South Carolina Business Review

For the past 40 years, our next guest’s Upstate family-run bakery has been shipping seven-layer cakes across the country and receiving national recognition. Today, we’re going to look into their secret to success. Mike Switzer interviews Richard Reutter, president of Caroline’s Cakes in Spartanburg, SC.

Many stock market analysts and economists continue to predict an economic slowdown later this year, maybe even a recession. So let’s check in with one of our resident economists to get his thoughts. Mike Switzer interviews Bruce Yandle, Dean Emeritus at the College of Business & Behavioral Science and Alumni Professor of Economics Emeritus, both at Clemson University. He is also the Distinguis...

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.

Over the past few years, we have seen a lot of mergers and acquisitions among small to medium-size companies. Our next guest says that the higher interest rate situation is beginning to slow down this activity. Mike Switzer interviews David Moore, CEO at BlueChip Mergers and Acquisitions in Charleston, SC.

The job market continues to remain tight, with none tighter than the healthcare industry. For more than 10 years, our next guest’s organization has been working to engage and interest students in healthcare careers through actual experience. As a result of this work, they were awarded the recent Innovision Education Award. Mike Switzer interviews Al Squire, executive director of the MedEx Academy,...

The recent increases in inflation and interest rates, and the continued tight labor market have created an operating climate that many current business leaders have never experienced. And now with a potential economic slowdown on the horizon, our next guest says some creative financing solutions may be necessary to help some of these companies meet their goals. Mike Switzer interviews Thomas Ander...

We’re one month into the spring season now which means we’re about a month away from the end of another school year and for some, that also means graduation. Our next guest says this is also a good time to talk about how these milestones in our children’s lives could affect our and their finances. Mike Switzer interviews Jon Robertson, a certified financial planner with Abacus Planning Group in Co...

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about a new event he has put together: Innoventure Ideas Festival 2023.

By now, most everybody has heard about the Scout Motors plant coming to Blythewood, SC, bringing a multi-billion-dollar investment by both the company and the state, and a goal of 4,000 jobs. We’ve learned that this deal was one of the fastest tracked in our state’s history with necessary legislation moving through the statehouse in only 10 days. And there’s a backstory we found pretty interesting...

Recycled glass used to be a hot item, in demand for various uses. Then used glass became so abundant that local government waste collection agencies were forced to give it away due to the resulting price collapse. But now, demand is back as companies such as our next guest runs, are very busy turning glass into sand. Mike Swizter interviews Zeb Parsons, president of Bricolage Dynamics in Pickens,...

Even though the dreaded tax deadline is now behind us, many people are still going to have taxes on their minds and how to make next year’s situation better. Our next guest says there are many strategies you can employ now that may help. Mike Switzer interviews Garet Strange, a certified financial planner with Hobbs Group Advisors in Columbia, SC.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John talks about the continuing challenge our state faces in retaining college graduates, referencing a recent report from the Greenville Development Corporation.

Sadly, gun violence continues across the country. FBI data in fact, shows active shooter incidents have more than doubled in the U.S. between 2019 and 2021. While mass shootings at schools dominate the news, many more are occurring at other workplaces. Which is why our next guest’s organization will be presenting response solutions at a conference for our state’s human resources professionals in G...

Every year during the first week of May, the US Small Business Administration names a national small business person of the year, as well as one for each state. At the same time, the agency hosts events that expose small businesses to new business strategies, networking opportunities, and educational sessions. This year, National Small Business Week is April 30-May 6. Mike Switzer interviews Gregg...

Our next guest and her husband are filmmakers who recently relocated to our state’s Lowcountry. Their documentary about a Native American youth art project and its role in revitalizing their language and culture has won multiple awards across the country, most recently the Susan A. K. Shaffer Humanitarian Award at the Beaufort International Film Festival. Mike Switzer interviews Heather Steinberge...

Most financial plans are customized to a person’s unique situation and goals and are framed within an average set of assumptions. But you can’t put life into a spreadsheet. Sometimes unexpected and even dramatic things happen. What does a person do then? Mike Switzer interviews Rick Van Der Noord, a certified financial planner in Greenville, SC.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John talks about upcoming events of importance to our state’s business community: DigSouth Tech Summit, SCRA Summit, and Furman Center for Innovative Leadership.

You may have heard us interview companies who have received SBIR or STTR grants to help them fund the research that their young companies depend on to continue to grow and validate their business models. However, applying for these grants or practically any grant can be a daunting process. And that’s why the SC Department of Commerce is now making available free services to companies and entrepren...

Art galleries, art education, public art, art crawl, art competition with a $50,000 first prize, in other words - art madness. Certainly sounds like a big city event, yet a small town in our state has been doing this type of art festival for a decade now. Mike Switzer interviews Carla Angus, director of community engagement for the 11th annual edition of Artfields in Lake City, SC, coming April 19...

The recent news regarding some regional bank failures has definitely added to the economic confusion that so far has dominated financial news in 2023. Is there any reason to believe that the skies will clear before this year moves too much further along. Mike Switzer interviews Joey Von Nessen, chief economist at the Darla Moore School of Business at USC in Columbia, SC.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John talks about April being designated as Innovation Month in our state and what the state’s challenges are in this area and what is being celebrated.

As the population continues to age and the healthcare economy continues to grow, so does the need to properly dispose of medical waste. Which is why our next guest’s company decided to invest over $3 million to build a 13,000 sq ft facility in the Lowcountry. Mike Switzer interviews David Squalli, chief operating officer at EcoSteris in Summerville, SC.

In 1969, Hilton Head Island was a little-known place in our state’s Lowcountry when a local developer announced that a PGA-level golf tournament would be played there that year. It’s still held there every year and has recently been elevated to the status of a top tour event with a purse of $20 million and a commitment to play from the tour’s top players. This will also undoubtedly have an elevate...

Guns, crime, questionable police tactics…are all issues on the forefront of criminal law these days. One institution of higher learning in our state has decided to provide a new resource for these topics. Mike Switzer interviews Dr. Michele Covington, director of the new Crime Analysis Center in Greenville, SC, part of the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, SC. She is also the au...

Disabled and special needs individuals want careers as much as anyone. But, as you would expect, many challenges stand in the way. Our next guest’s organization is working hard to help. Mike Switzer interviews Dee DiCarlo, director of business & employment development for Thrive Upstate, formerly known as the Greenville County Disability and Special Needs Board.