Charleston, S.C.—Today, the city of Charleston joined other South Carolina jurisdictions in filing a complaint (attached) in the Court of Common Pleas Ninth Judicial Circuit against manufacturers and distributors of opioids, seeking to end the destructive effects the opioid epidemic has had on the Charleston community and to recoup tax dollars spent as a result of the defendants’ illegal marketing, sales, and distribution of opioids. According to data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, an average of 248 pain pills was distributed for every Charleston County resident each year from 2006 to 2012.
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said, “We have seen far too many cases of overdose, addiction, hospitalization and other devastating effects of the opioid epidemic here in Charleston. Put simply, enough is enough. By bringing action against those who have contributed to this problem, we hope not just to recover the costs of our ongoing response to this crisis, but to help our citizens whose lives have been damaged by opioid use and to prevent this epidemic from wreaking further havoc on our community.”
CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 14, 2019
/PRNewswire/ — Accountfully has announced its placement on the
prestigious 2019 Inc. 5000 list. The company has redefined outsourced
accounting by trading in long days in stuffy suits to airy, paperless
offices, serving clients accounting needs nationally. The Accountfully
way has caught on; the company has experienced massive growth in the
past three years, hitting the 2019 Inc. 5000 list at number 1736.
Co-founder and Managing Partner, Brad Ebenhoeh
attributes Accountfully’s success to its unique business model. “We do
the day-to-day work of professional accountants and bookkeepers while
also serving as a CFO and strategic partner. It’s a different approach
that gives owners the support they need to grow their business without
investing in an in-house team before it’s really necessary,” says
Ebenhoeh. “We are honored to be on such an impressive list. This
confirms the demand for the services we provide.”
The annual Inc. 5000 list, is the most prestigious ranking of the
nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique
look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s
most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Microsoft, Dell,
Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many
other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees
on the Inc. 5000.
Not only have the companies on the 2019 Inc. 5000 been very
competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows
staggering growth compared with prior lists. The 2019 Inc. 5000 achieved
an astounding three-year average growth of 454 percent, and a median
rate of 157 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $237.7 billion in 2018, accounting for 1,216,308 jobs over the past three years.
“The companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 have followed so many different paths to success,” says Inc. editor in chief James Ledbetter.
“There’s no single course you can follow or investment you can take
that will guarantee this kind of spectacular growth. But what they have
in common is persistence and seizing opportunities.”
Accountfully expanded its offices in Charleston, South Carolina to include a Nashville, Tennessee
location to support its growth over the previous years. Clients span
the nation and come from many industries, including food and drink,
digital agencies, and even rocket manufacturers. The enterprise plans on
continuing its growth, reaching more clients across the country and
helping small businesses grow by keeping them focused on their craft and
out of the books.
About Accountfully
Accountfully was
founded in 2012 to support small businesses and growing brands with
their bookkeeping and accounting needs. It is a fully outsourced
accounting team, working as bookkeepers, accountants, CFOs, controllers,
and CPAs. More than just the day-to-day accounting tasks, they also
serve as a long-term strategic partner to help businesses navigate
complex financial challenges and opportunities. Accountfully prides
itself on doing good work for good people.
The Town of Mount Pleasant is accepting
submissions for phase five of the Culture, Arts & Pride Commission’s
Traffic Box Art project until September 9. Open to residents of the
tri-county area, selected artists will have their artwork displayed
publicly at various intersections in Mount Pleasant.
The artwork
must reflect the community and culture of Mount Pleasant. To apply, the
artist must submit renditions of his or her work via email or in person.
A high-resolution image will be required if the art is selected for the
program. Selected designs will be awarded a $250 honorarium.
Presented
by the Town of Mount Pleasant Culture, Arts & Pride Commission,
this program aims to promote local artists and to encourage interaction
between the creative community, local businesses and residents.
“The
CAP Commissioners have been incredibly pleased with all of the positive
feedback we’ve received for this program from residents, visitors and
businesses,” said Special Events Manager Nicole Harvey. “We are excited
to have finished all the signal boxes on Highway 17 and to see the new
ones in the Coleman Boulevard area.”
The program, which won a Gold Hermes Creative Award last year, now has a total of 22 boxes wrapped. The application and guidelines are available at tompsc.com under the Recreation Department’s Special Events Office. To submit artwork, email cap@tompsc.com or drop off the proposal at the R.L. Jones Center at 391 Egypt Road.
CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Benefitfocus, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNFT), a leading cloud-based benefits management platform and services provider, today announced that Misty Guinn, director of benefits and wellness, was named the Judge’s Choice winner of the Benny Awards, presented by Employee Benefit News. Guinn is one of four recipients of Employee Benefit News‘ Benny Awards, which recognize individuals for excellence in the employee benefits and human resources field.
Misty Guinn, Director of Benefits & Wellness, Benefitfocus
Awards are granted to employee benefit or human resource
practitioners directly involved in the management of employee benefit
programs. The Judges’ Choice winner is drawn from a wider spectrum of
benefit programs and areas of professional responsibility.
“Over the past year and a half, Misty has made a
significant and positive impact on the company’s benefit programs,
improving our associates’ lives,” said Benefitfocus President and CEO Ray August.
“She is a transformative leader and for Misty to be recognized in this
fashion for her hard work and efforts on behalf of our associates makes
this award especially meaningful to us.”
Guinn was cited for revamping and branding Benefitfocus’
Benefits and Wellness Program to deliver one of the industry’s most
holistic benefits offerings and putting associates first as “Customer
#1.” The objective of Benefitfocus’ Total Well-Being strategy is to
create an environment that allows the total well-being of associates to
flourish through programs, products, and policies, while striving to
embrace all pillars of well-being: physical, mental/emotional, financial
and social/purpose.
As a result of her efforts, Benefitfocus saw a
72 percent adoption rate into its High Deductible health Plans during
the 2019 Open Enrollment period, well above the average of between 25-35
percent. It also saw a 27 percent increase in employee contributions to
Health Savings Accounts and significant growth in enrollment in
voluntary income protection products – 31 percent enrolled in an
Accident plan, 36 percent in a Critical Illness plan and a 40% growth in
hospital indemnity plans. This level of activity clearly demonstrated
Benefitfocus associates’ positive view of the perceived value of a
comprehensive benefit package.
As the director of benefits and
wellness at Benefitfocus, Guinn works closely with suppliers and
carriers to create and manage innovative health plan designs for
associates. She works to help improve their total well-being through
education, relationships and a supportive environment that includes
innovative employee benefits strategies and well-being programs that
foster foundations of a healthier workforce and community. Guinn is a
certified worksite wellness specialist with the National Wellness
Institute and a Franklin Covey Facilitator in the 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People.
EBN‘s Benny Award winners will be recognized at the 2019 Benefits Forum and Expo, which will be held Sept. 25-27 in Las Vegas. Winners will be profiled online and in the magazine’s September issue.
About Benefitfocus Benefitfocus (NASDAQ: BNFT)
unifies the entire U.S. benefits industry on a single technology
platform to protect consumers’ health, wealth, property and lifestyle.
Our powerful cloud-based software, data-driven insights and
thoughtfully-designed services, enable employers, insurance brokers,
carriers and suppliers to simplify the complexity of benefits
administration and deliver a world-class benefits experience. Learn more
at www.benefitfocus.com,LinkedIn and Twitter.
Except
for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and
assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking
statements. Actual results or performance might differ materially from
those explicit or implicit in the forward-looking statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include:
our ability to maintain our culture and recruit and retain qualified
personnel; the need to innovate and provide useful products and
services; our ability to compete effectively; management of growth; the
immature and volatile nature of the market for our products and
services; risks related to changing healthcare and other applicable
regulations; privacy; security and other risks associated with our
business; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in our
SEC filings, copies of which are available free of charge within the
Investor Relations section of the Benefitfocus website at http://investor.benefitfocus.com/sec-filings or
upon request from our investor relations department. Benefitfocus
assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these
forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Southern Current, a leading developer in the
residential, commercial and utility-scale solar markets, is expanding
its solar farm portfolio with new facilities in Darlington County. The
company is investing in a total of six individual projects within
Darlington County, bringing a collective capital investment of more than
$141 million.
Southern Current is an owner and developer of utility-scale solar
energy facilities across the southeastern United States. With an
in-house team of development professionals, the company manages projects
from site selection and origination through construction and operation.
“Southern Current is excited to announce our next round of
investments in Darlington County. We could not have done this without
the help of the economic development team and the county’s leadership.
South Carolina is quickly becoming a leader in renewable energy thanks
to the commitment of counties like Darlington.” – Southern Current Chief
Development Officer Paul Fleury
“This latest announcement of new projects by Southern Current further
proves the future is bright for solar projects throughout the state.
Congratulations to Southern Current. We look forward to watching this
company continue to grow and thrive in Darlington County.” –Gov. Henry
McMaster
“This investment by Southern Current will further strengthen South
Carolina’s growing reputation in the area of renewable energy. Providing
both environmental and economic impacts, we look forward to continuing
this partnership for many years to come.” –Secretary of Commerce Bobby
Hitt
“Southern Current’s second substantial investment in solar power in
Darlington County is proof-positive that Darlington County is welcoming
to clean energy growth. This expansion will be a win-win for the county
and for the company, and is good for the local economy.” –Darlington
County Council Chairman Bobby Hudson
“It is wonderful to see Southern Current announce their second major
investment in Darlington County and their third in the NESA region in
the past two years. Renewal energy continues to be a great investment in
the region and Darlington County leads the way in recognizing the
benefits these projects can have on their communities.” –NESA Executive
Committee Chairman Yancey McGill
FIVE FAST FACTS
Southern Current is launching new solar projects in Darlington County.
More than $141 million of total capital investment to establish six individual projects within Darlington County.
Southern Current is a leading developer and owner of residential,
commercial and utility-scale solar projects across the southeastern
United States.
The company manages projects from site selection and origination through construction and operation.
During the turn of the century, theatre was an escape to a
place of imagination and wonder. Combining
extravagant color-rich sets and costumes, stories pulled from the pages of our greatest
literary talents and songs and storylines that provided a reprieve from the
trials of life, theatre was a place where dreams came true.
Led by the direction of Ryan C. Ahlert, musical direction of
Laura Ball, choreography design by Megan Pue and a cast of 14 adults and 22
children, Midtown Productions has brought that magic back with an unforgettable
evening of music, triumph, imagination and a reminder of the power of children.
At its core, Matilda is a story of kindness, intelligence,
friendship, warmth and love of childhood that is cast a cloud of evil and
ignorance from the adult world eating its way to the core of untapped innocence. As we all know, the unbreakable strength of
young dreamers with vision and imagination always find a way to break through
light from darkness and that is the power of this production.
This is a story of triumph told from the eyes of our most beloved and loveable force, our children.
Lacy Burbage is an 11 year old powerhouse as Matilda. Her poise and presence, beautiful voice and
charming sensitivity and subtle confidence shine in every scene. This young talent whose entrance into the
acting community at age 7 clearly shows she is well on her way to an incredible
career in live theatre and a shining star over Charleston.
The real-life husband and wife team of Andrea and Michael
Catangay are amazing as Mrs. and Mr. Wormwood.
Almost as if they were pulled from a vaudevillian act, their timing, zany
behavior and energetic presence made it difficult to view them as the ignorant villains. By the end you felt empathetic compassion for
these two lost souls.
During intermission, Michael Catangay makes a surprise entrance
stage center to initiatively begin what seemed to be an improve, audience
participation stage act. Staying
completely in character, he brought the audience and stage together in a hysterical
interlude.
Scenery: Using
cleverly placed scenery and props, the audience was taken seamlessly from
Matilda’s home, to the library, classroom, playground and finally her imaginary
visualization of her beautiful storytelling.
The stage crew designed a set that let the story flow with harmony.
Sometimes the greatest language barrier is the one between child and adult and where the character of Miss Honey plays the most critical role. Portrayed with charm by Elizabeth Ludlam, a Junior Musical Theatre Major and Spanish Minor student at the Catholic University of America, this character is the voice of reason in an otherwise upside-down world. Her own personal journey finding herself lost between youth and adulthood. In the passion of Matilda, she finds a moment of clarity and affirmation. This relationship between Matilda and Miss Honey brings the focus of this story to the core of its central theme of love, enlightenment, and hope.
There is something special on stage during this 2 ½ hour
production. Something that is meaningful
and purposeful.
Midtown Productions has set the stage of bringing the acting
community together for a purpose. This
adult and young adult cast who find unity is just the catalyst we all need.
Looking out at the sold out playhouse and hearing the
laughter and cheers was all you needed to see to know you were witnessing a
huge success.
Make time in the next two weeks to see this uplifting night
of live entertainment.
Jordan Jackson is the owner of Birch & Pen Boutique in the
Northwoods Mall. He is taking the fashion industry and business world by
storm. Just 19 years old, Jordan just closed the deal to open his first
retail store location. Birch & Pen will open its doors to the
public on Thursday, November 1 and have its grand opening on Saturday,
November 3, 2018, 4pm-8pm.
Birch and Pen Boutique is a retail clothing and accessories boutique
that specializes in high-fashion, trendy apparel for men and women at
affordable prices. The brand choices will constantly evolve and set the
standard for pop culture style. The Birch & Pen team will never
allow their customers to settle for limited options or the mediocre.
They will create experiences that customers can add into their everyday
lifestyle. One of the store’s major standards is to encourage customers
to always take risks, whether it’s redefining business wear or adding
flavor to casual wear. The team will show customers how to confidently
look their best ‘selves’ through fashion. Birch & Pen plans to be
the trailblazer of the fashion industry, in a way that people would
least expect.
Jordan has a strong eye for fashion and design and on weekly basis,
he is being sought out for his advice on style and clothing. In
addition, he does home-staging, decorating and furniture
building/refurbishing. Now this gifted Hanahan High graduate desires to
put his energy and experience into operating his retail clothing store.
Currently, when clients ask him to help them to choose a wardrobe,
Jordan takes them to different clothing stores. He is very excited about
having his clients come to his very own boutique.
Being a teenager and an African American male in the North
Charleston/Hanahan area could have been seen as a disadvantage to
Jordan. However, he used these assets to courageously launch forward
into an unchartered territory to become the youngest store owner in the
Northwoods Mall. He hopes that his hard work and fearless walk of faith
encourages young people to accomplish their dreams.
Birch & Pen Boutique is located in the Northwoods Mall, 2150 Northwoods Boulevard (in Dillard’s wing), North Charleston, SC 29406; Email, birchandpen@gmail.com; Phone, 843-790-3414. Store hours are from 10am-9pm, Monday through Saturday and 12pm-6pm, Sunday. Birch & Pen is also on Facebook and Instagram. For inquiries, please contact Jennifer Simmons by email birchandpen@gmail.com and visit www.birchandpen.com for more information.
CHARLESTON, S.C. /PRNewswire/ — Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good, today announced that Michael “Mike” Gianoni, Blackbaud’s president and CEO, has been named to the list of Top 50 SaaS CEOs by The Software Report. Gianoni was recognized for his purpose-driven leadership and the company’s accelerated performance alongside CEOs from software companies such as Bitly, Cvent, Gainsight™, Twilio, Workday and more.
The CEOs on this year’s list were selected based on
nomination submissions from colleagues, peers and other software
industry participants. Nominees were reviewed across a number of key
attributes, including integrity, intellect, drive, emotional
intelligence, organizational culture and operational skill. They were
most closely evaluated based on qualitative and substantive commentary
provided on the CEO’s character.
Gianoni took over as CEO of the social good software leader
in 2014 and has led the company through significant milestones,
including transitioning Blackbaud’s entire solution set to the cloud,
issuing the company’s first social responsibility report and guiding
Blackbaud through the construction and opening of a new LEED Gold world
headquarters. Under Gianoni’s leadership, Blackbaud has claimed spots on
prominent lists, including Forbes’ 2019 Best Employers for Diversity
for the second consecutive year, Forbes’ 2018 America’s Best Employers
for Women, AnitaB.org 2018 Top Companies for Women Technologists and
Forbes’ 2019 Best Midsize Employers for the fourth consecutive year.
Since Gianoni became CEO, Blackbaud’s customer base has
grown 55 percent; recurring revenue has more than doubled and now
comprises 90 percent of total revenues; addressable market has increased
by over $4 billion through acquisition
and organic product builds; and the company has risen to one of the top
30 largest cloud software companies in the world, according to IDC’s
rank of Worldwide Software as a Service (SaaS) and Cloud Software Market
Shares. Beyond his business acumen, Gianoni also volunteers and
advocates for causes important to him, including animal welfare and
veterans’ initiatives. He serves on the board of the International
African American Museum breaking ground in Charleston this fall.
The
Software Report is a comprehensive source for business news, investment
activity and corporate actions related to the software and SaaS
sectors. For more information and to view this year’s list of Top 50
SaaS CEOs, visit www.thesoftwarereport.com/the-top-50-saas-ceos-of-2019/.
About Blackbaud Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB)
is the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good.
Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, foundations,
companies, education institutions, healthcare organizations 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, school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial
management, payment processing and analytics. Serving the industry for
more than three decades, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Forward-looking Statements Except
for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and
assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking
statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including
statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features.
Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these
forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances
might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In
addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ
materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty
regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers;
continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired
companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks
associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated
software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel;
risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and
implementation cycles, particularly in larger organization;
technological changes that make our products and services less
competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in
the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of
charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov
or upon request from Blackbaud’s investor relations department. All
Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.
Summerville, United States – August 8, 2019 /PressCable/ —
In today’s world much of the traffic that is seen for a business
comes from internet searches. Other marketing efforts no longer have the
same impact as they did five or ten years ago. Showing up on the first
page of Google is hugely important in today’s market. Being ranked on
page one of Google is the best method for getting traffic to your
website. Close to 70% of the clicks to websites from page one of Google
go to the entities holding the top 5 positions of a specific searchable
term. Most people never even go to page two, therefore a page one result
can absolutely transform a business.
Many people think that social media is a great way to get new customers but Further Design Group,
a marketing company in Charleston SC, explains that social media is
important for staying connected to your target audience but the majority
of new customers find a company through search. Getting traffic to a
website is not the only goal however.
If a website is not designed to convert searchers into customers then
all the traffic in the world will not result in a large ROI. Another
fact that many businesses do not realize when just starting out is that
much of the traffic sent to a website does not result in a sale or a
phone call the first time around.
Alex Radin, owner of Further Design Group explains, ” Retargeting ads
are a crucial part of our marketing approach since it allows us to
follow up with all the traffic that leaves a website without taking
action. Most businesses are letting that traffic go and are missing out
on a huge opportunity! These are potential customers that have already
declared that they are interested in a company’s product or service by
visiting the site to begin with. These potential customers just need to
be reminded why they were interested in the company in the first place.
Retargeting ads are the answer to this issue.”
When it comes to marketing content is extremely important. With the
over-saturation of information it is important to stand out from the
crowd and not just look and sound like everyone else. Blending in is a
big mistake many businesses make and easy to avoid. Further Design Group
goes on to say that figuring out what makes a particular business
different from all other businesses is an important way to highlight
what makes that particular company unique and also what will help a
business stand out.
More information about marketing strategies can be found by visiting the link above.
Contact Info: Name: Alex Radin Email: Send Email Organization: Further Design Group Address: P.O. Box 51674, Summerville, SC 29485, United States Phone: +1-843-270-3137 Website: https://furtherdesigngroup.com
On Saturday, August 10, 2019, AFFA, Charleston Pride and We Are Family will
celebrate the grand opening of the first – and only – dedicated LGBTQI+
office, retail and community space in the Lowcountry, located at 1801
Reynolds Ave, North Charleston, SC.
The celebration will begin at 4:00pm with
a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:00pm, and conclude at 7:00pm. The event
is free and open to the public, and will feature family-friendly indoor
and outdoor activities, Semilla and Street Bird food trucks, and live
entertainment with Mix 95.9.
“Having three of Charleston’s LGBTQI+
organizations in one location is a tremendous accomplishment,”
said Nijeeah Richardson, Executive Director of We Are Family. “Together,
with Alliance For Full Acceptance and Charleston Pride, we are creating
visibility and accessibility for and with our communities in ways that
Charleston has never experienced before.”
We Are Family (WAF) began as a grassroots
organization developed by the father of a gay son in 1995. Over the
past 24 years, the organization has grown its scope of services,
community partnerships, and impact, with constant input from and
leadership by the youth and young adults it serves.
“We know that our local LGBTQI+
organizations have even greater impact in the community when we work
together, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to also be a part of
the vibrant Reynolds Avenue Area Merchants Association, where we can
invest in this community and be on the leading edge of revitalization
efforts in the area,” said Chase Glenn, Executive Director of AFFA.
Founded in 1998, The Alliance For Full
Acceptance (AFFA) has worked with local municipalities to pass LGBTQI+
protections, conducts diversity and inclusion trainings with law
enforcement, healthcare providers and business leaders, and runs an
annual media campaign that creates visibility around issues affecting
the LGBTQI+ community.
“The possibilities ahead for our
organizations and for our community are endless,” said Tony Williams,
Chair & Chief Executive Officer of Charleston Pride. “Together,
we’ll be able to accomplish even more in one central location and build a
stronger, more vibrant LGBTQI+ community in the Lowcountry.”
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in
2019, Charleston Pride hosts events throughout the year to highlight the
uniqueness and diversity of the LGBTQI+ community, including the annual
Charleston Pride Parade and Festival. The 2019 Charleston Pride Week
kicks off September 7 with 19 different community-based events
throughout the week, culminating with the Pride Festival on September 14
featuring headliner Todrick Hall.
For the latest information on the grand opening, please visit the Facebook event page.
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