Hospitals poise for job, services growth By DENNIS QUICK With the Lowcountry’s general population increasing and baby boomers approaching their senior years, the demand for more medical services is triggering an explosion of employment opportunities in the region’s health care industry, executives at Roper St. Francis Healthcare and the Medical University of South Carolina’s Medical Center say.
EDITOR'S NOTES: DMV requirements put brakes on driver’s license quest By Bob Bouyea When was the last time you went down to the local Department of Motor Vehicles? If it has been prior to Sept. 11, 2001, things have changed, and I’m not talking about the security getting into the building. I’m talking about what it takes to get a South Carolina driver’s license.
‘Put Parents in Charge Act’: A cruel hoax on the public, minorities and low-income families By Bill Settlemyer Like a bad penny, the “Put Parents in Charge Act” has resurfaced in the current state legislative session after getting nowhere last year. This time, the effort to pass the bill is backed by a slick and aggressive marketing campaign led by South Carolinians for Responsible Government.
Letters to the Editor
Gov. Sanford’s tuition tax credit plan
Recently, Governor Sanford vetoed the reassessment tax cap, in part because he recognized that it would take funds from public education. Doesn’t he recognize the fact that his tuition tax credit plan, the “Put Parents in Charge Act,” will do the same thing?
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Admobile puts advertisements in motion By Kim Chen Wiseman It’s 5:30 p.m. and you are making your daily crawl down Folly Road. Your afternoon drive time radio keeps you company as you stare at the rush hour traffic that surrounds you. Suddenly, something catches your eye: a large truck to your right. The entire side of the truck is a sign, which just switched from an advertisement for a local TV station to one touting a chain grocery store.
News Briefs
Edisto Land Trust receives grant from the Coastal Community Foundation
The Edisto Island Open Land Trust has been awarded a $6,000 grant from Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina to help preserve open space and wetlands along State Scenic Highway 174, the main artery through Edisto Island. Scenic Highway 174 is an historic roadway that traverses Edisto Island for 16 miles and is lined with an ancient live oak canopy and sweeping marsh vistas. This scenic…
State, federal programs fortify small business development By Sarah G. McC. Moïse The good news for South Carolina small businesses is there are a lot of resources available to them. The bad news is businesses aren’t going to get any more resources because of state and federal budget restraints, says Elliott Cooper, director of the South Carolina district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
SALES MOVES: Self-image determines more than sales success By Jeffrey Gitomer How do you picture yourself? It’s a fast track to success.
It’s a pretty powerful question when you think about it. Some of you are thinking handsome or pretty, some overweight or average, some successful or struggling. Some pictures are happy; some are not.
Growth clogs Charleston County Council’s agenda By Sarah G. McC. Moïse Charleston’s most recent election last November resulted in new leadership with some fresh ideas and proposals. In this issue, the Business Journal has profiled each member of Charleston County Council to discuss the challenges of balancing economic growth and development, as well as to look at regional planning efforts, taxation and other topics.
MARKETING: Love makes the brand go ’round By Elizabeth Boineau There’s a new book out by the CEO of global communications giant Saatchi and Saatchi Worldwide, Kevin Roberts, that might make you want to send a belated Valentine to your best customers to be sure you’re their one and only. Lovemarks, the Future Beyond Brands, claims that winning brands are the ones that have a following of customers who feel “loyalty beyond reason” and who will do anything to support the brand with which they form an emotional connection and then come to pledge unwavering devotion.
How do you picture yourself? It’s a fast track to success. By Matthew French It’s true what older generations say: a dollar doesn’t buy what it used to. In the days of the global economy, where transactions take place over tens of thousands of miles in nanoseconds, the world economy is much more tightly bound together than it used to be. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the fluctuation of the dollar. Currently, the dollar has fallen to multi-year lows against competing currencies such as the yen and the euro. This is bad news for the American consumer but good news for U.S. exporters.
Local builder, developer go platinum By Martin Sinderman A focus on quality enabled a residential builder and a mixed-use developer—both based in the Charleston area—to garner top-level honors in a nationwide competition.
Charleston City Hall set to re-open Dec. 2006 By Matthew French If all goes according to schedule, Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley Jr. and the citizens of the city may have a shiny new Christmas present next year with the re-opening of the historic City Hall. The building, located at Market and Broad streets, has been closed since the middle of last year for more than just a simple facelift.
LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP: Small steps often lead to innovation By Jack Hoey Some years ago I read a book called The Money Masters by an investment writer named John Train. I remember it because Train’s main conclusion was a real surprise to me. The most important thing that successful investors learn to do is: Preserve your capital. Small losses are an inevitable part of investing, but you must avoid the wipeout.
Social trends expert highlights changes among consumers By Holly Fisher Consumers are changing—dramatically. J. Walker Smith, well-known speaker on social trends and marketing, outlined the shifts marketers should take note of during a recent luncheon hosted by the Charleston Chapter of the American Marketing Association.
Software company focuses on benefits By Sarah G. McC. Moise Most employees think it’s a nice gesture for the office to take the team out to lunch.
But as part of its February review and planning meeting, local technology company Benefitfocus.com Inc. thanked employees for its astronomical 2004 revenues by opening the “BF Bank.”
Calendar
– FEB. 22: President’s Reception. 5:30-7 p.m., Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 2750 Speissegger Dr. Ste. 100. Meet the chamber’s president/CEO. Open to all new and renewing members. Free. Information: 805-3039, Jnobles@charlestonchamber.org or www.charlestonchamber.net.
– FEB. 23: Charleston Area Business Council. 7:30-9 a.m. at Jason’s Deli, 975 Savannah Highway, Ste. 9. Speakers: Skip Godow, executive director of Lowcountry Graduate Center; Perry Halushka, dean of graduate studies at the Medical University of South Carolina; Elise Jorgens,…
People
Staffing Services
Daniel Robbins has joined CharlestonJobNetwork.com as account executive. He is from Charlotte and brings more than eight years of sales experience in both the financial services and telecommunications industries.
Education
The Lowcountry Graduate Center hired Kellee Schreiner as assistant director and Shirley Hinson as special assistant to the executive director. Both will have responsibilities with the College of Charleston North Campus as well. Schreiner previously was marketing/public relations coordinator for CT Communications in North Carolina.…
Giving Back
Assisted living community council donates to local groups
The Bishop Gadsden Residents’ Council Outreach Committee and the Bishop Gadsden Advisory Council donated $30,000 each to Bishop Gadsden’s Ministry of Financial Assistance and The Association for the Blind. The Bishop Gadsden Residents’ Council is an advisory group to the management of Bishop Gadsden. Annually the group hosts fundraising events to benefit charities in the community. …
Appointments
Neil Whitman, president of Dunhill Staffing Systems of Charleston, has been appointed to the board of directors for the South Carolina Association of Personnel Services as member benefits coordinator. Neil will work with organizations to partner with SCAPS and
promote its services to staffing agencies across the state.
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Accolades & More
Dunhill Staffing Systems Inc. named Katie Whitman, vice president of Dunhill Staffing Systems of Charleston, the company’s No. 1 producing recruiting consultant for 2004. Whitman joined the company in 2002 and achieved Rookie of the Year honors in 2003. In addition, Dunhill Staffing Systems of Charleston was the company’s No. 1 revenue producing office for 2004. …
