Category: Press Release

McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) is announcing its acquisition of MCA Architecture (MCA) of Greenville, SC. This partnership deepens and expands MPS’ industrial practice which designs and plans advanced and technical manufacturing environments, associated corporate offices and commercial campus amenities, and distribution developments across the Eastern United States.  

“The partnership between McMillan Pazdan Smith and MCA brings together two highly talented, innovative, and experienced teams supporting advanced manufacturing and development, and thriving domestic and foreign direct corporate investments in the region. Working together, we are excited to combine and grow our clientele in the successful design and delivery of complex, high-impact projects in the nation’s most dynamic growth corridors,” says Chad Cousins, CEO of McMillan Pazdan Smith.

MCA, founded in 1976 by Marshall F. Clarke, FAIA, and currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, has extensive design experience serving clients in the industrial development, manufacturing, and energy markets.  Notable MCA projects include: 

• More than 40 million square feet of industrial development across eleven states for clients including Red Rock Developments, Hughes Commercial, The Furman Company, Childress Klein, and Collett 
• The Dominion Energy corporate campus in Cayce, SC 
• Nexans’ high voltage marine cable manufacturing facility in North Charleston, SC 
• Boeing’s Fuselage Paint Facility in North Charleston, SC 
• Dominion Fairwinds Landing, an office building on Viginia’s Chesapeake Bay providing renewable energy services from Dominion’s offshore wind farm 

“MCA’s relationship driven philosophy aligns naturally with the collaborative spirit at MPS,” says Channing Addis, CEO of MCA Architecture. “Both firms prioritize trust, transparency, and a personal connection that extends beyond the architecture process.” 

MPS is a regionally expanding architecture and advisory firm with 11 studios.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Documentaries on basketball, a movie about falling in love on a park bench, a humorous story of park rangers chasing a litterer and many more are part of the cavalcade of offerings at this year’s Reed Reels Film Festival.

The 2026 Reedy Reels Film Festival will bring 85 films March 27 through 29 at the South Carolina Children’s Theatre, 153 Augusta Street, Greenville. It is sponsored by Piedmont Natural Gas and VisitGreenvilleSC.

Tickets start at $10 for single film sessions and go through $135 or weekend passes. Tickets and the entire weekend schedule can be found here.

The weekend movie schedule looks like this. Each session also includes Q & A sessions afterwards.

Friday Night Film Block:

The Best Solution: A 17 year-old high school student comes to terms with the loss of her closest friend, while trying to figure out a way to embrace the future.

The Artis Residence: When Vera, the matriarch of the quirky Artis family, decides to make a break with her old life, she finds she has to resort to unique measures.

Carolina Handling, the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida’s central time zone, is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026.
Founded in 1966, Carolina Handling began operations in a former Charlotte, NC, service station with five associates. Today, the company has more than 900 associates across its five-state territory, including more than 485 Field Service Technicians.

The company has maintained 99 percent customer retention and an average response time of 1.1 hours for breakdown calls.

Carolina Handling President and CEO Brent Hillabrand said the milestone and growth reflect the strength and quality of the company’s associates.

“We continue to attract and develop the very best in the industry while leading in our market space. Our customers can depend on us for innovation, quality, and a commitment to their long-term success. We deliver solutions that go beyond equipment,” Hillabrand said.

Carolina Handling continues to evolve from a forklift-only provider to an integrated material handling solutions company, supporting customers with lift trucks, consultation, design, engineering, and implementation of storage and automation solutions to help customers achieve more space, speed, safety and efficiency with integrated technologies.

In 2025, Carolina Handling opened a new 264,544-square-foot facility in Pickens County, South Carolina, combining the warehouse and office space from four facilities in the Upstate region of South Carolina under one roof. The new facility includes a Customer Experience Center, where visitors can explore integrated automation technologies and see live equipment demonstrations.

For 34 consecutive years, Carolina Handling has been named a Dealer of Distinction (DOD) by The Raymond Corporation, a global provider of best-in-class material handling equipment and intelligent intralogistics solutions.

GREENVILLE, S.C.— Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty recently honored its Associates and staff for amazing work in the past year.

F. Reid Hipp Award (Company MVP ): Michael McGreevey

F. Reid Hipp Award (Greenville office MVP): Jeff Merritt and Matt Crider 

F. Reid Hipp Award (MVP Clemson Office): Amy Hammond and Shelby Lamon

Top Associates by side/units and by volume (Greenville office): Grace Loveless and Jessica Kilcoyne

Top Associates by side/units (Clemson office): Amy Hammond, Diane Bostrom and Shanda Dean

Top Associates by volume (Clemson office) Diane Bostrom and Lisa Vogel

Top Associate by Volume (Companywide): Lisa Vogel

Chairman’s Circle Award ($10 million and more in sales): Christy Ross, Grace Herlong, Jessica Kilcoyne, Amy Hammond, Diane Bostrom and Lisa Vogel

President’s Circle ($5 million to $9.9 million in sales): Drew Torres, Jeff Merritt, Matt Crider, Michael McGreevey, Morgan Coleman, Patrick Furman, Samantha Snyder, Beau Sylvester, Michael Schultz and Shanda Dean 

CNE Home Run Award: Jackson Herlong

Raising The Bar (Recognition of Committee and Board Service): William Herlong, Jackson Herlong, Patrick Furman, Amy Hammond Matt Crider, Michael McGreevey, Samantha, Snyder Taylor Mitchell, Beau Sylvester, Matt Nocks, Lisa Vogel, and  Diane Bostrom

Sotheby’s Brand Awards: Jessica Kilcoyne, Sijia Hughes, Matt Nocks, Beau Sylvester, Michael Schultz and Shelby Lamon.

Ninja Training Graduates: Charles D’Alessandro, Christy Ross, Jeff Merritt, Jessica Kilcoyne, Lindsey Kovach, Michael Schultz, Sijia Hughes and Sung Yi Soug.

Skyrocket Awards (Associates who increased their volume by at least 50% over the previous year): Beau Sylvester, Michael Schultz, Christy Ross, Jessica Kilcoyne, Sijia Hughes, Grace Loveless, and Amy Hammond.

Business 101 Award (Excellent Business Plan) Beau Sylvester, Christina Van Slambrook, Jeff Merritt and Michael Schultz 

Social Presence Award (Associate with most social media followers): Grace Loveless.

Republic of Decor, an award-winning showroom and interior design studio offering an eclectic mix of stylish home accessories, unique gifts, and distinctive interior design objects and décor, has opened its doors in Greenville’s West End. The chic new design destination, which will celebrate its official grand opening this spring, also offers full-service interior design services.

“I believe homes and spaces should reflect the people who live in them – layered, expressive, and meaningful,” said Republic or Decor’s founder and owner David Fruscione. “Whether it’s grand artwork in the foyer or a small accent layered into a living room, each piece Republic of Decor carries has story and a sense of artistry behind it. My goal is to make luxury feel accessible and design feel warm and inviting.”

Blending approachable luxury with artisan craftsmanship, Republic of Decor specializes in one-of-a-kind pieces that set spaces apart. From handmade accents crafted across the United States – including California, New York City, and Florida – to woven goods sourced from regions such as Asia and South Africa where the craft has been perfected for generations, each item carries the soul and story of its maker. The shop will expand its offerings to highlight talented artisans throughout the Southeast, and in addition to custom statement pieces, the showroom features a curated selection of tabletop décor, accent furnishings, artwork, wallpaper, gifts and more, all beautifully merchandised to inspire. The selection of gifts and home décor includes a wide array of products such as handmade decorative pieces, candles, pillows, serve ware, gourmet treats, coffee table books, stationery, and baby gifts – you can walk out with a great hostess gift for under $100 or take home a special one-of-a kind item.

Republic of Decor is located at 109 Augusta Street in Greenville, SC. Store hours are Monday by appointment and Tuesday through Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm.

Greenville-based twentyfour skincare is proud to announce it has been selected as a finalist in the 2025–2026 INNOCOS Beauty & Longevity CHOICE Awards in the category of Cellular Signalling & Longevity Mechanisms. This prestigious global recognition highlights twentyfour skincare as one of the most forward-thinking and science-driven brands redefining the future of beauty, wellness, and skin longevity.

The INNOCOS Beauty & Longevity CHOICE Awards honor brands that are pioneering evidence-based innovations at the intersection of beauty and longevity science. Judges, including longevity scientists, dermatologists, medical doctors, and industry experts, evaluate products for their biological mechanisms, scientific integrity, and true potential to impact long-term human health and aging—all in an effort to provide clarity and credibility in a rapidly evolving marketplace while differentiating real science from marketing hype.

As a finalist, twentyfour skincare stands alongside leading brands and innovators whose topical systems mirror breakthrough regenerative medicine pathways—recognized for advancing cellular signaling and longevity mechanisms by supporting cell turnover, restoring collagen, and improving barrier repair.

“twentyfour skincare is honored to be recognized as a finalist among such groundbreaking innovations,” said Jenny Pancoast, Brand Founder & President of XXIV. “This recognition reflects our dedication to developing products rooted in science and powered by clean, natural, and highly effective active ingredients. With a focus on skin vitality, twentyfour actively restores skin health from the inside-out, strongly resonating with wellness-minded professionals and consumers.”

twentyfour skincare’s flagship products, StepZero™ Age Reversing Powder and HYDRíQ™ Age Reversing Hydrator, were launched in August of 2025 and have quickly gained marketplace trust as a science-backed, gentle skincare line.

Spartanburg, SC — SJWD Water District (SJWD) is pleased to announce the appointment of Bobby Walden as its new Chief Operating Officer.

Walden brings almost 50 years of experience in water utility operations and leadership. In his role as COO, he will oversee system operations, water production, watershed protection, and infrastructure management while supporting SJWD’s commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable water service to the communities it serves.

“We are proud to welcome Bobby to our leadership team,” said Billy Cothran, Chief Executive Officer of SJWD. “His experience, integrity, and respected leadership will strengthen our operations and reinforce our commitment to excellence and reliable service for our customers.”

About SJWD Water District (SJWD)
Originally established in 1956, Startex-Jackson-Wellford-Duncan Water District (SJWD), with its team of dedicated professionals, is committed to providing the highest-quality water services to the rapidly growing western portion of Spartanburg County. For more information, please visit SJWD.com

Greenville, SC (March 2, 2026): The Center for Developmental Services is pleased to announce the appointment of Melanie Gearhart as its new Executive Director, effective January 19, 2026. Melanie succeeds Dana McConnell, who retired in November after more than a decade of extraordinary service and dedication to the children and families supported by CDS.

Melanie joins CDS with more than 15 years of mission-driven leadership experience and a deep commitment to advancing services for individuals with developmental needs. During her tenure at Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC, she held multiple senior leadership roles where she oversaw business operations, sustainability initiatives, program development, and large-scale community impact efforts. Known for her collaborative approach, strategic mindset, and ability to mobilize resources, Melanie is passionate about supporting families and building stronger, more connected communities. Melanie is excited to build upon the strong foundation that CDS leaders have created to ensure continued sustainability and future success.

“Melanie brings both the heart and the leadership our growing community needs. Across our region, the number of children with disabilities continues to increase — mirroring statewide trends where thousands of families rely on critical support services. As demand rises, so does our responsibility to expand our reach and walk alongside the children and families who depend on CDS. With Melanie’s leadership, we are inspired by the possibilities — deeper partnerships, stronger support networks, and a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.” — Anthony Toklo, Chairman of the Board.

The CDS Board, staff, partners, and families are excited to welcome Melanie into this role and look forward to a new chapter of growth, innovation, and expanded community impact under her leadership.