Author: epidevelopment

Linda Lovely, the local author of eleven mysteries and thrillers, explores the potential perils of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in her new novel, A KILLER APP. The mystery features an AI-savvy villain, the Chameleon. By hacking, scouring social media for would-be pawns, and creating deepfakes, the Chameleon can ruin reputations, rip off unsuspecting heirs, and even orchestrate murders without leaving the house.
A KILLER APP is the third book in Lovely’s HOA (Homeowner Association) Mystery series set in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
New York Times bestselling author Joseph Finder gives the new mystery a thumbs-up review: “Lovely delivers solid plotting and vivid characters, but a memorable villain with an ingenious and all-too-plausible criminal technique are what sets A KILLER APP apart.”
What prompted Lovely to create this villain?
“In 2021, I watched an AI demo showing how easy it was to create a deepfake video of President Obama,” Lovely says. “Had I not known the result was fake, I’d have sworn it was real. The voice, the mannerisms were spot on. No tells.
“That started me thinking—what if an AI expert used those skills to settle personal scores?” she adds. “In A KILLER APP, my heroine Kylee Kane, a retired Coast Guard investigator, consults with an HOA Management firm that has a dozen clients. So, my imagination immediately zeroed in on ways AI could figure in neighborhood feuds, and I dived into research mode.”
Lovely’s AI research hasn’t ended as she continues to read about new developments. While the author believes AI can offer major benefits in fields ranging from health care to the environment, she’s concerned about how it may transform industries, including publishing.
Lovely notes the Authors Guild has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of the many authors who recently discovered their books have been used to train AI. Lovely is one of those authors.
“These copyrighted books were used without permission or compensation,” she explains. “As a result, some authors have already seen AI-created books written in their style and offered online. One worry is that cheap AI-generated books will flood the market and crowd out human creators. Another is that AI rip-offs may turn off disappointed readers. Narrators, translators, book cover artists and editors face similar AI challenges.”
While A KILLER APP doesn’t explore these publishing concerns, it does give readers a glimpse of how bad actors might use AI to harm and scam. The novel is published by Level Best Books and is available in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

It’s a holiday classic that almost didn’t make it from book to screen but for a friendship forged during World War II. In its Southeastern debut, “A Very Grinchy Christmas,” the newest exhibition opening Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County, outlines the backstory of one of the most watched animated made-for-television specials of all time.

Written in 1957, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Ted Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss, gave readers the story of the small-hearted creature who “lived just north of Whoville” and vowed to stop Christmas from coming, only to realize at the end that “maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” Though many had wanted Geisel to turn the story into an animated special, it wasn’t until 1966 that he consented when acclaimed animator Chuck Jones made a personal appeal to him. Geisel and Jones had served together during WWII in the U.S. Army’s First Motion Picture Unit, so Geisel entrusted the project to his friend.

Turning the short book into a 25-minute animated special required the gifted animator of Looney Tunes fame to utilize all of his skills to transform characters, backgrounds, and scenes into a moving storyline complete with narration, music, and color. On December 18, 1966, 3.8 million people tuned in to CBS-TV to witness the birth of this transformation from page to small screen.

Featuring over 150 original animation cels, backgrounds, and ephemera from private collections, this exhibition illustrates Jones’ approach to adapting the story for the screen as he unleashed a riotous array of vivid colors to depict settings and characters. On display from Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, through Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, “A Very Grinchy Christmas” offers a behind-the-scenes look at the originality of both Geisel’s and Jones’ talents, as well as their combined skills in telling a story about the spirit of giving and the indomitable power of optimism.

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.

Fireforge Crafted Beer co-founders Brian and Nicole Cendrowski to speak at Endeavor’s Collaborators & Cocktails November 16th

GREENVILLE, SC (October 31, 2023) – Endeavor, the coworking and office space community in downtown Greenville’s ONE tower, announces that Brian and Nicole Cendrowski, co-owners of Fireforge Crafted Beer will speak at its final Collaborators & Cocktails speaker series of 2023 on November 16th from 5:00 – 7:15 p.m.

Having recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of one of Greenville’s most loved and home-grown brands, Brian and Nicole will share how their professional and personal journeys merged, the science and the instinct of making the decision to follow this dream, and how they’ve made it uniquely their own.

The neighborhood brewery, located on E. Washington St., opened in June 2018 with six beers on tap and a goal “to create the greatest beer drinking experience in the world.” Five years later, Fireforge offers more than 20 in-house brewed beers and other craft drinks, as well as a variety of locally-inspired food options. In 2023, the brewery took home a gold, silver, and bronze medal in the World Beer Championships, the most prestigious beer competition in the world. Game Time Decision, Novemberfest, and Day on the Lake were the three beers recognized for their exceptional taste and quality.

“Whether you are a Fireforge fan, a craft beer lover in general, or simply looking to learn from fun and candid leaders who’ve built something extraordinary, there’s truly something for everyone in hearing about their challenges, milestones, victories, pivots, and ultimately growth,” says Joe Erwin, president of Endeavor.

Co-sponsoring this event are:
• AFL, an international manufacturer providing end-to-end fiber optics and telecommunications solutions to the energy, service provider, enterprise, hyperscale, and industrial markets as well as several emerging markets, with products in use in over 130 countries.
• Bank of Travelers Rest, Member FDIC, has served the people of Greenville County since 1946. Customers experience the conveniences of a full-service financial institution while enjoying the personalized service of their community bank. With offices in Travelers Rest, Marietta, Taylors, Berea and in the City of Greenville, Bank of TR offers additional services through their Customer Support Center, ATMs, Online Banking, Mobile Banks and Saturday hours.

Important event details:
• Networking 5:00 – 5:45 p.m., followed by presentation and Q&A beginning at 5:45. The event will conclude with networking until 7:15 p.m.
• Seating is limited. To attend, request an invitation at Endeavor@EndeavorGreenville.com (no walk-ins).
• Event is free to Endeavor members. Non-member tickets are $30, cocktails included.

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About Endeavor
Endeavor is a membership-based coworking community for creative and entrepreneurial professionals, as well as corporate teams and business travelers. Endeavor’s premium location in the ONE Development in Greenville, SC provides members with state-of-the-art work and meeting space, and uniquely, surrounds them with a diverse array of peers who offer a broad range of services and experience. Training opportunities, networking events and business consulting are available for the professionals who call Endeavor home every day, as well as business team members across the region. Endeavor has been recognized as the winner of the Coworker Member’s Choice Award for Greenville, SC. For more information, visit endeavorgreenville.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – How prepared is your company for 2025, when GenZ and Millennials will make up more than half of the American workforce?

If the answer ranges from not at all to barely, then The YoPro Know has a solution for you. It is offering its first online Masterclass, Attracting & Retaining Young Professional Talent in a Digital World, aimed at helping business owners, hiring managers, human resources, marketing teams and other C-Suite leaders to learn the best talent retention and recruitment tactics aimed at the younger members of the workforce.

The four-part online program focuses on how to better recruit, retain, and strategically develop them as they grow into the future leaders of your workforce will have lasting impacts on your business from financials to productivity, said Kamber Parker, founder of The YoPro Know. Each session lasts between 10 and 15 minutes. Register here: https://yoproknow.com/masterclass/

The YoPro Know is an innovative consulting group that is changing the way businesses engage with young professionals. It draws on its exclusive content and knowledge base to help business leaders better attract young professionals using digital branding and culture. The YoPro Know also hosts a podcast called The Great Retention.

Earlier in 2023, The YoPro Know released The State of Young Professionals Today, a groundbreaking look into how employees under age 39 perceive, internalize, share, and relate in a work environment often defined by people generations older than them. The report was created after thousands of interviews with young professionals in more than 65 white-collar and blue-collar industries.

“Our services have been crafted through thousands of interviews with young professionals in various industries across the country over the past five years,” Parker said. “The future of your workforce begins with recruiting, retaining and developing YoPros. We can help you build and be that bridge.”

About The YoPro Know:

The YoPro Know’s mission is to help businesses develop the future leaders of our workforce through research, education, and recruiting and retention consulting. Based in Greenville, S.C. with a national community, The YoPro Know promotes success in the workplace by being a bridge between ambitious young professionals and progressive businesses, who want to recruit, engage and retain them. Learn more at www.yoproknow.com.

Clemson, S.C. — Eric Newton Real Estate has broken ground on Maverick Hills, a 517-bed student housing development located near the Clemson University campus in South Carolina. The property will offer cottage and townhome units in a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations with bed-to-bath parity. Shared amenities are set to include a resort-style swimming pool with lounge seating; clubhouse; full-service coffee bar; study rooms; 24-hour fitness center; courtyard for outdoor games; dog park; pickleball and basketball courts; and ‘The Rock’ community center. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2025.

Three Greenville leaders have completed the requirements to become a Liberty Fellow. They now join a diverse and interconnected group of 330 leaders in the Liberty Fellowship South Carolina Network and 3,000 leaders in the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Through these two networks, Fellows will have lifelong opportunities for engagement and access to an influential group of colleagues and mentors.

The new Liberty Fellows from Greenville are:

Shontavia Johnson, associate vice president for entrepreneurship and innovation, Clemson University

James Jordon, president, Jordon Construction Company

E. Smyth McKissick, IV, president and CEO, Alice Company

The Liberty Fellowship experience brings together a small group of leaders who may not otherwise know or interact with one another into a Class. Each Class is selected to contain a wide range of thought, professions, geographic locations, and lived experiences. Through a rigorous 18-month process, each Class member is challenged to embrace their varying perspectives as they build upon each other’s strengths.

Other members of the Class of 2023 are:

Amy Barch, executive director and founder, Turn90

Gary Brewer, South Carolina House of Representatives District 114

Chase Glenn, executive director, Alliance for Full Acceptance

Teresa Goodman, executive director, Community Initiatives, Inc.

John Gordon, president & CEO, Leroy Springs & Company, Inc.

Michael Lalich, president and founder, Lowcountry Labor Company

Dominik Mjartan, president & CEO, Optus Bank

Brooke Mueller, senior director of government relations and public affairs of mid-atlantic states, Southeast and Puerto Rico, Walmart, Inc.

Tiffany Roberts, market vice president – clinic operations, CenterWell Senior Primary Care

Aparna Polavarapu, associate professor, University of South Carolina School of Law, and executive director and founder, South Carolina Restorative Justice Initiative

Tommy Preston, Jr., global vice president, ethics, The Boeing Company

Seema Shrivastava-Patel, chair, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Sarah Simmons, founder and CEO, CITY GRIT Hospitality Group

Megan Stifel, chief strategy officer, Institute for Security and Technology

Laura Ullrich, senior regional economist, South Carolina and North Carolina, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Rochelle Williams, vice president of strategy and programs, Mary Black Foundation

QUOTES

“South Carolina must have highly effective leadership to navigate the increasing interdependence of businesses, technologies, communities and nations, and we must have collaboration to foster sustainable growth,” said Ann Marie Stieritz, president and CEO of Liberty Fellowship. “These 19 individuals bring unique perspectives, skills and leadership to our state. We are thrilled to welcome them officially as Liberty Fellows to our networks here in South Carolina and across the world.”

“Being a part of the Liberty Fellowship has reshaped my perspective on leadership. The challenges I faced not only molded my skills but also ignited a deeper passion for community service. To me, becoming a Liberty Fellow means committing to a lifelong journey of growth, collaboration, and impact.” James Jordon, CEO and president, Jordon Construction Company. 

“Liberty Fellowship granted me two profound gifts. First, I gained a wonderful network of friends and colleagues from around the globe. Many have radically different worldviews, but all are people of goodwill.  Second, I achieved a deeper understanding of the thorniest issues facing society today using the wisdom of great texts, both ancient and contemporary,” said E. Smyth McKissick, IV, president and CEO, Alice Company. 

“During my experience with the Liberty Fellowship, I witnessed the remarkable impact of this dynamic community of leaders who are committed to driving positive change in the state. I formed invaluable relationships with individuals who share a passion for making a difference in South Carolina and beyond. I completed the foundational seminar series with a renewed sense of commitment to positively impacting South Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and I look forward to supporting the work of others in the Liberty Fellowship South Carolina Network and the Aspen Global Leadership Network,” said Shontavia Johnson, associate vice president for entrepreneurship and innovation, Clemson University. 

FAST FACTS

1. A new class of Liberty Fellows is selected every two years from a pool of more than 400 nominees.

2. Anyone can nominate a Liberty Fellow.

3. To become a Liberty Fellow, each individual selected must complete five seminars in the United States and abroad and an individual impact venture.

4. Of the 330 Liberty Fellows in the South Carolina network, 87% remain in the state.

5. 76% of Liberty Fellows are from the business sector; 12% are from the nonprofit sector; and 12% are from the public sector.

ABOUT LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP

Liberty Fellowship activates individual leaders through a deeper understanding of a just, free and equitable society; serves as a convener for bringing together diverse perspectives to advance civil discourse; and provides infrastructure for taking action. The Fellowship is a nonpartisan, nonsectarian, nondogmatic organization which operates as an independent 501c3 organization. Learn more at libertyfellowshipsc.org.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (October 16, 2023) – The YMCA of Greenville broke ground today on the recreational facility expansion at the Caine Halter Family YMCA branch and launched the public phase of Building a Brighter Tomorrow, a capital campaign that reflects the best of the branch’s past and ignites the best for the branch’s future.

The Building a Brighter Tomorrow campaign will engage members of the community in an effort to dissolve waitlists for children in youth sports programs, provide adaptive sports spaces and leagues for children and adults with diverse abilities, add outdoor space to better serve families in afterschool and summer camp programs, continue efforts to prevent accidental childhood drownings, and increase partnership opportunities with local, like-minded non-profits serving the Greenville neighborhood.

The expansion will include:

• The DynaDome – A state-of-the-art retractable enclosure system over the outdoor pool.
• Multi-Use Courts – Repurpose the existing tennis courts to provide accessibility to people with diverse abilities on multi-use spaces to play tennis, pickleball, basketball, volleyball, and small-sided soccer.
• Remodeled Fields – Increase field space, add turf fields and lights, and resurface the existing track.
• Outdoor Pavilion – Add outdoor restroom facilities and program space in a 5,000 sq ft pavilion.
• Gymnasium Refresh – Refresh of multi-use gymnasium to include new backboards and refinished flooring.

“Once completed, this campaign will result in a stronger YMCA that has the resources necessary to carry out our time-honored mission to provide a place for all people, regardless of their ability to pay, to build healthy mind, body, and spirit,” says Scot Baddley, president, and CEO of the YMCA of Greenville.

As one of Greenville County’s leading nonprofit health and human services organizations, the Y nurtures the potential of children through youth development, improves Greenville County’s well-being by promoting healthy living, and fosters a sense of social responsibility by providing opportunities to give back and support our neighbors.

To give to the Caine Halter Family YMCA’s Building a Brighter Tomorrow campaign, visit www.ymcagreenville.org/caine-halter-capital-campaign.

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About the YMCA of Greenville, SC

The YMCA of Greenville is a cause-driven non-profit organization. Our mission is, following the example of Christ, to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves the health and well-being of our community and provides opportunities to give back and help support our neighbors. Founded in 1876, the Y serves more than 70,000 people annually through programs that include after-school care, resident and day camps, aquatics, youth and adult sports, and health and wellness. Programs are offered through four family branches, as well as the Verdae YMCA, Y Camp Greenville, YMCA Judson Community Center, the YMCA Program Center, and Hollingsworth Outdoor Center. The Y is also home to Y Teen Services and the SC Youth in Government programs.

For more information about the YMCA of Greenville, visit ymcagreenville.org, or call (864) 412-0288.

YMCA of Greenville Annual Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast Presented by HomeTrust Bank to be held on November 16

GREENVILLE, S.C. (October 13, 2023) – YMCA of Greenville is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast as a way to bring business and community leaders together to pause, reflect, and give thanks for Greenville’s many blessings on the morning of November 16 at the Caine Halter Family YMCA on 721 Cleveland Street. Breakfast will begin at 7 a.m., with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Presented by HomeTrust Bank, the Y’s Thanksgiving Prayer breakfast’s keynote speaker is Drew Brannon, Ph.D., performance psychologist and partner at AMPLOS. In this season of reflection and gratitude, Dr. Brannon will inspire attendees with stories from the sidelines of how using your influence to help those in need can build a better, stronger community for all.

“Our goal is for people will be inspired to further commit themselves to serve our community by using their positions of influence to make Greenville a better place for every resident, especially those in need,” said Scot Baddley, YMCA of Greenville’s president and CEO. “We are thankful for the support HomeTrust Bank has provided for this important event, and for the wisdom that Dr. Drew Brannon of AMPLOS will share with our guests.”

Visit the event website to sponsor a table at the YMCA of Greenville’s Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast. A limited number of individual tickets will be on sale starting October 23.

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About the YMCA of Greenville, SC

The YMCA of Greenville is a cause-driven non-profit organization. Our mission is, following the example of Christ, to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves the health and well-being of our community and provides opportunities to give back and help support our neighbors. Founded in 1876, the Y serves more than 70,000 people annually through programs that include after-school care, resident and day camps, aquatics, youth and adult sports, and health and wellness. Programs are offered though four family branches, as well as the Verdae YMCA, Y Camp Greenville, YMCA Judson Community Center, the YMCA Program Center, and Hollingsworth Outdoor Center. The Y is also home to Y Teen Services and the SC Youth in Government programs.

For more information about the YMCA of Greenville, visit ymcagreenville.org, or call (864) 412-0288.

Media Contact:
Amanda Long
Hughes Agency for
YMCA of Greenville
(864) 275-9890
amandal@hughes-agency.com

Greenville, SC-October 11, 2023-Jasmine Road has selected Lisa O’Connell-Hall as CEO, following an executive search process. Ms. O’Connell-Hall is returning to her hometown of Greenville and began her tenure on October 5, 2023.

In making the announcement, Board of Directors Chair Courtney Atkins said, “Jasmine Road’s Board of Directors is incredibly excited to have Lisa join the team. Lisa is a seasoned and respected nonprofit executive. In addition to her many professional accomplishments, she brings a passion for our mission and a genuine love for serving the people of the Upstate.”

For more than a decade, Ms. O’Connell-Hall has held various leadership roles in nonprofit, including Chapman Cultural Center and Hope Center for Children in Spartanburg. Most recently she served as VP of Resource Development and Interim CEO. She oversaw facility operations, cultural tourism, grants, advocacy, and capital campaigns. She also has held leadership roles in Association of Fundraising Professionals, Piedmont Chapter and Business and Professional Women, and OneSpartanburg.

Ms. O’Connell-Hall is committed to learning and leading with a lens of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in all areas of the community, particularly championing and mentoring women leaders. Ms. O’Connell-Hall has been sought for her expertise in fundraising, team building, and relationship building. She has served on the boards of numerous community organizations including AFP Piedmont Chapter, BPW of Spartanburg, and Spartanburg Racial Equity Collaborative.

“I am excited to return to Greenville and serve our community in such an important role and organization. The groundwork has been laid to take Jasmine Road into the next chapter and I look forward to working alongside such a skilled team and bringing both Jasmine Road and Jasmine Kitchen together”, said Ms. O’Connell-Hall.

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About Jasmine Road

Jasmine Road is South Carolina’s first long-term residential program for adult female survivors of sex trafficking, prostitution and addiction. Jasmine Road serves to heal and employ survivors by providing a pathway of opportunity and a lifelong community of support, significantly reducing the likelihood of women returning to life on the streets.

Jasmine Enterprise, including Jasmine Kitchen, exists to employ residents and graduates of Jasmine Road in a safe, nurturing environment. The lunch cafe along with other affiliated social enterprises provide a pathway to financial independence by training survivors to gain sustainable and transferable job skills.

Links:
jasmineroad.org
jasminekitchen.org
facebook.com/jasmineroadsc
instagram.com/jasmineroadsc
instagram.com/jasminekitchensc

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Media
For media inquires, please contact Lisa O’Connell-Hall, CEO at lisa@JasmineRoad.org, 864-814-0221.