Phil Southerland Named Chairman of Donaldson Development Commission

Greenville, S.C. – The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center (SCTAC), formerly known as The Donaldson Center, has named Phil Southerland 2009 Chairman of The Donaldson Development Commission. The purpose of the Donaldson Development Commission is to control, protect and promote the development of SCTAC. The chairmanship is a one-year term. Allen Inglesby has been named Vice Chair and John D. Hopkins has been named Secretary.

This is a tremendous honor,” Southerland said. “It is a very exciting time to be leading this commission. With our new name and re-branding efforts, we are on the forefront of economic development for leading international and high-tech companies. We have renewed energy and leadership and I’m excited to help SCTAC and Greenville grow and succeed in today’s global economy.”

Phil brings us leadership, enthusiasm and experience to this position,” said Jody Bryson, president and CEO SCTAC. “He is going to be able to build upon the momentum from last fall’s rebranding announcement. He shares our vision and our passion. I’m glad to have him on our team.”

The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center is unique to the state of South Carolina. It is the largest general aviation airport in S.C. with more than 50,000 flights annually. No other business facility in the state has a fully-operational general aviation airport, a state-of-the-art control tower, an 8,000 ft. runway capable of handling large aircraft, and a second, 5,500 ft. runway that is already built and can be activated.

SCTAC is a hub for industrial, technological and aviation facilities, and provides direct access to an airport infrastructure that contains an aircraft maintenance and modification center suited for air cargo and aviation-related businesses.

“We are very attractive to companies because we have the space, the infrastructure, and a well-educated technical workforce that companies can capitalize on,” said Butch Kirven, chairman of Greenville County Council. “Ninety percent of jobs and direct economic impact of this facility come from companies that use cutting-edge technology in their operations, have research labs and/or facilities onsite or supply products and services to high-tech industries.”

Strategically situated along the I-85 corridor in Upstate South Carolina, two hours south of Charlotte, N.C., two hours north of Atlanta, Ga., and three hours northwest of the historic port city of Charleston, S.C., the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center is also within 30 minutes of some of the country’s best colleges and universities, including Clemson University, Furman University, Wofford College, and Greenville, Spartanburg and Tri-County Technical Colleges.

The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center www.sc-tac.com opened in 1942 as Greenville Army Air Base. When the Air Force decided to close the base in 1962, the city and county of Greenville purchased the property and named it after Greenville native, Captain John O. Donaldson, a World War I flying ace, and it became known as Donaldson Center Industrial Air Park. It changed its name to the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center in 2008 and currently employs more than 4,000 people from more than 80 local and international companies and organizations, including 3M, Lockheed-Martin and Michelin. For more information, please visit the center’s website at www.sc-tac.com.