Charleston region lands new automotive industry supplier

APRIL 13, 2004 – A fast-growing company that provides numerous services to automotive and other transportation-related manufacturers will soon operate in the Charleston region. Preferred Sourcing, LLC, a company headquartered in the Indianapolis area, will open its 10th North American operation in Goose Creek’s Crowfield Corporate Park.

Today’s announcement was facilitated by the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, whose mission is to market this region for new business investment and to facilitate competitive expansion and relocation projects.

Preferred Sourcing expects to create 75 new jobs during its start-up phase, and will work with South Carolina’s Center for Accelerated Technology Training to provide specialized training for its workforce. The company intends to offer the following main services to manufacturing clients in the area: quality engineering management; assessment and containment of supplier quality issues; module assembly; and sequenced delivery. Preferred Sourcing also hopes to make use of the location’s Foreign-Trade Zone status. Company officials expect to be fully operational here by the end of 2004.

Jeff Weisenauer, President and CEO of Preferred Sourcing, noted that the company has experienced significant growth over the past few years, counter to overall manufacturing trends. “As many manufacturers turned to outsourcing our services during the recent economic downturn, we were able to capture a great deal of new business,” he said. “We expect this Charleston area facility to serve as a flagship for all future operations, allowing us to enter new markets and introduce a range of new services.”

According to Arthur E. Perry, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, the company also considered other Southeastern locations before selecting the Charleston region.

“The Charleston region’s growing base of automotive and marine-related manufacturers and suppliers, combined with the ease of access to our current BMW and supplier activities, were the main factors in our decision,” explained Perry. “For many years people in South Carolina only perceived the presence of BMW to be beneficial to Upstate citizens. Our decision here today is again a testimony of the broad benefits and positive influences which BMW has brought to our state even 11 years later. We look forward to finding similar partnerships with other such companies in the area.”

“Also, with increasing opportunities in the global marketplace,” he continued, ”the Port of Charleston and our new facility’s Foreign-Trade Zone status will provide a real competitive advantage for us.”

Perry also noted that Charleston has an international reputation that appeals to both prospective customers and high-level employees. “Regardless, none of this could have happened at this pace and success without the combined efforts and support of all the local and state officials and agencies which participated in this decision and launch,” he said.

Alliance Chairman Bill Youngblood welcomed the news of Preferred Sourcing’s new Charleston area operation. “This company’s selection of our region reinforces the economic importance of our Port facilities and our growing cluster of automotive-related companies. We’re very pleased that Preferred Sourcing has chosen the Charleston region, and we welcome the high quality jobs they will bring to area residents.”

As a new member of the growing Berkeley County business community, Preferred Sourcing was also welcomed by Jim Rozier, County Supervisor and County Council Chairman: “World-class firms such as Preferred Sourcing make our region a standout on the international stage. We are proud that this dynamic company has selected Berkeley County, and we will do everything we can to ensure they prosper here.”

“Goose Creek is thrilled to welcome Preferred Sourcing to our community,” said Michael J. Heitzler, Mayor of the City of Goose Creek. “Providing our residents with 75 new jobs is a significant occurrence, and we’re extremely pleased with this announcement.”

In facilitating competitive expansion and relocation projects for the region, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance works with numerous partners and agencies. The relationship with the state of South Carolina is of key importance to the Alliance.

“This is a significant injection of jobs here in the Lowcountry that’s tied directly to our state’s emerging automotive cluster,” Governor Mark Sanford said. “We’re going to continue to encourage growth in that cluster as well as push for business-friendly reforms like income tax relief that will bring additional jobs while improving our state’s underlying business climate.”

“In choosing South Carolina for this expansion, the folks at Preferred Sourcing recognized our outstanding workforce training programs, strategic assets such as the Port of Charleston, and our unbeatable quality of life,” said Commerce Secretary Bob Faith. “The South Carolina Competitiveness Initiative calls for us to build on our strengths – such as automotives – through more focused recruitment, and that’s exactly what we did in winning this project.”

Preferred Sourcing is a leader in the third-party quality assurance industry, providing services to the world’s top automotive manufacturers, including BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Honda. The company also works with numerous automotive industry suppliers, such as Robert Bosch, Inergy and Dana. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.preferredsourcing.com.

The Charleston Regional Development Alliance represents Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Its mission is to broaden and diversify business investment in this region, with an emphasis on technology-intensive business sectors. Since its inception, the Alliance has facilitated more than 150 competitive expansions or relocations. To learn more, go to www.charleston-for-business.com.

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Alliance Media Contact:
Colleen Troy
843-577-7327
[email protected]

Company Contact:
Denise Haden, Executive Assistant
Preferred Sourcing, LLC
864-433-1018
[email protected]