SCC to Host 2018 Economic Visionaries Celebration

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SCC will recognize the contributions of Upstate businesses at the second annual 2018 Economic Visionaries Celebration planned for March 22, 2018 at the Spartanburg Marriott. Four companies from Spartanburg, Union and Cherokee counties will be named "Economic Visionaries" based on their company size and significant contributions in transforming the Upstate business community. Duke Energy's President, Chairman and Chief Executive Office, Lynn Good, will be the guest speaker.

In preparation for the community celebration, SCC invites Upstate business professionals and community residents to submit nominations of exceptional companies to be considered for the Economic Visionary awards.

"Our communities are fortunate to have visionaries that display strong leadership. This is especially true for our business and industry - they are the heart of our community. They add wealth to goods and services. They provide jobs for our citizens. They support and encourage good government, quality education and are supportive of a healthy, clean environment. They enable us to live and work in a healthy prosperous community," explains Henry C. Giles, SCC president. "The purpose of our Economic Visionaries Celebration is to recognize these outstanding companies, both large and small, and the many contributions they bring to our area. As we prepare to celebrate the holiday season, I believe it is only fitting that we reflect and nominate exceptional businesses who have demonstrated they are leaders - Economic Visionaries - in our communities."

The SCC Foundation will accept nominations through February 9, 2018 via the SCC website at www.sccsc.edu/economicvisionaries where an application and award guidelines are available to download. Nominated companies will be considered for the award based on their support of education, community involvement and service, environmental concerns and innovation, and will be selected by a panel of area SC industry leaders using a scoring rubric based on the submitted application. Four companies from Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties will be recognized as Economic Visionaries in the following categories: category 1: 1-100 employees; category 2: 101-400 employees; category 3: 401-1,000 employees; and category 4: 1,001 or more employees.

"We are excited about naming the second group of Economic Visionaries, companies that embrace the future with imagination, wisdom, energy and make an impact on community resources," explains Bea Walters Smith, executive director of the SCC Foundation and Advancement. "Another highlight of the evening will be enjoying comments from our guest speaker, Lynn Good. Under Good's leadership, Duke Energy has intensified its focus on serving its customers and communities well today while leading the way to a cleaner, smarter energy future. Fortunemagazine lists Good as 11th among the 'Most Powerful Women in Business' and Forbesmagazine calls her one of 'The World's 100 Most Powerful Women.' In 2016, she became the first regulated utility CEO designated as a LinkedIn Influencer - an online thought-leadership program." A detailed profile on Good is available on the event website.

Event sponsorship opportunities are available and can be found on the event website, as well as individual tickets which will be available online for purchase in late January.

SCC's inaugural Economic Visionaries event was held on March 30, 2017 and featured Mr. James I. Newsome, III, president/CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority, as the guest speaker. The following four companies were named as 2017 Economic Visionaries:
Broad River Electric Cooperative, Inc., Gaffney, SC
Atchinson Transportation Services, Spartanburg, SC
The Timken Company, Tyger River Plant, Union, SC
BMW Manufacturing, Inc., Greer, SC
For more information about the event and the SCC Foundation, contact Bea Walters Smith at smithbw@sccsc.edu or (864) 592-4448.