Category: Press Release

Greenville, SC (March 11, 2024): The Center for Developmental Services (CDS) is excited to announce the promotion of Brooke Schmidt as their new Director of Family Programs. In her new role, Schmidt will lead their case management program and a team of 20 as they continue to accept new referrals for service coordination in Greenville. She has over 17 years of experience serving the disability community with prior experience as a case management supervisor at Thrive Upstate before joining CDS in 2018.

“For the past six years, Brooke has been responsible for the hiring, onboarding and developing of a dynamic team that has made CDS one of the top ranked case management programs in SC,” said Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director. “We congratulate Brooke on her well-deserved promotion and look forward to her many contributions on the leadership team.”

Schmidt has a B.S. in Early Intervention from Winthrop University and is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Academy from the SC Human Services Providers Association. She is actively involved in the disability community as a board member for the Barbara Stone Foundation.

About CDS
CDS is the largest multi-disciplinary treatment facility in the Upstate for children with disabilities and developmental delays. In one location, children receive services in therapy, diagnosis, audiology, day care needs for the medically fragile, early intervention, case management, and a family support network. The partnership is comprised of Clarity; Project Hope Foundation; KidVentures of Thrive Upstate; and four programs of Prisma Health – Upstate: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Kidnetics, The Wonder Center, and Prosthetics and Orthotics. CDS and its partners serve over 8,000 children and their families each year on property donated by the First Presbyterian Church at 29 North Academy Street in Greenville, SC. For more information about CDS and its partners, visit www.cdservices.org.

WCFIBER AND UPCOUNTRY FIBER TO BRING BROADBAND INTERNET TO NEARLY 13,000 IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF ANDERSON COUNTY

Abbeville and Pickens, SC – March 08, 2024 – Underserved areas of Anderson County will soon have access to broadband internet through internet service providers WCFIBER, a wholly-owned subsidiary of West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative (WCTEL), and Upcountry Fiber, a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric Co-op (BREC) and WCFIBER, thanks to a $32 million federal grant designated by the South Carolina Broadband Office (SCBBO). The grant allows WCFIBER and Upcountry Fiber to continue to fulfill their mission to help bridge the “digital divide” where little to no access exists. An additional $10 million from WCFIBER and Upcountry Fiber will be invested to extend the reach of the project.

Nearly 3,000 Anderson County underserved addresses identified by SCBBO that currently do not have access to broadband internet service are included in the grant. Construction has begun, and by the end of 2025, those addresses included in the SCBBO grant, and an additional 10,000 addresses surrounding them, will be able to sign up for broadband internet service through either WCFIBER or Upcountry Fiber, depending on their location.

Specifically, the underserved addresses in areas of Anderson County that will soon have access to fiber internet are around Belton, Honea Path, Piercetown, Sandy Springs, La France, Broadway, Williamston, Homeland Park, and other areas throughout Anderson County. Residents will be notified of construction and order timelines in the coming weeks.

Upon completion of construction mainly funded by this grant, WCFIBER and Upcountry Fiber together will have invested approximately $76 million in broadband to areas that have been previously underserved since 2021, resulting in construction of approximately 1,155.8 miles of fiber that will pass nearly 19,000 eligible addresses, mainly residential.

“We are so thankful to Jim Stritzinger and his team in the South Carolina Broadband Office for awarding us this grant so that more citizens of Anderson County have access to this necessary utility,” said Anderson County Council Chair Tommy Dunn.

“No matter where you are located within the grant footprint, you can expect to receive the same exceptional fiber internet service from either WCFIBER or Upcountry Fiber,” said Jeff Wilson, president and CEO of WCTEL. “Thanks to the South Carolina Broadband Office, we are able to help modernize the infrastructure in these underserved communities.”

“Utility cooperatives like ours have a long history of serving our neighbors in traditionally underserved areas,” said Jim Lovinggood, president and CEO of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative. “This grant not only benefits people in their homes but makes it possible for them to have access to better healthcare, education and job opportunities, which helps to build a better, more competitive community for everyone.”

WCTEL has served parts of the Starr-Iva communities of Anderson County with fiber internet services for more than 15 years, and with telecommunications services since the cooperative was founded more than 70 years ago.

###

About WCFIBER
The WCTEL family of companies, including WCTEL, WCFIBER, and Upcountry Fiber, combine a tradition of service with the best technology available. Friendly, community-minded employees are committed to building a fiber network that is ready for whatever the future of technology may hold. The fiber optic network provides voice, data, video, security, and hosted business services in upstate South Carolina to include McCormick County, Abbeville County, and the city of Newberry as well as parts of Anderson County, Greenwood County, Oconee County, Pickens County, Greenville County, Spartanburg County, and Columbia County, GA. To find out more about WCTEL, visit wctel.com. WCTEL is designated as a nationally recognized Smart Rural Community and Certified Gig-Capable Provider by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association.

About Upcountry Fiber
Upcountry Fiber is a high-speed fiber internet provider to Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens counties. Established in Fall 2020, Upcountry Fiber is the product of a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and WCFIBER, a subsidiary of West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative (WCTEL). Founded by organizations created to electrify and connect rural areas of South Carolina; decades later, Upcountry Fiber’s mission is to bridge the digital divide. Offering symmetrical internet speeds up to 10 Gbps over a fiber network, Upcountry Fiber has the fastest and most reliable high-speed internet in the area. To learn more about Upcountry Fiber, visit us at www.UpcountryFiber.com.

Two experienced filmmakers will be leading breakout sessions as part of this year’s Piedmont Natural Gas Presents Reedy Reels: The Greenville Film Festival.

One of the hallmarks of Reedy Reels over the years is that it provides independent film fans the opportunity to learn more about the movie-making process, and meet many of the people they are seeing on the screen during the festival, said Matt Foster, a Co-Founder of the festival.

That includes breakout sessions, which this year will feature Upstate-based filmmaker Collins Abbott White as well as New York City-based Jessica Sher. Reedy Reels will happen March 22-24 at the S.C. Children’s Theatre in downtown Greenville. More than 66 films will be shown over 11 sessions, and feature almost 1,000 minutes of runtime.

White, whose film, 37 Ghosts, won Reedy Reels’ Palmetto Prize in 2018, will be leading a session at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, and be geared toward student filmmakers. White is the owner of Other Vision Studios. A Greenville native, White found his love for filmmaking as a senior in high school when he directed his first feature film, School Wars, a spoof of his favorite movie, Star Wars.
After earning a master’s in film and video production, White founded Other Vision Studios with the goal of creating one of the first film production companies in South Carolina. He also uses his education and experience to assist numerous aspiring filmmakers in the Greenville area to achieve their artistic vision.

Sherr is a multi-talented actress, writer, and producer. With her infectious and vibrant personality, she brings a bright comedic energy to her performances that leave audiences entertained and craving for more. She has made notable appearances on popular television shows, including Claws, Cloak and Dagger and Blue Bloods, showcasing her versatility and captivating on-screen presence.

Her award-winning film, Wicked Image, will be shown Friday night, and she will be doing a Question and Answer Segment at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday as well.

In addition to her acting credits, Sherr has also made a mark as a producer. Her award winning dark comedy, Wicked Image, has won Best Comedy at Borrego Springs Film Festival, Austin Under the Stars and Baltimore Next Media. Her work on the award-winning web series, Scratch This, has earned her recognition and numerous accolades. The series has been honored as the Best Web-Series at the Garden State Film Festival, and has received the prestigious Best Ensemble Cast award at the Bilbao Seriesland and Miami Web-fest.

Both breakout sessions can be attended by guests who have purchased day or weekend passes, but spaced is limited and guests are asked to sign-up for the sessions in advance. Purchase tickets here. Tickets include daily passes and weekend festival passes. Daily pass gives attendees entry to all film sessions for that day. The weekend festival pass gives attendees entry into all festival screening sessions.

“Collins and Jessica bring amazing insights to the world of filmmaking and we are honored to have them sharing their stories in Greenville,” Foster said.

NPatel Communications Founder
Receives Recognition from
Greenville Business Magazine’s “SC Best in Business”

Greenville, S.C. – March 5, 2024 – NPatel Communications, a woman-owned marketing and public relations firm located in Greenville, S.C., is proud of the recognition of its Founder and CEO, Nisha Patel, for receiving Greenville Business Magazine’s “2023 SC Best in Business” Award’s Chief Marketing Officer of the Year in the bronze category.

Greenville Business Magazine recently celebrated its 3rd annual “SC Best in Business” awards. The award recognizes the best companies and individuals from around the state that bring success and attention to South Carolina’s business community. Nisha received 3rd place for South Carolina’s Best Chief Marketing Officer.

“I was thrilled to have received this recognition from Greenville Business Magazine and its readers here in the upstate,” said Nisha Patel, Founder and CEO of NPatel Communications. “The mission of NPatel is to provide strategic help to local businesses and help them with their communications needs in an efficient way. Every business has a story to tell, and I look forward to sharing them.”

Nisha specializes in assisting businesses, big or small, with their marketing and communications efforts. She brings a unique background to her business as she possesses two decades of experience. From a broadcast journalist to a marketing executive at a full-service agency, Nisha has an eye for getting businesses mentioned in the media.

About NPatel Communications

NPatel Communications is a boutique marketing and public relations firm based in Greenville, S.C. With more than two decades of experience, Founder and CEO, Nisha Patel specializes in building awareness and credibility for businesses through strategic communication practices. Founded in 2020, NPatel Communications provides strategic consulting and public relations and marketing offerings to brands and businesses across the upstate of South Carolina. To learn more visit, www.npatelcommunications.com.

YMCA of Greenville announces 2024 Annual Campaign goal, continuing its impact in the community

GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 4, 2024) – YMCA of Greenville today announced its 2024 Annual Campaign goal of $1.44 million to help improve the lives of thousands of people across Greenville County through financial assistance for programs and services, creating a lasting impact in the Y’s focus areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

The funds raised will go towards providing financial assistance so that anyone who wants to participate in the Y’s programs and services is able to, regardless of their ability to pay. This includes providing children, adults and families scholarships for wellness memberships, youth sports programs, swim lessons, the SC Youth in Government program, afterschool care and summer day camps, as well as funding the Y’s food delivery program for those experiencing food insecurity across Greenville County.

Over the past 14 years, the YMCA of Greenville has raised more than $13 million for the annual campaign, putting those funds back into helping people thrive.

“Every dollar donated to the YMCA of Greenville Annual Campaign has a lasting impact on the people right here in our community,” says Scot Baddley, president, and CEO of the YMCA of Greenville. “We look forward to the impact we will make this year and the positive change on the lives of so many of our neighbors.”

“This year’s annual campaign theme is ‘You are Y,’ says Diana Watson, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer of the YMCA of Greenville. “YOU make it possible for the YMCA of Greenville to create opportunities and access for all. With your support, we get to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.”

To give to the YMCA of Greenville’s Annual Campaign and learn more about the programs it supports, visit https://www.ymcagreenville.org/give or text GIVING to 71777.

###

About the YMCA of Greenville, SC

The YMCA of Greenville is a cause-driven non-profit organization. Our mission is, following the example of Christ, to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves the health and well-being of our community and provides opportunities to give back and help support our neighbors. Founded in 1876, the Y serves more than 70,000 people annually through programs that include after-school care, resident and day camps, aquatics, youth and adult sports, and health and wellness. Programs are offered through four family branches, as well as the Verdae YMCA, Y Camp Greenville, YMCA Judson Community Center, and Hollingsworth Outdoor Center. The Y is also home to Y Teen Services and the SC Youth in Government programs.

For more information about the YMCA of Greenville, visit ymcagreenville.org, or call (864) 412-0288.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Meyer Center for Special Children this year celebrates 70 years of serving the Upstate’s children with disabilities. During a special event held at the Meyer Center to commemorate the remarkable achievement, executive director Meta Bowers Hendricks unveiled an educational and creative timeline installation created by Emanate Brands and Environments. Additionally, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Greenville City Council Member John DeWorken each presented a signed proclamation declaring March 1, 2024, as “Meyer Center Day.” The timeline is showcased in the nonprofit’s lobby area and the city and state proclamations served to aid awareness of the Meyer Center and the immeasurable impact it has made on the lives of special needs children and their families in the community. They program also featured remarks about the Meyer Center’s past, present, and future from Hendricks, Chairman Bruce Bannister, and Meyer Center Board President Dave Gable. House Ways and Means Chairman Bannister additionally presented the Meyer Center with a House Resolution honoring the school’s service to the state.

“We are so excited to celebrate this monumental milestone in the Meyer Center’s history and extremely thankful for the community’s steadfast support over the past seven decades. Part of the 70th celebration is to recognize our long and vibrant history, re-engage past stakeholders, and engage new stakeholders that are passionate about our mission and wish to join us as we forge ahead into the next chapter of the Meyer Center,” Hendricks said.

Dr. Leslie Meyer founded the Meyer Center in 1954 with a belief that every child, regardless of disabilities, could benefit from quality education and therapy services. Seventy years later, the Meyer Center remains committed to Dr. Meyer’s vision, serving children with disabilities from all economic and demographic backgrounds who reside in Upstate South Carolina. Its unique model combines early childhood education, school-based therapies, and nursing services all under one roof – provided at a young age, this can change the trajectory of a child’s life and result in more opportunities for them to be included in the community, secure gainful employment, and enjoy long-term independence.

In honor of the 70th anniversary and to fuel the nonprofit’s plans to meet growing community needs and prepare for the next 70 years, the organization will launch an annual giving goal of $700,000. This goal contributes to the $2 million in private funds needed to operate annually.

“Dr. Meyer was a visionary – a forward thinker ahead of his time, and this year we honor his legacy and the great work that has been done in our 70 years,” Hendricks continued. “There is a strong need in our community for special education and intensive therapy – every year we have a wait list of between 50 and 80 students, and we are eager to serve them. But we need the funds to be able to simultaneously sustain and expand services.”

Anyone wishing to participate in this celebratory annual giving campaign can do so by visiting www.meyercenter.org/donate. Or, to make a longer-term impact, one can join the 1954 Club and contribute a minimum of $19.54 per month to help sustain Meyer Center operations into the future.

Monica Gibson, the Meyer Center’s director of development, emphasized the importance of private funding to the Meyer Center’s operations. “40% of our $4.8 million budget comes from private donors through individual gifts and special events,” she said. “Donations to this year’s annual campaign will help us reach our short- and long-term goals such as offering an after-school program and expanding our space. We encourage all who are interested in learning more to check out our website, schedule a tour, get involved in our upcoming events, and reach out to speak with us about making a lasting impact.”

In addition to donating and contributing to the annual campaign, enrich the lives of children with disabilities through advocacy, volunteerism, and fundraising by becoming a member of Impact!, a group of like-minded community members that support the Meyer Center through fundraising, social events, and volunteer opportunities. Other ways to engage and help continue the vision of Dr. Meyer include planning a visit to tour the school and meet the children, volunteering at Meyer Center, hosting a fundraiser, and organizing a supply drive. Those interested in these opportunities should email Alyssa Bonner at abonner@meyercenter.org.

Meyer Center is located at 1132 Rutherford Road in Greenville, SC. To learn more about the Meyer Center’s mission, programs, and events visit www.meyercenter.org and follow @meyercenter.

###

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.

— The YoPro Know has added Samantha Zimmerschied to its team as an Associate Consultant.

Zimmerschied has a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. Before joining The YoPro Know, she was the Executive Director at the Advanced Institute for Development and Learning, and before that she was an Account Manager at Beach Re (now Acrisure Re). She’s also a graduate of Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Pacesetters class of 2023, the Inaugural Morning Brew Leadership Accelerator Cohort of 2022, and Together SC’s Carolina Leadership Seminar class of 2021.

“We’re so excited to have Samantha join us,” said Kamber Parker Bowden, founder of The YoPro Know. “Someone with her leadership skills and experience will be an asset to our team.”

Marsh Bell Construction has hired Meghan Garrett as Office Manager. She replaces Karen Ghizzoni, who is retiring after more than 15 years of service to the company.

Meghan brings 22 years of business experience as a senior sales and account specialist in the insurance industry. In her new role, she will be responsible for subcontractor contracts and insurance certificates; tracking and processing invoices for subcontractors and material providers; coordinate new project proposals; manage marketing activities, as well as day-to-day office communications. Meghan is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Clemson University.

“We’re excited for Meghan’s future contributions and to see how she can impact our company,” said Marsh Bell Chief Accounting Officer Sam Rogers. “Her passion for continuous learning and excellence is what made her a perfect fit for the position. This is a role that requires wearing a lot of hats, and Meghan’s ability to learn on the fly will help us excel.”

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Dirt flew today at a celebration to mark the groundbreaking for Gateway at the Green, a 72-unit, new-construction apartment community on Webb Road, near Haywood Mall.

Partners including Greenville Housing Fund, Gateway Development, and Creative Builders will bring the all-affordable development to this convenient location, adjacent to Mall Connector, Congaree, and Woodruff Road businesses and to Greenlink Transit connections. The Patewood medical campuses and the new City of Greenville, Greenville County, and State of South Carolina public services cluster on Halton Road are also nearby. Leasing at the complex is slated to begin in late summer 2025.

Gateway at the Green will consist of three energy-efficient residential buildings containing a mix of one-bedroom/one-bathroom, two-bedroom/two-bathroom, and three-bedroom/two bathroom units, around plentiful parking and attractive, naturalized landscaping. A community clubhouse will house laundry facilities, a computer lab, a fitness room, a community gathering space, and a leasing office.

“This is a really strong workforce location,” said Bryan Brown, President and CEO of the Greenville Housing Fund. “And it adds an excellent new, deeply affordable housing option for families and individual renters who earn between 20% and 60% of Greenville’s area median income.”

Brown highlighted the important role played by SC Housing in providing critical financing for Gateway at the Green through their highly competitive 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program.

“We are incredibly thankful for the tax-credit financing, and for all the work SC Housing does to increase affordable housing opportunities here in the fast-growing Upstate,” said Brown.

Todd Latiff, SC Housing Board Chairman, and Josh Mandell with Gateway Development, addressed those gathered to kick off the construction, after an invocation delivered by Will McCauley, President of Gateway at the Green’s general contractor, Greenville-based Creative Builders. Vice Mayor Pro Tem Dorothy Dowe, a longtime affordable housing advocate, spoke for the City of Greenville, which annexed the Webb Road site into the City of Greenville in 2021, and has invested heavily in creating and preserving affordable housing options.