Lowcountry Palmetto Pulse May

Gen. Frank McKenzie Selected as 21st President of The Citadel

The Citadel Board of Visitors announced that it has selected Gen. Frank McKenzie, USMC (Ret.), ’79, to serve as the 21st president of The Citadel. McKenzie has served as the executive director of the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute and as the executive director of the Florida Center for Cybersecurity. The BOV voted on the morning of Saturday, March 21, just as the college marked its 183rd birthday with the annual Corps Day celebrations. The vote for McKenzie was unanimous.

Sales Focus Inc. Named 2025's Leading Pharma Outsourcing Company Driving Efficiency and Growth by Pharmanlifescience Magazine

Sales Focus Inc. (SFI), a global leader in outsourced sales solutions, has been featured on the cover of Pharmanlifescience Magazine and recognized as 2025's Leading Pharma Outsourcing Company Driving Efficiency and Growth. Founded in 1998 by Tony Horwath, Sales Focus has supported more than 2,500 clients over the past 27 years and hired and trained over 15,000 sales professionals. A significant portion of this work has been within highly regulated industries, including pharmaceuticals and health care, where compliance, provider education, and brand integrity are critical to success.

Cambio Roasters Named to Fast Company's 2026 Annual List of the World's Most Innovative Companies

Cambio Roasters, a coffee brand on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic K-Cup pods, has been named to Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2026. Cambio Roasters ranked No. 4 in the Consumer and Household Goods category, joining a select group of companies shaping industries and culture through bold innovation. Cambio Roasters is featured alongside HOTO, Unilever, Tide, and L'Oréal. The full list of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies honorees is available at fastcompany.com.

AVM Group Establishes National Headquarters in Charleston County

AVM Group, a leading national provider of turnkey controlled environments, is establishing its national headquarters in Charleston County. The company’s $5 million investment will create 30 jobs. At its new 12,000-square-foot headquarters facility, located on Wingo Way in Mount Pleasant, AVM Group will conduct design, engineering, and research and development operations for new controlled environment construction projects. Operations are expected to be online in 2027.

STARK Opens Luxury Rug Showroom in Charleston, Expanding Its Presence in the Southeast Design Market

STARK, a leading name in luxury rugs and carpets, has announced the opening of its newest showroom in Charleston, South Carolina. After having officially opened May 11, the new STARK showroom will serve interior designers, architects, and homeowners seeking the highest level of craftsmanship, customization, and material innovation. To celebrate the opening, STARK hosted a series of private preview events for top designers and media, followed by an official opening reception on May 6.

South Carolina Goodwills Release Full Economic Impact Study Detailing $638 Million Impact

Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina (GIUMSC) and Palmetto Goodwill are sharing the full Economic Impact Study first announced on the State House steps earlier in March. The independent research study revealed Goodwill’s services generated an estimated $638 million toward South Carolina’s economy in 2024 alone. The two Goodwills headquartered in South Carolina serve a combined 35 of the state’s 46 counties. Together, these two Goodwills represent the largest workforce training provider in the state.

SPOTLIGHT

Woodfield Development and PGIM Begin Next Phase of The Radler with Construction Underway on Nexton Townhomes

Woodfield Development, one of the nation’s leading developers of Class A multifamily communities, and PGIM, the world’s second largest real estate investment manager with $218 billion in gross assets under management and administration, have construction underway on Nexton Townhomes, a 114-unit for-rent townhome community representing the next phase of its successful residential development, The Radler, in Downtown Nexton and marking the firm’s 20th community in the Charleston region. Over the past two decades, the Charleston-based developer has delivered more than 4,600 residences across the region, representing more than $1.2 billion in development.

CARBON OFFSETTING

Eveon Containers Supports Reforestation Efforts with Land Life Partnership in Colorado

Eveon Containers, a leading nationwide provider of sustainable storage solutions, has renewed its partnership with Land Life to support reforestation efforts in Colorado where nearly 6,000 acres were destroyed by wildfires. Eveon's latest initiative will plant 10,000 native trees across the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado, sequestering an estimated 2,124 tonnes of CO₂ over 40 years. The project is part of Eveon's commitment to contribute to climate action in proportion with the emissions generated by trucking its containers to customers.

INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT

Maars North America Selects Charleston County to Establish First US-based Production Operation

Maars North America, a global leader in architectural wall solutions, has selected Charleston County to establish the company’s first U.S.-based production operation. The $3 million investment will create more than 10 jobs. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Maars offers customizable modular wall systems for commercial interiors, is active in more than 50 countries, and supplies to a global dealer network. Maars’ new operation, located at 437 Interlock Alley in Mount Pleasant, is expected to be online in the second quarter of 2026.

SPOTLIGHT

Map Revision Request Submitted for Magnolia Landing’s FEMA-Approved Trip Wall

Magnolia Landing – Charleston, South Carolina’s newest and largest mixed-use waterfront development – recently completed construction of its FEMA-approved trip wall, a 2,070-linear-foot reinforced concrete structure that will provide critical flood protection for the $2B development.  Following construction completion and city of Charleston approval on March 10, Magnolia Landing submitted a Letter of Map Revision Request (LOMR) to FEMA, which is now under review. Once approved, the revision will formally recognize the site’s updated flood protections and reclassify portions of the site’s flood risk.

Eight South Carolina Companies Named on Inc. Regionals: Southeast Fastest-Growing List

Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders influencing the future, revealed that eight South Carolina companies have been ranked in its sixth annual Inc. Regionals: Southeast list – the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Southeast. The companies are as follows:

71. RESIMPLIFI (Columbia)

73. Purity Coffee (Greenville)

102. Pinnacle Consulting (Columbia)

124. 365 Digital Technologies Ltd. Co. (Mauldin)

137. In The Black Enterprises (Charleston)

145. Advantage Media Group (Charleston)

148. Charleston Taekwondo (Mount Pleasant)

178. Outside the Box Business Solutions (Greer)

South Carolina Sees Three James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award Finalists for 2026

For nearly four decades, the James Beard Awards presented by Capital One have served as the pinnacle of culinary recognition in the U.S. Winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 15, 2026 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. South Carolina saw finalists in three categories: Best Chef: Southeast; Outstanding Bakery; and Best New Restaurant. The South Carolina nominees in each category are as follows:

Best Chef: Southeast: Joe Cash, Scoundrel, Greenville, SC

Outstanding Bakery: Weltons Tiny Bakeshop, Charleston, SC

Best New Restaurant: Merci, Charleston, SC