Mercedes-Benz Announces Key Leadership Changes at Vans Production Site In Charleston

(Johannes Kellermann Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC)

Mercedes-Benz announced two significant leadership appointments company officials said will enhance operational excellence across its global production network.

Effective March 1, 2025, Axel Bense, CEO and president of Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC in Charleston, South Carolina, will transition to the role of CEO responsible for plant management and site operations at the Mercedes-Benz facility in Jawor, Poland.

Johannes Kellermann will succeed Bense as CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC in Charleston, also effective March 1, 2025.

Bense joined DaimlerChrysler AG in 1999 and has since held various leadership positions across multiple locations, including Bremen, Tuscaloosa, and Naberezhnye Chelny.

His notable achievements include spearheading the construction of the new paint shop in Tuscaloosa and leading the establishment of Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing RUS in Moscow.

Company officials said that since April 2022, he has significantly contributed to stabilizing production at the Charleston plant, and his extensive experience will be invaluable as he embarks on this new chapter in Poland.

Kellermann has held various strategic roles since joining the company in 2009, most recently serving as head of Operational Excellence, Digitalization, Lean & Green within Van Operations as well as head of Operations at Mercedes-Benz in Ludwigsfelde.

Company officials said his experience in streamlining processes and leading strategic projects will be crucial in driving the Charleston plant forward.

Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC, is a Ladson, South Carolina-based production entity that produces Sprinter as well as eSprinter vans for the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC has invested more than $500 million (U.S.) in the new Sprinter plant, which officially opened in 2018.

Today, the MBV facility provides more than 1,700 jobs and supports at least 600 additional jobs in the region through its suppliers.

Representing an additional nearly $60 million investment, MBV Charleston was selected to be the first plant in the Mercedes-Benz Vans global production network to produce the all-new eSprinter, beginning in 2024.

Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston also continues investing in the local community with over $1,900,000 donated to local nonprofits and schools via STEM programs since 2006 and over 900 volunteer hours.

Since 2006, more than 350,000 Sprinter and Metris vans have been assembled in North Charleston and delivered to destinations across the U.S.

In 2021, the plant celebrated its 15-year legacy of SKD production in South Carolina. 2023 marked a plant milestone with a record-setting over 50,000 vans produced.

The U.S. is the second largest market for Sprinter vans after Germany.

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Announces 2024-2025 Board Leadership

Following a successful 45th Annual Summit, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce announced that Thomas Rhodes, partner, Rhodes Companies, will serve as chair of the SC Chamber Board of Directors for the 2024-25 year.

Rhodes takes the reigns from Will Whitley, who leads Employee & Labor Relations for Michelin North America, Inc., who was the chair for the 2023-24 year.

Rhodes is the youngest chair in the history of the 84-year-old organization.

“I am honored to serve the business community and our beloved state in this role,” Rhodes said. “I am encouraged by the opportunity to improve the business climate in South Carolina and the quality of life for our communities.”

Rhodes added, “As chair, I will fight daily to ensure that we’re building an economy that works for all of us — whether you’re a small business owner starting out, or a major corporation expanding into new frontiers.”

In addition, Howard Coker, president and CEO of Sonoco, has transitioned to chair-elect, and Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina, has been named second vice chairperson.

Leadership terms for the Chamber’s officers and Board of Directors began Oct. 1, 2024.

The full 2024-25 Board of Directors roster can be found here.

2024-25 SC Chamber Board Leadership:

Thomas Rhodes (Chair): Rhodes is a fourth generation South Carolina business owner and entrepreneur. He is a partner in Rhodes Companies, a diverse holding company of businesses located in the Southeast.

Starting his first business at age 16 in rural South Carolina, his entrepreneurial experiences have given him a dynamic understanding of how to create and sustain profitable businesses that align with his passion for education policy and economic empowerment.

Rhodes serves on a plethora of community boards including the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement, the Midlands Business Leadership Group, and Rexanna’s Foundation for Curing Lung Cancer.

Rhodes has served on the SC Chamber’s Board of Directors since 2015.

Howard Coker (Chair-Elect): Coker has been with Sonoco for over 35 years and assumed the role of president and CEO in 2020, where he has global sales and operating responsibility for the company’s consumer, industrial, and diversified packaging businesses.

Under his direction, the company returned to the Fortune 500 in 2023 for the first time in 25 years; at present, Sonoco is the only Fortune 500 company with global headquarters in the state of South Carolina.

Giving back to the community, the state of South Carolina, and the packaging industry is a priority for Coker.

He serves on the Board of Directors of Wofford College, the American Forest & Paper Association, and the Board of Trustees for the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI). Coker will assume the Chairpersonship of the SC Chamber Board of Directors on Oct. 1, 2025.

Keller Kissam (Second Vice Chairperson): Kissam is president of Dominion Energy South Carolina, where he oversees Dominion Energy’s regulated utility in the state serving about 1.2 million electric and gas customer accounts.

Prior to the merger with Dominion Energy, Kissam joined SCANA in 1988 as a new utility professional and held numerous positions in both electric and gas operations.

He was named vice president-Gas Operations in 1996, vice president-SCE&G Electric Operations in 2003 and president and chief operating officer of SCE&G in 2017.

Upon completion of the merger, he was named president-Electric Operations at Dominion Energy South Carolina in 2019 and he assumed his current position in January 2022.

In addition to his service on the SC Chamber’s Board of Directors, Kissam is a board member for the South Carolina Manufacturer’s Alliance and the Southeastern Electric Exchange. He also is a member of the Palmetto Business Forum.

Kissam will assume the chairpersonship of the SC Chamber Board of Directors on Oct. 1, 2026.

National Native American Heritage Month: November 2024

The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York.

The event culminated an effort by Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, who rode across the United States on horseback seeking approval from 24 state governments to designate a day to honor American Indians.

In 1990, more than seven decades later, then-President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating the month of November National American Indian Heritage Month.

Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994 to recognize what is now called National Native American Heritage Month.

The following facts are due to responses to the U.S. Census Bureau’s surveys.

Did You Know?

7.4 million

The nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native population alone or in combination with other race groups in 2023. 

9.0 million

The projected American Indian and Alaska Native population alone or in combination with other race groups on July 1, 2060. They would constitute 2.5 percent of the total population. 

325

The number of distinct, federally recognized American Indian reservations in 2024, including federal reservations and off-reservation trust lands. 

How To Spot Scams Offering Lower Interest Rates

Mortgage interest rates may be on the way down, but scammers’ false promises are likely on the way up, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

FTC officials say If you’re looking to lower your mortgage payment — by refinancing your home or VA loan — learn about your options and how to avoid mortgage relief scams.

Scammers will say just about anything to get you to trust them, the officials say.

Some scammers call or email claiming they’re from the Department of Veterans Affairs or your home loan servicer.

They’ll promise to help you lower your mortgage payment — for an upfront fee or a retainer.

But FTC officials say it’s illegal for a company to charge you before they help you with things like debt relief or improving your credit.

And only scammers will tell you to cut off contact with your lender, housing counselor, or credit counselor.

They might say they’ll handle any loan paperwork for you, but they’re just trying to steer you away from the real help you’re looking for.

Want to avoid a mortgage relief scam? FTC officials say slow down and check things out for yourself.

Always start by contacting your mortgage servicer or lender first. They’ll know the current status of your loan and can help you explore options to lower your payment.

Here are a few other places to get legitimate help:

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Your local HUD office or the housing authority in your state, city, or county can help you find a legitimate housing counseling agency nearby.

Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA). If you have a VA home loan, contact them directly to get the most accurate information about your loan terms and help you check for options to lower your payment — for free. Just make sure anyone helping you is accredited by the VA.

Go to consumerfinance.gov/housing to get information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), HUD, and VA all in one place.

If you spot a mortgage relief scam, report it to your state attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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