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Charleston's food scene is buzzing with excitement. Just walk downtown on King Street, Easy Bay, Market and Broad Street and you'll see an explosion of new restaurants. On this episode I have a conversation with Oscar Hines, a founding partner in Charleston Culinary Tours. We talk about his unique company and the growth and future of the Charleston food scene. Charleston is known and celebrated for our beautiful city, full of history, grand buildings and views of the harbor. Over the past decade though it has also become known as a place for 'foodies' who truly appreciate a fine dining experience. The Charleston Culinary Tours, started just a few years ago, is helping combine the experience of food and the charms of the city into one. With 5 different culinary tours to choose from - not only are visitors able to learn about the city, but experience it through their palate as well. My guest Oscar explains in great detail how this works - for example how on each tour you have the opportunity to interact and talk with the chefs. On one of the tours you actually accompany the chefs as they choose the fresh vegetables and produce for the restaurant.

Startup weekends have become a worldwide phenomenon that embraces and encourages entrepreneurship. Joe Dwyer has made it his personal mission to make this event an annual event in Charleston, SC.  On this episode of BizbuzzCharleston, we explore the exciting developments in the world of startups and entrepreneurship in Charleston.

We take it for granted that businesses know how to deal with industrial and hazardous waste. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. On this episode I talk safety - industrial safety - with Ron Harvey, President of Echelon Environmental, a local company with the expertise in waste disposal, employee safety training and regulatory consulting Business owners start companies to make money - not to become environmental, health and safety compliance experts.  This is a ever changing and complex component of many businesses - not only those that are directly involved with manufacturing or distribution. Often the people tasked with the management at the corporate level of small businesses have multiple areas of responsibility and compliance and regulatory issues are rarely the most important. On this podcast, Ron and I discuss the various issues - both locally and in general - about what is required to have a safe work environment. We talk about his upcoming book "The Failure of Compliance" and the ramifications for businesses that don't properly take care of their industrial and hazardous waste.

On this episode I talk smiles. Because we really don't smile enough. However, anyone who takes the time to explore the beautiful city of Charleston can't help but smile. Specifically, on this podcast I talk with one of the young professionals who have recently moved to Charleston because of the quality of life it provides. Dr. McKenzie Woodard moved here from Virginia and bought the Wentworth Street Dental Associates in the Harleston Village area of the peninsula. What is interesting to hear about is how McKenzie and others like her are transforming the face of Charleston. She brings a young and passionate approach to her profession. Little by little this is how the business services are getting better. Being so centrally located in downtown Charleston, her dental business is able to serve those who work downtown and don't have the time to commute to the suburbs during the day for medical services.

On this episode I talk commercial real estate – specifically what's going on in the Charleston peninsula with David Seay, President of Seay Development. Charleston is booming when it comes to real estate throughout the tri-county area. The growth of Boeing, Google and the Port has spurred large residential development from Summerville to Goose Creek and to the areas nearer the coast. What is most striking though is the dramatic changes going on in Downtown Charleston, specifically along Upper King Street. This is generated some significant controversy as the city grapples with smart growth, increased tourism and a greater metropolitan population. This podcast conversation touches on all of these and other topics related to real estate.

Professional networking has become an integral and often crucial element in a business career. Well run networking events provide the opportunities for professional, business owners, entrepreneurs and other interested individuals to interact outside of the normal business environments. Many successful networking get togethers become ‘must-attend’ events, both for the quality of the people that attend but also for the informal and social aspect of them.  Few do it better than TechAfterFive. On this episode I have a conversation with Phil Yanov, Technologist and the dynamo behind the TechAfterFive networking events for tech professionals and entrepreneurs. Phil's passion for what he does apparent from the first minute you meet him, in person on via this podcast recording.

On this episode I have a conversation with David Mendez about the critical role and often make-it or break-it scenario that venture capital firms such as Capital A Partners play in the growth and success of early stage start ups. For the Charleston Silicon Harbor and the Digital Corridor to thrive, Charleston needs more companies and individuals such as David's that are willing to fund the new ventures graduating from the business incubators and accelerators such as the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.

3D Printing is revolutionizing the world of medicine. On this podcast I have a fascinating discussion with the women entrepreneurs behind Tarian Orthotics, a Charleston company that is using this technology to create shoulder braces and other medical devices. Riley Csernica and Chelsea Ex-Lubeskie received their Masters in Biomedical engineering at Clemson University.  Upon graduation they established Tarian Orthotics to commercial functional braces for athletes and active individuals looking to return to activity as quickly as possible. Using cutting edge 3D printing their vision is to be the national leader in the medical bracing industry.

Ever consider how inventions are made? How new technology gets integrated into existing product concepts?  That’s what this podcast conversation featuring Krissa Watry, CEO of Dynepic is all about. With the ambitious goal of creating 'The Internet of Toys" Krissa and her team at Dynepic have created a product line of interactive toys called Sensibots that allow young children to both interact via the Internet as well as learn various scientific phenomenon such as gravity, light and sounds. Dynepic is a product development company grounded in the rigors of high tech aerospace industry that focuses on concept design and development and rapid prototyping. After 10 years of designing, building and operating spacecraft and related hardware, Krissa founded Dynepic to pursue her passion for developing consumer products. With engineering degrees from the Air Force Academy and MIT she brings a really unique background to the world of consumer product development.

Working as a journalist for the Charleston Post and Courier for almost 30 years, Ken Burger has been witness to the growth,  changes and dynamics that have shaped the Charleston business community. And as someone intimately involved in the business of relaying and telling the news of this growth, Ken brings a unique perspective. On this podcast, Ken works his charm as a storyteller and witness to these events. It is truly a fascinating overview of how Charleston came to be the world class city that it is today. In the second part of the podcast, Ken talks about his passion as an author telling the stories of racism, integration and the economic struggles of rural South Carolina.

One of the facts of modern day living  is that we live in our cars. Unlike our homes or our offices though, we often feel that our vehicles are just plain dumb. On this podcast we’re going to delve into what Zubie  based on Sullivan’s Island, SC is doing to change that. Zubie is a mobile and Internet services company focused on maximizing connected-car capabilities for consumers and businesses. In short - Zubie's products and services make cars smarter. 

Gray Somerville and his company, Telogical Systems, has developed a powerful solution,  called Competition Aware Marketing that allows companies to attract and retain customers. On this podcast I have conversation with Gray about the extremely competitive business marketing landscape that his company addresses. We talk about the issues of Net Neutrality and the effect this will have on all of our internet browsing. Finally we pivot and talk about his passion for entrepreneurship and his efforts to promote it in Charleston through the Entrepreneurship Council and the Entrepreneur Boot Camp.

The new buzz word in marketing is Content. Providing quality content has become a integral part of the success of many businesses. On this episode we delve into what content marketing means and how companies can use it to expand their reach both locally, nationally and beyond.   My guest, Brice Bay, through his company, EnVeritas Group, has been specializing in this area for over 15 years. He shares his insight into the importance of creating a focused content strategy built around a core metric.

On this episode we explore how Blue Acorn, a Charleston knowledge economy company, is helping mid sized companies and brands create phenomenal buyer and customer experiences through their e-commerce solutions. The internet has created an entire new opportunities when it comes to commerce. Anyone can open an online store. But, it's those businesses that invest in creating superior buying experiences that will ultimately survive and thrive.  Using the Magento platform and others, Blue Acorn is able to create online shopping experiences for it's clients that result in higher conversions.

On this episode we explore how many small to medium sized businesses in the Charleston area and beyond are growing by hiring fractional marketing executive talent. There is no question that marketing in the digital age has created opportunities and challenges like never before. The need to apply data driven technologies is paramount to long term success. My guest, Barbara Fowler, a Chief Marketing Office  (CMO) for Chiefoutsiders.com explains in detail. Who are the typical users of fractional or part time executive talent? Startups with funding that need high level marketing strategic advice Businesses in the $10M-$200M revenue range Established family businesses who have grown stagnant Companies that need the expertise to train existing marketing staff

On this podcast episode we talk about roots—not the family tree kind, but the kind that create a lasting connection between an audience and an event. When this happens, you are no longer just a spectator—you are playing an active role in overall identity of the event. Talk about establishing loyalty! And that’s the mission of Snapcastr. Snapcastr allows the individual to use their own visual perspective as a representation of how they are experiencing your event. This  facilitates a deeper connection to any event and turn the audience and attendees into participatory brand ambassadors.    

We talk with founder Tom Klein and go deep into his story and challenges of launching his business. We learn how he successfully outsourced much of his technical needs domestically and in the process bypassed on of the biggest hurdles of many startups - the need and capital required to hire and build an internal technology team. The recent DigSouth interactive innovation festival in Charleston was a showcase of local entrepreneurial companies in the high tech market space. On this episode of BizBuzzCharleston we learn about one such company, IM5 and their mission to create social networks of doers.  We delve into their unique app solution that allows users to create channels of common interest that connect people to take action together.  

On this episode of BizBuzzCharleston we’re going take a peak at how businesses in the metro Charleston area  give back to the communities of which they are part of.  We pull the curtain back with my guest Barry Waldman – from Trident United Way and take a closer look at the partnerships between business and charitable giving. What sets the Trident United Way apart from other similar organizations is their business model they call "Collective Impact". This is a collaborative format that brings businesses together to solve community problems. The cornerstone  is the use of advanced measurement (metrics) techniques that are used to assess the effectiveness of these campaigns and makes modifications as necessary to meet the objectives. In this way, Trident United Way is on the leading edge of non-profits in being data driven in the same manner as successful for profit ventures.

The greatest entrepreneurs are those who revolutionize business, open opportunities for others and change the way we think and live. Their impact is felt for generations.Which led me to contemplate – What is an Entrepreneur? Does everyone define it the same way? Or is it like the famous quote from Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart about pornography – "I know it when I see it”.  On this episode, I decided to ask  this question to a few of the attendees at the 2nd annual Charleston Dig South Interactive Festival that ended last week.

On this episode - I talk with Brad Mallet, a Telecommunications expert turned Coffee Roaster extraordinary, about his business - but more importantly - about the role that coffee plays in todays business environment. Coffee indeed is an important part of our daily business lives. What would it be like without a good cup of Joe in the morning at your desk? Or on the ride to work? Coffee shops have become the go-to place for off site business meetings. Countless deals have been struck at your local coffee shop. With the advancement in high speed wi-fi networks, they have become a de-factor office for many. Brad talks about his business philosophy that emphasizes the big "C" - Coffee, Community, Computers, Camraderie and Customer Service.