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Ten at the Top
Upstate News
February 4, 2013 - Vol 4, Issue 2 |
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
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February 12 Upstate Senior Issues Meeting TATT/Upstate Alliance Office 124 Verdae Blvd., Suite 202, Greenville - 10:00 a.m. - noon Click Here to Register February 13 Upstate United Way Directors Meeting TATT/Upstate Alliance Office 124 Verdae Boulevard, Suite 202, Greenville - 3:00-5:00 p.m.
February 21
TATT Board of Directors Meeting Palmetto Bank - 306 North St. - Greenville - 9:00-11:00 a.m.
February 28
Upstate Professional Planners Group Meeting ReWa Corporate Office - 561 Mauldin Road, Greenville 9:30-11:30 a.m. Click Here to Register
April 4 Upstate Elected Officials Meeting BMW Zentrum - 3:30-5:00 p.m. with reception to follow
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CONTACT US
| Dean Hybl
Executive Director
Ten at the Top
Email: dhybl@tenatthetop.org
Phone: 864.283.2315
Alissa Ritzo Duncan
Program Manager
Ten at the Top
Email: aritzoduncan@tenatthetop.org
Phone: 864.283.2313
Meredyth Boaz
Communications Director
Ten at the Top
Email: mboaz@tenatthetop.org
Phone: 864.283.2317
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UPSTATE LEADERS DISCUSS WORKFORCE AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT
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More than 200 business and community leaders from across the Upstate participated in the first Our Upstate Vision Forum of 2013, held on January 31st at the BMW Zentrum.
Focusing on the important topic of workforce and skill development, the session served as an opportunity to discuss how we should proceed as a region in addressing this topic in the short, middle and long term.
There are currently a number of programs being developed across the region and forum participants suggested the need for a regional coalition to ensure that these efforts are all collaboratively and making the best use of resources and energy.
There was also an emphasis among participants of ensuring that future workers in the Upstate are prepared not just with technical skills, but also soft skills that employers often find lacking in new employees.
The connection between education and a skilled workforce was discussed with some suggesting that we need to develop a seamless education system that is preparing Upstate residents for workforce success from early childhood through k-12 and on into post secondary education and beyond. There has been an increase in partnerships between the business and education communities in recent years and participants suggested that increasing those connections will be important to future success in the Upstate.
This forum was coordinated through a partnership of Ten at the Top and the four Workforce Investment Boards in the Upstate. Many forum participants expressed an interest in helping move forward collaboration efforts in workforce and skill development. If you are interested in participating in future discussions on this subject, please contact Alissa Ritzo Duncan for more information.
Click Here to See Video from the Workforce & Skill Development Forum
Click Here to Read the Meeting Notes
Click Here to Read the BIG and BOLD Ideas Shared by Forum participants.
Be sure to check out the photos from our forum here! |
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TATT WELCOMES TWO FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS
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 | | Alissa Ritzo Duncan |
Alissa Ritzo Duncan has been named the Program Manager for Ten at the Top. Alissa is no stranger to the Upstate. A graduate from the University of South Carolina, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. She continued her education at Clemson University, earning her Master's Degree in City and Regional Planning. Since August 2008, Alissa worked with the Spartanburg Area Transportation Study (SPATS) as well as the Spartanburg County Planning and Development Department. While working with SPATS and Spartanburg County Planning and Development, Alissa assisted in the development of a Transit Master Plan and a Government Operations Emissions Inventory. She also helped develop and coordinate the air quality program for both organizations.
Meredyth Boaz has been named the Communications Director for Ten at the
Top. Meredyth, an Illinois transplant to South Carolina, attended the University of South Carolina,
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earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism Management with an emphasis in Event and Convention Planning. Previously, Meredyth worked as the Event Manager with the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce and as the Coordinator for the Carolina Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE). Meredyth was instrumental in planning and implementing the Chamber's Annual Auction, as well as the Chamber's monthly meetings, including Business After Hours and Business Round Tables. While working with CACCE, Meredyth created the monthly newsletters, organized the quarterly board meetings and planned and coordinated the major conferences for the association.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL ALL STAR GAME SET FOR MARCH 23RD
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A group of South Carolina media along with the organizers of the South Carolina College All Star Bowl have selected eight football legends to be charter members of the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame.
The eight inductees are: Clemson University's Banks McFadden, Danny Ford and Frank Howard; the University of South Carolina's George Rogers; Furman University's Sam Wyche, and South Carolina State University's Willie Jeffries, Harry Carson and Donnie Shell.
All eight will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the South Carolina College All Star Bowl on March 23 at North Greenville University. More than 40 South Carolina gridiron greats were nominated for the initial class and other finalists were Clemson's Terry Kinard, Jeff Davis and Steve Fuller, South Carolina's Sterling Sharpe; Michigan State's George Webster; Newberry's Glen Cumbee and University of Tampa's Fred Solomon.
This group represents players and coaches from South Carolina football programs, as well as Palmetto State natives who played collegiately at out-of-state schools.
"We had so many great nominees that it was very tough to select just eight," said David Wyatt, director of the South Carolina All Star Bowl.
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PRESIDENTIAL COLLOQUIUM - ADDING VALUE:EXPLORING THE MEANS TO AN END
|  Join Clemson University for their 2012-2013 Presidential Colloquium featuring Joe Erwin, President of Erwin Penland Advertizing. The event will be on February 13 and will begin at 7:00 pm at the Strom Thurmond Institute.
"After starting their careers in Greenville, S.C., then enjoying success in New York at DMB&B and Saatchi & Saatchi, respectively, Joe and his wife, Gretchen, bought Greenville's Penland Advertising and started Erwin Penland with one account and two employees. Their goal: extraordinary work, coupled with extraordinary customer service."
For more information about the event, click here!
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NELL NEWMAN TO SPEAK AT UPSTATE FOREVER LUNCHEON ON FEBRUARY 21ST
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Upstate Forever will welcome Nell Newman, founder and president of Newman's Own Organics, as the keynote speaker at its ForeverGreen Annual Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.
An ardent supporter of sustainable agriculture, Newman will discuss the importance of organic foods and share her perspective on why living a more environmentally conscious life helps us all. Newman's commitment to organic foods led her to convince her father, Paul Newman, to establish an organic division of Newman's Own in 1993. She is now president of the company and one of the country's great champions of organic foods. Newman has a direct connection to the Upstate since her mother, the Oscar-winning actress Joanne Woodward, graduated from Greenville High School and launched her career at the Greenville Little Theatre.
"We are so excited and honored to have Nell with us," said Brad Wyche, executive director of Upstate Forever. "She will share some wonderful stories about her parents and provide unique insights about the organic food movement. It's a speech you don't want to miss."
Upstate Forever's ForeverGreen Annual Awards Luncheon recognizes individuals and organizations for significant contributions in the fields of land conservation, water quality, air quality, sustainable development, public service and volunteer work.
The luncheon will be held at Embassy Suites at 670 Verdae Boulevard in Greenville. For tickets or sponsorship information check out the Forever Green web site or contact Billie Young at (864) 232-2302 or billie@crawfordstrategy.com.
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NxLEVEL FOR ENTREPRENEURS WORKSHOPS TO BE HELD IN SPARTANBURG
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The Spartanburg Small Business Development Center, Upstate Workforce Investment Board, SCORE, and the Women's Business Center have partnered with BizBuilderSC to announce an eight-session workshop open to entrepreneurs who want to expand their existing business and need the skills to make it grow.
BizBuilderSC is the statewide entrepreneur and small business training program that provides you with the framework and basic skills to develop and grow a small business. BizBuilderSC is the expansion of the successful FastTracSC program and is a direct result of increased demand for entrepreneur training across the state.
Trained facilitators, who are entrepreneurs themselves, will take you through an interactive process to help you evaluate your business concept, set your financial goals, identify your marketing niche and needs, and build your business plan. With a track record of over 1,600 graduates in 36 South Carolina communities, our entrepreneur training leads the way in helping you succeed. "NxLevel for Entrepreneurs (Existing Businesses)" will be held at the Upstate Workforce Investment Board, 102 Commerce Street, Spartanburg, SC 29304 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on MONDAYS, MARCH 4, 2013 through APRIL 29, 2013. To register for classes, go to the BizBuilderSC website at http://www.bizbuildersc.com. Price: $195 or $145 if you register two weeks in advance (includes book, materials and snacks!).
For more information, please contact Beth Smith at the Spartanburg Small Business Development Center via e-mail at es2@clemson.edu or by telephone: 864.592.6318.
Sponsored by: Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
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UPSTATE INFORMATION HUB ADDS NEW MOBILE APP
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Thanks to a partnership between Ten at the Top and WSPA-TV, it is now easier to access the comprehensive calendar and resources available on the Upstate Information Hub through a new mobile app that is available for both Android devices and Apple products.
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TEN AT THE TOP THANKS FUNDING PARTNERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT
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 Over the last three years, more than 80 organizations and individuals from across the Upstate have helped support the mission of Ten at the Top to promote collaboration and planning in the Upstate by donating funds or services as either a continuing funding partner (commitment of at least three years), annual funding partner or event sponsor.
Each month we will be highlighting some of these organizations that recognize the value of regional collaboration, planning and partnerships across the 10-county Upstate region as we work together to ensure that the Upstate remains a great place to live, learn, do business and raise a family for generations to come.
This month we want to thank our current Continuing Funding Partners (three-year funding commitments):
Regional Visionary: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Regional Steward: GSA Business, Greenville News
Regional Benefactor: Greenville Hospital System
Regional Partner: AnMed Health
Regional Sponsors: Elliott Davis, Erwin Maddrey, Sealevel Systems, Bon Secours St. Francis, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Charter Business, Greenville Water, Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA), Trehel Corporation, Hughes Agency
Regional Advocate: Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Barnet Development Corporation, City of Greer, Welling Strategic, BMW Manufacturing Co., Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, The Furman Company, Craig Brown, World Acceptance Corporation, The Palmetto Bank, ScanSource
Regional Patron: USC-Upstate, Broad River Electric Cooperative, Greenville Tech, Community Foundation of Greenville, Coldwell Banker Caine, BB&T, Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Hughes Investments, Hughes Commercial, Tri-County Technical College, General Wholesale Distributors, Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, McMillan Pazdan Smith, Minor Shaw, South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Johnson Development Associates, Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Nate Lipscomb, Union County Chamber of Commerce, MGFA/Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, Carol Burdette
You can read the entire list of TATT Funding Partners on our web site.
If your organization recognizes the value of regional collaboration, planning and partnerships and would like to become part of this prestigious group of local champions, please contact Dean Hybl (dhybl@tenatthetop.org) or go to the web site to download our pledge form.
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| SHARE YOUR UPSTATE NEWS |  If your city, county or organization has news you want to share or an event you want to promote with people across the 10-county Upstate Region, send it to us and we will include it in the next Ten at the Top e-newsletter.
The TATT newsletter is typically distributed the first Monday of each month (except for when there is a holiday) to more than 6,500 residents across the Upstate. The deadline for submitting information is the Thursday prior to the first Monday of the month.
Send information about an upcoming event, special recognition or anything else you think is of regional interest to Dean Hybl. |
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