South Carolina Business Review

Over the years, we’ve interviewed many companies about their leadership programs.  Now we’ve found a new one that is quite unique and you’ll probably guess their method by their name.  Mike Switzer interviews Col. Kevin Farrell, president and CEO of Battlefield Leadership in Greenville, SC.

With the tight labor market of the past several years, our next guest’s nonprofit organization was launched last year to help communities improve their workforce development.  Mike Switzer interviews Dolly Pelto, executive director of the Advanced Technology International (ATI) Foundation in Summerville, SC.

Over the years, we’ve met many entrepreneurs who began their careers as a professional, maybe a doctor, maybe a CPA, or stockbroker, then they switch to something totally unrelated and find personal and financial success.  Such is the story of our next guest who switched from being an oncology nurse to a game creator.  Mike Switzer interviews Adina Maynard, creator of the Cattywampus word game in...

With open enrollment for 2026 right around the corner, people are starting to evaluate their health insurance options. With subsidies, plan tiers, and new rules changing how enrollment works, our next guest says it’s important to know what questions to ask so you can pick the plan that truly fits your needs.  Mike Switzer interviews Karlyn Jones, a certified financial planner with Abacus Planning...

Mike Switzer interviews Jessica Holdman, a reporter with the South Carolina Daily Gazette in Columbia, SC.  Jessica tells us about the new leader at the ports, and updates on the Canadys gas pipeline and statewide broadband expansion.

Our next guest’s Upstate logistics company recently finished a successful series of electric truck demonstrations with Michelin, which in itself demonstrates that the sustainability and decarbonization efforts in our state are continuing.  Mike Switzer interviews Dennis Kunz with Benore Logistic Systems in Greer, SC .

Our state’s tourism industry continues to grow and our next guest’s annual event continues to add to that growth. In fact, MovieMaker magazine recently named it as one of the best film festival destinations in the country. Mike Switzer interviews Ron Tucker, director of the Beaufort International Film Festival in Beaufort, SC.

From Pennsylvania to Mississippi, our next guest’s South Carolina agricultural technology company’s seeds are being planted, helping improve the profitability of local farms while reducing the carbon intensity of food and feed production. And this technology recently earned them the 2023 Innovision Sustainability award. Mike Switzer interviews Zach Brenton, founder of Carolina Seed Systems in Flor...

Since 1983, our next guest’s nonprofit has been involved in furthering wildlife conservation and education in our region of the country with several programs throughout the year. The main event is coming soon to the Lowcountry and bringing with it a nice boost to the local economy. Mike Switzer interviews John Powell, president and CEO of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition coming to Charleston F...

Well, here we are, one month into a new year already, and investors are still confused about the financial markets. For a while, it looked like the tech bubble was over and that bonds were looking good again. But now, not many are sure. So we’ve asked one of our resident financial analysts to offer his take. Mike Switzer interviews Tyson Halsey, a chartered financial analyst with Income Growth Adv...

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about BMW employing humanoid robots in their Spartanburg County plant.

Have you ever found yourself needing to check out of your hotel many hours before your flight and wondering what to do about your luggage while you got out and enjoyed the local sights one last time? Our next guest has and she decided to do something about it by forming her own luggage logistics service. And it was recently recognized with the 2023 InnoVision Small Business Award. Mike Switzer int...

If your doctor told you that the shot he has been giving you is now available to be taken orally through tiny glass bubbles, would you give it a try? Well, it is actually a groundbreaking innovation pioneered by a South Carolina start-up biotech company that has earned an endorsement from the US National Science Foundation and the 2023 InnoVision Technology Integration Award. Mike Switzer intervie...

The US Small Business Administration facilitates a lot of small business loans all across the country. A small Upstate bank actually broke into the top 25 list of SBA lenders last year with more than $177 million in SBA loans. That’s out of more than 1,500 banks nationwide. Mike Switzer interviews Beth Hallock, president of SBA lending at United Community Bank in Greenville, SC.

It’s early in the year still, but as was the case last year, economic forecasts continue to be upended. The latest example just recently when a national jobs report came in stronger than expected and dampened prospects for interest rate cuts. Today we’ll check in with one of our resident economists to get his take. Mike Switzer interviews Frank Hefner, director of the Office of Economic Analysis a...

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.

For decades, there has been software available to help you learn to play musical instruments. Our next guest says they have now been able to incorporate machine learning into their gaming-style music learning software that is increasing the likelihood of students to continue their lessons. And this technology recently earned them the 2023 InnoVision Education Award. Mike Switzer interviews Mak Grg...

We recently learned that one of our state agencies involved in job creation and retention has a new leader. Today, we have him on the phone. Mike Switzer interviews Jesse Smith, the new executive director of the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA) in Columbia, SC.

With so many German businesses located in our state, it only makes sense that someone should host a conference focused on growing that relationship. And that’s exactly what our next guest’s institution has been doing for several years now. Mike Switzer interviews Paul Schwager, dean of the School of Business at the College of Charleston, host of the German-American Business Summit on Feb. 7th.

If you’ve been investing in the financial markets for a long time, you could have a portfolio that has grown significantly in value. Which could present a tax problem. Our next guest says there is a way to avoid some of these capital gains and it involves tax planning across generations. Mike Switzer interviews Stephen Maggard, a certified financial planner with Abacus Planning Group in Columbia,...

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about a smart innovation report for SC that he has compiled.

You may remember that late last year the United Nations held its annual climate conference, COP28, in Dubai, where world leaders addressed climate change and environmental challenges. Also attending that conference were 151 mayors from around the world including our next guest. Mike Switzer interviews Daniel Rickenmann, mayor of Columbia, SC.

Our state has been blessed for many years now with a robust economy. We’ve weathered a financial crisis, a 1,000-year flood, and a pandemic. But can we weather the weather? One of our major cities is taking part in a nature-based program to improve and strengthen its level of resilience. Mike Switzer interviews Dale Morris, chief resilience officer for the City of Charleston, SC. Nature Based Exch...

Entrepreneurial resources in our state continue to expand. Our next guest’s accelerator, for example, is looking for applicants from around South Carolina for its next spring cohort. Their goal, in particular, is to address the gap in venture capital access for women, minority, veteran, and other underfunded demographics. Mike Switzer interviews Millicent Lann, program director at the Benedict Col...

With Bitcoin all over the news lately, we thought it might be worthwhile to dig a little deeper into blockchain technology, how it works exactly, and what is the role of Bitcoin in a blockchain anyway? Mike Switzer interviews Ashton Lawrence, a certified financial planner with Mariner Wealth Advisors in Greenville, SC.