Ten at the Top had a dynamic conversation with leaders from Piedmont Technical College to learn how they are tackling rapid upskilling while maintaining workplace culture.
Crystal Hendrickson, from TATT partner Pinnacle Partnership hosted the TATT Chat.
Speakers from Piedmont Technical College were Carla Gilliam, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Matt Wiggins, Dean of Workforce Innovation, and Tara Gonce, Dean of Health Care.
The mission of Piedmont Technical College (PTC) is to transform lives and strengthen communities by providing opportunities for intellectual and economic growth. They are focused on access, opportunity, and impact to support students and the broader community. PTC serves as a workforce development engine for their seven-county service region by training and upskilling the workforce, meeting learners where they are and helping employers stay competitive.
Matt Wiggins groups students into three categories – those with the intention of transferring to a four year university, those looking for associates degree in the technical field, and those attending short term credential or certification courses to enhance current employment or act as a catalyst to new career path.
The PTC main campus is in Greenwood with satellite campuses and classes also being held in the community, at companies, and schools. They recently introduced a mobile training lab to take education to remote service areas and partner with employers on credit required trainings.
Over the 2024-2025 academic year 2,124 students were served, 54 companies, and there were 100+ unique classes. Scholarships are available and passionate instructors are always needed! PTC recently conducted an economic impact survey that revealed the scale of PTC’s impact. In one year, they generate at total regional economic impact of $349M.
Just as important as innovation and growth is keeping the workforce people focused. “People may forget the process, but they remember how they were treated.” AI can support the work, but people define the experience. While AI can write emails, draft reports, build schedules, analyze data, generate lesson plans, assist with customer service, support healthcare documentation, but it can’t replace compassion, build authentic trust or inspire human confidence.
South Carolina 48-Hour Film Project Screening & Awards Ceremony to be Held on June 20
The South Carolina 48 Hour Film Project returned to the Upstate, challenging filmmakers to write, shoot, and edit a short film in just 48 hours. All films will be screened publicly during the Screening & Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Richardson Center for the Arts at Wofford College.
The event is free and open to the public. The winning film will advance to Filmapalooza, the international championship of the 48 Hour Film Project, which will be held in Curaçao in March 2027.
Chautauqua Festival Explores Revolutionary Americans
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the annual Chautauqua Festival is exploring "Revolutionary Americans." The festival celebrates those in the Carolinas who fought for freedom, alongside those who reshaped their world to make America a more perfect union.
This ten-day, two-weekend free festival offers entertaining, historically accurate storytelling. Events are being held in Greenville, Spartanburg, Abbeville, and Liberty, as well as in Brevard, NC.
The African American Leadership Society (AALS), an affinity group of United Way of Anderson County, will host their DREAM GALA on Friday, June 19, at The Grand 1891. Through powerful storytelling, fellowship, and purpose-driven giving, the event will reflect on local legacy and invest in generations to come.
The keynote speaker is Pastor Stacey D. Mills, Chairman of the Urban League of the Upstate and Senior Pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church of Greenville.
Planners, housing professionals, and community leaders gathered for a working session on housing affordability. This session focused on funding sources, including the SC Housing Trust Fund, USDA Rural Development programs, local housing trust funds, and the LIHTC program.
Speaker Libba King with Greenville Housing Fund shared how Greenville Housing Fund (GHF) uses Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) as a financing tool to make affordable housing projects financially feasible. They generally partner with developers, help structure deals, and sometimes serve as a co-developer or equity partner to secure and use tax credits for projects in Greenville County.
Speaker Katy Davenport with CommunityWorks spoke about housing trust funds and how they function throughout the state. And up to 15% of ATAX dollars can be used for workforce housing solutions. Funding can be delivered in many different ways to support affordable housing.
Speaker Jack Suber with South Carolina Housing Trust Fund shared the Home Repair Program, a valuable resource for developing and maintaining safe, quality affordable housing for low to very low-income households within the state. Funding and assistance foreligible home repairs and supportive housing projects are provided through three core programs—The Home Repair Program, Critical Home Repair Program, and Supportive Housing Program. SC Housing administers the HTF program in partnership with other government organizations, non-profit sponsors and affordable housing developers. The HTF program also coordinates its efforts with other federal, state, and local housing assistance programs to achieve maximum benefit for participants.
Early Voting For South Carolina Primaries Runs From May 26-June 5
Early voting for the June 9th South Carolina Primaries is now open. Check out information from the South Carolina Election Commission to find polling locations, times, candidates, and other information about the upcoming elections.
Visit the link below to verify your details and find a location near you.
Join the Upstate Veterans Alliance Network (UVAN) on June 10 to learn how hiring Veterans can strengthen your workforce, build leadership pipeline, and drive organizational success.
The session is being held from 10:00 a.m. until noon at the USC School of Medicine Greenville Campus. Click the link below to RSVP.
Take SCDOT Survey on Travel, Safety Along Upstate Highways
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking public input about some of the major transportation corridors in the Upstate. Please take 5 minutes between now and June 6 to take the online survey about roads & highways in the region, specifically Interstate 85, US Highway 29, and state highways 14, 101, 290 and 80.
The online survey is part of the department’s Upstate Logistics and Industrial Corridor Study, aimed at producing practical, executable solutions for congestion relief on the selected highways and local roads in the study area.
Furman University has launched a new strategic initiative to serve as a “front porch” for engagement with South Carolina’s professionals and organizations. The initiative addresses several critical challenges:
Rapid Technological Change: The rise of AI and advanced manufacturing is outpacing traditional organizational adaptation.
The “Silver Tsunami”: A massive leadership turnover as baby boomers retire, coupled with a lack of robust succession plans.
Continuous Learning: The traditional degree is being re-evaluated, shifting focus toward “durable skills” like systems thinking and synthesis.
Key Programs and Services
The Innovation Lab consolidates Furman’s institutes (Entrepreneurship, Riley, Community Health, and Sustainable Communities) to offer:
Professional Education: Certificates in leadership, innovation, and digital transformation.
The Catalyst Program: A low-cost membership designed to give smaller organizations access to high-quality leadership development.
Experiential Learning: Unique programs like the BMW Executive Leadership Lab, which uses track driving to teach strategic performance.
Corporate Partnerships: Custom “innovation sprints” and internal startup support, as seen in their work with Michelin and T&S Brass.
Building the Ecosystem
Furman University is:
Establishing new certificate programs
Building pathways to graduate credentials for local companies
Partnering with other learning institutions
Integrating into the existing innovation ecosystem
Providing services and benefits to local organizations
Goals
Cultivate human center problem solvers who build a better world through leadership innovation, and digital transformation.
Community & Events Update
BMW Pro-Am (June 1–7): A major charity event featuring celebrities like Bill Murray and YouTuber Grant Horvat. It includes golf clinics, a “Dog and Jog,” and street fairs, with proceeds benefiting local nonprofits.
Upstate Connect (June 3): A meeting at Feed and Seed in Greenville focusing on food insecurity
SC 250 Event: Oconee History Museum Screening the Ken Burns Documentary on the Revolutionary War
As part of the SC 250 Celebration of the American Revolution, the Oconee County History Museum is showing an episode from the Ken Burns Documentary about the Revolutionary War each Wednesday in April and May. The event includes free popcorn & drinks!
Visit the link below for more information and to check out the schedule.
Applications Being Accepted for the 2026 InnoVision Awards
Applications are being accepted through May 31 for the 2026 InnoVision Awards, which honor distinguished South Carolina businesses, organizations, and individuals who set new standards for innovation and technology advancement.
Three finalists will be selected in each of six categories and showcased at the Annual InnoVision Awards celebration on November 5, 2026, in Greenville, SC.
The 2026 NamiWalks Upstate will be held on Saturday, May 16, on the Greenville Technical College Main Campus. This event supports the work of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) with a local fundraising goal of $120,000. You can register to participate in the walk or make a donation to support the cause.
