In The Know: News, updates from Greenville area businesses and nonprofits
2nd Mobile Mammogram Hits Road
Bon Secours St. Francis has added its second mobile mammography coach in the Upstate.
Like the health system’s original mammography coach, launched in 2012, the unit will be on the road five to six days a week, offering the latest 3D technology for patients in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and Oconee counties.
“This will allow us to travel further to more destinations to spread awareness that early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer – a fight that one in eight women will face in their lifetime,” said Amanda Yanchus, lead mammography technologist at the Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health.
Making screenings more accessible has prompted more women to have mammograms, she said.
The Bon Secours mobile mammography coaches provide the same technology as the Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health, but it’s delivered straight to the communities.
“Bringing the mobile coach to places outside Greenville makes such a difference for the ladies living and working in these communities. Many work long days and would not take the time off for their screening if we did not bring these services,” said Alicia Landreth, mammography technologist and mobile mammography coordinator at Bon Secours.
Screenings on the mobile mammography coach take about 15 minutes and are covered by most insurance carriers. Women do not need a doctor’s order.
A mobile mammography schedule is available online at bonsecours.com.
ReWa Helps Environment By Restoring Oyster Reef
ReWa (Renewable Water Resources) of Greenville is making its second trip to South Carolina’s coast to help rebuild oyster reefs. The initiative is part of ReWa’s ongoing commitment to preserving the ecosystem.
ReWa has participated in the South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement program since 2017.
“Every day, we are committed to treating and reintroducing clean water into the environment," said Angie Price, Operations Services Officer at ReWa. "We take our responsibility to our downstream neighbors seriously, and recycling oyster shells is an extension of our efforts to preserve and protect water quality.”
ReWa bagged oyster shells this spring with staff from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and The Jones Oyster Co., part of the Table 301 Restaurant Group. The Jones Oyster Co. recycles oyster shells from its restaurant.
The shells are stored by ReWa and returned to the ocean to create reefs. This year, ReWa will return to the reef that it rebuilt last year and install signage to make it a dedicated ReWa reef.
“By recycling oyster shells and returning the shells to the coastal estuaries, future generations of oysters, crabs and fish have an opportunity to grow and flourish in a clean water environment,” said Steve Seitz, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Table 301.
“The Jones Oyster Co. opened its doors with a passion for the freshest oysters possible, and also with a firm commitment to doing its part to protect the environment,” he said.
A living adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day.
“ReWa’s oyster recycling efforts are doing an amazing job at bridging the gap between the Upstate and the Low Country to demonstrate how we’re all involved in protecting our natural resources,” said Holly Sommers, Oyster Recycling and Planting Coordinator for SCDNR.
Since 1925, ReWa has provided wastewater treatment services to the Upstate while promoting a cleaner environment and protecting public health and water quality of Upstate waterways. It also has developed sewer infrastructure to sustain the growing economy. ReWa serves Greenville County and portions of Anderson, Laurens, Pickens and Spartanburg counties.
The Jones Oyster Co.’s name is a nod to the building’s previous tenant, The Jones Furniture Company. Diners at the restaurant are invited to gather around trays of raw or grilled oysters and other seafood entrees.
Carolina Handling Celebrates 58 Years By Aiding Food Banks
Carolina Handling is celebrating its 58th anniversary in 2024 with a yearlong campaign titled “Handling Hunger Together” that will help hunger relief organizations in the company’s five-state footprint.
According to Feeding America, more than 44 million people in the United States face hunger each year, including one in five children. In 2022, 49 million people turned to food banks and other organizations to help feed their families.
Those food banks also need pallet jacks, lift trucks, and other equipment to move non-perishables and fresh produce.
“Numerous organizations throughout the Southeast receive, store and distribute thousands of pounds of food each year to feed the hungry in their communities,” said Carolina Handling President and CEO Brent Hillabrand. “The logistics of that can be overwhelming to organizations that don’t have applicable, reliable equipment.”
So, in celebration of its 58 years in business, the Charlotte-based intralogistics company is giving away 58 motorized pallet jacks to hunger relief organizations throughout its territory, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and part of Florida.
The Raymond electric pallet jacks are used, 2016 and newer, with battery packs. They will be awarded on a first-requested basis to qualifying organizations that complete a form on the Carolina Handling website. Equipment will be delivered at no charge.
For information, go to carolinahandling.com/community/58-for-58.
Carolina Handling is an integrated material handling solutions provider and the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center in the Southeast.
In addition to Charlotte, the company has offices in Atlanta, Birmingham, Greensboro, Raleigh, and Greenville, and an Equipment Distribution Center in Piedmont.
Indie Craft Parade Accepting Applications
Indie Craft Parade, Greenville’s celebration of all things handmade, is accepting artist applications for its 15th annual festival. The juried festival recognizes excellence in handcrafted art and will feature more than 100 artists
The festival will be Aug. 16 to 27 at Judson Mill District.
Crafters, artisans, designers and makers are encouraged to submit their work for consideration through the festival’s online application. For fees, rules and guidelines, go to indiecraftparade.com. The application deadline is May 20.
The Indie Craft Parade was created to promote independent artists by connecting them with the public and by encouraging an appreciation for quality handmade goods.
Tickets are on sale. The festival is curated by Makers Collective, a Greenville-based nonprofit organization.
Judson Mill District is a mixed-use community. Once the largest textile mill in Greenville County, Judson Mill District is home to office, restaurant, brewery, retail, entertainment and residential spaces.
Amp’d Up Fridays Concerts Kick Off At Mauldin Amphitheater
The Mauldin Cultural Center will kick off its summer season with Amp’d Up Fridays, presented by Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas, on Friday nights from May 24 through July 26.
The free concerts will feature beach music, rock, country, soul and more; food trucks will be on-site; beer and wine will be provided by Growler Haus. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Mauldin Cultural Center outdoor amphitheater at 101 E. Butler Road.
“We are excited to welcome a few new bands this year,” said Christine Faust, Mauldin Cultural Center Manager. “It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate 10 years of summer concerts.”
Each concert will feature a nonprofit that will raise awareness about its mission and connect with the community.
The lineup of performers is:
May 24, Swingin' Medallions
May 31, The Mighty Kicks!
June 7, The Entertainers
June 14, The Shag Doctorz
June 21, Sole Purpose Band
June 28, Rhythm City Band
July 5, James Radford Band
July 12, Randomonium
July 19, The Catalinas
July 26, The Vinyl Junkies
Fireworks after the final show July 26 are sponsored by United Community Bank.
“These concerts are the perfect way to spend a warm summer night with friends and family, enjoying all the great food, music and fun Mauldin has to offer,” said Mayor Terry Merritt.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets; leashed dogs are allowed. Outside food and beverages, smoking, tents, weapons, bikes, scooters and skateboards are prohibited.
For information, go to mauldinculturalcenter.org/events/.
Well Walkers Dates In May
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System and the Bon Secours Wellness Arena have announced May dates for their Well Walkers program. Dates are May 14 and May 30.
On those dates, the arena concourse will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to anyone in the community who wants a temperature-controlled space to exercise. Each loop around the concourse is a quarter-mile. Well Walkers is free, and no registration is necessary. Free parking for Well Walkers is provided in the VIP lot at the arena, located off Church Street.
TreesUpstate Honors Volunteers In Ex-Director’s Name
TreesUpstate, a nonprofit organization that plants, promotes and protects trees, has created The Joelle Teachey Society in honor of its former Executive Director, who served from 2007 to 2023.
Teachey mobilized over 10,000 local citizens to volunteer alongside her and her staff, spearheading initiatives to plant 189 species and cultivars of trees across the Upstate.
Through her guidance and expertise, Teachey transformed TreesUpstate into an organization with a legacy of environmental stewardship.
During her tenure, the organization gave away over 37,000 trees and launched the TreesUpstate Legacy Tree Project, NeighborWoods, Energy Saving Trees presented by Duke Energy, Tree Keepers, Tree Care Crews, and the new workforce development apprenticeship program.
Teachey continues to serve as Executive Counsel, provides support to municipalities about tree ordinances, and will be director of the annual Turkey Day Run.
The Joelle Teachey Society will honor the most committed TreesUpstate volunteers.
The founder of the organization, Katie Jones, spoke at the recent TreesUpstate annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic. Volunteers were honored with lapel pins for their years of service, including two volunteers – Karen Traxler and Jim Ciallella – who have volunteered for 15 years.
For information about volunteer opportunities and The Joelle Teachey Society, go to treesupstate.org.
TreesUpstate is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to plant, promote, and protect trees in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.
Rebuild Upstate Honors Volunteers, Donors, Partners
Greenville nonprofit Rebuild Upstate recently recognized volunteers, donors and partners at the Because of You BBQ, held during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.
“Volunteers are essential to our mission, leveraging more than $600,000 in value for our organization last year,” said Jake Beaty, CEO of Rebuild Upstate.
Honorees are: Bob Hannah - Golden Hammer Award (Volunteer of the Year); Tom Fruhwirth - Golden Wrench Award (Handyman Club Member of the Year); Home Base Hero - Forest Britt; Founder’s Award - Megan Finnern; LMG Architects - Foundational Supporter Hall of Fame; St. Andrew’s Episcopal - Home Repair Champion; and BNI Masters of Success - Ambassador of the Year.
Those who volunteered 50 hours or more annually were named Home Repair Warriors. Steve Hamel and Jesse Trout each surpassed 300 hours.
A full list of honorees is available at rebuildupstate.org.
NHE Honors Top Team Members
NHE – an Upstate company that manages homeowner associations, multi-family units and apartments – honored its top team members recently during a company-wide conference.
More than 400 NHE employees, partners and vendors attended the event. The company provides service, community development, and service coordination to properties in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.
“We are proud of the success and growth of our company, and more importantly, our team members in the past year,” said Taylor Davis, NHE’s President and CEO.
Honorees and their awards are:
Affordable Housing Division: Team Impact Award, Victoria Burr; Customer Service Award, Adrienne Howell; GEM Award, Barbara Green-Grayson; Maintenance Person of the Year, Cody Slavich; Property of the Year, Jamison Village; Community Manager of the Year, Darla Wannamaker.
Conventional Housing Division: Team Impact Award, Diana Thomas; Customer Service Award, Michael Adriano; GEM Award, David Williamson; Maintenance People of the Year, Winfred Smith and Josh Yelden; Property of the Year, Peachtree Village; Community Manager of the Year, Shirley Pennell.
Corporate Services Division: Team Impact Award, Kamaryn Brenneman; Customer Service Award, Brandi Prevatte; GEM Award, Alicia Abrahams.
HOA Division: Team Impact Award, Allison Kirtz; Customer Service Award, Alissa Heater; GEM Award, Morgan Ferguson; Community Manager of the Year, Jennifer Shy.
Service Award Coordination Division: Team Impact Award, Tanesha Glenn; Customer Service Award, Lynette Melvin-Barmer; GEM Award, Jessie Wallen; Service Coordinator of the Year, Dericka Gunter.
The NHE Golden Hammer Award went to Mike Wilson and Brad Alexander for their work maintaining the company’s assets. The NHE Harris Davis Award, which honors the employee who best embodies the mission of NHE, went to Maranda Keller.
NHE currently represents more than 18,000 homes, apartments and condominiums in 15 states.
Donation To Greer Will Fund Grant For Entrepreneurs, Innovators
A donation from the Countybank Foundation will help startups grow in the Upstate.
Countybank and Greenwood Capital announced a $5,000 donation to Greer Moves, a nonprofit that provides grants to graduates of The Platform at Greer Bootcamp program.
The Platform is an initiative of the City of Greer’s Economic Development team. The two-day program is designed to grow a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation with a focus on market validation. All Bootcamp graduates are eligible to apply for a Greer Moves grant.
Kevin Duncan is Countybank’s Greer Market Executive and a board member of Greer Moves.
“Countybank and Greenwood Capital's commitment not only reflects their dedication to our shared vision of fostering innovation and growth but also highlights their steadfast belief in the potential of organizations like Greer Moves,” Duncan said.
“Together, we are building bridges and fostering sustainable development in Greer, empowering our community to thrive and flourish.”
Fifteen startup founders applied for the first round of grants from Greer Moves, which will choose the winners and award up to $25,000 in each grant cycle.
“Greer Moves has a mission to help entrepreneurs and startups establish roots in the city,” said Philippe Barreaud of Greer Moves. “This greatly encourages us to keep working to offer them assistance.”
Attorney Scott Todd Named Super Lawyers ‘Rising Star’
For the second consecutive year, Greenville DUI and Criminal Defense attorney Scott Todd has been named to the Super Lawyers South Carolina Rising Stars list. A partner at Sumner & Todd Attorneys at Law, Todd was the only Upstate attorney chosen as a Rising Star for DUI Defense.
No more than 2.5% of the lawyers in the state are selected to receive the award each year.
The selections are made using a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews.
A native of Laurens, Todd joined Steve Sumner’s law firm in 2021 and was named partner in 2022. The firm, now Sumner & Todd, represents clients in Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Pickens and Laurens counties, as well as municipal courts in Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Simpsonville, Mauldin, Greer, Fountain Inn, Easley, Clemson, Central and Laurens.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: In The Know: News, updates from Greenville area businesses and nonprofits
