Cliffs Hires To Leadership Posts
The Cliffs has made two key hires to its corporate leadership team, Karie Torroll as Chief Financial Officer, and Steven Hedges as Director of Information Technology.
“We are thrilled to welcome someone as accomplished as Karie, given her 20-plus years of experience and uniquely diverse background in financial stewardship,” said Rob Duckett, President of The Cliffs.
“As our communities continue to grow and thrive, Steven’s extensive background building powerful teams and enhancing efficiencies and productivity will be vital in leading The Cliffs’ strategic direction.”
Torroll’s experience in private industry allowed her to develop experience in financial planning and analysis and to partner with executives to implement strategic growth. Most recently, she was the Chief Financial Officer at Greenwich Country Club in Connecticut.
Hedges has addressed organizational, technical, and process challenges while directing teams in diverse, fast-paced, and changing environments. Most recently, he was the Senior Manager of Engineering and Professional Services at Atlanta-based 1 Path Systems. He developed and managed a team of 12 system engineers.
The Cliffs is a collection of seven private, luxury residential mountain and lake club communities located in the Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, close to Greenville, Asheville and Clemson.
Cliffs Builders Adds Sales Exec
The Cliffs has hired Matt O’Shaughnessy as the new Sales Executive at Cliffs Builders, the construction program that provides custom and turn-key homes.
O’Shaughnessy is a veteran sales professional with experience in identifying business opportunities, negotiating deals, exceeding sales targets, and leveraging market trends and customer insights to deliver customer service.
O’Shaughnessy will serve as the client-facing portion of the Cliffs Builders team, guiding buyers from plot and floor plan selection to design and building.
Before The Cliffs, he was employed at Shoreline Construction in Bluffton. Previously, he was an active-duty officer in the United States Coast Guard.
Cliffs Builders has released two offerings at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs: Waterscape and Clubhouse Village. The newest addition to the portfolio, Cove Park at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, has introduced three home plans with proximity to the community’s amenities.
TealHaus Receives BBB Torch Award For Ethics
TealHaus, a woman-owned marketing agency focused on storytelling, has been honored with a Better Business Bureau of Upstate South Carolina Torch Award for Ethics.
The award recognizes organizations that demonstrate integrity, character, authentic culture, transparent customer relationships, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
TealHaus, a winner in the small business category, was one of six businesses in the region to receive this recognition.
“This award is a testament to our team’s dedication to building trust with our clients,” said Lindsay Niedringhaus, founder of TealHaus. “We believe every brand has a story worth sharing.”
A woman-owned firm founded in 2021, TealHaus has served over 100 nonprofit and for-profit clients.
Its sister company, HerHaus, launched recently to support women in their careers and personal lives through friendship, professional development, networking, and education about health and wellness.
Greenville Franchise Veteran Named President Of Firm
Transworld Business Advisors, a business brokerage firm, has named Jim “JT” Tatem as President.
Tatem, who has three decades of experience in business franchising, will focus on the company’s growth and strategic initiatives. CEO Andy Cagnetta will continue to lead the firm’s high-level operations and global expansion.
Tatem will continue to be based in Greenville, where he leads a team of business brokers. He also serves on the boards of directors of Carolinas-Virginia Business Broker Association, United Franchise Group and Dunklin Memorial Church.
Transworld was launched as a franchise in 2010 by Cagnetta; United Franchise Group CEO Ray Titus; and former Transworld President Bill Luce.
Luce will remain with Transworld’s Florida team as a Senior Business Advisor.
Tatem served in various leadership roles at United Franchise Group, including President of the Established Brands Division. He oversaw brands such as Transworld Business Advisors, Signarama, and Fully Promoted.
Tatem has also been a franchisee of the Transworld Business Advisors Western Carolinas since 2016. His son, Eli Tatem, will take over the daily operations of the Western Carolinas franchise.
The firm has more than 1,000 brokers worldwide. Tatem will work to enhance service to entrepreneurs seeking to buy, sell or grow their businesses.
Transworld Business Advisors is among the United Franchise Group family of brands. Transworld Business Advisors helps buyers and sellers connect, conducts franchise consultations, and supports franchise development. The company represents corporations or individuals interested in owning a company or franchise.
ForeverGreen Recognizes Friends Of Conservation
Upstate Forever’s award luncheon will be held April 22 at The Annex at Judson Mill, 701 Easley Bridge Road in Greenville.
Registration will begin at 11 a.m. The luncheon and awards presentations will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The ForeverGreen Annual Awards celebrate individuals and organizations that contribute to conservation and sustainable growth. This year, the luncheon will include an Earth Day celebration.
Awards and recipients are:
- The Tommy Wyche Land Conservation Champion: Honorable Ted Shehan, for his decades-long commitment to public service and his volunteer efforts to expand awareness of natural resource conservation initiatives
- Clean Water Champion: Melanie Ruhlman, President of Save Our Saluda, for her efforts to protect rivers and streams in the Saluda River Basin and across South Carolina
- Public Servant Of The Year: Rep. Patrick Haddon, for his leadership role in the Working Lands Preservation Act, which makes land conservation more accessible for South Carolina farmers
For information about the ForeverGreen Annual Awards Luncheon, go to upstateforever.org/forevergreen-2025.
Harbor Freight Builds In Anderson County
Harbor Freight Tools, a retailer of tools and equipment to professionals and the general public, will expand its South Carolina footprint with a new operation in Anderson County. The company’s $30 million investment will create 36 jobs.
Founded in 1977, Harbor Freight Tools is a retailer of hand, power, automotive and industrial tools. The company established its first South Carolina operation, a distribution center in Dillon County, in 2002.
Marlboro Development Team Inc. is creating an office, warehouse, research, development and innovation center for Harbor Freight. Marlboro has a long relationship with Harbor Freight.
The 76,171-square-foot facility is on a 12.6-acre site on I-85 at 130 Frontage Road in Piedmont. It will be online in late 2025.
AFL Continues Expands In Spartanburg County
AFL, a manufacturer of fiber optic products and equipment, is expanding its manufacturing operations in Spartanburg County. The company’s $155 million investment will create 150 jobs over the next two to five years.
AFL was founded in 1984 and headquartered in Duncan. It is a subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan.
The company provides end-to-end solutions, products, and services to the energy, service provider, enterprise, industrial, and hyperscale markets. The company’s products, which include fiber optic cable and hardware, transmission and substation accessories, and outside plant equipment, are used in 130 countries.
AFL will expand all of its fiber optic cable manufacturing operations. The expansion will increase production capacity to support domestic cable manufacturing, broadband deployment and power grid modernization.
Automotive Supplier Grows In Greenville County
Magna International, a mobility technology company and a supplier in the automotive space, is establishing a satellite operation and expanding its existing operation in Greenville County.
Magna’s combined investment of $200 million will create 200 jobs across both facilities.
The new 625,000-square-foot facility will be located at 923 Matrix Pkwy. in Piedmont. Operations at the new facility are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025.
Both facilities will produce components for cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles.
Samaritan Biologics Develops Greenville County Facility
Samaritan Biologics, a medical technology company, is expanding its operations with a manufacturing facility in Greenville County. The investment of $5 million will create 85 jobs over the next several years.
The Samaritan Biologics facility will be located on the campus of Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research.
The company will enhance its focus on developing innovative products for wound care, surgical applications, and caring for damaged limbs.
“Samaritan Biologics recognizes that Greenville has evolved into a region fueled by research, businesses, and a smart, young and creative workforce that thrives on and is a catalyst for innovation,” said Jerry Chang, co-founder of Samaritan Biologics.
“With cutting-edge research and advanced therapies, Samaritan Biologics offers hope for healing. With the support of South Carolina and Greenville County, this commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation will bring transformative care to patients and our communities,” he said.
“Greenville County is thrilled to welcome Samaritan Biologics as they grow their operations,” said Max Stewart, CEO of Greenville Area Development Corporation. “The company’s focus on regenerative medicine and innovation aligns perfectly with the life sciences ecosystem we’re building here.”
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Memphis, Samaritan Biologics is a female- and minority-owned business. The company’s work enables doctors to effectively treat medical conditions in the fields of oncology, neurosurgery, sports medicine, wound care and urology.
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