and we are all very excited for the much anticipated upcoming Dancing For Our Future Stars event happening right here in Florence, SC! Previously known as Dancing with the Stars of Florence, the wildly popular fundraiser is put on yearly by The School Foundation and has grown more successful with each passing year. In 2016, the event raised more than $147,000 to benefit the schools of Florence School District One. From the kick-off at the Pairings Party to the night of the main event, local celebrities work tirelessly to perfect choreography to selected music that will ensure memorable performances the community won’t soon forget! This year’s sold out event takes place at Florence-Darlington Technical College’s SiMT building on March 30th at 7:00pm with a reception beginning at 6:00pm. Even though the event is sold out, there is still plenty of time to get involved by either voting for your favorite couple or by inquiring about sponsorship opportunities at www.dancingforourfuturestarsofflorence.com.

Contact The School Foundation:

320 W Cheves St, Suite 175, Florence, SC 843.662.9996 www.theschoolfoundation.org

VIP Magazine | March 2017

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Local Celebrities Dance the Night Away to Help Raise Money for The School Foundation

David Copeland, Savannah Grove Elementary School and Cheyanne Beck

Barnett Greenberg, Greenberg Real Estate, LLC and Meghan Burgess

Rev. Chris Handley, First Presbyterian Church and Brandi Williamson

Carl Humphries, HopeHealth, Inc. and Meggie Baker

Andrew Imbeau, ProMotion Rehab and Sports Medicine and Hannah Yarborough

Rev. Will Malambri, Central United Methodist Church and Katelyn Rodgers

Ashleigh McIntyre, Raines Hospitality Inc. and Cole Davis

Chad Patterson, Raldex Hospitality and Morgan Schoolfield

Rebecca E. Smith, Assurant Specialty Property and Tyler Jordan

J. L â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chipperâ&#x20AC;? Smith III, Smith Funeral Home and Georgeanna Kelley

Yancey Stokes, Honda of SC Manufacturing and Erin Haynes

Dr. Christy Prose, Carolinas Medical Alliance and Chris Mixon

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

VIP Magazine | March 2017

COVER STORY

ity HospitAtalIts Finest GREY RAINES | PRESIDENT OF RAINES HOSPITALITY PHOTOGRAPHY BY MILTON MORRIS March 2017 | VIP Magazine

COVER STORY • Hospitality At Its Finest

Hard Work, Integrity & Transparency story by Rion McAllister Before this age of instant information, the best way to figure something out was to go see for yourself. That’s why on any random night in the late 80’s, a car loaded with Mark and Chrisie Raines’s young children might be seen driving in and out of hotel parking lots in the city of Florence; the task was simply counting cars. Mark Raines, a budding entrepreneur, was questioned by his young brood, wondering what they were up. He told his youngsters that he had dreams; plans to build a hotel. They, like most people, were baffled. “Why, dad?!” they squawked, “No one wants to stay in Florence!” Mark grinned and drove on, maybe because he had a hunch about the massive industrial boom that would take place in the Pee Dee in years to come. Maybe it was that he could see that Florence’s positioning, on two interstates, made it the perfect travel stopover. Or maybe he smiled because he drew inspiration from premonitions reminiscent of the iconic baseball classic “Field of Dreams.” Whatever his reasoning, premonition or intuition; Mark Raines knew. So he told his kids with confidence, “We will build it…and they will come.” The unlikely catalyst for what has quickly become the Raines Hospitality dynasty was none other than a single gas station. Rock’s Texaco Truck Center opened in 1969 next to 1-95 on TV Road by the Raines family patriarch, Rock Raines. His young son, David, spent the latter half of the 80’s working second shift at the station. His days consisted of bussing tables, cooking food, pumping gas and generally filling in as needed. It wasn’t until the 90’s that Rock, Mark, and David decided to go into a family partnership together by opening both Raines Food Mart and the Texaco Auto Food Mart. Later the family decided, on little more than a hope and a prayer, to try their hand at hospitality with the opening of their very first property, the Super 8 Motel.

“After going out on a whim and opening the Super 8, I had no idea that this would begin our hospitality journey,” David recalls. Pieces of an entrepreneurial puzzle, destined for hospitality greatness, began to fall into place. David continued to focus his energy’s on the convenience store while Mark managed the Super 8. Mark had bigger plans for the hospitality side of the family business, dreaming of one day opening a Marriott property. Conducting his own research, he polled travelers to find out where they preferred to stay when out of town. It 30

VIP Magazine | March 2017

Standing: Grey Raines and David Raines Sitting: Cadie Snead and Chrisie Raines

seemed that the hotel that was turning the heads of traveling professionals was the Courtyard by Marriott. After exploration of several other hospitality ventures, in 1998 the Raines family opened their very first Marriott property, the Courtyard by Marriott. The rest is history as other financial partnerships and friendships have continued to grow the Raines Hospitality portfolio over the past 19 years. What started out as a few gas stations has quickly grown into a hospitality empire that will soon feature nine different hotel properties, over three different premiere brands, in three different cities, by the end of 2018. As the Raines family portfolio continued to grow, so did the next generation of Raines’ kids. Raines Hospitality epitomizes the true definition of a generational business with each of Mark and Chrisie’s four children, Grey, Will, Cadie (Snead), and Melissa, having worn many different hats in all the various departments at Raines Hospitality. From those experiences, they have gone on to pursue careers within hospitality. Three of the four continue to hold positions within the company. Melissa has taken a position with Marriott Corporate in a Revenue Management. Within Raines Hospitality, Will currently has taken a position involving Finance, Cadie is working in the Procurement of Furnitures, Fixtures, and Equipment, with Grey occupying his late father’s

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MILTON MORRIS

seat as President of Raines Hospitality. Chrisie Raines, Part Owner, has always taken a very active role in building the Raines Hospitality brand and continues to play a vital part in the day to day operations in the wake of Mark’s passing. Grey has an extensive history with the family company. Like his siblings, he too spent his high school and college years working in the Courtyard kitchen, picking up desk shifts, or assisting in the sales department. Grey continued to show a real interest and aptitude for the trade into his adulthood. With his father as his esteemed mentor, Grey has gone on to hold many professional roles including; SpringHill Suites Opening General Manager in 2003, Vice President of Development, and currently, President. Over the years he has cultivated a true propensity for development which has opened doors to new partnerships. The most notable partnership achievement came from the formation of Springbridge Development where he serves as Managing Partner alongside Chris Scott and Jay Ham. After recognizing the benefit of developing turnkey properties from the ground up, Springbridge was born. They have also added other projects to their portfolio such as the Rainwater Building, Waters Building, and Berringer Building. Their partnership with Springbridge has allowed Raines Hospitality to experience growth with no signs of slowing down! With the growth of new properties comes the inevitable growth of their staff. Being in the business of providing world class care for up to 90 families or business travelers, at each property, on any given night is nothing short of miraculous! Not only do they provide impeccable service, but they do it 24/7. At these properties, this is the experience you can expect; every hotel, every time.

With the small family-like atmosphere and amazing teamwork, it is easy to see why these award winning hotels always come out on top. “It is so much fun to work with a true team; one that pushes each other to improve constantly,” Grey says. Raines currently employees 160 associates and boasts amazing lengths of employment with three associates having start dates dating back to the early days of Rock’s truck stop! One associate even predates that; Mr. Eldridge “Elvis” Stephenson has been a part of the Raines family since the 1950’s. VP of Operations, Ron Glancy has worked on and off with the family since 1989. Ron knows how challenging each day can be but says they have a lot fun too. “The worst days in hospitality make for the most legendary memories.” In addition to the day-to-day fun these associates have, the company works to promote that sense of togetherness through different activities and the occasional appearance of their resident Elvis impersonator - Ron Glancy. What started out as a father and sons team has grown into the hospitality giant that is vital in the Florence economy. The group has received many awards including the 2016 Marriott Horizon Award, Developer of the Year award-Choice International, and the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Hotelier of the Year. Grey Raines was also named Business Person of the Year by the Florence Chamber of Commerce. If history is any indication of future performance, then we can expect nothing more than an incredible level of excellence in the years to come from home grown Raines Hospitality! March 2017 | VIP Magazine

COVER STORY • Hospitality At Its Finest

Committed to building first class hotels to satisfy our guests and to maximize the investments of our partners COURTYARD | Florence, SC Courtyard opened in May 1998 as the flagship hotel for RH, Inc. This 90-guest room select service Marriott is located on the corner of Hospitality Boulevard and Radio Drive, next door to the Florence Civic Center. It was transformed in November, 2010, to bring guests a refreshing new lobby and bistro restaurant, and again in August 2012 to update all guest rooms and public spaces.

SPRINGHILL SUITES | Florence, SC As land next to the Courtyard became available, RH continued to build their relationship with Marriott with the 2003 addition of the 95-guest room SpringHill Suites Marriott. SpringHill Suites was a Platinum Hotel Winner in 2004, 2005, and 2013 and has also been one of Marriott’s leading performers in terms of brand standards. SpringHill Suites underwent a full renovation in December 2011.

RESIDENCE INN | Florence, SC In 2009, RH grew once again with the opening of the Residence Inn Marriott. Opening as Florence’s only Marriott extended stay hotel, Residence Inn offers guests 94 suites with full kitchens in 8 different room configurations to choose from. Residence Inn features suites that are typically 50% larger than a standard hotel room. In addition to upgraded services and amenities, Residence Inn also offers complimentary weekly socials and is pet friendly to accommodate their furry, fourlegged guests.

HOTEL FLORENCE | Florence, SC RH partnered with a local investment group to develop a new boutique hotel located in downtown Florence. Hotel Florence, part of Choice’s premier Ascend Collection, opened in May 2013 after the renovation and restoration of four historic buildings on Evans Street. Hotel Florence opened with 49 guest rooms including the Grand Penthouse in the heart of Florence’s downtown revitalization district. In 2015, 16 guest rooms were added in an expansion that included the addition of an Owner’s Suite. In addition to maintaining Gold or Platinum status since opening, in 2016 Hotel Florence won the coveted Ascend Hotel of the Year Award.

VIP Magazine | March 2017

TOWNEPLACE SUITES | Florence, SC Marriott approached RH proposing the unique opportunity for them to complete their select service portfolio on Hospitality Boulevard with plans for developing the final two brands, one of which was TownePlace Suites. RH broke ground on the fourth Marriott on January 2014. TownePlace Suites Marriott in Florence opened in April 2015 and offers guests a new long term stay option. Located adjacent to the Residence Inn, the 89 guest room TownePlace Suites offers suites 30% larger than standard hotel rooms.

FAIRFIELD INN AND SUITES | Florence, SC The final jewel was placed in the RH Marriott Select Service crown when RH property recently opened their Fairfield on January 31, 2017 on Woody Jones Boulevard. The opening of this 86 room property by Raines Hospitality secured the position as the first ownership group to own and operate all five select service properties of Marriott on the same street, anywhere in the world!

SPRINGHILL SUITES | Mount Pleasant, SC RH expanded outside of Florence with the addition of a 110 guest room SpringHill Suites Marriott at Gateway in May of 2016. The attractively designed seven floors provides views of the Cooper River Bridge, 750 square feet of meeting space and inspiring suites & public spaces. All suites feature separate living and sleeping areas to enhance the Guest experience.

HYATT PLACE | Florence, SC Through the success of Hotel Florence and with a growing need for further development in downtown, RH determined that a 103 room, 5-story Hyatt would be the perfect addition to the area. Construction will begin in March, 2017 and it is anticipated to open in the second quarter of 2018.

COURTYARD | Cayce, SC (not pictured) 100 room, 4-story hotel, anticipated to open second quarter of 2017.

Contact Raines Hospitality, Inc.: P.O. Box 3932, Florence, SC | www.raineshospitality.com

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

DEVELOPING DOWNTOWN

Selling the City Seth Kines is named Executive Director for Visit Lake City! story by Ella Lawson

Just three years ago, there was no need, nor position in existence, for a Executive Director for Visit Lake City! However, due to the tremendous growth the city has seen, thanks in part to The Inn at the Crossroads and the always successful annual Artfields® event, the community was in great need for someone passionate about the rapidly growing area, someone who could help put Lake City on the list of small town comebacks. Previously the Director of Sales at The Inn at the Crossroads, Seth Kines’ current position is with Visit Lake City, SC! under the Greater Lake City Community Development, a non-profit organization.

In this role, Seth handles all of the branding geared towards drawing tourism into Lake City. He shares, “Finding passion is the easiest part of this position.” When it comes to new ways to promote his beloved city, the wheels are constantly turning in Seth’s mind, as he educates the public on what the city has to offer. A rather beneficial selling point is the 50,000-plus square feet of meeting space situated amongst their many revitalized buildings. While many small towns offer hotels and meeting space, the major difference in Lake City is the price point. With the addition of The Inn at the Crossroads and the renovated venues throughout the town, Lake City offers big city quality at a small town price. This is a major selling point for tourist and meeting planners. The primary goal for Visit Lake City SC in the first few years is to create exposure and drive traffic to the Greater Lake City area so that visitors catch a glimpse of what Lake City has to offer. Venues in Lake City include, The R.O.B., which boasts 22,000 square 34

VIP Magazine | March 2017

feet of meeting space, perfect for trade shows and large conferences, and the Jones-Carter Gallery. This former “feed and seed” is now a Smithsonian Certified Art Gallery that displays art from local, national, and international artist. Lake City is also home to Moore Farm and Botanical Garden, a 50-acre garden that aims to promote research and education in horticulture, agriculture, and forestry. Moore Farm helped lead this Tree City into becoming the first and only Bee City in South Carolina Seth enjoyed the years he spent working in hospitality; he was passionate about selling locations and spaces. However, nothing compares to the love he has for revitalizing and “selling” an entire town. He visits trade shows, where he competes with other states and larger cities (like Charleston and Greenville), but he isn’t easily intimidated. He is excited about what Lake City has to offer, and will offer in the future as it continues to grow. It’s inspiring for Seth to see the massive potential of Lake City. “We are all committed and passionate in working towards the continued revitalization efforts in Lake City and I am happy I can play a small role in this process through tourism initiatives.” While many businesses in small towns compete with one another, Seth assures that’s not the case in Lake City. Each business owner is supportive of the other, as they work hard to help their town grow and be the best it can be for residents and visitors alike. “They understand that if one business is successful, we all are successful.”

Most recently, Artfields® was presented the Charles A. Bundy Award by Governor Henry McMaster at the 2017 South Carolina Governors Conference on Tourism. Charles A. Bundy Award is given to the attraction, destination or development that helps rural communities reach their tourism potential.

To learn more about Lake City, visit visitlakecitysc.com.

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March 2017 | VIP Magazine

EXPERIENCE HARTSVILLE

FINDING SUCCESS

Through The Help of a Small Town Crystal Gardner discusses how the City of Hartsville helped grow her success story by Crystal Gardner photo by Infinity Images

As a native of Hartsville, SC, I knew from a young age how much I desired a career where I could not only help and give back to the community in which I live and work, but also stay true to my roots that continue their steadfast hold; keeping me firmly planted in many roles where I am allowed to use my life’s lessons and education to never lose momentum reaching towards goal after goal. I grew up in a rural area in Hartsville known to many as, “Kellytown.” Being from a small town has many advantages, but disadvantages are sure to follow as well. My parents (Jack Brown and Jean Brown Griggs) instilled values that keep my moral compass pointed in the right direction. Both blue collar workers (from Sara Lee Hosiery to Dixie Cup), my mother and father created an atmosphere at home that solidified hard work and dedication are imperative to living what you feel is a successful life. I learned from a very young age that I had to work tirelessly for what I hoped to achieve in life. That achievement is measured in different ways and varies with dynamic proportions from person to person. I have lived by the mantra of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you for many years (I dare not mention exactly how many); so far, that has worked pretty well for me. I didn’t get to where I am alone by any means. Remember that small town, it is engrained in me because of the people who enhanced my life journey along the way. 36

VIP Magazine | March 2017

From West Hartsville Elementary and Joan McLeod (the most wonderful Art teacher EVER) allowing me to color outside the box and explore many different areas of the artistic world, enabling me to delve into my emotions, and Michelle Darnell (ALERT-gifted and talented program coordinator and teacher) encouraging me to reach for the stars and beyond; to Coker College and Shirley Motley (Social Work Chair) who opened the doors to a new world full of people and projects I knew I could positively impact through my work in the community and my chosen career path. This all sounds so easy I know; BUT, boy was it a struggle to maintain active roles as a mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, co-worker, student, wife (used to be), active member of the community, etc., and not lose myself during the process. Coker College has an amazing Adult Degree Program that I was able to squeeze into my busy life. Mutual Savings Bank allowed me flexible hours when school activities conflicted with my work schedule. You may ask why bother with all the headaches associated with what I’ve written; there is but one answer - I wanted to be able to provide the very best for my son, Dalton, and prove to myself I could do the impossible. By the very best, I don’t mean materialistic things (although that is certainly one component), but more a road map; a way for him to one day accomplish even greater things than I could have dreamed by using me and what I have taught him over the years as stepping stones.

Now, a Cum Laude graduate of Coker College where I was a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society as well as the Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges, I have the honor and privilege to be the President of Mutual Savings Bank where I have been employed for more than 18 years and have served in many capacities, the most recent being Senior Vice President since 2007. I am also an active member of the community and serve on numerous Boards and Committees: Darlington County First Steps, Director; The Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee, Chairwoman; Leadership Hartsville, Graduate; McBee Athletic Booster Club, President; The South Carolina Bankers Association Human Resource Committee; former Hartsville Rotarian; The South Carolina Bankers Association Compliance Committee; The Independent Community Bankers Association Compliance School, Graduate; The South Carolina Bankers Association Graduate School of Banking, Lander University Graduate; Paul Harris Fellow; Women in Business Advisory Council; and the Coker College Business Advisory Council. I work with a great team of people at Mutual Savings Bank which makes this leadership role an honor. The Bank is well positioned for the future and has been a reliable, community banking source for the Pee Dee area since 1936; we have the support and confidence of our customer base and also previous management to thank. I am looking forward to a very bright future for Mutual Savings Bank and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Hartsville community, which is currently teeming with exciting prospects. This career allows me to give back to the community what it so freely gave to me while I was growing and learning; support, guidance, teaching others how to become financially sound, and providing them with the tools to achieve their own personal goals along life’s journey. We are all in the same boat so to speak, each playing different roles but none any greater than the other. That’s part of the beauty of life, everyone has a special and unique gift to give, and you must open your eyes and heart to see them all shine.

Mutual Savings Bank is located at 330 West Carolina Avenue in Hartsville, SC and offers an extensive variety of products which are serviced and maintained in the community we are proud to call home. Visit our website at mutualsavings.net or stop by the branch to receive additional information.

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

TECH SAVVY

What is Internet Retargeting? Learn about the ads that follow you around the internet story by Shane Gebhards, SVG Digital

How do businesses make ads that follow me around? This is a question we get asked quite a bit as a digital marketing agency. Websites like Amazon, EBay, and Zappos are notorious for using retargeting in their online strategy. We have all been on Amazon looking at that new product we want but for some reason or another did not make the purchase. You may have been distracted or had to park your shopping cart with plans to come back to it later. Next thing you know, you are back on your computer or your phone and you’ve forgotten all about your plans to make that purchase. You’re scrolling through Facebook and all of the sudden you see the exact product you had in your shopping cart in a Facebook ad right in front of you. Boom! You click the ad, jump back over to Amazon and finish the purchase.

How does retargeting work?

Who does it work for?

Retargeting uses cookies to stay in front of previous site visitors. When someone visits your website, a few lines of code will drop an anonymous cookie on to their browser. This cookie is a small file that stores information. The cookie will store the site visit, but does not store any sensitive information, such as the site visitor’s name, address or any other piece of information that might personally identify the visitor. When someone comes to your site, a cookie is dropped, and eventually, they leave and visit another site. The cookie lets you know when one of your bounced visitors appears on another site such as Facebook or any other site with ad space. This entire process is automated and occurs within a fraction of a second. By the time the page loads, the ad space will have been purchased and your ad will appear alongside the page content.

Any business can benefit greatly by using retargeting. Retargeting is very commonly used by e-commerce companies, and rightfully so, as it is one of the most effective ways to bring back bounced traffic and combat shopping cart abandonment. However, e-commerce companies are certainly not the only businesses that can benefit from this technology.

Contact Shane Gebhards:

SVG Digital 400 S Calhoun Dr, Florence | 217.652.9679 email: info@svgdigital.com web: www.svgdigital.com

VIP Magazine | March 2017

B2B companies, local businesses, schools, and event venues – these are all businesses that can benefit from staying in front of their target audience as much as possible. And these are just a few examples. Ultimately, any website that does not see 100% conversion rates is a great candidate. For most websites, only 2% of web traffic conversion the first visit. Retargeting is a tool designed to help companies reach the 98% of users who don’t convert right away. Imagine being able to reach those 98% percent of people on a regular basis who visited your website but didn’t make a purchase, set up an appointment, or take any sort of action.

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Engaging, Equipping and Empowering Women Jessica Morris explains the International Women’s Inclusion Network at ADP story by Rion McAllister

In today’s ever changing business climate, it has become more important than ever to focus our attention on promoting and supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. ADP understands and embraces this practice believing that through the exercise of workplace diversification and inclusion, associates achieve higher levels of personal potential and efficiency, leading to a more balanced and profitable business environment. It is with this very purpose in mind that one such Business Resource Group has recently come together out of our local ADP branch to form International Women’s Inclusion Network (iWIN). The Florence ADP branch operates one of only five iWIN business units nationwide. Sister iWIN branches out of Charlotte, Chicago, New Jersey, and Augusta, along with the other international business units, all share the same common purpose: to Engage, Equip and Empower women to achieve personal and professional success to drive ADP’s Business Results. Recently, the addition of this fairly new Business Resource Group to ADP’s impressive diversity and inclusion profile created quite the buzz among the strong female presence locally. Jessica Morris, Chapter President, explains that while the Florence ADP office 40

VIP Magazine | March 2017

could have joined forces with their international counterparts, the experience would have been much more hands off and not as beneficial an organization to the ADP and Florence communities. After she and four other dynamic female leaders at ADP completed the application process, they began to plan and perfectly execute their first Florence iWIN Kickoff event that included keynote speaker, Jeanne Madden, Division Vice President/General Manager AVS Tax Credits. Madden inspired the (40) Florence members and discussed challenges important to women in business today. After receiving an overwhelmingly positive response, the group has scheduled their next event, a workplace entitled Building Your Brand. The unique workshop will focus on topics relevant to the female workforce including less commonly addressed subjects, such as appropriate appearance and perception, to more instructive topics on how to create a personal elevator pitch. In line with the brands’ purpose, the workshop will level the playing field through education and sharing of information. The local chapter’s Leadership Team reaches out to members to gain invaluable input on how they would like to see the iWIN platform utilized. With those contributions,

Florence iWIN has plans for events such as participation in the Color Vibe 5K, starting a virtual book club, as well as, completing a scheduled Professional Headshot Campaign that will provide discounted headshots for members. The group will also be encouraging participation in the national iWIN program to Honor Women of Distinction. Women will nominate a woman who has inspired them and paved new paths at ADP. In addition to events to benefit the female membership, Morris says they will strive to keep in line with the healthy philanthropic ideology at ADP. The group has perpetuated ADP’s legacy through past partnership opportunities with organizations such as Help4Kids, Pee Dee Active Day Center, United Way, and Angel Tree. When asked what is on the horizon for this local chapter of iWIN, she says that they are looking at different community organizations to get involved with. Their main focus will be on increasing local engagement and seeking out community partnerships that are in line with the iWIN purpose. Morris says “We definitely want to stay relevant, fresh, and keep our members engaged. We feel like this could be the start of something bigger than we even realize.”

Florence iWIN Leadership board: Rhonda Cusaac, Lakecha Rainey, Jessica Morris, Kris Hylan, LeeAnne Tindell

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

AROUND TOWN

Healthy Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Event with Guest Speaker Rebekah Gregory

VIP Magazine | March 2017

1 Toni McGiboney and Sheree Meadows 2 Roxanne Hardwick and Allen Abernathy 3 Jessica Brown, Tammy Clark and Amy Pennington 4 Shawn Little, Sherry Nims and Sandra Sea 5 Mandy Dargan and Judy Dennis 6 Suzette Rynolds, Marjorie Turner, Ashley Tyner and Pam Reeves 7 Mary Wallace and Shirley Sebastian 8 Margaret Charles and Emily Finklea 9 Mary Ann Segars, Laura Pusser and Michelle Jones 10 Lisa Groome, Rebeka Gregory, Amy Crisp, Mari Kaye Haney and Amy Pennington

Annual Awards Banquet and Celebration On February 9th, the Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce recognized members of the community that make Darlington a special place to live and work. The Darlington Country Club hosted the celebration.

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

AROUND TOWN

VIP Magazine | March 2017

2017 Hartsville Greater Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Banquet

The Annual Membership Banquet was held at the DeLoach Center on Coker College’s campus and included a networking social, a delicious meal, and awards ceremony. At this event, the chamber recaps the past year’s plan of action; outline the new year’s plan; recognizes outgoing board members, and incoming board members; and presents awards to outstanding community leaders. This year’s award recipients include: Pilot Club’s Caregiver of the Year - Charlene Lloyd; Chamber Ambassador of the Year - Kelly Benton; Hartsville United Way’ Volunteer of the Year - Bonnie Bell; Hartsville Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year - D. Kim Cranford; Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award - Brandy Stellingworth and Carla Dutton; and the Will Woodham Person of the Year - Danny Johnson, Jr. 1 Shelli Wilson and Barb Steadman 2 Joanne and Greg DeLong 3 Julie Scott, Mark and Robin Hayter 4 Carmen Murphy, Bebe Chapman, and Austin Wheeling 5 Jenny Morrell and Connie Lane 6 Dennis Loff, Anna Byrd, Dianne Dennis, and Kevin McHugh 7 Russ and Yvonne Cranford 8 Tiletha Lane and Sue Shugurt 9 Suresh Tawari, Jill Lewis, Ben Dillard, Jennifer Mabry, and Terry Dingle 10 Will Carswell and Miesha White 11 Tim Browne and Ken Hughes 12 Jim Stock and Martin Driggers, Jr. 13 Gene Norwood and Jim Roberts 14 Anna Grace Hubbs and Teresa Redfearn 15 Nancy and Bobby McGee, Glenn Chappell, and Barb Steadman 16 Kathy Baxley and Rachel Van Oos bree 17 Quinetta Buterbaugh and Martin Driggers, Jr.

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

HAPPENINGS

MARCH 2017

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEATURED EVENT

PEE DEE HEART BALL Saturday, March 18 SiMT Building 1951 Pisgah Rd, Florence The Pee Dee Heart Ball remains the premier non-profit fundraiser in the region. The Heart Ball seeks to exceed standards of funding and community participation. On Saturday, March 18, 2017, guests will enjoy Silent & Live Auction items, along with an elegant dinner and live music, to celebrate the culmination of a year-round campaign to raise Critical funds. Auction Donor Benefits • Recognition as an auction donor in the Heart Ball program that is distributed to over 550 guests and used in year round cultivation • Auction display space for each item donated • Opportunity to provide marketing materials to display within the designated auction table space

2017 Pee Dee Heart Ball Chair, Kevin McHugh

Executive Auction Chair, Jay Lavrinc

Premier Auction Donor Benefits • All standard benefits as listed above • Auction item is highlighted on the Heart Ball website • Special recognition as a Premier Auction Donor at the ball • Generosity highlighted and recognized at the VIP Auction Preview Party.

Your Donation Makes a Difference • Heart diseases and stroke are the leading cause of death in SC • 1 out of 3 women die of heart disease • Congenital heart defects are the No. 1 birth defect and the No. 1 killer of infants with birth defects • Every 36 seconds someone dies from heart disease • Every 45 seconds someone suffers a stroke • Stroke is the leading cause of disability

FOR MORE INFO, VISIT PEEDEEHEARTBALL.HEART.ORG.

VIP Magazine | March 2017

FLORENCE 2..................................................................................................................................................... Kiwanis Pancake Supper | First Presbyterian Church 5p 4..................................................................................................................................................... Columbia City Ballet - Beauty and The Breast | FMU PAC 5:30p 7..................................................................................................................................................... Florence Welcoming Club Monthly Meeting | 7p 8..................................................................................................................................................... Educational Seminar | Genesis Cosmetic Laser Center 6p 9..................................................................................................................................................... Toby Keith concert | Civic Center 7p 10................................................................................................................................................... Lee Greenwood | FMU PAC 7:30p ‘Barefoot in the Park’ | Florence Little Theatre 7:30p 11.................................................................................................................................................... Pacing for Pieces Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk | Salvation Army 8:30a ‘Barefoot in the Park’ | Florence Little Theatre 7:30p 12................................................................................................................................................... Garden Bros. Circus | Civic Center 1p, 3:30p, 6p ‘Barefoot in the Park’ | Florence Little Theatre 3p 14-18............................................................................................................................................. ‘Barefoot in the Park’ | Florence Little Theatre 7:30p 15................................................................................................................................................... Lighthouse Ministries Annual BBQ Fundraiser | St. Johns Church 17................................................................................................................................................... SCDT Sleeping Beauty | FMU PAC 7:30p Lucky Shamrock event | Downtown 5:30p 18................................................................................................................................................... SCDT Sleeping Beauty | FMU PAC 3p Trekking for Trisomy 5K Run/Walk | Lynches River Co Park 7:30a 19................................................................................................................................................... SCDT Sleeping Beauty | FMU PAC 3p 20.................................................................................................................................................. Breathe | Palmetto St Church of God 6p First Day of Spring 23.................................................................................................................................................. M*A*R*C*H* (Real Talk for Men) | BCM-FMU 7p The Price is Right Live | Florence Civic Center 7:30p 25.................................................................................................................................................. The Comedy Get Down | Civic Center 8p 27.................................................................................................................................................. Florence Symphony & Masterworks Choir | FMU PAC 7:30p 29.................................................................................................................................................. Fashion Week begins 30.................................................................................................................................................. A Choice 2 M8K 2017 Gala | New Spring Church 6:30p Dancing for Our Future Stars | SiMT 6p WEEKLY EVENTS Wednesdays............................................................................................................................. Wine Down Wednesday | Dolce Vita 7:30p Thursdays.................................................................................................................................. Trivia Night | Southern Hops 7p Saturdays................................................................................................................................... City Center Farmer’s Market | Downtown 9a

DARLINGTON 4............................................................................................................................................. SBA of SC Bluegrass Concert | Darlington Music Hall 4p 11............................................................................................................................................ Color Vibe 5k | Darlington Raceway 9a 15........................................................................................................................................... Professional Women Group meeting | Darlington Country Club 12p 25.......................................................................................................................................... Kiwanis Club’s Annual Oyster Roast | Checkered Flag Club

HARTSVILLE 3............................................................................................................................................. Vocational Rehab Awareness Fair | Memorial Library 11a-2p 6............................................................................................................................................. Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn for SBA | 12p 16........................................................................................................................................... 2017 Business Expo & Career Fair | Deloach Center 5:30p 24.......................................................................................................................................... 2017 State of Education Breakfast | Hartsville Country Club 8a 24-26................................................................................................................................... Renofest

LAKE CITY 10........................................................................................................................................... Customer Appreciation Day | KG Smith & Co 16-19..................................................................................................................................... ‘Guys and Dolls’ | LC Community Theatre 22.......................................................................................................................................... 21st Celebration of FDTC | Lake City Campus 5:30p 24-25................................................................................................................................... Bulbapalooza | MFBG

DILLON 25.......................................................................................................................................... DCFMC 5K Walkathon | Dillon County Wellness Center

M A R C H March 2017 | VIP Magazine

TIME TO TOAST

Local Salute

FMU School of Education Presents Alumni Awards

Bibler and Alston

Two Francis Marion University School of Education alumni received awards at the School of Education’s annual recognition reception on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The Novice Educator Award was presented to L’Imari J. Alston (’15), and Lindsey K. Bibler (’08) received the Veteran Educator Award.

BREATHE Concert Held to Benefit House of Hope On January 16, BREATHE presented a check to House of Hope of the Pee Dee for $8600. Proceeds were from the Danny Gokey Concert.

SCATE Inc. Donation Supports SCATE Center of Excellence at FDTC SCATE Inc., a non-profit company dedicated to systemic change in advanced technological education, recently donated over $20,000 to the FlorenceDarlington Technical College (FDTC) Educational Foundation for new office furniture at the South Carolina Advanced Technological Education (SCATE) Center of Excellence. The SCATE Center implements projects funded by the National Science Foundation to expand excellence in technician education. Initially funded in 1994, SCATE Center moved to FDTC from the SC Technical College System office in September 2001 with surplus state Tech System furniture and one employee. At FDTC, the Center has thrived and reached new levels of national prominence and funding success. With a growing staff to implement new projects and sustain innovations previously initiated, an updated and more efficient workspace was needed. In 2015, the SCATE Center moved from the 5000 Building to the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT) Advanced Manufacturing Center. Existing SiMT office furnishings have been upgraded, as a result of a generous donation of $22,634 from SCATE Inc.

Carolinas Hospital System Wears Red In celebration of Go Red for Women, Carolinas Hospital System staff wore red on February 3. During the newspaper route, directors/managers gave each female patient a red carnation to bring awareness to women and heart disease and to celebrate the AHA “Go Red for Women” Day.

FMU School of Business Honors McCall The Francis Marion University School of Business awarded Carla McCall with the Morgan B. Coker Outstanding Alumni Award for 2017 on Friday, Feb. 10. McCall, a 2003 graduate of Francis Marion with a degree in Finance, is the director of business operations at McCall’s Supply Inc. – a wholesale HVAC distributor located in Johnsonville, S.C. The award is named for Morgan Coker, the first dean of FMU’s School of Business and is one of the top honors that can be bestowed upon a graduate of the school.

Florence Civic Center Shows Appreciation to SNAC

Florence Civic Center would like to say “Thank You” to our good friends at SNAC (Shelter and Nutrition for All Children) for teaming up with us during the 2016 Ice Skating season. And thanks to all our fans and friends for coming out to ice skate! Because ice skating was such a success, we were able to raise and donate over $11,000 to the SNAC program. These funds will go towards helping children in the Pee Dee who need it most. We’re honored to help support such a worthy cause. Read more at http://bit.ly/skate17_snac #Community #helpingkids #FloCenter

In the Spotlight Duke Energy Grant Helps FMU Restore and Explore Native Pine Forests Francis Marion University was recently awarded a $34,800 grant by Duke Energy to expand restoration of the native longleaf pine forest of the Windham Environmental Center located in Lamar. The grant will also allow for the development of educational materials related to the center and provide research and educational equipment for students and faculty. The 44-acre tract of land features a diverse ecosystem that provides a valuable opportunity for experiential learning for both Francis Marion University students and faculty. Dr. Jeffrey Camper, a Francis Marion biology professor, said the grant will help in sustaining a treasured educational tool. The Windham Environmental Center has been a key pillar of the university’s experiential learning since 2008, but as time passes and the ecosystem continues to mature and expand, it will become more important and versatile in continuing the university’s research efforts.

Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School Raises $160,000 at Annual Gala Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School held its annual Gala and Auction event on February 4th in the Sonoco Gymnasium on campus. The theme this year was vintage circus, “An Evening Under the Big Top.” The event consisted of both a silent and live auction with items donated by friends and families of TBCS, and businesses in the Pee Dee area. Guests were greeted with cotton candy cocktails and there was a juggler for entertainment. The menu, by Out In Left Field Catering, consisted of fun circus foods. There was a dessert spread featuring Ma Calcutt’s Pamplico Cookies in circus shapes and a candy bar with gumballs and marshmallow circus peanuts. The event raised approximately $160,000 for Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School! Thank you to all of our event sponsors, auction item donors, and to all of our volunteers for making the event such a success!

Buterbaugh begins 3-year Term on Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Board Quinetta Buterbaugh, president of the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce, will serve on the 2017 Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) Board. CACCE’s mission is to equip Chamber of Commerce professionals with leadership skills and tools to build innovative chambers. As president, Buterbaugh is responsible for leading the chamber in its mission: to be a catalyst for community success through member support and advocacy. Her knowledge and experience in budget planning, strategy, and execution; event planning; and project management will serve as an asset to the CACCE board and in driving their mission. “I look forward to serving on the CACCE board and helping to shape the development of chamber of commerce executives and learning from peers across the two states. Compared to other chambers, the Hartsville chamber is small, but we offer valuable benefits to our members. Serving on the CACCE board will be an effective leadership development tool for me and will allow us to adopt best practices from other successful chambers,” said Buterbaugh. The CACCE organization was formed in August 1994 when the North and South Carolina state chamber associations merged. There are 21 members of the CACCE Board that include both small and large chambers in North and South Carolina. The Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce is a membershipbased business advocacy organization founded in 1910. The Chamber provides a voice for local businesses, supports economic development, and promotes the vibrant and personal community that makes Hartsville appealing to businesses and residents.

Florence Resident Honored for Volunteer Service to Tennis On January 21, Florence resident Paul Pittman received one of the South’s most prestigious awards for volunteer service to the sport of tennis. Pittman was presented the 2016 Charlie B. Morris Service Award at the annual meeting of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southern Section in Atlanta by Association President Derek White. This award is presented annually to the volunteer from the nine-state Southern region who best exhibits exemplary volunteer spirit at the local, State, Sectional, and National levels. Pittman is a Past President of the award winning Florence Tennis Association and currently serves on the organization’s Board of Directors as its Development Chair. Over the years he has organized and procured grant funding for a number of youth tennis programs in Florence, including programs for at-risk and Hispanic children. For the past four years he has been Marketing and PR Chair for the McLeod for Health Florence Open, the area’s only professional tennis event.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

BEACH

BODY

READY Get Smooth Legs with VASER SMOOTH story by Dr. Edward O’Dell, M.D., FACOG

Finally, March is here. Daylight-saving time is back and spring is here in about 3 weeks. You are starting to think about shorts and bathing suits but then you look down and “YIKES, CELLULITE.” Now you remember why you always wore a cover-up or longer shorts last year. This year, be ready with VASER SMOOTH. There are many treatments that promise to eliminate Cellulite but most are only temporary. Vaser Smooth, however, gives you a lasting permanence not found in most other treatments. With VASER SMOOTH, a small amount of numbing solution is placed under the skin of the leg through a small puncture site. After adequate numbing, the VASER SMOOTH instrument is guided specifically to the marked cellulite bands and the bands are severed and sealed with ultrasonic pulses. Because of the permanent damage to the cellulite bands, they do not grow back together so that you have lasting results. Compare that to the many external cellulite treatments that only suction the skin and “pop” the bands giving you a temporary smoothing. Unlike with VASER SMOOTH the bands are not permanently damaged and will grow back in a matter of 3-6 months. The difference is that by ultrasonically cutting and sealing each band with VASER SMOOTH, those bands will not reform. VASER SMOOTH is performed in our office at Genesis Cosmetic Laser Center and only takes about an hour or so to get you on the road to smoother legs. It can be done as a stand-alone procedure or in 50

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conjunction with LipoSculpting the legs if reshaping or reducing the legs is desired. The technology is amazing and has proven itself worldwide as one of the best longterm solutions to cellulite.

Don’t hide your legs this Spring and Summer. We have the solution at Genesis. Call us today at 843.669.2220 for a FREE consultation and learn more about VASER SMOOTH and our other offerings to make you BEACH BODY READY.

Contact Dr. Edward O’Dell:

Geneis Cosmetic Laser Center 1273 Celebration Blvd, Florence 843.679.2220 www.genesiscosmeticlasercenter.com

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

ALL ACCESS

Sitting, left to right: Robin McCluney and Kathy Copeland. Standing, left to right: John Crouch, Jennifer Brault, Paul Grich, June Bissette, Kathie Messerle, Weston Patterson, Richard Walker, Deloris Knox, Jay Campbell, Sharmon Williams, Lawson Walker, Trenita Eaddy Green, and Roger Jordan

Small Office Understanding Business in a Big Way story by Rion McAllister It is an absolute necessity in the background of economy and is as essential as air to protect both our personal and professional assets. Insurance. Insurance is the thing that we never think about until something terrible occurs and it is NEVER used on our best days. Inevitably, life happens and when tragic loss occurs you can only hope that your insurance agent is a familiar face; someone who is knowledgeable and truly has your best interests at heart.

Finding this type of passion for helping others, in today’s business climate, can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Many make claims to such care and concern, but to walk into a company and get a real feel of personalized client investment mixed with knowledgeable and professional 52

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associates is a thing of beauty; a gift that takes years to perfect. This is precisely the atmosphere you can expect when you walk through the doors of Cormell, Streett and Patterson (CSP). More than 63 years ago Weston Patterson joined Clifford Cormell and Earnest Streett in a joint real estate and insurance venture that would go on to change the landscape of insurance in the Florence area. CSP was originally formed as a real estate endeavor in 1941 by developer Clifford Cormell. With the addition of Streett (1946) and Patterson (1950’s), the company began to focus their energies on insurance and CSP Insurance Services has been thriving since. CSP started out downtown above the Royal Knight building in the 1940’s, went on to reside on Coit for over 35 years and has recently landed at their present location on Hoffmeyer road in 2015. Patterson says of all of the change he’s been privileged to see, he’s been most amazed at the technological advances that has been implemented over the past half a millennium. He and associate John Crouch who joined the company as Sales Representatives in 1974, muse reminiscing about the

exhaustive amounts of paperwork that they used to see. They are amazed at how the days of organizing paperwork, finding files, and sorting boxes of mail have given way to electronic billing and smart phones! Even though technology has come a mighty long way from typewriters and Durango Computers, every associate at CSP agrees that the element of the business that hasn’t changed is the way relationships are built. When asked what the most rewarding part has been for him over the years, Patterson replies “We come into contact with all types of people. It is very flattering when they choose us to do business with and we’ve developed a lot of wonderful friendships.” Crouch, who retired 4 years ago, continues to come into the office daily to maintain the accounts of his long-term customers who he refers to as friends. Roger Jordan who has 29 years with the company, also says that CSP is arguably one of the best places to work in the area stating the level of expertise and length of industry experience is unbeatable. “CSP tries to foster an atmosphere of family year after year.” Jordan believes that that attitude towards relationships combined with their unmatched service capabilities in the commercial and residential realms will keep them growing along with their neighbors in the community for years to come.

The small office understands business in a big way. This is proven by their vast number of clients, many of which who have been with them for decades and multiple staffers of extremely long tenures. CSP has perfected the coveted professional artistic ability to train and retain top talent while suffering minimally at the hands of costly turnover. That being said, they give every bit of the credit back to the clients that have made them successful along the way. Kathy Copeland, who has been with the company for 25 years, says, “We have great customers. We are able to do big business in Florence because the Florence community supports us as an agency and that makes it easy.” All of the associates at CSP are grateful to the community for their support. In return, they are very committed to the betterment of the community and take on charitable and civic responsibilities in organizations such as; Florence County Disabilities, FMU Foundation, United Way, Help 4 Kids, Florence Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Florence just to name a few.

At CSP this tradition of real service based on relationships has become something of a generational trend. Company President, Richard Walker, Patterson’s son-in-law, joined CSP in 1982. He says that over the years, some of the most enjoyable parts of his job has been really getting to learn the inner workings of his clients businesses. In order to stay current and fresh, the company began to seek out an infusion of new talent that would complement their existing team of industry experts. In 2015, Richard reached out to his son, Lawson Walker. After three years in transactional sales, the timing was right and Lawson made the move to CSP where he would be afforded the opportunities to develop the relationships with his customers that sales in the DC area had denied him. With the addition of Lawson, Richard continues to look to the future of CSP. When asked what he sees in store, he plans to continue taking things one day at a time; focusing on meeting the needs of his clients.

“As the Pee Dee grows, we will be growing right along with it.” In the meantime, he and the dynamite team at CSP will continue to build friendships and compassionately serve those of their customers who are having the worst of days. He says, “No one likes a claim when it occurs but if it helps someone overcome catastrophic loss, it’s worth it.”

Contact CSP Insurance Services:

2420 Hoffmeyer Rd Suite D, Florence, SC | 843.665.9349 www.csp4me.com

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

FLORENCE COMMUNITY

Help Support Our

LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS story by Mike Miller, President of Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce I have heard that starting a small business is a lot like falling in love—it is exciting and yet terrifying at the same time. Fortunately, many people take on the risks for various reasons. Mostly, there is just something incredibly attractive about pursuing the opportunity to direct one’s own fate and being an entrepreneur. The University of Phoenix (Zetlin, Minda. Inc.com.) reports 63 percent of adults under the age of 30 want to run their own business someday. We believe that in the future, there will be more and more opportunities to actually become that small business owner.

While our larger businesses are incredibly important to our communities, they too were small at one time. Putting things in perspective, small businesses inspire and are the genesis of much of today’s innovation. In addition, as you look around town and throughout our communities, we should find ways to help support

our local entrepreneurs. They are the backbone of our goods and service sectors here, and across the great state of South Carolina. Saluting local small businesses should not be a once a year celebration. It should be an ongoing commitment to hearten our future workforce by supporting today’s risk taking entrepreneurs.

Here are some interesting facts from the Small Business Administration on startup businesses across the United States. First, did you know more than 50 percent of the 120 million Americans in the workforce works in a small business? How about the fact that the average revenue for a small business is in the $44,000 bracket? Obviously, many small business owners derive their satisfaction from being their own boss rather than becoming rich. Yet, others grow their business into hundreds of thousands, to more than a million dollars of revenue. Digging deeper, we find that it costs six times as much to start a small business in India as it does in the U.S. The hurdles in China are even greater. There is a reason people from around the world still believe in the American dream. On a related note, a study by Forbes shows more than twelve percent of small businesses are made up of immigrants from other countries, reflecting that diversity is essential in the workplace. So, the opportunity door is wide open to those willing to take the risks in being your own boss. Especially here in South Carolina. 54

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BECOME A MEMBER

Contact Mike Miller:

Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce 100 W Evans St, Florence | 843.665.0515 email: mmiller@flochamer.com web: flochamber.com

Membership levels for every business, at every stage of development. Make the one networking decision that could greatly impact your connections in the community- join the Chamber today!

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

TAX PREP

Marching Through Personal Tax Returns story by Elizabeth Campbell, EA

Psst! Hey you! The one in the corner covering your eyes! Personal Tax Returns are due in less than five weeks! If you have not done your return yet, repeat after me, “I will not panic, I will open all of those envelopes I shoved in the drawer that say important tax document and I’m going to get this thing done!” I know you love taxes as much as you love going to the dentist. I have heard this thousands of times in my 25 year career. You hate it because it is not your specialty. You hate it because the IRS intimidates you. You hate it because you do not understand it. So find someone that is properly educated and trained to do your return and have the peace of mind that it is done correctly. You wouldn’t give yourself a root canal would you? So why would you do your own return on a program that does not know you personally, has not gone to school to do returns, and can only ask the questions you prompt it to? And…some of you just had a light bulb moment. Do your research and ask your friends who processes their personal return. Find someone you are comfortable with and start writing your tax story with them because it is just that, a story of your finances that has to be updated every year. The goal is for you to be comfortable with your tax preparer, let them know during the year if you think you are going to do something that will affect your taxes and let them help you adjust and plan for not only this tax year but for the future. Life changes and those changes affect your tax return. You can worry about those changes or you can strategize to make them work for you. A tax return is only a snap shot of what has happened financially during the year. You are putting it on paper and yes, it goes to the IRS, but do you know

VIP Magazine | March 2017

how many returns they get during a tax season? I do not know either but it is a lot. Your return is probably not that special to them unless you make it special by claiming your dog, writing off a divorce as a bad debt, “borrowing” a random child’s social security number from a random mama, not getting receipts for the donation you gave to the “Bible Giver Guy” that rang the doorbell, etc (yes, all true stories and they were glad I stopped them from being special to the IRS). The bottom line is the IRS is matching items they receive in your social security number to make sure you correctly reported it and that your deductions MAKE SENSE. Keep your receipts and all other tax related info for 7 years and have a tax preparer that knows you and your situation. IF your return hits special status, you are then properly equipped to prove you are on the up-and-up and you have someone with a designation to work with the IRS to march in front of you leading the fight. I’m pretty sure that tax program you may be using cannot defend you with the IRS nor does it have a special number to call in case of emergency.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Campbell, EA owns Campbell Accounting Solutions, LLC. Call (843) 662-9700 or email taxinfo@campbellgroupsc.com for your tax solutions.

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

SWEET TOOTH Did you know that oral complications can be caused by diabetes? story by Dr. Sharla Bush Price, DMD

Today, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of deaths in the United States. There are 29.1 million Americans that have diabetes, and of the 29.1 million, 8.1 million are undiagnosed. Every year, 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. The first medical signs, symptoms, and complications can manifest in the oral cavity. Many oral complications are caused by diabetes. Therefore, regular visits to your dentist play an important role in helping to diagnose diabetes. (diabetes.com) One complication is Periodontal disease. It is said to be the seventh complication of uncontrolled diabetes. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease triggered by bacteria in dental plaque, which results in infection of the gums, followed by destruction of the bone. Another major complication is tooth decay. Tooth decay has many factors that aide in this process. The main one is increased glucose levels (salivary hyperglycemia) in the saliva. Salivary hyperglycemia helps bacteria thrive. Xerostomia (dry mouth) is the other contributing factor that aides in tooth decay. Decreased salivary flow inhibits saliva production needed to wash bacteria off of teeth. Other than periodontal disease and tooth decay, there are many

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other oral complications of diabetes, including delayed healing, fungal infections, inflammatory skin disease, taste impairment, burning tongue, and burning mouth syndrome. Palliative care is available for oral complications of diabetes. Dentists play an important role in helping advise patients with treatment for diabetes. These include fluoride mouth rinses, salivary substitutes, and other products that your dentist can provide. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes that are prone to periodontal disease should get deep cleanings. Deep cleanings help by flushing out the bacteria and keeping gums healthy. Knowledge and understanding of this disease is not only important for your physical health, but also for your oral health.

For more info, visit Dr. Price at 946 W Carolina Avenue, Hartsville (843) 383-5126 • carolinadentalpartners.com

March 2017 | VIP Magazine

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Gerald Tisdale | Pepsi of Florence “I started working for Pepsi in 1971 for Mr. George Avent in the sign department. Mr. Avent was a pleasure to work for, never worrying us as long as we were doing our jobs. In 1974 I began driving a transport truck from Florence to Kingstree and Georgetown, and I’ve been doing that ever since. I’ve witnessed a lot of growth with the company throughout my years and I’m proud to have been a part of that. After 45 years, Pepsi of Florence is my family and I’m grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me!”

VIP Magazine | March 2017