Allen Amsler, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Columbia-based McCrory Construction, has been elected 2024 Board Chair of Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas (ABC Carolinas). ABC Carolinas is a leading construction industry association representing more than 450 member firms in the two-state Carolinas region. Seven of the 20 board members, including Amsler, are based in South Carolina with the remainder located in North Carolina.
Having spent his entire professional career in construction, Amsler is passionate about elevating the construction industry in our region and beyond. On the heels of celebrating ABC Carolinas’ 25th anniversary year, Amsler and his fellow board members are focused on strategically paving the way for the next 25 years through ongoing initiatives with emerging professionals and across all workforce development efforts.
“ABC Carolinas represents many successful member organizations – general contractors, construction management firms, specialty contractors, material and equipment suppliers, and service providers – and it’s clear that developing future leaders is the lifeline to our collective long-term success,” said Amsler. “Of course, we will continue to be champions of safety and workforce development. Equally important, we will continue to be a voice heard nationally and regionally when it comes to shaping policy to further our deeply rooted merit shop philosophy.”
Amsler went on to say, “As I step into my role as 2024 Chair, I am energized by the unprecedented growth potential for our industry in the Carolinas. In keeping with our vision for ‘Building the Next Generation,’ this theme will be evident throughout the year, including our annual Construction Convention in downtown Greenville, South Carolina this August.”
Amsler began his extensive career with McCrory in 1987 following graduation from the University of Florida where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction. After immersing himself in all aspects of the business through increasingly responsible roles — ranging from Assistant Project Manager to Project Manager, to Vice President of Operations — he assumed the title of President and CEO in 2006. In 2020, Amsler passed the torch to current McCrory President Allen Bridgers, while retaining his role as Chief Executive Officer.
Amsler has held leadership roles in various civic and non-profit organizations over the years, most notably serving seven years as Chairman of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) after being appointed by then Governor Nikki Haley. He is also past Chairman of the National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina; the Special Olympics South Carolina; and Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After the Masters. In addition, Amsler served on the board for the Humane Society of South Carolina and as a Lexington advisory board member for the National Bank of South Carolina (NBSC).
About ABC Carolinas — Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas (ABC Carolinas) represents general contractors, construction management firms, specialty contractors, various material and equipment suppliers, and service providers all dedicated to the construction industry in North and South Carolina. Based in Charlotte, NC, ABC Carolinas is one of 69 chapters of ABC, a national association representing more than 20,000 members. South Carolina has three regional ABC councils – Midlands, Upstate and Lowcountry. North Carolina has four regional councils – Charlotte, Triad, Triangle and Coastal. For more information and news, visit www.abccarolinas.org.
About McCrory Construction — McCrory Construction, headquartered in Columbia, S.C., with an additional office in Greenville, S.C., is a full-service general contractor that has operated continuously since 1918. At 106 years old, McCrory is South Carolina’s oldest general contractor. Licensed in 13 states throughout the Southeast, McCrory has served an array of private and public sector clients through more than 3,000 general construction, design-build and construction management projects. Now under fifth generation private ownership, McCrory continues to be a leading force in retail, commercial, industrial, healthcare, and multi-family construction in the Southeast. McCrory is consistently honored by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) as a Top Performer, a prestigious national ranking that recognizes contractors for demonstrating world-class performance in five specific areas: safety, quality, diversity, project excellence and special designations, ranked by work hours. Known for its people-focused culture, McCrory has been named one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina by SCBiz. To learn more, visit mccroryconstruction.com.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – George Orwell wrote, “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.” Mike Burgess knows Orwell was right. Mike is a history teacher, caught between today’s left and right in their efforts to seize control of the future.
He wrote, in a recent edition of The State newspaper, about what it’s like to be “a culture war piñata.”
He’ll talk about that, and about the importance of our youth learning their country’s history in order to become worthwhile citizens, in a free lecture at noon on Friday, March 8, at the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum in Columbia. His program is called, “The Soul of America: The Challenges of Teaching the American Revolution in the 21st Century.” The program is part of the museum’s regular Noon Debriefs series.
In his guest column on Feb. 4, Burgess wrote:
“Any grasp of who we are as Americans requires a deep understanding of American history… We are failing our children in this task.
“We are at a crossroads in South Carolina with how American history is to be taught in our classrooms. We are trapped between those who want to whitewash and sanitize our state and national story to omit those truths we find uncomfortable and those who want to erase any part of our past that does not meet our 21st century social and cultural norms. …”
The River Bluff High School teacher has been speaking publicly on the subject of his calling, and has been much in demand as a speaker since being named last year as both the Gilder Lehrman South Carolina History Teacher of the Year and South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Teacher of American History. Just a few days ago, he made a presentation to the DAR in Greenville.
In his speeches, he says “History must be taught fully, fairly, and honestly, or else we have a limited understanding of the past, with no way to explain the present, and no hope of building a better future.”
And as he told the DAR, “No time period is more important for our students to fully grasp as future leaders of our republic than that of the American Revolution.” That period is of particular interest for Burgess, and he has spoken about it previously at the Relic Room, specifically on the subject of the legendary British officer Banastre Tarleton.
The American Revolution was the moment when “the natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” became the worldwide “standard for human rights.” He asserts that “Any grasp of who we are as Americans requires an understanding of the American Revolution. Without it, we are an uninformed and flawed citizenry at best. At worst, we are the authors of our own demise as a nation.”
Burgess works hard to keep that from happening in his classroom every day. He will continue that mission at the Relic Room on March 8.
About the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum
Founded in 1896, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum is an accredited museum focusing on South Carolina’s distinguished martial tradition through the Revolutionary War, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Vietnam, the War on Terror, and other American conflicts. It serves as the state’s military history museum by collecting, preserving, and exhibiting South Carolina’s military heritage from the colonial era to the present, and by providing superior educational experiences and programming. It recently opened a major new exhibit, “A War With No Front Lines: South Carolina and the Vietnam War, 1965-1973.” The museum is located at 301 Gervais St. in Columbia, sharing the Columbia Mills building with the State Museum. For more information, go to https://crr.sc.gov/.
SOUTH CAROLINA – SCbio, in partnership with MassBio, recently announced its new accelerator program, SCbioDrive, designed to advance emerging companies through expert business curricula, industry guidance and mentorship.
A biannual program, SCbioDrive will select up to six seed-stage therapeutic and medical device companies for an eight-week course, which will consist of seven weeks of virtual instruction followed by one week in person at SCbio facilities in Charleston, S.C. Company founders will complete industry-specific curriculum modules, led by experts from leading companies within the Palmetto State, which will include:
• Business Planning & Commercialization
• Fundraising
• People Strategy & Operations
• Drug Discovery & Therapeutics
• Intellectual Property & Legal
• Regulatory Strategy
• Business Scaling
The program will conclude with an in-person demo day.
“SCbioDrive will give emerging life science companies a solid foundation of resources, increased access to capital and continued mentorship from a network of established business leaders,” said SCbio President and CEO James Chappell. “We want this program to show entrepreneurs that South Carolina is the state where businesses, at their earliest stages, are set up for success and sustained growth.”
“Our vision for Drive has always been to support diverse founders with exciting science no matter where they are starting their company,” said MassBio CEO & President Kendalle Burlin O’Connell. “We’re pleased to see SCbio take the MassBioDrive model and put a Palmetto State spin on it to accelerate their homegrown startups toward success.”
SCbioDrive will launch this fall. Applications for the inaugural program cohort will be available in June at www.scbio.org.
SCbio is South Carolina’s investor-driven economic development organization exclusively focused on building, advancing, and growing the life sciences industry in the state. SCbio represents more than 1,000 organizations employing more than 87,000 professionals across the state and supports and advances organizations in multiple arenas including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and equipment, digital health, research and medical labs, bioscience distribution, bio-ag and more. For additional information about SCbio and the life sciences industry, visit www.SCbio.org.
Colliers | South Carolina announced Maryanne Grinnell has been promoted to Marketing Coordinator and Cooper Belle has been hired as Marketing Assistant in the firm’s Columbia office.
As a Marketing Coordinator, Grinnell supports property marketing and business development efforts for Colliers’ Retail Services Team in the Columbia office. Additionally, she works with the firm’s four South Carolina offices on the development and implementation of social media strategies. Grinnell also serves on the company’s annual United Way giving campaign committee.
“Maryanne has shown tremendous growth during her two years with Colliers,” said Liz McCary, Vice President of Marketing for Colliers | South Carolina. “We are excited to have her in this new role working with our retail team to apply best practices she has learned and taking on a more hands-on role with our company’s social media presence.”
Cooper Belle
As a Marketing Assistant for Colliers, Belle assists the marketing and industrial brokerage teams in Columbia by creating high-quality marketing materials and executing property marketing strategies through graphic design, digital marketing and content creation.
“We are excited to welcome Cooper to our team,” said McCary. “As a recent graduate, he brings a diverse skill set and fresh perspective to our team of 14 marketing staff across South Carolina.”
Grinnell and Belle are both graduates of the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business with Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.
Columbia, S.C. – Cyberwoven, an award-winning brand, digital marketing, and website design and development firm, is thrilled to share the latest additions to our team.
Joseph Chiariello and Karen French join the agency’s Client Services Team as new Account Managers, while Justin Burke joins the agency’s Digital Marketing Team as the new Digital Marketing Manager. We are also delighted to announce the promotion of Jenny Skipper, valued ‘Weaver, to the position of Senior Account Manager.
Joseph Chiariello:
A graduate of Georgia Southern University, Chiariello has over 10 years of marketing strategy and management experience with success in implementing local and international campaigns. He brings a wealth of knowledge in design, digital marketing, eCommerce, and user interface (UI) design to the team. Additionally, Chiariello has a strong background in project management, cost saving analysis, and omni-channel management.
Karen French:
French has an extensive background in the e-commerce industry and in leading customer and consumer services teams. She has a proven track record of knowing how to implement systems and operations that have brought about game-changing results for her clients. Her passion for creating thoughtful customer experiences will be a huge asset for the firm’s growing Client Services Team.
“I am thrilled to witness the growth and evolution of the team,” states Alison Mann, director of accounts at Cyberwoven. “As we continue to enhance our client service capabilities, Joe and Karen’s experiences in retail and e-commerce will continue to add to the firm’s diverse offerings.”
Jenny Skipper:
Skipper has been a part of Cyberwoven for more than two and a half years on the Client Services Team. A valuable member of the organization, Skipper is a known problem-solver with a strong background in marketing and communications – one she relies on daily to help clients successfully meet their goals.
Mann additionally commended Skipper’s dedication and hard work, noting that her recent promotion to Senior Account Manager is a testament to her accomplishments over the years. Her contributions to the work developed for clients in the industrial, packaging, and supply chain sector has grown Cyberwoven’s portfolio exponentially.
Justin Burke:
Burke has an extensive background in brand, digital, and content marketing. He has two master’s degrees from Brandeis University and a bachelor’s degree in communication and journalism from Suffolk University. Burke’s strong social and content strategy skills, coupled with his diverse background, will bring new attributes to one of the firm’s fastest growing markets.
“We are excited to have another seasoned marketer on our team,” states Jon Rivers, Cyberwoven’s director of digital marketing. “With Justin’s addition to our team, we can now offer our clients more in the way of organic social and content marketing support, ensuring those efforts align closely with their marketing and brand strategies. We look forward to what Justin will bring to the Digital Marketing Team, and how he will produce more impact for our clients.”
Each of these appointments mark an exciting chapter in Cyberwoven’s journey as the firm continues to expand and strengthen our capabilities in serving our clients.
About Cyberwoven
Cyberwoven is a brand, marketing, and web agency headquartered on Main Street in downtown Columbia, SC. Since opening our doors in 2001, we have launched award-winning websites, guided the creation and evolution of brands, and built audience engagement both online and in person. We work with organizations in various industries, including the arts, culture, government, retail, education, finance, healthcare, and insurance. Our goal is to create authentic and unmistakable brand experiences that are infused with imagination, build trust, and inspire love. Learn more at cyberwoven.com.
One of last year’s floral interpretations paired with its art inspiration. Photo credit: Victor Johnson / The Columbia Museum of Art.
Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces the return of Art Blossoms, a beautifully botanical exhibition experience and museum fundraiser on view Thursday, March 21, through Sunday, March 24, the first weekend of spring. Over four festive days of flowers, fun, and fine art, Art Blossoms showcases a kaleidoscope of fresh floral arrangements — located throughout CMA galleries, public spaces, and Boyd Plaza — created by local garden clubs, florists, and designers alongside the art that inspired them.
“Join us for the Columbia Museum of Art’s celebration of spring, where garden clubs and floral designers return to bring guests a museum-wide kaleidoscope of breathtaking floral arrangements that are themselves works of art,” says CMA Executive Director Della Watkins. “This four-day exhibition and its packed lineup of events are so much fun, and I hope guests are rejuvenated and inspired by this kickoff to the season.”
Now in its fourth year, Art Blossoms is a moment for the community to come together to celebrate the arts and the beauty of nature. Visitors are invited to marvel at more than 20 living art arrangements and to participate in a full schedule of dynamic events. This year Art Blossoms brings back beloved events like its opening celebration, Roses and Rosé tastings, and art classes. It also includes exciting new events like a demonstration and dialogue with Punk Ikebana author, artist, and acclaimed floral designer Louesa Roebuck and foraging excursions with Matt Kip of Full Belly Foraging.
Art Blossoms is a unique, limited-time exhibition that also serves as a fundraiser for the Columbia Museum of Art. Every ticket purchased for the exhibition and its related events supports the CMA’s award-winning arts education and programming and helps to ensure a thriving creative community in the Midlands.
Art Blossoms general museum admission: $20 / Free for members. General admission tickets are sold at the door and not available for advance purchase. Event tickets are on sale now.
Art Blossoms Events:
Art Blossoms Opening Celebration
Wednesday, March 20 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Shake off those winter blues with the Columbia Museum of Art! Celebrate the start of spring and the opening of Art Blossoms, your museum’s annual exhibition fundraiser in which works of art are transformed into stunning floral arrangements. Be the first to experience the breathtaking installations and creative arrangements courtesy of florists, designers, and garden clubs from across the state and enjoy refreshments catered by F2T Productions. Your ticket purchase helps support the mission of the CMA to spark powerful connections through art from around the corner and around the world. $70 / $50 for members.
Floral Flair: Brighten Up Any Space
Thursday, March 21 | 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Flowers and plants can make your interior and exterior spaces feel more alive and unique. See firsthand how Steven Ford, residential and commercial interior designer and owner of Steven Ford Interiors, uses fresh floral touches as cost-effective and fashionable mood-boosters for the home and garden. Learn general principles of design and tricks for stylish accessorizing as Ford engages his special dazzle to bring three room vignettes to life right before your eyes. $35 / $20 for members. Admission to Art Blossoms included.
Garden Design with Bill Guess
Thursday, March 21 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Welcome the spring season on Boyd Plaza with Bill Guess, garden coach at B.B. Barns. Florists take into consideration the color and form of the flowers used in a floral arrangement; gardeners use these same design elements but must also account for the water and sun needs of the plants selected. Guess presents several formulas for botanical combinations that successfully incorporate both the aesthetic and horticultural needs of the plants in a garden arrangement. Each participant leaves with a blooming spring annual plant to get them started at home. $35 / $20 for members. Admission to Art Blossoms included.
Roses & Rosé
Thursday, March 21 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 | 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Sip into spring with wines paired expertly with Art Blossoms arrangements and nibbles. Hosted by Tim Gardner of the two-time James Beard Award-nominated Lula Drake Wine Parlor. Use the first half hour to mingle, enjoy nibbles, and explore the galleries before the tasting. Ages 21 and up. $100 / $80 for members.
Art Class: Floral Design (SOLD OUT)
Friday, March 22 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Join Sarah Shell, founder of Fern Studio Flowers, for a morning of floral design. Shell guides participants through the steps of designing and arranging a compote in Fern’s signature garden style. This class uses lush, specialty blooms with a concentration on seasonal, local flowers. Ticket includes the compote container and all flowers and mechanics needed to create a stunning centerpiece. Ages 15 and up. $200 / $160 for members.
Foraging Walks with Matt Kip of Full Belly Foraging
Friday, March 22 | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 | 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Have you ever considered the edible flora growing wild in the city? Matt Kip of Full Belly Foraging has been doing it for over 30 years and knows just where to go and what to look for. This year, celebrate Art Blossoms a little differently on a nature walk with Kip at the Columbia Riverwalk to explore what’s right here in our city’s natural landscape. Identify and harvest wild edible and medicinal plants, go over species to avoid, and learn about local habitats and what useful species can likely be found there. Kip brings a wild dish to sample before the excursion. This private walk lasts roughly 1.5 hours, so wear comfortable and weather-appropriate clothes and shoes. Limited space available. Meeting location will be included in the confirmation email after registration. $35 / $28 for members.
Matt Kip grew up exploring the woods near his house in the sandhill country of central South Carolina. After witnessing heavy machinery turn the woods near his home into housing developments and shopping centers, Kip began searching for a way to live that didn’t require the destruction of nature. Fascinated by the old ways of generations who lived without the manufactured products and industrial food systems of our modern world, he began reading every book he could find about wild edibles. For 15 years now, Kip has been leading plant walks along the rivers in Columbia through his business, Full Belly Foraging. In that time he has introduced thousands of people to a refreshing way of seeing and connecting with the natural world.
Art Class: Paper Making with Plants
Saturday, March 23 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Create your own handmade paper using plant fibers from cotton, abaca — a plant grown in the Philippines used to make artist paper — and other floral ephemera. Participants can keep their finished paper for enjoyment or plant it and watch their creations grow and evolve. Taught by artist and CMA docent Velvet Underwood. All supplies and equipment provided. Ages 15 and up. $150 / $120 for members.
Velvet Underwood developed a love for making handmade paper and book arts several years ago when she was a fiber arts student at Central Michigan University. Since then, she has taken several university classes and workshops to advance her knowledge of both. Underwood is a resident of Chapin, where she lives with her husband and two rescue dogs. When she isn’t busy making art, she volunteers her time as a docent at the CMA and is involved with community theater at the Chapin Theater Company.
Punk Ikebana Demonstration and Dialogue
Saturday, March 23 | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Join us on day three of Art Blossoms as acclaimed artist, author, and floral designer Louesa Roebuck celebrates the early spring flora of South Carolina. In her critically acclaimed books Punk Ikebana and Foraged Flora, Roebuck explains classic rules of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, and demonstrates how to bend those rules in her distinctive style. See how her work unites the cultural meanings and wise elegance of a traditional perspective with an exhilarating freedom from convention. Audience interaction is encouraged as Roebuck shares how she has created transcendent, eco-luxe compositions with seasonal flora foraged and composed in situ from the San Francisco Botanical Gardens and elsewhere. Following the demonstration and dialogue, enjoy a book signing and a chance to meet the artist. Admission to the Art Blossoms galleries, sparkling wine, and sweet treats included. $45 / $36 for members. Books available for purchase.
Louesa Roebuck, author of the critically acclaimed Foraged Flora and Punk Ikebana, is a printmaker, painter, and floral artist. She has created flora installations from foraged and gleaned materials for high-end clients such as Michelle Obama, Vivienne Westwood, John Baldessari, Todd Selby, House Beautiful, Michael Pollan, and Alice Waters of Chez Panisse. Her work has been featured in a number of national and international magazines and media including Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, Los Angeles Times, Remodelista, Wired, C Magazine, Bare Journal, and Sunset. Aligning her deep commitment to the environment with her love of foraging, gleaning, and sourcing locally, Roebuck offers this very simple mantra: if you only forage, glean, or source local and micro-seasonal flora, you’ll have a perfectly symbiotic and harmonious practice, one that is intrinsically whole and abundant, full of more yeses than nos. She lives in Ojai, California.
Art Class: Ikebana Essentials and Aesthetics
Sunday, March 24 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Learn the essentials and aesthetics of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. Build your own arrangement after a brief history of the art and a demonstration. Taught by ikebana instructor Lucy Spence. All supplies and equipment provided. $200 / $160 for members.
A certified ikebana instructor in Columbia, SC, Lucy Spence is a member of Ikebana International and Sogetsu Teachers Association. She has been practicing Japanese flower arranging for 10 years. She has traveled extensively in Japan over the past 27 years and has studied Japanese language for 11 years.
Art Blossoms Sunday Teatime
Sunday, March 24 | 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Celebrate the final day of Art Blossoms with a relaxing afternoon featuring botanical teas and a-la-carte desserts. Sit and chat with loved ones or take part in family-friendly activities like fascinator and fan making stations or a teatime selfie station. Throughout the afternoon, guests are encouraged to drop by and visit the beautiful Art Blossoms galleries one last time. Activities free with membership or admission. Tea and desserts and other bites from Main Street Bakery available for purchase.
Art Class: Punk Ikebana Mono Prints
Sunday, March 24 | 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Acclaimed artist, author, and floral designer Louesa Roebuck leads participants in the creation of botanical mono prints from a range of seasonal flora materials foraged and gleaned. Use nontoxic water-based pigments and inks including walnut ink, sumi ink, gouache, water-based oil paints, and floral pigments to create botanical prints on paper and textiles. All supplies and equipment provided. Ages 15 and up. $200 / $160 for members.
Louesa Roebuck, author of the critically acclaimed Foraged Flora and Punk Ikebana, is a printmaker, painter, and floral artist. She has created flora installations from foraged and gleaned materials for high-end clients such as Michelle Obama, Vivienne Westwood, John Baldessari, Todd Selby, House Beautiful, Michael Pollan, and Alice Waters of Chez Panisse. Her work has been featured in a number of national and international magazines and media including Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, Los Angeles Times, Remodelista, Wired, C Magazine, Bare Journal, and Sunset. Aligning her deep commitment to the environment with her love of foraging, gleaning, and sourcing locally, Roebuck offers this very simple mantra: if you only forage, glean, or source local and micro-seasonal flora, you’ll have a perfectly symbiotic and harmonious practice, one that is intrinsically whole and abundant, full of more yeses than nos. She lives in Ojai, California.
_________
Art Blossoms is presented through the support of our generous sponsors and grantors. Magnolia Sponsors: Hannah and Ron Rogers. Camellia Sponsors: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. Hydrangea Sponsor: Maynard Nexsen. Azalea Sponsors: Joyce and George Hill. Daffodil Sponsors: Beth and Matthew Richardson; Elliott Davis. Grantors: City of Columbia; Experience Columbia SC; Richland County Government; South Carolina Arts Commission; Discover South Carolina.
Five South Carolina nonprofit organizations will be the beneficiaries of pro bono marketing and communication services provided by Riggs Partners during its 26th annual CreateAthon®. The marketing marathon will begin Thursday, March 7 at 8 a.m. and conclude on Friday, March 8 at 8 p.m.
Organizations selected as CreateAthon clients this year include:
• Columbia Repertory Dance Company
• Ezekiel Ministries
• Good Samaritan Clinics of SC
• Keep the Midlands Beautiful
• Latino Community Development Corp.
“Every year, we’re astounded to see the growing level of social impact work being done in our local communities,” said Teresa Coles, president of Riggs Partners and CreateAthon co-founder. “After 26 years of doing this, it would be easy to think we’ve seen it all. But societal needs are more complex and more pervasive than ever, and knowing how impactful effective communications can be in addressing these issues is what inspires us each year to embrace the CreateAthon experience anew. It’s a privilege for us to immerse ourselves in these issues and a joy to meet the people who work so tirelessly to defend them.”
Riggs Partners founded CreateAthon in 1998 as an innovative way to provide pro bono marketing services to nonprofits in South Carolina. The program has achieved significant impact since its national expansion in 2002, attracting more than 100 agencies, universities, professional organizations and corporate marketing departments throughout the world as CreateAthon partners. In total, the program has served more than 1,500 nonprofit organizations in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and Romania, delivering more than 3,800 pro bono marketing projects at a value of more than $25 million.
About Riggs Partners
Riggs Partners is a creative marketing consultancy that specializes in helping clients build Responsible Brands, aligning organizational health, business strategy and brand marketing. For more information, visit www.createathon.org or www.riggspartners.com.
COLUMBIA, SC – Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. is pleased to announce that Jonathan Moon has joined the firm’s Columbia office. Jonathan is an associate and works with our economic development and M&A practices.
Before joining Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, Jonathan was an M&A tax associate for a multinational accounting firm where he handled tax diligence, structuring and sales purchase agreement review for numerous acquisitions.
Jonathan received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina School of Law and his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan. While in law school, Jonathan was Managing Editor for the South Carolina Journal of International Law and Business and a 2021 Cohort member of the Konduros Leadership Development Program.
About Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
Established in 1887, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd is a full-service law firm providing creative and efficient solutions for local, national and international clients. With more than 110 attorneys located throughout the Carolinas, we are well-positioned to meet the complex legal needs of our clients. Learn more at www.hsblawfirm.com.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Bar Foundation is pleased to welcome Sydney Gardner as its new director of finance & development.
It’s a new position at the Foundation, combining responsibility for both raising funds and managing them, according to Executive Director Olivia S. Jones.
“I’m excited about this dual role,” she said. “The most important thing that we do is manage funds and award grants to organizations making a difference in the lives of South Carolinians.” Both that and development are “very critical to our purpose and our mission.”
Gardner, who started with the foundation on Feb. 1, grew up in South Carolina, and graduated from Presbyterian College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in history in 2017. In 2021, she earned a master’s degree in public service and administration, graduating summa cum laude from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.
She has worked since 2021 with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, rising through the ranks to serve as both event manager and office manager. Before graduating from the Bush School, she was a summer volunteer recruitment and training intern with Richland County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
“We’re really fortunate that we found her, because she has the background in finance, in addition to development, and has worked at nonprofits,” said Jones. “We want everyone to know what the Foundation is, and why it matters for people who are marginalized, forgotten – people who are outsiders. Sydney is the right person to help us make that happen.”
About the SC Bar Foundation
The South Carolina Bar Foundation promotes justice by funding legal access and education. It is the only statewide funding source contributing to those purposes. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $60 million to various law-related organizations and programs throughout South Carolina. Learn more: https://scbarfoundation.org/
An advocate for the community, Joseph is serving in his second term as District Four Councilman of the City of West Columbia, where he was first elected in 2019. He is an active board member of the Japan America Association of South Carolina and the Congaree Park Homeowners’ Association.
Joseph received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and is now an adjunct professor for the school’s Civil Litigation Capstone. He received a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese and International Trade from Clemson University.
About Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
Established in 1887, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd is a full-service law firm providing creative and efficient solutions for local, national and international clients. With more than 110 attorneys located throughout the Carolinas, we are well-positioned to meet the complex legal needs of our clients. Learn more at www.hsblawfirm.com.
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Allen Amsler, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Columbia-based McCrory Construction, has been elected 2024 Board Chair of Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas (ABC Carolinas). ABC Carolinas is a leading construction industry association representing more than 450 member firms in the two-state Carolinas region. Seven of the 20 board members, including Amsler, are based in South Carolina with the remainder located in North Carolina.
SOUTH CAROLINA – SCbio, in partnership with MassBio, recently announced its new accelerator program, SCbioDrive, designed to advance emerging companies through expert business curricula, industry guidance and mentorship.
Columbia, S.C. – Cyberwoven, an award-winning brand, digital marketing, and website design and development firm, is thrilled to share the latest additions to our team.
Five South Carolina nonprofit organizations will be the beneficiaries of pro bono marketing and communication services provided by Riggs Partners during its 26th annual CreateAthon®. The marketing marathon will begin Thursday, March 7 at 8 a.m. and conclude on Friday, March 8 at 8 p.m.
