The Beach Company Celebrates 80th Anniversary, Names New President

(Shown: Dan Doyle. Photo courtesy of The Beach Company)

The Beach Company, a leader in residential and commercial real estate, marks its 80th anniversary this year.

In celebration of this historic milestone, the company is ushering in a new era of leadership with the appointment of Dan Doyle as president.

Doyle succeeds long-serving president John Darby, who will continue his role as CEO and chairman of the board. 

Founded in 1945 by JC Long, The Beach Company was established with the purchase of Isle of Palms, S.C. to build residential homes providing low-cost housing for veterans returning from World War II.

Today, The Beach Company has built a legacy that spans generations, deeply rooted in the Charleston region and impacting more than 25 communities throughout the Southeastern U.S.  

Building a Legacy 

In 1975, Charles S. Way succeeded Long as President, igniting a period of growth for the company.

A visionary leader, businessman and philanthropist, Way was known for his sharp business acumen and bold initiatives, such as the 1988 multimillion-dollar purchase of Kiawah Island.

Another notable investment tied to Way includes Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina in the 1970s.

His tenure saw the company revitalize Charleston’s downtown with the redevelopment of theater properties and expansion of its retail and residential portfolios in Isle of Palms and Mt. Pleasant, strengthening its foundation as a family-owned business and setting the stage for continued success. 

By 1999, John Darby, Long’s grandson, took the helm as president, driving the company’s growth through strategic expansion and innovation.

At the time of Darby’s succession, The Beach Company operated with a dozen employees. 

Under his leadership, The Beach Company significantly expanded its portfolio to include Class A multifamily, mixed-use, commercial and industrial properties across 27 cities in the Southeastern U.S.

One of its most notable projects is the redevelopment of the landmark Sergeant Jasper property into The Jasper, a 12-story mixed-use building in historic downtown Charleston that serves as the company’s headquarters. 

In 2017, The Beach Company announced the residential development of Kiawah River, spanning 2,000 acres between its 100-acre farm and 20 miles of waterfront on Johns Island, S.C.

The community blends residential, retail and hospitality offerings with custom and semi-custom homes featuring sea islands architecture, while also supporting multiple working farms, including a goatery, heirloom beef cattle and Rosebank Farms, a farmstand that provides fresh, local food to residents and the Johns Island community.

Kiawah River is also home to The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection, among a number of other natural and planned amenities.  

Following Darby’s 33-year tenure as president, Doyle, who also serves as COO, assumes leadership with a proven track record in real estate and a significant contribution to The Beach Company’s success.

With over 20 years at The Beach Company, Doyle brings vast experience and success working with all facets of the organization and is the company’s first president from outside the Darby and Way families.

An Expanding Presence 

As a fifth-generation, family-owned business, The Beach Company has played a pivotal role in shaping the Charleston region and extending into key Southeastern markets such as Columbia, Greenville, Nashville, Richmond, Chattanooga, Orlando, Charlotte and Huntsville.

It is responsible for over 700 employees across its headquarters and subsidiaries including Kiawah River, The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection, Gulf Stream Construction, Beach Residential, Beach Commercial and Beach Real Estate Funds.

Said Darby: “We are proud of The Beach Company’s profound impact over the past 80 years, from creating vibrant residential communities to commercial spaces that enrich the fabric of our region.”

Darby added, “This milestone not only celebrates our history but sets the stage for our future. With the appointment of Dan Doyle as President, I am confident that The Beach Company will continue to grow strategically and remain dedicated to developing places that improve lives and inspire the next generation of communities.”

Said Doyle: "As we celebrate The Beach Company's 80th anniversary, I am deeply honored to step into the role of President and continue the legacy of shaping the Southeast's landscape in meaningful ways. For eight decades, this company has worked tirelessly to develop properties that enhance the communities we serve and improve the quality of life for those who live and work in them.”

Doyle added, “I am grateful to the board of directors and the Darby and Way families for this tremendous opportunity. Looking ahead, we remain committed to driving innovation, fostering sustainable growth and creating vibrant spaces that will leave a positive lasting impact."

Blackbaud Announces Sale of EVERFI

Charleston, South Carolina-based Blackbaud, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLKB), the provider of software for powering social impact, said Jan. 2, 2025, it has sold its EVERFI Inc. business to a private investment firm unaffiliated with Blackbaud.

After a diligent and thorough strategic process, the sale closed on Dec. 31, 2024, “for a nominal amount,” Blackbaud officials said.

They said the company will share more details in its next Form 10-K filing.

"We are working closely with the buyer and the EVERFI leadership team to provide a seamless transition for EVERFI's customers and employees," said Dale Strange, president of corporate impact, Blackbaud.

Strange added, "EVERFI remains well equipped to support its customers, delivering educational courses on key topics like financial literacy, wellness, compliance and workplace training." 

Officials said Blackbaud's YourCause portfolio and Impact Edge solution, which power corporate giving, volunteering, engagement and impact reporting, will remain with Blackbaud and are a core part of the company's go-forward strategy.

A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. 

U-Haul Growth States of 2024: South Carolina Tops List for First Time

The trend of southern states netting larger numbers of one-way U-Haul customers continued during 2024, with South Carolina topping the U-Haul Growth Index for the first time.

Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee round out the five leading growth states.

California experienced the greatest net loss of do-it-yourself movers in U-Haul equipment and ranks 50th for the fifth consecutive year.

Growth rankings are configured by each state’s net gain (or loss) of customers using one-way U-Haul equipment in a calendar year.

The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled from well over 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer and U-Box® moving container transactions that occur annually.

“State-to-state transactions from the past year reaffirm customer tendencies that have been pronounced for some time,” stated John “J.T.” Taylor, U-Haul International president. “Migration to the Southeast and Southwest continues as families gauge their cost of living, job opportunities, quality of life and other factors that go into relocating to a new state.”

Taylor added, “Out-migration remains prevalent for a number of markets across the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast — and particularly California.”

South Carolina climbed three spots in the rankings to unseat Texas, which was the No. 1 growth state for the previous three years (2021-23).

Of all the U-Haul movers coming and going from the Palmetto State in 2024, more than 51.7 percent were arrivals.

Texas has ranked first or second among U-Haul Growth States each year since 2016. Florida has been fourth or higher every year since 2015.

New York, at No. 47 on the list, has its lowest growth ranking in a decade.

Interest Rates, Slow Enrollment Growth Affect Student Housing Market

South Carolina’s student housing market saw privately owned inventory grow to 36,816 beds even as overall enrollment in the state’s public colleges and universities remained flat, according to Colliers, the largest full-service commercial real estate firm in South Carolina.

Colliers said in a 2024 student housing report that rent growth was strong across the state, driven by demand at Clemson, University of South Carolina - Columbia and College of Charleston in the face of broader national shifts in enrollment trends.

Colliers said 504 new beds were delivered, the lowest in over a decade after a recent construction boom fueled by enrollment growth, and 3,458 beds remain under construction with three projects totaling 2,533 beds underway in Columbia and two projects totaling 925 beds in the Clemson market.

The report said investment sales centered on newly stabilized properties, highlighting a challenging interest rate environment which reduced lending activity.

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