Category: Press Release

The Barbara Stone Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting and creating visionary programs and initiatives for individuals with disabilities in Greenville County, announces the appointment of five new board members. Lori Bostic, Erica James, Lauren Hunt, Andy Lecture, and Joel Scheving will serve a 3-year term alongside other dedicated community members.

The Barbara Stone Foundation Board of Directors is led by Board Chair Nick Skenteris, Vice President Audra Vellucci, Treasurer Riku Oinonen, and the following board members are currently serving: Lee Sowell, Matthew Collins, Elizabeth Piper, Lisa Finch, Dana Gantt Moore, Board Member Emeritus Marion Elliott and the Honorable Nick Theodore, President Emeritus.

“We are excited to start 2026 with a clearly defined vision, the right leadership and dedicated board members to help us create a community where all individuals with disabilities flourish,” said Nick Skenteris, Board Chair of the Barbara Stone Foundation. “Our committed board and staff are steadfast in our efforts to help people with disabilities achieve equitable opportunities and increase awareness about the benefits of an inclusive community.”

Since 1991, the Barbara Stone Foundation’s primary focus has been to influence community systems, policies, and culture for individuals with disabilities in Greenville County. The non-profit’s work is accomplished through identifying gaps in services, investing in, or creating innovative programs, leveraging partnerships in the community, and through signature initiatives like Greenville CAN (Collaborative Action Network), the UP (Upward Professionals) Employment Initiative and Access GVL.

To help the Barbara Stone Foundation sustain and grow programs like Greenville CAN and the UP (Upward Professionals) Employment Initiative, visit www.barbarastonefoundation.org.

Dance Collaborative, a non-profit organization offering adaptive programming for individuals with disabilities to experience and engage in dance classes, will host their annual Adaptive Christmas Community Performance on Saturday, December 6 prior to the start of the Greenville Poinsettia Christmas Parade. The first performance will occur at 5pm at the intersection of Broad and Main Streets, and a 5:30 performance will take place at the intersection of Coffee and Main Streets.

The Christmas performance is open to individuals with disabilities and friends or family, and there is no cost to participate. Performance t-shirts can be purchased for $10.00. Performers have rehearsals at The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Greenville from 6:30-7:30pm on November 11, November 18 and December 2.

“The annual event is something we look forward to every Christmas because our Adaptive Christmas Performance is a joyful opportunity to celebrate inclusion and creativity through movement,” said Stephanie Cureton, Operations Director for Dance Collaborative. “Dance Collaborative’s mission is to revolutionize dance education by making it accessible to everyone, regardless of location, ability, or resources.”

For more information and to register to participate in the Dec 6th Adaptive Christmas Community Performance, visit https://www.dancecollab.org/events-xmas.

12pm-5pm on Sunday 11/30/2025
“Handcrafted Holiday Happening”, featuring local art delights. Skip the hectic big-box black Friday rush and choose gifts created by local artists in a tranquil shopping spot. Choose holiday treats for your loved ones (and yourself) that are unique because they are handcrafted! Featuring vibrant painting by Lisa Shimko, collage by Suzanne Woolf, ceramics by French Goose Art Studio, textile art by Feltastic Fasion, and artful caffeinated beverages from Canvas Coffee!

For savers, retirees, and those close to retirement, the day of reckoning has come as healthcare and property insurance premiums come up for renewal. No matter where you fall on the income spectrum, the sticker shock is real.
Healthcare costs are climbing at the fastest pace in more than a decade. Property insurance is also getting more expensive. For those who are newly retired or close to retirement, these are reminders that even the most carefully built financial plans can get blindsided by forces outside your control.
So, how do you take back control?
Too many investors treat “playing it safe” as a strategy. In reality, leaving too much cash in low-yield accounts is one of the riskiest moves in an inflationary environment. You may not see the loss on a statement, but you’re feeling it every time your insurance premium rises, your grocery bill expands, or your healthcare deductible resets.
When volatility and inflation make traditional portfolios feel unreliable, alternative investments, particularly in real estate, can restore balance.
Real estate has historically offered a hedge against inflation because rents, land values, and demand tend to rise with prices. It also creates opportunities for steady cash flow, tangible collateral, and tax advantages that stocks and bonds can’t always match.
Real estate investing isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy or institutional players anymore. With the rise of fractional ownership platforms, private credit funds, and income-producing real estate partnerships, access to alternative investments has never been easier.
You can’t stop inflation or market volatility, but you can control your asset mix.
Jeff Herman is an investment advisor at Greenville-based The Jeffrey Group ( jeff@thejeffrey.group and www.thejeffrey.group). This material is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or investment strategy.

GREENVILLE, SC (November 4, 2025) – Greenville Convention Center today announced that South Carolina’s largest modular train layout display will be the centerpiece of this year’s Holiday Fair benefitting the Rotary Club of Greenville, running from Thursday, December 4th through Sunday, December 7th.

Spanning approximately 10,500 square feet with more than 1,200 feet of track, the display will feature dozens of intricate landscapes and miniature buildings, more than 80 car trains and detailed steam and diesel locomotives with sound.

The massive modular layout is designed and displayed by Sipping & Switching Society of North Carolina, a group of modular layout enthusiasts who gather multiple times a year at different events with their own personal modulars to mix and match and create one large, tailored experience.

“The magic of the holidays at the Greenville Convention Center is about to get even bigger – and faster,” says Stephanie Goodale, Director of Sales, Greenville Convention Center. “We are thrilled to offer this new element to the Holiday Fair this year; we expect its presence to bring in thousands of both local and out-of-town visitors.”

In addition to the modular train layout, attendees will enjoy more than 500 vendor booths, featuring one-of-a-kind gifts, decorations, accessories and more, an indoor snowball arena, North Pole kid’s play area, visits with Santa and tastings from local favorites Six & Twenty Distillery and Methodical Coffee.

Proceeds of Holiday Fair benefit Rotary Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Rotary Club of Greenville, which seeks ways to make meaningful, sustained differences in the quality of life of the citizens of Greenville County.

Tickets to the Holiday Fair benefitting Rotary Club of Greenville can be purchased at meetgcc.com. Early bird pricing is available through December 3rd, with prices increasing by $5 beginning December 4th.

The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) proudly celebrated the opening of its newly refurbished science lab at the School for the Deaf with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 22. This milestone marks the successful completion of an initiative driven by the vision and dedication of the school’s science staff and the generosity of community sponsors.

In 2024, science teachers at the School for the Deaf identified the need to modernize the science lab and envisioned a space equipped with state-of-the-art tools to enhance the educational experience for students.

Thanks to generous contributions from sponsors—BASF, Bosch Community Fund, ScanSource Charitable Foundation, SC Ports Authority and Tindall Corporation— the SCSDB Foundation raised $15,000 to bring this vision to life.

“This transformation is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together to support education,” said Sam Hook, Executive Director of the SCSDB Foundation. “Students at the School for the Deaf now have the tools they need to explore the wonders of science in a fully-equipped, modern lab environment.”

Because of sponsor support, SCSDB modernized the science lab by updating equipment, replenishing essential supplies and acquiring the latest laboratory tools. Some of the new lab additions include, visual aid models, microscopes, 3-D atom and gas exchange models, a weather station, a chemical storage cabinet and more. This upgrade ensures that students have access to the most advanced resources, which supports a rigorous science curriculum.

“Our new lab not only replenishes our supplies, but it also inspires both students and teachers alike to reach new educational heights,” said School for the Deaf science teacher Jessica Gribble.

Greenville, SC – Stokes & Company CPAs is excited to announce Neacole Murray is a CPA

Neacole Murray has officially earned her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, marking an inspiring milestone in her career journey from Executive Assistant to accounting professional.

Since joining Stokes & Company CPAs, Neacole has shown exceptional dedication, curiosity, and a strong commitment to growth. Balancing her full-time role with rigorous CPA studies, she has exemplified perseverance and professional excellence.

About Stokes & Company, CPAs

For over 25 years, Stokes & Company, CPAs has been a trusted partner for businesses and individuals, delivering expert accounting, tax, and advisory services tailored to their unique needs.

Media Contact:

Brad Detandt
Director of Business Development
brad@stokescpas.com
864.242.1418

The Barbara Stone Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting visionary and creative programs and initiatives for individuals with disabilities, recently awarded five Community Innovations Grants to Upstate non-profits. The Barbara Stone Foundation makes it a priority to invest in and create innovative programs that directly support individuals with disabilities.

The following five non-profit organizations were presented with Fall grants totaling $21,500:

1. Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, $7,500
2. Kind of the Upstate, $5,000
3. Meyer Center for Special Children, $3,500
4. Walt’s Waltz, $2,500
5. Centre Stage, $3,000

“The Barbara Stone Foundation grant that Centre Stage received will help us launch a new program called ‘Theatre for All’, an initiative designed to expand access and inclusion for individuals with disabilities in Greenville,” said Laura Nicholas, Executive Artistic Director, Centre Stage. ‘Theatre for All’ will launch in January, with a sensory-friendly, relaxed performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and it helps us remove many barriers often associated with accessing theatre performances.”

“We hope our grant to Centre Stage will set a new standard to expand future opportunities and programming in live theatre,” said Lara Ceisel, Executive Director of the Barbara Stone Foundation. “We encourage any Upstate non-profit that supports individuals with disabilities through meaningful programming and services to learn more about the guidelines and application instructions for our Spring Community Innovations Grants.”

Spring grant applications are due March 15, 2026. First-time applicants are encouraged to reach out before applying. For more information, contact Lara Ceisel at lara@barbarastonefoundation.org.
To learn more about Barbara Stone Foundation grants, visit www.barbarastonefoundation.org.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (October 30, 2025) – Truliant, a top 100 U.S. credit union, is pleased to announce the promotion of Julie Selof to Lead Market Development Officer for Upstate South Carolina. She joined Truliant as a Truliant at Work Business Partner Officer in 2022, at the launch of its regional expansion.
In her expanded role, she will support both business and community partners through initiatives that deepen community impact and ensure better financial futures for residents in the region. Selof will work to promote financial literacy and collaborate with non-profit organizations through partnerships that drive meaningful change and support community development.
“I’m truly energized by the opportunity to expand relationships as we explore solutions that empower our community and cultivate a more prosperous future,” Selof said. “I look forward to equipping our communities with the mindset needed to make informed decisions for their financial well-being,”
Through Truliant at Work, Selof delivered comprehensive financial wellness programs tailored for businesses, colleges, and universities throughout the Upstate region. To date, Selof and the Upstate team have hosted about 200 classes and onsite visits, reaching more than 16,200 individuals in 2025.
Selof holds several certifications in the financial services industry, including Credit Union Business Development Professional, Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor, and Credit Union Development Educator.
She is active with local organizations, including the Greenville Society of Human Resource Management (GSHRM) and Women Confidence Builders, as well as various chambers and associations. Selof is a graduate of the Greenville Chamber’s Leadership Greenville program (2024) and has received recognition for outstanding community service and additional acknowledgements within her field. She is also an ACAC Fitness & Wellness group exercise instructor.

Carolina Handling, the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida’s central time zone, is taking its proven internal process improvement expertise to market with the launch of lean consulting services through its Continuous Improvement Department.
Carolina Handling’s Continuous Improvement Department has been a tremendous resource for internal teams, partnering across departments to identify process improvements. Building on that success, the Continuous Improvement Department now offers external customers the same lean consulting support to uncover and solve process challenges, resulting in more efficient business operations, increased profitability and improved safety and morale.
“This unique offering stands out because of our approach and the way we engage with our customers. At its core, our work is about partnership. We take a consultative approach by listening, learning and collaborating to uncover new ways to optimize operations and drive lasting business success,” said Justin Benson, Vice President of Intralogistics Solutions at Carolina Handling.
Raymond Lean Management (RLM) is at the core of the Continuous Improvement Department’s philosophy. Built on the proven foundation and principles of the Toyota Production System (TPS), the RLM program combines tailored training, collaboration and consultation.
Before implementing changes, the Continuous Improvement team conducts an initial intralogistics lean assessment of a facility or process to evaluate the current conditions and identify areas of opportunity for improvement. In-person lean training covers the foundational lean principles and their application within manufacturing, warehousing and distribution environments to enhance operational efficiency.
Courses include 5S Methodology, Waste Identification and Reduction, Standardization and Visual Management, and Kaizen and Defect Tracking Management.