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News Briefs
Lacosta CEO to speak at Entrepreneurs Networking
Bob Siegel, CEO, Lacoste USA, will address a networking event for women business owners and entrepreneurs on Nov. 7 at 6:00 p.m. at The Citadel Alumni House. His topic is “Turning your business around.” There will be a facilitated networking opportunity for participants following the presentation. Registration is required at a cost of $10 and parking will be available at the Johnson Hagood Stadium.
Siegel brings 40 years of experience in the wholesale and retail industry. In 1964, he joined Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco and moved rapidly through various management positions.
In 1980, he was named president of menswear, and in 1984 he became president of designer brands based in New York City.
He returned to San Francisco in 1986 and developed the Khaki concept, as he created the Dockers Brand. In five short years, Dockers became a billion dollar wholesale brand.
Then in 1993, Siegel joined the Stride Rite Corp. as chairman and CEO. He was able to bring new business opportunities to a traditional shoe company as he signed Tommy Hilfiger to a shoe license in 1995.
In its first year sales volume, Hilfiger exceeded $75 million. Siegel retired from Stride Rite in December 1998 and immediately joined Kurt Salmon Associates as managing director of branded products, the retail and apparel industry leading consulting firm. He remained at KSA until January 2002 when he was named chairman and CEO of Lacoste USA.
Under his leadership, sales have increased seven fold in three years and operating profits went from nine consecutive years of losses to substantial profitability.
Siegel continues in his current position at Lacoste. He serves as an independent director for Oshkosh B’Gosh and is on the audit and nominating committees.
New Jersey company relocates to Charleston area
The AM Conservation Group Inc., a supplier of weatherization, water and energy conservation products, relocated its corporate headquarters to the Charleston region. The distribution facility will also relocate to the area in spring 2006.
The company’s move from Hackettstown, N.J., to space in Berkeley County’s Charleston Regional Business Center on the Cainhoy Peninsula was facilitated with the help of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance.
AM Conservation Group president, Paul Cutler, noted the region’s quality of life as instrumental in the company’s final relocation decision.
AM Conservation Group currently employs nine in its corporate office, and expects to add 11 new positions. The Charleston facility will serve administrative, manufacturing and distribution functions. The company imports and exports both domestically and internationally.
Company officials expect to begin the hiring process in early fall 2005 and express interest in securing local talent and working with local vendors and suppliers.
AM Conservation Group Inc. develops, manufacturers and distributes professional grade products specifically for the conservation industry. Products include energy efficient lighting, insulation products, water-saving showerheads, faucet aerators and toilet tank devices.
The company also offers water and energy saving kits, programs and promotional items. Utility companies, cities and municipalities currently comprise the majority of the company’s business.
Trident Tech offers asbestos training courses
Trident Technical College’s Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development is offering Asbestos Training courses, which are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Courses are held at the Continuing Education Center on TTC’s Main Campus at 2001 Mabeline Road, North Charleston.
Asbestos Inspector Refresher Training covers changes in federal and state regulations and satisfies the four-hour requirement to maintain accreditation. The course meets Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. until noon. Cost is $125.
The AHERA Management Planner Refresher Training course meets the annual four-hour inspector refresher and additional four-hour management planner refresher requirements. It will be held Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. until noon and 1-5 p.m. Cost is $195.
The AHERA Supervisor Refresher Training course, which supervisors need to maintain accreditation, meets Nov. 17 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost is $195.
To register, call 574-6152. For more information, contact Barbara Eggers-Parker at 574-6730 or Barbara.parker@tridenttech.edu.
Virginia-based firm joins Charleston Defense Contractors Association
Evolvent CEO Bill Oldham announced that the information assurance and technology services contractor has joined the Charleston Defense Contractors Association.
“We’re very pleased to be a new member in CDCA. The Charleston federal marketplace is important to Evolvent’s existing customers and for our future,” Oldham said.
Evolvent is a mission-focused federal technology services firm with corporate offices in Falls Church, Va., and San Antonio.
National Golf Course Owners Association endorses Commonwealth Insurance
The Commonwealth Insurance Group and its Clubsurance Program now provides a customized insurance package to 5,912 National Golf Course Owners Association member golf courses worldwide thanks to the NGCOA’s endorsement of CIG.
Clubsurance will provide all NGCOA members with a comprehensive insurance solution program for their property, casualty, automobile, umbrella, crime, directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, workers compensation and other necessary policies. Additionally, the members-only program includes supplementary services such as employee safety manuals and workers compensation experience modification reviews free of charge.
Todd R. Tyler, CIC, AAI, president of CIG says, “We are pleased to have been selected for this endorsement over 25 other regional and national brokers competing for this opportunity. The endorsement fits our corporate growth strategy of being a major player in niche markets for larger commercial insurance buyers.”
North Charleston Coliseum releases new Web site
The North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center unveiled their redesigned Web site, www.coliseumpac.com. The new Web site features a user- friendly layout that provides easy access to upcoming events, seating charts, parking, driving directions, employment opportunities and more.
Tickets to Coliseum & Performing Arts Center events can now be purchased through the site.
The new site features a “Latest News” section that includes recent show announcements and new information on upcoming events. Visitors can sign up for an e-mail newsletter that features show announcements, ticket information and exclusive discounts and pre-sale offers not available to the public. The radio commercials for select shows are included on the event pages.
North Charleston-based WeDoSites.com designed and hosts the new site.
Local theatres band together to form new organization for promotion
Five of Charleston’s leading theatre organizations recently joined together to form The League of Charleston Theatres to promote live theatre locally and to foster cooperation among the producing organizations.
“The idea of the League of Charleston Theatres grew out of a trip to Chicago hosted and funded by The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, which funds organizations in Chicago and the South Carolina Lowcountry,” explains Pure Theatre’s Sharon Graci, a member of the delegation. Also attending were Rodney Rogers of Pure Theatre, Keely Enright of The Village Repertory Company, Richard Futch of the Footlight Players, Art Gilliard of Art Forms and Theatre Concepts, and Julian Wiles of Charleston Stage.
The first project of the new League of Charleston Theatres will be to develop a marketing/promotional insert that will appear in the programs of member organizations. All of the performances being offered by member groups will be listed.
Future projects include a League of Charleston Theatres website and comprehensive theatre performance calendar. The group is also in the process of applying for its own 501(c)(3) status.
“We plan to invite other theatre groups in Charleston to join us once we have established membership guidelines,“ says Julian Wiles of Charleston Stage. “Associate memberships will be offered to other theatre groups in early 2006 and applications for full members will be accepted in mid-2006.
Hybrid owners may qualify for a tax deduction
John Sobieski of regional CPA and consulting firm WebsterRogers LLP says that purchasers of qualifying hybrid gas-electric cars may be eligible for a $2,000 tax deduction. To be eligible, the owner must be the original purchaser of a hybrid vehicle from a list provided by the Internal Revenue Service. The deduction is a one-time option and is available during the first year the vehicle is used before 2006.
Some of the qualifying vehicles include the 2005 Ford Escape, the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid, the 2006 Lexus RX 400h and the Toyota Prius—model years from 2001 through 2005.
This deduction is part of the 2004 Working Families Relief Act and was created to encourage the purchase of low-emission and high-fuel-efficiency vehicles.
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