Columbia, S.C. – A group of Columbia businesses collected piles of personal care items in early 2013 to assist parents dealing with the unexpected hospitalization of a child. The toiletries will be made into “Care Kits” and distributed to families of children in the pediatric intensive care and pediatric intermediate intensive care units at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital.

The Care Kits are the brainchild of Christy Sears of South Carolina REALTORS, who was moved to create them after her newborn son spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit in 2011. Since then, her friends, family, and a group of Columbia businesses have joined her in her efforts, enabling her to donate more than 300 Care Kits to families who often rush to the hospital without bringing essential personal care items. For more information about Care Kits, visit http://taketimetakecare.com/.

Participants in the drive included Century Fasteners Corp., Carolina Endodontics, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, South Carolina Dental Association, South Carolina Health Care Association, Power Engineering Company, Inc., DuBose Web Group, Research Associates, The Evaluation Group, South Carolina Medical Association, SC Security Systems, UnitedHealthcare, South Carolina REALTORS, Columbia Conference Center, Diversified Development, and South Carolina Broadcasters Association. Many of these companies are located in the Westpark office park in northwest Columbia, SC.

The Westpark companies are holding a drive for care package items for Blue Star Mothers in May and June. Blue Star Mothers is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides a variety of services to soldiers, like sending care packages containing personal, food, and entertainment items to active-duty servicemen and women. If your organization would like to participate in the drive, please contact Columbia Conference Center at 803-772-9811 or visit www.columbiameetings.com. Columbia Conference Center gives all of its net profits to charities.

In honor of Small Business Week, Collins & Lacy attorneys teamed up with the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce to talk to small business owners in the community. I chose to speak about Employment Law, Social Media & Tips for Avoiding Lawsuits. My presentation covered the risks related to social media and governing law of which small businesses need to be aware of in the day-to-day work environment. Here is my top 10 checklist of common employment law and HR mistakes and how to avoid them.

No Job Description

This is really the very first step in a proper hiring process and the Americans with Disabilities Act has made it nearly mandatory to have an appropriately written one.  By thinking through exactly what you need the new employee to do on a day to day basis will also help ensure you do not waste time with applicants not capable of performing the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

No Employee Handbook

An employee handbook helps maintain a consistent work environment which reduces allegations of unfair treatment.  It also protect your company from legal liability by demonstrating the company’s compliance with a variety of labor laws, including state and federal laws.  One of the most vital components of the employee handbook is the employee acknowledgment page.  Under South Carolina law, this page needs to include certain information to ensure the handbook is not considered a contract.

Not Protecting Information

Reasonable non-compete and/or non-solicitation agreements prevent employees from taking clients they met and built relationships with while working for you.  Taking extra steps to guard other types of information you’ve worked hard to obtain (i.e. only allowing certain employees access, password protecting, etc. ) will help you argue the information is protected by the South Carolina Trade Secrets Act and cannot be used by a former employee.

Wrong Interview Questions

Asking the wrong interview questions (i.e. how old are you, have you ever been arrested, etc.)  is one of the fastest ways to find yourself in a discrimination lawsuit.

Failing to Train

Train all managers on employees’ rights under the ADA, Title VII, ADEA, FLSA, etc. at least annually, if not more frequently.  Providing general training to employees when they are hired and on an ongoing basis will help build morale and productivity.

Not Showing the Money

Failure to properly pay minimum wage, overtime, and benefits can land your company in a lawsuit for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Failure to properly pay wages and benefits after terminating an employee is one of the many ways to violate the South Carolina Wage Payment Act.

No Performance Evaluations

Honest, regular performance evaluations that are given based on a set method of evaluation are your best defense in a discrimination lawsuit.

No Documentation or Follow Through

Document both good and bad performance.  Without sufficient documentation, the employee’s personnel file does not reflect his/her poor performance, thus giving you little or no justification to discharge the employee.

Not Applying Rules

If you or your supervisors only apply policies occasionally or have a tendency to overlook certain ones, your actions may easily be perceived as discriminatory, especially in regards to major employment decisions like promotions, disciplines and terminations.

Terminating on Emotion

You should take as much time to fire as you do to hire.  Unless the employee is absolutely driving you crazy and you feel like you must fire the person immediately, make sure you have a properly documented file before pulling the trigger.  While you should take your time, do not be afraid to terminate employees who are liabilities, either legally or to your business’ productivity.

Ultimately, many lawsuits are not about discrimination or failure to properly pay.  They are in response to perceived unfair, demeaning, or unprofessional treatment which you can help prevent by avoiding these top ten employer mistakes.  If you have any questions about the information above or want help in reviewing your policies and procedures to ensure you have everything in order, let us know and someone from the Collins and Lacy employment team will be happy to talk with you.

About the author:

Charles Appleby is based in the Collins & Lacy Columbia, S.C. office and practices in employment law and retail/hospitality/entertainment liability. In his employment practice, Charles represents employers from all types of industries in litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Charles has represented clients in Circuit Court, United States Federal Court, and has appeared regularly before the South Carolina Employment Securities Commission and Appeals. He was recently honored by South Carolina Super Lawyers as a 2013 Rising Star. Charles can be reached at 803.255.0409 or at cappleby@collinsandlacy.com.

Goldsmith

Columbia, S.C. – Recent speculation that Congress won’t authorize a new round of military base closings until 2017 has led several local and community officials to believe that our military bases are safe until then, when in reality the impacts of sequestration are already being felt within our local military community.

Congress’s refusal to authorize a new Base Realignment and Closure Commission does nothing to delay the $1.2 trillion in forced reductions that are resulting from sequestration and the debt-ceiling agreement. And even if Congress reaches an agreement to reverse the effects of sequestration, the Defense Department still must reduce costs by at least $490 billion and possibly as much as $800 billion.

Senior Vice President/Community Development

Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce

South Carolina has an image problem and that hurts our state. When we were battling Washington State for the Boeing plant, a cartoonist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer crammed as many South Carolina stereotypes as possible into a cartoon entitled: “How many non-union South Carolina workers does it take to attach the wing to a Boeing airplane?”

The panel had a group of rednecks standing on top of each other and asking a dog to fetch the duct tape. It also included a Confederate flag, a moonshine still, an outhouse door in place of the airplane door, an “up” sign with the arrow pointing down and several other slams against our state, including nooses dangling above.

Boeing, of course, went on to put its plant in North Charleston and is expanding operations, putting the lie to the stereotypes depicted by that cartoonist.  But unfortunately too many companies and individuals believe those stereotypes and won’t even consider locating in South Carolina.

The recently formed Diversity Recruitment Consortium is working to help correct those misperceptions about our state and “to communicate to the world the message that South Carolina is a destination not a pit stop. Our desire is to create economic development and bring a more diverse workforce to the state.”

The Diversity Recruitment Consortium grew out of the South Carolina Diversity Leaders Initiative programs of the Riley Institute at Furman University. By way of full disclosure, I’m a Riley Institute Diversity Fellow having been part of the Midlands class in 2012. DLI is an initiative that helps leaders better understand what diversity is and builds management skills to facilitate better understanding and deeper relationships across all forms of diversity, including racial, cultural, gender, age and sexual orientation. Concern over South Carolina being perceived as less than welcoming was a recurring theme among DLI participants.

But how to change or at least mitigate that perception? The idea developed that a group of organizations or companies could be more effective in presenting a true picture of South Carolina than any single organization, and the Diversity Recruitment Consortium was born.

The consortium, known as DRC, was rolled out in March at OneSouthCarolina 2013, the annual gathering of S.C. Diversity Leaders Initiative graduates. DRC works “to collectively develop innovative programs, practices and processes to increase the diversity of professional and executive talent in South Carolina-based organizations. Where traditional methods of recruitment may fail to adequately address candidate reservations about moving to the state, the DRC uses a more sophisticated recruitment style, which offers a broader understanding of what our state has to offer for individual career and lifestyle opportunities.”

DRC members, both organizations and individuals, have access to special programs that leverage each other’s recruitment and retention efforts.

Programs being rolled out or planned include:

DRC Ambassadors. Volunteers who receive orientation and training on how the DRC can help their own organization’s recruitment and retention efforts and who can help work with other organizations.

S.C. Employee Resource Group Forum. An educational workshop for members of employee resource groups, affinity groups or networking groups of member organizations.

DRC Member Organizations Intern Barbecue. An opportunity for interns of the various member organizations to meet and get to know their peers in other organizations.

The DRC is led by three organizations: the Riley Institute at Furman, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. The Greenville Chamber serves as the primary facilitator of DRC programs with help from the state chamber’s Diversity Committee. Nika White, vice president of diversity and inclusion in Greenville, works in partnership with Cliff Bourke of Southeastern Freight Lines in Lexington County who chairs the state committee and is president of the South Carolina Diversity Foundation.

Founding DRC members include BlueCross and BlueShield of South Carolina; Bluestein, Nichols, Thompson & Delgado LLC; Fisher & Phillips LLP; Gallivan, White & Boyd P.A; Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center; Integrated Media Publishing; Haynsworth, Sinkler, Boyd P.A.; Michelin N.A.; Nexsen Pruet; Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein LLC; South Carolina Diversity Council; Southeastern Freight Lines, Inc.; Spartanburg Regional  Healthcare System; and Wyche Law Firm P.A.

General membership in the DRC is free, with a pay-as-you go model to participate in individual programs. The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce recently became a member. Members are required to participate in at least one DRC event each year, designate Ambassadors to participate in the program and absorb the cost of participating in DRC events.

For more information visit http://www.diversityrecruitmentconsortium.com

C. Grant Jackson is senior vice president/community development for the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at (803) 733-2513 or at gjackson@columbiachamber.com.

Neil Jones, Callsion Rawl & Terry Buchmann

Each year, members of the Leadership Columbia Class nominate one of their peers for the Glenn Jacobus Award, and award that recognizes outstanding leadership. This year, the recipient of the Glenn Jacobus Award was Callison Rawl, SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center. Congratulations, Callison!

Joshua Elliot & Katherine Swartz

Thank you to all of the 2013 Leadership Columbia Committee members. Leadership Columbia continues its success each year thanks to all of your hard work! We would also like to say a special thank you to Katherine Swartz, who has been the key to Leadership Columbia’s success for 5 years.

To see pictures from the Leadership Columbia Graduation Ceremony, click here.

Upper East Side, Columbia, S.C. – It is summertime already and the Famously Hot Columbia is already getting some fun stuff cooking! As you plan your backyard barbecues, think about coming by the Clemson Extension Campus Farmer’s Market for fresh ingredients.

Making your July 4^th plans now? Don’t forget to include Village at Sandhill’s “Freedom Festival presented by Grow Financial Federal Credit Union.” The event begins at 1 p.m. with games, rides, balloon art, glitter tattoos, and inflatable rides for the kids. Stay for the duration and see exhibits by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, live music from 5:30 until 9:30 and the Midlands best fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

“Freedom Festival presented by Grow Financial Federal Credit Union” is totally free and open to the public.

June 11, 2013

The Farmer’s Market is getting into full swing at the Clemson Extension campus on Clemson Road. Come out and meet local growers, crafters, and artisans. There’s live music, boiled peanuts, plants for the yard as well as soaps, breads, and veggies.

The Farmer’s Market is open from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. every Tuesday through September.

June 18, 2013

Quaker Steak & Lube will host the Northeast Area Business After Hours on June 18^th. Come out for snacks, networking, beverages, and a chance to win prizes from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube is located at 941 Spears Creek Court in Elgin.

Spotlight Available

Want to see your business highlighted in the Northeast Update? Come out to a Business at Sunrise, Business at Midday, or Business After Hours event and drop your card in the fish bowl for a chance to win. I’ll run an exclusive post detailing your business offerings, personnel, and achievements.

Have some news about the Upper East Side to share? Leave a comment or send me a note via Twitter (@ClemsonRoad) or email (info@clemsonroad.com).

COLUMBIA, S.C. – McNair Law Firm, P.A. is pleased to announce that three attorneys have been elected to shareholder in the firm’s Columbia, Greenville and Charlotte offices.

Shareholders:

Jeffrey T. Allen

Jeffrey T. Allen (Columbia) focuses his practice in the areas of economic development, employee benefits and tax.   He assists clients with a variety of state and federal tax planning, compliance and controversy matters and represents clients before the South Carolina Department of Revenue (DOR), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), South Carolina Administrative Law Court and United States Tax Court.  Jeff joined McNair in 2006 after obtaining his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He received both his J.D., cum laude (2005) and B.S., cum laude (2001) from the University of South Carolina.

Hunter S. Freeman (Greenville) works in McNair’s intellectual property and litigation practice groups. He assists a variety of clients with preparing and prosecuting patent, trademark and copyright  applications, drafting intellectual property related agreements, as well as consulting in the fields of cyber-law, trade secrets and general intellectual property protection and portfolio management.  His litigation practice consists primarily of enforcing clients’ intellectual property rights and resolving commercial disputes in both state and federal courts.  Hunter received his J.D. from the University of South Carolina in 2003 and his B.S. from Rhodes College in 2000.

Jeremy A. Stephenson

Jeremy A. Stephenson (Charlotte) practices in the areas of litigation and labor and employment, where he provides counseling and litigation services to management clients in employment matters. He has successfully defended employers against claims of employment discrimination, wrongful termination, breach of contract, workplace bodily injuries, and wage and hour violations, and represents businesses in the enforcement of non-compete and similar agreements. Jeremy earned his J.D. in 1999 from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and his B.A. in 1995 from the University of Virginia.

About McNair

McNair Law Firm, P.A. is a full-service law firm serving businesses, government and individuals from ten offices in the Southeast, including eight in South Carolina, one in North Carolina and one in Kentucky. For more information about these attorneys and the firm, visit www.mcnair.net.

David J. Tigges, Managing Shareholder
McNair Law Firm, P.A.
1221 Main Street, Suite 1800
Columbia, SC 29201

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HOMEOWNERS MORTGAGE HIRES JEFF HOLMAN TO SERVE COLUMBIA MARKET
Loan Officer Jeff Holman Will Bring Experience and Opportunity to New Home Buyers.

Jeff Holman

COLUMBIA, S.C.  – Homeowners Mortgage Enterprises, Inc., a full-service regional banking firm, continues to serve home buyers throughout the Southeast by growing their team of leading loan officers. Homeowners Mortgage is excited to welcome Jeff Holman as a loan officer focusing on securing opportunities for new home buyers in the Columbia, S.C., region.

Holman’s network of financial planners and real estate professionals will bring a fresh resource to the region. Holman has been recognized throughout the county for his ability to customize each financing option to the individual client’s needs.  In his experience, he has been able to secure financing for home buyers county-wide, as well as build a strong base of referral and repeat clientele.

“We are constantly looking for professionals that can bring experience and leadership to the firm,” said Ed Kubec, COO and managing director of Homeowners Mortgage. “Mr. Holman will certainly be an addition to our already high-achieving group.”

Jeff Holman comes to Homeowners Mortgage from Columbia, S.C., where he resides with his wife, Tiffany, and their young son.

About Homeowners Mortgage Enterprises

A wholly owned subsidiary of CoastalStates Bank on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Homeowners Mortgage Enterprises, Inc. is a full service regional mortgage-banking firm headquartered in Columbia, S.C. The company arranges and buys loans from community banks, Farm Credit Banks, mortgage brokers and credit unions throughout the Southeast. In addition, the company benefits from a strong retail presence in South Carolina and now emerging into North Carolina, making it one of the largest privately owned and most successful mortgage banking firms in the Southeast. Homeowners Mortgage Enterprises, Inc. corporate offices are at 2530 Devine Street, Columbia S.C., 29205. For more information on Homeowners Mortgage Enterprises, Inc., call Claudia Satterfield at the Corporate Office at (803) 765-9932 or visit the company’s website at www.homeownersmtg.com.

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YMCA OF COLUMBIA ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD PRESIDENT

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The YMCA of Columbia has selected Vance J. Bettis, Senior Litigation Partner at Gignilliat Savitz & Bettis LLP, as the new President of its Metropolitan Board of Directors. Bettis was appointed to the position, which carries a two-year term, on May 23, 2013, during the YMCA of Columbia’s annual meeting. He succeeds Bruce T. Williams, Vice President of BB&T – Boyle Vaughan Insurance, who completed his term as Presiden t.

“We are very fortunate to have an outstanding tradition of strong volunteer leadership at the YMCA of Columbia. I am thankful for the direction Bruce has provided to our organization over the last three years, and enthusiastic to see where Vance’s vision, humanity and love for our cause will take us,” said Bryan Madden, CEO of the YMCA of Columbia.

“The YMCA impacts the lives of tens of thousands in the Midlands every year and I am honored to serve as chair of this important organization,” said Vance Bettis, President of the YMCA of Columbia Board of Directors. “I am excited to continue working with the Y as we strengthen our programs and develop new ways to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.”

Bettis grew up attending camps and playing church league basketball at the Y in Charleston, and he has been a member of the Downtown YMCA in Columbia for over 30 years. He has served on the Metropolitan Board of Directors at the YMCA of Columbia since 2006.

Along with the change in leadership, the Y also recognized employees and volunteers of the year from all five branches and donors to the annual campaign. It was a joyous celebration of the Y’s belief that lasting change only comes about when we all work together to invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. For additional information, contact Megan Plott at 803.799.7159 ext. 26 or meganplott@columbiaymca.org.About the Y

The Y is one of the Midlands leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. We are a diverse association of men, women and children of all ages and from all walks of life, joined by a shared commitment to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. As part of the fabric of the Greater Columbia community for over 150 years, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. Visit columbiaymca.org for more information.

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BillBLAST© Hires Director of Business Development

Beth Thompson

 Columbia, S.C. – BillBLAST© is pleased to announce that Beth Thompson has joined the team as Director of Business Development.

 With years of experience in sales and sales management, particularly in the legal technology space, Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge and eagerness to help BillBLAST© take off. Thompson has spent the past five years with BigHand, Inc., and was instrumental in helping grow their client base in the US. Thompson also has experience helping law firms find innovative ways to streamline processes and improve efficiencies.

 “I am thrilled to be a part of the BillBLAST© team and look forward to introducing our solutions to firms needing assistance managing the arduous ebilling process. In addition, I am eager to debut our software at the ILTA conference in August,” said Thompson.

 “We are extremely excited to have Beth join the BB team. Her experience and enthusiasm is the perfect addition,” said Leah Beckham, CEO of BillBLAST©. “I am confident Beth will enable us to spread the word about our e-billing application before our official launch at ILTA’s Annual Conference in August.”

 BillBLAST© offers a comprehensive end-to-end electronic billing management system in the cloud.

 On the market for only a short time, BillBLAST© has been well received by the industry. The new company is a Silver Sponsor of the International Legal Technology Association’s (ILTA) 2013 Conference in Las Vegas in August 2013 and is partnering with ILTA to sponsor the Future Horizon research project, which will identify innovative growth strategies in the legal industry for the coming decades.

About BillBLAST©

BillBLAST was created in 2010 by Rocketship Solutions, LLC to offer eBilling in the cloud. BillBLAST© delivers electronic bills as eMail, fax or eBill to any client or third party vendor via a Software as a Service (SaaS) structure that lets firms pay as they use the software.

Learn more at www.bill-blast.com

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Jim Kinard Joins First Community Bank as Vice President

Jim Kinard

Lexington, S.C. – First Community Bank is pleased to announce that Jim Kinard has joined the company’s Red Bank office as Vice President and Commercial Banker. With more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry, Jim will focus on relationships with existing First Community commercial clients and look for opportunities to serve other businesses in the Midlands.

In addition to his position at First Community Bank, Jim has represented Lexington District One for seven years on the Lexington County Council. He is an active member of the community serving as a leader for the Royal Ambassador boys group, a volunteer Upward Basketball coach, a volunteer with Riverbanks Zoo and a member of Swansea First Baptist Church.

 He received a degree in financial management from Clemson University and attended the South Carolina Bankers School.

First Community Bank Expands its Financial Planning Division

Bill Addison

Lexington, S.C.– First Community Bank is pleased to announce that Bill Addison has joined its financial planning/investment advisory division, First Community Financial Consultants (FCFC). With more than twenty years of experience in the banking industry, he has served in various roles including consumer and mortgage lending.

As part of the FCFC team, Mr. Addison will assist clients with retirement strategies, selecting appropriate-term investments, and general financial decision-making.

He received a degree in finance from the University of South Carolina and attended the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. A native of Lancaster, South Carolina, Bill and his family live in Irmo.

First Community Bank is a local community bank based in the Midlands of South Carolina. First Community operates 11 banking offices in Lexington, Richland, Newberry and Kershaw counties in addition to First Community Financial Consultants, a financial services division and Palmetto South Mortgage, a separate mortgage division.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance products are offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. First Community Bank and First Community Financial Consultants are not registered broker/dealers and are not affiliated with LPL financial. Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value | Not a Deposit | Not Insured by a Federal Government Agency

“LegalZoom’s goal is to provide affordable access to quality legal protection,” said Ken Friedman, vice president of legal and government affairs at LegalZoom. “We are proud to work with the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce to add LegalZoom to the arsenal of  tools Chamber members have available to promote and support small business success,” he added.

Under this new program, LegalZoom will work with the Greater Columbia Chamber to provide discounted services to Chamber members, including discounts on both LegalZoom documents and legal plans.  LegalZoom’s business or personal legal plans offer consultations with attorneys licensed in South Carolina.

“We are very excited to have LegalZoom as a part of our Membership Advantage Program,” said Ike McLeese, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “We want the services that we offer through MAP to be the ones that our members most need, and access to legal solutions most certainly falls into this category. We believe that LegalZoom’s services will prove to be an invaluable resource for our members.”

About the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, membership-driven organization comprised of 1,500 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry and Richland counties. The Columbia Chamber serves as the voice of its members and the business community at large on matters of economic, educational, cultural and political concern, as well as supports and promotes the success of its members through networking, professional development, advocacy and leadership. The organization has represented the interests of the local business community since 1902.

To become a member or to learn more about the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, as well as its events, programs and initiatives, visit www.ColumbiaChamber.com.

Connect with us on at facebook.com/ColumbiaChamber and twitter.com/ColaSCChamber.

About LegalZoom.com
LegalZoom is the nation’s leading provider of personalized, affordable online legal solutions for families and small businesses.  Founded more than 12 years ago by attorneys with experience at some of the top law firms in the country, LegalZoom has helped over two million Americans become protected with binding legal documents.  Although LegalZoom is not a law firm, it can help people access an attorney through its legal plans.  The company is headquartered in Glendale, California. For more information, visit www.legalzoom.com.

 “I’ll wear a dadgum Clemson outfit to our Membership Event Celebration Party if we meet our minimum goal of 200 new members,” Ike said.

If you live and work in Columbia you certainly know Chamber President and CEO Ike McLeese, and if you know Ike, you know he loves his Carolina Gamecocks. He cringes at the thought of donning Clemson colors, but he’s willing to do it to spur on Chamber Volunteers during next week’s Chamber Membership Event.

The Chamber staff encourages participants to show up ready to recruit new members, grow our Chamber, have some fun…. and best of all see our fearless leader in Orange.

Stay tuned to see if goals were met and if Ike lives up to his word!

 AT&T Aspire Mentoring Academy Brings South Carolina Students to their Columbia Workplace To Address National Dropout Crisis and Help Students Achieve College and Career Readiness

Columbia, SC- With more than 1 million students failing to graduate on time each year, AT&T is committed to providing Holly Hill, S.C. students with mentoring opportunities to help prepare them for future success. To help maximize student potential, AT&T employees will team up with 65 Holly Hill Roberts Middle School students to share life and career skills.

Mentoring that takes place onsite at AT&T workplaces is part of Aspire Mentoring Academy, the key community engagement program of AT&T’s $350 million investment in Aspire. Through Junior Achievement’s Job Shadow program, Aspire Mentoring Academy focuses on improving high school success and college and/or career readiness. AT&T employees are engaging in their communities to help raise high school graduation rates by providing students 1 million hours of mentoring by the end of 2016.

“Aspire Onsite Mentoring helps students develop a bigger picture of the ‘real’ world that will, in turn, help them create a vision for their future,” said Stephanie Stuckey, president of Junior Achievement of Central South Carolina. “Providing our students with the opportunity to visit the work world firsthand and be mentored by adults who truly care about their future success can make an impact that will last for a lifetime.”

“We are very excited to work with Junior Achievement as we mobilize our employees to provide students 1 million hours of mentoring across the country,” said Janiece Evans Page, Assistant Vice President – Community Engagement at AT&T. “We believe that the relationships formed and lessons learned during onsite mentoring can help students stay on track to graduate from high school and succeed in college, the workforce and beyond.”

“We are looking forward to working with AT&T to build on our Job Shadow program and offer a deeper mentoring experience to students,” said Kathy Simmons, Junior Achievement Program Director. “By encouraging their employees to volunteer their time and expertise, AT&T is helping South Carolina students learn 21^st-century skills that will help them succeed in school and beyond.”

Aspire Mentoring Academy is a part of AT&T Aspire, AT&T’s $350 million investment in education planned over five years, which is among the most significant U.S. corporate educational initiatives.  The program, which has impacted over 1 million students in all 50 states since its initial launch in 2008, connects with students in new and more effective ways, such as with interactive games, social media and tapping into the power of personal connections involving many of AT&T’s approximately 240,000 employees.

To learn more about Aspire Mentoring Academy, please visit www.att.com/aspirementoring/

 Community Engagement at AT&T

At AT&T, Community Engagement means engaging our employees to build healthy, connected, and thriving communities where we live and do business. Employees are focused on three key issues: improving educational outcomes, building sustainable communities and promoting the responsible use of technology. In 2012, employees and retirees donated more than 5.8 million hours of time to community outreach activities and pledged more than $34.8 million for charities of their choice through employee giving. Employees also committed to more than 23,500 sustainable choices through Do One Thing (DOT), which invites employees to make small, everyday choices that add up to a big positive impact for themselves, the community and/or the company.

About Junior Achievement of Central South Carolina

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 130 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

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NAI AVANT CONSUMMATES LEASE WITH WEBSTER UNIVERSITY AT 100 GATEWAY CORPORATE BLVD, COLUMBIA SC

 COLUMBIA, SC (May 28, 2013)  Paul Hartley, SIOR, and Roger Winn, both brokers with the NAI Avant Office Brokerage team, assisted in the transaction to relocate Webster University.  Webster University, a private, nonprofit university, was represented by Hartley and will utilize the entire ±28,500 SF office building at 100 Gateway Corporate Blvd, Columbia.  Winn represented the Landlord in the $3.5 million lease transaction.

Hartley

Winn

About NAI Avant

NAI Avant’s commercial real estate business is one of the largest in the Southeast.  With over 65 professionals, the firm provides comprehendsive brokerage, leasing, development, property and project management services.  For nearly three consecutive decades, the group has had more of its brokerage professionals recognized as top producers or recipients of the top awards than any other firm in South Carolina. As a member of the NAI Global Network, NAI Avant is affiliated with over 350 offices and 5,000 professionals in 55 countries across the globe. NAI Global is the largest independent commercial real estate service provider worldwide and a wholly owned subsidiary of C-III Capital Partners. NAI Avant’s Property and Project Management Group currently manages a multi-million square foot portfolio of properties across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Through its Avant Healthcare Division, the firm provides comprehensive services to hospitals, clinics, and physician groups. NAI Avant, founded in 1966, is headquartered in Columbia, SC with an office in Charleston, SC. Find out more about NAI Avant and its services at www.naiavant.com. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @NAI Avant and like us on Facebook.