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Seasoned Aerospace and Supply Chain Executive to Lead Initiative While Industry Adapts to New Market Realities (Columbia, SC) The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness named Stephen Astemborski the new director of SC Aerospace, effective immediately. He succeeds Adrianne Beasley, who was named the Director of Strategy & Communications for the Council in July. “Stephen is […]

July 7, 2020

Kim Christ Named Director of SC Tech and SC Cyber; SC Council on Competitiveness Taps Former SC Codes Director to Lead Initiative Formerly Known as TechSC

(Columbia, SC) The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness today announced the rebrand of its technology initiative and named Kim Christ as its full-time initiative Director. Formerly TechSC and now SC Tech, the initiative is designed to accelerate the growth and innovation of technology and cybersecurity firms and to expand the talent pipeline in the sector. […]

June 30, 2020

Adrianne Beasley Named Director of Strategy & Communications

Beasley to Help Guide Work in All Council Industry Clusters (Columbia, SC) Adrianne Beasley, former director of SC Aerospace, was named the Director of Strategy & Communications for the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness effective July 1, 2020. In this newly-created role, Adrianne will assist in long term strategic planning for the Council and manage […]

June 22, 2020

Taylor Jackson Promoted to Director of Logistics for the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness

(Columbia, SC) Taylor Jackson, was promoted to Director of SC Logistics for the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness from her previous post as Deputy Director. Jackson will take the helm of the Council’s SC Logistics initiative as former Director, Suzanne Dickerson, concentrates exclusively on her role as the Director of the SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance, […]

May 6, 2020

TechSC and SC Cyber Launch COVID-19 Tech Talent Marketplace to Help Displaced Technology Workers

Continental, Inland Port Greer, SC Logistics, South Carolina, South Carolina logistics

Online Resume Bank Connects Tech Talent with SC Companies that are Hiring Now (Columbia) TechSC and SC Cyber, initiatives of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, today announced the launch of a new online resume bank to connect South Carolina tech talent looking for work with companies who are hiring now. Individuals with a background […]

February 24, 2020

Inland Port Greer provides logistics solutions for Continental Tire

Continental Tire, The Americas (CTA) has integrated Inland Port Greer into its supply chain, generating significant economic and environmental benefits to the company and region. The Fort Mill, S.C.-based company, which has operations in Fort Mill, Sumter and Fountain Inn, employs more than 1,600 South Carolinians to produce passenger, light truck and commercial tires for […]

Spring-2020-Tech-Talk-Save-the-Date-FB-cover

February 19, 2020

South Carolina Council on Competitiveness to Host Spring 2020 SC Logistics TechTalk in Charleston

SC Logistics, an industry cluster initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, will host the Spring 2020 Tech Talk event on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at the Thornley Campus of Trident Technical College located at 7000 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406. The program will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 1:00 p.m. […]

January 30, 2020

Charleston Women in International Trade Announces 2020 Woman of the Year

Suzanne joined the SC Council on Competitiveness in 2016 after serving for 8 years as the Director for International Business Development at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). Suzanne’s experience includes 20 years in the automotive industry: 12 years within BMW working in the fields of corporate sustainability, innovation management and long-term strategic […]

January 29, 2020

Governor McMaster Announces South Carolina Ready to Embrace Emerging Technologies

Inaugural SC Blockchain Week in Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-14, 2020 Charleston SC- Governor McMaster is known for not only reporting on the state of South Carolina in his annual address but also providing legislators more of a “to do” list. His January 22, 2020 task list included an invocation to Senator Tom […]

December 18, 2019

South Carolina Council on Competitiveness’ TransformSC Welcomes Calhoun County High School to the Network

(Columbia, SC) The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness’ TransformSC Network is closing out the 2019 calendar year with the announcement that Calhoun County High School is the newest school to join the network. TransformSC, an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (the Council), is a statewide network of innovative public schools that work […]

TRSC School Announcement_SandyRun_St.Matthews

September 13, 2019

South Carolina Council on Competitiveness’ TransformSC Network Welcomes Calhoun County School District Elementary Schools

(Columbia, SC) Calhoun County School District’s two elementary schools – Sandy Run K-8 and St. Matthews K-8 – are the newest additions to the TransformSC network. TransformSC, an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (the Council), is a statewide network of innovative public schools that work in collaboration with business leaders, educators, students, […]

September 13, 2019

Governor McMaster Joined by South Carolina Officials and German Delegation for SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

(Columbia, SC) South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster commemorated the formal inauguration of the South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the state house on October 31. The Governor was joined by a German delegation that included Dr. Volker Wissing, Minister of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture Rhineland Palatinate and Dr. […]

August 13, 2019

SC Council on Competitiveness Introduces TechSC as its Newest Statewide Industry Initiative; Susie Shannon Announces Preston Grisham as Initiative Director

Committed to advancing South Carolina’s growth in diverse industry sectors, the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness is announcing its newest industry initiative – TechSC – designed to accelerate growth & innovation of technology and cybersecurity firms and to expand the talent pipeline in this red-hot sector. Governor Henry McMaster hailed the announcement as a next […]

July 31, 2019

Amanda Campbell Promoted to Creative Communications Specialist for South Carolina Council on Competitiveness

(Columbia,SC) Amanda Campbell has been promoted from Communications Intern to Creative Communications Specialist for the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness. In this role, she will support the Council’s marketing and communications efforts by coordinating events, creating visual media content, and assisting with overall stakeholder engagement. Amanda began working with the Council as a Communications […]

July 5, 2019

Taylor Jackson named South Carolina Council on Competitiveness’ Deputy Director of SC Logistics

(Columbia, SC) Taylor Jackson has joined the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness as the Deputy Director of SC Logistics. Taylor brings logistics expertise to the Council after having served as an Account Manager for Kuehne + Nagel, where she managed global accounts in the Southeast territory. As the Deputy Director of SC Logistics, Taylor Jackson […]

May 6, 2019

State of South Carolina Establishes South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance

The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (The Council), in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Commerce, and the Fraunhofer USA Center for Experimental Software Engineering CESE in Maryland announced today the establishment of the South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance (SCFUSA). The Alliance is a collaborative effort to advance applied research in engineering and technology […]

April 5, 2019

SC Aerospace Announces Don Myers as Advisory Board Chair

SC Aerospace, an industry cluster of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (the Council) has named Don Myers, as Advisory Board Chair. Don is the Director of Aerospace Sales & Marketing at Toray Composite Materials America, Inc. where he is responsible for leading the management of their commercial aerospace unit. His primary roles include the […]

April 1, 2019

Guest Blog: The Road to Becoming National Principal of the Year by Dr. Lucas Clamp

I was born and raised in the home of an educator. Teaching and educational leadership were on display daily, as my mother Lexie was my first-grade teacher, then elementary principal, middle school principal and retired as school superintendent. Her model of love and interaction with students, faculty and the community provided a strong example of […]

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March 20, 2019

TransformSC Announces Anderson Mill Elementary School and Sumter Career and Technology Center as Newest Network Schools, Explores the Benefits of Project-based Learning at 2019 Annual Conference

TransformSC, an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (the Council), has announced Anderson Mill Elementary School and the Sumter Career and Technology Center as the newest schools to join the TransformSC network. The announcement was made at the 2019 annual conference when Mike Brenan, co-chair of TransformSC and state president of BB&T, welcomed […]

March 14, 2019

Susie Shannon Elected to South Carolina Research Authority Board of Trustees

(Columbia) Sue-Ann (“Susie”) Gerald Shannon has been elected to serve on the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) Board of Trustees. Susie is President & CEO of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (the Council), a nonpartisan, business-led, nonprofit organization that drives South Carolina’s long-term economic growth by stewarding the state’s industry clusters and providing the […]

February 27, 2019

SC Council on Competitiveness’ SC Aerospace Cluster Partners with SC Biz News and SCMEP for the 2019 South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo

SC Aerospace, an industry cluster supported by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, has partnered with SC Biz and SCMEP to present the 2019 SC Manufacturing Conference and Expo. This two-day event will be held October 29 – 30, 2019 at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, SC and is expected to draw […]

January 4, 2019

President and CEO of South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, Recognized Among Columbia Business Monthly’s “50 Most Influential People” for Second Consecutive Year

For the second consecutive year, Susie Shannon, President and CEO of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, has been recognized by Columbia Business Monthly as one of its 50 Most Influential People. This annual list honors individuals from throughout the Midlands region who have been identified as leaders in industry, government, and business. Under Susie’s leadership, […]

October 19, 2018

Susie Shannon, President & CEO of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, Participates in Education Field Study in Finland

(Columbia) – Susie Shannon, President and CEO of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness is one of 23 South Carolina education stakeholders invited to visit Finland’s public schools to gain insight into critical challenges in public education in South Carolina. The group includes educators, policymakers, community and business leaders, journalists and funders. Finland’s public education […]

September 21, 2018

TransformSC 2018 Bus Tour to Visit Florence and Sumter Schools

Logistics, South Carolina logistics, Trucking

The 2018 bus tour will visit three schools doing transformational work in the Pee Dee. Starting early (7:30), we will board the bus at the Florence Country Club and then at our first stop will see quality early childhood education at work at the Early Childhood Center at Woods Road in Florence, hear from Nancy […]

September 6, 2018

Aerospace Futures Alliance and SC Council on Competitiveness/SC Aerospace Sign LOI to Explore Creating National Aerospace Coalition

The Aerospace Futures Alliance (AFA) and the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness/SC Aerospace (the Council) have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the purpose of advancing the aerospace industry across the US. The LOI will serve as the platform for exploring the creation of a national aerospace Coalition (Coalition) with the objective of […]

September 5, 2018

TransformSC Announces Three New Network Partners

The 2018/2019 school year opens with the Pickens County Career and Technology Center, SC Whitmore School, and Richland County School District Two joining the TransformSC network. The two new schools and additional school district bring the statewide network to a total of 7 entire school districts and 67 schools from across the state. TransformSC is […]

May 1, 2018

Guest Blog: Jaime Hembree, Principal of Batesburg-Leesville, recaps the journey of being selected as one of Palmetto’s Finest

I will never forget my principal interview in June of 2015. As I walked through the front doors of the district office in Lexington School District Three, I was warmly welcomed and handed a sheet of paper. Little did I know that this sheet of paper would transform my thinking, and lay the blueprint for […]

April 23, 2018

TransformSC Project-Based Learning Institute Inspires South Carolina Educators to take a dynamic approach to education

Columbia, SC – On April 18, 2018, the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness’ education initiative, TransformSC, held its second project–based learning institute. Nearly 200 educators from across the state gathered at Columbia’s Spirit Communications baseball park to explore new and dynamic ways to integrate project–based learning into their classrooms. Project–based learning (PBL) is quickly becoming well-established as one of the most popular approaches to […]

January 23, 2018

Guest Blog: Rick Todd Weighs-In on the Electronic Logging Mandate

2018 brings with it new technology requirements for certain trucking companies and logistics providers in the United States in the form of federally-mandated Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs). In this month’s blog, Rick Todd, President, and CEO of the South Carolina Trucking Association shares his thoughts on how the new mandate may impact South Carolina’s trucking industry. Supply […]

January 9, 2018

Susie Shannon, President and CEO of South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, Recognized as one of Columbia Business Monthly’s “50 Most Influential People for 2017”

50 most influential, Columbia, SC Council on Competitiveness, South Carolina, Susie Shannon

Susie Shannon, President and CEO of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, has been recognized by Columbia Business Monthly as one of its 50 Most Influential People for 2017. This annual list honors individuals from throughout the Midlands region who have been identified as leaders in industry, government, and business. As President and CEO of […]

January 8, 2018

TransformSC co-hosts Grad Effect event

TransformSC joined the Alliance for Excellent Education, Lexington County School District One and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 11 to host “The #GradEffect: The Economic Impact of an Increased High School Graduation Rate,” a day-long conversation around how increasing South Carolina’s high school graduation rage can boost South Carolina’s economy by creating […]

December 4, 2017

First study of South Carolina’s logistics industry finds more than 600 companies, $32.9 billion impact

economic impact logistics, Industry Clusters, SC Logistics, South Carolina logistics

The logistics industry cluster is one of the largest in South Carolina according to a study released by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (Council). Authored by Dr. Joseph Von Nessen, the study finds that there are more than 600 logistics companies operating in the state, from transportation, to air freight providers, to warehouse […]

November 10, 2017

Inaugural Tech Talk brings together logistics industry leaders, professionals

SC Logistics

CHARLESTON, SC – On Wednesday, Nov. 1, SC Logistics, the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness’s logistics industry cluster intiative, welcomed more than 100 industry professionals for an in-depth look at the state’s rapidly growing and evolving logistics industry to its inaugural Tech Talk conference. The event, which took place at the Charleston Music Hall, boasted a participant […]

October 26, 2017

Results from TransformSC & Riley Institute PBL study now available

Results from the second year of the Riley Institute’s three-year study on project-based learning in TransformSC schools are in. The primary takeaway after Year Two is that PBL students have increased mastery of soft skills, like collaboration and perseverance, with no loss in achievement scores. Parents, students and teachers confirmed that PBL increased student engagement, application […]

October 20, 2017

TransformSC Bus Tour showcases innovative schools

Business leaders, policymakers and community leaders from across South Carolina joined TransformSC on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, for its second annual Bus Tour. Attendees spent the day touring three of TransformSC’s schools in the Upstate: Monarch Elementary School, Carolina High School and Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg. During each visit, visitors spent time exploring classrooms, engaging with […]

October 16, 2017

5 schools & 1 district join TransformSC’s innovative network

63 schools now working to transform education in South Carolina TransformSC, an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, has accepted five new schools and one entire district to its statewide network of innovative schools: Brunson Dargan Elementary (Darlington), Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School (Lexington Three), Batesburg-Leesville Primary School (Lexington Three), Carolina High School (Greenville), Wando […]

October 10, 2017

SC Aerospace hosts fall networking event

SC Aerospace

SC Aerospace hosted its fall networking meeting last Monday, Oct. 9, at CU-ICAR in Greenville in conjunction with the Composites Suppliers Meeting and focused on composite applications for the aerospace and automotive industries. SC Automotive Council members also participated, as a partnership between the two organizations. Susie Shannon, president and CEO of the South Carolina Council on […]

October 9, 2017

Dickerson to lead AutoPack Summit session on logistics & tech

SC Logistics

The Council’s Director of Logistics Industry Initiatives Suzanne Dickerson will chair a panel discussion on tech and logistics on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the inaugural Automotive Packaging Summit (AutoPack) in Greenville. Additional speakers engaging in the conversation with Dickerson include: Klaus Lysdal of I-Containers; Tanner Fogle of Clemson Transport Package Testing Lab; Ben Nguku from […]

September 28, 2017

Mark your calendars for TransformSC’s 2018 Spring Conference

Join TransformSC for its fifth annual Spring Conference March 1 & 2, 2018! This year’s conference will focus on transforming education through data. Two keynote speakers are already lined up for the two-day program. Dr. John H. Johnson President and CEO of Edgeworth Economics, Dr. Johnson is an author, speaker, expert witness, a regular contributor […]

September 28, 2017

South Carolina Ranked 17th In U.S. In Aerospace Attractiveness

South Carolina was recently ranked by PwC as the 17th best state in the nation for aerospace companies. According to PwC’s latest aerospace manufacturing attractiveness rankings report, South Carolina’s relatively low set-up costs and generous tax policies make it a business-friendly location for aerospace companies. South Carolina’s more than 400 aerospace companies are responsible for 100,000 […]

August 17, 2017

Dickerson to moderate panel at SCAC/AIAG Supply Chain & Quality Conference

Logistics

The Council’s Director of Logistics Initiatives Suzanne Dickerson will moderate a panel discussion at this year’s South Carolina Automotive Council and Automotive Industry Action Group Supply Chain & Quality Conference. The panel will focus on data-driven automotive supply chain management and will take place at 1:50 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24 in Charleston. Joining Suzanne for […]

August 17, 2017

Beasley discusses aerospace on South Carolina Business Review

SC Aerospace Director Adrianne Beasley was featured today on South Carolina Business Review to talk about the upcoming SC Aerospace Conference and Expo Aug. 29-31 in Columbia. Beasley gave host Mike Switzer a preview of the sessions available at this year’s conference, including a session on unmanned aircraft systems and the economic benefits of using […]

August 15, 2017

Aerospace takes FLIGHT at EdVenture

How do you inspire children to explore the wonder of flight? That’s the question Marc Drews, director of education and partnerships for EdVenture, has been asking himself since 2014. “We want to inspire that sense of wonder,” Drews explained. “Wonder inspires kids to ask questions and a joy of learning.” The exhibit, aptly titled FLIGHT, […]

July 25, 2017

Promoting SC Aerospace at the Paris Air Show