The Post and Courier Greenville

GREENVILLE, SC (February 7, 2023) – Endeavor, the coworking and office space community in downtown Greenville’s ONE tower, announces that Rich Cutter, Chick-fil-A’s In-House Creative Director, will speak at its Collaborators & Cocktails speaker series on February 28th from 5:00 – 7:15 p.m. Sharing his professional journey, creative point of view, and fresh, trailblazing work, Cutter will offer an inside look at how the iconic brand cultivates breakthrough ideas that impact sales and people’s lives.

Cutter has more than 25 years of experience in brand development, creative strategy, and advertising. A self-proclaimed “creative dude,” Cutter thrives on creating work that not only helps his client’s business, but also “breaks though the clutter of everything else in the world to become something truly special.”

Beginning his career as a graphic designer at his alma mater, Bob Jones University, Cutter joined Erwin-Penland (now EP+Co) in Greenville in 1998 and over 20 years helped build the agency’s digital and content teams, ultimately serving as SVP/Group Creative Director/Social. He led teams for brands including Denny’s, Verizon, The UPS Store, and 20th Century FOX. In 2019, he was recruited to join the iconic Chick-fil-A brand to help lead their multi-faceted in-house creative agency.

“We’re thrilled to welcome such a creative groundbreaker back to Greenville and to Endeavor,” says Joe Erwin, president of Endeavor. “Whether you are a creative, an entrepreneur, or simply ready to be engaged and inspired by smart, impactful, innovative work, this is an excellent opportunity to learn from one of the finest in the industry.”

Co-hosting this event are:
• AFL, an international manufacturer providing end-to-end fiber optics and telecommunications solutions to the energy, service provider, enterprise, hyperscale, and industrial markets as well as several emerging markets, with products in use in over 130 countries.
• Plus Inc., a comprehensive solutions company, locally owned and operated since 1958, that has become a one-stop shop for the purchase and service of leading brand-name printers, printers-copiers, all-in-ones, computers, IT, network services and network products.

Important event details:
• Networking 5:00 – 5:45 p.m., followed by presentation and Q&A beginning at 5:45. The event will conclude with networking until 7:15 p.m.
• Seating is limited. To RSVP, request an invitation at Endeavor@EndeavorGreenville.com (no walk-ins).
• Event is free to Endeavor members. Non-member tickets are $30, cocktails included.

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About Endeavor
Endeavor is a membership-based coworking community for creative and entrepreneurial professionals, as well as corporate teams and business travelers. Endeavor’s premium location in the ONE Development in Greenville, SC provides members with state-of-the-art work and meeting space, and uniquely, surrounds them with a diverse array of peers who offer a broad range of services and experience. Training opportunities, networking events and business consulting are available for the professionals who call Endeavor home every day, as well as business team members across the region. Endeavor has been recognized as the winner of the Coworker Member’s Choice Award for Greenville, SC. For more information, visit endeavorgreenville.com.

The Cliffs is excited to announce its newest Director of Golf, David (“Dave”) Pilkington, a highly qualified professional who will lead operations at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs (“Keowee Springs”). Dave brings with him an abundance of experience as a golf professional having worked in various positions in the industry for over 18 years, most recently serving as Head Golf Professional at Pensacola Country Club, the oldest private Country Club in the state of Florida. A member of PGA of America since 2012, he was recognized by his peers of the Alabama – Northwest Florida Section (“ALNWFL”) of the PGA as the Golf Professional of the Year for 2021 and received the PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year Award for ALNWFL in 2020 for proven productivity in retail by increasing shop sales by 61% in four years.

“Dave’s depth of experience within the golf world, coupled with his notable work ethic and established organizational and leadership skills, will be a meaningful addition to an already outstanding club. Along with two game changing amenities opening this year at Keowee Springs, Dave’s love of the game and proactive approach to operations will further enhance the golf experience of Members and their guests,” said Rob Duckett, President of Operations for South Street Partners.

Dave’s love for golf began 20 years ago in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington – where he met his wife, Sharon – and earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. He has since pursued a career in the golf business, achieving Class A certifications through the PGA’s Professional Golf Management Program. The highlight of Dave’s playing career was qualifying for the 2021 PGA National Professionals Championship and winning the 2019 Gulf Coast Chapter Championship.

Outside of golf, Dave loves to spend time with Sharon and their boys, Graham, and Liam. As a very active outdoor family, they stay involved in coaching, playing sports, and trying to stay injury free competing with each other at CrossFit.

CHARLOTTE, NC (January 31, 2023) — Autobell Car Wash, headquartered here, recently brought its “More Clean, Less Wait” brand of vehicle cleaning and customer service to the Greenville, SC, market with the acquisition and transformation of three existing wash locations in Greenville, Greer, and Simpsonville. The family-owned company now operates 12 locations in South Carolina and a total of 85 washes in four South Atlantic states.

Autobell launched the first of the new locations in Simpsonville at 620 NE Main Street near the intersection of I-185 and I-385. Openings followed at 1536 Woodruff Road in Greenville, just west of Verdin/Feaster Road, and 401 S. Buncombe Road in Greer, south of US 29/W. Wade Hampton Boulevard. The Autobell teams are led by Store Managers Hayden Young, Tyler Samotis, and Harrison Borders, respectively, and District Manager Cory Goldsmith.

Operating hours for the new washes are currently 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday.

The three Greenville-area Autobell locations will employ a total of 150 team members, with job opportunities available. Autobell employment benefits include flexible hours, no late-night work, the opportunity for cash tips, an academic scholarship program, extensive training, and a generous benefits package for employees averaging at least 30 hours per week.

Autobell is the country’s largest family-owned full-service car wash, employing over 3,000 team members in North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. Founded in 1969 in Charlotte by the late Charles Howard Sr., Autobell is privately held and operated by subsequent generations of the Howard family.

Its conveyorized car wash services range from full-service cleaning with interior and exterior finishing options completed by Autobell team members within minutes, to exterior-only washes that fit customers’ daily needs and schedules. All Autobell washes treat 100% of wash water used and recycle up to 100% using technologically advanced equipment.

The company also offers several Unlimited monthly membership wash plans as well as the Autobell App for contactless payment, Unlimited plan management, and more.

“As we grow and choose our new locations, Autobell has customers’ time and satisfaction top of mind,” stated Autobell President and COO Carl Howard. “For people who live, work, and shop throughout the Greenville area, we’re offering convenience and excellence in vehicle maintenance and customer service, and we look forward to being an engaged member of the community.”

Autobell supports many local organizations in its markets via area waterway cleanups, blood drives, fundraisers for groups such as the American Red Cross and USO, free car washes for veterans and active-duty service members on Veterans Day, and the opportunity for local non-profit groups to raise money through the Autobell Fundraising Program.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Jan. 27, 2023) – Truliant Federal Credit Union announced plans for four new branch locations in Upstate South Carolina in the next three years, with a goal of more than ten locations when its rapid regional expansion is complete.

The four new locations are in addition to two previously announced Upstate branches set to open in 2023. The expansion will significantly increase Truliant’s presence in the region, where it currently has two branches and an operations office. The new branches will serve members along the I-85 corridor in the Upstate market.

“The Upstate’s remarkable economic development and continued population boom make it ideal for this expansion. These new locations will provide us with an even stronger foothold in the state,” said Todd Hall, Truliant’s President and CEO. “By swiftly matching the region’s fast-paced growth, we intend to reach even more potential members and give them the financial tools they need to build a brighter financial future.”

Truliant will share additional timelines and plans in the upcoming months. Its new Cherrydale Point branch and a regional operations office – both in Greenville – opened last year. A new location will open in Easley this spring, and its Greer location will open in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Truliant intends to create more than 80 new jobs over the next several years as a result of their expansion efforts, as it builds out support for additional business lines including mortgage, insurance, financial advisors, indirect lending and digital banking services, among other areas.

Currently, the credit union’s Upstate branch support, commercial lending, community engagement, and Truliant at Work employer benefits programs operate out of the downtown Greenville regional operations office. Truliant purchased the office in 2021. It features a state-of-the-art training center, and is located in the city’s historic district.

Truliant has had a physical presence in the Upstate for almost three decades, including a new branch on Pelham Road in Greenville that replaced a longtime Airport Road location. The Upstate represents the fourth regional concentration of Truliant branches along with the Charlotte-Metro area, North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad, and southwestern Virginia.

Truliant strives to be an integral part of the communities it serves through valuable financial services like free checking, low rates, and convenience – and through community involvement. Truliant’s Foundation made a $25,000 donation to the Greenville Tech Foundation’s Student Emergency Needs Fund to support students during financial hardship so they can continue to pursue their academic and career goals. In 2022, the fund helped 185 students with nearly $90,000 in support.

“Truliant was born over 70 years ago serving blue collar workers in the Triad as Western Electric, and served JPS Textile Group in Greenville when we opened our first branch here in 1994,” said Hall. “Our expansion in the Upstate will allow us to better meet the needs of the entire community by providing both financial education and services to the residents and businesses that need it most. And we’re excited about the opportunities that we will be able to bring to these communities in the future.”

About Truliant Federal Credit Union
Truliant is a mission-driven, not-for-profit financial institution that improves lives by providing great service and straightforward financial solutions. Truliant was chartered in 1952 and now serves 300,000+ members. Truliant has more than 30 Member Financial Centers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

PHOTO: Truliant Foundation donates $25,000 to Greenville Tech Foundation Student Emergency Needs Fund
The Truliant Foundation made a $25,000 donation to the Greenville Tech Foundation Student Emergency Needs Fund to support students during financial hardship so they can continue to pursue their academic and career goals. In 2022, the fund helped 378 students with $174,000 in support. Dr. Keith Miller, President of Greenville Technical College, (left), accepts the donation at Truliant’s Upstate Regional Office reception. He is joined by Atticus Simpson, left, executive director of the Truliant Foundation.

Dr. William “Bill” Schmidt, founder and Emeritus board member of the Center for Developmental Services (CDS), along with his wife, Jean, are challenging the community to support CDS. All gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000.

In the past 23 years, thousands of families in the Upstate have benefitted from the services CDS and its partners provide for children with developmental delays and disabilities. Dr. Schmidt’s vision almost 30 years ago was to create an organization that addresses the various needs of children with developmental challenges in one location. His vision is now impacting multiple generations.

“We are grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Schmidt for this incredible gift,” said Executive Director Dana McConnell. “This match will challenge our community to ‘Show Your Love for CDS.’”

CDS invites the community to join the Schmidts with a gift or pledge during the month of February to support children in our community. For more information about CDS or to participate in this challenge, visit www.cdservices.org. Gifts may also be mailed to CDS, 29 N. Academy Street, Greenville, SC 29601.

Dr. William “Bill” Schmidt, founder and Emeritus board member of the Center for Developmental Services (CDS), along with his wife, Jean, are challenging the community to support CDS. All gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000.

In the past 23 years, thousands of families in the Upstate have benefitted from the services CDS and its partners provide for children with developmental delays and disabilities. Dr. Schmidt’s vision almost 30 years ago was to create an organization that addresses the various needs of children with developmental challenges in one location. His vision is now impacting multiple generations.

“We are grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Schmidt for this incredible gift,” said Executive Director Dana McConnell. “This match will challenge our community to ‘Show Your Love for CDS.’”

CDS invites the community to join the Schmidts with a gift or pledge during the month of February to support children in our community. For more information about CDS or to participate in this challenge, visit www.cdservices.org. Gifts may also be mailed to CDS, 29 N. Academy Street, Greenville, SC 29601.

The Center for Developmental Services announces the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors: Gerardo Cisneros, Jason Misrahi, Johanna Perez, Dominic Picciuto, and Anthony “Tony” Toklo.

These volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and bring a variety of perspectives and areas of expertise to the organization. They join nine other board members in their work to support CDS’ mission of serving children with developmental delays and disabilities.

“We are thrilled to have these community leaders join our board,” said Executive Director Dana McConnell. “CDS was grateful for so much interest this year. Our board members play a crucial role in the strategic direction of our organization.”

About the new 2023 Board Members

Gerardo Cisneros — Gerardo is the Vice President of Finance at Current Lighting (formerly Hubbell Lighting). Prior to his current role, he worked at Eaton Corporation and Cooper Industries. Gerardo brings over twenty years of finance experience from both the United States and Mexico. He looks forward to using his skillsets not only on the CDS board, but also on their finance committee.

Jason Misrahi — Jason moved to Greenville about two years ago from New York, where he was the President of Operations at J. Misrahi Realty Corporation in Manhattan. After moving to South Carolina, he started a rock & roll t-shirt business called Stitch Street. Jason is proud to represent the disability community and says that families are fortunate to have an organization like CDS in the Upstate.

Johanna Perez — Johanna is the State Director of Member and Community Engagement at Molina Healthcare. She also has the perspective of a CDS parent from when her daughter attended the Wonder Center. From 2010 to 2015, Johanna worked for CDS as the Bilingual Services and Outreach Coordinator.

Dominic Picciuto — Dominic started the Greenville location of Total Quality Logistics. He has worked for TQL for more than thirteen years as a leader in the logistics and supply chain industry. Since moving to the Upstate, Dominic and his team have impacted some of CDS’ most critical clients by raising funds and volunteering for their programs.

Anthony “Tony” Toklo — Tony is the Chief Marketing Officer for Davis-Standard. Prior to his current role, Tony worked at ITW Hartness, General Electric, International Paper, and Procter & Gamble both within the United States and abroad. His international and corporate experience with marketing and strategic planning will bring a global perspective to CDS.

CDS is honored to welcome these five outstanding community leaders to the Board of Directors as they commit their invaluable time and talent to supporting children with developmental needs and their families.

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, psychology, audiology, legal help, day care needs for the medically fragile, early intervention, case management, and a family support network. The partnership is comprised of Clarity; a Medical-Legal Partnership; 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.

Greenville, SC (January 16, 2023) – Start planning for summer at the lake at the 53rd Annual Upstate SC Boat Show at the Greenville Convention Center from Thursday, January 26 through Sunday, January 29, 2023. This event is one of the largest of its kind in the state and features a vast array of boats and boat dealers. Come experience all that the boating lifestyle has to offer, complete with the latest models of fishing, pontoon, speed, ski, cruisers, and personal watercrafts, as well as the latest products including boat docks, accessories and finance and insurance vendors.

“The Upstate Boat Show is an annual tradition for boaters and boat dealers alike. It’s a great ‘get ready’ season starter and is the ideal place for prospective boat buyers to find everything they need,” said John Wilusz, general manager of the Greenville Convention Center. “We look forward to getting Upstate South Carolina Boat Show attendees excited for the 2023 event and their own boating season.”

The 2023 Upstate SC Boat Show schedule is:
• Thursday, Jan. 26: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 27: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 28: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 29: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $6 for students (ages 7-18) and seniors (ages 60+). Children 6 and under are admitted free, making the show affordable for families to enjoy. Parking is $5.

For more information on the boat show, visit www.UpstateSCBoatShow.com.

The Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $10,000.00 grant from the South Carolina Humanities.

Selected as one of 16 cultural organizations in South Carolina to receive a grant, the Museum will apply its grant monies toward evaluating and updating its semi-permanent exhibit, Upstate South Carolina’s Civil Rights Movement. Through a process of working with scholars, community members, and memory initiatives, a review of the content and interpretive plan will begin while an expansion of programs and educational offerings associated with this topic will be developed.

“The Museum is committed to its mission of connecting people, history, and culture through its semi-permanent exhibits, programs, changing exhibition schedule, educational resources, and extensive archival collection,” said Museum CEO Dana L. Thorpe. “We are honored to be a South Carolina Humanities grant recipient and confident that our efforts to further support learning, dialogue, and engagement with citizens in Greenville and the Upstate will continue to advance diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion.”

The Museum, as a community anchor and trusted agent for preserving the history of Upstate South Carolina, is dedicated to ensuring that the significance of that history and lessons learned not only impact positively the present and the future, but also do so with accuracy and integrity. Its mission of connecting people, history, and culture in the Upstate supports a broader principle by which the Museum helps empower the public to understand the value of their own stories and to consider the world from different perspectives.

Enriching the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians is the mission of South Carolina Humanities. This not-for-profit organization receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state.

The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.