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Charleston Business

The Business Narrative: SC Entrepreneur in the Spotlight

Sep 02, 2022 01:19PM ● By David Dykes

Charleston Entrepreneur Returns for Season 2 of ‘How She Rolls’

Photo courtesy of SC ETV

“How She Rolls,” a half-hour lifestyle documentary and culinary series that follows the life of Charleston, S.C. entrepreneur Carrie Morey, returns for Season 2 in September. 

Featuring 10 new episodes, the show focuses on Morey as she balances being a wife and a mom to three daughters with the pressures of managing her growing business.

A Lowcountry native, Morey launched Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit more than 16 years ago. Inspired by her mother’s family biscuit recipe, the business has transformed from a made-by-hand mail order biscuit company into a booming operation.

This season, new players, rising costs, store closures and health challenges all create hurdles for Morey to navigate, but they also illuminate a path to refocus the business while keeping her family her number one priority. Viewers will follow Morey as she makes the decision whether or not to expand her business to respond to growing demands.

Morey also spends time on the road spreading the art and storytelling of a handmade biscuit, visiting Toledo, Ohio to tour a wheat processing plant to see how her flour is made, and traveling to Birmingham to connect with culinary friends.

The series features regular appearances by Morey’s husband, John; her daughters, Caroline, Cate and Sarah; her father, Donald; and her mother, Callie.

“I am beyond honored to be able to continue sharing my story with public television through SCETV for season two of How She Rolls!” Morey said.

“It’s not every day that I get to share my journey highlighting the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, along with the juggling act of being a present mom. I hope that the audience will find comfort in knowing that not every day is perfect and that you just have to keep going to pursue your dreams!”

Click here to see a trailer of the new season.


Duke Energy to Review Rates for Pee Dee Customers

Duke Energy Progress asked South Carolina regulators to review its rates as the company continues working to increase system reliability and resiliency, achieve a cleaner, smarter energy future, and enhance the customer experience for more than 172,000 customers in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.

“We know how important electric service is for our customers, and no one wants to see bills increase,” said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy's South Carolina state president.

“This is particularly true now as rising costs across most sectors of our economy impact consumers and businesses throughout South Carolina and the nation. These challenges affect the energy industry as a whole and – through smart investments – we're working hard to meet customers' expectations and build the foundation for a smarter energy future from which all South Carolinians can benefit.”

To ease the impacts of these investments on its customers, the company's rate request before the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) proposes phasing in the proposed rate increases over two years.

If approved by the PSCSC, the total net impact of the proposed increase to residential customer bills is 14.7 percent. Commercial and industrial customers will see an average increase of around 7.8 percent (actual rates vary by customer class and size).

If approved, the charge for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity beginning April 1, 2023, will increase $14.36 per month, from $133.01 to $147.37. Starting April 1, 2024, the total monthly impact for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month would increase an additional $4.40, for an average bill of $151.77 per month.

Customers struggling to pay their energy bills might qualify for assistance from various government and nonprofit programs for utility bills and other household expenses.

Duke Energy also offers programs and resources to help customers manage their usage to mitigate the impact of rate changes as well as flexible payment arrangements to help customers experiencing uncertainty, to include flexible payment options including the Share the Light Fund, a Duke Energy program that provides energy assistance.

To learn more about these programs, details of the company's proposal and the rate review process, visit duke-energy.com/SCProgressRates.


SCIII to Create Educational Institutes

South Carolina's Institutes of Innovation and Information (SCIII), an initiative and vision inspired by Sen. John L. Scott Jr., is amplifying the state's seven four-year HBCUs' through the creation of educational institutes that provide funding, resources, and access to networking partnerships with leaders in the business and philanthropic community.

The institute will help bridge the gap among students, community and industry leaders, and raise the profile of the state's HBCUs. SCIII announced that Dr. Robert Jennings, higher education executive and renowned HBCU leader, will serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer of SCIII Foundation.

Dr. Jennings, who has served as president of Lincoln University, the nation's oldest degree-granting historically Black college, and Alabama A&M University, has directed an array of services to assist colleges and universities, public and charter schools, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations in management as well as philanthropic services.

His expertise includes planning and implementing successful capital campaigns, annual giving, and major gift programs, running comprehensive special events, developing high-performing programs and departments, managing conferences, developing and guiding organizations, building top-performing teams, training and optimizing boards, and overseeing strategic communications.

South Carolina’s  seven HBCUs produce more than 50 percent of all Black college graduates statewide. The South Carolina General Assembly appropriated $18 million in 2021 toward the development of educational institutes at each of South Carolina's HBCUs.

Each institute was established with specific focuses and disciplines united to increase opportunities and exposure for their student bodies on campus and the surrounding community. The seven HBCUs include Allen University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Clinton College, Morris College, South Carolina State University and Voorhees University.

SCIII will strengthen the participating HBCUs by building pipelines from each Institute directly to opportunities in state business and industry.


Marvel Actor Simu Liu to Speak at Blackbaud Conference

Blackbaud, the South Carolina-headquartered cloud software company, announced that actor Simu Liu will join the mainstage at the bbcon 2022 Virtual tech conference.

Liu will participate in a keynote conversation at the conference, which is taking place Oct. 17–18 as a free, virtual event.

“Simu Liu is an inspiring actor and author. His captivating performances onscreen and voice for representation offscreen have catapulted him onto the global stage,” said Catherine LaCour, chief marketing officer, Blackbaud.

“We're excited for Simu to share his insight, encouragement and advice with our bbcon audience as they consider ways to carve their own paths as professionals and shape enduring organizations.”

Liu made his feature debut as the title hero in Marvel Studios' “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” which broke box office records on its release and became the second-highest grossing film of the pandemic era.

Liu won the People's Choice Award for Action Movie Star of 2021 and was nominated for a Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in a Superhero Movie. In addition, Liu was named to Time Magazine's list of The 100 Most Influential People of 2022.

His memoir “We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story,” detailing his family's journey from Harbin, China, to Hollywood, California, was released worldwide in May. 

In addition to his film, television and writing career, Liu is a UNICEF Canada Ambassador working to impact global change by shedding a light on children in need both in Canada and around the world.

In conjunction with bbcon, the Blackbaud Product Update Briefings will be held virtually Oct. 19–20. Get more information about bbcon 2022 Virtual and register for free here.


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