‘Micro’ airlines set course for Charleston By Matthew French Atlanta is a hassle destination. Driving to Atlanta from Charleston takes about six hours. Flying there is much quicker, but the time spent in the airport and going through security plus the cost of the ticket and parking may not be worth the price.
Group proposes 33% worker’s comp increase By Matthew French South Carolina businesses may soon have to pay a pretty penny to insure their workers, if the South Carolina Department of Insurance accepts a proposal from a national insurance industry group.
Buoys, stations provide clear weather picture By Rachel Pleasant With seven named storms by the end of July, it is clear this hurricane season will be what forecasters predicted: busy.
Local hospital tracks patients with new technology By Dennis Quick Families who have loved ones undergoing or recovering from surgery at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in West Ashley no longer fidget as much in the waiting room, wondering when a doctor or nurse will come by with updates on the patient.
Storm Eye Institute sets sights on economic growth By Dennis Quick Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina’s Albert Florens Storm Eye Institute say they believe the institute’s recently approved $9 million collaborative research project with the University of South Carolina could generate a hefty economic impact for the state, particularly the Lowcountry.
How far would you go to advance your career? By Barbara Poole You can tell it is summertime in the movie business. Hollywood is gearing up for seasonal blockbusters, and the stars are everywhere, giving interviews and hoping to build momentum for their latest projects. It is a great momentary diversion from the serious news of the world; pure summer fluff to go with your flip-flops and margaritas.
Literacy group targets businesses for fundraising By Dennis Quick The North Charleston-based Trident Literacy Association, a nonprofit organization with offices throughout the tri-county area, has launched a campaign to raise money to help establish a permanent learning center in downtown Charleston.
News Briefs Morningstar Marina Management, a division of Morningstar Properties, acquired the Reserve Harbor Marina and Club from the Litchfield Co. located in Pawleys Island.
The art of selling and the art of shopping By Jeffrey Gitomer Have you ever visited an art gallery? What was the experience like? Was the artist there? If so, were you more interested in the artwork?
Women’s business groups split focus but not goal By Holly Fisher The number of women’s business groups in Charleston is growing. Women@Work launched this summer as a women’s professional network to provide educational and social opportunities for the Lowcountry’s working women.
Hydrogen fuel cells: Hydrogen fuel cells: By Rachel Pleasant About 25 attendees at a recent meeting of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce heard one message loud and clear: the future is hydrogen fuel cells, and South Carolina had better be ready to embrace it.
Use prudent pruning to increase productivity By Wayne Outlaw As an executive, you are constantly being asked to improve your organization’s performance results, whether it is a small group or large company.
Free trade agreement may open new business By Rachel Pleasant President Bush’s signature makes it official. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement—so controversial it only narrowly passed a House of Representatives vote in late July—is now law.
Federal regulation SOX it to companies’ finances By Martin Sinderman Like their counterparts nationwide, South Carolina-based public companies are spending big bucks to comply with federally-mandated reforms intended to protect shareholders.
Study: Two-thirds of younger workers cash out 401(k) plans By Rachel Pleasant When it comes to saving for retirement, starting early is paramount, financial advisers say, but a recent study says young people may not be getting the message—at least not entirely.
State’s bond rating lowered on poor business performance, economy By Matthew French Last month Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, the nation’s largest rating agency, announced that it had lowered South Carolina’s bond rating from AAA to AA+, citing the Palmetto State’s “weakened economic position” and above average unemployment as the reasons for the drop. The move marks the first time in five years that Standard & Poor’s has lowered a state’s bond rating.
Federal Highway Funds create Lowcountry windfall By Matthew French South Carolina will likely receive a major federal windfall, as the House of Representatives and Senate approved a highway-funding bill that recently emerged from a bicameral conference committee. Overall, the Transportation Equity Act will authorize nearly $3 billion for state roads, highway safety and transit programs.
Highway 17 construction detouring shop owners’ business By Matthew French With the road widening between the Mark Clark Expressway and the Isle of Palms Connector in Mount Pleasant ongoing, some area businesses say they’ve suffered a marked decrease in customer traffic.
Lack of class ‘A’ office space threatens economic development By Dennis Quick For the first time in recent years, the vacancy rate of class “A” office space in the Lowcountry has dropped below 10%, a sign that the market is strong and active, according to a mid-year report from local commercial real estate firm Colliers Keenan.
Start connecting today with tomorrow’s customers By Bob Bouyea Have you noticed just how wired people are these days? I don’t mean wired as being on edge or juiced up by caffeine, but rather how technology plays a bigger part in their lives.
Letters to the Editor I read with interest your column on community-managed health care. I am a health care economist, practicing out of Columbia. I applaud these community-based efforts, but until there is a restructuring of the payment/reimbursement incentives across the entire health care system, these efforts won’t be anything more than a band-aid.
Solving poverty takes years of commitment By Andy Brack After studying South Carolinians in poverty for three weeks, there are a couple of clear conclusions that can be drawn.
Teamsters’ departure from AFL-CIO will lead to aggressive recruiting By Matthew French With the announcement that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union are splitting from the AFL-CIO to form a new coalition of organized labor, South Carolina labor attorneys say the move could mean a stronger push by unions to organize and recruit in the Palmetto State.
Let’s hope all businesses share in economic bounty When San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge opened on May 27, 1937, thousands of northern Californians ran, walked and roller-skated across the 1.2-mile-long bridge, then the longest suspension bridge in the world. Some tap-danced across the bridge, and a few crossed on stilts.
Calendar • AUG. 10: South Carolina Association of Personnel & Staffing Coastal Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Cisco’s Café, 114 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. Speaker: Amy Jenkins from Nelson Mullins Law Firm. Topic: Questions you can and cannot ask in a job interview. Cost: $11 for members, $13 for non-members. Information & RSVP: Jan, 744-640 or jcappellini@alternativestaffing.com.
People in the News Marcus Aguayo joined Charles Blanchard Construction Corp. as a project manager for the commercial construction division. He has seven years of experience in retail, institutional and commercial design/
build projects.
Appointments Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman attorney K. Elizabeth Middleton was named to the board of trustees for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s National College of Advocacy. Middleton, whose practice areas include medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs, has been with the firm since January 2003. Middleton’s appointment runs from Aug. 1, 2005, through July 31, 2008.
Photo Finish The BootJack Boot and Clothing Co. received the 2004 Hamilton Carhartt Retailer of Excellence Award.
