TODAY'S HEADLINES | MARCH 22, 2012

Nephron breaks ground with high expectations

Nephron Pharmaceuticals CEO Lou Kennedy said she and her husband and business partner hope to bring more jobs than the 707 they already committed to. They received news from USC that might mean new products for the company, and those developments might require more buildings than originally planned.

More work needed to nurture S.C. bioscience industry

S.C. leaders have done a good job at growing the bioscience field, but they need to hone public policy to nurture future growth, said James Greenwood, president and CEO of BIO International.

Midlands engineering firm opens Greenville office

Alliance Consulting Engineers Inc., a Columbia-based civil engineering firm, has opened a Greenville office. Founded in 2004, the company has worked on projects for Continental Tire, Adidas, Dollar General, Gestamp and others.

Rail important to transportation plan, exec says

Railroads can help alleviate congested highways and move freight from the Port of Charleston to factories and distribution centers, says Norfolk Southern Corp.’s S.C. manager Brian Gwin.

Panel OKs bill to make insurance chief elected position

Sponsored by Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, the measure would change the job title to “commissioner” from “director” and effectively prohibit the governor from hiring and firing the agency’s leader.

Job of the Week

IES Labor Services, a nonprofit temporary employment agency, seeks a full-time director of business development. Primary duties will include sales, pursuing growth opportunities and morning dispatching. A bachelor’s degree is required, and a background in business or marketing is preferred. Learn more or apply here.