42 minute read
Local Women Entrepreneurs.
KELLY CARON
Kelly Caron Designs, ASID
Describe a typical day in your life.
Very early alarm, 5:30 a.m.! Get to work after 7-7:30 a.m. Emails, meetings, check in with design team. Follow ups and design work until about 5:30 p.m. Home, walk, love to cook dinner and family time. NO TV IN OUR HOUSE!
My happy employees and team of designers. We all need each other to make the dream work! I love to see accomplishments—personal and business.
Yes, very bad bosses! I had a clear vision of who I wanted to be as a boss, leader and designer. I hope to be a current mentor to our designers and design staff.
Photography by Anne
Take some business classes in college. Interview multiple CPAs. Learn more about taxes!
Mountains or ocean?
I grew up in Boone North Carolina. I am a mountaineer who loves the Lowcountry sunshine.
Guilty pleasure?
Fashion and fabulous lighting.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Fashion designer or architect.
Give us three qualities a leader must have.
Empowerment, accountability, and emotional intelligence.
Skillets Café & Grill
If there’s anyone who has experience as a woman in business, it’s Amie Baima. She has been at the helm of one of the oldest, most popular breakfast spots on the island for almost 30 years. Skillets Café & Grill started in a small space in Coligny Plaza in 1993 and has flourished ever since. Even a fire that started in an adjacent restaurant and reduced the entire shared building to ash couldn’t keep her down. The restaurant was rebuilt bigger and better than ever two and a half years later. Baima decided to add dinner at that time, expanding Skillets’ offerings beyond their popular breakfast and lunch. As anyone knows, when you are the chief cook and bottle washer of a business, you have to know how to do everything. In the restaurant business, that means one day you could be playing hostess, and the next you are behind the line cooking because one of your team members called out sick. When there is a plumbing issue, sometimes you have to “think like a girl,” roll up your sleeves, and get sewer water all over you. (Note: this happened last week.)
When asked what advice she would give other women wanting to own and run their own business, “Marry rich,” Baima joked. “But in all seriousness, make sure you have a good support system, whether that be family, friends, or employees you can rely on to wear different hats and help run your business smoothly when needed. Be prepared to work long hours, but know that you can’t keep up an insane pace forever. All women need a time out.”
Coligny Shopping Center 1 N. Forest Beach Dr., J Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 785-3131 skilletscafe.com
MARTHA STICHWEH & KATHLEEN MORAN
Pilates Hilton Head
What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?
MS: Knowing I am going to spend the day doing something I absolutely love—teaching Pilates! KM: I love everything about teaching Pilates. I love working with people, the workout, the apparatus, and the beautiful studio where I work.
Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.
MS: It is never too late to begin a new adventure! KM: There is no one right way. Focus on your goals and be open to the various paths that may come about.
Guilty pleasure?
MS: Chocolate ice cream sundae. KM: Ice cream!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
MS: I had no idea! I had taken a position as an assistant to a regional director of sales and, six months later due to a merger, ended up as an assistant to the regional director of human resources and training and found I loved it. KM: A school teacher. I ended up getting a business degree and had a career in business first, but I am teaching now!
What podcast do you listen to for inspiration or to learn from?
MS: There are so many out there. I do not have just one. I love them all. KM: TED Talks Daily, The Core Conversations, and Pilates Elephants.
What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire?
MS: I have already retired twice, but I always end up going back to work. Working is a pleasure for me. KM: Traveling, hopefully with friends and family.
1000 William Hilton Parkway, Unit E-2 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 715-4545 pilateshiltonhead.com
THE BEAUTIQUE
Amanda Ellis, Sarah Rhoads-Howlett, & Jessica Lowther
This trio of cosmetically minded, scientifically driven moms (yes, we said moms) has one goal in mind, and that is your self-care. More than a decade in the making, The Beautique (home of Permanent Cosmetics HHI, May River Made Up, and Derm and Design Studio) goes beyond the skin to leave you looking your best in a warm, inviting atmosphere. Here, you can enjoy everything from microblading, and HydraFacials to Botox® and fillers. The ladies at this micro-medical spa focus on safe, upto-date and results-driven treatments. The unparalleled customer service and personalized visits are the cherry on top.
Sarah, Jessica and Amanda are lovers of all things beauty, and they believe that your skin is your first line of health defense and deserves to be taken care of. Whether it is a peel, customized medical grade skincare regimen, permanent cosmetics, or antiaging injectables, The Beautique offers treatments to pamper you and your skin.
Sarah Rhodes-Howlett, a former cosmetology instructor from Ohio, combines her 10+ years of permanent makeup experience and over 5,000 procedures in the Lowcountry alone. She has both technical skills and the artist’s eye to make every procedure a truly one-of-a-kind experience for her client. She offers permanent brows, eyeliner, or lip color. Her services also encompass scar camouflage, corrective services, and post-breast reconstruction tattooing.
Jessica Lowther is a boardcertified nurse practitioner and the Lowcountry’s best-kept beauty secret. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of South Carolina. Her medical career has encompassed intensive care, family medicine, and experience in the specialty areas of dermatology and plastic surgery. Aesthetic medicine has allowed her to combine her medical knowledge with her artistic and creative side. She believes in subtly enhancing your natural beauty and has an eye for detail. An injection or laser appointment with her leaves you refreshed, not stressed.
Amanda Ellis, a licensed esthetician for 12 years, rounds out the trio of incredible women. Makeup- and skincare-obsessed, she offers a whole array of facial services, on-location makeup with May River Made Up, and so much more. Believing skincare is part of a person’s lifestyle, listening to her clients and their needs is her passion.
The Beautique is a medically supervised micro-spa in the Sheridan Park area. We look forward to welcoming you in soon!
The Beautique Micro Med Spa 55-A Sheridan Park Circle thebeautiquebluffton.com (843) 608- 5475
Alfred’s Restaurant
Describe a typical day in your life.
Wake up, coffee, walk dogs in the woods; work on financials, postings, reconciling, bill paying, payroll, etc.; social media, answer reviews, website updating. Then, on to the restaurant: call and confirm reservations, answer phone messages, order/receive wine/liquor, dinner prep & service, clean up, then come home, drink a glass of wine, kiss my hubby and crash.
What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?
We are living our dream—been married 31 years and talking about owning our own restaurant just as long. Finally doing it!
Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?
F&B mentors: Roger and Jennifer Lienhard, Grand Hyatt Melbourne. Entrepreneurship: Josh and Julie Lynch of Crush Entertainment and Jamie and Liz Bodie of JLK Events.
Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.
Take the plunge to work for yourself. In all my years of “working for the man” as they say, I’ve never been as fulfilled or financially stable. Just knowing that my situation is a direct reflection of my own decisions has given me indescribable peace of mind. Oh, and check out the book Profit First. It works!
Mountains or ocean?
Love them both! And the woods and the wide-open plains— anything outdoors and natural.
Guilty pleasure?
I’d like to say reading a book, but more often it’s binge-watching TV. I like to do both every now and then on a rainy day off.
807 William Hilton Pkwy., Suite 1200 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 341-3117 alfredshhi.com
MICHELLE PEARSON
Interior Motives, Inc.
Describe a typical day in your life.
Coffee! Create, design, have fun, and do the right thing. Pray often and be grateful. Been in business for 21 years and still going strong …we always have a stocked showroom!
Through design, I am able to make a family’s home a home. Joni at JBanks Design. I will be forever grateful to her for hiring me when I moved here 29 years ago.
Have patience and learn as much as you can.
Mountains or ocean?
Ocean. Duh! LOL
Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship? 48 Pennington Dr. Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 815-6747 interiormotiveshhi.com
JANE MISRA
Dog People
There is no denying that there is a special connection between humans and dogs. Everybody can give you reasons, but at the core of all of these is unconditional positive regard and loyalty. We have all heard many remarkable stories of dogs and their owners that illustrate this. It is this bond that is the driving force behind the vision that drives dog people.
Jane Misra is the lead female force behind dog people, the premier mobile grooming business of the Lowcountry. Dog people has taken the dog grooming shop model, deconstructed it, and reconstructed it into a lean mobile business that delivers an exclusive luxury grooming experience unlike anything else in the Lowcountry!
But there is more to the vision Jane has than just a successful mobile business. It is her intent to make a much bigger mark on the industry, and she has just the plan to do it with her congruent endeavor, mobile up.
The grooming industry is a predominately female industry filled with extremely talented women who may or may not have fit the traditional four-year college model, and it is an unregulated industry that is piecemealed at best, producing a lot of underpaid, overworked, groomers facing burnout and exhaustion.
Jane is taking mobile dog grooming to the next level in a way that has never been done before. “We are creating a pathway to success for dog groomers that is unprecedented,” she said, telling us of the project she is launching called mobile up. Jane, with an endorsement from Hanvey, nationally recognized groomers, business leaders and industry disruptors, is creating a platform of tools resources and support to eliminate a lot of the problems groomers, business owners and solopreneurs face with a three-prong approach: (1) Create a baseline standard of excellence in collaboration with an expert team of advisors to ensure higher standards are produced out of mobile grooming units, especially Hanvey. (2) Provide a platform of tools resources and support for groomers nationwide to enable them to automate the back end of the business more effectively. (3) Create a financial resource that enables young groomers a clear pathway to van ownership without the financial barriers that currently exists in securing sixfigure financing. Mobile up is also bringing a line of proprietary mobile grooming tools to the market in early 2022.
It’s all for the love of dogs—and dog people.
ASSURED PARTNERS
Christina Horton, Rebecca Hall, Kay Hallman, and Danyelle Barrow
Kay Hallman: Working with our great team! Rebecca Hall: My Family. I have a chance everyday to set a good example for my kids. It is another chance to do great things.
Guilty pleasure?
KH: Reality TV RH: watching Hallmark Christmas Movies and snacking.
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
Christina Horton: I would love to learn to speak another language; Spanish
What did you want to be when you grew up?
CH: A teacher DB: Lawyer RH: A veterinarian
What is your favorite tech toy— for work or play—that you can’t live without?
CH: iPhone DB: AirPods—use them every day! KH: iPhone—can’t live without it.
Give us three qualities a leader must have.
DB: Great communication, patience, and honesty.
What is one thing you are looking forward to when you retire?
DB: Travel. KH: Not setting my alarm. RH: Spending time with my husband in a cabin or lake house and traveling.
ALI HEAVENER
Lennar
My family. I have always strived to make them proud of who I am and what I have accomplished. It is important to me to show all three of my children that learning from life’s lessons and a good moral compass will take you far in your career. It is especially important to me that my daughters know that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.
It is entirely possible to have a successful, and I would add, demanding career while raising a family. All it takes is the right environment/culture. Find a company that encourages your professional and personal development, aligns with your professional goals, and provides a good work/life balance.
Mountains or ocean?
Depends on the season. I love both. By the way, Lennar builds homes across the nation, so whether you are looking for mountains or ocean, you will find a home you love.
Guilty pleasure?
Shoes, without a doubt!
Give us three qualities a leader must have.
Gratitude, integrity, and learning agility.
THE ART CAFÉ
Ginny Whitehead, Brittany Scheriff, Stacey Whitehead, and Melissa Whitehead
“The Earth without art is just ‘eh.’” This Demetri Martin quote sums up why owner Ginny Whitehead is so passionate about her woman-owned, not to mention family-run business, The Art Café. Ginny has always had a passion and calling for the creative world. Her love for art runs deep like the rivers of our Lowcountry, and her love for family runs even deeper.
Ginny has been operating the Art Café on Hilton Head Island for 14 years, in three different locations. Ginny and her husband, Rocky Whitehead, who own Rockfish Seafood and Steaks at Bomboras (located right below the Art Café), moved here 16 years ago from Cincinnati, Ohio. Ginny has always had a strong desire to own a pottery painting studio. Fortunately for Ginny, with the help of her family, that desire and dream came true.
Ginny and her two daughters, Brittany Scheriff and Stacey Whitehead, handle the daily operations of the Art Café, while their newest addition Melissa Whitehead, Ginny’s daughter in law, handles marketing affairs.
The Art Café is a fun place for all ages to come and paint pottery. You don’t have to be a Van Gogh to enjoy this wonderful place and experience! The Art Café is popular among locals and tourists alike (some tourists visit annually and have pieces collected to remember their special vacation on Hilton Head together). So, next time you are looking for a fun experience for yourself and others, come in to the Art Café, and the women behind it will make certain you have a memorable pottery painting experience!
(SUGARBAKER)
ERA Evergreen Real Estate Company
I’m often asked who the big influences in my life were/are. As I reflected, I recognized that women were at the top of my list. My mama is my No. 1. She is a true example of love. Her compassion is something to be admired—a true southern lady with the biggest heart. She made many sacrifices for her children to succeed in life! My first job after graduating from Winthrop University was at WSOC FM 103 radio station in Charlotte, N.C. That is when a mentor by the name of Valerie Gladden entered my life. Valerie taught me the value of teamwork and multitasking. She could really be in two places at one time (well, in spirit)! Valerie was the definition of a “go-getter.” She even assisted me in planning my wedding in South Carolina while managing a very demanding job and her sweet family. What a blessing to have the honor to be taught by Vickie Austin while working at Wilson World Hotel in Spartanburg, S.C. Vickie exemplified the meaning of work ethic while balancing her family life. She could make magic happen while selling out our hotel, even when our computer system said otherwise. The love of her family showed through her every action. Then, Becky (Smith) Colburn entered my world in 2004. I was in real estate school and interested in a design consultant job with Centex Homes in Bluffton. After interviewing with Becky and expressing my interest in being a Realtor, she encouraged me to step right into sales. So I did. and that was the best advice ever! Becky taught me leadership. She could lead and still does. She thrives on the success of her sales people. Becky mentors people without even knowing it. These women always believed in me. They always encouraged me. They always pushed me. And most importantly, they always loved me. I love each of these women and am truly grateful for their contribution, making me the woman I am today. This issue is about women in business, and these women paved the way for me!
ERA Evergreen Real Estate Company (843) 441-2787
ASHLEY DOUGLAS
Paws On Learning
Ashley Douglas, a certified professional dog trainer, is the owner of Paws On Learning on Hilton Head Island. Ashley has always had a passion for working with animals and was a dog owner long before she became a trainer. Her years of volunteering at animal shelters and her work at veterinary hospitals and a law enforcement dog training facility inspired her to change careers.
Ashley spent 18 years as an upper elementary school teacher. In 2017, she attended National K9 Dog Trainer School in Columbus, Ohio, where she became a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. In 2018, she started Paws On Learning’s daytime board and train facility.
As Paws On Learning grew in popularity, the business quickly outgrew its space, and in April of 2021, relocated to a larger facility.
Ashley’s love for working with people and their dogs motivates her to continue to engage in new and different ways to approach animal behavior and how dogs learn. Over the last few years, Ashley has attended the International Association of Canine Professionals conference in Florida, Puppy Potential Workshop in North Carolina, Hope Service Dogs Service Dog Training in Florida, and is currently participating in the Training Between the Ears online course.
She loves being an entrepreneur and is grateful for the support friends and family have contributed along the way. While she started the business entirely on her own from a financial standpoint, she attributes a great deal of her success to the love and support of family, friends, and returning clients.
Ashley utilizes her years as a professional teacher and her formal education and experience training dogs to help people in the Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort, and Savannah area reach their dogs’ potential.
4 Hunter Road, Suite 4C Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (603) 540-2614 pawsonlearning.com
Photography by Lily Strickland OPTICAL SOLUTIONS
1st Row: Lizet Gutierrez, Susan Fernandez, Marlyn Rivera, Karimen Ambrocio, Angela Fears 2nd Row: Alessandra Vega, Dr. Tara Baideme, Maria Loera, Toni Fernandez, Alex Cheyne, Tara Petracco, Mariel Ortiz 3rd Row: Haley Rainboth, Katherine Holt, Briana Hernandez, Mikaleen Lawrence, Brenda Jimenez
If you are a current customer or a new patient at Optical Solutions, you will meet a few of the amazing women who work as a cohesive team (the operational “glue”) alongside Dr. Michael Campbell. All these women play essential roles and perform their individual jobs with the utmost skill and professionalism to ensure your best eyecare experience. Whether it is for a routine exam, glasses, contact lenses, or for ocular disease, the professionals at Optical Solutions will treat you with the attention and personalized care you deserve. Office Manager, Alessandra Vega, has been employed with Optical Solutions for over six years and loves working for this local, family-owned business. According to Vega, many of the employees have spouses and family members working together at Optical Solutions, and it is a healthy environment for everyone.
Tara Petracco will soon reach her one-year anniversary with Optical Solutions and couldn’t be happier. “The Campbells have created a wonderful work environment, and I’m looking forward to long-term employment,” she said.
What sets Optical Solutions/Dr. Michael Campbell and Associates apart from other eyecare practices is their teamwork, respect for their fellow coworkers, and the friendly environment that contributes to positive patient relationships and successful outcomes.
The positive work environment empowers women so that they can rise to the challenges.“This environment allows us to deliver more personalized care to you, the patient, and allows us to know you and your visual needs better,” Vega said.
Optical Solutions has been established in the Lowcountry for 33 years. Starting with one location in 1987, the business has expanded to include three state-of-the-art facilities. They are the only full-service lab in the area providing same-day service on emergency eyewear.
“Like our employees, our patients become our friends,” Vega said. “We work professionally and efficiently to make your visit the best!”
10 Hospital Center Commons, Suite 100 Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 681-6682
50 Shelter Cove Ln., Suite G The Plaza at Shelter Cove Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 785-8008
27 Mellichamp Dr., Suite 100 Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 706-0607
Palmetto Ocean Conservancy
We are the Guardians of the Sea
Describe a typical day in your life.
I spend my morning with my loved ones. I head out for salty air and morning coffee at The French Bakery. My days are busy; I do my best to take some time out to enjoy the view.
What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?
That I’m able to make a difference, working in a teamwork atmosphere, learning daily.
Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?
My parents. If I wanted something, I had to work for it.
Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.
Be myself; always trust my instincts; I’m stronger than I think; never settle; chin up.
Guilty pleasure?
Rocky Road ice cream.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Oceanographer.
Give us three qualities a leader must have.
Vision, focus, and keep going, no matter what.
What podcast do you listen to for inspiration or to learn from?
TEDX, People Who Built America (History Channel).
What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire?
Retire? I’m not sure if I want to retire.
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
Process and memorize (long-term and short-term).
What is your favorite tech toy—for work or play—that you can’t live without?
My phone.
(816) 352-2781 Follow Us on Facebook and Instagram @ palmettooceanconservancy
KELSEY ALLISON
Kelsey Allison Designs
What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?
Knowing that I get to get up and do my dream job every day. It sounds cliché, I know, but it’s so true. I get to design + create the best day of my clients’ lives, and it’s so much fun dreaming up new ideas that are going to be unique to them for their day. I’m so passionate about what I do, and I know I’m exactly where I am supposed to be. It’s exhilarating!
Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?
My dad, Joe Zokan, has been my biggest mentor along my path to entrepreneurship. He is a successful entrepreneur and has been in business 30+ years. So, I guess you could say it’s in my blood. My dad’s wisdom and guidance have been a huge support and inspiration to me. I’m grateful to have him to look up to. I am also fortunate to have a huge support system to lean on, especially my very patient husband, Aaron, who has been alongside me, encouraging me every step of the way.
Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.
Set goals, and slow down. You don’t have to get it all done in a day. You don’t have to be the best at everything right away, so when you’re not, don’t let that deter you. Good things take time, but amazing things can take even more time. Remember to enjoy the journey and celebrate each milestone, big or small, along the way. I still have to remind myself of this!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A news anchor! I went to college majoring in telecommunications but switched gears to hospitality by my second year. I knew right away that I had made the right decision.
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
Calligraphy! I’m a lefty, so it would be a big challenge for me, because it’s very difficult to not drag my hand through my work when I’m writing.
SARAH O’LEARY TAKACS
The Heritage Library
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE HILTON HEAD ISLAND
IS HEADED, YOU HAVE TO START WITH WHERE IT’S BEEN.
In the constantly shifting landscape of Hilton Head Island real estate, the most powerful tool a real estate professional can bring to the table is knowledge. Context is key, and knowing what forces have shaped the market is vital to knowing how best to capitalize.
“I’ve been a licensed Realtor for 40 years, and when I first started, the appeal of the island was strictly the beach, golf and tennis,” Takacs said. “Lately, people want to investigate other areas of Hilton Head. They’re very interested in exploring the island’s history and how Hilton Head came to be what it is today.”
That rise in cultural tourism dovetails with Takacs’ own passion for history, a passion which led her to serve as vice president of the Heritage Library as one of its most energetic volunteers. Through her efforts, the island’s history has become a vital part of its appeal for visitors, with her work on the advancement committee helping restore Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery’s famed Baynard Mausoleum to its former glory.
Takacs is one of many volunteers who have helped The Heritage Library emerge as one of the most vital genealogy and historical research organizations in the state. Through their work, not only are islanders discovering their own history, but they’re also forging connections with the island’s past that tell Hilton Head’s story.
“I have long had an interest in the history of the island, and people like native islander Henry Driessen and our former mayor Martha Baumberger really helped me explore those possibilities and share them with my clients,” Takacs said.
Coastal Long-Term Rental Company, LLC
It’s quite possible you haven’t met many people who are from a ranch in Montana. Shady Lane Ranch, outside Bozeman, Mont., is where Laura Wuller grew up. Daily chores included feeding the cows, sheep and horses, stacking wood or hay bales, and helping her family with whatever work was needed. Although she’s the first to admit she didn’t love the chores, Laura knows that this is how she gained the valuable asset of a strong work ethic. Laura has applied that work ethic throughout her career and now to her long-term property management business, Coastal Long Term-Rental Company, LLC. Coastal Long-Term Rental Company is a full-service, professional property management firm. Specializing in long-term rentals (12-month leases), they provide experienced, knowledgeable support to homeowners and tenants. Laura took ownership of the company in 2013 and acquired a Bluffton firm in 2018. With this expansion, she has added valuable employees, with combined experience of 45+ years in property management. The current market is like nothing Laura has seen before. With so many people moving to our area, Coastal is seeing high demand year-round. This higher-than-normal demand is coupled with very low supply, which has forced rental rates higher. When a new property is joining her program, Laura has been able to line up tenants before buyers even close on the home.
Laura attributes much of her success to the support of her husband, two children, and her relationships with local realtors, some of whom she has worked with throughout her career on the island since 2003. They know they can count on Coastal to take great care of their clients who either have a property they want to lease or need a rental themselves. Visit Coastal’s website today to find out more about their program!
18 Executive Park Rd, Ste 2, Hilton Head, SC 29928 (843) 842-4546
7 Simmonsville Rd., Suite 100A, Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 706-7368
laura@coastalltr.com CoastalLTR.com
STEPH CAULLER, JANICE ROSS & KATIE OLIVA
Hilton Head Home Group of RE/MAX Island Realty
We do things a little differently at Hilton Head Home Group of RE/MAX Island Realty. We rely heavily on technology and intuition. As women in business, we know what a balancing act it can be, thus we have a team. We support each other in business as well as in life. With backgrounds in education, marketing and food & beverage, plus the seven children combined, we are experts at typing emails, prepping dinner, making sure everything is covered, showing property and not missing a beat. We learned a lot through years of working in food and beverage, public education and product representation to Costco and QVC. The patience of an elementary teacher plus a server who rarely gets in the weeds has trained us for anything thrown at us. Add in a mix of passion and expertise, and that is a recipe for success. If you are just getting your “Women in Business” shoes wet, find your recipe for success. Passion will take you places you could only dream about. Expertise is priceless, and you can never add too much patience.
Janice Ross, our California girl, has been an island resident for nine years; Steph Cauller formerly of Malvern, Pa., moved to the island in 2010; and Katie Oliva had the privilege of a Lowcountry childhood. A Beaufort local, Katie is a wealth of knowledge of all things Lowcountry.
From left to right: Stephanie Cauller, Katie Olivia, and Janice Ross,
HEATHER RATH
Heather Rath Consulting
In the Lowcountry, there are movers and shakers. And helping to move and shake them all, you’ll find Heather Rath.
All around the Region, there’s a sense of renewed energy, a forward dynamic that is pushing us as a community toward something better — while ensuring that “us,” in fact, means “all of us.”
You'll see it in the creation of dazzling public spaces like the Lowcountry Celebration Park and Squire Pope Community Park and the planning of the highly anticipated "Mid-Island Tract. You’ll see it in the rekindled zeal for the island’s history, and in the push for a new airport terminal. You’ll see it in the greater role the Gullah community has taken in conversations about people and place.
To be clear, Heather Rath was not behind all these positive changes, nor would she ever claim credit for them. But it’s no coincidence that her name comes up in conversations about all of them. "True advocacy for me is stepping in, when asked, to partner with those needing to effect change. But it is also realizing that authentic change requires true ownership and accountability.” she said. “I guide, I direct, and I help lay the groundwork for that change. But ultimately my goal is for the people involved to have ownership and their voice heard.”
It’s a philosophy of principled direction and advocacy that has made her a regular force at town council meetings, community events, and at the Statehouse. There are wonderful things happening in the Lowcountry. Heather Rath isn’t responsible for all of them, but a lot of them would not have happened without her.
hrath@heatherrathconsulting.com (843) 415-5978
Pure Salt Studios
Describe a typical day in your life.
Every day looks a little different as a small business owner! Most days I am in the studio facilitating halotherapy and infrared sauna sessions, coordinating massages and yoga classes with instructors and therapists, sourcing products from other small businesses, styling and directing shoots, managing social media and emails ... the list goes on. It even includes raking salt!
What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?
The thought of welcoming clients into the studio! We are providing a space for people to breathe, to let go of stress, relax, heal, and enjoy time for themselves or those they are with. It’s amazing to be able to witness the before and after transformations every day.
Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.
Be open to opportunities that present themselves. Coming from a supply chain + design management background, I never in a million years thought that I would be the owner of a salt studio. You never know what the universe has in store. Lean in and trust in the bigger plan.
Mountains or ocean?
Ocean for every day and mountains to get away. I grew up on Long Island, N.Y. After moving around a bit for my career after college, it quickly became clear that living near the ocean was a must for me!
What podcast do you listen to for inspiration or to learn from?
How I Built This. This podcast provides amazing raw insight across an array of industries of how they got their start and ended up where they are today. I am constantly dreaming up new ideas and directions for myself. This one always motivates and inspires me!
9 Harbourside Lane, Unit B Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 715-2825 puresaltstudios.com
LYNDI LEARY
Lyndi Leary Photography; Fine Art and Portraiture
Lyndi Leary is a Bluffton based photographer with a passion for capturing light and creating beauty in a timeless way. “I’m an artist at heart, always have been. In 2006, I graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and have enjoyed photography as my main concentration for the past 11 years. Few things are as rewarding for me as capturing the beauty of this life, whether it is the innocence of childhood, the love of a family, or the stunning awe of the natural world. The camera is simply the medium I use to create imagery and capture precious moments. I believe that in order to succeed as an artist, you must constantly challenge yourself, continuously push yourself out of your comfort zone, all the while maintaining and developing your own aesthetic. My goal is to use light to create something beautifully unique but in a tangible way that is easily relatable and that others will appreciate. My husband and I were married in August of 2014, and shortly thereafter, we relocated to Bluffton from the upstate of South Carolina. Fast forward several years, and currently, my two young daughters are my biggest inspiration. Not only are they the best reason to get up at the crack of dawn every day and do my best, but loving them allows me to identify with other parents in a way that was not possible before. The personal experience of motherhood, and the utterly indescribable range of emotions that accompanies it, has inevitably and undeniably enhanced my work on all fronts. I know how important the fleeting moments are and how much beautiful images of them mean to a family. So, while becoming a mother has enhanced my work in a very literal sense, the desire to be an example for my girls is the strongest driving force for my success. My hope is that one day my accomplishments will give them the confidence to pursue their dreams, the initiative to develop their own skills, and the knowledge that they can and should use their God-given talents to create a life they love.”
Bluffton, SC (770) 845-3800 lyndileary.com
CH2 MAGAZINE CELEBRATES 15 YEARS NEXT MONTH!
CH2 & CB2 MAGAZINE
Kaila Jeffcoat, Kim Crouch, Hunter Kostylo, Morgan O'Banion, Kandace Wightman and Maggie Washo
What are you looking forward to in retirement?
MW: I am never going to retire. They are going to have to drag me by my ankles out of this office. HK: Traveling all over the world! If it’s by a beach, I’m going there. KC: I would love to travel with my kids and family. Being able to spend quality time with my family and experience new places together, I would be in heaven! MO: Traveling. I’d love to get a camper van and travel and explore!
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
MW: I would love to just learn how to relax and just dial it in like 70 percent of the world’s population. HK: To play the piano. There is something about a piano that I just love. KC: I have always wanted to learn how to play the violin. KJ: I would love to be fluent in four or five languages! But that would take a lot of patience, determination, and wine!
Give us three qualities a leader must have.
MW: Emotional intelligence, work ethic, and flexibility. KC: Good communication, being respectful, and patience. KJ: I think a good leader has excellent communication skills, is open-minded, and has the ability to empower others. MO: A leader must lead by example with a strong work ethic, have patience, and show appreciation to their team when success has been achieved. KW: Communication, confidence, and creativity.
Mountains or ocean?
MW: Mountains HK: Costa Rica, lol. It has mountains and beaches. Best of both worlds! KC: Both! Love the ocean; it’s good for the soul. But I also love to ski out west. California might be my place one day. KJ: Mountains MO: Mountains, Mountains, and more Mountains… KW: Beach. Being born and raised up north, I definitely appreciate a warm ocean breeze.
Tell us something you wish you had known when you started off on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.
MW: Everyone is making it up as they go along. In life, in business, in relationships. There is no map, no guidebook. If someone acts calm, cool, and collected and says they have everything under control, they are liars. Run! KJ: It’s okay to make a change. Just because it was what you studied in college or specialized in doesn’t lock you into that career forever. If you have something that interests you, pursue it! I remember this lady in her 70s who went back to school to be a nurse because it was something she always wanted to do after spending her life being a teacher. It’s never too late! MO: In your “work world,” disasters can happen. These things can probably be fixed; if they can’t, then start over with a positive outlook. Don’t let the bumps in the road consume you to the point where it changes you or affects your relationships with the people you love.
Last program you binged-watched?
HK: Ted Lasso! So funny MW: Loki. Marvel all the way, baby.
What is your guilty pleasure?
KW: Cheesecake. A good ol’ slice of New York style cheesecake.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
KW: Something in the forensic field. I love watching Dateline and murder mystery shows.
(843) 689- 2658 m.washo@celebratehiltonhead.com www.celebratehiltonhead.com
AHC MedSpa . Affordable Health Care
After years working in institutional and private medicine, Jennifer Green identified a need for a different kind of care: care that combined both compassion and affordability. In 2008, she turned that vision into reality when she started Affordable Health Care. For the past 13 years, Jenny has continued to expand the original practice mission by adding components of total wellness, with the intention of assisting patients in their efforts to be fit from the inside out.
As the era of self-care began spreading to medical provider practices in the form of medical spas, Jenny recognized an exciting opportunity to expand her business again. To that end, she added injectables to her repertoire of in-office procedures and began offering a full menu of spa services administered by certified aestheticians. This unique approach to primary medicine, one that offers patients the option to have access to total self-care in one location, is innovative and progressive.
Post COVID-19, Jennifer has taken the aesthetics portion of her practice to the next level with the recent purchase of a broad band light laser for skin rejuvenation, redness reduction, hair removal and more! This new technology reduces the amount of time needed for both treatment and recovery. In addition, it is a less painful alternative to many skin renewal procedures offered today. With this exciting technology, Jenny and the AHC MedSpa staff are moving into the future with renewed purpose: to expand the options we offer for patients to experience total selfcare in one location.
150 State St. Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 757-5559 affordablehealthcare.com
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY
The Top 10 women at KW closed more than $430 million in combined sales volume over the past 12 months. Left to right: Sheri Nixon, Amy Aurelio, Daryn Vucelik (Team Leader), Beth Drake, Allison Greco and Beth DeAngelis. Women in the Top 10 not pictured: Joan Kelly, Colleen Sullivan, Leah Melvin, Shae Chambers Helms and Lisa Sisko.
Keller Williams is not only the number one real estate franchise in the Lowcountry; it is also the premiere home for women in real estate. Named one of America’s Best Employers for Women by Forbes for three consecutive years, it’s no surprise that the women leading our local real estate market have found their ideal home at KW. In fact, Keller Williams has more women in the Hilton Head MLS Top 50 Agent rankings than any other real estate company.
“The community of successful, supportive women I have found at KW has made all the difference in my business,” said agent Sheri Nixon, whose team closed more than $47 million in sales in the past 12 months. “The international referral network at Keller Williams, along with our local support system, has been a gamechanger.”
That supportive culture, alongside industry-leading technology and training, has allowed Keller Williams Lowcountry agents to serve more than 1,700 families in the past 12 months.
“As women, it can be challenging to grow a big business while balancing our personal and family lives. That’s why at KW, we focus on providing our agents the training, technology and support to reach their goals,” said Keller Williams Team Leader and CEO, Daryn Vucelik. “I am so fortunate to work alongside this group of incredible businesswomen who challenge one another to dream big. The opportunities for business and personal growth are truly endless here at KW.”
Aimee Brasington Allison Greco Amy Aurelio Angela Huser Angelina Singleton Annie Powell Annie Tracy Amber Morgan Arline Fasano Beth DeAngelis Beth Drake Calynn Altizer Carey Ann Kelley Carol Keller Carol O'Brien Carol Rutgers Chris Spirer Christy Diller White Colleen Sullivan Courtney Marine Dana Advocaat Deanna Coyne Gerrie Pravetz Glenda Satterly Happi Beisser Jamie Peart Jennifer Wells Jessica Teague Joan Kelly Karen Hair KKay Sonberg Leah Melvin Lisa Sisko Nadine O'Quinn Shae Chambers Helms Shannon Sheehan Sheri Nixon Stacy Applegate Stephanie Harris Sue Remble Tanya Sjodin Taylor Lomprez Valerie Keating Wendy Goller
ERIKA WARONSKY
The Sandbar Beach Eats & Carolina Coffee & Crumbs
Describe a typical day in your life.
My day starts with reassessing the prior day. How did it go? What was good, bad and ugly, and how can we make today better? Then comes kids, drop offs, cleaning restaurants, banking, any employee issues, orders, customers and the remaining goes to putting out as many fires as possible.
What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?
My kids! We work really hard schedules, and my kids do such a good job of keeping me grounded and reminding me why I do this every day. I love seeing them in the mornings, no matter how tired I am from the late night before! I also love checking items off my neverending “to do “ list. Maybe someday I won’t have one!
Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?
I have had several mentors in my life. Most important were my parents. My dad quit his teaching job and went to medical school at the age of 34 in order to give us a better life. My mother taught school for 40 years and was really good at it. I have always admired them and their work ethic. From a professional standpoint, the only other job I have ever had was working for Dale Augenstein at Steamer Seafood in Coligny Plaza. I worked for Dale for almost 17 years, and I give him the credit for teaching me basically everything that I know about the restaurant business. He was and still is a true entrepreneur. He was always problemsolving, assessing current situations while always looking ahead for what was next.
Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.
This business is really hard…. I wish that my skin was thicker and I didn’t take everything so personally, but that is so hard to do. You put everything that you have into something, take the biggest risks of your life and pray that you survive. There will always be someone out there who doesn’t want you to [succeed]. Don’t pay too much attention to them, and at the end of the day, just be a good person! It will all work out if you make the right choices for you!
Mountains or ocean?
Oceans, always. I grew up in the beautiful mountains of W.V., but as soon as my feet hit the sand on Hilton Head Island, I knew this would be home!
Guilty pleasure?
Prosecco
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to live in New York City and be a lawyer. I have no idea why because I did the opposite and moved to the beach and love the restaurant business.
Give us three qualities a leader must have.
(1) Patience. You can’t lose your mind over everything or everyone or you will literally lose your mind! (2) Keeping your cool. Stressful situations will hide around every corner. Keep calm and your employees and customers will too—most of the time. (3) Compassion & empathy. Always remember that this is your forever, but it might not be your staff’s forever. Always understand what is happening in their lives just like what is happening in yours. Life is crazy and throws us curveballs all the time; understanding all situations and being non-judgmental is key. We are all human!
What podcasts do you listen to for inspiration or to learn from?
I really don’t listen to any podcasts. This is just something I never really got into but maybe should. I try to keep up with world and local news, food trends, costs, etc., but no favorite podcasts.
What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire?
Waking up to no alarm and traveling as much as possible!
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
I would love to learn to play the piano. I played the flute for years, and wish that I still did, but I have always wanted to master the piano.
What is your favorite tech toy—for work or for play—that you can’t live without?
I cannot live without my laptop. It has everything in my life on it and I could not function for long without it.
101 Pope Ave HHI 29928 (843) 342-SAND (843) 342-4800 sandbarhhi.com carolinacoffeehhi.com
