The Post and Courier Greenville

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The highly anticipated fiesta has announced the restaurants that will be responsible for satiating your tastebuds on May 2nd.

Local bartenders and chefs will go head-to-head in a battle for the best cocktail, taco, or “taco sidekick”. Bartenders will create a signature cocktail using Lunazul 100% Agave Tequila. Each restaurant chef will create a unique and delicious taco recipe, and/or side item with ingredients of their choice. Local judges will taste the food and drink submissions and decide the winner within each category.

The following restaurants and bars have been added to the competition:
Bacon Bros
Bar Margaret
Good Life Catering
Mission Grill
Papi’s Tacos
Southernside Brewing Co.
Restaurant 17
Topside Pool Club
Up on the Roof
White Duck Taco
Willy Taco
Woodside Bistro

$2,000 in cash prizes will be given to the winning bartender and chef in each category, including; Best Overall, People’s Choice, Most Creative, and more.

Tacos ‘n Tequila Fiesta will be held on Sunday, May 2, at the Old Cigar Warehouse in downtown Greenville. The fiesta will be held in two sessions, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., with 30 minute early starts for VIP tickets holders in order to limit the capacity and allow for social distancing.

All attendees must be 21 years of age or older and have a valid ID on them to enter the fiesta. All tickets include all the tacos you can handle along with all the Lunazul Tequila cocktails & Sierra Nevada beer you can responsibly drink. In addition, there will be outdoor games, live music from DJ Santi and the Erica Berg Collective, and more.

VIP: Reserved seating in our VIP area with VIP Tequila Tasting, VIP Bar, VIP swag bag, chips, salsa and guacamole for the table. Admission for this ticket level starts at 12:30 p.m. or 4:00 p.m., depending on your session. VIP tickets are sold out.
Priority: Reserved table for your group – sold in tables of four, six, or eight. Admission for this ticket level is at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m., depending on your session. Priority tickets are sold out.
General Admission: This ticket is for those who want to hang out with other taco fans. We’ll have a general admission area where you can take your mask off to eat and drink, and mingle with others at communal seating. Admission is at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at www.tacotequilafiesta.com/tickets.html.

About Tacos ‘n Tequila Fiesta and High Spirits Events:
High Spirits Events, a division of High Spirits Hospitality, is proud to bring you Greenville’s favorite one-day foodie festival. They’ve brought in the area’s best restaurants and bars to bring you the best tacos and handcrafted Lunazul 100% Agave Tequila cocktails. Tickets include exclusive access to all you-can-eat tacos and tequila cocktails, entertainment, and more. Learn more at www.tacotequilafiesta.com.

About The Old Cigar Warehouse:
Located at 912 S. Main Street across from Fluor Field in the West End, The Old Cigar Warehouse features more than 7,000 square feet of event space, an open catering policy and full event support, allowing the venue to deliver a seamless event. The Old Cigar Warehouse was built in 1882 and historically used as a warehouse for cigars and cotton. With 30-foot-high ceilings, exposed brick and stained floors, the warehouse is sure to inspire the most creative of events. It is a division of High Spirits Hospitality. www.oldcigarwarehouse.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. –South Carolina’s leading tech company, Kopis, partnered with Engenius, a local web design and digital marketing company, to launch a new website.

“Kopis is such an amazing company and we are honored to have worked with them on this successful project,” said Chris Manley, Engenius’ president.

Highlights of the new website include: updated visual design and consistent user experience across all devices. The website better showcases Kopis’ services and is a better digital representation of the Kopis experience. It is also better optimized for search engines and is built on a platform that will scale with Kopis as they expand their offerings.

As one of the most well-established software development firms in the Southeast, Kopis’ legacy and recognitions are among the best in the industry. Kopis has achieved Microsoft’s Gold Competency in Application Development and DevOps along with Silver Competency in Cloud Platform and ERP. It was named one of the INC 5000’s fastest-growing companies in 2019 and 2020, one of the fastest-growing companies in South Carolina, and one of the best places to work in the state for several years running.

“As a company that works to help people streamline their workflows and business, we felt it was time to redevelop our own website to show those abilities,” said Andrew Kurtz, president and CEO of Kopis. “We felt Engenius was the perfect partner for this work.”

About Kopis:
Kopis is a Greenville, S.C.-based technology firm focused on providing high impact software and cloud solutions to businesses and state agencies in the Southeast. With a growing team of over 40 employees, Kopis is one of the fastest growing software companies in South Carolina. Kopis is the 2020 Greenville Chamber Small Business of the Year and was named to one of Inc.’s 5,000 List in 2019. To learn more visit, www.kopisusa.com.

Greenville, S.C. – A picture is worth a thousand words, or so the saying goes, and the 24 images on display in Masters of American Photography, the newest exhibition opening at the Upcountry History Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, on Saturday, May 1, 2021, take visitors on a pictorial journey that traces the history of photography from the mid-19th century to the 20th century.

From Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans to Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand and Margaret Bourke-White, the range of these notable photographers underscores the influence each had on the Pictorialism movement which sought to elevate the status of photography to a fine art. Themes such as portraiture, landscape, cityscape, still life, motion capture, and cultural history are explored in an impressive array of works by these most important artists in the chronicles of photography.

Examining the advent of photography from the 1880s through the 1980s, Masters focuses on the extraordinary fervor that surrounded the innovation of this newest medium of visual representation. Emphasizing the experimental nature and evolution of photographic techniques through this time period, this unique exhibition showcases some of the photographs made during the Great Depression to call attention to the challenges of rural poverty, as well as the impact on the people whose lives were now documented as part of the collective record of the artform and its noted accounts of those moments.

On display through August 8, 2021, Masters of American Photography is filled with opportunities for visitors to explore an extraordinary time in the early history of what has not only become a profession and hobby, but a passion and art form for so many.

This definitive collection, comprised of many vintage prints, was organized by the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Beginning June 6, 2021, the Museum will reopen on Sundays from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Please note, too, the Museum adheres to a mandatory mask requirement for visitors ages 10 years and older. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.

South Carolina SHRM State Council Honored with Platinum Excellence Award
For Elevating Human Resources, Improving Workplaces
This marks the second consecutive year the Council has received this outstanding recognition

Charleston, SC. – April 16, 2021 – The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest HR professional society, presented South Carolina SHRM State Council with the 2020 Platinum Excellence Award. The Excel award is SHRM’s top honor, recognizing outstanding achievements in state council operations and a commitment to providing meaningful program and services to HR professionals.

“So much of SHRM’s positive impact on our workplaces can be traced back to the dedication of our chapters and state councils like the South Carolina SHRM State Council. I’ve seen firsthand how these leaders drive meaningful changes to build workplaces where employers and employees can thrive together,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, president and chief executive officer of SHRM. “The Platinum EXCEL Award not only honors South Carolina SHRM State Council’s accomplishments in 2020, but it’s also a testament to the hard work it took to get there.”

SC SHRM’s submission highlighted five successful initiatives, including its commitment to increase dual Chapter/SHRM membership. SC SHRM also partnered with the RECON Network and participated in the Veteran Employment & Transition Summit to inform Veterans, their spouses and the business community about the needs and resources available to them. Additionally, in partnership with North Carolina SHRM State Council, provided quality speakers, volunteers and judges for the Carolina’s HR Student Conference and Case Competition. The Council held its leadership conference, its goal to educate Chapter leaders about SHRM, SC SHRM, their roles, and how to handle difficult situations. Lastly, the Council participated in the GiveSmart Pilot Program, a virtual silent auction platform and donated monies raised to the SHRM Foundation.

Along with South Carolina SHRM State Council’s notable win, 4 local chapters also earned Excel Awards for 2020, highlighting the organization’s commitment to HR excellence. Columbia SHRM, Greenville SHRM, Spartanburg HR Association and Sumter HRMA all won Platinum awards.

“These awards are a testament to our commitment to upholding our mission, which is to
serve, advise and empower South Carolina workforce communities through education,
partnerships and connections,” said SC SHRM State Director, Teresa Vaughn, SHRM-SCP, VP of Human Resources for Johnson & Johnson, Inc. headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, SC. “I am incredibly proud of the Council and our individual Chapters’ work – it is a true honor to receive this recognition from SHRM and we look forward to celebrating these exceptional accomplishments at our annual conference in September.”

About the Society for Human Resource Management
SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally. Learn more at SHRM.org and on Twitter @SHRM.

About South Carolina SHRM State Council
South Carolina SHRM State Council is the state affiliate for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). SC SHRM facilitates services and programs for the collective interest of the state’s SHRM and local chapter membership, and promotes activities that serve and advance the human resources profession. Its primary objective is to support the mission and initiatives of SHRM through education. South Carolina SHRM State Council is a 100 percent volunteer organization consisting of 14 SHRM-affiliated chapters across the state. For more information, go to sc.shrm.org.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Rebuild Upstate was awarded GuideStar’s 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency for the fourth year in a row.
This award is the highest level of recognition that GuideStar gives to nonprofit organizations. GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. Data and intelligence is filtered through the GuideStar industry-leading data services, analysis, APIs and subscription products. It then provides people with the best information needed to compare non-profits, make smart donation decisions and helps to build connections.
“Rebuild Upstate believes strongly in having transparency at all levels,” said Chris Manley, President/CEO of Rebuild Upstate. “As a nonprofit organization, we serve the community, and are proud to strive toward fiscal accountability to the community at large.”
The Platinum Seal of Transparency Award aligns with the values of Rebuild Upstate. Rebuild Upstate has prided themselves on financial transparency and using best practices. This is important for an organization of its size to ensure financial stewardship of donations and funding for the long-term sustainability of the organization.

About Rebuild Upstate:
Rebuild Upstate serves low-income homeowners with repairs and accessibility improvements to create safe, livable housing in existing homes and neighborhoods in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties. Its team envisions a community where everyone has the opportunity to live a life of dignity in a safe home environment in order to maintain and foster strong, sustainable communities. Learn more at www.rebuildupstate.org.

The Employer Provider Interface Council will hold its second WellSpent-Southeast virtual meeting on April 20, 2021 — bringing together business, economic development and health care professionals to discuss ways to improve health status, the health of businesses and the linkage with other drivers of economic growth.
Government leadership and professionals from many business industries including healthcare will convene to learn more about these issues and to participate in the on-going discussion which can help drive meaningful change in the marketplace and the communities of the Southeastern part of the country.
“In the Southeast, we have a thriving economic development landscape which attracts and retains business and industry even though we have the highest rates of chronic disease and other healthcare issues,” said Dr. Randy Vogenberg, board chairman of Employer Provider Interface Council (EPIC) of the Hospital Quality Foundation, which is the agency leading this effort.

To register for this free, online event, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wellspent-southeast-tickets-150111324011
During the virtual meeting, participants will hear from employers, healthcare professionals, and economic professionals from across the Southeast on how they are addressing the issues and leading the charge to advance value-based healthcare:

AGENDA

8:30 AM Welcome by the Employer Provider Interface Council
Murray Harber, Co-Chair WellSpent Southeast

Summary of first regional event and the state conversations
Randy Vogenberg, Co-Chair WellSpent Southeast

8:45AM Post-Pandemic – What are the Trends and Outlook Moving Forward
Jayson Slotnick, Principal, Health Policy Strategies, Washington, DC

9:00 AM Addressing Healthcare Access and Value
Monty Robertson, South Carolina Hospital Association (Facilitator)
J. Michael Parnell, VP Strategy and Director of Operations, United Health Care

9:25 AM Creating a Better Environment for Innovators in Employer Health Benefit
Jason Parrott, The Boeing Company

9:40 AM The Real World of Economic Development & Digital Health
Ryan Kelley, Business Retention and Expansion International,
Charlie Pollack, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine, UMMC

9:55 AM Closing
Randy Vogenberg, Co-Chair, WellSpent

Government officials along with business associations and employers have been working together to advance health and healthcare as an economic driver. Employers and healthcare professionals and organizations have been working together to improve the quality, cost, and value to reduce the waste in the system, thereby freeing up resources to deploy in other areas.

“Leaders should attend so they can be part of a community which drives change in the marketplace,” said Murray Harber, Co-Chair WellSpent Southeast. “This conference will give them a chance to learn from thought leaders across the Southeast and nationally, as well as listen to strategies to improve healthcare value, business health and economic impact.”

About WellSpent Southeast:
WellSpent Southeast is about linking business and healthcare within the Southeast region of the US for the purpose of sharing similar issues and experiences around health care trends, problems, and solutions. Exciting new and established healthcare related innovations or economic development efforts are important to improving along with increasing real-world solution opportunities desired by the business community leaders of Southeastern states. Learn more at epicouncil.org.

Forge Search & Consulting announces launch of unique, relationship-oriented recruiting firm, headquartered in Greenville, SC. Forge will help offset upcoming talent compression by leveraging years of recruiting experience to partner with organizations throughout the Southeast.

Greenville, South Carolina | April 7, 2021 — Forge Search & Consulting announces its launch today, led by founder and CEO Rhiannon Poore. Forge’s people-oriented, process-driven approach to recruiting will give clients a distinct advantage in a tight talent market.

Forge will provide professional recruiting services within the industries of accounting & finance, human resources, and marketing. The company also provides recruiting training for companies looking to upskill their in-house HR or recruiting teams.

“We really believe there is a unique opportunity to do recruiting differently,” founder Rhiannon Poore commented. “We want our clients to feel that we are an extension of the company, working by their side to achieve success through finding the right person for the role.”

Poore brings over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition, business development, marketing, and talent development, including close to 10 years at an executive search firm, and 4 years scaling and growing the Talent Acquisition department at a Top 40 public accounting firm.

The timing is right for the launch of Forge, with experts predicting massive turnover in all industries. The Society for Human Resource Management predicts that as many as half of all employees will consider leaving their current role in 2021. Forge intends to help combat this turnover through providing guidance to clients on job design and employee integration, with a detailed process to ensure the right fit.

Forge’s offices are located at 135 S Main St in downtown Greenville, SC.

“Candidates and companies alike face new challenges in today’s rapidly evolving workforce. We are eager to help solve business problems and navigate growth with empathy, clarity, and confidence,” added Poore.

About Forge Search & Consulting
Forge is a people-first recruiting firm that equips growing companies and candidates to succeed in an evolving world. We bring clarity, confidence, and empathy to the search for top-tier talent, and train companies to develop recruiting processes that power sustainable growth. Based in Greenville, SC, Forge partners with companies across the Southeast, leveraging years of experience and an emphasis on relationships. Our integrated services—which range from professional recruiting to holistic talent consulting—share a common purpose: to empower organizations with people who can thrive. For more information about the company and its services, visit forgesc.com.
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