The Post and Courier Greenville

The partial collapse of a bridge in Pickens County earlier this year was a jarring reminder: sometimes the danger isn’t other drivers, it’s the road itself.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it raised an unsettling question: how often do hidden hazards in our infrastructure contribute to accidents without victims realizing it?

We tend to see failures like this as once-in-a-generation events. But the truth is, everyday hazards such as uneven shoulders, standing water, or a deep pothole can set off a chain reaction that leads to life-changing accidents.

I’ve seen it firsthand:
• A driver swerves to avoid a pothole and clips another vehicle.
• A worn shoulder drops off unexpectedly, sending a car off course.
• Poor drainage leaves water pooled on a highway, causing hydroplaning.

These incidents don’t make headlines like a collapsed bridge, but for the people involved, the consequences can be devastating.

If you’ve been in an accident, it’s worth investigating if road conditions played a role. It’s not always obvious, so these are the steps we advise our clients to take:
Document the scene. Photograph not just the vehicles but the road surface, shoulders, guardrails, and construction signs.
Look closely for hazards. Even trivial defects such as potholes, faded lane markings, or standing water may matter later.
Talk to witnesses. They may have noticed something you didn’t.
Review the accident report. Ensure hazards are noted; if they’re not, add your observations.
Don’t assume it was just bad luck. These conditions will matter in the courtroom or at the negotiating table.

Infrastructure failures don’t always look dramatic. Sometimes they are hidden in plain sight. That is why it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney who can thoroughly investigate all aspects, including whether unsafe infrastructure played a minor or significant role.

By Alex Stalvey, leader of the Personal Injury practice group at Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey

GREENVILLE, SC – The Rick Erwin Dining Group (REDG) announces a $25,000 pledge to the Meals on Wheels of Greenville Capital Campaign, supporting the company’s core value of “Commitment to
Community” through their Crab Cakes for a Cause initiative.
The Crab Cakes for a Cause initiative was created by the dining group in 2023 as a way to draw attention to non-profits in need of community support and to create a program that provides more meaningful
financial and volunteer support by the company and its employees. The popular Company Crab Cake, found on all six restaurant’s menus, is given special attention to help create the awareness of these
organizations.
The donation was presented to Catriona Carlisle, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels, and is designated toward their $13 million capital campaign funding the construction of a new facility in Greenville. Construction began in January 2025 and is expected to be completed by early 2026.
Michael Ivey, Owner and Chief Financial Officer at REDG shared, “We adopted this initiative as a Core Value of our company and call it our Commitment to Community; we see our financial and volunteer
support as our corporate responsibility to the communities we serve”. Ivey, who has been CFO for REDG since 2009, added, “With this pledge to the Meals on Wheels Capital Campaign, our Crab Cakes for a
Cause initiative has enabled us to cross the threshold of $100,000 in donations to our partner non-profits since the initiative was created in 2023. We are so grateful for the ongoing support from our guests.”
To learn more about Crab Cakes for a Cause, visit rickerwins.com/crabcakes.
Rick Erwin Dining Group, with six locations across the Upstate of South Carolina, is committed to creating the most memorable dining experience in the upstate through genuine hospitality and sincere
appreciation for our guests. This year marks the company’s 20th anniversary.

Lander University is once again shattering enrollment records, launching the 2025-26 academic year with the most students in the University’s 153-year history. This marks the 10th consecutive year of growth for the institution, and the seventh year in a row with record enrollment.

Following the first week of classes, Lander’s total enrollment is 4,589, up 5.9% over last year at the same point in cycle and surpassing the University’s goal of 4,500 students. Fueling this tremendous growth is another record-setting achievement: Lander’s largest-ever class of first-time freshmen. With 1,031 members, the Class of 2029 represents a growth of approximately 21.7% over last year’s freshman class.

Lander University President Richard Cosentino called the historical growth a “remarkable milestone” for the institution.

“The strategic, steady growth we have experienced over the past decade is a testament to Lander University’s reputation for delivering an exceptional education and student experience,” he said. “More students than ever before are choosing Lander for our outstanding faculty and innovative programs. Our hands-on learning opportunities and internship programs with valued community partners are helping to prepare our students for success as they step into their careers or continue on to graduate school.”

Four student teams from Greenville Technical College’s Management program recently ranked in the Global Top 100 of the GLO-BUS Business Strategy Simulation, an internationally recognized, highly competitive learning experience used by two-year and four-year institutions worldwide.

Among the standout teams, GTC’s Team Angle NRJ earned the #1 global ranking for both Earnings Per Share (EPS) and Stock Price—a remarkable accomplishment, given that the simulation included more than 700 teams from colleges and universities around the world this semester. Multiple Greenville Tech teams placed in the Top 10 globally across several performance categories, demonstrating the exceptional capabilities of GTC students in navigating complex strategic decisions in a dynamic, real-world business environment.

“This level of achievement is exceptional for two-year colleges, which make up less than 10 percent of GLO-BUS participants, and our students’ performance speaks volumes about their understanding of business strategy,” said Vincent Weaver, department head and instructor for Greenville Tech’s Management programs.

As a result of their impressive success, GTC students participated in an elite 10-day global competition in August, joining other industry champions from colleges and universities around the world. This “best of the best” competition brought together top performers from GLO-BUS to compete at the highest level, and Greenville Tech’s team tied for fourth place in the world.

GLO-BUS (Global Business Simulation Strategy Game) places students in the role of executive leadership for a fictional company. Teams make weekly decisions on production, marketing, finance and corporate strategy, competing against peers worldwide in a simulation that mirrors the complexities of global business operations.

EASLEY, S.C. (August 27, 2025) – Truliant Federal Credit Union and Easley High School are proud to announce the launch of a Student-Athlete Assistance Program for the school’s Green Wave sports teams.

Truliant is providing financial support for clothing and athletic items for Easley High School student-athletes facing challenges. The school had about 1,900 students in the 2024-25 school year. The funds will help cover the cost of uniforms, shoes, travel suits, practice shirts and shorts, and other expenses.

“The cost of youth sports can make it very costly for kids to participate,” said Stella Freeman, who manages the Truliant branch in Easley. “We’re always looking for ways to make an impact in our communities. This is a great way to help local students with financial challenges who want to participate in athletics.”

The Green Wave Athletic Booster Club (GWABC) will administer the funds. Easley High School has about 700 student-athletes per year participating in the athletic program. The grant will be active on August 1 as students return to school. An application form will be placed on the Easley Athletic website at www.easleyathletics.com

“Easley High School Athletics is excited to partner with Truliant in this unique opportunity,” said Gill Payne, Easley High School Director of Athletics. “This will make a substantial difference in the lives of student-athletes at Easley High School.”

All student-athletes will be eligible for the assistance program. Truliant aims to positively impact families by helping students with options to cover athletic costs. Interested student-athletes are encouraged to complete an application form. According to the Aspen Institute, the average U.S. sports family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024.

The partial collapse of a bridge in Pickens County earlier this year was a jarring reminder: sometimes the danger isn’t other drivers, it’s the road itself.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it raised an unsettling question: how often do hidden hazards in our infrastructure contribute to accidents without victims realizing it?

We tend to see failures like this as once-in-a-generation events. But the truth is, everyday hazards such as uneven shoulders, standing water, or a deep pothole can set off a chain reaction that leads to life-changing accidents.

I’ve seen it firsthand:
• A driver swerves to avoid a pothole and clips another vehicle.
• A worn shoulder drops off unexpectedly, sending a car off course.
• Poor drainage leaves water pooled on a highway, causing hydroplaning.

These incidents don’t make headlines like a collapsed bridge, but for the people involved, the consequences can be devastating.

If you’ve been in an accident, it’s worth investigating if road conditions played a role. It’s not always obvious, so these are the steps we advise our clients to take:
Document the scene. Photograph not just the vehicles but the road surface, shoulders, guardrails, and construction signs.
Look closely for hazards. Even trivial defects such as potholes, faded lane markings, or standing water may matter later.
Talk to witnesses. They may have noticed something you didn’t.
Review the accident report. Ensure hazards are noted; if they’re not, add your observations.
Don’t assume it was just bad luck. These conditions will matter in the courtroom or at the negotiating table.

Infrastructure failures don’t always look dramatic. Sometimes they are hidden in plain sight. That is why it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney who can thoroughly investigate all aspects, including whether unsafe infrastructure played a minor or significant role.

By Alex Stalvey, leader of the Personal Injury practice group at Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey

Greenville, S.C. — Infinity Marketing (“Infinity”), a marketing agency focused on people, partnership, and performance, is excited to welcome Andrew Stetsyna as Director, Marketing Analytics.

Andrew brings more than a decade of experience using data-driven marketing strategies to deliver results across a variety of industries. Most recently, he served as Director of Marketing Analytics at Ferguson Enterprises, where he led a team of analysts and data scientists in discovering insights that improved customer engagement and marketing performance. His expertise spans attribution modeling, predictive analytics, A/B testing, and performance forecasting, and includes deep knowledge of tools like Tableau, Power BI, SQL, and Python.

In his new role, Andrew will lead the continued evolution of Infinity’s robust Analytics offering, bringing strategic vision and innovation to ensure Infinity’s team stays ahead of the marketing landscape’s ever-changing tools, data trends, and client needs. His leadership will focus on enhancing capabilities, advancing Infinity’s technology stack, and aligning Analytics more deeply with client success, all of which will further differentiate Infinity Marketing in a competitive marketplace.

“Andrew’s deep analytics experience makes him a tremendous addition to our team,” said Bo Rogers, CEO and president. “We’re excited to welcome him and look forward to the impact he’ll make in sharpening our analytics capabilities that will result in driving better outcomes for our clients.”

About Infinity Marketing
Infinity Marketing is a full-service marketing agency based in Greenville, S.C. Guided by the belief that stronger collaboration leads to greater results, the team has earned a reputation for partnership- and performance-driven solutions. With 80+ creators, strategists, and problem solvers, Infinity drives growth and delivers meaningful results for partners nationwide.