Allied Industrial Partners-Backed Waste Eliminator Acquires Oconee Resources

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Waste Eliminator, a leader in sustainable waste solutions for the metro Atlanta area, said it has acquired Oconee Resources LLC.

Officials said the acquisition will further drive Waste Eliminator's geographic expansion into South Carolina and solidify the company's growing vertically integrated presence in Upstate South Carolina.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Oconee Resources operates a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Construction & Demolition (C&D) transfer station.

Officials said this asset will provide transportation and disposal advantages as Waste Eliminator looks to grow its recently expanded MSW collection operations in the region.

"With the expansion of our commercial hauling business in the area, this acquisition adds the vertical integration needed to drive long-term volume and margin growth," said Kacy Cronan, CEO of Waste Eliminator.

Waste Eliminator's growth strategy is supported by Allied Industrial Partners, an operationally focused private equity firm.

The acquisition marks the eighth add-on by Waste Eliminator since being acquired by Allied in 2021, and the third in 2025 alone.

"Waste Eliminator has started the new year off strong, and we are excited to see its rapid growth throughout Georgia and the Southeast," Bradford Rossi and Philip Wright, co-founders and managing partners at Allied, said in a statement.

They added, "By continually expanding and refining its sustainable waste management capabilities, Waste Eliminator has positioned itself as the premier service provider for municipal and commercial customers. We are proud to support its vision for the future."

Waste Eliminator is a full-service provider of waste collection, storage, removal, hauling, recycling, and landfill services to industrial and large commercial businesses and governmental entities across metro Atlanta.

Founded in 2019, Allied Industrial Partners LLC is a lower-middle market private equity firm which currently has over $1 billion of assets under management.

The firm invests in high-growth companies within various industrial subsectors, including industrial rentals, manufacturing, distribution, environmental services and critical infrastructure.

NFIB Urges Committee to Send Critical Tort Reform Legislation to Senate Floor

NFIB State Director Ben Homeyer said South Carolina small business owners are urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to pass S.244 and advance the critical tort reform legislation to the full Senate.

If passed, officials say the measure would greatly stop lawsuit abuse in the state. 

“S.244 is one of NFIB’s top legislative priorities,” Homeyer said. “Our small business members overwhelmingly support the bill because they simply can’t afford to defend themselves from frivolous claims brought by overzealous trial attorneys.”

“Our members believe people have a right to seek compensation if they’ve been wronged, but too often, lawsuits are filed just to take advantage of the system,” he said. “You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistake just because their lawyer thinks you might have deeper pockets.”

He added, “S.244 is commonsense legislation that would help reduce frivolous and overreaching claims by ensuring that small business owners and other defendants are held liable only for their fair share of damages.”

Homeyer said his members appreciated Sen. Shane Massey and members of the Judiciary Subcommittee for their support and work to bring S.244 to the full committee.

“Our members hope the committee will approve the bill and allow the full Senate to vote on this critical small business bill,” Homeyer said.

SCbio 2025 Conference Showcases the Future of Life Sciences in South Carolina

To open the premier life sciences event in the Southeast, SCbio revealed its new initiative to showcase South Carolina's rapidly expanding industry, define its sectors and attract companies and individuals alike to "Build the life—and the science—that propels the future."

The full campaign, "Life + Science," underscores how South Carolina offers an exceptional balance of career and lifestyle.

SCbio also further defined its three distinct pillars of the state's life sciences ecosystem: advanced biomanufacturing (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, as well as cell and gene therapy); cutting-edge health specializations (oncology, Alzheimer's and neuroscience); and the digital health and data frontier (spanning precision medicine, population health and telehealth).

"Our life sciences industry is making extraordinary strides, and this year's conference highlights the dynamic growth happening in South Carolina," said James Chappell, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of SCbio.

He added, "From cutting-edge research to the growth of startups across the state, there's significant momentum happening here.”

Further, he said, “We're excited to showcase the immense upward trajectory of the state's life sciences community and its impact on the global stage. This is the fastest-growing segment of the state's economy, and we have an incredible story to tell."

A particular honor, the Pinnacle Awards, recognizes contributors who have sparked remarkable success, inspired leadership and propelled the industry.

On the first day of the conference in Charleston, South Carolina, SCbio announced this year's recipients, whose innovation and positive impact have shaped South Carolina's life sciences sector:

Pinnacle Award for Individual Contribution – Dr. Steve Skinner, president and CEO of Greenwood Genetic Center.

Pinnacle Award for Organizational Contribution – Charles River Laboratories.

Rising Star Award – Dr. Lindsey Calcutt, CEO and co-founder of Incora Health.

The conference attracts more than 500 attendees from across the U.S. and highlights ongoing research spearheaded by scientific leaders within the state.

As a member-driven economic development organization, SCbio represents more than 1,000 organizations employing more than 87,000 professionals.

Columbia Educator Surprised with $25,000 Milken Award 

Forest Lake Elementary School’s lead interventionist Keighley George on Feb. 20, 2025, was presented with the Milken Educator Award, a prestigious national honor hailed as the “Oscar of Teaching” and that recognizes exceptional educators for their dedication to excellence in education and leadership. 

Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the honor includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize that the recipient may use however he or she chooses. 

The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Chief Executive Officer Joshua Barnett, Ph.D., presented the award on behalf of the Milken Family Foundation. 

“Today we celebrate and honor Keighley George for her positive impact on the lives of Forest Lake Elementary students and their families,” Barnett said. “Keighley’s influence on her students’ growth and her outstanding leadership throughout her school, district and community are shaping the future of education in South Carolina.” 

George was honored as part of the Milken Family Foundation’s 2024-25 Milken Educator Awards season.

The tour will honor up to 45 pioneering professionals coast to coast, marking the 3,000th Milken Educator in the Awards’ ranks and celebrating a history of changing lives in communities across America. 

Since the presentation of the first Awards in 1987, more than $75 million in individual cash prizes and over $145 million have been invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall, empowering recipients to “Celebrate, Elevate, and Activate” the K-12 profession and encouraging young, capable people to consider a career in education. 

“Keighley George has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the success of each and every student at Forest Lake Elementary,” said State Superintendent Ellen Weaver.

Weaver added, “By providing personalized pathways to success for all students, teaching structured literacy, and using data, she has changed hundreds of lives. Keighley’s impact is felt far beyond the walls of Forest Lake, as her leadership and expertise continue to inspire students and educators across her district and South Carolina.” 

Through personalized data binders, George, a former third grade teacher, tracks academic progress with students and encourages them to self-reflect and set goals for improvement. 

George’s works both inside and outside the classroom as part of the school’s leadership team and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) site team.

She revamped the Response to Intervention (RTI) program — which officials said is a vital framework designed to deliver high-quality education to students with disabilities and mitigate potential learning challenges.

George organizes data meetings with classroom teachers to assess individual needs and create pathways for success.

Officials said she spearheads parent university sessions, during which she provides effective strategies for families to reinforce subject matter covered at school, and hosts family literacy nights to support families in enhancing their children’s learning at home. 

Officials said George’s leadership extends to the district and state levels where she has assisted with summer school intervention, served as a supervising mentor to student teachers, served on the faculty advisory council, and conducted professional development for her fellow lead interventionists within the district.

She serves on the district curriculum committee, the South Carolina Department of Education Social Studies Alignment Guide committee, and has presented regionally and at the state level on literacy, phonics and social studies. 

George earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Presbyterian College in 2013 and her Master of Education in teaching from the University of South Carolina in 2018. 

Recipients have used the $25,000 cash award in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children’s or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children.

Milken Friends Forever (MFF) pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor; the Expanding MFF Resource and Explorer Program fosters individual veteran Milken Educator partnerships around specific topic areas; and Activating Milken Educators promotes group collaboration in and across states to bring solutions to pressing educational needs. 

Honorees attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles April 1-3, 2025, where they will network with their new colleagues as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education. 

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