The Post and Courier Greenville

GREENVILLE, SC (November 18, 2024) – Holiday Fair & Kringle Village, a uniquely elevated holiday experience created by the partnership of Greenville Convention Center’s Annual Holiday Fair and Rotary Club of Greenville’s Kringle Holiday Village, today announced that Greenville pacemakers, Betty Farr, will be joining the event that will delight locals and draw visitors to the Upstate for three days of holiday fun December 5-7, 2024 at the Greenville Convention Center.

Farr, a Greenville, SC native and statewide community leader with an overflowing passion for children, has been playing the role of Mrs. Claus for more than 60 years, delighting generations of children by sharing Christmas stories and singing holiday songs. On Saturday, December 7 from 10 – 11am, Farr will bring her joyful message to Holiday Fair & Kringle Village, where she will share heartwarming and magical stories with children of all ages, while instilling the importance of sharing, giving and caring, alongside her signature pals, Rudolph and Frosty.

“We are so grateful to have Betty Farr bring this heartwarming experience to Holiday Fair & Kringle Village,” says Jane Dyer, event co-chair. “Activities like this help transcend our troubled world and leaves us all with compassion, warmth, and open hearts for our fellow brothers and sisters.”

Additional children’s activities throughout the Holiday Fair & Kringle Village event include an Enchanted Tea, Greenville’s biggest snowfall fight, an inflatable snow slide, a gingerbread bounce house, holiday craft making area, grand carousel, Little Miss Kringle pageant, visits with Santa, and more.

For more event information and ticketing, visit https://meetgcc.com.

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HerHaus, a new initiative and sister company of TealHaus, is dedicated to creating space and conversation for women through community, collaboration, and personal development. On November 7, HerHaus celebrated its kick-off event at Art & Light Gallery in Greenville, South Carolina. The organization aims to support women in various stages of their careers and personal lives through friendship, professional development, networking, and education around health and wellness.

A Space for Growth and Empowerment

HerHaus is a subscription-based platform for women to connect, learn, and grow together. The company provides various services and opportunities, including workshops, panels, and discounts throughout the Upstate, designed to promote a supportive and thriving community.

“Our mission at HerHaus is to create an environment where women can come together to gain strength, knowledge, confidence, and know they’re not alone,” said Lindsay Niedringhaus, Founder of HerHaus. “We believe in the importance of community and its powerful impact on a woman’s life and career.”

Membership and More

Members of HerHaus have access to exclusive events with expert speakers, professional resources, discounts to area businesses, and a network of like-minded peers. Membership is now open, with several tiers available to accommodate different needs and goals.

Membership

Sponsorship Opportunities

HerHaus is proud to partner with organizations that share their vision of empowering women. Sponsorship opportunities are available, allowing businesses to engage with community members and demonstrate their commitment to women’s professional and personal support and growth. Current partners include:

Art & Light Gallery

Beck Digital

Chelsey Ashford Photography

Endeavor Greenville Workspaces

Grace Herlong Loveless

M. Judson Booksellers

Southern Pressed Juicery

GREENVILLE, SC (November 19, 2024) – Holiday Fair & Kringle Village, a uniquely elevated holiday experience created by the partnership of Greenville Convention Center’s Annual Holiday Fair and Rotary Club of Greenville’s Kringle Holiday Village, is seeking volunteers for the event that will delight locals and draw visitors to the Upstate for three days of holiday fun December 5-7, 2024 at the Greenville Convention Center.

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to help transform the Greenville Convention Center into a Winter Wonderland for the inaugural event; volunteers are needed pre, during and post event.

Volunteer opportunities include:
• Decorating and set-up
• Greeting attendees and wayfinding
• Green room and talent support
• Assisting with silent auction
• Snow patrol of Greenville’s Largest Snowball Fight
• Assisting with craft station in the North Pole
• Line assistance at inflatable gingerbread house, snow slide and snow maze
• Breakdown of event

Volunteers will receive access to Holiday Fair & Kringle Village after their shift. Volunteers must be 13 years or older. Email volunteers@kringleholidayvillage.com or visit https://www.kringleholidayvillage.com/volunteer/ to sign up.

For more event information on attending the event, visit https://meetgcc.com.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — With an eye toward the future growth of the company, Joan Herlong announced the rebranding of one of the Upstate’s premier real estate companies Wednesday morning.

Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty will be the new name and brand for the agency that has been one of the top producing real estate firms in the region since its inception in 2011. Joan Herlong, the company’s founder and CEO, said a new brand was needed in order to take the company to the next level.

“We have developed an amazing group of Associates and want to attract more, and we want to create a brokerage that goes beyond just being my name out front,” she said. “We already have been heading in that direction, and this brand change signifies this new direction.”

Herlong stressed the new name did not signify a change in ownership or her taking a permanent step back from selling and listing, but added that was the ultimate goal for the company in the next 10 years.

“We remain a woman-owned business, but this change frees us up to be so much more,” Herlong said. “This change further empowers our Associates to build their own brands and identities. My goal is to strengthen them by being their leader and mentor.”

In choosing a new brand name, Herlong praised working with Sotheby’s International Realty as a resource. The Sotheby’s International Realty affiliation is one of the few that puts the local owner’s name and brand first, which helps show buyers they are working with someone who knows the market.

The company has tripled in sales and the number of staffing since affiliating with Sotheby’s International Realty in 2017, she said. It also has led to many of the company’s successes in the past few years including David Vandeputte setting a new Upstate record for a single-home sales price earlier this year and the numerous business accolades it has earned.

“This is an exciting new era for us and for me,” Herlong said.

About Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty

Herlong

GREENVILLE, S.C. (November 19, 2024) – YMCA of Greenville announced today the promotion of leadership team members Jarrod Covington, Amy Ecklund, Claire Gregg Cameron McDowell and John Schlansker, as they accept additional responsibilities in association strategic initiatives and broader staff and board leadership roles.

Jarrod Covington is promoted to the position of vice president of strategic initiatives. Covington will serve as a key Association leadership member of the YMCA of Greenville, driving innovation and strategic initiatives to enhance member-focused programs and organizational objectives. This includes implementing best practices for competitive advantage, managing quality and performance, and fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, Covington will develop staff through leadership programs, build community relationships, and promote the YMCA’s mission and brand.

Amy Eckland is promoted to the position of vice president of finance/controller. Eckland will provide direction and leadership for YMCA finance, business, and payroll operations. She will oversee the YMCA’s accounting practices, the maintenance of its fiscal records, and the preparation of its financial reports in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Eckland will ensure a system of strong internal controls and maintain fiscal soundness. Additionally, she will manage the annual external audits, the 990 tax returns, and the preparation of information for outside funders and stakeholders.

Claire Gregg is promoted to the position of vice president of human resources. Gregg will be responsible for directing and coordinating all Human Resource functions and will provide leadership, direction, plans, and decision-making for the HR department in accordance with the strategic goals of the YMCA of Greenville. Gregg will oversee recruitment, compensation and benefits, staff development, employee relations, employee engagement and retention, po

DP3 Architects joined MetroConnects and community leaders yesterday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new MetroConnects Campus Headquarters. The state-of-the-art facility marks a significant milestone in advancing infrastructure and services in the region.

Over the past three years, MetroConnects has seen its service area and staff double following the regionalization of seven wastewater collection systems in Greenville County. Now serving more than 100,000 customers and maintaining 1,500 miles of infrastructure, the organization’s growth has created a need for more space.

The new headquarters is designed to support MetroConnects’ mission of providing innovative, sustainable wastewater management. The new campus includes the administration building, an operations and maintenance facility, and additional covered storage.

“The new campus will increase our efficiency by bringing all services, operations, and equipment together in one location,” said Carol Elliot, General Manager of MetroConnects. “We look forward to continuing our commitment to Greenville County, serving an expanding community, and meeting the needs of the future.”

Located at 1151 W. Butler Road in Mauldin, SC, the new campus will serve as the hub for MetroConnects’ operations and community outreach initiatives. JLL is serving as the Project Manager, ensuring a smooth and efficient delivery of the project, while Vannoy Construction is managing the construction. The campus is expected to be completed by spring 2026.

“We are thrilled to partner with MetroConnects to design a headquarters that reflects their dedication to innovation and the community,” said principal, Meg Terry. “This campus will provide a foundation for their essential work for years to come.”

The new MetroConnects Campus Headquarters represents a forward-thinking approach to meeting the region’s growing needs while maintaining a commitment to sustainable practices.

For more information about MetroConnects and the new campus,

Carolina Handling touts its continuing evolution from a forklift-only provider to an intralogistics solutions company with the publication of a new holiday pop-up book entitled Santa’s One-Stop Integration Shop.
In the latest edition of its Solutions for Santa holiday book series, Carolina Handling helps save Christmas with end-to-end warehouse solutions for Santa’s workshop, gaining an endorsement from The Big Man himself.
Written by Carolina Handling’s Marketing department and illustrated by Jason Craft, the book follows the implementation of an integrated distribution warehouse and features intricate pop-up designs of flow racking, a very narrow aisle wire guidance order picker, a spiral vertical conveyor and vertical lift modules.
“We’ve had fun the past three years branding Carolina Handling as a leading material handling integrator with our Solutions for Santa children’s books,” said Carolina Handling Director of Marketing Donna Waldrep. “Pop-up books have been used for many years to help readers understand complex or abstract concepts, so we decided to make this year’s book an interactive experience.”
Carolina Handling has been helping Santa and his elves modernize and optimize the toy factory since 2021 when it released If Santa Had a Lift Truck, followed by Santa’s Automated Workshop in 2022. In 2023, the company used automation solutions to restore the powers of the Easter Bunny, Cupid, Jack Frost and other members of the Council of Legendary Figures in Santa’s Legendary Solutions.
“From trusted equipment to expert fleet service to proven integrated automation solutions, Carolina Handling has been helping customers move more, faster and at less cost for 58 years,” Waldrep said. “Santa’s One-Stop Integration Shop helps us tell the Carolina Handling story in a unique, engaging and interactive way.”
In addition to the hardcover book, a video version of Santa’s One-Stop Integration Shop is available online at carolinahandling.com/solutions-for-santa, where

NPatel Communications, a woman-owned marketing and public relations firm located in Greenville, S.C., announced it has added Dreamgarten, a wellbeing services firm, as a client. NPatel Communications will assist in content marketing to enhance Dreamgarten’s unique workshop and coaching services specifically targeted to assist individuals with career burnout and chronic stress.

“Upon meeting the founder, Sarah, I was immediately drawn to her specialized approach of assisting organizational leaders,” said Nisha Patel, Founder and CEO of NPatel Communications. “With a background in mindfulness coaching, Sarah guides her clients through a unique process of transforming their mind from fight or flight to practical behavior change.”

Sarah has over 20 years of corporate success and career navigation. While she thrived in the office, she was struggling with burnout mentally and physically. This experience led her to channel her passion toward a new business which assists individuals, leaders and organizations with their own internal struggles to create a culture of mindfulness and wellbeing. Sarah uses mindfulness and design thinking to reframe problems and find creative ways to solve them. Dreamgarten offers courses, coaching, speaking opportunities and custom programming to turn Stress into Strength. Each of the services are individually tailored to meet the needs of the organization or individual as it relates to navigating burnout and chronic stress and cultivating a culture of wellbeing.

“I believe that when you guide people to find what’s inside themselves and encourage them to think about the human at the center of any problem, the creativity they bring to solving those problems is endless,” said Dreamgarten Founder, Sarah Waylett. “Nisha has been a wonderful person to work with as she leads with creativity and purpose. I look to working with her as we share the services of Dreamgarten.”

Greenville, S.C. – Nov. 14, 2024 – Joshua P. Trout, CEO of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Greenville, has released his first book, “Transformative Leadership”, an insightful and compelling exploration of how to lead a team through vulnerability. Blending personal experiences with professional experiences, Trout reveals how vulnerability can strengthen teams, build trust, and inspire profound organizational transformation.
In “Transformative Leadership”, Trout takes readers on a journey through the often-overlooked qualities of a great leader: humility, openness, and authenticity. This book underscores how leaders who embrace vulnerability can break down barriers, enhance team collaboration, and foster a culture of trust and innovation. With practical strategies and real-life case studies, Trout provides a toolkit for leaders seeking to lead with empathy, courage, and purpose.
“Leaders often feel pressured to appear flawless and invulnerable, but this approach can alienate teams and stifle growth,” said Trout. “I wrote ‘Transformative Leadership’ to challenge this notion and to show that vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it’s a powerful asset for building resilient, engaged teams and creating meaningful change.”
This release arrives at a time when leaders in industries across the board are being called to adapt to rapid shifts, and workplaces increasingly value emotional intelligence alongside traditional leadership skills. “Transformative Leadership” resonates deeply with leaders committed to building supportive, transparent, and purpose-driven organizations.
With decades of leadership experience in healthcare, Trout has received numerous accolades, including Greenville Business Magazine’s CEO of the Year award. Known for a forward-thinking, compassionate approach to leadership, Trout has led transformative initiatives at every company he has worked for, paving the way for innovation and inclusivity.