Elliott Davis launches magazine aimed at clients and potential clients: Greenville-based business solutions firm Elliott Davis has taken a unique approach to further its position in the market--it's launched a business-and-lifestyle magazine Braintrust, a publication that's one part Bloomberg and one part Garden & Gun. 

The inaugural issue features business-oriented articles written by members of the Elliott Davis team, covering such topics as cyber-security and Opportunity Zones, in addition to a stunning wild-west photo essay from country star Ronnie Dunn, a profile of Husk restaurant, and visits to Chattanooga's Songbirds Guitar Museum and Kiawah Island. 

“At Elliott Davis, we pride ourselves on taking non-traditional approaches to everything we do, and BRAINTRUST is the latest manifestation of that vision,” Rick Davis, CEO of Elliott Davis, said in a statement. “It reflects our commitment to innovation and captures the essence of our firm of professionals who bring fresh perspectives, limitless energy, and fearless thinking to every engagement.”

The twice-a-year publication is available free of charge to current clients and "qualified subscribers." The editor-in-chief of Braintrust is Elliott Davis Chief Marketing Officer Jack Bacot.

Davis was recently added to 50 Most Influential Hall of Fame in recognition of his long career in Greenville and his commitment to the community. 

In January, Elliott Davis announced they would be moving into Falls Tower, the 17-story high-rise at the heart of the new Camperdown development. The new Elliott Davis HQ will take up 60,000 square feet spread across three floors. According a recent report, only one floor in Falls Tower is still available. 

You can flipped through a copy of the issue here. 

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Upstate SC Alliance  President and CEO John Lummus named one North America's Top 50 Economic Developers: The honor was given by Consultant Connect, a firm striving to bring economic developers and site selection consultants together, two groups the company says often find themselves on "opposite sides of the road."  

Named one Greenville Business Magazine's 50 Most Influential, Lummus and others were spotlighted by Consultant Connect after being nominated by other site selection and economic development professionals. 

Mandy Brawley of the S.C. Department of Commerce was also among the Top 50.

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China's Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. was added to the export Entity List for engaging "in activities that are contrary to U.S. national security or foreign policy interest," the U.S. Commerce Department said in a statement.

Now that it is on the list, Huawei will be forbidden from buying the various American-made goods it needs to make its telecommunication products--that is unless it's approved by the Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, a step that is unlikely at this time. The move comes at a time when the U.S. and China are in the midst of a trade war escalation.

"This will prevent American technology from being used by foreign owned entities in ways that potentially undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. 

Samsung is the No. 1 smartphone maker in the world, followed by Huawei and Apple. Despite Huawei's ubiquity, the Chinese company's phone are absent from the U.S. market. Huawei has been accused of stealing intellectual property. The firm has also been accused of violating  U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Trump's decision to add Huawei to the Entity List coincided with an emergency declaration stating "that threats to the information and communications technology and services supply chain by foreign adversaries are a national emergency."
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