Finding hope under a Palmetto sky is the inspiration for our Charleston Business Spotlight. Kerri Fotta, Pro Agent with TeamWork Realty, LLC is a compassionate, intelligent, and warm real estate agent in the Lowcountry with a focus on connecting the right home with the right buyers. Her love for Charleston and the community is deeply rooted in her commitment to family.
Kerri married her high school sweetheart, had three wonderful children, and a successful photography career, but this Cinderella story had a setback. Her youngest, Kamilyn had a neurogenic disorder that has kept her in an out of hospitals since early childhood, but a fated move by her doctor from New York to Charleston changed Kerri and her family’s lives forever.
This is her story.
Kerri Fotta and how Charleston and Real Estate changed her life
23 years ago, Kerri married her high school sweetheart, Michael in the small town of Boonsboro, Maryland. For 17 years, Kerri was a successful photographer, business owner and proud mother of 3 wonderful children, Michael (20), Kennadi (18) and Kamilyn (17).
Kerri’s connection to Charleston is deep and personal and began when their youngest daughter’s surgeon transferred from New York to MUSC in Charleston, SC. Kamilyn has a neurogenic bladder and bowel with kidney involvement and endured a difficult medical and surgical history since childhood. When their chief surgeon and advisor transferred, the decision to follow was simple.
Five years ago, Kamilyn endured a 13-hour surgery and 2-week hospital stay to prolong the life of her kidneys in Charleston. Post-surgery, Kerri and family came to Charleston every few months, often monthly for continued care.
During that time they fell in love with a city that gave hope for a healthy future. The Charleston charm won them over and soon it became clear that this was their life calling.
During their Charleston visits, Kerri’s middle child Kennadi fell in love with the College of Charleston and is now a freshman living on campus and a proud sorority sister in Alpha Delta Pi. Kerri’s son, Michael attends Trident Community College and will be transferring to the College of Charleston next fall alongside his youngest sister Kamilyn who will attending her freshman year.
That is quite a journey, but only the beginning.
“During this time it become obvious to me that I desperately wanted to give back to the Charleston community in the way it did for me and my family during such a difficult time. I wanted to find a way that I could benefit others on their journey South just like us. The move for us was exciting, but also scary with a lot of unknowns and I was often left in the dark on what was right and what wasn’t. I found real estate to be my calling.”
“Real estate has not only allowed the opportunity to give back to my community, but to also take care of our daughter. It provides the flexibility to be present not only for my own family, but for my clients and their families too. My passion for everything Charleston and the Lowcountry has fueled my desire and need to do more for my family, clients, and the community.”
We are so proud to share Kerri’s story and recommend her to those seeking a partner as they begin their search for their next home.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Moovila, a pioneer in AI-driven work management software, and ConnectWise, the world’s leading software company dedicated to the success of IT solution providers (TSPs), today announced a certified integration to deliver an end-to-end solution that combines ConnectWise PSA™ (formerly ConnectWise Mange) software with Moovila’s project management platform, Perfect Project. The new integration will provide MSPs with the ability to manage complex projects and resources seamlessly, from planning to execution, while leveraging the power of AI to minimize project risks and optimize workflows and outcomes.
The integration will bring Moovila Perfect Project’s AI-powered project management tools with ConnectWise PSA™ solution, enabling MSPs to leverage AI to forecast project completion, identify potential risks and conflicts, and make data-driven decisions. With Moovila’s algorithms, MSPs can identify project risks, eliminate bottlenecks, and optimize resource allocation, saving time and resources while improving customer satisfaction.
“We are thrilled to welcome Moovila as a certified integration in our ecosystem, as a means to offer MSPs a comprehensive project management solution that combines our automation software with Moovila’s AI-driven tools,” said Travis Vigneau, senior director of Channel Sales and Alliances at ConnectWise. “By leveraging the power of AI, MSPs can gain a competitive edge by delivering projects on time and within budget, while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction. This integration is an exciting step forward in our mission to empower MSPs to succeed in a rapidly evolving market.”
Moovila’s autonomous project management platform combines embedded risk identification and remediation with an AI-driven PM coach through a user-friendly interface to help teams collaborate, plan, and execute projects more effectively. The platform also offers real-time data visualizations, dashboards, and alerts to provide MSPs with a comprehensive view of project status and resource utilization.
“We are excited to partner with ConnectWise to bring our AI-driven project management software to MSPs,” said Mike Psenka, CEO of Moovila. “MSPs face unique challenges when it comes to project management, from complex workflows to changing customer requirements. With Moovila’s AI-powered tools, MSPs can better manage resources, track progress, and quickly adapt to changing requirements, all while delivering superior service to their customers.”
The certified integration between Moovila and ConnectWise is a game-changer for MSPs looking to streamline project management and maximize productivity. The integration of Moovila’s Perfect Project with ConnectWise’s automation software will enable MSPs to improve efficiency and reduce costs, all while staying ahead of the competition.
For more information, visit https://marketplace.connectwise.com/moovila-project-resource-management-automation-platform or www.moovila.com/integrations-connectwise
About Moovila Moovila® connects people and work on the only AI-powered work management platform with the ability to eliminate risk and speed flawless execution. Moovila models and manages workflows while seamlessly integrating real-life capacity and schedules of the people and resources delivering the work. Complete with a built-in project manager, entire work ecosystems integrate the same data on a single platform with a clear visual path and project integrity scoring. For more information, visit moovila.com. Whitney Asnip, Moovila, mediainquiries@moovila.com
About ConnectWise® ConnectWise is the world’s leading software company dedicated to the success of IT solution providers (TSPs) through unmatched software, services, community, and marketplace of integrations. ConnectWise offers an innovative, integrated, and security-centric platform—Asio™—which provides unmatched flexibility that fuels profitable, long-term growth for partners. ConnectWise enables TSPs to drive business efficiency with automation, IT documentation, and data management capabilities and increase revenue with remote monitoring, cybersecurity, and backup and disaster recovery technologies. For more information, visit connectwise.com.
1 The term ‘ConnectWise’ is a trademark of ConnectWise, LLC. This application uses the ConnectWise API but is not a ConnectWise product or service and is licensed separately from ConnectWise products and services.
Charleston Beauty Collective began as an idea. Experienced Esthetician, Jill Powell, felt there was a need in the beauty industry for a salon that was both high-end and comfortable. The space would bring together a mix of professional high-end beauty treatments done by industry leaders all while creating a comfortable, luxury space where clients want to spend their time. After spending years in the beauty industry, Jill felt it was time to evolve from the outdated salon culture and concepts that seemed to be most prevalent. With her idea, Jill joined forces with Alex Weisiger, an industry vet in management and customer service, and together they opened Charleston Beauty Collective.
Charleston Beauty Collective aims to be a one-stop-shop for their clients to get the ultimate beauty services. Offerings include balayage, blonding, color correction, hair extensions, eyelash extensions, eyelash lifts, brow lamination, waxing, threading and teeth whitening.
Quickly becoming known as the ultimate hair extension center, Charleston Beauty Collective offers free consultations to figure out what type of hair extension and method is best for you.
Charleston Beauty Collective offers Bello Haven Hand Tied Hair Extensions™, HALOCOUTURE® Halo®, and Layered Halo®, along with in-house dry cleaning services for your HALOCOUTURE® Halo® to help maintain the quality and investment of your hair extensions.
Learn More About The Hair Extension Options Offered
This Mount Pleasant, SC business prides itself on earning its clients’ trust. In turn, the team at CBC prioritizes continuous education in order to offer clients the most up-to-date knowledge and skills. Jill and Alex constantly look for opportunities to grow and offer their clients additional services all while maintaining the highest level of quality. When asked about the best part of the job, Jill states that the best part of leading this salon is that, “we together as a team have guests walking out the door feeling empowered, confident and ready to take on the world.”
To find out more about Charleston Beauty Collective please call 843.343.1225 or visit their website.
The next College of Health Professions building at the Medical University of South Carolina will be a new, modern medical education facility in the heart of downtown Charleston.
Providing classrooms, laboratories, common spaces and support spaces for faculty, staff and students, the building will accommodate the university’s substantial growth in the professions of physical therapy, and occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology, according to a release from Clark Nexsen, which designed the building in collaboration with SMHa commercial architects.
The approximately 90,000 square-foot building will encompass six floors, according to the release. Housing the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology) and the Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions, the building features a variety of multipurpose classrooms. On the second, third, and fourth floors, large multipurpose educational spaces accommodate the physical/occupational therapy programs, allowing students to learn in a lab and classroom setting without having to go back and forth between the two spaces. The third floor also includes a human abilities lab, which simulates a patient’s living space to help students prepare for working with patients in real-life conditions, the release stated.
The building, which is expected to open in 2025, has a cost of $50 million, according to the release.
Natural light was incorporated heavily into the design as many employees don’t have windows in their current offices. (Rendering/Clark Nexsen)
Office spaces for faculty and staff, classrooms, and conference rooms are on the first through fourth floors. Natural light was incorporated heavily into the design as many employees don’t have windows in their current offices, the release stated. While the fifth and sixth floors are designed as shell spaces, Clark Nexsen is supporting MUSC with a grant proposal to upfit those floors, according to the release. Pedestrian walkways were also incorporated into the design, connecting the CHP building to the Bioengineering Building to the south and the future College of Medicine building to the north.
The design of the building is driven by the idea of movement, conveying through its aesthetic the work of the programs within to support people and restore physical movement, the release stated. Inspired by muscle fibers and their layers of thicker and thinner elements, the exterior features staggered vertical elements to express the idea of movement.
With stringent building requirements due to flooding in the area, the CHP building is built three feet above the floodplain, the release stated. For resiliency and to avoid possible flood damage, a penthouse will be located on the roof to house the mechanical and electrical equipment. Hurricane resistance will also be applied throughout the building to protect from high-velocity debris.
With physical therapy and occupational therapy enrollment expected to double within the next few years, MUSC’s new CHP building will accommodate the university’s expansive growth, according to the post.
MESA, ARIZONA, January 25, 2023 – SkyDrive Inc. (“SkyDrive”), a leading Japanese eVTOL1manufacturer headquartered in Toyota, Japan announced today at the 2023 annual VFS eVTOL Symposium in Mesa, Arizona its plans to enter the U.S. market and the establishment of their home base in South Carolina. SkyDrive further outlined their plan to develop an advanced air mobility ecosystem in South Carolina while focusing on building a variety of practical use cases originating from two of its key airports in cooperation with local and state government agencies.
SkyDrive was first invited to South Carolina in July 2022 by the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC). With the BCEDC’s support, we have been exploring market opportunities within the state and building a network of key stakeholders.
SkyDrive’s focus has been on working with South Carolina to study practical use cases originating from several of its major airports utilizing the Japanese manufacturer’s eVTOL aircraft, the SD-052.
As a result of this business development activity and the overwhelming support of local and state government, SkyDrive has decided to form a business infrastructure within the state and to work with South Carolina in realizing an advanced air mobility ecosystem which will bring the state to the forefront in its ability to support the commercial operations of eVTOL aircraft.
“The decision to make South Carolina our home base and our window into the U.S. market was an easy one considering that it is a significant player in both the commercial and military aviation industries, and it is home to more than 400 aerospace and aviation companies including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. I sincerely believe that the vast number of resources available in South Carolina will provide SkyDrive with a substantial platform that enables us to achieve our goals,” said Tomohiro Fukuzawa SkyDrive’s founder and CEO.
SkyDrive finds South Carolina an ideal location to establish its base of U.S. operations as it has a mild climate throughout the year, abundant tourism, and airports close to city centers, making it a good fit for the utilization of SkyDrive’s SD-05 eVTOL aircraft. It is also home to some of the nation’s most dynamic aerospace companies including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. South Carolina also has a proven ability to excel in advanced aerospace manufacturing, and its robust supply chain includes companies such as the affiliated company of Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd., one of SkyDrive’s major suppliers.
Harry M. Lightsey III, Secretary of Commerce at State of South Carolina Department of Commerce
“The future of advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and vehicle industries is here, and South Carolina is proud to welcome SkyDrive, an industry innovator, to our rapidly growing aerospace cluster. SkyDrive’s advanced electric propulsion technology and sustainable transportation implications are the perfect fit for South Carolina’s business roster and the state’s growing business development goals. South Carolina extends a warm welcome to SkyDrive and we look forward to supporting the company on its journey to continued growth and success.”
Frank Murray, Director of Planning & Facilities at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
“CAE is very excited about the new possibilities being created in the environmentally friendly advanced air mobility industry and its potential to make a positive impact on our local community and beyond. CAE is making a concerted effort to contribute to this development by teaming with SkyDrive to model an FAA compliant advanced air mobility ecosystem with infrastructure requirements based on use cases for flights originating from our airport. CAE is really looking forward to working with SkyDrive and pioneering new possibilities together as we share a common vision of taking the lead in this once in a century mobility revolution.”
James D. Stephens, C.M., Airport Director at Greenville Downtown Airport
“Greenville Downtown Airport is partnered with SkyDrive to assist with the modeling of an FAA compliant AAM ecosystem that will serve our local region and state. We’ve done so because the airport needs to know what the infrastructure developmental needs will be in the future. We believe that the impact of advanced air mobility in Greenville will create a new form of transportation that eventually becomes part of the normal transportation processes within our community and around the world.”
SkyDrive will continue to work with South Carolina in building a fully developed, operational ecosystem incorporating use cases originating from several of their airports and to form partnerships with local flight operators and beyond so that they can commence commercial operations in 2026. SkyDrive will also be working on the applications and procedures before launching services in the U.S. market.
About S.C. Department of Commerce As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing business grow. S.C. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as BMW, Boeing, Continental, Giti Tire, LPL Financial Holdings, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Samsung, Toray and Volvo Cars and also supports startups, small and existing business, innovation and rural development initiatives. S.C. Commerce partners with the S.C. Technical College System via readySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. With a strong international footprint, the Palmetto State has consistently been among the top in the nation for attracting jobs through foreign direct investment on a per capita basis – recognized by multiple economic development publications for its pro-business climate.
About the Columbia Metropolitan Airport Now providing 26+ daily flights with nonstop service to 9 major airports in 8 cities including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami (seasonal on American Airlines), New York City (LGA), Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. (Dulles and Reagan National), Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), a two-time Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accredited facility, continues to be a major economic driver for the Midlands region. Welcoming over 1 million passengers in 2022, CAE is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines and serves as a regional cargo hub for UPS. CAE is also served by FedEx.
About Greenville Downtown Airport Greenville Downtown Airport is the largest, and often described as the state’s busiest general aviation airport with a nearly $70 million annual economic impact. It is home to 7 flight schools, the Military History Center Museum, Takeoff Mini Golf and Runway Park.
About SkyDrive Inc. SkyDrive was established in July 2018 and since then, the company has advanced the development of “flying cars” and heavy lift cargo drones while working in partnership with other companies around the world to promote the shared vision of a future in which people use air mobility as a means of transportation in their daily lives. The company’s cargo drones, which can carry payloads of up to 30kg, are currently being used at worksites in remote mountainous areas in Japan. SkyDrive is aiming to launch a “flying car” service in the Osaka Bay area in 2025. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi. Tomohiro Fukuzawa is the CEO of the company.
NEW YORK & CHARLESTON, SC–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), a leading health, wealth and investment company, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Benefitfocus, Inc., an industry-leading benefits administration technology company that serves employers, health plans and brokers.
“At Benefitfocus, we are committed to helping organizations and the people they serve get the most out of their health and benefit investments”
As a result of the acquisition, Voya now serves the workplace benefits and savings needs of approximately 38 million individuals, or roughly one in 10 Americans. The acquisition, which was announced on Nov. 1, 2022, enhances Voya’s offering of integrated health and wealth solutions and capabilities for intermediaries, employers and employees.
“The acquisition of Benefitfocus accelerates Voya’s strategy in health and wealth solutions, adding broad-based benefits administration capabilities that extend our reach across workplace benefits and savings,” said Heather Lavallee, CEO, Voya Financial, Inc. “More specifically, this transaction expands Voya’s ability to deliver innovative solutions for employers and health plans, and helps improve the financial, physical, and emotional wellbeing of their employees and members. At the same time, Voya’s technology resources, digital capabilities, and operational expertise will add tremendous value to Benefitfocus.”
“At Benefitfocus, we are committed to helping organizations and the people they serve get the most out of their health and benefit investments,” said Matt Levin, president and CEO, Benefitfocus. “We are thrilled to be joining forces with Voya to build on our incredible progress and accelerate our impact for employers, partners and health plans.”
“This acquisition allows us to increase our capabilities and insights for the benefit of our customers, while deepening the strength and breadth of our distribution reach,” said Rob Grubka, CEO, Workplace Solutions, Voya Financial, Inc. “Benefitfocus’ capabilities and expertise allows us to better serve customers and deepen partnerships with other benefits administration providers and distribution partners as we create better integrated experiences for customers across their workplace benefits.”
Voya plans to further discuss the strategic and financial benefits of this transaction during its fourth-quarter and full-year 2022 earnings call on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.
Perella Weinberg Partners LP served as financial advisor, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP served as legal counsel to Voya in connection with this transaction. Barclays served as financial advisor, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP served as legal counsel to Benefitfocus.
About Voya Financial®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), is a leading health, wealth and investment company that provides products, solutions and technologies that enable a better financial future for its clients, customers and society. Serving the needs of 14.3 million individual, workplace and institutional clients, Voya has approximately 6,000 employees and had $711 billion in total assets under management and administration as of September 30, 2022. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Voya is purpose-driven and equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has earned recognition as: one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute; a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index; and a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the Disability Equality Index. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @Voya.
About Benefitfocus
At Benefitfocus, a Voya Financial business, our mission is simple: To improve lives with benefits. We are committed to helping organizations, and the people they serve, get the most out of their health care and benefit programs. Through exceptional service and innovative benefits administration technology we help simplify the complexity of benefits and deliver an experience that engages people for better health and improved outcomes. Learn more at www.benefitfocus.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Forward-Looking and Other Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Voya does not assume any obligation to revise or update these statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or changes in strategy. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to future developments in our business or expectations for our future financial performance and any statement not involving a historical fact. Forward-looking statements use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement due to, among other things, (i) general economic conditions, particularly economic conditions in our core markets, (ii) performance of financial markets, (iii) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, (iv) the effects of natural or man-made disasters, including pandemic events and cyber terrorism or cyber attacks and specifically the current COVID-19 pandemic event, (v) mortality and morbidity levels, (vi) persistency and lapse levels, (vii) interest rates, (viii) currency exchange rates, (ix) general competitive factors, (x) changes in laws and regulations, such as those relating to Federal taxation, state insurance regulations and NAIC regulations and guidelines, (xi) changes in the policies of governments and/or regulatory authorities, (xii) our ability to successfully manage the separation of our individual life business on the expected timeline and economic terms, (xiii) our ability to realize the expected financial and other benefits from the transaction with Allianz Global Investors, (xiv) our ability to realize the expected financial and other benefits of the transaction with Benefitfocus; and (xv) such other factors as are set forth in Voya’s periodic public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including but not limited to those described in the “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition (“MD&A”) – Trends and Uncertainties” and “Forward Looking Statements” sections of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in other documents filed from time to time with the SEC, as applicable, all of which are available at www.sec.gov.
CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — shiftNOW announced the launch of its software solution designed to connect hospitality’s finest brands to quality talent.
Founded in 2022, shiftNOW provides a flexible solution to one of the hospitality industry’s greatest challenges – talent. The industry is plagued by a labor shortage that is causing a ripple effect on businesses’ operating hours, revenue, and overall success. According to the National Restaurant Association, 72% of operators ranked recruitment and retention of their workforce as their top challenge. Fractures in the industry’s workforce have only been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and compounded by other macroeconomic factors, like inflation and the “Great Resignation”.
With shiftNOW, hospitality businesses can remove the hassle from hiring by streamlining open shifts and controlling how their business is resourced. The easy-to-use platform enables businesses to post open shifts and select the best candidate from a network of qualified, vetted talent. Every verified candidate undergoes a thorough, one-on-one vetting process led by the shiftNOW recruitment team.
“Hourly workers are increasingly seeking autonomy over when, where, and how they work, making it challenging for businesses to find consistent, quality employees,” said shiftNOW founder and CEO, David Wise. “shiftNOW is fulfilling a critical need in the hospitality industry – qualified talent that’s available and ready to work. We’re making shiftNOW synonymous with quality – we want our clients to have the best workforce and our users to have the best experience.”
Exclusive hourly opportunities with competitive pay are now available to qualified individuals through shiftNOW’s mobile app. Individuals seeking hourly opportunities can browse the Shifter by shiftNOW app for available shifts in their area and get matched based on their experience.
With a focus on serving restaurants and bars, hospitality groups, event venues, golf courses, and country clubs, shiftNOW is dedicated to bringing high-quality talent to premier establishments.
shiftNOW is currently operating in Charleston and Beaufort, South Carolina with plans to expand throughout the Southeast and beyond.
shiftNOW connects hospitality’s finest brands to quality talent. Founded in 2022, we provide a flexible solution to the hospitality industry’s toughest problem – talent. From one-time, recurring, or temp-to-hire shift work, shiftNOW enables businesses to easily control how they resource their business and provides top tier talent with an easy way to make money on their own terms. The right worker. The right shift. Right NOW.
Making the List of 50 Most Influential People for the Fifth Year, Gianoni is Named to the Hall of Fame for His Contributions to the Charleston, S.C., Community
The 50 Most Influential list celebrates individuals for their economic and community impact. The selection of individuals is a result of community nominations and Charleston Business Magazine’s staff research. As a Hall of Fame inductee, Gianoni joins a prestigious group of individuals who have created impact through the years and have consistently made the list, including elected officials, artists, and corporate and nonprofit leaders.
“I’m honored and humbled to be named to the 50 Most Influential Hall of Fame,” said Gianoni. “This list represents a wide range of dedicated Charleston leaders, including many individuals at Blackbaud customer organizations, who are committed to making a difference and helping good grow in our local community. I am proud to be recognized alongside these esteemed colleagues, and I look forward to continuing to work together to make Charleston a great place to work and live.”
During Gianoni’s tenure, Blackbaud has made strides as the industry leader in social good technology, connecting millions of people to hundreds of thousands of causes and institutions in more than 100 countries around the world. For more than 40 years, Blackbaud has met the unique needs of social good organizations, providing purpose-built solutions for fundraising, donor management, grantmaking, financial management, education and digital giving. With the recent acquisition and integration of EVERFI, in combination with its existing YourCause portfolio, Blackbaud now also offers comprehensive solutions for corporations looking to increase their impact through corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) programs.
Charleston Business Magazine is a resource for Charleston area business leaders, rising stars, entrepreneurs, and people and groups that have a vested interest in the success of the Charleston business community. See the full list of Charleston Business Magazine’s 2022 50 Most Influential Hall of Fame inductees here.About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, higher education institutions, K–12 schools, healthcare organizations, faith communities, arts and cultural organizations, foundations, companies and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through cloud software, services, expertise and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and CRM, marketing, advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG), school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial management, payment processing and analytics. Serving the industry for more than four decades, Blackbaud is a remote-first company headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, with operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
n South Carolina, cold storage warehousing and logistics company FlexCold will invest $49.9 million to establish operations in Dorchester County. The project will create 59 new jobs, and operations are expected to be online by late summer 2024.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our footprint by establishing operations within a modern cold storage facility strategically located close to the Port of Charleston,” said FlexCold Co-Founder Jeff Manno. “We’re proud to further add to the economic development of the area in a meaningful and tangible way by helping meet the need to accommodate critical import and export business, specifically seafood.”
Charleston-based FlexCold specializes in cold storage warehousing and logistics by providing customers with personalized cold storage expertise and targeting strategic locations that are advantageous to today’s evolving food supply chain. The company focuses on storing, handling, and distributing poultry, seafood, meat, packaged goods and frozen produce.
“We are proud to announce another innovative cold storage chain locating in South Carolina,” commented Gov. Henry McMaster. “It’s companies such as FlexCold that will continue to enhance our supply chain by providing profound ideas and cutting-edge talent. We welcome FlexCold and look forward to the positive impact that they will make in the state and the Dorchester County community.”
Located in North Charleston, the Dorchester County facility marks FlexCold’s first cold storage location in South Carolina and its second facility in the U.S. The new operations will include a highly modern, cold food storage facility to accommodate a diverse customer base with a focus on receiving a substantial amount of imported goods. Operationally, FlexCold will provide import and export services, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration inspections, labeling and repacking, and cross-docking services.
“SC Ports has significantly upgraded its refrigerated capabilities to efficiently handle more frozen and fresh products for the growing Southeast consumer base,” said SC Ports President and Chief Executive Officer Barbara Melvin. “FlexCold’s investment will complement these efforts and further enhance the cold chain in South Carolina. This innovative facility will expand the ability to move more frozen products, such as seafood, through the Port of Charleston.”
Element Designs To Relocate HQ, Manufacturing Operations To York County
Element Designs will invest $5 million to relocate its headquarters and manufacturing operations to York County. The aluminum frame glass cabinet door manufacturer will bring approximately 100 new jobs to Fort Mill over the next five years. Operations are expected to be online in the second quarter of 2023.
Market Street South in Fort Mill, SC (Photo: York County Economic Development)
“We are very excited to move our headquarters to Fort Mill, SC. We already feel very welcomed and can’t wait to call it our new home,” said Element Designs President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Uebersax. “It will be a transformational move for our company. This new location and state of the art facility will not only provide us with the necessary room to grow, but it will also be a testament to what we as a company want to be recognized for: an innovative industry leader that produces beautiful products in a sustainable way. Its proximity to our current location was also very important as we want our incredible team to move with us and enjoy the benefits of this new space to call home.”
Charlotte-based Element Designs’ product offerings have expanded to include custom glass and acrylic surfacing solutions and components. All products are made and fabricated in the U.S., with manufacturing processes that use water-based coatings and recycled materials to create products for customers across North America.
Element Designs’ new 112,840-square-foot facility will serve as the company’s joint headquarters and manufacturing operations, allowing the company to efficiently serve its international customers, including many well-known manufacturers in the kitchen, bath and office furniture industries.
The Ritedose Corporation To Expand In Richland County
The Ritedose Corporation will invest $81 million to expand its operations in Richland County. The locally owned and operated pharmaceutical manufacturer will create 94 new jobs with this project. Phase one of the expansion and the addition of approximately 50 of the 94 total jobs will be completed in early 2024.
“This initial phase of the expansion project will allow The Ritedose Corporation to continue to deliver over 1 billion doses of respiratory maintenance drugs to the U.S. population, while providing the runway for multiple drugs in various stages of development to be commercialized in the coming years,” said The Ritedose Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Jody Chastain.
The Ritedose Corporation operates a state-of-the-art “blow-fill-seal” (BFS) facility, where liquid-pharmaceuticals are formulated, filled and packaged for distribution. For over 25 years, The Ritedose Corporation has been an industry leader in the aseptic production of sterile, single-dose medication, serving the contract development manufacturing, generics and 503B outsourcing markets. The company’s customers range from small startups and retail pharmacies to large pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers and hospital systems.
Located at Carolina Research Park in Columbia, The Ritedose Corporation’s first phase of expansion includes adding square footage to its existing facility. The expansion will also involve internal renovations to the existing structures of the facility. When complete, the expansion will allow the company to manufacture an additional 400 million doses of pharmaceuticals.
“Today, South Carolina celebrates The Ritedose Corporation, a homegrown pharmaceutical leader whose expansion signals the strength of our state’s growing life sciences industry. This investment also expands STEM career pathways for all South Carolinians, nurturing the highly skilled workforce within our state,” said South Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Harry M. Lightsey III. “We’re proud of the continued success of yet another South Carolina-based company.”
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $500,000 Set-Aside grant to Richland County to assist with the costs of building improvements.
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