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Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management to move, expand programs

Columbia -- The Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management is moving to the Tower at 1301 Gervais St., which will allow it to expand its programs and better achieve its mission of increasing the supply in the IT talent pipeline.

Two of the Consortium’s partners, TM Floyd and VC3, also will move into the building at Gervais and Sumter streets across from the State House. Together, the companies’ nearly 150 employees will occupy 50,953 square feet over five floors. The Consortium, now located in the BlueCross BlueShield Tower at I-20 and Alpine Road, is expected to move in late this summer. TM Floyd and VC3 are expected to move in late this fall.

The Consortium’s lease is for 10 years. The Consortium’s more than 22,000 square feet will house an IBM System z computer, an open source software computer lab, a gaming development room, an auditorium, classrooms, meeting rooms and offices.

"Year one for the Consortium was focused on growing interest in IT among young students,” said Consortium Executive Director Lonnie Emard, “Year two, with the addition of the facility and all the technical resources, we can focus on equipping students and professionals with valuable hands-on experience related to IT careers."
The Consortium aims to provide a hub of intense activity aimed at promoting opportunities, educating students, nurturing professional development, cultivating relationships, inspiring innovation and celebrating success in the field of IT. The Consortium is working to:

• Publish an educational brochure for students, in partnership with the Midlands Education and Business Alliance

• Organize educator field studies
• Produce Virtual Job Shadows
• Sponsor three computer camps across the state where students build their own laptops
• Host an IT-career community forum
• Expand the Palmetto Open Source Software Conference
• Launch an internship program
• Develop recommendations for high school and college IT curricula in conjunction with Georgia Tech's Georgia Computes program and Marist College's Enterprise Computing Community program

The move to the new facility will allow the Consortium to expand those types of programs, as well as initiate and support applied research and serve as a second-stage incubator for entrepreneurial companies. The proximity to the University of South Carolina will allow Technology Support and Training Management classes to be held in the building, as well as increase access to other University resources.

VC3 will operate its business, as well as provide the infrastructure support and data center administration for the Consortium.

“Like any technology centric business, a ready supply of talented individuals is critical to our growth. We are excited about the energy and focus the Consortium is bringing to the development of IT talent in Columbia and want to be a part of that,” said VC3 Chief Executive Officer David Dunn. “In addition, our role in managing the Consortium data center and the IBM System Z will open up additional business relationships for VC3 and is the first of many opportunities for collaboration between the Consortium and VC3.”

The move will raise the profile of the Consortium, its partners and its mission. A Consortium sign will be at the top of the 21-story building as the Consortium relocates there and other partners agree to move into the building.

The move positions the Consortium to be part of USC’s Innovista research campus, is designed to stimulate groundbreaking research while simultaneously providing fertile ground for commercial businesses and job creation.
"This is a great example of how Innovista has connected the assets of the University with the interests of business to create jobs, said Director of Innovista Partnerships Don Herriott. “USC is proud to be a partner within the Consortium helping to grow technology jobs in the heart of our city."

The Consortium fosters economic development by creating a stronger work force that will spur existing companies to create jobs and attract companies to the region.
“The Consortium is about the value of our IT business and education partners working together to promote education, find solutions for businesses and to foster economic development,” Emard said. “This is the Innovista concept and why the Consortium is acknowledged as an Innovista success story.”

The University of South Carolina, IBM and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina are founding members of the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management. To learn more about the Consortium and its education and business partners, visit www.gocesm.org.

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
NAI Avant brokers Jeff Hein, Bruce Harper and Roger Winn helped negotiate the lease for the Consortium, TM Floyd and VC3. Broker Henry Roe of Colliers Keenan was the leasing and managing agent of the building.

“Proximity to USC and the Capitol complex, as well as building amenities which include renovated model floors and common areas, ample parking and a list of impressive building amenities where driving forces behind the Consortium’s decision to locate to the building,” Roe said.