Of Note

As manufacturing companies continue to seek greater efficiency, many turn to predictive technology to manage data. With so many uses for AI, Delta Bravo, CEO Rick Oppedisano zeroed in on the ways that his technology platform could change the game in manufacturing. Delta Bravo brings innovations in Kubernetes-based technology to manufacturing companies with large, complex data sets to help give them a competitive edge. Companies like Rolls Royce, Toyota, Gulfstream and Accuweather, as well as the Department of Defense, rely on Delta Bravo to reduce errors and improve ROI. Delta Bravo is an industrial strength predictive analytics platform that scales across any combination of infrastructures. The machine learning system readily integrates with how customers are already working. And it all adds up to less waste, improved quality, easier maintenance and better inventory movement for manufacturers. In this episode, Rick joins our hosts Joseph Nother and Laura Corder to talk about the fresh approach to the every

With businesses struggling to find, train and retain the right employees, applicant screening is crucial. AJ Richichi’s Charleston-based company, Sprockets, uses cutting-edge AI and predictive technology both to make hiring more equitable and diverse and to identify the applicants most likely to succeed in a particular job. AJ first developed the technology as a dorm room project to identify the best draft candidates in professional sports. After high success rates working with dozens of professional and college teams, AJ refined the technology to match hourly workers with employers. The results are decreased applicant screening time, improved diversity, less turnover, and tens of thousands of dollars in company savings in a matter of weeks. In this episode, AJ joins our hosts Joseph Nother and Laura Corder to talk about the problem-solving mindset that leads to innovation, and the hard work and research that support growth. Listen as AJ describes the importance of research and relationship-building to make

Almost two decades after the completion of the map of the human genome, geneticist Heather Flanagan-Steet pushes the boundaries of that knowledge to help children with rare genetic disorders. At Greenwood Genetic Center, Heather leads an interdisciplinary team of scientists in cutting-edge research, studying the effects of genetic disease in zebrafish. That research translates into very human-centered care. Unlike any other facility, Greenwood Genetic Center works with each patient from clinical exam through diagnosis, research, the identification of practical therapies, and education in the broader community. In this episode, Heather joins our hosts Joseph Nother and Laura McIntosh to talk about how she approaches innovation—through collaboration, creative thinking, and an open mind. Listen as Heather talks about what it takes to be a good scientist, the search for truth, and the balancing act between staying focused on the details while nurturing the ability to be surprised by results.

Jennifer Randall-Collins brought lessons learned from work, school and sports to disrupt both the food and alcohol industries—and accomplish some cutting-edge molecular science along the way. Jenn is originally from Kentucky, but a basketball scholarship to the University of South Carolina gave her a second family, a teamwork mentality and a business degree. Back home, Jenn worked in marketing, married and had two children before founding PROOF Alcohol Ice Cream in 2015. PROOF does the impossible—freezing alcohol to combine two of life’s greatest indulgences. Since PROOF represents an entirely new category, it required creative regulatory solutions, and research brought her back to South Carolina to launch her product. Certified SC, PROOF won the Product Innovation category at the S.C. Branded Awards, and has seen year-over-year growth above 90 percent. As PROOF grows, Jenn relies on teamwork, seeing her dedicated employees succeed as well.

Hosts Joseph and Laura step inside the home of the inventor of the freefall ride, Jerry Barber. Jerry is a renaissance man — a master sailor, a photographer, a racecar driver — and his storied career in the amusement industry has led to travels across the globe and countless professional highlights. And, as you might imagine, his home reflects that, with artifacts from around the world, photos with great business leaders, carnival nostalgia, and wall-to-wall patents that span from floor to ceiling. It’s Jerry’s journey that drove our conversation, from amusement park inventions to his most recent innovation, the technology inside of wind turbines. In 2008, Jerry created and became Chairman of the Board for Barber Wind Turbines. He invented and developed a transformative concept for wind energy — one that makes renewable energy accessible and affordable for people all over the world. He systematically re-engineered every problematic element of current wind technology to create a simpler, more efficient soluti

Hosts Joseph Nother and Laura Corder join Morgan Brady, Managing Partner of Composite Resources, at his Rock Hill, SC office to talk about the ever-changing and highly-adaptable world of composites. Composite Resources is supporting and supplying the aerospace and defense industries with forward-thinking and wholly unique composite components. The company can jump in anywhere during the development process, whether in early-stage prototyping or event applying a layer of coating to the final product. Composites demand a mind that can help people to easily see their needs, role, and potential. And, in Composite Resource's case, that's Morgan Brady. As a leader, Morgan has fine-tuned his formula for scaling and growing niche businesses in addition to, on the Composite Resources front, how he and his team approach the field and collectively move the industry forward within the state through curiosity, teamwork, and building relationships.

When you hear the name Milliken, what comes to mind? Perhaps it's carpets, rugs, and flooring, or maybe its dedicated commitment to sustainability and responsibility? Regardless, as a global, multi-market company, magic is happening behind the scenes—and Principal Scientist, Mary Mason, is the master magician and silent innovator behind it. Spearheading Milliken's chemical division, Mary specializes in polymeric non-settling colorants that enhance the products we use every day. Not only does Mary work with colorants, but she develops innovative processes to test experiments. Mary shares what led her to a career in chemical research and how her passions developed as a young child still live in her today.

Ramy Harik has lived, studied, and traveled worldwide, teaching students from France to Lebanon. As an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Carolina, and researcher at McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research — Ramy's work focuses on mechanical, industrial, and automated manufacturing engineering. His work at the McNair Center prepares engineering students for opportunities within South Carolina's aerospace industry — the second largest industry in the state. In this episode, Ramy shares the importance of education and industry, pushing the aerospace industry forward through smart manufacturing. And through smart manufacturing, Ramy notes its role in combating corruption within institutions and shares his unique perspective on life.

Dr. Laura Boccanfuso never imagined she would become a full-time entrepreneur. Before she founded Van Robotics, she spent ten years as a stay at home mom with her three kids. During that time, she uncovered a deep love and passion for education and desired to elevate all students' learning. After heading back to school to get her Ph.D. in Computer Science and Robotics at the University of South Carolina, she spent her time as a research scientist at Yale. There, she discovered the impact robots have in education, and especially on young learners. After many years of studying, learning, and researching, Laura jumped headfirst into entrepreneurship and founded Van Robotics. From there, she not only created ABii - the smart robot tutor, but she's taken her ideas to the entrepreneurial mainstage — Shark Tank. In this episode, Laura discusses her journey from the books to the bots with hosts Joseph Nother and Laura Corder. And they're joined by Laura's long-time mentor, Amos Schwartzfarb, Managing Director of Tech

When it comes to working with large clients, the President and CEO of Mercom, Stella Mercado, is doing just that. Mercom Corporation is a federal contractor serving the world's largest customer — the Federal Government. It has provided solutions sets for the U.S. Navy and even Air Force One. It's certified as an Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business and a HUBZone business and focuses on mission-based technology solutions within Defense, Intelligence, Healthcare, and Civilian markets. While many might be intimidated by working with government entities, Stella and her team never back down from a challenge. She and her team provide solutions that have transformed technology and increased protection within government cybersecurity infrastructure. Stella received a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from the University of Virginia, then returned to the university in 2014 to attend a program in the School of Business. After establishing Mercom in 2000, Stella and her team continue to showc

"The one thing that I can predict in healthcare is that it's going to continue to change." After being introduced to the healthcare industry in high school, Shawn Valenta began working towards transforming healthcare delivery — especially to minority and vulnerable populations. His journey began in the Greenville Memorial Emergency Department as a respiratory therapist. There, he discovered his appetite for learning, and soon after, he uncovered his passion for healthcare administration. Now, Shawn and his team provide services that serve the different healthcare needs for communities across South Carolina. Shawn supports the operations for all of MUSC’s telehealth programs that range from the ICU to the home, oversees the nearly $50 million budget of state-invested telehealth funds for South Carolina, and is responsible for the contract execution for their network of over 100 sites. The MUSC Center for Telehealth's mission is "telehealth for efficient, effective care," and not just replicating healthcare o

A “chile head” in the truest sense of the word, Ed Currie – the man behind the Carolina Reaper, the world’s hottest pepper – knows hot enough is never hot enough. His journey began in the 80s when he started growing peppers at his house in South Carolina. By the 90s, his 800+ plants covered every inch of his home, as well as the homes of his friends, family, and neighbors. There was a growing demand for his peppers, and by the early 2000s, he and his wife Linda realized it was time to start a real farm. Now, their farm grows over 100,000 pepper plants and is one of the largest on the east coast. With the creation of the Carolina Reaper, Ed pushed the limits of the chile pepper — his love for spice helping him to light a spark across an entire industry. And the whole world took notice. Ed discusses how his life brought him to growing peppers, how he’s grown his business, and his personal philosophy to innovation and pushing boundaries. In this episode, our hosts Joseph Nother and Laura Corder are joined by Vic

In a special mini-series from the “Of Note” crew, we’re turning back to our innovators from season one to see how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their personal, professional, and business lives and uncovering the insights they’ve learned from making major business changes across the board. Juan Caicedo, Department Chair and Professor in the College of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina, talks with “Of Note” co-host Joseph Nother about the current state of the education system during a pandemic, as well as how (in a world with fully online classes) what the value of a physical learning environment is. This episode was recorded on March 30, 2020.

In a special mini-series from the “Of Note” crew, we’re turning back to our innovators from season one to see how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their personal, professional, and business lives and uncovering the insights they’ve learned from making major business changes across the board. Philippe Herndon, the founder of boutique guitar pedal manufacturer Caroline Guitar Company, talks with “Of Note” co-host Joseph Nother about how the small business owner and entrepreneur has been impacted by the pandemic. From managing his manufacturing small team in a work from home environment to evaluating his dependency on retail stores and overseas manufacturers, Philippe underscores just how much life has changed as a small business owner. This episode was recorded on March 30, 2020.

In a special mini-series from the “Of Note” crew, we’re turning back to our innovators from season one to see how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their personal, professional, and business lives and uncovering the insights they’ve learned from making major business changes across the board. Mary Beth Westmoreland, CTO of Blackbaud, has been named one of the most innovative women in America. And now, more so than ever, it's time for her to leverage her ability to innovate. Blackbaud is the world's leading provider of cloud computing solutions for the social good community — that means non-profits, churches, schools — some of those organizations hit hardest by the pandemic, and those most in need of quick, large, full-scale pivots. Mary Beth talks about the need for understanding during times like these and how empathy can make or break your position as a leader. This episode was recorded on March 30, 2020. "Of Note" is an original production by Scribble (http://scribblesc.com) and Designsensory (https://

In a special mini-series from the "Of Note" crew, we're turning back to our innovators from season one to see how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their personal, professional, and business lives and uncovering the insights they've learned from making major business changes across the board. Jon-Michial Carter, co-founder and CEO of ChartSpan, reconnects with "Of Note" co-host Joseph Nother to discuss how he and his telemedicine company quickly and efficiently transitioned to remote work, how telemedicine directly impacts those on the frontlines of the crisis, and how you – as a leader – can maintain the trust and confidence of your staff. This episode was recorded on March 30, 2020. "Of Note" is an original production by Scribble (http://scribblesc.com) and Designsensory (https://designsensory.com/). Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/scribbleinnovation/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/scribbleinnovation/) for more.

Many people have dreams of shaping the future, and for Dr. Juan Caicedo, those dreams are a reality. A professor and department chair of the University of South Carolina College of Engineering and Computing, Juan specializes in Structural Dynamics to make our world safer and more efficient. From floors that sense the vibrations of your footsteps to walls that stand strong against storms, he and his department utilize their one-of-a-kind equipment to run experiments and come up with new solutions to everyday problems. Juan moved to the United States from Colombia, South America to achieve his goals, proving to all the dreamers out there that nothing is impossible. In this interview, Juan talks about his roles and goals as a professor, and he dives into the different experiments going on in his department and how they can shape the world for the better. He also discusses how innovation can be fostered in schools, and the different ways he and his students and colleagues maintain that innovation throughout thei

Innovation can oftentimes be slow. Ideas and projects can't always be completed by the team that starts them — especially in the world of science. Even in retirement, George Wicks, CTO of Applied Research Center (ARC) in Aiken, South Carolina and adjunct professor at several universities, is helping to continue to breathe life into his innovations. One of George's most groundbreaking projects is the research and development of microspheres. These tiny glass spheres have potential applications in the medical, automotive, and security fields, among many others. Join hosts Laura Corder and Joseph Nother as they talk with George about his work, approach to innovation and how he prepares the next generation of scientists. "Of Note" is an original production by Scribble (http://scribblesc.com) and Designsensory (https://designsensory.com/). Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/scribbleinnovation/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/scribbleinnovation/) for more.

Craft. Passion. Family. These are the virtues that define Boyd Cycling, the creator of one of the world's fastest bike wheels. Started by competitive cyclists Boyd and Nicole Johnson, the Greenville-based husband and wife team got their footing in the industry as one of the first manufacturers to sell directly to consumers online, disrupting deep-pocketed established brands. Ten years later, the company focuses on creating handbuilt, well-engineered wheels and aims to be one of the best wheel companies in the world.  Join hosts Laura Corder and Joseph Nother as they talk with Boyd and Nicole about the process of building a team, how to be successful in business with family, how they were able to obtain grant and seed funding, and the valuable lessons they’ve learned over the years.  "Of Note" is an original production by Scribble (http://scribblesc.com) and Designsensory (https://designsensory.com/). Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/readysetscribble/?modal=admin_todo_tour) and Instagram (https:

We all like to think that innovation and creativity come as a spark, an epiphany, as the "light bulb" moment. But that isn't always the case. Dr. Nancey Tsai had a number of experiences during her time as a student and practicing doctor where she simply took note of something – a fact, a challenge, a need – and "filed it away." After more than a decade, she'd eventually bring all of this back together to create a potentially game-changing device.  As a clinical associate professor of neurosurgery at the Medical University of South Carolina, Nancey invented a device that uses gentle puffs of air and videography to detect subtle differences in the way a patient blinks. As Nancey put it, “it’s all in the eyes” when it comes to examining neurological functions. Today, the Blink Reflexometer is a portable device that can be used to test an athlete for concussion right on the sidelines, and in the future has the potential to detect other neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s, stroke, and Parkinson’s.  "Of No