Author: epidevelopment

Greenville, SC – FUEL – a Greenville, S.C.-based brand building agency – announced today that it has selected the Half a Sorrow Foundation as the FUEL for Good Grant recipient for 1H 2024. The Half a Sorrow Foundation was founded in 2020 to improve mental health for individuals and organizations by promoting real conversations.

“We are beyond ecstatic to be chosen by FUEL to be the recipient of their FUEL for Good Grant,” said Dennis Gillan, executive director of the Half a Sorrow Foundation. “This grant will truly help the Half a Sorrow Foundation get one of our key programs off the ground and into the hands of the folks that may be struggling with their mental health.”

FUEL created the FUEL for Good Grant program in 2020 as a tangible way to give back to its community and help local nonprofits. To date, FUEL has donated more than 1,000 hours of service with work ranging from video production and logo development to social media campaigns and marketing collateral.

“Our FUEL for Good Grant program is an important community service initiative and an integral part of the FUEL culture,” said Meredith Kinsey, president and COO of FUEL. “Millions of Americans experience symptoms of a mental health condition each year, and over one million adults attempt suicide each year. That’s astounding and frightening. Our team is looking forward to working with the Half a Sorrow Foundation to help promote real conversations around mental health.”

For more information about the Half a Sorrow Foundation, please visit https://halfasorrow.org/. More information about the FUEL for Good Grant program is available at https://www.fuelforbrands.com/fuel-grant/.

(UPSTATE, S.C.) – February 5, 2024 – South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI), the non-profit foundation of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX, is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob Stegner to board president and Judson Conwell to director of corporate partnerships and assistant tournament director.

Stegner previously served as vice president of the SCCI board of directors. He brings more than 30 years of business and community leadership experience to his role. Currently serving as senior vice president, marketing, North America for TD SYNNEX, Stegner is responsible for marketing in the United States and Canada and is a founding board member of TD SYNNEX Share the Magic. Since its inception in 2011, TD SYNNEX Share the Magic has raised more than $25 million for children and families in need and expanded from South Carolina to Canada, Colorado, Illinois and the California Bay Area. Stegner was inducted into the CompTIA Hall of Fame in 2020 in recognition of his impact on the IT industry and was most recently inducted into the Greenville Business Magazine Hall of Fame in January.

Conwell joins SCCI from Johnson Development Associates and previously spent five years with the BMW Charity Pro-Am where he held several roles including director of sales. In his new role as director of corporate partnerships and assistant tournament director, Conwell will manage local, regional, and national partnerships while assisting with the management of the tournament. “I want to thank the board of directors and tournament staff for welcoming me back to the Tournament,” said Conwell. “I look forward to continuing to bring the Upstate business community together and helping raise funds towards amazing charities.”

“The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX continues to be a highly anticipated annual event in the upstate by serving as a vehicle for community and business engagement, attracting visitors to our region and most importantly, raising funds to support many of our community’s most critical needs,” said Stegner. “I am humbled to serve the upstate in this new capacity and look forward to working alongside the board and tournament staff to deliver a first-class event this June. We are also very pleased to welcome Judson back to the team.”

Additional board changes for 2024 include BMW Manufacturing Manager of Government and Community Relations Max Metcalf being promoted to vice president and Elliott Davis Chairman Emeritus Irv Welling being named treasurer. Andy Cajka, Frank Davis, Sheldon Early, Sky Foster, Todd Horne and Davis Sezna will continue to serve as board directors.

“I look forward to the impact Bob will make as board president of SCCI as well as the growth we will see having Judson return to the tournament team,” said Michael McGovern, tournament director. “As we transition to new board leadership, I would also like to thank SCCI’s former board president, Bob Nitto, for his unwavering commitment and leadership.”

The 2024 BMW Charity Pro-Am will be held June 3-9 at Thornblade Club and The Carolina Country Club. Featured charities of the tournament include Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute; Meyer Center for Special Children; Mobile Meals of Spartanburg; Neighborhood Cancer Connection, formerly the Cancer Society of Greenville; and Roper Mountain Science Center. For more information, please visit bmwcharitygolf.com.

ABOUT THE BMW CHARITY PRO-AM PRESENTED BY TD SYNNEX
South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI), the non-profit foundation of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX, was created in order to showcase the beauty of Upstate South Carolina and hospitality of its citizens to the world; to create an event that brings the upstate a fun and entertaining week centered around professional athletes and world-renowned celebrities; and raise money and awareness for South Carolina charities. Since 2001, the tournament has distributed more than $15 million to numerous Upstate SC non-profit organizations, part of the PGA TOUR’s $3 billion plus raised for charity.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The YoPro Know has promoted Jade Fountain from Account Manager to Director of Operations.

Fountain has been with The YoPro Know since January 2023, working with a number of clients as well as tackling various operational projects. She has a background in non-profit fundraising, marketing, and volunteer management.

She is a graduate of Furman University’s Women’s Leadership Institute, was named one of Greenville Business Magazine’s Best & Brightest Under 35 in 2020, and is a graduate of Leadership Greenville class 48. She currently serves on the board of The Family Effect; is the Chair of the Junior League of Greenville’s Grants committee; and was a member of the 2023 Rose Ball Beneficiaries committee.

“Since Jade joined the team one year ago, she has been an integral member of The YoPro Know, and has helped us achieve rapid growth,” said founder Kamber Parker Bowden. “We don’t know what we would do without her, and look forward to seeing how she helps the company grow in this new role.”

About The YoPro Know:

The YoPro Know’s mission is to maximize young professionals’ careers by preparing them today to be the business leaders of tomorrow. Based in Greenville (SC) with a national community, The YoPro Know promotes your success in the workplace by being a bridge between ambitious young professionals and progressive businesses who want to recruit, engage, and retain them. Visit www.yoproknow.com to learn more.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Rose Davis is the new Director of Community Engagement for Rebuild Upstate.

In this role, Davis will sit on the Leadership Team of the organization and oversee a wide range of community engagement activities. Her oversight will include fundraising, events, volunteer engagement, marketing, and special projects.

Davis graduated from Clemson University in 2017 with a bachelor’s in communication and minor in nonprofit leadership. She holds certifications in Volunteer Management with Habitat for Humanity and in Leadership with Clemson University. Davis was awarded The James Malcolm Geddes Memorial Award for Excellence in Civic Leadership by Clemson University’s Communication Studies Department in 2017. Davis was named as a 2023 40 Under 40 Honoree by the Greenville Business Journal and has raised more than $1,200,000 for organizations that provide real solutions to the affordable housing crisis in her career.

After graduating from Clemson University, Davis became a resource development manager for Habitat for Humanity of Pickens County. She joined Rebuild Upstate in 2021 as a development specialist. In her free time, Davis is a musician and an advocate for agritourism. With her siblings, she supports The Venue at Davis Pond Family Farms, an event venue located on her family’s legacy farm.

“Rose is a proven asset to our team,” said Jake Beaty, CEO of Rebuild Upstate. “As a housing and community development nonprofit, our role is to be a puzzle-solver for the community. We help put together pieces so community members have things they need, like good homes that people can afford. We can’t do that without champions like Rose, who bring together housing advocates, businesses, churches, and other community development organizations to create positive change.”

About Rebuild Upstate:
Rebuild Upstate is a nonprofit organization serving the Upstate of South Carolina. The nonprofit strengthens the communities by providing volunteers and materials to create a safe, healthy, sustainable home environment for disabled, low-income and elderly homeowners. The organization exclusively focuses on repairs and improving existing homes. The nonprofit is also the reigning Chamber Max Heller award recipient. Learn more at www.rebuildupstate.org.

Marsh Bell Construction has promoted Jackie Murray to General Superintendent. Jackie joined Marsh Bell as a superintendent in 2021, after she spent nearly 40 years working with several highly regarded general contractors in Upstate New York.

Over the past three years, Jackie has provided comprehensive jobsite supervision on several complex renovation projects at Marsh Bell, including First Carolina Bank’s flagship office in downtown Greenville; the Margaret Mills Cubbage Child Development Center at Greenville Technical College; Benson Nissan in Easley; and AnMed Health. As General Superintendent, Jackie will support and oversee field operations including Safety, Scheduling and Quality Control.

“Jackie brings a level of professionalism and diligence to every project she touches,” said Marsh Bell Chief Operations Officer Garret Tomforde. “She leads by example and has earned the respect of her clients, colleagues, and subcontracting teams. This is more than a well-deserved promotion; it’s another critical step in making Marsh Bell one of the most successful commercial builders in the Upstate.”

About Marsh Bell Construction Company
Celebrating 40 years in business, Greenville, S.C.-based Marsh Bell Construction is an unlimited commercial general contractor with experience across a broad spectrum of market sectors, including industrial, manufacturing, healthcare, education, automotive, retail and churches.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The formation of MD Care Group started over lunch between Chris Cole and a friend who ran an ambulance service. The friend told a story of sending an ambulance 40 miles for a patient who needed a doctor. The friend said it was a poor use of funds and that it would be faster and more efficient for the person do a virtual visit with a doctor.
That planted the idea. Create a nationwide network of doctor and caregivers that people can pay a monthly service fee for the ability to meet virtually. The technology was there, but the industry wasn’t.
“I remember thinking ‘this can’t be real. If it was, everyone would be doing it,’” Cole said.
To help create the digital portion of the network such as the apps, platforms and technology to support, partnered with Steve Koenemann, an experienced developer who had done work for a cousin of Cole’s. From that start, MD Care Group has grown to cover all 50 states with a network of 172 groups and more than 10,000 members. Its doctors and caregivers can do everything from urgent care to allergies to primary care to wellness screenings to dermatology to mental health appointments and now virtual veterinarian services.
It does this through two business models: Straight to consumer, and increasingly more working with insurance agencies and business owners. MD Care Group is often used to augment insurance packages that allow businesses and users to offset the rising cost of healthcare.
Some of the other highlights of MD Care Group:
Personalized Care Navigation: Help to find in-network providers, get second opinions, and access transparency tools for treatment costs and quality ratings. Simplifying and personalizing your healthcare experience.
Telemedicine: Members can access our nationwide network of U.S. Licensed Physicians who are available 24/7/365 to treat, provide advice, recommendations, and even diagnose common acute illnesses.
Affordable Pricing: They believe everyone should have access to affordable healthcare by providing thoughtful, more inclusive care that enhances value and improves healthcare outcomes
24/7 Access: Get anytime, anywhere access to our expert doctors—no matter the health need, medical question, or chronic concern.
“MD Care is smarter, more inclusive healthcare designed with the patient in mind,” Koenemann said.
About MD Care Group, LLC:
Based in Greenville, South Carolina, MD Care Group, LLC is a pioneer in personalized virtual care. MD Care Group features a national network of dedicated health care providers paired with the advanced technology required to deliver reliable, accurate medical care centered on you and your needs. MD Care Group offers an extensive suite of solutions for some of the most common roadblocks to quality health care, including telemedicine/urgent care, virtual primary care, behavioral health, virtual dermatology, care navigation, and lab screenings and assessments. Learn more at www.mdvirtualcare.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – To help make healthier hearts for American Heart Month this February, Sportsclub Fitness & Wellness is offering a free, no-commitment three-day pass all month long.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Lifestyle changes, including regular exercise, can greatly reduce the risk of heart disease and other poor-heart-health-related conditions.

Sportsclub Fitness & Wellness wants everyone to take care of their heart health not just in February, but every month. They offer a variety of ways to break a sweat and get your heart pumping, including personal training with nationally certified personal trainers (one on one and small group training) and group fitness classes (from low-impact to water aerobics).

“A lot of people assume their heart health is just fine because they aren’t overweight or maybe because they used to be an athlete a decade or two ago,” said Sarah Gunter, a personal training director with Sportsclub. “The truth is, everyone can work on improving their heart health. We hope we can inspire more people to take their heart health seriously this month and beyond.”

Sportsclub Fitness & Wellness has locations at 317 ScuffletownRoad in Simpsonville, 712 Congaree Road in Greenville and 667 SE Main Street in Simpsonville. To download a free, no-commitment, 3-day pass, click here: https://sportsclubsc.com/pass/

About Sportsclub Fitness & Wellness:

Since 1975, Sportsclub Fitness & Wellness has been the choice for those who want something more than just a gym membership. Their mission is to provide the best health club experience in the Upstate of South Carolina. Their members appreciate a wide variety of equipment, adult and youth fitness programming, group exercise classes and a friendly and knowledgeable team. From team sports to group activities to individual instruction, they can define a fitness program that suits anyone’s unique ability and lifestyle at their three convenient locations in Greenville. Learn more by visiting https://sportsclubsc.com/.

About acac Fitness & Wellness Centers:

Founded by Phil Wendel in 1984, acac Fitness & Wellness Centers has become the gold standard for health and wellness facilities. With 11 locations throughout Virginia, Pennsylvania and now South Carolina, acac members and guests have access to a full spectrum of high quality programs, services and equipment. acac’s mission is to provide a great fitness experience for members of all ages in a clean and safe environment. Its team members are dedicated to the integration of medicine and fitness to improve community health by focusing on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of lifestyle-related disease. Learn more at https://acac.com.

Rebuild Upstate has added Ryan Hulon as the organization’s RSVP Project Manager for Anderson County.

Hulon served in the US Army 82nd Airborne from 1997 to 2007. Years after his service, Hulon began working for the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce while simultaneously earning his education from Tri County Technical College. After graduation in 2016, Hulon began working with the Cancer Association of Anderson up until 2023.

Hulon earned a number of awards in his years spent involved in the community, including a Hometown Hero honor and Leadership Anderson Warrior of the Year. He is currently a board member for Vets Helping Vets, the Anderson Area Airshow, the Belton Area Museum, United Way Basic Needs and Anderson Area Veterans Network. He served as the Chair of the Anderson County Veterans Memorial and was a member of the Rotary Club Dream Team.

“I’m excited to be in my role as the RSVP Project Manager, and I look forward to growing relationships in Anderson County to better serve our residents in need,” said Hulon.

Rebuild Upstate is committed to keeping low-income homeowners safe and living in dignity with home repairs and accessibility improvements in existing houses and neighborhoods. Home repairs can range from small plumbing fixes to roof and floor replacements. Accessibility improvements range from installing grab bars and railings for vulnerable populations to building wheelchair ramps for those with disabilities.

“We are honored to have Ryan join our organization and help grow our mission,” said Jake Beaty, CEO of Rebuild Upstate. “He is going to be a great addition that will help us increase our work in Anderson County.”

About Rebuild Upstate:
Rebuild Upstate serves low-income homeowners with repairs and accessibility improvements to create safe, livable housing in existing homes and neighborhoods in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties. Its team envisions a community where everyone has the opportunity to live a life of dignity in a safe home environment in order to maintain and foster strong, sustainable communities. Learn more at www.rebuildupstate.org.

Greenville, S.C. – From its depiction in the 1500s as an angry sea monster to its portrayal as a unicorn of the sea and now as an icon of pop culture, the narwhal with its unique spiral tusk will rise from the deep on Saturday, February 3, 2024, in “Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend,” the newest exhibition opening at the Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County, a Smithsonian Affiliate.

Though it has inspired art, legend, and cultural practice for centuries, the elusive narwhal is actually a medium-sized whale ranging from 13 to 18 feet long, not including the long tusk seen on most males that averages 6 to 8 feet. Narwhals only live near the Arctic Circle in the icy waters spanning Northern Canada, Greenland and Russia where climate variations and sea ice pose a mounting challenge to their survival.

“Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend” features a variety of unique displays and hands-on activities inviting visitors to discover the story of the “Unicorn of the Sea” while learning how traditional knowledge and scientific research combine to create greater understanding of these fascinating animals and our changing global climate. Visitor experiences include:

• Encountering first-hand accounts of indigenous Inuit community members from parts of Alaska, Arctic Canada, and Greenland, and international scientists about the interactions and history with the narwhals.
• Listening to soundscapes of shifting ice, flowing water, narwhal vocalizations, and Arctic birdcalls.
• Learning what the narwhal “tooth” (tusk) is for, testing your knowledge, and seeing a fossil whale skull from an extinct narwhal relative.
• Touching a replica of a narwhal tusk and measuring your height against it.
• Looking at examples of the many ways that narwhals have inspired pop culture.

“Narwhal” will be on display from Saturday, Feb. 3 through Sunday, June 16, 2024. Organized by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and its Arctic Studies Center, the exhibition was developed for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES).

The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.