Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers to Expand SC Footprint With 10-Unit Development Agreement

Fast-casual restaurant concept, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, based in Wichita, Kansas, announced the signing of a multi-unit development agreement to bring 10 new locations to Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina.

NFL offensive lineman Ben Powers, along with GVL Hospitality Group, will spearhead the expansion.

Officials said GVL Hospitality, which includes business partners Brett Rickert and Brian Stevens, has begun the search for suitable sites in each county.

The first property is expected to be purchased by the end of this year, with the initial restaurant slated to open in 2025. The group aims to have all 10 locations operational by 2031.

“Growing up, I always wanted to do something business-related and prove that I could make a name for myself on and off the football field,” said Powers, a Wichita, Kansas native entering his sixth NFL season and second with the Denver Broncos. “I look forward to spreading the joy I have from my hometown with even more communities.”

He added,  “Having Brett and Brian running things while I’m playing is reassuring. They’re great mentors for me and I trust them wholeheartedly as we grow the Freddy’s franchise in South Carolina.”

Rickert and Stevens are both experienced in the restaurant industry and franchise owners of Freddy’s restaurants in Columbia, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia.

Rickert, who lives in the Greenville-Spartanburg area, will serve as the operating partner, ensuring training and management, while Stevens will help with the site selection and construction aspects.

Freddy’s has over 530 restaurants in 36 states, with another 130+ locations in development for 2024 and 2025. 

Columbia-Based Attorney Sydney Lynn to Lead State's Top Legal Group

The South Carolina Association for Justice has unanimously elected Sydney Lynn as its new president.

Lynn, an attorney at Charleston-based Joye Law Firm, will preside over the 1,400-member Association, which is a leading advocate of victims’ rights. 

“Our legal system is under attack by well-funded groups who want to increase profits on the backs of innocent victims,” Lynn said. “At the end of the day, the policy debate we face is about accountability. We simply cannot allow people or companies with deep pockets to escape being held responsible when their reckless behavior harms others.”

Lynn earned her law degree from the Charleston School of Law.  She then honed her trial skills at Charleston-based Joye Law Firm, and, in 2016, led the opening of its Columbia office. 

She helps clients navigate personal injury and workers’ compensation cases.

Lynn’s new role was formally announced at SCAJ’s Annual Convention where lawyers from across the state gathered for educational seminars and strategic planning. 

Lynn will serve a one-year term along with new officers elected to serve in other SCAJ leadership positions including:

- Ashley White Creech in now president-elect.  She is at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC.  Ashley focuses on medical negligence cases and has had key successes at trials for her clients. She also has presented oral arguments in both state and federal appellate courts.

- Kevin Dean has been elected vice president. He is a member at Motley Rice LLC (Mount Pleasant office) and focuses on catastrophic injury, products liability, and wrongful death cases.  Dean represents victims and families affected by hazardous consumer products, occupational and industrial accidents, premise injuries, and other incidents of negligence. 
 
 - Bakari Sellers has been elected secretary/treasurer. He has been with Strom Law Firm since 2007 and leads its Strategic Communications and Public Affairs team. Sellers practices nationwide in criminal defense and civil litigation.  He is also a former State legislator, NYT bestselling author, and CNN Correspondent.

The South Carolina Association for Justice was founded in 1957 to serve as advocates for those who are harmed by the actions of others and to strengthen the justice system through education and action.

United Community Refreshes Look Across SC

United Community, the largest bank headquartered in South Carolina, is getting a fresh new look.

Every United branch in the Lowcountry and Midlands is updating its signage to the refreshed logo that officials say embodies the bank’s history of customer service and its culture of caring for the communities it serves.

“Our new logo is a visual representation of United’s enduring dedication to our customers and communities,” said Dixon Woodward, state president of South Carolina and Coastal Georgia.

He added, “It showcases the trust we've built over the years and emphasizes our continued focus on providing innovative financial solutions while fostering vibrant local partnerships.”

Sign changes are being implemented in the Columbia and Charleston metropolitan areas to reflect the new logo.

United recently made a significant investment in its future with the opening of its new, state-of-the-art 118,000 square foot headquarters in downtown Greenville, South Carolina.

The $65 million investment will bring more than 300 jobs to the Upstate.

The updated logo will be completed across the bank’s entire six-state footprint throughout 2024. United’s website, social media, online banking and other digital channels were updated this past summer.

United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE: UCB) is the financial holding company for United Community, a top 100 U.S. financial institution.

United Community provides a full range of banking, wealth management and mortgage services.

As of June 30, 2024, United Community Banks, Inc. had $27.1 billion in assets, 203 offices across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as a national SBA lending franchise and a national equipment lending subsidiary.

IRS Reminder: Employer Educational Assistance Programs Can Be Used To Help Pay Off Workers’ Student Loans Through Dec. 31, 2025

The Internal Revenue Service on Aug. 28, 2024, issued a reminder that employers who offer educational assistance programs can also use them to help pay for their employees’ student loan obligations through Dec. 31, 2025.

Though educational assistance programs have been available for many years, the option to use them to pay for workers’ student loans has only been available for payments made after March 27, 2020.

Under current law, this student loan provision is set to expire Dec. 31, 2025.

Traditionally, educational assistance programs have been used to pay for books, equipment, supplies, fees, tuition and other education expenses for the employee.

IRS officials said these programs can now also be used to pay principal and interest on an employee’s qualified education loans.

Payments made directly to the lender, as well as those made to the employee, may qualify.

In most cases, educational benefits are excluded from federal income tax withholding, Social Security tax, Medicare tax and federal employment (FUTA) tax.

By law, tax-free benefits under an educational assistance program are limited to $5,250 per employee per year. Normally, assistance provided above that level is taxable as wages.

IRS officials said employers who don’t have an educational assistance program might want to consider setting one up. The officials say fringe benefits, such as educational assistance programs, can help employers attract and retain qualified workers.

These programs must be in writing and cannot discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees, according to the IRS. For information on other requirements, go to Publication 15-B, Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits.

For details on what qualifies as a student loan, go to Chapter 10 in Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.

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