The Buzz | an Economic Development Podcast

Burnie and Kara sat down with Lilyn Hester, the Head of Southeast Public Affairs for tech giant Google. Lilyn - and Google - are no strangers to South Carolina. They've been a community partner in the Lowcountry for over a decade, and Lilyn and her team have gotten ahead of issues like lack of access to rural broadband or basic health care. Lilyn explains the innovative ways Google has been serving the greater-Berkeley County community,  and much more..

Kara & Burnie sat down with Jonathan Yarborough, who oversees government affairs and economic development for Dominion Energy, one of South Carolina's largest energy providers. Prior to going in-house with Dominion, Jonathan began his econ dev career with the S.C. Department of Commerce; he's also no stranger to the famed Edisto Honey Harvests.. Listen in as the trio talk all things energy, Dominion's COVID-19 response, community involvement and giving, plus MUCH more! 

Find out more about applying for grants through the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation: https://www.dominionenergy.com/company/community/dominion-energy-charitable-foundation/apply-for-a-grant 

Burnie + Kara spoke with Barbara Melvin, Chief Operating Officer for South Carolina Ports, about the impact of COVID-19 on global trade and supply chain, as well as the local impact on all ports in the Palmetto State. They also look beyond coronavirus, discussing the port's long-term expansion and investment plans (like the Leatherman Terminal & Jasper Ocean Terminal projects), and much, much more.

Burnie & Kara caught up with South Carolina Chamber of Commerce President + CEO Ted Pitts on a number of things about the impact of COVID-19 on South Carolina's economy and getting the Palmetto state back to work. We spoke about the impact of the shutdowns (from schools to businesses, was it worth it, from a business perspective?), how we get the state's economy moving again, his involvement in the Accelerate SC task force, and more. 

Burnie and Kara dive into a local developer's perspective in Episode 6 with Gregg Robinson, Executive Director at Orangeburg County Development Commission. AND - we're joined by special guests Mike Newman with QM Group and Robert Ferguson with ExxonMobil, sharing how QM is adjusting production to combat COVID-19 and announcing a new partnership with ExxonMobil. 

Burnie and Kara chat with SC Manufacturers Alliance President and CEO Sara Hazzard about the manufacturing industry - one of South Carolina's largest industries - and what the organization is doing during COVID-19. They cover everything from what SCMA is hearing from its member companies, to restarting South Carolina's 'economic engine.' Sara was also recently named to the accelerateSC advisory committee - we cover that, and a LOT more.

Kara and Burnie sit down with SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Director Duane Parrish to check in on how COVID-19 in impacting the state's hospitality and tourism economies, and what SCPRT is doing to combat that. They chat everything from beaches and hotels, to restaurants and golf tournaments - and even Carolina/Clemson football?.. We covered a LOT with Duane - check it out now!

Kara and Burnie catch up with SC Power Team President & CEO James Chavez about how he serves South Carolina's electric cooperatives, and the special role his team plays in the Palmetto State economic development landscape. They chat about the impact of COVID-19, how SC's economy can bounce back, and MORE!

Kara and Burnie catch up with SCEDA President Andrena Powell-Baker (Lockhart Power) and Incoming President Richard Blackwell (Agracel, Inc.) to discuss what the state's largest economic development professional association is seeing right now - from COVID-19 impact and response to rural broadband, and more.

Kara and Burnie talk BEES, plus a few things that make Nephron kind of unique.. (0:20). Interview with Nephron Pharmaceuticals President & CEO Lou Kennedy (1:13) - talking pre-coronavirus investments and production (2:50), Nephron's teacher-hire program (4:15), adjusting production for COVID-19 response (5:57), advice for companies looking to make adjustments (12:22), U.S. vs. overseas pharmaceutical production (16:22), importance of investing in health/life sciences and rural broadband (19:39).