SCC Awards 2019 Economic Visionaries
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Four exceptional Upstate companies were named 2019 Economic Visionaries by Spartanburg
Community College at the annual Economic Visionaries event held at the Spartanburg
Marriott on Thursday evening, March 21. Businesses honored for transforming the Upstate
economy were AWL Automation LLC, Lockhart Power Company, Polydeck Screening Corporation
and Duke Energy. The keynote speaker for the evening was Mark Bellissimo, managing
partner, Tryon Equestrian Partners. Amy Wood, anchor News Channel 7/WSPA TV, was the
event emcee.
"Tonight we honor four Economic Visionaries - companies and leaders who embraces the
future with imagination, wisdom and energy to make an enterprising and lasting impact
on our community resources. Just look anywhere in the Upstate and you will see phenomenal
and unprecedented growth," said Henry C. Giles, Jr. "Thanks to new companies moving
to the area, companies increasing their workforce and companies expanding operations,
our communities and our economy are thriving and poised for a strong and prosperous
future. On behalf of the administration, faculty, staff, students and graduates of
Spartanburg Community College, I congratulate our winners and thank them for a job
well done."
Hosted by the SCC Foundation, Economic Visionaries brings many components to the spotlight-
four companies selected from a large number of nominations, a visible keynote speaker,
66 supportive sponsors- all to celebrate the positive impact Spartanburg Community
College provides across the three county service area and the significant impact economic
development brings to South Carolina.
View winners and feature videos
John Montgomery, vice president of Colliers International introduced Mr. Bellissimo
and shared accolades for SCC. "On behalf of our community, I'd like to thank everyone
associated with Spartanburg Community College for what they have offered us this evening
and also for the outstanding work they have done to make this community strong. Without
SCC, I don't think many of the amazing success we have enjoyed, including BMW coming
here, would have ever happened," said Montgomery.
In remarks to event attendees, Bellissimo shared, "Visions are a dime a dozen and
they don't come with majority support. The true challenge is actually turning vision
into reality. I am guided by five principles:
1- dream big, but define victory;
2- maintain balance and perspective;
3- lift up the people around you;
4- be resilient, agile and patient; and
5- manage the critics as change is difficult for many."
Following Bellissimo's remarks, Pres. Giles and Amy Wood presented awards to the four
2019 Economic Visionaries.
AWL Automation LLC
"With the successful launch of our newest location, AWL Automation LLC demonstrates
the realization of our reach as a truly global company. Spartanburg's continual development
as a center of economic growth and stability provides a unique opportunity to showcase
our decades of industry experience in a way that benefits everyone around us," states
Per Blohm, AWL managing director. "We are excited- as an organization and as a family-
to share our vision of employee development, sustainability, innovation, and economic
involvement with our new community. With tonight's recognition, we will strive to
exemplify how our mission of ensuring global productivity begins and ends locally."
Lockhart Power
"I am humbled and honored that we have been named a 2019 Economic Visionary," said
Bryan Stone, president of Lockhart Power. For us, our purpose of serving the public
goes beyond donating and investing tens of millions of dollars in renewable energy
and infrastructure. We invest our time, expertise and money in dozens of community
and educational initiatives as well as charitable endeavors which strengthen and sustain
our communities. All of our employees are part of these efforts in various ways, and
this recognition is greatly appreciated by all of us at Lockhart Power!"
Polydeck Screening Corporation
"Being selected as an Economic Visionary is a great honor, not just for our leadership,
but for the entire Polydeck family who works day in and day out to creatively, sustainably
and effectively achieve our goals," said Peter Freissle, president and CEO, Polydeck
Screening Corporation. "Thank you to the Spartanburg Community College Foundation
for your efforts to highlight the importance of collaboration, excellence and innovation
in business; providing companies the opportunity to use their success and resources
to support our community. We are truly thankful."
Duke Energy in South Carolina
"It's a great honor indeed to be recognized as an Economic Visionary," said Kodwo
Ghartey-Tagoe, state president for Duke Energy in South Carolina. "Duke Energy - from
its start here in South Carolina in 1904 - is at its core an economic development
company. For more than a century, we have worked in partnership with state and local
authorities to attract business investment and jobs to this state, and those efforts
successfully continue today."
During the event, Spartanburg Community College Foundation announced an anonymous
donation of $100,000 over five years to establish the "Dr. Pamela Hagan Professional
Development fund for SCC Faculty." The purpose of this fund is to provide resources
to cover travel and conference expenses focused on professional development. The success
of this event generates funds for SCC scholarships, faculty development, book funds
and emergency requests through the SCC Foundation.
SCC and the SCC Foundation are proud to partner with a local non-profit, Our Carolina
Foothills, to bring the equestrian theme to the Marriott in honor of the Economic
Visionaries event's keynote speaker, Mark Bellissimo and the Tryon International Equestrian
Center. The large colorful horses displayed at the event - Four Seasons in the Foothills,
Dreamer and Princess Royale - are three from a series of 32 locally-painted fiberglass
horses designed to honor the 2018 World Equestrian Games through the ART OF THE HORSE
project. The project highlights the foothills equestrian and arts heritage and promotes
community unity. At the upcoming Tyron Horse Heritage Week, which is April 13-21,
15 of the horses will be auctioned at the Live Auction Gala at Caitlyn Farms, with
proceeds benefitting Our Carolina Foothill's mission "to advance the quality of life
for residents and enhance the visitor experience through marketing campaigns and events
that highlight our Carolina Foothills uniqueness." For more information, visit the
organization's website www.ourcarolinafoothills.com/art-of-the-horse.
Premier Economic Visionaries event sponsors included News Channel 7/WSPA TV and Wells
Fargo, and many other local organizations who have graciously sponsored the event.
For a complete listing of all 2019 Economic Visionaries event sponsors, please visit:
www.sccsc.edu/ev19-sponsors
To download photos from the 2019 Economic Visionaries event, please visit:
View feature in Spartanburg Herald-Journal about feature speaker, Mark Bellissimo