4/20: Sam Konduros, SCBio: “The Life Science Industry in SC”

April 20, 2021

Our guest speaker was Sam Konduros of SCBio, who shared his insights into the fast-growing and bio-tech sector of the South Carolina economy. Sam gave us a view into how important this industry is to our state and the leadership position South Carolina has gained in helping develop and attract the world’s top companies that are researching and developing life-critical breakthroughs.

Sam Konduros of SCBio joined us on Tuesday to discuss the life science industry in South Carolina. Sam joined SCBIO in Spring 2017 as its President/CEO, focused on aggressively scaling up and leading the innovative statewide economic development organization and industry association in its mission to build, advance, innovate and grow South Carolina’s $11.4 billion life sciences industry which is comprised of over 600 companies. 

Prior to his role with SCBIO, Sam served as Executive Director of the Greenville Health Research Development Corporation as part of a 12-year affiliation with the Greenville Health System in various strategic roles, and was the founding President/CEO of Upstate SC Alliance along with other leadership positions with the SC Department of Commerce and Germany-based Alfmeier Corporation. He is also the founder and principal of SK Strategies, LLC – a consulting firm specializing in economic development, innovation, public-private partnerships, integrated marketing and business development strategies.

A licensed attorney since 1989, he is a member of numerous business and industry boards, including current roles serving on the SC Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee & Board, Southeast Life Sciences Association Board of Directors, SCRA Business & Science Advisory Board, SCBIO Board of Directors, South State Bank Greenville Advisory Board, and Palmetto Conservation Foundation Board.  He is the past board chair of the Cancer Society of Greenville County, past board vice chair of the Upstate SC Red Cross, has been designated as a Knowledge Economist by SCRA, and was awarded The Order of the Palmetto in 2018 – SC’s highest civilian award. (SCBIO.org)

Konduros is departing to serve on the board of Charleston-based Vikor Scientific and will be employed as CEO of a new health innovation company based in WestEdge.

Sam, came to us via Zoom from Nephron Pharmaceuticals in Columbia. They are the largest producer of nebulizers in the world and is indicative of the potential of the SC BioTech industry. The industry has the potential for 3x the research and economic dollars over the Auto and Aerospace industries. 

The goal of SCBIO is to build, advance, innovate and grow the life science industry in SC. It is still pretty young as an industry but is the fastest growing industry in the state. South Carolina has been no 1 in foreign direct investment in the United States for 3 of the last 5 years. The industry has more than a $12B economic impact.

Life Sciences includes Biotech (Drugs and Pharma) Medtech (Devices), Digital Health (AI and Health IT), BIO-AG (Agriculture), BIO-Science (Distribution) and Research (Labs). 

The major initiatives to advance the industry include Workforce Development, Economic Development, Funding and Investor Growth and to be an Advocate and Voice for the Industry. Some of the largest Bio tech companies include Thermo Fisher, Arthrex, Abbott, Nephron and Charles River Labs and now Vikor Scientific. The Governor has declared Life Sciences a top priority in 2021.

For a recording of this week’s meeting, go here.   Password: +zh6@z#f

Submitted by Don Baus  Chairman, Keyway Committee

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS  

        • Past President Patterson Smith gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.  
        • Karla Combs introduced all visiting Rotarians & guests.    
        • President Lisa Van Bergen presented Health and Happiness.
        • Cleave Ham introduced our guest speaker, Sam Konduros, who joined us on ZOOM to discuss “The Life Science Industry in SC”     

MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY

April 27, 2021  |  Issue 5005  President:  Lisa Van Bergen

COMING EVENTS 

    • April 20 –  Sam Konduros, SCBio, “The Life Sciences Industry in SC” 
    • April 27 – NETWORKING
    • April 29 – Happy Hour Social @ Baker & Brewer, 5-6:30pm
    • May 4 – Matt Martin “Community Banking” (ZOOM ONLY)
    • May 11 – Recognizing our Rotary Service Above Self Scholar and CCSD Teachers of the Year / 11am Board Meeting
    • May 18 – Marc Marchant of LS3P, “How LS3P makes our region look even better”
    • May 25 – David Ginn, CRDA, Regional Economic Update

 

NEWS BRIEFS

 

COVID:  In-Person Reminder

As we go back to attending meetings in person, we wanted to again share the below from the District. Members are asked to keep this in mind. 

It has come to my attention that we need to set some ground rules for dealing with Rotarians who contract COVID-19 and how we deal with this in our clubs.  First, for the Rotarians themselves. We MUST maintain absolute confidentiality for ANYONE who tests positive for COVID-19 unless they give us permission to share their information.  That said, we MUST also ask, even require, that any Rotarian who has been to an in-person Rotary meeting or other function and later suspects they have COVID-19 report this to their Club President as soon as possible.  This could be due to being in close contact with a person who tests positive or that they show symptoms. And, they absolutely must let the Club President know immediately if they test positive.  Then, keeping confidentiality, the Club President MUST let all who attended that event know that there was someone at the event or meeting who came down with symptoms or tested positive.  This will, at least, give all those notified the option of being tested immediately.  And, it gives them a warning that maybe they should limit their contact with others until it is proven that they are not infected.

 

Rotary Ready – Volunteers are Needed

Richard Sidebottom and Denise Kauffman do their part as volunteers in Rotary Ready

Rotary Ready is continuing to solicit volunteers to support public vaccination clinics in our area.  Volunteers are needed at the daily vaccine clinics with MUSC being held at 180 Lockwood in the former DMV Offices and in the former Verizon Call Center in North Charleston at 2401 Mall Drive. Our club is primarily responsible for the DMV daily clinic for non-medical roles (12 3-hour shifts per day).  Link is here to register to volunteer: www.rotaryready.com and select the Charleston site.

Some impressive statistics from our District’s Rotary ready program were published this week:

Estimated Totals at  End of April 2021

  • Vaccines in Arms: 129,000
  • Rotary Ready Volunteers: 1,500
  • Volunteer Hours: 7,300
  • $ 110,000 dollar value of volunteer hours @ $15.00 per hour

To get a complete history and update on the program, check out this write-up on our website.

Digit helps with the jab!

Getting vaccinated is important. And it is MUSC’s policy that volunteers qualify as patient-facing community health workers with access to vaccines. If you need to be vaccinated, you will have that opportunity at your first assignment, or shortly thereafter. Volunteers that receive a vaccine as part of the Rotary Ready – MUSC Partnership must volunteer at a minimum of 4 clinics.

 

 

 

Charleston 50

The Historic Rotary Club of Charleston is blessed to recognize each quarter someone who has made a difference in our community with The Community Impact Award. Congratulations to Brandon!

We made it!!  We are at 100% of our goal of 50 donors by our goal date of March 15!  Thank you to our inaugural class of the Charleston 50 for their generous support.  This special group of 48 Rotarians and 2 community donors committed to contribute $500 annually to the RCCF, which funds our club’s community and international projects and grants. The Charleston 50 was a wonderful alternative to a fundraiser during these COVID times and will serve the club well in the future.  Thank you to Phoenicia Miracle and Jeanne Jamme for all their efforts in making this such a success. We can continue to do our good works into the 2021-2022 year!

 

April Social at Baker and Brewer

All members and their guests are invited to join us for our monthly Happy Hour on Thursday, April 29th from 5pm-6:30pm.  In April, we will be visiting Baker and Brewer, 94 Stuart Street. This will be another wonderful opportunity to catch up with fellow Rotarians over a cold beverage. If you know that you are planning to attend, please RSVP to the Evite, so we can have a rough idea of how many people to expect.  An RSVP is not mandatory, so if you find at the last minute you can join us, please do!

 

PR Committee Seeking Volunteers

Our club’s PR Team is looking for additional members to join their committee. Specifically, volunteer photographers are needed to take photos at our meetings. If you are interested in serving on the PR committee and helping in this role, please email Mike Sottak at [email protected]. Fancy cameras are not required, an iPhone will do! It would be wonderful to have a couple of volunteers alternating the weekly duty. 

 

Support The CART Fund

It is easy for club members to make individual contributions and support The CART Fund electronically. The CART Fund has a new portal www.mycartfund.org, which you can easily access. As a Rotarian and a DACdb user, you automatically have an account already set-up in your name. Your user name and password are the same as it is for the DACdb.

 

Support the Rotary Foundation

The District 7770 Million $ Campaign and dinner will be held on May 5th 2021 at the Francis Marion Hotel. Our own Sandy Morkel is the Chair for that event.  $10,000 spread over 3 years or a Bequest gets you an invite.  

And do not forget your opportunity to be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.  Eighty-five dollars a month gets you there.  Please reach out to Karl Riner, Club Foundation Chair, to sign up or ask questions. You can also donate to Rotary’s efforts to end polio now: https://endpolio.org/donate.

 

Our Club is on Social Media

Members are encouraged to follow all of our social media channels and share posts with their followers too!  We also need members to send us pictures of anything they do that relates to Rotary – service projects, meetings, events, etc.  We would love to keep our accounts full of smiling Rotarians! Photos can be sent to Mike Sottak, [email protected], or Rob Byko, [email protected].

 

MEMBER NEWS

With much sadness, we announce the passing of fellow Rotarian Conrad Festa on April 11.  Conrad was a long-time, dedicated Rotarian and a current “Excused” member of our club. He was a Paul Harris Fellow. Conrad was predeceased by his wife, Jean. Our thoughts and prayers are with his 4 children and grandchildren. 

Continuing the legacy of our founder, the Paul Harris Fellow program recognizes individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Rotary Foundation Chair, Karl Riner, proudly recognized two long-time, dedicated Rotarians with Paul Harris Fellows this past Tuesday. Samuel Steinberg received his PHF +7 and Owen Clary received his PHF +8!  Wow!  Their continuous support of Rotary and the Rotary Foundation is much appreciated. 

 

 

Karl also had a very special presentation for our club’s Past President and Mayor of Charleston John Tecklenburg and his wife, Sandy — a Major Donor recognition.  The Rotary Foundation recognizes couples or individuals whose combined personal, or cumulative giving has reached $10,000. John and Sandy were presented a crystal recognition piece and a Major Donor lapel pin and pendant.  Their long-time commitment and dedication to Rotary, our community and the Rotary Foundation is to be commended.

Proposed New Members

The following membership candidates have submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:

Stephanie Dasher – sponsor:  Skip Fink; Eleemosynary/Executive

Tom Stockdale – sponsor:  Tom Leonard; Real Estate/Development

In the event you know Stephanie or Tom, please tell a member of the Board how she/he will serve the ideas of Rotary.

 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Rotarian:  Janice “Jan” Luth 

  • JOINED: 4/13/2021
  • SPONSOR: Denise Kaufman
  • MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT: New Member
  • CLASSIFICATION:  Retired/Museum
  • PROFESSION: Retired
  • SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOURSELF:  Years ago I learned how to do seat weaving (cane, rush, etc.) and then taught it. I had a side business redoing seats for antique dealers. Now in retirement, I need to redo the seats in 5 chairs at my house.       

       

Birthdays

  • 5/3 – David Baggs
  • 5/3 – Marjorie Hanger

 

By the numbers

    • Attendance on April 20, 2021 (In-Person and Zoom):  56
    • Not in attendance. Allen, Baus, Berry, Bini, Brack, Burt, Cardwell, Clark, Coe, Cook, Crouch, Coxe, DeGraff, Diminich, Donaldson, Drafts, Echols, Fason, Gill, Gorrin,  Hanger, Howard, Imam, Jamme, Jones, Jones, Kaynard, Lee, Loredo, Lucy, Minson, Moore, Moring, Oswalt, Palmer, Patrick, Plotner, Peters, Phipps, Ravenel, Rust, Scott, Seguer, Shahid, Smith, H., Strickland, Taylor, Teller, Tonney, Vanek, Walters, Weston, Ward, Williams, Woodell
    • Out of Town Make-ups: None
WELLNESS TIP

 

Smile often

Smiling boosts your physical and mental health (it’s true!), so find ways to smile as often as you can throughout the day.

 

ARE CLUB MEETINGS

Mondays

  • Summerville – Oakbrook: 7:30 a.m., Monday, Westcott County Club, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, North Charleston
  • North Charleston: 12:30 a.m., Monday, Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Blvd, North Charleston.
  • Summerville Evening: 5:30 p.m., Monday, Montreux Bar and Grill, 127 W. Richardson Ave., Summerville

Tuesdays

  • East Cooper Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Cooper River Room at Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant
  • Charleston: 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Hall’s Signature Events, 5 Faber, Charleston
  • Goose Creek: 12:45  m. Tuesday, Gilligan’s, 219 St. James Ave., Goose Creek

Wednesdays

  • Daniel Island: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Daniel Island Club, 600 Island Park Dr., Daniel Island
  • St. John’s Parish (John’s Island): 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, 2817 Maybank Highway, Unit 1, John’s Island
  • Mount Pleasant: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Harbor Breeze Restaurant, 176 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant
  • Summerville: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sticky Fingers, Summerville

Thursdays

  • North Charleston Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Embassy Suites, 5055 International Blvd., North Charleston
  • Moncks Corner: 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Gilligan’s Restaurant, Moncks Corner
  • St. Andrews (West Ashley): 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Bessinger’s BBQ, 1602 Savannah Highway, Charleston.

Fridays

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Our Rotary club actively uses social media — and we encourage you to interact with us through social media.

  • We’re on FacebookTake a look at our page and be sure to “like us”.
  • We’re on Twitter.  You can follow us @chasrotaryclub.
  • We’re on Instagram.  You can follow us @ChasRotaryClub.
ABOUT THE KEYWAY 

The Keyway has been published weekly as a newsletter for the Rotary Club of Charleston for more than 90 years.

  • President: Lisa Van Bergen
  • Keyway editor: Don Baus [email protected]
  • Executive secretary: Carroll Schweers, [email protected]
  • Mailing address: Rotary Club of Charleston, P.O. Box 21029, Charleston, SC 29413-1029
  • Copyright 2018, Rotary Club of Charleston. All rights reserved