SRP, Bridgestone, and Aiken Regional, three of the most successful business organizations in the CSRA, sent key people to a panel discussion about future growth issues.
The monthly Good Morning North Augusta breakfast featured business leaders Liz Ponder with SRP Federal Credit Union, Chris Hennessee from Bridgestone Aiken PSR, and Victoria Luciano of Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Panel members had three distinctive views ranging from financial services to manufacturing and healthcare.
The overall discussion centered on the future needs of South Carolina State House District 83, which covers parts of Aiken and Edgefield Counties. However, much of the discussion echoed the comments Will Williams, president and CEO of Western SC, made during a recent interview with ABD regarding the impact quality transportation has on the region, including into Georgia.
Ponder explained the banking industry looks at loan requests, particularly from businesses, through the lens of whether the business is sustainable. She said during the pandemic, there was a burst of startups and entrepreneurship, but now there is a decline in small businesses.
“They are not able to sustain themselves because cash flow could be an issue. Transportation could be an issue,” she said. “If employees can’t get to work, you can’t sustain your business. If customers can’t get to purchase your items, your products, you can’t sell unless you go online. Those things are optional, but we want to keep our money in the community and what we and where we live.”
Transportation is at the core of Bridgestone Aiken PSR, both as a manufacturer producing vehicle tires, and as one of the county’s largest employers. Infrastructure investments, including roads and utilities, influence the company’s ability to grow and remain competitive.
It is a challenge Hennessee understands,
“I get asked this question at least twice a week about road infrastructure coming into Bridgestone,” he said, noting the facility’s location on Bettis Academy Road, at exit 11 off Interstate 20.
“If you were coming that way between 6:00 and 7:30, trying to get off that exit, it was very challenging,” he continued. “We have schools on that road, and we have small businesses on that road. We also have a lot of restaurants, but we basically have six large manufacturing facilities. That’s a big challenge for us because roads play a key part in getting our teammates there.”
The conversation comes at a time when the South Carolina Department of Transportation is soliciting public input on road projects, including intersection improvements on S-144 (Bettis Academy Road) at S-780 (Whaley Pond Road).
Details and the form to submit written comments are available at www.projectportal.scdot.org/ARTSIntersections. Comments can also be submitted via email to BENNETTJA@scdot.gov, or by mail to Alex Bennett, SCDOT, P.O. Box 191, Columbia, SC 29202-0191.
The comment period is open through August 20th.
In addition to transportation needs, the panelists also provided insights into workforce development, recruitment, and retention.
As a recruiter with Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Luciano works directly in the competition for talent. She said part of it is getting students as young as elementary school students thinking long-term about their future and a career in health care.
She also carries the message through to high school and post-secondary classrooms.
“From January until now, I have done over 50 college and university, high school visits and presentations for students,” she listed. “To start bridging that gap, explaining Aiken Regional is hiring, and what we are offering out to our communities. Those two workforce trends are huge for us in healthcare to be able to start that pipeline early, but also building those pipelines up to our universities and colleges and other students.”
For Bridgestone, Hennessee said retention is a concern. They currently have an attrition rate of 16%. The challenge is finding a balance of competitive pay, providing opportunities for additional training, and schedules that recognize employee needs.
