Author: vipmagsc

story by Jordan Pupa | photography by Fred Sally

   Sharon Norris developed an interest in accounting after working as a receptionist in a one-man CPA firm immediately after high school. She was given the opportunity to take on other responsibilities above her clerical duties, which lit a fire under her, encouraging her to go back to school. The accounting, bookkeeping, and tax information just clicked. Sharon graduated from Francis Marion University in December of 1985, sat for and passed the CPA exam in November 1986, and the rest is history! She has been with WebsterRogers since its start thirty-five years ago.

   Today, Sharon leads the Agribusiness Tax Group where she specializes in specific tax strategies and business structures that provide the most benefit to farmers. WebsterRogers launched an Agribusiness Farm Group about twelve years ago. “I love working with farm families,” shares Sharon. “Farmers are special people. I like that they are loyal, down to earth, and very family-focused. Their character and work ethic continue to impress me.” Sharon explains that some of the farmers are working on farms that have been in their families for 100 years and almost all of them are multi-generational family businesses. “I am humbled by the honor of helping them shepherd those farms to the next generation,” says Sharon. “Take for instance Dargan Farms; I work closely with them on various aspects of family farming with all three of their companies: Dargan Farms, Dargan Turf Farm, and Dargan Farm Agribiz. They were one of my first farming clients. Now we have worked together for over ten years. Very special people near to my heart.”

   Sharon is also the lead for the Not-For-Profit Group at WebsterRogers. She enjoys helping people in these difficult areas. “I also work with individual clients and their associated small businesses. This gives me a lot of client contact which I love,” explains Sharon. “I have clients who have moved all over the country and continued to send their tax work to me. My clients have become extended members of my family. Some of them have known my girls (34 and 36) since they were two and four years old. My work is largely consultative and concentrated on problem-solving.”

   While Sharon often helps clients overcome obstacles, a memorable moment dates back several years when two of their farms were pulled for an IRS audit at the beginning of tax season. At the time, the IRS was auditing specific partnership structures that were being used mostly by farmers, so, these were “routine audits” which typically take up to two years. “Given the complexity of the farms involved—multiple counties, etc.—I worked closely with our Business Services Group. Our Business Services Group handles bookkeeping and creating financial statements. It is an important part of addressing needs outside of ‘traditional tax’ work. We work together to support a business owner so they can focus on managing the business. We focus on the financial details. Because of the detailed records we kept, I was able to represent the farms/farmers to the IRS and produce the records they needed in a timely manner. We closed those audits in less than six months with NO changes on both!”

   Sharon’s drive developed early on in her career and has helped her to continue to thrive. She has always stretched to work just above her comfort level. “An early memory I have when working for a CPA firm WebsterRogers ultimately acquired was when a partner asked me, ‘Can you type up an audit report?’ While I had never done it before, I immediately answered, ‘YES!’ My experience with the firm has been, if you work hard and show interest, you will be given opportunity.” A strong work ethic is something Sharon proudly inherited from her father. “My father brilliantly used common sense, Godly wisdom and a hard work ethic to help him succeed. This trait is something I truly value and believe has helped shape me into who I am.”

      Overall, Sharon is grateful for the opportunities for diverse experiences, growth, and relationships over her career with WebsterRogers. She is also thankful that she is able to put her family as a top priority. “I have been supported and given opportunities to grow that inspired me, however, it all comes down to the people to me. My co-workers, my clients, and the chance to mentor our upcoming associates. The people brought me here and have kept me here over the years. People I meet often say, ‘You’re an accountant. You must really love numbers.’ My response is always, ‘No, I love people.’”

Sharon and her husband, Larry, have been married for 45 years and have two daughters, Laura and Callie. They are members of Florence Baptist Temple where Larry teaches eighth-grade boys and they both serve in the music ministry. Sharon also serves on the board for the WebsterRogers Foundation. They enjoy spending time with their family, camping and hanging out with their English Springer, Sydney. They also enjoy living on the lake where they spend a lot of time boating and fishing. Sharon’s mother, husband, brother, two daughters, and many other relatives also attended FMU, making it a family tradition!

www.websterrogers.com

With one deadline behind them, WR is still working diligently on client projects. Given the new tax laws, they have been planning with many of their clients since late last year as there are a myriad of changes impacting individuals and businesses. Taxpayers are impacted in different ways. Fortunately, WR has the expertise and experience to navigate the most complex issues.

story by Jordan Pupa

      Dargan Farms, located in Darlington, is a fifth and sixth generation, family-owned operation with roots that go back hundreds of years. The land was obtained before the Revolutionary War through a King’s Grant. Most recently, Dargan Farms has been recognized as SC’s Top Large Farm of the year. They grow wheat, rye, corn, soybeans, cotton, and turfgrass. Additionally, they love having friends, family, and lots of people around to join in on everything they do at the farm. Fun at the farm is always guaranteed!

    Growing is their passion and it shows. Dargan Turf Farm was started in 2001 when Edwin Dargan and his son, Ned, put their years of agriculture expertise to work in the turf growing business. Both Edwin and Ned graduated from Clemson University with agronomy degrees. Dargan Turf Farm provides turf to homeowners, lawn professionals, athletic fields, and golf courses. They grow and sell Zoysia turf, Centipede and 419 Bermuda grasses, which have proven to be the sod types that do well for the Pee Dee Region and surrounding area. They even deliver sod in Florence and the surrounding counties in South Carolina. With their extensive farming and growing experience, they bring you the finest, durable turf grown in the best conditions available.

    The community is always welcome to enjoy the farm. Many years ago, Ned and his brother, James, along with their wives, expanded the farm to include agritourism. At the time, there weren’t any corn mazes in the Darlington and Florence areas and the couples believed the Pee Dee could benefit from a family-friendly attraction. They started the corn maze at a farm in Florence in 2011 and relocated it to the Darlington home a few years later. They grow strawberries for picking in the spring and open a corn maze during the fall.

    Many fun-filled, family-friendly events are held throughout the year such as the Easter Funfest complete with a helicopter egg drop and a Fall Festival complete with a pumpkin patch. The play area features a giant tube slide, a corn box, a rope maze, a tire mountain, a dirt mountain, corn hole games, swings, and chickens and goats! Field trip and birthday party packages are also available for groups to enjoy fun and interactive adventures on the farm. Their goal is to make the Dargan Farms experience enjoyable and educational for those of all ages!

For more information on upcoming events, follow Dargan Farms on Facebook @darganfarms, or visit darganfarms.com.

For more information on Dargan Turf Farms, follow @darganturf on Facebook or visit darganturffarm.com.

story by Jordan Pupa

    Firefighters need to be ready to move at a moment’s notice and always need to be prepared with the right equipment. What many people may not realize is that there are certain retailers that provide high-quality firefighting gear to meet their needs. Wally’s Fire & Safety Equipment, Inc. in Mullins, a family business founded by Wally Elliott in 1980, is one of those places. Nobody else could possibly have a better idea of how to provide value to firefighters than someone with experience in the field themselves.

    Though currently retired from active firefighting, Wally has served every position with the Mullins Fire Department from Firefighter to Chief. He has served as an Adjunct Instructor for the SC Fire Academy where he taught classes all over the state. He also serves on the Advisory Board for several of the manufacturers that he represents. Wally saw a need for a good solid provider of firefighting equipment for SC and NC. He was taken under the leadership of another firefighting equipment provider that showed him the ropes and introduced him to many key players in the business. This kind man’s leadership helped Wally see the potential in the business.

    So, what does the business offer? Wally’s Fire & Safety Equipment, Inc. covers all of SC and the lower region of NC. “We offer a full line of firefighting equipment that would include everything a firefighter might use or wear or put on a fire truck, with the exception of the truck itself,” explains Wally. “Firefighting methods have become very complex over the last few years and we are aggressive in our efforts to stay on the cutting edge with all the technologies.” Wally and his team attend regional and state meetings, training classes, and conferences to continually stay in touch with their customers. Many of Wally’s family members, including his wife, daughter, son, and sister-in-law, play important roles in the business. They also have one longtime employee that they consider to be family.

    Wally believes Wally’s Fire & Safety Equipment, Inc. is unique because they offer a high level of personal attention and service to their customers. It is important to Wally and his staff to provide top of the line products. “We want to blend ‘old school’ customer service with today’s technological capabilities,” explains Wally. “When our customers contact us with an order, we enjoy actually having conversations with them about the products they are using. In doing so, we sometimes find they are requesting the wrong product or we can suggest a new product that is more user-friendly than the product they are currently using. That’s what customer service is all about; helping the customer.” Their job is very serious because they are providing tools and equipment that will go in the hands of firefighters, who arguably have the most dangerous job in the world, and place their lives on the line in order to save others.

    Now that the family has been in the business for nearly 40 years, a personal relationship has been built between the fire departments and Wally’s Fire. “When we visit these departments, I know many by name. I’ve watched their children grow up and they’ve watched mine,” explains Wally. “When I first joined the fire department, I admired the relationships that the then department Chiefs had with each other, their firefighters, and the families of these people. I wanted to have that. And now I do. I think everyone should think their job is special and we certainly do at Wally’s Fire.”

UNIQUE PRODUCTS…

Equipped with an ultra-high performance LCD display that greatly increases brightness and contrast, the Bullard QXT lets firefighters see more clearly in smoke and direct sunlight. Bullard QXT can exceed eight hours of continuous run time for the ultimate performance in fire conditions.

pictured above, left to right: Jeff Black, Shelia Smith, Wally Elliott, Angie Elliott & Boone Elliott, not pictured: Jess Turner

Wally Elliott also owns Diamond E Farm, a working family farm in Mullins that he and his wife, Angie, live on with their nine Labrador Retrievers. Wally is also a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at Mullins First Baptist Church. Wally and Angie share an outreach ministry where they travel with and use their dogs in a Christian based Retriever demonstration named “The Roxy Ministry.”

“Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.”

story by Jordan Pupa | photography by Jonathan Boatwright

    We’ve all heard this advice many times, but Tammy Lewis has brought it to life with her passion for Mullins, SC. Tammy has been a resident of Mullins for 52 years and has had the opportunity to see its changes and growth over the years. Today she contributes so much to Mullins. Not only is she the Chamber of Commerce President, but she is also a wife, mother, grandmother, business owner, and manager amongst many other roles. She strives to see Mullins prosper again and puts in the hard work to make it happen.

    Tammy knew she wanted to own a business for several years and researched the best types of business for small towns. She opened Lillie K’s Collections in 2013, a trendy women’s clothing and accessories boutique located on Main Street. Tammy’s daughter, Whitney, is the manager at Lillie K’s, while Tammy manages the financial aspects of the business. Her favorite part of owning the shop is the great, supportive customers and meeting new people who stop in.

    210 Vintage Market, which carries antiques, vintage, and refurbished items, was opened for business in September 2018. “My sister, Sherry Owens, and I have a love of “junk” and antiques and the opportunity came up for the building we are currently leasing,” explains Tammy. “We rent vendor spaces in the shop so that other “Junk Gypsies” can join us!”

    In addition to taking part in her more recent ventures, Tammy has worked at JR Battle & Co since January of 2006 and is currently the Manager. She has worked in several places in her lifetime but describes this job as being one of the most rewarding experiences. “My duties include managing the warehouse during tobacco season for Safe Marketing, LLC, maintaining all financial records of several businesses including accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll, as well as, maintaining crop insurance policies for farmers,” she shares. “This is a very rewarding job because I have a great working relationship with our farmers and R J Reynolds Tobacco Company.”

    Tammy’s duties do not end there. She became the President of the Mullins Chamber this year after serving on the Board of Directors. “As a business owner in Mullins, I realized the importance of “loving where you live, work and play.” Being a part of this organization has been so rewarding. We have one of the best Board of Directors who shares my passion for our community, and they are all dedicated to making Mullins the best it can be and marketing our local businesses.” Tammy appreciates the support from her Executive Director, Michele Coleman Rogers, and Mayor, Bo McMillan, who share the same passion and help make things happen.

    The Chamber Board strives to involve their local businesses and citizens by hosting several events throughout the year. Tammy states, “With the loss of so much industry and the downsize of Tobacco in our area, we are starting to see Mullins come alive again with new businesses and new residents who believe in our great city.” Chamber events throughout the year include their Annual Banquet, Legislative Breakfast, Easter Egg-stravaganza, Chamber Golf Tournament, Let’s Cruise Main Street, Cruise, Shuck & Shag Event, and Hometown Holidays in Mullins, which includes Late Night Shopping and Breakfast with Santa. “All of these events are a great way to showcase our local businesses with advertising and marketing sponsorships,” explains Tammy. The Chamber is working to start the Mullins Activation Committee (MAC) again, which assists commercial property owners with façade grants. The program has been idle for a number of years.

    Tammy was also recommended to the Governor of South Carolina by the Marion County Delegation to serve on the Marion County Voter Registration and Elections Board as a Commissioner in October 2017. She is currently serving her district in Marion County. In addition, she was recently appointed to the Wildlife Action National Board of Directors.

    While Tammy’s plate is full with her job, businesses, and community service, she describes it as being very rewarding. “You have to meet your obligations to all of them while putting God and your family first. It is very time-consuming with all of the demands, but I have a very supportive husband and family.” Tammy also has an 8-year-old granddaughter, Lillie Grace, who is a huge part of her life. “I make time to be a part of any and everything she does including school, dance, church, and softball.”

    The growth of Mullins over the past few years is exciting for everyone. “We are bringing tourists into town that are eating in our restaurants, touring the SC Tobacco Museum and, most importantly, patronizing our businesses.” Tammy encourages parents to get their children, our future leaders, involved in their community at an early age and to teach them the importance of community service. She also encourages readers, no matter where they live, to support their local businesses. “We want to keep our dollars in the local economy in order for businesses and our City to survive. As the saying goes, “It takes a Village”, so please give some of your time to your community. It’s the only way to GROW!”

    The current federal estate tax exemption, that is, the value of property that a person may possess at death without incurring federal estate tax, is currently $11.4 million, $22.8 million per couple. The author vividly recalls a time when that exemption was only $600,000, or $1.2 million per couple. In that unhappy time, a bit of family land, a modest pension, and some life insurance could push a person into having to engage in estate planning with an eye toward tax savings. Frequently, this was a frustrating and expensive process, as individuals were forced to confront estate planning documents which, at times, were nearly incomprehensible and which often forced people to adopt plans that did not always match their personal goals.

    Fortunately, the existing large exemption means that most people can now focus exclusively on their planning desires.

    The purpose of this article is to address several issues that individuals should focus on before visiting with their advisors to begin the estate planning process.

    We find that often the most critical — and the least adequately considered — issue in estate planning has to do with proper planning for minor children. All of the following need to be carefully considered in proceeding with an estate plan which features minor children.

Bequests for Minor Children.

    Many people address their estate plan according to the following paradigm: a husband and wife, who leaves everything to the other on the death of the first to die, and in the event of a common disaster or on the death of the second to die, everything to the children. Problems arise when one considers that leaving valuable or substantial gifts to minor or even naïve children may, for a variety of reasons, represent inadequate asset protection and, much more significantly, a child inheriting too much, too soon. Such a situation can present a substantial disincentive for a desirable education and an established work ethic. For this reason, it’s frequently preferable to leave children bequests in trust. In addressing this matter, one should consider the identity and experience of the trustee; events, whether presented by the vicissitudes of life or by the passage of time, will require a distribution of assets; and the disposition of trust assets, if a beneficiary dies or becomes disabled before his or her share of the trust, would otherwise become distributable. Further, one should consider substitute or successor trustees in case the trustee initially named becomes disabled or passes away during the term of the trust. Of course, it’s a good idea to discuss the potential trusteeship with the person to be named as trustee to be sure that she is up for the task, both as to her experience with asset management and her ability- and willingness- to refuse an improper distribution request.

Address Guardianship Issues Sufficiently.

    We are all aware that we should appoint a guardian to take care of our children if we die while our children are still minors. The choice of guardian should always be discussed in detail with the person who is chosen to be the guardian. Further — and this is of critical importance –your will should provide a bequest to the guardian(s) to compensate them for what may be considerable expenses, including food, clothing, and shelter needs, that the guardian(s) will face upon assuming this critical duty.

Blended Families Create Complexity.

    Many people desiring to enter into the estate planning process are in their second or third marriage and have children from previous marriages. Each of those children can possess markedly different characteristics when it comes to education, life experience, and financial abilities. Careful consideration must be given to achieving flexibility and, especially, not only fairness but also the appearance of fairness. If you find yourself in this situation, be prepared to spend time and effort in coming up with a plan that is workable and achievable within the bounds of your marriage and your relationships with your own and each other’s children.

Remember that Your Plan is Your Plan.

    Frequently, we see people get tied in knots because they don’t want to hurt others’ feelings. None of us can please everyone. While it is always wise to try and consider the ultimate emotional effects of any particular plan, remember that your assets and your desires are of utmost importance in your planning process. Before doing much in-depth planning at all, step back and consider what you, after years of work and devotion to your family, want to achieve in your plan. Without addressing such high-level issues, dealing with matters such as those discussed above can create anxiety and unpleasantness which can derail the planning process.

Conclusion.

    The enhanced federal estate tax exemption signifies that most of us need not consider estate taxes when engaging in our estate plans. This leaves most of us free to consider what is important to us and how we want our beneficiaries treated. As discussed above, even that simplified focus features decisions which require considerable thought and reflection.