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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.