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DP3 Architects

DP3 Architects is proud to share that it has once again been recognized as one of South Carolina’s “Best Places to Work”. This marks the fourth consecutive year the firm has earned this honor. SC Biz News and the Best Companies Group evaluated companies and organizations across the state, highlighting those that foster outstanding workplaces and employee-driven cultures. DP3 Architects was ranked #18 in the Small Business Category statewide during an awards ceremony on August 25, 2025.

To qualify, honorees were required to achieve more than an 80% positive response rate in an anonymous employee survey. The survey evaluated eight key areas: Leadership and Planning, Corporate Culture and Communications, Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationship with Supervisor, Training and Development, Pay and Benefits, and Overall Engagement.

“This recognition is one of our most meaningful because it comes directly from our team members,” said Brian Thomas, Principal and CEO at DP3 Architects. “Every member of our team contributes to the culture we’ve built together, and we’re proud to create an environment where people enjoy coming to work each day.”

DP3 Architects invests in its team members through mentorship, professional development, and team-building opportunities, while also offering benefits and perks that support work-life balance and overall well-being. DP3 Architects is honored to once again be included on the Best Places to Work list, a testament to its core values of People | Places | Purpose.

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Trehel

Greenville, S.C. – Trehel is proud to welcome Zach Wright to its team as a new senior project superintendent and Paul Smith as project superintendent.

In his new role at Trehel, Wright will lead onsite industrial, manufacturing, and commercial projects, emphasizing safety, quality and efficiency. Wright has extensive experience managing large-scale projects across the country.

Smith has more than 30 years of construction experience. As a former business owner and seasoned construction professional, he will manage daily on-site operations at Trehel, focusing on safety and upholding high-quality standards.

Keith Poole, President and COO of Trehel, states, “We’re thrilled to have Paul and Zach join us. Their proven expertise and dedication to excellence will help us better serve our clients.”

To learn more about Trehel, please visit https://trehel.com/.

About Trehel
Trehel guides its clients through the entire building process, saving them money, time and frustration. They explore multiple construction possibilities with the project team and help their clients select the best solutions. Trehel’s involvement extends beyond a pricing service; they actively explore building methods and options as a collaborative team approach that will add value and lead to a successful building experience. In addition, Trehel is committed to regional public service and community involvement, a tradition that spans more than four decades.

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THS Constructors, Inc.

GREENVILLE, SC | August 25, 2025 — THS Constructors, Inc., one of the Southeast’s leading design-build and construction management firms, has been awarded a major expansion project for Lift-Tek at its manufacturing campus in Westminster, South Carolina.

The project includes the addition of 110,000 square feet of new manufacturing space, featuring nearly 20 indoor cranes and an impressive clear height of 55 feet, supporting Lift-Tek’s continued growth in the custom lifting equipment and structural steel fabrication industry.

Construction is set to break ground in mid-September, with operations remaining fully active throughout the build—a testament to THS’s expertise in executing complex projects in live industrial environments.

“We are honored to be selected to support Lift-Tek’s growth and innovation,” said Dana Emberton, CEO of THS Constructors. “This expansion highlights the strong manufacturing momentum across the Upstate and underscores our commitment to delivering safe, efficient solutions in active production settings.”

The Lift-Tek project highlights THS Constructors’ strength in building complex industrial facilities and reflects its continued dedication to serving manufacturers with highly specialized infrastructure needs.

ABOUT THS CONSTRUCTORS, INC.

THS Constructors (www.thsconstructors.com) provides construction management, design-build, and general contracting services throughout the Southeastern United States. Specializing in industrial, manufacturing, and commercial facilities, THS is headquartered in Greenville, SC. The company continues to grow through a strategic focus on performance, client relationships, and industry expertise.

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Stokes & Company CPAs

Greenville, SC – Stokes & Company CPAs is excited to welcome Collin J. McKinnon as the newest Accounting & Tax Manager!

Collin McKinnon brings valuable experience preparing and reviewing income tax returns for S-Corps, Partnerships, and Individuals across various industries. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, golf, trying new restaurants with his wife, and playing cello with the Foothills Philharmonic.

About Stokes & Company, CPAs

For over 25 years, Stokes & Company, CPAs has been a trusted partner for businesses and individuals, delivering expert accounting, tax, and advisory services tailored to their unique needs.

Media Contact:

Brad Detandt
Director of Business Development
brad@stokescpas.com
864.242.1418

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Wagner Wealth Management honored for Empowering Women

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Wagner Wealth Management has earned a SC Biz News Empowering Women Award. This is the firm’s second consecutive win, having also earned this distinction in 2024.
Winners were selected by an internal panel of judges based on a variety of criteria that demonstrated a commitment to supporting and empowering women in South Carolina. Information was gathered from applications and letters of recommendation submitted on behalf of the organization.
The Empowering Women Awards are designed to showcase tangible and innovative efforts by companies, law firms, nonprofits, and other organizations to advance women in the workplace and community.
Founded in 2007, Wagner Wealth Management specializes in customizing financial strategies for high-net-worth individuals and companies. By working closely together, they help their clients meet their personal and professional goals.
“This award highlights everything we do to help create an atmosphere where women get opportunities to succeed,” said Dan Wagner, the company’s CEO and Founder. “We are proud to be known as a company that places a high value on empowering our employees.”

About Wagner Wealth Management:
Wagner Wealth Management specializes in helping individuals and companies reach their personal and professional goals. Wagner Wealth Management currently advises on more than $1.5 billion in client assets; their experience is diverse, exceptional, and ready to work. The firm has offices in Anderson, Greenville, and Seneca. Learn more at www.wagnerwealthmanagement.com.

Securities offered through Arkadios Capital. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Wealth Management Advisors, LLC. Arkadios Capital and Wealth Management Advisors, LLC are not affiliated through any ownership.

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Greenville Housing Fund joins NeighborWorks America Network

GREENVILLE, SC – Supporters of affordable housing in Greenville joined together at the Unity Park’s Welcome Center today for a reception to applaud Greenville Housing Fund’s official chartering as a new NeighborWorks America affiliate.
“This is a milestone achievement for GHF and is a huge deal for Greenville, as we are already starting to discover and benefit from the many resources that NeighborWorks brings to its partner communities,” said Bryan Brown, President and CEO of Greenville Housing Fund (GHF).
NeighborWorks America is a congressionally chartered national nonprofit that works to “deliver practical solutions that expand housing access, build wealth and boost local economies” through a network of over 250 local organizations, “driving change at the local level,” according to its website. Greenville Housing Fund is the only affiliate in the Upstate, and only the second one in South Carolina.
“The NeighborWorks affiliation strengthens our capacity in a whole variety of ways, enabling us to do more in and for Greenville,” Brown said. “There are new resources that can be tapped, and best practices and innovative successes that we can bring back from our new network partners to apply in our community.”
One example is already in the works: in October, staff from GHF and from a local community-based nonprofit will attend a three-day NeighborWorks Community Leadership Training Institute together, with the goal of jump-starting specific neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing ventures that the two groups are working to launch.

Tiffany Santagati, Vice President of Operations at Greenville Housing Fund, who led the application effort, described a rigorous, multi-year selection process.
“NeighborWorks only opens the door to new affiliates every few years. We submitted an initial application in 2023 that was followed by multiple site visits and rigorous assessments, plus new reporting requirements and commitments from GHF. We are so proud to join o

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Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey

By Alex Stalvey, leader of the Personal Injury Practice Group at Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey

If you live in the Upstate, you’ve probably seen it: the driver next to you drifting over the line while staring at their phone.

Distracted driving has become so common that many people forget how dangerous it is, until it’s too late.

I’m a personal injury attorney here in South Carolina. I meet with people every day whose lives have been changed forever because of an accident. Some walk away with injuries they’ll recover from. Others never walk again. And in far too many cases, a family has lost someone entirely.

South Carolina recently passed a new hands-free law (H.3276) addressing this issue, officially making holding a phone while driving illegal. But a lot of people are skeptical, and I understand why. On the surface, it sounds like another law that’s hard to enforce.

But here’s the message I share with all those skeptics.

First, this law gives victims and their families a clearer legal path to hold distracted drivers accountable. Before now, proving that a driver was using their phone was challenging. Now that handheld use is illegal, evidence like phone records, texts, and witness accounts will carry more weight in court.

Second, we’ve already seen this work in other states. Georgia passed a similar law in 2018. Since then, distracted driving convictions have quadrupled. But more importantly, deaths linked to distraction have fallen by more than 40 percent.

This law isn’t just about catching someone searching the internet at a red light. It’s about what happens after an accident when someone’s hurt, a life is changed, and the question becomes legal.

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JDPR

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WorkSmart Staffing selects JDPR as Agency-of-Record

JDPR to support the continued growth of dynamic Southeastern staffing and recruiting agency

GREENVILLE, S.C. – WorkSmart, a southeastern-based staffing and recruiting agency recognized for its proven success in placing and retaining top talent, has selected JDPR as its agency-of-record to support the expansion of its brand and services across the Southeast. JDPR will provide WorkSmart with strategic planning and communication, media relations and brand support to amplify its presence across four service areas.

WorkSmart is dedicated to connecting great talent with great opportunities, offering a full suite of staffing solutions, including temporary, temp-to-hire and contract placements, as well as professional and executive candidate searches for full-time and direct-hire positions. The agency serves a broad range of industries, with a strong focus on manufacturing, warehousing and logistics.

“At WorkSmart, our mission is about more than helping people find jobs,” said Vanessa Barnes, CEO of WorkSmart. “We’re passionate about the impact our work has on individuals, businesses and communities. JDPR understands that vision, and will help us amplify our message, telling the story of what we do and why it matters.”

Founded on the belief that smart staffing drives smart business outcomes, WorkSmart combines deep market expertise with a hands-on, personalized approach. The company operates locations throughout the Southeast, spanning South Carolina and Georgia.

“It is an honor to represent WorkSmart, a highly trusted agency with decades of industry expertise,” said Drew Dezen, agency director of JDPR. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to client success, and we are excited to accelerate the meaningful mission of WorkSmart to champion individuals and clients as the brand continues to grow.”

To learn more about WorkSmart, visit https://www.worksmartsta

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The famed Soapstone Baptist Fish Fry coming back for encore this September

PUMPKINTOWN, SC – The legendary Soapstone Baptist Church Fish Fry is coming back for an encore this September.
As a spry 83-year-old, Mable Owens Clarke said “it’s no big deal to plan a lunch for several hundred of her friends and supporters” one more time in order to support the historic church tucked away in the hills of Pickens County.
It will be held Saturday, September 13 from noon to 6 p.m. at Soapstone Baptist Church, 296 Liberia Road, Pickens, SC
This is rain or shine / eat on the grounds or in the dining hall or take out. It is $30 per person all-inclusive with 100% of proceeds to benefit Soapstone Baptist Church. As an added bonus, guests will be able to tour the restored and refurbished Century-old one-room school before or after they eat.
“If you’ve never had the opportunity to enjoy one of Mable’s meals, you don’t want to miss it,” said Carlton Owen, President of the Soapstone Preservation Endowment. “For 22 years Mable hosted such lunches once each month, 10 months of each year, to support the church founded by her emancipated great grandparents.”
Clarke is the sixth-generation steward and matriarch of Soapstone Baptist Church (soapstonechurch.com). In 1999, her mother on her death bed made Mable promise to never let the historically Black church in the Liberia community of Pickens County close. As part of her mission, Clarke began doing monthly fish fries for the community.
The effort to preserve Soapstone Church has generated interest from across South Carolina and beyond over recent years. Soapstone Baptist Church was founded in the mid-1860s when freed slaves from surrounding South Carolina counties sought a path from being property to owning property. They felt God led them to this hilltop in Pickens County and used them and this land to change generations. It is currently the oldest active Black church in Upstate South Carolina.
An Endowment was created in 2022 to help manage and protect this important property and oversee the preservation o

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TGHA to provide vouchers for Voucher Action Sprint program aimed at helping people experiencing homelessness

GREENVILLE, SC — The Greenville Housing Authority will be providing approximately 50 vouchers to current homeless persons in Greenville to help them find new housing under a new program known as Voucher Action Sprint.

Working with Greenville Together, the Greenville Housing Fund and various community partners serving the homeless, Voucher Action Sprint is a significant step to address homelessness in the greater Greenville community. Together, the organizations will provide approximately 50 vouchers to people currently experiencing homelessness in Greenville, helping them move from the streets into stable housing.

Applicants will be referred directly from shelters and qualified service providers, said Terril Bates, Chief Executive Officer of TGHA. The vouchers will prioritize individuals who are currently unhoused and seeking affordable rent.

“This is more than just providing vouchers, it’s about opening the door to stability, safety, and hope,” Bates said. “This is a great opportunity to work collectively with our community to improve the situation of homelessness in Greenville.”

To encourage participation, TGHA’s landlord incentive program offers one month of contract rent for units that have never been listed with the program, and one month of contract rent for landlords who have never participated before. Interested landlords can email landlord@TGHA.net with “homeless” in the subject line.

This initiative builds on the recent distribution of seven Mainstream vouchers earlier this year as part of Greenville Together’s Housing Surge, which aims to rehouse 80 households by the end of 2025. Launched in August 2024, Greenville Together grew out of a community task force that recognized the need for bold, innovative approaches to homelessness.