Sara wrote a guest post on the Staying on Top blog in early June. You can read it here.
In response to a question about exports, Sara referred us to this document.
TATT Updates
Dean Hybl, TATT Executive Director: Update on Pique—postponed until 2021, introduction of Sneak Pique
Michael Hildebrand, Upstate Mobility Alliance:
Resulting from the Ten at the Top Listening Tours, the need to develop solutions for our rural communities was identified. The Upstate Mobility Alliance has convened a group of business, community, and elected officials to identify potential opportunities and will begin developing a plan of action soon.
The Upstate Mobility Alliance is in the final stages of creating our strategic plan. This plan will outline key initiatives for the alliance to focus on. Part of the process will be a public rollout where we receive input from the community.
Anderson (Faith Line, Director, Anderson County Libraries):
Libraries are open! We have online resources: ebooks, e-audio books, databases, resources for school
We provide computers for job seekers, people needing to communicate with family
You can check out more than just books! Fishing poles, seed library and park passes
Oconee (JoAnn Johnson, Executive Director, Oconee County Chamber of Commerce):
We are doing the best we can; facing challenges and acknowledging the positives. It’s challenging having no events, no after hours/outside of work events, and restaurants at 50% capacity. But the good attitudes, creativity, thinking outside the box and rising to the challenge has been amazing.
Chamber has created a news channel and we interview politicians, heads of govt agencies. We do this to keep people informed and aware of PPP information, etc. Podcasts have been great. You can here them all here.
Greenville (Whitney Hanna, Coordinator of Community Collaboration, Greenville County Schools):
Virtual offering for K-12; 23K have signed up which is 30% and more than expected.
Offering a flex schedule plan which is scalable from 100% elearning to 1,25 day in class. There is a parent resource guide. GVL county has been hosting Facebook Live events to answer questions. All information is also in Spanish. The call center has had staff added and is answering questions by email and phone.
Pickens County (Susan Cohen, President, Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce):
Collaboration worked—we have heard from Enterprise about “Commute with Enterprise” and are looking into that
Anderson, Pickens, Oconee Chambers cooperating.
Focusing on Broadband
Have come to realize how reliant we are on Clemson. There has been less recovery here so we are trying to provide resources to businesses.
So many events were lost: graduation, visits, summer school, orientation, and now school is pushed back. Clemson provides 2x the amount of people than local population.
The restrictions businesses have to work within are very hard, we are working to get more outdoor seating for restaurants, for example.
Businesses are being VERY safe, these are family-run businesses, they want to stay safe too.
Mike Fox, Site Director and General Manager, Greenville Operations at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
In April of 2019, Lockheed Martin Greenville announced the launch of a new F-16 production line, and a ceremony marking the construction of the first F-16 Block 70 aircraft was held in December. Just a few months later, COVID-19 hit, impacting industries in different ways, so we wanted to hear what was happening now at the company. Mike Fox, site director and general manager of the Greenville Operations of Lockheed Martin, answered some of our questions.
What is the current status of the F-16 production?
F-16 production began in Greenville in November 2019, and we currently have five jets in work, at various stages in the manufacturing process. Bahrain was first to select the F-16 Block 70 and we have added several partners since, with additional opportunities on the horizon.
What, if any, impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on production?
We have seen some supplier impacts as a result of COVID-19; however, we are actively working with our suppliers and customers to reduce any impacts and deliver jets that meet customer schedule requirements. We also continue to partner with the DoD to strengthen our supply chain. Lockheed Martin has received more than $1.3 billion in accelerated progress payments from the Pentagon and have flowed all of it to suppliers to ensure we continue to maintain operations and support jobs.
What adjustments have you made to account for social distancing and to maintain the safety of your production team?
We have implemented a flexible teleworking policy for employees who can continue the essential work required to meet our commitments to the U.S. Government and our key allies around the globe from home. We have established minimum staffing and social distancing policies consistent with current federal guidance for our employees who continue to support national security in our plant.
Our Facilities team has increased cleaning schedules across the site, with a high concentration on common areas like lobbies, restrooms, break rooms, and elevators.
We also regularly share exposure-prevention protocols to reinforce healthy behaviors.
With Lockheed Martin having multiple production locations, have most of your adjustments to account for the pandemic been done company-wide or have they been handled at a facility level based on the needs at that location?
The health and well-being of our employees and partners is our top priority. We have implemented company-wide guidance and adjustments, such as business travel restrictions, visitor requirements, cleaning procedures, etc., as well as site-specific protocols to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Do you anticipate some permanent changes to your safety protocols due to the pandemic?
The safety protocols we are using have evolved as the CDC has adjusted its guidance based on a growing understanding of the COVID-19 virus. We will continue to use guidance from the CDC and other best practices to provide a safe environment for our employees.
Have there been other impacts holistically to Lockheed Martin as a result of the pandemic and economic slowdown?
Overall, we learned how agile and adaptable our workforce can be to unforeseen situations. As part of the Defense Industrial Base, our operation is considered an essential business, and our employees remain focused on our mission to support our customers while adjusting to the precautionary measures we have instituted.
Local COVID-19 Support
In South Carolina, we are proud to support our community partners with the following contributions:
$10,000 to the United Way of Greenville County to provide support such as food, shelter, childcare, sanitary and hygiene supplies for the area’s most vulnerable neighbors during this critical time
$10,000 to the Central Carolina Community Foundation’s One SC Fund to assist with food, shelter, health and non-profit sustainability needs stemming from the pandemic
John Jaraczewski, Executive Director of the Greenville Literacy Association
by John Jaraczewski, Executive Director, Greenville Literacy Association, with Sharon Purvis
For book lovers across the Upstate and beyond, the Greenville Literacy Association’s annual used book sale—the Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap Book Sale—yields a treasure trove of bargains, from recent hardcover releases for $8 down to mass market paperbacks that are two for $1. For teachers and homeschooling families, it’s a great way to stock up on books for the classroom. It’s generally one of the highlights of my summer, with my sister driving down from Asheville to go with me—our little joke is that we get free books in exchange for a donation to the Greenville Literacy Association. But in addition to the bargains, the other thing you can count on at the sale is a huge crowd of people—you’re shoulder to shoulder with strangers, and that’s just not safe this year.
When I heard that the sale was happening virtually this year (starting August 1, but you can purchase a ticket to the preview party on July 31st), I had to find out how that would work, and John Jaraczewski, executive director of the Greenville Literacy Association, answered my questions.
Q: It seems like a huge undertaking to turn your really big book sale into an online sale. How early in the pandemic did you make the decision to make the change?
We truly never stop working on the annual sale. So, of course, we were discussing the potential of a sale as early as May. We wanted to remain open to all possibilities from a traditional sale all the way to a virtual event. Our development director, Eleanor Vaughn, initiated a pilot program offering collections of books through Instagram. We discovered a very dedicated following as some of the collections were purchased in a matter of minutes! That is where the idea of offering collections of books originated. This gave us confidence that we could offer an online experience that was very different than our traditional sale but equally engaging. We made the decision to move entirely online in June. At that point, there was no looking back. We needed to plan first and then act. It has been a whirlwind of activity with our steadfast volunteers rallying to the cause and new volunteers joining in the effort. Nearly every inch of our suite in McAlister Square is being used to stage the collections and to fulfill the orders. It is a sight to behold.
Q: As a regular patron of your sale, I know that you’re very good at sorting the books into categories, so that part was already done. But can you talk a little about the process of putting all of those books online? For example, did you use your same group of volunteers, or did you have to recruit some new ones with different skills?
The amount of knowledge and insight our volunteer book room leaders have regarding our inventory would astound you. This was earned over the years through a meticulous collection, cleaning, and sorting process that is underway all year long. But, just as we all have learned, 2020 is a time to stay calm and plan to adjust. The online sale was built on our current knowledge with a new set of ideas and expertise. We couldn’t have done one without the other. We engaged any volunteers who were comfortable working online in our mobile app. Other volunteers wanted to remain more hands-on, sorting and creating collections. It has been an interesting way to bring new volunteers into the book sale effort.
Q: How different/similar will this experience be for buyers to their accustomed online book-buying experience, other than that the books are preselected into collections? Are the collections searchable? Is there a time limit once a book is in your basket?
We have been very thoughtful throughout this endeavor. It is a matter of making things as easy as possible for our patrons within limited time and other resources. More than an online store, we tried to translate the book sale experience to the web. So it is not simply search-and-click for a single author or title. For example, our guests will be able to purchase collections of books rather than single titles. Posting collections was one sure way to offer the greatest variety and amount of books in the time we had to prepare. In the spirit of the book sale, we also think it adds to the discovery of new books. The patrons are invited to browse and consider new possibilities in books. We hope our current and new patrons enjoy this version of the Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap [Really Online] Book Sale.
Regarding purchases, it is very much like our traditional sale—the decisive shopper will win the day. All collections of books are available to all patrons until they are purchased—regardless if a collection is in another cart. So, if you like a collection you should make the purchase before it is snatched up!
Q: I imagine (or I hope!) that people will be pretty understanding if there are unanticipated kinks in the process, but what kinds of scenarios have you walked through to anticipate any issues?
There is a level of expectation associated with our annual sale. This has been honed over the past 19 years. But this year is all new. We are learning and growing every day—which is what the GLA is all about. So, we ask our patrons to remember that at the end of the day, this is a charity event. We offer the sale online as means to support our mission in literacy. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we work through any kinks along the way.
What are we thinking about today? Of course, someone will want to buy a single book in a collection. That simply is not possible this year. Each book was priced as it would be in the traditional sale, but offered in a collection. Or, during pick up we might have a line of cars waiting for book pick up. Please be willing to wait a bit. Perhaps, you have made a very large order? Wonderful! However, we will ask you to arrange a specific pick-up time that works for both parties. All these and more might be reasons for you to be sensitive that we are planning and working as hard as we can to bring the sale to our community. Please consider yourself a partner in sharing literacy and advancing in our mission.
Q: From a logistics perspective, going from just having tables of books in their categories alphabetized by author to having collections for people to choose, what kind of warehouse set-up do you have for the picking of those orders? And how long do you anticipate that a customer’s order will take to fill?
Much like the annual in-person sale, our books are laid out on tables as “inventory.” Instead of out in the McAlister Square public space, however, it’s all happening within our learning center suite.
Once you’ve purchased your books online, you MUST wait one full business day before coming to pick them up (for example, if you purchase on a Saturday, you’d pick up Tuesday. If you purchase on a Tuesday, you’d pick up on Thursday). Our volunteers will need that in-between day to fulfill and pack your order.
The final step of the book-buying process is driving to the back of McAlister Square. Our smiling volunteers (smiling behind their masks) will use your information to locate and deliver your order to your car.
Q: Once things are back to normal again and we’re able to jostle shoulder to shoulder with strangers while choosing our own books, do you think you’ll still maintain some element of the online sale for people who might not be able to make it in person that weekend?
If you asked the team this very minute, as we transform an entire operation to online, the answer would be a resounding NO! Just kidding. Many people may not realize that GLA posts books for sale on Amazon year-round. It is a much smaller collection of books that we can sell competitively on the open market. It has been in place for a number of years. It, too, is run completely by amazing volunteers and is a source of income to support our mission.
But this year’s activities seem to be reaching a new audience via social media. It might be the case that we continue our relationship with our online shoppers moving forward. But let’s face it, the Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap Book Sale is something very special. Over the years, the event has marked the end of summer and beginning of the school year for so many community members. Book lovers bring their young readers each year and the cycle continues. In that spirit, we are hopeful that we will have the biggest sale ever in 2021 as we celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary!
After postponing the 2020 Pique young professionals event twice, we at Ten at the Top have made the decision to cancel this year’s event. It was becoming clear that an in-person event would not be possible, and trying to reproduce the experience of Pique in a virtual format seemed unfair to attendees who purchased tickets for an event that is geared around networking and includes an opportunity to sit face-to-face with executives from a variety of sectors. But we still wanted to have something in 2020 for young professionals, so we’ll be hosting a series of “Sneak Pique” virtual events in the months leading up to an in-person event in 2021.
Jessica Miserendino, Import Manager at AFL, Ten at the Top board member, and chair of the Pique planning committee
Jessica Miserendino, Import Manager at AFL, Ten at the Top board member, and chair of the Pique planning committee, answered some questions about Sneak Pique, while keeping some of the “sneak” parts under wraps.
Q: Instead of doing a virtual event to replace the in-person event, you’ve decided to do a series of virtual “Sneak Pique” events. Can you explain what that means?
The Sneak Pique will be a series leading up to our in person event “Pique” that is planned for Spring 2021. In our current pandemic state, where contact is limited, the Sneak Pique series is designed to allow young professionals to continue to interact with each other in a safe, socially distanced environment. There will be a variety of topics and activities covered to help young professionals in their personal and career development. Many of us are missing the social interaction of life before COVID, so this is a great opportunity to collaborate with other Upstate YPs.
Q: Are you planning to charge anything for the virtual events?
These events will be held free of charge! We understand that many are struggling financially during this pandemic and want to provide the opportunity for everyone to participate in Sneak Pique.
Q: Since Pique is largely a networking event, how will you incorporate networking into the Sneak Pique virtual events?
Luckily, many of the virtual meeting platforms now allow you to easily facilitate networking from a distance. We plan to utilize the breakout rooms feature to host round table sessions and to allow for smaller groups to connect. There will also be some fun ice breaker events where participants will answer trivia questions or play Bingo games.
Q: The pandemic has made us all much better acquainted with virtual events than we were before, and they do have some advantages. Have you thought about continuing with periodic virtual events between the big annual meeting once things get back to normal?
Virtual events have certainly come a long way from the traditional pre-pandemic webinars and has forced us all to get creative with how to connect and network from a distance. It’s amazing that we have the technology now to continue to interact with colleagues, friends, and family members while sitting in the comfort of our homes (although our Zoom backgrounds may show us sitting on an island somewhere). One major advantage of the virtual Sneak Pique is that there is a greater opportunity to engage with those young professionals that live in outlying counties. We are looking forward to seeing some new faces and reaching a larger audience through the virtual meetings.
Q: Who can attend the Sneak Pique events? Do you need to be a member of a YP group?
We welcome anyone between the ages of 23 and 40 to join in Sneak Pique! You do not need to be a member of a young professional group to participate and we encourage you to spread the word to fellow YP coworkers and friends.
Due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, Ten at the Top (TATT) will not hold Pique, its signature young professional event, in 2020, but will plan to hold the event in 2021. In the months leading up to the in-person event, a series of free virtual events will be held for young professionals.
It was originally scheduled for March 23rd and most recently was planned for September 14th as an in-person event to be held at the Huguenot Mill and Loft in downtown Greenville, with ScanSource as the presenting sponsor, and local author Sallie Holder as the keynote speaker. A new date has not been set, but both the original venue and the keynote speaker have confirmed.
“As September gets closer, it seems unlikely that an in-person event for 300 people will be possible, and there are challenges to moving an event such as Pique to a virtual platform,” says Pique planning committee chair Jessica Miserendino. “With networking being such a big part of the event as well as the executive roundtables providing valuable interaction with high-level executives from a variety of fields, we didn’t see a way to recreate that experience online.”
Instead, Ten at the Top will be hosting a series of monthly “Sneak Pique” virtual events leading up to an in-person event to be held in the spring of 2021. The Sneak Pique events will be free one-hour virtual meetings designed to convene young professionals in an informal setting, with a variety of content provided and led by the Pique planning committee members, who are themselves young professionals.
Part of the “sneak” element is that the content will not be revealed ahead of time. The first one will be held on September 14th, on the date Pique was scheduled to be held. Subsequent dates will be released at the end of each event.
Ticket holders have been refunded for the 2020 tickets purchased, and they will be informed when ticket sales resume for the 2021 event. For more information, contact Sharon Purvis.
With Lockheed Martin having multiple production locations, have most of your adjustments to account for the pandemic been done company-wide or have they been handled at a facility level based on the needs at that location?
Q: As a regular patron of your sale, I know that you’re very good at sorting the books into categories, so that part was already done. But can you talk a little about the process of putting all of those books online? For example, did you use your same group of volunteers, or did you have to recruit some new ones with different skills?
Q: From a logistics perspective, going from just having tables of books in their categories alphabetized by author to having collections for people to choose, what kind of warehouse set-up do you have for the picking of those orders? And how long do you anticipate that a customer’s order will take to fill?
Due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, Ten at the Top (TATT) will not hold Pique, its signature young professional event, in 2020, but will plan to hold the event in 2021. In the months leading up to the in-person event, a series of free virtual events will be held for young professionals.