Partnership Grand Strand Bulletin

MAY, 2025

Series 3, Issue 5

May is often referred to as

“The Gateway to The Summer”  

Well, we’ve got a summer full of inspiration planned for you! 

We’re kicking off the month with a special celebration for Small Business Week (May 4-8). Included in this celebration is our May Big Mixer Event on May 7. Currently we have over 175 small businesses registered and we are almost full... so act quickly to reserve your spot!

We are working diligently to create and launch our Inaugural Youth Leadership Camp in early June. These plans have been underway for over 8 months, and we are excited to see it all come together. This camp will be the springboard for the future leaders of the Grand Strand. We are looking for companies (or individuals) that would like to sponsor a child. See details in the Upcoming Events section below. 

PGS Welcomes Matt Pivarnik

Last month, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce announced that Matt Pivarnik will now serve as their new President and CEO.

Among his accomplishments, Matt “played a pivotal role in forming the Greater Topeka Partnership in 2018, a collaboration that successfully unified regional efforts and contributed to the area’s significant revitalization”.

“The Grand Strand is a dynamic, world-class place to live and visit, and this is an exciting time in its evolution,” said Matt. “I look forward to working alongside the community to build on the region’s strengths and further enhance the exceptional quality of life it provides.”

We welcome Matt Pivarnik to the PGS Board of Directors. His leadership experience is sure to be an asset to the PGS mission.

Partnership Grand Strand sincerely thanks Tracy Conner for filling that role for the last several months and we appreciate his participation and input.

Click here for the press release.

April Highlights

Here's what has been happening recently at PGS...

A huge shoutout to our speaker panel for the PGS Town Hall Social!

Thank you to all our speakers from the City of Myrtle Beach including Devin Parks (Economic Development), Howard W. Waldie IV (Innovation Dept.), and Meredith Denari (Marketing); and also Jason Greene (MBDA), Meagan Michal (Habitat for Humanity), and Jimmy Gray (MBACC Policy). We appreciate your sharing the highlights and all that is going on in our area at the April Town Hall Social! And of course, with an update from the PGS team.

The speaker panel took questions from the audience who wanted to know more about their endeavors. It was a great event and we received some excellent feedback. Attendees were excited about the work that our community partners are doing in the areas of redevelopment and rebranding, community involvement, and helping to position businesses of all types and sizes in Horry County to be successful.

We cover a lot of ground during these panel presentations. Where else can you go to enjoy a cool refreshing beverage, spend less than two hours of your time, and get a complete update from all the people that are busy building a better tomorrow for the Grand Strand, plus have the opportunity to get your questions answered?

If you haven’t attended one of our Town Halls, I would encourage you to come to the next one on October 21 to get a first-hand look at what is coming for our beautiful Myrtle Beach community! Mark your calendars now!

Streamlining for Greater Impact

We recently wrapped up our Careers at the Coast hiring event with strong results—92% of registered employers attended, and several quality job seekers were hired within days after the event. Feedback confirmed we're on the right path by focusing on high-impact events and reducing employer fatigue.

To increase efficiency and better meet the needs of both employers and job seekers, we’re shifting to three strategically timed hiring events per year—in March, June, and September.

September’s event will be held in the evening to reach career changers and working individuals. We are excited about this more focused approach and look forward to continuing to connect talent with opportunity in meaningful ways.

Recharge - Powered by PGS

Last month, PGS presented two events in the Recharge series:

Maximize Your Internships

Internships are more than just extra help—they’re a smart, low-risk way to discover future talent and build your employer brand. According to NACE, 8 out of 10 employers say internships offer the best return on investment in recruitment.

In this session in the Recharge - Powered by PGS series, expert Bob Adams from Matson Madrid Consulting shared tips for launching or improving internship programs—from setting goals to building a support team and managing performance.



Read the full article to learn how to structure an internship that works—for your business and your intern.

Beyond Handshakes

Another great event in the Recharge - Powered by PGS series was Beyond Handshakes, a dynamic Lunch & Learn Session designed to help local businesses sharpen their networking strategies and turn connections into opportunities. Approximately 19 professionals from a variety of industries came together for this engaging and insightful session presented by Todd Cartner, Executive Director of GBN.

Todd shared practical tips on how to transform networking from a casual social interaction into a powerful, income-generating tool.

Some key takeaways included:

• Attend with intention: Set clear goals before walking into the room.
• Be intentional with your time: Spend around 15 minutes with each new connection.
• Focus on giving, not getting: Networking success starts with a mindset of service.

A big thank you to everyone who attended and helped make these sessions a success! Be sure to stay tuned for future Recharge - Powered by PGS events that are designed to inform, inspire, and empower local businesses!

BIG Deal Contest Winner!



Local business Labrynth Walking was treated to lunch on PGS after being selected as the April winner of the BIG Deal contest!





The BIG Deal Contest Continues!

 Each month, one lucky business will snag lunch on us AND a bonus round of social media shout-outs!

Click here to register!

Upcoming Events

MARK YOUR CALENDARS and plan to attend these great events.

Click on the links below for details and to register:

May 7, 5:00-7:00pm - The BIG Mixer

Looking Ahead...

October 21, 4:00-6:00pm - PGS Town Hall Social

Celebrating National Small Business Week – May 4-10!

This week Partnership Grand Strand is celebrating our local, small businesses as a part of National Small Business Week! Throughout this week, businesses who have completed surveys with PGS will be entered to win lunch provided by Gringo Ninja (one lunch per day).

To schedule your business survey, please contact Sarah Dahlstrom at sarah.dahlstrom@partnershipgrandstrand.com

Additionally, the next BIG Mixer event is happening on Wednesday, May 7. We are also working on some fun surprises for the event! Stay tuned to our social media channels to see who wins lunch on us and what other fun we cook up!

Sponsor a Future Leader!

Support the 2025 Youth Leadership Camp – June 15–18 at CCU

We’re inviting local businesses to partner with us for a powerful summer experience that inspires rising high school juniors and seniors to grow as leaders, explore career pathways, and build confidence.

Your sponsorship helps provide a free, overnight leadership camp for students who show potential but may not always be in the spotlight. It’s more than just an investment in youth—it's an investment in the future of our workforce and community.



Benefits of Sponsorship:

✔️ Positive brand visibility

✔️ Direct impact on local students

✔️ Alignment with leadership and workforce development

Help us create life-changing moments. Learn more about how to get involved and become a sponsor! Please contact BJ Beaver at bj.beaver@partnershipgrandstrand.com for more information.

PGS PODCAST

Coming Up Next on Thrivin' at the Beach

Listen to our podcast on the PGS YouTube page or wherever you get your podcasts to get a ‘behind the scenes” peek at all the great things brewing in our community! A new episode airs every other Tuesday morning.

So take Thrivin' with you on your morning commute!

THIS MONTH'S GUESTS:

• May 6 - Dan Hoppe, Hop2It Consulting
• May 20 - Sarah Bonnoitt, HTC

For more info on Thrivin' at the Beach, visit our website.

Tune in... and keep thrivin'!

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