Carolina Business Leaders

Sam Konduros, CEO of the Greenville City Economic Development Corporation (The Greenville City EDC), joins the Carolina Business Leaders Podcast to discuss his extensive career in economic development. In our conversation, Sam talks about the creation and mission of the EDC, shares what’s in their latest strategic plan, and gives us a look at some of the exciting projects on the horizon for the ci...

Paul Wickensimer, South Carolina House Representative for District 22, shares his journey of public service from clerk of court to chairing the county council. Wickensimer delves into his transition to the House of Representatives, his day-to-day responsibilities, key initiatives, and the significant role of relationships in legislative success. He also reflects on his early interest in politics,...

Guillermo Avila, CEO and Chief Project Consultant of 365 Digital Technologies, shares his journey in entrepreneurship. Starting from his humble beginnings as a developer in 1993, Guillermo discusses his experiences with networking, technical recruitment, and project management. He talks about the transition from his initial role to founding his own consultancy firm, the challenges faced during bus...

In this episode of the Carolina Business Leaders Podcast, hosts Heath and Cristina Gerrald sit down with Taylor Davis, the president of NHE Inc., a multi-unit property and community association management firm committed to improving homes and lives every day. Taylor shares his journey from a 13-year-old starting in his family business to leading the company for 30 years. He discusses the challenge...

In this episode of the Carolina Business Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Tina Belge, the founder of Catalyst Community Consulting and an at-large candidate for the Greenville City Council. Tina discusses her passion for urban planning and affordable housing, her extensive involvement in the Greenville community, and her background, which includes navigating personal challenges that shaped her ca...

In this episode of the Carolina Business Leaders Podcast, host Cristina Waingart Gerrald sits down with Joan Herlong, the owner and CEO of Herlong Sotheby's International Realty. Joan, a prominent figure in the real estate industry with over 30 years of experience, shares her journey of building a successful real estate business in the Carolinas. Joan delves into her company’s client-first approac...

In this episode, we chat with Chace Campbell, the managing attorney at ChaceLaw Limited Company. Chace shares insights into his experience in business probates, estate planning, and family law while diving into fun personal anecdotes, including his love for coffee shops and a unique provision in his will. Join us as we explore Chace's journey from his upbringing by an entrepreneurial father to bec...

Join us on this episode of the Carolina Business Leaders Podcast as we sit down with Caroline Buxton Avinger, a distinguished keynote speaker and founder of Protocol SC. Caroline shares her journey from being a painfully shy individual to becoming a public speaking coach and launching her own successful business. Discover valuable insights on the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship, balanc...

In this episode of the Carolina Business Leaders Podcast, Heath and Cristina Gerrald sit down with Michael Sharpton, Regional President of the Carolinas for Encore Bank. Michael shares the unique journey of establishing and expanding Encore Bank's presence in the Carolinas, focusing on their concierge-style banking approach. He delves into the importance of relationship banking, leveraging technol...

The Greenville Ladies Club started as a small book club, maybe 10-15 ladies on the first night. Cristina Waingart Gerrald, originally from Greenville, SC, started this club in an effort to bring women together going through their mid 20's and 30's. As more social activities were thrown around as ideas, Cristina launched the ladies club, with Sarah Couch quickly jumping in to aid in the effort. Tog...

In this episode, we sit down with South Carolina House Representative Brandon Guffey, renowned for his relentless fight against teen sex exploitation. From his touching personal story of losing his son to sextortion, to his efforts in passing Gavin's Law and the Take It Down Act, Rep. Guffey shares his journey and mission. We also dive deep into his background as a small business owner, the challe...

In this episode of the Carolina Business Leaders Podcast, former Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer shares his dynamic career journey from politics to becoming a successful real estate developer, investor, and entrepreneur. Andre discusses his experiences, including his recent nomination by President Trump as US Ambassador to Belize. He provides insights into his early career, entrepreneurial venture...

Ryan and Ashley Alderson are not only a thriving married couple - they are both two of the top attorneys here in the Upstate. Ryan, an accomplished litigator here in South Carolina, has recently launched his own law firm, Alderson Law, specializing in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and injuries to children. Ashley, a well-known divorce attorney and firm partner, highlights the challenges of...

Mike Hutcheson, COO of Engineered Products, and Madeline, a successful luxury real estate agent with Coldwell Banker, open up about their professional journeys, the power of networking, and navigating the fast-paced Greenville market. They share with us the intentional habits that keep their relationship strong, from prioritizing time together to practicing patience and empathy. With wisdom drawn...

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Combs, a gritty, serial entrepreneur who has made a career out of building solutions for the complex world of healthcare benefits and compliance. As the CEO and co-founder of both Healthcare Reporting and Self Insured Reporting, Mark has helped shape how Plan Sponsors, Brokers, TPAs, PBMs, and Captives navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape.  From lo...

Send us a text Heath Dillard, CEO of VisitGreenvilleSC, joins us to share how he’s helping elevate Greenville's profile as a top destination. With just over two years at the helm of the city’s official destination marketing organization, Heath is passionate about showcasing Greenville as the vibrant, one-of-a-kind hidden gem it truly is. In this episode, he shares his vision for the city and what...

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ryan Mullins, a nationally recognized sales expert, accomplished author, and professor at Clemson University. He is the founding force and Executive Director behind the Clemson Sales Innovation Program. Dr. Mullins has spent his career studying the psychology and strategy behind high-performing sales teams, making him the subject matter expert i...

Send us a text Liz Seman, a longstanding member of the Greenville County Council, is one of the great community leaders in Greenville. In addition to serving as Chief of Staff to the President at Furman University, she has previously led as Executive Director of Meals on Wheels and Hands On Greenville. Her contributions have played a vital role in shaping Greenville into the vibrant, thriving city...

Send us a text Jay Urich, former QB at the University of South Carolina, is the founder of both Original Design and Banner Player Development. Original Design is a non-profit focused on serving underprivileged kids in Columbia, and helps pair them with a mentor as they navigate middle and high school. Jay's most recent venture, Banner Player Development, equips younger athletes with the tools and...

Send us a text  Salena Mulliken is a highly experienced CPA who climbed the corporate ladder from entry-level auditor to Chief Financial Officer. Over the years, she has gained a deep understanding of what makes a business truly succeed. Now, as the founder of The SagePerspective , Salena is on a mission to help business owners achieve financial freedom and long-term success.  Questco Your premier...

Send us a text Gil Gerretsen is the local expert when it comes to marketing and business strategy. He has helped countless businesses across dozens of industries grow, focusing on finding the target audience and thriving within that 'Hive'. Gil is also the author of multiple books, where he shares insightful tips to help businesses successfully launch or grow in an ever-changing environment. Quest...

Send us a text As the CEO of The Modern Inventor, Christopher Guerrera is a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of launching nearly 100 products and getting them onto retail shelves nationwide. In this episode, Chris walks us through the full product development journey - from initial concept and design to supply chain logistics and marketing strategy. He also shares behind-the-scenes insigh...

Send us a text Austin Maxwell embodies the spirit of a true entrepreneur just beginning his career. While still in college, he took the initiative to connect with brands, building relationships and securing ambassador roles. His entrepreneurial journey took off during his senior year at Clemson when he helped launch Kanga , a senior capstone project that evolved into a Shark Tank success story. In...

Send us a text After quickly realizing the stereotypical office job was not for him, Derek Gracely quit his job and started his own landscaping business nearly 20 years ago. Having roughly $1000 to his name, he didn't have the capital to help it grow overnight - Derek relied on grit and hard work to turn his business into a success. He has since sold his initial business, Capstone Landscape Manage...

Send us a text Jane Snipes started her own recruiting business, Northstar Recruiting Inc., over 20 years ago. During that period, she has spent countless hours discussing with candidates of all levels in the job search, pinpointing the finest characteristics that separate the good candidates from the great ones. During this episode, we discuss what some of those characteristics are, the process of...