#yeahTHATAgenda: Fire at Bacon Bros, Free Coding School, Carolina Panthers Moving, Stratos Aviation
Dec 13, 2018 04:48AM ● By Chris Haire
Bacon Bros. Public House lost their smoker earlier this week following a fire in their smokehouse. In order to continue serving their customers, the restaurant would have to temporarily change their menu, including ditching their core offerings: BBQ and smoked meat. Fortunately, Tiger O'Rourke and the fine folks at Henry's Smokehouse stepped in to help, lending their fellow 'cue makers one of their smokers.
BMW, The Commerce Department, And The Greenville County Library Join Forces
To Offer Free Lessons In Computer Coding Statewide: Launched in September, SC Codes is an online educational platform available at sccodes.org that provides South Carolina residents with access to free tutorials in a variety of coding topics ranging from beginner to advanced. (Greenville Business Magazine)
Death by a thousand cuts: Fountain Inn blade maker struggles under steel tariffs (Greenville News)
The Rotten Condition Of Columbia’s Roads Are Finally Being Addressed, But A Long-Term Solution Is Sorely Needed: Despite efforts from the South Carolina General Assembly, state agencies, road contractors, economic development agencies, and advocacy groups, the Midlands appears to be stuck in a traffic jam backed up 30 years. (Columbia Business Monthly)
This Man Spent 6 Weeks Working Undercover In An iPhone Factory In China--Here's What It Was Like (Business Insider)
CEO of MoviePass' parent company had $7.25 million in stock that's now worth less than $50 (CNBC)
‘Smash Bros.’ Cures Nintendo of the Summertime Blues (WSJ)
The Wire
Executive Director Marcia S. Adams To Continue To Lead S.C. Department Of Administration: Following the Government Restructuring Act of 2014, former Governor Nikki Haley appointed Adams as the first executive director of the newly-formed Department of Administration in July of 2015.
Stratos Aviation Recognized For Flight Training Excellence By National Organization: For the third year in a row, Stratos Aviation has been recognized as a Distinguished Flight School by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the world’s largest aviation association. AOPA also recognized Stratos Aviation Instructor and Founder Dimitri Partafyllas as a Distinguished Flight Instructor.
Healthcare US Co., Ltd. Launching Fairfield County Operations: Healthcare US Co., Ltd., a venture of China-based Healthcare Co., Ltd., announced plans to establish new operations in Fairfield County. The company’s $45 million investment is projected to create 250 new jobs.
W International Locates Berkeley County Operations: W International, a full-service manufacturer of large, complex welded metal fabrications, announced plans to locate new production operations in Berkeley County. The company's $35.2 million capital investment is projected to create more than 600 new jobs
25 Fastest Growing Companies
No. 19: Advantage | Forbesbooks
BMW, The Commerce Department, And The Greenville County Library Join Forces
To Offer Free Lessons In Computer Coding Statewide: Launched in September, SC Codes is an online educational platform available at sccodes.org that provides South Carolina residents with access to free tutorials in a variety of coding topics ranging from beginner to advanced. (Greenville Business Magazine)
Death by a thousand cuts: Fountain Inn blade maker struggles under steel tariffs (Greenville News)
Carolina Panthers plan to build team HQ, practice facility in SC (Post and Courier)
The Rotten Condition Of Columbia’s Roads Are Finally Being Addressed, But A Long-Term Solution Is Sorely Needed: Despite efforts from the South Carolina General Assembly, state agencies, road contractors, economic development agencies, and advocacy groups, the Midlands appears to be stuck in a traffic jam backed up 30 years. (Columbia Business Monthly)
This Man Spent 6 Weeks Working Undercover In An iPhone Factory In China--Here's What It Was Like (Business Insider)
CEO of MoviePass' parent company had $7.25 million in stock that's now worth less than $50 (CNBC)
‘Smash Bros.’ Cures Nintendo of the Summertime Blues (WSJ)
Apple Announces Plan to Build $1 Billion Campus in Texas (AP)
As the Craft Brewing Industry Continues to Grow, It Continues to Get Weirder—in the Best Way Possible (Wired)
As the Craft Brewing Industry Continues to Grow, It Continues to Get Weirder—in the Best Way Possible (Wired)
The Wire
Executive Director Marcia S. Adams To Continue To Lead S.C. Department Of Administration: Following the Government Restructuring Act of 2014, former Governor Nikki Haley appointed Adams as the first executive director of the newly-formed Department of Administration in July of 2015.
Stratos Aviation Recognized For Flight Training Excellence By National Organization: For the third year in a row, Stratos Aviation has been recognized as a Distinguished Flight School by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the world’s largest aviation association. AOPA also recognized Stratos Aviation Instructor and Founder Dimitri Partafyllas as a Distinguished Flight Instructor.
Healthcare US Co., Ltd. Launching Fairfield County Operations: Healthcare US Co., Ltd., a venture of China-based Healthcare Co., Ltd., announced plans to establish new operations in Fairfield County. The company’s $45 million investment is projected to create 250 new jobs.
W International Locates Berkeley County Operations: W International, a full-service manufacturer of large, complex welded metal fabrications, announced plans to locate new production operations in Berkeley County. The company's $35.2 million capital investment is projected to create more than 600 new jobs
25 Fastest Growing Companies
No. 19: Advantage | Forbesbooks
Year Founded: 2005
Founder: Adam Witty
Headquarters location: Charleston
Number of other locations: 4
Number of employees (start): 1
Number of employees (present): 125
Advantage|ForbesBooks specializes in authority marketing for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals who want to grow their business. They offer turnkey publishing and marketing systems to position individuals and brands as leaders in their field. Advantage|ForbesBooks’ mission is to help their members share their stories, passion, and knowledge to help others learn and grow. They have been featured on the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies for five years. Utilizing the Forbes multi-platform media network, ForbesBooks offers a branding, visibility, and marketing platform to business authors that is absolutely unrivaled. For more information on their publishing imprints and Authority Marketing System, visit advantagefamily.com or forbesbooks.com.
What are the keys to your company’s rapid growth?
Adam Witty (Founder and CEO): Listen to our customers. Stay focused on delivering products and services that our customers value and want. Having one strategic plan everyone is following to achieve our growth plan. This creates clarity and alignment. Focus on creating an internal culture and environment that breeds greatness. A great culture attracts A+ talent and keeps those people positive and engaged. Happy team members deliver great service for our members (customers). Happy members deliver profitable growth for the company.
What’s in store for your company?
Stay focused on our five-year growth plan. No deviations. Goal is for 70 percent of growth to be organic with no more than 30 percent coming from acquisitions.
Do you plan to add any employees in the coming year? If so, how many?
Achievement of our growth plan in 2019 would result in the addition of 60-80 team members.
What trends and innovations do you see down the line for your industry?
For our book publishing business, artificial intelligence is very interesting as it could provide the ability for computers to ghostwrite books for our authors. For our marketing agency business, the slow shift of marketing dollars from online back to offline (because of a lack of results online) is very interesting and provides unique opportunities for our members to reach their target audience online with less noise.
What word of advice, if any, has shaped your career and who gave it or where did you read it?
My friend, mentor, and member Jack Daly reminded me: “Adam, your job is not to grow a company. Your job is to grow people that grow a company.” Our future success lies in talented and skilled people working together to achieve things bigger and better than any of them could have done alone.
What do you do to ensure that you are always learning?
I read lots of books and of business magazines, and attend lots of conferences. I also participate in three peer/mastermind groups to keep my mind sharp and learn what other businesses are doing.