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Columbia Business Monthly

The Business Narrative: Michelin North America Receives Honor

Oct 25, 2022 01:24PM ● By David Dykes

Michelin North America Receives Economic Impact Award

Photo by Amy Randall

 

Michelin North America Inc. was honored with the Economic Impact Award on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, at a luncheon honoring the 50 Fastest Growing Companies in South Carolina.

The 50 Fastest Growing Companies awards are given by Integrated Media Publishing, publishers of Greenville Business Magazine, Columbia Business Monthly, and Charleston Business Magazine, and are also sponsored by The Capital Corporation, PNC Bank, and Quality Business Solutions.

The Economic Impact Award is given to a company headquartered in South Carolina that has produced extraordinary results. Headquartered in Greenville, Michelin North America employs more than 22,500 people and operates 34 plants in the U.S. and Canada. 

Michelin North American Inc. CEO Alexis Garcin gave the keynote address at Monday’s event, which was attended by around 300 representatives of the companies that were honored.

Four Palmetto State-based companies were honored with South Carolina Excellence in Business Awards at the luncheon, which was held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Langston Construction Co. of Piedmont, LLC, won the 2021 Customer/Client Retention Award. The Growth in Revenues Award was presented to JEAR Logistics, LLC. SC Steel, LLC, received the Community Involvement Award. And Spartanburg Meat Processing Inc. Co. took home the Employee Retention Award.

This is the 21st year for the SC Fastest Growing Companies awards. Industrial Project Innovation was named the No. 1 Fastest Growing company, up from No. 2 in last year’s rankings.

South Carolina Colleges Receive PATH Scholarships

The Ellucian Foundation, established in 2020 by Ellucian, the higher education technology solutions provider, announced U.S. recipients of the 2022 Progress, Accomplishment, Thriving, Hope (PATH) Scholarship. 

The PATH Scholarship provides grants to higher education institutions to support students facing economic hardship.

South Carolina institutions receiving the PATH Scholarships were Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter and South Carolina State University in Orangeburg.

“Education has the power to transform lives. This year we are focused on support for students facing financial hardships at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and all Minority Serving Institutions in the U.S. as more focus is needed to ensure higher retention and graduation rates, and address the critical issues of growing food insecurity,” said Laura Ipsen, president and CEO of Ellucian.

“HBCUs and all MSIs represent an incredible cross-section of colleges and universities committed to providing access to higher education. We are pleased to support these institutions in their efforts to ensure all students can achieve their dreams without interruption.”

The PATH Scholarship awards block grants between $10,000 and $25,000 to higher education institutions to help students cover items such as housing, tuition and food. Individual students receive a maximum award of $1,500 with limited exceptions.

In the U.S., all HBCUs and MSIs, as defined by the U.S. federal statute, were invited to apply.

MUSC Chosen for Polaris, SpaceX Collaboration

Polaris Dawn, the first of the Polaris Program's three human spaceflight missions, announced the extensive suite of science and research experiments the crew and SpaceX will conduct throughout the mission. The selected projects are designed to advance both human health on Earth and on future long-duration spaceflights.

Medical University of South Carolina is one of 23 institutions with which Polaris Dawn and SpaceX will collaborate on the experiments.

“The mission profile of Polaris Dawn affords us some great opportunities to expand our collective knowledge about the human body in space and associated applicability here on Earth,” said Jared Isaacman, mission commander.

“Our science and research agenda will enhance the body of knowledge for future long-duration spaceflight which will take us back to the Moon and on to Mars; as well as progress our knowledge and understanding for humankind here on Earth. The Polaris Dawn team along with the exceptional science and research team at SpaceX cast a wide net to find the best experiments to fly with us.”

SpaceX is targeting no earlier than March 2023 for Falcon 9's launch of the Polaris Dawn mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Over the course of five days, Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will endeavor to travel to 1,400 kilometers – the highest Earth orbit ever flown – and attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk.

Many of the selected research projects take advantage of this unique mission profile, including the relatively high-radiation levels due to the high-altitude orbit and exposure to hard-vacuum during the spacewalk.

Such projects include the use of ultrasound to measure changes to the eye's structure in microgravity; investigating the effects of microgravity, magnetic, and fungal influences on root growth of low-Earth orbit germinating plants to help inform plant growth procedures; and expanding on-orbit medical capabilities, including the development of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures for use in the Dragon spacecraft.

Watercrest Senior Living Group Honored by Argentum & Lument Report

Watercrest Senior Living Group, which operates senior communities in Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Indian Land, was recognized on the 2022 Argentum & Lument Report of Largest Senior Living Providers in the country. 

Currently ranked as number 88 in the nation, Watercrest Senior Living Group has risen 12 spots on the list, after a ranking of number 99 in the 2021 report.

Watercrest Senior Living Group recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary as a senior living provider developing, owning and operating independent, assisted living and memory care communities throughout the Southeastern United States.

Watercrest operates 16 of sixteen communities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia.

The 2022 Argentum & Lument Largest Providers Report gives data and information from one of the most turbulent years ever experienced in the senior living industry. The report highlights changes among providers, survey results, and upcoming provider growth.

Watercrest Senior Living Group was reported as one of only 19 providers in the top 100 to improve its position by 10 or more positions this year. 

Watercrest achieved its position as one of the largest senior providers in the nation offering 1,669 senior living units with 1,018 employees in 15 communities encompassing independent, assisted living and memory care.

“Celebrating our fourth consecutive year as one of the nation's largest senior living providers reinforces Watercrest Senior Living Group's reputation as a best-in-class senior living operator,” said Marc Vorkapich, principal and CEO of Watercrest Senior Living Group.

“We believe wholeheartedly that a company's real value is in its people. Together we foster a culture where our fellow associates are appreciated for their unique contributions. Inspiring a culture built on trust develops a foundation for compounding growth and success.”

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