16H AGO

How Charleston County Schools Recruit Great Teachers And Fund Student Success w/ Dr. Luke Clamp

A school district doesn’t just educate kids, it builds the future workforce, the local economy, and the fabric of a community. We’re joined by Dr. Luke Clamp, deputy superintendent of the Charleston County School District (CCSD), to share what’s driving momentum across Charleston County and why CCSD is leaning into big, measurable goals instead of small promises. We talk teacher recruitment and retention, including the district’s high-energy hiring event that drew more than 1,000 candidates and a compensation strategy designed to keep great educators in classrooms. Then we get specific about Vision 2027: the commitment that every student will exit elementary school literate and reading on grade level. Dr. Clamp explains why CCSD insists on 100%, how the district supports students in poverty, multilingual learners, and students with IEPs, and how weighted student funding gives principals the flexibility to put resources where they matter most. We also explore outcomes-based contracting for high-dosage tutoring, plus the real-world value of CCSD’s career and technical education (CTE) and Centers for Advanced Study (CAS), where students can earn certifications in fields like health science, welding, and engineering and still keep college options open. Finally, we tackle AI in education: the new policy guardrails, the focus on student data privacy and safety, and the parent reality check about screen time and the work kids produce. If you care about strong public schools in Mount Pleasant and across Charleston County, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a parent or business leader, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. This is a grounded guide for founders, contractors, agency owners, manufacturers, and service leaders across Charleston and beyond who want a no-nonsense path to an exit. We share red flags that can sink deals, the role of local market knowledge, and how Viking’s success-based model aligns incentives. Join us, get practical next steps, and walk away knowing exactly how to make your future sale smoother. www.vikingmergers.com Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions Episode Sponsor: Viking Mergers & Acquisitions Expo Podcast Sponsor: ‪Pollen Social‬ Production Sponsor: RMBO.co Design Sponsor: DK Design Interested in Sponsorship? Click here. Committee: Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Mike Compton | Co-host | Podcast Committee | RMBO.co Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | MPCC Marketing & Communications Benjamin Nesvold | Co-host | MPCC President | Edward Jones

29 min

MAY 12

Local News That Builds Community

Local news doesn’t just report on a town, it helps a town recognize itself. We sit down with Amy from Moultrie News to talk about what a true community newspaper looks like today, why local journalism still matters in Mount Pleasant, and how readers and organizations can play a real role in shaping what gets covered. Amy breaks down the day to day reality of serving a fast-growing area: balancing coverage from town council and schools to Boy Scouts, swim teams, nonprofits, and the small moments that make a place feel like home. We also talk through the practical side for local businesses and community groups, including how advertising works, what makes a press release useful, and why clear community tips help a newsroom follow leads that might otherwise get missed. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your event, initiative, or announcement on a local outlet’s radar, you’ll leave with a much better map. Then we get into a topic that sparks instant nostalgia: print. Even after decades of change and the rise of e-paper and online news, Amy shares that there are still die-hard print readers, and Moultrie News is rolling out weekly home delivery in Charleston County for $52 a year. We wrap with the buzz of the Mount Pleasant Chamber Expo and why the Chamber of Commerce remains one of the best places to meet people, build trust, and help businesses grow. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, share the show with a friend who loves Mount Pleasant, and leave us a review so more listeners can find it. This is a grounded guide for founders, contractors, agency owners, manufacturers, and service leaders across Charleston and beyond who want a no-nonsense path to an exit. We share red flags that can sink deals, the role of local market knowledge, and how Viking’s success-based model aligns incentives. Join us, get practical next steps, and walk away knowing exactly how to make your future sale smoother. www.vikingmergers.com Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions Episode Sponsor: Viking Mergers & Acquisitions Expo Podcast Sponsor: ‪Pollen Social‬ Production Sponsor: RMBO.co Design Sponsor: DK Design Interested in Sponsorship? Click here. Committee: Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Mike Compton | Co-host | Podcast Committee | RMBO.co Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | MPCC Marketing & Communications Benjamin Nesvold | Co-host | MPCC President | Edward Jones

6 min

MAY 5

How Rob Fowler, A Local Meteorologist Builds A Forecast You Can Use

If you’ve ever stared at your phone in disbelief because it’s sunny at your house and storming five miles away, you’re not imagining things. We’re joined by Rob Fowler, Storm Team 2’s chief meteorologist and a familiar voice in the Charleston area for decades, to explain what makes Lowcountry weather so tricky and why “local” still matters when the forecast is on everyone’s screen. We talk through how a real TV forecast gets built each day, from the data and computer models to the graphics that tell the story in plain language. Rob breaks down why national outlets can sound vague, how social media “storm maps” turn into misinformation, and what you should look for in a weather source you can trust. He also clears up one of the most misunderstood numbers in any Charleston weather forecast: the probability of precipitation, and why it never meant “it will rain on everyone all day.” Then we get into the bigger topics that hit close to home: flooding and sea level rise, how development changes runoff, what climatology can teach us about patterns, and how AI may improve forecasting while the human element remains essential during high-stress events. Finally, we head into hurricane season with practical preparedness tips, hard-earned lessons from Hurricane Hugo, and a few off-camera stories that will make you appreciate live TV even more. Subscribe for more local business and community conversations, share this with a friend who argues about rain chances, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. This is a grounded guide for founders, contractors, agency owners, manufacturers, and service leaders across Charleston and beyond who want a no-nonsense path to an exit. We share red flags that can sink deals, the role of local market knowledge, and how Viking’s success-based model aligns incentives. Join us, get practical next steps, and walk away knowing exactly how to make your future sale smoother. www.vikingmergers.com Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions Episode Sponsor: Viking Mergers & Acquisitions Expo Podcast Sponsor: ‪Pollen Social‬ Production Sponsor: RMBO.co Design Sponsor: DK Design Interested in Sponsorship? Click here. Committee: Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Mike Compton | Co-host | Podcast Committee | RMBO.co Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | MPCC Marketing & Communications Benjamin Nesvold | Co-host | MPCC President | Edward Jones

56 min

APR 21

A Mother Builds An Autism-Friendly Town w/ Layla Luna

A routine traffic stop. Flashing lights. A terrified autistic teen trapped in fight-or-flight. That moment could have ended in tragedy and instead it became Rio’s Law, a first-in-the-nation autism/neurodivergent identifier license plate designed to help first responders slow down, reduce sensory triggers, and keep everyone safe. We’re joined by Layla Luna, founder of Just Bee (JustBeBeeTheChange.com), to tell the full story behind the law and the bigger mission it serves. We talk about what families actually live with when autism is invisible: the stares, the assumptions, the public meltdowns, and the way siblings can become “glass children” as the whole home revolves around regulation and safety. Layla breaks down the simplest shift that changes everything: stop trying to force the person to fit the environment and start adapting the environment to fit the person. That mindset powers sensory-friendly hours, autism training for businesses, and community events that include a real reset space like The Beehive, a mobile sensory trailer that helps families stay present instead of having to leave. You’ll also hear how Mount Pleasant becomes the first certified autism-friendly town in the Lowcountry, why that work helps communities win on a national stage, and how Rio’s Law is expanding state by state with a push for mandatory first responder training. If you care about inclusion, disability rights, public safety, or practical ways to serve the neurodivergent community, this conversation offers a roadmap you can copy in your own town. Subscribe for more community builders, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review that tells us what city should be next. This is a grounded guide for founders, contractors, agency owners, manufacturers, and service leaders across Charleston and beyond who want a no-nonsense path to an exit. We share red flags that can sink deals, the role of local market knowledge, and how Viking’s success-based model aligns incentives. Join us, get practical next steps, and walk away knowing exactly how to make your future sale smoother. www.vikingmergers.com Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions Episode Sponsor: Viking Mergers & Acquisitions Expo Podcast Sponsor: ‪Pollen Social‬ Production Sponsor: RMBO.co Design Sponsor: DK Design Interested in Sponsorship? Click here. Committee: Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Mike Compton | Co-host | Podcast Committee | RMBO.co Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | MPCC Marketing & Communications Benjamin Nesvold | Co-host | MPCC President | Edward Jones

50 min

APR 14

Mount Pleasant Media Secrets From Community Publisher Bill Macchio

The best local marketing advice rarely comes from a textbook, it comes from the people who physically put the magazines on the racks and watch what disappears first. We’re live at the Chamber expo with publisher Bill Macchio, talking about how community magazines and local podcasts are built from the ground up in Mount Pleasant and across the Charleston area. If you care about small business growth, local advertising, and real community storytelling, this one is packed with practical insight. We get into the behind-the-scenes decisions that make a publication work: how distribution actually happens, how you learn which locations move copies fastest, and why an “extended” Best Of issue can create more value for readers and advertisers. Bill also shares a surprisingly simple layout idea that leans into marketing psychology, putting strong editorial front and center while still helping ads perform better over the life of the magazine. Then we zoom out to podcast strategy and discoverability. Bill breaks down why YouTube is now a top platform for podcast listening and why it matters for search, naming, and audience growth. We also talk about the power of local business relationships, chamber involvement, and showing up in person to strengthen a media brand. If you enjoyed it, subscribe for more conversations with builders and operators, share this with a local business owner, and leave a review so more people in Mount Pleasant and Charleston can find the show. What’s your go-to place to discover new podcasts? This is a grounded guide for founders, contractors, agency owners, manufacturers, and service leaders across Charleston and beyond who want a no-nonsense path to an exit. We share red flags that can sink deals, the role of local market knowledge, and how Viking’s success-based model aligns incentives. Join us, get practical next steps, and walk away knowing exactly how to make your future sale smoother. www.vikingmergers.com Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions Episode Sponsor: Viking Mergers & Acquisitions Expo Podcast Sponsor: ‪Pollen Social‬ Production Sponsor: RMBO.co Design Sponsor: DK Design Interested in Sponsorship? Click here. Committee: Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Mike Compton | Co-host | Podcast Committee | RMBO.co Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | MPCC Marketing & Communications Benjamin Nesvold | Co-host | MPCC President | Edward Jones

10 min

APR 7

Inside Mount Pleasant’s Harbor Entrepreneur Center And How It Helps Founders Grow

Starting a business can feel like you’re carrying the whole thing alone, and that’s exactly the problem the Harbor Entrepreneur Center is built to solve. We sit down with Grady Johnson, Executive Director of the Harbor in Mount Pleasant, SC, to talk about their mission of creating “collision” moments where entrepreneurs meet, swap real stories, and slowly build something more valuable than a contact list: a trusted peer-to-peer advisory network. We get specific about how the Harbor supports founders at different stages, from simply showing up to happy hours to joining structured programs that help you pressure-test an idea before you blow past the one question that matters most: will anybody buy this? Grady walks us through the Startup Workshop, the two-day Boot Camp, and the long-running Accelerator Program designed to help companies with traction sharpen product-market fit, tighten go-to-market strategy, and prepare for pitching when equity investment is the right path. We also dig into what’s changing right now for startups and small businesses across the Charleston entrepreneurship scene, especially the AI shift. AI is crushing timelines to MVP, lowering the barrier to building, and creating new opportunity for founders who move fast. But it also threatens many entry-level office jobs, raising hard questions about how people learn the craft of work. Finally, we talk Harbor Forge and how the team can help businesses connect systems, automate inefficiencies, and level up with practical software solutions. Subscribe, share this with a founder who needs a stronger network, and leave a review so more entrepreneurs can find the Harbor story. This is a grounded guide for founders, contractors, agency owners, manufacturers, and service leaders across Charleston and beyond who want a no-nonsense path to an exit. We share red flags that can sink deals, the role of local market knowledge, and how Viking’s success-based model aligns incentives. Join us, get practical next steps, and walk away knowing exactly how to make your future sale smoother. www.vikingmergers.com Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions Episode Sponsor: Viking Mergers & Acquisitions Expo Podcast Sponsor: ‪Pollen Social‬ Production Sponsor: RMBO.co Design Sponsor: DK Design Interested in Sponsorship? Click here. Committee: Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Mike Compton | Co-host | Podcast Committee | RMBO.co Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | MPCC Marketing & Communications Benjamin Nesvold | Co-host | MPCC President | Edward Jones

50 min

MAR 10

Inside Charleston Animal Society: Saving Lives, Building Community w/ Kay Hyman

Shelters don’t have to feel bleak. They can be bright, smartly designed hubs where families learn, kids dream about becoming vets, and animals get a real shot at life. Sitting down with Kay Hyman from Charleston Animal Society, we trace the full journey from intake to adoption and spotlight the systems that make lifesaving scale: free adoptions for dogs one year and older during capacity crunches, a foster network that mirrors the shelter’s headcount, and a medical program built to AAHA standards. We talk about Angel the puppy, hounds rescued from a cruelty case, and what it takes to prepare each pet for home—vaccines, microchips, spay or neuter—often totaling more than the adoption fee. Kay unpacks Paws Around Town, an initiative that hands you a backpack and a dog-friendly itinerary so you can take a shelter dog out for the day or overnight. That real-world experience de-stresses animals, fuels authentic photos and notes, and dramatically boosts adoptability. Education is everywhere: sold-out vet camps, birthday parties on-site, and even “boredom busters” families can craft at home to enrich kennel time. We also dig into partnerships and practical help. Sponsors like Crews Subaru fund lifesaving work, while local businesses host adoptable pets to draw crowds and create social buzz. If you can’t adopt, you can foster, donate, sponsor a specific animal, or simply share a profile. And if you’re curious, browse adoptable pets at charlestonanimalsociety.org and toggle between the Charleston and Berkeley campuses to meet your match. From stress-reducing kennel layouts to a five-stall barn ready for unusual guests, this is animal welfare reimagined—evidence-driven, community-powered, and full of heart. If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves animals, and leave a quick review to help more people discover these stories. Your next click might be the one that gets a pet home. This is a grounded guide for founders, contractors, agency owners, manufacturers, and service leaders across Charleston and beyond who want a no-nonsense path to an exit. We share red flags that can sink deals, the role of local market knowledge, and how Viking’s success-based model aligns incentives. Join us, get practical next steps, and walk away knowing exactly how to make your future sale smoother. www.vikingmergers.com Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions Episode Sponsor: Viking Mergers & Acquisitions Expo Podcast Sponsor: ‪Pollen Social‬ Production Sponsor: RMBO.co Design Sponsor: DK Design Interested in Sponsorship? Click here. Committee: Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Mike Compton | Co-host | Podcast Committee | RMBO.co Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | MPCC Marketing & Communications Benjamin Nesvold | Co-host | MPCC President | Edward Jones

14 min

MAR 3

Learn What Makes A Business Sellable And How To Prepare Years In Advance

Ready to sell your business without derailing the company you built? We sit down with Michael Purcell, senior advisor at Viking Mergers and Acquisitions, to map out a practical, three-phase path from early planning to a confident close. We talk plainly about what buyers actually value, how to price to the market instead of emotion, and why asset purchases dominate in the lower middle market. If you’ve ever wondered when to start planning, what documents you need, or how to protect your team’s culture through a sale, this conversation delivers the playbook. Mike breaks down EBITDA and seller’s discretionary earnings in simple terms, showing how clean books and thoughtful add-backs paint a truer picture of cash flow. We explore the 250-item diligence checklist and why a seasoned advisor lets you keep your foot on the gas while they manage confidentiality, buyer screening, and contract assignments for leases, vendors, and customers. You’ll also hear how Viking balances price with fit, helping owners choose between individuals, strategic buyers, and private equity—each with different expectations for your post-close role. The takeaway: prepare three years out, build processes and KPIs, empower managers, and make your brand less dependent on you to increase transferability and value. This is a grounded guide for founders, contractors, agency owners, manufacturers, and service leaders across Charleston and beyond who want a no-nonsense path to an exit. We share red flags that can sink deals, the role of local market knowledge, and how Viking’s success-based model aligns incentives. Thinking about your five-year plan, curious about your company’s valuation range, or fielding buyer outreach thanks to AI-fueled prospecting? Join us, get practical next steps, and walk away knowing exactly how to make your future sale smoother. If you found this helpful, follow the show, share it with a fellow owner, and leave a quick review to help more entrepreneurs find us. https://www.vikingmergers.com This is a grounded guide for founders, contractors, agency owners, manufacturers, and service leaders across Charleston and beyond who want a no-nonsense path to an exit. We share red flags that can sink deals, the role of local market knowledge, and how Viking’s success-based model aligns incentives. Join us, get practical next steps, and walk away knowing exactly how to make your future sale smoother. www.vikingmergers.com Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions Episode Sponsor: Viking Mergers & Acquisitions Expo Podcast Sponsor: ‪Pollen Social‬ Production Sponsor: RMBO.co Design Sponsor: DK Design Interested in Sponsorship? Click here. Committee: Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Mike Compton | Co-host | Podcast Committee | RMBO.co Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | MPCC Marketing & Communications Benjamin Nesvold | Co-host | MPCC President | Edward Jones

44 min

Building Business w/ the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce

How Charleston County Schools Recruit Great Teachers And Fund Student Success w/ Dr. Luke Clamp

Local News That Builds Community

How Rob Fowler, A Local Meteorologist Builds A Forecast You Can Use

A Mother Builds An Autism-Friendly Town w/ Layla Luna

Mount Pleasant Media Secrets From Community Publisher Bill Macchio

Inside Mount Pleasant’s Harbor Entrepreneur Center And How It Helps Founders Grow

Inside Charleston Animal Society: Saving Lives, Building Community w/ Kay Hyman

Learn What Makes A Business Sellable And How To Prepare Years In Advance

Trailer

The Heartbeat of Mount Pleasant's Commerce Community

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Building Business w/ the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce

Episodes

How Charleston County Schools Recruit Great Teachers And Fund Student Success w/ Dr. Luke Clamp

Local News That Builds Community

How Rob Fowler, A Local Meteorologist Builds A Forecast You Can Use

A Mother Builds An Autism-Friendly Town w/ Layla Luna

Mount Pleasant Media Secrets From Community Publisher Bill Macchio

Inside Mount Pleasant’s Harbor Entrepreneur Center And How It Helps Founders Grow

Inside Charleston Animal Society: Saving Lives, Building Community w/ Kay Hyman

Learn What Makes A Business Sellable And How To Prepare Years In Advance

Trailer

About

Information