Calendar JUNE 10: Berkeley Chamber of Commerce SCORE Workshop. 5:30-7 p.m. at the Berkeley County Library Moncks Corner Branch, 1003 Old Highway 52, Moncks Corner. Topic: Understanding Your Business Insurance Options, presented by Deborah Rella of Brown & Brown Insurance. Cost: $10. Information: 843-577-9549 or 843-761-8238 or register online at www.berkeleysc.org.
Accolades & More David P. Kent, president of The Real Buyer’s Agent in Mount Pleasant, was appointed to the advisory council for Charleston Air Force Base. The council acts as a liaison among the military, the civilians and local businesses in the area. Kent will serve a two-year term on the advisory council and has been active in the honorary commander program since 2005.
People in the News The Charleston branch of S&ME Inc. has hired Kate McMullan as project geophysicist. McMullan has six years of prior experience and specializes in near-surface geophysics for engineering, environmental and archaeological applications.
Tobacco: One step forward, two steps back By Bill Settlemyer As one of many South Carolinians who have personally supported efforts to pass smoke-free ordinances in the state’s communities, it was a great relief when the S.C. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that counties and municipalities are free to pass ordinances regulating smoking in public places.
One year and nine minutes By Scott Miller For nine minutes, they stood inside the burning building without water to fight the fire. Outside the Sofa Super Store, a captain realized the fire hydrant he needed had been moved. He raced down the street to find another. He unrolled a hose, but it was too short.
The fire was never under control By Scott Miller Nearly one year ago, a fire spread from a loading dock, into the Sofa Super Store and into space above the ceiling that firefighters didn’t even know was there. It’s indicative of the confusion firefighters faced that night, according to a city-commissioned analysis conducted by a team of fire leaders from around the country.
Costs mount year after fire By Scott Miller While nothing was more costly than losing nine lives on June 18, 2007, the city’s price tag from the Sofa Super Store fire continues to escalate a year later.
Force Protection tries to reinvent itself amid layoffs, lawsuits By Molly Parker Force Protection Inc.’s new chief executive painted a rosy picture of the Ladson-based manufacturer’s future in a conference call with investors, despite a work force that’s shrunk by nearly 500, myriad legal battles, falling stock prices and a Nasdaq threat to delist the company.
Vought files to list on New York Stock Exchange By Scott Miller On the heels of its first profit in seven years, Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. plans to go public and sell stock to help pay down debt.
Magnolia developers work to ease tensions with city leaders By Molly Parker Charleston developer Robert Clement is once again in charge of the Magnolia residential and commercial project slated for Charleston’s Neck area overlooking the Ashley River.
Businesses target affluent to fight economic downturn By Kathleen Dayton With home sales down and gas prices up, it’s hardly a champagne economy these days, but local purveyors of the finer things in life are not holding a fire sale.
Exports boxed in by container shortage, lack of ship space By Shelia Watson When Malcom McLean introduced the shipping container some 50 years ago, it revolutionized global trade, enabling more efficient transport and handling of goods and earning a reputation through the years as “the box that changed the world.”
Virtual container yard provides tangible results By Shelia Watson International Asset Systems, an asset management solution provider based in Oakland, Calif., has developed a Web-based information-exchange platform that allows users to log on to locate empty shipping containers and determine their availability.
Future of Watson Hill development unclear with court ruling By Molly Parker The landowner whose plans to build a massive residential development at Watson Hill sparked a legal battle between Summerville and North Charleston clearly has a new idea for the 6,600-acre parcel.
Port of Charleston serves as pilot for maritime security program By Molly Parker Several dozen S.C. State Ports Authority employees gathered in a room one recent May afternoon for a lesson on port security. “Who here has heard of SSI?” asked instructor Nick Squires. Only two hands went up as a slide flashed on the screen: “Today’s lesson: Working with SSI.”
Charleston County to give $3.5 million to Citadel stadium By Scott Miller Charleston County Councilmember Dickie Schweers suggested the county has gotten too copious in doling out accommodations tax revenues, though he pitched to get $900,000 for his district in February.
Businesses pay through tax increases By Scott Miller To handle the costs of upgrading equipment, adding personnel and changing the culture of the Charleston Fire Department, the city raised property taxes 4.5% soon after the Sofa Super Store fire.
Contractor’s diligence with flips avoids flops By Shelia Watson Mike Taylor, owner of Ravenel-based Mike Taylor Construction, describes himself as “different from most people” when it comes to his business practices.
Building directory highlights green companies By Holly Fisher The Sustainability Institute is embarking on a new project to make green building a little easier. The institute has launched the South Carolina Green Building Directory, an online resource where users can search for products and services that further green building efforts.
Companies register on the site at no charge, and the institute approves each company before adding it to the directory. Users can search by company, product, service, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design credit or construction topic.
College of Charleston aiming for green By Kathleen Dayton As sustainable practices and eco-friendly “green” strategies gain popularity, college students and educators are bringing the green persuasion into the classroom and onto the campus.
New residential developments find green is the way to go By Holly Fisher It seems these days everyone is talking green. From reusable grocery bags to chemical-free cleaning products to the elimination of plastic water bottles, green is not just for tree-huggers and environmental activists. Real estate developers and builders are jumping on the green bandwagon and creating sustainable developments that meet strict standards for energy efficiency, recycling, location and the types of building materials used.
Green roofs add visual interest, energy savings to buildings By Holly Fisher To have a truly green structure, consider trading in the roof shingles for plants. The idea of a green roof might sound a little odd at first, but the idea is taking root in the Lowcountry, thanks to Charleston Green Roofs.
Business keeps construction waste out of local landfills By Holly Fisher Running a construction waste recycling business is hard work, but for Kelly McClure, the belief that she’s contributing to a greater purpose keeps her going.
Rising fuel prices squeeze construction industry By Kathleen Dayton Mention gas prices and you are bound to hear a collective groan, especially from services that cater to the construction industry.
Want to own a franchise? By Kathleen Dayton If you’ve ever wanted to own your own business and thought about buying a franchise, go grab a shopping cart. Franchisemart, a store offering would-be franchisees a menu of available franchises and services, has opened a store on West Montague Avenue in North Charleston.
Starbucks brings an economic jolt to Jedburg By Molly Parker With plans to fill a huge depot with pre-roasted green coffee beans, a New Jersey-based warehouse company specializing in cocoa and coffee is bringing an economic jolt to Jedburg.
Utilities sign contract for nuclear construction By Molly Parker Santee Cooper and South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. announced in late May that they have entered into a contract to pay for the construction of two new nuclear units near Jenkinsville at the existing V.C. Summer Nuclear Station.
Marketing Matters: In brands we mostly trust By Elizabeth L. Boineau It’s hard to measure trust, but we know it when we feel it, as Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, is known to say. Trust, to me, is a sense of safety and comfort that comes with knowing a company or a person cares enough to put time and effort into helping to fill our wants and needs, living up to the promise or promises and meeting our expectations.
Career Coach: Exercise the power of choice in your career By Barbara Poole As this is an election year, there is much discussion in the press about choice: which candidates political figures will choose to endorse, whom the super delegates will choose as the Democratic nominee and, ultimately, whom we as voters will choose to be our next president in November.
Nonprofit Development: Be gracious but don’t let guard down when firing ED By June Bradham Q. I’m CEO of my business and my least favorite part of my job is firing anyone. But, as a member of a local nonprofit board, I’m finding it even more awkward to consider the necessary step of dismissing the executive director of our organization. How can we ask him to leave without adversely affecting the entire organization?
Today’s profile: Amy Tumbleston-Brown By Kristen Poland It sounds paradoxical for a photographer to wish for a world where everyone was blind, but according to Amy Tumbleston-Brown, photographer and CEO of Charles Tumbleston Photography, it isn't at all. Tumbleston-Brown spends her life capturing on film beautiful brides, bouncing babies and proud parents. And yet, she says she tries not to see the world through her eyes. Instead, she tries to see the world with her heart.
