On July 12, the Greenville Small Business Development Council hosted more than 100 area leaders for their first ever Small Business Awards Ceremony. The application process for these awards started in December 2015. The application review process was conducted in the spring and included an in-person presentation from each of the finalists. Award winners were chosen in May and received their awards this past Tuesday.
The idea for this competition originated within the Greenville Area SBDC Advisory Board. The members of the board wanted to recognize the accomplishments of SBDC clients and show how Small Business Development Centers are impacting the community.
The Greenville Area Small Business Development Center is proud to honor these recipients for their hard work and contributions to the Upstate.
NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Taproom — Ben Pierson
It is extremely difficult to get a new business venture up and running. The New Business of the Year Award was established to honor a business that was started within the last 48 months and can show signs of growth in market size, revenue and employees. The Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Taproom received a great response when it opened and has been steadily growing ever since. The brewery can also take a portion of the credit for the current revitalization of Travelers Rest. The Pierson family has done a magnificent job of providing high-quality beers in a comfortable atmosphere.
Ben Pierson is affectionately known as the “Godfather of Beer” around the Swamp Rabbit Brewery. After 30 years of starting and operating breweries for other companies, Ben was looking for the opportunity, the concept and the location to open his own brewery. The activity along the Swamp Rabbit Trail was encouraging, and the family saw an opportunity in Travelers Rest. The Piersons call Greenville County home and couldn’t pass up an opportunity to launch the taproom here. After many years of planning, their dream finally came true when the Swamp Rabbit Brewery opened in early 2014.
The Swamp Rabbit Brewery approached the SBDC in its formative stage and received assistance around business structure and financial projections. Having a solid business plan and financial model was imperative, and this was accomplished through Ben’s expertise in the industry and some guidance from Greenville SBDC. With experience and a good plan, opening the location in Travelers Rest was much less stressful.
The Piersons have brought a family approach to the business, which involves two generations in the daily operations: Ben, Teresa and their daughter, Caitlin. By each focusing on key roles, they are able to excel in both making great beer and creating great experiences for guests. The model of a local brewpub is perhaps the oldest in the beer industry, but it is also one that can be replicated, modified and updated to continue growing for another generation.
A key aspect of the brewery was to diversify their product line. They offer beers of differing types at a range of price points, with an eye to sustaining their revenue/barrel metric while serving their customers well. Their beers have already won numerous medals and recognition at the prestigious World Beer Championships and the U.S. Open Beer Championship. The menu of beers at the Swamp Rabbit Brewery is constantly changing, which gives patrons a unique experience each time they visit.
As with any brewery or brewpub, the launch was based on a lengthy permitting and licensing process. As the process neared completion, the business began to establish a brand through social media channels and visibility in the community. Simple things such as a message/sandwich board have allowed for broad exposure through Instagram and Pinterest, as well as Facebook and Twitter. The Brewery also hosts regular events, food trucks and a variety of local businesses, such as Biscuit Head, that help promote their business and the surrounding community.
The Piersons are also very involved with several nonprofit organizations in the Upstate. They have been long-term supporters of the Lymphoma Society, American Cancer Society and the Kidney Foundation. They have personal connections to these, as well as Carry the Fallen, a veteran’s organization.
SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
Jordon Construction Company – James Jordon
The Service Provider of the Year was an award category that the Greenville SBDC developed to honor business sectors that can, at times, be overlooked. The category was open to any business in a service sector (B2B or B2C). Applicants needed to explain how they have excelled in their particular industry and what differentiates them from their competitors. In only four years, Jordon Construction Company has differentiated itself in the construction industry. Owner James Jordon takes a personal approach to every project he comes in contact with, and his passion for his work is evident in the final product.
James Jordon was hesitant about moving to the Upstate. James was living in the Midwest where he attended college, but his mother wanted her son to be closer to family and was persistent in her requests. When James finally visited, almost immediately he knew that this was the place he wanted to be for the long term. From his very first visit, James could see the opportunities and growth potential in the Upstate.
Jordon Construction Company has been a family effort from the beginning. James’ mother serves as his office manager. They make a dynamic duo and currently have five other full-time employees along with a multitude of subcontractors. JCC has also been doubling their revenue each year and is now performing work all over South Carolina.
With assistance from the SBDC, James was able to begin pursuing government contracts. He eventually received his 8(a) certification, which allows JCC to compete on set-aside contracts from the federal government and develop beneficial partnerships with larger corporations. The SBDC has also assisted James with financial guidance and strategic management. JCC recently entered into its first joint venture with US&S Inc., which has contributed tremendously to its expanded growth opportunities. JCC continues to pursue a realistic market share of the construction industry by acquiring smaller competitors and engaging in joint venture with strategic partners. Specifically, JCC is unique in its service — it is the only minority-owned company in the Upstate whose niche is commercial interior renovation.
Jordon Construction Company’s key word for long-term success and economic growth is “relationships.” JCC has found that the most important business development model is to build relationships with future and existing customers. Being able to meet that customer wherever they are and building a relationship from the ground up has served JCC well. “Meet ‘n’ greet to maintain and sustain” is how JCC sums it up.
James is very active in the Upstate community. He believes it is important to enrich the communities where he lives and works through education and by helping others. He is involved with Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, PULSE Pacesetters, Greenville Chamber Minority Business Accelerated Program, Daughters of Elk, Lunches of Love Program and United Way.
James built Jordon Construction Company from the ground up. His persistence, patience and dedication have allowed him to become one of the area’s most respected construction companies, and his reputation is beginning to spread throughout South Carolina. His successful projects at Shaw Air Force Base, Greenville Health System and the Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot have established him as one of the premier construction service providers in the area.
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
The Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery – Mary Walsh and Jacqueline Oliver
The Greenville SBDC Small Business of the Year award was established to recognize a company that has served Greenville for five years and demonstrated growth in revenue, job creation and market size. The company should also be able to provide examples of their lasting impact on the Upstate community. Once all of the award nominations were reviewed, it was clear that the Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery met all of the required criteria, and then some.
Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery (SRCG) was started by Jacqueline Oliver and Mary Walsh in 2011. It was the owners’ intent to make local and regional foods available to consumers by working directly with farmers and producers. The SRCG strives to work with as many producers as is feasible; currently the SRCG has relationships with more than 100 farmers as well as producers of artisanal foods in the region.
The Greenville SBDC was able to assist Mary and Jacqueline in the planning stages of their endeavor as they were seeking some assistance on partnership agreements. The SBDC reviewed and made several recommendations to the agreement, but Mary laughingly notes that they aren’t sure they ever finished and formalized the document. “We’ve just always gotten along, and wanted to focus our efforts on making the best store possible,” said Mary.
When SRCG opened in 2011, the Swamp Rabbit Trail had just been completed and the building SRCG was to occupy had been abandoned for several years and eventually condemned. Through a partnership with their landlord, the SRCG owners were the first tenants to move in and bring the building back to life. Today, the property shows no remnants of its recent past – there are families shopping for groceries, customers dining outside at picnic tables, the smell of fresh pastries wafting out of the vents, and farmers and vendors, sometimes up to 20 on any given day, are walking in and out of the doors with deliveries. In 2011, SRCG started with a very fixed budget and no employees — just the two owners plus three family members operated the store. Now SRCG employs 31 staff in its bakery, café and grocery departments.
The SRCG’s sales have steadily grown each year. More than 20,000 customers pass through its doors annually. SRCG is located in a low-income neighborhood and has seen a steady increase in SNAP purchases year-to-year as more and more customers learn that this option is available.
The SRCG’s success is in large part the result of a true community effort. Customers have donated furniture, bike racks and signage just because they want to help. SRCG has employed farmers and vendors during the off-season, and SRCG constantly works to buy from local farmers whenever possible.
SRCG’s current efforts include another physical expansion and new ways to bring local food to the community. This is being accomplished through several new initiatives including a Cook Local class series launched in 2015. It focuses on teaching customers about seasonal foods and how to prepare them.
Since opening in 2011, the Café has expanded twice: once to add a refrigerated produce room, and once to add the overflow seating/classroom area and bakery kitchen. To accommodate more customers, SRCG plans to expand into an additional 3,500 square feet of adjacent space that has become available. This additional space and improved layout will provide more seating, an expanded grocery floor, a more efficient kitchen and a walk-in cooler and freezer. The expansion will allow for a more efficient receiving system and will help ease customer traffic by separating the café from the grocery checkout area.
SMALL BUSINESS ALLY OF THE YEAR
Leighton Cubbage
Leighton Cubbage has motivated countless entrepreneurs in the Upstate. Whether it be his involvement with the Pacesetters group of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce or the Successful Entrepreneurship class he developed and manages, there are hundreds of individuals in the Upstate who can point to Leighton as their inspiration. When the Greenville SBDC developed the Small Business Ally of the Year, we wanted to recognize someone who had devoted substantial time and resources to the business community of the Upstate. Leighton’s accomplishments in business are reason enough for an award, but it’s his willingness to share his experiences with other entrepreneurs that truly distinguishes him.
Leighton received a degree in political science from Clemson University and began a career in telecommunications soon after graduation. Leighton co-founded Serrus Telecom Investments, which yielded significant above-average returns for stakeholders. His vision and pursuit of excellence for hyper-growth organizations resulted in notable achievements such as South Carolina Entrepreneur of the Year (1993) and INC 500 #128 (1995).
Leighton has also served on boards in the automotive, banking and healthcare industries, including two terms as chairman for the Greenville Health System, the largest health care organization in South Carolina. He currently serves as the chairman for the SC Venture Capital Authority.
There are a number of ways you can help a budding entrepreneur. Specifically, you can mentor a future business owner and pass along advice and encouragement that was learned over a lengthy career. Or you can provide access to resources and networks that may help an entrepreneur develop more areas of their business. Or lastly, you can provide financial resources that can help turn an entrepreneur’s dreams into a reality. Many individuals can and have assisted in one or two of these areas, but Leighton Cubbage has done all three.
As a mentor, he has worked closely with the Greenville Chamber of Commerce to assist with the PULSE and Pacesetters Young Professionals groups. He has regularly spoken at these events and provides direct knowledge about how to be successful, including his talk entitled “21 Ways to Win.” Leighton also established the Successful Entrepreneurship program that is a multiweek curriculum encouraging individuals to develop ventures that benefit the local community. He has had some of the most successful and influential businesspeople in the Upstate speak at these events, and the most impressive thing about this program is that Leighton has never charged a fee to attend.
Lastly, Leighton Cubbage has assisted entrepreneurs financially by serving as chairman for the SC Venture Capital Authority. The VCA was established in 2005 as an agency within the Department of Commerce to identify and select qualified professional investors who will invest in South Carolina companies. The authority is a seven-member board selected by the governor and state lawmakers. The VCA then provides guidance and direction for the South Carolina Venture Capital Fund and the South Carolina Technology Fund to provide equity or seed capital to South Carolina based firms that are emerging, expanding or relocating.
These are only a few examples of Leighton’s service to our small business community. The Greenville Area SBDC has an immense amount of respect for the professional accomplishments of Leighton Cubbage but his community involvement is what truly sets him apart.
[break]
Small Business Development Council
Statewide: scbdc.com
Upstate: clemson.edu/centers-institutes/sbdc
