South Carolina Business Review

In case you didn’t know, “financial porn” is a slang term used to describe sensationalist reports of financial news and products that could cause irrational investment buying that can be detrimental to an investor's financial health. I had never heard this term before which is why we are dialing up our next guest for some help. Mike Switzer interviews Anthony Colancecco, a certified financial plan...

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John talks about listener responses to one of our recent interviews regarding a national technology grant program.

The COVID-19 national and public health emergencies officially ended recently and our next guest says that this is causing some confusion for employers and employees regarding testing, vaccinations, and even remote working. Mike Switzer interviews Hagood Tighe, an employment lawyer with Fisher Phillips in Columbia, SC.

Two years ago, our next guest was bearish on stocks and bonds when interest rates were much lower. But now that the Federal Reserve has ratched up short term rates and 10-year Treasury yields have jumped from 0.5% to nearly 4.0%, we thought now would be a good time to check in with him to see if he still feels the same. Mike Switzer interviews Tyson Halsey, a chartered financial analyst with Incom...

We’re halfway through the year and many economists are still divided over the topic of a recession. Is one looming or not? Mike Switzer interviews Joey Von Nessen, chief economist at the Division of Research at the Darla Moore School of Business at USC in Columbia, SC.

(This is a replay of a previous program which originally aired Mar. 23, 2023) We keep hearing about companies having a really hard time finding qualified employees. There simply are lots of job openings all across the country. Our next guest is trying to help with this situation by working with the business community to find careers for former prison inmates. Mike Switzer interviews Bryan Stirling...

(This is a replay of a previous program which originally aired Mar. 10, 2023) As a minority in the legal profession, our next guest found it easy to understand the challenges faced by minorities, especially in her particular area of expertise, intellectual property law, where she encountered many creators who had no idea what the topic even meant. Shontavia Johnson is now using her skills to activ...

13 years ago, the South Carolina Community Capital Alliance was formed with the mission of increasing capital resources for our state’s underserved and undercapitalized communities with the hope that the additional funding would lead to valuable new jobs. And each year, the Alliance recognizes individuals or organizations that have made a difference toward that end. And one of those persons is our...

With a growth rate of almost 1,600% over the past two years, our next guest’s software and swag printing company was recently named the fastest growing business in South Carolina (and #17 in the entire Southeast Region) by Inc.com. Mike Switzer interviews Jayson Tompkins, CEO and co-founder of Print Your Cause, based in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Most people know, or at least aren’t surprised to learn, that timber is our state’s number one cash crop. And all of that timber is owned not just by big forest products companies, but also by individuals. A market that our next guest has found lucrative through his mobile sawyer business. Mike Switzer interviews Ted Bullock, owner of Carolina Sawyers in Charleston, SC.

Building a retirement nest egg is one of the most important financial activities you can engage in. And the earlier you can get started on that task, of course, the better. Our next guest says that even teenagers with summer jobs can start contributing to their own IRAs. Mike Switzer interviews Alex Chastain, a certified financial planner with Abacus Planning Group in Columbia, SC.

An update of the news, events and issues that are trending right now across South Carolina's business community. Mike Switzer interviews Jason Thomas, executive editor of SCBizNews, the company that publishes the Columbia Regional Business Report, Charleston Regional Business Journal, GSA Business and SCBizNews magazine.

More and more individuals are making the switch to electric vehicles these days and so are companies. In fact, our next guest’s Upstate company fleet recently logged over one million EV miles. Mike Switzer interviews Chris Russo, co-owner of Elite Home Care, Day Centers and Transportation in Spartanburg, SC.

Our next guest’s story involves the Gulla Geechee culture, a rare disease, a passion for science and creating, a chemistry degree, and entrepreneurship. All of which recently resulted in her attaining the honor of being named the SC Female Small Business Person of the Year by the US Small Business Administration. Mike Switzer interviews Abenaa Moore, founder of Naturally Geechee in North Charlesto...

It’s not too often that a small business gets to have its product featured on a national television show but that’s exactly what happened to our next guest when her innovative undergarment recently appeared on the Today show on NBC. Mike Switzer interviews Erin Mehagan, founder of Livi Lu Lane in Greenville, SC.

You’ve probably noticed that your 401k balance has been looking better over the last few months. If you don’t have any bonds in your portfolio, that is. While the stock market has been recovering, the bond market is still suffering. What gives? After all, the Fed stopped raising interest rates. Mike Switzer interviews Wes Johnson, a certified financial planner with ACT Advisors in Charleston, SC.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about an innovation ecosystem grant from the federal Economic Development Administration that is taking applications through August 15th.

The South Carolina Research Authority’s investment affiliate, SC Launch recently added another company to its portfolio with a $250,000 investment into an Upstate start-up in the cybersecurity market. Mike Switzer interviews Martin White with Ruffian Software in Mauldin, SC.

Humanely raised livestock is becoming more and more important to consumers, especially after recent year’s reporting regarding hog farms in eastern North Carolina. It’s important to our next guest as well, who has turned that passion into a profitable and growing business that has earned him the honor of being named the SC Minority Small Business Person of the Year. Mike Switzer interviews Marvin...

We often hear about our state being an in-migration state where many more people are moving here than leaving here. But, as you may have heard in our interviews over the years, this has been happening with companies for a while. Today we have another example: a 103-year-old manufacturing company that relocated here from New York in 2007. Mike Switzer interviews Kevin Fee, president of Reliable Aut...

Last week, we interviewed a financial planner about the fact that women are making and managing an increasing percentage of our country’s wealth these days due to a number of factors: hard work, death of a spouse, and, according to our next guest, divorce. And she agrees with last week’s guest that many women still find themselves uncomfortable with investments which can add further complications...

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John talks about the unrealized potential a national entity sees in the Upstate.

Today we are continuing our coverage of the recently announced Small Business Week awards from the US Small Business Administration. An Upstate chemical mixing and blending company was named the South Carolina Small Business Exporter of the Year. Mike Switzer interviews Joseph Wilson, Jr. is president and CEO of Toll Solutions in Duncan, SC.

The US Small Business Administration recently announced their annual awards. And our next guest was named the South Carolina Rural Small Business Person of the Year who has become known for his leather work aprons. Mike Switzer interviews Michael Williams, owner of Calavera Tool Works in Johns Island, SC.

If you’re a new parent and your child is having trouble sleeping at night, your performance at work the next day could certainly be affected. Actually, lack of adequate sleep for any reason could certainly affect your work life and in fact, your entire life. Which is exactly what happened to our next guest and why she decided to enter the sleep business. Mike Switzer interviews Kim Rogers, founder...