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Less than 50 spaces left for August’s Women Confidence Builders Event

GREENVILLE, S.C. – A little more than two scores of tickets are left for South Carolina Women’s Executive Luncheon, and if that wasn’t enough to get you to buy a ticket, all attendees will get a complimentary box of Girl Scout Cookies.
The South Carolina Women’s Executive Luncheon will be held on Monday, August 28th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greenville Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville. Go to www.womenconfidencebuilders.com to learn more. Tickets cost $75, and can be purchased here.
The event is hosted by Women Confidence Builders, a non-profit organization that offers events, mentoring, speaking, and consulting services with the goal of uplifting women in business across the region, said Christi Powell, the president of Women Confidence Builders and the Women Business Enterprise Lead for 84 Lumber.
The event includes networking and shopping portion from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and then the speakers and luncheon follows. The highlight of the event is a discussion with Susann Tedrick and Bertina Ceccarelli moderated by Powell. Their book Innovating for Diversity: Lessons from Top Companies Achieving Business Success through Inclusivity reframes the DEI discussion and moves it beyond a human resources issue.
Tedrick is fiercely committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech industry through education, mentoring, and advocacy. Tedrick performs community service work for several nonprofits, including serving as chair of the Advancing Tech Talent and Diversity Executive Council for CompTIA and coalition member for NPower’s Command Shift initiative, one of the most successful nonprofits in North America committed to helping young adults and military-connected individuals launch tech careers. Tedrick also is the author of the critically acclaimed Women of Color in Tech, and host of Wiley’s Diversity in Tech webinar series.
As the CEO of NPower, Ceccarelli vies to break down barriers to social and economic mobility. She is endlessly inspired by the life journeys of NPower alumni, and by the forward-looking corporate employers who see brilliance whereas others see limitations. Under her leadership, NPower has grown its budget five-fold in the last six years and today serves more than 2,000 individuals annually.
BMW is the title sponsor for the event, and Carolina Power is the presenting sponsor. Hugs & Hustle is the woman business owned presenting sponsor, while Hill Electric is the Student and Inclusion Sponsor; the Greenville Chamber of Commerce is the Community Sponsor; Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is the Book Sponsor; Assured Partners is Inclusion Sponsor and Aline Capital, OP Source, Brasfield & Gorrie, and AFF are Supporting Sponsors. This event is being held in conjunction with the BMW Supplier Diversity Conference.
In addition, Women Confidence Builders will be presenting scholarships to 10 students from Anderson Career Technology Center and Spartanburg Academic Movement and giving awards to members of the Skilled Trades Alliance.
About Women Confidence Builders:
Founded in 2021, the mission of Women Confidence Builders is to educate, mentor, disciple, and empower all women while building confidence and creating inclusivity. They believe that by investing in the next generation of female leaders, we can create a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Learn more at www.womenconfidencebuilders.com follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Lander University Forges New Exchange Partnership with University in Mexico

Lander University students now have another study abroad opportunity thanks to new exchange partnership between Lander and the Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM) in Mexico, officials announced Tuesday, Aug. 1.

“We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to Lander students to study at such a prestigious university,” said Dr. Todd Gambill, vice president for Enrollment and Access Management at Lander University. “Travel and study away programs are powerful tools for expanding horizons and I know students will thrive in Mexico.”

UDEM is located in San Pedro Garza García, part of the metropolitan area of Monterrey, which is the capital of the Mexican state of Nuevo León. With over 16,000 students, UDEM is regarded as one of the best institutions of higher education in Mexico, offering high school programs in addition to undergraduate and graduate programs. As part of the agreement, Lander will send up to six students to study at UDEM each academic year, with students choosing to study there for one or two semesters. In return, Lander will accept up to six students from UDEM. Students accepted to the exchange program will be admitted as full-time “non-degree” students for the duration of their exchange and will receive the same academic resources and support services as regular students. They will also be exempt from paying additional tuition for their participation.

“For UDEM, this collaboration with Lander University marks a significant milestone in our commitment to fostering academic excellence, global connections and innovation,” said Magaly Gutiérrez, the spokesperson from the UDEM International Office. “Together, we aim to empower our students and faculty with enhanced opportunities for research, cultural exchange and cross-disciplinary initiatives. This partnership represents a shared vision of creating a brighter, more interconnected future for our institutions.”

“UDEM is my alma mater and it’s a remarkable institution,” added Cinthya Araiza, coordinator of Hispanic/Latino enrollment for the Office of Admissions at Lander University. “I know this partnership with Lander will open new doors and opportunities for both Lander students and UDEM’s international students. This collaboration serves as a bridge between cultures, fostering mutual understanding and academic excellence. Together, we are creating a vibrant community of global learners, embracing diversity and shaping a brighter future through education.”

UDEM joins a growing list of institutions that partner with Lander to offer study abroad programs for students, which includes the University of Winchester in England, TANDEM Escuela Internacional in Spain, the University of the Aegean in Greece and Kyungpook National University in South Korea. These study abroad opportunities allow students to speak new languages, meet new people, navigate new countries and immerse themselves in new cultures. Students can also choose to embark on short-term study tours that take place during winter, spring and summer breaks.

Dr. Carlos Mentley, professor of Spanish and Lander’s study abroad director, called studying abroad an important investment in one’s future in an increasingly global world. “You gain independence, self-confidence and amplify your adaptability,” said Mentley. “You learn about other people and cultures by putting yourself in personal contact with them. At the same time, you learn to see your own country and culture through new eyes, and as a consequence you enhance your ability to discern truth. And you will make lasting friendships with others from around the world.”

For more information on Lander’s study abroad opportunities, visit www.lander.edu/studyabroad.

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Greenville Jewish Federation hires inaugural CEO

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the Upstate’s vibrant Jewish community has hired community leader Courtney Tessler to be its CEO – a first for the 76-year-old organization.
The Greenville Jewish Federation works tirelessly to support educational programs, social services, cultural events, and advocacy efforts that promote Jewish values, heritage, and unity, said Elizabeth Lapidus, the board president.
People of the Jewish faith have lived in the region since at least 1794, when a man named Eleazar Elizar was named postmaster for Greenville’s predecessor village of Pleasantburg. Over the generations, they have become an important part of the fabric of the Upstate community. As the Federation grows to meet the needs of a changing Upstate, the board decided it was time to chart a new path forward.
That led to hiring Tessler as CEO, whose goal will be to elevate the Federation’s impact and foster collaboration among community members, organizations, and partners, Lapidus said. Tessler has served on the Federation board since 2015.
“This is an exciting time for our organization as we reorganize how we function to better serve our community,” Lapidus said. “Courtney brings an amazing amount of energy, experience, and leadership to this post.
With an extensive background in organizational leadership, nonprofit service and a passion for her Jewish community, Tessler has already started the tasks of planning new events and programs and creating community partnerships. She sees her short-term goal as creating lasting change through growth for the organization.

“My goal is to help build a sustainable framework for the organization so future CEOs and future boards can continue the work successfully long-term,” Tessler said. “By transitioning to a professionally led organization and expanding its leadership team, the Federation aims to elevate its ability to meet the evolving needs of the community, drive sustainable growth, foster unity, and ensure a vibrant Jewish future for generations to come.”
About the Greenville Jewish Federation:
The Greenville Jewish Federation is a dynamic organization dedicated to serving and strengthening the Jewish community in Greenville and neighboring counties. With a rich history of philanthropy and community building, the Federation works tirelessly to support educational programs, social services, cultural events, and advocacy efforts that promote Jewish values, heritage, and unity.
To learn more about the Greenville Jewish Federation’s initiatives and upcoming programs, visit www.jewishgreenville.org.

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Veteran healthcare leaders aim to bridge medical care gaps with new company

GREENVILLE, S.C. – For the past three years, a group of skilled former medical care leaders have heard almost weekly stories from friends, neighbors and former co-workers about their dissatisfaction with the state of healthcare in South Carolina.
Whether it be complaints about wait times to see a specialist; requests to help interpret test results received via email or advice on managing burnout and fatigue, these stories resonated with this group.
They began to research what was causing this malaise, and realized it wasn’t the system in place, but the lack of connectivity between the various cogs in the medical care wheel.
Using their 150 years of combined leadership in creating healthcare solutions for South Carolina citizens, coupled with having gained new perspectives working on different ventures, they have formed a company with the goal of creating guideways for a stronger medical care environment across the country.
Integral Leaders in Health is a public benefit corporation, which is a for-profit corporation intended to support the betterment of communities at large and operate in a responsible and sustainable manner. The group plans to start by addressing the current healthcare crisis in South Carolina – progressive replacement of patient well-being as the primary purpose of the medical care environment. Their goal is to focus on medical care, which goes beyond access and quality of healthcare and squarely looks at balancing the patient-doctor relationship.
“We are fortunate to live in a state with great doctors, hospitals and universities. But the medical care environment, in which they each play an important role, has become unbalanced,” said Dr. Spence Taylor, the founder and CEO of Integral Leaders in Health. “Our mission is to balance all of the components of medical care so everyone is supported and patient well-being is the priority.”
Integral Leaders in Health brings together a diverse group of experienced medical and governmental affairs experts.
Taylor was the first physician to be named president of the Greenville Health System (GHS, now part of Prisma Health), a health system, which at the time, had nearly $3 billion in annual operating revenue, eight hospitals, 1,600 beds, 2,000 employed providers, 16,000 employees and an emerging academic health center.
The leadership team includes Dr. Jerry Youkey, the Founding Dean Emeritus of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, prior USC Associate Provost for Health Sciences – Greenville, and previous GHS Executive Vice President; Cortney Easterling, Deputy Chief of Staff at GHS where she provided strategic counsel on message development, leadership engagement, executive and board communications, and community outreach to the president; and Howell Clyborne, who was Vice President of Community and Government Affairs and Chief of Staff for GHS, a former president of the Greenville Health Authority and was Director of the Office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs for the State of South Carolina.
Many of the stories they have heard in the past few years share common threads, Youkey said. People don’t feel connected in the medical care world. The once altruistic profession of healing the sick because it was the right thing to do has transformed into a completely corporate structure and purpose. People show up at a clinic and meet with a virtual doctor. Their results are texted to them by a machine. The focus is on third party metrics as opposed to what is best for the individual patient.
“The airline industry model has become the healthcare model,” Youkey said.
“People are treated like commodities to be moved around.”
The use of the word “integral” in the company name is key, Clyborne said. Almost 20% of the nation’s gross domestic product is committed to healthcare, yet patient and doctor dissatisfaction is more than 70%,” according to a June Harris Poll.
“We plan to use our experience to create real integral’ solutions,” Clyborne said. “We are leveraging our abilities and skills to help the system work for everyone.”
Integral Leaders in Health will be working with companies, governmental agencies and associations across the healthcare spectrum with a focus on creating ways to improve the medical care environment, Easterling said.
Services include:
Training Seminars: They can coach leadership and management teams on the best way to navigate the changing medical care environment. Integral Leaders in Health’s team has authored hundreds of articles on leadership and done thousands of hours of training.
Speaking Engagements: With more than 150 years combined experience, Integral Leaders in Health can energize, educate and unify any leadership team. They can share real examples and answers to problems in the world of medical care as they have done nationally as guest lecturers and keynote speakers.
Strategy Solutions: They can create roadmaps to eliminate bureaucratic mandates and red tape by tapping into their decades of experience at all levels of South Carolina government. They will help find ways to promote efficiency to make sure patients and staff don’t feel like cogs in a machine.
Connections: They create results when it comes to building bridges between disciplines by providing access and expertise on governmental relations.
Communications: They can coordinate messaging and materials to help create support for medical care changes and initiatives by using the knowledge they have developed on hundreds of campaigns both large and small.
“It’s time to restore patient well-being by achieving shared goals developed by those who need to be making medical decisions — patients and doctors,” Taylor said.
About Integral Leaders in Health:
Integral Leaders in Health’s mission aims to revolutionize medical care into a balanced environment that meets the needs of the individual patient by focusing on their outcomes. They can educate, inform and catalyze measurable change through targeted strategic campaigns. Learn more at www.integralleadersinhealth.com

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Greenville’s First Ultra High-End Townhouse Development, The McDaniel, Half Reserved in Just Over Six Weeks

Real estate development and investment company Keene Development Group and Wilson Associates, one of Greenville’s largest independent real estate firms recently announced that their new estate-caliber townhome development, The McDaniel, is half-reserved after only six weeks of sales. Pre-sales of these new 3100-4100 square foot townhomes, which kicked off at an event at The Poinsett Club on June 8, have been extremely robust, evidencing pent-up demand for this first-of-its-kind real estate option.

“Because they are like nothing else available here in Greenville, we knew that demand for these incredibly luxurious city townhomes would be robust, but the response from buyers, including those already living in the city and newcomers from out-of-state, has been nothing short of astounding,” noted Wilson Associates CEO and Broker-In-Charge Sharon Wilson, whose firm is the exclusive sales partner for the development. “The feedback has been tremendous, and we expect to fill all reservations slots soon, so I encourage anyone who may be interested to act quickly.”

Located near the intersection of McDaniel and McBee Avenues, The McDaniel is modeled on the luxury townhome and urban living options in larger metropolitan areas. Catering to discerning buyers seeking an elevated downtown lifestyle, The McDaniel will marry refinement, grace and style with the best of city living, all within easy walking distance of Main Street.

Greenville-based MHK Architecture designed the 4-story townhomes, which will be constructed with a striking Parisian-inspired, gray limestone façade and include private side-by-side garages, balconies and rooftop terraces. ID Studio has curated a stunning high-end range of design choices – cabinetry, closet configurations, fixtures and finishes, flooring, etc. – that will appeal to luxury buyers of varying taste ranges to give buyers the opportunity to customize their homes while ensuring a gorgeous and cohesive look.

Construction is set to begin in early fall, with a completion targeted for late 2024.

More information about The McDaniel can be found at www.themcdaniel.com.

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Logisticus Group Celebrates New Headquarters in Greenville

Greenville, S.C. – July 17, 2023 – Logisticus Group (LG), a transportation logistics, project management and technology company, recently held a ribbon cutting with the Greenville Chamber of Commerce to mark the opening of its new headquarters in Greenville. The company moved their headquarters to 1000 East North Street across from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena to accommodate its significant growth the past decade.

“The opening of our new offices on East North Street is an important milestone in LG’s history,” said Will Stephan, founder of Logisticus Group. “When we started Logisticus Group it was important for us to centrally locate ourselves within a city that welcomes and fosters business growth while also attracts top class professional talent. Greenville has helped us pave the way for success the last decade and we look forward to a bright future at our new headquarters.”

Logisticus Group is celebrating a decade in business as it has grown from five founding partners to an office of 83 employees and a satellite location in Charleston, S.C. Founded on the principles of delivering innovative and efficient logistics services, Logisticus Group has helped clients execute massive projects throughout North and South America.

“Logisticus Group is a model business for the story of Greenville and our focus on economic growth,” said Carlos Phillips President/CEO of Greenville Chamber. “Logisticus Group has found significant success in Greenville in a short amount of time. Just this past year it was named one of South Carolina’s Fastest Growing Companies. It is through businesses like LG, Greenville continues to grow.”

About Logisticus Group
Logisticus Group (LLC), a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), specializes in transportation logistics, project management and technology solutions serving
projects throughout North and South America. At Logisticus Group, we believe our
processes, technology solutions, personnel and business model deliver a more predictable, controlled, efficient and expedited project. Logisticus Group is headquartered in Greenville, SC with an office in Charleston, SC. To learn more visit, www.logisticusgroup.com.

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Upward Sports & Run for God Announce Merger

Upward Sports is pleased to announce today that it has expanded its sports ministry through a merger with Run for God Ministries.

“Our mission is to promote the discovery of Christ through sports,” Upward Executive Director Kevin Drake said. “We’ve always done that through helping churches to conduct sports leagues for children and youth. Merging with Run for God will allow us to reach adults as well as young people. It is a major extension of our ministry.”

Run for God conducts courses that connect Bible study and running training through the parallel principles of faith and endurance. These courses have been taught in over 6000 locations including churches, schools, prisons, and community centers around the world.

Upward Sports helps churches reach out to their communities by providing sports leagues. The ministry started in Spartanburg, S.C., and has had over 7 million participants playing basketball, soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, flag football, baseball, and softball.

“Upward has added over 400 new church partners in the last 24 months”, Drake said. “This merger is an addition to that growth, allowing us to serve runners of all ages to become better runners and better followers of Christ.”

“Upward Sports has always been an organization that we have admired,” Mitchell Hollis, founder and CEO of Run for God, said. “My kids have been a part of Upward through the years, and I have seen their commitment to shining the light of Jesus Christ in all that they do.”

“This partnership will open the door for these ministries to grow to levels that none of us can imagine. We are both about shining the light of Jesus through sport,” Hollis said.

Drake agreed. “We are excited about blending the expertise and gifts of both organizations to better pursue our mission to spread the gospel through sports.”

Run For God will continue to be based in Dalton, Georgia.

For more information or interviews – contact, Jennifer McCraw – jmccraw@Upward.org

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Carolina Handling hosting patriotic forklift auction for charity

On National Hire a Veteran Day on July 25, Carolina Handling will launch an online auction to raise funds for two veteran organizations, Folds of Honor and Upstate Warrior Solution, with the sale of a custom painted patriotic forklift.

The Raymond 7000-Series Single Reach Truck features large images of Old Glory and Lady Liberty, white stars along the mast and operator cabin, and red forks.

Painted by a Carolina Handling renewed shop technician, who also serves in the South Carolina National Guard, the colorful piece of material handling equipment was a photo op stop during the recent BMW Charity Pro-Am in Greenville, South Carolina, where the truck was on display outside the Carolina Handling Military & First Responders Skybox.

Ideal for high rack applications, the Raymond Reach Truck is forward stance with a collapsed height of 107″ and extended height of 241″. It weighs 7,757 lbs, can lift up to 3,500 lbs and has 35,609 key hours.

“Whether an inspirational workhorse for your warehouse or a novelty piece for your place of business, this patriotic reach truck is the perfect display of pride and patriotism,” said Carolina Handling President & CEO Brent Hillabrand. “The winning bidder also will support two nonprofit organizations doing incredible work for military veterans and their families.”

All auction proceeds will benefit Folds of Honor Palmetto State Chapter and Upstate Warrior Solution. Founded in 2007, Folds of Honor awards scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Upstate Warrior Solution assists veterans and their family members with housing, employment, healthcare, education and family support.

The Carolina Handling Patriotic Reach Truck online auction will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 and conclude at 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 17, 2023, which is National Nonprofit Day. For more information and bidding, visit 32auctions.com/CarolinaHandling.

ABOUT CAROLINA HANDLING
Founded in 1966, Carolina Handling is one of the Southeast’s leading material handling solution providers and the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida’s Central time zone territory. The company provides lift trucks and automation solutions for warehouses and distribution centers, as well as parts, racking, storage, lighting and dock and door equipment.

Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Carolina Handling operates branch offices in Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL, Greensboro, NC, Raleigh, NC and Greenville SC, and an Equipment Distribution Center in Piedmont, SC. The company has more than 740 associates. For more information, visit carolinahandling.com.

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Electric Soul Creates New Streaming Series

Electric Soul—a Greenville-based production company—makes its fifth foray into TV and streaming content with the release of the new series Sibling Space Solvers.

The series was created in partnership with Lowe’s Home Improvement. The first episode is streaming now on the Lowe’s YouTube channel.

“This show was a particularly fun project as Lowe’s approached us to develop a show that—while being branded content at its core—was also entertaining and heart-felt” said Micah Taylor, owner of Electric Soul who also acted as the series’ director. “I am really grateful to the incredible producers at Lowe’s who collaborated with us and proud of what our team poured into this show to make it something that I think will really connect with people.”

Electric Soul’s previous TV and streaming projects include contributing to programming for Magnolia Network, Showtime, FIFA+, and most recently, for producing the documentary series “The Spark” on Very Local.

“Opportunities like these are most exciting because we get to bring television and large-scale commercial production to our hometown of Greenville,” said Taylor. “With each of these series, we are using local crews. Our goal is to provide sustainable production jobs in the Upstate by continuing to collaborate with national companies while providing local, top-tier crews capable of any level of production.”

Show hosts Elyse South and Philip LeRoy also hail from South Carolina. In addition to hosting duties, the brother-sister duo acted as designer and contractor for the renovation project.

“It was truly an incredible experience,” said Philip LeRoy. “Witnessing the positive impact our work had on the family reaffirmed the importance of what we do. It’s not just about creating beautiful spaces; it’s about making a difference and bringing joy to people’s lives.”

“This project is so special,” said host Elyse South. “Lowe’s is making it possible for Philip and I—alongside their team—to change lives one room at a time.”

“Elyse and Philip are top-notch talent,” said Emmy Gaddy, producer at Electric Soul. “Their experience, personalities, and on-screen chemistry made us immediately think of them when casting the show.”

About Electric Soul:
Electric Soul is a people-first production company developing unique video content by partnering with brands to concept, plan, and create innovative campaigns. Since their launch, Electric Soul has created content for numerous international brands including Coca-Cola, Marriott, GE, FIFA, and Hart Tools. They have also produced TV projects for Showtime, Magnolia, CNN, and Discovery.

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Artists Announced for Thirteenth Annual Indie Craft Parade

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Participating artists have been announced for the 13th Annual Indie Craft Parade, Greenville’s celebration of handmade art. This juried festival recognizes excellence in handcrafted goods and will feature the work of 118 artists during a two-day event this fall. Set for September 15-16, the 2023 Indie Craft Parade will be held at Timmons Arena on the campus of Furman University.

This year’s event will be the largest yet, featuring 47 new and 71 returning artists and makers. Admission is $8 at the door and children 16 and under are free.

Showcasing craftsmanship across a variety of mediums, Indie Craft Parade has become one of the premier craft shows in the South. Handmade goods from the following categories will be featured at the event: Apparel & Accessories, Bath, Body & Candles, Ceramics, Fine Art, Food & Kitchen, Home Goods & Decor, Jewelry, Kids, and Stationery. A full list of participating artists can be viewed at www.indiecraftparade.com.

In addition to standard artist booths, the event features an expanded Emerging Artist Section to highlight talent new to the craft show scene. Indie Craft Parade is an annual initiative of the Greenville-based non-profit, Makers Collective, whose mission is to empower creative entrepreneurs while cultivating a supportive community around them.