AUGUST 2018
CB2 CELEBRATE BLUFFTON & BEYOND
CH2 CELEBRATE HILTON HEAD!
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REASONS WORKING FROM HOME IS NOT AT ALL WHAT YOU THINK
AUGUST 2018
MEN IN BUSINESS
THE BANNON LAW GROUP, LLC
THE DAD LIFE: IT TAKES A VILLAGE
KEEPING PROMISES
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU:
THE RIGHT PRESCRIPTION
THE THREE MOST INFLUENTIAL MEN IN MY LIFE
THE SMALL TOWN DRUG STORE LIVES ON AT BLUFFTON PHARMACY
MEN WHO HELPED MAKE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND GREATER BLUFFTON AN “EVEN BETTER” PLACE TO LIVE
SHAKE HANDS WITH SCORE
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A NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR YOUR BUSINESS
MEN IN BUSINESS MEN WHO HELPED MAKE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND GREATER BLUFFTON AN “EVEN BETTER” PLACE TO LIVE
PLUS LOOKING OUT FOR THE SEA TURTLES CSN SONGS
Beaufort
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CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF CROSBY STILLS NASH & YOUNG
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BLUFFTON AND BEYOND
CH2 CELEBRATE HILTON HEAD!
CB2 CELEBRATE BLUFFTON & BEYOND
CH2 CELEBRATE HILTON HEAD!
CB2 CELEBRATE BLUFFTON & BEYOND
Celebrate AUGUST 2017 FREE PUBLICATION
AUGUST 2017
WOMEN IN BUSINESS ISSUE SUSTAINED SUCCESS
PRODUCTIVITY HACKS FOR WORKING AT HOME
AS A WOMAN IN THE BUSINESS WORLD IT DOESN’T COME EASILY
THE FRENCH BAKERY
A FOUNDATION OF CLASSIC BREAD BAKING AND PASTRY
#WORK
PRODUCTIVITY HACKS FOR WORKING AT HOME
SONDORBLUE:
PRODUCTIVITY HACKS FOR WORKING AT HOME
THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
THE FRENCH BAKERY
A FOUNDATION OF CLASSIC BREAD BAKING AND PASTRY
THE BANNON LAW GROUP, LLC FOCUSING ON REAL ESTATE
THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
THE BRADFORD GROUP LOWCOUNTRY ROOTS RUN DEEP
SONDORBLUE:
WOMEN IN BUSINESS ISSUE
SONDORBLUE:
WOMEN IN BUSINESS ISSUE
SO FAR, NO GOOD
LOCAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS
THE THREE RS FOR TODAY’S ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN
RETAIL, RESTAURANTS AND REAL ESTATE
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
PLUS ‘RECALCULATES’ CAREER
SO FAR, NO GOOD
AUGUST 2017
CHARLOTTE FRASER
AUGUST 2017
AUGUST 2017
AUGUST 2017
PLUS MANY MORE GREAT ARTICLES
MORE THAN
RETAIL, RESTAURANTS AND REAL ESTATE
VP OF BOEING SOUTH CAROLINA
SO FAR, NO GOOD CHARLOTTE FRASER
‘RECALCULATES’ CAREER
#BIGDEAL #AWESOME
AS A WOMAN IN THE BUSINESS WORLD IT DOESN’T COME EASILY
WITH JOAN ROBINSONBERRY
THE THREE RS FOR TODAY’S ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN
THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
SUSTAINED SUCCESS
Q&A
RETAIL, RESTAURANTS AND REAL ESTATE
THE THREE RS FOR TODAY’S ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN
THE WOMEN IN BUSINESS ISSUE.
HOW WOMEN IN THE LOWCOUTRY ARE TURNING GREAT IDEAS INTO GREAT BUSINESSES...AND THEIR SECRETS TO SUCCESS
Programs for Exceptional People
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contribute to the conversation. As personalities emerge, I see that these people are a lot like me. They are abled, but perhaps just “differently abled.” Meet the “PEP-ers” Amanda Chase’s face lights up when she talks about crafts, pottery, and yoga classes. But what she loves most about PEP is being with her friends, she said. She works at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, rolling silverware. (It’s fun, and she gets to meet lots of people.) She also participates in an enclave, working at Osprey
Pictured above (left to right): Heath Taylor strikes a yoga pose; Lindsay Persoon enjoys painting pottery; Contessa Torin rolling silverware at Rielley’s North End under the guidence of Trey Hennessee, recreation and leisure coordinator; Handmade ceramic flowers, made by PEP members, for sale to the public.
Article by linda s. Hopkins
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hile insurance may not be your favorite cocktail party conversation starter, it’s a topic that is on most people’s minds. The recent storms we have weathered locally and the changing status of healthcare in America are just two reasons why ears are perking up, existing policies are under the microscope, and pencils are being sharpened in the insurance industry. “It’s not cookie-cutter,” said Kinghorn Insurance partner, Missy Layman. “That’s what makes what we do so wonderful and so relevant and important.”
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Whether you are a millennial just getting your feet wet in the world of adult responsibilities, one of the last standing of The Greatest Generation, or somewhere in between, one of your goals for 2018 should be to become more educated and informed regarding your insurance options. Some types of personal insurance, such as automobile liability insurance and, under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance, are required by law. Others, such as comprehensive and collision automobile insurance and
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Do you immediately think of the late heavyweight boxing champion Muhammed Ali? Perhaps you picture the handsome Canadian American actor Michael J. Fox. But it might surprise you to know how many people you see daily who are suffering with Parkinson’s Disease or love someone who is. It is estimated that PD affects over 5 million people worldwide (1 million in the United States). It is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s, and while no area statistics are available, the word on the street is that PD is quite prevalent here in the Lowcountry. Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s hasn’t slowed down local Dianne Hillyer.
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ARTICLE BY LINDA S. HOPKINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
Fixing
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Photography by M.kat
Article by Linda S. Hopkins
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Feral: A “feral” cat is unsocialized and tends to be fearful of people and keep a distance. Ferals are most often found living outdoors in groups known as colonies. The cats in a colony share a common food source and territory and may include not only ferals, but also strays—former pet cats who were lost or abandoned. Ferals, as well as strays, are increasingly referred to as “community cats” or “free-roaming” cats.
hey’re everywhere: slinking around restaurants and fishing docks, crouching behind dumpsters, darting across golf courses, hanging out at apartment complexes, in gated communities, even in your backyard. Thousands of cats are roaming the county, scavenging for food, seeking shelter and—left unchecked—multiplying faster than you can say here, kitty, kitty. But before you think about “rescuing” them, i.e. capturing them, bringing them home or dropping them off at the nearest shelter, think
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again. If a cat is truly feral, the most compassionate choice may be to allow him to live outdoors with his colony mates rather than trying to force him to exist indoors as a pet or, even worse, in a cage. Domesticating a feral cat is neither practical nor advantageous, according to Stephanie Brumley, an employee of Beaufort County Animal Shelter & Control, whose real cat education began in 2000 at a hair salon in Port Royal, where
Pictured left to right: Leslie Suelke, Jaymeon Chisholm, Amy Ferrer, Camilla Pestana, Ethan Simpson, Ms.Morgan, Monzetrrat Rojas, Carys Riemer, Franchezca Rojas, Jacquelene Ortiz, Katie Godoy, Maria Ibarra, Andrioly Castillo and Landon Horne
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Boys & girls club Essay Contest A Note from the Editor Last month, CH2 magazine asked the members of the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island to write essays about what love meant to them. The grand prize was $125, with the secondplace essay winner receiving $75 and the third place recipient winning $50. Over 15 students participated and the CH2 crew loved reading the children’s submissions about love. After much deliberation, Leslie Grace was chosen as the first place winner, and we are thrilled to share her essay with our readers.
Crystal!
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By Leslie Grace
love my mom more than anyone in the world. She is a multi-tasker super hero. She is my multi-tasking super hero. She is the only one (other than my dog) that I get up in the morning for. If it was
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not for her I probably would have given up a long time ago. She deserves to be a queen! She is my source of life. Without her I would probably flunk out of school, become an introvert, lose my temper, be miserable twenty four seven, and pretty much fail at life. So as you can probably tell to be a happy person I need my mom. If I did not have my mom when I came home I would and I’m just now realizing this, be a COMPLETELY different person. My mom is my life. Without her again my entire life would be altered. It’s like those weird television episodes where everything is altered when you step threw some weird surface and something one thing is changed and so their entire world will be changed. Yeah like that. So I think you get it by now I absolutely adore my mom. When I wake up in the morning I ONLY wake up because of her. I only go to sleep because I know I will see her in the morning. When you say the word Crystal I think to myself I want to be exactly like my mom Crystal. Anyway, my mom works harder than anybody in our household. She has to do all the chores except for laundry (I do that) and she goes to work everyday no matter what even if she has a stomach bug she still goes to work. It’s absolutely amazing! She’s like all the DC super hero girls put into one! Can you imagine that??? All of them in one! Yep that’s my mom! www.celebratehiltonhead.com 95
Patti Soltys stands beside a hydrangea bush in her home garden.
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ccording to the Mayo Clinic, almost half of all men and a third of all women in the United States will receive a cancer diagnosis at some time in their lives. It often comes with little warning, and while it may not be life-ending, it is certainly life-changing. If you should hear the “C� word from your doctor, what would you do next? One local resident shares her journey with the hopes of informing and inspiring others who may be facing this devastating diagnosis. On Tax Day, April 15, 2016, Patti Soltys, who has faced off with two unrelated cancers over the past eight years, walked down the hall at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
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ExploRe South Carolina
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ExploRe South Carolina
ExploRe South Carolina
AUGUST 2018 DOING WHAT? IT SHOULD BE AN IDEA THAT MAKES US MONEY!
WE SHOULD GO INTO BUSINESS TOGETHER! GENIUS!
Men in Business
What is your motto in life? Never sacrifice quality. If you could walk out the door tomorrow and start a new career, what would it be? A sports agent
RUBY LEE’S
Is there a local businessman you look up to? Watching Tom Gardo in business gave Wayne Simmons and me a purpose to want more—to be educated, to be good men, to have high standards, to be great fathers and to have integrity.
What game are you really good at? I love competing at all sports with my boys. Was there a time when you learned something important in business by observing what not to do? Tell us about that. In the service industry, you come across all different types of customers, and they all believe they are right. It is very important to maintain your composure and allow them to always think they are right—without sacrificing your standards. Favorite local charitable organization? I support many local charities, so it’s extremely hard to pick just one. I especially like anything that supports our youth.
Have you ever fired a client? What did that experience teach you? Yes! It taught me that everyone does not operate off of the same moral compass. To me, there are certain standards that can’t be compromised. Favorite book or podcast? The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 40 Old Wild Horse Rd. Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 681-7829 rubyleesnorth.com 19 Dunnagans Alley Hilton Head island, SC 29928 (843) 785-7825 Rubyleessouth.com
TIM SINGLETON
At what age would you like to retire? 60
B L I N D S B U D G E T
What is your motto in life? “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” If you could walk out the door tomorrow and start a new career, what would it be? I would love to play on the PGA Tour.
880 Fording Island Rd., Unit 8 Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 837-4060 bkengler@budgetblinds.com budgetblinds.com/ HiltonHeadIsland
B O B
What are you passionate about? What makes your eyes light up with excitement when you talk about it? I enjoy being able to provide a great quality of life for my family as well as provide opportunities to the people who work for us.
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Was there a time when you learned something important in business by observing what not to do? Tell us about that. I feel like I’m always learning how to get better. Nothing specific other than any time I have a poor customer service experience, I think, “I don’t want to operate like that!”
What is your motto in life? “Just another day in paradise.” If you could walk out the door tomorrow and start a new career, what would it be? I kind of did. I have had the opportunity to open up another business that has been a passion of mine for years: Atlantic Performance. We specialize in aftermarket auto accessories. What terrible movie do you love? Not sure if it’s terrible, but The Founder with Ray Kroc. Was there a time when you learned something important in business by observing what not to do? Tell us about that. Not to be a boss, but be a leader to your team. I have had jobs in my past where I have found that the boss was only worried about the bottom line and not the main assets—which is his team or in our case our family. Favorite local charitable organization? Lowcountry Dress for Success (lowcountrydressforsuccess.org). At what age would you like to retire? Never. I just want to slow down.
ATLANTIC SPRAY FOAM / ATLANTIC PERFORMANCE
Is there a local businessman you look up to? I’m lucky to have several friends who own businesses. It is very nice to be able to reach out to them to ask questions and get their opinions.
Have you ever fired a client? What did that experience teach you? Yes. Our mission is “To Create a Rewarding Family-Owned Business that will Create Order through a Believable Reputation.” We have a customer who thought we should do our job a certain way, and even after I explained the proper way, I figured out that I could not make him believe in us. So, I told him we would not charge him anything. He and his wife could not believe this. They have since become one of our best referral sources.
What do you think about when you are alone in your car? Nothing. I listen to music—LOUD. I’m truly sorry for the cars around me. Favorite book or podcast? Podcast: How I Built This, with Guy Raz 365 Red Cedar Street, Suite 604 Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 707-4066 tj@atlanticsprayfoam.net atlanticsprayfoam.org atlanticperformance.net
TJ ANDERSON
What are you passionate about? What makes your eyes light up with excitement when you talk about it? Seeing my team grow, in business and personally.
R O S E H E A R I N G H E A LT H C A R E C E N T E R S If you could walk out the door tomorrow, and start a new career, what would it be? I love what I do; I would continue to do what I love. What terrible movie do you love? Waterworld What game are you really good at? I was really good at basketball. Was there a time when you learned something important in business by observing what not to do? Tell us about that. Not to extend beyond what you are able to achieve. Be honest, consistent, and know that being in business is a roller coaster ride.
Favorite local charitable organization? The Bargain Box
What do you think about when you are alone in your car? Too many things to mention.
At what age would you like to retire? When I am no longer effective in my job.
Favorite book or podcast? The Reluctant Genius
Have you ever fired a client? What did that experience teach you? Yes. He had informed me he did not know why, he just did not like me. I learned we cannot please everyone. What are you passionate about? What makes your eyes light up with excitement when you talk about it? Helping people hear well again; it is my passion and life work.
Preferred social media channel? Facebook/Instagram How would you convince someone to do something they didn’t want to do? Give them the facts and show them why they should try to do what they do not want to do. 1505 Main Street Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 802-2957 rosehearinghealthcarecenters@gmail.com rosehearinghealthcarecenters.com
LIC HAS-0640
R A N D Y W. R O S E
What is your motto in life? Everything always works out!
Rank these things in order of importance in business: 1.) Honesty/Integrity 2.) A unique idea 3.) Persistence 4.) Cash Flow All are important to Brighton Builders, and are important in any facet of business. Whether dealing with clients or team members, you want to know that the people you are working with hold those values high.
What do you think about when you are alone in your car? It’s my quiet time. Short or long drive, it gives me a chance to reflect on the present and what I need to accomplish in the future. Whether it is family or business that grabs my attention, driving gives me a chance to clear my thoughts, thank God for all that I have, and focus on what I can do to achieve my goals for the future. 49 Pennington Dr., Suite F Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 837-1119 brightonbuilderssc.com
BAUER DENTAL ASSOCIATES
What are you passionate about? What makes your eyes light up with excitement when you talk about it?
What is your motto in life? The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done unto you. If you could walk out the door tomorrow, and start a new career, what would it be? A professional golfer What terrible movie do you love? Die Hard What game are you good at? Trivial Pursuit
JEFFREY C. BAUER
Favorite local charitable organization? Bluffton Self Help Favorite book or podcast? C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity 23 Promenade St. Bluffton, SC 29910 bauerdental@hargray.com bauerdental.net
B RI GH TON BU I LDERS
Was there a time when you learned something important in business by observing what not to do? I’ve learned that service is king! Not only must you have a quality product, but offering superior service will set you apart and help you build the client relationship that will take the experience from good to great.
Building beyond—taking whatever it is to the next level. I really am passionate about taking something from nothing and turning it into something amazing and unexpected. My family is at the center of my life. Being able to share my knowledge with my kids, watching them learn and grow is the most rewarding thing to me.
BEN KENNEDY
What is your motto in life? Make it happen! Whatever you want to achieve, in business or in your personal life, you have to go for it! Only you can make it happen!
JUST CUSHIONS his friends formed multiple businesses together, sparking his interest in business and self-employment. Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree, Larry Jr. moved back to HHI and began to immerse himself in his family trade, trying to educate himself on all things business. Larry Jr. and his family pride themselves on producing only the finest finished product, working with integrity, and demonstrating professionalism from start to finish. Just Cushions has a very knowledgeable staff who provide exemplary customer service from the moment you walk into their showroom until the time the project is complete. Integrity has been the best recipe for success for Just Cushions by doing what they say they are going to do: show up on time, and do the right thing no matter what. Larry Jr. had the following to say, “When you walk in our door, we treat you
like family. I want your time with us to be an experience, not just a purchase. Our focus is for myself and staff to form a lifelong working relationship with you starting now and for generations to come.” Larry Jr. hopes that he and his wife Gulianna (Just Cushions showroom manager) will have three sons: one son to sew, one son to upholster, and one son to run the business. However, girls would suffice as well! 45 New Orleans Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 681-9995 Justcushionshhi.com
LARRY SETOLA JR.
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ecently, at age 26, Larry Setola Jr. was handed the torch to continue his family’s three-generation upholstery business, Just Cushions Upholstery & Fabric Gallery. While his grandfather and father are starting to take a reduced role, working primarily in the workroom behind the scenes, Larry Jr. is managing all facets of the business. Those duties include showroom sales, workroom, customer relations, bookkeeping, and much more. Larry Jr. grew up on Hilton Head Island and has been enveloped by the family business since its opening in 1994. He started making buttons on the workroom press at the age of five. Unbeknownst to him, his participation in the family business was predestined his entire life. After graduating HHCA, Larry Jr. moved to New York City to further his education. In college, he and
T H E W E S T I N H I LT O N H E A D I S L A N D R E S O R T & S P A
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ichael Scioscia has a few things in common with Charles Fraser, but perhaps the most apparent is that, like Fraser, he is a visionary. Scioscia brings over 30 years of experience leading world-class resorts into the light by creating strategic melodies of robust enhancements. CH2 had the pleasure of learning what he sees for the future of the island and his newly renovated Westin resort.
JOHN WASEM
E L A’ S O N T H E W A T E R
MICHAEL SCIOSCIA
What motivates you professionally? In every position I’ve taken, I’ve been able change the game. I’ve led teams to think differently about how we accomplish goals. I’m excited to create experiences that residents and guests line up for. The Westin Hilton Head will lead the way with innovation and debunk the paradigm of “off-season.” Why did you choose Hilton Head? The people. Everywhere I go, from Jane Bistro at Shelter Cove to Freedom Park just north of the hotel, the friendly members of this community have an inspiring nature. What makes you passionate about hospitality? When I started my career as a chef at the very first Marriott hotel, Bill and JW Marriott would come in from time to time and took interest in how our associates were faring. That care and attention really struck a chord with me and still does to this day. 2 Grasslawn Avenue (843) 681-4000 michael.scioscia1@westin.com westinhiltonheadisland.com
What is your motto in life? Try your hardest at whatever you do, learn from your mistakes, and strive to keep getting better. If you could walk out the door tomorrow and start a new career, what would it be? I don’t think I could ever completely walk away from the service industry as a whole, because I enjoy making people happy. Although, I do have life goals to open a music venue as well as an artist management company. In a prior life, I was a touring musician, but was always more interested in the business side of things. Booking music for all three of our family’s restaurants (ELA’S, The Pearl, and Roadhouse), I have the experience in both the restaurant and entertainment industry, to create a venue that highlights the best of both worlds. What game are you really good at? I spent three years as an assistant golf professional in the Chicagoland area, so at one point in my life, I was pretty good golfer. I have two
children under five and a hectic work schedule of restaurant management, wine buying, and booking entertainment, so my game isn’t quite as solid as it once was. Favorite local charitable organization Volunteers in Medicine What do you think about when you are alone in your car? I try to enjoy the silence and think about absolutely nothing, but that doesn’t always work out so well. What is your favorite book or podcast? Radiolab—a great science podcast from NPR 1 Shelter Cove Lane Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 785-3030 johnwasem@elasgrille.com elasgrille.com
4 Indigo Run Dr. Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 422-6925 Hiltonheadgroup4builders.com
JACK ON SITE WITH MIKE AND CHRIS AS THEY START CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW HOME IN WINDMILL HARBOUR.
GROUP 4 BUILDERS
JACK RESNICK
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or nearly 14 years, Group 4 Builders has been building a reputation in the Lowcountry for quality residential construction based on six key elements. Jack Resnick, owner of the company, understands that 1) no one wants any surprises in price, 2) everyone wants an honest contractor, 3) customers expect a quality job, and 4) they want it done on time. His fifth and sixth are to “keep his clients informed frequently of the progress and make all jobs hassle-free.” Resnick has lived in this area for 20 years and vacationed here almost every year since 1974. Three of his five grandchildren and daughter live locally as well, and when he’s not building or remodeling homes, you will find him with those grandchildren, or visiting his son and grandchildren in Seattle, or on the golf course. He readily admits that in this robust market, there’s not much time for anything but work. Is there a businessman that you would look up to? Jack responded, “That’s easy; it would be Joe Fraser, owner of Fraser Construction, a commercial construction company. Joe has integrity, vast knowledge of construction, good people, and he generously gives back to this community.” We asked Resnick if he could rewrite his career and was able to do anything, what would that be and he said, “What I’m doing now or bartending and sailing in the Caribbean.”
Is there a local businessman that you look up to? It’s actually a business woman. It’s my wife Deena Paradiso. She is the owner of Modern Barn on the island. She is a smart, motivated and gifted business person. She inspires me. What is your motto in life? “It’s better to be interested than interesting.” If you could walk out the door tomorrow, and start a new career, what would it be? I can’t see myself doing anything else. I enjoy what I do and look forward to going to work every day. At what age would you like to retire? It’s interesting because I spend a lot of time helping other people prepare and live in retirement, but at this point, I have no desire to retire myself. I enjoy working.
is very bright and a true joy to watch grow. The sky’s the limit for him. I couldn’t be prouder to be his father! But he is, after all, a teenager, so pity the fool. A close second to Adrienne and Aiden, however, is playing golf, vacationing at Walt Disney World or watching my beloved New England Patriots.
If you could walk out the door tomorrow, and start a new career, what would it be? As much as I love practicing medicine and truly feel as if it’s my calling in this life, I think it would be pretty neat to be a musician. The adrenaline they must feel performing on stage in front of thousands must be incredible!
What do you think about when you are alone in your car? Think? There’s no time for that when you’re belting out a tune! And yes, I sing in my car. By myself. Don’t you?!
What are you passionate about? What makes your eyes light up with excitement when you talk about it? Without hesitation, I am most passionate about my beautiful wife, Adrienne, and my son, Aiden. Adrienne has this larger-than-life personality and a zest for life that’s truly contagious. Although I would never tell this to her directly, I think she’s the funniest, wittiest person I know. Aiden
What are you passionate about? What makes your eyes light up with excitement when you talk about it? Youth sports. I believe it helps develop life skills that will be valuable and utilized throughout their lifetime: How do you deal with success? More important, how do you deal with failure? How do you work together as a group yet standout as an individual? Rank these things in order of importance in business: a) Honesty/Integrity b) Persistence c) Cash Flow d) A unique idea Honesty and integrity are always essential in business and in personal life, but persistence is a very underrated quality. It could be the difference between success and failure. 1000 William Hilton Pkwy., Suite C5 (Village at Wexford) Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (212) 806-6303 tdowling@aegiscap.com
Thomas M. Dowling is a Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Representative of and offers securities products and advisory services through Aegis Capital Corporation Member FINRA/SIPC as well as a SEC Registered Investment Adviser. As such, these services are strictly intended for individuals residing in the states in which the advisor is licensed.
How would you convince someone to do something that they didn’t want to do? If I can convince a middleaged male to get an annual rectal exam, I think it’s safe to say that I can convince anyone to do something that they don’t want to do. 23 Plantation Park Drive, Suite 401B Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 815-5566 drchrisvitalpersonalizedhealthcare.com vitalpersonalizedhealthcare.com
A EG IS C AP ITA L C O R P.
Area of expertise: Financial and Wealth Planning
What is your motto in life? I’d rather be 65 and tell you all of the things that I’ve done rather than 65 and tell you all of the things that I still want to do. In my line of work, I have learned that tomorrow is truly promised to no one. So, don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today.
THOMAS M. DOWLING
DR. CHRISTOPHER LEBLANC
V I T A L P E R S O N A L I Z E D H E A LT H C A R E
john.brown@chhj.com (843) 816-7179 collegehunkshaulingjunk.com/ locations/sc/hilton-head
COLLEGE HUNKS HAULING JUNK AND MOVING
JOHN BROWN
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ohn Brown is the proud owner of the Hilton Head, South Carolina area College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving, which opened for business on November 1st 2017. A native of Queens, New York, Brown retired from the United States Air Force after 20 years of dedicated service. Brown began his Air Force career in 1985, serving as a security policeman, an Air Force recruiter and culminating his career as Flight Superintendent of the Airman and Family Readiness Center, where he was charged with taking care of active duty members and their families. After retirement, Brown continued to serve his country as a civil servant working for the Air Force, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and finishing his career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He has a combined 31 years of military and civilian service to his country. Brown’s vision of one day owning a College HUNKS franchise began several years ago after seeing their truck alongside the highway in Washington, D.C. He researched the company and loved what he learned. Brown finally took his love and dream of becoming a business owner and stepped out on faith, opening College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving. Brown connects most with the franchise’s core values: Building Leaders, Always Branding, Listen, Fulfill and Delight and lastly, Creating a Fun and Enthusiastic Team Environment. He enjoys mentoring and being involved in his community. College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving provides an array of services to include general labor, home and office junk removal, general move labor and local full-service residential and commercial moves. Brown prides his business in providing first class quality customer service. Brown is a father of three sons, John Jr., Rashad and Jamel, ages 28, 25 and 23. He is the proud grandfather to his little one-year-old princess, Lilliana. Brown is married to his lovely wife, Saudah, of 25 years. Saudah, an Air Force retired veteran and Hilton Head Island High graduate, is the proud owner of Decorating Den Interiors. John and Saudah enjoy family trips, boating, and are die-hard Gamecock fans. They both love tailgating USC football games and spending time with family and friends.
OMBRA CUCINA ITALIANA
Is there a local businessman you look up to? The legend and icon James “Big Jim” Haslam, Founder of Pilot Oil. What is your motto in life? You do your best, and let God do the rest! If you could walk out the door tomorrow, and start a new career, what would it be? Chef. It’s the only thing I know! At what age would you like to retire? When I’m dead... Sorry—at least I’m honest.
Is there a local businessman that you look up to? A couple of them; one is my father Berry Edwards who started The Greenery, and Brian Carmines whose family owns Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks. What is your motto in life? Do the best you can every day. If you could walk out the door tomorrow, and start a new career, what would it be? I’ve already done that. I love what I do now. I had a career for about 20 years and decided to change things up and got into the automotive service business. What terrible movie do you love? There are a couple bad movies I love: Starship Troopers and Gone in 60 Seconds. At what age would you like to retire? Probably 65 or 70.
Rank these things in order of importance in business: 1) Honesty/Integrity 2) Cash Flow 3) An unique idea 4) Persistence Honesty and integrity. All else will follow, as long as you follow rule #1. 1000 William Hilton Parkway, #G-2 Village at Wexford (843) 842-5505 michaellaurenc@gmail.com ombrahhi.com
ISLAND TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
MICHAEL CIRAFESI
What are you passionate about? What makes your eyes light up with excitement when you talk about it? The food and wine of Italy—more wine than food; it’s an obsession and addiction.
Favorite book or podcast? Book: Band of Brothers, by Stephen E. Ambrose 4 Palmetto Bay Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 785-3841 islandtireauto.com 271 William Hilton Pkwy Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 681-2513
BERRY EDWARDS
What do you think about when you are alone in your car? How to fix something.
65 Lawrence St. Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 247-2351 simpson.construction
SIMPSON CONSTRUCTION
JOSH SIMPSON
T
he first generation on both sides of my family to, at some point, not farm tobacco, I was introduced to the world of construction through a beloved family friend, Tommy Thompson. I relocated to the Lowcountry via East Carolina University’s Construction Management program in May, 2003. My goal at that time was to gain as much experience as I could in five years and take that knowledge back home with me to Roxboro, N.C. My future wife came down the following year when her Eastern N.C. home was damaged during Hurricane Isabel. Beth and I are now the proud parents of two boys, Henry, six and Cooper, nine. We consider ourselves beyond blessed to be raising our family here in the Lowcountry. Over the years, I’ve had the good fortune to work with several great builders—from our nation’s largest production builder, where scheduling and time management skills where an absolute necessity, to a pair of local builders specializing in historic restoration and fine custom home building. Over three years ago, my employer at the time closed their doors after 39 years in business. This provided me and five others the opportunity to fill a need left in their absence. From that time, we have grown and sought to improve upon an already high level of dedicated care, craftsmanship and client relations. It is our goal at Simpson Construction to provide the best and most knowledgeable team in the construction industry to offer a service and finished product second to none. It is with this commitment that we continue to build and serve our community.
Bluffton, SC (843) 441-8289 brand43tech.com brand43tech@gmail.com
What terrible movie do you love? I am a dork at heart. I love any dumb comedy; my favorite has to be Dumb and Dumber. At what age would you like to retire? Forty-eight would be nice, but I am not so sure I want to retire—just be able to be more flexible on how much I work. I love to work, so I will never be 100 percent done until I am dead. Have you ever fired a client? What did that experience teach you? I do not make a habit out of firing customers because of the old saying, “The customer is always right.” However, from time to time it has to be done. Some customers can drain all the positive morale in the office and can just be downright mean. I try not to make this call myself; we talk about it amongst ourselves, and if the majority agree that there is just nothing more we can do for the customer, we politely ask them to take the business elsewhere. Favorite book or podcast? I have a few books I consider must-reads for anyone, business or not, as the ideas can be extrapolated to life in general. They are E-Myth Mastery: The Seven Essential Disciplines for Building a World Class Company, The Millionaire Fast Lane, and for anyone in my industry HVAC Spells Wealth.
BRAND43 TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
36 Persimmon St., Suite 202 Bluffton, SC 29910 (800) 828-2665 Info@Superior.AC Superior.AC
BRANDON MILLER
SUPERIOR HEATING & AIR DAVE MILLER
B
randon Miller, the son of a fallen federal officer and a retired career teacher, has called the South Carolina Lowcountry his home since 2007. With a passion for technology, Brandon, the owner/operator of Brand43 Technologies LLC, left his native state of Pennsylvania to pursue his career. After attending college for engineering, armed with only an idea, he began to offer his innovative technology solutions to the residents of Brays Island Plantation and other established communities. Embracing our Lowcountry lifestyle, he has become a true local professional who offers a unique approach to the rapidly advancing world of technology. He dedicates himself to developing lasting relationships, while becoming familiar with both his commercial and residential clients’ needs. Providing superior service while keeping an impeccable reputation is of the upmost importance to him and the continued growth of Brand43 Technologies. Specializing in custom solutions to meet every individual project, Brand43 Technologies provides installation and support solutions for computers, WiFi, audio / video, home automation and much more. During his leisure time, you’ll likely find Brandon with his friends and family out on his boat, exploring the area’s beautiful coastal waterways.
Is there a local businessman that you look up to? I look up to just about all my competitors, whether they know it or not. This is a tough business, and it takes a lot of skill to stay in it.
6 Queens Folly Rd Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 Office Phone: 843-842-1111 Cellphone: 843-422-5933 jeff@jeffhuntandassociates.com jeffh.dunesrealestate.com
JEFF HUNT & ASSOCIATES
JEFF HUNT
F
or Jeff Hunt, the business of selling real estate is more than just buying and selling homes. Each property represents an investment, a financial decision that can have a lasting impact on your bottom line for years to come. So it’s important that you make the right decision. Getting to that right decision takes perspective, which is what Hunt brings to the table. He’s spent decades in real estate investment: buying, selling, leasing and managing commercial and residential property, while running his own sports marketing firm in Charlotte. “As long as I can remember I’ve always thought about real estate,” he said. “This goes back to high school for me.” He bought his first home 35 years ago after attending Elon College, and it was off to the races. While building CES Marketing Solutions, one of the top 100 screen printing and embroidery companies in the country, he was immersing himself in real estate, owning upwards of a dozen properties at a time. For years, it was a passion he pursued while building his business empire. A move to Hilton Head Island allowed him to pursue it full time. “I’d been visiting the Lowcountry fairly regularly, and someone told me, ‘You like selling real estate so much, you should do it here,’” he said. He started right as the real estate market started to decline in 2005. It might have seemed like poor timing to anyone else. “I love solving problems, and I’m very strategic,” he said. “I don’t look at the next step, I tend to look at the next five. Because that first step might be to step backwards.” It’s a sense of perspective that he brings to bear in helping his clients find the best real estate investment possible. Even if they’re not necessarily looking at it as an investment. “I view it as a business decision, even if it’s for pleasure,” he said. “The way I see it, you’re investing in your family. If you buy a half-million-dollar home for the family to enjoy, that’s a half million you’re allocating to fun.” In this, we see a crucial difference between Jeff Hunt and most realtors, crafted from his years of experience running a multi-million-dollar business while delving deep into the real estate world. It’s a sense of perspective, a different way of looking at real estate. “Bringing that perspective to the table gives my clients confidence,” he said. “They know when they’ve made a decision that they’ve made a good one. Because they’ve been educated.” Jeff’s solid foundation in business lets clients rest easy, knowing they’re making the best financial decision. And his thorough knowledge of the local real estate market means they’re going to find their ideal property, whether investing in their portfolio or their family.
SENTEXT SOLUTIONS
Is there a local businessman that you look up to? Yes. Robby. Owner of Bill’s Liquor & Fine Wine in Bluffton Summarize your business in a sentence. Sentext Solutions provides any business / organization the ability to market or communicate with your customers or members through text messages. They voluntarily sign up to receive any text message you want to send them. What is your motto in life? Your life begins outside of your comfort zone. Was there a time when you learned something important in business by observing what NOT to do? Tell us about that. Yes. Never assume anything in business. Always make sure you are on the same page with anyone you do business with.
(843) 296-2209 jvarin@leebuilthomes.com leebuilthomes.com
How would you convince someone to do something they didn’t want to do? Listen to their “why.” What’s the reason they don’t want to do it? Then earn their trust and take away their fear. 48 Bear Creek Drive Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (508) 692-7937 or (843) 608-9151 dsinkiewicz@sentextsolutions.com sentextsolutions.com
LEE BUILT HOMES
J
oey Varin is the owner of Lee Built Homes. He was born and raised on Hilton Head Island and has recently moved back with his family so his children can enjoy the beauty of the area and the people who live here. He spent his time away from the island primarily in Charleston, S.C., only leaving there for a few years in the Army with the 10th Mountain Division. After leaving the Army and starting his career in residential construction, Varin learned early on the importance of listening to clients, problem solving, and providing them with guidance when they need it. It was those skills that allowed him to forge his own path in 2014 and begin Lee Built Homes. Varin’s and Lee Built Homes’ mission is to build a legacy of quality homes by creating value in all of their renovations and new homes through effective management and relationship building. Varin wants you to enjoy the building and renovation experience, and his goal is that the end result is even better than you envisioned. When he’s not busy with construction he spends as much time as possible with his little girls and wife, usually in some body of water.
What are you passionate about? What makes your eyes light up with excitement when you talk about it? I love helping people. I always try to offer helpful advice. Then I enjoy watching that advice turn into success for them.
JOEY VARIN
DAN SINKIEWICZ
Favorite Local Charitable Organization? ASPCA—American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Anything to help animals.
KEVIN KING ASSOCIATES ago. Harmon has been quite successful building his own client base and has a variety of listings from Bluffton to the mainland. Formerly in the property management business, Tripp Hawkins, a former collegiate tennis player and graduate of USC-Beaufort, joined Kevin King Associates this spring. Hawkins has been providing client services and helping with website, database management and marketing ideas as he learns the business. Harmon and Hawkins have teamed with SparkGolf to launch a new golf league in the area. Rounding out the Kevin King Associates team is Charlotte Stringer, a native of Wales, UK. Her international real estate sales background brings yet another element of expertise to the team. Whether it’s the “gentlemen” or the women on the Kevin King Associates team, it’s safe to say they share King’s philosophy, which he learned early in his
career from a mentor. “He encouraged me to build long-lasting relationships with my clients,” King said. “My wish for my team is that they enjoy meeting the very best of people from around the world and be fortunate enough to not only do business with them, but to build the kind of lasting friendships that I’ve been so fortunate to do.” King said his motto could be: “Having clients makes your business, but having friends makes your life.” 2 Colleton River Dr. Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 815-8650 – Weekdays (843) 384-9466 – Weekends kevin@kevinkingassociates.com kevinkingassociates.com
M I B
A
ccording to Steve Jobs, “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” Perhaps that was in the back of his mind when Kevin King decided to grow his real estate team several years ago. King, an agent with Charter One Realty, has been a top Realtor in the Lowcountry for over 30 years. A former mortgage banker, King realized as he grew his personal real estate business that it was necessary to build a team that could offer the same level of service to his clients and growing referral base. In addition to Lorraine Borger, King’s client coordinator, who has been with him since he joined Charter One 20 years ago, Kevin King Associates has taken on three new associates. Joining King’s “gentlemen in business” team two years ago was Steve Harmon, a former firefighter from New York, who relocated to the Lowcountry four years
Favorite Local Charitable Organization? Palmetto Animal League. As a dog dad of two rescues, I love the people at PAL and their cause! What do you think about when you are alone in your car? I am constantly on the phone in my car. In real estate, there is not a lot of alone time, and I prefer it that way!
MAYER SUTPHIN GROUP
What game are you really good at? Connect Four! You can catch me at FishCamp on the Connect Four quite often.
Mayer Sutphin Group at Engel & Vรถlkers 7 New Orleans Rd Hilton Head Island, SC 843-384-3006 tanner.sutphin@evusa tannersutphin.evusa.com
TANNER SUTPHIN
Favorite book or podcast? Anything Brian Tracy
SNS TECHNOLOGIES
Is there a local businessman you look up to? Jeffrey Robinowich, who owns Morris Garage in downtown Bluffton. What is your motto in life? Don’t know if this is a motto but this drives my wife and daughter crazy: When driving, I can’t pass by a person begging for money and not give them anything. I tried once but ended up turning around and giving him 20 bucks. I think I gave a guy at the gas station $50 for gas. If you could walk out the door tomorrow, and start a new career, what would it be? Open up a doggie daycare and training facility. What terrible movie do you love? Tropic Thunder What game are you really good at? Connect Four Was there a time when you learned something important in business by observing what not to do? Tell us about that. I was a tech for Megatech in 1996, and I was assigned to a sales rep to meet a new client. During the meeting, the sales rep downed a lot of our competition, and I mean just trashed them. I was raised if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything. Also we have some great competition here in Bluffton, so it keeps us on our toes. Favorite local charitable organization? Hilton Head Island Recreation Center At what age would you like to retire? Twenty-four hours after I wake up and don’t love what I do anymore. Have you ever fired a client? What did that experience teach you? Yes, the client was very hard to please. We tried everything and came to realize they just wanted free service, and we had to part ways. I learned that you should be nice to your clients but be careful, because there are a lot of people out there who will try to take advantage of you. What are you passionate about? What makes your eyes light up with excitement when you talk about it? I love it when a client has a problem in their business and we come up with a solution to help them be more productive and efficient; then we get to implement the solution and support and grow with the client. What do you think about when you are alone in your car? Ummm, can people see me?
Preferred social media channel? Facebook or LinkedIn How would you convince someone to do something they didn’t want to do? I have had a lot of practice with this; been with my wife since 1996, so I would just beg, beg, and beg. They give in eventually. 49 Pennington Drive Suite D (843) 757-7873 mike@snstechnologies.net snstechnologies.net
More than your IT Department
MICHAEL RAY
Favorite book or podcast? The Atlantis Gene
The Principals of the Advertising and PR firm, Gardo, Doughtie and Rose, at Lawton Stables in Sea Pines, circa 1982. From left to right: Tim Doughtie, Tom Gardo and John David Rose.
Men Who Helped Make Article by Kingston Rose photography by m.kat
Hilton Head Island and Greater Bluffton an “Even Better” Special Place to Live F
ew stories about Hilton Head Island can begin without referencing Charles Fraser and his iconic master-planned resort community prototype, Sea Pines Plantation. Fraser’s exceptional vision for developing an Atlantic Coastal island into a world-renowned vacation home and retirement destination not only set in place the beginnings of a remarkable environmentally responsible city by the sea, but also attracted scores of bright, intuitive, creative young men inspired by his foresight. Many of these Fraser disciples from the late 1960s and early 1970s have since made their own mark by setting “best practice” land development standards and creating award-winning communities and neighborhoods both locally and across America. Most of those early followers moved on to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Fortunately, however, a few of the best remained in place. They set their roots here and determined their children would grow up appreciating this special corner of South Carolina, knowing the difference between an egret and a heron, and how to check the tide tables before heading to the beach. Several are well-known community figures, now in their late 60s and early 70s. Others have somewhat faded in memory. But all have contributed in significant ways to mold Hilton Head Island and Greater Bluffton into the unique place it is today, by
either what they specifically accomplished, or by what they stopped from happening. JOHN REED Considered by many as “the man who made Greater Bluffton come to life,” John Reed, without question, has been the prime mover in extending upscale neighborhoods from Hilton Head Island onto the mainland. Since 1989 Reed, together with a long list of financial, development and consulting partners, has put in place five exceptional large-scale private communities in the geographic area known as Greater Bluffton. These include Colleton River Plantation, Belfair, Berkeley Hall, Hampton Hall and Hampton Lake. Additionally, Reed and his associates played a major role in the commercial development of Belfair Town Village and major commercial sites
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John Reed works on his next project at his office in Old Town Bluffton.
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John Cardamone near his home in Spanish Wells.
along Buckwalter Parkway including Berkeley Place and Buckwalter Place. And still, while having turned CEO control of The Reed Group to his son Pratt earlier this year, Reed continues to keep his hand in shaping the Greater Bluffton area with new projects in The Argent Tract and other places. Spring Island co-founder Jim Chaffin, one of Fraser’s senior Sea Pines executives and most ardent disciples, also hired Reed as a young 22-year-old sales rep in 1972. And he sees a number of comparisons among the two influential developers. “John doesn’t have the same imagination as Charles did,” Chaffin said, “but he certainly has shown keen foresight in a lot of his development decisions. He also has the same insatiable work ethic and a commitment to doing things well.” Son of a dairy farmer Working hard has never been an issue for Reed. Son of a small dairy farmer in Franklin, Tennessee, he remembers only too well the days of his youth, getting up in the dark at 4:30 each morning to milk cows and then returning after school each afternoon at 4:30 to milk them again. “The importance of keeping busy was instilled in us boys early on,” Reed said. “John’s work ethic was quickly evident,” Chaffin said. “John had real initiative. He caught on quickly about what we were trying to attain at Sea Pines, and he understood the subtle differences of building a subdivision and creating a real neighborhood. It’s a subtle distinction that not every young developer comprehends.” Reed also had of gift of sensing and grabbing onto market trends. He witnessed the enormous success David Ames and his partners were having with Long Cove Club on Hilton Head Island in the late 1980s and realized there would be continued high demand among upper-income Hilton Head vacationers for re-settling in this area to build retirement homes within inclusive, master-planned, upscale country club-style communities, which would highlight golf courses built by celebrated golf architects. Reed teamed up with a new acquaintance, John Cardamone, who had some financial relationships and community-building skills, and the two attempted to purchase land owned by Greenwood Development near Hilton Head Island’s north end (now known as Palmetto Hall). But Greenwood’s executives resisted because of their own need to create more golf courses to meet the escalating demand. “Nonetheless, we were really certain that demand was great enough to go off-island and that upscale golfers would follow if we could find the right piece of land for the right price as well as a great golf course architect,” Reed said. Everything fell in place with Colleton River Plantation. 78
www.celebratehiltonhead.com
Colleton River starts the trend With the help of David Everett, Peter Millichap, Thad King and Johnny Ussery, Reed and Cardamone discovered a magnificent piece of land facing the pristine Colleton River that leads to Port Royal Sound. It was priced to sell, largely because it has no natural access to Highway 278. But once the access issue was solved, Reed’s team was able to entice Jack Nicklaus to build the first golf course, and the buyers did line up to follow. In 1993, when Golf Digest awarded the Nicklaus Golf Course at Colleton River best new private course in America, a new trend took root. Belfair, Berkeley Hall and Hampton Hall quickly followed. Homebuyers liked what they found, and a new look for Greater Bluffton’s pine and oakcovered countryside had been established. High risk, high reward Although it seems only natural now that a move to the mainland to build new golf communities made sense, this mindset simply wasn’t so in the late 1980s. Only two upscale planned developments had been tried on the mainland—Moss Creek and Rose Hill—and both were struggling financially at the time. Reed credits several of his own financial backers for their willingness to stick with his ideas. In particular, he mentions noted philanthropist Cordelia Mellon Scaife May and Roger and Sarah Meyer as financial backers “who believed in our ideas and kept us afloat.” Diana Permar, former trustee of the Urban Land Institute credits Reed’s “contagious enthusiasm” for his beliefs and his engaging personality as reasons for his success, often against great odds. And never was his intuition, (based largely on new market research, showing that America’s love for golf was trending downward) tested more than in 2002 when Reed shocked his peers by scrapping an already underway potential fifth golf course community to create a “prototype lake community.” His resulting Hampton Lake, with $67 million in upfront costs that included digging up the golf course for a 170-acre, freshwater lake, then stocking it with bass, and building a lakefront village, ended up being both successful and award-winning. It was named by the National Association of Homebuilders in 2008 as “Best New Community in America.” Quite frankly, not enough can be said about what John Reed has done for Greater Bluffton since 1989—not just for fearlessly taking huge risks to build exceptional planned communities and provide for new commercial developments, but for igniting the region’s economy for generations to come with many thousands of new residents and new jobs. It has been estimated that Reed’s projects both residential, recreational and commercial have totaled more than $2 billion for the area’s economy over the past 30 years. JOHN CARDAMONE Initially a partner with John Reed at Colleton River Plantation and the early years of Belfair, John Cardamone sought his own path in the Greater Bluffton area and has since become recognized as the prime mover of middle income workforce housing in the area. An experienced homebuilder, Cardamone didn’t have Fraser roots, but came to southern Beaufort County from Alcoa Properties, where he had spent nearly 10 years creating the Dataw Island community near Beaufort. Cardamone was among the first to recognize that with the growing tourism market plus all the new construction going on for private golf club communities and the influx of retirees to communities like Del Webb’s Sun City, there also needed to be quality-construction, singlefamily housing built for middle-income working people. Cardamone got his feet wet with a 130-homesite pocketneighborhood adjacent to Colleton River called Sawmill Forest. With its modest success, he launched into establishing his Village Park Home Company and Craftbuilt Homes, which resulted in a slew of affordable neighborhoods across Bluffton including Woodbridge, Sandy Point, Arborwood, The Willows, Barton’s Run, Lawton Station, Alston Park and others. Altogether Cardamone has been responsible for 22 communities and more than 10,000 homes in the immediate area plus further south in Pooler and Brunswick, Georgia with more to come. All are family-friendly with bikeways, parks and playgrounds. Thinking back, Cardamone reflects on his first large neighborhood: Woodbridge, which was “stuck back in the woods with just a narrow, long, two-lane entrance road from Highway 278.” That entranceway is now Buckwalter Parkway. “I feel we have done a pretty good job of providing for a lot of working people who have been the real backbone of making this area a great place to live.” AUGUST 2018
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David Ames at the dock leading out to the Long Cove Marina.
DAVID AMES David Ames has been taking initiative to improve the quality of life on Hilton Head Island virtually since the first day he arrived to join Charles Fraser’s Sea Pines Company in 1973. Ames was fresh from the academic world, where he earned his master’s degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, following undergraduate work at Princeton. He remembers the early Fraser years as an incredible learning experience as well, which took him from northern Florida (Amelia Island Plantation) to Charleston (Kiawah Island) and back to Hilton Head Island, where he focused on Hilton Head Plantation. Now a Hilton Head Town Councilman, Ames is best known for the days which followed his Sea Pines learning experience, when he launched Long Cove Club in 1980 with partners Joe Webster and Wes Wilhelm. Long Cove was the first private “bundled” golf community in the region. The trio had recognized that while Sea Pines had established a new type of master-planned resort and residential community, it had also whetted the appetite among certain residents for something slightly different: a private residential club community where all property owners were club members and all club members were property owners, and vacationers were not allowed. The concept became an instant marketing success. The homesites were sold out within months. Long Cove became its own model for several “next generation” communities in Greater Bluffton—specifically Colleton River, Belfair and Berkeley Hall as well as Indigo Run and Palmetto Hall on Hilton Head Island. Ames recalls meticulous planning for Long Cove—so much so that he personally walked each and every one of its more than 600 homesites. “I know of few developers who care so much about doing things the right way as David Ames,” said Diana Permar. “He intensely values the environment, collaboration, excellence, great design and innovation.” A testament to Ames’ passion for the beauty of Hilton Head Island as a whole was in 1982 when he learned that the SC Highway Department was going to widen U.S. Highway 278 from the bridge to Sea Pines Circle and clear-cut all the way from one end to the other. Distressed about the potential loss of dozens of magnificent oaks along the route, Ames organized a volunteer citizens group to curtail the clear-cutting effort. Ames and his group marked scores of significant trees along the route with ribbons. Their dedication so impressed the state’s road designers that the original plans were altered, resulting in the saving of the majestic oaks that we admire 36 years later as we drive the stretch of highway between Palmetto Dunes and Shelter Cove Towne Centre. GLEN MCCASKEY Have you ever wondered how the Sea Pines Forest Preserve came to be; or how bike trails got started on Hilton Head; or why there is Dolphin Head Playground and not elegant condominiums overlooking Port Royal Sound as the most scenic vista in Hilton Head Plantation; why there is a farm in the middle of Sea Pines; or why a bridge over Highway 278 connects the two sides of Sun City? There is one answer to all of these questions: A man named Glen McCaskey. Not often mentioned in the historic annals of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, McCaskey is an unassuming church elder at Grace Community Church on Spanish Wells Road, who is now quietly semi-retired. Yet he had the guiding hand in all of the above and more. AUGUST 2018
McCaskey arrived on Hilton Head Island in 1969, when, as he recalls, “there was not a single place you could get an ice cream cone!” Earlier that year, he had accidentally met up with Charles Fraser. Both he and Fraser were making presentations at an environmental conference at the Aspen Institute in Colorado. McCaskey, at the time, was working for the Laurence Rockefeller family in Manhattan, overseeing the promotion of several RockResorts properties they owned in the Caribbean and the U.S. West. The two took an immediate liking to each other and, fascinated by the opportunities that Fraser seemed to reveal about Hilton Head Island, McCaskey decided to forego the high-life of city living and global travel to discover a remote island in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Sea Pines Forest Preserve Upon arrival, McCaskey was handed the responsibility of overseeing the environmental and recreational planning, development and management for all Sea Pines Company ventures apart from golf and tennis. One of the very first tasks was to take the approximate 600 interior acres of the 5,200-acre Sea Pines Plantation Community, which included a land fill and a sewage treatment plant, and “turn it into a mini-national park.” “I asked Charles if this was the same place I had heard about that had a herd of wild boars,” McCaskey said. “He confirmed that it was and told me something had to be done because the boars were running loose and uprooting the fresh grass that was growing on the brand-new Harbour Town golf course.” From that point forward, McCaskey and his team, which soon would include future celebrated naturalist Todd Ballantine as a young “forest ranger,” began the arduous and often dangerous task of planning the design, boardwalks and trails that have made the Forest Preserve one of Hilton Head Island’s most treasured landmarks and visited sites. The boardwalks were put in place with air guns. McCaskey recalls one long day watching islander Raymond Enslow, up to his chest in the Preserve’s Lake Joe, building the first footbridge to Fish Island with a revolver strapped around his neck while a nine-foot alligator stalked him just a few yards away. Heritage Farm It was at this same time that McCaskey brought to life Heritage Farm as a response to Fraser’s pronouncement that McCaskey had to find solution to people growing vegetable gardens in their front yards. “The problem was that several new residents wanted to plant flower and vegetable gardens but couldn’t because of the deer population, and there were Sea Pines covenants preventing fences between homes. McCaskey came up with the idea for a community farm on land that was technically part of the Forest Preserve. An authorized fence was built, and the soil was enriched with enhanced dirt from the sewerage acreage on the opposite edge of the forest. This initial concept has been copied by hundreds of planned communities across America. The First Bike Trails McCaskey remembers the first bike trails built on the island in late 1970 that ran from the Ocean Gate (there was no Greenwood Gate) to the Plantation Club and Turtle Lane Cabanas (there www.celebratehiltonhead.com 79
was also no South Beach). Early residents were both skeptical and negative, calling our trails “another big waste of money by Mr. Fraser because they would never be used.” Glen remembers residents complaining to him about the trails, claiming that he and Charles were “paving over everything!” The Playground at Dolphin Head One of the most vociferous debates that McCaskey encountered in his new role was at Hilton Head Plantation’s Dolphin Head, where a majority of senior officers of the company wanted to construct an elegant condominium complex that would overlook the magnificent view to Port Royal Sound, much like what was being built along the eighteenth fairway of the Harbour Town Golf Links. It was obvious that such a structure would generate substantial income, which the company needed at the time, but Fraser gave McCaskey the opportunity to convince his counterparts that leaving the land open for the entire Hilton Head Plantation population to enjoy would, in the long run, have greater benefit for the long-term value of the community. McCaskey’s experience as Captain of the College of William & Mary intercollegiate debating team won the day to the great pleasure of generations that will follow. The Bridge Over 278 at Sun City Later in McCaskey’s career, following interludes as a two-year Christian missionary in Europe and several years as a vice president with the PR and advertising firm of Gardo, Doughtie & Rose on Hilton Head, McCaskey was vice president of community relations with Del Webb’s Sun City from 1994 to 2000. Because Sun City was situated on both sides of Highway 278, it was determined that a bridge for the residents needed to be built to get from one side to the other on golf carts and bicycles as well by car. A stop light crossing was considered far too dangerous. When unexpected delays occurred, McCaskey was tasked with seeing that the job get done, and rather than create a standard highway foot crossing, he designed a stunning span that included landscaping and carved concrete relief depicting Lowcountry scenes. GARDO, DOUGHTIE & ROSE It is not just men in the real estate development and construction industry who have made a significant impact on our overall community as witnessed by the changes that have occurred due to efforts, both individually and as a unit, by the advertising & PR firm of Gardo, Doughtie & Rose (now Denarius Group), which had its heyday over a 20-year span from the mid 1980s, but whose legacy will no doubt last for generations to come. Each of the three partners—Tom Gardo, Tim Doughtie and John David Rose—have left their mark, but in particular Tim Doughtie (now 80
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AUGUST 2018
a Glen McCaskey, photographed at Dolphin Head, where he played a roll in keeping condominiums from popping up.
deceased) whose legacy can be seen (or not seen) each and every day by visitors and residents. First-time visitors to Hilton Head Island often comment about the absence of billboards once they cross the bridge from the mainland. In fact, there are just a few billboards that still remain in Beaufort County once motorists cross the county line from Jasper County. Doughtie was an extremely clever creative director for the firm, but he was even more passionate when it came to billboards and what he called “ugly signage.” Doughtie led the county-wide fight to ban the construction of new billboards being built within the borders of Beaufort County, and it was a tough battle against powerful lobbyists representing the billboard industry. The billboards you see along the west side of Highway 170 are all in Jasper County except for the rare few that are “grandfathered” in Beaufort County. But if one of them falls down, it cannot be replaced. Doughtie also pushed for and helped write the sign restrictions, which prevail on Hilton Head Island since it was incorporated in 1983. These rules outlaw lighted signs (which includes neon) and prohibit caricatures on signs. As Doughtie eloquently claimed when presenting to Town Council: “What possible incentive could there be for anyone to come here and see the same mess they have everywhere else?” John David Rose (who also recently passed away) made his longstanding contribution by crafting the written legislation that resulted in the South Carolina Accommodation Tax, which is what Hilton Head Island and other vacation destinations in the state use to generate revenues, specifically to boost tourism and support the arts. Rose, who was formerly director of tourism in Utah, worked with Hilton Head Chamber board chairman John Curry and Beaufort state legislator Harriet Keyserling to get the legislation passed. Tom Gardo, in turn, has been the strategist behind the successful passage of no less than nine Beaufort County bond referendums for education, road building and land preservation, plus the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Sunday Blue Law referendum. The $60 million sales tax referendum to widen Highway 170 and the Broad River Bridge (cited as one of the 10 most dangerous highways in America in 1998) earned the agency national recognition. Other results of these successful referendums were the construction of Hilton Head Island High School and the Bluffton Parkway as well as the widening of U.S. Highway 278 and permanent preservation of more than 22,000 for parks and sanctuaries. AUGUST 2018
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THREE REASONS WORKING FROM HOME IS NOT AT ALL WHAT YOU THINK ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFAMNN . PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
IT’S NOT ALL SIPPING TEA AND RECLINING ON THE COUCH. SOMETIMES IT’S BARKING DOGS, FLOUNDERED PRODUCTIVITY AND CRIPPLING LONELINESS. BUT OCCASIONALLY THERE’S TEA.
Writer Barry Kaufman struggles amongst the chaos to hit deadline for CH2 Magazine.
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J (From left to right) Anderson, Dr. Hank McCoy, Charlotte and Roxy Kaufman.
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s of this writing, it has been nearly five years since I worked in an actual office. Over that time, my office has been wherever my laptop lands: dining room tables, coffee shops, you name it. I mostly work from a desk in my bedroom, pausing only to hop on an
elliptical that’s also in my bedroom or go downstairs to the kitchen for what amounts to a nice change of scenery. But one place I never work is the sofa. I only bring this up because something like 99 percent of stock photos of “working from home” consist of a perky young woman,
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who has actually taken the time to match her makeup to her yoga pants, sitting cross-legged on a sofa with a laptop perched on both knees. Sometimes, just to shake things up, she’ll somehow also be holding a cup of tea with both hands. If you’ve ever actually tried working like this, I’m sorry about that time you spilled tea all over your laptop.
Everyone has this mental image of working from home, having unrestricted freedom to set your own schedule without some boss breathing down your neck about productivity every five minutes. Everyone has this mental image of working from home, having unrestricted freedom to set your own schedule without some boss breathing down your neck about productivity every five minutes. When I tell people that I work from home, the response is always, “Well that must be nice.” As if by reducing my morning commute to a matter of a few feet, I’ve somehow managed to find a way to make a living by playing Nintendo all day. The fact is, there are all sorts of complications that make working from home just as difficult as sharing cubicle space with people you can barely stand and who won’t stop messing with the thermostat. For example: 1. Odds are good that you are a terrible manager. One of the reasons people in office jobs always dream about being able to work from home is that they no longer have to deal with eight different bosses who 84
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THREE REASONS WORKING FROM HOME IS NOT AT ALL WHAT YOU THINK are always hounding them about something. But here’s the funny thing about those bosses: They do a great job of keeping you on task. When there’s a chance someone could walk in at any moment, odds are good you’re not going to kill a half hour on YouTube. You might sneak in a game of minesweeper now and again, but you’re never really going to waste time at the level you do working from home. I don’t care how motivated you are, or how hard you schedule yourself, you’re going to have days when you get a bad case of the screwits. As I write this, I do so three hours after I’d intended to. It started by checking Facebook, then I read a few stories on Cracked. Then I thought I’d squeeze in a quick room escape game just to get my brain firing. And suddenly, it was lunch time. Those managers are there for a reason. Given the choice between working and being entertained, most people are going to take the latter. It is possible to keep yourself on track, but it’s much easier when there’s someone there whose job it is to keep you on track. 2. Your family never knows when you’re working. Or they don’t care. Picture an executive in a fancy office with a fancy desk in their fancy suit. Now try to picture that person feverishly working on getting an important contract put together before a meeting, when their child walks in and demands a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Or their spouse walks in, lays down on the fancy couch and casually launches into a conversation about their day. Or a dog picks that moment to leave a mess right in that fancy office then start barking at nothing outside the fancy window. It’s hard to picture, right? Now strip away the fancy office, the fancy desk and the fancy suit. You’re left with the home office. And suddenly all of those scenarios are your everyday working life. It’s hard to fault family members when they barge in during working hours and treat your office like another room in the house. To them, it is. They can’t tell when you’re fighting against a deadline, casually wrapping up a few loose ends or simply surfing the Web. So they respond accordingly. The other day, my son decided to start playing “ding dong ditch” with me. He didn’t know I was under deadline. To him, he was just having fun with his dad. I explained to him that I was, in fact, upstairs working and he understood. Now if only that kind of reasoning worked on the dog. 3. You start to miss having people around. Even obnoxious people. Yes, your co-workers are literally the worst people. I know. Everyone tells me that when they tell me how much they’d love to work at home. Co-workers talk too loud. They eat the most-foul smelling food they can when they eat at the office. They come into your office at the most inopportune times to start telling you about their boring personal lives. They won’t stop playing with the thermostat. They are constantly stealing your food from the office fridge (don’t even try to deny it Gladys; I know it’s you). And maybe it’s just five years of near-solitude talking, but you do eventually miss that. You AUGUST 2018
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when you’re working. Or they don’t care. Picture an executive in a fancy office with a fancy desk in their fancy suit. Now try to picture that person feverishly working on getting an important contract put together before a meeting, when their child walks in and demands a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
miss the people who became your work family. You start to realize how much that tiny bit of water-cooler talk let you feel like a part of society. I’m lucky in that I get to host a weekly trivia show (Wednesdays at the Bluffton Captain Woody’s; come on out), so I’m able to actually socialize with other adult human beings. But a lot of people who work from home don’t have that outlet. Yes, there is a certain sense of freedom that comes from working at home. But it’s a freedom that comes with strings. If you can keep yourself on task, set work/life boundaries, and find some way to get outside the house and meet people, it’s a great way to work. Even if it’s not all tea and couches.
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SCORE S H A K E
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tarting a new business is a lot like planning a road trip, yet many would-be entrepreneurs and small business owners are still navigating blindly or with an outdated map. It doesn’t have to be this way! Whether you have a fantastic idea for a new business startup, are seeking to grow an existing business, or are looking for an exit strategy to retire or start something new, a group of brilliant businessmen and women at SCORE are waiting to help you chart the path, providing turn-by-turn guidance on the journey ahead. SCORE, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. They provide free, confidential business advice, one-on-one mentoring, workshops, seminars and events as well as business tools and templates (available online at score. org). According to Rod Casavant, retired Eli Lilly executive and chairman of our local SCORE chapter, SCORE SC Lowcountry, the organization is funded primarily by the Small Business Administration and is supplemented through local fundraising efforts. “We are not part of the SBA. We are a resource partner,” he explained. Founded in 1964, the original organization was called the Service Corps of Retired Executives, but if you’re picturing a bunch of stodgy, out-of-touch old men, you are in for a surprise. In keeping with the times and trends, all SCORE mentors, nationwide, are certified and are required to participate in continuing education to further their skills and stay sharply attuned to the current business climate.
SCORE mentor Rod Casavant works with John Brown, owner of the local College Hunks Hauling Junk franchise.
ArTIclE by lINDA S. HopKINS pHoTogrApHy by m.KAT
SCORE Reaching out to Serve Lowcountry Ladies 2018 THRIVE Lowcountry Women’s Conference – September 5&6
Jim Perry, a retired Professor of Business Administration at George Washington University, teaches a three-part class on the financial aspects of starting a new business at the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.
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Many are still working, have businesses of their own, and are serving their communities in a variety of leadership roles. “We are a talent magnet,” Casavant said of the 50 volunteers from diverse business backgrounds who are available for counseling in this area. “Everybody has their own motivation, but there is this common desire to help others succeed and give back. The ‘secret sauce’ is the expertise and experience.” SCORE’s tagline is “For the Life of Your Business,” and the programs reflect that by providing ongoing support as businesses grow and evolve. “Everyone from solopreneurs to small businesses all the way to the largest employers here are our clients. We’ve been involved for years with some of them. We meet with clients regularly, and it’s really tailored to what the client needs,” Casavant said. “When people request our assistance and we get involved with them, they can be young and working and wanting to do something different; they can be retired and ready for something new; or they may have a hobby or interest they want to develop into a business. It germinates from a lot of places. And people we work with are amazed that the service is free.” STAYING CURRENT AND RELEVANT According to Casavant, one of the biggest influences on small business development today is the power of the Internet and social media, which has made starting a business more accessible. “You don’t have to have brick and mortar,” he explained. “With the ability to have an online business, the barriers to entry are fewer and start-up costs are less. That changes the dynamic. So, you have people coming in who can start there. That’s something you couldn’t say 10 years ago, and that requires us to be more and more tech-savvy.” SCORE SC Lowcountry serves Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort. As CH2/CB2 magazines celebrate men in business this month, it’s only fitting that we honor this group of dedicated individuals who have been helping local businesses get off the ground and grow since 1989. But for the record, SCORE is no longer all about men! While it’s true that the founders and many of the early mentors and clients were men, women are quickly joining the ranks. As of last year, SCORE SC Lowcountry had only two women mentors. That number is currently over 10, according to Casavant. And the number of women clients has grown exponentially as female entrepreneurs and femaleowned businesses are on the rise locally and nationwide. Jessica Shefsick, owner of Bride’s Side Beauty, had already established her business when she approached SCORE for counseling with a goal of examining some potential new ways to grow. For the past three years, she has been working with SCORE counselor Frank Lipari, retired senior executive with Kraft Foods and former president of his own small consulting business. “I appreciate his experience and his insight. I needed someone who knows more than me,” Shefsick said. “And what better person to learn from 88
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On September 5-6, SCORE, in partnership with the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, invites Lowcountry ladies to attend the second annual Thrive Lowcountry Women’s Conference. The conference, which takes place at the Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head Island, will feature speakers, breakout sessions, and networking designed to educate and encourage women to Thrive in today’s workplace environment and their personal lives. “We are pleased to have BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina as the Thrive Title Sponsor,” said Rod Casavant, chairman of SCORE SC Lowcountry. “It is rewarding to have an outstanding organization supporting our community and this annual Lowcountry Women’s conference.” Laurie Brown, founder, and owner of Aunt Laurie’s will be one of the speakers at this year’s event. Her presentation is titled “Life is a Mission, Not an Intermission.” She will also speak at the SCORE business panel breakout and has been involved with planning the event as a committee member. “Our focus has been on ensuring the event is meaningful and impactful to the women who attend,” Brown said. “We expect entrepreneurs, women in business, and participating non-profit organizations to find the conference to be a boost in both their professional and personal lives.” “The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber Commerce is pleased to support this event with our title sponsor, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, our partner SCORE, and other sponsors,” said Penny Hughey, membership services, and events manager. “The THRIVE conference will be beneficial to women at all stages of their career and life.” The event includes a welcome reception on Wednesday, September. 5, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., featuring entertainment, heavy hors-d’oeuvres, vendor tables, and a speaker panel with local business owners. The conference takes place on Thursday, September 6, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration for the event is $119, and $129 after July 31. Special rates are available for militaryaffiliated participants and large groups. For more information or to register, visit hiltonheadchamber.org/chamber-events/2018thrive-lowcountry-womens-conference. AUGUST 2018
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Jessica Shefsick, owner of Bride’s Side Beauty, had already established her business when she approached SCORE for counseling with a goal of examining some potential new ways to grow.
than an executive who has already experienced success? He is giving me the help and the undivided attention I need in a mentor.” Coming from a military background, John Brown learned about SCORE when he joined the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. He started his business, College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving in November of 2017 and is working with Casavant. “It’s good to have someone to bounce ideas off of,” he said. Most valuable is “the extra set of ears and eyes. Rod listens to things I’m going through, provides information that I might not think about, and recommends things I might want to do to be successful.” Laurie Brown, of Aunt Laurie’s in Bluffton came from a 30-year corporate career with a dream to own a business. She fulfilled that dream with SCORE’s guidance and has since received numerous awards including the distinction as the 2017 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year. She has also become certified as a SCORE mentor in the SC Lowcountry chapter. In terms of impact, SCORE is clearly strengthening America’s economy. With 300+ chapters and over 10,000 volunteers nationwide, in 2017 alone, they helped 54,506 new businesses get started and helped create 61,534 nonowner jobs. Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs. In the South Carolina Lowcountry, with the assistance of SCORE, 64 new businesses were started and 110 non-owner jobs created in 2017. Casavant said he never anticipated doing this. (He came to SCORE seeking their help to buy a business.) He ended up with a real estate investment business and, at the same time, stepped into his new mentoring role, which has proved immensely fulfilling. “I get a great charge out of seeing people be successful and that whole process,” he said. “People come to us with their dreams, and to help them realize their dreams … it’s hard to put words around it.” For more information, to volunteer, or to request a local mentor, please visit sclowcountry.score.org, or call (843) 785-7107. AUGUST 2018
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PAISLEY AND STRIPED BLUE BOWTIE Royal Hanauer Palmettoes $65 Why we love it: Big fans of how this tie has two different patterns on the top and bottom layers. RED MERMAID BOWTIE R. Hanauer Knickers $65 Why we love it: Because mermaids.
PINK & BLUE BOWTIE R. Hanauer Teagues $65 Why we love it: We definitely have a thing for polka dots. BLUE TAILGATE BOWTIE Vineyard Vines Knickers $55 Why we love it: Have you seen a cuter theme on such a tiny piece of cloth? Bring on the fall football!
• Photography by M.Kat
ORANGE, GREEN AND BLUE STRIPED BOWTIE Royal Hanauer Palmettoes $65 MAROON AND ORANGE PAISLEY BOWTIE R. Hanauer Teagues $65 TWEED BOWTIE Royal Hanauer Palmettoes $65 Why we love ALL THREE: Because the color pallette reminds us that fall is on the way and boy are we READY!
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ecause I Knew You: The Three Most Influential Men in my Life
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n my 61 years on this planet thus far, countless people have influenced my life and helped shape the person I am today. In fact, I believe that everyone who crosses my path is there to momentarily stop me in my tracks—to teach me or direct my attention either to something I need to give or to receive. I’ve noticed that by treating every encounter as if it is potentially life-changing, it indeed becomes … life-changing. As I pondered the question of the most influential men in my life, I riffled through the
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Article by Linda S. Hopkins
catalog of teachers, pastors, former bosses, relatives, celebrity crushes, old boyfriends and past loves. But I quickly narrowed it down to three who stand out. DADDY My first love, as is the case for many girls, was the man responsible for my being here. He made no secret of the fact that he wished for a girl and was a tad disappointed when my brother popped out four years before I came on the scene. In the 14 years I knew him before he made his eternal exit, Daddy had a profound influence, shaping many of my fundamental character traits. My father was not my role model, but a powerful teacher, nonetheless. Some lessons came in reverse. Instead of seeing what I wanted to be and mirroring it, I determined what I didn’t want to be. Because Daddy suffered from a mental illness, I learned early on what vulnerability looks like. So, I stepped up my game to appear less vulnerable, steeling myself against failure, ever striving for perfection to gain the attention and approval of a mom who
Zack:
There were many “firsts” with Zack. He introduced me to new people, places, physical experiences, and ideas. He colored my world with romance and adventure and framed the picture with affirmation and love. He taught me to believe in myself. clearly favored her firstborn and was preoccupied with her own predicament. Hovering in the shadow was imperfect me, frightened and confused, pretending, always, to be “okay.” Today, I make it a point to reveal my vulnerabilities and share my fears with the intention of freeing others to do the same. Sometimes the people we know and love simply are not “fine,” and that’s okay. An overly sensitive child and selfconscious teen, my tender heart was like a loose baby tooth tied to the doorknob on a string. Daddy’s sporadic absences and ultimate departure from this world slammed the door, leaving an empty, bleeding socket—an underlying sense of abandonment that played itself out in the form of anxiety and distrust, dictating what I would need from any future man who would seek to win my love. I became tenacious and dependable and somewhat obstinate, because those were and are my survival tools. Yet I will forever carry a hint of insecurity that came free with my life luggage. Daddy was and is the background music, setting the tone for every relationship I’ve ever had with a man. ZACK Fresh out of college, after a brief marriage to Mr. All Wrong and many disappointing dating experiences, I decided to write off men for a while 94
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and go to church. If I couldn’t figure out what to do with my life, surely God would direct my path. And he did. Sort of. The Sunday I walked into the First Baptist Church in Statesboro, Georgia, I was greeted by an older gentleman (a deacon), who ushered me to my seat and eagerly welcomed me to the fold. Over time, I got to know this man, fell in love with him, and ultimately married him. He was 33 years my senior—six years older than my mother and obviously old enough to be my father. But guess what? He was not a surrogate father or a sugar daddy. What I saw in him was not only his ability to provide the security and stability I longed for, but something else that had been missing all along: someone to show me my worth. Many people saw me as a trophy wife, and I was not immune to the labels typically slapped on women who make unconventional relationship choices. What I learned from my experience was to stop worrying about other people’s opinions. There were many “firsts” with Zack. He introduced me to new people, places, physical experiences, and ideas. He colored my world with romance and adventure and framed the picture with affirmation and love. He taught me to believe in myself. By example, he showed me how to make every stranger a friend. To be in Zack’s presence was to be the only person in a crowded room. He was attentive, kind, and generous—traits I like to think rubbed off on me. In a practical sense, he shifted my life’s direction by introducing me to outdoor sports and fitness—not because he wanted to change me, but because he wanted me to share in his active lifestyle. I never considered participating in a sport or gracing the door of a gym until I met him, which is funny considering how important my fitness routine still is today. Zack was an accomplished tennis player who stood across the net from me, hitting ball after ball within easy reach, waiting for me to actually hit one back. Because of his patience and encouragement, I learned to play and play well. Tennis became a defining part of my life for a number of years, and my participation in the sport was a source of many special friendships along with a more positive body image and higher degree of confidence that spilled over into every aspect of my being. Zack’s support also led me to pursue writing as a hobby, which evolved into the work I do today. If not for him, you would not be reading the words on this page. AUGUST 2018
Tom: He has given me wings! Since the beginning of our relationship, he has encouraged me to go anywhere I wish to go, to pursue my dreams, and be and become anything that makes me happy. We had our unique set of problems, as every couple does. But I learned to revere and honor my marriage vows as I navigated Zack’s declining health and ensuing financial challenges. After 20 years together, on the day he died, life as I knew it was forever changed. In the split second it took for his heart to stop beating, my world went silent, only to jolt me awake with the reality of my sudden aloneness and lack of significance. Who was I without this man? TOM In spite of all his goodness, Zack had a controlling, possessive, over-protective edge. Those qualities, which served as my safety net in the beginning, became somewhat limiting over time. Diving into the dating pool again at age 45, I was suddenly like an awkward teenager, floundering around in a sea of fish my mom had always assured me were there. I swam with a few sharks before meeting Tom, who tossed me a life raft and became my life partner. I’ve always been attracted to quirky individuals, and let’s just say Tom is not your average Joe. He is a brilliant individual—a self-made man with a diversity of talents unlike anyone I know. An engineer and successful business owner, a musician and magician, he is pragmatic, self-assured, and creative all at once. Tom is a busy man who doesn’t have the time nor inclination to fawn over me or set me up on a pedestal for safekeeping. He has given me wings! Since the beginning of our relationship, he has encouraged me to go anywhere I wish to go, to pursue my dreams, and be and become anything that makes me happy. I’m certain he came along to help me find confidence within instead of relying on his praise and adoration. While he provides for me and always has my back, he’s taught me to be my own person outside of who I am with him. Tom rarely has anything negative to say. He can find the bright side of most situations and looks for the good in every person he meets. He has taught me to accept and appreciate the differences in others, opening my mind to new ways of thinking and expanding my heart in ways too numerous to count. He sometimes drives me crazy, as husbands are wont to do, and I often crave more of his attention. But he mostly makes me stronger and better. One of the most important skills he has taught me is to trust again. Unlike Daddy, when Tom walks out the door, I know he’s coming back—until the day when he can’t. And so, my lessons have come full circle. To the men in my life, I am who I am today, because I knew you. AUGUST 2018
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hy am I here? Why do I exist? What’s my purpose? You may not know it yet, but you already have a sufficient foundation to begin forming an answer to the existential, introspective questions of life’s purpose. Like your authentic self, your purpose already exists; you only need to uncover it. And what’s covering it is likely a pile of conventional wisdom. For example, you were probably taught to work hard in school and to find a career that pays well. You were exposed daily to messages suggesting that you need more money to buy the things that make you happy. At first, the conventional wisdom about happiness appeared to be correct. But the happiness would fade as you grew tired of the old things. Buying new things
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would at least temporarily make the happiness return. But yet a feeling of unfulfillment persisted. At least you had the weekends and vacations to look forward to, and you were able to obtain episodes of pleasure, but the enduring happiness eluded you. Now you may ask why some of the greatest sages in history have said that every human being’s purpose is to be happy. You may think this sounds too simple or superficial to be true. Or, perhaps you tried this and it didn’t work for you. How can happiness be one’s purpose in life? The short answer to this is that we make the mistake of framing the idea of happiness within the perspective of the modern Western world: that happiness comes from things and these things can only be obtained by material or monetary means. Within this misleading perspective, only the acquisition of more money could lead to more happiness. The Dalai Lama is an example of a wise man who teaches that finding happiness is our purpose. Would a Tibetan Buddhist monk, a person who could be happy with nothing more than a simple cloth covering his body and perhaps a cup of tea to sip in a quiet room, encourage his followers to go find money so they could buy a new car? Of course not!
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The original and true definition of happiness is closer to that of contentment than it is to pleasure. And this contentment is best obtained by simply being yourself. As you surely have discovered in your own life, you are the happiest when you can be your authentic self. Equal and opposite, you are least happy when you are not able to be yourself. Having material things and sensuous pleasures is wonderful, but what we need most to be happy is enough freedom and space to be ourselves— to be actualized. As for material things, all we need are the basic physiological necessities: food, shelter and clothing. Everything else is extra. So, the Dalai Lama’s teaching, that our purpose in life is to be happy, is not advice to seek external, material things; it’s encouragement to uncover and nurture the internal source of happiness, to be ourselves, to have a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Happiness is not seeking and finding the destination of pleasure; it’s taking many small steps on the path of purpose.
So, the Dalai Lama’s teaching, that our purpose in life is to be happy, is not advice to seek external, material things; it’s encouragement to uncover and nurture the internal source of happiness, to be ourselves, to have a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
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An uncomplicated way to frame this idea is within the unfortunate scenario of working in a stressful but highpaying job. You thought that the destination of material wealth would justify the everyday stress of immersing yourself in an environment that includes a boss that does not appreciate you, co-workers that plot to figuratively stab you in the back while pretending to be your friends, and daily tasks that don’t align with your authentic self. At some point, you begin to fantasize about doing something that you love, something that provides meaning and purpose every day, even if it means a reduction in pay. But you may justify staying in the unfulfilling job because it pays well. As time progresses, you drift farther and farther away from the authentic self and, as a result, all areas of your life begin to erode, all because you were not acting with purpose. Happiness is not a destination that can only come at the end of the day, the end of the week, the annual vacation, or the end of the career. It’s an enduring contentment that radiates from the inside out, not a series of short-lived, outside-in pleasures. Contentment is the goal; pleasure is the reward. But how does one uncover the purpose that awakens the authentic self, which creates the true happiness? Perhaps some help from the entertainment world would be more accessible? In the 1990s western comedy, City Slickers, you’ll find useful guidance on finding your purpose. In the movie, the main characters decide to take a unique vacation on a two-week cattle drive from New Mexico to Colorado. The movie is filled with humorous scenes, but the one that is most useful is when Mitch, played by Billy Crystal, has a serious, one-on-one moment with the
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mysterious, tough-guy trail boss, Curly, played by Jack Palance. In the scene, Curly tells Mitch that the secret to life is “one thing.” When Mitch asks, “What’s that?” Curly tells him: “That’s what you’ve got to figure out.” On the cattle drive, Mitch helps deliver a calf from a dying cow, names the calf Norman, and protects it throughout the long journey. The experience helps Mitch discover that his one thing is his family back home. So, what you need to figure out is your “one thing.” What is your gift to the world? What feels natural to you when you are doing it? Is there an overriding purpose that guides your actions? If you could describe this in one word, what would that word be? Before you answer, don’t be misled by thinking that this one word must represent a major life accomplishment or grand scheme. When the word comes to you, use it to find other related words. For example, if your one word is “create,” other words, motivations, and actions, such as write, build or design can follow it. From there, you may open doors to careers, volunteer service or hobbies that are meaningful and rewarding. You can take a step in the direction of your purpose and your authentic self by simply beginning with your one thing, expressed as one word. Kent Thune is a Certified Financial Planner® and is the owner of a Hilton Head Island investment advisory firm, Atlantic Capital Investments. He is also personal financial counselor to marines and other service members on Parris Island. Thune’s financial guidance has been published at The Motley Fool, Yahoo Finance, Kiplinger.com, MarketWatch. com, Nasdaq.com, InvestorPlace.com, and his own blog at TheFinancialPhilosopher.com.
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SLIDE VIOLATION IN PROGRESS: Proper slide usuage is in one direction and one direction only... down! There should be no climbing up the slide. Punishment: No more slide and 10 minutes in time out!
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requent readers of this column might get the impression that I sometimes have my hands full parenting two children, especially in the case of our just-turned-fiveyear-old Princess who got a couple extra smacks with the sass spatula at the genetics lab. And they would be correct. Raising kids is hard, what with trying to limit the screen time, stop them from careening toward obesity and/or Type 2 diabetes, and prevent their premature death. Left to their own devices, my tiny humans would binge Netflix all day while simultaneously playing on their iPads (we’re raising accomplished multitaskers); eat nothing but cheese, cured meats, and sweets; and prompt one another to perform one daring task after another, continually pushing each other beyond the limits of reasonable safety. They are kids, after all.
Contrary to what you’ve read on these pages, though, my wife and I actually have a pretty good handle on things … most of the time. Yes, our kids watch too much TV and play too many iPad games, and we’ve softened our stance on garbage food like Lucky Charms over the years. Everything in moderation, I suppose. Oh, and there was that one incident of retroactively learning that they were taking turns jumping off the Princess’s dresser, but we’re still holding out for our first emergency room trip. (Knock on wood.) Sure, the Princess is a full-scale maniac and has a tendency to throw out an occasional profanity—used in perfect context, I would add proudly—but we’ve managed to improve the infant mortality rate twice and are raising two generally happy, healthy kids. More important, I’d like to think, we’re teaching them to be decent human beings. Based on what I’ve seen, we’re outperforming plenty of other parents on that last point, and I’ve decided I’m going to start trying to correct it where I can.
Dad Life Look, I’m not going to slap a can of Mountain Dew out of your sugarriddled four-year-old’s hands or cut off your sticky toddler after three Ring Pops when I’m working the concessions stand at the ballpark. The sugar rush and rotten teeth are your problem, not mine. But if your kids are violating reasonable social norms and you aren’t around to put them in their place, I’ll happily step in. I will do my best to remove your kid from a dangerous situation—“That kid is BACK on the ESCALATOR,” for my fellow Kevin Smith fans—with a gentle, “Hey buddy, you probably better get off of there,” and I certainly will shut down dangerous play that puts other kids in harm’s way, especially if they’re mine. I used to bite my tongue about kids climbing up the playground slide while my rule-following children sat at the top, paralyzed by indecision, but no more. If you won’t tell the kid slides are a one-way situation, I will. I’m not trying to cut short my lunch for a trip to the ER. Your kid thinks it’s cool to cut in line because Mommy and Daddy aren’t there to tell him no? Welp, I’m laying the smack down. Just ask the three kids who tried to pull that stunt on my watch at the hotel water slide the other day. I’m not a big fan of entitlement. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I guess I’m teetering between being the village jester and the village curmudgeon. I’m usually the only adult in the middle of the kids—the all-time pitcher, the “big kid” playing Marco Polo, the “fun” dad—but that also puts me in a position to be the village sheriff from time to time, and I will carry out my duty to the village. Ultimately, it’s kind of a case of “if you see something, say something,” and I do. I expect other parents to do the same if my kids are out of control when beyond my gaze. If I teach my kids nothing else, I want them to value fairness and equality and care for the well-being of others … at least more than they care about their own when they’re jumping off the dresser.
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Bluffton attorneys Jim and Meredith Bannon
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at 9 a.m. on Monday morning, but you may be working at 10 p.m. on Friday night, or on Sunday afternoon. You just don’t know.” Branding the Bannon Law Group includes their whimsical logo sewn onto a fleece vest or stamped on a coffee mug, tongue-in-cheek promotional marketing, along with a set of serious promises. “Our focus is approachability and practical solutions,” Meredith said. “Sometimes you go to a professional and they give you all kinds of theory. What clients really need to know is how to solve their problem. Jim and I, just by nature, are casual, talkative, and approachable. We want our clients to be informed and we want them to understand the situation and have the best options available to them. We want them to not be intimidated by the process, or ourselves, or the office.”
business’s brand develops from the promises made to its customers. Like a living being, a brand evolves over time, changing out of necessity and by design. Bluffton attorneys Jim and Meredith Bannon find that by sharing their personal lives and professional law practice at The Bannon Law Group, LLC, they have achieved just the right formula. “It allows us to focus on the business and we’ll talk about it—probably more often than if we weren’t married,” Meredith said. “So, for us it’s almost like another family member.” “I think that’s true of almost every family business,” Jim said. “That’s really what this is. Ask anyone who’s in a small family business, ‘When are you working?’ Well, I’m working all the time; that’s really true. Part of the joy of it is you’re not necessarily working
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The Bannons have approached growing their business and assembling a team very much like raising a family, working to provide a dynamic business to the local community, and setting a course that enhances well-being, professionally and personally.
Bannon Law Group provides legal services ranging from criminal defense to real estate, with Jim Bannon’s primary focus on criminal domestic violence, drug, alcohol, and DUI defense, felony-related charges, and personal injury. Meredith Bannon’s attention is on real estate matters, including real estate closings and litigation, landlord and HOA/POA disputes, and providing an experienced guiding hand through real estate transactions. Telling it like it is, is part of the process and the promise at Bannon Law Group. “You absolutely have to tell it like it is,” Jim said. “Clients don’t always know that what they want is someone to tell them how it is and what it’s going to be. The process is going to be better if they know as much as possible going in. Legal problems
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can be difficult, but knowing what you’re in-for on the front end helps people get down the road.” “I appreciate that in my personal life,” Meredith said. “Being direct and having all the cards on the table really helps me, and I think about that with our clients too: Here is the situation; here are your options; here is what’s most likely going to happen. Most people are open to that and appreciate it if you take away some of the mystique of the [real estate] closing process. It’s confusing; there are so many forms, there are all these people, and you have to answer now, now, now. Ultimately, you want your client to have ownership. We’re counselors and advisors, but we aren’t the ones who have to live with the decisions.” In the midst of their busiest professional year since opening in 2012, the Bannons’ clients find the relationship-based practice of law here to have a bit of a magic touch. It begins with talking. Meeting one-on-one, listening, and chatting about the things impacting their clients’ lives goes a long way toward successful professional relationships, resulting in excellent outcomes and heartfelt referrals. “It’s all about figuring out the client’s motivation and what makes it click for them; to be heard and acknowledged,” Meredith said. The Bannons have approached growing their business and assembling a team very much like raising a family, working to provide a dynamic business to the local community, and setting a course that enhances well-being, professionally and personally. “What I appreciate is that everyone in our office is in a different stage of life,” Meredith said. “One paralegal is having her first baby, whereas everybody else is a mom or a grandma. It’s interesting to get the different
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perspectives and see how the personalities come together.” “We have a work hard, play hard attitude, and I think they [the Bannon team] do too,” Jim said. “You can see it in our silly company photographs, in our birthday celebrations. If you can’t have fun while you’re doing it, why on earth are you doing it? It’s not all billable hours.” As their personal and professional home, Bluffton is the third “B” in the branding of Bannon Law Group. “There’s something about this area that draws people,” Meredith said. “You can’t leave for a long period. We love to travel, but after a couple of days, nothing seems as good” “When we moved here, Bluffton was still a real small town,” Jim said. “It’s changed so much in the last 10 years. I think we were some of the last people to know it as it was even 20 years ago, not just 10.” Raising their soon-to-be-first-grader, Emma Grace, the Bannons have branded their lives around what it means to be from the Lowcountry, and more specifically, from Bluffton. Signed up for a summer of activities at Oldfield, Emma Grace will be kayaking, crabbing, fishing, and horseback riding. Where others sign up for camps or travel, “E.G. has signed up for the Lowcountry life,” Meredith said. With promises to be counselors, advisors, partners in professional practice, and partners in life, and a positive force and credit to the local business community, Jim and Meredith Bannon, and their Bannon Law Group team have established a solid brand worthy of attention … with promises kept. The Bannon Law Group, LLC is located at 10 Westbury Park Way, Suite A, Bluffton. For more information, please visit bannonlawgroup.com or call (843) 815-4505.
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ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN
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The old Pharmacy that belonged to Jim’s grandfather John Sauter circa 1920. There’s been a Sauter in healthcare since 1902.
Jim pictured at Bluffton Pharmacy circa 1998.
The small town drug store lives on at Bluffton Pharmacy
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hink back to that old-fashioned pharmacy, the one that held down a street corner of your hometown for generations. The one that existed long before the big-box stores threw a pharmacy counter into the back of a convenience store and called it a drug store. The one where the pharmacist knew your name, knew your family and always greeted you with a smile. It’s maybe thought of as a relic of a bygone era. One of the things we wish we hadn’t allowed ourselves to lose in the march to modernity. To those elegizing the end of the corner drug store, there’s good news. That old-fashioned hometown drug store lives on at Bluffton Pharmacy. “We are a traditional pharmacy, and we do custom compounding,” said Jim Sauter, owner of Bluffton Pharmacy. “It’s something a lot of people are doing now, but we’ve been doing it for 30 years.” While the footprint of Bluffton Pharmacy has remained largely unchanged in its 30 years as Bluffton has grown around it, that’s not to say they haven’t kept up with the latest in treatments and technologies. In addition to the ancient art of compounding, Sauter and his team have adopted all manner of cutting-edge advancements and new techniques, from essential oil aromatherapy and anti-aging collagen to hormone therapy. It’s a unique mix of new and old in a shop that serves as a reminder why some things never go out of style. Like the lost art of customer service. “I don’t think anyone does a better job of service,” said Sauter. “We pride ourselves on knowing just about everybody’s name. And if we don’t know it, the next time you come in, we will.”
Jim is pictured circa 1990 visiting MC Riley, showing elementary students some of the things Pharmacists do. Coincidentally the child in Jim’s lap is his son.
That dedication to customer service feels right at home in Old Town Bluffton, where that small town feeling has never left. Sauter points to the extra steps they’ve gone for customers, such as the customer who couldn’t afford their child’s medication. He happily gave them the medication, letting them pay him back as needed It’s that level of personal care you’re simply not going to find within the vast soulless aisles of the big chain stores. And it’s hardly the only advantage Bluffton Pharmacy has over them.
“I don’t think anyone does a better job of service. We pride ourselves on knowing just about everybody’s name. And if we don’t know it, the next time you come in, we will.” “Our pricing is so much better than the chains. If you’re paying cash for prescriptions, nobody’s going to beat my price. I’ll guarantee it,” said Sauter. “Give me any medicine, pick up the phone and call any chain pharmacy and ask what they charge for it… The other day, I filled a prescription for hydrocortisone suppositories. I charged $39. The customer just got them from Walgreen’s for $119. It’s not a dollar or two. It’s huge.” It’s a potent mix of Sauter’s deep respect and admiration for his craft—he’s a third generation pharmacist—and a dedication to preserving the small-town customer-centered appeal of the old-fashioned corner pharmacy. It’s something we all wish a drug store can be. And it’s open for business, right in Old Town Bluffton.
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Conquering the Aerial Adventure course!
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here’s loads of fun to be had throughout Hilton Head Island, but at the heart of it is Broad Creek Marina Adventures, located mid-island. Perhaps better known as ZipLine Hilton Head and “all the other stuff there,” it’s become a destination for tourists and a blessing for grandparents. Since the two-hour ZipLine tour opened seven years ago, more than 100,000 guests have enjoyed Lowcountry highs. It’s sister thrill, Aerial Adventure, popped up two years later, again to the delight of many families, jocks and team-building groups. Both these hot island activities continue to welcome visitors from near and far. They welcomed a Georgia couple’s marriage proposal on the birds’ nest 75-foot tower overlooking Broad Creek and Wexford Plantation. They enjoyed guiding a 93-year-old on his “bucket list” zips with his four-generation clan. They also continue to donate to the Boys & Girls Club and give members super challenges on the six courses of the Aerial Adventure, building their confidence as they sway, crawl, fling and climb through the 50 obstacles. “Just about every day, I hear another story from some guests or their guides about ‘the time of their life’ or ‘the most memorable family celebration,’” said Nate Jones, GM of Broad Creek Marina Adventures. This entire adventure park, a mile from the Cross Island Parkway, offers Fun with a capital F! When it comes time to chow down, go up—to Up the Creek Pub & Grill, the waterfront hideaway and family place where chilling is an art form. Whether with a South Carolina brew and a Broad Creek burger piled with smoked pork on a juicy patty or kids’ mac and cheese bites with some moist hush puppies, everybody is happy watching the boats sail in and out of their adjacent marina. Oh yes, it’s “farm to fryer” goodness, but they sneak in salads with blackened triggerfish or cobia for health-conscious diners. Broad Creek Marina is the finale, offering loads of activities for all ages and adventurers: parasailing with Sky Pirate; dolphin watching with Sonny C and
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A scenic Lowcountry view from the Broad Creek Marina dock.
his mates; or fishing and cruising charters with Cheers Sailing, Megabite Fishing and Topshot Sport. Explore the marshes and the creek with Kayak Hilton Head and Island Skiff Tours. But the glue for it all is good ol’ Broad Creek Marina, completely rebuilt in 2005 (and hurricane Category 3 resistant) by its owner of 25 years, Roger Freedman. Islanders appreciate the marina’s convenience and professionalism, from GM Jones to dockside team Eric and Chris. Gas/diesel, a highly-praised mechanic shop, and the drystack “garage and valet” services for boat storage make it another destination for boaters sailing through the beautiful Lowcountry. Freedman is happy that the success of Broad Creek Marina Adventures has brought joy to so many. He tells a story of a ZipLine group of four couples arriving at Up the Creek after the two-hour ZipLine tour. They had just met in the trees and were searching out boss Freedman while dining. “We want to tell you we had an amazing time together and will be lifelong friends now.” Freedman replied, “That’s what it’s all about.” Then came the most touching moment: When he started walking away, they all applauded. www.celebratehiltonhead.com 111
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This newly constructed 4200 squarefoot home by Simply Southern Homebuilders is located in Colleton River Plantation overlooking the famous Dye course surrounded by oak trees.Currently for sale and ready for someone who wants to start enjoying the Lowcountry lifestyle.
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need to feel like I’ve accomplished something, and that I’ve made someone else happy. It’s what really makes me tick,” said Lisa Cornelius, president and owner of Simply Southern Homebuilders, LLC—which may explain why her retirement plans didn’t really stick. Following a successful first career as an interior designer with Jacobson’s furniture store in Michigan, Cornelius opened a retail establishment which enabled her to use her creative talents. She owned and operated it for 24 years.
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Longing for a warmer climate than Michigan, she sold this business to “retire.” Cornelius landed in the Lowcountry in 2003 and has never looked back. “When I came down here, I said I wasn’t going to work another day in my life. I’d had my business for 24 years, and I was very tired.” After settling in, catching her breath, and playing some golf, Cornelius got her real estate license, which she still holds, followed by stints working for two area builders. Those experiences led to a vision for a home building company that would combine her experiences and creative talents—a company that offered sterling customer service, and unparalleled construction management.
The large kitchen is a chef’s delight featuring a Blue Star range, additional bar area, wine cooler and back pantry.
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The home’s interior is sophisticated and timeless, featuring gorgeous seven-inch white oak flooring. Trim details are plentiful and the house features a master suite with a huge bathroom and a free standing tub in the perfect setting. Walk directly out on the vaulted screened porch to enjoy your morning coffee and long unobstructed views of the golf course.
Lisa Cornelius, president and owner of Simply Southern Homebuilders, LLC
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Alongside her husband/managing partner, Cornelius established Simply Southern Homebuilders in 2010. Since then, they have built stunning custom homes, big and small, throughout the Lowcountry, along with their first commercial project, the new golf learning center at Colleton River. Initially setting herself apart as a female-owned business in an industry where few were to be found and experiencing some push-back from the proverbial skeptics, she has demonstrated that the intuitive nature of the business of fulfilling a client’s wish list, the ability to give attention to every detail, and the expertise inherent in being a licensed builder, suits her own drive and sensibilities and results in exceeding expectations. “With our hands-on dedication, and the fact that we don’t take lightly the fact that someone is spending a lot of money to build their dream home, I am emotionally involved,” Cornelius said. “I don’t know if part of that is because I’m a woman. I do feel that there are some great things about being a woman when it comes to homebuilding. I’m very connected to everything from the size of the laundry room to how the faucets work … I’m living in that house, listening to my client, wanting to make sure there isn’t one little thing that’s not right. As they talk about what they want to do, I am always thinking about what is going to be best. I spend countless hours doing all of the selections— me, personally, with the clients. Being the owner and the builder, there aren’t many companies that can claim that they are that in tune with the client.” Since launching, Simply Southern Homebuilders has three to five jobs going at one time. “I never wanted to be the biggest builder, I wanted to be the best builder,” Cornelius said. “The important thing isn’t about how many projects we have going; it’s when they start. You can’t have them all coming out of the ground at the same time. We’re very picky about the subs [subcontractors] that we use. We will time when we start our homes so that we have the framer we want, or whatever it is. We’re not going to just hire anyone so we can take on a new project. The quality in our homes really matters, as does a reliable subcontractor for timing.” In addition to a premier group of subcontractors, Cornelius has a support staff equally-dedicated to her vision. Son Paul Cornelius joined the company and oversees the accounting, lien waivers, and office administration, Dave Cornelius manages the investment properties 114
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they have under construction, and construction manager, Larry Muething is primarily in the field. “My construction manager is extremely important to me,” Cornelius said. “Larry has been with me almost five years now, and he has 35-plus years in this business. His experience is so great; he is like the McGuyver of home building.” Keeping the company small is of benefit to everyone involved, allowing the team to be a part of every project, every day. “Each of our homes are visited at least twice a day, sometimes three times a day, just to observe and make sure all is the way it’s supposed to be—checking workmanship, neat jobsites.” Every home begins with listening to the client’s vision and then taking it to the finish line. The number of decisions made, and steps executed along that journey are daunting, at best, for the client, but are part of a well-worn path for the Simply Southern Homebuilder team. “I’m very service oriented,” Cornelius said. “I provoke questions to get answers to understand what is on their wish list. When people move here from elsewhere, there is a learning curve. Clients need to understand there are the requirements we have to meet in order to comply with Beaufort County in order to build your home.” Beyond her building and permitting experience, Cornelius utilizes her extensive career in interiors to her clients’ benefit. She says her design sweet spot is where elegance and simplicity almost disappear, but are evident enough to make you feel comfortable, and where budgets are met. “I am frugal with regard to budgets that need to be met. I’m going to work very hard to meet those for my clients.” When selecting surfaces and finishes, she is adept at digging. “Going into showrooms is like going into a candy store. Of course, the most expensive things are up front. I know my companies, I know my quality, I know my pricing. Everything counts.” Setting a course for retirement may be the only destination Cornelius has not successfully reached. Growing up one of five children in a hard-working Irish Catholic family, her first job at 14-years-old got her up at 4 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays to make the donuts at Dunkin’ Donuts. “Knock on wood, I’ve never failed at anything I’ve set my mind to. That’s through my passion and my hard work, and who I am.” Building a business and a Lowcountry life that includes her family … don’t miss the opportunity to ask her about her grandchildren … Lisa Cornelius and her family at Simply Southern Homebuilder are accomplishing some rather special things that make for plenty of happy, satisfied clients. Simply Southern Homebuilder, LLC is located at 181 Bluffton Road, Unit B-102, Bluffton. For more information, please call (843) 3684164 or visit simplysouthernhomebuilder.com. AUGUST 2018
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The CycleBar Studio Article by Linda S. Hopkins Photography by Anne
CycleBar Where Getting Happy and Fit is as Easy as Riding a Bike
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The CycleBar Hilton Head Team (left to right, back row) T Amber, Shannon, Lauren, Theresa, Arleigh, Kathy and owner Katie Knowles (left to right, front Row) Lindy, Travis, Charlotte and Buddy
Photography by M.Kat
tepping into Hilton Head Island’s state-of-theart CycleTheatre™ inside the CycleBar® studio on Palmetto Bay Rd., you may first think you’ve made a wrong turn and landed at one of the area’s popular night clubs. But if you’re looking for a heart-pumping cardio workout and a hit of natural feel-good chemicals, you are in the right place. Like a concert on a bike, hard driving beats, disco-style lighting, and a massive video screen set the scene for the most exhilarating experience you’ve ever had on a bicycle. Unlike a typical gym, CycleBar offers a unique boutique experience with concierge-style service from the moment you walk in the door. Every amenity is provided (lockers, showers, shoes, water bottles, cold and room-temperature water, healthy snacks, towels, hair ties, ear plugs in case the music is too loud for you) so all you have to do is show up. Riders of all ages, sizes and fitness levels are welcome, and instructors are on hand to help you get started and feel comfortable. THE WORKOUT While the sole focus of the studio is cycling, a variety of workouts are offered to suit your schedule, fitness level and personal preferences. “You’re going to get everything from endurance to hills to sprints, but we’re not going to tell you you’re doing that. We are going to do it through music,” local franchise owner Katie Knowles explained. “It’s a total body workout—lots of core involvement, with an option to utilize a weighted bar for upper body engagement during a portion of the class.” During the workout, CycleStats tracks and measures the six key metrics of your daily and historical performance so you can check in on your calorie burn, power, revolutions per minute (rpms), and more at any time. You can compete with your fellow riders and follow your performance on the video screen during the ride, or choose to remain anonymous and review your stats privately via email or on the CycleBar website. “This is a new experience for me,” said 53-yearold Jim Zimmerman, whose daughter convinced him to try it. Never one for gyms or group fitness, Zimmerman now attends CycleBar classes three days a week. “The instructors are great. They give suggestions and a baseline, but you can make the workout yours. Anyone can do it, whether they are
competitive or not. I’m not young, and I don’t need to see my name up on the board. I am competitive with myself,” he added. Although he has lost 16 pounds over the past year, he attributes that to nutritional changes as well as his fitness routine. “I don’t go to CycleBar to lose weight. It’s a great cardiovascular workout. I have three kids, and I want to be around.” “The big thing is the community aspect,” Knowles said. “We want you to come in our door feeling welcome like you’re a part of the family. And we want you leaving happy because you had the time of your life, physically and mentally. You’ll listen to some great music and feel accomplished for the day. Whether it’s your first ride or your hundredth, this is your happy place.” If you’re ready to kick your workout into a new gear and get happy and fit at the same time, CycleBar has your number. It’s as easy as riding a bike! CycleBar Hilton Head is located at 11 Palmetto Bay Rd., Suite 106B. For more information, visit hiltonhead.cyclebar.com or call (843) 707-6961.
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ARTICLE BY JUSTIN JARRETT PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
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It was still dark on Sunday, July 15th when we happened upon the first nest that had been left only hours earlier by a sea turtle. Amber Kuehn and her team take one egg from each nest found for research. The shell goes to the University of Georgia for a DNA sample; the yolk to Florida for a different study.
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While out on the morning patrol for new nests, Amber stops to visit with Roxy, a Tower Beach regular.
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herever she has been for the past two decades, from Hilton Head Island to South Florida to Maui, Amber Kuehn has been devoted to saving sea turtles. But never has the head of the Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project seen more commitment from the community to help her cause. From the growing group of “Turtle Trackers” advocating up and down
Hilton Head Island’s beachfront to the push from local environmentalist groups to ban plastic bags and reduce the use of plastic straws, Kuehn is feeling the shared love for her reptilian friends. “The community has really responded to being included,” Kuehn said. “Give them a job to do and a sense of purpose and show them that it really does help the sea turtles, and they are on it.” Although Kuehn is the only person on Hilton Head with a S.C. Department of Natural Resources permit to physically interact with sea turtle nests, eggs, or hatchlings—an authorization she is able to delegate to about a dozen trained volunteers—the small army of residents who have become turtle trackers are a huge asset to the cause. They’re eager to help, and more important, to act as ambassadors
THE FOUR SEA TURTLE COMMANDMENTS: Visitors to Hilton Head Island beaches or beachfront properties quickly become familiar with a list of edicts for helping protect the sea turtle population. These four sea turtle commandments are posted on stickers and signs around the island: 1. Lights out after 10 p.m. It’s common knowledge to longtime islanders, but many of our visitors are unaware that light pollution near the beach can disorient sea turtle hatchlings, who need to quickly make their way to the ocean upon hatching in order to survive. Not only is it important to turn out lights facing the beach after 10 p.m., but using flashlights on the beach at night can also present a problem. 2. Leave nests undisturbed. 3. Pick up trash. Garbage left on the beach, especially plastics, can be harmful to all wildlife. 4. Fill in holes. We’re not sure why you would want to dig a massive hole on the beach, but if you must, please fill it in before you leave. If you don’t, the excavated sand is taken out with the tide, making it difficult to fill the hole later. Hatchlings can fall in these holes and die, and mother turtles, or even people, can be injured.
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Kym Castillo, Amber Kuehn and Hannah Quast next to the Sea Turtle Patrol vehicle that was donated recently by Springer Mountain Farms in Georgia.
on behalf of the program and the turtles it seeks to protect. That means spending lots of time on the beach, which isn’t a bad way to volunteer one’s time. Turtle Trackers patrol the beaches to fill in holes left by beachgoers, pick up trash, and talk to visitors about why it’s important that they follow certain guidelines to help the turtles avoid harm. “The beachfront community Turtle Trackers have become very helpful,” Kuehn said. The holes have become a major problem of late and not just for turtles, she explained. Beachgoers often dig deep holes and leave without replacing the excavated sand, which is then washed away by the tide. The result is
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a massive cavity, sometimes as large as four feet deep and six feet wide. Hatchlings can fall into these chasms and die, and mother turtles—or even people—can be injured when they stumble upon the holes. In fact, the group is seeking a town ordinance to prohibit large shovels with metal spades, able to dig holes on the beach beyond what one might do with the traditional small plastic shovel and pail. All of this is especially important now because of an anticipated dip in the number of nests on local beaches due to a harsh winter that killed much of the food source for loggerheads. Under similar conditions in 2014, Kuehn said there was a 62 percent drop in the number of nests, and current trends project a similar dip this year. It’s not all bad news, though: Mitchelville Beach and Pine Island each had three nests by early July, which is ahead of their usual numbers, and one green sea turtle nest has been located—just the third one on Hilton Head Island in 30 years. Kuehn also is encouraged by legislation to ban singleuse plastic bags throughout Beaufort County, which goes into effect Oct. 14, and a recent push to reduce the use of
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HOW YOU CAN HELP: Even if you don’t have time to be a “Turtle Tracker,” you can do your part to help protect endangered sea turtle populations. Here are a few ways to do your part: • Bring your own bags. A single-use plastic bag ban goes into effect Oct. 14 in Beaufort County, but don’t wait until then to eliminate this danger to marine life from your footprint. Bring your own canvas bags when shopping to help keep plastic out of our waterways. • Skip the straw. Local environmental groups are making headway in convincing restaurants to reduce their use of plastic straws, and you can help by skipping the straw when dining out or by using stainless steel, reusable straws. • Donate to the cause: The Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project is a 501c3 non-profit, operated entirely by volunteers, so it relies on donations to cover costs. If you would like to contribute, send donations to P.O. Box 23434, Hilton Head Island, SC, 29925.
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Tiny hatchlings make their way from the nest to the ocean. Although the incubation period is usually from 55 to 60 days, Kuehn said she had seen as early as 48 days and as late as 70 before hatching.
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The Dixons, residents of Palmetto Dunes, rush up to the turtle patrol vehicle to thank the ladies for their work and show off their matching sea turtle tattoos.
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plastic straws. The more residents understand the importance of protecting marine life and share that knowledge with guests, the easier Kuehn’s job becomes. In order to continue that education process, Kuehn takes advantage of every opportunity to speak to groups such as schools or clubs, and even takes her “sea turtle ambulance” on the road for outdoor presentations so people can see the realities of her work. “When people get to experience what it’s all about, they start to feel a connection with the program and want to support us,” she said. And she and the turtles need all the allies they can find. “The people in the community care about their natural resources, which includes the wildlife and the beach, and they don’t appreciate the way the visitors are treating it,” Kuehn said. “Residents are trying to encourage the visitors to do the same. They’re leading by example and encouraging curiosity about what’s going on. If we can get the word out when they first get here on Saturday, maybe they’ll be a little bit more of a steward than they are being now.”
AUGUST 2018
ARTICLE BY KYLE WALLACE
CSN Songs CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF
CROSBY STILLS NASH & YOUNG
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f you enjoy the music of the most popular folk/rock group of all time, then you’re going to love CSN Songs, the only Crosby Stills Nash and Young tribute show of its kind! CSN Songs will perform at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Friday, August 31, Saturday, September 1, and Sunday September 2, bringing you the music of a band known for intricate and soaring harmonies, memorable guitar lines, and lyrics that spoke for a generation. When David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash first hit the stage at the famous Woodstock Music Festival in the summer of 1969, the face of folk/rock music would be changed forever. Their legacy continued for decades, and today, the harmonious vocals for which Crosby Stills Nash & Young are so well-known can be heard in every song performed by this incredible tribute band. Formed in 2012, CSN Songs brings together seven talented musicians who all shared the excitement and musical wealth of growing up in the 1960s and ’70s with the heavy influence of Crosby Stills Nash & Young. Founder of the New Jersey-based group, Phil Bertolo, said getting the project off the ground took a little while. “We were in stage rehearsals for a year and a half. There were actually 90 auditions before we found the right guys. It was really hard. It came down to finding better musicians—guys who had been around and know how to play. Because you can’t make a mistake with this stuff; you have to be perfect. “As a rule, diehard fans of the band you are paying tribute to want to hear the songs played exactly as they were on the records, which is a huge challenge,” Bertolo said. “We’re extremely careful to nail it down as tight as possible.” All the musicians have solid musical chops and plenty of experience. Bertolo
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of the seven Q.Three members of CSN Songs at a recent performance.
started playing in clubs when he was 12, and by the time he was 19 had opened a recording studio. And, like him, all the band members are lifelong fans of CSN. Get ready to sing along with hit songs including “Teach Your Children,’ “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Our House,” “Love the One You’re With”—and so many more—reproduced live as closely as possible to how they were originally written, recorded and performed! Tickets are $49 and can be purchased online at artshhi.com or by calling (843) 842-ARTS, for a night of incredible music you won’t forget!
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Catch Sterlin & David’s Dueling Piano show on Monday nights at The Rooftop Bar at Poseidon.
B Y M . K A T
MUSICIANS
P H O T O G R A P H Y
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MUSICIANS: STERLIN COLVIN & DAVID ROSS COMEDY LEVEL:
What’s your sign? David Ross: Aquarius Sterlin Colvin: Aquarius
MUSICIANS
AUGUST
2018 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
SHELTER COVE HARBOUR & MARINA SHANNON TANNER Through August 31 (Monday – Friday) 6:30pm & 8pm CAPPY THE CLOWN Through August 31 (Monday – Friday) 6-9pm
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FUN WITH ALBERT 7-7:45pm Harbour Town Join The Sea Pines Resort recreation team and our mascot, Albert the Alligator, for photos, games and activities on the lawn adjacent to the playground in Harbour Town. Complimentary
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THURSDAY
EVERY THURSDAY
FRIDAY
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FIREWORKS Tuesdays, August 7 & 14 at Dusk All fireworks are weather dependent.
PARROT PALOOZA with Shannon Tanner & The Oyster Reefers August 2, 9 & 16 Show starts at 7pm www.sheltercoveharbourfest.com
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GREGG RUSSELL CONCERTS Aug. 1 –Aug. 24, Aug. 30 – Aug. 31 Monday-Friday; 8-9:30pm Underneath the Liberty Oak in Sea Pines Complimentary
SUNDAYS
WEDNESDAY
Every Thursday night at 9pm throughout the summer! Shelter Cove Towne Centre August 2 – Footloose August 9 – Finding Dory August 16 – Honey I Shrunk the Kids
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WEDNESDAYS AT WEXFORD OUTDOOR MARKET Village at Wexford Every Wednesday, until Oct 31 10am – 2pm Shop the freshest produce, tasty treats, handcrafted goods!
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BEAUFORT COUNTY GOES BACK TO SCHOOL!
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TUESDAYS DIVE-IN MOVIE Tuesdays; 8-10pm Harbour Town Swimming Pool Check-in begins at 8pm with the movie starting at 8:30pm. Reservations required; contact (843) 842-1979. $14/adult, $11/ child (ages 12 & younger)
22 SEA TURTLES OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND 8-9pm Reservations required; contact (843) 842-1979. $19/adult $15/child (ages 12 and younger)
THURSDAYS BLUFFTON FARMERS MARKET Old Town Bluffton, Calhoun Street Every Thursday from 1-6pm (or dusk if earlier!) farmersmarketbluffton.org
16 THIRD ANNUAL KEEP THE BROAD CREEK CLEAN FESTIVAL Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina outsidefoundation.org
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CAROLINA DREAMERS CAR CLUB CRUISE Shelter Cove 5-8pm No costs, no reservations
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GURHAN TRUNK SHOW Forsythe Jewelers The Shops at Sea Pines Center August 10 & 11 10am-5pm forstyhehhi.com
16 17 SUNSET CELEBRATION SUMMER CONCERTS Shelter Cove Community Park from 7-10pm August 3 Headliners August 10 – Deas Guyz August 17 – Cranford Hollow rain or shine. pet friendly!
carolinadreamers.info
LOWCOUNTRY CRITTERS WITH JOE MAFFO
4 29TH ANNUAL BUILDERS CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT Port Royal Golf Club 9am (843) 681-9240
MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK!
WHERE’S THE WAG WEDNESDAY Wild Birds Unlimited Every Wednesday in August 12pm – 2pm (843) 681-8686
SATURDAY
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25 HILTON HEAD RUGBY BIKE BAR CRAWL Support Breast Cancer Awareness Contact Josh at (843) 301-5674 for more information
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The Coastal Discovery Museum Every Wednesday and Friday from 10am-2pm Joe Maffo with Critter Management will bring along some of his “friends” to share with everyone. (843) 689-6767 ext. 223 or coastaldiscovery.org.
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