Pee Dee April Palmetto Pulse

SALES REPORT

Sonoco Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results

Sonoco Products Company, a global leader in high-value sustainable packaging, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended Dec. 31, 2025. Two standouts of the report include: fourth quarter net sales up to $1.8 billion, up 29.7 percent from prior-year quarter; and showed an improved quarterly adjusted net income attributable to Sonoco by 5.1 percent year-over-year to $104.7 million, and reported adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.05.

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HEALTH CARE

Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Joins Tidelands Health

Dr. Justin Head, a fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopedic surgeon, has joined Tidelands Health and is accepting new patients. Head performs knee and hip replacement procedures, specializing in minimally invasive, robotic-assisted partial and total joint replacements. Trained in revision surgery, he also treats painful prior joint replacements and prosthetic joint infections. He sees patients at Tidelands Health Orthopedics at Murrells Inlet, 4040 Highway 17 South, Suite 101. Head is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery.

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CORPORATE EXCELLENCE

Signature Wealth Group Celebrates 10 Years with Sustained Growth and Plans for Strategic Expansion in 2026

Signature Wealth is marking 10 years under its current brand with significant growth, statewide recognition, and a deliberate expansion strategy entering 2026. In 2025, that progress was recognized at the state level when Signature Wealth Group was named one of South Carolina's 50 Fastest Growing Companies and, for the fifth consecutive year, earned placement on the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list. These milestones reflect their disciplined expansion and sustained client trust.

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OPERATIONAL EXPANSION

Cheney Brothers Expands Florence County Operations

Cheney Brothers, a leading broadline food distributor, has announced it is expanding its Florence County operations with an additional $42.5 million investment that will create 85 jobs. Headquartered in Florida, Cheney Brothers processes and distributes a variety of food products across the United States, including meat and seafood, dairy, frozen food, and other dry groceries. Cheney Brothers will expand its South Carolina distribution facility, located at 2491 Florence Harllee Blvd. in Florence, which first broke ground in 2023.

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COMMUNITY CONNECTION

C.A.V.E. Kids "Plate & Play" Summer Series To Launch in May

C.A.V.E. Kids is set to launch their "Plate & Play" Initiative on May 29, from noon to 4 p.m. After launch, they will host monthly events in the park to provide consistent engagement, physiological support, and youth mentorship. They have partnered with two organizations: Talena's Golden Grill, a youth-led aspiring 11-year-old entrepreneur food vendor; and Piece of Cake Entertainment, an activities coordinator facilitating social-emotional learning to encourage teamwork and communication skills. C.A.V.E. Kids is actively seeking local business and corporate sponsorship to invest in making long-term positive impact on the youth of North Florence.

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PALMETTO PRIDE

South Carolina Export Sales Reach $38.5 Billion in 2025, Marking Seven-Year High

Gov. Henry McMaster, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, and South Carolina Ports announced that the state’s 2025 export sales grew 1.5 percent, reaching $38.5 billion — the highest value in seven years — as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The 2025 export sales underscore the continued global demand for South Carolina-made products. South Carolina was again the nation’s top exporter of both completed passenger vehicles and tires. The state also ranked second nationally in the export of ball/roller bearings.

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EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

O’Malley Receives Governor’s Award for the Arts

Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley has received South Carolina’s highest honor in the arts. The South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) has announced him as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Governor’s Award for the Arts in Education. Erick Figueras, Ph.D., Florence 1’s Director of Arts and Innovative Programs, said that the Governor's Award is a well-earned recognition for O’Malley. This recognition celebrates O’Malley’s unwavering support of the arts, having championed investments in equipment, staffing, and building renovations across Florence 1 Schools over the last seven years.

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CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP

D&L HVAC Sales & Service Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Danny Johnson and Stephanie Howle along with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and its Ambassadors celebrated the ribbon-cutting and new membership of D&L HVAC Sales & Service, located at 221 Palmetto Road, Darlington. Established in 1978, D&L is a leading commercial and industrial HVAC contractor serving businesses across the Southeast. The Darlington branch strengthens the company’s commitment to supporting manufacturing, health care, education, municipal, and commercial facilities throughout the Florence and Pee Dee region. 

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SPOTLIGHT

Donna Isgett and Mike Miller Honored for Service to the Community

The 15th annual Marion Medallion was awarded to McLeod Health CEO and President Donna Isgett and Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce President Mike Miller. The ceremony took place on Feb. 27, Francis Marion Day. The award was presented by Francis Marion University in collaboration with The Morning News. Miller first served in Florence in 1999 as the publisher of The Morning News. Carter credits him with helping unite the Pee Dee and the Grand Strand at a time when the market was fragmented. Isgett joined McLeod in 1997 and served as the chief quality officer, senior vice president of McLeod Physician Associates, and chief operating officer before becoming president and CEO.

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EDUCATION SUPPOORT

Rotary of Bennettsville Establishes Annual Scholarship at Northeastern Technical College

The Rotary Club of Marlboro has established a new annual scholarship fund at Northeastern Technical College to support students from Marlboro County. The scholarship reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to expanding educational opportunities and strengthening the local workforce. Members of the Rotary Club of Marlboro Executive Board recently met with Chad Vick, chief development officer at Northeastern Technical College, to formalize the partnership and outline plans for the recurring scholarship. The fund will provide financial assistance to eligible students in Marlboro County.

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JOB REPORT

Northeastern South Carolina Reports Over $426 Million in Capital Investment and Over 400 Jobs in 2025

Counties in South Carolina’s northeastern region reported more than $426 million in new industrial capital projects with over 400 jobs created based on public announcements. According to NESA, the region had over $426 million in new investment as well as the creation of over 400 jobs in 2025. The regional unemployment rate was 6 percent as of December 2025. Employment in the NESA region as of December was over 340,000.

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WORKPLACE EXCELLENCE

ScribeAmerica Recognized as a Four-Time Handshake Early Talent Award Winner

HealthChannels announced that ScribeAmerica has once again been honored with the prestigious Handshake Early Talent Award (ETA). This latest recognition marks a notable milestone: ScribeAmerica is now a four-time consecutive winner, having secured the award every year since 2023. Handshake’s Early Talent Awards are designed to celebrate the top workplaces for Gen Z. In an increasingly competitive landscape, this award recognizes employers who demonstrate best-in-class engagement with early-career talent and provide the foundation for the next generation of health care leaders to launch their careers.

ALUMNI APPRECIATION

Coker University to Recognize Four Alumni with 2026 Alumni Awards

Coker University will honor four alumni whose careers and service reflect the lasting impact of the Coker community during Alumni Day on April 18. The University will present the 2026 Alumni Awards to Jenn Bell, Lewis Sharp ’93, Sam J. Fryer III, and Donald E. Quist, Ph.D., recognizing their leadership and contributions in athletics, business, community service, and the arts.

SPOTLIGHT

GSSM Celebrates Google-GSSM AI Grant Announcement

The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) highlighted its growing partnership with Google during Inside GSSM Family Day on Saturday, March 7, 2026, welcoming more than 100 attendees who gathered for a featured announcement spotlighting the Google–GSSM AI Grant. The moment celebrated a multi-year collaboration expanding access to artificial intelligence education for students and educators across South Carolina and strengthening the state’s future technology workforce. During the event, families, educators, and community partners, including Hartsville Mayor Dan Askins, Senator J.D. Chaplin, Representative Robert Williams, Hartsville City Manager Dan Moore, and Google’s Head of External Affairs - Southeast, Lilyn Hester learned more about how Google’s investment is helping position GSSM as a statewide leader in AI literacy through the GSSM A.I. Faculty Fellows Program and the A.I. Educator Development Summer Institute.