Global Opportunity, Local Impact: The Life Sciences Industry Responds to COVID

    Global Opportunity, Local Impact: The Life Sciences Industry Responds to COVID

    With more than 650 firms and 43,000 professionals engaged in research, development and commercialization of innovative healthcare, medical device, industrial, environmental and agricultural biotech and products, life sciences in South Carolina is booming.  The Palmetto State increasingly earns a prominent seat at the table of this $1.5 trillion industry.  Yet at its core, life sciences is personal – focused on improving health and quality of life for each of us as individuals. Hear from 3 leaders how their work and the industry is impacting your own health and future here at home… and how the growing cadre of life sciences leaders and entrepreneurs across the Palmetto State are making waves around the world.

    Understanding Bitcoin and Why Blockchain Technology Will Be as Transformative as the Internet

    Understanding Bitcoin and Why Blockchain Technology Will Be as Transformative as the Internet

    Join the World Affairs Council Upstate and our co-hosts, the European American Chamber of Commerce-Carolinas and Upstate Alliance as we welcome Sheri Kaiserman.  Sheri is an accomplished finance professional with over 30 years of Wall Street experience.  Over the last several years she has been increasingly focused on early stage investing within the  technology, healthcare and blockchain sectors.  Prior to this, Sheri spent sixteen years as the Head of the Equities Division at Wedbush.  Under her leadership, Wedbush published the first Wall Street research report on the topic of Bitcoin and Blockchain in 2013 and was one of the first financial services firms to start investing in the sector.  She began her career at Oppenheimer, rising to Senior VP, and spent ten years there doing Institutional Equity Research Sales.
    The Global Rise of China: A World Affairs Council Upstate distinguished speaker event

    The Global Rise of China: A World Affairs Council Upstate distinguished speaker event

    Join WACU as we welcome Dr. Jeff Becker, an expert in U.S. – China relations.  Over the past two decades, China has gone from a minor actor on global issues to one of the  world’s most influential countries. PRC government actors, as well as Chinese state-owned and  private firms, now operate around the globe. Meanwhile, China’s military, particularly the  People’s   Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy), has been tasked with protecting China’s growing  overseas   interests, which include protecting the nation’s maritime energy security, maintaining  access to   markets for international trade, and protecting China’s growing overseas assets, including a growing number of Chinese citizens living and working abroad.
    How should we understand China’s growing overseas presence and emerging international influence? How is China’s role as a global actor evolving, and what does this mean for U.S.- China relations?

    From 2014-2018, Dr. Becker supported the U.S. Navy with regard to China’s participation in the multilateral “Rim of the Pacific” exercise. As part of these efforts, he has worked alongside U.S. and Chinese exercise planners, and has spent time at
    sea aboard multiple Chinese navy warships.
    Dr. Becker’s book, From Peasants to Protesters: Social Ties, Resources, and Migrant Labor Contention in Contemporary China, was published in 2014 by Lexington Books. He has a Ph.D. in political science from the George Washington University, an M.A. in political science from Columbia University, and a B.A. from Colgate University.  To learn more about Dr. Becker please click here. 
    The Fastest Growing Companies in the Upstate

    The Fastest Growing Companies in the Upstate

    by Sharon Purvis

    In October, a luncheon in Columbia, hosted by South Carolina Business Awards and presented by The Capital Corporation, celebrated the top 25 fastest-growing companies in South Carolina—and twelve of those companies are here in the Upstate.

    The qualifications for the awards are that the company must be headquartered in South Carolina, have been in operation for at least 3 fiscal years, and have reported revenues of at least $3 million in the most recent year; judging is based on financial and employee growth over a 3-year period.

    Those Upstate companies that were honored at the luncheon reflect the larger trend of growth in our area. The companies include:

    • a financial services firm: WCM Global Wealth (Greenville), a diversified financial services firm specialized in providing exclusive financial products and services
    • two staffing firms that cater to technology groups: The Hiring Group (Greer), a technical staffing and recruiting firm, and Intellectual Capitol (Greenville), a staffing and technology services company that provides technology assessment and consulting, strategic staffing, and application development
    • three companies in the technical/engineering/manufacturing sector: Clear Touch Interactive (Greenville),a leading provider of multi-touch interactive flat panels for education,government, and businesses; NextGen Supply Chain (Greenville), providing consulting, engineering support, andsupply chain management services to advanced manufacturing industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical devices; and Thomas Mechanical (Laurens), a mechanical contractor specializing in commercial/industrial HVAC services, fabrication, process piping, engineering, and maintenance services.   
    • two contracting and construction companies: Harper General Contractors (Greenville), a full service general contracting and construction management firm offering preconstruction, building information modeling, design-build, construction management at risk, LEED construction, and design-assist services; and Clayton Construction Company (Spartanburg), a general contractor that will provide preconstruction planning, project coordination, post-construction follow-up, and a range of other services based on the project.
    • two real estate companies: RealOp Investments (Greenville), a commercial real estate investment company; and National Land Realty (Greenville), a full-service real estate brokerage company specializing in farm, ranch, recreational, plantation, timber, equestrian, waterfront, and commercial land across the country. 
    • a fitness company: 9Round (Simpsonville), specialized fitness centers that bring kickboxing fitness training to the average person in a convenient, affordable, 30-minute, full-body circuit format.
    • and a food company: Duke Brands (Greenville), the holding company for Duke Foods, a manufacturer of ready-to-eat dips, spreads (most notably Duke’s Mayonnaise), and bakery items, as well as the Duke Sandwich Company restaurants.

    Additionally, the following awards were handed out: Harper General Contractors, headquartered in Greenville, was presented with the South Carolina Economic Impact Award. The Rising Star was awarded to Global Sales Group (Easley). South Carolina Excellence in Business Awards went to A3 Communications (Irmo), Duke Brands (Greenville), PCI Group (Fort Mill), and Quality Business Solutions (Travelers Rest). Congratulations to all of these companies for their growth and for their contribution to the grown of the Upstate and of South Carolina.