Port security bill dies before vote By Matthew French The South Carolina General Assembly adjourned for the summer without passing a maritime security bill that would have required anyone working at one of the state’s ports to undergo a background check for prior criminal convictions.
Lowcountry captive insurance cluster blooms By Dennis Quick For high-risk companies and professionals seeking to insure themselves, the Lowcountry is gaining stronger appeal as the place to set up a captive insurance company.
Pushed out by new subdivisions, low-income residents hunt new homes By Dennis Quick Erika White moved into Calhoun Homes, a low-income housing development in North Charleston, in October 2004. Two months later, the management notified the 19-year-old that she and her toddler daughter would have to move.
Defense company’s armored vehicle contract gets richer By Dennis Quick Ladson-based Force Protection Inc. landed a $45.7 million Department of Defense contract in May to produce 71 “Cougars,” heavily armored vehicles designed to withstand blasts from mines and other explosives.
Hometown visit reveals Charleston’s shine By Dennis Quick Last month, I visited my hometown of Rochester, N.Y., a place I had not seen in nearly 20 years. My three-day visit made me appreciate Charleston all the more.
Plan ahead to bring your company’s crisis under control By Elizabeth Boineau In this broadband, nanosecond world where communication moves at an out-of-control speed, organizations and companies cannot afford to not plan ahead on how to survive a crisis.
New office to provide snapshots of tourism industry By Holly Fisher John Crotts is combining his scholarly research interests with a desire to explore issues facing the hospitality industry in Charleston.
Veterans’ program helps marines land employment By Rachel Pleasant Now what? It is a question everyone faces at some point. When you are a Marine, however, and your military career ends, that question takes on a new level of importance.
Is LASIK right for you? By Honor Hawkins Scott Lane had worn glasses or contacts since the first grade, so when his father offered to pay for him to have LASIK as a 40th birthday present he thought he might as well go for it.
News Briefs StrategicPartner, a sales force development company headquartered in Columbia, is expanding into the Charleston and Greenville areas.
Sales honesty still the ‘better policy’ for businesses By Jack Hoey It is a rare day when a salesperson does not ask for some of my time. Generally, they ask for 10 or 15 minutes. And they will question my capacity for rational thought if I am unwilling to spend those few minutes with them. After all, they argue, you are bound to learn something very much to your benefit.
FSBO signs proliferate on Lowcountry lawns By Brittain Phillips As Charleston enters the summer months, residents have the usual factors—the oppressive sun, shifting jet streams and stifling humidity—to blame as sweat beads on brows. Nothing in the weather forecast, however, can compete with the heat emanating from the area’s residential real estate market.
Local filmmakers: Grip industry by the camera lens and just shoot By Dennis Quick John Barnhardt, who produces television commercials for ABC affiliate WCIV Channel 4 in Mount Pleasant, has a message for local filmmakers who want to see a vibrant Lowcountry film industry: Make films.
Education bill to reform curriculum around clusters By Matthew French Gov. Mark Sanford earlier this month signed into law an education reform bill designed to develop a curriculum organized around career clusters.
Army Corps of Engineers salutes new district commander By Matthew French The Charleston District of the Army Corps of Engineers welcomed its new commander, Lt. Col. Edward Flemming, earlier this month. He replaces outgoing Lt. Col. Alvin Lee.
Volatile materials prices plague area contractors By Rachel Pleasant During summer 2004, prices for critical building materials, steel, cement and lumber, seemed to rise faster than the temperatures, but this summer, contractors across the country are experiencing stable prices for steel and lumber.
Board of Architectural Review mission: to protect, preserve By Rachel Pleasant If you are going to build, demolish, remodel or paint a structure south of Mount Pleasant Street in peninsular Charleston, chances are you will become well acquainted with the city’s Board of Architectural Review. This seven-member volunteer board, appointed by the city council and required to include two architects, one lawyer and one engineer, oversees both the protection and preservation of historic structures and is in charge of design review for all new structures. Because…
Giant Cement Co. modernizes plant, increases production By Rachel Pleasant Bigger and better is the theme at Harleyville’s Giant Cement Co. The company, the first of its kind in South Carolina when it set up shop in 1947, celebrates the commissioning of its new $130 million modernized plant June 13.
Santee Cooper, cement companies recycle emission waste byproduct By Rachel Pleasant Santee Cooper Power is perfecting the art of turning nothing into something. Earlier this year, it was announced that Texas-based American Gypsum Co. would build a $125 million gypsum wallboard plant in Georgetown County.
Urban Outfitters opens first Charleston store By Rachel Pleasant If Christopher Price were shopping, he would probably walk right past Urban Outfitters, unfazed by the trendy tees and funky furniture.
Analyze your thought process to achieve a positive attitude By Jeffrey Gitomer The other day, I said something negative. Not a big deal. I was expressing my disappointment about someone’s less-than-friendly service. What made me do it? Was it based on my feelings at that moment, or did other thoughts and circumstances cause my response?
Mail facilities receive anthrax detection equipment By Kim Chen Wiseman Four major mail distribution and processing facilities in South Carolina, Charleston, Columbia, Florence and Greenville, are slated to receive anthrax detection systems this summer, according to U.S. Postal Service officials.
Build self-esteem to help advance your career By Wayne Outlaw Self-esteem has always been important to the individual. Now, we are realizing self-esteem’s importance to the development of executives as well as the organization.
Calendar • JUNE 14: Charleston Women in International Trade meeting. 11:45 a.m. at the Radisson Airport Hotel, 5991 Rivers Ave., North Charleston. Speaker: Dalhi N. Myers, attorney with Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd. Topic: Women in International Business (What They Don’t Tell You in School). Cost: $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Information: 577-8184, cwit@scspa.com or www.cwitsc.org.
Piggly Wiggly shoppers pay with touch of a finger By Kim Chen Wiseman Fumbling for cash, credit and debit cards, loyalty cards and checkbooks in the grocery store line may soon be a thing of the past.
Enthusiasm promotes positive work ethics By John Carroll There is a story of the employee who enters the office looking sullen and dejected. His manager senses that something is wrong and asks the employee why he appears to be so unhappy.
Appointments James Villeponteaux and Bernadette Herbert joined the Trident Workforce Investment Board. Villeponteaux is assistant principal at West Ashley High School. Herbert is a deputy state director at Telamon Corp. R. Scott Woods, chief executive officer of the South Carolina Federal Credit Union, joined the board of directors of the American Red Cross, Carolina Lowcountry Chapter, serving as treasurer, finance committee chairman and executive committee member. Charlotte Anderson, who served for nearly 20 years as director of…
People in the News REAL ESTATEWeichert, Realtors Dean–Kelby announced the additions of several new employees. Richard S. Powell, a retired Navy chief petty officer, will focus on first-time homebuyers and empty nesters. Richard Hotto will serve the residential community in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkley counties. Marlene J. Beauston will serve the Charleston area, specializing in residential sales to first-time homebuyers and empty nesters. She previously spent 19 years with the VA Medical Center. Patti Gartrell has six years of real estate sales experience. She is a former registered nurse. Bonnie Driver is a former corrections officer and has experience in retails sales and as a vacation rental agent. She will specialize in residential sales.
Photo Finish Ken Felsher, with Concurrent Technologies Corp., (right) is pictured with Bruce Vigon of Battelle in Columbus, Ohio, as they man Concurrent Technologies’ booth at the National Defense Industry Association conference in Charleston. The two firms are working together on several upcoming projects.
Giving Back Lions Club funds eye research
The Charleston Lions Club raised $19,000 to support eye research at its 10th annual Golf Classic at the Ocean Winds Course on Seabrook Island. On hand for the check presentation were, from left, Toni McHugh, Storm Eye Institute director of development; Andy Allen, Storm Eye Institute board member; Lions Club member Legare Wood; Robert Bailey, president of the Charleston Lions Club; Steve Coker, Golf Classic chairman; Lions Club member and Storm Institute board member Jim Bobo; Karl Novak, Storm Eye Institute board member; and Lions Club member Dr. Ed Wilson, director of Storm Eye Institute.
‘Competition is good;’ duh By Bob Bouyea In the words of David Oliver, chief executive officer of EADS North America: “Competition is good.”
Accolades & More Christi Knight-Phillips received Prudential Real Estate Affiliates Inc.’s distinguished eCertified designation. The training and certification process is designed to prepare real estate professionals with the technological and e-based business skills necessary to service the emerging market and changing needs of today’s online consumer.
