In The Know: News, updates from Greenville area businesses and nonprofits
Countybank Plans 2nd Greer Site
Countybank is opening a new financial center in Greer later this year. Countybank has an existing location on Trade Street in Greer; it opened in 2018.
“We are thrilled to add this new location and expand our services as the City of Greer and surrounding areas continue to grow,” said Ken Harper, Chief Banking Officer for Countybank.
The new office will be located at 530 West Wade Hampton Boulevard, with offerings ranging from personal and business banking to loans and insurance services. Customers will also have access to a drive-thru and 24/7 ATM.
“Residents and businesses continue to show their appreciation for having a community-focused bank committed to serving their financial needs,” said Kevin Duncan, Greer Market Executive for Countybank.
Founded in 1933, Countybank has locations in Greenwood, Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer and Anderson.
Habitat Exec Named To Riley Institute Program
Noel Brooks, Habitat for Humanity of Greenville’s Director of Development, will spend the fall learning skills to make the community stronger in the Diversity Leaders Initiative from Furman University’s Riley Institute.
Brooks has been with Habitat Greenville since 2016 and oversees major fundraising campaigns and planning for the nonprofit, which is dedicated to building affordable, energy-efficient homes throughout the community.
Riley Institute class members are selected by an application and interview after being nominated by existing graduates of the program, known as Riley Fellows. They are accepted based on their commitment to the program and their capacity to create impact within their organizations and communities. Each class is crafted to reflect South Carolina’s demographic makeup.
Working alongside classmates, Brooks will develop a capstone project that raises awareness of the community’s needs. DLI classes are facilitated by Juan Johnson, an independent consultant who was the Coca-Cola Co.’s first vice president for diversity strategy.
“In addition to developing new relationships and affecting positive change in their communities, participants gain deep knowledge of how to effectively manage and lead diverse workers, clients, and constituents,” Johnson said.
Participants graduate in December. Riley Fellows are corporate CEOs, legislators, superintendents, and religious, nonprofit, business and community leaders. The program is in its 20th year. Brooks is one of 35 members of her class.
Greenville Funeral Home Offers Seminars About Grief
Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes in Greenville will host Dr. Harold Ivan Smith as the speaker for its 22nd annual grief seminar Sept. 28 at Brookwood Church in Simpsonville.
The two-seminar series is a public outreach sponsored by Thomas McAfee to those experiencing grief in their personal and professional lives.
Smith, a thanatologist and scholar, will help attendees learn to cope with death and bereavement.
For 18 years, Smith served on the teaching faculty of Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, where he created innovative storytelling groups for grievers and trained hospital and hospice chaplains.
A Fellow in Thanatology, recognized by the Association for Death Education and Counseling, he conducts Celebration of Life services in Cathedral City, California. His writings include: “A Decembered Grief,” “On Grieving the Death of a Father,” “Grieving the Death of a Mother,” “When Your People Are Grieving: Leading in Times of Loss,” “Friendgrief: An Absence Called Presence” and “Borrowed Narratives: Using Historical and Biographical Narratives with the Bereaving.”
The first event, from 8:45 a.m. to noon Sept. 28, is the Professional Caregivers Session. It is designed to help professional caregivers further their knowledge of bereavement, grief and healing. Funeral directors, social workers, nurses and chaplains will receive three continuing education hours.
During the second event, designed for the public, Smith will present, “What Are You Going to Do About Your Grief? It’s Your Choice,” from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28. The seminar is designed to provide practical insight for anyone who has experienced grief in their personal life or wants to help a family member or friend with their grief or loss.
To register and for information, go to www.thomasmcafee.com.
Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes is a family-owned funeral home that has served the Upstate since 1913. It has three locations in Greenville and provides funeral, cremation and pre-planning services.
Greenville Auction Features Classic Autos, Memorabilia
Richmond Auctions in Greenville will spotlight two world-class collections, the Marv and Jeanine Spomer Collection and the Vernon Walker Collection, on Sept. 15 and 16.
The Spomer Collection is a museum dedicated to automobilia, petroliana, classic cars, and rare neon signs, porcelain signs, neon dealership clocks, and gas pump globes. The Spomers displayed the items at their museum located in Worthington, Minnesota.
The Vernon Walker Collection is a group of neon and porcelain signs. Walker has been collecting for over 50 years, originally intending to create a museum. Instead, he displayed them himself. Many treasures stayed in their original shipping crates and were stored in West Memphis, Arkansas.
"Richmond Auctions is honored to bring these two one-of-a-kind collections to market. Both world-class collections contain rare, high-quality pieces, and we are proud to facilitate the transfer to new owners who will cherish them," said Jordan Richmond, owner and founder of Richmond Auctions.
Detailed information and high-resolution images of the auction items are available for review on the Richmond Auctions website, richmondauctions.com. Prospective bidders and individuals can explore the collections and access additional auction details ahead of the event.
This auction will be open to both in-person and online bidders. Bidders are encouraged to register in advance on the Richmond Auctions website.
Jordan Richmond has over 10 years of experience in the antique advertising business. His passion is automobilia, gas, soda, oil, and other collectibles. A collector himself, his goal is to bring high-quality pieces with full descriptions and gradings performed by The Authentication Co.
Business Diversity Summit Scheduled At Greenville Tech
The Kaleidoscope Business Diversity Initiative of the Simpsonville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Business Diversity Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Greenville Technical College's Center for Manufacturing Innovation, 575 Millennium Drive, Greenville.
Member registration is $25; non-member registration is $35. The fee includes morning coffee and a boxed lunch.
The Kaleidoscope Initiative focuses on strengthening and promoting minority-owned and woman-owned entrepreneurship and increasing membership at the Simpsonville Chamber of Commerce.
Medical Students Lead Walk On Swamp Rabbit Trail
Students from the USC School of Medicine are hosting a medical-student- and doctor-led walking group as a safe way to learn about health and meet others.
The event is free and open to the public.
According to the American Heart Association, walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity. It is low-impact and easier on the joints than running. It is safe — with a doctor’s approval — for people with orthopedic ailments, heart conditions, and those who are more than 20% overweight.
Research shows that people gain two hours of life for each hour of regular exercise.
Walk with a Future Doc is a national organization, started in 2005, as an initiative of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Called Walk with a Future Doc, a USC School of Medicine Greenville chapter was started three years ago.
The Greenville chapter of WWAD is organized by medical students and run by the USC SOMG Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group.
The group meets at 10 a.m. the third Saturday of every month, across from the Cleveland Park Animal Hospital in Greenville. Participants walk on the Swamp Rabbit Trail for about 20 minutes before turning around. Parking is at 126 Woodland Way.
For information, go to https://walkwithadoc.org/join-a-walk/locations/greenville-south-carolina/
SCbio Life Science Hosts Forum
SCbio's Midyear Life Sciences Forum will be held Sept. 14 in Columbia. The half-day program is focused on issues and opportunities facing the fastest-growing industry in the Palmetto State and also provides connection and networking between business leaders, academia and students.
The goal is that attendees leave with inspired ideas and a practical blueprint to elevate their organization, forum organizers say.
The event will kick off with breakfast and networking from 8 to 9 a.m. The opening address will provide an update on the University of South Carolina’s $300 million health sciences campus in the BullStreet District.
The address will be delivered by USC Vice President of Research Julius Fridriksson and the lead developer of BullStreet, Robert Hughes of Hughes Development.
Information about panel discussions and speakers is available online.
An Industry Career Fair will provide college and university students from across the state with the chance to meet with six to eight life science companies, including Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Rhythmlink International, Charles River Labs, Poly-Med, The Ritedose Corp. and SHL Medical. Students must register at www.scbio.org/events2/.
Registration for the conference includes breakfast, lunch and the full program. A few more tables can be accommodated at the career fair.
Life sciences is a $25.7 billion annual industry in South Carolina; the industry is growing faster in South Carolina than in any other Southeastern state. SCbio is South Carolina’s investor-driven economic development organization exclusively focused on building, advancing, and growing the life sciences industry.
Hometown Pharmacy Opens
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held recently to celebrate the opening of Charlie's Hometown Pharmacy, 508 N E Main Street in Simpsonville.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: In The Know: News, updates from Greenville area businesses and nonprofits
