TD Bank Names Regional President
TD Bank has named Chris Ward as Regional President of the Mid-South Metro, which includes South Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and North Carolina.
Ward will lead mid-south consumer and commercial services. He will be based in Charlotte and manage more than 4,000 employees and 135 locations.
Ward has over 30 years of experience in retail banking, commercial lending, consumer and home equity lending, regional banking and credit. Most recently, he served as the Small Business Credit Executive at Bank of America.
“Chris has a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing local businesses and how to help them fund their ambitions,” said Chris Giamo, Head of Commercial Banking, TD Bank.
Ward sits on the Consumer Bankers Association Small Business Committee.
TD Bank is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. by assets, providing over 10 million customers with retail, small business, and commercial banking products and services at 1,100 locations. TD Bank is a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
Greer Announces Site For Sports, Events Center
The City of Greer has formally announced that a multimillion-dollar sports and events center will be located on S. Hwy. 14 in Greer.
The $60 million facility is one of four projects in the city’s ForGreer initiative.
“The city has outgrown its current gyms and recreational facilities,” Mayor Rick Danner said. “This new complex will give every child in Greer an opportunity to enjoy our programs instead of sitting on a waiting list. It will allow us to create new programs for children and adults.”
The city acquired three parcels of land south of the S. Hwy. 14 and S. Buncombe Road intersection, where the new facility will be built. The location was chosen because of its proximity to main roads in Greer and to I-85, and Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.
Though the primary goal will be to provide space for the city’s programs, the facility is designed to host regional and national events that boost Greer’s economic growth, City Administrator Andy Merriman said.
The center will have basketball and volleyball courts, community rooms, an e-sports facility, and batting cages. Architectural firm McMillan Pazdan Smith of Greenville will design the facility.
Through the ForGreer initiative, the city will invest nearly $100 million over the next four years in infrastructure, a public safety training facility, a fire station in the northern region of Greer, and an additional parking garage downtown.
Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes Hosts 23rd Community Outreach
Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes in Greenville will present Dr. William G. Hoy as the speaker for its 23rd Annual Grief Seminar on Sept. 12 at Brookwood Church in Simpsonville.
The two-seminar series is a outreach project by Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes for the general public and professionals experiencing grief or the effects of grief in their lives.
Hoy is an author, speaker and expert in grief support with over 40 years of experience. He retired as Clinical Professor of Medical Humanities at Baylor University, where he had served since 2012. Hoy also spent 17 years as clinical director of counseling services at Pathways Volunteer Hospice.
Hoy’s research focuses on the role of funeral rituals and the impact of poverty and ethnicity on end-of-life care. He has written five books; his latest, “Creating Meaning in Funerals: How Families and Communities Make Sense of Death,” was released by Routledge.
The seminar for professionals will be from 8:45 a.m. to noon. The session is designed to help professional caregivers learn about bereavement, grief, and healing in the context of cultural differences between clinicians, patients and their families. Funeral directors, social workers, nurses, and chaplains will receive three continuing education hours.
The general public is invited to attend “Navigating Your Way Through Grief” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The program will provide practical insight to anyone who has experienced grief or wants to help a friend or family member who is experiencing grief.
For information and registration, go towww.thomasmcafee.com.
Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes is family-owned and was founded in 1913. It has locations in Downtown Greenville and northwest and southeast Greenville. Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes provides funeral, cremation and pre-planning services.
Crescent Startup Community, Anchor Tenant, Flywheel, Open
Crescent Startup Community, a mixed-use Innovation District that will provide a dedicated space for startups, entrepreneurs, and the development of innovative ideas and projects, has officially opened Crescent One.
Flywheel is the anchor tenant of the Crescent One building. Flywheel’s space includes 40 furnished private offices and suites, 60 coworking stations, large and small meeting spaces, seminar rooms, and conference space for events with up to 300 attendees.
The space, amenities and programming will provide “affordable, full-service support” for more than 200 professionals, solopreneurs, freelancers, consultants, remote corporate workers, and early-stage startup founders, said Alicia Hardin, a founding partner of Flywheel.
Crescent One is the first building to open in the Crescent Startup Community. Amenities for Flywheel members include a daylit atrium, a communal living room, self-service beverage bar, mail service, virtual mail, copy and printing machines, and high-speed fiber internet.
An outdoor entertainment venue can be workspace during the day. It has Wi-Fi access and will be circled with food trucks during events.
Fitness with a View, a Crescent One tenant, will offer access to Flywheel members and other tenants. It has cardio equipment, weights, a yoga studio, locker rooms and showers.
Crescent One has eight additional tenant suites with 2,500 to 5,000 square feet or a combined 20,000 square feet. Tenants will be eligible for corporate memberships with Flywheel.
“We try to co-locate a continuum of entrepreneurship resources under one roof so that any founder who walks in the door has access to developmental support and a contiguous capital stack,” said Peter Marsh, also a founding partner of Flywheel and its sister foundation. The foundation delivers capital, mentor networks, and developmental programs for entrepreneurs.
“We look forward ... a vibrant live/work/play/learn community,” he said.
Crescent’s location on Poinsett Highway was home to the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. and The Piedmont Shirt Factory. The renovation and historic designation of Crescent One is the first phase of the Innovation District.
The remainder of the district will open in phases.
Crescent is the first part of Hartness Development’s effort to rekindle the location’s innovation history, attract companies and institutions, and revitalize Greenville’s Poinsett Corridor. Crescent Startup Community is located at 25 Goldsmith St. at Poinsett Highway. For information, go towww.crescentscgvl.comorwww.flywheelgreenvillesc.com.
Hartness Development is a collection of planning, design, construction, real estate and finance professionals. Hartness urban village is the company’s most recent project.
Founded in 2014, Flywheel designs and operates a multi-state network of coworking innovation centers in collaboration with local institutions. Its headquarters is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Flywheel Opens For Tours, Lunch, Work For Day – Free
Flywheel Coworking Greenville will host a free Community Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 28 at Crescent One, 25 Goldsmith St.
Guests are welcome to take a tour, grab a cup of coffee, enjoy a light lunch, and work from Flywheel for the rest of the day.
To register, go toCommunity Day.
Oasis Emergency Center Adds New Veterinarian
Oasis Animal Hospital and Emergency Center, a locally owned and operated veterinary practice in Greenville County that offers traditional pet care, urgent care, and emergency care for dogs and cats, has added Dr. Kendall Gunderson.
Gunderson specializes in emergency and critical care and shelter medicine.
Dr. Atticus Mabry, co-founder and President of Oasis, said he is excited to welcome the new veterinarian. “Her expertise in emergency procedures, combined with her commitment to providing exceptional veterinary services, aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver the highest standard of care to our clients and their pets."
Gunderson said, “Helping pets in critical situations is my calling, and I am excited to utilize my skills and experience to serve the Upstate.”
Oasis Animal Hospital and Emergency Center is at 11 W. Pointe Blvd. in Mauldin.
Spinx Opens Store In Greenwood
The Spinx Company, the Greenville-based fuel and convenience store, has opened its newest store at 1943 Montague Ave. Ext. in Greenwood. This new Spinx includes a Ride 'N Shine car wash tunnel. Spinx is offering car wash club memberships for $1 through Sept. 30.
Flat Rock Playhouse Stages ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
The Flat Rock Playhouse’s next production Sept. 5 through 22 will be “Jesus Christ Superstar,” featuring a soundtrack and production performed by a company of rock vocalists.
The musical showcases lyrics and music by Emmy-, Grammy-, Oscar- and Tony-award winners Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The story is a fictional portrayal of the last weeks of the life of Jesus through the point of view of Judas Iscariot.
The cast features over a dozen professional vocalists, eight orchestra members, and Flat Rock Playhouse apprentices. Aaron Lavigne and Jenna Rubaii join the company after leading the recent 50th anniversary tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Longtime playhouse favorite, Dustin Byley, will take the role of Judas. Other familiar faces are Nat Zegree, Alfred Jackson and Maddie Franke.
Tickets, show times, prices and information are available atflatrockplayhouse.org
The nonprofit Flat Rock Playhouse Leiman Mainstage is located in the Village of Flat Rock at 2661 Greenville Hwy.
Countybank Foundation Donates To Greer Ministries
The Countybank Foundation, which represents Countybank and Greenwood Capital, donated $5,000 to Greer Community Ministries. The donation will support more than 650 meals for residents in need.
Greer Community Ministries provides food and clothing to individuals across the greater Greer area.
“Their mission is a true representation of how serving others can truly benefit our community,” said Candice Good, Greer Market Administrator for Countybank and a former board chairman for Greer Ministries.
Greer Ministries supports Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining, which provide warm, nutritious meals and an opportunity to socialize, as well as a food pantry and clothing for those who need it.
Good delivers meals for the organization, as does Andrew Bond, Commercial Relationship Manager for Countybank and a board member for GCM. “By providing not only resources but our time, we can all make a difference in our community,” Bond said.
Greer Ministries serves more than 80,000 meals annually, said Executive Director James Abbott. For information, go towww.gcminc.org.
Verdae Adds Development Analyst
Verdae Development Inc. in Greenville has hired Zach Maghsoud as a Development Analyst.
Maghsoud will assist with planning, executing, and managing projects within the planned community and will focus on financial analysis, deal structure, execution, and the development platform.
A native of Rock Hill, Maghsoud has been an Investment Analyst and Asset Manager with RealtyLink in Greenville. He was also a commercial banking analyst at Wells Fargo in Charlotte.
“Zach has joined our team at a critical time, as we prepare for strategic development and redevelopment of Verdae property along Laurens Road,” said Dan Klausner, Chief Executive Officer of Verdae Development.
Verdae Development Inc. is the company that has managed the construction and growth of Verdae, the massive mixed-use community on the southern edge of Greenville. The next phase of that community is along Laurens Road. Verdae is a subsidiary of Hollingsworth Funds. For information, go towww.verdae.com.
Brand Leader Exec Writes Book
Kyle Duford, an author and the Executive Creative Director at The Brand Leader, has written a book about branding.
“The Brand Book, A Branding Primer” will explain how to define a brand, the tools needed to create a brand, and the intricacies of putting it together. The book includes analysis, practical advice and anecdotes, according to the description on Amazon.
The book is on sale at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The Brand Leader is located at 333 Wade Hampton Blvd., Greenville.
Halton MEI USA Picks Piedmont For Manufacturing
Halton MEI USA Inc., which works with indoor climate technology, has selected Anderson County for the company’s first South Carolina operation, a manufacturing facility. The $2.6 million investment will create 65 jobs.
Founded in Finland in 1969, Halton is a family-owned, global technology company that provides indoor air solutions in 35 countries. The company designs, manufactures, and delivers indoor environment products for the marine, energy, and heavy industry fields.
Halton will lease a 39,000-square-foot space at 120 Exchange Logistics Park Drive, Piedmont.
Operations are expected to be online in August. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $100,000 grant to Anderson County to assist with the costs of building improvements.
Fenecon Picks Greenville For Headquarters, Manufacturing
Fenecon, a provider of energy storage systems, will establish its first North American operation with headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Greenville County. The company’s $3 million investment will create 68 jobs.
Founded in Germany, Fenecon is known for its battery energy storage systems and smart energy management. The company designs and produces energy storage solutions for the home, commercial and industrial markets.
Fenecon’s manufacturing facility, at 315 Tanner Price Way in Greenville, will produce, customize and distribute the storage systems. Operations are expected to be online in September.
