Management

There has never been a better time to launch your own business.

Striking it rich, dreaming of endless wealth, and finding the veritable pot of gold is part of the dream that most every entrepreneur who creates a software application in today’s business environment is shooting for.

The keynote speaker at Upstate Forever’s annual ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon, Rob Sisson, tackles issues at the crossroads of business, conservatism and environmental conservation. For 20 years, he has been president of ConserveAmerica, whose mission is “to restore the Republican Party’s great conservation tradition.”

This week, Entercom Communications Corp. launched its sixth brand in the Greenville market, ESPN Upstate. It will broadcast coverage of local and national sports via radio broadcasts and online streaming.

We asked this year’s Who’s Who winners: What’s your favorite business book? And what are you reading when you’re not reading about business?

You only need to look at the names nominated for the inaugural Who’s Who awards to understand that the Upstate has an impressive breadth of talented people. Thanks to all of the names listed here – and to all who put the names forward for consideration.

Because the judges' panel was able to choose only handful of winners from dozens of accomplished and talented professionals were nominated, the UBJ staff added its own input based our day-to-day work. Here are just a few of the people we thought were worthy of another look, and who we expect to continue making waves throughout the community.

As the daughter of a Navy man, Debra Clements, Milliken’s vice president and senior general counsel, spent the majority of her young life on the move. From Florida and Texas to Massachusetts and New York, Clements was no stranger to the road before making the Upstate of South Carolina home.

Rick Davis wakes up looking for ways to be better. At what? Whatever he’s doing. He says he’s driven by a passion to “make things happen,” finding the best course of action and then taking it.

In the CertusBank executive suite at Riverplace, there’s a place for everything. The office is for hard numbers and hard conversations, says co-CEO Walter Davis, while the lounge is for deeper discussions without distractions.