Shuckin’ and Jivin’: Charleston’s Tech Community Celebrates at the Corridor Bash

With oyster shucking, barbeque, drinks, live music and a beautiful view of the Ravenel Bridge, dozens of technophiles and entrepreneurs partied at the 11th annual Charleston Digital Corridor Bash on Thursday, October 16. Held at the waterfront Charleston Maritime Center, the Sticky Fingers-catered-event was attended by the next generation of business leadership, as host Ernest Andrade called the partygoers when he spoke to them.

As the Executive Director of the Charleston Digital Corridor Foundation, Andrade provides spaces and resources to Charleston's blossoming start-ups. Andrade also announced that the average wage of Charleston tech companies recently grew to $70,000 -- almost twice the average wage of Charleston's general community.

Among bash attendees were Grier Allen of BoomTown, Blue Acorn's Kevin Eichelberger, Eric Wages of the Google data center in Berkeley County, and city councilmen Aubrey Alexander and Gary White.

Councilman White commented on the youth of the crowd, noticing that he was just one of the two people that wore a tie to the party. "It's awesome that you work in an environment where you can feel confident and comfortable -- and don't have to wear this noose," said White. Councilmen White and Alexander were essential to the development of the Corridor's Flagship, Flagship 2, and the impending Flagship 3.

BoomTown CEO Grier Allen helped unveil the Digital Corridor's new iFive:K poster, which featured his software company's mascot. Last year's iFive:K spirit award winner thanked the Charleston Digital Corridor and his colleagues, as well as local government figures for their on-going support of Charleston's tech community. "It's a lot easier to grow a company when you have the support of folks like these," said Allen.

Allen credited Andrade with scoring BoomTown's first downtown office space -- when the nationally recognized company was made up of only three people. "It speaks volumes for the extent Ernest will go to help the community," Allen said.

The CEO plans to run through historic Charleston with his team and other members of the city's tech community, like the employees of Blue Acorn. According to the iFive:K website, the 9th annual run will be held on April 30, 2015 at 6:30 p.m., with proceeds benefiting CODEcamp scholarships and other education related programming.