TATT welcomes Anna-Elyse Lewis Abrams as Communications Coordinator

    TATT welcomes Anna-Elyse Lewis Abrams as Communications Coordinator

    Ten at the Top (TATT) is pleased to announce the addition of Anna-Elyse Lewis Abrams to the position of Communications Coordinator.
    Her role centers around TATT’s mission to increase collaborative capacity across the 10 counties
    of the upstate by highlighting the efforts and initiatives of the organization, as well as those of its
    partners and sponsors. Additionally, she will serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries,
    coordinate outreach efforts, draft in-house publications, and devise strategic marketing campaigns that
    amplify and elevate TATT’s messaging.

    A graduate of USC Upstate, Anna-Elyse brings with her a background of communications and marketing
    in local government and community development, having served as the Communications Specialist for
    the City of Spartanburg. She is a lifelong resident of Spartanburg, and enjoys spending time with her
    family and friends, and performing with local community theatres.

    “We are pleased to have Anna-Elyse join the Ten at the Top team,” said TATT Executive Director Dean
    Hybl. “Her background in communications and familiarity with the region will be very valuable as we
    continue to build connections and the collective capacity of the Upstate.”
    “Ten at the Top is doing such great work to connect and strengthen the Upstate.” said Lewis Abrams, “I
    am so excited to join those efforts, and amplify the message of this organization’s inspiring mission
    alongside an incredible team.”

    Have a question for Anna-Elyse? Email her at aeabrams@tenatthetop.org 

    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 connects and encourages regional collaboration through data-driven research
    and regular gatherings of leaders and residents to address key regional issues. TATT works with local
    partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning that enhances the economic vitality and quality
    of life for Upstate residents today and as the region continues to grow.

    UEE Partner Workshop May Recap

    UEE Partner Workshop May Recap

    UEE Partner Workshop (May 3, 2022)

    How’s Business…Really? – The Story Behind the Numbers

     

    The “How’s Business…Really” series continued with The Story Behind the Numbers: Translating Numbers into Financial Goals, presented by Jerry Smith of Piedmont SCORE. This is part the 2002 virtual Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem Partner Workshop Series.

    Jerry discussed what financial goals are, why business owners set goals, the importance of development a written plan, and covered setting up a start-up budget, sales forecasts, break-even analysis, profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and the importance of making a plan so that your goals drive your numbers.

    Click here to watch a recording of the workshop and here to view the presentation.

    Cash Flow Worksheet

    Break Even Analysis

    Financials & Common Ratio Worksheets

    The SC Small Business Development Center, the Women’s Business Center of CommunityWorks, and Piedmont SCORE are offering this series to provide tools and tips for you to assess the financial health of your small business. See previous workshops from the series below:

    Workshop #1 – Show Me the Paper Trail! Identifying Important Financial Data with Ana Parra of Community Works Women’s Business Center – recapvideo and presentation.

    Workshop #2 – Numbers Don’t Lie – Organizing the Numbers with Earl Gregorich of SC Small Business Development Center – recapvideo, and presentation.

    iMAGINE Upstate is returning to Downtown Greenville!

    iMAGINE Upstate is returning to Downtown Greenville!

    Get ready for STEAM fun for the whole family- iMAGINE Upstate is returning to Downtown Greenville!

    The iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival Fueled by Fluor is returning to Downtown Greenville on April 2nd.

    The iMAGINE Upstate Festival is a free street festival held annually on Main Street in Greenville. The mission of iMAGINE Upstate is to create meaningful experiences that promote a culture of lifelong learning and career readiness, with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) in pre-K through 12 education career pathways.

    Over 50 exhibits from Upstate businesses and organizations will offer hands-on, educational activities for attendees of all ages. Experience the excitement of STEAM through drone races, robotics shows, explosive science experiments, 3D printing, arts and crafts, dance performances, and much more!

    “Our amazing sponsors and exhibitors make STEAM accessible and fun. They help students answer the question, ‘When I grow up, I want to be…’ And it can be anything – an automotive engineer, an art therapist, a zoologist, a food scientist – you name it,” said Dallas Thomas, Program Coordinator for iMAGINE Upstate.

    Key experiences will include:

    • Join Fluor, iMAGINE Upstate’s title sponsor and a global leader in the engineering and construction industry, to help build a better world! Grab your hard hat and join the team! Learn how Fluor designs and builds the world’s toughest projects as you get certified in Design & Planning, Environmental Stewardship and Site Safety. Then, you’ll try your hand at building as part of a Fluor construction team. Working together, you’ll learn how to deliver safe, well-executed and efficient results.
    • ‘Break I.T. Down’ with ScanSource! Learn more about the technology solutions you use every day! Put on your thinking cap and solve puzzles using QR codes and RFID (Radio-frequency identification).
    • On your marks, get set, GO! Ride a stationary bike or use a handheld generator to power an RC car around a racetrack with ZF Transmissions Race Around the World! Learn how physics and electricity can make a car go faster or slower. Take an inside look an automotive transmission and crank a handle to explore L.E.D efficiency.
    • How does the science and technology inside your electronic devices work? How does physics help you listen to your favorite music? Explore the relationships between electricity, magnetism, power storage, and audio filtration with Kyocera-AVX!
    • Can you overcome the friction created by three different surfaces? Will you be able to Dodge the windmill to putt the golf ball into the hole? Which speed is optimal for a conveyor belt? STEM discoveries await you at Dodge Industrial!

    The iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival Fueled by Fluor will be held Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 from 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Greenville. Attendees can enjoy complimentary Greenlink bus service to the festival site on festival day, thanks to Proterra! Greenlink will also be operating a free downtown trolley that will offer shuttle service from 10 AM to 7 PM on festival day. Festivalgoers can park for free at County Square and ride the trolley to and from the festival site.

    There is no cost to attend, and the festival is open to the public. T-shirts, food from local food trucks, and refreshments will be available for purchase.

    Mark your calendars, and join Upstate South Carolina in celebrating the joy and excitement of STEAM!

    Stay up to date by visiting our website and following us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram. The iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival Fueled by Fluor is a program of South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics & Science (SCCMS) at Clemson University.

     

     

     

     

    TATT Chat Recap – February 10, 2022

    TATT Chat Recap – February 10, 2022

    Welcome                                                        

                     David Feild, TATT Chairman

    Guest Speaker

    Dr. Gail Wilson Awan, CEO, Urban League of the Upstate

    View presentation here. View a video recap here

    Resource Update

               Teri Gilstrap, Anderson County Economic Development – ACED helps Anderson County to provide outreach and entice new companies to come to Anderson County or current companies to expand. Main focus is to help with availability of workforce. Of the 5 school districts, there are roughly 2,000 students who are actively looking for work. Currently, they’re helping to put employers in front of students to help them learn and show opportunities and workshops that are available to them. They help students figure out what interests them through workshops or work studies. Over the last 5-6 years, they were able to develop the Development Corporation of Anderson County to engage in community activities that promote and support economic development activities in Anderson County. To learn more, please visit https://www.acedsc.org/ .

               Susan Anderson, Anderson Interfaith Ministries – AIM’s mission is to connect people with support, resources, and education to empower themselves to be self-sufficient. 5 programs: Pivotal Support, Hunger ministries, Women & Children’s program, Housing Rehabilitation, and financial stability center program. Through incredible partnerships throughout the upstate, AIM is able to create generational change. They also have an AMERICORP program to help bring 10 individuals into the non-profit world and help those around them. Visit www.aimcharity.org for more information.

    Adjourn                                                                  

                            David Feild

    Save the Date! 

    TATT CHAT March 10, 2022 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    Guest Speaker: Walt Lindsley, Site Director and General Manager for the Lockheed Martin Greenville Facility

    Upstate Mobility Alliance Director – Job Opening

    Upstate Mobility Alliance Director – Job Opening

    THA · Greenville, South Carolina

    The Hayes Approach has partnered with Upstate Mobility Alliance (UMA), which is a regional public, private and non-profit partnership following a two-year effort called “Connecting Our Future.”  Alliance participants and community partners include transportation organizations in the Upstate, local businesses and community organizations focused on improving mobility and access to transportation choices across the Upstate region.

    This regional effort is under the umbrella of Ten at the Top (TATT), 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.

    Whom We Seek:

    The Upstate Mobility Alliance Director will lead a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to improving mobility options in the Upstate region. 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 and advocating for public policies and investments that positively impact mobility across the Upstate region. Additional requirements include:

    • Minimum of five years of experience leading collective impact, coalition, or other similar collaborative community work
    • Proven track record of consensus building as well as developing and implementing initiatives that address specific objectives
    • Experience introducing or actively supporting legislative or public policy changes that support mobility initiatives
    • 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 computer office suites, such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
    • 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
    • Work with Alliance Leadership Committee and Task Forces to ensure that goals and strategies are in place and action plans are established and implemented to achieve those goals
    • 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
    • Create visible advocacy, representation on behalf of UMA stakeholder groups
    • 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
    • Track projects and policies that will impact mobility in the Upstate
    • Provide UMA partners and stakeholders with Call-to-Action opportunities when support is needed
    • 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 a health insurance stipend, paid vacation & holidays and a cell phone stipend. The expected salary range for this position is $80,000-110,000 but will be finalized based on the experience of the selected candidate. 

    The Spartanburg Art Museum

    The Spartanburg Art Museum

    The Spartanburg Art Museum is a regional institution focused on inspiring and engaging people of all ages through contemporary art exhibitions, affordable education, and more! From free admission and affordable art classes to professional development programs and public art projects, SAM is committed to making art accessible for every member of our community. SAM is also the only art museum in the Upstate that exclusively shows contemporary art. We change out our exhibits four to five times a year so there will always be something fresh on view when you visit the museum!

    Our current exhibit, Tina Freeman: Lamentations (on loan from the New Orleans Museum of Art), contains a powerful series of photographs taken over a period of 7 years. The photographer, Tina Freeman, traveled between the wetlands of Louisiana and the glacial landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica to capture these breathtaking images. Paired together as diptychs, Freeman’s photographs reveal a haunting connectedness between spaces that are 5,000 miles apart. This exhibit will only be on view until Saturday, February 5, 2022 so be sure to come visit us before then!

    Just looking at a work of art has been proven to increase blood flow to the brain by as much as 10% – the equivalent of seeing someone you love. And even if you don’t like or understand the piece you’re looking at, your critical thinking skills are subconsciously at work, searching for a common thread; searching for meaning. In fact, it’s been rumored that looking at works of art can help cure writer’s block. So if you ever find yourself in a creative rut or simply need to boost your mood, swing by SAM and find inspiration in our gallery. We’re open to the public 5 days a week and admission is always free!

    Similarly, creative expression also has a positive effect on the mind. Making art has been shown to enhance brain function, raise serotonin levels, and reduce stress. It has also been found to promote self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment in both children and adults. At our museum, we believe all humans need an outlet for their creativity, which is why the Art School at SAM offers a range of classes from ceramics, painting, and drawing to lectures, self-care programs, and more.

    Become one with nature this Spring during our Sketching in the Garden class or discover strange new facts when you attend our lecture The Weird History of Soap Carving. You can also mold your sculpting skills with our Ceramics and Wheel Throwing classes or spend Saturday getting creative at SAM during our monthly Family Fundays. If you’d rather make art from the comfort of your own home, our to-go kits have got you covered! The Art School at SAM is proud to provide local learners of all ages and skill levels with a space to express their creativity.

    SAM’s recently-announced Professional Development program is just another way our museum enriches the local community. This program helps regional educators stay up-to-date on trends in the ever-evolving world of art education, equipping them with the tools to keep their students creative and engaged. From exploring new technologies and research to discussing recent methodologies and materials, SAM’s Professional Development program instills confidence in its participants, empowering them to educate a generation.

    In 2020, we as a culture were radically altered. Our narrative of who we are as a community continues to change, strengthened by our individual and collective experiences. SAM’s latest public art project, Go Figure, is inspired by current events and the desire to connect safely with each other again – without COVID-19, without racial injustices, and without exclusion. Our goal for Go Figure is to create a project that expresses how we want to re-emerge together as a community: united.

    The Spartanburg Art Museum’s public art projects foster local pride, boost tourism, and connect members of the local community. In fact, studies have found that the health and well-being of a community is deeply connected to the ability of its individuals to come together to work towards a common goal. Public art projects like Go Figure can act as this common goal, promoting cooperation, collaboration, and communication as well as demonstrating a town’s commitment to growth, development, and unity.

    SAM is also excited to be offering memberships that come with some truly incredible perks! Every new member receives a t-shirt designed by local artist and SAM board member Adrian Meadows, exclusive access to four members-only events throughout the year, 10% off our online gift shop, and reciprocal membership access to 150+ museums across the Southeast through SEMC’s Southeastern Reciprocal Membership program.

    This means that when you become a member at SAM, you also get free access to amazing institutions such as Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville, TN, the Columbia Museum of Art, the Miami Institute of Contemporary Art, and more. Plus, a membership to SAM is 100% tax-deductible (as applicable by law)! Want to learn more about the Spartanburg Art Museum? Visit our website at spartanburgartmuseum.org, reach out to us on social media @spartanburgartmuseum, or email museum@spartanarts.org!