The Buzz | an Economic Development Podcast

Amy Tinsley, Executive Director of the South Carolina Automotive Council, sits down with Kara and Burnie to discuss workforce development and the blossoming automotive industry in South Carolina. 

Secretary Harry M. Lightsey III was appointed by Governor McMaster to serve as Secretary of Commerce in June of 2021. A fixture in South Carolina’s business community for decades, Lightsey is bringing his expertise and knowledge to the Department of Commerce. 

Brantley Strickland, Senior Project Manager at SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance, is one of only 60 people in South Carolina to earn advanced accreditation as a South Carolina Certified Economic Developer. Brantley, Kara + Burnie discuss workforce development, broadband and golf! 

For 20 years, Future Scholar has helped South Carolina families reach their financial educational goals for their children. Curtis Loftis, State Treasurer, joins Kara + Burnie to talk about this amazing program and Mr. Loftis's other duties as State Treasurer. 

Swati Patel, Executive Vice President of public policy and counsel for the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, chat with Kara and Burnie about the Chamber’s annual competitiveness agenda. Workforce development is all the buzz in this episode.

In episode 75, Kara and Burnie welcome Ernest Andrade, Founder and Director of Charleston Digital Corridor, a company that leverages its carefully nurtured relationships, program elements, legislative access, and contacts to assist tech companies with integrating them into the community. Charleston Digital Corridor is in the sweet spot of economic development in the Charleston area.

Understanding infrastructure can be a bit of a bumpy ride. South Carolina’s Secretary of Transportation Christy Hall joins Kara & Burnie to fill in the gaps of the newly minted $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

Landscapes are changing all around from the success in the Upstate but especially in Cherokee County. Jim Cook, the Executive Director for the Cherokee County Development Board, joins Kara + Burnie to discuss expansion and growth in the county and the diverse industries it hosts.

Tushar is joined by special co-hosts Matthew Roberts and Heather Mathews for a crossover episode with The Pulse – A Health Care and Life Sciences Podcast - to introduce SCBIO’s new leader, James Chappell.

After a nationwide search, James has been named as SCBIO’s new President & CEO to lead the organization’s great work in directing the flourishing life sciences industry in South Carolina. Tune in for this special episode to learn about James Chappell, the future of life sciences in the state and SCBIO’s development efforts at www.thepulsehealthcast.com or www.buzzpodcast.com.

During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, South Carolina Ports Authority plays a crucial role in helping Santa deliver the goods. In this episode of The Buzz, Kara and Tushar talk with Micah Mallace, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Sales for the South Carolina Ports Authority, about the impact the pandemic has had on the global supply chain - and how years of planning have helped SC Ports productivity shine during these turbulent times.