Benefitfocus, the nation’s leading provider of healthcare and benefits technology, was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina. Headquartered in Charleston, the technology company is known for its commitment to design and engineering, providing clients with a better way to engage healthcare consumers and an unparalleled way to manage benefits. Benefitfocus has more than 700 associates nationwide and believes a strong, vibrant culture is the key to success, so much that they were inspired to turn their collection of stories into the book Benefitfocus: Winning with Culture.

Since its founding in 2000, the company has been experiencing impressive growth as the demand for smart, consumer-centric technology continues to rise. Investing in their world-class design and engineering team is integral to the company’s mission to create a better way to manage benefits.

Meet the East Coast’s next top fashion designers. Selected from a pool of 163 applicants by the CFW Fashion Panel of judges, our 20 semifinalists will show their Fall 2013 collections in groups of five each night—Tuesday through Friday—with hopes of moving on to Saturday’s Fashion Finale. There, the finalists will compete for the CFW Emerging Designer: East title and the Grand Prize (valued at more than $20,000):
■ $5,000 cash
■ $10,000 online marketing and promotional package from F22 Designs
■ Mentoring opportunity with fashion industry leaders during CFW
■ Professional look-book images of the designer’s Fall 2013 collection by J. Balliet
■ Runway show at Charleston Fashion Week® 2014
■ Trade show in New York City in 2013 through Nouveau Collective
■ BERNINA sewing machine compliments of Fashion Fabrics
■ IPPOLITA Rock Candy Mini Lollipop pendant necklace from REEDS Jewelers (value $995)

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Each night, ticket-holders can vote for their favorite Emerging Designers via text message, courtesy of My TV Charleston. The designer with the most votes will win the evening’s People’s Choice Award and $250.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23 / FASHION FINALE
The finalists from each night compete for the Grand Prize before our Fashion Panel of judges.