Nov 8, 2019 | Community Vibrancy, Press releases, Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, has announced the finalists for the 
2019 Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants.
The five finalists were chosen from a total of 23 applications submitted for the two grants available in 2019. Hughes Investments is contributing $10,000 per year to the program with two recipients each year receiving $5,000 to support a new vibrancy initiative in the Upstate. The program began in 2013 in conjunction with a series of Community Vibrancy Workshops hosted by Ten at the Top. Since the inception of the grants program, Hughes Investments has contributed a total of $80,000 to community vibrancy initiatives across the Upstate.
Prior to the Ten at the Top Celebrating Successes luncheon on November 20th, the five finalists will each provide a brief overview of their initiative before the 2019 recipients are selected and announced at the luncheon. The finalists’ presentation will be held from 10:30–11:15 a.m., and there is no cost to attend, although registration is requested. The cost to attend the luncheon is $50, and prior registration is required. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Greenville Convention Center, with Governor McMaster as the guest speaker. To register for either event, go to www.tenatthetop.org or contact Sharon Purvis at spurvis@tenatthetop.org.
Below are the five finalists (project name, applying organization, and brief summary):
Rhythm on the River – Powdersville Business Council
The Powdersville Business Council (an extension of the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce) is looking to promote and sponsor Rhythm on the River, an event designed to bring families and businesses together in an unprecedented manner for the Powdersville community. This event will take place in the spring of 2020 at a local county park.
A Common Thread: Textiles Past and Present – Arts Center of Greenwood
In Greenwood, textile mills began to dominate the business scene in the late 1800s and throughout the 1900s. The mills and mill villages played a vital role in the life of this county. The Arts Center and The Museum will present exhibits and events in the fall of 2020 to honor our textile history and to educate and entertain visitors and residents. The themed event, A Common Thread: Textiles Past and Present will be a review of the institution of textile mills, village life, and more current trends in the commercial and artistic realm of textiles.
Piedmont Blues and Roots Music Festival – Main Street Laurens
The Piedmont Blues and Roots Music Festival will be a celebration of the rich past Laurens has with blues, jazz, and even rock music genres. The event will be held in Downtown Laurens and will focus on the traditional piedmont blues music, mill hill blues, and other types of music that have played such an important role in music history. There will even be an opportunity to highlight local record companies and local bands who produced their own records back in the day!
Trains on Main – Main Street Clinton
The young and young at heart all love to stop and watch the trains as they roll through the City of Clinton, parallel to Main Street. Trains have long been a part of Clinton, so what better way to showcase this history than with Trains on Main. Model trains provided by the Copper family, the participation of downtown businesses, and Main Street Clinton volunteers, can all make this possible. The model trains will be on display and operating along the top perimeter walls of local businesses, in hopes of attracting local Clintonians and visitors from afar to step in and take a gander.
Peg Leg Bates Dance Showcase – City of Fountain Inn
The Peg Leg Bates Dance Showcase will be an exciting opportunity for local dance groups to participate in a free and fun event at the Fountain Inn Activities Center. This Showcase is open to all dance groups, however, the purpose of this project is to create a premiere dance event for groups who may not be able to afford or have access to traditional dance events/competitions. The goal is to have at least ten local dance acts participate throughout the day of the event. The idea is not necessarily to compete, but to highlight extraordinary local talent in the area of dance while creating an opportunity to celebrate an amazing native of Fountain Inn and his accomplishments.
The selection committee for the Elevate Upstate Grants Program includes Phil Hughes (President, Hughes Investments), Ingo Angermeier (Retired, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System), and Terence Roberts (Mayor, City of Anderson).
Nov 4, 2019 | Press releases, Staying on Top
Ten at the Top’s (TATT) annual Celebrating Successes luncheon will be held on November 20th from 11:30–1:30 at the Greenville Convention Center. The event
recognizes businesses, organizations and individuals who are helping to make the Upstate a leading place to live, learn, do business and raise a family.
This year’s event is also the culmination of Ten at the Top’s 10th anniversary year as TATT has hosted community workshops and events across the 10-county region in 2019.
As part of the 10th anniversary celebration, TATT is pleased to announce that the special guest speaker for the luncheon will be South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. He will talk about how collaboration and building partnerships is crucial to the success of South Carolina.
Dean Hybl, executive director of TATT, said, “Over the past decade, Ten at the Top has been convening and building collaborative relationships that have served to strengthen our region, and we look forward to what the next decade brings in terms of more opportunities to grow our collective capacity in the Upstate.”
During the luncheon, Ten at the Top will recognize “Power of 10” Founding Funding Partners—those who have partnered with TATT every year since the inception of the organization—as well as organizations and businesses celebrating milestone anniversaries of 20 or more years in 2019. The annual Welling Award for Collaboration and the Burdette Leadership Award will also be announced.
Prior to the luncheon, the five finalists for the 2019 Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Vibrancy Grants will make their grant presentations. Hughes Investments will also be hosting coffee and networking prior to the luncheon.
For information about purchasing tickets, click here or contact Sharon Purvis at spurvis@tenatthetop.org.
Oct 10, 2019 | Press releases, Staying on Top
October 10, 2019 [Greenville, SC] — Ten at the Top (TATT) invites members of the Oconee County community to participate in a community workshop focused on “Make the Connection: Oconee County Trails and Greenways.” The workshop will be held on October 17th from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at Blue Ridge Electric (2328 Sandifer Blvd., Westminster).
The workshop is one of 10 county workshops TATT is holding across the Upstate in 2019 as part of the 10th anniversary year for the organization.
“We’re very excited about the response we’ve had to the ten county workshops so far,” said Ten at the Top executive director Dean Hybl.
“Oconee County has so much natural beauty, and trails are one way to experience that,” Hybl continued. “But beyond the outdoor experience for trail users, trails have a very real economic impact, as is evident from the growth surrounding the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville County.”
The purpose of the workshop is for community members and business and elected leaders to explore what the possibilities are for connecting existing trails in the county and to understand the benefits to the community that such a trail system would bring.
Speakers Ty Houck, Director of Greenways, Natural and Historic Resources for the Greenville County Recreation District, and Brandy Amidon, Mayor of Travelers Rest, will talk about the Swamp Rabbit Trail from their different perspectives. Houck will talk about the nuts and bolts of getting a trail system built as well as providing statistics about the economic impact of the trail, and Amidon will talk about the impact the trail has had on the town of Travelers Rest, highlighting specific businesses.
Janet Hartman, executive director of the Oconee Economic Alliance, said, “We appreciate Ten at the Top coordinating this workshop in Oconee County. Community feedback is vital to our success and our future. We hope to see many Oconee County residents, business leaders, elected officials and others join us at this luncheon.”
The Oconee County Workshop is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested. Lunch will be served starting at 11:15 a.m., with the meeting starting at 11:30. You can register for the workshop here.
Sep 23, 2019 | Press releases, Staying on Top
Best-Selling Author Richard Florida to Serve as Keynote Speaker of Summit Focused on the “The New Urban Crisis”
September 23, 2019 [Greenville, SC] — Ten at the Top (TATT) has announced that the 2020 Upstate Regional Summit will take place on September 23, 2020 focusing on the theme of “The New Urban Crisis.” Highlighting the event will be a keynote address from best-selling author and noted urban studies theorist Richard Florida.
In his book The New Urban Crisis: How Our Cities Are Increasing Inequality, Deepening Segregation and Failing the Middle Class – and What We Can Do About It, 
Florida looks at the recent trend of the young, educated, and affluent surging back to live in American cities, reversing decades of suburban flight and urban decline. He anticipates that this back-to-the-city movement demonstrates how the forces that drive urban growth also generate significant challenges for cities, including gentrification, segregation, and inequality. Meanwhile, many more cities and towns remain stagnate while middle-class neighborhoods everywhere are disappearing. Florida contends that we must rebuild cities and suburbs by empowering those communities to address their challenges.
During the Upstate Regional Summit we will explore how this “New Urban Crisis” is impacting both urban and rural communities within the Upstate. The morning session will set the context around some of the Upstate challenges and then a series of breakout sessions will dive deeper into specific areas of concern and opportunity. The event will culminate with a keynote address by Florida where he will outline some of the challenges and opportunities for all communities to overcome the trend and grow in a manner that promotes success and the ability for all residents to thrive. The full Summit program agenda is available on the Ten at the Top web site.
About the Upstate Regional Summit
The mission of Ten at the Top is to encourage collaboration and partnerships on cross-sector and cross-jurisdiction issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life in the Upstate region. Held every other year, the Upstate Regional Summit is an opportunity for nearly 1,000 leaders and interested stakeholder from across the Upstate to gather together in one location to reaffirm the value of “thinking regionally” as a component of regional success while discussing key issues facing the region.
Become a Summit Sponsor
The best way to be engaged in the Summit and connect your business or organization to the 1,000 expected attendees is through a Summit Sponsorship. There is a full complement of event and table sponsorships available. Again in 2020 we will begin the event with the Partner Expo, which is a great way to showcase your business to leaders from across the region. Many sponsorships are limited in number to provide exclusivity and are available on a first-come first-served manner, so be sure and secure your involvement early. The sponsorship deadline is June 30, 2020 and individual tickets will go on sale July 1, 2020. Sponsorship details are available here.
Special Thanks
We would like to thank BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina for their continued commitment to Ten at the Top, including serving as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2020 Upstate Regional Summit. We also want to thank Hughes Investments and the Upstate Orate Speaker Series for helping us bring Richard Florida to the Upstate.
Sep 18, 2019 | Press releases, Staying on Top
September 17, 2019 [Greenville, SC] — Ten at the Top (TATT) invites members of the Pickens County community to participate in a community workshop focused on “Next Steps for County Connectivity: Messaging, Marketing, and Mobility.” The workshop will be held on September 30th from 12:00–2:00 p.m.
The workshop is one of 10 county workshops TATT is holding across the Upstate in 2019 as part of the 10th anniversary year for the organization.
“We’re very excited about the response we’ve had to the ten county workshops so far,” said Ten at the Top executive director Dean Hybl.
“Connectivity can have several different meanings, and that’s reflected in the content of this workshop, from different municipalities within the county working collaboratively to crafting a cohesive message to transportation and mobility,” Hybl continued.
Pickens County Council Chair Roy Costner said, ““We are excited to see local business leaders, elected officials, and county residents come together to talk about the future of Pickens County. Our county has exceptional people in each community who help to make Pickens County a natural destination for education, business, entertainment, and exploring the outdoors. This event will open a dialog on preserving what we have while planning for our growing future.”
The workshop will touch on various meanings of connectivity, from a unified county identity and message to aspects of transportation and mobility. State Representative Neal Collins and Costner will set the context for the need for connectivity, talking about the Pickens United initiative. Janet Hartman, interim Executive Director of the Oconee Economic Alliance, will then talk about how to craft a cohesive county message; and Keith Moody, general manager of Clemson Area Transit/CATBUS, and Keith Brockington, Transportation Planning Manager with GPATS, will address connectivity from a transportation/mobility focus.
The Pickens County Workshop is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested. Lunch will be served starting at 11:45 a.m., with the meeting starting at noon. You can register for the event here.
About Ten at the Top
Comprised of public, private and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to connect and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. For more information, visit www.tenatthetop.org.
Sep 6, 2019 | Press releases, Staying on Top, Uncategorized
Position Title: Upstate Mobility Alliance Director
Status: Full-time, salaried, exempt position
Location: Office located in Greenville, South Carolina, but scope is the 10-county Upstate
Application Deadline: September 27, 2019
Who We Are:
Ten at the Top (TATT) is a regional organization that works to develop strategic partnerships and enhance the collective capacity across the 10-county Upstate South Carolina region on issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life.
In June 2017 TATT began convening a group of transportation service providers in the Upstate with the ultimate goal of enhancing the movement of people and goods across the region. This effort now includes public, private and nonprofit partners.
Over the last two years, the group has developed the Upstate Mobility Vision, identified specific mobility themes, and a set of actionable strategies to support the vision.
The first actionable strategy is to develop the Upstate Mobility Alliance, which will serve as the convening and coordinating entity for advancing the Upstate Mobility Vision. The Alliance includes interested stakeholders from the public, private and non-profit sectors and has a leadership team as well as four task forces.
Whom We Seek:
The Upstate Mobility Alliance Director will be a prominent voice illustrating the valuable role mobility plays in the overall success of the Upstate while also promoting collaboration and community investment around mobility initiatives. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, engaging, and able to build connections with a wide range of stakeholders. The Upstate Mobility Alliance Director is an external facing position, but will also have responsibility for program and task force management.
Ideal Experience:
As the lead staff member for the Upstate Mobility Alliance, the Director will have an interest in advancing mobility issues across the Upstate region. Additional requirements include:
- Minimum of five years of full-time experience at a management or supervisor level
- Proven track record of consensus building as well as developing and implementing initiatives that address specific objectives
- Experience in public speaking and articulating an organization’s mission and vision
- Ability to manage multiple projects or initiatives simultaneously
- Knowledge of South Carolina’s Upstate region with specific understanding of mobility and transportation in the region being desired, though not required
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Understanding of general government processes
- Knowledge of existing grants or other funding sources for transportation in South Carolina
- Experience writing briefings, strategy documents, initiative summaries and related materials
- Well organized and detail-oriented
- Bachelor’s Degree
Key responsibilities:
The Upstate Mobility Alliance Director will be a staff member of Ten at the Top and report to the TATT Executive Director. Responsibilities include:
- Lead day-to-day operations of the Upstate Mobility Alliance
- Coordinate the efforts of the Alliance Leadership Committee and Task Forces, to include: organizing meetings, working with the co-chairs on meeting content, facilitating meetings, and leading follow-up and next steps
- Participate in external mobility meetings and serve as the primary spokesperson representing the Upstate Mobility Alliance
- Conduct presentations and regular updates on the Upstate Mobility Alliance to interested stakeholders across the Upstate
- Develop and implement strategies to increase awareness of and participation in the Upstate Mobility Alliance
- Coordinate regional mobility events developed as part of the Upstate Mobility Alliance
- Build relationships with key stakeholders within the mobility network across the Upstate
- Project management of task force initiatives
- Communicate with the Ten at the Top Executive Director and Board of Directors on the progress of the Alliance
- Participate in fundraising activities to support the Alliance as needed
- Write reports, white papers, summaries and support material
- Provide content for and support the web site and social media platforms
- Write and coordinate the mailing of correspondence to funding partners and stakeholders across the Upstate
- Other duties as assigned
Personal Characteristics:
The successful Upstate Mobility Alliance Director candidate should be:
- An individual who believes in working across jurisdictional and stakeholder boundaries to address issues that impact our region
- Eager and able to learn, understand and work on a broad array of issues; reflective, with strong conceptual, critical, and creative thinking abilities
- Approachable, knowledgeable, and able to develop meaningful relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Comfortable receiving input from many sources and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into a sound, well-organized plan
- Professional with a demeanor demonstrating empathy, humility, respect, good judgment, cultural sensitivity and flexibility to represent the Alliance in diverse forums and organizational relationships
- Able to serve as both a “leader” and a “doer” in working with the leadership team and task forces to produce results-oriented outcomes\
- Flexibility to travel across the Upstate and participate in occasional evening meetings and events
Compensation:
Ten at the Top offers a competitive salary and benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation & holidays and a cell phone stipend. The expected salary range for this position is $75,000-$90,000, but will be finalized based on the experience of the selected candidate.
Application Process:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Dean Hybl, Executive Director, Ten at the Top at dhybl@tenatthetop.org. Resume and cover letter must be received by September 27, 2019. In your cover letter, please address the following questions: 1. Based on the job description, why are you a good fit for this position? 2. What appeals to you about being involved with achieving the vision of the Upstate Mobility Alliance? We anticipate conducting initial phone interviews with selected candidates followed by in-person interviews. Candidates will be notified by email of our acceptance or decline to schedule an initial phone interview by October 14th.
