Business Briefs - November 19, 2020

CHARLESTON INDUSTRIAL BUYS FORMER UBS CENTER

 

Charleston Industrial closed on the acquisition of the former UBS Center at 900 Island Park Drive, one of Daniel Island’s first commercial buildings.

 

The two-story office building consists of 38,000 square feet of Class “A” space with multiple tenants. UBS recently vacated the property for its new Mount Pleasant location. The property will be rebranded as Live Oak Corner, celebrating the 100-year majestic live oak in the front courtyard.

 

Mike White, broker-in-charge of Charleston Industrial, teamed up with fellow Daniel Island residents to purchase the property from its West Palm Beach, Florida-based owner.

 

The partners paid $8,509,000 for the property and are committed to numerous upgrades for their tenants, including a new TPO membrane roof, updated landscaping, new lobby flooring and re-surfacing the entire parking lot.

 

“We are delighted to have successfully completed this acquisition, despite the challenges to office leasing presented by the COVID-19 pandemic,” White said in a statement. “It’s damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead!”

 

He added, “I’m a huge proponent of Daniel Island, where I’ve lived and worked for the past 14 years. I firmly believe that the best owners of the commercial properties here are residents who take pride in and love their community. This is the sixth commercial property acquisition in which I’ve partnered with other like-minded DI residents.”

 

Constructed in 1999, the current tenants include JonesTrading, GoodRx, Aerotek, Whiting Turner, HealthTrust, Stearns Home Lending, Charleston Sports Medicine and Roper ATI physical therapy.

 

“Following the acquisition, we were able to complete three new leases, bringing the building very close to full occupancy,” White said.

  

KAUKER RECEIVES WEALTH MANAGEMENT AWARD

 

Daniel Island’s Christopher Kauker, CFP, financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial, received the 2020 Five Star Wealth Manager award by Five Star Professional for the fifth time.

 

To receive the award, a wealth manager must meet 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria associated with providing quality services to clients including client retention rates, client assets administered, firm review and favorable regulatory and complaint 

history.

 

Kauker graduated from University of Memphis with a degree in communications and earned his CFP designation through Christian Brothers University. He has 19 years of experience with Ameriprise. 

 

Kauker can be reached at 843-284-1237, ext. 212, or visit the Ameriprise office at 259 Seven Farms Dr., Ste 200.

 

BENEFITFOCUS HIRES CHIEF DATA OFFICER

 

Daniel Island-based Benefitfocus Inc., a benefits technology platform, appointed John Thomas to the newly created role of chief data officer.

 

Thomas will lead the company’s data strategy and work with its technology organization to define and deliver new data-driven applications.

 

Thomas has more than a decade of data experience in mobile analytics, customer journey optimization, social media and online advertising. He formerly served as executive vice president of data science at Red Ventures, is the current president of the Analytics &

Big Data Society, and is an advisory board member for Wake Forest University’s Masters of Business Analytics program. 

 

— Compiled by Boots Gifford, boots@thedanielislandnews.com