South Carolina Business Review

With the lifetime estate and gift tax exemption, currently $12.92 million for individuals, scheduled to sunset in two years and decrease to around $6 million starting in 2026, our next guest says now is a good time to make the most of your charitable giving strategies. Mike Switzer interviews Ashton Lawrence, a certified financial planner with Mariner Wealth Advisors in Greenville, SC.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about two area organizations each recently receiving $1 million grants for cybersecurity research.

Today we continue our discussion from yesterday about a company that was recently accepted into the Austin, Texas location of Techstars, a leading startup accelerator program. They are only the third Midlands-area company in our state to participate in the program, and their business model involves the sneaker resale market. We found this topic quite interesting and so we invited our guest to retu...

Our next guest’s company was recently accepted into the Austin, Texas location of Techstars, a leading startup accelerator program. They are the third Midlands-area company to participate in the program, which in itself indicates they may have something special. But what’s really interesting is that their business model involves the sneaker resale market. Now that’s a specialty. Mike Switzer inter...

The tight labor market continues to push companies toward finding more efficient ways to operate with fewer employees. Our next guest’s company has been busy developing augmented reality software for just this purpose and that has moved them onto the radar of SC Launch and a $250,000 investment. Mike Switzer interviews Angela Ortiz, co-founder of New Forge Technologies in Lake Wylie, SC.

The cryptocurrency market has been on a steady rebound this year. Ok, well maybe steady is not the right word because it has certainly continued its traditional volatility. So where does it go from here? Mike Switzer interviews Allen Gillespie, chief investment officer at FinTrust Capital Advisors in Greenville, SC.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John talks about the importance of the intersection of industry, universities, local government, and economic development.

As the tight labor market continues to pressure business growth, organizations like those run by our next guest are becoming increasingly important as pipelines for talent. Mike Switzer interviews Anne Walker, president and CEO of the Alston Wilkes Society in Columbia, SC.

Two years ago our next guest’s company received $75,000 in grants from SC Launch and just recently, they received another $300,000. All to help them continue to penetrate the market research industry. Mike Switzer interviews Michael Donofrio, co-founder and CEO of TestedHQ in Mauldin, SC.

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.