Baptist Easley award

EASLEY — Baptist Easley Hospital was one of 14 hospital selected in the country and the only hospital in South Carolina to receive a 2016 MAP Certificate of Recognition in Revenue Cycle Achievement from the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

“We focus on teamwork among the various components of our revenue cycle so that we can provide an improved patient experience,” said Kathleen Stapleton, CFO at Baptist Easley Hospital. “What is best for our patients focuses on getting the right insurance, right estimates, right point of service collections and working closely with our hospital-owned physician practices to improve access and information flow.”

Avon honors

EASLEY – Diane Saint a local Avon representative, recently attended an Avon’s President’s Club Luncheon where she was awarded a certificate for being number one in her district for direct delivery orders placed on her website.

Saint uses her website to raise money for numerous charities, two of which are local: Pickens County Humane Society and Concerned Citizens for Animals. She donates a percentage of every order placed on her website. After placing an order, all the customer has to do is email her with their chosen charity.

Saint is celebrating her 40th year with Avon.

Clemson’s Tegen receives national award

CLEMSON – Charles Tegen, Clemson University’s associate vice president for finance, was awarded the 2016 Professional Development Award for his notable and extensive contributions to the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

Tegen received his master’s degree in professional accountancy from Clemson in 1999 and has served in various finance and accounting roles at Clemson since joining the university staff in 1979. During his career, Tegen has been responsible for accounting for the university and related organizations, cash and treasury services, student financial services and tax reporting.

“I am honored to receive the NACUBO award,” said Tegen. “Professional development programs by NACUBO continue to prepare professionals for changes in the higher education environment.”

Tegen chaired the NACUBO board in 2012-13 and held other positions, including the Accounting Principles Council, the ad hoc cost of college advisory committee and the Higher Education Accounting Forum Program Committee.

NACUBO’s annual awards honor individual and institutional excellence in higher education business and financial management. They were presented during the organization’s annual meeting in Montreal.

NACUBO, founded in 1962, is a nonprofit professional organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at more than 2,100 colleges and universities across the country.

Clemson names VP of university relations

CLEMSON — A communications executive with more than 30 years’ experience in journalism, industry and higher education has been named Clemson University’s first vice president of university relations.

Mark Land, associate vice president of public affairs at Indiana University, will lead Clemson’s external and internal communications, direct the university’s creative and marketing services, and serve as university spokesman. He will begin his tenure Aug. 22.

Prior to joining IU, Land spent eight years as a leader in the corporate communications department at Cummins Inc., an Indiana-based Fortune 200 global manufacturer of diesel engines, power generating systems and related technologies.

Land also spent 18 years as a newspaper journalist, most of it as a reporter and editor for Gannett Co. newspapers in Indiana, New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

“Mark has a proven record of success in higher education, corporate communications and journalism, and I’m confident he will help Clemson communicate the powerful story of its academic quality, research and outreach, and its efforts to fulfill its land-grant mission by helping the citizens of South Carolina prosper,” said Clemson President James P. Clements.

Clements to chair ACC Council of Presidents

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Clemson University President James P. Clements was named chairman of the Atlantic Coast Conference Council of Presidents for the 2016-17 academic year.

Lissa Broome of the University of North Carolina will serve as president of the conference.

Other officers are Vice President Reggie DesRoches of Georgia Tech and Secretary-Treasurer Marvin Dawkins of the University Miami. The chairs include Clements, Broome as Faculty Athletics Representative; Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham of North Carolina; and Nicki Moore, North Carolina, Senior Woman Administrators.

Rick earns real estate honor

EASLEY — Missy Rick of Allen Tate Realtors was named one of America’s most productive sales associates as a part of REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents, the newly issued ranking report produced by REAL Trends and sponsored by Zillow Group.

She is now a member of the “America’s Best Real Estate Agents,” and ranked number 44 for South Carolina.

“I am obviously pleased and honored to be ranked on this ranking of the country’s top residential real estate agents,” said Rick. “It represents the time and effort that we put into each client that we serve and how much work it takes to build a successful real estate career. The level of sales it takes to qualify makes it a truly special recognition.”

REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents ranks over 12,000 residential real estate professionals solely based on their excellence in real estate sales during calendar year 2015. All production numbers are independently verified by a third-party in order to ensure accuracy and report integrity.

To qualify for inclusion, an individual agent must have closed at least 50 transaction sides or $20 million in sales volume in 2015. For real estate agent teams, the minimum is 75 transaction sides or $30 million in closed sales volume.

McFerron joins Allen Tate Realtors

EASLEY – Barbara McFerron has joined the Easley office of Allen Tate Realtors and is now one of 25 licensed Realtors in the Easley office.

“We are delighted to have agents of such high caliber as Barbara. She exemplifies professionalism in every aspect of the real estate transaction. We are proud to attract such a talented professional and know that our clients will be served well,” said Gary Cohen, Broker in Charge of Allen Tate Realtors Easley office.

Hovis named CRO for Troop 3

PICKENS COUNTY – Trooper Joe Hovis has been named the new Community Relations Officer in Highway Patrol Troop 3, which includes Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg counties.

Hovis joined the Highway Patrol in 2012 after retiring from a career in the corporate sector. Hovis has worked for Troop 3 since joining the Patrol, primarily serving in Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee counties. He and his wife, Lisa, have two sons.

Community Relations Officers assist the media with inquiries on routine traffic matters such as collisions, traffic issues, safety initiatives and special enforcement in their area.

CROs also promote highway safety education through presentations in schools, businesses, churches, festivals, fairs etc.

Burgess joins C. Dan Joyner’s Easley office

EASLEY — Mike Burgess has joined Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner’s Easley office as a sales associate.

Burgess recently retired from the S.C. Highway Patrol after 25 years of service. During his law enforcement career, he was recognized twice as Trooper of the Quarter for SCHP Troop 3.

He was the supervisor for the Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team covering Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens, Oconee, Laurens, Newberry, Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield, and Saluda counties.

Burgess, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is a native of Pickens and a graduate of Tri-County Technical College. He and his wife, Lori, live in Easley, and have three children.

Colombo awarded Service Certification

EASLEY — Leigh Colombo, a Realtor with Allen Tate’s Easley/Powdersville office, has been awarded Service Certification from Allen Tate Company.

Realtors who receive the eService Certification have completed three hours of classroom instruction and the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Service Expert certification (online).

The program is designed to help the agent understand and respond to the online customer, convert listing inquiries for their sellers and work effectively with the Allen Tate Client Relations team.

Classroom coursework includes understanding online consumer habits and expectations, utilizing the Salesforce.com platform to manage potential clients and working with the FiveStreet lead routing system and a team of virtual assistants to optimize lead conversion.

Vickery named DSS director

PICKENS COUNTY — Gayle Vickery has been named director of the Pickens County Department of Social Services, effective Aug. 2.

Vickery began her career with the S.C. Department of Social Services in 2002 as the Children’s Service Coordinator with the Intensive Foster Care and Clinical Services division and continued in that role until she was promoted in 2009 to serve as the Anderson and Oconee County Program Director for Intensive Foster Care and Clinical Services.

In 2013, Vickery came to Pickens County DSS as the Human Services Program Coordinator and has been serving as the interim County Director since April 15, 2016.

Vickery has more than 20 years of experience working within child welfare and a combined 14 years of leadership and management experience with SCDSS.

Vickery is a graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology (with highest honor) and has been a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker for South Carolina since May 9, 1989. Vickery is also a Certified Addictions Counselor II in South Carolina and received her initial certification in August 2011.

We encourage the submission of business news items for publication. These can include promotions, staff additions, awards, etc. Items can be submitted in writing or in person to 714 S. Pendleton St., Suite D, Easley, SC 29640; via fax to 864-855-6825; or via email at EASnews@civitasmedia.com. Call 864-855-0355 for more information. Business news runs on a space available basis.

Land
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_BUSmarkland.jpgLand

McFerron
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_BUSNEWSBarbaraMcFerron.jpgMcFerron

Tegen
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_BUSNEWSCharlesTegen.jpgTegen

Burgess
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_BUSNEWSmikeburgess.jpgBurgess

Hovis
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_BUSNEWSschphovis.jpgHovis

Clements
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_Jim-Clements-2014CMYK.jpgClements