Greenville Housing Fund Hires Advocacy Director
The Greenville Housing Fund has added Amber Stewart as its Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement.
Stewart, who is relocating from Charleston to join Greenville Housing Fund, will step into a new position designed to advance affordable housing policy priorities on the local and state levels.
She will work on policies within Greenville Housing Fund and with the membership of the Greenville Affordable Housing Coalition, a partnership of affordable housing allies across Greenville County.
Stewart also will develop and lead community outreach campaigns for affordable housing issues.
“Her infectious enthusiasm for affordable housing and community development work will be a wonderful supplement to the team already hard at work across our community,” said Bryan Brown, Greenville Housing Fund President and CEO.
Stewart comes to GHF after seven years at the S.C. Association for Community Economic Development. As Program Director, she oversaw initiatives that served community development organizations across the state.
Among those initiatives are the Community Development Tax Credit, the S.C. Housing Trust Fund, and legislation for consumer loan protections. She has been an active member of the South Carolina Fair Lending Alliance. She is a certified Housing Development Finance Professional through Grow America.
“I look forward to advancing housing affordability in Greenville County, ensuring everyone has access to a safe, affordable home where they can thrive," Stewart said.
Greenville Housing Fund is a nonprofit organization that champions the goal of affordable neighborhoods that flourish across communities. Through lending, investing, advocacy and land banking, GHF collaborates with community stakeholders, developers, municipalities, and other partners to preserve and increase the supply of safe, accessible, quality, affordable housing.
GHF has deployed over $20 million on the production and preservation of nearly 2,000 units of affordable and workforce housing, leveraging more than $425 million of real estate financing. For information, go to greenvillehousingfund.com.
Brasfield & Gorrie Celebrates 60 Years In Construction
Brasfield & Gorrie, founded in 1964 by Miller Gorrie, is celebrating 60 years in business.
About 3,000 employees and guests recently gathered in Brasfield & Gorrie’s hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, to celebrate the past, present and future of the company.
The company has grown from a local contractor to a national firm, according to a press statement.
Company-wide, the workforce has more than 3,700 teammates. The company is headquartered in Birmingham but works on projects nationwide. It has offices in 13 cities in eight states. The company has worked in Greenville for more than 30 years. Brasfield & Gorrie has had an office at Downtown Greenville’s ONE Tower since 2013. The company built the ONE Tower in 2012.
Brasfield & Gorrie supports charitable organizations such as Rebuild Upstate, GirIUp GVL, Safe Harbor, YMCA Judson, Outdoor Dream Center, Salvation Army Angel Tree, March of Dimes, and the American Heart Association.
“We’re grateful to past generations of Brasfield & Gorrie employees for laying the foundation for our success. As long as we stay true to our values, we’re positioned for an incredible future,” said President Rob Blalock, part of the company’s third generation of leaders.
“Founder Miller Gorrie’s story certainly shows what you can do with determination, grit, and a commitment to doing the right thing for our people and our clients. We’ve got all the ingredients in place to support big dreams.”
Intelisys Names New President
Intelisys, a ScanSource company and a provider of technology services and solutions, has appointed Ken Mills as its new president.
Mills will direct Intelisys with a focus on sustainable growth for the company, its partners and suppliers.
With 25 years of leadership experience in technology companies – including Dell Technologies, Cisco, and the U.S. Department of State – Mills most recently served as CEO for Epic iO Technologies, a tech-enabled SaaS company. He brings insight into AI, IoT, 5G, and other technologies.
“Ken is a strategic and thoughtful leader, whose vision, insight and commitment to driving growth will be of great benefit to Intelisys and our partners,” said Mike Baur, Chair and CEO of ScanSource Inc.
Mills completed the Naval Nuclear Engineering Program in the United States Navy. He has been a board member of Industrial Security Integrators, the Security Industry Association, the University of South Florida Muma College of Business, and the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security.
“I’m excited to be a part of a company investing in the future and continuing to build a meaningful business with a partner-first strategy,” Mills said.
Mills will report to Baur.
Intelisys is a technology services distributor of connectivity and cloud services, including voice, data, access, cable, collaboration, wireless, and cloud. Intelisys is committed to serving the needs of the industry's top-producing telecom sales agents, IT Solution Providers, VARs, MSPs, and integrators.
Julie Valentine Center Dashes To Run2Overcome & Party, Too
Julie Valentine Center’s 16th Annual Run2Overcome, presented by The Haro Group at Keller Williams Historic District, will take place Aug. 3.
The 5K and 10K run/walk and children's fun run will start and finish at First Baptist Church Greenville, 847 Cleveland St. The 10K begins at 7:30 a.m.; the 5K starts at 8 a.m.; the children’s fun run will follow at 9 a.m.
More than 800 runners and walkers are expected. Registration will be available on-site. Virtual options are available. Volunteers are also needed. Registration for runners, volunteers and donations is available online at www.run2overcome.org.
In addition to the run/walk on Aug. 3, The People’s Tap will host a celebration from 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 25 to raise money for Run2Overcome and the Julie Valentine Center. The People’s Tap is located at 250 Riverplace in Greenville. Tickets are $15, which includes one beverage, a raffle ticket, and a 50% discount to register for the run/walk. For tickets, go to peoplestap.com/shop.
Run2Overcome is a celebration of courage, resilience, and community. The event raises funds for services provided by the Julie Valentine Center and also honors the strength of survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
One Sunday morning in 2008, a 19-year-old woman was jogging in her Greenville neighborhood when a man sprang from the bushes. He knocked her down, sexually assaulted and beat her severely. The community organized a 5K run to help with her expenses.
While her external wounds have healed, and she no longer needs financial help, the run Aug. 3 represents hope for all who have experienced trauma.
Funds from the event will directly support Julie Valentine Center’s services to those who have experienced sexual assault and child abuse. The nonprofit Julie Valentine Center provides advocacy, education, outreach, recovery support, and free confidential services and treatment – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For information, go to www.julievalentinecenter.org.
BASF, Seneca, Celebrates Fourth Group Of Apprentices
BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions recently celebrated the completion of the fourth group of apprentices from its North American Apprenticeship Program.
The program is designed to help individuals without prior manufacturing experience train for jobs in a manufacturing environment.
By focusing on non-traditional hires, the program helped individuals transition from backgrounds in the military, food service and retail. The program also enables BASF ECMS to hire individuals who might not have been considered otherwise.
Four apprentices – Andrew Bratcher, Anna Brewer, Destiny Hickman and Hunter Watson – successfully finished the 11-month training program.
"These apprentices are already making positive contributions to their departments. We look forward to seeing how they continue to grow and advance in their careers," said Elba Lizardi, site director for BASF ECMS in Seneca.
The apprentices each earned multiple safety certifications, certificates in Process Technology from Tri-County Technical College, and apprenticeship certificates from the U.S. Department of Labor. They also received pay raises.
Bryan Manuel, Dean of Integrated Workforce Solutions at Tri-County Technical College, said nearly 30 apprentices have graduated from the program since it began in 2021. “This program exemplifies the power of education and industry to partner in creating a skilled workforce,” he said.
Gene Durrance is the BASF ECMS apprenticeship coordinator.
BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions serves industries that include automotive, aerospace, indoor air quality, semiconductors, and hydrogen economy. It provides full-loop services with its precious metals trading and recycling.
Greenville Jewish Federation Receives Grant From Rotary
The Greenville Jewish Federation was one of 14 organizations that received community impact grants from the Rotary Club of Greenville City Center Rotary.
The Greenville Jewish Federation works to create a sense of community for Jewish residents in the Upstate by creating and supporting programs that further learning, identity, pride and culture. It also helps provide for the needs of the Jewish people, whoever or wherever they are.
The Rotary Club of Greenville City Center Grants honor groups that create a positive impact in the community.
The funds given to the Greenville Jewish Federation will be used to continue programming and efforts to unify the community, said CEO Courtney Tessler.
For information about the Greenville Jewish Federation, go to www.jewishgreenville.org.
TATT Taking Applications For Elevate Upstate Grant
Applications are open for the Ten at the Top Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants.
The grants are awarded to provide initial funding for community-based programs that increase cultural vibrancy and vitality in the Upstate. The deadline for interest forms is Aug. 9; the deadline for full applications is Sept. 20.
The grants are available through a funding commitment from Phil Hughes and Hughes Investments Inc. to Ten at the Top. For the 2024 grant cycle, the initiative will award three grants of up to $5,000 each to entities including neighborhood associations, civic or community organizations, nonprofit organizations or local governments. One grant will be awarded for a project at the Bridgeway Station development in Mauldin.
For information and the application, go to tenatthetop.org/hughes-investments-elevate-upstate-grants-initiative.
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