The Post and Courier Greenville

Cothran Properties, a Greenville-based commercial, industrial, and residential developer, named Ellis Forest III as Director of Development and General Counsel to handle legal matters associated with land development, land acquisitions, and leasing for Cothran’s diverse product portfolio. Prior to joining Cothran Properties, Forest was a builder services attorney for Galbreath Costner, LLC in Greenville where he specialized in land and lot transactions for national, regional, and local home builders.

In Forest’s Director of Development capacity, he will help identify and acquire property to build Class-A industrial and spec buildings for single and multi-tenant occupants and secure land for the company’s robust residential division, which designs, builds, and develops new residential communities in the Upstate of South Carolina.

According to Forest, “I have had the privilege of watching Mark Cothran grow and expand his real estate portfolio for many years, and I have always admired his business model and vision for the future. The volume and scale Mark has developed in commercial and residential projects in and around Greenville since 1986 is incredible, and it’s exciting to work with Mark and the Cothran team to identify new opportunities to shape future developments in the Upstate.”

“It’s the right time to bring in a skilled real estate lawyer in-house to help our team achieve our aggressive vision to bring to market move-in ready commercial and residential developments,” said Mark Cothran, founder and chief executive officer of Cothran Properties and Cothran Homes. “Ellis’ depth of knowledge in real estate law, land and property transactions, and his entrenched understanding of development and due diligence will be instrumental in helping us achieve our long-range business goals.”

Forest earned his juris doctor at the University of South Carolina School of Law and has an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Leadership transformation takes a high-tech turn with Becoming a Cohesive Leader: The POWERup Guide to Grow, Develop, and Advance Your Career, an innovative new book by Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy, launching February 20, 2025. This guide doesn’t just outline leadership principles—it brings them to life with the help of C.A.R.L., an AI-powered book bot designed to engage, challenge, and support readers on their leadership journey.

C.A.R.L. (Cohesive Artificial Response Leader) is more than just an assistant; it’s a dynamic, interactive tool that helps readers apply key concepts in real time. It is a personal guide to mastering cohesive leadership, ready to answer questions and provide insights through voice and text. Designed to support growth, development and career advancement, C.A.R.L. is a key upgrade in the leadership journey, assisting individuals who feel overlooked for promotions, lack access to professional development, or want to take charge of their growth but don’t know where to start.

C.A.R.L. was developed by Darrel Q. Bruce, an inventor and AI consultant, who worked closely with Hall and Toy to create an interactive experience that personalizes leadership development. By integrating AI-driven insights with the book’s five pillars of leadership, C.A.R.L. ensures that every reader gets a customized approach to their growth:

✔ Prepare your mindset
✔ Own your values
✔ Wield your words
✔ Evolve yourself
✔ Refresh your body, mind and spirit

To celebrate the book launch, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy are hosting a free virtual book event on February 20, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. EST. Attendees will get an exclusive first look at C.A.R.L. in action, along with expert insights from the authors and an early chance to purchase the book. Reserve your spot now at CohesiveLeaderBook.com.

Bestselling author and speaker Chris Singleton calls the book “a must-read for anyone ready to take their professional journey to the next level.” But what tr

Most units sold Greenville: Grace Loveless and Michael McGreevey

Most units sold Clemson/Lakes Office: Diane Bostrom and Amy Hammond

Top volume Greenville: Grace Loveless and Morgan Coleman

Top volume Clemson: Lisa Vogel and David Vandeputte

Top Associate Company Wide: Lisa Vogel and Grace Loveless

Double Black Diamond (Experts Only) Award: David Vandeputte, Lisa Vogel, Christy Henderson Ross and Grace Loveless

Development Award: Drew Torres

Longevity Award: Caroline Allison and Matt Crider

Brand Expertise Award: Matt Nocks

Reid F Hipp Award (Most Valuable Associate Award ): Michael McGreevey

Rookies of Year Award: Michael Schultz and Beau Sylvester, Legacy Lake Living team

Skyrocket Awards: Agents who increased their business by at least 50% year-over-year: David Vandeputte, Morgan Coleman, Matt Crider, Jessica Kilcoyne, Pat McNamara, Amy Hammond, Jacob Glodde, Jansen Young, Sijia Hughes, Dixie Dulin and Brandy Bishop

Call Your Shot Award: Michael Schultz and Beau Sylvester, Legacy Lake Living team; and
Christy Henderson Ross

Land Award: Pat McNamara

Outgoing Referral Award: Grace Loveless

Incoming Referrals Closed Award: Jeff Inman

Ninja Class of 2024: Beau Sylvester, Sijia Hughes (1st installation) Jessica Kilcoyne, Samantha Snyder (2nd installation)

President’s Circle (Associates who did more than $5 million): Pat McNamara, Amy Hammond, Drew Torres, Jacob Glodde, Jeff Inman, Caroline Allison, Christy Henderson Ross

Chairman’s Circle (Associates who did more than $10 million): Lisa Vogel, David Vandeputte, Grace Loveless, Morgan Coleman, Matt Crider, Michael McGreevey, Diane Bostrom, Jessica Kilcoyne, Patrick Furman and Matt Nocks

Top Team, Greenville Office: The Furman Group

Top Team, Clemson Office: Legacy Lake Living

Class of 2024: Beau Sylvester, Michael Schultz, Adam Pitts, Charles D’Alessandro, Jeff Merritt, Kelly Kimble and Shelby Lamon

“We had a historic year in 2024, and that is due to the hard work of our Associates,”

The Urban League of the Upstate recently celebrated the near completion of its $3.5 million campaign for the McClaren Institute of Health & Quality of Life with a brunch, remarks, and gathering at Avenue in downtown Greenville.

The McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life is a center for wellness programs, education, and outreach to Black and underserved communities in the 10-county region of the Upstate. Powered by the Urban League of the Upstate (ULUS), this facility and programmatic hub provide more avenues for positive change and health equity throughout the community.

Recent contributions from the Hearst Foundation, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, the Jolley Foundation, the Symmes Foundation, and several corporations and individual donors helped the Urban League meet its construction fundraising goals and complete the facility’s build-out and renovations.

“These remarkable gifts reflect the power of collaboration in creating a healthier, more equitable future for all. The McClaren Institute will provide essential services and inspire the community to come together and invest in long-term solutions for health and wellness,” said ULUS President and CEO Dr. Gail Wilson Awan.

The Cultural and Historical Literacy Center, the last portion of the project, needs less than $300,000 to be outfitted entirely with interactive exhibits and displays. The Center’s mission is to offer a space to educate, inspire, and honor the contributions of Black citizens who have shaped the Upstate’s growth and development.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | Greenville, South Carolina – Industrial Project Innovation (IPI) is pleased to announce the promotion of Brian Stark to Vice President and Business Unit Director of Aerospace and Defense. In this role, Brian will lead the business unit’s strategic direction, operational performance, and client partnerships, ensuring IPI continues delivering exceptional service and innovation to the aerospace and defense sector.

Brian has been an integral part of IPI for many years, working closely with leadership to drive growth, operational excellence, and client satisfaction. With over 35 years of planning and construction experience, he has successfully led major construction, project, and program management efforts for global organizations including Procter & Gamble, Tropicana, Nestlé, Pillsbury, BMW (USA & China), Rolls-Royce, Mazda/Toyota, Qoros, and multiple aerospace clients.

Previously, Brian served as Project & Construction Manager Sector Lead and Program Executive, playing a pivotal role in managing enterprise-wide programs for one of IPI’s largest aerospace clients. His expertise in client relations, financial and contractual oversight, staffing, and operational leadership has been instrumental in delivering successful building programs for multiple clients.

“Brian’s leadership, industry expertise, and long-standing commitment to IPI make him the ideal choice to lead our Aerospace and Defense business unit,” said Russ Braasch, Owner/People and Culture of IPI. “His ability to drive growth, foster strong client relations, and lead high-performing teams will be key to IPI’s continued success in this market sector.”

IPI looks forward to Brian’s continued contributions as he strengthens the company’s position in aerospace and defense market, driving sustainable growth, optimizing operations, and maintaining industry leadership.
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Greenville, S.C. – (February 26, 2025) – Hughes Agency, a full-service public relations, marketing, advertising and event management firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Tessa Richey as Senior Account Executive.

Richey is responsible for account services for clients spanning from real estate to hospitality at Hughes Agency. With nearly 8 years of experience in managing client relationships, developing marketing strategies and digital content creation, Richey has supported clients across an extensive range of sectors and industries.

Prior to Hughes Agency, Richey served as an Account Executive at a digital marketing agency where she specialized in business development as well as project and account management of website and custom software projects. Richey also worked as Director of Marketing for a top-selling luxury real estate brokerage, supporting company and agent initiatives. As a Greenville native, Richey is a graduate of The University of South Carolina Upstate with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.

With a focus on account services, Richey will support Hughes Agency in producing successful marketing initiatives with a focus on attention to detail and client satisfaction. To learn more about Hughes Agency, please visit www.hughes-agency.com.

About Hughes Agency
Hughes Agency is a full-service public relations, marketing, advertising, and event management agency that embodies forty years of marketing and communications expertise for a wide variety of local, regional, national, and international clients.

SVN International welcomes Palmetto CRE as its newest franchisee, launching SVN Palmetto at 330 Pelham Road in Greenville, SC. Led by former educators-turned-retail experts Dustin Tenney and Daniel Holloway, alongside Lars Gruenefeld and Stephen Ahnrud, the firm brings a fresh, strategic approach to commercial real estate. Specializing in retail, multifamily, office, and industrial investments, SVN Palmetto also introduces property management services. Backed by SVN’s national network, the team is set to drive growth across the Upstate and Southeast, delivering top-tier service through collaboration, integrity, and expertise.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (February 25, 2025) – Endeavor Workspaces today announced three new All Access members: Mark Koppelmann, MBA, CFP, CRPS, senior financial advisor of LPL Financial, Andrea Koppelmann, MS, director of client relations of LPL Financial, and Christopher Karins, chief executive officer of RidgeTower. Endeavor’s premium location in the ONE Development in downtown Greenville provides these 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.

Mark and Andrea Koppelmann joined Endeavor for the personalized touch and the prime location. “Endeavor is beautiful and provides us with the space and amenities that we need for success, in a prime downtown Greenville location,” Andrea Koppelmann says. “We also fell in love with the Endeavor team who go out of their way to make the environment a great place to spend time each day.”

On joining Endeavor, Karins says, “I’ve found Endeavor to be a (not-so-hidden) gem in the heart of downtown Greenville. For any company, you could not ask for a better location and you won’t find a more positive and upscale work environment anywhere. More than just a workspace, Endeavor has a close-knit engaging team of adept professionals, and keeps their calendar stocked with a deck of worthwhile business development and networking events. Location, environment, staff support, and active community engagement, Endeavor is truly the full package.”

Endeavor offers a range of membership options, with benefits that scale up based on the plan you select. Office and Private Desk members enjoy their own dedicated space with 24/7 access, while Daytime Coworking members and Day Pass visitors can utilize Endeavor’s large flex workspaces overlooking City Plaza Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.