Category: Press Release

Greenville, S.C. – FUEL, a Greenville, S.C.-based brand building agency, is accepting applications until June 17 for its FUEL for Good Grant program for the second half of 2024. As part of its commitment to community service, FUEL selects local nonprofits each year and provides pro bono marketing services, enabling them to further their missions and address important needs in the Greenville community.

Applicants must be based in Greenville County, S.C., serve the local community, hold a valid 501(c)(3) certification, and have a clearly identifiable need for marketing assistance. Nonprofit organizations meeting these requirements are encouraged to complete an online application at www.fuelforbrands.com/fuel-grant by the June 17 deadline.

In its fifth year, the FUEL for Good Grant program allows the agency’s team to collaborate and dedicate strategic marketing and branding expertise to help local nonprofits with specific marketing challenges. To date, FUEL has awarded the grant to 15 local nonprofits and donated more than 1,500 hours, providing services ranging from logo refreshes and rebrands to social media campaigns and collateral development.

Following an internal review of the grant applications, FUEL will select the recipient and begin work in July. For more information or to apply for the FUEL for Good Grant, please visit www.fuelforbrands.com/fuel-grant or contact Meredith Kinsey at meredith@fuelforbrands.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – On a street off of White Horse Road, the Samora family walked into the first home they have ever owned Wednesday afternoon.

And 30 some community and business leaders were there to make it happen.

Habitat for Humanity Greenville CEO Build is an annual event where business owners leaders the board room and help build a house, said Monroe Free, President and CEO of Habitat Greenville. Each of the participating CEOs pledges company funding and staff volunteer hours to help build the project houses. They also work on-site personally during construction alongside their own team members, community volunteers and future Habitat families, to broaden their perspectives on issues of importance to our community.

“For 12 years, we have brought together diverse groups of people who unite under one mission: affordable housing,” Free said. “They do this because they believe that a strong Greenville starts with strong families. And strong families start at home.”

CEOs on this year’s build at 115 Sturtevant were Scott Weaver of Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union; Jane Harrison Fisher, chairwoman of the 2023 CEO Build as well as Chief Operating Officer with Coldwell Banker Caine; Bob Morris of the Community Foundation of Greenville; John Boyanoski of Complete PR; Stephen Davis of Davis and Floyd; Phil Howard of Ethox Chemicals; Chris Bailey of Greater Greenville Association of Realtors; Tommy Jenkins of Greenville Maintenance Services; Dr. Keith Miller of Greenville Technical College; Seabrook Marchant of Marchant Real Estate; Kerri Paulino of Meritage Homes; Hank McCullough of Piedmont Natural Gas; Josh Covington of QLM and Southern Harmony; Brian McKay of Spero Financial; Steve Spinks of Spinx; David Lominack of TD Bank; Randy Hunter of Terminix; Delisa English of The Blood Connection; Steve Magruder of Warehouse Services, Kirsten Zinkann of Kirsten Zinkann Real Estate; Mike Coggins of South State Bank; Douglas Deitz of The Reynolds Company, Walmart Distribution and John Castile of the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority.

An Iowa native, Michelle Samora and her four children moved to South Carolina in 2021, and she found work with a health care management company and in home health care as a companion aide. Having known about Habitat since her teens, she decided to apply for the home-ownership program.

Michelle said she enjoyed working on her sweat equity in the ReStore with her oldest son. The budgeting, meal prep, and other financial education classes have been a huge help to her, but most important to her are the relationships built with others in the program. Her home is the fifth completed of the currently planned nine Habitat homes on Sturtevant, which sits on 1.708 acres donated by Creative Builders and Fitch Irick.

“Home ownership wouldn’t be possible for me at this time without the program due to the rising cost of property, and the high and increasing interest rates,” she said. “This program is a blessing for me and my family and I’m very thankful.”

About Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County:
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County opened its doors in 1985 to bring families, community partners, and volunteers together to construct affordable, energy-efficient homes that help families build strength, stability, and self-reliance. As of April 2024, Habitat Greenville has completed the construction of 410 homes. Habitat Greenville ReStores are located at 3033 Wade Hampton Boulevard in Taylors and 1818 Woodruff Road in Greenville. Call 864-312-5016 for free donation pickups. Learn more at www.habitatgreenville.org.

Sam has over 12 years of experience in the financial industry holding various positions in Asset Management and Financial Services. Serving as Ballentine Capital Advisor’s Financial Planning Analyst & and Client Services Specialist, Sam will assist their advisors and work closely with clients to examine and prepare custom strategies to determine how to best accomplish clients’ financial goals.

Sam holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Temple University’s Fox School of Business, passed Level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program, and is currently enrolled in the Certified Financial Planning (CFP) program at Stockton University.

Sam and his wife Melissa live in Simpsonville, South Carolina. They have three wonderful children, Juliano, Colette and Claudia. Sam also holds dual citizenship with Italy and continues to carry traditions passed down to him like making homemade wine. As a Philadelphia native, Sam enjoys rooting for Philadelphia sports teams, playing golf, tackling DIY projects, and spending time with his family.

About us
Ballentine Capital Advisors is built on the philosophy that “We succeed when our clients succeed.” Our wealth management firm, through our years of experience and professional credentials, specializes in a focus on retirement, retirement income, and wealth planning. At Ballentine Capital Advisors we seek to serve our clients wealth needs through providing premier advice and service in wealth management. We seek to passionately and empathetically provide the highest standard of fiduciary care, always putting our partner’s clients’ best interest before our own.

TealHaus, a local marketing agency with an emphasis on storytelling, is thrilled to announce the addition of Ashley Stidfole to their team as a Sales and Account Manager. With over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and management across diverse industries including hospitality, coworking, and digital agencies, Ashley is driven by her passion for helping businesses thrive.

TealHaus, who recently celebrated serving 100 clients in their three-year lifespan, welcomes Ashley’s expertise to their growing team. Her knowledge of client relations and business development will allow the agency to continue to grow strategically as they serve a variety of clients in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Ashley’s multifaceted interests and vibrant personal life reflect her dynamic approach to work. When she’s not helping TealHaus thrive, you’ll find her sipping Spanish wine, traveling with her family, volunteering at her church, or reading the latest mystery novel.

“Ashley’s joining the TealHaus team marks an exciting new chapter for our company,” said Lindsay Niedringhaus, TealHaus Founder. “Her experience, sales acumen, and warm personality are a wonderful addition to our team as we aim to welcome more clients with their marketing goals and expand our company offerings.”

Carolina Handling has been named the 2023 Top Performer of the Year by Modula, Inc., a leading manufacturer of vertical lift modules and automated storage solutions.

An authorized Modula dealer since 2021, Carolina Handling sells, installs and services Modula’s advanced vertical storage and retrieval systems designed to reduce storage space and boost productivity in order picking. Built on the “parts to picker” principle, the automated system has been proven to dramatically increase accuracy, reduce storage space and enhance worker safety and job satisfaction.

“As Carolina Handling continues its evolution from a forklift-only company to a provider of end-to-end integrated warehouse solutions, products like Modula enhance our broad portfolio of equipment and technologies to help companies achieve greater speed, safety, accuracy and efficiency in their operations,” said Carolina Handling Chief Operating Officer Joe Perkins. “In addition to sales and implementation, we continue to add Modula Certified Technicians to provide the same elite level of aftermarket support for automation solutions that we’re known for on the forklift side of material handling.”

Carolina Handling surpassed 91 percent of its sales quota on Modula units in 2023. Also, 13 Carolina Handling Field Service Technicians were certified in the installation and service of the automated storage and retrieval systems, with another 16 in the process of receiving certification. Carolina Handling also stocks Modula parts and has installed a Modula unit for demonstration and training in its customer experience center in Greenville, South Carolina.

The 2023 Top Performer of the Year award includes a gold award for achieving the highest score in Modula’s Dealer Incentive Program and a bronze award for total units sold.

ABOUT CAROLINA HANDLING

Founded in 1966, Carolina Handling is a leading integrated material handling solutions provider and the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida’s Central time zone. The company provides a full range of lift trucks and automation solutions for manufacturers, warehouses and distribution centers, along with parts, warehouse equipment and supplies.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Carolina Handling operates branch offices in: Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; Greensboro, North Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Greenville, South Carolina; and an Equipment Distribution Center in Piedmont, South Carolina. The company has 800 associates. For more information, visit carolinahandling.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C.— The Upstate’s most unique celebration of those Southern staples of bourbon, BBQ, and bacon is back this November.

Tickets for Hog & Barrel: A Bourbon, BBQ & Bacon Festival can be purchased at www.hogandbarrelfestival.com. The festival will be Friday, November 1, 2024 and Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Events at Judson Mill located just five minutes from downtown Greenville at 701 Easley Bridge Road.

More details about the event will be announced in the coming months such as participating distilleries and bourbon brands as well as the restaurants that will be cooking up their most creative pork, BBQ, or bourbon-themed dishes for your enjoyment, and entertainment options that will leave you wanting more. Participating chefs and mixologists will compete to win up to $2,500 in cash prizes for offering the best dish or best bourbon cocktail. The event is hosted to support Greenville Technical College’s Culinary Institute of the Carolinas. Proceeds will benefit the scholarship and equipment fund for the college.

The event will include:

Bourbonpalooza | Saturday, November 2nd | Session I from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Session II from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.​: The headlining event of the weekend, Bourbonpalooza will showcase the Upstate’s best culinary minds as chefs face off with their most inspired BBQ or bourbon dishes and bartenders battle it out with their most creative bourbon cocktails. Entertainment options will include a mechanical bull, an artisan craft market, and live music, plus a tailgate area streaming live college football games. This event is all-you-can-eat and all-you-can responsibly drink. If bourbon isn’t your thing, there will be plenty of beer, wine, and spiritless beverages available so that everyone can enjoy the festivities. Add on a Bourbon Experience ticket (included with Super VIP) to sample of dozens of different bourbons in a special hour-long tasting session!

Bourbon Experience | Saturday, November 2nd: Spend an hour exploring the bourbon portfolios of more than a dozen distilleries. Sip on premium spirits selected by experts who will guide you through their unique flavor notes. Timed sessions start at 11:30 a.m. and are one hour long. Tickets to the Bourbon Experience are included for Super VIPs and sold separately for all others.

Taste of the Barrel: A Bourbon Dinner | Friday, November 1st | 7 p.m.: ​Indulge in an unforgettable evening of culinary mastery and bourbon brilliance with “Taste of the Barrel: A Bourbon Dinner Soirée,” curated by renowned chef and South Carolina Chef Ambassador, Michael Sibert of White Wine & Butter. Embark on a tantalizing taste journey as Chef Sibert expertly crafts a five-course menu that pays homage to the rich flavors of bourbon-infused cuisine. Each dish is meticulously designed to complement and elevate the complex notes of carefully selected bourbons, creating a symphony of taste sensations that will delight the palate and ignite the senses.

​Complementing Chef Sibert’s culinary creations are bourbon cocktail pairings curated by Tammy Johnson, CEO & Chief Mixologist for High Spirits Hospitality. Elevate your meal with premium spirits and homemade, hand-selected ingredients, artfully combined to harmonize perfectly with each course.

​From the first pour to the final bite, “Taste of the Barrel” promises an evening of culinary enchantment and unparalleled indulgence. Admission to this exclusive event is limited to Super VIP ticket holders only.
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“We are excited to bring back Hog & Barrel to our new home, Events at Judson Mill. We sold out of VIP tickets the first day last time, so don’t delay in getting your tickets for this year. We can’t wait to celebrate the Upstate’s food and beverage scene,” said Johnson said. “This is a festival for those who want a new and one-of-its-kind experience.”

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, two-day festival starts November 1 and features bourbon tastings, signature dishes, live music, artisan craftsmen, and more. Tickets and further information be found at www.hogandbarrelfestival.com.

About High Spirits Hospitality:
High Spirits Hospitality is the parent company of five independent brand companies: Liquid Catering, Events at Judson Mill, Bravo1 Protection, The 405, and High Spirits Events. What started as a small bartending service has grown into a thriving South Carolina-based company with more than 150 employees, more than 35,000 square feet of real estate, and scores of awards and accolades. High Spirits Hospitality is a 100% woman-owned business with the single vision of being the go-to provider for event and security services. Learn more at www.highspiritshospitality.com.

The Meyer Center for Special Children announced that the Kids Classic Clarence Edwards Golf Tournament raised $809,006 for the nonprofit specializing in early education and intensive therapy services to empower children with disabilities to reach their maximum potential. This is a record-breaking amount that surpassed the committee’s 2024 goals.

Participants in the Kids Classic played 27 holes of golf consisting of Better Ball, Captain’s Choice, and Modified-Alternate Shot at one of six premium courses, as well as enjoyed lunch on the course and a post tournament awards ceremony and dinner at Greenville Country Club. Locations included the Cliffs at Keowee Falls, Cliffs Valley, Green Valley Country Club, Greenville Country Club Riverside, Smithfield’s Country Club, and the Walker Course at Clemson University.

Sponsors included:
Title Sponsor: Mike Kaplan, Green Valley Country Club
Lead Sponsor: Tommy & Toni Jenkins, Greenville Maintenance Services
Presenting Sponsor: Tommy & Shounda Foster
Course Sponsors: Lexus of Greenville and Billy Clinkscales

The next Kids Classic Golf Tournament will take place on May 6, 2025. Funds raised from the annual tournament go towards continuing the vision of Dr. Meyer and supporting the nonprofit’s mission of providing education and intensive therapy services to empower children with disabilities to reach their maximum potential.

About the Meyer Center for Special Children:
Seventy years ago, Dr. Leslie Meyer founded the Meyer Center with a belief that every child, regardless of disabilities, could benefit from quality education and therapy services. Dr. Meyer’s vision carries through today, where students receive life-changing treatment through a curriculum focusing on social and emotional learning, daily living skills, music, dance, movement, group exercise and field trips – improving their quality of life, and their families’ quality of life. A South Carolina Public Charter School for students ages three and up, the Meyer Center is the only place in Upstate SC where young children with disabilities can receive all their special education and intensive therapies under one roof, allowing parents the flexibility to work or care for other family members. A place where children often make their first friends, learn to feed themselves and tie their own shoes, the Meyer Center celebrates the impact – both measurable and immeasurable – of 70 years of service to our state’s children with disabilities.

Straight from the television screen and pages of countless stories from his exploits, that inquisitive little monkey named Curious George will make the Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County his home this summer when “Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!” opens on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

For more than 85 years, Curious George has romped, played, explored, and experienced an array of adventures with his friend, the Man in the Yellow Hat, while entertaining children of all ages in the popular book series by H.A. and Margret Rey, as well in the #1 PBS KIDS television show.

This hands-on, bilingual (English and Spanish) exhibition takes place in the neighborhood where Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat live. Visitors will step into familiar buildings and locations as they explore the interactive 2,500-square-foot community that showcases the escapades of George and his friends.

Encouraged to “learn like George,” children can engage in a three-dimensional world featuring direct experience and problem solving through early STEAM concepts – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. These concepts are based on educational standards developed by an advisory panel from the PBS KIDS series, as well as national science, math, and literacy standards for young children.

Supporting characters from the books and TV series appear throughout the exhibition helping to provide context and take-home messages that resonate with young visitors, while still appealing to the grown-ups in their lives who are just as fond of this loveable monkey that they, too, grew up with.

“Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!” is on display from May 25 through October 6, 2024. It was designed in partnership with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group.

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.