GSA Technology Council

Amazon.com, Inc. has opened their doors to their new fulfillment center in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The facility created hundreds of new full time jobs and involves a $50 million investment in the state.

“South Carolina has been a great home for us and we’re excited to create hundreds of additional jobs in the state,” said Dave Clark, vice president, Amazon Global Customer Fulfillment. “We had a great first holiday season in Lexington County and we look forward to serving our customers from both Lexington and Spartanburg Counties.”

During the opening, Spartanburg County Councilman Jeff Horton, Spartanburg Mayor Junie White and Rep. Mike Forrester spoke of Spartanburg’s leadership, interstates, future inland port, schools and workforce as some of the attributes that helped recruit Amazon to the area.

Amazon opened its first South Carolina fulfillment center last year in Lexington County’s Saxe Gotha Industrial Park. The new facility in Spartanburg County will be approximately one million square feet and will be located on a site near John Dodd Road.

“Our state has a vibrant and growing distribution and logistics sector, and having a company like Amazon continue to establish new operations here builds on that reputation,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.

“Spartanburg County is pleased to welcome Amazon as it represents another investment by a global company that realizes we are a pro-business community. We are especially thankful to our partners, including Duke Energy, AdvanceSC, Spartanburg County CTC Committee, Piedmont Natural Gas, our workforce professionals, Johnson Development Associates, the Economic Futures Group investors and staff, Spartanburg County staff, and the S.C. Department of Commerce. All were vital to making this project possible,” said David Britt, Economic Recruitment Committee of Spartanburg County chairman and Economic Futures Group Board member.

via Amazon

Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. announced it has acquired an interest in approximately 144 million tons of production at four quarries from Vulcan Materials Companyfor $75 million. The quarries are located near the Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina markets. Beginning in January 2013, Plum Creek expects to receive royalty payments from the production and sale of the crushed stone from the quarries for approximately 25 years.

“This is an attractive, cash-accretive investment in a familiar natural resource asset for Plum Creek,” said Rick Holley, president and chief executive officer of Plum Creek. “The investment adds to our existing construction materials royalty streams, and the quarries will continue to be owned and operated by Vulcan, a leader in the industry. We are optimistic that the favorable growth prospects for aggregate demand in these markets will enhance future earnings potential.”

Plum Creek is one of the largest landowners in the nation and the most geographically diverse, with approximately 6.4 million acres of timberlands in major timber producing regions of the United States and wood products manufacturing facilities in the Northwest.

via Plum Creek

VP/Director of Sales
The RAP Index is looking for a candidate with at least 5 years of sales experience with an entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic to help develop, implement, and advance the company’s sales strategy.

Adjunct Instructor – Networking
Virginia College of Spartanburg is looking for a Networking Adjunct Instructor to plan and implement curriculum and educational programs for students within the program.
 

More Open Positions:
Application Developer
The RAP Index is looking for a candidate experienced in managing and developing web-based software applications to lead a close-knit application development team.

Senior Java Developer
Green Cloud Technologies is looking for one senior java developer to join their growing team.

Java Developer
Johnson Service Group is currently seeking Java Developers for a 12+ month contract to permanent opportunity in Greenville, SC.

Sales Representative
Engenius is looking for a Sales Representative to develop relationships with future clients, represent the Engenius brand, and help our company grow specifically in the Anderson/Clemson/Seneca area.

Client Relations/Fulfillment Specialist
Engenius is seeking someone to work with clients from start to finish on each project we undertake, playing both the role of an account rep and project manager.

Preview more open positions on the GSATC jobs board. We encourage you to share it with anyone who may be in the hunt. If you are looking for work, feel free to let us know what you need on our LinkedIn group!

Looking to hire? Post your openings to our job board.

Adjunct Instructor – Networking
Virginia College of Spartanburg is looking for a Networking Adjunct Instructor to plan and implement curriculum and educational programs for students within the program.
 

More Open Positions:
Application Developer
The RAP Index is looking for a candidate experienced in managing and developing web-based software applications to lead a close-knit application development team.

Senior Java Developer
Green Cloud Technologies is looking for one senior java developer to join their growing team.

Java Developer
Johnson Service Group is currently seeking Java Developers for a 12+ month contract to permanent opportunity in Greenville, SC.

Sales Representative
Engenius is looking for a Sales Representative to develop relationships with future clients, represent the Engenius brand, and help our company grow specifically in the Anderson/Clemson/Seneca area.

Client Relations/Fulfillment Specialist
Engenius is seeking someone to work with clients from start to finish on each project we undertake, playing both the role of an account rep and project manager.

Preview more open positions on the GSATC jobs board. We encourage you to share it with anyone who may be in the hunt. If you are looking for work, feel free to let us know what you need on our LinkedIn group!

Looking to hire? Post your openings to our job board.

Sales/Design Engineer
Integral Solutions Group is hiring a Sales/Design Engineer to be accountable for all technical sales support activities for technical product base and service solutions. Sales/Design Engineer

More Open Positions:
Automation Technician and System Troubleshooter
Michelin is hiring Automation Troubleshooters and System Technicians. Qualified candidates will have a two year degree in Electronic-Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, Technology etc. Learn more

Preview more open positions on the GSATC jobs board. We encourage you to share it with anyone who may be in the hunt. If you are looking for work, feel free to let us know what you need on our LinkedIn group!

Looking to hire? Post your openings to our job board.

Verizon announced today that it is bringing the world’s first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network to Greenville-Spartanburg. The availability of a 4G LTE wireless network in the Upstate of South Carolina is part of the company’s aggressive expansion of its network into 140 additional markets in 2011. Last year, the world’s first large-scale launch of LTE began in 38 major metropolitan areas and in more than 60 commercial airports coast to coast.

The deployment of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE in the Upstate provides LTE coverage throughout the surrounding areas of Clemson, Simpsonville, Fountain Inn, Greer, Taylors, Inman, Central, Liberty, Mauldin, Wellford, Inman, Berea, Lyman, Startex, Roebuck and White Stone.

“This network revolution marks a new era in wireless communications with faster connections and endless possibilities for both consumers and businesses,” said Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless Carolinas Region President. “The launch of our lightning fast 4G LTE network in the Upstate is further evidence of our commitment to and investment in the residents of this area.”

Verizon Wireless is building its 4G LTE network with the same commitment to performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized. Verizon Wireless’ laser focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.

Enterprise users, businesses and individuals can immediately benefit from Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. While Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network promises much more than speed, the first application gives employees the ability to work at significantly faster speeds and improved latency, increasing productivity and the opportunity to get work done where their business takes them.

Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE continued rollout positions the company as the global leader in 4G LTE deployment. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE average data rates are 5-12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2-5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world, loaded network environments. These speeds are significantly faster than Verizon Wireless and other wireless providers’ current or promised 3G network speeds.

By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment in the United States, Verizon Wireless is capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless broadband network with excellent coverage. The company is currently installing LTE equipment at existing cell sites and switching centers around the United States as part of its extensive, ongoing investment in its voice and data network infrastructure.

Visit the Verizon Wireless LTE site for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.

via Verizon Wireless

Part educational conference, part social gathering, the SouthEast LinuxFest is a community event for anyone who wants to learn more about Linux and Free & Open Source software. LinuxFest is the place to learn, to make new friends, to network with new business partners, and most importantly, to nerd out over Linux!

The three day conference boasts a grand line-up of speakers, a set of workshops and everything else an open source junkie could get their iPads around.

Speakers to find at the conference:

• Alan Hicks – Introduction to the 802.11 MAC AND Modern Ciphers 101 – Theory & Practice

• Brian Smith – Django AND DNSSEC

• Celeste Lyn Paul – No Boundaries: KDE Is Everywhere

• Daniel Walsh – Secure Virtualization (svirt) AND An Overview of SELinux

• James Schweitzer – Open Source in K12 Education: Lessons Learned From District Wide Deployments

• and more…

If that’s not enough, Tech After Five is a proud, proud sponsor!

Event Details:
What: 2010 SouthEast LinuxFest
Where: Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC
Date: June 11-13, 2010
To Register: SouthEast LinuxFest

Todd Harward, president of SCBT Wealth Management Group (NASDAQ: SCBT) announced today that they will open an office at 349 East Main Street.

“We are excited to have been able to locate our Wealth Management offices in the downtown Spartanburg area”

The 3,410 square foot office, located in the Mary Black Foundation building, is planned to open in early January 2010.

“We are excited to have been able to locate our Wealth Management offices in the downtown Spartanburg area,” said Harward. ”Our comprehensive approach to serving client needs includes investment and risk management, financial, estate, and charitable planning, estate settlement, trust administration, and private banking. We look forward to establishing a full-service retail banking location in the Spartanburg community in the new year.”

Customer service at the new location will be provided by Bill Coker, senior relationship manager; Frank Sanders, senior trust advisor; Brian Barker, portfolio manager; Charles Williams, portfolio manager; and Donna Murray, wealth planning advisor.

SCBT Financial Corporation, Columbia, South Carolina is a registered bank holding company incorporated under the laws of South Carolina. The Company consists of SCBT, N.A., the third largest bank headquartered in South Carolina and NCBT, a Division of SCBT, N.A. Providing financial services for over 75 years, SCBT Financial Corporation operates 48 financial centers in 16 South Carolina counties and Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. Named in Forbes as one of the 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America, SCBT Financial Corporation has assets of approximately $2.8 billion and its stock is traded under the symbol SCBT in the NASDAQ Global Select Market. More information can be found at www.SCBTonline.com.

via: SCBT

John Windley, president of South Carolina Bank and Trust (SCBT) announced today that four former Wachovia wealth management executives will lead SCBT’s entry into Spartanburg.

“Founded in 1933, SCBT has been serving the financial needs of South Carolinians for more than 75 years,” said Windley. “Our niche is community banking. We believe in South Carolina and understand the needs of the local markets. This will be our first step into the Spartanburg market, further expanding our commitment to the Upstate and rounding out our presence throughout the state.”

“Bill Coker will lead the team of seasoned executives including, Frank Sanders, Charles Williams and Brian Barker in providing a new dimension to our private banking and wealth management capabilities. The Spartanburg based initiative will eventually include banking and credit services to round out a full service offering,” said Todd Harward, president, SCBT Wealth Management Group.

“We are fortunate to have the exceptional local leadership to be able to take our wealth management and private banking offering to a new level,” said Windley. “Bill, Frank, Charles and Brian add a depth of expertise and style of full service relationship management that we will be able to leverage across the Carolinas.”

A native of Spartanburg, Coker has 27 years of banking experience with Wachovia and its predecessors. Previously, he served as senior relationship manager for Wachovia’s wealth management clients.

Coker earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware. He is a Certified Financial Planner and holds his FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 licenses.

“SCBT is committed to the same vision that is to provide comprehensive, objective advice through a fully integrated platform, serviced locally by a team of professionals,” said Coker. “I am looking forward to being part of this entrepreneurial company. There is a great opportunity for a well-capitalized bank to focus on wealth and private banking in Spartanburg and the Upstate market.”

Frank Sanders, also a Spartanburg native, has more than 20 years experience with Wachovia and previously NationsBank in the Trust Department. Frank earned his Juris Doctorate from the USC School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Wofford. Sanders also maintains his CTFA (Chartered Trust Financial Advisor) designation.

With more than 20 years experience in the investment business, Charles Williams has been a portfolio manager for Wachovia since 2003. Williams is a graduate of the Asheville School and the University of North Carolina Asheville. He maintains his CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation.

Brian Barker has over 10 years experience in the investment management business and has been a portfolio manager for Wachovia since 2003. Barker earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from Clemson University and his MBA from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Barker is the current president of the SC Chapter of the Financial Planning Association, and maintains his professional designations, CFP (Certified Financial Planner), CTFA (Chartered Trust Financial Advisor) and AIF (Accredited Investment Fiduciary).

via: South Carolina Bank and Trust

AFL Telecommunications, a division of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. Organized in 1984, AFL started as a joint venture between Alcoa, then known as the Aluminum Company of America, and Fujikura Ltd., a leader in the telecommunications and automotive industries, and built its manufacturing operations in Duncan, South Carolina. Initially focused on the supply of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) to utilities, AFL has since expanded its portfolio to include conductor accessories, fusion splicers, optical connectivity and fiber management. AFL entered the services business to expand its offering to its customer base, providing a total “one-stop” solution.

Over the years, AFL has expanded its facilities to include Mexico and Europe and added sales offices throughout the world. As the market continuously changes, AFL seeks new opportunities in fields such as oil and gas, medical, mining and broadcast while remaining competitive in its current markets including broadband, telecom, utility and enterprise networks.

“As we look towards the future, we expect continued growth and see the next 25 years to be just as exciting and rewarding as the first,” said Jody Gallagher, President and CEO of AFL Telecommunications. “We wouldn’t have made it this far without the commitment of our employees. It’s through their dedication and hard work that we’ve made it this far, and they are to be commended.”

AFL is marking this occasion with a Family Fun Day for AFL associates and family members. For additional information on AFL Telecommunications and Fujikura, visit www.AFLtele.com.

via: AFL Telecommunications