Category: Business

39 Years in Business

     Last month King Cadillac Buick GMC celebrated 39 years in business. While the foundation of the business has always been to offer the highest quality vehicles at the best prices, owner Reamer B. King also understood the importance of being an integral part of the community. This included joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce where the business has been a member since infancy.

     Back in 1984, when the company was just starting out, there were 26 employees. These days the dealership is a vital part of the community by employing 104 people. Employee’s positions range from the sales department, service department, parts department, and administration. One important observation to note is the lack of turnover within the company. “We invest in our employees, making sure they have the best and most current training to accommodate our customer’s needs,” says Woody Truluck, King’s Vice President, and General Manager. With the demand for service technicians continuing to rise, being a dedicated employer is key. Woody goes on to say that the majority of their employees have been with the company for more than 10 years, many of those being there for more than 25 years. “This also has a positive effect on our customers. When they come in for oil changes and checkups, it’s comforting to them to see the same faces. Our customers have grown to trust the men and women in our service department.”

     Reamer B. King and Woody Truluck believe that they are the best dealership around and they know that’s due to their award-winning team. Every person on the team contributes to their success.

     This month the Florence Chamber chose King as their business of the month because of them being a superior role model in the business community.

     For more information on King, visit them online at www.kingflorencegm.com and www.kingcadillacsc.com.

100 W Evans St, Florence | 843.665.0515 | flochamber.com

Serving coffee for people that love to drink it

story provided by the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce

     Crema Coffee Bar is a coffee shop that specializes in handcrafted coffee, smoothies, frappes, and so much more in the heart of downtown Hartsville.  Opened in 2015, owner Tiffany Crist is so grateful to the community that has opened their arms to her and her family.  Tiffany is Counter Culture Coffee certified, having completed all of the drink courses and aced the written, oral, and practical exams.  All of the Crema baristas have undergone Counter Culture training. Tiffany and the Crema staff have created a unique menu that boasts old favorites, as well as several original and seasonally rotating drinks.

     Over the past four years, the desire to develop a strong downtown community has grown at Crema, and with it, the realization that people need a place to have events and fun things to do here in their own hometown. Tiffany loves having events for people in the community and likes to think of Crema as a hub where you could have a work meeting, do homework, chat with friends, or meet some new people.

     On Friday and Saturday nights, Crema rotates a series of monthly—including movie nights, Magic the Gathering, poetry slams, Mario Kart tournaments, Murder Mystery nights, and so much more.   Every quarter, Crema showcases the work of a different local artist, which is also for sale. The work of Rachel Riner, a wonderfully talented local artist and baker, will be featured from August through October.

Looking for something fun to do over the weekend?  You can find all of their events listed on their Facebook page, call into the shop, or follow them on Instagram.

     Join the Cremmunity!

CREMA | 136 W. Carolina Ave | Hartsville | (843) 309-9606

Gamecock 1980 Heisman Trophy Winner

story by Mark W. Buyck, III

    It’s the “Dog Days” of August and you can be sure that the upcoming college football season is on the minds of many South Carolinians. Former Gamecock Head Coach Steve Spurrier refers to this time of the year as the “talking season.” This is also a time when everybody’s favorite team is undefeated and their fans are predicting great success for the upcoming season.

    While Clemson has won 2 of the last 3 National Championships, the University of South Carolina fans still recalls fondly what was probably the single best individual season for any South Carolina college football player. In honor of George Rogers’s 1980 Heisman Trophy win and his Hall of Fame career, the University of South Carolina has erected a statue of Rogers in the plaza outside of Williams Brice Stadium. The statute contains the inimitable George Rogers’s grin and he is usually found nearby prior to most Gamecock home games signing autographs and posing with his trophy.  Below is the wording of a plaque on the statue honoring Rogers:

George Rogers, University of South Carolina – 1980 Heisman Trophy Winner

George Rogers enrolled at the University of South Carolina in 1977 and became one of the greatest football players in school history. In 1980, Rogers was the first Gamecock to receive the Heisman Trophy and holds the distinction of twice finishing in the top 10 in Heisman Trophy voting. During his career at Carolina, Rogers rushed for 5,204 yards, gaining more than 100 yards in each of his final 22 college games. His 31 career rushing touchdowns and 202 career points broke SC records and rank among the most in school history. Rogers was a first-team All-America in his junior season and a consensus first-team All-America in his senior season. His jersey number, 38, was retired during halftime ceremonies at Carolina’s final 1980 home game. The New Orleans Saints selected Rogers as the first overall pick in the 1981 NFL draft. He was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the year in 1981 and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1981 and 1982. He won the Super Bowl as a member of the 1987 Washington Redskins. He is a member of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame, the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, and the College Football Hall of Fame. Rogers’s impact in the Columbia area continues through the George Rogers Foundation, helping students achieve the success that he attained during his years at Carolina.

 

Issues to Consider in Making a Qualified Opportunity Zone Investment

story by Jack Muench, Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.

    This is the first part of a two-part article that explains investing in qualified opportunity zones, its opportunities, and its restrictions. The first part of this article, presented below, deals with critical non-tax issues for potential Opportunity Zone investors. The second part will present an overview of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury regulations that form the basis for the tax savings.

     In late 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. That legislation contained Internal Revenue Code Section 1400Z, which provides income tax advantages for persons who invest indirectly in property located in Opportunity Zones.

    Investments in qualified opportunity funds are generally intended to encourage investments to start small businesses, to develop abandoned properties, or to provide low-income housing in economically distressed communities. Internal Revenue Code Section 1400Z allows the deferral and, in some cases, the negation, of capital gains tax. In order to achieve these tax benefits, an investor must invest in either Qualified Opportunity Zone stock or in a Qualified Opportunity Zone partnership interest.

    From a non-tax perspective, an investor must examine the structural and operational risks inherent in any investment venture. This is especially true where, as here, the investment term required to achieve the tax benefits is between five and ten years.

    A Qualified Opportunity Zone investor will become a shareholder in a corporation, a partner in a partnership or a member in an LLC. Regardless of the entity type, the typical investor will have relatively little say in management or critical decisions. These decisions include the following, all of which should receive careful attention in making such an investment.

1. Capital Calls.

Some entities require that the general partner/CEO/manager will have the ability in certain instances to call for additional capital past the original amount invested. It is critical for the investor to understand what these instances are and to make sure that she can protect herself against an untoward capital call if at all possible. Preferably, a capital call cannot occur without a vote of a substantial percentage of the investors. Investors should be aware that, even if it takes a substantial vote, once the requisites for the capital calls have been met, an investor will generally have a fairly short period of time to contribute the additional capital. Typically, if he or she does not, there are penalties for not contributing, which can include a substantial diminution or even a forfeiture of the original investment. Identify up front whether capital calls will be required and seek to limit them as much as possible.

2. Management Bonuses.

In many deals, an incentive for management performance is a “flip” in the management interest. Typically, the flip will allow the general partner’s interest in profits to be significantly increased after the investors have received a minimum return on their invested capital. Investors must analyze their proposed shareholder/partnership agreements carefully in order to ascertain that the flip cannot be achieved merely by insignificant sales of entity assets or the passage of time.

3. Replacing Management.

Continuity of management is critical to the success of any enterprise. In some instances, however, management acts in a fashion such that removal is required. Hence, removal provisions should be carefully analyzed to require that, in the event of behavior such as fraud, theft, or a material breach of the partnership agreement (or the partnership’s loan documents with its lender) swift and certain removal and replacement are addressed.

4. Conflicts of Interest.

Management expertise is critical to the success of any enterprise. This signifies that the manager of your investment project may well be the manager of other, and even competing, projects. Entity documentation must be carefully analyzed to ascertain the degree to which conflicts of interest are permitted and minimized.

5. Investment Liquidity.

It must be recognized that an Opportunity Zone investment is not the same as buying a share of stock in IBM. Indeed, due to federal and state security laws, an investor will almost certainly find her investment to be very difficult to sell. In this regard, an investor would like to see a partnership agreement provision allowing for a forced sale (a “put”) from the investor to the partnership. While a “put” is desirable from the investor’s standpoint, its very existence will require the entity to maintain a pool of money (which may make the desired tax benefits unavailable). Further, exercising the “put” may result in financial strain to the entity.

6. Lender Issues.

Real estate investment projects typically require a loan. Since at least 2008, lenders have become increasingly sophisticated in ascertaining that their loans will not go into foreclosure. Thus, loan agreements may require a significant equity-to-debt ratio and may prohibit the replacement of management without lender approval, at least of the replacement manager. Loan agreements may also seek to require management and, in some cases, investors to sign a personal guaranty of some or all of the loan. A potential investor must be aware of the particulars any loan documentation in place or likely to be put in place during the term of the project.

      There are significant non-tax issues that arise in Qualified Opportunity Zone investments. These issues must be analyzed before a potential investor becomes enamored of potential income tax savings.

 

248 West Evans Street | Florence, SC | 843.662.3258

2050 Corporate Centre’ Drive, Suite 230 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 843.650.6777

TRADITIONAL BARBERSHOP + GROOMING SUPPLY

story by Jordan Pupa | photography provided by The Mailroom Barber Co.

     It is no question that men’s grooming continues to witness phenomenal market growth across the United States. Additionally, millennials are emerging as the next generation of business owners. Some of the most profitable businesses today are run by those under the age of thirty-five. Robert Watkins of The Mailroom Barber Co is no exception. Focused around providing a positive experience for customers, community feel, inclusivity, natural products, and giving back, The Mailroom Barber Co exists for people who refuse to settle for bad haircuts or color, or mass-produced products that just simply don’t work.

     Robert started cutting his own hair in 2012 and later started cutting his friends’ hair too. “I was in school at FMU studying photography and graphic design, but it wasn’t leading me in the career direction I had hoped,” explains Robert. “As I was learning more about cutting hair, I started looking into the barber industry and fell in love. The image of the classic barbershop and the idea of being a Barber struck a chord with me.” Robert left school and started an apprenticeship at Trendsetters Barber Lounge on Pamplico Hwy. He was there for two and a half years. In 2016, at the young age of 21, he opened The Mailroom Barber & Studio with Molly Norton. A few months into business, Robert purchased the Studio from Molly to make it a more unified shop and cohesive brand. Molly Norton is currently the Studio Manager. The studio side of the Florence location specializes in Balayage, vivids, and other coloring services.

     Robert had two focuses when starting The Mailroom Barber Co. First, he was fed up with cheap, mass-produced hair and beard products surrounding the barbering industry. Second, he knew that by consuming products with corrupt supply chains, that we are actually contributing to the problem of underpaid children and slave laborers. In order to make a change, The Mailroom Barber Co makes pomade and other products in-house by hand, strictly using 100% ethically sources ingredients and packaging. Using ethically sourced products is one of the easiest ways to be involved in stopping the abuse of human life because it puts a dent in the market of unethical production and forced or slave labor.

     The full line of high-quality masculine-scented products produced includes a variety of hair pomades, beard products, lip balms, and more, all of which can be purchased online. One of their most popular items is the Pipe Tobacco scented Beard Oil. “That scent, in particular, is the most popular one we make,” shares Robert. “It’s so popular because the scent is made from essential oils which means it isn’t an overpowering fragrance. It’s floral, spicy, and nostalgic. For Father’s Day, I would suggest a Beard Kit with the Pipe Tobacco scent.”

     Robert is excited to be a part of helping Florence grow, specifically by being a part of the revitalized Downtown district. His connection with Florence runs deep, as he was born there and grew up there. The Mailroom Barber & Studio has been so successful that a second location was opened in Greenville, SC. Robert explains that Greenville has been on the horizon for quite some time now. “I happened to meet John Redgrave, the Greenville shop owner, at a perfect time when we were looking heavily into which city to expand to. John and I hit it off immediately and after forming a relationship, I offered him a brand licensing deal. Greenville is one of my favorite cities in South Carolina, so I had no doubts that it would be a great first city to expand to.” Both shops are doing remarkably well. The Florence location has a waiting list of about a month and the shop in West Greenville books about a week out!

     It is clear that Millennials have proven to have the drive and the entrepreneurial spirit needed to run a successful business. Robert would like to expand to a few other cities in South Carolina, but he will need to find the right people first. His current team of master barbers and experienced cosmetologists have come together to do things the right way by creating a neutral space that fosters community and meets their clients’ needs. Visiting this unique and hip barber shop is something you won’t regret.

 

BEFORE + AFTER WITH KRIS CURTIS

After taming Kris’s unruly facial hair and providing a hair trim that renewed his confidence, Robert used the Matte Clay Pomade, which has no shine, to complete the look.

 

 “A straight razor shave is something too few people get to experience. We use two hot steam towels and top-shelf shave soap to create an experience that feels more like therapy than grooming. Do future you a favor and put a hot towel shave on the books today.”

 

 

 

 

THE MAILROOM BARBER & STUDIO

116-B S IRBY ST, FLORENCE, SC

(843) 773-0626

FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM:

@THEMAILROOMBARBER

SALON INSTAGRAM:

@THEMAILROOMSTUDIO

Book your appointment today online. themailroombarberco.com

How Rick Havekost Does It All

story by Allie Roark

    If you’re packing a cooler for a beach day, planning a dreamy wedding, or unwinding from a stressful day at work, Rick Havekost and his crew at Micky Finns have just what you need to quench your thirst. Maybe even get you out on the dance floor!

    In 1999, Rick began fulfilling his dream to offer an untraditional service to the historical persona that surrounded a liquor store. During college at the University of South Carolina, Rick worked at Greens Liquor Store, an upscale beverage establishment. While there, he learned the basic procedures of the business. Shortly after college and a brief restaurant stint that proved to not be his passion, Rick felt he knew what would make a liquor store successful, and just what he wanted to bring back to his hometown.

    Upon returning to Florence, Rick and his father, Richard, a retired Nucor Vice President, did a lot of traveling, researching, and exploring to find just what his store needed. Rick had a vision of a nice building with fully stocked shelves that was welcoming to any valued costumer regardless of their gender. “Women control the money and they will only go into stores where they feel comfortable and safe,” explains Rick. “Our options were to build a small building off of a sketchy road and put bars on the window, or we could buy a pristine piece of property in the middle of town and build a 10,000 square foot building with Mexican tile, I chose the latter.” And so the Five Points location in Florence was born.

    It wasn’t long before Rick was able to open up an additional store on the south side of Florence that was a replication of his store at Five Points. Micky Finns at Five Points soon became the largest top-selling liquor store in the state. In addition to offering top retail selections, Micky Finns dominates wholesale distributing throughout the state. In 2005, state laws changed allowing local liquor stores to distribute to businesses, where in previous years an employee from these establishments would have to pick up their own alcoholic beverages. Rick began to visit franchise owners of Outback, Applebees, The Cheesecake Factory, and many others across the country in order to sale not only to their Florence locations but to every location they owned throughout the state. Rick’s approach was that each restaurant would receive the same low cost, the best and quickest service, and would work directly with him to ensure it stayed that way. This promise won the business of many and Rick’s continued approach at quality service has gained him more success.

    This local businessman is currently focusing on quality rather than quantity. Rick plans to expand in the future but is content in where his company stands at the moment. Rather than expanding locations, Rick is focusing on his stores, employees, and family. Rick enjoys knowing his employees. Some have worked with him for 20 years and are more like family. Rick enjoys knowing his employees, their families, and hosting Christmas gatherings at his home. Rick has shown his appreciation for his employees by helping many of them gain their masters or undergrad degrees.

    How does Rick do it all?  He has a great support team. His family is his biggest motivation. His father still works with him after initially committing to six months or at most a year. Another superstar of the company is Julia Coleman who is a main player in the day-to-day operations. It seems that one of Rick’s best assets could be his employees. He has a knack for employing ambitious people who aspire to grow with the company.

    In addition to being a supporter of several nonprofits in the community, Rick has also been a member of the Florence Chamber member since first opening his doors. He values his relationship there and values the connections available through the Chamber. “In my opinion, one of the Chamber’s most valuable assets is the member catalog that comes out yearly,” he says. “If I’m ever in need of finding a business owner or a particular local service, I reference the member guide. It’s everything I need in fingers reach.”

    Micky Finns is well-known due to its intentionality, great prices, stocked shelves, and welcoming staff. When a business runs off these key ingredients, it has no choice but to continue to grow and expand. We are excited to see what this company has in store in the years to come.

*Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce’s Member of the Month

Rick & family, Boyd, Lilah Bleu & Mallori

Micky Finn’s | www.MickyFinns.com

550 Pamplico Hwy, Florence • 843.413.1182

5 Points: 194 S Cashua Dr, Florence • 843.317.9463

story by Lindsay Brown | photography by Fred Salley

    Even as a child, Franklin Brown was always more interested in how something was made than in the product itself. From toys and computers to engines and power tools, he was often found dismantling and then reassembling items that other people took for granted.

    So, it wasn’t really unusual that when Franklin decided to try his hand at creating handcrafted wooden projects, like pens and bottle stoppers, that he also decided to build his own lathe for turning the wood. “Woodworking and lathe-turning have long been an interest of mine, but there was always an excuse to not get started,” Franklin said. “Lathes and woodturning tools can be expensive and preparing a project can take a long time.”

    Still, he kept coming back to woodworking as a hobby, even creating wood slice platters and a few Adirondack chairs as he and his wife prepared decorations for their do-it-yourself wedding in October of 2018. After the wedding, he realized he missed the time he spent on the projects and decided to put excuses aside, creating his own lathe using a power drill and some creative manufacturing.

    “There was some trial and error at first because it was hard to get the lathe stable enough to turn the wood safely,” he said. “There were some interesting initial outcomes, like exploding, flying wood that my wife didn’t think was too funny. After some adjustments though, I was able to produce some pens worthy of showing without getting a concussion.

    “I found that I really enjoyed the process of taking a block of wood and seeing what it would become. Each piece of wood has its own unique markings and can be shaped differently just by the way I use the tools to carve it.”

    Created with natural woods ranging from oak to Australian burls and then polished to bring out the fine details of each piece, Franklin’s unique pens and pencils quickly became a hit with friends and family. As the holiday season approached, he began taking orders for gifts and soon realized that he would have to upgrade his equipment if he wanted to keep up with the demand.

    The first step was purchasing better quality carving tools, which helped Franklin improve his skills and products enough to justify a Kickstarter campaign that would help him raise enough money to purchase a professional quality lathe. The campaign was successful, eventually funding at 176 percent of its goal. Backers of the campaign became loyal fans after receiving one of a kind pens and pencils created using the new lathe.

    “That was when I realized that I may be able to turn my hobby into a side business,” Franklin said. “The new lathe made a world of difference in my end products, and I began delving into other types of lathe-turned products, like bottle stoppers, rings, bowls, and even knobs and handles.”

    A second Kickstarter campaign that focused on pens and pencils made from rare Australian burl woods was even more successful than the first, funding at 311 percent, with several of Franklin’s original backers coming back to support the new project.

    “The support has been amazing,” he said. “I never expected something that started as a hobby to turn into this. People ask me to make pens as gifts for family members and coworkers. It feels so good to know I have had a hand in helping make a special gift for someone. I even had a custom order where I turned an old hammer handle that had special meaning into a pen for someone’s father.”

    Eventually, Franklin hopes to focus completely on custom orders so that he can continue to grow as an artist. Meanwhile, he has another Kickstarter campaign idea in the works where he plans to make pens using wood from trees that were destroyed during Hurricane Matthew in Bay County, Florida, where much of his wife’s family lives. The couple plans to donate the profits from the campaign to help support relief efforts in the region.

INTERESTED IN A CUSTOM PEN OR PENCIL?

Find Woodworks by Franklin on Facebook or Instagram to see pens and pencils currently for sale, or message Franklin directly on either site for custom orders.

Family Owned, Farm Grown

About Gillespie’s Peanuts

Rogers Brothers Farm, a large farm in Darlington and Lee counties, is unique in that it grows 100% high-oleic peanuts, which means they are more resistant to field disease and more sustainable to grow. There is also an inherently higher percentage of mono-saturated fats (also known as the “good fats”) in the peanuts, which leads to having a longer-shelf-life than some others. Gillespie’s Peanuts are grown and shelled on Rogers Brothers Farm and are freshly packaged, making for a flavorful and crunchy snack produced with love in Darlington County.

What Happens “Before the Can?”

     Peanuts don’t grow on trees or bushes. They, instead, grow underneath the soil. From planting to harvesting, the growing cycle of peanuts can take numerous months. For Gillespie’s, peanut season begins in late April. Peanuts are usually planted in a field 1 out of 4 years. It takes 22 weeks for the peanuts to mature before digging begins. After being dug, the peanuts have to dry for about a week. After they dry, combining begins which separates the nuts from the vines. The combining process takes about a month. The peanuts are transported out of the field and transported to the plant where they are stored and shipped to the shelling plant. They are then shelled, cooked, and placed into cans.

    Here’s a look at the timeline of the production of Gillespie’s Peanuts…

• May 1st  – Begin Planting

• June 1st – Complete Planting

• Average 140-day growing season.

• October 1 – Begin Harvesting

• November 1 – Complete Harvesting (goal)

• Dry on the ground for 5 days

• Pick up with combine.

     For Gillespie’s Peanut’s most-loved Chocolate Covered flavor, the process is a little different. Cocoa plants have to be planted in July near the peanut plants that will be chocolate covered. Gill Rogers shares, “We have to start harvesting the chocolate first—before it gets too hot. Otherwise, the chocolate will melt in the combine and we’ll have a huge mess on our hands!”

Gillespie’s Peanuts Introduces Lime Margarita Flavor

    After several years of offering the same seven flavors of peanuts, Gillespie’s introduced Caramel Crunch Peanuts in the fall of 2017. Almost two years later, the peanut gallery decided it was time for a new flavor.

    Gillespie’s had perfected savory peanuts—like Salted, Sea Salt & Pepper, and Low Country Boil. They also had a nice ‘spicy’ peanut flavor—Spicy Sriracha. Gillespie’s couldn’t think of anything that needed to be added to their ‘sweet’ collection of Chocolate Covered, Honey Roasted, and Caramel Crunch. But, it still seemed there was something missing. Maybe another spicy?  Maybe something with a sour punch to it?! Gillespie’s sampled many flavor combinations and finally landed on Lime Margarita. People seem to love the sour and salty mix, and it really is a great summer flavor! The Lime Margarita peanuts have done very well from the beginning, and although they were planning on making them a limited edition product, they may have to extend that a little bit! Gillespie’s has encouraged fans to pick up the Lime Margarita Peanuts to use as #boatsnacks, but really, they are perfect for traveling, ball games, and hanging out by the pool.  Right now the Lime Margarita Peanuts are being sold in select stores and on their website, www.gillespiespeanuts.com.

    Gillespie’s Peanuts always has something in the works—who knows what they’ll come up with next! Charles Rogers, one of the owners, and Linzie Batchelor, Marketing Director are unofficially the R&D department. Every meeting they seem to be tossing out ideas about some new product of flavor Gillespie’s Peanuts could try. Of course, their entire company is always on the lookout for new opportunities and listening to the needs of their fans! They are ‘nuts’ about their customers!

 

Stores that carry Lime Margarita Peanuts:

The Key – Hartsville

Rebecca’s Fabrications – Southport

Lazy Gator – Murrells Inlet

Piggly Wiggly – Surfside

www.gillespiespeanuts.com

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.