Category: Press Release

PNC Bank recently appointed Gary Daniels as senior vice president and Commercial Banking group market manager for the Western Carolinas region. In this role, he will manage a growing team of commercial bankers based in Greenville, Columbia and Asheville, serving businesses with annual revenues of $5 million to $50 million.

Daniels brings to the role more than a decade of business development and relationship management experience in the banking industry – and more than 15 years of experience serving in various executive, managerial and operational capacities for a privately held company.

“As we continue to expand our Corporate & Institutional Banking business, Gary and his team will be integral to delivering the full scope of PNC’s lending solutions, cash management services, risk management strategies and innovative ideas to companies in Greenville, Columbia and Asheville,” said Weston Andress, PNC regional president for Western Carolinas. “Gary’s diverse professional experience and community involvement make him uniquely qualified to manage this growing team.”

A Greenville native, Daniels actively contributes his time and talent to numerous organizations and efforts that support the economic development of the Upstate, as well as critical social services and education initiatives. He currently is chair of the Bon Secours St. Francis Foundation’s board of directors, and serves on boards and councils for multiple organizations that have a meaningful impact on the region, including the Upstate SC Alliance, J.L. Mann High School, South Carolina Children’s Theatre, the Family Effect and Camperdown Academy. Additionally, he served on the steering committee for the City of Greenville’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan (GVL 2040). He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Carolina.

PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

Greenville Federal Credit Union announced the addition of Phil Barnhill as Chief Financial Officer.

In this new role, Barnhill will lead the credit union’s financial and accounting team and join the executive team.

Barnhill is a licensed Certified Public Accountant with a solid career in leadership positions, including as Assistant Controller at Southern First Bank most recently. Prior to that he excelled in a number of financial specialist areas including as Account Manager at USA Risk Group and Senior Audit Associate at Johnson Lambert. Barnhill has a B.S. in Accountancy and M.S. in Professional Accountancy – both from Clemson University.

“We are pleased to welcome Phil to our team to help us navigate new accounting regulations and the ever-increasing complexities of Greenville Federal Credit Union in this time of transformation,” said credit union CEO, Paul Hughes. “With changes mandated to Loan Loss accounting in 2022 as well as our developing business in Commercial loans and other areas, Phil’s expertise will help us position our credit union for growth and stability in the future.”

“I am excited to join the well-established team at Greenville Federal Credit Union during a time of great growth and opportunity,” Barnhill said. “I look forward to guiding the credit union through the changing accounting landscape while continuing our primary focus of serving our members.”

Founded in 1968, the $360 million credit union continues to experience steady growth in the Upstate with more than 32,000 members, five branch locations and 89 employees. The credit union’s community-based charter allows anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Greenville County to join. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an agency of the federal government, insures all accounts up to $250,000. Learn more at www.greenvillefcu.com

Link to story and images online: https://www.greenvillefcu.com/press-releases/greenville-federal-credit-union-announces-the-hiring-of-a-new-cfo

About Greenville Federal Credit Union
Greenville Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial alternative to traditional banking with five branch locations in Greenville, Greer, and Mauldin serving more than 32,000 members. The more than $360 million credit union was founded by nine teachers from the School District of Greenville County as an educator’s credit union in 1968. In 2001, the credit union approved a conversion to a community-based charter to serve anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Greenville County. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an agency of the federal government, insures all accounts up to $250,000. For more information, please visit the credit union’s website at www.greenvillefcu.com or call 864.235.6309.

GREENVILLE, S.C—Maryanna Caggiano has joined The Insurance Source as a First Impressions Specialist.

A graduate of Spartanburg High School, Caggiano worked in the retail sector for several years including The Sock Basket, a ballet boutique in Greenville, where she was a pointe shoe fitter and filled customer service roles by scheduling and servicing pointe and other dance shoe fittings for professional and student dancer. She also is a ballet director in the Upstate.

Caggiano later moved into the insurance industry and began working as a receptionist for Cossio Insurance Agency. She also performed customer service responsibilities in this job, as well as distributed memos to employees, processed incoming and outgoing mail and payments, filed personal information, was in charge of phone operations and processed all documents from paper to the proper database distribution.

“We are excited to bring Maryanna onto our team,” said Guy Furay, President and Owner of The Insurance Source. “She has experience in all fields of customer service, and I know that will help her excel as our First Impressions Specialist.”

About The Insurance Source:
The Insurance Source is an independent brokerage specializing in health, life, disability and dental insurance. The Insurance Source has helped others protect what matters most since 2005 and is located in Greer, South Carolina. It is a two-time winner (2019 and 2020) of the Best of the Upstate Award for Insurance Companies. Learn more at www.theinsurancesourcesc.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – A cross section of business and community leaders from across the Palmetto State announced today the formation of a statewide chapter of Wrestlers in Business Network.
The group’s goal is to develop networking and business opportunities, while serving as an advocate for the sport.
One of the overarching goals of this group is to promote women’s wrestling in South Carolina on the club, high school and college level, said Chris Collins, who is serving as the President for the South Carolina chapter of Wrestlers in Business Network. The group is the state chapter of the national organization of the same name and is working with Friends of Clemson Wrestling, National Wrestling Coaches Association and Wrestle like a Girl in promoting the sport.
The low costs, physical challenges and diversity of athletes make it an appealing draw for athletic programs, he said.
“We want to create more opportunities for young women to take part in wrestling and to encourage them to be successful,” Collins said. “On the eve of the Summer Olympics, we felt this was an opportune time to announce our plans.”
The state chapter of Wrestlers in Business Network will be holding events such as a golf tournament in the coming months to help raise funds and awareness for the sport. In addition, it is holding a membership drive through the start of August with 50% off through the start of August by using promo code 50%WIBNSCA at www.wrestlersinbusiness.org/southcarolina.
Sally Roberts, founder and CEO of Wrestle Like a Girl, said the efforts in South Carolina are another sign that girls’ and women’s wrestling is gaining more and more support. The number of girls wrestling at the high school level across the country has almost doubled in the past five years to 32,000 athletes, and the sport is gaining momentum.
“The sport is growing because wrestling is for everybody, there is a place for everyone, regardless of sex on the wrestling mat,” Roberts said. “It’s primed for growth. Interest creates opportunity and if we build it, they will come. If young women can see it, they can be it.”
Tim Morrissey, a former Clemson All-American wrestler and a founder of Friends of Clemson Wrestling, said more and more teens and women are taking part in wrestling. Clemson has a club wrestling program and there has been an increase in interest from women on campus to take part in the past few years.
“South Carolina is really a trailblazer when it comes to women’s wrestling,” he said.
The rise in women wrestling comes at an interesting juncture. Presbyterian College is the only South Carolina college to offer a Division I women’s wrestling.
Matt vandenBerg, president of Presbyterian College, said the school’s decision to add the first Division I women’s wrestling program was a strong one.
“As a former high school wrestler, I deeply appreciate the life lessons that wrestling imparted on me, including the criticality of mental toughness, discipline, focus, personal responsibility, and physical fitness in achieving excellence,” he said. “Girls and women deserve to benefit equally from wrestling’s invaluable lessons and educational opportunities. At PC, we believe sports are for everyone, and we are exceedingly proud to serve as a spark that sets the nation ablaze with enthusiasm for Division I women’s wrestling.”
Clemson had a varsity men’s program from 1975 to 1995 before it was dropped in order to get the school in compliance with Title IX, which requires equal funding for men’s and women’s athletics.
Matt Marcenelle, another founding member of Friends of Clemson Wrestling, said their organization was originally started in 2007 to bring former wrestlers back together for reunions, but by 2010 morphed into an organized effort to restart an official varsity program. In the past few years, the organization has become a champion of women’s wrestling.
“Wrestling is a sport that is very special. It teaches people so many things that stay with them through the rest of their lives,” Marcenelle said.
Collins, who wrestled collegiately at the University of North Carolina, said the group’s main aim is to promote and educate about the sport in South Carolina. By teaching people about it, the next steps would be to create more opportunities for high school teams and more college teams.
According to stats from the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the number of women who wrestle in high school grew from 804 to 21,124 between 1994 and 2019; The NJCAA announced it would recognize Women’s Wrestling as an emerging sport in 2020; in 2019 the Committee on Women’s Athletics recommended Emerging Sports Status for Women’s Wrestling to the NCAA; there are more than 70 collegiate programs in the country and women’s wrestling is now an Olympic sports.
In addition, 32 states sanction an official scholastic high school championship: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
The South Carolina High School League is current reviewing the future of sanctioning girls wrestling, but right now any females who want to wrestle, must do so on “boys” teams. In 2020, Mya’ah Vincent of Irmo High School became the first woman to win an individual state championship in South Carolina.
“We are excited to help grow the sport in South Carolina and foster the appreciation for wrestling here,” Collins said.
About Wrestlers in Business Network:
Wrestlers in Business Network is a non-profit organization that strives to unite the thousands of wrestlers that have retired from the sport and are now in their respective careers. It started as a networking group on LinkedIn. Since then, the group has evolved into a more prominent, member-focused organization that cares about supporting current & former wrestlers and the sport. Get more at www.wrestlersinbusiness.org.

GREENVILLE, S.C.— A three-day festival dedicated to those Southern staples of bourbon, BBQ, and bacon aims to join the pantheon of can’t miss Upstate events.

Everything from exclusive bourbon tastings to live music to a Sunday brunch will be featured in the inaugural Hog & Barrel: A Bourbon, BBQ & Bacon Festival, starting Friday, November 5, and going through Sunday, November 7, at the historic Old Cigar Warehouse, one of the region’s premier event venues and located in downtown Greenville. Tickets go on sale July 19, and can be purchased at www.hogandbarrelfestival.com.

“This is three days of some of the best barbecue and the best bourbon from across the Southeast,” said Tammy Johnson, president of High Spirits Events, the company that has produced Tacos ‘N Tequila for the past five years and is the brains behind Hog & Barrel Festival. “This isn’t just a pig-picking. This isn’t a wine tasting. This is a festival for those who want a new and one-of-its-kind experience.”

Hog & Barrel launches on Friday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a special “Meet The Makers” event, where sponsors and Super VIP ticket holders can meet master distillers, national brand ambassadors, and distillery owners while feasting on delicious food, and of course, exclusive bourbon tastings.

The showcase event of the festival will be Saturday’s “Bourbonpalooza” from 1 p.m. To 6 p.m. and will redefine what people should expect from a food and beverage event. Top Greenville chefs will prepare their favorite barbecue recipes while area mixologists craft unique bourbon cocktails for guests to enjoy. Priority and VIP ticketholders may also participate in The Bourbon Experience, where they can sample 30+ different bourbons. When attendees are not eating or drinking, they can play games or enjoy live music from the Jake Bartley Band and 3 & Twenty.

From 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, the “Makin’ Bacon Bourbon Brunch” will feature classic brunch cocktails with a bourbon twist, such as Apple Cider Bourbon Mimosas and Bourbon Bloody Marys. Enjoy all of the best brunch staples from top chefs as the talented Corey Stephenson provides live music.

In addition to the good times, Hog & Barrel Festival is a food and cocktail competition with $5,000 in cash prizes being awarded to 15 “Best Of” categories including best barbecue, best bourbon-based dish, best bacon dish, best bourbon cocktail, best dessert, and more.

Hog & Barrel Festival will also be raising funds to support The Culinary Institute of the Carolinas at Greenville Technical College. The school provides students with basic food knowledge and culinary techniques for classical and current trends. All courses are built from a foundation of competencies required for American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC) accreditation, which means their program stays current with industry expectations.

“With Hog & Barrel, we want to create a new gem in Greenville’s culinary scene,” Johnson said. “We really pride ourselves on the quality of our festivals, and Hog & Barrel will be one unlike any other.”

About Hog & Barrel: A Bourbon, BBQ, & Bacon Festival
A true Southern tradition, nothing pairs better than bourbon, barbecue, and bacon, and nothing brings them together in Greenville like the Hog & Barrel: A Bourbon, BBQ & Bacon Festival. This landmark, three-day festival starts November 5 and features bourbon tastings, signature dishes, live music, games and more. Tickets and further information be found at www.hogandbarrelfestival.com.

About High Spirits Hospitality
High Spirits Hospitality is the parent company to four independent brand companies – Liquid Catering, The Old Cigar Warehouse, Bravo1 Protection, and High Spirits Events – as well as the lead operation for Topside Pool Club in downtown Greenville. What started as a small bartending service has now grown into a company with 30 full-time employees, over 100 part-time employees, and a single vision of providing exceptional, hospitality-driven service to each and every guest. Learn more at www.highspiritshospitality.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty has added three Associates – Jeff Inman, Cari Bledsoe, and Davin McRoberts.
Inman brings a lifetime of knowledge in the residential and commercial construction industry. He grew up in Central Florida and began working at his grandfather’s custom cabinetry company at age 12. He formed his own cabinet company at age 19 to help pay tuition at the University of Central Florida. He then spent most of the next decade in the corporate sector working his way up to National Sales Manager for a large international manufacturer where he led a team of software engineers in the deployment of  successful new software applications tailored for the manufacturing industry.
In 2015, Inman and his family relocated to the Upstate and have enjoyed the close-knit community that surrounds Greenville.  He served on the board of Greer Relief, which is an organization dedicated to providing safety-net, stabilizing, and one-stop services to people of our neighboring communities, and is a volunteer coach with Wade Hampton Little League.  He also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Florida. 
Bledsoe is a Florida native, but she moved with her family to the Upstate while in high school. After college, she and her husband relocated several times throughout the Southeast before landing in Tennessee in 2017 where she started her real estate career working for a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate in Nashville. While with Berkshire Hathaway, she earned Certifications in Performance Expectations and Marketing Assistance; Performance Expectations and Relocation Inventory; and Performance Expectations and Destination. She also chairs the social committee for her neighborhood association.
She returned to the Upstate in 2019, and spent two years with another real estate firm before joining Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty this Spring.
A Spartanburg native and North Greenville University graduate, McRoberts worked for several different businesses, before he returned to his family’s company, SCTool Corp, which is a manufacturer of high-performance, carbide cutting tools, as an equity partner in 2017. He helped grow the company into a multi-million business with 41 employees.  He is now the CEO of the Spartanburg-based company.  He has purchased and sold five houses in the past decade, and that, along with leading the commercial real estate initiatives within his family’s holding company, McRoberts and Company Real Estate, LLC., made him want to dive into residential real estate for several years now.  
“These three bring a variety of experience and skills that will further enhance our company’s abilities to list, sell and buy houses across the Upstate,” said Joan Herlong, owner and CEO of Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty.
About Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty
Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty is one of the leading and most trusted names in real estate in Greenville. Joan Herlong founded the company in 2011 as AugustaRoad.com Realty. In 2017, Sotheby’s International Realty persuaded the company to affiliate and become Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty. The company has more than tripled in both agent count and production volume since that time. Learn more at www.jha-sothebysrealty.com.
About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services. In February 2004, Realogy entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Kopis, one of the Southeast’s premier software developers, is rolling out a new module for its Adept platform that aims at removing the complexity of creating new projects in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Kopis launched Adept in the Spring of 2020 as an add-on for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central that “helps keep common workflows for 90% of the accounting functions, which reduces the training burden that comes with switching from a simple accounting system,” said Adam Drewes, ERP General Manager for Kopis.

The new Jobs Module for Adept allows business owners and the teams to quickly review budgets, quantities invoiced, and other high level project details.

“The Jobs Module will be an indispensable tool for your company,” Drewes said. “Adept takes the complexity out of Jobs to make the process of creating Jobs, entering time or items against it, and transferring those entries to an invoice much more seamless. Issuing credit memos and making adjustments is greatly streamlined as well.”

The Jobs Module can be downloaded via the Microsoft App Source or installed by the Kopis ERP team.

“This is another way that Kopis is leading the way in innovation,” said Andrew Kurtz, the company’s CEO and founder. “Kopis is a company founded on the idea of moving ourselves and our partners to the next level. We are always looking at the best ways to streamline processes, develop new ideas and formulate better options.”

About Kopis:
Kopis is a Greenville, S.C.-based technology firm focused on providing high impact software and cloud solutions to businesses and state agencies in the Southeast. With a growing team of over 40 employees, Kopis is one of the fastest growing software companies in South Carolina. Kopis is the 2020 Greenville Chamber Small Business of the Year and was named to one of Inc.’s 5,000 List in 2019. For more information, please visit www.kopisusa.com/ADEPT.