In The Know: News, updates from Greenville area businesses and nonprofits

Countybank Launches ‘Swipe To Donate’ Campaign

Countybank has launched its fourth annual debit card swipe campaign that results in contributions to local organizations through the Countybank Foundation.

“We hope that our customers take advantage of this campaign, shop local, and help us support local organizations with every swipe,” said R. Thornwell Dunlap III, President and CEO of Countybank.

The campaign will continue through the end of the month. Every transaction using a Countybank debit card throughout December will go toward the bank’s goal to donate more than $150,000 to local charitable organizations.

The Countybank Foundation supports Community Initiatives, First Light, Habitat for Humanity, Hospice & Palliative Care of the Piedmont, Salvation Army, soup kitchens across the Upstate, United Way and other organizations.

Countybank was founded in 1933 and has locations in Greenwood, Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer and Anderson.

Designer Of Hartness Guest Rooms Honored

Libby Patrick, founder of Atlanta-based Sims Patrick Studio, was recognized as a finalist in the Gold Key Awards in acknowledgment of her firm's design of guest rooms at Hotel Hartness.

Presented by Boutique Design magazine, The Gold Key Awards recognize influential and innovative design achievements in the international hospitality industry.

"Patrick's stunning design work at Hotel Hartness has transformed our guests’ experience into something extraordinary," said Albert Mertz, General Manager of Hotel Hartness.

Managed by Hay Creek Hotels, Hotel Hartness has 73 modern guest rooms and suites. Hotel Hartness is situated within the award-winning Hartness community on S. Hwy. 14 between Pelham and Woodruff roads.

Project Hope Hires Comptroller

Project Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing services to the autism community, has added Brad Abbott as comptroller. Abbott has 20 years of experience in accounting and finance. He has served in CFO, controller, consulting and advisory roles, with a special focus on structuring companies for rapid growth.

Mauldin City Council Adopts Juneteenth As Holiday

The Mauldin City Council has unanimously voted to adopt Juneteenth as a city holiday beginning in 2024. City officials say the move will help create an inclusive environment for staff and the community and recognize an important day.

Staff proposed adopting Juneteenth as a city holiday; the Finance and Policy Committee forwarded the issue to City Council with a recommendation for approval.

“Adding Juneteenth to our holiday schedule is a step forward that sustains the city’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said Michael Reynolds, Finance and Police Committee Chairman. “We wanted to … recognize the importance of freedom, equality and opportunity for all individuals.”

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States; it became a federal holiday in 2021.

Mauldin is in the process of planning its first Juneteenth celebration, in 2024. City offices will be closed.

Spinx Raises $324,960 For American Cancer Society

The Spinx Company, a Greenville-based fuel and convenience retail company, has raised $324,960 for the American Cancer Society during its recent month-long, state-wide campaign. This annual company-wide initiative is intended to heighten awareness of the Cancer Society and those in need.

The mission of the American Cancer Society is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, patient support, and to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

The American Cancer Society increases access to screening at the local, state and federal levels; advocates for more affordable healthcare; guides patients and caregivers with a free 24/7 helpline; and offers free transportation and lodging.

“As a cancer survivor myself, this campaign is very special to the entire Spinx family, and we work to raise funds that can support those battling this horrible disease,” said Stewart Spinks, Chairman and founder of The Spinx Company.

Founded in 1972 in Greenville, The Spinx Company operates more than 80 convenience retail stores and gas stations across the Carolinas.

Spinx Opens New Store

The Spinx Company, the Greenville-based fuel and convenience retail chain, has celebrated the opening of a store near Donaldson Field airport in Greenville County. The store opened Nov. 30 at 304 Fork Shoals Road. The location will sell fried chicken, chicken biscuits, chicken tenders, fountain drinks and hot beverages.

Marketing Manager Named At Greenwood Capital

Greenwood Capital has promoted Kalisse L. Evert to the position of Marketing Manager. This role will impact the overall brand positioning of Greenwood Capital within the Upstate through marketing and sales initiatives, events, digital presence, and communication.

Evert has worked in marketing since August 2022. She has increased social media engagement by more than 77% and has launched several campaigns, such as “Woman & Money” and “Generational Wealth Planning.”

She is also leading the firm’s 40th anniversary “40 Hours of Giving” campaign through June. “We are pledging 40 hours of volunteering to celebrate our anniversary,” Evert said.

Greenwood Capital was founded in 1983 in Greenwood. The company specializes in investment advisory and management services for individuals and institutions.

Smurfit Kappa Expands To Anderson County

Smurfit Kappa, which provides paper-based packaging solutions, is expanding its footprint by establishing the company’s first South Carolina operation in Anderson County. The $68 million investment will create 200 new jobs.

Smurfit Kappa has more than 350 production sites in 36 countries; 22 in Europe, 13 in North and South America, and one in Africa. The company designs, manufactures and supplies paper-based packing products.

The company expects to acquire a 259,000-square-foot facility at 1105 Scotts Bridge Road in Anderson.

Cliffs Opens New Sales Center

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove has opened its new Cliffs Realty sales center, a real estate office inside the gates of the exclusive community in Arden, North Carolina.

The office was built by Trehel Corp. in Greenville; the interiors were designed by Cliffs Interiors, the design specialists for Cliffs Builders.

The Cliffs is a collection of seven private, luxury residential mountain and lake club communities totaling 30,000 acres in the Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, between Greenville, Asheville and Clemson.

Home Inspector Gets License

Alex Whitten, a home inspector with Daniel Whitten Inspections, has passed the South Carolina certification exam and achieved his home inspection license.

Whitten joined the firm in 2022 as a contracting/building associate and started an inspection apprenticeship with the founder of the firm, Daniel Whitten.

Daniel Whitten Inspections offers home and commercial inspections throughout the Upstate, plus reinspection, first-phase inspections, limited-area inspections, builder's letters, and wood infestation reports.

Alex Whitten has served as a volunteer for more than a decade with the South Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association, a nonprofit that aids emergency management and law enforcement in the search for missing persons using trained search dogs.

‘Kidney Doctor’ Talks Healthier Game Day Snacks

Greenville-based “kidney doctor” and YouTube personality, Dr Blake Shusterman, is offering a new take on football game-day food with healthier alternatives to typical snacks.

“It’s about little things we can do to make sure our bodies are healthy and ready to enjoy game days for years to come,” said Shusterman, known as the “Cooking Doc.”

The doctor advises that the easiest way to eat healthier is to cook. “That way, you can see and control exactly what goes into your food,” he said.

If someone else is hosting the game party, Shusterman suggests preparing food and taking it to share.

As for drinks, a 12-ounce can of soda contains the equivalent of 7 to 10 teaspoons of sugar, according to the CDC. Switching to carbonated water or creating a mocktail can cut sugar and increase healthfulness, Shusterman said.

Being mindful of how much one eats and limiting portions will cut salt, sugar and calories, he said.

“That doesn’t mean missing out, it means avoiding auto-pilot eating just because there are bowls of chips and dips,” he said.

For recipes and tips, go to The Cooking Doc website.

Well Walkers Dates

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System and the Bon Secours Wellness Arena have announced December dates for their Well Walkers program. Dates are Dec. 12, Dec. 14, Dec. 19 and Dec. 21.

On these dates, the arena concourse will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for anyone in the community who wants to have a temperature-controlled space to exercise. Each loop around the concourse is a quarter mile. Well Walkers is free; no registration is required. Free parking is provided in the VIP lot at the arena, located off Church Street.

Simpsonville Parade Rescheduled Dec. 10

The Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Simpsonville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Simpsonville and presented by Weichert, Realtors - Shaun & Shari Group, has been rescheduled because of weather. The new time and date are 3 p.m. Dec. 10 from northeast to southeast Main Street downtown. This year’s theme is “Christmas Through the Decades.”

Powdersville Water Meetings

Powdersville Water Board of Directors meetings are typically held at 5:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month. Dates for meetings in 2024 are Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21, and Dec. 19.

Meetings are held at Powdersville Library Meeting Room. The Executive Committee of Powdersville Water meets the week prior to the regular board meeting. All meeting times are subject to change. To verify, call (864) 269-5440, extension 3108.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: In The Know: News, updates from Greenville area businesses and nonprofits