GSA Technology Council

Beginning Friday, September 17th and continuing into Saturday, September 18th, the very first Greenville REST Fest will attract web developers from all over the area and beyond.

REST Fest is a community unconference event focused on the REST architectural style and implementations of the RESTful architectural style. Based on the OpenSpaces model, REST Fest puts developers front-and-center with a handful of selected speakers, “open mic” style Lightning Talks where anyone can present about anything, and round-the-clock access to a “Hack Space” where people can get together and work on whatever interestes them.

REST Fest will encourage developers who have direct experience building RESTful applications for the World Wide Web to share their successes and their frustrations in an informal atmosphere. Talks that emphasise practical solutions will be favored over theoretical presentations. Showing your code is encouraged! The event is platform and technology agnostic with a leaning toward Open Source and OSS-friendly environments.

Presenters are encouraged to submit a title, short abstract (250 or less) and an indication of the “level” of the talk (beginner, intermediate, advanced). “How To…” talks are encouraged as well as “How Do I?” talks. A small number of talks (about five) will be choosen as a “Selected Talk” with a format of 45 minutes plus questions. All talks are automatically accepted for the “Lightning Talk” section (Five Slides in Five Minutes). If you want your talk to be considered only for one category (Lightning or Selected), indicate that on your proposal.

Learn more or sign up for the event at www.restfest.org.

via: REST Fest

GREENVILLE, S.C., August 23, 2010 – To the applause of hundreds of minority business owners, corporate executives and procurement professionals from across the Carolinas, the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council 2010 Business Opportunity Conference recognized progress and achievement by minority businesses in honoring individuals and corporations at their recent annual awards program at the Hyatt Regency Greenville, South Carolina.

Dick Wilkerson of Michelin, N.A. received the President’s Award celebrating the leadership he demonstrated in creating access to capital through the Michelin Development Fund for Disadvantaged Businesses in the Upstate.

Joe Mullen of BMW Manufacturing was honored as CMSDC Advocate of the Year for his mentorship of minority enterprises, his active pursuit of opportunity creation, building community awareness and involvement, and BMW’s volume of business currently conducted with minority business enterprises. Sharon Campbell of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions was saluted as Coordinator of the Year for her tireless efforts to leverage minority enterprise and develop a more diverse supplier base at her organization.

Cited as Regional Corporation of the Year was BI-LO of Mauldin, South Carolina. BI-LO was hailed for building of community awareness around minority issues, civic involvement, and continued growth of business conducted with minority business enterprises across their multistate geographic footprint.

Denny’s Restaurants of Spartanburg, SC was honored with the coveted National Corporation of the Year Award for continued commitment to minority business enterprises, mentorship and support of minority businesses and their leaders, civic involvement, and continued growth of business with minority organizations.

CMSDC leaders also celebrated the Public-Private Sector Organization of the Year, presenting the award to Novant Health of Winston-Salem, NC for its commitment to minority business purchasing, technical and managerial assistance to such enterprises, and volume of business opportunities dedicated to minority companies.

Finally, Supplier of the Year Awards were presented to Hoyles General Contractors of Charlotte in the Tier One (<$1 million in revenues) category; DeWhit Inc. of Simpsonville, SC in the Tier Two ($1-10 million in revenues) category; and to Aten Clinical Solutions of Cary, NC in the Tier Three (>$10 million revenues).

The 3-day event drew top executives from leading organizations across the Carolinas, including Boeing, Volvo, Denny’s, SCANA, Clemson, Enterprise Holdings, Progress Energy, Bank of America, Sonoco, Duke Energy, BMW, BI-LO, Wells Fargo, Michelin, Mack Trucks, Merck, Food Lion, Turner Construction, Skanska, GE Healthcare, Milliken, Johnson Controls, SAS, First Citizens, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dell, Coca Cola, Shaw, Staples, Lockheed Martin, Time Warner, Compass Group/Food Buy, Greenville Hospital System, Novant Health, Verizon, and GE Energy.

The program included a CEO Breakfast, a Legislative Roundtable discussion with public sector officials, a Purchasing Panel of leading purchasing executives, Diversity University training sessions and trade show, and the Awards Dinner to celebrate corporate and minority business achievements.

“We are particularly proud to honor individuals and organizations who understand that promoting and supporting the development of minority business enterprises (MBEs) not only helps the business community, but is essential to regional competitiveness,” said Ray Lattimore, CEO of Marketplace Staffing of Greenville, and one of the host organizations for the CMSDC’s Business Opportunity Conference. “We all benefit when business owners and leaders from across the Carolinas come together to increase opportunities for minority-owned enterprises, and to salute those who are demonstrating that it is not only the right thing to do but that it also makes good business sense.”

Minority suppliers are among the fastest-growing segment of today’s business landscape. This year, America’s largest corporations will spend close to $100 billion to buy goods and services from minority-owned businesses. “We are hoping that the fine example of business and civic leadership set by our prominent corporate members and certified minority businesses will motivate other corporations and entrepreneurs to join us in ensuring the success of our economy,” said Robyn Hamilton, Carolinas MSDC president.

For additional information on award winners or the CMSDC and its programs, please visit www.carolinasmsdc.org.

Architecture and interior design firm, McMillan Pazdan Smith, has retained Merge to create and deliver a high-impact email marketing campaign. The campaign will highlight the national firm’s recent awards and case studies, as well as their broad range of expertise.

“From their comprehensive and collaborative strategies, to their steadfast belief that functional and beautiful are not mutually exclusive, McMillan Pazdan Smith’s unique approach to design has resulted in several awards over the past decade,” said Matt McFadden, Business Development Manager of Merge. “It is an honor to help highlight these awards, as well as the firm’s tremendous body of work.”

McMillan Pazdan Smith has established a reputation for strong fiscal stewardship, effective project management, and creative and imaginative design solutions for both public and private clients.  The firm has been published nationally and is a frequent award winner on local, regional and national levels.  Their areas of expertise include planning and design for campus, community, healthcare, K-12, urban and retail buildings, along with specialized services for historic preservation, and sustainable design initiatives.

via Merge

The Carolina First South Carolina Room of the Greenville County Library System has published the second edition of its Greenville County Driving Tour of Historic Sites. The full color, 48-page booklet offers residents and visitors alike a journey through time into Greenville County history. The publication presents three leisurely routes through the county: Northern Tour, Downtown Tour and Southern Tour along with images and historical background about each of the 53 locations from the Carolina First South Carolina Room’s archives.

The Greenville County Driving Tour of Historic Sites can be purchased for $4.00 at any library location, the Carolina First South Carolina Room, the Friends Shop at the Hughes Main Library and select retailers in the area. The Greenville County Driving Tour of Historic Sites was produced through the generous support of the Friends of the Greenville County Library System.

The Carolina First South Carolina Room is located at the Hughes Main Library at 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville, SC 29601.
via: Greenville County Library

EDTS, LLC, a full-service technology consulting firm, specializing in networking, security, and managed services support solutions for business, has announced the addition of Shea Blackston as a Strategic Account Manager to its rapidly growing team. Ms. Blackston is a native of North Augusta, South Carolina and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Winthrop University. She has over nine years of experience in marketing and media production and previously owned her own company specializing in event marketing and production, copywriting, and small business consulting. Ms. Blackston will serve EDTS clients across Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina from EDTS’s Greenville, SC office. “Increasing the EDTS sales and service staff is key to developing our regional presence and expanding into new markets,” said Charles Johnson, EDTS President and CEO. “Shea is an experienced professional with a strong focus on client satisfaction and needs analysis, and will be instrumental in growing our client base in the Greenville and Augusta regions.”
via: EDTS

The South Carolina Department of Commerce has completed review of The Matrix Business and Technology Park in Greenville County and has awarded it the designation of South Carolina Certified Site.

A certified site is guaranteed to meet or exceed established criteria in demand by industries seeking a site for immediate development, and is a key requirement by many organizations looking for a new location. The Matrix site’s application was prepared by B.P. Barber, a regional engineering firm.

“Greenville County is committed to growing and attracting businesses. We understand the importance such organizations place on speed to occupancy and sites that are shovel-ready,” Andy Cajka, Chairman of The Matrix’s Board of Directors. “Companies considering Greenville County as a possible site for operations gain credibility, speed in decision making and reduced risk from a certified site. This is a valuable step towards increasing our tenant base at The Matrix.”

To be certified, a site must pass a rigorous evaluation where more than 100 types of site information are reviewed. The site must be free of ownership or use issues, free of environmental issues, and meet or exceed all infrastructure requirements of typical industrial projects. Currently, there are 38 sites in South Carolina that are certified as having completely met all criteria.

“This site certification conveys to the market that The Matrix site meets key site readiness criteria for potential tenants,” added Butch Kirven, Chairman of Greenville County Council. “It gives Greenville County a leg up in the battle for coveted economic investment and jobs, and allows us to be more responsive and competitive during site selection opportunities. We are particularly appreciative that AT&T, Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas provided critical support in offsetting the costs of the required studies.”

Located in southern Greenville County, SC, The Matrix Park is a 1,100-acre, master-planned park with a special I-2 zoning classification and restrictive covenants that make it ideally suited for industry, warehouse/distribution operations, research and development and headquarters campus facilities. Current tenants include GE Aviation, JTEKT, Gordon Food Service and The Blood Connection. For further details, visit www.thematrixpark.com
via: Matrix Park

The Southern Weaving Company CEO Ron Mohling and the Greenville Area Development Corporation today announced the company’s investment and expansion at its Greenville, S.C. manufacturing facility, including an estimated $1.5 million capital investment by the company, and the relocation or addition of about 20 positions to Greenville this summer.

Southern Weaving Company specializes in the design, development and manufacture of industrial woven products including nylon, cotton and polyester webbing. The material produced by Southern Weaving is primarily used for cargo restraints, safety harnesses, sling webs, and hydraulic hose sleeves and other containment applications. The company is also a leading supplier of cotton transfer belts, serving the domestic and international markets including China.

“This initiative, already underway, will improve and expand our manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies in Greenville County,” said Mark Isbell, Vice President of Operations for Southern Weaving. “It will expand our capacity to serve customers globally as economic conditions continue their rebound over the next several years.”

The expanded Greenville facility, located at 1005 West Bramlett Road, will benefit from the addition of equipment and talent from Southern Weaving’s ISO 9001:2000 certified Easley facility that is being consolidated into the Greenville operation, Isbell noted. “We are currently in process of relocating those employees and equipment from Easley to Greenville, which will provide improved efficiency and productivity for both our operations and our customers,” he added.

The expansion, expected to be fully complete in July, will leave Southern Weaving Company facilities in Anderson, SC and in Ontario, Canada, in addition to the expanded Greenville operations. Southern Weaving currently employs in excess of 175 associates in all locations, including over 160 in South Carolina. Even though most of the recent positions have been filled with associates transferring to the Greenville facility, the Company anticipates gradual hiring over the next several months as the economic recovery continues. Persons interested in job opportunities should visit the local employment office for more information or submit their resume to jobs@southernweaving.com.
via: Southern Weaving

Customer Effective Inc., a Microsoft Inner Circle and Gold Certified Partner focused on Microsoft Dynamics CRM, announces their selection as a finalist for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year award. This award recognizes Customer Effective for delivering consistent, high-quality, predictable Microsoft Dynamics CRM services which help ensure significant business benefits for customers. Customer Effective has also demonstrated strong business leadership and success with new customer additions and revenue growth.

“This is a killer award and we’re thrilled to be a finalist,” said Scott Millwood, President of Customer Effective. “We’ve knocked out some great work this year. Our leadership in helping our clients achieve success on the CRM platform and extending CRM into collaborative web portals really caught fire in 2010. Our team loves to see all of that hard work and dedication being recognized at this high level. Now we’re ready to pour on the gas in the upcoming year!”

Awards will be presented in a number of categories, with winners and finalists chosen from a pool of almost 3,000 entrants worldwide. The Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year Award honors partners who have exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

“Congratulations to the 2010 Partner Award finalists for delivering such creative and superior Microsoft solutions and services,” said Allison Watson, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft Corp. “It’s incredible to see the level of expertise our partners continue to exhibit as they create and deliver innovative solutions and services to grow their businesses, meet customer needs, and drive down costs.”

via: Customer Effective

The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Greenville Area Development Corporation today announced that OpTek Systems Inc. will expand its fiber optic device and laser manufacturing facility in Greenville County. The new investment is expected to generate up to 20 new jobs over the next several years.

“This expansion is an important step in OpTek System’s growth, and we are pleased to increase our presence in the South Carolina Upstate. Greenville has provided our company with an excellent business environment and skilled workforce. We have grown quickly over the last few years and expect to continue expanding our operations in the future. We appreciate all the support we have received from state and local officials,” said Duane Dinkel, President of OpTek Systems.

OpTek Systems will be expanding their operations, located at 12 Pilgrim Road, by facility up-fitting, increased clean room space, equipment upgrades and the in-house fabrication of additional laser systems. The expansion is expected to be completed in phases over the next several years.

“OpTek Systems is an excellent example of the type of a high-tech business that increases South Carolina’s reputation as a leader in cutting-edge industries. The company’s decision to expand in Greenville is another indication that our business climate and skilled workforce offer the strong fundamentals companies need to prosper. We appreciate OpTek Systems’ decision to continue to do business in South Carolina and look forward to their continued growth in the days ahead,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“Today’s announcement is another piece of welcome news, and an important sign that our efforts to strengthen business growth and job creation in Greenville County are paying off,” noted H.G. “Butch” Kirven, Jr., Board member for the Greenville Area Development Corporation and chairman of Greenville County Council. “This news is also significant in that OpTek Systems’ growth and production of high performance materials will support a variety of industries including defense, medical, telecommunications and advanced materials. Their decision will serve as a magnet for additional talented individuals, affirms that innovation and specialty manufacturing is alive and well here, and will add good paying jobs in our community.”

The company has initiated the hiring process and will be accepting applications throughout the year. Anyone interested in job opportunities with the company should forward resumes to osi@opteksystems.com.

OpTek Systems was founded in 2006 and is a high-tech manufacturer of fiber optic devices and laser systems. The company serves a number of markets including defense, medical and telecommunications segments. The company also produces components used in cell phones, oil and gas sensors and other precision applications, including critical devices for the Large Hadron Collider (CERN). The company also has offices in Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.opteksystems.com.

via: GADC

The Clemson Small Business Development Center is presenting a FREE tax workshop for prospective and new small business owners. The workshop will be held from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in Room #2 of the Greenville Technical College Admissions Office (McAlister Square), at 225 South Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville. To reserve a seat, please call the SBDC at 864. 370.1545.

The Small Business Tax Workshop contains general information about different types of business organizations, record keeping requirements and business tax returns. This workshop is a taxpayer education program sponsored by the Clemson Small Business Development Center, the SC Business Initiative (formerly SC Women’s Business Center), the IRS, South Carolina Enrolled Agents and the SC Department of Revenue. It is directed toward the small businessperson who is starting a business or has recently started a small business in the service, retail or manufacturing area.

The morning session will cover federal tax requirements for small businesses and the afternoon session will cover state tax and employment security obligations. A packet of very helpful publications is given to each participant.

To register for the workshop or for more information, please contact the Small Business Development Center via e-mail: sbostic@clemson.edu or by telephone: 864.370.1545.

via: Greenville Small Business Development Center