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Trinity Partners Announces the Sale of Office Building in Forest Acres

Photo courtesy of Trinity Partners

Columbia, South Carolina – Trinity Partners is pleased to announce the sale of a Class A office building located at 4875 Forest Drive in Columbia, SC. Nestled in the heart of Forest Acres, this property benefits immensely from its position on one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, ensuring high visibility and accessibility. Its proximity to key business hubs and residential areas alike makes it an ideal spot for the buyer’s growing medical practice.

Macon Lovelace, SIOR and Meredith Rhodes of Trinity Partners represented the seller, Southwood Holding Co. LLC in the transaction. There was no buyer representative. The purchaser owns a related medical practice and will eventually occupy all vacant space in the building, while TD Bank and the other existing tenants will remain for the foreseeable future. The 15,186 square foot building was purchased for $2,450,000.

The buyer will make extensive improvements to modernize the second-floor vacant space. Additionally, deferred maintenance such as a new roof and HVAC system will eventually be completed to improve the overall value of the building. The tenant is expected to occupy the renovated space in the summer of 2024.

“The demand for medical offices in Columbia is experiencing a significant surge, reflecting the city’s growing healthcare needs. In such a dynamic market, the role of a knowledgeable commercial brokerage is crucial. At Trinity Partners, we understand the unique requirements of the healthcare sector and the local real estate landscape. Our expertise allows us to identify and secure optimal spaces for medical offices, often through creative solutions that go beyond traditional real estate transactions” commented Meredith Rhodes, Brokerage Associate at Trinity Partners.

For additional information, please contact Macon Lovelace at mlovelace@trinity-partners.com or Meredith Rhodes at mrhodes@trinity-partners.com. To learn more about Trinity Partners, visit trinity-partners.com and follow us on social media.

Instagram: @trinitypartnerscola
LinkedIn: Trinity Partners-Columbia
Facebook: Trinity Partners Columbia
X: @TrinityCola

ABOUT TRINITY PARTNERS
With decades of experience and a distinctly local perspective, Trinity Partners provides a comprehensive platform of commercial real estate services for users and owners looking to expand and grow in the Carolinas. Our experts evaluate each client’s needs and craft unique solutions based on deep market knowledge, industry best practices, and a best-in-class mindset that consistently delivers results. We’re known for our entrepreneurial spirit and respected team of professionals who are directly responsible for our company’s success and collaborative culture. We currently lease and/or manage over 26 million square feet of office, industrial, life science, mixed-use, and retail space across the region through our offices in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, and Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina.
www.trinity-partners.com

The Basilica of Saint Peter to Hold Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Basilica & School Activity Center

Date: Wednesday, January 10th
Time: 6:00 pm
Address: 1529 Assembly St, Columbia SC 29201

Please join The Basilica of Saint Peter in celebrating the groundbreaking of their Basilica & School Activity Center on Wednesday, January 10th at 6 pm. The new three-story facility will be built on Assembly Street between the Basilica of Saint Peter Church and St. Peter’s Catholic School. The Activity Center will include adult classrooms, gathering spaces, offices, a youth center, and a multi-purpose hall.

About The Basilica of Saint Peter: Established as St. Peter’s Catholic Church in 1821 to serve Irish immigrants building the Columbia Canal, the Basilica of Saint Peter is the second oldest Roman Catholic parish in the state of South Carolina. With a long history of architectural significance, the first church building for the parish was designed by famous South Carolina architect Robert Mills, and the current church building, completed in 1907, was designed by Frank Milburn, architect of the state capitol dome. In 2018, the Vatican granted Saint Peter’s the title of “Minor Basilica,” noting its historical significance, the frequency and quality of its liturgy, and the vibrancy of its parish life. Known as the “Mother Church of the Midlands,” Saint Peter’s continues to help the people of the Midlands encounter Christ through worship, formation, and the sacraments. For more information on the Basilica of Saint Peter and their growth, please visit: visitstpeters.org/campaign

Project Partners: The Basilica of Saint Peter, Lambert Architecture + Construction Services, Hood Construction Company, Inc.

Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina Celebrates Staff Advancement

Columbia, SC — The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is thrilled to announce the recent professional advancement of Sarah Katherine Catalano. Catalano, who joined the organization in early 2022, has been promoted to the role of Community Engagement Manager. In her new capacity, Catalano will spearhead the coordination of community engagement activities, further enhancing the Foundation’s advocacy work, nurturing community relationships, and fortifying partnerships with grantees. She will also serve as the main point of contact for the foundation’s communications efforts, acting as a bridge between grantmaking initiatives, external engagement endeavors, and mission and values.

This advancement comes as a testament to Catalano’s dedication and hard work in contributing to the mission of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

“Sarah Katherine brings unique gifts to the work of the Foundation,” says Donna Waites, foundation president. “She undeniably exhibits our core values and is devoted to helping reduce poverty in South Carolina. We are very grateful that she is a part of our team.”

About Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina: Founded in 1996, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. With a legacy of awarding over $80 million in grants since its inception, the Foundation remains committed to addressing the root causes and consequences of poverty throughout the state of South Carolina. Through strategic resource allocation, proactive action, advocacy, and leadership, the Foundation continues to make a meaningful impact on the communities it serves.

Award Winning Social Media Strategist Joins NP Strategy

Award Winning Social Media Strategist Joins NP Strategy
Ryal Curtis to Lead Social Media Team as Senior Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – NP Strategy, a strategic communications firm providing crisis, media and public relations assistance, will launch a robust expansion of its social media team with the hiring of Ryal Curtis who will work out of the Columbia, South Carolina office as a Senior Director. With more than a decade of experience crafting and executing successful social media campaigns, Curtis will amplify the firm’s reach and ability to meet the strategic digital needs of clients across the United States.

“Ryal not only brings unmatched expertise to this role, but a great reputation as a valued leader and strategic thinker,” said NP Strategy CEO Heather Hoopes Matthews. “We are thrilled to welcome such a high-caliber professional to our growing team and look forward to the new opportunities and value he will bring to our team and to our clients.”

Curtis joins NP Strategy after spending 10 years with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, where he served as Social Media Manager and the company’s first social media strategist. During his tenure, Curtis led the company’s corporate social media strategy and social media team, which has one of the largest social media followings in the state and is now recognized as one of the top healthcare social media programs in the country. Curtis also served two years on the communications team at the University of South Carolina and spent nearly seven years working for a full-service marketing and social media agency in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“Social media now plays a central role in how brands of all shapes and sizes connect with customers, key stakeholders and the general public at large,” said Ryal Curtis. “I’m thrilled to join NP Strategy and work alongside award-winning communications professionals at a time when the firm is expanding its footprint and strategic service offerings for clients across the U.S.”

A Michigan native, Curtis graduated from Michigan State University. He is a graduate of Leadership Columbia and Leadership South Carolina and previously served on the board for the Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, and the American Marketing Association (AMA) – Columbia Chapter. In 2015, he was recognized on the “20 Under 40” list awarded by The State newspaper.

Reach Ryal Curtis at ryal@npstrategy.com.

ABOUT NP STRATEGY
NP Strategy is a strategic communications firm composed of former journalists, communications professionals, political insiders, and public relations executives. NP Strategy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Maynard Nexsen, a 550-attorney national law firm with 24 offices from coast to coast, providing NPS access to deep relationships across the United States. For more information visit www.npstrategy.com.

BBB Serving Central SC & Charleston Announces 2024 Board of Directors

2024 Board of Directors

BBB Announces 2024 Board of Directors
Cayce, SC January 04, 2024 – Chris Morrison has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the BBB Serving Central SC and Charleston. Morrison has served on the BBB Board of Directors since 2017, including Vice Chair and Secretary. Morrison is the Owner of Terratec, Inc. in West Columbia, SC. He is a native of Columbia, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, a military veteran, and has owned his company for over 35 years.

“It has been an honor to serve the BBB for the last 6 years and I am very excited to lead the board in 2024. It has always been a priority in my own business to have the highest standards and practices, so being involved with the BBB board, staff, and our customers is very important to me,” said Chris Morrison.

BBB Serving Central SC and Charleston is proud to announce the 2024 Officers and Board of Directors:

Chris Morrison, Chair Terratec, Inc.
Gwendolyn Rivers, Vice Chair Caro-Smart Financial Solutions
Rick Durkee, Treasurer Coastal Financial Planning Group, LLC
Matt Thompson , Secretary Splash Ominmedia
Edgar Alewine, Past Chair Jim Hudson Automotive Group
Tom Moses, Legal Counsel Southeast IP Group, LLC
Chris Hadley, President/CEO BBB Serving Central SC & Charleston
Harris Eckstrom Carolina Business Equipment
Tom Moore Edgewater Sports Marketing
Tommy Miles

Background on Chris Morrison
Chris is a native of Columbia where he grew up and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. After serving in the Marines, he came back to take over the family business, Terratec Inc, Foundation Repair company. He is devoted to the success and growth of Richland County and the safety of South Carolina homeowners and commercial businesses by providing five-star service through his company. He is very involved in BBB and looks forward to being an important leader in the organization. Chris has a beautiful family; his wife and two daughters.

ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico. BBB Serving Central SC and Charleston was founded in 1985 and serves 15 counties in Midlands and Lowcountry of South Carolina.

Maynard Nexsen Elevates Thirteen Attorneys to Shareholder

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Maynard Nexsen, a full-service law firm with 24 offices across the United States, is pleased to announce the promotion of 13 attorneys to Shareholder, effective January 1, 2024. The Firm’s new shareholders include Alexandra Austin, Seth Capper, Kyle Heslop, Brian Howaniec, Ashleigh Johnson, Laura Mallory, Claire Martin, Jonathan Mayhall, Eric Nanfito, Evan Parrott, Rhett Ricard, Maggie Siller and Jennifer Wheeler.

“We are fortunate to have this outstanding group of attorneys at Maynard Nexsen,” said Jeff Grantham, CEO and Managing Shareholder. “Their strong commitment to client service is the cornerstone of our Firm culture, and we take pride in recognizing them and watching their future contributions to our growth.”

New Shareholders:
Alexandra Austin – Complex & Commercial Litigation, Charleston, SC
Seth Capper – Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits, Birmingham, AL
Kyle Heslop – Public Finance, Birmingham, AL
Brian Howaniec – Corporate & Business Transactions, Atlanta, GA
Ashleigh Johnson – Corporate & Business Transactions, Greensboro, NC
Laura Mallory – Labor & Employment, Nashville, TN
Claire Martin – Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits, Birmingham, AL
Jonathan Mayhall – Corporate & Business Transactions, Huntsville, AL
Eric Nanfito – Corporate & Business Transactions, Birmingham, AL
Evan Parrott – Restructuring, Mobile, AL
Rhett Ricard – Complex & Commercial Litigation, Charleston, SC
Maggie Siller – Securities, Nashville, TN
Jennifer Wheeler – Labor & Employment, Birmingham, AL

About Maynard Nexsen
Maynard Nexsen is a full-service law firm with more than 550 attorneys in 24 offices from coast to coast across the United States. Maynard Nexsen formed in 2023 when two successful, client-centered firms combined to form a powerful national team. Maynard Nexsen’s list of clients spans a wide range of industry sectors and includes both public and private companies.

ECPI University to Hold Career Education Open House at Three SC Campuses on January 13

Charleston/Columbia/Greenville, SC – For those looking to take the first step towards their college and career goals in 2024, ECPI University is holding an Open House on Saturday, January 13th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at all ECPI University campuses and online.

In South Carolina, Open House will be held at three campuses:
• Charleston Campus: 3800 Paramount Dr, North Charleston, SC 29405
• Columbia Campus: 250 Berryhill Rd #300, Columbia, SC 29210
• Greenville Campus: 1001 Keys Dr. #100, Greenville, SC 29615

The January Open House offers a chance to explore diverse career education options in nursing, health sciences, engineering technology, and information technology. The event includes:

• Guided tours of campus.
• Informative meetings with faculty and dedicated admissions and financial aid staff.
• Engaging program-specific hands-on demonstrations.

Prospective students will learn how they can earn a bachelor’s degree in 2.5 years or an associate degree in 1.5 years through ECPI’s convenient year-round schedule. The university is currently enrolling for its first five-week term on 2024 which begins on January 22.

“Our adult students seek accelerated degree programs that equip them with the skills and confidence to excel in their chosen careers upon graduation,” said ECPI University President Mark Dreyfus. “The Open House event provides an ideal platform for potential students and their families to gather the information they need to make informed decisions about their futures.”

RSVP for ECPI University’s Open House event here. For more information, contact Jessica Davenport at jdavenport@ecpi.edu.

About ECPI University

Founded in 1966, ECPI University is a private university with 17 locations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas and online. ECPI is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees. Questions about the accreditation of ECPI may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). The university has programs in technology, nursing, health science, business, criminal justice, and culinary arts. Program availability varies by campus. For more information, visit www.ecpi.edu.

Robert Braddock, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, to speak of Vietnam service

Robert L. Braddock

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Robert L. Braddock likes to talk to people – from schoolchildren to adults – about his service in Vietnam.

He wasn’t traumatized by his war experience, although he lost 40 percent of his hearing. In his talks, he has no grand political points to make, beyond being proud to have served his country in battle. He speaks of being a poor boy who wanted an education, and the Army helped him get that. He joined, he became an officer and a pilot, he went to Vietnam, and he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He will tell his story in a free lecture at noon on Friday, Jan. 12, at the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum in Columbia. The program is open to the public, and is presented in connection with the museum’s sprawling, unique exhibit, “A War With No Front Lines: South Carolina and the Vietnam War, 1965-1973.” It is part of the museum’s regular Lunch and Learn series.

Braddock is from Society Hill. “Dad was a sharecropper – the poorest of the poor. He has a lot to do with what I am today. I wanted a college degree.” He left home at 16, having “decided to join the Army, save my money and go back to the Berry School” in Rome, Ga., an institution dedicated to helping young people afford an education. He would stay in the Army 20 years, and gain his education “piecemeal” during his service, finishing at Coker College when he got out.

He served two tours in Vietnam – from August 1967 to August 1968, and then from July 1969 to July 1970. “The first time I went over, I mainly flew Chinooks – those big, eggbeater-looking ships that can lift almost anything.” When not flying, he served as his unit’s assistant operations officer and aviation safety officer.

He was stationed that whole year at Bearcat Base, near the city of Biên Hòa. He didn’t fly that often directly into combat. The big, expensive Chinook, and the five men on board, were considered too valuable to risk. Normally, his aircraft “flew in secure areas. We did pickups in outlying areas and took them to a rallying point, from which they went in in Hueys.”

He spent most of his second tour at Marble Mountain Air Facility, in Quảng Nam Province, five miles southeast of Da Nang. He found himself dealing with a variety of aircraft including the OV-1 attack plane and the classic workhorse of the war, the Huey. Then, he accepted command of a Chinook company, which took him back to Saigon.

Not all of his missions were as “safe” as those early flights with the Chinook. One night, he found himself in command of a flight of four helicopters, flying into combat in the dark and through rain. Four other aircraft had been sent that afternoon to resupply troops engaged in a fight in thick brush – the kind that required using dynamite to create a place to land. After hours of operation, the dark and rain had caused them to return to base.

Braddock’s four fresh helicopters and crews replaced them, continuing the mission. They flew sortie after sortie, flying in ammunition. When time came to head home, the conditions prevented them from finding their way on their own, and they had to be guided back, blind, by radar.

That’s what led to the Distinguished Flying Cross.

“I maintain that the Lord was by my side at all times,” he recalls now. He was never wounded, although his aircraft were hit six times.
“I love our country,” he tells anyone who wants to know. He is glad to have had the chance to serve.

About the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum

Founded in 1896, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum is an accredited museum focusing on South Carolina’s distinguished martial tradition through the Revolutionary War, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Vietnam, the War on Terror, and other American conflicts. It serves as the state’s military history museum by collecting, preserving, and exhibiting South Carolina’s military heritage from the colonial era to the present, and by providing superior educational experiences and programming. It recently opened a major new exhibit, “A War With No Front Lines: South Carolina and the Vietnam War, 1965-1973.” The museum is located at 301 Gervais St. in Columbia, sharing the Columbia Mills building with the State Museum. For more information, go to https://crr.sc.gov/.

Morton & Gettys COO earns Certified Legal Manager Designation

Robin Owens

ROCK HILL, SC – Robin Owens, the chief operating officer at Morton & Gettys, has earned the Certified Legal Manager designation from the Association of Legal Administrators.

Earning the CLM® credential involves meeting work experience requirements that include at least three years of day-to-day, hands-on involvement in all areas of legal administration. Financial management, human resources management and development, information systems management, and legal-industry trends are some of the key areas.

Certified legal managers also must complete coursework and pass a comprehensive, four-hour examination that proves their proficiency in those core areas. Certificate holders must complete continuing education hours in order to be recertified every three years.

The Association of Legal Administrators developed the CLM program to allow legal management professionals to demonstrate mastery of the core knowledge essential for principal administrators at law firms. The CLM designation identifies experienced legal managers who understand the unique issues of law firm management.

“We are incredibly proud of Robin and all of her hard work and countless hours she dedicated to earning this certificate,” firm co-founder John Gettys said. “This achievement is not only a credit to Robin, but also to our firm.”

Owens joined Morton & Gettys in 2002. A magna cum laude graduate of Winthrop University with a bachelor’s degree in government and public service, she lives in Rock Hill with her husband Roger. They have two adult daughters.
About Morton & Gettys

Established in 2001 in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Morton & Gettys, LLC, is a growing firm that represents clients throughout South Carolina and beyond. Our attorneys counsel corporations, businesses of all sizes and individuals with a range of needs. The wide scope of practice areas includes business and corporate law, commercial and residential real estate, estate planning and probate law, personal injury as a result of automobile accidents and more. The firm includes experienced litigators, veteran divorce and child custody lawyers, and attorneys well-versed in drunk-driving law and other areas of criminal defense. For more information about our firm, please visit mortongettys.com. For more information about our personal injury practice, please visit mortongettysinjury.com.

Garvin Design Group Wins 2023 IIDA Carolinas Awards for Excellence in Interior Design

The renovated second-floor dining space at the University of South Carolina’s Russell House – now known as Gamecock Park – won Honorable Mention in the Flooring Design category.

Columbia architecture, interiors, and planning firm Garvin Design Group received two awards for excellence in interior design at the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Carolinas’ 2023 DesignWorks awards ceremony in Charlotte on December 8. Presented annually, the IIDA Carolinas DesignWorks awards honor design excellence and encourage new, innovative solutions for interior spaces. DesignWorks awards recognize outstanding interior design projects in North and South Carolina. Garvin Design Group won awards for the Rosewood Church redevelopment project and renovation of the second-floor dining room inside the University of South Carolina’s Russell House. This year’s awards are Garvin Design Group’s fourth and fifth IIDA Carolinas DesignWorks wins.

Adaptive reuse of Rosewood Church for new use as apartments reinvigorated a beloved but abandoned neighborhood landmark.

The Rosewood Church redevelopment project – also known as Fifth & Sloan – won Honorable Mention in the Adaptive Reuse category. Adaptive reuse of Rosewood Church for new use as apartments reinvigorated a beloved but abandoned neighborhood landmark. Elements of the old sanctuary are preserved, including its vaulted ceiling, pendant lights, stately chandeliers, and wood wainscoting and windowsills. Color and material palettes throughout the building are befitting its modern use as apartments without completely renouncing its original use as a church:

• Wood-look luxury vinyl tile (LVT) used in apartment unit floors and stair treads references the preserved features in the sanctuary.
• Neutral tones in the new corridor carpet, new door frames and baseboards, ceiling and wall paint, and kitchen and bathroom cabinetry manifest an air of modern sophistication.
• Dark ceiling paint in the corridors helps exposed utilities fade overhead. White ceiling paint does the same inside apartment units.
• A dark green accent color subtly demarcates new interior spaces and provides a comforting contrast to the predominantly neutral palette. The dark green accent color envelopes the new library and lounge spaces in a sense of calm and marks the transition between the old classroom building and the new three-story addition at the center of the site.

“Our goal for this project was to create a cozy environment for the new apartment tenants while still honoring the building’s past,” said Alex Sojourner, Architect and Project Manager on the Rosewood Church project. “It’s an honor to be recognized with an IIDA Carolinas award – having critical design eyes evaluate your project and find it worthy of award affirms your design choices.”

The renovated second-floor dining space at the University of South Carolina’s Russell House – now known as Gamecock Park – won Honorable Mention in the Flooring Design category. This project had two major goals: improve circulation through one of the most highly trafficked on-campus dining rooms and celebrate the dining room’s prominence on campus recruitment tours with a Gamecock theme. Garvin Design Group’s new terrazzo flooring continues the theme of swooping tail feathers incorporated from an earlier renovation of the Russell House common areas, allowing a seamless flow into the updated dining space. Stylized garnet plumes unfurl from the edge of the dining room entry, mirrored above by the acoustical ceiling fins, to create a dynamic flow through the circulation zones and further define the seating areas. They curl around the edge of the food service bar grouped along the building’s interior wall and guide traffic to the dish return station and dining room exits.

“Working with terrazzo is so much fun. This classic material allows for ultimate creativity with patterns and colors to produce a unique, customized solution,” said Kim Moon, Interior Designer on the Russell House dining room project. “Renovating the dining room offered us the opportunity to continue a motif we began in earlier renovations at Russell House, and the finished product has a dynamic effect.”

About Garvin Design Group: Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Garvin Design Group offers comprehensive planning and design services for a variety of project types and sizes. From master planning and programming to interior up-fits and new construction, Garvin Design Group strives to provide client-driven design solutions throughout South Carolina. The firm of 20 people has completed more than $1 billion worth of projects since its founding in 2003. GDG’s contributions to the community and the profession earned it the American Institute of Architects – South Carolina’s (AIA SC) 2019 Firm Award, the Columbia Chamber’s 2020 Small Business of the Year Award, and recognition as a 2021, 2022 and 2023 Top 3 Best in Business Award from SC Business Monthly. For more information, visit www.garvindesigngroup.com.